Seeing This Revolution Through A Wider Lens Political and Spiritual Leaders Hold Justice Matters Conversation On June 4, at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in L.A., the mayor of Los Angeles participated in Justice Matters which opened a dialogue about the current social climate. Pastor Edgar J. Boyd hosted the event and stood on the principle, If there is equity in access, there will be equity in behavior and celebration. The purpose for the meeting is vocalize the vision to respond to the inequalities seen on May 25. The Publisher of the L.A. Sentinel Danny Bakewell attended the meeting, I want to put whats going on in our society, in our city in particular, in perspective. Im happy to see all the people out, shoulder to shoulderit sends a message to the world that they see us, and they hear our cry. Bakewell talked about moving away from a one dimensional issue. In addition to the physical brutality within the black community, there is hindrance within the financial growth and wellbeing of the collective community. There was talk about gaining access to power centers that run this country, that make the rules all residents must follow. Among the panel were law enforcement, they encouraged the audience to report misconduct and joining local government in order to change the system within. Mayor James Butts of Inglewood shared his experience as chief of police and serving in law enforcement. The mayor of Inglewood spoke about the social agreement between the haves and the have nots. There is blind prejudice that fuels the injustices amid law enforcement and the black community. Mayor James outlined the weight applied to chiefs of police, The ultimate solution is to pick a chief of police, that is experienced, that is committed, that has values and is a leader. Senator Holly Mitchell focused on two things, as a proud member of the Legislative Black Caucus Mitchell talked about the legislative package that is going forth. This includes bills labeled ACA-6 bringing voting rights to those serving parole, ACA-5 affirmative action that will be beneficial economically, to prioritize underserved communities, and AB-31-21 that will cover the feasibility of reparations in California. Mitchell recommended the audience to do research and study what it means to change the budget within the police force. The tool she used was through a book by Alex S. Vitale, The End of Policing. The reading material, according to Mitchell addresses the role of police, and why it has changed into them being sole proprietors of social issues. Homelessness, foster childcare issues, and other socially charged events fall in the lap of the police, but as Senator Mitchell declared it is not their job. She invited the audience to look at the wider scope of reform for law enforcement. ADVERTISEMENT Following Mitchells statement, Senator Sydney Kamlager Dove quoted Dr. Martin Luther King, Our Survival is dependent on staying awake and staying vigilant even in times of uncomfortableness. She also agreed with the inquiry of what the city is asking from the police force. The common agreement throughout the panelist so far is a system change is necessary. Senator Dove shared inconceivable statistics within the black community such as 30% of black men made absolutely no money in 2014. Bringing the discussion full circle, to include the wide variety of discrepancies in fairness among black people. Although there is grief and pain, this moment has brought on a new direction within the course of American History. The attention of the world is on this country, it is imperative to address the root of racism in all measures of society. Minister Tony Muhammad affirmed the spiritual energy surrounding this moment. Minister Tony spoke of injustice breeding insanity and anger, even among the founding fathers of America. Speaking directly about looting, the minister of the Nation of Islam recollected that this country was founded on looting and violence and to break free of Brittan Tyranny. He shared strong feelings behind having a real conversation. There are strides being made for human evolution and the quality of life, there is a need for intensive conditioning to eliminate the institutionalized racism. Borrowing the words of Capri Maddox Executive Director of the Civil and Humanity Department of Los Angeles, the world has seen firsthand, the black mans inconvenient truth. The message is clear, if the system does not change, the world will feel the consequence. The results of an imbalance system will infect the entire human population. Now that everyone is witness to the undeniable truth of the problem, it is everyones shared responsibility. Forty-seven people associated with a Jacksonville rehabilitation and long-term care facility have tested positive for COVID-19, the Morgan County Health Department has confirmed. One of those 47 died the same day his test was confirmed positive. It is the second coronavirus-related death in Morgn County. Morgan County Coroner Marcy Patterson said Thursday that a 44-year-old man died at 12:01 p.m. Thursday. He had been taken from Aperion Care to Passavant Area Hospital for treatment. The mans identity is being withheld until his next-of-kin can be notified. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of this individual and the hospital staff who cared for him, Patterson said. Following reports of three initial positive coronavirus cases with ties to the facility, test samples were taken on Tuesday and Wednesday from all residents and staff members at Aperion Care Jacksonville with assistance from Morgan County Health Department, Passavant Area Hospital and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Results indicate 34 residents and 13 employees have tested positive for the disease, according to the health department. Residents who have tested positive are recovering in isolation at the facility. Staff members who have tested positive are recovering in isolation at home. Another 98 people associated with the long-term care center tested negative and two tests still are pending. The new cluster is a stark break from late May, when Morgan County had gone two weeks without a new case. That streak was broken on May 29, when one new case was reported. Cases steadily increased in subsequent days, culminating Tuesday in the county reporting eight new cases the highest one-day rise in positive cases before Thursday. The Illinois Department of Public Health reports 105 Morgan County residents now have tested positive for COVID-19. Mayor Andy Ezard said the city is working with Morgan County Health Department, The Illinois Department of Public Health, Passavant and Aperion to protect the Jacksonville community from the new cluster of cases. Jacksonville residents need to stay attentive to social distancing guidelines, Ezard said, adding that residents excited about the city reopening may not have followed the guidelines as closely as they should have himself included. Many including myself have been lackadaisical with complying with social distancing, Ezard said. Everyone was so excited to get things going again and this reminds us that were in a pandemic. Ezard also urged community members to show compassion for Aperion residents and employees who tested positive for the coronavirus. Dr. Scott Boston, president and CEO of Passavant, said the hospital will provide support for Aperion in any way it can. Passavant staff members have assisted in training Aperion staff to properly test residents for COVID-19. Aperion Care the company that owns the Jacksonville facility said in a statement that its policy dictates that it will not address any specific cases or incidents. Aperion said it keeps in contact with local and state health departments and up to date with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Those protocols include following strict hand-washing procedures, screening staff members, eliminating all visitors and wearing protective masks, gowns and gloves when a patient is sick. Aperion said it has a certified infection preventionist to assist with implementing CDC guidelines. Aperion Care and Morgan County Health Department did not return calls for comment. With additional reporting by David C.L. Bauer HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finnair's holiday business Aurinkomatkat has sold about 80% of its reduced offering of August-September Greece travel packages, a Finnair spokeswoman said on Thursday. For the August-October period, Aurinkomatkat has reduced its Greek holiday packages to 30% of normal volumes and 25% across all destinations, she told Reuters. Finnair Chief Executive Topi Manner told Reuters last month that the company was seeing "green shoots" of a coronavirus recovery, citing company survey findings that more than half of its customers were planning to travel again soon. Greece decided last week to open to visitors from 29 countries, including Finland, from June 15, days before its peak tourism season begins. The Mediterranean nation, which emerged from a decade-long debt crisis in late 2018, relies on tourism for about 20% of its economic output. (Reporting by Anne Kauranen; Writing by Tarmo Virki; Editing by David Goodman) PHILADELPHIA - Several episodes of gunfire overnight in Philadelphia left a total of 11 people wounded and at least one person dead, police said Friday, calling the spate of violence a major concern. At least one of the instances of violence may be gang-related, police said. A group of men jumped out of a car and opened fire on six people early Friday in the Tioga neighbourhood, and one person returned fire, authorities said. Six people five men and one woman were injured and are described as stable, authorities said. Four drove themselves to hospitals. Separately, a man was shot and killed while sitting in a car in northeast Philadelphias Juniata neighbourhood, police said. Gunfire in the Kensington neighbourhood resulted in leg wounds to two people, authorities said. They were described as in stable condition. And a shooting in the Fairmount neighbourhood, close to Philadelphias row of art museums, sent two men to the hospital, authorities said. Get access to everything we publish when you sign up for Outside+. This spring, Eric Senseman ran all 422.5 miles of road in Flagstaff, Arizona, as part of a every single street project promoting his campaign for Flagstaff City Council. I dont think Ive run that many road miles consistently, probably ever, Senseman says of his 19-day road streak. A trail runner through and through, hes best known in the running community as the mustachioed member of the Coconino Cowboys, the five-person boy band of ultra running named for Coconino County. The county contains Coconino National Forest and the Grand Canyon, where the Cowboys train, as well as Flagstaff, their home base and the reason Senseman just ran the most consecutive road miles of his career. Flagstaff is a trail runners paradise not just because of its close proximity to beautiful national parks with brutal elevation profiles, but because, as Senseman puts it, You could drop someone anywhere in the city of Flagstaff and within probably a half mile that person could find a trail; and thats really unique. The city is growing quickly as people start to catch on to its appeal. Ian Torrence, the chairperson of Sensemans campaign and an accomplished trail runner himself, explains that, Residents from the Phoenix valley and students nation-wide have come to covet Flagstaffs climate, seasons, and recreational opportunitiesall characteristics that make Flagstaff Flagstaff. To some, Flagstaff is a broken slot machine that reads triple 7s on every pull, Torrence says. If we keep pulling, well soon squander the attributes that make this place a true jackpot. Senseman decided he wanted to play a bigger role in helping the city hold on to the things that made it special. His friend and fellow ultrarunner Matt Flaherty had just run a successful campaign for city council in Bloomington, Indiana, and talking to him about why he ran for city council had an impact on Senseman. Before his campaign, Flaherty was working for environmental NGOs and becoming increasingly frustrated by how hard it was to make change at a national level. When youre working in the policy space at the national stage, of course its really important, but so hard to move the needle and feel like youre really doing anything, Flaherty said. Whereas if you go to the local level with some real energy and work you can actually visibly change things, which is really appealing. Around the same time he was talking to Flaherty, Senseman listened to a podcast that discussed the fact that the members of a city council have a really important role in how a citys shaped. The shape of Flagstaff, in a very literal sensethe balance of wild spaces and city developmentwas important to Senseman. His path forward seemed clear. He launched his campaign in October 2019 on a platform of affordable housing and open space preservation, two things he saw as compatible, not opposing, forces. The citys done a really good job up to this point of pairing those things together, Senseman says. But as Flagstaff grows, it would be all too easy to just focus on getting housing and businesses built, and let open space and trails go by the wayside. Creating new trails takes effort and money the city could be spending elsewhere. Senseman wants to push Flagstaff to continue to incorporate open space and trail access alongside new development. Building affordable housing should have the consequence that you are then building trails, he says. He also wants to see more low-rise affordable housing, which allows the city to be efficient with space, building up before they build out. His philosophy is expansion with intention. I think the citys done a really good job, so I dont pretend to be someone coming in and saying, Hey things need be done differently, Senseman explains. Im saying, No, they should be done much the same, lets continue to develop as weve been doing. Two Goals on Every Street Rickey Gates ran the Every Single Street project that inspired Sensemans in the fall of 2018. He covered every street in San Francisco in a 1,317-mile project that left him amazed by how much he didnt know about a city he lived in for the better part of six years. Just as I believe that its important to know ourselves, I also believe that it is important to know our communitiesespecially during these hyper politicized and polarized times, Gates says. I hadnt realized at the time, just how informative and interesting it was going to be for me. So, when Senseman heard a few councilmembers struggle to bring to mind an area of Flagstaff during a city council meeting, he thought of Gates project. Senseman decided that if he wanted to make decisions on behalf of the city and its citizens, he should know every mile of Flagstaff. On January 30th, he set out. He posted the location of his runs in advance, and organized a spreadsheet where friends could sign up to cover miles with him. He carried fliers with him as he ran through Arizonas brisk winter days, stopping to chat with people in their lawns or introduce himself in local coffee shops. Senseman is used to running to train, and training to run fast. So, before these runs, he had to make a mental shift. He reminded himself that he was about to spend between two and five hours running roads each day, and none of those runs would be fast. Youre going to have to stop to look at maps, youre going to be stopping to talk to people, he told himself, So accept that now. Dont treat it as purely a training stimulus, because its not. Maybe it wasnt the perfect two-week training block, but Senseman definitely learned more about his city. He focused on the practical side of exploring Flagstaff. He wants to make non-vehicular transportation easier for people, so he took note neighborhoods you couldnt safely bike or walk to a grocery store. Each run, he collected more of the mundane and important details of a city that affect its inhabitantssidewalks, bike lanes, neighborhood locations. He explored new developments and kept an eye out for places to expand housing and trails. It was like a city-planning scouting mission. I learn something new every time I went out, Senseman says. I think that was the coolest part of it. Every single day, every single run, every single neighborhood, I found something new or talked to someone new or found new streets that werent even on the map yet. Rickey Gates, who enjoys watching other runners Every Single Street projects over social media, thought Sensemans project was awesome. I thought a lot about how the project is such a great way for a person to get to know a place and give that person genuine street cred, Gates wrote. And street cred is just what Senseman needs. In order to appear on the ballot, Senseman needed over 1,ooo signatures, which he got, primarily from his Every Single Street Campaign. During campaign conversations, his focus is staying open to different perspectives. Senseman knows its easy to talk past each other during a political conversation and lose all the things you agree on. I think its important to get to those points of agreement, he says, and actually figure out where you align and what you can do to pursue those things you agree on. Tunisia stops migrant boats from heading to Italy Dozens detained in several operations (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, JUNE 12 - Tunisian authorities are continuing their activities to counter clandestine migration. Security forces have arrested six people as they were preparing to leave the country illegally from the Monastir governorate near the Bekalta coast towards Italy. The interior ministry made the announcement in a statement and noted that another arrest had been made in Ben Arous of a 30-year-old who had been planning an operation for illegal emigration towards the Italian coast from the Bizarre governorate in exchange for 3,000 dinars per passenger on the boat. The coast guard also intercepted a dinghy off Nabeul carrying five Tunisians, disembarked them in Bani Khyar and handed them over to the authorities for the necessary procedures. The coast guard also stopped four boat departures in the Monastir, Susa and Nabeul governorates that were carrying 32 Tunisians and seized a large sum of foreign currency as part of the operation. In another preventative operation, a police raid made it possible to arrest about 30 people in the Sfax governorate from several African countries that had been hiding on a home and are accused of preparing to leave for Italy illegally. A large sum of money was found in this operation as well. (ANSAmed). Most people or, at any rate, most readers of The New York Times remember Donald Trumps response to the white nationalist riot in Charlottesville, Va., as a particularly low point in a presidency full of them. After a rambling, aggrieved news conference in which he defended some of those marching with neo-Nazis as very fine people, Trumps already dismal approval rating hovered below 38 percent. Staffers voiced shame and disgust to journalists (anonymously, of course). Senator Susan Collins was concerned. Whats been forgotten in the almost three years that followed is what came next. For his first post-Charlottesville rally, Trump chose not a blood-red exurb, but Phoenix, a blue city with a large Hispanic population whose Democratic mayor implored the president to stay away. Onstage, Trump hinted at his plans to pardon Joe Arpaio, the former Maricopa County sheriff whod been convicted of contempt of court after defying a judges order to cease detaining people simply on suspicion that they were undocumented. Outside, protesters massed, and violence erupted as riot police confronted them. Some screamed. Some poured milk on their face, reported The Arizona Republic. Skin, slicked in sweat, burned from the chemicals in the pepper balls and pepper spray. As The Washington Post reported at the time, Trumps inflammatory event was part of a pattern: When he finds himself under attack or slipping in popularity, he often holds a rally in a place like this: a diverse blue city thats home to liberal protesters but surrounded by red suburbs and rural towns filled with Trump supporters who will turn out in droves. His first rally after Democrats launched an impeachment inquiry was in the Minneapolis district held by Representative Ilhan Omar, whom Trump has repeatedly demonized. Bengaluru, June 12 : Karnataka would soon amend the Land Reforms Act to allow everyone, including non-agriculturists, to buy and own farmlands across the state for agricultural activities, an official said on Friday. "The state cabinet on Thursday has agreed to amend the Land Reforms Act, 1961 to allow all citizens to purchase agricultural lands for farming or growing vegetables and fruits," a state revenue department official told IANS. Sections 63A, 79A and 79B in the Act bars non-agriculturists from buying farmlands as property in the interest of the farmers who are entitled to buy for growing more foodgrains or other crops. "Though many citizens in urban areas have been keen on taking to farming as an additional occupation or hobby and want to invest in owning farmlands, the sections were preventing them from investing in agricultural land. Abolishing the relevant sections will allow them to buy land from farmers," said the official. According to a section, non-agriculturists can buy farmland only if their annual non-agricultural income is not above Rs 25 lakh. "Besides generating substantial revenue for the cash-starved state government, the proposed amendment will allow those farmers who find the occupation non-remunerative and risky due to droughts or floods and labour shortage to sell their surplus lands to prospective buyers from cities and town," said the official. The Act, however, allows educational and religious institutions, cooperative societies and companies to buy agricultural lands for growing crops to meet their needs or for contract farming to increase the overall foodgrain production. Hundreds of citizens who have been in diverse professions spanning business, manufacturing, services, hospitality, education, health and teaching will get an opportunity to take to farming and serve the nation after the Act is amended. "The Act will be amended in the next legislative assembly session, which will be held after the Covid crisis and not through an ordinance, as the amendments have to be discussed and debated by the lawmakers," the official noted. Welcoming the decision, BJP's Rajya Sabha member K.C. Ramamurthy from Bengaluru said the amendment would allow any citizen to buy farmland in the state. "Though hundreds of people petitioned successive governments for the last 45 years to abolish the 'draconian' sections, they were ignored. I compliment Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and state Revenue Minister R. Ashok for the historic decision," Ramamurthy told IANS. After the decision comes into force, the responsibility of judges for decisions against Euromaidan activists will be abolished Ukraines Constitution Court Open source The Constitutional Court of Ukraine declared unconstitutional the article on liability for deliberately unjust decisions. The press service of the court reported this. Sources in the leadership of the Verkhovna Rada said that the decision was made at the request of a group of MPs of Opposition Platform - For Life faction. ZN.ua reported this and noted that after the decision would take effect, the responsibility of judges who ruled against activists and Ukrainian citizens during the Euromaidan will be abolished. The Constitution Court of Ukraine did make a decision in the case of the constitutional submission of 55 MPs on the compliance of Article 375 of the Criminal Code with the Constitution. And the court ruled that the disputed article of the code was unconstitutional, the statement said. It is reported that all members of the Constitutional Court, including Serhiy Holovaty, Deputy Chairman of the Constitutional Court, voted for the unconstitutionality of judges' responsibility for making deliberately illegal decisions. According to the agency, the database created by activists, contains information about over 330 judges who made illegal decisions regarding Maidan participants. The list also included judges who banned peaceful gatherings, convicted activists of allegedly maliciously resisting police and violating order of peaceful gatherings, who confiscated driver's licenses on the basis of falsified documents and detained protesters and ordered conducting investigative actions. Many judges continue to hold their offices. Last Wednesday, presidential nominee Joe Biden of the Democratic Party alleged that there will be attempts by the Republicans to decrease voter access. Another is telling the public that incumbent Donald Trump is not willing to cede victory to him by setting up the upcoming election to his favor. He also mentioned that the military will have to intervene if President Trump loses the election in any margin. According to Biden, they will have to escor Trump out, as reported CNN. Biden's trial by publicity Is it a trial by publicity after the George Floyd protests that vilified Trump, who sought to stop the looting and rioting. While the democrats supported protests, presidential nominee Joe Biden let things play out to Trump's dismay. When Biden attended the Daily Show, host Trevor Noah asked him whether Trump will leave the White House and what does he intend to do about it. Biden said yes. Despite Biden's claims Donald Trump, is still incumbent and has been working on police reform. He never promised to defund the police, which the Democrats are backpedalling on. Immediately, Biden spoke about President Trump mentioning many things without a factual basis. Among them was spreading conspiracies like projected voter fraud by the Democrats, next were lies that were connected to mail-in voting that will be a case of voter fraud. One instance is the Republican and Democratic states that many are starting to believe over the panic that is caused by the pandemic, confirmed by LA Times. Presidentiable mentioned what happened in Georgia on Tues, with voting machines and problems that made voter wait long, areas where African Americans lived. Biden added that his campaign is pulling the stops to have lawyers look at voting issues. Also read: Ex-Police Captain Shot Dead by Looters After Trying to Stop Them From Ransacking Pawnshop Joe Biden is very convinced that President Trump will not leave the White House in peace, but the only retort from the incumbent is that his democrat rival wants to defund the police. And stress regaining law and order after the protests. What else is Biden saying He reiterated what he said in an interview, mentioning Trump as the source who said that main in ballots are a big sham, saying that Trump sits in the oval office and makes a vote that will be mailed in to vote in the primaries, according to ABC News. This was about Trump sending his vote via mail into Florida. Also, Biden mentions that the US is not a military state, and they will escort Mr Trump out if loses re-election. The remarks of Biden were noted by White House press sec Kayleigh McEnany, saying that Biden's remarks were 'not valid at all', on Fox News last Thursday. On President Trump's side, he was more concerned about dealing with the fallout of the George Floyd killing, that led to rioting and looting US cities, according to New York Times. Possible Republican party maneuverings Stricter voting law to be imposed by Republicans is a concern for Joe Biden and the democrats. The cause was a refusal by the GOP to the attempt by the Democratic Governor to do mail-in voting, instead an election in April was final during the pandemic. So, far Trump has been busy with other fallout from peace and order, to reaffirming support for law enforcement. At the same time, he's also keeping in mind the cause of the protest, but Biden has not fully supported defunding the police. Related article: Democrat's Pandora's Box: Will They Agree with George Floyd Sympathizers to Defund Police? @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mass burials are common remnants of the many plague outbreaks that ravaged Medieval Europe. A number of these graveyards are well documented in historical sources, but the locations of most, and the victims they contain, have been lost to the pages of time. In Vilnius, Lithuania, one such cemetery was found in a typical way: accidental discovery during a routine city construction project. A new study published in the journal Scientific Reports details the findings of genomic analyses on these medieval skeletons, with important implications for the history of syphilis in Europe. Just another plague pit? Historical information on this Vilnius graveyard is unavailable, but the burial context, along with its location outside of the medieval city limits, pointed to plague, or some other major infectious disease outbreak. To be certain, we needed confirmation through DNA analysis." Rimantas Jankauskas, Professor of the Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University Kirsten Bos, a group leader for Molecular Palaeopathology at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (MPI-SHH) in Jena, Germany, is frequently contacted by archaeologists requesting such analyses. "Plague was a common disease at the time, and the information we get from all the ancient DNA work can tell us a lot about how it was spreading," says Bos, a specialist in ancient pathogen DNA recovery who led the current study. Working in Bos's team, doctoral candidate Karen Giffin took on DNA analysis of the putative plague victims and quickly identified the pathogen's DNA in the teeth of several individuals. "I was happy to have identified them as victims of medieval plague," says Giffin, "but we wanted to see if the new techniques we were developing in molecular detection of pathogens could allow us to learn anything more about the health of this population." More than just plague "The typical method for pathogen detection in archaeological bone requires that you have some idea of what you're looking for," explains Alexander Herbig, group leader of Computational Pathogenomics at the MPI-SHH. "In this case we applied a relatively new hypothesis-free DNA screening approach to search for any other pathogens we might be able to identify at the molecular level." This process unlocked a second secret of the 15th century graveyard. One of the four plague victims, a young woman, also showed a weak signal of something that seemed related to modern syphilis. "It was impressive to find traces of such a disease in an historical skeleton because their molecular preservation in ancient bone is known to be problematic," comments Bos. Diseases in the syphilis family, known as the treponemal diseases, are assumed to have had a long history with humans, though their inferred history in Europe is laden with controversy. The prevailing opinion holds that the first outbreak of syphilis in Europe coincided with Charles VIII's 1495 siege of Naples, where a debilitating disease erupted amongst his infantry and quickly spread around Europe. Since this outbreak happened just after the return of Columbus and his crew from their first trans-Atlantic voyage, most discussants believe syphilis was a newcomer to Europe that originated in the New World. But support is growing for a different theory. An increasing number of specialists in bone pathology believe they have properly identified examples of pre-1493 syphilis in Europe, which has ignited on-going debates about models of its evolution. "We were able to reconstruct an impressively well-preserved genome that, to our surprise, fell within the diversity of modern yaws," comments Giffin. Yaws is a lesser-known treponemal disease primarily of the skin that affects both humans and other primates in warm, tropical environments. "Finding it in northern Europe in the mid-15th century was unexpected," she adds. Yaws seems much younger than we thought Since yaws infects both humans and non-human primates, some believe it to be a very old disease, having been with humans before the massive Pleistocene migrations that spread us around the globe. "To our surprise, the yaws genome we reconstructed was just a few genetic steps away from the ancestor of all yaws varieties known in humans and non-human primates," says Bos. "Given the age of our medieval skeletons, it seems that all strains of yaws that we know today appeared on the scene only about 1000 years ago." "This has important implications for the history of treponemal disease in Europe," Bos adds. "We can now confirm that yaws was circulating in medieval Europe, and given its similarity to syphilis and its recent emergence, it's possible that yaws contributed in some way to the famous late 15th to 16th century outbreak that we normally ascribe only to syphilis." One possibility is that yaws emerged in either humans or other primates in West Africa within the last millennium and made its way to Europe in the mid-15th century. European presence in West Africa increased in the 15th century, as did the forced relocations of Africans to Europe through establishment of the transatlantic slave trade. These activities would have rapidly disseminated a new and highly contagious disease such as yaws. "The enigma about the origin of syphilis is still open," says Bos, "but disease ecology in medieval Europe is clearly more complex than we think." heterogeneity heterogeneity heterogeneity There has been a rapid evolution of the nonmetastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) disease space. Up until 2018, there were no interventions with proven benefit in this disease space. Most patients simply continued androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) until the development of metastases while some attempted secondary hormonal manipulations.However, in the past two years, three agents (apalutamide, enzalutamide, and darolutamide) have received FDA approval in this disease space due to their proven ability to prolong the time from castration-resistance to the development of metastasis (metastasis-free survival, MFS). In each case, these agents were compared to placebo and demonstrated benefit. However, due to the lack of active treatment comparisons, such a research approach fails to adequately inform clinicians and patients who must decide on a single agent (not a treatment class or strategy).In contrast to a qualitative synthesis that informs most guidelines, network meta-analysis offers a quantitative approach to cross-trial comparisons. Network meta-analysis utilizes linked direct meta-analyses with a common comparator to allow for quantitative estimates of comparative treatment effects for agents that have not been directly compared in clinical trials. While direct evidence, and even more so meta-analysis of direct evidence, has typically been preferred in guideline writing, the World Health Organization has adopted network meta-analysis to inform clinical guidelines. Some have even suggested that network meta-analysis should supplant direct meta-analysis of randomized trials as the highest level of medical evidence to inform clinical decision making.With this in mind, we undertook a network meta-analysis of agents that have received FDA approval for nmCRPC.We first examined this in a paper published in European Urology Oncology in 2018 at which time PROSPER (examining enzalutamide) and SPARTAN (examining apalutamide) had been presented.Utilizing an indirect comparison of these two agents, we found no evidence of a significant difference in MFS (hazard ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval 0.78-1.37) between enzalutamide and apalutamide. Similarly, we found no difference in secondary outcomes including prostate-specific antigen progression, overall survival, and adverse events.Since the publication of that analysis, the ARAMIS study reported outcomes for patients treated with darolutamide in this disease space. Thus, we updated our analysis accounting for this new data.Utilizing the data from these three trials, as expected, we found significantly improved MFS, PSA-PFS (prostate-specific antigen progression-free survival), and overall survival (OS) for patients who received nonsteroidal antiandrogen (NSAA) versus placebo (hazard ratio [HR], 0.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25-0.41; HR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.05-0.13; and HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.61-0.90, respectively). Interestingly, subgroup analysis demonstrated a greater benefit with NSAAs in men with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 (HR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.24-0.38) versus 1 (HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.36-0.56; p= .005), but no difference owing to PSA doubling time (p= .43) or use of osteoclast targeting therapy (p= .77).Following this pooled analysis, we then undertook network meta-analysis to compare the three agents: using a Bayesian approach, we found that apalutamide and enzalutamide had a 56% and 44% likelihood of maximizing MFS, respectively, with subgroup analysis demonstrating these agents were preferred regardless of PSA doubling time and performance status. There was a 44%, 41%, and 15% likelihood that apalutamide, darolutamide and enzalutamide offered the greatest OS benefit, respectively. Grade 3 to 4 AEs were more common with NSAAs (odds ratio [OR], 1.47; 95% CI, 1.27-1.71) and there was a 61% chance that darolutamide was preferred.While direct randomized controlled trials of these agents would be preferable to guide therapeutic decision making, to our knowledge, none are planned. Thus, these data may be useful to guide treatment choice. However, ongoing post-marketing surveillance (Phase IV studies) are required to assess the effectiveness (rather than ideal efficacy) of these agents in real-world practice.Written by: Christopher J.D. Wallis, MD, PhD, Instructor in Urology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc, Assistant Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia, Atlanta, GeorgiaReferences: (Natural News) Almost everything the lamestream media is reporting about the George Floyd riots and the context of American culture is a total lie. Here are fifteen mind-blowing truths about America, racism, George Floyd and the riots that you wont find admitted in the left-wing media: 1) No black person living in America today was ever a slave, and no white person ever owned slaves. That history is centuries old, but according to the radical Left, people living today are guilty for the sins of their ancestors but only white people qualify for this guilt, not black people like Kamala Harris whose ancestors owned slaves. According to the radical Left, having dark skin pigmentation releases you from the sins of your forefathers. Thus, black skin has magical powers i.e. black privilege. 2) The first slaves in modern-day America were actually not from Africa at all. Most of the slaves in ancient Rome were white slaves. And given that being enslaved means not owning the fruits of your own labor, the simple truth is that as long as the IRS is in existence, we are all slaves today, regardless of our color. 3) Every human being alive today can be traced back to Africa. In essence, we are all Africans. It also means we all share the same ancestors. According to anthropology, all humans living today can be traced back to a group of about 4,000 Africans. Thus, if left-wing extremists are demanding reparations for all people of African descent, thats everybody. 4) As Brandon Smith correctly explains at Alt-Market.com, there isnt a single shred of evidence that George Floyd was killed because he was black. The media narrative of systemic racism is a total fabrication. Police shooting statistics clearly show that police are far more likely to shoot a white person than a black person, even when accounting for the different proportions in population. Big Tech has gone to great lengths to quite literally censor anyone posting federal crime statistics, since the radical Left hates actual science or real facts. Instead, they call them hate facts. Yes, thats actually a new term from the insane Left. Whatever facts they dont like are simply branded hate. 5) As Paul Craig Roberts reveals in this important interview, universities have institutionalized racism and bigotry against whites by teaching anti-white hate in black studies courses. When Leftists claim they believe in tolerance and oppose hate, they are lying to themselves. They actually teach hate and despise tolerance, as is obvious in the way they so aggressively seek to destroy any person with whom they disagree. 6) Most people in America have no idea that George Floyd was a violent felon with a criminal record of violence against women. The media covers that up and presents Floyd as a heroic, almost god-like figure. As Candace Owens points out, only black culture celebrates its most vile thugs and low-life criminals: 7) The attacks on those who state the higher truth that ALL lives matter reveals the utter bigotry, hatred and anti-white racism of the progressive Left, which is now working overtime to teach white children that they are born in sin because of the color of their skin. You cant have a society rooted in equality when everyone is being taught that white children are guilty the moment theyre born. 8) Speaking of births, nearly all the Leftists who claim black lives matter are abortion advocates, and abortion centers are largely focused on black communities across America, where millions of pre-born black human beings have been systematically murdered, sometimes for profit (i.e. organ harvesting and the body parts trade). Recently, Planned Parenthood tweeted about its support for black lives. Not a single Democrat spoke out against that absurd hypocrisy. 9) The left-wing attacks on statues of champions of human rights such as Abraham Lincoln demonstrate that the lunatic Left isnt merely trying to destroy racist figures of history but the memory of all history. Thats because they want to rewrite history with fake facts like the NYT 1619 project that brazenly lies about U.S. history to smear the country as unforgivably racist from its very founding. 10) George Floyd wasnt African; he was an American. Anyone saying that Floyd is an African-American is intellectually dishonest. Floyd never immigrated from Africa and never knew the first thing about African culture or living in Africa. The entire African-American mythos is a cultural lie. Floyd was American, period. 11) The clueless Democrat Senators wearing Kente garb for CNNs cameras were actually wearing the symbols of an African tribe that sold its own members into slavery. They were, in truth, honoring African slavery, not American freedom. This is likely not an accident. Democrat lawmakers absolutely feel like they own blacks in America, as was obvious when Joe Biden said to a black radio host that, You aint black if you dont vote for me. The real slave masters in America are Democrat elitists who deliberately trap black Americans in a cycle of poverty in order to exploit their votes via victimization. 12) The new autonomous zone in downtown Seattle, created when Black Lives Matter terrorists seized six city blocks and declared the zone to be immune to U.S. laws, claims absolute sovereignty. Does this mean the progressive Left now support everybody else creating autonomous zones and declaring themselves immune to the laws of the state or country in which they exist? Because that actually sounds like a great idea. It should be universally embraced, right along with the CHAZ border enforcement, open carry gun rights and immunity from all federal laws, see? 13) Those who say black lives matter is progressive while claiming that anyone who says ALL lives matter is racist is themselves a racist bigot. The only reason black lives matter is because blacks are humans, and HUMAN lives matter. All humans: black, white, asian, latino, etc. Even the lives of cops matter, too. Yet the entire Black Lives Matter movement is inherently racist and bigoted in claiming that only black lives matter, but no one else. In fact, BLM openly supports the abortion of black babies, which means that even inside BLM, the lives of unborn blacks actually dont matter at all. Thus, their entire philosophy crumbles under the weight of just one question: Why do you support the abortion of millions of black babies? 14) Democrats are so condescending to blacks in America that they think black people are so uncivilized they can only speak through violence. Thus, Democrats argue that black people should be allowed to carry out riots, arson, murder and mayhem because they are essentially zoo animals who are incapable of intellectual discourse or civilized communication. These very same condescending Leftists then claim that white people who disagree with them should all be censored and silenced, saying that all speech they dont like is violence, while the actual violence carried out by black thugs in places like CHAZ is peaceful speech. 15) This is the most important point of all: America has no systemic racism in any institution. Law enforcement is not systemically racist, as cops kill plenty of white people, too. Universities arent racist; they actually grant black privilege during admissions for people of color. The voting system isnt racist, as Americans voted Barack Obama president TWICE, and most of those votes were from non-black individuals, by the way. The only systemic racism in America is in the minds of radical left-wing lunatics who keep faking hate crimes, whipping up fake news narratives and playing the crybully race card to make absurd demands of society. Its the same terror-style tactic they all learned in school when the university deans caved and gave black people extra credit on school exams instead of demanding they compete on a level academic playing field. Now, the very same black students who used to seize the student unions buildings and demand free bonus grades because they were black are seizing city blocks and demanding free money because theyre black. Its essentially, race-based extortion of society, and this is what todays black graduates learned when they were black students: You act like terrorists, make a lot of noise, seize a building and issue a list of demands. Since everybody in society keeps caving in to these lunatics, theyve been trained to keep upping their demands to ever-increasing stakes. Thats why if this CHAZ situation isnt stopped, Black Lives Matter will next seize the state capitol buildings and claim ownership over Washington, Oregon and California. Emboldened by those maneuvers, they will next march on Washington D.C. and declare themselves rulers over all America. The real question is: How many spineless, pussified white people will grovel in white guilt and let society be overrun by terrorists who are hiding behind the fake narrative of racism to extort America? Guilt-programmed white people in America have already surrendered to tyranny and have lost the will to defend logic, reason or the rule of law So far, the answer seems to be that the majority of white people are totally spineless, clueless morons who will go along with absolutely anything to avoid being called a racist. Thats the Lefts weaponization of the term racist. To avoid being called a racist, white people will do anything, including kneeling down and begging for forgiveness for crimes they never even committed against anyone. Some white girls were even tricked into shaving their heads and becoming actual skinheads in solidarity to Black Lives Matter. The whole thing was a 4chan prank, it turns out, but they shaved their heads anyway. Im pretty sure that if Black Lives Matter demanded that all white people rip out their eyeballs with ice picks as a way to prove that justice is blind, there are probably millions of white Americans who would gladly go along with that and start stabbing themselves in the face in a desperate effort to obediently conform. The Left has become a mindless cult, of course. What were really watching here is a massive, nationwide brainwashing re-education camp thats turning white people into spineless idiots who are so weak and pathetic, they arent even willing to defend their own language, borders, culture or nation. History tells us that those people are very quickly overrun and defeated, which is exactly whats happening right now. White America, in other words, has largely lost the will to survive and has surrendered to liberal tyranny and runaway insanity. At least the CHAZ warlords have the balls to fight for something in which they believe. The typical white American has already surrendered the will to fight for anything, including their own country. And the future of America belongs to those who are willing to fight, not to those who surrender. The over-fed, over-medicated, obese white American citizen is lazy, coddled, clueless and utterly brainwashed into hating themselves. You cant find a better example of this than Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan, a wretched, seditious traitor who is siding with the left-wing terrorists who have seized six city blocks of downtown Seattle. Little does she know that if she werent the mayor, the very people she is defending would just as soon throw her over a police barricade and repeatedly rape her, then shoot her in the head to dispose of the body after theyre finished with it. Thats the level of violence Black Lives Matter is capable of exerting against white women, and theyre just waiting for an opportunity to carry out such heinous crimes as long as the police are ordered to stand down. Dont believe me? The rapes have already begun! As Breitbart.com now reports: Seattle Police Chief: Cops Not Able to Respond to Rapes, Robberies Due to Autonomous Zone Police have been unable to respond to rapes, robberies, and all sorts of violent acts occurring in Seattles East Precinct, which authorities abandoned on Monday, leaving the area in the hands of activists who set up their own police-free Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best said Thursday. The police chief is now working on a plan to reopen the precinct, telling reporters calls for service have more than tripled. These are responses to emergency calls rapes, robberies, and all sorts of violent acts that have been occurring in the area that were not able to get to, she said. Emergency response times in the area have tripled, she noted, going from just over five minutes to 18 minutes. If that is your mother, your sister, your cousin, your neighbors kid that is being raped, robbed assaulted (or) otherwise victimized, youre not going to want to have to report that it took the police three times longer to get there to provide services to them, Best said. Its the chaos agenda, and right now the chaos is winning. Brighteon.com/75c91b71-15ac-49ba-b16f-a32c4f55b9fa Drivers working for ride-hailing services such as Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. will be considered employees under Californias new gig worker law, the states leading industry regulator said on Thursday. Shares in Uber and Lyft fell 5.3% and 4.2%, respectively, in early trading, with the new order striking at the heart of the gig economy business model of technology platforms like Uber and Lyft that rely on cheaper contract workers. The decision, by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which regulates ride-hailing companies across the state, comes six months after a state law took effect that makes it tougher for companies to classify workers as contractors rather than employees. The latter designation exempts them from paying for overtime, healthcare and workers compensation. Federal Judge Temporarily Exempts Truck Drivers from California Gig Worker Law California High Court Ruling Limits Independent Contractor Classification California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the city attorneys of Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, in May sued Uber and Lyft for misclassifying their drivers as independent contractors in violation of the law. The CPUC in an order on Thursday said it had to enforce state law, determining that drivers for transportation network companies, the industry term for ride-hailing operators, would be considered employees going forward. For now, TNC drivers are presumed to be employees and the Commission must ensure that TNCs comply with those requirements that are applicable to the employees of an entity subject to the Commissions jurisdiction, the commission said in the document. The companies have said in the past their drivers were properly classified as independent contractors, adding that the majority of them would not want to be considered employees, cherishing the flexibility of on-demand work. If California regulators force rideshare companies to change their business model it would affect our ability to provide reliable and affordable services, along with threatening access to this essential work Californians depend on, Uber said in a statement. Uber in December sued to block the new law, known as AB5, arguing that it punished app-based companies and was unconstitutional. Lyft in a statement called the CPUCs decision flawed and said forcing drivers to be employees will have horrible economic consequences for California. Both companies pointed to a November ballot initiative exempting them from the law, for which they, together with food delivery platform DoorDash, have earmarked $90 million. Under the companies proposal, drivers would receive mileage-based subsidies, healthcare stipends and occupational accident insurance, while maintaining their flexibility as contractors. Labor unions have sharply criticized the proposal for creating a new underclass of workers that lack fundamental protections such as sick pay and unemployment insurance. California in early May filed its own lawsuit against Uber and Lyft, arguing the companies misclassified their drivers in violation of the new law. (Reporting by Rana in Bengaluru, Bellon in Warwick, Rhode Island; Editing by Maju Samuel, Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Steve Orlofsky) Organizing a large-scale protest is not for the faint of heart. In most instances, theres little time for planning, its guaranteed youll be subjected to criticism, and so many things can go wrong along the way. But that didnt stop three young women from doing it anyway. Lucy Moberly, Nina Baldwin and Alize Knudsen felt so strongly about the wrongful deaths of African Americans such as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and so many others, they said they could no longer sit back and do nothing. They organized a protest Thursday evening in Riverview, one that included a march, as well as an open mic event that allowed the voices of their black brothers and sisters to be heard. Nina and I graduated from Trenton High School together in 2016, Moberly said. When all the George Floyd protests started happening, I started a donation train on Instagram where I challenged Trenton High School graduates and current students to match my $15 donation to Black Lives Matter. That donation train ended up reaching over $4,000 in just a few days, so thats when Nina texted me and said she wanted to bring all these people who were donating to the streets. Nina brought me and Alize together, and the three of us worked to plan this protest in about a week. Close to home According to Baldwin, the idea came to her while protesting in downtown Plymouth. I was so moved by their community, but was also feeling wrong about the fact that I was driving over 40 minutes to protest when the issue at hand exists in our own backyard, Baldwin said. Thats when I turned to Lucy and Alize, who jumped on board right away and ran with the idea. All Baldwin was hoping to accomplish, she said, was to spread awareness and make people acknowledge that some of their own community members have fallen victim to police brutality. Frankly, going to school in Trenton and growing up throughout Downriver, there wasnt much space created for these conversations surrounding race to be had, Baldwin said. My eyes werent opened to even half of the worlds injustices until I left Downriver and went to college. So truthfully, I did not expect the event to gain much traction. But I realized very quickly that I had given the Downriver community less credit than they deserved. Not only was the turnout beyond what we could have anticipated, but the genuine outpouring of love, support, and ally-ship that we witnessed was truly powerful. Putting in the work Moberly estimates that approximately 400 people participated in the march portion of the event. She handled communications with the press and elected officials, inviting every mayor, city council member, state legislator and member of Congress who represents the Downriver area to attend. Nina and Alize worked hard to collect donations so that we could provide the protesters with water, snacks, extra masks and candles, Moberly said. They bought all the supplies, made lists of black-owned businesses in the area that we publicized at the event, and secured voter registration volunteers. She said they worked hard to find volunteers to work as medics, as well as what they called safety volunteers, people with knowledge of the law who protesters could seek out if they were confronted by law enforcement at any point. Fortunately, that didnt happen. We had full support of the Riverview Police Department during this event so we didnt expect there to be any need for safety volunteers to intervene, but we wanted to do everything in our power to make the people of color in attendance feel safe in the presence of law enforcement, Moberly said. A few days before the protest, the three organizers met with the Police Department, the Fire Department, and the Department of Public Works to make sure they were all on the same page. And although it didnt look like it was going to happen at first, police coordinated with the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Michigan State Police to close down southbound Fort Street for protesters. Participants assembled near the reflection pond at Young Patriots Park and after a brief prayer for peace, they left the park on Sibley Road to march down Fort Street. They turned left on Fort and headed to the intersection of Pennsylvania Road, where they stood for about 20 minutes holding signs along the side of the road for passing motorists to see. Giving voice to the voiceless The march continued onto Williamsburg, where protesters gathered at the Riverview Police Department for an 8 minutes and 46 seconds moment of silence, where many of them laid on the ground. It then concluded at Young Patriots Park for an open mic session, where several people told their own personal stories of how racism has affected them. One of the first speakers, Giacomo Galofaro, provided a historical perspective about racism in the Downriver area, including sundown laws, or sundown towns. This refers to the practice of all-white suburban towns excluding nonwhites through a combination of discriminatory laws, intimidation and violence. Jeremy Paull recalled from his childhood days in Ecorse that a teacher once told him that white kids are better than black kids. He told the white people at the event that one time in history it would have been illegal for them to support blacks, that they would be shouted down and called derogatory names. He added that the white media exacerbated the problem by making up lies and scaring white people with stories that depicted black males as super predators. Another black man described himself as a victim of police brutality, saying he was unjustly arrested and charged with a crime he didnt commit. Not being able to afford an attorney, a court-appointed attorney urged him to take a plea deal that landed him in jail for three months. Had he gone to trial, he said he risked from two to five years of jail time. Larry Borrum III of Detroit was invited to attend the protest in Riverview. He told his white allies that in addition to voting, they should not stop educating themselves. He talked about the value of an African American studies class, something he said was invaluable to him as a black man. A woman spoke to the crowd about white privilege, giving an example when she and her friend both did something bad, an incident where they both broke the rules. It hurts my heart to still talk about this because she got suspended for three days for something we both did, and I got off perfectly scot-free, she said. Some people today believe white privilege doesnt exist. It really does. She implored them to use their white privilege when they see instances when black peoples voices are not being heard. Speaking from experience Knudsen took the mic and began by addressing children in the audience. She said he plans to be an educator and promised that she would teach white kids not to hate black kids. I promise that every person who walks in my classroom will learn what racism is and that (expletive) is going to stop in my classroom, she said. Ive heard so many stories and they all said it started in school. She disagrees that children are too young to understand racism. Knudsen describes herself as being biracial and she recognizes her own privilege having lighter-colored skin. She said educators have children labeled by their ethnicity as early as first grade. I struggled with my identity, she said. I grew up in Canton, Michigan, and then predominantly down here (Downriver) on the weekends with my grandparents, raised by my white mom who did one hell of a job raising me as a single parent. I was confused as hell. A lot of people told me I acted too white. I listened to white music. I hung out with too many white people. I didnt have my black dad around to teach me how to be black. She said it took her going to college where she met Baldwin, who convinced her that she was indeed black enough. Knudsen concluded by going back to the children, apologizing that they had to be there, but said adults would fight for them so they wont have to do it when they get older, or at least that is her hope. Moving forward Moberly said it was important that local officials heard what the community was feeling. We had a poster up at our event where protesters could write down the policy changes they wanted to see implemented in their communities, and I plan on sharing that with all the elected officials that we invited, whether they showed up or not, she said. Our voter registration volunteer, Terri OBrien, also registered 17 people to vote. Baldwin believes the event was successful because it brought a platform to our black and brown community members to speak their truth about personal experiences in local communities. The things people said made the entire crowd emotional, and more importantly, made them listen, Baldwin said. I felt a genuine sense of respect when I looked out at the crowd during the open mic event because no one was talking to their neighbors, no one was on their phones, and everyone was listening with an open heart with intent to better understand. I am overwhelmed and moved to be a part of this community today and moving forward because I am confident that the young people of our communities will demand to see tangible change in our lifetimes. It's no longer big news that Black Lives Matter, Antifa, anarchists, sex offenders, and criminal opportunists seized a six-block area in Seattle's chi-chi Capitol Hill district. The same people who protested against Trump's walls built walls around their Utopian paradise, the gun-haters armed themselves, and the ones decrying identification at elections demand identification for anyone seeking to enter the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (or CHAZ). Most mayors would be horrified, but not Jenny Durkan. She likes it. According to Wikipedia, the Capitol Hill district is a densely populated area known for its counterculture and LGBT communities. It's in sync with the 87% of Seattle's population that supported Hillary in 2016. It's in this neighborhood that BLM has brought forth a new nation, conceived in hysteria and violence, and dedicated to the proposition that all black people are created better than everyone else (because only their lives matter). Tucker Carlson does a fine job describing what life is like in the new nation of CHAZ: President Trump understands that you cannot allow secessionists to create their own nations at will and that, if you give anarchist revolutionaries six square blocks, they'll soon take over all of America's major cities: Radical Left Governor @JayInslee and the Mayor of Seattle are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before. Take back your city NOW. If you dont do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stopped IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2020 Mayor Durkan responded with all the grace and eloquence we've come to expect from Democrat leadership: Late Thursday night, Durkan expanded upon what she meant. As far as Durkan is concerned, there's nothing wrong with armed men fencing off a part of the city, systematically destroying its property, and committing extortion against residents and businesses. This is about "community" and "self expression." These people are patriots! Moreover, CHAZ isn't about anarchy; it's about grief, but Trump is just too dumb to understand. Durkan implies that she will stand like Tank Man in Tiananmen Square rather than let Trump send the military to attack her fair city's barricades, armed men, and shakedowns. Really, that's what she said: Im working with @SeattlePD Chief @carmenbest and listening to community to understand how we can continue to build trust between our Seattle Police officers and the community around the East Precinct. Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) June 11, 2020 A real leader would see nation-wide protests - borne from hundreds of years of immense grief of our Black community, communities of color, and so many others - and the call to become an anti-racist society, as an opportunity to build a better nation. Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) June 11, 2020 We will not let this president be a distraction. Centuries of slavery and systemic racism wont be dismantled overnight, but I believe that Seattle can be a model for our country. We must work to make progress together, and it is clear that Seattle is ready to act. Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) June 11, 2020 We will continue to build up our Women and Minority Owned Small Business programs at the @CityofSeattle that prioritize hiring businesses owned by women, black and indigenous people, and people of color. Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) June 11, 2020 And as we consider our city budget - including our SPD budget - I am committed to investing $100 million new dollars in community-based programs that serve Black and indigenous people, and communities of color. Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) June 11, 2020 All of this is a start, and believe me when I say I know that it is not enough. None of these actions will undo hundreds of years of systemic racism overnight. But at the @CityofSeattle, together with community, we are committed to doing that work. Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) June 11, 2020 Reading Durkan's inane words, I am reminded of H.L. Mencken's statement that "democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." I rather hope that Trump leaves Seattle to sleep in the bed it's made for itself. Jeremy Meeks has said that the criminal justice system was not built to support people of colour. The former gang member, who was sentenced to over two years in federal prison over illegal gun possession and gang-related crime, appeared on Good Morning Britain on Friday to discuss the Black Lives Matter movement. The system is all a design to keep people in the projects and the ghetto with no resources and no education, said Meeks, whose mugshot went viral in 2014 after he was dubbed the hot felon. In public schools, youre being taught how to be an employee. In private schools and good schools, youre being taught how to run a business. You are given nowhere near the opportunities or chances. Recommended Bon Appetit magazine issues apology amid accusations of racism The 36-year-old continued: The system is not broken, a lot of people say that the system is broken. Its not broken, it just was not designed for people of colour. Meeks added that its disheartening to see how prevalent the issue of racism remains around the world. Its very sad that in the year 2020 we are still talking about civil rights, the model said. Thats it, civil, the right to be civil. In 2020. Meeks has previously spoken about being part of the notorious North Side Gangster Crips when he was imprisoned, but now has a fledgeling modelling career. He went on to explain that he has been a victim of unjust police treatment several times, and that he finds it upsetting to see reports of peaceful protesters being arrested. If you see the videos and you see people handcuffed and they pose no threat whatsoever, it doesnt matter if you have a record or not, he said. New Delhi, June 12 : Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi during his conversation with Professor of Diplomacy at Harvard's Kennedy School, Nicholas Burns, said that the India-US partnership works because both are tolerant nations, but sadly the DNA of tolerance has disappeared in both the countries. Speaking to the former Ambassador of NATO, Rahul Gandhi said: "I think why our partnership works is because we are tolerant nations. You mentioned an immigrant nation, and we are a very very tolerant nation." "We are supposed to be open but surprisingly that open DNA is disappearing. I say this with sadness that I don't see the level of tolerance that I used to see. I don't see it in the US and I don't see it in India," the Congress leader said. Gandhi was responding to Burns, when he described the killing of George Floyd as "horrible" and said that people in the US were protesting over his killing. Floyd died after a police officer pressed his knee against his neck in Minneapolis on May 25 and despite Floyd's plea to let him go he was kept in that position until he lost consciousness and later was declared dead in a hospital. His last words "I can't breathe" have been a rallying cry for the protesters who have launched demonstrations in various parts of the US. The issue has also led to serious debate in the American society about racial discrimination. Burns said: "We are protesting and that is our right. And millions of Americans are protesting for our rights the way you have in India. And India and US shares many traits as we both have liberated ourselves from British in different years." Burns further said that he on many occasions admired the Indian society. "Country sometimes have to go through the political debate like who are we? At the core what kind of nation are we? We are an immigrant nation, we are tolerant nation," the Harvard Professor said. Burns also admitted that US is in "deep political and existential" crisis that has "gripped us all". "In the US we have a problem of race of mistreatment of African American, since the first ship of slaves arrived in 1619," Burns said, adding that the US adopted the idea of protesting in non-violent way as was taught by Mahatma Gandhi. Burns also referred to the American Civil War that fought slavery. "Our greatest, I think American of the last 100 years is Martin Luther King Junior. He fought battles peaceful, nonviolent battles. His of course, you know his ideal was Mahatma Gandhi. He modelled his movement after Gandhi's movement to liberate India from British rule," he said. "Peaceful non-violence. King Junior led us to become a better country. We elected an African-American President Barack Obama, a man I deeply respect. And yet you see racial debate come back now. You see African Americans mistreated this horrible murder of George Floyd, this young African-American man by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We have millions of Americans trying to protest peacefully, as is our right as is your right in India and yet the President treats them all like terrorists," Burns said. Burns further told Rahul Gandhi that he has identified the central issue at least for the US. "And the silver lining here is, the good news is that we have people demonstrating all across the country, in every major city in the US this week peacefully, on behalf of tolerance, inclusion, minority rights, all these essential issues at the core of our democracy." "And I think one of the advantages that we democracies have, say over an authoritarian country like China, is that we can correct ourselves. As a self-corrective part of our national DNA, and India and the US," he opined. He also stressed that like all democracies, we resolve this at the ballot box in free and fair elections. "We do not turn to violence. We do this peacefully. That's the Indian tradition that we love about India from your founding. Yeah, the 1930s, the protest movement, the Salt March all the way to 1947 and 48. So I take... that I can't comment on your country because I don't know it nearly as well, obviously, but my country I think we'll be back. We will be back, we will strengthen our democracy," the Harvard Professor said. Burns is currently the Professor of Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. In the last three months, the Congress leader has interacted with former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, Nobel Laureate Abhijeet Banerji, epidemiologist Johan Geseicke and Indian industrialist Rajiv Bajaj. Santwana Bhattacharya By Where does one even begin? Wrestling with a pandemic that had left us with little option, we locked ourselves up like cave people of the past, illumined only by a small fire, scared of the great, wild unknowns that raged outside. In a trice, we abandoned all soft dreams, and drastically trimmed the horizon of our ambitionsour pursuit could now no longer be of any higher calling, we were thrown back to the bare existential, the primal need to save our lives. That reduced us further: at two levels. The material and the moral. The means of livelihood that sustained us in this world started thinning, the liquidity of printed money lived up to its name: our savings leached away. Stress on such planetary scale was bound to set off abnormal waves in humanitys collective psyche. And sure enough, the jackboots were out soon. Heavily placed on the neck of an African-American outside an eatery in Minneapolis, of a healthcare whistle-blower in Wuhan. Almost in lock-step with a tiny new non-being that was strangulating the elderly in many parts of the developed world. Society and pandemic fused into one asphyxiating metaphor: breathing has become a problem. Who would have thought that hundreds and thousands would be out on the streets of America and Europe demanding equal rights to breathe! For those of us who grew up singing the songs and reading histories of a different era, it was indeed a bit surreal when the clock seemed to wind back to a time when disease and pestilence stalked the land freely, like thugs and pindaris, a time when growing up to be an adult was a happy accident. It was almost as if we were being granted our secret wish to be on a time machine, being taken back a century, but with a perverse twist. It was not that idyll of our fantasies, but its very negative. Wait negative is a good word now. Never before in civilisational history perhaps has a negative report been more celebrated! History itself cannot be negated, but the effects of history have to be overcomeif we wish to move forward rather than backward. Thats why hundreds of people are raging against the tacit social-intellectual quarantine of the elite. Across America, statues and monuments of Confederation war leaders, which glorified the slavery of the South, are being pulled down or renamed. Even some hawks at Pentagon agree with it, but not Donald Trump. He sees in this attack on the Great American Heritage a chance to bounce back in a re-election that was slipping away from his hands. Here, of course, we are still building statues. Never mind if we betray the real legacy of the icons thus sought to be further iconised. A Vivekananda or a Kempe Gowda would have surely done a double take at the idea of statue-building in the midst of a pandemic. Despite the proposer state and its showpiece city, Bengaluru, proving better at controlling the pandemic than Mumbai or Delhi or Tamil Nadu put together. BSY of course will never get feted in the party for that. He suffers from the same problem as MMS once did: someone else will have to be propped up. The pandemic may have irrevocably changed our way of life, our global equations, but it has not so much as touched the high command culture of Indian politics. The political class, uncharacteristically locked in battle on a social front, has been unlocked once again. At the first given opportunity, theyre back to doing the only thing theyre good at: fighting each other. Theres the Rajya Sabha to be won. In Karnataka, the surprise was restricted to the names, and a threat call; in Gujarat, its a full-blown tug-of-war over MLAs. (Who cares if bodies are being buried anonymously?) The Congress has seen much attrition there since it narrowly lost the last Assembly pollsnow, it was to suffer the indignity of some more defections, before resort politics could even kick in. The BJP calls it Congress-style harakiri, which apparently means someone from within the GOP wants to ensure the defeat of one of its own candidates. Flock engineering, coercion, bait: all this for just one seat. In Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, in a preemptive move, whisked away his flock to, where else a resort. Again, just for two seats. Why such fuss? Obviously, the Upper House is about to see some heavy lifting. Every single vote would matter. A set of bigger, bloodier electoral battles are around the corner too: the Bihar and Bengal Assemblies are at stake. Migrants be damned. Hotspot? What hotspot? Amit Shah is shaking hands with Nitish Kumar: together, they will face a minor. In Bengal, though, Shah has a match in Didi. Mamata Banerjee may have scored some self goals, but she can be matchlessShahs efforts at learning Bengali notwithstanding. He may have to learn some Rabindra Sangeet. Meanwhile, LED screens are much in demand. There was a time when screens used to bulge outward, or have a 70mm arch. Now we have flattened that curve, so that we can consume our own hubris without distortion. The anti-racist protests in America, a class war of sorts, became possible only because the curve flattened a bit. Here in India, we are still rising to meet our endless series of doomsdays. Elections and epidemics go well together. Well, the neocoronavirus may have physically masked us, but metaphorically speaking, it has unmasked every stratum of society and politics. If they needed to be, that is. Santwana Bhattacharya Resident Editor,Karnataka (Email: santwana@newindianexpress.com) A low-pressure system that developed in the Philippine Sea and tracked over the central Philippines has moved into the South China Sea and become a depression. NASA's Terra satellite provided an image of the newly formed storm. Tropical Depression Nuri (also known as 02W) formed by 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) after passing over Luzon, Philippines and moved into the South China Sea. On June 12, 2020, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA's Terra satellite provided a visible image of the newly developed Nuri. The image showed a cluster of thunderstorms surrounding the center of circulation and located between the Philippines and Hainan Island, China. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted, "Animated enhanced infrared satellite imagery depicts discrete clusters of deep convection flaring around the periphery of a broad low-level circulation center. A microwave image indicates a broad weakly defined low level center with formative shallow banding [of thunderstorms] wrapping into the center." By 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), it was located approximately 329 nautical miles south-southeast of Hong Kong, China, near latitude 17.9 degrees north and longitude 116.8 degrees east. Maximum sustained winds were 30 knots (34.5 mph/55.5 kph) and strengthening is forecast. Nuri has tracked west northwestward at 13 knots (15 mph/24 kph). The storm is forecast to make landfall to the southwest of Hong Kong, China on June 14. ### NASA's Terra satellite is one in a fleet of NASA satellites that provide data for hurricane research. Tropical cyclones/hurricanes are the most powerful weather events on Earth. NASA's expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting. By Rob Gutro NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With most concerts and other live events shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, comedian Dave Chappelle has stepped up to host invite-only shows near his hometown of Dayton, Ohio. And one of them is now a free Netflix special. So far, three intimate shows titled Dave Chappelle & Friends: A Talk with Punchlines have taken place at Wirrig Pavilion in Yellow Springs (less than 30 minutes outside of Dayton) with approximately 100 people in attendance. The shows emphasize social distancing while doing temperature checks and requiring masks. Another show will take place Friday at 9 p.m. Tickets are $150 plus fees. You can join the waitlist on Eventbrite. Dan Tierney, press secretary for Governor Mike DeWine confirmed representatives for Chappelle reached out and received approval for hosting the shows under the guidelines of Responsible Restart Ohio. Chappelle and guest performers Michelle Wolf and Cincinnati native Gabe Kea, performed from a stage in front of a few guests in the pavilion and more who were seated on a lawn. Chappelles performance featured mostly new material, including his take on the events surrounding the death of Floyd. You can watch Chapelles moving performance, filmed on June 6, below: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, have agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus disease sweeping the globe, the presidential palace in Manila said Friday. The two leaders spoke by telephone for 38 minutes on Thursday, two days after Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana inaugurated a concrete pier on Pag-asa Island as part of infrastructure upgrades being built by Manila, which has occupied it since the 1970s. Pag-asa, known internationally as Thitu Island, is one of nine islands and atolls the Philippines claims in contested waters of the South China Sea, near where China has established military outposts. President Duterte stressed the need for cooperation in research trials for COVID-19 vaccine and treatments, a statement from the Office of the President said, noting that he had also emphasized the imperative of making vaccines accessible and affordable to all countries including the Philippines. Duterte spokesman Harry Roque said the call was mutually agreed upon when BenarNews asked him who had initiated the call. Roque emphasized that it was meant to mark the Philippines 122nd Independence Day on Friday. The leaders had a productive, open and focused telephone conversation and committed to boost bilateral, regional and global efforts to combat COVID-19, according to the statement from the presidential office. For his part, President Xi reiterated Chinas commitment to the international community to make any vaccine it develops a global public good and that as a friendly neighbor, China certainly considers the Philippines as a priority, it said. COVID-19 has killed 1,052 people across the Philippines and infected 24,787, according to the latest information released by the countrys Department of Health. Globally, more than 7.5 million people have been infected by COVID-19 and more than 422,000 have died as of Friday, according to data compiled by disease experts at U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University. The presidential statement said Duterte received Xis full support in ensuring that the supply chain remained unbroken between both nations, particularly for medical supplies and equipment. Meanwhile, the Chinese leader also committed to promote priority infrastructure cooperation projects here. The two leaders likewise reviewed Philippines-China relations, noting the value of the friendship and the significantly increasing cooperation in wide areas of mutual interest, the statement said. They reiterated their shared commitment to boost strategic cooperation while resolving to uphold peace, stability, prosperity and principles of international law, including the rule of law. That part of the statement appeared to allude to the South China Sea, a mineral-rich area and a potential powder keg in the region because of overlapping territorial claims. China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan claim the whole sea or parts of it. Lorenzanas visit on Tuesday to Pag-asa, an island in the Spratly chain, occurred on the day marking the 45th anniversary of the formal opening of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and the Peoples Republic of China. In recent years, China has ignored an agreement among all claimants from taking action in the area that could inflame tensions, and has in fact, expanded areas it occupies. It also has taken over Scarborough Shoal, an area west of the Philippines main island of Luzon and a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen. Manila took China to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which ruled in 2016 in the Philippines favor. Duterte never enforced the ruling and instead sought more friendly ties with China and Russia while distancing from traditional ally the United States. France's private insurers would provide business-interruption cover of up to 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) a year in total for small companies hit by the fallout of any future pandemics, under a system proposed by the industry body. The proposals, which would not apply to the current crisis, are aimed at helping 2.9 million small and mid-sized companies to cover some losses should they be required by the state to shut down their businesses if disaster strikes again. The plan follows confusion and recriminations around the world as the COVID-19 pandemic has blindsided governments and insurers. Businesses facing unprecedented lockdowns have struggled to claim back massive losses from an industry that may not be able to cover them. Insurers in the United States and Europe, facing political pressure and lawsuits from clients, are discussing with authorities new ways to cover future crises. Existing French business-interruption policies usually cover revenue losses stemming from some physical damage, such as fire. They typically either exclude or do not specifically cover a pandemic. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Under the proposed mechanism, known as CATEX, private insurers and reinsurers would provide coverage of up to 2 billion euros annually to businesses overall, beyond which the state would step in via public reinsurer CCR. The new guarantee would be built into either fire insurance contracts, which all France companies have; or into business interruption policies, which 50 percent of businesses have. The proposal has been put forward by the FFA insurance trade body. It is among plans being examined by a working group set up by French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, which includes lawmakers, business lobbies, France's insurance association and public reinsurer CCR. "The compensation would be a lump sum and paid without prior expertise," the FFA said. "The financing of the CATEX system would be ensured via a premium paid by the companies concerned, and via a public-private partnership." NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 01: NYPD officers stand in formation as nearby demonstrators hold a rally in Times Square denouncing racism in law enforcement and the May 25 killing of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis, on June 1, 2020 in New York City. Days of protest, sometimes violent, have followed in many cities across the country Scott Heins/Getty Images NYPD officers have been photographed not wearing face masks, worn to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. Some protesters said they see it as a blatant disregard for the safety and well being of the public. The NYPD has been dismissive of criticism on the issue. The department has been impacted by the coronavirus. As of May 24, at least 43 members of the NYPD had died from the virus. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. While covered head to toe in protective equipment, New York City officers appear to be neglecting one necessary item of protective gear: masks. And protesters feel it's a snub to their safety in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. According to TIME, officers have been seen not donning the protective face coverings in the midst of widespread protests despite the city still seeing new cases rise. New York state was also the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the US. Out of the country's over 2 million infections, more than 385,000 were in the state, of which 213,000 were in New York City alone. The city also saw close to 22,000 of the state's 30,000 deaths. Hospitalizations are also on the rise. Ibrahima Mbaye told Insider he was arrested while protesting in New York City. He described being detained and held in close quarters with other people, who were not given masks nor hand sanitizer, nor who were allowed to properly socially distance. Mbaye said while detained, he was put into a holding cell that more and more people were being thrown into, some of whom had said they were either exposed to or had coronavirus. He said calls for proper safety measures by detainees fell on deaf ears. "There were people who had pretty explicitly said that they were positive for coronavirus and then none of them listened to us. They could hear us, we knew they could hear us. They would laugh at us, scoff at us," he said. Story continues In his circumstance, both detainees and officers were not wearing masks. "We have no masks, and you police officers have no masks on, and we do not want to get infected," Mbaye said. There's a concern that officers who are infected could pass the virus on to those in the public without even knowing. The face masks limit how far particles can spread and reduce the risk of transmission. "If police officers, who are infected with the virus, are shouting and yelling within 6 feet of other people, they are emanating a lot of particles out of their mouth because they are speaking very forcefully," Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center For Health Security told TIME. "That would facilitate asymptomatic transmission." According to The New York Times, the New York Police Department has an official policy that officers wear masks when interacting with the public. "If they're interacting with the public, they're obligated to wear masks," NYPD Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters Oleg Chernyavsky said at a virtual May 22 public safety committee hearing. "We follow the direction from the Department of Health." New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's also ordered all residents to wear face coverings while in public in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus. "Police officers should be wearing masks," Cuomo said during a news conference on Monday, according to The Times. However, despite that, the NYPD still excused the lack of masks. "Perhaps it was the heat," Sgt. Jessica McRorie ,of the department's press office, said in a statement to The Times. "Perhaps it was the 15 hour tours, wearing bullet resistant vests in the sun. Perhaps it was the helmets. With everything New York City has been through in the past two weeks and everything we are working toward together, we can put our energy to a better use." But protesters have looked at officers' refusal to wear masks as a message that they're either above the rules that everyone else must follow or apathy for the public well-being, both messages seemingly at odds with their jobs to serve and protect. "It's symbolic," Cynthia Godsoe told TIME. "They are blatantly snubbing us." A Twitter account was made to trace NYPD officers who were seen in public without a mask. In some instances, videographers and photographers would approach the police and take note of their names and badge numbers, or even ask why they're not wearing a mask. NYPD Contact Tracing (@nypdmaskwatch) June 7, 2020 According to The Times, one officer who was confronted by a young man and recorded on the @nypdmaskwatch account on Saturday said: "We've got more important things to deal with." NYPD Contact Tracing (@nypdmaskwatch) June 12, 2020 "It's unsafe and disrespectful to the public," Godsoe told TIME. "This is a rule we all have to follow, and they're sending a terrible message." Data from across the country, including in New York City, have shown that communities of color specifically Black and Hispanic populations are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. A report published in May by researchers at amfAR, a non-profit focused on AIDS research, "found that US counties in which at least 13% of the population is Black account for 58% of COVID-19 deaths and 52% of cases nationwide," Business Insider previously reported. "Crisis can exacerbate existing inequalities, which is demonstrated in higher rates of hospitalization and death among certain populations in many countries," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said in a press briefing on Wednesday. In New York City, preliminary data showed that the neighborhoods most impacted by coronavirus were Latinx communities, NPR reported. While those in the Latinx community only make up around 29% of the city's populations, they accounted for about 34% of those who died from the virus, as of April. Coronavirus can be spread in closed spaces, especially jails. According to The Legal Aid Society, 1,408 Department of Corrections employees tested positive for the virus as of June 5, an almost 13% infection rate, compared to a 2.5% infection rate in NYC. "Based on this analysis, New York City jails have become the epicenter of COVID-19. It is imperative that Albany, City Hall, our local District Attorneys and the NYPD take swift and bold action to mitigate the spread of this deadly virus," Tina Luongo, Attorney-in-Charge of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society said on their website. According to TIME, City Councilman Donovan Richards, who is the head of the council's public safety committee, said it was hypocritical for officers not to be wearing masks when they were the ones enforcing social distancing before the lockdown was lifted. "There should be no one above the law, and this is why things have bubbled up," he says. "The hypocrisy, it plays right into why this powder keg has ignited." And officers deemed essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic are not immune from contracting the virus. As of May 23, at least 43 members of the NYPD had died from the virus, and some officers have been seen with black memorial bands on their badges to mourn the losses. Read the original article on Insider Australian travellers could be charged for their mandatory quarantine stays as guests continue to moan about their luxury hotels. Queensland has pushed to charge for the 14-day lockdown while New South Wales and Victoria are set to continue to spend millions of taxpayer dollars. The states are awaiting advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee to determine if travellers should pick up the bill, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Australian travellers may soon be charged for their mandatory 14-day quarantine stays in luxury hotels. Pictured: The Four Points Hotel in Brisbane Residents have publicly moaned about the food at the luxury hotels. Pictured: A woman the InterContinental in Sydney received a chicken dinner despite being a vegetarian QLD said it was looking to charge returned travellers while NSW and VIC will continue to foot the quarantine bill with taxpayer dollars. Pictured: The Swissotel in Sydney Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said last week her government was 'looking in the future' for returned travellers to pay their own quarantine bills. It is believed the states will discuss the issue at a National Cabinet meeting on Friday. The New South Wales government has reportedly spent over $16 million housing returned travellers in quarantine accommodation since March 28. As of June 3 more than 20,700 people had been quarantined at hotels in New South Wales. The New South Wales government, which housed over 60 per cent of Australia's arrivals, intends to invoice other states. Victoria said it will cover the cost of its quarantines and is expecting to eventually receive a total of 15,000 returned travellers. The state budgeted $30 million, $2000 a person, for the hotel accommodations. All states and territories agreed to cover the cost of quarantine accommodation at a national cabinet meeting in March. The Northern Territory later forced arrivals to pay for their own accommodation and food, which cost an average of $2500 per room. The NSW Government has spent over $16 million housing travellers since March. Pictured: The Radisson Blue Plaza Hotel in Sydney Victoria also budgeted a whopping $30 million towards hotel quarantine accommodation. Pictured: The Four Points Hotel in Brisbane Guests complained they felt like prisoners with the lack of freedom and inadequate food The federal government's mandatory quarantine for Australian travellers has been highly publicised around the world since early March. Residents have been placed into luxury hotels across state capitals for two weeks as part of efforts to stop community transmission of COVID-19. But there has been widespread complaints about the food on offer, lack of freedom and slow service. One woman holed up at the Hilton in Sydney described feeling like she was 'in custody' during her 'forced isolation lockdown'. Hilton Sydney guests (pictured) described feeling like they were 'in custody' Pictured: A resident at the Crown Promenade Hotel in Melbourne shared a picture of their 'dinner for two' which featured only a salad, fruit, chips and confectionary Another Hilton guest complained of the 'limit of one alcohol order per day, limits per person, mini bar pricing and narrow options'. The woman said she had 'not yet managed to get grocery delivery' and that the Hilton provided 'bang average no selection stale food'. A guest at the InterContinental Sydney said they were provided with a dinner for four people that only consisted of 'One bottle of water, one bread roll. 'Anything else to drink is from the minibar at 5-star hotel prices. No takeaway or delivery allowed.' Another picture shared from the Crown Promenade Hotel in Melbourne showed a 'dinner for two' with only fruit, salad, one packet of chips, a chocolate bar and one water bottle. The poster noted they were allergic to apples and labelled the meal 'a disgrace'. PM Shmyhal informs how Ukraine will use IMF funds 22:57, 12.06.20 4197 The first disbursement worth US$2.1 billion was wired to Ukraine on June 12. Despite his governments repeated disobedience for court orders, President Muhammadu Buhari Friday pledged respect for the rule of law and press freedom. Mr Buhari also said his administration appreciates the role of the media in Nigeria, despite the medias imperfect relationship with successive governments. I must admit that the relationship between the media and successive governments has not always been perfect, the Nigerian president said in a televised broadcast to mark the annual Democracy Day. But there is no denying the fact that you have been an effective watchdog for the society especially in holding public officers to account. It is sad that in the course of securing our democracy, some of your colleagues have had to pay a heavy price, he said. Mr Buhari also said his administration is focused on guaranteeing press freedom and upholding the rule of law. The Buhari government has been criticised for serially disobeying court orders and violating the rule of law. PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday reported how the government illegally dismissed dozens of top army officers four years ago and has since repeatedly disobeyed court orders for the reinstatement of some of them. The federal government, through the State Security Service (SSS) also detained a journalist, Jones Abiri, for over a year without trial. He was eventually charged to court following a local and international outcry. His trial for alleged links to Niger Delta militants is ongoing. Another journalist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, was arrested last year by the State Security Service (SSS) for allegedly inciting the public against the government. Even after he was granted bail by two different judges, the government still held on to him for weeks. He was later released on bail following local and international outcry including by U.S. lawmakers. His trial is ongoing. However, in his speech, Tuesday, Mr Buhari pledged respect for the rule of the law. This administration is focused on ensuring that Nigeria would always be governed by the Rule of Law and I would do my utmost to uphold the constitution and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians, the president said. He said the government has initiated a number of policies and programmes designed to promote the legal rights of Nigerians, facilitate the institutionalization of a responsive legal system, and provide support to all constituted bodies in implementing their mandates and improve the system of justice. The National Assembly has been an important partner in our quest to sustain our democracy and achieve our development objectives. I therefore greatly thank the leadership and members of the Senate and the House of Representatives for their invaluable support at all times. President Buhari also conveyed his deep appreciation to members of the Press for their doggedness in the struggle for attainment of democracy since the beginning of our nationhood. We will continue to guarantee freedom of the Press as we place high premium on responsible journalism that is devoid of hate speech fake news and other unethical professional conduct, he said. Nepal has said that its new map that redraws its border with India would be permanent with no room for change, but the country is ready for dialogue with India. The statement comes from the country's foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali after Nepal officially released its new political map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as parts of its territory in the wake of the country's ongoing conflict with India. The country's parliament is set to hold a special session on Saturday to amend the constitution to change the map laying claim over the strategically key areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura along the border with India. Gyawali told India Today TV that the said changes have been supported by all political parties, adding the map is going it be "permanent" and that there is no room for any change in the same. He further stated that all parliamentary procedures will be concluded by next week following a formal amendment to the constitution which will be approved by the President of Nepal. Also Read: 'Don't go against Satyameva Jayate': Nepal PM takes a dig at India over border dispute "The decision to change its map came after India made changes to its map during the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir on November 2, 2019," Gyawali enunciated setting out that Nepal's decision stands permanent because the three territories (of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura) belong to the country "and there's no ambiguity over that". However, "a dialogue is required to formally recognise which part belongs to Nepal" the foreign minister emphasised. While the decision, once signed and sealed by parliament, cannot be changed, he stressed that both sides should open informal channels of communication to restart dialogue. "There has been no response to our letter from the Indian side regarding the start of foreign secretaries-level meeting. However, both embassies are active and trying to open up formal communications," Gyawali told India Today TV. When asked if Nepal's Prime Minister (PM) K P Sharma Oli will speak to his Indian counterpart, PM Narendra Modi, Gyawali informed, "The two PMs have developed a personal friendship over the past couple of years. We have formally said that Nepal is always willing to dialogue." On India's silence for holding foreign secretary-level talks with Nepal, he said if India can undertake negotiations with other nations like China to settle its border issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, then why can't New Delhi have a dialogue with Kathmandu. "As you have seen recently, Army commanders of India and China sat together to discuss border issues. If that can happen between India and China, then why can't it happen with other countries -- Bangladesh, Nepal," the Nepalese foreign minister said. Clearing the air over talks of China's influence on Nepal's decision, Gyawali clarified, "Nepal is the only country in South Asia that was never colonised. We have good relations with both of our neighbours -- India and China. Nepal cannot shut the door on one side. If you compare our engagements with India and China, there's no comparison. India is engaged with China many times more in terms of trade partnerships or boundary linkage." Also Read: Bhutan, Nepal seal borders with India over coronavirus fears Asserting that any resolution to the current crisis between India and Nepal would require "political will" from both sides. He hoped that the prime ministers of both nations would speak over the phone. Nepal last month released a revised political and administrative map of the country, laying claim over strategically key areas. India has maintained that these three areas belonged to it. Earlier this week, the Nepalese Parliament unanimously endorsed a proposal to consider the constitution amendment bill to pave the way for endorsing the new map. The ties between India and Nepal came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8. Nepal reacted sharply to the inauguration of the road, claiming that it passed through Nepalese territory. India rejected the claim, asserting that the road lies completely within its territory. India sternly asked Nepal not to resort to any "artificial enlargement" of territorial claims after Kathmandu released the new map. Nepal's PM Oli has said that his government will seek a solution to the Kalapani issue through diplomatic efforts and dialogue on the basis of historical facts and documents. India has been observing developments in Kathmandu but there has been no word on the developments. He claimed that India built a Kali temple, created "an artificial Kali river" and "encroached the Nepalese territory through deploying the Army" in Kalapani. The river defines the border between the two countries. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Shrivastava said on Thursday that India deeply values its friendly ties with Nepal. "We have already made our position clear on these issues. India deeply values its civilisation, cultural and friendly relations with Nepal. Our multi-faceted bilateral partnership has expanded and diversified in recent years with increased focus and enhanced Government of India's assistance on humanitarian, development and connectivity projects in Nepal," he said. Streets and buildings are submerged under flood water in Yangshuo, in China's southern Guangxi region on June 7, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Heavy Flooding in 11 Provinces of China as State-Run Media Keep Silent Heavy downpours in June have led to serious flooding in at least eleven provinces of China. Residents in two cities told The Epoch Times that local authorities discharged the rainwater that accumulated in reservoirs without alerting people in advance, causing dozens of people to get swept away. Many also lost their homes due to the flooding, but state-run media barely covered the news, while local media ran a few articles that mainly glorified the authorities rescue efforts. Heavy Flooding Chen Yang (pseudonym), a villager who lives at Liangjiang road in Shuangjiang town, Lipu city in southern Chinas Guangxi region, told the Chinese-language Epoch Times more details about the recent flooding. We were seeing that our fellow villagers were washed away by the floodwater, but we couldnt help. We hadnt found their bodies yet because the floodwater is still deep, he said in a phone interview on June 11. The elderly villagers had never seen this kind of heavy flooding in their lifetime, Chen added. Chens village has roughly 2,000 to 3,000 residents, with many of them living in houses made of mud and straw. Chen said local people are poor, and thus, dont have money to buy bricks and cement to build their houses. When the flood entered our village, the water reached two to three meters (6.569.84 feet) high. The first floor of all buildings in our village were submerged in floodwater at that time, Chen said. 90 percent of the mud houses collapsed after being soaked in the floodwater. We dont dare to enter the not yet collapsed ones, he added. Hong Chen (pseudonym) operates a bed-and-breakfast in Yangshuo city, which is about 25 miles away from Chen Yangs home. She told the Chinese-language Epoch Times on June 10 that rain started falling on June 6. Now, the county-level cities of Yangshuo, Yongfu, and Pingle, in Guilin municipality, are completely flooded. The whole Yangshuo downtown is flooded During the worst period, some houses second floor was also submerged under water People had to sleep on the third or higher floors, Hong said. The citys water supply and electricity were cut off, with some areas not yet restored with service, she added. Hong said some mud houses in the downtown area also collapsed. Fields and inundated buildings submerged in flood in Rongan County in Chinas southern Guangxi region on June 10, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Man-made Flooding She explained why the flooding was made worse by authorities actions. Heavy rain caused the water level of the Li River to be very high. 6 p.m. yesterday [June 9], authorities didnt alert us and discharged the water of a large reservoir upstream of the Li River, she said. A small reservoir close to Yangshuo city could not contain the water, and the local dam broke. The water has washed away our city, Hong said. A store owner at a local sightseeing site in Yangshuo also relayed the same information. He said that the water level of the Li River is still high. Chen, from Lipu city, said the flooding in his hometown was also caused by the reservoirs discharging. Lipu city is named after the Lipu River that traverses the city. Chens hometown is located between two tributaries of the Lipu River, one is Maling River. There are several reservoirs upstream of the Maling River, including the Dajiang Reservoir. The regime discharged the Dajiang Reservoir without notification. Then, the dam of a small reservoir broke, Chen said. Within several minutes, the water entered our village. We didnt have any time to prepare. Chen said the waters washed away three towns downstream of the river: Huaze, Shuangjiang, and Maling. Everything is gone, Chen said. The flood submerged crop fields and ruined the villagers harvest, Chen added. Others lost their household items. People are watching a floodwater submerged street in Rongan County in Chinas southern Guangxi region on June 10, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Government Relief After the flooding, local authorities promised to distribute relief. However, residents said not much has materialized. We heard that in other townships, some bread was distributed. But for a three-member family, [authorities] only gave them one bread. Its almost nothing, Chen said. At a nearby village, authorities distributed a bottle of cooking oil, bag of rice, and box of congee-in-a-can to each family. But Chen said authorities soon collected back the items from families that did not use the goods. A villager who ate the congee was asked to pay for it. Some villagers did not qualify for the aid, as government officials said their houses did not collapse, Chen said. A man is checking his motorcycle amid floodwaters in Rongan County in Chinas southern Guangxi region on June 10, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) On June 11, several Taiwanese media reported that at least 19 people died in the recent flooding that occurred in 11 Chinese provinces. According to their estimates, 230,000 people lost their houses, and 2.62 million people lost their property or were injured. However, Chinas state-run media has kept mum throughout this time. On the Chinese Communist Partys official mouthpiece newspaper Peoples Daily, there has been no related coverage. On state-run media Xinhua, theres only one brief report related to the flood on its front page. This report focused on how authorities helped people. On state-run broadcaster CCTVs website, there are only two news articles related. One reported that the water levels of 148 rivers were higher than the alarm level designated by authorities. The other article reported that authorities helped people who lost their homes during the flooding in Huizhou city, Guangdong Province. On Weibo, a Twitter-like platform, the flooding has not been widely discussed. The trending topics included U.S. riots and gossip news about the girlfriend of a Chinese movie actor. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. As the worlds most popular nation for tourism strives to recover some of the lost summer, the tourism minister is reaching back to the Eighties for musical inspiration. France, which normally receives 90 million international visitors a year, fears than many visitors will stay away even when the barriers start coming down later this month. At present each month without significant international tourism represents around 15bn (12.5bn) in lost revenue to the industry. So the tourism minister, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, has launched a campaign called Cet ete, je visite la France, which translates as This summer Im visiting France. The aim is to persuade the French to explore their own country rather than travelling abroad. Mr Lemoyne told the Assemblee nationale in Paris: Were working flat out with the various parts of France, in particular the regions. The reason Ive launched an appeal for a blue, white and red summer is precisely to encourage French people to rediscover our land. You can go round the world by touring France; thats what is tremendous in our country. In a bid to persuade his fellow citizens to explore beyond the usual destinations, he invoked a 1986 hit from veteran French popster Didier Barbelivien: Quitter lautoroute, which translates as Get off the motorway. Its time to get back to our good N and D roads to rediscover Frances gems, Mr Lemoyne said. These routes nationales and routes departementales are the equivalent of A and B roads in the UK. As a road anthem, the song has some bizarre lyrics, such as Les trains arrivent toujours a temps, Monsieur le garde-barriere (The trains always arrive on time, Mr Gatekeeper). But fans may claim the hit was positively avant-garde in its portrayal of the concept of slow travel, with lines such as Quitter l'autoroute pour voir les ruisseaux, les oiseaux, les chateaux Get off the motorway to see the streams, the birds, the castles. France around 1900: A Portrait in colour Show all 11 1 /11 France around 1900: A Portrait in colour France around 1900: A Portrait in colour FRANCE-1900-Taschen-11.jpg Marc Walter Collection France around 1900: A Portrait in colour FRANCE-1900-Taschen-10.jpg Marc Walter Collection France around 1900: A Portrait in colour FRANCE-1900-Taschen-2.jpg Marc Walter Collection France around 1900: A Portrait in colour FRANCE-1900-Taschen-8.jpg Marc Walter Collection France around 1900: A Portrait in colour FRANCE-1900-Taschen-1.jpg Marc Walter Collection France around 1900: A Portrait in colour FRANCE-1900-Taschen-5.jpg Marc Walter Collection France around 1900: A Portrait in colour FRANCE-1900-Taschen-7.jpg Marc Walter Collection France around 1900: A Portrait in colour FRANCE-1900-Taschen-4.jpg Marc Walter Collection France around 1900: A Portrait in colour FRANCE-1900-Taschen-6.jpg Marc Walter Collection France around 1900: A Portrait in colour FRANCE-1900-Taschen-9.jpg Marc Walter Collection France around 1900: A Portrait in colour FRANCE-1900-Taschen.jpg Mr Lemoyne also set out a timetable for opening up to foreign tourists indicating that France will join much of the rest of Europe in removing internal EU barriers next Monday, 15 June, and opening up to international visitors from 1 July. At present France imposes a two-week quarantine for passengers arriving from Britain, in retaliation to the UKs decision to impose quarantine on all visitors from abroad. Travellers arriving from the UK, whatever their nationality, are asked to go into a voluntary 14-day quarantine, says the French embassy in London. The Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee on George Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes until Floyd died had 18 previous complaints filed against him, according to media reports. An officer in Fort Lauderdale accused of shoving a kneeling woman amid protests after Floyds death had 70 documented use-of-force incidents in his four years as a police officer, including 51 instances of pulling his gun on someone, newspapers have found. The prices of fuel were hiked again on Friday. While petrol price was hiked by 57 paise per litre, diesel price saw an upward revision of 59 paise per litre. This was the sixth straight daily increase in rates since oil PSUs ended an 82-day hiatus in rate revision. The cost of petrol has gone up by Rs 3.31 in these six days, while diesel by Rs 3.42. Petrol price in Delhi was hiked to Rs 74.57 per litre from Rs 74, while diesel rates were increased to Rs 72.81 a litre from Rs 72.22, according to a price notification of state oil marketing companies. Petrol and diesel prices were hiked by 60 paise per litre each on Thursday. Rates have been increased across the country and vary from state to state depending on the incidence of local sales tax or VAT. Indias fuel demand rose by nearly 50 per cent in May from the previous month as the country eased coronavirus-led restrictions, news agency Reuters reported on Wednesday quoting data from the Oil Ministry, signalling a slow revival of economic activity. Fuel consumption, a proxy for oil demand in Asias third biggest economy, totalled 14.65 million tonnes in May, 47.4 per cent higher than in April but still 23.3 per cent lower than a year earlier, Reuters quoted data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the ministry. Local sales of refined products in the worlds third biggest oil importer and consumer had fallen to their lowest since 2007 in April as the nation imposed a complete lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Industry analysts expect it to take months for consumption to reach pre-lockdown levels as the monsoon season approaches, manufacturing activities remain low and transportation demand takes a hit in some parts of the country. Consumption of diesel, which accounts for about two-fifths of Indias overall fuel usage and is widely used in transportation and irrigation, was down about 29.4 per cent year-on-year at 5.50 million tonnes. Sales of petrol fell by 35.3 per cent from a year earlier to 1.77 million tonnes. Petrol and diesel sales in May, however, increased by 81.8 per cent and 69.1 per cent respectively from April, the data shows. Hyderabad, June 12 : In a shocking incident, a man suffering from asthma died by the roadside in Telangana after no one came forward to take him to hospital and even ambulance staff did not come to rescue suspecting him to be a Covid-19 patient. The 52-year-old man, who continued begging to people around him to shift him to hospital, breathed his last before medical personnel in Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits could arrive on the spot. The ghastly incident occurred in Chengunta in Medak district of Telangana on Thursday and heart wrenching moments before the man's death were captured on camera. A woman who recorded the video on her mobile phone kept asking questions to the man, who was lying on the ground next to a tree with his bag under his head. The man was heard telling the people around him that he was a resident of Secunderabad and had come for some work. As he felt sick during the bus journey, he got down enroute at Chegunta. "I informed my family but never thought it will become serious," he said while panting for breath. He even gave the mobile number of his wife. However, all those present there, including policemen did nothing to shift him to a hospital. The police had requested for an ambulance, which arrived after an hour. Even the ambulance staff was reluctant to shift the man as they had no PPE kits and they suspected him to be a Covid-19 patient. The police then called another ambulance meant for shifting Covid-19 patients but by the time it reached the spot, the man had breathed his last. "Our inquiries revealed that he fell sick while returning to Secunderabad from Kamareddy and requested the bus driver to drop him at Chegunta. He tried to walk towards the hospital but collapsed on the way," a police officer said. The police informed the family members and got the body shifted to Hyderabad. Though Srinivas' family has not lodged a complaint with police, his wife and son lamented the "loss of humanity" among people at large. "Instead of shifting him to the hospital which was not far from the place where he was lying, people were asking questions. If somebody had shifted him to hospital, his life could have been saved," his son said. The deceased's wife said he was asthmatic but forgot to keep medicines with him during the journey. She said they had started from their home in a cab for Chegunta after receiving his call but by the time they reached there he had passed away. "If only those who had gathered around my husband had shifted him to hospital he would have been alive," she said lamenting that humanity is dead. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text GRAND RAPIDS, MI Dont forget about black women. That was the central message that Isabel Delgado wanted to convey when she organized a march for Grand Rapids native Breonna Taylor at Rosa Parks Circle on Friday, June 12, she told MLive. Taylor, 26, a black emergency medical technician, was killed in her Louisville, Ky., apartment by police on March 13. Police officers - looking for a suspect who was already in custody - executed a no-knock warrant and opened fire, striking Taylor at least eight times. Members of Taylors family took the stage downtown to call for justice among the police officers who were involved in her death, none of whom have been charged. In recent weeks, people have protested against racism and police brutality, following the death of George Floyd. Floyd, a black Minnesota man died on May 25 after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Protesters in Michigan and across the country and world are seeking greater accountability for police violence against black people and for systemic racism to be addressed. Delgado said she wanted to make sure that Taylors life, as a black woman and daughter of Grand Rapids, was not forgotten within that movement. Shes someone who was once among us, Delgado said. Speaking before a crowd of several hundred who gathered on Friday afternoon, Delgado echoed that sentiment when she read the names of black women and girls who have been killed by the police. I stand here today to say that we simply cannot forget about black women, and that black women matter, she said. Black women are the backbones of so many of the civil rights movements you and I know to this date. Today, we are starting a movement, she went on. Breonna was born and raised here. We are her city. We are her people. Tawanna Gordon, a cousin of Taylor, described her as a peacemaker and light within their family, and called on those gathered to continue pushing for the Louisville police officers to face accountability. If they cant get rid of us, they cant excuse the mess that they made, she said. Stay applying pressure. Erica Eaves, another cousin, tied the days event to the broader Black Lives Matter protests taking place in hundreds of cities worldwide. Everybody wants to say, all lives matter. Theyre correct. But today, black lives matter because theyre being taken while they sleep in their homes, Eaves said. Breonna was somebodys daughter, somebodys sister, somebodys cousin." Taylor, who has become one of the faces of a worldwide movement for change, moved to Louisville from Grand Rapids more than a decade ago. Locally, there have been several events in her honor in recent weeks, including a 24-hour long vigil at Rosa Parks Circle on June 5, what would have been her 27th birthday. After Fridays speeches, Taylors family and the event organizers led a peaceful and boisterous march up Pearl Street. They passed storefront windows boarded up because of unrest that followed a peaceful protest on May 30, that now are covered over with colorful murals and messages of racial justice. As they marched down Ionia Avenue, protesters passed people eating lunch on recently reopened patios. On Fulton Street, an outdoor exercise class didnt seem to pause even as hundreds of people, waving signs and chanting No justice, no peace and Breonna Taylors name, marched by. A bus driver sounded his horn in solidarity as they continued down Front Avenue, and the marchers shouts echoed through a tunnel as they emerged across the Blue Bridge. The crowd seemed to grow as it made its way back to Rosa Parks Circle, temporarily halting traffic at the parks northernmost corner. Even as organizers thanked participants and called the event a success, more kept coming from down the block. As evening approached, a handful remained on the corner of Pearl Street and Monroe Avenue, waving signs and eliciting some sympathetic honks from passersby. One change that has arisen from Taylors death is the passage of a law in Louisville - called Breonnas Law - ending the practice of no-knock warrants, which allow police to enter a residence without warning or identifying themselves as law enforcement. Those warrants are permitted in 48 states, including Michigan. And while Taylors family, speaking on Friday, celebrated the passage of Breonnas Law, they continued to call for justice. The four officers involved in Floyds death were immediately fired. Derek Chauvin, who knelt on his neck, is charged with second-degree murder, and the others are charged with aiding and abetting murder. Taylor was with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, when officers arrived after midnight. Walker, a licensed gun owner, has said he thought intruders were trying to break in and fired a warning shot. The warrant was issued as part of a narcotics investigation, but Taylor wasnt the person police were investigating. That suspect and his accomplices were already in custody, according to the Washington Post. No drugs were found in Taylors home. Taylors family said they need justice and for her to be remembered. Every day I want you to bring up her name, Eaves said. Say her name. Dont let them forget her name. Read more on MLive: Grand Rapids native Breonna Taylor, victim of police shooting, honored at vigil Protesters confront Grand Rapids police chief as officers form line outside station Protesters march again in Grand Rapids over police brutality and racism Grand Rapids area students protest police brutality Elsa Hosk modelled a sheer baby blue lace thong underwear set for a sexy new photo which she posted on Instagram on Friday. The model, 31, had the photo taken by her long-term love Tom Daly as part of an advertorial for Victoria's Secret from the comfort of their home during lockdown. And she looked just as sensational as ever in the three-piece lingerie set which consisted of a sheer bra, thong and suspender belt. Wow thing: Elsa Hosk modelled sheer baby blue lace thong underwear as she shot a sexy Victoria's Secret advertorial from home during isolation on Instagram on Friday Showing off her rear view, Elsa's photo looked professionally done as she stood aside blue hydrangeas which matched her look perfectly. She captioned the image with the words: 'Shot the new @victoriassecret x @forloveandlemons collection during isolation with @tomtomdaly.' Elsa's make-up looked stunning in the snap and her caramel tresses were styled into loose curls which framed her pretty features. Jean genie: Elsa's long-term love Tom Daly shot the images for her including this sexy shot of her on her bed A second picture showed her posing in the underwear from the front as she pulled her jeans down seductively. Swedish beauty Elsa and Tom have been dating since 2015. The pair most recently enjoyed a four-day camping trip late last month for Tom's birthday. 'Happy bday baby!!! This trip was for you! 4 days of camping bliss- I love u forever [Tom Daly]!! my double O Goose,' captioned Elsa. She included ten photos in the post, which gave her 6.1million followers a glimpse at all of the forest fun they endured. Elsa recently took to Instagram to share some of her feelings about the ongoing social unrest across America and show support for Black Lives Matter. Birthday boy: Elsa and Tom recently went on a camping trip together to celebrate his birthday Her lengthy text post read: 'As a white person it is my duty to speak up about racism. I know I'm privileged. We need to change the systems of privilege that allow white people to move through the world far more easily than others; to buy homes where they choose. To go for a run without being murdered. Ask a cop a question without being murdered. That is white privilege. 'We need to listen and educate ourselves on the history of oppression and racism and police brutality. We need to vote for people that will try and change the systems that allow racism to continues. 'As always we need to look to ourselves and see how we contribute, what we do and don't and end racism in our daily lives; educate friends and colleagues, call people out that make racist comments and do it on the street, in our homes, at school and at work. We cannot overlook what is happening, black people alone cannot reform racism.' She replied to one critic in the comments by breaking down the concept of white privilege. 'White privilege is not the suggestion that white people have never struggled,' she wrote. 'White privilege is not the assumption that everything a white person has accomplished is unearned.' 'Ill give you a few examples of what it can be; white privledge [sic] is being able to walk into a store and find that the displays of shampoo, makeup stockings etc were catered toward your hair type and skin tone. Mitt Romney and then-President Obama after their debate in Denver on Oct. 3, 2012. (Win McNamee / Getty Images) To the editor: While I can agree with columnist Jonah Goldberg that negative campaigning (also known as "mud slinging") is unsavory, I can't agree with his contention that Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) is "owed" an apology for the political attacks he suffered when he was the Republican presidential nominee in 2012. This kind of campaigning is nothing new, and let's not forget how Republicans portrayed Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 -- as a militant, a terrorist sympathizer, a communist and not really an American. In 2004, Democratic nominee John Kerry's military service was smeared. Romney knew what he was signing up for when he decided to run for high office, and any current good deeds do not make him more deserving of apology than anyone else who ever ran. Pete Skacan, Manhattan Beach .. To the editor: In defending Romney against charges that he once mistreated his family's dog by transporting the dog on his car's roof, Goldberg made the specious comparison that Obama dined on dog as a child. Yes, former President Obama admitted, in his book "Dreams From My Father," to having eaten dog as a child. It was customary in Indonesia, and it is customary for children to eat the meals they're served by their parents or guardians. It is not customary to load your Irish setter atop your station wagon for a 12-hour car trip. I have grown in respect for Romney and his recent courage of conviction regarding President Trump's impeachment and his participation in a Black Lives Matter protest, but most anyone would have put the Irish setter in the "way back" of the station wagon and loaded the luggage on top, probably even in Indonesia. Liz White, Los Angeles .. To the editor: While Mitt Romney may not be a racist, sexist or a coldhearted monster, he did make clear his disdain for lower income individuals when he said this during the 2012 campaign: "There are 47% of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47% who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to healthcare, to food, to housing, to you name it.... My job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives." Helene Kunkel, Los Angeles A WITNESS in the trial of a Garda murder accused was interrupted giving evidence via video link from her New York home after an unidentified man entered the room and was heard saying "put a stop to it" and "no more testimony" before the live feed dropped off. Molly Staunton this afternoon continued giving evidence from the US in the trial of Aaron Brady (29) who denies the capital murder of detective garda Adrian Donohoe in Louth in 2013. The witness was being reexamined by prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC about an evening in the Summer of 2016 at Mr Brady's apartment in the Bronx. Mr Grehan asked Ms Staunton what the accused said when he came out of his bedroom that evening. Expand Close Aaron Brady has pleaded not guilty to murder and robbery. Photo: Ciara Wilkinson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aaron Brady has pleaded not guilty to murder and robbery. Photo: Ciara Wilkinson The witness replied "he was in distress". While giving her evidence Molly Staunton then addressed another person, who was in the room she was giving her testimony from, saying "can you leave". An unseen male was then heard saying: "Put a stop to it. You can stop it right now, no more testimony" before the camera was pointed towards the floor and the live feed cut off. The jury were then asked to rise, before returning a short time later. Molly Staunton then appeared again via video link saying that her apartment was now empty and that she was happy to proceed. Mr Grehan asked the witness what she heard the accused say on that evening in June or July 2016 in the living room of his apartment, which Mr Brady shared with Ms Staunton's then boyfriend Tommy McGeary. She said that she heard Aaron Brady say that he wanted to be a good father to his son, that there were "cops looking for him and possibly raiding the apartment", and that he was "upset". Ms Staunton then said: "As far as him admitting to killing a cop I can't say he admitted to it, I thought I heard him saying something along those lines. I know in the statement I said he did but I can't remember... I don't think he outwardly admitted to that." The witness added: "I understand I said that in the statement with gardai, it was more fresh in my mind (what) he said. At this point in time I can't recall if that is true or not." An excerpt of a video recording of Ms Staunton giving her statement to two garda detectives in a New York police station on August 29, 2017, was then shown to the jury. In the clip Ms Staunton tells Det Sgt Paul Gill: "Well he definitely said himself that he murdered a cop or a detective." After the footage was played, the witness told Mr Grehan: "Now that I have re-seen the video I stand by my statement of what I said. He did say he killed a cop". Under cross-examination from defence counsel Fiona Murphy SC, the witness was asked if she remembered telling the Guard about what her client said, or if she remembered it. "I remember it happening and I remember telling the guards," Ms Staunton replied. Ms Murphy then asked the witness who it was that had earlier come into her apartment, to which she said "that was my friend that I'm currently staying with". Asked if this individual closed the computer, the witness said: "No I closed the computer" and that she "just wanted privacy" and "didn't want them in the same room." Mr Justice Michael White told the jury of six men and seven women that the trial will continue on Tuesday afternoon. Aaron Brady has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Adrian Donohoe, who was then a member of An Garda Siochana acting in the course of his duty, at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Dundalk, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. The defendant, of New Road in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, also denies robbery of approximately 7,000 in cash and assorted cheques from Pat Bellew at the same location on the same date. Police forces have a wide range of options for monitoring individuals and crowds. Credit: Nicholas Kaeser/Flickr, CC BY-NC Video of police in riot gear clashing with unarmed protesters in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has filled social media feeds. Meanwhile, police surveillance of protesters has remained largely out of sight. Local, state and federal law enforcement organizations use an array of surveillance technologies to identify and track protesters, from facial recognition to military-grade drones. Police use of these national security-style surveillance techniquesjustified as cost-effective techniques that avoid human bias and error has grown hand-in-hand with the increased militarization of law enforcement. Extensive research, including my own, has shown that these expansive and powerful surveillance capabilities have exacerbated rather than reduced bias, overreach and abuse in policing, and they pose a growing threat to civil liberties. Police reform efforts are increasingly looking at law enforcement organizations' use of surveillance technologies. In the wake of the current unrest, IBM, Amazon and Microsoft have put the brakes on police use of the companies' facial recognition technology. And police reform bills submitted by the Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives call for regulating police use of facial recognition systems. A decade of big data policing We haven't always lived in a world of police cameras, smart sensors and predictive analytics. Recession and rage fueled the initial rise of big data policing technologies. In 2009, in the face of federal, state and local budget cuts caused by the Great Recession, police departments began looking for ways to do more with less. Technology companies rushed to fill the gaps, offering new forms of data-driven policing as models of efficiency and cost reduction. Then, in 2014, the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, upended already fraying police and community relationships. The killings of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott, Sandra Bland, Freddie Gray and George Floyd all sparked nationwide protests and calls for racial justice and police reform. Policing was driven into crisis mode as community outrage threatened to delegitimize the existing police power structure. In response to the twin threats of cost pressures and community criticism, police departments further embraced startup technology companies selling big data efficiencies and the hope that something "data-driven" would allow communities to move beyond the all-too-human problems of policing. Predictive analytics and bodycam video capabilities were sold as objective solutions to racial bias. In large measure, the public relations strategy worked, which has allowed law enforcement to embrace predictive policing and increased digital surveillance. Today, in the midst of renewed outrage against structural racism and police brutality, and in the shadow of an even deeper economic recession, law enforcement organizations face the same temptation to adopt a technology-based solution to deep societal problems. Police chiefs are likely to want to turn the page from the current levels of community anger and distrust. The dangers of high-tech surveillance Instead of repeating the mistakes of the past 12 years or so, communities have an opportunity to reject the expansion of big data policing. The dangers have only increased, the harms made plain by experience. Those small startup companies that initially rushed into the policing business have been replaced by big technology companies with deep pockets and big ambitions. Axon capitalized on the demands for police accountability after the protests in Ferguson and Baltimore to become a multimillion dollar company providing digital services for police-worn body cameras. Amazon has been expanding partnerships with hundreds of police departments through its Ring cameras and Neighbors App. Other companies like BriefCam, Palantir and Shotspotter offer a host of video analytics, social network analysis and other sensor technologies with the ability to sell technology cheaply in the short run with the hope for long term market advantage. The technology itself is more powerful. The algorithmic models created a decade ago pale in comparison to machine learning capabilities today. Video camera streams have been digitized and augmented with analytics and facial recognition capabilities, turning static surveillance into a virtual time machine to find patterns in crowds. Adding to the data trap are smartphones, smart homes and smart cars, which now allow police to uncover individuals' digital trails with relative ease. The technology is more interconnected. One of the natural limiting factors of first generation big data policing technology was the fact that it remained siloed. Databases could not communicate with one another. Data could not be easily shared. That limiting factor has shrunk as more aggregated data systems have been developed within government and by private vendors. The promise of objective, unbiased technology didn't pan out. Race bias in policing was not fixed by turning on a camera. Instead the technology created new problems, including highlighting the lack of accountability for high-profile instances of police violence. Lessons for reining in police spying The harms of big data policing have been repeatedly exposed. Programs that attempted to predict individuals' behaviors in Chicago and Los Angeles have been shut down after devastating audits cataloged their discriminatory impact and practical failure. Place-based predictive systems have been shut down in Los Angeles and other cities that initially had adopted the technology. Scandals involving facial recognition, social network analysis technology and large-scale sensor surveillance serve as a warning that technology cannot address the deeper issues of race, power and privacy that lie at the heart of modern-day policing. The lesson of the first era of big data policing is that issues of race, transparency and constitutional rights must be at the forefront of design, regulation and use. Every mistake can be traced to a failure to see how the surveillance technology fits within the context of modern police powera context that includes longstanding issues of racism and social control. Every solution points to addressing that power imbalance at the front end, through local oversight, community engagement and federal law, not after the technology has been adopted. The debates about defunding, demilitarizing and reimagining existing law enforcement practices must include a discussion about police surveillance. There are a decade of missteps to learn from and era-defining privacy and racial justice challenges ahead. How police departments respond to the siren call of big data surveillance will reveal whether they're on course to repeat the same mistakes. Explore further Microsoft joins Amazon, IBM in pausing face scans for police This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 11) - Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin, Jr. confirmed Thursday that a 28-year-old female mariner committed suicide while in ship after her supposed flight back to the Philippines was suspended. It is my sad duty to report that a 28-year old female mariner committed suicide in her cabin in the ship where she's had to stay because repatriation flights back to the Philippines have been suspended again, said Locsin on Twitter. I know our quarantine facilities are jam-packed; just don't know why, Locsin added. Locsin identified the overseas Filipino worker as Mariah Jocson, who was a crew member of the Harmony of the Seas, where the crew members are detained while awaiting for the repeatedly rescinded repatriation of flights back to the country. The ship was docked at Bridgetown Port in Barbados at the time. This is the second case of suicide among OFWs during the pandemic. The first was an OFW in Lebanon last May. We are tartly reminded that Filipino resilience is no excuse to stretch them to breaking point. Di sila goma; tao sila (They are not rubber bands; they are simply humans), said Locsin. If you are in need of mental health support, please call the 24/7 National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline at (0917) 899-8727 or (02)7-989-8727 or 1553 (Landline-to-landline only). Bhubaneswar, June 12 : Odisha police has collected fines totalling Rs 1.25 crore from people for not wearing face masks in public places, DGP Abhay said on Friday. Participating in a videoconference meeting with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the DGP said Rs 11.74 lakh was collected towards violation of social distancing norms and Rs 1.03 lakh for night curfew violations. Abhay said 53 cases of domestic violence were found after communicating with 9,205 complainants during the lockdown period. The Chief Minister appreciated the lockdown enforcement by the police and showing its humane face to help many poor migrants. "I would like to appreciate all of you for the hard work you and your teams have put in the last 3 months for creating awareness amongst people and enforcing the lockdown," said Patnaik. He appreciated the police efforts to come to the rescue of thousands of poor migrant workers walking on roads to return to their native villages and towns. "My appeal for 'Zero walking inside Odisha' for inter-state migrants was implemented in letter and spirit because of systematic and coordinated hard work," he added. The Chief Minister also recorded his sincere appreciation for the good work done by Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and Fire Service in relief and restoration operations in West Bengal after super cyclone Amphan. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-11 01:21:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A bird's-eye view of a roundabout is seen in Warsaw, Poland on June 11, 2020. Poland will reopen its borders to other European Union (EU) countries on June 13, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Wednesday. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/Xinhua) WARSAW, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Poland will reopen its borders to other European Union (EU) countries on June 13, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Wednesday. The announcement comes in the wake of a request by the European Commission on June 5 to member states to have their borders reopened by July 1. The border reopening means that citizens of other EU countries can enter Poland again. Temporary passport checks, abolished in 2007 when Poland joined the Schengen area, will also be lifted. International flights, which have been ceased apart from repatriation charter flights, will resume three days later, according to the announcement. Poland's borders have been closed to non-Poles and non-residents since March 15 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Poles and residents returning from abroad were subject to a 14-day home quarantine. The measure was initially implemented for nine days, but was extended when the pandemic spread further within Europe. Poland's Ministry of Health said on Wednesday morning that the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Poland had reached 27,668. On Monday, Poland recorded the highest single-day infections of 599 cases since the start of the pandemic. New York, June 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PHI Luxembourg Development S.A., a Luxembourg-based subsidiary of PHI Group, Inc., ( www.phiglobal.com , OTC Markets: PHIL ), announced today that it has successfully activated the first-ever Luxembourg bank fund for the Vietnamese economy, PHILUX Global Funds ( www.philux.eu ), a Reserved Alternative Investment Fund (RAIF). PHILUX Global Funds plans to create a number of subfund compartments over a period of time for investments in real estate, renewable energy, agriculture, healthcare and education in Vietnam. Initially, the fund intends to focus on the development of the Free-Trade Zone in the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone in Quang Nam Province, which will house the Chu Lai Multiple Commodities Center (CMCC) and the Asia Diamond Exchange (ADE), the first-ever rough diamond exchange to be established in the Asian Hemisphere comparable to the Antwerp (Belgium) and Dubai (UAE) exchanges. The Company would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Ben C. Smet - our fund structuring agent and global program manager, Messrs. Pierre Delandmeter and Yannick Deschamps of DLP Law Firm our Fund attorneys, VCI Legal our Vietnamese Attorneys, Hauck & Aufhauser our custodian bank and alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM), Atoz Tax Advisers Luxembourg our Luxembourg tax adviser, Ernest Young Luxembourg and Ernest Young Vietnam our auditors, Cushman Wakefield Vietnam our Vietnam independent valuator, PHILUX Capital Advisors, Inc. our investment adviser and particularly The Luxembourg Financial Sector Supervisory Commission (CSSF), as well as our other committed friends and colleagues for their dedication, diligence, patience and support in the successful establishment and activation of our PHILUX Global Funds. Henry Fahman, Chairman of PHILUX Global Funds, stated: We are very pleased to have reached this significant milestone in activating the first-ever Vietnam-related Luxembourg bank fund. Not only will Vietnam stand to benefit tremendously following the secular trend after the global coronavirus disruptions, but this will also provide excellent investment opportunities in our fund compartments as we undertake major initiatives that should bring rewards for our investors. Ben Smet, the fund structuring agent, commented: With great pride, I can announce the finalization and activation of PHILUX Global Funds. I thank Henry Fahman for his trust and confidence in me and my legal and negotiation teams. I look forward to continuing to cooperate successfully and in friendship with the authorities and government bodies in the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone, the Chairman of Quang Nam Province and his staff, as well as the Central Government in Hanoi to contribute to the well being of Vietnam. Vietnam is the gem of professionalism and beauty amongst all states and governments I have ever assisted. About PHI Group, Inc. PHI Group ( www.phiglobal.com ), ( www.phiglobal.com , OTC Markets: PHIL ), primarily focuses on mergers and acquisitions and invests in select industries and special situations that may substantially enhance shareholder value. In addition, the Companys wholly-owned subsidiary, PHILUX Capital Advisors, Inc. ( www.philuxcap.com ) provides M&A consulting services and assists companies to go public and access international capital markets and will serve as the investment adviser to PHILUX Global Funds. About PHILUX Global Funds PHILUX Global Funds is a Reserved Alternative Invest Fund (RAIF), a Luxembourg bank fund to hold several compartments over time for investment in real estate, renewable energy, agriculture, multiple commodities, etc. ( www.philux.eu ). PHILUX Global Funds also intends to focus on the development of a Free-Trade Zone in the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam which will house the Chu Lai Multiple Commodities Center (CMCC) and the Asia Diamond Exchange (ADE), the first-ever rough diamond exchange to be established in the Asian Hemisphere. Safe Harbor Act and Forward-looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as may, future, plan or planned, will or should, expected, anticipates, draft, eventually or projected, which are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Will Callaghan after he was found on Mount Disappointment on Wednesday. Credit:AAP On Friday, Mr Ezard said the wait on the mountain had been "excruciating" for all of them. "It's been tough [on Phil], I wouldn't even attempt to talk on his behalf ... I wouldn't have wanted to trade places and I felt for him, such a horrible, difficult thing to go through and it is in reality something that all parents of kids with autism, I think, fear and hope wont happen to them." "We all hear stories like Will's and just pray and hope and wish for a positive outcome because we all know it may not be and all feel very, very deeply for those involved," he said. On Friday, Mr Ezard said Will was healthy and returning to home life with gusto, but probably "not as well as he thinks he is". Will Callaghan, in his stepfather's arms, after being found. His mother Penny follows close behind. Credit:Justin McManus "He's a true innocent, in the most beautiful of ways." "He has gone down to the [Portarlington] ferry, it was so nice, the general manager of the ferries happened to be in the area and organised for us go on there and Will had run of the ferry on his own. He had a ball, so thrilled." Mr Ezard said he hoped the extensive coverage of the search helped the public understand the complexities around caring for children with autism and other disabilities. Loading "I really hope it makes a big difference," he said. "I'm under no illusions it will completely turn around the way society deals with people with disabilities. But hopefully the spirit of cooperation and love seen over the last few days will continue and help us all through the difficult time we are going to have with relation to COVID and a recession." Damian Beasley, a MASS support worker who has worked with Will and his family for years, was one of the autism practitioners on the search scene helping guide police to use the best techniques to help draw the boy out, including decreasing the noise of machinery and vehicles and playing the Thomas the Tank Engine theme. "I kept on looking into the bush and thinking, I reckon Will is watching us" he said on Friday. SES volunteers searching for William on Tuesday. Credit:Chis Hopkins He said Will's fitness and love of nature would have soothed him while out in the bush. "He loves being outside among nature and enjoying his own time there and really is close to that environment. That's his one, two, three, four choice of where he most liked to be. "He would have thought it was a bit of an adventure. He's very much at one with his own company. Mr Beasley said the expansion of the Mansfield property will allow kids, including Will, to spend more time there and give parents the help they need. The 40-hectare farm just out of Mansfield in north-east Victoria which has been purchased by Mansfield Autism Statewide Service. "It's probably Will's paradise. Dams, oak trees, undulating hills, views of snow-capped Mount Buller. A local donated ponies. It's just beautiful." MASS director Simone Reeves said while the service already runs a small independent school, the purchase of the 40-hectare farm in April gives them the opportunity to expand. "[Will's story] really highlighted how exhausting it can be being a parent of kids with autism, it's rewarding but also exhausting. The level of vigilance they require, it's 24/7, so they need good quality respite," she said. "We are in a unique position in that families have the money in their NDIS plan for our service but we dont have the physical capacity," she said. "We purchased the farm to build an autism friendly environment out here, a residence and school and a family camp. "It would mean the world to so many families." LONDON, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) announced on Thursday that the Canadian government is contributing US$5.3 million to assist St Kitts and Nevis and another 22 countries of the Americas. PAHO will receive the funds and use them to primarily provide better access to supplies and personal protective equipment needed to limit human-to-human transmission. The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis has not registered any COVID-19-related deaths and only 15 people tested positive. The government confirmed the last case on April 19th with all cases having recovered by May 18th. "The COVID-19 virus knows no borders and cooperation with international partners such as PAHO has been key to fighting this global pandemic and minimizing its impact on health systems," said Karina Gould, the Canadian Minister of International Development. "PAHO launched a Donor Appeal in March 2020 to support and scale-up COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts in the Region of the Americas, seeking US$94.8 million for six months," cites a PAHO press release issued on June 11. The organisation succeeded in raising US$52.7 million so far, largely from its own sources and the World Health Organisation. In February, Foreign Minister Mark Brantley met with Dr Yitades Gebre, PAHO/WHO representative to Barbados and Eastern Caribbean countries, where the two discussed the COVID-19 outbreak. Dr Gebre pledge close collaboration with the Ministry of Health "to ensure that their preparedness and responses are effective, appropriate, timely, and sustainable." St Kitts and Nevis registered its first case on March 25, much later than most of the countries worldwide. After strict lockdown measures, the twin island nation is cautiously returning to normal. Prime Minister Timothy Harris told BBC World News in April that the government is pledging a 120-million stimulus package. Although it is the smallest country in the western hemisphere, its fiscal management improved significantly over the past five years. Tourism is a key economic pillar, but Citizenship by Investment (CBI) accounts for 20% to 35% of the government's revenue. St Kitts and Nevis has been running the world's oldest CBI Programme, established in 1984. Foreign investors that pass all the due diligence checks can obtain citizenship by making a one-off contribution to a government fund. It remains the fastest and most secure route to second citizenship and supports socio-economic initiatives across the islands, including the healthcare sector. Contact: [email protected] www.csglobalpartners.com SOURCE CS Global Partners Aspirin reduces colorectal cancer risk by half in individuals at high genetic risk. Preventive efficacy is prolonged for 10-20 years after treatment with aspirin. Long-term results of an international multi-center trial CAPP2 showed that 600 mg of aspirin daily reduced colorectal cancer risk by half compared to those on placebo. Eight hundred and sixty-one genetically susceptible patients were randomized to have either aspirin or placebo for 2-4 years and followed up for 10-20 years. Of those on aspirin, 40 had colorectal cancer, while 58 of those on placebo got colorectal cancer during follow-up. The results are statistically interpreted that aspirin reduced the risk by about 50%, and the efficacy lasted for 10-20 years after taking the medication." Professor Jukka-Pekka Mecklin from the University of Jyvaskyla and Central Finland Hospital District The finding is similar to what has been observed after large cardiovascular studies performed in general population previously. -Tens of thousands of patients had aspirin in placebo-controlled trials to prevent cardiovascular events. After reviewing the data afterwards, those on aspirin had significantly less colorectal cancer than those on placebo, says Mecklin. Lynch Syndrome causes an increased lifetime risk of multiple cancers The participants of the current study were identified carriers of Lynch Syndrome. They carry a gene that causes a defect in DNA mismatch repair. Lynch syndrome is the most common predisposition for cancer, the prevalence of which is 1:250 in general population. Most are unaware of their genetic condition. -Lynch Syndrome gene have often cancer at young age, most often in bowel, womb, bladder, ureter or biliary tract. Genetic testing is beneficial to provide surveillance and targeted prevention to those at risk. If there are multiple cancer in the family at relatively young age (50-60 years), or some individuals have had several cancer in these organs, the relatives should seek for genetic counseling, Mecklin advises. High doses of aspirin may cause bleeding and gastric ulcer, which the reason the CAPP research group is currently conducting another study with three different doses (100, 300 and 600 mg daily). The results were published in a distinguished medical journal The Lancet. From Finland, 149 participants, and researchers from Central Finland Central Hospital, University of Jyvaskyla, HUS and University of Helsinki, contributed to the study. 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Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe The region's 'Golden Crescent' comprises of Muslim-majority nations Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. These nations have been the most important poppy cultivating triumvirate of the world and heroin has been the main source of illegal revenue for the countries, especially for Afghanistan, where the narcotics trade has midwifed the birth, existence and rise of the Taliban, a dreaded Islamic terror outfit. As per the UNODC annual report of 2019, it is seen that there is a major increase of 37 per cent opium production in Afghanistan and a reduction of 25 per cent production in Myanmar, the main player in the Golden Triangle. This further crystallizes the fact that Afghanistan contributes to more than 87 per cent of the opium production of the world. Most of the areas that grow opium in Afghanistan are under the control of the Taliban, whose close ties with Pakistani establishment, especially the Pakistan spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence, is well known. Heroin obtained through further refining of Opium in Afghanistan traditionally takes three routes for its global distribution, namely through Balkan States or Central Asian countries or the Indian subcontinent. It has been noticed that from 2015, both the routes, namely the Balkans and the Central Asian countries, have reported less seizures of Heroin indicating that there may be an increase in government intervention in Iran and Central Asia in controlling the menace. With such bumper production of heroin in Afghanistan, the only other alternate route available for global distribution is through Pakistan. The drugs that are produced in the rugged places of Afghanistan -- more than 10,000 tons as per 2018 estimates -- finds an easy outlet at the hands of the Pakistan-based networks that are working with the ISI. These drugs produced at the heart of Afghanistan travels at least thousands of kilometres to reach the coast of Pakistan for further distribution. The border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is one of the most sensitive zones and Pakistan has deployed huge military apparatus to guard these borders. To become a viable option for smuggling, the drugs in tons need to be transported through trucks or cars through these borders and then further split for distribution inside Pakistan into smaller quantities of 100kg or 200kg. Many gangs based in Lahore and Faisalabad are involved in such splitting and then the consignment is transported to Karachi or Gwadar for further transport through fishing vessels. In many of the seizures that happened in 2019, the packing covers were of some popular brands of oats and wheat flour in Pakistan. The trends of seizures indicate: * Involvement of Pakistani nationals linked with ISIS as the kingpins. They are the ones who procure and further distribute it to countries like Maldives, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, India, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Kenya from where it is further transported to the West. * ISIS-linked Pakistan gangs use Makran coast as the staging point and also use the traditional dhows that are plying between West and South Asia as a part of their distribution channels. * The network has Pakistani nationals based in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Dubai, and East Africa to assist the kingpins in Pakistan. * Involvement of Nigerians is also noticed in the transactions, which leads to the suspicion of Heroin moving out and Cocaine coming into the region. Pakistan's primacy in the global narcotics trade and the funding of terror activities has been time and again confirmed by investigation agencies around the globe. On May 18, in one of Asia's biggest ever drug bust in Myanmar brought out the links of top Southeast Asian drug syndicates and the involvement of Karachi-based underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who controls major narcotics operations in the region including Bangladesh and Thailand. Last year, investigations into the seizure of 532 kg of heroin on the Wagah-Attari border in Punjab showed that the same Pakistani network pushed narcotics consignment and transferred funds to terror outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir. The Customs Department seizure on June 29 last and the law enforcement probe brought out that the contraband was concealed in six rock salt consignments. Gurpinder Singh, the owner of Kanishk Enterprises (Amritsar), was arrested along with the contraband and subsequently, Tariq Ahmed Lone of Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir was arrested. The National Investigation Agency, which was brought into the investigations in July last, has so far charged Lone's Pakistani uncle Farooq Lone, Pakistani nationals Sahil and Sohaib Noor. Recent seizures of Methamphetamine (ICE) along with Heroin are also a disturbing trend. There have been cases in Mozambique in November and December 2019 involving Pakistani nationals, where the law enforcement agencies have caught Methamphetamine along with Heroin. In the recent seizure made by the Sri Lankan Navy, it was noticed that along with 400 kg Heroin, there was another 100 kg of ICE. This indicates the same Pakistani gang's operation. ICE has been a recent addition to the Golden Crescent. A naturally growing shrub in the region named Ephedra has been found to contain an easily extractable drug called Ephedrine. This drug is the precursor for ICE and was synthetically manufactured earlier. It is noticed that there are illegal labs in Pakistan, where they are able to extract Ephedrine from the plant. Recent seizures in huge quantities indicate that the trade is slowly moving towards ICE in the region. Illegal labs have mushroomed in Pakistan for processing Opium into Heroin. The main precursor for production of Heroin is Acetic anhydride. This is a restricted item to trade and is completely controlled and restricted. As far as Afghanistan is concerned, this product needs to be imported by air. However, with stricter law enforcement in place, it is noticed that the processing labs in Pakistan, controlled by a few gangs, are sourcing Acetic anhydride from within Pakistan, where there are huge industries, which can fudge utilisation of Acetic anhydride as a raw material. Undoubtedly, the hardcore evidence now points out that Pakistan is the epicentre of both the international global narcotics trade and global terrorism, and an international effort is required, led by the Indian government, to not only name and shame India's western neighbour, but also to get the multilateral institutions to impose hard punitive action against Islamabad for its shenanigans. (N.C. Bipindra is a defence analyst. He is the Chairman of Law and Society Alliance, a Delhi-based think tank, and Editor of Defence.Capital. He can be reached at ncbipindra@gmail.com. The views expressed are personal.) --IANS ncb/in As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ People have confessed to accidentally watching Netflix's erotically-charged drama 365 DNI with their parents while recounting the horror of having to sit through the film's kinky sex scenes in their presence. The Polish movie, also known as 365 Days, tells the story of 'fiery executive' Laura Biel (Anna-Maria Sieklucka) who is kidnapped and imprisoned on a holiday to Sicily by mafia boss Massimo Torricelli (Michele Morrone). Many Twitter users admitted they didn't know what they were getting into when they turned on 365 DNI, which includes graphic scenes featuring BDSM, voyeurism, and oral sex on a plane. Scroll down for video Awckard! Polish erotic film 365 DNI launched on Netflix on Sunday to much fanfare, but some people admitted to accidentally watching the sexually-charged film with their parents Yikes: People took to Twitter to recount the horror of having to sit through the X-rated film's sex scenes with their parents 'I've watched 365 DNI together with my parents... yep, it literally felt like I was watching porn with my parents,' one person tweeted, while another asked: 'Bruh why am I watching 365 DNI with my mom awkward af.' 'I saw 365 DNI trending on Netflix so I casually put it on the living room TV.... yall know Im at my parents' house..... boy shook,' one woman admitted. '365 DNI was the first thing that popped up on Netflix and my dad was still in the living room and he asked me "what is that, is it good?" and I said "I dont know, looks boring,"' someone else shared. Then there were those who were mortified to find out their parents were watching the steamy film on their own volition. 'MY PARENTS ARE WATCHING 365 DNI IN OUR LIVING ROOM HELP EHLPP,' one Twitter user griped. Plot: The movie ells the story of a 'fiery executive' Laura Biel (Anna-Maria Sieklucka) who is kidnapped and imprisoned by mafia boss Massimo Torricelli (Michele Morrone) Oh no: Some Twitter users were mortified to catch their parents watching the steamy flick 'CAUGHT MY MOM WATCHING 365 DNI ON THE TV,,,,, IM STAYING UPSTAIRS ALL DAY IDC IDC IDC,' another tweeted. Some people explicitly warned Netflix fans to watch the film alone. 'Netflix really be out here promoting 365 DNI as if it's not basically a porno. God bless all ya'll accidentally watching it with parents,' one person tweeted. '365 DNI !! Do not watch it with parents I just feel like I have to throw that out there!!!' someone else advised. The X-rated film has sparked furious controversy on both sides of the Atlantic after it arrived on the streaming service in both the US and the UK on Sunday. Fans said it was the 'hottest thing ever' and 'made Fifty Shades of Grey look PG,' but critics have accused the creators of 'romanticizing' a dangerous relationship between a captor and victim. Not for the faint of heart: Netflix's 365 DNI includes graphic scenes featuring BDSM, voyeurism, and oral sex on a plane Think twice: Some people explicitly warned Netflix fans to watch the film alone 'Please remember that there is a huge difference between fantasy and reality. If you are a guy, please don't get any ideas,' one person wrote. 'No girl wants to be kidnapped and made to fall in love.' Meanwhile, another viewer tweeted: 'It romanticizes harassment (which is so messy by the way), there's Stockholm syndrome (which is a mental condition from which a victim falls in love with her abductor and should not be normalized).' The Twitter user pleaded with her fellow viewers to stop comparing the Polish movie to Fifty Shades of Grey, insisting that there are few parallels between the two other than the risque sex scenes. 'Sure the sex scenes are great and very intimate, but all of those happened after a few sexual harassment and uncomfortable scenarios,' she continued. 'I mean - stop comparing it to Fifty Shades of Grey.' The film, adapted from Blanka Lipinska's book of the same name, begins with Laura, a sales director at a luxurious Warsaw hotel, take a holiday to Sicily with her boyfriend Martin in a last-ditch attempt to save their relationship. Massimo, who took over from his mafia boss father after his assassination, kidnaps her on the island and gives her 'a year to fall in love with him.' People are talking: The film has sparked furious controversy on both sides of the Atlantic after it arrived on the streaming service in both the US and the UK on Sunday. For real? A number of viewers compared the erotic film to pornography Controversy: The movie has been compared to the series Fifty Shades of Grey by fans, while critics claim it 'romanticizes a forced relationship' In once scene, Laura is forced to watch Massimo be pleasured by another woman while she remains chained to a wall, wearing nothing but a dressing gown. Another shows the couple engaging in some very steamy intercourse on the mafia boss yacht after Massimo saves Lauras life. Shocked viewers also watch Laura being tied to a chair on a private jet while Massimo teases her, and later they're seen enjoying a fiery exchange of words while naked with one another in the shower. Despite the criticism, the film already has plenty of viewers feeling hot under the collar and it has been widely compared to E.L. James's Fifty Shades franchise. 'Fifty Shades can't beat this movie at all. Massimo was a beast,' one viewer tweeted, while another wrote: 'If anyone is a Fifty Shades fan they NEED to watch 365 DNI... I'm sweating.' 'Honestly how Netflix approved that pornographic film called 365 DNI is beyond me. Ten minutes and my eyes,' someone else asked. And one viewer joked: 'I made my own Netflix account just so I can watch #365dni without my family knowing.' Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Nigeria refutes Christian 'genocide' claims; charity says gov't 'spinning propaganda' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Advocacy groups are refuting a statement released Sunday by the Nigerian presidency contending that international rights groups who say there is ongoing genocide against Christians in Nigeria received funding from a separatist organization. Garba Shehu, a spokesperson for Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari, accused the Indigenous People of Biafra of spending $85,000 per month to fund an international smear campaign through nongovernmental organizations and media outlets in the United States and Europe. This statement from Buharis officials is to distract from their own incompetence or collusion with the perpetrators of genocide on the Christian communities in the North and Middlebelt parts of Nigeria, said Ann Buwalda, president of Jubilee Campaign USA, which advocates for ethnic and religious minorities. The Nigerian government has been facing increased international pressure to protect its citizens as thousands have reportedly been killed in recent years by Islamic extremist groups like Boko Haram in the northeast or ethnic herdsmen radicals who have launched several attacks on sleeping farming communities in the Middle Belt. Shehu claimed that organizations and lawmakers in both the U.S. and Europe are being duped by the IPOB into thinking that the government is implicit in the killing of Christians. He argued that IPOB is trying to drive a wedge between Nigeria and Western allies. A very deep and wide investigation by an agency of the Nigerian government working with international partners has found that there are two interconnected campaigns being run by IPOB, Shehu said. Both are using the cover of Christianity and calling for a U.S. Special Envoy to be appointed to stop the genocide of Christians in Nigeria. IPOB was founded in 2012 and seeks to restore the independent state of Biafra in eastern Nigeria. It is recognized as a terrorist organization in Nigeria. For reasons of convenience, [the groups leadership] claims to have an interest in the welfare of Christians but this is a ruse: the case for independence, the leader believes, is strengthened by proving the government of Nigeria is autocratic, engaged in a silent slaughter of their own citizens along religion and ethnic lines and that therefore the only viable option for the unique religious and ethnic minority is a sovereign Biafra separate from Nigeria. Shehu called the international media campaign divisive and said that available evidence suggests that the campaign has been funded with $85,000 in monthly spending since last October with no records of the source of this largesse. The campaign consists of producing articles in the names of the alleged Christian NGOs leaders (of campaign groups created at the time this PR contract with a US lobbying firm was signed) and letters to and from members of Congress to the White House, he said. Unfortunately, some Members of Congress have clearly been persuaded there is indeed a Christian persecution underway in Nigeria and do so quoting the campaign and they are known to be taking up the case directly with the White House to appoint the special envoy. Shehu complained that one American charity secured a meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and made presentations to members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Last December, the U.S. State Department added Nigeria for the first time to its special watch list of countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom. Shehu added that there is also a European angle to the campaign that is more opaque than its US sister campaign because there is less legal requirement for public filings. [W]hat is known of this at the moment is that their Budget is sufficient to hire four PR firms in the UK, Belgium, France and the US (the latter additional to the above), he noted, while pointing out that there was a debate held on Christian genocide in the U.K. House of Commons. Shehu accused IPOB of misusing the issue of the welfare of Christians purely to further their own political ends and of the international community to ignore this campaign. However, activists in the U.S. pushed back against the Buhari government's statement and assured that they have no connection with IPOB. Among several international organizations raising awareness of Christian persecution in Nigeria is Jubilee Campaign USA, which submitted data and research to the International Criminal Court last year arguing that the standard for genocide has been reached when it comes to violence against Christians in Nigeria. The Jubilee Campaign report focused mostly on the violence occurring in the Middle Belt of Nigeria and northern states, where thousands of Christians have been displaced by attacks from predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen and Islamic groups like Boko Haram. Buhari himself is an ethnic Fulani. Jubilee Campaign's Buwalda told The Christian Post that although the Biafra movement has also raised genocide concerns relating to their community in southeast Nigeria with the ICC, the movement is in no way associated with her organization. Jubilee Campaign USA has not had any contact with Biafra related persons, nor have we ever taken up the issue, she said. All of the Jubilee Campaign reports submitted to the ICC regarding the genocide issue has related to the Middle Belt and northern states. No one we have advocated for has ever mentioned separatism, she added. All the people we have advocated on behalf of have been pleading for help from the government of Nigeria their government and asked us to go to the ICC on account of the utter failure of the federal government of Nigeria to provide protection from the gross and systematic persecution the Christian community in those states who have suffered ..." Buwalda said that no one the Jubilee Campaign is aware of who has been advocating on the Nigeria issue has ever received a dime of funds from Biafra-related persons. Dede Laugesen, executive director of the U.S.-based advocacy group Save the Persecuted Christians, told CP that her organization has partnered with Mission Africa International, Jubilee Campaign, the Leah Foundation, the Nazarene Fund and other groups to press for a U.S. special envoy to Nigeria to address ongoing violence. President Buhari is spinning propaganda to suggest any of us are working with the IPOB, Laugesen stated. We support a strong, united, peaceful Nigeria something the IPOB opposes. We have not, and would not, coordinate with or take money from the secessionists of IPOB. We look forward to the day when all Nigerians live united in peace and security. Religious freedom and rule of law must be strengthened and defended at all levels of the Nigerian government. Laugesen stressed that corruption and radical Islamic agendas must be rooted out. Buhari has failed at both while the blood bath of Christians continues unabated and Islamic terrorist groups rampage, rape and murder with impunity, she stated. The overwhelming evidence is clear. Its time past time for the international community to intercede. According to Open Doors USA, the Biafra separatist movement based in Southeast Nigeria has also faced persecution. However, according to USCIRF's 2020 annual report, media reports indicated that members of IPOB attacked five Christians, including a priest, for holding a mass in defiance of IPOB orders to stay at home. Emeka Umeagbalasi, a Christian criminologist based in the southeastern Anambra state, an Igbo-dominated area that seceded as part of an independent Biafra in 1967, told CP that the presidency is obviously panicking and trivializing the ongoing genocide against Christians in Nigeria. Umeagbalasi heads a civil society organization called the International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law (Intersociety), which regularly produces statistical reports on how many Christians have been killed in different acts of violence across Nigeria. Intersociety has estimated that over 11,500 Christians were killed between June 2015 and March 2020 in Nigeria. In a statement Tuesday, Intersociety explained that it has received support in the form of free professional resource donations, expert advice, technical assistance and individual cash donations or cash sums that are periodically and voluntarily donated by some concerned citizens who are usually less politically exposed persons. Other sources of income for Intersociety include periodic cash sums allocated by Umeagbalasi himself. Intersociety stressed that the organization has never received sponsorship from a foreign body or international grant sponsorships and stated that its advocacy campaigns regarding the killing of Christians in Southern Kaduna, Plateau and Benue were done free of charge "without group sponsorship." On the issue concerning the Presidencys allegation of international and IPOB sponsorship of Christian NGOs, we are not surprised, Intersociety said. It is a tragedy in Nigeria that those in the position of leadership are never interested in rendering leadership services, but to rapaciously enrich themselves through state coffers. ... [This] explain[s] why they see the legitimate activities and services rendered by independent bodies including rights and democracy NGOs as sponsored. Because every aspect of their public office dealings is heavily monetized or quantified in monetary terms, they see any other societal service as sponsored.'" Intersociety noted that Nigeria has in the past engaged in a war of words with international rights groups. There have been accusations that Amnesty International is sponsored by politicians who seek to damage Nigeria's reputation or that the organization is being taken advantage of by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province. IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu issued a statement on Facebook Sunday stating that every dime the indomitable IPOB family worldwide contribute towards our liberation goes towards the dismantling of Nigeria and restoration of Biafra, I mean every dime. Once again, Nigerian Government has inadvertently confirmed that we spend big on our diplomatic offensive, Kanu wrote in the post. USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore, who visited Nigeria to meet with victims earlier this year in his personal capacity, told CP that Nigeria "would be totally immune to this criticism if it simply did more to protect its most vulnerable citizens." "I believe Nigeria is absolutely capable of protecting its citizens if it chooses to do so, but so far its efforts have been inadequate," Moore said. "After all, no one including, the government itself denies that innocent people are dying throughout the country unnecessarily, and sometimes, daily. BJP workers stage a protest at the gate of the Circle Office over the arrest of a party leader, at Sector 24 of Noida. PTI Photo The failure of the Centre to take timely steps or to transparently educate the people on the science of the new coronavirus and the commonsense steps to be taken to deal with it, and the pall of fear consequently created nationally along with the tightest restrictions on movement seen anywhere in the world, have permitted the ruling party a rare latitude to play its brand of politics unhindered. This has occurred primarily because any attempt to play ameliorative politics by sections of Opposition politicians in the context of the human rights crisis witnessed in the case of the millions of migrant workers who fled cities to escape to their village homes led to their arrest on account of the restrictive regulations flowing from the Epidemiology Act and the National Disaster Management Act. A Samajwadi Party politician in UP was arrested for offering food to scores of migrants walking back home. The more striking was the case of the UP state Congress president who was arrested after the UP government refused to grant permission to his party to send busloads of migrants to their homes. The unleashing of restrictive rules selectively against Opposition politicians has left the ruling BJP a virtual monopoly of the political space. In the run-up to the election to 55 Rajya Sabha seats spread across several states later this month, pandemic-induced circumstances appear to be giving the rulers extraordinary elbow-room to enlarge on their narratives based on alternative reality, and to play the brand of morbid politics they have made commonplace. Its chief characteristic is the overturning of electoral verdicts through energetically executed defections, using the legendary resources at their command. An audio clip allegedly of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan that has surfaced in Madhya Pradesh spells out step-by-step how the Congress government of Kamal Nath was toppled last March under the instruction of top BJP leaders, through the aegis of Jyotiraditya Scindia. Including the recent case of MP, in the past four years the BJP has successfully torpedoed poll verdicts in four states, using its clout at the Centre. The democracy-soiling Operation Kamal was executed in Karnataka in February, 2019. Five months later, in July, Congress MLAs were subverted in bulk in Goa in a virtual replay of events in Manipur in 2017. Seeing that the countrys fight against the pandemic has not induced a cooperative outlook in the BJP toward political opponents, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot is taking protective action by sending off his party MLAs to a resort to prevent them from falling prey to blandishments or intimidation as a means to induce defection aimed at repeating the Madhya Pradesh story. In Gujarat, eight Congress MLAs have already succumbed to pressure mounted by the BJP. The state unit of the saffron party appears a house divided, leading to the surmise that much of the defection game is being directed from on high. These tawdry games have placed a question mark even on the procedural aspects of democracy practised in India of late, which is about all that remains of the democratic spirit. By Online Desk The daily tally of COVID-19 cases in India crossed 10,000 mark for the first time on Friday morning as 10, 956 new cases of infection were detected within a day. This takes countrys total confirmed infection figure to 2,97,535. More worryingly, the daily death count has now reached close to 400 with 396 new deaths registered within a day. A total of 8,498 infected patients have succumbed to the disease across India so far. The country has now overtaken the UK in terms of total confirmed Covid 19 cases and is the fourth-worst affected nation in the pandemic after the US, Brazil and Russia, according to the global dashboard maintained by the US's John Hopkins University. Ayuba Abimiku, a young rice farmer at Gidan Mai-Akuya community in Nasarawa state, North-central Nigeria, is excited. Ayuba is witnessing the operation of a pressured plastic-piped sprinkler for the first time! This system allows for proper water management and the farmer can determine the right amount of water needed in the field per time, he enthused. With this, less water is required, unlike the old method which often floods our farms, he said. This technology has made dry season rice farming attractive to the youths, who hitherto do not want to get themselves dirty, Godiya Ovey, from Madagba community, said. This is a system that does not require much effort once you know how to set it up. You can combine it with other endeavours, he added. Moses Tsaku, another youth farmer from Azuba-Bashayi community, says the pressured sprinkler and the wet and drying scheduling irrigation technologies have made dry season farming a lot easier. These technologies have completely changed my perception about farming, Moses declared excitedly. These declarations were made by these young farmers today during a visit to demonstration farms in three communities in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa state. They were among the farmers that were previously trained and exposed to the new irrigation technologies on rice production under the Water Enabler Compact (TAATWEC) of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme. Sponsored by the African Development Bank as part of its Feed Africa Initiative, TAATs main objective is to improve the business of agriculture across Africa by raising agricultural productivity, mitigating risks and promoting diversification and processing in 18 agricultural value chains within eight priority intervention areas. The programme increases agricultural productivity through the deployment of proven and high-performance agricultural technologies at scale along selected nine commodity value chains. These work with six enabler compacts addressing transversal issues such as soil fertility management, water management, capacity development, policy support, attracting African youth in agribusiness and fall armyworm response. The TAAT Water Compact is led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and implemented in Nigeria through the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The compact promotes low-cost and easy-to-deploy irrigation and water management technologies to small-scale farmers across Africa. Prof. Henry Igbadun, who coordinates the compact in Nigeria said that the project in Nasarawa state began in 2019 with the training of 40 youths and agriculture extension workers on the new irrigation technologies. According to him, the farmers were trained and introduced to the technologies with field demonstration where the farmers, in groups of 10, applied the technologies in rice production from nursery, transplanting and to near harvest. With sights on water management for increased rice production, the project is aimed at building the capacity of a cadre of trainers, including innovation platform facilitators, extension agents, champion farmers and youths in the proper use of irrigation and water management technologies as well as implementation of good irrigation management practice, Igbadun said. Mr Jonathan Joshua who chairs the Bukan-sidi rice innovation platform, established by the African Development Bank sponsored SARD-SC project in Nasarawa state, lauded the TAATWEC initiative, saying it has engendered youth interest in agriculture. He encouraged other farmers to consider going into dry season farming using the technology and not rely only on rain-fed farming for rice production. This is the only way we can ensure food sufficiency, especially with the looming food shortage occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, Jonathan added. The farmers, who are mainly youths, appealed to the Nigerian government and stakeholders to join efforts with the TAAT programme in scaling up these new irrigation technologies with a view to boosting dry season rice production in order to avert hunger after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This, they believe, will ensure an all year-round rice production and sufficiency after the Coronavirus pandemic. KALAMAZOO, MI Those arrested for curfew violations in last Tuesdays protests in downtown Kalamazoo will not be charged, City Attorney Clyde Robinson told MLive Thursday evening, June 11. Robinson confirmed in an email that no curfew violation charges were or will be authorized by his office. Myanmar police vehicles and officers patrol the area outside a Kanbawza Bank branch in Sittwe, capital of western Myanmar's Rakhine state, following a robbery, June 10, 2020. The intensified conflict between the Myanmar military and the ethnic Arakan Army (AA) in war-ravaged Rakhine state could now spread to towns and cities amid an atmosphere of growing lawlessness following a knife attack on a government army officer and the abduction of another soldier in an urban area, political analysts said Friday. The forecast comes as the 17-month conflict in northern Rakhine state and in Paletwa township of neighboring Chin state shows no signs of letting up. The situation is expected to grow worse following the AA's demand on May 29 that all government administrative offices and military armed groups immediately leave the state, where the predominantly Buddhist force seeks greater autonomy for ethnic Rakhine people. The knife attack on the military officer by an unknown assailant occurred Thursday morning at a market in Ponnagyun town. Both soldiers were dressed in plainclothes. Myanmar forces said that the injured officer was being treated at a hospital, while the soldier with him had been abducted. They also said that the AA or civilians with links to the outlawed group could be responsible. Political analyst Maung Maung Soe noted that similar attacks on government soldiers have taken place in the Rakhine towns of Mrauk-U, Maei, and Kyauktaw. In Mrauk-U, there has been more than one shooting incident in the city, he added. The AA has launched these kinds of combat attacks to intimidate the military forces and limit their movements in the area. On Wednesday evening, four unknown men robbed a Kanbawza Bank branch in Rakhines capital Sittwe, stealing 180 millions kyats (U.S. $127,000), according to state authorities, in another sign of the deterioration in rule of law in the volatile state. Officials from the bank told RFA that they are reviewing CCTV footage of the robbery and working with local police to identify the assailants. Oo Hla Saw, a lawmaker who represents the Mrauk-U township constituency, said incidents such as random violence attacks and major theft are not new in Rakhine state and will continue in the future. These kinds of incidents are happening every month, and they frighten the local people, he said. There will be more crimes like this in the future. One problem is that civil administrative bodies and law enforcement officers are not responsive and are avoiding dealing with such crimes when they do occur to ensure their own safety, Oo Hla Saw said. We will see more horrifying crimes occurring, regardless of political or personal reasons, he added. Kyaw Zaw Oo, a state lawmaker and spokesman for the Rakhine Leading Party, said civilians do not appear bothered by horrifying attacks and other incidents in towns in northern Rakhine state. I dont think these situations are very concerning for ordinary working-class people in cities like Sittwe, he said. They might be concerning for the authorities, with regards to the AAs announcement on May 29. But civilians are not very concerned about the AA. Increased anxiety AA spokesman Khine Thukha had no comment on the knife attack and abduction in Ponnagyun, but blamed the deterioration of rule of law on the government army. The deteriorating condition in Rakhine state has been caused by military troops firing on Rakhine civilian villages and increased anxiety among city dwellers, he said. He also said that Myanmar soldiers could be robbing banks in towns. The military could be responsible for the robberies of private banks because they are located in government-controlled areas, Khine Thukha said, adding that government troops recently had committed similar break-ins and thefts of mobile phone shops at the Ponnagyun market. The Myanmar military is creating instability in the state on purpose so it can impose martial law there, he said. Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun, however, raised the possibility that the AA was responsible for the robbery of the Kanbawza Bank branch in Sittwe. We cannot tell for sure if AA troops were involved in the Kanbawza Bank robbery, but we are certain that the AA is responsible for the attack and the abduction at the Ponnagyun market, he said. He also said that the Arakan force was trying to undermine rule of law in Rakhine because it had announced its intention of replacing the current state administration with that of its own. In late May, the AA conducted a retaliatory attack on a border guard outpost in Rakhine state, killing four policemen and capturing six others. The AA also seized three family members of officers stationed there, but later released them. AA soldiers ambushed the outpost to strike back at government soldiers for an attack on its troops in Paletwa township, which the ethnic army also claims as its territory. The fighting, most of which has taken place near villages outside urban areas, left more than 250 civilians dead and injured 570 others during the period from December 2018 to May of this year, according to figures compiled by RFAs Myanmar Service. The armed conflict also has displaced more than 160,000 civilians, according to the Rakhine Ethnics Congress, a local relief group. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. The UK decision not to seek a Brexit transition period extension is shameful, Sinn Feins deputy leader said. The British Government has shown a complete disregard for Northern Irelands economy, Stormont deputy first minister Michelle ONeill added. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove formally told the EU on Friday that the UK would not ask for a delay despite concerns the departure would compound the economic chaos inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic. It is reckless that the British Government has not sought an extension to the Brexit transition period. I made this clear in a meeting with the British Government, EU Chief negotiator Michel Barnier & European Commission VP Maros Sefcovic. The Irish protocol is non-negotiable. pic.twitter.com/Tvo6Vm3sS5 Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) June 12, 2020 Mrs ONeill said: It is completely careless and shameful that the British government has not sought an extension to the Brexit transition from the EU and has shown a complete disregard for the economy in the north. She participated in a meeting of the British Government-EU Joint Committee today on the implementation of the Irish Protocol, alongside Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic and Mr Gove. The protocol means Northern Ireland will continue to follow EU trade regulations for agriculture and manufactured goods to keep the Irish land border open. Mrs ONeill said: The protocol on Ireland recognises our unique circumstances on this island, and its full implementation is not negotiable. It avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland, and safeguards the all-Ireland economy and the Good Friday Agreement. Story continues Sinn Fein both inside and outside the Executive want to ensure that protocol is delivered upon by the British Government, and in a way which minimises disruption and provides workable solutions which keeps trade moving and the cost of doing business down. In scrapping plans to immediately introduce full import controls on EU goods in the new year, Mr Gove said Britain would now phase in changes over six months so businesses hampered by Covid-19 can have the time to adjust. Pleased to join joint committee on implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement today along with HMG colleagues as part of UK delegation. Reminded the meeting that the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland is leaving the EU. Arlene Foster #WellMeetAgain (@DUPleader) June 12, 2020 Mrs Foster said she was pleased to join the joint committee meeting. (I) reminded the meeting that the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland is leaving the EU. A woman identified by law enforcement as Margaret Aislinn Channon setting fire to a police vehicle in Seattle, Wash. on June 6, 2020. (SPD) Washington Woman Charged With Burning 5 Police Vehicles in Seattle Protest A Washington woman, accused of burning five Seattle Police Department vehicles during protests over the death of George Floyd, was arrested on the morning of June 11. The 25-year-old Tacoma resident, Margaret Aislinn Channon, was arrested Thursday morning on five federal counts of arson for burning the law enforcement vehicles in downtown Seattle on June 6, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said. This defendant was captured by multiple cameras using an accelerant, lit like a blowtorch, to start fires in five vehiclesputting the public at risk and creating the very real possibility of a structure fire amidst the throng of people protesting downtown, U.S. Attorney Brian Moran said in a statement. According to the complaint, four of the five vehicles were completely destroyed and the fifth was heavily damaged. The Seattle Police Department identified the 25-year-old by the distinctive tattoos visible on her hands and arms after reviewing various videos taken of the Saturday incident. The department used Channons social media accounts to help confirm her identity, and found that the tattoos linked her to a missing person report filed in Texas last year. A missing person report for Margaret Aislinn Channon filed in Texas in 2019. (Screenshot) The complaint (pdf) shows an image of a woman raising her hands in front of police officers. Distinctive tattoos are visible on her fingers. I commend the painstaking work of law enforcement using a variety of images to identify the defendant and locate her so she can be held accountable, Moran said. Law enforcement confirmed the tattoos after executing a search warrant at her home in Tacoma, where they seized clothing and accessories that appear in some of the videos from the arsons. While we stand by every Americans Constitutional right to protest, when someone turns to violence, we will work tirelessly to investigate their crimes, said Jonathan Blais, ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge. We are working shoulder-to-shoulder with our local, state and federal partners to bring those responsible for actions such as this to justice. The First Amendment guarantees Americans the right to express their opinions and peacefully protest, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Raymond Duda of the Seattle Field Office. What it does not provide is the right to invoke violence under the guise of free speech. If found guilty, Channon faces up to 10 years in prison. Channon is scheduled to make a court appearance in at U.S. District Court in Seattle on Friday afternoon, the U.S. attorneys office said. Israeli press dedicated its headline this morning, June 12, to an op-ed by United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Washington Yousef Al-Otaiba, published by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. It is a rare article by a Gulf state minister to be published in Israeli mainstream media. Many Israeli pundits have since its publication retweeted the article. In his op-ed, Otaiba warns Israel against its annexation plan, saying that such a move would destroy hopes for further rapprochement between Israel and with the Arab world. "Annexation will certainly and immediately upend Israeli aspirations for improved security, economic and cultural ties with the Arab world and with the UAE. Annexation will also harden Arab views of Israel just when Emirati initiatives have been opening the space for cultural exchange and broader understanding of Israel and Judaism," stated the ambassador. He then detailed openly his countrys efforts at reaching out to Israel, Israelis and Jews in general, including the invitation of Israel to participate in Dubais World Expo planned for next year and the ongoing presence of Israeli diplomats in Abu Dhabi at the headquarters of the United Nations International Renewable Energy Agency. Amplifying the ambassadors direct appeal to Israelis, UAE Foreign Ministrys Director of Strategic Communications Hend Al-Otaiba tweeted this morning in Hebrew, stating, "We face too many shared dangers and see the huge potential for better relations. In the UAE and in much of the Arab world, we would like to believe that Israel is an opportunity, not an enemy." Israels Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat tweeted in response, "What a nice surprise reading a tweet in Hebrew. Israel has extended its hand in peace to its neighbors since its creation. The US peace initiative is a starting point to realize this vision." The UAE appeal to Israel is new in its boldness, but not new in essence. In a podcast published by Al-Monitor last week, Otaiba told Andrew Parasiliti that Netanyahus annexation plan would make the Middle East "even more unstable," adding that it will put an incredible amount of political pressure on our friends in Jordan." The June 12 article and the tweet appear on the backdrop of growing signs over strengthening ties between Israel and the Gulf states in general and the UAE in particular. On June 9, Israels Foreign Ministry announced, "An Etihad Airways plane, the UAEs national carrier, landed in Israels Ben Gurion airport this evening, to deliver 15 respirators to be used in Palestinian hospitals." It was the second UEA airplane to arrive at Israels airport in recent weeks with medical aid for the Palestinians, and the first to feature official UAE state symbols. Former Knesset member (Zionist Camp) Ksenia Svetlova, expert on the Arab world, was quick to react to the article. Highlighting the essence of the problem, Svetlova tweeted, "Its either annexation or good relations with countries in the region this is what UAE Ambassador Yousef Al-Otaiba is writing in a special article for Ynet. Obviously, even after these very clear and direct words, spokespeople of the Likud will continue blabbing about Arab states OK with annexation. The reality is that this [annexation] would deal a fatal blow to the relations created in recent years with countries in our region." Over the last few months, COVID-19 has touched nearly every facet of life for residents of Chatham County, the state of Georgia and the country. Tasks as mundane as grocery shopping or picking up prescriptions have become potentially life-threatening activities for the most at-risk population. Schools adapted to online learning, and more recently, college and high school seniors graduated in socially distanced settings. Elected officials at every level grappled with tough decisions, torn between health concerns and a struggling economy. But before last Tuesday, Georgia had yet to see how an election amid a global pandemic would pan out. It wasnt pretty. The myriad issues surrounding Georgias primary election became a topic of national conversation after voter confusion, equipment errors and finger-pointing at the state level on election day gave way to accusations of voter suppression as the week unfolded. In Chatham County, the Board of Elections is still counting votes mostly due to the unprecedented absentee voting turnout, spurred by an effort to lower the risk of contracting COVID-19 from voting in person. 'Complete catastrophe': Georgia primary voting blasted for long lines, malfunctioning equipment The virus restricted the amount of training received by poll workers and poll managers, who are usually retirees the most at-risk population when it comes to COVID-19. On election day, that lack of preparation was apparent, when a third of Chathams polling places had issues with setting up Georgias new $104 million voting system, purchased to replace the states 17-year-old electronic equipment. The primary was set to be a dry run for the new machines ahead of the much larger general election in November, where Georgia could prove to be a pivotal state in many federal contests, including the presidential race. But, as it did with day-to-day life, COVID-19 derailed the first large-scale test of the new voting system. Story continues Absentee ballots Georgias general primary election, originally slated for March 24, was delayed until May 19. Then, on April 10, it was delayed again until June 9. There were many questions to be answered about holding an election during a pandemic. How would officials make social distancing possible at the polls? Would voters who had never made use of an absentee ballot be willing to do so now? How could the election be conducted safely? The Secretary of States office made an unprecedented move in March. All 6.9 million registered, active voters in the state were mailed an absentee ballot request form, including 202,496 in Chatham County. It was an effort to keep the in-person voting to a minimum to slow the spread of COVID-19. Registered inactive voters those who hadnt voted in the last two general elections had to request a ballot. In Chatham County, around 60% of the turnout came from the surge in absentee ballots a total of 30,839. In the 2016 general primary, the total turnout including early voting, absentee ballots, provisional ballots and election day voting was only 23,750. Board of Elections Chairman Tom Mahoney said the push for absentee ballots was the right call, though the counting process for absentee ballots takes more time than any other form of voting. We agree with setting up and encouraging a push for absentee ballots, but the absentee ballots have to be processed in the Board of Registrars Office, before theyre even delivered to the Board of Elections, before they can be hand-processed by the Board of Elections absentee clerks, before they can be then tabulated, Mahoney said. All of those things are labor-intensive things. Fair Fight, a voting rights group founded by 2018 Democratic candidate for Georgia governor, Stacey Abrams, also agreed with the push for absentee ballots. Fair Fight CEO Lauren Groh-Wargo said Brad Raffensperger made the right choice, though he placed too much pressure on county leadership when it comes to counting the absentee ballots. Trump vs. Biden: Biden and Trump both warn the other side may 'steal' the election, as the fight over mail voting rages He did one good thing, which we really support. We really support sending applications out, Groh-Wargo said. We thought that was a really good move. But then, he stuck it on the county. They didnt give them additional tech support. He didnt give them staffing support or money or resources to do what they needed. In a high vote-by-mail environment, we really need to take a look at more efficient, better-run processing rather than throwing more on 159 counties that are underfunded. In Chatham County, theyre still counting ballots. By Thursday afternoon, the BOE announced they had counted 5,503 advanced voting ballots, and 19,728 election day ballots. But the real bear was the absentee ballots. Of the 30,839 received, only 4,365 absentee ballots had been counted by 3:20 p.m. Thursday. Mahoney said the counting will continue through the weekend, and likely into next week. We will not finish until probably mid-next week. And then we wont certify that election until the end of the week at the earliest, Mahoney said on Friday. Were still in the middle of an election. We havent moved on. And we wont move on. Were going to continue to keep our nose to the grindstone and get this election completed and certified. Thats our legal responsibility, our responsibility to voters. Nobody really knew what they were doing The Salvation Army on Bee Road has long been a polling place, but on Tuesday, voters cast their ballots in the buildings gym instead of a smaller, nearby assembly hall where voting usually takes place. The move made sense for social distancing, but the gym had few electrical outlets. Some werent working. Then the technician didnt arrive on time. When he did arrive, he didnt have enough extension cords to plug in all 14 voting machines. At first, only two or three were working. By about 9:30 a.m., six of 14 machines were working. By then, the wait had increased to two hours and the line outside snaked toward the back corner of the building. We were trying to get the machines up and running, said poll manager Meloni Byrd. With these new machines its very difficult, and nobody really knew what they were doing. It was a bunch of complications. But weve gotten it slowly moving. But learning these machines is the biggest part as far as set up. Trump going to Tulsa: Trump dismisses controversy over Tulsa rally, says it will be a 'celebration' of his campaign The polling place didnt open until 7:40 a.m. The first voter didnt cast a ballot until 8:11 a.m. By 9 a.m. only a handful of those waiting in an increasingly long line in the sun had voted, said Joanna Shepherd, an Emory law professor who volunteered as a Democratic poll watcher and was assigned to that precinct. "They didnt check. Like this room actually doesnt have enough plugs, physical plugs, and even some other ones they have, like that top plug doesnt work, Shepherd said, gesturing behind her. And there werent enough extension cords. And so its like, the equipment was here without the infrastructure to actually help make it my work. Voter Shameka Jackson said the voting machine didnt accept her choices. She checked the printout and had to re-do her ballot when it showed many offices left blank where Jackson had chosen a candidate. Voting at Salvation Army in Savannah. All the voting machines on the right, 8 of 14, couldnt be used because there werent enough outlets or extension cords. pic.twitter.com/94RNU9goGq Mary Landers (@MaryLandersSMN) June 9, 2020 Voter Jeff Ofgang came out shaking his head. There was fighting over who was in line first, who was 65 or older, who wasnt, who has to go to work, he said. The poll workers seemed less than familiar with the process, less than ready for the new process. Its just kind of discouraging overall. Training strained Two weeks ahead of the election, the Board of Elections was down by 22 polling places. Senior centers were out of the question, and a few polling places are not large enough to support the social distancing requirements. In a typical election, Chatham County has 92 polling places. This time, there were only 90. The alternate polling locations were set in stone a few days before the primary election, but on election day, another pandemic-born issue came to light: training. Like everyone else in the country, poll workers and poll managers had been dealt a COVID-shaped blow. People wait in line to vote in Georgias Primary Election on June 9, 2020 in Atlanta. Voters in Georgia, West Virginia, South Carolina, North Dakota, and Nevada are holding primaries amid the coronavirus pandemic. The usual training couldnt be conducted. Classes had to be reduced in size to make way for social distancing, and the extensive hands-on training required for new machines and the new voting system was difficult to conduct safely. Groh-Wargo said when Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law last April House Bill 316 authorizing the purchase of the new voting system with the intention of rolling the system out within a year, there were bound to be problems. No matter what, the lines were going to happen, the equipment problems, the lack of technical support and lack of training was going to happen. That plan shoved way too much on the counties, Groh-Wargo said. RNC in Jacksonville: Jacksonville chosen to host Trump's Republican National Convention acceptance speech Chatham County Board of Elections member Antwan Lang said the issues he was seeing early on election day largely stemmed from a lack of training. "Most of the issues are just user error. Not really the machine, but the person using the machine may not know exactly how the machine works, Lang said. By noon, a note from the Georgia Secretary of States Office was released claiming the new voting machines were not at fault, but local leadership was. So far we have no reports of any actual equipment issues, that statement read. We do have reports of equipment being delivered to the wrong locations and delivered late. We have reports of poll workers not understanding setup or how to operate voting equipment. While these are unfortunate, they are not issues of the equipment but a function of counties engaging in poor planning, limited training and failures of leadership. Well over 2,000 precincts are functioning normally throughout the state of Georgia. Mahoneys response was less pointed. I dont feel there is a finger of blame to point here. Im not willing to say the machines were flawless with no problems, Mahoney said. That has been my experience with new machines. Every time my office gets new computers, there are issues. It takes time to get these new systems in place and working. Mahoney defended the countys training while navigating the challenges of COVID-19 amid an election. He said poll workers received less training than poll managers, but both groups received training on how to set up and operate the new voting system. Im sure theres human error, too. I just dont think those things are anybodys fault or anything to squabble about, he said. Instead, we all ought to come together and realize the herculean efforts that have been done to roll out a completely new voting system on such a short time frame during a global pandemic. An early voter, who wore gloves to cast their ballot, shows off their sticker during Georgia's primary election at the Gwinnett County Voter Registration and Elections Office in Lawrenceville, Georgia, May 18, 2020. Looking back, looking forward While the BOE continues to count votes, a runoff election looms. As of right now, races in which none of the candidates got above 50% of the vote will be decided on Aug. 11. Groh-Wargo said after seeing the reaction from state leaders after Tuesday, shes cautiously optimistic about the future of voting in Georgia. I do think we have reached a potential tipping point that this is unacceptable, and were not going to accept defeat, and were not just going to allow this to happen again in our state. So Im cautiously optimistic, Groh-Wargo said. But we need folks to take action. We need all manner of county officials from Chatham to Whitfield to engage on this, because the right to vote is the most sacred right we have. Mahoney said right now, the BOEs focus is making sure every ballot and every vote received is counted. Were going to be going through after this election is put to bed, and were going to go through and find those problems. And then, obviously, start implementing improvements in the training materials. Im sure therell be new directives from the state on the system, and well all be working together on that. Certainly before August, and certainly before November. John Bolton: John Bolton's book expected to allege that Ukraine wasn't Trump's only foreign misconduct This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Georgia elections: How coronavirus wreaked havoc on primary Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it. I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends. More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it. The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity. About me: I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS. Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line). Age: 42 Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed. I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it). Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said Friday that peaceful protest is encouraged, but he said violence and camping on state property "will not be tolerated." A rally "to reclaim" the Legislative Plaza at the State Capitol in Nashville was planned for Friday night. Governor Lee said, "We encourage Tennesseans to exercise their First Amendment rights and have seen many examples of peaceful protests across our state in recent weeks. As demonstrations continue, we will continue to protect Tennesseans' right to peaceful assembly, while also reassuring citizens that lawlessness, autonomous zones, and violence will not be tolerated. "Further, Tennessee law expressly prohibits camping on state property not expressly designated as a campground area, and that law will be enforced." U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty said, "Tennessee is not Seattle. We respect the rule of law and any rioters, looters or domestic terrorists who vandalize or destroy Nashville should be arrested. I proudly support our law enforcement officers who are on the front lines protecting our communities from domestic terrorist groups like ANTIFA. The Democrats call to defund and dismantle the police has ushered in new lawlessness, and it must be stopped. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Several cities in China have speeded up the development and application of 5G technology in a bid to build smarter cities. Real-time information about transactions and visitors is displayed on a screen in a 5G-enabled market in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. (Photo/Xinhua) Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Co., Ltd. has already signed agreements with telecom operators to build a 5G system in the Shanghai subway. The city is aiming to bring 5G network coverage to 297 subway stations before the third China International Import Expo (CIIE), which will be held in Shanghai this November. It is thought that the innovative application of 5G will also improve subway safety management, operation services, intelligent operation and equipment maintenance as well as many other aspects. Smart transportation is merely a reflection of how smart cities are driven by 5G. Once deeply integrated with AI, big data and other new-generation information technologies, 5G will be applied in more scenarios such as urban governance, industry and people's livelihood, experts pointed out. China is speeding up the construction, application, and development of 5G to make the most of 5G new infrastructure and support the high-quality development of the economy, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Provincial governments have also taken action to facilitate the building of 5G cities through the technology. For example, Jinan, east China's Shandong province, has recently issued a development plan announcing its intention to use 5G in a number of major projects on a trial basis, such as subways, airports and high-speed railways. China has furthered the construction of 5G starting this year, with more than 10,000 new 5G base stations being built in the country every week, said Miao Wei, minister of industry and information technology. Joan Smalls has spoken out about discrimination in the fashion industry in a candid video shared on Instagram. In the clip, titled We Are Not A Trend, the Puerto Rican model called out brands, agents, and publications for perpetuating systemic racism. Smalls also revealed she will be donating 50 per cent of her salary for the year to organisations that support the Black Lives Matter movement. Theres a couple of things I need to get off of my chest, she began in the video before proceeding to read from a sheet of notes. I dont need validation from an industry that cast me as a token black girl while ignoring my whole cultural identity, she said before explaining how she was frequently told that her hair was an an issue while on modelling jobs. Recommended MAC Cosmetics issues apology following accusations of racism Smalls went on to explain how she often had to share campaigns with white women and was rarely given the opportunity to front one on her own. How many times have I had to share campaigns or editorials? When I saw my counterparts had that achievement by themselves, it was a constant battle, she said. Speaking directly to the fashion industry, Smalls said: Youre part of the cycle that perpetuates these conscious behaviours. Many of you who claim to be all about diversity and inclusivity jumped on the bandwagon because social media held you accountable for your lack of acknowledgement of us. Smalls concluded her video by calling on industry players to speak up and show solidarity with the black community. Your silence is not only insulting, it is part of the bigger problem within this industry, she said. Its time to give us a real seat at the table because we are worthy. Because we are talented, because we are unique. When people get done bowling, theyll just leave everything right there on the lane, and the porter come and clean off the table and chairs, clean off bowling balls, put the shoes back, spray them and put everything back, Kozy said. So the next party that comes to that lane, everything will be clean and ready to go. Police, community members and others meet near the Columbia Heights Metro Station to discuss recent shootings and other crime in the area on Jan. 20. (Matt McClain/The Post) Residents, who on Thursday toured the area with D.C. police and city leaders, say shootings have made them feel unsafe in their neighborhood. While credit unions agree with the spirit of a proposed to provide monthly stimulus payments to be distributed to direct deposit to a new, Fed-backed account, CUNA believes Americans would best be served by leveraging the system currently in place. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee, has proposed monthly stimulus payments that would go to FedAccounts, and other similar past proposals have included utilizing the post office for similar deposit accounts. There is no need to pass legislation requiring the Federal Reserve or the United State Postal Service to provide products and services that the organizations were not designed to provide. Instead, Congress should be using its public platform to encourage all consumers, especially the most vulnerable among us, to seek out financial services from a community-based, not-for-profit credit union, the letter reads. As the nations original consumer protectors, credit unions have a long history of providing affordable, responsible access to banking services. Augustoberfest to return in 2022, but in a new location This year marks the 25th anniversary of Augustoberfest, usually held in downtown Hagerstown. But this year's festival is moving out of Hagerstown. ROTTERDAM Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum cable TV, says it will spend the equivalent of $10 million on a project with the National Urban League and the National Action Network to support minority businesses. Charters Spectrum Community Investment Loan Fund will provide $3 million to the Urban League's Urban Empowerment Fund which makes loans to minority-owned small businesses. The Spectrum fund will also spend $3 million on low-interest loans to other community loans fund organizations as well. Charter will also spend $3.5 million on public service announcements to promote the loan funds and give $500,000 to the Urban League for community loan fund infrastructure. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 13) The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) started to lay the groundwork for the construction of protected bicycle lanes along EDSA on Saturday. According to MMDA Spokesperson Celina Pialago, the traffic engineering office of the agency visited the site and measured the space to be dedicated to the bike lanes. The MMDA team has also set up temporary markings on the road, allotting a minimum of 1.2 meters of space for cyclists. Pialago added that the said data will still be up for assessment and proper evaluation for final plans regarding the bicycle lanes. We see the urgency of having bike lanes. Kailangan na magka bike lanes since yon na ang bagong mode of transportation ng mga kababayan natin. [Translation: We see the urgency of having bike lanes. Bike lanes should be put up immediately since this has become the new mode of transportation of our fellow Filipinos.] Pialago also shared that the initial plan was to put up an elevated, protected bicycle lane, but she added that this will take time due to budget constraints. Yong initial na plano namin sana, elevated... but that will take time. Due to budget constraints, syempre may budget issues ang lahat ng proyektong may construction, she said. [Translation: Our initial plan was to put up an elevated bike lane... but that will take time. Due to budget constraints, since there are budget constraints in all projects concerning construction.] On Thursday, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) officials, led by chairman Danny Lim, agreed to establish the bike lanes immediately. The officials said that they fast-tracked the establishment of the protected bike lanes as more people shift to bicycles as mode of transportation during the coronavirus crisis. Furthermore, it was discussed that the bike lanes will be located on roads, rather than on sidewalks. The project will be done in two phases -- interim and long term. Our goal is to move people while making sure of their safety," said Tugade. South Sligo councillor Dara Mulvey has called on Bank of Ireland to clarify that it will restore full services to its branch in Ballymote in the near future. At present, the Ballymote bank is closed with a sign on the door alerting people to that fact, while also telling people where other nearby branches are open. However, Cllr Mulvey says it is 'unusual' that the branch in Ballymote is closed while outlets in neighbouring towns such as Tubbercurry and Ballaghaderrean remain open. The Fine Gael councillor has called on Bank of Ireland CEO Francesca McDonagh to give an assurance that the branch will restore full service to the people of Ballymote and surrounding hinterlands soon. Cllr Mulvey said long-standing customers need to receive reassurance from Bank of Ireland in terms of their support for small businesses around Ballymote, particularly given the uncertainty of the present Covid-19 situation. Cllr Mulvey concluded that people were afraid that this temporary branch closure could be long-term. Gyms, tattoo parlours and food courts will finally open up on Saturday in New South Wales as the state sees a steady drop in coronavirus cases. People can also invite up to 20 guests to their houses this weekend, replacing the current five person limit. While food courts were initially only open for takeaway, customers will be able to dine in from the weekend. Community sport has also been given the green light and will kick off from July 1. Gyms will finally reopen on Saturday with 100 customers inside and ten in each class Gyms are expecting a big return on Saturday as doors finally open - but facilities will be limited to 100 people at a time with a maximum of 10 in each class. New South Wales, which has 1,500 gyms, is the final state in Australia to announce when fitness centres can open their doors after two months of lockdown. Gyms are open in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, Canberra and the Northern Territory - and will open in Victoria on 22 June. Pilates, yoga and dance classes will also open in NSW this weekend with a maximum of ten people at a time. Tattoo and massage parlours will also welcome ten customers at a time. Food courts that were previously restricted to takeaway only will allow for dine-in from Saturday A maximum of ten people can attend tattoo parlours in NSW from the weekend (file image) For those dining in at food courts, there will be a maximum of 50 people per separate seated eating area as well as extensive cleaning. Community centres, indoor swimming pools and saunas will open on Saturday but people are urged to keep 1.5metres distance. Outside gatherings of ten people will also be bumped up to 20 from the weekend. But despite the flurry of eased restrictions, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged people not to 'let their guard down'. Public gatherings of 20 will now be allowed under the new rules. Pictured: Residents at Sydney's Bondi Beach 'From this Saturday, you will be able to welcome 20 people into your home as well as having gatherings outside with 20 people,' she said on Thursday. 'This is based on the health advice, given the data and how well we've been doing. 'And from Saturday also you will be able to attend food courts in a socially distanced way.' However, Ms Berejiklian warned that people still need to take care when meeting loved ones. 'Please do not let your guard down and when you are around vulnerable people, how you treat your loved ones and those with underlying illnesses that can be impacted more heavily with the virus. 'We cannot forget the virus is still amongst us,' she said. New South Wales has relaxed more coronavirus restrictions to allow 20 people in a home instead of 10 from Saturday. Pictured: Premier Gladys Berejiklian Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the government's decision are informed by health advice. 'NSW has now gone two full weeks without detecting a single case of recent community transmission of COVID-19 - this is a testament to the hard work of the community,' Mr Hazzard said. 'The cooperation of the public and business, and our high rates of testing, remain our greatest weapons to stamping out community transmission so it's vital people continue to come forward.' Those living in NSW can also finally relax at a massage parlour from Saturday (file image) It comes after NSW went more than two weeks without a confirmed case of coronavirus. On Friday there were fears of a 'probable' case in Sydney's Rose Bay Public School. Health officials are still waiting for test results. NSW Police have also warned they will fine people up to $1,000 for attending Black Lives Matter rallies on Friday night and Saturday in Sydney. It comes after a protestor in Melbourne tested positive to coronavirus following last weekend's marches. Michael Gove has "formally confirmed" the UK will not seek an extension to the Brexit transition period. (PA) Michael Gove has formally confirmed the UK will not ask for an extension to the Brexit transition period. The UK, after leaving the EU on 31 January, is currently in a transition period in which the two sides have until 31 December to agree their future relationship. Because of the coronavirus crisis, there have been calls for Number 10 to extend the transition period, with leaders primarily focused on the pandemic. Boris Johnson has repeatedly insisted he will not ask for a delay, despite businesses and critics warning of the dangers of a departure without a trade agreement in place. However, speaking this afternoon, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said: The moment for extension has now passed. European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic said Fridays EU-UK meeting was positive - but hinted that there is still more to do. (AP) Mr Gove held the second joint committee agreed under the Withdrawal Agreement with European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic on Friday. In a post on Twitter, Gove said he had chaired a constructive meeting with Sefcovic. He said: I formally confirmed the UK will not extend the transition period & the moment for extension has now passed. I just chaired a constructive EU Joint Committee meeting with @MarosSefcovic I formally confirmed the UK will not extend the transition period & the moment for extension has now passed. On 1 January 2021 we will take back control and regain our political & economic independence pic.twitter.com/nZjNpez8LI Michael Gove (@michaelgove) June 12, 2020 On January 1, 2021, we will take back control and regain our political & economic independence. But Sefcovic told a briefing in Brussels that the EU remains open to such an extension. UK sources were keen to depict the meeting as the last formal opportunity to request an extension to the transition period, as it is the last scheduled meeting of the joint committee before the July 1 deadline. Story continues Both sides can agree to hold another such meeting, where under the Withdrawal Agreement a delay could be asked for. Sefcovic said todays meeting was positive - but hinted that there is still more to do. Speaking at the European Commission press briefing, he said: I have to underline that the meeting took place in very good atmosphere and I am glad that at the end of our discussions we also arrived at some positive results, which I believe would pave the way forward for the proper implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement. Michel Barnier said that there has been no progress in Brexit talks between the EU and UK. (European Commission) He added: However, with some six months to go before the end of the transition period we still have lots of work to do. Last week, the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the UK continues to backtrack on its previous commitments to the EU made under the political declaration agreed in October last year. Barnier said the UK was seeking to distance itself from negotiations, adding: There have been no significant areas of progress. I dont think we can go on like this forever. Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford, the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, wrote to the Prime Minister on Friday calling on him to request the extension, saying it would be extraordinarily reckless to end the transition in the new year. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo News UK Some of the substances suspected to be high-value cocaine intercepted at the Kpoglu Border Post in the Ketu South Municipality in the Volta Region last Friday have gone missing. What is missing is said to be weighing 100.10 grams, according to the Narcotics Control Commission. The commission has told Graphic Online that it went missing between Friday and Sunday whilst the seized substances and cash were in the custody of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at the Aflao Border post before it was transported to the headquarters of the Customs Division in Accra. What happened? The suspected narcotics and $200,000 cash, which was in $100 and $50 bills, were busted on Friday, June 5, 2020 during a joint search on a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado vehicle with a Nigerian registration number, LSR 815 FV. The vehicle was crossing into Ghana from Togo. It was busted through a collaboration between the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and other security agencies including the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB). The items were concealed in a false fuel compartment of the Nigerian registered Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. When the substances were detected missing According to the Narcotics Control Commission, some of the substances were allegedly detected missing on Sunday, June 7, 2020, when the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) invited all agencies at the border post to verify the exhibits the Narcotics officers left in the custody of Customs on Friday. The inspection was to be done before the substances were escorted to the headquarters of the GRA in Accra. The Acting Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission, Mr Francis Kofi Torkornoo, told Graphic Onlines Mary Mensah that even though, the Narcotics officers had protested that the substances per Narcotics Control Commission Act were to be left in the custody of narcotics officers whilst investigations were still ongoing, the Customs officers ignored them and insisted they will keep them in their custody and transport it to their headquarters in Accra. The verification exercise revealed that, parcel (h), a 100.10g of whitish substance wrapped in transparent polythene, suspected to be cocaine, was missing, Mr Torkonoo told Graphic Onlines Mary Mensah when he recounted the seizure of the suspected narcotics. He insisted that the commission was the lead agency on narcotic drugs in the country as the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020, which was assented to by the President on May 11, 2020. This, he said gives the commission the independence in the performance of its functions over offences related to narcotic drugs, plants cultivated for narcotic purposes and for related matters. Section 72 of the Act also talks about seizure of currency, and that NACOB has the "backing of the law to ask Customs to transfer the vehicle and all its contents to us for investigations to start in earnest, but since the seizure of the whitish substances suspected to be narcotics at the Kpoglu border on Friday June 5, 2020, we are yet to receive all the exhibits from the scene, Mr Torkonoo said. Interception Graphic Online understands that it was the Narcotics officer on the ground at Kpoglu Border Post who acted on intelligence and vigilance to personally bust the suspect, Agbatch Sylvester, after he insisted that a second false fuel tank be scanned to ascertain its contents. After the bust the Narcotics officers Graphic Online understands protested the decision by the Customs officers to send the items together with the vehicle to Customs Division instead of sending it to the office of NACOB as required in section 63 (1) (4) and section 72 (1) of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019) which requires that, the vehicle and the entire content of the items retrieved from it is transferred to NACOB. The Narcotics officers reportedly made it clear to all agencies present that, NACOB would not be part of the team escorting the vehicle to the headquarters of Customs in Accra, if the vehicle and its entire content including the items found in the hidden compartment were not being handed over directly to NACOB for investigations to commence immediately. According to NACOB, Customs failed to handover the exhibits to NACOB for further investigations into the case. Acting Director-Generals account The Acting Director-General of Narcotics told Graphic Onlines Mary Mensah that the Toyota Landcruiser Prado with Nigerian registration number LSR 815 FV arrived at the Kpoglu Border post at 10 am, loaded with goods, which the driver declared as assorted goods. He said as part of arrival formalities, officers of the commission, customs, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) conducted a joint examination of the vehicle. Mr Torkornoo said the joint examination revealed that the items included spare parts, garments, drinks, gallons of flavours, foot wears and a hand bag and wanted to release the vehicle. However, the NACOB officer, based on intelligence available to him on the vehicle and the driver as well as his critical examination, made an official request to have the vehicle scanned at the Gateway Services Limited (GSL), he said. He added that on two occasions, the scan result was reported as normal, but the officer insisted that further physical examination be conducted on the vehicle. Mr Torkornoo said the vehicle was, therefore, returned to the examination bay and recalled other agencies to witness the examination. He said the assistance of a mechanic was sought to remove the false tank and in the process the driver jumped into the vehicle and sped off, forcing the NACOB officer to jump onto his motorbike to chase the vehicle. Having given Sylvester a hot chase for about 45 minutes, the NACOB officer, at the peril of his life, bravely crashed his motorbike into the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, compelling the driver to halt the vehicle, Mr Torkornoo recounted. Sending danger, he added, the suspect took to his heels and abandoned the vehicle. This, he said attracted people to the scene but the NACOB officer stayed put by the vehicle and called his commander at the Aflao Border Post for reinforcement and before the team would arrive, three officers of Customs at Kpoglu Border came to the scene, the vehicle was transported to that post, and later taken to Aflao for further examination. The Acting Director General said at about 3pm and as has been the practice, all the agencies, this time including the police, immigration, defence and military intelligence and national security, converged to examine the false fuel tank, which contained the substances. False fuel tank With the assistance of the mechanic, the fuel tank of the vehicle was carefully removed and examined where the false compartment was detected and the items found in them. Read also: Security operatives impound narcotics at Kpoglu Border Post for details of the items. The Customs officers reportedly told the joint examination team that NACOB could not take possession of the items for investigations to commence until they had informed the Commissioner of Customs for further action. Subsequently, the substances together with the US$200,000 cash was packaged in the presence of the agencies and together with the assorted goods, left in the custody of Customs. On Sunday, June 7, 2020, at about 7am, all the agencies were invited by Customs to verify the exhibits in their custody before they escorted them to Customs headquarters in Accra and it was during that time that it was revealed that party (h), a 100.10g parcel of whitish substance wrapped in transparent polythene, suspected to be cocaine was missing. NACOB, reportedly protested the move to have the vehicle and the exhibits dispatched to the Customs headquarters in Accra and made it clear that NACOB would not be part of the team escorting the vehicle if it was not handed over directly to NACOB. The items were later escorted to Accra by the Customs and Immigration officers. Bring the rest Mr Torkornoo said although the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019) required that the vehicle and all the items retrieved should be transferred to NACOB, as of date, customs has failed to handover the exhibits to NACOB for further investigations. He said last Monday (June 8), an escort team of customs and immigration officers transported the vehicle and the seized items to the customs headquarters and also held a press conference on the seizure. The same day, some customs and immigration officials went to hand over a box, reportedly containing the narcotic exhibits, but NACOB declined to receive them on grounds that all contents and the vehicle were to be returned, according to the NACOB law, he explained. Not first time Mr Torkornoo expressed grave concern about the handling of the seized substances by Customs, which he said, had delayed his outfit from launching full investigations into the issue. He said it was not the first time customs had delayed in sending exhibits to NACOB to start investigations of substances seized at the same border and in all instances it was the vigilance of the NACOB official that led to the seizure of the drugs. Customs posture NACOB is saying that this posture or position of customs to hold on to exhibits suspected to be narcotics and handing over to NACOB later is very worrying, frustrating and disturbing, adding that NACOB had exhibited its readiness to collaborate with other relevant agencies in its work. The NACOB boss also described as most unfortunate, the statement made by the Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA, Colonel Kwadwo Damoah (retd) that although the substances were yet to be verified I can say they are of the high-value narcotic category. Mr Torkornoo indicated that no test had been conducted on the seized whitish substances from the Kpoglu border post to confirm the type of drug, stressing that nobody could determine narcotics by merely looking at it. Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In terms of the kind of chain of events, its important because, you know, frankly, the shah is a coward, Aldrich told The Associated Press. I dont think the 1953 coup would have happened if the shah had fled then. At this point, theres no doubt that hes packed his bags and was pretty much going to the airport when this intervention happened." At the White House, officials are playing down the severity of growing numbers of virus cases in many states and are blaming it on factors beyond Trump's forceful push to reopen the economy. Get caught up on the morning's virus developments here. It is estimated just nine million passengers will have passed through Dublin and Cork airports by the end of the year. That is down from 35.5 million last year. Anyone travelling through the airports will be asked to wear masks from next Tuesday. Chief Communications Officer with the DAA Paul O'Kane outlines some of the measures the airports are putting in place. Mr O'Kane said they also have strong recommendations for staff to wear masks and they will be mandatory in some areas. "We are asking people who are not travelling not to enter the terminal building and that is to help us enforce social distancing. "We also have a really enhanced cleaning regime, we have social distancing signage throughout the terminals." 960 hand sanitizers and 720 protective plexiglass screens have been installed throughout both Dublin and Cork airports. Cork Airport's Head of Communications Kevin Cullinane says people should not be concerned about air travel post-Covid. "I think anyone who has used Cork Airport in the past knows that travelling from it is quick, clean and friendly. "Obviously people will have concerns about flying again post-Covid but I think if people follow the guidlines for the resumption of air travel they can be assured that they will enjoy flying from Cork again soon." Conservation groups in South Carolina are challenging a 3,000-acre (12,100-hectare) development project in Charleston over concerns that a loss of wetlands could worsen flooding in an already flood-prone area. The Sierra Club and the South Carolina Wildlife Federation argue that the Long Savannah community development in the West Ashley area of Charleston would affect more than 200 acres (81 hectares) of wetlands that would otherwise store floodwaters during major storms. The challenge comes amid a much wider debate over Charlestons future as a coastal city as sea levels rise and floods become more frequent. The development is west of the Church Creek drainage basin, where the city has bought out dozens of flooded homes since 2017 through Federal Emergency Management Agency grants. The environmental groups filed a petition last week for the state board of the Department of Environmental Health and Control to overturn certifications for the project issued under the federal Clean Water Act by agency staff. During this day and time, we know better than to fill and build in floodplain wetlands, said Amy Armstrong, executive director of the South Carolina Environmental Law Project, which is representing the groups. These activities have led to peoples homes being repeatedly flooded and have exacerbated flooding by eliminating important flood buffering wetland systems, she added in her statement. The Long Savannah proposal has been hailed as one of the largest developments in Charlestons history. Work on the project stalled following the deep 2008 recession. Developer Taylor Bush said the project will also include a 1,628-acre (660-hectare) public park and an agreement that protects nearly 1,900 acres (nearly 770 hectares) of freshwater wetlands within the property from future development. Because of these commitments and the incorporated drainage improvements, the project provides a significant public benefit, Bush said in an email. DHEC recognized this benefit as reflected in the issuance of its certifications. In addition to state certifications and federal permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, developers must also comply with municipal stormwater ordinances. Matthew Fountain, Charlestons director of stormwater management, said developers should implement best management practices to mitigate any problems caused to stormwater by building on wetlands. About 12.3% of the project area lies within the Church Creek drainage basin. _ Liu is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Flood Pollution South Carolina Dear Editor, Millions of Americans are concerned about the continued impact the coronavirus pandemic will have on our economy. As a result of the pandemic, hospitals and frontline workers nationwide are at the forefront of this fight both from a healthcare perspective and from an economic perspective. Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County is no exception. Congress approved $175 billion in emergency provider grants, but not enough to prevent a deepening crisis. Hospitals alone will lose more than $200 billion through June, according to the American Hospital Association. Continued summer... Washington, June 12 : US President Donald Trump entrenched himself in his fierce defense of the police and challenged the Democratic leaders of Washington state by threatening to intervene if they do not control an area from which security forces have withdrawn. During a visit to Dallas, Texas to raise funds for his re-election, Trump on Thursda announced that he will sign an executive order to "encourage police departments nationwide to meet the most current professional standards for the use of force", reports Efe news. "That means force, but force with compassion. But if you're going to have to really do a job, if somebody is really bad, you're going to have to do it with real strength, with real power," Trump said during a roundtable with small business owners, law enforcement representatives and religious leaders. Trump's comments made it clear that he does not support a significant reform of police tactics, as requested by many activists and the Democratic opposition in the wake of the outrage unleashed by the death of African-American George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. "If they are allowed to do their job, they will do a great job," Trump said of police officers, adding: "You always have a bad apple no matter where you go. You have bad apples. There are not too many of them, and I can tell you there are not too many of them in the police department." "We're not defunding police (as demanded by many protesters). If anything we're going the other route, we're going to make sure that our police are well-trained, perfectly trained and have the best equipment.... We're going to have stronger police forces because that's what you need," he said. Trump thus reinforced his motto of "LAW & ORDER!" which he often tweets and with which he has responded to the protests against police brutality against minorities and, far from recognizing racism in the country, he asked for those accusations to be left behind. "Americans are good and virtuous people. We have to work together to confront bigotry and prejudice wherever they appear, but we will make no progress and heal no wounds by falsely labelling tens of millions of decent Americans as racist or bigots," Trump said. The President said that, when that happens, "we get off-subject and we start thinking about things that don't matter or don't matter much", in an apparent reference to the debate about whether racism in the US is systemic, a belief that has been rejected by some of his advisers, such as Larry Kudlow. Trump said his plan to improve race relations is based on four points, including the decree he is preparing on the use of force in police departments, the impact of which could be limited because the power to regulate those agencies depends largely on state and local governments. The other steps he cited were enhancing economic development in minority communities, combating health care disparities and improving school choice options. Trump warned that if his motto of "LAW & ORDER!" is not embraced, "anarchists" can take over cities, citing the example of Seattle, where police have withdrawn from a precinct in the east of the city after days of clashes during the protests. Protesters have since occupied the area and dubbed it "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone," a place where police are prohibited, food is free, and documentaries are shown at night, according to The Washington Post. Trump reacted angrily on Thursday, demanding that Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, both Democrats, "Take back your city NOW. If you don't do it, I will". Inslee responded shortly afterwards that he "will not allow... threats of military violence against Washingtonians coming from the White House" given that Trump has threatened several times this month to activate a law that would allow him to deploy soldiers without the approval of governors. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text TUCSON, Ariz. - Hundreds of Arizona residents under an evacuation notice were allowed to return home Friday but were told to remain ready to leave at a moments notice as a wildfire burns in a national forest near Tucson. Firefighters are trying to keep the blaze in canyons and ridges and prevent it from moving downhill. The fire activity near the homes has dropped down due to the good work of our firefighters, said Adam Jarrold, public information officer for the fire management team. Late Friday, however, officials ordered an evacuation near Catalina State Park, north of the area where some residents are being asked to be ready to leave. People in the evacuation zone were told to move west, away from the Catalina Mountains. Most of the western United States is experiencing extreme dryness or drought, creating challenging conditions for wildfire season, Bryan Henry, meteorologist with the National Interagency Fire Center, said in a recent fire season outlook. Authorities have said southern Arizonas dry, hot weather and the steep, rocky topography have been the main challenges in fighting the fire. Friday was the hottest day yet for crews battling the blaze, with temperatures forecast to reach 107 (41.6 Celsius) in the afternoon. National Weather Service forecasters said temperatures were projected to remain in the triple digits through the weekend with a 10% chance of dry thunderstorms or potentially dangerous downbursts that bring only a trace of moisture but can kick up gusts of wind that feed flames. We do have some weather concerns, said incident meteorologist Gary Zell, who was stationed Friday at now-closed Catalina State Park. These guys are heroes, working all day in up to 107 degrees (41.6 Celsius), said Zell, who has worked wildfires around the West for two decades. This is the first time Ive worked a fire in my hometown so Im pretty vested in making sure everything goes well. Authorities said the fires growth slowed overnight Thursday but that it remained a threat. Flames have been visible from Tucson at night, and smoke from the fire plumed over a suburb Friday morning. Later in the day, an air tanker was seen spreading red fire retardant over the flames. The firefighting effort will get help from Federal Emergency Management Agency, which officials say has granted Arizonas request for federal funds. The fire, sparked June 5 by lightning, was only 10% contained as of Friday morning. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group said in its daily operation plan that containment may not be achieved for weeks. Pima County officials on Thursday issued an evacuation notice for approximately 300 homes in a area south of the Coronado National Forest. But the notice was pulled back late Friday afternoon after fire officials determined it was safe for them to return home, said Deputy James Allerton, a sheriffs department spokesman. Horses at the Catalina State Park Equestrian Center were transported out of the area for their safety. As of Friday, the fire had burned nearly 14 square miles (over 36 square kilometres) of mostly brush and tall grass. Specialized crews were assessing potential threats to homes and other structures to identify access routes and develop contingency plans in case the fire spreads into residential areas. In the neighbourhoods closest to the fire, sheriffs deputies checked IDs to confirm that people trying to enter were residents, as helicopters dropped water on hot spots. Sheriffs officials went door to door in neighbourhoods on Thursday to notify residents of the evacuation notice, which a sheriffs spokesman said Friday wasnt mandatory. People are not required to leave, however we are telling people we may not be able to come back and assist if things start to burn, said Deputy James Allerton. No injuries or structural damage was reported, Allerton said. Travis Mayberry, an operations section chief for the fire management team, said Friday much of the fire was burning in terrain too rugged for grounds crews to work safely, particularly if they needed to escape quickly. Its not a great place for us to put people in to safely work, he said. Its just too steep. In Oro Valley, on another side of the Santa Catalina mountains, dozens of people parked their vehicles Friday afternoon alongside State Route 77 to watch three helicopters battling flames descending the slopes as smoke poured into the sky. The Pima County Sheriffs Department has been asking people to avoid the area during the fire unless they live or have business there to prevent traffic congestion and roadway dangers. Also on Friday, authorities closed the North Rim of the Grand Canyon due to a fire in the Kaibab National Forest. The nearly 3.5-square-mile (9-square-kilometre) fire has been burning since June 8 and its cause is unknown. Officials have evacuated the Jacob Lake area. ___ This story has been corrected to show the accurate number of square miles burned near Tucson. ___ Anita Snow reported from Phoenix. Paul Davenport in Phoenix also contributed. MORRISTOWN, N.J., June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and his wife Mary Pat Christie have launched the New Jersey 30-Day Fund to help businesses in New Jersey affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The Fund, modeled after a successful Virginia program, the VA 30-Day Fund, will provide $3,000 forgivable loans to businesses owned and operated by a New Jersey resident. Companies must have between three and 30 employees. The application process is simple and quick, and businesses will get an answer on their application in three days. "Mary Pat and I have heard so many stories of hard-working New Jersey residents who have been financially devastated by this horrible disease," said Governor Christie. "Our hope is to quickly provide some financial relief to help those businesses who need it most." The New Jersey 30-Day Fund has been established as a partner of the Virginia fund started by Pete and Burson Snyder, which is a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit. "In speaking with the Snyder family, it was apparent that the quick turnaround was a life-saver for small businesses which were waiting to reopen," said Mary Pat Christie. "By establishing the NJ 30-Day Fund as a partner of the Virginia program, we can be up and running and providing loans this week." If businesses that receive the loans can re-pay those loans, the Christies said those repayments would go back into the fund to provide additional loans to other worthy businesses. The Fund can accept contributions from businesses and individuals who seek to support their local New Jersey neighbors. It will launch with a $100,000 contribution from the Christie Family. To contribute or for more information, please visit: nj30dayfund.com. The Virginia 30-Day Fund was launched by Disruptor Capital CEO Pete Snyder and his wife Burson. "We started the 30-Day Fund in Virginia to help small businesses survive the cash crunch caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In five short weeks we have funded over 300 struggling small businesses from all across the Commonwealth. Given the solid and resourceful leadership they provided for New Jersey in the wake of Superstorm Sandy and the millions they raised from the private sector to offer immediate relief to their citizens, we could think of no two better partners and leaders than Mary Pat and Governor Chris Christie to help save jobs and struggling small businesses in the Garden State." The New Jersey 30-Day Fund has secured volunteer assistance from Seton Hall business, law, undergrad and other college students who will review grant applications and help businesses through the process. Several New Jersey companies are offering volunteer services to also assist. "My hope is that this will be one more example of New Jersey residents helping New Jersey residents," said Governor Christie. "We will get through this crisis together." Media Contact: Robert Zito Zito Partners (917) 692-0747 [email protected] SOURCE New Jersey 30 Day Fund Related Links http://nj30dayfund.com Activists from the Brazilian NGO Rio de Paz (Peace Rio), dig 100 mock graves on Copacabana beach symbolizing deaths from the COVID-19 coronavirus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil A worrying social crisis is brewing in Latin America where the coronavirus pandemic is spiralling, experts are warning, as fears of a second wave in the United States sent shivers through global markets. More than 1.5 million people have been infected in Central and South America70,000 of them are already deadwith no signs of the disease slowing, especially in hard-hit Brazil. The crisis could provoke the region's "worst recession in history", the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) said. "We're worried the region could come out of this crisis with more debt, poorer, hungrier and with more unemployment. And most of all, angry," said ECLAC general secretary Alicia Barcena. The fracture lines in Brazilian society are already evident. Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the pandemic's scale, calling COVID-19 "a flu". Protesting that stance, campaigners on Thursday dug 100 graves on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, each marked with a black cross, to denounce what they called the "incompetence" of authorities. "We are here to demand a change of attitude from the president... who must understand that our nation is facing the most difficult moment in its history," said Antonio Carlos Costa. Men bury a COVID-19 victim at an annex of the Parque Memorial Jardin de Los Angeles cemetery, acquired by the municipality to bury victims of the new coronavirus, 14 km north of Tegucigalpa, Honduras In the US, President Donald Trump was leading the charge to continue reopening the economy, announcing plans for a set of re-election rallies this month. That is despite signs that the pandemic is not tamed there, with more than 2 million infections and 114,000 deaths. Figures showed a spike in new infections in key states including Texas, California, Arizona and Florida. Equities and oil sank Friday in Asian trade, following a day of reckoning on American markets, where the main stock index plunged almost 7 percent to log one of its worst days in recent memory. Long way from safety The virus and resulting lockdowns have caused a spike in US unemployment44.2 million people have been forced out of jobs since mid-Marchbut stock markets have seemingly ignored the bad news on Main Street for weeks. A firefighter sprays disinfectant as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in a containment zone in Chennai, India Analysts blamed profit-taking for the big falls, which came after a huge run-up of up to 50 percent since March, with many saying investors had run ahead of themselves on hopes for a V-shaped recovery as states and countries across Europe reopen. But at a ceremony in Geneva, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned the world was a long way from safety. "The fight is not over. Most people remain susceptible to this virus and the threat of resurgence remains very real." That is particularly the case in poorer parts of the world, where the spread of the disease appears to be gathering pace, including in Africa. "It took 98 days to reach the first 100,000 cases (on the continent), and only 18 days to move to 200,000 cases," said the WHO's Matshidiso Moeti. In India, experts are warning the country is still a long way from its peak. Bolivian soldiers escort a Corpus Christi procession heading to the cathedral, in La Paz, amid the COVID-19 pandemic City of Tshwane Health officials conduct screening exercises on people before some of them will be tested for the COVID-19 coronavirus at the Bloed Street Mall in Pretoria, South Africa Signs ask visitors to adhere to the British government's current social distancing guidelines, and stay two metres apart, in Bridlington, northern England People applaud during a ceremony marking the restarting of Geneva's landmark fountain, known as "Jet d'Eau", which was shut down in March following the COVID-19 outbreak Healthcare workers protest in Paris to demand better working conditions and increased staffing Rideshare drivers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic line up in their cars to receive free food, hand sanitizer and face masks at a food drive organised by the Mobile Workers Alliance (MWA), in Burbank, California Exhausted doctors at the Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital in New Delhi said they may not be able to cope if the number of cases continues to increase. "All of us are hoping for the best, but we are mentally and physically prepared for the worst," said Dr Deven Juneja. The long-term effects of the virus could devastate the lives of tens of millions of poor people, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF warned Friday. "As the pandemic wreaks havoc on family incomes, without support, many could resort to child labour," ILO chief Guy Ryder said. The two groups noted that the number of children locked in child labour had declined by 94 million since 2000. But "the COVID-19 pandemic poses very real risks of backtracking." According to the World Bank, the number of people in extreme poverty could potentially skyrocket by up to 60 million this year alone. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 AFP Bel Powley had to learn how to tawk like a proper Staten Islander for her latest role. In a sort of reverse Pygmalion, the 28-year-old star of independent films, from West London, spent time living in the New York City borough to pick up the local dialect for her part in Judd Apatows new picture The King Of Staten Island. It stars Saturday Night Live comedian Pete Davidson, in a semi-autobiographical role, as Scott, a man-child pothead suffering from anxiety and depression years after the death of his fireman father. Powley plays Scotts long-suffering girlfriend Kelsey. Bel Powley (pictured left) stars alongside Pete Davidson (right) in Judd Apatows new picture The King Of Staten Island The movie encircles around Davidson's character Saturday Night Live comedian Scott Carlin (pictured), a man-child pothead suffering from anxiety and depression years after the death of his fireman father The actress grew up in Shepherds Bush, but when I spoke to her recently she was in East London, at the house she shares with actor Douglas Booth. During lockdown, the couple have been dedicating themselves to cooking and eating and watching old films, such as Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn, and Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand. Before the coronavirus crisis, Bel had been in the U.S. working on the second season of award-winning Apple TV series The Morning Show, with Jennifer Aniston and Reece Witherspoon. Shooting had barely begun, before the production had to shut down. She admits she knew nothing about Staten Island before embarking on the film. I probably couldnt have even pointed it out on a map, she said of the most derided of New York Citys five boroughs a rep she thinks is grossly unfair. Staten Island women are strong and ballsy Powley told me, admiringly. Her Kelsey has been dating Davidsons Scott since they were kids at school. But unlike Scott, Kelsey wants more out of life than just sitting around rolling joints with the gang. Hopefully, everyones got a bit of Kelsey in them, she said. Powley enjoyed spending time on the Island where Davidson, his family and closest friends still live. Every day one of his mates would be playing the random pizza guy, or theyd be extras, and his mum and sister were around all the time, she told me, adding that Davidson would sometimes throw parties . . . with a bouncy castle. Powley (pictured) revealed spending time on the Island where her co-star Davidson grew up and even told stories about him hosting parties It was quite a linguistic journey from Holland Park comprehensive, where Powley went to school. She told me she worked on her accent by watching reality show Made In Staten Island, which was all about Mob-like families. There were a couple of female characters in there that I tried to draw some of Kelseys look, accent and manner from, she said. The Islanders hated that programme, incidentally; and petitioned MTV to cancel it, complaining that it perpetuated the notion that the place was a cesspool of gangsters and meatheads. And soon enough, the show got whacked. Getting the chance to work with Apatow was a dream come true for Powley. Shes a big fan of his movies, such as Superbad and Knocked Up, and of Lena Dunhams TV series Girls, on which he was an executive producer and writer. Her partner Douglas Booth was already friends with Pete Davidson, after working with him on the Motley Crue Netflix film The Dirt. So when she heard about Apatows new project she contacted the SNL star directly only to discover she was already on their shortlist. Powley (pictured) grew up in Shepherds Bush, London and went to school at Holland Park comprehensive school Powley underwent a pretty terrifying audition to get the role because Apatows all about improvised comedy. Dont worry about the lines; just make it up as you go along, she was told before she went in. Afterwards, she feared the worst, until she got a text from Davidson saying, You killed it! I first spotted Powley when, aged just 16, she appeared in Polly Stenhams play Tusk Tusk at the Royal Court. Then I saw her in the Broadway production of Tom Stoppards Arcadia, which was seen by every casting director on the continent one of whom cast her in the scorching coming-of-age gem Diary Of A Teenage Girl. That was followed by a hilarious portrait of Princess Margaret in A Royal Night Out, a picture that imagined what Princess Elizabeth and her sister got up to on VE Day. And in The King Of Staten Island, she steals the film right out from under the noses of Davidson and her other high-profile co-stars including Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr and Steve Buscemi with a flawless performance. Powley has also starred in 'Diary Of A Teenage Girl' and even potrryaed Princess Margaret in 'A Royal Night Out' She got the biggest laugh (from me) for a line thats, sadly, too rude to repeat. So where did her comic chops come from? Her parents are funny, she said; and she insisted her sister Honors even funnier than she is. Some of its just the way shes made People tell me I have quite big features, and a very expressive face and some of it is down to Friends. When I was a teenager I just watched Friends, along with the rest of the world. Its one of the funniest shows ever made, she declared. So naturally shes looking forward to resuming work with her idol Jennifer Aniston (Rachel in Friends) on The Morning Show. She admits shes totally starstruck. There was no moment when she would ever make anyone uncomfortable, she said, sincerely. Shes really, really lovely. Thats what Ive heard, too of Aniston and Powley, who plays Claire Conway, a researcher who beds the much older weatherman. The King Of Staten Island is available to rent at home digitally from today. Suspected jihadists attacked an army frontier post on Ivory Coast's border with Burkina Faso overnight, killing around 10 people, the military said on Thursday. It is the first assault by Islamist extremists on Ivorian soil since March 2016, when a raid on the southeastern beach resort of Grand-Bassam left 19 people dead. Dozens of gunmen targeted the frontier post at Kafolo in northeastern Ivory Coast in a pre-dawn operation, an Ivorian security source said. Giving a provisional toll, armed forces chief of staff Lassina Doumbia said "around 10" people were killed at the post, which was manned by army personnel and gendarmes, while six were wounded and an attacker was "neutralised". "Investigations are under way to determine the nature, circumstances and final toll of this attack," Doumbia said in a statement. "In the meantime, urgent steps have been taken in the area, in particular placing all troops on alert and carrying out search operations for the assailants." Ivorian and Burkinabe sources earlier put the toll at 10 and 12 dead respectively, and both said two people were listed as missing and an assailant killed. "This is a terrorist attack. We had information about this threat of drug traffickers allied to terrorists to gain access to a port area," Defence Minister Hamed Bakayoko said as he greeted the wounded at Abidjan airport at the end of the day. The army will conduct air raids in the coming days and will "strengthen our presence around the frontier", he said. "The response will be proportionate to the attack," he said. - 'Hiding in our houses' - "There were sounds of rifles toward the river," an anonymous Kafolo resident said in a telephone interview. "There were sounds of military cars speeding through the village. We are afraid. The sounds of guns have been going on since early this morning. And it's still going on." "We are hiding in the houses with our families. The military has forbidden us to go out. Everything is closed," he said, adding that residents are normally in the fields growing cotton and peanuts in the arid area. The attack, launched at around 3am, was carried out by dozens of armed individuals believed to be from the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM), which has a hold on the area, according to a source in Burkina Faso. Security analysts have long worried that a jihadist revolt in the Sahel that began in Mali in 2012 is spreading towards coastal states on the Gulf of Guinea. Ivory Coast shares a 550-kilometre (340-mile) border with Burkina Faso, where jihadist violence has claimed nearly 1,000 lives and forced 860,000 people from their homes over the past five years. - Anti-jihadist operation - The latest attack took place in the same zone where the two countries last month launched a ground-breaking joint operation to flush out jihadists. "Operation Comoe," named after a river that flows through the two countries, led to the death of eight suspected jihadists, the capture of 38 others and the destruction of a "terrorist base" at Alidougou in Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast army said on May 24. The operation was launched after jihadists were spotted last year to the north of Ivory Coast's Comoe national park. Security sources say they are jihadists operating in Burkina Faso who hole up in Ivory Coast. The Grand-Bassam attack four years ago was claimed by Al-Qaeda's North African affiliate, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). It targeted civilians on hotel terraces in the resort, in contrast with the latest attack which aimed at a border post manned by the military and police. Jihadist violence, often intertwined with inter-communal violence, resulted in 4,000 deaths in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso in 2019, according to the United Nations. Pandemic provides a backdrop against which researchers analyze how websites like Facebook can influence dynamics between different social groups The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that originated in China has claimed an estimated 100,000 lives in the United States, while a different sort of pandemic is spreading online against Asian Americans, particularly of Chinese descent. A study published in Frontiers in Communication suggests there is a strong relationship between social media use and prejudice. The authors surveyed nearly 300 people in the United States on their attitudes about China and Chinese people in the wake of the pandemic. They found that "the more an individual believes their most used daily social media is fair, accurate, presents the facts, and is concerned about the public (social media belief), the more that person sees Chinese Americans as a realistic and symbolic threat." Lead author Dr. Stephen Croucher, a professor of communication at Massey University in New Zealand whose research focuses on the dynamics between majority and minority groups, states that: "This was a big finding for us, as it shows the relationship between a pandemic, social media use and prejudice." The online questionnaire of 277 white Americans gathered data on demographics, social media use, and various sentiments about Chinese people. The researchers analyzed the results within the framework of Integrated Threat Theory (ITT). ITT examines the components - realistic threats, symbolic threats, intergroup anxiety and negative stereotypes - that lead to prejudice between social groups. Realistic threats, for example, represent fears related to economic or social power. A sample question on the survey assessing the degree of realistic threat included, ''Because of the presence of Chinese, unemployment will increase.'' Respondents then answered on a scale of one to five, from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree." Symbolic threats, on the other hand, relate to concerns about a group's "way of life." Intergroup anxiety refers to negative perceptions that arise from individual interactions between a member of the majority and a minority. One key finding was that gender plays a significant role in predicting realistic and symbolic threats versus intergroup anxiety among Americans. Women tend to experience realistic or symbolic threats from Chinese Americans, while men experience higher levels of anxiety, according to the study. "In this case, when faced with a crisis like a pandemic, it just makes sense that men would tend to respond more affectively while women would respond more cognitively - on average," Croucher said. One head-scratching result from the study found that respondents who identified politically as a Democrat scored higher than Republicans on perceiving Chinese Americans as a symbolic threat. "The result about political lines really was a surprising result," Croucher said, adding that it would be "really interesting" to further research how political leanings shift when a group is perceived as life threatening. More than 1,700 incidents of harassment and assaults against Asian Americans have been reported since March 19, according to a website maintained by Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, San Francisco State University and Chinese for Affirmative Action. Until the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Asian hate crime has been on the decline for at least the past two decades, according to a report in The Washington Post, and the FBI has not reported any anti-Asian-motivated murders since at least 2003. Croucher said that social media channels, like any media, can also be used effectively for spreading positive messages about Asian Americans. He and his co-authors proposed governments and healthcare industries use social media to combat COVID-19 prejudice. "In the case of COVID-19, social media, and other media, were and are being used as venues to share and build ideas, values and morals," Croucher said. "Many of these are very positive, but some are not." ### Notes to Editors Please link to the original research article in your reporting: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2020.00039/full Corresponding author: Dr. Stephen Croucher Email: S.Croucher@massey.ac.nz Corresponding Author's Institution: Massey University Frontiers is an award-winning Open Science platform and leading Open Access scholarly publisher. Our mission is to make research results openly available to the world, thereby accelerating scientific and technological innovation, societal progress and economic growth. We empower scientists with innovative Open Science solutions that radically improve how science is published, evaluated and disseminated to researchers, innovators and the public. Access to research results and data is open, free and customized through Internet Technology, thereby enabling rapid solutions to the critical challenges we face as humanity. For more information, visit http://www.frontiersin.org and follow @Frontiersin on Twitter. The Chandigarh zonal unit of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in collaboration with State Legal Services Authority is organising online competitions to celebrate International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking under the theme Say no to drugs, yes to life. NCB, the nodal drug law enforcement and intelligence agency of India, celebrates the day on June 26 every year, with a fortnightly programme to highlight the steps taken by the government against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. The Chandigarh unit has jurisdiction in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana (except NCR) and targets parents, teachers, policy makers, health workers and prevention workers and highlights how to recognise risky behaviour and prevent drug use. This year, online competitions on subjects including song composition and music video recording, painting and anti-drug slogan writing contests are being organised. Aspirants can download details from NCB Chandigarhs Facebook page: NCB Chandigarh, and Twitter handle @ncbchandigarh. William Jacobson is the proprietor of Legal Insurrection, an excellent and highly successful web site. He has made major contributions to a number of news stories, focused primarily but not exclusively on legal matters. Jacobson is a clinical law professor at Cornell. Until now, he has been able to keep his conservative web site separate from the left-wing milieu in which he works. But in the current moment, conservatives are under frenzied attack everywhere. Williams crime was criticizing the Black Lives Matter organization, which now, apparently, may not be questioned. He writes: From Saturday, June 6, through Monday, June 8, over 15 emails from [Cornell Law School] alumni were received by the Dean of the law school, demanding that action be taken against me ranging from an institutional statement denouncing me to firing. The effort appears coordinated, as some of the emails were in a template form. All of the emails as of Monday were from graduates within the past 10 years. Only one of the emails was shared with me, with names removed, on the condition that I not post it or quote from it. I am permitted to characterize the complaint: My views are not consistent with the law school Deans public statement on police violence and my writings were hurtful and divisive, and the person could not understand why I am still on the faculty. [As an aside, my writings are consistent with the Deans statement, but thats another matter.] My clinical faculty colleagues, apparently in consultation with the Black Law Students Association, drafted and then published in the Cornell Sun on June 9 a letter denouncing commentators, some of them attached to Ivy League Institutions, who are leading a smear campaign against Black Lives Matter. While I am not mentioned by name, based on what Ive seen BLSA and possibly others were told it was about me. The letter is absurd name-calling, distorting and even misquoting my writings, to the extent it purports to be about me. According to a document Ive seen, the letter was shared with these students before it was published in the Cornell Sun. None of the 21 signatories, some of whom Id worked closely with for over a decade and who I considered friends, had the common decency to approach me with any concerns. Instead they ran to the Cornell Sun while virtue signaling to students behind the scenes that this was a denunciation of me. Such is the political environment we live in now at CLS. BLSA and other groups are working on their own effort against me. Based on documents Ive seen, there was consideration of demanding my firing, but it appears to have moved away from that not because they dont want me fired, but because calling for his firing would only draw more attention to his blog and bolster his platform, and we do not want to give him that satisfaction. The plan is to call for the law school to unequivocally denounce his rhetoric, acknowledge the harm caused by subjecting students to his racist pedagogy, and critically examine the views of the people they employ as professors of the law. They plan to circulate the petition to the law school community and to inform incoming students of the situation. Jacobson appropriately draws a parallel to the Chinese Cultural Revolution: We are living in extraordinarily dangerous times, reminiscent of the Chinese Communist Cultural Revolution, in which professors guilty of wrongthink were publicy denounced and fired at the behest of students who insist on absolute ideological orthodoxy. Dont think the fascists will stop with the universities. They will come for all of us in due course. It is incumbent on everyone who values freedom and democracy to stand up to the Brownshirts. Sadly, I have not yet seen a single Democratic Party politician willing to part company with the mob on behalf of liberty. UPDATE: Cornell Law Schools Dean has settled for criticizing Jacobson: In light of this deep and rich tradition of walking the walk of racial justice, in no uncertain terms, recent blog posts of Professor William Jacobson, casting broad and categorical aspersions on the goals of those protesting for justice for Black Americans, do not reflect the values of Cornell Law School as I have articulated them. I found his recent posts to be both offensive and poorly reasoned. Bullshit. In a reasoning contest, Jacobson would run circles around this limp academic. And of course, he didnt cast aspersions on the goals of those protesting for justice for Black Americans. Rather, he criticized the corrupt, far left and racist (my characterization) Black Lives Matter organization, which is now rolling in dough and doing absolutely nothing for black lives or for America in general. BLM is a fraud on a par with Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. (Again, my words, not Jacobsons.) To be fair, it is a lucrative fraud. Academic institutions from high schools to graduate schools are awash in educators who explicitly advocate rioting, violence and arson. (Last night, I watched a commencement speech at a ritzy Twin Cities private school delivered by a young African-American that extolled the virtues of rioting and arson. It was one of many.) Are institutions like Cornell Law School denouncing such absurd calls to violence? I hope so, but so far I havent seen a single instance. After violating the ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K's Rajouri district on Thursday, Pakistan again resorted to firing and intense shelling in Poonch district, an army official said. Defence Ministry spokesman, Col. Devender Anand said that at about 7.45 p.m., Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars on the LoC in Mankote sector of Poonch. "Indian Army is retaliating befittingly," he said. A soldier was killed and a civilian injured in Pakistan ceasefire violation early on Thursday in Manjakote sector of Rajouri. By PTI BERLIN: A court in western Germany has convicted a 39-year-old man of providing support to Islamist groups in Syria. The Duesseldorf regional court on Friday sentenced the German-Tunisian defendant, whose name wasn't released for privacy reasons, to five years in prison. Judges concluded that the man had sent night vision devices, firearms-cleaning equipment and ambulance vehicles to the militia group Ahrar al-Sham. He is also accused of having provided propaganda support to the Islamic State group. The defendant's lawyers had sought to have their client acquitted. German news agency dpa reported that the defendant had described himself as a cyber jihadist on social media platforms. Authorities found an IS training video on his laptop showing the killing of people. Beyonce Carter-Knowles is reportedly in talks with Disney to work on three projects for a staggering $100 million. Along with that, rumors surfaced that she could play the role of "Storm" in the X-Men film franchise that is entering a new era. According to The Sun, Beyonce will work on the soundtrack for the upcoming "Black Panther 2" that is slated for release in 2021. Along with that, there are also reportedly two more blockbuster projects that Disney has in line for her. "Beyonce has become a major player for Disney and is the perfect fit for their brand," a source told the publication. "She's worked on a number of projects for them, including voicing Nala in the reboot of The Lion King, and now they're keen to secure her for more projects. "Disney have put forward a deal worth around 80million, which will secure Beyonce for three major projects, including the Black Panther sequel." The source furthered that Disney wants Beyonce to do some voiceover role, just like what Meghan Markle did for her recent Disney Plus project titled "Elephants." While nothing is finalized yet, the finer details are said to be the only things left before they put pen to paper. Beyonce Storm! Given that no concrete movie project for Beyonce was named aside from "Black Panther 2," fans started to speculate that it is possible she could play a small or big role on-screen -- not just behind the scenes with her voice and songs. The character of "Storm" is one that immediately comes to the minds of her fans, especially since Queen Bey has previously dressed up as the X-Men character in a Halloween event in 2015. Meanwhile, in a video analysis by Everything Always, the outlet cited that it makes sense for the 38-year-old music icon to play the role of Storm since she is already pretty famous for it. However, the same channel warned that fans shouldn't raise their hopes up that it will happen. As Everything Always explained, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige admitted in the past that they have been turned down by big name stars several times in the past. It is also worth noting that its questionable an artist like Beyonce would want to be tied down in a film franchise for so long. Unless Beyonce really wants to be part of the X-Men franchise, then fans should take the rumor with a grain of salt. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. It's depressing, but here it is: over the last year, homelessness has increased by about 13% across Los Angeles County. That's the number from the official L.A. County annual homeless count conducted in January. 66,433 Angelenos are now experiencing homelessness on any given night, up from about 59,000 last year. On a video press call held Wednesday, the news that homelessness had jumped by another 13% was met with stunned silence and looks of horror by the reporters for whom the news was fresh. It's not like homelessness services aren't making a dent. They are for some people -- last year, officials say they found 23,000 people permanent housing, which is an achievement. The bigger problem? 83,000 people lost their homes during the same time period -- about 50% more than the year before, according to the L.A. Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). It works out to about 227 people falling into homelessness every single day in Los Angeles County. If you want to understand why people continue losing their homes, read this article we published last year: Homelessness Is Getting Worse In Southern California. Here's Why Below is a breakdown of some of the latest information on those in a slow-motion humanitarian crisis. (An important caveat: this year's census uses data taken before the COVID-19 pandemic altered, well, everything. Experts worry that the long-term toll of the pandemic could lead to an even larger jump in homelessness in the coming months.) MOST ARE FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Consistent with years past, the vast majority of people experiencing homelesness in Los Angeles are long time Los Angeles residents. 71% have lived in L.A. County for more than 10 years. 21% have lived in L.A. County for less than five years. Most also lived in Southern California before becoming homeless. 74% lived in Los Angeles or another Southern California County before becoming homeless 20% reported they became homeless in another state before coming to Los Angeles, a number consistent with past years. BLACK ANGELENOS FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS THAN OTHERS A man walks back to his tent under the bridge of the 110 Freeway at 37th Street last month. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images) Homelessness affects all demographic groups in Los Angeles, but black Angelenos are overrepresented by a factor of four. Though black people comprise approximately 8% of L.A. County's population, 34% of those experiencing homelessness self-identify as black. That's because of the unique barriers black Americans face to material and physical security. A report published last year examined this overrepresentation in detail, as well as systemic biases against black people within the existing homeless services system. According to that report, where roughly one in every 250 white residents are homeless, the rate for black residents is about one in 40. Here is the breakdown by race and ethnicity: Latinx residents represent 48.5% of L.A. County's population, but are 36.1% of those experiencing homelessness. Black residents make up 7.9% of L.A. County's population, but comprise 33.7% of those experiencing homelessness. American Indians are just 0.2% of L.A. County's population, but represent 1.1% of those experiencing homelessness. White residents are approximately 26.3% of the county's population, and are 25.5% of those experiencing homelessness. Asian identified residents make up 14.4% of the county, but represent just 1.2% of those experiencing homelessness. FAMILY HOMELESSNESS HAS INCREASED The 2020 point-in-time count also counted a 45.7% increase in family homelessness, where a family is defined as a household with at least one adult 18 years old or older with one dependent child. LAHSA officials have said they made greater attempts to survey this population in 2020, which might account for some of the jump. SENIOR HOMELESSNESS CONTINUES TO GO UP One of the most alarming data points from the last few years is a growing share of older adults falling to the street. The 2020 homeless count saw another 20% jump in homelessness for adults aged 62+. On the whole, people 62-years-old or older make now up almost 10% of the overall homeless population in Los Angeles. MORE SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL ILLNESS REMAINS CONSISTENT This year, LAHSA altered its methodology from previous years when trying to determine how many people experiencing homelessness are coping with either severe mental illness or unmedicated substance abuse. 25% of homeless people report a serious mental illness, which remains consistent with previous years. For those who report substance abuse, the number roughly doubled from last year to 27%. HOMELESSNESS IS A REGIONAL CHALLENGE It's not just Los Angeles County where homelessness continues increasing. Other Southern California counties also saw perceptible increases, according to LAHSA. Homelessness continues increasing in most Southern California counties. (Image: LAHSA) For L.A. County, LAHSA's report includes relatively detailed geographic breakdowns that reveal homelessness is increasing much faster in some regions than others. Most notably: the Antelope Valley, the South Bay, and South Los Angeles all showed a year-over-year increase by more than a third. In the San Fernando Valley, homelessness rose by about a fifth over the last year. From last year to this year, the only part of L.A. County that saw a decrease in homelessness was Southeast L.A. County. Homelessness is increasing fastest in South Los Angeles and the Antelope Valley. (Image: LAHSA) The City of Los Angeles, by and large the epicenter of the county's homelessness crisis, saw a year-over-year increase of 14.2%. More detailed city of L.A. information will become available in the coming weeks, but the overall point-in-time number for the city is 41,290. IS ANYTHING EVEN BEING DONE? You're probably wondering now if all the public money politicians say is being spent to fight homelessness is actually doing anything. The answer is: "Yes, but." Though voters have approved spending hundreds of millions of dollars on homelessness, and the state government chips in hundreds of millions more, the reality is these resources are tiny compared to the scale of the problem, and public budgets. Consider L.A. County's 2020-2021 budget proposal, which totals more than $35 billion. Homelessness makes up $430 million of that proposed budget. $430 million is an enormous amount of money, but it's about roughly 1.2% of the total. (For comparison, the proposed 2020-21 budget for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is approximately $3.5 billion.) It's not to say that the system L.A. has built to handle homelessness doesn't work -- though there many who say that is the case. It's more like it's trying to bail out a sinking cruise ship with a bucket while the leak continues to get bigger. Four people were injured, at least three critically, when an ambulance crashed into a toll booth on an Oklahoma turnpike early Friday. The Jackson County Emergency Medical Services ambulance traveling from the Altus area to Oklahoma City with its lights and siren activated crashed into the toll booth near Newcastle, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) southwest of Oklahoma City, shortly before 3am, Oklahoma Highway Patrol spokesperson Sarah Stewart said. A patient and two paramedics who were inside the ambulance were flown by helicopter to the OU Medical Center in critical condition following the crash on Interstate 44, also known as the H.E. Bailey Turnpike, according to Stewart. The Jackson County Emergency Medical Services ambulance traveling from the Altus area to Oklahoma City with its lights and siren activated crashed into the toll booth near Newcastle The ambulance was being driven by a Dora Handock of Purcell, with EMS worker Justin Guffey (pictured) of Lawton, inside. Dominga Gloria, of Altus, has been identified as the passenger inside The ambulance was being driven by a Dora Handock of Purcell, with EMS worker Justin Guffey of Lawton, inside. Dominga Gloria, of Altus, has been identified as the passenger inside, KSWO reports. The vehicle is said to have gone through the guard rail, hitting a barrier, and causing the top of the ambulance to tear off, KOCO reports. A worker in the toll booth was taken by another ambulance to a hospital, Stewart said. The woman has since been released. She was identified as Shannon Garst of Chickasha. The vehicle is said to have gone through the guard rail, hitting a barrier, and causing the top of the ambulance to tear off A worker in the toll booth was taken by another ambulance to a hospital. She was identified as Shannon Garst of Chickasha Garst took to her Facebook on Friday afternoon to share that she was fine after a few stitches. 'Thank you everyone for checking on me and making sure I'm ok,' she said in the post. 'I got lots of stitches and hurting pretty bad but I'm heading home now. I'm just thankful I made it out ok.' County EMS director William Stevens did not immediately return a phone call for comment. The cause of the crash has not been determined, Stewart said. The toll booth remains closed. Garst took to her Facebook on Friday afternoon to share that she was fine after a few stitches (JNS) - Using DNA technology, Israeli researchers have uncovered new clues about the origins of the Dead Sea Scrolls, providing a new glimpse into Jewish life during the final days of the Second Temple period. Researchers from Tel Aviv University, led by Professor Oded Rechavi of the George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences and Professor Noam Mizrahi of the Department of Biblical Studies-working with colleagues from Sweden's Uppsala University, the Israel Antiquities Authority and Cornell University-have successfully decoded ancient DNA extracted from the animal skins on which the Dead Sea S... Riot Games is one of many game companies that have rallied in support Black Lives Matter over the last few weeks and vowed to create initiatives to support minorities in the tech industry, but the company is now looking into a social media post made by an executive that runs opposite of that public pledge. Vice reports that the company has launched an investigation into a post made by Riots global head of consumer products Ron Johnson that pairs his own comment that the murder of George Floyd is "a learning opportunity for people" alongside an image describing Floyds criminal record. George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis Police after being accused of paying with a counterfeit $20 bill, and his death is the spark that ignited weeks of (yet-ongoing) protests against police violence toward Black people, and larger conversations about systemic racism in society as whole. Vice has shared a copy of Johnson's Facebook post in the full story, along with a statement from Riot Games saying the company has launched an investigation into the social media post. "Well say firmly that the sentiment in that image is abhorrent, against our values, and directly counter to our belief that addressing systemic racism requires immediate societal change, which we detailed in the commitments we made Friday, reads that statement. While we dont discuss the details of our investigations or their outcomes, we're following our disciplinary process closely and have placed him on leave pending its conclusion." It's not the first time Riot Games has had to look into the actions of a high ranking executive following internal complaints. The company suspended COO Scott Gelb for two months back in 2018 over allegations of workplace misconduct as part of a larger (and still ongoing) reaction to accusations that the company fostered a sexist and toxic workplace. Update (06/12/20): Ron Johnson has resigned from Riot following his comments about the murder of George Floyd. The studio confirmed the news to ESPN, which managed to obtain an internal memo sent to employees on June 11 announcing the resignation. "I won't comment on Ron's intentions in posting that particular message, or on any of his political opinions that have been shared in the media or otherwise. We must respect that everyone is entitled to their own political views," reads the memo, written by Riot chief exec Nicolo Laurent. "However, I have to be honest with you. I believe Ron exercised really poor judgment here. It resulted in a post that was harmful to many of us and our broader community. It was insensitive and in this moment, it undermines the commitment we've made to stand against all acts of injustice, racism, prejudice, and hate. It also hinders our ability to create an inclusive environment for our entire community: Rioters, players, and partners alike. "Ron understands this and recognizes that he will be ineffective as a leader at Riot going forward. As a result, he has resigned, effective today." A former COVID-19 patient who is in her 20s has become the first person in the United States to undergo a double-lung transplant surgery since the pandemic began. The woman was on immunosuppressant medication for the previous condition when she contracted the lethal infection, which might have affected her lungs, informed Ankit Bharat, chief of thoracic surgery and surgical director of Northwestern's lung transplant programme to Washington Post. She developed secondary bacterial infections that could not be controlled by antibiotics because her lungs were so badly affected, he said while adding that the doctors repeatedly tested fluid from her lungs to be certain she was negative for the coronavirus before operating but by that time, she got more sicker, the US daily reported. According to Bharat, the organ transplantation may become more frequent for COVID-19 patients who are at a critical stage as the virus most commonly attacks the respiratory system. It can also inflict damage on kidneys, hearts, blood vessels and the neurological system. However, this kind of surgery amid the coronavirus is not the first of its kind globally. In Austria on May 26, lung transplant was performed on a 45-year-old woman who was also a COVID-19 survivor. Similarly, China did a double lung transplant on February 29. "I certainly expect some of these patients will have such severe lung injury that they will not be able to carry on without transplant. This could serve as a lifesaving intervention," said the chief of thoracic surgery. For many years, the US has suffered a severe shortage of transplant organs with more than 100,000 people on waiting lists for kidneys, livers, lungs, hearts and other organs. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing data, the number of transplants dipped even more during the worst weeks of the pandemic in March. IMAGE: Indian-origin doctor Ankit Bharat, chief of thoracic surgery and surgical director of Northwestern's lung transplant programme, was the surgeon of the successful surgery. Art has long been used as a form of protest, and nowhere is this truer today, perhaps, than in downtown Oakland, where breathtaking murals cover nearly every storefront on Broadway. Local artistsboth professionals and members of the communityare painting messages of justice. Last week, an epic yellow "Black Lives Matter" painted across two blocks leading to the White House in Washington D.C. inspired similar murals across the country, including one in Oakland that spans three blocks of 15th Street. The project was completed by several local artists, as well as many community members and curious passersby, and was a collaboration between Endeavors Oakland, the self-described community arm of Oakland's Good Mother Gallery, and the Bay Area Mural Program (BAMP). A GoFundMe is still up to help pay the artists involved with the project. Painted portraits of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor also now grace the walls of downtown Oakland, alongside words of protest and empowerment. Check out some of the murals transforming Oakland below; to see them all, don your mask and take a walk through the streets and see the art in action yourself. "George Floyd Lives Forever," by DeredWRK Local artist DeredWRK is behind several of the murals painted in downtown Oakland this week, including this one of George Floyd. "Painting these murals makes me feel more like an artist than I ever have before," he said. "I feel like I have a voice and a purpose. The portrait I did of George Floyd is terrible. It was rushed and the only reference I had was on my phone, but that's not importantthe message is, the reminder is. What has been going on in our country since its inception is disgusting. We need serious change, and I hope my art will help remind people every day." "Indigenous and Third World Peoples for Black Lives," by Cece Carpio and Indal Rubin Local artist Cece Carpio is responsible for organizing and assisting with several of the new murals in downtown Oakland. "This is how we protest. This is how we know how to give radical love for the black communities whose liberation is directly tied to ours, acknowledging that their fight paved for us to be here to fight," she writes on Instagram. "These are all work in progress, as we are in progress to dismantle white supremacy. We want to show that we're stronger together and that we are here to fight. In solidarity and through this fire, we will rise." "The Black Womyn Is God," by Timothy B. "The Black Womyn Is God" was painted by Oakland muralist and designer Timothy B next to a Wells Fargo ATM on 12th Street in Oakland. "It feels good to be a Black artist from Oakland paying homage to Black people and shedding light on our beauty, our strength and spirit. My goal for coming out here was to empower my community to stay strong, plan and mobilize toward our elevation." You can buy Timothy B.'s works on Etsy. "Shut it Down," by Twin Walls Mural Company Bay Area artists Elaine Chu and Marina Perez-Wong of Twin Walls Mural Company have painted many massive murals around Oakland and San Francisco. According to their Instagram, they put this one together in a matter of hours. Downtown Oakland Mural by Hungry Ghost Productions (Courtesy of @davidburke_studio) Located on Broadway at Grand, this beauty by Joevic Yeban and Dorias Brannon and David Burke of Hungry Ghost Productions was painted from a photo taken by documentary photographer Kerem Yucel at a vigil for George Floyd in Minneapolis. "Fight Power, Not People," by GirlMobb Girl Mobb has painted several statement-making murals around Oakland and also has an Etsy shop. Follow the artist on Instagram. "Justice for Breonna Taylor," by @KathyDoesArtStuff On 12th Street in Oakland, this tribute to Breonna Taylor by artist @kathydoesartstuff honors Breonna Taylor's life and aims to "emphasize that Black women are especially targeted and most vulnerable to the systems of oppression in our world," the artist writes on Instagram. "Her murderers have not been punished for their crimes, so we need to keep this same energy and even elevate it for justice for Black lives, Black women, and Black queer and trans folks." "Black Lives Matter," by Skyline High School Students Mural by Skyline High School students in downtown Oakland. Black Panther Party Mural Project by AeroSoul, at at Betti Ono Gallery This mural is a collaboration piece in a series developed by AeroSoul, an Oakland community institution promoting youth advocacy through art education. AeroSoul has completed multiple murals, each detailing individual points from the Black Panther Party Ten Point Program. The mural above outlines point seven, and was painted by artists Refa One, Madow Futur, Aeos One, and MWOP. For more information on the project and to donate, visit their GoFundMe page. The mural appears at the storefront of Betti Ono, a cultural arts venue, gallery, and store owned and led by black women. Their mission is to build power through culture. Follow them on Instagram. "Don't Kneel on Me,' by Illuminaries A mural with the words "don't kneel on me" in downtown Oakland, by artist group Illuminaries. Follow them on Instagram. WILLIAMSPORT Another member of a white supremacist organization has received a lengthy sentence for participating in a scheme to sell methamphetamine to generate money to buy guns for the Aryan Strikeforce (ASF). Jacob Mark Robards, 43, of Bethlehem, was sentenced Friday in U.S. Middle District Court to 10 years in prison followed by five years supervised release. He also must pay a $600 fine. Judge Matthew W. Brann found Robards was a minor participant in the government-organized scheme in which undercover FBI employees infiltrated the ASF. The judge expressed concern about Robards long-standing relationship with white nationalism and the possibility of his contracting COVID-19 because of his multiple health issues. He recommended Robards be placed in a federal prison with medical facilities beyond an infirmary. He suffers from Type II diabetes, Crohns disease, seizure disorder and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Robards had pleaded guilty last November to a charge of conspiracy to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine. That scheme included transporting 16-pound quantities of fake methamphetamine from Pennsylvania to Maryland four times in late 2016 and early 2017. Gift cards were bought with proceeds from the sale of the drugs that were to be used to buy weapons for the AFS. Robards participated in only one of the four trips. Two other ASF members, Henry Lambert Baird, 52, of the Allentown area, Justin Daniel Lough, 29, of Waynesboro, Va., were sentenced Wednesday by Brann to 14 and 12 years, respectively. Baird was ASF president. Steven D. Davis of Bumpass, Va., the organizations vice president, was sentenced last year to 30 months in prison. Two other ASF members, Connor Drew Dikes of Silver Spring, Maryland, and Joshua Michael Steever of Manville, New Jersey, have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. The case has taken three years to prosecute because several of the defendants sought dismissal of their indictments. They claimed the government organized the entire operation and provided the fake drugs and, in some cases, parts of firearms. Brann upheld the charges. He agreed with Assistant U.S. Attorney George J, Rocktashel the participants had been told by the undercover FBI employees their conduct was criminal and they could back out at any time. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Household power bills are expected to fall after the Morrison government on Thursday approved energy market reforms to help prevent costly spikes in electricity demand. A new wholesale demand response system is due to come in by October 2021. It will pay smelters and other big power users like heavy industry for reducing their usage during periods of peak demand, such as in a heatwave when many households turn on air conditioners. Energy Minister Angus Taylor said the changes would lower bills and improve network reliability. Credit:AAP By reducing pressure on the grid when it is under most strain, the new system will make it more reliable and help pave the way for more renewable power sources to come into the grid. Energy Minister Angus Taylor said the wholesale demand response reform would "flow through to all households and businesses through lower electricity bills and improved network reliability". Protesters marched through the town to get their message across. Photo: Mark Williamson An estimated 600 people turned up at Stratfords Black Lives Matter demonstration today (Friday). The event started at 3pm at the bandstand on the Recreation Ground. Organisers, including teenagers Frazer Forbes, Rhianna Barnwell and Shianne Williams, addressed the gathered crowd, many of whom had made banners that they held aloft. Frazer Forbes, one of the event organisers, welcomed demonstrators to the gathering on the Recreation Ground where he told of how his family had been the victims of racism over the years. Photo: Mark Williamson In remembrance of George Floyd, the black Minnesota man whose death at the hands of the police inspired the latest BLM protests, the crowd knelt for nine minutes, the time Floyd was knelt on and killed. The protest then marched around the town going over the Tramway Bridge, up Bridge Street, and along the High Street, and Sheep Street before returning to the Rec. An estimated 600 people gathered for the protest. Photo: Mark Williamson Despite the crowds, social distancing was largely adhered to, with most attending wearing face masks. There was a notable police presence, but the day appeared to go peacefully. Not everyone was sympathetic to the protesters: a large group of white men gathered around the War Memorial; they told the Herald they were there to protect the monument from potentially being defaced. They dismissed the protest as being not necessary. All generations gathered to show their support for the the Black Lives Matter demonstration. Photo: Mark Williamson Read more about this story in next weeks Herald. WATERLOO REGION A 24-year-old St. Jacobs woman faces a stunt driving charge after police clocked her driving 140 km/h in an 80 zone. Perth County OPP stopped the woman for speeding on June 6 at about 7 p.m. on Perth Line 44. The woman faces a seven-day driving suspension and a seven-day vehicle impoundment. The same day, OPP stopped a 19-year-old Kitchener motorist on Highway 7 in Perth County at about 8 p.m. for speeding. Police also found cannabis. The man is charged with speeding and having cannabis readily available in a vehicle. For the last two weeks, thousands have turned in San Antonio to protest against police brutality in the wake of George Floyd 's death while in Minneapolis police custody. Local advocates are also using this opportunity to demand police reform. Last week. protest organizers handed Mayor Ron Nirenberg a list of demands and changes they want implemented in the San Antonio Police Department, including the vetting of recruits and a civilian review board to assist with police complaints. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Nirenberg seemed receptive to the demands, promising to set up a meeting with Pharoah Clark, the leader of Uniting America Through Wisdom, a group active in the weeks-long protests. The mayor then got on the microphone and spoke directly to the protesters. "Hold me accountable for it," Nirenberg said, asking the crowd to forgive past mistakes. "Because Im the mayor of this goddamn city, and were going to make changes together. A spokesman with Nirenberg's office said the mayor has had three different meetings with organizers since being given the demands. RELATED: Timeline: Nirenberg handed 'list of demands' on sixth day of S.A. protests The list of demands made to Nirenberg are below: We the people demand that a zero tolerance policy be issued on racism and discrimination in all police departments, jails and court houses. We the people demand that an independent civilian review board be formed with complete access to police complaints and power to issue disciplinary actions against violators. We the people demand that all officers involved in the unarmed killing of civilians that are deemed to be unjustified be terminated immediately from duty without pay or legal representation at the taxpayer's expense and lose their police pension pay. We the people demand that a newly revised clear rules of engagement be issued to the police departments with a zero-tolerance policy for violators We the people demand that a minimum of $250,000 be paid to the family of any unarmed civilian that is killed unlawfully by any police officer. We the people demand an end to no-knock warrants, except in special circumstances. We the people demand a more diverse police force that accurately represent the community that they intend to patrol and protect. We the people demand the city create a website devoted to 100 percent transparency on all police brutality and police complaints of any kind. We the people demand that all current and future recruits be vetted and polygraphed for racist ideology and discrimination. In a memo sent to the San Antonio City Council on Thursday, Nirenberg said that the city can't rely on policing to "supplement a lack of investment" in the communities and residents, calling for the city council to adopt a resolution ahead of the next San Antonio Police Officer Association collective bargaining agreement that better outlines the community's priorities. This resolution includes officer disciplinary procedures and a healthier balance of the city's budget. In addition, Nirenberg said he wants to create a public platform to address public safety, community health and equity and intergovernmental relations. These platforms include reviewing community policing programs, use of force policies and mental health de-escalation measures as well as developing legislation that addresses public safety unions, qualified immunity and transparency in officer personnel records. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway His family and the police agree that officers hit Jahmel, 16, with a stun gun during a protest in the Bronx on June 1, but they have given different accounts of what led to the incident. Jahmel was watching the protest when, according to his family members, police officers beat him and used a Taser on him, and then took him into custody. At a news conference on Thursday, the Rev. Kevin McCall, speaking on Jahmels behalf, said, He didnt break the law at all. Two police officials, however, said that officers had shocked Jahmel to stop him from setting fires. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing. The Bronx district attorneys office, the New York Police Department and the Civilian Complaint Review Board are all investigating the matter. JERUSALEM In a watershed article in a leading Israeli newspaper, a top diplomat from the United Arab Emirates warned the Israeli public on Friday that unilateral annexation of West Bank territory would endanger Israels warming ties with Arab countries. Writing in Fridays Yediot Ahronot, Yousef al-Otaiba, the Emirates ambassador to the United States, appealed directly to Israelis in Hebrew to deter Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from following through on his promise to annex occupied territory as early as next month. Its Either Annexation or Normalization, the headline over his op-ed declared. The article rebutted an argument by Mr. Netanyahu that annexing West Bank land that the Palestinians have counted on for a state would not imperil Israels chances of forging deeper relations with countries like the Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Mr. Netanyahu, echoed by a host of right-wing allies, maintains that Arab countries have too much to gain from Israel in security, technology and commerce, among other realms to continue sticking up for the Palestinians. An enormous fossil weighing almost 210 pounds and measuring around two feet in diameter has been found on the Isle of Wight. The ammonite was spotted and pried loose from surrounding rock by university students Jack Wonfor, 19, and Theo Vickers, 21. After ten hours of work, the ancient shelled creature was pulled free of its tomb at Chale Bay on the Isle of Wight. The ammonite was spotted and pried loose of surrounding rock by university students Jack Wonfor, 19, (pictured) and Theo Vickers, 21 An enormous fossil weighing almost 210 pounds and measuring around two feet in diameter has been found on the Isle of Wight. Ammonites are extinct sea creatures and part of the mollusc family Ammonites are extinct sea creatures and part of the mollusc family, like sea snails, with Mr Wonfor and Mr Vickers calling their specimen an 'amazing example'. The 210lb (96kg) fossil is thought to be around 115 million years old, living during the Cretaceous period. The pair, founders of the organisation of Wight Coast Fossils, describe the ammonite as 'truly titanic' and a 'behemoth'. They say: 'At 55cm in diameter and weighing 96kg it is a monstrous heteromorph, and an awesome example of just how massive some of these heteromorph ammonites could grow to. 'In life, this giant Tropaeum cruised through the turbulent coastal waters of the Lower Greensand seas catching and ensnaring passing plankton and small prey with its tentacles.' Mr Wonfor added that an ammonite of this size is likely to be a female known as a macroconch. 'Females are larger as a result of the role they play in the reproductive process. 'Because of this, its size, it is an amazing example to show sexual dimorphism within ammonites. After ten hours of work, the ancient shelled creature was pulled free of its tomb on the Isle of Wight and scrutinised. The fossil hunting pair will further clean the fossil and preserve it, they say The two fossil hunters, founding members of the organisation Wight Coast Fossils, found the fossil and carefully pried it free of the sediment The Isle of Wight has an impressive track record for fossil finds, with its coastline a fertile ground for fossil hunters. This ammonite was found at Chale Bay 'Over the next few weeks I will carefully be removing the surrounding rock to reveal the rest of the ammonite that lays within.' England's south coast has long been a fertile hunting ground for fossil fanatics, with many specimens discovered there. A 95-mile stretch has even been given the moniker the 'Jurassic coast' for its remarkable preponderance of fossils and named a UNESCO world heritage site. The Isle of Wight itself has an impressive track record, as a high percentage of its surface is coastline, opening more opportunities for fossils to be freed from millions of years of sediment. A day after the Alberta RCMP deputy commissioner denied there is systemic racism in policing in Canada, new video of the arrest of a high-profile First Nation chief threw fuel on the fire of what is quickly becoming a roaring issue in this country. Newly public RCMP dash-cam footage shows the March night Alberta First Nations Chief Allan Adam was arrested in vivid new detail. The Athabasca Chipewyan leader is shown arguing with one RCMP officer before a second Mountie tackles him to the ground. On the weekend, Adam accused the police of assaulting him and his wife during the confrontation over an expired licence plate outside a Fort McMurray casino; an incident that left him bruised and bloodied. The RCMP, meanwhile, have said theyve reviewed video of the incident and deemed their members actions to be reasonable. The dash camera video is now public for a wider audience to judge, after Adams lawyer, Brian Beresh, filed a motion to have the charges stayed. The video is considered evidence in that process. The video shows the initial verbal altercation between the chief and the RCMP, in which Adam swears several times as he gets in and out of his vehicle. At one point, an officer grabs Adams wife, which prompts an angry response. Later, an officer grabs Adams arm and appears to be starting to arrest him, when a second runs and tackles him to the ground. Two officers struggle to hold him down, and one can be seen to punch Adam. When officers handcuff Adam and lift him onto his feet, his face is bloody. The altercation has hit a national nerve as police use of force, especially when deployed against citizens who arent white, comes increasingly under scrutiny. Protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, who died after a white officer pressed a knee to his neck for nearly nine minutes, continue to roil the United States, and calls have grown for police funding to be re-evaluated. Canada has not been immune to this reckoning over police use of force, or of what advocates say is a pattern of systemic racism. Adam is well known in Alberta as an advocate for environmental protection amidst the oilsands development that surrounds his community, and has met publicly with visiting activists such as Jane Fonda and Greta Thunberg. But at a news conference on the weekend, he said he believes it was the colour of his skin that officers saw first that night in March. Because we are a minority and nobody speaks up for us, every time our people do wrong and the RCMP go and make their call, they always seem to use excessive force, he said Saturday. And that has to stop. And enough is enough. Adams lawyer is arguing the charges of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest should be stayed, alleging the RCMP violated Adams rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In particular, he said they violated Section 7, which guarantees everyone the right to life, liberty and security, by arbitrarily detaining Adam. There was no basis in law to detain him for a simple ticket, Beresh said. He contends there was no lawful reason to arrest or search Adam. There was no basis for the search whatsoever, and then he was held for a period of about seven to eight hours, unlawfully in our view, Beresh said. He said the video clearly shows police engaged in unlawful conduct and excessive force, particularly at the seven-minute mark, where Adam is seen being tackled by the officer. The most pivotal point is when he is voluntarily walking with the officer, I think his left hand (is) behind his back, and the bully officer comes in charging him as though hes playing for the San Francisco 49ers without asking any questions whatsoever, Beresh said, offering his take on the events in the video. Adam previously told media that the incident began when a police officer who was parked behind the truck belonging to Adam and his wife told them that their licence plate was expired. The video shows Adam and one officer arguing, and Adam swears as the officer tells him to go back to his vehicle. Im tired of being harassed by the RCMP, he says at one point. Adam continues to pace the parking lot and eventually removes his jacket and braces his feet, appearing to square up against the officer. Events flare when the officer grabs Adams wife, Freda Courtoreille, after she gets out of the truck, with Adam and another woman appearing to tell the officer to leave her alone. Adam and his wife then get back into the truck. But its when Adam again exits the vehicle again and the first officer grabs his arm in what looks like a move to arrest him that a second officer runs up and forcibly knocks the chief to the ground. Both officers struggle to keep Adam down, and the second one punches him in the side of the head. RCMP did not respond to requests for comment Thursday night. In a statement sent to media over the weekend, Wood Buffalo RCMP said they approached a vehicle with an expired plate and a confrontation occurred. Police said Adam resisted arrest and officers were required to use force to arrest him. They said at the time that they had reviewed video footage from a vehicle camera and had no further comment on it. This video of the incident was reviewed by superiors as per our policy. It was determined that the members actions were reasonable and did not meet the threshold for an external investigation. The matter is now before the courts, the statement said. The idea that policing has a race issue has not been welcomed in all circles. Just Wednesday, Alberta RCMP Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki dismissed the idea that Canadian policing has a systemic problem with racism, telling reporters gathered in Edmonton that he didnt believe that to be true. But Beresh said he believes the officers conduct that March night was linked to the fact that Adam is an Indigenous man. Ninety per cent of the population, (if they were) Caucasian, would have been told to drive home, fix up the registration, leave your vehicle, pick it up the next day, Beresh said. It would not have escalated. Read more about: Money Heist, the Netflix Original show, has a massive fan base across the globe. Originally titled La Casa de Papel, the show has always managed to keep its fans on the tip of their toes with the dramatic twists and plots. The fourth part was aired on April 3. While part three was about the surviving members of a misfit band of bank robbers getting the band back together, the fourth part showcases Tokyo, the Professor and the whole gang, back to clean out the Bank of Spain. Now, days after reports were making rounds that the Spanish drama is coming with a fifth season, a few people tweeted that Netflix has pulled down the entire show. Yes, you heard it right! A few people, who were binge watching the show, faced the issue. Soon after, Money Heist started to trend on Twitter and fans couldnt keep calm.Questions like - has season 5 been released? Is it seriously over? Is it only me? - started to crop up on the microblogging platform. Comparing it with the year 2020, a user wrote, If 2020 wasn't bad enough already #MoneyHeist has gone off #Netflix for some reason. Bet I know who's tried to do this!!. Along with the post, the user also shared a screenshot of Arturo Roman stating that he was responsible for this. If 2020 wasn't bad enough already #MoneyHeist has gone off #Netflix for some reason. Bet I know who's tried to do this!! pic.twitter.com/FwZPhaLNJt Rob Shier (@BenGardnersHead) June 11, 2020 Echoing a similar sentiment, another person stated, This man below is the responsible for removal of #MoneyHeist. This man below is the responsible for removal of #MoneyHeist pic.twitter.com/5sYfR9U8Se Pawantamada (@Pawantamada2) June 11, 2020 Here are a few reactions: Monisha beta say #MoneyHeist yeh, "Lacasa de Papel" is so out of smjh class pic.twitter.com/tpUYyDBRQQ (@THEhimanshuseth) June 12, 2020 #MoneyHeist and i saw this trend , I guess its been removed from Netflix .I am blessed or what? Coz I have seen it all love em pic.twitter.com/47m9IHnu0g Tushar gupta (@tushargupta7068) June 12, 2020 After watching #MoneyHeist trending on twitterMy first thought came to my mind is #bellaciao Eagerly waiting for season 5 pic.twitter.com/aUbfGuz3sT The King (@_THE_K1NG__) June 12, 2020 #MoneyHeist is disappeared from netflix . May be professor heist the Netflix. Abhisek Mallik (@AbhisekMallik4) June 12, 2020 If any one feel bad, no one can be more disappointed than me, I just renewed my @NetflixIndia to Watch #MoneyHeist pic.twitter.com/pfcJ8BZIkN The Drifter's Life (@thedrifterlive) June 11, 2020 Well, the good news is that the show is very much available on the OTT platform. But it is not known what led to the glitch. The rapidly unfolding movement to pull down Confederate monuments around the U.S. in the wake of George Floyds death has extended to statues of slave traders, imperialists, conquerors and explorers around the world, including Christopher Columbus, Cecil Rhodes and Belgiums King Leopold II. Protests and, in some cases, acts of vandalism have taken place in such cities as Boston; New York; Paris; Brussels; and Oxford, England, in an intense re-examination of racial injustices over the centuries. Scholars are divided over whether the campaign amounts to erasing history or updating it. At the University of Oxford, protesters have stepped up their longtime push to remove a statue of Rhodes, the Victorian imperialist who served as prime minister of the Cape Colony in southern Africa. He made a fortune from gold and diamonds on the backs of miners who labored in brutal conditions. Oxfords vice chancellor Louise Richardson, in an interview with the BBC, balked at the idea. We need to confront our past, she said. My own view on this is that hiding our history is not the route to enlightenment. Near Santa Fe, New Mexico, activists are calling for the removal of a statue of Don Juan de Onate, a 16th-century Spanish conquistador revered as a Hispanic founding father and reviled for brutality against Native Americans, including an order to cut off the feet of two dozen people. Vandals sawed off the statues right foot in the 1990s. In Bristol, England, demonstrators over the weekend toppled a statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston and threw it in the harbor. City authorities said it will be put in a museum. Across Belgium, statues of Leopold II have been defaced in half a dozen cities because of the king's brutal rule over the Congo, where more than a century ago he forced multitudes into slavery to extract rubber, ivory and other resources for his own profit. Experts say he left as many as 10 million dead. "The Germans would not get it into their head to erect statues of Hitler and cheer them, said Mireille-Tsheusi Robert, an activist in Congo who wants Leopold statues removed from Belgian cities. For us, Leopold has committed a genocide. READ MORE: Gov. Cuomo says he supports Christopher Columbus statue in NYC In the U.S., Floyd's death May 25 under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer has led to an all-out effort to remove symbols of the Confederacy and slavery. The Navy, the Marines and NASCAR have embraced bans on the display of the Confederate flag, and statues of rebel heroes across the South have been vandalized or taken down, either by protesters or local authorities. On Wednesday night, protesters pulled down a century-old statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Richmond, Virginia, the former capital of the Confederacy. The 8-foot (2.4-meter) bronze figure had already been targeted for removal by city leaders, but the crowd took matters into its own hands. No immediate arrests were made. It stood a few blocks away from a towering, 61-foot-high equestrian statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the most revered of all Confederate leaders. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam last week ordered its removal, but a judge blocked such action for now. The spokesman for the Virginia division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, B. Frank Earnest, condemned the toppling of public works of art and likened losing the Confederate statues to losing a family member. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, who has proposed dismantling all Confederate statues in the city, asked protesters not to take matters into their own hands for their own safety. But he indicated the Davis statue is gone for good. He never deserved to be up on that pedestal, Stoney said, calling Davis a racist & traitor. Elsewhere around the South, authorities in Alabama got rid of a massive obelisk in Birmingham and a bronze likeness of a Confederate naval officer in Mobile. In Virginia, a slave auction block was removed in Fredericksburg, and protesters in Portsmouth knocked the heads off the statues of four Confederates. In Washington, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it is time to remove statues of Confederate figures from the U.S. Capitol and take their names off military bases such as Fort Bragg, Fort Benning and Fort Hood. President Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected the idea of renaming bases. But Republicans in the Senate, at risk of losing their majority in the November elections, arent with Trump on this. A GOP-led Senate panel on Thursday approved a plan to take Confederate names off military installations. Supporters of Confederate monuments have argued that they are important reminders of history; opponents contend they glorify those who went to war against the U.S. to preserve slavery. The Davis monument and many others across the South were erected decades after the Civil War during the Jim Crow era, when states imposed tough new segregation laws, and during the Lost Cause movement, in which historians and others sought to recast the Souths rebellion as a noble undertaking, fought to defend not slavery but states rights. For protesters mobilized by Floyds death, the targets have ranged far beyond the Confederacy. Statues of Columbus have been toppled or vandalized in cities such as Miami; Richmond; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Boston, where one was decapitated. Protesters have accused the Italian explorer of genocide and exploitation of native peoples. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is Italian American, said he opposes removal of a statue of Columbus in Manhattans Columbus Circle. I understand the feelings about Christopher Columbus and some of his acts, which nobody would support, he said. But the statue has come to represent and signify appreciation for the Italian American contribution to New York. So for that reason I support it. Historians have differing views of the campaigns. How far is too far, in scrubbing away a history so that we wont remember it wrong or, indeed, have occasion to remember it at all? asked Mark Summers, a University of Kentucky professor. Ive always felt that honor to the past shouldnt be done by having fewer monuments and memorials, but more." Scott Sandage, a historian at Carnegie Mellon University, noted that Americans have a long tradition of arguing over monuments and memorials. He recalled the bitter debate over the now-beloved Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington when the design was unveiled. Removing a memorial doesnt erase history. It makes new history, Sandage said. And thats always happening, no matter whether statues go up, come down, or not. A new insurance services business, called Astaara Company Ltd. (ACL), has been launched to protect maritime companies from cyber threats Offering risk management, underwriting and analytics, London-based Astaara will work with shipowners and ports operators to decrease their vulnerability to cyber attacks while helping them minimize the cost and disruption after a cyber event, said the company in a statement. ACL is made up of three elements Astaara Risk Management, Astaara Underwriting and Astaara Analytics. The latter will support the companys risk management and underwriting activities. All three limbs of the business have a marine and cyber focus, said Robert Dorey, Astaaras group chief executive, in emailed comments. However, Astaara Underwriting will look for offer other lines of insurance in the future, he affirmed. We concentrating on the launch of the first line maritime cyber before onboarding the next line. Astaara is targeting customers with inland fleets, ocean going fleets in any trade as well as ports and terminals and offshore operators, which include supply ships, floating acccommodation, installation and drill ships, he said. Astaaras marine cyber insurance product is being offered globally, with the exclusion of sanctioned jurisdictions. The underwriting part of the operation is being conducted by an ACL subsidiary called Astaara London, which is a managing general agent regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. Astaara London will soon be renamed Astaara Underwriting, Dorey noted. The insurance business is behind the times when it comes to cyber threats to maritime companies. It is only by listening to and responding to what the maritime community needs that you can create a solution that is relevant and necessary, said Dorey in a statement that accompanied the announcement of the launch of Astaara. Astaaras multidiscipline offering is the response to an entrenched and siloed market and AstaaraCyber is the product that maritime companies want, he added. We look forward to supporting our clients positively throughout the cyber security lifecycle, helping them manage their risks, protecting their business and ultimately taking some of their risk, said Chief Cyber Officer William Egerton. Managing Director James Cooper said the company is recruiting leaders in their field to provide real value-add advice and direction to our clients so they can improve their cyber security posture. Cyber incidents impact all parts of a business and AstaaraCyber will make our clients more resilient and improve their recovery, he continued. Astaara is an appointed representative of Ambant Underwriting Services Ltd., a London-based managing general agent and MGA incubator. In his emailed comments, Dorey explained that Astaara Underwriting will work under the umbrella of Ambant in order to achieve regulatory approval as a start up in the most efficacious manner. The company will transition out of its appointed-representative status after two years of trading at the earliest, said Dorey, noting that the capacity offered will be A-rated or better, and underwriting will be on non-Lloyds paper. Why the name Astaara? The companys website explained that Astaara is the ancient Persian name for the first navigation tool to determine a boats position, using a known celestial body to establish latitude. Astaara, the company, aims to chart the uncharted world of cyber risks to achieve balance sheet resilience and protection, the website continued. Topics Carriers Cyber Underwriting Insurance Wholesale London It's as if the Earth has closed its eyes, some scientists say: the coronavirus pandemic has forced astronomers in northern Chile to shut down the world's most powerful telescopes, running the risk of missing out on supernovas and other spectacles in space. Scientists have been unable to take advantage of the pristine skies over Chile's Atacama desert since late March, when its array of world-renowned observatories were shuttered. This area is home to the European Southern Observatory that consists of the revolutionary Atacama Large Millimeter Array, or ALMA, whose 66 antennae combine to make it the world's most advanced radio telescope. With out these technologies actively looking at the sky, humans will be oblivious to what astronomers call randomly occurring transitory phenomena, like Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) or supernovas and will be lost forever to the starry wastes. It's as if the Earth has closed its eyes, some scientists say: the coronavirus pandemic has forced astronomers in northern Chile to shut down the world's most powerful telescopes, running the risk of missing out on supernovas and other spectacles in space Astronomer John Carpenter said:' Any GRB or supernova that goes off while we're shut down, we can't really observe it.' 'We will have missed the opportunity to observe it because it catches on so fast and then fades away, so it's these opportunities that are lost.' 'It's also a critical time to observe Betelgeuse, the giant red star in the constellation of Orionthe 10th brightest in the night skywhich has suddenly dimmed, prompting speculation that it could explode, though that could take decades.' 'We were starting a campaign to observe and monitor it when we had to closeso we couldn't continue,' Carpenter told AFP. This area is home to the European Southern Observatory that consists of the revolutionary Atacama Large Millimeter Array, or ALMA, whose 66 antennae combine to make it the world's most advanced radio telescope Carpenter is chief scientist at the revolutionary Atacama Large Millimeter Array, or ALMA, an observatory whose 66 antennae combine to make it the world's most advanced radio telescope. Carpenter said his observatory's operations have been on hold since March 18. ALMA is just one of an array of observatories in Chile's arid north that comprise more than half of humanity's astronomical power. Just 250 miles away from ALMA is the Paranal Observatory and its Very Large Telescope, the world's most powerful. The coronavirus pandemic has hit Chile hard, forcing a month-long lockdown of its capital Santiago. More than 2,450 people have died from Chile's 150,000 COVID-19 cases. Itziar de Gregorio, head of the science office of the European Southern Observatory, said: 'There are a very small number of people who are taking care of the observatory but no observation is being carried out.' De Gregorio voiced a more optimistic view over the opportunities for stargazing lost to the Earthly health crisis: scientists are likely to get another chance. Astronomers chose the vast Atacama desert for its pristine atmospherethere is little rain and low humidity year-round. With out these technologies actively looking at the sky, humans will be oblivious to what astronomers call randomly occurring transitory phenomena, like Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) or supernovas, along with the progression of Betelgeuse (pictured) With telescopes shut down and antennas switched off, space watchers are instead focusing on processing the myriad data collected during long accumulated nights of observation. Specialists have 'several months' of work to keep them going until the pandemic passes and the planets are opened up to them again, said Caludio Melo, ESO representative in Chile. 'Of course, at any given point new observations will be needed but we cannot know yet when that will be,' Melo told AFP. In some ways, the biggest losers are young scientists working to finish research on doctoral studies, 'because they have more critical deadlines,' said Carpenter. The long weeks of standstill mean a lag in their observation requests, he said. 'It will be a significant delay. We observe approximately 4,000 hours every year at ALMA with the 12-meter antenna complex, so if the shutdown lasts six months, it is 2,000 hours of lost observation.' BLOOMINGTON George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Tamir Rice. These are just a few of the many black American men and women killed at the hands of police and who were remembered during a Say Their Names vigil Thursday evening in downtown Bloomington. "George Floyd, Eric Gardner, they all said, 'I can't breathe,'" said Chynna Miller of Bloomington, who attended the vigil. "The reason everybody is out here, the reason everybody is protesting and everything that's going on in the world, is because I want to be able to breathe. "I want to be able to breathe freely, and I want my people to be able to breathe." More than 50 people gathered on the lawn outside the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts to honor and remember the unarmed black men and women who were killed by police. During the vigil, people held signs with names of those killed and chanted each name. "I just feel an obligation to remember all these people who have died at the hands of police," said Linda Unterman, one of the organizers of the event. "It's not a position that I or my kids or family have been in because we're not black. There's black young people every day that are being stopped by the police, and we just need to level the playing here." Unterman added that her family has never had to worry about or fear the police, which is something she said many black families have had to teach their children. "It's just not right," she said. "We just have to do something about it." Linda Foster, president of the Bloomington-Normal branch of the NAACP, spoke during the vigil, saying that it's time for people to stand up and fight against racial injustice and police brutality. "I started looking at the different situations and I found out that it doesn't matter if you're young or old, it doesn't matter if you're male or female, it doesn't matter the size of your stature big or small it doesn't matter if you're at home or in the public, it doesn't matter if you're educated or not," she said, addressing the crowd. "The only common denominator is if you're black." "If you're black, that's the only common denominator that decides if you're going to live or if you're going to die." Naomi Caldwell and Zykeyla Wells-Caldwell, both of Bloomington, said the attended the rally with their daughter just hours after experiencing racial discrimination within their own community. Earlier in the day the two were shopping at a store and when they approached the register, the cashier assumed they were paying with food stamps, they said. "You walk up the street and somebody is gonna hold their purse," said Caldwell. "I have locs, this is my love, this is what God gave me, and people automatically see my skin and my locs and think, 'Oh, she's going to rob me.'" "Now I'm a statistic. That's not me." Wells-Caldwell added that the racial tension has caused her anxiety when out in public, especially when out protesting or attending rallies. Even though the vigil was peaceful, Wells-Caldwell said she was on alert for potential retaliation or aggression. PHOTOS: Say Their Names vigil Contact Sierra Henry at 309-820-3234. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_sierrahenry. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Thursday, June 11, 2020 at 11:31PM by Claudio Alves Ten years ago this weekend, the public met a new Hollywood star in the making. The movie that brought the world a new silver screen goddess wasn't the sort of big studio production that in the old golden days would've been the logic harbinger of stardom. Quite the contrary, the film in question was a modest indie. Director Debra Granik's Sundance prize-winning critical hit would go on to become a sleeper hit in arthouse release. We're talking, of course, about Winter's Bone and the performer bound for stardom's was future Academy Award-winner Jennifer Lawrence Winter's Bone is about a girl searching for her father in the Ozark Mountains. It's also a stark portrait of a community where the bounds of honor that unite criminals are stronger and deeper than blood, and a character study on a young woman deadened by the harshness of her environment. The future star of The Hunger Games and many a David O. Russell feature was only 19 when the movie hit theaters. Still, despite her youth, her breakout work in this grimy gloomy thriller showed great maturity and subtle canniness, one that avoids obvious shortcuts to dramatic resonance. Jennifer Lawrence is Ree Dolly, a teenager that has had to learn early on how to provide for herself and her younger siblings. Her absent father is an irresponsible criminal who's recently jumped bail while her mother is a pill-addict stuck in what seems to be a perpetual state of catatonic indifference. It's a dire situation all-around but things only get worse when, one sad morning, Ree's household is visited by a local cop who brings alarming news. It seems that her father, when arrested on charges of drug trafficking, put their house and land up as bail. Then disappeared without a trace, putting the survival of his impoverished family at risk. As is the rule in Ree Dolly's life, it falls upon her to do right all the wrongs and she goes on a depressing odyssey through the Missouri land in search of some errand clue to find her father. Through her journey, she meets many members of her extended family, all of whom greet her with varying degrees of hostility. The whole story is a grueling affair, but nothing shocks this resourceful young woman. Quite the contrary, Lawrence plays Ree as someone so accustomed to hardship that no indignity takes her by surprise. Well, almost. Even Ree has limits, though Lawrence and her director are patient about revealing them. Part of Lawrence's accomplishment is how she refuses to make Ree into an extraordinary superwoman. There's a casualness to her way of being in front of the camera, a relaxed ease that helps highlight every instance when Ree is genuinely riled up. When she senses real danger, her presence changes radically. It becomes tense and unnerving, slow and rigid like a caged animal backed into a corner, preparing itself for an impending attack. Still, even then, Lawrence doesn't overstate this young woman's strength, allowing the audience to see where her mask of abrasive posturing ends and fear and vulnerability starts. If we felt Ree was untouchable, her struggles wouldn't hit us as hard. Ree's struggle is one for survival amongst very dangerous people. It makes sense for this girl to project an image of prickly forcefulness, but it's equally necessary that the audience can see through it. This balancing act is a delicate thing and it's amazing how easy Lawrence makes it all feel. Her naturalism is seamless, perfectly in tune with Granik's camera. In the nighttime climax of Winter's Bone, the director fixes the camera on her leading actress's face, documenting all the gradations of horror she can express and the result is a spectacle of ravaged humanity. Jennifer Lawrence is an actress whose talent doesn't often lie in the lived-in quality she brings to Winter's Bone. Her greatest assets otherwise tends to be her magnetism and indelible screen presence, something that was visible here early on beneath the layers of grime. Lawrence may never ask for the audience's sympathy, but her charisma conquers it easily nonetheless. All things considered, Lawrence's performance as Ree Dolly continues to have the power to surprise ten years later, after we've become quite familiar with her. Of all her Oscar nominations, this is her best. This only reminds us that Jennifer Lawrence can be a remarkably intelligent performer. Here's hoping she gets more chances to show that side of herself in the future. Ten years after Winter's Bone hit theaters, do you think it deserved the four Oscar nominations it got? Sunny Hostin and Meghan McCain shared a tense moment on The View this week. The topics on the ABC talk show have been focused on the Black Lives Matter movement. This week HBO Max temporarily removed the move Gone With the Wind. When the topic came up on the live show, Hostin quietly shaded McCain. The latter then ended up apologizing for bringing up the stupid conversation. Meghan McCain and Sunny Hostin | Heidi Gutman/ABC via Getty Images What is going on with Gone With the Wind? As people become more aware of how African Americans have been portrayed in Hollywood cinema, the movie Gone With the Wind came up for discussion. The depictions of Black people in the film have become controversial. HBO Max decided to pull the movie from its recently-launched streaming service. These racist depictions were wrong then and are wrong today, and we felt that to keep this title up without an explanation and a denouncement of those depictions would be irresponsible, an HBO Max spokesperson told CNN. It will return with a discussion of its historical context and a denouncement of those very depictions. McCain reacted on Twitter when she saw the news trending on Twitter and told her followers she would bring the topic up for discussion on the next days show. Im going to pitch the Gone With The Wind being pulled from HBO as a hot topic tomorrow, she tweeted. I am privileged to work with an Academy Award-winning actress and I am actually more interested in a discussion with her about it than on twitter. Have a good night everyone. Im going to pitch the Gone With The Wind being pulled from HBO as a hot topic tomorrow (deleted tweet). I am privileged to work with an academy award winning actress and I am actually more interested in a discussion with her about it than on twitter. Have a good night everyone! Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) June 10, 2020 Sunny Hostin is not having it When the topic came up during the Hot Topics segment on The View, Hostin didnt have the energy to talk about the issue. She made everyone aware that there were more pressing issues to talk about than an old movie. Well, we have had this discussion many times before, and, you know, my biggest concern right now isnt the availability of Gone With the Wind on HBO, Hostin said. Nobody is in favor of censorship, and someone like Megyn Kelly spent all morning tweeting about this, Hostin added. I would like to see that same energy from people on the right rather than talking about this issue, talking about the voter suppression that happened yesterday in Georgia, talking about the 112,000 Americans that are still dead from COVID, rather than lamenting over Gone With the Wind. Meghan McCain reacts Hostin making a point that HBO Max dropping Gone With the Wind was a non-issue, was a clear jab at McCain who proposed the topic. The conservative co-host took the hint and apologized for even bringing up the subject. I mean, I guess I should apologize that were doing this topic because it was my doing, McCain said. I was on Twitter last night, and it was a conversation thats been trending, and I actually just thought it would be interesting to talk to you, Whoopi [Goldberg], because youre an Academy Award winner, I believe only the second black Academy Award winner after Hattie McDaniel who won an Oscar, and its important to talk about censorship in film and books right now because we need to talk about whats appropriate and whats not. I know this seems like a trite and stupid conversation to some of you, but I was interested in it, McCain added. So its my fault this is a topic today. The View airs weekdays at 11 a.m ET and 10 a.m. CT/PT on ABC. RELATED: The View: Meghan McCain Accused of Outing Journalist on Live TV The leaders of Germany and France should make a clear statement that Russia violates the conditions of the Minsk agreements, said former special representative of the US government for negotiations on Ukraine in 2017 - 2019, Ambassador Kurt Volker. "(Ex-Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy) Yatseniuk in his comments recalled what exactly the Minsk process and in particular the Normandy format lack, and I agree with this - a clear statement from France and Germany that Russia violates the terms of the agreements. Ukraine is being pressured, there are attempts to manipulate and use the tooth for a tooth principle in Russian-Ukrainian relations. In fact, Russia violates most of the provisions of these agreements, and Ukraine has done everything in its power to fulfill its obligations, ceasesfires, special status, prisoner exchange procedure, etc.," Volker said during an online discussion at the Kyiv Security Forum on Friday. He stressed that such statements from the leaders of Germany and France are "super important," and Russia should finally begin to comply with the conditions of the Minsk agreements. It's been a good week for The North West Company Inc. (TSE:NWC) shareholders, because the company has just released its latest first-quarter results, and the shares gained 4.1% to CA$27.51. Revenues were CA$593m, and North West came in a solid 17% ahead of expectations. Following the result, the analysts have updated their earnings model, and it would be good to know whether they think there's been a strong change in the company's prospects, or if it's business as usual. So we gathered the latest post-earnings forecasts to see what estimates suggest is in store for next year. Check out our latest analysis for North West TSX:NWC Past and Future Earnings June 12th 2020 Following last week's earnings report, North West's five analysts are forecasting 2021 revenues to be CA$2.20b, approximately in line with the last 12 months. Before this earnings result, the analysts had predicted CA$1.99b revenue in 2021, although there was no accompanying EPS estimate. It looks like there's been a clear increase in optimism around North West, given the solid increase in revenue estimates after the latest results. The average price target rose 8.6% to CA$30.40, with the analysts clearly having become more optimistic about North West'sprospects following these results. It could also be instructive to look at the range of analyst estimates, to evaluate how different the outlier opinions are from the mean. Currently, the most bullish analyst values North West at CA$32.00 per share, while the most bearish prices it at CA$30.00. Still, with such a tight range of estimates, it suggeststhe analysts have a pretty good idea of what they think the company is worth. One way to get more context on these forecasts is to look at how they compare to both past performance, and how other companies in the same industry are performing. It's pretty clear that there is an expectation that North West's revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues next year expected to grow 0.2%, compared to a historical growth rate of 4.5% over the past five years. By way of comparison, the other companies in this industry with analyst coverage are forecast to grow their revenue at 1.1% per year. Factoring in the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that North West is also expected to grow slower than other industry participants. Story continues The Bottom Line The highlight for us was that the analysts increased their revenue forecasts for North West next year. Fortunately, they also upgraded their revenue estimates, although our data indicates sales are expected to perform worse than the wider industry. We note an upgrade to the price target, suggesting that the analysts believes the intrinsic value of the business is likely to improve over time. We have estimates for North West from its five analysts out to 2023, and you can see them free on our platform here. However, before you get too enthused, we've discovered 4 warning signs for North West that you should be aware of. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. The Edinburgh Fringe has been given a funding package to help it through to 2021. In a new statement from the Scottish Government, culture secretary Fiona Hyslop has said: "This has been an extremely worrying time for people whose livelihoods, careers and wellbeing have been affected by COVID-19 and the cancellation of festivals such as the Fringe. "I am one of many thousands of people who will miss the Fringe this year. It is one of Scotland's greatest cultural exports and this funding package will help ensure the world-renowned festival can bounce back in 2021. Many performers, cultural organisations and businesses rely on the festival and I hope it can build on its previous major successes to safely return to the international stage." On top of a 1m interest-free loan from the Scottish Government, the Fringe Society will benefit from a 149,000 Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund grant and a 100,000 grant from City of Edinburgh Council. The loan will be repaid over the next six years, with the Government also working with the Edinburgh Festivals to strengthen the resilience of the events for future years. The money will be used to "mitigate the significant losses incurred as a result of this year's festival not going ahead", as well as "to support the thousands of Fringe artists, companies and venues whose livelihoods have been affected". Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society chief executive Shona McCarthy said: "This funding is a life raft to the Fringe Society, enabling us to properly support the extensive ecosystem of artists, venues and businesses who rely on the Fringe. This festival is about much more than three weeks in August. It's an embodiment of how culture and creativity unites us, and in this incredibly difficult time, we're grateful to be working so closely with our partners at Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and City of Edinburgh Council on this common goal." T here is a "real danger" many women may not return to the workforce following the pandemic, Cherie Blair warned today. Mrs Blair said businesses had to make sure "the new normal" does not become women staying at home after lockdown restrictions are further eased and workers start returning to their jobs. The prominent QC and wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair was speaking ahead of her slot at London Tech Week, where she hosted an online conversation with former US senator and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Cherie Blair hosted an online conversation with former US senator Hillary Clinton for London Tech Week / Getty "Working from home has been more of an issue for women," she said. "We've seen the burden of homeschooling falling mostly on women. "It tends to be the mother in the household that picks up the slack. There is a real danger some women might not return to the workforce when this is over. "There is already a shortage of women in sectors, such as tech and STEM jobs. We can't let the new normal become 'you stay at home dear'." In a survey last month poverty charity Turn2us found womens incomes are expected to fall by an average of 309, or 26 percent, compared to an 18 percent drop of 247 for men during the pandemic and its aftermath. Mrs Blair runs the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, which has supported over 160,000 businesswomen across more than 100 countries since 2008. A new phase, announced in January, hopes to reach 100,000 more in just three years through training apps and mentoring schemes. The foundation, with help from Cambridge Wireless, Synergy Solutions, Kings College London and SLVC Voice Training in London, has built a programme of support for women business owners in low to middle income countries focused on helping them combat the effects of Covid-19 and preparing them for an economic downturn. Mrs Blair added: "Now more than ever these women entrepreneurs need support during this uncertain period. Covid-19 has accelerated our use of technology at home and at work and that will continue even after we get back to some sort of normality. Mrs Clinton said: "Ive said for a long time, and believe more fiercely than ever today, that advancing the rights, opportunities, and full participation of women and girls is the great unfinished business of the 21st century. "Some days, it seems it is even more unfinished than we thought. "No single country in the world has achieved gender equality. That translates to billions of women and girls prevented from enjoying equal economic opportunities or fulfilling their potential. Not only that, it translates to families, communities, and entire countries being held back." Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha and Uttarakhand will impose strict restrictions on weekends though businesses and other activities will continue to be allowed on weekdays as states look to kick-start the economy and contain the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) at the same time. In these four states, only essential services will be allowed on weekends and people will have to stay indoors restrictions similar to that during the hard lockdown imposed on March 25, according to government orders. In some cases, the restrictions will be restricted to certain districts or worst-hit areas. All citizens, except medical staff and essential service providers, will be required to download e-passes from the COVA app (Punjabs coronavirus alert app), chief minister Amarinder Singh said at a video conference on Thursday. A day before that, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik decided to impose a weekend curfew in 11 districts, including in the worst-affected Ganjam. Madhya Pradesh health minister Narottam Mishra, too, said a weekend curfew will be imposed in state capital Bhopal. We cannot close down everything for a long period. It has a very adverse impact on the economy and the livelihood of the people. But we have decided to impose stricter restrictions in Dehradun, Uttararkhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said on Wednesday. Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa and Keralas Pinayari Vijayan did not impose any weekend restriction but appealed to people to stay indoors on Saturday and Sunday. Travel only if it is necessary. Stay indoors and stay safe, Yediyurappa said on Friday. Vijayan said curfew-like restrictions will be imposed in the containment zones, which have strict perimeter control and are considered the epicentres of infections. In a related development, Kerala decided on Friday to shut the Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple after a spurt in Covid-19 cases in Thrissur district, where the famous shrine is situated. Many areas in Thrissur have reported a spike in cases. In the prevailing situation, it is good to avoid crowding. The suggestion came from the temple board and the government approved it immediately, said state minister Kadakampallly Surendran. Unlike several states, Jharkhand has decided not to open malls, cinema halls, religious places and dine-in restaurants despite a central government order allowing these business and activities from June 8. Also, the Mizoram government decided on Monday to impose a complete lockdown for at least two weeks. We cannot allow public gathering as a large number of migrant workers from states with high number of Covid cases are returning. We will not open the places of gatherings till cases start coming down, said a Jharkhand government official who did not want to be named. Several states have decided to begin house-to-house surveillance and testing of every person in containment areas. Also, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have issued directions aimed at putting strict travel restrictions on interstate borders. Some have not yet allowed free movement on borders even as several states have done away with travel passes. We are continuing with the pass system for interstate travel as it helps to monitor those coming into the state, said a Himachal Pradesh government official. (With inputs from state bureaus) The U.K. government backed down on plans to impose full border controls immediately after Brexit in an attempt to avoid piling an additional burden on businesses already struggling with the impact of coronavirus. For the first half of next year, most firms moving goods into Britain will get six months to file customs declarations and pay any tariffs due whether the U.K. and the European Union reach a trade accord or not, the government said in a statement on Friday. This would be welcome news for many businesses, which simply arent ready for chaotic changes with our biggest trading partner at the end of the year, said Josh Hardie, deputy director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, the countrys largest business lobby group. The new border policy was announced after Britain and the EU agreed to step up the pace of their trade negotiations following months of sometimes bad-tempered deadlock. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will hold a call on June 15 aimed at injecting momentum into the talks. With just six months left until Britain final leaves the bloc, businesses had been struggling to recruit a fraction of the 50,000 customs agents the transport industry says are necessary to prevent snarl-ups at the countrys ports once Britain leaves the blocs single market and customs union. Without enough agents, goods travelling to and from the EU are at risk of being delayed at ports. New facilities The government said it will provide 50 million pounds ($63 million U.S.) of grants to help customs intermediaries prepare, and plans to build new border facilities to carry out customs checks. Companies will still have to prepare customs declarations and keep records from January 2021. Those importing controlled goods such as alcohol and tobacco will still have to file customs forms immediately. From April, importers of products of animal origin, such as milk and honey, will have to pre-notify the health authorities. From July, all customs declarations and payments will have to made when goods are imported. This announcement is an important step towards getting the country ready for the end of the transition period, but there is still more work to be done, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said in a statement after he formally ruled out extending the post-Brexit standstill period beyond the end of the year. Legal challenge? Even with the new policy, businesses will face full checks on exports to the EU unless the bloc reciprocates the U.K.s offer, meaning firms will still have to grapple with new paperwork and the risk of border queues. Nor will the relaxed rules apply to businesses in Northern Ireland, said Seamus Leheny, policy manager for the Freight Transport Association in Northern Ireland. The Brexit Withdrawal Agreement requires the authorities there to carry out checks on some incoming goods to protect the integrity of the EUs single market. There is also a danger that the U.K. policy will face legal challenges from other countries on the grounds that it shows favouritism toward the EU. Strictly, this is clearly contrary to World Trade Organization rules if there is no deal and probably even if there is a free-trade agreement, said Alan Winters, director of the U.K. Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex. These require non-discrimination in trading processes as well as on tariffs, and also that a countrys custom regime be evenly applied at all entries. With time to reach a trade deal running out, Johnson will hold a call with Von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and EU Parliament President David Sassoli at 2.30 p.m. Brussels time on June 15. Five rounds of weekly trade negotiations will begin at the end of June. This new process will involve a mix of formal negotiating rounds and smaller group meetings, both in London and Brussels, assuming public health guidelines enable this, a U.K. government spokesman said Thursday. Johnson had previously threatened to walk away from the talks in June if it wasnt clear that he was going to get an acceptable deal. The continuation of talks into the summer means businesses will face a longer wait for certainty over what Britains post-Brexit trade relationship with the EU will look like. Just a little over two hours after Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted an acerbic offer to India, his government put out a status check of Pakistans economy. PM Khans adviser on finance and revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh released the economic survey that estimates Pakistans debt will rise to 88% of the GDP and the economy will shrink for the first time in 68 years by 0.4%. And that is an optimistic picture. The IMF and World Bank have projected that Pakistan, which closes its financial year this month-end, will contract by up to 2.6% Dr Shaikh apportioned much of the blame for the state of the economy between Nawaz Sharifs Pakistani Muslim League-N governments that had been in power from 2013 to 2018 before Imran Khan came to power with his promise of a Naya Pakistan, and the coronavirus pandemic. Imran Khan, who has been active on social media hurling barbs at India, hasnt tweeted on his governments report card on the economy. PM Imran Khan is finding himself boxed in by his political detractors, the army that is closing in, the economy and the Kashmir agenda, a Pakistan watcher in New Delhi said. Also Watch | Indias package as big as Pak GDP: Modi govt counters Imran Khans offer In just two years, PM Khans influence within and without the government has dropped sharply. That includes the army too, Pakistans most powerful institution whose backing was credited to have helped PM Khan mobilise support from smaller coalition partners. A Bloomberg report published this week underscored that the army has tightened its grip on PM Khans government, placing more than a dozen former and serving military officials in prominent roles. Also Read: Army tightens grip on Pakistan as Imran Khans popularity wanes Like former retired Lt General Asim Saleem Bajwa, who was already chairman of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority, was given a second job. From April this year, Lt Gen Bajwa who headed ISPR - the militarys propaganda department between 2012 and 2016 - was appointed PM Khans communication adviser. There have been indications that the Pakistan army, which had embedded itself in the civilian structure, hasnt been on the same page as PM Khan. That Imran Khan had been sidelined was clearly visible in March when the army declared that the army would oversee a shutdown to halt the spread of infection, less than 24 hours after Prime Minister Khan told the country in a televised address that he didnt support a lockdown since it would put millions out of work and hurt the poor. The army went ahead to deploy troops and enforce the lockdown. Also Read: Paks troubled economy is hurting more than Imran Khan wants to believe | Opinion Indian intelligence agencies believe that the army is increasingly looking at foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi for a bigger role in the government. There is some disappointment over Imran Khans not-so-successful attempts to put the focus on Kashmir, in Pakistan and globally, one Indian official said. Kashmir has long been used by Pakistan to distract people from the domestic upheavals, political, economic or otherwise. But this hasnt happened over the last year or so despite several attempts, the official said. Because of pressure from multilateral bodies such as the terror funding watchdog FATF where it faces the risk of being placed in the blacklist, the Imran Khan government has been unable to go all out to openly support Kashmir. Besides, the 2016 Uri surgical strike and the 2019 Balakote air strikes have sent a message that New Delhis response to a terror strike would be unpredictable and could lead to a counter strike. The bleak outlook for the economy makes PM Khans troubles so much bigger. Thursdays economic survey, news agency Reuters reported, reveals that PM Khans government had missed almost all economic targets by a wide margin even before the global new coronavirus pandemic. At least 10 million people are expected to slip below the poverty line due to the coronavirus pandemic, pushing the total number of people struggling to survive to 60 million. Apart from the human cost, the troubled economy could seal any chances of the army getting a substantive hike to give soldiers and officers a 20 percent raise that they had asked for. For now, Dr Shaikh, according to Pakistan newspaper Dawn, said there would be a free on current expenditure and the defence budget. He credited PM Khan as well as Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa for this decision. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON (Newser) Video app company Zoom says that it blocked several meetings and suspended the accounts of three activists at the request of the Chinese government. The company released details Thursday saying that in May and early June, the Chinese government notified it about several online meetings planned to commemorate the crackdown on protesters in Beijings Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. China bans public dissent. Zoom said the government told it such activities were illegal and demanded that the company terminate the meetings and the host accounts of the organizers, even though they did not live in China, the AP reports. Zoom then suspended the accounts of US-based activists Zhou Fengsuo and Wang Dan, and Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Lee Cheuk-Yan. story continues below It has since reinstated all of their accounts. "Going forward Zoom will not allow requests from the Chinese government to impact anyone outside of mainland China," Zoom said in a blog post. The company said it is developing technology that would allow it to block participants based on geography. That would mean it could stop people in mainland China from attending future meetings on Zoom that are deemed illegal by the Chinese government. It did not give details on how it would determine which meetings would fit that description. That raises the issue of Zoom acting as a censor on behalf of the Chinese government, the AP reports. Zoom is headquartered in San Jose, California, but conducts much of its research and development in mainland China. (Read more Zoom stories.) The Supreme Court on Thursday sought responses of the Centre and Maharashtra government to separate petitions seeking a probe by central agencies into the April 16 lynching of three people, including two Sadhus, in Palghar while questioning the state polices conduct and alleging bias in their investigations. The kin of the two and six members of Panch Dashnam Juna Akhara, whom the sadhus were affiliated to, have sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the killings. One Ghanshyam Upadhyay has filed a separate plea seeing a National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigation. The petitions were tagged with that of lawyer Shashak Shekhar Jha, who moved the court in April seeking a CBI or judicial probe into the incident. Issue notice returnable in the second week of July 2020, a justice Ashok Bhushan-led bench said. The bench, also comprising justices M R Shah and V Ramasubramanian, posted these matters for further hearing in the second week of July. A mob of villagers lynched Kalpavruksha Giri, Sushil Giri, and their driver, Neelesh Telgade. The crowd suspected them of being child-lifters, dragged them out, and beat them with sticks. The three from Kandivali in Mumbai were on their way to a funeral at Surat in Gujarat amid the Covid-19 lockdown when their car was stopped and they were attacked in the presence of police, who have maintained they were outnumbered. A video of the incident triggered outrage and a war of words between the ruling Shiv Sena-led alliance and the opposition BJP. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on April 20 set up a high-level police probe, suspension of police personnel for dereliction of duty and the arrest of over 100 accused. He warned against giving the incident a communal colour. The petition that has sought the CBI probe accused police of inaction. The entire incident and its handling raise several questions which remain unanswered till date and as the petitioners apprehend shall never be answered unless they are investigated by an independent, unsullen and reputed arm of the central agencies, it said. Several video clippings have emerged on social media and news reports which very clearly demonstrate the active involvement of the police present, who can be seen handing over the three persons to the unlawful assembly of persons gathered. It said the totality of the circumstances raises serious and unanswered questions about the state polices ability to independently investigate into the incident considering the potential involvement of the police in the gruesome lynching. Maharashtra governments lawyers opposed the petitions and said similar pleas are pending before the Bombay high court. KAMPALA President Museveni has ordered the flag of Uganda and that of East African Community to half mast throughout the country and all Uganda Embassies and consulate offices abroad starting Saturday June 13 till burial as Uganda joins the region to mourn the passing of Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza. The president made the announcement on Friday in a letter, describing the late President Nkurunziza as a true friend of Uganda and champion of the East African integration. As an expression of our solidarity with government and people of Burundi, as a mark of respect for the memory of President Nkurunziza, I hear by order that the flag of the Republic of Uganda and that the East African Community be flown at half-mast throughout Uganda and all Uganda Embassies and Consular offices abroad tomorrow the 13th June until burial, the President wrote, adding that flags will be at half-staff in solidarity with government and people of Burundi. President Nkurunziza was a true friend of Uganda and champion of the East African integration, President Museveni wrote adding that Burundi and the region will miss President Nkurunzizas talents and invaluable contribution he was well-positioned to make towards the consolidation of peace and stability in Burundi and the region from his departure from office in a few months time. He sent sympathies to the Government and the people of Burundi. I covey our deepest condolences to the family of the late President, the government and the people of Burundi, and the entire East African region on the shocking loss. Burundis government said President Nkurunziza, 55, died of a heart attack. Related Continue Reading When Dr. Lindsey Jackson arrived last month to work a stint at a New Orleans field hospital, she expected hundreds of coronavirus patients would be waiting for her. But when she reported for duty, just a dozen patients were left. And by the time she shipped out a week later, they were down to four patients at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Healthcare workers outnumbered their charges by about a 12 to 1 ratio, she said. There were probably 150 bodies in that convention center at any one time that were staffed to watch 12 people, said Jackson, an emergency medicine physician from Texas. As coronavirus cases surged this spring in Louisiana, state officials rushed to open a 1,000-bed field hospital at the convention center, trying to ensure that coronavirus patients would have a place to go if local hospitals were overrun. State officials signed contracts totaling $192 million to staff, build and equip the operation, which could have expanded to 2,000 beds if needed. About $97 million, or roughly half the projects expected cost, is set to be spent on staffing, with $57 million being spent thus far on medical professionals from around the country to help in New Orleans. At its apex, the convention center held just one-tenth of the patients that it was built and staffed for, reaching 108 patients on April 16 and shrinking from there. While health care providers who worked there applauded the decision to prepare for the worst-case scenario, several said in interviews with The Times-Picayune | The Advocate and WWL-TV that they do not understand why the operation didnt wind down sooner, given the absurd staffing ratios for just a handful of patients on a steep downward trend over the past eight weeks. They also described other inefficiencies that helped bloat the projects hefty and still-growing price tag. Jackson, for example, said she and other providers offered to have their contracts cut short because of the lack of patients, but no one took them up on it. Many staff members had nothing to do, yet were getting paid handsome sums, including guaranteed 98-hour weeks that came with time-and-half overtime pay. Health care providers who worked at the convention center were guaranteed to be paid for at least seven 14-hour shifts. The contract called for payments of $243 an hour for registered nurses, $328 per hour for nurse practitioners and $350 an hour for physicians, but some of that money went directly to the staffing companies. Nurses, for example, said they actually only received $95 an hour. We were like, Do you want to let one of us go? Jackson recalled. Do we need to be here? And they said, Its a government contract, you need to be here. The overcapacity at the convention center even got the attention of the White House. President Donald Trump, in one of his March briefings, said, They had a thousand rooms, a thousand beds, and they used a lot of them, but they didn't need the other ones, as we stopped it because we don't want to waste. Dr. Joe Kanter, assistant state health officer with the Louisiana Department of Health, said hes thankful that the field hospital did not reach anything close to full capacity. He compared setting it up to making the decision to evacuate for a hurricane. Its easy in retrospect to say you could have gotten along with less staff, he said. Just like its easy in retrospect when you leave for a hurricane to say, I could have stayed. Louisiana sees deadliest day from coronavirus yet, as state doubles beds at convention center Louisiana experienced its deadliest day yet from the new coronavirus, confirming 54 new deaths Tuesday as officials ramped up efforts to allev Officials with BCFS, the organization hired for staffing services, said Louisiana officials gave them directives on how many people to mobilize, and when to send them back. Last Saturday, state officials signed another contract extension for BCFS to continue staffing the convention center. But this time they trimmed the cost, from $38 million to $21 million for a month, and they cut the number of staff down to cover 120 beds. The federal government is expected to cover 75% of the costs, while the state already facing crippling money shortages given the viruss impact on the economy will pick up the rest. Unprepared for the patients they received When the tents went up and the beds were assembled to build the field hospital, local officials envisioned it as a step-down facility for coronavirus patients who no longer needed acute hospital care but who werent quite ready to be released, or had no place to go. Medical workers started arriving in late March, before the convention center even opened to patients. They said they were told that patients would be able to walk, talk and feed themselves. But almost from day one, things did not go as planned. The vast majority of patients were nursing-home residents freshly released from hospitals. The sudden change meant staff had to care for people who were bedbound, needed wound care and could not take medicine on their own. Despite being well-supplied for most medical needs, the operation was poorly equipped for the frail, elderly patients they ended up with. We didn't have chucks and diapers, so you get really creative with linens, said Staci Lundeen, a registered nurse from Missouri who was there when the first patients arrived. And we didn't have gowns those first couple of days. +19 New Orleans' coronavirus field hospital opens Monday; see how pop up facility will operate As the number of coronavirus cases in Louisiana continued their ascent on Saturday, crews rushed to put the finishing touches on a makeshift, Blankets and sheets became diapers and hospital gowns. Lundeen used a bedpan to carry water for baths. And when a single pill crusher meant to be shared within a 120-bed wing kept going missing, she used plastic spoons to crush up Tylenol and poured it into a jello cup. The patients also arrived without paperwork, so staffers were given notebooks and told to use them to write down their own notes and charts. I had to completely change the way I thought about nursing, Lundeen said. I left in tears the first day because I didnt think I gave good nursing care to these people because I didnt have the equipment I needed. Lundeen said shes proud that by the time she left in late April, her team of nurses had managed to bring some order to the chaos. Stolen N95 masks returned to New Orleans Convention Center coronavirus hospital Eighty N95 respirator masks meant to protect staffers at a makeshift hospital for recovering coronavirus patients in New Orleans Ernest N. Mo Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Kanter acknowledged that the convention center wound up receiving a different population of patients than state officials had envisioned. He said the plan was crafted when it appeared hospitals might run out of room. Officials wanted to reserve hospital beds for the critically ill who needed intensive care units and ventilators, and to send less dire patients to the convention center. No emergency goes exactly as planned, Kanter said. He noted that ghastly images from Italy, in which dying patients were left in hallways and emergency room ramps, made a big impression on planners. Other aspects of the field hospital operation frustrated workers as well. Jackson, Lundeen and two other health care workers at the convention center all said they witnessed staffers who spent most if not all of their time in the cold zone, away from patients or back at the Roosevelt Hotel, where the staff was lodging under the state contract. While some workers were developing marks on their faces from wearing their N95 masks for weeks at a time, other staffers still had not been deployed into the hot zone to treat patients. The amount of work they performed did not affect their pay. Compensation was based on an individuals credentials and assigned position, according to BCFS. +9 To fight coronavirus, Louisiana inks $500M-plus in contracts for rooms, equipment; see breakdown The state of Louisiana has signed contracts for more than $500 million to lease hotel rooms, buy medical equipment and services, and to build Imagine you bring 300 people to the convention center, said one member of the medical staff from Texas. You take 30 of them and send them into the hot zone. And then the other 270 people sit out in the lobby all day. That was the ongoing theme. She said some workers flagrantly cheated the system by going to the convention center to sign in, then returning to the Roosevelt with the departing night shift. Just the processes that weren't in place and the colossal waste that was going on yeah, it was shocking, Lundeen said. The Texas worker said staffing could have easily been cut by 75%. She was surprised the field hospital remained open and fully staffed by the time she left in late April, when fewer than 50 patients remained. 'Troubling' signs ahead as New Orleans Convention Center loses more revenue to canceled events The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has seen more event cancellations for this year and is expecting its financial hole to deepen as it rea Even as many patients recovered enough to return to their nursing homes, discharging them did not happen quickly, staff members said, leaving many in limbo at the center for weeks. Jackson explained that early in the crisis, nursing homes began requiring two negative COVID tests before residents could return. But the field hospital initially had no testing capabilities. We were holding on to them for a lack of place to go or a facility that was ready to accept them, Jackson said. So we had several in-house that had been cleared for some time, and they were just there out of social need. Another medical staffer from Arkansas said she worried about the long-term outcomes for patients, especially those with dementia. She said that without the usual day-to-day stability for those patients, some became combative, and staffers were unprepared to handle them. That psychosis started setting in pretty quickly when they're looking at the same four white walls all the time, she said. The powerful sedatives necessary to save coronavirus patients may also lead to a difficult recovery After a well-earned break following six weeks treating coronavirus patients in the University Medical Center ICU, Dr. Kyle Happel, a pulmonolo Kanter said one of the lessons officials learned was that they needed physical therapists to work with patients who had been confined to their beds. He said he was proud of the team that worked at the convention center, saying they did the best they could with the available resources. 'A mammoth expense' Across the street from the convention center, individual trailers known as personal housing units where people could stay in isolation as they awaited coronavirus test results were also barely needed. The U.S. Navy set up 274 of them, but a maximum of six were occupied at one time, on April 9. After that, the number of PHU patients fluctuated between 0 and 2 until April 29, records show, after which it appears the units remained empty for good, though some trailers are still there. Kanter said state officials wanted to ensure that they did not put uninfected patients inside the convention center, where they could easily contract coronavirus in the meantime. Robert Travis Scott, president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, said the moves to build and staff hospital overflow space were well-intentioned, given grim early forecasts. But he said that by now, given the shrinking number of patients in the convention center, state officials need to send a signal back to Washington that they are trying to be prudent with public dollars. Regardless of whether the federal or state government is paying, taxpayers are on the hook for the mounting bills. What we dont want to do is set a precedent where we dont look like were looking out for the tax dollars for the whole nation, Scott said. How's Phase 2 going? Watch John Bel Edwards answer your questions in virtual town hall Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards will join Advocate and Times-Picayune editor Peter Kovacs in a live virtual town hall at 4:15 p.m. Thursday to Lundeen described the operation as a mammoth expense with not only medical staffers being paid, but also cleaning crews, security personnel and more. And Jackson said that its frustrating as a taxpayer to see how much money was being spent to take care of so few patients. It was certainly excessive by the time I arrived, she said. Advocate Staff Writer Sam Karlin contributed to this report. Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify the terms of the staffing contracts between BCFS and the state. TikTok starts testing paid subscriptions Israeli fighter jets, refueling planes hold massive drills aimed at Tehran France announces gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions Fountains in Athens' central square illuminated with Armenian tricolor Austria approves Europe's first mandatory COVID-19 vaccination mandate World War II aircraft crashed in India found after 77 years Armenian Parliament Deputy Speaker meets EU delegation Deputy Speaker of Armenian parliament meets Russian Ambassador to Armenia Germany won't pay compensation if Nord Stream 2 doesn't comply with German, EU laws NEWS.am digest: EU special rep. is in Armenia, Roma's Mkhitaryan turns 33 today Child injured in Artsakh car accident taken to Yerevan by Russian peacekeepers' helicopter Taiwanese woman faces death penalty for setting island's deadliest fire Turkey passes law to exempt converted lira deposits from corporate tax Blinken says he discussed Iran nuclear deal with Lavrov Erdogan says Turkey has peaceful relations with Russia like never before New German government wants to attract 400,000 skilled workers from abroad every year Israeli Attorney General orders to investigate police allegations of spyware Blinken: Any Russian invasion of Ukraine will be met with swift response Candidate: Ombudsmans institution is one of few established institutions in Armenia Lavrov summarizes the results of talks with Blinken UN agrees on definition of Holocaust denial Lavrov and Blinken talks kick off in Geneva Australian FM says issue of sending direct military aid to Ukraine is not considered Armenia PM receives EU delegation, need for full operation of Karabakh peace process is stressed Armenia National Assembly debating on new ombudspersons candidacy Katherine Tai: The world can't go back to the 2019 trading system Dollar gains value in Armenia Armenia legislature told hold secret ballot to elect TV and radio commission new members NATO intends to hold largest military exercises beyond Arctic Circle in early March 7 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh 'Zangezur corridor' will unite Turkic world, says Azerbaijan presidential office official Armenia FM highlights need for full resumption of Karabakh peace talks Armenia ex-defense minister: In our time it was shame to immediately turn to CSTO in case of Azerbaijan provocations UN General Assembly head calls for peace during Beijing Olympics Armenia Tourism Committee has new chairperson Russian MFA: Priority today is to start Azerbaijan-Armenia border delimitation, demarcation process Parliament passes, in first reading, bill restricting gambling advertising in Armenia UK considering sending hundreds of additional troops to Ukraine's neighbors Warships of Russia, Iran and China work out counteraction to maritime piracy Armenia first deputy minister of justice dismissed Israeli defense minister tests positive for COVID-19 Karabakh conflict resumption likelihood is moderate, its impact on US interests is low, report says Antonio Guterres thinks Russia will not invade Ukraine Azerbaijan ambassador to Russia hastens to sweeten the sediment of statement by US embassy in Baku IS fighters attack army barracks in mountainous area north of Baghdad, killing 11 soldiers Thomas de Waal: Will Armenia and Turkey be able to normalize relations after 3rd attempt? Armenia Security Council secretary, visiting EU delegation discuss situation on border with Azerbaijan Foreign ministers of Israel and Turkey have talk for 1st time in 13 years Fly Arna shareholders appoint companys Board of Directors 628 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia CSTO chief: Necessary to work on Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation, demarcation FBI search congressman's home in connection with Azerbaijan probe Newspaper: Armenia PM again goes way of black and white Newspaper: Scenario devised after war to be implemented in Artsakh EU Special Representative for South Caucasus arrives in Armenia Quake hits Armenia: 28 km northwest of Jermuk Crete island lighthouse illuminated with colors of Armenian tricolor Aurora Humanitarian Initiative to allocate $500,000 to projects in Artsakh Sajid Javid: Britain must learn to live with COVID-19, it could be with us forever Erdogan suggests Putin and Zelensky meet face to face EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus meets Aliyev US imposes sanctions on Ukrainians related to 'Russian harmful foreign activities' Sabah: Ankara refuses to hold next Armenian-Turkish meeting in a third country US general discusses regional security and bilateral cooperation in Armenia Secret graves of alleged protesters discovered in Almaty Armenian side members to Armenian-American Intergovernmental Commission confirmed WHO advises countries to lift or ease international travel restrictions US sanctions against Vladimir Putin, Ruben Vardanian and members of the Russian government Armenian Foreign Ministry discusses Mirzoyan's participation in Turkey forum Thailand to resume non-quarantine travel scheme from February 1 Instagram introduces paid subscription feature NEWS.am daily digest: 20.01.22 Europe considers new strategy to combat COVID-19 Norwegian prosecutors refuse release Anders Breivik, 2011 mass murderer Erdogan urges Turks to sell foreign currency for liras Azerbaijan not yet returned about 300 sheep of Armenia villager Media: Israeli President thinks about visiting Turkey Dollar quite stable in Armenia Trade turnover between Ukraine and Armenia increases by 24% Armenia legislature speaker meets with of International Republican Institute president, and director for Eurasia Kremlin does not exclude new call between Putin and Biden EU Special Representative for South Caucasus to soon visit Armenia, Azerbaijan State Duma discusses work of biolaboratories near Russia's borders US lawmakers to parliament speaker: Armenian POWs must be returned to their homeland immediately Security Council chief: Armenia expects OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to visit region Armenia government does not approve plan to considerably raise minimum wage Turkish FM: Armenian representatives invited to diplomatic forum in Antalya Twitter suspends Mexican billionaire's account over offensive behavior Armenian PM says Omicron strain is slowly spreading Azerbaijan says it supports launching border delimitation process with Armenia with no conditions Zakharova speaks on Aliyev's visit to Kyiv Zakharova does not comment on Azerbaijan president's threats against France presidential candidate for her Artsakh visit Cavusoglu: Steps to increase mutual trust will be discussed at next meeting with Armenia US gives go-ahead to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to send missiles and other American-made weapons to Ukraine Zakharova: Russia, as OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair, supports continuation of work in this format Cyber attack on Red Cross: data of over 515,000 people compromised Pashinyan: UK has been strong partner of newly independent Armenia Israel hopes UN will unanimously condemn Holocaust denial Armenia, Ukraine depositories sign memorandum of cooperation Azerbaijan advises Armenia to correctly assess the new geopolitical realities and draw conclusions Tata Steel Ltd is quoting at Rs 305.7, down 2.38% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The stock tumbled 39.17% in last one year as compared to a 17.83% slide in NIFTY and a 34.77% fall in the Nifty Metal index. Tata Steel Ltd fell for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 305.7, down 2.38% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 1.14% on the day, quoting at 9789.4. The Sensex is at 33144.41, down 1.17%.Tata Steel Ltd has gained around 10.54% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Tata Steel Ltd is a constituent, has increased around 9.51% in last one month and is currently quoting at 1954.85, down 1.37% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 98.12 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 151.92 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark June futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 305.55, down 2.55% on the day. Tata Steel Ltd tumbled 39.17% in last one year as compared to a 17.83% slide in NIFTY and a 34.77% fall in the Nifty Metal index. The PE of the stock is 3.74 based on TTM earnings ending December 19. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Newser) President Trump resumes his political rallies next week, with Tulsa the first city on the list. The selection continues to generate controversy because the rally takes place on June 19, and Juneteenth is the annual celebration of the end of slavery. Given the current tensions on race over the George Floyd killing, and given the Oklahoma city's own troubled history on civil rights, critics are calling the choice insensitive. Trump, though, is defending it. Coverage: Trump: In an interview, Harris Faulkner of Fox News asked Trump if the date was intentional. "No, but I know exactly what you're going to say," said the president, per the Hill. Faulkner, who's black, said she was merely asking a question, and Trump responded: "Think about it as a celebration. They're always a celebration. In the history of politics, I think I can say there's never been any group or any person that's had rallies like I do. In an interview, Harris Faulkner of Fox News asked Trump if the date was intentional. "No, but I know exactly what you're going to say," said the president, per the Hill. Faulkner, who's black, said she was merely asking a question, and Trump responded: "Think about it as a celebration. They're always a celebration. In the history of politics, I think I can say there's never been any group or any person that's had rallies like I do. Critics: A tweet from Sen. Kamala Harris, a front-runner to be Joe Biden's running mate, was in wide circulation: "This isn't just a wink to white supremacistshe's throwing them a welcome home party." The city was the site of an infamous attack by white people on black people in 1921, notes the AP. "To choose the date, to come to Tulsa, is totally disrespectful and a slap in the face to even happen," says Sherry Gamble Smith, president of Tulsa's Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce. The group is named after the black community that white Oklahomans burned down in 1921. story continues below In defense: The AP reports that the Trump campaign was aware of the date's significance ahead of time and in internal discussions noted that Joe Biden held a fundraiser on June 19 last year. Still, the intensity of the criticism has been a surprise, say two campaign officials. The official reply: "As the party of Lincoln, Republicans are proud of the history of Juneteenth," says campaign adviser Katrina Pierson. "President Trump has built a record of success for black Americans." The AP reports that the Trump campaign was aware of the date's significance ahead of time and in internal discussions noted that Joe Biden held a fundraiser on June 19 last year. Still, the intensity of the criticism has been a surprise, say two campaign officials. The official reply: "As the party of Lincoln, Republicans are proud of the history of Juneteenth," says campaign adviser Katrina Pierson. "President Trump has built a record of success for black Americans." One take: Even if the choice of June 19 was unintentional, "it's hard to overlook the insensitivity over race when the president's campaign is selling 'Baby Lives Matter' onesies on its website," per an analysis in the New York Times. The story assesses more of Trump's moves amid the current unrest and concludes that he "increasingly sounds like a cultural relic, detached from not just the left-leaning protesters in the streets but also the country's political middle and even some Republican allies and his own military leaders." (The campaign is indeed selling those onesies, notes CNN.) Even if the choice of June 19 was unintentional, "it's hard to overlook the insensitivity over race when the president's campaign is selling 'Baby Lives Matter' onesies on its website," per an analysis in the New York Times. The story assesses more of Trump's moves amid the current unrest and concludes that he "increasingly sounds like a cultural relic, detached from not just the left-leaning protesters in the streets but also the country's political middle and even some Republican allies and his own military leaders." (The campaign is indeed selling those onesies, notes CNN.) Similar theme: A spate of stories (generally in outlets Trump considers to be biased) echoes the theme of that Times article. "At a time when much of the country appears to be moving in a different direction, President Trump has charged into a series of fights over the nation's racist legacygambling that taking divisive stances on Confederate symbols and policing will energize his mostly white supporters in November," is the first paragraph of a Washington Post story. And a headline in the New Yorker wonders, "Trump Hates Losers, So Why Is He Refighting the Civil Waron the Losing Side?" (Read more President Trump stories.) Matt Harris, who has been on the commission since 2002, including seven times as chairman, said in an interview Friday that the commissions executive board regularly speaks with the police chief but that nothing becomes public without the departments consent. The commission, which has always ruled in favor of the police, has no power to take action if it thinks the police acted inappropriately. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday (June 12) commenced the e-filing facility in company and taxation jurisdictions on 25th October 2013 from a single e-filing centre. This was extended to two e-filing centres and one e-filing counter in every District Court complex. The e-filing facility was also made available arbitration matters in February 2015. The advocates/litigants-in-person are required to carry their petitions/applications/affidavits in a soft copy and have them converted to a PDF format at the e-filing centre(s) set up for that purpose. As soon as the case is filed electronically, a diary number is generated and communicated to the advocates/litigant-in-person via email. We have, with the help of our internal team, developed a state of the art software for e-filing which enables the advocates and litigants to file their cases in digital soft copy at any time from anywhere without having to carry bulky paper files to e-filing counters. The software installed makes provision for e-filing of not only the main case but also for filing of applications, documents, Caveat etcetera. This software also enables the registry to scrutinize filings, point out defects, mark and list matters via e- mode. The e-filing software is a comprehensive application that provides for paperless processing of cases from the stage of filing until the disposal. The integration of electronic court-fee module is an added feature of the e-filing system. The main objective of e-filing is to shift to a system of paperless courts whereby from the institution of the action till its disposal and archival no paper is used. Such paperless courts will also remove various shortcomings of the paper-based system like storage, maintenance, wastage of a lot of paper and the world-wide move from paper to digital format. With the unveiling of the e-filing system, the Delhi High Court has attempted to take the autonomy of the common litigant to file actions to the next level. The online e-filing facility will be inaugurated by Hon'ble Mr. Justice D.N. Patel, Chief Justice, Delhi High Court on 13th June 2020 at 5:00 PM via Webinar in presence of other Companion Hon'ble Judges of this Court and other distinguished guests. The online e- filing is a part of the High Court's ongoing effort to quickly adapt itself to a difficult situation that has arisen because of coronavirus pandemic. This facility will enable lawyers/litigants to file their cases round the clock. This will also reduce the footfall in court premises which is today the need of the hour. To emphasise the special features of this software include: i) Cases/applications/documents/reply/rejoinder can be filed from anywhere and anytime. ii) Cases can be filed in any jurisdiction. iii)Advocates/litigants can register themselves while sitting at home. iv)The option of password reset also available. V) The main case, application, documents, caveat etc. can be filed conveniently. vi)The name of scrutiny assistant is also displayed in the inbox. vii)Status of previously filed cases, fresh cases, caveats can be found at a click of a button. vii)Defects raised by the registry are communicated to advocates/litigants' registered email ID and mobile number. The option of giving remarks concerning defects is also available. viii) The feature of caveat search also present. ix) Personal details like mobile number, address & email id can be changed at any point. Notably, a tutorial video has been uploaded on the Delhi High Court website: www.delhihighcourt.nic.in explaining how to use the software and procedure for registration, making the document OCR searchable, appending digital signatures, book-marking the document and filing caveat. UN's support mission in Libya on June 11 ordered an effective and transparent investigation to be conducted by the authorities after eight mass graves were discovered in Tarhuna, south-east of Tripoli. Hifters Libyan Arab Armed Forces have been reported assaulting the area for the past 14 months, however, the offensive backed by Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt was stalled after al-Waitya airbase was captured. Hence, Pro-Haftar stronghold was reclaimed by Turkish air power and military troops and the Government of National Accord (GNA) forces, following which, the gory incident came to light. UNSMIL wrote in a tweet, that the organization was horrified over "reports on the discovery of at least eight mass graves in past days, the majority of them in Tarhuna." The key city to the southeast of capital Tripoli, Tarhuna, was recaptured from eastern forces led by renegade general Khalifa Haftar, earlier, occupied by the pro-Heftar National Army (LNA) forces. UNSMIL added in the statement that it welcomes a decision made by the justice minister to establish a committee in order to investigate the mass graves after fighters withdrew from the region for up to 3 kilometers (2 miles) from Tripolis front lines in a humanitarian gesture. Read: Erdogan Says Turkey, US Reached Agreements On Libya Read: Libya's Tripoli Forces Press Gains Despite Egypt Truce Offer The UN mission urged that the members of the committee must secure the mass graves, identify victims, establish the cause of death and return the bodies to their next of kin. Earlier, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo emphasized the importance of an immediate halt to the fighting and return to political dialogue, according to the State Department, and recently, supported immediate efforts by Libyan authorities and international bodies to investigate into the graves. In a Tweet, the US Embassy to Libya wrote that it wouldnt tolerate abuses and injustices in the region. Also, Pompeo had earlier condemned the continuous flow of foreign weapons into the country in violation of a long-standing U.N. arms embargo, as per the local reports. For too long, Russia has denied the full extent of its involvement in the ongoing Libyan conflict. Well, there is no denying it now. We watched as Russia flew fourth-generation jet fighters to Libya every step of the way, US Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of the US Africa Command said. The United States shares UNSMILs horror and supports immediate efforts by Libyan authorities and international bodies to investigate these intolerable abuses and bring perpetrators to justice. https://t.co/XiCikSnxkD U.S. Embassy - Libya (@USAEmbassyLibya) June 11, 2020 Civilians killed from IED Not just that, the United States military accused Russia of deploying fighter jets in conflict-stricken Libya, aiding east-based forces in their offensive on the capital, Tripoli, as per reports. According to GNA, bodies of at least 27 civilians killed from IED were discovered in Tarhuna hospital, which was left by Haftars forces as their hold on Tripoli collapsed and they pulled out of the area. While the scale of the war crimes intensified both sides due to the year-long siege in Libya backed by external forces from France, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Jordan, Hifters military forces have been accused by excessive state-sponsored offensives. US Africa Command accused Russia of flaring the Libyan conflict with its involvement as Russian fighter jets stationed in Libya from an airbase via Syria, Russias ally, as per reports. Read: Egypt Announces Initiative To End War In Libya Read: UN Says It Received 'numerous' Reports Of Looting, Destruction In Retaken Libyan Towns (Image Credit: AP) The Odisha government on Thursday cancelled the final semester examinations of undergraduate and postgraduate examinations in view of the rising Covid-19 cases. Higher education minister Arun Sahu said the decision was taken after a meeting with vice-chancellors of all state-run universities and principals of all government and aided colleges. Considering the COVID-19 situation, it will be difficult to strictly adhere to social distancing guidelines while conducting the exams. As the Covid guidelines cannot be modified it was decided that all pending theory and practical examinations of the UG and PG streams will be cancelled. All state-run universities and autonomous colleges will announce the results by end of August after evaluating the papers as per UGC guidelines, said Sahoo. The minister said students will be awarded marks through alternative evaluation. Internal marks will be awarded on the basis of prescribed weightage and the average marks obtained in all previous semesters/years in that subject. He said if any students are not satisfied with the marks awarded to them through alternative evaluation and demand more marks, the universities and autonomous colleges will conduct their examination by November and announce revised results in December. Three days ago, the students of Rama Devi Womens University in Bhubaneswar had launched a campaign demanding cancellation of their sixth semester examination which was scheduled to be held on June 25. The students alleged that there is a risk of getting infected in the examination halls. ... [Message clipped] View entire message By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to convene a meeting of the Finance Ministry and Reserve Bank of India to decide within three days if interest can be waived on deferred loan payments during the moratorium period. The government has announced a loan moratorium of six months as a relief major for businesses and retail borrowers. However, banks were charging interest over the accumulated amount of the interest during the period. On Friday, the bench said that the question is not of a waiver of complete interest for the entire moratorium period but was limited only to the interest charged on interest by banks. We are doing balancing. The only thing we are wanting is a wider measure. Our concern in these proceedings is only whether the interest that has been deferred for 3 months will be added to charges payable later and whether there will be interest on the interest, the bench comprising of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M R Shah said. If interest payment has been deferred for three months, banks should not add that amount to the payable money and charge interest on interest, the bench added. The bench was hearing a plea filed by Gajendra Sharma, seeking a direction to declare the portion of the RBIs March 27 notification as ultra vires to the extent it charges interest on the loan amount during the moratorium period, which create hardship to the petitioner being borrower and creates hindrance and obstruction in right to life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution of India. In its reply, the RBI said it would not be prudent to go for a forced waiver of interest risking financial viability of the banks, following which the apex court had sought the Finance Ministrys reply on waiver of interest on loans during the moratorium period. The bench said that its query was very limited on whether there can be waiver of interest on interest. Meanwhile, sources in the finance ministry said that RBI is not in favour of any waiver. However, officials will discuss the matter again with the banking regulator and will go by what RBI suggests. We had sought time to give a response. The government is not in favour of any waiver. But we will go by what the RBI suggests, a senior finance ministry official said. The next hearing on the matter will be held on June 17. NEW HAVEN Police Chief Otoniel Reyes said he plans to recommend a city police officer be fired, following an investigation that found the officer used excessive force. During a press conference at the Police Department Friday, Reyes said an internal affairs investigation found Officer Jason Santiago violated departmental orders regarding de-escalation and the use of force. According to a release from the city, the investigation determined Santiago kicked a man in the groin while he was handcuffed on the ground, then picked the man up from the ground and punched him in the face after being spat on. Reyes said he would bring up Santiago for potential termination by the Board of Police Commissioners. This action is reprehensible, Reyes said. Its critically important that as police leadership and as officers we not only talk about wanting to prosecute, that we not only talk about wanting to stand against police brutality, that if theres an opportunity to stop it, we do and if it happens we have to hold ourselves accountable. ... I can assure you this is not emblematic of this department and this is not representative of this department. Santiago also is under investigation as the states attorneys office explores criminal charges, Reyes said. He noted the departments officers in recent days had affirmed their commitment to the city and spoke out against police brutality, as residents protest in the wake of the death of George Floyd while being restrained by Minneapolis police. We did that because we recognize that its critically important that the trust of our community is intact, that our community knows they can trust their police department. That they know that were part of this community, that were here to help them, to serve them, said Reyes. Unfortunately, today I stand before you to tell you that one of our own has violated that trust. The incident involved a roadside dispute Christmas morning last year in which police responded to a couple who had driven into the curb and damaged their car, which needed to be towed. Luis Rivera, who was arrested that day for spitting at Santiago and charged with assaulting an officer, was intoxicated during the dispute, according to police. As seen on Officer Michael Hintons body camera footage, Rivera is having a dispute with a woman about the car as Hinton tells Rivera to go sit down several times. After several minutes, Santiago is seen attempting to detain Rivera with assistance from Hinton and another officer as they take Rivera to the ground. At one point the officers had Rivera suspended above the pavement before they took him to the ground again as they tried to get handcuffs on him, according to body camera footage from Hinton. After the handcuffs were on Rivera, Santiago is seen kicking Rivera in the groin, to which Rivera shouts, he kicked me in the (groin). Santiago is seen pulling Rivera up by his braids as Santiago and Hinton get Rivera off the ground in handcuffs. After Rivera is seen spitting at Santiago, the officer punches Rivera in the face, knocking him to the ground. Rivera can be seen bleeding from his mouth on the ground, cursing at the officers. After several minutes, Hinton grabs Riveras braids, saying it is to restrain him, as Rivera protests. The department administration learned about the incident because Santiagos body camera footage was brought up in a court proceeding related to Rivera, Reyes said. The states attorney office contacted the department March 9 and the next day Reyes said he initiated an internal affairs investigation. Soon after, though, the governor declared a state of emergency regarding the coronavirus pandemic, which affected how long it took to conclude the investigation, he said. Santiago had no prior disciplinary actions in his record, Reyes said. Hinton was given a 15-day suspension, the maximum discipline the police chief can give at his discretion, for violating the departments general orders on rules of conduct, patrol operations and body-worn cameras, Reyes said. But the investigation determined Hinton and other officers were not accomplices in Santiagos actions, he said. In a statement, Mayor Justin Elicker condemned Santiagos conduct. I saw the body camera footage showing that Officer Santiago punched the individual while the individual was in handcuffs, he said. While I am not a lawyer, from my perspective, it seems clear that the officers conduct was reprehensible, and he should be held accountable. The decision on whether to arrest the officer is in the hands of the States Attorneys Office, but, given what Ive seen about the case, I believe Chief Reyes decision to recommend the officers termination to the Police Commission is the right course of action. Moments like these undermine the hardworking officers in the New Haven Police Department who genuinely care about the residents of this City, and want to help keep them safe, Elicker said. However, this moment also serves to remind us that we have more work to do. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com; mdignan@hearstmediact.com By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan will resume only domestic flights at this point and there is no decision to resume international flights yet, vice president of national flag carrier Azerbaijani Airlines (AZAL) said at briefing of the Operational Headquarters on June 11. The first flight will be to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and will take place on June 18 at 12:00. As it was reported earlier, AZAL introduced new flight rules, which stipulate that only passengers who passed COVID-19 test 48 hours prior to departure with a negative result will be admitted to the flight in case of providing a special certificate. Hajiyev said that after a citizen buys an online ticket, information about him will be entered into the database jointly developed by AZAL and the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units in Azerbaijan (TABIB) and all the passengers will be tested for coronavirus for free. "A citizen will be able to get information from the electronic system about when and where he can take the coronavirus test. The tests will be conducted at the expense of the state, and their results will be valid for 48 hours," Hajiyev said. Moreover, according to the rules, all passengers arriving in Azerbaijan must have the results of coronavirus test for the last 48 hours. "It can be applied to passengers returning to the country by charter flights. With this certificate, a passenger can avoid being quarantined," Hajiyev said. "We have informed international airlines about our rules. If any company wants to perform flights to Azerbaijan observing these rules, this issue may be considered by the Operations Staff. As for the resumption of international flights, this issue will be resolved after appropriate discussions at regular meetings of the Operations Staff," he stated. He stated that the prices for tickets will be set after the resumption of international flights, however for now it is not planned to increase it. "The issue related to the new ticket prices is not being discussed now. It will be considered after the resumption of international flights. The seats will be limited. The passengers will be provided with protective equipment. Presently, AZAL does not think about an increase in ticket prices, vice president added. Additionally, director of the State Civil Aviation Agency Arif Mammadov noted that for now several countries airlines, like Turkey, Hungary, Kazakhstan and Russia want to resume flights to Azerbaijan. Likewise, Hajiyev stressed that 178,691 tickets were sold by date of suspension of the international flights, and AZAL will fulfill all obligations to passengers who wish to receive a full refund for purchased air tickets. He noted that this will be possible within 60 days after the resumption of flights, as well as vouchers will be provided for those wishing to change the flight date. Most of the people do not want to return the tickets. People are waiting for the resumption of the international flights by AZAL to fly by using these tickets, he emphasized. Azerbaijan first introduced special quarantine regime on March 24 and the fourth stage of quarantine regime easing came into force May 31. However, the borders remain closed. Azerbaijan has so far repatriated over 25,000 citizens from different countries over COVID-19 pandemic. The citizens have been repatriated from Moscow, Istanbul, Kyiv, Minsk, Iran, Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Riga (Latvia), Warsaw (Poland), Berlin (Germany) among others. On June 9, a decision was taken to impose a two-day nationwide quarantine regime in Baku, Ganja, Lankaran, Sumgayit, Absheron, Yevlakh, Ismailli, Kurdamir and Salyan regions, that will be effective from 00:00 on June 14 to 06:00 on June 16. As of June 12, Azerbaijan has registered 8,882 COVID-19 cases and 108 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of recovered patients is 4,930. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Luc Cohen and Marianna Parraga CARACAS/MEXICO CITY(Reuters) - Last year, China replaced the United States as the No. 1 importer of oil from Venezuela, yet another front in the heated rivalry between Washington and Beijing. The United States had imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company as part of a bid to topple that country's socialist president, Nicolas Maduro. U.S. refineries stopped buying Venezuelan crude. Caracas' ally China, long a major customer, suddenly found itself the top purchaser. Through the first six months of 2019, it imported an average of 350,000 barrels per day of crude from Venezuela. But in August, Washington tightened its sanctions on Venezuela, warning that any foreign entity that continued to do business with the South American country's government could find itself subject to sanctions. State-owned China National Petroleum Corp, known as CNPC, stopped loading oil at Venezuelan ports that month. China's import data showed purchases started to slow, and by late 2019, abruptly stopped. China's largest oil company, like customers in some other countries, seemed to be knuckling under to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats, despite Chinese President Xi Jinping's professed support for Maduro. But China never stopped buying. Crude from Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA, kept arriving at Chinese ports with the help of a Switzerland-based unit of Rosneft, Russia's state-owned oil company, and a roundabout delivery method that made it appear as if the oil's origin was Malaysia, Reuters has found. Between July 1 and Dec. 31, tanker ships delivered at least 18 shipments totaling 19.7 million barrels of rebranded Venezuelan crude to Chinese ports, Reuters determined. That finding is based on a review of ship-tracking data, internal PDVSA documents and interviews with four petroleum analysts who have tracked flows of Venezuelan oil around the globe. A unit of CNPC chartered at least one of those tankers, meaning it was responsible for the oil aboard, the ship-tracking data show. That vessel, called the Adventure, took on Venezuelan crude on July 18 and discharged it in China on Sept. 4, the data show. No charter information was available for the other ships that offloaded crude in China. Story continues CNPC did not respond to requests for comment. Those 18 shipments represented more than 5% of Venezuela's total exports in 2019, worth around $1 billion at market prices for the country's flagship crude grade, known as Merey, based on OPEC figures. The sales provided much-needed support to Maduro's government, though Reuters could not determine how much was added to state coffers; PDVSA often sells its crude at steep discounts, and some of its sales go to pay down debt rather than generate cash. The mislabeled shipments have continued into this year, Reuters found. The review used data available on financial information provider Refinitiv Eikon, photos culled from satellite imagery and Automatic Identification System (AIS) data transmitted by oil tankers. New York-based Refinitiv is part-owned by Reuters' parent company, Thomson Reuters. The shipping method - involving the transfer of oil between tanker ships at sea has for months been under scrutiny by the Trump administration. Washington in February slapped sanctions on Rosneft Trading SA, the Geneva-based subsidiary of Rosneft, which it alleges was helping Venezuela to export its oil using so-called ship-to-ship (STS) transfers to mask the true origin of the crude. Rosneft denied wrongdoing. "The Company has always been conducting and is conducting its business in full compliance with applicable international legislation," Rosneft said in a June 5 statement in response to questions for this article. Russia's energy ministry did not reply to a request for comment. China's indirect imports of Venezuelan crude fall into something of a gray zone, according to Peter Harrell, a sanctions expert at the Center for a New American Security think tank in Washington. Harrell believes U.S. sanctions give Washington authority to punish foreign companies that purchase PDVSA oil through a middleman - particularly if the company "knows or should have known it was Venezuelan crude." But that does not obligate the U.S. government to act. "At the end of the day, these sanctions are fundamentally policy calls," Harrell said. Reuters could not independently verify if China knew the oil that reached its shores via Rosneft Trading came from Venezuela. The U.S. Treasury Department, which enforces trade sanctions, declined to comment. Asked about the Reuters findings, Elliott Abrams, the U.S. State Department's special representative for Venezuela, said in an interview that potential U.S. sanctions against Chinese companies purchasing transshipped crude were "on the table." "We will be taking individual actions with respect to STS transfers," Abrams said. China's General Administration of Customs did not respond to requests for comment. The Foreign Ministry told Reuters there was nothing improper about China's dealings with Venezuela. The ministry said U.S. sanctions had "severely affected" relations between Venezuela and the rest of the world, but said Beijing intends to continue trading with the country. Neither PDVSA, Venezuela's Oil Ministry, nor the Information Ministry - which responds to media inquiries on the government's behalf - responded to requests for comment. Venezuelan officials have repeatedly described U.S. sanctions on their country as illegal and unilateral. Oil analysts since last year have said Venezuelan oil was making its way to China by way of STS transfers. This account is the first to reveal the extent of those shipments and demonstrate how systematic the tactic has been. Reuters also reviewed internal PDVSA documents that showed the Rosneft unit was involved in moving the oil. So much PDVSA oil was shipped to China this way that the country's total 2019 imports of Venezuelan oil averaged 283,000 barrels a day. That's 24% higher than the 228,700 barrels a day reported by Chinese customs, according to Reuters calculations based on comparisons of the Refinitiv Eikon data to official Chinese customs data. That was not enough to offset entirely the impact that U.S. sanctions had on PDVSA; U.S. refiners were importing an average of 500,000 barrels per day when the sanctions were imposed in January 2019. But it helped Venezuela keep its oil industry alive at a time when the drop in demand from foreign buyers was creating a glut onshore, nearly forcing PDVSA to halt production in key oil fields. The STS maneuvers mirror tactics that Iran, whose oil industry is also under U.S. sanctions, has used to ship its oil to China for years. As Reuters documented in reports in 2019 and 2015, Iranian oil often is labeled as coming from neighboring Iraq.[https://reut.rs/2XIOeiE] A representative of the operator of a Chinese terminal where one such shipment unloaded in 2019 denied that the origin of the oil was Iranian. Alireza Miryousefi, spokesman for Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York, said in a statement "how we sell or export our oil is no one's business." He said U.S. sanctions on Iran's oil exports are "illegal." The Chinese shipments of Venezuelan crude were unusual for a variety of reasons, oil analysts said. STS transfers typically are used for legitimate purposes - such as offloading oil from deep-water drilling ships or pumping oil from large tankers onto smaller vessels that can navigate narrow or shallow waterways. The use of this technique to transport oil from Venezuela to China was not seen until the middle of last year, the oil analysts said. Tankers leaving Venezuela loaded with PDVSA crude did not travel straight to China as they had in the past. Instead, 15 tankers whose routes were reviewed by Reuters left Venezuela and first headed for the coast of Malaysia, tracking data show. A few miles offshore, in the Malacca Strait, each rendezvoused with a second, empty tanker that had pulled alongside. The full tanker then pumped its load into the waiting vessel, and in some cases into multiple smaller vessels. Eighteen of those receiving ships then headed to China, where the Venezuelan crude was offloaded and recorded as a product of Malaysia, Chinese customs records show. Reuters could not ascertain who changed the crude's labeled origin before it reached Chinese customs, nor whether doing so expressly violated any maritime laws or local laws in any applicable jurisdictions. Michelle Bockmann, markets editor and analyst at Lloyd's List, a shipping trade publication, said the relabeling was highly uncommon. With the exception of Iran, Bockmann said she could not recall any other instance of crude changing identities in this way. The imports were a break from China's past practice. China routinely has imported oil from countries such as Brazil and Russia using STS transfers. But Chinese customs accurately recorded the true countries of origin in those cases, according to Chinese customs data and Emma Li, a Singapore-based oil analyst with Refinitiv. In addition, Malaysia is a mid-sized oil producer that has not traditionally sold crude to China in the volumes recorded by Chinese customs last year, the records show. China's stated 2019 imports from Malaysia were 400% higher than levels recorded just three years earlier, and the highest ever recorded by Refinitiv Eikon, whose figures date to 2006. The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, the government agency largely in charge of foreign trade, did not respond to requests for comment, nor did Malaysia's state-owned oil company Petronas. This triangulated trade in Venezuelan oil is now in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. The company that lifted the oil from Venezuela for the China shipments identified by Reuters was Rosneft Trading, according to internal PDVSA documents reviewed by Reuters. Until late March, it was a major player in Venezuela's oil industry. The U.S. Treasury on Feb. 18 hit Rosneft Trading with sanctions for allegedly helping Venezuela sidestep the U.S. pressure campaign and sell its oil abroad. Among the tactics employed by Rosneft Trading were STS transfers, U.S. officials allege. By using one ship to haul crude out of Venezuela, then a second to deliver it to China, Rosneft Trading attempted to blur the chain of ownership and disguise the oil's provenance, Abrams, the State Department's special representative for Venezuela, told Reuters, without providing further proof of Rosneft's intentions. "The whole purpose is to evade, the whole purpose is to mislead," Abrams said. On March 28, Rosneft announced it was ending its Venezuela operations and selling all its assets in the country to another, unnamed Russian state-owned firm. "Rosneft has no ongoing business involvement, assets or operations in Venezuela; therefore, there is no subject for providing further comments," the company said in its June 5 statement to Reuters. The Trump administration, meanwhile, gave Rosneft Trading customers until May 20 to unwind their contracts with the company or face U.S. sanctions. Asked whether Chinese customers were involved in hiding the Venezuelan origin of the crude, Abrams said that Asian clients often did not care "how it gets to them, what it's labeled, as long as they're getting what they bought." China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement it was not aware of the STS transfers in question. "The cooperation between China and Venezuela will be carried out normally no matter how the situation changes," the statement read. "It's legitimate and benefits the people of both countries and will not be affected by any unilateral sanction measures." Reuters could not ascertain the final customers for the PDVSA crude in China. But Venezuela's heavy Merey blend is a favored feedstock for refineries making asphalt in China, according to industry sources there. One of the earliest STS transfers involved the Adventure, a tanker chartered by a CNPC subsidiary. On July 18, it took on 1.9 million barrels of Venezuelan crude from another vessel in Malaysian waters, then headed for China, Refinitiv Eikon data show. The manager of the Adventure, Greece-based Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Ltd, said it had never entered into any agreement with PDVSA or any company sanctioned by the United States, and that it "respects and complies in full" with U.S. sanctions. The maritime company said the cargo's bill of lading and certificate of origin said the oil had come from Malaysia. PIT STOP IN MALAYSIA Malaysia is a popular location for STS transfers of crude because of its proximity to Singapore, one of the world's largest oil trading and storage hubs. One of the STS transfers reviewed by Reuters occurred near Malaysia's port of Kuala Linggi; the rest took place outside the country's Tanjung Bruas port. To demonstrate how these STS transfers work, Reuters used records available on Refinitiv Eikon to reconstruct a shipment to China of 2 million barrels that left the Jose terminal in northeastern Venezuela on Aug. 5, 2019. The oil was carried aboard a Liberia-flagged vessel called the Delta Aigaion, according to Refinitiv Eikon data and an internal PDVSA document seen by Reuters. The crude was a heavy blend known as Merey 16, which is unique to Venezuela, and the customer was listed as Rosneft Trading, the PDVSA document shows. The Delta Aigaion sailed to waters off Malaysia near the port of Tanjung Bruas. There, the crew used a STS transfer to offload the Merey 16 to another tanker, the Malta-flagged Lipari, on Oct. 28, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. The Lipari then headed for China, discharging its crude on Dec. 12 at the port of Zhanjiang, the data show. (For a graphic showing the path of the two ships, see: https://tmsnrt.rs/2UpBlrH) Refinitiv Eikon ship-tracking data shows the location of ships and indicates how full they are. In this case, the data showed that the draft of each ship changed dramatically while the two were in the same location off Malaysia's coast at the same time. The draft is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of a vessel's hull - a sign of how heavy a load it is carrying. The draft measurements showed that the Delta Aigaion arrived in Malaysia full and left empty, while the opposite was true for the Lipari - an indication that an oil transfer between the two took place. In a photo taken using a European Space Agency radar satellite and provided to Reuters by San Francisco-based earth imaging company Planet Labs, the Delta Aigaion and the Lipari can be seen approaching one another to start the oil transfer on Oct 28. The authenticity of that photo was verified by oil industry data provider TankerTrackers.com, which specializes in satellite image analysis for vessel tracking. Refinitiv Eikon retrieves location information from satellite images as well as from land-based sensors that collect data from ships' transponders. Ships are required by international maritime law to carry transponders to transmit information about their position, speed and destination. The U.S. government has accused tankers and shipping firms transporting oil from Venezuela and Iran of manipulating this data to evade authorities, either by flashing false destinations or simply turning off their transponders. The Delta Aigaion, while on its way to Venezuela in July after leaving its previous berthing in India, never indicated it was heading to the South American country, Refinitiv Eikon data show. The tanker listed its destination as "For Orders," a message meaning it had not yet received instructions on where to go next. Delta Tankers Ltd and TMS Tankers Ltd, the shipping companies that manage the Delta Aigaion and Lipari, respectively, did not respond to requests for comment. MMC Corp Bhd and T.A.G. Marine Sdn Bhd, which operate the Tanjung Bruas and Kuala Linggi ports, respectively, did not respond to requests for comment. When the Lipari unloaded in the southwestern Chinese city of Zhanjiang, Chinese customs labeled the crude as "Singma blend," a grade of crude that did not exist in the market before last year. Customs recorded the country of origin as Malaysia. Li, the Refinitiv analyst, said the labeling of the crude as a blend appears to be incorrect. If the crude were a blend of different grades - a practice common in the oil industry - the STS operation would have involved multiple vessels bringing crude from separate origins, Li said. Ship-tracking data show no indication that this occurred. "It doesn't look like there's any blending," Li said. For 14 of the 18 tankers reviewed by Reuters, the grade of crude recorded by Chinese customs was Singma or Mal, another blend that did not exist before last year, data compiled by Li show. In other cases, the Venezuelan crude was given the names of more established Malaysian grades such as Miri or Kimanis, or was not specified, according to the data compiled by Li. Merey 16, the Venezuelan blend, was not mentioned. ROSNEFT EXIT The arrival of Venezuelan oil in China via STS transfers continued through at least the first two months of 2020. During January and February, Chinese customs once again reported no imports of Venezuelan crude. However, nearly 130,000 barrels per day of PDVSA oil arrived at Chinese ports in those two months from seven tankers that had done STS operations, according to the Reuters review. With U.S. pressure on Venezuela rising, it is unclear whether the tactics PDVSA and its partners employed over the past year to export Venezuelan oil will remain viable. Even before it announced its complete withdrawal from Venezuela on March 28, Rosneft had not lifted any crude from the country's ports for around a month. Meanwhile, global oil prices have plunged in recent months due to a collapse in demand resulting from the spread of the novel coronavirus. Venezuela's crude output has dropped by more than 20% this year to below 700,000 barrels per day. Still, there are signs the discreet trade will continue. With few established oil companies willing to buy oil directly from Venezuela over fears of provoking Trump, two little-known Mexican firms - Libre Abordo and Schlager Business Group - recently emerged as the largest intermediaries for PDVSA crude. The companies told Reuters they had a deal with Maduro's government to supply goods, including corn and water trucks, in exchange for the oil, which they then resell. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has been investigating the two companies, among others, as part of an inquiry into possible violations of U.S. sanctions on PDVSA, according to three people familiar with the matter. The Mexican firms said swaps of goods for Venezuelan oil were permitted under U.S. sanctions as long as no cash payments reached Maduro's government. The companies said they have no knowledge of any U.S. investigation into their practices. On Feb. 11, a Panama-flagged tanker named the Athens Voyager loaded some 700,000 barrels of crude near western Venezuela's Amuay oil port, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. Its customer was Libre Abordo, according to an internal PDVSA document viewed by Reuters. On Sunday, April 5, the fully loaded Athens Voyager arrived at its destination: the Linggi STS hub off the coast of Malaysia. There it pumped its cargo onto a Liberia-flagged vessel named the Loyalty A on April 17. The manager of the Athens Voyager, Greece-based Chemnav Shipmanagement Ltd, deferred comment to the vessel's owner, Marshall Islands-based Afranav Maritime Ltd. The manager of the Loyalty A, Jacinta Marine Corp of Lagos, Nigeria, did not respond to a request for comment. On June 2, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against Afranav Shipmanagement for its alleged role in trading Venezuelan oil. It said the Athens Voyager had lifted oil from Venezuelan ports as recently as mid-February. Afranav did not respond to requests for comment. Libre Abordo, meanwhile, declared bankruptcy on May 31. It said its arrangement with Venezuela had been suspended by Maduro, and that it was the target of an international pressure campaign driven by Washington. In a June 8 email to Reuters, Libre Abordo confirmed that the oil transported aboard the Athens Voyager was registered in its name. On June 10, Libre Abordo said further that the documentation of origin reflected that the crude came from Venezuela. The company said it sent the oil to Malaysia, where it was offloaded to another ship at the behest of the final customer, whose name it would not disclose. According to Refinitiv Eikon data, the receiving vessel, the Loyalty A, is currently en route to Qingdao, China. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in Caracas and Marianna Parraga in Mexico City; Additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Washington, Ana Isabel Martinez in Mexico City, Aizhu Chen in Singapore, Muyu Xu in Beijing, Joseph Sipalan in Kuala Lumpur, Michelle Nichols in New York, and Jonathan Saul in London; Editing by Marla Dickerson) The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) logo is displayed in the lobby of CIA Headquarters in Langley, Va., on August 14, 2008. (Saul Loeb/Getty Images) Former DEA Spokesman Posed as CIA Agent in Elaborate $4.4 Million Scam A former spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) posed as a CIA officer in a complex $4.4 million scam, federal officials said. Garrison Courtney, 44, pleaded guilty to defrauding at least a dozen companies. [delete] According to court documents, Courtney falsely claimed to be a covert CIA officer involved in a secretive, highly classified program involving various U.S. intelligence agencies. Courtney would claim that the supposed program was seeking to enhance the U.S. governments intelligence gathering capabilities and tell private companies that they needed to hire and pay him to create what he described as commercial cover, or obscure his supposed affiliation with the CIA. Courtney also falsely claimed the companies would be reimbursed in the future for the payments. The Department of Justice said Courtney went to extraordinary lengths to perpetuate the illusion that he was a deep-cover operative. Among other things, Courtney directed victims and witnesses to sign fake nondisclosure agreements, told them they were under surveillance by hostile foreign agents, and demanded his victims meet in sensitive facilities to help create the illusion they were part of a classified operation. Anyone who questioned Courtneys legitimacy was threatened with revocation of their security clearance and criminal prosecution. Courtney wielded fake letters that were allegedly issued by the attorney general of the United States. The letters were said to grant blanket immunity to those who participated in the supposedly classified program. To help sell the story, Courtney created a fraudulent backstory that included claims he served in the U.S. Army during the Gulf War, killing hundreds while in combat, and that foreign agents tried assassinating him by poisoning him with ricin. Besides fooling private companies, Courtney convinced several real government officials he was participating in a covert task force. He used the officials to burnish his legitimacy. During the elaborate scheme, Courtney fraudulently gained a position working as a private contractor for the National Institutes of Health, where he gained access to sensitive, nonpublic information he used as part of the scam, the department said. Courtney is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23. Federal law-enforcement agencies are conducting airborne surveillance of the protests against police brutality that are taking place across the country -- and Democratic lawmakers want them to cut it out. On Tuesday, 35 members of the majority party in the U.S. House of Representatives, including Oregons Earl Blumenauer and Peter DeFazio, sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and other federal officials about the flights. They said aircraft from the FBI and National Guard, sporting infrared and electrooptical cameras, flew over protests in Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas, and that the FBI also may have sent aloft in the nations capital Cessna 560 aircraft equipped with dirtboxes, equipment that can collect cell phone location data. Asking for a country https://t.co/IdcIqWv18H Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 9, 2020 The lawmakers also said Customs and Border Protection flew drones over protests in Detroit, Minneapolis and San Antonio that collected live video feeds. They said theyre also aware that federal agencies are using Stingray drones, which mimic cell towers to collect location, call, text and browsing data of nearby cellular devices; facial recognition technology; and automated license plate readers. In an earlier letter to the acting director of Homeland Security, some of the same Democratic lawmakers pointed out that the Customs and Border Protections drone that flew over Minneapolis on May 29, 2020, was far outside the bounds of CBPs jurisdiction. Federal law authorizes CBP to conduct its missions within a reasonable distance, not to exceed more than 100 air miles inland, from an external boundary of the United States. Privacy advocates have warned protesters to be aware of the surveillance activities that might be deployed against them. Harlo Holmes of the Freedom of the Press Foundation told Wired last week that protesters who want anonymity [should] leave their primary phone at home and take a burner phone instead. The magazine added that Holmes and others recommended that protesters should keep their phones off whenever possible to reduce the chances that it connects to a rogue cell tower or Wi-Fi hot spot being used by law enforcement for surveillance. They also favored using end-to-end encryption. In the letter to Wray and other federal officials, the Democratic lawmakers insisted the surveillance of demonstrations are significantly chilling the First Amendment rights of Americans. We demand that you cease any and all surveilling of Americans engaged in peaceful protests. The lawmakers suggested the federal governments actions might also contravene the U.S. Constitutions Fourth Amendment, which safeguards the right of the people to be secure in their persons against unreasonable searches and seizures. Read the letter. -- Douglas Perry @douglasmperry Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a fresh round of consultation with chief ministers of states and Union Territories next week as the country gradually emerges out of coronavirus lockdown. According to reports, the PM will interact with CMs of 21 states/UT on June 16 and June 17 via video-conference. Sources said that the States/UTs could be divided into two slots for the two-day virtual meeting with the PM. He will hold interaction with the chief ministers of Punjab, Assam, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Himachal, Chandigarh, Goa, Manipur, Nagaland, Ladakh, Puducherry, Arunachal, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadar Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu, Sikkim & Lakshadweep on June 16 and 17. The meet comes against the backdrop of the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country. Under "Unlock 1.0," the Centre and state governments have eased several restrictions for the public and businesses to ensure that economic activities hit by the lockdown gather momentum. This would be the Prime Minister's sixth round of consultation with the chief ministers, the last being on May 11. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with all the chief ministers over the telephone in the last week of May, just before lockdown-4 was to end. India recorded more than 10,000 cases in the last 24 hours for the very first time since the outbreak making it the highest jump recorded in a day. The total tally crossed 2.9 lakh on Friday and the death toll was at 8498. As per the Ministry of Health data, 10956 news cases and 396 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours since Thursday 8 am taking the total tally to 297,535 which includes 141,842 active cases, 147,194 recovered cases, 1 migrant patient, and 8,498 deaths. Maharashtra, the state with the highest number of confirmed cases has reported 97,648 cases. The state also witnessed 150 coronavirus-related deaths during the same time and its Covid-19 death toll is now 3,590. Tamil Nadu is second only to Maharashtra with 38,716 confirmed cases followed by Delhi with 34,687 cases and Gujarat with 22,067 cases. The Health Ministry on Friday said that the doubling time of coronavirus infection cases in India has improved to 17.4 days currently from 15.4 days a couple of weeks ago. At the time the lockdown was imposed on March 25, the doubling rate of COVID-19 cases was 3.4 days, it said. "The doubling rate/time continues to improve and has increased from 3.4 days at the beginning of lockdown to 17.4 days currently," the Health Ministry said. Apart from the improvement in the doubling rate, the Health Ministry said that the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients has also become better. "Recovery rate of COVID positive cases continues to increase and is currently stands at 49.47 per cent," the ministry said. A total of 1,47,194 people have recovered while 1,41,842 patients are under active medical supervision. In the 24 hour period till 8 am, a total of 6,166 patients have been cured of COVID-19, it said. This week, the Department of Justice said that no health and safety issues were discovered at the direct provision centre following two inspections. (stock photo) The government has been accused of covering up poor standards in a Co Clare direct provision centre by a local welcoming group. Local people in Miltown Malbay have said they are completely disappointed with two inspections which reported no health and safety concerns at the centre. In a statement, the welcome group said it would be much easier for them to not speak out at this point because they had endured personal abuse up to and including anonymous letters to our homes. At the end of May, the group publicly raised concerns about standards at the Central Hostel direct provision centre, saying it was inhumane and should be shut. They were supported by the Irish Refugee Council and Doras. This week, the Department of Justice said that no health and safety issues were discovered at the direct provision centre following two inspections. The inspections were prompted by calls to close the centre. The Miltown Malbay welcome group has criticised the inspections, which it says took place through a Zoom call and one on the spot inspection. The group said many of the most serious of these issues could not be addressed by the process of a hastily organised Zoom call or on the spot inspection on a particular day. It said there was not proper heating or hot water during winter months, and rodents had been spotted at the centre. The group also said there had been leaks, and an 11pm curfew imposed on the adult male residents. It added that residents had reported a poor standard of food and a lack of access to clean drinking water. The group also claimed that at least three of the men interviewed for the inspection did not have an interpreter that spoke their language. The group said its direct, first-hand and ongoing daily experience with the men showed that there were poor standards at the Direct Provision centre. As a community that welcomed and benefited greatly from the arrival of a vibrant group of young men last year, we are not prepared to stay silent and have them mistreated, it said. We wish to express our complete disappointment with this white-washing response from Minister Charlie Flanagan and Minister of State David Stanton. Our group is growing ever more convinced that instead of seeking to ensure that vulnerable people are protected and treated with dignity that the Minister, IPAS and DOJE are acting to protect their institutions or their own reputations by discrediting our concerns. It repeated its call for the centre to be shut down. Churches reopened on Sunday, May 24th for the first time after the corona outbreak but several other churches waited out another week to reopen. Churches were allowed to reopen after May 18 after signing the measures guided by the government in the "Protocol with the Protestant, Evangelical, and Anglican churches." Anna Pellerito of the Pentecostal Elim Source of Life church in Sesto San Giovanni, Milano shared that her church described the situation of church attendance. "Like several churches throughout the country, has adopted the method of reservations made directly on the site, with a special application that updates the number of places available as they are booked," Pellerito explained. With social distancing still having to be enforced, congregation members are avoiding handshakes and hugs and strictly utilizing masks. "In addition to our words, our eyes have become a tool to express all the affection and love that binds us to each other," Pellerito said. Loredana Cappello of the Pentecostal Evangelical Church of Seriate, Bergamo expressed the feeling of reunion after the unprecedented pandemic, "..the return to the place of worship was a mixture of feelings between joy and pain." "Our days were marked by ambulance sirens and funeral cars, so fear tried to overwhelm us. But we went back to church precisely to closely strengthen our faith in unity and, following the safety procedures, we started again with a new push, wanting to focus on the truly essential things of our life in Christ," Cappello shared. The words of our sisters and brothers in Christ in Italy who were able to return to church earlier helps church-goers in America to visualize what returning to church after the pandemic in the future would be like. Although church gathering still looks distant from "normal," Nina Fiore Schaafsma, a congregation member of the Punto Luce church in San Giuliano Milanese said, "All this leads us to express great gratitude to God, to recognize once again that belonging to the body of Christ is a great blessing." Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 22:32:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HELSINKI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Finland's Interior Minister Maria Ohisalo warned on Friday that racism can have adverse effects on the country's national security. Talking on national radio Yle, Ohisalo said racism undermines trust between citizens and in the country's institutions. Ohisalo's comments came in the wake of a survey published by the office of Finland's Non-Discrimination Ombudsman this week indicating that discrimination and racism impact widely on the lives of people of African descent in Finland whether in schools or at the workplace. The office also noted that a previous study conducted by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) showed that people of African descent living in Finland encounter the most racist harassment among the 12 EU countries included in the survey. Minister Ohisalo acknowledged that racial profiling takes place in the country's police force. Several Finnish studies have indicated that people of color are more likely to be stopped by the police in the streets than other residents. Ohisalo said the phenomenon has been identified and it has been tackled. She noted that the current Finnish government aims to promote the recruitment of more people of non-Finnish ethnic background to the police force. In Finland, the police force is a nationally led organization under the Ministry of the Interior. Police officers undergo a three-year training before taking up their duties. Last week, an estimated 3,000 people demonstrated in Helsinki against racism at home and abroad, following the anti-racial discrimination demonstrations in the U.S. Earlier this week, a young immigrant was attacked in west-central Finland, which elicited wide-spread criticism across the country. In parliament this week, the leading opposition party Finns Party ousted a member of its parliamentary group on account of his alleged racist statements on social media. Another Finns Party member of parliament could lose his criminal immunity and be indicted over an allegedly racist statement he had made in the chamber. Enditem MEDIA The Delaware County Black Caucus on Friday demanded the immediate termination of borough Police Sgt. Robert Skippy Carroll, though state Sen. Anthony Williams, D-8 of Philadelphia, went one step further. This gentleman should not be fired, this gentleman should be prosecuted, Williams said during a press conference Friday in front of the Media Courthouse. All speech is not free. Williams pointed to the U.S. Supreme Courts definition of fighting words, or those intended to incite an immediate breach of the peace by provoking a violent reaction. Williams added that Carrolls remarks on social media last week do not fall under any of three categories for special capacity in government that would bar his removal as an officer. He decided in this space, in this moment, in this time, in uniform, to say, We the police will use our positions to shut you down. If you cannot trust your police, you cannot have a civil society. If you cannot trust the fact that somebody wearing a blue uniform is there for good, we cannot have a civil society. This gentleman does not just simply require to move on and get out of the way, he deserves the weight, the foot, if not the knee of justice, Williams said, Media Police Chief Martin Wusinich did not respond to a call for comment Friday and Carroll could not be reached. The outrage comes from a comment Caroll, who is an FOP first vice president, posted June 3 on the lodges official Facebook page that read, If you choose to speak out against the police or our members, we will do everything in our power to not support your business. Then, on his own personal Facebook page, Carroll added, Try us. Well destroy you. Both comments have been removed. Carroll has already been the subject of a protest last week, when approximately 60 people stood outside the FOP and demanded his removal. Fridays event, organized by black caucus, was attended by a score of leaders in the black community and supporters, all of whom again called for some form of official action against the 25-year police veteran. The Delaware County Black Caucus is outraged by the public comments made by FOP First Vice President Robert Skippy Carroll, said Yeadon Council President LaToya Monroe, one of five organizers for Fridays event. These statements were not only threatening, but represent extortionist behavior, which is an illegal action. Every day we are asked to put our faith and trust in police officers who are sworn to uphold the law, not break it. For a police Sargent, particularly a member of FOP leadership, to vow to destroy local businesses in Delaware County who do not say positive things about the police is an abuse of power. That sentiment was shared by many other speakers Friday, which included Chester Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland, state Sen. Tim Kearney, D-26 of Swarthmore, NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference of Branches and Media Area Unit President Joan Evelyn Duvall-Flynn, Victor Gimenez, pastor of Mt. Zion Methodist Church in Darby, and Yeadon Mayor Rohan K. Hepkins. He broke the rule of law trying to intimidate businesses, intimidate individuals, simply because they stood up for what they knew was right, simply because they could not sit back any longer and watch law enforcement personnel not only intimidate and hurt, but in some instances even kill regular citizens, said Kirkland. This individual took this opportunity to promote and threaten hatred. Hepkins in his comments said he did not want Fridays action to be misconstrued as a denunciation of all police, but said officers must conduct themselves with fairness and impartiality for all citizens, whether they agree with them or not. We are pro-police, we are pro-law enforcement, he said. But it has to be done and overseen very carefully, and with discretion, and with integrity. We cannot at the same time turn a blind eye to injustice, to bias, to prejudice and to racism from our law enforcement officials, and it starts with our attitudes. Attitudes shape the heart and then the heart shapes our behavior, so we cannot tolerate this type of behavior, which stems from the heart. Carrolls comments came in response to something posted on Facebook by Dan Wolf, owner of Wolfs Superior Sandwiches in Aston. Wolf previously told the Daily Times he read a post that said, All lives matter and responded that he was tired of hearing that. Black Lives Matter its not a separatist statement, he said. Theyre saying, We dont deserve to die for nothing. I am in agreement with that. He was questioned on social media whether he believed police officers lives matter, to which he said he wrote, Do they, though? Wolf said the ensuing firestorm in which he received death threats was a misunderstanding. He and Carroll have since made amends, but Carroll is currently on administrative leave. Carroll previously issued a statement that reads, This is a trying time for law enforcement. Officers are being murdered and assaulted at a record pace. Wednesday night, I made a post that was poorly worded and interpreted by some as inciting violence. That was not my intention and I apologize to those who were offended. According to data collected by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 25 law enforcement officers had been reported feloniously killed in 2020 as of June 8. Four of those were victims of an ambush and one was a victim of an unprovoked attack, while 20 others were reported accidentally killed. In the same period for the previous year, 19 officers were feloniously killed and 21 officers were accidentally killed, according to the FBI. Meanwhile, police departments nationwide have been flooded with complaints of police misconduct at protests against police brutality in the wake of George Floyds death while in police custody on May 25. We have heard loud and clear the anguish of local residents and those across the country, the Delco lodge said in a statement Friday. We have promised to do better and we understand that were in this together. The lodge reiterated remarks in a prior statement that Carroll had posted an inappropriate comment that does not represent the 1,100 police officers or the FOPs commitment to integrity and professionalism. Again, we sincerely apologize for the mistake and ask the business community, our elected leaders and local residents for their forgiveness, the statement said. Our members across this great county stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our business community, political leaders and fellow officers in condemning police brutality, racism and discrimination in our respective communities and across the region. Our officers and members pledge to serve the public with respect, dignity and professionalism each and every day. Yeadon Council President LaToya Monroe, one of five organizers for Fridays event, said there is power and strength in a collected voice and thanked all of the elected officials, clergy and other members of the community for coming out Friday, as well as those who issued statements in unity. Monroe noted Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer was not present because he is currently investigating Carrolls statements. A spokesperson for Stollsteimer said she could not confirm whether an investigation has commenced. Monroe said Stollsteimer made a gross lapse in judgment by being photographed with Carroll after the Facebook posts had been made instead of denouncing them. Stollsteimer issued a statement this week saying the Delaware County Black Caucus rightly called him out on that point. His posts were inexcusable, and I should have said so, said Stollsteimer. Let me be clear: While we are all imperfect beings, none more imperfect than myself, those of us in public service, and particularly in law enforcement, are rightly held to a higher standard of behavior. Officer Carrolls words were offensive and have caused harm to people in the community he has sworn to protect. There is no place in this line of work for people who show an animus to members of the diverse community we proudly call Delco. Stollsteimer added that there is an enormously difficult task ahead for everyone and urged the community to remember that the law enforcement community is comprised of public servants who are also friends and neighbors. Only by working together will we be able to achieve the goals of justice and equality that prompted so many of us out into the streets over the last week, he said. State Rep. Margo Davidson, D-164 of Upper Darby, was not at the event but issued a statement denouncing Carrolls use of the word destroy to threaten businesses that she said are on the right side of history. If this was one moment of misguided passion, his social media posts could possibly be explained, but Mr. Carroll has had a history of troubling points of view including denouncing education about Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights icon whose hallmark was nonviolent protest, said Davidson. County Councilman Kevin Madden said he was also initially outraged, saddened and horrified by Carrolls comments, but then saw it as an opportunity to drive the engine of change that he said must take place everywhere including Delaware County. We have to recognize that the original sin on which this country was founded is racism, the original sin on which this county was founded is racism, he said. It would be so easy for us to just say, Thats a thing of the past, that doesnt apply to me, that doesnt apply to my police officer down the street. But it is systemic. It is embedded in the way in which training occurs and the way in which we hire and the way in which law enforcement is perceived in ways that perhaps many well-intentioned police officers arent aware. So we need to use this opportunity for change. We need to use this opportunity to bring everyone together and have the awkward conversations that we have so long tried to ignore and say that they happen elsewhere. The sheriff reported the items purchased were received using fraudulent means and either converted for personal use or sold using online forums such as Letgo and OfferUp, for an estimated loss to victims in excess of $1 million dollars in the past 24 months. TUCSON, Ariz. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the nation's border enforcement agency, violated congressional guidelines by misusing emergency funds earmarked in 2019 to care for a drastic surge in migrants border officials processed along the U.S.-Mexico border, instead spending that money on items such as dog supplies, dirt bikes and facility maintenance, an audit from a federal watchdog agency found. The audit by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, Congress' nonpartisan watchdog arm, came at the request of the House Homeland Security Committee. The GAO reviewed CBP's documented expenses and compiled their findings in a report made public Thursday. "We conclude that CBP violated the purpose statute when it obligated the line item appropriations in the 2019 Emergency Supplemental for goods and services that were not within the purpose availability of such line items," the document read. Congress approved the 2019 Emergency Supplemental funding bill in July 2019 in response to a massive spike in the number of migrants, especially asylum-seeking families from Central America, arriving to the southwestern U.S. border. Border: The Trump administration is turning away unaccompanied children because of coronavirus In the first six months of the year, border agents apprehended more than 534,000 people along the U.S.-Mexico border. Customs officers processed an additional 60,000 migrants at land ports of entry, while thousands more waited in line at Mexican border cities for their turn to file their claims. Their arrival overwhelmed U.S. Border Patrol officials, especially in the three busiest transit corridors in Yuma, Arizona, and in El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. U.S. Border Patrol agents and customs officers wait for the arrival of Homeland Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen in Yuma on April 4, 2019. The situation led to overcrowding and prolonged detention times at temporary holding facilities and to the sudden mass release of migrant families directly to border communities, unleashing chaos in some instances and forcing local officials to deal with the fallout. Story continues To help reinforce the border agency, the 2019 emergency supplemental bill allocated an additional $112 million to CBP to use explicitly for "consumables and medical care" for migrants and another $708 million to be used for "establishing and operating migrant care and processing facilities." The Government Accountability Office's audit noted many expenses for items such as "hygiene products, food, clothing, and baby supplies" did meet the regulations established by Congress. But the report also listed items that the GAO determined did not. Some of those examples included spending funds on "supplies and services for CBPs canine program" or transportation items for Border Patrol, "including vehicles such as ATVs, motorcycles, dirt bikes, boats, passenger vans, and small utility vehicles," the audit said. Other expenses the audit singled out are for improvements to CBP's permanent facilities, such as security cameras and office equipment to help process migrants, or upgrades to its air-conditioning or sewer systems in buildings where migrants are held. Although the Government Accountability Office recognized that some of the items benefit the well-being of migrants, "we conclude that CBP violated the purpose statute when it obligated the establishing and operating migrant care and processing facilities appropriation for such items," they said. The document does not say how much of the $820 million that CBP received in emergency funding was misused. Customs and Border Protection said on Thursday that it cooperated fully with the GAO's audit and that "CBP charged a small subset of expenses in fiscal year 2019 to the incorrect account." The border agency said it is working to adjust its account and correctly itemize expenses, based on the recommendation from the Government Accountability Office. "We emphasize that, and GAOs opinion does not suggest otherwise, all of CBPs obligations were for lawful objects related to agency operations and the care of those in our custody; the violations identified are technical in nature and prompt remedial action will be taken, CBP's statement said. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the House Homeland Security Committee chairman who requested the audit, released a statement Thursday saying Congress had appropriated the emergency funding bill to address the humanitarian crisis that he accused the administration of President Donald Trump of creating and exacerbating through his "politically charged, anti-immigrant policies." The main purpose for the money, he said, was to help improve conditions for migrants apprehended at the border, and receiving appropriate medical care after multiple high-profile deaths of minors in CBP custody. "Instead of helping migrants and improving conditions on the ground, CBP then broke the law by spending this taxpayer money on things that were not authorized such as ATVs, dirt bikes, and computer systems," Thompson said. "This callous disregard for the law is yet another example of this Administrations continuing failure to carry out its duty to provide humane conditions and medical care for migrants in its care." Community groups along the border criticized CBP for the misuse of funds. Vicki Gaubeca, the director for Southern Border Communities Coalition, a collective of 60 community and legal advocacy groups covering communities all along the U.S.-Mexico border, said the audit revealed another example of impunity and lack of accountability with CBP. "With upcoming negotiations for Fiscal Year 2021 budgets, Congress should consider cutting funds to this agency that has demonstrated time and again its misuse of taxpayer dollars," she said. "We must rein in CBP and hold them accountable for this egregious misuse of funds and for their complete disregard for people or laws." Conditions at border facilities for migrants began to improve toward the second half of 2019 when the number of migrants reaching the U.S.-Mexico border decreased. Under pressure from the U.S., Mexico began its crackdown on migrants and deployed its National Guard to its borders to stop migrants. At the peak of arrivals and apprehensions, facilities along the border were routinely over capacity. In the Yuma Sector in southwestern Arizona, agents had the capacity to hold 400 migrants at once at all of their permanent facilities. But on some days they apprehended as many 800 people. Other sectors along the border, such as El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley, had similar capacity issues. Conditions at holding facilities commonly referred to as hieleras or iceboxes deteriorated along the border as the number of migrants arriving at the border swelled. The watchdog office for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported squalid conditions at facilities in El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley, including showers not working properly or a lack of toiletries. Accusations from underage minors of sexual abuse and misconduct against agents surfaced in Yuma during this time. A January trial in Tucson revealed the extent of the issue for the Tucson Sector, which covers most of southern Arizona. Migrants testified that they slept near toilets because there was no room and of inadequate medical care and food, like expired burritos. The federal judge presiding over the case sided with migrants in ruling that conditions there were "presumptively punitive" and in violation of the Constitution. He mandated additional requirements for Border Patrol, such as forbidding migrants from sleeping near toilets, and defining showers to avoid having migrants using only wet wipes. Follow Rafael Carranza on Twitter at @RafaelCarranza. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Customs and Border Protection broke law over migrant care: watchdog The shadowy and poorly regulated global trade of tear gas is fueling police human rights violations against peaceful protesters on a global scale, Amnesty International said today as it launched a new resource analyzing the misuse of the riot control agent around the world. Tear Gas: An investigation is the organizations interactive, multimedia site looking into what tear gas is, how it is used and documenting scores of cases of its misuse by security forces worldwide, often resulting in severe injuries or death. The site is especially relevant today. It comes on the anniversary of the Hong Kong Police Force beginning its months-long barrage of tear gas against peaceful demonstrations which has recently been renewed. Security forces often lead us to believe tear gas is a safe way to disperse violent crowds, avoiding having to resort to more harmful weaponry. But our analysis proves that police forces are misusing it on a massive scale, said Sam Dubberley, Head of the Evidence Lab on Amnesty Internationals Crisis Response Programme. We documented police forces using tear gas in ways that it was never intended to be used, often in large quantities against largely peaceful protesters or by firing projectiles directly at people, causing injuries and deaths. United States Use of Tear Gas Alas, various state, municipal, and federal officials are enthusiatic proponents of this crowd control techique (Not to mention their international analogues). As Amnesty reports: Just one of several video clips that were reviewed of police use of tear gas depicts officers in the city of Philadelphia on June 1, 2020 firing repeated volleys of tear gas at dozens of protesters trapped on a steep highway embankment with no safe escape route. Following public outcry over the incident, Philadelphias police commissioner reportedly changed her departments use of force policy the next day, showing that reform is possible. Amnesty International has been monitoring police forces in cities across the country using tear gas and other crowd control agents in the recent protests, in many instances against apparently peaceful protesters. The use of tear gas and other crowd control weapons against protesters as they flee up a highway embankment or people peacefully demonstrating on the doorstep of the White House, demonstrates that something has gone seriously wrong with how law enforcement agencies across the country are policing peaceful protests, said Justin Mazzola, deputy director of research at Amnesty International USA. Time after time, in city after city, we have seen the reckless and unnecessary use of tear gas to disperse protests following the killing of George Floyd. Law enforcement is violating peoples human rights daily out on the streets and must investigate how they used these chemical irritants in reacting to nationwide protests and review their policies on the use of these dangerous crowd control measures. They should be used only used in exceptional circumstances, when no other measures could suffice and should never be a measure of first resort. Police need to immediately de-escalate relations and stop meeting protestors with violence and excessive force. The use of tear gas, rubber bullets and militarized weapons against peaceful protesters should end immediately. Tear Gas Abuse Via open source invesigation, the methodology of which it discusses on its website, Amnesty has been systematiically documenting the use and misuse of tear gas throughout he world: Tear gas has been fired through the windshield of a passenger car, inside a school bus, at a funeral procession, inside hospitals, residential buildings, metros, shopping malls, and strangely in virtually empty streets. Security forces have also fired canisters directly at individuals, leading to fatalities; and from trucks, jeeps and drones whizzing by at high speeds. Those on the receiving end have included climate protesters, high school students, medical staff, journalists, migrants and human rights defenders, such as members of the Bring Back Our Girls movement in Nigeria. Doctors in Omdurman, outside Sudans capital Khartoum, told Amnesty International that security forces and troops raided a hospital emergency room last year, filling it with noxious gas, further injuring 10 patients. One doctor said: The soldiers fired tear gas and live ammunition inside the hospital, then some came to the emergency room and fired four tear gas canisters; thank God only one exploded. A tear gas canister was thrown under the bed of a 70-year-old man who was a cardiac arrest patient. He died 10 minutes later. A video from Venezuela shows a tear gas canister punching a hole in a makeshift wooden shield a protester used to defend himself from police use of the weapon in Caracas. A close miss: just a few centimeters off and it could have caused a life-threatening injury. Amnesty International documented police abusing tear gas in multiple ways: Firing into confined spaces; Firing directly at individuals; Using excessive quantities; Firing at peaceful protests; and Firing against groups who may be less able to flee or more susceptible to its effects, such as children, older people and people with disabilities. The site includes video interviews with a range of external analysts from an emergency physician to experts in policing, and business and human rights about why tear gas is so harmful when used incorrectly. Amnesty International joins the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture in equating the use of tear gas in certain situations as amounting to torture or other ill-treatment. And technological innovation is only making things worse, according to jurist,org, Amnesty International launches new resource on global misuse of tear gas, Tear gas is usually comprised of CS gas or pepper spray, but newer versions combine the two or feature a silicon version of CS gas that lasts longer Despite the widespread use of tear gas, Amnesty says there so far exist no agreed international regulations on trade in tear gas and other riot control agents. Nor do countries provide public information on the quantity and destination of their tear gas exports, hampering independent oversight. What is to Be Done? According to Amnesty: Amnesty International and the Omega Research Foundation have campaigned for over two decades for greater controls on the production, use and trade in tear gas and other less lethal weapons. As a result, the UN and regional bodies such as the EU and the Council of Europe have recognized the need to regulate the export of less lethal weapons. Following high level diplomatic advocacy by the 60 plus states of the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade, supported by Amnesty International and Omega, the UN is now exploring potential development of international trade controls on less lethal weapons and other goods to prevent their use in torture, other ill-treatment and the death penalty. Amnesty International and Omega are now pressing for such measures to include tear gas and other riot control agents. Part of the problem with tear gas is simply that some police forces misunderstand how and when it can be used lawfully, while others choose to ignore such guidance and some have weaponized it, said Patrick Wilcken, Researcher, Arms Control, Security & Human Rights. But part of the solution also needs to be greater scrutiny of the poorly regulated global trade in tear gas and other riot control agents. Tear gas should be covered by the international controls on less lethal weapons and restraints, currently being discussed at the UN. I see that Amnesty mentions the EU, and not the US, and I think that means theres been no meaningful U.S. activity on regulating the production, use and trade in tear gas. And Im not that surprised. After all, its been quite some time since the United States has been a human rights bastion if we ever were and Id guess theres no longer more than a slim minority that supports human rights or would protect civil liberties, Now, when more mass political unrest has been seen in the U.S. and elsewhere than in decades, seems to be a bad time to raise questions about use of tear gas. But no. This is exactly when these and other questions should and must be raised about oppressive methods of crowd control. At the signing ceremony of the MoU between HCM City and ADB (Photo: VNA) At a reception for ADB Country Director for Vietnam Eric Sidwick on June 11, Chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong thanked the bank for its timely financial assistance and policy consultation to developing member countries, including Vietnam, in the fight against COVID-19. He also thanked the bank for its support to HCM City in mitigating the pandemic impact on the progress of projects using ADB loans in the locality. HCM City suggested the ADB facilitate its access to preferential loans for Metro Line No. 2, the first phase of Metro Line No. 5 and the sustainable urban transport project for Metro Line No. 2. Sidwick said Vietnam is one of the very few countries in the world that have not experienced growth decrease despite of the pandemic. ADB not only supports Vietnams development programmes but also learns from and shares the countrys experience with other countries, especially in fighting the epidemic and maintaining economic growth. COVID-19 has partially affected the progress of ADB-funded projects in HCM City, but the bank is resolved to implement its commitments to financial support and technical advice to the city, he said. Following the meeting, Vice Chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee Vo Van Hoan and the ADB Country Director for Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the two sides. Under the MoU, the HCM City and the ADB will conduct regular consultations, improve the efficiency of the existing projects using ADB loans, identify potential projects and promote the development of the private economic sector and the involvement of different sectors in the citys socio-economic development. Phong lauded the signing of the MoU, saying its implementation would contribute to advancing collaboration between the two sides. Sidwick said under the deal, the two sides can seek the best working methods for both. A woman in North Dakota has died after slipping into a huge vat of sunflower seeds being unloaded on a farm. The 56-year-old, who is not being named until authorities have notified her family, was working at Glinz Farm near Pingree in south-central North Dakota on Wednesday evening. She was wearing a harness at the time, but it was not attached to anything. She lost her footing and fell, and was buried by the seeds, local media reported. Grain silos at the Gilinz Farm in Pingree, North Dakota, where on Wednesday a woman died Chad Kaiser, county sheriff, said other workers were unsuccessful in trying to save her. His officers were called to the scene at 6pm, and assisted as farm workers cut holes into the side of the bin to try to free her. Fire and rescue crews also had to drill more holes once they arrived. They eventually freed the woman and medics performed CPR, but she died at the farm. North Dakota grows the most sunflowers in the U.S. and Stutsman County is the center of it all Sunflowers are a valuable crop across the Dakotas, Minnesota, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Texas and California, with North Dakota producing more sunflowers than any other state. Stutsman County, where the farm is located, is the epicenter of the U.S. sunflower industry and produces more sunflowers than any other country in North Dakota. Gilinz Farm has been owned by the Gilinz family since 1960. David Gilinz, who now runs the farm, told his local newspaper The Grand Forks Herald last year that he farms about 11,500 acres of mainly soybeans. An Indian-origin academic on Friday revealed that he had peer-reviewed a government-led inquiry paper that laid out some recommendations on tackling the higher COVID-19 risks faced by Britain's ethnic minorities, which should be published soon. Professor Raj Bhopal's revelation came as the UK's Opposition Labour Party branded the blocking of a paper that could help save more black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) lives a "scandal", after it emerged that a Public Health England (PHE) report released last week was in effect incomplete. Without recommendations there can be no actions. It needs to be published next week and those who have denied its existence must apologise to the public, said Prof. Bhopal, Emeritus Professor of Public Health at the Usher Institute, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, at the University of Edinburgh. He revealed that the paper he had reviewed had evidence from thousands of individuals and organisations and was intended as a complementary part of PHE's Disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19' report tabled in the House of Commons last week by UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock. "It is a scandal that the government appears to have blocked a review that included recommendations that could help save Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic lives during this crisis, said Marsha De Cordova MP, Labour's Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary. "The government's failure to publish this review is yet another in a litany of failures to support BAME communities during Covid-19. The government must now urgently publish these recommendations in full and provide an explanation for its lack of transparency on this review. Black Lives Matter is more than just a slogan, we cannot wait any longer for action to tackle racial injustice, she said. Hancock had announced at the time that UK Equalities Minister Liz Truss would be leading a further review into the factors behind the ethnic variations of COVID-19 impact in the country. The PHE report's main findings indicated that older Indian-origin men were within a higher risk category of coronavirus deaths in England, with overall people of Indian, Pakistani, Other Asian, Caribbean, Other Black ethnicity and Chinese ethnicities between 10 and 50 per cent at higher risk of death when compared to White British people. Those of Bangladeshi heritage were found to be dying at twice the rate of white Britons, black males at the rate of 3.9 times and Asian males at 2.5 times. The outcome had triggered widespread reactions across the board, including from MPs in Parliament as well as groups such as the British Medical Association (BMA) and British Association of Physicians of Indian-origin (BAPIO) raising concerns over the lack of any corresponding recommendations or safety measures attached to the review after weeks of review. The report has failed to give us direction, and therefore it lacks teeth, said BAPIO Chairman Dr J S Bamrah, in reaction to the findings. It's another nail in the coffin of equality and transparency unless the government acts swiftly to correct the anomaly, added BAPIO Secretary Prof Parag Singhal. The PHE has now said that it plans to publish further details next week, which would include a draft report prepared by one of its doctors, Professor Kevin Fenton, based on views, concerns and ideas of a significant number of individuals and organisations within ethnic minority communities. This important engagement work will inform the work the equalities minister is now taking forward. We intend to both formally submit this work to the minister next week and will publish it at the same time, the PHE said. Black comedians had been pointing out that using blackface in comedy was wrong for years, she added. We were told we had no sense of humor. We were told we were being negative, she said. We were told that it was sour grapes, that we were jealous. They say, Oh its just us playing characters, Yashere added. It isnt characters. Its always in comedy and its always sending up black people. Some of the shows pulled from streaming services were made by household names here. On Tuesday, the BBC removed Little Britain, a sketch show created by David Walliams and Matt Lucas that aired from 2003-05, from its streaming service because it featured Walliams playing an obese black woman in a sauna. Times have changed since Little Britain first aired, a BBC spokesman said in an emailed statement. The pair both also played minority characters in their follow-up BBC show from 2010, Come Fly With Me, which was not available for streaming. Earlier this year, Lucas was appointed a host of The Great British Baking Show. On Wednesday, Netflix removed the surreal comedy shows The League of Gentlemen and The Mighty Boosh from its platforms. Noel Fielding, who is also a host of The Great British Baking Show, appeared as a character called The Spirit of Jazz in one Mighty Boosh sketch, wearing dreadlocks and blackface. (The League of Gentlemen and The Mighty Boosh are still available to stream on the BBCs platform.) Ava Vidal, a British comedian, said in a telephone interview that she had never been surprised about the use of blackface in these shows. I think its so ingrained, she said, people dont even realize whats going on. Youve got to let black people and people of color decide what racism is, she added. In Britain, blackface has promoted harmful stereotypes that are often not even based in truth, she said. She pointed to the impersonation of Goddard, saying it also included a Jamaican accent. Two women who attacked police at a lockdown house party in England have been jailed. Officers found blaring noise and drunk partygoers when they arrived at some flats in Eastbourne, East Sussex, in April. But when they tried to break up the gathering, things turned violent, with one woman telling an officer: I have got corona, watch out. The struggle seen in court on shocking bodycam footage spilled out into a hallway, where one of the officers doubled over in pain after being struck by a stone object. Two 21-year-old women pleaded guilty to assaulting police at the party and appeared at Lewes Crown Court for sentencing. Millie Robinson and Bayleigh Meadows, who both live in Eastbourne, were criticised by the judge for committing the offences while the rest of the country was obeying lockdown for the safety of everyone. Prosecutor Ryan Richter said that when the two police officers tried to break up the party on April 8, they were met with a barrage of abuse. He said they were told by occupants that they had a right to be at each others flats. At one point, Robinson turned to one of the officers and pursed her lips as if she was going to spit at him, saying: I have got corona, watch out, the court heard. As the commotion spilled into a hallway, Robinson ended up on the floor and kicked out, catching an officer in the stab vest and leg, the court was told. At this point, Meadows picked up a toilet roll holder that had a stone base and launched it at one of the officers, striking him in the head, the court heard. He was left with a 2cm cut and huge lump on his head which had to be glued back together, the court was told. In a statement read out in court, he described the struggle as a fast and surreal moment. Robinsons defence barrister Rebecca Upton said that she had found lockdown extremely hard and felt extremely isolated, leading to a decline in her mental health. She said: Unfortunately, she took it upon herself to try and feel better by consuming a large quantity of alcohol. Ms Upton said Robinson was distressed at the scene and showed immediate remorse, and asked that she be given a suspended sentence. Adam James, representing Meadows, argued that the congregation was not a party but a gathering. He said Meadows has underlying mental health issues and only has a limited recollection of what happened. Sentencing the pair, Judge Christine Laing QC said: This matter happened just two weeks into the lockdown period imposed by the Government to try and halt the spread of Covid-19, a deadly pandemic. Looking at their previous convictions, she noted a history of violence against police officers and that they had declined much of the opportunities of help that you have been given. Judge Laing added: Police officers on a daily basis have to face risks to protect the public, perhaps never more so than during a pandemic. They should not have to deal with behaviour like that which we saw ever. Robinson, of Edgeland Terrace, pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to two charges of assaulting an emergency worker. She was jailed for six months. Meadows, of Lottbridge Drive, pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. She was jailed for 12 months. A LIMERICK Prize Bond holder is 50,000 better off winning the Star Prize in the weekly Prize Bond draw. The Prize Bond Company has confirmed the winning ticket QO775309 was bought in 2012 and is held in County Limerick. The winner, whose details will be released publicly, will be directly contacted and notified of their success. A total of 5,300 prizes were awarded in this weeks draw, amounting to over 332,000. In addition to a 1 million prize which is awarded on the last weekly draw of June and December, there are weekly draws where the top prize is 50,000. Other cash prizes awarded each week include 10 of 1,000 and 10 of 500. Prize Bonds are a State Savings product which, instead of paying interest, offers bond holders the chance to win cash prizes every week. All winnings are tax-free, and Prize Bonds can be cashed in at any time after the minimum holding period of three months. Prize Bonds can be purchased by Direct Debit, online at www.StateSavings.ie, by at 1850 305060 or at your local Post Office. Thorngrove Hospital, which is an isolation center for coronavirus COVID-19, has been receiving an assortment of goods from well-wishers including some that were handed over to the medical facility by media practitioner, Zenzele Ndebele, on behalf of some donors living outside the country. The Path Forward Tested positive for COVID-19 or are a close contact? W&M students, faculty and staff should complete the form at W&M students, faculty and staff should complete the form at ReportCOVID.wm.edu for a case manager to help navigate isolation and procure a COVID-19 test at the right time. If you already have an independent test result, upload it in the Records section of Kallaco The 2021-2022 school year features increased in-person activity, including courses and campus life, and required student COVID-19 vaccinations in support of successfully and safely convening at William & Mary. W&M's COVID-19 Dashboard provides public information on regional, local and campus trends. Questions? We encourage you to review the current info available for students and families, faculty and staff, and alumni and friends, along with our most frequently asked questions. You may also submit a question or comment. The second season of Homecoming, the web television series, premiered on Amazon Prime Video on May 22. It is strongly recommended. The first season, released in November 2018, concerns itself with a facility in Florida, the Homecoming Transitional Support Center, that supposedly helps Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans make a smoother transition to civilian life. The center is owned and operated by the Geist Group, a large corporation. The viewer ultimately discovers that the treatment program involves dosing the veterans, all of them suffering from the terrible psychic effects of war, with memory-erasing drugs. If the drug were to work, the American military calculates it would be able to make repeated, trouble-free use of the soldiers in its murderous operations. However, things dont work out that way. Homecoming The first season focused on one of the young soldiers, Walter Cruz (Stephan James), and his Homecoming case worker, Heidi Bergman (Julia Roberts), both of whom, years after the fact, have no memory of what occurred at the support center. When the truth begins to dawn on Heidi, she is outraged and appalled, and disgusted with herself. In what we described as some of the most meaningful lines Roberts has ever delivered, she bursts out at the corporate figure who has been lying to and manipulating her, Everything you say, everything about you is fucking rotten. And you have made me the same. This seems directed at more than a single individual or even a single company. A number of characters return in Homecoming s second, seven-part season, including Walter Cruz, still living in self-imposed seclusion in a mountain cabin. The series, directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez and scripted by a host of writers, is cleverly constructed. That is to say, genuinely clever, not simply self-conscious or designed to impress. Episode 1 of the new season of Homecoming opens eerily on a woman (Janelle Monae) alone in a rowboat, with no paddle, in the middle of a lake. She calls to a man on shore, who flees when she appeals to him. She has no idea what shes doing there, or even who she is. A Veterans Affairs card in her pocket identifies her as Jackie. Joan Cusack and Hong Chau in Homecoming One way or another, still without her short-term memory, the distraught woman finds her way back to a motel room and a rental car. She goes to the address of the person who has rented the vehicle, Alex Eastern, and follows the woman, Audrey Temple (Hong Chau), who lives there to a high-tech facility, the headquarters of Geist Emergent Group, located in a remote rural area. When the two women eventually come face to face, Audrey addresses the other as Alex, apparently her real name, and asks about Walter Cruz. The second season then retreats in time to make sense of its enigmatic opening. And, unusually for contemporary film or television efforts, the explanation is both dramatically satisfying and socially substantial. We learn that Alex and Audrey, who has made her way to the top of the heap at Geist, are a couple living together. Alex works as a consultant, whose job it isin an intriguing twistto persuade or dupe individuals into dropping complaints (sexual harassment, etc.) against their employers and such. She is not a nice person. But then, neither is the somewhat less self-confident and aggressive Audrey. In fact, although a few meager scraps are thrown in the direction of gender politics, season 2 of Homecoming specializes in rather sinister females, especially when it introduces Francine Bunda (the remarkable, underrated Joan Cusack), a monstrous Pentagon representative. The latter determines that the berries that produce the sought-after forgetfulness are a critical military technology and announces that the Department of Defense is now a partner with Geist, over the objections of company founder and owner, Leonard Geist (Chris Cooper). At one point, Geist notes sardonically that it hasnt taken long for the women to become as bad as the men. Meanwhile, Walter Cruz is having short bursts of memory. He grows determined to learn the nature of his treatment at Homecoming, which, when Audrey hears of his concerns, alarms her. Alex volunteers to visit Walter and do what she does best, cajole him into giving up his official information request. Chris Cooper in Homecoming Bunda and Audrey plan a grand relaunching of Geist, inviting a host of corporate clients to a gala event. Bunda tells her partner to let the crazy world in, envisioning a host of profitable uses for the magical drug. Geist wants to put a stop to it all, but the Pentagons wicked amazon wont let him. When Walter Cruz shows up at Geists door, the two put their heads together The second season, like the first, is hard-hitting. Of course, there are still terms that dare not be mentioned, such as capitalism, but it is, in fact, US capitalism in its decrepitude and criminality under scrutiny here, along with a few of its beneficiaries and a few of its victims. Homecoming shows dramatically what most Americans already know or feel in their everyday lives and in their bones, and what the current coronavirus pandemic disaster confirms, that the powers that be would unhesitatingly sacrifice the lives of vast numbers to defend or increase their wealth. Lies, conspiracy, plunder and murder are all in a days work. Monae and Chau are fine, as is James, but the series truly comes to life through the performances of Cooper and especially, as noted above, Cusack. Everyone by now agrees that the drug and the idea behind it have been a disaster, but Bunda-Cusack asks pointedly whether the soldier-victims themselves had any complaints. Told No, she simply shrugs. (Of course, the human guinea pigs have no idea whats been done to them.) And when Leonard Geist attempts to warn his audience and his employees about the giant who has shown up and gestures angrily toward Bunda, she waves cheerfully in reply and Audrey cuts off his microphone. As to the field of berries, Bunda explains firmly, speaking for the Pentagon, Its ours. Her wild exuberance about the drugs military and financial potential transports Homecoming to a higher, more disturbing level, bringing it more in line with the dangerous and objectively irrational nature of present-day social and economic organization. Bundas unfeeling behavior is as out of place, unimaginable and mad as well, a vast stock market surge while tens of thousands lie dying. Stephan James in Homecoming However, a process is under way in the lower depths too. Walter remains troubled. All his efforts to anaesthetize himself, to accommodate himself to his amnesia, fail. As awful as the reality may be, he feels compelled to remember his war experiences, his treatment. His elemental declaration, I need to know what happened, is terrifying in its implications for all those in authority. The creators of the mini-series, whether they fully understand it or not, have touched on something large and important here. After each of the disasters the American ruling elite inflicts on the population at home and abroad, its representatives repeat, We mustnt point fingers, Theres no value in the blame game, Quick, lets move on. The government and the military-intelligence apparatus advance the same blatant and even ludicrous falsehoods about Iran or Venezuela as they did in regard to Iraq or Libya because they rely on a media-induced amnesia in the population. In fact, all that is breaking down. Increasingly and with good reason, hardly anyone believes anything the people in power may say. The urgency of knowing what happened, not only in the immediate sense, but in terms of the critical events of the 20th century, cannot be underestimated. It is no accident that a reactionary philosopher like Friedrich Nietzsche, an enemy of socialism and apologist for exploitation, placed great value on the benefit of active forgetfulness, which functions, he wrote, like a doorkeeper or guardian of mental order, rest and etiquette. Forgetfulness, Nietzsche insisted, is an active ability to suppress without which there could be no happiness. The oppressed, in fact, need to remember everything, every blow. Leon Trotsky suggested that revolutionaries enjoy good memories and that their party is the memory of the working class. Learning not to forget the past in order to foresee the future is our first, our most important task. To repeat, the second season of Homecoming is strongly recommended. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy ALCA Supports WEAAD 2020 Aging Life Care Professionals are the eyes and ears for vulnerable seniors. Elder abuse takes on many forms: physical, sexual, emotional, financial, abandonment, and even neglect and self-neglect. Aging Life Care Professionals are trained to ask the right questions and recognize the subtle signs. On the heels of the global awareness and actions around the long-standing, systemic injustices faced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, the Aging Life Care Association (ACLA), along with other organizations, is intent to raise awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect for all older adults. On June 15th the association will hold an online Member Forum offering suggestions for how each member can reach out to increase awareness in addition to a follow-up Member Forum on Elder Law where Aging Life Care Professionals and attorneys will discuss elder abuse and how to empower members to seek help if they notice a problem. Since the first WEAAD in 2006, the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations have worked to unite communities around the world in raising awareness about elder abuse. ALCA members have focused on caring for those vulnerable members of society since its founding in 1985. The Aging Life Care Profession emerged because a group of health and social service professionals were committed to providing the highest level of care coordination services for older adults and their families, says ALCA Board President Liz Barlowe, MA, CMC. And now as the pandemic continues, when families may not be able to physically monitor or care for their loved one, Aging Life Care Professionals are the eyes and ears and the boots on the ground for vulnerable seniors. Aging Life Care Managers pay special attention to clients who are alone, whether at home or in a facility, and they are able to act quickly by coordinating care whether it be emotional or physical for their client, adds ALCA CEO Taney Hamill Every year an estimated 1 in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Unfortunately, elder abuse is significantly under-reported; in part, Barlowe says because many do not know how to recognize the signs unless there is visible, bodily damage. Elder abuse takes on many forms: physical, sexual, emotional, financial, abandonment, and even neglect and self-neglect. Aging Life Care Professionals are trained to ask the right questions and recognize the subtle signs. Aging Life Care Professionals understand the laws concerning elder abuse in the state where they practice and can help navigate complicated bureaucracies, act as an advocate for the older person and help develop a safe plan of care. They work hand in hand with adult protective service caseworkers, police departments and Elder Law attorneys to ensure the safety of the older person and to coordinate appropriate services. For more information and to find an Aging Life Care Professional near you, visit ALCAs website aginglifecare.org. People wearing facemasks queuing outside Ikea in Dublin as the next phase of Irelands Covid-19 lockdown exit begins (Niall Carson/PA) Youths from a vocational high school produce bottles of hand sanitiser, to be donated to medical workers amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN/AFP via Getty Images) Follow the latest coronavirus news in Ireland and across the world on the Independent.ie live blog. 22.25 12/06/2020 Covid-19: Irish made decontamination wipe awarded nearly 2m in funding from European Commission Expand Close Professor Lokesh Joshi: wipes valuable in fight against virus / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Professor Lokesh Joshi: wipes valuable in fight against virus A decontamination wipe conceived by ordnance officers in the Defence Forces has received funding worth almost 2m from the European Commission to help fight the spread of the coronavirus. It follows approval for the wipe last week from the United States Food and Drug Administration. The ground-breaking Anti-Bioagent Wipe (ABwipe) is one of 36 products selected by the European Innovation Council from over 1,400 relevant applications to receive accelerator funding totalling 166m. Read More Masks significantly reduce infection risk, likely preventing thousands of COVID-19 cases - study By Nancy Lapid, Reuter Requiring the wearing of masks to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in areas at the epicenter of the global pandemic may have prevented tens of thousands of infections, a new study suggests. Mask-wearing is even more important for preventing the virus' spread and the sometimes deadly COVID-19 illness it causes than social distancing and stay-at-home orders, researchers said, in the study published in PNAS: The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA. Infection trends shifted dramatically when mask-wearing rules were implemented on April 6 in northern Italy and April 17 in New York City - at the time among the hardest hit areas of the world by the health crisis - the study found. "This protective measure alone significantly reduced the number of infections, that is, by over 78,000 in Italy from April 6 to May 9 and over 66,000 in New York City from April 17 to May 9," researchers calculated. When mask-wearing went into effect in New York, the daily new infection rate fell by about 3% per day, researchers said. In the rest of the country, daily new infections continued to increase. 21.16 12/06/2020 WATCH: Taoiseach: Nobody should leave Ireland for the purposes of tourism India's coronavirus cases rise to fourth highest in the world Associated Press Reporters India's coronavirus caseload has become the fourth-largest in the world, overtaking the UK, by adding 10,956 new cases in another biggest single-day spike. India's two-month lockdown kept transmissions low but in a large population of 1.3 billion, people remain susceptible and the campaign against the virus is likely to go on for months, said Balram Bhargava, director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research. The lockdown was imposed nationwide in late March but has eased since, and is now largely being enforced only in high-risk areas. The spiking caseload came after India allowed the reopening of shops, shopping centres, factories and religious places. Subways, schools, colleges and cinemas remain closed nationwide. The increase reported on Friday raised India's total cases to 297,535, including 8,498 deaths, according to the Health Ministry. The death toll increased 396 in the past 24 hours. India's number of confirmed cases is behind only the US, Brazil and Russia. Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai are the worst-hit cities in the country, and Mr Bhargava said urban residents have a greater chance of contracting the virus. Infections in rural areas have also surged after migrant workers who left cities and towns after they lost jobs returned to their home towns. 20.20 12/06/2020 Warning not to travel abroad for holidays as decision on easing restrictions put off Expand Close Calum Best and Tamer Hassan help to unload boxes of PPE (Danny Lawson/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Calum Best and Tamer Hassan help to unload boxes of PPE (Danny Lawson/PA) TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has warned people not to travel abroad for holidays after the government put off a decision on easing international travel restrictions for two weeks. He should not to travel off the island for tourism and should hold off on booking flights for July. Currently the government is advising that no non-essential foreign travel take place due to the coronavirus crisis. Cabinet considered Proposals to lift such restrictions to other EU States as early as the end of the month. Councils urged to take flexible approach to on-street seating for bars and cafes in Northern Ireland Michael McHugh, PA Infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon has written to all councils asking them to temporarily take a flexible and pragmatic planning approach to the use of on-street seating for bars and cafes. Beer gardens and similar outdoor areas should enjoy special dispensation to accommodate social distancing, she said. Planning permission will not normally be required for the temporary positioning of chairs and tables on the pavement outside pubs, cafes and similar venues but each case and situation will be considered on its merits, the minister said. She said: "Businesses and workers across the North are now planning how they can get back to work safely and how they can adjust to the new challenges of Covid-19. "For many customers, safety will be a big consideration and businesses are having to change the way they serve their customers in our new normal. "With planning sitting directly in my department, I want to ensure we support councils and assure traders and businesses that there are no planning barriers to temporary changes." The hospitality industry has been pressing for permission to use more outdoor spaces when its members are allowed to reopen following the coronavirus lockdown. There are concerns the two-metre social distancing rule could make many businesses unviable. The Stormont Executive is to consider the matter further next week. 19.22 12/06/2020 No whistles, no high fives and no changing rooms - the plan for under 18s sport to leave lockdown Expand Close Children playing sport / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Children playing sport Closed changing rooms, no whistles and no high fives are just some of the measures that will be put in place to reduce virus risk once under 18s sports resumes post-lockdown. According to new guidance published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the HSE, cloth face coverings must also be worn by coaches, officials, parents, volunteers and spectators. Water bottles will also have to be labelled with each childs name, with no sharing allowed and spitting strictly forbidden. These measures organised sports and summer camps will have to be implemented in summer camps and organised sports for childrens and teenagers under 18. Read More Nigeria declares emergency after rapes triple under lockdown Sam Olukoya, Associated Press Governors across Nigeria have declared a state of emergency over rape and other gender-based violence against women and children after officials said rapes have tripled during the country's coronavirus lockdown. The commitment by governors of all 36 states to impose tougher measures against sex offenders was announced after several days of nationwide protests by women's rights activists and others with the social media hashtag #WeAreTired. "I know we have always had rape in this country, but with the lockdown of people in homes because of Covid-19, women and children are locked down with their abusers," said the minister of women's affairs, Pauline Tallen. Officials did not say how many rapes have occurred during the lockdown that was declared in late March for major cities and has since begun to loosen. 17.31 12/06/2020 Three further deaths and 13 new cases Gabija Gataveckaite reports The coronavirus death toll in Ireland has risen to 1,705 after a further three people have died. 13 new cases have also been confirmed. In total, there have been 25,250 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. The latest data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Wednesday 10 June (25,237 cases), reveals: 57pc are female and 43pc are male the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years 3,275 cases (13pc) have been hospitalised Of those hospitalised, 415 cases have been admitted to ICU 8,116 cases are associated with healthcare workers Dublin has the highest number of cases at 12,172 (48pc of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,533 cases (6pc) and then Kildare with 1,426 cases (6pc) Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 38pc, close contact accounts for 60pc, travel abroad accounts for 2pc. 16.32 12/06/2020 Prosecutors question Italian premier over slow coronavirus lockdowns Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Italian premier Giuseppe Conte is being questioned by prosecutors investigating the lack of a coronavirus lockdown of two towns in Lombardy's Bergamo province that turned into some of the hardest-hit areas of the country's outbreak. Doctors and virologists have said the two-week delay in quarantining Alzano and Nembro allowed the virus to spread in Bergamo, which saw a 571% increase in excess deaths in March compared with the average of the previous five years. Lead prosecutor Maria Cristina Rota arrived with a team of aides at the premier's office in Rome, Palazzo Chigi. She is also expected to question the health and interior ministers. In previous days, she has interviewed the head of the Superior Institute of Health. No one has yet been placed under investigation and it is unclear what, if any, criminal blame will be assigned to public officials for decisions taken or not in the onetime epicentre of Europe's outbreak. Among other things, the probe is looking into whether it fell to the national government in Rome, or the Lombardy regional authorities, to create a so-called "red zone" around the two towns. 'One woman queued from 3am with a child' - hundreds of shoppers at reopening of Penneys in Dublin HUNDREDS of shoppers queued outside Penneys in the capital this morning, forcing the popular shop to open at 8.45am. One female shopper had queued overnight to get into the flagship store on Mary Street, Dublin. And a queue stretched around the block at Mary Street and OConnell Street this morning and this afternoon. Read More WATCH: Penneys on Mary Street opened almost two hours early due to queues 15.37 12/06/2020 Calls for number of intensive care beds to be doubled Cate McCurry, PA An intensive care consultant has called for the Government to double the number of ICU beds as the health service grapples with "old infrastructure". Dr Catherine Motherway said there is still significant work to do in critical care in Ireland, and that plans to improve the system need to be "accelerated". She told the HSE's briefing on Friday that hospitals need to continue testing every patient coming into the system. "We still have significant work to do in critical care in Ireland. We have always known and advocated for more beds - we need to double our ICU capacity and we need to do that properly," she said. "We have old infrastructure in most ICUs. We need an increase in isolation ICU bed capacity and the HSE have been advocating for this for some time and we need to ensure we try and accelerate those plans going forward. "We need to make sure we continue to test every patient coming into the hospital and ensure we don't mix streams. "We have a Covid suspect stream and a non-Covid stream. We need to get back to doing as much elective surgery as is possible. "We know the winter is difficult - it's always difficult in Ireland. We always have an increase in respiratory diseases and in capacity, and we see that in the trolley figures and we see it when we have to cancel elective surgery." Children will only be in school one day per week if 2m social distancing rule is maintained Education Minister Expand Close Education Minister Joe McHugh Photo: PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Education Minister Joe McHugh Photo: PA Education Minister Joe McHugh is preparing for all pupils to return to school in September regardless of what social distancing rules that may apply elsewhere in society. Mr McHugh said that primary pupils would only be able to attend school for one day a week if the two metre social distancing rule is in place at the end of August. At post-primary, the two metre protocol it would mean a two day week for most pupils. The minister said sending children back part-time for two or three days a week is not a runner. Read More 15.10 12/06/2020 'Significant' reduction in crime during pandemic, say An Garda Siochana Expand Close Stock image / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Stock image Reports Gabija Gataveckaite Crime has reduced "significantly" during coronavirus pandemic, according to An Garda Siochana, with newly released figures showing that reports of thefts from other people have reduced by 62pc. Reports of threats or attempts of murder, assault and harassments have fallen by 24pc, burglaries by 44pc with 2,000 reported and robberies by 30pc. Thefts from shop have also reduced by 39pc, with 3,800 of occasions reported. Theft of cars has fallen by 43pc and bikes by 9pc with in excess of 540 vehicles and 1100 pedal cycles were stolen during March, April and May. Speaking today Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security, John Twomey said: "We have maintained our focus on protecting the vulnerable in the current situation. For example, early on we put in place a specific operation to help victims of domestic abuse, as well as encouraging all victims of this crime to report any concerns they have to us." Crimes Against the Person Sexual Offences 38% Attempts/ Threats to Murder, Assaults and Harassments 24% Minor Assault 30% Assault of Obstruction of a Garda/ Official, resisting Arrest + 25% Domestic Abuse Related Calls + 25% Breaches of Domestic Violence Order Incidents + 10% Formal Notifications to TUSLA +18% Crimes Against Person: Burglaries 44% Theft from Shop 39% Theft from Person -62% Robberies -30% Trespassing + 12% Possession of an Article (with intent to burgle, steal, demand) +10% Fraud, Deception and Related Offences - 21% o Account Take Over Frauds +56% o Phishing/Vishing/Smishing Frauds +45% o Shopping/Online Auction Fraud +55% Crimes Against Society Controlled Drugs Offences + 10% Possession for Sale or Supply + 18% Simple Possession (personal use) + 7% Weapons and Explosives Offences + 8%. Possession of Offensive Weapons (not firearms) + 16% Damage to Property crimes - 19% Arson (Criminal Damage by Fire) + 9% Public Order Offences - 13% Drunkenness Offences - 28% Public Order Offences (threatening/abusive behaviour etc.) - 6% Five ways shopping at Penneys has changed post-lockdown Expand Close Brooke Sherry (8) and Ella OReilly (11) both from Dublin City Centre at the re opening of Penneys Store on Mary Street Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brooke Sherry (8) and Ella OReilly (11) both from Dublin City Centre at the re opening of Penneys Store on Mary Street Photo: Steve Humphreys The Penneys flagship store on Mary Street had to open almost two hours earlier than expected today due to the sheer numbers queuing to shop with summer clothes top of many peoples priority list. Gardai and Penneys had early morning consultations and opened the store doors at around 8.30, two hours earlier that expected, in order to process the queue of around 150 people which snaked its way onto Jervis Street and ran the full length of the store and back around onto Parnell Street. Clearly shoppers can't wait to get through the doors, so how different do the stores look, and how has the Penney's shopping experience changed? Read More One in five coronavirus patients in intensive care died amid growing concern for hospitals this winter One in five of the 408 patients worst affected by Covid-19 who were admitted to intensive care so far has died, a leading consultant said today. Dr Catherine Motherway, an intensive care consultant in Limerick extended her sympathy to the bereaved and said she and her colleagues are worried about how hospitals will cope next winter. The death rate of 20pc is good by international standards, she told a HSE briefing. Read More 14:40 12/06/2020 Restrictions on travel to other European countries may be lifted by end of the month Hugh O'Connell and Cormac McQuinn RESTRICTIONS on travel to other European countries may be a possibility in July under proposals being considered by Cabinet. Currently the government is advising that no non-essential foreign travel take place due to the coronavirus crisis. Independent.ie understands that there proposals to lift such restrictions to other EU States as early as the end of the month. Read More 13:40 12/06/2020 Good news for wedding couples as guest lists to be reviewed by Holohan's expert team Eilish O'Regan Brides and grooms may soon have extra cause for celebration after chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan revealed his expert team was planning to review weddings. And hairdressers will also be hoping for good news as Dr Holohan and his team meet next week to discuss pressing issues of public concern arising from the lockdown. There will be new overall guidance on gatherings, which would allow couples who want to get married to decide on the size of their guest list. Dr Holohan said they will also examine if hairdressers can reopen for business on June 29 rather than July 20. And the National Public Health Emergency Team will also look at whether the two-metre physical distancing rule could be reduced to one metre in parts of the hospitality trade. Read More 12:50 12/06/2020 Ryanair says travel forms are putting visitors but dont help fight Covid 19 Donal O'Donovan Ryanair has claimed Covid 19 travel forms visitors arriving in Ireland are obliged to fill out have no scientific or medical efficacy, in a letter to Simon Harris. The airline released the open letter hours have joining rivals British Airways and Easyjet to launch a legal action against the British governments quarantine policy. In its open letter to Health Minister Simon Harris, Ryanair called on Government and NPHET to abandon what it said is Irelands useless form filling quarantine, which has no scientific or medical efficacy, but is deterring EU visitors coming to Ireland in July and Augusts at a time when most other EU countries are removing restrictions and welcoming tourists. Read More 11:30 12/06/2020 VHI will allow Covid claims after U-turn on travel policy Charlie Weston A leading travel insurance provider has changed its rules to allow thousands of policyholders to claim for Covid-19 cancellations. In March, Vhi said it was excluding virus-related claims for those renewing their MultiTrip insurance this year. But in a major change, it will now allow anyone renewing their cover to claim for a cancelled holiday, as long as it was booked before March 19. It means someone who had booked a holiday at the start of the year, but renewed their policy in May, will be able to make a claim if the flights and accommodation have been cancelled and they cannot get a refund from the airline or the accommodation provider. Read More 10:20 12/06/2020 80 pc of healthcare workers with Covid-19 got the virus at work, new figures show Eighty-eight per cent of Irish healthcare workers with Covid-19 got the virus at work, new figures the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC) show. Out of the 8,018 cases of infected healthcare workers, 2,551 are under investigation without a known source of transmission. Those cases account for 32 pc of all healthcare worker cases and are not included in the percentages. The data as of May 30, excluding cases which are unknown/under investigation, show: 88 pc got the virus in a healthcare setting as staff 4 pc from contact with a confirmed case 3 pc from travel 3 pc from community transmission 1 pc from a healthcare setting as patients. The figures were presented to Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, who say they have received a commitment from Health Minister Simon Harris that the figures will now be published weekly. The INMO is calling for a policy change that will amend regulations to class Covid-19 as a personal injury under health and safety legislation. The union is also seeking better facilitation for healthcare workers who come into unprotected close contact with Covid-19 to self-isolate for 14 days, and for all healthcare workers to be provided with regular Covid-19 testing. INMO General Secretary, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, said: One in three COVID-19 cases are healthcare workers. One in ten are nurses. And these figures show the vast majority have caught the virus at work. This figure cannot simply be accepted as normal. We need to tighten procedures and test more to ensure that frontline staff dont get the virus they are fighting." 09:20 12/06/2020 WHO chief urges Russia to review its 'unusually low' death toll Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow The World Health Organisation has suggested that Russia should review the way it counts coronavirus deaths, describing the country's low death toll as "unusual". The comments by a senior WHO official have again raised suspicions about Russia's death toll, which stands at just over 6,000 and is extremely low compared with other European countries. Russian officials have attributed it to widespread and early testing as well as the demographics. Irishman Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO's health emergencies programme, said the outbreak in Russia had been following a trajectory similar to European countries, which is why its "low death rate is hard to understand". He added, however, that WHO officials did not imply there was "systematic" under-reporting in Russia. His remarks have irked many in Moscow. Read More 08:10 12/06/2020 Airports facing three-year road to recovery from pandemic crisis Ralph Riegel Irish airports are among Europe's hardest-hit by the pandemic, and a major aviation body has warned their recovery could take until 2023. The airports have suffered a collapse in passenger numbers of more than 98pc. And the UK's "blunt instrument" deployment of quarantine as a control measure also threatens to inflict damage the sector will take years to recover from. While Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man have been exempted from the UK's controversial 14-day quarantine demand for all air travellers, Airports Council International (ACI) says it threatens to inflict not just an economic but a social blow to an already reeling industry. Read More 07:15 12/06/2020 Thermal screening to protect shoppers at Kildare Village Bairbre Power Thermal screening will be used to keep shoppers safe when Kildare Village reopens on Monday. The designer destination, which features 100 brands including restaurants, will be equipped with thermal scanners at the entrance. Upon arrival visitors and staff from the shops will have their temperature checked by a thermal camera. If their temperature is 37.5C and below, they will be given access. Read More 07:10 12/06/2020 Face masks are 'not mandatory - but we should wear them in shops and on buses' Eilish O'Regan and Cormac McQuinn Wearing face masks or coverings will not be made mandatory but more people need to use them in shops and on public transport, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has said. He admitted that clearer "consistent communication" is needed around the wearing of face masks because of the relatively low take-up. He reiterated that it is just part of a package of measures which needs to include physical distancing, hand-washing and covering coughs and sneezes. It is now likely that people will be confronted with more signs prompting them to wear a mask or face covering. Read More 07:00 12/06/2020 Different approaches on island a 'threat to us all', warned Holohan Ken Foxe Chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Tony Holohan told the most senior officials of Government departments that different approaches to Covid-19 containment on both sides of the Border could "pose threats to us all". Minutes of senior management meetings from the Department of Justice show how Dr Holohan delivered the warning in a briefing to secretaries general from across Government. The minutes of the St Patrick's Day meeting said: "The CMO believes the differing responses in the North and the south of the country may pose threats to us all." As lockdown began, Dr Holohan told the State's most senior officials to expect the situation to "continue for some time" with not enough information available to estimate when cases were likely to peak. The records - which have been released under Freedom of Information - detail the Department of Justice response to the Covid-19 crisis throughout March, April, and May. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) (left center) next to Rep. Elise Sefanik (R-N.Y.) (right center) along with officials from organizations, including Hadassah and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, following the passage of the Never Again Holocaust Act by the U.S. House of Representatives. (JNS) - Amid the rise in anti-Semitism in the United States and abroad, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Never Again Education Act into law as part of Jewish American Heritage Month, one month after the 75th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany. The story behind the passage of this landmark legislation is one that transcended the usual partisan politics of Washington, D.C., bringing together Jewish and Christian groups, and liberal and conservative lawmakers in a rare display of bipartisanship to have a measurable impact on awareness and understanding of the ramifications of the... Advertisement Connecticut State Police said on Friday that they found no new evidence in their search for missing mother Jennifer Dulos at an abandoned mansion they searched on Thursday, and that they only went there because of a 'media generated' theory. Cops searched the $3million mansion on Thursday and even cleared out the property's septic tank. It's unclear if they've had the results of testing samples from the septic tank back yet. In a statement, the police department said it was only motivated to search the house - which Dulos had access to for months before his arrest and which he planned to demolish - after being pointed to it by local media. The Hartford Courant asked the department last week why they hadn't searched it more extensively after laying out Dulos' links to the property. 'On June 11, detectives from the State Police Western District Major Crime Squad, assisted by members of the State Police K9 Unit, conducted a second search of the property at 44 Sky View Drive, Avon. 'The search was done with the written consent of the property owner, as a result of of a media generated theory. Scroll down for video New images reveal the inside of a vandalized mansion linked to Fotis Dulos, as Connecticut State Police spent hours at the property Thursday in their search for the dead developer's missing wife Jennifer Dulos. The $3 million home (pictured) is located in Avon 'The search included an inspection of the septic system. No new evidence or clues were discovered as a result of this search,' the department said. The police department released this statement on Friday after concluding their search Jennifer vanished in May 2019 and her estranged husband, Fotis, killed himself in January this year while out on bail for her murder. His ex-girlfriend and friend both remain under indictment, accused of conspiracy to commit murder. Police have searched multiple homes that the couple were connected to, including the $3million mansion they returned to in Avon on Thursday. It's unclear if they will continue their search on Friday or whether or not they found anything on Thursday but police were seen bringing in septic tank removal teams to drain the 16-ft deep, 2,000 gallon tank on the property. Fotis was accused in police reports of lying in wait for Jennifer, attacking her in her home in New Canaan and then removing her body. Her remains were never found and he insisted until his January suicide that he did not know where she was. The property's current owner said investigators promised they would return. 'I told them anytime, whatever they needed to do,' says David Ford, the Stamford Advocate reports. 'I brought them in every room and showed them every nook and cranny,' Ford said. 'I told them that 'if you want to knock down a wall, go ahead. They left no stone unturned,' he added. The empty property is not owned by Dulos, but his construction group had a contract to demolish it after it was damaged in a flood. No one has lived in it since late 2017. He and Jennifer rented it in 2010 briefly before Ford bought it. Images from inside show the house show the vandalism, including graffiti on a fireplace One image shows the home's interior completely gutted after it was damaged by flooding A stone fireplace is shown surrounded by exposed wooden studs inside the home Another image reveals the home had a gun safe built into a concrete wall Graffiti is seen spray painted on glass doors leading to the outside of the mansion in another image A septic tanker arrived to drain the huge septic tank on the property on Thursday afternoon In 2018, Ford hired Fotis' company, Fore Group, to demolish it. It's unclear when the demolition was due to begin or why it didn't before Jennifer vanished. Fotis killed himself awaiting trial for her murder. In June last year, police searched the property but they never obtained a search warrant to do it and instead gained entry by getting permission from the owner. They did not bring cadaver dogs or forensic teams for the first search to look through the woods that are behind it or the septic tank, as they have done with other Dulos properties. On Thursday, multiple cars were seen outside it and police with cadaver dogs. Jennifer Dulos vanished last May. Her estranged husband Fotis killed himself while out on bail for her murder in January The property in Avon is owned by Dulos' property development group. Rows of law enforcement cars were seen there on Thursday. Picture courtesy of NBC CT The house backs on to a huge swathe of woods and is set far back from the road The house is less than two miles from where Fotis was living in Farmington, Connecticut, when Jennifer vanished last May after dropping off their kids at school. Fotis protested his innocence until his death, even writing in a suicide note that he hadn't killed her. His girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, and lawyer, Kent Mawhinney, were both charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Both are awaiting their next court date. TIMELINE OF THE FOTIS DULOS CASE 2004: Fotis Dulos and Jennifer Farber get married. It is his second marriage In the same year, her father Hilliard starts loaning him money for his property business, Fore Group. 2015: Fotis and Michelle Troconis start taking trips he paid for which he claimed were for business. They later start an affair. January 2017: Hilliard Farber dies March 2017: Gloria Farber takes over his estate June 2017: Jennifer files for divorce, saying she is afraid of her husband February 2018: Gloria Farber sues Fotis Dulos for unpaid loans May 24 2019: Jennifer vanishes after dropping off her five children at school June 2019: Fotis and Michelle Troconis are arrested for evidence tampering Gloria Farber files an order for custody of the children. House in Avon is briefly searched but not extensively. August 2019: Troconis 'turns' on Dulos in police interviews, admits she lied when she said she had an alibi for him September 2019: Fotis is arrested again for evidence tampering January 2020: Dulos and Troconis are charged with murder January 28: Dulos is found unresponsive at his Farmington home January 30: Fotis dies in hospital June 11: Police search house in Avon, CT Advertisement Fotis and Jennifer's children are now being taken care of by her mother. They were in the midst of a bitter divorce battle when she disappeared and Fotis claimed she had been keeping the children from him. Jennifer had alleged in court documents that Fotis was aggressive towards her. Their former nanny described him chasing her around the house on occasions. Last year, police reports about the case revealed that DNA that belonged to Jennifer had been found in trash bags that Fotis allegedly dumped in public trash cans the night she vanished. He'd borrowed an employee's car for the day and, when it was tested, forensics teams found traces of her blood, according to the report. Troconis initially lied to police on his behalf, claiming they had been together but leaked police reports claim she later changed her story and told police she had been covering for him. In a statement released last month, Troconis, breaking her silence, said it had been a 'mistake' to trust him. She insisted she still did not know what happened to Jennifer. Fotis was also in a dispute with Jennifer's family about money they claimed he owed them. Throughout the course of their marriage, her late father lent Fotis millions to buy properties to develop them and then sell them on for a profit. They had an agreement that he'd repay the loans once he'd sold the properties. After Jennifer disappeared, her mother sued Fotis claiming he owed their family estate millions. He said he was entitled to keep the money because it was part of a family agreement. Dulos and Troconis were first charged last year with evidence tampering. He and his attorney made comments that were widely criticized at the time, including the suggestion that she had killed herself in a Gone Girl-style plot and tried to frame him for her death. Dulos' company, the Fore Group, had debts totaling $7million when he died and he likely faced steep legal fees from his criminal case and his divorce and custody battle. He was audacious in his public comments and gave an interview to a newspaper in his native Greece where he complained he'd been the victim of malicious prosecution. The first set of arrest warrants described how Dulos allegedly lay in wait for Jennifer at the home she was renting and attacked her in the garage. The documents state unequivocally that it is 'strongly believed' Jennifer was attacked in her garage then put in her own Chevrolet Suburban 2017 to be driven to the spot where the car was eventually found. In the car, they found her phone which had been active in the location where the car was for 40 minutes before suddenly going offline. In those 40 minutes, Fotis - who had earlier been seen in Connecticut driving an employee's car - was nowhere to be seen. Dulos girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, who he was living with at the time, and his attorney and friend, Kent Mawhinney, are still facing conspiracy to commit murder Jennifer's rental home in New Canaan where police believe she was attacked in her garage A page from the hundreds of warrants show the list of the blood stains found inside Jennifer's garage Three minutes after Jennifer's phone went offline, he was seen turning back onto a road, in the same employee's car he'd been driving earlier. The search warrants do not give any indication of what may have happened to Jennifer's body. When authorities searched Jennifer's home they found blood in the garage - which had been previously reported - but exactly where in the garage remained a secret until now. The new documents list that blood was found on the concrete floor of the garage, two garbage cans in the garage and on the passenger door of a Range Rover parked inside. Police also found shoe impressions and said that someone had tried to clean up the blood. Authorities also said they found traces of blood on a cellphone and a tablet that were discovered in the master bedroom of the home. The search warrants reveal the lengths police went to before bringing the charges. They have asked for countless phone records, access to Jennifer's iCloud account and GPS information from inside her car which they think will answer the mystery of what happened to her. The documents also reveal more about the many interviews that have been carried out between Jennifer's disappearance and this month, when Dulos and Troconis were charged with murder. They include one with a technician who worked for Dulos' construction company who helped Troconis back up the contents of her phone onto a hard drive for her to give to her lawyer. She told the technician that she wanted to avoid having photographs of her daughter on the internet and that she had already removed her Facebook page. Surveillance footage (pictured) shows the last known images of Jennifer driving home, where police say Dulos 'lay in wait', after she dropped her children at school at around 8am on May 24 Dulos is shown on May 29 withdrawing $500 cash before visiting a car wash to clean his employee's car on the day Jennifer vanished At the time, neither Troconis nor Dulos had been charged. Dulos in January. He maintained his innocence until he killed himself The technician said he said: 'It must be really weird for Fotis with Jennifer missing,' and that she shot him a 'weird look' in response He said he thought nothing of the interaction until after their arrests. Other interviews were conducted with the couple's nanny, Lauren Almeida, who said Jennifer was 'very afraid' of her husband. Almeida recalled an incident in June 2017 when she said she found Jennifer crying in the driveway. Jennifer told her Fotis had just tried to run her over and that she had to jump out of the way. In the same summer, she said she watched Fotis 'chase' Jennifer through the house. Jennifer barricaded herself in her bedroom while Fotis pounded on the door, she said. She said he calmed down when he realized she and one of the children were also in the room. Almeida said Jennifer told her she did not want to call the police, however, because she was 'very afraid' of her husband. She said he threatened to take the children with him to his native Greece. Jennifer's lawyer also told police that a week before she vanished, Fotis lost another attempt to try to win unsupervised visits with the children. On the night of Jennifer's disappearance, even after he had been notified that she was missing, Fotis called the babysitter and asked her if she would still be able to bring the children to him the following day. It was unusual, she said, because she was never normally involved in picking them up or dropping them off. She said that she was waiting on instructions from the police but he texted her later, asking for an update. Fotis Dulos is transported into Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx on Tuesday after attempting to kill himself with carbon monoxide poisoning in his garage in Connecticut before a court appearance Fotis was found in his car inside his garage. The exhaust pipe he used to try to kill himself is shown attached to his vehicle There are multiple examples of occurrences when either Jennifer or Fotis called police for a domestic disturbance. There is also reference to a gun that was owned by Fotis but which police wished to secure. The whereabouts of the gun is unknown, the warrants state. MICHELLE TROCONIS: I SHOULDN'T HAVE TRUSTED HIM 'My name is Michelle Troconis. For the past year, people have said many things about me - some kind; some cruel. I was advised by my lawyers to remain quiet and rely on the justice system, which is very frustrating for me because there is a lot I would wish to say. It has been nearly a year since I first heard about the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos. 'As a mother, I am saddened for the loss that these five children have suffered, being left without both parents in such a short period of time. But despite the way I have been treated by the police, I know nothing about Jennifer Dulos' whereabouts or what may have happened to her. 'I know that under American law, I don't have to prove my innocence, but actually, to me it feels that way during all this time of public scrutiny. 'To those who are quick to judge people they do not know, let me say this: It is possible to misjudge others. 'Whether or not Fotis Dulos was capable of doing the things the police and prosecutors accused him of doing, I do not know. But based on what I have learned in the last year, I think it was a mistake to have trusted him.' Advertisement Almeida was interviewed on May 25, a day after Jennifer vanished. She revealed then that on the night of Jennifer's disappearance, even after he had been notified that she was missing, Fotis called the her and asked her if she would still be able to bring the children to him the following day. It was unusual, she said, because she was never normally involved in picking them up or dropping them off. She said that she was waiting on instructions from the police but he texted her later, asking for an update. Fotis went in for a voluntary interview the same day but froze up when police said they planned to seize his phone. He then left without answering questions. The warrants suggest that some crime took place at a property owned by Dulos where he asked Troconis to meet him in the hours after Jennifer vanished. He told her to bring cleaning supplies to the property - specifically a Swiffer, Clorox and paper towel. Later, the pair drove to what Troconis described to police as a 'creepy' area of Connecticut where Dulos insisted on getting out of the car several times to drop bags in trash cans. It was unusual for him, she said. Two people who match their description were seen on surveillance cameras making those stops. A woman who also fits Troconis' description was spotted dropping off a bag at a different trash can. Police believe Kent Mawhinney, who was representing Fotis in a civil case against his estranged wife's family as they sued him for $2.5million in unpaid loans, was going to help him by providing an alibi for him on the morning of Jennifer's disappearance. They also spoke with Mawhinney's wife who fears the pair were plotting something against her because she had reported her husband for rape. He had denied the charges, insisting their sex was consensual. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 16:13:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHONGQING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A group of 20 Chinese medical experts has returned to China after aiding the fight against COVID-19 in Algeria and Sudan. The experts arrived in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Friday morning after completing their mission. The team left Chongqing on May 14. With the help of Chinese embassies in the two countries, the experts carried out a series of exchanges, training, on-site inspections and case discussions concerning COVID-19 with local government officials, technical experts and medics of the two countries and shared epidemic prevention and control measures and treatment experience with them. The Chinese experts provided anti-epidemic training and guidance for local Chinese enterprises, Chinese people, students and medical teams. Via videoconferencing, the team also conducted exchanges with government officials and technical experts from Egypt, South Sudan, Morocco and Mauritania. During their stay, they visited 23 hospitals, laboratories and research institutes, held 56 technical exchange meetings, 19 on-site guidance sessions, more than 30 training sessions and offered multilingual books for epidemic prevention and control to the two countries' health departments. Enditem A bereaved relative has said it is frustrating that unsafe cladding is still an issue, three years after the Grenfell Tower fire. Karim Mussilhy, whose uncle Hesham Rahman died in the Grenfell blaze, said he had never heard of cladding before the tragedy at the west London block, three years ago this weekend. Mr Mussilhy, vice chair of support group Grenfell United, told the PA news agency: I remember the day of the fire, its all everybody was talking about. It was very clear that this cladding was the main cause of why the fire spread how it spread. It was everywhere, it was all over the area, it was all over our clothes, we could smell it. Still three years on were talking about getting it down. His comments come after a parliamentary committee warned fixing all serious fire safety defects in high-risk residential buildings could cost up to 15 billion. Karim Mussilhy, who lost his uncle in the Grenfell Tower fire (Kirsty OConnor/PA) His sentiments have been echoed by fire chiefs who believe it is wholly unacceptable that buildings are still covered in unsafe cladding three years after Grenfell. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) in the UK has called for a fundamental reform of building safety and the groups chairman Roy Wilsher said everyone has a right to feel safe in their homes and called for ministers to speed up changes to make sure we do not see another tragedy of this scale unfold. Some 2,000 residential buildings are still wrapped in dangerous cladding, with thousands of homeowners sleeping in potential fire traps every night, according to the report by the UK Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee (HCLGC). But the British Governments new 1 billion fund to remove certain types of cladding will cover just one third of the highest-risk blocks in England, it adds. Moreover, it says: Stringent rules on applying to the fund, including a short application window and restrictions against social housing providers, risks leaving many unable to access vital funding. The report, Cladding: Progress of Remediation, calls on the Government to pay the exorbitant costs of temporary safety measures currently being footed by blameless leaseholders, before preparing to take legal action against building owners who have dragged their heels. Some 300 residential blocks in England still have Grenfell-style aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding, while around 1,700 more have some form of dangerous cladding such as timber or high pressure laminate. The UK Government has so far committed 200 million for the removal of ACM cladding from private residential blocks and 400 million for social sector blocks. In the spring Budget, UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak set up a 1 billion fund for the removal of unsafe non-ACM cladding for residential blocks 18 metres or taller. But the committee said this would cover only around 600 of the 1,700 buildings, saying the Government is clearly trying to find ways to fit a 3 billion liability into a 1 billion funding pot. Moreover, building owners only have between June 1 and July 31 to apply for funds, which are to be allocated on a first come, first served basis, and any works commenced before March 2020 will not be covered. The report added the funds cover only cladding removal, and do not stretch to other serious fire safety defects including combustible insulation, timber balconies and walkways, missing fire breaks and faulty fire doors. Sunday marks three years since the Grenfell Tower fire, where an electrical fault with a fridge freezer sparked a devastating blaze which killed 72 people. .@CommonsHCLG is right. @mhclg has failed to fix cladding nightmare. 3 yrs on 1000s in unsafe homes. 3 yrs on so little action. It is a huge failure by the Government 3 yrs & ppl still living in fear We urge MPs join this call #EndOurCladdingScandal https://t.co/pVDb23l15u Grenfell United (@GrenfellUnited) June 12, 2020 Flames which rapidly engulfed the 24-storey west London building were fuelled by its ACM cladding system, which had a polyethylene core. The cladding system had a heat combustion akin to diesel and close to lighter fluid, the public inquiry into the disaster has heard. The report said the victims of Grenfell had paid a terrible price for a catastrophic failure of industry and Government. Since the fire, there has been a nationwide ban in the UK on using combustible cladding on new buildings and mandatory sprinklers on new-builds over 11 metres. A UK Government spokesman said: The safety of residents is our top priority and since the Grenfell Tower fire we have worked tirelessly with councils to identify buildings at risk and ensure they are made safe. We are providing 1.6 billion for the removal and replacement of unsafe cladding from high-rise buildings and are bringing forward the biggest legislative changes in a generation to provide further enforcement powers against those who do not comply with the law and ensuring that residents safety is at the heart of the construction process. Building owners have a legal responsibility to keep their residents safe and whilst we have seen positive action from some, we are clear that more needs to be done to protect their tenants. According to the retainer agreement the committee discussed, the law firm would provide a group of attorneys to provide services to the county, and would commit to spending eight days per month at the countys building, and would attend all county board meetings and E&L committee meetings. For corporation counsel services, the county would be charged $17,500 per month, and would be billed an hourly rate for any services not within the scope of corporation counsel services, according to the agreement. I think its extraordinary to get a firm like this to something like this for a flat rate, said Rehfeldt. Theyre going to provide attorneys to be at the countys disposal. I think this is a really nice transition for the county. I think its going to work out pretty well. At the meeting, Rehfeldt expressed concerns about a lot of unfinished and backlogged work. One of the things that happened when I first arrived here, I was trying to determine what kind of backlog there was. Based upon the things Id seen and communication I had, I thought we were going to be looking at a four- to six-week backlog, said Rehfeldt. It was more like six to nine months. Nothing has contributed more to substandard treatment of older adults in nursing homes than a futile, failed rule imposed by state and federal governments at the advent of the COVID-19 crisis: Virtually no visits for anyone in any nursing home or skilled nursing facility. The ban was intended to keep the coronavirus out of nursing homes, but patients there nevertheless account for more than one-fourth of the more than 110,000 COVID-19 deaths nationally and almost half of Californias fatalities. Its clear the nearly four-month ouster of visiting relatives and friends has been worse than useless. The rule has certainly not kept the virus away. But it produced scores of heart-wrenching newspaper stories and television news segments featuring some of the thousands of patients who died alone because nursing homes kept their loved ones away, be they friends or close relatives like sons and daughters, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. Some said permanent goodbyes to beloved elders through closed windows or via cellphones, making for dramatic videos. The harm from this goes far beyond emotional damage. It has also led to newly low standards of care in many facilities, charge some patients, their relatives and doctors. Thomas D. Elias: Slapdash budget cuts or an Arnold-style bond? Even a cursory look at the planned cuts shows one consistent thread: The neediest will be hit hardest. There is a better way, columnist Tom Elias says. One accomplished, mentally alert 76-year-old man who was forced to sell his house and move permanently into a nursing home when he became too disabled to transfer from bed to wheelchair by himself confided this: during one stretch in May he was kept in bed for periods of both five consecutive days and, later, four straight days. Telephone calls to a nurses station near his room revealed he is routinely put to bed at 4 p.m. daily, like it or not. In an email, he said this was new, done for the convenience of the staff. Such treatment has become routine in an unknown, but large, number of nursing homes chiefly because of the virtual ban on visitation, mandated by overlapping federal and state rules. This is true despite assertions from the California Department of Public Health (DPH) that it has conducted numerous inspections and assessed many penalties during the pandemic. Nursing home management already disliked visitors before COVID-19, said Michael Dark, staff attorney for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. Visitors notice bedsores on people not being turned in their beds, they see when residents are not hydrated or not clean, they notice when sheets are not changed, things that are supposed to be routine. Management knows visitors can complain to state authorities. But because of the visitor ban, outsiders now dont see these things or complain. Thomas D. Elias: Its not just rage at racism, but also economics For decades, academics warned that the ever-widening income gap in America could have dire consequences for California and the rest of the nat All this is in the name of shutting the coronavirus out of the homes, something that clearly does not work. That is chiefly because nursing home staff, including many certified nursing assistants, is low paid, often getting minimum wages and thus forced to work more than one job to survive. If one nursing home is sanitary, but staffers also work in others that are not, they can carry the viral infestation from home to home. And theres no requirement for regular testing. One doctor who treats nursing home patients when they arrive in her hospital with COVID-19 wrote in the New York Times, The elderly are more isolated and defenseless than ever. So it is long past time the Department of Public Health changes a key word repeated often in its May 2 guidelines that help exclude almost all visitors from California nursing homes. Those rules repeatedly recommend homes admit visitors under specific, spelled-out conditions, including a recommendation that children in skilled nursing facilities each be allowed visits from one support person. Thomas D. Elias: Why should Biden choose Harris for Veep Kamala Harris offers some political advantages to Joe Biden as VP nominee, but she comes with baggage of her own, columnist Tom Elias says. Said Dark, The guidelines could mean there will be virtually no visitors for years to come because management interprets them to mean they dont have to let anyone in. If the DPH changed its wording to shall or must, it could improve things a lot. But Heidi Steinecker, deputy director of Department of Public Healths Center for Health Care Quality, declined to say whether she would consider such a change. The bottom line here is that right now, Gov. Gavin Newsoms administration tolerates a situation that leads to disease and death for thousands of helpless elders and others in nursing homes. Thomas D. Elias writes the syndicated California Focus column. He is author of the book, The Burzynski Breakthrough: The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It. The measure outlines plans to create a civilian unit that would be trained to oversee both vendor enforcement and education. (Ms. Lapeyrolerie did not say whether the mayor would support the bill, which would need his signature.) The plan would also increase the number of permits available to food vendors for the first time in four decades, which Mr. Menchaca, a sponsor of Intro 1116, said could help the citys economic recovery from the pandemic. A bill to lift that cap is in committee in the State Senate. The Street Vendor Project of the Urban Justice Center, an advocacy group, estimates that there are 10,000 to 20,000 vendors across the five boroughs. But only 853 people receive nonfood permits, and only about 5,000 can legally vend food, according to Matthew Shapiro, the centers legal director. As with taxi medallions, the organization says capping the amount of permits is dangerous, because many vendors have to sell illegally, risking fines, property confiscation and arrest. There is a decade-long waiting list for permits, and an underground market where a two-year permit (officially issued by the city for $200) can sell for $25,000 or more. Mr. de Blasios spokeswoman did not specify whether more licenses would be issued as part of the mayors plan. Millions Affected by Heavy Flooding in Southern China Honest News Straight to Your Home. Try the Epoch Times yourself, and get a free gift. Severe weather in China has wreaked havoc in the northern and southern areas since the start of June. Eleven southern districts have been inundated by floodwaters as heavy rainfall continues, affecting more than 2.6 million people. Meanwhile, the northern districts are experiencing high temperatures. Chinas state media reported on June 10 that the flooding has caused more than a dozen deaths, and forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes in south and central China. But residents say the numbers could be higher. Locals in the affected areas criticized the authorities for not doing enough. They said the authorities did not send any relief efforts, and the state-run media covered up the severity of the situation. In southern China, waters in 110 rivers have overflowed due to heavy rainfall. Eleven provinces, including Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hunan saw the most damage, including flooded streets, collapsed houses and roads, landslides, and damaged crops. A Chinese netizen posted on Twitter: Hunan has never received such a heavy rainstorm in fifty years, it continued for four days and four nights straight! There are too many unusual phenomenons this year, the Chinese people are suffering even more. A video of the rainstorm was included in the Twitter post in which a man shouted: Enough rain! Enough rain! Enough rain! Enough rain! Mr. Kuo, a resident from Zhuzhou city, Hunan province was concerned about the floodwaters. Mr. Kuo: There was a huge rainstorm here in Zhuzhou city and many places have been flooded, but state-run media did not report about it. Right now, the media only reports the good stories, not the bad ones. Xiang River is close to Yangtze River and when heavy rain falls, the area downstream of Xiang River gets flooded. It happened last year. I live on the side of Xiang River and its water has gone up a lot, but not as much as last year. Since early June, heavy rainstorms had hit Guangxi province causing Qingshitan Reservoir, the largest reservoir in the area, to overflow. This flooded the entire Yangshuo county downstream, causing road closures and power outages in many neighborhoods. Residents did not have internet nor running water. Mr. Wang from Guilin city indicated that other places in Guangxi, such as Lipu city, Yangshuo county, and Pingle county were also hit-hard by the storm. He criticized the local authorities for publishing a total of nine deaths and believes they are lying about the actual number of deaths. Mr. Wang: The overflowing of reservoirs is definitely a huge problem and causes a big flood. Every year people die of floods like this. The number of deaths and damaged properties are enormous but it is not reported on TV. No one comes to the rescue. They [authorities] seem to be blind and deaf to the sufferings of the Chinese citizens. The sewer system of a city represents the conscience of the governmentthey did not build it well. Guangdong province was also heavily impacted by floods. In Shaoguan city, heavy rainfall began on June 8 and lasted for a day, causing Mengzhou reservoir to overflow. At about 6 a.m. on June 9, landslides occurred near Shaoguan Baizhu Power Station, damaging the pressure tube of the power station, and disrupting travel in some parts of the G323 Highway. Mr. Tsang, a local from Huizhou city in Guangdong, said, The flood covered a huge area, many vehicles were under water and many houses collapsed. The sewer system definitely has problems because this happens every single year. The government has done nothing and has no solutions at all. We dont see reports on the flooding, not to mention having relief efforts. The death of the guy [George Floyd] in the United States received a lot of coverage in the media, but nobody reports on any of the deaths of the Chinese people [caused by the flooding]. While floodwaters inundated the South, many northern provinces including North China, Huanghuai area, Shaanxi, Northeast China, and Inner Mongolia are experiencing the highest temperatures recorded for this year since June 2. The weather forecast indicated that high temperatures will stick around and will continue to rise over 40 degrees Celsius. The high temperature will remain blisteringly dry, with surface temperatures between 50 to 60 degrees Celsius in the afternoon, with local areas exceeding 70 degrees Celsius. Diane Kruger is enjoying the mom life. The Inglourious Basterds actress, 43, was seen Friday morning in a park in Beverly Hills, California, with the one-year-old daughter she shares with beau Norman Reedus of The Walking Dead fame. Diane and Norman, 51, have opted to keep the name of their baby girl private in an effort to keep her identity as out of the public eye as possible. Mom patrol: Diane Kruger was seen Friday morning in a park in Beverly Hills, with the one-year-old daughter she shares with beau Norman Reedus of The Walking Dead fame On Friday, Diane rocked a simple black t-shirt, along with a matching newsboy cap atop her head. The mask she wore, hanging from one ear, was also black. On the bottom, she wore roomy denim shorts, which were secured with a black leather belt. On her feet she wore criss-cross brown leather strappy sandals. Statuesque: Diane rocked a simple black t-shirt, along with a matching newsboy cap atop her head, paired with roomy denim shorts Kruger had her blond hair knotted just underneath her hat. The actress was seen with a black backpack and large yellow and pink tote, which she used to hold a colorful chevron throw that she and her daughter sat upon in the grass. The National Treasure star's baby girl was seen on her two feet, toddling along in a white patterned onesie. Like her mom, the little one also wore brown strapped sandals. Lovebirds: Diane and Norman, together since 2016, have opted to keep the name of their baby private in an effort to keep her identity as out of the public eye as possible; seen here in 2018 Kruger and Reedus who welcomed their daughter in November of 2018 have been hunkering down together in their Hollywood Hills home amid the coronavirus pandemic. The couple first met on the set of their indie drama Sky in 2014, while Diane was in a troubled relationship with longtime on-again-off-again boyfriend Joshua Jackson, 41. Once Diane split from Joshua for good in 2016, she and Norman began dating and have remained in a steady relationship ever since. Though her daughter with Reedus is Kruger's first child, Norman is already a father to son Mingus, 20, whom he shares with his supermodel ex Helena Christensen, 51. Brunswick District Attorney Jackie Johnson (pictured) is currently under investigation for failing to bring charges in the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery A district attorney in Georgia facing investigation for failing to prosecute in the Ahmaud Arbery case has now recused herself from yet another case. Brunswick District Attorney Jackie Johnson initially did not bring charges against two white men accused of shooting Arbery, a 25-year-old black man, while he was out for a jog. According to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, she told the state's district attorney Chris Carr on May 21 that she was removing herself from a case against Glynn County Police Chief John Powell. Powell and two other officers were indicted in February 2019 regarding an investigation into an officer who had an inappropriate sexual relationship with an informant. The newspaper reports that Powell, who is on administrative paid leave, was indicted on charges of three counts of violating oath of office, two counts of influencing a witness and one count of criminal attempt to commit a felony. Johnson apparently ignored Georgia law when she appointed her own special prosecutor to take on Powell's case. On May 21, Johnson announced that she was recusing herself from a case against Glynn County Police Chief John Powell (left) due to conflicts of interest. She did the same in the Arbery (right) case because one of the men charged in his death used to work as an investigator for her Even after she 'stepped aside,' Johnson continued to advise on the case. Powell's attorney, Martin Shook, told the Journal Constitution that he believes his client's charges are bogus and that Johnson merely holds animosity towards Powell. 'At this point in time it seems pretty clear to me the indictments have to be quashed,' Shook said. 'She has a conflict. Anything that happened is tainted.' He claims their relationship frayed after Officer Cory Sasser killed his wife and her male friend in June 2018. Johnson allegedly recommended Sasser be freed on bond for an assault that occurred before the killing, against the recommendation of investigators. She is now being investigated for her role in the death of Arbery on February 23. Arbery was killed after Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son, Travis McMichael, 34, chased Arbery for four minutes in their white pick-up truck while he was jogging in the Satilla Shores neighborhood near Brunswick. The elder McMichael told police that he and his son believed Arbery was responsible for a recent burglary in the neighborhood. However, local police said there have been no break-ins in the area for the last few months. Video of the killing, filmed by William Bryan, 50, sparked a national outcry not just due to the senseless murder but also because more than two months went by before any charges were brought. Arbery was killed February 23 after Gregory McMichael (left), and his son Travis McMichael (right) pursued him when he jogged past their yard just outside the port city of Brunswick Shocking cellphone video captured the moment Gregory and Travis McMichael confronted Arbery in the street. In the footage Travis is seen engaging in a physical fight with Arbery before shooting him with a shotgun Johnson is accused of allegedly directing Glynn County officers not to arrest the father and son duo. She later recused herself and her office, passing on the case to Waycross District Attorney George Barnhill, because the elder McMichael had worked as investigator for her in the past. Barnhill also later recused himself due to conflicts of interest. Last month, Johnson blamed the police department and denied claims she told investigators not to make an arrest of the McMichaels pair. 'Under Georgia law, the District Attorney has no arrest powers. Rather it is the duty and obligation of the law enforcement officer to determine probable cause for arrest,' her statement reads in part. 'At no time on February 23, 2020, did District Attorney Jackie Johnson have any conversation with any Glynn County police officer about this case. Further, no Assistant District Attorney in the office directed any Glynn County police officer not to make an arrest.' This map shows the route and timeline on which Arbery was killed by father and son, Gregory and Travis McMichael A potential new form of gene therapy which offers hope to people with an eye disease which causes blindness has been developed by Irish scientists. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of rare, genetic disorders that involves a breakdown and loss of cells in the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. Common early stage symptoms include difficulty seeing at night and a loss of side vision, with blindness often developing over time. Now researchers from Trinity College Dublin and University College London (UCL) have teamed up to pool their expertise in genetics, virology and ophthalmology. They have started the journey towards a new treatment for the condition, according to the journal, 'Stem Cell Reports'. Scientists have known for some time that mutations in the gene RP2, which is responsible for making a protein essential for normal vision, are associated with RP diseases. However, there are currently no therapies to treat people living with a number of RP diseases. The collaborative team behind the exciting new research used a modified common virus to deliver a normal, functioning copy of the RP2 gene into "mini retinas", which had been engineered from stem cells and which contained the defective version of the gene. The mini retinas developed in UCL simulated the RP2 disease in patients. Subsequent analysis showed that these mini retinas had successfully taken up the functioning RP2 gene following the viral delivery and produced the essential protein associated with it. The researchers said that, crucially, the treated mini retinas showed significant improvement - underlining that the approach had rescued them from RP. Ciara Shortall, PhD researcher in Trinity's School of Genetics and Microbiology, who is one of the main authors of the research, said: "For the last 30 years there has been a lot of buzz about gene therapies and their potential for treating a huge variety of debilitating diseases and disorders, but it is really only recently that science has overcome difficulties associated with such approaches and begun to bring potential therapies far closer. "In relative terms, it is now fairly easy to replace troublesome genes with functioning versions using non-harmful viruses, which is what we have done here. And while we are still some time and a lot of work away from an approved therapy, it is hugely exciting to have begun a journey that could one day provide an effective treatment to rescue eyesight." The Trinity team, led by Professor Jane Farrar, used their expertise in genetics and virus creation in the process, while the UCL team, led by Prof Michael Cheetham, took the lead in creating the mini retinas. According to Prof Cheetham: "It is an important development that we can now reproduce so many elements of inherited disease using these mini retinas. It makes it possible for us to study in detail why people go blind and try to find ways to prevent blindness. It's exciting that the gene therapy seems to be so effective for this form of RP." It is supported by the Health Research Board of Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland. INVESTOR ALERT: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Announces Investigation of Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) on Behalf of Investors Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces an investigation on behalf of Wells Fargo (News - Alert) & Company ("Wells Fargo" or the "Company") (NYSE: WFC) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. On April 19, 2020, after at least one lawsuit was filed against the Company, reports surfaced that Wells Fargo may have unfairly distributed government-backed loans under the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"). On this news the Company's share price fell $1.54, or over 5%, over two consecutive trading sessions to close at $26.84 per share on April 21, 2020, therey injuring investors. Finally, on May 5, 2020, the Company revealed that "it has . . . received formal and informal inquiries from federal and state governmental agencies regarding its offering of PPP loans." On this news, the Company's share price fell $1.74, or over 6%, over two consecutive trading sessions to close at $25.61 per share on May 6, 2020, thereby injuring investors further. If you purchased Wells Fargo securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005063/en/ Almost all my friends are running away leaving me! The weather is currently distinguished with severity and dreading, I am about to flee too. But I fear if I failed to survive this temperature, who has got to tell the full story to the current generation about what the weather ahead is and the measures to take. Of course, my own native Africa is stunting with a few trees and impoverished soil nature. Talking about the industrial regions, the atmosphere in Europe, the USA, and China are exploding with sparks of fire. Temperate regions become the hottest and adaptation now is highly impossible. Sea levels today are high and no more rescue. This is indeed attesting to the words of Eric Rignot, a professor of Earth System Science at the University of California, years down or back when he said the melting of the Antarctica ice could lead to alarming sea levels in coming centuries. Indeed, these were testimonies to show that greenhouse gases and global warming are prepared to cause trauma to mankind with cancer and related diseases. On this tenth day of my stay, my black skin is no longer resisting the condition in this realm of 2030. The weather is hot! 'Even plastics today have taken over the seas, fishes are now lesser than the micro-plastics. It is true as I speak. The special report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a diplomatic body of the United Nations reported that global warming will hit 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius between 2030 and 2052 if current trends continue. I am presently testifying. It is the 2030th weather. This is a prompt to keep us humming of proper environmental practices to avoid weather adversity in these coming decades. Escaping a coming temperature rate of 1.5 to 2C, I owe the responsibility to create awareness of the state of the decades ahead and the proposed measures to fight such climate change. It really pained my heart when our grandchildren today in 2030 keep crying with heavy blame on their parents who failed to take good care of the environment. My sleepless nights are mainly on the thought: What fundamental efforts I would perform to respond to climate change through the generations down the years? Nothing, man only needs to be an ambassador of the environment. None really escapes the weather trauma. A grand responsibility seems to be uploaded on only leaders as well as scientists. Meanwhile, as my conscious efforts trigger me to keep my environment clean, you need the same because a fault on one geography is a threat to other geographies. Basically, everyone on earth owes a civic responsibility to fight climate change by means of commitment, integrity, and consciousness. Yet all societies need to enhance their adaptive capacity to face both present and future climate change outside their experienced coping range. For one to enhance his coping capacity, he first needs an adaptation guide. That is keeping conscious efforts in their societies to avoid bush burning, desilt choked gutters, and at a grand report any threat on the environment. As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) under the UN seeks to support weather ADAPTATION, they need individual commitment and efforts to promote this proposed course to fully solve the problem. When I had the chance to judge the beauty of the universe, it was ecologically 90% as of 1985 when statistics on climatic begun. But in 2010, whilst I was on top of the high mountains and perceived the earth, I thought I was rather on planet mars, which is full of dust and gases. This confirmed Hinami Totakes words pursuit of convenience calls for nature lost. Industrial gases are taking seats with time, combustion of dangerous and dirty gases. In 2015, Europe recorded 78% of greenhouse gas emission whilst 87% was the industrial gases that upscaled average global temperatures with dander. Copernicus climate change service showed that 2018 was the warmest year on record in Europe. As we grow technology, we grow global vulnerability to bad weather. But industrial activities cannot be truncated because of consumption convenience. However, to respond to this threat, applicable charges are seriously and strictly required to compensate for carbon release. This will trigger the use of clean energy sustainably with conscious efforts. Fossil fuel would calm down. Furthermore, a new study showed that planting 0.9billion hectares of land could trap about two-third, the amount of carbon released by human activities. I suggest investment in agriculture specifically trees with a positive mindset as another response to climate change. Farming and tree plantation be made a priority. This should feed upwards into the actions of international development agencies and to the whole notion of strict afforestation policy within the processes and mechanisms of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Africa and other savanna regions across the world are good geographies where this initiative can see lights of success. High summer heat, combined with extreme humidity, have risen in most world regions. For example; El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the last two decades had devastating effects. But such concussion will not be experienced anew if tree plantation of about 0.9 billion hectares or more is championed within the UNs climatic negotiation. Lastly, Chiles agenda of cutting down greenhouse gases is worth discussing the response to climate change. Chile out doored an electric bus in Santiago, mainly to cut down greenhouse effects. I reason with them because the rate at which vessels release gases is alarming. This has slowly increased the vulnerability and health risk of the current and past generations. To save the subsequent generations, the UN climatic negotiations should admit this course to urge companies to switch to electric vehicular productions. The advent of the prototype-battery called Quantum Glass battery which can power a car in just 60s to cover 1,000 miles on a sole charge is something to expect sooner. Some automotive companies are yearning for it. The General motors: Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen, BMW, Honda, Porsche, etc this means the world is about to experience a paradigm shift. Cool. In conclusion, climate change is the worlds fundamental threat. Day after day, we encounter universe lost. But attempts are the endeavors of the UN climatic negotiations, the IPCC, Paris agreement, and artificial intelligence. However, they seemed to be informed by theory instead of practice. The time to rescue the world is this and as such requires the conscious efforts of every individual being the ambassador of good weather, charges on the excessive release of carbon, we need investment in agriculture, and finally, reflect on Chiles agenda. Up to this would cause something beyond the status quo, then our salvation. AdamIntegrated... History and Political Science Department -KNUST- Kumasi An Australian property developer worth over half a billion dollars has revealed how Zoom helped his business thrive during the coronavirus pandemic. Tim Gurner - who is worth $672 million - said the online meeting application gave him back the time he wasted travelling interstate to meet important clients. The 37-year-old, who took out the number three spot in Australia's Young Rich List in 2018, said he was planning to cut his domestic travel in half once travelling restrictions ease. Australian property developer, Tim Gurner (right) has revealed the use of online meeting application, Zoom, helped his business thrive amid COVID-19 'I can now connect with interstate stakeholders at the click of a Zoom link, rather than spending a whole day travelling for one or two quick meetings,' he told the Australian Financial Review. 'Until then, I'm not planning on travelling really at all until there is more clarity, so for now, my interstate meetings will continue to be held on Zoom.' Mr Gurner - who famously said millennials should stop forking out '$40 a day on smashed avocados and coffees' - started his first business at university, running events at Melbourne nightclubs. He then founded a gym business called My Wellbeing after borrowing $34,000 from his grandfather. After his father died, Mr Gurner took a year off and sold his business before deciding to invest in property during the global financial crisis in 2008. The lockdown period had been a 'huge test' for Mr Gurner's tight-knit staff who he said loved the face-to-face contact in the office. But despite the major transition, the property tycoon said there had been a string of positive changes to come out of the pandemic - including 'surprise cuddles' from his kids. Mr Gurner started to invest in property in 2008 and was number three on Australia's Young Rich List in 2018 Mr Gurner said the lockdown gave people a chance to 'slow down' and focus on their family and friends first. The millionaire also says he has no plan to return to the office just yet and will reduce his travel by between 20-40 per cent. When restrictions were first put in place, Mr Gurner had two high-rise projects on the move. In just two weeks days he managed to settle 99 per cent of the apartments totalling $180million, using virtual house tours and one-on-one inspections. The 37-year-old still gets up at 5.30am, claiming it his most 'productive' hour of the day. 'By having more time to myself at home, as opposed to cramming in anywhere between 16 to 20 meetings a day, I've been able to focus on the strategic future of the business and explore a lot of alternative opportunities that we have never had the time to consider in the past,' he said. Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam Thursday signed the National Anthem Ordinance passed by the Legislative Council (LegCo) in accordance with Article 48(3) of the Basic Law of the HKSAR. The National Anthem Ordinance will come into immediate effect after it is published in the Gazette on Friday. "I am pleased that the National Anthem Ordinance will be gazetted and come into effect tomorrow, signifying the fulfilment of the constitutional responsibility of the HKSAR and reflecting the spirit of 'one country, two systems'," Lam said. Lam said that like the national flag and the national emblem, the national anthem is the symbol and sign of the nation. As an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China, the HKSAR is duty-bound to preserve the dignity of the national anthem through legislation. "I hope that members of the public will respect the national anthem of their own volition, hence the promotion of the national anthem is of paramount importance. To let our next generation understand the history and spirit of the national anthem and to observe the etiquette for the playing and singing of the national anthem, the Education Bureau will update its learning and teaching resources and issue directions to schools through circulars to support schools in teaching students," Lam said. The National Anthem Ordinance provides for the playing and singing, protection and promotion of the national anthem to preserve the dignity of the country, enhance the sense of national identity among citizens and promote patriotism. The offences stipulated in the Ordinance only concern the misuse of the national anthem, or public and intentional acts with an intent to insult the national anthem, according to the HKSAR government's press release. China's National Anthem Law came into force in the mainland in 2017 and then the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress adopted the decision to add the law to Annex III to the HKSAR Basic Law. In accordance with Article 18 of the Basic Law, the national laws listed in Annex III to the Basic Law shall be applied locally by way of promulgation or legislation by the HKSAR. The LegCo finished the first reading and second reading of the National Anthem Bill in January 2019 and May 2020 respectively, and the bill was passed on June 4 this year. The citys white mayor at the time, Haydon Burns, suppressed news about the beatings, Dr. Bliss said, and it was not until 2001 that the day was commemorated with a marker, paid for by the historical society, at the park. The current mayor, Lenny Curry, a Republican, removed a bronze Confederate soldier statue from the same park this week. It was not clear that the historical resonance of the date for the city, which is about 30 percent African-American, was known to Republican officials before its selection. Republican officials on Friday declined to say whether they were aware of the significance of the date for the city of Jacksonville ahead of its selection. Paris Dennard, an R.N.C adviser for black media affairs, said about the anniversary of Ax Handle Saturday, While we cannot erase some of the darkest moments of our nations past, we can denounce them, learn from them, fight for justice and a more perfect union for every American. The announcement of the Jacksonville speech capped a furious scramble set off after Mr. Trump and Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina, a Democrat, reached a stalemate over how to pull off the convention as originally planned in Charlotte. Mr. Cooper insisted on social distancing measures and masks inside to protect attendees from the spreading of the coronavirus. Mr. Trump rejected those measures out of hand, insisting on a packed indoor arena with the look and feel of a country that had returned to business as usual despite the continuing health crisis. Jacksonville, roughly a six-hour drive from Charlotte, was seen as the top contender as Republican officials considered a range of last-minute replacements. Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the presumptive Democratic nominee, is leading Mr. Trump in Florida by about three percentage points, according to polls. And Mr. Trump, who changed his residence from New York to Florida last year, is uniquely focused on winning his adopted home state, which he won by a slim margin four years ago. Marchers have delivered a clear message in the 19 days since George Floyd was killed change how America's police treat black people, and do it now. The big picture: If you look beyond the symbolic gestures and focus on the concrete actions, there's a good deal of there there, even if it's still insufficient. Here is just a partial list of the actions under way because of the protests: Tactical rule changes: Dallas and Minneapolis mandated officers intervene when a colleague is using excessive force. Seattle banned the covering of badge numbers. Minneapolis banned chokeholds. Houston banned most of them. New York made them illegal. Dallas and Minneapolis mandated officers intervene when a colleague is using excessive force. Seattle banned the covering of badge numbers. Minneapolis banned chokeholds. Houston banned most of them. New York made them illegal. Budget cuts: Los Angeles is considering cutting its police budget by up to $150 million. NYC is considering cuts, but hasn't disclosed specific numbers. Los Angeles is considering cutting its police budget by up to $150 million. NYC is considering cuts, but hasn't disclosed specific numbers. Defunding: Minneapolis' city council passed a resolution on Friday to replace its police department with a community-centric model. Minneapolis' city council passed a resolution on Friday to replace its police department with a community-centric model. School contracts axed: Minneapolis, Denver and Portland have moved to end the presence of police officers in local schools. Officers have a presence in the 25 biggest school districts nationwide, per Chalkbeat. Minneapolis, Denver and Portland have moved to end the presence of police officers in local schools. Officers have a presence in the 25 biggest school districts nationwide, per Chalkbeat. No-knock warrants ban: Louisville, Kentucky where Breonna Taylor was killed by officers who raided her home with this type of warrant has banned the practice. Louisville, Kentucky where Breonna Taylor was killed by officers who raided her home with this type of warrant has banned the practice. Police transparency changes: New York removed a shield clause that locked down records of officers who'd been investigated for excessive force. New York removed a shield clause that locked down records of officers who'd been investigated for excessive force. Go deeper: Axios' Orion Rummler catalogued quite a few more changes. Between the lines: It is ridiculously hard to fire police officers in the U.S., let alone getting criminal charges to stick. Chalk that up to unions , or qualified immunity, or weakness from elected officials but it's a major roadblock to change. , or qualified immunity, or weakness from elected officials but it's a major roadblock to change. The Minneapolis Police Department said Wednesday that it is withdrawing from negotiations with its police union. The real effect of that is to be determined. The bottom line: This is a start, but it doesn't even come close to the level of change organizers have publicly demanded. Expect the protests to be here for a long time to come. Go deeper: The major police reforms that have been enacted since George Floyd's death Southerners looking to holiday in Queensland this winter can feel confident booking their flights next weekend if the number of new coronavirus cases continues on the current trend. Planning is already under way to reopen the state on July 10, as had been previously flagged in the government's roadmap to recovery. The iconic Heart Island is one of the drawcards of the Great Barrier Reef. Credit:Salty Wings Sources told Brisbane Times Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk would be ready to commit to the July opening date at the end of this month. The only thing standing in the way would be an outbreak following mass protests across the country last weekend. While many believe a march for racial justice planned for this Saturday in Franklinville was organized as a reaction to Mondays now-notorious incident in which white men mocked George Floyds killing as marchers passed by, the weekend event was actually planned before any of this happened. Lifelong Franklinville resident Beverly Merritt, who is organizing the upcoming march with friend Marissa Rivera, originally expected maybe 50 participants. Now, after Mondays confrontation made national headlines and sparked widespread outrage, she doesnt know what to expect. Her plan for the Saturday march was inspired by her participation in an event protesting police brutality last week in Vineland. Merritt, 52, is praying the event in her town will be peaceful, too. She has heard from people far from Franklinville expressing support for the march. This was planned out of peace, out of a cry for help, and we are still coming in peace, she said. Ive solicited the help of many clergy. Were going to open up in prayer, were going to close in prayer. The 11 a.m. march will start from Franklinville Township Library and head 1.7 miles to the township police station. Were going right past the place that ignited this on Monday, Merritt noted. A group of peaceful protestors, accompanied by police in vehicles, were marching along Delsea Drive on Monday when they encountered a group of men who began shouting at them. One placed his knee on the neck of another man laying on the ground, re-creating the final moments of Floyds life. Four Minnesota police officers have been charged in Floyds death, which occurred May 25 as he was being arrested for alleged forgery. He was unarmed and didnt appear to resist arrest. Videos posted to social media captured what happened during Mondays event in Franklin Township. You dont comply, thats what happens," the kneeling man says. You dont comply, thats what happens right here, look. He didnt comply. He didnt comply. If he wouldve complied, it wouldnt have happened. Its his own fault, thats why hes dead." A man is also heard responding to marcher chants of Black Lives Matter by adding to no one. Franklin Township officials issued a statement denouncing Mondays incident and indicated the matter remains under investigation. Police are also investigating after stacks of firewood in front of the property where the counter-protestors staged their display were set on fire Tuesday night. No injuries were reported. One of the men involved in Mondays episode has been identified as state corrections officer Joseph DeMarco and he has been suspended from his post pending an investigation. Another participant has been fired from his job with FedEx. Merritt was outraged by their behavior and the way the peaceful marchers were treated. They told those young children that their life did not matter, she said. Those young children that marched, they are our future. And yet these cowards think they have to right to tell our children that their lives dont matter. Sarah Hill stands across the street from the wood business owned by the DeMarco brothers with a Black Lives Matter sign Wednesday. Police remain tight-lipped about how they will handle Saturdays turnout. We are aware of it and planning for additional people to be in town, said Franklin Township Police Lt. Matt DeCesari. The department is working with other agencies on preparations, but he declined to elaborate on who is involved or what sorts of resources may be brought in to assist. At this point, were not releasing anything additional regarding our plans, DeCesari said. Rivera, who doesnt live in Franklinville but decided to help her friend arrange the event, said she has heard from people out of state who want to attend. We just want everyone to know that this protest is about justice and letting people know that black lives matter, she said. Its all about bringing unity, peace and justice. I cant stress that enough. While many in the community have been quick to say the actions of these few on Monday dont represent the feelings of the town, Merritt disagrees. It does represent who Franklinville is, she said. If one bad apple is in the bunch, then it spoils the entire orchard. Merritt, who said she has been racially profiled by Franklin Township police during two traffic stops in the past, wants white residents to understand her point of view. We just want peace, but we also just want our rightful place in this world in this township, she said. We already know white lives matter. We know that. That goes without saying. We need you to know that our lives matter. Mocking George Floyds murder in effort to belittle the calls for justice from our Black and Brown communities is repugnant. I condemn this behavior in the strongest terms possible. We wont let the actions of a few distract from our progress toward dismantling systemic racism. https://t.co/Rb1RUsST5I Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) June 10, 2020 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. The wishes of a severely ill cancer patient in Singapore were fulfilled by the Vande Bharat Mission when they helped her reunite with her mother in Trichy. The Indian High Commission in Singapore tweeted about the incident and expressed their happiness at uniting the patient with her mother. High commission also thanked the Singapore Foreign Minister HE Vivian Bala, MFAsg, the Hospital, Air India Express and the passengers who gave up their seats for the family. Read: Vande Bharat Mission Tickets Reasonable As Compared To Other Countries: Aviation Minister India adds more flights to Vande Bharat Mission As per reports, the third phase of Vande Bharat Mission had widened the scope of the mission and there were more countries, thereby increasing the number of entry points. India has added 58 more flights to evacuate stranded and distressed nationals from Gulf countries between now and June 30, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday. He informed that staring immediately, the number of flights from Gulf under phase-3 of the 'Vande Bharat Mission' has now increased from originally planned 107 to 165. Read: AI Opens Bookings For Phase-3 Flights Under Vande Bharat Mission, Faces Overwhelming Demand The minister further said that Phase 3 of Vande Bharat Mission will have 80 flights to Europe, including two daily flights to London and two to other European destinations, between now and 30 June. Moreover, 10 additional flights to the United States and Canada will be flown apart from 70 that have already been announced. State-run carrier Air India had previously announced that it will operate around 300 flights to Europe, Australia, Canada, the USA, the UK and Africa between June 10 and July 1 during phase 3 of Vande Bharat Mission. Vande Bharat is proving to be a mission of hope for stranded & distressed Indians around the world. 2441 Indians returned from Newark, Istanbul, New York, Stockholm, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Doha, Muscat, Dubai & Kuala Lumpur on 9 June. We continue to add more flights.@MoCA_GoI pic.twitter.com/ZgGkf9Hu8S Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) June 10, 2020 (Image/Input Credit ANI) Read: Vande Bharat Mission: Air India To Open Booking For These Seven Places In US; Details Here Read: Vande Bharat Mission: 58 More Flights Added To Repatriate Indians Stranded In Gulf Three days after winning some 71 percent of the vote in a snap presidential election in which "significant irregularities" were noted by a leading international election monitor, Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev was sworn in as Kazakhstan's second president on June 12, 2019. One year later, it can be said it has been a tumultuous first year on the job. From the moment Kazakhstan's first and only president, Nursultan Nazarbaev, announced he was stepping down on March 19, 2019, there was never any doubt that longtime loyalist Toqaev would be elected to the country's top post. The surprise came in the negative reaction from segments of the public, with protests breaking out, an unusual occurrence in the very multinational country of some 18 million. The unhappiness among the people was partially prompted by rapid decisions to name Nazarbaev's eldest daughter, Darigha Nazarbaeva, to succeed Toqaev as leader of the Senate and to rename the Kazakh capital, Astana, to Nur-Sultan, without any input from regular Kazakhs. Luca Anceschi, professor of Central Asian Studies at Glasgow University, tells RFE/RL that Toqaev's quick move to rename the capital was a "pivotal moment," as "this symbolizes not only Kazakhstan's authoritarian continuity but also the regime's deafness vis-a-vis the calls for change expressed by the population after Nazarbaev's protracted long goodbye." The protests were not as large as the demonstrations in April and May 2016 against the proposed land-privatization law that many believed would lead to Chinese buying up Kazakhstan's best farmland, but the protests after Nazarbaev stepped down were irregular and it was obvious some segments of the population were not going to quietly accept this staged transition of leadership. Many people wanted real change and the transition at the top after nearly 30 years of Nazarbaev seemed a good time to demand something different from their new leader. But those hopes were dashed by Toqaev's first comments that he would continue the course set by Nazarbaev, whose appointment to be chairman-for-life of Kazakhstan's Security Council further solidified the impression that there was going to be no real change. Particularly after the council was emboldened with new powers from constitutional amendments made in 2018. Toqaev won overwhelmingly as expected in the June 9 election against mostly token candidates in which just one of the six challengers, Amirzhan Qosanov of the national patriotic movement Ult Taghdyry (Fate of the Nation), was presented as a real opposition candidate. Toqaev's 70.96 percent of the vote was a modest victory by the standards of earlier presidential elections in Kazakhstan, in which Nazarbaev never failed to win at least 81 percent in an election (1999) and usually received more than 90 percent (1991, 2005, 2011, and 2015). But it was nonetheless a solid victory and had the added feature for those hoping for signs of change that the second-place finisher, Qosanov, received more votes than anyone who had ever "challenged" Nazarbaev for the post. The pyrrhic victory kept some small hope alive that Toqaev might ease the state's grip over society. But Toqaev's first year has been a rough one, and not only because of a reinvigorated political opposition. Dual Leadership For much of Toqaev's first year as president he was viewed by many as a front man for Nazarbaev, who retained substantial powers as the long-ruling first president and as the head of the Security Council. Nazarbaev continued after leaving office to regularly meet with government officials, bank heads, to be there when visiting dignitaries and heads of state came to Kazakhstan. Nazarbaev, not Toqaev, went to Tashkent in November 2019 for the summit of Central Asian leaders, and Nazarbaev went to the informal Eurasian Economic Union summit in St. Petersburg the next month. On October 21, a presidential decree was published, which was actually signed on October 9, that required Toqaev to get approval from Nazarbaev before appointing most of the ministers (defense, interior, and foreign affairs were the only exceptions), members of the presidential administration, prosecutors-general, the central-bank head, the Republican Guard, the anti-corruption agency, provincial governors, mayors of major cities, and other key posts. It was difficult to see in what way Nazarbaev was no longer the leader of the country. Toqaev repeatedly had to address the subject of dual leadership in Kazakhstan, explaining that Nazarbaev as first president and "Elbasy," or leader of the people, was a respected figure in Kazakhstan and its most veteran politician. But it was often difficult to distinguish which man was actually in charge. Waves Of Protest There were several days of protests beginning the day Toqaev took the presidential oath and there had even been protests before that, with slogans such as "You can't run from the truth" and "Toqaev is not my president, Nur-Sultan is not my capital, Darigha is not my Senate speaker." Since then -- and proving that some in Kazakhstan believed Nazarbaev was still calling the shots -- calls of "Shal ket," or "Get out, old man," have been heard. The group Oyan Qazaqstan (Wake Up Kazakhstan) was formed by mainly young people who had grown up under Nazarbaev's leadership and the movement quickly set about organizing peaceful rallies. Just prior to Toqaev's inauguration, it produced a manifesto of proposed changes to the constitution to transform Kazakhstan from a presidential to parliamentary form of government. Other groups also sprung up: the Qaharman (Hero) rights group, Koshe Partiyasi (Street Party), and journalist Zhanbolat Mamai's Democratic Party of Kazakhstan. And the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK), led by fugitive banker and longtime Nazarbaev adversary Mukhtar Ablyazov, increased its activity after the billionaire was released in late 2016 from custody in France, where he had been held for some three years based on a warrant from Russia. A Kazakh court declared the DVK an extremist group in 2018, putting its supporters at greater risk than other Kazakhs if they chose to demonstrate. Some 1,000 people were detained just in Almaty and Nur-Sultan during the June 9-11, 2019, protests. On June 12, the UN Human Rights Office for Central Asia called on Kazakhstan to "fulfill its legal obligations to respect and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, expression, and ensure the right to meaningful political participation." Interior Minister Erlan Turgumbaev would later admit some 4,000 people had been detained from June 9-13, 2019. On June 14, a huge banner was hung in Almaty that read "Not my president." The same day, Euronews ran an interview with Toqaev in which he said the "main reason for the protests...was poverty." It seemed like Toqaev was not paying attention to the calls of protesters. There were protests again on July 6, the day Kazakhstan marks the Day of the Capital, which also happens to be Nazarbaev's birthday. Protests, many involving a single person, continued throughout the year, with some of the largest rallies in multiple cities on Kazakhstan's Independence Day, December 16. Increasingly added to demands voiced at demonstrations were calls for the release of political prisoners. Such demands became more prominent after activist Dulat Aghadil died while in police custody on February 24, 2020. Aghadil's suspicious death may have contributed to a decision just a couple of weeks later to release one of the political prisoners whose freedom protesters had been demanding. Mukhtar Jakishev, the former head of Kazatomprom, the state nuclear company, was imprisoned in 2010 after being convicted of embezzling funds from Kazatomprom, though some suspect the real reason was his connection to Ablyazov, who fled the country in 2009. Jakishev's appeal for early release on grounds of deteriorating health had been rejected by a court as recently as July 2019. The authorities also worked to block Internet sites, particularly social networks that had proven effective in organizing the demonstrations. That led to Freedom House ranking Kazakhstan as one of the world's worst countries for Internet freedom. Officials also started preemptive detentions and arrests to take protest leaders and organizers into custody in the days before planned demonstrations. And there were protests for other reasons. The "mothers with many children" protests started when Nazarbaev was still president and were responsible for Nazarbaev dismissing the government in February 2019, just a month before he resigned. This group continued their protests, as did other groups, such as single mothers and parents with handicapped children who claimed promised government benefits were insufficient, slow in coming, or never came. Oil workers in the western part of Kazakhstan went on strike, demanding better conditions and higher pay. The China Question And there were demonstrations against what was described as Chinese economic expansion in Kazakhstan, like the one in the western oil town of Zhanaozen on September 3, 2019, that demanded an end to Chinese construction of factories in Kazakhstan and quickly spread to Kazakhstan's three largest cities: Almaty, Nur-Sultan, and Shymkent. In an effort to head off the sort of protests that hit Kazakhstan in April and May 2016, Toqaev had already assured the public in July 2019 that land in Kazakhstan would not be sold to foreigners, but he also said Kazakhstan would not become part of a "global anti-Chinese front." Toqaev's government also had to contend with problems that emanated from China's policies in the western Xinjiang Autonomous Uyghur Region, where reports say more than a million Muslims -- including ethnic Kazakhs -- have been locked up in so-called reeducation camps. Just days before Toqaev took the oath of office, Sairagul Sauytbay, an ethnic Kazakh woman from Xinjiang, departed Kazakhstan after being there for more than a year. Sauytbay had worked in a reeducation camp in China and illegally crossed into Kazakhstan in early 2018 to rejoin her family. The Chinese government wanted her returned after she started recounting to international media the horrors of the camps and other abuses against ethnic Kazakhs in Xinjiang. As the Kazakh government quickly discovered, public opinion was strongly against deporting ethnic Kazakhs back to China and, after Toqaev officially became president, more Kazakhs from Xinjiang illegally crossed into Kazakhstan. Murager Alimuly and Kaster Musahanuly came from China into Kazakhstan in October 2019 and officials initially said both would be sent back to China. But when they went to trial on January 21, 2020, on charges of illegally crossing into Kazakhstan, there were demonstrators outside the courtroom in the remote town of Zaitson. The two were found guilty and given short jail sentences that simultaneously ensured they would not be extradited, for the time being. There are several other ethnic Kazakhs from Xinjiang that are in similar situations. All have asked for asylum in Kazakhstan. Disaster Strikes Further complicating Toqaev's first year as president were calamities that no one could have foreseen. On June 24, 2019, a fire broke out at a military depot near the southern town of Arys in Turkestan Province and the stockpile of munitions there started exploding. Four people died, nearly 200 were injured and the town was badly damaged, requiring the evacuation of nearly 40,000 people. In August, a large mudslide spilled into the Kargalinka River that provides water for Almaty, prompting the authorities to take measures to ensure clean water for the residents of Kazakhstan's most populous city. On December 27, a passenger plane from the Bek Air company crashed shortly after takeoff from Almaty, but fortunately only 13 of the 98 people aboard died. In February 2020, fighting broke out between ethnic Dungans and Kazakhs in Kordai district, in the southern Zhambyl Province, that left 11 people dead and sent some 20,000 Dungans fleeing into neighboring Kyrgyzstan. Just a few week later, in early March, a meeting of oil-exporting countries in Vienna broke up over a disagreement on production cuts and Saudi Arabia opened up its pumps, which sent the price of oil, one of Kazakhstan's main exports, plummeting on world markets. Later in March, Kazakhstan officially recorded its first cases of the coronavirus. As of mid-June it has registered more than 13,500 cases and 67 deaths. Many consider both figures to be underreported. A Silver Lining The arrival of the coronavirus in Kazakhstan forced Toqaev's government to take drastic measures to prevent its spread. Like many countries, Kazakhstan ordered lockdowns in big cities and towns with the subsequent result that the economy -- already reeling from the drop in oil prices -- plunged further. Kazakhstan's budget for 2020 had forecast GDP growth to be 3.8 percent this year -- a figure that there is now no hope of achieving. The lockdown temporarily put a halt to protests in Kazakhstan, giving Toqaev's government a respite, though there were already protests on June 6, 2020, in Almaty, Nur-Sultan, Shymkent, and other cities and towns. Perhaps more importantly, it sent Nazarbaev, who turns 80 in July, into seclusion, where he has remained since the first cases of the coronavirus in Kazakhstan were announced in March. Nazarbaev's departure from public life has seemingly left Toqaev solely in charge and the president has taken advantage of that to be as visible as possible, leading the campaign against the spread of the virus, meeting with provincial and local officials, and speaking by phone or videoconferencing with other leaders. His surprising, bold move to dismiss Darigha Nazarbaeva as speaker of the Senate in early May has also removed one of the biggest sources of bad publicity Kazakhstan has been receiving lately. Reports about the vast wealth of Nazarbaeva and her oldest son, Nurali, as well as the scandals surrounding her youngest son, Aisultan, and his erratic behavior and drug abuse in Britain, were causing problems for the first family. Add to that the opulent lifestyle and free-spending habits of Nazarbaev's brother, Bolat, have been the sort of distractions a new president, particularly a president facing major health and economic challenges, does not need. Joanna Lillis, one of the leading experts on Kazakhstan and author of the book Dark Shadows: Inside The Secret World of Kazakhstan, tells RFE/RL that "Toqaev is in a difficult position. He came to power pledging continuity of Nazarbaev's policies -- that is why he was chosen as successor and that has been the basic premise of his presidency from the outset." But she adds: "pressure from civil society, voiced on social media and on the streets, has created pressure to reform. I think Toqaev's reformist instincts are strong, and he sees the benefits of reform." But Toqaev's promises about new laws on public assembly and allowing the creation of opposition political parties have fallen short of expectations. As Anceschi notes: "The first year of the Toqaev presidency has been very challenging, to say the least. There have been challenges that the regime brought unto himself.... There have been challenges that developed externally but encountered very weak responses at the internal level." And Lillis sums up Toqaev's first year as president: "He has embraced the impossible task of reforming while staying the same to ensure continuity. So it has been a tough year for [Toqaev,] and there are plenty more tough challenges ahead." A site in St Athan, Wales, is leading the way to become the home of the UK's first gigafactory, it has been revealed this morning. The company behind the proposed battery factory said it has narrowed down its selection from 42 to just two locations, with the site in Wales the 'preferred choice' ahead of one in Coventry. An all new lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing site, referred to as a 'gigafactory' after Tesla's facilities in the US and China, would see 'at least 3,500' new jobs become available in Wales. Could this be the home of the UK's first battery gigafactory? St Athan site in Wales in said the be the 'preferred choice' of 42 locations in the section process St Athan could become a hub of electric-vehicle development in the UK following Aston Martin Lagonda's decision to build cars at a state-of-the-art new factory at the former Ministry of Defence site after purchasing the plot in 2016. Both eCube Solutions - an aircraft company - and Bristow Helicopters are also located at the same 1,200-acre Bro Tathan business park, which is strategically located close to Cardiff Airport and has its own operational runway. The development of a UK factory is paramount, according to experts, with the battery industry forecast to be worth 5billion domestically by 2025. That's because demand for lithium ion cells across a number of industries is booming. The most prominent of these is the automotive sector with manufacturers ramping up efforts to electrify their vehicle ranges. Aston Martin bought the former MOD site in St Athan in 2016 and it's the home of its first SUV model, the DBX The Aston Martin Lagonda site has been projected to provide up to 750 jobs in the area Inside Aston Martin Lagonda's St Athan factory. Production of vehicles restarted at the facility on 5 May following the coronavirus shutdown Britishvolt, the firm leading the selection process for the UK's first gigafactory site, said demand for the latest battery technology risks becoming constrained as the UK Government strives to meet its Road to Zero targets by 2050, including the ban on the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars from 2035. It said the initial wave of 1.2billion of investment into the site will eventually lead to around 3,500 jobs. The firm also announced plans to build a solar park alongside the factory, to support sustainable production of batteries and meet low carbon objectives, ensuring the firm 'plays a true and active part in the global green agenda'. Lars Carlstrom, CEO at Britishvolt Lars Carlstrom, CEO at Britishvolt, said: 'We aim to deliver a scalable, onshore production and diverse portfolio of world-class lithium ion batteries, to support the unprecedented transition to electrification primarily servicing the automotive and energy storage markets. 'After six months of careful analysis, Bro Tathan is the preferred choice due to number of different factors. 'The Welsh Government has welcomed us with open arms and impeccable due diligence, and the region meets crucial criteria including import/export accessibility, availability of labour and skilled staff, along with convenient geographical proximity to customers and local industrial companies.' Commenting on the St Athan site being the leading candidate for the UK's first gigafactory, the Welsh Government told the BBC: 'We have been working with Britishvolt on this project for a significant period of time and we are very pleased they have shortlisted Bro Tathan as a location for its landmark gigafactory. 'We firmly believe that Bro Tathan provides a compelling case, particularly for a company looking to become one of the greenest battery producers worldwide.' Britishbolt said the plans for the battery manufacturing plant will see it become one of the top three largest single footprints in Europe. 'The plant will be one kilometre long and 30 metres tall, needing 80 plus hectares of land, and the energy intensive nature of producing lithium ion cells means nearby renewable sources are of huge importance,' Carlstrom says. 'Our ambition is to become one of the greenest battery producers worldwide, which will be facilitated through the creation of our very own solar park, ensuring a near carbon neutral electricity input.' The battery industry is forecast to be worth 5billion domestically by 2025 due to surging demand from car manufacturers and other industries He added: 'Our state of the art and high efficiency gigaplant will employ at least 3,500 local Welsh people. 'These will be across a wide range of disciplines and will create a local ecosystem of 10,000 to 15,000 further jobs for the wider supply chain including material suppliers, contractors and local services. 'By the third quarter of 2023, we plan for the first stage of our plant to be fully functional, and envision that between 40 and 60 per cent of the initial 1.2 billion of investment will be injected directly into the chosen community, representing a real catalyst for growth in the local economy and the UK.' Recent reports have suggested that Tesla is considering building a new gigafactory in Somerset, despite previously claiming it would not be setting up shop in the UK due to Brexit. A report in Property Week claimed the Department for International Trade (DIT) is looking for a 4 million square foot site that the US firm could use to build a research, development and manufacturing plant. A 635-acre site at the the Gravity industrial park near Bridgeater is said to be the leading candidate. JOHANNESBURG - More than two dozen international aid groups have told the U.S. government they are increasingly alarmed that little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the worlds most fragile regions. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/6/2020 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this Thursday, April 16, 2020 file photo, relatives grieve coffee shop manager Benedict Somi Vilakasi, who died of a COVID-19 infection in a Johannesburg hospital, at his burial ceremony at the Nasrec Memorial Park outside Johannesburg. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File) JOHANNESBURG - More than two dozen international aid groups have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic, as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the worlds most fragile regions. The letter obtained by The Associated Press and signed by groups including Save the Children, CARE USA, World Vision and others says that "in spite of months of promising conversations with USAID field staff, few organizations have received an executed award for COVID-19 humanitarian assistance." It calls the delays "devastating" and says the window is closing for the U.S. to help mitigate the worst impacts of the pandemic around the world. The letter to U.S. Agency for International Development acting administrator John Barsa is dated June 4 the same day that other USAID officials were touting the U.S. governments "global leadership" in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. FILE - In this Wednesday, May 13, 2020 file photo, a doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to the breathing of a patient confirmed to have the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, at the Fann university hospital in the capital Dakar, Senegal. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui, File) "To date, we have committed more than $1 billion to benefit the global COVID response," Kenneth Staley, the leader of the USAID COVID-19 task force, told reporters covering Africa. The funds are typically provided to aid groups as well as private contractors and United Nations agencies. But much of that aid has been tied up in "uncharacteristic delays" nearly three months after the passage of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, the letter from aid groups says. "The long delays in COVID-19 awards and as a result, U.S. response to a dynamic global emergency stands in stark contrast to our experience in crises where (the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance) is known to turn around funding in a matter of weeks, if not days," the letter says. The letter makes clear the aid problem is a global one, pointing out the exponential rise in cases in Pakistan, and saying "the time to move is now." "The U.S. has basically been missing in action on the global front, which is very heartbreaking for me to see," a director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance during the Obama administration, Jeremy Konyndyk, said Thursday during a Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion. "What we have is kind of a vacuum and a lot of chaos on the international level." FILE - In this Monday, April 13, 2020 file photo, medical students test a self-designed computer-controlled ventilator prototype at the Chandaria Business and Incubation Centre of Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. (AP Photo/John Muchucha, File) Acting USAID spokeswoman Pooja Jhunjhunwala told AP that the more than $1 billion includes $218 million in humanitarian aid through the International Disaster Assistance account nearly $100 million of that authorized as awards. Aid groups can begin spending the rest of it via "essentially a promissory note from USAID." Some of that amount, however, can also go to U.N. agencies. "We are in unprecedented times right now, with a rapidly evolving situation on the ground in almost every country," she said. For months while promoting U.S. coronavirus assistance, U.S. officials have not given details on the number of crucial items such as ventilators and testing kits delivered to countries in Africa, where such equipment has been in short supply for months. And the need is growing. Cases on the African continent are accelerating, the World Health Organization warned Thursday, saying it took 98 days to reach 100,000 cases and just 18 to reach 200,000. The total number of confirmed is now above 218,000 with more than 5,000 deaths. Just 3 million tests for the virus have been conducted across Africa, a continent of 1.3 billion people, far short of the goal of 13 million. "One of the biggest challenges we face in the response continues to be the availability of supplies," WHO Africa chief Matshidiso Moeti told reporters on Thursday. FILE - In this Friday, May 1, 2020 file photo, a patient lies on his bed reading the Bible in a ward for those who have tested positive for the new coronavirus, at the infectious disease unit of Kenyatta National Hospital, located at Mbagathi Hospital, in Nairobi, Kenya. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File) Another growing problem is infected health workers - nearly 5,000 in the 47-country WHO Africa region amid shortages of protective gear. U.S. President Donald Trump in recent weeks has spoken of deliveries of ventilators to African countries, saying 1,000 of the machines were being sent to Nigeria alone. But Nigerias government said none has arrived. In fact, just 50 ventilators have arrived in Africa from the U.S. government, all of them going to South Africa in recent days. That country has about a quarter of Africa's virus cases. A State Department official on Thursday said the U.S. has pledged ventilator assistance to Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Rwanda as well. The U.S. is supplying ventilators as soon as the domestic supply chain and vendors can produce and deliver them, the official said. Some African officials have expressed open dismay or signalled quiet frustration over the U.S. response. Some have called for a "Made in Africa" push to reduce reliance on imports, amid efforts to create homemade ventilators and repurpose factories. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been quick to praise assistance from the Jack Ma Foundation and others for deliveries of ventilators, testing kits and other badly needed items. But asked about just how many of those items the U.S. has delivered, Africa CDC chief John Nkengasong on Thursday said that "unfortunately, I cannot give you a number ... It has been a challenging time for many countries to fight their own pandemic." ___ Associated Press writers Andrew Meldrum in Johannesburg and Ben Fox in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Ive been on a classic horror binge recently, of films from the 1930s-40s. Even B-movies from Universal Studios, such as Captive Wild Woman (1943), are great for their trashy, campy, low-budget thrills. Michael Alexandratos is a sound archivist and record producer who has just released a compilation of archival recordings Before the Boomerang Came Back Musical Aboriginalia. He runs the research blog Amnesiac Archive and Cycladic Press, which publishes on aspects of Modern Greek culture. Re-reading and studying the gay slang lexicon of Greek folklorist Elias Petropoulos, who published it in 1971 and was sent to prison because of it. It was the first lexicon of its kind to be published anywhere. Music My two listening polarities at the moment are the caustic post-punk songs of The Fall and compilations of vintage recordings of rebetika (urban greek music) music from the 1920s-50s. Art The marker-pen drawings of recently departed outsider American artist/musician Daniel Johnston have been attracting my eye lately. There are still incredible drawings for sale on his website. hihowareyou.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 08:52 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde1f9d5 1 National novel-baswedan,police,National-Police,KPK,Corruption-Eradication-Comission,acid-attack Free Prosecutors have demanded that two police officers be given one-year jail terms for their involvement in the acid attack on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan in which the graft buster lost an eye. The two defendants, Chief Brig. Ronny Bugis and Brig. Rahmat Kadir Mahulette from the National Polices Mobile Brigade Corps headquarters in Kelapa Dua, Depok, West Java, have been charged with violating Article 353 clause 2 of the Criminal Code on planned torture that causes severe bodily harm. The offense carries a maximum of seven years imprisonment. After both defendants allegedly scouted Novels house for several days prior to the attack, Rahmat is accused of throwing sulfuric acid in Novels face in April 2017 when the latter was walking home from morning prayers at Al Ihsan Mosque in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. Ronnys alleged role was driving Rahmat on his motorcycle on the day of the attack. Ronny and Rahmat have been accused of attacking Novel because of the latters work as an investigator for the KPK, which saw several powerful and corrupt politicians and government officials ending up behind bars. Both saw Novels work as an attack on the police. The assault caused a major injury that would hinder Novel from doing his job as KPK investigator, the prosecutors read out the indictment at the North Jakarta District Court. The attack left Novels left eye with third-degree burns, in addition to first- and second-degree burns to his face, according to a medical report. During a previous court session, it was revealed that his left eye is now completely blind while the right eye retains about 50 percent of its normal vision. The prosecutors said that Ronny and Rachmats offense stained the reputation of the National Police and this was an exacerbating factor in their indictments. Prosecutors said as a police officer whose duty was to ensure public safety, Ronny should have prevented the attack. However, their good behavior and cooperation in the trial and their prior service as police officers were regarded as mitigating factors. The defendants lawyers said that they would file their defense on Monday, which was approved by the panel of judges. The police were criticized for their sluggish investigation as, before the arrest, a string of investigations carried out by the police and a fact-finding team formed by then National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian who now serves as home minister was unable to identify the attackers. The police finally managed to arrest both suspects in December 2019, two and a half years after the attack. Novel expressed his disappointment at the one-year sentence demand shortly after the court hearing, saying that it was proof that the trial was a mere formality. Outrageous indeed. My daily duty was to eradicate the legal mafia through the Corruption Law. Yet Ive become the victim of this kind of comical practice, Novel posted on his twitter account @nazaqistsha, sarcastically congratulating President Joko Jokowi Widodo for the achievement. Novels advocacy team also noted several suspicious aspects about the case, such as charging the defendants with torture instead of attempted murder and not inviting three witnesses who had been previously been investigated by the police. The prosecutors seemed like they were defending the defendants. The public can easily conclude that from the demands made for the two defendants, advocacy team member Alghiffari Aqsa wrote in a statement published on Thursday. Ukraine demands that the Russian Federation release a Ukrainian serviceman abducted by Russian special services near the administrative border with the occupied Crimea. The number of Ukrainian citizens illegally detained by the Russian side grows further. On 30 May, Ukrainian serviceman went missing close to the administrative boundary line between mainland Ukraine and occupied Crimea. As it became clear later, he was abducted by the Russian special service, which charged him with so-called violation of the state border. We demand the Russian side to immediately release him, Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, said at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting on June 11, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. As reported, Ukrainian serviceman of the 95th Air Assault Brigade, Yevhen Dobrynsky, disappeared at the administrative border of Russian-annexed Crimea with Kherson region near Chonhar on May 30. Search activities did not yield any results. According to preliminary information published by the military law enforcement service at the Armed Forces of Ukraine, traces of the fight against unknown persons were found near the surveillance post, so it is believed that the serviceman was abducted during his service. A few days later, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) stated that the Ukrainian serviceman had been detained and a criminal case had been opened against him over "illegal crossing of the Russian border." On June 3, a court in the occupied Crimea arrested Dobrynsky for one month, until July 1. ol The Queens reign is effectively over and the coronavirus pandemic has practically put her son, Prince Charles,on the throne, according to royal biographer Andrew Morton. The 94-year-old Monarch has been in self-isolation at Windsor Castle for the past few months with her 99-year-old husband, Prince Philip. Andrew Morton claims the Queen's reign is 'effectively over'. Photo: Getty Images It's terribly sad but I can't see how the Queen can resume her job. The COVID-19 virus isn't going away soon and will be with us for months if not years Andrew Morton told The Daily Telegraph. She has always loved getting out and meeting people but she can't take the risk, he continued. The brutal truth is that her reign is effectively over. COVID-19 has done more damage to the monarchy than Oliver Cromwell. He went to say that the pandemic has basically put Prince Charles on the throne. His comments come just weeks after it was revealed that the Queen is likely to withdraw from public life for months due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to The Sunday Times. Andrew Morton previously told The Sun he fears the monarch may never return to royal public life. The royal biographer claims Prince Charles has been 'practically put on the throne'. Photo: Getty Images It would be far too risky for the Queen to start meeting people on a regular basis, he said. The Queens last public engagement was the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9th, and her speech to the nation after lockdown garnered 24 million viewers. In her VE Day anniversary speech she told the nation: Today it may seem hard that we cannot mark this special anniversary as we would wish. Instead we remember from our homes and our doorsteps. But our streets are not empty. They are filled with the love and the care that we have for each other. "When I look at our country today and see what we are willing to do to protect and support one another, I say with pride, that we are still a nation those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen would recognise and admire." Last week, the Queen came under fire after the British royal familys official Instagram page shared a post celebrating her coronation anniversary while ignoring the call for a social media blackout in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Story continues EGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 24: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attend The OUT-SOURCING Inc Royal Windsor Cup 2018 polo match at Guards Polo Club on June 24, 2018 in Egham, England. (Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images) The Queen was crowned on 2 June, 1953, with this her 67th year on the throne, however, as protests and riots rage over the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in the US, the celebratory post has been slammed as tone-deaf by royal watchers. The royal familys decision to post a celebratory post remembering her coronation was met with fury by many British citizens supporting the protests, particularly as they point out the Instagram page had yet to acknowledge the movement. I love the royal family but this is so tone-deaf... one woman wrote on the photo. You only care about yourself during a time where protests are ongoing worldwide to fight oppression, another wrote. Absolutely atrocious. Either post in support of black lives matter or stop posting, another demanded. I love the Royals but have some sense of awareness, another wrote. Some came to the monarchs defence, arguing that her Commonwealth Trust had shared their support for the movement on Twitter. The Queens Commonwealth Trust is run by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who are the president and vice-president respectively. Queen Elizabeth is patron of the trust. Sign up to our daily newsletter here to get all the latest news and hacks. Or get in touch at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com. (Sharecast News) - London stocks fell in early trade on Friday following a dire session on Wall Street and after data showed the UK economy suffered a record collapse in April as the coronavirus lockdown took its toll. At 0835 BST, the FTSE 100 was down 0.4% at 6,053.55, after data from the Office for National Statistics showed the economy contracted by a record 20.4% on the month in April. This followed a 5.8% drop in March and was worse than the 18.4% decline expected by economists. It also marked the worst monthly fall since records began in 1997. Manufacturing production fell 24.3% in April, while industrial production was down 20.3% and construction output slid 40.1%. Andrew Wishart, UK economist at Capital Economics, said: "Given the lockdown started to be eased in May, April will mark the trough in GDP. So we are past the worst. But the recovery will be a drawn-out affair as restrictions are only lifted gradually and businesses and consumers continue to exercise caution. "And while the trough in activity is now behind us, the fiscal cost of the collapse and the rise in the unemployment rate to over 8% that will result are only just starting to emerge." Meanwhile, concerns about a second wave of coronavirus infections - which meant US stocks suffered their worst fall in 12 weeks on Thursday - continued to plague investors. "Reports from Texas and California, and a number of other US states, showed the recent loosening of restrictions has led to a jump in the number of new Covid-19 cases, which sparked a brutal round of selling yesterday," said CMC Markets analyst David Madden. In equity markets, precious metals miners Fresnillo and Polymetal were the worst performers, having surged in the previous session as gold prices rallied on the back of dovish outlook comments from the US Federal Reserve. On the upside, education publisher Pearson surged amid reports it's in talks with Cevian Capital after the activist investor took a 5.4% stake in the company. Events and publishing company Informa was a high riser even as it warned revenue was likely to fall by almost a third in 2020, with physical events unlikely to run in the US until September and other markets taking time to recover from Covid-19 restrictions. Pub and restaurant operator Mitchells & Butlers gained as it said it had agreed 250m in unsecured lending with its banks and waivers on secured loans in return for a pause on dividends until the end of the financial year to September 2021. Miniature wargames manufacturer Games Workshop advanced after saying that its recovery since re-opening has been better than expected. Travel stocks were also in the black after falling sharply on Thursday, with cruise operator Carnival, budget airline easyJet and InterContinental Hotels all up. Market Movers FTSE 100 (UKX) 6,053.55 -0.38% FTSE 250 (MCX) 16,864.89 -0.64% techMARK (TASX) 3,627.59 -1.31% FTSE 100 - Risers Pearson (PSON) 557.20p 8.62% Informa (INF) 458.80p 5.67% Carnival (CCL) 1,236.50p 3.91% easyJet (EZJ) 783.20p 3.03% Standard Chartered (STAN) 425.40p 2.75% InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 3,865.00p 2.06% Just Eat Takeaway.Com N.V. (CDI) (JET) 7,542.00p 2.03% Whitbread (WTB) 2,341.00p 1.65% Land Securities Group (LAND) 600.80p 1.38% HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 381.10p 1.29% FTSE 100 - Fallers Fresnillo (FRES) 753.20p -2.96% Aveva Group (AVV) 3,821.00p -2.58% Polymetal International (POLY) 1,500.00p -2.34% Rentokil Initial (RTO) 478.10p -2.29% Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 2,271.00p -2.11% Halma (HLMA) 2,169.00p -2.03% Pennon Group (PNN) 1,073.00p -1.87% Rightmove (RMV) 557.80p -1.86% Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,579.00p -1.86% Admiral Group (ADM) 2,232.00p -1.85% FTSE 250 - Risers Games Workshop Group (GAW) 7,630.00p 7.46% Forterra (FORT) 211.00p 4.46% Watches of Switzerland Group (WOSG) 268.00p 3.47% Paragon Banking Group (PAG) 339.60p 2.47% Virgin Money UK (VMUK) 98.88p 2.11% Just Eat Takeaway.Com N.V. (CDI) (JET) 7,542.00p 2.03% Great Portland Estates (GPOR) 636.20p 1.79% WH Smith (SMWH) 1,151.00p 1.77% TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 452.10p 1.69% Howden Joinery Group (HWDN) 553.00p 1.32% FTSE 250 - Fallers Helios Towers (HTWS) 160.20p -12.93% Hochschild Mining (HOC) 190.50p -4.27% Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) 62.80p -4.12% Ferrexpo (FXPO) 181.60p -4.07% Centamin (DI) (CEY) 160.75p -3.97% Drax Group (DRX) 205.40p -3.93% Vivo Energy (VVO) 86.50p -3.89% Rank Group (RNK) 153.40p -3.52% Frasers Group (FRAS) 315.00p -3.43% Avon Rubber (AVON) 2,850.00p -3.23% At least four people, including prayer leader killed and many others wounded, says Afghanistans interior ministry. A blast in a mosque during Friday prayers in the western part of capital Kabul has killed at least four people and wounded at least eight, Afghanistans interior ministry said. Explosives placed inside the Sher Shah Suri Mosque exploded during Friday prayers, said a statement issued by the ministry, which added that the mosques prayer leader Azizullah Mofleh was among those killed. Interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said police have cordoned off the area and helped move the wounded to ambulances and nearby hospitals. Arian told Anadolu Agency that the incident took place in the posh Karta-4 neighbourhood of the city. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but a mosque attack earlier this month was claimed by an ISIL (or ISIS) group affiliate, headquartered in eastern Afghanistans Nangarhar province. Interestingly, every time you have the peace process gaining some momentum and pace, you have these kinds of attacks in the country, Habib Wardak, a national security analyst based in Kabul, told Al Jazeera. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack that happened last week on a mosque in Kabul, so despite the fact that you have these news and press conference from the government that they have eliminated ISIL, how can they conduct such sophisticated operations? The Taliban was quick to distance itself from the attack. In a social media post, the groups spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, said this attack is part of conspiracy by the enemy at a crucial time when peace talks are advancing. The Afghan government dubbed the attack as inhuman and against the principles of Islam. Stefano Pontecorvo, NATOs senior civilian representative in Kabul, stressed the perpetrators must be brought to justice. As we face a historical opportunity for peace, spoilers cant be allowed to disrupt it. We stand with #Afghanistan in the fight against terror, he said on Twitter. I strongly condemn the attack on Sher Shah Suri mosque. The perpetrators must be brought to justice. As we face a historical opportunity for peace, spoilers cant be allowed to disrupt it. We stand with #Afghanistan in the fight against terror.- #NATO SCR @pontecorvoste NATO in Afghanistan (@NATOscr) June 12, 2020 Fridays blast had parallels to one earlier this month, when an explosion tore apart a famous Kabul mosque and led to the death of renowned Afghan cleric Maulvi Ayaz Niazi. In this attack, the imam seems to be the target, not the rest of the crowd. These are the imams who have supported the peace process with the Taliban movement, Wardak said. The other political aspect for these kinds of attacks is that there are peace spoilers trying to convey a message that peace with the Taliban will not eradicate violence in the country because you have ISIL. People inspect the interior of the Kabul mosque following the blast [Rahmat Gul/AP Photo] Violence has spiked in recent weeks in Afghanistan with most of the attacks claimed by the ISIL affiliate. The United States blamed the armed group for a horrific attack last month on a maternity hospital in the capital that killed 24 people, including two infants and several new mothers. The ISIL affiliate also took responsibility for an attack on a bus carrying journalists in Kabul on May 30, killing two. It also claimed credit for an attack on the funeral of a strongman loyal to the government last month that killed 35 people. Meanwhile, the US is attempting to broker peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban to end 18 years of war. Washingtons peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was in the region earlier this week trying to resuscitate a US peace deal with the Taliban. The peace deal signed in February calls for the withdrawal of the US and NATO troops from Afghanistan in return for a commitment by the Taliban to not launch attacks on the US or its allies. Asylum Information Resources and information explaining the asylum process in the United States, including the I-589 application and other forms. How to apply for asylum in the U.S. pro se (representing oneself without an attorney); Affirmative versus defensive asylum; Informacion sobre asilo en los Estados Unidos. Legal Aid Contact Information UNHCR does not provide legal advice and encourages all individuals to consult with a qualified U.S. immigration attorney. What to expect from a legal representative and how to avoid fraud; Contact information for non-governmental organizations and free or low-cost attorneys; Country Reports Country Reports are submitted as part of the asylum application to provide background information. Reports can cover the following: General conditions; State of human rights; Major events and developments in a country. LGBTI Claim Resources Information on seeking protection in the United States for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI) individuals. Pro se guide for seeking asylum based on sexual orientation; Know your rights resources and UNHCR guidance note; Recursos para inmigrantes lesbianas, gais, bisexuales, transexuales y intersexuales (LGBTI). Gang Claim Resources Information on seeking protection in the United States for individuals fleeing gang violence. Resource manual for seeking asylum based on fears of gang violence; Country reports detailing gang violence along with UNHCR guidance notes; Recursos para solicitar asilo en los EE.UU. para individuos huyendo violencia de las pandillas. Statelessness Information on the specific protection needs of stateless individuals. What it means to be stateless in the U.S.; Forms of relief for stateless individuals; Additional UNHCR guidance and reports. Contact Information Please note the UNHCR Regional Office Washington is not able to accept walk-in appointments or provide cash assistance. Please consult help.unhcr.org/usa for information for asylum-seekers and refugees. UNHCR global directory: If you have fled your country of origin, you may wish to contact the UNHCR office in your current country of residence for assistance. UNHCR may assist individuals in their country of origin only in limited situations where UNHCR is authorized to work with internally displaced persons. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are individuals who have been forced to flee their home but still reside in their country of origin. If you are a refugee or asylum-seeker in need of assistance in the United States, you can call +1 202-461-2356 to leave a message at any time for UNHCR Regional Office Washington. You will receive a call back during normal business hours. Inquiries can also be made by email at [email protected] For refugees and asylum-seekers detained in the United States, we operate a toll-free protection hotline Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2pm - 5pm EST with telephonic interpretation available. The protection hotline is accessible by dialing #566 from within detention facilities. If you are aware of additional resources relevant to asylum in the United States that should be added to this website, please contact our office by email at [email protected] For information on how you can help refugees and asylum seekers, please visit USA for UNHCR. Government Resources ICE Detainee Locator: This official webpage from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can be used to locate individuals who are currently in ICE custody or have been released from ICE custody for any reason within the last 60 days. EOIR Hotline: This hotline provided by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) provides individuals with automated immigration court information in English and Spanish. Users can dial 240-314-1500 or 1-800-898-7180 (toll-free) to obtain case status information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): USCIS, a federal agency within the Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for granting immigration and citizenship benefits, including green cards, family reunification, Temporary Protected Status, and visas. Their homepage provides more information regarding these services. BEREA, Ohio Operating a vehicle under the influence: Berea Street A Berea woman, 35, was arrested at about 5 p.m. June 9 after police saw the car she was driving bounce off a curb as it turned from West Bagley Road onto Berea Street. Police recognized the woman and knew she was wanted in Lorain County. After pulling her over, police smelled alcohol on the woman. Her eyes were bloodshot and her speech was slurred. Once out of her car, the woman had trouble standing. The woman told police she was delivering free food on behalf of a group called Drunk Moms of America. She failed field sobriety tests. Assault: East Bagley Road A 14-year-old girl staying at OhioGuidestone, 202 E. Bagley, faces assault charges after she attacked a worker at the behavioral health treatment center at about 8:15 a.m. June 6. According to the worker, the girl woke up that morning and went to a part of the building where she wasnt allowed. When the worker told the girl she was out of her area, the girl became angry. She bear-hugged the worker from behind, punched her and pulled her hair. Other workers ran to the area and restrained the girl, who had been charged with assault several times in the past. Animal bites: Race Street A Berea man called police at about 7:15 a.m. June 8 and said that a loose dog had just bitten his dog. The man was walking his dog at the time. The loose dog ran from its front yard on Race and started sniffing the mans dog. The man said the loose dog then bit his dog on the inside of its mouth. Police saw no wound on the mans dog. Police interviewed the owner of the loose dog. She said she lets her dog out every morning to relieve itself. She admitted that her dog sniffed the mans dog, but said it was the mans dog that bit her dog on the chest. Police saw blood and a bite mark on the womans dog. The owner of the loose dog said she would leash her dog from now on and keep a better eye on her pet. Theft: West Bagley Road A Glock 26 Gen 5 firearm was stolen between May 13 and June 4 from an unlocked display case inside Select Fire Training Center, 1267 W. Bagley. Found property: West Bagley Road A worker at Pet Valu, 445 W. Bagley, found a crushed shell casing from a 9mm Luger in the store parking lot at about 1:30 p.m. June 4. Police didnt see any gunshot damage in the area and hadnt received a call regarding a gunshot. Read more from the News Sun. File image: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other senior BJP leaders met here on Friday to discuss yet-to-be-announced byelections to 24 Assembly seats in the state. BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya, state unit chief V D Sharma and state organization secretary Suhash Bhagat took part in the meeting among others, a party source said. "We just talked about the by-polls. It was an initial dialogue amongst us," a senior BJP leader told PTI. Byelections were necessitated following the death of two sitting MLAs and resignations of 22 MLAs, mostly from Jyotiraditya Scindia's camp, which led to the Congress government's fall in March. The BJP and Congress have 107 and 92 MLAs, respectively, in the MP assembly. Two BSP MLAs, one SP legislator and two Independents are also supporting the BJP government. The Western Trust has revealed that health care services will look very different as the system rebuilds after the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health and social care services in Derry will begin to reset throughout the month of June. Services will have to take account of new ways of working which must be safely implemented in line with social distancing, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection prevention and control requirements. Preparation is underway to build a safe working environment for staff, patients and visitors. Stage 1 will focus on strong community services for frail and older people and on the impact the pandemic has had on mental health. Face to face contact is gradually being introduced in the treatment of mental health patients and the Trust will be working closely with the community and voluntary sectors. Speaking at a media briefing today, Western Trust Chief Executive Dr Anne Kilgallen thanked staff, patients and the general public for their support throughout. She made it clear that hospital services will look different moving forward and asked for feedback on areas where the public feel improvements can be made. Infection rates are low at present but she urged everyone in the community to continue playing their part by adhering to social distancing guidelines and maintaining hand hygiene or else we will very quickly find ourselves at increased risk of infection. Geraldine McKay, Director of Acute Hospitals, said that Altnagelvin Hospital had no COVID patients today. At a board meeting yesterday, it was announced that no COVID patients were admitted to the hospital on June 10 or 11. Urgent and emergency care is under review and Ambulatory Care has been reinstated to reduce footfall through the emergency department. Intensive care will be converted back to pre-COVID status which will mean 10 ICU beds at Altnagelvin Hospital. Nee patient referrals are being prioritised in cancer services and reviewing patients whose chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment was paused or deferred during the pandemic. The Madness Of George III (NT At Home, Youtube) Verdict: Gatiss is king of all he surveys Rating: The highlight of my lockdown so far has been discovering Mark Gatiss to be one of our finest leading actors. Last week I felt he almost stole the show from Tom Hiddleston in Coriolanus. And this week here he is again, starring in Alan Bennetts most famous play, The Madness Of George III. I missed the production when it ran at Nottingham Playhouse in 2018. How I rue that day now! Mark Gatiss is nothing less than spellbinding in Alan Bennetts most famous play, The Madness Of George III Gatiss is nothing less than spellbinding, and he has that priceless quality of seeming like a long lost friend. With a rubbery face that can make light of the trickiest situations, he was always a shoo-in for comedy. But in the title role of George III, he reveals himself to be an actor of astonishing range and personality. Bennetts play tells how the 18th-century monarch suffered a mental breakdown in 1788, and as the king, Gatiss is by turns saucy, childlike, jaunty, irascible and urbane. Bennett reveals himself to be an actor of astonishing range and personality, having gained acclaim for comedy roles in the past He equals Nigel Hawthornes distress and naughtiness in the original production (at the National Theatre back in 1991), displaying a litany of tics and terrors while in the throes of the illness that puts his reign in peril. Despite variable sound quality, Adam Penfords production comes over as a total barnstormer. Debra Gillett is all cuddly warmth as Georges German wife Mrs King, and Nicholas Bishop is a model of repressed panic as William Pitt, whose future as PM hinges on Georges recovery. But the best of the rest is Adrian Scarborough as Dr Willis, the grim-visaged Lincolnshire asylum keeper who insists George must be broken like a horse before he can get better. The glorious, courtly baroque of Handels music links the whirl of short scenes. But all that follows in Gatisss wake. I dearly hope he plays Shakespeares Richard III before too long. Its a role thats almost written for his energy, menace and mischief. Macbeth (iPlayer now, BBC4 Sunday 9.30pm) Verdict: Schlock horror movie makeover Rating: Polly Findlay clearly wants her Macbeth, starring Christopher Eccleston and Niamh Cusack (from the RSC in 2018), to be like a creepy horror film but, alas, Shakespeare keeps getting in her way. Spooky girls of about ten years old, sporting pink pyjama hoodies, play the witches. And that weirdo at the back of the stage in a janitors coat turns out to be the Porter. Eccleston doesnt seem all that prone to self-doubt as the titular Scottish warlord and is like a Chieftain tank rolling over the verse, blasting the audience with iambic pentameter. Christopher Eccleston stars as the titular character in Polly Findlay's Macbeth alongside Niamh Cusack, from the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2018 Cusack, meanwhile, is a swivel-eyed Lady M, wearing a series of sleek dresses one of which, as my daughter pointed out, makes her look like Elsa from Frozen. And she really does let it go for her out damned spot routine. Impressive knocking at the castle gates sounds more like field guns firing volleys from Hell, and the music is proper spooky-movie quality. But Findlay tries too hard, with a digital clock counting down Macbeths remaining time and his eventual slayer Macduff (Edward Bennett) fleeing to England wearing a baby papoose. Sometimes its best to let the Bard do the talking. Andrew Scott performs the one-man show Sea Wall in an echoey rehearsal room, having performed the piece a couple of times in the West End previously Sea Wall (seawallandrewscott.com) Verdict: Grim reapings with Andrew Scott Rating: Admirers of Andrew Scott can see him for $5 (or the UK equivalent) in a 30-minute monologue relating a distressing accident on holiday. Filmed in an echoey rehearsal room, Simon Stephens yarn is studiedly banal, in order to blindside us with the revelation of the grim incident. This is Scott at his most mannered and, although often out of focus, he still has a way of holding you with his big, damp, puppy-dog eyes. The global economy is projected to shrink by about 5.2 per cent this year under the massive ravaging impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Bank said on Thursday. The bank said the severe contraction in the economy, which compelled various stimulus interventions by most countries to contain the impact and save their economies from going under, would worsen the global poverty level. During the newly launched growth forecasts of June from the Global Economic Prospects, the World Bank updated global estimates of the impact of coronavirus. Its forecast shows that between 71 and 100 million people around the world risk being pushed into extreme poverty as a result of the impact of the pandemic. Recovery from COVID-19, the bank said, would provide an opportunity for countries to build resilience, improve inclusion and ensure economic growth. This new economic series, the World Bank said, would focus on the ideas and actions that would help countries as they look beyond the pandemic. Joined by President of the World Bank Group, David Malpass; the Executive Director of UNICEF, Henrietta Fore, and the African Union Commissioner, Josefa Sacko, the discussion focused on how food security was impacted by COVID-19. Other issues discussed included Gender and COVID-19 and how the World Bank is helping as well as efforts to ensure sustainable recovery as countries around the world respond to the COVID-19 emergency. On lending and finance, the group focused on alternative lenders using fintechsuch as crowdfunding platforms and marketplace lenders as an increasingly important source of financing for small and medium businesses. Disaster risk management, the Group noted, has become a new normal, as disasters and health emergencies can come without warning. It stressed the need for constant dialogue between the entities in charge of finance, risk management and health emergencies to allow for better preparation and planning for a timely response and recovery during crisis. At the peak of the crisis, the World Bank said about 1.6 billion children across the world were not in school. Specifics However, as schools look to re-open, the group identified four messages education systems should deliver to school leaders to improve student well-being and engagement. World Bank said its calculations on regional perspective suggest that around 20 million jobs would be destroyed in the Latin America and Caribbean region this year. The current crisis, it said, although deep and painful, offers the unique opportunity to reach broad social and political agreements to move toward these goals. On food security, the World Bank said even before the global COVID-19 pandemic broke out, food insecurity was becoming a serious concern throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Countries must take action now to build more resilient and productive food systems in the region to support food security during this pandemic and beyond, it said. A few years after President Bill Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement, Rolling Stone sent investigative reporter Dan Baum out to pound the pavement to learn how the globalist-hyped deal was working on both sides of the border. Baum quickly learned that Reform candidate Ross Perot, who predicted Americans would hear a giant sucking sound of companies fleeing the U.S. for Mexico, had analyzed NAFTAs fallout correctly. In his story, The Man Who Took My Job, Baum located David Quinn, a unionized Indiana auto parts worker who was one of 455 Breed Technologies employees to lose a job when the factory shut, then relocated to Mexico. Soon thereafter, more than 100 Indiana businesses followed Breed to Mexico a great deal for cheap labor-addicted employers, but devastating to the U.S. domestic workforce. By 2000, the $5.5 billion U.S. trade surplus with Mexico metastasized into a $16 billion deficit. Quinn and Baum traveled to Mexico where they eventually found the man who took the [Indianans] job, toiling longer work weeks for less money, few safety precautions and without union protections. During the next two decades, in part under George W. Bush, job losses continued to mount and deficits deepened. Today, the U.S. trade deficit with Mexico is $617 billion. Bush learned nothing from the NAFTA fiasco. Instead, he used the NAFTA template to create the World Trade Organization, which opened up the U.S. market with China and led to more than a dozen bilateral trade treaties that have hampered Americas labor force. Congress is considering nearly 25 more agreements that may kill more U.S. jobs. Since 2001, the U.S. has lost 3.7 million jobs to China, and is currently running a $346 billion trade deficit with the Asian superpower. Yet, Republican and Democratic-led administrations put trade first, above working Americans. President Barack Obamas 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership would have the opened borders to millions of foreign-born workers in every employment classification. Shortly after President Trump assumed office, he withdrew the U.S. from TPP. Because of COVID-19 concerns and the relatively short time period for businesses to adjust to its new regulations, the presidents NAFTA replacement, the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement, may be delayed beyond its June 1 starting date. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer expressed his concern: Let us not make long-term decisions in the midst of a crisis. A COVID-19 delay might be a lucky break for U.S. workers. The Economic Policy Institute is apprehensive that the U.S. International Trade Commissions projections about higher U.S. wages and increased employment may be based, much like NAFTA, on questionable assumptions. Specifically, EPI doubts whether U.S. wages will rise as a direct result of improved labor rights enforcement in Mexico, a conclusion that the ITE model doesnt validate. America needs a better approach that will rebalance trade and level the playing field for U.S. workers and other participating countries. Despite two decades of White House bloviating about American jobs and railing against income inequality, the average worker isnt as important to leaders as easing corporate trade. Unregulated global trade consequences have led to worldwide criminal-level labor exploitation. Corporations set up sweatshops in Vietnam, China, South Korea, India, Honduras and Taiwan, all sources of plentiful cheap labor that enhance bottom-line profits. Like NAFTA before it, USMCA has no real American worker protections. USMCAs language refers to temporary immigrant entry to supply services. But as the old adage goes, nothing is more permanent than a temporary immigrant, especially when he supplies labor services. Trump has talked pro-American about trade and immigration, but hes fallen far short of delivering the goods hes so often promised. Joe Guzzardi is a Progressives for Immigration Reform analyst who has written about immigration for more than 30 years. He can be reached at jguzzardi@pfirdc.org. A notice for arriving passengers regarding the Covid-19 Passenger Locator Form at Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport (Brian Lawless/PA) The Government is considering easing travel restrictions by the end of the month, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said. He warned, however, that no-one should come to or leave Ireland for the purpose of tourism as the travel restrictions remain in place. Speaking at a post-cabinet press briefing in Dublin on Friday, he said this advice will be reviewed in two weeks time. Several European countries have reopened their borders and resumed flights, were not going to do that yet, he said. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) The decision here in Ireland is that travel restrictions remain in place. Nobody should leave Ireland for the purpose of tourism and nobody should come to Ireland for the purpose of tourism or leisure. If anyone is coming here for an essential journey, they are required to fill a passenger location form and are advised to self-isolate for 14 days. That is not going to change for now. We will review the situation in two weeks time when we see how the situation has developed in other countries. Another three people with Covid-19 have died in Ireland, the National Public Health Emergency Team said on Friday, bringing the overall toll to 1,705. A total of 13 new cases were confirmed, increasing the overall tally to 25,250. Mr Varadkar also said that people have the constitutional right as EU citizens to travel freely between the UK and Ireland, but stressed that there is a public health emergency. Describing it as an unusual situation, Mr Varadkar added that in public health emergencies, EU member states can make their own rules. He added: We want to be in a position to agree air bridges to allow travel between Ireland and other countries where the virus is also successfully suppressed but we think that Monday June 15 is far too soon for us to do that. We are going to see what is possible and we will talk to our colleagues in the UK and the administration in Northern Ireland about the situation in two weeks time but our advice on travel remains the same. An Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar and Minister for @agriculture_ie, @creedcnw are giving a post-cabinet briefing on matters discussed at todays cabinet meeting at Dublin Castle. #COVID19ireland https://t.co/fyawunYDrS MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) June 12, 2020 The Taoiseach also said that moving from two-metre social distancing to one-metre distancing is a risk, but not as big a risk as it was a few weeks ago. He said: If we are going to go from two metres to one, that is a risk. It is not going to be as big a risk as it was two weeks ago because the number of cases are now so low. We are looking at the issue in the round and seeing what the health implications will be for employment and in schools and so on. A new campaign to inform people to wear a face mask in enclosed settings is being launched on Monday. Meanwhile, it also emerged that primary schools may reopen for one day per week in September if the two-metre social-distancing guidelines remain in place. Education Minister Joe McHugh said that secondary school pupils would attend school for two days per week while they engage in blended learning from home on the other days of the week. Speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing in Dublin on Friday, he said it remains the Governments goal to get all pupils back to school in September as they have been closed since March. Expand Close John Crowley (right), first in line oustide Arnotts department store on Henry Street in Dublin, as it reopens for the first time after lockdown restrictions were eased in the Republic of Ireland (Brian Lawless/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John Crowley (right), first in line oustide Arnotts department store on Henry Street in Dublin, as it reopens for the first time after lockdown restrictions were eased in the Republic of Ireland (Brian Lawless/PA) Elsewhere, Irelands chief medical officer said that different measures will be taken in the event of a second surge in coronavirus cases, rather than the implementation of a full lockdown. Dr Tony Holohan said the country knows a lot more about Covid-19 than it did in March when lockdown measures and restrictions were first introduced. He said if there was a second wave or resurgence of the disease, the same measures would not need to be taken. I wouldnt be anticipating at this point in time that we would be moving back to blanket closures in the way we did in March, he said. What we what we will be doing over the next couple of weeks is meeting with NPHET (National Public Health Emergency Team) and looking at a scenario where we have a resurgence of the disease, what measures we will take or what would be appropriate, Dr Holohan told RTE radio. If a resurgence of the disease happened or a second wave, we would know what specific measures to take, having done our work proactively. The populations behaviour is very different now than it was in March and people understand more about the disease and the risks and how they can protect themselves when it comes to hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. #COVID19 Negativity rate in testing 99.2%. 27 people in ICU, down 88% on peak. 79 hospitalised confirmed cases, down 91% on peak. Just 8 cases yesterday. We are winning but the final whistle wont blow for a while yet- and we dont want extra time. Lets keep it going. @HSELive Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) June 12, 2020 Travellers in Dublin and Cork Airport will be asked to wear face masks from next Tuesday, while anyone not taking a flight will be advised to not enter the terminal buildings. Chief communications officer with the Dublin Airport Authority, Paul OKane, said airports are getting prepared for a surge in travellers. He told Newstalk FM: Were working now to get organised and get planned for when passenger numbers will ramp up, cause they will ramp up in the future. Were strongly recommending that face masks or face coverings are worn by passengers in all buildings, we also have a strong recommendation for our staff to wear face masks thosell be mandatory in some areas. TANZANIA, Tanzania - The United Nations says it has determined that Iran was the source for several items in two arms shipments seized by the United States and for debris left by attacks on Saudi Arabias oil installations and an international airport, according to a new report. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said some of the items seized by the U.S. in November 2019 and February 2020 were identical or similar to those found after the cruise missiles and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia in 2019. He said in a report to the U.N. Security Council obtained Friday by The Associated Press that some items seized by the U.S. in international waters off Yemen are not only Iranian but may have been transferred in a manner inconsistent with the council resolution that endorsed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The secretary-general was reporting on implementation of the 2015 resolution enshrining the nuclear agreement aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. It includes restrictions that took effect on Jan. 16, 2016, on transfers to or from Iran of nuclear and ballistic missile material as well as arms. The Security Council is scheduled to discuss the resolutions implementation on June 30, and the U.S. is expected to press for the U.N. arms embargo against Iran, which is part of it, to be extended indefinitely before it expires in October. Irans U.N. Mission responded to the report Friday saying: Iran categorically rejects the observations contained in the report concerning the Iranian connection to the export of weapons or their components that are used in attacks on Saudi Arabia and the Iranian origin of alleged U.S. seizures of armaments. Its statement said the U.N. lacks the capacity, expertise, and knowledge to conduct such a sophisticated and sensitive investigation, adding that the report reproduces exact claims by the United States. In essence, the U.S. is sitting in the drivers seat to shape the so-called assessment regarding the Iranian connection to the attacks, Iran said. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the nuclear agreement in May 2018 and re-imposed U.S. sanctions that had been eased or lifted. American officials contend Iran is working to obtain nuclear-capable missiles, which the Iranians deny. The nuclear agreement is still supported by the five other parties France, Britain, Russia and China, which are all veto-wielding Security Council members, and Germany, which is currently serving a two-year term on the council. According to Guterres report, the arms shipments seized by the U.S. were assessed by the U.N. Secretariat to include parts of anti-tank guided missiles from Iran with 2016, 2017 and 2018 production dates as well as thermal weapon optical sights with design characteristics similar to those produced by an Iranian company, and a computer keyboard with Farsi markings associated with an anti-ship missile. Guterres said U.N. experts also assessed that sections and components of cruise missiles recovered by the U.S. from the sites of attacks on Saudi Arabias Abha International Airport in June and August 2019 and on Saudi Aramco oil facilities at Abqaiq and Khurays in September 2019 are of Iranian origin. As for the delta-wing drones used in attacks on Saudi oil facilities in May and September 2019, Guterres said, the Secretariat assesses that the un-crewed aerial vehicles and/or parts thereof used in the two attacks are of Iranian origin. The report also links Iranian material from the U.S. seizures and the Saudi attacks. Guterres said the U.N. is also reviewing information in an Israeli letter last month on imagery of four Iranian anti-tank guided missiles being employed in Libya and information provided last month by Australia on its June 2019 seizure of arms from a dhow in international waters off the Gulf of Oman. The U.N.s atomic watchdog agency said earlier this month that Iran has continued to increase its stockpiles of enriched uranium above limits in the agreement and remains in violation of its deal with world powers. In his report, Guterres reiterated strong support for the Iranian nuclear agreement and expressed regret for the U.S. withdrawal and Irans actions since July 2019 to stop performing its nuclear commitments. He urged all countries to avoid provocative rhetoric and actions that may have a negative impact on regional stability. The secretary-general said the Trump administrations imposition of sanctions on Iran since 2018 remains contrary to the goals in the nuclear deal and the U.N. resolution endorsing it, and may also impede Tehrans ability to implement some provisions of the agreement and the resolution. He urged Iran to return to the agreements requirements and to urgently address concerns raised by the United Kingdom, Germany and France in relation to the 2015 resolution. The three countries urged Guterres in a letter in December to inform the Security Council that Irans ballistic missile activity is inconsistent with a provision in the resolution calling on Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons. The provision does not require Tehran to halt such activity, and the Iranian government insists all its missile activities are legal and not nuclear-related. On Jan. 14, France, Germany and the UK announced that they had referred Irans actions violating limits in the nuclear agreement to the deals dispute resolution mechanism. Guterres urged all parties to the agreement to resolve all differences within that mechanism. Two males pose in front of a police car that was vandalized and set on fire in Boston, Mass., on May 31, 2020. (FBI) 15-Year-Old Arrested After Photographs Showed Males Posing With Torched Police Car A 15-year-old was arrested Thursday evening by Boston police officers after authorities released pictures showing two males posing next to a police car that was vandalized and set on fire during riots. The teenager, who wasnt named, was arrested on a Boston Juvenile Court warrant for delinquent to wit: arson of a motor vehicle and inciting a riot, police officials said in a statement. The teen resides in Framingham, a city situated about 22 miles southwest of Boston. Members of the public coming forward to share tips helped lead investigators to the 15-year-old. FBI officials released photographs and video footage showing the two men near a police car in Boston on May 31 between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Watch this video to see if you can help @FBIBoston @bostonpolice @BostonFire identify two individuals who we believe may have information relevant to the vandalism & arson of a #BPD cruiser on 5/31/2020. Call 857-386-2000 or email https://t.co/48YS0b0hkh pic.twitter.com/IDZ6acEjGf FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) June 9, 2020 The car was vandalized after officers who responded to a call for assistance parked it near Beantown Pub, close to Suffolk University, and left on foot. After several people broke the cars windows, they set it on fire. The males may have information relevant to the ongoing investigation into the vandalism and arson, the FBI said in a wanted poster. A similar statement was circulated by the Boston Police Department. The male wearing a white hooded sweatshirt and donning a red bandana was described as White or Hispanic. The other one was described as Hispanic. Both were said to be between 58 and 60 with medium builds. Protests sparked by the death of a black man, George Floyd, in policy custody in Minneapolis erupted in most major cities in the United States in late May. Within days, some devolved into violence, with looting and other crimes committed en masse. The two males seen in video footage distributed by authorities. (FBI) Law enforcement officials have been tracking down some of the culprits, charging dozens so far. Also on Thursday, Boston police officers arrested Daniel Lucey, 40. A local resident, Lucey was seen by witnesses setting fire to a blanket and placing it underneath a police cruiser parked at West Street and Mason Street on June 11. Witnesses stomped out the flames and officers later found Lucey in Copley Square. He was charged with two counts of arson of a motor vehicle. Many healthcare groups are taking advance booking of about 1.5 lakh to set up ICUs in just 4 hours at home New Delhi: With medical centres running out of beds, and patients being turned away from hospitals doorsteps, people have started creating ICUs and isolation wards at home and in housing societies now. Those who can afford have started stocking up medical equipment like oxygen cylinders, oxymeters and portable ventilators in Delhi while many are arranging for medical facilities at by the new services that has been started by several agencies and hospitals in view of novel coronavirus pandemic in the country. Since Cure from Home is the new strategy of state governments in view of acute shortage of beds and overload on healthcare systems, novel coronavirus patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms have to stay at home after being detected positive. They have to rush to hospital only if there is an acute breathing problem or any other complication. However, panic has struck people so much that no one wants to take a chance and several have started creating their own isolation units at home with critical care systems. A representative of Apollo Hospital in Delhi said that essential equipment like oxymetres and oxygen cylinders have all been hired by people by paying rents for months together in advance. Apollo rents oxygen cylinder for Rs 3000 a month. In the absence of rented cylinder, people have also started buying it at the rate of Rs 11,000 a piece. Many healthcare groups are taking advance booking of about 1.5 lakh to set up ICUs in just 4 hours at home and provide nurse to take care of patients. Some private hospitals have come up with special home care packages for COVID-19 patients and are doing good business. An executive of Delhis Max Hospital, that recently started its Home Isolation Care services for COVID, said the demand is increasing as people want to be under guidance of doctors and want tele-consultations regularly. Another group -- Health Care at Home -- started this service only after COVID outbreak and on a daily basis 35 to 40 persons are booking for remote care packages that includes psychological counseling, 24x7 caregiver at home, delivery of medicines and regular monitoring of health parameters. HDU Healthcare that has expertise in setting up ICU facilities at homes is on a daily basis, for the last ten days, setting up about 200 ICU units at homes in Delhi and NCR. These are all for patients who have already tested positive and many have co-morbid conditions. At this rate of demand we have capacity to set up ICU units for another 8-10 days only now, said HDUs COO Ambrish Mishra. The company, pre-COVID days, on an average used to set up 2-3 units per day under home care. Several Resident Welfare Associations and group housing societies too are setting up isolation centres in their community rooms or empty flats to handle large scale outbreak in their premises. We are setting up units for RWAs etc too, Mishra said. After several videos of patients dying due to lack of medical care and facilities in hospitals surfaced many do not want to go to hospitals. You lose only time and energy running from pillar to post to get a bed. Better to create that facility at home if you can afford, said a doctor. Mr Boye Laryea, the Municipal Chief Executive of the Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly, has cautioned squatters in the Municipality over their weak habitation structures and poor attitudes towards the environment. He said: The victims are squatters who find it offensive when you try to evacuate them from their places of abode. When you try to evacuate them, they ask you, so where do we go to stay? Why should somebody die because of somebodys mistakes? Being the MCE, sometimes I go round advising people that you cannot live in certain areas because they may be dangerous for you. He said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, following Tuesdays downpour, which led to the deaths of five people in the Municipality. Mr Laryea explained that many of the squatters often throw away heaped rubbish into waterways and drains to be carried away whenever it rains- an action that prevented the easy flow of running water. One of the gentlemen, who escaped death in the flood, said he is a Kente weaver from Ho. So I asked him why he relocated to Accra when he only sleeps in kiosk here. I even suggested that he goes to Ho, continue with his work and find a shop in Accra to supply his things for sale. So it is difficult to deal with this matter, I mean tragedies from downpour until we change our mindsets, he said. The MCE said together with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), they were still looking for a pregnant woman who had been missing since the downpour. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video House speaker Nancy Pelosi, following the lead of Antifa and Black Lives Matter, is doing her part to address Congress's priority these days, which is Denouncing the Confederates. She's busy out calling for the removal of Confederate statues from the Capitol, apparently just noticing for the first time after 33 years in the House that the Confederates all around her were a problem. According to Breitbart News: "As I have said before, the halls of Congress are the very heart of our democracy. The statues in the Capitol should embody our highest ideals as Americans, expressing who we are and who we aspire to be as a nation," Pelosi said in her letter to Committee Chair Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Vice Chair Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). "Monuments to men who advocated cruelty and barbarism to achieve such a plainly racist end are a grotesque affront to these ideals," she continued. "Their statues pay homage to hate, not heritage. They must be removed." This leaves hanging a little problem that she has observed omerta on. Breitbart continues: [H]er father, Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr., oversaw the dedication of such a statue in Baltimore's Wyman Park the Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee Monument as mayor of the city in 1948. At the time, the Speaker's father said people could look to Jackson's and Lee's lives as inspiration and urged Americans to "emulate Jackson's example and stand like a stone wall against aggression in any form that would seek to destroy the liberty of the world." "World Wars I and II found the North and South fighting for a common cause, and the generalship and military science displayed by these two great men in the War between the States lived on and were applied in the military plans of our nation in Europe and the Pacific areas," D'Alesandro said at the dedication ceremony, as detailed by the Baltimore Sun. So where's her #ITakeResponsibility video clip of Mao-style self-criticism such as the Hollywood chi-chi crowd is putting out? Where's her "I will say something when my family members put up Confederate statues," or "I will take down my father's Confederate statues and repudiate his words as racist"? No #ITakeResponsibility there. She and her Democratic party are taking their policy directives from Antifa and Black Lives Matter these days, so merely kneeling in a kente cloth stole to appease leftists and not being able to get up is hardly enough. It also raises questions as to whether there's a statue of old D'Alesandro himself up someplace in Baltimore that needs a little graffiti, beheading, and knocking down, such as the other Antifa-targeted statues have gotten. She hasn't said. No calls to remove those statues, erected by dear old dad, along with flowery words of praise for the Confederates, which, by the way, was kind of odd in a city in a state that stayed loyal to the north in the Civil War. No calls to get rid of those at all. Yet her act is so mercenary, so dishonest, so hypocritical, that one can only wonder why she's covering for family members who were all in on erecting Confederate statues as most Democrats at one time were. Seems her close-knit Italian family values might be keeping her back on that one. One only wonders what she has to say about the all the now targeted Christopher Columbus statues. It's almost as if the Confederates are a cover for a far more embarrassing issue, except that her family ties are showing all around on the whole fiasco. Image credit: WJZ CBSBaltimore via shareable YouTube screen shot. Kennedy Agyapong and Prophet Nigel Gaisie 12.06.2020 LISTEN Kennedy Agyapong has applauded Media personality Nana Aba Anamoah for not falling for an alleged trick by Prophet Nigel Gaisie. According to the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, the prophet baited the broadcast journalist and general manager of GHOne TV to get her into his bed, but she refused to show up. But speaking on The Seat Show on Net2 on Wednesday, he alleged that several other female personalities, including actresses and music fell for the leader of the Prophetic Hill Chapel. Mr. Agyapong, who has vowed to expose fake pastors in Ghana, was speaking about Nigel for the second time on his television station, tagging him as a fake man of God. He emphasized his earlier claims that Prophet Nigel is worse than Bishop Daniel Obinim, and promised to release names of the personalities he had slept with under guise of being a man of God on Monday. I have their names here: actresses and radio presenters. The lady I have so much respect for in this case is Nana Aba Anamoah. He tricked her that her father's house at Cape Coast has juju in it and so she should come for him to go and remove it. But Nana Aba didn't go. That's a deep thinker. The rest have all fallen. I have serious names here, he alleged. Mr. Agyapong also claimed the prophet is a suspect in the death of the late Ebony Reigns. Meanwhile, Nigel has since been quiet about all the allegations. Photo: BIV Telus has filed suit against Shaw, claiming its advertisements are misleading Telus Corp. (TSX:T) is not a fan of one competitors new ad campaign. The Vancouver-based telecom giant has filed suit against Shaw Communications Inc. (TSX:SJR.B), alleging advertisements for Shaws Fibre+ internet offerings are misleading and have been causing significant customer confusion. Shaw began advertising its Fibre+ service as a new product in late May. But Telus suit, filed in B.C. Supreme Court on June 10, takes issue with the marketing campaigns alleged efforts to cast Fibre+ as a Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) offering. Instead, the Vancouver company says Shaws Fibre+ is just a rebranded version of its previous Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification or DOCSIS service. The concern, according to Telus, is that FTTH (commonly referred to as fibre within the industry) is a superior product to the lower-performance coaxial cable that connects Shaw customers to its existing DOCSIS service. The DOCSIS infrastructure uses nodes that can be connected to the internet using fibre optic cable. But Telus describes this as a last mile connection and not representative of a true fibre optic service. The suit states customers who have access to FTTH get higher speeds and fewer outages than those relying on DOCSIS, adding Shaws claims are false and materially misleading. For example, there is no difference whatsoever between Shaws recently-launched Fibre+ 300 Internet Service and its previous Internet 300 Service these are exactly the same product, the only difference being the misleading Fibre+ nomenclature associated with Shaws Fibre+ 300 Internet Service, the suit alleges. Since Shaws Fibre+ Internet services do not use fibre optic cable to physically connect customers homes to the network, it is inaccurate and misleading to describe such a service as a fibre or fibre optic internet service. Telus claims the use of the plus symbol in the Fibre+ marketing campaign is also misleading as it implies its offerings are superior to Telus fibre optic services. The telecom company says its suffering irreparable harm and damage to its reputation as a result of Shaws ad campaign and is asking for an injunction to put an end to the marketing efforts. Telus also wants Shaw to declare that its knowingly or recklessly made false or misleading representations to the public and is seeking damages for lost profits as well as costs associated with the suit. Shaw has not filed a response to the claims and did not provide a response to inquiries from Business in Vancouver prior to publication. This story will be updated if Shaw responds. The allegations have not been proven in court. In early March, Minneapoliss Boneshaker Booksa collectively run, all-volunteer radical bookstoreclosed its doors. Facing mounting debts, Boneshakers founding collective said farewell after 10 years. Six weeks later, in the middle of the pandemic that has shuttered countless stores, a new collective, drawn from loyal volunteers and customers, launched a fund-raiser to keep Boneshaker open. We blew past our initial fund-raising goal of $10,000 on the first day, eventually raising more than $35,000. The decision to launch a fund-raiser wasnt made lightly. In a time of unprecedented financial upheaval, the fact that Boneshaker is staffed by volunteers protects us: unlike most of our fellow indies, we are not struggling to make payroll. But our volunteers and customers are people who live in the world, and plenty have lost income due to the pandemicone in four, statistically. When rent is due and the fridge is empty, buying a $27 hardcover is not high on the list of priorities. Why, then, the outpouring of support, from some 635 donors, to a small anticapitalist shop? Surely some of it reflects the desire for normalcyto not lose anything else when we stand poised to lose so much. But we think it reflects a deeper need, too. Books help us envision the futures we want, and the futures we fear. What comes after this phase of the pandemic will be determined by a clash of contending visions: some double down on the ugliest aspects of our society; others point toward something better. But we can only effectively fight foror againstfutures that we first imagine. Bookstores have a unique role as incubators of our imaginations. Radical imagination has always been a part of our store, has always been intertwined with community action. Our collective, nonhierarchical structure empowers volunteers and community members to shape our operations and programming. Our store houses two grassroots organizations, the Womens Prison Book Project and Twin Cities Democratic Socialists of America, as well as a free meeting space. Our most successful events have been partnerships with community groups, like a collage-making collective, a bisexual+ discussion group, and a book club last summer on Nick Estess Our History Is the Future, cosponsored with organizations opposing a Minnesota pipeline. This role as a community hub looks different now. While stay-at-home orders are in effect, Boneshakers doors remain closedalready the lives of too many workers are endangered by the capitalist imperative to continue with business as usual. Like many other bookstores, weve set up an online storefront at Bookshop, where weve created lists of suggested titles on topics like reproductive freedom, indigenous studies, and anarchism, alongside more traditional fare like fiction and cookbooks. Bookshop offered a solution to the problem posed by the pandemic: a spike in online ordering alongside a drop in operational capacity. But we see it as a stopgap, not a replacement. Were developing safe, contactless methods to fulfill orders from our inventory and hope to resume our signature bike delivery soon. Meanwhile, our diverse calendar of community events has been replaced by two online book clubs: the Politics of Pandemics and Anything but Pandemics. We dont know what todays equivalent of ACT UP will look like, but we know reading groups on the original can offer clues. At present, our clubs have paused, as our Minneapolis community focuses on the struggle for justice for George Floyd. We recognize the moments when its time to set down our books and step into the streets. In the meantime, our online shop is surging with orders for books about antiracism and black movementsbecause people will always turn to books to chart a way forward. Books, and the community we create around them, help us step beyond our immediate fears and experience ourselves as part of something greater. We think our fund-raisers success reflects a longing for precisely that connection to the best side of ourselvesfor meaningful contact when we are physically isolated, and for ideas when our lives have narrowed around the new challenges of meeting our basic daily needs. We also believe Boneshakers focused attention on offering resources to comprehend and combat structural violence ensures that when we do gather again, we will have deeper knowledge about how to build a more equitable world. Of course, in a city known for brilliant organizing campaigns led by immigrant workers at Amazon warehouses, maybe people just really like our most popular fund-raising swag: T-shirts reading AMAZON IS EVIL; Support local bookstores. Elizabeth Wrigley-Field and Corbin DeWitt (a pseudonym) are members of Boneshakers volunteer collective. Finance & Development, June 2020, Vol. 57, Number 2 PDF version IN THE TRENCHES The Medellin Miracle Former mayor Federico Gutierrez discusses how prioritizing security and sustainability paved the way for a 21st century city Marjorie Henriquez In 1991, Medellin, Colombias second-largest urban area, was the worlds most violent city. Today, the City of Eternal Spring is internationally recognized as one of the most innovative, inclusive, and sustainable cities in the world. Federico Gutierrez, born in Medellin in 1974 at the advent of Colombias violent period of armed conflict, was the citys mayor from January 2016 until January 2020helping spearhead many efforts to cement the citys future as one of peace and prosperity. He credits the determination and unity shown by the people of Medellin for their commitment to overcoming violence and conflict, which has won their city accolades and admiration. Speaking with F&Ds Marjorie Henriquez, Gutierrez shares his thoughts on the citys remarkable transformation over the past three decades. F&D: What was the turning point for Medellin? FG: In the 1980s and 1990s our society hit rock bottom with the tragedy of narcoterrorism. In 1991 we recorded a homicide rate of 381 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. Today the rate is approximately 20 per 100,000 inhabitantsa 95 percent decrease. Although the only acceptable figure is zero, we have achieved significant progress in curbing violence and ensuring respect for life. As to whether there was a specific turning point, that is complicated and open to debate. Ever since businesspeople decided to stay in Medellin in the 1980s and 1990snot giving in to the violencewe began to develop a vital strategy rooted in teamwork. The business fabric of our city is extremely solid, and this can be explained to a great extent by the difficulties that the private sector had to face in order to survive. In the midst of violence, staying was a great act of bravery. There were no shortcuts, but there were practical solutions. One of the latter involved partnerships between the public sector, private sector, academia, and civil society. Teamwork as a society was a determining factor in the citys social transformation. The mafia upended our values: it turned hard and honest work into easy money, sobriety into opulence and, worst of all, it took the value out of life and instead put a price on it. Though we still have a long way to go, we have started recovering such values as life, respect, and freedom. In fewer than three decades, Medellin has become a benchmark for the world. It is a socially innovative city that is today an affiliate center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution for Latin America, in partnership with the World Economic Forum. Experiencing the worst things possible as a society has made us stronger and more resilient. Medellin is a city that acknowledges its past, takes pride in its present, and above all, views its future optimistically. F&D: As mayor, what were your key priorities? FG: A governments priorities must, in some way, be the priorities of the people. For us, they were education, security, and sustainability. We had the highest education budget in Medellins history. With one of the flagship programs, we managed to return more than 8,000 children who were outside the educational system for various reasons to the classrooms. We also gave more than 43,000 scholarships for higher education. That is the best strategy for security in the long termgiving opportunities to succeed within the framework of legality. On security, we dealt forceful blows to structures that had been operating for decades. The security issue is still quite complex. There is criminality, but it is much quieter than that of the cartels of the 1980s and 1990s. Our approach involves more than police strategiesit is a comprehensive model that provides opportunities and builds trust, fights crime, and focuses on strategic social investment by the state where there had previously been a vacuum, allowing lawlessness to prevail. On sustainability, the first thing we did was to put air quality on the citys agenda. Due to Medellins topography and winds, air quality decreases significantly twice a year: March and October. Institutions had the data on this for years without sharing it with the public. People thought smog was haze. We started by openly recognizing the problem. Then we set out to become Latin Americas capital of sustainable mobility: we added 65 electric buses to the citys fleet, and the older buses were renovated with clean technologies. New Metrocables (the citys gondola lift system), 80 kilometers of new bike paths, and more sidewalks. We finished the technical, legal, and financial structuring of a new tram in the western part of the city. We also started a pilot of 100 percent electric taxis. I am an advocate of public transportation. Few things are more democratic than a good public space and a good system of mass public transport. We also created 36 green corridors that open up the most congested roads in the city, and we planted more than 890,000 trees. F&D: Describe some of Medellins most innovative achievements. FG: Some call what has happened here The Medellin miracle. But this was no miracleit reflects many years of hard work. For example, with the help of the business sector, we launched Weaving Homes (Tejiendo hogares), a commitment to building social fabric through training in positive discipline for families. We understood that it was useless to have the best neighborhood infrastructure if what happened inside homes included violence against women and children. We also launched Medellin Embraces Its History (Medellin abraza su historia) to memorialize the fight for the culture of legality, which included an upgrade to the House of Memory Museum, filming documentaries, and demolishing the Monaco buildingPablo Escobars former residenceto create space for a memorial park honoring narcoterrorism victims. We also created ParcerosBuddiesa program focused on recovering young people from criminal activity. We have built an institutional framework to support social investment. Successive administrations have given continuity to city projects with the understanding that things do not simply start afresh every four years with an election. F&D: How did you ensure that Medellin stayed on track? FG: Medellins success is based on its people and shared trust. The long-term process of rebuilding the city is a collective endeavornobody succeeds in isolation. The first step was to acknowledge results achieved in the past, continuing but also building on them, bearing in mind that a leaders time in office is short. We improved the quality of life, as shown by the fact that we have reached our highest point in the multidimensional quality of life index. We invested resources efficiently and transparently where needednot where we would have garnered the most votes. We took action in areas where the city continues to reap benefits even today: fighting crime and standing up for law and order, raising awareness about the environment and air quality, curbing the school dropout rate, making a bid to become a Latin American champion for sustainable mobility, and showcasing Medellin as an affiliate center for the fourth industrial revolution. F&D: How did you learn about the peoples needs? FG: For years I walked the streets of Medellin, talking to people even before I became mayor. As a leader, you must know how to listen, put yourself in somebody elses shoes, and understand their daily struggles. The coronavirus pandemic has upended virtually every aspect of our lives, and going outside is no exception. With closed trails, limited facilities and the ever-present issue of crowds, going outside in Oregon requires more preparation than ever. Whether youre going on a day hike or a multi-day adventure, you need be ready to keep yourself safe and healthy in the outdoors. Risk of transmitting COVID-19 outdoors (which remains extremely low but is still possible) is not your only concern. The economic impact of the virus has left land management agencies like the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the U.S. Forest Service with less money to fully staff recreation areas, potentially making the experience a little more rugged for visitors. Clean water might not be available. Restrooms might not have any soap or hand sanitizer. Trails, roads and facilities that need maintenance may have to close for the foreseeable future. And, as always, the potential for crowds at popular outdoor spaces remains high. Before you jump in your car and head out there, take a moment to sit down and plan your trip and make sure youre properly prepared. Here are 10 things to consider before going back outside. PODCAST: How to plan a day trip during the coronavirus outbreak People return to Tryon Creek State Natural Area in southwest Portland, one of the first Oregon state park sites to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian 1. WHATS OPEN, WHATS CLOSED? Most day-use areas and hiking trails in Oregon have reopened to the public, as have many campgrounds. A lot of places remain closed, however, and even reopened spaces are subject to sudden closure. Always check the status of your destination before leaving home. See our regularly updated list of reopenings and closures for more information. 2. SOCIAL DISTANCE Public health officials in Oregon and around the world recommend people keep at least six feet of social distance from those not in their household during the pandemic. Thats easy to do in some parks and on beaches, but trails are often too narrow to maintain that distance while passing other people, as are access points and viewpoints that often funnel people close together. 3. FACE MASKS Some officials and researchers are recommending people wear face masks outside when social distance isnt possible. While risk of transmission outdoors remains extremely low, it is possible. Masks are encouraged when passing others on trails, but not necessarily at all times in nature. To be safe, carry a face mask with you or wear a neckerchief that can easily function as a mask. 4. STAYING CLOSE TO HOME Oregon Gov. Kate Brown continues to discourage nonessential travel far from home, which includes day trips and vacations around the region. State officials are asking people who live in more crowded parts of the state to stick to places that are within 50 miles of their homes, for now. 5. SUPPLIES While trails, campgrounds and day-use areas are reopening, officials warn people that facilities might not be open, and might not be stocked or cleaned regularly. Make sure to bring your own water, hand sanitizer, soap, toilet paper and trash bags, just in case. You should also be prepared to responsibly relieve yourself outside. The public restroom is open at the shipwreck day-use area at Fort Stevens State Park. Some state park sites on the north Oregon coast reopened to the public Friday, June 5, more than two months after closing due to the coronavirus pandemic.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian 6. WEEKDAYS AND EVENINGS If youre able, consider going to parks at off-peak hours to avoid crowds. Weekdays are always a safer bet than weekends, though that may be less true this year as more Oregonians are out of work. Evenings are typically far less crowded than mornings or afternoons, and are especially beautiful in late spring and early summer when we have the most daylight. Just allow enough time to get back to the trailhead before dark. 7. BACKUP PLANS As crowds continue to descend on some of Oregon and Washingtons most popular outdoor destinations, its important to make backup plans. Come with a Plan B, C and D, in case your first choice is already overcrowded. And be prepared to turn around and go home if all the parking lots are full, rather than park illegally on the side of the road. A beautiful drive can be a perfectly good excursion on its own. 8. NEW PLACES One of the best ways to spread out crowds is simply to try new places. We all have our favorite trails and parks, but its fun to explore a little more and discover some new spots, too. By not going to a popular destination, youre helping to keep it a little less crowded, and opening up space for someone else to visit for the first time. 9. GETTING OUT ON THE WATER Kayaking, paddle boarding and rafting with people in your household are all socially distant activities by nature. Instead of crowding onto a narrow hiking trail, consider kayaking on a lake or river. It is a more expensive way to recreate if you dont already have a vessel, though rentals are available at Next Adventure and other outdoor retailers. 10. WILDERNESS AREAS Wilderness areas are some of the least-crowded outdoor destinations in Oregon (with a few exceptions), though theyre also among the most remote and typically offer few amenities. If you go, whether for a day hike or a backpacking trip, be prepared with the 10 essentials and make sure you know what youre getting yourself into. --Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Fifty years ago, the Kinks hit the charts with a catchy song about a romantic encounter in a London nightclub between a clueless young rube and an ingenue who walked like a woman but talked like a man. It was called Lola. Mara Keisling, now one of the nations most prominent transgender rights activists, was then an 11-year-old boy living in central Pennsylvania. And when she heard the song on the radio, she suddenly felt less alone in the world. It was pretty clear that Lola was like me, Keisling said. It made me realize I wasnt absolutely the only person in the world living with what was then a shameful secret. Image: Mara Keisling (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) Now 60, Keisling started transitioning in her 40s after many years of trying to live as a man. And the song by Ray Davies, the recently knighted leader of the venerable British band, became part of the soundtrack of her life. His song was one of the things that got me through, Keisling said. That sounds odd, but when youre a kid and that alone, and you have that kind of thing weighing on you, and you cant talk to anybody about it, a song like Lola becomes so important. Somebody, she said, was talking to me to me about this. It was lifesaving. The underlying message of Lola is of acceptance and loving someone exactly as they are, said Carey Fleiner, a British college professor and author of The Kinks: A Thoroughly English Phenomenon. In that sense, not only would that song resonate with LGBT listeners as someone who understood them, as a song they could relate to, but any outsider who felt different or rejected, Fleiner said. This is one of the first cracks in the gender revolution ... It presented us in a way that was not negative. Its truly pioneering, and its remarkable that the Kinks found the courage to put it out. Lola helped revive the fortunes of the Kinks, a band that first broke through as part of the British Invasion in the 1960s and scored early hits with power-chord classics like You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night. Story continues But from 1965 to 1969, the Kinks were banned from touring in the U.S. after the band ran afoul American Federation of Television and Recording Artists for brawling onstage and missing shows. And while contemporaries like the Beatles, the Who and the Rolling Stones built huge fan bases in America, the Kinks had to start over. And they really needed a hit. Lola delivered. Lauded by rock critics, it hit No. 2 on the United Kingdom charts in June 1970, climbed as high as nine on the U.S. charts, and quickly became a concert favorite. But not before the BBC made a big fuss about the song for an unlikely reason it had the words Coca-Cola in the lyrics. The BBC came down on the track like a bag of hammers, as they had a policy to ban anything that made commercial references, Fleiner said. Famously, Ray had to fly back and forth from a Kinks tour in the USA to London and quickly re-record the lyrics and replace the drink with cherry cola in order to get past the censors and to get the record out. Which explains why cherry cola appeared on the single but Coca-Cola remained on the album Lola Versus the Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One. Image: The Kinks (Reprise) But other than a few radio stations in Australia balking at playing Lola because of what was described as its controversial subject matter, somehow the song managed to fly under the radar of social conservatives who might object to lyrics like girls will be boys, and boys will be girls, its a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world. It didnt inspire that much outrage, noted New York-based rock critic Jim Farber. People were more flummoxed by it. Especially these lines: Well, Im not the world's most masculine man, but I know what I am, and Im glad Im a man, and so is Lola. Farber said careful listeners fixated on those lines. Was Davies saying Lola was glad the object of her desire was a man? Or was the young rube glad that Lola was a man? It really was a subversive song, Farber said. It wasnt like anything else out there and very much ahead of its time. Plus, Lola had the good fortune to land at a time when glam rock was starting to emerge. A key part of the rebellion in rock and roll was the blurring of gender representation, Farber said. The rock audience was already primed to enjoy the blurring of genders in a song like Lola. Related: From Real Queer America to Sister Outsider, these new bestsellers and iconic classics cover everything from equality and representation to homophobia. That said, the lyrics went right over the head of most listeners, Farber said. Pop fans are used to listening to songs and ignoring the lyrics, he said. Its part of the experience and part of the fun. Natalie Egan, a transgender woman, can attest to that. Born seven years after Lola made her debut, Egan said she was obsessed with the song as a male-identified child in Evansville, Indiana, but didnt understand why until she was 39 and transitioning. All of a sudden those words popped for me, Egan said. I had been singing that song my whole life but I never put it together. I would hear the music, but I was so disconnected from myself I could not connect to the lyrics. And yet I had a deep, deep connection to the song. In many ways, it defined my childhood, Egan said. What amazes Egan now is that Lola emerged when it did. This is one of the first cracks in the gender revolution, she said. It presented us in a way that was not negative. Its truly pioneering, and its remarkable that the Kinks found the courage to put it out. Egan is onto something there. Image: The Kinks (Tom Hill / WireImage) For context, homosexuality had been decriminalized in England just three years before Lola was released. And Davies had already been pushing that envelope with songs like See My Friends, which was released in 1965 and which some critics have called a song about homosexuality. The Kinks were among the first bands to write and record songs that questioned the aggressive commitment to heterosexuality that is conventional in most forms of popular music, Nick Baxter-Moore wrote in a 2006 essay on the band. Although the members of the Kinks were quite clearly male, they were nonetheless willing to play with sexual identity, Baxter-Moore wrote. In the 1960s, that meant long hair, frilly shirts matched with red hunting jackets, for a look that Baxter-Moore described as effete rather than classy. And then there was the name of the band, which according to various accounts, was designed to raise eyebrows. Over the years, Davies has given various explanations about what inspired Lola. It was based, he said, on an encounter the bands manager had with a transgender woman in Paris. It was based, he said, on his own experience of being asked at a nightclub to dance with a fabulous looking woman who may have been trans. It was also based on reports from what was then an underground scene by former Kinks drummer Mick Avory, who used to hang out at transgender bars in west London. Related: NBC Out is honoring 12 LGBTQ people during Pride Month who are contributing to the fight against COVID-19 during the global coronavirus pandemic. There were also reports that Lola was inspired by a date that Davies, a thrice-married father of four daughters, reportedly had with a trans woman named Candy Darling, who was immortalized in Lou Reeds 1972 song Walk on the Wild Side. That supposed date did not come up in an interview Darling and two others did with Davies in January 1973 for Andy Warhols Interview magazine. No matter what the source of inspiration was, Fleiner said Lola differs in tone from many of Davies songs, which often dwelled on the frustrations of Britains middle and working classes or were tongue-in-cheek takes on the travails of modern life. Some of the Kinks satirical songs are biting in their commentary, but Lola is definitely one of the sympathetic ones, Fleiner said. Of course, theres much humor there, but theres a resonant theme of acceptance, if not yearning for that acceptance and unconditional love that speaks volumes across so many listener demographics. Follow NBC Out on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram Olena, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said on Friday she had tested positive for coronavirus but her husband and their two children had tested negative. "Today I received a positive test for coronavirus. Unexpected news. Especially considering that I and my family continue to follow all the rules - masks, gloves, a minimum of contacts," Zelenska wrote on Facebook. She said she felt well, was not hospitalised, but was isolating from her husband and children. Ukraine has reported 29,753 coronavirus cases, including 870 deaths. The Boston and Arlington police departments on Thursday announced updated use of force policies in the wake of nationwide protests over systemic racism and the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. In a statement, the Boston Police Department noted that current rules and procedures already include most of the suggestions in the 8 Cant Wait campaign advocating for more restrictive use of force policies in order to save lives. But the department said it clarified a host of rules and implemented reforms following a review of use of force policies, including strengthening language restricting neck restraints to very limited situations when deadly force is necessary to address an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death." Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died May 25 after his neck was pinned under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer, sparking protests in dozens of cities across the U.S. and calls for new policies to address racial injustice and police brutality. While Boston police officers are trained to stop others when they witness excessive force, the departments rules on intervention and reporting such instances were not highlighted in the use of force policies until the updates announced Thursday. Similarly, the departments rules on de-escalating situations before using force are now specifically emphasized in the use of force policies. The Boston Police Department is committed to de-escalating incidents to negate the need for the use of force, the department said. BPD is equally committed to preventing unnecessary force, ensuring accountability and transparency and building trust with our community. Current events and ensuing civil unrest across the country has brought police reform to the forefront. BPD said all departments across the nation should review use of force policies, and noted it would continue to do so. In Arlington, police announced changes that brought the department "fully in line with all reforms of the 8 Cant Wait campaign. Effective immediately, every Arlington officer at any scene where physical force is being used must stop, or attempt to stop, another officer when force is being inappropriately applied or is no longer required for the safety of the officers or the public, the department announced. The department also updated its use of force policies to expand language on its existing ban on neck restraints, and the requirements for officers to de-escalate situations and give verbal warnings before using force. Our use of force policy has for many years included characteristics of the 8 Cant Wait reforms, and we continuously review our internal policies to evaluate how they may be advanced to protect the welfare of all people, Arlington Police Chief Julie Flaherty said in a statement. Including the duty to intervene requirement reflects not only what the community expects from us, but also what we already expect of our officers on a day to day basis. The 8 Cant Wait project is run by Campaign Zero, an advocacy organization that researches policing practices across the United States and works to end law enforcement violence nationwide. Banning chokeholds, requiring de-escalation and verbal warnings, exhausting all alternatives before shooting and requiring the reporting of all incidents involving threats or use of force are central to the campaign. Earlier this week, the Cambridge Police Department issued an order requiring officers to intervene when a fellow member uses excessive force. The officer who pinned Floyd, Derek Chauvin, was fired and faces a second-degree murder charge. Three officers who assisted in Floyds arrest were also immediately fired and face charges of aiding and abetting. Related Content: By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former White House national security adviser John Bolton has written a book that provides an insider account of President Donald Trump's "inconsistent, scattershot decision-making process," his publisher said on Friday. Bolton's "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir," is to be published on June 23 over the objections of the White House, which has been dickering with Bolton's representatives over whether some parts of his account reveal classified information. Bolton was fired by Trump last September amid simmering differences on a wide array of foreign policy challenges. The publisher, Simon and Schuster, said in a news release that Bolton's book details Trump's dealings with China, Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, Iran, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. "This is the book Donald Trump doesnt want you to read," the publisher said. "What Bolton saw astonished him: a president for whom getting re-elected was the only thing that mattered, even if it meant endangering or weakening the nation," it added. I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision during my tenure that wasnt driven by re-election calculations, Bolton writes in the book, according to the publisher. Bolton served as Trump's third national security adviser for a total of 519 days. A meticulous notetaker, Bolton was in the room for a number of key foreign policy meetings. Bolton argues that the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives should have expanded its impeachment probe against Trump last year to beyond questions over whether Trump invited foreign interference from Ukraine. His book says "Trumps Ukraine-like transgressions existed across the full range of his foreign policy and Bolton documents exactly what those were, and attempts by him and others in the administration to raise alarms about them," the publisher said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Tom Brown) YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. The European Commission recommends to Schengen Member States and Schengen Associated States to lift internal border controls by 15 June 2020 and to prolong the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU until 30 June 2020; and sets out an approach to progressively lifting the restriction afterwards, the EU Delegation to Armenia told Armenpress. Given that the health situation in certain third countries remains critical, the Commission does not propose a general lifting of the travel restriction at this stage. The restriction should be lifted for countries selected together by Member States, based on a set of principles and objective criteria including the health situation, the ability to apply containment measures during travel, and reciprocity considerations, taking into account data from relevant sources such as ECDC and WHO. For countries towards which the restriction remains in place, the Commission proposes to enlarge the categories of permitted travellers to include, for instance, international students. The Commission is also issuing guidance to Member States to ensure that the resumption of visa operations abroad is well coordinated with the gradual lifting of the travel restrictions. Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said: Following the lifting of all internal border checks inside the Union, we are proposing a clear and flexible approach towards removing restrictions on travel to the EU starting on 1 July. International travel is key for tourism and business, and for family and friends reconnecting. While we will all have to remain careful, the time has come to make concrete preparations for lifting restrictions with countries whose health situation is similar to the EU's and for resuming visa operations. TRENTON While Joseph Russo made denigrating and mocking posts about the Black Lives Matter movement, leaders across Mercer County pushed back against hatred. The Mercer County freeholders unanimously adopted a resolution Thursday supporting the movement that has become a force to be reckoned with following the death of Trayvon Martin, a black teenager gunned down by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in 2012. Zimmerman was acquitted after standing trial for Martins death but couldnt keep himself out of the news cycle. Since then, countless unarmed blacks have died, sponsor and vice chairman Sam Frisby wrote in the resolution. The freeholders honored George Floyd, the Minneapolis man killed by a white cop, along with Ahmaud Arbery, Amadou Diallo, Manuel Loggins Jr., Ronald Madison, Kendra James, Sean Bell, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Alton Sterling, Sandra Bland, Philando Castile, Freddy Grey, Tamir Rice and Breonna Taylor. When America watched the murder of George Floyd at the hands of someone who was supposed to protect him, many other people realized that we need a reset, Frisby wrote in a statement. For Black America, this is our Me Too Movement Moment. I submit this resolution for my children, children of my friends and the full Mercer County community. I loudly proclaim that Black Lives Matter, because when Black Lives Matter then truly All Lives Matter! The resolutions said the freeholders stand in solidarity and loudly declares, Black Lives Matter. No matter where you are, black lives matter, and a system of fair, transformative, and restorative justice that is accountable to communities is something to which each of us has a right. Frisby felt compelled to act after several instances of hate in Mercer County. They included someone scrawling Kill n***ers on streets in Hamilton and Russos anti-BLM statements on Facebook. If protest is the voice of the unheard, then riot is the language of the perpetually ignored, Frisby wrote. We live in an inherently inequitable society and we see levels of that inequity when mobs of white Americans with assault weapons can stand in front of their State Capital, confront the police and everyone goes home alive. But unarmed black people routinely get killed during ordinary traffic stops. Or when an unarmed black woman is killed by police in her own home. But these issues are manifestations of a deeper issue: systemic, structural and institutional racism, which breeds implicit and unconscious bias. Many prominent Mercer County residents called for the boycott of The Stone Terrace by John Henry, where Russo once worked as executive chef. Russo also referred to himself as a co-owner and partner at the restaurant and banquet center, where Democrats and Republicans alike gathered for many political shindigs. That may changed as many pledged not to give business to the banquet hall after Russos views were exposed. Joseph Woods, the pastor at Saint Phillips Baptist Church in Hamilton, wrote in a letter to the community that he was outraged over Russos comments. He reached out to the Henrys and will host a discussion with the business owners Monday at 2 p.m. that will include The Trentonian and Mayor Jeff Martin. Martin denounced Russos hateful comments. Demonstrators picketed outside the restaurant Thursday and plan to return Monday at 3:30 p.m. I believe this situation warrants John Henry to some serious questions and and for all persons at the table to be as transparent as we openly, boldly and honestly confront this matter, wrote Woods, who received high marks for hosting a debate between Martin and ex-Mayor Kelly Yaede. An angry and emotional Dave Chappelle spoke on the killing of George Floyd in a surprise Netflix special, saying America was being punished for its mistreatment of black men. "I don't mean to get heavy, but we got to say something," said Chappelle, who added that America is enduring "the wrath of God" for a string of police assaults on black men. The special was released Thursday and is streaming free on Netflix's comedy YouTube channel. It was taken from a show at an outdoor pavilion in Yellow Springs, Ohio, with about 100 attendees on June 6. Floyd died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on his neck for more than eight minutes even after he pleaded for air and stopped moving, an ordeal caught on video. Chappelle called his special "8:46" in part after the length of time the officer was on top of the handcuffed Floyd. It is also the time Chappelle was born on Aug. 24, 1973. "I can't get that number out of my head because it was my time of birth on my birth certificate," he said. "When I watched that tape, I understood this man knew he was going to die," said the comedian. "I can't tell you, as a man, watching another man, go through something like that, what it makes you feel like." Chappelle added that he has been quiet until now for a reason. "Answer me: Do you want to see a celebrity right now?" he asked. "No, this is the streets talking for themselves. They don't need me right now." Chappelle also explored the violent deaths of such black men as Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Philando Castile. "One after the other," the comedian said. He also slammed the National Rifle Association and celebrated Kobe Bryant. He ended by noting that his great-grandfather once a slave was part of an African American delegation that was asked to come to the White House following a lynching during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson. "These things are not old. This is not a long time ago. It's today," Chappelle said. "These streets will speak for themselves whether I am alive or dead. I trust you guys." Associated Press ABC casts the first black "Bachelor" ABC has named Matt James its first black "Bachelor" to lead the network's long-running dating competition show. The casting was announced Friday on "Good Morning America." James, a 28-year-old from North Carolina, was originally chosen to compete for Clare Crawley's affection on "The Bachelorette," but filming was scrapped in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. "Good Morning America" says James founded an organization in New York City that finds creative ways to engage children from underserved areas. The show has been under pressure for years to be more diverse and cast a black "Bachelor." A lawsuit filed in 2012 claimed the show was blocking contestants of color from starring roles. The case was dismissed on First Amendment grounds. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Until now, Rachel Lindsay was the only African American to be cast as a lead in the franchise's 18-year history when she was named "The Bachelorette" in 2017. Lindsay has criticized the show publicly for not doing enough to increase diversity both in front of and behind the camera. Associated Press The Sun condemns J.K. Rowling's ex The Sun newspaper said Friday it did not intend to "glorify" domestic violence by giving a platform to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling's ex-husband just days after she revealed she had been a victim of domestic abuse. Following a story headlined "I slapped JK and I'm not sorry," the newspaper took the unusual step of responding to criticism by insisting its sympathies were on the side of abuse victims. It also said it had a long history of campaigning against domestic violence. "We were disgusted by the comments of J.K. Rowling's ex-husband and branded him 'sick' and 'unrepentant' in our coverage," the newspaper said. "It was certainly not our intention to 'enable' or 'glorify' domestic abuse, our intention was to expose a perpetrator's total lack of remorse." The newspaper reported that Rowling's first husband, Jorge Arantes, said he didn't care about her admission this week that she had been a survivor of domestic abuse. Rowling revealed she had been the victim of domestic abuse and sexual assault on Wednesday amid a controversy over her views on transgender issues, which have angered many trans activists. The comments prompted Daniel Radcliffe and other cast members of the Potter films to publicly disagree with her. Associated Press Photo-Illustration: Vulture and Publishers Since the coronavirus descended on America, interruptions to the publishing world have been scattershot and hard to predict. Some novels, like Hilary Mantels The Mirror and the Light, squeaked out just before supply chains went wonky and fears about disinterested audiences sent publishers scurrying. A gush of other big books were pushed to the fall (Elena Ferrantes Lying Life of Adults, Ottessa Moshfeghs Death in Her Hands, David Mitchells Utopia Avenue), when our collective attention will most likely be swallowed up by the presidential election. Its a damned hard year, in whats been a damned hard decade, to release a work of fiction. And yet the literary landscape dotted with formally inventive debuts, English-language translations of foreign masterpieces, and long-awaited conclusions to hit historical series glows in Technicolor, like one of David Hockneys renderings of lime hills and orchid country lanes. Fiction is rising to contemporary challenges and demands, confronting the certainty of a climate disaster and the exhaustion of gig workers and the infiltration of spying tech without sliding down a cliff into sheer advocacy or Zeitgeist-y drivel. Its been a bad year for virtually everything, but there is still a lot of pleasure to be found in these essential works. This list includes books published between January and December, and was updated regularly. Breasts and Eggs, by Mieko Kawakami $54 $54 Its actually pretty hilarious that this novel comes with a Haruki Murakami blurb on the front, in which he declares that Breasts and Eggs took my breath away. Murakami, the only contemporary Japanese novelist many Americans read or have even heard of, notoriously trots out disturbing older male characters who leer at or fetishize young womens bodies, and in an onstage conversation, Kawakami directly questioned Murakami, asking, Where does this obsession with breasts come from? This novel, a long, glistening extrapolation of how three women poke at and consider their flesh and figures one considers breast implants, another endures puberty, and the third heads into the wilds of sperm donation is essentially a jab right in Murakamis eye (or, you know, wherever). Its also, in its own right, a clear, vivid story about the shame that comes along with a womans body, and the multitude of ways we can reject that shame. $54 at Amazon Buy $54 at Amazon Buy The City We Became, by N.K. Jemisin $17 $28 now 39% off $17 New Yorkers, this one is for you. Jemisin has only been publishing for a little over a decade, but in that time shes written nine novels, won three Hugo Awards (in a damn row!), and put out some of the most innovative and riveting sci-fi of the past 50 years. The City We Became moves in a new direction from her Inheritance and Broken Earth series, situating itself in todays New York where, alongside the mundanity of daily life, there also happens to be a supernatural contest between the five boroughs each represented by an avatar and The Enemy, which represents exactly what you think it might: police brutality, the criminalization of poverty, etc., etc., etc. Jemisin is down in the nitty-gritty of how New York operates, moving through particular streets and neighborhoods, fully aware of what each represents. And she creates a fizzy, practically joyous world where battle is excruciating but forces of good find wildly inventive methods for keeping diversity and faith alive. Read it right now, people, if you want a dose of hope and resistance. $17 at Amazon Buy $17 at Amazon Buy Deacon King Kong, by James McBride $13 $28 now 54% off $13 The titular character in McBrides novel isnt really named Deacon King Kong hes a church deacon, sure, but hes actually known around his Brooklyn community as Sportcoat, and the King Kong bit is a reference to his beer of choice. Hes 71, a bit of a drunk, a product of a housing project, and for a reason entirely unknown even to him, one day in 1969 he walks up to a teenage drug dealer and shoots him in the head, setting off a chain of reactions half-desperate and half-comic, in that way that only entrenched societal malaise can be. McBride has a knack for building minutely detailed and colorfully charactered historical worlds, places, and people with accents, agendas, and proclivities so idiosyncratic they call to mind Dickens, if the prolific Victorian had given a real rats ass about racial injustice. In Deacon King Kong, he adds on layer after layer like that pile of nicknames the protagonist carries around but whips them up into a delicate, coiling web, the sequenced genome of despair and restoration. $13 at Amazon Buy $13 at Amazon Buy Drifts, by Kate Zambreno $16 $26 now 38% off $16 The sound I heard in my head while I read Kate Zambrenos Drifts was of bare feet unsticking themselves from a wood floor as they pattered through an empty old house, windows open to a hot wind. Thats how sensory this novel is, despite being set almost entirely in the mind of a Kate Zambreno character who is working, and avoiding, her own novel called Drifts. When Fictive Kate (if she is fictive? the eternal question) doesnt write, she spends equal time obsessively reading about Rilke and Wittgenstein and playing with her dog, Genet. Its a creation story that ably leaves in the in-between bits, drawing a startlingly accurate account of what it means to be in the process of writing while barely putting words to paper. Zambreno has been putting out smart, underrecognized novels for a decade she ought to be Rachel Cuskd, but perhaps the world isnt fair enough for that. $16 at Amazon Buy $16 at Amazon Buy The Glass Hotel, by Emily St. John Mandel $18 $27 now 33% off $18 Emily St. John Mandel is the great disaster artist of our time. Station Eleven, her (freshly relevant) world-ending pandemic novel, has sold over a million copies and developed a cult of zealous proselytizers, including me. In The Glass Hotel, a financial-apocalypse tale, she tells the story of a Bernie Madofflike white-collar criminal named Jonathan Alkaitis who bilks investors out of billions and is caught when the 2008 downturn begins; she buttresses his story with a cast of characters including his Wall Street accomplices and the victims whose futures are completely upended. The novels centrifugal force, however, is Vincent, Alkaitiss thoughtful, unlikely trophy wife who disappears in and out of what she calls the kingdom of money as seamlessly as if shes made of vapor and goes over the side of a ship on the first page. Like all of Mandels work, The Glass Hotel links together far-flung stories and dips in and out of multiple timelines. The term transportive is used far too frequently to describe literature that takes us, well, anywhere, but in this case, its the perfect descriptor for an exquisitely structured adventure across oceans and into unseen worlds. $18 at Amazon Buy $18 at Amazon Buy Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, by Cho Nam-Joo $66 $66 Originally published in 2016 and released this year in translation, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, has been, rightfully, a knockout hit in Korea, where its sold over 1.3 million copies and launched its author to fame. One day, Kim Jiyoung, a South Korean millennial housewife and mother, wakes up and thinks shes turned into her mother. Not in the I cant believe my hands look like this way but quite literally; shes having a dissociative break. The novels plot is relatively simple: Jiyoung is aimless and dissatisfied, slowly losing her mind to the steady tick of entirely ordinary and unremarkable grievances. On the post-Handmaids Tale literary scene, the trend has veered toward depicting unreal horrors in womens lives. Kim Jiyoung swings as far as possible in the other direction: Its absolute mundanity is startling and effective. Is there any woman in the world who cant relate to the emotional death caused by a thousand stacks of laundry, spilled cracker crumbs, and trips to the pediatrician? This is a defining novel for young South Koreans and deserves a massive readership in the U.S., too. $66 at Amazon Buy $66 at Amazon Buy Little Eyes, by Samanta Schweblin $26 $26 The first thing they did was show their tits. And so begins Samanta Schweblins Little Eyes, the latest unsettling offering from the relatively underground Argentinian novelist. Kentuki what appear to be tiny plushies armed with cameras, some weird combination of Tamagotchi, Amazons Alexa, and animatronic pets are a technological craze, spreading around the globe until, as one character succinctly puts it, even old people know what they are. First we meet teen girls in South Bend, Indiana, who put theirs to use by baring their chests for it. Then Schweblin darts around the world, to Oaxaca and Antigua and Zagreb and more, cities and nations that come to follow Forsters infamous maxim to only connect to potentially luminous or insidious degrees. What does it mean to build a relationship on transmitted pixels? Who really lurks inside the connective streams wrapping around the globe? Schweblins work has been passed from novelist to novelist over the past few years her work has informed all the Kafka-esque up-and-comers who see the world as too strange to portray inside the bounds of realism. Little Eyes isnt dystopian horror so much as a delightfully warped representation of the societal consequences of keystrokes. $26 at Amazon Buy $26 at Amazon Buy The Mirror and the Light, by Hilary Mantel $13 $30 now 57% off $13 Occasionally, you watch a period piece in which the language and costumes and gestural ticks of the characters are so in tune with their historical setting that it stops feeling like a bravura performance and turns into your complete idea of what that time period was really like. Reading this third and final installment of Mantels double Booker-winning Thomas Cromwell trilogy offers that same time hop, its so replete with the minutiae of daily Tudor life, right down to the ingredients for various meat dishes. But its Mantels dedication to Cromwells singular voice (and to his redemption from the slums of history) that keeps The Mirror & the Light on par with Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies no small feat considering the ecstatic reception over those two. This final book traces the last few years of Henry VIIIs closest advisers life, right up until his own walk to the chopping block. Yet again Mantel brings to gruesome life the quivering, bowel-tightening horror of death by sharpened steel. $13 at Amazon Buy $13 at Amazon Buy Real Life, by Brandon Taylor $17 $26 now 35% off $17 How many campus novels with a black protagonist have you read? I admit I hadnt read a single one until Real Life, partly out of my own ignorance and partly because the genre leans so, so heavily toward white stories. (David Lodge, Richard Russo, Chad Harbach, Donna Tartt, and so on.) With this debut, Taylor reclaims the genre, setting Real Life over the course of a weekend, as Wallace, a biochemistry grad student with an experiment spinning out of control and serious doubts about his place in a predominantly white program, flits between contemporary skirmishes and indignities, and his personal history of abuse and alienation. Whats miraculous about Wallaces story is the varieties of strength he draws on without ever devolving into a trite tale of woe or superhuman achievement. Instead, Taylors writing, which is as strategically formulated as any of Wallaces calculations and as thoughtfully parsed as any of his experiments, bandies back and forth between the many strains of humanity that live inside one man. Buy at Amazon Buy Buy at Amazon Buy Temporary, by Hilary Leichter $13 $17 now 24% off $13 Everybodys working for the weekend. And on the weekend. And until rather late at night or at 5 in the morning. The cultural emphasis on productivity surely isnt new (you try being a factory worker in the North of England during the Industrial Revolution), but a slew of sly, witty fiction Helen Phillips The Beautiful Bureaucrats, Halle Butlers The New Me, Catherine Laceys The Answers has awakened new interest in chronicling the absurdity and degradation of piecemeal underemployment. Hilary Leichters debut novel, Temporary, carries this idea to a brilliant new height, following its narrator through the 23 jobs her temp agency sends her way. They range from the mundane (managing traffic) to the bizarre (pretending to haunt a house). Leichters voice is lively, practically sprightly, and offers a smart balance to the big question she asks When everything is considered work, how do we live outside of it? $13 at Amazon Buy $13 at Amazon Buy Topics of Conversation, by Miranda Popkey $15 $24 now 38% off $15 The Rachel Cusk Faye trilogy comparisons are apt, its true, for this debut novel, a set of conversations the unnamed narrator conducts over a decade and a half. But Topics of Conversation is not some auto-fictive Xerox of better-known work. The unnamed narrator (raised by tippling, privileged Californians but unable to settle into any kind of steadiness) is unreliable, not a trustworthy teller of her own story, and wants you to know it. The conversations mostly revolving around the relationship between desire and revelation, (Speaking desire its like telling people how to hurt you, handing them instructions, she says) slowly chart out the story of her young adult life, through a divorce, a pregnancy, etc., but also through her morphing ability to understand why we share bits of ourselves and what sorts of traps we end up in when we do. Its a remarkably put-together debut that, ironically enough, undoes the very notion of fiction as a way to better understand other people. $15 at Amazon Buy $15 at Amazon Buy Weather, by Jenny Offill $13 $24 now 46% off $13 Civilization is probably ending. You dont need to be a prepper to believe that. A mass sixth extinction, city-drowning hurricanes, oceans turning into acid dumps. Weather, a climate crisisobsessed novel, traces a few months in the life of a librarian who is coming up against what Offill calls the twilight knowing, i.e., the admission to herself that we cannot solve the climate problem and that the world as we know it cannot sputter on indefinitely. Told in Offills signature fragmentary style, it skitters around in her brain, which is crammed full of worrying facts about our sagging planet (There are 6,000 miles of sewer in New York City, and all of them lie well below sea level) and is also trying to come to terms with the future she knows her child will one day inhabit. Climate novels are too often doddering, scoldy affairs that end in some lamely delivered plea to recycle or something. But Offill lets readers fill the space between her paragraphs with their own fears and then walks with them to the abyss. Its a plea to feel climate desperation and then cross over to the other, unknown side. $13 at Amazon Buy $13 at Amazon Buy Writers & Lovers, by Lily King $17 $27 now 37% off $17 I wanted to bottle up this novel into some sort of youthful essence, an eau de parfum comprising heavy notes of writerly nostalgia and wispier whiffs of long, stretched-out afternoons gazing out the window waiting for the Muses to waltz in. Over the course of a year, Casey, the struggling young writer protagonist, works long hours as a waitress, bikes around late-90s Cambridge, cries about her recently dead mother, agonizes over her (non)progressing novel, and drifts between two men. Kings last novel, Euphoria, was an innovative love triangle set in New Guinea, based on the life of anthropologist Margaret Mead. Another three-sided affair with a brilliant woman at its center seemed redundant thanks, but weve read this already! But Writers & Lovers is so certain of its individuality and written with such meticulous style that every page is like an heirloom piece of silver, shined up until all the intricate carvings gleam. $17 at Amazon Buy $27 at Three Lives & Company Buy Burning, by Megha Majumdar $14 $26 now 46% off $14 Physically, A Burning is a little slimmer than most hardbacks, with short, rapid-fire chapters. But its jam-packed with voices and torrents of information, like youre wading through a crowded, noisy, heavily scented city street and zooming in on the singular lives that constitute the masses. Jivan is a bright, hardworking young woman from the Kolkata slums who is jailed after she witnesses a terrorist attack, posts about it on Facebook, and is accused of perpetrating it. Lovely is a bombastic hijra (a third gender recognized by India), tutored by Jivan, who dreams of Bollywood stardom. And PT Sir, a company man through and through, is Jivans former teacher, headed for a life in politics. Majumdar manages the nearly impossible feat of creating a signature prose style for each character (Lovelys practically bounces off the page) and weighting the three stories against one another in perfect proportion. Propulsive and still thoughtful about everything from the thirst for social media attention to the persecutions of Muslim Indians A Burning is a rare debut novel that earns book club accolades and a James Wood endorsement, and deserves both. $14 at Amazon Buy $14 at Amazon Buy Want, by Lynn Steger Strong $18 $26 now 31% off $18 Want is so self-aware I half-expected it to sit up on my nightstand and start chatting with me in the middle of the night about the worries it couldnt shake. Its protagonist, Elizabeth, scratches together her financial pittance adjuncting and teaching at-risk high schoolers. She and her husband have just declared bankruptcy. Her small daughters delight her and leave her sticky, desperate to be alone with a book. But while Elizabeths simple desires to not fret about money, to feel some security in this world spew out, she maintains a clear recognition of her place many rungs up the ladder of success. Want leaves you wondering, If this is considered privileged in America, what the hell kind of country are we living in? $18 at Amazon Buy $18 at Amazon Buy Austen Years: A Memoir in 5 Novels, by Rachel Cohen $11 $11 Austen Years simultaneously chronicles Cohens struggle in the wake of her fathers death and her obsessive rereading of Austens novels. Neither effort lags she manifests the everyday troubles of grief and turns wise analysis of the Dashwoods, Prices, and Bennetts into a study of human character, making the case along the way that the memoir form might be demanded by our individualistic and immediate and grief-stricken era, as the novel was demanded by Austens. $11 at Amazon Buy $11 at Amazon Buy Hamnet, by Maggie OFarrell $14 $14 Photo: Knopf Another novel about Shakespeares life? Another novel about Shakespeares life! This time, in the capable, subversive hands of Maggie OFarrell (author of the captivating I am, I am, I am: Seventeen Brushes with Death), the Bard himself is left nameless and given very few lines. Instead, the focus is on his wife, Agnes, who must first endure the death of their son Hamnet to plague, and then his father co-opting his life to create Hamlet (the names, apparently, were interchangeable in early seventeenth-century England). Hamnet hangs heavy with Agnes grief, but OFarrell has fingers like a couture embroiderer, and she spangles this novel with sly, artful allusions to Shakespeares best work, putting herself on par with the great man himself. $14 at Amazon Buy $14 at Amazon Buy Must I Go, by Yiyun Li $13 $28 now 54% off $13 Yiyun Li first started this novel in which an 81-year-old woman named Lilia, who long ago lost a daughter to suicide, corrects and rewrites an old lovers diary years ago. In the intervening years, Lis 16-year-old son took his life. The reverb resounds heavily, as Lilia edits the life of one person long dead, and wrestles with her inability to do so for her daughter. Li, still an underrecognized talent despite a MacArthur award and years of remarkable work (in a second language), writes every sentence as if its crumbling to dust between her fingers. $13 at Amazon Buy $13 at Amazon Buy Memorial Drive, by Natasha Trethewey $13 $28 now 54% off $13 Pulitzer winner, former poet laureate of the United States, and all-around literary star Natasha Trethewey was 19 when her mother Gwendolyn Turnbough was murdered shot to death by her ex-husband just outside her Atlanta apartment. Trethewey spent seven years examining court documents and crime-scene photos and her own obstructed memories to write this transcendent memoir. Memorial Drive is a showpiece of what language can do when its unfettered from strict narrative; when a poet, with every word a tiny bit of moldable clay, takes prose to new places. $13 at Amazon Buy $13 at Amazon Buy The Death of Vivek Oji, by Akwaeke Emezi $23 $27 now 15% off $23 From the first page of Emezis sophomore adult novel (2018s Freshwater put them on the map and brought in a slew of awards and honors), Vivek Oji is, well, dead, a fact you might have guessed. But there are no tricks or sleights of hand here. Emezi traces the life of a queer boy whose body turns up on his mothers doorstep, and whose evolution and place in his community doesnt fit into Western narratives about coming out and sexuality. Most winningly, its a novel so firmly rooted in a particular place, a small Nigerian town, that it calls to mind Gabriel Garcia Marquezs Macondo a fictional place more real than it would be if you could find it on a map. Emezi is a genius. $23 at Amazon Buy $27 at Bookshop Buy Luster, by Raven Leilani $17 $26 now 35% off $17 If I could pull a Christopher Nolan and make time my plaything, Id go back and make sure I wrote at least 5,000 words on this debut novel about 20-something Edie, whose life is a goddamn mess. The plot is engaging (Edie loses her job and her apartment and moves in with the man shes been seeing and his wife and adopted daughter), but its Leilanis way with language, how she gathers up everything wonderful and twee and self-deprecating about the always-whirring brains of shit-lucked young adults today, that marks her as a phenomenal new talent. Call it a Fleabag-ian state of mind, in which every thought is circled back on and interrogated, followed by a great big wink. $17 at Amazon Buy $16 at Bookshop Buy Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson $15 $32 now 53% off $15 Ten years ago, The Warmth of Other Suns, Wilkersons deeply affecting dive into the Great Migration, became an instant piece of required reading not just for history buffs or bookish types but for everyone. Read it. Read it! (It won the National Book Critics Circle Award, among about a dozen others.) Her new book, Caste, has a more ambiguous premise a reckoning with caste as an artificial construction, a fixed and embedded ranking of human value that sets the presumed supremacy of one group against the presumed inferiority of other groups on the basis of ancestry and often immutable traits but just as forceful a claim as one of the Great Books of our time. It reads like the smoothest fiction and resounds like the loudest call to clarity. $15 at Amazon Buy $29 at Bookshop Buy Vesper Flights, by Helen Macdonald $14 $17 now 18% off $14 Occasionally, a dove sits on the windowsill above my writing desk. I pretend I can lure her inside, make her a companion who will peck at the keys like were in a scene from a more literary Cinderella. Macdonalds magnificent memoir, H Is for Hawk, gave me this idea, although as she wrangled the goshawk she hoped to tame in the wake of her fathers death, the idea that anything from nature could simply resign itself to human ambition turned laughable. Vesper Flights is another rhapsodical turn from Macdonald, this time in the form of essays, some miniature and some slightly grander, that reflect on how a child of the forest and the meadows can prowl around inside her own teeming brain. $14 at Amazon Buy $16 at Bookshop Buy Sisters, by Daisy Johnson $6 $6 Like the best gothic novels, Sisters turns its setting into a character. July and September are dragged to their aunts sagging, rotting house near the York Moors by their mother, who promptly heads for the bedroom and doesnt come back out. As the girls are left to their own devices, more hints about the disturbing event that sent them packing trickle out, and the house turns into both a den and a trap. In less steady hands, the premise could sail off into the deep end of absurdity, but Johnsons sure writing keeps everything in check until a climax that manages to blow some wigs off. $6 at Amazon Buy $6 at Amazon Buy Summer, by Ali Smith $15 $28 now 46% off $15 Schtick novels tend to poke me the wrong way: Too much flash and not enough bang. But Smiths Seasonal Quartet, of which Summer is the final installment, is the rare exception. Sure, Winter lagged a bit, as winters tend to do, but ultimately Smiths plan to match the frenetic pace of global politics with feverishly written, Kerouac-style novels about the State of Things pays off, mostly because each novel has such a firm backbone to hold it up. Summer, whose plot is so secondary to its effect that its virtually meaningless to describe, is no different. Follow Smith into the woods: Her route will confound you, and occasionally wild animals will snarl, but the views will make all the difference. $15 at Amazon Buy $15 at Amazon Buy Daddy, by Emma Cline $12 $12 Daddy is one of those innocent words that turns bawdy between adults. That double meaning is at play in Emma Clines first short-story collection, which is filled with disgraced men trying to edge back into society and unmoored women testing the waters of their sexuality. Every story crackles: In Los Angeles, a pretty young thing working at an American Appareltype store begins selling her own worn underwear online. In The Nanny, a former childminder to the stars revels in her elevation to paparazzi fodder after her affair with her A-list employer goes public. And in the collections best story, A/S/L, a woman in a luxury rehab facility makes it her mission to humiliate an already disgraced famous chef. $12 at Amazon Buy $12 at Amazon Buy The Appointment, by Katharina Volckmer $21 $22 now 5% off $21 This brief yet mighty novella takes place entirely over the course of a womans visit to her London doctor, narrated in a continuous monologue of the protagonists woes and wisecracks about the state of the world, specifically her home country of Germany. (It was never feasible for us to hold down an empire for a thousand years with our deplorable cuisine, she half-jokes.) She also cant stop blabbing about how she wants to have sex with Hitler. But this book is not shticky: The Appointment mixes a madcap philosophical treatise with a modern tale of self-reinvention. $21 at Amazon Buy $20 at Bookshop Buy World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments, by Aimee Nezhukumatathil $10 $25 now 60% off $10 If a white girl tries to tell you what your brown skin can and cannot wear for makeup, just remember the smile of an axolotl, writes Nezhukumatathil, referring to the salamander-like amphibians, in this hybrid memoir and encyclopedia of nature appreciation. As a child, the renowned poet moved between Arizona, Kansas, New York, and Ohio; along the way, she crouched over ponds and scampered through desert sands, investigating the marvelous fauna and flora she encountered. Each chapter of this book addresses a different creature or plant the corpse flower, the ribbon eel, the cactus wren using their lives like a kaleidoscope, for looking at how wild human nature really is. $10 at Amazon Buy $23 at Bookshop Buy Piranesi, by Susanna Clarke $25 $25 I adored Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarkes best-selling fantasia about a Regency England magician and his protege, who go to battle with one another while unearthing the forces at work in a mystical shadow world. That 2004 book single-handedly reinvigorated literary fantasy, and Piranesi, Clarkes sophomore effort, does not disappoint. In this novel about a befuddled man living inside a strange, never-ending series of statue-lined halls, Clarke shows off how readily she can develop entire worlds in a few pages. Its escape literature, and I mean that in the very best sense. Buy at Bookshop Buy What Are You Going Through, by Sigrid Nunez $17 $26 now 35% off $17 Nunez won the National Book Award in 2018 for her novel The Friend, in which a writer inherits a Great Dane from her mentor when he dies. Admittedly, I was suspicious when I saw the curled-up cat on the cover of Nunezs latest novel: Was What Are You Going Through a feline redo? Reader, it is not, though it is just as invested in the individual experience of grief and loss. In What Are You Going Through, a terminally ill woman asks a friend to move in with her and help her end her life. This is morally and emotionally boggy ground to tread, but Nunez manages the daunting trick of finding clarity and understanding in lifes most inevitable moment: its end. $17 at Amazon Buy From $26 at Bookshop Buy Igifu, by Scholastique Mukasonga $13 $18 now 28% off $13 Igifu is the word for 5-year-old Colombas hunger, which is so tentacled and knotty that it takes over her mind and sends her body to the brink of death. Its also the state of longing that ricochets around these mostly autobiographical stories by Rwandan writer Scholastique Mukasonga. In this book, which was translated from French by Jordan Stump, Mukasonga lays out her grief-bound personal history: her uprooting to Burundi, her eventual move to France, and the unbearable weight of learning that 34 members of her family were killed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. She filters these real experiences through fictional characters girls like Colomba, and women who embody the desperation and strength of those exiled from their whole lives. At Igifus most wrenching moment, a woman holds in her hands the list of her dead, of everyone who had died far away from her, without her; shes tortured by the knowledge that there was nothing she could do for them, not even die with them. $13 at Amazon Buy $17 at Bookshop Buy Memorial, by Bryan Washington $14 $27 now 48% off $14 Some prose tiptoes so quietly that you dont realize until halfway through a novel that its dancing all over the room. Thats how I feel about Bryan Washingtons writing, which in Memorial is so tender that sliding some rice noodles into a pot reads like an act of deep intimacy. Memorial is a love story, or, rather, a post-love story, about a couple already on the brink: When Mike, who is Japanese American, finds out his estranged father is dying, he leaves Houston and Ben, his Black boyfriend to visit his father in Osaka. At the same time, Mikes mother, Mitsuko, comes to stay at the couples apartment, and soon becomes a begrudging surrogate mother to Ben. At its heart, Memorial is about all the competing claims on our identities, and how we decide which ties to snip and which to tighten. $14 at Amazon Buy $14 at Amazon Buy Plain Bad Heroines, by Emily Danforth $22 $28 now 21% off $22 Plain Bad Heroines is a meta-novel, chronicling both the mysterious deaths of lesbian boarding school students in turn-of-the-century Rhode Island and a present-day film shoot for a Hollywood movie based on that very incident. Danforth uses both late-Victorian and postmodern tropes throughout the book, such as footnotes penciled in by a disembodied narrator, and little ink sketches tucked in the corners. At 500-plus pages, Plain Bad Heroines still manages to be an intoxicating romp. $22 at Amazon Buy $22 at Amazon Buy Leave the World Behind, by Rumaan Alam $16 $28 now 43% off $16 Photo: Courtesy of Publisher You may have noticed that things are bad. Leave the World Behind takes the feeling of low-simmering awfulness were all experiencing this year and brings it to a boil. White Brooklynites Amanda, Clay, and their two teenagers are on vacation at a charming Airbnb in the far-out Hamptons when the homes owners an older Black couple named George and Ruth show up, claiming that the rest of the East Coast has lost power. The two families uneasily settle into the house together, as more strange happenings pile up: Exotic animals parade through the yard, air traffic comes to a halt, and the families are struck by mysterious ailments. Alams characters are meticulously constructed to feel like living, breathing representations of Americas distorted national identity. No other novel this year will have you turning pages so quickly. $16 at Amazon Buy $16 at Amazon Buy Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. Medical Information Changing Hands Risk vs. Benefit (TNS) When Elizabeth Spinelli arrived at Fort Lauderdale, Floridas Holiday Park for a coronavirus test, a nurse handed her a form to write her name, address, date of birth and social security number. She hesitated to give her personal information but wanted the test.About a month later, Spinelli repeatedly tried to get her results and learned from aarticle they were in the hands of a Hallandale Beach doctor with a troubled past. She panicked.I never give out my social security number, its something I dont give out, but the cops were there, people in lab coats, the National Guard ... I felt comforted," she said. "Now, how do I know my information isnt floating around out there?In Florida, more than 1.3 million people have gone to test sites in parking lots, public parks and community centers to get swabbed for COVID-19. Like Spinelli, they wanted to know if they were infected with the virus and gave their social security numbers, date of birth and sometimes even their insurance information along with their nasal fluid blood or saliva.As people get tested, they fill out forms thinking their information will be used only to find out if they have the infectious virus. But, like any time someone shares personal information and in this case a DNA swab there is a risk of identity theft, insurance fraud and the sample being sold or used for research or other purposes without you knowing it.While the doctor and and contractors at the Holiday Park test site say they follow the regulations to protect information, medical experts say the concern is warranted. At the start of the pandemic, a trade-off between data security and public health emerged, and experts say Floridas rapid testing expansion only exacerbated the privacy risks.Pop up community-based testing sites are playing an important role but there are a lot of parties touching peoples information, said Michael Gusmano, a research scholar with The Hastings Center and associate professor of health policy at Rutgers University School of Public Health.In Florida, close to 1,000 private labs process COVID-19 tests and dozens of entities are contracted to collect swabs and deliver test results. Some have no previous healthcare experience.Getting swabbed at a drive-thru test opens the door to at least a half-dozen interactions with your data: an appointment taker records your personal information, an onsite assistant provides and collects paperwork, another person packs your swab and paperwork and ships it to the lab, a lab worker enters your information from the form into a computer, another lab worker enters your results into a portal and may provide them to a call center as well as to state and local health officials and the Centers for Disease Control.Gov. Ron DeSantis says testing is critical to fully re-open Florida and he plans to keep expanding with more sites to reach more of the 21 million people who live on the peninsula. But when Floridians arrive at the 100-plus drive-thrus, walk-ups and pop-up sites to be tested, their experiences differ.Some test sites are run by hospitals such as Memorial Healthcare System, others by private companies such as American Medical Response or physician groups such as Orlandos Premier Medical Associates. How an organization operates testing, how they populate medical forms, and which lab they use to process results, differ from site to site.People might get asked for different personal or medical information depending on which site they visit, Gusmaro said. When comparing, you might say, I didnt get asked for that and immediately the other person is going to be suspicious."Spinelli said she was asked for her social security number at the Holiday Park test site. At the Youth Fairgrounds at Florida International University, Eneida Roldan said anyone who wants to be tested is asked only for their name, date of birth and for a drivers license as proof of identity.We need identification to say this is your test, said Dr. Eneida Roldan, chief executive officer, FIU Health Care Network, and clinical director for the test site. I believe what we get is enough to reduce the medical error aspects in providing someone with their correct results.Standardizing how information is collected, reported and analyzed needs to happen to raise public comfort levels, Gusmaro said. "The last thing we want to do is discourage people from getting tested, which is going to be one of the main tools for controlling this virus, he said.Cracks in coronavirus testing already have raised concerns: At 12 sites from Tallahassee to Miami, a doctor put on probation for treating people improperly for HIV was put in charge of delivering test results to as many as 100,000 people after a Miami company subcontracted with him for the job. State officials removed the doctor two weeks ago when they learned about his past but made clear that with rapid expansion there was no set vetting process in place for who would be managing COVID-19 tests.The Miami company that hired the doctor now uses a call center to deliver results.But whether an individual, a call center, or a lab delivers test results, some medical experts say the emergency nature of the coronavirus response has shifted responsibility for data protection to people who may not be educated on safeguards.Cynthia Barnett Hibnick, a South Florida healthcare attorney, said that any time people give out private information, they are putting themselves at risk, but the vast volume and speed at which COVID-19 testing is moving increases that risk.Youre talking about people being concerned that their information, their protected health information, is changing hands very rapidly, Hibnick said. And I think they should be concerned.Hibnick added concerns about that protected information is being transmitted electronically, sometimes on unencrypted devices, increasing the risk of a potential a data breach.Last month, a Florida Department of Economic Opportunity data breach exposed about 98 peoples personal information who were applying for unemployment.Even the lab that reports the most coronavirus results in Florida has had data breaches. Only a year ago, Quest Diagnostics, which has reported more than 260,000 tests in Florida, suffered a data breach when a hacker gained access through one of its vendors to personal information for 12 million customers including credit card numbers, bank account details, medical data, and Social Security numbers.This turns into a bit of a trust game, said Dr. Bradley Malin, vice chair for research and professor of biomedical informatics at Vanderbilt University, whose work focuses on data privacy research and development for the health information technology sector.Under normal circumstances, the federal privacy law known as HIPPA requires medical providers and insurers to protect someones personal health information and requires a patients consent to disclose it. In the public health emergency, the federal agency that enforces HIPPA announced it would not penalize any party that made a good-faith effort to comply with the privacy law in the operation of COVID-19 testing sites.The enforcement relaxation is designed to allow information sharing with government entities.When asked about what practices were in place to protect peoples information, Florida Division of Emergency Management spokesman Jason Mahon said hes not aware of any HIPPA violations in the states COVID-19 response.Malin said the health information that has been shared has occurred under the context of public health and surveillance to better understand and track the disease. Data and specimen shared is supposed to be unidentifiable, but collection and analysis gets tricky with researchers, health officials and contact tracers involved, he said.His biggest concern, though, is the uncertainty of who has access: You really dont know where the information is going to go, You are not always going to be entitled to an accounting of it. What are the retention requirements? What can people do with that data afterward?"Because the U.S. needs to move fast, a trade-off is inevitable. Is it more important to scale up and get testing completed or is it imperative to ensure perfect security. We may not able to satisfy both simultaneously, he said. 2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning -- 4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS. We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover. We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come. Sir Ridley Scott is working on a Gladiator sequel, a producer on the iconic 2000 film has revealed. Doug Wick said the director is attempting to make a follow-up film, but it is proving to be a challenge because nobody wants to make another film just for the sake of it. He told ComicBook.com: 'Ridley would love to do it. It's really all about getting something on paper. In the works: Sir Ridley Scott (pictured) is working on a sequel to Gladiator, producer Doug Wick has revealed 'Everyone [involved with the original] loves the movie too much to ever consider cheaply exploiting it and making something that's a shadow of it. 'It's just really a clear creative problem, working on a script, and if we can ever get it to a place ... Ridley's working on it, it's really just a question of whether we can get it to a place where it feels worthy to make it. It's a real challenge.' Plans for the sequel come despite lead character Maximus Decimus Meridius - played by Russell Crowe - being dead. Epic: There have been rumours for a number of years of a sequel to the 2000 iconic film set in ancient Rome Hotly anticipated: Producers Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald said last year they are working with Ridley and writer Peter Craig on the project Last year, producers Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald said a sequel would be set 25 to 30 years after the original. Speaking at the time to Hey U Guys, Men in Black producer Laurie said: 'We're working with Ridley. That's one we wouldn't touch unless we felt in a way to do it was legitimate. 'We're working with an amazing writer as well, Peter Craig.' Her husband Walter added: 'It picks up the story 30 years later 25 years later.' It was previously rumoured that the film would follow Lucius (Spencer Treat Clark), the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielson) and nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). The timeline now suggests a sequel would pick up with Lucius as a young adult, but it is unknown whether Spencer would return to the role. Both Walter and Laurie worked as executive producers on the original Gladiator film, which starred Russell Crowe as Maximus, in 2000. Laurie said: 'We're working with Ridley. That's one we wouldn't touch unless we felt in a way to do it was legitimate' The film garnered an impressive 11 Oscar nominations and five wins including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe. He recently admitted he almost turned down Gladiator, but as soon as producer Walter Parkes told him Scott was at the helm, he was intrigued enough to open talks. He said: 'I'd read the script and I thought it wasn't a movie. But then Parkes said, 'It's 184 A.D., you're a Roman general, and you're going to be directed by Ridley Scott.' 'And that was enough for me to want to talk to Ridley.' Flash Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had a video meeting on Thursday. Li said the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Sino-German exchanges and cooperation. However, bilateral cooperation did not and will not stop because of the pandemic, but will continue to advance. Li said China attaches great importance to Sino-German relations, noting that the leaders of the two countries had a telephone conversation not long ago. "China is willing to deepen mutual political and strategic trust with Germany based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, maintain dialogue and consultation, promote cooperation in various fields such as economy, trade, investment and technology, and advance bilateral ties for new progress," Li said. Li introduced China's epidemic prevention and control measures and expressed appreciation for the positive results achieved by Germany's anti-epidemic efforts. He expressed willingness to deepen bilateral exchanges in anti-epidemic experience, and to strengthen cooperation in vaccine and drug research and development. To achieve economic recovery after the pandemic, China and Germany should jointly safeguard multilateralism and promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, said the premier. "China is further expanding its opening up and is willing to create a sound business environment for foreign companies, including German ones, to operate in China," Li said, calling on the two countries to expand a two-way opening up, make good use of the "fast lane" of personnel exchanges that has been launched to facilitate bilateral business cooperation and the resumption of production, and jointly maintain the safety and stability of supply and industrial chains. China has always supported the process of European integration and is happy to see the European Union (EU) maintain unity and prosperity, said Li. He stressed that strengthening open China-Germany and China-Europe cooperation is "not an expedient measure, but is in line with each other's common interests and can achieve mutual benefit and win-win results." As Germany will assume the rotating presidency of the EU in the second half of this year, China hopes Germany will play a positive role in promoting the development of China-EU relations, said the Chinese premier. Li said China is willing to maintain high-level exchanges and institutional dialogues with Europe. China will also strive to complete the negotiation of the China-EU investment agreement at an early date, and promote cooperation in various fields to achieve positive results. Merkel said Germany and China have maintained close, high-level communication. China has made great efforts to prevent and control the epidemic, and the two countries have cooperated well in combating the virus. She said Germany welcomes China's insistence on expanding its opening to the outside world and will continue to work to promote bilateral cooperation in various fields. Merkel appreciated China's willingness to provide vaccines developed in China as an international public product, and expressed support for strengthening cooperation between the two countries' vaccine research and development institutions. She said both Germany and China advocate strengthening multilateralism and are willing to further communication and coordination in WTO-related affairs. She said Germany is looking forward to the opportunity of serving as the EU's rotating presidency to jointly prepare for high-level EU-China exchanges, promote existing institutional dialogues, accelerate the negotiation of the EU-China investment agreement, strengthen Europe-China-Africa anti-pandemic cooperation, and promote Germany-China, Europe-China relations to achieve greater development. KALAMAZOO, MI -- More than 2,500 people have signed a petition seeking to remove police from Kalamazoo schools. The petition, End Police Presence in Kalamazoo Public Schools, asks the district to terminate agreements for school resource officers and remove law enforcement personnel from school buildings, citing what signers call a disregard for the safety of our youth." The petition, which had 2,613 signatures Friday, June 12, was started by Promise Advocacy for Children and Community Transformation, a group of parents, students, educators and community stakeholders working for equitable and inclusive educational opportunities for all students, every day and all the time in the district," according to the groups Facebook page. Due to ongoing police violence nationwide and in light of recent local events that have demonstrated law enforcements disregard for the safety of our youth, it has become clear that the presence of police in our students learning environment is inherently unsafe, the petition states. Kalamazoo police were criticized last week after using tear gas on people protesting the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer continued to kneel on his neck for nearly nine minutes while he was handcuffed and pleaded that he could not breathe. In the wake of protests and a rash of damage to businesses in downtown Kalamazoo, city leaders addressed community concerns and said outside agitators caused vandalism overnight Monday, June 1, forcing officers to deploy tear gas. Some community members say an aggressive arrest of a black man in downtown Kalamazoo late Monday ignited the overnight chaos. Related: Kalamazoo city leaders met with protesters, who demanded answers about public safetys use of force The petition seeks that all police are removed from school property during regular school hours and from any school-run events or activities. This applies to personnel with the power to arrest, interrogate or ticket students or the power to punish them for violations of probation or parole. The district has contracts with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and the Kalamazoo Township Police Department. The districts own public safety department is headed by Don Webster, a former deputy chief with KDPS. The district reviews these contracts and relationships with the police departments annually, KPS Director of Marketing and Communications Susan Coney said in a statement provided to MLive. The district has one SRO in Loy Norrix High School and another in Kalamazoo Central High School, she said. The Board (of Education) and KPS leadership is planning to engage experts and seek input from our community and staff while we broaden our learning around best practices and models in place in other districts, Coney said. KPS will approach this matter with information and research. Board President Patti Sholler-Barber said the board is very focused on the concerns of the community and will make the best decision for everyone. The equity of safety and care for students is very important to the board, Sholler-Barber said. Its very important to the whole KPS family. One member of the districts Board of Education has voiced her support for the petition. Tandy Moore said she does not speak on behalf of the board as a whole, or for the district, but shared that her own feelings on the matter are no secret. Police presence in our schools is unsafe, traumatizing, and unnecessary," Moore said in a Facebook post sharing the petition. "Our kids are not criminals. That said, I also welcome feedback from and conversation with those I serve who may feel differently, understanding that we all have a shared interest in the safety of our children. The petition request also specifies the ban on officers in the schools should apply to personnel carrying any type of weapon including a firearm, baton, taser, rubber bullets or mace or those carrying any type of restraint, such as handcuffs. Lastly, the group is asking for the ban to apply to anyone who receive training from a police department, including those who can report students to a gang database or any police databases, according the petition languages. The petition demands that the district also prohibit staff from calling police on students for disruptive behavior, fighting that does not involve a deadly weapon or an immediate threat to other students, perceived drunkenness or intoxication, possession of a controlled substance not intended for distribution or any other behavior that does not pose a real and immediate physical threat. Eliminating police presence is a necessary safety measure and an important step in eliminating the School to Prison Pipeline, but more work is required to create a safe and equitable educational experience for our students, the petition states. The petition is also asking that, in a case where police do enter the building, the district notify parents, inform students of their rights and protect students and parents rights to record the actions of police. The district should divest in policing and programs that support punitive discipline, and should instead invest in positive approaches to building a safe school climate, the petition states. The district should work with stakeholders to create a school safety plan, promote youth and parent leadership and provide ongoing training for school staff in positive approaches to school climate and discipline, including trauma-informed practices, conflict resolution and peer mediation, deescalation techniques, restorative practices and cultural competencies. In an update on the petition, its organizers encourage people to virtually attend the school districts next board meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 18. Community members and parents were also encouraged to email board members with their input on the issue. Also on MLive: Kalamazoo Public Schools planning significant cuts to balance budget Several hundred march in student-led protest against police brutality in Kalamazoo Black caucus members demand equity in Kalamazoo County policies This two-frame animation of Proxima Centauri blinks back and forth between New Horizons and Earth images of each star, clearly illustrating the different view of the sky New Horizons has from its deep-space perch. Credit: NASA For the first time, a spacecraft has sent back pictures of the sky from so far away that some stars appear to be in different positions than we'd see from Earth. More than four billion miles from home and speeding toward interstellar space, NASA's New Horizons has traveled so far that it now has a unique view of the nearest stars. "It's fair to say that New Horizons is looking at an alien sky, unlike what we see from Earth," said Alan Stern, New Horizons principal investigator from Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Boulder, Colorado. "And that has allowed us to do something that had never been accomplished beforeto see the nearest stars visibly displaced on the sky from the positions we see them on Earth." On April 22-23, the spacecraft turned its long-range telescopic camera to a pair of the "closest" stars, Proxima Centauri and Wolf 359, showing just how they appear in different places than we see from Earth. Scientists have long used this "parallax effect"how a star appears to shift against its background when seen from different locationsto measure distances to stars. An easy way to see parallax is to place one finger at arm's length and watch it jump back and forth when you view it successively with each eye. Similarly, as Earth makes it way around the Sun, the stars shift their positions. But because even the nearest stars are hundreds of thousands of times farther away than the diameter of Earth's orbit, the parallax shifts are tiny, and can only be measured with precise instrumentation. "No human eye can detect these shifts," Stern said. But when New Horizons images are paired with pictures of the same stars taken on the same dates by telescopes on Earth, the parallax shift is instantly visible. The combination yields a 3-D view of the stars "floating" in front of their background star fields. This two-frame animation of Wolf 359 blinks back and forth between New Horizons and Earth images of each star, clearly illustrating the different view of the sky New Horizons has from its deep-space perch. Credit: NASA "The New Horizons experiment provides the largest parallax baseline ever madeover 4 billion milesand is the first demonstration of an easily observable stellar parallax," said Tod Lauer, New Horizons science team member from the National Science Foundation's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory who coordinated the parallax demonstration. "The New Horizons spacecraft is truly a mission of firsts, and this demonstration of stellar parallax is no different" said Kenneth Hansen, New Horizons program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "The New Horizons spacecraft continues to speed away from Earth toward interstellar space and is continuing to return exciting new data for planetary science." Working in Stereo Lauer, New Horizons Deputy Project Scientist John Spencer, of SwRI, and science team collaborator, astrophysicist, Queen guitarist and stereo imaging enthusiast Brian May created the images that clearly show the effect of the vast distance between Earth and the two nearby stars. "It could be argued that in astro-stereoscopy3-D images of astronomical objectsNASA's New Horizons team already leads the field, having delivered astounding stereoscopic images of both Pluto and the remote Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth," May said. "But the latest New Horizons stereoscopic experiment breaks all records. These photographs of Proxima Centauri and Wolf 359stars that are well-known to amateur astronomers and science fiction aficionados alikeemploy the largest distance between viewpoints ever achieved in 180 years of stereoscopy!" The companion images of Proxima Centauri and Wolf 359 were provided by the Las Cumbres Observatory, operating a remote telescope at Siding Spring Observatory in Australia, and astronomers John Kielkopf, University of Louisville, and Karen Collins, Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, operating a remote telescope at Mt. Lemmon Observatory in Arizona. Parallel Stereo of Wolf 359: Use a stereo viewer for these images; if you dont have a viewer, change your focus from the image by looking "through" it (and the screen) and into the distance. This creates the effect of a third image in the middle, and try setting your focus on that third image. The New Horizons image is on the left. Credit: NASA "The professional and amateur astronomy communities had been waiting to try this, and were very excited to make a little space exploration history," said Lauer. "The images collected on Earth when New Horizons was observing Proxima Centauri and Wolf 359 really exceeded my expectations." Download the images (and learn more about creating and posting your own parallax perspectives) at pluto.jhuapl.edu/Learn/Paralla /Parallax-Images.php An Interstellar Navigation First Throughout history, navigators have used measurements of the stars to establish their position on Earth. Interstellar navigators can do the same to establish their position in the galaxy, using a technique that New Horizons has demonstrated for the first time. While radio tracking by NASA's Deep Space Network is far more accurate, its first use is a significant milestone in what may someday become human exploration of the galaxy. At the time of the observations, New Horizons was more than 4.3 billion miles (about 7 billion kilometers) from Earth, where a radio signal, traveling at the speed of light, needed just under six hours and 30 minutes to reach home. Launched in 2006, New Horizons is the first mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. It explored Pluto and its moons in July 2015completing the space-age reconnaissance of the planets that started 50 years earlierand continued on its unparalleled voyage of exploration with the close flyby of Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth in January 2019. New Horizons will eventually leave the solar system, joining the Voyagers and Pioneers on their paths to the stars. Explore further Looking back at a New Horizons New Year's to remember More information: New Horizons at NASA: New Horizons at NASA: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/new zons/main/index.html A man aged in his 60s has died after being crushed by a gate on a work site. The incident occurred on Friday morning at an industrial site in Berkeley, in the NSW Illawarra region. Four paramedic teams, including a specialist medical unit, rushed to the scene, a NSW Ambulance spokesman told AAP on Friday. Sadly, they were unable to save the man. Police and Safework NSW are at the scene. The incident occurred on Friday morning at an industrial site in Berkeley, in the NSW Illawarra region Jeremy Meeks revealed he has been 'extremely victimised' by police in his youth, as he reflected on the Black Lives Matter movement on Friday's Good Morning Britain. The model, 36, who is known as the 'Hot Felon', spoke candidly about his past and said there were many times he was wrongfully targeted by the law. Speaking passionately about the movement following George Floyd's death last month, he said: 'In the year 2020 we are still talking about civil rights, that's it, civil, the right to be civil in 2020. 'Sometimes I had it coming, but many times I didn't': Jeremy Meeks revealed on Friday's Good Morning Britain that he was 'extremely victimised' at the hands of police in his youth 'I really have to be careful with what I say, I am very emotional... I have been a victim many times at the hands of the police and many times I had it coming but numerous times I didn't, and I was just extremely victimised.' Reflecting on recent events, he went on: 'If you see the videos and you see people handcuffed and they pose no threat whatsoever, it doesnt matter if you have a record or not.' Going on to detail how the system in America 'wasnt designed for people of colour', he went on: 'The system is all a design to keep people in the projects and the ghetto with no resources and no education. Serving face: Jeremy first shot to stardom when his mugshot went viral in 2014 landing him a modelling career and earned him the nickname 'Hot Felon' Candid: Of his own experience, Jeremy said, 'I really have to be careful with what I say, I am very emotional... I have been a victim many times at the hands of the police' 'In public schools, youre being taught how to be an employee. In private schools and good schools, youre being taught how to run a business. You are given nowhere near the opportunities or chances. 'The system is not broken, a lot of people say that the system is broken. Its not broken, it just was not designed for people of colour.' Jeremy first shot to stardom when his mugshot went viral in 2014 landing him a modelling career, as he signed with White Cross Management in 2015 while still serving 27-month sentence. Struggle: Speaking passionately to co-hosts Ben Shephard and Ranvir Singh, he added: 'Many times I had it coming but numerous times I didn't, and I was just extremely victimised' Honest: Going on to detail how the system in America 'wasnt designed for people of colour', he went on: 'The system is all a design to keep people in the projects and the ghetto' Last year Jeremy landed a $15 million deal with German company Fashion Concept GmbH to make his own clothing line, and the model gushed about the opportunity. 'Now I own my own clothing line, you know I'm very proud to say that I am a black designer, a black business owner,' he told co-hosts Ben Shephard and Ranvir Singh. Jeremy has been seen protesting the tragic death of George Floyd in Los Angeles, and recently uploaded a video to social media denouncing violent rioters who have been at some of the marches. He said: 'Listen, I'm not gonna sit and act like we're not kicking up dust. We are pissed and frustrated and kicking s*** up. Thoughts: Jeremy added, 'You are given nowhere near the opportunities or chances. The system is not broken... it just was not designed for people of colour' Proud: Last year Jeremy landed a $15 million deal with Fashion Concept GmbH to make his own clothing line and Jeremy gushed about how 'proud' he was to be a black business owner 'But I'm telling you right now, little white kids, they're looting just as much as we are. And we're gonna get the blame, not them. It's the way of the world.' In another video, he said: 'No justice, no m***********g peace. Brought this on yourself. Prosecute or suffer the wrath of the people. The people are fed up. This is your guys' fault.' Ex-police officer Derek Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter after a video surfaced of himself kneeling Floyd's neck for over eight minutes. Overview: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is the massively parallel sequencing technology that has revolutionized the biological sciences. With its ultra-high throughput, scalability, and speed, NGS enables researchers to perform a wide variety of applications and study biological systems at a level never before possible. Illumina, Pacific Biosciences of California, Thermo Fisher scientific and Oxford Nanopore technology offers next-generation sequencing instruments based on different technologies such as Reversible terminator sequencing, Sequencing by ligation, Single-molecule, real-time sequencing (SMRT), ion semiconductor sequencing technology and Nanopore sequencing technology respectively. Wide range of diagnostic applications, continuous technology advancements are making it more efficient and user-friendly, but the complications associated with data storage and lack of skilled professional are some of the factors which may hamper growth to an extent. Market Analysis: The Global Next-Generation Sequencing market is estimated to witness a CAGR of 18.6% during the forecast period 20182024. The global market is analyzed based on five segments Technology, Products, Application, End-users and regions. Request For Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/9896 Regional Analysis: The regions covered in the report are the North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (ROW). North America is the major shareholder in the global next-generation sequencing market, followed by Europe. Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at high CAGR during the forecasted period due to increasing funding for healthcare research, growing patient pool, and increasing healthcare expenditure. The markets in emerging counties such as, India, China and Brazil are expected to grow at a rapid pace for next five years. Technology Analysis: The next-generation sequencing market by technology is segmented into reversible terminator sequencing, ion semiconductor sequencing, sequencing by ligation, single molecule real-time sequencing, nanopore sequencing and others. Reversible terminator sequencing occupied a major market share in 2017 and is expected to remain same during the forecasted period. Product Analysis: The market by product type is segmented into instruments, consumables and reagents and services. The services segment of the NGS market includes data analysis services and sequencing services. Among various application, consumables and reagents occupied the largest share in 2017, due to increased usage and need of consumables throughout the sample preparation, library construction, and various other pre-requisite steps of next-generation sequencing. Application Analysis: The market by application is segmented into diagnostics, biomarker discovery, drug discovery, agriculture and animal research and others. Diagnostics includes prenatal testing, cancer diagnostics, genetic screening, pre-implantation, HLA typing and various other clinical diagnostics applications. The diagnostics application occupied a major share in 2017, due to increasing usage of next-generation sequencing for disease diagnosis. End-Users Analysis: The market by end-users is segmented into academic and research institutes, hospitals and clinics, biotech and pharma companies and others. Among various end-users of the NGS market, academic and research institutes occupied a major share in 2017. Request for Report Discount : https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/9896 Key Players: Illumina, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Pacific Biosciences of California, Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited, Beijing Genomics Institute, Agilent Technologies, Inc., Qiagen N.V., Eurofins Scientific, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, DNASTAR, Inc., Biomatters Limited and other predominate and niche players. Competitive Analysis: Currently the next-generation sequencing market is consolidated with few key companies due to the involvement of complicated technologies and the requirement of high capital investment. Sequencing-based test may soon be regarded as the gold standard in the field of molecular diagnostics. The increase in the applications of NGS has made many biotechnological firms and diagnostic laboratories to invest heavily in this field by launching new products or acquiring other smaller firms or by collaboration. For instance, in August 2017, US based Illumina and Telegraph Hill Partners launched Verogen, Inc. to drive adoption of NGS in the global forensic genomics Market. In February 2018, Twist Bioscience entered the NGS sample prep market with the launch of its first target enrichment products. In March 2017, MedGenome launched NGS based liquid biopsy blood test Oncotrack for the diagnosis of cancer in India. Benefits: The report provides complete details about the usage and adoption rate of Next-generation Sequencing in various therapeutic verticals and regions. With that, key stakeholders can know about the major trends, drivers, investments, and vertical players initiatives. Moreover, the report provides details about the major challenges that are going to impact on the market growth. Additionally, the report gives the complete details about the key business opportunities to key stakeholders to expand their business and capture the revenue in the specific verticals to analyze before investing or expanding the business in this market. More Info of Impact Covid19 @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/9896 By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan and Ukraine have discussed development of economic and business relations during a videoconference organized by the Ukrainian Chamber of commerce and industry on June 11. The videoconference was attended by Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ukraine and Ukrainian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, as well as representatives of government agencies and entrepreneurs who discussed the prospects for expanding economic cooperation between the two countries and the possibility of increasing trade turnover. President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gennady Chizhikov spoke about Azerbaijani- Ukrainian economic relations, stressing the role of discussions at the videoconference to identify new areas of cooperation between entrepreneurs of the two countries. Moreover, acting head of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation Yusif Abdullayev talked about the reforms implemented in the country to increase non-oil exports, as well as promotion of "Made in Azerbaijan" brand abroad and work done to attract foreign investment. Additionally, chairman of the Board of the Agency for Small and Medium Business Development (KOBIA) Orhan Mammadov spoke about the measures taken to develop small and medium-sized businesses in the country, the agency's activities in this area, as well as opportunities for cooperation between SMEs with relevant Ukrainian agencies and business entities. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz New Delhi, June 12 : The Rajya Sabha Secretariat has advised members of the Upper House of Parliament to ensure cancellation of unavailed bookings of train journeys they are entitled to, sources said on Friday. A bulletin has been issued to the members after taking cognisance of alleged large-scale multiple bookings for train travels being made by Rajya Sabha members, with the Secretariat required to pay for the journeys not undertaken. As per sources, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat paid Rs 8 crore to the Indian Railways for free travel facitlities availed of by Rajya Sabha members. As the bill for 2019 was higher than usual, the Railways blamed it on serious malpractices by the MPs. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had expressed serious displeasure over this "misuse of public money". With Naidu desiring to know the extent of multiple bookings done by members and their implications, the Secretariat has done an analysis of the number of bookings made and actual journeys undertaken by some sitting and former members. For the calendar year 2019, the Railways raised a demand for payment of Rs 7.8 crore to be made by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat as one third share of the total cost of train travel by sitting and former members of Parliament, their spouses and companions. The rest two third is to be paid by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. The source said members of the Rajya Sabha are being advised for some years to avoid multiple train bookings and to cancel the unutilised bookings. The sources said that the Railways have since agreed to change the software for train bookings by members of Parliament to enable identification of bookings by members of both the Houses separately. This new software is likely to be operationalised soon. SYDNEY, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Terracotta Warriors museum in China's northwestern city of Xi'an is considered one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world, however few are lucky enough to visit it in person, particularly now under COVID-19 travel restrictions. On Friday, a new online exhibition was launched by the Chinese Cultural Center (CCC) Sydney allowing Australians to explore the World Heritage listed treasures from their homes and learn about the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. "Qin - the Past and Present of Terracotta Warriors" is the highlight of a virtual exhibition series, launched piece by piece by the CCC Sydney starting in March, aimed at introducing Australians to China's rich history, imagery and culture. The Terracotta Warriors exhibition is the highly anticipated final offering of the seven-part series, intended to coincide with China's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day on June 13. Audiences are fully immersed with a high definition, 360 degree view of the three main pits of the archaeological site, containing some 8,000 terracotta warriors, with the ability to zoom in and appreciate their unique facial features. History is brought to life through comparisons with related modern works such as the dance, Symbiosis and the Qinqiang dance drama, Soul of the Terracotta Warriors of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC). Visitors can also discover the over-2,000-year-old history of the local Qin people who explored wisdom, as well as created advanced technical systems such as character-writing, law, irrigation, metallurgy, measurement and more. Since being discovered by accident in 1974, China's Terracotta Warriors have been a source of wonder for the world, and with some 200 more figures unearthed just last year they continue to shed light on the country's vibrant past. REUTERS/Mark Blinch Grocery retailers are preparing to end the $2 per hour pay raise provided to frontline workers through the coronavirus pandemic. Loblaw (L.TO), Metro (MRU.TO), Empire (EMP) and Walmart Canada have each confirmed that the temporary pandemic pay bump will be coming to an end. Loblaw, Metro and Empire, which operates the Sobeys chain, said the pay increase will end on June 13. Walmart did not specify a date. In a letter sent to PC Optimum customers on Thursday, Loblaw executive chairman Galen Weston said it was the right time to end the temporary pay premium, which was introduced when the pandemic began in mid-March. Things have now stabilized in our supermarkets and drug stores, Weston wrote. After extending the premium multiple times, we are confident our colleagues are operating safely and effectively in a new normal. Metro spokesperson Marie-Claude Bacon said in a statement the company will pay full-time and part-time employees bonuses of $200 and $100, respectively, as the company ends the premium pay. We are no longer working under the crisis conditions that prevailed from March through May as grocers were amongst the only retailers open to the public, Bacon said. Demand is stabilizing as other business are reopening. A host of prevention measures have been implemented and adopted, by both employees and customers, and we are now transitioning into recovery while not letting our guard down. Michael Medline, chief executive of Sobeys, sent a letter to employees on Friday announcing the end of its Hero Pay program, saying that it was a natural time to end the program with provinces reopening and customer behaviour shifting to normal. He said the company will be offering bonuses to employees, with specific details about the program to come. Walmart Canada, which implemented the pay boost, said in a statement that it has also returned wages to pre-pandemic levels. Loblaw, Metro and Walmart were three of several retailers that offered a pay increase to workers through the coronavirus pandemic. Empire Ltd., which operates several grocery retailers including Sobeys, also offered a temporary top up of wages for their employees. Empire has not responded to a request for comment. Story continues The United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents thousands of grocery workers across Canada, released a statement on Thursday calling on companies to continue paying workers the premium wage. UFCW Canada is disappointed that employers in various sectors across Canada are choosing to stop paying COVID-19 premium pay while the pandemic continues, and some provinces are still enforcing precautionary measures, the union said in a statement. Premium pay should be maintained throughout the pandemic. Grocery stores have seen sales surge amid the coronavirus pandemic. Sales at Loblaw jumped in the companys most recent fiscal quarter, which included the first three weeks of March, when the pandemic struck and governments began enforcing lockdowns across the country. The company an extra $751 million in sales in that quarter related to the coronavirus pandemic, while overall sales increased by $1.1 billion, or 10.8 per cent, to $11.8 billion. Expenses also increased, as the company spent more on expanding online capabilities, increasing staffing and wages, cleaning and safety supplies, installing plexiglass barriers, and social distancing promotion. The measures cost Loblaw $90 million every four weeks, the company said. At Metro, sales in its most recent quarter hit $3.99 billion, up from $3.7 billion during the same time last year, representing an increase of 7.8 per cent. The company estimated that COVID-19 contributed to a $125 million increase in sales in the quarter. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief. Rome, June 12 : Prosecutors from northern Italy will question Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Friday after relatives of COVID-19 victims demanded an inquiry into alleged government negligence into the crisis. The prosecutors have travelled to Rome from Bergamo, the city near Milan worst hit by coronavirus before the whole country was put under a lockdown in March, the BBC reported. Fifty legal complaints were filed on Thursday at the Bergamo prosecutor's office by a citizens' group called 'Noi Denunceremo' (We Will Report). The group consists of relatives of the coronavirus victims, who have said that two Lombardy towns - Alzano and Nembro - should have been declared "red zones" as soon as the outbreaks were detected there. Lombardy was where the virus first started spreading in Europe and more than half the victims in Italy died in the region. It is the first legal group action in Italy triggered by the pandemic. Besides Conte, the prosecutors, who are aiming to determine if there are grounds for any charges of criminal negligence, will also question Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese and Health Minister Roberto Speranza on Friday. Regarding the development, Conte said on Thursday: "I will conscientiously set out all the facts of which I have knowledge. I am not at all worried. "All investigations are welcome. The citizens have the right to know and we have the right to reply." In a BBC interview in early April, Conte denied claims that he had underestimated the crisis. He said that if he had ordered a lockdown at the beginning, when the first virus clusters were detected, "people would have taken me for a madman". He dismissed the suggestion that Italy could have rapidly imposed a big lockdown. As of Friday, Italy, one of the worst-hit countries in the world, has registered 236,142 COVID-19 cases with 34,167 deaths. Property in Phuket awaits slow recovery PHUKET: Phukets property market will take at least two years to recover because the fallout from the coronavirus is hitting one of the worlds top tourist destinations harshly, says the Phuket Real Estate Association. propertyeconomicsCOVID-19 By Bangkok Post Friday 12 June 2020, 08:50AM Phukets property market will take at least two years to recover because of the fallout from the coronavirus. Photo: Bangkok Post Boon Yongsakul, the associations vice-president, said the Phuket property market has suffered a severe impact from the pandemic because the local economy relies heavily on tourism, reports the Bangkok Post. Since I have been in the property business, Ive never experienced anything worse than this crisis, Mr Boon said. Even SARS, avian flu and the tsunami were incomparable with the coronavirus. In the past, 70-80% of Phukets economic growth was driven by the tourism sector. At present, the influence of the hospitality industry is more than 90%, resulting in a heavier impact than in other parts of the country. To reduce dependency on tourism and avoid future risk, Mr Boon suggested Phuket reposition as a medical and educational hub supported by government policy. The declining tourism market also caused many banks to tighten mortgage loan criteria for those working in the industry, he said, and a high rejection rate is noticeable. Meanwhile, foreigners have delayed residential unit transfers because they are unable to travel and face a stronger baht. The impact on these buyers could lead to a significant drop in developer revenue in the second quarter. It is a very challenging year for developers in Phuket, Mr Boon said. They should monitor financial liquidity. Some of them have shifted to smaller projects with less than 10 units a site. Some local and foreign investors are acquiring land plots in Phuket to develop projects to prepare for the future comeback, he said. The market will likely be driven by new demand from expats from Singapore and Hong Kong who will relocate because of the high cost of living and social unrest, respectively. To attract foreign investors, leasehold should be extended from the current 30 years to 50 because the latter is more secure for property buyers, Mr Boon said. Vichai Viratkapan, acting director-general of the Real Estate Information Center (REIC), said the monthly absorption rate of residential units in Phuket has dropped for two straight years amid the economic slowdown. In the second half of last year, the number of residential units sold in Phuket was 1,550, down 32% from 2,274 units in the first half. Of the number, 68% or 1,060 units worth a combined 5.32 billion baht were condos. The five best-selling locations were Bang Tao-Surin (34%), Rawai (17%), Kamala (16%), Nai Yang-Mai Khao (11%) and Patong (9%), as they were popular among foreigners and investors. With the sluggish economy expected to linger and the coronavirus taking a toll on the island tourism market, the absorption rate of residential units will drop to 1.1-1.6% in 2020 from 1.8-3% in 2019, the REIC said. Woodlyne.net A New Jersey police officer has been charged with assault after bodycam footage showed the man allegedly using pepper spray on a group of young black men unjustly. Ryan Dubiel, 31, directed pepper spray at people without provocation when responding to a trespassing call, according to the Camden County Prosecutors Office. The cop and several of his colleagues were called to a home on 4 June from a property owner nearby who thought a group of people sitting on the front stoop of a home were trespassing. When responding to the call, the officers asked the young black men on the homes porch their names, many of whom refused. Dubiel then asked a teenager looking at his phone on the porch to place his hands behind his head, but he said he was texting his brother. This then prompted Dubiel to spray the young man with pepper spray before spraying other people on the porch. Bodycam footage also showed the officer chasing another person while spraying the irritant. The bodycam footage showing the incident was worn by Dubiel, prosecutors said. The office added the people sprayed by the officer were not observed physically resisting or attempting to harm others or themselves. Dubiel was charged with two counts of assault after prosecutors reviewed the footage of him spraying a teenager and his 20-year-old friend. The Attorney General Gurbir Grewal revealed that Dubiel had been with the department for 10 months and previously worked at nine other police departments. The attorney general said Dubiel also previously faced misconduct at his other departments, proving why a statewide police licensing program was necessary. Just as we license doctors, nurses, and lawyers, we must ensure that all officers meet baseline standards of professionalism, Grewal said in a statement. Officers who fail to meet those standards cannot be passed from one police department to another while posing a threat to the public and other officers. Dubiel is now suspended from the Woodlynne Police Department without pay. Story continues Read more Trump says police dominate with compassion and renews Seattle threat Democrats demand Trump halt protest surveillance flights 13 Reasons Why actor defends shows devastating AIDS twist US man charged for poisoning and filming homeless people TORONTO, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - The Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA) today announced the winners of the 2020 CVCA Awards, sponsored by HarbourVest Partners Canada, ahead of the association's annual Invest Canada '20 conference taking place digitally this year. CVCA's most distinguished honour, the Deal of the Year recognition went to: The private equity group of Toronto -headquartered Brookfield Asset Management won the 2020 Private Equity (PE) Deal of the Year award for its investment in Markham -based BGIS -headquartered won the 2020 Private Equity (PE) Deal of the Year award for its investment in -based Toronto -based Information Venture Partners (IVP) won the 2020 Venture Capital (VC) Deal of the Year award for its investment in St. John's -based Verafin Inc. For general partners operating on the global stage, CVCA's new Global Dealmaker award went to: Toronto -based Imperial Capital won the new 2020 PE Global Dealmaker Award for its investment in Norristown, Pennsylvania -headquartered MRO Corporation -based won the new 2020 PE Global Dealmaker Award for its investment in -headquartered Toronto -based EnerTech Capital won the new 2020 VC Global Dealmaker Award for its investment in Livonia, Michigan -headquartered Ushr, Inc. In recognition for community leadership: Laura Lenz , Partner, OMERS Ventures is the recipient of the 2020 Ted Anderson Community Leadership Award CVCA's regional impact awards: "Winners of the 2020 CVCA Awards have proven vision and innovation are alive and well in the Canadian private capital industry" said Kim Furlong, CEO, Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association. "This list of companies exemplifies how venture capital and private equity is present in every sector and helping fuel the economy of the future." "It's a pleasure to see so many people and organizations in private capital from across a variety of industries and geographies working hard and setting new standards," said Beth Maliakkal, Chief Financial Officer, Imperial Capital and Chair, CVCA Awards Committee. "On behalf of the 2020 CVCA Awards committee, congratulations on this incredible recognition." 2020 PE Deal of the Year Award Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is a leading global alternative asset manager with over $515 billion of assets under management across real estate, infrastructure, renewable power, private equity and credit. Brookfield owns and operates long-life assets and businesses, many of which form the backbone of the global economy. Brookfield's private equity group has won the 2020 Private Equity (PE) Deal of the Year award for its investment in Markham-based BGIS. BGIS is a provider of real estate management services, including facilities management, project delivery services, energy and sustainability solutions, building performance management, workplace advisory and management, and real estate services. Brookfield originally invested into BGIS in April 2015. With Brookfield's investment, BGIS was able to expand geographically, expand their product offering and execute on accretive tuck-ins. Brookfield sold stake in BGIS to CCMP Capital Advisors on May 31, 2019. Read more about this deal here. 2020 VC Deal of the Year Award Information Venture Partners (IVP) is a team of experienced venture capital investors that focuses Seed and Series-A companies in B2B FinTech and Enterprise SaaS. Information Venture Partners has won the 2020 Venture Capital (VC) Deal of the Year award for its investment in St. John's-based Verafin Inc. Verafin provides the industry's leading Financial Crime Management platform, providing a cloud-based cross-institutional software platform for Fraud Detection and Management, BSA/AML Compliance and Management, High-Risk Customer Management and Secure 314(b) Information Sharing. Almost 3000 banks and credit unions use Verafin to effectively fight financial crime and comply with regulations. IVP originally invested into Verafin in August 2009, contributing to strong growth and profitability. Read more about this deal here. 2020 PE Global Dealmaker Award Founded in 1989, Torontobased Imperial Capital is a leading lower middle market private equity firm focused on North American opportunities to build or acquire growthoriented platform investments in targeted industry niches within healthcare, business, and consumer services industries. Imperial Capital has won the new 2020 PE Global Dealmaker Award for its investment in Norristown, Pennsylvania-headquartered MRO Corporation. The PE Global Dealmaker Award is new in 2020 and was created to recognize outstanding realized investment returns on a global PE investment. MRO Corporation provides a suite of Protected Health Information (PHI) disclosure management services comprised of release of information, government and commercial payer audit management and accounting of disclosures. Imperial Capital originally invested in MRO Corp. in September 2014. The investment fueled organic growth, acquisitions of small local competitors and increased market share from the industry's largest competitor. Read more about this deal here. 2020 VC Global Dealmaker Award Founded in 1996, EnerTech Capital is a private investment firm focused on empowering energy innovation within the technology and mobility space. They invest in mid-stage companies that offer products or services that dramatically improve the profitability of producing or consuming energy. EnerTech Capital has won the new 2020 VC Global Dealmaker Award for its investment in Canadian spin-out Ushr, Inc., now headquartered in Detroit. The VC Global Dealmaker Award is new in 2020 and was created to recognize outstanding realized investment returns on a global VC investment. Ushr offers automotive manufacturers the most accurate, comprehensive, and advanced high-definition map technology available on the market today. Having mapped the entire U.S. and Canada controlled access highway network with under four inches deviation, Ushr's platform provides the most accurate long and medium-distance sensing systems to enable autonomous vehicles (AVs) to safely navigate roadways. EnerTech Capital originally invested in Ushr in June 2017. Read more about this deal here. 2020 Ted Anderson Community Leadership Award Laura Lenz, Partner, OMERS Ventures, is the recipient of the 2020 Ted Anderson Community Leadership Award for driving awareness and support for families and those directly impacted by pediatric stroke. Ms. Lenz is the founder of the Canadian Pediatric Stroke Support Association (CPSSA). In addition to supporting Canada's economic productivity, the Ted Anderson Community Leadership Award recipient also fosters strong corporate social responsibility as a foundation for building solid vibrant communities. The award recognizes the commitment of time and effort to an organization or cause over several years. For nine years Ms. Lenz was the co-chair of the CPSSA, building it from the ground up while still forging a successful career as a venture investor. She has built a community of more than 500 families who are caring for children who have had a stroke. Read more about Ms. Lenz community work here. PE Private Capital Regional Impact Award for Western Canada Founded in 1989, PFM Capital is Saskatchewan's largest private equity investment firm with over $800 million in assets under management across several funds. Based in Regina, PFM's niche focus allows investors to benefit from the Prairies' economic strengths by taking advantage of the firm's established local contact network and long-term track record. PFM Capital Inc. has won the 2020 PE Private Capital Regional Impact Award for Western Canada for its investment in Calgary-headquartered Steel Reef Infrastructure Corp. (SRIC). Steel Reef is a privately held mid-stream company targeting strategic small to mid sized infrastructure investments in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Steel Reef is focused on partnering with upstream Exploration and Production companies by purchasing or constructing their infrastructure to allow their capital expenditures to be focused on the drill bit. Since PFM Capital's investment in March 2013: SRIC grew their team from 6 people to 114. They have created approximately 107 jobs in the last 5 years. SRIC has spent over $475M since inception, primarily in Alberta and Saskatchewan , directly impacting these economies. since inception, primarily in and , directly impacting these economies. 1 out of 5 or 20% women as executive officers Read more about the community impact of this investment here. VC Private Capital Regional Impact Award for Ontario FACIT is a commercialization venture firm that builds companies with entrepreneurs to accelerate oncology innovation, with a portfolio that has attracted over $850 million in investment to Ontario. Blending industry experience, capital and the unsurpassed clinician-scientist network of its strategic partner the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), FACIT capitalizes on the province's investment in research and healthcare to the benefit of the local economy and patients worldwide. FACIT has won the 2020 VC Private Capital Regional Impact Award for Ontario, for its deal involving Propellon Therapeutics' blood cancer drug candidate. Propellon was created by FACIT in 2016 and is focused on developing a portfolio of first-in-class WDR5-targeted anti-cancer therapies. Since its inception and to date, FACIT has invested $37.2M of its Ontario-First capital into Ontario oncology innovations, with an additional $5.6M in grant-based funding provided to very early stage innovative projects. In turn, these innovations have attracted more than $850M in follow-on investment (leverage ratio 1:20). As part of the US$1B partnership between Propellon, Triphase Accelerator and US pharma giant Celgene (acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company), FACIT negotiated a deal to have maximum impact on Ontario: Drug discovery and development jobs will stay in Ontario Clinical trials will be run in many sites in Ontario Industrial manufacturing within Ontario One of the largest oncology licensing transactions for a preclinical asset in Canadian history and worldwide academia Read more about the community impact of this investment here. VC Private Capital Regional Impact Award for Western Canada Lumira Ventures is Canada's leading and most active healthcare venture capital firm. Lumira invests in best-in-class North American companies developing innovative therapeutics and medical technologies whose products offer transformative improvements to patient health outcomes and provide meaningful reductions to the overall cost of healthcare delivery. Lumira Ventures has won the 2020 VC Private Capital Regional Impact Award for Western Canada for their investment in Victoria, BC-headquartered Aurinia Pharmaceuticals. Aurinia Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies to treat targeted patient populations that are suffering from serious diseases with a high unmet medical need. The company is currently developing Voclosporin, an investigational drug, for the potential treatment of Lupus Nephritis, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, and Dry Eye Syndrome. Since Lumira's investment, Aurinia has also contributed to regional economic impact: Has created 42 high quality employment opportunities and higher than market average wages in a sector that pays 2.5x in the US compared with other sectors. Aurinia has: Women on Executive Team: 2 or 14%; Visible Minorities on Executive Team: 1 or 7%; Women on Board of Directors: 1 or 13% Read more about the community impact of this investment here. VC Private Capital Regional Impact Award for Eastern Canada Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) is a long-term institutional investor that manages funds primarily for public and parapublic pension and insurance plans. As at December 31, 2019, it held CAD 340.1 billion in net assets. As one of the largest pension funds in Canada, CDPQ invests globally in financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. CDPQ has won the 2020 VC Private Capital Regional Impact Award for Eastern Canada for their investment in Montreal-based Lightspeed POS. Montreal-headquarted Lightspeed POS provides a point of sale platform with a simple way to build, manage and grow their retail, restaurant, or eCommerce business, and create a best-in-class customer experience. Since their investment in 2015, Lightspeed has employed an additional 700 people. Read more about the community impact of this investment here. About the CVCA Our vision A thriving Canadian economy driven by private capital Our Mission CVCA's mission is to help our members fuel the economy of the future by growing the businesses of today. We do this by supporting and connecting a vibrant private capital industry with advocacy, research, and education. CVCA is also the nation's ultimate resource for data on Canadian private capital investments. Please visit: http://www.cvca.ca. SOURCE CVCA - Canada's Venture Capital & Private Equity Association Related Links http://www.cvca.ca On Friday, June 5, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced a 30-day ban on police using tear gas. By Sunday night, the police had already broken that rule. Come Monday, the Mayor announced that police would be abandoning the city's East Precinct, including the police station, which had been cordoned off for two weeks after a man drove a car through a crowd of protestors and shot one. As soon as the police left the area, protestors repurposed the barricades, and turned the 6-block area into a makeshift anarchist enclave they're calling the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or CHAZ. (and yes, it already has its own Wikipedia page.) Streets surrounding the #EastPrecinct now known by protesters as the Capitol Hill Free Zone are free of cars and police. Stands with food and medical aid are on every corner, along with tents for protesters who spend the night. #CapitolHill #Seattleprotest #Seattle pic.twitter.com/Hq4EdtTdPM Nicole Jennings (@nicoleKIROFM) June 9, 2020 I'm outside of the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct for @townhallcom. Police have pulled out of the area and protesters have set up barricades in the streets. They have declared it a "Cop Free Zone." pic.twitter.com/iYFQ9B4jhz Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) June 9, 2020 Optimism, Rudy's, Bang Bang, and Poquitos have opened their bathrooms (and Optimism has hella supplies too). Atulea is offering free water. Oma Bap is out there with bells on. If the neighborhood wasn't so supportive of the protests, things would be a lot harder! 2/3 pic.twitter.com/SF13dWPRPx Shir Goldbird (@shirgoldbird) June 10, 2020 Scenes from the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone #CHAZ According to one activist in the zone "It's people who are realizing their power and it's really special. I am glad I got to be part of starting it. They want to do something with the building, like a community center." pic.twitter.com/x9ojr1uurn Party for Socialism and Liberation (@pslweb) June 11, 2020 The alleged organizers behind this anarchist enclave have also released a list of 30 demands regarding reforms to education, economics, healthcare, and the justice system. In that post, they clearly noted: Although we have liberated Free Capitol Hill in the name of the people of Seattle, we must not forget that we stand on land already once stolen from the Duwamish People, the first people of Seattle, and whose brother, John T. Williams of the Nuu-chah-nulth tribe up north was murdered by the Seattle Police Department 10 years ago. (I was not familiar with the death of John T. Williams, but a quick search lead me to these helpful articles from NPR and Indian Country Today.) The community who occupies the CHAZ has since launched a free outdoor film screening series, beginning with Ava DuVernay's fantastic documentary 13th and followed by Paris is Burning. Absolutely agree. Right now at CHAZ there is food, security, bathrooms, art, love, public discourse, action, education, film viewing, and much needed community building. Here's #CHAZ on 6.9.2020 watching @ava's documentary 13th, featuring Angela Davis. The crowd is here to stay. pic.twitter.com/krWLiGDwkF oliver (@olivertreanorm) June 10, 2020 Band is done, demonstrators are now watching the documentary Paris is Burning in the #CHAZ during the #seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/os1TE2XjtZ Shauna Sowersby (@Shauna_Sowersby) June 11, 2020 There are also some growing art installations, like on Trump's Wall; activists and artists have similarly started to paint "Black Lives Matter" on the asphalt. Seattle's Mutual Aid Bookstore has also setup shop in the CHAZ, with books by Black and Indigenous writers: Donald J. Trump, of course, has thrown another tantrum about this, once again exposing his absolute disregard for traditional Republican talking points about prioritizing self-governance, liberty, and personal responsibility over increased federal rule. Ted Cruz also echoed this, because he's Trump's chump and doesn't even have enough spine to stand up for his own family against the man's bullying tactics. And of course, the Seattle Police Department is working overtime on a campaign of disinformation full of uncorroborated claims of violence and chaos, attempting to paint the occupants of CHAZ as Antifa snowflakes or whatever. ("During our six-hour afternoon visit, we did not see any examples of what police are talking about, but that doesn't mean it's not happening," reported Matt Markovich of KOMO News in a really embarrassing bit of bootlicking editorialism in an article that otherwise tries to assert its "objectivity.") Behold, chaos: Lots of street fair energy at #CHAZ today pic.twitter.com/QL8Uow8XQg Rich Smith (@richsssmith) June 11, 2020 We'll see how long the CHAZ lasts. But right now, it certainly seems like an interesting experiment. The Demands of the Collective Black Voices at Free Capitol Hill to the Government of Seattle, Washington [Free Capitol Hill / Medium] The Dawn of "Free Capitol Hill" [Chase Burns, Rich Smith and Jasmyne Keimig / The Stranger] A look inside Seattle's newly-formed 'Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone' [Nick Bowman / My Northwest] An Exceedingly Chill Day at the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone [Rich Smith / The Stranger] Seattle Protesters Establish 'Autonomous Zone' Outside Evacuated Police Precinct [Christian Britschgi / Reason] (Just, please avoid the comments here, unless you want to see Armchair Libertarians passionately arguing that actually, the American Revolution was perfectly legal, because the Founding Fathers were landowners, and thus had respect for British law, which is some real wild mindfuck of logic) Image: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons (CC 3.0) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More SBI Life Insurance Company share price declined 2 percent in early trade on June 12 as a promoter is selling stake in the company via offer for sale (OFS). State Bank of India will sell 2.1 percent equity stake in its life insurance business - SBI Life Insurance Company - through an offer for sale, as per the company release. SBI held 57.6 percent equity stake in the company, while promoter BNP Paribas Cardif held 5.20 percent stake as of March. "SBI proposes to sell up to 2.1 crore equity shares (representing 2.1 percent of the total issued and paid-up equity share capital of SBI Life) on June 12 and June 15," company added. The offer for sale issue will be opened for non-retail investors on June 12, while on June 15, retail as well as non-retail investors can participate in the issue. The floor price for the sale will be Rs 725 per equity share. At 09:29 hrs SBI Life Insurance Company was quoting at Rs 735.90, down Rs 5.55, or 0.75 percent and State Bank of India was quoting at Rs 171.75, down Rs 5.45, or 3.08 percent on the BSE. Gold and Silver New Delhi: Gold prices on Friday gained Rs 153 to Rs 48,144 per 10 gram in the national capital on positive global cues and rupee depreciation, according to HDFC Securities. The yellow metal had closed at Rs 47,991 per 10 gram in the previous trade. Advertisement Gold prices rallied by Rs 100"Spot gold for 24 carat in Delhi was trading up by Rs 153 on positive international gold prices and rupee depreciation," HDFC Securities Senior Analyst (Commodities) Tapan Patel said. The rupee settled 5 paise lower at 75.84 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday as volatile domestic equities and sustained foreign fund outflows weighed on investor sentiment. Gold Gains Silver prices, however, declined Rs 665 to Rs 49,235 per kg from Rs 49,900 per kg in the previous trade. Advertisement In the international market, gold was trading with gains at USD 1,734 per ounce, while silver was flat at USD 17.62 per ounce. Our decision to leave the United States has spared us from so much suffering and danger. Mom, I said, we are refugees. In 2013, when George Zimmerman was found not guilty of second degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin a black child gunned down in his own neighborhood, branded a thug in a hoodie I knew I had to leave America. The racism that had become all too familiar to me as a black woman was too much to bear. I packed my things, made sure to secure a few online writing gigs and moved in with my sister in Maraval, on the island of Trinidad. Shed moved from the States a few months earlier, after struggling to find work or afford a place of her own there, and secured a job with a government ministry and a two-bedroom apartment. I settled easily. Still, as the Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum over the next few years, I prayed from afar that America would finally allow black people the fair treatment theyd long fought for. Instead, white Americans fired back with All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter, and critics branded the group as anti-police, with some going so far as to accuse social justice advocates of inciting a race war. I concluded America would never stop battling against its black citizenry. Its not that I didnt have good experiences in the United States. Memories of my American childhood were once bright and vivid, like a flower-filled landscape painted in watercolor. Back in the 1990s, when I was 4, my mother moved to America from Trinidad and Tobago as a single parent with my two siblings and me. The first New Jersey neighborhood I called home was a bustling, diverse town just outside of New York City. The area was mostly Hispanic, but it also had both white and black residents. My family blended right in. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable discussion with members of the faith community, law enforcement and small business at Gateway Church Dallas Campus in Dallas, Texas, U.S., June 11, 2020. President Donald Trump downplayed the danger of police chokeholds on Friday even as he suggested he could support banning the practice during a nationwide outcry against brutality. In a Fox News interview, the president said that "the concept of chokeholds sounds so innocent and so perfect" in "one-on-one" struggles. He added that it becomes "a bit of a different story" if "it's two-on-one." "With that being said, it would be I think a very good thing that, generally speaking, it should be ended," Trump said. Asked at what level of government a ban should take place, he said that "in some cases" the law could come from local officials, but the U.S. government could make "very strong recommendations" about the practice. The killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed Black man who died after police knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis last month, has sparked more than two weeks of demonstrations calling for officials to address police violence and systemic racism. Floyd's pleas of "I can't breathe" echoed the words of Eric Garner, a Black man killed in New York City when police held him in a banned chokehold in 2014. (Photo : Tadas Sar on Unsplash) Face-Recognition Sales Banned by Microsoft from Police as False Matches can Lead to Unjust Arrests (Photo : Franck on Unsplash) Face-Recognition Sales Banned by Microsoft from Police as False Matches can Lead to Unjust Arrests Microsoft confirmed that it will no longer provide face-recognition sales to the police. According to Reuters' latest report, Microsoft is the current biggest firm to back away from the face-recognition business following protests against law enforcement bias and brutality as it confirmed on Thursday, June 11, that it would wait for federal regulation before selling the tech to the police. Microsoft's announcement came after the "Rekognition" service to the police was paused for a year as confirmed by Amazon. International Business Machines Corp also said that it will no longer provide its software. Microsoft said in a statement that it has worked on enacting legislation and principles for the software's function. "We do not sell our facial recognition technology to U.S. police departments today, and until there is a strong national law grounded in human rights, we will not sell this technology to police," said Microsoft in the report of The Washington Post. Concerns on whether facial recognition could be used against protesters unfairly arose as protests against racial inequity spread after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white police officer knelt his kneck for almost nine minutes. Face-recognition technology can be inaccurate According to Reuters, the research discovered that the face-recognition technology was less accurate when used to recognize individuals with darker skin tones, adding to activists' warnings that unjust arrests may happen because of false matches. "When even the makers of face recognition refuse to sell this surveillance technology because it is so dangerous, lawmakers can no longer deny the threats to our rights and liberties," said Matt Cagle, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. Idemia and DataWork Plus were included by the facial-recognition vendors who work with the police. After the tech company changed its policy, the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Oregon, one of Amazon's early law enforcement customers, decided to stop the program. The office said that although the program was an innovation in law enforcement technology and was worth exploring, the program will be suspended until stronger regulations to govern the ethical use of it are in place. Amazon and Microsoft declined to provide any comment about how the suspension will be applied widely to law enforcement agencies. An update is currently in the works to review Microsoft's customers looking to deploy the technology broadly. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari and Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12 2020 From the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia and South Korea have worked closely in their responses. South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia Kim Chang-beom discussed the relations between the two countries with Dian Septiari and Tama Salim of The Jakarta Post. The following are excerpts from the interview. What are the key drivers of Indonesia and South Koreas cooperation, and has the crisis brought the two countries closer? Indonesia was chosen by Korea from the outset to be a priority partner in extending our early emergency humanitarian assistance. The reason is quite simple and clear, Indonesia and Korea are teman sejati dan sehati [inseparable friends]. That is the basic foundation. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login The COVID-19 Private Sector Fund and partners have joined forces to launch an awareness campaign titled Let Love Lead. End The Stigma to fight the stigma and discrimination against COVID-19 recovered persons, frontline workers and their families. The partners are the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Ghana Psychological Association, Ghana Medical Association and Global Media Alliance. A statement from the Private Sector Fund, copied to the Ghana News Agency explained that the campaign seeks to change peoples mindsets about COVID-19 and debunk myths and misconceptions about recovered persons and their family members. It is further aimed at reducing fear and call on all to support frontline workers to play a crucial role in the fight against stigmatization. The statement said: We are very happy about the high number of recoveries Ghana has recorded but unfortunately, some recovered persons are being stigmatized because of the misconceptions going around about COVID-19 recoveries. This campaign has become necessary to encourage behavioural change and educate the public on how to support their successful reintegration into society. We want to encourage everyone, from journalists to politicians, health workers, teachers, religious heads and traditional rulers to support this anti-stigma and discrimination campaign by preaching love for recovered patients. Dr K.K Sarpong, the Chief Executive Officer of the GNPC, explaining the rationale behind the companys sponsorship of the campaign said: As an organisation, we have observed some of the ill-fated ways in which some recovered persons have been treated and we believe that our collaboration with the COVID-19 private sector fund will enable us to promote a peaceful co-existence through education and various interactions in this period of uncertainty. Ms Josephine Nkrumah, Chairperson of the NCCE, a major partner of the anti-stigma campaign, said: This campaign is very necessary to intensify education around COVID-19 issues and the need to accept recovered patients. We want to emphasize the importance of building trust with recovered persons while combatting stigma and discrimination among the wider population. Dr Wiafe-Akenten, Head, Social Psychology Division of the Ghana Psychological Association, according to the statement said: Some Ghanaians have responded to recovered COVID-19 persons and their family members in extreme ways. We want to let people know that stigma and discrimination are barriers to an effective response. We must treat each other in a way which almost assumes that tomorrow we are going to need the support from those who have recovered. We must cut the hate and work together as a country to overcome this virus, he advised. The statement explained that the campaign would take place in the form of radio education, sensitization posts on social media, virtual training programmes, community outreach, and testimonials from recovered persons. As part of its support to the government in the fight against the spread of the virus, the COVID-19 Private Sector Fund served 144,000 meals to head porters (kayayei) and underprivileged persons during the lockdown and provided high-end tertiary care Personal Protective Equipment to the National COVID-19 Treatment Centre. The fund, according to the statement, is currently constructing an Infectious Disease and Isolation Centre which is equipped with a 21-bed intensive care unit and a level 2.5 scalable to a level 3 biomedical laboratory in consultation with officials from the Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video LONDON - Authorities in London boarded up monuments including a war memorial and a statue of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill in anticipation of rival demonstrations by anti-racism and far-right protesters, as the citys mayor urged protesters Friday to stay home because of the coronavirus pandemic. Monuments have become major focuses of contention in demonstrations against racism and police violence after the May 25 death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee to his neck. A statue of slave trader Edward Colston was hauled from its plinth by protesters in the English port city of Bristol on Sunday and dumped in the harbour. Several other statues have been defaced during mass protests around the country, including Churchills, which was daubed with the words was a racist. Police now fear far-right groups plan to seek confrontation with anti-racism protesters under the guise of protecting statues. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who cites Churchill as a personal hero, said it was absurd and shameful that his statue was at risk of attack by violent protesters. Churchill, who was Britains prime minister during World War II and again during 1951-55, is revered by many in the U.K. as the man who led the country to victory against Nazi Germany. But he was also a staunch defender of the British Empire and expressed racist views. In a series of tweets, Johnson said that Churchill sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial. He said tearing down statues would be to censor our past and lie about our history. Johnson also claimed that anti-racism demonstrations had been hijacked by a growing minority of extremists who wanted to cause violence. Johnson has repeatedly declined to apologize for his own past offensive hiatements. He has called Papua New Guineans cannibals, used the derogatory term piccaninnies to refer to members of the Commonwealth and compared Muslim women who wear face-covering veils to letter boxes. Anti-racism protests in Britain have been predominantly peaceful, though small groups have scuffled with the police and thrown projectiles near Parliament and the prime ministers residence in London. Hundreds of anti-racism activists gathered Friday in Londons Hyde Park, but the demonstration was much smaller than gatherings the previous week. The toppling of Colstons statue in Bristol has reinvigorated calls for the removal of other monuments to figures associated with imperialism and racism. Authorities this week removed a statue of slave owner Robert Milligan from its perch in Londons docklands, and campaigners in Oxford are pressing for a likeness of Victorian imperialist Cecil Rhodes to be withdrawn from view at Oxford University. At Cambridge University, environmental protesters from Extinction Rebellion defaced a memorial window honouring geneticist and statistician Ronald Fisher, a proponent of eugenics, with the words Eugenics is genocide. Fisher must fall. In Poole, southern England, authorities revised plans to remove a statue of Robert Baden-Powell to protect it from attack after supporters of the Scouts founder objected. It was boarded up instead. Baden-Powell has been accused of racism and Nazi sympathies. The New Zealand city of Hamilton on Friday removed a bronze statue of the municipalitys namesake, John Hamilton, a British naval officer accused of killing indigenous Maori people in the 1860s. The city of Camden, New Jersey, took down a statue of Christopher Columbus on Thursday, joining others of the 15th-century explorer that have been removed across the U.S. With more demonstrations expected in London over the weekend, a protective plywood screen was erected around Churchills statue outside Parliament. Authorities also fenced off other statues in Parliament Square, including memorials to Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln, as well as the nearby Cenotaph, a memorial to Britains war dead. A Black Lives Matter group in London said it was calling off a planned protest on Saturday because the presence of far-right activists would make it unsafe, though some anti-racism demonstrators are still likely to gather. Authorities have urged protesters not to gather because of the continued risk of spreading the coronavirus. Gatherings of more than six people are currently barred in England, though police have allowed previous demonstrations to take place. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was extremely concerned that further protests in central London not only risk spreading COVID-19, but could lead to disorder, vandalism and violence. He said far-right groups planned to provoke violence, and their only goal is to distract and hijack this important issue. Staying home and ignoring them is the best response this weekend. Maud Lyon, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, is retiring. Lyon, head of the group since 2015, noted that she is 65 and said, This is a good time to step off the stage. Lyon said she will return to the Detroit area. She came to GPCA from Michigan, where she had been head of the arts and culture association CultureSource. She said Friday that among notable accomplishments during her tenure, I think the biggest is really the focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, which is something weve been working on pretty much since I got here and is all the more important now. Two funders, the Samuel S. Fels Fund and PNC Banks Arts Alive program, have credited the alliance for influencing their thinking," helping them to create "more equitable funding practices, she said. Most recently, GPCA, which represents the interests of about 400 Philadelphia-area arts and culture member organizations, has been a partner in the effort to raise money for arts groups whose operations have been shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Already, $4.4 million has been raised and 1,054 grants issued through the COVID-19 Arts Aid PHL Fund, she said. READ MORE: New fund sparked by William Penn Foundation will dole out millions to arts groups and artists in severe financial straits Lyon also points to work the cultural alliance has done involving social impact of the arts. GPCAs Social Impact Census turned up more than a thousand programs a year that its member groups are running covering issues like racial justice, violence prevention, neighborhood development, and helping people with autism and Alzheimers. "The arts have a major role to play to changing peoples hearts and minds around helping vulnerable populations, she said. Lyon will end her tenure July 10, at which time the job will be assumed on an interim basis by Priscilla M. Luce, a GPCA board member and president of the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation. A national search for a permanent replacement is underway, said board chair Catherine M. Cahill, president and CEO of the Mann Center. Zoom has admitted that it interrupted three Tiananmen Square anniversary meetings and suspended their hosts accounts upon Chinas request. The video conferencing service has posted a response regarding the actions it took against Lee Cheuk-yan, Wang Dan and Zhou Fengsuo who are based in the US and Hong Kong. Zoom says it received notices from China in May and early June about four large Tiananmen Square commemoration meetings, which the Chinese government considers as illegal activities. It explained that a US-based team reviewed the participants in those meetings and found that two of them had a significant number of participants in mainland China. The other two didnt have participants from the mainland, but China apparently insisted that one of the hosts previously held a video meeting it considers illegal that was attended by mainland participants. As a result, three hosts were suspended, though their accounts have since been reinstated. Wang Dan and Zhou Fengsuo, two of those hosts, were student leaders during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and are now based in the US. Wang told Reuters: Zoom compiled with Chinas request... It cannot get away with just a statement. We shall continue to use legal means and public opinion to ask Zoom to take responsibility for its mistake. While it admitted to complying with Chinas demands, Zoom said it didnt provide its government with any user information or meeting content. It also denied that it has a backdoor someone (i.e. authorities) can use to enter meetings without being visible. The company defended its decision to interrupt the meetings and suspend the hosts, as well, explaining that it doesnt have the ability to remove specific participants from a meeting or block participants from a certain country from joining a meeting. As a response to Zooms admission, some US lawmakers are now asking the company to clarify its ties with the Chinese government. Zoom has yet to respond, but in its post, it vowed not to let requests from Chinese authorities affect anyone outside mainland China going forward. To make sure it can stay true to its word, its now developing technology that will enable it to block users based on their location. Its also improving its global policy and outlining it as part of its transparency report due out on June 30th. Flash Ri Son Gwon, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), criticized the U.S. policy toward Pyongyang on Friday, saying his country will build up more reliable force to cope with the long-term military threats from Washington. Ri made the remarks on the two-year anniversary of the first DPRK-U.S. summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018, during which the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump signed a joint statement. In the joint statement, Trump committed to providing security guarantees to the DPRK, while Kim reaffirmed his commitment to completing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. "What stands out is that the hope for improved DPRK-U.S. relations -- which was high in the air under the global spotlight two years ago -- has now been shifted into despair characterized by spiraling deterioration and that even a slim ray of optimism for peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula has faded away into a dark nightmare," Ri was quoted by the DPRK's state media Korean Central News Agency as saying. Barr Urges Maturity in Facing Nations Issues Amid Calls for Change in Policing Attorney General William Barr said America needs to be mature in its approach on how to achieve reforms to address the nations issues, following calls for change after George Floyds death. Barr made the comments on Thursday during a roundtable meeting with President Donald Trump, senior Trump administration officials, law enforcement, faith leaders, and small business owners where he reiterated the Justice Departments commitment to supporting the presidents reform efforts. The attorney general said that he did not think it is the time to be tearing down our institutions in order to enact change, saying that America has been on a march in the last 50 years to reform its institutions, which he acknowledged had been explicitly discriminatory up until the last 60 years. We have to be mature about this, and when we see problems, we have to redouble our efforts to reform our institutions and make sure theyre in sync with our values, Barr said. He expressed approval for the presidents plan for reform to provide and ensure opportunities to allow people to achieve the full American Dream. He said the presidents efforts stimulate economic growth, support education, nurture moral discipline, and ensure safety in the community. The president announced a four-point plan to address police brutality and racial inequity in the United States during the meeting. His plan includes pursuing economic development in minority communities, addressing healthcare disparities, issuing an executive order to encourage police departments nationwide to meet the most current professional standards, and expanding access to education by urging Congress to enact school choice nationwide. This comes after tens of thousands of people flooded streets across the nation over the past week to call for change after the death of Floyd, a black man who died while in the custody of Minneapolis police. While many protests were peaceful, cities saw incidents of looting, violent rioting, and arson, leading to significant property damage and more than a dozen deaths. Amid the protests, some city officials have said they would defund or even dismantle the police, including New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio. The Minneapolis City Council on Friday unanimously passed a resolution that would eventually replace the citys police department with a community-led public safety system. The Defund the Police movement, which has been seen during protests and on social media in recent days, calls for reallocating funding destined for police departments to social programs, particularly to assist the African American community. Meanwhile, in Seattle, dozens of activists and others commandeered part of the city following the police abandonment of a precinct building, which was the site of violent clashes with protesters. The situation in the city has prompted Trump to call on Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee to take back the city. Take back your city NOW. If you dont do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped [sic] IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST! he said in a statement on social media. Trump said his administration has been working on many different elements to promote law, order, safety, comfort, and control. What happened two weeks ago was a disgrace when you see that. What happened on numerous occasions over the last two weekspeople were killed. A number of people were killed and it was very, very terrible and very, very unfair. A number of them were police officers. And it was a very unfair situation. We dont want to see that, he said. He added that his executive order would encourage police departments to meet the most current professional standards of force. That means force, but force with compassion, he said. But if youre going to have to really do a job, if somebodys really bad, youre going to have to do it with real strength, real power. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. United Nations: The COVID-19 crisis may push millions more children into child labour, including in countries like India, Brazil and Mexico, reversing progress made over the last 20 years during when it was brought down by 94 million, according to a new report. According to the new brief from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNICEF titled COVID-19 and child labour: A time of crisis, a time to act' released on Friday, child labour decreased by 94 million since 2000, but that gain is now at risk. ''Millions more children risk being pushed into child labour as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, which could lead to the first rise in child labour after 20 years of progress," the agencies said. The report, released on the occasion on World Day Against Child Labour marked on June 12, said that children already in child labour may be working longer hours or under worsening conditions and more of them may be forced into the worst forms of labour, which causes significant harm to their health and safety. The report noted that children are often the most available labour in households and when families need more financial support, they turn to children. ''Parental unemployment due to economic shocks in Brazil has led children to step in to provide temporary support, for example. Similar effects have been documented in Guatemala, India, Mexico and the United Republic of Tanzania,'' the report said. Evidence is also gradually mounting that child labour is rising as schools close during the pandemic, the agencies said adding that temporary school closures are currently affecting more than one billion learners in over 130 countries. Even when classes restart, some parents may no longer be able to afford to send their children to school,? they said. As a result, more children could be forced into exploitative and hazardous jobs. Gender inequalities may grow more acute, with girls particularly vulnerable to exploitation in agriculture and domestic work, the brief says. ''As the pandemic wreaks havoc on family incomes, without support, many could resort to child labour,'' ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said. Social protection is vital in times of crisis, as it provides assistance to those who are most vulnerable. Integrating child labour concerns across broader policies for education, social protection, justice, labour markets, and international human and labour rights makes a critical difference. According to the report, COVID-19 could result in a rise in poverty and therefore to an increase in child labour as households use every available means to survive. Some studies show that a one percentage point rise in poverty leads to at least a 0.7 per cent increase in child labour in certain countries. ''In times of crisis, child labour becomes a coping mechanism for many families,'' UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said. "As poverty rises, schools close and the availability of social services decreases, more children are pushed into the workforce. As we re-imagine the world post-COVID, we need to make sure that children and their families have the tools they need to weather similar storms in the future. Quality education, social protection services and better economic opportunities can be game-changers.'' ''The agencies noted that vulnerable population groups such as those working in the informal economy and migrant workers'' will suffer most from the economic downturn, increased informality and unemployment, the general fall in living standards, health shocks and insufficient social protection systems, among other pressures. The brief proposes a number of measures to counter the threat of increased child labour, including more comprehensive social protection, easier access to credit for poor households, the promotion of decent work for adults, measures to get children back into school, including the elimination of school fees, and more resources for labour inspections and law enforcement. The ILO and UNICEF also said they are developing a simulation model to look at the impact of COVID-19 on child labour globally. Several hundred people flocked to the New Milford Village Green Sunday for a Black Lives Matter protest, Let Us Breathe. The event was organized by a group of residents from New Milford and surrounding towns who met on social media and, in just over 72 hours, coordinated the protest after they said they felt called to come together to call for justice. The protest was organized following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died on Memorial Day after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee onto Floyds neck for more than eight minutes. One of the organizers, Jennifer Ramey, said she and others felt they had to do something. If strangers can do this in 72 hours, imagine what we can do in the future for justice, Ramey related. Josie Pereira, Heather Fabrega, Pamela Ortega, Chantel Pereira, Jennifer Ray, Christine Mitch and Savannah Hastey joined Ramey in pulling the protest together. Several speakers, including the organizers, as well as Mayor Pete Bass, Police Chief Spencer Cerruto, made comments and Pastor Frank Santora and Pastor Brandon Dumas of Faith Church in town offered a prayer. Those in attendance then walked five laps in downtown New Milford, going from Main Street onto Bridge, Railroad and Bennitt streets before heading back down Main Street. Ramey said they chose the number five because Floyd said he cant breathe 16 times in five minutes and because the word unity has five letters. The event concluded with guest speaker Wayne Reid, whose older brother Franklyn Reid was shot and killed in 1998 by then-Police Officer Scott Smith, one of several police officers trying to take Reid into custody. Smith became the first policeman in Connecticut to be tried for murder in connection with actions taken in 1998 while on duty. In 2013, the state medical examiner's office ruled the death of Scott Smith as a suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. DANBURY - Tommy Cherisme wants the change to start at Western Connecticut State University. The 21-year-old Danbury resident, who will be a senior next academic year, was among about 100 students and others who marched on Friday to demand action to address systemic racism at the university and in the country. "I'm starting here in my community," said Cherisme, who organized the march. "I'm hoping others see this and feel they have the power to do something in their community and their world." The students, professors and other community members marched through the campus and down a section of White Street in the third protest held in the city since the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a white Minneapolis officer. Irish travel agents have urged the Government to move forward on lifting restrictions on visiting other EU countries (Brian Lawless/PA). Irish travel agents have urged the Government to move forward on lifting restrictions on visiting other EU countries. Their industry body expressed disappointment that there were no indications of change before June 29, despite positive data on suppressing spread of coronavirus. Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) chief executive officer Pat Dawson said there was no basis for maintaining the advice when every other industry was opening up. He said: The travel sector has been hit the hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic, and we are concerned that we will be the last industry to get a restart date. This delay easing travel restrictions will further hurt our industry, as Irish customers will be forced to wait to book their holidays. This will drastically slow the recovery of the Irish travel sector. He said the rest of the EU was looking at opening up its borders for international travel, but the Irish Government appeared to be hesitating and causing a delay in returning to normal economic activity. Inbound and outbound travel goes hand in hand, and by easing travel restrictions within the EU this we could work to repair some of the damage done by Covid-19 to the Irish travel sector, he said. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has previously discussed the possibility of air travel resuming this summer, initially through the use of air bridges with countries that are deemed to have the pandemic under control. Mr Dawson added: We welcome the idea of these air bridges, and have been discussing this as an option with a number of tourist boards from other countries. Naturally, the safety and well-being of our customers our top priority, however the introduction of air bridges would allow for safe, controlled travel both in and out of Ireland and would help to revive the Irish travel sector. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment G-d, the Deity, has just made it easier to explain the case against GOD, the cable television company that has come under fire in Israel. While people have not been able to reach agreement on who speaks for the former, there is no question that it is Ward Simpson, its CEO, who speaks for the latter. Divine Providence has arranged that Mr. Simpson, in trying to take his case to Christian Post readers, spoke the words that precisely show that the Israeli law that prohibits proselytizing to minors should apply to GOD TVs programming: The goal is not converting Jews to Christianity. It is helping them recognize Jesus as their Messiah without renouncing their Jewish identity or calling. If Mr. Simpson truly believes that, then he knows nothing about Jews and Judaism. What for Mr. Simpson is an attractive synthesis is, for Jews, a contradiction in terms. Anyone in Israel who did not think that he was proselytizing for another faith now knows better. To understand what is wrong with Mr. Simpsons argument, lets reverse our roles. I drive up to his church, and set up shop near his front door with a few of my friends. As churchgoers pass us walking into the building, we try to engage them in conversation. Lets all worship G-d together, the right way! A few people courteously ask us to leave, finding it offensive that we are preaching against Christianity so close to a Christian house of worship. In wide-eyed disbelief, we respond, Against Christianity? Furthest thing from our minds! We just want you to drop your belief in the Trinity! We want all our friends to remain good, church-going Christians. If that sounds like a contradiction in terms, then understand that so does messianic Judaism to us. And that means that Simpsons Hebrew-language Shelanu station is proselytizing if not for Christianity, then definitely against Judaism. We hear grumbling, though, in the background. Isnt GOD TVs Israel regional director correct that It will be a sad day if the only democracy in the Middle East prevents the freedom of speech of Messianic Jews in Israel? Shouldnt they be free to proselytize if they want? Well, maybe not so much. Simpson himself shows why this is not so inappropriate. To exercise the right of free speech here without any regard for that history or the Jewish sensitivities against missionizing would be a callous misuse of that right. Lets look, then, at some of that history. The simple fact is that eight hundred years of getting preached to left Jews with a certain distaste for the process. Beginning in the 13th century, Jews were forced by the Church to listen to conversionary sermons. Since the Church officially rejected forced conversions, it needed another way to coerce Jews to convert in large numbers other than burning them at the stake. The workaround was to stop short of forcing Jews on pain of death to accept baptism although plenty of that took place nonetheless and instead merely forced Jews to listen to long harangues that demonstrated the falsity of Judaism and the truth of Christianity. Instead of decreasing with the Enlightenment (like so many other medieval church features), forced attendance of conversionary sermons picked up steam in Rome in the modern period, and only came to an end in 1847. Here is a description of what Jews were subjected to each week: Romes Jews were compelled to proceed in a public procession from the ghetto to the sermons locationAdriano Prosperi describes the excursion of hundreds of Jews from the ghetto to the church of the sermon, between throngs of curious people who commented, laughed, insulted, and sometimes passed from speech to action. This ritual procession, and the public conversionary sermons that followed, recalled many other moments when Jews acted in Roman public spectacles. As in many Italian cities, Carnival festivities included special races for animals and notably for Jews, who had to run nude or semi-nude, ridiculed and egged on by the crowds. Uniquely to Rome, when a new Pope was elected, his possesso ceremony contained a staged encounterAt this encounter the Jews presented the Pope with a Sefer Torah, the sacred scroll adorned with rich decoration, as an act of homage. The Pope, in turn, cast it to the ground to represent the supersession of the Old Testament by the New. Each party spoke formulaic phrases: Jews attested to the honor of the gift, and Popes responded that although the Law of Moses was holy and venerable, its Jewish interpretation was vain and condemnable. Do Jews still have a bitter taste in their mouths from centuries of Christians proselytizing them? Yes. Is this understandable? Yes. Have they banned their former persecutors from their new State? No. Is there any country in the Middle East where churches are being built, and that is more friendly to Christians than Israel? No. Has Israel banned preaching the Gospels publicly? No. What it has done is come up with a modus vivendi, a balance between the requirements of Jewish pride and memory, and a commitment to function as a democracy. It is a compromise. Like any compromise, no party gets everything they would want. Many Jews would prefer to see missionaries banned altogether; Christians would like to see untrammeled opportunity to preach to whomever, and whenever, they like. Instead, Israel came up with something in between, banning proselytizing to minors, or using unethical inducements like money. True Christian friends of Israel should accept the compromise. We do agree with Mr. Simpson in one regard. Regardless of the backlash it is facing in the Israeli media and the Jewish press, GOD TV will continue to oppose BDS and GOD TV will continue to stand against the unfair treatment of Israel in the UN and other international bodies. For our part, regardless of the outcome of the matter, now in the hands of Israeli government officials, we will continue to educate Jews about the millions of Christians who dont hate us and are Israels most dependable allies. We will have to try a bit harder to convince them that while sharing their faith with others is an essential of Christianity, not a negotiable add-on, not all Christians share Mr. Simpsons strategic plan of how to do it. Many see their obligation fulfilled generally by living lives that clearly reflect their values, and specifically are mindful of Jewish sensitivities to proselytizing that grow out of our experience with many centuries of humiliation, and coercive and devious tactics. We all deserve better than to allow this issue to drive a wedge between evangelicals and Jews. Both have worked hard to bring us together, and both have already reaped great rewards from the process. With G-ds help (the Deity, not the TV station), we will go forward together. KABUL - A bomb exploded Friday inside a mosque in western Kabul, killing at least four people, including the prayer leader, and wounding eight, an Afghan government official said. Interior Ministry spokesperson Tariq Arian said the bomb had been placed inside the mosque but had no additional details. Police cordoned off the area and helped move the wounded to ambulances and nearby hospitals. No one took immediate responsibility but a mosque attack earlier this month was claimed by the Islamic State groups affiliate. The Taliban issued a statement condemning the attack and calling the death of the prayer leader a great crime. Azizullah Mofleh Frotan was among the citys more prominent prayer leaders. Violence has spiked in recent weeks in Afghanistan, with most of the attacks claimed by the IS affiliate, headquartered in the eastern Nangarhar province. Earlier this month, IS planted explosives at a mosque in Kabuls posh Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood, killing the prayer leader there and wounding eight others. The United States blamed the IS affiliate for a horrific attack last month on a maternity hospital in Kabul that killed 24 people, including two infants and several new mothers. The hospital was located in the citys Shiite-dominated area of Dasht-e-Barchi. The IS group, which reviles Shiites as heretics, has declared war on the countrys minority Shiite Muslims, but has also attacked Sunni mosques. The mosque targeted on Friday is Sunni. The IS affiliate also took responsibility for an attack on a bus carrying journalists in Kabul on May 30, killing two. It also claimed credit for an attack on the funeral of a warlord loyal to the government last month that killed 35 people. Washingtons peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was in the region earlier this week, trying to resuscitate a U.S. peace deal with the Taliban, who are expected to eventually be enlisted in the fight against the IS affiliate. The peace deal signed in February to allow U.S. and NATO troops to leave Afghanistan includes a commitment by the Taliban to fight other militant groups and a vow that Afghanistans territory would not be used to attack the United States or its allies. Washington has previously said that the Taliban have been instrumental along with Afghanistans National Security and Defence Forces and U.S. air strikes in reducing the ISs strength in eastern Afghanistan. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) The use of technology significantly helped China improve its condition in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago "Chito" Sta. Romana said on Friday. The contagion initially broke out in Wuhan, the sprawling capital of Central China's Hubei province, in December. The city, which was the pandemic's original epicenter, was placed on lockdown for 76 days which ended on April 8. "They employed a lot of technology to be able to control the epidemic," Sta. Romana told a Laging Handa virtual briefing. "Ngayon, mahusay na ang kondisyon dito." [Translation: Now, the condition here is well.] Among the ways the Chinese used technology include monitoring the movements of residents and determining whether they are safe to travel, the Philippine envoy added. "Kapag pupunta ka sa isang restaurant or lilipad ka sa eroplano or sasakay ka sa tren, chine-check nila iyong app sa phone kung saan ka nanggaling noong past two weeks, or mayroon silang color coding kung clear ka for travel or kung dapat bantayan or hindi ka puwede," Sta. Romana explained, adding that the country had even utilized drone technology. [Translation: If you're heading to a restaurant, flying by plane, or boarding a train, they check through a smartphone application where you came from the past two weeks, or they have a color coding indicating whether you are clear to travel, need to be observed, or not allowed at all.] The Philippines can learn a lesson or two from China on its use of technology to combat the virus, Sta. Romana noted. "It's very important, particularly for contact tracing as well as for tabulating data to be able to tabulate the cases," he said. The Philippines launched its official contact tracing application called StaySafe in April, which serves as the "official social-distancing, health-condition-reporting, and contact-tracing system that assists in the governments response to COVID-19. RELATED: Gov't-backed contact tracing app told to turnover all data to DOH Earlier this month, the Department of Tourism also launched SafePass, an application that "provides digital solutions" also on contact tracing along with space capacity planning and enforcement of health and safety protocols. Aside from fighting the deadly virus, Sta. Romana said China has "certain best practices" the Philippines can pick up in addressing major problems, citing the former's history. "The lesson really here is how a country can pull itself up, can particularly develop and be able to solve the issue of absolute poverty, almost 800,000,000 even according to the estimate of the World Bank, they have helped to be able to get out from poverty," he said. "And this year, they are trying to eliminate absolute poverty completely. Their poverty rate now is only less than one percent, and they are trying to reduce it to zero." "Its quite a case study in development," he added. "And its actually a big case study for third world countries like the Philippines because we still have a major problem in terms of poverty alleviation, economic development." While China has its fair share of positive and negative examples, Sta. Romana said the country still has a lot of practices "worthy of emulation." "The key is how to apply it to the Philippine conditions," he said. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learns about efforts to advance poverty alleviation in Hongde Village of Wuzhong City, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 8, 2020. Xi inspected Ningxia on Monday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- During his inspection trip in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region this week, President Xi Jinping said no single ethnic minority group should be left behind in the country's building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The promise means a great deal for China, a country with 56 ethnic groups. Over the years, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has paid close attention to the cause and made several visits to ethnic minority areas. The following are the highlights of several such visits made by Xi over the past three years. NINGXIA, June 2020 During the inspection in Ningxia, Xi visited a relocated village and a residential community in the city of Wuzhong to learn about efforts to advance poverty alleviation and promote ethnic unity. At the house of Liu Kerui, a villager of the Hui ethnic group, Xi took a good look at the courtyard, living room, bedrooms, kitchen and cowshed, asking Liu and his wife if they had any difficulties and what they planned for the future. Visiting the Jinhuayuan residential community, where people from several ethnic groups live together, Xi said no single ethnic minority group should be left behind in the country's building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. It represents the fine tradition of the Chinese nation and the great strength of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics to enable people of all ethnic groups to walk hand in hand into a moderately prosperous society in all respects, Xi added. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, beats a wooden drum of the Wa ethnic group three times to bless the coming year in Sanjia Village in the city of Tengchong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) YUNNAN, January 2020 During a visit to Sanjia Village in the city of Tengchong, shortly before the Lunar New Year, Xi learned about poverty alleviation and called for efforts to speed up the development of ethnic minorities and those areas with large ethnic-minority populations. Xi then walked into pig farmer Li Fashun's house in Simola Wa Village, asked about the price of pigs and the family's income, checked their kitchen, and then joined the family in making rice cakes, a traditional Wa way of ringing in the new year. Talking to Li's fellow villagers, Xi said that, after China achieves building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, it must make all-out efforts to advance rural vitalization to further address issues such as the urban-rural imbalance. He said rural industries will be boosted, as well as the rural economy, to allow more and more villagers to work near home, increase their incomes and lead a better life. Xi Jinping visits Ma'anshan Village in Harqin Qi of Chifeng City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, July 15, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) INNER MONGOLIA, July 2019 During an inspection tour to north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xi visited the village of Ma'anshan, where people of several ethnic groups live together. Xi said that the development of rural industries should focus on increasing the income of villagers and asked primary-level Party organizations in rural areas to be strengthened to better serve the rural people and agriculture. At villager Zhang Guoli's home, Xi checked the courtyard, kitchen and toilet, and pledged to further improve the basic rural infrastructure and living environments. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with students at a primary school in Zhongyi Township of Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County, southwest China's Chongqing, April 15, 2019. From April 15 to 17, Xi made an inspection tour to Chongqing. He also presided over and delivered a speech at a symposium to address the problems concerning the basic living needs of rural poor populations and their access to compulsory education, basic medical services, and safe housing. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) CHONGQING, April 2019 During an inspection trip to southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Xi visited a mountainous village in Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County. While visiting a primary school there, Xi promised to ensure children in poor mountainous regions go to school and have a happy childhood. Stopping by the house of Tan Dengzhou, an impoverished villager, Xi learned that Tan and his wife were unable to work due to illness and thus faced financial difficulties. People who still live below the poverty line or slip back into poverty due to illness should be the priority of poverty-alleviation projects, Xi said, adding that they should receive support, such as minimum-living allowances, medical insurance and medical aid. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, listens to the poverty-alleviation work about relocation of residents from poor areas as he visits Huopu Village of Jiefang Township in Zhaojue County of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 11, 2018. Xi made an inspection tour in Sichuan Province on Feb. 11. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) SICHUAN, February 2018 Ahead of the Lunar New Year in 2018, Xi went to impoverished Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Sichuan Province. Xi went to two ethnic Yi villages to visit poor families and was happy to learn that villagers have increased their incomes through raising cattle and growing potatoes, peppers and walnuts. "Not a single ethnic group, family or person should be left behind," Xi said, adding that to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the most difficult task lies in regions with extreme poverty. "But we will fight and must win this war," he added. In Manitoba, the coronavirus curve has been effectively flattened. There are now eight active COVID-19 cases in Manitoba, and the province has been testing extensively. Experts warn of a dreaded second wave that might coincide with flu season in the fall, but each passing week brings us closer to effective drugs and even a vaccine, and therefore, hopefully, the end of the pandemic. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/6/2020 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion In Manitoba, the coronavirus curve has been effectively flattened. There are now eight active COVID-19 cases in Manitoba, and the province has been testing extensively. Experts warn of a dreaded second wave that might coincide with flu season in the fall, but each passing week brings us closer to effective drugs and even a vaccine, and therefore, hopefully, the end of the pandemic. This raises the question of whether politics in the post-pandemic world will look different than politics prior to the coronavirus arriving on our shores. I think politics will be different, and would like to hazard a few guesses as to how. One change may be in how we view the state, and collective effort in general. The exhortations of public-health officials to flatten the curve by adopting physical-distancing practices were remarkably successful: analysis drawing on Googles geolocation data showed Canadians mobility declined steeply during the pandemic. Sure, this was aided by government shutdowns of businesses and schools, as well as threats of fines for breaking the rules. But Canadians embraced physical distancing. This is certainly the first time in my life that government has so effectively mobilized the population toward achieving such a significant goal. The same will be true for many readers. The appropriate comparison made at the outset of the pandemic was to the world wars, when countries mobilized both society and the economy toward victory. One possibility is that Canadians in a post-pandemic world will feel less atomized, and more as members of a nation that can achieve broad societal goals through collective action. On the other hand: plenty has gone wrong in governments response to the pandemic, and that may lead Canadians to doubt whether government can be marshalled to achieve collective goals. The federal governments baffling refusal to screen travellers when most other countries were selectively closing their borders, the sometimes-inconsistent advice from public-health officials on such matters as the effectiveness of masks, and inconsistent messages regarding public gatherings may all leave people with pessimism, not optimism, about governments and their ability to bring about positive change. Here in Manitoba, Premier Brian Pallisters decision to send a personal message along with a $200 cheque to every senior in the province likely did not instil faith in government. The premiers action was widely seen as vote-buying, the sort of behaviour from elected officials that turns people off politics. If Canadians views of government and collective action shift after the pandemic, so, too, might their appreciation of Canadas various levels of government. The federal governments role despite seemingly neverending news conferences from the prime minister and Dr. Theresa Tam, Canadas chief public health officer was, in reality, quite limited once the coronavirus had well and truly taken hold in Canada. The federal government introduced income supports, particularly the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), to assist Canadians who were out of work as a result of the pandemic. But the burden of containing the coronavirus and treating the ill fell almost completely to the provinces, which are responsible for health care in Canada. Provincial governments acted proactively and, as a result, hospitals were never overwhelmed as they were in, for example, Italy. When polled about the importance of the federal and provincial governments, Canadians tend to rate the federal government as more important to their lives. But the pandemic has demonstrated the opposite, and Canadians views of their governments may change as a result. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Finally, the pandemic has provided a harsh test of Canadian politicians leadership qualities. For better or worse, the prime minister and premiers have been the public faces of their governments responses. Both the prime minister and premiers have wisely taken the advice of public-health officials, but what has separated the successes from the others is a willingness to be pragmatic and explore solutions that chafe against their own ideologies. British Columbia premier John Horgan and Ontario premier Doug Ford ideological opposites succeeded because of their willingness to look beyond their own horizons for solutions to the pandemic. Unlike Ford, Pallister never made it past his own ideological horizons. He declined to provide direct support in the early days of the pandemic and dismissed the CERB as a social program that paid people to not work. Budget cuts and layoffs resulted as Pallister pursued a policy of austerity in the midst of a pandemic. The result has been that while other premiers are enjoying a boost in popular support in response to their handling of the pandemic, Pallisters approval rating has remained flat. In the near future, politics in Canada may see some politicians ride their performance during the pandemic into lengthy careers in public office. Royce Koop is head of the political studies department at the University of Manitoba. In the winter of 1968, a Boeing 707, heavy with American troops and body bags, took rounds of antiaircraft fire immediately upon takeoff from Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon. At once, a right engine burst into flames. It was the middle of the Tet Offensive, when coordinated Viet Cong raids pounded American installations in South Vietnam. A GI sitting by the wing spotted the engine fire outside his window and caught the attention of one of the stewardesses, Gayle Larson, then 25 years old, who sped to the front to alert the cockpit crew of three. The flight engineer raced into the cabin to inspect. As Larson remembers, the planeload of GIs was unimpressed, "paying no attention to the disaster outside the cabin windows." The flight was redirected from its original destination - some holiday spot in the Pacific: maybe Hong Kong, Bangkok or Tokyo, no one remembers now - and instead flew to Clark Air Base in the Philippines. The 707 was a first-generation long-distance jet with four engines, but it could fly on just three. In an all-economy configuration, it could carry 180 GIs. Larson and her roommate, Susan Harris, who was also on the flight, secured the cabin for safety and fed the troops. "We were just trying to make sure everything was OK," Harris says. Now in their 70s, Larson, of Portland, Ore., and Harris, of Kingston, Wash., both remember that surviving a sniper attack and an engine failure was a moment of comic juxtapositions: The wing was on fire, but inside the smell of freshly baked Nestle Toll House cookies wafted through the cabin. During their years of service, it was a ritual for the roommates to mix up and freeze rolls of cookie dough at their home in Sausalito, Calif., for the trips to Vietnam. "The guys ate a lot of cookies" that day, Larson says. "They had probably seen far worse things on the ground fighting." A few nights later, while waiting for a new engine to arrive from Hong Kong, at a happy hour in the officers' club at Clark Air Base, Harris met a pilot for Braniff airlines who would become her husband. For a small and unrecognized group of women, now mostly in their 70s, such high-drama, meet-cute moments are the personal and pedestrian memories of a war that otherwise divided a nation. These Pan Am stewardesses (now an outdated term but common at the time) were volunteers and got no special training for flying into war, though their pilots were mostly World War II or Korean War vets. Their aircraft routinely took ground fire. The pilots, all male, received hazardous-duty pay for flights into the combat zone. The women aboard did not. For the Pan Am flight attendants, there were no parades after the war, nor much movement to celebrate their role or their place as accidental pioneers in military history. The U.S. Air Force gave the flight attendants a rank of second lieutenants; from the point of view of the Geneva Conventions, if they were captured they could claim protections of prisoners of war. But they were civilians. They wore uniforms but not jungle fatigues: wrist-length white gloves and a baby blue "overseas cap." In addition to serving as first aid and safety officers in flight, the women had to undergo girdle and weight checks. During the Vietnam War, Pan Am had an exclusive contract with the Department of Defense to run R&R (rest and recreation) flights for soldiers on leave throughout the Pacific. Rented to the nation for $1, it was effectively a military airline within the airline, starting with a fleet of six DC-6 propeller aircraft and, ultimately, 707 jets, calling daily at three air bases in the theater of combat. "We staff it with our best and most beautiful stewardesses, and the food and service are the finest," said the Pan Am vice president in 1966 to The Associated Press. Over the course of the war, some of the women would fly as many as 200 times into the combat zone. The Vietnam airlift crews got no medals or congressional citations for their work, though they were a necessary part of national security. There were no parades, nor much movement to celebrate their role or their place as accidental pioneers in military history. Where airlift crews for the 1991 Gulf War were celebrated with service medals from the Air Force, the pilots and flight attendants of the Vietnam War have not been similarly recognized. For more than 50 years, the stewardesses' war stories have mostly not been told. They are important battlefield stories, war narratives that just happen to belong to women. - - - The R&R flights were a key part of boosting troop morale for a rapidly unpopular war. The program aimed "to remove the individual from his normal duty environment in order to provide a respite from the rigors of a combat tour in Vietnam," according to a directive from the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Trips initially went to short-haul destinations in Asia such as Taipei or Bangkok. The Pan Am stewardesses served a military role during the Vietnam War some 30 years before the U.S. armed forces would revoke the combat exclusion policy for women. Of the 2.7 million American troops who saw active duty in the Vietnam War, 91% traveled to the war zone on one of 23 U.S. commercial air carriers, which hauled one-fourth of military cargo overseas. "It seems unreal," Patricia Ireland says of the notion that these flight attendants performed a key role in America's war footing. Ireland, past president of the National Organization for Women, is perhaps the best-known former Pan Am flight attendant of the '60s; seven years working for the airline helped inspire her feminist activism, which included campaigning for the Equal Rights Amendment. "That just changes the nature of their job." The R&R flights were only one part of the total Vietnam airlift. For every conflict since World War II, America has moved its troops and cargo across the seas via airplane. By policy, the U.S. military does not maintain enough aircraft to perform that job; buying and servicing a large fleet of transport planes is expensive in peacetime. Instead, American forces rely on a partnership between the Pentagon and commercial airlines so in times of national emergency there is a set organization and command structure in place. By 1967, some 800 flight attendants were working in the combat zone, transporting about 2.5 million military passengers. For many young soldiers, the female crew members would be the last American women they would ever see. "We are war buddies," Helene Harper Shapiro of Potomac, Maryland, says of the friendship bonds with former colleagues that span half a century. It was a time in their lives marked by hard work but also by adventure. They signed on for around-the-world trips and exotic layovers with the United States' first global airline; Pan Am had only international routes, no domestic flights. "We were kind of the first women who were globalized, who lived a globalized existence long before anybody else did," says Helen Davey, who now lives in Los Angeles. It was easy to make friends at work, the former flight attendants remember, because everyone was about the same age, everyone had outgoing personalities, everyone had been to college at least two years and spoke a foreign language. They were predominantly white, though the Pacific routes employed women with Asian heritage, about 11% of the total stewardess corps. The uniform was a great equalizer. "We were clones of each other," says Marjorie Perry of Tucson. Flight attendants were among the largest group of American civilians in the combat theater. A typical soldier's tour was 12 months in country; the infamous "one and done" policy hampered the United States' ability to contest the war, but it was designed to quell anti-draft sentiment. These women, therefore, had an unmatched longitudinal vision of America's years in Vietnam. Some volunteered to staff the airlift through the duration of the conflict, from the troop buildup under President Lyndon B. Johnson to the last flights out of a surrendering Saigon in April 1975. No other women - and few men - can say they saw as much of the Vietnam War for as long. - - - Former stewardesses repeat the refrain: Despite the horrors of war, flights out of Vietnam were joyous, the happiest places in the Pacific; GIs often broke into applause on takeoff. Likewise, returning flights were somber. "You could hear a pin drop, not a word, not a peep out of them," recalls Jacqui Nolte of Granite Bay, Calif., among the women who flew through the Tet Offensive. "They knew where they were going." While the women were all young, most just out of college, they remember the troops were younger. Many were teenagers who read comic books throughout the flight. Flight attendants shepherding GIs overseas were trained to be first responders and safety officers in the sky, but they offered themselves up as therapists, big sisters and pen pals, too. It was an age before in-flight movies, and the women were extroverts and aimed to have fun with the troops, bringing not just cookies aboard but also Easter eggs, party hats, wigs and costumes for in-flight dress-up contests. They acted as unofficial tour guides for the exotic destinations ahead, recommending the right places to buy pearls, silks or perfume for some girlfriend or sister back home. Because of the duration of the flights, the women had time to get to know the troops. Some say they tried to keep up the friendships afterward, occasionally to sobering effect. "I started writing to different soldiers, being a pen pal to several of them, but they all got killed, and I felt like a jinx," remembers Helen Davey, who flew with Pan Am for 20 years. Stewardesses could be as bawdy as they were compassionate: Some cabin crews taped suggestive magazine ads to the tray tables, so when the trays were brought down for meal service, soldiers were greeted with images of scantily clad models in bikinis. On one flight, the purser announced a surprise: "Dessert is going to be served topless," recalls John Marshall, a former Pan Am flight engineer, now an aviation safety inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration in St. Louis. The cabin of GIs erupted in cheers and whistles. As the dessert cart rolled down the aisle, the flight engineer - a man - walked behind it with his shirt off, delivering ice cream to the troops. The meal service for military charters was first class, though cabins were configured in all economy seats: The troops got thick steaks prepared to order, ice cream and fresh milk. There was no alcohol service, but flight attendants would sometimes reach into the cocktail kit, pour milk into a martini glass, insert a swizzle stick, and add a few drops of maraschino cherry juice and a cherry to simulate a tropical drink. "We treated them like kings," says Jacqui Nolte, who flew with Pan Am for six years. "It was really an honor to be able to do that for them." - - - Even airplane landings were intense. Instead of a low and gentle approach, as at a modern airport, the aircraft came in high to the end of the airstrip. At the last possible moment, the captain would point the plane's nose at the ground and dive "practically straight down" to avoid antiaircraft fire, says Marshall. "It took a lot of skill to flare [a DC-6] at the last minute and get the airplane in a position to land on that runway." The former stewardesses still remember the blast of heat upon opening the aircraft door in Vietnam. They would change from flat-heeled cabin shoes - so as not to puncture an inflatable slide in an emergency - to mandatory stilettos. Their baby-blue wool skirts and blazers were alleged to be all-weather material, even in the tropics, but the regulation nylon stockings were intolerably hot for a jungle. The ground operation was quick. Aircraft were allowed no more than two hours to turn around and unload a full plane of GIs, refuel and reload. After landing, engineers checked the fuselage for bullet holes. In an era of hijackings, crews would get held hostage by Vietnamese dissidents and American soldiers. For security, cabin crews were often ordered to not leave the airplane once it was on the ground. A white passenger airplane with a big blue ball on its tail was a standing target, visible above the tree line. The airfield at Danang was littered on either side with downed military aircraft and blown-up trucks. "We dropped the guys off, and there were machine guns at the end of the ramp, and they were shooting at us at the end of the runway," says Nolte. As a new flight full of GIs would race up the stairs, men sometimes handed off pieces of fresh shrapnel to the women for souvenirs. Men who had families frequently chose to take leave in Honolulu if they could, meeting up with wives and small children. Those flights and the airport reunions stand out for the stewardesses. "I remember one little boy grasping the leg of his father, saying, 'Don't go! Don't go!' That really broke my heart," says Donna Igoe of Sherman Oaks, Calif. "That's what they were facing, and they were enormously courageous." For Thieu-Tra Duong Iwafuchi, Pan Am's first Vietnamese stewardess, who lives in San Francisco, the route was painful and personal. She was born in North Vietnam and fled south after French colonists killed her father. To visit her mother and sisters, who remained in Saigon, Duong Iwafuchi would bid for flight patterns that took her home. "I'm from a big family, and I got to see my family every month at least one or two times." When the city fell in April 1975, Duong Iwafuchi evacuated Saigon on the last commercial flight out, a "mercy flight" carrying the Vietnamese families of Pan Am personnel as well as Vietnamese orphans. Her five sisters escaped on that flight by wearing surplus Pan Am uniforms. - - - As jets came to dominate the R&R service, troops could take leave as far away as Australia and Hawaii. The destination list expanded alongside American commitment in Southeast Asia, with evermore cities absorbing the tens of thousands of GIs streaming into the region. At its peak in 1969, the R&R program flew to Bangkok, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Taipei, Tokyo and Sydney. Trips got dangled as an incentive for reenlistment: Soldiers who extended their tours could be eligible for a second leave after three months. By the latter half of 1970, about 17,000 soldiers would take R&R every month. Many of the women used layovers in Asia to visit wounded soldiers at military hospitals in Vietnam, Guam, Manila and Tokyo. "The kindness between some of these men was unbelievable," Ann Moon, in Santa Fe, N.M., remembers of her hospital visits. Moon flew with Pan Am for 24 years. "I'll never forget this man with a head wound helping a man without legs, amputated at the thighbone. And the man with no legs helping the man with [the head wound], without his faculties." "One [amputee] asked me, 'Is my wife going to accept me this way?' recalls Marjorie Perry. " 'Of course she will,' I said. Now I wonder, did he even live?" Former stewardesses say AWOL attempts grew more frequent, and the number of drugs found in the aircraft cabins increased. Smoking was still allowed on airplanes then, and flights were thick with marijuana smoke. "I had 19 heroin addicts I was bringing out of Vietnam, and they were going through withdrawal on the plane, and it was terrifying to watch," says Nancy Hult Ganis, a former flight attendant of eight years who lives in San Francisco and produced the short-lived television series "Pan Am" for ABC. "I felt really angry because I thought these were young kids put in a situation where they couldn't cope, and [drug use] was their method, and we have no means to handle this. I was mad at the whole situation, at realizing the insanity of war." The souring tenor of the war was impossible to miss, even for women who say they were nonpolitical. Helen Davey was in Danang on April 1, 1968, when she heard Johnson's famous Vietnam speech over the base loudspeakers. He announced a halt to naval and air attacks in Vietnam, an olive branch to the North Vietnamese. The GIs looked up from the tarmac as the president spoke. Stewardesses stood still. "With America's sons in the fields far away, with America's future under challenge right here at home, with our hopes and the world's hopes for peace in the balance every day, I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office - the presidency of your country. Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president." Afterward, "The soldiers came on board shocked," Davey says. - - - With jobs and pay that divided sharply along gender lines, the airline industry was among the first workplaces to face scrutiny under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Within a decade, courts would undo the industry's gender, age, marriage, race and pregnancy restrictions. In 1968, a mandatory retirement age between 30 and 35 for flight attendants was struck down. In 1971 the airlines' marriage ban was ruled illegal, as was the prohibition on male flight attendants. In 1974, courts ruled that men and women doing the same work should get equal pay. Marjorie Perry, like all women who flew to Vietnam, was required to get inoculations for tropical diseases such as yellow fever and cholera, from the company doctor. In 1969, she told the physician she wasn't feeling well. He diagnosed the flu and gave her the shots. After a few days, when she hadn't recovered, Perry returned to the clinic. As she remembers, the doctor told her, "Congratulations. You're pregnant. You're fired." In 1971 Perry joined a lawsuit filed in federal court challenging workplace discrimination against pregnancy and motherhood. The U.S. courts would soon make it clear: If fathers of small children were not getting fired on the spot, there was no reason mothers should not also be allowed to keep their jobs. It was possible to argue and enforce Title VII of the Civil Rights Act in no small part because commercial carriers got so much federal money from the war. Perry won her suit, and she returned to Pan Am as a working mother in 1973. Congress passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act in 1978, an amendment to Title VII, protecting working women's rights to maternity leave and benefits. "We changed the airlines," Perry says. - - - The stewardesses played a critical national defense role in the war. And though Pan Am no longer exists - the company folded in 1991 - its female crew members were eyewitnesses to history. The women who worked for the Vietnam airlift say that, by and large, they are not troubled that they have been left out of the United States' Vietnam chapter, or that the nation has barely recognized their place in the war. "The guys recognized it," Ann Moon says. "And that means a lot." - - - Rose is the author of "D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II" and "For All the Tea in China: How England Stole the World's Favorite Drink and Changed History." Kiki Chavez has long thought of Performing Arts San Antonio as her second home, so she was delighted to get back onstage there, even if it was a one-time performance for video rather than for a live audience. Chavez, 14, was cast as the younger sister of the lead character in She Kills Monsters, a girl who starts playing Dungeons and Dragons as a way to get to know her sister, who recently died. The production was slated to open in March but had to be canceled when shut-down orders were issued to try to halt the spread of COVID-19. But it was revived for one day so the PASA crew could film it. It will be posted on Vimeo soon. It was amazing, said Chavez, who will entering Madison High School this fall. I felt a sense of family being around my castmates again. It also was a little bit bittersweet, she said, simply because there would not be additional performances: It was a little bit of a disappointment, because when you perform (a full run), you have other chances if something goes wrong. But it was kind of a thrill to be doing it and hoping it all goes all right. On ExpressNews.com: Most SA theaters are waiting to reopen She said that it did. The video was a way to give the cast and crew an opportunity to once again do what they love and also to generate a little income for the theater. It is the second filmed production that PASA husband-and-wife founders Paul Tinder and Vaughn Taylor have done during the shutdown. The first, the Star Wars parody Wicket, will be available June 18-21 on Vimeo. The theater produced the spoof in 2019 and had filmed it for their archives. The shows creators gave PASA permission to stream it online as a fundraiser. The theater also got the blessing of Music Theatre International, which has the rights to She Kills Monsters, for a filmed edition of that show. Tinder and Taylor have a background in film, and they put that to work on the streaming projects. She Kills Monsters will be available for streaming soon. PASA also plans to stream The Long Ride Home, a television Western that Tinder and Taylor worked on that first aired in 2003. PASAs education program, offering theater and film training for all ages, is continuing. Plans are being made to resume live productions this fall. Seating capacity caps and social distancing requirements make it too difficult to restart that part of its programming sooner, Tinder said. As cast and crew worked on She Kills Monsters, a number of safety measures were put in place. The actors rehearsed in masks, there was plenty of hand sanitizer available, and everyone had to rinse their shoes in a bleach solution before coming into the space to make sure they werent tracking anything in. A kiss thats part of the action was dropped, and a UV sanitizer was used in the theater, as well. The focus is on keeping everybody safe, Tinder said. On ExpressNews.com: Woodlawn Theatre launches a summer film series All of that helped the actors focus on their performances without worrying about the virus, said Pamela Sharkey, 43, who plays a guidance counselor in the show. Like Chavez, Sharkey was a little disappointed about not being able to perform for live audiences. But shes also grateful to have been able to get back onstage, even if it was just for a day. Not having the ability to perform the same show for multiple audiences, it is a little sad, but at the same time, it makes you appreciate the time when you do have a live performance, she said. And it also gives you another opportunity to experience theater in a different way, where its being filmed. Wicket will be available for streaming June 18-21. Passes can be purchased for $20 at performingartssa.org. Deborah Martin is an arts writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Deborah, become a subscriber. dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN CAMEROUN :: Two soldiers and an alleged wildlife arrested in Yaounde :: CAMEROON Two soldiers and an alleged wildlife trafficker have been arrested in Yaounde for pangolin scales trafficking. The two soldiers, a sergeant, formerly working with the Presidential Guard and a navy second class soldier were arrested by elements of the Odza Gendarmerie Brigade and the Mimboman Gendarmerie Company. They were arrested in collaboration with the Centre Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife as they attempted to sell pangolin scales. Close to 400kg of pangolin scales were recovered duringthe arrest that took place on June 7, 2020. The operation was carried out with the technical assistance of LAGA, a Non-Governmental Organisation specialized in the fight against wildlife criminality. The two soldiers were caughtat the Odza neighbourhood and taken to the Mimboman Gendarmerie Company. On arrival at the Company, the sergeantclaimed the scales were given to him to sell by onewoman.The gendarmerie elementsimmediately carried out a swift raidat her premises andshe was apprehendedat the Ekounouneighbourhood. She had sent the son, the second class soldierwith the Cameroon Navy who was also arrested,to represent her at the transaction to sell the scales. She is a well-known bushmeat trader at the Nkolndongo wildlife market in Yaounde. According to investigation reports, the sergeant is a regular bushmeatcustomerto the suspected trafficker.Hedeployed and depended on his military statustosell the close to 400kg of pangolin scales.Several conservationists have been decrying the dubious role some law enforcement officials play in the trafficking of wildlife products in the country. In 2017, 216 elephant tusks and 81 elephant tailswere seized from the car of a gendarmerie colonel and two were arrested in Djoum. During another operation in May 2019, a Garoua-based police constable was arrested in Yaounde in connection with the killing and trafficking of protected wildlife species at the BoubaNdjida national park. He was arrested with 5 lion skulls, a leopard skin and an elephant tusks. Speaking on the phone from Nairobi, the Director of LAGA, OfirDrori, apparently impressed by the work of the gendarmerie declared All those arrested explicitly declared that the value of the uniformed men in their trafficking ring, was of impunity in their illegal dealings. In this crackdown the Government of Cameroon sends a strong message that criminals cannot hide behind their uniforms. According tothe Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), pangolins are the most trafficked and poached mammal in the world,primarily due to the demand from Chinese consumers for their supposed medicinal qualities. The conservation group WildAid, say as many as 200.000 pangolins are consumed each year in Asia. Despite pangolins being at the spotlight since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, as studies suggest they may have been the intermediate host that transmitted the virus to humans, the traffic of this fragile species continue to thrive. China that has received most of the criticism for its pangolin trade, early in the month of June raised the protection status of pangolins to the highest level,the Guardian news site reported recently. The site also posted that pangolin scales have been delisted from an official2020 listing of ingredients approved for use in traditional Chinese medicine. Many conservationists and wildlife crusaders, hope the recent move by the Chinese government will help end the global trade in pangolin. The animal is totally protected in Cameroon and regulated by the legislation.The law therefore targets those who illegally handle the species. As Anheuser-Busch awaits regulatory review of their purchase of Portland's Craft Brew Alliance (Widmer, Redhook, Kona, etc) they are selling off Kona Brewing's Hawaii operations. CBA will retain control of Kona's U.S. production and sales, much of which is brewed at Widmer Brothers Brewing in Portland. The divesting of Kona opens up speculation that it's new buyer PV Brewing Partners may look to open more Kona Brewing pubs or taprooms in and out of Hawaii similar to what was done with Henry Weinhard's brand. PV Brewing Partners, is a new firm formed by investment group VantEdge Partners and former Anheuser-Busch president David Peacock. The PV Brewing group will take ownership of Kona's two brewpubs and their new production facility. VantEdge owns 260 quick-serve restaurants, including Dunkin, Taco Bell and Jamba. A-B and CBA retain control and sales of Kona Brewing outside of Hawaii, but a restaurant partnership in the U.S. with PV Brewing Partners could expand the brand with guaranteed draft outlets. This could be similar to how the Henry Weinhard's beer brand was broken up and spun off into Henry's Taprooms opened in multiple states, though that has not worked out well. More from a newswire announcement: The arrangement with PV Brewing is contingent on the closing of the proposed expanded partnership between CBA and A-B, at which point PV Brewing will purchase CBAs Kona Brewing operations in Hawaii, including the new brewery and two brewpubs. The arrangement does not include CBAs Kona business outside of Hawaii. We are committed to working with regulators and facilitating the successful review and close of our expanded partnership with A-B, said Andy Thomas, CEO of CBA. We are delighted to have found a strong buyer that will continue to nurture the spirit of the Kona brand in Hawaii and offer its employees, who will remain part of Konas Hawaii operations, further opportunities for growth and development. CBA and A-B continue to work collaboratively with regulators who are reviewing the proposed expanded partnership. While our shared vision for the expanded partnership between CBA and A-B did include CBAs Hawaii operations, we are still optimistic about the ability of CBA and A-B to offer more consumers, in more communities, even more choices as a result of this expanded partnership, said Marcelo Mika Michaelis, president, Brewers Collective, A-B. We are confident that PV Brewing will continue investing and driving economic growth in Konas communities in Hawaii. In Hawaii, the opening of a new 30,000-square-foot Kona brewery and canning operation this year is the next step for the vibrant and local lifestyle brand. In the same way that CBA carried on the legacy of what Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa built at Kona, our number one priority is supporting Konas future on the Islands and ensuring the success of the brand there, said Dave Peacock, PV Brewing Investor. We are energized by this unique opportunity and are proud to support the continued growth of Kona in Hawaii with a new state-of-the-art brewery. CBA and A-B continue to expect the closing of the expanded partnership to occur no later than the end of 2020, after receipt of required regulatory clearance and satisfaction of other customary conditions. ABOUT CRAFT BREW ALLIANCE CBA is a leading craft brewing company that brews, brands, and brings to market world-class American craft beers. Our distinctive portfolio combines the power of Kona Brewing Company, a dynamic, fast-growing national craft beer brand, with strong regional breweries and innovative lifestyle brands: Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Cisco Brewers, Omission Brewing Co., Redhook Brewery, Square Mile Cider Co., Widmer Brothers Brewing, and Wynwood Brewing Co. CBA nurtures the growth and development of its brands in todays increasingly competitive beer market through our state-of-the-art brewing and distribution capability, integrated sales and marketing infrastructure, and strong focus on innovation, partnerships, and local community. Formed in 2008, CBA is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and operates breweries and brewpubs across the U.S. CBA beers are available in all 50 U.S. states and 30 different countries around the world. For more information about CBA and our brands, please visit www.craftbrew.com. ABOUT PV BREWING PARTNERS PV Brewing is a firm formed by David Peacock and VantEdge Partners, an investment firm based in Kansas City led by Paul Edgerley and Terry Matlack. VantEdge, among other investments, owns 260 quick-serve restaurants, including Dunkin, Taco Bell and Jamba and is part of the investment group that owns the Kansas City Royals. Mr. Peacock, former President of Anheuser-Busch, has partnered with VantEdge in other business ventures. ABOUT ANHEUSER-BUSCH For more than 165 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate more than 100 facilities, including breweries, wholesaler distribution centers, agricultural facilities and packaging plants, and have more than 18,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of Americas most recognizable beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. ABOUT BREWERS COLLECTIVE Brewers Collective, a business unit of A-B, is on a mission to energize how people view, consume and experience beer by sharing our joy of brewing. We have an unwavering devotion to our beer, brands, people and communities, and are on a continued pursuit of making the next beer our best one yet. We believe that quality is not an exception, innovation is a standard, and that everyone is welcome within the world of beer. Brewers Collective encourages everyone to drink responsibly, hydrate and get a safe ride home when needed. India said it is open to engaging with Nepal on the matter on the basis of mutual sensitivity and mutual respect New Delhi: With the Nepalese Parliament expected to soon vote on a controversial new map of the Himalayan country that shows certain Indian territory as part of Nepal, New Delhi on Thursday said it had already made its position clear on the matter, adding that it deeply values its civilisational, cultural and friendly relations with Nepal. India had earlier said it is open to engaging with Nepal on the matter on the basis of mutual sensitivity and mutual respect, in an environment of trust and confidence. India had last month termed the controversial map as artificial enlargement of (Nepalese) territorial claims (that) will not be accepted by India. New Delhi had also urged Kathmandu to refrain from such unjustified cartographic assertion and respect Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity. India had also said the Nepalese revised official map includes parts of Indian territory and that this unilateral act is not based on historical facts and evidence which is contrary to the bilateral understanding to resolve the outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue. Nepal claims that as per the Treaty of Sagauli inked more than two centuries ago between British India and Nepal in 1816 after the Anglo-Nepal War, all the territories east of Kali (Mahakali) River, including Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipu Lekh, belong to Nepal. All three areas are part of Indian territory and fall in Uttarakhand State. The row between India and Nepal was triggered last month after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had inaugurated an 80 km-long high altitude road from Dharchula to the Lipulekh Pass (both in Uttarakhand) that reduces the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage time. Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, who is seen as close to China, has made the change in the map a matter of prestige for the Himalayan countrys ruling communist leadership. On Thursday, the MEA said, We have already made our position clear on these issues. India deeply values its civilization, cultural and friendly relations with Nepal. Our multi-faceted bilateral partnership partnership has expanded and diversified in the recent years with increased focus and enhanced Government of Indias assistance on humanitarian, development and connectivity projects in Nepal. The MEA added, India has been reaching out to friendly neighbouring countries including Nepal, in line with Prime Ministers initiative to chart out a common strategy to combat COVID-19 in the region. India has extended all possible technical, medical and humanitarian assistance to Nepal. We have supplied about 25 tonnes of medical aid to Nepal including Paracetamol and hydroxy chloroquine (HCQ) medicines, test kits and other medical supplies. Government of India has also ensured that there is no untoward disruption in trade and supply of essential goods to Nepal, despite the lockdown on both sides. India has also helped in repatriation of Nepalese nationals stranded abroad on humanitarian grounds. NEW YORK, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Conductive Polymers Market Research Report by Type (Electrically Conducting Polymer and Thermally Conducting Polymer), by Product (Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, Inherently Conductive Polymers, Nylon, and Polycarbonates), by Application - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913933/?utm_source=PRN The Global Conductive Polymers Market is expected to grow from USD 3,971.34 Million in 2019 to USD 5,013.25 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.95%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Conductive Polymers to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: On the basis of Type, the Conductive Polymers Market is studied across Electrically Conducting Polymer and Thermally Conducting Polymer. On the basis of Product, the Conductive Polymers Market is studied across Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, Inherently Conductive Polymers, Nylon, and Polycarbonates. On the basis of Application, the Conductive Polymers Market is studied across Actuators, Antistatic Packaging, Capacitor, Electrostatic Coatings, and Textiles. On the basis of Geography, the Conductive Polymers Market is studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region is studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region is studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region is studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Company Usability Profiles: The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Conductive Polymers Market including 3M Company, Agfa-Gevaert, Bayer MaterialScience, Celanese, Covestro, GeoTech Chemical Co., LLC, Merck, Ormecon Chemie GmbH, and Polyone Corporation. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Conductive Polymers Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on sulfuric acid offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Conductive Polymers Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Conductive Polymers Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Conductive Polymers Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Conductive Polymers Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Conductive Polymers Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Conductive Polymers Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913933/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker 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: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com Director of the United States National Economic Council Larry Kudlow speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington on May 15, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Top Trump Administration Official Says US Wont Shut Down Economy Again A top economic official in President Donald Trumps administration said Friday that the United States will not shut down the economy again, as he asserted the country isnt seeing another wave of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Im not the health expert. But on the so-called spike, I spoke to our health experts at some length last evening. They are saying there is no second spike, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said during an appearance on Fox & Friends. Secretary Mnuchin said yesterday in testimony, and I totally agree: we are not going to shut down the economy, he added. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that local and state governments shouldnt close down businesses and schools if a second wave takes place. I think weve learned that if you shut down the economy, youre going to create more damage, he said. Excalibur Hotel & Casino employees line up and applaud as guests are let into the Las Vegas Strip property for the first time since being closed in mid-March amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Las Vegas, Nev., on June 11, 2020. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Certain spots are seeing small increases in new cases, Kudlow said, including metropolitan areas. Health officials are all over it and have sent personnel to those areas, he added. But if you look nationally, the important point is the rate of increase of new cases is between 0 and 1 percent, its really flattened out. And with respect to fatalities, its the same. The shutdowns crippled the U.S. economy, leading to tens of millions of Americans losing their jobs. All governors have relaxed measures implemented in a bid to slow the spread of the virus but varying levels of restrictions remain in place in most states. Fears of spikes from early reopenings, including relaxations in Georgia and Florida, didnt materialize. Some states have been reporting increases in new CCP virus cases, Dr. Jay Butler, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions COVID-19 response incident manager, told reporters in a phone call later Friday. But health officials dont just take those numbers at face value, looking at more important figures like hospitalizations and check-ins to emergency rooms for influenza-like illnesses. A cyclist bikes around Columbus Circle in New York, N.Y., June 12, 2020. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images) Right now, in looking nationally again, the hospitalization rates are going down, and in most of the places that weve looked at the increase in the recent week or two in the number of cases diagnosed, were not confirming dramatic increases in the number of hospitalizations, Butler said. That doesnt mean that officials arent concerned about the increase, he added. Butler also posited that localities that experience rising cases and hospitalizations could resort to the harsh measures implemented early in the pandemic, including shutting down so-called non-essential businesses and forcing people to largely remain inside their homes. If cases being to go up againparticularly if they go up dramaticallyits important to recognize that more intense mitigation efforts, such as what were implemented back in March, may be needed again, he said. Those decisions would be p to local officials based on what is happening within the community regarding these transmissions. Based on serology data, most Americans still havent been exposed to the virus, the health official said. LEASING Moorebank Trinity Window has signed a 7610 sq m deal at the Moorebank Logistics Park from Qube, an integrated provider of import and export logistics services. The warehouse at building 50, 400 Moorebank Avenue is a freestanding facility located adjacent to the NSW RDC facility for Target Australia. The lease term is five years for a rent of between $90 to $100 per sq m. CBREs Adam Tresidder, Matthew Alessi, Tom Rourke and Elijah Shakir negotiated the lease. Sydney Sentia Australia Pty Ltd has leased an 144.50 sq m office with partitioning at Suite 601/Level 6, 83 York Street from WTL Enterprises (Australia) Pty Ltd at $500 per sq m gross. The lease term is 13 months. John Skufris Ray White Commercial South Sydney negotiated the lease. An uncle of George Floyd has called on his local police force in South Dakota to remove the Confederate flag from their logo, in light of a nationwide reckoning following the killing of his nephew by Minnesota police. Selwyn Jones, 54, owns a motel in the town of Gettysburg - named after the Civil War battle that was a turning point for the Union army in defeating the Confederacy. 'I'm a crusader for change,' said Jones. 'I'll see if we can figure out a way to make a change in that. It will change.' Selwyn Jones, the brother of George Floyd's mother, wants to change his hometown's logo Jones argues that the Gettysburg police logo is racist and inappropriate and should be altered He told Rapid City Journal that the logo is something he's 'sure will change now with all the things going on in the world.' Jones, born in North Carolina, lived in Rapid City for 20 years before moving to Gettysburg three years ago. Floyd's death on May 25 has sparked soul-searching across America as the nation wrestles with how to deal with its past, and build a brighter future. Protesters in states including Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas and Florida have either torn down or convinced officials to remove Confederate memorials and statues. Meanwhile, counter-protesters in Rapid City have patrolled the streets with Confederate flags flapping from their trucks. Mark Esper, the defense secretary, said he would consider renaming U.S. military bases that honor Confederate military leaders, and after the Marines announced a ban on Confederate symbols in public spaces at its facilities. On Tuesday the Navy followed suit. NASCAR on Wednesday announced it was banning Confederate flags from its races. 'The presence of the confederate flag at NASCAR events runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors and our industry,' the organizing body said in a statement. 'Bringing people together around a love for racing and the community that it creates is what makes our fans and sport special.' Yet Jones's request has already been rejected by the mayor of Gettysburg. Gettysburg takes pride in its town's history as a settlement founded by Civil War veterans A statue of a Civil War veteran in the town. Gettysburg was founded by 200 Unionist soldiers Bill Wuttke said he will not remove the flag from the logo on police cars, buildings or uniforms and maintains it represents the history of the city, rather than a racist symbol. 'The reason it was put on there has nothing to do with racism,' he said. 'It has to do with our heritage.' The town was founded by 200 Civil War veterans - the majority of them Union soldiers - and many of their descendants still lived there. Only one former Confederate soldier is known to have lived in the town. The patch shows the American and Confederate flags overlapping, and was designed in 2009 to show the end of the war. 'This patch has no racist intentions; it is meant to be another way that we, as a city, represent our heritage,' states a 2015 post on the city's Facebook page. 'Without the war, and without the Battle of Gettysburg, we would not be the same City that we are.' Gettysburg explained the thinking behind the patch in a 2015 post on Facebook, after the Charleston church shooting. The gunman had posed with Confederate flags before the attack Wuttke said, in response to Jones's request, that no one in his community has ever complained about the logo to him. The 2015 post explaining the decision to keep the flag on the logo has more than 14,000 likes. 'If I thought for a minute it had something to do with racism that would be a whole different ball game, but it doesn't and it didn't,' he said. 'It's just strictly to do with the history of our community.' Scott Barksdale, who designed the patch for the Gettysburg Police Department, told the Associated Press in 2015 that the logo is 'a way of showing these people put the past behind them.' But Lynn Hart, who is black and a member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe, said the racism exhibited by the Confederate flag is still a reality. He pointed out that the Gettysburg Police Department patch is sold on eBay and could be used by racist people to send a message that black people are not welcome in the state. 'Can you imagine being a black person and getting pulled over at night with that flag on an officer's uniform?' Hart said. 'You are going to be scared to death.' Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. San Francisco, 12 June 2020: The Report Wood Vinegar Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Agriculture, Animal Feed, Food, Medicinal, Consumer Products), By Method (Slow Pyrolysis, Fast Pyrolysis, Intermediate Pyrolysis), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025 The global wood vinegar market size is expected to reach USD 6.6 million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 6.7%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing support from various governments for adoption of organic farming methods by small-farm holders for improved crop yield is the key factor driving the market growth. In addition, rapid expansion of organic farming in Asia Pacific is expected to boost the market demand further. Wood vinegar, a natural extract from woods, makes it a better choice in agriculture pesticides category, as compared to animal feed and natural pesticides. The market is mainly driven by its varied uses in agriculture and animal husbandry industry, as it is accepted as a nutrient supplement by farmers and livestock producers, who seek to improve their crop yield by using bio pesticides. In terms of revenue, agriculture segment accounted as the major application industry in 2016 and is estimated to continue its dominance with a share of 42.6% by 2025, as it is preferred as an organic pesticide and soil fertility enhancer. Globally, various governments and institutions are promoting the use of bio-degradable and non-toxic chemicals in farming. Such initiatives are boosting the growth of its applications in agriculture sector. The demand for wood vinegar market is expected to surge owing to its increased acceptance from consumers globally. Abundant resources of wood biomass in Asia Pacific region are helping the farmers to produce wood vinegar domestically. In addition, it adds economic value to those farmers who cannot afford premium synthetic chemicals. Access Research Report of Wood Vinegar Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/wood-vinegar-market Further key findings from the report suggest: Fast pyrolysis method is estimated to experience the fastest growth in terms of value at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2017 to 2025 on account of its ability to increase bio-oil yield, upon increase in temperature. Furthermore, growing innovation from producers of pyrolizers such as mobile pyrolysis plant and large pyrolizers that enhance the production capability is leading to the increased adoption of this method. Agriculture industry emerged as the largest application segment in terms of revenue in 2016 and is estimated to reach USD 2.8 million by 2025. Increase in organic arable land in Asia Pacific and South & Central America region is expected to boost the growth over the years ahead. The U.S. market in terms of revenue is estimated to reach USD 1.05 million by 2025. The market in Asia Pacific is projected to witness substantial growth over the next eight years particularly due to the dominance of established organic farming in Australia and expansion in China and India. Key players including Wood Vinegar Australia, Sort of Coal ApS, VerdiLife LLC, Taiko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Nettenergy B.V. and Applied Gaia Corporation dominated the global market. Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/agrochemicals-and-fertilizers Grand View Research has segmented the global wood vinegar market on the basis of Application, Method Type and Region: Wood Vinegar Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Agriculture Animal-Feed Food, Medicinal, and Consumer Products Others Wood Vinegar Method Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Slow Pyrolysis Intermediate Pyrolysis Fast Pyrolysis Wood Vinegar Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) North America Europe Asia Pacific Central & South America Middle East & Africa Access Press Release of Wood Vinegar Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-wood-vinegar-market About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. For More Information:www.grandviewresearch.com Indias first Trusted Mark certified salon chain and only salon to be certified by CIDESCO, Switzerland, Enrich has revolutionized the unisex salon chain business in India. The brand has made a significant contribution for bringing order to this unorganized industry, they are known for their innovative marketing initiatives and unique approach. With the pandemic leading to a standstill in business given the lockdown, Enrich once again was at the forefront with their promise of health and safety to their customers remaining unwavered. They announced their new campaign, 'Me to We' to encourage a new outlook to tackle the on-going pandemic . Enrich, has for long stood as an ally with their customers in their quest to like themselves more, this thought has been underlined in their brand tag line, which for years has been love begins with you. The idea being that, this self-acceptance is the starting point to self-esteem. By making people look good, which in turn makes them feel good about themselves is what the brand sees as their role in the lives of customers. The custodians of the brand learnt an important lesson from the ongoing pandemic. It is no longer only about yourselves regardless of whether you are a country, business, city, community, neighborhood, residential society, household, family, individual. Given the contagious nature of the virus, the only way it can now be contained is if we all think not just about ourselves but of others too. The mask we wear safeguards others, their mask saves us. We stay indoors to prevent it affecting us as much as it prevents us from spreading it further. The realisation is that each one of us is safe only when all of us are safe. This new insight and learning, that fundamentally changes the way all of us have to behave is reflected in a change in the brands baseline from love begins with you which was the earlier definition, to love begins with us . Through this campaign, Enrich is prompting people to think about others and not just stopping at me .This new thinking and shift has been communicated to the customers and all stakeholders through a campaign that uses ME to WE as the term to make the viewer comprehend and remember this change. Enrich has been seeding in this thought in all their activities. The brand has been giving back to the community by going an extra mile in helping the needy, supporting the retail employees with monetary assistance amongst other things; all emphasising on the Me to We thought process. To make it an inclusive process, the brand surveyed 15,000+ customers across Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bangalore, Vadodara, Surat and co-created the stringent hygiene protocol for customer and the salon team safety against Covid-19.The protocols detailed as a part of the campaign communication brings alive necessary rituals for customer and salon teams safety once business resumes. Inspired by what once Martin Luther King, Jr. said never be what I ought to be, unless you are what you ought to be, this campaign by Enrich brings alive the inter-related structure of reality. The core message and its rendition has received good response from the audience and they have witnessed great engagement on their social media on related posts. Keeping their brand promise of serving customers in the best possible way at all times; they launched a unique initiative called 'Call is Well. This activity was spearheaded by the servicing staff by providing personalized on-call assistance by reaching out individually to clients. The expert beauticians and hairstylists guided them on self-care during lockdown and also checked-in to see how theyre doing. This was a huge success as clients were missing their salon routines and were unsure how to maintain themselves. With 70,000+ calls made by the professionals; the activity was a well-received by clients. While serving customers in salons was not an option, this was the closest the brand could get to serving them. Brand Enrich has set the way by taking cognizance of the learning from this worldwide pandemic and harnessed it into a new way of thinking for the brand that is more inclusive and effective as we all work together to address the situation. The well-being of our community, team and customers is paramount; hence these initiatives are our way of reaching and building a support system. Said Soumya Shetty, Marketing Head, Enrich Salons. In addition to being the standard testing method for the diagnosis of COVID-19, the nasopharyngeal swab is also frequently used for the detection of various viruses and bacterial infections. Image Credit: zstock/Shutterstock.com This article will provide information on how the nasopharyngeal swab is correctly performed, how samples obtained from the swab are analyzed, and what diseases aside from COVID-19 can be diagnosed by this method. How is a nasopharyngeal swab performed? Before any type of diagnostic testing can be performed, healthcare professionals must perform these tests in a specialized and sterilized room that prevents the spread of the virus. All healthcare professionals administering the nasopharyngeal swab test must wear the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE), of which should include an N95 mask, disposable cap, goggles, gown, latex gloves, and shoe covers. The nasopharyngeal swab must be performed when the patient sitting upright and their head in a straight position, as this provides easy visibility and access to the nasal floor, which is perpendicular to the center axis of the patients face. The swab is inserted into the patients nose and is aimed in a parallel direction to the nasal and septum floor. As long as there are no obstructions present within the nasal cavity, the swab will continue to move in this direction until it reaches the nasopharynx, at which point resistance will be felt by the testing personnel. Once the swab reaches the nasopharynx, it is recommended that it is rotated gently and completes two complete 360-degree rotations to allow the secretions from this area to be absorbed. Once the swab is removed from the patients nose, it is immediately inserted into a vial that contains culture media. The swab handle that extends past the opening of the vial is snapped off to allow the tube to be closed. Nasopharyngeal Swab Procedure Play What can be detected by a nasopharyngeal swab? As previously mentioned, a nasopharyngeal swab is widely used to diagnose active severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, which is the virus that causes COVID-19 disease. Several different upper and lower respiratory tract viruses can also be detected through nasopharyngeal swabs, some of which include rhinovirus, adenovirus, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human parainfluenza viruses (HPIV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and non-polio enterovirus (EV). Since the nasopharynx is normally home to a high number of both nonpathogenic and pathogenic bacteria, this testing method can also be used to diagnose certain bacterial pathogens, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, and Moraxella catarrhalis. Notably, the convenience of a nasopharyngeal swab for diagnostic purposes has inspired researchers to develop non-invasive tests for several unexpected health conditions. A diagnostics company, for example, has recently introduced a novel nasal swab that collects nasal epithelial cells for the early molecular detection of lung cancer in both current and former smokers. Similarly, researchers from the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan have utilized this sampling technique to assess its usefulness in the molecular diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods for analyzing nasopharyngeal swab samples The current standard for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 once a nasopharyngeal swab has been obtained is the real-time fluorescence-based polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Typically, the RT-PCR test will measure several different RNA gene targets, such as one or more of the envelope (env), nucleocapsid (N), spike (S), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and ORF1 genes. RT-PCR is considered to be an ideal analytical technique for SARS-CoV-2 detection due to its reliability, low cost, and sensitivity, particularly when compared to alternative diagnostic approaches like cell culture, antigen detection, and serological methods. Preventing false negatives An incorrectly performed nasopharyngeal swab can lead to a greater likelihood that a patient receives a false-negative test result. False-negative results are important issues to address, as these results can cause patients who are positive for certain illnesses to spread highly contagious diseases, particularly COVID-19, to many other individuals unknowingly. There are several reasons why negative test results can arise as a result of an improper nasopharyngeal swab method. One example includes the various locations between the opening of the nose and the nasopharynx that the testing personnel can encounter resistance. If the healthcare professional feels resistance almost immediately after placing the swab in the patients nose, the nasal sill has likely been hit, which indicates that the swab must instead be aimed slightly higher to rise above this tissue. Additional locations where resistance can be met before arriving at the nasopharynx include the inferior turbinate and the anterior face of the sphenoid sinus. Typically, an experienced caregiver can recognize when the test swab has reached 9-10 centimeters into the nasal cavity. If the swab does not reach this depth, it has not accurately sampled fluid from the nasopharynx and can therefore not adequately determine the presence of a disease within this location of the body. It is therefore critical for testing personnel to be adequately trained on how to reliably perform a nasopharyngeal swab test. References Pondaevn-Letourmy, S., Alvin, F., Boumghit, Y., & Simon, F. (2020). How to perform a nasopharyngeal swab in adults and children in the COVID-19 era. European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology, Head, and Neck Diseases. doi:10.1016/j.anorl.2020.06.001. Kaufmann, A. C., Brewster, R., Rajasekaran, K. (2020). How to perform a nasopharyngeal swab an otolaryngology perspective. The American Journal of Medicine. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2020.05.004. Li, L., Chen, Q., Li, Y., Wang, Y., Yang, Z., & Zhong, N. (2013). Comparison among nasopharyngeal swab, nasal wash, and oropharyngeal swab for respiratory virus detection in adults with acute pharyngitis. BMC Infectious Diseases 13(281). doi:10.1186/1471-2334-13-281. Rawlings, B. A., Higgins, T. S., & Han, J. K. (2013). Bacterial pathogens in the nasopharynx, nasal cavity, and osteomeatal complex during wellness and viral infection. American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy 27(1); 39-42. doi:10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3835. Sethuraman, N., Jeremiah, S. S., & Ryo, A. (2020). Interpreting Diagnostic Tests for SARS-CoV-2. Journal of the American Medical Association. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.8259. Hao, S., Tsang, N., Chang, K., & Ueng, S. (2004). Molecular diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Detecting LMP-1 and EBNA by nasopharyngeal swab. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 131(5); 651-654. doi:10.1016/j,otohns.2004.04.013. Post T144 Lung Cancer Detection Via Whole-Transcriptome RNA Sequencing of Nasal Epithelium Veracyte Further Reading President Rouhani: Sanctions failed to weaken Iranian nation's will Iran Press TV Thursday, 11 June 2020 1:17 PM President Hassan Rouhani says sanctions imposed on Iran by Western countries, especially the United States, have failed to weaken the Iranian nation's will and this has been proven through incessant inauguration of development projects under the toughest sanctions. Rouhani made the remarks in Tehran on Thursday during a ceremony held via video-link that featured inauguration of industrial and mining projects in the northeastern Khorasan Razavi and central Esfahan provinces. He cited the continued trend of the country's unveiling various developmental projects across its different areas as a testament to the Islamic Republic's steadfastness down its path of progress and the fact that "the sanctions cannot affect the Iranian nation's will." Rouhani acknowledged that the bans had brought the country under pressure and complicated its operations. However, the president said directors of countrywide production units were urging allocation of more foreign exchange to their projects so they can speed up the production process, saying this proved that "the enemy has not been able to stop us and force us to surrender." The US returned the sanctions against Tehran in 2018 after leaving a historic nuclear agreement between Iran and major world powers. Washington's departure and snapback of the bans came although the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), has been ratified by the United Nations Security Council as a resolution and notwithstanding the JCPOA's multilateral nature. Ever since quitting the deal, Washington has been trying to scare other countries of the world into abiding by its coercive measures, warning they would face punitive action if they failed to do so. Not only has not Iran allowed the enemies to achieve their goals against the Iranian people, but it has also kept proceeding further, Rouhani noted. Although the enemies' efforts might have slowed down the country's advance to some extent, Iran would "keep up adhering to the principle of moving forward," the president stated. "Today, we are bearing witness to a very good onward movement in the country," he noted, reminding that the outbreak of the new coronavirus had not impeded the Islamic Republic's onward march either. As cases in point concerning the virus failure to bring down the country's production levels, he cited instances of a monumental increase in the output of home appliances. Last month, the output of washing machines and television sets respectively rose by 152 and 49 percent compared to the same period last year, when the virus was many months away from hitting the country, Rouhani announced. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address stews have many wonderful properties. You are down-to-earth, but not boring. You are all welcome, pragmatic, flexible, and tolerant, because every ingredient, no matter how crooked or wrinkled, can come. Stews are timeless, but each time has its own. According to Alison novel viral A-pot-Hit "The Stew" is the world now, fortunately, ready for "Gumbo", Louisiana hearty national dish, and a hybrid classic in the Canon of southern cuisine. In his native New Orleans of 1802, for the first time mentioned the stew has evolved in the Cajun cuisine of the early French settlers in the same way as in the Creole cooking tradition. With a Gumbo succeed on the stove, what one fails in the United States, but also in other Parts of the world, so far: in a peaceful intertwining of different cultures and ethnicities to Rise. Culinary the Stew is in fact a conciliatory melting pot of African, French, Spanish, Caribbean, native american and German influences. In a Gumbo usually include several varieties of meat and (to taste) sea animals. To Louisiana's "Holy Trinity" of onions, peppers and celery; as well as the starchy Okra-Pod, which gives the stew its schlotzige consistency and your name. Okra, also ki ngombo or quingombo, came with the slave ships from West Africa. German settlers brought with them, in turn, they say, the technique of sausage-making to Louisiana during the French say of himself, in everything that is tasty and reasonably soup, to have a few scoops of their famous Bouillabaisse there. Over the years, mixing an intense, but harmonious taste of the world to each other, so that in a single pot of Gumbo in the meantime, more idealism than many Americans experience in their entire life. The Stew soothes therefore grummelnde bellies and minds with its savory taste, and gives at the same time enough energy to change the world. Gumbo is the ideal basis before non-violent demonstrations. Maybe he is, therefore, outside of Louisiana well. Today, a Gumbo encountered in many places in the United States, for example, in Edouardo Jordan's Restaurant "Junebaby" in Seattle, where the chef and restaurateur to other southern classics missed in a Casual-Fine-Dining-painting. With his "Junebaby" won the Jordan to 2018, by the way, as the first African-Americans in the category of best new Restaurant by the prestigious James Beard Award, the Oscars of the Foodie world. It doesn't take much culinary intelligence to recognize that in the white, also male-dominated gastronomy of structural racism on the daily menu. In the "Junebaby" is Gumbo, anyway, in a variant with pork knuckle, oxtail and Bacon on the map, there was the court, but also as a Surf & Turf version. Those who grew up with the idea that fish and meat do not fit together in a pot, the way chews on his prejudices better. Purely what fits, popular, as long as no taste and takes on the absolute supremacy. Therefore, it was explained, in particular, the basic recipe. Updated Date: 12 June 2020, 12:20 DIY techniques An easy hack is to place a folded tissue between your mouth and the mask. The tissue will absorb the warm, moist air, preventing it from reaching your glasses. Also, make sure the top of your mask is tight and the bottom looser, to help direct your exhaled breath away from your eyes. If you are using a surgical mask with ties, a 2014 article in the Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England advises going against your instincts. Tie the mask crisscross so that the top ties come below your ears and the bottom ties go above. It will make for a tighter fit. The Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England published an article in 2011 that offered a simple method to prevent fogging, suggesting that, just before wearing a face mask, people wash their spectacles with soapy water, shake off the excess and then allow the lenses to air-dry. "Washing the spectacles with soapy water leaves behind a thin surfactant film that reduces this surface tension and causes the water molecules to spread out evenly into a transparent layer, the article reveals. This surfactant effect is widely utilised to prevent misting of surfaces in many everyday situations. Antifogging solutions used for scuba masks or ski goggles also accomplish this. Antifog lens coatings Most antifog coatings are hydrophilic, meaning they act as a kind of microscopic sponge, allowing droplets of water to absorb into the coating, which prevents an opaque film from forming on the lenses. They are bonded to the lenses during the manufacturing process, before the eyeglasses are cut to fit your frame. "This is an add-on, for lack of a better term, and is part of the same treatment process as antireflective, anti-glare or anti-smudge coatings, explains Michael Vitale, a senior technical director at the Vision Council. You'll want to ask an eye care professional about the option, which you can select when you're placing your glasses order. NASA Awards Contract to Deliver Robot Rover to Moon By VOA News June 11, 2020 The U.S. space agency, NASA, has announced it has awarded a $199 million contract to a city of Pittsburgh company to launch its robot lunar rover to the moon in 2023. The agency made the announcement in an online release Thursday. In a statement posted on its website, Astrobotic Technology, a space robotics company, says it will deliver NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) to the moon's south pole on board the company's Griffin lunar lander. The contract was awarded under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program (CLPS) and is the second CLPS contract Astrobotic has received. The company's Peregrine lander is scheduled for a NASA mission in in 2021. Astrobotic's MoonRanger rover was selected by NASA for delivery to the moon in 2022 on the lander of another CLPS contract company. NASA says the VIPER is designed for a 100-Earth-day mission searching for signs of water on the moon's surface. The rover will travel several kilometers and use its four onboard science instruments to sample soil environments. The rover also will have a drill to bore approximately one meter into the lunar surface. The space agency says VIPER will collect data including the location and concentration of ice that will be used to create the first global water resource maps of the moon. NASA says the VIPER's data will also help determine landing sites for manned missions to the moon beginning in 2024 and will bring the agency a step closer to developing a sustainable, long-term presence there. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address George Will's a funny guy. He is willing to aid our ideological foes for our own good. He will teach us how wrong we've been to support President Trump by facilitating Marxist socialism's stranglehold on what's left of America's Constitution. After fighting for Democrats to win everything this November, he will turn around and help us rebuild a Republican Party in his image for the miserable decades to come. When we voted for Donald Trump in 2016, weren't we rebelling against not only Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but also the shriveled and putrid corpse of a Grand Old Party that had long since given up being grand while doubling its daily dosage of everything staid and old? Twenty sixteen was a repudiation of the whole political system, including the dainty, impotent brand of conservatism that George Will has spent a lifetime peddling while the hard socialism he pretended to fight grew thicker and more resilient with each passing year. He misdiagnosed what Republican voters wanted in 2016. He has spent four years actively working against us. Now he believes that his conservative creed one that insists we retreat from the ideological field of battle while preserving the institutional integrity of whatever new monstrosities the socialists erect in the name of America should pick up just where it left off before Donald Trump knocked him off his stool, stuck a wet finger in his ear, and gave him a long overdue wedgie. Everything Will has written since the end of 2015 falls into one of three categories: (1) Donald Trump is not a traditional conservative (yep!); (2) it is so important to conserve conservatism that we must elect Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, and the Marxist Millennials taking up Bernie Sanders's mantle (huh?); and (3) since Trump's support comes purely from a "cult of personality," once he is gone, traditional Republican voters will begin marching to the Will-Kristol-Romney Triumvirate of Timidity beat once again (no way!). In every essay dedicated to taking down President Trump, Will bemoans the president's vulgar name-calling by engaging in multisyllabic name-calling of his own. In fact, Will seems particularly fond of calling supporters of President Trump vile slurs; he just prefers to do so behind allusions to Shakespeare and Sir Thomas More. Apparently, it is not the president's tendency to insult his political opponents that bothers Will, but rather his insistence on using language that replaces the grace and sophistication of a witty barb with the blunt force of a traditional playground taunt. Will's problem with the president isn't so much his appetite for combat as his flagrant disregard for the rules of the upper class. Will is so adamant that his version of conservatism be represented by one of the two major parties that he has no tolerance for what Republican voters might actually desire. If the Democratic Party represents the Marxist socialists, and the Republican Party concerns itself with making sure that only the "right" people rule while protecting our institutions at all costs, then what choice is left for the average American who puts personal freedom and our original constitutional protections ahead of marble halls and titles of eminence? Republicans had a smorgasbord of options in 2016 and chose Donald Trump. Instead of reflecting on the meaning of that unexpected choice, Will has spent four years choosing to ignore it. He still does not understand why it happened and why it will happen again in 2020. By waving Trump voters away as little more than brainwashed and easily duped pawns, he clings to an image of the Republican electorate that no longer exists. If George Will had tried to understand Trump voters with even a modicum of anthropological interest, if not basic human empathy, he would have realized that Donald Trump is president today because the American people found in him an escape hatch from a sinking and imploding federal government hull that seems intent on running itself aground. That George Will and the hoity-toity bunch can't stomach Donald Trump is exactly what millions of American voters had in mind. The more that D.C. insiders insist President Trump is unfit for office, the more fit for office President Trump proves to be. And the more that NeverTrump conservatives ignore the accomplishments of the most conservative president since Ronald Reagan, the more disingenuous the "True Conservative" brand becomes. How can a man who proudly burnishes his "Reagan Revolution" bona fides so fundamentally misunderstand the revolution taking place today? He and the Washington resistance around him have been missing in action for too many years while the rest of us have been fighting back a socialist siege, and they are now aghast that the troops they have long purported to lead have bolted, leaving them stranded on the field to chase whatever fanciful windmills pique their interest. For them now to show more backbone in fighting us than they ever have in fighting the socialist authoritarianism of the Democratic Party only strengthens our determination that the Republican Party never return to the days when conservatism meant voting for Hillary Clinton. That George Will so misconstrues support for the president as nothing more than a flight of fancy reveals how little he thinks of Republican Party voters. That he believes that the revolution of 2016 can be so easily erased from history reveals how little he's learned in the last four years. That he believes that America is better off with the socialism of Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders reveals that he has allowed his personal animosity for Donald Trump to crowd out any other principles worth conserving. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr. New Delhi, June 12 : Amid reported de-escalation of troops from stand-off positions, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday held a review meeting with Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs to gauge the ground situation on the Line of Actual Control and what needs to be done, sources said. This is the second review meeting the Defence Minister held within a week's span. The first one was on June 8, two days after a Lt General-level meeting between the Indian Army and Chinese People's Liberation Army. The second one took place on Friday, two days after a Major General-level meeting between India and Chinese military. "Latest assessments on Line of Actual Control ground situation done after military talks," said a source in the ministry. General Rawat briefed the Minister about the troop deployments at the stand-off sites in eastern Ladakh. Rajnath Singh also took a review of ground situation across the entire LAC, including Arunachal Pradesh. He also discussed about ongoing infrastructure work at the LAC. On Thursday, India's Ministry of External Affairs said that India and China have agreed for early resolution of ongoing face-off at the LAC. MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said: "It was agreed that an early resolution of the situation would be in keeping with the guidance of the leaders." "The two sides are, therefore, maintaining their military and diplomatic engagements to peacefully resolve the situation at the earliest as also to ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas. This is essential for the further development of Indian-China bilateral relations." Both sides have had discussions at military and diplomatic levels on the face-off. At the level of militaries, the Corps Commanders of India and China met at Chushul-Moldo region on June 6 and again on June 10, talks happened at the Major General level. According to a source, the "meeting ended on a positive trajectory and more similar meetings between both the country forces' delegates will take place". "Major General-level talks took place at Chushul-Moldo on Wednesday about ongoing de-escalation and Pangong stand-off situation was discussed," said a senior government officer, adding that the during the meeting, discussion took place for further de-escalation in Ladakh. "More talks at different levels in days to come for complete de-induction and withdrawal of additional troop deployment close to Line of Actual Control," the official said. On Wednesday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that both sides are taking steps to ease the situation along the borders. "Recently the diplomatic and military channels of China and India held effective communication on the situation along the border and reached positive consensus. The two sides are following this consensus to take actions to ease the situation along the borders," the spokesperson said. Clashes between Indian and Chinese troops happened between May 5 and May 8 several times. Thereafter, Chinese increased the deployment of troops and artillery and Indian Army too deployed and moved artillery in equal numbers. "The reserve troops in Ladakh were swiftly moved to the standoff positions," said a source. Now, both countries have decided to de-induct and de-escalate troops and guns and move backwards. reports on measurements of bacteria and viruses on Smartphones make it go round and round. 100 types of bacteria around, frolicking, according to the German TUV on mobile phone displays. A study by the University of Arizona has found, according to "Time" on Smartphones are ten times more bacteria than most toilet seats. This is not only unappetizing, but in today's time is totally absurd. Hands are constantly being sanitized and washed, the cell phone remains a bacteria slingshot. Also, because only every fourth user cleans their device on a regular basis. two years Ago, had discussed Nicole Steiner (39) and her Partner about this topic. And also the fact that a regular cleaning is not so easy. Because you need either a stationary cleaning, for example with UV-light. Or Roller, rags, or Sprays, which you are not always there. Nicole Steiner founded a Start-up with the aim of developing a phone case, which makes the plaster work, so to speak, automatically. And since a few weeks Exxy is now on the market and can be purchased on the website of the Zurich-based Start-ups for close to 65 francs. functional textiles with silver in medicine VIEWS used has a case to Try out. She acts in the case at first glance like a normal, soft cloth. On it the outside of a felt-like fabric in grey with the Exxy Logo. "For the first production, we have chosen a unit size, which is for the best-selling mobile phones suitable. The focus was on the material quality, on the Design," says Steiner. In the future, various sizes and optics, are naturally conceivable. The peculiarity of Exxy's Inside. The soft fabric there looks like with silver threads woven. In fact, it is a fabric that is treated with silver. "We don't put but at the nano-silver, but to ionize the material with silver," stresses the founder. Nano materials are also in the industry controversial, because not all of the physical and biological effects are known. The antibacterial effectiveness of silver has been known for a long time, and products with silver ions are used in medicine in associations, or in the case of curtains in hospitals. For the implementation in a mobile phone case it needed more development. Corona helps the Start-up at the launch Exxy has received a number of certificates from an independent test Institute. But these are not published, to prevent stealing ideas. "The function and mode of action of Exxy is supported also by experts of Empa," says Nicole Steiner. my Own Tests have shown that after five minutes in the case the number of bacteria significantly be reduced. The longer you have the phone in the case, the better the effect of the silver material. the product happens to be in the Corona-crisis market-ready, helps, of course, the Swiss Start-up. "We already had in the first few days, without any advertising four-digit revenues", says Steiner. On the basis of the requests and responses, you realize that the people are aware of the hygiene issue more aware than in the past. "I also believe that this will not disappear again." Just for the biggest models of the current Generation of smartphones, such as iPhone 11 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, is measure the current Exxy-shell is still a bit short, as well as the LOOK Test. But that should change in a successful business, as well as the sales. So far, the case is not only directly at the Start-up is available, in the future, the trade should be supplied. Updated Date: 12 June 2020, 13:49 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his French counterpart Edouard Philippe discussed cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and measures to promote bilateral relations during their phone conversation on Thursday. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Edouard Philippe on Thursday. The two leaders spoke highly of recent development in the Vietnam-France strategic partnership, particularly in politics, economy, trade, healthcare, environment, education and training and tourism. The French PM highlighted Vietnams efforts in COVID-19 prevention and control and thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for sending France medical materials and equipment to fight the pandemic. PM Phuc said Vietnam was willing to cooperate with France and other partners during this difficult period. The two leaders appreciated the development in ties between Vietnam and the European Union, particularly the implementation of the Europe-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Europe-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). PM Phuc said the two agreements would create new motivation for promoting the economic, trade and investment relations between Vietnam and the EU and between Vietnam and France. He proposed the French Government soon complete the ratification of the EVIPA. The two PMs expressed delight at the close cooperation between countries in multilateral forums, which they said would contribute to the fight against the COVID-19 and to fulfill sustainable development goals, climate change adaptation and environmental protection. The two PMs also exchanged regional and international issues of common concern. VNS Visits promote Vietnam- France relations Over the past 47 years, Vietnam- France relations have developed in all spheres, especially since the countries established a strategic partnership in 2013. Vietnamese agricultural products given opportunity to enter Europe The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will not only help to raise export turnover but also increase the competitiveness of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables and fisheries products in the European market. Six flights with 1165 passengers to arrive on Saturday Kochi, Jun 12 (UNI) Six relief flights, including an Ethiopian Airline, with 1165 passengers would arrive at Cochin International Airport here on Saturday, a CIAL spokesperson said on Friday. Ethiopian Airline flight ET8907 from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport was scheduled to land here at 0725 with 265 passengers on board. This is going to be the third direct arrival from Africa during the lockdown period. Earlier, Kochi airport had hosted flights from Djibouti and Nigeria. The airport also facilitated a stopover flight from Tanzania via Muscat early this week. An Ankara court on Friday ordered the detention of a journalist who has been critical of the government, on charges of political and military espionage, state news agency Anadolu reports. Muyesser Yildiz, Ankara Managing Editor of media outlet Oda TV, was jailed along with a military officer identified by the initials EB, Anadolu said. Mr Yildiz is accused of frequent contacts with the military official, Oda TV said. The court cited Mr Yildizs reports on Turkish military personnel allegedly meeting with Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar, Oda TV claimed. Turkey backed Haftars rival, the UN-backed government in Tripoli, and sent military equipment and training personnel to help fight against the warlord. Turkish police detained Yildiz and Tele 1 TV Ankara representative Ismail Dukel on Monday in Ankara. Dukel was released on bail, Anadolu said. READ ALSO: In March, Turkey blocked access to Oda TV for the alleged violation of a law that regulates the internet. Prior to that decision, two Oda TV journalists were arrested because of a report covering the funeral of a Turkish intelligence service officer who was allegedly killed in Libya, the outlet said. Journalism under arrest, Oda TV website wrote following the arrest on Friday. (dpa/NAN) Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. In the past four days, Amazon, IBM, and Microsoft have announced major shifts in their facial recognition businesses. Amazon and Microsoft say they will temporarily stop providing their software to police departments, and IBM plans to stop working on the technology entirely. Privacy and racial justice advocates, who argue the technology can contribute to excessive surveillance and mistaken arrests, particularly among darker-skinned people, welcomed the announcements. But they say an emerging regulatory debate may ultimately determine whether the police can use facial recognition, and under what conditions. These companies got dragged kicking and screaming to this moment, but its still a win for people who are skeptical of facial recognition, says Justin Brookman, director of privacy and technology policy at Consumer Reports. However, self-regulation by public shaming is not a long-term strategy. Laws need to be in place to protect people. On Monday, Congressional Democrats introduced a bill, the Justice in Policing Act, that includes a ban on police use of facial recognition software to scan police body camera footage without a warrant. Facial recognition is widely used in law enforcement and can be a helpful tool in catching criminals and finding missing or abducted children. Amazon, a leader in developing the technology, didnt say it would stop working with federal clients, such as the FBI and immigration officials. Clearview AI, a facial recognition company focused on law enforcement clients, and Japans NEC, which provides facial recognition services to governments and private companies around the world, would not comment on their business plans. Both argue that facial recognition can be useful tools when used responsibly. As of 2016, the facial images about half of all American adults, culled from sources such as drivers licenses and photo IDs, were included in facial recognition networks for law enforcement, according to a Georgetown Law study. Story continues The research found that police departments across the country were able to consult databases controlled by the FBI, states, or private companies to verify the identity of people who have been arrested. In some cases, departments may even scan public or private surveillance cameras, looking for matches with people suspected of a crime. Facial recognition didnt play a role in the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, but the protests surrounding his death have reignited criticisms of police use of facial recognition and other surveillance technologies. This technology is just an extension of oversurveillance and overpolicing within communities of color, says Fabian Rogers, a community advocate from the Atlantic Plaza Towers Tenant Association, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Rogers and other tenants successfully opposed the installation of a facial recognition system by their landlords. Facial recognition systems are far more likely to falsely identify people with dark skin, according to a number of studies. A series of recent studies led by Joy Buolamwini, a computer scientist and founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, have demonstrated that facial recognition technology is significantly less accurate when identifying women and people of color. A famous experiment in 2018 found that Amazons Rekognition software misidentified 28 members of Congress as accused criminals from a mugshot database. In a similar study last year by the ACLU, Rekognition incorrectly matched 27 black professional athletes to mugshots in a criminal database. We cannot rely on self-regulation or hope companies will choose to rein in harmful deployments of the technologies they develop, Buolamwini said in an email to Consumer Reports. I reiterate a call for a federal moratorium on all government use of facial recognition technologies. A Push for New Laws Big technology companies and privacy advocates both say they want the federal government to regulate facial recognition. Weve advocated that governments should put in place stronger regulations to govern the ethical use of facial recognition technology, and in recent days, Congress appears ready to take on this challenge, Amazon announced in a press release. We hope this one-year moratorium might give Congress enough time to implement appropriate rules. Microsoft president Brad Smith made a similar statement at a press event Thursday morning. We will not sell facial recognition technology to police departments in the United States until we have a national law in place, grounded in human rights that will govern this technology, he said. However, some advocates question the tech industrys motives in calling for regulation. The specifics of Amazon and Microsofts statements are telling, Evan Greer, deputy director of the advocacy group Fight for the Future, said in a statement. Theyve been calling for the Federal government to regulate facial recognition, because they want their corporate lawyers to help write the legislation. In Washington state, a recently passed facial recognition law was written by State Sen. Joe Nguyen, who is also a Microsoft employee. Advocates say the law should have provided stronger protections. A few other states, most notably Illinois, have wide-reaching rules limiting the collection and use of facial recognition, but they mainly regulate private companies, not police departments. One of the most disturbing parts about police use of facial recognition is that we wouldnt know if its been used on protesters, says Albert Fox Cahn, founder and executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, a New York-based advocacy group based in New York City. In most jurisdictions, theres no requirement for police departments to acknowledge when these tools are being used. A handful of cities, notably San Francisco, have banned the use of facial recognition by municipal agencies, including the police. Boston is considering similar legislation. Rogers, the Brooklyn tenant, is skeptical that either tech companies or politicians will adequately address what he sees as excessive police surveillance. Even when government officials are forced to pay attention, they often fail to have a proper conversation with the communities that are actually affected, he says. I have to get involved because if I dont, the government is going to troubleshoot it from the big stakeholders perspective, rather than the perspective of the communities of people who look like me. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright 2020, Consumer Reports, Inc. By Orooj Hakimi and Hameed Farzad KABUL (Reuters) - A blast in a Kabul mosque during Friday prayers killed at least four people and wounded eight, Afghanistan's interior ministry said on Friday, at a time when the country is attempting to move towards peace talks to end 18 years of war. "Explosives placed inside the Sher Shah Suri Mosque exploded during Friday prayers," said a Ministry of Interior statement, adding that the West Kabul mosque's mullah was among the dead. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast and the insurgent Taliban group condemned the attack. "Such systematic killings have begun taking place as the Afghan people have started taking steps towards peace," Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said in a statement. The United States is attempting to broker peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban to end almost two decades of war. After months of delay since the United States signed a troop withdrawal agreement with the Taliban, peace negotiations are expected to start in coming weeks. Islamic State also has a presence in Afghanistan and has claimed large-scale attacks in Kabul in recent months. Friday's blast was also condemned by the Afghan president's office, human rights officials, the United States and NATO. Kabul resident Matin Momen, who was in the mosque compound during the attack, said security forces should examine mosques for explosives. They have been targets for blasts in recent months, especially on Fridays when many gather for prayers. "We are facing a major crisis," he told Reuters. (Reporting by Orooj Hakimi and Hameed Farzad; Additional reporting by Sayed Hassib; Writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Alex Richardson and Frances Kerry) San Antonio attorney Benjamin Trotter has recently added a new practice area to his Debt Legal Defense law practice: medical debt lawsuit defense. Although Trotter has always offered medical debt lawsuit defense, an increase in cases related to medical bills has prompted him to separate this service into its own category on his practices website in order to better educate prospective clients on what to expect in such cases. With 137 million Americans struggling with medical debt, the need for medical debt lawsuit defense services is high. Medical debt is one of the most common reasons Americans file for bankruptcy, but with a competent debt defense attorney like Trotter, hardworking Texans can keep their assets and property and come to a settlement they can afford. Unlike student loans and consumer debt, most medical debt is not the result of choices made by debtorsno one chooses to get sick or injured. Despite this, many people lose everything they have as a result of medical debt. This debt is often compounded by the fact that most Americans have insufficient paid leave and may even lose their jobs as a result of prolonged illness or hospitalization. With no income and mounting bills, its easy for people to fall into feelings of despair or hopelessness. Trotter and his team have helped hundreds of South Texas and Hill Country residents release themselves from the burden of medical debt. With his extensive experience, Trotter first ensures that the amount billed is the amount actually owed, then negotiates with hospitals and medical providers to resolve the matter quickly so his clients can move forward with their lives. In the event Trotter determines the debt is wrong or unjustified, he is not afraid to take the hospitals to trial. Debt Legal Defense offers free consultations for medical debt lawsuit defense clients and is willing to meet clients in their homes, offices, or local cafes at times that are convenient for them. Monthly payment plans are available to help make assistance affordable for everyone who needs it. To schedule a free consultation with Benjamin Trotter, contact 210-468-1008. About Benjamin Trotter and Debt Legal Defense Benjamin Trotter, Attorney at Law, P.C., has worked both for consumers and businesses collecting debts from other businesses, giving him a unique perspective that serves his clients well as a debt defense attorney. Born and raised in Texas, Trotter founded his firm in 2015 in order to assist clients in debt lawsuits, with the goal of eliminating or reducing outstanding balances. In addition to running his own firm. Trotter is a Partner with The Rutherford Law Firm, PLLC. Learn more by visiting http://debtlegaldefense.com, calling Debt Legal Defense at 210-468-1008, or visiting the firm at 923 S. Alamo, Suite 2, San Antonio, TX 78205. In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the J&K administration is likely to allow only 2,000 pilgrims in a day during the 14-day Amarnath Yatra via the shorter Baltal route in Ganderbal district, said shrine board sources. They said registrations shall be made online. Due to the spike in Covid-19 infections across the country, uncertainty looms large over the annual pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre high cave shrine in south Kashmir. The works section of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) is awaiting the J&K administrations nod for the Baltal route so it could undertake the maintenance tracks leading to the shrine, they added. So far, it has been decided that barring sadhus, no pilgrims above the age of 55 years will be allowed to embark on the yatra, which will take the shorter Baltal route. All those undertaking the pilgrimage must possess Covid-negative certificates. The pilgrims will be cross-checked for the infection upon entry into J&K before they are allowed to undertake the yatra, said an official requesting anonymity. The SASB is also looking to telecast the live aarti from the cave shrine in the morning and evening for the devotees, the official added. Another official said since it would be a curtailed yatra, the SASB is mulling to allow it via helicopters only. However, lieutenant governors principal secretary and SASB CEO Bipul Pathak said, The board is yet to meet and take a decision. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON According to guidelines also detailed on the chains website, the reopening is dependent on health metrics remaining positive and the State of Illinois moving to Phase 4 reopening. There may be new protocols spelled out by the state, but the current thinking is for auditoriums to be no more than 50% filled, with most seats sold as reserved-seating. Those without recliner seating, which Classic Cinemas says are already six feet apart, will have every other row blocked off. Concessions will be open. Patrons will be required to follow social-distancing guidelines including wearing masks, but only until seated. There will be additional cleaning services and employees will undergo health screening and wear masks and gloves. Read more here. Doug George At a time when the coronavirus caseload is increasing, fewer tests conducted by private labs across the country is intriguing. Worsening situation in Delhi is already under the scanner with the Supreme Court pulling up state government for reduction in number of tests, among other things. What is adding to the woes are new disincentives for coronavirus testing by private labs. First, a growing concern that the state governments are changing protocols too often, banning private labs on one pretext or the other or discouraging testing in private labs altogether in some states. Second, a move towards lowering the price cap on testing by the private labs. Third, pending bills by the government to the private labs. There may be nothing wrong in temporary bans on erring private labs. In fact, some argue that strict action, including imposition of a ban, may become necessary in cases where private labs delayed test reports or when they are found slipping on quality because it would be dangerous not just for patients, but also for healthy people who may get infected. In some cases, however, such as in Telangana, the state has still not allowed private labs to do the testing, barring select cases, say for inpatient in certain private COVID-19 hospital facilities. The state has been in the news for its low level of testing numbers compared to most other states. It reported 4,320 positive cases in the state as of Thursday, June 11. However, one of the senior state officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, argued, "We are not under-testing but are more focussed. There is no point adding testing numbers from rural Telangana where the virus has not spread and instead focus largely on the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) region, and there we have the highest number of positive cases. The rate of testing there is in tune with the national average." ALSO READ: Indian pharma companies Aurobindo, Glenmark, Lupin, Sun, Wockhardt dragged to court in US Bans and moves to put a lower price cap States where private labs are allowed to test are being encouraged to take only those cases which they can quickly handle and report. "The government is saying to do the testing but they are tying our hands behind our back instead of being supportive and providing assistance," a doctor pointed out. They are temporarily banning the private labs for one reason or the other. The reasons could either be delay in uploading the data, procedures not being followed or coming up with some false positive reports, which may need strict action. But there is now an added dimension of pricing. Some private labs are willing to do the testing at a concessional rate. The government, therefore, now considers to reduce the price cap for testing. For instance, a state government committee under State Health Assurance Society CEO Sudhakar Shinde has been set up in Maharashtra to look into this. In Karnataka, for example, there are already media reports of private labs getting only Rs 2,200, but these apparently are for samples from government hospitals, instead of the ICMR-fixed price of Rs 4,500 per test. In fact, in Karnataka, one of the doctors dealing with testing said it was as low as Rs 650 if pooling method is used for testing the samples sent by the government. ALSO READ: Looking for COVID-19 testing labs near you? Here's how Google can help you Also, some of the private labs complain of pending bills from the government. These are apparently running in crores. This is why private labs are starting to prefer patients coming directly to get tested and paying for it rather than having samples collected from government hospitals and wait for pending bills to get cleared. At the same time, having to pay the vendors upfront, staff salaries, on-staff quarantine in select cases, their transportation and even housing. Result: This is emerging as a major disincentive against more testing. The big boss now in the testing architecture is the state government and within it, the municipal commissioner followed by the local ward officers with everyone wanting to show their clout with no decision-making power with the physician, lamented a doctor. More tests do not mean more deaths Do more tests mean more deaths? No. Data has shown that. Consider this: Going by the officials numbers, compare Maharashtra's total confirmed cases which were nearly one lakh as on Friday, June 12; precisely 97,648 and 3,590 deaths, which means, 3.7 per cent deaths. Similarly, in Delhi, there are 34,687 total confirmed cases and 1,085 deaths, again 3.12 per cent death rate. In Telangana, with a low 4,320 total cases and 165 deaths, the percentage of deaths was again 3.8 per cent. The bottomline is more tests do not mean more deaths. It only helps in better containment, isolation and the spread of the virus. But, if the healthcare infrastructure is not ready to handle more caseload, in the absence of enough beds, the death rates and caseload will still remain unchanged. ALSO READ: Coronavirus patients treated 'worse than animals': SC slams Delhi government Mark Darcy, 33, was jailed for 15 years on Friday after stamping on a pensioner's face while stealing from his home for the second time in one week. (KENT POLICE) A "dangerous" burglar who targeted a property twice in one week and stamped on the face of his elderly victim has been jailed for more than 15 years. Mark Darcy, 33 and accomplice Sam Wood, 27, burgled a property on Beaver Road in Ashford, Kent, on Wednesday 9 October last year, where they stole a large quantity of cash. But less than a week later, on 15 October, Darcy returned to the property where he and and another man forces their way inside. While there they assaulted the home owner by stamping on his face and making threats at knife point before making off with more money. Darcy and Wood were caught on CCTV. (KENT POLICE) The victim, a man in his 70s, was left with cuts and bruises which required hospital treatment. During the second burglary, the offenders were heard to discuss which cabinets had already been searched during the first burglary. Enquiries by the Chief Constables Crime Squad of Kent Police led to CCTV footage (pictured below) which showed Darcy and accomplice Wood leaving the property during the first burglary. Darcy, 33 of Folkestone, Kent, was described as "dangerous" by police. (KENT POLICE) Darcy, of Cauldham Close, Folkestone, previously admitted counts of burglary, aggravated burglary and possession of a knife at Canterbury Crown Court. Wood, of no fixed address, admitted burglary, and possession of a knife in a public place after he was found with a Stanley knife when arrested. On Friday, Darcy was jailed for 15 years and nine months, and Wood for two years and seven months. Sam Wood was an accomplice to Darcy during the first burglary. (KENT POLICE) Following sentencing, detective constable Mike Kingwell of the Kent Police Crime Squad said: The determination to steal - and level of violence shown - by Mark Darcy is extraordinarily worrying and demonstrates just how dangerous he is." "He showed no remorse as he returned to the scene of the burglary days later, and to be able to threaten and assault a man in his 70s is abhorrent and it is no surprise the judge took such a dim view of the incident. "I am glad he is in prison as he, and his co-defendant Wood, simply do not deserve anything else." Watch the latest videos from Yahoo News UK ACROSS AMERICA At the crossroads of the coronavirus pandemic and civil dissent, some epidemiologists warn that virus infection rates could further spike in the coming days. Their concern has risen about two weeks after Americans began packing city avenues and town streets to protest the Memorial Day death of George Floyd beneath the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. The protests over threats to black Americans seemed to make many people forget the country is still in the throes of a pandemic. Now, one of the results of the protests may be a stark and deadly reminder that the coronavirus isnt yet finished with America. Nearly half of U.S. states saw increases in new coronavirus cases. In a dozen of them, the spikes were alarming. In four states Arizona, Arkansas, Oregon and Utah cases more than doubled in a two-week period. Demonstrations are, by definition, a show of shoulder-to-shoulder solidarity. But that's the antithesis of the social distancing guidelines still in place in many parts of the country, even as states begin rolling back lockdowns. The bigger the crowd, the more amplified the message and the louder the voices and the farther the spread of potentially coronavirus-containing respiratory droplets into the surrounding air. Even when protesters are masked and march 6 feet apart, as many do, the demonstrations raise a conundrum: What is the price of protesting in a pandemic? Another conundrum: What is the price of not protesting? Given the urgent moral stakes in the call to root out systemic racism in police and every other institution in America, the risk of remaining silent for many protesters far outweighs the risk of contracting the virus. But in terms of public health, says a Seattle epidemiologist, the price will be steep with a demonstration-driven second wave of the coronavirus. Demonstrations against the police-custody death of George Floyd continue despite the dangers of the widening coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) In the first-ever attempt to quantify the viral threat of dissent, Dr. Trevor Bedford, who studies the spread of the coronavirus at Seattles Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, acknowledges the science isnt exact. Story continues Its difficult to get an accurate count of the number of people demonstrating on a given day and the overall health of those protesting, he said. His models also assume that each infected person spreads the virus to one other person on each day of the protest. Under one of the models, somewhere between 135,000 and 486,000 people could be infected over nine days of protests, and between 450 and 4,500 people could die. None of the scenarios Bedford presented is particularly encouraging. The most optimistic estimates are for 1,500 new infections a day in protests with 600,000 participating. Completely accurate measures of the effect of protests on the spread of coronavirus may be impossible to obtain because they began as states started rolling back lockdowns and easing some social distancing guidelines, Bedford said. This week, the United States passed into uncharted territory for any other country in the world by recording more than 2 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 113,800 deaths, according to the running global count kept by Johns Hopkins University. Theres no single reason for the surge in coronavirus cases, but health experts attribute at least part of it to the easing of lockdowns and social distancing measures meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus. For example, Arizona residents had been cooped up in their homes for six weeks as of May 15 when Republican Gov. Doug Ducey lifted a stay-at-home order and eased restrictions on businesses. Ten days later, Arizona began seeing a surge of new cases and hospitalizations. New coronavirus cases more than doubled in Arizona over the past two weeks, and health experts are warning that George Floyd protests, including this one in Tempe, could fuel new spikes. (AP Photo/Matt York) It seems pretty clear to me that what were seeing is directly related to the end of the stay-at-home order, Will Humble, the executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association, told The Associated Press. Theres single reason for the surges. The lifting of lockdowns and easing of other restrictions has contributed, experts say, but the virus also is moving around into new areas. A spike new cases related to protests wont show up until this weekend and the days after because of the 14-day incubation period for the virus. But the virus is also fanning into areas that havent been hard hit. It is a disaster that spreads, Dr. Jay Butler, who oversees coronavirus response work at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The AP. It's not like there's an entire continental seismic shift and everyone feels the shaking all at once. The new cases reported over the past few weeks dont reflect the swell of demonstration-related infections. The incubation period for the virus is up to 14 days, and illnesses related to George Floyd demonstrations could show up in next weeks numbers. But some new coronavirus cases have already been directly traced to contact at protests. Some of the 3,400 members of the Washington, D.C., National Guard mobilized June 1 to the protests have tested positive for the coronavirus, though the branch said in a statement it wont disclose how many until the risk of infection or illness has passed. The D.C. National Guard said some of its soldiers deployed to demonstrations have tested positive for the coronavirus, and infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci thinks more protest-related positive cases will be reported in the coming days. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, isnt surprised that the soldiers tested positive for coronavirus. The issue of physical separation is important. Masks can help, but its masks plus physical separation. And when you get congregations like we saw with the demonstrations, like we have said myself and other health officials thats taking a risk, Fauci told ABCs Good Morning America. Unfortunately, what were seeing now is just an example of the kinds of things we were concerned about. And as the CDC says infections are fanning out across the country, Fauci expects the protests to exacerbate that. Demonstrators are likely to test positive, too, and those who came to the nations capital to protest and the National Guard soldiers from other states will take the virus home with them. Its the kind of things we were concerned about and, unfortunately, were seeing it come true right now, Fauci said. The crowds at demonstrations have been diverse in many cities, yet black Americans are twice as likely to die from COVID-19 as white Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That could be used as fodder to those opposing civil rights, Yale School of Medicine epidemiologist Nathan Grubaugh tweeted, pushing back against Bedfords modeling. Governors and mayors are seeking balance in their response to the protest, advising demonstrators to practice social distancing without discouraging civil dissent. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms opened testing sites for protesters in her city. Hoboken, New Jersey, Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla said a recent protest in the city was a powerful statement in the struggle for racial equality, but asked participants to schedule a COVID-19 test given the practical difficulties of social distancing at the demonstration. Other governors and mayors are acting similarly as they prepare for an onslaught of coronavirus cases, as physical distancing guidelines fall and crowds gather in the thousands. Those concerns are valid, a group of more than 1,275 health professionals and community leaders wrote in an open letter published online by The New York Times. The letter called COVID-19 yet another lethal manifestation of white supremacy. That makes protests vital to public health and one of the only vehicles available to black Americans to bring those entrenched issues to the public square, they wrote. Public health officials condemned statehouse rallies to lift coronavirus restrictions as counterproductive to the effort to control the spread of the coronavirus. But those officials also said the George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests warrant a different, but clear, consistent and anti-racist public health response. White supremacy is a lethal public health issue that predates and contributes to COVID-19, they wrote, outlining the dramatic health disparities between black and white people that result from long-standing systems of oppression and bias. The group offered several strategies to reduce the potential of spreading the virus, including a call for police not to arrest demonstrators, to not hold them in confined spaces and to restrict the use of tear gas and other respiratory irritants that can increase the risk for COVID-19. But, they wrote, the best thing public health officials can do is prepare for an increase in coronavirus infections in the days following the protests, and provide open access to testing to people in minority communities, especially when they or their family members put themselves at risk by attending protests. In Seattle, Bedford continues to look at different scenarios in his research on the effects of protests on the coronavirus spread and advocate for those raising their voices in dissent at a time when It feels as though we've largely given up on controlling the epidemic and have resigned ourselves to living alongside it, he tweeted. The harms of systemic racism are real and utterly pernicious, he tweeted. The hope is that the protests may lead to lasting reform. It is a cruel twist the USs inability to control the epidemic has made it dangerous to protest entrenched police brutality. This article originally appeared on the Across America Patch Peel police have arrested a 54-year-old principal at a private school alleged to have sexually assaulted a 16-year-old female student. Police say the assault took place on Monday. Police would not confirm the name of the school the suspect worked at. Sanjiv Kumar, who also goes by the name Sanjiv Dhawan, of Brampton, was arrested on Wednesday. He has been charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation. Kumar was released and will appear in court on Aug. 24. Investigators believe that there are other victims and any to contact the special victims unit at 905-453-2121 ext. 3400 or Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). TY Tom Yun is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @thetomyun Read more about: Supplier News 12 June 2020 The latest edition of our Pulse Report, which went live today, is showing us universally positive signs, with week on week increases in pick up for all four geographic regions we are tracking: North America, Latin America, EMEA and APAC. Today's Pulse Report, which tracks data from the last two weeks of May, shows us an initial wave of growing consumer confidence. However, bookings remain predominantly short-term at present, with the majority of consumers booking for stays within a 30-day lead time. North America has seen strong growth in new bookings week on week. May 25-31 (week 13) saw a 31% increase in new bookings compared to May 18-24 (week 12). Casino resorts proved the standout segment, following many reopening announcements for this vertical. Casino resorts saw a 53% increase in new bookings in week 13 over week 12 figures. Latin America saw comparable trends in pick up in the last week of May. Week 13 saw a 65% increase in new bookings compared to week 12. Similarly, data for EMEA also showed an encouraging upturn in new bookings. Week 13 saw a 314% rise compared to Week 10 (May 4-10) in volume of new bookings for stay dates in June through August. Short-term pick up trends were also reported in APAC, where 64% of all new bookings were booked for stay dates in the next 30 days. The Central Information Commission (CIC) last week rejected a plea under the Right To Information (RTI) Act seeking details of the Centres denial of permission to prosecute army personnel involved in 47 cases of alleged death/injuries caused during operations between 2001 and 2016. It may compound the situation of unrest and instigate festering emotions in the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state, in addition to having international ramifications, it said while rejecting the plea. CIC said disclosure of the operational details will adversely impact security and strategic preparedness of the armed forces. HT has seen a copy of the order. Of the 50 requests from the then state government for prosecuting the personnel, 47 were denied, according to the Centres response to a question tabled in Rajya Sabha in 2018. Venkatesh Nayak, programme head at the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (an NGO) and a RTI activist, who sought the info in February 2018, said he took the matter to CIC after defence ministry and army refused details. CIC has directed the ministry to provide an affidavit to Nayak saying there are no official records containing details of procedure or norms, criteria and standard that is to be followed by the Ministry while deciding the evidence submitted by the government of J&K government in prosecution sanction cases. It asked the ministry to submit in writing it is the competent authority to sanction or deny permission to prosecute accused army personnel. CIC said the request for details have to be weighed on the scale of relativity of larger good between alleged victims and that of the state. Lawyer Navdeep Singh, a former reservist, said the decision on whether to prosecute or not will vary. So, it is not surprising that there is no singular procedure, he said. (Newser) Disney's Artemis Fowl might've kicked off a franchise had the film adaptation of the first two books of Eoin Colfer's children's fantasy series been at all well-received. Instead, the big-budget movie about a 12-year-old son of a criminal mastermind with a lot of secrets has a dismal 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, leaving critics with no doubt as to why it's debuting Friday on Disney+. Five harsh takes: "Artemis Fowl is finally here, and boy are you going to be disappointed," reads the headline of Kevin Crust's review at the Los Angeles Times. "Anyone looking for entertaining young-adult fantasy adventure might as well move along," he elaborates. "There's nothing to see here." It's "bland and incoherent, with paper-thin character development, unimaginative world building, and a lot of daddy issues," according to Roxana Hadadi at AV Club. "The only interesting thing about this irritatingly smug and cheaply campy adaptation is how uninterested it is in its own source material," she adds, claiming it "just dully swipes from the Hunger Games and X-Men franchises." story continues below It's an "unruly disaster, a potential franchise that shows up dead on arrival," writes Adam Graham at Detroit News. Sure, it's easy on the eyes. But "there are Shakespeare monologues easier to digest than this convoluted story." In the best-selling book series, Artemis Fowl is a "12-year-old criminal mastermind." Here, the "title character is no longer bad. But the movie sure is." In fact, it's "downright awful," Peter Debruge writes at Variety. He sums it up as "a loosely defined hero, an even vaguer villain and a whole lot of things flying at the screen." At the New York Post, Johnny Oleksinski describes the film as "sunglasses-and-fake-mustache bad." It's "begging to be banished to the Disney Vault" and "if I were [director] Kenneth Branagh, I'd use a pseudonym for the credits," he writes. And "for those hoping for a movie adaptation of each of the eight novels, as this films overly optimistic ending would suggest, I recommend starting a Change.org campaign to make a Netflix miniseries instead." (Read more movie review stories.) A BOY given months to live is to fly to Mexico for cutting-edge cancer treatment which has proved successful in eradicating the disease in mice. Charlie Ilsley, 13, of Buckingham Drive, Emmer Green, is battling cancer for the third time after he was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2015. He now has tumours on his spine. Earlier this year, his parents Mark and Toni were told that chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment had failed. Since then they have been searching for a trial that could save their sons life. Now the family are to fly to Mexico City on June 18 for Charlie to start a new form of immunotherapy which will last three weeks and cost almost 20,000. Charlie, who currently has no symptoms, is being helped by Dr Jason Williams, an award- winning doctor and the director of interventional oncology and immunotherapy at the Williams Cancer Institute, which also has branches in America and China. Mrs Ilsley said she believed the treatment had only been used on small number of patients previously and was hopeful it would help her son. She said: It has been done in mice and has been really successful, killing all the medulloblastoma. Its supposed to wipe it out. Its brilliant because we can now move forward. I think being so cutting-edge, this is what we need. I know its not at clinical trial stage, its very, very new. Nothing has worked so far so lets try a bit of experimental therapy. We cant go down the chemotherapy route as its not going to work. This is time ticking away now. Im just sitting here waiting thinking, is he going to get worse? Is he going to get paralysed before we can go?. I think, look how well he is, why cant we just go now? My head plays games with me all the time. The Ilsleys will fly with Charlie on Thursday so that they have time for a stopover. The treatment will begin on June 22. Charlie told the Henley Standard that he didnt mind travelling to Mexico and was looking forward to trying tacos. Mrs Ilsley said searching for a trial on which her son would be accepted had been an absolute nightmare. She hs previously been told Charlie was ineligible for trials at hospitals in both Memphis, Tennessee and in Seattle, Washington. He was ruled out of the first because it was for brain cancer rather than disease of the spine, and the latter, known as CAR T-cell therapy, a type of immunotherapy, because Charlies original tumour didnt have the protein which the treatment targets. He was also not suitable for two trials in Philadelphia. It was worrying me to death because I lost all these trials, said Mr Ilsley. Now were actively doing something, we have got hope again. Were in good hands and its something Charlie has never had before. I feel were really lucky with the people we have met on this journey. Charlie, who attends Highdown School in Emmer Green, has enjoyed being off school while it had been shut during the coronavirus pandemic, except to children of key workers. His mother said: His hairs growing and Ive cut it twice and Im pretty sure hes getting taller. Hes right up by me now. Charlie was given the all-clear for the second time in August after undergoing specialist radiation treatment in Turkey which his family had to raise the money to pay for. But in November they were told the disease had returned after a lumbar puncture showed cancer cells in his spinal fluid and a scan in March showed the disease prominently in his spine and in other areas. Charlie had been receiving the drug etoposide through a reservoir inserted under his scalp in January and topotecan but these treatments have ceased. In 2015 he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and another on his spine. He underwent a 10-hour operation and had 31 sessions of radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy before being given the all-clear in March 2016. Then in spring 2018 two tumours were discovered on his spine. The family still need to raise 9,000 to ensure all of the treatment, plus accommodation and expenses are covered. To donate, visit www.facebook.com/donate/339388953688126/ or www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/teamcharlie2020 Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 14:26:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close YINCHUAN, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, goji berry growers in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region are expecting a bumper harvest this year, thanks to livestreaming marketing. Goji berries, also known as wolfberries, have embraced the first harvest in early June. On one plantation in Dahe County, under Hongsipu District of the city of Wuzhong, busy pickers were joined by livestreaming anchors, who took on the role of "leading actors" in the fields. "Welcome to my livestreaming room!" said Fu Hui, looking into her smartphone screen and interacting with viewers as she livestreamed the harvesting. "The fresh goji will be delivered to your doorstep within 24 hours!" She received over 40 orders in just an hour. "I feel like I'm melting under the scorching sun. But the online customers' interest in goji berries is even hotter," she said. Fu is a member of the sales team in a local goji berry company. Due to the epidemic, over 100 company employees have been trained to become livestreaming anchors to sell products online since March. Total online sales during the epidemic topped 50 million yuan (about 7.05 million U.S. dollars), a 60-percent jump over the same period last year, said Hao Miaomiao, the company's new-media publicity director. "We have arranged 30 teams to livestream harvesting in the fields on various online platforms today, which should bring fresh experience for online viewers and hopefully more orders," Hao said. China's goji berry history dates back thousands of years. In ancient herbal medicine, its functions included protecting the liver, improving eyesight and conserving strength. With more derivative products like goji masks and goji plasmogen, it is now exported to over 40 countries and regions. Famous for its fine goji berries, Ningxia had planted over 66,667 hectares of goji berries by the end of 2019. Located in Ningxia's central arid area, the sandy soil of Hongsipu provides a perfect growing environment for the berries. "Due to high temperatures and the use of organic fertilizers, this year's goji berries ripened about 10 days earlier than in previous years," said Ma Tao from the plantation. Besides placing orders, online viewers also raised questions about the berries' nutritional value and growing conditions, as well as tips on picking. Livestreaming anchors answered their questions both passionately and patiently. According to Hao, the total number of online viewers exceeded 1.08 million from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with sales surpassing 890,000 yuan. "Customers in big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou will receive the juicy and fresh goji berries within 24 hours," said Hao. Sign-language anchors were also invited during two livestreaming sessions. Though Ma Rui could not speak, he danced in front of the camera for the special group of deaf-and-dumb viewers. "His body language and facial expressions were extremely vivid, and even his eyes could talk," said Yang Qiuyan, Ma's livestreaming partner. "Thanks to him, hearing-impaired customers knew more about our products." Goji berry farming has become a key industry in Dahe County. Hao's company has created about 20,000 jobs for local people. More than 500 pickers are needed every day during the picking season. "Goji berries have greened deserts and sweetened villagers' lives," said Yang Jianjun, deputy county head. Enditem Seven IFA staff are to leave the organisation it has been announced today as part of a voluntary early retirement offer announced in February. The process, which is part of a restructure of the organisation, has now been completed and seven staff are taking up the offer and will leave the organisation in the coming months. The total cost of the programme is 1.134m. IFA livestock director Kevin Kinsella, dairy executive Catherine Lascurettes and former grain secretary Fintan Conway are among the seven leaving. IFA had staffing costs of 5.3m in 2019, and according to the associations most recent accounts, three executive management staff are paid combined salaries of 412,000, while the average remuneration of the top 15 staff, after the executive management, was 99,047, not including employer pension contributions. The latest accounts for the IFA show the farming organisation has an operating deficit of 246,000 and before Christmas the association's national council approved an increase in its membership fees from next year by 10. IFA Director General Damian McDonald said that the departing staff had given outstanding service to IFA and Irish farmers throughout their long careers with the organisation. IFA President Tim Cullinan said that having top class committed staff working with elected farmer officers is central to IFAs success. On behalf of Irish farmers and the current and former officers of IFA, I want to thank the staff for the huge contribution they have made to IFA, he said. New proof of police misconduct, a collapse in tax revenues, and an expanding outbreak of coronavirus should have Texans thinking outside the box to address societys problems and drive the economy. Few ideas create as much controversy as releasing more people from prison. But conservative activists, criminal justice reformers and some correctional officers agree that releasing more people would solve a slew of problems, both societal and economic. Two-thirds of people incarcerated in Texas prisons are African American or Hispanic. The Black Lives Movement has shined a light on abusive police practices that led to this disparity, but the challenge is releasing those who are not dangerous while also preventing bad law enforcement from ruining more lives and potential careers. Every good executive knows that times like these call for a fundamental review of the business plan. The Texas Department of Criminal Justices mission is to lock up dangerous people. The agencys budget for 2020 was $3.5 billion, with $2.9 billion spent on incarcerating 140,000 people at more than 100 facilities. Workforce, though, is a challenge. Annual turnover among correctional officers is more than 30 percent, and 20 percent of positions are consistently vacant, even with hiring bonuses and higher wages. Financing is a major problem because COVID-19 has taken a toll on Texas sales tax revenues. State leaders have instructed the Department of Criminal Justice to cut its lean budget by 5 percent. Without enough staff or money, the time is ripe to ask whether locking up so many people is good for society, the workforce or the economy. The Texas prison count has grown at twice the speed as the population. Just as police arresting people will not solve their drug addiction, neither will putting them in prison. People holding any amount of hard drugs, or four ounces of marijuana, end up with felony convictions that haunt them for the rest of their working lives and likely put them behind bars where they become a taxpayer burden. TOMLINSONS TAKE: Former felons deserve a chance to prove themselves Legalizing marijuana and treating drug addiction as a public health problem would dramatically reduce the number of prisons in Texas and prevent a medical condition from excluding hundreds of thousands from the workforce. But there are more immediate solutions, too. The Texas Board of Pardons and Parole has already approved the release of 11,000 people. But the Department of Criminal Justice requires parolees to complete courses ranging from life skills to anger management before they are released. Due to budget cuts and a lockdown to slow COVID-19, potential parolees are spending an extra six-to-nine months behind bars at taxpayer expense waiting for a class they should take online. If we would do the (courses) at the front-end, as soon as they have parole, they could leave, said Scott Henson, policy director for the Innocence Project of Texas. That would be another half-dozen prison units we can close. About half of the people in prison are there because they violated probation or parole. Half of those violationsabout 12,000 a year--are for technical reasons, such as drinking alcohol, missing an appointment or testing positive for marijuana. That's basically four or five prisons right there, said Marc Levin, an analyst for the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation. Changing the drug sentencing laws to redirect more people into drug courts and other alternatives is really important. TOMLINSONS TAKE: "Shark Tank" for felons teaches more than business plans Even a conservative like Levin, who runs the Right on Crime initiative, thinks we can release more people safely. We don't want to have an automatic release of everybody, but I do think we should focus on certain cases, like geriatric cases and medically-fragile, pregnant women, Levin said. The number one factor is safety. Can we be assured that there is a low risk the person will commit a serious crime? Lance Lowry, vice president of the Correctional Officers Association of Texas, said reducing the prison population would improve everyones conditions. About a third of people behind bars in Texas are released every year, but only 21 percent of those will end up back in prison within three years. This agency has seen cuts over several economic downturns and hasnt seen an upscale in its funding, he said. Low-level offenses where the evidence shows there is little chance they will offend again is an opportunity for savings. Every business leader knows the wisdom of rethinking assumptions, asking how to do things smarter, and wondering if they are really serving their customer. After the recent protests, the pandemic and an economic collapse, we need to reconsider everything, even who we lock in prison and why. Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and policy. twitter.com/cltomlinson chris.tomlinson@chron.com Shares of Vodafone Idea were trading almost 14% lower on Friday trade amid report that the telecom major along with its peer Bharti Airtel is considering offering their spectrum, tangible assets and tax refunds as security to the Supreme Court. This was after the apex court told the telcos to prepare a roadmap and file affidavits within five days outlining details on how they would pay the AGR dues. The cash strapped firm's lawyer contended to the court that it wasn't possible for the telco to give bank guarantees for the unpaid dues and rather proposed its spectrum and licence as security. The stock price of Vodafone Idea opened lower at Rs 8.46 on Friday and later fell to the intraday low of Rs 8.11 on BSE, down 13.62% of its earlier close of Rs 9.39. Yesterday, ahead of a Supreme Court hearing on the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) case, shares of Vodafone Idea were trading 14% lower. The stock closed 13.9% lower at Rs 9.39 after the SC hearing. The stock has lost 13.4% in the last 2 sessions of continuous falls. Vodafone Idea is trading higher than 20, 50, 100 and 200 days but lower than 5-day moving averages. The stock has fallen 11.88% in one week. However, it has risen 87.65% in one month and 50.49% since the beginning of the year. Market capitalisation of the firm stood at Rs 25,114.73 crore as of today's session. Vodafone Idea has expressed its inability to pay the AGR dues in one go. The telco has warned it'll have no option but to shut operations if it pays all its pending dues. The telecom operator this week paid Rs 2,500 crore. So far, the telco has paid Rs 6,900 crore. Its lawyer Mukul Rohtagi has also stated that the firm does not even have money to pay to its employees. Vodafone Idea's total dues remaining payable amount to Rs 53,000 crore as per DoT, while the company claims it stands at Rs 21,500 crore. As per the court order, the telcos are to clear total dues worth Rs 1.47 lakh crore, in line with the DoT's estimate. By March, government had received part payment of about Rs 25,900 crore from telecom operators towards AGR dues. The DoT had moved the apex court to propose the phased payment of license fee and spectrum usage charges dues worth Rs 1.43 lakh crore by telecom firms spread over 20 years. The department was of the view that the immediate payment would cause likely bankruptcies and could possibly impact crore of customers. Share Market LIVE: Sensex drops 750 points, Nifty at 9,650; IndusInd Bank, Tata Motors, ONGC top losers Investors lose Rs 3.5 lakh crore after Sensex, Nifty fall on weak US market sentiment Pres. Trump holds roundtable with black leaders on race, police reforms Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Conservative black leaders met with President Donald Trump at the White House Wednesday, where they urged the administration to support policing reforms and shared ideas about other initiatives to benefit black communities. The meeting was held ahead of Trump's visit to Dallas, Texas, Thursday where he held a similar meeting with black leaders to discuss racial issues as the administration works out the final details of its own police reform proposal in the wake of nationwide protests following the officer-involved death of George Floyd. "A lot of these things are systemic," said Ja'Ron Smith, assistant to the president on domestic policy at Wednesday's meeting. "We need to break down that system and fight back." "You know, opportunity zones, [historically black colleges and universities], criminal justice reform, those are reversing some systemic issues," Smith said, highlighting some of the administration's previous achievements. He also stressed that the administration is looking at other layers of systemic issues. "We just saw what COVID shined a spotlight on, on access to capital; it shined a light on health disparities. Recently, with the protests, how can we create better policing and community relations?" Smith asked. "One thing we have done over the last couple of weeks is listening to individuals, and now we have some solutions, and those are things we are going to continue to work through as an administration." Wednesday's White House meeting was also attended by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson, Pastor Darrell Scott, conservative radio host Wayne Dupree, Republican political consultant Raynard Jackson, and radio host Sonnie Johnson, among others. Kareem Lanier of the Urban Revitalization Coalition said the president has been "nothing short of historic for black America," citing the criminal justice reform and Opportunity Zones Initiative. But Lanier added that the "current issue that we're having right now is police reform." He stressed that police reform is "so much needed." "We did criminal justice reform, but police reform is the gateway to what we see as an unjust criminal justice system sometimes," Lanier said. "Meaning, if a crooked cop doesn't do a terrible corrupt thing with an individual, we never get into that bad system." Lanier added that the administration itself has been "marked by crooked cops," naming former FBI Director James Comey, who was fired by Trump in May 2017 amid the Russia investigation. "I tell people this all the time, this whole situation with this policing, it's not new to black people," Lanier said. "We've been used to it. As a kid, I got harassed by the police all the time and I think I was a good kid. But it's a part of our community. And so we do need some things to happen on the police reform side, which will connect with the great things we've already done historically with criminal justice reform. And we know that you're the president to get it done." On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced that the White House is finishing a legislative proposal on policing reform. She stressed, however, that the president will not support reducing legal immunity for police officers. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrats reportedly pulled a pro-police bill that had the support of over 200 members last year as lawmakers look to create more accountability for officers. The bill would have allowed public safety workers to collectively bargain with the government over hours, wages, and terms and conditions of employment. On Monday, Democrats introduced a new police reform bill that bans chokeholds and creates a National Police Misconduct Registry "to prevent problem officers from changing jurisdictions to avoid accountability," according to a summary of the legislation obtained by CNN. In addition to policing reforms, Lanier stressed that banking reforms are also needed to improve access to capital for the black community. "We do also understand that we need some holistic approaches to create this ecosystem," Lanier said. "Voting rights, blacks have to go to get voting rights every 25 years or so now. These are things that are historic and we believe that you are the president to get these things done for the black community." Other speakers at the roundtable did not hold back when it came to criticizing the policies of the Democratic Party and what they perceive to be the media's partisanship when it comes to Trump's policies in the black community. "Think about the black community that has been under Democratic rule, progressive rule for 60 years," Johnson, a radio host and Tea Party activist, said. "How many rules, how many regulations, how many different forms of taxation are on the books in those areas that are preventing our communities from actually being able to see sustainable growth that we can keep and get ourselves out of this trend of generational poverty." She also voiced concerns that even through Opportunity Zone Initiatives, it can be difficult to get funding if people don't follow the agenda of the Democrat local officials. "If the Opportunity Zones pass from a federal level, they then go down to the state and then are allocated on a local level. So for us, as black people to actually access the Opportunity Zones, I have to go talk to Democrats and I have to be willing to do what they want to do under their agenda, how they want it done for me to be able to have access to the Opportunity Zone funds," she said. "So that's where, when you see in our communities, instead of getting young blacks to invest and become entrepreneurs and become owners, you're getting gentrification." Carson stressed that the administration is in the process of working to fix that issue. "The community development, financial institutions, the credit unions, the local banks have been excluded from a lot of the dissemination of the funds previously," Carson said. "That's been recognized, it's in the process of being corrected right now." Jackson, who served on the presidential campaigns of George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush, also didn't hold back. "What I like to say to you, Mr. president, is kind of off the beaten path. I'd like to say to all the media assembled here, I wish they would quit lying about what you've done, specifically for the black community," he said, noting that commentators like CNN's Don Lemon or MSNBC's Joy Reid are "putting more poison into the black community than any drug dealer." Angelina Jolie has given a rare interview about her home life with her children - while opening up about educating herself during self-isolation and her thoughts on ending racism in the US. The 45-year-old Oscar-winning actress, who is also a Special Envoy of the High Commissioner for Refugees, spoke with Harper's Bazaar UK from her Los Feliz, California home, while sharing two candid photos of herself during lockdown. Angelina, who split from ex-husband Brad Pitt in 2016, said she has been 'putting all her energy into' her six children during this time at home, adding: '...Like most parents, I focus on staying calm so my children dont feel anxiety from me on top of all they are worrying about.' Hitting all the hot topics: Angelina Jolie gave a rare interview about life in lockdown with her six children, revealing that she is focusing on staying 'calm' so they don't feel 'anxiety' The Maleficent star lives in a mansion in Los Feliz, just a five minute drive from Pitt's compound and the former couple have reportedly been getting along well as they share custody of their children. Brad and Angelina met in 2004 while starring in the hit movie Mr and Mrs Smith together, and they were married from 2014 until September 2016. Together the couple shares three adopted children: Maddox, 18, from Cambodia, Pax, 16, from Vietnam, and Zahara, 15, from Ethiopia. They also have three biological children: Shiloh, 14, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 11. During the coronavirus pandemic, Angelina says her children have remained her prime focus - and she says she has been working on hard on remaining calm throughout lockdown so that her kids don't feel any additional worry because of her. 'Like most parents, I focus on staying calm so my children dont feel anxiety from me on top of all they are worrying about,' she said in the interview. 'I put all my energy into them.' She also shared an update on the family pets, revealing that tragedy struck one of her youngest daughter's animals. A rare look: Angelina, 45, spoke to Harper's Bazaar UK from her Los Feliz home - and she shared two candid images of herself taken by her youngest son Knox, 11 'During the lockdown, Viviennes bunny passed away during a surgery, and we adopted two sweet little ones who are disabled. They need to be in pairs. They are so gentle and it has helped to focus on their care with her at this time. And on the dogs, and snake and lizard' But while her children have remained her primary focus during this time, Angelina, who recently donated $200,000 to the NAACP legal defense fund in the wake of George Floyd's death, has also taken a keen interest in the fight against racism in the US. 'Having six children, I am reminded daily of what is most important,' said the Mr And Mrs Smith star. 'But after almost two decades of international work, this pandemic and this moment in America has made me rethink the needs and suffering within my own country.' Angelina noted that there are more than 70 million people who have had to 'flee their homes worldwide because of war and persecution and there is racism and discrimination in America'. The Oscar winner and activist called for changes to be made to the legal system, and to policies that only offers protections and rights to people of a certain race - using her adopted daughter Zahara, who is from Ehtiopia, as an example. 'A system that protects me but might not protect my daughter or any other man, woman or child in our country based on skin color is intolerable,' she said. Being a mother is her top priority: Together they have raised Maddox, 18, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 14, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 11. Seen in October 2019 Her first love: 'Like most parents, I focus on staying calm so my children dont feel anxiety from me on top of all they are worrying about,' Angelina, pictured with her kids in 2017, said 'We need to progress beyond sympathy and good intentions to laws and policies that actually address structural racism and impunity.' But while Angelina is adamant that structural changes need to be made to the way the country is run, she also praised those people who have risen up and fought for change in the wake of the pandemic and the protests. 'It feels like the world is waking up, and people are forcing a deeper reckoning within their societies,' said the former model. 'It is time to make changes in our laws and our institutions listening to those who have been most affected and whose voices have been excluded.' As far as the lockdown, Jolie is not the type of celebrity to complain that she is bored. Rather she looks outside her home and what is happening around the world. 'Im deeply worried about the impact of the pandemic and the global economic crisis on refugees,' said the humanitarian. 'They are people who have been driven from their homes and countries by bombs, rape and violent persecution in all its forms, long before this virus. A good dad: Brad, who is pictured with Pax, Shiloh, Maddox, and his mother in Hollywood in 2014, shares custody of the couple's six children with Angelina 'They live with xenophobia and racism and prejudice every single day and are some of the most vulnerable people in the world when it comes to the economic consequences of the pandemic.' And she worries about the abuses within the home. 'The other horror is domestic violence. The reality before lockdown was that the most dangerous place for a woman to be was in her home. During lockdown, the abuse and level of violence has risen,' stated the star 'Above all my concern is for the children. The number of children we know are being abused at this very moment keeps me up at night. There is a global health crisis for children from abuse, neglect and the effects of that trauma. And not nearly enough done to protect them. 'During lockdown, the abuse and level of violence has risen.' As far as what she has been reading these days, the list includes Time magazine, The New York Times, the BBC World Service and BLM activists online. 'Most recently, Ive watched the documentary I Am Not Your Negro about James Baldwin and the civil-rights movement in America,' said the Tomb Raider star. 'Before bed, Ive been reading Unreasonable Behaviour by Don McCullin and reflecting on how journalism has changed in the last half a century.' At work: Jolie, a special envoy for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, speaks at a press conference during her visit to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels in 2018 Jolie also shared that she has been working on children's book with Amnesty International. 'The reason rights do not reach a child in a country or home is that adults are blocking them,' said the Salt star. 'So in many cases, the child cannot depend on the adults.' The daughter of Jon Voight added, 'We are working on a book to help children empower themselves. Its about what to do when your rights are revoked or not granted at the outset. We want to help kids, who are so engaged now, to use their knowledge and fight for their rights and claim them.' Angelina added 'we still turn a blind eye to domestic violence' because we 'often dont believe survivors, we dont put the rights of children first or take their trauma seriously.' And the star noted that 'child-protection services are not adequately resourced and funded'. 'They lack proper training. So do judges,' she explained, before adding that it is often women who are the biggest victims of these systematic inadequacies. 'When girls are out of school it leaves many more vulnerable to child marriage, child labour, sexual abuse and other violations of their rights,' added the star. 'The pandemic looks set to have knock-on effects on girls in many countries. We know it but still there is inertia. 'The UN is warning that the pandemic could result in two million more cases of female genital mutilation and 13 million more child marriages over the next decade. That is horrific. 'There is no easy answer but sounding the alarm on this, urging governments to anticipate where girls are going to be most vulnerable and to act, is essential as a first step.' The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (E.A.F.J.D) has issued a statement condemning the statement by three Members of the European Parliament on construction of a new highway connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh. The statement reads as follows: "On behalf of its chapters across Europe the EAFJD deplores the recent joint statement of the Members of the European Parliament, Marina Kaljurand, Traian Basescu, and Zeljana Zovko concerning the construction of a new highway, between Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Unfortunately, such a statement is not only counterproductive for the peace process but it also undermines fundamental human rights, such as the right of a people (in this case the people of Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh) to development and freedom of movement. These rights are inalienable and by no means depend on the status of a country. Hence the content of this statement undermines the credibility of the European Parliament as a house of democracy. The signatories of the statement express their "unwavering support to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group" and therefore logically also Basic Principles. How coherent it is to state this and in the next sentence claim that the conflict must be resolved within the framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan? For anyone who is even superficially familiar with the negotiation process, it is clear that the essence of this statement in fact undermines the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and all that has been agreed until now. Whether it was intended or not, this self-contradictory statement is unfortunately a word-for-word reflection of the official Azerbaijani policy of total isolation imposed on an indigenous population. Unfortunately, such a statement also encourages the war-rhetoric of a regime that is widely notorious for crackdowns on freedom of expression, for scandalous, elaborate corruption mechanisms (Azerbaijani Laundromat) and modern slavery, regularly exposed by renowned platforms of investigative journalism. As European citizens we believe that the European Union is a union of values. We do believe the Members of the European Parliament, in this case from the major political groups such as the EPP and the S&D are accountable for and have a moral obligation of upholding these values. Hence we call on the signatories of this statement to refrain from supporting rhetoric of oppression, the isolation of an indigenous population and raise their voice for the fact that the people of Nagorno Karabakh are currently left on their own in the face of the Covid-19 global pandemic. European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy" The fire at an oil well near Baghjan village in Assam on June 9 took a turn for the worst as it was a major blaze. The aftereffects have been bad for the farmers as the gas released from the fire are destroying their crops. The blowout was on May 27 and the fire added to their woes. PTI "Our crops of tea and areca nut have been damaged due to the gas leak. Tea leaves are falling from the plants," said Lavanya Moran, a farmer, while speaking to ANI. Assam: Farmers say their crops damaged as condensed gas falls in villages near the site of an oil well fire at Baghjan in Tinsukia district. Lavanya Moran, a farmer says, "Our crops of tea & areca nut have been damaged due to the gas leak. Tea leaves are falling from the plants". pic.twitter.com/gNF5U5XeAY ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2020 Another resident, Satyajeet Moran summed up the situation. PTI People of our village now had to evacuate the relief camp set up in the village school and go and seek shelter at Jokaimukh village, which is 12 km away from here. After the blowout, this fire has completely finished our village. Many houses were burnt along with widespread damage to property, he said according to science.thewire.in. For these farmers, the crops are their livelihood and it is hitting them where it hurts. PTI The intensity of the fire was so high that it could be seen 10 km away. Two firefighters also lost their lives in combating the flames. The Air Force sent fire engines and even the Army was called in, Albany As activists in several U.S. cities pull down and damage memorials to Christopher Columbus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo voiced support Thursday for a statue of the explorer in Manhattan. In recent years, critics who point to evidence of Columbus' brutality toward indigenous peoples have called for New York City to remove his 70-foot-tall statue standing atop a column in Columbus Circle. Some have suggested that New York rename Columbus Day and call it Indigenous People's Day, arguing that commemorating Columbus glorifies a symbol of genocide and enslavement and glosses over history. Those calls have been renewed in many cities in the wake of nationwide protests against racism following the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. Italian American groups, however, have used memorials to Columbus, who was from Genoa, as a way to celebrate their own heritage. The Manhattan statue was put up in 1892 as the Italian American community attempted to overcome prejudice and assimilate into American society. Cuomo, who is Italian American, defended the statue Thursday while saying he understands ongoing dialogue surrounding it. I understand the feelings about Christopher Columbus and some of his acts, which nobody would support. But the statue has come to represent and signify appreciation for the Italian American contribution to New York, Cuomo said. So for that reason I support it. His remark comes amid a growing push for the nation to reconsider who is honored and reckon with oppression and violence committed by national icons. The colonizer is at times credited with discovering the New World though millions lived there, said Onondaga Nation citizen Betty Lyons, who also leads the American Indian Law Alliance. Columbus never landed on what's now known as the continental United States and faced accusations of tyranny and enslavement toward the native residents of a Caribbean colony he governed for Spain. Governor Cuomos eloquence in response to the anti-racism movement sparked by the murder of George Floyd apparently does not extend to the genocide and enslavement those first transatlantic voyages initiated and which continue to underpin the oppression of indigenous peoples to this day, Lyons said. In 2017, vandals doused the Columbus statue's hands in blood-red paint and scrawled the words hate will not be tolerated. A 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue led New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to launch a commission that evaluated how to deal with controversial sculptures including the Columbus statue. The commission recommended adding historical markers to give more context. In New York City, Democratic lawmakers have called on the military to rename two streets General Lee Avenue and Stonewall Jackson Drive at Fort Hamilton, an Army base in Brooklyn. They wrote in a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper that soldiers deserve to serve on bases that honor their ancestors contributions to our nation, not those who fought to hold those same ancestors in bondage. De Blasio said Thursday: Nothing should be named after Robert E. Lee at this point in history. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. Government imposed economic sanctions against International Criminal Court personnel probing whether American soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan. President Donald Trump also authorized additional visa restrictions against ICC officials and their family members. The ICC called the sanctions 'unprecedented' and accused the Trump administration of attempting to interfere with the rule of law and the Court's judicial proceedings. 'They are announced with the declared aim of influencing the actions of ICC officials in the context of the Court's independent and objective investigations and impartial judicial proceedings,' the Hague-based court said in a statement. The White House said the International Criminal Court's actions are an attack on the rights of the American people and threaten to infringe upon our national sovereignty. It alleged corruption and misconduct at the highest levels of the International Criminal Court Office of the Prosecutor, calling into question the integrity of its investigation into American service members. U.S. Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said he United States has a good track record of investigating and prosecuting the alleged criminal actions of its own service members, and URGED the International Criminal Court to stay out of U.S. business. During a briefing for reporters at the State Department, Esper vowed that members of the U.S. armed forces will 'never appear before the ICC, nor will they ever be subjected to the judgments of unaccountable international bodies.' In 2017, the International Criminal Court announced its intention to investigate U.S. service members for alleged crimes related to missions in Afghanistan. The United States is not a State Party to the Rome Statute and has repeatedly rejected the International Criminal Court's assertions of jurisdiction over United States personnel. President Trump has signed an executive order calling ICC claims to jurisdiction over U.S. personnel 'illegitimate.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Michael Stuhlbarg and Elisabeth Moss as Stanley Edgar Hyman and Shirley Jackson in "Shirley." (Thatcher Keats / Sundance Institute) Josephine Decker's newest film has an irresistible premise of seduction and betrayal in mid-20th century New England. A newly married couple, the wife (Odessa Young) pregnant with their first child, arrive in an idyllic small town, where the husband (Logan Lerman) is set to take an assistant's job at the local college. They move into the home of his boss, a vaunted literary critic and professor (Michael Stuhlbarg), married to a writer (Elisabeth Moss) whose stories have thrilled, horrified and angered readers. Tension crackles with each beautifully shot, dreamlike scene. The elder couple spar over her depression and his philandering and controlling behavior. The two wives conduct a dance of sublimated sexual tension that never quite achieves consummation. The feeling of suffused dread pays off elegantly. Decker, who won accolades for her previous film, Madeline's Madeline, seems to have pulled off another triumph. Certainly the critics think so, lauding Moss in particular for an Oscar-worthy turn. Won't the real Shirley Jackson, seen here in 1951, please stand up? (Associated Press) Yet I was unmoved, because Shirley has a rotten core. It is supposed to be a fictionalized account of Shirley Jackson, best known for the New Yorker short story The Lottery and novels including The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. What ought to have been a terrific, surreal exploration of the dangers of domesticity for women before the advent of second-wave feminism clangs atonally for anyone who knows even a little about Jacksons life and work and their profound divergence from Moss performance or Deckers story. I watched Shirley with much trepidation. I had not cared for its source material, Susan Scarf Merrell's 2014 novel Shirley (adapted for the screen by Sarah Gubbins). I'm also a longtime devotee of Jackson's work, and reprinted her story Louisa, Please Come Home in my domestic suspense anthology, Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives. In spite of my concerns, I did admire the cinematography and Decker's direction and thought well of the performers, particularly Stuhlbarg and Young. Ultimately, my trepidation was warranted. Story continues The film fails first because of the novel. Merrell professed to admire Jackson's work a great deal, and the premise of her book had potential: an examination of what it meant for Jackson to stand beside a Great Man the critic and Bennington professor Stanley Edgar Hyman while knowing, or at least suspecting, she might be a Greater Woman, was rich in creative possibility. Instead, the novel, and by extension the film, paint Jackson as a two-dimensional harridan. The agoraphobia and depression that left her housebound in the wake of Castle's publication are all there. But the recovery and commitment to new writing, cut short by her death in 1965 at age 48, are glaringly absent. The depiction of Jackson as someone inhabiting her darkness at every turn is creative license. But indulging it so heavily omits the sense of fun and bonhomie disclosed by her children and others in Ruth Franklin's essential 2016 biography, Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life. Elisabeth Moss and Odessa Young in "Shirley." (Thatcher Keats / Sundance Institute) That omission ties into another in the film version: Jackson and Hyman's four children. Merrell's novel includes them, even putting dialogue in the mouths of the two eldest, who remain very much alive. Legal wrangling is the likeliest explanation for their absence in the movie. This choice, sadly, further undercuts the fictional depiction of Jackson as psychologically trapped in her marriage. It carves out a large piece of not only her life but her livelihood: Jacksons many published essays on domesticity and motherhood, collected in the delightful volumes Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons, helped support her family more than the fiction did. Shirley also exposes the larger problem of biopics in the age of easily accessible video and audio. Recordings of Jackson reading from The Lottery are available on YouTube. Telling the story, Jackson leaned on subtle notes to ratchet up the dread. The contrast between her rich, sonorous, California-inflected mid-century voice and Moss' interpretation is all the more jarring. With the ersatz material she has to work with, Moss opts instead for atonality and wild flashes that leave little room for psychological nuance. Since Decker and Moss had the same access to Jacksons life and voice that I did, I can only infer their choice was deliberate. The bar for biopics, in film and television, has to be set high to overcome the viewer's familiarity. The works must, in essence, convince people that imaginative interpretation is closer to the truth than was real life. When that alchemy succeeds, it produces stunning films along the lines of Fruitvale Station and Just Mercy, or television miniseries like When They See Us and Mrs. America, which illuminate and educate while striving for artistic excellence. When such efforts fall short, the valley grows ever more uncanny, and the result is tantamount to creative gaslighting. One of Shirleys most egregious sins contains, paradoxically, the seeds of a solution. Both Merrell's book and Decker's film hinge on the fictional Jackson's apparent obsession with the still-unsolved 1946 disappearance of Paula Jean Welden, a 20-year-old Bennington student, and its apparent inspiration for her second novel, Hangsaman, published five years after Welden vanished. But Jackson's biographer, Franklin, found no evidence of a connection, and a close read of Hangsaman reveals an altogether different inspiration. (Penguin Classics) That novel is an outstanding portrait of a young woman on the margins. Natalie Waite is lonely, introverted, almost invisible. A disturbing encounter, vague enough to verge on sexual assault, propels her even further inward. Hangsaman is a novel of the inner life how it can bend back upon itself, how quiet dread can be a worse calamity than overt melodrama. Jackson understood well that isolation was a scourge, and that the yearning to belong, coupled with an inability to do so, was a recipe for dangerous turmoil. What wonders Josephine Decker might have done with an adaptation of Hangsaman. Or even with the synopsis of Shirley as set out in my opening paragraph. Instead, we're stuck with a film that is hidebound to the constraints of the biopic, however much it struggles to shake them loose. The upside is that those of us disappointed in the film always have Jackson's marvelous writing to turn to, including Hangasman. Why not start there? Weinman is the author of The Real Lolita and the editor of the forthcoming anthology Unspeakable Acts: True Tales of Crime, Murder, Deceit & Obsession. The Mayor of Middlesbrough has been heavily criticised for social media posts which appeared to play down the significance of white privilege in his region. Andy Preston's suggestion that poverty is the more poignant issue comes amid widespread Black Lives Matter protests, and Facebook users have labelled the post as 'offensive'. Mr Preston's statement is the first time he has spoken out publicly about the movement - which recently saw hundreds of local residents take part in two peaceful demonstrations. The post, which came on Tuesday night and was greeted with condemnation, admitted that 'there is racism here and other kinds of discrimination'. Mayor of Middlesbrough Andy Preston has been criticised for a controversial social media post Mr Preston argued poverty is the biggest issue facing the region amid protests over racism However, it then argued that deprivation is the 'biggest barrier to progression in life in Middlesbrough.' Mr Preston was accused of being 'tone deaf' with his beliefs. His assertion that white privilege has generated 'careless talk' is particularly controversial in the current climate, with protesters taking to the streets worldwide to campaign against violence and systemic racism. The term refers to the idea that people are afforded basic rights due to their skin colour. Mr Preston wrote: 'Don't listen to careless talk in the media about white privilege - look at the awful situations so many white and non-white families face in Middlesbrough and other places. Deprivation here appears to be colour blind.' Having been confronted by a number of irked constituents, he later added: 'How can it be true when so many white-skinned people do so badly in our society? 'How can it be true when poor white boys do worse at school than poor black boys or poor Asian boys? How can it be true when some of the least diverse/most white boroughs are the poorest?' The statement was also slammed by MP's, with Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough, angered by a 'staggering ignorance'. He said: 'I find the comments made by the Mayor of Middlesbrough, Andy Preston, incredibly disturbing and his words reveal a staggering ignorance of the issue. 'His description of white privilege as "careless talk in the media" is completely dismissive of the systemic and institutional racism that has cost so many of our sisters and brothers their lives and blighted the lives of millions through the centuries. 'This has to be the time for change. We need to take an objective look at our own history, reflect and learn. Sadly, it appears, in as far as Mr Preston is concerned, that is going to be an uphill task.' Olalekan Odedeyi, from the Save the Woman project set up by Teeside University, wrote a letter to Mr Preston in response to his post. It read: 'You may wish to note that it is not "careless" to talk about white privilege but you have been careless to dismiss those who take that issue seriously in your recent statement about the Black Lives Matter demonstrations. Hundreds of Middlesbrough residents had recently taken part in two peaceful demonstrations Statues dedicated to Captain James Cook are being threatened with removal by the 'Topple The Racists' campaign (left, in Great Ayton; right near Admiralty Arch in London) Mr Preston had tweeted: 'I'm calling on Tees politicians to join me to protect Captain Cook's legacy after campaigners called to remove statues of our famous explorer' 'Given the sensitivity of the events after George Floyd's death, in your capacity as the top executive member at Middlesbrough Council, could you please confirm if your post were appropriate, respectful, and professional? 'As an African led organisation, we thought it would be helpful to remind you about the Structural and Institutional Racism affecting the people of Middlesbrough. The impact of Social Services on the lives of African, Asian and Minority Ethnic (AAME) Families is disgraceful.' Mr Preston later urged people to be 'careful' with their language when discussing racism. He told the BBC that 'words like privilege can be misconstrued', and added that poverty 'will be the single biggest driver in Middlesbrough of your performance at school and whether you earn a decent wage'. The Mayor of Middlesbrough also made the headlines on Thursday after defending statues of Captain James Cook that are targeted for removal by the 'Topple The Racists' movement. Mr Preston waded into the national debate and said that locals are proud of the 18th-century explorer. Statues of him are located in Great Ayton, Whitby and London. A primary school, hospital and road are all named after Cook in Middlesbrough, but the campaign describes Cook on their website as a 'colonialist who murdered Maori people in their homeland'. Hong Hong-keum and her husband examine ripening bananas at a greenhouse in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, June 9. Yonhap Trees are laden with bananas at a greenhouse in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, June 9. Yonhap By Jung Min-ho Jeju Island was long considered the only warm-enough region in Korea for commercial banana farming, but climate change is now turning the mainland into a producer of the tropical fruit. Hong Hong-keum, a farmer in Haenam, the southernmost tip of the Korean Peninsula, told The Korea Times Wednesday that she and her husband are looking forward to their first and Haenam's first banana harvest next month. They planted 470 banana trees last year to adapt themselves to "changing circumstances" as the impact of climate change on agriculture was felt among many farmers, she said. According to the agricultural technology center in North Chungcheong Province, the number of people investing in banana farming has surged in recent years. "There are about 40 banana farms in Korea, including two (at Cheongju and Chungju) in our region," Park Eui-kwang, a researcher at the center, said. "Another farmer in Jecheon recently contacted the center for support before starting banana farming later this year. "Climate change is obviously affecting Korea's farming industry." About 99.7 percent of all bananas consumed here are imported, mainly from the Philippines, and most of the rest is produced on Jeju. But with more farmers exploring the field, this soon could change. The researcher says the commercial potential of "Korean bananas" is high as samples from there show a higher sugar content than that found in imported ones. In 2015, the Rural Development Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs set up a department dedicated to researching new agricultural and floricultural fields to prepare for the expected effects of climate change. Local governments across the country also offer support for farmers who break fresh ground in their businesses. Papaya, another tropical fruit known for its sweet orange and juicy pulp, has been produced by farmers across the country, including in Andong, Gokseong and Miryang. A farmer inspects ripening papayas at a greenhouse in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, Jan. 21. Yonhap Lee Yong-kwon, who made headlines last year after successfully cultivating bananas from 10 trees in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, said he has been farming other tropical fruit, including papaya and guava, as well as coffee and olives this year. Local governments are hopeful that tropical fruits could boost farmers' incomes. But some experts say farmers should tread carefully because change may not be as fast as they expect. A farmer checks the growth of bananas at a greenhouse in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Dec. 3, 2019. Yonhap (Bloomberg) -- A Taiwanese court ruled Friday that current and former engineers from United Microelectronics Corp. stole trade secrets from U.S. chipmaker Micron Technology Inc. and shared them with a government-backed mainland Chinese company, closing one chapter of a global dispute thats stoked U.S.-Chinese tensions. The district court of Taichung fined UMC NT$100 million ($3.4 million) after finding three engineers guilty of theft or assisting in the alleged theft. The trio was jailed for periods ranging from 4.5 to 6.5 years and fined between NT$4 million and NT$6 million. The case is part of a years-long dispute spanning two continents thats deepened divisions between Beijing and Washington. Intellectual property theft is among the Trump administrations chief complaints as it wages a campaign to contain China thats rattled global markets. China, which is trying to become a major player in semiconductors, has repeatedly denied that its companies poach trade secrets. UMC said it will appeal the ruling, saying it has mechanisms to protect its customers intellectual property rights and it did not violate trade secrets laws. In its appeal against the ruling and the excessively disproportionate penalty, UMC will cite many irregularities in both the investigation and the case itself, the Taiwanese company said in a statement. Micron welcomed the verdict in a statement and said justice had been served. The misappropriation of trade secrets and their transfer outside of Taiwan is detrimental to the countrys entire semiconductor industry and threatens future competitiveness. This judgment further reinforces the importance of intellectual property protection in Taiwan, demonstrating that criminal misappropriation will be appropriately addressed, the company said. Micron first sued UMC and its Chinese partner -- Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co., which is said to have benefited -- in 2017 in the U.S. for stealing trade secrets, setting off the dispute between the top U.S. memory chipmaker and one of Asias largest manufacturers of made-to-order semiconductors. In January of the following year, UMC counter-sued in mainland China and that July, a Chinese court banned sales of some Micron chip sales in the country. In November 2018, UMC and Jinhua, along with the three individuals, were indicted in California, charged with conspiring to steal trade secrets from Micron. Story continues Fridays decision coincides with growing scrutiny of the role that Taiwanese companies play as global leaders in chipmaking and electronics assembly. In May, the U.S. slapped a ban on the sale without approval of silicon made with American gear to Huawei Technologies Co., a move regarded as an attempt to prevent industry giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. from supplying its top Chinese customer. The U.S. is intensifying its scrutiny of Chinese investors and companies and it will not allow Taiwan to become a loophole, said Carol Lin, a law professor at National Chiao Tung University, speaking before the verdict was announced. She said that Taiwans legal process for IP theft cases is long and there is no knowing when this UMC case will be finalized. This actually may undermine foreign companies confidence in Taiwan, said Lin. Taichung prosecutors had indicted UMC employees J.T. Ho and Kenny Wang in 2017 on charges of breaching Microns trade secrets. Both are former employees of the U.S. chipmaker. Ho and Wang replicated Microns DRAM data onto their own devices and used the material for their work at UMC including a partnership project with Chinas Fujian Jinhua, prosecutors said in an indictment document reviewed by Bloomberg News. Wang is no longer with UMC, according to a company spokesman. A third UMC staffer, Rong Leh-tian, instructed Wang to incorporate Microns design information into UMCs own, according to the indictment. The intent of that was to shorten chip development times the court said in Fridays statement. In reaching its verdict, the court cited evidence including how Ho was on both UMCs and Jinhuas payroll at the same time and it was clear the allegedly stolen technology was intended for use in China. J.T. Ho earned two salaries respectively from UMC and Jinhua, so it is very clear he intended to use [Micron data] on mainland China, the court said in a statement. Kenny Wang and Rong Leh-Tian both leaked Microns trade secrets to UMC for the use of UMCs relevant business units ... and the final research was to be transferred to Jinhua for mass production, so they had the intention to use [Microns data] in mainland China. Rong, a senior manager, instructed the other two defendants to wipe any Micron data on their computers before Taiwanese prosecutors raided their workstations, but investigators found a large volume of material from the U.S. company on the devices regardless, according to the court. The court said Ho had received some NT$5 million from both UMC and Jinhua, while Wang got NT$1.5 million and Rong NT$1.6 million from UMC. The defendants conduct have led to Microns loss of advantage and competitiveness in the market of products connected to the leaked trade secrets and undermined Microns interests. This damage is difficult to remedy due to the leak, the court said in a statement. (Updates with response from Micron in fifth paragraph) For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. A young New Ross mother who suffered catastrophic leg injuries in a fatal car accident in April is being supported as she begins the long road to recovery and hopefully being able to walk again. A 50,000 fundraising drive that will lessen the financial pressure on her and her family has seen over 4,000 raised for Milena Nowak (22) who sustained multiple injuries in an accident outside Ballinaboola in the early hours of April 20. Sadly her friend, Dean O'Neill who was driving the car, died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the crash. Speaking from University Hospital Cork, Milena said she has a vivid recollection of the accident and much of its aftermath. She was rushed to University Hospital Waterford and from there to Cork University Hospital where she learned of the extent of her injuries and of the loss of her friend. Milena said: 'It's seven weeks since everything happened. I am after coming on a lot from where I was.' Milena's left leg is in a fixator and will remain so for up to 18 months. Most of her leg was crushed in the accident in which she also sustained a cut to her head, broken ribs, a damaged lung and broken arms. 'My airbag never went off. Prof Harty in Cork told me I may need to have my leg amputated. He said it was in the worst condition he had seen a leg in his 17 years.' Relaying the extent of her injuries, Milena said she had a metal rod holding her left leg together. 'When they took off my dressings after three weeks I roared. I was told I have a very long road to recovery but Prof Harty said I'm young and fit so there is a chance, but it's up to me how long I want to suffer' Milena has just had her cast on her right arm taken off, so she is getting used to having some more mobility. She will need years of physiothearpy on her leg once the fixator is removed, but will need the use of a wheelchair to get around when she returns to New Ross, which, she hopes, will happen in the coming weeks as she missed her son Tyler, mother Iwona, father Mariusz and family. 'I've only seen my parents once. My Mammy brought me some fresh clothes after four weeks when she was finally allowed visit. She was wearing a mask and gloves and had to keep two metres away; it was heartbreaking. It was just so hurtful when I saw her walk out the door after the minutes.' A visit from her son Tyler (5) was another special moment amid the gloom and pain to treasure for Melina over recent weeks. 'I got to see him due to the circumstances of my physical injuries and mental suffering. I am away from my family. I couldn't last any longer [without seeing Tyler]. He came in and he got a fright when he saw my leg.' Milena said the time she has had on her own has been very important to her in her recovery. 'No one could see me being emotional. I cried as much as I could and when I was happy I was happy. My son didn't have to see my pain and my family weren't on top of me.' Milena was due to return home to Belview estate in New Ross in late May but this has been delayed. 'I'm ready to go back now,' she said. Milena has always worked ever since she was attending Our Lady of Lourdes school and is not planning to be idle for long. Having started studying social care at WIT in September she is saddened that she can't finish the course, but is determined to start an online course in September. 'It's amazing being in college and meeting new friends. It broke my heart that I couldn't go back. No matter what happens I won't let this hold me back. When I get back on my feet I just want to be able to carry on with my life. It's a long road to recovery. I don't know how long it will take me to get back on my feet. 'I think I'll be able to deal with it better when I'm home even though my family haven't seen my properly on my bad and good days. The support and love I am after getting is overwhelming. It is after giving me so much strength and positivity and things will come back together in my life.' She said the fact that nine DJs are performing live on New Ross quay front this Saturday to help raise money for her is amazing. 'I am so grateful. I don't know how I will ever thank all of the people for all of the support. The last thing I wanted to do was a fundraiser. I was planning on getting a loan to pay for a new wheelchair accessible vehicle and for all of the costs of travel to and from hospital but my friends said there are people there who want to help me not to get myself in debt.' Her house at Belview also needs to be adapted for a wheelchair user. Her friend Marta Swic set up a GoFundMe page, which has already raised around 4,000, with people from across Ireland and also Poland contributing. This Saturday nine DJs will broadcast live from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on 'MilenaDay' and raise awareness for the GoFundMe campaign. The total number of coronavirus cases in the country now stands at 2,97,535 including 1,41,842 active cases, 1,47,195 cured/discharged/migrated and 8,498 deaths. Indias COVID-19 tally on Friday witnessed its highest-ever spike of 10,956 cases, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). 396 deaths have been reported due to the infection during the last 24 hours. The total number of coronavirus cases in the country now stands at 2,97,535 including 1,41,842 active cases, 1,47,195 cured/discharged/migrated and 8,498 deaths. COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra continue to soar with the number reaching 97,648. Tamil Nadus coronavirus count stands at 38,716 while cases in Delhi reached 34,687. Professor (Dr) Balram Bhargava, DG, ICMR, at a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday said that the prevalence of the infection is at less than one per cent in the small districts, while it is just over one per cent in the urban areas. India is such a large country and prevalence is very low that we have found that prevalence is less than one per cent in the small districts, in the urban areas it might be a little over one per cent and slightly higher in containment areas. India is not in community transmission, Bhargava said. India reports the highest single-day spike of 10,956 new #COVID19 cases & 396 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases in the country now at 297535, including 141842 active cases, 147195 cured/discharged/migrated and 8498 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/OM2YIgMfrO ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2020 Also Read: India on Imran khan assistance offer: Our stimulus package larger than Pakistans GDP Also Read: India China standoff: PoK leader Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri condemns Chinese intrusion in Ladakh He, however, added that the country needs to continue with the strategy of testing, tracing, tracking, and quarantine and continue containment measures as they have been successful so far. The guard should not be let down now, he added. Speaking about the number of tests being carried out in the country, Prof Bhargava said, We are now conducting 1.51 lakh tests per day, as of yesterday, and have the capacity to conduct up to 2 lakh tests per day. We also crossed the 50 lakh tests conducted mark a few days back. He also urged the state governments to use both government and private labs to ramp up testing in the country. Also Read: ICMR denies Covid-19 community transmission in India For all the latest National News, download NewsX App Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Reuters) London, United Kingdom Fri, June 12, 2020 11:42 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde2db51 2 News British-Airways,Damien-Hirst,Britain,artist,arts,coronavirus,travel,pandemic Free British Airways will sell at least 10 works of art that normally hang in its executive lounges, a source said, turning to pieces by famous artists like Damien Hirst to raise millions of pounds to help it through the coronavirus pandemic. The airline has come under fire from British politicians for plans to cut 12,000 jobs. But with planes grounded and no revenue, it says the job losses are necessary because travel demand is set to shrink in coming years. As well as Hirst, the BA collection includes works by Peter Doig and Bridget Riley. The idea of selling them came from a BA staff member, a source familiar with the situation said on Thursday. At least one work has been valued at more than 1 million pounds ($1.27 million), the source added. Read also: London inaugurating its first elevated linear park this week BA boss Alex Cruz said last week that with its parent company IAG burning through 178 million pounds ($223 million) a week, he could not guarantee BA's survival and urged unions to engage over the job cuts. One union, Unite, on Thursday escalated its clash with BA, saying it was in talks with the EU Commissioner for Competition about its opposition to the acquisition by IAG of Spanish airline Air Europa. BA has said it is taking steps now to reduce up to 28 percent of staff numbers to protect as many jobs as it can in the long term. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. According to Market Research Future (MRFR)s latest assessment, the global Concrete Cooling Market Size is set to expand at a steady CAGR through the forecast period. The report underscores that the market is expected to grow from USD 900 Mn in 2015 to USD 1200 Mn by the end of the assessment period. Concrete cooling is used for mass concrete constructions such as dams for assuring its integrity and avoiding crackdowns. These cooling systems play a key role in the development of these projects and are likely to witness an upsurge in demand over the next couple of years. Concrete cooling systems leverage the phenomenon that concrete is developed when the heat is evolved and the cement gets hardened. Thus, regions that undergo high temperature climatic conditions are likely to contribute more towards the expansion of the concrete cooling market in the upcoming years. Fast-developing economies in Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa are expected to contribute significantly towards the proliferation of the market. The presence of hot climate in these regions in conjunction with huge investments being made in infrastructural projects are forecasted to augment the concrete cooling market in the near future. Industry leaders are focusing on durability, strength, and safety for capitalizing on potential signified by the market. Innovations and product developments are poised to dictate the growth pattern of the concrete cooling market across the projection period. Also, the strengthening global economy is poised to support the expansion of the construction sector. This, in turn, is prognosticated to propel the expansion of the concrete cooling market across the review period. The governments are emphasizing on the expansion of highways which is one of the primary drivers of market growth. Developing regions are likely to emerge as major contributors to revenue generation in the concrete cooling market. However, the stagnation witnessed in the construction sector of the developed economies is anticipated to lower down the pace of growth over the next couple of years. Market Segmentation: By type, the global concrete cooling market has been segmented into ice cooling, water cooling, air cooling, and liquid nitrogen cooling. By application, the concrete cooling market has been segmented into infrastructure, commercial, industrial, and others. Regional Analysis: By region, the global concrete cooling market has been segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa (MEA), and the Rest of the World (RoW). The Middle East & Africa is anticipated to dominate the growth trajectory of the market over the next few years. The massive investments in the development of infrastructure are likely to augment the concrete cooling market in the region. The thriving construction sector of the region is responsible for driving the proliferation of the market and is likely to exhibit a similar trend in the years to come. Also, the hot climate of the region is expected to unleash growth-inducive opportunities. Global leaders have shifted focus towards the region which is anticipated to further support the proliferation of the regional market over the assessment period. Asia Pacific is also prognosticated to signify similar opportunities owing to the presence of hot climate coupled with rising infrastructural investments. Rapid developments in the construction sector of emerging country-level markets are supposed to propel the expansion of the market. Competitive Dashboard: The important players of the global concrete cooling market profiled in this MRFR report are Fujian Snowman Co., Ltd., KTI-Plersch Kaltetechnik GmbH, North Star Ice Equipment Corporation, LINTEC Germany GmbH, ConCool LLC, Coldcrete Inc., Recom Ice Systems, Icelings, Kirloskar Pneumatic Company Limited, and Focusun Refrigeration Corporation. Two women have been jailed for a series of "vile" assaults on a toddler, leaving him with extensive bruises and lacerations. The injured boy was aged three when found by police eating food off the floor at home. A concerned neighbour called police. Credit:Queensland Police Service He had bruises to most of his body, abrasions and lacerations. The women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, both pleaded guilty in the Brisbane District Court to child cruelty and a string of assault charges. Sitamarhi (Bihar), June 12 (IANS) Amid the ongoing border dispute between India and Nepal, a Bihari farmer from Sitamarhi district was killed while two others were injured in indiscriminate firing by the Nepal Police on Friday at the Indo-Nepal border. The injured were in hospital and are said to be out of danger. According to the police, the Nepal armed police near the Jankinagar border resorted to firing while the farmers were working in the field. Over two-and-a-half months after the Covid-19 lockdown was implemented here, markets, including non-essential business establishments, will open in the summer capital on Saturday. However, only 50 percent shops will be allowed to run on alternate days. Despite the district being a red zone, Srinagars district disaster management authority (DDMA) gave traders a go-ahead, as per suggestions from health experts, after deliberations with various business organisations in the valley. The trade organisations will ensure that all standard operating procedures are observed for permissible 50% opening of shops in line with the state executive committee (SEC) notification, read the order signed by Srinagar deputy commissioner Shahid Choudhary, who is the chairman of DDMA, on Friday. Of Kashmirs 10 districts, the SEC chaired by chief secretary BVR Subrahmanyam on Sunday had classified eight, including Srinagar, as red zones, while Ganderbal and Bandipora were put in orange category. The SEC allowed the opening of business complexes in red districts with 50% shops on alternate days. It also allowed home delivery of food by restaurants and opening of salons and barber shops. As per the new DDMA order, essential products and services like bookshops, chemists, grocery, fruit/vegetable shops, milk, meat, repair workshops, hotels (home delivery) and bakery, will be allowed full-time on weekdays. Non-essential shops selling readymade garments/cloth, cosmetics, footwear, electronics, jewellery, tailors, designers and boutiques will operate from 11am to 5.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, handicrafts, handloom, hardware building material, furniture, furnishing, automobiles, service stations and salons will open. The order states that concerned market associations shall be responsible for observance of SOPs in market areas. Wearing masks and physical distancing shall be mandatory. Equidistant circle in paint indicating mandatory distance (1m) shall be marked outside every shop/establishment, Choudhary ordered. Availability of hand sanitisers and soaps is compulsory at shops and staff attendance has to be 50 percent. The local market committees shall ensure that in no case the prescribed limit is violated, the order said. For public transport, DDMA has allowed three-wheelers with two passengers. Further guidelines will be notified separately after ongoing capacity building for public transport staff, it said. Night restrictions between 8pm to 5am will continue and in notified containment zones only essential services shall be available. Traders welcomed the decision of the administration after their meeting with the authorities on Thursday. The decision has given a new lease of life to traders. The markets will open after a long time and we welcome it whole-heartedly, said Kashmir Economic Alliance chairman Mohammad Yaseen Khan. He said there are over 370 bazaar committees in Srinagar who will ensure the implementation of SOPs at their own level. We will convey to them to ensure the implementation of SOPs. The traders are wise enough as they understand it is not only about the life of the people but their own lives as well. Nobody will take things lightly and all precautions will be taken, he said. The number of Covid-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir has crossed 4,500 with 497 of them in Srinagar. The United Kingdom Prime Minister on June 12 took to Twitter to warn that the anti-racism protests in the country had been hijacked by extremists who were attacking national monuments in an effort to censor the past. Boris Johnsons statement comes after a famous statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square was defaced last weekend amid the Black Lives Matter demonstrations sparked by George Floyds death. While calling the incident 'absurd and shameful, Johnson said that the state is a reminder of the achievement in saving the country from fascist and racist tyranny. In a series of tweets, the UK PM also called Churchill a hero and said that he fully deserves his memorial. On the hand, the demonstrators blame the former PM for policies that led to the death of millions during the famine in the Indian state of Bengal in 1943. READ: Statues Boarded Up In London Ahead Of Anti-racism Protests But it is clear that the protests have been sadly hijacked by extremists intent on violence. The attacks on the police and indiscriminate acts of violence which we have witnessed over the last week are intolerable and they are abhorrent. 7/8 Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 12, 2020 It is absurd and shameful that this national monument should today be at risk of attack by violent protestors. Yes, he sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial. 2/8 Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 12, 2020 READ: UK Council Considers Removing Baden-Powell Statue UK PM understands the outrage Johnson also said that now one can not try to edit or censor history. He added that the statues and monuments in the cities and towns were put by previous generations and to tore them down would be to lie about the countrys history and impoverish the education for generations to come. While he also said that he completely understands the legitimate feelings of outrage and the desire to protest against discrimination, he also added that he recognises that there is much more work to do to fight racism. Floyds death triggered demonstrations, not just in the United States, but protests took place in London, Cardiff, Manchester and Nottingham as well. The demonstrators in Britain reportedly said that they wanted to shine a spotlight on the impact of institutional racism in the UK. However, with demonstrations turning violent and protesters vandalising states, Johnson said that he will not support those who break the law and attack the police. Meanwhile, the protests in the UK also follow recent high-profile stop and search in the capital amid COVID-19 lockdown. READ: London May Remove Statues As Floyd's Death Sparks Change READ: Statues Boarded Up In London Ahead Of Anti-racism Protests A student reads while sitting on a ledge at the Quadrangle of the University of Sydney, Australia May 2, 2017. International students are expected to begin returning to Australia next month despite Chinese warnings of pandemic-related racism, the Australian prime minister said on Friday, June 12, 2020. (Paul Miller/AAP Image via AP) CANBERRA, Australia (AP) International students are expected to begin returning to Australia next month despite Chinese warnings of pandemic-related racism, the Australian prime minister said on Friday. International students would be allowed to come to Australia under approved plans to study at nominated institutions, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said after a pandemic meeting with state leaders. International students have been Australias most lucrative industry after mining, with China the largest source of foreign students. They stand to become among the first classes of passenger to exempted from an Australian ban on travel from China that has existed since Feb. 1. The students would return to Australian universities in a very controlled setting, Morrison said. He gave few details, but said well thought-through proposals" had been forwarded by state government on how their return could be achieved. This is something that Im sure we would all welcome happening again, but it has to be done with the appropriate quarantine entry arrangements and biosecurity and all of those matters being addressed, Morrison said. Morrison said he expected all state borders to reopen in July, with the possible exception of Western Australia. China has warned its citizens of the risk of pandemic-related racism if they traveled to Australia. This follows China banning beef imports from Australias largest abattoirs and ending the trade in Australian barley through massive tariffs in what is widely regarded as retaliation for Australia calling for an investigation into the pandemic. Foreign Minister Marise Payne on Friday accused China of disinformation through its racism warning. Morrison said he was not concerned that Chinese government warnings could deter Chinese students from coming to Australia. When it comes to our record of multiculturalism, of freedom of religion, of liberty, treating everybody equally -- Im happy to stack Australias record up all around the world, Morrison said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing this week that Chinas warnings to Chinese students and tourists over racist incidents targeting Asians in Australia were based on a host of facts." Story continues She advised Australia to "face up to its problems, do some soul-searching and take concrete measures to protect the safety, rights and interests of Chinese nationals in Australia. The travel warning came after Chinese Chinese Ambassador Cheng Jingyes told Australian media in April that the country might face a Chinese boycott of its tourism and exports of wine, beef and other goods if the government pressed for a coronavirus inquiry. The Australian Human Rights Commission reported a spike in the overall number of complaints of breaches of the Racial Discrimination Act in February. But police say racism offenses are often underreported or data is not collected. Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson, a spokeswoman for the sector, welcomed the prime minister's announcement. The return of students will be crucial to reactivating businesses and creating jobs across the country, she said in a statement. Smaller Australian states have closed their borders mainly to stem the virus spread from the worst-affected states, New South Wales and Victoria. The state capitals, Sydney and Melbourne respectively, are Australias most populous cities. Morrison said states could not bring back international students if they did not open their borders. I made clear to the states and territories today: if someone cant come to your state from Sydney, then someone cant come to your state from Singapore, Morrison said. Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said Victoria was alone among Australias eight states and territories to experience community spread of COVID-19 in recent weeks. Australia has not recorded a COVID-19 death since May 23 when the toll rose to 102. The country has recorded 7,285 coronavirus cases and 524 cases remain active. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 20:06:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- Night markets across China have resumed their usual bustle with renewed vigor and more flexible job opportunities. -- Gregarious Chinese outgoers enjoying a dazzling nightlife under regular epidemic prevention and control have contributed to boosting the night-time economy. -- The potential of China's enormous domestic demand of its 1.4 billion people is the main driving force of growth in the post-COVID-19 economic recovery. BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- It was not yet 4:00 p.m. when Niu Zhongxi started prepping around 1,500 of his best-selling grilled squid for the customers that would be showing up in the next few hours. The 38-year-old former cook owns two barbecue stalls at the popular Xingshun International Tourist Night Market in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. "The COVID-19 epidemic did have an impact on sales," Niu said. Fortunately, he was happy to see the customer flow picking up since the night market reopened in early April. On the premise of implementing regular epidemic prevention and control measures, night markets in many places across China are recovering with renewed vigor, as well as more job opportunities. Aerial photo taken on June 7, 2020 shows the Xingshun International Night Market in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Covering more than 50,000 square meters, the Xingshun night market currently has some 700 tenants that directly create around 3,000 jobs, according to Zhang Qiang, who oversees the management of the market. "The potential of China's enormous domestic demand of its 1.4 billion people is the main driving force of growth in the post-COVID-19 economic recovery," Zhang said, highlighting the importance of night-time consumption. The country will stabilize employment, promote income growth and ensure people's basic needs are met to encourage and enable consumer spending, as well as support the recovery and development of consumer services and promote the integration of online and offline consumption, said this year's government work report. Night markets are undoubtedly at the forefront of sparking China's night-time economy. In Wuhan, a city once hit hard by COVID-19 in central China's Hubei Province, the well-known night market on Baocheng Road has resumed its usual bustle, with citizens strolling around the stalls that stretch over 1.5 kilometers. A variety of small commodities and home appliances have been placed on both sides of the road, and people could also get services like photo printing and screen protectors applied to their cellphones. It is worth noting that some merchants were not street vending for a living. There were white-collar workers, college students, housewives and even children accompanied by their parents selling their used toys. Some also used online livestreaming platforms to promote their products. The number of livestreaming chatrooms that were still open after midnight in Wuhan has increased by 239 percent in the past month from the average number in the first quarter, according to e-commerce platform Pinduoduo. Online customers had more visits and longer stay in those chatrooms at night than during the day. "These are emerging trends since Wuhan began to recover from the epidemic," said Xiao Chong, a 28-year-old vendor and owner of a brick-and-mortar chain store. He filled his car trunk with imported personal care and beauty products from his store to sell on the street. "I enjoy this new experience and soak myself in the long-lost lively atmosphere," Xiao said, who reported having met with 70 new customers in three days. People visit a night market in Baocheng Road in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi) Wuhan had tested nearly 9.9 million residents between May 14 and June 1 to screen for novel coronavirus infections, which brought the total number of nucleic acid testees in the city to 10.9 million. The reopening of night markets in Wuhan sends a reassuring message that the heroic city that made great sacrifices during its lockdown is now safe, said the human resources and social security department of Hubei Province, adding that it will not only stimulate and expand consumption but support more people in flexible employment. Data from WeChat Pay, one of China's major third-party payment platforms, show that Wuhan's night economy has seen significant recovery since June, with the number of consumer payments between 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the next day increasing by 43 percent and 158 percent respectively compared with average figures in May and April. To boost the city's night economy, Shanghai kicked off a night festival last weekend, with a number of bars, museums, bookstores, shopping malls and landmark commercial complexes joining the festival with extended business hours and more than 180 themed activities like night tours, shopping, dining and live shows. People read books at one of stores of the Sinan Books extending operation hour to 12 p.m. on every Friday and Saturday from June 5 to June 30, in Shanghai, east China, June 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) At the city's Sinan Mansions, a century-old redeveloped residential complex, a nightlife extravaganza that features outdoor bazaars, food stalls, art exhibitions and other cultural events is underway. The historic buildings received about 45,000 visitors on the first two days of the event. "I signed up for the bazaar as soon as I heard the news," said Natasha Tarascon, M.D., founder of private cosmetics brand Doucea. The French national who has lived in Shanghai for more than seven years was amazed at the huge popularity of her hand cream and fragrance products. Fan Meichen, vice manager of Sinan Mansions, said they have improved nightscape lighting and launched promotional campaigns on new media platforms for the carnival. Late night bars in Shanghai have also recovered and posted better-than-expected sales in recent months since young people's pent-up demand for nightlife was reignited after government quarantine requirements were loosened. "Bars play a key role in lighting up the night of the city after 10:30 p.m. when most businesses are closed," said Ye Dingyuan, executive chairman of the Shanghai Bar Association. A bartender performs at a night fair of Sinan Mansions in Shanghai, east China, May 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Fei) Liu Min, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, said together with relevant departments, the commission will continue to boost night-time consumption with multiple measures such as improving supporting facilities, adding more temporary roadside parking spots and extending subway operation hours. (Reporting by Ma Yunfei, Zhou Rui, Xu Yang, Yu Yetong, Yue Wenwan, Feng Guodong, Chu Yi. Video reporter: Sun Qing, Zhou Rui, Chen Jie, Ding Ting, Li Haiwei, Li Ang, Yang Jinxin, Li Lijing; video editor: Liu Yuting) A suspect wanted for a shooting spree in California that left one man dead and multiple law enforcement officers injured has been shot and killed after more than 24 hours on the run, police have confirmed. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office shot Mason James Lira, 26, dead during a shootout near Ramada Drive and Volpi Ysabel Road in downtown Paso Robles at around 4.30pm Thursday. Several officers were also injured in the exchange, officials said. Lira had been identified as the suspect responsible for shooting sheriffs deputy Nicholas Dreyfus, 28, in the face early hours of Wednesday morning. Dreyfus had been responding to a call that someone had opened fire on a police department building at 3am, when the incident occured. San Luis Obispo Sheriff Ian Parkinson had described the original attack on police as an 'unprovoked attack on law enforcement' by a suspect 'lying in ambush' at the police department. He said it was 'the act of a coward.' Mason James Lira, 26 (left and right), was accused of shooting a sheriff's deputy and killing a homeless man during a Wednesday morning attack Police released photos of the suspect in pre-dawn shooting at Paso Robles Police Department The suspected gunman wearing a cross was captured on camera at two hotels in the city Lira was later seen at two Paso Robles hotels - the Piccolo hotel and Street Side Ale House - leading to suggestions that he could have been staying there. Surveillance photos released by the authorities showed Lira in a gray sweater wearing a chain with a large cross pendant around his neck. According to officials, Lira opened fire at the police department at 3.45am on Wednesday. Paso Robles Police Chief Ty Lewis said a dispatcher monitoring the department's security cameras saw a suspicious person walking around the building and then start shooting. Paso Robles police then called for help from other agencies as they responded to the shooter outside. 'The suspect began firing at police cars as they entered the downtown area, where the police building is located,' said Sheriff Parkinson. 'We feel that this was an ambush, that he planned it, that he intended for officers to come out of the police department and to assault them.' Lira sheriffs deputy Nicholas Dreyfus, 28, in the face early hours of Wednesday morning The gunman shot a sheriff in the head and killed a homeless man before fleeing, police said He said two San Luis Obispo sheriff's deputies who responded to the call were searching the area where the shooter was last seen when they came under fire, at 4:19am. Dreyfus, a two-year veteran of the department, was later airlifted to a hospital in another county and remains in a serious but stable condition. One of the deputies, Dreyfus, was shot in the face. The wounded officer's partner was able to drag him to safety and return fire, Parkinson said. Dreyfus, a two-year veteran of the department, was later airlifted to a hospital in another county and remains in a serious but stable condition. The bullet remains lodged in his head and the police chief said 'he's not out of the woods.' Several hours later body of a homeless man was found near train station in Paso Robles at 7am, about three hours south of San Francisco. The 58-year-old victim, who was believed to have been camping in the area, had been shot in the back of the head. A shelter-in-place order was issued for the city as the manhunt continued. On Thursday, shortly after 3pm, Lira allegedly shot a police officer from the nearby city of Arroyo Grande who was assisting in the search effort. The city said in a statement that the officer, who is also a member of a regional SWAT team, was struck during an exchange of gunfire after authorities spotted the suspect south of downtown Paso Robles. At 4:30 p.m, the sheriff's office tweeted that the suspect was down and several officers were wounded. It was later confirmed that Lira had died at the scene. Lira was found with multiple guns on his persons. Police believe the guns were stolen during a burglary in San Luis Obispo prior to Wednesday's shooting. Lira is said to be a transient from the Monterrey, California, area. He has a criminal record Authorities believe Lira was a transient from Monterey, California. Online records indicate that he has been in trouble with the law before, most recently in May 2020, when he was charged with threatening with intent to terrorize. His Facebook page, which has been dormant since 2018, includes images of guns, pictures of owls and a string of incoherent posts. One status update from September 2018 ominously stated: 'Your all like me, except im not a coward, you all think you can kill someone and come back and live. Ive never raped, Ive never murdered (sic).' Lira appears to have self-published at least four books on Amazon. One of them, titled 'I Am James Part 1,' has the following description: 'The following story of James is of a past incarnation regarding the death of his life. Being a supposedly true story having found his hidden grave in Pogonip Park, Santa Cruz California. The story gets better in the end.' Paso Robles is an unlikely spot for such violence. Paso Robles police department, where the gunman began his rampage early on Wednesday The bustling community 175 miles northwest of Los Angeles is a tourist destination and centerpiece of the wine industry on California's Central Coast. The violence came just five days after another unlikely location, the community of Ben Lomond in Santa Cruz County farther north on the California coast, was the scene of an ambush on police. Santa Cruz sheriff's Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, 38, was killed and another deputy injured Saturday in an attack allegedly carried out by an Air Force sergeant armed with homemade bombs, an AR-15 rifle and other weapons. Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said the suspect, Steven Carrillo, was intent on killing officers. The FBI is investigating whether Carrillo, 32, has links to the killing of a federal security officer who was shot outside the U.S. courthouse in Oakland during a protest against police brutality on May 29. The FBI also is assisting the San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles departments with their investigation into Wednesday's shooting rampage. Authorities said Lira is considered armed and dangerous. If he is seen in public, individuals are advised not to make contact with Lara and should instead call 911 and report his location to law enforcement. Houston will serve as the headquarters of two merged helicopter companies that serve the offshore oil industry. The Bristow Group and Era Group completed their merger late Thursday afternoon. The merged company will keep the Bristow Group name and be headquartered at Bristow's existing office at 3151 Briarpark Drive in Houston. Ferrying oil workers to and from offshore platforms and providing search and rescue services, the combined company will serve customers in North America, South America, Nigeria, Norway, the United Kingdom and Australia. The combination brings long-overdue consolidation in the industry, better prepares us to navigate todays market challenges, and ensures we remain the global leader in helicopter services with an outstanding culture focused on safety and providing excellent service to our valued customers," said Chris Bradshaw, who will serve as CEO of the merged company. Service Sector: Offshore oil producers battle coronavirus & Cristobal Era was founded in Alaska in the 1940s while Bristow was founded in the United Kingdom in the 1950s. With a large amount of work in the Gulf of Mexico, both companies later moved their headquarters to Houston. The merged companys stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday morning under the stock ticker symbol VTOL. Under the merger plan, the combined company will have an eight-member board of directors, including five members from the Bristow board and two members from the Era board. Fuel Fix: Get daily energy news headlines in your inbox Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yunindita Prasidya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 14:17 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde3c9ed 1 Business civil-registration,database,data-protection,citizen,Home-Ministry,Dukcapil,fintech,banks,P2P-lending Free Thirteen financial institutions including mobile payment service providers and peer-to-peer lending platforms have been granted access to the governments civil registry data to expedite data verification as well as to prevent fraud and accelerate financial inclusion. The institutions signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) with the Home Ministrys Population and Civil Registration directorate general (Dukcapil) on Thursday that affords the institutions access to civil registry data, including citizenship identification numbers (NIK) and e-ID card (e-KTP) details. The 13 distribution channels include privately owned Bank Oke Indonesia, financial technology (fintech) peer-to-peer lending companies PT Digital Alpha Indonesia (Uang Teman) and PT Ammana Fintek Syariah, e-wallet OVO, multifinance firm PT Astrido Pasific Finance and foundation Yayasan Dompet Dhuafa Republika. We want to give our support, so that the tasks and the purpose of your organizations can run smoothly by fast verification through access to Dukcapils data, Home Minister Tito Karnavian said during a live-streamed signing event on Thursday. Read also: Government trials facial recognition system to improve social aid disbursement He added that, not only would the agreement allow for more efficient processes, it could also prevent possible fraud, as users of these 13 platforms would need to be verified against Dukcapils database before being granted loans or financing. According to Home Affairs Ministry data, as many as 2,108 other institutions have signed the same agreement. Banks account for more than half of that figure, followed by higher education institutions. We have to be able to utilize data in ways that comply not only with the rule of law but also the privacy rights of the Indonesian people, Tito stressed. Dukcapil Director General Zudan Arif Fakrulloh emphasized that, in line with the principle of data privacy, the partnership only authorized access to requested data in order for the user-institutions to conduct cross-verification and did not grant access to Dukcapils entire database. The institutions also have to fulfil several legality aspects as well as obtain a recommendation from the authority of their respective field, such as the Financial Services Authority (OJK), before getting the access. Prior to the agreement, the institutions said parts of their verification process were still done manually, or that they partnered with third parties to help them verify users' data. Sharia peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform Ammana Fintek Syariah founder and CEO Lutfi Adhiansyah told reporters during a press conference following the MoU signing that the agreement enabled the company to compare data that it had already gathered to quickly complete its Know Your Customer (KYC) process. Read also: Requests for loan restructuring on the rise as COVID-19 hits P2P borrowers The verification with Dukcapils database will only be done with our users' consent, he said, adding that the company had already obtained security data management certification as one of the requirements to get a recommendation from the OJK. Financial services provider Pendanaan co-founder and CEO Dino Martin, who is also the representative of the Indonesian Fintech Lenders Association (AFPI), added that the partnership would increase the companys ability to pursue its financial inclusion agenda, as it assisted the process of digital onboarding and expanded access when the companys reach was limited due to the ongoing pandemic. This partnership is also a response to welcome the new normal, in which people are now closer to the digital world in many aspects, including the financial aspect, P2P lending startup Uang Teman CEO Aidil Zulkifli said during the live-streamed press conference on Thursday. A retired Peterborough doctor has written a book on the effects of cannabis on the developing brain of adolescents and young adults. Dr. Tom Bell, a local family physician, had an interest in the effects of marijuana and its effects on the developing brain but didnt start actively researching the topic until he retired in 2018. The book called Cannabis and Kids A Primer on Pot for Parents and Caregivers goes into detail about the effects of cannabis on the developing brain and the negative outcomes it has on mental health. It is an evidence-based book, he said. Which means that I consulted pretty extensively, much of the research up until the early part 2019 with respect to some of the findings from research on the impact of cannabis on adolescents, particularly with mental health issues. Bell attributes some of his interest in the effects of cannabis on the young brain from when he studied at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont., in the early 1970s. While there he witnessed a student expelled from school for possession of cannabis. At the time he was intrigued about understanding how cannabis worked, he said, and why the penalties for the possession of the drug were so high. It wasnt until he was working alongside the Canadian Mental Health Association that he saw gaps in the knowledge for parents, he said, and how they sometimes struggled to inform their children about the effects of marijuana on the developing minds. There was anxiety around talking with teens, as there normally is anyways, Bell said. The parents seemed to be unsure of themselves in talking, there doesnt seem to be a source anywhere that ties it all together. THC, the active chemical in marijuana interacts with the brain through the inhibition of neurons that can be greatly impacted, especially in that of a teenager, he said. The THC in cannabis interacts with three or four regions of the brain that influences the balance of several very important neurotransmitters used as communications between one nerve cell and another, Bell said. He said he doesnt want to be a fearmonger, but rather bring to the forefront knowledge for parents and teenagers to be careful with the use of cannabis. The message isnt if you smoke dope you are going to suffer from psychosis, no, Bell said. It appears to be certain kids at risk and that group of kids seem to be kids that have strong family histories of mental health. A slight bipolar or schizophrenia in the family, or if that child themselves have a history of problems with mental health issues. Copies can be purchased at Chapters on Lansdowne Street West in Peterborough or the Peterborough Regional Health Centre gift shop or online at Amazon as an ebook. Proceeds will go to local mental health charities or to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation. Sorry! This content is not available in your region In sentences of lucid and luminous lyricism (arresting and strong just like the image she proffers of a featherbone cloudscape), Solnit reflects on the pleasures and paradoxes of becoming an adult in the fuller soulful sense, which she distinguishes from the arbitrary business of just getting to a certain age. Solnit captures the irony of having to grow up quickly, only to find the joy of being child-like playful in her reading. One of the hidden treasures in this rich, inviting act of remembering is Solnits experience of working in a gallery, among the Matisses and Miros, even x-raying a painting by the German expressionist Franz Marc to show the skeleton underneath it. And yes, Solnits memoir takes us aback with her intimacies as well as her ironies. She touches us with her dreams of flying, which she sees as metaphors for reading and writing, two ways of moving without restriction through worlds of existential confinement she keeps going back to, but always in the quest for freedom and being her own person. Her preoccupation with violence against women can be confronting in a book that gives so much pleasure to the reader: male violence under the patriarchy is a bit like the skeletal outline under that painting Solnit restored, the hard bones beneath seductive body. But its bodies in motion that Solnit seems to love. She speaks with authority about moving in dangerous neighbourhoods unscathed, and how she escaped a childhood where the threat of violence was always present. And it says something for Solnits status as that rare thing, a genuine public intellectual, that the anecdotes from her past experience are sparing and retain their validity and dignity. There is no attempt to exploit her experience, or indulge in selling her own achievement in transcending the limitations of her world as a kind of vulgar success. She believes wounds matter along with freedoms. The last movement of the book summons the Japanese art of kintsugi or golden repair, the practice of soldering broken ceramics with gold so that the faultlines of a break stay visible and are celebrated. Solnit sees writing as a way of celebrating a fractured world we are obliged to fix with whatever gold we can find. Its to Solnits credit in this elegant book that she can bear comparison, as a writer, with the aesthetic salvaging she describes. Coronavirus has brought tragedy to families in every part of the world. While the spread of the virus is now being reduced both here and internationally, the impact of the social and economic crisis it has created on jobs and prosperity is continuing to deepen. The aviation and aerospace sector have been among the hardest hit industries. As global airlines have been forced to ground their fleets, so demand for aerospace manufacturing has sharply declined and production rates have been cut. This has put suppliers under pressure, and while Government support including the Job Retention Scheme helped employers to avoid redundancies in the short-term, the reality of declining orders for manufacturers has started to have real consequences for our highly skilled workforce. Northern Ireland plays a major role in the UK's 34bn aerospace sector. One-third of the world's aircraft seats are made here, as are the advanced wings for Airbus's innovative A220 aircraft, and high-quality suppliers across Northern Ireland compete successfully in a global market to generate the exports that bring vital jobs and prosperity to local communities. We have already seen major aerospace employers here, including Thompson Aero Seating and now Bombardier, begin the difficult task of talking to their workforces about job losses that have become necessary as a result of this unprecedented crisis. Since the Government published its recovery strategy on May 11, ADS has been calling for five priority areas to be addressed that will give aerospace manufacturers the support they need to prevent large scale redundancies and even the loss of valued businesses from our industry. We have seen welcome improvements made to the Job Retention Scheme to offer flexibility to employers to support part-time working in the months ahead, but further action is needed. Around the world governments are now acting to support airlines, manufacturers and their supply chains. This week in France the government announced a 15bn support package for aviation aerospace that includes many of the measures needed by our industry here and and across the UK. It includes a 1.5bn fund for research into green aircraft technology, funding for supply chain modernisation, accelerated defence procurement programmes that will support manufacturers with both civil and defence production, and their suppliers. The French support package is the latest development that demonstrates the growing international recognition that aerospace and aviation face unique challenges. In the coming years, as the impact of the pandemic on our everyday lives recedes, aerospace and aviation will return to growth, and the importance of developing and manufacturing new clean aircraft technology to achieve net zero carbon emissions will become more urgent. Government and industry must work together to make sure we can play a leading role in delivering this green aerospace future, as we are playing a leading role in manufacturing the aircraft of today. This requires strategic intervention and urgent action to make sure manufacturing and R&D capabilities are not lost and our international competitors take too strong a lead. Governments here must now urgently put in place the measures we need to make sure our industry is not left behind in the global aerospace race. Paul Everitt is chief executive of ADS, the UK trade association for the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors Thought Leaders Dr. Jeffery Goldstein Assistant Professor Northwestern University News-Medical speaks to Dr. Jeffery Goldstein about whether COVID-19 is damaging the placentas of pregnant women and what women can do to protect themselves. What led to your research on COVID-19 and placental damage? In recent years, there have been two emerging infectious diseases with a particular impact on pregnant women. In the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, pregnant women had more severe disease, and the Zika virus caused microcephaly and other congenital anomalies. From this, we can draw 2 conclusions: 1) New infectious diseases will continue to emerge and 2) Some proportion of them will have a disproportionate or additional impact in pregnant women, fetuses, or infants. When I started to hear about the coronavirus emerging in Wuhan, I started thinking about how we would study the coronavirus in our pregnant population. I put together a team of me, another perinatal pathologist (Dr. Elisheva D. Shanes), a maternal-fetal medicine specialist obstetrician (Emily S. Miller), and a pediatric infectious disease specialist (Dr. Leena B. Mithal). We designed a study to look at the moms disease course, how the infants are doing, and lab tests, including examination of the placenta. All of the other parts are still happening (including examining more placentas, more testing on placentas), but we felt like there was a gap in the literature that we could start to fill on placentas. Image Credit: Demkat/Shutterstock.com How did you carry out your research? Our hospital began testing every woman coming in for labor and delivery for coronavirus, starting in April. After women delivered, we collected the placenta, cut out pieces of tissue, made glass slides, and examined them under the microscope. There are about 150 different anomalies we look for, and we note whether they are present. We tabulated the results and compared then with the placentas examined by our colleagues and former colleagues over the years. What is the placenta, and what does the analysis of it tell doctors about both mother and fetus? The placenta is the first organ to form. It is the life support system for the fetus, bringing oxygen and nutrients from the mother and gets rid of carbon dioxide and waste. The placenta also prevents the mothers immune system from rejecting the fetus like an organ transplant. The placenta attaches to the wall of the uterus. It links up with the mothers blood vessels and gets blood from the fetus via the umbilical cord. The blood streams do not mix but get very close together, which allows nutrients and waste to flow back and forth. Many problems in pregnancy are caused by problems in the placenta. For example, preeclampsia is thought to be caused by problems with the linkage between the mothers blood vessels and the placenta. Problems in the placenta can have lifelong consequences for mothers and offspring, including the risk of cardiovascular disease for the mother, breathing problems in infancy or childhood asthma, cerebral palsy, and even cancer in adulthood. More consequentially for some of our moms, some problems in one pregnancy can reoccur in future pregnancies. Continuing the example, if a mother has preeclampsia in her first pregnancy, she is more likely to have preeclampsia in her second pregnancy. Image Credit: Explode/Shutterstock.com What type of injury was shown in the placentas of your subjects? The most significant finding is decidual vasculopathy. As described, the placenta links to the maternal circulation. Decidual vasculopathy includes problems with that linkage such as blood vessels that can constrict, or even block blood flow, or injury to the vessels. Were there any other indications of problematic pregnancies? In the live-born infants, there were very few other indications of problems in pregnancy. One patient had pregnancy-induced hypertension, high blood pressure starting in pregnancy. Pregnancy-induced hypertension can be associated with decidual vasculopathy, but in our case it was not, and 1/15 women are more or less in line with what you would expect in our general population. In terms of other problems two women had asthma, 1 had gestational diabetes, high blood sugar starting in pregnancy, and one had cholestasis of pregnancy, a liver problem that manifests as itchiness without a rash. Could placental injury harm the delivery of a healthy baby? The injury pattern we saw is associated with maternal hypertension and preeclampsia in the mother. They can cause growth restriction, low amniotic fluid, and fetal demise. In our case, 1 patient became hypertensive and there was one intrauterine fetal demise, however, it is hard to know whether there is causation. Image Credit: adriaticfoto/Shutterstock.com What does this research mean in terms of monitoring COVID-19 in pregnant women? More intense monitoring of pregnant women with COVID-19 makes sense. For example, fetal growth can be monitored by ultrasound. Could this placental injury have long-term effects on mothers or infants? Decidual vasculopathy is part of a larger pattern of a disease called maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM). MVM has been linked with the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease in mothers. There could be long-term effects on infants. People that were in utero during the 1918-1919 flu pandemic had higher rates of cardiovascular disease decades later. They also had lower cumulative incomes over their lifetime. To me, this shows that an infectious disease can cause very long-term problems. What have you found in terms of a possible link between COVID-19 and miscarriage? We reported 1 miscarriage at 16 weeks. The patient in our case was asymptomatic. There are at least 2 case reports of miscarriages and we are aware of a few cases that have not yet been published. The problem is that we do not have a denominator, how many pregnancies were there? How many women would have miscarried for unrelated reasons? We need a larger study involving several hospitals or possibly a large national or state system. Image Credit: GEMINI PRO STUDIO/Shutterstock.com What further research is now needed to determine the nature of these findings and expand upon them? There are a lot of additional directions. I regret that we did not include race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors, like insurance status, in our paper. COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting communities of color and we have every reason to believe that disproportionality will show up in the placenta. Because of the timing of the epidemic, almost all of our cases are in the 3 rd trimester. We need to look at 1 st and 2 nd -trimester exposures to get a better sense of the risk of birth defects or miscarriage. trimester. We need to look at 1 and 2 -trimester exposures to get a better sense of the risk of birth defects or miscarriage. Multicenter studies will be important. There is a group in New York that we found (after we had published) published before we did. They do not find the same problems of decidual vasculopathy that we did. I trust our results, but it is important to figure out why they are not seeing what we are. We know how some viruses affect the placenta, but there are no well-controlled studies for influenza or the Zika virus, among others. The findings in COVID-19 prompt us to think about what is happening to the placenta in other infections or flu-like illnesses. Are the findings we see specific to COVID-19? Or are they what you would see in anyone that is acutely ill? Pregnant women will need to be included in trials of a coronavirus vaccine. The alternative to a controlled vaccine trial in some pregnant women is an uncontrolled vaccine trial in all pregnant women. Their short- and long-term outcomes and placentas will need to be monitored. How do you hope this research will be used to help ensure the safety of pregnant women and fetuses during the current pandemic, the emergence of any subsequent outbreaks, and any future pandemics? Our study provides some justification for continuing to treat pregnant women as an at-risk population. Unlike H1N1, COVID-19 does not appear to be more severe in pregnant women than non-pregnant women with similar age and comorbidities. However, if there is an injury to the placenta, it suggests that fetuses could be at risk. Most states are exiting stay at home orders, but I would suggest that pregnant women, in consultation with their obstetrician or midwife, could choose to stay home and remain scrupulous about social distancing, mask-wearing, etc. This provides additional information to women and families that are currently considering fertility and would then be pregnant throughout at continuing and possibly resurgent pandemic. Our study began as a template that could be applied to coronavirus or a different infectious disease on the theory that pandemics are inevitable and that some will have a disproportionate impact on pregnant women. That is still true. There will be another emergent infection, which hopefully will not be as bad as COVID-19, but one of the lessons learned is that pregnancy researchers (and all sorts of other specialists) should have a plan on the shelf, ready to go, for when that happens. Image Credit: Maria Sbytova/Shutterstock.com What is the next stage for your research? We are continuing to identify new patients and collect placentas. We are also collecting blood from mothers and umbilical cord for biomarker studies. Some inflammatory proteins in the maternal circulation can cross into the fetal circulation. By measuring those, we can see how much inflammation in the mother could impact infants. Long-term follow-up for these kids is something that we need to make happen. Where can readers find more information? Here is our paper: https://academic.oup.com/ajcp/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ajcp/aqaa089/5842018 Here is the other placenta paper: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1093526620925569 Miscarriages: About Dr. Jeffery Goldstein I am an assistant professor in the department of pathology at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. My prior scientific work has included studies of the placenta and drug repurposing in gestational diabetes, AI diagnosis in the placenta, and mechanisms of muscular dystrophy in model organisms. I received my MD and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Vanderbilt University, and a fellowship in Pediatric Pathology at Lurie Childrens Hospital in Chicago, IL. Credit: SAWADead Cross, the band featuring Faith No More's Mike Patton and ex-Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo, has released a cover of the Black Flag song "Rise Above." The recording samples a viral clip of a protester who called into a Los Angeles Police Department Zoom conference and declared, "Suck my d*** and choke on it. I yield my time! F*** you!" "[The cover was] created in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and staunchly opposing police brutality and systemic racism," Dead Cross says. "As such, the track opens with a recording of a Los Angeles resident voicing his displeasure with the LAPD during a public comment period from a regularly scheduled L.A. police commission meeting." You can listen to the "Rise Above" cover streaming now on YouTube. Meanwhile, Patton and Lombardo can also be heard together on a Mr. Bungle cover of The Exploited's "USA," which marked the band's first new recording in over 20 years. By Josh Johnson Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. (Video contains uncensored profanity.) A man was killed and two others were injured on Friday after Nepal border police troops fired at them 'deep inside Nepalese territory' adjoining Bihar's Sitamarhi district, officials said. IMAGE: Indo-Nepal border. Photograph: ANI Photo An Indian national, Laagan Yadav, 45, has been taken into custody by the Nepal border police, they said. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Director General (DG) Kumar Rajesh Chandra told PTI in Delhi that the incident took place around 8.40 am 'deep inside Nepalese territory'. The situation is normal now and 'our local commanders immediately got in touch with our Nepalese counterparts APF', Chandra said. Inspector General (IG) of the SSB's Patna Frontier, Sanjay Kumar, told the news agency that the incident took place between locals and the Armed Police Force (APF) of Nepal. One person was killed and two others were injured in the firing, the IG said. Vikesh Yadav, 22, who suffered a bullet injury in the abdomen area, has succumbed, while Uday Thakur, 24, and Umesh Ram, 18, are injured and admitted to a private hospital in Sitamarhi, which is around 85 kilometers from Bihar capital Patna, according to the officials. As per preliminary reports obtained from locals, the confrontation began when APF troops objected to the presence of Laagan Yadav's daughter-in-law in their area after they saw her talking to some people from India, they said. Laagan Yadav's daughter-in-law is from Nepal. There are relations between locals on either side of this border, and as the front is not fenced, people move around to meet their family members, the officials said. APF personnel objected to this meeting following which there was a heated argument between the two sides and later, about 75-80 Indians gathered at the spot, they said. The APF has claimed that they first fired in the air to disperse the crowd and fearing snatching of their weapons, they later initiated aimed fire in which three people got hit, the officials said. The incident area is between Jankinagar of Sitamarhi district and Sarlahi in Nepal, they said. Senior officials of the local police, administration and the SSB are at the spot, the officials said. The area is guarded by the 51st battalion of the SSB and it falls under border pillar number 319, they said. The SSB is tasked to guard the 1,751 km open India-Nepal border. Nepal says security personnel were attacked Nepal's Additional Inspector General of Police of the Armed Police Force Narayan Babu Thapa told PTI that the incident occurred when a group of 25-30 Indians, who were trying to enter Nepal from the Indo-Nepal border in Sarlahi district, attacked the Nepalese security personnel at Narayanpur area of Parsa Rural Municipality. "After they were stopped at the border area by the forward base of the Armed Police Force, who were deployed to enforce the lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, dozens of others joined them and pelted stones on the security personnel. "They even snatched weapons from one of our security men. After firing 10 rounds of bullets in the air, our personnel had to open fire in self-defence in which one person was killed and two others were injured," Thapa said. The Indian nationals, who came from Bihar's Sitamarhi, were trying to enter Nepal despite the lockdown and even used force against the police personnel, the senior officer said. The incident took place some 75 metres inside the Nepalese territory from the no-man's land, Thapa added. Following the incident, the Nepalese security personnel held consultation with their counterparts from the Indian side and the situation has now returned to normalcy, the officer said, adding 'we are further investigating the matter'. Credit: University of Missouri With the COVID-19 pandemic causing disruptions in the food supply chain, it's more important than ever to reduce food waste, says a University of Missouri Extension food safety specialist. "In 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service estimated that 30% to 40% of edible food in the United States went to waste," said Londa Nwadike. "At the household level, the average U.S. family of four loses an estimated $1,500 per year on wasted food." Nwadike said consumers should try to reduce the volume of surplus food they have in the home. She offers some strategies for doing that: Shop your refrigerator first. Before buying more food, eat perishable food in the refrigerator, or incorporate it into meal planning. Strategic grocery shopping. Once you plan meals, make a shopping listand stick to it. Avoid impulse buying. Store food properly. Maintain your refrigerator at 40 F or lower and the freezer at zero degrees. Store food in packaging designed for storage in the freezer, refrigerator or possibly at room temperature. Extend the life of food. Frozen food can be safe for extended periods; follow recommended storage times. Canning properly is another way to extend food life. Understand and check food product dates. A "sell by" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale. "Best by" or "use by" dates are the food manufacturer's recommendation for best flavor and quality. Nwadike, who has a joint appointment with Kansas State University, has worked with staff at both universities to publish a fact sheet to help consumers cut the waste and save money at home. "Working Together to Reduce Food Waste" is available for free download at bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3482.pdf. The publication outlines several strategies for reducing waste, including things consumers can do at home; donating to food banks; and building a compost pile, Nwadike said. Explore further The unintended consequences of stockpiling: food waste The total number of Covid-19 positive patients crossed the 10,000 mark in West Bengal, with 476 new cases being reported on Friday. The total number of people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Bengal till June 12 stands at 10,244. Till date, about 451 people have died due to the infectious disease in the state. So far only seven other states - Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh - have crossed the 10,000-mark. Of these seven states, four states, including Bengal, have been pulled up by the Supreme Court on Friday. The apex court has sought detailed status reports from Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal regarding conditions in hospitals. Out of the total number of Covid-19 cases in the state, Kolkata with 3,356 cases reported the maximum Covid-19 patients. This was followed by two adjoining districts - Howrah with 1,620 cases and North 24 Parganas with 1,424 cases. North 24 Parganas is the most populous district in India after Thane in Maharashtra according to the 2011 census. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted: I would urge you all to avoid overcrowding in buses. I request the private sector to operate from home as much as possible and allow relaxation in reporting time. Weve ensured no one is marked late in government offices. The number of micro-containment units in Kolkata has also crossed the 1000-mark. It now stands at 1,163 according to state government data. The number of active cases in West Bengal currently stands at to 5,587. At least, 218 people were discharged from different hospitals in the state since Thursday, which took the total number of recoveries to 4,206. President Trump said that he's done more for the American black community than any president, though he suggested Abraham Lincoln's slave-freeing status made that president unrankable. 'I think I've done more for the black community than any other president,' Trump told Fox News Channel's Harris Faulkner in an interview that aired Friday. 'And let's take a pass on Abraham Lincoln, because he did good although it's always qustionable, you know, in other words, the end result.' It was unclear, exactly, what result Trump was talking about, though Faulkner, who is black, responded, 'Well, we are free, Mr. President. He did pretty well.' 'We are free,' Trump said back. 'Well, you understand what I mean? You know, I got to take a pass on an Honest Abe, as we call it.' Faulkner then probed Trump on how he's 'done more than anybody.' President Trump said in an interview that aired Friday that he'd 'done more for the black community than any other president' President Trump (left) then added Abraham Lincoln 'did good although it's always qustionable' mentioning an 'end result.' Fox News Channel's Harris Faulkner responded with, 'Well, we are free, Mr. President' President Abraham Lincoln was the American president through the Civil War and freed the slaves The president pointed to the bipartisan criminal justice bill he signed. 'And I got five or six Republicans Senators who had no interest in getting it done,' Trump reminded Faulkner. The president also pointed to getting prolonged funding for historically black colleges and universities. He also mentioned so-called 'Opportunity Zones' and prison reform. The president had made similar comments about Lincoln previously. On June 2, when the nation was in the throngs of the protests over George Floyd's death, he tweeted that he came in second place after Lincoln in helping black Americans. 'My Admin has done more for the Black Community than any President since Abraham Lincoln,' the president tweeted. 'Passed Opportunity Zones with Sen. Tim Scott, guaranteed funding for HBCU's, School Choice, passed Criminal Justice Reform, lowest Black unemployment, poverty, and crime rates in history ... ...AND THE BEST IS YET TO COME!' Earlier this month, while the country was in the throngs of the protests over the death of George Floyd, President Trump said he was the second best president after Abraham Lincoln for the black community Trump also compared himself to Lincoln when he was sitting under the statue of Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial for a Fox News Channel town hall with Brett Baier and Martha MacCallum in May. 'Look, I am greeted with a hostile press the likes of which no president has ever seen. The closest would be that gentleman right up there,' Trump said. He pointed at the huge statue of Lincoln that was several feet away. 'I believe I am treated worse,' he said. Despite all the chatter about Lincoln, the president of the United States who carried the Union through the Civil War, Trump this week also refused to consider renaming military bases that are still named after Confederate figures. He argued that they were part of the country's 'heritage,' while White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said a name change would be an insult to all the Americans who served and died abroad who left those bases. I like to read speeches, and a few months ago, I was reading Vol. 9 in a 10-volume set of little books called "The World's Famous Orations," published early in the 20th century, with William Jennings Bryan as editor in chief. The volume includes speeches from an 1830 speech by Robert Hayne, senator from South Carolina, to several from the 1860s by Abraham Lincoln. A couple of things jump out when you read those speeches -- Daniel Webster's "Reply to Hayne" is one of the most famous American speeches -- namely, how inflamed political passions were at that time (so much more than now) and how it was taken for granted, by both sides, that slavery was the cause of the rancor. There was no quibbling or equivocation on that point. Southern leaders acknowledged it, and apparently felt no shame in asserting it; and northern leaders insisted on it. No one tried the mealy-mouthed approach of more recent days, that the leaders of southern states were simply trying to assert their states' sovereign rights, separate from the issue of slavery. No one tried to argue that only a small minority of southerners were slave-owners and, somehow, that made the issue less important. There was a tremendous amount of humbug in the way southern political leaders like Hayne discussed their "honor," and the way they framed the moral questions surrounding slavery. If you want to read something really sickening, but historically educational, read Hayne's speech, "On the Foote Resolution," which was part of his debate with Webster in the Senate. He makes the evil but straightforward argument that black people are better off as slaves, saying this about "free people of color:" "Sir, there does not exist on the face of the whole earth a population so poor, so wretched, so vile, so loathsome, so utterly destitute of all the comforts, conveniences, and decencies of life, as the unfortunate blacks of Philadelphia, and New York and Boston. Liberty has been to them the greatest of calamities, the heaviest of curses." He and other southern politicians, while insisting on their own honor, did find someone to blame for the division in the country -- the abolitionists. It was not the fault of those who perpetuated and sought to expand a system of owning human beings and subjecting them to awful abuse who were to blame, it was the fault of those who condemned that system. It was the fault of those who insisted that system had to be abolished. Those arguments have contemporary echoes -- for example, from those who respond to complaints of police abuse of black people by bringing up crime within the black community, especially in urban centers like Chicago. Can't two problems exist at once? If I suggest that malnutrition is a problem in the rural white areas of the U.S. (like our own area,) does it contradict that to say that welfare fraud is a problem in those same areas? Should we let poor rural white children suffer from malnutrition because some poor rural white people are gaming the system? This kind of argument is insulting -- to the intelligence of everyone who has to hear it and to the people who have done nothing wrong and are suffering. The arguments of the past from southern politicians, as concerned as they said they were about honor and tradition, also have echoes now in the arguments used to continue to honor those very leaders (including the ones who eventually betrayed and sought to destroy the United States,) with plaques and statues in public places. This debate is not about "erasing history." I wish schools would go into much greater detail about Civil War history, and delve into what the leaders of the South did and how they justified it. Statues don't teach history; they honor certain parts of it. A statue of Jefferson Davis, a building named after John C. Calhoun send a simple message -- these were great men, deserving of honor. But these men were traitors. They defended one of the most extensive and oppressive systems of human subjugation in human history. We should study them -- as a negative example. We should hold them up -- not in public squares but in classrooms -- as models of what not to do. We also hear echoes now of the pre Civil War era's argument that abolitionists were to blame for "stirring things up." If only those who felt moral repugnance about the selling and beating and lynching and raping of other human beings had kept their mouths shut, then the country could have remained united -- that was their argument. We hear that sort of thing now from various quarters, arguing that anger is not the way to make change, that mass protests and marches and speeches and confrontational behavior is not the way to go about persuading people to your side. Should protesters be writing polite letters? Saying "please?" Pressure, not politeness, creates change. So when you hear complaints from people like Jeff Murphy, sheriff of Washington County and head of the state Sheriff's Association, about "anti-police hysteria and unwarranted political rhetoric," then you know the protests are working, creating that pressure that can and hopefully will lead to positive change. Will Doolittle is projects editor at The Post-Star. He may be reached at will@poststar.com and followed on his blog, I think not, and on Twitter at @trafficstatic. Love 12 Funny 2 Wow 2 Sad 1 Angry 3 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A European human rights court ruled today against a conviction by a French court of supporters of the boycott Israel movement. The European Court of Human Rights ruled that members of a boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) group in France did not violate the European Convention on Human Rights' article against discrimination. The court said in a press release that the conviction lacked any relevant or sufficient grounds. The BDS movement calls for various forms of boycotts against Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. The movement hopes to pressure Israel into withdrawing from the Palestinian territories and into accepting Palestinian refugees from abroad, among other objectives. The movement supports boycotts of Israeli companies to this end, as well as boycotts of Israeli academic institutions and concerts in Israel. The European Court of Human Rights is a venue in Strasbourg, France, where European citizens can bring cases in which they feel a European state violated their rights. It was set up by the European Convention on Human Rights. Parties to the court are members of the Council of Europe, which is separate from the European Union (EU). Most European countries are members, including Russia and Turkey. The people in question were 11 French, Moroccan and Afghan BDS supporters who were convicted under a French freedom of the press law prohibiting incitement to discrimination against a group of people. The French court found they had committed this crime when they called on customers of a French supermarket in 2009 and 2010 to not buy products from Israel, according to a case summary from the European Court of Human Rights. The protests at the market began after eruptions of violence between the Israeli military and the Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The court ruled that the convention's Article 7, which prohibits discrimination, did not pertain to economic discrimination in this case. The court also decided that the convicted peoples rights were violated under the conventions Article 10, which allows for freedom of expression. The convention guarantees the right to economic protest, according to the court. A boycott is primarily a means of expressing a protest. Therefore, a call for a boycott, which is aimed at communicating protest opinions while calling for specific protest actions, is in principle covered by the protection set out in Article 10 of the Convention, the court said in the summary. The court ordered France to pay the activists for damages and their legal fees. Opinions on BDS are divided around the world. Some praise BDS as a nonviolent form of opposition to Israeli policies, while others feel it unfairly singles out Israel and espouses anti-Semitism against Jews as a whole. DEAR ABBY: My son, a high school senior, was in a relationship with a young woman who broke up with him and began dating his best friend. He was heartbroken. She played him into being friends and tells him he's her best friend, but her actions prove otherwise. His father and I comforted him as best we could, but he still has feelings for her. It was a tough breakup for him, and he says he can't understand why he feels this way for her. We as parents are having a hard time keeping our opinions to ourselves. We are not happy with him still being around her and try to discourage it as much as possible. We all attend the same church, from which I've offered to remove myself, but my son says no. We limit the time he gets to be around her, but she has begun flaunting other dates in front of him, which is making it hard for us to be cordial toward her. How can I help my boy heal his heart and move on? He's my youngest, the last one ready to venture out to college, and I want him to have a fresh start for the new journey. Heavy-hearted mom DEAR MOM: Some lessons in life people must learn for themselves, and this is one of them. As much as you wish to help your son heal his heart, he's going to have to arrive at the realization that there's more pain than pleasure associated with the girl who rejected him. That is when he will move on, not before. College will provide him an opportunity to meet new people and cultivate new interests. Being in a new environment will also help. In the meantime, be patient, refrain from saying anything nasty (as tempting as it might be) about his former girlfriend and keep your son as busy as you can. DEAR ABBY: I have been married to the same woman for 34 years. We have raised two great kids. The problem is, my wife does not show, respond to or initiate any affection or intimacy. I understand she has been through menopause, but is this the new normal? For me it is a lonely, cold existence. Most nights she won't even share the same bed with me. She also does not respond well to talking about things. Must I live the rest of my life this way? Roommate in Virginia DEAR ROOMMATE: Your problem is less about the lack of affection and intimacy in your marriage and far more about the lack of communication your wife allows you to have with her. If a problem can't be discussed, there is no way to arrive at a solution or a compromise. If you haven't told her how lonely and isolated you feel, start there. What's happening is not fair to you. This is something that should be discussed with her doctor because there may be a medical solution if sex is painful for her. However, if it is more complicated than that, recognize that you need more help than I can give you in a letter or a newspaper column, and ask your doctor or insurance company to refer you to a licensed marriage and family therapist for the answers you are seeking. If your wife refuses to go with you, go without her. WOOD RIVER Four more coronavirus cases were reported Friday by the Madison County Health Department, but no new COVID-19 related deaths were announced. Currently, the countys virus death toll stands at 65 unchanged since June 3 with a total case count of 686. Statewide on Friday, there were 595 new cases and 77 new deaths reported. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health website, there are now 131,198 cases statewide and 6,260 deaths. In the past 24 hours, 24,774 tests have been completed in Illinois for a statewide total of 1,147,101. The seven-day statewide positivity percentage for June 5-11 is 4 percent. The Madison County figures include 106 people hospitalized and 464 recovered, meaning they have completed isolation. A total of 8,809 tests have been completed in the county. IDPH information by ZIP code Friday showed additional cases in the Bethalto, Highland and Hillsboro areas. As of Thursday 118 cases have been reported in 62025 (Edwardsville), 109 in 62002 (Alton), 91 in 62040 (Granite City/Pontoon Beach), 90 in 62234 (Collinsville), 75 in 62034 (Glen Carbon), 31 in 62060 (Madison), 26 in 62095 (Wood River) and 62035 (Godfrey), 24 in 62010 (Bethalto) and 21 in 62294 (Troy). There were 16 cases in 62052 (Jerseyville); 15 in 62249 (Highland); 14 in 62056 (Litchfield); 13 in 62090 (Venice); 12 in 62012 (Brighton) and 62024 (East Alton); 11 in 62062 (Maryville); nine in 62069 (Mt. Olive); eight in 62018 (Cottage Hills); and seven in 62088 (Staunton) and 62049 (Hillsboro). The IDPH is releasing case numbers by ZIP code for areas with more than five cases. Numbers are not released in ZIP codes with fewer cases to protect the privacy of patients. The information is available online at www.dph.illinois.gov. More Information COVID-19 cases by county St. Clair County - 1,392 (107 deaths) Madison - 686 (65 deaths) Clinton - 203 (17 deaths) Monroe - 106 (12 deaths) Macoupin - 46 (2 deaths) Montgomery - 41 (1 death) Jersey - 28 (1 death) Bond -12 (1 death) Washington - 19 Greene - 7 Calhoun - 1 Sources: Illinois Department of Public Health and Madison County Health Department. See More Collapse Additional cases were reported Friday in St. Clair, Monroe, and Clinton counties in the Metro East, according to the IDPH website. No additional deaths were reported in the Metro East, according to the IDPH. The Intelligencer will release updated figures on Monday. For the latest information on COVID-19 or coronavirus resources, visit the Madison County Health Department online at www.madisonchd.org or on Facebook @MadisonCHD. Also, visit www.co.madison.il.us for more news and a daily update or on Facebook @MadisonCountyIL. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Galicia will become the first of Spain's 17 regions to exit the lockdown next week and enter the "new normality" when all restrictions on movement are lifted, officials said on Friday. But the wearing of masks in public places will remain compulsory in this northwestern region as it will elsewhere in the country until a vaccine against the virus is found. The region no longer has any patients suffering from COVID-19 in its intensive care units and has not suffered any deaths from the virus in the past week, according to Spain's health ministry. By Monday, more than 70 percent of Spain's 47 million population will be in the final stage of the phased rollback that should finish by June 21 in a country badly hit by the epidemic that has killed more than 27,000 people. By contrast, areas that took the brunt of the outbreak like the Madrid region, parts of Barcelona and Lerida in the Catalonia region, and four provinces of Castille-Leon will remain in phase two, the penultimate stage. "Three out of four citizens, or more than 70 percent of the population, will be in phase three" by Monday, said Health Minister Salvador Illa. The Madrid region, which accounted for more than a third of all deaths, had not asked to move into phase three next week, with Illa saying all restrictions would be lifted there and elsewhere on June 21 when the nationwide state of emergency ends. Spain is the world's second most popular travel destination after France, but it has said it will not reopen its borders to international tourists until the start of July. "July 1 is the date that the prime minister has given when the country will open up safely to citizens of other countries," he said. Brussels had on Thursday said all of the European Union's internal borders should be opened by June 15. Most EU countries as well as those within the passport-free Schengen zone, are on the brink of reopening their frontiers after a months-long closure to slow the spread of the virus. But Spain has insisted on holding out until July 1. "We are working with our European partners towards a common position with respect to borders, on what type of controls will be imposed and which visitors from which countries can come," he said. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 AFP The ABC is undertaking a "harm and offence" audit of its past and present programming in the wake of Netflix's decision to remove Chris Lilley's back catalogue from its service amid claims it is racist. "We are reviewing our content to ensure it meets current community standards and reflects our editorial policies on harm and offence," a spokesman for the broadcaster said on Thursday. Chris Lilley as Jonah in Summer Heights High. Credit:John Tsiavis "Community attitudes change across time and context, and we recognise that the ways in which some characters have been depicted in the past might be considered deeply objectionable or offensive today." The ABC was the commissioning broadcaster on five series from Lilley: We Can Be Heroes (2005), featuring Lilley playing Asian character Ricky Wong; Summer Heights High (2007), which introduced the Tongan schoolboy Jonah, played by Lilley; Angry Boys (2011), which featured the rapper S'Mouse, played by Lilley in blackface; Ja'ime: Private Schoolgirl (2013); and Jonah from Tonga (2014). Ukraine in the memorandum to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has declared its intention by the end of March 2021 to bring the legislation on the NEURC (the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission of Ukraine) into compliance with European requirements. "We will adopt legislation to bring the powers and responsibilities of the energy regulator (NEURC) in line with the EU Third Energy Package and Energy Community Treaty and the 2016 NEURC law by the end of March 2021. We shall also amend and enforce gas market secondary legislation in line with the European gas market acquis," the document reads. As reported, the Energy Community Secretariat has repeatedly stated that subordination of the NEURC to the Cabinet of Ministers contradicts the Third Energy Package, which Ukraine was obliged to follow when joining the Energy Community. TEHRAN, Iran, June. 12 Trend: Over 182,000 people have been infected with coronavirus in Iran since the first case emerged nearly four months ago, said Sima Sadat Lari, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education The spokesperson added that 2,369 people have been infected with the disease in the past 24 hours bringing the total number to 182,545 cases, Trend reports citing IRIB. She said 75 new deaths brought the overall death toll to 8,584. The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease. The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19. The biggest airlines operating in the UK sued the government to overturn a new requirement that people arriving in Britain self-isolate for two weeks amid the Covid-19 pandemic. British Airways moved with budget carriers Ryanair Holdings Plc and EasyJet Plc to try to block the rules, which began Monday. They require travelers arriving in the UK to self-quarantine despite criticism from the airline industry that the move will stop lockdown-weary customers from booking summer vacations. The governments plan will have a devastating effect on British tourism and the wider economy and destroy thousands of jobs, the airlines said Friday in an emailed statement. Theyve asked for their judicial review to be heard as soon as possible. British Airways parent IAG SA wrote to the Home Office to start a process to block the measure last week, but was left disappointed by the government response. On Friday, the Home Office declined to immediately comment on the lawsuit. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is trying to balance the need for businesses to reopen with the risks of controlling the spread of coronavirus, which has hit the UK worse than any other European country. The government, which made a series of radical moves in March including ordering many businesses to shut, is now taking measures to ease the lockdown and encourage the economy to start moving again. BA and its rivals want the government to roll its plan back to rules in force since March 10, which required only travelers from high risk countries to self-isolate. The new rules are tougher on travelers than on people who have been confirmed with Covid-19, the airlines said. Their challenge says the requirements werent properly discussed and havent been backed up by scientific advice. Frequent fliers from countries such as France and Germany, where infection rates have dropped, are being penalized, the airlines said. Global carriers have been some of the worst hit businesses. The International Air Transport Association on Tuesday predicted carriers will lose a combined $84 billion this year and almost $16 billion in 2021, its first estimate of the hit to earnings since the coronavirus crisis began. That compares with $31 billion during the 2008-2009 recession. With infection levels on the decline in most European countries, governments have been easing travel restrictions, and beaches are opening in Greece, Spain and Portugal. Airlines are trying to salvage the summer season when tens of millions of people generally take their vacation. The quarantine would torpedo BAs plans to resume about 40% of its scheduled flights in July and force it to continue burning 20 million pounds ($25 million) a day, the carrier said. EasyJet is planning to resume some scheduled flights June 15, while Ryanair plans to restart flying July 1. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said there is a case for taking down some statues as he argued for more education on the Uk's colonialist past. Speaking to at a Black Lives Matter protest on Highbury Fields in north London, he said there was a need for a recalibration in our society to teach history as it really happened and what the nature of slavery and colonialism and European expansion was. Mr Corbyn added: I think this is a movement that will actually have profound effects in the future, coupled with the inequalities that have been exposed by the corona crisis. Commenting on recent scrutiny of statues of controversial historical figures, he said: We have to look at our own history, it isnt just about monuments and street names, its about the way our children are taught in schools and what they understand of what colonialism was about and how people like Cecil Rhodes and others made their money. Asked if statues should be removed, Mr Corbyn said: Yes I think there is a case for taking down some statues for sure, but I do think there needs to be a debate about it and that can be a good thing. A Virginia man who was struck by a falling Confederate statue during a protest flatlined twice on the way to the hospital and was placed in a coma, according to his wife. Chris Green, 45, of Portsmouth, was one of the hundreds of Virginians who descended onto the streets Wednesday to protest police brutality and the death of George Floyd, an African-American man who died while in police custody. Protesters rallied at the Confederate monument in Olde Towne Portsmouth after the City Council earlier that night put off decisions on potentially removing the statue. Confederate monuments and statues have become targets for protesters, many of whom believe such statues should be removed due to their association with slavery and racism. Chris Green (far left, pictured with his wife and children) was hit in the head by a Confederate statue when protesters in Portsmouth, Virginia, pulled down the monument Some people used bolt cutters and hammers to chip away at the statues while four Confederate statues were beheaded. The mood was celebratory - a marching band even arrived with an impromptu performance - but that came to a halt when a Confederate statue yanked down with a rope suddenly fell on top of Green around 9pm, 13 News Now reports. Green lost consciousness soon after his head was cut open. Police officers watching the protests moved in to provide medical attention before the father-of-two was rushed to a nearby hospital for life-threatening injuries. Fellow protesters knelt as Green was whisked away and eventually dispersed at the request of officers. Protesters reportedly used bolt cutters and hammers to chip away at the Confederate monument, as well as used rope to pull down one of the statues (pictured) Organizers of the protest claimed Green was hit after trying to get other individuals to move out of the way. Green's wife, Tonieh Brisbane-Green, said her husband of 13 years flatlined twice while being taken to the hospital. Tonieh, who was not at the demonstration that night, said she supports the protests, 'but do it in a peaceful manner.' 'There was no need to do all of that especially while there were so many people around that statue knowing that somebodys going to get hurt,' said Tonieh. She added that she's troubled that protesters that night 'didn't think' when they pulled down the century-old statue. Protest Organizer Rocky Hines said Green was trying to move people from away from the falling Confederate statue when it fell over According to Tonieh, the extent of Green's injuries were so bad that doctors 'were surprised he even made it because that thing [the statue] is so heavy.' Green was fortunately reported to be in stable condition as of Thursday night wrote The Virginian-Pilot but Tonieh is still in a state of shock. 'I just feel like Im in a dream right now. Like, I just need to be pinched to wake up and everything will go back to normal,' she said. She's also unsure of how the incident even happened. So far, she's been told that her husband's back was to the statue when it toppled over. 'So he didnt even see it coming, like, "Oh, let me move out of the way,"' said Tonieh. 'And then I heard it was hard for the ambulance to even get to because of the crowds.' Tonieh Brisbane-Green (left, pictured with Green) chastised protesters, saying: 'There was no need to do all of that especially while there were so many people around that statue knowing that somebodys going to get hurt' Rocky Hines, one of the organizers of the Wednesday protest, set up a GoFundMe account for Green the following morning. 'We are responsible for this, and we need to right it in whatever way we can,' Hines told The Virginian-Pilot. Hines said Green had been at there for much of the protest and he felt compelled to help after hearing so much about him. 'I apologized on our behalf, and she (Greens sister) said he doesnt want anyone upset with us,' said Hines. 'His family is not upset, they are hurting.' Green is in stable condition, but still hospitalized as he recovers from his injuries, said Sgt. Michelle Anaya, spokeswoman for Virginia State Police. Hines added that Green is 'not quite out of the woods,' but said he was responding to neurological tests. The GoFundMe has raised $32,822 of its $40,000 as of Friday morning. 'It was an accident,' said Hines. 'What his family needs is prayers, not people saying he knew the risk.' Even though Green was injured during Wednesday's demonstration, Hines said the protests aren't stopping anytime soon. 'I do think we need to be more mindful of each others health and safety going forward,' he said. The Portsmouth Police Department requested an investigation into how Green was injured and if any charges will be filed, according to CNN. Tonieh has not decided if she will pursue legal action against the city. The Confederate monument was covered in paint and graffiti on Wednesday before they were further damaged later that night Pictured: The Confederate monument in Portsmouth, Virginia, before it was damaged during a protests on Wednesday Portsmouth Mayor John L. Rowe, Jr. praised officers for containing vandalism during Wednesday's protest to a single area in an effort to protect civilian lives and private property. 'We can repair the monument, but an injured body carries that scar for life. We can repair the monument, but we cannot bring back a life - if one was lost because of our escalating the event by the use of force,' said Rowe. Rowe continued to say that the city if mourning the death of George Floyd, but the nation must come together to dispel racism and prejudice. Mayor Kenny Alexander of Norfolk, which is just minutes away, asked for safety and peaceful protests in the city. 'An individual was seriously injured in an attempt to remove a statue in Portsmouth. We are praying for his full recovery and hope that this incident will not be repeated,' Alexander said. In 2017, the Portsmouth City Council adopted a resolution to relocate the Confederate monument to a local cemetery when laws permit the move. Rowe said the resolution is still in effect. The Confederate monument sits in a site where slaves were punished on a whipping post. Pictured: a protester holding a sign reading 'No Justice, No Peace' at the protests held Wednesday in Olde Towne Portsmouth Earlier that day, Portsmouth City Council expressed concerns over citizen safety after protesters climbed and spray-painted the monument. 'I watched several videos today that showed individuals climbing on the monument,' said Councilman Nathan Clark. 'If one of those had fallen off onto that new fence that is there and impaled themself and seriously injured or killed, I would believe that the city would have the lawsuit filed against us. ' The Virginia General Assembly passed a bill allowing local government the authority and specified process of moving monuments. A public hearing must be conducted by a local government. A public hearing regarding the Confederate monument was scheduled for July 28. US Air Force Capt. Emily Thompson, 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilot, dons flight equipment recently at the Aircrew Flight Equipment shop on Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kat Justen A US Air Force F-35A pilot recently became the first woman to fly the fifth-generation stealth fighter into combat, according to an Air Force press release. Capt. Emily Thompson, call sign "Banzai," made the historic flight in a fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. It was her first combat sortie on her first deployment. "Being the first female, it's a pretty big honor," Thompson said this week in an Air Force statement. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. A female US Air Force F-35A pilot made history recently by becoming the first woman to fly the fighter into combat, the Air Force announced this week. Deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, Capt. Emily Thompson, call sign "Banzai," flew a fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter into combat, becoming the first female pilot to do so. She is on her first deployment, and the flight marked her first combat sortie. "Being the first female, it's a pretty big honor," Thompson said in an Air Force statement. "There's a lot of females who have come before me and there's a lot of females already flying combat sorties in other platforms," she said. "So, just to be the person who gets that honor, that first, it just meant a lot." Thompson, who had planned to be an engineer before she realized that she could fly instead of just fix airplanes, started her career in the Air Force flying F-16 Fighting Falcons but then later transferred to the F-35A, the variant of the Lockheed Martin stealth fighter built for the Air Force. Thompson dons her helmet recently prior to a mission at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kat Justen Thompson is part of a small group of female F-35 pilots, but she said that "the opportunity for women to really excel in the F-35 is definitely there." The F-35, which comes in three different variants, is the most expensive weapon system in the history of the US military, with an anticipated total development and procurement cost of roughly $400 billion and an operating and maintenance cost of around $1.2 trillion, Bloomberg News recently reported, citing Pentagon assessments. Story continues The F-35 stealth fighter first entered into combat with the Israeli Air Force in May 2018, when IAF Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin proudly announced Israel was "the first in the world to use the F-35 in operational activity." The US took the advanced fighter jet into battle for the first time a few months later, in September 2018, using a Marine Corps F-35B launched from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex to strike Taliban targets in Afghanistan. US Air Force F-35As flew their first combat missions against ISIS in Iraq in April 2019. The Air Force, citing operational security concerns, declined to provide any concrete details on Thompson's flight, offering only that it took place in early June. Read the original article on Business Insider Hamiltons police chief says hes sorry about the forces inadequate preparation for last years violence-marred Pride festival and pledges to work toward repairing broken trust with the LGBTQ community. We can do better. We must do better, Chief Eric Girt said during a police services board meeting Thursday. But Girts public apology and another from the board ring hollow for those who view the top brass and members of the governing body as the main obstacles to healthier relations with the LGBTQ community. Its insincere, Lyla Miklos, a queer feminist activist, said about their statements. Theres no real change. Girt and Mayor Fred Eisenberger, chair of the board, issued the apologies after lawyer Scott Bergman presented his independent review of how police responded to homophobic-fuelled violence before, during and after last Junes festival. Members of the LGBTQ community and allies were outraged at the late arrival of police to Gage Park to quell a brawl between the disrupters and Pride Defenders, who used a large fabric banner to block the homophobic signs from celebrants. Their activities could reasonably have been anticipated by police, but they werent. As a result, the police response was inadequate both before, during and after the event. This added to the distrust in some circles, Bergman told the board. The crisis offers a chance for lessons to be learned and a new relationship to be forged between police and the community. Its not going to happen overnight, but this report is designed to provide a blueprint for renewal. But in an interview, Miklos argued the chief and mayor must resign as a part of any meaningful change in the police service. I dont think they want critical voices, she added about the police boards membership. They want rubber-stampers. Michael Demone, a graduate student who lives in Hamilton, also said he hopes Girt resigns in light of Bergmans damaging report. And Im hopeful that the findings of this report will help a movement that is looking at reallocating funds from police services to community organizations and communities at risk. Girt and Eisenberger told reporters they had no plan to leave their posts. Im not resigning. I have acknowledged the hurt and harm, Girt said. He and senior command have review Bergmans report with an open mind and are committed to changes. Eisenberger said the electorate will make a decision in 2022, or I will, one way or the other. He added the board has no desire for Girt to resign. The chief has been a great chief, by and large. A failing in this area, hes admitted to and apologized for. None of us are perfect. Bergmans independent review offers the board and service 38 recommendations to help heal the damaged relationship with the community and ensure police can ensure safety from anti-LGBTQ aggression. During his presentation, he said police failed to consult and communicate with Pride organizers and waited until two days before the festival to draft an operational plan for Gage Park. He also addressed comments Girt made on a local radio program in the aftermath, in which the chief suggested police were in a no-win situation because Pride organizers had not invited officers to the festival. The message whether intended or not was seen as an abdication of the services essential function to serve and protect, the lawyer said. In his apology, Girt said was he was sorry for his comments. Hamilton Police Service is committed to ensuring public safety where everyone is respected and protected regardless of whether we are asked or invited to participate. Reading the boards collective statement, Eisenberger said it sincerely and unreservedly apologizes to the Two-Spirit LGBTQIA+ communities for the events connected to Pride 2019 as they transpired. We accept criticism and feedback and will listen and learn from the Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ communities in Hamilton. The board also voted unanimously to accept all 38 recommendations in Bergmans report and asked police staff to report back with an implementation plan in September. Among the recommendations are a formal apology, better operational plans, a diversity audit, enhanced media training for top brass, in-depth seminars on two-spirit and LGBTQ issues and creating a full-time LGBTQ liaison solely dedicated to that file. Coun. Chad Collins asked Bergman how the independent reviews conclusions could have differed so much from those of an internal probe by Det. Sgt. Gary Heron of the professional standards branch, which found Pride-related complaints against the service were unsubstantiated. Bergman said the internal report required by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIRPD) examined if officers complied within the confines of policies that exist, but noted his was a broader-brush look at the adequacy of policies. All is set for the parliamentary primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), slated for Saturday, June 20, 2020, to elect candidates for the remaining 168 constituencies for the upcoming elections. The primaries will be held in constituencies where the party has its sitting Members of Parliament (MP), to complete the selection of candidates to represent the party in the elections. As the party goes through this crucial national exercise, the NPP Belgium chapter would like to wish the Parliamentary Aspirants the best of luck and entreat all aspirants and delegates to respect the rules of engagement. In a statement signed by the chapter Secretary, S. D.Oduro respectfully and humbly admonish the National Executives and the Election Committee to ensure fairness and transparency during the electoral process. We entreat all delegates to vote for the best candidate, one who is Bold, Decisive and Visionary, a portion of the statement read. Read full statement below; In the lead up to the epic contest of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) primaries slated for 20th June 2020, NPP BELGIUM wishes to send our heartfelt and goodwill message to all viable contenders, seeking to lead this great party to victory in the upcoming 2020 elections. It is the hope of our great party that the primaries will be an incident free gathering without any form of vindictiveness. In this vain, we will like to thank all aspirants for their maturity and discipline they showcased over the past few months and hope that will perpetuate into and after the elections. We entreat all delegates to vote for the best candidate, one who is Bold, Decisive and Visionary. Most importantly one who is more appealing to the generality of Ghanaians and also who can unify the whole constituency. It is also prudent however that we elect candidates who will sell the core message of the party. To end this, we respectfully and humbly admonish the National Executives and the Election Committee to ensure fairness and transparency during the electoral process.. Signed S.D.Oduro a.k.a Ranking Member. SECRETARY NPP Belgium Branch. [email protected] 0032 492466860 Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Chang Won-ki, a former Samsung executive who recently joined a Chinese semiconductor company, has broken silence on concerns that his move may involve technological leak. In an interview with South Korean news agency Hankyung, Chang assured that there will not be any such leak. Chang previously served as the head of Samsungs China operations and had retired in 2017. He reportedly joined Beijing Eswin Computing Technology (Eswin) in February this year and is serving as the Vice-Chairman at the company. This move, however, only recently became public, drawing the attention of the Korean media. Its unusual for a top Samsung official to move to a Chinese company, as such moves may lead to technological leaks. Advertisement Im a Samsung Man: Chang Won-ki Chang Won-ki joined Samsung in 1981, starting his career as an engineer in the companys semiconductor department. He later headed the South Korean giants LCD operations. In 2011, he became the head of Samsung China, a post he held until he left the company in 2017. Chang said he joined Eswin out of his friendship with the companys head, Wang Dongsheng. For those unaware, Wang is the founder of the Chinese display giant BOE, a fierce rival to Samsung. He served as the companys Chairman since the very beginning in 1993 until last year. Over the 26 years period, he saw the company grow into a global leader in the display panel sector. Advertisement Wang apparently shares a close bond with Chang and had previously offered to collaborate back in 2015 as well. He had even introduced BOE-made LCD panels to Samsung in the past when he was the Chairman at BOE. After leaving BOE, Wang joined Eswin and once again asked Chang to join him. Although Chang had turned down the first offer, he couldnt refuse this time and joined Wang at Eswin out of his friendship. Over concerns that he could share Samsungs technological info with Wang, Chang said he was an engineer for Samsung some 30 years ago when the company made 1MB DRAM. Advertisement His most recent job close to technology was as the head of Samsungs LCD unit, but that was also around ten years ago. As 66 years old, he said he has little knowledge of current technology to give away. Chang says hes a Samsung Man and wont do anything that will require him to compete with his former company. He apparently put this condition in front of Wang before joining Eswin. Eswin makes display driver integrated chips (IC), a key component in display panels. The four-year-old firm recently raised $283 million in a financing round led by Legend Capital, the investment arm of Lenovo. Advertisement The company also maintains a business relationship with BOE. The latter reportedly holds nearly one-third share in Eswins chip-related business. FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. national security adviser Flynn departs U.S. District Court in Washington By Sarah N. Lynch and Jan Wolfe WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday appeared skeptical of the Justice Department's unprecedented effort to drop a criminal case against President Donald Trump's former adviser Michael Flynn, signaling no quick end to the politically charged prosecution. U.S. Circuit Judge Karen Henderson, an appointee of President George H.W. Bush, said the lower-court judge overseeing the case was not a "rubber stamp" and there was nothing wrong with U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan hearing arguments about whether to let the Justice Department drop the case. Flynn twice pleaded guilty to the charge the Justice Department is now trying to drop. Lawyers for the Justice Department and Flynn argued that Sullivan had trampled on the executive branch's powers. Attorney General William Barr ordered the department last month to dismiss the case against Flynn, Trump's first national security adviser, following pressure from Trump and his allies, leading to criticism that Barr was using his office to help the president's political allies. "We are here now today stop further impermissible intrusion into the sole power of the executive branch," said Sidney Powell, a lawyer for Flynn. U.S. Circuit Judge Robert Wilkins, an appointee of President Barack Obama, asked skeptical questions of Powell. Wilkins suggested that under the court's precedent Sullivan could conduct an "independent evaluation" of whether to drop the Flynn case. Jeff Wall, a Justice Department lawyer, said Sullivan's handling of the case had harmed the integrity of the executive branch and the judiciary. "This has already become, and I think is only becoming more of, a public spectacle," Wall said. Beth Wilkinson, an attorney retained to represent Sullivan, argued it would be premature to force Sullivan to act before he has weighed all the facts before ruling. "All this court is doing is getting advice," she said. Story continues The unusual nature of the case has drawn national attention, with 27,000 people listening to the arguments online. Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general, was one of several former Trump aides charged under former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation that detailed Moscow's interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Flynn twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russia's then-ambassador, Sergey Kislyak. Flynn switched lawyers to pursue a new scorched-earth tactic that accused the FBI of entrapping him, and asked the judge to dismiss the charge. Sullivan refused to go along and tapped retired Judge John Gleeson to present arguments for why the charge should not be dismissed. U.S. Circuit Judge Neomi Rao, who was appointed by Trump, appeared skeptical about whether Sullivan has authority to sentence Flynn when prosecutors want to drop the case. "Where the government decided to drop a prosecution and the defendant agrees ... who are they arguing on behalf of?" she asked Wilkinson. Henderson appeared to defend Sullivan's decision to tap Gleeson, noting that it may be premature for the appeals court to get involved. "He may say ... you know, I asked for advice and I'm ignoring it," Henderson said. "Shouldn't he be allowed to do that?" (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Jan Wolfe; Editing by Scott Malone and Jonathan Oatis) The suggested approach makes storage of these substances safer and more convenient while preserving key chemical properties that make isocyanides essential in many synthetic applications, such as the production of pharmaceuticals and functional materials. Isocyanides are an important class of organic compounds owing to a wide range of chemical transformations they can undergo. These molecules are employed for the synthesis of various pharmaceuticals, polymers, catalysts, and luminophores. Widespread use of isocyanides in chemistry and chemical industry is, however, hampered by their extremely foul odor, described by some researchers as "mind-boggling", "horrid" and even "murderous". Luca Turin, one of the leading experts in fragrance chemistry, called isocyanides "the Godzilla of scent". This odor is so terrible that the United States patented the use of isocyanides (generally low on the toxicity scale) as a non-lethal chemical weapon. While studying isocyanides, chemists from St. Petersburg State University discovered the ability of these compounds to form adducts with certain iodine-containing organic compounds. The components of the adducts are connected noncovalently by so-called halogen bonds. The latter by their nature resemble hydrogen bonds, which connect the two strands of the DNA double helix. The formation of a halogen bond with a carbon atom is in itself an unexpected discovery. Most importantly though, the formation of this bond led to a substantial reduction of the extremely unpleasant odor of isocyanides in their adducts. Quantitative GC-MS studies indicate up to an almost 50-fold decrease in the air concentration of isocyanide, and thus a dramatic mitigation of odor." Alexander Mikherdov, Study First Author and Assistant Professor, Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University In practice, this means that isocyanides, in the form of their adducts, no longer require a ventilated fume hood or any special precautions to work with, instead becoming benchtop reagents. It makes the chemist's job a lot easier!' In the future, isocyanide adducts such as those described in the study may prove to be a more convenient alternative to the usual 'odorous' isocyanides, since they could be stored without special precautions. The adducts can still be used in chemical transformations leading to various important compounds and materials. French President Emmanuel Macron does not plan to step down and call for fresh elections, a move he reportedly told top party donors he was considering, his office said Thursday. And on Sunday, he will speak to the nation in a fourth televised address to announce the latest policies in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Figaro newspaper said Macron made the shock announcement while speaking via videoconference to a handful of the largest donors to his centrist party who were gathered in London about two weeks ago, according to one of the people present. The goal would be to reinforce his legitimacy as France emerges from its coronavirus lockdown, and to destabilise his opponents. "I'm sure to win because there's no competition," Macron reportedly said. Macron's Republic on the Move party lost its absolute majority in parliament last month after several MPs defected to form independent groups, a public reproach that was all the more jarring amid the government's calls for "unity" during the COVID-19 crisis. But Macron's office said: "We deny this report. The president never suggested his resignation. "He never took part in a videoconference with donors." The Figaro report also cited an unnamed Elysee Palace official, who said: "We're entering a phase of reflection and consultations, where everything is being considered." Decision The official added that Macron's decision could come "in the coming weeks or months". Macron's party is bracing for a humiliating setback in a second round of municipal elections set for June 28, with opinion polls showing its candidates are unlikely to capture any major city, including Paris. Even Prime Minister Edouard Philippe is facing a tough battle to recover his seat as mayor of the northern port city of Le Havre. Speculation has mounted that a cabinet shuffle is in the works as Macron seeks fresh momentum for the final two years of his term. Televised national address The coronavirus outbreak has effectively stalled his ambitious policy reforms, including the controversial pensions overhaul that sparked a huge strike last winter. The president plans a televised national address on Sunday night, his fourth since the start of the coronavirus crisis. Another address could be made after the June 28 elections, to lay out Macron's projects through 2022, his office said Thursday. [June 12, 2020] Human Academy Strengthening Support for Non-natives Living in Japan in Time of "with / after COVID-19" by Providing Information and Help in Studying Japanese TOKYO, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Human Academy Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Tokyo's Shinjuku district), a subsidiary of Human Holdings Co., Ltd. covering the educational field of the brand's business, will be offering a series of free webinars for non-natives studying Japanese and considering moving up to higher education or employment in Japan. The seminars are designed to provide essential information and support for them to keep up with studying Japanese. (Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202006100707-O3-U8oFb7OE) (Photo1: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105275/202006100707/_prw_PI1fl_1l9xHKj4.jpg) (Photo2: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105275/202006100707/_prw_PI2fl_I3O0Fn6b.jpg) Learn more about our free webinars on the company's Peatix page: https://hajl-japanese.peatix.com/view Wed., June 17, 2020 , 3:00 PM JST "What you have to know about studying i Japan university study" Thu., June 18, 2020 , 5:00 PM JST COVID-19 " Travel and Short-term Study Program in Japan Fri., June 19, 2020 , 3:00 PM JST "What you have to know about studying in Japan graduate school" Fri., June 19, 2020 , 4:00 PM JST "Japanese Challenge: How well you understand about life in Japan !" Wed., June 24, 2020 , 3:00 PM JST Take the first step bravely, break new horizons in a new world. Thu., June 25, 2020 , 5:00 PM JST "Ways to Find Your Job in Japan " Fri., June 26, 2020 , 2:00 PM JST "Must-see for the nursing care industry!" Students will be taught how to develop Japanese-language skills of foreign staff for Japanese companies. The company plans to continue this in the future. How to join: Access the Peatix page and select the event students would like to join. Each event has its unique page where they can sign up for it. Participation fee: Free of charge Targeted for: Non-natives, who are considering going to school or finding employment in Japan , and people in charge of recruiting non-Japanese employees at companies. About Human Academy Japanese Language School Official website: https://hajl.athuman.com/e/ Since its establishment in Osaka in 1987 as a Japanese-language institution for non-natives, the school has supported international students aiming to enroll in higher education institutions such as Japanese universities, graduate schools, and vocational schools for over 30 years, and has been supporting 16,000 students so far (the same number of graduates as of March 2020). In addition, the institution has been providing company training to improve Japanese communication, such as understanding business etiquette, corporate culture, attitudes to work, etc. for local companies to retain non-Japanese employees who are increasingly becoming an important work force due to the globalization. In both fields, the school has been highly evaluated by its customers. Official websites: Human Holdings Co., Ltd.: https://www.athuman.com/en/ Human Academy Co., Ltd.: https://manabu.athuman.com/ Address: 7-5-25, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan SOURCE Human Academy Co., Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Centers for Disease Control The City of Laredo has provided an update on the health care worker at a local nursing home who tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The health care worker in question first tested negative during routine testing of workers on May 20. The worker had been sent home for a low-grade fever and was quarantined and returned to work on June 8 and tested the same day. Results from that test returned positive on June 9. The new status gives a number of advantages but does not influence the decision on Alliance membership On June 12, Ukraine received a status of the member of Enhanced Opportunities Program of NATO. This program aims to support and deepen cooperation between allies and partners, which have made significant contributions to NATO-led operations and missions. As an Enhanced Opportunities Partner, Ukraine will have expanded access to interaction programs, as well as a wider exchange of information. However, the new status does not affect the decision on the country's membership in the Alliance. What is Enhanced Partnership? The Enhanced Opportunities Partner (EOP) has been launched by NATO in 2014. Its goal is to strengthen the interoperability of troops of the EOP countries with NATO forces. The higher this compatibility is, the easier and more effective the participation of such states in the Alliance's missions and operations. Ukraine is now one of six Enhanced Opportunities Partners, alongside Australia, Finland, Georgia, Jordan and Sweden. The Alliance notes that each of the partners has a tailor-made relationship with NATO, based on areas of mutual interest. For example, Jordan is important as a partner of the Alliance in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East. NATO also needs an intelligence exchange with Australia to understand China's situation and actions. Participation in its operations is also important for the North Atlantic Alliance. New status of Ukraine On June 12, Ukraine got the status of the member of the NATO Enhanced Opportunity Program. As a NATO partner, Ukraine has provided troops to Allied operations, including in Afghanistan and Kosovo, as well as to the NATO Response Force and NATO exercises. Allies highly value these significant contributions, which demonstrate Ukraines commitment to Euro-Atlantic security, the Alliance stated. It is noted that as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner, Ukraine will benefit from tailor-made opportunities to help sustain such contributions. This includes enhanced access to interoperability programmes and exercises, and more sharing of information, including lessons learned. Earlier, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba in a conversation with DW gave several examples of what the status of an Enhanced Partner will give Ukraine. Kuleba noted that some NATO exercises are open only to EOP participants and member-countries. Another advantage is the more in-depth rapid exchange of intelligence between the Alliance and special partners. Symbolic meaning of Enhanced Partnership DW agency, citing experts, notes that Ukraine is already working closely with NATO, and that the new status has not so much of a practical use, as it has a symbolic significance. According to analyst Jamie Shea, who worked at the Alliance's headquarters, Ukraine could ask NATO for additional opportunities even without EOP, such as enhancing the interoperability of its forces with NATO forces. At the same time, Shea calls the Enhanced Opportunities Partners a kind of club of the chosen for the NATO. Since there are few such countries, being among them brings certain prestige. Bruno Lete, a Brussels-based expert at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, is also convinced that the EOP status has first and foremost a symbolic meaning. The next logical step after EOP status is the membership. We can say that this partnership is like a waiting room for the membership, Lete added. However, NATO itself has a different position on this issue. The Alliance notes that Ukraines status as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner does not prejudge any decisions on NATO membership. NATO Allies continue to encourage and support Ukraine in its reform efforts, including in the security and defence sector, with regard to civilian control and democratic oversight, and in the fight against corruption. US president threatens to intervene in Seattles Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone agreed to by demonstrators and police. Seattles mayor has told US President Donald Trump to go back to your bunker, escalating a spat after the president threatened to intervene over a police-free autonomous zone protesters have set up in the western United States city. The reference to a bunker was a nod to reports Trump was rushed by Secret Service agents to a secure area in the White House as demonstrations against racism and police brutality sparked by the death of George Floyd reached the presidents residence. Trump sparked the spat when he threatened to intervene in the neighbourhood in Seattle dubbed Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or CHAZ, which was agreed upon by demonstrators and the citys police department. Take back your city NOW. If you dont do it, I will, Trump warned mayor Jenny Durkan and Washington state governor Jay Inslee both Democrats in a tweet late on Wednesday, calling the protesters domestic terrorists who have taken over Seattle. 200611221803876 This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped (sic) IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST, he said in another tweet. Mayor Jenny Durkan replied on Thursday, urging Trump to make us all safe. Go back to your bunker, with Inslee joining in the Twitter mockery of Trump. A man who is totally incapable of governing should stay out of Washington states business. Stoop tweeting, Inslee wrote. Protests have taken place across the country following the death of Floyd, an unarmed Black man killed in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25. Officials in Seattle have denied reports that left-wing activists are behind the setting up of the autonomous zone. Peaceful as hell In the CHAZ area on Thursday, there were tents with supplies for volunteer medics as well as food donated by local restaurants, along with fruit, snacks and water bottles. At one point a crowd locked arms and prevented two police officers from reaching a boarded-up police station in the area. The officers failed to break in when they tried to enter through a different road. The scene here is peaceful as hell, said a demonstrator who identified herself as Jahtia B. This is our city. I was born and raised in this city. Lets give it to the people, the people who live in Seattle and have been thriving here, she told AFP news agency. An African American demonstrator, Rich Brown, said he was scared on Sunday when police used tear gas and flash-bang grenades in an attempt to clear the area. Today I feel supported, welcomed, he said. Were able to speak, its what weve been wanting to do this whole time, without intimidation, without fear. Madeleine McCanns parents are urging German police to tell them what evidence led to them declaring their daughter is dead, MailOnline can reveal. Gerry and Kate McCann have been given no reason why police have dubbed the investigation a murder hunt rather than a missing person inquiry. German police, being assisted by Scotland Yard, are investigating convicted rapist Christian Brueckner over Madeleine's disappearance from the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz in 2007. Detectives are convinced she is dead and say they know how she was killed but have no idea where her body is. The McCanns' spokesman Clarence Mitchell previously told MailOnline that the family still have hope she's alive but are 'realistic' about her fate. Madeleine McCanns parents Kate and Gerry (pictured) are urging German police to tell them what evidence led to them declaring their daughter is dead, MailOnline can reveal German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters told a press conference last week: 'We think that Madeleine McCann is dead and are appealing for witnesses. 'The 43 year old suspect is a multiple sexual predator already convicted of crimes against little girls'. The investigation into Brueckner is believed to have already hit a bump with the McCanns lawyer Rogerio Alves claiming that German and Portuguese officers have fallen out with each other. Alves is reported to have said in Lisbon tonight: This isn't the Champions League for police forces. He said the two forces in different countries are wasting energy and should cooperate fully to help bring their investigations to a successful conclusion. Portuguese police are facing serious questions after they failed to put Brueckner on a shortlist of 600 suspects. And it was today revealed that German police are also facing scrutiny after they allegedly tipped Brueckner off about the investigation in 2013. Christian Brueckner (left) was informed he was being probed over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann (right) as early as 2013, according to a Spiegel Online report Friday Germany's federal criminal police (BKA) had contacted police in Brunswick for more information about the suspect after receiving a confidential tip-off in October 2013, Spiegal reported. But while calling the suspect in, police in their letter specified that it had to do with the 'Madeleine McCann missing persons case' and 'personal examination of Christian B'. The letter would have given Brueckner ample time to destroy any evidence, the report said, quoting experts who consider the police's actions to be a serious mistake. 'This should not have happened and in no way corresponds to the usual procedure in such a sensitive case,' an experienced police officer was quoted as saying. Police would usually gather information first before approaching a suspect, the report said. Despite revealing last week that police had identified a suspect in the case, prosecutors have not called Brueckner in for questioning. Such interrogation would take place only after an investigation is concluded so that investigators can put findings of the probe to the suspect, Brunswick prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters told national news agency DPA. Christian Brueckner apparently targeted holidaymakers in Praia da Luz, above as well as other resorts in Portugal It comes after a former friend claimed that Brueckner would try and sell himself to elderly holidaymakers and could be seen with groups of older women at Portuguese resorts, a former friend has claimed. Murder suspect and convicted paedophile Brueckner, 43, was often seen with 'an assortment of older women,' a source told The Sun, sparking rumours he was trying to get them to pay him for sex. The anonymous friend also revealed one of Brueckner's British exes was at least 15 years older than him. The friend told The Sun: 'He seemed to have a thing about much older women. That might account for why people who knew him didn't associate him with the McCann inquiry for years.' Speaking about one of Brueckner's exes, who is now thought be around 60-years-old, the former pal said: 'She was with him for three years and is on the verge of a nervous breakdown now she knows what kind of a man she was in a long- term relationship with. He beat her up and did the same to the other British woman he saw out here.' The other British ex is understood to be a 45-year-old woman from Berkshire. The anonymous tipster claims to have seen her in a bar after Brueckner had beaten her by throwing her head against a toilet wall. The woman, who does not want to be named spoke of how she was attacked by Brueckner after she hugged another man, by slamming her head against the wall of a ladies toilet at a bar in the Algarve. Brueckner then broke into her flat and hid under the bed, waiting for her to return, but when she got back he calmly left, saying 'goodbye' on his way out, as reported by the Daily Mirror. The couple ended their relationship in mid-2005, and he then embarked on a stalking campaign against her, but was never charged, despite Portuguese police being called out twice to deal with him. She has now revealed the convicted paedophile could be responsible for killing Madeleine. The victim told the newspaper: 'Until now I've refused to believe someone I was involved with could commit such a horrible and disgusting thing like hurting a child. 'But I'm not sure anymore. I'm starting to wonder if he did do it. And if he did, he needs to be really punished for it.' 'It's chilling to think my ex is suspected of abducting Madeleine McCann. I can't cope with it.' The Oluwo of Iwoland, Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has announced his readiness to distribute pepper spray to female residents in his town. He disclosed that the effort is to curb incessant rape attacks as the pepper spray would be used as self-defence against rapists. According to a statement seen by PREMIUM TIMES and confirmed by the monarchs press secretary, Alli Ibraheem, the distribution is scheduled to come up on Monday, June 15. Interested females across the three locals of Iwo, Ayedire and Ola Oluwa are enjoined to converge at Oluwos palace on Monday by 10 am. There will be a brief enlightenment and training on its usage and protection against sexual assault, the statement read in part. This newspaper has reported several rape cases across Nigeria in the past few weeks, some leading to the death of the victims. READ ALSO: The Nigeria government on Tuesday through the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, pledged to take decisive action against rapists and also domesticate laws protecting rape victims. Speaking on Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari in his Democracy Day address said: I am particularly upset at recent incidents of rape, especially of very young girls. The Police are pursuing these cases with a view to bringing perpetrators of these heinous crimes to swift justice. Two naval aviators were killed this week when their civilian single-engine aircraft crashed in Alabama. Capt. Vincent Segars, the head of Naval Aviation Schools Command, and Cmdr. Joshua Fuller died Wednesday when their Piper PA-32 crashed about 12 miles outside of Selma, said Cmdr. James Stockman, a spokesman for Naval Education and Training Command. Segars and Fuller were the only two aboard the plane, he added. Read Next: After Soldier's Death in Vehicle Rollover, Lawmaker Calls for Military-Wide Changes Fuller owned the aircraft, The Selma Times-Journal reported. The pair, according to the paper, were on their way from Jasper, Alabama, to Pensacola, Florida, where the officers were based. Jasper is about 300 miles north of Pensacola. The pilots declared an emergency landing at about 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, Dallas County Coroner Alan Dailey told the Times-Journal. They were trying to land at a civilian airport that had been an old Air Force base that closed in the 1970s. "A crop duster was up and spotted the plane," Dailey told the paper. "There was nothing that could be done." Stockman declined to provide any additional details about the crash, citing an ongoing investigation being handled by the National Transportation Safety Board. The Navy is cooperating with the investigation, he added. Segars and Fuller were decorated pilots with several decades of combined flight experience. Both served in Afghanistan, according to their service records. Segars had served as commanding officer of Naval Aviation Schools Command at Pensacola since 2018. He'd flown more than 4,300 flight hours, and had been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legions of Merit, a Bronze Star and five Air Medals -- one for individual action and four for strike flights. Baron Reinhold, a retired Navy pilot, wrote in a Facebook post that he was overcome with grief after learning of Segars' death. "Everyone that knew Vince respected him," Reinhold wrote. "He was a man of conviction and lived with a sense of purpose. ... I will live with a hole in my heart and mourn the loss of my friend and grieve with his family." Fuller recently led the Pensacola-based Training Squadron 86 after serving as the unit's executive officer since 2017. Fuller oversaw about 60 instructors who trained Navy and Marine Corps international pilots. He called the assignment the most rewarding tour of his career during his change of command ceremony. "As I make my final approach toward the end of my career, I am honored to have helped shape the future of naval aviation, and that's something I will treasure," Fuller said. "The Navy's mission success depends on the exceptional men and women among its ranks, and there are none greater than the Sabrehawks I served alongside here." -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Related: Marine V-22 Osprey Damaged After Being Hit by Civilian Plane on Runway I grew up - as did many people in my hometown - embracing the Confederate flag as a symbol for rebellion. On one family trip to Silver Dollar City, a kind of hillbilly nirvana-slash-theme-park in Branson, Mo., I purchased a Dixie flag. What buck-toothed little girl doesnt want to be a rebel? I posed for a photo with it that night on my step-grandfathers porch. This was the 60s. All around us, people were protesting, but those protests were happening off in the big, scary world, not in my mostly-all-white bubble, where the only people of color we saw were on television. The world, our parents said, had gone crazy. Year after year in my dusty Missouri Ozarks town, I sat through social studies classes where the Civil War was called the War of Northern Aggression. Our textbooks identified the conflict by its proper name, but who are you going to believe, a book or the teacher holding a grade book over your head? War of Northern Aggression it was. On hot summer days, I rode my Spyder bike to a field that was supposed to be a meeting place for the local Klan. I was told if there was a truck or car parked nearby to keep on pedaling. Though I didnt know it at the time, my hometown was a sundown town, though the city limit sign labeling it as such had long been shot to smithereens. That souvenir Confederate flag hung in my bedroom for years, until one of my high school teachers drew the connection for me between the Civil War - not the War of Northern Aggression -- and slavery. Like so many others in the class that day, I had family members who fought on both sides, and when grandparents told stories of bullets and blood, there was no delineation between the right and wrong side of history. I knew slavery was wrong. My Bible told me so, but heritage and a hillbillys devotion to dead ancestors prevented any careful examination of war records. I was only half-listening the day Mr. Green mentioned states rights, but then Mr. Green - who was cool because he played in a country band on weekends -- said states rights was strictly a surface explanation for the Civil War. He said states wanted to retain rights in order for white people to continue to own black people. Why hadnt I realized that before? I looked from my left to my right and some of us had our mouths open, like a bass in the bottom of a boat. Well, my God, I thought. What else havent you told me? I went home anxious to share this new-found information, and as soon as my mother walked through the door, I stopped her with an indignant Did you know But shed voted for the unreconstructed George Wallace, so that was a short conversation. Of course Id noticed the lack of people of color in my hometown, and I wondered why they stayed away. I never heard any one mention that at the turn of the last century, denizens of southwest Missouri lynched black men, drove their families out of town, and stole their property. Sometimes, they waited for terrorized families to abandon their shotgun shacks, but almost always they stole property. The victims of the white vigilantes - I think we can call them terrorists, can we not? -- included Horace Duncan, who in 1906 was arrested with another man on suspicion of - is there any faster way to mobilize a mob? - attacking a white woman. There was no evidence, the mens employer provided an alibi, and the victim herself said these men were not her attackers, but a crowd of 3,000 or so stormed the Springfield jail anyway, pulled the men from their cells, lynched them, and then burned and desecrated their bodies. A replica of the Statue of Liberty stood at the top of the tower that bore their bodies. Springfield was segregated, but up until then, it was considered a safe place for black families, at least compared to the rural area where I grew up. I learned this after reading, White Mans Heaven, a book you dont want to get caught carrying around because most people dont bother to read the subtitle, The Lynching and Expulsion of Blacks in the Southern Ozarks, 1894-1909. Well, my God. The U.S. Navy and Marines just banned Confederate flags in public spaces. NASCAR - gasp! - also joined suit. This is on us, all of us. Once again, we white people can watch the protests and think the world has gone crazy, but that would just be more (literal) whitewash. The information we need to know how to act has always been there, and though some of us are starting at a deficit, we need to catch up. Its time. Its past time. Intelligence says eight members of Russia-led forces were killed and at least another eight were wounded in action. Russia's hybrid military forces on June 11 mounted 16 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, with three Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action. "The Russian Federation's armed formations violated the ceasefire 16 times in the past day," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation Headquarters said on Facebook in an update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on June 12. "As a result, two servicemen of the Joint Forces were wounded and another one sustained combat-related injuries in enemy shelling." Russian-led forces opened fire, employing proscribed 120mm and 82mm mortars, infantry fighting vehicles, grenade launchers of various types, UAVs, heavy machine guns, sniper rifles, and small arms. Read alsoUkrainian soldier injured in Donbas after enemy drone grenade drop Under attack came Ukrainian positions near the town of Maryinka, and the villages of Novomykhailivka, Hnutove, Novotroyitske, Chermalyk, Pavlopil, Orikhove, Khutir Vilny, Krymske, Novo-Oleksandrivka, and Luhanske. The Joint Forces returned fire to each enemy attack. According to intelligence data, eight members of Russia-led forces were killed and at least another eight were wounded on June 11. "Since Friday midnight, Russia-led forces have attacked Ukrainian positions near the villages of Luhanske and Verkhniotoretske, using 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types and heavy machine guns," the update said. No casualties were reported among Ukrainian troops from Friday midnight. The federal government of Nigeria has expressed fear that unless something is done about the covid-19 pandemic, at least 39.4 million Nigerians may be out of job before the end of the year. According to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who made this known while briefing president Muhammadu Buhari on the the report of the Economic Sustainability Committee, millions of Nigerians may also slide into poverty before the end of the pandemic unless a measure is put in place. Read Also: Osinbajo Constitutes Committee On Reopening Of Nigerian Economy The committee in its report, advised the creation of programs that would create mass employments opportunity and also use localized materials. Advertisement The Vice President said, Several projections, including those done by the NBS on behalf of the Economic Sustainability Committee, showed a severe downturn in our oil earnings, as a result of which, even with oil price at $30 a barrel, we would still have a shortfall of about N185bn every month in the amount available for allocation to the three tiers of government. They showed that unemployment may rise to 33.6 per cent or about 39.4 million people by the end of 2020, if we fail to take prompt preemptive measures. They showed that millions more will fall into extreme poverty before the pandemic ends; and that GDP may fall to between -4.40 per cent and -8.91 per cent, depending on the length of the lockdown period and strength of our economic response. He added, We have therefore recommended that we must carry out mass programmes that create jobs and utilise local materials. A New York City police lieutenant has apologised to his fellow officers for kneeling with protesters telling them that it is "something I will be shamed and humiliated about for the rest of my life." In an email obtained by The New York Post in early June Lt. Robert Cattani of the Midtown South Precinct wrote that he lost sleep over the horrible decision to give into a crowd of protesters demands. Mr Cattani was among a handful of officers who took a knee during a Black Lives Matter protest in Lower Manhattan's Foley Square after demonstrators chanted "NYPD, take a knee." Demonstrations have been held in more than 580 U.S. towns and cities stretching from New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles to rural communities including Havre, Montana in solidarity with George Floyd, an African American who died in police custody in Minneapolis. I commuted to the Manhattan protest follow @GwynneFitz & @scottheins for Brooklyn uodates. Thousands of protesters now marching down Broadway (heaping pile of trash for scale) pic.twitter.com/VIyGEJtfQJ Jake Offenhartz (@jangelooff) June 1, 2020 In his email, Mr Cattani said he feared the protest would become violent if he and several other officers did not kneel. He wrote: "The conditions prior to the decision to take a knee were very difficult as we were put center stage with the entire crowd chanting. I know I made the wrong decision. We didnt know how the protesters would have reacted if we didnt and were attempting to reduce any extra violence. "I thought maybe that one of the protester/rioters who saw it would later think twice about fighting or hurting a cop. "I was wrong. At least thats what I told myself when we made that bad decision. I know that it was wrong and something I will be ashamed and humiliated about for the rest of my life." He added: "We all know that a-hole in Minneapolis was wrong," referring to Chauvin, who has now been charged with second degree murder for the killing of Mr Floyd after he knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. "Yet we dont concede for other officers mistakes. I do not place blame on anyone other than myself for not standing my ground," he went on to write. He also said that his decision "goes against every principle" and "value" he stands for. St. Paul and Minneapolis firefighters take a knee outside of the Trask Worship Center following the memorial service for George Floyd / Getty Images "I spent the first part of my career thriving to build a reputation of a good cop. I threw that all in the garbage Sunday, he wrote. Mr Cattani said he has been haunted by his decision and been unable to eat or sleep. He said he has even considered quitting. "I could not imagine the idea of ever coming back to work and putting on the uniform I so wrongly shamed. However, I decided that was the easy way out for me and I will continue to come to work every day being there for my personnel," he finished. During the global protests which have also taken place in Germany, Kenya, Australia and the United Kingdom, firefighters, police officers and government officials have also taken a knee to stand in solidarity with the fight against racism and police brutality including Chief Constable, Alan Pughsley from Kent police, UK who was filmed during a gathering at Gravesend promenade last Friday. Kent Police defended Mr Pughsley after his actions caused controversy among Kent residents and former officers, with some calling for him to resign. But the force said they stood by those horrified by Mr Floyds death and defended the actions of their chief. An 18-year-old and his mother were rescued by United States Coast Guard helicopters Thursday afternoon near Coos Bay on the southern Oregon Coast on Thursday, police said. Around noon, The Coos County Sheriffs Office responded to a report that an 18-year-old had fallen to the bottom of a cliff at Cape Arago State Park and looked to be injured. His mother was hanging onto the cliff, trying not to fall to the bottom when police were called. Both were rescued and the son was later taken to Bay Area Hospital by ambulance for multiple injuries. The mother suffered only minor injuries, police said. The Coos County Sheriffs Office reminded people to be safe when outdoors by staying on marked trails and being aware of surroundings. --Alex Hardgrave | ahardgrave@oregonian.com | @a_hardgrave Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. About 30 Indians crossed into Nepals southern district of Sarlahi and clashed with police when stopped, says official. Nepali border guards have opened fire after a group of Indians crossed the frontier, killing one man and wounding two, police said. It was the latest in a series of incidents along the border which Nepal has tightened since imposing a nationwide pandemic lockdown in March. About 30 Indians crossed nearly 100 metres (yards) into Nepals territory in the southern district of Sarlahi and clashed with police when stopped, district police chief Gangaram Shrestha told the AFP news agency on Friday. Shrestha said the guards at first fired into the air when scores of people gathered and hurled stones and bricks at police, and also snatched a gun. The police were forced to fire five rounds to recover the gun, injuring three people. We learnt that one of them died during treatment in India, Shrestha said. Three Nepali border police were also injured, he added. Indian media said one man was also detained and that officials from the two sides had held talks. Nepali authorities have stepped up border security because of increased incidents during the lockdown along the 1,750km (1,090 miles) frontier, which is traditionally open. Last month, police in the western district of Jhapa fired blank rounds to disperse dozens of Indian farmers trying to cross the border. Territorial tensions There are also increased territorial tensions between the neighbours after India opened a new road into a disputed zone. The Nepal Parliament is set to vote at the weekend on a new map of its border with India, an official said on Thursday, underlining the Himalayan nations determination to press its case in the land dispute that has strained ties with its giant neighbour. Nepal published a revised map in May showing the sliver of land on its northwest tip as its territory, a move rejected by India, which controls the area and says the land belongs to it. New Delhi rejected Nepals latest map, calling it a unilateral act that was not based on historical facts or evidence. The Nepalese government has tabled the new map in the parliament, seeking to amend the constitution and remove the old version, with a vote expected on Saturday. The recent article about the Bethlehem Area School District budget (Bethlehem school district to hold the line on taxes despite pandemics economic toll, June 9) outlines a more positive budget outlook than school officials once feared, but the situation is still precarious. Revenue shortfalls and increased costs in districts across the state could result in core program cuts or the elimination of extracurricular activities. It could lead to a shortage of resources in the classroom. Teachers may also be furloughed. Thanks in large part to federal stimulus funding and a state budget that protects schools from state funding cuts, the Bethlehem district largely avoided these dramatic cuts. At least for now. COVID-19 is expected to affect local revenue collection at least through 2021. Thats why Congress needs to step up and do its part, while in the meantime our schools work to rise to the challenge. Congress needs to provide additional money to local schools in order to help districts deal with lost revenue and increased costs in an effort to improve outcomes for students. These are difficult and uncertain times. Especially now, it is critical that we support public school students. Congress has the power to provide a little more certainty to school districts for next school year by allocating more federal dollars to local districts. Sandra Miller Northeast Coordinator for Field Advocacy, PA Schools Work Member, Saucon Valley School Board Lower Saucon Township By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Readers, this, er, event, has been framed by some (well, Andy Ngo) as an example of what the rioters did to Minneapolis (wreck a former Sheraton). So far as I can tell, thats not it. See the whole thread, which is painful: Minneapolis Sanctuary Hotel update pic.twitter.com/rwGnuGTQnz Max Nesterak (@maxnesterak) June 11, 2020 When I saw Ngos tweet (which went viral, unlike the original) my reaction was that I knew very little. Thats still my reaction. Readers, have you seen any protests/riots/insurgencies in your area? Can we get some field reports from the NC commentariat? * * * #COVID19 At reader request, Ive added this daily chart. The data is the John Hopkins CSSE data. Here is the site. Here are the top 25 for the last four weeks: Linear scale. Something went wrong with the display when I switched to last four weeks, but you can see the trends. California on the way up crossing New York on the way down is a little concerning. UDPATE This chart also shows the mysterious Michigan spike; here is the explanation (hat tip Howard Beale IV). Politics But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? James Madison, Federalist 51 They had one weapon left and both knew it: treachery. Frank Herbert, Dune They had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord Since were getting closer to the election, maybe its time to start looking at the electoral map, updated June 8 and unchanged today: Click the map to create your own at 270toWin.com So, taking the consensus as a given, 270 (total) 204 (Trumps) = 66. Trump must win 66 from the states in play: AZ (11), FL (29), MI (16), NC (15), PA (20), and WI (10) plus 1 to win not tie = 102. 102 66 = 36. So if Trump wins FL, MI, NC, and PA (29 + 16 + 15 + 20 = 80), he wins. Thats a heavy lift. I think Ive got the math right this time! * * * 2020 Biden (D)(1): Biden slips a cog (A): There has been a sustained effort since last year to pretend that Biden is a regular candidate running a normal campaign, even though this is clearly not the case. The singular reason for this being that Dem elites and their corporate donors wouldn't contemplate the alternative. pic.twitter.com/m2l9S23eIf Luke Savage (@LukewSavage) June 11, 2020 This is not stuttering. Biden (D)(2): Biden slips a cog (B): Joe Biden said the killing of George Floyd in police custody is having a larger global impact than the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s assassination in 1968. Look at the millions of people marching around the world, he said. https://t.co/dkWjGLE7gY pic.twitter.com/p4lkaY7iAR The New York Times (@nytimes) June 12, 2020 This is not stuttering either. And whats with the dangling mask? To be fair, Trump doesnt wear a mask at all. To be even more fair, Im sure similar clips of Trump, whose speaking style is, shall we say, discursive, ought to be circulating. Why isnt the Biden campaign doing that? Afraid of turning off the Republicans to whom they hope to appeal? Biden (D)(3): Kamala Harris Is on Strong Footing in Bidens Vice Presidential Search [Bloomberg]. Kamala Harris is on even stronger footing in Joe Bidens search for a running mate as he faces intensifying pressure to choose a black woman in the middle of a national debate over race.Harris has long been near the top of Bidens list but as other candidates slip in the eyes of allies and observers, the California senator is increasingly better positioned to be the former vice presidents pick for a job he says he knows more about than anything else, according to Democrats who have spoken to Biden or are familiar with his thinking. Biden committed in March to naming a woman as his running mate. Some allies suggested right away she should be a woman of color, and since the national protests over the killing of George Floyd while in police custody, the pressure to choose a black woman has increased. A former DA for 2024 and 2028. Thats reading the room Biden (D)(4): Meanwhile, Stacey Abrams: When asked by Stephen Colbert to confirm a report from April Ryan that she was being vetted for Biden's VP, @staceyabrams: "I have said many times that if called I will answer but I've not received any calls. I look forward to hearing from whomever April Ryan is speaking to." Annie Grayer (@AnnieGrayerCNN) June 11, 2020 Tactless of the Biden campaign. Biden (D)(4): Biden Calls For Testing Every U.S. Worker As Worries About Second Wave Increase [Forbes]. The plan calls for regular, federally funded testing for every worker brought back on the job, as well as guaranteed paid sick leave for workers affected by COVID-19 and a federally coordinated contact tracing workforce. Not as bad as it might be. Except that its not universal, being only for the employed, and it doesnt help those who test positive but cant afford treatment. Biden (D)(5): Democratic candidate Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules [Reuters]. The Biden campaigns move adds to pressure on Facebook, which exempts politicians content from its third-party fact-checking program, to alter its rules on political ads and speech. From the party of RussiaGate Trump (R)(1): What Trump Will Do to Win (interview) [Frank Rich, New York Magazine]. Whatever happens to Trump in 2020, his white supremacist cause isnt going anywhere, and Cottons rise fulfills my long-held nightmare that its next leader will be far more effective than his predecessor. Good thing were going into this battle under Joe Bidens generalship. A safe pair of hands. Trump (R)(2): Donald Trumps iron grip on the GOP: Why Republicans stick with him [Los Angeles Times]. Trumps grip on the Republican Party remains so strong that only a handful of GOP elected officials have publicly criticized him, fearful of bringing down the wrath of the president or his supporters. Members of Congress are not afraid of Trump; they are afraid of their voters and constituents , said [said Brendan Buck, a former aide to House Speaker Paul Ryan]. As long as he has a stranglehold on them and is able to communicate directly with them, this is not going to change.' I wish the Democrat leadership felt like that. UPDATE Trump (R)(3): Trump Poised to Face the Final Indignity [Charles Cook, Cook Political Report]. When an incumbent falls well behind in a reelection campaign, it is not uncommon for him to suffer through all kinds of indignities. When that incumbent has not played well with the other kids, those indignities can be greatly magnified, as President Trump is experiencing now. Watching the margin in the horse race, is Biden staying at least the 4 or 5 points ahead nationally that would likely translate into 270 electoral votes? Hes leading in the battleground states, but watch the trend of his favorable and unfavorable ratings. If Biden is seen as an unacceptable risk, Trump can win. But if his favorables dont sink as low as the neighborhood that Trump and Clinton were in four years ago and Trump remains in today, that referendum framing holds, and Trump will face the final indignity. Its too bad Trump is Trump, or Id admire him for being hated so much the political class. Indignity, twice repeated! UPDATE Trump (R)(4): Trump rally-goers must agree they wont sue if they contract coronavirus [CBS]. By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present, the campaign website says on the RSVP page for the rally. By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury.' 2020 in a nutshell. UPDATE Trump (R)(5): Trump to give nomination acceptance speech in Florida after standoff with North Carolina [ABC]. While the convention business, rules and platform voting, will still be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, from Aug. 24-27, the presidents acceptance speech will now be held on Aug. 27 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, which holds 15,000 people. * * * She seems nice: Congratulations Charles on your fundraising. Now you will have the resources to actually provide health insurance to your staff and pay your interns $15/hr like we do. https://t.co/SbTSng2RIA Amy McGrath (@AmyMcGrathKY) June 12, 2020 Although the Trillbillies ask, and justifiably, why all the support for Booker from AOC, Sanders, etc., came only last week, at the last minute. The Squad in the spotlight: AOC, progressive peers face primary challenges of their own [Reuters]. A May poll conducted for her campaign gave Ocasio-Cortez a 73%-11% lead. Pollster Celinda Lake* said the survey also showed most constituents think of her as fighting for them. Omars campaign spokesman, Jeremy Slevin, said in an email, Representative Omar lives and breathes the 5th District, adding that she and her team have held more than 1,000 constituent meetings and conversations. In Michigan, Tlaib, 43, faces a rematch against Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones, 60, who lost by fewer than 1,000 votes in 2018. The fourth Squad member, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, has no primary opposition. Well, Im sure the DNC has blacklisted the strategists and consultants working for the challengers. Right? NOTE * Centrist, horrid. RussiaGate Doublethink is powerful: Awkward moment for Russiagaters in the Democratic elite & media: the foreign boogeyman playbook theyve flooded us with for 3+ years in which Russian social media content sows division and discord is now being used against the anti-racism protests they pretend to support. https://t.co/lxpJ0YW2AM Aaron Mate (@aaronjmate) June 11, 2020 Realignment and Legitimacy Euthanize the NGOs (DG): the having conversations industrial complex is a loose assemblage of professional speakers, nonprofit organizations, panels and board rooms, politicians and lobbyists, whose job is to launch redundant investigations, waylay radical activists, legislate minute reforms, discuss hormonal jew (@degendering) May 25, 2020 The having conversations industrial complex. Think any of em have a sideline selling woke insurance? UPDATE Why The November Election Is Going To Be Even More Effed Than We Realized [Talking Points Memo]. Im not inclined to quote TPM, any more than Red State, but here we are: The bottom line is election officials will be doomed in November if they do not take drastic steps to expand their vote by mail operations. But theyre also doomed if they assume a smooth absentee voting operation alone will be enough to make up for polling places being shuttered because of the outbreak. Unlike in Georgia and D.C., there were not widespread reports of Nevada voters not receiving the absentee ballots they requested. Yet in-person voting lines were so long, some voters waited until well after midnight to cast ballots. And now we come to this: If anything, the last two weeks show election officials need to figure out how to host even more in-person sites than they may have been considering for the pandemic. That means aggressive recruitment campaigns to hire workers, and particularly young ones who are more resilient to the virus. Those poll workers, since theyll likely be new to the job, will in turn need much more training than the older volunteers who have worked election after election. Election officials will also need to spend more to secure additional locations. So, the (older) volunteers are going to train their (younger) paid replacements? Is that really going to work? Stats Watch At reader request, I added some business stats back in. Please give Econintersect click-throughs; theyre a good, old-school blog that covers more than stats. If anybody knows of other aggregators, please contact me at the email address below. GDP: While we were making today's GDP chart we were prototyping and I made an animated version pic.twitter.com/SaqNPunRIL Henry Lau (@henrylau_ONS) June 12, 2020 Imports: May 2020 Import Year-over-Year Inflation Now -6.0% [Econintersect]. Year-over-year import price indices inflation remained in contraction and moved from 6.8 % to 6.0 %. Fuel prices increased this month but remain in contraction year-over-year. Rail: Rail Week Ending 06 June 2020 Remains Deep In Contraction [Econintersect]. Intermodal and carloads are under Great Recession values. Container exports from China are now recovering, container exports from the U.S. declined and remains deep in contraction. When rail contracts, it suggests a slowing of the economy. * * * Mr. Market: Dow up 500 points midday in bumpy trade, partially recovering Thursdays losses [MarketWatch]. U.S. stock benchmarks held in positive territory midday Friday, but traded well off their opening peaks, as Wall Street attempted to recapture losses from the sharpest selloff for the market since mid-March on Thursday. Investors are assessing the state of the stock-markets 10-week rally, a day after equity indexes registered a bruising decline prompted by fears of a resurgence in the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. and a bleak economic outlook from the head of the Federal Reserve. So Mr. Market isnt sad, exactly; just in his feelings. * * * Retail: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers cut 55 menu items due to coronavirus and doesnt plan to bring them back [MarketWatch]. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. cut 55 items from its menu due to the coronavirus outbreak, and now the restaurant chain said it wont be bringing those dishes back. Rethinking the menu is one of the major considerations for restaurants post-coronavirus, said Joe Jackman, chief executive of customer engagement company Jackman Reinvents. Restaurants have already had to adapt to supply challenges, new traffic patterns (no lunch rush while schools and offices are shut down), shifting desires (think comfort food), and the reality of delivery (certain food just doesnt travel well), he said. Jackman compiled a list of suggestions for restaurants based on proprietary research. Demand destruction? Todays Fear & Greed Index: 53 Neutral (previous close: 55 Neutral;) [CNN]. One week ago: 66 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Jun 12 at 12:38pm. The Biosphere Gone Camping! [TreeHugger]. TreeHugger is now part of the Dotdash team, and they are building us a whole new site from the ground up to be an all-round better experience no matter how you read it, light and fast and the way of the future. To make the change we have had to pack everything up and move it over. Right now it is all on the road, and we are all whining from the back seat Are we there yet? The answer from the front seat is dont touch anything, were almost there. We will be pitching our new tents around the 16th of the month. Until then, happy camping! DotDash owns a number of brands, including Investopedia. Although when I read light and fast and the way of the future I hear mobile-optimized, which means garbage thats very inefficient to read, even on mobile. Black Injustice Tipping Point UPDATE Column: I just drove from Missouri to California. What I learned from protests across America [Los Angeles Times]. Across six states, we saw many posted reminders that face coverings are recommended or required, and many people ignoring them. Across six states, most of them historically red, we saw thousands of people gathering to protest inarguable instances of police brutality and racist policy, and many people ignoring those too. Following protests across the country was not the point of this journey; we were just trying to get home as quickly as possible. But the protests were ubiquitous . First time Im heard the mainstream say this. More: Hence my childrens decision that they should start carrying signs everywhere just as they have begun carrying face masks and hand sanitizer. An aside: [W]earing a mask while in transit for much of the day is not a big deal. Especially for those of us who remember a time when pantyhose were a social requirement. Seriously, if I were forced to choose between a face mask and pantyhose, I would pick the face mask every time. First time Ive heard anyone say this! More: Ive never seen anything like it and I dont just mean the masks and hand sanitizer. I mean the diverse crowds, the multiple sustained and peaceful marches, the consistent message. Its one thing to see protests in 50 states blared on the news; its another to be traveling across a bunch of Midwest and Western states and see protests at every turn. Its one thing to see dots on a map. A field report like this is another. Well-written, atmospheric piece well worth a read. Police State Watch Defunding the Police Is Not Nearly Enough [Eric Levitz, New York Magazine]. The activists and community organizers whove rallied behind defund the police are engaged in discrete struggles over fiscal priorities across a wide range of cities. As such, their focus on contesting police departments outsize share of municipal budgets is appropriate. But the fight must not end there. We cannot provide disadvantaged communities with the social resources they deserve nor, in all likelihood, the social resources necessary for guaranteeing their safety in the absence of conventional policing merely by reallocating existing public funds. Rather, doing so will require massively increasing overall public spending on these communities. If the end result of the present agitation is to reduce funding for police services, without increasing overall social investment, then we will have made little progress towards becoming a nation whose policies affirm the value of black lives. And in the present context of widespread fiscal crisis, this outcome is more than possible. For these reasons, massive federal relief for cities today, and durable investments in social welfare and public employment tomorrow, must be understood as racial-justice issues. To defund the police, we must refund the social state. 64% of Americans oppose defund the police movement, key goals: POLL [ABC]. Nearly two-thirds of Americans oppose calls for defunding police departments, compared to 34% who back the movement, and 60% specifically oppose reducing the budget for police to reallocate it to other public health and social programs, while 39% support that move. But black Americans land differently on the issue, though not overwhelmingly so. A majority of black Americans support the movement to defund the police, (57%) and putting the money towards other community programs (64%), a departure from the other groups. Support among blacks for the defund the police movement is more than double that of whites (26%), and black Americans are nearly twice as likely as whites (33%) to back key tenets of the movement. An equal 42% of Hispanics support both. Hence the Kente cloth, since appealing to Black voters and wealthy suburban Republicans is going to be a neat trick. US law enforcement surveilled protests with drones, spy planes [Al Jazeera]. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) deployed a predator drone on May 29 over the city of Minneapolis, where Floyd, a Black man, was killed when a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The FBI used a small plane equipped to collect mobile phone location data over Washington, DC on June 2, according to members of Congress and public reports. The FBI and US National Guard used a hi-tech RC-26 spy plane with infrared and electro-optical cameras over Washington, DC, and Las Vegas on the same day. The US Drug Enforcement Administration was authorised to conduct covert surveillance of the protests. Attorney General William Barr told state governors the FBIs network of regional counterterrorism centres would be used to track protesters. Awesome. Cops blackmailing other municipal government departments: Cop unions are unaware they need PR experts and I am 100% here for it https://t.co/78R97JHw59 Dave "Alive" Anthony (@daveanthony) June 10, 2020 Out of control. Games Meet 90-year-old Hamako Mori, the worlds oldest video game YouTuber [CNN]. Hamako Mori, known as Gamer Grandma to her 250,000 YouTube subscribers, started gaming 39 years ago. Her YouTube channel launched in 2015, and she posts up to four videos a month. In her clips, she does everything from unboxing new consoles to broadcasting her gaming prowess. And now Mori, who counts the Grand Theft Auto series among her favorites , is officially the worlds oldest gaming YouTuber, according to Guinness World Records. In A Unionization Breakthrough, Paradox Interactive Signs Labor Agreement With Trade Unions [Kotaku]. The [collective bargaining agreement (CBA)] covers Paradox employees based in Sweden where its headquartered. The agreement will help formalize existing benefits and make it easier to negotiate things like pay increases. The CBA, which Paradox says will be finalized before the end of the month, is with two separate trade unions, Unionen and SACO, and helps lock in current company policies around things like parental and sick leave so they cant be changed later on without being re-negotiated. The main thing is that we now have a mandate anchored in the law and in the collective agreement itself, Paradox programmer and Unionen union representative Magne Skjran told Kotaku over instant message. It means that we have a right to negotiate, and Paradox has to come to the table. The formalization and anchoring strengthens any arguments we have.' Game Publisher Cancels Contract With Developer, Then Tries to Poach Its Entire Team [Bloomberg]. One Friday evening last December, employees of game designer Star Theory Games each received the same unusual recruitment message over LinkedIn. It struck them as bizarre for two reasons. One, it came from an executive producer at the publishing company funding their next video game. Two, it said the gamein the works for the previous two yearswas being pulled from their studio. The LinkedIn message went on to say Take-Two was setting up a new studio to keep working on the same game Star Theory had been developing, a sequel to the cult classic Kerbal Space Program. Take-Two was looking to hire all of Star Theorys development staff to make that happen. We are offering a compensation package that includes a cash sign-on bonus, an excellent salary, bonus eligibility and other benefits, Cook wrote. Poach seems a little mild. The Last of Us Part II and Its Crisis-Strewn Path to Release [Wired]. The creative process: Since February 2017, Naughty Dog has been inviting scores of gamers to its offices to test out the active construction site that is the unfinished game. These playtesters, as theyre called, consent to being filmed as they move through the game; then they fill out questionnaires and meet in groups to discuss whats working and what isnt. Back in the early stages of playtesting, Naughty Dog was troubleshooting the rough infrastructure of the game: how its world holds up, what people felt drawn to, where they got lost. Now, during this agonizing final stretch of development, [41-year-old director Neil Druckmanns team] is watching for players minute responses to the narrative and emotional beats. In the videofeeds piped out of the playtesting room, the dev team logs and annotates every clench of the jaw and widening of the eyes. Druckmann has even taken to spying on the gamers live from his office. One comment: Ebert was right that games arent art he just hadnt identified the real reason: aggressive product testing to optimize emotional response like youre creating a new flavor of coke. If only Shakespeare had had a playtesting room MMT The scale of this crisis is unprecedented: now we need the radical thinking to address it [Tax Research UK]. In that case we are not going to get a V-shaped recovery, with a quick bounceback. We are, instead, going to see a fundamental change in the level of economic activity for some time to come. That is precisely why I do think radical thinking, including a Green New Deal and the processes of change implicit within it, is necessary now. It is why I also think we need to radically rethink our relationship with what is supposedly called government debt, which is why I have issued a myth buster on that issue this morning. And yet many on the left seem to have no understanding on this. For them affordability is constrained. And debt repayment remains paramount. One of the reasons why I felt down in the last week was the consequence of exchanges with supposed progressive economists a week or so ago. They were vehemently anti-MMT. This now appears to be a necessary sign of virility or acceptability in the left of centre think tank world. John Weeks appeared quite without shame in calling MMT a cult on Twitter yesterday. The economists in question suggested that the public were right to be worried about debt, and that the goal should be to constrain it. There were issues of sound finance involved, one said. Another described the moral dimension to debt and suggested it a sign of failure. These narratives play straight into the hands of the right. It is as if they wished for austerity. My belief that their comprehension of what debt really is, what it does, what its benefits are, and what it can do to deliver the economic transformation we require are exceptionally limited. But, I stress, these are people from the left, and I see the same attitudes in just about every left of centre think tank right now. Ugh. And stuff like these tends to bleed across the Atlantic, too. News of the Wired Research finds reading books has surged in lockdown [Guardian]. A new survey has revealed that people in the UK have almost doubled the amount of time they spend reading books since lockdown began, but instead of dystopian fiction readers are turning to the comfort of crime and thrillers. Readers also revealed their tastes have changed since the outbreak of Covid-19, with their interest in crime and thrillers, and other popular fiction, increasing. There was currently little appetite for dystopian fiction, said [Nielsen Book]. Ill bet. This is the UK. Some of our US readers expected to read more, and read less; that was my experience. Was it yours? * * * Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, (c) how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal, and (d) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here . Todays plant (ChiGal): ChiGal writes: Mother nature is an amazing paintershe does everything, from impressionistic flowers in a field to the precise detailing of Audobon. Finally, let me say that I am feeling good today; it seems like I had a head-cold that lasted three days (and no other symptoms whatever). Not to go all hypochondriac, but the stress of waiting first for more symptoms, and then wondering how the heck I caught a cold when Im all masked up was real. Surface contact, I suppose, though Im good about washing my hands. What an odd week. And now its Friday! lambert * * * Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the annual NC fundraiser. So if you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldnt see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know Im on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for five or ten days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals: Here is the screen that will appear, which I have helpfully annotated. If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you! Police chiefs will conduct a review into the use of Tasers after concerns were raised that people from BAME backgrounds are being disproportionately affected, according to reports. A string of controversial incidents, including the shocking footage of rapper Wretch 32's father being Tasered, has led to increased calls for scrutiny and independent researchers will now look into the use of the stun guns. It was revealed from Home Office figures that officers were almost eight times more likely to draw their Tasers against black people in England and Wales - and their general use also rose 39 per cent last year. Tasers were first trialled by UK police forces in 2003, and a roll-out to all forces was completed in 2013. Police chiefs will carry out a review into the use of officers' Tasers after recent controversies Footage showing Wretch 32's 62-year-old father being Tasered has led to widespread outrage Around 35,000 officers in England and Wales now have Tasers at their disposal, and it has been reported that the police federation of both nations are 'deeply committed' to ensuring more officers have access to the device. But The Times state that Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D'Orsi, also part of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), has given the green light for research into the issue. A number of National Taser Stakeholder Advisory Group (NTSAG) members stepped down in April and had accused the NPCC of a lack of action over the concerning statistics involving ethnic minorities. Ms D'Orsi assured NTSAG last month that she accepted the concerns about 'general police disproportionality', and added that there was a 'benefit' into commissioning independent research. The police body admitted it was 'deeply concerned about the lack of progress' concerned with tackling disproportionality in the deployment of Tasers. The NPCC has confirmed Ms D'Orsi is now in discussions to appoint an independent researcher. Amid the increased scrutiny, Martyn Underhill, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) lead on use of force, quit on Thursday. Mr Underhill, also the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, was criticised for raising concerns over disproportionality. The footage showing the tasering of Wretch 32's father sparked widespread outrage on Wednesday. The police watchdog revealed they would assess the body cam video, which showed 62-year-old Millard Scott falling downstairs at his home in north London on April 21. Mr Scott had been warned, 'Police officer with a Taser. Stay where you are.' during the incident - and Scotland Yard said that it had found no misconduct. Millard Scott, speaking to ITV News, had said that he was 'lucky to be alive' after the incident Tasers fire fishhook probes which can deliver shocks through up to two inches of clothing London Mayor Sadiq Khan has demanded an 'urgent explanation of the distressing incident' The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) was urged to launch an inquiry by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Amnesty International among others, and the body has instructed the force to refer the footage to them. Mr Khan said: 'It's absolutely vital that our police service retains the trust of the communities it serves'. And Oliver Feeley-Sprague, Amnesty's UK policing expert, believes 'this is yet another litmus test for the Mets claim that black lives matter to them.' The statement read: 'For years weve been calling for a formal review of the guidance around all aspects of the polices use of Tasers, so this is a welcome move. 'The researchers will need to be properly-consultative and absolutely unafraid to look at some of the uncomfortable home truths about racism in British policing. 'Recent highly-disturbing cases of apparent police misuse of Tasers against black people in Manchester and north London have only added to the need for a full re-examination of the polices record on Tasers. 'There are also concerns about Tasers being used against vulnerable groups such as those with mental illness and wider concerns about their over-use in general. 'Tasers are potentially lethal weapons, linked to hundreds of deaths in the USA and a growing number in Britain, and weve always said that UK police forces needed to restrict their use to highly-trained specialist officers. 'In some circumstances, Tasers can be effective if used by well-trained officers to prevent loss of life or serious injury - but theyre open to misuse and over-use. 'This review should be just the start of a major re-examination of the way these dangerous weapons are being used by the police in our communities.' The footage comes after protesters at Black Lives Matter marches identified racial bias stemming from police officers as a key reason behind the movement. SPRINGFIELD Student leaders from Pioneer Valley Project Youth Voices United are expected to march Saturday afternoon and demand an end to Springfield police officers stationed in public schools. Demonstrators will gather in the High School of Commerce parking lot on State Street at 4 p.m. and march to City Hall. The protest comes a week after three other marches in Springfield decrying racism and police brutality. Commerce is the site of a December 2018 incident involving Officer Angel Marrero and a high school student. Marerro was subsequently charged with assault and battery and filing a false police report. Last year, Police Commissioner Cheryl C. Clapprood said she intended to launch a review of the Quebec Unit in the wake of the incident. The review was to look at the units objectives and whether procedures need to change to meet changes in the schools. Youth Voices United leaders are calling on Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Superintendent of Schools Daniel Warwick to terminate the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding between school system and Police Department. We arent protesting because we dont want schools to be safe. Of course, we all want to feel safe at school, said Richard Parris Scott, an organizer of the protest. The truth is, we dont feel safer because we have police officers in our schools. We actually feel like were being profiled in the buildings where we are supposed to be learning. There are much better ways to use the money that we currently spend on police officers, such as increasing the number of social workers, adding art and music programs, after school programs and other things that support us. We hope that our superintendent and mayor are willing to meet with us directly next week to listen to what we have to say about this. The students are also asking Sarno and Warwick to attend a digital town hall next week hosted by PVP Youth Voices United. Related Content: Egypt said it would resume international flights and allow foreign tourists to some coastal cities that have been least affected by the coronavirus starting from the beginning of July, the cabinet said on Thursday. Other regular international flights will, however, continue to remain suspended until further notice, cabinet media advisor Hany Younes told Ahram Online. The tourist governorates with the least number of infections that will open to foreign tourists and international flights are South Sinai, the Red Sea and Marsa Matrouh, the cabinet said in a statement sent to Ahram Online. Egypt has suspended international flights on 19 March in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus. It has since only allowed its airports to open to domestic, freight and special repatriation flights. The government has so far allowed 155 hotels that have met safety protocols to reopen at a reduced occupancy rate to revive its key tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the virus restrictions. The permitted occupancy rate of the reopened hotels was initially set at 25 percent, but was increased to 50 percent earlier this month. Egypt has reported 38,284 coronavirus cases as of Wednesday, including 1,342 deaths. On Wednesday, the government announced it would exempt tourists coming on direct flights to seaside resort cities from visa fees until the end of October, the end of the summer tourism season. The civil aviation ministry had earlier decided to grant a 50 percent discount on landing and parking fees for planes flying to these cities. Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi: The latest Pew Research Center survey on the countrys attitudes has given a positive verdict to the Prime Minister Narendra Modis efficiency in running the economy and government in the eyes of the citizens of the country. The report cited that the Indian Prime Minister holds a 81% favourability rating with the Indian public. Though the PM's rating has taken a dip by six percentage points as compared to last year, the survey concludes that Modi continues to ride a wave of public good feeling about the way things are going in India. Here are some of the key parameters on which the Prime Minister was rated by the people of the country 1. Indias economic growth rate Questions remain about Indias economic growth rate, but 80% of Indians said the current state of the economy is good up six points from last year and 16% more than when Modi was elected in 2014. 2. Direction of the country A positive trend was evident in responses to questions about the direction of the country. Sixty-five per cent said they were satisfied, up 9 points from last year and more than double what was felt in 2013. Modis approval is strikingly high with 57% of Indians expressing a very favourable opinion and 24% giving a moderately favourable view. While his overall approval rises to 94% among BJP supporters, even 61% of Congress supporters gave him a thumbs-up. A plurality of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters (47%) also took a positive view. In what may be an indicator of next years state election results, 71% of North Indians expressed satisfaction at the direction of the country the highest figures across the country.Though only 42% of North Indians say the economy is doing well, that is still the second-highest among the regions. 3. Modis popularity cuts across demographic groups Modis popularity, noted the report, cuts across demographic groups to both men and women, and among all age groups, educational backgrounds and income levels.Men were more likely to like Modi than women by a small margin: 85% to 77%. The younger the Indian, the more likely he is to be a Modi supporter. Nine out of 10 Indians with some college education approved of Modi, among those with less than a secondary school education the figure fell to 79%. Rural and urban support for Modi was almost identical. The report noted an unsurprising division of opinion between BJP and Congress supporters on Modi. When asked, for example, whether Modi cares about people like me, there was a 31-point gap between the partisan respondents. 4. Policy Specific Matters Asked to judge the NDA governments ability to tackle specific policy problems, Modi did the best in helping the poor and unemployment with a 62% positive approval rating. He fared the worst in communal relations and air pollution, with approval for both at 53%. Indian respondents listed crime, jobs and corrupt officials as the countrys primary problems by an overwhelming 95%. Communal relations received the lowest sense of concern out of six policy areas 76%. 5. Modi's popularity rises but BJP's ratings slips as a party Modis party, the BJP, has not fared as well as its leader though it remains well ahead of the Congress. While the Congress has seen its popularity rise six points to 67% from last year, the BJPs has fallen by seven points to a still commanding 80%. BJP support has fallen the most in rural areas, down 16 points from last year, and its support is weakest in western states such as Gujarat and Maharashtra. Congress approval is strongest in the South. The rising tide of public confidence, however, has lifted other political boats. Both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have seen their ratings rise to 65 and 63%, respectively, up from 49 and 50% in 2013. But AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has seen his numbers drop 10 percentage points from last year to 50%. The annual India poll by the Washington-based research centre was based on interviews of nearly 2,500 Indians across 16 states and in eight languages, which were conducted between April 7 and May 24. Also Read: 50 per cent Indians disapprove of PM Narendra Modi's Pakistan policy: Pew survey For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. AN INITIATIVE by charity Self Help Africa in association with yogurt brand Glenisk and SuperValu is committing to plant over one million trees in Ireland and Africa in the coming year. Named One Million Trees, the initiative is aiming to plant one tree in Ireland and 10 in Africa for every 5 raised with the end goal of planting 100,000 trees in Ireland and one million in Africa. The trees help those living in harsh climates by providing shade, shelter, food, fertiliser and income. Limerick native Ray Jordan who is one of those leading the campaign has been chief executive of Self Help Africa since 2007. Mr Jordan of Dooradoyle began his career as an engineer with the Missionaries of Africa (The White Fathers), and lived and worked in Uganda for six years in the 1990s. You can play your part in also supporting the fight against climate change while also supporting local Irish businesses by simply choosing a pot of Glenisk yoghurt when you next visit your local SuperValu branch. One pot equals 1 going to the initiative. The initiative is also being supported by the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) and by the Gaelic Players Association (GPA). At present, Covid-19 has been detected in many countries Self Help Africa works in, explained Ronan Scully of Self Help Africa. We are working with our local partner organisations on the ground to see how we can help prevent the virus spreading. This means funding public health messages and providing water and soap, disinfectant packs, dignity kits, sanitary materials for women and girls and jerry cans to transport and store water at home. A donation to the One Millon Trees initiative can also be made at www.selfhelpafrica.org to help those less fortunate. Australian author Jesse Blackadder, whose award-winning work ranged from historical fiction to books for children, has died aged 56 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. The Byron Writers Festival, of which Dr Blackadder was a board member, said the author who grew up on Sydney's north shore but was based in Mullumbimby in NSW's Northern Rivers died on Wednesday, days after her 56th birthday and six months since she was first diagnosed. Author Jesse Blackadder. Credit:Donatella Parisini "Tirelessly adventurous, Jesse had a generosity of spirit that was unparalleled, a cheeky sense of humour, and a great love for the Northern Rivers, her writing community, her family and her partner Andi," the festival board wrote on Facebook. It also praised Dr Blackadder's contribution to the "wider literary community" in her role as peer assessor for the Australia Council and Create NSW, and her work as founder of the festival's StoryBoard program, a travelling workshop aimed at encouraging creative writing among school children. Hong Kong/Tokyo (CNN Business) The race relations crisis is changing how the world sees America, according to Japan's richest man. "The very image of America is breaking," Tadashi Yanai, CEO of Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing, told CNN Business in an exclusive interview. "I truly hope that this will have a positive impact in the long term, just like the Civil Rights Movement." Yanai, 71, is Japan's biggest billionaire and one of the world's wealthiest people. As the largest shareholder of Fast Retailing, Asia's biggest clothing retailer, his estimated net worth is about $31.3 billion , according to Bloomberg. In recent weeks, the company's operations in US cities such as New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Los Angeles have all been "hit hard" as protests erupt nationwide over the death of George Floyd, said Yanai. A collection of 62 obscure state and local agencies may end up being crucial players in the fight against coronavirus once vaccines become available. Theyre known as immunization registries and they keep track of childrens and increasingly adults immunizations. Vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the disease COVID-19 are expected to require two doses, given a month or so apart, and come in several types. Thats a recipe for disaster without a central repository to know who got what vaccine and when. Imagine this scenario: You get your first coronavirus shot at a local health department clinic. A month later, when its time for your follow-up, you go to your doctor or a local pharmacy. Theyll need to know which one you got, when you got it and double-check when youre due for your second dose, said Dr. Kelly Moore, associate director of immunization education with the Immunization Action Coalition. Fear factor: Viruses like the one that causes COVID-19 have long been Dr. Anthony Fauci's 'worst nightmare' That's where existing state immunization registries should come in, public health experts say. Multiple doses and different vaccines aren't just a logistical nightmare, there are health implications as well. There could be unknown reactions and no ones going to have time to do studies to see if you can mix and match, said Rebecca Coyle, executive director of the American Immunization Registry Association in Washington, D.C. Researchers work in a lab at the Yisheng Biopharma company in Shenyang, in Chinas northeast Liaoning province on June 10, 2020. - The company is one of a number in China trying to develop a vaccine for the COVID-19 coronavirus. (Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP) (Photo by NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images) ORIG FILE ID: AFP_1T723P Gearing up to vaccinate more than 300 million Americans twice in a short period of time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working closely with the registries and state health departments to streamline the somewhat clunky existing system. Prior to the pandemic, the CDC was engaged in a long-term effort to build a centralized system to let health care providers and state registries quickly and easily share information about immunizations. Dubbed the IZ Gateway, its now receiving a lot of attention in public health circles. Story continues Whether such a system will be available in time for the onslaught of coronavirus vaccines isnt known. The CDC did not respond to multiple emails. The IZ Gateway is anticipated to play a role with a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, Coyle said, but there are still some policy and technology issues that need to be resolved before it can truly be leveraged on a national scale." Immunization registries started for children, now for adults, too The registries are part of a robust federal system that orders, manages and distributes vaccines nationwide through the Vaccines for Children program, which pays for vaccines for about half of Americas children. To track the effort, which began in 1994, each state created a registry to ensure every child gets the immunizations they are eligible for. It has since been expanded to include many adults as well. Theres a lot to track. Last year the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection logged 5.87 million immunizations, more than half in adults. Only 24% of the states medical providers arent enrolled in the system, said Doug Schultz, an information officer with the Minnesota Department of Health. A coronavirus vaccine could require you to get two shots. Here's why. In Michigan, every person born since 1993 is in the system, unless they opted out. Today thats 2.4 million children and 7.9 million adults, said Bob Swanson, director of the division of immunization for the states Department of Health and Human Services. All states except New Hampshire have their own immunization registries. Some counties and cities also have their own, such as New York City and San Diego. Including U.S. territories such as America Samoa, there are 62 such registries. Pharmacist Michael Witte holds a tray with a syringe containing a shot that will be used in the first-stage safety study clinical trial of the potential vaccine. Adding coronavirus vaccines shouldnt be a heavy lift for most, said Coyle. There are well over 200,000 health care provider sites already connected to the registries, so reporting vaccinations won't be out of the routine for them. But it will be new for many facilities such as nursing homes and other locations that havent reported immunizations to a registry before, she said. Snowbirds, beware: What happens when you need vaccine in separate states? The biggest challenge will be exchanging data across state lines. The registries were set up at the state rather than the federal level due to privacy concerns. To share information with another registry, a data-sharing agreement must be signed. With 62 registries, thats more than 1,800 different agreements to sign and keep up to date. Many don't. Theres no agreement, for example, between the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland, despite their close proximity. That means someone might get their first coronavirus shot at their workplace in the district, their second in Virginia where they live, or at their doctor's office in Maryland and the records would be unavailable. Mapping coronavirus: Tracking the U.S. outbreak Usually, the best data sharing is between states near each other. Washington state and Oregon have long had data sharing, given that many people work in Portland, Oregon, but live across the Columbia River in Vancouver, Washington. Unfortunately, not everyone moves between two contiguous states. Think snowbirds. Each winter, tens of thousands of retirees leave northern states and head to second homes in the sunny South. Depending on when vaccines become available, they might get their first shots at home and their second ones in Florida or South Carolina. If vaccines become available in the fall when theyre on the move, tracking is going to be critical, said Coyle. Immunization registries have history of dealing with crisis, including hurricanes The registry system has stepped up in times of crisis before. After Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in 2005, thousands of families moved to Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and other states. To enroll their children in new schools they had to provide immunization records. You cant ask a parent for their childs vaccine record when theyve just been flooded out, said Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers. What's next? Dr. Anthony Fauci says he's optimistic about coronavirus vaccine protection but concerned how long it will last Louisiana issued an emergency order so any state that wanted to access the system could get it, streamlining the process. It worked really well, Hannan said. In 2009, when the H1N1 influenza pandemic hit, flu vaccine was distributed by the federal government through state health departments and tracked by the registries. It was still clunky, with some states requiring providers to fax in orders, but it worked remarkably well. Over the last 11 years, the infrastructure has gotten much more robust. Its just a matter of making the connections and coordination, said Hannan. State health officials 'identifying gaps' ahead of availability of coronavirus vaccine The scramble is on to get ready for the day coronavirus vaccines become available. Directors of the immunization programs and state health agencies have set up work groups and are having calls every two weeks with the CDC and immunization registry managers, said Hannan. States are looking at their immunization information systems, identifying gaps and looking at what they might need to do to improve them and ensure they're ready, she said. COVID-19 does add some new wrinkles. For example, the registries and CDC realized some kind of immunization confirmation will be necessary. Consumers need to be able to print something out to show their employers, its going to be an important piece, Hannan said. More money is one thing few registries seem to be getting as they prepare for the onslaught. Currently, we dont have any new budget to cover this work, said Michigans Swanson. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus vaccine: State immunization registries hold key to success Credit: CC0 Public Domain The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that originated in China has claimed an estimated 100,000 lives in the United States, while a different sort of pandemic is spreading online against Asian Americans, particularly of Chinese descent. A study published in Frontiers in Communication suggests there is a strong relationship between social media use and prejudice. The authors surveyed nearly 300 people in the United States on their attitudes about China and Chinese people in the wake of the pandemic. They found that "the more an individual believes their most used daily social media is fair, accurate, presents the facts, and is concerned about the public (social media belief), the more that person sees Chinese Americans as a realistic and symbolic threat." Lead author Dr. Stephen Croucher, a professor of communication at Massey University in New Zealand whose research focuses on the dynamics between majority and minority groups, states that: "This was a big finding for us, as it shows the relationship between a pandemic, social media use and prejudice." The online questionnaire of 277 white Americans gathered data on demographics, social media use, and various sentiments about Chinese people. The researchers analyzed the results within the framework of Integrated Threat Theory (ITT). ITT examines the componentsrealistic threats, symbolic threats, intergroup anxiety and negative stereotypesthat lead to prejudice between social groups. Realistic threats, for example, represent fears related to economic or social power. A sample question on the survey assessing the degree of realistic threat included, ''Because of the presence of Chinese, unemployment will increase.'' Respondents then answered on a scale of one to five, from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree." Symbolic threats, on the other hand, relate to concerns about a group's "way of life." Intergroup anxiety refers to negative perceptions that arise from individual interactions between a member of the majority and a minority. One key finding was that gender plays a significant role in predicting realistic and symbolic threats versus intergroup anxiety among Americans. Women tend to experience realistic or symbolic threats from Chinese Americans, while men experience higher levels of anxiety, according to the study. "In this case, when faced with a crisis like a pandemic, it just makes sense that men would tend to respond more affectively while women would respond more cognitivelyon average," Croucher said. One head-scratching result from the study found that respondents who identified politically as a Democrat scored higher than Republicans on perceiving Chinese Americans as a symbolic threat. "The result about political lines really was a surprising result," Croucher said, adding that it would be "really interesting" to further research how political leanings shift when a group is perceived as life threatening. More than 1,700 incidents of harassment and assaults against Asian Americans have been reported since March 19, according to a website maintained by Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, San Francisco State University and Chinese for Affirmative Action. Until the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Asian hate crime has been on the decline for at least the past two decades, according to a report in The Washington Post, and the FBI has not reported any anti-Asian-motivated murders since at least 2003. Croucher said that social media channels, like any media, can also be used effectively for spreading positive messages about Asian Americans. He and his co-authors proposed governments and healthcare industries use social media to combat COVID-19 prejudice. "In the case of COVID-19, social media, and other media, were and are being used as venues to share and build ideas, values and morals," Croucher said. "Many of these are very positive, but some are not." Explore further COVID-19 pandemic uniting Canadians like no other event in decades Frances top administrative court ruled Friday that a researcher could consult former president Francois Mitterrands archives on the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, ending a long legal battle over access. The State Council said the documents would allow the researcher, Francois Graner, to shed light on a debate that is a matter of public interest. Graner first requested access in 2015, the year the government declassified archives on Rwanda for the period 1990-95. But the researchers request was refused, prompting him to file legal challenges that have failed until to now with courts upholding a law protecting presidential archives for 25 years after a leaders death. In the case of Mitterrrand, who died in 1996, they would have become available only in 2021. Many in Rwanda have accused Mitterands government of supporting the Hutu regime that carried out most of the killings of some 800,000 people, mainly ethnic Tutsis. Protection of state secrets must be balanced against the interests of informing the public about historic events, the State Council ruled Friday. This is a victory for the law, but also for history, Graners lawyer Patrice Spinosi told AFP. Researchers like Mr Graner will be able to access president Mitterrands archives in order to fully understand Frances role in Rwanda in 1994 and 1995, he said. We want to do our part to help these couples have the special wedding day they deserve while respecting the guidelines and restrictions surrounding COVID-19. Our hope is that couples can have a safe and memorable wedding day despite the changes theyve had to make to their weddings. With COVID-19 canceling gatherings and events throughout the start of 2020, Tamarack Resort wants to ensure couples who had to postpone wedding plans have a chance to celebrate their union in a unique way. On Sept. 12, Tamarack will host up to 16 couples as they exchange their vows during a 30-minute ceremony overlooking the stunning Lake Cascade. The Mid-Mountain Elopement Package provides a scenic option for lovebirds whose 2020 wedding plans have been scrapped due to COVID-19. Tamarack Resorts safe, affordable alternative makes the best of a tough situation by offering a destination experience with a $200 price tag. The $200 package for elopement or vow-renewal includes a 30-minute ceremony where the couple can wear their wedding attire and ride the scenic Tamarack Express chairlift to mid-mountain. This year was a tough year for couples planning to get married, says Hayley Johnson, Wedding & Corporate Sales Manager at Tamarack Resort. We want to do our part to help these couples have the special wedding day they deserve while respecting the guidelines and restrictions surrounding COVID-19. Our hope is that couples can have a safe and memorable wedding day despite the changes theyve had to make to their weddings. Couples will also get to enjoy their first dance with a complimentary champagne toast and cupcakes provided by Stacey Cakes before riding the chairlift down and being shuttled to the Village at Tamarack. Up to ten of each couples closest friends and family can purchase additional lift tickets to attend the ceremony. Bouquets can be pre-ordered through McCall Weddings. Samantha Sias Photography will be available to capture each ceremony and offer couples the chance to purchase their keepsake photos. Couples will also have the opportunity to make a honeymoon stay out of the experience by enjoying a 15% discount at the lodge for the weekend, with the option of spa- and amenity-package upgrades. Fifteen of the 30-minute ceremony blocks will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The link to book is here. The last package will be awarded to a couple through a contest. The winning bride and groom will win the entire $200 package for free, along with a free night stay at Tamarack Lodge. To enter, interested couples must submit an essay to groups@tamarackidaho.com describing their original wedding plans and how they have had to change them due to COVID-19. A panel of Tamarack Resort judges will review the essays and choose a winner for a free ceremony experience. The deadline to enter is July 1, and the winner will be announced July 7. For more information, visit the website here. ### About Tamarack Resort Tamarack Resort is a four-season destination located 90 miles north of Boise in Donnelly, Idaho. From onsite lodging, dining and event space to the full range of outdoor recreation in the Idaho mountains, there is adventure for all seasons. The winter brings 2,800 feet of vertical on 1,020 lift-accessed acres for skiers and snowboarders, along with nordic and snowshoe trails. During the summer, the resort is home to mountain biking, hiking, rafting and watersports on Lake Cascade. For more information on recreation, lodging and real estate, visit http://www.tamarackidaho.com. Investor perception of the pharmaceutical sector in general, and pharma stocks in particular, has improved markedly following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, veteran investor Samir Arora, founder and fund manager, Helios Capital Management feels that excitement about the sector may be overdone. In fact, he feels the pandemic could have an adverse effect on most pharma companies, near term. "If we are obsessed about COVID, will you eat extra medicines for diabetes or for heart (ailments)?, Arora said in an interview to CNBC-TV18. "You may wash your hands a few times. So there is no such advantage. Maybe the US, for whatever reason, has become kind towards India and giving some faster approvals, and second, it is a market issue," Arora said. According to him, data shows that every year about 90 stocks out of 300 just 30 percent stocks do well every year. "Therefore the thing is that the relative position of pharma within India has changed because other sectors have been badly hit. Let us not give it some big picture that people will buy more medicines, in fact, they might be buying less medicines right now because all the hospitals are effectively closed for surgeries and people are trying to do everything while sitting at home and maybe they have bought extra medicines for two months because they are worried that the chemists might close down in between, he said. Arora says that he will not buy stocks just because they have fallen 50-60 percent. Buy the stocks, which are down 15-25 percent because that looks like a fair starting point and maybe buy two-three stocks which are down 50 percent on the basis this looks good and if things go back to normal even after a year or one and a half years and these prices go back to what they were in February then there will be a great return," Arora said. "We bought one hotel company on the basis that three years later if the price is what it was in February, effectively it is near double, he said. RTHK: Chinese researcher arrested for suspected espionage A Chinese scientific researcher suspected of espionage was arrested in Los Angeles this week as he attempted to leave the United States, officials said Thursday. Xin Wang was taken into custody on June 7 as he prepared to board a flight to Tianjin, China, the US Attorney's Office in San Francisco and the local FBI office said in a joint statement. Authorities said Wang entered the United States in March 2019 posing as a medical researcher seeking to do scientific research at the University of California, San Francisco. In reality, officials said, he admitted when questioned by Customs and Border Patrol agents at the airport that he was an officer in the Chinese People's Liberation Army and was employed by a military university lab. Wang, according to court documents, told CBP agents that he had been instructed by his superiors in China to observe the layout of the UCSF lab and bring back information on how to replicate it in China. "CBP received information that Wang had studies from UCSF with him which he was taking to share with his PLA colleagues, and he had sent research to his lab in China via email," officials said in their statement. "Wang similarly told his supervising UCSF professor that he had duplicated some of the work of that professor at the lab in China," they added. Some of the work of the UCSF lab was funded by grants from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (NIH), federal officials said. Wang, they added, also wiped his personal phone of WeChat messaging content before arriving at the airport for his flight back home. He has been charged with visa fraud and faces up to 10 years in prison and a US$250,000 fine if convicted. His arrest comes as relations between the United States and China have soured in recent months over the Covid-19 pandemic and trade issues. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2020-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. New York (AFP) - New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday ruled out removing a statue of explorer Christopher Columbus from the circle bearing his name near Central Park, entering the fraught US debate over the fate of monuments linked to the country's colonizers and pro-slavery past. In the wake of anti-racism protests across the United States sparked by the death in police custody of handcuffed African-American George Floyd, controversial statues glorifying colonizers and Confederate leaders are in the line of fire. Protesters have torn down or defaced several statues or monuments in recent days, in Boston, Richmond and elsewhere. Despite renewed calls for the statue of Columbus to be removed from Columbus Circle, including a petition with thousands of signatures, De Blasio is not budging from a decision made in 2018 by a special commission to keep it. "The commission did really careful extensive work... and they came up with a vision for how to address this and we should, I think, stick to what was achieved by that commission," he said. At the time, the commission decided after several months of study to maintain the statue erected in 1892 to mark the 400th anniversary of the Italian explorer's arrival in the "New World." Columbus's legacy has since been revisited with the benefit of hindsight over the brutal treatment of native Americans by European colonizers. The statue sits atop a column in Columbus Circle. The commission did move to add explanatory plaques to the site, explaining the history of Columbus in more detail. On Thursday, New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo had voiced his support for keeping the statue as a way to honor the "Italian-American contribution to New York." Cuomo, whose family has Italian roots, did however say he understood "the feelings about Christopher Columbus and some of his acts, which nobody would support." In recent years, some US cities have replaced celebrations of Columbus Day, a federal holiday in October since 1937, with a day of events honoring indigenous peoples. New York and Boston, which have significant Italian-American communities, have maintained Columbus Day festivities. SALT LAKE CITY, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With more than $400 million recovered for accident victims in Utah, the Salt Lake personal injury attorneys at Eisenberg, Cutt, Kendell & Olson have received many honors and accolades from independent legal ranking organizations. Now the team has been honored once again with six selections to the 2020 Mountain States Super Lawyers or 2020 Mountain States Rising Stars lists in the "Personal Injury General: Plaintiff" category! lists including all four of the firm's named partners! Super Lawyers is well known as one of the top legal ranking and media organizations in the country, and each year, their independent research team applies a patented multiphase selection process to determine the most "outstanding" lawyers in each practice area and region. After fielding thousands of legal peer nominations and client feedback surveys, the Super Lawyers team evaluates each candidate on 12 measures of professional success. Those with the highest scores are then evaluated by the Blue Ribbon Panel, which is composed of the top scorers in each field. At Eisenberg, Cutt, Kendell & Olson, the following lawyers were selected: Mountain States Super Lawyer Jeffrey D. Eisenberg Davis A. Cutt Jordan P. Kendall Mountain States Rising Star Eric S. Olson Christopher P. Higley Lena Daggs Selection to the Super Lawyers list is a significant accomplishment for any attorney, as is selection to the Rising Stars list, which honors lawyers practicing under the age of 40 or for less than 10 years. The entire team at Eisenberg, Cutt, Kendell & Olson would like to congratulate all the attorneys who were selected and express their continued commitment to fighting for justice. Contact the firm today at 801-901-3470 or https://www.eckolaw.com/ for press inquiries or more information. SOURCE Eisenberg, Cutt, Kendell & Olson Related Links https://www.eckolaw.com Immunity signals to workers and consumers that they go back to work or they go to the grocery store at their peril, Mr. Vladeck said. Tracking suggests that, at least for the moment, such lawsuits are rare in the United States. According to data collected by the law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth, 2,645 coronavirus-related lawsuits had been filed in the United States this year as of Thursday. But the majority of those disputes relate to insurance coverage, prisoner and detainee petitions, and civil right cases, including challenges to stay-at-home orders. Only 49 of the cases related to conditions of employment, including exposure to the coronavirus at work or a lack of protective gear, while 77 related to unlawful termination, according to the law firm. The database also records only seven personal injury cases from consumers who were exposed to the coronavirus in a public place, and two wrongful-death cases from public exposure. Ms. Lipsen said the current push for liability protections reflected a longstanding effort by corporations to secure more legal protections in times of crisis, including after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and swine flu epidemic. They have been doing this for decades, she said. Every time there is a crisis, thats what they do. Unions including the United Steelworkers, the United Farm Workers, the Teamsters and the American Federation of Teachers have also protested expanded liability protections, fearing that they would lead to laxer safety standards for workers. Many essential workers are already being forced to choose between their safety and a paycheck, unions leaders say, and those risks are falling disproportionately on workers of color. Marc Perrone, the president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents workers in grocery stores and meatpacking plants, told the Senate Judiciary Committee in a hearing on May 12 that offering employers immunity would exacerbate some of the more outlaw employers that we may have in this country. A New Jersey city near Philadelphia has taken down a statue of Christopher Columbus, joining others across the country. The city of Camden released a statement Thursday evening calling the statue in Farnham Park a controversial symbol that has long pained residents of the community. Protesters mobilized by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police have called for the removal of statues of Columbus. They say the Italian explorer is responsible for the genocide and exploitation of native peoples in the Americas. Video from local news outlets showed the statue coming down Thursday night. The citys statement says a plan to reexamine these outdated symbols of racial division and injustices is overdue. The majority of Camden residents are people of color. Statues of Columbus have also been toppled or vandalized in cities such as Miami; Richmond, Virginia; St. Paul, Minnesota, and Boston, where one was decapitated. The head of the statue was reported severed to Boston police sometime before midnight on Tuesday. The statue in Bostons North End has been damaged several times in recent years. In 2015, the statue was dosed in red paint with Black Lives Matter spray painted onto its base. In 2006, the head of the statue was removed and remained missing for several days. A worker cleans red paint off from a statue of Christopher Columbus in Christopher Columbus Park in Boston, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004. Boston police are investigating the defacement of the statue. (AP Photo/Chitose Suzuki)AP Boston Mayor Marty Walsh told the news outlet the statue will be subject to discussions about its historic meaning." Officials will talk about whether the statue should be put back up. This particular statue has been subject of repeated vandalism here in Boston. Given the conversations that we are certainly having right now in our city of Boston and throughout the country, we are going to take time to assess the historic meaning of the statue, Walsh said. The park itself was opened as Waterfront Park in 1976. It was later renamed Christopher Columbus Park. Mumbai Food Project, an initiative by Pratham, released a short video based on the current scenario surrounding the Unlock 1.0. Although Mumbai is opening up, the struggle for food and resources among daily wagers and migrant workers still continues. On losing their means of livelihood, numerous daily wagers and migrant workers left the city, but many wait here, in this city of hopes and dreams. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the income of many daily wagers. Pratham Mumbai Education Initiative has started the Mumbai Food Project with the aim to combat the hunger crisis, with the help of volunteers, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and other partners. The Mumbai Food Project partnered with NGOs like Coro India, Stree Mukti Sanghatana, Mahila Rajsatta Andolan, Rationing Krutih Samiti, Nirman Majdoor Sanghatana, SHED, Mumbai Mobile Creches and Maharashtra Rajya Ghar Kamgar Union, and continues to provides meals and ration kits to the daily wage earners in the city struck by the lockdown. The video has been curated by White Rivers Media. Manila (CNN Philippines Life) Every time Independence Day rolls around, we get the opportunity to evaluate our nations history in light of current events. One way we can rehash the highlights of this history is through cinema: historical films let us trace the timeline of our ancestors war on power, helping us link the concept of freedom to revolution. It seems more important than ever to remind ourselves that the autonomy we enjoy now voting for our own leaders, operating under a constitutional justice system, voicing our discontent can be credited to Filipinos who actively contested authority in the past. Flash forward to 2020, and the Anti-Terrorism Bill is threatening to criminalize the very spirit were supposed to be celebrating today. Keep that in mind while following this chronological movie guide. Every movie on this list is about resistance, because the story of the Philippines birth is a story of protest and dissent. The story of its survival will likely be framed in the same terms. Photo from GMA FILMS Propaganda Movement: "Jose Rizal" (dir. Marilou Diaz-Abaya, 1998) As many high school history teachers would tell you, this is probably the definitive Rizal movie. Marilou Diaz-Abayas Jose Rizal follows the national hero from childhood to death, but most of the film depicts his imprisonment and trial before the Spanish court. After publishing Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, two novels that laid bare the corruptions of the Catholic Church and the Spanish colonizers, Rizal was accused of inciting Filipinos to protest, and sentenced to death by firing squad. The film is almost hagiographic in its reverence for our national hero youd be hard-pressed to find a human flaw in Cesar Montanos Rizal but Diaz-Abaya nonetheless manages to take a story we all know and ignite the kind of patriotism that only comes from being fed up with injustice. Stream on iFlix. Still from HELE SA HIWAGANG HAPIS/FACEBOOK Philippine Revolution: "Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis" (dir. Lav Diaz, 2016) Lav Diazs surreal meditation on the Philippine Revolution draws from history, literature, and folklore to chart an 8-hour odyssey through the aftermath of Andres Bonifacios execution. Bonifacio was killed by Emilio Aguinaldos men in 1897 for contesting the results of the Tejeros Convention, which elected Aguinaldo president. Diaz follows Bonifacios widow, Gregoria de Jesus, as she searches for her husbands discarded corpse in the mountains. But the lines between fact and fantasy are blurry: Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz play Simoun and Isagani, two fictional characters from Rizal's novels. Meanwhile, the tikbalang, a human-horse hybrid from Philippine folklore, is reimagined by actors like Angel Aquino, Cherie Gil, and Bernardo Bernardo. Still from INDEPENDENCIA/FACEBOOK American Occupation: "Independencia" (dir. Raya Martin, 2009) In 1898, Spain decided that it was done with the Philippines, and sold it to the United States for $20 million. Many Filipinos were incensed at being passed to a new colonial master, having already suffered three centuries of trauma at the hands of the Spanish. Raya Martins Independencia imagines a family that evades the Americans by moving to the mountains. Detached from civilization, they grow accustomed to a solitary lifestyle, ostensibly shielded from the violence of society by the dense foliage of the jungle. Its a historical film in the aesthetic sense as well: Martin shot in the style of early 20th century cinema, with crude editing techniques and a grainy, black-and-white filter that flickers like its being unspooled on a projector. Stream on FilmDoo. Available for Philippine viewers only. Still from NETFLIX Philippine-American War: "Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral" (dir. Jerrold Tarog, 2018) Goyo struggles to make its titular character as interesting as the events that surround him. The first act is slower than it needs to be, and the bland romantic subplot feels contrived and unnecessary. That being said, its an immersive look into the Philippine-American war, shuttling between the workings of the army and the political dealings that orchestrate the action. The climax of this film, of course, is the Battle of Tirad Pass. In December 1899, General Gregorio del Pilar faced a brigade of 500 Americans with an anemic troop of 60 Filipinos. The goal was to keep the U.S. from catching up with Emilio Aguinaldo, who was retreating deep into the mountains of Ilocos Sur. The odds were never in the Philippines favor, and del Pilar died alongside 51 of his men. Aguinaldo, however, successfully evaded capture. Stream on Netflix. Still from AISHITE IMASU 1941: MAHAL KITA/REGAL FILMS Japanese Occupation: "Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita" (dir. Joel Lamangan, 2004) Mere hours after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Japanese troops invaded the Philippines, then still a U.S. colony. Several underground guerilla movements were created by Filipinos to resist the Japanese, most notably the Hukbalahap. The rebels depicted in Aishite Imasu arent the Huks: the films characters and events are completely fictional, but it does touch on an essential aspect of the guerilla movement in the Philippines: the active presence of women in its ranks. Judy Ann Santos plays Inya, a woman who takes over her husband's role as captain of the armed resistance after he is killed. Her best friend Igna, played by Dennis Trillo, is a trans woman who attracts the fancy of a Japanese commander, eventually agreeing to spy on him on behalf of the guerillas. In real life, female Huks acted as spies, carriers of sensitive messages, and in some cases even took up arms to fight alongside the men. Stream via iWantTFC 5 Deaths Caused by CCP Virus Inside Chinese Hospital Honest News Straight to Your Home. Try the Epoch Times yourself, and get a free gift. Three patients from northeast China spoke to the Chinese language Epoch Times about their experience after contracting the CCP virus at the Harbin No. 2 Hospital from April 2 to April 6. They werent infected with the CCP virus when they went to the hospital, but all of them contracted the virus inside the facility while taking care of their spouses who were being treated there for non-virus related diseases. The Epoch Times obtained an internal document that revealed that the transmission chain started from an 87-year-old patient surnamed Chen. So far, the outbreak caused five deaths, including Chens. Li Ping and her husband are both in their late 50s. Lis husband had chronic illnesses and had been taking medicines at home for months while trying to stay away from hospitals to avoid becoming infected with the CCP virus. On March 29, he felt very sick and was sent to the hospital by ambulance. Doctors had estimated that he would have a couple of months to live, but on April 8, he suddenly died. Zhangs husband was afflicted with ascites. On April 9, the doctor said her husband recovered very well and could be discharged in two days. However, her husband started to develop a fever on the evening of April 10. Now the couple is both infected and is currently receiving treatment. Zhou Yangs wife Duan has been receiving treatment at Harbin No. 2 Hospital for dementia since March 28. Zhou: On the evening of April 11, they performed nucleic acid tests on my wife and me, as well as other patients. They were wearing protective suits. I didnt know what had happened. We were told the next morning that my wifes test result came out positive. My result was negative at the time. But I was diagnosed several days later. Harbin is the capital city of Heilongjiang Province. Heilongjiang authorities announced zero new deaths from the CCP virus in the province since February 27. The interview was conducted on May 28 by Han Lu of the Chinese-language Epoch Times. A statue of Scouts founder Robert Baden-Powell that was intended for removal will instead be boarded up as soon as possible to protect it, a deputy council leader has said. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council had announced on Thursday that they would temporarily take down Baden-Powells statue after it was put on a target list. However, this was delayed after a crowd of people, some of whom were wearing Scout uniforms, gathered around the statue protesting its removal . Around 35,000 people have also signed a petition calling for the monument to remain standing. People have protested the planned removal of Robert-Powell's statue / PA Campaigners for the statues removal have emphasised Baden-Powells associations with the Nazis and the Hitler youth programme, and his execution of an African prisoner of war despite a pledge to spare the mans life. On Friday, Mark Howell, deputy leader of the council, said that the statue, which overlooks Brownsea Island where Baden-Powell held his first Scouts camp in 1907, would be boarded up as soon as possible. The safest thing and most protective thing would be to lift it out and put it into secure storage, Mr Howell said. Former Scouts gathered at Baden-Powell's statue to protested its removal / REUTERS It has become clear that some people feel that is giving in to protesters and we should just leave it to be vandalised, which is ridiculous because our obligation is to protect it for the future. The more valid point that people have been raising is that the council might not put it back in there. My assurance is that it would go back but I am not going to be at the council forever. Edward Colston's statue was thrown in the harbour during protests / Keir Gravil via Reuters So it gives people more security for the long-term future if we board it up. Mr Howell said scaffolding panels would be erected around the statue, acknowledging it would be less secure than if it were placed in storage. It is a response by us to concerns that have been widely expressed that people dont want to see it physically taken out of the ground, so we are trying the best we can to protect it and keep it in situ, Mr Howell said. He said the monument would be boarded up by council workers as soon as possible likely on Friday or Saturday. The statue appeared on a target list of monuments of controversial figures around the UK that emerged amid global Black Lives Matter protests, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month. Statue of 18th century slaver Robert Milligan in east London removed 1 /18 Statue of 18th century slaver Robert Milligan in east London removed Workers prepare to take down a statue of slave owner Robert Milligan at West India Quay, east London PA Police officers look on as a statue of Robert Milligan is pictured being removed by workers from outside the Museum of London Docklands near Canary Wharf Reuters A statue of slave owner Robert Milligan is removed at West India Quay, east London as Labour councils across England and Wales will begin reviewing monuments and statues in their towns and cities PA Reuters Reuters PA PA PA TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL/AFP via Getty Images Reuters Slaveholder Robert Milligan's statue was removed on Tuesday TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL/AFP via Getty Images Workers remove the statue of slave-owner and slave merchant Robert Milligan after a petition in West India Quay, London Getty Images Protesters covered the Robert Milligan statue's head with fabric Ehtasham Haque The Robert Milligan statue was re-erected outside the Museum of London Docklands in 1997 Google Maps Last weekend, Black Lives Matter protesters in Bristol tore down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston and threw it in the harbour. On June 9, council workers removed a statue of 18th century slave trader Robert Milligan from the London Docklands. Dorset Police confirmed that Baden-Powells statue had been identified as a potential target but said officers had not advised the council to remove it. Dan Davies, 37, from Poole, set up his tent next to the statue to protest its removal. I have been camping out like Scouts do I was a Scout for all the years that I could, he said. It is something that is close to my heart. When I saw this happening I set my tent up and Ive been here since. Winston Churchill statue and Cenotaph boarded up in London 1 /28 Winston Churchill statue and Cenotaph boarded up in London Winston Churchill statue boarded up in Parliament Square Jeremy Selwyn Workers erect a protective barrier around the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square Getty Images Scaffolding has been placed around the statue of Winston Churchill in central London in anticipation of protests Getty Images PA A Westminster Council street marshal stands next to a protective covering installed overnight surrounding the statue of former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square PA The Cenotaph boarded up Jeremy Selwyn Getty Images Getty Images PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA Workers install a protective barrier around the Cenotaph Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images I dont think people understand the good of the Scout movement. People are failing to see the goodness. It is a risk that it is on the list of statues. We are taking the threat seriously. Mr Davies said people at the statue were happy have a conversation with campaigners who wanted it to be removed. He added: Poole is a tourist town we are not looking for trouble. We are just doing what we think is right and what we believe in. Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill's statue and the Cenotaph in London have also been boarded up to prevent protesters defacing or tearing them down. The World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) said it was following reports about the possible removal of the Baden-Powell statue. On Friday, the organisation said in a statement that Baden-Powell had lived in a different era with different realities. The Scouts movement he set up more than 113 years ago now has 54 million Scouts in 224 countries and territories, the organisation said. It added: Scouting offers an inclusive environment to bring young people of all races, cultures and religions together, and creates opportunities for dialogue about how to promote peace, justice and equality. The movement that was founded in 1907 on Brownsea Island stands strong in its promotion of diversity and inclusion which are cornerstones of Scoutings values, while denouncing all forms of racism, discrimination, inequality and injustice. It said Scouts across the world attached historical value and symbolism to the place where the movement originated. Additional reporting by PA Media. OTTAWA - Air travellers will need to have their temperatures checked before they're allowed to board planes but the system will take months to set up, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said Friday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/6/2020 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference at Rideau Cottage amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Friday, June 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA - Air travellers will need to have their temperatures checked before they're allowed to board planes but the system will take months to set up, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said Friday. The measure is meant to keep COVID-19 from spreading as more people start flying again. Garneau said the requirement will be phased in, starting with people boarding planes bound for Canada at the end of June. It will expand to the country's four largest airports (in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary) by the end of July, and then 11 more airports serving mostly domestic travellers at the end of September. The order for travellers heading into Canada from abroad is easy for the government to impose: airlines, many of which are already conducting such checks, are responsible for them. Within Canada, the checks will be done by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority. "It will take us a little longer to purchase the equipment, set up the procedures, so we can screen people when they are departing on domestic flights," Garneau said. He said if a first check finds a would-be traveller has a fever, his or her temperature will be taken again in 10 minutes. Anyone found with a fever in both checks will not be allowed to fly and will be told to try again in 14 days. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "That's an arbitrary but prudent amount of time," Garneau said. "We're working with the airlines, the intention is that the rebooking would not be more expensive but just be a rebooking to a different date." Other costs associated with delaying a flight by two weeks will be up to travellers, however. Canada has rules against allowing people on planes who have obvious symptoms of the novel coronavirus and screening forms meant to get travellers to self-report the possibility they are sick. But it has not been actively checking flyers for fevers, as many other countries have. Not everyone with COVID-19 has a fever and not everyone with a fever has COVID-19 but Garneau said the fever checks add an extra layer of safety for others on planes and for people at travellers' destinations. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2020. A series of build-operate-transfer power projects are lagging behind set schedules by as much as a year due to the global pandemic, threading concern into the power supply issue in the coming time. Delayed BOT projects threaten to disrupt future power supply A build-operate-transfer (BOT) power developer who declined to be named told VIR that his venture is facing delays of more than six months due to supply chain disruptions, unavailability of manpower, and issues in obtaining project financing due to the coronavirus. Our project is under negotiation and has not started construction. The recent lockdown and movement restrictions imposed to control the spread of COVID-19 have contributed to our delay, the developer said. The longer the project is delayed, the harder it is for our project as lenders have started to restrict or phase out financial support, even though we committed to using the most advanced technology. Meanwhile, South Korean national power company Korea Electric Power Corporations (KEPCO) poor track record was noted by the director of Energy Finance Studies Asia and author of the report Question Time for KEPCOs Board as it witnessed poor performance, also due to the pandemic. Its share price shot down 22.8 per cent year-to-date, creating questions for their overseas investment and BOT power activities in Vietnam, including the 1,200MW Nghi Son and the potential 1,200MW Vung Ang 2. Over the past few decades, there has been a craving for public-private partnership in the development of large-scale energy and infrastructure ventures across Vietnam. However, along with the revised Power Development Plan VII (PDP7) that has not been implemented as expected, the BOT power sector has moved slowly, with long preparation times. There are currently 15 BOT power projects, including three projects on track (in particular, Vinh Tan 1 started power generation six months earlier than planned) and others being delayed or are unidentified due to certain obstacles in negotiation (see chart). For instance, the 1,200MW Hai Duong BOT power plant in the northern province of Hai Duong, licensed in 2011, remains under construction through a joint-venture between Malaysias Jaks Resources and China Power Engineering Consulting Group. As per the initial plan, this power project was expected to start commercial operations in 2016 with the first turbine and in 2017 for the second. Hai Duong, where the project is located, has already requested the prime minister and relevant authorities several times to urge the foreign investors to implement construction on schedule as previously committed. The province also asked the prime minister to issue measures for the continuous delay for many times. Industry insiders said that financial arrangements are not a straightforward assignment for power projects that require huge capital and must take environmental concerns into account. Looking back on the progress since the release of BOT bidding documents of Nghi Son 2 in the central province of Thanh Hoa, it took about 10 years for the thermal power initiative to complete all procedures in order to reach financial closure. BOT Nghi Son 2 is invested by a consortium consisting of Japans Marubeni Corporation and KEPCO. The $2.79 billion project started construction in 2018 and was expected to be completed next month. Some other BOT schemes under negotiation include Indias Tata Power for Long Phu 2, Thailands EGAT Quang Tri 1, and Toyo Inks Song Hau 2. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) admitted in a document, The negotiation of BOT contracts and investment licence issuance take time due to the complex involvement of many related ministries. Obstacles have been mainly incentive policies, foreign exchange, early termination of contract, and more. It usually takes a long time for other authorised agencies to review and provide comments. The MoIT is not able to take control of contract negotiation and signing. BOT plants such as Vung Ang 2, Vinh Tan 3, Long Phu 2, and Song Hau 2 are facing such problems. Last year, a representative of the BOT Van Phong 1 thermal power investor told VIR that the delay in the implementation of BOT projects in the industry is due to the terms of related contracts, electricity trading, land lease, and government guarantee, adding that it takes time to negotiate to ensure the ability to arrange financing from foreign credit institutions. Earlier this year, the MoIT released its latest report on the implementation of power projects in the revised PDP7. Some 47 of the 62 approved plants are behind schedule to various degrees, ranging from a few months to as long as five years. Delays in many power projects in particular threaten shortages in the coming time. The total capacity of all power sources likely to be operationalised over the course of 15 years (2016-2030) is expected to reach about 80,500MW, over 15,200MW less than the figure forecast in the revised PDP7 for 2011-2020 with a vision towards 2030. Vietnam is currently reviewing and building an eighth PDP. The prime minister also urged the MoIT and related agencies to take measures to promote key power projects and recommend solutions for power projects that are falling behind schedule. The MoIT also reported that relevant agencies have to prepare carefully to minimise power outages across the country, especially in the southern region. In some cases, it is required to mobilise electricity that is generated by oil and diesel as well as raise the awareness of energy conservation among residents. Many solar power plants, meanwhile, are also expected to be soon put into operation, which will also contribute to address the shortages. Under Directive No.20/CT-TTg released last month on saving electricity during 2020-2025, the prime minister has called on the whole country to save at least 2 per cent of total power consumption each year. Administrative agencies must work with electricity suppliers to save 5 per cent of total consumption each year. Public lighting operators were required to save 20 per cent of total electricity consumption during the period. Power-saving technology must be used in public lighting. Hospitality providers, office centres, and apartment buildings were asked to cut 50 per cent of outdoor advertising lighting capacity at night. Households are being asked to use equipment with energy-saving labels, economically and effectively use power, and install solar panels on roofs where possible. VIR Nguyen Thu Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) As protesters gather for Independence Day rallies on Friday, a familiar personality showed up in the mass action dubbed as "Grand Mananita." Artist and activist Mae Paner, also known as Juana Change, channeled embattled Metro Manila Police Chief Debold Sinas complete with a shaved head and a bunch of long-stemmed roses. Groups have labeled the protest action in University of the Philippines Dilimans University Avenue not as a rally, but as a "Grand Mananita," derived from Sinas' controversial birthday feast. "I come as our NCRPO chief and show that people are here to tell him and the rest of the people who defy rules that you cannot make people follow you if you yourself are not following what the IATF has been making people do," Paner said. Mass gatherings are still prohibited due to strict stay-at-home rules amid the community quarantine. But protesters are drawing inspiration from the birthday celebration held by Sinas and his men in May despite strict lockdown measures in Metro Manila. Several groups have been arrested for holding mass protests even while observing social distancing and wearing face masks while Sinas remains in office. Related: PNP chief defends NCRPO head Sinas on birthday celebration Police have installed checkpoints outside UP hours before the start of the event. The protests will focus on the government's move to urgently pass the controversial Ant-Terrorism Bill amid the COVID-19 crisis. Virar police arrested Rakesh Kadrekar, 45, for killing his mother-in-law. Rakesh suspected that his wife had an extra-marital affair, said inspector Suresh Warade. Kadrekar works as a security guard in Mumbai. The couple would fight daily on the issue said police. On Friday, the victim Malini Salwe, 65, visited them to sort out their issues. This led to a fight between the couple. In a fit of rage, Kadrekar grabbed a knife to attack his wife when Salwe intervened. He then stabbed her in the stomach several times, said Warade. Their two children were also present at the crime scene. A panicked Rakesh rushed Malini to a private hospital where she succumbed to her injuries, said Warade. We arrested Rakesh for murder on Friday evening and will produce him before the Vasai court on Saturday. We have sent the body for post-mortem and its report is awaited. FILE PHOTO: Yahoo News Singapore SINGAPORE Within a year after being jailed for taking upskirt videos of a woman, a man reoffended in the same way. This time, Glenn Goh Wei Liang, 31, was caught in the act by the victim, who confronted and chased Goh as he tried to walk away. Goh, a former navy operations supervisor, was jailed for seven weeks on Friday (12 June) after he pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to insult the modesty of a woman. Details such as the womans name, age, the date, timing and location of the offence were redacted from court documents in order to protect the victims identity. Some time in 2018, the woman was walking through a void deck of a housing block where Goh happened to be. When Goh saw the victim, he turned on the front camera of his phone, intending to take an upskirt video of the woman from behind. The woman heard a sound behind her and felt a touch. She turned around and saw Goh with his arm and phone extended beneath her skirt. She could see her own image displayed on the screen. She immediately confronted Goh, who ignored her and began walking away quickly. After the woman gave chase, she got into a struggle with Goh. Eventually, Goh handed over his phone but the images were not in his phone by then. Goh left the scene shortly after and the victim made a police report. The police later raided Gohs flat and seized his three phones for investigations. Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Kor Zhen Hong told the court that Goh was jailed 18 weeks on 20 November 2017 after taking upskirt photos of some 50 women over a period of 10 months between 2015 and 2016. Goh was heavily traced for the offences then, DPP Kor added. However, the jail term was not enough to deter Goh from reoffending, said the prosecution. In fact, Goh attempted the same modus operandi months after being released in 2018. Goh deserved a higher jail term as he had not learned his lesson, said DPP Kor, adding that Goh would have proceeded with his offence had he not been caught by the vigilant victim. Story continues Gohs lawyer, Ravinderpal Singh, said his client became a victim of online bullying following his latest offence, which had caused great distress and embarrassment to him and his family. Goh is now married and his mother, who has stage three breast cancer, will be undergoing an operation in July. The lawyer sought a sentence of between four and seven weeks so that Goh could be out in time for his mothers operation. For attempting to insult a womans modesty, Goh could have been jailed up to a year, or fined, or both. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Other Singapore stories Two from crude oil firm charged over cheating offences involving US$340 million in loans All SMRT public transport premises certified with SG Clean quality mark The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the remand of a journalist, Rotimi Jolayemi, also known as Oba Akewi, who was arrested for his Yoruba poetic song critical of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed. Justice Anwuli Chikere ordered Jolayemis remand after he was arraigned on six counts including alleged spreading of an audio file said to have caused annoyance, ill will, hatred, and insults towards the minister. The judge ordered the defendant to be remanded in the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department headquarters, in Abuja, pending the hearing of his bail application. The arraignment took place after the prosecuting counsel, Joseph Offor, announced an amendment to the charges marked FHC/ABJ/CB/104/2020 on Thursday. As part of the amendment, the prosecution sought to add to its list of witnesses. Jolayemis lawyer, Soji Toki, did not oppose the request for amendment. Jolayemi, who complained of ill health, pleaded not guilty to amended charges of six counts. The adjourned the case till June 16. Jolayemi, who anchors a Yoruba radio programme, Bi aye se ri on Osun State Broadcasting Service and Radio Kwara, was on May 5, 2020, arrested by the police for reciting a poem which was critical of the minister. The act was alleged to be in contravention of Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015. Jolayemi, the Vice-Chairman, Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria, Osun State Chapter, was subsequently brought to Abuja where he has remained since May 7. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary. (PA) Ryanairs chief executive has stepped up his attack on the UK government over its 14-day travel quarantine plans to curb the coronavirus, dubbing them useless and ineffective. The government faces a revolt from airlines, airports and other travel firms over the strict rules for new arrivals in Britain, with leading UK business groups and many Conservative MPs weighing in behind them this week. There are fears it will worsen the severe crisis already facing many UK firms reliant on tourism and business travel to and from the UK. Prime minister Boris Johnson warned on Wednesday (3 June) Britain risked a second peak from imported cases without the measures, and ministers highlight public support for such restrictions. But the announcement of fresh details over how the scheme will work has sparked a fresh tirade from Ryanairs (RYA.L) CEO Michael OLeary, one of its most vocal critics. OLeary tore into the proposals, which come into force on Monday (8 June), in a series of broadcast interviews. He accused the government on ITVs Peston programme on Wednesday night of one shambles after another of mismanagement, making it up as they go along. He pointed out the quarantine form for travellers was not yet available on the governments website. READ MORE: Tory MPs revolt over blunt 14-day quarantine rules On Thursday morning he then told BBC Breakfast: You don't have a quarantine, people are going to be allowed to come in next week through Heathrow and Gatwick, they then get on the London Underground, the trains, the buses, the taxis, to get to their destination. This is going to do untold damage to British tourism the thousands of hotels and restaurants and guesthouses all over the UK that depend on European visitors who will be deterred by this useless and ineffective quarantine. OLeary said the measures made little sense when some countries had lower infection rates than Britain, claiming flights were perfectly okay if passengers wore masks. Story continues But Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis told BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Thursday that the government was working on travel corridors and other measures to facilitate travel to countries with COVID-19 under control. It comes after prime minister Boris Johnson had sought earlier this week to defend only imposing the policy many weeks after the crisis began. READ MORE: Hotels and travel firms slam 14-day quarantine rules Once community transmission was widespread within the UK, cases from abroad made up a tiny proportion of the total, he said in Downing Streets daily coronavirus briefing. International travel plummeted as countries around the world went into lockdown. As a result measures at the border were halted because they made little difference at the time in our fight against the virus. Now that were getting the virus under control in the UK, there is a risk that cases from abroad begin once again to make up a greater proportion of overall cases. Leading business groups also warned this week the policy risked hammering the UK travel sector, making many other firms less competitive and sending the message the UK is closed for business. What did your family do for work? My great-grandparents were ayurvedic physicians. My grandmother treated people for asthma and eye troubles. I remember seeing queues and queues of people watching how she treated people. My father was a small-time businessman, supplying construction companies with bricks, and my mother taught me everything I know now. You were born in a small fishing village in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), the youngest of six. Did you grow up poor or rich? We were an upper-middle-class family, quite comfortable. We had all the things we needed: property, extra land, a few acres of coconut grove. Merrill J. Fernando: "We have a family charter which says not a single share in Dilmah tea can be sold outside the family. We have had offers, but our business is not for sale. Never." Credit:Media Services, Sri Lanka Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we're told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they're given. This week he talks to Merrill J. Fernando. After high school, this businessman was one of the first local people in the then British colony of Ceylon to train as a tea-taster in London. At age 58, he launched his own brand of tea, Dilmah, in Australia. He is now 90. What did she teach you specifically? She was very particular about looking after poor neighbours. Every time I got something nice sweets, chocolates, cakes my mother would cut it in two and take half of it to give to the villages poor children. I used to cry, You take your own stuff to them; not mine! She took no notice. Caring for the neighbours and sharing with the poor has stuck deeply in my mind ever since. Later in life, you were tasting, trading and learning about tea in Londons Mincing Lane. What did you learn about business and money? This was during the period when Sri Lanka was still a British colony. The colonisers sole objective of the colonies was for us to produce raw materials: tea, rubber, coconut, steel. Mincing Lane in London was the tea centre of the world, but its 19,000 kilometres away. Loading From the actual tea. Yes! And when I watched what was happening, I said, This cannot be real. Theyd give a farmer 50 cents for a kilo of tea; barely enough to eke out an existence. Then they would mix Ceylon tea with tea from other regions and market it as Ceylon Tea because Ceylon tea is known as the worlds finest at 20 or 25 times what they paid the poor farmer! They exploited our tea farmers, their families and workers and equally the consumer by telling them lies. So 34 years later, I launched Dilmah tea in Australia. But my god, what a hostile reception I had from the industry here! How did it manifest? Competitors said, This is a third-world unhygienic product being dumped here! The chairman of the then Australian Tea Alliance threatened me. We will get your brand out of the supermarket. But the consumers fell behind me. I owe everything to Australian consumers. Now I bring fresh, single-origin, undiluted tea to Australia and share my earnings with the poor through our foundation [the MJF Charitable Foundation]. And now we have a global brand. How are you feeling? Shes the head of an emergency department at NewYork-Presbyterian, a huge hospital at the center of the coronavirus pandemic. Shes talking to a close colleague and friend who is a veteran emergency room doctor. Im sure Im feeling the same as you are about the terrible news about Lorna ... Its unimaginable. Dr. Lorna Breen, head of the emergency department at NewYork-Presbyterians Allen campus in Upper Manhattan, killed herself the previous night. Its a Monday morning in late April. Many department chiefs know it was a suicide, but arent permitted to say the familys told the hospital it doesnt want that information released. Both know that their friend Lorna had Covid-19 and recovered about a week ago. Sounds like its Covid complications. He says this with a slightest uptick of question on the last word. She looks down. Theres a lot we dont know. Its just incredibly sad. Emergency Department Chief My God, she was so young. Its hard to wrap your head around. Her colleague It seems like our west campuses have been hit incredibly hard. They lost one of their beloved emergency department nurses. Emergency Department Chief Yeah. Her colleague And, umm, they just lost one of their care coordinators over the weekend. Emergency Department Chief A long pause. She sighs. Then he sighs. And they both begin to cry. Take a break from this bracing, terrifying, deeply unsettling moment of change and challenge to think like a historian. Which eyes from this clearly consequential time will scholars seek; whose perspective built, as perspectives are, from truths ranging from the widely known and broadly experienced to the personally felt will be most instructive for historys record? A safe bet: doctors and nurses treating Covid-19. They are, of course, like everyone: wives and husbands, parents and children; many are immigrants. They worry about whats ahead, and their loved ones, and with much more intensity than the rest of us whether theyll be infected, infect others, or will die. They also are the first expert eyes to really see this nasty, clever virus up close, and feel its strength in hand-to-hand combat. They fight with it each day in front of frightened patients who are praying for victory and who, if conscious, try to detect how the battle is proceeding through subtle tonalities in what the doctors say, because what they tell a patient is not always all that they know or feel. Thats what they reveal to the work friend, that trusted soundboard at a shift change, when they exhale and share a moment with the colleague about your condition, your prospects, the situation at hand. Thats also where youd get a good glimpse of a single lifes fortunes from those who, at this moment, most poignantly experience the interplay between our greatly-altered daily rhythms and a virus that so savagely fells its victims. Someday, a historian will kill for that. And right now in a country all but crying out for contextualized truths to help everyone live their lives hearing those private conversations would come in mighty handy. But they are devilishly difficult to capture. When people talk to journalists or to someone, like a boss, for whom expression carries consequences or to virtually anyone on the post-and-present digital landscape their words take on a performative and transactional quality, where audience matters, as does reaction and effect. Its not the way we talk to close friends. Thats our real voice, the authentic one, which rests on familiarity and trust. So I took a digital platform Id built for autistic people like my son to engage with their friends, a conversation catcher of sorts, to enter that special zone of intimacy a technology that needs to be operated with particular care as to privacy and disclosure. Then my team and I brought aboard 40 doctors in the thick of the struggle: 20 from NewYork-Presbyterian and 20 from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, both of which have been enduring a battle with the disease that other cities are likely to face. In late March, each doctor found a trusted colleague and paired off for regular encounters on the platform, called BongoMedia, where they sit, usually at home their faces side-by-side, like on Zoom for a 10-minute session guided by preloaded questions that pop up on the screen every few minutes: How are You Feeling? What Do You Fear? What Are Your Hopes? The questions are meant to start conversations, to help the doctors think and feel and explore together, the way friends do. The Bongo pairs get into just about everything clinical, emotional, experiential, philosophical and powerfully predictive in videos that are captured, but not released. To preserve privacy for those made public, we anonymized videos by morphing audio and masking faces, wrapping in only the context needed to understand whats being said. Next stop, the nurses. What has unfolded in a hundred sessions with doctors thus far many lasting more than 10 minutes is the gyrating crisis mapped to the day. As each city hits its peak, as bodies pile up in New York while Boston prepares for bigger blows, doctors are stunned by how quickly, and mysteriously, the virus kills. They are troubled by the way the elderly and poor fill their emergency rooms, guilt-ridden for feeling relief at not being in otherwise high-risk categories and fearful about how the past weeks have shaken them. As the country reopens for the summer, with cases plateauing in some states, rising precipitously in others, what these doctors are facing, what theyre learning and how theyre reacting are leading indicators of where were heading. Hear them talk to close friends, and you get a sound diagnosis of Americas condition, its prospects and risks and underlying strength. Two New York-Presbyterian doctors, Kelly Griffin and Lindsay Lief, each with over a decade in the free-fire zone of a big city emergency room, talked on a morning in late April about their harrowing nights and days. The two doctors the only pair to have their identities made public here traded reports; one, still in her pajamas, of the previous days bruising shift; the other, coming off a long night that was terrible. At this moment, health care workers are like an army in conflict, where everyone in uniform is a medic. In cities where Covid-19 has struck hardest, theyre battered, suffering from acute stress, exhaustion, trauma. And theyre buckling, even with the overall patient volume down in some cities, like New York and Boston. Hospitals lost so many of their doctors and nurses in Wuhan and Italy up to 15 or 20 percent from sickness, burnout and PTSD and were not going to let that happen to us; we just cant, said Dr. Steve Corwin, the president of NewYork-Presbyterian. This will be a long struggle for us, and theyre all we have. Their skills and experience, their knowledge of Covid you cant just replace it. For the hospital chiefs, the policymakers, the country at large, this is our fight. Figuring out, and fully funding, all the ways we can support the people who are risking their lives each day to save ours. Its a business issue. Its a moral issue. Like Dr. Corwin, Dr. Peter Slavin, president of Massachusetts General, is struggling with the day-to-day management of a battle where, he says, we cant see the frontlines of the struggle, or hear what theyre saying in the bunker. Dr. Slavin and Dr. Corwin will both get analytics on whats in the sessions and can see anonymized videos to learn, as Dr. Slavin says, what theyd never say if they were talking to the boss thats what we most need to hear. Not only how theyre feeling, and coping, but what theyre seeing with the clearest eyes. As Massachusetts General scrambled to rearrange itself to focus on Covid, one doctor noticed how all the normal diseases were disappearing. All those chronic comorbidities, all of these chronic conditions that arent being well cared for right now because nobody is seeking care are then going to have their issues popping up a couple of months later. The Boston doctor The acute things, the appendicitis, and the strokes, and the heart attacks that arent coming in those are scarier to think about. This would be the non-Covid wave of illnesses that hospitals are beginning to see. Around the same time, a doctor from New York echoed a similar concern, but from a different angle: that of domestic violence rates rising as more people were stuck at home and were unable to seek help. The one type of trauma that I worry about the world not seeing and that I can imagine we may see the floodgates opening are interpersonal or domestic violence. A New York doctor These concerns now starting to be part of the wider national conversation were on our doctors minds two months ago. These are what you notice when treating a huge procession of patients. But heres the catch: the ones who are the first to spot patterns are also those who are first to experience trauma, from facing endless flows of misery about which they can do little. The problem with this disaster is its progressive quality, said Dr. Lloyd Sederer, who as a senior mental health official for New York City oversaw the FEMA-funded effort to deal with trauma among health care and emergency workers and the wider population after Sept. 11. With the coronavirus, there will be no return to normal: The virus will just keep rolling along, striking blows to the population and to the confidence of doctors a confidence in their ability to help and save, he said. Thats the core of their identity, and its been shaken. They dont feel like themselves. Theres no horizon, no clear end to this. This puts doctors in an uneasy position. Many cant sleep, wondering whether theyve infected loved ones. Or they live away from their families. In the sessions, they curse at Covid-19, calling it a beast, living invisibly among us and spreading fast, as they await the first signs of the next surge coming yes, theyll see it first and wonder what theyll do then. As one young New York doctor succinctly put it: Im just going to get in my car and drive the other direction. Though there has been much made of flattening the curve since we began collecting the sessions in March, doctors seem no less inundated with patients. In our quantitative analysis we found that one of the most common words used by doctors in both New York and Boston was still: The pandemic is still hot. Theres still a very high rate of infection. After so many days, I still feel like I want to cry every time. For these doctors, the arrival of critically ill patients seems more like ebbs and flows of a fairly steady tide some days tolerable, others unbearable. This creates an ever-bigger gap between what the doctors see and whats widely believed, and felt, in public. Whatevers happening at the White Houses daily briefings, the doctors and nurses get more than they can reasonably handle. A week before Dr. Breen died in late April, the two women with years of experience in the critical care department, Dr. Griffin and Dr. Lief, talked about this discrepancy: You know, I talk to friends who are so supportive and amazing in New York who are hearing, like, slightly positive things. Dr. Lief Like, Maybe were over the peak and, right, were going to get testing and then we could open up the city. And theyre like, Yeah, as people get exposed, if it doesnt hit pandemic levels, hospitals will have capacity to take care of them. And Im like, Yeah, capacity was one problem and weve done a really good job of dealing with that. But like . But the disease itself. Dr. Griffin Dr. Lief says people really smart people ask her: Its like the flu, right? This is not the flu. Dr. Lief This is not the flu. Dr. Griffin This is not the flu is a mantra heard throughout the tapes, which rarely get political, but often carry base notes of incredulity and resentment about denial and misinformation coming from many directions and the well-known failures of Americas government, economy and health care system. All of that is putting this small class of workers, upon whom so many lives depend, under untenable pressure. Pressure that continues with a steady stream of patients even after the economy-crushing quarantine slowed the viruss transmission and flattened the curve basically stretching it out, to avoid the hospitals being flooded with patients. It largely worked in Boston, which avoided Italy-like crises, and partly in New York, where doctors in mid-April sessions talked about patients seven deep in the hallways. And its natural for the public to want to feel hopeful about the value of its costly sacrifice. But, as Dr. Lief and Dr. Griffin say, the social distancing was largely an instrument of delay, so the growth of the virus would drop to match the hospitals capacity in handling patients. Unless theres testing at many times the current rate, along with contact tracing, the disease itself, as Dr. Griffin exclaimed, will continue its rampage, largely invisible and untreatable. And hitting some Americans much harder than others. Massachusetts General typically has mostly white patients. But during the pandemic the majority of its patients have been minorities, particularly Latinos, most of whom live in Chelsea, a Boston suburb. One younger doctor goes on at length in mid-April in a conversation with a female doctor about his difficulties in working with Spanish-language patients. When he sees scared patients, not only is he unable to give them a comforting touch, he also cant directly talk to them. Translators help, but its not the same. Between dealing with a disease that has no treatment, and with the language barrier, not talking to them like you normally do. Male doctor It feels like Im not being the doctor I trained to be, or wish to be. It is striking. It is the class divide that sort of really starts to surface. It really is. Its very humbling. Female doctor Someone said this at some meeting, that you think of disease being the equalizer, but its not the case. All of us are equally susceptible, from a biologic standpoint, but the socio-economic forces are perhaps just as strong as our biologic forces. We are way more protected than a lot of other, much more vulnerable people. Dr. Sederer, the psychiatrist, said, It seems like all the weight of societys problems are coming down on them. Whatever the causes, these doctors and nurses will be feeling the hard effects, and dealing with them every day in ways that make them feel like something less than they trained to be. Its what those who deal with PTSD in veterans call moral injury: when soldiers are involved in something, or just witness something, that violates their moral code, that seems an injustice. It haunts them. This is a bad combination of forces, Dr. Sederer said, and its not a one and done. Its a persistent state. To the platforms posted question, What Are Your Hopes, a doctor from Boston in the first days of April tells a colleague what she hopes to avoid. She says she hopes the experience wont hinder her as a doctor and that the trauma doesnt scar her forever. Im afraid for all of our friends in our unit, she says. Were seeing a lot, were seeing things that we were never prepared to see, that we never thought we would see, that are completely unfathomable. A response to the unfathomable, to that which overwhelms, is to step away, to compartmentalize and establish some distance, in whatever way possible. Its a survival strategy that informs the sessions between two young NewYork-Presbyterian surgery residents, a woman and a man going through their trial by fire in the middle of April, right before New Yorks peak. Theres something discomfiting about their conversations, with their smooth, affably ironic tint of the late-20s, early-30s demographic. The residents begin their conversation shooting finger-guns at each other. How you feeling? Female resident Feeling good, feeling great, 25 sitting on 25 mill. Male resident Im sorry actually, that doesnt reflect how Im feeling. Im feeling OK. They veer into a matter-of-fact description of the horrors theyve faced over the last few weeks. She talks about a man in his late 80s with a litany of preconditions that she encountered along with an I.C.U. fellow a few days before. The mans condition was critical. Theres not much hope for him. They wanted to get him to an I.C.U. bed, and the I.C.U. fellow was kind of hesitant, because everyone knows (hes soon to die). Female resident Just had to call it? Male resident Its such an uncomfortable decision to make, because we didnt sign up to play God. Female resident We had to call the morgue, and then clean up the bed, and the cleaning-up kind of held up a spot for someone else whos been languishing in the E.D. (emergency department), waiting for an I.C.U. How do you make those decisions? Even on seemingly easier days, its still difficult for hospital workers to care for patients in a way that honors their humanity. Patients are often left at the hospitals front door and end up in a room alone, without the family members with whom the doctor usually talks to learn about the patient, and unable to talk to loved ones about their medical condition, treatment and choices. All that many Covid patients see of the doctor or nurse, often standing outside the doorway, is their eyes above the mask, maybe the last eyes theyll meet before the end. If everyone strives for a good death in a caring place, with the finest doctors and family at their bedside this would define the opposite. The young male resident returns from his shift a week later, when things seem to be looking up he says that this was the first week where hospitalizations were down. Meanwhile, his Bongo partner has been working triage for the past couple of days, a shift that, though done from home on a laptop, involves making real-life decisions about where patients go. Its just so strange, because youre not there and were so used to just being there in the mix of it. Male resident One feeling Ive been having during the couple of I.C.U. triage shifts Ive done from home, is that I feel exhausted after it. Female resident Its a total shift. So you feel like youre post-call the next day and then youre talking to your friends or your family and theyre like, Oh, are you working? And Im like, Yeah, I was working. And theyre like, Thank you for all that you do. Youre a hero. And Im thinking, I was just sitting at my computer trying to figure out who goes where. It feels more like Tetris. Male resident Every time I hear someone saying, Oh, youre a hero, You guys are saving lives Im like, Female resident I dont know. Am I? What are we doing? Its a strange feeling, its not just this particular job that were doing right now, but in general, everything that were doing just feels so dehumanizing. Theyre not just numbers. Theyre not just boxes on an Excel spreadsheet They are people, they have faces, they have stories And we know nothing about that. And therein lies the struggle for doctors and nurses to find their humanity, and a measure of hope, in a pandemic that conspires against both. In the moments they can, it feels like a return home. I hope that we can come out of this saying that we did right by our patients and right by each other, you know, with whatever cards were dealt, says a young doctor at Massachusetts General on April 3, watching New Yorks body count rise and looking with dread at what may be in store for Boston. Its an odd mixture of feeling at the same time in the media, and in the story that I tell myself in my head, that we are heroes here and Im charging into battle. And at the same time, kind of like, like soldiers who charge into battle, youre also very small. The things that will matter, the doctor continues, are not, you know, the big decisions, as much as the small ones. If were able to take a moment to be there for colleagues that are struggling; when were not able to offer some intensive care or ventilator, that we take a moment to feel that pain with people. People who were caring for. Those small acts of humanity, I hope we can hold on to them. A month later, in early May, two doctors in New York both women in their mid-30s, good friends who more often than not bring a glass of wine to their sessions talked about the well-worn difficulties of each day, then about music. I heard theyre playing that Black Eyed Peas song with every discharge. Whats it called? Doctor 1 Ive Got a Feeling. Doctor 2 Yeah, and I mean I was home today, but [my friend] was texting me every time one went off. There were so many of them! Doctor 1 Its actually really funny because well be in our office and then you hear the song start and you know. Doctor 2 The first few times I kind of, like, peeked outside and every once in a while there was someone dancing by. Its a very sweet thing and its amazing how frequently it happens. And if you had a really bad day and you had like, you know, things not go the way youd hoped, you still know that theres positive stuff happening. So its like just a reminder to everyone. You know, I love that. Doctor 1 Although I wish they could have more than that one song. A little over a week later, one of them says: If this were a normal day, it would be really horrible, but compared to where we were three weeks ago, its distinctly better. Doctor 2 Though if you were to ask me two months ago if this was going to be my reality, I would have thought this was 100 percent unbelievable and unfathomable in our hospital. Now it doesnt seem so bad. Itll still be really busy for us, that is. But at least theres some semblance of a normal structure. Doctor 1 That phase of not knowing where to put people is kind of passing. It feels like we have a little more control. The patients are still so sick that its still a challenge to take care of them, but at least you feel that you can do your best. This is the world they live in now overwhelmed, but not unmanageably so. The future remains perilously uncertain. But theyre learning, day by day, to cope. As our Bongo sessions stretched into June, the Massachusetts General doctors whod previously talked about class and racial divides brought up the rivers of humans" protesting police violence each night. Theyre worried about the Covid cases that are still spiking in parts of the country. Im seeing all these rallies in the streets, the doctor tells his colleague. And I'm like, 'This is literally the opposite of what we have been telling everybody to do for the last three months: Stay home, stay far apart. I hope these people are not sick, and I hope the ones who are sick are sitting at home, rallying from their computers." They both agree, as he says, that the demonstrations are super-important and unprecedented. And yet, the coronavirus is hitting the people who are in the least-privileged areas of the country, the colleague says. And now it's not really getting much attention. Again, there's this weird class divide in the way things are sort of treated. They both pause, put their heads in their hands, and say the same thing. I dont know. I dont know. Doctors, professionally focused on the well-being of patients and generally wearing what Dr. Corwin of NewYork-Presbyterian calls the Im fine, no problems here mask are now reckoning with their indisputable status as an at-risk population. In one session, a doctor flips the mask metaphor to the airlines, as in, Put on your own mask before you help the person next to you. More and more, theyre dealing with issues of self-care. Many are meditating a practice both hospitals are pushing hard and seeking ways, often quite creatively, to keep whole by turning that healing gaze on themselves. One of the New York doctors, who deftly weaves lines of Shakespeare into his sessions, spoke of finding an old fir tree on his daily walks, hugging it, and looking up and sort of drawing this strength from this tree thats probably 125 years old, thats seen lots of storms, and saying, You know what? Im going to absorb that into my chest. It sounds hokey, but whatever floats your boat. Thats his response to the challenge of dealing each morning with profoundly disruptive change, of finding some footing and stepping into a world that mocks our most natural desires for stability and certainty, and of preserving that which weve come to know and love. Hours after he received news of Dr. Breens death, another doctor, one of her colleagues, has a conversation with a friend. Today was a day where I woke up, Dr. Breens Colleague And, as I meditated, I decided that this was not going to be a good day. And that was OK. This was going to be a day where grief was the overwhelming theme. You can hear him willing himself to feel what hes describing. Hes planning to see the hospital chaplain in the I.C.U. This was never going to be a good day. So the question for me is: Can I have this fairly poor and substandard day? Dr. Breens Colleague Can I have the difficult meetings that Im having? Can I do it without really expecting much in return? Can I do it with grace? Two minutes later, he logs off from the session. His friend sends him an air-kiss. He waves back. The screen freezes for a split-second. Then, both of them are gone. One Indian national was killed and two others were injured when Nepals Armed Police Force (APF), which guards the countrys open border with India, opened fire on a group following an altercation inside its territory near the border in Sitamarhi (Bihar), security and government officials said . The incident does not seem to be linked to the recent friction between India and Nepal over the latter redrawing its map to claim territory that India has always claimed. One official, who asked not to be named, said this is third such incident in the last one month on the border when Nepals police force has fired to disperse people, particularly after India started easing its nationwide lockdown first on May 17 and then completely on June 1. Nepal has announced a lockdown in the border region till June 14. Due to coronavirus disease, the free movement of people between India had Nepal stopped over the past three months with Nepal APF increasing the number of posts to stop Indians from entering its territory. Only those on a list shared by local administrations from both sides were allowed to travel to and fro; cargo movement was also allowed. With India easing its lockdown, the officials explained, Indians in border villages have been trying to go across the border as they used to, and the APF has been intervening to stop them. Without sharing details, the first official added that on two previous occasions, the Nepal APF fired in the air near the border to prevent people trying to enter its territory. Another official who asked not to be named said that Vikesh Yadav (22), who was killed in firing on Friday morning near Lalbandi-Janki Nagar border, and the two injured Uday Thakur (24) and Umesh Ram (18) , were not in the list of persons shared by the local administrations. They were accompanied by others from their village and stones were thrown at the APF, the second official added, citing preliminary reports. Nepal APF has informed us that the villagers tried to snatch weapons from them but there will be an enquiry by them and by us also. As of now, everything is peaceful and locals have been told not to violate the lockdown imposed by Nepal, said this person. The incident comes at a time when both countries are locked in a diplomatic dispute over territory following a map issued by Nepal that stakes claim over Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura. Indias ministry of external affairs said such artificial enlargement of territorial claims will not be accepted by India. India maintains that these were part of Uttarakhand while Kathmandu, in its recent map, had shown them as part of Western Nepal. Kumar Rajesh Chandra , Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indias force on the borderexplained that the local incident took place around 8.40 am in Nepalese territory when members of a family, some of whom reside in Nepal (and some in India) were meeting near the border. The Nepal APF objected (to them being there) saying there is lockdown in Nepal till June 14 , leading to some avoidable and instant altercation. Nepal APF has said that villagers became aggressive and they had to open 15 rounds of fire. This is being investigated. Chandra added that situation is now normal and local commanders on both sides are in touch. He said SSB has submitted preliminary findings to the ministry of home affairs. Trump admin. proposes changing asylum requirements to weed out frivolous claims Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Trump administration on Wednesday announced proposed policy changes that it says would increase the efficiency of the asylum system and make it easier for judges to toss out "frivolous claims to focus on authentic claims of persecution. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice introduced a 161-page draft rule that they plan to publish in the Federal Register next week, starting a 30-day public comment period. Some critics, however, contend that the proposed policies would change the definitions of terminology and could make it more difficult for some especially those facing gang violence and gender-based violence in Central America to qualify to seek asylum in the U.S. The new proposal seeks to expand and clarify what circumstances would require an immigration judge to find an asylum application to be knowingly frivolous. The proposal comes as the Trump administration has held the position that some migrants are taking advantage of the U.S. asylum system. Accordingly, the Departments propose to amend the definition of frivolous to ensure that manifestly unfounded or otherwise abusive claims are rooted out and to ensure that meritorious claims are adjudicated more efficiently so that deserving applicants receive benefits in a timely fashion, the rule reads. The draft states that frivolousness encompasses claims that are without substance or merit. The draft contends that since migrants receive notice of consequence of filing frivolous applications, an immigration judge would not need to provide an additional opportunity to an alien to account for issues of frivolousness with the claim before determining that the application is frivolous, as long as the required notice was provided. The draft states that the only procedural requirement for finding a frivolous asylum application is that the Attorney General determines that an alien has knowingly made a frivolous application for asylum and the alien has received the notice under paragraph (4)(A) [the consequence of filing frivolous applications]. [T]he alien shall be permanently ineligible for any benefits under this chapter, the draft explains. Immigration advocates who oppose the draft rule argue that it would make it more difficult for foreigners to seek asylum in the U.S. if they are fleeing from gender-based violence, gangs or other less severe forms of persecution. The International Refugee Assistance Project, a legal nonprofit that frequently speaks out against the Trump administrations refugee policies, listed several concerns it has with the proposal. In a statement, the group contends that the credible fear screening process will be modified to more easily and quickly deport people seeking protection from persecution and torture through heightened evidentiary burdens and streamlined proceedings. IRAP further argued that the proposal would allow judges to deny asylum without a hearing based on restrictive new policy definitions of the terms persecution, torture, nexus, particular social group, political opinion and internal relocation that are contrary to decades of existing statutes, case law, the Refugee Convention, and international obligations. Under federal law, foreigners are eligible to apply for asylum if they are able to prove that they have a well-founded fear of persecution in their home countries based on race, political opinion, religion, nationality or membership in a particular social group. The draft defines persecution as a threat to the life or freedom of, or the infliction of suffering or harm upon, those who differ in a way regarded as offensive. [P]ersecution requires an intent to target a belief, characteristic or group, a severe level of harm, and the infliction of a severe level of harm by the government of a country or by persons or an organization that the government is unable or unwilling to control, the draft defines. For purposes of evaluating the severity of the level of harm, persecution connotes an extreme level of harm and does not encompass all possible forms of mistreatment. It is thus well-established that not all treatment that the United States regards as unfair, offensive, unjust, or even unlawful or unconstitutional constitutes persecution under the INA [Immigration and Nationality Act], the draft adds. The proposal does not define persecution to include harm from criminal activity, military strife, repeated threats with no actions taken to carry out the threats, property damage, economic harm, brief detentions, intermittent harassment or government laws or policies that are infrequently enforced unless there is credible evidence that those laws or policies have been applied directly to the applicant. IRAP says if the new policy is enacted, U.S. immigration judges would be able to deny asylum cases if the person did not pay taxes, has been in the United States unlawfully for more than one year, or traveled through another country on the way to the United States. The proposed regulation fundamentally and restrictively alters the refugee definition for asylum seekers in immigration court and at the border in contravention of decades of established statutes, case law, and international obligations, IRAP Policy Director Sunil Varghese said in a statement. Few people, if any, will be able to receive the refugee protection they qualify for under this proposal, and the effects will be catastrophic. Galen Carey, vice president for government relations with the National Association of Evangelicals, said in a statement Friday, "we must not abandon" people who have suffered abuses elsewhere at a time in which "the world is closely watching our response to domestic human rights violations." "Decades of humanitarian and civil rights precedents are being ignored or overturned, and our proud tradition as a beacon of hope for those fleeing persecution is at grave risk," Carey said. Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, said in a statement that the country's "lament" in the wake of the death of George Floyd and the loss of life due to COVID-19 is "compounded by policy changes that impact asylum seekers and unaccompanied immigrant children." "We ought not forget that our nations nobility is, in large part, measured by how we treat the most vulnerable," Salguero said. The new proposal comes as the Trump administration has tried to enact policies to limit the number of migrants entering the U.S. under fraudulent asylum claims. For example, the administration enacted a policy to ban migrants from applying for asylum in the U.S. if they did not first apply for asylum in other countries before reaching the southern border. That policy was struck down by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Federal law allows immigrants who crossed the border illegally to apply for asylum as a way to block their deportation. In recent years, asylum seekers have been told to go to ports of entry to seek asylum. Many asylum seekers who have gone to ports of entry at the U.S.-Mexico border have been denied entry into the U.S. until their case can be processed through a policy known as metering. Over 1 million people sought asylum in the U.S. last year, and these cases are decided by fewer than 500 immigration judges nationwide. The administration says this new policy, if enacted, would speed up the process, which typically takes two to- to-five-years. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our nonprofit public service journalism: Donate now. California's Judicial Council has ordered an end to its emergency "zero bail" program, which has helped dramatically reduce the jail inmate population during the coronavirus pandemic. Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey, however, wants to extend the program, which has compelled courts to stop requiring people accused of a misdemeanor or low-level felony to pay bail to get out of jail. The program is now slated to end June 20. Lacey said she supports the council's decision to allow individual counties to decide whether to continue the program. For L.A., she said, the answer is clear. "In L.A. County, we believe COVID is still an issue," Lacey told us. That's especially true in the crowded jails, where more than 3,400 inmates remain under quarantine. Lacey, Public Defender Ricardo Garcia and Alternate Public Defender Erika Anzoategui have signed a letter asking Superior Court Presiding Judge Kevin Brazile to extend zero bail. A spokesman for Brazile declined to comment. Public defenders argued for the extension of zero bail statewide over concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in jails, but also because they believe non-violent people awaiting arraignment or trial languish simply because they're too poor to make bail. icon DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS Get our daily newsletters for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy PLENTY OF CRITICS Zero bail has plenty of critics -- especially in the law enforcement community. Police chiefs and sheriffs across the state worry it puts dangerous criminals back on the streets, and they point to people who were released only to commit another crime. Lacey said she's sympathetic to that perspective, adding that she prefers any extension of the program give judges more discretion. "I'd want the judge to look at whether they were out on zero bail and continued to commit crimes," she said. Lacey's challenger in the November election said he supports extending the program as is. "Crime has continued to go down while we have released an unprecedented number of people," Former San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon said. "That really indicates we were incarcerating a lot of low-level offenders that were not violent, that were not necessarily a threat to any of us." Lacey said the verdict remains out on whether zero bail has affected crime rates. "It's too early to tell," Lacey said. "We still have a lot of stay-at-home orders. Businesses are just now starting to open up." The district attorney added she is open to the possibility of zero bail beyond COVID-19. "After coronavirus, I'm going to take a good hard look at whether to continue," she said Over the past few years, bail reform has become a central issue in the effort to reform the criminal justice system. The Bail Reform Project, which seeks to reduce or pay for bail for poor defendants, will expand from a pilot project to all L.A. courthouses, according to public defender Garcia. In November, California voters will decide whether to repeal a statewide bail reform law that would replace cash bail with a risk assessment tool to determine whether someone is safe to release into the community while awaiting trial. Gov. Jerry Brown signed it into law in 2018, but it's on hold until after the election. The measure would hit the bail bonds industry hard -- that's why it backed the ballot initiative for its repeal. Srinagar, June 12 : Pakistan on Friday resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation on the lime of control (LoC) on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, an official said. "Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation today (Friday) morning along the LoC in Rampur sector of Baramulla district by firing mortars and other weapons," Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said. "Befitting response is being given," he added. Friday's ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Kashmir division has followed a series of ceasefire violation on the LoC in Jammu division. One army soldier was killed and a civilian injured in Pakistan ceasefire violation on the LoC in Jammu division on Thursday. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Hey, Staten Island! How are you? Its been a while since weve answered the #fyiSI questions you all submitted dont worry, were going to get to those. But for now were going to switch gears with #fyiSI and ask you, our readers, to submit your COVID-19 questions. People have consumed A LOT of information in the last month. And likely missed a lot of information, too. How could you not? Theres so much to consume. For now, were going to answer COVID-19-related questions that our readers have submitted. So one of the big questions is: Are borough cemeteries back to normal hours of operation and visitation? ARCHDIOCESE CEMETERIES Overseen by the Archdiocese of New York, Resurrection Cemetery, located at 361 Sharrott Rd., is open only on Sundays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., according to the Archdiocese. Visitors are asked to limit their visits to 15 minutes and no more than 10 people will be able to gather at a gravesite at one time. All visitors must wear a mask and maintain social distance. The number of cars permitted on cemetery grounds will also be restricted, it said. The Archdiocese is asking that visitors only place fresh flowers, potted plants, palms or artificial flowers at graves no planting, balloons, food, or memorabilia will be permitted. For mausoleums, only artificial flowers will be permitted. Resurrection will then re-close to all visitors at 3 p.m. An Archdiocese spokesman told the Advance/SILive.com that it does not have a current timetable for opening the cemeteries on a regular basis. The spokesman said the Archdiocese continues to monitor the situation and will update policies as it is appropriate. CEMETERY HOURS OF VISITATION Moravian Cemetery , 2205 Richmond Rd. Visitors are permitted on Saturdays between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Visitors can enter from the Todt Hill Road gate; the Richmond Road gate will be closed. Cars will be let in 30 at a time and will be limited to 15 minute visits. All persons visiting must wear a mask and stay socially distant per CDC guidelines. Security will be present. 2205 Richmond Rd. Visitors are permitted on Saturdays between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Visitors can enter from the Todt Hill Road gate; the Richmond Road gate will be closed. Cars will be let in 30 at a time and will be limited to 15 minute visits. All persons visiting must wear a mask and stay socially distant per CDC guidelines. Security will be present. Oceanview Cemetery, 3315 Amboy Rd. Visitors are permitted every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is expected that the public will adhere to all COVID-19 protocols set forth by the city and state. Restrooms are closed during limited visitation hours. Baron Hirsh Cemetery , 1126 Richmond Ave. Open from dawn to dusk. Small visitation groups are allowed and social distancing is encouraged. Silver Mount Cemetery, 918 Victory Blvd. Open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Frederick Douglass Memorial Park, 3201 Amboy Rd. Open every day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fairview Cemetery, 1852 Victory Blvd. Visitation is permitted every day as long as there is no burial taking place which would cause the cemetery to close. Otherwise, the cemetery is open every day. United Hebrew Cemetery, 122 Arthur Kill Rd. Visitation is allowed every day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. except Saturdays when it is closed. Woodland Cemetery, 24-32 Highland Ave. Visitation is permitted every day between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mount Richmond Cemetery, 420 Clarke Ave. - Visitors will be permitted Sunday between 9 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. On Fridays visitors are allowed between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.; there is no visitation on Saturdays. FUNERAL HOMES CAN OPERATE AT 25% CAPACITY DURING PHASE 2 Once a region begins Phase 2 of the states reopening plan, religious and funeral services are permitted to operate at 25% capacity, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. For regions in Phase 1, which New York City is currently in, original guidelines of only 10 attendees still applies. The governor also gave funeral homes the discretion to require temperature checks prior to being allowed inside of the funeral home. #fyiSI -- heres the point When #fyiSI launched in October 2018, the Advance received dozens of questions from readers about all things Staten Island. Now, were ready to start providing answers and are asking you again to ask us anything, Staten Island -- and we mean anything. Through #fyiSI, Im going to answer all of your burning questions with the occasional help of my coworkers about the borough with 479,458 residents that we all call home. Some of the questions weve received so far include: How can we ask for a stop sign to be added? What happened to my favorite restaurant? Is that a mobile speed camera? Why is the Department of Transportation doing construction on my block? Now, Im ready to tackle them all, and Im looking for more questions. Whatever it is, Ill answer it. You might be wondering how #fyiSI differs from the average story you already read in the Staten Island Advance or on SILive.com. Were not stepping away from the traditional news article, but instead adding social media elements like Facebook live, Instagram stories, Twitter polls, and other multimedia to help us reach you. Well also do a lot of reporting on site. Questions should include your name, neighborhood of residence and contact information, and can be emailed to fyi@siadvance.com or kdalton@siadvance.com. FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER. The Government, on Friday, announced measures to address perceived issues of child labour in the cocoa industry, despite the inaccuracies in a report of a survey of the NORC of the University of Chicago. Ghana and La Cote dIvoire are contesting the conclusions of the survey of the NORC, which was funded by the United States Department of Labour (USDOL), which reported that child labour is not declining in the two nations. Child labour refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially or morally harmful. Employment and Labour Relations Minister Ignatius Baafour-Awuah, on Friday, told Parliament, in Accra, that the inaccuracies and misconception contained in the report could have severe consequences for the cocoa sector if not corrected. He said: We have initiated processes aimed at remedying the situation and this would take and the honest cooperation of USDOL. The Ministers announcement was in a statement to mark the 2020 World Day against Child Labour, celebrated on June 12. It is an International Labour Organization (ILO)-sanctioned holiday, first launched in 2002, aimed to raise awareness and activism to prevent child labour. The theme for this years celebration is: Covid-19 Protect Children from Child Labour, Now More than Ever. The Day was spurred by the ratifications of ILO Convention No. 138[2] on the minimum age for employment and ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. The ILO reports that globally, 52 million children between the ages of five and 17 were in child labour, almost half them, 73 million, in hazardous child labour. Almost half (48%) of the victims of child labour were aged five to 11; 28% were 12 to 14 years old; and 24% were 15-17 years old. Child labour is concentrated primarily in Agriculture (71%). This includes fishing, forestry, livestock herding and aquaculture. The Services sector also represents 17%; while the industrial sector, including mining takes 12%. Mr Baafour Awuah said the Ministry and its partners were preparing to assess the full impact of various interventions on child labour through a nationally representative survey, and stressed an urgent need to take new and pragmatic to sustain the gains made so far in the fight against child labour. He said the causes of child labour to included poverty, limited access to decent work opportunities for families, ignorance, lack of access to quality education and irresponsible parenting. The Minister noted that Covid-19 had predisposed children to risk factors, and if immediate action is not taken, the impact of measures being taken to contain the spread of the virus will have negative consequences on children. Mr Baafour Awuah announced that the Ministry, with other stakeholders had developed Protocols and Guidelines for declaring Child Labour Free Zones in Ghana, with the aim to ensure that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies put in place measures and systems to monitor, prevent and withdraw children from child labour in their areas of jurisdiction. The ILO estimates that children would be the hardest hit because 42-46 million of them could fall in extreme poverty in 2020, in addition to an estimated 386 million children who were already in extreme poverty in 2019. ...The continuous stay of children at home could also further expose them to all kinds of abuses. Girls may be burdened with domestic chores and predisposed to sexual abuse, the Minister said. He appealed to Government Departments and Agencies to commit to the execution of their respective roles in the Phase II of the Ghanaian National Plan of Action the fight against child labour. The NPA II, which received Cabinet approval in February 2018,is expected to build on the gains made subsequent to the implementation of the NPA1 (20092015) with the view to utilise the good practices and lessons learned to address the challenges of child labour in a more effective and sustainable way. The Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations Mr Bright Wireko-Brobby, called on society to make a difference between parents taking their children to work and transmitting their skills and the children working and earning income at the expense of their future. He called for education to be intensified on child labour. Mr Mumuni Alhassan, MP for Salaga North, reminded parents of their divine duty to take good care and to protect their children from harm, and said they would be held accountable by God in the way they treated their children. Ms Betty Crosby Mensah, MP for Afram Plains, suggested that practices that helped parents to impart knowledge to their children when they helped with work should not be criminalised. Other contributions by Laadi Ayii Ayamba, MP for Pusiga and Mr Dominic Nitiwul, Minister for Defence and MP for Bimbila Constituency, and Mr Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central, made clear on the need to ensure the protection of children from any activity that jeopardised their life. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The whole thing started in San Antonio with just one brewery. Within a couple weeks, more than 450 breweries spanning at least 43 states and 11 countries have signed on for Black is Beautiful. The initiative is a collaborative brewing project with all proceeds donated to "local foundations that support police brutality reform and legal defenses for those who have been wronged," as stated online at blackisbeautiful.beer. Marcus Baskerville, founder and head brewer at San Antonios Weathered Souls Brewing, launched Black is Beautiful. "I was dealing with some of the frustrations that were going on with murders, Baskerville told Forbes. Breonna Taylor, George Floyd. All of these situations that keep arising. And as Baskerville told Delish, As a father and black business owner, I wanted to figure out a way to give back. I didnt participate in the protests, and so I kind of felt disappointed in myself that I wasnt able to get out there and be there for the cause. Baskerville was moved to raise awareness and funds by doing what he does, brew beer. As he wrote in a post on Weathered Souls' Facebook page, "We thought it be appropriate to brew a stout," referring to a style of dark beer, "and name it Black is Beautiful." Two Huntsville breweries, Yellowhammer and Straight to Ale, have signed on for Black is Beautiful. Birminghams Ghost Train Brewing is the other Alabama beer maker in the mix, so far. Weathered Souls provides participating breweries with a downloadable recipe for the stout base. After that, Baskerville asks fellow beer makers, to "please place your own spin and love into this. The sky is the limit as far as creativity." Yellowhammer, located at 2600 Clinton Ave. N, brewed their Black is Beautiful beer this week. General manager Ethan Couch says the beer should be ready to pour in YHs tap room in about two weeks. The brew will also be available in 12-ounce cans and six-packs. Couch describes Yellowhammer's Black is Beautiful offering as, " a classic low-gravity oated stout that will come in at 5.7 percent ABV (alcohol by volume). It will be nice and smooth. The beer will feature chocolate malt, black malt, oat malt, and caramel malts for the dark color and rich flavor." YH became involved after the brewerys marketing director, Elise Humeston, read about the Black is Beautiful project online and then researched it further. Couch says, We thought this would be a good way to give back to our community. Yellowhammer is donating 100 percent of proceeds from their Black is Beautiful beer sales to the Alabama NAACP. The Alabama NAACP website states that nonprofit organizations mission as ensuring the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. According to Straight to Ales Facebook page, STA is also donating Black is Beautiful process to the Alabama NAACP. Straight to Ales FB indicates more details and a release date will be available soon. Couch says stouts can be surprisingly malleable: Stouts are often thought of as high-gravity, thick beers. This scares some people. But stouts can be light and smooth. You can feature a lot of malt character in these beers and get flavors that range from sweet to bitter. Yellowhammers first batch of Black is Beautiful stout is 15 barrels, which should yield around 450 gallons of beer. The phrase craft beer tends to conjure images of bearded white dudes listening to Wilco and Weezer albums. But thats hardly absolute. After Minneapolis man George Floyd was killed by a white police officer and the resulting protests, website porchdrinking.com published a list of more than 60 black owned U.S. breweries to support. That tally includes Atlantas Down Home Brewing, Khonso Brewing and Our Culture Brewing. Diversity is always better, Couch says. MORE ON CULTURE How local libraries turned the page during a pandemic The Last Dance: Top 10 songs from Michael Jordan doc Will the Von Braun Center be ready to rock again soon? Alabama rappers timely Black Lives Matter music video A carnivores guide to going vegan(ish) Killing of a 'dalit' youth allegedly over entry into a temple, molestation of 'dalit' teens and burning of houses of the community members in different parts of Uttar Pradesh put the state government in a corner as the opposition parties accused it of failing to ensure their safety. A 17-year old 'dalit' youth was shot dead in Amroha district in the state, about 400 kilometres from here, a few days back by a member of the upper caste after the former allegedly entered a temple. The local police, however, claimed that the youth, identified as Vikas Jatav, a resident of Domkheda village in the district, had been killed following a dispute over payment of the debt. The family members of the deceased said that he was killed over entry into a temple. In another incident, several 'dalit' teens were allegedly molested at Sikanderpur Aima village in UP's Azamgarh district, about 300 kilometres from here, by members of a particular community. The reports said that the culprits had been harassing the girls for the past several days and had also attacked their families when they protested. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday directed the police to slap the National Security Act (NSA) on the accused persons allegedly involved in molesting the teens. Over a dozen people have been arrested so far in this connection. In another incident members of a particular community allegedly attacked and set ablaze dozens of hutments of the 'dalits' over a petty issue. Thirty-four people have been arrested in this regard and NSA was also slapped on the accused persons. ''This government has failed to ensure the safety of the dalits,'' said a senior Congress leader. BSP supremo Mayawati also asked the UP government to take stern action against the offenders. ,While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought economy to a halt, it has also created opportunities for several new products. One of them creating hype is anti-viral fabrics. Apparel and textile brands are now launching fabrics that kill viruses. Latest in the line is clothing and textile player Donear Industries. The Mumbai-based company, in collaboration with Swiss firm HeiQ, is launching the range of anti-viral fabrics under the brand Neo Tech that kills covid-19 virus within 30-minutes. "HeiQ's Viroblock NPJ03 technology has been there for many years. It is not a new technology, only thing is that now they have got it tested against COVID-19 and they have received that certificate a week ago," says Rajendra Agarwal, Managing Director and CEO, Donear Industries. He adds that they were already producing and supplying anti-viral fabric for some years. "Coincidentally, our company was working on such types of product pre-COVID-19 times also. We were exporting to a medical textile company in the USA and also supplied to several State police departments of India. Once its efficacy was determined against COVID-19, we ramped up the production for Indian market," says Agarwal. As a start, they have launched their two best selling fabrics under this anti-viral range: polyester-viscose suiting and worsted suiting. They can be used for various industries and for different uniforms and garments, whether it is jackets, suits, trousers, shirts. But, will it last long? Agarwal thinks so. He explains that it is not coating, but a certain chemical is embedded in the structure of fabric while dyeing and finishing which then doesn't get washed off even after frequent use. Agarwal claims to have got orders from over 1,000 retailers whom he will be supplying in the month of June. It will also be available in their retail counters across the country by the end of the month. The price for the anti-viral fabrics will be 20 per cent more than their non-treated version. The firm, which supplies fabrics to businesses and also to consumers directly, expects these two products to contribute around Rs 200 crore, at least 15 per cent of total sales revenue this fiscal. The textile firm claims it did sales of Rs 1,200 crore in FY20. Donear will have the Neo Tech brand name in the selvedge of the fabric so customers are assured of its authenticity. Tests to check its efficacy were conducted by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, Australia (Doherty Institute) which showed that treated fabric achieved 99.99 per cent reduction of the virus. Recently, textile to retail firm Arvind too announced the launch of anti-viral textile under its brand Intellifabrix, in partnership partnered with HeiQ and Taiwanese specialty chemical major Jintex Corporation. Members of the D.C. National Guard stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial monitoring demonstrators during a peaceful protest against police brutality and the death of George Floyd, on June 2, 2020 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump on Friday said that while President Abraham Lincoln who freed Black people from slavery during the Civil War while also saving the Union did some good, the "end result" of the 16th president's actions are "always questionable." Trump's bizarre comment about his fellow Republican came during an interview with Fox News' Harris Faulkner, in which the president said he has done more for the Black community than any other president, with the possible exception of Lincoln. "So, I think I've done more for the Black community than any other president, and let's take a pass on Abraham Lincoln, cause he did good, although it's always questionable," Trump told Faulkner, who is Black. "You know, in other words, the end result," Trump continued. Faulker then interrupted Trump: "Well, we are free, Mr. President. He did pretty well." Trump replied: "But we are free. You understand what I mean. So I'm gonna take a pass on Abe, Honest Abe, as we call him." At least one person was killed and 15 others were injured on Friday when a bomb ripped through a busy market area in Pakistans garrison city of Rawalpindi, police said. The explosion occurred in Saddar area of the city, which is not far away from the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army. Police spokesperson Sajidul Hassan told Dawn News that initial reports suggest that the explosive material was planted in a nearby electric pole. Properties around the site of the explosion have also been badly damaged. Authorities have cordoned off the area and rescue efforts are underway. The police spokesperson said that investigative teams and people from the forensics science lab were collecting evidence from the area. The spokesperson said that the blast was an attempt at organised terrorism but those playing with the lives of the public would not be able to escape the law. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, which occurred when the country is battling the coronavirus pandemic. Advertisement Las Vegas has reopened, but as these fascinating pictures show, it's not looking its usual self it's looking more surreal than ever. That's because it has brought in a raft of measures aimed at keeping visitors safe in the coronavirus era there are big plastic shields at the casino tables, dealers wearing masks, martini-dispensing bartenders kitted out with medical glove-wear and optional 'Covid surcharges' attached to bills. The images presented here come courtesy of writer, podcaster and Vegas expert Michael Trager, who arrived in the city when it opened on June 4 and who has now published an intriguing account of what it's like staying in its epic hotels on his travel site TravelZork. Scroll down for video A dealer in a face mask at a baccarat table at The D Casino & Hotel in downtown Las Vegas Virus-free gambling: Plastic shielding at a Wynn Las Vegas blackjack table He starts off by explaining that Vegas shutting in the first place was a truly bizarre concept. He writes: 'Nobody ever thought we would be saying the phrase "Vegas is open". Vegas is not supposed to close. It's unnatural, you don't close Vegas. Vegas is always in motion. The last time Vegas closed was the 25th of November, 1963. It was for John F. Kennedy's funeral.' Michael is American, but lives in London, and explains that he arrived in Vegas after a 'bizarre but seamless cheese and pickle sandwich journey' with BA. A craps table fitted with plastic shields at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino A hand-washing station at the Bellagio. The last time Vegas closed was the 25th of November, 1963, for John F. Kennedy's funeral, reveals writer Michael Trager Michael said that there are thermal cameras at all the entrances at Wynn, left. On the right is a picture of a notice at Caesars Palace At Caesars Palace tables are socially distanced and a maximum of three people are allowed at each one A table at the Bellagio. Michael is American, but lives in London, and explains that he arrived in Vegas after a 'bizarre but seamless cheese and pickle sandwich journey' with British Airways An optional Covid-19 surcharge was added to one of Michael's bills, left. On the right - how Caesars isn't gambling with safety at the tables All Caesars Palace guests have to undergo a temperature check upon arrival (left). The picture on the right shows the gloved hand of a bartender at the hotel A barrier at the posh SW Steakhouse at the opulent Wynn Las Vegas hotel Pictured left is Michael having a manicure at the Wynn spa. The image on the right shows the writer and podcaster getting a haircut at Wynn His first hotel was Caesars Palace Las Vegas, a property he has stayed at several times before. The first thing he noticed was that there was no valet parking. 'It was time to reacquaint myself with the joys of self-parking,' he writes. Before checking in he 'had a nice walk through the property'. He writes: 'The excitement tends to build as you near the iconic Caesars Palace lobby area. Things were familiar but different. I mean, you usually dont have so many or any people wearing masks and you definitely got the impression that there was some change in the air.' Las Vegas strippers photographed by Michael this week as they make their way to work Michael told MailOnline Travel that in general the Vegas safety rules are 'very confusing' as all the properties have different policies The picture on the left shows a masked guest on a slot machine at Wynn Las Vegas. On the right is a social distancing message in a Caesars Palace elevator Spick and span: A Caesars craps dealer cleans a table after a player leaves Pictured left is the Wynn Las Vegas in-room sanitizing kit. Pictured right - a reassuring message on some Wynn cutlery Cleaned and sealed: Caesars Palace rooms now carry stickers assuring guests that they are about to enter a clean environment Pictured left is a masked Michael in the lobby of Caesars Palace. And on the right are two masked Caesars Palace guards Michael in Las Vegas in the 1970s with his mother. He said that he was always 'dressed proper' for visits to the city After checking in he discovered that two of the new Covid-19 procedures in place were 'no housekeeping' and 'no room service'. In his article Michael questions whether these measures are strictly necessary, since his next hotel, Wynn Las Vegas, laid on all its regular services, but with safety protocols attached. He told MailOnline Travel that in general the Vegas safety rules are 'very confusing' as all the properties have different policies. He writes on his site: 'Not only were all the services provided, but Wynn Las Vegas also provided safety items such as sanitizer and masks in the room. A far cry from Caesars, which does not even provide bottles of water at check-in due to "safety" reasons.' While at the hotel Michael enjoyed a socially distanced manicure and a haircut, as well as a truly opulent bedroom. He adds: 'Wynn continues to impress on all levels. You feel safe at Wynn Resorts... they are following protocols and providing service, imagine that.' To read the full account of Michael's stay in Vegas, visit TravelZork. Click here for ZorkCast Podcasts and here for the TravelZork YouTube page. The FCO currently advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. North Korea warns US of presidential election 'hair-raiser' if meddling continues Iran Press TV Thursday, 11 June 2020 5:07 AM North Korea has warned the United States to "hold its tongue" and stay out of inter-Korea affairs or risk seeing its upcoming presidential election go haywire. In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday, Kwon Jong-gun, director-general for US affairs at North Korea's Foreign Ministry, slammed the "double-dealing attitudes" of the United States, warning Washington to mind its own internal affairs. "If the US pokes its nose into others' affairs with careless remarks, far from minding its internal affairs, at a time when its political situation is in the worst-ever confusion, it may encounter an unpleasant thing hard to deal with," Kwon said. The United States should "hold its tongue" and address its own domestic problems unless it wants to "experience a hair-raiser," the North Korean official said. "It would be good not only for the US interests, but also for the easy holding of upcoming presidential election." The warning came after the US State Department expressed disappointment over North Korea's decision to suspend communication hotlines with South Korea. On Tuesday, North Korea severed its military and presidential hotlines with the South, citing South Korea's "treacherous behavior." North Korea's relations with the South have recently worsened. Last Thursday, North Korea warned that it could scrap a recent inter-Korean military accord if the South failed to stop North Korean defectors from sending propaganda leaflets into the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two countries. A thaw between the two Koreas began back in January 2018. Leaders from the two countries met, diplomatic visits were exchanged, and joint events were held. South Korea also brokered diplomacy between the North and the United States. While incumbent US President Donald Trump met with Kim three times, sparking hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough, interactions between Washington and Pyongyang gradually came to a halt over Trump's refusal to relieve any of the harsh US-led sanctions on the North in spite of several major goodwill measures by Pyongyang. The United States has been attempting to pressure the North into giving up its nuclear weapons program. North Korea maintains that its nuclear and missile capabilities are intended to defend the country against potential aggression amid persisting joint war games by Seoul and Washington on the Korean Peninsula. The two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950-1953 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Whether its Yoga Yuppies tiptoeing around sidewalk drunks or students hawking Che Guevara tees you might think you know all the signs of a gentrifying area. But what lets you know a suburb has reached, or is about to reach, peak value? While your tastebuds might tell you theres no such thing as too many Sonoma bakeries, your wallet might tell a different story. And as Australias market goes through more uncertain times than the Melbourne weather, theres more reason to be a smarter buyer than ever. As the ABC reported last year, the tide is turning on Australias $7.6-trillion property market. When the ABC wrote that, home prices in more than four out of five council areas had reached their peak and begun sliding towards an unknown nadir. UBS chief economist also told the ABC, It seems quite plausible to me that house prices will continue to fall for all of the next year into 2020. That was said before coronavirus smashed into Australia (or, at least, its economy). Now the situation is even worse and though certain wealthy areas appear to be retaining their value we are heading for an economic downturn. This makes it crucial now more than ever to make smart decisions with your hip pocket, even as you take advantage of the opportunities cropping up in the Australian housing market. So: how do you tell a suburb has been gentrified to the point where it will increase in value no further? The cold hard truth, according to leading Eastern Suburbs real estate agent Gavin Rubinstein, is that there is no real indicator of a suburb reaching its peak. What you can do, however, is look for suburbs that represent good value when the market dips or flattens, Rubinstein told DMARGE exclusively. It is more a case of picking a slower growth cycle as a better time to buy. We then asked him: once somewhere has a Sonoma bakery, is it too late to buy (and think it will keep getting more valuable)?. While Rubinstein told us its impossible to know for sure when an area has reached peak value (patisseries are evidently a flakey yardstick), he agreed that getting your head around a places culture and geography is crucial to a smart purchase. Location location location this fundamental of real estate never changes. The property experts over at Open Agent back this tasty insight up, while adding a few more cultural factors into the mix, in their article, How do you know if a suburb is booming? It comes down to these 5 indicators. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonoma Baking Co (@sonomabakingco) on Mar 30, 2020 at 12:58pm PDT Have at em. Property values Days on market Rental yields Clearance rate Vacancy rates Sellers going the auction route, rather than listing for sale Major infrastructure projects in the works Uptick in renovation activity, shops, cafes and local businesses (e.g. that bakery youre so addicted to) Read Next Lakeland Vintage Club was dealt a very serious blow, when on Thursday, May 28, word came through that our esteemed Chairperson, John Harte, was the victim of an horrific farm accident. No words can adequately describe the feeling of shock, horror and disbelief that enveloped the community. John had joined our club some years ago, and contributed an immense share of wisdom to the club. At our 2019 annual general meeting, John was voted in as Chairperson and at our 2020 meeting he was unanimously re-elected for a second term. John had a vast interest in vintage, and he travelled to shows and autojumbles all over Ireland and England too. His love of vintage was borne out in his every day work. John never drove a modern day tractor, but did all his work on his County tractor, which aged about the same era as himself. Vintage machinery permeated throughout his farmyard all his machinery was vintage, and he had the unique talent of repairing them and keeping them going. Read also: Longford farmer John Harte remembered as great ambassador of Lakeland Vintage Club He was instrumental in starting up a ploughing day, a silage day and a threshing display in the club. He intended to have a harvesting day last year, but the inclement weather did not allow him to do this. He also organised a number of tractor runs. Whilst John would not have been the best time-keeper in the club, he never failed to turn up. He would enter the room with his wry grin, his indomitable wit and his infectious laugh, and of course his hat. John was never dressed without his hat. He was a wonderful ambassador for our club, and his presence at all our future events will be sorely missed. John was a very experienced tillage farmer. He was happy out ploughing and tending to his crops. John was laid to rest in Carrickedmond cemetery. Ironically, one of his many fields of corn is directly across the road, blowing gently in the June breeze. On behalf of all the members of Lakeland Vintage Club, I send our deepest sympathy to his wife, Maura, his daughters Marie, Sarah, Clare and Edel, their partners, and the extended Harte and Kenny families. We pray that God will give them all the spirit of faith and courage to meet the days that lie ahead. Read also: Tributes pour in for 'true gentleman and friend', Colehill's late John Harte Pictured above: Ploughing Chairperson Cynthia Geelan Cruise pictured alongside the late John Harte in April 2018 Co Longford Ploughing Association presented John (inset left) with a scale model of a Ford County Tractor at a function in the Rustic Inn in recognition of his family hosting the 2018 and 84th Co Ploughing Championships. The Times of India, June 11, 2020 by Dr Rajesh Tandon In its recent order on June 9, the Supreme Court asked the central and state governments to aensure the safe return of all those migrant workers who want to go home within 15 days.a It further advised governments to provide counselling to such migrant workers about possible livelihood locally or where they were earlier working, should they desire to go back. It took the Supreme Court two months after the alockdown of worka began to recognise the severe distress being faced by those workers who were alocked outa from work, and therefore livelihoods. Despite ambiguity about official data on the number of migrant workers in the country, and what percentage of those have returned home, it is clear that we are discussing about 30-40 million (3-4 crore) migrant workers who have decided to go home (and perhaps two-thirds have somehow managed to do so already). But why are migrant workers, in such large numbers, from vibrant economic centres of the country, suddenly ahome-sicka? Why did they start leaving en masse from the end of March itself, when the initial lockdown was suddenly imposed? Of course, the fear of infection and desire to be with family and loved ones is a very understandable reason. But, in the first announcement of lockdown on March 24, it was only for an initial period of 3 weeks, till April 13; so why leave just for 3 weeks? After all, many lakhs of workers are seasonal migrants anyways and tend to return to their villages during harvesting and sowing seasons. So why now? The announcement about the extension of lockdown, with an air of uncertainty about the virus, for another 3 weeks caused some panic; the second wave of desperate departure by migrant workers happened after lockdown 2.0 was announced till May 3, and the numbers grew larger, and walking on the highways became more pronounced. Why in much larger numbers? Several appeals by coalitions of concerned citizens, civil society activists and academics have been pointing out such realities for the past two months. In this entire issue of migrant workers, hardly any attention has been focused on the actions of their employers. A substantial percentage of those returning home were employed somewhere, by someone. Why did the employers allow their own workers to auproota so suddenly, and begin to run away? Did most employers only look at their own immediate self-interest? That seems to be the case. Most employers shut down work premises immediately, where many workers used to stay; they shut down canteen facilities for food, and they stopped paying wages. So, with no food, shelter and income, migrants had to run home? The rental accommodation for most of these informal workers was also taken away since their capacity to pay rent was blocked by these actions of their employers. Even in urban metros like the National Capital Region (NCR) and Delhi, many middle-class households stopped payment of wages to their maids, drivers and other service providers. A recent survey (conducted by a group of domestic workers and Martha Farrell Foundation) showed less than 50% maids received full wages for the month of March, and only 10% had received any wages for the month of April. Such widespread, almost universal, actions by all employers around the country reveal the precarious, informal, insecure and vulnerable nature of employment for millions of these workers. In a vast majority of cases, there is no formal contract; even when it exists, it is with some labour contractor or service provider (like housekeeping & security services). In most of our urban middle-class homes, maids, domestic workers, drivers, caregivers, babysitters, etc. do not have a formal contract of employment. A big and critical part of such employment practices is mutual understanding and trust, largely built on word-of-mouth conversations. Did all such employersainformal enterprises, shops, factories, and even in homesaabetraya that trust and reneged on that mutual understanding? Stories of exceptions to the above seem to corroborate this reality. In some middle-class households, maids, drivers and other service-providers were given full wages/salary for this period of lockdown, even when they did not provide the services. In conversations with a few house-keeping contractors and service providers, some (less than 20%) formal enterprises also agreed to pay salaries for cleaning and security staff. Some stories from capitals of garment industry of IndiaaTirupur & Bengalurua also show that thousands of garment workers did stay back during lockdown because their employers kept the living facilities open, and provided ration/food, and paid some compensation (even if not the full salary), while the production had stopped. This is particularly critical in this industry where wages are paid on piece-rate of productiona. the number of units produced, not period of time worked. Migrant workers living in tea/coffee plantation areas also did not run away because their shelter was not taken away; they were provided with some subsistence food. As a society, therefore, we need to ask ourselves how much our culture of mutual understanding and trust has been badly destroyed during the pandemic. As everyday employers of many service-providers to our families, households and communities, how will we regain the confidence of those whom we employ? As economic enterprises and small-large businesses, it is important to recognise the importance of this mutual understanding in the relationship between employer and employee. As plans are afoot to aregeneratea economy and rebuild livelihoods, it may be worthwhile to think about ways to arefresha this relational alockdowna! Dr Rajesh Tandon is Founder President of PRIA, New Delhi Don Lemon was talking about his mother during a recent Zoom video call with a reporter. As a man of colour my mom worries about me constantly, he said. Then his cellphone started buzzing. She was on the line. The CNN anchor picks up and puts Katherine Lemon-Clark on speaker so the reporter can say hello and ask how she thinks her son has fared in guiding the cable news networks nighttime coverage of the social protests that have swept the nation since George Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes. I am very proud of him, Lemon-Clark said of her son. The only thing I dont like is how people attack him. Im concerned about his safety. I dont care how old he gets. Thats my child. Im always concerned about him. Lemon had noted how throughout his college years and every job hes had in Chicago, Atlanta and then New York, he called his mother nightly to let her know he was OK. Lately, those calls have become mandatory. Lemon-Clark has seen the vicious comments written about her son online since he became more outspoken on his nightly program CNN Tonight. The vitriol intensified after Lemon called President Trump a racist in response to comments he made regarding immigration in January 2018. Its garnered me a lot of enemies, said Lemon, 54. A lot of them in person as well. I have to watch my back over it. After finishing the call from his mother, Lemon leaned back on the couch in his home in East Hampton, N.Y., and had to wipe tears from his eyes before he could continue the interview. His emotional response would come as no surprise to his regular viewers who often hear him refer to her on his program. But the anxiety that many mothers of black men have long experienced likely informed Lemons coverage of Floyds death and the nightly demonstrations that followed. Officer Derek Chauvin, who was recorded on video kneeling on Floyds neck as he begged for air before he died, has been charged with second-degree murder. Three other Minneapolis police officers at the scene also face criminal charges. The recent weeks have been exhausting for Lemon, who has handled his two-hour program on weeknights downloading information from the CNN correspondents on the ground amid the demonstrations throughout the country. He has also been tapped for breaking coverage throughout the day, including Floyds first memorial service. I think about how much longer I can continue to do this at this pace and the amount of negativity that comes my way, he said. But the Louisiana native, who joined CNN in 2006 and is the only African American cable news anchor in prime time, is clearly energized by having a role in shaping the current national discourse on race relations. I love what I do right now, he said. I feel like I found my voice and found my groove. This is my time to be me on TV. Nielsen data backs him up. While Fox News has the most cable news viewers overall, CNN has attracted the largest prime-time audience in the advertiser-favored 25 to 54 age group since May 26, when the Floyd killing in Minneapolis became the countrys leading story. The 2.4 million people watching Lemons program in May was up 75% from the previous year, the most growth of any cable news show that month. While Lemon has talked frankly about race on his program for years, he believes the shocking video of Floyds death has made the audience more receptive to those discussions. I think seeing that eight minutes and 46 seconds, that George Floyd the way he was treated on the ground just broke so many people, he said. Like, Oh, my gosh, I cant believe this. And it is opening people up in ways that they havent been opened before. Lemon said he tries to challenge his audience to think about the causes of racism. He created a viral-video moment when he said it was not up to Black people to solve the problem. As the protests heightened on the night of May 31, he asked for Hollywood celebrities of all races to publicly offer their support. (Where are you? Why arent you fighting for these young people? If you dont do it now, when are you going to do it?) He raised the point after remembering how performers such as Lena Horne, Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte were out front and center during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. (A few days later Lemon would thank Dwayne The Rock Johnson, who issued a video online expressing support for the Black Lives Matter movement and asked President Trump, Where is our compassionate leader?) NBCs Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon recently sought Lemons advice after photos of him wearing blackface in a 20 year-old Saturday Night Live sketch surfaced online. Lemon then appeared as a guest on Tonight after Fallon gave a lengthy, somber opening monologue to express his regret. I didnt really know Jimmy, Lemon said. But I was indeed honoured that he chose me to come on at the time that he did. Lemon said Fallons response to the controversy elicited the kind of discussion more citizens should be having. He looked at himself in the mirror and said, What do I need to do? What do I need to realize as a person in this culture as a white man in this society? What do I need to learn? And I think thats work everybody needs to do right now, all of us. Even as a black man, I need to do the same thing. Lemon did not always enjoy the stature hes been given lately. He moved into CNNs prime-time lineup in 2014 when the network was immersed in saturation coverage of the missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, which drew strong ratings but was widely ridiculed by media critics. He also became a lightning rod for the networks coverage of the protests in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014, after a police officer was not indicted for the shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager. When describing the scene outside of the citys police headquarters, Lemon said, Obviously, there is a smell of marijuana in the air, which drew some harsh responses on social media. I feel like I did my best back then, he said. Some of the hits I took were warranted, some were not. I just lived and worked these past five or six years and you learn and grow. Thats it. CNN President Jeff Zucker believes Lemons maturation as a broadcaster has neatly coincided with the crisis facing the country right now. I think he knows how important this moment is hes been preparing for it his entire career, Zucker said. Don has always brought a little of himself and his emotion to his reporting and thats why hes stood out. On this story, hes done it in an insightful and measured way that I dont know the Don Lemon of six years ago would have done. Lemon has long had a strong following among African American viewers. Producer-director Lee Daniels once had Lemon appear as himself in Empire, his hit Fox TV series about a black musical family dynasty. I put him in a party scene because I really thought he was the voice of our people then, Daniels said. I think he still is. Hes a truth teller. He doesnt waver. Daniels texts Lemon while he is on the air, offering opinions on his tie or suit and watches for a reaction. I enjoy watching him smile as he delivers the news, he said. While growing up in the 1970s and 80s, Lemon watched ABC World News Tonight when it featured Max Robinson, the first black evening news anchor. He won journalism awards on the NBC station in Chicago before joining the network as a correspondent. On CNN, he has defined himself with an opening segment labelled Dons Take, which he writes with the help of his staff. Its what I think America needs to hear at the moment, he said. He presents it in a conversational style with dramatic pauses. He often adds riffs that are not in the script. He also ends most of them with the phrase and those are the facts. Other clip-worthy moments have been generated by the nightly exchanges he has with Chris Cuomo, whose program precedes CNN Tonight. The CNN audience grows during the segment where Cuomo hands off the anchor role to Lemon, which shows that people are tuning in for it along with Dons Take. Lemon has known Cuomo for years, but their bromance has intensified since they have become neighbours in CNNs prime-time block. He hopes their on-air exchanges can inspire similar dialogues among viewers. Hes from a very famous, powerful New York family, white guy, Italian, Lemon said. I am a black Southern guy whose family you know, no one ever heard of my family. And so it works because these are the kind of conversations that every single American should be having with someone who does not look like them. Lemon, who is engaged to real estate broker Tim Malone, said even with the tense situation playing out every night on his program, he is hopeful about the countrys future. All of the chaos makes me sad, he said. But seeing those young people out there who are doing things the right way. They got it right. And theyre mad as hell and theyre not going to take it anymore. And good for them. So I am optimistic. Zelensky wants to return Crimean issue on agenda, as war in Donbas began in Crimea conversation with Swedish PM President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said in a phone conversation with Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Lofven that the issue of the temporarily Russia-occupied Crimea should be returned on the agenda. "Swedish PM supported my proposal to return the issue of Crimea to the agenda. Over the years, it's the question of ending the war in Donbas only that's been raised. However, the war began in the Crimea," Zelensky said on his Twitter page on Friday. The Hazelwood Power Station is seen from the main street in Morwell on February 27, 2017 in Morwell, Australia. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Government Takes a Big Stick to Energy Companies for Misconduct Australian energy companies are now under tight scrutiny after a new law came into effect on June 10 that grants the government and regulators greater powers to enforce punishment on power generators for misconduct. The new law, known as the governments Big Stick legislation, introduces strict prohibitions against certain market misconduct, aiming to drive down electricity prices and strengthen supply by fostering fair competition. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg expects the move will address some chronic issues in the electricity sector. For too long, electricity companies have, in the words of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), played a major role in poor outcomes for consumers, he said in a joint statement with Minister for Energy Angus Taylor. The Big Stick legislation, will ensure reductions in wholesale costs are passed on to customers, while penalties will apply for anti-competitive behaviour or moves to manipulate electricity prices, he said. The legislation specifies three types of prohibited conduct. These include retailers failing to pass on savings to consumers when there is a sustained and substantial reduction in the procurement costs; energy companies withholding electricity contracts for anti-competitive purposes; and generators distorting or manipulating wholesale electricity prices. The ACCC, which is responsible for enforcing the legislation, is equipped with a range of penalties for misconduct, including issuing public warnings (naming and shaming companies), and court-ordered fines that amount to the greater of $10 million, 10 percent of turnover, or 3 times the value of the benefit gained from misconduct. In a significant move, the legislation also grants the treasurer and the Federal Court additional powers to remedy the most egregious breaches by forcing power companies to sell assets, which in some cases would lead to the break-up of energy firms. Criticism of the Law These new powers, controversial as they may be, are understood to be central for the government to wield its big stick in delivering on its commitment to lower energy bills for small businesses and consumers. The legislation was first tabled in the House of Representatives in December 2018 as the Treasury Laws Amendment (Prohibiting Energy Market Misconduct) Bill 2018 (The Bill), in response to recommendations made by the ACCC in its Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry. It is reported that The Bill drew strong criticism from the largest electricity firms such as Origin Energy and AGL Energy, especially for the forced divestment powers it proposed, while small business and energy user groups supported the move to rein in the clout of big players. The critics, including some economists, argued that the bill represents inappropriate intervention by a government into the market, and risks driving up prices by deterring investments in new power plants. The Bill was reintroduced to Parliament last September with further amendments after the federal election and was finally passed both houses last December. The Big Stick legislation is also part of the governments bigger plan to deliver a fairer, more affordable and reliable energy system, as well as a stronger economy for all Australians. Some other measures on the agenda include establishing an ongoing ACCC inquiry into the National Electricity Market to 2025; introducing the governments Default Market Offer price safety net; getting rid of sneaky late payment penalties; and extending the Consumer Data Right to energy, to make it easier for consumers to switch energy providers to get a better deal. Discovering Innovative Tech to Keep our Nations Cyber-Physical Systems Secure Colorado Springs, June 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Catalyst Accelerator (CA) announced its next cohort, Cyber for Space Applications, launching September 1, 2020. The goal of the CA is to increase Space Force awareness and rapid acquisition of commercial, dual-use space technology by providing relevant business development training to Accelerator companies and connecting these entrepreneurs with users, decision makers, and potential new customers in the DoD and commercial realms. Eight companies will be chosen to participate in the program held at Catalyst Campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado. How might we apply cyber technologies to secure the next generation of space operations and increase resiliency? the problem statement poses. Cyber-physical systems are becoming more integral than ever before, introducing new sets of unique problems in both public and private sectors. It is vital that we come together to identify, understand and limit areas where threats could arise before they are exploited. The Cyber for Space Applications Accelerator, powered by the Air Force Research Laboratorys Space Vehicles Directorate, will be a 12-week, semi-residential program. Participating companies will receive a $12K-grant through the Catalyst Accelerators Corporate Sponsor, Booz Allen Hamilton, with an additional $3K available at the end of the Accelerator program when all deliverables have been met. At the end of the program, all participating companies will have the opportunity to pitch to government stakeholders, industry leaders and commercial investors during a demonstration day. This enables cohort companies to raise awareness of their capabilities in order to solicit additional capital or follow-on government funding for further technological development. KiMar Gartman, the Catalyst Accelerator Program Director, states, We are excited to assist the Air Force and Space Force in finding companies with unique cyber solutions that will secure the next generation of space operations and increase resiliency. We look forward to collaborating with our dynamic space community to offer the very best program possible! Captain Keith Hudson, Government Lead for the Cyber for Space Applications cohort, stated, As we face increasing cyber resiliency challenges in space, the upcoming Accelerator provides an opportunity for the USSF and AFRL to connect with small businesses to develop the necessary solutions to those challenges. Applications for the Cyber for Space Applications Accelerator will be closing August 3. The Catalyst Accelerator will be holding Ask Me Anything sessions on June 18 and July 23 to address inquiries related to the current CA Problem Statement along with other general program questions potential applicants may have. Story continues For updates and other relevant announcements regarding the Cyber for Space Applications Accelerator, follow this cohort on social media with #CACSA. Interested applicants may learn more about the program and apply on the Catalyst Accelerators website, CatalystAccelerator.Space/Cyber-for-Space-Applications/. * About Catalyst Accelerator The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorates Catalyst Accelerator is a NewSpace-focused defense and national security industry accelerator, headquartered on the Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation (CCTI) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. CCTI is a collaborative ecosystem where industry, small business, entrepreneurs, startups, government, academia, and investors intersect with Colorados aerospace and defense industry to create community, spark innovation and stimulate business growth. The Catalyst Accelerator is a collaborative program hosted by Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation (CCTI, a Colorado 501(c)3) in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory to provide a robust, mentor-driven curriculum for accelerator teams. For more information: Mrs. KiMar Gartman Catalyst Accelerator Program Director KiMar.Gartman@CatalystCampus.Org ### KiMar Gartman Catalyst Accelerator 719-394-0606 KiMar.Gartman@CatalystCampus.Org Yesterday, I wrote about John Gleeson, the former judge enlisted by Judge Emmet Sullivan to advise him about whether to sentence Flynn, even though the prosecution has moved to dismiss its case. Sullivan knew what advice he would get because Gleeson had already written an op-ed calling on Sullivan to sentence Flynn. Sure enough, thats the advice Gleeson offered. In yesterdays post, borrowing from Bill Otis, I described how, as a federal judge, Gleeson assumed the role as advocate for a serial criminal who had already been convicted and sentenced. First, Gleeson mounted a campaign to pressure the local U.S. attorneys office into vacating two convictions it had lawfully obtained so that the thugs sentence could be reduced. Then, switching from advocate back to judge, he reduced the sentence. Thus, Gleeson served as both the criminals advocate and his sentencing judge. Now, Jonathan Turley reports on another case in which the power hungry Gleeson misused his position as a judge. In that case, Gleeson usurped the role of the prosecutor, much like he urges Judge Sullivan to do in the Flynn case. Gleeson was reprimanded for doing so by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The case is U.S. v. HSBC Bank USA,, 863 F.3d 125, 136 (2d Cir. 2017). It involved a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA). The DPA reached by the Justice Department and the bank provided that if HSBC complied with its extensive obligations under the agreement, the government would seek the dismissal of its charges at the conclusion of the DPAs five-year term. Judge Gleeson claimed the power to review and approve the DPA on its merits, and to condition approval on the courts monitoring of the DPAs implementation. Furthermore, as the Second Circuit stated: In the exercise of that asserted authority, the district court subsequently ordered the government to file a confidential report prepared by the independent monitor regarding HSBCs compliance with the DPA (the Monitors Report). In November 2015, appellee Hubert Dean Moore, Jr., a member of the public, moved to unseal the Monitors Report. The district court granted the motion, subject to redactions, finding that the Monitors Report was a judicial document to which the public enjoyed a qualified First Amendment right of access. The government and HSBC appealed the district courts unsealing and redaction orders. The Second Circuit agreed with the government and HSBC that that the district court ran afoul of separation of powers principles in involving itself in the implementation of the DPA. It stated: By sua sponte invoking its supervisory power at the outset of this case to oversee the governments entry into and implementation of the DPA, the district court impermissibly encroached on the Executives constitutional mandate to take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed. U.S. Const. art. II, 3. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the Department of Justice is entitled to a presumption of regularity that is, a presumption that it is lawfully discharging its duties. Though that presumption can of course be rebutted in such a way that warrants judicial intervention, it cannot be preemptively discarded based on the mere theoretical possibility of misconduct. Absent unusual circumstances not present here, a district courts role vis-a-vis a DPA is limited to arraigning the defendant, granting a speedy trial waiver if the DPA does not represent an improper attempt to circumvent the speedy trial clock, and adjudicating motions or disputes as they arise. Because the Monitors Report is not now relevant to the performance of the judicial function, it is not a judicial document and the district court erred in ordering it unsealed. (Emphasis added) The Second Circuit went on to criticize Gleeson for basing his supervisory power on the possibility of improper conduct by the prosecutor in connection with the DPA. Doing so, said the court, runs headlong into the presumption of regularity that federal courts are obliged to ascribe to prosecutorial conduct and decision making. That presumption is rooted in the principles that undergird our constitutional structure. In particular, because the United States Attorneys are charged with taking care that the laws are faithfully executed, there is a `presumption of regularity support[ing] their prosecutorial decisions and, in the absence of clear evidence to the contrary, courts presume that they have properly discharged their official duties. [citation omitted] Professor Turley points out that Gleesons brief urging Judge Sullivan to override the Justice Departments decision to end the Flynn prosecution is filled with sweeping presumptions against the motivations and analysis of the Justice Department. Thus, Gleeson appears to be advising Sullivan to do pretty much the same thing he himself was reprimanded for doing in the HSBC case. (Its also almost the same conduct the D.C. Circuit recently denounced when it granted a writ of mandamus in the Fokker Services case.) Gleeson believes that the Justice Department acted improperly (irregularly) in moving to dismiss the Flynn case. The Justice Department believes the FBI acted improperly (irregularly) in its investigation of Flynn, and that Team Mueller should not have prosecuted the case. Reasonable people probably can disagree over this. But only the Justice Department is entitled to the presumption of regularity from Judge Sullivan in the Flynn case. Who is John Gleeson? Hes a former judge with a penchant for exercising power judges do not possess. Thief in Assam caught red-handed after cooking Khichdi in the middle of burglary OIL's Baghjan well tragedy: High level probe ordered India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Guwahati, June 12: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday ordered a high-level inquiry into the circumstances that led to a blowout at a gas well of Oil India Limited (OIL) in Tinsukia district and a subsequent fire that killed two persons. The probe will be conducted by Additional Chief Secretary Maninder Singh and the report will be submitted within 15 days, a senior official at the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) told PTI. "The probe will also look into the allegation of negligence on the part of some officials of the company and its private well operator. It will find out who is responsible for this tragedy," he said. 2 firefighters found dead near Assam oil well; PM Modi assures help Covid-19: India registers over 10,000 fresh cases in 24 hours and 396 deaths | Oneindia News The inquiry will try to find out how the entire tragedy unfolded and what measures should be taken so that such incidents never occur in the future, the CMO official said. Well No. 5 at Baghjan in Tinsukia district has been spewing gas uncontrollably for the last 16 days and it caught fire on Tuesday afternoon, killing two OIL firefighters at the site. The blaze at the well is so massive that it can be seen from a distance of more than 30 km with thick black smoke going up several metres high, endangering local biodiversity at the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park following the blowout on May 27. The company and the Tinsukia district administration said they have evacuated around 7,000 people from nearby areas of the gas well site at Baghjan to 12 relief camps. Already two officials of public sector unit (PSU) Oil India Limited have been suspended for alleged negligence of duty at the gas well site, while a show-cause notice has been sent to John Energy Pvt Ltd, the outsourced private operator of the well. A PIL was filed at the Gauhati High Court on Wednesday against OIL, John Energy, the Centre and the state for the PSU major's Baghjan gas well blowout and successive fire, which have damaged life and properties in the area. First healthy volunteer has been dosed in a Phase I study of JS016, the first SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody to enter the clinical stage in China Junshi and Lilly will co-develop JS016 globally JS016 is a recombinant fully human monoclonal neutralizing antibody that blocks the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to the host cell surface receptor ACE2 SHANGHAI, China, June 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877), a leading innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies, today announced that the first healthy volunteer has been dosed in the Phase I clinical study of JS016 at Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University in China. JS016 is the first SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody to enter clinical trials in China. Junshi and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) are collaborating to co-develop JS016 globally, with Junshi leading clinical development in China and Lilly leading clinical development in the rest of the world. The trial is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study to evaluate the tolerability, safety and pharmacokinetic and immunogenicity of JS016 in healthy subjects. Should Phase 1 results show the antibody can be safely administered, the company intends to move to the next phase of testing to study the antibodys ability to prevent and treat COVID-19. The study researchers are Prof. Zhang Jing and Prof. Zhang Wenhong from Huashan Hospital. COVID-19 is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that has infected 6.8 million people, with a current death toll of over 390,000 worldwide. There are currently no approved vaccines or specific drugs that target COVID-19. Neutralizing antibodies may have the potential to prevent and treat COVID-19. Previous clinical trials of agents developed to treat Ebola have shown that monoclonal neutralizing antibodies can reduce viremia, attenuate virulence, substantially improve clinical symptoms and reduce the mortality of those infected. JS016 was jointly developed by Junshi Biosciences and Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS). The fully human monoclonal antibody was identified by screening blood samples of patients who recovered from COVID-19. A preclinical study shows that JS016 expresses extremely high specific affinity (on a level of nM) to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) on the spike protein blocking the virus from invading host cells. A recent publication in Nature (Shi et al. Nature) detailed the findings from a study showing JS016 protected rhesus monkeys from COVID-19 infection, suggesting a potential for prophylactic use in humans. Professor Zhang Wenhong from Huashan Hospital, head researcher of the clinical study, said: "Neutralizing antibodies can precisely target the SARS-CoV-2 virus which may quickly prevent the virus from replicating in the human body. We hope to demonstrate the safety and tolerability of JS016 in Phase I and provide supporting data for additional clinical trials. Dr. Yan Jinghua, a co-developer of JS016 and a researcher at IMCAS, said: "Preclinical studies have shown that JS016 has strong neutralizing and blocking ability, as well as prophylactic and treatment effect. We anticipate that JS016 could be further tested in clinical trials. Dr. Feng Hui, Chief Operation Officer of Junshi Biosciences emphasized that speed is the key in this campaign against COVID-19 and that over years of accruing expertise and experience, Junshi has established a research and technology platform for antibody development, enabling us to accomplish the vital steps of protein expression, pharmaceutical research, screening and engineering modification, as well as the technical development for clinical batches and GMP 2000L stable pool manufacturing. Dr. Ning Li, Chief Executive Officer said: We are very pleased that we have achieved this key milestone through joint efforts. Our R&D and manufacturing teams have been working diligently, aiming to help the infected and the vulnerable as quickly as possible. About JS016 JS016 is specific to the SARS-CoV-2 surface spike protein receptor binding domain and can effectively block the binding of viruses to host cell surface receptor ACE2. The project is jointly developed by Junshi Biosciences and Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Science. At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, Junshi Biosciences rapidly launched the research and development program of neutralizing antibodies to combat COVID-19. Within two months, the company has completed IND enabling pre-clinical studies, the process development and production for GLP toxicity study and GMP production of clinical material by leveraging the companys platform technology. JS016 is a derivative antibody that originated from single B cells of a recovered patient. Screened by the human immune system, JS016 should not bind to human antigens. Researchers also introduced LALA mutations to the Fc portion to potentially lower the risk of antibody-dependent enhancement, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis. Preclinical toxicological experiments of the Maximum Tolerated Dose and No-observed-adverse-effect level are higher than the recommended starting dose for a human clinical trial. JS016 is in Phase I trial in China, which is the first clinical trial of a SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody in healthy subjects in the world. About Junshi Biosciences Established in 2012, Junshi Biosciences is committed to developing first-in-class and best-in-class drugs through original innovation and becoming a pioneer in the area of translational medicine to provide patients with effective and affordable treatment options. On December 24, 2018, Junshi Biosciences was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong with the stock code: 1877.HK. The Company has established a diversified R&D pipeline comprising 21 drug candidates with therapeutic areas covering cancer, metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases, neurologic diseases, and Infectious disease. Product types include monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins, antibody-drug conjugates, and small molecule drugs. With a combined 33,000L fermentation capacity in two GMP-facilities at Shanghai and Suzhou, Junshi has established the manufacturing infrastructure to support commercialization and provide our partners and patients with high-quality products through a global supply chain network. For more information, please visit: http://junshipharma.com . About IMCAS Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) was founded on December 3, 1958, through the merger of the Institute of Applied Mycology and the Beijing Laboratories of Microbiology, both of which were affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). After over 50 years of development, it has become the nations largest comprehensive research institution of microbiological science with 5 State and CAS key laboratories. IMCAS owns the largest fungal herbarium in Asia with nearly 500,000 specimens and the largest microbiological culture collection in China with more than 41,000 strains. In addition, it possesses a microbiological information center, a core facility, a Biosafety Level-3 laboratory and other supporting platforms. Contact Information IR Team: Junshi Biosciences info@junshipharma.com + 86 021-2250 0300 Solebury Trout Michael Levitan mlevitan@soleburytrout.com + 1 646.378.2920 Primary school pupils in Ireland will attend school for one day per week and secondary school pupils for two days per week if the two metres social distancing rule remains in place in September. Education Minister Joe McHugh said if the rule remains in place, students will engage in blended learning from home on the other days. He said: I want a common-sense approach to reopening schools in September. Where possible, children and young people and staff should be far enough away from each other so they are not breathing on or touching each other and this will have to be accompanied by additional hygiene measures in schools. I want to be very clear with everyone around the impact of one-metre and two-metre social distancing in schools. At primary level the two-metre rule would mean almost all pupils attending school just one day per week. "At post-primary level, this would mean most pupils attending schools two days during the week. He said if it was reduced to one metre, primary school pupils would attend for two-and-a-half days per week and for secondary school pupils, they would attend on a half-time basis. Children will adapt to new restrictions when they return to school in September, Minister Joe McHugh has said. He said the overall objective is to get everyone back to school in September but the Government has to plan for all scenarios, adding: Young people have bought into the process of why they have to practise good hand hygiene and social distancing. He said more funding will be provided to schools to help them pay for additional hygiene equipment and changes to classrooms. In terms of the one-metre and the two-metre distances, the one-metre would mean 50% of pupils return to school and that means some students would come in two days a week and others would come in three days a week. I dont want to envisage a situation where we have a process where we leave children behind by the end of August, children will have been out of school for a six-month period. "I have to weigh up the risks with the gaps in education, the risk of regression and the failure to provide an education but we have to ensure it is safe for pupils, teachers and staff can return. (Newser) Derek Chauvin, the Minnesota police officer charged with killing George Floyd, stands to receive a pension whose value could end up topping $1 millioneven if convicted. That's according to CNN, which reports Minnesota does not have a law ordering the forfeiture of pensions for employees convicted of felonies tied to their jobs, as in some other states. "Neither our Board nor our staff have the discretion to increase, decrease, deny or revoke benefits," says a rep for the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association. The rep wouldn't reveal how much the 44-year-old Chauvin would receive but noted he is eligible to file for his pension, which taxpayers partly fund, at age 50. story continues below CNN expects payments "in the ballpark of $50,000 a year or more if he chose to start receiving them at age 55" based on his 19 years with the department. It adds "the benefits could stretch to $1.5 million or more over a 30-year period, not including any cost of living increases." Illinois is also lacking a law that would prevent convicted officers from receiving benefits, though Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday that "we've got to address that issue." She referred to the case of Jon Burge, the former Chicago police commander convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice over torture claims, per Block Club Chicago. He "caused immeasurable harm to so many people," yet "every minute he enjoyed his police pension," she said. "There's nothing right about that." (Read more Derek Chauvin stories.) Chinas leading coronavirus vaccine developer signed an agreement with a drugmaker in Brazil to conduct further testing of its shots efficacy, as the global race intensifies to come up with the first viable candidate to prevent Covid-19.Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech Ltd. is teaming up with Instituto Butantan to conduct the final phase of a three-part human testing of a vaccine it developed against the novel coronavirus, the company said in a statement. A Sinovac spokesman said it will need to obtain regulatory approval in Brazil before conducting the trial. Once approved, Sinovac and Instituto Butantan will kick off the trial involving 9,000 people in July. The Brazilian drugmaker will get to license the Chinese vaccine and make it available in the South American country, Sinovac said. Beijing has mobilized its health authorities, drug regulators and research institutes to work around the clock with local companies to come up with the worlds first effective vaccine for Covid-19. Half of the 10 coronavirus vaccines now reaching the crucial final stage of human testing are developed in China. But that phase requires the testing of several thousand people still exposed to the virus, and the near-eradication of Covid-19 in China makes it all but impossible for researchers to carry out trials there. Faced with that problem, Chinese vaccine developers have been looking for partnerships in other countries to evaluate their shots ability to prevent Covid-19, which has infected more than 7.5 million and killed over 421,000 worldwide. Brazil has become one of the biggest hot spots in the global pandemic -- with more than 800,000 infections, it has the most cases after the U.S. A vaccine jointly developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca Plc also has been authorized to conduct testing among some 2,000 people in Brazil. Other vaccine developers are testing closer to home. Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna Inc. is set to conduct the final trials for its vaccine next month among 30,000 people in the U.S.In an interview with Bloomberg News last month, Sinovacs Chief Executive Officer Yin Weidong said the company is in talks with regulators in other countries and the World Health Organization to carry out phase III trials outside China. Another Chinese vaccine maker, Tianjin-based CanSino Biologics Inc., which has developed a vaccine against the virus with the Chinese military, has won approval to test its shot in Canada, but will need to complete the first two phases that focus more on safety before moving on to efficacy testing. In a further sign of how quickly China is moving to test the viability of its shots, vaccines developed by China National Biotec Group Co. are said to be offered to employees of state-run firms before they travel overseas for work. With coronavirus restrictions lifting in most states, Paris Hilton and boyfriend Carter Reum are seizing the opportunity to escape the city. The couple were spotted at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday preparing to jet off for the first time in weeks. The leggy socialite wore a colorful maxi skirt and T-shirt emblazoned with 'Kindness is for everyone' as she strolled holding hands with her 39-year-old beau. Jetting off: Paris Hilton is pictured arriving at LAX with boyfriend Carter Reum on Thursday Paris, 39, covered up in a black fedora and metallic facemask along with oversize sunglasses. Her handsome companion wore a black mask and kept it comfortable in some dark sweatpants and a plain knit sweater. Carter is a successful businessman, he co-founded the liquor company VEEV Spirits, and the brand development company M13. The entrepreneur is Paris' first romance since her split from fiance Chris Zylka in November 2018, with a source telling E! News the new relationship is going well. Loved up: The couple had their driver help with luggage while they walked to the terminal They said: 'They are very happy together. They met through friends, and everyone is saying what a great couple they make.' Paris recently posted a gushing tribute to Carter on her Instagram as they celebrated an 'anniversary' on May 29. The star wrote: 'Happy anniversary my love! So many magical, special & unforgettable memories. Going strong: Paris appears to be head over heels in love with Carter, her first romance since splitting from fiance Chris Zylka in November 2018 'I love our life together, every moment! You are my every dream and wish come true. I find myself falling more in love with you everyday in ways I didn't know even know were possible. You are perfect for me in every way. 'Kind, loyal, brilliant, handsome, sweet, romantic and loving. Feel so close to you my #TwinFlame. 'I can't imagine spending my quarantine or life with anyone but you. Love you so much! Excited to celebrate our love tonight.' Sam Armytage has revealed the barrage of vile abuse she has received from sick online trolls, threatening to kill her and her dog Banjo, after news broke that she was being sued in a race row. The Sunrise star is being sued for racial vilification over what was slammed as an 'abhorrent' TV segment about a 'second stolen generation'. Addressing the matter on Friday, Ms Armytage admitted that while her words during the March 2018 discussion were 'clumsy', she insisted they were not racist. She also shared the torrent of vile abuse she had received online in recent days, with cruel trolls suggesting she kill herself and threats to 'shut her mouth forever'. 'Just one of many, many messages Ive received from strangers this week,' she wrote on Twitter, sharing a disturbing message from a stranger. Sunrise host Samantha Armytage (pictured) is being sued over a March 2018 segment which suggested a second stolen generation was needed to help Aboriginal children Ms Armytage shared this message (pictured, left) with her fans, having received vile abuse online in the recent days (right) Other threats included a twisted wish that she would experience depression and hurt herself, while threatening to kill her beloved dog Banjo. 'All of this nation is waiting for the day you commit suicide,' one particularly vile message on Instagram read. 'You deserve to die Samantha and I hope you do end up killing yourself before your foul disgusting uneducated mouth gets shut permanently forever. 'Watch yourself. You're sickening and shameful to call yourself an Australian. 'I hope you get fired and after that end up in a spiral of depression.' The controversy began over a panel discussion which suggested a second stolen generation was needed to help Aboriginal children. Ms Armytage, Channel Seven and commentator Prue MacSween have all been named in a group complaint to the Federal Court led by a group of Indigenous elders and young community leaders. Ms Armytage shared this message on social media on Friday (pictured, left and right) denying her comments were racist, calling them 'clumsy' Sam Armytage shared this vile threat with her social media followers (pictured), one of many abusive messages she has received in recent days Ms Armytage (pictured) is seen during a shopping trip to Sydney's Bondi Junction on Thursday The March 2018 segment ignited protests outside Sunrise's Sydney studio after MacSween said Indigenous children needed to be taken away from their parents again for their own welfare. 'Just like the first stolen generation where a lot of kids were taken for their wellbeing, we need to do it again,' she said in the on-air discussion. Armytage, MacSween and radio host Ben Davis had all taken part in the three-way discussion about Aboriginal adoption. The case is being taken to court after talks aimed at resolving the complaint at the Australian Human Rights Commission collapsed. The complaint's leading elder Aunty Rhonda Dixon-Grovenor said in a statement released through legal firm Susan Moriarty and Associates the group were simply looking for 'accountability and equality'. SAM ARMYTAGE'S STATEMENT IN FULL OVER 'RACIAL VILIFICATION' CLAIM 'I'd like to address a segment I hosted on Sunrise in 2018. 'It (the segment) covered comments by a government minister calling for new adoption laws following the rape of a two year old girl in the Northern Territory. 'I was completely horrified & sickened by the incident (I still am) and ANY act of child abuse or neglect toward ANY child. 'We discussed the topic because it was front page news that day. 'AT NO STAGE DID I SUGGEST A SECOND STOLEN GENERATION. 'The media regulator ruled Sunrise breached the rules. 'Sunrise ran a follow-up segment involving indigenous experts. Sunrise apologised unreservedly & has generously compensated those people whose blurred images were shown in the segment. 'Yesterday, a group of people announced they would now commence new proceedings. 'Media reports about that has also mentioned another segment I did, back in 2015, about bi-racial twins. 'Anyone who actually watches that video can clearly see I was being self deprecating & was commenting on my own Irish heritage & troublesome pale skin. 'The twins involved agreed. My words may have been clumsy but they were certainly NOT racist. 'I've attached a few of the tens of thousands of threats I've received over the past week, mainly from people who claim they wish to spread peace. 'Most use violence towards me, some towards my dog Banjo. 'There is no place for racism in our country, our media or our hearts. There should also be no place for violence or threats.' Advertisement Some sick trolls even made violent threats against Banjo (pictured), the presenter's beloved dog Further controversy was sparked over a 2015 discussion (pictured) about a pair of non-identical twins with mixed-race parentage 'This nationwide broadcast by Channel Seven in March 2018 was another symbol of national shame and another appalling example of the deeply entrenched virus of racism that still plagues white platforms of privilege in this country,' she said. The group complaint also claimed the segment was 'abhorrent', 'vile' and 'racist'. Defending herself online on Friday, Ms Armytage said that 'at no stage did I suggest a second generation.' While discussing the rape of a toddler in the Northern Territory on the show, Ms Armytage explained she has been 'completely horrified and sickened by the incident'. She added that in another controversial segment from 2015, discussing twin girls with mixed-race heritage, she had not been racist. The presenter was seen carrying shopping on Thursday (pictured) as news broke she was being sued for racial vilification The group complaint to the Federal Court is being led by a group of Indigenous elders and young community leaders 'Anyone who actually watches that video can clearly see I was being self deprecating & was commenting on my own Irish heritage & troublesome pale skin,' she wrote. 'The twins involved agreed. My words may have been clumsy but they were certainly NOT racist.' 'Although we dont disbelieve the reports, Seven is not aware of any actual claim being filed at this stage so is not able to comment on this action,' a Seven spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. 'If and when anything is filed, we will review and take the appropriate steps.' Pictured: Indigenous protestors disrupt a broadcast of the Seven Network's Sunrise program at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast in April 2018 after the segment went to air a month earlier 'Seven settled the original matter in late 2019 in the Federal Court with the Yirrkala community and the Yolngu families and offered an unreserved apology on air shortly after.' Channel Seven were also forced to independently audit production of the show and send editorial staff to Aboriginal cultural training after the broadcast. The segment was also found to have breached the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice 'for provoking serious contempt on the basis of race'. A month after the segment, Indigenous protestors disrupted a broadcast of Sunrise at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast - where the program was on location for the Commonwealth Games. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As protests against racism and police brutality continue across the country, two local members of Congress are pushing for the removal of Confederate names from Brooklyns Fort Hamilton. Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), and Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn) have made the call to rename Stonewall Jackson Drive and General Lee Avenue in honor of some of the black Brooklynites who fought for the country. We swore an oath as public officials to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same, they wrote in a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. We hope that you will act swiftly to rename the streets in Fort Hamilton and all places named after Confederate figures, the pair continued. Jackson and Robert E. Lee served as Confederate generals in the Civil War, which southern states found against the U.S. in an effort to maintain the institution of slavery. Calls for a more honest approach to the Confederacys rebellion have grown across the country, including the defacing and destruction of multiple monuments, in the wake of George Floyds death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. The military has also taken steps to address that history. A spokesperson for the Army told POLITICO that Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy is open to changing the names of bases named after Confederates and that Esper supports the discussion. The U.S. Navy has also moved to prohibit the display of the Confederate Battle Flag after the Marine Corps. ordered a similar policy in April. Clarke and Rose addressed President Trumps opposition to changing the names of the military bases calling the bases part of a Great American Heritage. The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars, he wrote on Twitter. Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations." ...history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom. The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars. Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 10, 2020 Clarke and Rose took particular issue with the presidents description of the sites as hallowed ground. Shiloh, Antietam, and Gettysburg are hallowed ground, places where Americans gave their lives to end the practice of slavery in our country; bases named after men who sought to keep their fellow men and women in bondage are not, they wrote in their letter. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-13 00:45:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Over 71 percent of Chinese students have returned to campus as the COVID-19 epidemic has waned in the country, according to the Ministry of Education. More than 197 million students across the country had resumed classes as of Tuesday, the ministry said Friday. The ministry, in collaboration with the National Health Commission, issued a set of guidelines on class resumption and regular epidemic control to ensure campus safety and health of students and faculties. Enditem Gibbs notes that a second solar festival the film visited 10 years after the one in Vermont had the same hidden reliance on conventional energy. He writes: What the eco-industrial complex wants to steer you away from is the reality that all of their ever-improving, better, more advanced technologies now, in the past, and in the future will require mining, smelting, air pollution, water pollution and the exploitation of humans around the planet. Critics slammed Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Friday after he called on supporters to film videos inside their local hospitals to prove they have not been overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic. The far-right leader urged his backers Thursday to "find a way to get inside and film" to see whether intensive care units are in fact struggling, as state and local health authorities have reported in areas hit hard by COVID-19. "Lots of people are doing that already, but more people need to," he said in his weekly live address on Facebook. "The information we have -- I could be wrong, but... no one has died due to a lack of ventilators or intensive care beds. Maybe one case here or there." He said his administration would pass such videos to the police and intelligence services. Bolsonaro, who has famously compared the virus to a "little flu," regularly questions information on the pandemic from public health officials and the mainstream media. Even as the virus has surged in Brazil, which now has the second-highest caseload in the world after the United States, he has railed against lockdown measures in various states, arguing business closures and stay-at-home orders are needlessly wrecking the economy. Opponents accuse the president of making the health crisis worse. "The president is recklessly putting lives at risk when he asks his supporters to invade hospitals," said left-wing lawmaker Paulo Fernando dos Santos. Bolsonaro should instead "just read the bulletins published by state authorities with the hospital occupancy rates," the governor of Maranhao state, Flavio Dino, wrote on Twitter. "If he wants to visit our hospitals, I'll show him myself." According to official figures, intensive care units in numerous states across Brazil have registered occupancy rates of more than 95 percent during the pandemic, though the figure has fallen recently in some of those hardest hit. The World Health Organization -- which Bolsonaro has threatened to quit, accusing it of "ideological bias" in its handling of the pandemic -- said the situation in Brazil's hospitals remained "critical" in some areas. While the health system is "still coping," the situation in Brazil "is of concern," WHO emergencies director Mike Ryan told journalists in Geneva. Health professionals check a patient infected with COVID-19 at a hospital in Marica, Rio de Janeiro state -- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is under fire for suggesting that hospitals are not overwhelmed by the crisis * China said on Thursday its advisories warning students and traveller about risks they could face in Australia are based on facts and called on Canberra to take measures to safeguard Chinese citizens' safety in the country. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remarks during a briefing when asked about Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's comments that he will not be intimidated or give into coercion from Beijing amid an escalating bilateral dispute between the two countries. * UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regrets that the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) has severed hotlines with the Republic of Korea (ROK), warning that such channels "are necessary to avoid misunderstandings or miscalculations," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Wednesday (June 10). "The Secretary-General hopes that all parties use the June anniversaries to redouble efforts to resume talks to achieve sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Dujarric said. * US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would hold a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, next week, after a three-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. In remarks at the White House, the Republican president, who is seeking a second term in the November election, said he would go to Tulsa next Friday. * One rocket fell on Wednesday inside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses government buildings and foreign missions, but caused no casualties, Iraqi military sources said. Sirens blared from the US Embassy, sources added. A loud blast followed by sirens was heard in Baghdad, Reuters witnesses said. A military statement confirmed the rocket attack. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. * ROK doctors have found certain underlying conditions that may make some COVID-19 patients more severely affected by the disease, a professor at Yeungnam University Medical Center said on Wednesday. The findings could help doctors identify and prioritise high-risk patients at an early stage of the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, Ahn June-hong, professor of internal medicine, told Reuters. As of midnight on Wednesday, ROK reported 45 new cases, bringing the countrys total to 11,947, with 276 deaths. * The European Union must reach a deal on a proposed EUR750 billion economic recovery plan to cope with the impact of the coronavirus crisis by July, French Junior European Affairs Minister Amelie de Montchalin said on Thursday. The European Commission's recovery plan aims to help economically weaker countries hit hardest by the coronavirus. But fiscally conservative northern countries - the "frugal four" of the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Sweden - have resisted some proposals, notably taking on mutual debt. * The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday reported 1,973,797 cases of the new coronavirus, an increase of 17,376 cases from its previous count, and said that the number of deaths had risen by 950 to 112,133. * France's new death toll from COVID-19 on Wednesday was only one-third of the tally the day before but the total of new confirmed infections rose again, one month out of a strict lockdown. The health ministry said the death toll was up by only 23 - versus an average daily increase of 53 over the previous 15 days - to 29,319, the fifth-highest total in the world. On Tuesday, 87 COVID-19 deaths were reported. * The World Health Organization hopes to work "side by side" with the United States to contain an outbreak of Ebola in Congo, its chief said on Wednesday, despite their differences over the new coronavirus. President Donald Trump said last month he was ending the US relationship with the WHO over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. * The United Nations support mission in Libya said in a tweet on Wednesday that both Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Libyan National Army (LNA) are engaged in the third round of 5+5 joint military commission talks. The mission convened a meeting with the LNA delegation on June 3 and another meeting with the GNA delegation June 9, according to statement posted by the mission. * The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday signaled it plans years of extraordinary support for an economy facing a torturous slog back from the coronavirus pandemic, with policymakers projecting the economy to shrink 6.5% in 2020 and the unemployment rate to be 9.3% at year's end. * Mainland China reported 11 confirmed and four new asymptomatic COVID-19 cases by the end of June 10, the National Health Commission said on Thursday. All the new confirmed cases involved travellers from overseas, the commission said in a statement. The tally of mainland infections now stands at 83,057 with the death toll unchanged at 4,634. * Thailand on Thursday reported no new coronavirus infections or deaths, maintaining the total of 3,125 confirmed cases and 58 fatalities. It was the first time in nearly three weeks that no cases were reported and the 17th day without a local transmission. All recent cases have been found in quarantine among Thais returning from abroad. * The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 555 to 185,416, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Thursday. The reported death toll rose by 26 to 8,755, the tally showed. * British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is planning to scrap the two metres distancing rule latest by September for schools to reopen fully for the start of the new school year, the Telegraph newspaper reported. Johnson has indicated to ministers that he is prepared to change the rule within weeks, the newspaper reported. * The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a US$594 million emergency assistance package for Guatemala's response to the coronavirus crisis, the lender said on Wednesday. To date, Guatemala has confirmed nearly 8,000 coronavirus infections, as well as about 300 deaths attributed to the highly-contagious COVID-19 respiratory illness caused by the virus. Students, faculty and community members gathered on Portland State Universitys campus Friday for a Disarm PSU Now rally. Some wore graduation caps decorated with messages such as Disarm PSU and many held signs with similar messages. The crowd filled the area between the Campus Public Safety Office and Cramer Hall across the street. The protesters met at PSU Urban Plaza Friday morning and marched to the office. They paused for a moment of silence when they got to the site where Jason Washington was shot by PSU campus police two years ago. Washington,45, was shot and killed by a PSU officer in June 2018 while trying to break up a fight near campus. The police involved were not charged. In the wake of recent protests, Disarm PSU protesters are pushing demands to the Board of Trustees including removing guns from the campus police force, reallocating funding and creating a permanent memorial for Washington on campus. Campus leaders decided to arm campus police in 2014, a move met with significant student pushback at the time and continued disagreement. There are currently seven armed police officers and seven unarmed officers on the staff, according to a statement by the PSU administration. Washington's daughter and wife were among the speakers at the event. His wife, Michelle Washington, shared a memory from the night Washington was shot, remembering he texted her that he would be home soon, before being shot nine times by an officer. PSU doesnt want you to know my father, a black man, a veteran, a peace maker, was killed because PSU made the horrific decision to legally arm their security against the wishes of students, faculty and staff, said his daughter, Kayla Washington. Following the rally, PSU administration released a statement saying that President Stephen Percy will share students' concerns and outline plans to move forward at the June 18 Board of Trustees meeting. Disarm PSU plans to hold a demonstration on the day of the meeting. --Alex Hardgrave | ahardgrave@oregonian.com | @a_hardgrave Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Thousands of protesters gathered in the Philippines today (June 12) as the country marked 122 years of independence. Crowds braved the rain inside a university campus in Quezon City in the Manila area to wave placards criticising the region's police chief. Many were angry at the Major General Debold Sinas holding a recent birthday in which he appeared to ignore coronavirus lockdown rules, while millions have been out of work because of the restrictions. Protesters brought platters of food, flowers, and dummy cakes along with banners and signboards that calls for free coronavirus mass testing, government accountability, and stopping the Anti-Terror Bill that they believe will curtail their freedom of speech. Senate President Tito Sotto said he and House Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano had already signed the bill and that it had been received by the office of the President last Tuesday (June 9). Independence Day is an annual national holiday in the country to celebrate its declaration of freedom from Spain in 1898. [June 12, 2020] McLarens Acquires Lloyd Warwick International McLarens, a leading, global independent insurance services provider, is excited to announce the acquisition of Lloyd Warwick International, Ltd (LWI), a premier provider of global specialty loss and insurance adjusters. LWI is a global multi-disciplined loss adjusting and claims management company with extensive expertise in complex onshore, offshore and renewable energy claims. Their team of nearly 50 prominent adjusters provides a wide range of engineering, forensic and technical claims support services to the global insurance industry, with a focus on the energy, marine, mining, power generation, renewables and special risk sectors. Headquartered in the City of London, LWI serves its global clients through offices in the UK, Europe, the Americas, Middle East, Asia Pacific, and South Africa. Compelling Strategic Fit The acquisition is seen by both businesses as a strong strategic fit, aligning with McLarens' strategy to strengthen technical services and multi-disciplinary consulting capabilities in natural resources verticals. The unified organization will result in significantly increased market presence especially in the oil and energy sector and boost offerings in loss adjusting, major claims management, litigation support, and arbitration & mediation. LWI will merge with McLarens' Natural Resources specialties services and will retain its head office in London. The combined group willcontinue to conduct business under LWI's brand and be led by Joe McMahon, chairman of LWI. Matthew LeBrun will join the group and head Natural Resources in the Americas - a key area planned for expansion - and report directly to McMahon. "The acquisition will help accelerate our growth and innovation," commented Matthew LeBrun, newly appointed Head of Natural Resources, Americas. "Our goal is to bring together our experience, talent and strength into a unified organization to accelerate further growth. The combined specialty practice will be the global leader in the Natural Resources loss and claims management." "The Lloyd Warwick International name, like McLarens, is globally recognized and associated with quality, technical expertise, and the best loss adjusting and claims management service," said Gary Brown, CEO at McLarens. "The company has a leading reputation in the energy and oil market internationally, which will transform McLarens' footprint in the natural resources sector. Together, we will advance our strategy of offering a broader depth of loss adjusting and technical services, a wider range of insurance consulting solutions, and an enhanced ability to serve major complex claims in the onshore and offshore energy market." "The LWI team welcomes the acquisition and is delighted to join the McLarens family of companies," added Joe McMahon, chairman at LWI. "Two leading loss adjusting and claims management brands just got stronger. The quality of work and technical expertise that McLarens fosters is complementary to our practice. We share a similar set of values and beliefs - to provide market leading insurance consulting services by utilizing excellent communications, state of the art technology, and proven technical knowledge of our talented adjusting staff. I am excited and look forward to partnering with McLarens on building our combined loss adjustment and claims management business." LWI was jointly owned by LWI employees and Crawford & Company. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Advisors McLarens was represented by Norton Rose Fulbright LLP as their legal advisors, while Crawford & Company was advised by DLA Piper, and the LWI employee shareholders were represented by Ashfords as their legal advisors in connection with this transaction. About McLarens: Founded in 1931, McLarens is a leading independent global insurance services provider with offices and operations strategically located around the world. With a focus on complex, commercial and niche markets, the company provides loss adjusting, claims and risk management services, as well as auditing and pre-risk surveying. McLarens' global footprint enables it to provide streamlined consistent service to clients across the world, while at the same time delivering local expertise and responsive service. The company's expert adjusters have an average of over 20 years' experience, operating across a range of industries with specialties including: Property, Crisis Management, Natural Resources, Construction & Engineering, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Aviation, Casualty, Marine, FAJ & Specie, Global TPA Services and Environmental consulting services. For more information, please visit: www.mclarens.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005204/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] ABANTU for Development and the Womens Manifesto Coalition (WMC) have condemned the increasing rate of attacks, multiple insults and acts of degradation on women who take up leadership positions in the country. In a statement issued in Accra on June 9, 2020 and signed by Dr Rose Mensah-Kutin Executive Director, ABANTU for Development, ABANTU and the WMC noted that threats of harm and death contributed to the highest level of denial of human rights The statement, issued in response to a threat of death to the Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Jean Mensah, described the recent numerous personal attacks and abuse and, now, threat of death, as revolting, horrendous, awful and unacceptable. The statement said it recognized the difficulties associated with serving in such a combative position as the Electoral Commissioner, trying to satisfy strong diverse political viewpoints in the hope of delivering universally acceptable democratic and electoral outcomes. In that regard, the statement said, ABANTU and the WMC, would continue to stand behind Mrs. Mensa and to offer the needed support and defence for all women in national policy and decision-making spaces. The statement added that ABANTU and the WMC would continue to advocate for the need for Ghana to hold itself accountable to its constitutional mandate of increasing womens equal participation and representation in public policy making and decision making at all levels. ABANTU for Development is a non-governmental organization which has the vision of a world where empowered women and men advocate collectively on gender inequalities through promoting transformational leadership and development for a just society. It hosts WMC that spearheaded the development of the Womens Manifesto for Ghana, a living political but non-partisan document that outlines key issues of concern to women and makes demands for addressing them. Source: G.D. Zaney, Esq. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A disgraced gallery owner known as the art world's "mini-Madoff" -- a reference to jailed financier Bernie Madoff -- has been taken into custody on the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, according to federal prosecutors in New York, who have charged Inigo Philbrick in a $20 million fraud scheme. Vanuatu authorities expelled Philbrick at the request of the U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea. He was transported to Guam, where he is expected to be presented in federal court Monday. Philbrick was an art dealer specializing in post-war and contemporary fine art with galleries in London and Miami. He fled the country last year after he was accused of, among other things, selling the same piece of art to multiple buyers. "Inigo Philbrick was a serial swindler who misled art collectors, investors, and lenders out of more than $20 million," said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman. "You can't sell more than 100 percent ownership in a single piece of art, which Philbrick allegedly did, among other scams." MORE: Dealer finds storage locker holds valuable paintings Philbrick, who is charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, bought at auction a 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat titled "Humidity" for $12.5 million, according to the criminal complaint. He allegedly told an investor he paid $18.4 million. The investor, the FBI said, wired Philbrick $12.2 million for a joint ownership stake. Philbrick allegedly then sold a second ownership stake to a different investor without disclosing it to either. PHOTO: Inigo Philbrick attends the opening of a Jean Royere Exhibition at Galerie Patrick Seguin London, Feb. 25, 2016, in London. (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) "Mr. Philbrick allegedly sought out high-dollar art investors, sold pieces he didn't own, and played games with millions of dollars in other people's money," said FBI Assistant Director Bill Sweeney. Philbrick also misrepresented the ownership in a 2010 untitled painting by Christopher Wool and a 2012 untitled work by Rudolf Stingel that depicted Pablo Picasso. MORE: Former DEA spokesperson who posed as covert CIA operative pleads guilty in elaborate fraud scheme Story continues The FBI said the three-year scheme began to fall apart in 2019 when investors and lenders started asking questions and demanded money. "Philbrick's unpaid debts mounted and various investors began demanding the return of their investments or artworks," the complaint said. His galleries closed and he fled the country. He had been living in Vanuatu since October 2019, federal prosecutors said. Inigo Philbrick, art world's 'mini-Madoff,' arrested on remote Pacific island for $20 million fraud: Prosecutors originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Police cars are seen outside the Halloween party in Orinda, California, on Thursday night. Twitter/DanThorn A suspect in a shooting spree in Paso Robles, California, is dead after a shootout with police, a spokesperson for the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office said. According to local outlets, officers were injured during an exchange of fire with the suspect, on Thursday. A shooting on Wednesday left another deputy injured and a local man dead. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. The suspect of a shooting spree in Paso Robles, California, was killed after a manhunt, on Thursday, a spokesperson for the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office said. Paso Robles Police (@PasoRoblesPD) June 11, 2020 Police have identified the suspect as 26-year-old Mason Lira. According to the spokesperson, police responded to reports of shooting at a vineyard and realized the suspect was Lira. Police called on him to surrender, and then he raised his weapon and fired officers, which prompted them to fire back, the police spokesperson said. Officers initially noticed he was unresponsive and then determined that he was dead. The spokesman could not say how many shots were fired at Lira. Three officers, each from different departments, were injured in the exchange, but are in stable condition. Lira was the suspect in a Wednesday shooting spree that left one man dead and a police officer injured, CNN reported. The suspect began shooting at the Paso Robles Police Department building on Wednesday, according to KSBW. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office told CNN that Deputy Nicholas Dreyfus was injured. According to KSBW, Dreyfus was shot in the face. The suspect is then alleged to have shot and killed a man at a train station. On Thursday afternoon, shots were fired in the area of Highway 46 West and Ramada Drive. Police asked everyone to avoid the area. SLO County Sheriff (@SLOSheriff) June 11, 2020 The motive remains unclear. Story continues Lira's father Jose Lira told the Visalia Times-Delta of the USA TODAY Network on Thursday that his son was mentally ill, "has lived on the streets for many years," and also been in and out of mental health facilities and jail during his adult life. "With his mental health illness, he doesn't want to be in a room or house, he wanted to be on the streets," Lira's father, Jose Lira, told the newspaper. Read the original article on Insider Nederland ISD Superintendent Robin Perez will retire from her position at the end of this month to spend time with her family as she undergoes treatment for cancer. The announcement comes after the board of trustees accepted her resignation in a mostly closed meeting Thursday. School success has been all about working together as a team, Perez said in a statement released after the meeting, which was held virtually because of the coronavirus. I have been blessed to work with wonderful people at Nederland ISD. Our teachers, leadership team and school board deserve all of the credit for working together as a team for the success of our students. Perez came to to the district after serving as superintendent in Buna ISD and has held positions in other Texas districts including Humble ISD, Lumberton ISD and Beaumont ISD. Perez has led Nederland ISD for four years. The district is in excellent shape and will continue to accomplish great things in the future, she said in the statement. Perez has been on medical leave for treatment according to the district and due to the seriousness, Perezs medical team has recommended she resign from working since the very first time they met. In the statement, the educator thanked the community for the outpouring of support that she has received, with the district adding that as she aggressively fights this illness, she asks that you continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Under Perezs leadership, the district passed one of the largest school bond packages the school ever proposed and oversaw cultural understanding, new technology and curriculum initiatives, which improved student performance and closed achievement gaps. Speaking on behalf of the Board of Trustees, President Micah Mosley said the district valued the progress made under her leadership. Perez has been a tireless visionary for NISD, driven by her immense passion and love for educating our students and improving student outcomes, Mosley said. She has focused Nederland ISD administration and staff on identifying and developing the strengths and gifts of every child. Their vision culminated in the single focused goal for all of our students to achieve success beyond high school graduation. Mosley said Perez had an unrivaled work ethic in her time at NISD. Our sincere prayers, best wishes and appreciation are with Dr. Perez as she heeds the advice of her medical professional team and focuses on beating cancer, Mosley said. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes 1. Yes. Too many kids are staying home. They need a virtual learning option to keep up. 2. Yes. Teachers are out sick and subs cant handle the load. Online learning is needed. 3. No. Its too late in the school year to make a wholesale switch in teaching platforms. 4.No. Many parents arent in a position to stay home while their kids learn virtually. 5. Unsure. It may seem like a good idea from a health standpoint, but it has shortcomings. Vote View Results COSA TV has announced that it has teamed up with Woodbine Mohawk Park in order to provide enhanced coverage of the first full session of baby races, which will take place Friday morning (June 12) at the Campbellville, Ont. oval. The qualifying session is scheduled to get underway at 9:30 a.m. A total of 122 two-year-olds were entered to qualify this weekend. A portion were conducted as part of Thursdays regular qualifying session, and another 14 races have been slated for Friday morning. Greg Blanchard will host the show and will be joined on the broadcast by Mark McKelvie, who will also call the action. Blake MacIntosh and Anthony MacDonald, who spoke about a number of their rookies during Wednesday nights Baby Race Preview Show on COSA TV, will send out several starters on Friday morning. Fans will also get their first look at Marlboro Seelster, a record $270,000 purchase from last falls London Selected Yearling Sale. The son of Bettors DelightMacapelo Rose has drawn Post 4 in the mornings seventh race. Louis-Philippe Roy is scheduled to drive for co-owner/trainer Ian Moore. The show will be available on various COSA TV platforms, including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, as well as Woodbine Mohawk Parks YouTube channel. Standardbred Canada will post free TrackIT program pages on the SC website on Friday morning and will also offer the live broadcast to its online audience. (With files from COSA) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andrew Marszal (Agence France-Presse) Los Angeles, United States Fri, June 12, 2020 20:02 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde52eb5 2 Entertainment Racism,Spike-Lee,Netflix,#BlackLivesMatter,Da-5-Bloods Free With protests against racism sweeping the United States, two new films from Spike Lee place contemporary violence against African-Americans in its modern historical context, going as far back as the Vietnam War. "Da 5 Bloods," out Friday on Netflix, follows a fictional group of black soldiers who risked their lives in Vietnam even as civil rights protests and race riots broke out in their home cities during the late 1960s. The movie blends their story with archive footage of anti-war protesters being shot by the National Guard, deadly urban riots and speeches from iconic Black Power leaders such as Malcolm X and Angela Davis. Its release follows more than two weeks of mass demonstrations over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man killed in custody in Minneapolis on May 25, and criticism of heavy-handed policing of the protests. "History repeats itself," Lee said of the film's message, in notes sent to the press. "And we can learn from history -- if we wake up." "Da 5 Bloods" jumps between the wartime experiences of four African-American soldiers who lost their leader in the far-flung conflict, and their present-day return to Vietnam to retrieve his remains. During the war, "bloods" was adopted as a brotherly term between African-American soldiers. One flashback depicts the moment the soldiers learn of Martin Luther King's 1968 assassination by a white gunman -- an event that sparked furious protests across the United States, and sowed racially charged division among troops in Vietnam. In the war itself, a disproportionately high number of black US soldiers were sent to fight -- and die. African-Americans represented approximately 11 percent of the civilian population, but in 1965 they accounted for nearly a quarter of all combat deaths in Vietnam. Still, they have not traditionally been the focus of classic Vietnam War movies such as "Apocalypse Now," "Full Metal Jacket" and "Casualties of War." "No disrespect to any film that's been done before about the Vietnam War, but we wanted to do this through the perspective of the black soldiers," said Lee. He added: "We knew that we had not seen brothers like this in a Vietnam film." Read also: Three heart-stopping episodes on police violence to watch again on Netflix '3 Brothers' Although the film's timing after the Floyd protests is coincidental, it is a theme Lee has regularly returned to -- most recently in a separate short film called "3 Brothers" last month, which began with a title card reading: "Will history stop repeating itself?" That film compared footage of Floyd's death with Eric Garner's -- killed in police custody on Staten Island in 2014 -- and the similar killing of fictional Radio Raheem in Lee's own prescient 1989 movie "Do The Right Thing." "How can people not understand why people are reacting the way they are?" said Lee while introducing "3 Brothers" to CNN. "This is history again and again and again." He added: "We saw it with the riots in the '60s, with the assassination of Dr. King... People are fed up, and people are tired of the debasing, the killing of black bodies." "Now we have cameras. But the attack on black bodies has been here from the get-go," Lee concluded. Unlike the actual Eurovision Song Contest, Netflixs Eurovision: The Story of Fire Saga is still happening this year. And weeks after Volcano Man got stuck in our heads, a full-fledged trailer for the Will FerrellRachel McAdams comedy is out. Who knew an upcoming Will Ferrell comedy would make us cry? Ferrell plays Lars and McAdams plays Sigrit; together, they make up Icelandic pop duo Fire Saga. Their lifelong dream is to win the Eurovision Song Contest, an annual pageant featuring some of the weirdest musicians in Europe that was first held in 1956. The trailer reveals that their fellow Icelanders dont care for their music, including Larss extremely handsome father, a bearded, sweater-clad Pierce Brosnan. But despite their unpopularity, Fire Saga somehow score the gig representing Iceland at Eurovision, eliciting snow angels of happiness from the duo. The contest itself has the fog machines, lasers, elaborate sets, and ornate costumes youd expect. It also has Alexander Lemtov (Dan Stevens), a handsome sex player and fellow contestant who looks like the saboteur of the movie, seeking to come between Lars and Sigrit even as they bond over him stuffing his crotch and her doing a classic camel[toe] before a big performance. Then, things take an unexpectedly emotional turn. It starts to feel less like an absurd comedy, as an earnestly inspiring montage punctuated by a joke about how Simon & Garfunkel broke up because of a lovers quarrel. The trailer ends with Larss feeble attempts to fight Lemtov. All in all, it looks like a classic Ferrell comedyexactly what the doctor ordered for those of us desperate for a distraction. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga premieres on Netflix on June 26. Related Articles: The post Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams Will Make You Laugh and Cry In Eurovision Trailer appeared first on Fatherly. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/6/2020 (589 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Andrew Goodlett has a new saying: "You only get married twice." When the assistant principal bassist for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra married cellist and educator Natalie Dawe on May 12, 2020, it didnt look at all the way either of them pictured it though, to be fair, Goodletts ideal wedding was always a bit of a long shot. SUPPLIED Natalie Dawe and Andrew Goodlett: We couldnt imagine everything being any better or more special than it was. "My dream wedding plan was to have Natalie and I get married at the Indianapolis 500, because Im from Indianapolis," he says with a laugh. "But I knew that was never going to happen." Dawes dream wedding plan, on the other hand to get married in her parents backyard in Alma, N.B., which overlooks the Bay of Fundy was to become a reality in August, until the novel coronavirus forced them to postpone until next summer. The couple had heard tragic stories about celebrations of love becoming "superspreader" events and, with half the guestlist having to travel internationally, they didnt want to chance it. But they didnt want to wait, either. And so, on May 12 the date they met four years ago they got married, over the teleconferencing app Zoom. Goodlett and Dawe are just one of many couples who have had to radically scale back their wedding plans in the face of the pandemic. All over the world, people are cancelling, postponing and changing their big days, sending ripples through the event-planning industry. "Weddings are emotionally charged to begin with," says Emma Singh, the founder and CEO of Events by Emma, one of Winnipegs pre-eminent wedding and event-planning companies. "Throw in a worldwide pandemic and its devastating. I think what weve been telling everybody is, Love isnt cancelled.'" Emma Singh "I do a lot of really large ethnic weddings with anywhere from 500 to 1,000 people. How do you tell 500 people you cant have your event and they cant come? Its stressful to think about having to make those calls and send those emails." Happily, shes seen a lot of compassion over the past few weeks. And, she says, "couples still want to get married this year, and a lot of people have milestones and celebrations that cannot be missed." So, Singh, too, has had to pivot. Her company is now offering a suite of micro-event and wedding packages, which she bills as "simplified plans for complex times," she says. Events by Emma has partnered with 11 local businesses to offer all-inclusive, one-stop shop packages, which adhere to current Manitoba distancing guidelines and ensure that couples are still able to do something beautiful and personal, safely and stress-free. SHANNON VANRAES / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Emma Singh, CEO of Events by Emma, has shifted her focus to micro-event packages. "Were adapting the best we can to this new normal, while being present and relevant given the current situation," she says. Singh says that since the micro-events launched in May, shes seen a lot of interest. After all, many couples are choosing, like Dawe and Goodlett, do something small and intimate this year, and postpone the big party. "I think what weve been telling everybody is, Love isnt cancelled," Singh says. "Nows the time to move forward and really appreciate each other and, when the time is right, they will have that big celebration." As for lasting impacts on her industry, Singh says weddings and events arent going anywhere they may just look a little different until we can safely gather again. "I have a feeling celebrations will be appreciated even more when the time is right." Arielle and Craig Arnott were supposed to get married in July with 130 of their friends and family at Starlit Point, an idyllic venue just off Highway 75. SUPPLIED Craig and Arielle Arnott exchanged their 130-person wedding for a small backyard ceremony. "It was all really exciting and then the pandemic came," Arielle says. "My mum lives out of town and it was clear it was going to be difficult to have her come here, and we were like, how long are we going to wait to get married? If we wait to get married in a venue with a bunch of people, we could possibly be waiting until next year. "We just wanted to endure this time together, married." The couple got married on May 27 in Craigs moms backyard in Stonewall with about 15 guests. They exchanged their vows under the arbour he built and decorated with flowers. She bought a tea-length dress for the occasion; shes saving her dramatic gown for the reception she hopes to have next September. She got her hair done, but did her makeup herself. "At that time it was difficult to find someone who would get that close to your face," she says with a laugh. "My grandpa walked me down the aisle, and we just had close family and our wedding party there," she says. "It wasnt stressful, and it felt really intimate and special." The point isnt to have a perfect party. The point was for us to get married." Arielle Arnott Arielle says she wouldnt change anything about their wedding day, or their quiet, stress-free honeymoon in the Whiteshell. At the beginning of the pandemic, when everything was changing, she made a conscious effort to keep perspective despite her disappointment. "The point isnt to have a perfect party. The point was for us to get married," she says. "I definitely never would have wanted to associate this pandemic with feeling like it ruined something for me. And, I suppose, were part of history." Like the Arnotts, Goodlett and Dawe didnt want to treat their Zoom wedding as a backup plan. "Originally, we thought wed do a justice-of-the-peace-type thing, have it be more businesslike and formal, and then save the real wedding for next summer but the more we got planning, that seemed a little depressing," Goodlett says. "Its still a wedding, were still getting married. You gotta call a spade a spade." SUPPLIED Andrew Goodlett and Natalie Dawe's Zoom wedding included their female Irish wolfhound, Bruce. Even though their families couldnt be there in person, their Winnipeg friends helped make the day special. Musicians Will Bonness, Aaron Shorr and Nolan Powell performed in their living room. "We still had amazing music at the wedding," Goodlett says. "I think thats something thats important to both of us. Its a big part of our lives." Dawe teaches at the Douglas Kuhl School of Music in Morden, and her students parents offered to make all the food; her housemate India George made the cake. Dawe bought a new white dress and Goodlett, owing to a little quirk of his job, required a new suit; the one he performs in with the WSO has an intentionally oversized jacket so he can move freely. "With the current restrictions, we couldnt imagine everything being any better or more special than it was. Andrew Goodlett Dawe walked down the aisle to a surprise combo arrangement recorded by four of her students, a mashup of Pachelbels Canon and Here Comes the Bride, escorted by their "flower girl" a 100-pound female Irish wolfhound named Bruce. "She stole the show," Dawe says. Getting married via Zoom came with some unexpected benefits, including a less limited guestlist. "I was able to invite friends from college and other people I never would have been able to, and everyone was super stoked," Goodlett says. "It was nice to see friends faces that maybe I hadnt seen in person in a number of years." Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. They also got a kick out of being able to see their guests at home. "You could see people in fancy clothes, some people in their pyjamas," Dawe says. "One of our friends was making himself a sandwich in his kitchen." Guests at the Zoom wedding. (Supplied) So, it wasnt exactly what they dreamed. But it was pretty perfect all the same. "We were talking about it afterwards," Goodlett says, "and with the current restrictions, we couldnt imagine everything being any better or more special than it was." jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @JenZoratti In just 20 words, Cormann had set up a straw man, a distracting fake argument. Nobody was proposing raising Australia's total tax take. Worse, he'd made the sort of remark that an opposition leader would make, arguing against a reform process that hadn't even started. Frydenberg followed up by parroting that he had no plan to change the GST, a line written in another era. It sounded very much like political timidity had come rushing back. That seems to be the way that the NSW Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, read it. He wrote an opinion piece in this newspaper on Friday under the headline: "We can't govern by focus group". In critiquing focus-group politics, Perrottet quoted the American carmaking pioneer Henry Ford: "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses." Loading Is the national moment of possibility about to die amid a resurgence of the pointless politics of the past decade? Perrottet hopes not. And we'll find out very soon when a provocative new report that he commissioned hits the table. If there is to be any meaningful reform of tax and federation, it seems that it will be driven by the states. NSW and Victoria in particular. This has the advantage of combining the economically dominant states, as well as pairing one Liberal government and one Labor. Perrottet last year appointed a review panel to look into federal financial relations. It's chaired by businessman David Thodey. Its recommendations are due to be published in the next two or three weeks. Its aim? To make the overall national tax system more efficient, or, as Perrottet puts it, "to streamline our economy so tax causes as little drag as possible when we hit the accelerator on recovery, but also to realise the long-term benefits of a fairer more efficient tax system". In particular, Perrottet is keen to abolish two state taxes that are universally deplored as economic vandalism payroll tax and stamp duty. Payroll tax penalises businesses for hiring staff. It penalises them every time they pay their people. And stamp duty penalises people and businesses who buy real estate, discouraging movement and inhibiting workers from moving to take jobs. Perrottet would prefer to replace this with land tax; he has suggested giving homebuyers the option of choosing a big, one-off stamp duty lump sum, or a smaller annual land tax. The expectation would be that, in effect, stamp duty would be phased out and land tax in. Why wouldn't the Morrison government support dumping these two harmful taxes? It does. Frydenberg has urged the states to get rid of them, but says they have to "use their own balance sheets". In other words, do it yourselves Canberra isn't going to help. Loading Which seems entirely reasonable. Except that NSW collects only 60 per cent of the revenue it needs to deliver services health, schools, transport, and so on and relies on Canberra to give it the other 40 per cent. The other states are even more reliant on federal funds. The Howard-Costello precedent was to give the states all the money that Canberra collected from the GST, and in return they'd get rid of inefficient taxes of their own. The NSW Treasurer wants to repeat the trick: "Of course, this requires a serious conversation about adjusting the GST in order to remove other taxes." But, as Perrottet acknowledges, this is "something the federal government isn't game to broach, even now, when the case for change is strongest. Perhaps that's because, for the pollsters, this kind of policy thinking sets off focus-group alarm bells." He's right. Besides, the federal government doesn't like the idea of taking political criticism for increasing the GST when the proceeds would all go to the states. So the Thodey report will canvass a wider range of ideas. One is sharing the Commonwealth's incomes tax with the states. This would be a big change Canberra has a monopoly on income taxes. But not a radical change. Why not? Because historically the states levied income taxes. The Commonwealth for a time levied its own parallel income taxes, then wrested all income tax power from the states as an emergency measure in World War II. Constitutionally and legally, the states can tax income if they choose. That's what happens in the US the federal government taxes your income, and your state of residence taxes it separately. Of course, it's inefficient and messy. That's why it's more sensible to share income taxes between the two levels, state and federal. Which is what Germany does. "That's what most federated countries do," says Anne Twomey, a professor of constitutional law at Sydney University. "We are unusual by not doing some kind of income tax sharing." And it has been suggested in Australia before, a number of times. The Fraser government legislated for it, but the system was never actually implemented. "What you need to do in a rational system is to match revenue with need rather than use it for your political benefit," says Twomey in arguing the case for a greater share of revenue for the states. Twomey has not only written a paper on the history of federal finances for the Centre for Independent Studies, she's also a member of the Thodey review. "All governments, federal and state, are facing dire circumstances," she says, "so you would think the most rational thing you can do is to get the most value out of the tax system wring the best value out of your existing level of taxation. If you have an inefficient tax system that wastes money, you are an idiot." Loading But then, as Twomey acknowledges, "politics will drive it", a recognition that idiocy stands an excellent chance of winning. Josh Frydenberg tells colleagues that he is fully prepared for the discussion with the states. He puts three caveats on this. First, he won't "front-run" the process by putting proposals publicly. Second, he doesn't want to raise expectations. Third, the federal government insists on living within its means. Two Witsies honoured in 2020 Queens Birthday Awards Professor Jeffrey Lipman (MBBCh 1972) and Dr Roger Pillemer (MBBCh 1965) have been recognised in the 2020 Queens Birthday Awards. Professor Lipman received a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to medicine, anesthesiology and critical care, as well as education. He is currently conjoint Associate Professor with the Royal Brisbane Clinical School, and a senior staff specialist in the Department of Intensive Care Medicine at Queensland's largest teaching hospital, the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and Executive Director of the Burns, Trauma and Critical Care Research Centre. His research into antibiotic dosing has changed antibiotic prescribing habits for critically ill patients and garnered him international recognition as an expert in the field after receiving an MD for pharmacokinetics of antibiotic dosage in 2006. Two of the biggest groups of antibiotics in the world were given differently when I started looking at it. With my research Im quite proud of the fact that Ive changed the way the world gives antibiotics in intensive care, he told Australian Jewish News. He admitted his initial disinterest in studying medicine, preferring computing and statistics. My mother, as a good Jewish mother, pushed me into medicine. I wasnt keen initially until it became an obsession of mine, and from early on I wanted to do the best I could for my patients. I was so committed and so hard working that my family suffered a little bit. You cant do this without the support of your wife and family. I work often 80 hours a week, when Im on call sometimes more. Prior to moving to Australia in 1997 he was head of ICU at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto and is married to fellow Wits alumna, physiotherapist Mariana. Dr Pillemer was acknowledged for service to community health through his medical advisory roles. He is an orthopaedic surgeon in private practice based in Sydney with a particular interest in matters relating to workers compensation and impairment assessments. He has held a number of advisory positions. Since 2002 he has been involved in training medical specialists and impairment assessors. He said in an interview with Australian Jewish News: I feel delighted and very honoured. I have done a wide range of work which involves teaching, advising, and providing guidelines on committees. I have published a range of YouTube videos showing physical signs on how to examine a patient. I have had many highlights in my life. I was the 1974 South African fellow so I visited hospitals, attended lectures and received education in the United States. This was a great honour, for orthopaedic surgeons to receive The ABC Travelling Fellowships. My kids are magnificent, I have seven wonderful grandchildren, and I am extremely proud of all of them. Digital solutions provider Happiest Minds Technologies has filed draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with capital market regulator SEBI for an initial public offering (IPO), the first company to do so during the nationwide lockdown. The proposed IPO consists of fresh issue of shares worth up to Rs 110 crore and an offer for sale of up to 3.56 crore equity shares by promoters as well as investors. Founder and Executive Chairman Ashok Soota will sell 84,14,223 shares, while private equity investor JP Morgan Investment Management CMDB II will offload 2,72,49,362 shares, the prospectus says. Promoter and promoter group hold 61.77 percent stake in the company, including 48.83 percent held by Soota. Investor CMDB II has 19.43 percent shareholding (2,72,49,362 equity shares) in the company. The offer for sale shows that CMDB II wants to exit the company via IPO. The company is expected to raise around Rs 700 crore through the issue, a source told Moneycontrol. Out of the total offer, 85 percent of the money will be received by the selling shareholders, while the fresh issue money will be utilised by the company to meet working capital requirements. Happiest Minds offers digital business, product engineering, infrastructure management and security services. In FY20, 96.9 percent of its revenues came from the digital-services business. Globally, companies have been focussing more on digitalisation and listed IT peers have been increasing their digital share in revenue year-after-year. A Frost & Sullivan Report estimates that the global digital-services market will grow from $691 billion in 2019 at a CAGR of 20.2 percent to $2,083 billion by 2025. As of March 2020, the company had 157 active customers. Happiest Minds reported a 404.6 percent growth in consolidated profit at Rs 71.71 crore in FY20 compared to the previous year due to other income, lower finance cost and depreciation. In FY18, it posted a loss of Rs 22.47 crore. Revenue from operations grew by 18.3 percent to Rs 698.21 crore in FY20 and increased 27.5 percent to Rs 590.4 crore in FY19 compared to previous year. ICICI Securities and Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities India are the managers for the proposed IPO. Tata Power on Friday said that its subsidiary, Trust Energy Resources Pte Ltd (TERPL), will sell three ships to German company Oldendorff Carriers GmbH & Co. KG for an estimated cost of $212.76 million. The sale of the three ships, MV Trust Agility, MV Trust Integrity and MV Trust Amity, currently owned byTERPL is expected to be concluded in the next three to four weeks and is subject to necessary regulatory approvals, Tata Group company said in a regulatory filing. "Singapore-based Trust Energy Resources Pte Ltd (TERPL), a fully-owned subsidiary of The Tata Power Company Ltd (TPCL) has entered into definitive agreements with Oldendorff Carriers GmbH & Co. KG, Germany for the sale of three ships at an estimated consideration of USD 212.76 million," Tata Power said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. The objective of the transaction is to have an asset-light model for the shipping requirements of the company, Tata Power said, adding that the sale proceeds will be used towards reducing the debt as part of the overall restructuring plan of the company. Also Read: Tata Power acquires 51% stake in Odisha's TPCODL; stock jumps 7% Praveer Sinha, CEO & MD, Tata Power said, "The sale of our shipping assets announced today is in line with our long term plans to reduce debt and raise funds to invest in our future growth plans, including expanding our presence in the renewable energy business. The sale is also part of the restructuring within Tata Power to chalk out the roadmap for growth over the next decade." The sale includes existing long term contracts associated with the ships with Oldendorff Carriers GmbH & Co. KG Germany, which is one of the largest dry-bulk shipping companies in the world. Also Read: Tata Sons in strong financial condition, not looking to monetise investments: Chairman N Chandrasekaran Shares of Tata Power closed Friday's trade at Rs 41.75 apiece, up 1.58 per cent, on the BSE. The stock hit an intraday high of Rs 42.10 after opening lower at Rs 39 against previous closing price of Rs 41.10. By Chitranjan Kumar Tearful mourners have gathered to remember a mum who was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend. Ellie Price was farewelled at a funeral near Hobart on Friday after the 26-year-old was allegedly killed by Ricardo Barbaro. Ms Price had been making plans to move back to Tasmania when she was allegedly killed on May 4 at her south Melbourne home. Following a national manhunt, Mr Ricardo Barbaro was charged with her murder. On Friday, Ms Price's devastated mother, Tracey Gangell, gave a eulogy at the touching service. 'Ellie was always outgoing, bubbly, funny, and silly at times. Ellie enjoyed life and was eager to try all it had to offer,' Ms Gangell said. 'At 17-years-old, Ellie moved to Melbourne. She had grown into a young woman possessing honesty, charm, and independence.' Ellie Price, 26, was remembered as 'bubbly and outgoing' by her mother Tracey Gangell Ms Price's family chose a pink coffin for the fun-loving young mother who leaves behind a four-year-old son Tearful mourners could be heard crying through the service, which was live-streamed Ms Price has a four-year-old son called Mostafa. 'Her son meant the world to Ellie, and she would dedicate her life to be the best mum she could possibly be,' Ms Gangell said. Ms Gangell described finding a Mother's Day card in her daughter's house which she said especially touched her. The card said: 'Thanks mummy for helping me look after Mostafa and being the best mum in the world you are an angel love you always, Ellie.' Speaking to television crews outside the service Ms Gangell said that Ellie had 'made an impact on everyone she knew'. 'Even when she used to walk in a room, everyone would stop and look and her. She'd just light up a room,' Ms Gangell said. 'At Ellie's viewing last week I held her hand. I pressed it to my face and kissed her for the very last time. I wish once again I could feel her arms wrapped around me and saying, 'Mummy, I love you',' she said. Ms Price's mother, Tracey Gangell (pictured), wrote a eulogy for the touching service Ms Price and her mother Tracey Gangell. Ms Price's body was flown back to Tasmania for a funeral Ms Price's body was flown to Tasmania after her cousin Rebecca Lehner raised more than $6,000 through a GoFundMe page to pay for the repatriation. Ms Lehner said Ellie was living in Melbourne but her heart was with her friends and family in Tasmania. Barbaro, 33, was arrested inside the penthouse of a woman he had only just met after police stormed the property in Sydney's inner west on May 14 after a 10-day manhunt. According to court papers Calabrian mafia-linked Barbao fled Melbourne sometime between April 29 and May 4, police alleged in court papers. Following his arrest Ms Gangell said: 'I am relieved. The police have done an amazing job. I hope justice prevails.' Barbaro will face court again in September. Ellie Price (pictured) lived in Melbourne with her four-year-old son Mostafa (pictured) Ricardo Barbaro, 33, was arrested inside the penthouse of a woman he had only just met after police stormed the property in Sydney's inner west on May 14 after a 10-day manhunt Representative image Mumbai-based real estate developer Lodha Developers has deferred half the salary of its employees by a quarter due to the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, people familiar with the matter told Moneycontrol. The company has deferred half the salaries of its employees for three months on account of COVID-19. The remaining amount would be paid back to the employees in the months of July, August and September, they said, asking not to be named. When contacted, a company spokesperson contested this version of events."Employee salaries being reduced by half is factually incorrect and misleading. There are no salary cuts for FY 20-21 and salary will be paid in full from the end of lockdown, the spokesperson said. In March, a company statement had said advance salaries for the month of March 2020 had been given to all employees from lower to mid management level, so that they can take care of their daily needs and families. We understand that our employees will have to make arrangements to procure basic essentials during the lockdown and these advance funds will help them provide for their families and keep them mentally at ease, the spokesperson had said. In March, the company had decided to allow rent waiver for its retail partners soon after the government announced the 21-day lockdown on account of the coronavirus pandemic. Also Read: COVID-19 impact | Oberoi Realty lays off 75 employees "Retail partners, who are renting spaces in Lodha's retail properties, are exempted from paying rent since March 15, until the government permits reopening of retail operations. Maintenance charges will be reduced as per actual expenses during this period," the company had said in a statement. Lodha had also claimed to have sold about 300 units across multiple projects in the Mumbai region since the start of the lockdown. The groups UK business has generated new sales of about Rs 150 crore during the period, the company had earlier said in a statement. On Akshay Tritiya (April 26), the group sold 80 units across its residential portfolio with several buyers preferring ready-to-move inventories and projects with integrated living, the company said in a statement. Lodha group had made a foray into the London market in 2013 with the acquisition of the landmark MacDonald House at 1 Grosvenor Square in prime Central London for over Rs 3,100 crore. Lodha currently has nearly 42 under-construction residential projects, including The World Towers and Lodha Park, comprising several high rises in central Mumbai and Palava City. Follow our coverage of the coronavirus crisis CLEARWATER, FL. -- A family-owned Bloody Mary mix company in Clearwater is being called one of the best in the world for its signature mix after capturing six medals in two different international competitions. Blood Brothers Bloody Mary Mix, which recently announced a partnership with Big Storm Brewing Co., took home two top awards from the prestigious Drunken Tomato international Bloody Mary competition. Blood Brothers won platinum and best in category in both the "Hot and Spicy" and the "Bloody Caesar" categories. The company also captured a gold in the Mild category. The awards came days after Blood Brothers received three silver medals at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition in March, one of the oldest and most reputable competitions of its kind. We are beyond thrilled to be named the best by some of the most elite judges in the world. This is a win not only for Blood Brothers, but for our entire Tampa Bay community who has given us so much support, Dax Hoover, co-owner of Blood Brothers, said. Blood Brothers commitment to quality, freshness and passion is top-notch. Were proud to help grow such an awesome local business in Tampa Bay. There is no better Bloody Mary that weve tried than Blood Brothers. Big Storm co-owner L.J. Govoni said. Judging during the three-day competition is done by blind taste testing to ensure a fair and impartial competition. "With people staying in due to the coronavirus, Blood Brothers Bloody Mary mix is also perfect for making at home just add mix, your favorite vodka, ice and youre done," Hoover said. "Its the perfect Quarentini! The mix is available for purchase on the company's website. In addition to the Bloody Mary mix, the company bottles All-Purpose Marinade, Dippin' Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Hawaiian Sea Salt and Blazin' Medley Garnish. Blood Brothers Bloody Mary Mix is a tribute to the owners father, Ken Hoover, and his wife Dianes homemade blood shot recipe. After Diane died, Dax Hoover and his brothers decided to create a label and bottle it to surprise their father. Story continues Courtesy of Blood Brothers Bloody Mary Mix Tragically, one week before the bottling was completed, the Hoovers' father died. After his death, Blood Brothers Bloody Mary Mix was officially launched in 2015 as a way to keep their family connected. It reunited the three Hoover brothers under a family business, honoring their father and their family bond. Every bottle of Blood Brothers Bloody Mary Mix contains their hand-crafted recipe featuring a robust blend of spices, fresh natural ingredients and award-winning flavor. This article originally appeared on the Clearwater Patch LG Electronics' CLOi ServeBot brings food to customers at a restaurant in Seoul, Jan. 31. LG signed a partnership Friday with online food delivery platform operator Woowa Brothers and the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement to develop serving robots. By Baek Byung-yeul LG Electronics has forged a partnership with online food delivery platform operator Woowa Brothers and the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement (KIRIA) to co-develop robots that can be used to serve in restaurants, the electronics company said Friday. The tech company and Woowa Brothers have joined a project chaired by KIRIA, a Daegu-based state-run agency that supervises Korea's robot industry, to develop robot waiters and related technologies. Under the agreement, LG and Woowa Brothers will develop specialized serving robots by November that will then be available for rent through Woowa Brothers' robot rental business. Woowa Brothers operates the country's top online food delivery platform Baedal Minjok, also known as Baemin. The company currently has 85 serving robots operating at 68 restaurants across the country. "LG, which has shown a strong interest in the robot business, will develop both hardware and software for the serving robots," an LG official said. "Woowa Brothers will also join the development process, providing the technological knowhow they have built by operating the rental robot business." They said the partnership will help nurture the country's robot business, which has been increasingly recognized as a promising sector in post-coronavirus times. "By adopting serving robots, we expect there will be an improvement in the working environment of employees in restaurants," KIRIA President Moon Jeon-il said. "As we are living in the post-COVID-19 world, we hope serving robots, which are a kind of contactless service, will be able to help restaurant owners, employees and customers." LG Electronics has been developing robots for a range of purposes such as providing assistance at airports, cleaning, lawn mowing and a robotic exoskeleton that supports and enhances the human body. LG also has partnered with Woowa Brothers since February, inking an agreement to co-develop robots used for food delivery and serving in restaurants, combining LG's artificial intelligence and indoor self-driving technologies with Woowa Brothers' knowledge of operating an online food delivery platform and robot rental business. The LG official said the serving robots that will be used in Woowa Brothers' robot rental business will not be titled LG CLOi, the company's signature robot product brand. "By developing locally specialized robots and increasing utilization of the serving robots, we will be able to improve our competitiveness," said Roh Jin-seo, head of LG's robot business. DETROIT Detroit Police Chief James Craig called the police chief of another Metro Detroit force a disappointment to all chiefs across the country for tweeting racist remarks about protesters earlier this month. The tweets by Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide targeted people who have protested police brutality since late May following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. He called them barbarians, wild savages and subhumans. There is that old adage of tone is set from the top, so if this is how he feels, how do the men and women in his department feel? Craig said in video interview with FOX 2 Detroit. If he can just publicly and blatantly make statements like that, he is a disappointment to myself and all of my colleagues across the country who wear the badge of chief of police. RELATED: Michigan police chief on leave, asks forgiveness for tweets calling protesters barbarians Shelide has been on administrative leave pending an investigation since June 4. He issued a statement apologizing and asking forgiveness for the tweets later that day. The tweets were published by the now-deleted Twitter account @sheepdawg711. Trump threatening to deploy the military, one tweet said. I have a better idea: unleash the real cops and let them take care of these barbarians. I promise it will be over in 24 hours. Wild savages, said a tweet about looters in New York City. I wish to God I would have been there. Body bags for these vicious subhumans. Oh, on another note, I dare you to try and drag me out of my vehicle. Heres Shelides full apology statement: "While an apology is insufficient and an insult to the gravity of my comments, I humbly and respectfully ask for the courtesy of forgiveness to those I have offended, to my department and more importantly to those I am sworn to serve. My record speaks to the commitment and professionalism that I have exhibited for more than 30 years without incident, both of which were compromised by my emotion. During my administrative leave issued by the department, I will fully cooperate with the investigation, and seek the support and counsel necessary to ensure that my behavior and comments going forward more accurately reflect my character and person. READ MORE: Man and woman killed near Muskegon, son in custody Arson suspected in Detroit house fire that killed 3, police have 2 in custody 80 birds recovered from suspected cockfighting ring in Detroit Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Brussels, Belgium Fri, June 12, 2020 08:16 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde1ae85 2 World Belgium,border-areas,reopening,reopening-plan,coronavirus,coronavirus-effect,pandemic,COVID-19,EU,European-Union Free Brussels on Thursday set out plans to fully reopen the EU's internal borders on June 15 and to allow travellers from Balkan countries to enter the bloc from July 1. The recommendation to the 27 EU member states comes as restrictions imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus are eased and national governments seek to restart tourism in time for the peak summer season. Europe accounts for just under half of the 415,000 lives claimed by COVID-19 and now the continent is trying to contain the economic fallout, fearing devastation for its crucial tourism industry. The European Commission, the bloc's executive, which is trying to coordinate the moves, said it was too early to completely abandon restrictions on travellers coming from outside the EU. Instead it called for a "common coordinated approach", lifting the ban on non-essential travel for countries where the pandemic is at a similar level to the EU and adequate disease control measures are in place. The commission said restrictions should be lifted from July 1 for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia because "their epidemiological situation is similar or better than that of the EU". "International travel is key for tourism and business, and for family and friends reconnecting," European home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson said. "While we will all have to remain careful, the time has come to make concrete preparations for lifting restrictions with countries whose health situation is similar to the EU's." Johansson had warned last week that not all countries agreed on the criteria for reopening borders to travellers from the rest of the world. Tourism-dependent countries such as Greece have been pushing for a swift reopening, with Athens already announcing it will welcome travellers from a list of countries including Australia, China and South Korea from June 15. Hello weekend. Here you are, all dolled up with nowhere to go. It would be sad to spend the whole weekend indoors. Environment Canada is promising us mild temperatures and sunshine from Friday to Sunday. The daytime highs are expected to reach 17 to 21 C and the lows 8 to 10. Be sure to wear your sunscreen and a hat to help with the days full of sunny skies. Keep in mind, the Lincoln Alexander Parkway is closed for maintenance this weekend starting Friday at 1 p.m., the westbound Linc from Upper Red Hill Valley Parkway to Golf Links Road is closed until late Sunday night. Remember to social distance whether you head out to a rally, enjoy the drive-in or stay in for a concert. Its up to us to keep each other safe from COVID-19. Check out these four things happening in the Hamilton area this weekend: RALLIES On Friday, there will be a rally held in support of Black organizations in Hamilton in the city hall forecourt at 4 p.m. Three rallies will also be held on Saturday afternoon. The first rally will take place at Gore Park from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The second peaceful protest is set for 2 p.m. at Dundurn Park, with participants marching to city hall, according to organizer Amani Williams. All those participating are asked to wear masks and bring signs. A solidarity march is set to take place in Waterdown on Saturday, June 13, at 2 p.m. in Memorial Park. CONCERT Burlingtons Walk Off The Earth and the Barenaked Ladies are featured on Saturdays episode of Bud Stage At Home. Stream or watch the concert, which will start at 8 p.m. It can be seen live on City TV; online at https://bit.ly/CityTVBudStageAtHome for those in Canada; or viewed at LiveNation.com if you are outside Canada. This concert is part of the four part #BudStageAtHome series. STARLITE DRIVE-IN Stoney Creeks Starlite Drive-in is open with three screens running from Friday to Thursday. Tickets are only available online. Visit premiertheatres.ca/starlite. The movies are a little older and you will need to bring your own popcorn. The washrooms are open. Attendees are required to remain in their vehicle. No open seating like back of the pickup truck is allowed and the childrens playground is also closed. INTERVAL HOUSE Jump in on this fantastic fundraiser for Hamiltons Interval House. Order the suggested 6-pack today so you are ready for a virtual wine tasting being held on Thursday, June 25, 8 p.m., at Pearl Morissette Winery in Jordan. A portion of the proceeds from the wine packages purchased go to Interval House. Its simple order the suggested 6-pack, then log on to the ZOOM event for a tasting of the wines, where you can ask questions and learn from the Pearl Morissette winemaker. Visit intervalhousehamilton.org for more information. Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy during the exchange of an agreement between the state Government and the GMR Group for the construction of Bhogapuram Airport, in Amaravati on June 12, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy during the exchange of an agreement between the state Government and the GMR Group for the construction of Bhogapuram Airport, in Amaravati on June 12, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Amaravati, June 12 : The Andhra Pradesh government and GMR group have signed an agreement to build an international airport at Bhogapuram in the state. The greenfield airport project to come up at Bhogapuram near Visakhapatnam, is being developed as a crucial gateway to the northern part of Andhra Pradesh. The agreement was inked on Friday in the presence of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at his camp office by representatives of both sides. While Special Chief Secretary, Industries, Kari Kalavan signed the pact on behalf of the state government, GMR Chairman, G.B.S. Raju signed on behalf of GMR Airports Ltd (GAL). The Bhogapuram airport project was cleared by the state government on Thursday. As against the original plan of providing 2,700 acres, the developer will now get 2,200 acres. The state government would be developing the remaining 500 acres. The connectivity between Vizag and the airport will be developed and all steps will be taken for laying a Metro train line from the airport to city, the Chief Minister said. The GMR group has developed several high profile projects, including Hyderabad and Delhi airports. GMR representatives said that the airport will be developed as a landmark project in accordance with the Chief Minister's expectations. "We will take the services of international firms in the venture and the work will be completed at the earliest", they said. Industries Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy, and Chairperson of APIIC RK Roja were present on the occasion. SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovative ideas on energy management earned two Michigan schools, Oakland University and the University of Michigan Dearborn, top spots in the E-Challenge Competition. Teams from both schools developed comprehensive energy management plans demonstrating a high level of commitment to reduce energy waste on their campuses. The E-Challenge Competition, held in partnership with DTE Energy and The Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD), recognizes and supports continuous energy improvement and sustainability at Michigan colleges and universities. The program also provides students an opportunity to work alongside university staff to develop innovative energy management plans along with the chance to be awarded financial incentives and scholarships. The 2020 competition was launched in October 2019, and colleges and universities had until November 30, 2019, to submit an application. Plans were due by April 30, 2020, and were judged by a panel of energy-efficiency experts. Six teams submitted energy management plans for their campus including: Lake Superior State University, Oakland University, University of Detroit Mercy, University of Michigan, University of Michigan-Dearborn and Wayne State University. "Though the competition for the top two spots was strong, Oakland University, and the University of Michigan Dearborn provided plans that demonstrated a high level of commitment to energy management on campus," said Nichole Becker, Principal Energy Manager at DTE Energy. "They provided a thorough analysis of their current performance, and put forth aggressive, yet realistic, energy efficiency goals that included a comprehensive plan for achieving them." The two winning schools were awarded a spot in DTE's Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program to support the implementation of their plans. Student team members at each university will also receive a scholarship. "DTE's SEM program is a long-term approach to instilling and promoting energy management best practices," said Patrick Ryan, Principal Supervisor at DTE Energy. "It guides customers to manage energy use with a focus on changing business practices and obtaining commitment from executive management, facility management, and facility staff to reduce energy waste and improve energy efficiency." The winners will be recognized during the Michigan Energy Efficiency Conference & Exhibition on Tuesday, October 20 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. The conference is hosted by DTE Energy and The Engineering Society of Detroit. For more information on the E-Challenge Competition for Colleges and Universities, visit www.e-challenge.net . About DTE Energy DTE Energy is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric company serving 2.2 million customers in Southeast Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million customers in Michigan. The DTE portfolio includes energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects; renewable natural gas; natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage; and energy marketing and trading. As an environmental leader, DTE utility operations will reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions by more than 80 percent by 2040 to produce cleaner energy while keeping it safe, reliable and affordable. DTE Electric aspires to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. DTE is committed to serving with its energy through volunteerism, education and employment initiatives, philanthropy and economic progress. Information about DTE is available at dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com. About The Engineering Society of Detroit Founded in 1895, The Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD) is a multi-disciplinary society uniting engineering, scientific and allied professions to enhance professional development and foster excitement in math and science to produce our next generation of leaders. Serving this generation of engineers and fostering the next. For more information, visit www.esd.org . Contact: Sue Ruffner Phone: (248) 353-0735, ext. 117 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Engineering Society of Detroit Related Links http://www.esd.org New Delhi: A double-lung transplant on COVID-19 patient has been performed by surgeons led by an Indian-origin doctor Ankit Bharat in the United States. The surgery is believed to be the first of its kind since coronavirus pandemic began in America. Dr Ankit Bharat is chief of thoracic surgery and surgical director of Northwestern`s lung transplant programme. In her twenties, the Chicago patient was on a ventilator and heart-lung machine for almost two months before she underwent this complicated operation at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The 10-hour procedure was challenging as the coronavirus had left her lungs full of holes and almost fused to the chest wall, Ankit Bharat, who performed the operation, told Washington Post. The woman was reportedly on immunosuppressant medication for the previous condition when she contracted the lethal infection, which might have affected her lungs. The patient had spent six weeks in the coronavirus ICU on a ventilator and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a life support machine that does the work of the heart and lungs, the hospital stated. By early June, her lungs showed irreversible damage and the lung transplant team listed her for a double-lung transplant, and 48 hours later, performed the life-saving procedure a the hospital. A lung transplant was her only chance for survival, Ankit Bharat is quoted as saying. We are one of the first health systems to successfully perform a lung transplant on a patient recovering from Covid-19. We want other transplant centers to know that while the transplant procedure in these patients is quite technically challenging, it can be done safely, and it offers the terminally ill Covid-19 patients another option for survival, he added. Dr Ankit was further quoted as saying, Due to the ability of Northwestern Medicines programme to support patients with life-threatening lung failure for extended durations, the patient could get adequate time to clear the virus from her body, allowing the consideration of transplantation. The Meerut-born Bharat said, This was truly one of the most challenging cases, adding This is one of the toughest transplants Ive done. According to Bharat, the organ transplantation may become more frequent for COVID-19 patients who are at a critical stage as the virus most commonly attacks the respiratory system. It can also inflict damage on kidneys, hearts, blood vessels and the neurological system. However, this kind of surgery amid the coronavirus is not the first of its kind globally. Earlier on May 26, surgeons in Austria performed the worlds first known lung transplant to save the life of a Covid-19 survivor. The 45-year-old woman was reportedly stricken with a severe form of the disease. Similarly, China did a double lung transplant on February 29. NEW YORK, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Concrete Admixture Market Research Report by Product (Chemical Admixture and Mineral Admixture), by Function (Corrosion-inhibiting Admixtures, Retarding Admixtures, Superplasticizers, and Water-reducing Admixtures), by Application - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913928/?utm_source=PRN The Global Concrete Admixture Market is expected to grow from USD 14,830.54 Million in 2019 to USD 23,820.37 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.21%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Concrete Admixture to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: On the basis of Product, the Concrete Admixture Market is studied across Chemical Admixture and Mineral Admixture. On the basis of Function, the Concrete Admixture Market is studied across Corrosion-inhibiting Admixtures, Retarding Admixtures, Superplasticizers, and Water-reducing Admixtures. On the basis of Application, the Concrete Admixture Market is studied across Commercial and Residential. On the basis of Geography, the Concrete Admixture Market is studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region is studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region is studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region is studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Company Usability Profiles: The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Concrete Admixture Market including Alumichem A/S, Anhui Conch, BASF SE, Cementaid International Group of Companies, CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V., CHRYSO SAS, CICO Group, Fosroc, Inc., GCP Applied Technologies, MAPEI S.p.A., Master Builders Solutions, Nevada Ready Mix, RPM International Inc., and SIKA AG. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Concrete Admixture Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on sulfuric acid offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Concrete Admixture Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Concrete Admixture Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Concrete Admixture Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Concrete Admixture Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Concrete Admixture Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Concrete Admixture Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913928/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker 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: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com Kansas City Hopes More Surveillance Solves Crime KC residents say bodycams are a long time coming KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Body cameras are one step closer to becoming a reality in Kansas City. On Thursday, the city council unanimously approved a measure allowing the city manager and police department to move forward with the process. Kansas Citians have been waiting and following developments for years. EPIC Cash To Solve Hate Crime Feds Offer $100,000 Reward In Kansas Cold Case That May Have Been Racially Motivated The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information about a 16-year-old cold case. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said he and the FBI reopened the investigation of Alonzo Brooks last year after finding new leads. "His death was certainly suspicious, and someone, likely multiple people, know what happened that night. Check KCK Deadly Gunfire Police Postscript Report Suspect charged in KCK homicide near 34th and Barnett by: Brian Dulle Posted: / Updated: KANSAS CITY, Kan. - A Kansas City, Kansas man is facing charges in connection with a deadly shooting a week ago. On Thursday, June 4, KCK officers responded to a shooting just before 8 p.m. near 34th and Barnett. MUST SEE!!! KANSAS CITY REPEAT BURGLARY SUSPECT CAUGHT ON CAMERA!!! Suspect taken into custody after breaking into same store multiple times KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - One business break-in is proof that doing wrong can go very wrong. Here's how one man suspected of breaking into the same business more than once got caught in the act. The money inside an ATM is what the thief was after. Just a few local crime links worth a look as we approach what could be another wild weekend . . .Developing . . . "Cops," which premiered on Fox in 1989, was canceled by Paramount Network this week amid nationwide protests against police brutality. (Fox) Dan Taberski grew up watching Cops not necessarily loving it, mind you, but watching it. Before he started researching the podcast Running From Cops, he estimates he had seen about 500 episodes. The reality series, canceled this week after 32 seasons and more than 1,100 episodes, debuted in 1989 and has aired in syndication since the early 1990s. Much like Law & Order, it is so ubiquitous as to be background noise something consumed passively while folding laundry or making dinner. It was on all the time. Sometimes it's on maybe 15 to 20 times in a single day, just over and over. When something is on that often I think it becomes something different, said Taberski this week, as protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis have led to questions about pop culture's portrayal of law enforcement. To Taberski, the fact that Cops a show that was once considered shockingly graphic had morphed into something as mundane as wallpaper made it worthy of a critical deep dive. So he teamed with producer Henry Molofsky to make Running From Cops, a six-part podcast exploring the history and cultural impact of the longest-running reality show on American television. Featuring interviews with Cops creator John Langley, law enforcement officers who have appeared on the show and even people who have been arrested many while drunk or high on the air, Running From Cops offers rare insight into the making of the ride-along show, which former Times TV critic Howard Rosenberg once accused of allowing the police to "choreograph themselves as heroes." It also offers compelling data. The podcast "Running with Cops" offers a rare look inside the making of the hugely influential and often controversial reality show. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) The producers of Running From Cops wanted their research to be as academically rigorous as possible, said Molofsky. Assisted by a team of screeners, they watched and gathered data on 846 episodes of the show roughly 82% of the series run to that point. For each of the three segments in every episode, they logged information, including the race and gender of the police officers and suspects, the nature of the alleged crimes, whether the suspect was inebriated and if the stop resulted in an arrest or car chase. Story continues Molofsky estimates he watched about 300 episodes over the course of a few months. Some days he would do nothing but binge-watch the show and gather data, an experience he calls disturbing. I think all of us would have nightmares, he said, which was revealing. They ultimately collected 90,000 data points, which they compared year by year to statistics from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting in order to determine how the real world compared to Cops. They found that drug crime was much more prevalent than it is in real life (35% of the crime on Cops versus 13% in reality), as were prostitution (5% on Cops versus less than 1% in reality) and violent crime (7% of the crime on Cops vs. 4% in real life). The police have also become more effective over the years on Cops. In Season 2, 61% of segments ended in an arrest. By Season 30, the arrest rate was 95%. Basically, it presents a world that is much more dangerous than real life, Taberski said. It presents the police as being much more successful than they really are. It misrepresents crime by people of color the raw numbers are about the same but the show front-loads crime, and especially violent crime, by people of color. And anyone who's worked in television, especially reality television, knows that you front-load your best stuff, you hook people in the first act. The producers also tracked down 11 people who had been suspects on Cops" not an easy feat, given that few people whove been arrested on national television are eager to relive the experience. The people we found, all but one, said that they didn't sign a release, that they were too drunk or high to know what they were doing or that they were coerced into signing by producers who were standing right next to the police officers who were the stars of the show, basically using the power of the police to coerce them into signing, Taberski said. Perhaps most relevant to the current conversation around the use of force by law enforcement, Cops also consistently presents bad policing as good policing, Taberski said, by tazing people when they shouldn't be tazing, [using] illegal holds, siccing dogs on people without the proper warning just over and over. An image from "Cops." (Fox) He cited the example of a segment in which an officer uses a flashlight to pry open a Black mans mouth to see if he is carrying drugs. As you're watching it, you realize that if this was in an upper-class white neighborhood, this would not be happening. After 30 years of people watching this myself included it really skews your sense of what is OK and not OK for the police to do. The Running From Cops team was able to find raw, unedited footage of a seemingly routine drug bust portrayed in a 2013 episode of Cops. In the version of the arrest that was broadcast on the show, a teenage couple is pulled over late at night. A police officer quickly finds traces of white powder in the car. A roadside drug test determines that its cocaine and the kids are arrested. In the unedited footage, the officer spent 14 minutes searching the car before finding the white substance, took three tries before getting a positive result and turned off the camera before the final test came up positive. The police officer denies he planted that evidence, but even if he didn't, just the pure disparity between what they showed and what actually happened its the kind of thing you expect from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I just didn't expect it to be quite so egregious and cruel, Taberski said. Running From Cops also looks at the phenomenon of Live PD, a hit reality show on A&E that took the Cops formula to the next level by following police officers as they make arrests in quasi-real time the segments are made to seem live but air with a delay of several minutes, and some are pre-taped. It was canceled Wednesday, following news that a Live PD crew filmed the death of a 40-year-old Black man who died in police custody and the footage was destroyed by the network. But the network seemed to leave open the possibility it would return in a revised format. While proponents of shows such as Cops and Live PD emphasize the transparency they bring to law enforcement, producers are dependent on the cooperation of police departments, and thus unlikely to portray them in a critical light, said Taberski, a former field producer on The Daily Show who also co-created the reality show Destroy Build Destroy. Any TV producer will tell you, they cant do things that are gonna piss off their subjects because they need access. They can't make their show without police cooperation and the police aren't gonna cooperate unless you show a good version of what they do, he said. "Cops" co-creator John Langley. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) Cops and shows like it help also burnish the public image of the police by making the job itself seem more exciting than it sometimes is there are few Cops segments about directing traffic or filling out incident reports. Anecdotally, the number of cops on the show who say they wanted to become a police officer because they watched Cops was pretty telling, said Molofsky. We've talked to the police departments that participate and they say straight-up they use it for recruiting that they can't pay as much as they used to and have recruiting shortages, but these shows drive up recruiting. Cops regularly stoked controversy throughout its three-decade run. Co-created by John Langley, the series premiered in 1989, after a writers' strike that had left networks hungry for new content to fill their schedules. Fox, then a brash upstart, was looking to replicate the runaway success of Americas Most Wanted, the true-crime docuseries hosted by John Walsh. It became a major hit and, in early seasons, turned local cops into reality TV stars. (Langley did not respond to The Times' request for comment.) Critics have long maintained that Cops exploits poor people and drug addicts, violates the privacy of suspects and perpetuates the idea that people of color are more likely to commit crime. It was even at the center of a Supreme Court case in the 1990s. Spurred by the killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012, the advocacy group Color of Change organized a successful campaign to get Fox to cancel the series, which remained a solid ratings performer. It was immediately picked up by Spike a cable network catering to young men that was later rebranded as Paramount Network. Taberski hopes that television has reached a turning point and that shows like Cops and Live PD are a thing of the past. Theres a part of me that feels bad saying that because I know people work on these shows. But then when you see the people that have been victimized by these shows, just like countless numbers of people put on TV without their consent, often shown doing things they didn't do or just invading their privacy in what could be potentially a really dark moment in their lives. There's no reason for it, there's no excuse for it and it just shouldn't be happening. Mumbai, June 12 : The second season of the popular web series "Breathe", marking the digital debut of Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, is set to release on July 10. Titled "Breathe: Into The Shadows", the series also marks the digital debut of South actress Nithya Menen. It also stars Sayami Kher. Actor Amit Sadh, who was lauded for his performance in the first chapter of the series, will reprise his role as Inspector Kabir Sawant in the upcoming chapter of the show. Directed by Mayank Sharma, the show has been written by Bhavani Iyer, Vikram Tuli, Arshad Syed and Mayank. "We are happy to bring an all-new avatar of 'Breathe'," said Mayank, who also directed season one. "While each character in the show has its own story to tell, viewers will discover just how intriguingly these storylines eventually get interwoven. With this new chapter, I am excited to take the audience on a new roller-coaster journey of emotions and thrills that will leave you gasping for breath," he added. "We are confident that our customers will love this edge-of-the-seat emotional thriller across India and beyond," said Aparna Purohit, Head of India Originals, Amazon Prime Video, the OTT platform streaming the series. The first chapter of "Breathe" was led by actor R. Madhavan. The show, released in 2018, captured the blurring lines of black and white with the story of a father who goes to extreme extents to save the life of his son. It also featured Sapna Pabbi and Neelima Kulkarni. Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Tiebile Drame, has reiterated his country's willingness to extend the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Mission for the Stabilization of Mali (MINUSMA) Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, who recently completed his 14-day quarantine after returning from Jordan last month, has won over the Internet with his new clean shaven look which was shared by his wife Supriya. After having grown a long beard for months for his upcoming Malayalam film Aadujeevitham, Prithviraj shaved it off on Thursday. Fans are going gaga over his new look. Sharing her husbands new look, Supriya posted on Instagram: Gym body with no thaadi! Finally! and added the hashtags #ThaadikaranIsChikna and #GuessWhoShavedAfterMonths. On May 22, actor Prithviraj, along with 58 crew members of upcoming Malayalam film Aadujeevitham, landed in Kochi after being stranded in Jordan for over months. In March, Prithviraj shared how the team got stranded while shooting the second schedule of the film, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. He said the team decided to stay back in Jordan and continue shooting by taking all precautionary measures. We are currently in Wadi Rum, Jordan and continuing shoot. We have decided so because, given the circumstances, that seems to be our best option. There are no international flights operating in and out of Jordan at the moment, and given the fact that all of us are already here, we can either stay put in our camp in the desert which is currently accommodating only our unit, or get out and shoot at our location which is barely a few minutes outside our camp. After consulting with the authorities and undergoing medical check-ups for each member of the unit, we have been given a go-ahead for the shoot as the location and the process of filming Aadujeevitham is in itself very isolated, he had posted. Also read: Gulabo Sitabo movie review: Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmann Khurranas Amazon Prime film is as flavourful as Lucknawi biryani Aadujeevitham, based on the critically-acclaimed eponymous 2008 novel about an abused migrant worker in Saudi Arabia, is one of the most anticipated films of this year. Having been announced with Prithviraj Sukumaran in the titular role of Najeeb Muhammad, an Indian emigrant going missing in Saudi, the film also stars Amala Paul as the leading lady. The film is being directed by Blessy. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop As of Thursday, there have been 31,388 tests performed for COVID-19 in Wyoming, an increase of 593 from Wednesday: 15,815 from the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory and 15,815 from commercial labs. Less than 79 percent of confirmed patients have fully recovered, a number that grows to 80.7 percent when factoring in probable figures. Patients have tested positive for coronavirus in all 23 of Wyomings counties. Wyoming and Montana have the third fewest recorded numbers of coronavirus deaths (Alaska and Hawaii have the fewest), and Wyoming's death rate (3 per 100,000 residents) is fourth-lowest to Montana, Alaska and Hawaii, according to the New York Times. The states infection rate (169 in 100,000) is sixth-lowest among states, also according to the Times, which includes probable counts where they exist. Less than 12 percent of Wyomings cases required a hospital stay. In 23 percent of the cases, health officials dont know if the patient was hospitalized. NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio -- A plan for five new homes off the south side of Edgerton Road east of State Road has been approved by the citys Planning Commission. Bailey Custom Homes LLC in Broadview Heights will build the homes on two lots totaling close to 15 acres, according to the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office website, although a Planning Commission document says the site is 8 acres. Ray Lehotsky, who lives on Waterbridge Drive near the proposed development, told the commission June 3 that he and about 30 other area residents oppose the plan. He said it would worsen flooding on their properties. Lehotsky said he would tell potential homebuyers in the Bailey development about the areas stormwater problems if city officials dont. When you approve this, you better be ready to answer a whole lot of questions, Lehotsky said. However, city Engineer Mark Schmitzer said a second stormwater detention basin, added to the Bailey plan since it was introduced about a year ago, will improve stormwater flow in the area. Christine Bailey, of Bailey Custom Homes, said she would not build a development that caused flooding. I am not selling a problem to people, Bailey told the commission. I am going to live here, and will make sure its engineered properly. Stormwater woes The entrance to the new subdivision will run south to north off Watercrest Drive, which is perpendicular to and south of Edgerton and now dead-ends at the southern boundary of the proposed subdivision site. Schmitzer said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved the relocation of some wetlands on the site, while wetlands on the northern end will remain undisturbed. Lehotsky said properties in the Waterbridge area have experienced flooding for more than 20 years, but the city has done nothing about it. He said hes seen storm water flow out of storm water catch basins. Steve Ott, an attorney representing residents in the Waterbridge area, said the citys storm sewers are not adequate. Tying five home homes into that system is going to make flooding worse, he said. Lehotsky questioned whether public officials were getting greased, or secretly receiving a financial benefit by approving the Bailey subdivision. Law Director Tom Kelly cautioned the commission that the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled against cities that havent allowed property owners to develop their land as they see fit, so long as the development meets city code. He said Bailey has over-engineered her project to please the commission and existing homeowners, adding that flooding might be caused simply by too much rain. The people who own the real estate have the right to develop that real estate, Kelly said. At that point, Lehotsky walked out of the meeting. Kelly said Lehotskys comment that city officials might be receiving some kind of financial benefit was not appropriate. Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz, a commission member, said the city, even during construction, must ensure that the site of the development retains its own stormwater. Read more from the Sun Star Courier. A policeman in New Jersey has been charged with assault after using pepper spray on a group of young black men sitting on the porch of a house. Ryan Dubiel, 31, pulled out his pepper spray as the men were perched on the steps and sprayed directly into their faces, saying: 'You guys want to play games? You want to play games, huh?' Dubiel had been called to the street in Woodlynne on June 4 after a report was made of trespassing. He asked the group of young men their names, and some declined to tell him. He then pepper sprayed them in the face. Ryan Dubiel's bodycamera shows the moment he sprayed pepper spray into the face of a young black man sitting on the steps of a house in Woodlynne, New Jersey, on June 4 'We saw it over the internet and stuff. But we never thought it would happen to us,' said 16-year-old James Horn, one of the youngsters. Horn said he was hanging out with some friends last Thursday when officers approached. A 911 call released by the Camden County Prosecutor recounts a property owner complaining about a group of teens loitering and smoking marijuana. 'Officer walked up talking about "we have a call for marijuana," but nobody had marijuana on them,' the teenager said. After about two minutes, an officer tells a young man who is sitting on the porch looking at his phone to put his hands behind his back. The young man says he's texting his brother. 'My friend said he was going to call his brother and the officer said no,' said Horn. 'But his brother is his guardian so he said he was going to call him anyway. 'And then the officer started pepper spraying everybody on the porch.' Ryan Dubiel has been charged with assault for pepper spraying the two young men One of the young men ran away, and Dubiel chased after him, spraying as he went. A woman standing nearby is heard saying: 'So this is what yall do now to innocent people?' Gurbir Grewal, the New Jersey attorney general, described the incident as 'appalling and completely unjustified.' The prosecutor's office issued a statement saying the two people sprayed by Dubiel 'were not observed physically resisting or attempting to harm others or themselves.' Jill Mayer, acting prosecutor, said: 'After careful review, it was clear Dubiel's actions are not consistent with the State of New Jersey use-of-force policy.' Ryan Dubiel is seen on June 4 responding to the report of trespassing and marijuana The young men are seen recoiling in shock after the incident in Woodlynne on June 4 One of the young men runs away, but Dubiel chases him and is seen pepper spraying again Dubiel has been charged with two counts of simple assault and suspended without pay. The two victims were cited for underage tobacco violations. It has also emerged that Dubiel has worked for nine police departments - leading Grewal to demand a licensing system for all officers. 'Just as we license doctors, nurses, and lawyers, we must ensure that all officers meet baseline standards of professionalism,' he said. Woodlynne Councilman Clyde Cook said Dubiel has been investigated for misconduct before. 'I question once again, our mayor, why would you put an officer, or allow an officer to be on the street, knowing he has two strikes against him against the general public?' he said. Face-to-Face/hybrid: These courses will have in-person lectures, but may also include an online component. HyFlex: These courses will meet in-person and have a remote option. Students may also rotate between in-person and remote lectures so all students have an equal opportunity to receive in-person instruction. Remote and recitation: These courses will be taught remotely and include a recitation (a subgroup of students to discuss lectures and readings, led by a teaching assistant). The recitation may be a mix of in-person and remote. Remote only: These courses will be taught entirely remotely. With campus scheduled to reopen in the fall, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill has released a preliminary road-map outlining how they plan to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. Although the plan is not yet finalized, it covers four key aspects of university activity: fall schedule, class structure, health and safety, and campus operations.In anticipation of a second wave of COVID-19, UNC has implemented a new academic schedule. The new schedule starts and ends the semester earlier with classes beginning on August 10 and finals wrapping up by November 24. Additionally, fall break, which was originally October 15-16, will be eliminated. However, Labor Day (September 7) and University Day (October 12) will still be observed.UNC will use on-campus and off-campus instruction for fall classes. Individual college and departments heads will choose among four basic class structures:In addition to the varied delivery method options, many colleges and schools within UNC have taken extra precautions, such as reconfiguring classrooms so that smaller classes meet in larger rooms, to allow for social distancing for those attending in-person classes.To limit the virus's spread, UNC has laid out health and safety precautions that everyone on campus is expected to follow. These precautions include frequent hand washing, social distancing, and sanitizing surfaces. Students and faculty will also be expected to wear a face mask while in public. Student organizations and other groups will not be allowed to gather in numbers that exceed the limit set by state or local guidance.UNC's dining halls, Lenoir and Chase, will remain open to serve students with a fall meal plan. This includes Mainstreet at Bottom of Lenoir which is ordinarily open to students without a meal plan. Dining halls will also limit the amount of seating available to facilitate social distancing. All other Carolina Dining Services facilities will remain open.Dorms will operate at full capacity and students will not be required to wear masks inside their dorm rooms. There will be a number of rooms reserved for students with immunocompromised conditions as approved by Accessibility Resources and Services.Other UNC System schools are taking similar precautions. All campuses will be encouraging students and faculty to get tested for COVID-19 and quarantine themselves if they test positive. Many campuses have announced amended fall schedules that start and end earlier. The exception to this is UNC Charlotte which will start classes later on September 7 to avoid crowds from the Republican National Convention that is scheduled in Charlotte. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan delivered a unique concluding speech during the special session of the National Assembly of Armenia convened to consider extension of the regime of state of emergency. In the beginning, Pashinyan stated that even though the deputies speeches and questions are very important, he isnt going to answer or react to them, and instead, he made a call addressed to all citizens of Armenia. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan is speaking: Dear compatriots, there is a coronavirus epidemic in Armenia. I call on all of you to wear face masks and remove them only when you eat. The face mask needs to be worn in such a way that it covers your nose and mouth. Wash your hands frequently and dont touch your face with dirty hands. Maintain social distancing and dont have contacts with others besides your family members without a face mask. Dear compatriots, by wearing face masks, you will save hundreds of lives. Face masks need to be changed once every three to four hours. You can use not only factory-made face masks, but also homemade face masks that must be washed and sanitized at the end of the day and used again the next day. Dear compatriots, I would like to thank all citizens who follow the anti-epidemic rules and who will follow the anti-epidemic rules after listening to my call, the Prime Minister declared. Nikol Pashinyan reiterated this call six times from the podium of the National Assembly and added the following: The way out of this anti-epidemic situation depends on one person, and that one person is you, and so, we will overcome the epidemic through the efforts of 1+1+1 and hundreds of thousands of millions of citizens who follow the anti-epidemic rules, dont pay attention to misinformation and fake news. And so, long live Freedom, long live the Republic of Armenia, long live we and our children who must live in Armenia that is free, happy and will be free of the coronavirus. The Central Government's decision to increase import duty on bamboo sticks from 10% to 25% will open up new avenues of self-employment in the country. Welcoming the decision in a statement issued today, Khadi & Village Industries Commission(KVIC) has said that, in the next 8-10 months, at least one lakh new jobs will be created in the Agarbatti industry, a major activity under the village industry sector in India, according to industry players. KVIC said that the decision was taken by the Finance Ministry on the initiative of Union Minister for MSME, Shri Nitin Gadkari who had requested the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to increase the import duty on bamboo sticks to discourage heavy import and help local industry grow. The decision assumes great significance as heavy import of bamboo sticks from China and Vietnam caused huge employment loss in India. This decision will pave the way for setting up of new agarbatti stick manufacturing units to meet the ever-growing demand of Agarbatti in India. At present, the KVIC said, consumption of incense sticks in India is pegged at a whopping 1490 tons per day but only 760 tons per day is locally produced. Hence, the huge gap between the demand and supply resulted in heavy import of raw agarbatti. Consequently, the import of raw agarbatti increased from just 2% in 2009 to 80% in 2019. In monetary terms, the import of raw agarbatti in India increased exponentially from Rs 31 crore in 2009 to Rs 546 crore in 2019 due to reduction of import duty in 2011 from 30 % to 10 %, it added. KVIC stated, "This hit the Indian agarbatti manufacturers hard and resulted in closure of nearly 25% of the total units". Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A nun at a pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City has been relieved of her position at the religious place for three months after being caught on camera beating a young girl who is one of her disciples. Thich Nu Hanh Thao, a nun at Long Nguyen Pagoda in District 4, was filmed physically abusing the young girl in footage that went viral on social media on Thursday. In the two-and-a-half-minute video, the nun was shown grabbing the disciple by the hair and repeatedly slapping the girl while another young disciple held down the victims arms. The nun was heard asking the young girl why she had lied to her. She later grabbed a wooden stick and threatened to hit the young disciple with it, but eventually stopped as the crying girl begged her for mercy. The nun ended the punishment with a stern warning against lying to her again. Local authorities said that Thao has been raising two female disciples, T.V.K.N. and T.N.T.V., at the pagoda. N. recently committed some wrongdoings including lying to the nun, leading to the incident as caught on camera. The violent punishment was filmed by a person working at the pagoda. Police officers arrive at Long Nguyen Pagoda in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, June 11, 2020. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre On June 9, the Buddhist Sangha representative board in District 4 summoned Thao for a working session regarding the incident. The board later relieved the nun of all her duties at the pagoda for three months. The young disciples mother said she had asked Long Nguyen Pagoda to raise and educate her daughter due to the familys financial difficulties. H. is considering bringing her daughter back home or asking another pagoda to take care of the girl. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 13:11:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia reported three new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, taking its total to 197, the country's National Center for Communicable Disease (NCCD) said on Friday. "A total of 241 tests for COVID-19 were conducted across the country on Thursday and three of them were positive," the NCCD's head Dulmaa Nyamkhuu told a daily press conference. The newly confirmed cases are Mongolian nationals who returned home from Kazakhstan on a chartered flight on Wednesday, Nyamkhuu said. Six more patients have recovered, raising its national count to 95, he added. All confirmed cases in Mongolia, including five foreigners, were imported, mostly from Russia. No local transmissions or deaths have been reported in Mongolia so far. Enditem Posters put up in Patna showing 73 properties of RJD chief and kin Patna: The ruling JD(U) is planning to use alleged corruption and misappropriation of properties by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)chief Lalu Prarad Yadav and his family as the main poll plank during Assembly elections slated to be held later this year. On Thursday, when the RJD was celebrating Lalu Yadavs 73rd birthday, the JD(U) put up a poster in Patna accusing him of acquiring properties by bullying his party workers. The poster has a list of about 73 properties which have allegedly been acquired by the RJD chief and his family. Lalu Yadav used his political muscle to acquire properties through unfair means. In the coming days, you will see more such exposure. They (Lalu Yadav and his sons) keep talking about honesty but the reality is completely different, JD(U) spokesperson and public relations minister (PRD) Neeraj Kumar told this newspaper. Furnishing details of the land deals, he claimed that in one of the documents Lalu Yadav has acquired land in the name of Tarun Yadav. The document mentions Tarun as his son, all of us know only about his two sons, Tej Pratap and Tejashwi Yadav, but today we want to ask where his third son is. The JD(U) recently said that the upcoming Assembly polls would be fought on the issue of Lalu-Rabris 15 years of misrule and good governance under the NDA led by chief minister Nitish Kumar in the successive years. In November, the NDA will complete 15 years in power, which is equal to the period of Lalu and Rabri Devis regime in Bihar. In the 2015 Assembly polls, the RJD had emerged as the largest party with 80 seats. The JD(U), then part of the grand alliance, had won 71 seats and the Congress won 27 seats. The BJP, which fought the elections alone after Nitish Kumar broke 17-year-old ties in 2013, had won 53 out of 157 seats it contested. In 2017, the grand alliance government comprising JD(U)-RJD and Congress collapsed after the BJPs Sushil Kumar Modi made similar allegations against Lalu Yadav and his sons. Tejashwi Yadav, who was the deputy chief minister till July 2017, is currently the leader of Opposition in the state Assembly and has been declared the chief ministerial candidate of the grand alliance in Bihar. Most restaurants in Canada are losing money even as the economy restarts, while more than a third where dining is now allowed on the premises say reopening has had a negative impact on their businesses, according to a survey by Restaurants Canada. Restaurants are eager to open up the on-premise portion, yet not all restaurants have enjoyed a boost in sales, said James Rilett, the vice-president for central Canada for the national industry association. Restaurateurs face reopening costs amid protocols to control the spread of COVID-19, he noted, including paying for non-medical face makes and other protective equipment, sanitation materials and Plexiglas barriers in some cases. As these costs emerge, a majority of Canadians expressed a reluctance to return to dining out in a recent Angus Reid poll, although 64 per cent said they have ordered food at least every two weeks from a restaurant. These are early days, said Rilett. After being at home for so long, it will take some guests time to come back out. The restaurant association, which has more than 30,000 members, received 940 completed responses from food service operators representing 14,129 locations for its June 1 to 7 survey, with the data suggesting that full-service restaurant chains are having more success than independents. For single unit independent operators, 52 per cent saw a negative impact in the early days of opening compared to 37 per cent of chain restaurants. Its possible that the larger chains have the marketing resources to get the word out that they are open, whereas the public may not be fully aware that their local independent restaurant is now open, Rilett said. The survey results released Thursday show that among respondents whose operations are open for takeout or delivery only, or who are offering dine-in services under new restrictions, six out of 10 are operating at a loss. Twenty-two per cent of single-unit operators and 15 per cent of multi-unit operators said they are just breaking even. Among restaurants that have reopened their doors for on-premise dining, fewer than half said doing so has had a positive impact. After months of significantly reduced revenue, or none at all, and now facing months of operating at reduced capacity, many restaurants need continued federal government support, said Shanna Munro, Restaurants Canada president and CEO. Our industry wants to contribute to rebuilding the economy and reviving neighbourhoods, but time is running out. Most restaurants have been accumulating debt for three months already. If they dont get the help they need to return to positive cash flow, many wont be able to last much longer. Restaurants Canada is calling for the federal governments 75 per cent wage subsidy to continue until food service operations are generating enough revenue to survive without support, and for it to be reduced gradually rather than end at an arbitrary date. It also wants more flexibility in the assistance threshold of 30 per cent revenue decline and for Ottawa to work with the provinces to help ensure a moratorium on commercial evictions in every jurisdiction. Hillary Clinton zinged President Donald Trump on Friday for requiring attendees at his planned rally in Oklahoma to waive their rights to sue his campaign if they catch the coronavirus at the event. "If your rallies come with a liability waiver, you shouldn't be holding them," Clinton tweeted. The rally is scheduled for June 19 at 19,000-seat Bank of Oklahoma Center in Tulsa. The campaign rally will be Trump's first since March 2 in North Carolina, just before the coronavirus pandemic began triggering lockdowns of businesses and social events in the United States. Tweet A registration form for the rally says, "By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present." "By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.," as well as the rally site or organizers, "liable for any illness or injury." White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Wednesday that while she did not have specific information on health precautions for the event, "we will ensure that everyone who goes is safe." HANOI In a sunny temple courtyard in Vietnam, Le Van Thang pushes an iron rod hard against his eye socket and tries to make it bend -- his dizzying strength honed through years of practising centuries-old martial art Thien Mon Dao. Thang, 28, is one of an increasing number of Vietnamese to find refuge in a sport that grew out of a need to protect the country from invaders, but now offers a route to mental wellbeing in the rapidly changing Southeast Asian nation. Practitioners of Thien Mon Dao have long taken pride in the incredible shows of strength that form part of their routines. The eye-popping feats include bending metal against their bodies, carrying heavy objects using their throats and lying under the path of motorbikes. Now many say they also take pleasure from how the sport -- which includes elements of self-defence, kung fu and weapons training -- has steered them on a new course. Le Van Thang, 28, student of the centuries-old martial art of Thien Mon Dao, bends a construction rebar against his eye socket inside the Bach Linh temple compound at Du Xa Thuong village in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: AFP Thang, a furniture seller who first began practising eight years ago, said he used to get into fights in high school and was also a gambler. "Once I stole money from my family but after that, I was brought to Thien Mon Dao by my family and I changed," he told AFP. "There are so many benefits: I learned how to express my ideas, how to walk properly and behave." Thien Mon Dao has roots going back to the 10th century, according to master Nguyen Khac Phan, whose school trains in the complex of an ornate temple on the outskirts of Hanoi. But he says the first official practice of the sport was recorded in the 18th century. In recent years it's seen a surge in popularity, he adds, with up to three new clubs set up in the capital each year. Master Nguyen Khac Phan (front) leads students through a training class in centuries-old martial art Thien Mon Dao inside the Bach Linh temple compound at Du Xa Thuong village in Hanoi. Photo: AFP Vietnam currently has around 30,000 Thien Mon Dao practitioners across the country, Phan estimates, with occasional public performances helping boost the sport's appeal. "People come for different purposes but mostly they want to improve their health and mental health," added Phan, who has been teaching the sport since the early 1990s. "Learning martial arts can help people see life in a better way, improve their strength... give up their mistakes to aim for better things," he said. Thien Mon Dao martial arts students practice inside the Bach Linh temple compound at Du Xa Thuong village in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: AFP From tiny children who have barely started school to people in their eighties, Thien Mon Dao embraces anyone who wants to kick their way up through 18 different levels and seven belts. Sixteen-year-old Vu Thi Ngoc Diep, one of around 10 women training at the temple compound, said the sport had also given her a way to fight gender stereotypes. "Southeast Asian people think that girls should be gentle and not suitable for learning martial arts," she said. "But I see it differently." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Paul Ricard (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Fri, June 12, 2020 18:00 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde4e35b 2 World coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,coronavirus-effect,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,COVID-19-travel-ban,COVID-19-travel-restriction,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free When the novel coronavirus began to circulate globally at the beginning of March, scientists turned to statistical models to predict the severity of the pandemic. The news was stark. The epidemiological models showed that COVID-19 could infect hundreds of millions of people and kill millions worldwide, prompting governments to enter lockdown in a bid to avoid the worst. Now, as much of Europe gingerly exits confinement, questions are being asked about the methods used and the results produced in the calculations that shocked authorities into taking unprecedented measures to enforce social distancing. "We gave far too much weight to the models," Jean-Francois Toussaint, director of France's Irmes medical research center told AFP. "These mathematical models depend on too many factors to be accurate," he said. Toussaint said that with COVID-19 a heretofore unknown disease, there were many variables in the models that could drastically affect their outcomes. "The most egregious case was [the prediction] of 500,000 deaths that forced governments' hands. It's a typical example of a not very serious application of science," said Laurent Toubiana, an epidemiologist who has spoken against lockdowns. He was referring to a model by researchers at London's Imperial College, released on March 16, which showed that without any action, COVID-19 could kill 510,000 people in Britain and 2.2 million in the United States. The study, led by epidemiologist Neil Ferguson, prompted Prime Minister Boris Johnson to enforce strict social distancing measures in the days that followed. "We always prefer to listen to the alarmists," said Toubiana, pointing out that the death toll from COVID-19 is currently at least one order of magnitude lower than what Ferguson and colleagues' model showed. The authors at the time did point out that their model did not take into account changes in behavior such as social distancing, hand washing and mask wearing, all of which have proved successful in reducing COVID-19's spread. 'Models aren't absolute' The model immediately came in for criticism for its methodology, but the university has stood by the research, saying this month that it had passed an evaluation by independent experts. On Monday a new Imperial study concluded that lockdowns had prevented 3.1 million COVID-19 deaths across 11 European nations. Toussaint claimed Imperial was "trying to retrospectively justify its mistakes". Whereas Imperial's initial study was released directly by the university, Monday's appeared in the prestigious journal Nature and had been subjected to review by a host of the researchers' peers. Modelers themselves are keen to stress that they don't have crystal balls: they simply use maths to simulate various outcomes -- and in doing so may confront decision makers with the worst case scenario they may wish to avoid. "A model doesn't have to be interpreted as absolute: it's a snapshot that rests on what we know at the time," said Nicolas Hoertel, a psychiatrist and modeler at the Corentin-Celton hospital near Paris. "It's a bit like an opinion poll," he told AFP. "There are major limits [to models] but at this stage they are the only scientific tool we have to inform decisions regarding public health," Hoertel said. A recent model in France showed that lockdown had saved 100,000 lives, but policymakers have said models were not the only reason the country entered radical social distancing in March. "Of course we relied heavily on models... one for example said that without confinement we were going to have 120,000 or 150,000 deaths," Jean-Francois Delfraissy, president of France's scientific council advising the government on COVID-19, told French television this month. "But models are only models," he said, adding that on-the-ground observations from the massive influx of patients to hospitals also guided the government. Ultimately, "it's a political decision," Delfraissy said. Two decades of Israeli-US police cooperation includes training in racial profiling and violent suppression of protests. Following the killing of George Floyd, as US riot police fired rubber-coated bullets, tear gas canisters, pepper spray and stun grenades at protesters, Palestinians shared tips on social media on how to best deal with the assaults. Many in the Palestinian territories are well experienced with such tactics by security forces while living under a decades-long occupation by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank and besieged Gaza Strip. According to the organisations Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and Researching the American-Israeli Alliance (RAIA), one common theme shared between United States and Israel is the exchange of tactics and expertise in state violence, which has been ongoing for 18 years. Months after the September 11 attacks, US law enforcement delegates attended their first official training expedition to Israel to exchange best practices in counter-terrorism. Since then, thousands more from across the US including agents from the FBI, CIA, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been schooled at these meetings in both Israel and the US, sponsored by far-right Israeli lobby organisations. Seeing lots of *not great* advice about teargas on my feed! From years experience with US made teargas in Palestine, here's my two cents: dont put water on your skin or face unless you have a steady stream like a shower. It'll feel good for a sec then burn more than before!! Rana Nazzal (@rananazzalh) May 31, 2020 But instead of promoting effective security for communities, the programme facilitates an exchange of tactics used in police violence and control including mass surveillance, racial profiling and the suppression of protests and dissent, according to the JVP and RAIAs 2018 report (PDF) titled Deadly Exchange, which details the extent of the cooperation. 200609170123483 Among the thousands of US law enforcement officers who have reportedly participated in the exchange over the years was Anoka County (North Minneapolis) Sherrif James Stuart, who travelled to Israel in December. Eran Efrati executive director of RAIA, who has studied the subject for the past decade told Al Jazeera that when training with Israel, US police delegates witness live demonstrations of repressive violence in real-time, in protests across the West Bank, patrols in East Jerusalem, and visits to the Gaza border. Delegates meet with the Shin Bet and chief officers in Israeli military prisons to discuss investigation tactics, with Palestinian Authority agents and police, to learn about how Israel uses their collaboration in suppressing Palestinian dissent, and with representatives from the Department of Defense and others to learn about Israels security expertise, Efrati said. Anti-blackness Leila, a campaign organiser at JVP who asked that only her first name be used, told Al Jazeera the exchange programme is just one aspect of violent policing in the United States that has existed for decades. The violence that were seeing today in the US is 100 percent the result of white supremacy and anti-blackness and institutionalised racism in the US, Leila said. The exchange programmes create the opportunity for US armed forces and Israeli armed forces to come together and swap tactics, and deepen the harmful practices and policies that already exist in both countries. Among the topics covered during these exchanges, delegates learn how to suppress and infiltrate demonstrations, and how to coordinate with the media over coverage, Deadly Exchange found. The training also involved sales of crowd-control weapons exchanged between the two governments, including US-made tear gas canisters that were heavily used in protests in Oakland, California in 2011 and Ferguson, Missouri in 2014, as well as Israeli surveillance technologies. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is among those to have criticised police including departments in Oakland, Baltimore, Ferguson and Boston for contracting tech companies to use surveillance software to profile residents based on their religion, race and political affiliation, the report said. Mosque crawlers Some US practices have been influenced by the infamous Israeli infiltration of Palestinian communities as well. Lawrence Sanchez, a CIA officer who worked to establish the New York Police Departments (NYPD) Demographics Unit, which consisted of informants known as mosque crawlers spying on Muslim communities, acknowledged the team drew inspiration from Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian Territories, according to the report. The NYPD has also sent undercover officers to infiltrate Black Lives Matter protests and collect multimedia records of protester identities, activities and text messages. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security justified their surveillance of Black Lives Matter activists by referring to them as Black Identity Extremists and domestic terrorists. These practices reflect the increasing use of security rhetoric to justify the surveillance and infringement of rights of US citizens and residents based on their race and political positions, a practice already fully institutionalised in Israel, Deadly Exchange said. Like Palestinians who are arbitrarily defined as security threats and put on the Shin Bets list, people of colour and racial justice activists in the United States are subjected to systematic surveillance and can be placed on gang databases or government watch lists with little recourse or opportunities to hold the state accountable. Build a better world The campaign to end the deadly exchange started in 2017 and has so far seen a few successes. In 2018, Durham, North Carolina became the first city in the US to ban police training with foreign militaries including with Israel after a coalition of community organisations successfully lobbied the city council. Aman Aberra, a coalition member of the group Demilitarize From Durham2Palestine that spearheaded the campaign, told Al Jazeera it came together by combining the Palestine Solidarity Movement and Black organisers in Durham. The key to the campaign, Aberra said, was to unite visions of divesting from Israeli apartheid and occupation, and to ensure public safety locally especially for marginalised, Black and poor communities often targeted by police. What Demilitarize is trying to do is build an internationalist movement to build a better world for everyone thats safe, where we have structures that support us, where we have healthcare and housing, and where were not being threatened by state violence, Aberra said. Riot police clear protesters from Lafayette Park in Washington, DC for President Trumps photo opportunity on June 1 [Ken Cedeno/Reuters] In December 2018, Vermont state police also cancelled training in Israel after pressure from local organisers. Leila said campaigns to end police exchanges with foreign forces and states with well-documented histories of human rights abuses are ongoing in Seattle and Washington, DC, as part of larger coalition efforts to defund and dismantle policing. In the wake of mass protests against police brutality worldwide since Floyds killing, politicians have introduced legislation to reform police departments, while others believe that will not work and complete overhauls are necessary. There is a lot of power in communities and movements coming together, refusing to accept the structure and funding of police instead of their communities, refusing to accept that departments are trained and armed like the military, and the systemic and brutal violence they inflict on communities, Erfati said. Organisers and movements are also coming together calling for investment in their communities instead of military industries. In this moment, we are seeing some amazing results of this long-standing organising. New Delhi: Apparel brand Cantabil Retail India Ltd on Friday announced that it has made foray into the e-commerce marketplace, entering into a venture with Flipkart, Amazon, Snapdeal and Paytm. With a total of 300+ stores across the country, this is the brands first among a series of online-retail initiatives that would be announced over the next year, a company statement said. As we strengthen our presence both online and offline, we will continue to do whatever it takes to be there for all our customers, employees and other stakeholders, Deepak Bansal, Director, Cantabil said. Sharing details about the impact of COVID 19 on the retail industry Shivendra Nigam, CFO, Cantabil said, E-commerce will play a pivotal role post-COVID for the retail sector, as it will play a key role in maintaining market equilibrium. It is expected to bring back the sales for numerous retail players and for us, it would definitely be one of the key growth drivers moving forward. Responding to Zee Media on implementing ERP Navision by Microsoft, Nigam said that the end to end automation shall start in phases and shall be completed by this year. ERP Navision was on card last year and we have been working on this end to end automisation for making a successful procurement to pay model. The company is doing required investment so that the supply chain, HR Process, back end process and everything can be customised. Since we are making foray into online retail, this process will come as very helpful, he added. Cantabil also unveiled its Spring Summer 20 collection which features an extensive mix of formal-wear, casuals & ultra-casual clothing for men, women and children on all the e-commerce platforms. The collection is also available across all the Cantabil stores. Florida vacation rentals reopen for summer vacations with new safety and sanitization guidelines in place. Destin, Fla., June 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As businesses begin to reopen, summer looks a little brighter for those who enjoy taking their summer beach vacation in Florida. Just in time for Memorial Day, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida vacation rentals may begin welcoming guests with new COVID-19 procedures and sanitization processes in place. After welcoming families to the beach for more than 35 years, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties has been an industry leader in developing and adopting new standards and protocols to keep guests and staff safe. To help families stretch their budget and take a Florida beach vacation this year, Newman-Dailey has launched the Break Free special offer, allowing families who stay three nights or more to save an additional 10% off their stay. It was so difficult to have to close just as spring break started and tell families they had to reschedule their long-awaited beach vacation, said Newman-Dailey Founder and CEO Jeanne Dailey. Private vacation rentals are a safe choice for quarantine and social distancing. Weve been planning our return since the day we shut down. Our team began researching products and best practices for eradicating COVID-19 in our offices and our vacation rentals. We developed new sanitization and cleaning processes and procedures and we are pleased to be safely welcoming families back to the beach with confidence. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky told Today that their surveys show that travelers top concern is cleanliness. By booking through a professional vacation rental management company, travelers can protect their vacation and ensure cleaning and sanitization standards are met. As one of the longest operating vacation rental management companies in Destin, Fla., Newman-Daileys new sanitization and cleaning standards exceed industry standards and comply with CDC recommended protocols and cleaning agents. In addition, Newman-Dailey has added hand sanitizers inside the front door of its vacation rentals to allow anyone who enters or exits the home to sanitize their hands. New sanitization practices also include removal and sanitization of all linens and rewashing dishware and silverware. Through the use of direct check-in, guests can go directly to their vacation rental without coming in contact with local staff. Story continues Destins powder white sand beaches are a playground for families each year. From hiking state parks and Point Washington State Forest to chartered deep-sea fishing trips and parasailing excursions, Florida's Emerald Coast offers a variety of activities that easily accommodate social distancing. Boating, stand up paddleboarding, kayaking and biking provide additional opportunities for safe, distanced fun. In addition, guests of Newman-Dailey will Be Rewarded with valuable extras including discounts to area restaurants and complimentary activity passes for snorkeling excursions, dolphin cruises, and parasailing. Newman-Dailey's vast array of South Walton and Destin beach vacation rentals sleep families of all sizes. Each vacation rental home is equipped with a full kitchen, and washer and dryer, providing the conveniences of home in a beautiful beachside setting. Newman-Daileys Break Free special offer* of 10% off stays of three nights or more now through Dec. 31, 2020. *Some restrictions apply. Travelers can book online at DestinVacation.com using promo code: BREAKFREE or call a vacation specialist at 1-800-225-7652. ### About Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc. Newman-Dailey Resort Properties is a premier vacation rental, real estate sales, and association management company located in Miramar Beach, Fla. Founded in 1985, Newman-Dailey has been welcoming guests to the beaches of South Walton and Destin, Fla. for more than 35 years. Recognized for excellence, integrity, and professionalism, Newman-Dailey was voted Best Property Management Company by the readers of Emerald Coast Magazine. The Real Estate Division is consistently listed among the top 10 percent of real estate companies along the Emerald Coast for sales. For more sales or rental information, call 850.837.1071, or visit online at DestinSales.com or DestinVacation.com. Attachments Tracy Louthain Newman-Dailey Resort Properties 8508371071 tlouthain@ndrp.com Holiday trips to some of Australians most beautiful sights at Uluru and Kakadu are back on the to do list as the Northern Territory rolls back internal travel restrictions. From next Friday, Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Kakadu National Park will be re-opened after they were initially kept closed when the NT entered into stage three restrictions last week. At Uluru, in central Australia, tourists will be able to explore a range of walking tracks where they can experience and photograph local wildlife. Kakadu, on the NT's north coast, will reopen for day trips between 8am and 5pm with overnight camping initially banned due to renovations in the area. From next Friday, Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Kakadu National Park will be re-opened in the Northern Territory National Parks director Dr James Findlay said there was accommodation options Jabiru, Cooinda and Mary River for those looking to stay the night, and plenty to do during the day. 'Mamukala Wetlands, Mangarre Rainforest, Bardedjilidji, Gungural, the Yurmikmik area and the Burrungkuy region will also be open, allowing for some stunning walks and access to Kakadu's wildlife and worldclass rock art,' he said according to NTNews. Most boat ramps along the coastline will also be opened for those looking to enjoy a spot of fishing. Kakadu, on the NT's north coast, will reopen for day trips between 8am and 5pm with overnight camping initially banned due to renovations in the area 'At UluruKata Tjuta National Park, walking tracks and sunrise and sunset viewing areas will be open,' Dr Findlay said. Visitors can take a walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole, hike around the base of Uluru or explore Kata Tjuta's breathtaking views.' Walking trails will be allowed only around the base of Uluru after climbing on the cultural landmark was officially banned in October last year. Tours and organised group activities will remain closed in the first stage of reopening along with Uluru's Culture Centre. NT Tourism chief executive officer Glen Hingley slammed the decision to keep the parks closed and said it had held $1million back from tourism operators but Dr Findlay said the wait was necessary. 'Currently, we are continuing to make some urgent infrastructure repairs across the park, including at the Bowali Visitor Centre which will remain closed for several weeks, district ranger stations and staff housing,' he said. At UluruKata Tjuta National Park, walking tracks and sunrise and sunset viewing areas will be open but no tours will be operational initially Dr Findlay said the renovations would help support an expected influx of visitors. Interstate travel to the Northern Territory is still not allowed for tourists but mandatory hotel quarantine will be relaxed from June 15. On Tuesday, NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he would hold off any decision to reopen borders until 10 days after Black Lives Matter rallies in the southern states to see if they resulted in an increase of community transmission of COVID-19. 'We're watching these community transmission rates down south. No-one knows the answer yet on how they'll handle the step out from stage one to stage two [restriction easing],' he said according to the ABC. 'We will know very soon if it's contained down south, and then with confidence you can make a border decision,' he said. The number of homeless people in Los Angeles County has skyrocketed almost 13 percent in the past year, as officials warn that even more people will be left without a roof over their heads once the full impact of the coronavirus pandemic is felt. Stark data released by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Friday showed that 66,433 people are homeless in LA County, up by 12.7 percent from 58,936 in 2019. The majority of those experiencing homelessness were found within the city of LA, which recorded a staggering 14.2 percent increase to 41,290 people without access to housing in the city that has been in the grips of a homelessness crisis for almost a decade. Officials warned that the true picture could be far worse than the figures suggest, as the annual count was taken back in January before the COVID-19 outbreak paralyzed the economy and made millions of Americans unemployed overnight. In total, nearly 44 million Americans have been thrown out of work in the three months since the virus struck US soil hard back in March, forcing businesses to shutter, pushing workers into dire straits and plunging the economy into a deep recession. The number of homeless people in Los Angeles County has skyrocketed almost 13 percent in the past year, as officials warn that even more people will be left without a roof over their heads once the full impact of the coronavirus pandemic is felt The LA County figures showed the yearly increase in homelessness is accelerating, after the previous tally recorded a 12 percent jump between 2018 and 2019. Across California, which has the highest number of homeless people of all US states with an estimated 150,000 people living on the streets, only one of the seven southern counties mapped in the data reduced its homelessness in the last year. In San Diego, the number of homeless people fell by 6 percent, while each of the other counties increased by between 3 and 20 percent. San Bernardino and Kern counties were both more dire than LA, with a 19.9 percent and 18.8 percent increase in homelessness recorded respectively. 'These are folks who are one missed paycheck, one family tragedy, healthcare crisis, car accident - whatever it is - away from losing their housing,' Heidi Marston, the homeless services authority's new director, said this week. Officials said the shocking figures in LA are a symptom of inadequate housing supply, systemic racism and income inequality. The report says that an additional 509,000 new affordable housing units are desperately needed to meet current demand. A map showing San Diego as the only one of seven southern California counties to a reduce its homelessness in the last year. Stark data released by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Friday showed that 66,433 people are homeless in LA County Systemic racism also means black people are more than four times as likely to experience homelessness, the report said Wages have also not kept pace with rent in the county, with renters needing to earn $41.96 per hour, more than 2.8 times the city's minimum wage, to be able to afford the average monthly rent of $2,182. Systemic racism has also led to a disproportionate number of black people becoming homeless, with black people more than four times as likely to experience homelessness than other ethnicities, the report says. A staggering 34 percent of homeless people in LA County are black, while just 8 percent of the total population are. By contrast, Hispanic and Latino people make up 49 percent of the total population but just 36 percent of the homeless population. And around 26 percent of the homeless population are white - equivalent to the proportion of the total population that is white. 'Homelessness is without question a byproduct of racism,' Marston said. The LA County count also found a 19 percent increase in homeless youth, defined as those 18 to 24, and a 20 percent jump in people 62 or older. About 67 percent of all people on the streets of metro Los Angeles are male, around 32 percent are female, and about .4 percent identify as transgender or gender non-conforming, the report also showed. A homeless encampment in downtown Los Angeles. LA has been ravaged by its homeless crisis for the last decade, with the issue most visible in downtown LA Homeless encampment in LA. Hundreds live on Skid Row in downtown LA The county's Homeless Services Authority said it helped nearly 22,770 people move into permanent housing during 2019 - a pace that would have helped rapidly end homelessness if economic pressures had not simultaneously pushed thousands more out of their homes. Of those counted who became homeless for the first time in 2019, the majority cited economic hardship as the primary cause, the authority said. The second most commonly named reason was unstable social networks. The stark findings come as officials warn that the situation in LA will have escalated drastically over the last few months as the coronavirus pandemic triggered mass unemployment across America. California was the third hardest-hit state by the virus outbreak, with 143,513 confirmed cases and 4,935 deaths. In LA County, 2,818 people were killed and 68,959 infected by the deadly virus. LA County instituted a moratorium on evictions amid the pandemic but fears are mounting that this does not go far enough and that many more people will be homeless when it expires at the end of June. African-American communities were hardest-hit by the pandemic, which suggests the gap between homelessness among black people and people of other ethnicities could have also widened since the data was collected. Calls for the county to dismantle structural racism to tackle the problem come as LA - and all parts of America - are in the midst of protests demanding an end to systemic racism and police brutality following the death of black man George Floyd by a white cop on Memorial Day. The majority of those experiencing homelessness were found within the city of LA, which recorded a staggering 14.2 percent increase to 41,290 people without access to housing in the city that has been in the grips of a homelessness crisis for almost a decade Officials warned that the true picture of LA's homeless crisis could be far worse than the figures suggest, as the annual count was taken back in January before the COVID-19 outbreak paralyzed the economy and made millions of Americans unemployed overnigh Tents are set up under a freeway in Los Angeles. Several state and local efforts have stopped short of tackling the mounting crisis in recent years LA has been ravaged by its homeless crisis for the last decade, with the number of homeless people rising steadily from around 40,000 in 2011. The issue is most visible in downtown LA, where hundreds of people live in makeshift shanties that line entire blocks in the notorious neighborhood known as Skid Row. Tents regularly pop up on the pavement outside City Hall and encampments are increasingly found in suburban areas under freeway overpasses. Several state and local efforts have stopped short of tackling the mounting pandemic. In 2015, City Council members and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that they would declare an emergency locally. However the proposal was abandoned because the mayor wanted a statewide declaration from then California Governor Jerry Brown, who refused the request. Four years ago, LA voters then approved a tax hike and $1.2 billion housing bond to channel investments into helping solve the homeless crisis. That bond money has so far been used to build more than half of the 10,000 new housing units planned countywide over 10 years - but housing is still in short supply. In 2018, LA declared a shelter crisis, which reduced construction hurdles around developing emergency beds on public land. Then in 2019, County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and City Councilman Joe Buscaino put forward a proposal calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency over the crisis - a call that never materialized. County officials said coronavirus has at least forced the county to get better at moving people inside rapidly. Some 6,000 homeless residents have been sheltered since the outbreak began, said Marston. More than half of those were moved into hotels under Project Roomkey, a state program established to get those most vulnerable to COVID-19 off the streets temporarily. The rooms are reserved for people age 65 and older and those with existing medical conditions. However, the number of people sheltered amid the pandemic is so far less than half the target of 15,000, and county officials have conceded the process was more complicated than anticipated. The crisis can't be dealt with on the streets without also confronting systemic bias in criminal justice, zoning policies, lending practices and child welfare, said Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. 'Every day we're helping 207 people find housing, only to have them replaced by 227 new individuals who fall into homeless. Thats every single day,' Ridley-Thomas said. Many are now urging state lawmakers to pass a bill that would require residential properties in some areas to include 20 percent affordable housing. Nearly 44 million Americans have been thrown out of work in the three months since COVID-19 struck hard in March, forced widespread business closures and sent the economy into a deep recession Another 1.5 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week. The latest figure from the Labor Department on Thursday marked the 10th straight weekly decline in applications for jobless aid since they peaked in mid-March with 6.87 million applications 'City Hall is not reacting to this on any kind of emergency scale. And it is an emergency on our streets,' said Estela Lopez of the Downtown Industrial Business Improvement District. 'Sometimes I think those of us downtown are the only ones not numb to the scale of the problem.' The Skid Row area is 'the front line' for homelessness in the city, where violence is common, drugs are prevalent and the smell of human waste permeates the air, she said. But fears are growing that, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the homelessness crisis could be far from an LA - or even a California - problem. The Federal Reserve issued a dire warning this week that it could take years to claw back the millions of jobs lost during the pandemic as almost 44 million Americans have become unemployed in the last three months. Chairman Jerome Powell warned of a 'long road' to recovery while the Labor Department's latest report released Thursday showed that another 1.5 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week. Total jobless claims are still more than double their peak during the Great Recession with the number of people staying on benefits remaining high, with the so-called continued claims number at 20.9 million for the week ended May 30. This comes despite all 50 states easing lockdown restrictions and reopening businesses to varying levels in recent weeks. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 22:21:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close "Unless it aggressively implements the lessons to be learned from successful nations, we fear the U.S. death rate may rise to 200 times that of China," warned the Time magazine. BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The sobering death rate in the United States is a result of the country's "sluggish" anti-epidemic response, said an article published recently by Time magazine. "The stark disparity in COVID-19 death rates between the U.S. and other countries illustrates the enormous difference between the effectiveness of the U.S. and successful countries' responses to the pandemic," said the article published Wednesday and titled "U.S. Response to COVID-19 is Worse than China's. 100 Times Worse." The article specifically made a comparison between the epidemic responses of the United States and China, as the former's death rate is now "100 times greater" than the latter's. "By Dec. 31, Chinese authorities had informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the threat. By Jan. 12, Chinese scientists had identified the virus that causes the illness and shared its genetic sequence with the world so that all countries could develop COVID-19 tests and begin working on a vaccine," the article said. The Asian country also implemented "a massive lockdown" in Wuhan and deployed thousands of medical staff to the city, sped up testing and contact tracing to isolate new cases, and built temporary medical facilities to hospitalize COVID-19 patients -- steps that have controlled the virus' spread at home, "buying time for other parts of the country to prepare," it said. This is a screen-capture of a Tweet posted by Gavin Yamey on June 10, 2020, who is a columnist for the Time magazine. (Xinhua) In contrast, the United States, due to a "much-delayed" response from the federal government and most state governments, "gave the virus weeks to spread unfettered and virtually undetected," it said. "Unfortunately, we see little sign that the federal government is mounting the kind of urgent, nationwide, coordinated approach that is need to reverse current trends," the article said, adding that the country lacks enough daily tests and contact tracing to safely end social distancing. Unlike some countries taking swift and coordinated actions, the United States has only obtained a "patchwork of varying state policies and often-contradictory messaging about safety measures," which will not only further endanger human health, but also harm the U.S. economy, it said. "Unless it aggressively implements the lessons to be learned from successful nations, we fear the U.S. death rate may rise to 200 times that of China," it added. Police officers deploy tear gas and pepper spray to corral protesters before detaining them during the sixth night of protests and violence following the death of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 31, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Most Americans Oppose Defunding the Police: Polls Most Americans dont agree with the defund the police movement, according to recent polls. Nearly two-thirds, or 64 percent, said they oppose the movement in a new Ipsos poll commissioned by ABC News. Thirty-four percent said they support the movement while slightly more, 39 percent, support reducing the budget of their local police departments if the money is redirected to programs related to mental health, housing, and education. About nine in 10 Republican respondents oppose defunding the police. A majority of Democrats support the movement. Among races, support for defunding the police was low for whites, higher for Hispanics, and reached a majority in blacks. A separate Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Reuters found majority opposition to the defund the police movement, including strong opposition by 40 percent of respondents. Thirty-nine percent of respondents said they strongly or somewhat support the movement. Four percent said theyre not sure. A majority of Democrat respondents said they support the movement while a majority of Republican and Independent respondents said they oppose it. A woman with a Defund Police face mask during a protest near the White House following the May 25 death of George Floyd in police custody, in Washington on June 6, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) A survey late last month carried out by YouGov for Yahoo News found that 65 percent of respondents opposed cutting funding for police departments, with just 16 percent supporting funding cuts. The other 19 percent werent sure. That poll found majority opposition across party lines, though more Republicans opposed cutting funding while more Democrats were undecided. Calls to defund the police have drawn widespread opposition from lawmakers in both parties. The calls were sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man accused of forgery who died in police custody on Memorial Day in Minneapolis. The ABC/Ipsos poll was conducted among 686 people from June 1o to June 11. It has a sampling error of plus/minus 4.2 percentage points. The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted among 1,113 Americans 18 or older between June 9 and June 10. It has a margin of error of plus.minus 3.3 percentage points. The Yahoo/YouGov survey was conducted among 1,060 U.S. adults from May 29 to May 30. The margin of error was plus/minus 4.3 percentage points. ORIN JUNCTION Truck driver Patrick Brady knows the importance of planning ahead. Like every trucker with a dedicated route, he quickly learned every mile of the weekly, 500-mile round trip up Interstate 25, across the plains and over the Black Hills to Rapid City, South Dakota. Over months of repetition, he now knows where to eat, where to check in, and most importantly, where to stop when sleep or nature calls. While private businesses and the occasional parking area off the highway have their uses, they can only go so far, Brady said. The big parking lots and amenities of the 37 Wyoming rest stops provide a needed oasis for tired and weary arbiters of interstate commerce. For him, theyre critical infrastructure, a safe place for him to safely park his 10,000-gallon oil tanker, and a convenient respite. Having places to stop is big, he said Thursday, while standing in a dusty parking lot of a truck stop off the interstate. For decades, the Wyoming Department of Transportation has footed the bill for the rest stops strategically scattered throughout the state. Some offer spectacular views such as Diversion Dam between Riverton and Dubois while others act as de facto museums, like the complex at Independence Rock. While some are simple, brick buildings with vending machines, not all are created equal. Some areas featuring fire pits, dog runs and even playgrounds to help families break up the monotony of the road. In Moorcroft, the green grass and 100-year-old cottonwood trees of the riverside rest area have even become integral parts of the community, serving as an public park for locals as well as travelers coming through the region. Its right down by the river, its very nice, said Cheryl Schneider, the town clerk. Ive utilized it before myself, when weve had big family get together ... Its used a lot. But theyre also expensive, with maintenance costs ranging upwards of $70,000 per year just to keep the lights on, haul the trash and mow the grass. Those expenses represent low-hanging fruit at a time when Wyoming is expected to slash the cost of government by roughly 20 percent. On Monday, WYDOT will officially close down nine of these rest areas around the state, with a 10th set to close in August, in an effort to slash roughly $790,000 per year from the agencys budget. Its a drop in the bucket, particularly given that the state is facing a revenue decline of $1.5 billion. Still, the closures are also an indicator of just how difficult even the smallest reductions in spending can potentially be. Some communities have come to depend on their rest areas as a critical part of their economic development plans, even using them as a means to attract tourists into town. For years, the town of Chugwaters economic development group has stationed volunteer greeters at the rest area in an attempt to lure people into town. A gas station sits just across the street, which travelers will often visit after the rest stop. Its always been viewed as a way to get people to stop in Chugwater, get your business in front of them a little better, and generate a little commerce, said Rep. Dan Kirkbride, R-Chugwater. Its been a good thing. Criticism of the closures has been swift and forceful. Nearly 200 people commented on a Facebook post from Devils Tower Sen. Ogden Driskill after the state announced two rest stop closures in his district, with many fearful of the potential community impacts that could come from a lack of facilities for out-of-state travelers. At least one candidate for the Wyoming Legislature, Bear River Republican Lyle Williams, suggested on social media that the closures were a means to impress upon the lowly citizenry how bad it is and just how desperately we need to increase taxes, rather than cutting spending elsewhere. To those impacted directly by the cuts, however, its simply a sign of the times. When Driskill called him to break the news, Moorcroft Mayor Dick Claar said he was disappointed but, ultimately, not surprised. Reductions have been a long time coming, he said, and even before the crisis, WYDOT was already looking to shut down the rest stops in an effort to offset tens of millions of dollars in road maintenance costs. Claar said Driskill told him that the state needed to start tightening its belt and had to begin somewhere. And, I hate to say it, but I understand their point of view, Claar said. Theyve got to start somewhere. Because theyre probably gonna have to raise taxes somewhere else. Other towns are fighting back. In Chugwater, local officials are planning to take on the costs of their rest stop through Labor Day, an effort to salvage some dollars from the tourist season after unprecedented drops in revenue stemming from the COVID-19 crisis. But what happens afterward, when theres no money left, nobody to pick up the trash, or no one to mow the lawn? I think there will be lots of things that people value and utilize that will have to go away unless we can find some way to come up with some more revenue, Kirkbride said. People are either not gonna like them, or maybe theyll grow to accept them, but good things are going to be lost. This is just one small example in one small community and what that feels like. With steeper cuts ahead, one thing is certain: similar stories are only going to keep coming. Every penny we spend has a constituency, Joint Appropriations Committee Co-Chair Eli Bebout said Wednesday. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 5 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Hong Kong government and China's foreign ministry branch in the city hit back on Friday at a report by Britain criticising Beijing's plans for national security legislation, saying it was "biased" and intervened in internal affairs. The British government said the proposed legislation was a clear violation of China's international obligations and a breach of the "one country, two systems" formula that has governed the former British colony since its handover to Chinese rule in 1997. British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said a solution to the year-long unrest in Hong Kong, which has been marked by sometimes violent clashes between protesters and police, must come from within the city, not from Beijing. The Commissioner of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong said Britain "seriously trampled on the principles of international law including non-interference in other countries' internal affairs." In a typically strongly-worded statement, it told Britain "Hong Kong returned 23 years ago" and that it should stop "distorting facts" as it had no sovereignty or power of supervision over the territory. Hong Kong's government said it firmly opposed the "inaccurate and biased remarks on the national security law and the high degree of autonomy (in Hong Kong)." Local and Beijing authorities have insisted the legislation will focus on small numbers of "troublemakers" who pose a national security threat and will not curb freedoms or hurt investors. The exchange over the legislation, which is expected to be implemented by September, came as Hong Kong marked the anniversary of a major turning point in the city's pro-democracy movement. On June 12 last year, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets as protesters rallied in the heart of the business district against a proposed bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. It was the first such response from police, who have argued the use of "minimum" force was necessary to restore law and order, a move that radicalised many moderates in Hong Kong. While the bill was later withdrawn, the movement evolved into broader appeals for democracy amid fears Beijing was tightening its grip. STUDENT PROTESTERS Rallies marking last year's pivotal moments are planned for later on Friday. A student group and several labour unions postponed this Sunday's vote on whether to hold a wide-scale strike to June 20, citing a storm forecast. China's Hong Kong Liaison Office, which serves as a platform for Beijing to project its influence in the city, said schools should "immediately discourage" such activity. It blamed political groups "with ulterior motives" for "shocking chaos in Hong Kong education." Students have played a major role in the demonstrations, culminating in the occupation of a university campus last year which led to a weeks-long standoff with the police in some of the most violent scenes of the protests. The liaison office added that "education has a distinct sovereign attribute. On the issue of cultivating qualified nationals and emphasising national feelings, there is only 'one country' and no 'two systems'." The student group responded, saying it would not "concede to bullying." Diplomats, lawyers and business leaders fear national security motives will be used to curb academic, media and other freedoms in Hong Kong. Britain has been joined by the United States and others in criticising the proposed legislation. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has singled out HSBC as one of the major companies backing the law, saying "corporate kowtows" got little in return from Beijing and criticising the Chinese Communist Party's "coercive bullying tactics." U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Thursday he was working on measures that could restrict capital flows through the territory. Search Keywords: Short link: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has told the Security Council in a report quoted by Reuters that cruise missiles used in attacks on Saudi oil facilities last year were of Iranian origin. Reuters said it had seen the report delivered by the UN chief and that several items recovered in U.S. seizures of weapons and related materiel in November 2019 and February 2020 also came from Iran. In a statement carried by Iran's state media on June 12, the Foreign Ministry denied the allegations, saying they "appear to have been made under political pressure" from the United States and Saudi Arabia. The ministry noted that the report came "at a time when the United States is working to...extend an arms embargo against Iran." Though the report has yet to be made public, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov reiterated Moscows view that the UN-imposed arms embargo that is due to expire in October "should not be extended." The report would represent a change from the last assessment by Guterres in December 2019, when he said the United Nations at that point had been unable to confirm Iran's involvement in drone and cruise-missile attacks on two Saudi oil facilities. The attacks knocked out half of the kingdom's crude production and fueled a spike in oil prices. Saudi Arabia, as well as U.S., and European officials, has accused Iran of responsibility for the September 14 bombardment. Guterres reports to the Security Council every six months on the implementation of an arms embargo on Iran and other restrictions that remain in place after Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers. Reuters quoted Guterres as telling the Security Council that some items found had design characteristics similar to those produced by a commercial entity in Iran, or bear Persian markings, and that some were delivered to the country between February 2016 and April 2018. He added that "these items may have been transferred in a manner inconsistent" with a 2015 Security Council resolution that enshrines Tehran's deal with world powers to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons. "The secretariat assesses that the cruise missiles and/or parts thereof used in the four attacks are of Iranian origin," Guterres wrote in the report. The Security Council is due to discuss Guterres's report later this month. With reporting by Reuters and Interfax WASHINGTON A group representing some 10,000 black Democrats in Texas says the Democratic establishment here is trying to cheat longtime state Sen. Royce West out of a shot at being the states first African-American to serve in the U.S. Senate. Its an unusual clash between the Democratic establishment and a group of the partys most steadfast supporters in Texas, who the party will need if it is to have any hope of beating Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in November. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee denies the accusation. The Texas Coalition of Black Democrats says it has heard from seven donors in Texas that the DSCC, which endorsed former Air Force pilot MJ Hegar early in the primary, has called and told them not to give to Wests campaign. West has represented Dallas in the Legislature for nearly three decades. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox The group declined to identify any of the donors it has heard from, but Carroll Robinson, its chairman, said he heard from seven individuals personally. Robinson said its just a sad thing that the DSCC would try to undercut the campaign of an African-American state senator. Its the same basic problem we have broadly speaking in America whenever African-Americans have an opportunity to advance, they get undercut. And its sad that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is doing it, and I wish they would stop. DSCC spokeswoman Lauren Passalacqua responded: This is a false and unsubstantiated allegation. West and Hegar emerged from a crowded field of Democrats vying to take on Cornyn in November. The two are locked in a runoff race set for July 14. The black Democrats coalition wrote a letter Thursday to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, saying that if Black Democrats come to believe the United States Senate primary was rigged against Senator West, it will only hurt MJ Hegar in the general election, if she wins the runoff election. The DSCCs endorsement of Hegar in December sparked criticism at the time from Democrats and Republicans alike, who charge that the Senate Democrats passed over a diverse field of candidates with the early endorsement of Hegar. Nonetheless, the DSCC has endorsed African-American candidates in a handful of states this cycle, including Jaime Harrison in South Carolina, the Rev. Raphael Warnock in Georgia and Mike Espy in Mississippi. BUILDING THE BASES: As West zeroes in on the votes of minorities, Hegars strength is her appeal to women voters West and Hegar emerged from the crowded Democratic primary field earlier this year, with Hegar leading the pack with 22 percent of the vote. West finished with 14.5 percent, drawing more than 143,000 fewer votes than Hegar. Hegar, meanwhile, held a substantial lead over West in a Dallas Morning News-University of Texas at Tyler poll released in May, up 32 percent to Wests 16 percent. That poll showed that more than 40 percent of Democratic primary voters were still undecided. Hegar led the primary race in fundraising from the jump, raking in more than $3 million by the end of December, the month that the DSCC endorsed her. West has trailed throughout the campaign, bringing in just more than $754,000 by the end of December. Hegar had raised $4.8 million as of the end of March, according to the most recently available data. West had raised just under $1.4 million. With over 42,000 donors, donations from over 190 counties in Texas, over $4.8 million raised, and endorsements from Texas labor unions and other key groups across Texas, MJ proved, many months before the DSCC endorsed in this race, that she is the candidate who has built the Texas-sized, grassroots-powered campaign needed to defeat Sen. Cornyn, said Amanda Sherman, a campaign spokesperson. TRYING TO LOCK AFRICAN AMERICANS OUT?: DSCC endorsement of Hegar draws criticism The Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, which has chapters across the state, dates back to 1979, when it was formed because black voters felt that the state party was being disrespectful and neglectful of them, Robinson said. He said the group now has a good working relationship with the state party and has never before had problems with the DSCC. Robinson noted that the runoff is playing out as mass protests after the killing of George Floyd have Democrats in D.C. pushing sweeping policing reform. The people who say they believe in racial justice wont even give a black candidate a fair opportunity to make his case by having enough money to have a campaign to close out a runoff election, he said. If elected, West who is endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucus and Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois, the first black woman to serve in the Senate would be the first black U.S. senator from Texas. There are currently three black U.S. senators two Democrats and one Republican and only 10 African-Americans have served in the U.S. Senate to date. Im a Democrat. I want to beat Cornyn in the November election, Robinson said. But it will be a bitter pill for me and a lot of black Democrats to swallow going into the fall if we think Royce West was cheated and Im using the word cheated out of an opportunity to be our Senate nominee. ben.wermund@chron.com Even worse, there was a story in Mondays, June 8 Baraboo News Republic about members of the Minneapolis City Council who want to defund and abolish the police department and replace it with various community services. Thats one of the craziest ideas Ive ever heard. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, is totally against it. When he expressed that at a protest, some far-left protesters screamed in his face and insisted he get rid of the police. Apparently, therere going to call their mothers when someones breaking into their house, assaulting them, or has stolen their property because under this plan nobody will respond if they call 911. Mayor Frey knows the police department needs reform and he intends to see that happen. He said he has faith that the police chief and others can make the needed changes. But you can bet Republican lawmakers will attribute the extreme left demand to defund the police to describe all Democratic candidates even though most of them, including Joe Biden, oppose it. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Still, he acknowledged the pressures on countries to get back to normal especially to reduce the economic damage the crisis has wrought. "There is a careful balance between keeping people at home... and the untoward effect of that on [the economy] and society. That is not an easy balance. There are no correct answers," Ryan said. Ryan said that although some countries appeared to be over the worst of the virus, clusters of the disease were still occurring. Beijing records first locally transmitted case in weeks China's capital is suspending plans to restart classes for the first three years of primary school next week amid reports of new cases of community transmission in the city. Beijing's municipal government said it wants to ensure the health and safety of students and teachers. Local authorities on Thursday announced a 52-year-old man had become the city's first confirmed case of local transmission in weeks after he arrived alone at a clinic complaining of fever. The official Xinhua News Agency said another two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Beijing on Friday. The man whose diagnosis was announced on Thursday had reportedly visited a market on June 3. The hall where he shopped has now been closed for disinfection, state media reported. It wasn't clear if there was a connection between the three new cases. Hard-hit Italian region records more cases In Italy, the northern region where Europe's COVID-19 outbreak began has registered for another day by far the most new coronavirus cases in the country. Italian Health Ministry figures showed the Lombardy region had 272 confirmed cases in the 24-hour period ending on Friday evening. The region with the next-highest daily caseload, Emilia-Romagna, reported 33 new cases. Nationwide, Italy had nearly 400 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 236,305. The Health Ministry's daily update included 56 virus-related deaths, raising the country's death toll of people with confirmed infections to 34,223. Authorities say since many people with COVID-19 symptoms weren't tested, the actual numbers of infections and deaths are likely to be significantly higher. Ukrainian President's wife tests positive Meantime, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says she is infected with the novel coronavirus. First lady Olena Zelenska wrote in an Instagram post on Friday that her husband and their children have tested negative. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena, pictured last year. Credit:AP She said she feels good, is receiving outpatient treatment and is isolated from her family "in order not to put them in danger". Ukraine has so far reported more than 29,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 870 deaths. The government started gradually easing lockdown restrictions in late May with the resumption of public transportation and the reopening of malls and gyms. US agency gives public virus-prevention pointers Health officials in the US have released long-awaited guidance for Americans who want to reduce their risk of coronavirus infection while attempting some semblance of normal life. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention suggestions include: Take the stairs, not the elevator, down from your hotel room. Encourage people to bring their own food and drinks to your barbecue. Use hand sanitiser after banking at an ATM. Call ahead to restaurants and nail salons to make sure staff are wearing face coverings. And no high-fives - or even elbow bumps - at the gym. The CDC also offered tips for organising and attending big gatherings such as concerts, sporting events, protests and political rallies. Those guidelines are "not intended to endorse any particular type of event," the CDC's Dr Jay Butler said. The guidelines are long overdue, some health experts say. Norway to keep border with Sweden closed Norway's government says it is keeping travel restrictions in place for visitors from Sweden, which did not impose a lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic. Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Friday that the more than 1600km-long border between the Scandinavian countries would remain closed. Solberg said the sole exception would be Gotland, a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea where the reproduction rate of infections was low. "I realise this is a big disappointment," she said. "But the restrictions are based on objective criteria that are the same for everyone." Unlike in most European countries, Swedish authorities advised residents to practise social distancing and only banned gatherings of more than 50 people. The nation's schools, bars and restaurants never closed during the pandemic. India overtakes Britain for coronavirus cases Meantime, India's coronavirus caseload has become the fourth-highest in the world, overtaking Britain, by adding 10,956 new cases in yet another biggest single-day spike. Loading India's two-month lockdown kept transmission low but in a large population of 1.3 billion, people remain susceptible and the campaign against the virus is likely to go on for months, Balram Bhargava, director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research, said. India's lockdown was imposed nationwide in late March but has eased since, and it is now largely being enforced in high-risk areas. The new cases rose after India reopened shops, shopping malls, manufacturing and religious places. Subways, schools and movie theatres remain closed. The increase reported on Friday raised India's confirmed cases to 297,535 with 8498 deaths. By Stanley Widianto JAKARTA (Reuters) - The governor of Indonesia's capital announced on Thursday the easing of some coronavirus restrictions though he warned that the fight against the outbreak was far from over in Southeast Asia's biggest city. Governor Anise Baswedan said from Friday some public transport could resume normal operations and houses of worship would reopen, though with restrictions. Restrictions on movement, in place since mid-April, would be extended. "This is just a transition. Only when we're healthy, safe, and productive will we reach the end of our fight," Baswedan said in a video briefing. Offices and malls would open in the city of more than 10 million people over the next two weeks, he said. Baswedan cited a downward trend of coronavirus deaths in Jakarta to justify the easing, but said authorities would intervene if new clusters emerged. Indonesia has been the hardest-hit country in East Asia outside China, with 28,818 coronavirus cases and 1,721 deaths. While there has not been a national lockdown, cities have been allowed to impose restrictions, although they have not always been strictly adhered to. Jakarta has been the epicentre of the outbreak, with 7,690 cases and 523 deaths. In recent weeks, people have flocked to markets while long queues at the airport caused outrage on social media. In comparison, many neighbouring countries have had far stricter rules. Panji Fortuna Hadisoemarto, an epidemiologist at Padjadjaran University, said Jakarta had better data than other Indonesian cities to justify a move to a "new normal", but authorities needed to increase surveillance. While cases have fallen off, analysis from the World Health Organization shows Jakarta does not meet its criteria to relax restrictions, including a 50% drop in cases since the last peak, and a rate of infections below 5% of those tested. Jakarta's infection rate has remained above 10%. (Writing Stanley Widianto and Kate Lamb.; Editing by Ed Davies, Robert Birsel) In what can be seen as a return to some kind of normal, pharmacies are seeing people coming in for more every day, non Covid-19 related products. The sight of people queuing up outside pharmacies across the district has become commonplace, normal even, over recent months. Hair dye, scissors, sun cream and beauty products are being sold as soon as they hit the shelves in some pharmacies across the district. At McCauley Pharmacy in New Ross, the 14 staff there are finding a welcome return to normalcy. Pharmacy manager Kathleen Heffernan said: 'Last week everything really went back. People have been looking forward to seeing normal things back on the shelves and we've been selling a lot of suncream and hayfever products.' Describing the arrival of Covid-19 in March, when the winter flu was still in the community, as a 'double whammy', Kathleen said at that time Calpol, Neurofen and paracetamol were all very popular. 'That levelled out after four weeks once the initial rush went away. After four weeks people were coming in for prescriptions and essentials. Over the last ten days, people are back trying beauty products and buying moisturisers. People are starting to think it's OK.' Face masks are selling fast, as are gloves and hand sanitiser, but not to the same degree as in March and April. 'These are things people are going to continually be using going forward even though face masks and hand sanitiser are not compulsory.' Kathleen said staff have been 'a different kind of busy'. 'Things were flipped on their head and there has been a lot of extra work. People come in and pick things normally but that changed during Covid. You are literally on the phone all of the time because people are calling. We became their personal shopper. For one sale there could be three or four calls. We had to just go with whatever was required.' Staff work schedules had to change. At Campile Allcare Pharmacy Teresa Keating said there has been an upsurge in business during Covid-19, in part arising from people working from home and getting prescriptions for family members in their local pharmacy and not in the towns and city they commute to. Teresa said such is the popularity of hand sanitiser and face masks that it's like lipstick in a woman's bag these days. She said in the early days of Covid-19, child and adolescent medicines and paracetamol based products were very popular. 'We sold a lot of over the counter stuff. Hand sanitiser, wipes, anything with antiseptic was very popular. We would run out of these within a week and then you had to wait for deliveries. and moisturising creams, disposable face masks we can get fairly handy. I would say they are going to be part of our daily routine going forward.' She said staff have seen faces of people they hadn't seen in years as they are at home 24/7 during Covid-19 and call in to collect prescriptions for their parents, grandparents, etc. People call in advance and are greeted at the door by staff with their items. Vitamin D and Vitamin C are among the main items being sold. 'Customers want to stay well. In the beginning they were buying multiple packs of Neurofen and Paracetamol. They could only get one month's medication.' She said: 'The phones are hopping but a lot of people have been very good as well. I will be happy when I can get customers back in my shop. They have been increasingly looking for beauty creams, hair colours, which we can't keep in stock, scissors - we sold 50 in a week and we couldn't get our hands on head shavers.' Paul Tinch is Operations Group Manager at Life Pharmacy chain, which has a branch on South Street, New Ross, and he said he has never seen anything like the way one thing can affect business. 'Hand sanitiser was top of the list of products people wanted for a long time. That has calmed down a lot. Now we find people are paying a lot more attention to their own regular medication whereas before they wouldn't have been as diligent. People are looking after themselves a bit better.' He said Covid related accessories like face masks are becoming more popular. 'They are a bit expensive. We have face masks in stock. I think the next big shortage will be gloves, which, we are told, seems to be an upcoming issue.' Paul said the sale of Vitamin C tablets and products has been robust. Overall, things have calmed down significantly over the past fortnight, he said. 'We were closed to people [coming in] up until last week. Throughout April and May, we were being asked for hair dryers, head and beard shaving clippers, hair dyes. It's still there but not as much. I'm sure there are a lot of women saying they can't wait to get their hair done. Over the last week more and more women are coming in to buy make up.' Pharmacist at Fethard-on-Sea Pharmacy, Diarmuid Duggan said customers are back buying 'normal stuff' like sun cream and the sale of gloves has fallen off. Having sold many bottles of hand sanitizer, gloves and masks in the first weeks of Covid-19, these purchases have petered away. 'It has been busier. We've also had some people in who have been stuck here [due to Covid-19].' Baby boom beckons as pregnancy tests sell The arrival of Covid-19 in Ireland has seen people turn their minds to the most positive of thoughts - the creation of life! - and pharmacies across the district have seen a big demand for pregnancy test kits over recent months. South West Wexford is set for something of a Corona baby boom if soaring sales of pregnancy test kits reported by at least three pharmacies is anything to go by. Kathleen Heffernan has worked in McCauley's chemists in New Ross for many years and says whenever an emergency situation like a winter storm occurs, and in this case a global pandemic, sales of pregnancy test kits and condoms soar. 'This always happens in times like this. People are trying to find a new normal and you have to keep yourself occupied. Condoms and gels were very popular early on in this. Once they knew they were safe and didn't have to social distance [from their partner]. A lot of them were waiting to hear it was OK and then they were happy out.' Paul Tinch is Operations Group Manager at Life Pharmacy chain said the sale of pregnancy test kits has increased. Fethard-on-Sea Pharmacy and Campile Pharmacy have also seen an increase in pregnancy kits sales. In a conversation with Jim Hammond on Thursday, Hamilton Countys sheriff for the past 15 years, told me the rioting that has swept across America in the past two weeks is absolutely unprecedented. It is the worst sampling of unchecked criminal behavior I have ever witnessed. I cant believe what my eyes tell me I am seeing. And as a lifelong devotee of history and human behavior, this is exactly the recipe Hitler used to take over Germany just before World War II. For the record, the county sheriffs department is a Constitutional office. To defund Hammonds department and other sheriff departments across the United States would take an Act of Congress. Hotheads at Wednesdays County Commission meeting presented a list of demands that included banning tear gas at riots, the use of surveillance drones, and bean-bag guns, among other things. With misbehavior on the worst scale my fellow sheriffs have ever seen across the country, thatll never happen. It cant happen if you are going to effective control any riot that happens during a protest, he said, somewhat sadly. Disperse-and-desist doesnt work any longer. But, sheriff, the rowdies say they are going to recall you vote you out of office -- if you fail to comply. Let them try. And wish em luck, he said candidly. That is never going to happen. I was on WGOW earlier this morning and every caller was pro-law enforcement. This movement to defund police is absolutely wrong. In the 15 years I have held office, I can count on one hand the instances where race has been a factor in an arrest. I can also tell you in Hamilton County black-white policing is not a problem we even worry about. In the proper enforcement of law, every soul is the same. A current poll on Chattanoogan.com asks, Should the City Council take money from the police budget and put it into social programs? At 8 oclock last night, 2,737 who responded answered with a resounding no by an 82-18 percent margin. Unfortunately, this has become a Black Lives Matter issue and my office has always taken the stance that crime has no color. We have never, and we will not ever, arrest anyone because of race. I was looking at our county jail census the other day and we had 158 whites and 156 blacks. It is roughly the same at Silverdale where a larger population of county detainees are held. There is no racial disparity. One of lifes most true facts is that in every population or area of business, the great majority are law-abiding, God-fearing people who contribute mightily to our community. We are charged, very seriously, to keep all of them safe in every way, said the sheriff, but even before the Bible was written, we find that a small percentage in any specific group is not nice. There are a few white people, black people, men, women, teenagers, doctors, teachers, firemen news media, too who are bad. Less than 10 percent, who take up 90 percent of the good peoples time, effort and patience. Its true. What I find is worse, than all, are bad cops, Hammond pointed to each of the 40 years hes worn a badge. I take the responsibly of hiring who I believe are the right people very personal. Right now, there are approximately 1 million law enforcement officers in our nation. More and more of them come from the military; a huge number are college graduates. Most have families, children of their own, and the only thing that each has in common is that they love peace, and will perform whatever it takes to insure that American ideal. Several weeks ago I am afraid a white police officer, using a method of control that certainly wasnt proper, resulted in the death of a black man. Wait again, crime doesnt come in a color yet the incident touched off a terrible phenomena that was quickly fanned into a race issue. The death could have happened between two white people, two black people, or with the black man on top. Instead, it touched off total havoc, our government leaders on every level reacted terribly, and now The Black Lives Matter crowd wants to 'profile' every officer, defund every police department across America, and create a vicious criminal atmosphere where police suddenly have not enough funding 'to protect and serve.' How bad is it? Our County Commission could take a vote on anything in the sheriffs department and it would be a purely racist show of hands six conservative ones versus three liberal ones. To me, very personally, that is one of the most hurtful things for me to watch because my oath is to protect all nine commissioners, completely and fairly, but because I am a white law enforcement officer well, it breaks your heart, said Hammond, who has announced his retirement in the next election cycle, two years from now. Because of the protests and our riots, my overtime surplus is spent. I am having to go before the County Commission and ask for $50,000 more thats the bill right now and the vote will be 6-3 by nine people I admire very much. In other words, compassion, the benefit of the doubt, the slow down, okay? days are over. Hate is now the true word among the The Legion of the Miserable who have as their cornerstone the steadfast vow to pull any and all down. Then, as Hitler so adroitly accomplished, made these inessentials the first he slaughtered. Follow the script, and be ever vigilant. royexum@aol.com Paul Stephen / Staff Bars on the St. Paul Square teamed up to show a San Antonio nightlife experience prime for hopping from one to another. A promotional video is touting the downtown-adjacent area as a "6 bar experiences on 1 block." In the clip, Ash, Ember, Cellar Mixology, Smoke BBQ, Alibis and Lilly's Greenvile, are all shown pouring cocktails, providing live music, billiards and dancing. All of the bars are within walking distance from each other. Female (left) and male (right) canary (subject of the study). Credit: Ricardo Jorge Lopes A team of researchers affiliated with multiple institutions in Portugal and the U.S. has found that a single enzyme is responsible for gender-based plumage color differences in mosaic canaries. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes narrowing their search for the factors involved in gender-based color differences in canaries and what they found. In the same journal issue, Nancy Chen with the University of Rochester has published a Perspective piece detailing the history of the study of gender-based color differences in birds, and outlines the work by the team in this new effort. Scientists have known for quite some time that genetic factors play a role in plumage color differences in male and female birdsbut the actual genetic mechanisms involved have been poorly understood. In this new effort, the researchers set out to learn more about the process by cross-breeding canaries and studying their genes. The researchers studied red siskin canaries and common canaries. Red siskin have sexual dichromatism while male and female common canaries are the same color. The offspring produced when they are cross-bred are called mosaic canaries. The birds were cross-bred to help the researchers pinpoint the genes that are involved in producing gender specific plumage color differencesmosaic canaries are dichromatic. The researchers then repeatedly cross-bred mosaics with common canaries to narrow down the gene possibilities. Male (left) and female (right) mosaic canaries exhibiting sexual dichromatism. Credit: Ricardo Jorge Lopes They further narrowed the list of possibilities by studying gene expression patterns in the offspring. This approach allowed them to narrow down the list of possibilities until just one gene remained: BCO2, which codes for the production of the enzyme -carotene oxygenase 2. It was found to play a role in breaking down reddish-orange pigment -carotene, which produces color in bird feathers. The difference between the male and female mosaics, the researchers found, was the amount of enzyme -carotene oxygenase 2 produced. Thus, females had less color because more of their reddish-orange pigment -carotene was broken down, leaving less for feather coloring. They suspect that estrogen may play a role in BCO2 expression, which would explain the gender differences in plumage coloring. Collage of wild birds exhibiting sexual dichromatism. Top: (Male (left) and female (right) Northern Cardinal); middle: Male (left) and female (right) Pine Warbler; bottom: Male (left) and female (right) Red-bellied Woodpecker). Credit: Geoffrey E. Hill Explore further How birds turn red More information: Magorzata A. Gazda et al. A genetic mechanism for sexual dichromatism in birds, Science (2020). Journal information: Science Magorzata A. Gazda et al. A genetic mechanism for sexual dichromatism in birds,(2020). DOI: 10.1126/science.aba0803 2020 Science X Network In a major mix-up, authorities at state-run Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad handed over the body of a man who died of Covid-19 to another family, which performed the last rites. The incident came to light on Thursday after relatives of a 37-year-old man, who had died at the hospital on Wednesday, found that his body was missing. The frantic search involving police led to the finding. The 37-year-old died in the early hours of Wednesday. The hospital staff called us to identify the body but it was not there. We kept searching all over the hospital with the help of police and today, we came to know that the body was handed over to another family and they performed the last rites, a relative of the deceased told IANS. The family of the other deceased was called back to the hospital on Thursday and it was found that the body of their relative was still lying in the mortuary. After taking the consent of the relatives of the 37-year-old man, the body was handed over to them. The entire incident is very shocking for us. We are planning to lodge a complaint against the hospital administration, the relative said. The Delhi High Court Friday refused to pass any direction to the Delhi government to ensure no private hospital which has been declared as COVID-19 hospital, charges the patients exorbitantly or deny treatment due to paucity of funds. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan said though the issue raised in the plea is good, it cannot pass any general directions in the public interest litigation, which would be difficult to implement. At this stage, we are not inclined to issue any directions, the bench said during the hearing via video conferencing. The court disposed of the petition filed by social activist and advocate Amit Sahni who referred to May 24 circular of the Delhi government regarding payment for treatment issued by a private hospital. The bench said in case of overcharging, an aggrieved party may approach the court with a specific prayer against such hospital and general directions cannot be passed in a PIL. The court asked Sahni to approach the Delhi government with the grievance raised in the petition. The plea has modification of the May 24 circular issued by the Delhi government which stated these private hospitals shall bill the Covid-19 patients as per their respective schedule of charges. However, the billing for non-Covid-19 patients admitted on the extra beds shall not be more than 50 per cent of the lower economy category of concerned hospital as per earlier practice during upsurge of cases of vector borne disease. The petition has said considering the increase in Covid-19 cases, the state government has declared various hospitals as Covid-19 hospitals and by its June 3 order, the authorities declared three private hospitals as Covid Hospitals Mool Chand Khairati Lal Hospital, Saroj Super Specialty Hospital and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. These hospitals are obliged to provide 10 per cent IPD and 25 per cent OPD services to patients belonging to the economically weaker section (EWS). The petitioner has highlighted that he has come across a circular issued by one of these private Covid -19 hospital, which has fixed 3 lakhs as a minimum bill for Covid-19 patients and that patient will be admitted only after advance of Rs 4 lakhs in 2 bedded / 3 bedded category and Rs 5 Lakhs in single room and Rs 8 Lakhs in ICU. The State being a welfare state has to ensure that private hospitals do not charge patients exorbitantly and also to ensure that those who require immediate medical attention/intensive care, are not denied admission due to paucity of funds, the PIL has said. The plea has said it has not impleaded Covid-19 hospitals as party to the petition since the directions sought are against the government to ensure justice with its citizens during the crisis of pandemic. The respondents (Delhi government) are duty bound to ensure that the private hospitals do not overcharge public particularly when the government hospitals do not have sufficient infrastructure to accommodate all patients suffering from Covid-19, it has said. Looking for more of the best deals, latest celebrity news and hottest trends? Sign up for Yahoo Lifestyle Canadas newsletter. (Photo Illustration by Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Yahoo Lifestyle Canada is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. As a consumer, one of the biggest ways that you can make an impact on the economy is with your purchasing power. That means choosing wisely where you spend your money, and what exactly you spend it on. Toronto-based designer Aurora James recently launched the 15 Percent Pledge, a platform thats calling on large retailers to dedicate 15 per cent of their shelves Black artists and creators. Sephora was the first major company that has accepted the call, but there are also plenty of smaller businesses that you can choose to support should you decide to take on a 15 per cent pledge of your own. If youre looking for a way to support the community, theres never been a better time to champion small Black-owned businesses in your daily life. Etsy is a great place to start, and is filled with a diverse range of brands to update your home, wardrobe or vanity. Ahead, weve rounded up some of our favourite Black-owned Etsy shops to support now and always. Fashion This Munich shop sources a wide variety of vintage fashion and accessories from flea markets across the city, with an eye for bohemian and eclectic styles. All pieces are one of a kind, so if you spot something you love, youll have to act fast to get it before its gone. Vintage Handmade 70s Checkered Jumpsuit. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $58 Made from recycled and upcycled materials like leather, brass and gold, all the jewelry from this Paris-based shop is sustainably-made with love. Blue, white, brown and golden earrings with chain for her. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $50 Minimalism is at the heart of this Roanoke, Virginia shop, and with just three designs to choose from, each handmade bag is intended to carry only what you need. Each piece is unique and crafted from locally sourced leather for a truly one-of-a-kind piece. Story continues Extended Half Moon Leather Waistbag. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $177 Specializing in delicate handmade jewelry, this Etsy shop is filled with inspiration for the perfect personalized gift. Birthstones feature heavily throughout the collection, along with dainty pieces that are ideal for everyday wear. Gemstone Bar Bracelet. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $40 Traditional African prints are the star of the show at this shop, and can be found on all of the brands bow ties, turbans, neck ties and headwraps. With styles available for both men and women, these authentic and colourful patterns make a vibrant statement wherever you go. African Necktie. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $57 Beauty Fight frizz and protect hair from damage with this Etsy shops hero product: the T-shirt Hair Towel Wrap. Made from lightweight, super absorbent, cotton interlock, these hair wraps cut down on drying time by absorbing moisture while preventing breakage. T-shirt Hair Towel Wrap. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $36 Handcrafted in Toronto, this Etsy shop features natural facial and body oils to keep your skin hydrated from head to toe. Prices for all products are under $49, making this affordable line a great way to protect your skin. Light Beauty Serum. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $39 After suffering from skin issues like Eczema and Hidradenitis suppurativa, Elysium Naturals Co. founder Lamont Reid founded his own brand of nourishing skincare. The result is a rich body lotion made from a blend of mango, shea, and kokum butters. Whipped Body Butter. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $14 Mint and Ocean uses all-natural ingredients sourced from both the earth and the sea to create organic, handmade body care and beauty products to soothe and hydrate skin. Mango Organic Lip Balm. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $4 Specializing in handmade couture-inspired hair accessories for thick, curly, and natural hair, this Etsy shop creates vibrant hair accessories for all. Neon Scrunchies for Kinky or Thick Hair. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $21 Home Based out of The Netherlands, this Etsy shop creates beautiful hand-woven pieces for the modern home. Their geometric designs liven up blank wall space, and can be customized to suit your homes colour scheme. GEO_SERIES-02. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $270 An Etsy seller since 2011, this Brooklyn-based shop specializes in home and lifestyle accessories inspired by a globe without borders. Using bold wax prints and Batik-style designs, their colourful accent pieces will brighten up any room in your home. Batik Mauve HASH Mark Pillow. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $155 If youre looking for vibrant, colourful artwork, then youll definitely want to take note of Emma Make Studio. Offering digital copies that you can print out at home, as well as high quality prints and wall hangings, this shop is a modern art lovers dream. Bohemian Floral Still Life Sofa and Plant Interior. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $25 Looking to grow your mug collection? Then youll love this Georgia-based shops mugs that feature illustrations of important historical Black women like Shirley Chilsholm, Toni Morrison, and Katherine Johnson. Hidden Figures Katherine Johnson double-sided Coffee Mug. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $24 With a focus on handmade wooden display pieces for your office and home, this Kentucky shop creates unique pieces to showcase your beloved family photos and most important messages. ROUND MEMO BOARD. Image via Etsy. SHOP IT: Etsy, $40 Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and sign up for our newsletter. The owner of a $155,000 Mercedes Benz S550 was so dissatisfied with the service he received from a local Canadian dealership that he flew to Germany to raise the issue with the automakers head office in Stuttgart, the Richmond News reports. In 2017, Da Tong Yang bought his wife Guifang Huo the sedan under the impression that it was one of the safest luxury vehicles in the market, the publication notes. One year later, the couple was driving in Vancouver when the cars steering wheel unexpectedly locked, nearly crashing them into a concrete wall, they claim. We found literally the only tool you need to make delicious grilled food in the safety of your own home this summer. When the pair brought their Mercedes-Benz to a dealership in Richmond, Canada, they were told that the root of the problem was an internal electrical issue in the power steering rack and pinion gear that the dealership later said it fixed by replacing the power steering rack. Still, Yang and Huo werent convinced that the car was safe to drive and reportedly asked for a replacement vehicle or their money back. When the dealership declined their demands, Huo filed a lawsuit against the automaker in 2019, claiming the cars malfunction caused her and her husband considerable mental distress and anxiety, including fear for their familys safety and the safety of the general public. The woman further accused the automaker of being unable to ensure the plaintiff that the defect causing the failure had been repaired or that the failure would not reoccur. In response to the lawsuit, Mercedes-Benz argued that the faulty steering wheel had nothing to do with the vehicles safety features or brakes. It also reiterated that it had replaced the steering rack and attempted to return the vehicle to the couple, according to the Richmond News. With the two parties battling in court, Yang apparently took it upon himself to fly to Germany where the Mercedes-Benz headquarters is in January and complain to the head office himself, the paper reports. He explained to the Richmond News that he went there to find justice, not only for him but also for other drivers. Story continues Along with a German friend, Yang made it to the headquarters and presented his case to a company representative. What Yang purportedly got in return, however, was a tour of the headquarters and an email saying that the office would look into the matter. The Richmond News notes that the car is now sitting in the couples garage, as the two parties continue to work on settling the matter. If you want to read another story about Mercedes-Benz, consider checking out this article about a bear that nearly broke into one. More from In The Know: Kanye Wests go-to vehicle isnt a car its a floating ATV This Black-owned wellness brand makes amazing latte powders for glowing skin Shop our favorite beauty products from In The Know Beauty on TikTok This device both fully sanitizes and wirelessly charges your phone The post Man flies to Germany to complain about car, claims he went there to find justice appeared first on In The Know. [June 11, 2020] Systems Definition, Inc. Awarded AFWERX Small Business Innovation Research Phase II Contract for First Responder Personnel Accountability Solutions ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Systems Definition, Inc. (SDI), a leading provider of fireground accountability solutions, today announced the U.S. Air Force has awarded the firm an AFWERX Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract as a follow-on to the successful Phase I effort completed earlier this year. SDI will serve as the Prime Contractor working with Centauri's The Design Knowledge Company (TDKC) to jointly execute key software development and technologies integration. The developed capabilities to be field-piloted encompass Air Force First Responder base activities and disaster relief efforts. "Phase I examined the feasibility of integrating SDI's Advanced Personnel Accountability Application (APAA) technologies into an Air Force Common Operating Picture (COP)," said Brendan Adams, Principal Investigator at SDI. "We're excited to move forward to the second phase of this project and build out an accountability solution that brings enhanced situational awareness and personnel accountability capabilities to the DoD environment." The goal of Phase II over the next 15 months is to adapt and integrate SDI's APAA technology into an Air Force COP to enable field trials of developed prototype baselines. These activities will evaluate and assess migrating APAA capabilities into the COP for Event Response Situational Awareness (COPERS), a representative of the Air Force Disaster Response Force (DRF) COP. COPERS integrates data fom multiple sources to enhance situational awareness and comprehension and was developed by AFRL and TDKC. SBIR is a competitive awards-based program enabling small businesses to explore technology potential within the defense arena. Sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and in conjunction with AFWERX, these two organizations have partnered to streamline the SBIR process in an attempt to speed up the experience, broaden the pool of potential applicants, and decrease bureaucratic overhead. Beginning in SBIR 18.2, and now in 19.3, the Air Force has begun offering 'Special' SBIR topics that are faster, leaner, and open to a broader range of innovations. About Systems Definition, Inc. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, Systems Definition, Inc. (SDI) provides innovative software applications for the First Responder community, as well as technical services and software engineering to federal agencies, DoD contractors, public sector agencies, and commercial organizations. Our activities support initiatives for Defense, First Responder safety and accountability, aerospace, custom applications, and web technologies. We deliver a comprehensive suite of fireground accountability applications which are used daily by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and other fire departments across the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.firegroundaccountability.com/. About TDKC/Centauri Corporation TDKC, located in Dayton OH, was acquired by Centaur in December 2019. Centauri is a high-end engineering, intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced technology solutions company headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia with offices Nationwide. Centauri works with customers in the intelligence and national security communities, helping them solve their most difficult challenges. Centauri's agile, mission-first approach empowers advanced technical and operational teams to meet the real-time demands and high-impact missions of national defense agencies across land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace. Contact: Frank Briese/SDI President 703-717-0222 ext. 114 [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/systems-definition-inc-awarded-afwerx-small-business-innovation-research-phase-ii-contract-for-first-responder-personnel-accountability-solutions-301074848.html SOURCE Systems Definition, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] SAGINAW, MI The Rev. Roosevelt Austin Sr. had a strong faith, was an advocate for his loved ones and community members and a leader, say those who knew him. Austin died in his home in Saginaw, surrounded by family on Thursday, June 11. He was 93. I admire him more than any man Ive ever come in contact with, said David Austin, Roosevelt Austins son. Born in Opelousas, Louisiana, the pastor in his early twenties saw the word Saginaw in a dream. Soon after, he set out to move to the city to make it his home, David Austin recounted. David Austin said the move was based on faith and gave his father an opportunity to provide a better life for the family. The Rev. Austin would have celebrated 70 years of marriage with his wife, Nurame Austin on June 24. He promoted people getting together, working toward solutions, said David Austin. He was always an advocate for peace and love and strengthening the community. Roosevelt Austin was pastor emeritus of Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where he served for 44 years. He was undoubtedly a leader within the church community, but his leadership transcended beyond the house of worship. Austin served as a Saginaw city councilmember, a board member of OIC of Metropolitan Saginaw, and board member for Citizens Bank, among other commitments. Former Saginaw mayor and retired dentist Dr. Lawrence Crawford worked with Austin on city council. Anytime I had an issue, about anything, Crawford said. He was always there to council me. Crawford said he remembers navigating some tough times during his leadership role he held in the 1980s. The pair worked together to find solutions for crime and to advance civil rights. We lost a giant. He will be deeply missed, Crawford said. Dona Autsin-Bigby, Roosevelt Austins daughter, had a close-knit relationship with her father. She shared that she would miss him, but knows exactly where he is now, since he gave his life to God at just 10 years old. He has left a legacy within his family, said Austin-Bigby. He has left a legacy within his community. I am honored and blessed to be his daughter. Austin-Bigby remembers her fathers distinct laugh, one that would get anyones attention and put a smile on their face, his corny dad jokes and when he played a double role at her wedding. He had the opportunity to be the father of the bride as well as the officiant of the wedding, Austin-Bigby said. It wasnt unusual for him to help and uplift his family at any chance he got. Several family members admired how he would give words of encouragement to his grandchildren. He would ask,Whats your name? A grandchild would respond and he would say, Theres power in that name. Mary McDonald, Roosevelt Austins second daughter, became a member of the family and Austins daughter sometime after she began babysitting for the family years ago. McDonalds biological father died in 1974, but even before then, she had a paternal relationship with Austin. Austin was instrumental in McDonalds life. McDonald is a longtime member and musician for Zion church, but she didnt get paid for her musical skills and talent until Austin took measures to make sure she was compensated. His memory should be etched in the history of this city forever, McDonald said. It would be a difficult feat for anyone who was influenced by Roosevelt Austin to forget him. In 2017, several community and church members petitioned the city to change the North Second Avenue street sign to feature Roosevelt Austin Blvd. At the time, the street name change was his greatest honor, Austin said. Rosa Holliday was one of the people who spearheaded the sign project. I know him for bringing people together and love, Holliday said. He loved everybody. Genuine love and caring for Gods people. Pastor Roderick Smith of Zion church shares the same sentiment about Austins intentions and the love he had for people. Even though I was his pastor, he never tried to pastor me, Smith said. But there were times when it felt like he was my pastor, even though I was his pastor, said Smith. Smith became the senior pastor after Austin retired. He remembers someone telling him he would have to fill Austins shoes in his new role. When he retired he took his shoes with him, Smith said in response to the comment. He was the type of leader -- nobody could fill his shoes. He was just a natural in so many different areas of society in life. Funeral arrangements for Austin are still in the planning stages, according to the family. Related news: Saginaws Second Avenue name change will honor the Rev. Roosevelt Austin Group petitions to rename East Genesee to honor the Rev. Roosevelt Austin Uttar Pradesh government on Friday claimed to have achieved 60.31% recovery rate for coronavirus patients while listing the states successes in containment of the deadly contagion that has infected close to 3 lakh people in the country. Uttar Pradesh, which is Indias most populous state, accounts for only 12,088 of the national tally. UP chief secretary Amit Mohan Prasad said 7,609 patients had fully recovered from Covid-19 infection in the state and had been sent home following treatment. A total of 7,609 residents have been cured of the disease and they have returned home. Our recovery rate has improved to 60.31%, Prasad was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The national recovery rate is close to 50 %, which means 147,194 infected people have been cured of the virus so far leaving 141,842 active cases. On the testing front, the states most senior bureaucrat claimed that Uttar Pradesh had reached a milestone on Thursday by testing more than 15,000 samples in a day. He added that it aims to reach the 20,000 tests-a-day mark by the end of this month. 15,607 samples were tested in the state yesterday. The target is to test 20,000 samples daily by the end of June. A total of 4 lakh 19 thousand samples have been tested in states different labs, Prasad said. For Coronavirus Live Updates Covid-19 positive cases had risen in Uttar Pradesh in the last month due to many returning migrants arriving from other hotspots in Maharashtra, Delhi and Tamil Nadu among othersbringing the disease to the state with them. A few days ago, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath had told chief editor of Hindi news daily Hindustan that his government will not let even a single coronavirus patient fend for himself. He added that every infected patient in the state was being treated free of cost at government hospitals in the state. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 Agra, Noida, Lucknow and Ghaziabad are amongst the worst affected districts in the state and the state administration has told the Supreme Court that it intends to continue restrictions on movement between Delhi and these two neighbouring districts of Uttar Pradesh to prevent an exponential rise in positive cases. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says police will not be cracking down on excessively large indoor worship services taking place this weekend, which the state is now allowing to continue in a limited capacity. Were not going to have police officers at the doors of temples, churches or mosques over the weekend, Murphy said at his daily coronavirus briefing on Thursday. This is going to be, we hope, overwhelmingly self-regulated and self-policed. To continue curbing the spread of the coronavirus, the state has directed all religious institutions to limit their indoor gatherings to either 50 people or 25% of the buildings capacity whichever number is lower. For most mid-size and large churches, which can hold hundreds of people, 50 is the lower number, so technically, that will be their limit. Moreover, all attendees at religious services are required to maintain a distance of six feet apart from one another, and wear face coverings at all times. Some churches like those in Diocese of Paterson and Archdiocese of Newark are going even farther, establishing numerous rules for its Catholic parishes to follow to help ensure the health and safety of its churchgoers. An article published by the Paterson dioceses newspaper lists more than 20 guidelines that parishioners must abide by when attending an indoor Mass this weekend. These include the barring of a choir, saying that singing, especially in close proximity to others, may increase the risk of viral spread." They also call for the use of hand sanitizers at both the entrance of the church and in a place easily accessible to the presiding priest. The Diocese of Paterson encompasses 109 parishes across Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties. The Archdiocese of Newark has also released a detailed video outlining guidelines for its 212 Catholic parishes in the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union, which are allowed to resume weekday Mass services on Monday and Sunday services on June 21. Among other directives, these include the potential limitation of restrooms as well as the prohibition of handshakes during the Sign of Peace. Per Gov. Murphys executive order, all attendees at indoor gatherings are required to be 6 feet apart from other attendees at all times, excluding immediate family members, caretakers, household members or romantic partners, as well as a limited number of individuals organizing or maintaining the gathering. In alignment with these directives, parishes within both the Archdiocese of Newark and the Diocese of Paterson will not require people living within the same household to keep 6 feet apart from one another during its services. Will all churches adhere to the crowd limits? Absent of the threat of police officers knocking on their doors, some houses of worship appear to have established reopening plans that will violate New Jerseys guidelines. According to its website, Gloucester County Community Church in Washington Township will allow up to 250 people to attend its Sunday morning services beginning June 21. In Allentown, Saint John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church is allowing the church to be filled to one-third of its total capacity or approximately 195 parishioners for its public Masses this Sunday, according to directives posted on the churchs website. Both churches declined to comment on their posts. Other places of worship have already defied the directives issued by the state. Solid Rock Baptist Church in Berlin reopened its doors for services last month, despite state prohibiting gatherings in religious institutions until this past Tuesday. Congregation Premishlan, a synagogue in Lakewood, held an outdoor prayer service on April 13 that was broken up by local law enforcement officers. In response, the Thomas More Society has filed a lawsuit in federal court against Gov. Murphy and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan on behalf of Rabbi Yisrael Knopfler and Rev. Kevin Robinson for their enforcement of executive order 107 on religious institutions. Nonetheless, a number of houses of worship beyond those encompassed by the Diocese of Paterson or Archdiocese of Newark are moving forward with services that abide by state restrictions. These include churches that have decided to reimplement outdoor in-person services to allow for greater attendance numbers, like Reformation Lutheran Church in Absecon, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Millburn, and Shiloh Seventh Day Baptist Church in Shiloh. In the executive order issued on Tuesday, Gov. Murphy singled out outdoor gatherings for religious services as those that can be relaxed to an even greater degree than for other gatherings, for which the limit currently resides at 100. On Thursday, Murphy noted the crowd limits on indoor gatherings will eventually be expanded to allow more people. This is not a forever mandate, the governor said. "Weve started with a very small number on outdoor gatherings, (and) weve begun to grow it. If we get good results and our health data continues to be constructive, you should anticipate we will grow the indoor capacity numbers as well. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report. Caroline Fassett may be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com. Nestor F. Sebastian may be reached at NSebastian@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan faced the wrath of netizens after he offered to help India fight coronavirus. He said he was willing to share with India their "successful cash transfer programme" that has been widely appreciated in the international community. "I am ready to offer help and share our successful cash transfer programme, lauded internationally for its reach and transparency, with India," said Khan on Twitter. Imran Khan on Thursday said that his government successfully transferred Rs 12,000 crore in nine weeks to over 10 million families in a "transparent manner" to deal with the fallout of COVID-19 on the poor. Subsequently, Khan was flooded with a sea of responses, trolling him for his offer. A Twitter user reminded him of the debts that Pakistan has taken from International Monetary Fund (IMF). "You can not hold your head high with your hand out . Just mind your International Begging Business!". You can not hold your head high with your hand out . Just mind your International Begging Business ! - Padmaja (@prettypadmaja) June 11, 2020 I never knew COVID19 could cause Delusions of grandeur & extreme hallucinations in otherwise healthy people. Thanks to PM Imran Khan for proving it to us with his claim. Lmao. - Rupa Murthy (@rupamurthy1) June 11, 2020 When Modi says "Okay Please Donate". IK: pic.twitter.com/TsfdIVNGkZ - Haya Suleian (@EngHayaSuleiman) June 11, 2020 Please don't tell us that Inzamam ul haq is also ready to help & share Virat Kohli with his fitness regime - Arpit Singh Badonia (@AB_arpit) June 12, 2020 . Delusion of grandeur! - Dr Yogesh Manhas (@aryanyogtas) June 12, 2020 What???? Wait whaat????? What did I just read? The man who makes international tours only for the sake of begging is ready to offer assistance to the sixth largest economy in the world?? Is that right? - Preetam Rao (@Preetam_M_Rao) June 11, 2020 Another user wrote, "I never knew COVID19 could cause Delusions of grandeur & extreme hallucinations in otherwise healthy people. Thanks to PM Imran Khan for proving it to us with his claim". Not only netizens, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also responded to Pakistan on economic assistance, stating that India's coronavirus stimulus package is as much as Pakistan's GDP. "We all know about their debt problem (almost 90 per cent of GDP) and how much they have pressed for debt restructuring. It would also be better for them to remember that India has a stimulus package, which is as large as Pakistan's annual GDP," MEA spokesperson said. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Pakistan Economic Survey 2019-20 was unveiled which said that the country's economy contracted in the outgoing fiscal year with a negative 0.38 per cent due to the adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Also read: Pakistan PM Imran Khan undergoes coronavirus test after meeting COVID-19 positive philanthropist Also read: MSME loans: Govt may form task force to track stress as NPA risk runs high Health bosses wanted care home staff to live in a mobile home under lockdown plans to limit the spread of Covid-19. Two of the biggest health unions have hit out at proposals put forward by the Department of Health in a bid to slash the number of care home residents dying from Covid-19. It emerged last month that Robin Swann was considering a scheme that would involve some care home staff staying on site for a period of time. Under the controversial Safe At Home model, staff would be tested for Covid-19 ahead of living in at a care home, but the proposed scheme was rejected by unions. However, Mr Swann pressed ahead with the scheme as a pilot. Yesterday a range of health unions, including the Royal College of Nursing and Unison, addressed the Stormont health committee and said they were not consulted about the plans. They told MLAs the first they became aware of the plans was when they were contacted by members, who were alarmed after care home managers began drawing up 'live in' rotas to begin the following week. Explaining why the unions could not support the proposals, Rita Devlin from the RCN said there was no clear scientific rationale for the proposals and no clarity as to whether staff would be paid for isolating for 48 hours before moving into a care home. She said there was no indication whether consideration had been given to the mental and physical wellbeing of staff, and also said one home was proposing to accommodate staff in a mobile home. This was unacceptable given trust staff were being accommodated in hotels, she added. Unions also hit out at delays by officials over several matters, such as guidance for care homes. Subscriber content preview Image courtey of iStock [enlarge] Events that draw large crowds, such as parades and nighttime spectaculars, wont return immediately and Disney characters will be in the parks but not available to meet with visitors. ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Disney is proposing to reopen its Southern California theme parks in mid-July after what will be a four-month closure due to the coronavirus, the company said on Wednesday. . . . Model Joan Smalls took to Instagram Thursday morning to call out the fashion industry for discrimination. In a five and a half minute vide posted to her IGTV, that she titled We Are Not A Trend, the Puerto Rican born model took aim at brands, agents and fashion publications for profiting off of black and brown bodies and culture and perpetuating racism. Smalls also revealed that she will be donating 50 percent of the income she makes throughout the year to organizations that support the Black Lives Matter movement. She has worked with nearly every high-end designer and in 2018 made number eight on Forbes' list of highest paid models with an estimated $8.5 million yearly earning. Calling out fashion: In a five and a half minute vide posted to her IGTV, that she titled We Are Not A Trend, Joan Smalls took aim at brands, agents and fashion publications for profiting off of black and brown bodies and culture and perpetuating racism Preparing to read a statement off of papers in-hand she said 'There's a couple of things I need to get off of my chest, so I wrote them down, thank you for being supportive.' Speaking on her own experience in the industry as a 'black and Latina woman' she said she has suffered from stereotyping which often ignored her Latina heritage. 'I don't need validation from an industry that cast me as a token black girl while ignoring my whole cultural identity,' she said before speaking on what she seemed to suggest were countless and near daily instances of being told her hair was 'an issue,' to be controlled. Adding that she often had to share campaigns when white models were able to take part in similar ones solo. 'How many times have I had to share campaigns or editorials? When I saw my counterparts had that achievement by themselves, it was a constant battle.' She described the issues in the fashion industry as 'systemic,' before calling out photographers who did not want to take photos of her because they saw 'no need to shoot a black girl,' and the magazines, brands and who worked with those people. Stereotyping: Speaking on her own experience in the industry as a 'black and Latina woman' she said she has suffered from stereotyping which often ignored her Latina heritage Control: 'I don't need validation from an industry that cast me as a token black girl while ignoring my whole cultural identity,' she said before speaking on what she seemed to suggest were countless and near daily instances of being told her hair was 'an issue,' to be controlled To casting directors, stylists, brands and agencies she said 'You feed the beast, the beast of racism and inequality.' In recent weeks, Black Lives Matter protests have erupted around the country calling for racial justice after the death of George Floyd in police custody. Following days of protests, many brands and people decided to participate in a Black Out Tuesday, that required posting a black square on social media and attempting to center the conversation on black voices and issues. Smalls took aim the agencies, magazines and brands 'posting black screens on their Instagram accounts.' She asked what was the fashion industry going to put into action. Asking 'Is it just another trend, this industry that profits from our black and brown bodies, our culture for constant inspiration, our music and our images.' Systemic: She described the issues in the fashion industry as 'systemic,' before calling out photographers who did not want to take photos of her because they saw 'no need to shoot a black girl,' and the magazines, brands and who worked with those people Cycle: Speaking directly to the fashion industry that was profiting off of black and brown bodies with no action she said 'You're part of the cycle that perpetuates these conscious behaviors' Speaking directly to the fashion industry that was profiting off of black and brown bodies with no action she said 'You're part of the cycle that perpetuates these conscious behaviors. ' 'Many of you who claim to be all about diversity and inclusivity jumped on the bandwagon because social media held you accountable for your lack of acknowledgement of us,' she said. She called on the industry to 'speak up and demonstrate' care, by showing solidarity and giving back to the black community, saying 'Your silence is not only insulting, it is part of the bigger problem within this industry.' Advocating for black and brown people to be given a voice in the fashion industry, which is predominately controlled by white brands, models and executives, she said 'It's time to give us a real seat at the table because we are worthy. Because we are talented, because we are unique.' As she said she was donating 50 percent of her salary for the remainder of the year she called on the industry and brands to give monetarily to the black community and BLM movement. Giving back: As she said she was donating 50 percent of her salary for the remainder of the year she called on the industry and brands to give monetarily to the black community and BLM movement Make change together: 'If I, a single individual, can do it,' she said. 'Just imagine what we can do as a collective to be the positive change the world needs' More explained: In her caption she posted further explanation of her words and how she was moved by the recent movement and state of inequality 'If I, a single individual, can do it,' she said. 'Just imagine what we can do as a collective to be the positive change the world needs.' Smalls also acknowledged those who she said 'who did see me for me, who fought for me. I applaud you and I am grateful for the opportunities you have given me.' In her caption she posted further explanation of her words and how she was moved by the recent movement and state of inequality. Saying: 'The recent and long standing acts against the black community have been saddening, frustrating and unacceptable. I feel these same emotions when I think about how my industry, the fashion world, is responding.' 'There have been so many times where Ive had to face issues against my race within this industry because I was their token black girl,' Smalls said. 'This industry that I love has profited from us but has never considered us equal. This. Stops. Now. Its time for the fashion industry to stand up and show their solidarity.' NSW Health is expecting more false positive COVID-19 test results as the rate of testing in people without symptoms increases. The government agency will review previously confirmed cases in people with no known connection to other coronavirus patients. NSW has recorded an all-time high number of COVID-19 tests conducted in a 24-hour period, with more than 15,000. Credit:Louise Kennerley It comes as NSW Health confirmed late on Friday an after-school worker from Rose Bay Public School tested positive for COVID-19. The school had been closed on Friday as a precaution while the case was investigated. A spokesman for NSW Health stressed the school worker's case may be an older infection, and the source of infection remains under investigation. For example, USCIS now rejects submissions as incomplete if the entry field for an applicants middle name is blank, even if its left blank because the applicant doesnt have a middle name. Sometimes, theyll reject a form if the nonapplicable field says NA rather than specifically N/A. In recent weeks, lawyers have told me theyve received rejections because the name on the back of an attached photo was printed in ink, rather than pencil. And so on. Lucknow, June 12 : A retired IAS officer, Surya Pratap Singh, has been booked for allegedly posting 'misinformation' on a social media platform relating government efforts to deal with the Covid-19 situation. The case was registered with Hazratganj police station on Thursday night on the complaint filed by Subhash Singh, police outpost in charge, secretariat. The complainant mentioned in the FIR that the former bureaucrat had posted some content, which is inaccurate and insulting to the government. Singh tweeted that a senior bureaucrat, after a meeting with the Chief Minister, had scolded District Magistrates for proposing more tests for COVID-19. He also raised the question about the government's strategy of keep the number of tests low to show the low occurrence of COVID-19. Abhay Mishra, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Hazratganj said, "The former IAS has been booked under various sections for disobeying government order, crime committed with intent to cause fear or alarm to the public, conducting public mischief, statement intent to cause fear and alarm among the residents who may be induced to commit offence against the state and public tranquillity, disobeying public servant orders. Besides, section of Disaster Management Act and Epidemic Disease Act have also been included." Mishra also said that the cyber-cell of the police will also assist the Hazratganj police in the case and relevant sections of the IT Act would be included after the probe. Meanwhile, Surya Pratap Singh, a 1982 batch officer, said he was waiting for the police to arrest him. "I am shocked and stunned at this action", he added. New Delhi: Delhi on Thursday reported over 1,877 coronavirus cases in a single day and the total tally of infections has crossed the 34,000-mark since the pandemic broke. By Delhi government's own assessment till July 31 to treat coronavirus patients as many as 80,000 hospital beds will be required whereas only 9,000 hospital beds are available at present. The analysis was done by Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary in DNA, the world's most-watched news show. There have been more than 34,000 cases of infection in Delhi and the death toll has exceeded 1,000. As many as 65 patients have died in the last 24 hours, the highest number of deaths in a single day in Delhi. That is, every 25 minutes a patient infected with the coronavirus is dying in Delhi. This is the reason why people are standing in queues outside hospitals in Delhi, in the same way, people are queueing up outside crematorium ghats. The Delhi government estimates that by July 31, there will be 5.5 lakh cases of corona infection in Delhi. Coronavirus patients currently have a mortality rate of 3% in Delhi. According to this, the death toll in Delhi after July 31 and after could rise upto between 15 to 20 thousand. If this happens, the situation will become very frightening, if necessary steps are not taken in time, the condition of Delhi can be similar to that of New York, Spain and Italy, where there was no space left to keep the dead bodies in hospitals. Not only this, the doctors of these countries had to decide whose lives were to be saved and whose not. In this situation when private hospitals in Delhi are making millions of rupees from patients for the treatment of the virus, the Delhi and Central government hospitals are struggling with lack of resources. However, the Delhi government claims that the number of hospital beds will be increased to 15 thousand by 20 June. At present, about 5 thousand patients are admitted to hospitals in Delhi and about 4 thousand hospital beds are vacant. But in the case of ventilators, the situation is worrisome as there are a total of 584 ventilators available in Delhi at present and only two hundred and fifty ventilators are empty. According to this, around 6 per cent of patients in Delhi are in need of ventilators. And by July 31, around 4800 ventilators may be required. Meanwhile, the number of cremation ghats and cemeteries scheduled to perform the last rites of those who died of coronavirus has been increased from 6 to 12. At some crematoriums, the working hours have been extended up to eight hours and the use of wood has also been permitted along with CNG for cremation. The situation in Delhi is not under control, that is why the Delhi government is once again planning to take some tough decisions. Two big decisions have been taken, from tomorrow Jama Masjid of Delhi will be closed once again and from June 15, Delhi's Sarojini Nagar market will also be closed. If the situation does not improve, then people living in cities like Delhi have to be prepared for a more strict lockdown. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot called the scene of police officers lounging in a congressman's campaign office earlier this month while looting and arson were going on outside "the height of dereliction of duty" on TODAY Friday. Lightfoot spoke with Sheinelle Jones about security footage showing eight Chicago police officers relaxing in the office of Illinois Rep. Bobby Rush on the South Side while looters were outside at the shopping center where the office is located. "They took themselves out of service for five hours,'' she said. "There can be no excuse and no tolerance, period." Rush and Lightfoot released the footage at a press conference on Thursday. She has demanded that the officers turn themselves in and said they will be disciplined after an investigation. Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot said there is "This is the height of dereliction of duty," Lightfoot said. "These officers were brought to this area because there was chaos going on - looting, shooting, arson. "Their fellow residents needed them to act. Their fellow officers needed them to act and some of them literally took themselves out of service when officer emergency alerts were going off." Rush said Thursday that about two weeks ago, he received a call that his office had been burglarized only to find surveillance footage showed a group of officers with their feet up on desks, sleeping on couches, drinking coffee and making popcorn in the microwave. Their actions came amid protests over George Floyd's death that had turned violent with arson and looting going on in the area. Lightfoot also spoke about her proposal to have officers licensed by the state similar to any other profession like barber or manicurist. She believes certification will help prevent disgraced officers from moving to other states and getting hired by a different department by noting whether they were honorably or dishonorably discharged from their previous job, similar to the U.S. military system. Story continues "It's high time that we have uniform standards for licensing, minimum requirements on training and recertification that have to happen with a regular cadence, and a process for decertifying someone who has dishonorably served," she said. She also is pushing to "substantially raise the threshold and scrutiny" for no-knock warrants, which have come under fire following the death of Louisville woman Breonna Taylor. The 26-year-old emergency medical technician was shot to death in March when three police officers entered her home on a no-knock warrant, which gives police the authority to enter a person's home without announcing themselves. The Louisville Metro Council unanimously voted on Thursday night to pass a ban on no-knock warrants in a measure known as "Breonna's Law." People hold signs during a June 5 rally in downtown Kansas City, Mo., to protest the death of George Floyd. (Charlie Riedel/AP) Dont forget your mask. We should have brought our signs. My two eldest children and I recently took a road trip from the middle of Missouri to the Los Angeles foothills and these words (along with "wait, what are you eating?) formed the leitmotif of our travels. Masks and signs. Pandemic and protest. Across almost 2,000 miles and some of the most gorgeous landscape this country has on offer, we traveled a country demanding protection and change. Protection from a virus that has claimed more than 100,000 lives in the U.S. and a system of racism that has claimed millions more. Change that will mean we each take responsibility for how our actions, large and small, can harm or help others. Needless to say, not everyone agrees about any of this. Across six states, we saw many posted reminders that face coverings are recommended or required, and many people ignoring them. Across six states, most of them historically red, we saw thousands of people gathering to protest inarguable instances of police brutality and racist policy, and many people ignoring those too. Following protests across the country was not the point of this journey; we were just trying to get home as quickly as possible. But the protests were ubiquitous. Hence my childrens decision that they should start carrying signs everywhere just as they have begun carrying face masks and hand sanitizer. Or at least get some masks with protest slogans on them. The trip itself rose from the COVID-19 crisis. Like thousands of colleges, the University of Missouri closed in mid-March; my son had stayed in Columbia to finish his capstone project while we canceled our plans to see him graduate. (The schools documentary journalism program did hold a small, ad-hoc and socially distant ceremony in, fittingly enough, a movie theater parking lot.) With so many states under stay-at-home orders, and California having a much higher infection rate than Missouri, Danny decided to stay on past graduation; his original plan of making his way home on a meandering road trip with friends (before, not that I'm going to mention this immediately, finding a job) no longer made sense. Story continues But heading into June, his lease was almost up, and with states beginning to open, we decided that my daughter Fiona and I would fly to Columbia and drive home with him to minimize the number of stops he would have to make along the way. Then the protests began. My children joined them (Danny in Columbia, the girls in L.A.), signed petitions and donated to bail funds, called on their schools to disassociate from local police and change racist policies. But still we needed to get Danny home. Traveling during a pandemic reveals, if nothing else, the overcrowding and occasional ridiculousness of traveling before a pandemic. LAX was quiet but not empty, even at 5:30 a.m. Many of its stores and restaurants were closed, which was less of an inconvenience than a reckoning. Do we really need to have a Spanx store and three smoothie stands in an airport? On the plane, breakfast consisted of a paper bag containing a bottle of water, a sack of pretzels and a packet of cookies but then again, I dont think anyone actually looks forward to airline food. Fiona has been a wiper-down of seats since she was young, and as it turns out wearing a mask while in transit for much of the day is not a big deal. Especially for those of us who remember a time when pantyhose were a social requirement. Seriously, if I were forced to choose between a face mask and pantyhose, I would pick the face mask every time. My husband feels the same way about ties. We stayed in only two hotels during our travel; in Denver, masks were required and congregating discouraged in the lobby, and our room was not made up between the first and second night. In our second stop, Richfield, Utah, the staff wore masks but none of the other guests did, even in the breakfast room, which we avoided. In fact most of the people we saw wearing masks during our trip were those protesting. In Columbia, Denver and Boulder, most of those carrying signs also wore masks, and many of those handing out water to protesters often offered hand sanitizer as well. Ive never seen anything like it and I dont just mean the masks and hand sanitizer. I mean the diverse crowds, the multiple sustained and peaceful marches, the consistent message. It's one thing to see "protests in 50 states" blared on the news; it's another to be traveling across a bunch of Midwest and Western states and see protests at every turn. The night before we left, hundreds marched the streets of Columbia. As we drove through Kansas City, hundreds gathered in the afternoon for a ninth day of protests despite mid-90s heat. Stepping out of our hotel in Denver, we came upon thousands of people lying face-down on Broadway chanting, I cant breathe for nearly nine minutes (which is how long Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyds neck) before marching to the state capitol a few blocks away where a floral memorial had been created for Floyd. I can honestly say I have never before explored a new city by following a protest march. I highly recommend it, and we didn't even know the Broncos were involved until the next day. During our many, many hours in the car, my daughter kept us up to date on Temple Universitys response to a student being beaten during protests in Philadelphia and the emergence of racist social postings by incoming and current students. My son scanned social media for reports of policy changes and police aggression around the country and shared #BlackMizzou, a thread in which students detailed their experiences at a university that had just five years ago been criticized (and had state funding cut) for its handling of protests against racism. We listened to Bob Dylan, Saba, Jamila Woods and Janelle Murphey, who is now my new favorite comedian. We also talked a lot about the future they are walking into, with their masks and signs, and the past that pushed us to this moment. The conversations were not always easy. My children are outraged by the police brutality, against the Black community and protesters, and the system that supports it. While I share their feelings, I cannot separate myself entirely from the cause of that outrage. They are just entering adulthood; I have been an adult for almost 40 years. Forty years in which law enforcement has become increasingly militarized and incarceration rates, particularly for Black men, have soared in a prison system controlled by profit-seeking corporations. Years in which thousands of Black and brown people have been arrested and imprisoned for crimes they did not commit, and hundreds more have been killed by people who never suffered any consequences. I am part of an adult population that allowed that to happen, that continues to allow that to happen. They are furious and, though I am continually tempted, I will no longer attempt to modify, contextualize or explain. There is no modifying, contextualizing or explaining away the fact that we teach our kids to play fair while supporting explicitly or implicitly a system that is intrinsically unfair. They have a right to be furious. Their signs are just as important for their future, for our future, as their masks. Fortunately, my kids were not furious all the time. It's a long drive and we talked about many things including the glories around us. Between Missouri to California, even along the interstate, the landscape changes by the hour. Rolling hills latticed by rivers give way to prairies spread wide under a hovering sky. Foothills make way for mountains, robed in fir trees and crowned with snow. Granite outcroppings drop with ear-popping speed to red rock plateaus and canyons full of golden spires before the desert slides you to more foothills and California. Ours is such a beautiful country, an impossibly diverse and gorgeous country, cracked wide and piled high and full with every color, every shape you could ever dream of seeing. It is a stolen country, a settled country, a brutalized country, a wild and endangered, enduring and fragile country. A country worth the effort, no matter how great that effort might be. With Dylan already on the playlist, it is impossible to drive from Missouri to California without This Land Is Your Land filling your head. You know the words. Everyone knows the words. Remember what they mean. Within this framework, the Head of State requested lawmakers to learn from history, as it demands the strengthening of health and education sectors , a work to be done by authorities as a whole, he noted. During the states stay-at-home order, there has been conflict between some faith leaders and city and state officials over church closures, which some religious leaders believed infringed on their constitutional rights. As faith leaders complained about hardware and liquor stores remaining open during the pandemic shutdowns, a handful of Illinois churches sued Gov. J.B. Pritzker and and held services, with three Chicago churches being cited by the city. Sri Lankan riot police brutally attacked a demonstration in central Colombo on Tuesday over the US police murder of George Floyd. The protest, which was organised by the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), was to be held outside the US embassy. A day earlier, police obtained a court order banning the event, arguing that those attending would be breaking the governments COVID-19 quarantine laws. The police claim was made even as the Sri Lankan government continues to insist that the pandemic is under control, that all activities can resume as normal and that all employees must be compelled to return to work. On Tuesday, the police intervened to forcefully disperse protesters before they reached the US embassy at Kollupitiya in Colombo. Police also manhandled and arrested FSP propaganda secretary Duminda Nagamuwa and several others. Riot police threatening protesters with tear gas (Credit: WSWS) Later, about 100 FSP protesters marched to the nearby Lipton roundabout and carried out a silent rally, holding placards denouncing Floyds murder and demanding the immediate release of party members from police custody. While FSP leader Kumar Gunaratnam was addressing the media, armed police assaulted the protesters with batons and forcibly dragged them into a police vehicle. Gunaratnam and several other FSP leaders were also arrested. Western Province Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon personally supervised the attacks. The FSP has reported that 53 members of the party, including its top leadership, have been arrested. They were bailed out later that evening, after being brought before a magistrate. Police holding FSP leader Kumar Gunaratnam (Credit: WSWS) The Socialist Equality Party (SEP), notwithstanding its political differences with this pseudo-left group, strongly condemns the police attack on the FSP by President Gotabhaya Rajapakses government and demands the dropping of all charges. The anti-democratic and violent assault on those protesting the police murder of George Floyd is a clear message from the Sri Lankan government that it will not tolerate any demonstration against it by workers, young people and the poor. Gotabhaya Rajapakse became president last year by whipping up Sinhala chauvinist groups and other right-wing forces following the Easter Sunday bombing by Islamic extremist terrorists. After coming to power, Rajapakse began rapidly militarising his administration, appointing serving and retired generals to key government and state positions and then seizing on the COVID-19 pandemic to further consolidate dictatorial forms of rule. Last week, Rajapakse established a military dominated taskforce with far-reaching powers, answerable only to him. Police arresting an FSP member (Credit: WSWS) Police media spokesperson Jaliya Senaratne told the press that those arrested would be prosecuted for violating a court order and breaking quarantine regulations. On Tuesday evening, the US ambassador in Colombo, Alaina Teplitz, issued a statement declaring that the embassy did not ask police to prevent the event, but justified the police actions, claiming they were in accordance with Sri Lankas quarantine laws. The US appreciate[s] the efforts undertaken by the government of Sri Lanka and local law enforcement to keep diplomatic personnel and facilities in the country safe and their continued efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 by requiring masks. Police attacking the protest (Credit: WSWS) Teplitz then added: Rights to peaceful assembly and free speech are cornerstones of the Universal Declaration of Human Rightsrights the US supports even when difficult for us. Teplitzs cynical statement was made as US police were violently suppressing protestors and President Donald Trump was urging the military to be mobilized in a direct attack on democratic rights and a step towards dictatorship. Following the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd, protests against racial injustice have taken place across the country. Amid chants of "Black Lives Matter" and "No Justice, No Peace," there were also calls to defund police. Defunding the police isn't a new call for action. Following the death of Eric Garner at the hands of a New York police officer in 2014, activists called for the city to defund the New York Police Department. Demonstrators on Thursday evening marched to the home of East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III to call for accountability in officer-involved shootings. The protest was the latest following the death of George Floyd, who struggled to breathe while a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for close to nine minutes before he died. While demonstrations across the country have shaken many cities with violence, the gatherings in Baton Rouge have been largely peaceful. +3 George Floyd protests swell despite coronavirus concerns: 'We can't just put this on hold.' When Caroline Taylor first considered whether to attend a protest in the wake of George Floyd's killing, she was apprehensive. She has elderly Thursday's protest, in which police estimated 200 to 300 people participated, was organized by BR for the People, which has organized and participated in several protests in the Baton Rouge area in the last two weeks, most notably four demonstrations on Siegen Lane. Protest leaders have strongly condemned violent interactions and implored participants to remain peaceful. In the past week, Baton Rouge organizers have met with city officials to discuss their demands, which include police reform, body cameras for law enforcement, and bi-annual mental health evaluations for officers. Participants gathered Thursday in the parking lot of the Winn-Dixie on Burbank Drive. They soon marched to the nearby Raising Cane's, where they circled the restaurant, waving signs and eventually blocking the driveway to prevent other cars from entering. Throughout the evening, protesters chanted "No justice, no peace, no racist police," and "Hands up, don't shoot!" Baton Rouge Police officers on motorcycle were stationed across the parking lot and flanked the protest for the duration of the demonstration. One organizer using a megaphone called on Cane's CEO Todd Graves to make a statement about Black Lives Matter and police brutality, arguing Graves has a good deal of political clout in the state. The organizer reminded the crowd that "silence is violence," which became another chant for those encircling the restaurant. Vehicles driving by honked their approval. The crowd then began the trek to Moore's home to demand he take action in officer-involved shootings that have taken place in the four years since Alton Sterling's death. Sterling, a black man, was shot by police outside of a Baton Rouge convenience store in summer of 2016. His death sparked protests in Baton Rouge and across the country. The officers involved in the incident were not charged, a decision made by state Attorney General Jeff Landry. Thursday's protesters marched to Lee Drive and then Highland Road as the evening progressed, walking two-by-two at first and then growing into a mass, escorted by Baton Rouge Police officers directing traffic. Their march led them to Moore's home in the Plantation Trace subdivision off Highland Road near LSU's campus. Moore was not at his home during the protest. "I completely respect their rights and ability to lawfully protest," Moore said in an interview following the demonstration. "Our country was founded on rebellion and protest. I appreciate them being peaceful. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Participants gathered on the street, careful to avoid the front lawn of the home as they shouted, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Hillar Moore has got to go!" Organizers said Moore is responsible for the officers involved in Sterling's death walking free. EBR DA recuses his office from Sterling case, citing relationship with officers parents East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar C. Moore III will recuse himself from an ongoing federal investigation into the police shooti +3 Alton Sterling decision: Read AG's full statement, report on choice not to charge officers More than 20 months Alton Sterling was shot and killed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced the two officers invol However, Moore recused his office from the Sterling case back in 2016 because of his long professional relationship with the parents of Officer Blane Salamoni, one of the officers involved. More than 20 months after Sterling's death, it was Landry who announced the two officers involved would not be charged. Organizers also called on Moore to hold law enforcement accountable for the officer-involved shootings since Sterling's death. No law enforcement officials have been charged in any such incident in the past four years, though Moore said several cases are under review by his office. He said these are cases that "tear communities apart," and as such his office follows the national standards when reviewing them. Some cases are referred to a grand jury, while other cases where charges are not brought against law enforcement are detailed in reports made available to the public. "We understand the history," Moore said. "Thats why we take these matters so seriously. Participants chanted the names of different black people who died at the hands of police, then sat in silence for nine minutes in front of Moore's house before hearing testimonials from those gathered. Organizers also called on participants to vote in the next election and passed out voter registration forms. "I appreciate them," Moore said. "We know theres injustice in the system in different communities. We are always open to learn and be a better office." Although the protest ended peacefully back in the Winn-Dixie parking lot, there was a tense moment after most of the participants had dispersed. A protester attempted to intervene when he saw a couple arguing in the parking lot just before 9 p.m., said BRPD spokesperson Sgt. L'Jean McKneely Jr. Someone notified police the boyfriend was armed. When police pulled into the parking lot to investigate, some of the protesters scattered in panic. Upon questioning and investigation with all parties involved, police determined the boyfriend did not have a gun, McKneely said. No one was taken into custody and the remaining protesters disbanded without further incident. +10 After George Floyd killing, BRPD chief talks reform, how he had 'that conversation' with son Baton Rouge's police chief backs the blue, but he also warns his five sons young black boys growing up in America to tread carefully in th Staff reporter Blake Paterson contributed to this report. ZURICH, June 4 (Reuters) - Swiss voters look set to get the final say on whether Swiss-based companies should be liable for human rights abuses and environmental violations in operations even outside Switzerland. As consumers care increasingly about whether products they buy harm the environment or exploit child labour, Swiss politicians are under pressure to find an economically viable counterproposal to a far-reaching constitutional amendment put forward by the Responsible Business Initiative campaign. An opinion poll https://www.amnesty.ch/de/themen/wirtschaft-und-menschenrechte/konzernverantwortungsinitiative/dok/2020/neue-umfrage-zeigt-unterstuetzung-waechst-weiter showed growing support for the initiative that was launched in 2016 under the Swiss system of direct democracy. On Thursday, a parliamentary committee trying to iron out differences in legislation approved by the upper and lower houses chose a more business-friendly solution rejected by the initiative's organisers, who called it a mere "fig leaf". "Companies like Glencore and Syngenta will not be held accountable for the damages they cause, but will just have to publish a glossy brochure once a year," it said. Both chambers of parliament still have to vote on the compromise next week. If one of the chambers rejects it, voters will decide on the initiative, likely in November, without any counterproposal. Proponents of the initiative want Swiss companies to apply mandatory due diligence to identify risks to people and the environment in all their business, even involving suppliers abroad, and let victims seek redress in Switzerland. Many businesses reject the changes, saying they would lead to a flood of legal cases. "The extreme liability raises the risks for companies operating from Switzerland," Zurich businessman Ruedi Noser, a member of the upper house who represents the Liberals, says on a website https://erpresserische-klagen-nein.ch/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=startphase&utm_term=konzerverantwortungsinitiative&utm_content=nn1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-fK44oLj6QIVme3tCh3F6Ak7EAAYASAAEgKXZfD_BwE dedicated to fighting the initiative. Under Switzerland's direct democracy, supporters can force a binding referendum if they gather 100,000 voter signatures. (Reporting by Silke Koltrowitz; editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 11, 2020) - Pasofino Gold Limited (TSXV: VEIN) (FSE: N071) ("Pasofino" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an Exclusivity Agreement with ARX Resources Limited ("ARX"). Subject to satisfactory due diligence, an agreement on terms with ARX and ARX's earn-in right becoming unconditional, the Company intends to acquire all the issued and outstanding shares of ARX. ARX has a conditional earn-in agreement with Hummingbird Resources PLC ("Hummingbird") in respect of the Dugbe Gold Project (the "Project") located in Liberia. The terms of the conditional earn-in agreement require ARX to complete a Definitive Feasibility Study, carry out a significant exploration programme and cover all Project costs over the 2 year earn-in period (the "Earn-in"). The Earn-in entitles ARX to earn up to a 49% interest in the Project, and is subject to various conditions, including the payment by ARX to Hummingbird of a non-refundable deposit of US$2m. In order for the Earn-in to become effective, Hummingbird must receive a waiver from the Government of Liberia on its pre-emptive right over equity investment into Hummingbird's subsidiary, Hummingbird Resources (Liberia) Inc., which holds the Project, and consent from Anglo Pacific Group Plc (which holds a royalty interest over part of the Project) (the "Effective Conditions"). There is no assurance that the Effective Conditions will be satisfied, that the Company and ARX will agree on a transaction, or if agreed that a transaction will be completed. Further information on the Project can be found at https://hummingbirdresources.co.uk/operations-projects/liberia/ About Pasofino Gold Ltd. Pasofino Gold Ltd. is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company. For further information, please visit www.pasofinogold.com or contact: Steve Dunn, President & CEO T: (416) 361-2827 E: dunnsteve@protonmail.com Story continues Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's plans with respect to the proposed transaction with ARX, completion of the transactions described herein, the ability to raise the funds to finance its ongoing business activities including the acquisition of mineral projects and the exploration and development of its projects. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to, the results of exploration activities; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; the ability of the Company to complete transactions on terms announced; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms and those risk factors outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis as filed on SEDAR. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/57701 Sydney will need 1 million more homes by 2041 and housing will need to adapt to significant but uneven population growth, climate change and diverse family living arrangements. The Berejiklian government will deliver the state's first housing strategy to shape how and where NSW residents will live over the next two decades. Greater Sydney is expected to reach a population of about 7 million by 2041 as a result of births and the arrival of skilled migrants and international students, government estimates show. Sydney will need 1 million new homes to cater for a population boom. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The population boom means the city will need 1 million more homes by 2041 in addition to the existing 1.7 million homes in Greater Sydney as of 2016. Regional NSW will need 240,000 homes. Michigan residents can get free coronavirus testing in eight locations across the state this weekend at drive-through sites staffed by members of the Michigan National Guard. Testing sites in Branch, Chippewa, Marquette, Newaygo, Schoolcraft and Wayne counties will be open on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14. A Muskegon County testing site is open Friday evening and Saturday, a testing site in Gratiot County will be open on Saturday only. Tests are free and open to the public. The Michigan National Guard has partnered with state and local health departments across Michigan to assist with COVID-19 testing. Members work in teams of three, including a medic to conduct the test and two additional members who assist with paperwork and other logistics. All Michigan National Guard members working the testing sites have tested negative for COVID-19. Widespread testing is still the most crucial tool we have in protecting Michiganders from COVID-19 and lowering the chance of a second wave, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. I am grateful for the skilled professionals of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan State Police, and the Michigan National Guard who continue to provide exceptional service to Michiganders when we need them most. The Michigan National Guard has played a role in testing and screening, distributing personal protective equipment and staffing food banks across Michigan since the pandemic hit. Similar testing initiatives have taken place in 14 other areas in the last three weeks. See the locations for each testing site below: Branch County Branch County Fairgrounds 262 S. Sprague St. Coldwater, MI 49036 Saturday: 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Sunday: 12 p.m. 4 p.m. Chippewa County Sault Area High School 904 Marquette Ave. Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783 Saturday: 11 a.m. 4 p.m. Sunday: 12 p.m. 4 p.m. Gratiot County Alma Middle School 1700 Pine Ave. Alma, MI 48801 Saturday: 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Marquette County Berry Events Center, Northern Michigan University 400 W. Fair Ave. Marquette, MI 49855 Saturday: 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. 3 p.m. Muskegon County Oak Ridge Middle School 251 S. Wolf Lake Road Muskegon, MI 49442 Friday: 5 p.m. 8 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. 3 p.m. Newaygo County Newaygo County Admin & Health Department 1087 Newell St. White Cloud, MI 49349 Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Schoolcraft County Schoolcraft County Road Commission 332 East Road Manistique, MI 49854 Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Wayne County Ecorse High School 27225 W. Outer Dr. Ecorse, MI 48229 Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. 3 p.m. COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. READ MORE: Is a second wave of coronavirus inevitable? Michigan nears critical point to suppress another outbreak Restaurants, pools, libraries reopen: An updated chart of whats allowed in Michigan Michigan salons left in the dark as pressure to reopen mounts Advice from Up North: QR codes, UV lights and more pointers, as Michigan restaurants reopen Diners flock to downtown Flint restaurants as order is lifted Michigans mask mandate highlights political fault lines in coronavirus crisis By Daniel Greenfield After the end of Shavuot, the holiday in which Jewish people joyfully commemorate the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, the Jewish community of Los Angeles concluded it by the new ritual of going to clean off the hateful graffiti from their houses of worship while picking up the broken glass from the black nationalist and radical leftist night of broken glass in Los Angeles. One small business owner described a late Saturday night with people driving down the Fairfax district streets screaming, effing Jews. At the latest count, at least five s... This is the moment Norwegian police hunting two robbers on mopeds race them through a crowded park in central Oslo before smashing them off their bikes. The nail-biting pursuit happened after the two thieves raided a capital city jewellery store in broad daylight. Dressed head-to-toe in black, one robber, still wearing a helmet, barges into the shop waving a gun at terrified staff as the other reverses the moped into sliding doors to keep the entrance clear. CCTV footage shows a robber ushering a terrified shop worker who holds his hands above his heads into a corner. The robbers, armed with hammers, smash their way into glass cabinets as they cram their getaway bags with luxury watches and jewellery during the heist. Unbeknownst to the robbers, a worker had managed to raise the alarm as police scrambled to the scene. Separate footage shows officers dressing themselves in protective gear and bulletproof vests before embarking on their hunt. One robber parks the moped as the other ambushes the store while brandishing a gun The robber at the back of the moped turns his head as he realises the police car is mere inches from colliding with the bike The police car launches over a bump and smashes into the robbers, knocking them off the moped As the robbers prepare their escape one fires a warning shot into the ceiling before fleeing on the back of the bike. An officer can be heard in dashcam footage from a police patrol car, with its sirens blaring, telling colleagues to 'search and secure but evacuate the area' as they hunt the robbers down busy Oslo streets. As the police car passes Vulkan, in Grunerlkka, officers suddenly spot the thieves through a gap in the trees as they race through Kuba Park. They make their way to glass cabinets and smash through them with hammers The robbers then tip the contents of the glass cabinets into their bags during the raid, which happened in broad daylight As they prepare to flee on the moped one of the robbers fires a round from the pistol into the ceiling The driver swerves the police vehicle onto the pavement and into the park. They race down the paths in a desperate bid to reach the thieves, as one officer asks: 'Should I run them over?', and another responds 'Yes, yes, run them over'. The police car accelerates and is mere inches from hitting the back wheel before an officer notices a pedestrian and shouts 'Watch out!' The brakes are slammed and the robbers are given an added few seconds to speed away as they soar across a bridge. Authorities race to the scene and hunt for the robbers down Oslo streets, before noticing them (circled) near a park The officers are hot on the robbers' tails but are forced to slam on the brakes as they squeeze through a narrow bridge entrance to avoid hitting a member of the public But the officers are hot on their tails and quickly catch up. The driver attempts to throw the police off by suddenly veering right and up a narrow path, but the police car is right behind. The police car appears to go over a bump as it launches through the air and collides with the jewellery store thieves. The robbers are knocked into a huge mound of debris as officers jump out the vehicle and scream 'Don't move! Don't move!' Black smoke - believed to be from the crushed moped - fills the air as the police shout a warning at the robbers not to touch the pistol. The robbers ere arrested and taken into custody by police, where they admitted to the crimes. The footage was released as part of the robbers' trial which kicked off their week, according to local media Dagbladet. (CNN) US President Donald Trump warned against labeling "tens of millions of decent Americans as racist or bigots" on Thursday during an event promoted as discussing "justice disparities" in Dallas, Texas. The roundtable did include faith leaders, law enforcement representatives, small business owners and senior members of the Trump administration. The President warned against blanket descriptions of Americans as racist or bigoted, insisting that "Americans are good and virtuous people." "We have to work together to confront bigotry and prejudice wherever they appear, but will make no progress and heal no wounds by falsely labeling tens of millions of decent Americans as racist or bigots," Trump said. While the President has said he sympathizes with peaceful protesters marching after George Floyd's death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, Trump has a history of stoking racial animus, including calling some protesters "thugs" and threatening to deploy the military to "dominate" looters. On Thursday, Trump repeatedly lauded police forces and described those who used excessive force as "bad apples." And instead of speaking about police violence against black people, Trump decried officers who are targeted in the line of duty. He also suggested his attempts at racial reconciliation would go "quickly and easily." "We have so many different elements of strength in this country, we have such potential in this country, we have the greatest potential," he said. "But we get off-subject and we start thinking about things that don't matter or don't matter much. The important things, we don't even discuss but we are here to discuss very important things today." The President tried to get back to politics as usual amid the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing protests against police brutality, hosting a roundtable to discuss health, economic and justice disparities. He is expected to attend a multimillion dollar reelection fundraiser. Three key black law enforcement officials in the region the region's police chief, sheriff and district attorney were not invited to the roundtable, CNN has confirmed. However, the Glenn Heights Police Chief Vernell E. Dooley, who is African American, was invited. Glenn Heights is south of Dallas and has a population of about 16,000 people. The Dallas Morning News first reported that the three officials had been left out. The President also confirmed during his remarks that the White House is finalizing an executive order on policing standards in the wake of national outcry over Floyd's death at the hands of police officers in Minnesota. Trump said the order "will encourage police departments nationwide to meet the most current, professional standards for the use of force, including tactics for de-escalation." Explaining what standards of force the executive order would call for, Trump said it "means force, but force with compassion." "But if you're really going to have to do a job where somebody's really bad, you're going to have to do it with real strength, real power," he added. The roundtable took place at the Gateway Church Dallas Campus, where some audience members sat shoulder-to-shoulder and many did not wear masks even as Texas has recently reported the highest number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations since the pandemic started. Responding to a request for comment, a White House official passed along a list of attendees, which include other law enforcement officials and representatives from police associations. Past public conversations the White House has facilitated with the African American community have mainly included conservative allies, religious leaders and law enforcement. They have not included civil rights leaders, local activists and organizers involved in demonstrations over George Floyd's death or the families of individuals who died as a result of police brutality. During the roundtable and in similar meetings throughout the week, Trump has tried to relay his perceived victories for the African American community namely, criminal justice reform, opportunity zones and the general state of the economy. He's also used the meetings to call against defunding police departments. But he's continued to stand by his inflammatory rhetoric, which has often stoked racial tensions. In an interview with Fox News after the roundtable, Trump defended his use of the phrase "when the looting starts, the shooting starts," which, when he tweeted it last month, Twitter flagged for "glorifying violence." In a clip of the interview released Thursday night, Harris Faulkner, a black journalist with Fox News, asked the President where he thought the phrase came from. "I think Philadelphia, the mayor of Philadelphia," the President said. "No," Faulkner answered. "It comes from 1967. I was about 18 months old at the time," she said. "It was from the chief of police in Miami. He was cracking down, and he meant what he said. And he said, 'I don't even care if it makes it look like brutality, I'm going to crack down. When the looting starts, the shooting starts.' That frightened a lot of people when you tweeted that." "Well, it also comes from a very tough mayor," Trump said, referring to former Philadelphia Mayor and Police Commissioner Frank Rizzo, a statue of whom was removed from its post in the city last week. "It means two things. Very different things," Trump continued. "One is if there's looting there's probably going to be shooting, and that's not as a threat, that's really just a fact because that's what happens. And the other is if there's looting there's going to be shooting. There's they're very different meanings. No, there's very different meanings." After the roundtable, the President was slated to attend a joint fundraising committee dinner at a private residence, which will bring in $10 million for Trump Victory, a Republican National Committee official confirmed to CNN. Trump Victory is a joint fundraising committee benefiting the Trump campaign, the RNC, and 22 state parties. The price tag is $580,600 per couple to attend the Thursday night event at a private home in Dallas. About 25 people are expected. Trump is expected to attend a similar fundraising event in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Saturday. These are Trump's first in-person fundraising events since March, when the coronavirus pandemic halted traditional fundraising and campaigning. The President's visit to the Lone Star State comes as Texas continues to deal with the pandemic. According to Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases in the US, there have been more than 80,000 identified coronavirus cases in Texas and more than 1,900 have died from the virus. And on Wednesday night, the US surpassed 2 million identified coronavirus cases. While Trump was en route to Dallas, the White House coronavirus task force, led by Vice President Mike Pence, met for the second time this week in Washington, as a trusted model is projecting a steep increase in cases in the fall. But as Pence and Trump continue to lead the country's coronavirus response, they've also been eager to push federal and state guidance aside this week for the sake of the President's reelection campaign. Pence appeared to openly flout Virginia guidelines on Wednesday when he tweeted and subsequently deleted a photo with a large group of tightly-clustered Trump campaign staff at their Viriginia headquarters with no masks. The cap on gatherings is 10 people in Virginia. Trump's Dallas visit comes as Trump kicks off his return to campaign-related events, including in-person rallies, even as federal guidelines continue to discourage large gatherings. On Wednesday, the President announced he would host his first rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 19. Ahead of the Texas visit, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden criticized Trump for his handling of the coronavirus and for "running away" from a meaningful conversation on systemic racism. "More than 1,800 Texans have died as a result of COVID-19, more than 2.9 million have filed for unemployment, and people around the world are marching against systemic racism in our country," Biden said in a statement. "For weeks we've seen President Trump run away from a meaningful conversation on systemic racism and police brutality. Instead, he's further divided our country. Today's trip to Texas won't change any of that. President Trump is more interested in photo-ops than offering a healing voice as our nation mourns." This story was first published on CNN.com "Trump warns against 'falsely labeling' people as racists" Genevieve Elise Becker and Charles Parker McCarty met through a mutual friend when they were Washington interns in 2014 for two North Carolina senators she for Kay R. Hagan, a Democrat, and he for Richard M. Burr, a Republican. We were obviously both interested in politics, but neither of us was combative or hard-core, said Mr. McCarty, 27, who goes by Parker. He graduated from Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C., and in May received a law degree cum laude from Washington & Lee. Ms. Becker, 26, graduated cum laude from Davidson College in Davidson, N.C. Politics aside, they found enough common ground when they chatted at a small gathering she had at her dorm, which was next to his, on the George Washington campus. He got her number, then asked her to dinner at El Centro, a Mexican restaurant in Georgetown. Infection rates of the coronavirus spiked in Texas, Florida, and Arizona on Wednesday signifying what many believe as a second wave of the onslaught of the virus. This was expected following the reopening of these states this week. On Tuesday, Bloomberg News reported that hospital confinements in Texas due to COVID-19 "spiked 6.3 percent to 2,056." This, the news report said, has been the largest daily rise since the global health crisis developed. John Hopkins Center of Health Security's Eric Toner told the media outlet that a new or second wave of COVID-19 is expected in several parts of the country, adding that, although "small and distant so far, it is coming." Second Wave in the Aftermath of Reopening Meanwhile, Florida reported new cases of the fatal disease this week, with 8,553 new contagions. This number, according to the report, was higher than any other day during the past seven days. More so, the spike in number, according to the New York Post, was an aftermath of state reopenings and the government's lifting of stay-at-home measures last month. Early this month, Arizona reported new COVID-19 cases that reached more than 1,100. This surge, according to news reports, raised apprehensions among health experts, even as the overall contagions rate of the nation appears to be declining. According to University of Pennsylvania's director of biostatistics, Jeff Morris, "Arizona sticks out like a sore thumb" when it comes to a major problem. Various Levels of Reopening All 50 states of the country have started reopening in some way after COVID-19 thrust the nation into lockdown beginning in March. However, there are considerable differences in terms of the states' manner of deciding to reopen. Such changes mirror the enormous pressures that weigh on the governors of the country to address the failing economy and an apprehensive public even if there have been warnings of the possibility of the second wave of COVID-19 from epidemiologists. Companies are nearly generally restarting under certain limitations like decreased customers, necessitating workers and clients to put on face cover, and imposing social distancing. More so, even as governors of these states have lifted directives, stricter local rules may stay in place. Restarting Economies despite Increased COVID-19 Cases Essentially, California was the first state to shut down the economy following an early spread of the virus near San Francisco. And, even if it closed businesses the earliest among the rest of the states, California has been the slowest state to restart the economy. But despite this, California recorded the highest number of people confined at the hospital this week since last month because of the virus. On the contrary, in Georgia, where tattoo parlors, fitness gyms and hair salons have been operating for one-and-a-half already, the number of contagions has steadily declined, and this has puzzled experts. As a whole, according to reports, the infection rate of the nation this week, increased by one percent, the smallest rise since March. Despite the health experts' warning and apprehensions, the COVID-19 task force of the White House said, it has not seen any direct connection between the rising COVID-19 cases and states reopening. Check these out! Many in Africa would regret it today that attempts by the late Sir Milton Margai (First Prime Minister of independent Sierra Leone) government at making independent and democratic self-rule meaningful to Sierra Leoneans, were betrayed by acts of omission and commission of succeeding governments since the death of the countrys first Prime Minister in 1964. The period in particular 1978-1992 was the one-party dictatorship and the era in which Sierra Leone began the path to self-destruction, ruins, degradation, and dehumanization. The era of one-party rule in Sierra Leone was a period in which corruption and rude tribalism became the guiding principles for running affairs of state. The period witnessed totalitarian fascist state, painful economic woes, collapsed of cherished institutions, social decadence, and destruction of every good thing in the country. The decline we noticed in the education, health, housing, communication, transport, agriculture, public service sectors, and inefficiency in the dispensation of justice today can be traced as far back as in that period. The period was nothing but an era of failed leadership, which rather than encouraged and promote principles of accountability, respect for the rule of law and patriotism, opted to destroy institutions that were erected to sustain the growth of society, unleashing on the rest of the people a conglomerate of sycophants and zombies to do the bidding, including sowing the seeds of ethnic hatreds and violence to drive the other tribes into submission. Undoubtedly, today, a climate of discontent, feelings of dispossession, sense of abandonment and exclusion pervades in the country. Suffering and want have become visible in every corner of a country that is flowing with milk and honey, 3-daily square meal and decent living standards are luxuries which only few can afford, the economically disadvantaged and poor masses of the land felt their dignity and integrity are under attack by the powerful few who have made the common resources of the country their private property. The Sierra Leonean youths in particular have felt the blight of being cruelly, socially marginalized and politically manipulated, and short-changed by big party gurus, who steal their resources and wealth, who manipulate their votes and gender, who use rude tribalism and regional politics to divide them into two hostile camps-Mende-land and Tenme-land miasma. Our youths are increasingly becoming restive and have come to grasp with the understanding that their collective destiny and pride have been mortgaged by corrupt and insensitive politicians and public officers for a life of opulence and immorality. Frustrated that good education is now outside their means and that what is left for them as the future leaders of the country is a dysfunctional system that divides and oppressed Sierra Leoneans. Sierra Leoneans are more than ever, psychologically traumatized, if not dispirited. Sierra Leoneans better understand that the few who have ceased their freedom and liberty and made them paupers in their country have improvised alternative and well-funded educational system that serves their needs and that the collective resources of the land are being diverted to provide first class education for the children of the privileged few, overseas. Sierra Leoneans have become aware of the routine violations of their basic human rights and democratic freedoms, under a cabal of corrupt, avaricious and evil men and women. Sierra Leoneans are equally disturbed and feel appalled as they watch the steady disappearance of the public health sector; they are frustrated at the poor state of their road networks, the alarming lawlessness and souring crime rate, hunger and collapse of the agriculture sector and culture of impunity. These are not the marks of freedom, but the rein of an aggressive system that tends to keep Sierra Leoneans in bondage. From the North to the South, East to the West, Sierra Leoneans are being caught wallowing in mounting and interminable anguish of sorrows and bitter tastes. The mounting hunt for change to be initiated in Sierra Leone, by patriotic and visionary Sierra Leoneans can at least be justified from the above stated failures in the countrys national and local leadership. What is to be done now to reverse the situation, and how do we go about doing something, or actualizing the agenda for change of the corrupt, epileptic and decadent system? These are questions this forum is asking Sierra Leoneans. We have turned to our religious leaders for direction to free ourselves from the moribund system, but all our pleas have ended to naught; no ray of hope to ensure that Sierra Leoneans can enjoy the freedoms and liberty that God endowed them as a nation. What our religious leaders want Sierra Leoneans to believe is that God has abandoned Sierra Leone! If our religious leaders failed us as a nation, where do we go now? If one visits religious houses it is shocking to notice in the front roles the very corrupt, avaricious, shameless and unproductive men and women, who have sold the integrity of Sierra Leoneans to foreign passersby for their own selfish ego. These corrupt and questionable persons are hands in gloves with the countrys Imams, Sheikhs, Pastors, Bishops and Reverends; Churches and Mosques have become places to lie and manipulate people. Sierra Leoneans know that, with or without Imams, Sheikhs, Pastors, Bishops and Reverends, God condemns oppression and all oppressors; God condemns hypocrisy and all hypocrites; God condemns injustice and discrimination of any kind. Experience teaches us that God will not accept and aid a supposedly religious people whose religious orientation have not thought them the understanding that keeping silence in the face of oppression and injustice belies the essence of religion and what God stands for. This Forum should not be misconstrued as a meeting point to attack personalities or to exhibit showmanship. We believe that after almost 60 years of independence from colonialism, it is time Sierra Leoneans to wake from the slumber and take a moment of sober reflection. It appears Sierra Leoneans have abandoned the ways of God and disregarded the essence of religion. Some may suggest that Sierra Leoneans have shifted attention to the second question, and ask, whether it should now be accepted that God only help those who help themselves. If this is so then, what could Sierra Leoneans do as to help themselves now? Whether you are SLPP or APC, PDL, NGC, C4, ADP or any other party in Sierra Leone, we should accept that poverty wrecks development of a nation, and Sierra Leone is not an exception to this rule. The situation in the country is so hapless and traumatic that Sierra Leoneans are now forced to look for alternative path to survive, and the best they can do is to indulge in corrupt and retrogressive ways in order to survive and live a decent life. These in effect have subverted the culture of peace and replaced it with restiveness and insecurity of lives and property. The cumulative effects of all these, is the climate of underdevelopment, which abounds in every corner of Sierra Leone. Since most Sierra Leoneans desire a complete change of the rotten system or status quo, a change, which would inevitably come out of the ashes of the old, tribalistic and decadent system, it is only natural that while seeking replacement for the obnoxious system or status quo, we have to bring forth genuine discussions in this group and allow members to exchange their views and ideas in a peaceful, respectful and democratic way. As always, discussing the mirage of challenges facing Sierra Leone inevitably involves talking about national interest and not ethnic, personal or party interests. So, therefore, it is important for Sierra Leoneans to really understand the fact that, the road to salvation lies on how individuals and groups are able to face the daunting challenges of freeing their society from the greed and bondage of few visionless and ideologically bankrupt leaders. The 2023 election is our chance once again to demonstrate our patriotism, readiness and determination to vote in right people that will steer the ship of Sierra Leone and the Sierra Leonean people in the right direction. There is no doubt, it take two to tango; the people have a responsibility to protect their vote, since the institutions saddle with such responsibilities have failed and are still failing to do so. In such an environment, the rule of engagement also change, we cannot trust anybody; but, let us prepare ourselves for the challenges of the forth coming elections of 2023. We should all come out with proposals to ensure that our vote in 2023 is not only protected; but that the wish and aspirations of the Sierra Leonean people should prevail. Finally, we want to make it understandably and loudly clear that this forum was created to give Sierra Leoneans the opportunity to expose the ills associated with poor governance in Sierra Leone and as a center of decent debates, leading to finding appropriate antidotes to Sierra Leones general malaise. If we allow the opportunity God Almighty Allah has created in this forum passes us by, then Sierra Leone would become permanently enslaved for years after the 2023 elections. This in turn will breed deepening poverty, hopelessness, confusion, immorality and destitutions among Sierra Leoneans. The time to sit aloof waiting for corrupt politician to give us tee-shirts, drugs and ill-gotten money to subvert our vote is over. God Help Sierra Leone! Alimamy Bakarr Sankoh Group Administrator VANCOUVER, BC, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - NexGen Energy Ltd. ("NexGen" or the "Company") (TSX: NXE) (NYSE MKT: NXE) is pleased to announce all business items considered at it's Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on June 11, 2020 ("Meeting") were passed, with a total of 154,341,350 representing 42.84% of the Company's total shares outstanding. The details of the proxy voting for directors are set out below: Nominee Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld Leigh Curyer 130,910,430 98.48% 2,019,083 1.52% Christopher McFadden 130,025,484 97.82% 2,904,029 2.18% Richard Patricio 97,988,325 73.72% 34,931,188 26.28% Trevor Thiele 128,000,793 96.29% 4,928,720 3.71% Warren Gilman 102,488,886 77.10% 30,440,627 22.90% Karri Howlett 129,441,702 97.38% 3,487,811 2.62% Sybil Veenman 129,779,144 97.63% 3,150,369 2.37% Brad Wall 132,152,001 99.42% 777,512 0.58% Detailed voting results for all matters considered at the meeting will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. About NexGen NexGen is a British Columbia corporation with a focus on the acquisition, exploration and development of Canadian uranium projects. NexGen has a highly experienced team of uranium industry professionals with a successful track record in the discovery of uranium deposits and in developing projects through discovery to production. NexGen owns a portfolio of prospective uranium exploration assets in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada; including a 100% interest in Rook I, location of the Arrow Deposit discovered in February 2014, the Bow discovery in March 2015, the Harpoon discovery in August 2016 and the Arrow South discovery in July 2017. NexGen is the recipient of the PDAC's 2018 Bill Dennis Award and the 2019 Environmental and Social Responsibility Award. Forward-Looking Information The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking information and statements are based on the then current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about NexGen's business and the industry and markets in which it operates. Forward-looking information and statements are made based upon numerous assumptions, including among others, that the proposed transaction will be completed, the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the price of uranium, the cost of planned exploration activities, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment, supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct NexGen's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward looking information or making forward looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performances and achievements of NexGen to differ materially from any projections of results, performances and achievements of NexGen expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others, negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of the availability of additional financing, the risk that pending assay results will not confirm previously announced preliminary results, imprecision of mineral resource estimates, the appeal of alternate sources of energy and sustained low uranium prices, aboriginal title and consultation issues, exploration risks, reliance upon key management and other personnel, deficiencies in the Company's title to its properties, uninsurable risks, failure to manage conflicts of interest, failure to obtain or maintain required permits and licenses, changes in laws, regulations and policy, competition for resources and financing, and other factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 11, 2020 under "Risk Factors". Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws. http://www.nexgenenergy.ca SOURCE NexGen Energy Ltd. Related Links http://www.nexgenenergy.ca/ Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 16:13:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Limits on gathering sizes in Australia will be lifted within weeks, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed Friday. Following a meeting of the National Cabinet, which is comprised of the prime minister and state and territory leaders, on Friday Morrison announced that a 100-person limit on indoor gatherings will be scrapped under step three of the government's plan to ease coronavirus restrictions. Instead venues will be required to provide at least four square meters per person indoors. Stadiums with a capacity of up to 40,000 people will be allowed to have 10,000 people under step three while bigger venues will be required to apply for special exemptions, paving the way for crowds to return to sporting events in droves. "It would have to be a large, open area. There would need to be seats at the appropriate distance. It would need to be ticketed, and so people would be able to understand who was in attendance at that event," Morrison told reporters. The National Cabinet also reconfirmed the commitment to the three step framework for a COVID-safe Australia to be completed in next month. "We reaffirmed our commitment to the three-step process to ensure that we are on track for concluding the third step of that three-step process in July," said Morrison. The governments of Queensland and South Australia have announced plans to re-open their domestic borders on July 10 and July 20 respectively amid pressure from the federal government to do so to provide a boost for the tourism industry. Morrison also announced a pilot program for international students but said that only states with open domestic borders would be allowed to participate. "We'll be working closely with states and territories, firstly on a pilot basis and to enable, in a very controlled setting, for international students to be able to come to Australia but only on pre-approved plans for particular institutions worked up between federal authorities and state and territory authorities," he said. "But I made one thing very clear to the states and territories today, if you can't come to your state from Sydney, then no one is coming to your state from Singapore." The prime minister was joined by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Brendan Murphy who said that Australia's response to COVID-19 was in a "good place." "We've only had 38 new cases over the last week, more than half of them are overseas returned travellers," Murphy said. However, he reiterated warnings from the government and health experts that mass gatherings at Black Lives Matter protests could undo Australia's progress in preventing the spread of the virus. "Despite all the attempts of organizers to try and make them safe, those sort of events where people are crowded together and where you can't, we don't know who is there, are inherently unsafe," he said. As at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, a total of 7,285 cases have been reported in Australia, including 102 deaths and 6,761 have been reported as recovered from COVID-19, according to the Department of Health. The department also said over the past week there has been an average of six new cases reported each day. Enditem Hauser & Wirth has launched its first exhibition devoted to Sophie Taeuber-Arp (18891943), one of the most important yet under-recognized artists of the 20th-century avant-garde. Challenging conventional boundaries, Taeuber-Arp asserted arts relevance to daily life, working across disciplines, from works on paper, painting, textiles, and sculpture, to design and architecture, as well as dance and performance. The 30 works in the online exhibition, dating from 1916 to 1942, are presented alongside photography and relevant material from the Arp Foundation archives. From the earliest point in her career, Taeuber-Arp explored new abstract forms in a groundbreaking manner inspired by her arts-and-crafts education. From 1916 to 1929 she taught textile design at the Zurich School of Applied Arts, utilizing the innovative methods of color theory and abstraction she developed in her own work. In 1918 she was commissioned to design the stage sets and marionettes for a satirical version of Carlo Gozzis play King Stag. Constructed using a variety of wood shapes with exposed joints, the marionettes reflect Taeuber-Arps sensitivity for space and rhythm, likely inspired by her experience as a dancer. Photo: Nic Aluf / Courtesy of Stiftung Arp e.V. Berlin and Rolandswerth From 1926, after her move with husband and fellow artist Hans Arp to Strasbourg, France, Taeuber-Arp designed radical architectural interiors. The exhibition features preparatory works surrounding her important commission for the Aubette, a cultural center in Strasbourg. Her fellow Dada proponent Emmy Hennings said of the design, The walls, covered with paintings, give the illusion of almost endlessly vast rooms. Here painting makes the visitor dream, it awakens the depths in us. Photo: Ernst Linck / Courtesy of Stiftung Arp e.V. Berlin and Rolandswerth In 1928, Taeuber-Arp designed the home and studio she shared with her husband in Meudon, near Paris. Along with architecture loosely based on Bauhaus tenets, she created fully modular furniture with minimalist forms and colored paint. The house became a meeting place for a group of artists, writers, and intellectuals that included Sonia and Robert Delaunay, Alexander Calder, Wassily Kandinsky, Joan Miro, and Marcel Duchamp. The exhibitions inclusion of Taeuber-Arps investigations of architecture, interiors, textiles, and furniture provide welcome nuance and texture to our understanding of the work of an influential female practitioner too long overshadowed by her husband and other mandarins of the avant garde. hauserwirth.com Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest Hyderabad, June 12 : In the continuing surge in Covid-19 cases, Telangana on Friday reported nine deaths and 164 new infections. The fresh fatalities pushed the death toll in the state to 174 while the tally of Covid-19 positive cases mounted to 4,484. According to the director of public health and family welfare, out of 164 new cases, 133 were reported from Greater Hyderabad, the worst-affected among all 33 districts. The remaining cases were reported from 13 districts. The number of patients undergoing treatment in hospitals was 2,032 as 2,278 have so far been discharged after recovery. Meanwhile, the junior doctors at Gandhi Hospital, Telangana's exclusive facility to treat Covid-19 patients, on Friday called off the strike on the condition that the state government address their demands in 15 days. Over 300 junior doctors were on strike since Tuesday night after one of their colleagues on duty was assaulted by relatives of a patient, who had succumbed to Covid-19. They had decided to boycott the duties till the government accepted their demands including resuming non-Covid healthcare services at Gandhi Hospital and decentralisation of management of SARI and Covid-19 positive cases. Telangana Junior Doctors' Association (JUDA) also demanded recruitment of doctors and nurses and deployment of Special Protection Force (SPF) at all government teaching hospitals. The two rounds of talks between JUDA and Health Minister E. Rajender had failed to resolve the issue. However, following the assurances given by the minister late Thursday, the medicos decided to end the strike. "Taking public health into consideration especially in view of the pandemic we are fighting and trusting the Health Minister's reassuring words, Juda has decided to conditionally call off the strike and resume duties with immediate effect," they said. JUDA said that the minister should personally address their demands so that they don't have to boycott their duties again. An aggrieved Mr Joseph Kofi Damtse, who was disqualified Parliamentary for aspiring for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Assin South Constituency, has declared his intention to go independent. He attributed his decision to a grand scheme orchestrated by some big-wigs of the Party to deny him the chance to contest Rev. John Ntim Fodjour, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP). Mr Damtse told the Ghana News Agency that the resolve by the Party executives to protect the sitting MP has grossly affected Party unity and cohesion among the rank and file. "Some so-called faceless big-men within the Party I have toiled and supported for decades think I don't deserve to represent them in Parliament, hence their unflinching determination to disqualify me at all cost." "I am ready to contest as independent candidate, after all they say I am not a member of the Party for reasons best known to them," he said. Again, he was worried that the Party had failed woefully to officially inform him of the reasons for his unjustifiable disqualification having contested in the Parliamentary primaries since the year 2008. "I am disappointed that my Party, believed to be the icon of democracy in Ghana has failed woefully to officially inform me about the reasons for my disqualification". Outlining his strategy to win the seat, the disqualified Parliamentary Aspirant who lost the 2016 primaries narrowly to the sitting MP, said he was bent on galvanizing massive grassroot support for a landslide electoral victory in the 2020 polls. In addition to that he was working assiduously to identify dedicated sympathisers and galvanise their support and involvement to win the seat. "Considering the tremendous work I am doing at the grassroot level to attract more floating voters as well as members of other political parties to my fold, I am confident of winning the seat. Mr Damtse was full of praise for the Party supporters who have declared their support for him to contest and urged them to continually support him to improve their well-being. According to him, his priority was to place the wellbeing of the people far above partisan politics and continually seek their interest. He called on Ghanaians to change their voting pattern to effect the desired structural transformation of the economy to bridge the widening gap between the rich and the poor. Mr Damtse urged Party members to desist from inflammatory statements, acrimony and rancour to maintain the peace within the Party. He urged all members to eschew all bitterness and anger irrespective of their individual or collective differences, close their ranks and unite with all and work to win the seat. GNA A married couple who dumped World War Two Mustard Gas canisters in a lake have been sentenced for possessing a chemical weapon after what is thought to be the first such prosecution in the UK. Military enthusiast Martyn Tasker was jailed for five years after the discovery of 16 abandoned canisters at a former RAF based used in the Second World War as well as a separate charged of possessing two Bren machine guns. Martyn Tasker, his wife Michaela and his friend Stuart Holmes were jailed on Friday (Josh Payne/PA) The Environment Agency said the feckless trio were the first to be charged with possessing a chemical weapon in the country. They were arrested after the Taskers, of Longdales Road, Lincoln, sought medical help for arm blisters and a difficulty in breathing following their find in Roughton Woods near Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, in October 2017. The court heard Mrs Tasker had collapsed in a GPs waiting room due to respiratory difficulties. Royal Navy divers were part of the 11-day response effort (Royal Navy/PA) Holmes, of Witham Road, Woodhall Spa, also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of dumping a substance likely to harm human health or pollute the environment. Authorities were forced to secure the lake, woods and some residential homes in a major 11-day operation which involved over 20 separate agencies. The Taskers discovered the canisters in Roughton Woods in October 2017 (Royal Navy/PA) Speaking to the trio, the judge said: In my judgment this is a case where your state of mind involved the deliberate commission of this offence, in that it is clear in my judgment that the decision to dispose of the canisters instead of contacting Explosive Ordnance Disposal or any other lawful authority, was not, as I have already observed, due to any genuine belief that it would be safe to do so. It was designed to cover up the fact that the three of you had been involved in transporting these items away from the site where you had found them and were in unlawful possession of these items. Given your knowledge of the extremely hazardous nature of the contents of the canisters, I am satisfied that the decision to dispose of the canisters in this manner instead of contacting Explosive Ordnance Disposal or any other lawful authority, was not due to any genuine belief that it would be safe to do so, but was designed to cover up the fact that the three of you were in unlawful possession of the canisters. Following the sentencing, Ben Thornely, incident management lead at the Environment Agency, said: Mustard gas is extremely toxic, so dumping it in a lake near peoples homes and in a popular woodland enjoyed by Scouts and dog-walkers was appallingly dangerous. Luckily the old, corroded containers didnt leak and were safely disposed of by professionals who showed bravery, ingenuity and collaboration to keep people safe. This incident was entirely unique, so its satisfying the judge recognised the grave threat posed and we hope this sentence sends a clear message we wont hesitate to take action against those who so carelessly put people and our precious environment at risk. Chief Inspector Phil Vickers, of Lincolnshire Police, said: This operation challenged the emergency services, military and partner agencies in ways that we have never experienced in Lincolnshire before in fact some of the issues had never been faced anywhere before. Bringing together 27 agencies to protect the community of Woodhall Spa and surrounding area was no mean feat everyone pulled together and we witnessed bravery from our military, insight from our specialist advisers, ingenuity from the Environment Agency and commitment from all involved. This was truly a successful multi-agency team effort we achieved our aim of protecting the community from harm, and used our wide range of skills and experience to do so. Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr on Friday filed an amicus brief in county court suggesting that an Alabama death row inmate convicted of killing a Jefferson County sheriffs deputy in 1998 be granted a new trial. Toforest Johnson was convicted of capital murder in 1998 for the 1995 slaying of Jefferson County Deputy William Hardy, who was shot to death while working a part-time security job for a Birmingham hotel. Johnson has been on death row since 1998. But in his amicus brief filed Friday in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Carr said Johnson deserves a new trial because of a couple of factors including because Johnsons conviction was largely secured after a woman testified at Johnsons trial in that she had listened in on a three-way phone call and heard Johnson confess to the crime and that it was never disclosed to the jury that she received a $5,000 reward in 2001 for her help with the case. Jurors also did not hear from several witnesses who could have provided an alibi for Johnson at the time of Hardys murder. Carr also said that the lead prosecutor on Johnsons case expressed concerns about it and supports a new trial for Johnson. It is the district attorneys position that in the interest of justice, Mr. Johnson, who has spent more than two decades on death row, be granted a new trial, the DA wrote in the brief. Carr cautioned that he is not taking a position on whether Johnson is guilty or innocent. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Teresa Pulliam is presiding over the case determining whether Johnson will get a new trial. In 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court remanded the question about the witness reward to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, which sent the case to Pulliam. San Francisco firefighters rescued a man Friday morning from a cliff at Deads Man Point near the Legion of Honor, officials said. The man suffered serious injuries consistent with a fall of over 100 feet and he was rescued shortly after 9 a.m. with the help of a long rope extended to a rock below, according to the citys Fire Department and union officials. Before writing this column, I called Desiree Bennyhoff, CEO of the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce who shared with me the concerns of the Glen/ED Chamber of Commerce about the impact on local businesses that the pandemic has had. She explained that businesses must look out for employees first. If someone has to go without a paycheck, the business owner takes that on before putting the burden on employees, she said. The Chambers research shows the impact of the shutdown on businesses. It indicates that the majority of member businesses have seen a minimum of 20-40 percent impact on their revenue due to COVID-19 and the subsequent regulatory mandates in the Edwardsville and Glen Carbon area. 46 percent of the businesses had to reduce staff hours of positions and an overwhelming 73 percent of chamber member businesses reported slower sales. Many economists say that the hospitality industry, hotels and restaurants and associated businesses will recover, and many jobs will return, but it will take 12-18 months in some sectors. In terms of hospitality businesses reopening, restaurants have been very creative in the way that they have addressed the pandemic and regulations. Kimberli Goodner, owner of 222 Artisan Bakery & Cafe in downtown Edwardsville, is a woman with a plan. As a former nurse in the Air Force, she was in charge of infection control, which required strict adherence to keeping things clean or sterile. She has taken that knowledge and applied it to her company as they adapt to the new environment. Among the many modifications she has made at 222 are sidewalk seating, delivery service, sneeze guards, as well as continuing to offer curbside service and online ordering. Goodner expressed concern about employees and the public. She also emphasized customers wearing facemasks, if not for their own protection, then for the sake of the employees who are taking a risk every day to serve them. Business leaders have invested significant time and dollars to ensure their environments are safe for employees and customers. Reopening has its challenges for companies and employees, as well as for the public. It will require changes in behavior and new habits to accommodate the new reality post-COVID. That includes frequent cleaning at shops on the part of the businesses but it also requires cooperation by you and me when we visit them. Wash your hands frequently and wear a mask, please. Jim Grandone is a long-time resident of Edwardsville. He was the architect of the East CountyIf You Only Knew marketing campaign promoting Metro East to businesses in St. Louis in the 1990s. Grandone holds a BA in political science from the University of Illinois at Springfield and was a Coro Fellow and serves on a variety of boards. He lives in Leclaire with his wife, Mary. SEATTLE - This week, Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood embarked on a radical experiment in self-government. Activists have taken over a six-block area surrounding a police precinct, declaring it an "autonomous zone." Those who have gathered say they make decisions about their space by consensus. The decentralized movement has no leaders and no spokespeople, and one core demand: that police officers stay away. The zone has attracted the attention of President Donald Trump and other Republicans, who have urged the Seattle mayor and Washington governor to "take back" the city. "If you don't do it, I will," Trump tweeted Thursday, suggesting "domestic terrorists" are at the heart of the project. But the neighborhood's residents and activists say the autonomous zone is nothing of the sort. Locals describe a block party-like atmosphere with concerts and movie screenings. Protesters have set up barricades so cars can't get through. Volunteers give out free food and medical care and take turns performing night watch and other civic services. The city is providing trash pickup and portable restrooms serviced daily. And even as a handful of armed Seattle Police Department officers began making their way back into the East Precinct on Thursday, the situation remained peaceful. Protesters are still encamped around the station, putting finishing touches on a new "BLACK LIVES MATTER" street mural modeled on Washington, D.C. The "autonomous zone" is nestled in a normally bustling strip of bars, restaurants and apartment buildings. It was borne out of protests against police brutality, sparked by the killing of George Floyd while in police custody. On June 1, protesters marched from downtown Seattle up to Capitol Hill. When they found their route blocked by barricades set up around the neighborhood's police precinct, the crowd swelled and police eventually declared a riot. Protesters returned daily, and the situation devolved into a tense seven-day standoff. Police deployed tear gas, pepper spray and blast balls on multiple nights. On Sunday, a man attempted to drive his car into the crowd then shot a protester before surrendering to police. The scene shifted Monday, when the Seattle Police Department vacated its building, leaving the neighborhood to the protesters. As the last officers rode off on bicycles, a crowd streamed past the barricades in a victory parade. Once the police left, protesters immediately took over the intersection to ensure it would remain police-free. They repurposed barricades set up to protect the precinct, using them instead to block roads, effectively turning a six-block area into a pedestrian zone. Artists set to work stenciling, tagging and muraling messages and symbols such as "Black Lives Matter," "RIP George Floyd," and "ACAB" or "1312," shorthand for "All cops are b---ards," on the precinct and surrounded walls. Volunteers served at medical aid stations and staffed pop-ups such as the "No Cop Co-Op," a tent filled with free snacks. Pho and coffee were distributed to the activists camping in tents. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, someone set up a projector to host outdoor film screenings of documentaries such as Ava Duvernay's "13th" and "Paris is Burning." The nearby Domino's Pizza was flooded with delivery calls. On Thursday morning, a UPS deliveryman arrived with an Amazon package addressed to "PROTESTERS IN FRONT OF PRECINCT (ANY PROTESTERS)" at the East Precinct's address. A volunteer at a medical aid station signed for the package. Inside was a blanket. Members of the Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club, which provides armed community defense for anti-racist events and other social justice activities, were on site, standing near the barricades with no visible weapons. At least one person had a gun on his waist; he was not a member of the John Brown club. Washington is an open-carry state, although Mayor Jenny Durkan banned weapons in an emergency order following the first major protest on May 30. Residents of the autonomous zone worked together to address conflicts through negotiation and de-escalation. When a group of individuals attempted to break into the precinct between 4 and 5 a.m. on Thursday morning, other members of the community convinced them to stop. By 6 a.m., roughly a dozen young men were engaged in a heated discussion in the middle of the street about why one would want to trespass in the precinct. At a Thursday afternoon news conference, Durkan said city officials continue to monitor the situation. "SPD did an assessment today, and there is going to be an ongoing assessment about when it is going to be safe to move in there," she said. "We don't want to introduce additional flash points." Cam Manny, a restaurant manager who has bartended in the neighborhood for years, lives in an apartment building inside the autonomous zone. He stayed through the seven-night police standoff and the three-night experiment without cops. "As someone who works in the bars in the area, I see more violence on any given Friday and Saturday night on the street, pre-pandemic, than I do in these last three nights here in my neighborhood," he said. "They call for medics, people are being proactive, and they are understanding that everyone is in a very heightened situation of tension and frustration and doing a pretty good job of working it out," Manny said. On Wednesday evening, Manny began talking with protesters about the need for vehicular access to allow for package and grocery delivery, as well as trash pickup. What started as a yelling match settled into a cordial dialogue, with Manny's dog serving as an icebreaker. "That's the magic about a small community," said David Lewis, a project manager at Lululemon who described himself as a "facilitator" of the Seattle protests. "This has become a micro-neighborhood, a microcosm. In a small population it is very easy to self-protect - I am hesitant to use the word police - with a unified message and a community in which everybody knows each other." "With conversation and dialogue built on the foundation of respect, we can and have been able to de-escalate every situation," he said. But, he added, there are challenges, particularly since the president's tweets. "Having a community that is autonomously policing is ideal and beautiful. I'm absolutely for that, given the right structure," he said. "That said, declaring autonomy against a city or against a nation like America is by no means a goal I wish to stand behind at this moment." The family of a black man found dead in a police cell in England are seeking answers over how he died. Simeon Francis, 35, was found unresponsive in his cell at Torquay police station on May 20 and later pronounced dead. The father-of-ones death is being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). His siblings, who live in Torquay, said: No matter what Simeons past was, he was our brother and well loved. We want answers as to why he died in these circumstances. We are devastated at the news of his death and now seek justice for him. Mr Francis was originally from Birmingham and moved to Torquay 16 years ago. His father, who lives in Birmingham, said his family was struggling to come to terms with his death. We are shocked and devastated at the sudden loss of my beautiful son Simeon, he said. As a father, I would never have expected to be dealing with the death of a child in such circumstances. The family and I are seeking answers as to what happened to Simeon. The IOPC said Mr Francis was arrested at 12.45am on May 20 on Cowley Bridge Road in Exeter. The familys request is a simple one. Why is Simeon dead? He was transported by police van to Torquay police station where he was booked into custody at around 3am. Mr Francis was later found unresponsive in his cell and an ambulance was called. He was pronounced dead at around 6pm. The IOPC said the watchdog had received a mandatory referral from Devon and Cornwall Police following Mr Franciss death and it was investigating the circumstances. Regional director Catrin Evans said: We are analysing a considerable amount of CCTV footage from the custody suite. We are looking at the level of care provided during the period of detention, including the frequency and adequacy of checks carried out. An inquest into Mr Franciss death was opened and adjourned last week by the Plymouth Coroner. The IOPC said a preliminary post-mortem examination had taken place but has not identified a cause of death, and further tests will be carried out. Devon and Cornwall Police said the force has been co-operating fully with the IOPC and no members of staff have been suspended or placed on restricted duties. Assistant Chief Constable Jim Colwell said: An independent investigation by the IOPC will always be carried out following a death in police custody. The force made this referral immediately and has co-operated fully with the IOPC ever since this will continue in the coming weeks and months. Our thoughts and condolences remain with the family and friends of Mr Francis and we remain committed to a wholly appropriate, independent and thorough investigation into the events surrounding Mr Francis death. Community campaigner Des Jaddoo, who is supporting the Francis family, said: Sadly we are here again supporting another family who have suffered the sudden loss of a loved one. I do expect a thorough and transparent investigation from the IOPC and would further expect the utmost cooperation from Devon and Cornwall Police. Devon and Cornwall Police must be held to account as to what happened to Mr Francis whilst he was in their custody and their duty of care towards him. The familys request is a simple one. Why is Simeon dead? Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: Fearing a spike in COVID-19 cases, the Punjab Government is considering making test certification mandatory for those entering the state from Delhi and has decided to go in for a stricter lockdown on weekends and public holidays. Only medical staff and essential service providers will not need to have the COVID-19 certification. In a video conference on Thursday, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said as the peak of the pandemic was still two months away, the officers should enforce a stricter lockdown. Except medical staff and essential service providers, others would be required to download e-passes from the COVA app. The Punjab Police was told to implement the directions strictly and not allow any gathering of large crowds. Industrial establishments would be allowed to function as usual on all days. These stringent curbs could help delay the peak for as long as possible, the chief minister added. CM Singh said that the number of cases in Delhi had reached alarming levels and on an average, 500 to 800 vehicles come to the state from the national capital every day.A final decision on curbs for those from Delhi would be taken after a review with experts. Pointing out that many of those who had come from outside had not taken precautions and had not reported themselves to health authorities, tough measures would have to be taken as the spike was still continuing and was expected to escalate in the days ahead. It was suggested that since it normally takes around four days for the virus to show up, those coming from outside should be tested after a week and in the meantime they should be asked to strictly home quarantine themselves. The Chief Minister directed the health department to ensure strict application of CGHS rates. All data on availability of beds should be put in the public domain as there were complains that private hopsitals were overcharging. Escort taskforce organizes cross-day-and-night helicopter flight training PLA Daily Source: China Military Online Editor: Wang Xinjuan 2020-06-11 00:44:32 Recently, the 35th escort taskforce of the Chinese PLA Navy organized ship-borne helicopters to conduct the cross-day-and-night flight training over the waters off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. "The training has been scheduled to focus on commanding, coordination and technology development, as well as the troops' will building. We have achieved the expected training purposes by now," introduced Xiao Gaoshang, head of the helicopter team. In the double-helicopter cooperative training, the team carried out targeted training on anti-piracy such as patrol, guard, reconnaissance, and evidence gathering in accordance with the traits of escort missions. "Ship-borne helicopter features quick response and high maneuverability, and plays an important role in verification and counter-piracy operations", added Xiao Gaoshang. "Taking each flight as the first flight and taking each subject as the most difficult is the slogan for our training." During the landing training at 6:30 pm, it was suddenly cloudy followed by rain shower, and the meteorological conditions were complicated. Without external reference object, it was difficult to judge the altitude and speed of flight. The pilot could only rely on the instrument to maintain the current state and land on the ship with the aid of ship-borne landing aids. This is a great test for the pilot's mental toughness and operation level. "Determine whether the landing conditions are met", Xiao Gaoshang hinted at the young pilot. After confirmation, the young pilot flew into the landing route. At 6:36 pm, the helicopter landed steadily on the sign circle in the flight deck center of the guided-missile destroyer Taiyuan (Hull 131). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Welcome Guest! You Are Here: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on June 11, revealed that more than 100 United Nations personnel working in Mali have been infected by a coronavirus. In addition, two other people working for the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). According to John Hopkins University, a total of 1,722 people have tested positive while 97 died in the African Nation. "Mali has not been spared by the virus, and neither has our peacekeeping mission on the ground," he told a UNSC meeting while confirming the news. Political turmoil in Mali He further said that while most of those affected have recovered, two have died adding that the organisation was mourning the loss. Speaking about the situation in Mali, Guterres said that the country was already struggling with terrorism and the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the satiation with terrorists and other armed groups trying to cash on the health emergency. Mali has been in turmoil since a 2012 uprising prompted mutinous soldiers to overthrow the president. Since then, the nation has not only faced Islamic insurgency but also a Franch led war. Read: UN Chief Says Missiles, Drones Used To Attack Saudi Arabia Of 'Iranian Origin' Read: UN Chief Calls For An End To 'plague Of Racism' Commenting on the situations in terrorism prone African nations last week, Guterres reportedly said the coronavirus pandemic has compounded the "dire humanitarian and security situations in Mali and Africas Sahel region. The U.N. chief said in a report to the Security Council that the deteriorating security situation remains of grave concern with terrorist groups allied with al-Qaida and Islamic State competing for control over areas of influence. Guterres said terrorist attacks against civilians, Malian and international forces are continuing in northern and central Mali, posing the most significant security threat in the north. He said clashes between al-Qaida and the Islamic State group have also been reported. Read: Al-Qaedas North Africa Chief Droukdel Neutralised By French Forces Read: UN Chief: COVID-19 Compounds Dire Situation In Mali, Sahel SPRINGFIELD A bill banning smoking in cars with children is now in effect in Illinois, but police are not allowed to arrest motorists for that offense alone. The bill was introduced in 2014, but did not go into effect until June 1. State Sen. Rachelle Crowe said similar laws were already in effect in other states. In Illinois, smoking in a vehicle with children is considered a petty offense punishable by a $100 fine, she said. Secondhand smoke can be especially harmful to your childrens health because their lungs still are developing, according to healthychildren.org. If you smoke around your children or they are exposed to secondhand smoke in other places, they may be in more danger than you realize. Children whose parents smoke only outside are still exposed to the chemicals in secondhand smoke. The best way to eliminate this exposure is to quit. The law states that a person shall not smoke in a motor vehicle containing a person under 18 years of age. It defines smoking as inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, weed, plant, regulated narcotic or other combustible substance. It provides that a police officer may not stop a motor vehicle solely for a violation of this section of state law and, if convicted, a person can be fined up to $100. The law states that only the driver of the vehicle may be ticketed for the offense. It also exempts motorcycles and convertible motor vehicles in open-air or top down mode. Infiniti Research, a leading market intelligence solutions provider, has recently announced the completion of their latest success story on market intelligence solution. During this engagement, the experts at Infiniti Research helped the client enhance sales and increase profits by over 21%. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005277/en/ The business challenge: Our client, an organic fertilizer company, encountered a steady decline in their profits for two consecutive years. Also, the fluctuating prices of the raw materials made it difficult for the client to adapt to the fast-evolving market changes. In addition, due to the lack of domestic production centers, the client relied on heavy imports from other developed countries such as Canada and India. The client, therefore, realized the need to thoroughly analyze the market changes and profitable business opportunities. To do so, they approached the experts at Infiniti Research to leverage their expertise in offering market intelligence solution. Having a comprehensive understanding of the market opportunities, trends, and challenges can help businesses to efficiently adapt to the market demands and succeed in the long-run. Our market intelligence analysts can help you to achieve these objectives. Request a complimentary proposal here. Solutions Offered: Market research study to thoroughly analyze the US organic fertilizer market. The factors such as market demands, trends, organic fertilizer market size, industry developments, and business opportunities were analyzed. to thoroughly analyze the US organic fertilizer market. The factors such as market demands, trends, organic fertilizer market size, industry developments, and business opportunities were analyzed. Market scanning and monitoring analysis to evaluate price fluctuations in the organic fertilizer market. The experts also assessed market competition, identified the right scale of opportunities to capitalize on to yield profits, and evaluated the factors impacting the raw material prices in the organic fertilizer market. to evaluate price fluctuations in the organic fertilizer market. The experts also assessed market competition, identified the right scale of opportunities to capitalize on to yield profits, and evaluated the factors impacting the raw material prices in the organic fertilizer market. Customer intelligence study to analyze the needs and requirements of end-consumers regarding organic fertilizers. Infiniti's market intelligence solution helped the organic fertilizer company to: Start a new organic fertilizer production center and reduce their dependency on other nations for raw materials Identify the cost-effective technologies and processes to capitalize on to drive sales and enhance operational efficiency Adapt to the fast-evolving marketplace Competitively set prices for their products and sustain a leading edge in the US organic fertilizer market Understand their competitors' strategies and make changes to their business models accordingly Enhance sales and subsequently increase profits by over 21% The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the need for significant changes in the organic fertilizer market. Request more info to learn how our experts can help organic fertilizer manufacturers to survive the crisis and ensure business continuity. About Infiniti Research Established in 2003, Infiniti Research is a leading market intelligence company providing smart solutions to address your business challenges. Infiniti Research studies markets in more than 100 countries to help analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions, and develop intelligent business strategies. To know more, visit: https://www.infinitiresearch.com/about-us View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005277/en/ Contacts: Infiniti Research Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 844 778 0600 UK: +44 203 893 3400 https://www.infinitiresearch.com/contact-us Mass protests under the 'Black lives matter' movement, which began two weeks ago across the United States in the wake of George Floyd's tragic death, have brought out major reforms in the police department. Floyd's killing has pressurised the police department to review forceful measures used against civilians, leading to proposal of a new set of rules for officer conduct. On Thursday Minnesota Gov Tim Walz endorsed various proposed police reforms. These reforms include banning the use of restraints and chokeholds and the Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will be given independent jurisdiction over the prosecution of police-involved deaths. According to an international media report, 14 Minneapolis police officers signed a letter of support for the reforms on Thursday. Walz's endorsement comes at the time when Minneapolis Police Department announced it would withdraw from its police union contract on Wednesday. A veto-proof majority of the Minneapolis City Council signed a pledge on Sunday to replace the police department with a community-based public safety model. READ | Vikings create George Floyd Scholarship, make $5 million donation to social justice causes Major police dept reforms in other cities and states However, it is not just Minnesota that has undergone police reforms but many other cities and states police departments are also reviewing and reducing use of force against civilians while promising new officer conduct. In California, the Berkeley City Council voted on Wednesday to prohibit the use of tear gas without setting an end date to the ban. Whereas in Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner signed an executive order to ban police use of neck restraints and chokeholds on Wednesday, as per reports. He is reported to have mentioned that officers are not allowed to kneel on a suspect's neck and that body cameras must be used by those serving a no-knock warrant. READ | George Floyd protest: A cop comforting a 5-year-old leaves netizens emotional; Watch Meanwhile, on Tuesday the New York Senate passed a bill to repeal a decades-old law that sealed records of alleged police misconduct from the public. As per reports, it would be signed into law by the end of this week by Gov Andrew Cuomo. Moreover, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey declared her department's investigation bureau would stop using the carotid "sleeper" chokehold. Hennepin County judge on Tuesday approved an agreement between Minneapolis and the city's human rights department to ban police chokeholds and neck restraints and to require officers witnessing unauthorised force to intervene, as per media reports. Experts and advocates opined that transparency into law enforcement disciplinary records and limiting use of force are all core aspects of police reform and should be maintained along with permitting lawsuits. READ | George Floyd's death: One Minneapolis police officer released on bail READ | Cops Tv show canceled: How did George Floyd's death force Paramount to cancel the show? - The Forum for Public Sector Registered Pension Schemes has warned of an impending strike - According to the forum, its members would lay down their tools unless issues of low pensions are addressed - The decision follows incessant complaints from pensioners about the monies paid them upon retirement Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Twelve public sector unions have drawn the attention of the government to low pension amounts paid by the Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). They have consequently called for reforms in two weeks else they will lay down their tools. The 12, who have constituted themselves into the Forum for Public Sector Registered Pension Schemes, say they have been receiving complaints from pensioners with regard to the meagre amount paid them upon retirement. Isaac Bampoe-Addo, chairman of the Forum and the Executive Secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana, (CLOGSAG), noted that the group is tired of the low past credits paid by SSNIT on its own terms, instead of complying with the dictates of the National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766 as amended) and directives from the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA). READ ALSO: GHc1 billion package: Over 170,000 businesses apply for support - NBSSI Per a report by the Business and Financial Times, he added he intensity and sustenance of industrial actions during the early part of 2000 led the then Kufour government to establish the Presidential Commission on Pensions (PCP). The PCP, he said, was tasked to critically examine the two pension schemes; the CAP 30 and SSNIT schemes, as well as other schemes. They were then expected to recommend a sustainable pension scheme that would address the concerns of workers, he noted. Meanwhile, real estate developers in Ghana are facing a myriad of challenges due to the economic impact of COVID-19. Reports reveal that sales have fallen to a record low and firms are now operating at an average of 30%. It has been further disclosed that servicing of mortgages are falling and developers are in the process of cutting down on costs. READ ALSO: Facebook launches Facebook Kids for children in sub-Saharan Africa Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana Bawumia fires Mahama - Stop embarrassing yourself; always check the data before you talk | #Yencomgh Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook page or on Instagram with your stories, photos or videos Source: YEN.com.gh After more than 20,000 National Guard troops were called up to support law enforcement in 28 states and the District of Columbia amid sometimes-violent protests, the secretary of defense is calling for a robust review of how they carried out the mission. The Pentagon announced Thursday night that Defense Secretary Mark Esper had ordered the Army to complete an after-action review covering, among other things, the "training, equipping, organizing, manning, deployment, and employment of National Guard forces." Read Next: Clash Over Renaming Army Bases Could Delay Troops' Pay Raise, Senator Warns "The After Action Review will specifically evaluate the National Guard's efforts working with local and federal law enforcement across the country during the last two weeks," Defense Department officials said in a statement. Washington, D.C., where protests on May 31 spiraled into looting and vandalism, was a particular focal point for National Guard activity. More than 5,000 Guard members from the district and a handful of other states supported police and other law enforcement agencies as President Donald Trump publicly weighed the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act and sending active-duty troops to augment their numbers. While many Guard members were unarmed and they did not carry rubber bullets or tear gas, their conduct still came under scrutiny on multiple occasions. On June 1, two helicopters belonging to the D.C. National Guard flew low over protesters in an apparent crowd-control measure. The incident prompted Esper to direct an investigation. National Guard also reportedly provided support to police efforts to clear protesters from Lafayette Square near the White House with tear gas in order to allow Trump and other senior officials to walk through. The New York Times, which reported Wednesday that Guard members were pressed to use "aggressive tactics" to prove that they could do the job of containing protests without support from active-duty forces, called the whole of Guard response in the district a "debacle." The results of the investigation into the helicopter incident are expected this week. "In recent weeks, the National Guard has performed professionally and capably in support of law enforcement in cities across the United States," Esper said in a statement. "I have the greatest respect for, and am deeply proud of our Soldiers and Airmen who served during this period to ensure that peaceful protestors could execute their First Amendment rights, and that they and others would not suffer from violence against themselves and their property. I have full confidence in Secretary of the Army McCarthy to lead a robust review." -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Related: Helicopter Crew Grounded as Probe into Low DC Flyovers Continues (TNS) It's not unusual to find visitors waiting for the doors to be unlocked when the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum opens in the morning.But Executive Director Kari Watkins was unusually happy to find early birds waiting Wednesday morning at the downtown landmark."It was so great to see visitors. ... The first two that came in were a family from Texas and a family from Nebraska, both who had young kids. So, they're teaching the story to the next generation," she said."I think we're very proud of how we've done it. We weren't the first reopen and I don't think we're the last, but we kind of did it in a way that we could do it and assure ... as much safety as you can."Three months after it closed in response to the coronvirus pandemic, the downtown museum reopened to the public Wednesday with a new parking garage, two new exhibits and a trailblazing new augmented reality experience."It's groundbreaking. We are doing stuff that no one else is doing with augmented technology, and we really hope it resonates with people," Chief Technology Officer Dustin Potter said of the latter.Unfortunate timingThe three-month closure was the longest in the museum's history."We closed one other time for a water leak. I think it was 20 days or so ... but we've never been closed for (more than) 30 days. Hope we never are again," Watkins said."We didn't have any more obstacles than anyone else did, but it was a big year and our timing was messed up by COVID. But we tried to make the very best of it. We wanted to make sure that the numbers got flattened before we reopened because we bring in so many people from outside Oklahoma."The 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing was April 19, but instead of welcoming crowds of people to pay their respects, the memorial was closed. A prerecorded remembrance ceremony aired online and on local television."Putting the barricades around the outdoor site the week of April 19 was very hard to do. But we felt like we had to do it to protect people," Watkins said, adding that the outdoor memorial reopened about a month ago."That first month of COVID when everybody else went home ... we were still in small groups coming to work, working on the production for April 19 with our partners at Ackerman (McQueen). ... The positive of COVID is that ceremony probably was seen by 10 times as many people because people were stuck at home and appreciated the hourlong broadcast that told the story. It kind of became a history lesson."Financial impactThe Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation also launched this year a 25th anniversary "Looking Back Thinking Forward" capital campaign with a $14 million goal."Oklahomans and people from around the country that have been very generous, and we're a little over halfway on that campaign. But again, we lost 90 days like everybody else did," Watkins said. "It's a huge financial impact."The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum receives no annual funds from federal, state or local governments. Income from admissions operates the day-to-day budget, she said."We probably lost a million dollars easily in those 90 days," she said. "Normally, we have 1,200 to 1,500 people a day in the summer. At max, we'll do 400 today, and that's all income we're not getting, even through the rest ... of the summer because we can't be at full occupancy. So, that's a hit we keep taking even though we're open because we just can't take everyone and keep our 6 feet apart social distancing. ... So, we'll be at a loss at the end of the year, but that's why we have an endowment and why we try to be lean and mean and have a small staff."The institution announced Tuesday that it had received a personal $1 million donation from Paycom founder and CEO Chad Richison to help the museum reopen and to grow its endowment."Chad's gift and many others have helped sustain this place ... and we're just thrilled with the progress we got to make during the 90 days that we were closed," she said.Coronavirus precautionsAfter three days of private test runs earlier this week, the museum reopened to the public Wednesday at 25% capacity. Admission is granted in timed intervals to limit the number of visitors in the building at a time, and people are encouraged to go online and reserve their spot in advance to guarantee entry.Visitors are required to wear masks inside the museum. Social distancing markers, increased cleaning measures and automated lights and restroom facilities also have been implemented."One of the most popular things we've done is when you come in, we give you a little stylus so you can still engage in all of the interactives and those stories with the stylus. You can use it on the elevators. You don't have to touch things, and I think people appreciate it," Watkins said."For my kids and younger kids, that's how they learn the story is by touching a screen. ... We worked too hard five years ago to get that layer added to the museum that I wasn't just going to turn it off. So for us, it was worth giving up a few cents on a stylus."Added amenitiesWith the reopening, the museum is finally getting to offer some new amenities that were planned for April and the 25th anniversary celebration, including one aimed at young guests.That includes a new parking facility across the street at NW Sixth Street and N Harvey Avenue, where visitors can park for free with paid admission."As downtown has grown and (there's) more housing and more people coming downtown, parking's become a premium," Watkins said. "So, it's spectacular."Once inside, visitors will get to tour two new exhibits: One when they enter the museum and one when they leave.In the lobby, the new 25th anniversary exhibit chronicles how the memorial and the community have progressed together over the last quarter-century. Potter said it incorporates photographs and an array of artifacts, from autographed cowboy boots donated by Charles Barkley to the groundbreaking shovel used by Al Gore."It's pretty uplifting. It's all about looking back and thinking forward," Potter said.As they leave the museum, Watkins said visitors will go through a new exhibit that will encourage them to remember and live out the tenets of the "Oklahoma Standard.""When we were designing that over the last year, I don't think we could have imagined the world in which we opened. There were protesters outside the federal courthouse (Wednesday) morning when we opened, and we were part of the vandalism that took place here a couple of weeks ago," she said."At the same time, what happened here 25 years ago can still teach lessons today. So, when we say 'rise up to honor,' 'step up to be kind' and 'stand up to serve,' those are things we can all do and are as relevant today in the environment we live in as they were on April 19, 1995."Augmented realityBut technology has changed dramatically in the past quarter-century, and Potter said the museum also has been working for the past year on its new "Stronger Together" Augmented Reality Experience. The museum overhauled its Android and Apple mobile app to add the AR experience, which some people might recognize from games like Pokemon Go."Looking through their phone, they will see a person who represents a family member, a survivor, a first-responder, an investigator, a journalist and a volunteer ... and they'll follow their stories throughout the museum," he said."They're a combination of stories from the representatives of those constituent groups ... and we're allowing a person to hear directly from a survivor right next to them or from a family member."The AR experience incorporates 3-D renders, polls, video and more, all with the goal of making the story of the bombing more personal."As far as I'm aware, no museum in the world is using augmented reality like this. A lot of them are making it where you'll hover over an artifact and you'll get some ancillary details about it. In this, we're actually changing the space that the visitor is in. ... You'll be able to see the Survivor Tree and stand under it inside the museum. You'll be able to see the Murrah building before it was bombed, and you'll be able move around it in the gallery space," he said."It is for everyone, but we targeted a younger group of people so that the experience mattered a little more to them ... We see a lot of people go through with their phones, so why not put that content in front of them."By Wednesday morning, he said his colleagues had already spotted a grandmother and her two grandchildren using the AR experience together."Seeing people in the museum again: glorious, especially multi-generations learning together. That's what it's all about," he said. Weakened after his recent spat with Assad, Makhlouf is going after the presidents advisor, Bouthaina Shaaban reports Al-Modon. The war between different wings of the regime continues, despite one of the most dangerous chapters having ended in favor of the stronger party, the Assad family, at the expense of businessman Rami Makhlouf, who does not seem to have surrendered completely. Rather, he has moved to attack his opponents weaker points. There can be nobody weaker than the presidents advisor, Bouthaina Shaaban, and her family, whether politically, or socially within the palace. The past two weeks have seen an intensely focused campaign against her by numerous unknown social media accounts that published details on Shaaban, as well as her husband and son. Few of the details were actually true, as most were fabricated. It is natural for well-known opposition social media accounts to receive this information with great interest, without taking the time to research which side was spreading itsimilar to the story several months ago that Assad had bought a three million dollar painting for his wife. Because this type of weapon proved successful, the attacking party used it again. What reinforced doubts that this side could be tied to Makhlouf is the amount of information being published on Shaaban and her family, which, despite the exaggerations included in it, could only possibly be verified by people very close to her. This time around, the attacks started by discussing the wealth of Shaabans son, Ridha Jawad, who lives in London, alleging that he possesses at least 20 million dollars, and questioning the source of his money, as he is a young 23-year-old graduate. Of course, there was nothing to say about him except that his wealth, which came from work and companies in the UK, belonged to the Syrian people and was seized illegally by Shaaban. In addition to those numbers, those same accounts published photos that they said were of Jawads cars and real estate in London and other European cities. They also discussed shares that he owns in the US stock market, based on a photo of him gathering with one of the most prominent female employees of the stock exchange at the same time his mother was talking about the need for Syrians to remain steadfast in the face of the unprecedented economic crisis. After more than a week of silence, Jawad responded to the campaign against his family via a Facebook post. He denied some of the information and photos attributed to him, saying that he was self-made by studying in Syria until secondary school, then studied mathematics in the UK, where he managed to get a job like any young man. The photos showing Jawads fleet of cars and luxury real estate properties were not correct. Al-Modon was able to trace the owners, who are the sons of businessmen close to the Assad family and have friendly relations with the sons of Bushra al-Assad. But at the same time, it is not possible to believe Jawads story about being self-made. Not any young man in Syria is able to travel to London to study mathematics, just as not any young man is able to find employment in a reputable British company after he graduates. In his post, Jawad added, I say to everyone who criticized me for being a golden boyask anyone who knew me at different stages of my life, and theyll confirm that I live a normal life. I am not a millionaire, and there are no millionaires in my family. I returned to my country, and because I am an only son I was exempted from military service. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Lonca demonstrated an overall response rate of 48.3% and complete response rate of 24.1% in the pivotal Phase 2 single-agent trial Interim results of the Phase 1/2 trial of Lonca in combination with ibrutinib show an encouraging overall response rate of 75.0% and complete response rate of 58.3% at the recommended Phase 2 Lonca dose Company to host conference call today, June 12, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. EDT, to highlight data presented at the Virtual 25th EHA Annual Congress ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE:ADCT), a clinical-stage oncology-focused biotechnology company leading the development and commercialization of next-generation antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) with highly potent and targeted pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer technology, today announced maturing data from LOTIS 2, a pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial of loncastuximab tesirine (Lonca, formerly ADCT-402) in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), including an overall response rate of 48.3%, a complete response rate of 24.1% and manageable toxicity. The Company also announced interim results from LOTIS 3, a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of Lonca combined with ibrutinib, which highlight the potential of Lonca to advance into earlier lines of therapy in combination with other therapies. The data are being presented in an oral presentation and e-Poster at the virtual 25th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA25). "Our two presentations at EHA25 highlight Lonca's potential as both a single agent and in combination with other therapies for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma," said Jay Feingold, MD, PhD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of ADC Therapeutics. "In LOTIS 2, Lonca demonstrated important anti-tumor activity and durability, as well as manageable toxicities, across a broad population of hard-to- treat, relapsed or refractory DLBCL patients, including patients with poor prognosis, those who never responded to prior therapy and those who received prior stem cell transplant." "We are pleased to be on track to file a Biologics License Application (BLA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Lonca for the treatment of relapsed or refractory DLBCL in the second half of 2020," said Chris Martin, Chief Executive Officer of ADC Therapeutics. "If approved, we look forward to launching Lonca in mid-2021. We are also planning to initiate LOTIS 5, a post-marketing confirmatory clinical trial of Lonca in combination with rituximab, which we believe will support a supplemental BLA for Lonca to be used as a second-line therapy for the treatment of relapsed or refractory DLBCL." Oral Presentation of Initial Results of Lonca Pivotal Phase 2 Clinical Trial (Abstract S233) LOTIS 2, a Phase 2, multi-center, open-label, single-arm clinical trial, is evaluating the efficacy and safety of Lonca in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL following =2 lines of prior systemic therapy. Patients received 30-minute intravenous infusions of Lonca once every three weeks at a dose of 150 g/kg for the first two cycles, followed by 75 g/kg for subsequent cycles for up to one year or until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or other discontinuation criteria, whichever occurred first. As of the data cut-off date of April 6, 2020, 145 patients were enrolled and received a mean of 4.3 cycles of Lonca (range: 1-15). Key data include: Lonca achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of 48.3% (70/145 patients) and a complete response rate (CRR) of 24.1% (35/145 patients), compared to an ORR of 45.5% (66/145 patients) and CRR of 20.0% (29/145 patients) in the previous data cut (October 14, 2019) Patients refractory to first-line or last-line prior therapy had ORRs of 37.9% and 36.9%, respectively The median duration of response has increased to 10.25 months in the more mature data cut, compared to 6.7 months in the previous data cut (October 14, 2019) Patients had received a median of 3 prior lines of therapy The toxicity profile was manageable and no new safety concerns were identified The most common grade =3 treatment-emergent adverse events in =10% of patients were: neutropenia (25.5%) with low incidence of febrile neutropenia (3.4%), thrombocytopenia (17.9%), GGT increased (16.6%) and anaemia (10.3%) "Despite recent advances in DLBCL treatment, outcomes for patients with relapsed or refractory disease remain poor," said Carmelo Carlo-Stella, MD, Professor of Hematology, Humanitas University, Section Chief, Lymphoid Malignancies, Humanitas Cancer Center, and an investigator for the trial. "The substantial single-agent anti-tumor activity Lonca has demonstrated in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL who failed established therapies underscores the potential of this CD19-targeted, PBD-based ADC to fill a critical unmet need." e-Poster with Interim Results of Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial of Lonca Combined With Ibrutinib (Abstract EP1284) LOTIS 3, a Phase 1/2 open-label, single-arm dose escalation and dose expansion clinical trial, is evaluating the safety and efficacy of Lonca in combination with ibrutinib in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL or mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Lonca is administered as 30-minute intravenous infusions using a standard 3+3 dose escalation design at doses of 60 or 90 g/kg. Patients receive Lonca every three weeks for the first two doses, with concurrent fixed-dose ibrutinib (560 mg/day, oral) for up to one year. As of the data cut-off date of April 6, 2020, 25 patients have been enrolled, including 23 patients with DLBCL and two patients with MCL, and 18 patients were evaluable for antitumor activity. The trial continues to enroll patients. Key interim data from the Phase 1 portion of the trial include: Across both Lonca dose levels of 60 and 90 g/kg, the combination with ibrutinib has demonstrated an ORR of 66.7% and a CRR of 50.0% At the recommended Phase 2 Lonca dose of 60 g/kg, the combination with ibrutinib has demonstrated an ORR of 75.0% and CRR of 58.3% The combination has a manageable toxicity profile The most common grade =3 treatment-emergent adverse events in =10% of patients were thrombocytopenia (20%) and anemia (12%) Patients had received a median of 2 prior lines of therapy Pharmacokinetic profiles demonstrate good exposure throughout the dosing interval "As patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL or MCL have a poor prognosis and limited salvage treatment options, it is important to explore the potential for combinations of drugs with different mechanisms of action to increase clinical activity compared to either agent alone," said Julien Depaus, MD, Department of Hematology, CHU UCL Namur. "Based on synergies demonstrated in preclinical research and the interim results of the Phase 1 portion of this clinical trial, I believe the combination of Lonca and ibrutinib warrants further evaluation as a treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL or MCL." Conference Call and Webcast ADC Therapeutics will host a live conference call and webcast today, Friday, June 12, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. EDT, to highlight the data presented at EHA25. To access the call, please dial 833-526-8381 (domestic) or +41 225 805 976 (international) and request to join the ADC Therapeutics conference call. A live webcast of the presentation will be available on the Investors section of the ADC Therapeutics website at www.adctherapeutics.com. About Loncastuximab Tesirine (Lonca) Loncastuximab tesirine (Lonca, formerly ADCT-402) is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against human CD19 and conjugated through a linker to a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer cytotoxin. Once bound to a CD19-expressing cell, Lonca is designed to be internalized by the cell, following which the warhead is released. The warhead is designed to bind irreversibly to DNA to create highly potent interstrand cross-links that block DNA strand separation, thus disrupting essential DNA metabolic processes such as replication and ultimately resulting in cell death. CD19 is a clinically validated target for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. Lonca is being evaluated in LOTIS 2, a pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and LOTIS 3, a Phase 1/2 trial in combination with ibrutinib in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL or mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). About ADC Therapeutics ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE:ADCT) is a late clinical-stage oncology-focused biotechnology company pioneering the development and commercialization of highly potent and targeted antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) for patients suffering from hematological malignancies and solid tumors. The Company develops ADCs by applying its decades of experience in this field and using next-generation pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) technology to which ADC Therapeutics has proprietary rights for its targets. Strategic target selection for PBD-based ADCs and substantial investment in early clinical development have enabled ADC Therapeutics to build a deep clinical and research pipeline of therapies for the treatment of hematological and solid tumor cancers with significant unmet need. The Company has multiple PBD-based ADCs in ongoing clinical trials, ranging from first in human to pivotal Phase 2 clinical trials, in the USA and Europe, and numerous preclinical ADCs in development. Loncastuximab tesirine (Lonca, formerly ADCT-402), the Company's lead product candidate, has been evaluated in a 145-patient pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) that showed a 48.3% interim overall response rate (ORR), which exceeded the target primary endpoint. Camidanlumab tesirine (Cami, formerly ADCT-301), the Company's second lead product candidate, is being evaluated in a 100-patient pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) after having shown an 86.5% ORR in HL patients in a Phase 1 clinical trial. The Company is also evaluating Cami as a novel immuno-oncology approach for the treatment of various advanced solid tumors. ADC Therapeutics is based in Lausanne (Biopole), Switzerland and has operations in London, the San Francisco Bay Area and New Jersey. For more information, please visit https://adctherapeutics.com/ and follow the Company on Twitter and LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions, including statements with respect to our business strategies and plans, competitive position and our objectives for future operations and our financial performance. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including those described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, many of which are beyond our control and all of which are based on our management's current beliefs and expectations about future events. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as of the date of this document. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update these forward-looking statements contained in this document to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which such statements are based unless required to do so by applicable law. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. Availability of Other Information About ADC Therapeutics Investors and others should note that ADC Therapeutics communicates with its investors and the public using its company website (https://adctherapeutics.com/), including but not limited to investor presentations, scientific presentations, Securities and Exchange Commission filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. The information that ADC Therapeutics posts on these channels and websites could be deemed to be material information. As a result, ADC Therapeutics encourages investors, the media and others interested in ADC Therapeutics to review the information that it posts on these channels, including ADC Therapeutics' investor relations website, on a regular basis. This list of channels may be updated from time to time on ADC Therapeutics' investor relations website and may include other channels than the ones described above. The contents of ADC Therapeutics' website or these channels, or any other website that may be accessed from its website or these channels, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200611005918/en/ Contacts: Investors Amanda Hamilton ADC Therapeutics amanda.hamilton@adctherapeutics.com Tel: +1 917-288-7023 EU Media Alexandre Muller Dynamics Group amu@dynamicsgroup.ch Tel: +41 (0) 43 268 3231 USA Media Annie Starr 6 Degrees astarr@6degreespr.com Tel.: +1 973-768-2170 Around one in three workers in Northern Ireland are now receiving coronavirus-related wage support from the government. Some 280,000 people here have benefited, according to official figures. But it is feared that 28,000 of them could go on to lose their jobs. One economist suggested that consumers should help to support the economy by spending when lockdown is lifted. HMRC, which has administered the wage and grant schemes, confirmed that 211,700 people here are enrolled by their employers on the coronavirus job-retention scheme (CJRS). Under the scheme, the UK Government covers 80% of an employee's pay packet per month, up to a maximum of 2,500, where the employer has not been able to operate due to lockdown. Another 69,000 people here have received grants totalling 198m through the government's self-employed income support scheme (SEISS). Combined, the figures mean that 32% of the workforce of 877,000 people, as recorded between January and March this year, are being supported by the government. Between January and March, there were 137,000 self-employed included within the 877,000 - half of whom are now on the self-employed income support scheme. The scheme involves the payment of a grant of up to 6,750. People will be able to make a second claim for another payment in August. Neil Gibson, chief economist at business advisory firm EY, said the figures shed light on the "extraordinary level" of support given to firms and people during the coronavirus crisis. He said: "With 211,700 people in NI on furlough and just under 70,000 self-employed workers availing of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, that accounts for roughly a third of the 876,000 who were defined as employed at the end of 2019." He added that the future job security of the 280,700 would be crucial. "Critical to the economic recovery will be how many of these people remain in work, as supports are removed later in the year," he explained. "Our own projections are that perhaps around one in 10 furloughed workers may be out of work by the end of 2020. "This, however, may prove optimistic if consumers and businesses remain reluctant to spend. The key message remains that every citizen will have a part to play in the recovery through their willingness to spend. "Government support has helped to protect incomes to make this possible, but confidence is very fragile on the back of such a devastating pandemic." Fermanagh and Omagh had the lowest number of employees on furlough, at 12,400, while Belfast had the highest, at 36,100. Newry, Mourne and Down recorded the highest numbers of people claiming the self-employed grant, at 9,200. Antrim and Newtownabbey had the lowest number, at 4,400. Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: "The UK Government is doing everything we can to protect jobs and businesses in Northern Ireland and across the UK during the crisis." Brandon Lewis, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, also praised the scheme. He said: "The extension of the CJRS until the end of October, and the fact that self-employed people will be able to claim a second SEISS grant in August, is good news for local businesses, reinforcing our commitment to doing all we can to support the Northern Ireland economy." A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Friday warned that "Taiwan independence" forces must stop their secessionist activities before it is too late, and that anyone caught in such acts will face severe punishments. Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the secessionist forces and their activities for "Taiwan independence" pose the biggest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and represent the biggest obstacle to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. The Democratic Progressive Party authority in Taiwan has recently stepped up colluding with external forces to undermine peace and stability across the Strait through continuous provocations of confrontation between the mainland and Taiwan, making cross-Strait relations even more complex and grave, Zhu said. A tiny fraction of "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces have clamored for and stepped up activities seeking "Taiwan independence" in an attempt to push cross-Strait relations to the brink of danger and push Taiwan compatriots toward the abyss of disasters, she said. Their acts run counter to the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and the vital interests of Taiwan compatriots, and are doomed to fail, she added. New Delhi, June 12 : As organisations prepare to reopen offices after Covid-19 lockdowns, in addition to health and safety risks, business leaders must consider risks associated with forcefully asking employees to return to work or laying off staff based on age, gender or race which can result in legal repercussions, brand vilification and financial decline, a new report has warned. Rushing employees back to work against their comfort level not only creates a psychologically unsafe environment for these employees, it may lead to lawsuits, public backlash and increased regulatory scrutiny, according to a new Forrester report detailing most critical risks for businesses to avoid post Covid-19 lockdowns. Employees who speak out about going back to work could be seen as troublemakers, be alienated by their colleagues and bosses, and be managed out, causing a series of unfair dismissal cases. "All of this will, in turn, lead to a toxic culture and employee, customer, and public backlash. Worse, the issue of liability for employees that get sick has yet to be determined," said Heidi Shey, Principal Analyst. In Australia, claims for unfair dismissal have increased by 70 per cent during the pandemic, and the estimated cost of for companies to defend an unfair dismissal claim can range from $15,000 to $100,000 per claim. In Massachusetts, Walmart had to close three stores after 27 employees tested positive for the virus and one died. As of May 4, more than 800 COVID-19-related lawsuits had been filed in the US. In some cases, employees are claiming that work was the main contributing factor of them getting infected. Amazon has been accused of retaliating against employees who wanted to sound the alarm on unsafe working conditions, prompting one executive to resign, bringing negative headlines that have overshadowed some of the critical practices the Amazon has since taken to protect workers. "Don't force people to come back before they're ready; if your employees are successfully and happily working from home, be flexible and give them the option to stay there. Making them come back before the crisis slows down opens the door to the risk of being held liable for illness," suggested Shey. There may be instances where employees need to be in an office environment, such as cases of family violence or poor network connectivity, where you must make accommodations. The senior management should communicate with empathy, transparency, and clarity. "Plan to leave a percentage of your workforce at home, and make sure you consult with your employees and gain their buy-in. Train your frontline managers to identify and avoid bullying and harassment," said the report. For decisions dealing with recruiting, granting essential employees permission to use office premises, or enacting lay-offs, the firms must avoid assumptions based on implicit bias. "Blanket policies that target sections of your workforce, such as older age, racial, or linguistic groups will backfire. Such bias-prone decisions will also lead to the loss of trust among your workforce and the loss of experienced employees," the Forrester report emphasised. A discriminatory workplace can be a top deterrent against attracting new talent when conditions improve. Other critical risks to mitigate for the return to work are failure to comply with health and safety standards and regulations; failure to ensure the safety of employees during their entire journey; partner violations of safe workplace environment; violation of employees' privacy rights and violation of employees' privacy rights with contact-tracing solutions, among others. A growing number of employers believe that tracking employees' movement within work premises - knowing who they met and which rooms they visited while at work - can provide valuable insights for reducing the spread of COVID-19, and contact tracing technology is taking center stage for this effort. "Regardless of the approach, mobile app, wearable device, badge card, or manual approaches contact tracing comes with great privacy challenges," the report mentioned. He will be brought from Kherson to Kyiv. Kyiv's Pechersky district court has authorized the compulsory delivery of Chairman of Kherson Regional Council Vladyslav Manger, one of the suspects in a fatal acid attack on Kherson activist Kateryna Handziuk, to a Kyiv court. The ruling was announced by judge Tetiana Ilyeva, according to an UNIAN correspondent. He will be brought from Kherson to Kyiv for hearings on prosecutors' motion to select a preventive measure for him. Read alsoUkraine's PGO chief on Handziuk murder: Prosecutors didn't want to probe case The court session will continue on June 15, a new hearing is scheduled to begin at 09:30 Kyiv time. UNIAN memo. Kherson activist, advisor to the Mayor of Kherson and acting manager of affairs at Kherson City Council's executive committee Kateryna Handziuk, 33, on July 31, 2018, survived an acid attack. She suffered burns to more than 35% of her body and underwent 11 operations in Kyiv. Handziuk died on November 4, 2018. The immediate cause of her death was a severed blood clot resulting from the acid attack. Police originally qualified the attack as an attempted murder committed with extreme cruelty, then its status was changed to completed murder. Six suspects were detained, one of whom, Mykola Novikov, was later released from custody as charges against him had been dropped. On May 7, 2019, the Prosecutor General's Office sent an indictment against five defendants in the case of the murder: Mykyta Hrabchuk, Volodymyr Vasyanovych, Vyacheslav Vishnevsky, Serhiy Torbin, and Viktor Horbunov. On June 6, 2019, the court announced their sentences. Torbin, the organizer of the murder, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison. Hrabchuk, the actual perpetrator of the crime, was sentenced to six years in prison. Accused of aiding, Vasyanovych and Horbunov were sentenced to four and three years in prison, respectively; accomplice Vishnevsky's sentence is four years' imprisonment. Oleksiy Levin, who has a criminal record, as well as Chairman of Kherson Regional Council Vladyslav Manger and Ihor Pavlovsky, who was an assistant to MP Mykola Palamarchuk, are also suspects in the Handziuk murder case. Moreover, public activists believe that former Chairman of Kherson Regional State Administration Andriy Gordeev and former Deputy Chairman of Kherson Regional State Administration Yevhen Ryshchuk were involved in the crime. On January 27, Levin was put into custody in Bulgaria's Burgas for a 40-day term after detention on January 24. On February 22, the court of the city of Burgas (Bulgaria) ruled to extradite Levin to Ukraine. He was extradited on March 16 and Kyiv's Pechersky district court on March 17 ruled to remand him in custody until April 2. On March 25, Kyiv's Shevchenkivsky district court extended the pretrial probe into the Handziuk case until July 29. Manger and Levin are suspected of committing crimes under Part 3 of Article 27, Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 2 of Article 121 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Many governors across the United States have been eager to begin the multiphase reopening of businesses, but bookstore owners are acting cautiously. In remarks gathered from more than 25 independent bookstores, PW found that owners are reopening to in-store traffic more slowly than state guidelines allow, guided by their own sense of what it will take to ensure the safety of their employees. Were aggressively delaying opening, said Meg Wasmer, co-owner of Copper Dog Books in Beverly, Mass. Like many booksellers, Wasmer is seeing an uptick in online sales that has given her the opportunity to prioritize safety. Online sales have been really strong, and we need a little more time to figure out how to manage that workflow with an open store, she noted. In Seattle, Krijn de Jonge, co-owner of Queen Anne Book Company, said the store is basing plans to reopen entirely on the comfort level of employees. While the city is now allowing in-store shopping, the staff has thus far been reluctant to open the doors. They are still too anxious and worried about resurgence, so we have postponed opening the store, de Jonge said. Well continue with web orders for pickup, delivery, and mailing for at least two more weeks. Some bookstores are finding that even when they want to open, ensuring employee safety is not entirely within their control. Book Shop Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, Calif., has had difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment for employees. So has BookPeople in Austin, Tex., where general manager Charley Rejsek expressed frustration at not being able to get sneeze guards, hand sanitizer, and other items needed to reopen. Those challenges are compounded by the difficulty of fulfilling a substantial volume of online orders with technology that does not always cooperate. We are currently running multiple days behind on processing online orders, Rejsek said. At this point, we are working for our website, it is not working for us. Many stores that are opening are placing strict limits on the number of customers allowed to browse at any given time. Gibsons Bookstore in Concord, N.H., is open to customers by appointment only, while Annie Philbrick, owner of Bank Square Books in Mystic, Conn., and Savoy Bookshop & Cafe in Westerly, R.I., has gone to a plastic hall pass approach. Customers must wait if a pass into the store is not available. Reopening represents a substantial challenge for many. Having just grown accustomed to running their businesses digitally under lockdown, owners are now grappling with the whipsaw of returning to normal operations, but with greater business pressures caused by the outbreak. Its been hard to reinvent our processes every two weeks, one owner said. From online only to online and phone with curbside, to opening with masks and distancing. Scheduling, workflows, workstations, catching the [accounting] up to current. On top of it all, theres unemployment paperwork, PPP changes to monitor, and negotiating payments to vendors. At Bright Side Books in Flagstaff, Ariz., manager Amy McClelland said, Our business model changed so much in the eight weeks we were closed. The hardest part has been catching employees up to speed again once reopening. With specific Covid regulations for shoppers in place, our new shipping direct-to-home features, and online orders, it is a whole different kind of customer service we are offering now. Its incredibly exciting but has also been hard on employees who were used to the old way of business. Booksellers also expressed discomfort with the pressure to reopen in the absence of convincing leadership on public health. Riffraff Bookstore co-owner Tom Roberge said the Providence, R.I., bookstore remains closed and that he is unsure about reopening. State officials in Rhode Island, in our opinion, are moving a little too quickly on relaxing the guidelines, he added. A bookstore owner in the Midwest expressed alarm about customers coming from other regions and not following guidelines, putting the health of employees at risk. We have clear signage stating our requirements but are still dealing with some who simply dont agree with them, the owner said. We are in a small rural community that thrives on tourism from larger urban areas south of us. Over this past weekend we had a few customers who explained they had left their masks back at home, as they didnt think they would need them, because you dont have Covid-19 up here. We then choose to educate our customers about our regions lack of health-care options. The closest ICU is nearly two hours away. Nicole Magistro, owner of the Bookstore of Edwards in Edwards, Colo., said her store has faced similar challenges. Out-of-town visitors, tourists, and second home owners view our community as a safe haven and an escape from their urban neighborhoods, while our staff and locals are still adapting to the protocols and safety measures weve pledged to uphold. It is hard to turn away business in order to protect our health when so much financial damage has been done. I am struggling to find a way to stay the course with a slow reopening while the market is signaling to open back up for long hours, seven days per week. Every day feels like a fine balance. At Brooklyns Greenlight Bookstores, co-owner Rebecca Fitting scaled back plans in order to assess whether the protests that have followed the killing of George Floyd would result in a spike in Covid-19 cases. The protests also led to a flood of orders for anti-racist books, which have employees are working through. Being swamped by online orders is admittedly a nice problem for a small business trying to recover from a pandemics economic shutdown to have, and I am not saying its a hardship, she said. Peoples desire to self-educate is a beautiful thing, but the timing of it just as were entering the next phase has been challenging. In Salt Lake City, the Kings English Bookstore remains closed to in-store traffic as the virus continues to spread throughout the state. Covid cases in Utah are still on the rise, and our store is very small, said manager Anne Holman. In Baltimore, Atomic Books co-owner Benn Ray said the whole process of reopening should be cause for serious concern. He noted that little has improved since speaking with PW in May. We have people coming to the door and knocking, thinking they can come in and browse, and they cant. So thats somewhat frustrating and distracting us from dealing with curbside, local delivery, and mail orders. Im sure it comes as no surprise to anyone that many of us feel this situation could be handled better. But I guess at some point the ownership class decided it was time for hourly workers to get back to making them money, illness and death be damned. We are observing human rights and investigating any case of disappearances including staged ones. We have never stopped anyone from coming to observe anything in this country since the inception of the new dispensation.But I guess they have already arrived at their pre-emptive conclusions so they will have to overcome a lot of confirmation bias challenges, Mangwana said. The Agency for Health and Food Security (AHEFS), says agricultural value chain actors and implementing partners should be properly trained and their responsibilities clearly defined to prevent role-conflicts and ensure proper coordination of various sectors. Mr Kwaku Asante, Executive Director of AHEFS, underscored the need for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to collaborate with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to enhance the vegetable value chain and to enhance market for local farmers. He said there is also the need for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to put in place appropriate modalities for assisting farmers within geographical locations to connect local market. Mr Asante was speaking at a National Dialogue on Vegetable Value Chain Policy, hosted by AHEFS in collaboration with the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) in Accra. The vegetable market alone is growing at more than 10 per cent per annum and the potential value for export is estimated at $250 million. Despite the economic prospects of the sector, the overall vegetable production in Ghana is still relatively low in comparison with other sub-Saharan African countries. The event was held under the theme: Systems Approach to Vegetable Value Chain Policy, Pandemic Response and Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement. Mr Asante said as a country hosting AfCFTA would mean that Ghana should be up when it comes to trade in Africa, establish institutions to guard such projects, otherwise other countries would overtake the market and local industries are likely to collapse. We must have beneficial local policies that are functional enough to guarantee the benefits of small scale industries, he added. Dr Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampah, Director-General of NDPC, said looking at the Presidents vision as expressed in the Coordinated Programme for Economic and Social Development Policy, one of the key things it highlighted was modernising agriculture. He said one of the things captured under modernising agriculture was the strategic point which was named in the document; turning agriculture to a demand driven process instead of a supply focused process. He said there is the need for the nation's farmers to be informed of the marketing opportunities that exist for their products so that they would be encouraged to produce more. Madam Esther Agyemang, Desk Officer incharge of vegetables at MoFA, said with the current development of COVID-19 there is an urgent call to boost the immune system such that people would become strong, and vegetable is a key crop that can enhance and boost the immune system. She called on the public to become vegetable advocates; adding that one of the key areas we need to advocate for is vegetable research in terms of seeds, at the moment most of the seeds are being imported. Mr Alfred Antwi Annor, Team Leader of Trade Export at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said having a dialogue to formulate proposed policies was important, particularly looking at the quality aspect and standards of vegetables being exported to foreign markets. He said the policy should look at both ends; the supply side constraints as well as the quality and standards that the produce should meet at the external market, so there would be an increase in vegetable exports. Professor Asare Bediako, Dean, School of Agriculture of the University of Cape Coast, raised concerns about how some farmers were abusing pesticides; they are not using the right dosage for vegetables. He underscored the need to educate farmers on the application of pesticides, stating that, food security is not just about having access to food, but the safety of the food. AHEFS is a Ghana-based civil society organisation with a mission of facilitating and promoting sustainable development in Ghana and in Africa. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has on Thursday donated two motorised to Akwa Ibom and Borno State governments to help them in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Director, Media & Public Affairs, Ooni' palace, Comrade Moses Olafare who received the Borno delegation on behalf of the Ooni described the donations as his token to complement the Borno State Governments efforts in winning the war against the pandemic. Olafare said train of the Ooni Covid-19 team would have moved to Maiduguri to deliver the King's message but security challenges and other logistics have caused the delay, thanking the Professor Zulum led government of Borno for coming to pick the equipment themselves just the way Bauchi state has done "Like he has done to other states across the country and right at the moment doing in Akwa Ibom state, I am happy to present these two modular motorised fumigators to the Borno State Government on behalf of the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife. "Ooni's definition of monarch includes the progressive willingness and readiness to always support the government especially in critical times like this. Kabiyesi believes that the government should not be left alone." Comrade Olafare said. While handling the locally made machines to the Borno state government's representatives, on behalf of the Ooni, Comrade Olafare equally lauded the Borno Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum for his remarkable giant leadership strides in spite of the Boko Harram challenges, wishing him an all-round success. Speaking,, a W.H.O Public Health Consultant who doubles as Technical Consultant to the Ooni on his COVID-19 intervention projects, Prof. Olapeju Esimai described the machine as a multipurpose equipment which is easy to use and maintain. "Firstly, it can be used for the fumigation of our environment against viral and bacteria infections including the rampaging coronavirus while it can equally serve agricultural purposes. For fumigation, all you need to put inside the tank is your Sodium Hydrocloride at a measurement recommended by public health experts and you are good to go." Prof. Esimai On his part, the Head of machines and tools section at the Ooni's Palace, Mr. Victor Badejo, explained that the fumigator has two pressure engines, a tank and other components which makes it a very simple equipment to operate. "For easy assemblage and operation, you will be given a manual for each machines but as you can see, it is a very simple unique fumigator." Mr. Victor added. Receiving the machines on behalf of the Borno State Government, Mrs. Olubiyo Victoria from the Borno State's liason office in Lagos expressed a deep appreciation to the Ooni over the gift. "We are so grateful and I want to assure Baba, the Ooni of Ife for recognizing the people oriented leadership strides of our workaholic governor, His Excellency Professor Babagana Zulum. The government and people of Borno will remain grateful and I assure that the equipment would be used for the purpose that is meant for. we are proud of the king and we pray that God Almighty continue to bless the Ooni of Ife, the kingdom of Ile-Ife and the entire Yoruba race under his leadership." She said. While the donation exercise was going at Ife, other members of the Ooni Covid-19 Committee were at the government house in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state where two motorized fumigators were being presented to the state governor, Dr Udom Emmanuel. Welcoming the Ooni's delegation on behalf of the governor, Secretary to the State Governor and Chairman, Covid-19 Management Committee in Akwa Ibom state, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem thanked Ooni Ogunwusi, describing him as an uncommon creative monarch. Dr Ekuwem said the governor loves the Ooni for his kindheartedness and holds him in high esteem for appreciating the relevance of the the people especially the downtrodden ones in the day-to-day affairs by coming up with innovative projects that have direct impacts on them just like the locally fumigating machines fabricated at his palace in Ile-Ife. "On behalf of His Excellency the people's governor of Akwa Ibom State, Dr Udom Emmanuel, we are very happy to receive this delegation from the Source of Yoruba race and from His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife in particular. "Mr governor sends his deepest appreciation to His Majesty for this show of love to the people of Akwa Ibom. If you go to Ife, you will see that Kabiyesi is a very creative person. He is well connected to the people because he has realized that leadership can not function without the people. "A royal figure must not disconnect himself from the people. Go to any palace you see that people pay homage, animals don't pay homage, bees don't pay homage, so, there can be no royalty without the people. For Kabiyesi to be this innovative that people must be alive, Mr governor is very happy that these fumigators the Ooni has been taking across boundaries in Nigeria is a demonstration of his love for the people of this country because only love does that. This is bridge building, and this a matter of love." He said A member of the Ooni's team, Ajoyemi Osunleye explained the details of the visit and technicalities behind the machines. "Its a motorized modular fumigator invented by the Ooni of Ife. What His Majesty did was to produce a system converting water to fog like the morning dew, the system is well designed better than the ones used before now. "The solution used for the content is Sodium hypochlorite which is very friendly with human skin, you can spray it everywhere and you can go under it as its not injurious to our body skins. "Kabiyesi while designing the equipment also targeted post Covid-19 era like agriculture, the regular environmental sanitations, pre-event fumigation of social parties, religious occasions, political campaign venues, office premises, sport arenas and other sensitive environments. You all recall that kabiyesi shortly before the lockdown came up with herbal solutions to fight Covid-19, after a long process working with some scientists coordinated by a professor of public health and currently the H.O.D of the Community Health Department of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife, Professor Olapeju Esimai, this product is called 'VIRAL BAL' So, it's not only in Madagascar that herbal solution can come out, Ooni too has the herbal solutions passing through clinical stages and will be made available to the public very soon. He's a king that loves this country and this is what he has been doing to support Nigeria in his own little way". Ajoyemi explained. Princess Kemi Fadojutimi who led Ooni's team to Akwa Ibom had earlier in her address said that Ooni Ogunwusi would not relent in his efforts to support government and people of Nigeria in the fight against Covid-19, saying that Akwa Ibom was the 15th state in the southern part of the country that have benefited from the Ooni's benevolence of free fumigators, remaining only Cross Rivers and Imo which would be done in the next two days. *Kabiyesi Ooni of Ife has given this to all the Southern states except Cross Rivers and Imo which we will do tomorrow and Saturday. The king just wants to show love with these contributions aimed at complementing the efforts of government so that we can collectively defeat Covid-19. "He felt we should not just wait for government to do it all, he assembled a team of youths and after some deliberations, this innovative fumigation method came out. Am proud to tell you that every aspect of the motorized modular fumigator is locally made. "As we are here with you, the representatives of Borno State are at the palace in Ile-Ife to collect theirs just like Bauchi did about 3 weeks ago. She said. Singed; Comrade Moses Olafare, Director, Media & Public Affairs, Ooni's Palace. The United States promised Thursday to reduce troops from Iraq over the coming months after talks with Baghdad, where lawmakers have pushed for their withdrawal. "The two countries recognized that in light of significant progress towards eliminating the ISIS threat, over the coming months the US would continue reducing forces from Iraq," a joint statement said, without giving figures. "The United States reiterated that it does not seek nor request permanent bases or a permanent military presence in Iraq," it said. Iraq, in turn, promised to protect bases housing US troops after a series of rocket attacks blamed on pro-Iranian paramilitary groups. The two countries on Thursday held their first strategic dialogue in more than a decade, months after Iraqi lawmakers demanded that US forces withdraw in the wake of a US drone strike in Baghdad which killed a top general from neighboring Iran. Relations have since stabilized under a new US-friendly Iraqi prime minister, Mustafa Kadhemi, and the dialogue was held virtually due to coronavirus precautions. An Iraqi soldier stands guard in front of a US military air carrier at the Qayyarah air base, near Mosul in northern Iraq, on March 26, 2020. The US says it will reduce troops in the country "over coming months" Representative Image Vijay KR As employees get ready to return to their offices, the corporate real estate world is likely to see significant changes with respect to the way they operate as the world weathers through an unprecedented crisis. With social distancing and new hygiene standards being the order of the day, the idea of a typical modern office is all set to change With the announcement of Unlock 1.0, organisations are looking to reduce corporate real estate costs by 20 percent at the very least to counter the effect of the dip in economic activity. Corporates are also looking at emphasising hygiene and precautionary measures of social distancing to their employees as per the recently issued guidelines. This is because in the beginning, only a fraction of staff strength must take the plunge to visit office premises physically and that too based on the business requirements considering that the virtual way to work is the first preference. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show A change in the traditional office setup While organisations move to normalise work with the announcement of Unlock 1.0, a large number of organisations continue to see immense value in continuing with the virtual working setup since it optimises their rental and administrative costs significantly, in addition to the savings on the commute time would help employees manage their time more effectively as well. As per the Deloitte CFO Actions in Response to COVID survey, more than 65 percent of the respondents have said that they are looking at reduced spending and enacting alternate arrangements to counter the impact of COVID-19. This may also, very well mean, a change in the way traditional office spaces would be priced considering the CBDs may become decongested and we may see an uptake in office space absorption in satellite spaces at a significantly lower cost than the CBD. On an overall basis we see a decrease of office space intake in the range of 30-40 percent in 2020 as compared with 2021. Other areas of cost savings in the form of a review of the existing contracts, optimising the real estate footprint and initiatives such as consolidation and building shared service center capabilities are being seen as major cost saving drivers. A shift from sharing to exclusivity Over the last few years, the concept of shared office spaces has seen a huge uptake. There have been significant arguments as to how shared office spaces will soon wipe out the traditional office setup completely and the demand has seen a number of overseas and domestic players setup shop. With the COVID-19 crisis however, the scenario may see a drastic change as exclusivity becomes more important from a hygiene perspective. As people get back to work albeit in a reduced manner, the employee would much rather be working out of an exclusive office space than a shared premise. Growth in the shared office space sector may see a significant downturn in times to come and this may also be further fueled in the flexibility to exit without much consideration. There may also be a significant correction in the price/seat charges (a very minimum of 10-15%) to cover for this reduced demand. Urban Mobility Urban mobility and availability of public transportation has increasingly played an important role in space selection for organisations in the Indian context. Well-connected office spaces have long attracted premiums as compared to those in locations with lesser connectivity options. With the use of public transport likely to see a significant downtrend in the near future with people preferring private transport in the light of hygiene requirements, this long-standing consideration may see significant dilution. Compact, Smaller and differently focused office spaces As the size of office spaces continues to shrink, some of the factors which will see significant focus are as follows: Design changes Standards for general office density norms may undergo change as ever-increasing focus on improving density and optimisation of space may see trend reversal. Other design considerations such as a re-assessment of the flow of personnel in an office space clubbed with changes in now near redundant spaces such as meeting rooms etc. may cause our office spaces to look very different from before. We may also see a change in the materials being used for office spaces. For example, high density carpets may pave the way for laminated flooring or vitrified tiles; anti germ coat paints may be used more instead of distemper paints which can be cleaned more efficiently. Further adoption of automated cleaning systems may be on the anvil, with the use of enhanced equipment (UV handheld devices, quick fumigation techniques) which may impact the way we use our common spaces. Cyber security will see increased focus as organisations will be worried about the security of their systems given the uptake of remote working. Increased focus on cleanliness Cleanliness is likely to become a top focus for office spaces. Organisations will relook at their cleaning routines and frequency of deep cleaning of certain parts of the facility like door handle, lift switches etc. There will be also be increased focus on sanitizing commonly used spaces such as meeting rooms, cafeteria, gymnasium and other high traffic areas. There is likely to be growth in use of automation to ensure higher levels of cleanliness, such as use of automated cleaning and sanitization systems, automated doors, voice activated controls instead of switches for lights, air-conditioners and elevators. Managing indoor air quality and use of more specialised filters and air purification systems will gain focus. Increased emphasis on personal hygiene Screening of employees and visitors, for body temperature and any signs of illness, may become the new normal. We could soon find that declarations relating to recent illness, recent travel details and such other details would be become mandatory for visitors. Additionally, organisation could actively discourage or even limit/restrict entry of visitors and introduce strict rules relating to entry and movement of visitors, especially visitors from quick pickup and delivery service providers. There would be reduction in physical interactions and a re-do of the social norms such as handshakes. We could also see a significant increase in use of sanitisers and tissues/hygiene products. Increase in training and awareness Training and awareness related to hygiene, conduct, new social and business norms is set to become as important aspect as employees return to work. With changing etiquettes, it is expected that there would be a marked difference in interactions and general business mannerisms which would mandate additional training for employees. The facility management staff would also need to be trained to focus on use of new devices like body temperature monitoring systems, responding to emergencies, isolation protocols and personal protection. New operating procedures around cleaning may see uptake in the use of modern equipment and lesser reliance on human effectiveness. As details emerge, the cost of such Covid-19 related compliances and retrofitting may range between Rs 50 -120 per sq ft assuming less than 50 percent occupancy levels and depending on size of office spaces. In conclusion, it is safe to assume that organisations which provide for safe spaces and working environments will be the first choice for top talent. As businesses resume operations, there are bound to be ups and downs but historically crises have caused us to become more resilient in our resolve. Growth, sooner or later is inevitable and the sooner we prepare ourselves for the growth cycle, the faster one can expect to grow. The author is a Partner at Deloitte India. Views are personal. Tiger King star Joe Exotic detailed his torment of spending two years in solitary confinement to his 29-year-old pen pal, a letter obtained exclusively by DailyMailTV reveals. Joe rose to fame in Netflixs hit docuseries about the eccentric Oklahoma zoo owner and his hare-brained scheme to hire a hitman to kill his arch nemesis Carole Baskin. He was convicted of the murder-for-hire plot and 17 charges of animal abuse in 2019 and was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison this January. The 57-year-old, real name Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage, wrote to Kathleen Lafferty describing how his soul 'dies a little each day' and how his 'heart will stop like an animal while hes locked up. 'They do all they can here to make my life suck, locked down, 24/7 alone,' Joe wrote in the letter dated May 5. Tiger King star Joe Exotic detailed his torment of spending two years in solitary confinement to his 29-year-old pen pal, a letter obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com reveals The former zoo owner wrote: 'My soul dies a little each day. Not long and my heart will stop like an animal that morns [sic] itself to death>' The letter was dated May 5 and sent to Kathleen Lafferty, who felt sympathy for Exotic after watching Tiger King and decided to write to him Joe begged Lafferty to be his voice to the public, writing: 'No email, 4 calls per month, no commissary like others get, unable to buy shampoo-conditioner or basic health care needs' He also claims he has been denied the privilege to call his husband Dillon Passage, 22. 'My soul dies a little each day. Not long and my heart will stop like an animal that morns [sic] itself to death,' Joe wrote. Lafferty, 29, felt sympathy for Exotic after watching Tiger King, deciding to write to him, despite never meeting him in person because she too had experienced life in the dreaded 'hole.' 'When I was a little kid, I was in foster care and they changed my medications around a lot,' Lafferty, of White Water, Wisconsin, told DailyMail.com. Lafferty, (pictured), felt sympathy for Exotic after watching Tiger King, deciding to write to him, despite never meeting him in person because she too had experienced life in the dreaded 'hole' 'I ended up in a type two facility in solitary confinement, so I know what it's like. Normal people don't know what it's like and how dangerous it is. 'You can have hallucinations and panic attacks. I feel bad for the guy. It doesn't seem like he has a lot of people left. Drug addiction will do that to you. 'I think he's going mentally insane in that cell. He said 'I love you' in the letter.' In a second note titled 'Media Statement', Joe begs Lafferty to be his voice to the public: 'No email, 4 calls per month, no commissary like others get, unable to buy shampoo-conditioner or basic health care needs,' he wrote. He goes on to ask President Trump and his son Don Jr. to pardon him and 'make the world smile during this pandemic.' Joes lawyer, Francisco Hernandez, corroborated the claims the Tiger King star made in his letter to Lafferty. 'He is in the Special Handling Unit for unexplained reasons,' explained Hernandez, 55, a Criminal Law Specialist based in Texas. 'The worst part about it is they're denying him visits with his lawyers. You have a [constitutional] right to counsel.' 'All his mail is being held up to a month and they're screening mail from his attorneys. 'It's unprecedented. Why would they have you in solitary confinement if you haven't done anything wrong? '[Solitary] is supposed to be a maximum of 14 days. He hasn't seen the sun in two years.' Joe rose to fame in Netflixs hit docuseries about the eccentric Oklahoma zoo owner and his hare-brained scheme to hire a hitman to kill his arch nemesis Carole Baskin He was convicted of the murder-for-hire plot and 17 charges of animal abuse in 2019 and was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison this January. Pictured: Carole Baskin Hernandez also claims that Joe has not been getting the medical care he requires while in custody. 'Exotic suffers from CIVD, an autoimmune disease that requires him to have a blood infusion every four weeks. He has gone three months without a blood infusion. 'For him, this is a life and death deal. If he doesn't get an infusion he could die. Our plan is to sue the board of prisons this month.' Joes lawyer, Francisco Hernandez, corroborated the claims the Tiger King star made in his letter to Lafferty Hernandez also confirmed Joes legal team is seeking a presidential pardon saying, 'we're absolutely serious about [the pardon]. 'The first step is getting him out of solitary confinement. The second step is taking over the direct appeal. The third step is the pardon.' As for Lafferty's notion that Exotic is losing his mind while in solitary, Hernandez strongly disagrees. 'All cylinders are firing,' he said regarding his client's mental state. 'He's writing on a regular basis. He's corresponding with 430 fans on a regular basis. He wrote handwritten responses to all of them.' Lafferty has since sent another letter to Exotic and intends to continue her correspondence with the incarcerated tiger tamer. 'I think everybody makes mistakes and that everybody deserves a second chance,' she said. Representatives from FMC Fort Worth, Texas, where Exotic is currently being held, could not be reached for comment. India may have added over 100,000 new cases of coronavirus disease in the past 10 days but there are no plans to impose a stringent nationwide lockdown again, top officials involved in managing the pandemic said on Friday. Their comments came even as the three states worst hit by the pandemic, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu, ruled out any reimposition of lockdown measures. After 68 days of a nationwide lockdown, India is now in a phased exit from restrictions on movement and businesses, a period the home ministry terms Unlock 1.0. On Friday, Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said that the lockdown will not be reimposed in Delhi. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray too ruled out re-imposing a hard lockdown. And the Tamil Nadu government told the Madras High Court that there are no plans to impose a complete lockdown either in Chennai or the rest of the state. There has been buzz on social media that all three states could see a reimposition of the lockdown because of the spiraling cases. On Thursday, India registered 11,199 cases, the highest ever on a single day till then. Of this, 66% of the cases came from the three states. On Friday night, out of Indias total cases of 309,324, the three states accounted for 178,663. Central government officials too, insisted that there is little possibility of any immediate roll back of concessions. They, however, added that if the states collectively raise such a demand, then the Centre might consider reviewing its approach. But as of now, there is no discussion to review the current guidelines, said one official who asked not to be named. They also point out that states have enough power to declare containment zones and take measures to curb the spread of the disease in hot spots. Maharashtra chief minister Thackeray said the government was easing the lockdown restrictions in phases to restart the economy. Some television news channels and social media platforms are speaking about lockdown being reimposed and closure of all shops (in the state). But the government has not taken any such decision, he added in a statement. Union government officials said there is no proposal as of now to discontinue economic activities as it may hamper livelihood of millions of Indians. We already have a huge issue in hand on how to help the millions of migrant workers who have returned to their villages, added a second official who asked not to be named And far from asking for a reimposition of the lockdown, some states want more activities to be opened up, the first official said. Some have asked for more relaxation such as opening of suburban and metro trains and more public transport. We are easing lockdown restrictions in phases to restart the economy. But lifting of restrictions does not mean unnecessary crowding and violating discipline of physical distancing and hygiene, Thackeray said. A third official said on condition of anonymity that states can, if they so desire even extend lockdown. On May 31, a day after the Centre announced significant relaxations under Unlock 1, the Maharashtra government had extended the lockdown till June 30, but announced a slew of relaxations and phase-wise resumption of activities. All markets, market areas and shops, except malls, were allowed to reopen in the state from June 5 on the odd- even basis in non-containment zones.The state also allowed private offices to operate with up to 10% of their employee strength as per the requirement from June 8. (with inputs from Delhi and Mumbai bureaus) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The BART Board of Directors on Thursday acknowledged the value in reforming its law enforcement agency but declined to reduce or eliminate funding for BART police in the agency's proposed fiscal year 2021 budget. BART has not been spared from calls across the Bay Area and the country at large to drastically reduce local police budgets following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month and the ensuing protests. Criminal justice advocates argue that police budgets have ballooned out of control in recent years and reducing them in addition to demilitarizing law enforcement agencies and reducing their scope could help curb instances of police brutality. While BART's proposed fiscal year 2021 budget includes a one-year delay of new police hires, saving the agency about $4 million as part of a hiring freeze totaling $36 million in cuts agencywide, some members of the public demanded BART eliminate its law enforcement entirely. Director Debora Allen said blame placed on BART police officers over allegations of unnecessary policy enforcement and racism is misguided and officers are only doing their job of enforcing established laws. Allen also argued that riders criminalize themselves when they break systemwide rules and laws such as eating on station platforms and refusing to comply with orders from law enforcement officers. "For those of you who don't think BART PD does enough for public safety, wait 'til you see the result if they are gone or substantially diminished," Allen said, adding that the system would become "a continuous place of mayhem" without BART police. Board Directors Janice Li, Rebecca Saltzman and John McPartland all distanced themselves from Allen's comments, with Saltzman urging all members of the board to be thoughtful and respectful of riders in the system, particularly people of color, who may feel victimized by BART police. Later in the meeting, board President Lateefah Simon, the only black member of the board, issued the strongest rebuke of Allen's comments. "When I hear the dog whistles, that are consistent with a political agenda that uplifts structural racism, that black men and women who succumb to unlawful use of force by law enforcement were to blame, it is unconscionable and it is racist," she said. "You will not, in this meeting, as long as I'm president, blame the dead for the lack of responsibility of many law enforcement leaders for getting it right." Li, whose district includes central San Francisco, said that while she supports the agency's proposed budget, she is rethinking the role BART police can and should play in the system, particularly in enforcing and punishing fare evasion and ensuring that riders feel safe in the system. "I have a lot more work to do," Li said. "I have to really listen to the needs of our community and I'm wholly committed to listening and acting upon the demands of the communities BART serves." Last month, BART General Manager Bob Powers called the proposed budget "precariously balanced," with federal funding support shoring up the agencies losses in fare revenue during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The budget includes roughly $190 million in total cuts compared to the $1.016 billion preliminary budget that the board reviewed in mid-May. BART officials have touted that the new proposed budget does not include layoffs or furloughs for any employees. Criminal justice advocates in the Bay Area have argued that reducing the agency's police budget could not only free up funding to balance the budget without making such harsh cuts but also allow BART to move toward eliminating the need to collect fares altogether. McPartland suggested that while those suggestions may be well-intentioned, they could be coming from a place of emotion and pain in lieu of rationality. "We need to have a thought-through response that summarizes the need for the law enforcement in relation to the fare gates," he said. "The people that are speaking with so much anger and venom are also venting from the standpoint of their frustration." Saltzman suggested the board take a cue from members of the public who suggested modifying BART police's scope of operation going forward. "Some of what people were talking about, having police officers focus on the real crimes and figuring out ways to have unarmed people focusing on things like masks, that really resonated with me," she said. The BART board is expected to vote on the proposed budget at its June 25 meeting. The budget would then go into effect when the fiscal year begins July 1. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Donald Trump is stepping up his efforts to manufacture a pretext for a declaration of martial law and the deployment of the military on the streets of the United States. The president has taken a series of provocative actions even as more information is coming to light as to just how close Trump came to instigating a military bloodbath at the beginning of last week. Only hours after the last National Guard troops were withdrawn from Washington DC, Trump made a new threat of military violence against a major American city, this time Seattle. In statements on Twitter Wednesday night, Trump demanded that Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, both Democrats, act to suppress protesters in a small neighborhood from which the police have temporarily withdrawn. If you dont do it, I will, he tweeted. This is not a game. Trump was seizing on a series of minor protest actions in the city, in which demonstrators against police violence have declared a Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, encompassing all of six city blocks, with spray-painted signs, campsites and other paraphernalia reminiscent of the 2011 Occupy Wall Street protests. This reality has not stopped Trump from portraying the events in the most incendiary terms. Domestic Terrorists have taken over Seattle, run by Radical Left Democrats, of course, he tweeted later, adding, LAW & ORDER! In this Monday, June 1, 2020, file photo police clear the area around Lafayette Park and the White House in Washington, as demonstrators gather to protest the death of George Floyd. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) Trump also announced Thursday that he will hold his first public campaign rally since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 19. This is extraordinarily provocative, given the ongoing mass protests against the murder of George Floyd. June 19 has been traditionally celebrated by African Americans as Juneteenth, the day the Emancipation Proclamation was finally put into effect in Texas in 1865, while Tulsa is the site of the worst racist violence against African Americans in history, the Greenwood massacre of 1921, in which as many as 300 were killed. The choice of this date and place for a campaign rally must be seen as a deliberate effort to stage a confrontation between pro-Trump and anti-Trump forces that would justify the use of the military. The unprecedented political crisis in America was underscored by the comments made Wednesday night by Trumps Democratic opponent in the presidential election, Joe Biden, on the Comedy Central program hosted by Trevor Noah. This president is going to try to steal this election, Biden declared. In response to a question by Noah about whether he expected Trump to refuse to leave office if he is defeated on November 3, the former vice president said that was my greatest fear. Biden then praised the public attacks on Trump by a series of former military leaders last week, after Trumps threat to call out the military against those protesting the police murder of George Floyd. I was so damn proud. You have four chiefs of staff coming out and ripping the skin off of Trump, he said, adding that he counted on the military to remove Trump if he balked at respecting the results of the vote. I promise you, Im absolutely convinced they will escort him from the White House in awith great dispatch, Biden concluded. This statement is remarkable: first, because Biden concedes that Trump has no intention of accepting the outcome of the election, and second, because he concedes to the military the decisive role in Trumps ultimate removal from office. As to what Biden would do if the military did not remove Trump, but rather allowed him to stay, Noah did not ask and Biden did not say. Press reports have shed additional light on the events of June 1 and the days that followed, completely confirming the warnings made by the World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Party that Trump was seeking to launch a military coup. On Monday, June 1, he declared himself your president of law and order and threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807, under which the president may deploy troops in the event that local and state governments cannot keep order. At a meeting that Monday morning, Trump demanded that federal troops pour into Washington, where he had been badly frightened by protests outside the White House. According to an account in Thursdays New York Times, Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, objected, saying it was a terrible idea to have combat troops trained to fight foreign adversaries at war with Americans. A wild scramble ensued to use another option: Summon National Guard troops from other states to reinforce the 1,200 DC Guard troops already called up. Eleven states contributed 3,900 National Guard troops, including not only nearby Maryland and New Jersey, but more distant states like South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri and even Utah and Idaho. Ten of the eleven states have Republican governors. At the Pentagons insistence, the National Guard troops stacked their weapons and ammunition at a local armory and went on patrols unarmed in order to avoid a repetition of the Kent State massacre 50 years ago, when National Guard troops opened fire on antiwar student protesters, killing four. It is clear, however, that Trump wanted such a violent encounter and sought to trigger a confrontation that night, which would give him a pretext for further and far more sweeping military moves. Press reports indicate that the order by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper that National Guard forces should operate without weapons at the ready was not cleared with the White House. At the same time, according to the Times, General Milley and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy warned the Guard throughout the day that if it could not control the protests, Mr. Trump would most likely call in the 82nd Airborne. These troops, as well as military police from the 10th Mountain Division stationed in upstate New York, were brought to the Washington DC area, but remained at bases outside the city. Despite the absence of any significant violence in the US capital, it was not until Thursday night, June 4, that Trump agreed that the regular troops should be sent home. On Sunday, June 7, he allowed the National Guard troops from outside DC to return to their states. This pullback, only completed Wednesday, has not ended the threat of military intervention. On Wednesday, Secretary Esper and General Milley replied by letter to the demand of the House Armed Services Committee that they appear to testify about the planned use of the military against the mass protests over the death of George Floyd. The two have so far declined to testify, adhering to unconstitutional instructions from the White House barring any cooperation with the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. In their letter, Esper and Milley said that active-duty military forces were not ever in the District for purposes of civilian law enforcement. But they declared that Trump retained the authority to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 and send federal troops anywhere in the United States to suppress disturbances. In the event that a president makes such a decision, he may do so without approval from the state government in which the forces are to be used, they said. This would apply directly to the state of Washington, the current target of Trumps threats. As a statement of the SEP warned, The conspirators in the White House have not ceased their plotting. The military is biding its time and considering its options. The police remain armed to the teeth. As Bidens comments make clear, the Democrats consider the military the ultimate arbiter of politics in the United States. Neither Congress nor the Democratic Party lifted a finger against this presidential declaration of authoritarian rule. It was only because of opposition from the Pentagon brass, which felt such a military action was both poorly prepared and not yet necessary, that Trump pulled back. The responsibility to oppose Trumps preparations for dictatorship falls to the working class, the only social force whose very existence is bound up with the defense of democratic rightsas the ongoing mass protests against police killings demonstrate. This must go forward through the building of an independent political movement of the working class based on a socialist program. Ms. Grace Addo, an aspiring NPP parliamentary candidate for the Manso-Nkwanta Constituency, has appealed to the delegates in the upcoming primaries to again, repose their confidence in her by voting for her. Ms. Addo, who was a former Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, said she had been tried and tested by the people, and they had the opportunity again to bring her back to continue what she started in the past. I have been there before on two occasions and know what it takes to further transform the Constituency for the better if given the nod, she stated. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Manso-Nkwanta, Ms. Addo described her endorsement by the Party to run in the primaries, as good omen for the people, given her track record in the area of education, health, infrastructural development and grassroots party mobilization in the Constituency. Thank God I was not disqualified from contesting the primaries as anticipated by my detractors, and for me, this is the first sign of victory, she told the GNA in an interview at Manso-Nkwanta in the Amansie-West District. She is contesting in the primaries alongside the incumbent MP, Mr. Joseph Albert Quarm, Mr. Owusu Mensah, Mr. George Obeng, and Mr. Emmanuel Boakye Yiadom. Ms. Addo lost by a single vote to the incumbent MP in the last parliamentary primaries. She told the GNA that working to improve the socio-economic lives of the people remained her priority. Ms. Addo advocated for a healthy campaign by all the parliamentary aspirants in the Constituency devoid of personal attacks, saying we need to tell the constituents what we are capable of doing for their own good. GNA The Rajya Sabha secretariat had to pay Rs 8 crore to the Indian Railways towards expenses incurred by Members of Parliament (MPs), who enjoy free travel, even as the nation grapples with strained finances. The Railways blamed the malpractices by politicians for the unusually steep bill raised for 2019. After the bill amount raised an alarm, the Railways informed the Rajya Sabha that some parliamentarians often undertook multiple bookings in different trains for just one destination, that too on the same day. Such reservations are often made for the MPs themselves along with their companions, at times from multiple stations. Eventually, only one of the seats are utilised and MPs do not bother cancelling the other bookings. Following the allegations, Parliament discovered that several Rajya Sabha members had been misusing their free travel perks and wasting public money at a time when the nation is battling a serious health crisis. As the skeletons came out of the closet, the Rajya Sabha secretariat issued a warning that salary will be deducted in case of future violations, India Today reported. Issuing a stern notice, Desh Deepak Verma, Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha, said: It has been noted that multiple bookings are being made by some members in various trains departing from same/different stations to different destination stations for the same day. The Rajya Sabha secretariat has paid even for bookings that are not utilised. Members are requested to cancel all such bookings well in advance. In case of non-cancellation of such bookings, the amount shall be recovered from members. Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu also expressed his displeasure, calling it a blatant misuse and disregard towards public money. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: Turkmenistan, along with other countries, has participated in a discussion with the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) on the measures to overcome the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The topic was discussed during an online conference between Deputy FMs of Central Asian countries, Afghanistan with the participation of the UNRCCA via videoconference on June 11, 2020. The meeting was attended by officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Central Asia, the Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Natalia Gherman as well as representatives of Center, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ambassador Miroslav Yencha, EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Ambassador Peter Burian, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center Tuula Yrjola, as well as international experts participated in the meeting. The Turkmen delegation was represented by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vepa Hajiev. The Turkmen side noted that providing regional talks in such format was proved to be a productive and very useful. Thus, the meeting provides an opportunity to exchange views on a difficult situation in the world caused by COVID-19, as well as find ways to overcome it. In addition, the Turkmen side noted that regularization of relations in Afghanistan is possible only by peaceful and political means. Therefore, peacekeeping potential of the international community, first of all, under the auspices of the United Nations, should be more actively and widely used in Afghanistan. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva Having failed to take Tripoli and having faltered in the face of the GNA backed by Turkey, Haftars only negotiating power is his control of oil--from production to export terminals. Now that leverage is What it means is that Turkey popped the cork on the champagne too soon. The Turks and the GNA may have pushed Haftar out of key areas in his push to take over Tripoli, and retaken control of western Libya, but they will hit a wall trying to go much further. Production at Sharara went online on Sunday, June 7th, while production at El Feel went online the following day. El Feel, which had been heavily damaged over the long shut-down, started with only 12,000 bpd and was supposed to return to full capacity in 14 days. Late on June 8th, the oilfields were stormed and production was stopped again on the 9th, with the NOC again declaring force majeure on Sharara exports. That was a relief to OPEC--struggling with oil production cuts and non-compliance--if not to Libya. Last week, the Turks were still celebrating a presumed victory in Libya after General Haftar lost territory in and around Tripoli and the National Oil Company (NOC) went as far as to restart production at two giant oilfields--Sharara and El Feel. It was an endeavor that lasted a day, with Haftar immediately responding through his control of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG)--the militia forces tasked (and paid by the Libyan state) to guard the countrys oil facilities. Last week, the Turks were still celebrating a presumed victory in Libya after General Haftar lost territory in and around Tripoli and the National Oil Company (NOC) went as far as to restart production at two giant oilfields--Sharara and El Feel. It was an endeavor that lasted a day, with Haftar immediately responding through his control of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG)--the militia forces tasked (and paid by the Libyan state) to guard the countrys oil facilities. Production at Sharara went online on Sunday, June 7th, while production at El Feel went online the following day. El Feel, which had been heavily damaged over the long shut-down, started with only 12,000 bpd and was supposed to return to full capacity in 14 days. Late on June 8th, the oilfields were stormed and production was stopped again on the 9th, with the NOC again declaring force majeure on Sharara exports. That was a relief to OPEC--struggling with oil production cuts and non-compliance--if not to Libya. What it means is that Turkey popped the cork on the champagne too soon. The Turks and the GNA may have pushed Haftar out of key areas in his push to take over Tripoli, and retaken control of western Libya, but they will hit a wall trying to go much further. Having failed to take Tripoli and having faltered in the face of the GNA backed by Turkey, Haftars only negotiating power is his control of oil--from production to export terminals. Now that leverage is even more important, and there will not be any sustained production until there is a diplomatic solution, or until Haftar is replaced as the eastern strongman. Now that Haftar has lost the western part of the country, a military solution is less likely, which is exactly what some Haftar allies--both in the east and among his external supporters--are considering now. Either they 1) abruptly step in to back him militarily to relaunch his offensive, which we believe is not likely at this point; 2) persuade him to negotiate; 3) force a partition; 4) find a new partner in the east. While many were optimistic that a ceasefire would come about to allow production to return, the GNA is not on board. The ceasefire was Egypts idea, and is largely viewed by the GNA (and Turkey) as an attempt to buy time for Haftar and allies to help him regroup. Egypts ceasefire and road map plan is supported by Russia and the UAE (both Haftar allies) and calls for the creation of a presidential council (elected), the dismantling of militias and the withdrawal of foreign fighters. The GNA, emboldened, now feels as though it has the upperhand and does not need to bargain from this lowly position. It believes (believed) that Haftar was sufficiently weakened--hence the immediate shut down of production this week. Donald Trump last night defended his statement that 'when the looting starts, the shooting starts', claiming it was inspired by former Philadelphia mayor Frank Rizzo - who once told his supporters to 'Vote White'. The president used the phrase at the height of the George Floyd riots in an intervention seen as so inflammatory that it was partially censored by Twitter. Speaking to Fox News, Trump claimed incorrectly that the phrase had come from Rizzo, whom he described as a 'very tough mayor' and whose statue has recently come down in Philadelphia because of his alleged record of brutality. Interviewer Harris Faulkner informed Trump that the phrase actually dates back further, to Miami police chief Walter Headley who used it in 1967. President Donald Trump (pictured) last night defended his statement during the George Floyd riots that 'when the looting starts, the shooting starts' Trump's 1am tweet described the looters as 'thugs' and warned that the federal government would 'assume control' with 'shooting' if necessary after protesters set fire to a police precinct Twitter added its second warning to a Donald Trump tweet in four days by covering the president's message about the Minneapolis riots with a comment that it 'glorifies violence' Asked about his use of the 'shooting' quote, Trump said it was 'an expression I've heard over the years'. Pressed on where it had come from, he replied: 'I think Philadelphia, the mayor of Philadelphia.' When Faulkner told him it actually dated to Florida in 1967, Trump persisted with the Philadelphia comparison and said: 'It also comes from a very tough mayor named Frank Rizzo, and he had an expression like that, but I've heard it many times.' Trump insisted that the remark had not been meant as a 'threat' but as 'just a fact, because that's what happens'. The divisive Rizzo, who died in 1991, was Philadelphia's police commissioner from 1968 to 1971 and mayor from 1972 to 1980. Rizzo was renowned for being tough on crime but his critics say he targeted ethnic minorities and that brutality was the accepted norm. During his failed attempt to run for a third term in 1979, he caused outrage by telling his supporters to 'Vote White'. His family maintains that he was a fair mayor who should not be mentioned in the same breath as the Confederate generals whose statues are also coming down. A statue of Rizzo in Philadelphia was removed by crane earlier this month and a separate mural has been painted over after it was defaced by protesters. Frank Rizzo (pictured), who died in 1991, was Philadelphia's police commissioner from 1968 to 1971 and mayor from 1972 to 1980 This mural of Rizzo has been defaced and painted over during the recent protests because of his alleged record of police brutality The 'looting and shooting' phrase had previously been used by Miami police chief Walter Headley in a 1967 speech about combating 'young hoodlums who have taken advantage of the civil rights campaign.' In the speech, Headley said his department had been successful 'because I've let the word filter down that when the looting starts, the shooting starts.' 'We don't mind being accused of police brutality,' he said, according to news reports at the time. Trump used the phrase in the early hours of May 29 after a night of rioting following Floyd's death in Minneapolis earlier that week. 'Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts,' he wrote on Twitter. Within hours, Twitter had hidden the tweet with a warning that it 'violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence'. However, users can still bypass the warning message under special rules which protect the public's right to know what their politicians have said. Trump's comment on the Minneapolis protests (pictured) sparked an outcry and he later insisted it had not been meant as a threat After an outcry, Trump backtracked and said the statement was an observation rather than a threat. 'Looting leads to shooting... I don't want this to happen, and that's what the expression put out last night means,' he said the following day. Trump subsequently caused further anger by having protesters cleared from outside the White House so that he could pose for photos at a nearby church. The president theatrically walked across Lafayette Square and held up a copy of the Bible outside St John's Episcopal Church, which had briefly been set on fire. Trump's entourage included defense secretary Mark Esper as well as General Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Esper has since claimed that he thought they were going to inspect damage in the Square and at the church and mingle with National Guard troops in the area. Milley says he regrets being there at all, saying it 'created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics'. HONG KONG, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Optima Partners is delighted to announce that it continues to further its position as a leading global financial regulatory compliance advisory firm with its expansion into Hong Kong. Katrina Banh, the lead Partner in its Hong Kong office stated, "from a compliance perspective, global connectivity and awareness is paramount. Our capabilities and the compliance expertise that we deliver to clients is fully integrated around the world." Jonathan Saxton, Optima's Founder & CEO further states "from our founding we've envisioned servicing our global clients through a uniquely proactive, practical and responsive approach. With a dedicated world-class team in multiple jurisdictions, we continue to accomplish those objectives with our successful Hong Kong expansion." Optima Partners HK Ltd. is a partner to a wide range of active clients, including hedge funds, private equity funds, long-only asset managers and broker-dealers. Our clients maintain operations in Asia, Europe and the Americas, often requiring assistance with SFC, MAS and other international regulatory support. The Hong Kong office is led by Katrina Banh, Partner, a qualified lawyer with in-house Chief Compliance Officer experience of more than 12 years of regulatory and advisory experience in Hong Kong. With its early success, Optima has plans to continue adding headcount to its existing team in Hong Kong which consists of ex-regulators, lawyers and previously senior in-house compliance managers. About Optima Partners Optima Partners is a leading global regulatory compliance advisory firm providing proactive and in-depth regulatory solutions built to meet a clients' individual needs. Optima Partners' unrivalled expertise in the global regulatory landscape, strong relationships with regulators, and a deep commitment to provide clear and practical advice gives clients the services they need to meet the demands of a complex and dynamic financial regulatory environment. The firm currently advises more than 700 clients across its global offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, London and Hong Kong. For more information on Optima Partners, go to the firm's website at www.optima-partners.com Media Contact Optima Partners Katrina Bahn 852 9665 2827 [email protected] SOURCE Optima Partners HK Ltd. Related Links http://www.optima-partners.com SOURCE Optima Partners Only a fraction of Texans who have lost their jobs in the coronavirus pandemic have signed up for financial help to pay their electricity bills. The Public Utility Commission launched an emergency program in March that pays a substantial portion of the power bills of eligible residents. It was designed as short-term assistance, a way for Texans to get back on their feet while much of the Texas economy was closed. The program also was designed to relieve pressure on retail electricity providers worried that they wouldnt get paid because utility companies, prompted by regulators, temporarily stopped disconnecting customers who fell behind on payments. The program suspends disconnections for eligible Texans who buy electricity in deregulated markets such as Houston and Dallas, and who sign up for payment plans with their electricity providers. It is funded by a special charge of 0.033 cents per kilowatt hour added to electricity bills, about 40 cents for residential customers who use 1,200 kilowatt hours of electricity per month. The program was scheduled to end July 17 but commissioners voted Friday to extend benefits and protection from disconnection for non-payment to Aug. 31. But beginning Sept. 1, retail electricity providers can begin disconnecting program participants for non-payment with a 10-day notice. Nearly 2 million Texans applied for unemployment benefits in April and May, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. But only 4 percent enrolled in the Covid-19 electricity relief program during that same two-month period, according to newly released reports from utilities responsible for tracking the data. CenterPoint, the regulated utility in the Houston area, reported just 26,000 participants signed up in April and May, according to the companys filing with the Public Utility Commission. Oncor, the regulated utility that provides power to Dallas, reported nearly 32,000 participants. Some 425,000 low-income Texans who receive Medicaid and food benefits were automatically enrolled in the program. The program reimburses the energy portion of power bills at 4 cents per kilowatt hour and covers the cost of local delivery and transmission, which is about another 4 cents per kilowatt hour. Consumers will be credited for those amounts on their bills yet would still be responsible for reimbursing their power providers for any energy portion of a bill that exceeds 4 cents per kilowatt hour. On HoustonChronicle.com: Supreme Court will review ERCOTs immunity from lawsuits Some consumer advocates suggest many Texans didnt know about the program. Retail electric providers should be stepping up to make sure theyre serving all of their customers, especially during this difficult time, said R A. Dyer, policy analyst with the Texas Coalition for Affordable Power, which represents cities in Texas that buy power. The commission said it has tried to get the word out by issuing press releases, social media posts and creating a special COVID-19 page in English and Spanish on the commissions website. Some retail electricity providers were reluctant to enroll customers who might qualify. PUC Chairman DeAnn Walker said in a public meeting in April that consumers were complaining that some providers refused to put them on deferred payment plans. On HoustonChronicle.com: Reporter's notebook: Is it time to create your own power? The 76,000 Texans who enrolled on their own, however, may regret signing up for the program because they also likely agreed to whats known as a switch hold. That means that they cant change providers until they pay off their old bills, a restriction permitted under Public Utility Commission rules. Consumers who miss a payment after the program ends face disconnection of their electricity. And if they cant sign up with another provider, losing lights and air conditioning would be disastrous for a lot of Texans struggling to cope with the summer heat, said one consumer advocate. The timing here is really bad, said Tim Morstad, associate state director for the advocacy group for older people AARP Texas. Switch-holds are really nasty during normal times but are especially devastating when thousands of Texans are facing unemployment and the worst heat of summer, he said. lynn.sixel@chron.com twitter.com/lmsixel 12.06.2020 LISTEN The Yendi constituency is one of the oldest constituencies in the Northern Region. It is politically said to be a stronghold of the NPP in the Region as it has won the seat many times than any political party in the constituency. For the purpose of this polls, we are focusing on the NDC and the NPP in the constituency in the 4th Republic. Since the NPP boycotted the 1992 Parliamentary elections in the country, Hon. Yussif Kambala represented the Yendi constituency on the ticket of the NDC. From 1996 to 2007, Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu was the MP on the ticket of the NPP. In the 1996 Parliamentary Elections, he secured 13,743 votes to beat Hon. Sulemana Ibn Iddrisu of the NDC who had 7,107 of the votes. Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan won the seat again for the NPP in the year 2000 with 10,620 votes to beat Mr. Issah B. Bukari who had 8,528 of the votes for the NDC. Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu won the Yendi seat for the third time for the NPP in 2004 with 15,302 of the votes as against Hon Sulemana Ibn Iddrisu who secured 10,779 votes for the NDC. In 2008 however, Hon. Sulemana Ibn Iddrisu won the seat for the NDC with 10,831 votes when an Independent Candidate emerged from the NPP and pulled some of the votes that otherwise should have gone to Hon Malik Alhassan Yakubu who had 10, 214 votes for the NPP. The Independent Candidate, Abukari M. Mohammed got 8,733 votes. Hon. Mohammed Habib Tijani however recaptured the seat for the NPP in the 2012 elections and retained it in election 2016. In 2012, he pulled 22,961 votes against the incumbent, Hon Sulemana Ibn Iddrisu, who secured 14, 228 votes and again secured 27,188 votes to retain the Yendi seat for the NPP in election 2016. The NDC candidate, Hon Yahaya Hamza Alikali got 23,964 votes. 2020 Primaries of the NPP Three people have filed to contest the NPP primaries in the Yendi constituency on June 20th: Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama, a Deputy CEO at MASLOC, Alhaji Baba Daney, a Chartered Accountant and Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama, a Philanthropist and Deputy procurement Manager at the Ghana Cocoa board. The Delegates The Yendi constituency has 30 Electoral Areas, 110 Polling Stations, 17 Constituency Executives, 30 Electoral Area Coordinators, 5 Patrons, 5 Council of Elders, 1 Founding Father, 550 Polling Station Executives making totalling 608 delegates. It must be stated that 10 of the delegates are deceased leaving the current total delegates at 598. Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama Farouk Aliu Mahama, per our polls, has 7 of the Constituency Executives standing solidly behind him. Five of the Council of Elders and Patrons are also behind him. There is an absolute declaration of support for Farouk Aliu Mahama at Zugu, Nakpachei, Adibo, Gundogu, Kumfong, Gbungbaliga, Kushegu, Ngani, Kuni, Zagbang and Kpanjamba. Per our polls, Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama will pull not less than 351votes representing 59% of the 598 votes in the primaries on June 20th. From our research, what has earned Farouk Aliu Mahama the favour of the people are the many projects he has embarked on; notably among them is the Yendi Hospital Mortuary refurbishment and reconstruction. He is also cited for his annual massive support to farmers in the constituency as well as the provision of jobs to the youth, the empowerment of women with non-refundable seed capitals as well as equipping them with the needed entrepreneurial skill. Above all these, is his accessibility to the people of Yendi. Dash cam footage released late Thursday of a high-profile First Nations chief being tackled by an RCMP officer shows a disturbing level of force, says a spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Bill Blair. Canadians were horrified by the graphic photo released few days ago of physical violence suffered by Chief Adam, the statement reads. The new dash cam footage makes it that much more unsettling. The statement refers to Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan of northern Alberta, who accused RCMP officers of police brutality after a late night incident in March left him bloodied. The altercation began, he has told media, when he was approached by RCMP officers outside a Fort McMurray casino about the expired licence plate on his truck. Meanwhile, the RCMP have said theyve reviewed vehicle video of the incident and called the actions of the officers that night reasonable. But when that footage was made public, thanks to court action taken by Adams lawyer, Brian Beresh, it sparked outrage. As protests against police brutality continue across much of the United States, Adams case has raised similar questions about systemic racism in Canadas national police force. Dash-cam footage from the night RCMP arrested Chief Allan Adam outside a casino in Fort McMurray shows the initial confrontation and then an officer tackling him without warning and knocking him to the ground. Although Albertas top RCMP officer, deputy commissioner Curtis Zablocki, dismissed the idea that Canadian policing has a systemic problem with racism just this week, federal politicians have showed more openness to the idea. This week, Canadians have been reminded of the systemic racism that Indigenous Peoples and communities face. We can and we must do better, the statement from Blairs spokesperson continues. Adam is facing charges of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest, though his lawyer argues those should be stayed, alleging the RCMP violated Adams rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, specifically, the section guaranteeing the right to life, liberty and security. Meanwhile, the case is under investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, the body charged with probing police misbehaviour in the province. The statement from Blairs office underscores that they will be watching that closely. We have been clear that we need to work with Indigenous Peoples, partners and communities, as well as all racialized Canadians to ensure that our agencies serve without bias and with a commitment to social justice for everyone. Read more about: Police have charged two people and fined two others after efforts to transfer men protesting their detainment at a makeshift Brisbane immigration site sparked swift action from refugee advocates. About 120 men, some of whom have been in detention for years, are being held in the Kangaroo Point hotel used to house refugees and asylum seekers transferred from offshore detention for medical treatment. Serco, which is contracted to manage the facility, directed questions to the federal Home Affairs Department. A Border Force spokesperson would not confirm if anyone had been transferred, citing "operational matters". The move to relocate some of the men came after peaceful balcony protests by several detainees over the past 10 weeks over living conditions, concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic and their years of detention. Russias powerful Federal Security Service (FSB) has been transformed into a semicriminal structure that is functioning essentially as a second government, according to a new report by the Dossier (Dosye) Center, which is funded by a former oligarch and staunch critic of President Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The report, which was issued on June 11, is titled "How The FSB Determines The Politics And Economics Of Russia." The security agency is described in the report as the main support of Putins ruling system, which has gained control over all other government institutions. In particular, it says, the Defense Ministry, the Investigative Committee, the Prosecutor-Generals Office, and the Interior Ministry are "dependent on the FSB." "In addition, representatives of the special services regularly influence the decisions of the courts, in violation of the independence of the judicial branch," the report says, adding that the lack of a separation of powers "threatens the security of the country." Khodorkovsky told RFE/RLs Russian Service that Dossier had been working on the report "for more than a year." "We conducted several dozen interviews with experts, including some who worked for the FSB in the past and some who are working there now, as well as with people who for one reason or another were forced to have dealings with that agency," he said. Khodorkovsky was once Russias richest man and a powerful oligarch. He was arrested in October 2003 and later sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted of embezzlement and tax evasion in trials widely seen as politically motivated. Most of the assets of his Yukos oil company ended up under the control of the Rosneft state oil company, which is run by close Putin ally Igor Sechin. Putin pardoned Khodorkovsky in December 2013, and he now lives abroad. "The overall gist is that in a real sense you can call the FSB a 'second government of Russia,'" Khodorkovsky said. That is, its activity in various areas of the public and economic life of the country far exceeds its constitutional authority. UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th June, 2020) The United Nations believes the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Yemen does not reflect the actual severity of the outbreak in that country given the alarming 24 percent COVID-19-related fatality rate, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a press briefing on Friday. Yemen has so far reported 591 novel coronavirus cases and 136 COVID-19-related deaths, according to data compiled by the Johns Hopkins University. "The [UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] notes that these numbers are not representative of the true severity of the outbreak," Dujarric said. "Yemen's health system does not have adequate capacity to test all suspected cases. All indications point to the rapid spread of the virus across Yemen. The case fatality rate observed is alarmingly high - 24 percent." Dujarric noted the COVID-19 death toll in Yemen is about four times higher than the fatality rate worldwide. While humanitarian actors do all they can to assist Yemen combat the outbreak, they lack the funding needed to continue running existing programs. "More than 30 of the 41 UN-supported programs in Yemen will close in the coming weeks if additional funds are not secured," Dujarric said. The United Nations is calling on all donors to urgently fulfill their pledges made at the conference earlier in the month and consider increasing support, Dujarric added. The Duchess of Cornwall at Birkhall in Scotland, inside a Wendy House originally built on the estate in 1935 for the then Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. (Clarence House) The Duchess of Cornwall dubbed herself the ancient fairy godmother as she helped announce the winners of a short story competition for children. Camilla, 72, thanked entrants for staying at home during the coronavirus lockdown as she expressed her sadness that they werent being welcomed to Buckingham Palace. The duchess joined BBC Radio 2 to mark the 10th anniversary of their 500 Words short story competition, and praised the talents of the young entrants. Camilla said: I was really looking forward to meeting the finalists at Buckingham Palace today. But, thankfully, technology has brought us together across the airwaves and we will still celebrate as hard as we can. But just before we get to celebrating, I want to say something a bit serious. The last few months have been very difficult, confusing and worrying for lots of you. Thank you for staying at home, being kind to others and cheering up your family and friends whenever you could. You have been brilliant. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Chris Evans in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang during the 2018 competition. (Getty Images) Read more: Zara Tindall on what lockdown looks like at home in Gloucestershire The competition was started by Chris Evans, who remains the chairman, and runs on the Zoe Ball breakfast show. The winners were chosen from a final selection of 56 stories, with the duchess and Evans joined by award-winning authors Malorie Blackman, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Charlie Higson and Francesca Simon, as well as Ball to judge them. Camilla said a squirrel, which appeared on screen during her video, had been very helpful to the judging deliberations. The message was recorded from a Wendy house on the Birkhall estate in Scotland, which was built on the estate in 1935 for the then Princess Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret. She went on to say: In its 10 years, 500 Words has received a staggering million-plus entries. And it hasnt just got children excited about reading and writing lots of grown-ups have got very excited too. Including me, the competitions rather ancient fairy godmother! Story continues Now this year, we may have been confined to our homes, but nobody can confine imagination. Zoe Ball, Chris Evans and Camilla at the final in Windsor Castle in 2019. (Getty Images) Once again, I have been blown away by your genius and creativity. In fact, you reminded me of a wonderful quotation from Beatrix Potter: Theres something delicious about writing those first few words of a story. You can never quite tell where they will take you. For me, there was something delicious about reading the beginnings of all your stories. I could never quite tell exactly where I would end up but I had a wonderful time getting there! Read more: Queen-approved interview gives rare insight into her favourite pastime The six winning short tales were read during the show on Radio 2 by celebrities including Jodie Whittaker, Dua Lipa and Joanna Lumley and the winners and finalists had a video call party. There were almost 135,000 entries this year, in what has been announced will be the final year of the competition. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. The boat, heading for Italys coast, set sail on Saturday before it sank near the Tunisian city of Sfax, officials say. The death toll from the sinking of a boat carrying migrants off the Tunisian coast has risen to 54 as more bodies were recovered during the search operations. The boat, heading for Italys coast on Saturday, sank off the Tunisian city of Sfax. Tunisian search teams recovered the bodies of 13 men and women on Thursday, according to the defence ministry. Earlier in the week, the bodies of two toddlers and 20 adults washed up on the beaches of Kerkennah Island off the Mediterranean coastal city of Sfax, and 19 other bodies were found floating in nearby waters. Navy units and divers from the civil protection services are continuing to search the area for other possible victims, the health director for the Sfax region, Ali Ayadi, told The Associated Press. Most of the deceased migrants came from sub-Saharan Africa, according to earlier comments by Sfax courts spokesperson Murad al-Turki. The Tunisian coast has become a common launch point for thousands of migrants, including Tunisians, seeking to reach Europe. Last month, Tunisian authorities said at least one migrant drowned and six were missing from another shipwreck. More than 80 were rescued. According to the United Nations refugee agency, attempts to reach the Italian coast from Tunisia increased by 150 percent in the first four months of the year, compared with the same period in 2019. Last year, 86 people died when their boat sank off the coast of Tunisias southern town of Zarzis. First Lady feels well and has no symptoms of the disease, the president's press office reports. Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has tested positive for COVID-19. First Lady feels well and has no symptoms of the disease, the president's press service reports. Olena Zelenska remains on outpatient treatment, isolated from other family members, according to the President's Office. President Zelensky and his children have also been tested. All tests are negative. Read alsoNumber of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ukraine exceeds 29,700 on June 12 It is noted that during working meetings and while at home, Zelenska complied with quarantine rules and recommendations of the Health Ministry. In accordance with the requirements of the security protocol, she also regularly underwent testing for COVID-19. The previous test run in early June returned negative. It remains unclear where and when she contracted the virus. An epidemiological investigation is underway. All contact persons have been immediately informed of the potential risk of infection. OAKLAND (BCN) About 80 people rallied Thursday afternoon at Highland Hospital in Oakland to demand justice for two young people shot by California Highway Patrol officers early Sunday. Community members rallied from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. to demand justice for Erik Salgado, 23, who CHP officers shot dead after he allegedly started ramming CHP vehicles with a car he was driving. Three officers shot at the car, according to preliminary information from Oakland police, who are leading the investigation. Salgado was hit by multiple bullets, according to police. The shooting took place in East Oakland. The rally was also for Salgado's girlfriend Brianna Colombo, who was pregnant at the time of the shooting. Part of the group involved in the rally was family members of the two young people. All the demonstrators were seeking to support Colombo who is recovering in the hospital after being shot that night. Colombo was four months pregnant. "What we want to know is why?" Salgado's mother Felina Ramirez said in a statement after the protest. "Who are the officers involved? We want to make sure that the officers are held accountable so that they don't do this to other mothers." Salgado's family is demanding that the name's of the officers involved in the shooting be released, that the video footage from the CHP vehicles and homes in the area be released, that charges be brought against the officers, that the family can see the body of their son and that an apology be made to the family for painting Salgado and Colombo as criminals. People at the rally carried signs that read "Erik was murdered," and among others, "CHP Blood On Your Hands." Members of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, Do No Harm Coalition, Anti Police-Terror Project, Asians4BlackLives and others as well as hospital staff joined family members in the rally. Oakland police alleged in preliminary information they provided that the car in which Salgado and Colombo were in was stolen from a San Leandro car dealership. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Mirza, the landlord of Fatima Mahal, the picturesquely crumbling mansion at the center of the Hindi film Gulabo Sitabo (streaming on Amazon Prime), is fighting a long, cranky war with the tenants he regards as vermin in his house. He steals their light bulbs, cuts their power and locks them out of spare bathrooms when the communal latrine becomes unusable. A swift kick of frustration was all it took to make a person-size hole in its wall. The main focus of Mirzas hostility is Baankey, who lives with his mother and sisters in a few crowded rooms, and pays the grandfathered-in rent of 30 rupees (less than a dollar). When their battle escalates who will pay to fix the bathroom wall? a small-time lawyer becomes involved. Also snooping around: a government archaeologist, who has his own plans for Fatima Mahal. Set in old Lucknow, with the modern world intruding at first only in a few objects (a motorcycle, a cellphone), Gulabo Sitabo is at once a lightly allegorical riff on the forces and counterforces of Indian modernization and a character-based comedy powered by two Bollywood stars. In one corner, the heavyweight champ: Amitabh Bachchan, Hindi cinemas angry young man turned grand old man. Hunched over and mumbling, his famous face hidden behind a bushy beard and a hawklike prosthetic nose, Bachchan plays Mirza with a character actors delicacy and attention to detail. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 17:46:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GABORONE, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Chinese community in Francistown, Botswana's second largest city, have donated 661,000 pula (about 60,000 U.S. dollars) to the country's COVID-19 relief fund. "The Chinese community here in Francistown, both companies and individuals from China, organized itself to make whatever contributions affordable, and the fundraising accumulated 661,000 pula," Zhu Steven, spokesperson for the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Francistown, said on Thursday. Botswana established the COVID-19 relief fund early April to help citizens impacted by the pandemic. As residents of Botswana, Zhu said, members of the Chinese community share the same sentiment and love of Botswana, hence "our spontaneous response to the call by President (Mokgweetsi) Masisi to donate and deposit funds to the COVID-19 Relief Fund." The donation will go a long as some Batswana are still struggling, said Godisang Radisigo, mayor of Francistown, which is situated some 430 km northeast of the country's capital, Gaborone. "This donation will go a long way in assisting those in need of support during these trying times," he said. Besides donating to the relief fund, Radisigo said, Chinese nationals in Botswana have contributed immensely to winning the war against COVID-19 by following the advice and guidelines of the Chinese embassy in Botswana to voluntarily quarantine at home for 14 days upon returning from China. Botswana has so far reported 48 confirmed cases, most imported ones, and one death. Enditem Filmmaker Anurag Basu, who collaborated with actor Ranbir Kapoor in Barfi! and Jagga Jasoos, was one of the first to know of his father, late actor Rishi Kapoors cancer diagnosis. Anurag is a cancer survivor himself -- he made a complete recovery after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia - a type of blood cancer - in 2004. In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, the director said that Ranbir confided in him when Rishi was diagnosed with leukemia. I was among the first few to know, he said, adding, We discussed what line of treatment he should take. I shared the number of my doctor with him and they spoke to him and told me what they had decided. Anurag had dinner with the Kapoors, after Rishi returned to Mumbai in September last year. Neetuji spoke about the treatment, Chintuji, like always, was in his element, trying to dig into cake. Since he was not allowed to have sweets, Neetuji tried to keep him away and this led to a fight between them. It was very cute, he laughed. He last met the late actor on Ranbirs birthday in 2019. Also read | Gulabo Sitabo movie review: Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmann Khurrana give us one of the finest films of the year Rishi died at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai on April 30, after a two-year battle with cancer. The news of his death left the film industry shocked and saddened, and many paid tribute to him with social media posts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise and tweeted, Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and Indias progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti. Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and Indias progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2020 On the one-month anniversary of Rishis demise, his daughter Riddhima remembered him in a heartfelt post. She shared a family photo on her Instagram stories and wrote, Say not in grief: He is no more, but live in thankfulness that he was. Follow @htshowbiz for more A youth-led group of hundreds of protesters rallied Friday afternoon outside Los Angeles City Hall as demonstrations continue amid a widening national debate about police brutality and racial injustice in the wake of the death of George Floyd. The demonstration, sponsored by the Youth Justice Coalition, was billed as a march, rally and open mic for families and youth "impacted by state violence," according to a flier. In a social media post advertising the event, the coalition called for taking hundreds of millions of dollars from the budgets of city and county law enforcement and prosecutorial and probation agencies and redirecting them to fund youth centers, jobs and the establishment of comprehensive youth development departments. As the event got underway, posters with faces of Black victims lined the metal blockades in front of City Hall. Black Lives Matters graffiti and messages of Defund the police" were peppered across the building's concrete exterior. Peaceful protesters spilled onto Spring Street, leaving one lane open for traffic as Aztec dancers performed in solidarity. Veatrice Johnson, a 34-year-old Long Beach resident, brought masks to sell for $5 each. They were emblazoned with "Black Lives Matter" and "I can't breathe." Even if they dont have the money, were still giving them out," she said. "We want people to be safe out here, she said. Johnson recently lost her job due to COVID-19 and created masks to support the movement and help her family financially. Jennifer Alvarez, a 28-year-old volunteer with the Youth Justice Coalition, said she helped publicize the message from the youth organizers and ensure their list of demands was made public. I came out to make sure their voices and messages were heard, she said. Ive been spreading the message of how this is also a matter of public health. As they marched to LAPD headquarters, protesters chanted, Youre about to lose your job. Story continues Similar calls to defund law enforcement agencies in favor of diverting funding to jobs programs, health initiatives and other services supporting communities of color have grown increasingly loud following the death of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned his neck down with his knee for eight minutes and 46 seconds. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti has pledged that his administration will look for $250 million in cuts from city departments, including the LAPD, to reinvest for such purposes. While some protests in the early aftermath of Floyd's May 25 death were at times marred by violent clashes between crowds and police and instances of vandalism and theft, recent days have seen a stream of peaceful demonstrations in Southern California calling for fundamental changes in policing. Other demonstrations were planned Friday in Hawthorne, Inglewood and Pasadena. Elsewhere in L.A., about 100 protesters gathered Friday at the Ronald Reagan State Building to call for the removal of a statue of Christopher Columbus that sits at the California Capitol. "As a racial reckoning occurs across the country, we must not forget the many racist symbols of Americas dark legacy of oppression, slavery and colonialism that still stand," organizers wrote in announcing the rally. Protesters raised their fists and chanted, When indigenous rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back. Sarah Ruemenapp, a 23-year-old Mid-City resident, participated in several protests during the past week, and this was one she did not want to miss. I think now is a time to look at what symbols our culture and our city values, Ruemenapp said. And colonizing symbols of Columbus are the wrong thing. Nikole Cababa, a 34-year-old community organizer, said the statue fails to recognize Columbus actions. We will continue to stand in solidarity with the American Indian community who have taught us to militantly fight back, Cababa said. Calls to remove monuments to the Italian explorer are nothing new. While his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean were celebrated and commemorated for centuries, Columbus' arrival paved the way for European colonization of North, Central and South America and many activists view him as a symbol of the genocide of native peoples. Though Columbus Day remains a federal holiday in the United States, some municipalities including Los Angeles County have in recent years chosen to instead observe Indigenous Peoples Day. Earlier this week, protesters tore down a statue of Columbus in Richmond, Va., set it on fire and threw it into a lake. Crowds also toppled a statue of Columbus outside the Minnesota Capitol, and another statue was beheaded in Boston. Chula Vista pulled down its statue of Christopher Columbus and placed it in storage Friday, hours before a planned protest to push for its removal. NEW YORK NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2020 / Dr. Paul Ciurysek graduated from medical school in 2009 and instead of taking the traditional path of going into residency and practicing medicine, he instead decided to follow his heart and passion for entrepreneurship and started building his first business. This business was a medical licensing exam tutoring company, focusing on the USMLE exams. Paul's goal was to build his tutoring company to the point where it would match or exceed his earning potential as a physician, which it proved to do in a few short years. Paul then brought on partners to help him grow the business a few years after launching it on his own, and then eventually sold that business in the middle of 2019. Despite selling his first business, Paul still had a passion for helping medical students prepare for their exams and set themselves up to successfully get into their dream residency programs. In late 2019, he started a new business with a focus on helping medical students successfully navigate their way through the USMLE exams as well as their entire four year medical school journey. To learn more about Dr. Paul Ciurysek and his business, click here. Now, with the help of two amazing partners, they are successfully helping medical students navigate through school and helping them position themselves as the 'ideal and perfect' candidate for their dream medical residency position. This business focuses on helping medical students identify any and all of their strengths so that they can leverage them and position themselves correctly to be a standout candidate for their dream position. Paul's motivation to start his businesses stems from when he was growing up and would always be thinking of new ways that he could make money outside of traditional jobs. He never fully understood why he felt this way growing up, but as he got older he soon realized that he was entrepreneurial and after graduating from medical school and being equipped with knowledge in the unique and lucrative niche of medical exam preparation, he decided to use his degree in medicine to leverage that in the business space. "I've always had a passion for healthcare and helping people succeed," Paul says. When being asked what the biggest challenges were when starting a business Paul said, "Building trust and notoriety within an industry. Medical students are notoriously cautious when it comes to trusting exam preparation companies, so it took building a strong social media presence (Instagram, FB, Youtube) to build that trust within the medical student community." Dr. Paul Ciurysek noted that it was also challenging as a medical student with over $250k of medical school debt, to build a business with no money. He had to work 18 hour days creating content for social media to outpace his competition who had deep pockets and high marketing budgets. We asked Paul how important mindset is when starting a business and he replied with, "It is the most important aspect of success in business, and in life. You have to have unwavering confidence in your ability to succeed, but more importantly, you have to keep a positive mindset to keep going when the going gets tough. Looking at the roadblocks and challenges that you face in business as opportunities to grow and get better, instead of as 'signs' that you should just quit, are absolutely essential to becoming successful in business." Some may let fear get in the way of their goals and stop them from achieving greatness. To Paul, fear is an opportunity to grow both professionally and as an individual. "Fear is good, because when I'm facing fear I know I'm in a position to level-up in my life. I don't necessarily like it, but I welcome it because my desire to continuously grow is predicated on my ability to encounter fear and move forward despite its presence." Dr. Paul Ciurysek's ability to overcome fear and use it not only to grow as a person but also use it to help him reach his goals, has ultimately led to his success. Paul defined success as being able to have the freedom to do what he wants when he wants to do it. He works a staggering 80-100 hours per week now so that in 5-10 years, he will have the freedom to live his life on his own terms. He is working extremely hard now to be able to work less and travel more in the future, which is very admirable. Paul made the decision to start his first business unofficially in 2009 shortly after finishing medical school because he had always had a passion for entrepreneurship and didn't see himself working in medicine long-term. Paul's advice for those trying to start their own business is that, "Business is all about solving problems, so the first step in starting a business is to identify which problem it is you're trying to solve and whether you can actually solve it for the customer. Then, define your goals and create a step by step plan that will help you stay on the path. Most importantly when starting a new business, you have to have patience. It will take you longer to achieve success than you think, so put your head down, follow the plan, execute daily, and stay focused on the goal." One of the biggest obstacles Paul has overcome was graduating from medical school with over $250,000 of debt and no income, but ultimately paid it off within five years of starting his business! In regards to how Paul differentiates his business from competition, he is always innovating and looking for new products and services to bring to the medical student community to make their lives easier and journeys to residency smoother. Paul is consistently surprised by how little the competition has changed or tried to improve their products and services in the last ten years, which is only beneficial for him and his business. As for what is next for Paul he said, "We've got something very big in the works, but at this point in time I can't share the details. I'll just say this we are working on something that will create massive opportunities for medical students who are seeking alternative non-clinical career options." To keep up to date with Dr. Paul Ciurysek's business and future endeavors, click here. Kiley Almy Next Wave Marketing kiley@nextwavemktg.com SOURCE: Paul Ciurysek View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/593649/How-Dr-Paul-Ciurysek-used-his-knowledge-of-medicine-and-passion-for-business-to-create-and-build-a-tutoring-company-to-help-others-that-would-exceed-his-earning-potential-as-a-physician British Airways treatment of its workforce during the coronavirus pandemic is a national disgrace, MPs claimed. A report by the Commons Transport Select Committee accused the airline of a calculated attempt to take advantage of the crisis by cutting up to 12,000 jobs and downgrading the terms and conditions of the bulk of its remaining employees. The carrier insisted no decisions have been made and it is doing everything it can to sustain the maximum number of jobs. Other aviation companies have also announced thousands of redundancies, including easyJet, Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic, Rolls-Royce and Airbus. The cross-party committee of MPs acknowledged that job losses in the sector may sadly be inevitable due to the huge reduction in air travel as a result of Covid-19. But it urged UK-based employers not to proceed hastily by making large numbers of people redundant while the Governments furlough scheme is in place. Today we have published our report into the impact of coronavirus on aviation Read it here: https://t.co/RiRUxirMTF Airlines and travel operators have failed to refund customers in a timely manner. This is an understandable source of frustration for many customers pic.twitter.com/0ykZlQsZ1B Transport Committee (@CommonsTrans) June 13, 2020 Unions told the committee they are opposed to what they described as a fire and rehire approach being considered by British Airways. They stated the airline is proposing to give redundancy notices to most of its 42,000 workers and offer jobs with new terms and conditions to a proportion of them, if it cannot reach an agreement on job cuts and other changes. Story continues The minimum 45-day consultation period for some workers ends on Monday. BA has had discussions with pilots union Balpa, including over the possibility of voluntary redundancies. But the other two main unions representing its workers Unite and GMB are not engaging in talks. The committee found that British Airways had received nearly 35 million from the Government as of May 14 by furloughing 22,000 staff. Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways parent company IAG, told the MPs that the amount of money the airline received from the scheme in April was equivalent to less than two days of staff wages. Unions have argued that the airline could survive even if all its planes were grounded for 12 months. The committees report stated: The behaviour of British Airways and its parent company towards its employees is a national disgrace. It falls well below the standards we would expect from any employer, especially in light of the scale of taxpayer subsidy, at this time of national crisis. There have been calls from some MPs for British Airways to be stripped of some of its lucrative take-off and landing slots at Heathrow as punishment for the treatment of its workforce. Tory MP Huw Merriman, who chairs the committee, said: We will continue to bring pressure where we can, including the airport slot allocation process. This wanton destruction of a loyal workforce cannot appear to go without sanction by Government, parliamentarians or paying passengers who may choose differently in future. We view it as a national disgrace. British Airways said in a statement: Mr Merriman made clear several weeks ago that the Transport Select Committees report would be fuelled by the kind and impassioned messages he received, rather than the facts. The facts are clear. The Government has no plans to help the sector restart and recover as evidenced by the introduction of the 14-day quarantine regulation. We find ourselves in the deepest crisis ever faced by the airline industry. A crisis not of our making but one which we must address. We will do everything in our power to ensure that British Airways can survive and sustain the maximum number of jobs consistent with the new reality of a changed airline industry in a severely weakened global economy. Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: The case the company makes for sacking 12,000 and trashing the wages of those who stay on the workforce is full of holes because it is a transparent effort to generate profits out of a crisis. BA is fooling nobody. Never before has the country witnessed such wholesale mistreatment of a UK workforce and such brutal industrial thuggery. The committees report into the impact of the pandemic on the aviation sector also urged the Government to abandon its 14-day quarantine rule at the end of June. It called for a more targeted and nuanced border control policy, allowing people travelling from countries where the infection rate of Covid-19 is relatively low to enter the UK on a less restrictive basis. A Government spokesman said: We continue to work at speed to help protect the long-term future of the sector, however we will always put public health first, and we must not risk an extremely damaging second wave of the virus. Emily Brown was stretched thin. As the director of the Rio Grande County Public Health Department in rural Colorado, she was working 12- and 14-hour days, struggling to respond to the pandemic with only five full-time employees for more than 11,000 residents. Case counts were rising. She was already at odds with county commissioners, who were pushing to loosen public health restrictions in late May, against her advice. She had previously clashed with them over data releases and had haggled over a variance regarding reopening businesses. But she reasoned that standing up for public health principles was worth it, even if she risked losing the job that allowed her to live close to her hometown and help her parents with their farm. Then came the Facebook post: a photo of her and other health officials with comments about their weight and references to "armed citizens" and "bodies swinging from trees." The commissioners had asked her to meet with them the next day. She intended to ask them for more support. Instead, she was fired. "They finally were tired of me not going along the line they wanted me to go along," she said. In the battle against COVID-19, public health workers spread across states, cities and small towns make up an invisible army on the front lines. But that army, which has suffered neglect for decades, is under assault when it's needed most. Officials who usually work behind the scenes managing everything from immunizations to water quality inspections have found themselves center stage. Elected officials and members of the public who are frustrated with the lockdowns and safety restrictions have at times turned public health workers into politicized punching bags, battering them with countless angry calls and even physical threats. On Thursday, Ohio's state health director, who had armed protesters come to her house, resigned. The health officer for Orange County, California, quit Monday after weeks of criticism and personal threats from residents and other public officials over an order requiring face coverings in public. As the pressure and scrutiny rise, many more health officials have chosen to leave or been pushed out of their jobs. A review by KHN and The Associated Press finds at least 27 state and local health leaders have resigned, retired or been fired since April across 13 states. From North Carolina to California, they have left their posts due to a mix of backlash and stressful, nonstop working conditions, all while dealing with chronic staffing and funding shortages. Some health officials have not been up to the job during the biggest health crisis in a century. Others previously had plans to leave or cited their own health issues. But Lori Tremmel Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, said the majority of what she calls an "alarming" exodus resulted from increasing pressure as states reopen. Three of those 27 were members of her board and well known in the public health community Rio Grande County's Brown; Detroit's senior public health adviser, Dr. Kanzoni Asabigi; and the head of North Carolina's Gaston County Department of Health and Human Services, Chris Dobbins. Asabigi's sudden retirement, considering his stature in the public health community, shocked Freeman. She also was upset to hear about the departure of Dobbins, who was chosen as health director of the year for North Carolina in 2017. Asabigi and Dobbins did not reply to requests for comment. "They just don't leave like that," Freeman said. Public health officials are "really getting tired of the ongoing pressures and the blame game," Freeman said. She warned that more departures could be expected in the coming days and weeks as political pressure trickles down from the federal to the state to the local level. From the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, federal public health officials have complained of being sidelined or politicized. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been marginalized; a government whistleblower said he faced retaliation because he opposed a White House directive to allow widespread access to the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment. In Hawaii, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard called on the governor to fire his top public health officials, saying she believed they were too slow on testing, contact tracing and travel restrictions. In Wisconsin, several Republican lawmakers have repeatedly demanded that the state's health services secretary resign, and the state's conservative Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that she had exceeded her authority by extending a stay-at-home order. With the increased public scrutiny, security details like those seen on a federal level for Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert have been assigned to state health leaders, including Georgia's Dr. Kathleen Toomey after she was threatened. Ohio's Dr. Amy Acton, who also had a security detail assigned after armed protesters showed up at her home, resigned Thursday. In Orange County, in late May, nearly a hundred people attended a county supervisors meeting, waiting hours to speak against an order requiring face coverings. One person suggested that the order might make it necessary to invoke Second Amendment rights to bear arms, while another read aloud the home address of the order's author the county's chief health officer, Dr. Nichole Quick as well as the name of her boyfriend. Quick, attending by phone, left the meeting. In a statement, the sheriff's office later said Quick had expressed concern for her safety following "several threatening statements both in public comment and online." She was given personal protection by the sheriff. But Monday, after yet another public meeting that included criticism from members of the board of supervisors, Quick resigned. She could not be reached for comment. Earlier, the county's deputy director of public health services, David Souleles, retired abruptly. An official in another California county also has been given a security detail, said Kat DeBurgh, the executive director of the Health Officers Association of California, declining to name the county or official because the threats have not been made public. Many local health leaders, accustomed to relative anonymity as they work to protect the public's health, have been shocked by the growing threats, said Theresa Anselmo, the executive director of the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials. After polling local health directors across the state at a meeting last month, Anselmo found about 80% said they or their personal property had been threatened since the pandemic began. About 80% also said they'd encountered threats to pull funding from their department or other forms of political pressure. To Anselmo, the ugly politics and threats are a result of the politicization of the pandemic from the start. So far in Colorado, six top local health officials have retired, resigned or been fired. A handful of state and local health department staff members have left as well, she said. "It's just appalling that in this country that spends as much as we do on health care that we're facing these really difficult ethical dilemmas: Do I stay in my job and risk threats, or do I leave because it's not worth it?" Anselmo asked. In California, senior health officials from seven counties, including Quick and Souleles, have resigned or retired since March 15. Dr. Charity Dean, the second in command at the state Department of Public Health, submitted her resignation June 4. Burnout seems to be contributing to many of those decisions, DeBurgh said. In addition to the harm to current officers, DeBurgh is worried about the impact these events will have on recruiting people into public health leadership. "It's disheartening to see people who disagree with the order go from attacking the order to attacking the officer to questioning their motivation, expertise and patriotism," said DeBurgh. "That's not something that should ever happen." Some of the online abuse has been going on for years, said Bill Snook, a spokesperson for the health department in Kansas City, Missouri. He has seen instances in which people took a health inspector's name and made a meme out of it, or said a health worker should be strung up or killed. He said opponents of vaccinations, known as anti-vaxxers, have called staffers "baby killers." The pandemic, though, has brought such behavior to another level. In Ohio, the Delaware General Health District has had two lockdowns since the pandemic began one after an angry individual came to the health department. Fortunately, the doors were locked, said Dustin Kent, program manager for the department's residential services unit. Angry calls over contact tracing continue to pour in, Kent said. In Colorado, the Tri-County Health Department, which serves Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties near Denver, has also been getting hundreds of calls and emails from frustrated citizens, deputy director Jennifer Ludwig said. Some have been angry their businesses could not open and blamed the health department for depriving them of their livelihood. Others were furious with neighbors who were not wearing masks outside. It's a constant wave of "confusion and angst and anxiety and anger," she said. Then in April and May, rocks were thrown at one of their office's windows three separate times. The office was tagged with obscene graffiti. The department also received an email calling members of the department "tyrants," adding "you're about to start a hot-shooting civil war." Health department workers decamped to another office. Although the police determined there was no imminent threat, Ludwig stressed how proud she was of her staff, who weathered the pressure while working round-the-clock. "It does wear on you, but at the same time we know what we need to do to keep moving to keep our community safe," she said. "Despite the complaints, the grievances, the threats, the vandalism the staff have really excelled and stood up." The threats didn't end there, however: Someone asked on the health department's Facebook page how many people would like to know the home addresses of the Tri-County Health Department leadership. "You want to make this a war??? No problem," the poster wrote. Back in Colorado's Rio Grande County, some members of the community have rallied in support of Brown with public comments and a letter to the editor of a local paper. Meanwhile, COVID-19 case counts have jumped from 14 to 49 as of Wednesday. Brown is grappling with what she should do next: dive back into another strenuous public health job in a pandemic, or take a moment to recoup? When she told her 6-year-old son she no longer had a job, he responded: "Good now you can spend more time with us." This story is a collaboration between The Associated Press and Kaiser Health News. AP writer Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu and KHN correspondent Angela Hart in Sacramento contributed to this report. Re/Max Eastern Realty founder John Bowes is retiring from the business after 70 years. Bowes, who is about to celebrate his 93rd birthday next week, believes his career as a real estate agent is a provincial record. I was first licensed in 1950 at the age of 23. I started in Toronto and then moved to Peterborough, he said. Before founding his own firm which is now Re/Max Eastern in 1980, at the beginning of his career, Bowes was the manager of Ridout Real Estate in Toronto. According to Bowes, Ridout was one of the first real estate firms to offer in-house training, which involved morning meetings in its Bay Street office in downtown Toronto, followed by calling and door knocking in the afternoon. At 24, Bowes began managing the Ridout Peterborough branch, which listed and sold several waterfront properties, he said. He then joined forces with Bill Cocks to establish Bowes and Cocks Ltd., which he was president of for 15 years. In the early 90s, Bowes was also the first to propose a toll road linking the QEW, southwest of Toronto, with Highway 7/115. I was a member of a local group known as the Greater Peterborough Economic Council and as a member there I proposed that the council agree to recommend building a toll road, he said. In 2013, John Hope became the new owner of Re/Max Eastern. However, since then, Bowes has still remained in the office on a consulting basis. During his career, hes had many memorable experiences, Bowes said. When the Madawaska Mine, an abandoned underground uranium mine near Bancroft, closed, he was contacted to sell the property. Well it turned out to be close to 300 homes, Bowes said. Real estate is a wonderful business, but isnt a part-time career, he said. You have to devote your time to it and to your clients, whether youre representing buyers or sellers, Bowes said. For those entering into the field of real estate, he said its crucial for individuals to build relationships with their clients and to treat people right. Theres a lot of repeat business. Some people move every six or seven years, Bowes said. He said its about time that he retire. Its my time. Ive paid my contributions to the community and to the business, Bowes said. After retiring, Bowes said he hopes to write another book. Ive written a couple of books on real estate and the history of real estate. I dont know if theres another book in the works, but you never know, Bowes said. Funded by the Government of Canada/Finance par le Gouvernement du Canada. In the latest six monthly report on Hong Kong, submitted by British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to the Parliament, the UK has directly warned China not to interfere in Hong Kong legislature elections due to take place in September, and urged Beijing to abandon its plans to impose new security laws for the cosmopolitan city state. District elections in November last year saw a record turnout with 57 per cent of the vote going to pro-democracy candidates, and now China fears that the pro-democracy candidates will do too good in the elections and might cancel the ballot. In some of the strongest language ever seen, Raab warned Beijing against imposing new security laws bypassing the Hong Kong legislature that would be in direct conflict with international laws. Raab said, "Such legislation would be a clear violation of China's international obligations, including those made under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. "The proposals also include provision for the authorities in Hong Kong to report back to Beijing on progress in pursuing national security education of its people, which is a sobering prospect." Accusing Beijing of treating a member of the British Foreign Office staff in a way "amounting to torture", Raab also attacked the Xi Jinping government's brutal treatment of Simon Cheng, a former employee of the British consulate in Hong Kong, who was kept in custody for 15 days after travelling to the mainland. Raab added that "China has not provided an adequate response on its undertaking to investigate Cheng's mistreatment". Raab also reiterated his promise that British National Overseas passport holders will be entitled to a 12-month extendable visa opening a path to citizenship. China has been under strong international pressure ever since pro-democracy protests rocked Hong Kong for most of last year. The US last month stripped Hong Kong of its special status under its law. The special status treated Hong Kong separately from Mainland China for matters concerning trade export and economics control. The EU has been 'formally' told that the UK will complete its final split from the bloc on time in December, Michael Gove said today as he proclaimed: 'The moment for extension has now passed'. The Cabinet Office Minister made the announcement as Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her Welsh counterpart Mark Drakeford demanded that the post-Brexit transition period be extended into 2021. In a joint letter to Boris Johnson they said 'fundamental issues' still remain between the UK and EU negotiators after the most recent round of talks on a deal and to leave in December would be ''extraordinarily reckless'. The Scottish Government has repeatedly called for the transition period to be extended beyond the December 31 deadline, but that can only be done if a request is made before the end of this month. But in a post on Twitter, Mr Gove said he had chaired a 'constructive' meeting of the EU Joint Committee with EU Commission Vice-President for Inter-institutional Relations Maros Sefcovic. He said: 'I formally confirmed the UK will not extend the transition period and the moment for extension has now passed. 'On January 1, 2021, we will take back control and regain our political & economic independence.' The EU has been 'formally' told that the UK will complete its final split from the bloc on time in December, Michael Gove said today as he proclaimed: 'The moment for extension has now passed' Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (left) and her Welsh counterpart Mark Drakeford (right) demanded that the post-Brexit transition period be extended into 2021 In a joint letter to Boris Johnson they said 'fundamental issues' still remain between the UK and EU negotiators after the most recent round of talks on a deal. Government U-turn on EU border checks because of pandemic Michael Gove has backtracked on plans to introduce full border checks with the EU when the Brexit transition period ends, and defied warnings that it would be 'extraordinarily reckless' not to request an extension. The Cabinet Office minister formally told the EU on Friday that the UK would not ask for a delay despite concerns the departure would compound the economic chaos inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic. However, in scrapping plans to immediately introduce full import controls on EU goods in the new year, Mr Gove said Britain would now phase in changes over six months so businesses hampered by Covid-19 can have the 'time to adjust'. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said 'the moment for extension has now passed' despite a stark warning from the first ministers of Scotland and Wales that the move would lead to 'avoidable' business closures and redundancies. The move came as the UK economy contracted by more than a fifth in the first full month of lockdown, as shops and factories closed and workers were sent home to slow the virus's spread. The Office for National Statistics said that economic activity was down by 20.4% in April, the largest drop in a single month since records began in 1997, and worse than many experts were forecasting. Advertisement UK sources said that unless both sides agree to another such meeting before the end of July, today's meeting was the last opportunity to request an extension to the transition period. Mr Sefcovic said Mr Gove's position on not extending the transition period was a definitive one. He said: '(Mr) Gove was very clear, unequivocal on the fact that the UK is not going to seek the extension and because this was the last Joint Committee before the deadlines expire - so we take this decision as a definitive one. 'And therefore we are pleading for acceleration of work on all fronts so we can really arrive at January 1 with all the things that have to be done to be executed and done properly. 'And it would be ready as of January 1 to leave what I believe would be a very close, prosperous and cordial relationship between the EU and the UK.' He added that Friday's meeting of the EU-UK Joint Committee was 'positive' but that there is still more to do to get a comprehensive trade deal in place by the end of the year. Speaking at the European Commission press briefing, Mr Sefcovic said: 'I have to underline that the meeting took place in very good atmosphere and I am glad that at the end of our discussions we also arrived at some positive results, which I believe would pave the way forward for the proper implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement.' He added: 'However, with some six months to go before the end of the transition period we still have lots of work to do.' Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Alistair Carmichael said: 'There seems to be no end to this Government's recklessness. 'By risking the UK crashing out with no deal, the Prime Minister is also risking shortages in food and medicine, as well as another severe economic hit. 'Any responsible Prime Minister would put people's lives, let alone their livelihoods, ahead of ideology. However, Boris Johnson's pigheaded refusal to extend the transition period will see the most vulnerable in our country suffer the most.' Ms Sturgeon and Mr Drakeford warned in their letter that exiting the transition period at the end of this year, when the UK economy will just be beginning its recovery from coronavirus, would be 'extraordinarily reckless'. They wrote: 'No-one could reproach the UK Government for changing its position in the light of the wholly unforeseeable Covid-19 crisis, particularly as the EU has made it clear it is open to an extension request. 'We therefore call on you to take the final opportunity the next few weeks provide to ask for an extension to the transition period in order to provide a breathing space to complete the negotiations, to implement the outcome, and the opportunity for our businesses to find their feet after the enormous disruption of recent months. 'At the time the Withdrawal Agreement was signed, no-one could have imagined the enormous economic dislocation which the Covid 19 pandemic has caused - in Wales, Scotland, the whole of the UK, in the EU and across the world.' The letter claimed that, at best, there would only be a 'bare bones' trade deal in place by December, or a move to a no-deal exit from the EU. The public health crisis caused by the Covid-19 epidemic in Europe is not over yet, the European Unions top health official warned on Friday, urging governments to remain vigilant and plough ahead with testing and tracing the population. This is not behind us yet. We need to be vigilant, EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told EU health ministers in a videoconference, amid fears of a new surge in infections as EU states gradually reopen business and borders and after mass protests in recent days across the continent. An order, asking a few employees of a Madhya Pradesh polytechnic college to temporarily run some state-controlled liquor vends owing to a manpower shortage, was withdrawn after Congress accused the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government of engaging teachers in the sale of liquor. Congress attack followed an order by the administration of Sagar district asking a government polytechnic college to temporarily deploy staff for managing country made/ Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) shops in the district. It was promptly followed by the institute principal Dr YP Singh, who issued an order cancelling summer vacation of five employees and assigning them to the task. The principals order dated June 10, 2020 said, The employees are hereby assigned the duty to run country made/IMFL shops from June 11 as per the district collectors order dated June 9, 2020. The reassigned employees included a technical assistant, a lab technician, a mechanic and two skilled assistants. State Congress leader and former union minister Arun Yadav said the BJP government had indulged in a shameless act. Earlier, women police personnel were engaged in the sale of liquor. Now, teachers will do the same. Those who are responsible for shaping the future of students have been assigned with the job of selling liquor. There is no shame left in the state government, he said. However, the order was later cancelled by the district administration. For Coronavirus Live Updates Earlier, Congress had attacked the government over a photo that went viral on social media on Wednesday, showing a woman cop sitting in a liquor shop. The incident follows the state governments decision to run about 70% liquor shops across the state on its own from Tuesday after contractors surrendered their licences as per an option given by the high court during an ongoing legal battle between the two sides. The contractors are demanding reduction in licence fee in view of the losses incurred due to the closure of shops. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 However, an understaffed excise department has sought assistance from other departments to run these shops. Collector of Sagar district Deepak Singh said the order was only meant to tide over a temporary problem. The order was just for a day when there was some initial problem. But none of the employees engaged in the duty are in teaching staff and perhaps none of them visited the liquor shops as well. The said order, too, has been cancelled now. State BJP spokesperson Rahul Kothari said, Congress is trying to create confusion among people by misleading them. No teacher was engaged in the sale of liquor and police personnel are supposed to ensure security in the area. None are engaged in the sale of liquor. Congress should apologise to people for telling lies. On Thursday morning, the final stone was placed at the front of Oregon Trail Memorial Cemetery, marking the completion of a Bridgeport womans dream to honor the veterans of her community. Hazel Kleich was the driving force behind the memorial which is made up of stones engraved with the names of veterans buried in the cemetery. She visited memorials across the state to come up with ideas for the one she wanted to build in Bridgeport, Kathy Brandt, cemetery board member, said. She was very adamant about honoring our veterans, Brandt said. That woman was a worker. She worked day and night getting the names. She cared deeply for the cemetery and those resting there, and spent time taking care of the grounds. Even as she aged, Brandt said, theyd catch her out there trimming trees. Hazel could pinpoint any grave here, said Brandt. Kleich died in 2017 at the age of 91, but the efforts behind the memorial werent slowed. Board president Don Landrigan said it was paid for with donations, as well as cemetery funds. We sat aside money in our budget every year, he said. Political Analyst, Dr. Osei Owusu Bonsu says the brouhaha surrounding the compilation of the new voters register must cease after the Supreme Courts verdict on the issue. According to him, the exercise if delayed will affect the December polls, hence, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) must stop dragging issues. Speaking on NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie, Dr Osei Owusu Bonsu urged the electorates to accept the final verdict of the Apex Court and not what their parties preach. The voters registration issue is in court, my advice is, the outcome of the court must be accepted and respected by all so we can move forward, he said. Dr. Osei Owusu's comment comes after the Supreme Court set 23rd June to rule on the NDC v. EC case. Supreme Court ruling The Supreme Court on Thursday, 11th June, 2020, set 23rd June, 2020 as the date to deliver judgement on the NDC v. EC case currently before it concerning whether or not the election management body can exclude the old voter ID card from its forthcoming registration exercise. The seven-member panel chaired by Chief Justice Anin Yeboah, gave the date after the lawyers of the National Democratic Congress and the Electoral Commission, respectively, gave their arguments to support their stance. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Linda Senn Senn is acting executive director of Sisters of the Road. She is writing on behalf of Stop The Sweeps PDX, a houseless-led coalition that includes Sisters of the Road, Glitter Squadron, PDX Trans Housing Coalition, National Lawyers Guild, Portland Assembly, Right 2 Survive and Western Regional Advocacy Project. With Multnomah County preparing to enter Phase 1 reopening and residents no longer told to stay home, its time the city and county pay attention to those who never had one to begin with. During this unprecedented pandemic, city officials have claimed they have supported houseless people through the COVID-19 crisis. That is far from true. Port-a-potties and handwashing stations are scarce and are not being maintained. There are few places to do laundry, shower or deposit trash. Talk of opening hotel rooms largely stayed just talk. Police are still harassing and violently sweeping--evicting--unhoused people during a viral pandemic even when the city has explicitly said it would not. Now, the city is planning to escalate sweeps. People are living on the streets of Portland because there is nowhere else to go to shelter in place. They are priced out of housing and villainized for it. They have been subjected to tear gas amid the Black Lives Matter protests and harassed by police. But people are doing the best they can to help one another and survive. Since the early 1980s, a growing number of people have become unhoused because the federal government cut funding for affordable housing for lower-income people by nearly 80%, while continuing to spend billions on mortgage interest tax deductions for wealthier homeowners. Todays rent, food, health care and education costs are inaccessible for vast segments of the population. Black and indigenous people are hardest hit. LGBTQ+ people, immigrants and refugees, veterans, those with disabilities and health complications, children and elders also bear the brunt of these inequities. With unemployment at an all-time high and eviction moratoriums set to soon expire, researchers predict that homelessness will increase 40-45% by the summer. A May 2020 study by Portland State University found that 53% of unhoused survey participants prefer to shelter in a hotel during the pandemic. More than 25% surveyed prefer to stay outdoors, including in an RV/car park with hygiene supports, in a self-organized community, or alone in a tent with assurances they will not be swept. Houseless people and their supporters are taking care of one another: sharing food, distributing masks, building hand-washing stations, building community. We call on Portland leaders to recognize housing as a human right. We demand a variety of shelter-in-place options for the duration of this pandemic and beyond. We demand the city of Portland and Multnomah County allow people to shelter in place on public land, governing themselves, with access to water, showers, handwashing stations and trash service, and with no threat of sweeps. The city and county must open up additional public land and buildings and must also sign long-term leases or purchase hotels for the duration of the pandemic and beyond. Case management and supportive services should be provided as options; however, housing, including in hotels, should never be contingent upon participation in case management or services. Additionally, efforts to address homelessness must be led by experts houseless and formerly houseless people. Finally, we demand actual housing. The cure for homelessness and the COVID-19 pandemic is housing. Congress can and should shift the billions of dollars allocated to subsidizing rich homeowners and businesses to those who have no home, and the city of Portland and Multnomah County should defund police and jails, shifting money to fund housing and life-affirming resources. Under the declaration of emergency, the city and county should undertake all of these measures. Millions of dollars of federal funding from the CARES Act is available to support much of what is outlined here, and millions more would become available if the city and county defunded the police and jails. It is long overdue that they exercise their authority and use every resource at their disposal. In the meantime, it is an abuse of authority for local governments to use their power to uphold business interests and continue to criminalize and sweep unhoused people. Instead, the city and county need to enable people to shelter in the place of their choosing. It is time to come down from the rooftops into the streets, providing not just cheap hotels but justice for all or at the very least, a drink of water without strings attached. On Demand We have a new story every day on the front page of thephuketnews.com. Also like us on our Facebook page (facebook.com/thephuketnews) and be the first to watch all the new stories. Finally you can watch any segment, any time by going to thephuketnews.com/tv where all the stories are listed for you to enjoy. All our programs can be enjoyed in High Definition when watching on the internet. In-Room VDO Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday had a conversation with Nicholas Burns as part of his series of interactions with experts. In his conversation with Gandhi, Burns spoke on a range of issues like Indo-US relations, China conflict, and others. Burns said that India and the United States could work together not to fight an "authoritarian" China but to make it observe the rule of law. On clash with China, Burns said, "We are not looking for conflict with China, but are waging a battle of ideas with China". During the conversation, Gandhi said that Indo-US partnership has worked because 'being tolerant' was in the DNA of both the countries. However, the level of tolerance was gradually disappearing now, Gandhi added. The Congress leader also said that "Unilateral, episodic type of leadership in India is destructive, unfortunate". "When you divide African Americans, Mexicans, and other people in the United States, or you divide Hindus and Muslims and Sikhs among India, you're weakening the structure of the country. But then the same people who weaken the structure of the country say they are the nationalists," Gandhi said during the conversation with Burns. Gandhi's remarks came in the wake of countrywide protests in the US over the death of African-American George Floyd in police custody. On which Burns said, "I think you have identified a central issue at least for the US. However, there is a silver lining here. The good news is that we have people demonstrating all across the country demanding tolerance, inclusion, minority rights". Burns added, "One edge that we democracies have over authoritarian countries like China is that we can correct ourselves. The self-correction is part of our DNA, and US, India, like other democracies, we resolve issues like this through free and fair elections. We do not turn to violence". The US and Indian governments should combine forces to promote human freedom, democracy, and the rule of people in the world, Burns added. WHO IS NICHOLAS BURNS Burns is a former US diplomat and is currently working as a professor of Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics at Harvard's John F Kennedy School of Government. At the Harvard Kennedy School, Burns is the Director of The Future of Diplomacy Project and Faculty Chair for the programs on the Middle East, India and South Asia. During his career in the State Department, he was the United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs within the United States Department of State. He was also the chief negotiator of the India-US nuclear deal. Burns is the sixth guest that Rahul Gandhi has interviewed recently. The 49-year-old Congress leader has interviewed several other experts to get a better insight on the economic, political, and sociological issues of India amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown. For instance, Gandhi has interviewed leading global economists Raghuram Rajan and Abhijit Banerjee; internationally renowned epidemiologist Johann Giesceke; global public health expert Ashish Jha and Indian industrialist Rajiv Bajaj. Also read: Coronavirus patients treated 'worse than animals': SC slams Delhi government Also read: MSMEs crisis: How to rescue India's businesses? [June 12, 2020] 3Shape Appoints Jakob Just-Bomholt as New Chief Executive Officer 3Shape today announced that the Company's Board of Directors has appointed Jakob Just-Bomholt as Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1st. Jakob leaves a position as Executive Vice President of Falck A/S, a global emergency and health care company. Prior to joining Falck in 2017, Jakob worked in various top executive positions at the shipping and logistics company, A.P. Moller-Maersk. 3Shape's current Co-CEOs and Co-founders Tais Clausen and Nikolaj Deichmann will remain active at 3Shape in new roles as Co-Vice chairmen of the board. Jrgen Jensen, Chairman of 3Shape's Board of Directors said: "Jakob has the leadership track record and scope of business experience we believe are essential to head 3Shape in its continued growth, including a strong focus on leading with innovation, and commitment to our people and core values. Under Tais and Nikolaj's lead, 3Shape has developed the dental market's strongest digital product portfolio and we believe that Jakob is the right person to take the company into the future. Speaking on behalf of the board, we look forward to working closely with Jakob as Chief Executive Officer." "At the same time, we are delighted that we will continue to benefit from Tais Clausen and Nikolaj Deichmann's industry experience and entrepreneurial spirit through their active roles on the Board of Directors as Vice-Charmen. They have both been strong leaders at 3Shape and are recognized as true pioneers in the dental and hearing industries," concludes Jrgen Jensen. The new CEO, Jakob Just-Bomholt said: "I am truly honored to take the lead of 3Shape as Chief Executive Officer. I look forward to working to further develop the company together with the 3Shape team in order to deliver true value to our customers and partners for better patient care. 3Shape brings fantastic products to the market and I am excited to be a part of 3Shape's innovation journey." About Jakob Just-Bomholt Jakob Just-Bomholt has held various leadership positions in international companies. Before joining 3Shape as its CEO, Jakob headed Falck's Emergency Service division consisting of 14,000 employees worldwide. Before Falck, Jakob came from a long career at A.P. Moller-Maersk from 1997 to 2017. During 2011 to 2015, Jakob successfully built a new business at A.P. Moller-Maersk from scratch, the Seago Line, which today still actively trades in the Intra-European market. Jakob is 45 years old and lives just north of Copenhagen. He is married to Christina and they have 3 children aged 14, 12 and 10. About 3Shape 3Shape is changing dentistry together with dental professionals across the world by developing innovations that provide superior dental care for patients. Our portfolio of 3D scanners and CAD/CAM software solutions includes the multiple award-winning 3Shape TRIOS intraoral scanner, the upcoming 3Shape X1 CBCT scanner, as well as market-leading scanning and design software solutions for both dental practices and labs. Two graduate students founded 3Shape in Denmark's capital in the year 2000. Today, 3Shape has over 1,600 employees serving customers in over 100 countries from an ever-growing number of 3Shape offices around the world. 3Shape's products and innovations continue to challenge traditional methods, enabling dental professionals to treat more patients more effectively. www.3shape.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005006/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The U.S. Defense Department has announced a resumption of millions of dollars in military assistance to Ukraine after it was frozen last year, putting it at the heart of the impeachment of President Donald Trump. The Pentagon said $250 million will be released to assist with training, equipment, and advisory efforts to strengthen Ukraines capacity to more effectively defend itself against Russian aggression. A Pentagon statement says the aid reaffirms the long-standing defense relationship between the United States and Ukraine, adding that the country is a critical partner on the front line of strategic competition with Russia. The support will complement NATO security assistance to Kyiv and comes after the United States certified the Ukraine government had implemented required reforms in the military, the Pentagon statement said. Over the past year, Ukraine has taken "considerable steps" to strengthen civilian control of the military, reform management and command structures, and reduce corruption, it said. The United States and other Western countries have expanded support of Ukraine's military since Moscow seized control of the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 after sending in troops and staging a referendum dismissed as illegal by at least 100 countries. Moscow is also backing separatists in a war in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 13,000 people since April 2014. The Pentagon statement says the United States continues to urge all allies and partners to enhance their support for Ukraines security and defense. Last year, Trump froze hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to the country while he sought help from the government to investigate former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, his Democratic challenger in the November presidential election. Democrats said Trumps request amounted to a quid pro quo for military aid and launched an impeachment inquiry for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Trump was acquitted by the Senate early this year. With reporting by AFP A man in the north-central Vietnamese province of Thanh Hoa has been arrested after he freed his trained dog to attack two people, resulting in their serious injuries, and refused to cooperate with police officers after the incident. The police department in Thanh Hoa City, the provincial capital, confirmed on Thursday it had apprehended and initiated legal proceedings against Nguyen The Nguyen, 44, for obstruction. Nguyen recently let loose his trained dog, a 50-kilogram Dutch Shepherd, to viciously attack two local residents. Both victims were injured in the dog attack. One of them was rushed to the hospital but the other could not receive help as Nguyen threatened anyone who came near the victim. Police officers later arrived at the scene, but Nguyen aggressively refused to cooperate. The man was eventually arrested for obstruction, while the second victim was hospitalized for treatment. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. According to Nguoi Lao Dong (Laborer) newspaper, Nguyen is a notorious gangster who committed multiple offenses in the past. Obstructing on-duty law enforcement officers is punishable by six months to three years in prison in Vietnam. Nguyen may also face a fine worth VND600,000-800,000 (US$25-34) for letting his dog outside without a leash and muzzle. He will probably have to compensate the victims for the injuries caused by his dog. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 16:26:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VIENNA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) daily basket price stood at 36.55 U.S. dollars a barrel on Thursday, compared with 37.46 dollars on Wednesday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations released on Friday. Also known as the OPEC reference basket of crude oil, the OPEC basket, a weighted average of oil prices from different OPEC members around the world, is used as an important benchmark for crude oil prices. Enditem Stobart Air requires significant funding amounting to tens of millions of euro to cover maintenance costs for its fleet, as well as ongoing support when the airline begins flying again Dublin-based Stobart Air, which operates the Aer Lingus Regional service, is to axe more than 100 jobs, Independent.ie understands, despite saying earlier this week that it intends to relaunch almost all its flight schedule by August. Aviation industry sources said that about half the jobs at the Stobart Group-owned airline are expected to go at Dublin and Cork. The remainder will go at London Southend Airport, its believed, which is owned by the Stobart Group. Its understood that Stobart Air is preparing to inform staff of the job cuts today. Stobart Air employs about 570 people, although many had been temporarily laid off in the past number of weeks. The carrier made no mention of the planned redundancies this week when it announced resumption of services to and from the UK. Stobart Air said on Tuesday that it will restart two Aer Lingus Regional routes from Dublin to Edinburgh and Glasgow on July 14. It expects to relaunch almost all its other services from August 1 and August 2. They include routes from Dublin and Cork to destinations across the UK. A service from Shannon to Birmingham is scheduled to restart on September 3. Its been continuing to operate publicly-funded services between Dublin and Kerry and Donegal during the lockdown. Stobart Air staff will return to work on an incremental basis in line with resumption of services and passenger demand, said a Stobart Air spokesperson earlier this week when asked how many Stobart Air staff would be back at work in August following the resumption of flights. Stobart Air is committed to maintaining an engaged and collaborative relationship with all staff at the airline, the spokesperson added. The embattled carrier, whose managing director is Andy Jolly, has been struggling along with other airlines with the effects of the pandemic as air travel collapsed. Stobart Group, whose chief executive is Warwick Brady, has pledged to bolster Stobart Airs finances as it faces an uncertain future. The group pledged 25m for the carrier in May, which it reacquired effective control of in April this year. Last week, Stobart Group raised 100m (112m) of fresh equity at a 42pc discount to shore up its own balance sheet. Some of those proceeds will also be used to bankroll Stobart Air. The group has taken more than a 40m (45m) hit on the value of a pre-existing deal it had to sell the brand name to the Eddie Stobart Logistics company after agreeing to offload the rights last month to begin a fresh start with a new brand. The Stobart Group said it will also sell its railway engineering arm and energy business. It also owns London Southend Airport. TOLEDO, Ohio, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Libbey Inc., one of the largest glass tableware manufacturers in the world, is scheduled to announce 2020 first quarter financial results on Friday, June 19, 2020, prior to the opening of the New York Stock Exchange. The company will not be hosting an associated conference call for members of the financial community. About Libbey Inc. Based in Toledo, Ohio, Libbey Inc. is one of the largest glass tableware manufacturers in the world. Libbey Inc. operates manufacturing plants in the U.S., Mexico, China, Portugal and the Netherlands. In existence since 1818, the Company supplies tabletop products to retail, foodservice and business-to-business customers in over 100 countries. Libbey's global brand portfolio, in addition to its namesake brand, includes Libbey Signature, Master's Reserve, Crisa, Royal Leerdam, World Tableware, Syracuse China, and Crisal Glass. In 2019, Libbey Inc.'s net sales totaled $782.4 million. Additional information is available at www.libbey.com. SOURCE Libbey Inc. Related Links http://www.libbey.com London: German carrier Lufthansa said on Thursday it will slash 22,000 jobs as it struggles to deal with the downturn in air travel caused by coronavirus pandemic. It said the positions of up to 26,000 employees are surplus to requirements, suggesting many more jobs will be cut at the cash-strapped airline than a figure of more than 10,000 flagged a few weeks ago. The airline employs more than 135,000 people worldwide. About half of them are in Germany. In April, the airline had said that it was losing about one million euros in liquidity reserves per hour. Lufthansa said it will operate about 100 fewer aircraft after the crisis. Last week, it pledged a wide-ranging restructuring -- from thousands of job cuts to asset sales -- as it seeks to repay a nine billion euro government bailout and navigate deepening losses in the face of Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking after a meeting with trade unions, a company spokeswoman said the airline estimates that it has a surplus of 22,000 full-time equivalent positions or 26,000 employees. The company is trying to reach an agreement with labour unions to make employees work part-time and other ways to cut personnel costs before it holds an extraordinary general meeting on June 25, when shareholders will vote on the bailout. Meanwhile, the union representing pilots reportedly said its members had offered to take a cut in pay of up to 45 per cent in total amounting to about 350 million euros, but in return it wants the company to try to secure as many jobs as possible. By Carl Tobias President Donald Trump repeatedly claims that federal appeals court appointments comprise his foremost success. The president and the GOP Senate majority have broken records by approving 50 very conservative, young and capable appellate jurists during his first three years in office. However, their confirmations have imposed expenses, particularly on the districts that must deal with 70 openings in 677 judicial positions. One compelling example is New Jerseys U.S. District Court, which encounters six vacancies in 17 posts. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts considers all emergencies, as most have been prolonged and the jurists face large caseloads. Notwithstanding this problematic situation, Trump has failed to proffer any candidate yet. Indeed, no other states empty positions have apparently received so little attention from him. District judges resolve substantial caseloads, thereby constituting New Jersey justice systems workhorses. The six vacancies pressure New Jersey jurists, litigants and lawyers, conditions which exemplify those in many of Americas 94 districts. COVID-19s rampant spread in New Jersey has exacerbated these circumstances. Since March, the district has issued many orders, which have delayed important operations, such as grand jury sessions and trials, because they could frustrate efforts to stop the virus spread. On May 22, the district issued an order, which included recovery guidelines providing for a phased approach to reconstituting operations by easing certain restrictions but suggesting that a number would remain until Aug. 31. When the court eases more limitations, the pent-up demand to resume civil and criminal litigation may overwhelm the district. Therefore, Trump, the Republican-controlled Senate and the New Jersey Democratic Senators - Robert Menendez and Cory Booker - must redouble their efforts to cooperate and fill all six open posts. At Trumps inauguration, the state faced two district vacancies, both of which were emergencies, partly because the Republican Senate majority denied a confirmation vote to Julien Neals, a well qualified, mainstream candidate whom President Barack Obama had nominated during 2015. Openings gradually increased when New Jersey judges assumed senior status or retired during May 2017, June and November 2018 and May 2019. Despite the growing vacancies, Trump has yet to nominate any candidate for the six openings. In 2017, numerous popular press outlets reported that White House Counsel Donald McGahn, Senators Menendez and Booker, and Chris Christie - the former Republican governor who also helped lead the Trump Administration transition team - were engaged in discussions about how to fill the vacancies and possible candidates for specific openings. However, these negotiations did not ripen into nominations. The president, the chamber, Menendez and Booker must collaborate to fill all six vacancies. Trump should actively consult the senators and concur on strong prospects for every vacancy and nominate them. The president and the senators must also persuade Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to rapidly schedule hearings and votes for these nominees and convince Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) to expeditiously set confirmation debates and ballots on each nominee. New Jersey confronts six district openings; all are emergencies. With the Senates return from its Memorial Day recess, President Trump, the chamber and Senators Menendez and Booker should cooperate to quickly fill these vacancies during 2020. If all collaborate, they will relieve the pressure on the court, so that New Jersey federal judges may continue to promptly, economically and fairly resolve large caseloads. Carl Tobias is the Williams Chair in Law at the University of Richmond. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. STOCKHOLM, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Leadstar Media launches new product Betinjapan.com for the Japanese betting market. Besides the primary function of comparing and finding bookmakers, the site provides beginner-friendly information about online betting and welcome offers. Leadstar Media already has a number of similar websites in various markets globally but this latest launch represents the company's first in Japan. Eskil Kvarnstrom, CEO, comments: - Japan is a new market for us and it's gonna be interesting to see what we can achieve here. Whenever we expand we do it with the belief that we can create the best product in our niche. Japan is no different, we are a team of high-achievers and our ambition is to be the best option for Japanese players when it comes to finding a betting site. Betinjapan.com was launched just recently and is heavily focused on SEO work, which takes some time to come in full effect. The team responsible for working with the product has an action-plan in place to see the project blossom quickly. A number of high-profile bookmakers already offer their services in Japan, which helped make the expansion a smooth process for Leadstar Media. - It's really inspiring to work with new markets where you don't know exactly what to expect. The fact that several of our partners in other markets also have a presence in Japan serves as a testament that the market has potential. In addition, it gives us the confidence that the choice of players is with trusted bookmakers that we have worked with a long time across several markets, which is imperative for creating the best product, says Kvarnstrom Both the core-team with SEO experts and the recruitment of a Japanese content writer have made the expansion possible. Having a great company culture that attracts the right people has always been a focus for Leadstar Media and Japan presented both an opportunity and new challenges for the company. - We've been blessed with finding people that share our drive and company values in the past and that is something we constantly are working on to keep up. When we found a Japanese content writer with drive and entrepreneurial spirit the timing was right. As we are based in Stockholm, it's not often that opportunity presents itself, compared to Europeans. I believe this is one of the things that gives us an edge towards our industry colleagues, says Kvarnstrom CONTACT: Leadstar Media AB info@leadstarmedia.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com Dundee councillors have been urged to stop using 'slave traders' language' in council meetings by one of their peers. The phrase 'nitty gritty', which is thought to have originated from the 18th century and was used as another term for slaves, is part of the lexicon Labour councillor Georgia Cruickshank is attempting to put a stop to. She said: 'Being a woman of colour, I know only too well what racism feels like and to be discriminated against because of the colour of your skin. 'We must educate our children about black history. We must not glorify the slave traders who built their empires off the back of black people. Labour councillor Georgia Cruickshank has urged peers to stop using 'slave traders' language' Black Lives Matter protests have been held across the world to campaign against racism 'We must embrace diversity, teach tolerance and understanding of black and ethnic minority lives, and stop using slave traders' language such as "nitty gritty" in our council chambers.' The origin of the term has been long since associated with the English slave trade. A suggestion was made in 2005 that the phrase was used to describe the unimportant debris left at the bottom of ships after the slaves had been removed. The meaning was reportedly extended to then include the slaves themselves. A 'hit list' of statues and memorials to some of Britain's most famous figures has been created The demonstrations have led to increased scrutiny over the UK's past links to the slave trade Dundee's historic links to the slave trade have also come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks amid the Black Lives Matter protests taking place across the world. An anti-racist protesters' group, 'Topple the Racists', identified two statues as part of its hit list - the statue of slave owner George Kinloch in Dundee's Albert Square, and the Melville Monument to Henry Dundas on Dunmore Hill. Local councillors have raised concerns about the three streets in the city that are named after Dr Walter Tullideph, who ran plantations and owned slaves on the Caribbean island of Antigua in the 18th century. THE ORIGINS OF 'NITTY GRITTY' The origin of the term has been long since associated with the English slave trade. A suggestion was made in 2005 that the phrase was used to describe the unimportant debris left at the bottom of ships after the slaves had been removed. The meaning was reportedly extended to then include the slaves themselves. But this interpretation has also been refuted, with the saying not having been recorded in print until the 1930s. It is understood that none of the earliest references held any links to slavery. A website claims that the term may have originated in the US as an African-American expression. Advertisement Dundee City Council leader John Alexander admitted he was 'horrified' after the city's links to the slave trade were unearthed. He has also ordered a review into the now-controversial statue of Kinloch. He said: 'It's important that people's voices are heard in the current discussion and I know that there are a huge variety of opinions on what actions should and shouldn't be taken. 'It's also important for all of us to educate ourselves in light of recent events.' Richard McGready, Dundee Labour councillor, encouraged a debate over how slave ownership should now be reflected upon in the city and called for the 'voice of black people' to be heard. 'The various streets in my ward are named after Dr Walter Tullideph,' he said. 'There should be, at the very least, some way of commemorating the slaves who created the wealth that allowed Dr Tullideph to buy estates in Scotland, which led to streets being named after him. 'We should have a debate and listen to the voice of black people in the city.' The mural of George Floyd, whose death at the hands of police officers in the US sparked the worldwide demonstrations, was vandalised with a white supremacy symbol before campaigners then repainted it with an anti-facist message. And amid the renewed calls for awareness and change, SNP councillor Lynne Short, also the council equalities spokeswoman, insisted that she supports improved dialogue over the issue. She admitted that she had not been aware of links between Dr Tullideph and slave ownership as well as the controversies concerning Kinloch. 'It brings home, historically, how much black lives didn't matter,' she said. 'He was a radical supporter of the rights of the people of the city but he didn't make the comparison between the two. 'Black lives matter. End of story.' - The late Burundi president Pierre Nkurunziza died of a cardiac arrest on Monday, June 8 - In a statement on Friday, June 12, Uhuru described the deceased head of state who had ruled the landlocked country since 2005, as a great son of Africa - The government of Burundi declared a seven-day mourning period for the strongman who was set to retire in August President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered the Kenyan flag be flown half-mast in honour of late Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza who died on Monday, June 8. The government of Burundi said the outgoing president who was 55 succumbed to a heart attack after falling ill over the weekend. READ ALSO: Budget 2020/21: Moses Kuria cries foul after TV reporter was cut off before interviewing him Uhuru described Nkurunziza as a great son of Africa who made enormous contributions to EAC. Photo: State House. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: George Natembeya: Story of youngest, funniest regional commissioner who emulates late master John Michuki In a statement on Friday, June 12, Uhuru described the late head of state who had ruled the landlocked country since 2005, as a great son of Africa. "That in memory of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza, and in solemn solidarity and mourning; the flag of the East African Community and the flag of the Republic of Kenya shall be flown at half-mast at all public buildings and public grounds and wherever else throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Kenya and at all of Kenyas diplomatic missions abroad; from dawn on Saturday, June 13, until sunset on the day of his interment," said Uhuru. The president said Nkurunziza who was set to hand over power in August 2020 made enormous contributions in advancing integration and prosperity of the East African Community. "We are in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Republic of Burundi, the wider EAC and the whole of Africa who are in deep mourning at the loss of a great son of Africa," Uhuru said. The late Pierre Nkurunziza. The outgoing Burundi president died on Monday, June 8, at a hospital in Karuzi. Photo: Pierre Nkurunziza. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Mohamed Ali atishia kuwasilisha mswada wa kumtimua waziriJames Macharia Even though the Burundian government said the late president died of a heart attack, opposition figures and diplomats in the country said he had contracted the novel coronavirus after ignoring safety measures. One Western diplomat who chose to remain anonymous said Nkurunzinza had downplayed the impact of COVID-19 leading to his death. Uhuru said the Kenyan flag will be flown half-mast from Satuday, June 13, in honour of late Pierre Nkurunziza. Photo: Business Daily. Source: UGC He had coronavirus but no one would say so because the president had played it down all along, a Bujumbura based envoy said. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. Tabitha and Samuel Kamotho speak on Virginia's story, accuse Virginia of not using contraceptives. Source: TUKO.co.ke The Supreme Court on Friday took a strong view of the treatment meted out to Covid-19 patients and dead bodies in government hospitals across the country, describing the situation as deplorable and worse than what animals would have to suffer. Taking cognisance of media reports, a three-judge bench sought detailed status reports from four states - Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal - regarding the conditions in hospitals. Covid-19 patients are treated worse than animals. In one case, a dead body was found in garbage, the bench headed by justice Ashok Bhushan remarked. The state of Delhi came in for heavy criticism from the bench, with the court pointing out the conditions in hospitals as well the reduced testing for Covid-19. The top court also noted that patients are running from pillar to post to get themselves admitted even though a large number of beds in government hospitals are lying vacant. Also Watch | Send migrants home within 15 days, drop cases: Key points from SC order Taking note of a media report, the court highlighted how dead bodies of Covid-19 patients were lying unattended in the lobby and waiting area of Delhis Lok Nayak Jai Prakash hospital. Reminding states, the top court said that governments are duty bound to ensure adequate infrastructure in hospitals and also that Covid-19 patients are attended to by health workers. Former union law minister and senior counsel Ashwini Kumar had written to the CJI on June 8 highlighting the undesirable manner in which Covid-19 patients and dead bodies of Covid victims were being handled in various parts of the country. Kumar pointed out a news report of a Covid-19 patient being chained to a bed in a hospital in Madhya Pradesh. He also drew the attention of the CJI to an incident from Puducherry where a dead body was thrown into a pit for burial. Right to die with dignity is a fundamental right and it includes the right to a decent burial/ cremation, Kumar had said in his letter. This would be the third case which the top court would be hearing suo motu in relation to issues stemming out of Covid-19 and the lockdown. The same three-judge bench, headed by justice Ashok Bhushan, is hearing the case regarding the plight of migrant workers due to the Covid-19 lockdown and had passed orders to facilitate their return to their home states after thousands of them went out of work due to the lockdown imposed by the central and state governments. The bench on June 9 ordered that the central and state governments should ensure the return of all migrant workers to their home states within 15 days and also asked the governments to come up with welfare schemes and job opportunities to alleviate their sufferings. The initial things that befall a traveler upon setting foot on international soil is a text message from their mobile service provider greeting them to the country they have arrived in and providing roaming coverage. In the West Philippine Sea, this transpired on June 9 when government officials and reporters were greeted on Pag-Asa Island. They received text messages sent by a cellular and data service provider. The government officials and other visitors were greeted by "Welcome to China" and "Welcome to Vietnam," reported by Head Topics. Visitors who received the messages included media people and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. His purpose was to attend an inauguration of a beaching ramp. It would contribute to the delivery of materials for the reparations of Pag-Asa Island. The said visitors received the text messages due to a weak local signal in their location. The gadgets apparently have detected signals from another nation's cellular tower. The disputable island claimed by the Philippines is situated within the Kalayaan Island Group that is composed of little islands. Thus, the cell base station of the cellular provider on Pag-Asa Island is recently not in operation, explained by Smart Communications Inc. This is why the government officials and reporters who arrived in the area were instead welcomed by text messages from partner telcos, according to GMA News Online. Smart representative Ramon Isberto stated that the cell site of the company in the location has been operating for span of months. Repairmen have been reportedly struggling to reach the location. Pag-Asa Island is currently occupied by the country and is also one of the territories in the West Philippine Sea being claimed by China. The total budget of the establishment of the beaching ramp in Pag-Asa, according to the Department of National Defense, has a total budget of P267.18 million. Also Read: China And Philippines Begin To Mend Ties With Bilateral Talks On Disputed South China Sea It is part of the numerous projects targeted at enhace the living sitation of the Kalayaan citizens. The DND added that a total of P1.3 billion worth of projects are also in the forthcoming. This includes the concreting and repair of the weathered runway due to corrosion. CNN Philippines reported that Lorenzana thought ot the texts as interesting and ignored them. He set forth the idea that the Philippines should also establish its own strong cellular sites on the island. They should welcome arriving mobile users with "Welcome to the Philippines!" Isberto noted that "transport is very difficult. You can't just get a boat and go there. You have to get military clearance. And sometimes, if there's a security issue, there's no travel around." Lorenzana freely divulged to reporters the whole content of the amusing text message that greeted him to Vietnam. China ardently denied the arbitral ruling win of the Philippines over the debatable West Philippine Sea. Also, the said text messages persuaded the visitors to subscribe to a roaming data plan. The aforementioned cellular sites of China and Vietnam have been constructed over a decade ago. Related Article: Chinese Warship Readied Guns at PH Navy Vessel in Philippine Seas @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New Delhi Unpaid salaries to doctors and lack of quarantine facilities for heathcare workers engaged in fighting COVID-19 led an anguished Supreme Court on Friday to remark that in a war-like situation, the Centre should travel the extra mile to ensure that the corona warriors are kept safe and happy. The Court was dealing with a petition by a doctor, Arushi Jain who complained of inadequate quarantine facilities across the country. Representing the petitioner, senior advocate KV Vishwanathan informed the Court that as per May 15, 2020 Guidelines issued by the Health Ministry titled Advisory for Managing Healthcare Workers working in COVID and non-COVID Areas of the Hospital, only high-risk health care workers or those showing symptoms of COVID-19 need 14-day quarantine. He wondered how such a distinction could be made. The bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, SK Kaul and MR Shah said, This is a kind of war (against Coronavirus pandemic). You cannot keep soldiers unhappy during a war. Travel the extra mile to make the corona warriors (doctors, nurses, medical staff) feel safe. Vishwanathan also informed the Court that some doctors working at government and private hospitals have not been paid salaries in full. Noting these facts with concern, the bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who attended the virtual court hearing through videoconferencing, These issues should not engage our attention. It should be settled by you (Government). Mehta submitted that the concerns expressed by the petitioner seem to be ad-hoc, but added that the petitioner could frame a representation highlighting the problems, and that these would be addressed by the government. The bench allowed the petitioner to file a representation highlighting these concerns and make suggestions to the Union Health Secretary. The Centre was directed to consider the same and file a report by Wednesday, the next date of hearing. Earlier, in response to the petition, the Centre filed an affidavit claiming that protecting health care workers was the governments top-most priority because it expects a surge in the number of coronavirus infections in the coming days. At some point of time in near future, apart from existing hospitals, large number of temporary makeshift hospitals will have to be created. It also categorised health care workers as low-risk and high-risk in terms of their potential exposure to the virus. In response to the Centres affidavit, the petitioner filed a reply stating that all healthcare workers serving in Covid centres and hospitals, by default, are in the high-risk category due to the infectious nature of this disease. The petitioner requested the Court to add states as parties to the case. It was my freshman move-in day at UCLA in 1972. My brother, my roommate and I were returning to campus and as we drove in, an unmarked LAPD car turned on its lights and pulled us over. Two plainclothes officers got out with their guns drawn one with a shotgun ordered us out of the car and told us to lay face down in the street, literally in front of our dorm as other parents and freshmen, mostly white, watched this drama unfold. One cop took the backseat out of our 1966 VW bug and tossed it to the sidewalk while the other cop stood over us with his shotgun pointed at us saying vile things, inappropriate things, things I cannot repeat in this paper. After finding nothing, they said nothing, got back in their car and drove away. In 1983, I completed my Ph.D. at Yale in economics, becoming the first African-American male to accomplish this. I was also awarded a $195,000 three-year fellowship from the Commonwealth Fund of New York to continue my studies. I had job offers from Georgetown, Brandeis and Hunter College. With my fellowship, I was effectively free to these fine institutions. I had an interview with Hunter College president Donna Shalala, who is now a congresswoman from Florida. Around the time of my interview, there had been a murder of white woman, a shopkeeper, in Greenwich Village. I knew the woman and the store because I had a side hustle selling handbags and other art from Kenya, and she was one of my customers. In the investigation, the police found out she owed me $40 for merchandise I put on consignment at her store. The NYPD called me and asked me if I knew anything that could help them solve the crime. I said I did not, but would be happy to answer any questions they might have. I also told them about my upcoming meeting with Dr. Shalala. They asked me to come to their precinct after my interview with Dr. Shalala. When I got the precinct, they took me to a back room one of those rooms where you know there are detectives on the other side of the glass observing. As soon as I sat down, one of the detectives told me they could hold me right now for the murder because a black man my height and complexion had been seen running from the scene. I saw immediately this was not going the way I had anticipated. I demanded to talk to my wife, who is a lawyer. They said it was not necessary, they were going to let me go, but they wanted me to prove to them over the next couple of weeks that I could not have committed the murder. Fortunately, I had phone records that did just that. These two incidents are not uncommon for African-American men. They are the norm. This is the source of the black rage that began with our unlawful capture and forced servitude. Along with this rage is white guilt. White folks know slavery was wrong. White folks know that their status has been supported on a foundation of white supremacy. I will not go so far as to say that everything white folks have is because of racism, and everything black folks do not have is because of racism, but it is an argument with merit. I can forgive white people. I can forgive the white police. But healing our country will only come with white peoples acknowledgment of the wrong that was done even if it was not them who directly enslaved my ancestors. It is only through revolutionary love that we will heal our deep societal wounds. What is revolutionary love? Revolutionary love is a feeling, but more importantly, it is based on action. The feeling is obvious to anyone who has watched Americans of all races march through the streets over the past three weeks during a pandemic. I participated and organized marches and protests while I was at UCLA over police brutality and abuse. I was the president of the UCLA Black Student Alliance my senior year in 1975-76. There were only a sprinkling of white students at those protests then. Now, the protests in most streets are predominantly white. This gives me hope that white Americans are confronting the first condition of revolutionary Love they feel our pain. However, this feeling must be followed by action. These actions must come from President Biden no, that is not a mistake, he will be president next year and they must come from those individual white protesters, companies, educational institutions and government at all levels. That action agenda includes the elimination of the gaps that have plagued this country for generations. We must commit to close the achievement gap between white students and black students. We must commit to close the wealth gap between white families and black families. We must commit to close the homeownership gap between white families and black families. We must commit to close the wage gap and the unemployment rate gap between black workers and white workers. We must commit to close the health disparities gap between blacks and whites. We must commit to close the board gap on boards of directors of public companies. We must commit to close the poverty gap between black families and white families. We must commit to close the capital access gap between black-owned businesses and white-owned businesses. We must commit to close voting access gap between black voters and white voters look at what happened in Georgia this past week in their primary where black voters had to endure long lines in order to cast their votes, while white voters in predominantly white neighborhoods just walked in and out of the polling places. We must commit to close the incarceration gap between whites and blacks. We must commit to closing the environmental pollution gap that has black communities suffering more than white communities. We must commit to close the policing gap that treats black men differently from white men. If we commit to these efforts, not only will we have the possibility of achieving the goal of America being that shining city on the hill, we will reinvigorate this nations economy to achieve the type of sustainable growth that is good for everyone. History has demonstrated, when the lives of black Americans improve, the lives of all Americans improve. That is revolutionary love. Fred McKinney is the Carlton Highsmith Chair for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and director of the Peoples United Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Quinnipiac University School of Business. He is on social media at @drfredmckinney. Fa-Hien Lena has emerged as one of South Asia's most important archaeological sites since the 1980s, preserving remains of our species, their tools, and their prey in a tropical context. Credit: Langley et al., 2020 The origins of human innovation have traditionally been sought in the grasslands and coasts of Africa or the temperate environments of Europe. More extreme environments, such as the tropical rainforests of Asia, have been largely overlooked, despite their deep history of human occupation. A new study provides the earliest evidence for bow-and-arrow use, and perhaps the making of clothes, outside of Africa ~48-45,000 years ago, in the tropics of Sri Lanka. The island of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, just south of the Indian subcontinent, is home to the earliest fossils of our species, Homo sapiens, in South Asia. It also preserves clear evidence for human occupation and the use of tropical rainforest environments outside of Africa from ~48,000 to 3,000 years agorefuting the idea that these supposedly resource-poor environments acted as barriers for migrating Pleistocene humans. The question as to exactly how humans obtained rainforest resourcesincluding fast-moving food sources like monkeys and squirrelsremains unresolved. In this new study, published in Science Advances, an international team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (MPI-SHH) in Germany, Griffith University in Australia and the Department of Archeology, Government of Sri Lanka, present evidence for the earliest use of bow-and-arrow technologies by humans anywhere outside of Africa. At ~48,000 years old, these tools are earlier than the first similar technology found in Europe. Clear evidence for use on the preserved bone arrowheads shows that they were likely used for hunting difficult-to-catch rainforest prey. Not only that, but the scientists show that other bone tools may have been used for making nets or clothing in tropical settings, dramatically altering traditional assumptions about how certain human innovations were linked with specific environmental requirements. Map of Sri Lanka with the site of Fa-Hien Lena shown alongside views of the cave and section from which the materials of the study come. Credit: Wedage et al., 2019 Hunting in the open and sheltering from the cold? European cultural products in the form of cave art, amazingly detailed bone carvings, bone tool technologies, and tailored clothing have been frequently held up as the pinnacle of Late Pleistocene human cultural development. There, symbolic and technological innovations have been seen as key survival mechanisms equipping expanding populations to face cold northern climates. Meanwhile, discoveries of older bow-and-arrow technology and artistic or symbolic behaviors in open grassland or coastal settings in Africa have framed "savannah" and marine environments, respectively, as key drivers behind early hunting and cultural experiments by Pleistocene humans in their evolutionary homeland. As co-author of the new study, Patrick Roberts of the MPI-SHH argues, "This traditional focus has meant that other parts of Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas have often been side-lined in discussions of the origins of material culture, such as novel projectile hunting methods or cultural innovations associated with our species." Nevertheless, the last twenty years have highlighted how Pleistocene humans occupied and adapted to a variety of extreme environments as they migrated beyond Africa, including deserts, high-altitude settings and tropical rainforests such as those of Sri Lanka. The team found clear evidence for the production of colored beads from mineral ochre and the refined making of shell beads traded from the coast, at a similar age to other 'social signaling' materials found in Eurasia and Southeast Asia, roughly 45,000 years ago. Credit: Adapted from Langley et al., 2020 A tropical home The new study saw scientists turn to the beautifully preserved material culture from the cave of Fa-Hien Lena, deep in the heart of Sri Lanka's Wet Zone forests. As co-author Oshan Wedage, Ph.D. at MPI-SHH, states, "Fa-Hien Lena has emerged as one of South Asia's most important archeological sites since the 1980s, preserving remains of our species, their tools, and their prey in a tropical context." Some of the main finds from the site include remarkable single and doubled pointed bone tools that scientists had suspected were used in the exploitation of tropical resources. Direct proof had been lacking, however, in the absence of detailed high-powered microscopic analysis. Michelle Langley of Griffith University, the lead author of the new study, is an expert in the study of microscopic traces of tool use and the creation of symbolic material culture in Pleistocene contexts. Applying cutting edge methods to the Fa-Hien Lena material confirmed the researchers' hypothesis. As Langley states, "The fractures on the points indicate damage through high-powered impactsomething usually seen in the use of bow-and-arrow hunting of animals. This evidence is earlier than similar findings in Southeast Asia 32,000 years ago and is currently the earliest clear evidence for bow-and-arrow use beyond the African continent." The evidence for early human innovation did not stop there. Applying the same microscopic approach to other bone tools, the team identified implements which seem to have been associated with freshwater fishing in nearby tropical streams, as well as the working of fiber to make nets or clothing. "We also found clear evidence for the production of colored beads from mineral ochre and the refined making of shell beads traded from the coast, at a similar age to other 'social signaling' materials found in Eurasia and Southeast Asia, roughly 45,000 years ago," says Michelle Langley. Together, this reveals a complex, early human social network in the tropics of South Asia. Tools made on bone and teeth were used to hunt small monkeys and squirrels, work skins or plants, and perhaps create nets at Fa-Hien Lena, Sri Lanka 48,000-years-ago. Here a possible net shuttle, monkey tooth awl/knife, and projectile point are shown. Credit: M. C. Langley A flexible toolkit for new hunting grounds The new study highlights that archeologists can no longer link specific technological, symbolic, or cultural developments in Pleistocene humans to a single region or environment. "The Sri Lankan evidence shows that the invention of bows-and-arrows, clothing, and symbolic signaling occurred multiple times and in multiple different places, including within the tropical rainforests of Asia," says co-author Michael Petraglia of the MPI-SHH. In addition to insulation in cold environments, clothes may have also helped against tropical mosquitoes, "and instead of just hunting large grassland mammals," adds zooarchaeologist Noel Amano, another MPI-SHH co-author, "bows and arrows helped humans procure small, tree-dwelling primates and rodents." While archeologists have long focused on the uniqueness of European markers of behavioral modernity, the new study is part of a growing awareness that many regions of the world saw extraordinary and complex new technologies emerge at the end of the Paleolithic. "Humans at this time show extraordinary resourcefulness and the ability to exploit a range of new environments," notes Nicole Boivin, Director at the MPI-SHH and study coauthor. "These skills enabled them to colonize nearly all of the planet's continents by about 10,000 years ago, setting us clearly on the path to being the global species we are today." Explore further Oldest miniaturized stone toolkits in Eurasia More information: M.C. Langley at Griffith University in Brisbane, QLD, Australia el al., "Bows and arrows and complex symbolic displays at 48,000 years ago in the South Asian tropics," Science Advances (2020). Journal information: Science Advances M.C. Langley at Griffith University in Brisbane, QLD, Australia el al., "Bows and arrows and complex symbolic displays at 48,000 years ago in the South Asian tropics,"(2020). advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/24/eaba3831 Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Thursday, 11 June 2020 23:54:22 (GMT+3) | Sao Paulo Bolivian state-run iron ore and steelmaking company Empresa Siderurgica del Mutun (ESM) plans to export 250,000 mt of iron ore to clients in Argentina and Germany by year-end, the Bolivian ministry of mining said. ArcelorMittals Argentinian subsidiary, Acindar, and ThyssenKrupp in Germany should get the commodity. The 250,000 mt iron ore shipment should generate $7.1 million in revenues, CEO Milko Moreno estimated. The Bolivian government did not disclose the amount of iron ore each client will receive, although ESM will likely export 65 percent Fe content iron ore. ESM halted operations for 60 days due to Covid-19, Moreno said. Production has gradually resumed with its 68-employee workforce. Faith Stowers says she 'd really like to work with Bravo again after the network fired four stars of reality show Vanderpump Rules for past racist comments. Stowers, 31. told UsWeekly on Thursday: 'I would love to go back on Vanderpump Rules. I dont have a problem with Vanderpump Rules. I dont have a problem with Bravo in general.' Her remarks come after a dramatic week in which Bravo axed series star Stassi Schroeder for racially insensitive remarks and for falsely accusing Stowers of a crime she did not commit in 2018. Also given their marching orders were Kristen Doute, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni. Coming back? Faith Stowers says she'd really like to work with Bravo again and 'would love to go back on Vanderpump Rules' after Stassi Schroeder and three others were axed for racism Stowers, who appeared on season 4 and season 6 of the reality show about staff at Lisa Vanderpump's LA restaurant SUR, told UsWeekly she'd like to return to TV screens 'to showcase my life to people because I know people can relate to it.' She explained: 'Its unfortunate that I didnt get to show my military career with Vanderpump Rules and you know, my dating life.' She also shared that she hopes for a boost to her acting career and dreams of working with acclaimed directors Lee Daniels and Ryan Murphy. Keen: Stowers, who appeared on season 4 and season 6 of the reality show, told UsWeekly she'd like to return 'to showcase my life to people because I know people can relate to it' Fired: It's been a dramatic week in which Bravo axed series star Stassi Schroeder for racially insensitive remarks and for falsely accusing Stowers of a crime she did not commit in 2018 Stowers was seen running errands in LA for the first time since the scandal broke. She stepped out wearing a snakeskin hat, a black blouse fastened with a Gucci belt and skinny ripped jeans with perspex heels. The outing came as she confirmed to PageSix.com she contacted a lawyer about taking legal action against Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute for their alleged racist behavior towards her. However, she was told the statute of limitations for filing a defamation lawsuit has expired. She's also lobbying for another Vanderpump Rules star Jax Taylor to be fired as well. Stowers told the Us podcast Watch With Us that 'there are other people that should be educated as well because theyve made some pretty crazy mistakes and said some crazy - not even mistakes. They just said some terrible things.' Stowers said she wasn't aware of some of the racial statements attributed to Taylor, but was told about them by industry colleagues. 'I didnt even know the depth of the crazy things that they were saying,' Stowers claimed. 'And so like, I got DMs from other shows, from other females on other shows saying that Mr. Taylor had said some crazy things to them that were racial. So I think he gets a pat on the back a lot.' Stowers, speaking about Taylor, said the selective firings illustrated a bit of a double standard: 'I think that if youre going to do it for two people, they should do it for some other people as well.' She added of the situation: 'I just think its not fair to have two people who are very big on their platform, and benefit from the platform, go through something like this for their benefit and everyone elses benefit because theyre benefiting by being able to take time to themselves and learn, educate themselves.' Want him gone too: Stowers is also lobbying for another Vanderpump Rules star Jax Taylor to be fired as well for allegedly saying 'some terrible things' Meanwhile, Stassi is said to be struggling with the events of the past few days. The 31-year-old blonde has been 'crying' over her firing by Bravo, according to UsWeekly. DailyMail.com has also learned that at least one stop on her speaking tour has been cancelled, with the remaining dates now in doubt. The tour, which had been rescheduled due to the pandemic, was set to begin on January 9 in New Jersey and end April 24 in Boston. Ticket holders for her show at the Basie Centre in New Jersey were notified via email that the show had been axed and were advised that tickets would be refunded. 'Stassi has been very emotional by this situation and has been sad and crying, and also angry,' a source told Us Weekly. 'She feels blindsided that she was fired and lost her podcast and sponsorships.' Student Amulya Leona, arrested on sedition charges after she raised pro-Pakistan slogans at an anti-CAA event here in February, has been granted default bail by a court here on grounds that the police did not file charge sheet within the stipulated period. The development came on Wednesday shortly after the city civil and sessions court dismissed her plea for regular bail, holding that the investigation has not been completed. The fifth Additional City Civil Metropolitan Magistrate granted the default bail. Earlier, rejecting her regular bail plea, the 60th additional city civil and sessions judge Vidyadhar Shirahatti said: If the petitioner is released on bail, she may abscond or she may be involved in a similar offence, which affects the peace at large. A student activist, the 19-year-old Amulya had shouted Pakistan zindabad during the protest meeting against Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens organised by Hindu Muslim Sikh Isaai Federation at the Freedom Park here on February 20. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi was present at the event and had tried to stop her from raising the slogan. Because the police failed to file a charge sheet within the stipulated 90 days, we moved the application for default bail, which the court granted on Wednesday itself, advocate R Prasanna, defending Amulya Leona, said. According to him, she will be released in a day or two after completion of the bail formalities. He said the charge sheet was filed on June 3. By Akbar Mammadov Armenias policy aimed at annexation of Azerbaijans occupied territories is doomed to fail, the Foreign Ministrys press service said on June 11. Making a statement on the construction of the third road connecting Armenia with Azerbaijans occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region, the Foreign Ministry noted: The construction of the next, third road connecting Armenia with the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan through the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is part of the illegal activities carried out by the occupying Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions of Azerbaijan. This step of Armenia is aimed at strengthening the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions of Azerbaijan by the aggressor country, and can also serve to purposefully change the demographic situation in these areas, continuing illegal settlement, looting, exploitation and transportation of natural resources. The ministry pointed out that the report "Illegal economic and other activities in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan" prepared by Azerbaijans MFA in 2016, as well as the reports, reflecting the satellite images of illegal activities in the territories of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia, prepared by the MFA and Azercosmos in 2019, provide ample evidence of illegal activities by the occupying country. This evidence reveals the illegal transportation of natural resources along the occupied part of the international border between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the role of Armenia as a transit point for the transportation of illegally produced products, as well as natural resources from those territories to international markets, the statement noted. The MFA emphasized that the main reason for Armenia to build a third highway through the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is the intention to annex the territories of Azerbaijan and to consolidate the occupation by continuing its illegal activities. Armenia's illegal actions are contrary to its international obligations, as well as a gross violation of the norms and principles of international law, as well as the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. It is known that the international community has demonstrated its unequivocal position on Armenia's aggressive policy in numerous resolutions and documents adopted so far, including the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the statement reads. Furthermore, the ministry also reminded that at the same time, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement had adopted resolutions and statements condemning Armenia's illegal activities in the occupied territories, as well as calling on it to refrain from providing any assistance, including economic activities, to maintain the situation. The adoption of a joint statement by the members of the European Parliament on the illegal activities of Armenia must be considered as a concrete challenge addressed to the occupying country, the ministry added. Armenia's policy of trying to annex the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is doomed to fail. The only way to achieve a lasting solution to the conflict is to ensure the unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh region and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan, as required by relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The foreign ministry stressed that Armenia bears full responsibility for the policy of aggression against Azerbaijan, the military occupation of Azerbaijani territories and the violation of the fundamental rights of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis subjected to ethnic cleansing in these territories, as well as all illegal activities carried out in these lands. The occupying country will sooner or later be held accountable for these actions. Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in a conflict over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region, which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France has been mediating the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts have resulted in no progress and to this date, Armenia has failed to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) that demand the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Fri, June 12, 2020 12:15 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde30c7a 2 World zoom,China,Tiananmen-Square,activists,video-conference,video-platform Free Zoom Video Communications Inc said on Thursday it suspended user accounts and ended meetings linked to the anniversary of China's Tiananmen Square crackdown on its platform after the Chinese government demanded it do so. Zoom, which has seen its global popularity as a video conferencing tool soar during the COVID-19 pandemic, said it did not provide any user information or meeting content to the Chinese government, adding it would not allow further requests from China to impact users outside the country in the future. The company's statement https://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2020/06/11/improving-our-policies-as-we-continue-to-enable-global-collaboration comes after it temporarily shut three accounts belonging to activists, one of whom is based in Hong Kong and two in the United States. US-based Humanitarian China founder Zhou Fengsuo said his account was suspended after holding a Zoom event to commemorate the 31st anniversary of China's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests at Tiananmen Square. The event was joined by viewers based in mainland China. Zoom said the Chinese government had notified it about four large planned commemoration meetings that were being publicized on social media. The authorities demanded they terminate the events and linked accounts, it added. Zoom decided to end three of those meetings and temporarily suspend the host accounts as it is currently unable to remove specific participants from a meeting or block participants from a certain country from joining a meeting, the company said. California-based Zoom, said it left the last meeting "undisturbed" as it did not have any participants from mainland China. It has now reinstated the accounts. The company said it was developing technology to enable it to remove or block at the participant level based on geography, and would publish an updated global policy on June 30.. "This will enable us to comply with requests from local authorities when they determine activity on our platform is illegal within their borders," it said. "However, we will also be able to protect these conversations for participants outside of those borders where the activity is allowed." Reuters was not immediately able to contact China's internet watchdog, the Cyberspace Administration of China. The anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown is a highly sensitive matter in China and content related to it is regularly blocked or censored by authorities. China's cyberspace is tightly controlled, with Western social media and chat platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp blocked. Microsoft's Skype was removed from China's Apple and Android stores in 2017 though a Skype for Business option remains available. Zoom, which said in its SEC filings it has many research and development personnel in China, is not blocked and has become a popular tool for Chinese users told to stay home during the COVID-19 outbreak. Wang Dan, a US-based dissident and exiled Tiananmen Square student leader whose account was also shut down, said he was shocked to hear Zoom admit it had interrupted their meetings. His June 3 event with about 200 participants was deactivated midstream, he said. "Zoom compiled with Chinas request, preventing us from going about our lives smoothly. It cannot get away with just a statement. We shall continue to use legal means and public opinion to ask Zoom to take responsibility for its mistake," he said. Mumbai: Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde tested positive for coronavirus but he is asymptomatic and his condition is stable, Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Friday. Munde, a Nationalist Congress Party leader, had attended a state cabinet meeting earlier this week and taken part in the NCP's foundation day event two days ago here. He is a third Cabinet minister in Maharashtra to contract the COVID-19 virus. Jitendra Awhad (NCP) and Ashok Chavan (Congress) had earlier tested positive, but both have now recovered from the infection. Asked whether others who had attended the cabinet meeting and the NCP event will be tested, Tope said social distancing was observed on both the occasions. If anyone has suspicion (of having caught infection) or develops symptoms, he or she should be tested as per the Indian Council of Medical Research's guidelines, Tope said. "It is true he (Munde) has tested positive. He is stable. He is asymptomatic, but there is a minor problem of breathlessness," the health minister told reporters. "We are admitting him to Breach Candy Hospital (in South Mumbai). He is a fighter. He will be active in eight to ten days," Tope said. Munde's private staff including the cook, drivers and personal assistant contracted coronavirus before him, he said. "He was there at the cabinet meeting and NCP foundation day ceremony. But we observed social distancing during the meeting as instructed by Dada (Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar)," Tope said. Munde was not a high-risk contact, he said. "High-risk contacts are ones with whom you stay throughout the day and not during an hour-long meeting," he said. The NCP's foundation day event lasted only five minutes, Tope said, as only state NCP chief Jayant Patil made a short speech. "Only five NCP leaders were present for the flag hoisting. Social distancing was strictly observed," he added. "Testing can be conducted if any person develops symptoms. No question of conducting tests if there are no symptoms," Tope said. The minister urged people to take all precautions including social distancing at public places and workplaces "till a vaccine becomes available". It may be noted that Maharashtra, the state with the most number of confirmed cases, has reported 97,648 COVID-19 cases. The state also witnessed 150 coronavirus-related deaths during the same time and its Covid-19 death toll is now 3,590. Tamil Nadu is second only to Maharashtra with 38,716 confirmed cases followed by Delhi with 34,687 cases and Gujarat with 22,067 cases. According to the Helth Ministry, 10956 news COVID-19 cases and 396 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours since Thursday 8 am taking the country's total tally to 297,535 which includes 141,842 active cases, 147,194 recovered cases, 1 migrant patient, and 8,498 deaths. For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. Google's new drone delivery service Wing will help bring library books to school children in Christiansburg, Virginia to help make up for the city's library closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new initiative is being overseen by Kelly Passek, a librarian for Montgomery County Public Schools, who first pitched the idea to Wing. Students in Christiansburg can submit a request for books in the school district's library system and Passek will pull the book from the stacks and send it out in one of Wing's custom delivery containers. Scroll down for video Google's Wing drone delivery service will now bring library books to school children in Christiansburg, Virginia 'I think kids are going to be just thrilled to learn that they are going to be the first in the world to receive a library book by drone,' Passek told The Washington Post. Passek initially got the idea after wondering about how the 600-plus students in the school district were fairing after the county closed school campuses and libraries. Passek was a Wing customer and periodically used the service, which operates with Walgreen's, and a number of other local businesses and restaurants to make home deliveries. The idea appealed to Keith Heyde, who runs Wing's Virginia program, in large part because his mother had worked as a librarian when he was growing up. Wing launched its drone delivery program in Christiansnburg in 2019, the first of its kind in the US, with approval to deliver pharmaceuticals, groceries, take out orders from restaurants, and other small household items. Students can request a particular titie through a Google Form, and a librarian will pull the book from the stacks and load it into one of Wing's parcels for delivery Wing's Keith Heyde was enthusiastic about the program in part because his own mother had been a librarian Librarian Kelly Passek of Montgomery County Public Schools first pitched the idea to Wing after worrying the 600-plus students that once used her library might be falling behind without access to books The delivery service has become a staple for many town residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the company reporting an average of more than 1,000 deliveries every two weeks in the city. Christiansburg's schools are scheduled to remain closed at least until the fall semester, and Passek hopes that even those students who aren't big readers could be inspired to check out a book just for the novelty of getting one by drone. 'Im hoping that we get our students that are already readers and students who are thinking its going to be really excellent to get books delivered by drone,' Passek said. DANBURY Tommy Cherisme wants the change to start at Western Connecticut State University. The 21-year-old Danbury resident, who will be a senior next academic year, was among about 100 students and others who marched on Friday to demand action to address systemic racism at the university and in the country. Im starting here in my community, said Cherisme, who organized the march. Im hoping others see this and feel they have the power to do something in their community and their world. The students, professors and other community members marched through the Midtown campus and down a section of White Street in the third protest held in the city since the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a white Minneapolis officer. Before the march, the group held a moment of silence for eight minutes and 46 seconds the length of time the cop knelt on Floyds neck. Protesters held signs that said Black lives matter and shouted no justice, no peace and hands up, dont shoot as they marched. The nationwide protests and fury over the death of Floyd and other black Americans, including Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, was part of the undercurrent of the march. But many student and faculty speakers focused on what they described as the failing of the university to be inclusive of students of color. You can put students of color on your advertising, but if your customer service is non-existent then theres really no point, said Anna Abebambo, president of the Student Government Association, which helped organize the event. She and others said professors and campus police treated students and organizations of color differently than their white peers. One alumna, Vernay Snow, traveled nearly four hours from Maryland to speak, describing the racist remarks and bias she experienced from students, faculty and staff on campus. During my college career, I have been belittled, said Snow, who graduated from the university in 2019 and served in various organizations. My character has been assassinated. I wasnt given opportunities that I was more than qualified for because of my ability and dedication to speak truth to power, while also being black. She said students need to hold the university accountable and expose the racial tension on campus. We no longer want diversity, Snow said. We want inclusion. University President John Clark spoke as well, focusing on the need for the death of racism nationwide and permanent progress. He recalled the civil rights and Vietnam War protests when he was in college in the late 1960s and early 1970s. And still nothing has changed, Clark said. For my generation, there is a sense of failure and also there is a sense we need to pass the baton and give our new generation of leaders, like Tom and Anna, all the support we can. If this doesnt happen now, it could be another 50 years and we will not and we cannot tolerate that. But he said the students gave him hope. Many students said the universitys recently announced effort to change the schools mascot from Chuck the Colonial is not enough and came too late. Students said the mascot is a symbol of invaders who took over land and enslaved people and that they had been working to change it this academic year. One recent graduate said the university needs more diverse professors and Greek life, more classes on black, Latino and Native American culture, and a scholarship in Floyd, Taylor and Arberys names for minority students who fight for justice. Do our lives matter to you? asked Chantel Williams, who graduated this year and plans to pursue her masters degree at Howard University. Or does it only matter when its beneficial to you, like when were catching throwing kicking or bouncing a ball? University spokesman Paul Steinmetz said Western has condemned racist incidents on the campus and urged students to report them. Our goal is to have students see us as allies, not as the opposition, he said. All employees are trained on diversity, but he said he recognized that is not enough . Classroom stuff is all good, but its also the lived experience of everyone on campus that were trying to change, Steinmetz said. Cherisme said he wants the university to see that even though we are a predominantly white campus, black students also have a voice on campus and that we matter. The mounted police officer seriously injured when her horse bolted during a Black Lives Matter protest has revealed how she is just about hanging in there. But PC Nicky Vernon said the support she had received had reminded her the thin blue line was unbreakable. One of those offering support was grandfather-of-three Chris Frost, 58, whose life she saved after a crash. PC Nicky Vernon (right) said the support she had received had reminded her the thin blue line was unbreakable and she has been helped by Chris Frost, 58, (left) whose live she saved after a crash He told of his horror at seeing video footage of PC Vernon being knocked from her horse when she collided with a traffic light in Whitehall last Saturday after thugs threw missiles at them. She is in hospital with a collapsed lung, broken collarbone and shattered ribs. Mr Frost, a self-employed builder, has stayed in touch with the officer who came to his rescue in March 2018 when he suffered a heart attack after his car crashed on the A20 Sidcup bypass in Kent. PC Vernon, who was on her way to work, pulled over and dragged Mr Frost from the car. The police officer fell off her horse after colliding with a traffic light during the Black Lives Matter protests in London She performed CPR on him for ten minutes before an off-duty firefighter joined her. When paramedics arrived, they used a defibrillator to restart his heart. He was in intensive care for four days and was fitted with a pacemaker before being discharged. Mr Frost said yesterday: Im eternally grateful she saved my life. I hope she gets better and suffers the least amount of trauma possible. 'Nicky was injured doing a job to protect the public. PC Vernon is in hospital with a collapsed lung, broken collarbone and shattered ribs In an emotional post on Facebook this week, PC Vernon wrote: Im just about hanging in there with the outpouring love and support from my family, friends and even strangers. Its humbling to receive such support and a constant reminder of the strength of that blue line. She added: For some reason its referred to as thin but it seems its made from something stronger than you can imagine. Just unbreakable. She urged fellow officers: Hold it for me until I get back. [June 12, 2020] AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc.'s Main Operating and U.S. Subsidiaries AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of "aa" of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited (MSI (News - Alert)) (Japan) and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Company Limited (ADI) (Japan). Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of "aa" of MSI's U.S. operating companies: Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company of America (MSIA), Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance USA Inc. (MSU), and MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. (MSIGS). These companies are domiciled in New York, NY. AM Best also has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of "a-" of Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance (China) Company Limited (ADIC) (China). The outlooks for all of the aforementioned Credit Ratings (ratings) are stable. These companies are owned ultimately by MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc. (MS&AD), a major non-life insurance group based in Japan. The ratings of MSI reflect the group's balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorises as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, favourable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The ratings of MSI have been extended to MSIA, MSU and MSIGS, as these companies hold a strategic role within the organisation as U.S. domestic insurers, and receive the benefit of strategic direction and explicit support provided through internal reinsurance. The ratings also reflect their strong risk-adjusted capitalisation and additional implicit support provided by the parent. Effective Jan. 1, 2015, MSIA, MSU and MSIGS operate under a pooling agreement. This further strengthens the relationship among the U.S.-based entities and vertically through the organisation. MSI's balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by risk-adjusted capitalisation that AM Best expects to remain at the strongest level, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). With a significantly large portion of its investments allocated in equity securities, MSI's risk-adjusted capitalisation is exposed to equity price risk in the event of market volatility. However, AM Best considers the company's capital buffers sufficient to absorb the risks associated with those investments. The rating also reflects the balance sheet strength assessment of strongest of MS&AD, which is supported by its high level of available capital, as well as high financial flexibility that enables good access to capital and the debt markets. MSI has a track record of strong operating performance, as demonstrated by a five-year average combined ratio of approximately 95%, excluding compulsory auto insurance. Overall underwriting results improved in fiscal-year 2019 (FY2019) compared with the prior year, mainly due to lower net domestic catastrophe incurred losses. Overseas business also contributed to the improved profitability in MSI's overall results. Prospectively, in the absence of major catastrophe events, AM Best expects that MSI's operating performance will remain at the strong level. MSI is a major non-life insurer in Japan and holds a strong and competitive position, with an approximate 20% share of its domestic market. The company also has a sizable overseas insurance book, which accounts for a material portion of premium revenue. Since FY2019, the company has embarked on a reorganisation of its overseas business that AM Best expects will bring efficiency to its cross-regional operatios and improve overall profitability in its overseas business. Negative rating actions could occur if there is a significant deterioration in MSI's operating profitability or an erosion of capital resulting from significant investment losses or large scale catastrophes. The ratings of ADI reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorises as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also consider ADI's strategic importance to MS&AD, as one of the two core operating entities. ADI's balance sheet strength assessment reflects the company's strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by BCAR, strong liquidity and good quality of capital. Partially offsetting these positive rating factors is the relatively high investment allocation in common stock, which exposes ADI's balance sheet to considerable equity price risk in the event of market volatility. However, AM Best believes the significant amount of adjusted capital held by ADI is sufficient to absorb this risk. As one of the top four major insurers in Japan's non-life market, ADI is mainly focused on its domestic market and has a relatively small overseas portfolio. The company's domestic non-life business benefits from its long-term business partnership with Nippon Life Insurance Company and Toyota Motor Corporation. However, the relatively small overseas book of business limits the company's growth potential due to low growth at home. ADI continued to experience premium growth during fiscal year 2019 mainly due to the strong sales in its fire and auto business. The company's net loss ratio also improved, mainly driven by lower net incurred natural catastrophe losses domestically. Investment performance continued to be positive and contributed to the overall solid operating results. Prospectively, AM Best expects that ADI's underwriting performance will revert to a strong level in the absence of major natural catastrophe events. Negative rating actions could occur for ADI if there is a significant deterioration in its operating profitability or an erosion of capital resulting from significant investment losses or large scale catastrophes. The ratings of ADIC reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorises as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect the strategic importance of the company to its parent, ADI, as a major contributor of overseas business profit and a key component of ADI's business expansion in China. ADIC's balance sheet strength is assessed as very strong, as measured by BCAR, supplemented by its good quality of capital with high liquidity and appropriate reinsurance programme. The company is a small non-life insurer in China, with a market share of less than 1%. ADIC underwrites mainly motor inward reinsurance business, which accounted for more than 90% of its revenue and underwriting profit over the past three years. There are concerns over ADIC's business profile as it faces potential product and channel concentration risk, given its current business structure. However, AM Best expects that the company's longstanding and close ties with its motor insurance partners will help it secure a stable stream of premium and underwriting income over time. Positive rating actions could occur for ADIC if it continues to demonstrate steadily improving underwriting and operating results while maintaining solid risk-adjusted capitalisation. Negative rating actions could occur if there is significant deterioration in ADIC's operating performance or a material decline in its risk-adjusted capitalisation. Negative rating actions could also occur if there is a reduced level of support from ADIC's parent. Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2020 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005445/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] WASHINGTON - U.S. Customs and Border Protection used emergency funding meant for migrant families and children to pay for dirt bikes, canine supplies, computer equipment and other enforcement related-expenditures, according to a report published Thursday by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Congress last June approved a $4.6 billion emergency funding bill to cope with an unprecedented influx of Central American families and children at the Mexico border that left U.S. agents overwhelmed and detention cells dangerously cramped. The supplemental bill included a line item for about $112 million in "consumables and medical care," but CBP used some of the money to pay for enforcement-related hardware and expenses that were not authorized, according to the GAO, the federal government's leading oversight agency. CBP spent some of the funds on motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, boats and other transportation equipment, as well as supplies and services for CBP's canine program, vaccines for CBP personnel, computer upgrades, printers and security camera systems, among other expenses, the report found. The GAO report did not indicate how much money was misused, but it said the expenditures were a violation of the law. "CBP did not provide any explanation as to how these items relate to the consumables and medical care line item appropriation," the report states. "Therefore, we conclude that CBP violated the purpose statute when it obligated the consumables and medical care line item appropriation for these purposes and should adjust its accounts." The crisis at the southern border reached a peak in the weeks before the supplemental was passed, when CBP detained and processed more than 144,000 unauthorized migrants in May 2019. The majority were family groups from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, and in most cases they were issued an appointment to appear in immigration court and released into the interior of the United States. Overcrowding and unsanitary conditions in CBP border stations grew dire, and the deaths of seven children in less than one year put additional pressure on lawmakers to provide the border agency with the emergency funds it was seeking. Once the bill was passed, conditions at the border rapidly improved, as border officials set up spacious temporary facilities with air conditioning, toys and games for children and ample food and medical supplies. Some lawmakers who voted against the emergency funding, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., argued at the time that the Trump administration would redirect the money to enforcement. Democrats were divided, but the bill passed both the Senate and House by a wide margin. "Congress provided this additional funding for the primary purpose of improving conditions for migrants at the border and ensuring migrants were receiving adequate health care after the deaths of multiple children in custody," Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement Thursday. "This callous disregard for the law is yet another example of this administration's continuing failure to carry out its duty to provide humane conditions and medical care for migrants in its care. CBP said in a statement Thursday that the report is "a legal opinion," rather than the result of a formal audit, and said the violations identified by the GAO were "technical in nature." "As the opinion notes, CBP charged a small subset of expenses in fiscal year 2019 to the incorrect account," the statement read. "We are working to itemize all such expenses, and correct our accounts as recommend by the GAO." The agency assured that "prompt remedial action will be taken." Andrew Meehan, a former Homeland Security official who was the spokesman for CBP during the crisis, said Border Patrol chiefs in the busiest sectors were under major financial strain and hard-pressed to find money before the emergency funding package was passed last June. "The sector chiefs were having to spend money on shower trailers, tens of thousands of consumables each day, and medical supplies that were well outside their resources," Meehan said. When flu season hit in the winter of 2018-2019, border agents were taking more than 60 trips to the hospital per day, he said. The GAO said it could not provide more details about the amount of humanitarian funding CBP used to pay for nonauthorized items and expenses, but the oversight agency said it is not finished with its probe. Chuck Young, a GAO spokesman, said the agency is conducting a separate ongoing audit report "looking at the extent to which CBP obligated and conducted oversight to funds from the emergency supplemental." Young said the GAO intends to issue a public version of the report "but we have to work through the concerns about the information that DHS has raised." During the 2019 fiscal year, U.S. border authorities detained nearly 1 million unauthorized migrants, the highest total in more than a decade. The number of border-crossers taken into custody has dropped more than 70 percent since then, the result of a wide-ranging crackdown by U.S. and Mexican authorities. Migration levels have fallen in the past two months to among the lowest levels on record, as the Trump administration has cited the coronavirus pandemic to suspend normal immigration proceedings and summarily "expel" migrants - including minors and asylum seekers - under the auspices of the public health emergency. EDMONTONOne of the countrys top RCMP officers has walked back comments he made earlier this week, saying Friday that he does believe Canadas national police service has a problem with systemic racism. Since saying Wednesday that he did not believe that to be the case sparking headlines amidst a national conversation about policing and race Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki said hes had many conversations with colleagues and community members. Much of that conversation has centred on racism, how its defined, and what it means to those affected, he told reporters at a news conference in Edmonton. While hed previously said he believed racism to be an issue in all aspects of society, if not a specific problem of the RCMP, he now said hed learned otherwise. These have been conversations that have challenged my perceptions and made it clear that systemic racism does exist in the RCMP. Its been a week of learning and understanding for me. The comments came a day after a video showing the arrest of Chief Allan Adam was made public, throwing fuel on the already raging national conversation about race and policing in Canada. Adam, a well known environmental advocate and chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan of northern Alberta, has accused the police of brutality after an interaction in March left him with a black eye, his face streaked with blood. Hes facing charges of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest, while the RCMP have said their members actions that night were reasonable. Zablocki declined to comment on Adams case on Friday, but said his new stance was unrelated to recent criticism of his comments and handling of race issues. I felt compelled to come out and express and communicate my feelings around this, as soon as I could, he said. Zablocki said hed reflected on the fact that his perception of racism came from a place of observation, rather than personal experience. He said hed spent a lot of time this week getting a better perspective. As I did some research and googling it, it just became clear in a multitude of terms from implicit and explicit bias, unconscious bias, individual racism, systemic racism, structural racism, he said. And I really needed to better understand systemic racism. He also acknowledged that the RCMP historically havent done everything right. Statement from Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam View document on Scribd In terms of future progress, he said that the RCMP needed to dig into its policies and procedures and make sure that they are inclusive and equitable. He also said hiring and training practices needed to be examined. Were going to challenge assumptions, were going to look for positive changes and positive ways to enhance our service delivery. For example, were just building a reconciliation strategy for the province for our division here in Alberta. But criticism of Alberta RCMPs handling of race is likely to smoulder. A spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Bill Blair called the officers action in the video a disturbing level of force. Meanwhile, the investigation into Adams allegations is under investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team. The chiefs lawyer has filed a motion for his charges to be stayed. Omar Mosleh is an Edmonton-based reporter covering inner-city issues, affordable housing and reconciliation for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @OmarMosleh Read more about: Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 16 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in past 24 hours, with three Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action, the press centre of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) has reported. "As a result of the enemy shelling attacks, two servicemen of the Joint Forces were wounded and another one sustained combat-related injuries in enemy shelling," the JFO staff said in its update on Facebook on Friday. Russian-led forces opened fire, employing proscribed 120mm and 82mm mortars, infantry fighting vehicles, grenade launchers of various types, UAVs, heavy machine guns, sniper rifles, and small arms. Ukrainian positions near the town of Maryinka, and the villages of Novomykhailivka, Hnutove, Novotroyitske, Chermalyk, Pavlopil, Orikhove, Khutir Vilny, Krymske, Novo-Oleksandrivka, and Luhanske came under attacks. WATERLOO REGION After nearly three months of isolation at home, hand sanitizer at-the-ready, distancing from everyone you see, COVID-19 fatigue is setting in. Many people are still adhering to public health guidelines, keeping a strict two-metre distance from others and donning a mask when that separation cant be met. But that resolve is starting to wear thin. I think people are getting tired of this whole thing, says Lisa Whitehead. The manager of The Millionaires Daughter on Victoria Street North pulls down her mask and backs up to speak about the shift shes seen over the past few months. Were not in shock anymore, she said. The numbers of people infected are going down, the province is opening up, and weather is bringing more people outside. Early on in the pandemic she used to watch the prime minister and premier give their daily briefings whenever she could, looking on in earnest to hear of any new developments. But its no longer new, she said, and without a direct connection to someone who actually has or has had the virus, the sense of urgency is fading. Standing at the back of the store, she said the business has a roadside sign that says customers must have a mask to enter. Most do, but not all. Its not a hard rule, she said. As places of worship reopen to 30 per cent capacity and parts of the province move into stage 2 of reopening, people arent treating COVID-19 with the same degree of concern as they once were. Earlier this week, Dr. Nicola Mercer, medical officer of health for the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit, made it mandatory for anyone entering businesses to be wearing a face covering. Children under two and anyone with health reasons would be exempt. Whitehead said this rule may help people take these precautions more seriously. She doesnt wear a mask everywhere she goes due to breathing concerns, but she always has one in her purse. Right next to the hand sanitizer. Also earlier this week, the acting medical officer of health for Waterloo Region, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, said health officials are always worried people will grow comfortable and start relaxing with the recommendations. Thats always a worry that people see the numbers go down, see the outbreaks go down and think, OK, were in the clear now, she said. This has already happened, for some. Chris Contonis, sales manager with Leisure Days RV dealership in Kitchener, said hes seen peoples concerns around the new coronavirus change with the weather. Hes had to remind people to follow public health precautions, and has received pushback from some customers. Once the weather got better, peoples perception completely changed, he said. We were seeing masks, gloves, all that stuff. Once the weather got better, its like COVID doesnt exist. Standing outside a FreshCo in Kitchener, Disha Srivastav praises the many shoppers who still maintain physical distancing in grocery stores. Shes been talking with family back in India and from what she hears from them, Canada is doing well at controlling the spread of this virus. But the urgency that kept people isolating at home in April has dissipated. Even she decided not to wear a mask in the store. Im not wearing a mask because Im tired of wearing a mask, she said. Putting one on for work everyday wears on you. Many people are now used to carrying around sanitizer and bringing a mask with them to stores, Whitehead said. Even if people grow tired of wearing a mask, it will be a long time people drop their guard completely, she said. Until we have a vaccine, I think its going to remain that way. tech2 News Staff NASA has chosen Astrobotic Technology Inc a space robotics company located in Pittsburgh to launch NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover or VIPER to the moon in late 2023. The $199.5 million contract between Astrobotics and NASA includes the price of the rocket to launch the mission and the lander that will land the rover on the moons South Pole. According to a report in The New York Times, the rover will be the latest in a series of robotic missions that NASA is financing as part of its renewed interest in the moon. NASA is seeking to go to the moon again and re-live their Apollo mission's glory days. However, they are also looking to create a more 'sustainable' presence on the earth's satellite. This water-seeking robot is supposed to help lay the foundations for future astronaut missions that will begin with the Artemis program in 2024. Astrobotic will be responsible for the delivery of VIPER to the moon, which will include integration with its Griffin lander, launched from Earth, and the landing on the Moon. This rover is part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) that began in 2018 and is part of a change in direction that NASA has undertaken. The agency provides private companies with resources and capital to develop the necessary technology for a mission. The companies, in turn, launch NASA's payloads and are encouraged to carry other payloads as well. NASA believes that this approach is less expensive for them and also gives private companies a chance to grow and establish their place in the space industry. Recently, SpaceX launched NASA astronauts, , Robert L. Behnken and Douglas G. Hurley, to the International Space Station. This was the first time that any human being has been launched to space by an organisation other than a state agency. The CLPS is similar to NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) contracts, Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contracts, and the Commercial Crew Program. The US space agency has 14 commercial vendors that can provide it with rockets, landers rovers, and other science experiments in order to complete the mission. Each mission is supposed to cover 'end-to-end commercial payload delivery services, including payload integration, mission operations, launch from Earth, and landing on the surface of the Moon.' NASA has three payloads scheduled to land on various parts of the moon starting from 2021 and Astrobotic will be making its first delivery of 11 payloads to Lacus Mortis, a larger crater on the near side of the Moon. "It is an enormous honour and responsibility to be chosen by NASA to deliver this mission of national importance, said Astrobotic CEO John Thornton in a press statement. Astrobotics lunar logistics services were created to open a new era on the Moon. Delivering VIPER to look for water, and setting the stage for the first human crew since Apollo, embodies our mission as a company. What is VIPER? VIPER is a solar-powered rover that will land on the moon sometime in 2023 and will stay there for a period of 100-Earth-days. According to a report in The Verge, the rover will land using Astrobotics Griffin lander that is 1.8 meters tall and 4.5 metres across. The rover weighs around 453.5 kgs and will have four science instruments onboard. It will cover 19.3 km and sample the soil on the south pole of the moon. This is where water-ice has been found in the past. India's Chandrayaan mission had a rover Pragyan that was supposed to roam this area as well to try and find the water-ice. Versions of VIPER's three water-hunting instruments will be sent to the Moon in earlier CLPS lander deliveries in 2021 and 2022 in order to test their performance. The rover will also have a drill to bore approximately 91 centimetres into the lunar surface. NASAs Associate Administrator for Science Thomas Zurbuchen said in a press statement, Were doing something thats never been done before testing the instruments on the Moon as the rover is being developed. VIPER and the many payloads we will send to the lunar surface in the next few years are going to help us realize the Moons vast scientific potential. VIPER's mission will include collecting data on the water-ice. It will be able to tell the location and concentration of ice on the moon's south pole. This will help NASA create what they are calling 'the first global water resource maps of the Moon.' The data collected will also help make informed decisions on the astronaut's landing sites for the Artemis mission and provide insights into the 'evolution of the Moon and the Earth-Moon system.' The Home Office claim it is Shamima Begum's own fault she was stripped of her British citizenship as the former ISIS bride runs up a 30,000 legal aid bill. Ms Begum believes her citizenship - revoked last year - should be restored because she cannot have a 'fair and effective appeal' against the Government's decision to strip her of it, the Court of Appeal heard today. But Sir James Eadie QC, representing the Home Office, said Ms Begum's inability to fully take part in the appeal was because she decided to leave Britain and join IS. Ms Begum has cost the taxpayer 14,500 already, but time in court and Home Office staff costs could have sent the figure skyrocketing, The Sun reports. Ms Begum, now 20, was one of three east London schoolgirls who travelled to Syria to join so-called Islamic State (IS) in February 2015, and lived under IS rule for more than three years. The Home Office claim it is Shamima Begum's own fault she was stripped of her British citizenship after she chose to leave the UK, travel to Syria and join IS. Pictured: Ms Begum last year It comes amid reports that the former ISIS bride (pictured) has run up a 30,000 legal aid bill in an attempt to return to the UK She was found, nine months pregnant, in a Syrian refugee camp in February last year, prompting then home secretary Sajid Javid to revoke her British citizenship later that month. Last year, Ms Begum took legal action against the Home Office at the High Court and the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), a specialist tribunal which hears challenges to decisions to remove someone's British citizenship on national security grounds. In February, SIAC ruled that the decision to revoke Ms Begum's British citizenship did not render her stateless, and was therefore lawful, as she was 'a citizen of Bangladesh by descent' at the time of the decision. Ms Begum, now 20, was one of three east London schoolgirls who travelled to Syria to join so-called Islamic State (IS) in February 2015, and lived under IS rule for more than three years. Pictured left to right: Amira Abase, Kadiza Sultana and Ms Begum at Gatwick Airport The tribunal also found that Ms Begum 'cannot play any meaningful part in her appeal and that, to that extent, the appeal will not be fair and effective', but ruled that 'it does not follow that her appeal succeeds'. Ms Begum's challenge to the Home Office's decision to refuse to allow her to enter the UK in order to effectively pursue her appeal was also rejected. Opening Ms Begum's case at a remote hearing on Thursday, Tom Hickman QC said the key issue in her appeal was whether the absence of 'a fair or effective means of challenging the decision to deprive her of her British citizenship' made the decision unlawful. He told the court: 'It is a basic principle of our law that executive decisions cannot stand where the requirements of natural justice are not complied with.' Ms Begum (left) had her citizenship revoked but says it should be restored as she can't have a 'fair and effective appeal'. Sir James Eadie QC (right), representing the Home Office, said Ms Begum's inability to fully take part in the appeal was because she decided to leave Britain and join IS Mr Hickman said that 'in the present case there is a manifest breach of natural justice', and that Ms Begum's appeal against the deprivation of her citizenship should be allowed because her appeal 'cannot be pursued in a manner that satisfies even minimum requirements of fair procedure'. He also said that Mr Javid had been informed that Ms Begum could not have a fair or effective appeal when he took the decision to revoke her British citizenship. Mr Hickman said Ms Begum's case was 'the first case in which SIAC has held that an appellant cannot have a fair and effective appeal'. He added that, nonetheless, SIAC 'rejected the appellant's claim for leave to enter the country' to pursue her challenge to the decision to revoke her British citizenship and had 'suggested ... that the appellant's appeal might have to be stayed indefinitely or even struck out altogether'. 'In other words,' Mr Hickman said, 'the consequence of the appellant not being able to have a fair and effective appeal means that the Secretary of State's decision stands indefinitely and possibly forever without there ever having been a judicial decision on the merits (of Ms Begum's appeal). 'That, we say, piles unfairness upon unfairness and is wrong in law.' Kadiza Sultana (left) and Amira Abase (right), then 16 and 15 respectively, and Ms Begum (centre) boarded a flight from Gatwick Airport to Istanbul, Turkey, on February 17 2015, before making their way to Raqqa in Syria Mr Hickman pointed out that Ms Begum, who remains in the al-Roj camp in Syria, was only 15 when she left the UK, saying: 'She had not even taken her GCSE exams.' He added: 'The only things that are clear are that Shamima Begum was a child when she left the UK and had been influenced to do so.' Sir James Eadie QC said in written submissions: 'The fact that the appellant could not fully engage with the statutory appeal procedure was a result of her decision to leave the UK, travel to Syria against Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice and align with ISIL. 'This led to her being held in conditions akin to detention in a foreign state at the hands of a third party, the Syrian Defence Force. 'It was not the result of any action by the Secretary of State and the deprivation decision did not have any causative impact on the appellant in this respect.' Sir James added that Ms Begum had been able to speak to her lawyers, and argued that 'the fact that it might not be possible to mirror the level of access to legal advice that would be available if someone were at liberty in the UK does not mean the proceedings are unfair'. Ms Begum was one of three schoolgirls from Bethnal Green Academy who left their homes and families to join IS, shortly after Sharmeena Begum - who is no relation - travelled to Syria in December 2014. Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase, then 16 and 15 respectively, and Ms Begum boarded a flight from Gatwick Airport to Istanbul, Turkey, on February 17 2015, before making their way to Raqqa in Syria. Ms Begum claims she married Dutch convert Yago Riedijk 10 days after arriving in IS territory, with all three of her schoolfriends also reportedly marrying foreign IS fighters. She told The Times last February that she left Raqqa in January 2017 with her husband but her children, a one-year-old girl and a three-month-old boy, had both since died. Her third child died shortly after he was born. The two-day hearing before Lord Justice Flaux, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Singh is being live-streamed on the judiciary's YouTube channel, and it is expected that the Court of Appeal will reserve its judgement to a later date. Ryanair, British Airways and easyJet have launched legal action against the British Governments flawed 14-day quarantine policy. The airlines announced they have asked for a judicial review to be heard as soon as possible, claiming the measures introduced this week will have a devastating effect on British tourism and the wider economy. They said they have seen no evidence of when proposed air bridges between the UK and other countries will be implemented. Instead, they want the Government to re-adopt the policy it introduced on March 10, which saw passengers from countries deemed at high risk of coronavirus infection being ordered to self-isolate on arrival in the UK. The three airlines said in a joint statement: This would be the most practical and effective solution, and enables civil servants to focus on other, more significant issues arising from the pandemic while bringing the UK in line with much of Europe which is opening its borders mid-June. Among the claims made by the airlines in their legal challenge to the quarantine are: The guidelines are more stringent than those applied to people confirmed to have Covid-19; There was no consultation on scientific evidence provided for such a severe policy; Foreigners commuting weekly to the UK are exempt. Most international arrivals into the UK have been required to enter a 14-day quarantine since Monday. All passengers bar a handful of exemptions have to fill out an online locator form giving their contact and travel details, as well as the address of where they will isolate. People who fail to comply can be fined 1,000 in England, and police are allowed to use reasonable force to make sure they follow the rules. The UK's Border Force officers are carrying out checks on arrivals and can refuse entry to a non-resident foreign national who refuses to comply with the regulations. Failure to complete the locator form is punishable by a 100 fixed penalty notice. In addition to complaints from the travel industry, the scheme has been met with strong criticism from opposition parties and some Conservative MPs. Downing Street said it wouldnt comment on any ongoing legal matters. A spokesman for the British Prime Minister said: I would emphasise that we have obviously brought these quarantine rules into place to protect public health and ensure we dont import the virus as cases in the community reduce. Britain's Home Secretary Priti Patel has insisted the policy can help stop a devastating second wave of coronavirus. In a Mid-day's chat show, Sit With Hitlist, Anurag Kashyap shared some unknown facts about his life journey before becoming a popular director. Did you know that during his college days, Anurag wanted to be an actor? And we're sure you will be even more surprised to know that Shah Rukh Khan had once made an omelette for Kashyap, when the latter visited him at his bungalow, Mannat. While recalling those days, Anurag said, "It was 1992. Imtiaz was in [Delhi's] Hindu College. I had just discovered theatre, and was told that you need to get pictures clicked, if you want work. I did, after collecting Rs 3000, which was a big sum then. And I started doing a lot of acting on stage, and I did some films." He further added, "Also, what Imtiaz did not tell you was one of the first films that I did as the lead-actor, he was my co-star. The only copy of the film is with Zee, where it had premiered on January 26, 1994. We don't talk about it. Imtiaz will kill me. If you ever pull out a copy from the Zee library, he will come after you too!" While recalling his random meet with Shah Rukh Khan at Mannat, Anurag revealed, "I was hungry and I walked into his house, using our college connection [both went to Hansraj in Delhi]. I remember him feeding me. He only knew how to make omelette." The Gangs of Wasseypur director also told a story about his initial days in the industry, and revealed how Mahesh Bhatt once supported him economically, so that he could pay his rent. Anurag Kashyap Says It Was 'Painfully Difficult' To Work With Abhay Deol During Dev D Kashyap said, "Oh, one of my favourite stories is about Mahesh Bhatt. He happened to me, right before Ram Gopal Varma. He got me to write films. And Mukesh Bhatt was very miserly with money. I was struggling for rent. Pooja Bhatt was the nicest and kindest; I would tell her to talk to her dad." "Then I just walked up to [Mahesh] Bhatt saab once and said that I'd rather be a carpenter than work in his office. With his brother [Mukesh] around, he didn't say a word. When I was leaving, he came down, said, 'Don't ever change.' And he put Rs 10,000 in my hand. That was big money in 1994-1995." Ryanair has branded Government guidelines urging airline passengers to check in all their luggage as rubbish (Brian Lawless/PA) Ryanair has branded UK Government guidelines urging airline passengers to check in all their luggage as rubbish. The carrier said it would continue to recommend its customers minimise checked in luggage, despite the Department for Transport (DfT) stating that travellers are strongly encouraged to check in baggage to reduce the spread of Covid-19. Checked bags have to be handled to several different airport workers whereas only the passenger touches their hand luggage, Ryanair stated. Stop issuing rubbish advice to passengers about baggage Ryanair The DfT guidance claims reducing the amount of hand luggage taken on board planes will speed up boarding and disembarking, and minimise the risk of transmission. But Ryanair insisted its management of hand luggage means the boarding process speed is not affected. An airline spokeswoman said: In attempting to minimise physical contact during the travel process, particularly on short haul flights, Ryanair recommends passengers to minimise checked in bags and, where possible, confine themselves to one or two carry-on bags. The UK DfT should stop issuing rubbish advice to passengers about baggage and instead focus their efforts on scrapping the UKs useless visitor quarantine which the UK Home Office now admit cannot be implemented, supervised or policed effectively. EasyJet is asking passengers to try and minimise their hand luggage and telling them they will need to put it into overhead lockers without the assistance of cabin crew. Airlines generally charge additional fees for putting luggage in the hold. Checking in a 15kg bag for an easyJet flight from Gatwick to Glasgow on Monday costs an additional 23.99. British Airways is charging 25 for putting a 23kg bag in the hold for passengers with the cheapest fare on a flight from Heathrow to the same destination on the same date. The DfT guidance urged airlines to use incentive policies to minimise hand baggage. Other advice for passengers includes wearing face coverings in airports and remaining seated as much as possible during flights. Airlines are being encouraged to extensively clean aircraft, increase the availability of hand-washing and hand sanitiser, and reduce face-to-face interactions between staff and passengers. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the guidance is a positive next step towards ensuring a safer and more sustainable aviation sector. He added: We are taking the necessary steps to ensure a framework is in place for the aviation industry to bounce back when it is safe for restrictions on travel to be lifted. EasyJet is resuming its flying programme on Monday. If you are passing through Heathrow to complete essential travel, please follow our advice: Visit https://t.co/cCOklCwgRX Stay 2 metres apart if possible Wear a face covering at the airport Wash hands frequently throughout your journey pic.twitter.com/pJfGHuZ4Hp Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) June 10, 2020 British Airways and Ryanair, which have continued to operate a skeleton schedule during the pandemic, will ramp up their operations next month. International arrivals into the UK have been required to enter a 14-day quarantine since Monday. A leaked Home Office document seen by The Daily Telegraph reportedly said there was no method for officials to ensure a persons details are genuine. Home Secretary Priti insisted the measure can help stop a devastating second wave of coronavirus. Sign up for our free travel newsletter! Like what you're reading? Subscribe to 'Travel Insider', our free travel newsletter written by award-winning Travel Editor, Pol O Conghaile. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has asked the former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha to get ready for his days in court while revealing that about N7.9bn belonging to the state has been seized from him. According to the Zonal head of the anti-graft agency, Usman Imam who made this known on Thursday, the commission has returned over N5.7bn to various administrations in Imo to pay salaries and pensions of workers. He said: I started the Imo state case in Enugu and upon my deployment to this zone, the investigations of corruption allegations against the former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, was transferred from the Enugu zone to Port Harcourt for further investigations. Read Also: N40bn Scandal : I Didnt Ask EFCC To Prosecute Akpabio, Says Omo-Agege Advertisement Within the period, the commission succeeded in freezing about in different accounts. All the monies that were released to Imo State government were from the N7.9bn recovered from Okorocha. The monies were released in batches. N2.7bn was released in March for salaries. In the PDP government of Emeka Ihedioha, excess of N2.5bn upon series of writings and our insistence of monitoring it was released to pay salaries and pensions because they were monies recovered from the state so it has to go back to the state. Then the government of Emeka left and this government came, we had a remnant of the money in excess of N2bn. We were able to release N514milion just last month because excess of about N1.8bn is encumbered with a court process. Contractors went to court and targeted the funds. The process is lingering. They still have excess of N1.8bn that is not released. The Supreme Court on Friday slammed Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government for its handling of COVID-19 patients' dead bodies terming it "very sorry state of affairs". The apex court also criticised Delhi government over drop in coronavirus testing at a time when cases are rising sharply in the national capital. The court issued a notice to LNJP Hospital in Delhi and said, "There is a problem in Delhi, testing has gone down from 7,000 to 5,000 per day. Why has your testing gone down? Tell us why testing numbers are reducing in Delhi." "We have also noticed that the Delhi government itself has admitted that the number of tests has gone down in June as compared to the month of May," the court said. Also Read: Delhi MCD official puts coronavirus deaths at 2,098, double of Delhi govt's figure Hearing a plea filed related to mishandling of coronavirus affected dead bodies, the apex court said the situation in Delhi is "horrendous, horrific and pathetic" with respect to the handling of COVID-19 patients and that they are being treated "worse than animals". A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, S.K. Kaul and M.R. Shah further stated that government hospitals in Delhi are not properly dealing with bodies of deceased COVID-19 victims, adding that they are not even informing family members about deaths on some occasions. The court also asked the government why some patients were not getting admission in hospitals despite the government app showing the availability of beds. Also Read: 'No extension of Delhi lockdown,' says health minister amid spike in coronavirus cases "Reports also show that patients are not able to get admitted to the hospital whereas data shows a large number of beds remain vacant. The state is not only duty-bound to provide beds but also adequate infrastructure, manpower and staff to attend to the patients," the SC bench said. Besides Delhi, the Supreme Court also pulled up Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu over the condition of government hospitals in their respective states. The apex court seeks report from four states regarding the same and will hear the matter again on June 17. Delhi, the third-most affected from coronavirus crisis, has 34,687 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and of these, 1,085 have died. This also includes 20,871 active cases, 12,731 recoveries. On Thursday, the national capital reported its highest spike in coronavirus cases with 1,877 new cases. Gabrielle Union has optioned the television rights to George M. Johnson's best-selling memoir All Boys Aren't Blue. The 47-year-old actress and producer picked up the book through her I'll Have Another Productions company to develop at Sony Pictures Television, via Deadline. Union and her I'll Have Another Productions company is under a first-look deal with Sony TV, where she has projects in development at HBO Max, Quibi and Apple. Producer: Gabrielle Union has optioned the television rights to George M. Johnson's best-selling memoir All Boys Aren't Blue All Boys Aren't Blue was published April 28 through Macmillan, where Johnson, a journalist and LGBTQ+ activist, describes his childhood in Plainfield, New Jersey. The book, which is billed as a 'memoir-manifesto' also covers his college years at a historically black college in Virginia. The memoir explores growing up black and queer, with the title touching on the notion that blue is a color for boys, but also that he grew up in a 'blue' household because his dad was a cop. Book: All Boys Aren't Blue was published April 28 through Macmillan, where Johnson, a journalist and LGBTQ+ activist, describes his childhood in Plainfield, New Jersey 'I wrote this memoir and shared these stories because of the importance and need to center black stories from the black perspective,' Johnson told Deadline. 'I didnt have stories like these growing up and honestly I dont have many now so I knew I needed to do my part to make sure the next generation of black queer children had something they could relate to and connect with,' he added. 'There are days I look at TV and film and still dont see myself represented. So, my ultimate goal was providing the story I didnt have but always needed and to be the vessel so that so many can feel seen and heard,' he concluded. Author: 'I wrote this memoir and shared these stories because of the importance and need to center black stories from the black perspective,' Johnson told Deadline He added that Union is, 'a champion in the fight for supporting marginalized communities of color,' while also, 'lifting every voice who hasn't had the opportunity to be heard.' Johnson gave Union a shout-out on Instagram a few months back, after she recommended the book, and the actress-producer revealed the story is personal to her, raising a queer identifying daughter. 'Queer black existence has been here forever yet rarely has that experience been shown in literature or film and television,' Union began. Shout-out: Johnson gave Union a shout-out on Instagram a few months back, after she recommended the book, and the actress-producer revealed the story is personal to her, raising a queer identifying daughter 'Being a parent to a queer identifying daughter has given me the platform to make sure that these stories are being told in a truthful and authentic way and Georges memoir gives you the blueprint for that and more,' she added. 'What I love about this book is that it not only offers a space for queer kids of color to be seen and heard but it also offers those who see themselves outside of that standpoint to be held accountable and help them better understand what it takes to truly have acceptance with someone who is considered other,' Union concluded. Union currently stars on L.A.'s Finest, which had its Season 2 premiere pushed by Spectrum in the wake of protests surrounding the death of George Floyd. Parent: 'Being a parent to a queer identifying daughter has given me the platform to make sure that these stories are being told in a truthful and authentic way and Georges memoir gives you the blueprint for that and more,' she added Chinese leader Xi Jinping and premier Li Keqiang arrived at the closing session of the partys rubber stamp legislatures congress in Beijing on May 28, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) Political Infighting on Display as Chinese Leader and Premier Give Conflicting Comments on State of Economy During a recent inspection tour of villages in the region of Ningxia, Chinese leader Xi Jinping emphasized his goal for China to become a moderately prosperous society. This catchphrase was coined soon after he took power in 2012, and is his flagship economic policy. Xi also penned a May 31 article in Qiushi, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s official magazine, that China is advancing toward achieving that goal, with 400 million people in the middle class. His standard for middle class was: an annual household income of 100,000 to 500,000 yuan ($14,160-$70,810). But in China, multi-generational households living under one roof are not uncommon. Meanwhile, Chinese premier Li Keqiang has recently highlighted the unemployment and poverty crisis in the country, which have been exacerbated by the CCP virus pandemic. Li said during a meeting of Chinas rubber-stamp legislature on May 28 that 600 million Chinese only earn 1,000 yuan ($140) per month, which is not enough to pay for monthly rent on a one-bedroom apartment in a mid-sized Chinese city. Li then promoted the idea of setting up a street vendor economy to alleviate the rising unemployment as a result of the pandemic. On June 1, Li again said at an economic seminar in Qingdao city: The challenges that [China] is facing is unprecedentedly difficult. Li emphasized that hundreds of millions of Chinese people need financial support. After Lis speeches, state-run media first promoted the street vendor economy, but began running articles criticizing the idea on June 5. Since then, each provincial and city government delivered conflicting information on whether or not street vendors would be allowed to sell their wares. Observers have interpreted the openly contradictory messaging of late as an indication of the power struggle between Xis political faction and Lis. Xi and Li fighting with each other in public certainly made it difficult for lower-ranking officials to position themselves, said U.S.-based China affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan. Infighting Goes Public Frank Tian Xie, business professor at the University of South Carolina Aiken, also read Lis comments as a direct rebuke of Xi. It shows that Chinese Communist Party senior officials hold different opinions and struggle with each other, Xie said in an interview. U.S.-based commentator Jiang Feng said on his YouTube show that Lis comment about 600 million people living on a monthly income of less than 1,000 yuan was a slap in the face of Xi Jinping. Xi said China would realize a moderately prosperous society in 2020. Tang analyzed that because Li is the Partys top official on economic policy, he would take the blame for the countrys economic woes. As Chinas economy continues to go downhill, Tang said Li had no choice but to admit to Chinese citizens that the situation was serious. Obviously, Li doesnt want to take the responsibility of lying to the public. This is the key reason why Li announced the existence of such a large number of poor people in China, Tang said. Chinese Economy He Junjiao, a Chinese economist based in Hunan Province, told the Chinese-language Epoch Times that Chinese economy is in a critical situation, and even the street vendor economy cant save it. If a country relies on the street vendor economy to support peoples livelihood, the country is on the edge of bankruptcy Behind Lis street vendor economy is mass unemployment, He said. The Chinese regime, in desperation, is calling on people to become small-time entrepreneurs. Otherwise they will starve, or even riot if they have nothing to eat, He said. Beijing Normal University conducted a recent survey that shed more light on Chinese peoples average incomes. Shanghai-based Chinese magazine Caixin reported on June 3 that the university made estimates after surveying 70,000 people. The monthly income of 547 million Chinese people, which is 39.1 percent of the population, is less than 1,000 yuan. 52.5 million Chinese peoples monthly income is between 1,000 to 1,090 yuan ($154). That means 42.85 percent of Chinese population earned less than 1,090 yuan every month, according to the report. Among those people, 5.46 million Chinese have no income; 216 million Chinese earn less than 500 yuan ($70) every month; and another 200 million Chineses monthly income is lower than 800 yuan ($113). The chairman of China Fuyao Glass, a multinational auto glass manufacturer, once told Chinese media that China has less than 300 million people who have the luxury to buy non-essential products. According to the latest data released by Chinas National Statistics Bureau, the median disposable income was 26,523 yuan ($3,753) for the year 2019. Chinese media noted that this amount of money could only support basic living costs in China. Cuddling your pet dog or cat could give you coronavirus, Government scientists have warned. An official report by the UKs top vet said household pets may carry the virus on their fur, which risks spreading the disease from person to person. It said: Close contact such as cuddling, grooming, feeding and allowing animals to share food could all allow the transfer of virus. This means that if one member of a household has the virus, the pet could then pass it on to another family member. An official report by the UKs top vet said household pets may carry the virus on their fur, which risks spreading the disease from person to person. Pictured: Stock photo of a woman stroking her pet cat The document, prepared by the UKs Chief Veterinary Officer, was considered on April 30 at a meeting of the Governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). The report warned that the virus could survive on pet fur, meaning there is a plausible pathway that the animal may act as a fomite [infectious object] for at least a few hours and transfer virus to others in the household. The document said that dogs and cats who have been in contact with a coronavirus patient pose a high risk for people with underlying conditions such as cancer of diabetes. It advised pet owners who have symptoms to prevent their dog or cat from coming into contact with susceptible humans. It said: We consider the overall risk of such an animal being present in the household to be high, where there are people with underlying health problems or poor immune systems, but otherwise would be medium. Any risk management procedures when considering the presence of a pet companion animal in the household should ensure that the companion animal remains controlled to prevent contact with susceptible humans, particularly taking account of underlying health problems, such as diabetes, heart conditions, respiratory conditions, cancer or anyone with a poor immune system. The report warned that the virus could survive on pet fur, meaning there is a plausible pathway that the animal may act as a fomite [infectious object] for at least a few hours and transfer virus to others in the household. Pictured: Stock photo of a man cuddling his pet dog However Professor James Wood, Head of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge, yesterday insisted it was very unlikely that owners could get coronavirus from their pets. He said: There is no reason for vulnerable people to stop cuddling their dog or cat. Everyone should maintain good hygienic standards with their pets and wash their hands across the day, as is generally advised, to avoid the risks of them contaminating themselves. Professor Wood added that the risk to animals was low: Despite millions of people having had COVID19, the numbers of pets found to be ill or infected is still tiny. Put simply, our pet dogs and cats can catch COVID19 from us, when they are living with us, but only do on very rare occasions. The SAGE document referred to cases of pets testing positive for coronavirus, but said there was a low risk of infected pets passing it on to humans. It said two dogs, a 17 year old Pomeranian and a German Shepherd living Hong Kong, repeatedly tested positive for coronavirus, adding that a cat from Belgium had also tested positive. One hundred fifty-five years after the end of the Civil War, a sculpture of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, was toppled in the Virginia city that American secessionists called their capital. In Alabama, a statue of Robert E. Lee, the Confederacy's most honored general, was knocked over in front of a Montgomery high school that bears his name. In a blitz that burst out of the anti-police-brutality movement, protesters this month have vandalized and removed dozens of monuments to Confederate politicians and soldiers. Across the South - from Virginia, where the Democratic governor embraced the removal of symbols that many whites once considered sacred, to Alabama, where Republicans lawmakers recently made it illegal to relocate or remove any Confederate memorials - dramatic scenes of destruction recalled the fall of the Soviet Union, when crowds tore down statues of Lenin, Stalin and other icons of totalitarianism. This country's seemingly eternal conflict - born in slavery and kept alive through a century and a half of battles over race, civil rights and American identity - has flared once more, focusing yet again on the symbols of the only war ever fought in the United States, a war between brothers. It took less than two weeks for the grass-roots response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who was asphyxiated when a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into his neck, to morph from peaceful protests, bouts of burning and looting and nationwide demands for change of police behavior into a concerted attack on symbols of the Confederacy. But that shift is now plain to see in places large and small, in numbers well beyond similar actions that followed the 2015 mass murder at a black church in Charleston, S.C., and the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va. "It does look like there's critical mass now and maybe people are listening in a way they didn't before," said Karen Cox, a historian at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte who is writing a book on Confederate monuments. But advocates for removing the statues and for maintaining them agreed that the wave of attacks is unlikely to be the final battle over symbols of the Confederacy. "This isn't the end," Cox said. "There's over 700 of these monuments left. And I can't say this is a unique situation. There's a long history since the civil rights movement of actions against the monuments, especially after the Charleston massacre and after Charlottesville. This is the same exact debate we've seen since the end of the Civil War, and we still have the same national divide over immigration and race and what kind of South we will have." Even as this extraordinary wave of topplings and defacings of statues continues, more Confederate monuments are being built - more than 30 in the past two decades, Cox said - and at least seven Southern states have passed laws in recent years making it tougher to get rid of existing statues. Alabama's 2017 law, for example, prohibits "relocation, removal, alteration, renaming or disturbing" monuments that have been standing for more than 40 years. The battle lines couldn't be more familiar. In Portsmouth, Va., on Wednesday night, after the City Council delayed a decision to remove a Confederate monument, protesters used ropes and bricks, bolt cutters and hammers to behead and tear down four statues. A brass band played. One man was seriously injured when a piece of statuary fell on him. "I'm so happy that I'm alive to see it come down and to see black people take it down - not the city, not your mayor, nobody important," said a black woman who was interviewed at the monument by Norfolk TV station WVEC. "Black people are taking down this hate." But defenders of the monuments have not budged. "You can't satisfy some people," said Samuel Mitcham, the heritage operations historian for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, who wrote a book, "It Wasn't About Slavery," arguing that the South left the Union for strictly economic reasons. "These monuments belong to our history. The only way we can come together is with tolerance, but Black Lives Matters isn't very tolerant." Mitcham, like many who believe the monuments should remain in honored places such as town squares, school entrances and state capitols, maintains that the artworks are "Southern heritage. We can't agree with some of the things that were done back then, but that's true of all history. They were put up because the widows and orphans of the Confederate veterans loved their husbands and fathers. It wasn't about hatred." Most of the Confederate statues that dot the Southern landscape were erected, however, not in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, but half a century later. The Southern women's groups that paid for most of the statues in the early 20th century said they wanted a place to honor their fallen loved ones, but the groups that paid for the monuments sought to send a message at a time when they were pushing for - and winning - Jim Crow laws to codify racial segregation. Many Southern towns bought cheap zinc statues from the Monumental Bronze Co. in Bridgeport, Conn. The company offered representations of Civil War soldiers, Union or Confederate, whichever the customer preferred, for $450. The United Daughters of the Confederacy raised the money to fund an unprecedented monument boom. "The white Southerners will always say this is about heritage, and the black Southerners will always say that the monuments are an insult," said Cox, the historian, who has titled her forthcoming book on the subject "No Common Ground." Frederick Douglass, the escaped slave who went on write some of the most important narratives of American bondage, said in 1870 that tributes to Confederate warriors "will prove monuments of folly" amounting to "a needless record of stupidity and wrong." But the presence of many whites in the crowds that attacked statues this week, and the decision by NASCAR to ban Confederate symbols from its races and property, has led some supporters of the protests to think that a corner has been turned, that a consensus is developing across racial lines that the icons must go. In Jacksonville, Fla., Mayor Lenny Curry this week ordered the removal of all 11 Confederate monuments and markers in the city, and at the University of Alabama, the board of trustees approved removal of three plaques honoring students who served in the Confederate military. And in Bentonville, Ark., the state division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy said it would move a monument of a Confederate soldier from the town square to a private park. But even after his defense secretary said he'd consider renaming military bases that honor Confederate military leaders, and after the Marines announced a ban on Confederate symbols in public spaces at its facilities, President Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out against such re-examinations of how history is told. "My Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations," Trump tweeted. "Our history as the Greatest Nation in the World will not be tampered with. Respect our Military!" However thorough this wave of removals turns out to be, historians warned of a possible backlash in the coming months. More than 100 Confederate memorials were taken down after the Charleston church attack, but in the years that followed, several Southern states tightened restrictions on such removals. South Carolina added a requirement that two-thirds of its legislators approve any removal of a Confederate monument. North Carolina gave its legislature control over "objects of remembrance." And Virginia made it illegal to "disturb" war monuments. But later, after a Democratic majority won control of the state's legislature, Virginia passed a law that takes effect next month allowing localities to make their own decisions about memorials. A judge in Richmond on Monday temporarily blocked Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, from relocating a prominent statue of Lee away from the city's landmark Monument Avenue. The judge made his decision in a lawsuit filed by the great-grandson of two men who signed an 1890 deed that required the state to keep the statue and its site "perpetually sacred" and to "affectionately protect it." In the end, these battles are not as much about law as about who owns history. In Birmingham, despite Alabama's new law prohibiting removal of the monuments, protesters tried but failed to tear down a Confederate obelisk, but Mayor Randall Woodfin, a Democrat, stepped in and had city workers take down the 50-foot-high memorial. That led the state's attorney general to file suit against the mayor, saying that the city had violated the Alabama law. Some battles over monuments will be resolved in courtrooms, some in state capitols, some at the ballot box. This week, they are being resolved on the streets. By Peter Roff The future of the United States Postal Service isn't really in President Donald Trump's hands, despite what his critics are saying. The service is hemorrhaging money. The COVID crisis has imposed demands on it that may be unprecedented. And Congress may eventually need to provide some emergency assistance for it to survive. The one person who really counts is Louis Dejoy, the North Carolina businessman Trump recently named (and whom the postal Board of Governors unanimously approved) to be the next Postmaster General. Critics have derided Dejoy as nothing but an influential GOP fundraiser and Trump supporter named to the job to carry the president's water. That's unfair. He's a successful entrepreneur who in 1983 started a company, New Breed Logistics, which brought him into collaboration with the Postal Service as well as Boeing, Disney, and other well-known U.S. companies needing supply chain logistics, program management, and transportation support. After New Breed was acquired by Connecticut-based XPO Logistics for more than $600 million, Dejoy became CEO of its supply chain business and, after he retired in 2015, a member of the board of the parent company. Clearly, he knows a thing or two about shipping, packaging, and the other functions that are the core business of the Postal Service. He's only the fifth person from outside the Postal Service chosen to lead it since 1971 when it was spun off as a quasi-private corporation. His experience in private business should be a tremendous asset in helping right a ship afloat on a sea of red ink. Hopefully, he will be of independent mind and push back against Trump's instant call to triple, quadruple, or quintuple the price the post office charges to ship packages. It's one of few parts of the USPS that makes any money according to some estimates it now accounts for over $8 billion in net annual revenue because it competes effectively with private shippers. Trump's plan to charge more to get more would work if the package service functioned like first-class mail, over which the Postal Service has a monopoly. It doesn't, so raising package delivery prices will not work as he hopes. The environment is highly competitive, meaning one vendor's price increases will generally drive customers to other vendors who do the same thing, but cheaper. What the President wants will add to the post office's operating debt, not pay it down. As an experienced, successful businessman, Dejoy should be able to easily comprehend this. The question is whether he can resist the political pressure coming from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue once he takes over on June 15. None of this is an argument against postal reform. The USPS is in bad trouble, has been for years, and can't make up its debt just by raising the price of stamps. Serious changes are needed, the kind which postmasters general coming from inside the service probably reject instinctively. If Congress is to give the Postal Service the money House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others say is needed to see it through the end of the year, reform is in order. Handing over a blank check without insisting things be done differently would just be putting off the inevitable. Postal reform legislation is unlikely in the middle of the COVID crisis, but there are steps Dejoy can take that Congress, the Board of Governors, and the American taxpayers would probably endorse enthusiastically. The first would be to announce a hiring freeze a tactic common in private business when annual revenue looks to be less than expenses. The second would be to order a thorough audit of USPS owned and leased real estate in preparation for selling, subdividing, and surrendering space that is no longer needed. The third would be to embark on a program to expand third-party relationships in midstream logistics and processing which, remember, is the industry in which the future Postmaster General proved himself to be quite adept. The USPS doesn't need to keep doing everything it does. It doesn't need to keep losing money. It doesn't need to be a living synonym for waste, sloth, and mismanagement. And it doesn't need to keep getting bigger while its assets and potential pool of clients get smaller. What it does need to do is find a pathway to profitability. That will only come from focusing on core functions growing out of its universal service obligation. The sooner Louis Dejoy starts down that road, the better things will be. Peter Roff (RoffColumns@gmail.com) is a senior fellow at Frontiers of Freedom and a former U.S. News and World Report contributing editor who appears regularly as a commentator on the One America News network. His article was distributed by Cagle Cartoons Inc. Manila (CNN Philippines Life) Hundreds have gathered today at the University of the Philippines Dilimans University Avenue for this years Independence Day protest. Bringing balloons, paper hats, and other party paraphernalia to the venue, protesters have called the rally a Grand Mananita, a jab at the controversial birthday feast organized for Metro Manila Police Chief Debold Sinas. This is after the suggestion of several social media users, including Senator Kiko Pangilinan who tweeted that calling the gathering a mananita would avoid arrests. Celebrities such as Janine Gutierrez and Vance Larena took part in the protest alongside various groups from across Metro Manila. Artist and activist Mae Paner, popularly known as Juana Change, even shaved her head to channel the character of Sinas, holding long-stemmed roses as she arrived at the venue. Similarly to previous protests earlier this month, rallyists continued to observe social distancing, with organizers placing markers along the avenue and making sure that the program does not go beyond noon, according to a tweet by Bayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes, Jr. Volunteer doctors and nurses, as well as lawyers, were also deployed. Here are scenes from the protests. Photo by JL JAVIER Photo by JL JAVIER Photo by JL JAVIER Photo by JL JAVIER Photo by JL JAVIER Photo by JL JAVIER Photo by JL JAVIER Photo by JL JAVIER Photo by JL JAVIER Photo by JL JAVIER Photo by JL JAVIER Wexford County Council has announced that it is about begin a public consultation process on the proposed N25 Rosslare Europort Access Road Scheme. The consultation period will run from Monday June 15 to Monday June 29 offering members of the public an opportunity to have their say and to contribute to the overall development of the scheme. Wexford County Council is looking to improve access to Rosslare Europort from the N25 National Primary Road, to enhance road safety and facilitate port operations and improvements to Rosslare Harbour. Following a comprehensive feasibility and constraints study, three scheme options are being considered. Wexford County Council is now giving local residents and the general public an opportunity to provide feedback, comments, and observations to the project team on the constraints study and proposed road options. Information leaflets are being distributed to almost 700 homes in the vicinity of Rosslare Harbour and members of the public will have an opportunity to submit their observations before the close of business on Monday, June 29. The Council's Director of Roads and Transportation Services, Eamonn Hore said Rosslare Europort is the State's largest passenger port and the fourth largest container port in terms of overall tonnage. 'Significant growth is forecast in the coming years which combined with the potential impacts of Brexit, will further increase the Port's strategic importance for trade, business and tourism', he said. 'Such growth will bring economic benefits not just to Wexford, but across the South East region and nationally. It is essential that the port's access infrastructure can facilitate this future growth in order to build resilient trade links with Ireland's EU partner states and the UK'. Mr. Hore said the Council wants to hear the views of the public on the proposed road scheme options. 'with the current restrictiions on large gatherings due to Covid-19, we cannot hold an information session, as we would during normal times'. 'However, the public will be able to express their views and have direct contact with the project team via phone conversations, as well as on-line and email services'. A feedback form is included with the brochures being distributed, which can be returned to the project team by freepost. The feedback form can also be completed online on the project website www.rosslareeuroportaccessroad.ie. Alternatively, the public can telephone 053 9196000 with all requests for information and feedback dealt with promptly. To allow the project team to review and consider queries fully, it is asked that email or phone queries are submitted before 4 p.m. on June 16 . The project website www.rosslareeuroportaccessroad.ie will provide a central point for all the latest project information and feedback. All queries or comments in relation to the project may be addressed to: N25 Rosslare Europort Access Road, Wexford County Council, Carricklawn, Wexford, Y35 WY93, Ireland or Email: customerservice@wexfordcoco.ie. All feedback received will be considered by the project team and a post-consultation report will be published on the project website. The report will summarise the consultation process and the matters raised during the consultation. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. We are not done with the novel coronavirus. And it certainly isnt done with us. That may seem obvious if youve noticed the alarming rise in cases and COVID-19 hospitalizations. But far too many Texans took Gov. Greg Abbotts move to reopen the economy as an all-clear on the threat that has sickened more than 2 million and claimed more than 115,000 lives throughout the country. That understandable rush to get back to work, back to our friends and family back to normal has us at a tipping point from which we as a nation must pull back. I am growing increasingly concerned that we may be at the precipice of a disaster, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Thursday. She said we all must change our behavior, take personal responsibility to keep our county and our metrics from heading in a dangerous direction. Hidalgos warnings came during a news conference announcing the countys new COVID-19 threat-level system. Out of the four colors meant to communicate the degree of risk Houstonians face, the gauge now sits at the second-hottest, orange: a significant and uncontrolled level of COVID-19 in Harris County. Coronavirus cases in the Houston area have increased steadily over the past three weeks. As of Friday, Harris County had more than 9,000 active cases. The local numbers mirror statewide data, with Texas hitting a new daily high Wednesday and COVID-19 hospitalizations reaching record numbers, a trend that experts believe will continue. These are the makings of the worst-case scenarios some had warned we would see if we re-opened too quickly. We havent reached those levels, yet, but Hidalgos words last week were meant to shake us out of our complacency and recognize the gathering threat. Local officials cant do much more than issue warnings, however, given that their hands are tied by the governors superseding executive orders. The irony is that many of the warning signs Hidalgo pointed to are precisely the metrics Abbott has offered as critical measures. ICU capacity and the infection rate, which shows the number of positive cases in relation to tests administered, have been part of Abbotts promise to keep a close watch on things as the economy reopens. Hidalgo concedes there are still plenty of hospital beds for now, but last weeks 12 percent infection rate is already above the 10 percent that Abbott, back in May, said would be a red flag. So far, Abbott says he is concerned but not yet alarmed. We have plenty of capacity to treat anybody who tests positive for COVID-19, he told a Dallas TV station recently, adding that more resources are being directed to test and care for any possible cases stemming from the recent large-scale protests. With the Fourth of July holiday weekend only a few weeks away, we urge Abbott to keep the safety of Texans as his primary concern. If he will not reconsider giving local officials the power to implement limitations, he must be willing to buck political pressure and not only slow down reopening if the trend continues, but re-impose restrictions if need be. No one is eager for another lockdown. But Abbott and others must be willing to order one, should conditions worsen considerably. State officials say they are watching the numbers carefully but there is little room for error due to the nature of the virus, which can take up to two weeks to manifest itself and for worsening symptoms to require hospitalization. By the point that dire numbers compel officials to act, it may already be too late to avoid mass tragedy. We remain confident that we wont have to choose between reopening the economy and locking down but thats going to take a renewed vigilance on everyones part. Regardless of how many people are allowed inside a restaurant or when water parks are free to open, we must understand we are no safer now than we were two months ago. COVID-19 is serious, its real, Robert Kirkpatrick, director of the Milam County Health Department and head of the Texas Association of City and County Health Officials, told the editorial board. We must continue to social distance, reduce social gatherings and be cognizant of everybody around us. Harris Countys color-coded system is a good step in underlining that message, but its impact depends on all of us paying attention and consistently complying with safety recommendations, especially wearing a mask anytime we are around other people outside of our homes. We may be on the precipice, but we can still keep ourselves from falling. NHS hospitals discharged 25,000 people into care homes during the peak of Britain's Covid-19 crisis without testing them for the coronavirus, a report has revealed. Critics say the move, ordered to free up beds for an anticipated surge in seriously ill virus patients, was 'extraordinary' and shows care homes were an 'afterthought'. The National Audit Office (NAO) report - the first independent review of preparations for the pandemic - said care homes were overlooked in order to protect the NHS. It counted the 25,000 patients discharged between March 17 and April 15. The peak of coronavirus deaths in hospitals in England was on April 8. More than 13,000 people have now died of Covid-19 in care homes in England and Wales, and they represent a growing proportion of all coronavirus fatalities. Meg Hillier, chair of the public accounts committee, claimed it highlighted that care homes were shoved 'to the back of the queue' during the pandemic. The NAO's report also revealed that plans to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) were hampered because officials ignored warnings in 2019 to stockpile gowns and visors - and didn't have enough of them when the need arose. This resulted in less than half of the necessary equipment being available to healthcare workers on the frontlines of the crisis. At least 300 healthcare staff have died from coronavirus so far and bereaved families and health unions say a lack of PPE is partly to blame. More than 11,000 people are confirmed to have died in care homes as a direct result of Covid-19 and many more are thought to have succumbed to the virus without being diagnosed, meaning they are so far uncounted in official death tolls Care home deaths doubled between March and April at the height of the crisis, according to Office for National Statistics data released today The NAO report identified a 'problematic' relationship between social care and the NHS, which saw 25,00 hospital patients discharged into care homes before there was widespread testing. It said years of failed efforts to integrate the health service and social care sector were to blame for care homes being abandoned during the crisis. More than one in three care homes in the country have suffered outbreaks of Covid-19. Chair of the public accounts committee and a Labour MP in London, Ms Hillier, said: 'Care homes were at the back of the queue for both PPE and testing so only got a small fraction of what they needed from central government. 'Residents and staff were an afterthought yet again: out of sight and out of mind, with devastating consequences.' The most recent statistics from the Office for National Statistics, which collects the best quality data on coronavirus deaths, shows that at least 13,460 people had died with the virus in care homes by May 29. This was 29 per cent of all the 45,748 deaths recorded in all settings by that date, the ONS said. Care home residents are at a much higher risk than the general public of dying if they catch the coronavirus, because it is more deadly for older people. The reasons for this are still not clear, but higher rates of other health conditions affecting the heart, lungs and brain, and general frailty, are thought to be to blame. It is also harder to contain the virus in care homes because many people are unable to live independently so rely on regular close contact with workers, who often care for multiple people at a time. Cases are also thought to be harder to detect because residents are often ill with other conditions with similar symptoms, and may not show typical signs of Covid-19. The Government's policy for testing in care homes, during the peak of the outbreak, was to test a small sample in the home and, if positive cases were found, to assume there was an outbreak in the home and automatically classify other people with similar symptoms as coronavirus patients. Widespread testing only became available in April. The NAO report said: 'Due to government policy at the time, not all patients were tested for Covid-19 before discharge, with priority given to patients with symptoms. 'We have reported on successive efforts to integrate the two sectors: there have been 12 government white papers, green papers and consultations, and five independent reviews on integration over the past 20 years. 'Going into the pandemic, meaningful integration was still to occur, however, and the lack of it has made responding to the crisis more difficult in a number of ways.' At least 300 healthcare staff have died from coronavirus so far, and people from black and ethnic minority groups have been disproportionately affected. Pictured are BAME healthcare staff who fell victim to the disease The NAO also revealed that plans to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) were hampered because officials ignored warnings to stockpile gowns and visors (file) Coronavirus has killed 1-in-16 care home residents in England and Wales, analysis reveals Coronavirus has reportedly killed one in 16 care home residents in England and Wales, fresh research suggests. Data shows there have been 26,211 excess deaths in care homes since the start of the outbreak, compared to the five-year average for the same period. While coronavirus is believed to be the main driving factor behind the rise in deaths, it is understood the mass disruptions to normal care home service as a result of the pandemic has also led to people losing their lives. Figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show 11,614 deaths are linked to coronavirus, while the other half are due to other reasons. A large portion of the excess death numbers are due to dementia or related illness, though many elderly care home residents in these situations found themselves struggling severely due to a lack of contact with familiar loved ones as the lockdown regulations tightened. There are 411,00 people living in care homes in England and Wales and the data shows that more than six per cent - or one in 16 - has died since the spring. Advertisement The report also found that ministers had ignored warnings to stockpile essential PPE in June 2019. The New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) - which advises the Government on pandemic planning - told Public Health England to stockpile tens of thousands of gowns and visors. The NAO said that PHE had only supplied a fifth of the gowns, a third of the eye protectors and half of the aprons that Nervtag had recommended. In February, PHE had 41,500 pairs of gloves, 25,700 eye protectors, and 156,000 facemasks. By the end of April the stocks were completely used up, the report found. Ms Hillier said frontline health workers had been 'badly let down by the government's failure to prepare properly'. She added: 'Shockingly, the government squandered the last opportunity to add to the central PPE stockpile, even after the NHS had gone to the highest level of alert.' Susan Masters, a Royal College of Nursing director, echoed Ms Hillier's comments, adding: 'Our members in working communities, care homes or hospitals, who have had trouble accessing the necessary protective equipment to keep them and their patients safe, will be alarmed to see that a vital opportunity to stockpile adequate equipment was missed,' she said. Jeremy Hunt, chairman of the Commons health and social care committee and a former health secretary, said: 'It seems extraordinary that no one appeared to consider the clinical risk to care homes despite widespread knowledge that the virus could be carried asymptomatically. 'Places like Germany and Hong Kong took measures to protect their care homes that we did not over a critical four-week period.' Jonathan Ashworth, Labour's shadow health secretary, warned that the NHS had 'entered the Covid-19 crisis exposed after years of under-funding and bed cuts and with huge staff shortages'. A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: 'We have delivered over 1.7 billion pieces of PPE and continue to ensure supplies reach the frontline. 'The modelled PPE requirements presented in this report are theoretical worst-case estimates it is misleading to compare them to figures on centrally procured PPE which do not account for equipment supplied through other routes or existing local stocks.' Jessica Eye misses weight for UFC on ESPN 10 headliner The UFC returns home to Las Vegas for UFC on ESPN 10: Eye vs. Calvillo. It marks the promotion's third event at the Apex since it began regularly promoting events after a two-month shutdown. Friday's UFC on ESPN 10 weigh-in made the fight card official, although it left three bouts in question and one canceled altogether. Several fighters, including headliner Jessica Eye and co-main eventer Karl Roberson, missed weight. [UPDATE: UFC officials confirmed that all three bouts with fighters missing weight have been agreed to and will remain on Saturday's fight card.] The headliner between former flyweight title challenger Jessica Eye and former strawweight contender Cynthia Calvillo, pending medical clearance, should be easy enough to iron out. Calvillo easily hit the mark at 126 pounds, but Eye missed weight by 0.25 pounds. After stepping on the scale at 126.25 pounds, Eye said, "I'm done. I don't think I can stand guys, I'm sorry." As long as Eye gets medical clearance, it is likely that Calvillo would accept 20-percent of Eye's fight purse to keep the headliner intact. Eye is the top contender in the flyweight division. Being just a year removed from losing her bid to unseat champion Valentina Shevchenko, she needs a win to continue building a case for a rematch. Calvillo, who has had trouble making weight at strawweight, is making her UFC flyweight debut on Saturday, but a win over the likes of Eye would quickly elevate her to contender status. Karl Roberson and Marvin Vettori were originally supposed to have fought at UFC on ESPN 9 on May 13 in Jacksonville, Fla. Roberson missed weight by 1.5 pounds over the 186-pound middleweight limit. Vettori agreed to the fight, accepting 20 percent of Roberson's fight purse. That only lasted a few hours, however, as Roberson had medical issues stemming from the weigh-in that precluded him from fighting. Re-scheduled for Saturday's UFC on ESPN 10, Roberson again missed weight, this time much more egregiously, weighing 190.5 pounds. That is 4.5 pounds above the allowed limit. Story continues The fight was still in doubt at the time of publication. Prelim fighter Zarrukh Adashev, who was a late replacement to face Tyson Nam in a bantamweight bout, missed weight, as well. Adashev was one of the final two fighters to the scale, but missed the 136-pound limit by 2.5 pounds. With Nam considering himself in a must-win situation, it's likely that he will accept a portion of Adashev's purse to keep the fight intact. A preliminary bout between Griffin and Minner never even made it through the weigh-ins. Griffin stepped on the scale early to make the 146-pound limit for the featherweight bout. Minner, however, never made it to the scale. The UFC issued a statement noting that Minner had been pulled from the bout because of health issues preceding the weigh-in. [UPDATE on fighters missing weight] All the fighters missing weight and their opponents have agreed to penalties that keep all of the bouts intact. Eye agreed to forfeit 25-percent of her purse to Calvillo, which keeps the headlining bout together. Roberson, who missed weight by 4.5 pounds, will forfeit 30-percent of his fight purse to Vettori. And Adashev, who took the fight with Nam on just a few days notice, forfeits 20-percent of his fight purse. Barring any further issues, UFC on ESPN 10 will now proceed with 10 bouts. UFC on ESPN 10: Eye vs. Calvillo Weigh-in Results Main Card (9 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+) Jessica Eye (126.25) vs. Cynthia Calvillo (126)* Karl Roberson (190.5) vs. Marvin Vettori (186)* Merab Dvalishvili (139) vs. Gustavo Lopez (140) 140-pound catchweight bout Andre Fili (145.5) vs. Charles Jourdain (145.5) Jordan Espinosa (135.5) vs. Mark De La Rosa (136) Preliminary Card (6 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+) Mariya Agapova (125.5) vs. Hannah Cifers (125) Charles Rosa (155) vs. Kevin Aguilar (155.5) Julia Avila (135) vs. Gina Mazany (136) Tyson Nam (135.5) vs. Zarrukh Adashev (138.5)* Jordan Griffin (146) vs. Darrick Minner ** Anthony Ivy (171) vs. Christian Aguilera (170.5) *Eye, Roberson, and Adashev all missed weight **Due to health issues preceding the UFC on ESPN 10 weigh-in, Darrick Minner has been pulled from his Saturday bout with Jordan Griffin. The card will proceed as scheduled with 10 bouts, should Roberson and Vettori reach an agreement to keep their co-main event intact. TRENDING > Video: Dana White gets in heated argument over fighter pay and unions on ESPN UFC on ESPN 10 weigh-in: Jessica Eye misses weight; Cynthia Calvillo is spot on (Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube) Three organisers of last Saturday's Black Lives Matter protest in Melbourne have been hit with $1652 fines as rallies against the detention of refugees look set to go ahead on the weekend despite health authority warnings. On Friday the Australian Medical Association urged anyone who attended last week's march to self-isolate immediately after a man who attended the protest tested positive for coronavirus. The man, in his 30s, wore a face mask to the protest, but Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said that may not have been enough to prevent a chain of infection. Deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese van Diemen, who revealed that the man did not have the COVIDSafe tracing app on his phone, said he had attended the protest with a "small group of friends" who have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days. As the capital continues to witness an increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the past few days, schools across the capital are worried over the pending Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Indian School Certificate Examinations (ICSE) exams slated to be conducted in July. The exams for the remaining few CBSE Class 12 subjects are slated to be held from July 1 to July 15. But with the number of new cases climbing, the question arises whether it is advisable to hold exams involving thousands of students in such circumstances and should such exams be mandatory or optional. Officials of the CBSE, however, are optimistic that they will be able to do a sound job even in the present scenario. We are confident that all norms set by the government for social distancing will be followed. The CBSE is planning to hold them in over 13,000 schools. So, naturally, there will be no crowding. We are confident that the proper distance will be maintained. The use of masks and sanitiser will be allowed. Safety is definitely important, a senior CBSE official said, adding that there was a possibility of there being no more than 12 students in a classroom. With schools are closed for the summer vacation, most principals are engaged in fumigating the premises regularly to prepare them for the board exams. They are also waiting for CBSE guidelines on how question papers will be shared with schools. We will switch off our air conditioning systems and instead open our windows and use fans. Students are likely to experience discomfort while writing their papers in the July heat while wearing masks, Sangeeta Arora, principal of KR Mangalam School, Greater Kailash II, said. She also added that principals are concerned over what would transpire if a students temperature was slightly higher than the permissible limit on the school premises. School administrators are also worried about managing students once they reach the school premises. When children see their friends after a long time, they will want to sit with them and discuss the paper. The school will not be able to prevent from doing so. We may also require additional manpower for repeated cleaning, she said. Government schools are likely to face additional challenges as many are still functioning as dry ration distribution centres for the Delhi government. Heads of schools have planned separate entries for the students and those coming to the schools to collect ration. Awadhesh Kumar Jha, principal of Sarvodya Co-ed Vidyalaya in Rohini, said conducting the board exams will be extremely difficult. Getting the question papers to school is also a challenge. This will increase the chances of contact in the present circumstances. Students could try to hide their symptoms and come to write the exams because they wouldnt want to skip them. Teachers are already afraid of coming to the premises because distributing answer sheets and collecting them means there will be a lot of contact, he said. Asked if rather than make it mandatory, they could give the students the option to appear in exams or be assigned marks according to a set formula, the CBSE official cited above said those decisions could only be taken after a detailed discussion. There are options on the table. However, as of now, we are moving ahead with the exams, the official said. The CBSE has already decided to not hold exams in foreign schools affiliated to it. We have detailed bylaws for examinations. And these bylaws also empower the chairman of the board to take important decisions. We are preparing rules for every aspect of the exams. This is a challenging time, but we must keep in mind that CBSE has decades of experience in holding exams, another CBSE official said. Principals have reported that many workers refuse to come and sanitise the schools as they can be high-contact areas. While thermal screening measures will be available at exam centres, the students temperatures are likely to be recorded higher than actual body temperature due to the heat. Tania Joshi, principal of Indian School, said, Extra care will have to be taken while cleaning chairs and tables and working out the invigilation duties of teachers. We are still planning on how to procure sanitiser, masks and gloves for the students. The weather in July is humid and students may have difficulty writing while wearing gloves. We have to keep these things in mind. Meanwhile, several parents have been taking to social media to express concerns about the safety of their children. A Twitter poll conducted by one of the users showed that nearly 84% of parents had concerns about their childrens safety. A petition has also been filed in the Supreme Court arguing that the exams were putting the safety of students in peril, but the matter is yet to be heard. Several schools, including around 200 Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, are functioning as quarantine centres. AIIMS director Randeep Guleria had earlier indicated that Covid-19 could peak in India in July. Significantly, Delhis Shastri Bhawan, from where the HRD ministry functions, has seen scores of Covid-19 cases in the past few days. A senior HRD ministry official said the government was aware of the situation and would take a decision keeping all facts in mind. The ministry is constantly monitoring the situation. It is aware of the concerns. Decisions will be taken keeping all aspects in mind, said an official. Significantly, the ministry has lined up the JEE and NEET exams once the CBSE exams are over. A decision on the CBSE exams could have a bearing on the entire academic calendar. Meanwhile, a group of parents also expressed concerns on the Class 12 exams planned by the ICSE board. In a statement released to the media, the parents asked a range of questions: Who will ensure the safety of our children? One asymptomatic child or invigilator can infect all others in that classroom. The viral load of being in the same room for four hours is very high. How would children who use public transport travel? What happens if a student is infected before the exams? What if the exam centre or the childs home is in a containment zone? Specifically, for Class 10, why is it so essential to hold exams? The ICSE board has also said that it would hold the remaining exams for classes 10 and 12 in the first fortnight of July. Attempts to get a response from ICSE did not fructify. As for CBSE, it would conduct 27 exams in the first half of July. It is estimated that the maximum number of students will appear for the Business Studies exam for Class 12. Over 3.5 lakh students are expected to take this exam. Among other subjects, the Hindi exam will see around 3 lakh candidates, Geography over one lakh, Home Science around 60,000 and Sociology around 50,000 candidates. With inputs by Kainat Sarfaraz A store owner who tried to smuggle an array of illegal weapons into the UK to sell in his south London shop has been jailed for 21 months. Kamber Ramadani, 53, was stopped by Border Force officers who were carrying out checks on incoming traffic at Dover docks on February 12, and initially told them he had been out of the country visiting Croatia and Kosovo. During a search of his Mercedes officers found 28 different bladed weapons in the boot, and a starter pistol and ammunition in the footwell. Under interview Ramadani told the NCA that he had bought the weapons from a car boot sale in Croatia and the gun was to have been a present for his son. He admitted to investigators that he had planned to sell the flick knives, butterfly knives and other weapons in his shop on the Old Kent Road, Bermondsey. Ramadani was charged with possessing offensive weapons, possessing a knife in a public place and possession of an imitation firearm. He admitted that charges at Canterbury Crown Court last month, and on Thursday was sentenced to 21 months in prison. NCA Dover Branch Commander Martin Grace said: These types of weapons are exactly the type we see being used in gang violence on the streets of London and other UK towns and cities every day. Ramadani admitted his plan was to sell the weapons for profit and Ive no doubt that some, if not all, of them would have ended up in criminal hands. In securing this conviction we have sent out the message that, working with Border Force and other partners, we are determined to do all we can to prevent illegal weapons reaching our streets, and put those who would bring them here behind bars. The arrest comes after police made more than 650 arrests and seized cash and drugs worth more than 3million during a crackdown on county line gangs. The operation, which was led by the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police, Merseyside Police and West Midlands Police also identified 140 children linked to the drugs trade. Denver School Board member Tay Anderson, left, and Elisabeth Epps from the Colorado Freedom Fund stop in front of East High School and address their support for Senate Bill 20-217 that is before the Colorado Legislature. The two joined Denver Public Schools students as they gather at Civic Center Park and march to the Martin Luther King, Jr. statue at City park in support of Black Lives Matter on June 7, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. Ever since baby Archie was born in 2019, Prince Harry turned from a bachelor to a doting father in a snap. Like any father or parent in general, the children suddenly become their world and will do anything to protect them. When Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle decided to step down as senior members of the royal family, the Duke of Sussex once voiced out that he wanted to give Archie a private life -- away from the spotlight and scrutiny of being a royal. Nowadays, all his decision are based on whether it will be good for Archie or not. In a recent heartfelt letter to African Parks 2019 annual report, the 35-year-old Prince opened up about his fears for Archie to grow up with an ugly and scary future. Not because he is a royal by blood, but because of the world in which he lives. Prince Harry emphasized the risks the world is facing right now and expressed concern for the future world that Archie will live, which is currently experiencing an "extinction crisis." As the president of African Parks and as a father himself, Prince Harry admitted feeling the pressure to make sure the children will live in a future full of possibility and opportunity. "I want us all to be able to tell our children that yes, we saw this coming, and with the determination and help from an extraordinary group of committed individuals, we did what was needed to restore these essential ecosystems," Prince Harry wrote. Aside from talking about his love for Africa, the Duke also raised his concerns on the need to address climate change and the coronavirus global pandemic that the world is facing right now. "We are currently living through an extinction crisis, and now a global pandemic that has shaken us to our core and brought the world to a standstill," the statement continued. "On this pandemic, while much is still unknown, some evidence suggests that the virus' origins may be linked to our exploitation of nature." The Duke also encouraged the public to look at the brighter side and hope for the best solution to address the different world problems. "There are solutions that are actionable and that work, and the African Parks model is one of them," Prince Harry added, highlighting how his organization works to help the most vulnerable people, animals and environments. Read in full Prince Harry has written a letter for @AfricanParks annual report on the worlds current extinction crisis and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. I feel the pressure is even greater to ensure we can give our children the future they deserve, he says.Read in full pic.twitter.com/OjQpYxKCfy Omid Scobie (@scobie) June 11, 2020 African Parks is a non-profit organization taking care of the rehabilitation and management of protected areas in the continent. Africa has always been close to Harry's heart and even called it his "second home." He first visited Africa as a young boy in 1997. He started collaborating with African Parks in 2016 and helped relocate 500 elephants in Malawi. Africa has played a massive role in Prince Harry's life. In fact, he even visited the continent to help find comfort after the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana. Conroe attorney E. Tay Bond considers himself a steward of the property at 200 W. Davis more than the owner. The old brick bank building at the corner of Main and Davis streets is one of downtown Conroes most recognizable buildings because of its unique windows and architecture. According to Montgomery County Historical Commission Chairman Larry Foerster, this building is believed to be the oldest commercial property in the county having survived the large 1911 fire in downtown Conroe. After purchasing the building nearly a year ago, Bond is making some upgrades to the building that will make it a focal point when people visit the downtown square. Most noticeable to the public, the outside has been transformed from all tan to gray with highlights to the curved windows. The design emphasizes the architectural detail and masonry work which is pretty spectacular considering when that work was done, Bond said. When it was all one color, those details got lost. The building was constructed for Banks Griffith and his partner DC Tharp in the early 1900s. However, historians have been unable to pinpoint an exact year of its construction. Griffith, who lived from 1858 to 1933, was a sawmill owner, banker and legendary turkey hunter, according to a passage in the 1981 Montgomery County History Book by his relative Virginia Griffith Hogue. "He was a man greatly respected," Hogue wrote. "But he is remembered with delight for his many amusing eccentricities." Tharp was involved in the sawmill industry and lived in Conroe. Forester surmises that Tharp must have been a stellar citizen of Conroe as the May 1896 Courier article promoted him for political office. The two men operated the bank as an unchartered bank at least as far back as 1898 according to the advertisement in the Willis Index. Foerster suspects the building was constructed after the 1901 fire on the east east of Conroes railroad tracks. At the time, Conroes business center was located on the east side of the railroad tracks along Avenue A, the site of Isaac Conroes home and where The Courier building sits today. After the first big fire, businesses relocated west of the tracks on a plat of land named the Ayers Addition after J.K. Ayers. According to Foerster, the unchartered bank went from being Banks, Griffith and Son bank to a new bank when in 1911 Banks Griffith and his son opened a new financial house on Simonton at Pacific, called First State Bank of Conroe in May 1911. Griffith sold his old brick bank building at Davis and Chambers (Main) to Judge W. N. Foster who had build his building two lots west in 1910. Foster in turn sold the building to the newly chartered Conroe State Bank in 1914 when John Wahrenberger was the president. A.W. Woodson, grandfather to community leader Lucinda Owen, was brought from Ore City, Texas to assist in the organization and management of Conroe State Bank. Woodson was born in Montgomery and had many good friends in the area who welcomed his return. He went on to be a leader in the community in a number of ways. In an interview in 2018, Owen said she remembers when she was a girl, shed sit in the open windows of the old bank building to watch the political rallies that took place on the courthouse lawn. The capital of Conroe State Bank was approximately $25,000 with 30 stockholders. In 1925, Conroe State Bank was chartered as a national bank and First National Bank operated in that building for the next 36 years, according to Foerster. In December 1951, First National Bank moved to its new location at Davis and Thompson. The old bank building was used for a loan office and then purchased by the late Grady James around 1990. He renovated it then to use as his law firm. James passed away in 2018 and then the building was sold to Bond. Bonds goal is to bring it up to where when people come to downtown Conroe, theyll remember seeing that building. Visit https://www.etaybond.com/ for more on Bonds law firm. Iraqs new government has made an arrest in connection with the deadly crackdown on anti-government protests that erupted across the country in 2019. Defense Ministry Spokesman Yehia Rasool confirmed to Al-Monitor that the suspect, identified only as Al Jurithi, is suspected of killing a protester in Baghdad and threatening others. He also confessed to rioting, burning property and striking security forces, and he was arrested under the direction of new Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Sweeping anti-government demonstrations broke out in October 2019, aimed at dismantling the political establishment and bringing attention to government corruption, poor public services and high unemployment. Rights groups accused security forces of using violent tactics to suppress the unrest, including firing live ammunition at peaceful protesters. In documenting the deaths of 490 protesters, the United Nations wrote in a report last month that the absence of accountability for these acts continues to contribute to the pervasive environment of impunity. The UN also reported 33 activists were assassinated and at least 99 people had been abducted. The widespread protests prompted the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi in late November 2019. Some five months later, Kadhimi was sworn in as his successor, bringing an end to the political deadlock. Kadhimi, the countrys former intelligence chief, has vowed to provide accountability and to compensate the families of the protesters killed or wounded by security forces. He also ordered the release of all detained demonstrators who werent being held for causing injury or death. In May, demonstrators returned to the streets of Iraqs major cities for the first time since coronavirus movement restrictions were put in place two months prior. With the arrival of summer, protesters in the southern provinces are demanding accountability for a lack of electricity and clean water. Last month, security forces acting on Kadhimis order raided the headquarters of the Iran-aligned militia Thaar Allah in Basra and arrested at least five men accused of firing at protesters the day before. I promised that those who have spilled Iraqi blood will not be allowed to rest, and we are honoring that promise, Kadhimi said of the arrests. Springfield City Council President Justin Hurst and fellow city councilors Victor Davila, Adam Gomez and Malo Brown have declined a meeting with Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and the police department over relations between the communities of color and the police due to feeling that any real discussions will be limited. It is unfortunate that none of us were consulted regarding the planning of this meeting, setting the agenda, providing input as to the format, or were privy to any dialogue with respect to who would be invited, said the city councilors in a joint statement. The remote meeting was organized by the mayors office for June 15 to listen, learn and share initiatives and strategies to maintain the many bridges that have been built over the last 12 years by our community, the Springfield Police Department and the administration. It is unfortunate that Council President Hurst and Councilors Victor Davila, Adam Gomez and Malo Brown have refused to meet to discuss race relations between the Police Department and Communities of Color, Sarno told MassLive. Open and honest dialogue is the best tool we have to effect meaningful change. I am looking forward to our roundtable discussion with leaders of our city on Monday and many more community meetings to follow. Ninety invites were sent out to individuals to participate as panelists, which according to the mayors office will consist of diverse groups that represent individuals from across the city. The roundtable conversation is meant to educate, inform and share collective perspectives and initiatives and what measures and best practices can be utilized to address the systemic issues that are facing our nation, state and city, said Sarno in the press release on Thursday. I want to listen and hear your thoughts, concerns, ideas and constructive criticisms. We must routinely review and update our policing policies and best practices. However, the councilors highlighted five issues that they believe are being overlooked by the Mayor and the Springfield Police Department. The first is over the fight that broke out between at least four off-duty police officers and a group of civilians in a parking lot on April 8, 2015, near Nathan Bills bar and restaurant. The question of who the aggressors were in the melee remains hotly contested. Prosecutors argue they faced a blue wall of silence during their investigation while defense lawyers say the attorney generals office overreached and frivolously charged many defendants. Thirteen current and former Springfield police officers were charged with participating in or helping to cover up the fight. Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood announced on April 15 she would restore five officers to full-time duty to assist with personnel shortages caused officers being out with COVID-19 that were involved with the fray. They are still being paid by the Springfield police department, said Hurst. I want to see more action and less talking. I think the residents of Springfield want to see the same thing. The ACLU of Massachusetts and law firm WilmerHale filed a lawsuit on Thursday against the city demanding information about the Springfield Police Department and alleged discriminatory policing patterns and practices. Two separate public records requests to the city have been submitted by ACLU of Massachusetts. More than a year later, the city has still not produced a substantive response to the ACLUs request for demographic data about its police departments interactions with residents and has withheld documents responsive to the ACLUs second request. Hurst and the other councilors also bring up police accountability and the intimidation tactics used at the recent protests. Instead of holding a prescriptive open meeting with community gatekeepers and elected officials that will inevitably stifle any real discussion, said the statement. Mayor Sarno would better off reaching out to the victims of police brutality, the young people who have had the courage to protest against injustice and the many residents who for a multitude of reasons feel like they cant breathe. On Monday, Sarno signed on to a national pledge issued by former President Barack Obama, that calls for review of policies on police use of force. The policies called for a review in the pledge range from requiring officers to de-escalate situations before using force as a last resort, to restricting/prohibiting chokeholds. Sarno said he had already directed Clapprood to review and update the use of force policies, which will now include the implementation of police body-worn cameras, which began last week with an initial group of 12 officers and will expand to include all officers. Got a news tip or want to contact MassLive about this story? Email newstips@masslive.com or message us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also call our news tips line at 413-776-1364. Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Roberts has been admitted to the hospital with bacterial meningitis, two months after she was tested for coronavirus. The 36-year-old tweeted from her hospital bed early Friday, saying she's been ill for the past three days after returning from a trip to the rainforest. She wrote: 'Back in the hospital - again. This time bacterial meningitis. Went to the rainforest for the weekend with the fam and came back with something from the jungle. 'Day 3 - just had to get a spinal tap- talk about pain! Pls send me some love vibes from all my friends on Twitter.' The 36-year-old tweeted from her hospital bed early Friday, saying she's been ill for the past three days after returning from a trip to the rainforest A photo that shows Giuffre, Prince Andrew and Maxwell in Ghislaine's apartment has been widely circulated since 2001 Roberts, who also goes by her married surname Giuffre, currently lives in Cairns, in Queensland, Australia with her husband Robert and their three children. WHAT IS BACTERIAL MENINGITIS? Meningitis is the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord and is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Bacterial meningitis is rare and can be life-threatening or result in brain damage depending on how long it goes untreated. In most cases, it is caused by one of three types of bacteria: pneumococcus, meningoccus, or Listeria monocytogenes, after they enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain. People can be more susceptible to a certain type of bacteria depending on their age group. Symptoms include fever, headache and stiffness in the neck. An infected person can spread it to others through coughing or sneezing. It is typically treated with antibiotics or corticosteriods. Source: CDC.gov Advertisement She later replied to well-wishers on Twitter saying her immune system may be out of whack 'with so much going on and add some stress into that.' 'I bought a dog hoping it would help with my stress but with some of these a-holes I'm up against it's definitely a challenge,' she said. Bacterial meningitis is the inflammation of the spinal cord typically caused by an infection. Although infections are rare, it can be life-threatening and requires immediate attention. Patients are generally treated with antibiotics and penicillin or corticosteroids. Roberts' admittance to the hospital comes just two months after she was tested for COVID-19 after she developed symptoms of the virus. In April she told Twitter followers she had been having trouble with breathing, as well as fever and a cough and was 'praying' the test wasn't positive. She later revealed she tested negative and was battling an upper respiratory infection after she was diagnosed with pneumonia. 'Now back to what really matters- the take down of perps!' she tweeted. Roberts is among the slew of women who have accused billionaire Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse when they were underage, and has spoken publicly about being his 'sex slave.' She has also claimed she had sex with Prince Andrew at the behest of his friend Epstein three times: once at Epstein's New York apartment, once in the Caribbean, and once at the London home of Ghislane Maxwell, the American financier's alleged madam, in March 2001. In April, Roberts shared photos from the hospital after she was tested for coronavirus, but left because doctors tried to put her in a ward with COVID-19 positive patients, she said Speaking about her first alleged encounter with Prince Andrew in London, Roberts said she was taken to Tramp Nightclub where she recalls dancing with the 'sweating' prince when she was 17. After leaving the nightclub, Roberts said: 'In the car Ghislaine tells me that I have to do for Andrew what I do for Jeffrey.' A photo that shows Giuffre, Prince Andrew and Maxwell in Ghislaine's apartment taken in 2001 has been widely circulated. Prince Andrew has strenuously denied all of Roberts' allegations. The prince says he doesn't even remember meeting her. The Hanoi Department of Education and Training has asked local teachers to study and arrange time to take IELTS tests. The review period will last from June 5 to June 25. This aims to classify and continue further training courses for the teachers who have met the Vietnamese six-level framework of reference for foreign languages. Teachers who already tested IELTS 6.5 and higher in 2019 can use this result for classification. All expenses will be funded by the state budget. The plan is to have all English teachers meet the Vietnamese six-level framework of reference for foreign languages in 2020. In 2025, Vietnam will have 50% of the teachers have an IELTS score of at least 6.5 in speaking and listening. 50% of Maths and Science teachers can teach in English. However, many teachers have expressed concern about the timeframe of the review. According to the teachers, the review will urge old teachers to update their knowledge but many worried that if their scores are publicised it will reveal their potential weaknesses. Most high school teachers have earned the certificate for the advanced level C1 of the Vietnamese six-level framework of reference for foreign languages. It will not be easy to take courses for IELTS tests while preparing lessons for the students. "The students are preparing for final term tests and graduation tests. We may not have enough time to prepare them while studying for IELTS at this time," said a teacher at Ngoc Hoi High School in Thanh Tri District. "It's harder for old teachers to study so many new things and if their scores are not good it will be a huge blow to their confidence." The parents said the review was necessary to see if the teachers are sufficiently qualified or if they should be transferred to other departments. According to some parents, many students are able to score 7.0 in their IELTS tests so the teachers have to work harder. A primary school director in Cau Giay District said this could be a good opportunity for the teachers to test themselves. When the results arrive, it should be sent directly to the teachers, not publicly announced. Le Ngoc Quang, deputy director of Hanoi Department of Education and Training, said, "All English teachers who have met the Vietnamese six-level framework of reference for foreign languages must take part in this review." Dtinews/Vietnamnet English language centers reassess online capabilities English centers will have to re-assess their technological capability and products after the pandemic ends because the crisis has changed everything. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon. Yonhap North Korea sees little use maintaining a personal relationship between leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump if Washington sticks to hostile policies, state media reported on Friday - the two-year anniversary of the leaders' first summit. U.S. policies prove Washington remains a long-term threat to the North Korean state and its people and North Korea will develop more reliable military forces to counter that threat, Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA. Trump and Kim exchanged insults and threats during 2017 as North Korea made large advances in its nuclear and missile programme and the United States responded by leading an international effort to tighten sanctions. Relations improved significantly around the Singapore summit in June 2018, the first time a sitting American president met with a North Korean leader, but the statement that came out of the meeting was light on specifics. A second summit in February 2019 in Vietnam failed to reach a deal because of conflicts over U.S. calls for North Korea to completely give up its nuclear weapons, and North Korean demands for swift sanctions relief. Ri said in retrospect the Trump administration appears to have been focusing on only scoring political points while seeking to isolate and suffocate North Korea, and threatening it with preemptive nuclear strikes and regime change. "Never again will we provide the U.S. chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns," he said. "Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise." Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-11 23:15:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People demonstrate in front of the White House during a protest over the death of George Floyd in Washington D.C., the United States, on May 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) There might be one thousand ways to "make America great again," but feigning ignorance about the truth of social failures and playing blame-shifting games could never be part of them. By Xinhua writer Wang Bin BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Amidst a raging COVID-19 pandemic and anti-racism protests rocking American cities, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo once again played the scapegoating game. This time he slandered China for "callously exploiting" George Floyd's death as part of "propaganda." The move is just the latest of a series of attempts by some U.S. politicians to use the "China card" to whitewash their failures at home. They attempt to shift blame with total disdain for basic human dignity. Nearly six decades after Martin Luther King Jr.'s resounding call for racial justice for ethnic minorities in the U.S., equality among races remains a dream out of reach. It doesn't need to take what other countries say to expose its underlying chasms. In the context of Washington's anti-pandemic response, the yawning racial gap in terms of people's well-being has grown even more stark. Recent data compiled by the non-partisan APM Research Lab revealed that African Americans are dying at a rate of 50.3 per 100,000 people, compared with 20.7 for whites. The chance for health, life, and human dignity varies along racial lines, a pathetic but plain fact that American forefathers would hate to see. However, Pompeo and a group of other U.S. politicians have chosen to stay silent on this status quo. Instead of heeding calls from the U.S. and the world at large, Pompeo and politicians like him have chosen to waste time by ensconcing themselves in a shaky castle of lies and shifting blames. This doesn't help to save the disadvantaged from suffocation and this doesn't help to address the pandemic of injustice. Some U.S. politicians have formed a habit of stigmatizing China and make anti-China rhetoric at the slightest chance. There might be one thousand ways to "make America great again," but feigning ignorance about the truth of social failures and playing blame-shifting games could never be part of them. It's high time Pompeo and American politicians like him ceased the spread of misinformation, stopped arbitrarily pinning blame on China and lived up to their due obligation of ensuring "human dignity." As a former public high school teacher, I have seen firsthand how antiquated, bureaucratic, and irresponsive to the unique needs of students our nation's public school system has become. In affluent suburbs, like where I grew up, the public schools are generally good at providing a decent education. However, in far too many rural and urban public schools, this is generally not the case. Although there are several reasons for the discrepancies between suburban and urban/rural school districts, there is a simple solution that could truly level the playing field in education once and for all: school choice. According to EdChoice, "[s]chool choice allows public education funds to follow students to the schools or services that best fit their needs whether that's to a public school, private school, charter school, home school or any other learning environment parents choose for their kids." In other words, in a world where school choice is rampant, all students would receive a sum of money to use or more accurately, their parent(s) or guardian(s) toward the best educational experience for their unique needs and circumstances. Doesn't this seem like a terrific idea? Well, according to the vast majority of Americans, that would be a resounding yes. In January 2019, a "survey of 1,200 likely November 2020 voters showed that 67% of voters support school choice, an increase of 4 percentage points compared to the 2018 National School Choice Poll." And support for school choice is across the board. Below are the demographic breakdowns of the poll referenced above, which was performed by a Democratic polling firm, Beck Research. Latinos: 73 percent support school choice Whites: 68 percent support school choice African Americans: 67 percent support school choice Millennials: 75 percent support school choice Parents and grandparents: 72 percent support school choice Rural/Exurban Voters: 68 percent support school choice Suburban Voters: 64 percent support school choice Republicans: 80 percent support school choice Independents: 69 percent support school choice Democrats: 56 percent support school choice Several studies (and an untold number of anecdotes) underpin these results. Overwhelming evidence also indicates that students participating in school choice programs outperform their peers who are hopelessly stuck in poorly performing public schools. If one refuses to believe or acknowledge that school choice is incredibly popular and that students "lucky" enough to participate in school choice are better off than their peers in public schools, then one probably has an agenda or is immune to common sense and unequivocal facts. However, it remains that school choice is much more the exception than the norm. Throughout America, the vast majority of families have absolutely no choice when it comes to arguably the most important element of their children's futures: the school they attend. This is complete cognitive dissonance. Think about how backwards this all is. Almost every demographic group in every part of the country prodigiously supports school choice. This enormous support even crosses political lines, in a time when America is arguably more divided on political issues than ever before. So why is school choice so rare in practice when it is so popular? Two words: teacher unions. Yes, this is the sad truth. Teacher unions are very powerful. They represent millions of public school teachers, who oppose school choice and pay dues that are used to support politicians who refuse to implement school choice. This is not intended to trash teacher unions. Most teachers are good people who care about their students, no doubt about it. Yet teachers unions hold immense political power. And these unions, namely the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers, totally oppose school choice. Why? Because it would spell the end of their monopoly on education in the United States. As of now, unless your family has the means to pay for an alternative, almost every American child attends the public school based on his ZIP code. How ridiculous is that? Unfettered school choice would raise the educational bar for all students. Robust competition for students would force schools, all schools, to put the needs of children first. Otherwise, they would go out of business because parents would not send their children to a failing or dangerous school when they have so many other opportunities and schools to choose from. Education is essential, like food and shelter. Restaurants compete for patrons, and by doing so, we have almost infinite choices of cuisine, and quality establishments thrive. A restaurant that provides good products at a fair price remains in business, while restaurants that provide inferior products at an unreasonable price typically go the way of the dodo. This premise is true for all products and services, including education. It is time to terminate the dysfunctional public school monopoly and grant all parents and students their right to choose the school that best fits their needs. Chris Talgo (ctalgo@heartland.org) is an editor at The Heartland Institute. Advertisement Activists have removed a statue of Belgium's King Leopold II in Brussels - days after another one was taken down in Antwerp due to anti-racism vandalism. The figure was removed from its plinth during Thursday night, Belgian broadcaster RTBF reported, leaving an empty stand in the Auderghem neighbourhood on Friday. Photos show the separated bust on the floor nearby covered in red paint. Leopold owned the Belgian Congo as his personal property from 1885 to 1908 and subjected its people to forced labour while he exploited the country's rubber reserves - leading to millions of deaths in what some regard as a genocide. Statues of the colonial-era monarch have become a focus of anger and debate in Belgium amid worldwide protests that followed the killing of black American George Floyd on May 25. Activists have removed a statue (pictured left intact and after right) of Belgium's King Leopold II in Brussels. The figure was taken down from its plinth during Thursday night, Belgian broadcaster RTBF reported, leaving an empty stand in the Auderghem neighbourhood on Friday A plinth of a statue of former Belgian King Leopold II, a controversial figure in the history of Belgium, is pictured after the statue was removed in Brussels Photos show the separated bust on the floor nearby covered in red paint. It was removed by a city worker in the Auderghem neighbourhood On Tuesday a statue of Leopold was taken down in Antwerp after it was vandalised by protesters. The mayor's office said the statue was removed to be 'restored' after it was daubed with paint, but said it was unlikely to return to its public pedestal A Leopold statue is seen standing in Antwerp last week after it was vandalised by demonstrators during the anti-racism protests which have spread across the world Dutch protestors attack statues of colonialist and far-right politician Dutch protestors defaced Rotterdam monuments commemorating two of the country's historic figures in Rotterdam on Friday. Demonstrators sprayed the words 'killer' and 'thief' on the statue of 17th-century admiral Piet Hein, who was linked to the slave trade. Protestors write the word 'killer' on the statue of colonialist Piet Hein in Rotterdam Meanwhile, black tape was placed on the Rotterdam statue of controversial right-wing politician Pim Fortuyn. Phrases such as 'No Racism' were written around the statue of Fortuyn, whose assassination in 2002 changed the Netherlands' liberal image into a unified and secure society. Activist group 'Heroes of Never' claimed responsibility for the vandalism, stating they were condemning 'the glorification of Dutch colonialism and the martyrdom of Pim Fortuyn'. The protestors also defaced the arts centre named after Hein's captain, Witte de With in the same city. The Witte de With centre later has since announced it will be renamed. By Sam Blitz Advertisement A number of representations of Leopold II have been vandalised, with statues burnt and daubed in red paint. On Tuesday a statue of Leopold was taken down in Antwerp after it was vandalised by protesters. The mayor's office said the statue was removed to be 'restored' after it was daubed with paint, but said it was unlikely to return to its public pedestal. Separately, a statue of King Baudouin - Belgium's second-longest reigning monarch after Leopold II - was found smeared bright red in a park in front of Brussels' Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula on Friday. The word 'reparation' was painted on the back. 'This is not how we proceed in a democracy. This is not how we put history back on the right track,' Auderghem Mayor Didier Gosuin told RTBF. 'On the contrary, these are acts which shock, which block, which create tensions, conflicts.' Gosuin said the municipality of Auderghem had a few days ago removed a sentence from a memorial that honoured 'those who brought civilization to Congo'. On Tuesday a spokesman for Antwerp mayor Bart de Wever said the city's statue was 'seriously vandalised last week' and 'needs to be restored' by a sculpture museum. 'Because of the renovation work planned for 2023 in the square in which it was placed, the statue will not be replaced. It will probably become part of the museum collection,' he said. A spokeswoman for the Middelheim Museum confirmed they had received the statue and said they would restore it before deciding what to do with it. There had previously been separate calls to take down Leopold monuments in Brussels, where one of his busts was covered in red paint last week. Leopold is honoured with several monuments after ruling Belgium from 1865 to 1909, the longest reign in the kingdom's history. But his exploitation of the Congo Free State is seen as brutal even by the standards of the time, with millions thought to have died under Leopold's personal rule. Leopold amassed a huge personal fortune while the Congolese were killed or savagely maimed working on his rubber plantations. Locals who failed to produce enough rubber would have their hands chopped off or their women taken hostage until the target was met. Others were shot dead. The plunder of resources also included ivory, copper and diamonds, while Leopold even imported some Congolese people to be put on show at a 'human zoo' in Belgium. Other looted treasures were put on display at the Africa Museum in Brussels, which Leopold used as a 'propaganda tool' for his colonial project. American writer Adam Hochschild claimed in his 1998 book King Leopold's Ghost that the death toll from Leopold's policies was as high as 10million Congolese. In fiction, the Belgian Congo provided the backdrop for Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad's classic novel on colonial exploitation. The exploitation made Belgium a successful trading economy, but sparked an outcry which has been described as one of the world's first major human rights campaigns. The Leopold statue in Antwerp was defaced last weekend - with protesters calling for monuments to the former monarch to be taken down around Belgium Another statue of former Belgian King Leopold II, this time in Tervuren near Brussels, is seen sprayed with a graffiti in the park of the Africa Museum, in a photograph taken on Tuesday Another Leopold statue, this one in Brussels, was targeted by protesters waving the flag of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday A protester holds a portrait of Belgian King Leopold II during a protest, organised by Black Lives Matter Belgium, against racial inequality in the aftermath of the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in central Brussels, Belgium on Saturday After the atrocities came to light, Leopold was eventually stripped of personal ownership of the Congo in 1908. However, Congo did not become independent until 1960 and many Belgians remain uninformed about their country's colonial past. While the former king and some of his most notorious lieutenants are still honoured in street names and statues, protests have been growing over his legacy. A sculpture of former Belgian King Leopold II is seen covered by a blanket after it was damaged in the park of the Africa Museum in Tervuren, near Brussels, Belgium last week A statue of former Belgian King Leopold II, a controversial figure in the history of Belgium, stands in the city of Ghent. It was covered in a red liquid A statue of Belgian King Leopold II was defaced and vandalised following an anti-racism protest in Brussels earlier this week More than 64,000 people had signed a petition demanding that Brussels take down its Leopold II statues. There have been numerous calls to strike down symbols of colonialism around the world as the Floyd protests enter their third week. In Britain, a crowd of protesters tore down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston and threw it into a Bristol harbour on Sunday. Statues of Confederate leaders who fought in defence of slavery have also been removed in the US, where they have long been a subject of controversy. The Infrastructure Minister has asked her officials to 'push forward' with expansion plans for the Buncrana Road in Derry. The proposal to increased the road from two lanes to four lanes was first proposed in 2005. However, the project has been beset with problems and funding issues ever since. The latest plans for the road were put out for public consultation last year. There were a previous three public consultations over the road plans. Infrastructure Minister Nicola Mallon today said she wanted to progress a number of major projects across Northern Ireland to 'aid economic recovery and community transformation'. One of these projects, she said, is the plans for Buncrana Road. The Minister has also reaffirmed her commitment to the A5 and A6 schemes. The A5 runs from Derry to Strabane while the A6 is the road between Derry and Belfast. Minister Mallon said that while Covid-19 has impacted construction work on the A6, the work is continuing and it is hoped that the Toome to Castledawson section 'could be completed in Spring 2021'. In relation to the A5, she said that following a public inquiry and the successful completion of the statutory processes, construction 'could commence in mid 2021'. It is estimated that around 24,000 vehicles each day travel on the section of the Buncrana Road from the Strand Road roundabout to the Branch roundabout. The road is one of the worst traffic 'bottlenecks' in the city. French police opine that new restrictions have gone too far, and have taken issue with any implication of systemic racism French police unionists fire blue flares as they demonstrate with a banner reading" No police, no peace" down the Champs-Elysee avenue, Friday, June 12, 2020 in Paris. (AP) Paris: French police marched Friday through central Paris to protest what they see as a lack of government support, choosing the famed Champs-Elysees avenue that was scene to violent clashes with protesters just a few months ago to protest a new ban on chokeholds and limits to what they can do during arrests. The decision to ban chokeholds is part of government efforts to stem police brutality and racism in the wake of global protests over George Floyds death in the U.S. But police have especially taken issue with any implication of systemic racism among French police. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said earlier this week any strong suspicion of racism would be punished, in response to investigations into racist comments on closed Facebook and WhatsApp groups for police. Fridays protest was small but highly visible, with honking, flags and blue smoke blowing under rainy skies. It came after police outside Paris laid their handcuffs on the ground outside some police stations. Police unions met Thursday and Friday with Castaner to discuss changes to police tactics after the minister announced Monday that police would no longer be taught to seize suspects by the neck or push on their necks. Castaner stopped short of banning another technique pressing on a prone suspects chest that also has been blamed for leading to asphyxiation and possible death. Such immobilization techniques have come under growing criticism since Floyds death. But French police say the new restrictions go too far. He doesnt even know what hes talking about, said Jean-Paul Megret, a police union leader. Sometimes you cant just ask people to follow you to be arrested. Every day, youre dealing with people who are completely insane. France has seen several anti-police protests sparked by Floyds death, and another is planned Saturday. Fridays protest on the Champs-Elysees was striking because the avenue was repeatedly the scene of violence between police and the yellow vest protesters late last year. Last week, the Paris prosecutors office opened a preliminary investigation into racist insults and instigating racial hatred based on comments allegedly written in a private police Facebook group. Website Streetpress published a string of offensive messages that it said were published within the group, though acknowledged that it is unclear whether the authors were officers or people pretending to be police. Some of the reported comments mocked young men of color who have died fleeing police. Separately, six police officers in the Normandy city of Rouen are under internal investigation over racist comments in a private WhatsApp group. Both incidents have prompted public concerns about extreme views among French police. Courtesy photo Has it really only been 90 days? I imagine for most of us it seems like so much longer. That is certainly the case in my world. Rotarians by nature are a pretty social group of people - eager to serve the community, interested in what fellow members are up to, happy to see one another and share a meal. It's certainly been a challenge to not do those things. Difficult times call for sacrifices and course changes and lots of deep breathes - giving ourselves time to think before we speak, pause before we react, respect the opinions of others. In short, to be Rotarians living by the Four Way Test we repeat at each meeting (more on that later). And always, we need a sense of humor. I saw a social media post somewhere along the way that stated "This too shall pass. It may pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass." When it all begins to be too much, I think about that sign and smile - as bad as some days can be, this isn't forever. Professor Le Vinh Danh, president of Ton Duc Thang University, talks about upcoming changes in PhD education in Vietnam. A view of Ton uc Thang University. Photo courtesy of the Ton uc Thang University How would self-autonomy for Vietnamese universities ensure high-quality PhD education? University autonomy is the most basic principle in improving educational quality and university education in particular. Of course, the process of granting the self-autonomy to a university is very important to ensure high-quality education. If a university has been granted autonomy, that university is given the right to decide its teaching curriculum and its co-operation with any foreign university as well as other activities. More importantly, the university management board would be granted the right to decide its own financial scheme, including salaries. Such a lucrative policy would help attract talented people, including foreign specialists. However, implementing such a policy is almost impossible as the issue of human resources is subject to the decisions of the university management board. Adding to that their salaries are also subject to Ministry of Finance policies in accordance with the Governments financial law. This is one of the reasons why recently, quite many universities have raised the idea of creating a 'research group' and Ton uc Thang University is one of them. Since its establishment in 1997, the university has had autonomy rights. By the year 2009, the university had established its first research group. That research group has since been operating on the basis of self-financing. The school council/management council has developed its own rules on how the money should be used. How are PhD courses run by Ton uc Thang University? Registering for a PhD course has captured much attention from quite a number of Vietnamese university graduates. It is undeniable, people with PhD degrees are well respected in Vietnamese society. Their knowledge about the field they are studying is very broad and deep. But many people have asked if they have put the educational knowledge they have acquired into use in reality or not. Until now there is no answer to that question. It is undeniable that PhD training quality is a reflection of the economic knowledge level of the Vietnamese nation. Will you please talk a bit in detail about PhD courses run by Ton uc Thang University? There are three most salient points in running a PhD course in Ton uc Thang University that a PhD candidate must have to follow. First, any PhD candidate wanting to defend their PhD paper must have at least one article published in the Scopus or ISI Web of Science Second, a PhD candidate should work in a group of researchers on the same topic that they are doing. Finally, English is the main language used throughout the four-year course of a PhD candidate. The candidate must have a good command of English and they must have all the required projects published in the ISI/Scopus. Last but not least, the candidate must have their scientific paper presented at an international workshop with participants from at least 10 universities coming from five countries. VNS/GDVN PhD training: higher requirements set on students and instructors The number of articles published in international publications by Vietnams higher education establishments has increased by three times compared with seven years ago. The Berejiklian government has given its support for the proposed $3.6 billion Santos coal seam gasfield in northern NSW, saying it was critical for energy security and that it had limited environmental impacts. In its assessment released on Friday, the Planning Department said its "comprehensive suite of strict conditions" would ensure the controversial project was "in the public interest and is approvable". The Bibblewindi ponds, part of Santos' Narrabri coal seam gas project, in the Pilliga State Forest. Credit:Dean Sewell The 850-well project would extend over 1000 hectares of the Pilliga State Forest and adjoining grazing land, and could produce up to 200 terajoules a day - or about half of NSW's demand - for about 20 years. The project "would not result in any significant impacts on people or the environment," Planning concluded, despite noting it would need to dispose of as much as 840,000 tonnes of salt to be extracted. The approval comes despite the department having no assurances of how and where the salt will go. A potent storm system impacting the West Coast has ushered in big changes to the weather pattern across the Northwest this weekend, and will continue to do so into early week. As the storm system initially came ashore, feisty thunderstorms developed across portions of eastern Oregon, Washington and northern Idaho Friday afternoon and evening. Another round of thunderstorms is entering the Palouse from the south. This is about a mile south of Genesee #WAwx #IDwx pic.twitter.com/mXouE79jhV Armen Araradian (@ArmenKLEW) June 13, 2020 Some of the strongest thunderstorms featured damaging wind gusts, hail and torrential downpours across eastern Washington, Oregon, northern Idaho and western Montana so far this weekend. The storm system will also act to usher in much cooler air into the Northwest. It is not out of the question that June snowflakes will fly across the mountains of the region. Luckily, snowfall should remain at or above 6,000 feet in elevation, above most major pass levels. Below 6,000 feet in elevation, precipitation will fall as plain rain. Many locales that experienced temperatures in the 70s and 80s F during the second half of last week can expect temperatures some 10-25 degrees lower to close out the weekend. Although the cool and wet pattern isn't the most favored weather pattern for outdoor activities, this weather pattern will help to keep wildfire concerns to a minimum across the Northwest. The same cannot be said across the Great Basin and portions of the Southwest as dry and breezy conditions will bring along an extreme threat for potential wildfire development. The cool and wet pattern across the Northwest will continue into the day on Sunday as the core of the storm system begins to lift into southwestern Canada. Places like Missoula, Montana, can expect chilly conditions along with a passing shower or two. Story continues Across the border in portions of British Columbia and Alberta, this storm system will pose a flood threat as moisture surges northward. Chilly and damp conditions are likely to extend into early week as a persistent dip in the jet stream pattern plagues the Northwest. While the wet weather isn't expected to prompt any widespread flooding concerns across the region, it will likely continue to hamper any potential outdoor plans. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios. An English book for pre-primary students in Burdwan Municipal Girls School in West Bengal has come under scanner for using a picture of a dark-skinned man to denote the term 'ugly'. Giving rise to a controversy over the racial portrayal, it has prompted the School Education Department to seek a report in this matter. In the book 'Childs ABC study', a picture of a coloured man has been used to give an example of a word starting with the letter 'U'. The matter came to light after Sudip Majumder, a professor at Bangabasi Evening College in Kolkata, noticed the objectionable depiction in his daughter's textbook. A resident of Ramkrishna Palli district, Majumder informed the District School Inspector (Primary, East Burdwan) Swapan Kumar Dutta, who assured him that necessary steps will be taken. "I was shocked when I saw the definition of 'ugly' in the book while teaching my daughter. What kind of education is this? Immediately I contacted the school inspector and requested him to look into the matter," said Majumder. "This is not a state governments book. This is a private English book and the publisher is 'Bani Prakashan' and the author is Ruma Roy," he added. "I spoke to the publisher and told him the content is not at all suitable for children. He told me they have rectified the error in the new edition." Meanwhile, West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee has taken cognizance of the matter and suspended two school officials in the case. The parents of students of the school demanded that the book be withdrawn immediately. "The book is not part of the text referred by the education department. We will not tolerate such thing as this will instil prejudices into the minds of young children," said Chatterjee. Despite Microsofts announcement in May that all non-security releases (C and D updates) are paused until further notice, with 129 updates in Junes Patch Tuesday release cycle, there is plenty to do - for your deployment team and your application testing team(s). We see another critical update to Adobe Flash Player (see how to set your kill bits below) and critical updates to Microsofts browsers that depending on your legacy application portfolio may require immediate action. The area to focus on this month is the number and nature of updates to the Windows platform. A lot of Windows components and subsystems are touched by this months latest updates, leading to a large testing surface. Contrary to previous updates, this month's few development tool updates may also lead to some additional testing requirements for specific services. There's more information in this infographic. For this month, we have to work on the assumption that all of the Windows, Browser and Adobe updates will require a reboot. The Microsoft Office and Developer tools updates may require a reboot, depending on your system. Known Issues Each month, Microsoft includes a list of known issues that relate to the operating system and platforms that are included in this update cycle. I have referenced a few key issues that relate to the latest builds from Microsoft including: After installing this update on a Windows 10 device with a wireless wide area network (WWAN) LTE modem, reaching the internet might not be possible. However, the Network Connectivity Status Indicator (NCSI) in the notification area might still indicate that you are connected to the internet. Microsoft is working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release. After installing KB4493509, devices with some Asian language packs installed may receive the error, "0x800f0982 - Microsoft is working on a resolution to this issue. You can also find Microsofts summary of Known Issues for the June 2020 release in a single page. Major Revisions Two updates had major revisions for this month's update cycle from Microsoft: CVE-2020-0762 and CVE-2020-0763: Microsoft has released security updates for Windows Defender Security Canter engine to address both of these vulnerabilities CVE-2020-1108: To comprehensively address CVE-2020-1108, Microsoft has released updates for .NET Core 2.1 and .NET Core 3.1. Each month, we break down the update cycle into product families (as defined by Microsoft) with the following basic groupings: Browsers (Microsoft IE and Edge) Microsoft Windows (both desktop and server) Microsoft Office (Including Web Apps and Exchange) Microsoft Development platforms (ASP.NET Core, .NET Core and Chakra Core) Adobe Flash Player Browsers With 22 relatively highly-rated exploits to resolve this month, Microsoft has released five critical, six important, five moderate and a further six updates rated as low. Normally, this number of updates to Microsofts browsers would lead to a rapid response and urgent deployment of patches, especially as these critical updates address issues that could lead to arbitrary code run on compromised systems (through simply visiting specially crafted malicious websites). However, almost all of this month's security vulnerabilities relate to how VBScript handles ActiveX code in memory. What does this mean? Well, for most well-run IT houses ActiveX has been verbotenverboten for a while, and is likely very tightly managed (i.e. disabled) along with browser support for VBScript. If you are running a tight ship, add these updates to your standard deployment effort. If you are worried about legacy applications with VBScript or ActiveX dependencies (literally) running amok, then these updates need to be added to the top of your testing regime. Microsoft Windows This months Patch Tuesday update is a (another) huge update for the Windows ecosystem. Even with Microsoft still pausing all optional updates and focusing on security fixes, Junes update cycle includes more than 90 security fixes to Windows and unusually includes the following quality update that resolves: Issues that prevent users from updating .MSI files from a network folder. Problems that can cause the promotion of a server to a domain controller to fail. This occurs when the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) process is set as Protected Process Light (PPL). A security issue described in CVE-2018-0886 by adding support for the Encryption Oracle Remediation policy setting and changing the default value from Vulnerable to Mitigated. For more information about how this might affect your environment if you are using Remote Desktop, see KB4093492. Again, this is a huge update - with Microsoft addressing critical and important vulnerabilities across over 50 different areas in the Windows 10 OS. Windows Kernel: 14 fixes Elevation of privilege and Security Feature Bypass Windows Runtime: 11 Elevation of Privilege updates Windows Diagnostic Hub: 8 Elevation of privilege patches Windows Error Reporting: 4 Elevation of Privilege and information Disclosure issues And with the older/legacy systems covered by Microsofts ESU patch regime we are seeing some real hotspots with vulnerabilities address this month in the following areas: VBScript: 6 Elevation of Privilege Windows Installer: 3 Elevation of Privilege Win32 Kernel: 4 Elevation of Privilege Following all this, we have some real concerns about the updates to OLE (CVE-2020-1281 and CVE-2020-1212) and the update to the now aging COM model with CVE-2020-1311as our algorithmic testing engine picked up some issues in our application testing portfolio. Given the number and nature of updates this month, we think this update needs to be tested against a core group of applications, and then deployed in stages. Given the large(ish) number of updates to the Windows kernel, we may see some update compatibility issues with Windows drivers (especially drivers reliant on the GDI+ sub-system and possible font related issues). Test, deploy in stages and watch for driver and font problems in your telemetry for this months update cycle. Microsoft Office There was a single critical update to Microsoft SharePoint Server and eight remaining important updates for Microsoft Office. Of these eight, six relate (again) to SharePoint server and a XSS (Cross-scripting) attack. All of these SharePoint (and the other two updates that relate to Outlook and Excel) are difficult to exploit on recent versions of Office. Add this update to your standard Office update schedule. Noting that the SharePoint update will require a reboot to the server. Microsoft Development Platforms I think we need to pay attention to the updates for Microsofts development tools for this update cycle. There are five updates released to address a relatively serious elevation of privilege vulnerability in one of Microsofts diagnostic tools (Diagnostics Hub Standard Collector) that runs as a local service. Microsoft has released updates related to this component before (CVE-2010-0810) and one released with Visual Studio led to reported memory issues and memory leaks. This update has one of the highest CVSS (risk) scores for development tool vulnerabilities and therefore needs to be tested and patched as a priority. I suggest you try out Windows 10, Release 2004 (Why not?) and watch the memory usage of: "%WinDir%\system32\DiagSvcs\DiagnosticsHub.StandardCollector.Service.exe. If it presents over 30% processor utilization, you may have a problem. Add this update to your development update release schedule with particular attention to the collector service. Adobe Flash Player Microsoft has released an update rated as critical (ADV200010) to address a single vulnerability (APSB20-30) in Adobe Flash player that could lead to a remote code execution scenario. Microsoft has some good advice this month: set the kill bits to Adobe Flash - and disable the ability to instantiate Flash Player in any browser. To prevent Adobe Flash Player from running you can set the application (hardblock) compatibility bits in a .REG text file with the following settings: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}] "Compatibility Flags"=dword:00000400 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}] "Compatibility Flags"=dword:0000040 Once done, you can rest easy and deploy this update using your standard desktop update schedule. Donita Jose By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Monsoon may come as a relief to Hyderabadis after weeks of relentless heat, but for the migrant workers stranded on the streets of Secunderabad, who are waiting for a train to their hometowns, it is agony. As a majority of trains have fully been booked up until June 20, these workers, who had left their workplaces during the lockdown, are forced to spend nights on the streets outside the station, despite the HC directing the State to ensure their welfare on a PIL filed by advocate Vasudha Nagraj. However, several NGOs and civil society groups have come to their aid and have temporarily accommodated them in a primary school. Nearly 150 migrants have made this school their home, after their tickets to Bihar, Orissa and Bengal were pushed to the waiting list time and again, forcing them to prolong their stay on the streets with no shelter. have now moved to a government primary school in the area with the help of local NGOs and civil society groups | VINAY MADAPU With no work in Kamareddy, we had come to Secunderabad, only to learn that there is only one train to Bihar. We booked the train and stayed on streets, but our tickets were on the waiting list. It never got confirmed, said Chandan from Katihar, Bihar, who is part of the 150 people lodged in the school. It was on June 7 that they moved into a vacant government primary school, from where they attempted to book tickets for the second time. We are not educated and cannot read. With great difficulty, we got someone to cancel our tickets on June 10 and received the refund. Now, we have booked it again, but were still on the waitlist, he added. The group has nearly eight pregnant women and over 25 children below the age of 10. While they are a lucky few with shelter, several migrants continue to live on the streets of Secunderabad, exposed to Covid-19 and the monsoon. The situation looks grim because they have no money. Theyre spending whatever they have on train tickets. When the tickets dont get confirmed, theyre not even in a position to seek refund. The government must provide them food and shelter, if not travel arrangements as the rains have worsened their situation, said Joseph Thomas, a good samaritan, who has been helping these migrants find food and lodging. It was wrong for us to force this salute on our pledges, no matter what is their background. Most of all, it was wrong for us to ignore the calls for its complete cessation, the organization said in a statement. We put our collective existence above the expressed concerns of individuals. We also operated at times with an aura of invincibility. This was arrogant behavior. Some of the rules for collecting unemployment compensation have changed amid the coronavirus pandemic. For employers, a degree of caution is needed when dealing with workers who are afraid to come back to the job. Employees must understand that a simple, undifferentiated and unsupportable fear of going back to work because of COVID-19 is unlikely to support an unemployment compensation application. If a worker has an underlying non-COVID disability that adversely impacts a major life function, the worker is protected by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Is there an unreasonable risk that the virus could impact the disability? If so, you may be eligible for unemployment compensation even if your employer says the workplace is COVID-free and that it is safe to come back to work. On the other hand, an employer cannot prevent a person with a disability or an older employee from returning to work even if the employee is in a group with a heightened susceptibility for contracting the virus. Both worker and employer must adjust to the new reality. Recently, Gov. Ned Lamont issued a new executive order that has received considerable media attention for its directives for nursing homes. However, a critical section of so-called Executive Order No. 7UU deals with an individuals suitability for work, specifically for unemployment claims submitted May 17 through July 25. The order directs the Department of Labor to consider the degree of risk to the individuals health, or, due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the health of a member of that individuals household. The order continues, saying the state may consider the individuals or household members health, his or her physical capabilities, the physical and mental requirements of the job, working conditions and the existence of any medical documentation concerning the individuals limitations. If unreasonable risk to the individuals health or, due to COVID-19, the health of a member of that individuals household is established, the work offered can be found unsuitable for the individual and the employee is therefore eligible for unemployment compensation. What actually constitutes unreasonable risk is a determination, ultimately, to be made by the state. Clearly, a statement from the individuals doctor can help support the persons claim. To show the employer the risk is real, under state law the employer can ask for some type of medical evidence. The problem? Once obtained, such medical information must be guarded and maintained in separate files to protect employee privacy. Meanwhile, it is clear that a worker cannot stay home from work simply out of fear. If, for example, an office is following all the guidelines for social separation and cleanliness, simple fear of the disease, standing alone, is not going to cut it. On the other hand, a factory worker on an assembly line where no one is wearing a mask or other protective gear might have a reasonable fear and therefore be eligible for unemployment compensation even if the employer wants everyone back on the line. In such circumstances that employee might also have a claim to be filed with either the federal or state OSHA authorities. Lastly, keep in mind that an employer retains the right to appeal a state decision to pay unemployment compensation. The state could change course and determine that the worker actually was not eligible for the payouts. For the worker, that could mean the state orders repayment of all amounts provided from the start of the claim. Robert B. Mitchell is an attorney with Stratford-based Mitchell & Sheahan P.C., a law firm that primarily handles employment-related legal matters. He can be reached at mitchellandsheahan.com or 203-873-0240. With the arguments, the court waded into a power struggle between two branches of government as it weighed what role, if any, the judiciary should play when the Justice Department wants to dismiss one of its own cases. It's not only an important legal question but a political one too, given President Donald Trump's own personal interest in the case and the potential to undo one of the signature prosecutions from special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Supporting essential remittance flows is a significant challenge amid the COVID-19 crisis, with new research pointing to the importance of cross-border payments for poorer countries In his new research, published by the Brookings Institute and shared with Ahram Online, Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, said that remittances reached a record high of $554 billion in 2019, overtaking foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The research was published by Mohieldin and Dilip Ratha, the lead economist on migration and remittances at the World Bank. Remittances have been larger, and more stable, than FDI in India, oil exports in Mexico, and tourism in Egypt, Nepal, and Tunisia, according to the research. But the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to lead to a 20 percent decline in migrant remittance flows to LMICs in 2020, which is projected to be even sharper in poorer countries and fragile and conflict-affected countries, according to the research. According to the World Bank, LMICs could suffer a decline of over $100 billion in remittance flows, on top of a projected decline of $200 billion (37 percent) in FDI flows in 2020. The overall decline in external financing, especially with the significant drop of portfolio investment, can cause difficulties for nations in managing their external payment needs, for essential imports and foreign debt service, in addition, risks of households falling back into poverty and food insecurity have risen, according to the research. The World Bank estimates that 40 million to 60 million people may be pushed into extreme poverty due to the crisis. The research highlighted the call that Egypt has launched alongside 20 countries and organisations to keep remittances flowing, urging policymakers to declare remittance services as essential and to support the scaling up of digital remittance channels. To maintain remittance flows, the research proposed six measures. According to the research, a tax credit could be offered to remittance service providers equal to the decrease in fees paid by remittance senders and recipients, while imposition of taxes on remittances should be avoided by source and recipient countries. Also proposed is an increase in market competition in the remittances industry, given that many countries globally have exclusive partnerships, which stifles market competition and imposes a de facto tax on remittance senders and recipients. We need to open partnerships among national post offices, banks, and money transfer operators. We should also encourage interoperability of remittance technologies to help increase scale and reduce costs, the authors argue, Additionally, using digital technologies and advance adequate and appropriate, risk-based know-your-client (KYC) requirements is essential, as that could help address de-risking practices by correspondent banks (intended to avoid rather than manage risks) that continue to affect access to bank accounts for money transfer businesses operating in smaller and poorer remittance corridors. The authors also argue that borrowers need innovation and credit enhancement amid the ongoing crisis, when even investment-grade-rated entities in emerging markets are facing troubles in accessing international capital markets. Diasporas from many developing countries tend to have a more favorable perception of country risk than institutional investors. The savings of such diaspora members, especially those kept as low-interest bank deposits, can be mobilized via the issuance of diaspora bonds. Several countries have raised billions of dollars of financing through diaspora bonds. Recently, Nigeria raised $300 million via a diaspora bond, according to the research. Using future flows, including remittance inflows, as collateral can contribute as well to facilitate bond issuances during a financial crisis. In this regard, following a sharp increase in borrowing costs in 2002, Brazil raised over $4 billion by issuing bonds backed by diversified payment rights. According to the World Bank, these bonds had a lower borrowing cost, saving more than 700 basis points compared to Brazils sovereign bonds, the research notes. Further, the authors suggest setting up a structured, international effort to improve the data on remittances as a medium-term priority, especially as many countries do not report data on outward remittance flows. Search Keywords: Short link: Prospects of a rich harvest as well as crop diversification of Haryana farmers have been affected by the dip in prices of maize. In the absence of sufficient government procurement agencies, farmers are being forced to sell their produce at Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 per quintal to private traders while the minimum support price (MSP) of this crop was hiked to Rs 1,850 per quintal. Farmers claim that the fall in prices has caused them an estimated loss of Rs 20,000 per acre. They said the government agencies do not procure maize grown in rabi season and the lack of competition forces them to sell their produce to private traders Rs 600-Rs 700 per quintal below the MSP. The government has declared maize as the best alternative of paddy, especially in the rice belts of Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Ambala and Yamunanagar districts, and announced cash incentives of Rs 7,000 for every acre diversified from paddy to maize. Farmers said last year, the market price was Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,600 per quintal. The fall in prices has not only caused losses to farmers, but also discouraged them to adopt the diversification plan as the sowing of maize (kharif) begins with the harvesting of the crop sown in the rabi season, said a commission agent. I had grown maize on five acres and there was a bumper yield. But at this price, I am unable to recover even the input cost. Now, I have decided to sow paddy on all my land, said a farmer, Darshan Lal, from Kurukshetras Ladwa. Another farmer Shahbad, Rajiv Kumar, said, If the government has fixed the MSP, it should procure the entire produce of both rabi and kharif to provide the benefit of MSP to the farmers. Haryana state agricultural marketing board chief administrator Sumedha Kataria said, The government agencies begin procurement of maize from October 1 as rabi maize is not included in the procurement plan. As per traders, the wholesale price of maize has decreased due to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the poultry industry. Poultry farms are the biggest consumer of maize, but they were shut due to fall in the prices of eggs and chicken. This has directly affected the prices of maize, said a maize merchant, Krishan Lal of Yamunanagar. Though we are purchasing maize at Rs 1,100 per quintal, there are no orders from feed producers. This has forced us to limit the amount of maize we buy from the local market, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON DURING the height of the global pandemic, Canadian Premium Sand (CPS) released its Plan B for its proposed frac-sand mine and processing facility on the east side of Lake Winnipeg. Quite frankly, Plan B is even worse than its original plan. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/6/2020 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion DURING the height of the global pandemic, Canadian Premium Sand (CPS) released its Plan B for its proposed frac-sand mine and processing facility on the east side of Lake Winnipeg. Quite frankly, Plan B is even worse than its original plan. In a late-March press release, CPS announced that its new preliminary feasibility study had "a revised capital cost of C$124 million before contingency, including C$8 million in expected short-line rail infrastructure upgrades north of Winnipeg, representing a dramatic improvement from the previous estimated capital cost of C$204 million." How did CPS come to save $80 million dollars, by its own estimation? First, it has done away with the construction of the processing facility that was to have been constructed at the mine site location. This means almost all the promised local jobs have been eliminated. Also gone are the trucking jobs that would have been needed to transport one million tonnes of processed frac sand annually to a Winnipeg transload facility. Instead, CPS now wants to move one million tonnes of raw, wet frac sand from its proposed rip-and-strip mine operation, located near Hollow Water First Nation, a three-hour drive northeast of Winnipeg, and barge the frac sand across Lake Winnipeg to somewhere on the west side. This raw frac sand would then be unloaded from a yet-to-be-disclosed docking facility near Dunnottar, to be processed at a facility to be constructed close to the existing rail line and to the barge docking facility. From there, the frac sand would be transported to market by rail. I am sure those who live full-time or seasonally on the west side of Lake Winnipeg near Dunnottar will not be happy at the prospect of having hundreds of truckloads of frac sand going to and from the barge docking location to the frac-sand processing facility during prime cottage season. Surely that would have an effect on property values. Along with traffic issues, residents in the area might also be concerned with the proposed stockpiles of processed frac sand stored outside at the CPS processing facility, which could cause silicosis with long-term exposure. CPS will also need a docking facility at Seymourville, close to where its mine will be located, where I suspect they will have to stockpile large volumes of frac sand before it is barged over to the west side of the lake. This no doubt will cause concern for people living in Seymourville. In order to move one million tonnes of frac sand via barge from the east to the west side of the lake, CPS stated it would need a 4,700-tonne payload barge with a 2,000-horsepower pusher to move the barge. CPS would need to employ two of these 86-x-16-metre barges, each having a four-metre draft when fully loaded, going twice a day every day until freeze up in order to move one million tonnes of frac sand. CPS states they would contract these barges from a Burlington, Ont.-based marine company. How that company will get them to Manitoba, and where they will winter them in Manitoba, is not answered in CPSs updated preliminary feasibility study. Another issue arises from an examination of marine charts for Lake Winnipeg. The waters in and around Dunnottar are far too shallow to accommodate barges with a four-metre draft when fully loaded, so unless CPS plans to dredge the waters in the area on a regular basis, it is not clear how it could dock these monster barges. CPS received its environmental licence from the province to proceed to the production phase back in May 2019. It is set to expire in May 2022. The licence contains more than 90 conditions that must be met before CPS goes into full operation. A full year has now passed since CPS was issued its licence, and not one of those conditions has been met. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. In fact, CPS has yet to make a final investment decision to proceed to the production phase of its proposed development. The company has also stated it will not be ready to proceed to production until sometime in 2022, when its environmental licence is set to expire. CPS would then need both to submit a notice of alteration to its existing environmental licence to proceed before it expires, and secure approval of this new plan from the province. CPS will also need a number of federal permits as well for its new proposal, as Lake Winnipeg is a federally regulated body of water with a thriving commercial fishing economy. Before anything can happen, however, CPS needs to convince potential investors to cough up at least $124 million, if not more, to get this project into production. Given that we are now at the beginning of a global economic depression that some economists say could last a decade, and with shale oil and gas exploration all but dead in North America for the foreseeable future, there is very little appetite for frac sand or for investors to invest in a risky frac-sand venture. CPS should pull up stakes now and take its losses. Failing that, What The Frack Manitoba will be keeping a very close eye on how this development unfolds, to ensure both CPS and the province are held accountable. Don Sullivan is a landscape photographer, former director of the Boreal Forest Network and served as special adviser to the government of Manitoba on the Pimachiowin Aki UNESCO World Heritage site portfolio. He is a research affiliate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - Manitoba. CECIL RHODES was founder of the De Beers diamond company and a Prime Minister of the Cape Colony in southern Africa who created the prestigious Rhodes scholarship and had not one, but two Winnipeg schools named after him. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/6/2020 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. CECIL RHODES was founder of the De Beers diamond company and a Prime Minister of the Cape Colony in southern Africa who created the prestigious Rhodes scholarship and had not one, but two Winnipeg schools named after him. But Rhodes, who died in 1902, was also a British imperialist who paved the way for apartheid in South Africa and said in his will the Anglo-Saxon race was "the first race in the world." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Now a Winnipegger has started a petition to strip Rhodes name from a Winnipeg elementary school. Jill Sutherland, who started the petition on change.org a few days ago to ask the Winnipeg School Division to rename the 1570 Elgin Ave. school, and is close to reaching her goal of 500 signatures, says on the site she was shocked when she saw a school here was named after someone considered a white supremacist. "I feel strongly that keeping this name in place is ultimately harmful and counter to the efforts to decolonize our schools," Sutherland wrote on the website. "My hope was that it would be a spark, and that momentum would build among the community to ask that the name of Cecil Rhodes be removed from this school, and that a process be started to rename it in a way that involves the community, and most importantly the staff and students, in this part of the schools history." Sutherland said WSD trustee Jennifer Chen is on board and says she will bring the motion forward at the last board meeting before summer break to that there will be a chance for debate and community input in September. According to the Manitoba Historical Societys website, the two-storey school, named after Rhodes, was opened in 1909 for about 700 students. Just eight years later, the school was so overcrowded that another school, Cecil Rhodes School No. 2, was constructed nearby. The first school is now used as the Adolescent Parent Centre. An 'aggressive' driver allegedly flipped his car in a McDonald's drive-through, freed himself and then head-butted a firefighter. Emergency services called to the fast-food restaurant at Eramosa Road at Somerville, south of Melbourne, around 12.40am on Saturday found a car had crashed into a bollard in the drive-through and flipped on its side. The man acted in an 'aggressive manner' once he clambered out, Victoria Police spokeswoman Sergeant Julie-Anne Newman said. Victoria Police described the crash as a 'big McSteak' in a media release on Saturday morning Police alleged the driver, 23, pushed a paramedic and headbutted a firefighter after managing to free himself from the car The 23-year-old driver pushed a male paramedic and headbutted a Country Fire Authority officer after he freed himself, she added. The Tyabb man was restrained before paramedics treated him and took him to hospital. Police are investigating whether the driver also abused staff at the drive-in window prior to the crash. It is expected the man will be interviewed in relation to assaulting an emergency service worker and traffic offences, police said. Officials and members of North Korean women's unions stage a mass rally outside a museum in Sinchon, South Hwanghae Province, Tuesday, to denounce the South Korean government and North Korean defectors here for their anti-Pyongyang leaflet campaigns. / Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo North Korea is ratcheting up its hostile rhetoric against South Korea in its latest expression of anger over the latter's "failure" to curb North Korean defectors' anti-Pyongyang leaflet campaigns. Now, its fury has expanded to the United States as the Kim Jong-un regime has threatened to interfere in its presidential election in November if Washington continues to meddle in inter-Korean affairs. The threat came after the U.S. State Department expressed disappointment, Tuesday, over Pyongyang's decision to cut off all communication lines between the two Koreas. "They (South Koreans) have never abandoned their ugly intentions to destroy our country," the Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said in an editorial, describing the South Korean government's actions on the leaflet campaigns as "a challenge and a declaration of war against us." "Regardless of how it plays out afterward, our people have an iron will to rightfully take revenge on the South Korean authorities even if inter-Korean relations end up in total destruction." Last week, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader and first vice department director of the party's Central Committee, threatened to cancel a military tension-reducing agreement made during the 2018 inter-Korean summit, as the Moon Jae-in administration has "tolerated" the anti-North propaganda campaigns. She also said the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and the joint liaison office may fall victim to the "hostility" of the South. In response, the government said it would legislate a law to ban the leaflet campaigns. On Thursday, Cheong Wa Dae said the government would crack down on defectors and activists flying anti-North leaflets and other items across the border tethered to balloons, and sternly respond to any violations in accordance with relevant laws, after a standing committee session of the National Security Council presided over by Chung Eui-yong, director of the National Security Office (NSO) at the presidential office. "The government expresses deep regret over the continued distribution of anti-Pyongyang leaflets and other items by activists," said Kim Yu-geun, the NSO first deputy director. "The government will keep abiding by all inter-Korean agreements to avoid accidental clashes." Earlier in the day, the unification ministry filed a complaint with police against two North Korean defectors' groups for sending the leaflets across the border. It also plans to revoke business permits granted to them. Alongside North Korea's state-run paper, the Tongil Voice, a propaganda radio broadcast, joined in to bash President Moon. "When he told us to trust him, with his hands held up high in Pyongyang and Mount Paekdu, he looked human, and we thought he would be different from the past leaders. Now it looks like he is worse than his predecessors," it said. The North also warned the U.S. not to meddle in its ongoing matters with the South, irked by a U.S. State Department spokesman urging Pyongyang to return to diplomacy and cooperation. "This is, indeed, ridiculous. No one is entitled to saying this or that about the inter-Korean relations as the relations pertain to the internal affairs of the Korean nation from A to Z," Kwon Jong-gun, director-general of the North Korean foreign ministry's American affairs department, told the Korean Central News Agency, Thursday. "If the U.S. pokes its nose into others' affairs with careless remarks, far from minding its internal affairs, at a time when its political situation is in the worst-ever confusion, it may encounter an unpleasant thing hard to deal with. "The U.S. had better hold its tongue and mind its internal affairs first if it doesn't want to experience a hair-raiser. It would be good not only for the U.S. interests but also for the easy holding of its upcoming presidential election." However, Kwon failed to elaborate on what the "hair-raiser" would be although speculation is rampant that the North's current hostile policy toward the South and the U.S. may lead to a military provocation, including the launching of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). "The North is expected to test an SLBM to complete its development within this year as the U.S. government cannot afford to focus on North Korean issues, and U.S. President Donald Trump has been lenient on such launches," said Cheong Seong-chang, a director of the Sejong Institute's Center for North Korean Studies. "While staging SLBM tests, it may test-fire other new weapons as well." Harbour View:--- The Cabinet of the Governor will resume regular office hours as of Monday, June 15, 2020. To provide a safe environment for visitors and the staff a COVID-19 prevention and safety plan was prepared and measures were put in place for the re-opening of the cabinet. In accordance with the established prevention and safety plan, the Consular Department will only provide consultations on appointments. To schedule an appointment for a consultation or for a telephone consultation please call 542-1199 between 9 am and 11 am and also between 2 pm and 3 pm. Or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We notify the public that it is a requirement to adhere to safety measures such as hand sanitizing, wearing a face mask and keep a social distance of at least 6 feet when entering the building. The office of The Cabinet of The Governor can be contacted via telephone number 542-1160 or via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. RICHMOND, Va. A statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis was torn down along Richmond, Virginias famed Monument Avenue on Wednesday night by protesters. The statue in the former capital of the Confederacy was toppled shortly before 11 p.m. and was on the ground in the middle of an intersection, news outlets reported. Richmond police were on the scene. About 80 miles away, protesters in Portsmouth beheaded and then pulled down four statues that were part of a Confederate monument on Wednesday, according to media outlets. Efforts to tear one of the statues down began around 8:20 p.m., but the rope they were using snapped, The Virginian-Pilot reported. The crowd was frustrated by the Portsmouth City Council's decision to put off moving the monument. They switched to throwing bricks from the post that held the plaque they had pulled down as they initially worked to bring down the statue. The Pilot reports that they then started to dismantle the monument one piece at a time as a marching band played in the streets and other protesters danced. A flag tied to the monument was lit on fire, and the flames burned briefly at the base of one of the statues. The actions come amid national protests over the death of George Floyd who died after a police officer kneeled on his neck. A statue of Christopher Columbus in Richmond was torn down by protesters, set on fire and then submerged into a lake on Tuesday. News outlets reported the Columbus statue was toppled less than two hours after protesters gathered in the city's Byrd Park chanting for the statue to be taken down. The death of Floyd, who was black, has prompted similar Confederate monument removals around the nation. Some people say the tributes inappropriately glorify people who led a rebellion that sought to uphold slavery. Others say their removal amounts to erasing history. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam last week ordered the removal of an iconic statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, which is four blocks away from where the Davis statue stood. A judge on Monday issued an injunction preventing officials from removing the monuments for the next 10 days. Syracuse, N.Y. Ann Tiffany has watched over and over the video of Martin Gugino getting pushed to the ground by Buffalo police. It hurts each time I see it, Tiffany said. She and other Syracuse-area activists know Gugino. He was a part of Upstate Drone Action, a group that has protested the use of armed drones at Syracuse Hancock Airbase for a decade. Gugino attended at least one of the groups protests, but he was known more for his dependable, quiet presence at many of the group members court appearances. (The members are often arrested for their peaceful protests. The most recent arrest was of six members in September.) Gugino would show up with a law book in his hand. Hed often offer strategy suggestions, Tiffany said. What he would never do is raise his voice or be confrontational, Tiffany and other Syracuse-area peace activists said. Thats why it was such a surprise to see him treated like that, Tiffany said. A video shows Gugino, 75, shoved to the ground by Buffalo police as he approaches them during a protest against police brutality June 4. His head hits the pavement and blood starts pouring out of his ear. Officers move by him, leaving him on the ground. Gugino was in intensive care for several days; he is now out, but still in the hospital. His lawyer has said he suffered a brain injury. The president suggested on Twitter that the elderly man faked his fall and was an antifa agitator. There has been no evidence of that. Gugino was widely known as a peace activist in Buffalo, Upstate New York, and in Washington, D.C., said Edward Kinane. Kinane, a long-time Syracuse activist, said he knew Gugino both from his work against drone use and through protests with Witness Against Torture in Washington, D.C. That group, too, has spoken out about Guginos treatment and the effort to cast him as a dangerous agitator. Martin is gentle, principled, and undaunted. Allied with the Catholic Worker tradition, he is also deeply committed to a tapestry of causes, from fair housing to immigrant rights, wrote Jeremy Varon, a member of the anti-torture group. Kinane, also 75, saw himself as he watched police push Gugino. I could really relate to whats happening; Ive been pushed around by cops, Kinane said. And, like Gugino, Kinane is committed to nonviolence. Ive been in those situations. Ive tried to talk to police when theyre adrenalized. Its usually not successful, Kinane said. It wasnt until after Rae Kramer saw the video that she realized she knew the man in it. She, too, knew Gugino from her court appearances after being arrested for protesting the drones. I said, 'Oh, my God. Its Martin," Kramer said. A really sweet man. Quiet and sweet and helpful. She said it was hard to watch the video of the police walking by Gugino as he lay, bleeding. Theres no question he is a gentle man. Completely nonviolent. Totally committed to peace, Kramer said. Marnie Eisenstadt is a reporter who writes about people and public affairs in Central New York. Have an idea or question? Contact her anytime: email | twitter| Facebook | 315-470-2246 Amid the ongoing border row with Nepal, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, June 11 side-stepped issues that have complicated its relationship with the neighboring country by upholding the importance of long-standing bilateral relations and continuing its cooperation during the coronavirus crisis. MEA official spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that India's bilateral relations with Nepal have increased in the recent years. India has been providing assistance to Nepal under PM Modi's initiative to map out a common strategy to combat COVID-19 in the region, Srivastava said. READ | Maha: Nepalese national held for Thane ATM robbery MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava remarked, "Our relations and bilateral relations with Nepal has increased in the recent years. India has been reaching out to friendly nations including Nepal. We are providing assistance to Nepal amid this virus pandemic. We have ensured that this supply dont stop." The diplomatic move comes amid friction in the Indo-Nepal ties after Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli chaired a Cabinet meeting in which the new map of the country featuring the Indian territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura was approved. READ | Nepal PM's big claim on new map showing Indian territory: 'Indian forces there since 1962' Nepal incorporates Indian territories in the new map On May 18, Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli chaired a Cabinet meeting in which the new map of the country was approved. As per reports, Nepal's new map has been drawn on the basis of the Sugauli Treaty of 1816 signed between Nepal and the then British Indian government and other relevant documents. Addressing the Parliament on May 19, the Nepal PM claimed that India had made the aforesaid territories "disputed" by stationing its Army there and vowed to reclaim these territories from India through diplomatic efforts. READ | Virginia protesters behead Confederate statue READ | MEA reiterates opposition to Nepal's map; highlights help extended during COVID-19 crisis Sixteen men including three locals were arrested and charged with a total of 218 offences after a two-year Ontario Provincial Police probe into an illegal tobacco plant on Six Nations of the Grand River revealed a cross-country organized crime distribution network. The charges range from conspiracy to commit murder to participation in a criminal organization to drug trafficking offences. Police announced Thursday the seizure of 11.5 million contraband cigarettes worth an Ontario street value of $942,000 and 1,714 pounds of cannabis with an estimated street value of $2.5 million as part of the nation-wide crackdown. More than two kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl, three handguns, ammunition, $236,750 in cash and seven vehicles were also seized. Police said the busts, coined Project Cairnes, spanned three provinces including Ontario, B.C., and Quebec, and targeted illicit manufacturing and distribution of contraband tobacco and pot. The investigation into the illegal tobacco facility on Six Nations, which began in 2018, revealed that illicit cigarettes were being shipped to other parts of Ontario and B.C. before they were sold on the black market. Police also uncovered a drug network tied to the facility that saw large shipments of illegal pot sent from B.C. on a weekly basis. The facility was operated by a GTA-based criminal organization and has no affiliation to Six Nations, police said. The reserve, just southwest of Hamilton, received no investment or benefit from the crime networks dealings. The accused are closely associated with members of Traditional Organized Crime and other organized crime groups, police said in a press release. Of the 16 people facing charges, OPP say two are from Hagersville and one is from Ohsweken. A 64-year-old Hagersville man, a 35-year-old Hagersville man, and a 61-year-old Ohsweken man are facing participation in a criminal organization charges. Seven other people from Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto and Weston are charged with conspiracy to commit murder, among drug trafficking offences. New Jersey is reopening its economy in stages. Businesses must abide by certain standards in order to reopen. But if workers dont feel safe, they may prefer to stay on unemployment benefits rather than go back to work. The Department of Labor has issued guidelines to answer worker questions about whether or not they can remain on unemployment benefits because of the coronavirus crisis. In most cases, you can't collect Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits if you voluntarily quit or refuse suitable work; exceptions could occur where an individual quits or refuses work because the work poses a high degree of risk to health and safety, Labor said on its website. Here are the Labor Departments answers to these important questions. I was furloughed and now my employer wants me to come back. Can I remain on unemployment or get Pandemic Unemployment Assistance? Labor said generally, workers on regular unemployment must act upon any referral to suitable employment and must accept any offer of suitable work. It said barring unusual circumstances, a furloughed worker who is asked to return to their job very likely constitutes an offer of suitable employment that the employee must accept. If you were furloughed because your employer was closed as a direct result of COVID-19, you would potentially be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, while the employer remained closed. However, it said, your eligibility would cease if the business reopens and you are recalled to work unless you are eligible under specific coronavirus-related reasons as outlined in the CARES Act. In this case, inform your employer of your plan to receive unemployment assistance for a PUA reason, continue weekly certification and follow the COVID-19 certification guide, Labor said. If eligible, your claim will be transitioned to PUA. It said if your employer reports your refusal to work, your benefits may be put on hold for four to six weeks while your case is adjudicated. What if Im concerned for my health or my safety? While in most cases a worker cant refuse suitable work and collect unemployment benefits, where the work poses a high degree of risk to health and safety to the claimant, he or she can refuse to accept the `unsuitable work and continue to collect benefits, Labor said. This is determined on a case-by-case basis and importantly, if the worker is found to be ineligible, they must return any benefits received after receiving the offer of suitable work. Labor said those who are concerned about health and safety may be eligible for PUA if they have been told to self-quarantine because of potential exposure to the coronavirus. This would also apply to high-risk workers with underlying health concerns. Such individuals could receive PUA if they were advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine `in order to avoid the greater-than-average risks that the individual might face if he or she were to become infected by the coronavirus, Labor said. This can include, but is not limited to, an individual with an `immune system [that] is compromised by virtue of a serious health condition. If this is your situation and you refuse to return to work, tell your employer you plan to apply for unemployment for a coronavirus-related reason, keep certifying your benefits and if youre eligible, your benefits will be switched to PUA, Labor said. Again, if your employer reports that you refuse to work, your benefits will be delayed while your case is adjudicated. This will take four to six weeks. What are my employers safety obligations under the law? It depends. Under federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) law, employers must protect workers from workplace hazards that can cause illness or injury, provide required personal protective equipment (PPE), and ensure its use, Labor said. Its also against NJ Wage and Hour law for an employer to deduct the cost of protective equipment from your pay, it said. If you are an essential worker, as defined in Executive Order Number 122, your employer is required to provide you with a cloth face covering and gloves, hand washing breaks, sanitization materials and more, Labor said. It is unlawful for them to charge you for required personal protective equipment. You can report violations at covid19.nj.gov/form/violations. I was furloughed and my employer wants me back with fewer hours and less pay. Do I have to take this work or can I remain on unemployment? It depends. The Labor Department said it will consider work to be suitable where it pays at least 80% of the claimants average weekly wage, including the value of benefits. It will also consider a reduction in hours such as if youre changed from full-time to part-time. Im returning to work but I havent gotten my unemployment benefits yet. What happens? If you are approved, you will be able to certify and claim benefits for any weeks for which you were eligible, even if you go back to work. My employer wants me to come back but Im the primary caretaker of a child or family member due to a COVID-19 facility closure. Can I refuse to return to work and get unemployment assistance? This refusal would disqualify you from regular benefits, but you may be eligible for PUA if you are unable or unavailable to work due to a coronavirus-related reason. These reasons include caring for a child or family member whose regular school or place of care is closed because of COVID-19, or you need to care for a family member who has the virus, or if you are personally sick, quarantined or potentially exposed to the virus. When it comes to school closures, eligibility for benefits would not continue past the regular end of the academic year, but if daycare or summer camps are closed because of the virus, you could be eligible, Labor said. If I refuse to return to work to care for a child or family member, does my employer have to hold my job for me? It depends. Labor said if your employer is covered under the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) and you are an eligible employee, then you are generally entitled to up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave to care for a loved one in a two-year period. This includes leave to care for your child if their school or place of care is closed by order of a public official because of COVID-19. Employers that are state or local government agencies, or companies or organizations with 30 or more employees worldwide, are covered under this law, it said. If you return to work, you may be able to use federal emergency paid sick leave, which is job-protected leave, pays up to two weeks of wages at two-thirds of your regular rate up to a maximum of $200 per day and is paid by your employer. Labor said this doesnt apply to employers with more than 500 employees or businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Health care providers and emergency response workers can be excluded. You can learn more from the U.S. Department of Labor and from the N.J. Labor Departments Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Can I quit and get unemployment benefits? In most cases, no. But there are times when a worker can show unsafe, unhealthful, or dangerous working conditions that were so intolerable that the worker had no choice but to leave the employment. The burden of proof is on the employee to prove that they quit for good cause, Labor said. Eligibility for unemployment benefits is highly fact-specific and determined on a case-by-case basis. Do I have to be fired/furloughed or quit in order to get PUA? No. Labor said you may be eligible for PUA even if you do not officially quit or get furloughed or laid off, because PUA can provide help to those unable or unavailable to work due to a qualifying COVID-19 related reason. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. The U.K. government backed down on plans to impose full border controls immediately after Brexit in an attempt to avoid piling an additional burden on businesses already struggling with the impact of coronavirus. For the first half of next year, most firms moving goods into Britain will get six months to file customs declarations and pay any tariffs due whether the U.K.and the European Union reach a trade accord or not, the government said in a statement on Friday. "This would be welcome news for many businesses, which simply aren't ready for chaotic changes with our biggest trading partner at the end of the year," said Josh Hardie, deputy director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, the country's largest business lobby group. The new border policy was announced after Britain and the EU agreed to step up the pace of their trade negotiations following months of sometimes bad-tempered deadlock. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will hold a call on June 15 aimed at injecting momentum into the talks. With just six months left until Britain final leaves the bloc, businesses had been struggling to recruit a fraction of the 50,000 customs agents the transport industry says are necessary to prevent snarl-ups at the country's ports once Britain leaves the bloc's single market and customs union. Without enough agents, goods traveling to and from the EU are at risk of being delayed at ports. The government said it will provide 50 million pounds ($63 million) of grants to help customs intermediaries prepare, and plans to build new border facilities to carry out customs checks. Companies will still have to prepare customs declarations and keep records from January 2021. Those importing controlled goods such as alcohol and tobacco will still have to file customs forms immediately. From April, importers of products of animal origin, such as milk and honey, will have to pre-notify the health authorities. From July, all customs declarations and payments will have to made when goods are imported. This "announcement is an important step towards getting the country ready for the end of the transition period, but there is still more work to be done," Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said in a statement after he formally ruled out extending the post-Brexit standstill period beyond the end of the year. Even with the new policy, businesses will face full checks on exports to the EU unless the bloc reciprocates the U.K.'s offer, meaning firms will still have to grapple with new paperwork and the risk of border queues. Nor will the relaxed rules apply to businesses in Northern Ireland, said Seamus Leheny, policy manager for the Freight Transport Association in Northern Ireland. The Brexit Withdrawal Agreement requires the authorities there to carry out checks on some incoming goods to protect the integrity of the EU's single market. There is also a danger that the U.K. policy will face legal challenges from other countries on the grounds that it shows favoritism toward the EU. "Strictly, this is clearly contrary to World Trade Organization rules if there is no deal and probably even if there is a free-trade agreement," said Alan Winters, director of the U.K. Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex. "These require non-discrimination in trading processes as well as on tariffs, and also that a country's custom regime be evenly applied at all entries." With time to reach a trade deal running out, Johnson will hold a call with Von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and EU Parliament President David Sassoli on June 15. Five rounds of weekly trade negotiations will begin at the end of June. If the two sides fail to reach an agreement by year-end, Britain will default to trading with the bloc on terms set by the WTO, leaving businesses and consumers grappling with the return of tariffs and quotas. Johnson had previously threatened to walk away from the talks in June if it wasn't clear that he was going to get an acceptable deal. The continuation of talks into the summer means businesses will face a longer wait for certainty over what Britain's post-Brexit trade relationship with the EU will look like. "Both the U.K. and EU need to signal a willingness to compromise when they meet next week," said Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce. "Allowing the present standoff to continue would be like kicking the economy when it's already down." - - - Bloomberg's Alex Morales and Nikos Chrysoloras contributed to this report. The pandemic, COVID-19 does not discriminate between people based on their class, gender, or ethnicity. However, it has inevitably exposed the socio-economic disparities existing in our society. It demonstrates the power of privilege to different sections of society. The most vulnerable will bear the maximum brunt of it. People with low socio-economic backgrounds are unlikely to have the requisite financial capital and/or physical capacity to make self-distancing and self-isolation a viable option in the light of their everyday lives. The pandemic, if not managed correctly, would have far-reaching economic and social consequences, which would widen existing inequalities and further hobble the world's efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With human rights out of the window and millions affected without food, water, and shelter, we have to move fast in an attempt to provide justice to all. In just a few months, everyone's horizon has shrunk and shortened. This is definitely not ideal for achieving the SDGs, because, even before this pandemic, the world was lagging behind in its attempts to achieve them. And now the present crisis has simply worsened the situation. The World Health Organization's Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, describes COVID-19 as: "The defining global health crisis of our time". The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres said that "When we get past this crisis, which we will, we will face a choice. We can go back to the world as it was before or deal decisively with those issues that make us all unnecessarily vulnerable to crises." A recent study conducted by the Asian Development Bank shows that the epidemic could lead to a net loss of US$ 16-43 billion in the Asia-Pacific Region, excluding China. The current focus of governments must be to look after the needs of its citizens, especially the poor and the vulnerable. However, the governments must not lose sight of the SDGs. The pandemic has caused deaths of roughly 4,19,090 people worldwide as of June 11, 2020. Despite severe measures like lockdowns and quarantines, human life has taken a beating. Though these measures were necessary, they have had a colossal impact on SDG-8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG-9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure). With migrant workers left stranded on streets, and daily wage earners left with no money and food, these two goals are far out of reach. Access to health services in some countries, including essential primary health care, is contingent upon insurance and userpay systems that automatically make these services inaccessible to the people most atrisk. With the private sector gaining control over medical services in most countries, the poor and unprivileged are out of the loop more often than not, cocking a snook at SDG-3 (Good Health and Wellbeing). With every country scrambling for disposable gloves and masks, the waste generated due to their excessive use would harm the environment negatively and increase carbon emissions which adversely affects SDG-12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Sanitation, frequent hand wash, high consumptions of detergents, and disinfectants may affect the quality and quantity of water. Moreover, the effluents can cause water pollution. This has a detrimental effect on SDG-6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG-15 (Life on Land). Additionally, several schools have shut down due to social distancing norms which hit SDG-4 (Quality Education) quite massively. Moreover, many schools, both public and private, have opted for online learning using platforms like ZOOM and YouTube. However, the authorities fail to recognise that roughly half of the world's population is without access to the internet, and this creates a larger divide by leaving behind the poor and underprivileged students. With businesses and offices being forced to shut down, the economies have come to a halt. The service sector has moved from physical workstations to digital workspaces, thus, increasing the reliance on digital connectivity by tenfold says, Dr Nilanjan Ghosh, Director of Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata. He says that a large portion of the service sector in developing countries comprises casual labourers who are not featured in the digital space. It will not be an easy task to accommodate them in the digital atmosphere due to a variety of reasons. Such inequality in opportunities and incorporation in the digital world would obstruct the progress of SDGs 1, 2, and 10 regarding poverty, hunger, and inequality. He expressed concerns about the progress of SDG-16, which talks of peace, justice, and strong institutions. The pandemic has led to a distorted sense of justice wherein the Supreme Court of India initially ignored the plight of its citizens. But due to concerted efforts of several human rights activists, including lawyers, it has finally come to their rescue. Justice AP Shah told in an interview with The Wire that he was "disappointed" by the functioning of the Supreme Court of India. It is imperative for sustainable development "where no one is left behind" that justice becomes a norm for everyone, especially for the most marginalised and underprivileged. Kate Lappin, Regional Secretary for the Asia and Pacific Region at Public Services International (PSI), talked about how COVID-19 will have a detrimental effect on the hopes of nations for sustainable growth. However, she professed that the SDGs can be a useful tool to combat its destructive impacts both now and in the future. She believed that it would help us to better plan integrated responses to make the most of the synergies between the different objectives. never waste a good crisis Kate Lappin very aptly reiterated Winston Churchill's famous statement, "Never waste a good crisis." Undoubtedly, the road ahead of this crisis will not be easy, but this crisis can prove to be a gateway for change in our society and allow us to shape our future. Kate also said that a lot of intervention is needed in the countries that depend on private healthcare to make it more public friendly. Drug prices in countries that have privatised their health sector are substantially higher in comparison to countries that have a public healthcare system. And therefore, private healthcare costs a lot more on people's pockets than public healthcare. "A key issue is whether the world returns to the 'old normal' - which places many countries on a path that is not compatible with attaining several SDGs, or on a 'new normal' that holds on to the adjusted practices that are good for sustainable development," said UN's Assistant Secretary-General, Kanni Wignaraja. The roadmap to achieve that "new normal" is to align our practices with Development Justice and Green New Deal. Development Justice and Green New Deal are alternative development models to achieve a Feminist Fossil Fuel Free Future, - a new gender-just, economic, political, and social relationship in a world free from climate change. Development Justice consists of 5 transformative shifts: Redistributive Justice, Economic Justice, Social and Gender Justice, Accountability to People, and Environmental Justice. Kate added that with the rise of privatisation and reductions in government spending, the idea of public health and welfare of society has gone for a toss. Due to the advent of neoliberalism, all our essential entities like water, energy, education, and medical facilities have been converted into commodities. The private health sector is dependent on the ill health of the people to make a profit. Governments must fulfil their core duty of public welfare, and for this, they must control the capacity to decide the industrial setup to ensure self-reliance. Profiteering from an illness must come to an end, stressed Kate. She advocated that de-carbonisation and energy democracy will pave the way for environmental justice. Energy democracy can be achieved by technological transition and public participation in the political, economic, and social arena. An increase in demand for food leads to deterioration of the land and water resources. The impact on the environment is quite severe. So Kate suggested Agro-ecological food systems. Agroecology focuses on the relationship between plants, livestock, humans and the environment. Agroecological activities draw on these experiences, introducing novel approaches that utilise and conserve biodiversity. A crucial part of sustainable development is food sovereignty. It is characterised as the right of people to safe and culturally acceptable food provided by environment-friendly and sustainable methods and the right to establish their own food and agricultural systems. While some SDG gains have been eroded, this should not deflate our energy. They should rather spur us to accelerate and deepen our efforts during this decade of action to 'recover better', and build a healthier, safer, equitable and a more prosperous world. "With the right mix of economic policies and fiscal stimulus, investments in healthcare and social protections, we can move to recovery pathways that do not take us back to the same levels of waste and pollution, inequality and joblessness, but ensure greater economic, environmental and social sustainability". These golden words by Kanni Wignaraja are our key to success and a just future. Shreya Rawal, Durgesh Nandan Yadav (authors are students of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Indore, India and part of the internship at CNS (Citizen News Service) currently) A sitting lawmaker of the Rajya Sabha didnt use 85% of his booked rail tickets in a month -- but the Upper House had to anyway pay the bill because he didnt bother to cancel. The fact came to light during the Rajya Sabha secretariats analysis of train booking by members as part of an effort to curb wasteful expenses. House officials on Wednesday informed Rajya Sabha members that if they dont cancel their extra tickets, cancellation charges would be recovered from them. Another former MP, the analysis revealed, booked 63 train tickets in just over 23 days but used only 7, wasting about Rs 1.5 lakh of the secretariat. Parliamentarians are entitled to travel at any time in a train in first-class AC or executive class. The member can also be accompanied by one person in air-conditioned two-tier, while travelling by rail, according to the official handbook of MPs. While the number of air tickets for an MP is capped at 34 in a year, there is no such restriction on train tickets. An MP or his aide might book several tickets on different dates or trains and finally travel as per their convenience, said an official. Even as the Rajya Sabha secretariat acknowledges the workload of MPsvisiting their constituency, attending social events or parliamentary meetings and other duties as a political leaderthey are worried about the wastage of unutilized tickets. A former Rayja Sabha member made 63 train bookings in just one month but availed only 7. The secretariat had to pay for all 63 bookings even as 87% of the bookings were just wasted, said an official. Made over 23 days in January last year, these bookings cost a total of Rs. 1.69 lakh. The fare for his actual travel stood at just Rs 22,085. But the secretariat paid an extra amount of Rs. 1.46 lakhs, said the analysis. Indian Railways raises its bill every January for all the bookings done throughout the calendar year. For 2019, it submitted a total bill of Rs 7.8 crores to Parliament of India, out of which one-third is to be paid by the Rajya Sabha and the rest by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. Officials fear that out of these tickets billed last year, a large part may have been unutilized, yet not cancelled. To put an end to this practise, Rajya Sabha secretary general Desh Dipak Verma issued a note requesting members to cancel extra tickets in time. Multiple bookings are being made by some members in various trains departing from same/different stations to different destination stations for the same day. Rajya Sabha Secretariat has to make payments to the Ministry of Railways even for those bookings which are actually not utilized by the members, Verma wrote. Reminding MPs of unnecessary expenses, especially at a time when Indian Parliament is undertaking drastic measures to cut costs, Verma said, In case of non-cancellation of bookings which are not actually utilised by the members, the amount of fare of such bookings shall be recovered from the members. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The 11-year-old was in an alley in the 5300 block of West Race Avenue in South Austin about 9:20 p.m. Thursday when he was shot in the face, police said. He was taken in good condition to Stroger Hospital. Police in Hong Kong detained and searched dozens of people, including students in school uniform, after thousands turned out in shopping malls and streets across the city to mark the first anniversary of mass public protests on June 12, 2019. Protesters gathered in Mong Kok and Causeway Bay, chanting calls for independence for the city ahead of the imposition of a draconian national security law that will see China's feared state security police operate there to implement anti-subversion and sedition legislation. The crowd also sang the protest anthem "Glory to Hong Kong," the singing of which in a school recently led to the firing of a teacher. Outside a school in Kowloon Tong, students from Heung To Middle School chanted slogans criticizing the school authorities for their refusal to extend the teacher's contract after the song was sung under her supervision. The school later described itself in an email to parents as "patriotic," a buzz-word used by the ruling Chinese Communist Party to counteract liberal values in the Hong Kong education system. Education secretary Kevin Yeung said the song "Glory to Hong Kong" was political propaganda that had no place in schools. But a high school student surnamed Chan who attended a protest on Friday said there is a feeling among young people in the city that their future has been taken away from them. "We want everyone in Hong Kong to remember that day, and not to forget what the protests were about right from the start," Chan said. "The government shouldn't be silencing people, because high school students are an important bridge to Hong Kong's future," he said. "There is nothing wrong with allowing politics into schools; if high schoolers don't care about politics, then who will?" "We need to band together to protect our future." A protester surnamed Cheung said she went to the protest because she had immigrated to Hong Kong more than a decade ago and had grown to appreciate its freedoms. "We live in a very free environment where we can express ourselves, but now it looks as if that's all going to change because of the government, because of Beijing," she said. "It doesn't matter how much money you have; it's not going to be of much benefit if we live in an oppressive environment," she said. "What we need is freedom." Protesters also held exhibitions of news photos from the day's protests in venues across the city on Friday. Police warned crowds in Causeway Bay and Mong Kok they were taking part in an "illegal protest" and told them to leave. Movement sparked by protest A mass protest on June 12, 2019 outside the city's Legislative Council (LegCo) marked the first time police were accused of deploying excessive force against a large crowd of peaceful, unarmed protesters, some of whom were forced to cram themselves through a single revolving door to escape volleys of the gas being lobbed into a restricted space crowded with people who couldn't move freely. The June 12 protest was a turning point in the campaign against plans by chief executive Carrie Lam to table legal amendments in LegCo enabling the extradition of alleged criminal suspects to mainland China. The protests led to the suspension of the LegCo session and stalled the amendment for months. Lam's refusal to respond to public opinion and the use of violent tactics by riot police to disperse the crowds sparked an even bigger wave of popular anger, and a gathering of some two million turned out on the anniversary of the handover to Chinese rule on July 1, during which a multitude of young, masked protesters stormed LegCo and daubed slogans on the chamber. The protesters, angered by the government's refusal to withdraw the extradition bill from LegCo, also broadened their demands to include fully democratic elections, an inquiry into police violence, an end to the description of protesters as "rioters," and an amnesty for all arrested protesters. While Lam eventually withdrew the bill in October and called for dialogue, protesters replied that there would be no dialogue unless the five demands were met. Reported by Lau Siu-fung and Lu Xi for RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. By PTI LONDON: The statue of Mahatma Gandhi in London's Parliament Square is among several monuments being covered and boarded up here ahead of another set of planned protests, which erupted after the custodial killing of African-American George Floyd. The steps below Gandhi's statue and the sculpture of former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill nearby were among those targeted with graffiti during anti-racism Black Lives Matter protests last weekend, which ended in violent clashes between demonstrators and police officers on duty. More clashes are feared this weekend as anti-racist groups as well as far-right bodies are planning rival demonstrations in the UK capital. "The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square is a permanent reminder of his achievement in saving this country and the whole of Europe from a fascist and racist tyranny," UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a Twitter statement, as he urged people to stay away from further protests amid fears of more violence. "It is absurd and shameful that this national monument should today be at risk of attack by violent protestors. Yes, he sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial," he said. Johnson said that while he understands the "legitimate feelings of outrage" at the custodial death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old man who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck in Minneapolis on May 25, the protests held in the UK in solidarity have been "hijacked by extremists" intent on violence. "The attacks on the police and indiscriminate acts of violence which we have witnessed over the last week are intolerable and they are abhorrent. "The attacks on the police and indiscriminate acts of violence which we have witnessed over the last week are intolerable and they are abhorrent," he said. London Mayor Sadiq Khan also urged Londoners to stay away from the protests, with fears of clashes between anti-racism and far-right demonstrators. "I'm extremely concerned that further protests in central London not only risk spreading COVID-19, but could lead to disorder, vandalism and violence. Extreme far-right groups who advocate hatred and division are planning counter-protests, which means that the risk of disorder is high," said Khan. "Be in no doubt these counter-protests are there to provoke violence, and their only goal is to distract and hijack this important issue. Staying home and ignoring them is the best response this weekend," he said. Khan confirmed that the Metropolitan Police were working on a "robust" policing plan to keep Londoners safe and to prevent disorder, including covering up key landmarks. "Together with our partners, we are ensuring that key statues and monuments at risk, including the Cenotaph, Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela, are covered and protected," he said. The Mayor's office confirmed that Gandhi's statue is also among the monuments being protected. Graffiti with the word "racist" near the statue at Parliament Square, which wasn't on the actual plinth as in the case of Churchill's sculpture, had evoked some anguish on social media among Indian diaspora groups. Since then, a new petition calling for the removal of another Gandhi statue in the UK city of Leicester has attracted thousands of signatures, also triggering countering reactions. "Gandhi has shown us that organised peaceful resistance can be a force for change," said Claudia Webbe, the local Labour Party MP for Leicester East, as she threw her support behind the city's statue. Leicester City Council has said the petition calling for its removal will be "considered" as part of a wider review of the city's statues, street and building names, an exercise being conducted by different local authorities across Britain in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests targeting specific statues seen as reminiscent of Britain's slave trading and colonial past. CHICAGODoctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital this past Friday performed the first known double lung transplant in the United States for a COVID-19 patient whose lungs were severely damaged by the disease, saving the woman in her 20s from almost certain death. Speaking outside of the Prentice Womens Hospital on Thursday, the doctors called the surgery a milestone in care for patients who are critically ill from the virus, which has killed more than 6,000 people in Illinois. The hospital has already received calls from across the country about the procedure. At least two other transplants have been performed in Austria and China. This is an important development that could help a number of patients who have sustained severe and irreversible lung damage as a result of COVID-19, said Ankit Bharat, chief of thoracic surgery and surgical director of the Northwestern Medicine Lung Transplant Program. Although lung transplants are not new on their own, the damage to the womans lungs from COVID-19 made the surgery technically much more complex, said Bharat, who performed the surgery with a team. The doctors also had to wait for the virus to clear the womans system while mechanically supporting her body, which was on the brink of multi-organ failure. If she didnt get the transplant, she would not be alive, Bharat said. The woman, among the youngest patients at Northwestern with that degree of lung damage, spent about six weeks in the COVID-19 intensive-care unit on a ventilator and another life-support machine to support her heart, doctors said. Many days, she was the sickest patient in our COVID-19 ICU, and possibly the entire hospital, said Elizabeth Malsin, pulmonary- and critical-care specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The woman required a ventilator almost immediately after arriving at the hospital, Malsin said, an indication of how quickly the virus overwhelmed her lungs. Machines supported her body for more than a month, as doctors hoped her lungs would eventually heal and allow her to breathe on her own, Malsin said. Hundreds of health-care workers provided care for her over several weeks. The woman was not able to have her family beside her through the ordeal because of COVID-19 visitor restrictions, leaving health-care workers to take up roles of comfort and support, Malsin said. Even on her sickest days, she was never alone, she said. By early June, her lungs were showing signs of irreversible damage, leaving a transplant as the only option. Generally doctors try to wake up transplant patients so they can be made aware of the surgery, but in this case, the hospital had to rely on her family for consent, Bharat said. Her lungs were so badly injured, we could not wake her up, he said. About 48 hours after listing her for a transplant, the team found a matching donor, Bharat said. A normal double lung transplant generally takes six to seven hours, but this transplant was complicated by extensive scarring on the lungs, Bharat said, highlighting how much doctors still dont know about the effects of the virus. COVID-19 is a disease unlike anything weve seen before, he said. One minute, the patient is talking to you and looks comfortable, and the next minute, the patients oxygen starts to drop and the patient suddenly requires ventilation and intubation. There are about 113,000 people in the United States waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, said Rafael Garza-Castillon, a thoracic surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, who asked people to consider becoming a donor. Please consider checking that box on your drivers licence, he said. The woman is currently in stable condition. Although she has a long road ahead, Bharat said he hopes she will make a full recovery. Yesterday, she smiled and told me just one sentence, he said. Thank you for not giving up on me. Trading turned volatile as key barometers bounced back in mid-afternoon trade. The Nifty briefly crossed the 9900 mark. At 14:29 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 2.33 points or 0.01% at 33,540.70. The Nifty 50 index was down 3 points at 9,899. The Nifty 50 index hit a low of 9,544.35 in early trade as US stocks crashed overnight as cautious commentary from the Federal Reserve and rising coronavirus infection rates prompted investor concern. The Nifty bounced back from its 20-day moving average (DMA) placed at 9,575.61, which will act as near term support level. The broader market was mixed. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.27% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index lost 0.33%. The market breadth was weak. On the BSE, shares 978 rose and 1,432 shares fell. A total of 135 shares were unchanged. In Nifty 50 index, the breadth was even with 25 stocks advancing and 25 stocks declining. Numbers to Track: The yield on 10-year benchmark federal paper rose to 5.797% compared with previous closing of 5.781% in the previous trading session. In the foreign exchange market, the partially convertible rupee edged lower to 75.84 compared with its previous closing 75.79. In the commodities market, Brent crude for August 2020 settlement was down 44 cents to $38.11 a barrel. The contract slumped 7.6% to settle at $38.55 a barrel in the previous trading session. MCX Gold futures for 5 August 2020 settlement fell 0.45% to Rs 47,200. Buzzing Index: The Nifty Metal index declined 1.46% to 1,926.35. The index is down 6% in five sessions. Coal India (down 2.47%), National Aluminium Company (down 1.92%), Jindal Steel & Power (down 1.53%), NMDC (down 1.32%), Tata Steel (down 1.16%), Hindustan Zinc Ltd (down 0.41%) and Steel Authority of India Ltd (down 0.17%) were top losers in metal segment. Stocks in Spotlight: Caplin Point Laboratories jumped 6% to Rs 374 after the drug maker received the final approval from the US drug regulator for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) Phenylephrine Hydrochloride injection. Phenylephrine Hydrochloride injection is indicated for the treatment of clinically important hypotension resulting primarily from vasodilation in the setting of anesthesia. The drug had total sales of approximately $45 million for the 12-month period ending March 2020, according to IQVIA. Lemon Tree Hotels hit an upper circuit of 5% at Rs 28.80, extending recent gains. The counter has surged 60.45% in ten consecutive session from its recent closing low of Rs 17.95 on 29 May 2020. The company disclosed on Thursday (11 June) that WF Asian Reconnaissance Fund and WF Asian Smaller Companies Fund on Tuesday (9 June) purchased 89.44 lakh equity shares, or 1.13% equity, in Lemon Tree Hotels. Post transaction, the shareholding of WF Asian Reconnaissance Fund and WF Asian Smaller Companies Fund increased to 5.68% from 4.55% earlier. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) St. Catharines Liberal MP Chris Bittle did not mince words about West Lincolns mayor Thursday afternoon when the latter said on live radio that identity politics which includes the raising of a gay pride flag at municipal halls has made society more violent and more divisive. Mayor of West Lincoln wonders What are they (LGBTQ2 community) still fighting for? Bittle wrote on Twitter about David Bylsmas Thursday interview on AM radio station 610 CKTB. The easy answer bigots like you, Mr. Mayor. During an interview with CKTB host Matt Holmes, Byslma said while there are injustices in society, there is nothing left for the LGTBQ, Indigenous or Black communities to fight for. There are always going to be injustices, correct. But in terms of rights, what are they, what are anyone whos flying a flag whether thats Black Lives Matter in America or the Pride flag, what are they still fighting for? Is it necessary? Or have they won? Bylsma said. Im saying identity politics is not working. We have 30 years of identity politics that shows this is not the solution. Byslma also said he does not support the slogan Black Lives Matter, but likes All Lives Matter repeating a talking point that erroneously suggests Black Lives Matters means only Black lives are important. That is concerning, Bittle said, because the meaning of Black Lives Matter is not that Black lives are the only ones that matter, but that there is systemic discrimination against the Black community. There is a real tone-deafness to his comments that suggests there isnt systemic discrimination. Bittle said Bylsmas comments about the LGBTQ, Black and Indigenous communities on CKTB show why those communities are still fighting for their rights. Now is the time for people like David Bylsma and myself to listen to communities like the Black community, like the LGBTQ community, like the Indigenous community and ask what we can do and how we can be part of the solution. Holmes interviewed Bylsma to ask him about whether West Lincoln will fly the Pride flag during Pride Month. The township is the only Niagara community that doesnt fly the rainbow flag. Thirty years of identity politics, singling out a particular right or a particular grievance from one community against the next, what has that accomplished? Bylsma said in reference to the LGBTQ community. After 30 years were more violent, were yelling at each other louder and were becoming more polarized. Byslma also told Holmes securing and acknowledging Indigenous rights has made Indigenous people violent. In addition to being a mayor and Niagara Region councillor, Bylsma is the national president of the Christian Heritage Party, which in 2019 said it wanted to suspend same-sex marriages in Canada. The partys official platform, under the heading Defend Marriage, said same-sex marriage was forced on an unwilling nation and suggested children of same-sex parents may be suffering negative long-term effects. The party wants to end marriage equality until a Royal Commission can study its alleged impacts. Bylsma declined an interview request from The St. Catharines Standard Thursday, claiming in a text message the newspaper refused to cover the successes he had as chair of Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. He was the first chair of NPCA after it emerged from years of political scandals and controversy. The Standard covered the actions of the board Bylsma led, along with his denials that human industrial activities contribute to global climate change a position in keeping with the official platform of the CHP which claims that Canadas major political parties have been duped by anti-industrial global warming propaganda. After The Standard published an interview with Bylsma in which he explained his rejection of climate science, he was voted out as NPCA board chair. I said my opinion this morning, Byslma wrote in his message to The Standard. The flag will likely fly (at township hall) yet this June. But only after an honest debate in council. Cebu City (CNN Philippines, June 12) Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard "Ahong" Chan confirmed on Friday that he has tested positive for COVID-19. In a Facebook post, he said he is asymptomatic, but is now under isolation. "I am on a high spirit. The doctors that are monitoring me are confident that I will be able to swiftly recover and go back to work," he said. He received the results of his swab test on Thursday. The mayor asked his supporters not to worry, adding none of his family members tested positive for COVID-19. Chan is the first local official in Cebu to catch the virus. There are 162 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Lapu-Lapu City. New Delhi: India went past the United Kingdom in terms of coronavirus cases to become the fourth worst-hit country with a caseload of 2,97, 205, according to the Worldometer. Earlier this week, India had surpassed Spain to take the fifth spot. India is now at the fourth spot, only behind the United States (20 lakh), Brazil (8 lakh) and Russia (5 lakh), as per Worldometer figures. On June 11, India registered over 9,500 cases for the seventh day in a row, while the one-day casualty figure crossed the 300-mark for the first time. The Union Health Ministry data, updated at 8 am, said the country saw the highest single-day spike of 357 fatalities and 9,996 cases on Thursday, pushing the death-toll to 8,102 and the nationwide tally to 2,86,579. The number of recoveries remained more than the active cases for the second consecutive day. The number of active cases stands at 1,37,448 till Thursday 8 am, while 1,41,028 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the health ministry said. The total number of confirmed cases include foreigners. Out of the total 8,102 fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 3,438 deaths followed by Gujarat (1,347), Delhi (984), Madhya Pradesh (427), West Bengal (432), Tamil Nadu (326), Uttar Pradesh (321), Rajasthan (259) and Telangana (156). The highest number of confirmed cases in the country are from Maharashtra at 94,041 followed by Tamil Nadu at 36,841, Delhi at 32,810, Gujarat at 21,521, Uttar Pradesh at 11,610, Rajasthan at 11,600 and Madhya Pradesh at 10,049 according to the health ministry's data updated in the morning. In response to a question about the possibility of community transmission in India, Director General of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) rubbished any such claims on Thursday. "India is not in community transmission and I would like to emphasise it. India is not in community transmission and that's only a term which is used but we have to continue with the strategy of testing, tracing, tracking, and quarantine and continue with the containment measures as we have found success until now," ICMR DG Balram Bhargava said during the Government of India's COVID briefing." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking at the annual plenary session of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) said, "We have to turn COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity for creating Atmanirbhar Bharat." 12.06.2020 LISTEN Senegal has rejected licensing requests for 52 new industrial fishing vessels, after Senegalese small-scale fishers and industrial shipowners raised the alarm. On World Oceans Day, June 8, the Minister of Fisheries rejected the requests, in a victory for sustainable fisheries. Attention is now on a similar case in Ghana, where three new Chinese trawlers have been registered to the Ghanaian flag and are awaiting licensing, despite a moratorium on new fishing vessels due to extreme over-capacity in the existing fleet. The Ghanaian governments own Fisheries Management Plan states that 48 trawlers are the most that the fishery can sustain, yet 72 trawlers are currently licensed. A government moratorium on fishing licenses for new or replacement trawl vessels has been in force since 2012. Opposing licenses for the new trawlers, Ghanas National Canoe Fishermen Council stated in an open letter to the Fisheries Commission, Our fish stocks in Ghana are in crisis and the small pelagic fishery the lifeline of our artisanal fishing communities is on the verge of collapse. [] As identified in the 2015-2019 Fisheries Management Plan, there are already too many trawlers fishing in Ghanas waters. The new vessels Yu Feng 1, 3, and 4 were all built in China in 2016 and were all flying the Chinese flag before arriving in Ghana. To bypass Ghanas laws, which prohibit foreigners from engaging in joint ventures in the industrial trawl sector, Chinese corporations operate through Ghanaian front companies, using opaque corporate structures to import their vessels, register and obtain a licence. The canoe council highlighted in its letter that the new trawlers are registered to local companies established in 2019, with only a PO Box as their address. Respectfully, we ask how it is possible that a newly established fishing company in Ghana can suddenly acquire one or two trawlers of this size with the costs involved? Is the Fisheries Commission able to confirm that it has investigated the beneficial ownership of these companies to ensure that only Ghanaian citizens will be controlling and profiting from the operations? says the letter. Around 90% of Ghanas industrial trawl fleet is linked to Chinese ownership, an EJF investigation revealed in 2018. Ghana has the largest registry of Chinese distant-water vessels outside China, according to a new report from the Overseas Development Institute, even though Ghanas laws prohibit foreign involvement in the trawl sector. Despite the moratorium, new vessels have arrived in Ghana almost every year since 2012, when it came into force. The shocking lack of transparency means that the true beneficial owners of the vessels those who take home the profits are not held accountable. It raises the question: Who is ultimately responsible for these vessels behaviour? If beneficial owners are unknown, they are therefore protected and can profit from illegal practices with low risk of detection. Ghana has a severe issue with a type of illegal fishing known as saiko. Small pelagic fish, known as the peoples fish, are subject to targeted illegal fishing by trawlers. They are then transferred at sea to specially adapted boats, and sold back to local communities at a profit. Executive Director of the Environmental Justice Foundation, Steve Trent, said: Senegal made the right choice in declining these licenses and thereby protecting its fisheries and the livelihoods and food security of its coastal communities. In Ghana, illegal and unsustainable fishing is already driving fish stocks to the brink of collapse. Approving new licenses now when by the governments own admission, the fleet is already over-capacity would be a catastrophic, unjustifiable mistake. I firmly hope that the Ghanaian government follows the good example set by Senegal and declines these requests. The Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council represents artisanal fishers in Ghana. According to Section 24A of the 2015 Fisheries Amendment Regulations, LI 2217, applications to register a fishing vessel as a Ghanaian fishing vessel must be submitted to the Fisheries Commission. The application must include information such as the names, addresses and details of the beneficial owners and operators of the vessel (Section 24A(2)(e)). The Commission is required to verify the information provided (Section 24C) and, where satisfied that the vessel fulfills the requirements of the Regulations, shall recommend to the Ghana Maritime Authority that the vessel be registered as a Ghanaian fishing vessel (Section 24D). New vessels have continued to arrive from China, despite a February 2012 moratorium on new industrial trawlers entering Ghanaian waters to address severe depletion of fish stocks. Around two-thirds of trawlers on the current license list were built in 2013 or later after the moratorium on new or replacement vessels came into effect. In the international database of ships held by IHS Sea-web, the three new trawlers are listed as owned by two local companies established in 2019, with only a PO Box listed as the company address. 2.7 million people in Ghana rely on the countrys coastal fisheries for their food and income. Saiko catches in 2017 were worth US$ 40.6 - 50.7 million when sold at sea, and US$ 52.7 - 81.1 million when sold at the landing site. In 2017 industrial trawlers caught almost the same amount of fish as the entire artisanal sector, when illegal and unreported catches are taken into account. That is 76 trawlers catching approximately the same amount of fish as over 11,000 canoes or 100,000 fishers. Gary I. Larson, 75, Mandan, died unexpectedly June 8, 2020, at Sanford Health, Bismarck. He was surrounded with love and friendship. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, June 15 at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan, with Rev. Christina Martin officiating. Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan, and continue from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Gary was born on July 12, 1944, to Selmer Sam and Grace (Newman) Larson. Raised and educated in Minot, he graduated from Minot High School in 1962. Gary attended Minot State College and was studying at the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science when he volunteered for the draft. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on April 13, 1967, and arrived in Vietnam in September of that year. He was first assigned to the 1st Infantry Division as a clerk, but later during the Tet Offensive, was reassigned to the mortuary. After 15 months, he extended his tour to immediately get out of the Army when he returned home. Gary Larson left Vietnam, but Vietnam never left him. He was forever changed because of his time in Saigon, Vietnam. He said he'd do it all over again though, because he helped grieving families back in the U.S. to get closure for their dead kin. On Jan. 4, 1971, Gary married Patricia Tonkin in Minneapolis. They moved to Neenah, Wis., and later to Chicago, Ill., where Gary finished mortuary school. In 1979, they moved to Mandan where Gary worked for Buehler Funeral Home. In 1989, Gary and Pat purchased the funeral home from Warren Buehler and they worked side by side for the next 25 years. Gary was a sharp dressed man with a quiet and gentle demeanor. He helped countless families say farewell to their loved ones with the upmost care and dignity. He took great pride in his work and was dedicated to the families of the communities he served. Gary made many friends and connections through his years of funeral service. They sold the funeral home and retired in 2014. Although their free time was limited with the work they did, Gary and Pat enjoyed numerous trips to Mexico as well as a memorable trip to China. They were season ticketholders to the Minnesota Vikings and loved spending time at their cabin in Pick City on Lake Sakakawea. Gary was a huge Minnesota Twins fan, always had a news channel on the TV, and loved feeding the birds, and dreaming about woodworking projects. Gary was a storyteller second to none. He was an introvert but once you got to know him he would share anything he had to offer. Generous and giving, Gary always had a $20 bill in his pocket for kids who helped him with things around the yard or funeral home and was the kind of guy who always had a caramel in his pocket to share. Gary and Pat always had dogs in their home and any pup who was blessed to live with them was loved and spoiled to no end. Pat passed away in 2016 and Gary's loyal pets gave him much love and companionship through his final days. Gary is survived by his sister, Vivian (Rob) King, Bismarck; brother-in-law, Bernie (Eloise) Pellenwessell, Minot; mother-in-law, Edna Tonkin, Roseville, Minn.; special sister-in-law, Penny (Andrew) Hoffman, Roseville, Minn.; brothers-in-law, Ross (Sue) Tonkin, Phoenix, Ariz., Jeff Tonkin, Roseville, Minn., and Jon (Debbie) Tonkin, Bloomington, Minn.; many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. Blessed to have shared in his life is a former employee and her family who became family to Gary and took care of him until his last breath; Jessie (Bill) Hilfer and their boys, Kaden, Ryan, and Liam who loved Uncle Gary and visited him often making sure he had all the comforts he wanted as well as a great stash of munchies, ice cream, and cookies. Also funeral home handyman and dear friend, James (Sue) Allmer, who showed selfless dedication and willingness to help Gary with anything he needed without ever wanting anything in return. And finally, his beloved dogs, lap warmers, crumb eaters, and home security alarms, Trooper and Lacie. Gary was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Patricia Pat; his parents; sister, Jeanette Pellenwessel; brother, Rich (Mardi) Larson; father-in-law, Robert Tonkin; and nieces, Mary (King) Fiechtner and Lori Rae Larson. Gary was greeted in Heaven by numerous dogs who he'd cared for until their last day. Since his passing many have said Gary was one of the good ones. Your work here is done my friend, may the work you have done speak for you. Memorials are preferred to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Central Dakota Humane Society, or Furry Friends Rockin Rescue. Protesters carrying umbrellas march during a rally against the implementation of a new national security law in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, May 24. Beijing unveiled a resolution at the opening of its annual legislative sessions that will bypass Hong Kong's legislature to outlaw acts of secession, subversion and terrorism in Hong Kong. / EPA-Yonhap Seoul needs to fix regulations to become attractive By Kim Bo-eun Hong Kong is losing its luster as Asia's premier financial hub, with the U.S. moving to remove its special status as autonomous from China. This follows China's promulgation of a national security law that casts a negative light on prospects for the city, as it is seen as a move by Beijing to integrate the territory into the mainland The developments come after a year of instability in Hong Kong fueled by protests against China's tightening grip over its administration. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared, May 27, that Hong Kong was no longer autonomous from China, amid renewed trade tension between the world's two largest economies. Specific measures have yet to be taken, but this means that Hong Kong may become subject to tariffs imposed on China that it was previously exempt from. Pompeo's remarks came after China's "rubber stamp" parliament stated it would introduce a national security law to ban the "secession" of Hong Kong. Foreign businesses worry that regulators and courts in the territory will lose their independence as a result of this move. The situation casts uncertainty on the prospects of the financial hub, with a growing amount of money leaving Hong Kong for other cities and some financial firms reducing their operations there. Singapore is seemingly benefitting from the instability as the city state has seen record foreign fund inflows, with most coming from Hong Kong. According to the Monetary Authority of Singapore, foreign currency deposits at banks in Singapore increased 29 percent to a record 27 billion Singapore dollars ($19.4 billion) in April from the same month last year. Banks also saw record high non-resident deposits up 44 percent to 62 billion Singapore dollars over the same period. In addition, Australian investment bank Macquarie and Japanese securities firm Nomura are scaling down their operations in Hong Kong, according to recent media reports Prospects "Hong Kong could lose the most favored nation status in trading with the U.S. President Donald Trump could issue an executive order or the U.S. Congress could repeal the existing law," Sohn Sung-won, a professor of economics at Loyola Marymount University, said. Sohn was a senior economist at the White House during the Richard Nixon administration. "Korean firms will have to wean themselves away from China and Hong Kong, as large trading nations including the U.S., Europe and Japan will reduce their dependence on supply chains related to China and Hong Kong," he said. An aerial nightscape of Hong Kong / gettyimagesbank For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here. Its a great pleasure to partner with Good Weekend to reveal the top 52 of more than 400 wineries on this years list. Competition was fierce. Cullen replaces Penfolds at the top, and NSW emerges strongly with Tyrrells, Mount Pleasant and Clonakilla in the next three places. Barossa Valley, Yarra Valley and Hunter Valley have all excelled, the Yarra emerging on top of the regions with 10 wineries. The Barossa (including Eden Valley) has seven, the Hunter six and Margaret River four. This is the third year that wine website The Real Review has created its Top Wineries of Australia list. Each year we publish about 10,000 wine reviews, plus numerous articles. Working from the previous 24 months reviews, we use the highest-rated wines to produce the rankings. Blind tasting and algorithms ensure the process is objective. Unlike other lists, ours classifies the wineries themselves, not the individual wines. Shiraz in its many guises is still clearly the most popular wine in the land. Lighter shiraz fits well with the fashionable spicy styles from cooler climates fermented with stalks, resulting in hip bunchy wines fragrant and fascinating to drink young. Other trends? Italian varieties are hot, especially nebbiolo and fiano. Tasmania is in, too, and everybodys doing tiny bottlings of multitudes of single-vineyard and single-block wines. More work for professional wine tasters! Blends of shiraz and pinot noir are proliferating. Less oaky, lower-alcohol chardonnay is also on trend, while appetising sauvignon blanc and semillon sauvignon blanc blends have held their popularity. Likewise, rose is a wine for today: our climate, our food, our lifestyle. Earlier harvesting helps, and theres a move towards lower-alcohol and lighter-bodied wines. The vogue for lighter reds plays into the hands of pinot noir and the likes of gamay and pinot meunier, and we can add grenache to the list with its fruitier, earlier bottled, more refreshing style. Australian wine has never been better, despite the trend towards hotter, drier summers. Heat and drought might not be good for yields, but they are conducive to ripeness, richness, flavour and quality. HUON SAYS: Great biodynamic vineyard making an array of chardonnays and cabernets based on lunar phases, several of which rated very highly. Biodynamic, yes, but its the attention to detail and understanding of quality that count. The 2018 vintages of Kevin John Chardonnay and Diana Madeline were stand-outs. BEST KNOWN FOR: Sublime chardonnay and the supremely elegant cabernet merlot blend Diana Madeline, named after winemaker Vanya Cullens mother. Next years list promises to look very different, thanks to a 2020 harvest disrupted by bushfires, smoke and COVID-19, but some wineries will benefit from our 24-month tasting window. And hopefully with our support, theyll still be in business. New entrants this year are Swinney, from WAs Great Southern region, in sixth place: a stunning showing from a very exciting emerging producer. Barossa winery Gibson is a big mover, shooting up to 11th spot, while Poonawatta, arguably the best least-known producer in Eden Valley, leapfrogs 40 places to 24th. Exciting young Hunter winemaker Angus Vindens Vinden Estate rises to number 22. Less-renowned wineries Hoosegg, Handpicked, Silkman and Levantine Hill rub shoulders with star-studded Henschke, Mount Mary and Yarra Yering. Mount Pleasant in the NSW Hunter Valley is known for its single-vineyard wines from vines dating back to 1880. Credit:Chris Elfes HUON SAYS: Venerable 162-year-old family-owned winery making benchmark regional wines from shiraz, semillon and chardonnay. Tyrrells Vat 47 is the original Australian chardonnay. The 2017 shirazes are outstanding, but the re-released 2014 Four Acres Shiraz, Johnnos Shiraz and Stevens Semillon are the clinchers. BEST KNOWN FOR: Single-vineyard shiraz and semillon; many of the vineyards are more than 100 years old. BEST KNOWN FOR: Its ground-breaking shiraz viognier blend, which had its first vintage in 1992. HUON SAYS: Single-block, single-vineyard wines from vines dating back to 1880 offer a thrilling experience, capped off by the brilliant 2017 Maurice OShea Shiraz. The 2018 1946 Vines Rosehill Shiraz is magical. BEST KNOWN FOR: Classic regional shiraz and semillon, produced from some of the most historic vineyards in the Hunter, Australias oldest wine region. Siblings Matt and Janelle Swinney of Swinney vineyards in the Frankland River region of Western Australia. HUON SAYS: The top wines tasted were three glorious old tawnies 21, 30 and 50 years old respectively as well as Menzies Coonawarra cabernet and Steeple Vineyard Barossa shiraz, both 2014 vintages. BEST KNOWN FOR: Refined, minerally Eden Valley rieslings, classic Barossa reds and Australias leading advocate of viognier white wines. HUON SAYS: The 2018 shiraz viognier is a cracking wine, one of winemaker Tim Kirks best. Indeed, the entire range is splendid and the pure shiraz labelled syrah 2018 is as good as the shiraz viognier. The house style is restrained, elegant, perfumed and very beautiful. The finesse extends to the viognier and riesling 2019. LOCATION: Great Southern, WA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Riesling, shiraz and grenache. HUON SAYS: A new name to reckon with. The Swinneys arent new to vines but the recently launched brand amazed us with its formidable quality. The 2018 syrah and grenache and 2019 riesling are sublime; the top reds, named Farvie, also 2018 vintage, are shockingly good. Hardys in McLaren Vale, South Australia, are sticklers for blending. LOCATION: McLaren Vale, SA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Hardys are sticklers for blending. The high-scoring 2017 Eileen Hardy chardonnay is a mix of Yarra Valley and Tasmanian grapes. HUON SAYS: Hardys is part of one of Australias biggest wine companies, Accolade, serving up a diverse and wide portfolio. Top scorers this year were the luscious Rare 20 Year Old muscat, the one-off 165th Anniversary 2014 cabernet shiraz, and the Eileen chardonnay, closely followed by the 2016 Tintara Reserve grenache and the very affordable 2018 HRB pinot noir. Morris Wines in Rutherglen, Victoria, is known for its fantastic fortifieds: muscats, topaques and tawnies. LOCATION: Rutherglen, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Its fantastic fortifieds muscats, topaques and tawnies which are arguably Rutherglens finest. HUON SAYS: The top five scorers are all fortifieds, Old Premium muscat, topaque and tawny, plus Classic and Cellar Reserve Grand muscats. But its reds are also superb, the 2013 CHM durif and shiraz both right up there. Lakes Folly, a family-owned, boutique winery in the Hunter Valley, NSW. LOCATION: Hunter Valley, NSW. BEST KNOWN FOR: A tiny but mega-premium offering of just two styles: the Bordeaux-inspired red blend, simply named Cabernets, and magnificent chardonnays. HUON SAYS: Lakes Folly continues to sit at the pinnacle of Hunter wines. The brace of 2019 chardonnays, the Hill Block and regular Lakes Folly labels, are thrilling, while the red blend from the stunning 2018 vintage possesses benchmark style and elegance. Yering Station, Yarra Valley, Victoria. LOCATION: Yarra Valley, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Powerful pinot noirs and Reserve shiraz viognier, one of Australias greatest such blends. HUON SAYS: The 2017 vintage was a ripper, and the Reserve shiraz viognier and Scarlett pinot noir of this year share top honours. Reserve labels of chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon also excel. The restrained 2017 Laura Barnes shiraz showed strongly. Shiraz and shiraz blends are a specialty of Gibson, in South Australia's Barossa Valley. LOCATION: Barossa Valley, SA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Shiraz and shiraz blends under numerous labels, capped by the 2015 Special Reserve Bin 65 shiraz and 2016 Australian Old Vine Collection shiraz both dense, plush and succulent. HUON SAYS: Owner Rob Gibson has lately added a stunning Eden Valley riesling made by ex-Peter Lehmann winemaker Andrew Wigan. The 2019 is outstanding. The 2008 Bin 60 cabernet shiraz, at $300 a bottle, is glorious for those with deep pockets and a love of reds with some maturity. Henschke, Eden Valley, South Australia. LOCATION: Eden Valley, SA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Iconic Hill of Grace and Mount Edelstone shirazes. HUON SAYS: Great wines across the board, from innovative Adelaide Hills sparkling blanc de noir to Eden Valley riesling and grenache blends from the Barossa. Top wines include the magnificent 2014 Hill of Grace and 2015 Mount Edelstone. The winningly fragrant 2019 Julius riesling and 2016 The Wheelwright shiraz also shine. Pooley in the Coal River Valley, Tasmania. Credit:Natalie Mendham LOCATION: Coal River Valley, Tas. BEST KNOWN FOR: Super-fine riesling, especially Margaret Pooley Tribute 2019, but its chardonnay and pinot noir are rising fast. HUON SAYS: Notwithstanding the marvellous rieslings and chardonnays, the top scoring wines are two reds, the 2018 J.R.D. syrah, an eye-opening cool-climate shiraz, and a spellbinding 2018 Jack Denis Pooley pinot noir. This is a winery which is blossoming. The underground cellar at Best's in Victoria's Great Western wine-growing region. LOCATION: Great Western, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Shiraz, especially the $250 Thomson Family and $85 Bin No. 0, of which the 2017s are sensational. HUON SAYS: Bests impressive spread of great wines comes from a handful of vineyards in the one region. These run from riesling to sparkling shiraz, and the hauntingly beautiful 2019 Old Vine Pinot Meunier ($100), made from original vines planted in 1868. Hoosegg vineyard in Orange, one of many fine wine regions in NSW. Credit:Amy Woodward LOCATION: Orange, NSW. BEST KNOWN FOR: Chardonnay has figured brightly in former Rosemount and Southcorp winemaker Philip Shaws distinguished 55-year career, and the legend continues with the super-complex 2017 Seven Heaven chardonnay. HUON SAYS: The next most arresting wines are the 2017 Mountain Dragon and Jade Moon blends, the former based on merlot, the latter cabernet franc. These are lush and gorgeously balanced with prices to match ($175-$250). Taylors in South Australia's Clare Valley offers cabernet sauvignon in the hearty Clare style. LOCATION: Clare Valley, SA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Cabernet sauvignon in the hearty Clare style, often offering outstanding value for money at the budget end. HUON SAYS: The year 2014 was a stellar vintage, providing the grapes for its ground-breaking The Legacy cabernet sauvignon, as well as The Visionary cabernet, both of which pushed Taylors up the scoreboard. St Andrews cabernet and shiraz from 2016 also excelled. Chateau Tanunda in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. LOCATION: Barossa Valley, SA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Hearty reds that spotlight the Barossas rich heritage of old vines, capped by the herculean 150 Year Old Vines 1858 Field Blend, of grenache, mourvedre and malbec. HUON SAYS: The Everest grenache and shiraz (2016 vintages were tasted) are the pinnacle of those varieties. There are also Terroir shirazes from Ebenezer, Greenock, Marananga and Eden Valley. A stunning line-up. Visit Oakridge, in Victoria's Yarra Valley, for exquisite chardonnays. LOCATION: Yarra Valley, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Exquisite chardonnays from a multitude of individual Yarra Valley vineyards, climaxing with 2017s 864 Funder & Diamond. HUON SAYS: The 2018 Hazeldene chardonnay, and the chardonnay and pinot noir from the Henk vineyard, are other stand-outs, but 2018 vintage 864 bottlings of both cabernet and syrah attest to the diverse talents of chief winemaker David Bicknell. Italian varietals are a speciality at Coriole in McLaren Vale, South Australia. Credit:Isaac Forman LOCATION: McLaren Vale, SA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Italian varietals are the speciality, especially sangiovese, fiano, nero davola, negroamaro, montepulciano and barbera. HUON SAYS: The 2018 Italian red varietals are outstanding, but the rich single-vineyard reds also excite our palates, especially the 2016 Lloyd Reserve shiraz from century-old vines. Owner Mark Lloyd is a creative force in the region, pioneering Italian grape varieties, olive oil, cheesemaking, concerts, poetry and theatre among the vines. Yarra Yering, Yarra Valley, Victoria. LOCATION: Yarra Valley, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Gloriously elegant cabernet blend Dry Red Wine No.1 and spicy shiraz blend Dry Red Wine No. 2 the 2017s are as good as it gets. HUON SAYS: Winemaker Sarah Crowe has added a stellar reserve-style Carrodus range based on the original vines: a cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, viognier and pinot noir. Balancing power with elegance, the reds are gorgeous, young, yet also long living if cellared properly. Mount Mary, a single vineyard estate in the heart of the Yarra Valley, Victoria. LOCATION: Yarra Valley, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: The five-variety cabernet blend Quintet, a Yarra benchmark. HUON SAYS: The miracle is that the Bordeaux varieties excel in the same diminutive vineyard as the Burgundy grapes. Pinot noir and chardonnay are as remarkable as the Quintet and its white running-mate, Triolet, a sauvignon blanc, semillon, muscadelle melange. All 2017 vintage. Vinden Estate in the Hunter Valley, NSW. LOCATION: Hunter Valley, NSW. BEST KNOWN FOR: Shiraz and semillon are the standard-bearers, but the tempranillo and chardonnay also wow us. HUON SAYS: The top label is The Vinden Headcase, limited-volume barrel selections of all four varieties. Vintages sampled were 2017 and 2018, both top Hunter years. Youthful Angus Vinden, assisted by Dan Binet, has emerged as a top winemaker. Shaun and Liz Silkman at their winery in the Hunter Valley, NSW. LOCATION: Hunter Valley, NSW. BEST KNOWN FOR: Multi-award-winning winemaker Liz Silkman excels at shiraz, semillon and chardonnay, especially the Reserve labels, but her Reserve shiraz pinot noir (current vintage 2017) is a ground-breaker. HUON SAYS: The top 2017 chardonnays, Reserve and Silk, combine smoky, reductive complexity with tightly coiled fruit of great intensity; built to reward cellaring but also accessible young. At $30 a bottle, the 2018 semillon is the value buy: classic but with an extra level of fragrance and textural charm. Poonawatta in the Eden Valley, South Australia. LOCATION: Eden Valley, SA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Old-vine Eden Valley shiraz is the specialty. HUON SAYS: Poonawatta should be better known, but theres little to go around. Centenarian is a 300-bottle edition of the 2010 vintage, a snip at $225. The 2015 1880 shiraz is half as old and half the price. The rieslings, 2019 standard and 2018 Reserve, are superb. The 2015 and 2016 BS shiraz are bargains at $23. Coldstream Hills in the Yarra Valley, Victoria. LOCATION: Yarra Valley, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Pinot noir and chardonnay of consistent quality and elegance, especially Deer Farm chardonnay and pinot noir from a high-altitude site, and Reserve bottlings of both varieties. HUON SAYS: Andrew Fleming and Greg Jarratt craft a range of polished wines, with the 2018 and 2017 vintages highly successful. The 2018 Reserve chardonnay is full and rich with a flinty note. The 2015 sparkling pinot noir chardonnay also impressed, for its modest price ($35) as well as its quality. Handpicked, on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, has emerged as a pinot noir and chardonnay specialist. LOCATION: Mornington Peninsula, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Originally fielding a broad range of wines from many regions, Handpicked has emerged as a southern Victorian pinot noir and chardonnay specialist. HUON SAYS: A relatively new business, established by Chinese-Australian dynamo William Dong, with an innovative cellar door in Sydneys Chippendale, Handpicked has expanded from being a negociant-style business to having its own winery and vineyards in Mornington and the Yarra. The 2018 Collection pinots from Mornington and Tasmania stood out; also 2017 pinots from Wombat Creek and Capella vineyards. Collection Barossa grenache 2018 is the surprise package. Wine by Farr, Geelong, Victoria. LOCATION: Geelong, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Sublime chardonnay and pinot noir, and arguably Australias best viognier. HUON SAYS: The 2018 chardonnay By Farr and Cote Vineyard chardonnay are both exquisite. The 2017 Tout Pres, Sangreal and Cote Vineyard pinots are also impressive, in their distinctive bunchy Farr style, while the 2017 shiraz continues its great form. The Saignee is one of the most characterful roses anywhere. TarraWarra Estate, Yarra Valley, Victoria. LOCATION: Yarra Valley, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Very fine chardonnays and pinot noirs, especially under the MDB, Reserve and single-block labels. HUON SAYS: TarraWarra has recently extended its range to elegant barbera, nebbiolo, shiraz and an exemplary roussanne marsanne viognier blend. The 2017 vintage is exceptional across the board. The merlot and rose are also among the best money can buy. Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Coonawarra, South Australia. LOCATION: Coonawarra, SA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Pristine cabernet sauvignon. HUON SAYS: In Coonawarra, theres Wynns, and then theres the rest. Standout wines this year were 2016 vintages of the flagship John Riddoch cabernet and Michael shiraz, but the 2015 Messenger cabernet and 2016 V&A Lane cabernet shiraz also delighted. The less-pricey labels are always great value. Levantine Hill, Yarra Valley, Victoria. LOCATION: Yarra Valley, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Idiosyncratic pinot noir, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, produced in winemaker Paul Bridgemans very personal style, involving a lot of whole-bunch fermentation. HUON SAYS: The wines are as superb as they are individualistic. The 2016 Samanthas Paddock Bordeaux-style red blend and Colleens Paddock pinot noir, at $200 each, are extraordinary. Rose, chardonnay and bubbly are close behind. The tasting room at Penfolds, Barossa Valley, South Australia. LOCATION: Barossa Valley, SA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Grange, RWT shiraz, Bin 707 cabernet, St Henri, Yattarna chardonnay, Bin 389 cabernet shiraz where do we stop? HUON SAYS: Australias most famous wine brand celebrated its 175th anniversary with a new blockbuster Clare/Barossa shiraz, 2016 Bin 111A, and a very smart 2015 Grange. The 2017 RWT is a knockout, as are the 2017 Bin 169 Coonawarra cabernet and 2017 Reserve Bin A chardonnay. With chief winemaker Peter Gago at the helm, there is never a false step. Giant Steps, Yarra Valley, Victoria. LOCATION: Yarra Valley, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Pinot noir, chardonnay and shiraz, but the 2018 Harrys Monster, a plush berryish cabernet blend, equal top-billed this year. HUON SAYS: Individual vineyards Sexton, Applejack, Tarraford and Wombat Creek and more recently Nocton in Tasmania supply a welter of stunning wines of great consistency and site clarity. Howard Park, Margaret River, Western Australia. LOCATION: Margaret River, WA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Cabernet, the flagship the 2016 Abercrombie, although its been joined at the top by A.S.W cabernet shiraz. The 2017 is a beauty. HUON SAYS: Even the lower-priced 2016 cabernet sauvignons Leston and Scotsdale wowed us, while the highest scorer overall was the sublime 2018 Allingham chardonnay. The 2019 Porongurup riesling is mentioned last only because of so many other great wines. Yangarra, McLaren Vale, South Australia. LOCATION: McLaren Vale, SA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Wonderful Rhone-style varietals and blends, grown in the highest part of the region. While the 2016 Ironheart shiraz is amazing, the 2016 High Sands grenache is its equal. HUON SAYS: The newer addition 2017 Kings Wood is a more affordable shiraz at $50. The Rhone theme extends to roussanne, mourvedre and blends. The base-label shiraz, grenache, mourvedre and roussanne are fantastic value at about $35 a bottle, all scoring very highly. Sittella Wines is a small family winery in Western Australia's Swan Valley. LOCATION: Swan Valley, WA. BEST KNOWN FOR: A small family winery, established in 1998, making outstanding sparkling wines sourced from cool Pemberton. The top choice is the 2015 vintage Marie Christien Lugten pinot noir chardonnay. HUON SAYS: The 2018 chardonnay and 2016 Berns Reserve cabernet sauvignon, grown in Margaret River, and 2017 Coffee Rock shiraz from the Swan are worthy stablemates. Limited-edition T3 red blends are also worth sniffing out. Mark Walpole at Fighting Gully Road in Beechworth, Victoria. The elevated region is a good spot for sangiovese. LOCATION: Beechworth, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Italian varieties are the speciality of the vineyard and a special love of owner Mark Walpole. HUON SAYS: Sangiovese and aglianico under several labels, and a rose which blends the two, figured highly. Walpole has a light touch that allows the varietal signatures to shine through. Chardonnay, from the established Smith vineyard, is another stand-out. Will Byron (at left) and Mike Symons from Stonier, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. LOCATION: Mornington Peninsula, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Chardonnay and pinot noir, appearing each year under a varied array of single-vineyard labels. HUON SAYS: The key to the Stonier style is finesse and consistency, provided by long-serving chief winemaker Mike Symons. Dont look for dark-coloured, powerful pinots but fragrant, beautiful wines. The 2019 KBS Vineyard wines, both pinot and chardonnay, are stunners. Soumah is one of the more recent entries into the top circle of Yarra Valley wineries. LOCATION: Yarra Valley, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Pinot noir, chardonnay and viognier from its Hexham vineyard, the top label Equilibrio. The 2018 chardonnay is the star act. HUON SAYS: Soumah is one of the more recent entries into the top circle of Yarra wineries. Its based at Gruyere in the Warramate foothills. An Italian bent is provided by nebbiolo, barbera, brachetto and pinot grigio, while the Savarro is one of the best savagnins going around. Pepper Tree in the Hunter Valley, NSW. Credit:Chris Elfes LOCATION: Hunter Valley, NSW. BEST KNOWN FOR: Coquun, a first nations name for the Hunter River, is Pepper Trees top shiraz and the 2018 is its highest-scoring wine. HUON SAYS: Owner John Davis, a former geologist, has vineyards in Orange and Wrattonbully as well as the Hunter, and makes fine wine from each. They often carry geological names: Alluvius is the top semillon, with the 2018 and 2019 super-fine examples. Two 2016 Wrattonbully cabernets, P.J.P and Block 21A , are also impressive. Crittenden Estate, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. LOCATION: Mornington Peninsula, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot gris. HUON SAYS: Notwithstanding the quality of the former, the two top wines this year are both left-field examples made from the rare savagnin grape. The 2015 Cri de Coeur, a sherry-like sous voile version, modelled on Juras Vin Jaune, must be tasted to be believed. Woodlands, Margaret River, Western Australia, was established in 1973 and is still going strong. LOCATION: Margaret River, WA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Cabernet sauvignon, one of the regions best, named after a family member each year: the 2016 ($135) is Clementine Eloise. HUON SAYS: The Watson family established this vineyard in Wilyabrup in 1973. Today, sons Stuart and Andrew do the heavy lifting. The 2016 Margaret Reserve cabernet merlot malbec is a beaut, and there are several variations on Bordeaux red blends, but dont forget the Chloe Reserve chardonnay, the 2018 is magnificent. Shaw + Smith, Adelaide Hills, South Australia. LOCATION: Adelaide Hills, SA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Stunning chardonnays and pinot noirs from its Lenswood vineyard, while the consistently smart sauvignon blanc is the market leader in its price range. HUON SAYS: The wines that clinch it are the high-altitude 2018 Lenswood pair, but even more impressive is the 2017 Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz. Go to Duke's Vineyard, Great Southern, Western Australia, for fragrant, cool-climate riesling. LOCATION: Great Southern, WA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Fragrant, cool-climate riesling under the Magpie Hill Reserve label. HUON SAYS: The 10-hectare vineyard is in the very cool, southerly, granite-soil Porongurup subregion. The 2019 Magpie Hill Reserve riesling is the standard-bearer, but the reds, cabernet and shiraz, under the same Magpie Hill label, are today neck and neck for line honours. The 2018 vintage of both helped get Dukes onto the list this year. Managing directors Martin Shaw (left) and Michael Hill Smith at Tolpuddle Vineyard, Coal River Valley, Tasmania. LOCATION: Coal River Valley, Tas. BEST KNOWN FOR: Just two wines chardonnay and pinot noir but what wines they are! HUON SAYS: Established in 1988, this vineyard was bought in 2011 by Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith, the guys behind South Australias famed Shaw + Smith label, as a hedge against global warming. They immediately made superb wine. Chardonnay, naturally, is the headline act, pinot being more difficult. But in 2018, both are outstanding. Mount Langi Ghiran Vineyards, The Grampians, Victoria. LOCATION: The Grampians, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: The most peppery shiraz in all Australia. HUON SAYS: The 2017 Langi shiraz, from the original vines, is arguably the best of this very impressive lineage. The Mast shiraz 2017, named after former owner-winemaker Trevor Mast, is a more restrained alter ego to the Langi, and 2017 Talus is the latest addition to the shiraz portfolio, fitting between the two others in style. Yeringberg in the Yarra Valley, Victoria. LOCATION: Yarra Valley, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Superb wines across the range, but the cabernet-led Bordeaux blend, just labelled Yeringberg, stands out. HUON SAYS: The Yeringberg red blend is great in 2017, beaten only by a one-off straight 2017 cabernet sauvignon, commemorating the de Pury familys 350-year anniversary in the business. These are wines of effortless purity. Robert Stein Vineyard, Mudgee, NSW. LOCATION: Mudgee, NSW. BEST KNOWN FOR: Benchmark rieslings, led by 2019 Dry riesling, but Jacob Stein has also crafted a more elegant Mudgee red style. HUON SAYS: The flagship red, The Kinnear shiraz 2016, is worth mentioning, but for consistent quality in a region better known for reds, the riesling range of four different labels merits special praise. Eldorado Road, Beechworth, Victoria. LOCATION: Beechworth, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Arguably Australias best nero davola, and the 2018, branded Comrade, is right on song. HUON SAYS: Rich reds are the forte, with 2018 Onyx durif topping the score sheet, and 2017 Perseverance shiraz, from old vines at Glenrowan, also impressing, while the buttery 2018 Beechworth chardonnay is sublime its best white wine to date. Torbreck Vintners in the Barossa Valley is known for its "big reds". LOCATION: Barossa Valley, SA. BEST KNOWN FOR: RunRig, a statuesque shiraz with a dash of viognier. HUON SAYS: A bevy of lush shirazes did the job: 2017 RunRig and Descendant, 2018 The Struie and The Gask, and finally 2015 The Laird, one of Australias most expensive wines. Always big reds, they are now more stylish than ever. If you're into great chardonnay, head to Giaconda, Beechworth, Victoria. LOCATION: Beechworth, Vic. BEST KNOWN FOR: Arguably Australias greatest chardonnay. HUON SAYS: The 2017 Estate chardonnay packs as much complex flavour into a bottle as any chardonnay on earth. Its next chardonnay, Nantua, is almost as good in 2018. The two shirazes, Estate 2017 and Warner 2016, are ripping wines, too. Riesling rules at Frankland Estate, Great Southern, Western Australia. LOCATION: Great Southern, WA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Riesling, riesling and more riesling! HUON SAYS: After blazing a red-hot trail with riesling (the original aptly named Isolation Ridge), Isolation Ridge shiraz and Olmos Reward (cabernet franc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon blend) are now in the same exalted class. Vasse Felix, Margaret River, Western Australia. LOCATION: Margaret River, WA. BEST KNOWN FOR: Statuesque, ageworthy cabernet sauvignon and powerful, grapefruity chardonnay. HUON SAYS: Dr Tom Cullity was the first to plant a vineyard in the region, 53 years ago, so its fitting the 2016 Tom Cullity cabernet malbec led the field this year with the 2018 Heytesbury chardonnay. Both are great examples of regional styles. Correction: the original version of this story said Penfolds celebrated its 140th anniversary last year. It was its 175th birthday. For the Top Wineries of Australia full list, go to therealreview.com As an introductory offer, Good Weekend readers will receive a $10 discount on subscriptions to wine website The Real Review. Visit therealreview.com/goodweekend to redeem. Offer ends June 30. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times. Egypt is set to hold in August the first elections for the newly-established Senate, an upper house of the parliament that was created as part of the 2019 constitutional amendments, parliamentary sources told Akhbar Al-Youm newspaper. Elections for the lower house, the House of Representatives, will be held in November as previously scheduled, the sources added. The lower house of parliament was brought back to life after constitutional amendments were approved in an April 2019 referendum. Another upper house known as the Shura Council, the role of which was largely advisory, was abolished in 2014. The House of Representative will discuss on Sunday a draft bill on the formation and election of the Senate and draft amendments to the law of the House of Representatives. The draft bill on the Senate indicates that the chamber will constitute of 300 members; two-third to be elected through a secret ballot and one-third to be appointed by the president. According to the bill, 100 of the seats will be elected through a closed-list system and 100 through the individual system. It also stipulates that women should have no less than 10 percent of the Senate seats. Search Keywords: Short link: Vehicles of a convoy United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) ride on a road along the border between Lebanon and Israel near the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila. Photo: ALI DIA/AFP via Getty Images Sleeper cells from listed terrorist groups pose a potential threat to UN peacekeepers, including 139 Irish troops on the Golan Heights. That's the view of secretary general Antonio Guterres in his report to the UN security council in New York. He was giving his assessment of activities in the UNDOF mission area of operations, separating Syria and Israel. Mr Guterres also highlighted continuing significant danger to the peacekeepers from "explosive remnants of war, including unexploded ordnance and mines". He outlined his report, which covered the period from March 6 to May 20, before the security council agreed to extend the mandate of the mission for another six months to the end of the year. He said he was concerned about the increased number of violations during the reporting period, in a particularly volatile time for the region. This included breaches of the ceasefire on April 30 when a battle tank fired a projectile on the Israeli side across the ceasefire line, impacting in the vicinity of Sidon. This was followed by the firing of two rockets and then a third rocket, from separate locations on the Israeli side, resulting in a large explosion being heard at an observation post. UNDOF also observed the presence of Syrian armed forces staffing checkpoints within the area of separation. "The security situation in the southern part of the area of separation (on the Syrian side) continues to be volatile, with open sources reporting increasing attacks, including assassinations, carried out against Syrian security forces and other government authorities," he said. Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. HOUSTON, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CITGO Petroleum Corporation ("CITGO") today reported its first quarter 2020 performance results, including a net loss of $159 million and an adjusted EBITDA1 of $38 million excluding the effect of special items. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with crude oil demand destruction were drivers behind the Company's first quarter results and impacted the industry as a whole. The first quarter net loss was particularly affected by the lower of cost or market ("LCM") inventory valuation adjustment, a result of rapidly falling crude oil prices affecting refiners across the industry. "The LCM adjustment resulted in a non-cash loss that had no impact on CITGO's overall liquidity," said CITGO President and CEO Carlos Jorda. "Our management team will continue monitoring the economic environment closely, using the flexibility of our refineries and the diversification of the markets where we operate to adjust our product slate and refinery runs while continuing to evaluate additional cost reductions." First quarter operational and performance highlights: Turnaround activity Maintained existing turnaround plans Maintained existing turnaround plans Refinery throughput Total refinery throughput in the first quarter was 764,000 bpd, including 114,000 bpd of intermediate feedstocks, resulting in an overall crude utilization of 91%. Total refinery throughput in the first quarter was 764,000 bpd, including 114,000 bpd of intermediate feedstocks, resulting in an overall crude utilization of 91%. Exports First quarter refined products exports averaged 181,000 bpd. First quarter refined products exports averaged 181,000 bpd. Operational excellence CITGO refineries continue to be recognized for outstanding performance. The Lemont refinery recently received the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) Elite Gold Safety Award in recognition of top industry safety performance and excellence in program innovation and leadership. The CITGO Corpus Christi refinery earned the 2019 Energy Star designation from the U.S. EPA. CITGO refineries continue to be recognized for outstanding performance. The Lemont refinery recently received the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) Elite Gold Safety Award in recognition of top industry safety performance and excellence in program innovation and leadership. The CITGO Corpus Christi refinery earned the 2019 Energy Star designation from the U.S. EPA. Special items Several one-time or special items impacted our net loss in the first quarter 2020. The net loss was primarily driven by LCM adjustment of approximately $332 million . This impact was partially offset by an approximately $172 million insurance recovery gain related to the previously incurred costs related to the Athos matter and an approximately $48 million tax benefit as a result of certain Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act") provisions. Second Quarter Strategic Update: CITGO is actively responding to the extremely challenging economic conditions with the following strategic initiatives: Refinancing - On June 9, 2020 , CITGO successfully refinanced its 2021 Term Loan B with proceeds of a private offering of 7.00% senior secured notes due 2025. The notes offering was oversubscribed, allowing CITGO to upsize the offering to $1.125 billion . - On , CITGO successfully refinanced its 2021 Term Loan B with proceeds of a private offering of 7.00% senior secured notes due 2025. The notes offering was oversubscribed, allowing CITGO to upsize the offering to . Continued turnarounds - CITGO continued with its existing turnaround plans at the Lake Charles and Lemont refineries after developing and implementing strict COVID-19 safety protocols, which allows the company to take advantage of the low demand environment. - CITGO continued with its existing turnaround plans at the Lake Charles and Lemont refineries after developing and implementing strict COVID-19 safety protocols, which allows the company to take advantage of the low demand environment. Liquidity management - CITGO is targeting a 10% reduction of its 2020 capital expenditures and is taking steps to reduce 2020 planned annual operating expenses by approximately 10%-15%. Industry Overview: In a May meeting with the CITGO entities' ultimate shareholder, the PDVSA adhoc board, CITGO Board Chairwoman Luisa Palacios detailed the broader economic and market forces driving the first quarter environment. COVID-19 and its development into a pandemic in March 2020 resulted in significant economic disruption, as the U.S. economy contracted nearly 5%, U.S. equity markets fell sharply, crude oil prices fell by 65% from the middle of March to end of May, and significant restrictions on travel and work severely impacted demand for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. April marked the month with the largest refined products demand destruction of 38.5% in comparison to the same month in the previous year. The economic disruption led to a collapse of margins for petroleum products with the gasoline crack turning negative, a development not seen since the 2008 credit crisis. This led to a significant cut in refining capacity utilization globally and in the United States since March. U.S. refinery utilization fell to a low of 68% and since has recovered to 72%. With demand disappearing, inventories for refined products and crude have risen dramatically, and while the industry has avoided reaching tank tops, inventories are now at historically high levels and will need to work themselves through in order for a healthy margin environment to return. Analysts expect the refining sector will see the worst of the crisis in the second quarter of 2020. However, as all states have recently lifted stay-at-home orders, analysts expect a gradual recovery in demand in the second half of 2020. In such an environment, gasoline demand is expected to lead the recovery, while the health of distillate demand will be connected to the recovery of GDP growth, and jet demand is expected to lag. Current positive expectations about the second half of 2020 rest on assumptions that a demand recovery will lift refinery runs and refinery margins. However, these expectations depend on continued avoidance of a significant resurgence of COVID-19 as social distancing requirements ease. Palacios pointed to the concrete, proactive steps taken by CITGO to ensure the company is well-positioned to weather current economic conditions and seize the initiative when markets improve. "We believe CITGO has proactively prepared itself for a stress scenario by reducing operating and capital costs, tapping the markets to obtain additional liquidity, and proceeding with planned maintenance activities in the second quarter while the opportunity cost and demand levels are low," said Palacios. About CITGO Headquartered in Houston, Texas, CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a recognized leader in the refining industry with a well-known brand. CITGO operates three refineries located in Corpus Christi, Texas; Lake Charles, La.; and Lemont, Ill., and wholly and/or jointly owns 48 terminals, ten pipelines and three lubricants blending and packaging plants. With approximately 3,400 employees and a combined crude capacity of approximately 769,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), CITGO is ranked as the fifth-largest, and one of the most complex independent refiners in the United States. CITGO transports and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products and supplies a network of approximately 4,700 locally owned and operated branded retail outlets in 30 states and the District of Columbia. CITGO Petroleum Corporation is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information included in this release may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to, among other things, expectations regarding the proposed notes offering and the use of proceeds therefrom. These statements also relate to our industry, business strategy, goals and expectations concerning our market position and future operations. We have used the words "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "will," "would" and similar terms and phrases to identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions (including current market conditions), expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Although we believe the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of these assumptions could prove to be inaccurate, and the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions could be incorrect. In addition, our business and operations involve numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could result in our expectations not being realized or could otherwise materially affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We caution readers that these forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results that are projected, expressed or implied. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks related to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, general economic activity, developments in international and domestic petroleum markets, and refinery turnarounds and operations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are made only as of the date of this release. We disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements. 1 Adjusted EBITDA is a Non-GAAP financial measure. Please see the reconciliation table below. CITGO PETROLEUM CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF NET LOSS TO ADJUSTED EBITDA (in millions of U.S. dollars) (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 Net Loss (159) Plus (Less) Interest expense, including finance lease 49 Income tax benefit (98) Depreciation and amortization 156 Amortization of loan origination fees in interest expense (3) Lower of cost or market inventory adjustment 332 Insurance recovery (a) (172) Tax benefit - CARES Act (b) (48) Litigation recovery (c) (19) Adjusted EBITDA 38 (a) Recovery from reinsurer for previously incurred costs related to the Athos matter. (b) Income tax benefits associated with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act. (c) Proceeds received from legal settlements. SOURCE CITGO Corporation Related Links www.citgo.com As taxpayer-funded public transit systems look for a way out of their coronavirus death spiral, a private equity tycoon is betting on a public-private financing model as a way to fund big transportation projects in the future. What's happening: Fortress Investment Group's Wes Edens is putting $100 million of his own money into a $9 billion plan to build new light rail systems in Florida and on the West Coast, Forbes writes. His Florida-based Brightline, funded in 2017 with $600 million in private equity and tax-exempt bonds, is the only private passenger train in the U.S., operating a 67-mile rail service between Miami and West Palm Beach. His vision is to expand the line all the way to Orlando and to run a similar electric passenger train between Las Vegas and a Los Angeles suburb. Funding comes from tax-exempt private-activity bonds issued by state and federal governments, a less expensive option than typical corporate bonds. By 2026, he expects his trains to carry nearly 20 million passengers, generating annual revenue of $1.6 billion and operating profit of almost $1 billion a year, according to Forbes. Yes, but: Trains aren't exactly a moneymaker. Amtrak has consumed $52 billion of public funds and never made money in its half-century of operation, Forbes points out. And, Edens has had his own financial challenges, as Forbes notes. But he clawed his way back from near-disaster during the Great Recession, selling Fortress to SoftBank in 2017 and pocketing $1.4 billion (pretax) for himself and his partners. At this point in my life, Im more of a builder, Edens tells Forbes. Upgrading our nations infrastructure and building high-speed trains can be this generations Hoover Dam and Tennessee Valley Authority. My thought bubble: Many public transportation systems were already financially distressed before the coronavirus. Until riders feel its safe to return, revenues will continue to suffer. Were likely to see more of these public-private partnerships as the transportation sector recovers. The murder of PTM leader Arif Wazir, and the Pakistani states reluctance to solve it, only strengthened our resolve. On May 1, Arif Wazir, a politician, activist, and one of the leaders of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), was shot by unidentified men near his home in Wana, South Waziristan. He was swiftly rushed to a local hospital and then transferred to a larger hospital in Islamabad for life-saving treatment, but his wounds ultimately proved fatal and he died early on May 2. Arifs murder was only the latest in a series of attacks against our movement, which is working to uproot illegal armed groups from the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan and hold the Pakistani military to account for the crimes and human rights abuses it committed against our people, the Pashtuns, in its war against these groups. Arifs killing devastated us, but it did not harm our resolve to bring justice to our people. On the contrary, it reinvigorated our struggle for rights, equality, and accountability. Despite concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, tens of thousands of people attended Arifs funeral in his hometown of Wana on May 3. The unprecedented turnout had a clear underlying message: We will resist any attempt to silence our plight. In the days following his funeral, supporters of the PTM protested against his murder in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and around the world. They called on the Pakistani authorities to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators. More significantly, they reiterated our demands for an end to illegal killings and forced disappearances by the security forces, the removal of landmines, and the right to live peaceful and dignified lives in our historic homeland. The response, however, was telling. To this day, no civilian or military official has publicly condemned Arifs murder. No one has extended us any sympathy or given us assurances that the crime will be investigated. Instead, hours after his shooting, online trolls, who usually run covert social media campaigns for the military, began a vicious propaganda campaign against Arif and our movement. Among other unfounded accusations and outright lies, they blamed Arifs first cousin and fellow legislator, Ali Wazir, for his murder. Even the verified Twitter account of the media team working for the governor of Punjab province Pakistans most populous region which is governed by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khans party, PTI peddled such lies. While that particular tweet was retracted the next day, no apology was offered and no one was punished for the smear. Apart from a few English-language dailies, state and private media outlets largely censored the killing. The manner in which Arif was murdered was strikingly similar to the killings of hundreds of Pashtun tribal leaders and politicians in Waziristan and other parts of the former FATA over the past 20 years. This assassination campaign began in the aftermath of 9/11 when Pakistan allowed Taliban fighters and other allied fighters who were forced to flee Afghanistan to resettle in parts of former FATA. Over the years, these groups systematically eliminated tribal leaders and politicians who raised their voices against them. To this day, the Pakistani state has not solved any of these murders, perhaps because it has been tacitly using these unlawful groups to foment instability in Afghanistan and consolidate its influence over the region. Arif Wazir and I came of age at the height of this vicious war. We saw the destruction of our way of life and mass killings of civilians both in terrorist attacks and military operations. We witnessed the targeted assassinations of our elders by known groups and individuals who are only unknown to our state. These same elders had fought against the armed fighters on the governments behest for years. But the state repeatedly failed to deliver justice for them. In 2018, the state merged FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, effectively abolishing the draconian colonial-era regulations that these districts had been governed under for decades and making its five million residents equal citizens of the Pakistani federation. This move initially gave Pashtuns some hope that they could finally enjoy full citizenship rights and protections. But, despite this landmark constitutional change, our suffering did not come to an end. Unfortunately, today the Pakistani state appears willing to allow our region to descend into chaos once again. As the United States prepares to leave Afghanistan, some influential figures in the Pakistani military seem hellbent on triggering another round of conflict in the country to consolidate the Talibans power there and expand Pakistans influence over the region. To achieve this, they will once again need to allow the armed group to use Waziristan and other Pashtun areas near the Afghan border as launching pads for their illegal activities. For months, I have been warning, alongside other PTM leaders, against the revival of the Taliban in Waziristan. Ali and I even raised this issue on the floor of the National Assembly, the lower house of the Pakistani Parliament. But instead of listening to our warnings and complaints, the state machinery chose to declare us unpatriotic and anti-state. In our view, Arif just like hundreds of other tribal leaders, politicians and activists before him was killed as part of a larger conspiracy to end our peaceful resistance and revive Taliban control in former FATA. But we are determined to protect our homeland from the Talibans bloodshed and the Pakistani militarys deadly strategic games. Peace inside the country and in the region is in the best interest of Pakistan. But for peace to return and nourish, the senseless games of Pakistani generals must end. We will not be silenced by the states attempts to paint us as unpatriotic. We will not allow unlawful detentions, forced disappearances, beatings, threats and even murders by unknown assailants to silence our plight. We will continue our fight until our homeland is free of military oppression and illegal armed groups, and the perpetrators of Arifs murder are behind bars. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. "There's really no way to prove or disprove that someone did or did not catch it in any particular location. And that scares a lot of the small business owners, like myself and fellow restauranteurs, in town," he said. Workers are wearing masks and gloves, and washing hands every 15 minutes. Purcell has plexiglass up between the point-of-sale and customers, barriers between customers and employees and he's operating at less than the 50% capacity he's allowed to, just to be safe. The threat of a Covid-19 lawsuit looms over his head. After suffering sales drops of as much as 60% during the height of the coronavirus pandemic , customers are starting to return. Now it's all about making them comfortable and keeping employees and patrons alike safe in his store, which means going above and beyond guidelines for operating in the new normal. "We've done everything that the CDC, the state of North Carolina, WHO, anybody can think of, for us to do, we're doing it," Purcell continued. "And that's our concern, if we're doing everything that we're told is correct to do, we can still be open for liability. We have no recourse against it." As small businesses like Purcell's around the country begin to reopen their doors to customers after months of limited operations, Main Street advocates are putting out the call to enact liability guidelines and provide protections at the federal level. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and 200 trade groups across the country sent a letter to Congress in late May addressing the issue, and pushing for temporary and targeted relief legislation related to the pandemic. The groups ask for temporary liability protections for businesses, nonprofits and educational institutions that follow public health guidelines; workers and facilities providing critical Covid-19 services; manufacturers, donors, distributors, and users of vaccines, therapeutics, medical devices, as well as PPE and other supplies critical to the pandemic response, and finally public companies targeted by "unfair and opportunistic" Covid-19-related securities lawsuits. "These crucial protections should safeguard businesses, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions, as well as healthcare providers and facilities from unfair lawsuits so that they can continue to contribute to a safe and effective recovery from this pandemic," the letter said. The International Franchise Association has also followed up with its own Congressional petition, including 7,000 signatures from members, to protect business owners from potential lawsuits. The group's president and CEO, Robert Cresanti, said, it's tracking lawsuits and has already seen 1,000 across the country tied to the coronavirus. "In the midst of the economic crisis and just having stood up your business, having been shut down for a long time, and now having to face lawsuits because someone got sick, even though you may be taking the best available precautions you end up in a situation of near hopelessness," Cresanti said. As the pandemic took hold and states forced nonessential businesses to close, many small businesses sought the relief of their business interruption coverage only to find that Covid-related closures were not covered. "It turns out that business interruption insurance is not what it sounds like," Cresanti said. "Most of the insurance companies are telling our people that business interruption insurance is actually business destruction insurance. So if your business is burned down or destroyed by a flood, you're covered. But you're not [covered] in a crisis like this where your business is truly interrupted." The insurance industry is facing new questions from small business owners, this time about general liability coverage for incidents involving a customer getting sick after patronizing a business. Specific policy exclusions vary between insurers, but most liability policies include an exclusion for virus- and bacteria-related losses. Industry executives warn without these exclusions, the large burden could bankrupt the industry or leave it unable to cover other catastrophes in the future. Liability protections promise to be another battleground between Republicans and Democrats as Congress considers additional stimulus. Senior Republicans said they won't consider another stimulus bill without the inclusion of liability protections for doctors and businesses. "Liability protections would be the No. 1 thing I would look at," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told CNBC's Squawk Box last month. "No bill will pass without it." The public, though, is divided on the issue. Data from CNBC and Change Research on liability for coronavirus risk shows that 37% of likely voters nationwide believe businesses should have protections from lawsuits, while nearly 49% think that employees and customers should be able to sue. Still, Purcell is hopeful the government will come through. "It's scary for all of us that we could be bankrupt [and lose] what we've worked so hard for, for so many years," he said. An exceptionally sharp young woman I know posted a video of a caravan of Millennial bicyclists in Atlanta peacefully protesting the inexcusable police murder of George Floyd. Along the way, the group stopped at a traffic light, where they repeatedly raised their hands in unison to Black Lives Matter's signature chant "hands up, don't shoot." Apparently, none of them knows about the origin of the organization and its slogan. Black Lives Matter was founded in the aftermath of the 2014 Ferguson, Missouri police killing of an 18-year-old black American named Michael Brown. Before the investigation of the fatal incident had barely begun, Al Sharpton, one of President Obama's most trusted advisers on race, rushed to Ferguson, where he helped spread an unconfirmed rumor that Brown was killed with his hands in the air while trying to surrender to the police officer who shot him. With all due respect to the bike-riding protesters, "hands up, don't shoot" is political propaganda of the most poisonous kind. As a matter of fact: Multiple witnesses deemed to be credible saw the killing in real time. Of that group, none was white; all were black. A lone witness testified that Brown had his hands up and was trying to surrender when Officer Darren Wilson shot him. That witness was Dorian Johnson, who was with Brown when Brown stole cigarillos from a convenience store shortly before he was killed. Johnson's testimony was deemed not to be credible by both the grand jury and the U.S. Department of Justice. Multiple other black witnesses, all of whom were deemed credible by the investigating authorities, testified that Michael Brown (1) charged Officer Wilson after refusing to obey Wilson's commands and (2) reached inside Wilson's patrol car and fought with Wilson for control of Wilson's service revolver. Brown was shot and killed during that altercation. Wilson was fully exonerated by the grand jury and the Obama Department of Justice. Black Lives Matter was founded on a lie. I do not say that to be inflammatory I say it because it's true. "Hands up, don't shoot" never happened. Yet the chant is still being promoted by the group as a rallying cry that heightens racial hatred of the police, and of America itself, which BLM labels as an incurably racist nation where things can be made right only by upending the whole system and starting over. Black Lives Matter is a violent group whose members are believed to have played an instrumental role in the nationwide rioting and looting following George Floyd's murder. The picture below shows an elderly black woman confronting BLM rioters who destroyed her small store in New York City. See video here. | Image: YouTube screen grab. Americans on both sides of the aisle are deeply troubled over the shocking daylight murder of George Floyd. From coast to coast and border to border, peaceful protesters, including the ones in the bicycle caravan, eagerly took part in a national expression of outrage over an unforgivable travesty. My young friend, who rode with the caravan, is an exceptionally caring person, and I'm sure the same is true of her fellow protesters. They genuinely care about black lives, as do all decent Americans. When caring Americans see an outrage against the black American community, they speak out, because black lives do matter...most places. Where Black Lives Don't Matter I wonder if the multitude of peaceful people who protested George Floyd's murder have ever given even a passing thought to speaking out about the one place where black lives don't matter: the inner city. In 2014, Milwaukee's police chief at the time described in heart-wrenching terms the unmitigated hell that intrudes on the daily existence of disadvantaged minorities who fear being mowed down by their own kind in America's urban ghettos. Click on the image to see Chief Edward Flynn's epic rant. Here are highlights of what Chief Flynn said: The greatest racial disparity in Milwaukee is getting shot and killed. Eighty percent of Milwaukee's homicide victims are black Americans. Milwaukee and every other big blue city in America have been marked by a decades-long murder merry-go-round that has nothing to do with the police. The overwhelming majority of the murdered and the murderers in America's cities are young black men who were cheated out of a decent education by the inexcusably substandard Democrat-run public schools they had no choice but to attend. Because many were functionally illiterate and afflicted with arrested psychological development, they lacked the skills to hold down even the most basic entry-level job. So what did these frustrated and angry young men do? Most turned to a life of drugs and crime, with many ending up dead or in prison before reaching their 20th birthdays. For generations on end, black-on-black homicides in Democrat-run cities have been an ongoing calamity for the black community. On May 31, Chicago experienced a record 18 homicides in a single day. Year to date, the city has chalked up 264 murders, with young black men a solid majority of the victims, which raises the question: are those black lives any less important than George Floyd's, any less deserving of our outrage? Chicago is the poster child for urban carnage, but every big blue city in America has overseen a breeding ground for black-on-black havoc, and they've done it for the last half-century. Along with the video she posted, my young friend entered the following editorial comment: "Silence is consent," meaning that due to America's deplorable history of slavery and segregation, decent people have a moral duty to speak out when a racial travesty occurs. She's 100% right, and I would add that decent people who remain silent about the massive number of black-on-black homicides in America's largest Democrat-run cities are effectively consenting to a continuance of the urban carnage that's rolled on like an out-of-control freight train for more than 50 years. Finally, by their own callous neglect of the most vulnerable people in our society, Democrats have shown they don't give a flip about the black underclass, except at election time, and I'm not the only one who's observed that. Click here to see what the four Chicago ex-offenders pictured below have to say. Image used with written permission of RebelPundit.com. The number of migrants detained by U.S. authorities at the Mexico border rose 36 percent in May, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures released Friday, a sign that the deterrent effects of President Donald Trump's emergency pandemic measures might be wearing off. CBP took 23,118 migrants into custody last month, up from 16,966 in April, the figures show. Border arrests typically rise in late spring as U.S. seasonal labor demands increase, but last month's totals were still far below the figures recorded in May 2019, when 144,116 were detained at the peak of last year's border crisis. The uptick at the border last month occurred despite the administration's continued application of emergency restrictions that have suspended normal immigration proceedings and allowed for the rapid "expulsion" of nearly every migrant who crosses into the United States illegally. Those emergency health orders, which CBP refers to as Title 42, allowed the agency to expel 19,707 border crossers last month, including minors and asylum seekers who are no longer afforded additional legal protections. The Trump administration argues the emergency measures have aided in preventing a wider coronavirus outbreak by limiting the number of detainees held in cramped border cells. "Implementation of COVID-19 policies allowed CBP to process and return, in under two hours, 96 percent of those subject to (Title 42), dramatically reducing human contact, the risk of spread, and the strain on U.S. healthcare facilities, helping the United States avert a public health disaster," the agency said in a statement Friday. Since the implementation of the emergency orders in late March, nearly 43,000 migrants have been subjected to the rapid-expulsion proceedings, according to CBP figures. Once in U.S. custody, the migrants' fingerprints and documents are quickly recorded, and they are driven to the nearest border crossing for delivery to Mexican authorities. Mexican single adults now account for the largest share of those taken into custody in recent months, in contrast to last year's historic border surge, which was driven primarily by Central American families. According to CBP data, 82 percent of migrants encountered by the agency last month were Mexican nationals, while just 13 percent were from Central America's Northern Triangle nations of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. A year earlier, those numbers were almost the reverse: 72 percent of detainees were from the Northern Triangle and 16 percent from Mexico. Mexican nationals typically comprise the largest share of U.S. deportees, and some of those arrested by border agents each month are longtime U.S. residents attempting to return to jobs and families on the U.S. side. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration this week in the District of Columbia on behalf of a 16-year-old Honduran asylum seeker attempting to reunite with his father in the United States. The lawsuit contends that the Trump administration has exceeded its authority under Title 42 and cannot disregard protections granted to minors, asylum seekers and other vulnerable groups under U.S. law. "The Administration's use of Title 42 is a transparent end-run around Congress's considered decision to provide protection to children and others fleeing danger even where communicable disease is a concern - and to address that concern through the use of testing and quarantines, not deportations," the ACLU argued in its complaint. Trump has extended the emergency restrictions at the border indefinitely, in addition to issuing an executive order blocking several categories of visa applicants from seeking green cards overseas. White House officials are debating a second executive order that could freeze nonimmigrant work visas for up to six months, according to two administration officials, but a final decision on the scope of that decree has not been made. Trump's emergency restrictions have all but closed the United States to border crossers fleeing persecution, records show. The Justice and Homeland Security departments proposed regulations this week that would make it even more difficult for applicants to qualify for protection, with a new series of legal and administrative hurdles, while giving the government more latitude to dismiss their claims and order deportations. "We are looking at all of those matters extremely carefully," he told the Parliament on Thursday. "The government has the important responsibility of calibrating our support for economic lifelines into this country and ensuring they are done in a way that limits the burdens on future generations, that is targeted and comprehensive and that uses the mechanisms that are already in place so as to not risk the sort of waste that we saw when stimulus measures were put in many years ago." Labor's government services spokesman Bill Shorten said the "hammer will drop" on millions of Australians when the supplement ends on September 24. He said it would be unfair to rip away so much support for so many Australians, especially as the economy would take a long period of time before it fully recovered from the coronavirus pandemic and the measures aimed at stopping its spread. "There are millions of Australians who have taken one for the national team. Their jobs are lost, their businesses are shut, their takings are down," he said. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday criticized Noida district magistrate Suhas LY on his orders necessitating institutional quarantine instead of home quarantine. The court said that such situations can create chaos as it is contrary to the national guidelines. "There can't be guidelines contrary to national guidelines. Such situations can create chaos," the apex court said, seeking explanation from UP government. It further asked the Noida DM to review his order and said that it may pass an order overruling the district orders and emphasising on following the national guidelines. The case has now been posted for hearing on Wednesday. The Supreme Court's directions came after Suhas LY wrote an open letter to the residents informing them about dos and don'ts. He also warned of the "challenge" lying ahead. He answered some frequently asked questions such as what to do if someone tests positive. Lockdowns were imposed in parts of Beijing on Saturday to try and prevent the spread of a new coronavirus cluster, highlighting the challenges that lie ahead even for places where outbreaks are under control. It has fuelled fears of a resurgence in local transmissions in China, where the outbreak curve has been months ahead of the rest of the world, and comes as many European nations move to further lift their own lockdowns. The pandemic is still surging elsewhere, particularly in Latin America, with Brazil claiming the unenviable position of having the second-highest virus death toll behind the United States. The respiratory disease was first detected in central China late last year, believed to have jumped from an animal to humans at a market that sold wildlife. China largely eliminated transmission within its borders through hyper-strict lockdowns that were emulated across the globe. But on Thursday Beijing announced its first infection in two months and went on to report 50 more cases linked to the large Xinfadi meat and vegetable market, which provides much of the capital's food supply. Authorities have raced to contain the outbreak, ordering residents in 11 nearby residential estates to stay home, announcing mass testing, establishing a "wartime mechanism" and deploying hundreds of police officers. "Everyone's very stressed right now," an elderly driver told AFP outside a fenced-off neighbourhood in Fengtai district of southwest Beijing. "There are cases living in there, it's real." - More than 426,000 dead - Worldwide, the pandemic has killed more than 426,000 people and infected more than 7.6 million, while wreaking large-scale economic devastation. The number of global infections has doubled in slightly over a month -- with one million cases recorded in just the last nine days -- and the virus is spreading most rapidly in Latin America. Mexico and Chile recorded their worst days yet during the pandemic on Friday, while Brazil reported 909 new deaths, putting its total at 41,828, surpassing Britain's toll. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who threatened last week to quit the WHO over "ideological bias", has dismissed the virus as a "little flu", and berated state officials for imposing lockdowns. But world health officials have warned that the virus is far from contained. The WHO said this week the pandemic is accelerating in Africa, and on Saturday Botswana's capital Gaborone locked down after new cases were detected. In the US, which has confirmed the most COVID-19 deaths with over 114,000, more than a dozen states, including two of the most populous, Texas and Florida, reported their highest-ever daily case totals this week. In Russia, which has the world's third highest number of cases, authorities more than doubled the official death toll for April after changing how the country classifies fatalities. There is still no treatment for COVID-19, but pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca said it has agreed to supply an alliance of European countries with up to 400 million doses of a possible vaccine. The development of a vaccine could be completed by the end of the year, German government sources told AFP. - 'Ready to welcome tourists' - A number of European countries are preparing to reopen borders on Monday after the EU Commission urged a relaxation of restrictions. Poland reopened its borders to all fellow EU members on Saturday. France said it would gradually reopen its borders to non-Schengen countries from next month, and Germany said it would end land border checks on Monday. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis travelled to the picturesque island of Santorini on Saturday to open his country's tourism season. "Greece is ready to welcome tourists this summer by putting safety and health as our No.1 priority," he said in English. In several European countries, the focus has shifted to the courts and who might eventually be blamed for the pandemic. In hard-hit Italy, prosecutors grilled Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte for three hours over his government's response. "I explained everything to prosecutors. I am totally calm," Conte said Saturday, adding he did not fear a judicial probe would be opened. Public anger is mounting in France, where some 60 complaints have been filed against members of the government. Elsewhere, British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair launched legal action against the British government over a 14-day coronavirus quarantine system introduced this week. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II meanwhile celebrated her official birthday on Saturday, the normally massive pomp and pageantry of the traditional "Trooping the Colour" ceremony vastly scaled back due to the pandemic. burs-dl/pvh LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Informa plc (INFMF.PK, INF.L), an Exhibitions, Events, Business Intelligence and Academic Publishing company, Friday reported that its subscriptions-related businesses, which accounted for about 35 percent of Group revenue in 2019, continue to trade well. Events-related businesses, which accounted for about 65 percent of last year's revenue, have not traded any physical product in the two months since the first-quarter trading update, due to COVID-19. For the year, the company said Group revenue is likely to be 2 billion pounds, which is lower than last year's 2.89 billion pounds. The company noted that, at the current pace and rate of recovery outside of China, the outcome for 2020 is likely to be somewhere between the Vigilant and Operating Case scenarios that were outlined earlier in the year. This outlook remains unpredictable, something reflected in the current range of market forecasts. The company noted that 160+ brands have now been cancelled or rephased from 2020 to 2021, representing 300 million pounds in revenue. A further 300+ brands have committed to a digital rather than a physical event in 2020. Further rescheduling of events within 2020 is unlikely given the volume of brands now scheduled in the final four months of the year, with limited remaining venue capacity available. Looking forward, as expected, there is minimal physical product scheduled for June. However, the company now plans to run a number of major events in China from early July. China Beauty Expo in Shanghai is the first scheduled major Informa brand to be held on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic. In China, activity has picked up pace through the past month. In other regions, it remains a mixed picture, the company noted. Some locations are expected to take a lot longer to come out of the other side of COVID-19. In these markets, the company is deploying AllSecure biosafety measures as permission emerges to operate events. In Informa's largest market, the United States, the company is now assuming a low probability that any physical events will run before September. Most brands due to run in July/August were either rescheduled, cancelled or switched to a fully digital event, including Blackhat, its major Cyber Security brand. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Amid the economic damage wrought by the pandemic, Teslas Elon Musk is holding out the tantalizing possibility of building a massive electric-vehicle manufacturing plant in Texas and creating 10,000 new jobs. And who knows maybe the controversial billionaire would throw in Teslas corporate headquarters to boot. Texas is competing for the jobs prize, one of the few big projects up for grabs in the current recession, against Tulsa, Okla. Economic development officials in San Antonio must feel caught in a flashback. In 2014, the California electric car maker weighed San Antonio against Reno, Nev., for a plant a gigafactory, in Tesla parlance that would produce batteries for the companys vehicles. Reno prevailed, and has netted more than 7,000 jobs. Nevada officials offered tax incentives worth more than $1 billion and won the Tesla plant less than what Texas and local officials offered the automaker. This time around, its Austin, not San Antonio, thats a finalist for a new manufacturing facility, which is expected to produce the yet-to-be released Cybertruck pickup and the Model Y, Teslas new small luxury SUV. Even though the potential jobs wouldnt be in San Antonio, local economic development officials say Tesla suppliers and other auxiliary businesses could spring up in the area. Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, president and CEO of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, said the Tesla plant could spark the creation of an automobile-manufacturing corridor extending from Toyotas pickup plant on the South Side to the Austin area. It would include heavy-truck manufacturer Navistar International, which is expected to start construction of its planned, $250-million South Side plant in July, and more than 20 auto parts suppliers, including Aisin A.W. Aisin build transmissions for Toyota and other automakers, and is building a factory in Cibolo. Theres also the possibility of some Tesla workers working in the Austin area, and then going home in San Antonio. Manufacturing activity happens in one area, but people live in another area, said David Marquez, Bexar Countys executive director of economic and community development. Tesla officials arent talking publicly about their site-selection process, refusing repeated requests for comment. But Fred Lambert, who writes Electrek, a blog that covers the electric car industry, reported on May 15 that Tesla has already chosen the Austin area for its second U.S. Assembly plant. The other is in Fremont, Calif. Lea Suzuki /The Chronicle Overseas, the manufacturer recently opened a plant in Shanghai, and has announced plans to build a facility in Germany. In an interview, Lambert said his source was a Tesla official, whom he declined to identify, and that hes confident his report was correct. Saucedo-Herrera, however, said shes heard from her contacts that Tesla is still deciding between Austin and Tulsa. We have had constant conversation with (Tesla officials), specifically about the Austin-San Antonio corridor and an opportunity for them within the region, she said. Theres not much advice based on San Antonios failed effort in 2014 that she can offer to her Austin counterparts or Gov. Greg Abbotts office. Tesla didnt reveal to local officials why Reno won out over San Antonio for the gigafactory. Their only take-away: little that Musk or the company he leads as CEO does is conventional. Unlike other major companies considering an expansion, Tesla officials did not hire a site selection consultant to choose locations for its plant, said Marquez. Tesla executives handled the search internally. Its like everything they do it was a very nontraditional recruitment effort, Marquez said. That wasnt Musks only interaction with Texas officials before now. SpaceX, the other company he founded and currently heads up, broke ground on its spaceport in Boca Chica, near Brownville, in 2014 after netting more than $15 million in state incentives. Even if Austin has the edge in the competition for the Tesla factory, Tulsa isnt throwing in the towel. A symbol of Tulsas status as an oil and gas center, the iconic, 75-foot-tall Golden Driller statue, received a makeover in recent weeks that includes a bright-red Tesla logo on the roughnecks chest, a Tesla belt buckle and a Musk mask covering his face. Francois Mori /Associated Press Austin officials have been more quiet about Tesla. While we're aware of the circulating stories, city staff don't have anything to confirm at this point, said Veronica Samo, spokeswoman for the city of Austins economic development department. In March, Musk tweeted that Tesla was scouting locations in the Central United States for a new factory to build the wedge-shaped pickup trucks, but didnt single out Texas. However, he put a Texas in the spotlight last month when he angrily tweeted on May 9: Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately. The tweet came after local officials denied him permission to reopen Telsas Fremont plant, closed two months earlier after it was deemed a non-essential business not entitled to operate during the pandemic. Musk defied California officials and reopened the plant anyway. In his tweet, he also threatened to curtail production in California, saying: If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependent on how Tesla is treated in the future. Tesla is the last car maker left in CA. Auto industry analysts say its logistically unrealistic to move Teslas only U.S. plant from California to another state. The automaker assembles more than 300,000 vehicles a year at the facility. They may have used moving out of California as a threat to gain leverage with California state officials over reopening the plant, said Garrett Nelson, a senior equity analyst at New York-based CFRA Research. Analysts say, however, that Tesla doesnt have the capacity to mass-produce its planned cybertruck at the California facility, that it needs a second U.S. plant. Another possibility: Tesla could move its corporate headquarters from high-tax California to Texas or Nevada. Nelson said Austin would be ideal for the headquarters. Austin has a lot of things going for it a young, highly educated workforce, he said. The most popular degree at the University of Texas is engineering. Toyota made such a move in 2014 when the Japanese automaker announced the relocation of its North American headquarters from Torrance, Calif., to Plano in the Dallas area. The company completed the move in 2017, investing $1 billion and bringing 6,600 jobs. Last year, Mitsubishi Motors, which ran its North American headquarters out of Southern California for 31 years, announced it was relocating to Nashville, Tenn. Automakers interest in Texas is a recent phenomenon. The General Motors plant in Arlington opened in 1954, remaining the only vehicle plant in the state for more than 50 years. San Antonios Toyota manufacturing plant opened in 2006 and produces several hundred thousand Tacoma and Tundra pickups a year, and currently employs about 3,000 workers. Toyota has attracted more than 20 parts suppliers to the area, adding another 4,000 jobs. One hitch for a potential Tesla plant or headquarters in Texas is a decades-old state law that allows only auto dealers to sell new cars. The law collides with Teslas direct-sales model, which allows consumers to order their vehicles from the company online. Tesla gets around the Texas prohibition by conducting customers transactions through call centers in other states. The company also operates vehicle showrooms around Texas, including a location near the Dominion in San Antonio. Marquez said Tesla might want the direct-sales prohibition removed from the books as a condition of coming to Texas. But the politically powerful Texas Automobile Dealers Association a major contributor to Texas lawmakers campaigns would probably have to drop its opposition. The association has no plans to change its stance. We support economic development in Texas. We dont believe laws governing any industry should be changed for the benefit of a company for their location of operations in the state, TADA spokeswoman Jennifer Stevens said. A spokesperson for Abbott did not return phone calls. The governor, who has urged Tesla to come to Texas, might have to pressure state legislators to change the law, said Tom "Smitty" Smith, executive director of the Texas Transportation Resources Alliance. If I was Tesla and Im bringing a multi-billion plant to the state, I would want something in return, Smith said. Randy Diamond covers aviation, energy and manufacturing in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Randy, become a subscriber. randy.diamond@express-news.net DALLAS, June 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capital Southwest Corporation (Capital Southwest) (CSWC), an internally managed business development company focused on providing flexible financing solutions to support the acquisition and growth of middle market businesses, announced today that it supported Coastal Television Broadcasting Holdings LLC and its affiliates (Coastal TV or the Company) recent acquisitions of stations controlled by Wyoming Media Group (collectively, WMG) with term loans and a revolving credit facility. Capital Southwest led the financing transaction and will act as the sole administrative agent on the credit facilities. Main Street Capital Corporation (MAIN) was a co-investor in the credit facilities. "We are excited to partner with the management team at Coastal TV and support its investment in WMG. Bill Fielder, founder and president of Coastal TV, brings extensive experience in the television broadcasting space and we look forward to supporting his Company in its next phase of growth," said Josh Weinstein, Managing Director of Capital Southwest. Spencer Klein, Vice President of Capital Southwest, said, The WMG stations have developed a strong market position in Wyoming and will help diversify Coastals broadcast affiliate portfolio. We believe this combination of best-in-class assets will create significant long-term value for all stakeholders. Founded in 1997 with the acquisition of KFNB, WMG consisted of five stations in the Cheyenne and Casper, WY markets. The coverage extends to the entire state of Wyoming and reaches some rural communities outside of Wyoming. Wyomedia operated KFNB in Casper, WY and KLWY in Cheyenne, WY, which are both FOX affiliates. KLWY also broadcasts ABC programming on its secondary digital channel. Silverton operated ABC affiliates KTWO in Casper, WY, and KKTQ in Cheyenne, WY, which will now be owned by Vision Wyoming LLC. Mark III Media operated the CBS affiliate KGWC in Casper, WY, which will now be owned by Big Horn Television LLC. Story continues About Capital Southwest Capital Southwest Corporation (CSWC) is a Dallas, Texas-based, internally managed business development company with approximately $272 million in net assets as of March 31, 2020. Capital Southwest is a middle market lending firm focused on supporting the acquisition and growth of middle market businesses with $5 million to $25 million investments across the capital structure, including first lien, unitranche, second lien, subordinated debt and non-control equity co-investments. As a public company with a permanent capital base, Capital Southwest has the flexibility to be creative in its financing solutions and to invest to support the growth of its portfolio companies over long periods of time. About Coastal Television Broadcasting Company Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska, Coastal Television Broadcasting Holdings LLC is engaged in the operation and acquisition of television broadcasting stations located in mid-to-small sized markets. Coastal TV owns and operates KTBY, KFNB, KLWY and WLOV, the FOX Broadcast affiliates in Anchorage, AK, Casper, WY, Cheyenne, WY and Tupelo, MS, respectively. Coastal TV also provides advertising sales and other services under arrangements with KYUR (the ABC affiliate) and KYUR-DT.2 (the CW Plus affiliate) in Anchorage, AK. Under an agreement between Coastal TV and the owner of KATN, KATN-DT.2 and KATN-DT.3 in Fairbanks, Alaska, and KJUD, KJUD-DT.2 and KJUD-DT.3 in Juneau, Alaska, Coastal TV provides certain of the stations non-network programming. KATN and KJUD are the ABC affiliates in Fairbanks and Juneau, respectively. KATN-DT.2 and KJUD-DT.2 are the FOX Broadcast affiliates in Fairbanks and Juneau, respectively. KATN-DT.3 and KJUD-DT.3 are the CW Plus affiliate in Fairbanks and Juneau, respectively. Coastal TV also provides services under arrangements with the owners of KTWO and KKTQ, ABC affiliates in Casper and Cheyenne, WY, respectively, and the Owners of KGWC, the CBS affiliate in Casper, WY. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains historical information and forward-looking statements with respect to the business and investments of Capital Southwest. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical statements and can often be identified by words such as "will," "believe," "expect" and similar expressions and variations or negatives of these words. These statements are based on management's current expectations, assumptions and beliefs. They are not guarantees of future results and are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. These risks include risks related to changes in the markets in which Capital Southwest invests; changes in the financial and lending markets; regulatory changes; tax treatment and general economic and business conditions; and uncertainties associated with the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impact on the global and U.S. capital markets and the global and U.S. economy, the length and duration of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States as well as worldwide and the magnitude of the economic impact of that outbreak; the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business prospects and the operational and financial performance of our portfolio companies, including our ability and their ability to achieve their respective objectives, and the effects of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on our ability to continue to effectively manage our business. Readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements and are encouraged to review Capital Southwest's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of the risks and other factors that could affect any forward-looking statements. Except as required by the federal securities laws, Capital Southwest does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changing circumstances or any other reason after the date of this press release. Investor Relations Contact: Michael S. Sarner, Chief Financial Officer 214-884-3829 The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has asked insurers to include telemedicine in their medical insurance policies. In its set of guidelines, the IRDAI said that telemedicine would be part of the settlement claim policy of the insurers. Telemedicine has been defined by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as the "delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities". "Insurers are advised to allow telemedicine wherever consultation with a medical practitioner is allowed in the terms and conditions of the policy contract. Provision of allowing telemedicine shall be part of claim settlement of policy of the insurers and need not be filed separately with the Authority for any modification. However, the norms of sub-limits, monthly/annual limits etc. of the product shall apply without any relaxation," stated the regulator. It further added that telemedicine offered must be in compliance with the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines released on March 25 and as amended from time to time. The guidelines by IRDAI to include telemedicine in the health policies would come as a relief to health insurance policyholders who would want to consult medical professionals online or through calls in order to avoid stepping outside. This would also be particularly helpful for patients with mild coronavirus symptoms who have been allowed by the government to home-quarantine and undergo treatment. To this end, there are private hospitals that are offering home-care packages that involve doctor consultations and services of nurses electronically. Max Healthcare, Medanta and Fortis Healthcare are some of the hospitals rolling out this service. Coronavirus homecare packages start from around Rs 5,000 for a period of 15-17 days. Also read: Coronavirus crisis: Private hospitals launch home care packages for mild cases Also read: India overtakes UK, becomes 4th worst-hit country from COVID-19 virus A fter the huge successes of The Five and The Stranger, Netflix is back with a brand new adaptation of another of bestselling author Harlan Cobens works. The Woods follows prosecutor Pawe Kopinski, who has been left haunted by the disappearance of his sister 25 years ago while they were away at a summer camp. Pawel is forced to confront his demons of that summer once again when the body of a boy who also vanished with his sister is suddenly uncovered with Pawel now having to grapple with the belief that his sister may still be alive after all. Heres where the new thrilling mystery is set Where is The Woods filmed? Netflix's The Woods - In Pictures 1 /8 Netflix's The Woods - In Pictures Grzegorz Damiecki as Pawel Netflix The Woods is a Netflix adaptation of Harlan Coben's book Netflix Agnieszka Grochowska plays Pawel's best friend Laura Goldsztajn Netflix Young Pawe Kopinski played by Hubert Milkowski Netflix The Woods is from the same makers as The Stranger Netflix The Woods is available to stream on Netflix now Netflix The new six-part Polish-language drama was shot on location just outside of Warsaw. The surrounding towns of Mazzowian District also feature, including Tworki, Slopsk, Skierniewice, Wilga and Zyrardow. Poland is known for its vast greenery, with forests covering around 30 per cent of Polish territory, leaving the producers spoilt for choice when picking the haunting backdrop for Cobens mystery. The Woods is set in Poland's vast forests / Netflix Coben wanted Poland to heavily feature in the latest adaptation in order for the show to be distinguishable from others which focus on the American summer camp experience. In The Woods, its set in a Polish summer camp in the 90s thats very different than an American summer camp, so its very cool to explore, he told Variety. We live in a golden age of crime fiction. Its never been done better by a wider variety of people and genders and nationalities. Im a big fan of foreign films and foreign TV. Im hoping viewers will give the foreign language ones a chance after The Stranger. because after a while you really do forget youre watching subtitles. The Woods is available to stream on Netflix now NEW YORK, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market Research Report by Detector (Flat-panel Image Detector and Image Intensifier Detector), by Field of Overview (Large FOV System and Small FOV System), by Application, by End User - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913934/?utm_source=PRN The Global Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market is expected to grow from USD 934.61 Million in 2019 to USD 2,366.89 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.75%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Cone Beam Computed Tomography to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: On the basis of Detector, the Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market is studied across Flat-panel Image Detector and Image Intensifier Detector. On the basis of Field of Overview, the Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market is studied across Large FOV System and Small FOV System. On the basis of Application, the Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market is studied across Breast Imaging, Dentistry, ENT Applications, and Orthopedic Conditions. On the basis of End User, the Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market is studied across Academic and Research Institutes, Hospital and Clinics, and Imaging Centers. On the basis of Geography, the Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market is studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region is studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region is studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region is studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Company Usability Profiles: The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market including ASAHIROENTGEN IND.CO., LTD., Carestream Health India Pvt. Ltd, Cefla S.C, CurveBeam, Danaher Corporation, Dentsply Sirona, Inc, J.Morita Mfg Corp, Planmeca Oy, PreXion Corporation, and VATECH CO., LTD.. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on sulfuric acid offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Cone Beam Computed Tomography Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913934/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker 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: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com On May 30 in Tallahassee, Florida, three white people in a red pickup truck yelled at protesters demonstrating against police brutality and the killing of George Floyd, revved their engine, and drove into the crowd. That same day, two NYPD SUVs rammed into crowds of protesters in Brooklyn. More vehicle-ramming incidents happened the next day in downtown Los Angeles and Boston, as well as in Oklahoma, during a march memorializing the 99th anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre. There, the driver of a pickup truck pulling a horse trailer reportedly threatened marchers with a gun and drove through the group. On June 3, a protester in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was hit by a Jeep and claimed it was done on purpose, his claim backed by galling video footage. The same day, a car hit several people at a protest in Cincinnati and sped off. Women protesting in Memphis, Tennessee, were also hit by a truck that day. That weekend, a man in Pensacola, Florida, jumped on top of a car that appeared to be heading straight for protesters blocking traffic on the Three Mile Bridge. This past Sunday, people drove their cars into protesters in Lansing, Michigan, and Seattle. In the latter incident, the driver got out and shot a demonstrator. Also on Sunday, a driver rammed into protesters in Richmond, Virginia, and was found to be an admitted Ku Klux Klan leader. The list of similar incidents goes on and on and on and on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cars striking demonstrators have become an unavoidable, undeniable part of our nationwide moment of anti-racism protests. As the rallies continue, the violence keeps repeating. A black man in Bakersfield, California, died on Sunday after being hit by a white driver during a rally. Though charges have not been brought, witnesses have alleged that the driver was trying to hit protesters. Why is this happening so often, especially now? Vehicular attacks are not a new phenomenon. Throughout the past two decades, they were frequently employed by fundamentalists in the Middle East. The methods popularity was, in part, a result of its uncomplicated natureas my colleague Joshua Keating wrote back in 2014, its crude simplicity makes it a tactic more likely to be employed by relatively unskilled lone wolves than organized and trained terrorist operatives. For self-justified vigilantes, its an easy means of striking terrorany one person can do it if they have an agenda and a vehicle. Were now seeing this in the current spate of protests, as we saw it previously in bigoted attacks within the U.S., like the 2018 synagogue collision in L.A. and the killing of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville, Virginia, during a counterprotest against 2017s white supremacist Unite the Right rally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recent, American versions of these incidents strike a specific contrast: a gory reclamation of the streets that protesters have been taking nonviolently for years. During the Dakota Access Pipeline protests and the uprising following the police killing of Philando Castile, activists adopted a new method of mass disruption, of going on the interstates over and over and shutting down traffic. This helped increase attention to their causesand it heightened anger against them. Memes encouraging cars to run over street protesters soon spread among online groups of police and far-right extremistsHeyers killer took inspiration from this culture. And as researcher Ari Weil noted to Vox, the latest car and truck attacks are also being celebrated by extremists on Twitter and Facebook.* When protesters march against racism, a small number of peoplemade far more dangerous because of their chosen weaponfeel compelled to run them down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of these drivers, like the Virginia KKK leader, have been explicit white supremacists. But these motorists dont need to be blatantly racist for their actions to be shocking. In part thats because in recent years, Republican state legislators across the country have proposed laws giving leeway to drivers who unintentionally hit protesters blocking roads, and you can see such deference to motorists repeating itself now. Look at what happened in Colorado Springs, where the police department arrested the driver who hit a woman and continued to bowl through the crowd, but then claimed the driver was assaulted by protestors and that the woman who was struck brought her injury upon herself. Advertisement Advertisement Some of these cases might be dismissed as road rage rather than outright racismthe point of blocking a highway, after all, is to disrupt the normal movement of commuters in order to make a political point. But all of these incidents underscore a long history of racism and cars that has shaped the cities that are now erupting in protest, from the urban renewal that razed black neighborhoods in order to build highways to the disinvestment that followed the fleeing of white city residents to the car-enabled suburbs in the second half of the 20th century. If were going to have a national reckoning about racism in policing, then automobile attackers have unintentionally highlighted a related injustice we should also revisit: that our very infrastructure enables racist violence, too. (And thats saying nothing of the vast disparity in car ownership and access to alternative transportation options between white Americans and people of color, a measure perniciously linked to prosperity in America, or of cars impact on climate change, which affects poorer and often more diverse communities first and hardest.) Advertisement Advertisement What weve seen as the COVID-19 pandemic and the anti-racism demonstrations have raged on is an unprecedented intersection: a long-fighting racial justice movement in an auto-centric world now left with significantly reduced car use. These are not necessarily mutually exclusive things. Streets with fewer cars have helped protesters to show up in vast numbers and make an unavoidable mark in the first place. And in the midst of unimaginable mass death, cities all over the world have envisioned ways to create healthier, safer, more community-oriented places. Oakland and Seattle have embraced open streets, while other metropolises have introduced more bike lanes and announced plans to restructure their cities to create closer, tighter communities. There are already measures cities have taken to stanch the more toxic effects of cars, including congestion pricing and caps on ride-share vehicles. As is implied in these actions, living spaces made to fit the needs of drivers over everyone else do not need to be the future. Now that were talking about reallocating some of the resources currently put to policing, that conversation should also include transportation and safetyas in, more car-free streets, more permanent pedestrian zones, denser and more accessible city plans, and more viable transit options to help close the disparities in transportation access between white Americans and people of color. And these plans need to be implemented in a way that does not reinforce the very racist structures that a century of car-centric building has given us. None of this is to say that any of these fixes will do away with racism, or that getting more people out of cars and off highways will stop the few people who chose to use their vehicles for violence. Still, I cant think of a better retort to the person who sees a crowd of people protesting racism and wants to use their vehicle to stifle their righteous dissent: We belong on these streets, and your car doesnt. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to The Gist on Apple Podcasts or listen below. Korea's exports rallied on-year in early June after plunging due to the coronavirus epidemic. But the latest increase was mainly due to two more working days this month than a year ago. Exports in the first 10 days of this month increased 20.2 percent on-year to US$12.3 billion, according to the Korea Customs Service on Thursday. There were eight working days during the period, two more than last year, because Memorial Day fell on a Saturday and there was only one weekend. The average daily export amount in fact stood at $1.54 billion, down 9.8 percent on-year. But that still means the rate of decline slowed compared to a 30.2 percent on-year plunge in the first 10 days of May. Exports of semiconductors grew 22.6 percent on higher prices, while mobile communications devices rose 35.8 percent and medical products jumped a whopping 136.7 percent on global demand for coronavirus test kits and personal protective equipment. But exports of petroleum products fell 32.8 percent, of cars 37 percent and of automotive parts 30.2 percent. By country, exports to China rose 35.7 percent, to the EU 22.2 percent, to the U.S. 15.1 percent, to Japan 10 percent and to Vietnam 7.7 percent. But exports to the Middle East fell 7.3 percent and to Australia 29.5 percent. Meanwhile, imports in the first 10 days of this month increased 8.5 percent on-year to $13.6 billion. (Newser) A former conservation officer who was fired for refusing to shoot two bear cubs says he is feeling vindicated after a court ruled in his favor. In July 2015, Bryce Casavant had responded to a report of a black bear rummaging through a freezer at a home in Port Hardy, British Columbia. Casavanta veteran of the Canadian military who served in Afghanistanshot and killed the bear in line with a provincial policy aiming to prevent bears getting comfortable around humans, per the Guardian. But he refused an emailed order to kill the sow's two cubs, who onlookers said had not entered the home or eaten any food, reports the Victoria Times-Colonist. Instead, he sent the eight-week-old cubs to a veterinarian. They were transferred to a recovery center and later returned to the wild, while Casavant was fired for not following the order. story continues below After a five-year legal battle, a three-judge panel at the BC Court of Appeals ruled unanimously in his favor. "Killing the cubs in these circumstances would be inconsistent with Ministry policy," reads the June 4 decision, per the Alberni Valley News. Judges also found proceedings related to Casavant's removal were improperly carried out, making them void. The judges did not reinstate Casavant but opted to "leave the parties to sort out the consequences." Casavant was shifted to a job with equal pay in the Ministry of Forests and Lands following an earlier settlement agreement. Casavant, who believes bears should only be killed as a last resort, says the decision is "vindication," per the Guardian. (Read more Canada stories.) Israeli-American billionaire Haim Saban advised UAE ambassador Yousef Al-Otaiba regarding his op-ed against Israeli annexation in the West Bank and assisted in publishing it in the Israeli press, Israeli sources told me. Why it matters: Saban was one of Hillary Clintons main political backers and donors. He also has communication channels with President Trumps senior adviser Jared Kushner. Saban and Al-Otaiba have known each other for many years and became friends. Israeli sources told me Al-Otaiba spoke to Saban 10 days ago and asked for his advice on the best way to reach Israeli public opinion and deliver a message against the Israeli governments West Bank annexation plans. Saban told Al-Otaiba that any such message must be conveyed in Hebrew and through a big mainstream media outlet. Saban brought in his communications adviser Moshe Debi who heads one of Israels biggest PR firms. Debi worked with the Emiratis in the choreography and timing of this move. He recommended that the op-ed would be published in Yediot Ahronot due to its wide circulation and the fact it is read by a center right audience. Moshe Debi who heads one of Israels biggest PR firms. Debi worked with the Emiratis in the choreography and timing of this move. He recommended that the op-ed would be published in Yediot Ahronot due to its wide circulation and the fact it is read by a center right audience. The whole move was kept secret and other than the editor in chief very few people inside the Israeli newspaper knew of the upcoming op-ed. and other than the editor in chief very few people inside the Israeli newspaper knew of the upcoming op-ed. Al-Otaiba gave the White House a heads up the day before the op-ed ran. Most of the arguments in the op-ed were already conveyed to the White House in the weeks before as part of the private conversation between the UAE and the Trump administration on the annexation issue. Whats next: The UAE public push against Israeli annexation is expected to continue next week. Advertisement By Easton Sanders Jun. 12, 2020 | MARSHALL COUNTY By Easton Sanders Jun. 12, 2020 | 01:28 PM | MARSHALL COUNTY Marshall County High School shooter Gabriel Parker was sentenced to life in prison on each of two murder charges during a hearing on Friday. He was also sentenced on fourteen assault charges by Marshall County Circuit Judge James Jameson. The assault sentences are of varying lengths but will run concurrent to the life sentences. Because Parker was under 18 years old at the time of the shooting, he was not eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without parole. He will be eligible for parole after 20 years. Parker was 15 years old when he fired a handgun into a crowd of students before classes started at Marshall County High School on Jan. 23, 2018. Two other 15-year-olds, Bailey Holt and Preston Cope, were killed. He later was charged as an adult. Several victims and family of victims shared their impassioned experiences from during the shooting, and the lasting effects the shooting had on their lives. Bailey Holt's mother, Secret Holt, addressed Parker during the sentencing. She said, "I want to tell you what you took away from us. You took away the little girl that called me momma for the first time, a big sister to Lilly, a granddaughter, niece, cousin and a dear friend to so many. She was the most precious, beautiful, and selfless soul on this Earth and you took her from us. She was absolutely perfect in every way. She was my best friend and we looked forward to doing so many things together." She continued by calling him a demon numerous times, and wishing that Parker had killed himself instead. Bailey's father also addressed Parker, saying that he hopes every day in prison is a living hell for him. Parker previously pleaded guilty on April 28 to two counts of murder, and 14 counts of assault. Family of Ahmad Oweidi al-Abbadi, 75, calls for his release following his arrest last week in the capital, Amman. Authorities in Jordan have arrested a former member of parliament and royal critic on various charges, including assaulting the king and the queen, according to his family and lawyer. Relatives said Ahmad Oweidi al-Abbadi, 75, was arrested on June 2 by the General Intelligence Department (GID), or Mukhabarat, while he was on his way to visit friends in the capital, Amman. The state prosecutor filed a criminal complaint against him on Wednesday that included charges of attempting to undermine the regime and violating electronic law, his family and lawyer told Al Jazeera. No other details were immediately available. Al-Abbadi has frequently appeared in online videos, along with other activists abroad, demanding the government to fight corruption and hold officials accountable. It remains unclear when al-Abbadi will face trial which, his family said, will take place at the State Security Court, a military tribunal. In comments made to Al Jazeera, al-Abbadis lawyer, Omar al-Alwan, rejected the charges against his client as fabrications. Controversial figure A longtime royal critic, al-Abbadi is the founder of the Jordan National Movement, an opposition group that mainly criticises what it describes as corruption in the royal family. In 2007, al-Abbadi was sentenced to two years in jail over emails a court ruled promoted false news and that were harmful to the state. He pleaded not guilty. The former army colonel and right-wing politician last served as a member of parliament between 1997 and 2001. He is seen as a controversial figure in Jordan who has long spoken against the presence of Palestinians in the country and questioned their citizenship. In the past, he has also directed his criticism towards Jordans queen, because of her Palestinian origins, and questioned the legitimacy of the royal family. Jordanian law criminalises speech deemed critical of the king, government officials and institutions. It also considers it illegal to criticise foreign governments. In a 2019 report, Human Rights Watch said the Jordanian government had detained over 30 political and anti-corruption activists and filed charges against some that violated the right to free expression. Most of those detained were linked to a loose coalition of political activists across the country known as the hirak (movement). The charges filed against activists ranged from insulting the king (lengthening the tongue against the king) to undermining the political regime and online slander, the HRW said. In April, authorities arrested top executives at popular TV channel Roya for airing reports of people complaining about their economic hardship during the coronavirus lockdown. Former parliamentarian and government critic Salim al-Batayneh was among several others arrested during the same period. In a statement issued on June 3, al-Abbadis family called for his immediate release and decried the arrest as illegal and called it a kidnapping. His son, Nomayy al-Abbadi, told Al Jazeera from Germany, where he works as a doctor, that his father suffers from chronic heart disease and diabetes and called on international human rights groups to pressure the government to release him. Calls made to the governments spokesperson for comment went unanswered. Hussam Abdallat, a political activist and opposition figure living in London, described al-Abbadi as a well-known personality in Jordan who carries certain symbolism within the country. His arrest is intended as a deterrent move against other activists and scare other Jordanians from taking to the streets in protest against the governments economic failure in the aftermath of the coronavirus lockdown and the failure to end endemic corruption within the political system, he said. Follow Ali Younes on Twitter: @ali_reports New Delhi, June 12 : Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi in conversation with Harvard Professor Nicholas Burns said the division in the society weakens the country but the people who divide portray it as "strength of the country". Speaking to Burns on Friday through video conference, Rahul Gandhi said, "I feel that the division which occurs actually tremendously weakens the country, but the people who do divide, portray it as the strength of the country." He said, "When you divide African Americans, Mexicans and other people in the US, so you divide Hindus and Muslims and Sikhs in India, you're weakening the "structure of the country". "But then the same people who weakened the structure of the country say they are the nationalists," Rahul Gandhi said. To the Congress leader's remarks, the former NATO Ambassador said, "I think that is, I mean that is what President (Donald) Trump is all about. He wraps himself in a flag. He declares that he alone can fix the problems." "I must say, I think President Trump is in many ways an authoritarian personality," the Professor said, adding, "But in the US, you are seeing the institutions remain strong." Burns also said that the military in the US, especially individual senior military leaders, are clearly saying over the last few days, that "we will not put American military troops onto the streets". Burns was referring to the US Military not coming on the streets to stop the protests over the killing of George FLoyd by the police. Floyd died after a police officer pressed his knee against his neck in Minneapolis on May 25. His last words "I can't breathe" have been a rallying cry for the protesters who have launched demonstrations in various parts of the US. The issue has also led to serious debate in the American society about race. Burns further said, "That's the function of the police forces, not the military force. "We will abide by the Constitution. Senior military officer General Mark Milley said this week, Americans have a right to protest. They have a right to disagree with the government," he said, adding that these are so fundamental, it's extraordinary how to even debate these. The Professor said: "We're back to debating first principles but again, I do see strengths that democracies go through trials. We play out our differences, in political campaigns or in street protests, but at least we can do that." Referring to China and Russia, Burns said, "You can see authoritarianism coming back in China and Russia. We, democracies, we sometimes go through painful episodes because of our freedoms, but we're so much stronger because of them. That's our advantage, I think, inherently over the authoritarian countries," he said. Burns is currently the Professor of Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics in the Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. The interaction with Burns is in a series of dialogues that Rahul Gandhi has been holding with eminent personalities on various topics. In the last three months, the Congress leader has interacted with former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerji, epidemiologist Johan Geseicke and Indian industrialist Rajiv Bajaj. The Duchess of Cambridge was hit hard by the remarks made in an article which graced Tatler's July/August cover - because she 'is very keen to stop the constant comparisons between herself and Meghan Markle', according to a former royal editor. Kate, 38, is said to be considering legal action against the society bible magazine, with Kensington Palace saying the Catherine The Great article contained a 'swathe of inaccuracies and false representations'. The palace is particularly 'furious' about claims that the duchess feels 'exhausted and trapped' by the increased workload following Harry and Meghan's decision to step back from royal life. Duncan Larcombe, a former royal editor, told New magazine, via OK!, that Kate was particularly upset by the article because she is 'very keen' to stop comparisons being drawn between herself and her sister-in-law. The Duchess of Cambridge (pictured with her husband Prince William) was hit hard by the remarks made in an article which graced Tatler's July/August cover - and 'is very keen to stop the constant comparisons between herself and Meghan Markle', according to a former royal editor Kate, 38, is said to be considering legal action against the 'society bible' magazine, with Kensington Palace saying it contains a 'swathe of inaccuracies and false representations'. Pictured: Kate with Meghan in 2018 He said: 'Its almost as though they want to draw a line in the sand where its gone a bit too far.' He said that the constant comparisons between the two women makes it seem like 'Kate is almost used by some outlets as a stick to beat Meghan with'. The palace is particularly 'furious' about claims made in the article (pictured) that Kate feels 'exhausted and trapped' by the increased workload following Harry and Meghan's decision to step back from royal life 'We know William and Kate are very sensitive about comparisons with Meghan. The narrative of that falling out between William and Kate and Harry and Meghan touches a nerve.' Earlier this month, society bible Tatler dismissed a legal complaint by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in an ongoing row over a controversial article, saying it has 'no merit'. In a highly unusual move, the couple have sent legal letters to the magazine demanding its profile of the Duchess headlined 'Catherine the Great' be removed from the internet. The palace is said to have taken issue with claims suggesting Kate feels 'exhausted and trapped' by the increased workload following Harry and Meghan's decision to step back. A Royal source told The Mail on Sunday: 'That is such an extremely cruel and wounding barb. It's disgusting. It's sexist and woman-shaming at its very worst. 'The piece is full of lies. There is no truth to their claim that the Duchess feels overwhelmed with work, nor that the Duke is obsessed with Carole Middleton. It's preposterous and downright wrong. 'The whole thing is class snobbery at its very worst. The stuff about [Kate's sister] Pippa is horrible. Tatler may think it's immune from action as it's read by the Royals and on every coffee table in every smart home, but it makes no difference., 'It's ironic that the Royals' favourite magazine is being trashed by them. The Duchess is a naturally shy woman who is doing her best.' Duncan Larcombe, a British former royal editor, told New magazine, via OK! , that Kate is 'very keen' to stop comparisons being drawn between herself and her sister-in-law (pictured with their husbands in March 2020) To the anger of Kensington Palace, Ms Pasternak asserts that the Cambridges feel very tired because they have been forced to take on more Royal duties after Megxit. The article cites a source as saying: 'Kate is furious about the larger workload She feels exhausted and trapped. She's working as hard as a top CEO, who has to be wheeled out all the time, without the benefits of boundaries and plenty of holidays.' But figures in the Court Circular, the official record of Royal engagements, suggest otherwise. The couple have done a similar number of jobs from January to March as they did over the same period last year. Kate has actually done less 29 this year against 35 in 2019. In a statement issued after the article was published, Kensington Palace said: 'This story contains a swathe of inaccuracies and false misrepresentations which were not put to Kensington Palace prior to publication.' Hitting back, Tatler then issued its own statement, saying: 'Tatler's Editor-in-Chief Richard Dennen stands behind the reporting of Anna Pasternak and her sources. 'Kensington Palace knew we were running the "Catherine the Great" cover months ago and we asked them to work together on it. The fact they are denying they ever knew is categorically false.' Domestic abuse charities have accused The Sun of effectively handing a megaphone to a man who wants to cause fear and humiliation to a woman he has abused after publishing a front-page interview with JK Rowlings first husband. The interview which splashed with the headline I slapped JK and Im not sorry with Jorge Arantes comes after the Harry Potter author recently revealed she had experienced domestic abuse and sexual assault during her first marriage. She shared her experiences in a personal essay in which she was defending her recent controversial remarks about transgender people. The Independent Press Standards Organisation, which regulates The Sun and is the UKs biggest independent regulator of the newspaper and magazine industry, has already received more than 500 complaints in response to the front page. The Sun has defended the move and said it was disgusted by Arantess comments after leading domestic abuse charities criticised Fridays front page, which comes amid a rise in reports of domestic abuse during the coronavirus lockdown. Recommended JK Rowling opens up about experiences of abuse Jane Keeper, director of operations at Refuge, the UKs biggest domestic abuse charity and largest provider of shelters for domestic abuse victims, told The Independent: The front page of The Sun this morning is as irresponsible as it is disappointing. It would ordinarily be troubling for such an editorial decision to be made but to run with this during lockdown, when demand to Refuges national domestic abuse helpline has increased by 66 per cent, is shocking. What this has done is give national media coverage to a perpetrator of domestic abuse to attempt to justify his actions. It is never acceptable to hit a woman. The first slap can lead to a pattern of violence and domestic abuse is against the law. Domestic abuse can and does result in domestic homicide two women a week in England and Wales are killed by a current or former partner. This is not an issue to be taken lightly. In England and Wales, one in four women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their life. What sort of message does this front page send to survivors? That their abuser will be given national media headlines to justify their actions? That their abuse is legitimate? That it doesnt matter? That they are fair game? To every survivor of domestic abuse who reads these headlines today Refuge hears you, we see you, and we believe you. We are here to support you. A report recently released by MPs revealed domestic abuse killings doubled over 21 days during the public health emergency with visits to the UKs national domestic abuse helpline website rising by 950 per cent since the government implemented lockdown rules to stop coronavirus spreading. Suzanne Jacob, chief executive of leading domestic abuse charity SafeLives, told The Independent the front page is not the first upsetting headline they had seen about domestic abuse. She added: Sadly I doubt it will be the last. Whats so stomach-churning about this cover, in particular, is that it takes the words of a perpetrator and splashes them across the front page effectively handing a megaphone to a man who wants to cause fear and humiliation to a woman he has abused. The words will be familiar to many survivors; how many people will walk past a newsagent today and hear the voice of their own abuser ringing in their head? We ask why reporting rates are so low, why victims dont speak up and come forward. With reporting like this, it really isnt hard to understand why. Survivors deserve so much better than this. David Challen, a domestic abuse campaigner who helped free his mother Sally Challen from prison in a landmark coercive control case, argued column inches should never be given to perpetrators. He said: For victims of abuse to have their stories published recounting their abuse to then only have your abuser given a voice is extremely and dangerously irresponsible. This kind of irresponsible reporting violates widely shared guidelines, and has the power to shape the publics understanding of domestic abuse. As it stands, victims and survivors of that violence are being repeatedly failed. Womens Aid, lead domestic abuse charity, added: Headlines matter. This morning we have been speaking to The Sun about todays front page and the negative impact it has had, and we will continue to speak to them to reflect survivors voices. We listen to and believe survivors of domestic abuse. Lyndsey Dearlove, of Hestia, another domestic abuse charity, noted it takes real bravery to speak about your experience of domestic abuse adding that we must believe those who disclose their experience. We should be providing a space for survivors to tell their story, not a platform for perpetrators to justify their inexcusable actions, she added. Already lockdown has seen a significant rise in domestic abuse and this is a crucial time for victims to access support and it should not be diluted by the perpetrators voice. The paper has defended its front page in a statement after facing criticism from campaigners, MPs and journalists saying it had been attempting to expose a perpetrators total lack of remorse. We were disgusted by the comments of JK Rowlings ex-husband, and branded him sick and unrepentant in our coverage, the paper said. It was certainly not our intention to enable or glorify domestic abuse, our intention was to expose a perpetrators total lack of remorse. Our sympathies are always with the victims. The Sun has a long history of standing up for abused women and campaigning against domestic violence. Our campaigns have kept refuges open, providing a safe place for women and children to escape violence, as well as getting laws changed. Over the years and with the support of charities we have empowered countless victims to come forward and seek help. Anyone who requires help or support can contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline which is open 24/7 365 days per year on 0808 2000 247 or via its website nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ We have been observing large scale military exercises and outright war threats to Armenia in time of the pandemic. Those actions are provocative in nature and tend not to contribute to reducing tensions. Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan stated this at Thursdays Foreign Affairs Ministerial video-teleconference of the Eastern Partnership (EaP). Mnatsakanyan addressed the event as follows: Thank you very much, Helga. I am also very glad to see all my good friends virtually and hope that we will eventually be able to see each other in person, in the near future. It is a very good opportunity today to compare notes in the run-up to the leaders VTC next week. The eastern flank of Europe, which is the Eastern Partnership, has been founded upon shared values, which are the strength of the EaP and must therefore prevail over geopolitical considerations and remain a unifying force and a cornerstone for developing its post-2020 agenda. Democracy, rule of law, human rights, independent judiciary, freedom of the media, freedom of assembly are amongst the critical building blocks of the common space of European values. Armenias Velvet Revolution in 2018 and the consistency of our Government in commitment to the values of the Revolution, are a manifestation of our adherence to the common space of European values, hoping that this space is not eroding. The multilateral platform of the Eastern Partnership has also been complementing and feeding into the development of bilateral relations of each Eastern Partner country with the EU and its Member States. Therefore, given the importance of the Eastern Partnership, it is critical to sustain and further foster its continuity and integrity. Any compartmentalization of the Eastern Partnership will shatter the project. Yet, this does not mean that the principle of differentiation or more for more approach should not be applied; differentiation and inclusiveness are not mutually exclusive. We welcome the Joint Communication of the European Commission and the High Representative on the EaP policy beyond 2020 and appreciate the mentioning in it of the EUs readiness to support the partner countries in the modernization of medical facilities, e-health, training of medical staff and providing affordable medical care and promoting access to people across society. We also welcome the focus on resilience reinforcement agenda in the five main areas, as Commissioner Varhelyi has outlined in his statement. For Armenia, it is a critical priority to launch the visa liberalization dialogue. Armenia has been effectively implementing the Armenia-EU Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements. We are engaged in individual dialogue with Member States to demonstrate our work and our achievements, which merit the launch of the VLD and we hope that this will happen soon. The novel coronavirus is the first serious challenge that the Eastern Partnership has faced since it entered its second decade. However, this pandemic once again demonstrated the importance of international cooperation and multilateralism for effectively solving supranational threats. Joined efforts are much needed to tackle this crisis. In this connection, I would like to commend the EU for mobilizing an emergency support package for immediate needs as well as the social and economic recovery of the Eastern Partnership region. This is highly and deeply appreciated by our Government and by the people in Armenia. The EUs support is so far the biggest to the EaP countries; particularly for Armenia, the EU has announced over 92 mln euros worth of support package, which includes both new funds and already existing but redirected instruments. This is a very strong manifestation of solidarity. We also appreciate the launch of the V4EastSolidarity program and assistance from individual Member States, specifically Lithuania, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, and Poland. Thank you very much. Armenias response to the pandemic has several layers, including investing in healthcare, providing support to socially vulnerable groups and helping the businesses to overcome the crisis and preserve jobs. As of today, the overall socio-economic assistance package of the Government amounts to 150 bln AMD, which equals over 300 million euros. The Government has effectively implemented 18 assistance programs/actions to address both the economic and social impact of the pandemic. Those programs are in the phase of implementation. We are also designing further comprehensive mid-term action plan, identifying our policy and interventions. We have also invited the EU to start a policy dialogue to create an inclusive and constructive platform where the European Union and its institutions could engage and contribute to the design and further implementation of our mid-term action plan to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic. Indeed together with the spread of the pandemic, there is also infodemic and it needs to be addressed. There were some ideas and proposals on the ways to deal with it, including the use of communication, TV and so on. Those are very interesting ideas that we are willing to consider and discuss with our partners. Disinformation is more than the simple distortion of facts on pandemic. We do not welcome the use of COVID-19 to crackdown on human rights and to disseminate hate speech. On the point concerning regional stability and peace, including during the pandemic, Armenia joined the call of the UN SG on global ceasefire and we have also produced together with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs a joint statement in which the Co-Chairs outlined the importance of observing the ceasefire strictly and refraining from provocative actions in the current environment and called on the sides to take measures to reduce tensions further. We have, however, been observing large scale military exercises and outright war threats to Armenia in time of the pandemic. Those actions are provocative in nature and tend not to contribute to reducing tensions. Speaking of conflicts, each and every conflict reflects a different security environment, cultural and historical context and are different in dynamic or context of resolution and it should be approached on its own merit. Differentiation is necessary while addressing the question of conflicts. Thank you. KEY HIGHLIGHTS Many mall owners have slashed the rent up to 50 per cent for the lockdown period, lowered common area maintenance Mall owners have also shifted to a revenue-share model with many of the tenants Industry sources said that the minimum revenue share is 5-11 per cent, but could be higher in some cases Mall owners with less debt may be able to offer concessions, but those with a high level of debt would not be able to offer much Amid the tiff over rent waiver during lockdown, with a section of restaurants and store-owners insisting on relief as a condition to re-open, many mall owners have agreed to ease the terms offering 50 per cent cut in rent for the lockdown period, lower common area maintenance (CAM) and switch to revenue-share model for three months. Sources said that one of the country's largest mall operators DLF has assured some of its tenants that it will come back with 'mutually acceptable terms' while convincing them to open up their stores. "We have opened our store in Ambience Mall and would open the one in Mall of India in good faith. The top management has given personal assurance to me and we expect a viable financial proposal," said a tenant operating out of the two DLF malls. He said that his expectation was complete rent waiver for the lockdown period and moving to revenue-share model hereon as footfall was expected to remain much low for quite a long period. ALSO READ: Malls vs High Street: Who will win hearts of shoppers in post-COVID world? Executives of retail outlets operating from Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj said that nearly 60-65 per cent stores have opened up but footfall was not even 5 per cent of the pre-lockdown level. Other major mall owners are also working out options that would ensure both the parties sharing part of the revenue loss on account of nationwide shutdown. Among the options on the table are complete waiver of rent for the lockdown period, deferral of the rent for some time or shift to revenue share which would ensure both mall owners and tenants sharing the risk in case of low sales. Anshuman Magazine, Chairman and CEO, India, South East Asia, Middle East and Africa, CBRE said that many mall owners who have less debt may be able to offer concessions as they could have the required leeway but malls that have high level of debt would not be able to offer much. Some of the malls are learnt to have agreed to go for complete waiver of rent for the lockdown period. Sources said that Lulu, Prestige Group and Mantri Square Mall have given good deals to the tenants. ALSO READ: '4 out of 10 will shut down': Coronavirus outbreak unsettles India's restaurants "Some have given 50 per cent waiver while some of the malls especially in South have given complete waiver for the entire lockdown period," said Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India. On possible options to resolve the ongoing rent issue between mall owners and tenants, Gaurav Karnik, Partner & National Leader (Real Estate), EY India said, "It is a matter of discussion between landlords and tenants. The solution would be based on business imperatives of each situation and not any fixed formula." With cash flow dried up during the lockdown period, retailers and shop-owners saw their cash reserves sinking and now when the malls have been allowed to open from June 8 the footfall is not very encouraging. Manoj Gaur, Managing Director of the Gaurs Group which runs a mall in Noida Extension said that footfall on weekdays is averaging around 2,000-2,500, nearly one-fourth of the pre-lockdown period. Malls being quite capital-intensive, their owners are also under pressure to generate cash for serving the debt. Not surprisingly, many of them have tried to resolve the issues with the tenants quickly so that cash generation can happen. ALSO READ: Coronavirus impact: How consumer behaviour will change post-COVID-19 lockdown "The issue with restaurateurs and retailers has been more or less resolved. It is a tough time for everyone. They have made a lot of investment. We have also made a lot of investment. Within a week, 100 per cent shops would be open. We have negotiated a two-month revenue share with someone. With some people we have agreed for a three-month revenue share. Some are on MG (minimum guaranteed rent) while some on revenue share basis. We have agreed with the revenue share model for one quarter as during this time business is likely to stabilise," Gaur said. While mall owners have agreed to cut minimum rent they have also shifted to a revenue-share model with many of the tenants. Industry sources said that the minimum revenue share is 5 per cent and maximum 11 per cent but in some cases it could be higher. The mall owners have renegotiated the terms of rentals with each of the tenants individually. The concession in rent in many cases varies from 15-50 per cent, depending on the tenant's size, for the lockdown period. Many of the restaurant owners have, however, insisted for complete waiver of the rent for the lockdown period and lowering the rent in future as social distancing would substantially reduce their occupancy level. "You cannot operate on old costs with less than half of older revenue," Anurag Katriar, President of National restaurant Association of India had said while pitching for rent waiver earlier. ALSO READ: Unlock 1.0 sees pent-up demand driving sales by up to 75%; supply-side constraints still a problem Jaipur, June 12 : Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday made a scathing attack on the Central government alleging that the Rajya Sabha polls were deliberately deferred in March as the Centre's poaching attempts were incomplete by then, and now when the dates were rescheduled, "four of our MLAs from Gujarat have already resigned". Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the CM said, "The Rajya Sabha elections could have been held two months back. However, the Centre's poaching attempts were not complete by then, so, the Rajya Sabha polling was deferred. Now, with the dates of these elections being announced, four of our Gujarat Congress MLAs have already resigned. Even during Corona times, Modi and Shah are busy playing politics," he alleged. "This is the time to save lives. Sonia Gandhi has already told the PM that we stand united to fight COVID-19. However, BJP continues conspiring to break up the governments even during the corona period. Not a single vote in Rajasthan will go into their kitty and both our candidates will win," Gehlot said. "Today, we need to see who is causing pain and who is applying balm on pain. The corona crisis started appearing in February. Rahul Gandhi had warned the government on February 12, however, during those days, the MP government was toppled. Karnataka, too, faced the same fate. The government invested all its resources in toppling governments. We can see the results looking at the present situation of the country," he said. "Modiji says he would make a 'Congress mukt Bharat', but India will never get Congress 'mukt'. Congress lives in the DNA of India", said Gehlot. He questioned how the nation would be able to fight COVID-19 if all political parties, all castes and creed don't stand united. "Why does this thought never cross PM Modi or Amit Shah's mind?" All Congress MLAs stand united to defeat the fascist forces, he said, adding 13 independents and 2 BTP MLAs have promised to support the Congress in Rajasthan. The conference was also addressed by Deputy Chief Minister Sachin pilot and AICC member Randeep Surjewala. Rajya Sabha contestant K.C. Venugopal, Rajasthan Congress in-charge Avinash Pandey were also present. The Congress in Rajasthan has shifted its MLAs to a resort fearing poaching. It has alleged the BJP is luring its MLAs and has offered Rs 25 crore to them to resign and topple the Gehlot government. Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the government is working on a plan to bring international students back to Australian universities but it comes with a stipulation. States hoping for the return of foreign students which will provide a desperately needed financial boost to universities will need to open their borders to the rest of Australia. That means states including Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland would need to throw open their borders. We'll be working closely with states and territories, firstly on a pilot basis, to enable, in a very controlled setting, for international students to be able to come to Australia, Mr Morrison told reporters on Friday afternoon following a national cabinet meeting. Students seen entering the University of New South Wales. Australian universities rely heavily on tuition from foreign students. Source: AAP But only on pre-approved plans for particular institutions worked up between federal authorities and state and territory authorities. Mr Morrison said the government had received proposals by universities but stressed the process would not be rushed. I'm not suggesting this is going to happen soon, he said. This is something that I'm sure we would all welcome happening again, but it has to be done with the appropriate quarantine entry arrangements and biosecurity. The federal government has spent recent weeks criticising states premiers, particularly Queenslands Annastacia Palaszczuk, for refusing to open their borders. I made it clear to the states and territories today, if someone can't come to your state from Sydney, then someone can't come to your state from Singapore, Mr Morrison said this afternoon. If you want to open up borders for international students, then you have to open up borders for Australians. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaking this afternoon. Source: AAP Ms Palaszczuk had earlier speculated on a possible September timeframe for the states borders to reopen but this week suggested it would likely happen in July. Interstate travel is expected to be included in Stage 3 of Queenslands Roadmap to easing restrictions, scheduled to commence on July 10. Story continues The Prime Minister said on Friday while he wants to see it happen as soon as possible, he expects all states, with the possible exception of Western Australia, to open their borders in July. I anticipate states will be working through those decisions in the next few weeks, he said. And they'll come to their own conclusions, but what is important, whatever date that is, that it is nominated as soon as possible because that will enable the travel and tourism, and hospitality industry to plan for that time. When asked, Mr Morrison said he hopes to be in a position to commence pilot programs to allow for the entry of international students next month. Australia's borders have been closed to non-citizens and non-residents since March. PM defends slavery comments Mr Morrison was widely criticised yesterday for saying there was no slavery in Australia while trying to defend the legacy of Captain James Cook during a radio interview. During the press conference Friday, the PM clarified his comments and apologised to any hurt they may have caused. In Australia, we know we have had problems in our past. We have acknowledged those, he said. My comments were not intended to give offence and if they did I deeply regret that and apologise for that. The Prime Minister acknowledged the treatment of South Sea islanders during the practice of blackbirding starting in the 1860s when indigenous people were tricked or coerced into indentured labour in Australia. Mr Morrison reiterated there was no law in the countrys history that approved slavery. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. In the webinar, Springall delved into climate change in an insurance context, and outlined that it poses as an existential threat to the industry. Read next: Calls for unity during bushfire royal commission Because climate change poses a systemic risk to an insurance company, they will go and apply tools to understand what impact it will have on their portfolios, as well as the customers and the communities they serve, he explained. The implications for insurance companies are big if they dont understand it. Thats why I think the insurance industry is at the forefront in terms of climate change discussion and risk quantification. Unfortunately, over recent years, and especially in light of the Black Summer bushfire season, the risk has been exacerbated in Australia. Australia is so exposed to the climate and natural catastrophes bushfires are just a constant in the lives of Australians over summer, Springall explained. Hailstorms here continue to be one of the peak perils in terms of losses... The 1999 Sydney hailstorm is still the largest insurance loss event. Given all these climate perils, if theyre going to change in their nature in frequency and severity then its in our interest to better understand it. Theres a lot of research and understanding going into it. However, climate change and the risks it poses arent just founded locally hurricanes in the United States have also impacted Australian risk financing. Read next: Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on insurance We need to recognise that theres a global pool of capital that supports insurance companies in Australia in the form of reinsurance, Springall added. In theory, if that global pool of capital is depleted through a major disaster, or if some capital is withdrawn from the industry due to the fact that there are better returns in other areas for their investors, then theres less available capital to put against the risk. But the future of managing insurance and losses doesnt just depend on climate change Springall says its more complicated than that. Exposure change and construction standards will also determine how insurers invest and attempt to mitigate risks. Theres a whole lot of other factors that needs to be addressed for the future of insurance, Springall said. One is exposure change the projected population in Australia is expected to grow and more people are going to live in cities. We also have the opportunity to make our buildings and businesses more resilient through better construction methods or by looking at supply chains to see where the critical vulnerabilities are. We have to look at more than just climate change for the future of insurance. He hosted 11 seasons of MasterChef with Matt Preston and George Calombaris. And after leaving the show last year, Gary Mehigan, 47, is applauding the new judges on the hit cooking show, who have taken over the former stars' roles. Speaking of Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo, Gary told Food Bytes podcast on Wednesday: 'I look at the three MasterChef judges now and I go 'You see? That's what they (the network) should have got.'' 'That's what they (the network) should have got!' Former MasterChef star Gary Mehigan (pictured) has applauded the casting of the new judges after he and co-judges Matt Preston and George Calombaris left the show last year 'They are slim and they are gorgeous, they are well dressed,' he said. The chef added: 'If you look at the pictures from when we (himself, Matt and George) first started, I mean, that was ridiculous casting we were kind of the unlikely trio.' The 'unlikely trio' began hosting MasterChef in 2009 and have since gone on to become close friends, with Gary and Matt even attending George's wedding in Greece back in 2018. Great casting: Speaking of Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo (all pictured), Gary told Food Bytes podcast on Wednesday, as reported by the Herald Sun : 'I look at the three MasterChef judges now and I go 'You see? That's what they (the network) should have got' Where it all began: The chef added, 'If you look at the pictures from when we first started, I mean, that was ridiculous casting we were kind of the unlikely trio'. Pictured with Matt Preston and George Calombaris Back in April, when MasterChef: Back To Win began, Gary admitted to Daily Mail Australia that he had not been watching the show. 'I'll be honest, I haven't watched the new MasterChef, but then again I never watched MasterChef when I was in it. I was there after all,' he began. 'With [executive producer] Marty Benson and the team behind the show, it can't be anything else but great television.' Firm foodie friends: The 'unlikely trio' began hosting MasterChef in 2009 and have since gone on to become close friends, with Gary and Matt even attending George's wedding in Greece back in 2018 (pictured together) Gary is now set to join Matt and Manu Fieldel on Channel Seven's new cooking show Plate Of Origin. The show will see cooks from diverse cultural backgrounds compete to see which of their chosen cuisines is the best. No current airdate for Plate of Origin has been announced. YEREVAN -- The Armenian government has announced it has decided to use only 60 percent of a $270 million Russian loan designed to finance the ongoing modernization of its Soviet-era nuclear power plant at Metsamor. The plant's sole functioning reactor went into service in 1980 and was due to be decommissioned by 2017. However, a previous government in 2014 decided to extend the life of the 420-megawatt reactor by 10 years after failing to attract foreign investment for the construction of a new nuclear plant. In 2015, the Russian government agreed to provide Armenia with a $270 million loan and a $30 million grant to upgrade the Metsamor nuclear power plant. The modernization work, led by Russias Rosatom nuclear energy agency, was due to be completed by the end of 2019, but the process fell behind schedule, preventing the full disbursement of the Russian funds. Armenia's infrastructure minister on June 11 said the country had used only $107 million of the Russian money. Suren Papikian said Moscow had offered to extend the loan agreement by two years under the condition that Armenia agreed to use 80 percent of the money to commission equipment and services from Russian companies. The government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian backed Papikian's proposal to reject the Russian offer and to finance the remaining work through government bond sales. Pashinians government said it planned to spend 63 billion drams ($130 million) to upgrade the facility over the next two years. Pashinian said that the government will now be free to select the suppliers for Metsamor, which he said will "substantially" lower the costs. Armenia's sole nuclear plant, located 35 kilometers west of Yerevan, generates roughly 40 percent of the country's electricity. The European Union and the United State have long pressed for its closure, saying that it does not meet modern safety standards. Sometimes, its best to get your information straight from the experts. Needhams 5-star analyst Rajvindra Gill, an expert in the tech sector, has the lowdown on autonomous cars and the companies that will support them. He was part of Needhams recent 4th Annual Virtual Automotive Tech Conference, and in a report this week he expounds on the highlights of the event. The conference focused on the impact of COVID-19 on the advent of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and featured presentations from and about auto industry reps, semiconductor manufacturers, battery suppliers, software companies even rideshare companies. Self-driving cars are on the way the relevant questions are, how soon? and how will the public take to them. Gill sees the innovation hitting the industry in a series of steps. Level 0 is current non-autonomous, non-assistive manual driving technology (or just cars, if you prefer). Moving up, Levels 1 and 2 include various forms of non-autonomous driver assistance adaptive cruise control, lane drift warnings, and limited vehicle control over speed and/or steering. With Level 3, we start to see driver hands-free capability. Level 4 is full vehicle autonomy within geofenced areas, and Level 5 is unrestricted vehicle autonomy. Clearly, current tech is still perfected Level 3 but higher levels are both conceivable and, likely, inevitable in the near future. And full autonomy brings us to AI. Artificial Intelligence is essential for the technology to work, and the companies that enable it are going to find themselves well positioned for takeoff when ADAS Levels 4 and 5 arrive. Gill points out three such companies, all in the semiconductor chip sector, that he gives Buy ratings, saying that investors can get in now on the ground floor. Weve used the TipRanks database to pull up the details on them. Microchip Technology (MCHP) Well start with Microchip Technology, a major player in the industry. MCHP is ranked #6 globally by sales share, and boasts a $27 billion market cap. The company is heavily invested in the automotive sector, as its chips are widely used in power management apps and wireless connection devices. Story continues The companys tech is heavily integrated into electric vehicles, as well as early innovation in Level 4/5 ASAD. Microchip produces SiC MOSFETs and diodes, which are used in electric powertrains and charging systems, while its connectivity chip enable the centralized computing and GPS location systems that will make autonomous vehicles smart. Needham's Rajvindra Gill particularly sees Microchips moves to micro-PNT as important for autonomous vehicles. This technology will enable cloud-based real-time mapping updates in the urban canyons that resist traditional GPS locators. The company is engaged in test projects in three cities, and pending results will move toward the market. Gill rates MCHP a Buy, and gives the stock a $130 price target, indicating confidence in a 19% upside potential for the coming year. (To watch Gills track record, click here) Overall, Microchips Strong Buy analyst consensus rating is based on 20 reviews, which include no fewer than 17 Buys opposed to just 3 Holds. Shares are trading for $97.45, while the average price target of $113.40 suggests a 16% upside potential. (See Microchip stock analysis on TipRanks) Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) Next up is Tower Semiconductor, a $2.2 billion fabricator in the chip industry. Fab is the vital segment for semiconductors it is the actual manufacture of the chips. Tower produces a wide range of chips, used in dozens of applications, for some of the biggest names in the industry. The companys customers include Broadcom, Intel, and Samsung, perennially among the top 5 in market share. From Towers perspective, the key about the increasing trend to greater autonomy in motor vehicles and toward electric vehicles is the ever-increasing share of electronic componentry in the vehicle systems. Tower sees a major opportunity here, as most automotive circuitry is analog, and Tower is a specialized analog chip foundry. TSEM is already heavily invested in automotive applications, and 10% of the companys 2019 sales went to the car sector. Specifically, TSEM chips and platforms are essential to the image sensors and LiDAR apps that will allow self-driving cars to see, while RF tech is used in connectivity and radar applications. EV vehicles depend on TSEMs power management technology. In short, Tower has multiple paths toward increased sales and market share, as it will provide the manufacturing capabilities needed to produce the most essential pieces of vehicle AI. With fab facilities in the US, Tower also finds itself in a strong position as markets begin to prioritize US sourcing over Chinese in the wake of the trade war and the coronavirus. Looking at TSEMs prospects, Gill backs his Buy rating with a $27 price target. His target shows confidence it implies a 36% one-year upside potential to the stock. (To watch Gills track record, click here) TSEM shares have 3 recent analyst reviews, breaking down to 2 Buys and 1 Hold, giving the stock a Moderate Buy consensus rating. Shares are affordably priced, at $21.16, and the $24.33 average price target suggests the stock has room for 14% growth in the next 12 months. (See Tower stock analysis on TipRanks) Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) Last up on todays list is Nvidia, one of the best-known names in the semiconductor chip sector. Nvidias GPU chips are popular among gamers and graphic designers, and the companys memory chips are widely used in data centers. As a maker of high-end processors, Nvidias connection to AI is obvious. About 7% of Nvidias business is in the automotive sector, and half of that is geared toward ADAS and autonomous vehicle tech. The company produces the DRIVE platform, a fully scalable architecture capable of functioning in the Level 2 ADAS environment or in Level 4 fully autonomous driving. Gill sees Nvidias moves toward L2 ADAS as a multi-year opportunity, as it will take time to reach the volumes anticipated. The DRIVE platform allows cloud-car-cloud data transfer, a model that will encourage machine learning at the higher levels of autonomy. It is important to note, as Gill does, that Nvidias competitors in the automotive sector are not shy about conducting simulations using NVDA data center tech. To this end, Gill backs his Buy rating on NVDA with a $400 price target, suggestive of a 14% upside potential. (To watch Gills track record, click here) The Street agrees that NVDA is a buying opportunity. The 31 reviews on this stock include 27 Buys, 3 Holds, and a single Sell, making the consensus view a Strong Buy. NVDA is the most expensive stock on todays list, trading for $351.85. The average price target here, $379.58, suggests an 8% upside from current levels. (See Nvidia stock-price forecast on TipRanks) To find good ideas for AI stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. How China Got Shipments of Venezuelan Oil Despite US Sanctions CARACAS/MEXICO CITYLast year, China replaced the United States as the No. 1 importer of oil from Venezuela, yet another front in the heated rivalry between Washington and Beijing. The United States had imposed sanctions on Venezuelas state-owned oil company as part of a bid to topple that countrys socialist president, Nicolas Maduro. U.S. refineries stopped buying Venezuelan crude. Caracas ally China, long a major customer, suddenly found itself the top purchaser. Through the first six months of 2019, it imported an average of 350,000 barrels per day of crude from Venezuela. But in August, Washington tightened its sanctions on Venezuela, warning that any foreign entity that continued to do business with the South American countrys government could find itself subject to sanctions. State-owned China National Petroleum Corp, known as CNPC, stopped loading oil at Venezuelan ports that month. Chinas import data showed purchases started to slow, and by late 2019, abruptly stopped. Chinas largest oil company, like customers in some other countries, seemed to be knuckling under to U.S. President Donald Trumps threats, despite Chinese leader Xi Jinpings professed support for Maduro. But China never stopped buying. Crude from Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA, kept arriving at Chinese ports with the help of a Switzerland-based unit of Rosneft, Russias state-owned oil company, and a roundabout delivery method that made it appear as if the oils origin was Malaysia, Reuters has found. Between July 1 and Dec. 31, tanker ships delivered at least 18 shipments totaling 19.7 million barrels of rebranded Venezuelan crude to Chinese ports, Reuters determined. That finding is based on a review of ship-tracking data, internal PDVSA documents and interviews with four petroleum analysts who have tracked flows of Venezuelan oil around the globe. Workers are seen near pumpjacks at a China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) oil field in Bayingol, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China on Aug. 7, 2019. (Reuters) A unit of CNPC chartered at least one of those tankers, meaning it was responsible for the oil aboard, the ship-tracking data show. That vessel, called the Adventure, took on Venezuelan crude on July 18 and discharged it in China on Sept. 4, the data show. No charter information was available for the other ships that offloaded crude in China. CNPC did not respond to requests for comment. Those 18 shipments represented more than 5 percent of Venezuelas total exports in 2019, worth around $1 billion at market prices for the countrys flagship crude grade, known as Merey, based on OPEC figures. The sales provided much-needed support to Maduros government, though Reuters could not determine how much was added to state coffers; PDVSA often sells its crude at steep discounts, and some of its sales go to pay down debt rather than generate cash. The mislabeled shipments have continued into this year, Reuters found. The review used data available on financial information provider Refinitiv Eikon, photos culled from satellite imagery and Automatic Identification System (AIS) data transmitted by oil tankers. New York-based Refinitiv is part-owned by Reuters parent company, Thomson Reuters. The shipping methodinvolving the transfer of oil between tanker ships at seahas for months been under scrutiny by the Trump administration. Washington in February slapped sanctions on Rosneft Trading SA, the Geneva-based subsidiary of Rosneft, which it alleges was helping Venezuela to export its oil using so-called ship-to-ship (STS) transfers to mask the true origin of the crude. Rosneft denied wrongdoing. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on Sept. 25, 2019. (Sergei Chirikov/AFP/Getty Images) The Company has always been conducting and is conducting its business in full compliance with applicable international legislation, Rosneft said in a June 5 statement in response to questions for this article. Russias energy ministry did not reply to a request for comment. Chinas indirect imports of Venezuelan crude fall into something of a gray zone, according to Peter Harrell, a sanctions expert at the Center for a New American Security think tank in Washington. Harrell believes U.S. sanctions give Washington authority to punish foreign companies that purchase PDVSA oil through a middlemanparticularly if the company knows or should have known it was Venezuelan crude. But that does not obligate the U.S. government to act. At the end of the day, these sanctions are fundamentally policy calls, Harrell said. Reuters could not independently verify if China knew the oil that reached its shores via Rosneft Trading came from Venezuela. The U.S. Treasury Department, which enforces trade sanctions, declined to comment. Asked about the Reuters findings, Elliott Abrams, the U.S. State Departments special representative for Venezuela, said in an interview that potential U.S. sanctions against Chinese companies purchasing transshipped crude were on the table. We will be taking individual actions with respect to STS transfers, Abrams said. Chinas General Administration of Customs did not respond to requests for comment. Neither PDVSA, Venezuelas Oil Ministry, nor the Information Ministrywhich responds to media inquiries on the governments behalfresponded to requests for comment. Venezuelan officials have repeatedly described U.S. sanctions on their country as illegal and unilateral. Motorists line up for fuel at a gas station of the Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA in San Cristobal, Venezuela on Nov. 10, 2018. (Carlos Eduardo Ramirez/Reuters) Oil analysts since last year have said Venezuelan oil was making its way to China by way of STS transfers. This account is the first to reveal the extent of those shipments and demonstrate how systematic the tactic has been. Reuters also reviewed internal PDVSA documents that showed the Rosneft unit was involved in moving the oil. So much PDVSA oil was shipped to China this way that the countrys total 2019 imports of Venezuelan oil averaged 283,000 barrels a day. Thats 24 percent higher than the 228,700 barrels a day reported by Chinese customs, according to Reuters calculations based on comparisons of the Refinitiv Eikon data to official Chinese customs data. That was not enough to offset entirely the impact that U.S. sanctions had on PDVSA; U.S. refiners were importing an average of 500,000 barrels per day when the sanctions were imposed in January 2019. But it helped Venezuela keep its oil industry alive at a time when the drop in demand from foreign buyers was creating a glut onshore, nearly forcing PDVSA to halt production in key oil fields. The STS maneuvers mirror tactics that Iran, whose oil industry is also under U.S. sanctions, has used to ship its oil to China for years. As Reuters documented in reports in 2019 and 2015, Iranian oil often is labeled as coming from neighboring Iraq. A representative of the operator of a Chinese terminal where one such shipment unloaded in 2019 denied that the origin of the oil was Iranian. Alireza Miryousefi, spokesman for Irans mission to the United Nations in New York, said in a statement how we sell or export our oil is no ones business. He said U.S. sanctions on Irans oil exports are illegal. A general view of Abadan oil refinery in southwest Iran is pictured from Iraqi side of Shatt al-Arab in Al-Faw south of Basra, Iraq on Sept. 21, 2019. (Essam Al-Sudani/Reuters) The Chinese shipments of Venezuelan crude were unusual for a variety of reasons, oil analysts said. STS transfers typically are used for legitimate purposessuch as offloading oil from deep-water drilling ships or pumping oil from large tankers onto smaller vessels that can navigate narrow or shallow waterways. The use of this technique to transport oil from Venezuela to China was not seen until the middle of last year, the oil analysts said. Tankers leaving Venezuela loaded with PDVSA crude did not travel straight to China as they had in the past. Instead, 15 tankers whose routes were reviewed by Reuters left Venezuela and first headed for the coast of Malaysia, tracking data show. A few miles offshore, in the Malacca Strait, each rendezvoused with a second, empty tanker that had pulled alongside. The full tanker then pumped its load into the waiting vessel, and in some cases into multiple smaller vessels. Eighteen of those receiving ships then headed to China, where the Venezuelan crude was offloaded and recorded as a product of Malaysia, Chinese customs records show. Reuters could not ascertain who changed the crudes labeled origin before it reached Chinese customs, nor whether doing so expressly violated any maritime laws or local laws in any applicable jurisdictions. Michelle Bockmann, markets editor and analyst at Lloyds List, a shipping trade publication, said the relabeling was highly uncommon. With the exception of Iran, Bockmann said she could not recall any other instance of crude changing identities in this way. The imports were a break from Chinas past practice. China routinely has imported oil from countries such as Brazil and Russia using STS transfers. But Chinese customs accurately recorded the true countries of origin in those cases, according to Chinese customs data and Emma Li, a Singapore-based oil analyst with Refinitiv. In addition, Malaysia is a mid-sized oil producer that has not traditionally sold crude to China in the volumes recorded by Chinese customs last year, the records show. Chinas stated 2019 imports from Malaysia were 400 percent higher than levels recorded just three years earlier, and the highest ever recorded by Refinitiv Eikon, whose figures date to 2006. The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, the government agency largely in charge of foreign trade, did not respond to requests for comment, nor did Malaysias state-owned oil company Petronas. This triangulated trade in Venezuelan oil is now in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. The company that lifted the oil from Venezuela for the China shipments identified by Reuters was Rosneft Trading, according to internal PDVSA documents reviewed by Reuters. Until late March, it was a major player in Venezuelas oil industry. The U.S. Treasury on Feb. 18 hit Rosneft Trading with sanctions for allegedly helping Venezuela sidestep the U.S. pressure campaign and sell its oil abroad. Among the tactics employed by Rosneft Trading were STS transfers, U.S. officials allege. By using one ship to haul crude out of Venezuela, then a second to deliver it to China, Rosneft Trading attempted to blur the chain of ownership and disguise the oils provenance, Abrams, the State Departments special representative for Venezuela, told Reuters, without providing further proof of Rosnefts intentions. The whole purpose is to evade, the whole purpose is to mislead, Abrams said. The logo of the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA is seen next to a mural depicting Venezuelas late President Hugo Chavez at a gas station in Caracas, Venezuela, on March 2, 2017. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters) On March 28, Rosneft announced it was ending its Venezuela operations and selling all its assets in the country to another, unnamed Russian state-owned firm. Rosneft has no ongoing business involvement, assets or operations in Venezuela; therefore, there is no subject for providing further comments, the company said in its June 5 statement to Reuters. The Trump administration, meanwhile, gave Rosneft Trading customers until May 20 to unwind their contracts with the company or face U.S. sanctions. Asked whether Chinese customers were involved in hiding the Venezuelan origin of the crude, Abrams said that Asian clients often did not care how it gets to them, what its labeled, as long as theyre getting what they bought. Reuters could not ascertain the final customers for the PDVSA crude in China. But Venezuelas heavy Merey blend is a favored feedstock for refineries making asphalt in China, according to industry sources there. One of the earliest STS transfers involved the Adventure, a tanker chartered by a CNPC subsidiary. On July 18, it took on 1.9 million barrels of Venezuelan crude from another vessel in Malaysian waters, then headed for China, Refinitiv Eikon data show. The manager of the Adventure, Greece-based Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Ltd, said it had never entered into any agreement with PDVSA or any company sanctioned by the United States, and that it respects and complies in full with U.S. sanctions. The maritime company said the cargos bill of lading and certificate of origin said the oil had come from Malaysia. The U.S. envoy on Venezuela Elliott Abrams speaks to the United Nations Security Council during a meeting to vote for a resolution on controlling the turmoil in Venezuela at the UN in New York, on Feb. 28, 2019 (Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images) Pit Stop in Malaysia Malaysia is a popular location for STS transfers of crude because of its proximity to Singapore, one of the worlds largest oil trading and storage hubs. One of the STS transfers reviewed by Reuters occurred near Malaysias port of Kuala Linggi; the rest took place outside the countrys Tanjung Bruas port. To demonstrate how these STS transfers work, Reuters used records available on Refinitiv Eikon to reconstruct a shipment to China of 2 million barrels that left the Jose terminal in northeastern Venezuela on Aug. 5, 2019. The oil was carried aboard a Liberia-flagged vessel called the Delta Aigaion, according to Refinitiv Eikon data and an internal PDVSA document seen by Reuters. The crude was a heavy blend known as Merey 16, which is unique to Venezuela, and the customer was listed as Rosneft Trading, the PDVSA document shows. The Delta Aigaion sailed to waters off Malaysia near the port of Tanjung Bruas. There, the crew used a STS transfer to offload the Merey 16 to another tanker, the Malta-flagged Lipari, on Oct. 28, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. The Lipari then headed for China, discharging its crude on Dec. 12 at the port of Zhanjiang, the data show. Refinitiv Eikon ship-tracking data shows the location of ships and indicates how full they are. In this case, the data showed that the draft of each ship changed dramatically while the two were in the same location off Malaysias coast at the same time. The draft is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of a vessels hulla sign of how heavy a load it is carrying. The draft measurements showed that the Delta Aigaion arrived in Malaysia full and left empty, while the opposite was true for the Liparian indication that an oil transfer between the two took place. In a photo taken using a European Space Agency radar satellite and provided to Reuters by San Francisco-based earth imaging company Planet Labs, the Delta Aigaion and the Lipari can be seen approaching one another to start the oil transfer on Oct 28. The authenticity of that photo was verified by oil industry data provider TankerTrackers.com, which specializes in satellite image analysis for vessel tracking. Refinitiv Eikon retrieves location information from satellite images as well as from land-based sensors that collect data from ships transponders. Ships are required by international maritime law to carry transponders to transmit information about their position, speed and destination. The U.S. government has accused tankers and shipping firms transporting oil from Venezuela and Iran of manipulating this data to evade authorities, either by flashing false destinations or simply turning off their transponders. The Delta Aigaion, while on its way to Venezuela in July after leaving its previous berthing in India, never indicated it was heading to the South American country, Refinitiv Eikon data show. The tanker listed its destination as For Orders, a message meaning it had not yet received instructions on where to go next. Delta Tankers Ltd. and TMS Tankers Ltd., the shipping companies that manage the Delta Aigaion and Lipari, respectively, did not respond to requests for comment. MMC Corp Bhd and T.A.G. Marine Sdn Bhd, which operate the Tanjung Bruas and Kuala Linggi ports, respectively, did not respond to requests for comment. When the Lipari unloaded in the southwestern Chinese city of Zhanjiang, Chinese customs labeled the crude as Singma blend, a grade of crude that did not exist in the market before last year. Customs recorded the country of origin as Malaysia. Li, the Refinitiv analyst, said the labeling of the crude as a blend appears to be incorrect. If the crude were a blend of different gradesa practice common in the oil industrythe STS operation would have involved multiple vessels bringing crude from separate origins, Li said. Ship-tracking data show no indication that this occurred. It doesnt look like theres any blending, Li said. For 14 of the 18 tankers reviewed by Reuters, the grade of crude recorded by Chinese customs was Singma or Mal, another blend that did not exist before last year, data compiled by Li show. In other cases, the Venezuelan crude was given the names of more established Malaysian grades such as Miri or Kimanis, or was not specified, according to the data compiled by Li. Merey 16, the Venezuelan blend, was not mentioned. Rosneft Exit Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro speaks during a pro-government march in Caracas, on Feb. 23, 2019. (Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images) The arrival of Venezuelan oil in China via STS transfers continued through at least the first two months of 2020. During January and February, Chinese customs once again reported no imports of Venezuelan crude. However, nearly 130,000 barrels per day of PDVSA oil arrived at Chinese ports in those two months from seven tankers that had done STS operations, according to the Reuters review. With U.S. pressure on Venezuela rising, it is unclear whether the tactics PDVSA and its partners employed over the past year to export Venezuelan oil will remain viable. Even before it announced its complete withdrawal from Venezuela on March 28, Rosneft had not lifted any crude from the countrys ports for around a month. Meanwhile, global oil prices have plunged in recent months due to a collapse in demand resulting from the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Venezuelas crude output has dropped by more than 20 percent this year to below 700,000 barrels per day. Still, there are signs the discreet trade will continue. With few established oil companies willing to buy oil directly from Venezuela over fears of provoking Trump, two little-known Mexican firmsLibre Abordo and Schlager Business Grouprecently emerged as the largest intermediaries for PDVSA crude. The companies told Reuters they had a deal with Maduros government to supply goods, including corn and water trucks, in exchange for the oil, which they then resell. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has been investigating the two companies, among others, as part of an inquiry into possible violations of U.S. sanctions on PDVSA, according to three people familiar with the matter. President Donald Trump speaks about the crisis in Venezuela during a visit to Florida International University in Miami, Fla., on Feb.18, 2019. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) The Mexican firms said swaps of goods for Venezuelan oil were permitted under U.S. sanctions as long as no cash payments reached Maduros government. The companies said they have no knowledge of any U.S. investigation into their practices. On Feb. 11, a Panama-flagged tanker named the Athens Voyager loaded some 700,000 barrels of crude near western Venezuelas Amuay oil port, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. Its customer was Libre Abordo, according to an internal PDVSA document viewed by Reuters. On Sunday, April 5, the fully loaded Athens Voyager arrived at its destination: the Linggi STS hub off the coast of Malaysia. There it pumped its cargo onto a Liberia-flagged vessel named the Loyalty A on April 17. The manager of the Athens Voyager, Greece-based Chemnav Shipmanagement Ltd., deferred comment to the vessels owner, Marshall Islands-based Afranav Maritime Ltd. The manager of the Loyalty A, Jacinta Marine Corp of Lagos, Nigeria, did not respond to a request for comment. On June 2, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against Afranav Shipmanagement for its alleged role in trading Venezuelan oil. It said the Athens Voyager had lifted oil from Venezuelan ports as recently as mid-February. Afranav did not respond to requests for comment. Libre Abordo, meanwhile, declared bankruptcy on May 31. It said its arrangement with Venezuela had been suspended by Maduro, and that it was the target of an international pressure campaign driven by Washington. In a June 8 email to Reuters, Libre Abordo confirmed that the oil transported aboard the Athens Voyager was registered in its name. On June 10, Libre Abordo said further that the documentation of origin reflected that the crude came from Venezuela. The company said it sent the oil to Malaysia, where it was offloaded to another ship at the behest of the final customer, whose name it would not disclose. According to Refinitiv Eikon data, the receiving vessel, the Loyalty A, is currently en route to Qingdao, China. By Luc Cohen and Marianna Parraga Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (L) and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos visit before a meeting of the White House American Technology Council in the State Dining Room of the White House June 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Now that Amazon and Microsoft have put the future use by police of facial recognition in the hands of lawmakers, activists want to keep the technology away from law enforcement permanently. It's an issue that had previously been debated among artificial intelligence experts and policy wonks. But with Amazon, Microsoft and IBM, to varying degrees, backing away this week from their promoted use of facial recognition, they've raised awareness of the topic and placed it squarely in the discussion of police reform. "The fact that companies like Microsoft and Amazon are distancing themselves from police use of facial recognition is a sign of the growing power of the movement," said Evan Greer, deputy director of Fight for the Future, a nonprofit focused on technology and human rights. "The tectonic plates are shifting on this issue." But Fight for the Future and its affiliates see this as just a start. Amazon said Wednesday it is putting a one-year moratorium on sales to law enforcement to "give Congress enough time to implement appropriate rules." Microsoft followed on Thursday by saying that it won't sell to police until a national law is in place, "grounded in human rights," that governs its use. IBM did not specifically say it would ban police use of its facial recognition technology. Greer's group says those bans need to be permanent. Fight for the Future has a website, Ban Facial Recognition, where 40 participating organizations, including MoveOn.org and Greenpeace, have agreed to support "legislation that bans the government from using this dangerous technology to spy on the American public." They say the technology is oppressive, ripe for abuse and prone to misidentifying people. That sentiment is shared by at least some inside Amazon. A group that goes by "Amazonians: We Won't Build It" on Twitter, responded to the company's statement on Thursday, tweeting that ending the sale of Rekognition to law enforcement is a "demand shared by employees in Amazon's Black Employee Network, the @ACLU, community groups, researchers, and others." And Timnit Gebru, a research scientist at Google in the ethical AI team, told The New York Times this week that law enforcement can't be trusted with facial recognition technology. She cited the Baltimore police's use of the technology in the protests following the 2015 killing of Freddie Gray "to identify protesters by linking images to social media profiles." "I'm a black woman living in the U.S. who has dealt with serious consequences of racism," Gebru told the Times. "Facial recognition is being used against the black community." - Wetang'ula sort the intervention of the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal after the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu gazetted a notice proposal for his removal - He has, however, withdrawn the petition on grounds that the registrar had cancelled the notice she had issued and directed the matter to be solved internally - However, Wamunyinyis lawyer Stephen Ligunya said a Gazette notice issued by the registrar was still effective and that his client was rightfully in office Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula has withdrawn a petition he filed before the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) challenging the appointment of Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi as the new FORD Kenya party leader. Wetang'ula sort the intervention of the tribunal after Wamunyinyi and a section of other party members including Secretary-General Eseli Simiyu ousted him on May 31 and had the proposal gazetted by the Registrar of Political Parties. READ ALSO: Coronavirus update: 4 die as Kenya records 90 new cases Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula has been reaffirmed as the official FORD Kenya party leader by the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal. Photo: Moses Wetang'ula. Source: Original READ ALSO: Wakazi Kisumu wazua vurugu wakati mazishi ya msanii Abenny Jachiga yakiandaliwa In a sitting held on Friday, June 12, Wetangu'la's lawyers Nelson Havi, John Khaminwa, and Ben Milimo told the tribunal the Registrar of Political Parties had referred the matter to the partys internal dispute resolution mechanism, hence there was no need to continue pursuing it. The PPDT dropped the matter and maintained a status quo until when the dispute would be resolved. Embtalled FORD Kenya party leader Moses Wetang'ula pondering. Photo: Chris Mondoh. Source: UGC On Monday, June 8, Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu published a notice of intent in the Kenya Gazette seeking views of the public on the replacement of Wetangula Wamunyinyi as the party leader. It is this notice that Wetang'ula lawyers claimed the registrar had withdrawn, thus rendering its effectiveness null and void. FORD Kenya Secretary-General Eseli Simiyu (left) and Kanduyu MP Wafula Wamunyinyi address the media after presenting documents to the Registrar of Political Parties. Photo: Eseli Simiyu. Source: UGC However, Wamunyinyis lawyer Stephen Ligunya said a Gazette notice issued by the registrar was still effective and that his client was rightfully in office. "They are peddling lies for convenience but the fact of the matter is nothing of the sort has happened and we are waiting for Monday to finalise the process," said the lawyer. Eseli also dismissed the assertion by Wetang'ula's lawyers stating he was not aware of any communication from the registrar cancelling the gazette notice. The registrar yet to clarify on whether or not the gazetted notice has been withdrawn. TUKO.co.ke, however, understands Nderitu referred the matter back to the party for internal resolution. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. I married a man every woman wanted - Pastor Joan Chege | Tuko Talks | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke A Republican Ohio state senator is under fire this week after asking whether "African Americans or the colored population" have been disproportionately affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic because they "do not wash their hands as well as other groups." State Sen. Steve Huffman raised the question Tuesday during a hearing on whether to declare racism a public health crisis. Huffman, an emergency room doctor, wanted to know why African American communities are being hit so much harder by the virus, posing the query to Angela Dawson, executive director of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health. "I understand African Americans have a higher incidence of chronic conditions and that makes them more susceptible to death from covid. But why does it not make them more susceptible to just get covid?" he asked. "Could it just be that African Americans or the colored population do not wash their hands as well as other groups? Or wear a mask? Or do not socially distance themselves? Could that be the explanation for why the higher incidence?" Dawson, who is black, quickly challenged the senator's suggestion. "That is not the opinion of leading medical experts in this country," she responded, later adding: "Do all populations need to wash their hands? Absolutely, sir, but that is not where you are going to find the variance and the rationale for why these populations are more vulnerable." Huffman's remarks, which came amid widespread protests calling for racial justice and equality following the death of George Floyd, prompted swift outcry online and from other local lawmakers. On Thursday, Cleveland.com reported Huffman was fired from his emergency-room physician job for the comments. "Dr. Huffman's comments are wholly inconsistent with our values and commitment to creating a tolerant and diverse workplace," said McHenry Lee, a TeamHealth spokesman, according to Cleveland.com. "TeamHealth has terminated Dr. Huffman's employment." Rep. Stephanie Howse, D, president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus who was present at the hearing, told the Dayton Daily News that Huffman's word choice and question "highlights what racism is from a systematic perspective." "He's a full legislator, but beyond that, professionally, he's a doctor," she said. "When we talk about the health disparities that happen because black folks aren't believed when they're actually hurt, they aren't given the treatment that they need. Do you think that someone who acknowledges the 'coloreds' is going to give the love and care that people need when they come through those doors?" In a phone interview with The Washington Post late Wednesday, Huffman defended himself, insisting that his language was not intended to be derogatory and said he thought the phrases "people of color" and "colored population" were similar. "People of color would have been better, but they seem to be interchangeable," he said, before stressing repeatedly that the question had been rhetorical. "I was trying to focus on why covid-19 affects people of color at a higher rate since we really do not know all the reasons," he said. An April Washington Post analysis of early data from jurisdictions nationwide found that majority-black counties have three times the rate of coronavirus infections and almost six times the rate of deaths in comparison to counties made up of mostly white residents. Earlier this month, The Post reported that African Americans, who already are affected negatively by health disparities, were largely not prioritized as local governments nationwide scrambled to respond to the virus. Despite pleas from black leaders, a number of the first coronavirus testing sites appeared in whiter, more affluent areas, and educational campaigns about coronavirus prevention and social distancing targeting African American communities were rare, according to The Post. On Tuesday, as Dawson advocated for racism to be declared a public health crisis in Ohio, she credited the pandemic for revealing underlying social inequities in the state. According to most recent figures, Ohio has more than 39,500 reported cases of coronavirus and at least 2,400 deaths. "The covid-19 pandemic and the brutal death of George Floyd unfortunately provided a pivotal point in time to not only focus on our safety and physical health, but on our emotional, mental and spiritual health," Dawson told members of the Ohio Senate Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee. "We must prioritize the marginalized and those who are suffering, bearing the burden of disease, illness and death." When Huffman raised the question over whether personal hygiene could be a factor driving black infection rates, people attending the hearing visibly reacted, cringing while the lawmaker spoke, state Sen. Cecil Thomas, D, a committee member, told the Daily News. "He's an example of why we have to have this discussion about racism and how it impacts people," Thomas said. Huffman's words were met with similar responses on social media Wednesday. State Rep. Erica Crawley, D, accused Huffman of implying that black people are less hygienic or clean, tweeting, "This right here is the underlying implicit bias/covert racism that was in the question." State Rep. Tavia Galonski, D, urged people to vote. Huffman strongly disputed the criticisms, telling The Post that his words had been "taken out of context." He also pushed back against concerns raised by critics about his role as a practicing physician. "Anybody that comes into any emergency room, I give them the very best care regardless of what race they are," he said. Photo-Illustration: Vulture and Penguin Random House Over the past two weeks, Ive seen good white people congratulate themselves for deleting racist friends or debating family members or performing small acts of kindness to Black people. Sometimes I think Id prefer racist trolling to this grade of self-aggrandizement. A racist troll is easy to dismiss. He does not think decency is enough. Sometimes I think good white people expect to be rewarded for their decency. The novelist Brit Bennett wrote these words in 2014, in the wake of a grand jurys decision to not indict Darren Wilson for the killing of Michael Brown. A month earlier, a grand jury had failed to indict Daniel Pantaleo for the killing of Eric Garner. Good white people were angry. Or at least they wanted to be seen as angry. As Bennett pointed out in her unforgettable essay, I Dont Know What to Do With Good White People, which garnered more than a million views on Jezebel, it could be hard to tell the difference. And exhausting. In her propulsive new novel, The Vanishing Half, which debuted at the top of the New York Times best-seller list, Bennett takes the theme she explored in that essay to a startling new place. Partly set in a mythical town in the Jim Crow South, the story offers a critique of whiteness from the perspective of someone who passes for white by choice a choice motivated by an understandable desire for privilege, financial stability, and most of all safety. Stella Vignes lives in Mallard, Louisiana, a town solely inhabited by black people who strive to marry lighter, so their children will be like a cup of coffee steadily diluted with cream. A more perfect Negro. Each generation lighter than the one before. One night as a child, she and her twin sister witness the lynching of their father by a group of white men. As teenagers, this trauma leads them in dramatically different directions; one sister marries the darkest man she can find, the other runs away to live and pass among a group of good white people. In the most famous stories about passing, Bennett points out, the protagonists ultimately face societys reckoning. But Stella is never found out. Instead, she suffers from something more subtle and enduring the hollowing out of the self. Bennett was interested in passing because of how it both exposes and strengthens the artifice of race. On the one hand, if you can perform whiteness, then what does it mean to be white? If you can move between these categories because you decide that you will, what does it actually mean that we have systems that are built on reinforcing those categories? she asks. On the other hand, these characters who pass usually end up reinforcing the hierarchies that they are potentially destabilizing. The tension within passing stories is between this idea of destabilizing race and then reaffirming race at the same time. Hows your week been? It all feels very surreal. Theres a weird feeling of whiplash from seeing these pictures of a deserted Times Square to seeing these huge crowds everywhere. Ive been out a bit I went out to the protest that was going up Bedford [Avenue in Brooklyn] last week. In some ways, this is the most normal life has felt this spring. It feels weird to say that, because obviously theres something really unique about the protests. Youre seeing people gathering all over the world at a time in which we all understand gathering to be something thats potentially dangerous. But at the same time, weve seen this constant loop of black death over and over again. Theres something familiar about that, in a way that lockdown felt completely like nothing Id ever experienced. So its all strange. And then youve got like a book coming out in the middle of it. [Laughs] Its been a whirlwind in every possible iteration of life. Has it been surreal, too, to think about these parallel moments between the events in your novel and whats happening in the world right now? Its been eerie for me to see people describing the book as timely, because when I was writing it, I didnt think about it that way. Of course, these are conversations weve been having for decades, but I did not think that this would be the top thing that people would want to be talking about when the book came out. So it is surreal. The book opens in 1968 thats a year that everybody wants to talk about right now. What inspired you to set the book then? And more generally, what was the first seed of inspiration for the novel? I wanted to write a book about a town that exists in this weird liminal racial space between the worlds of black and white, in a time and a place in which binaries are very important. In the Jim Crow society, its all about the binaries. So what does it mean to be outside of that binary? And then, what does it mean to leave that town? I was interested in the idea that this liminal third space was mobile, that it was something the characters carried with them even when they left the town and went off to other places. Ive heard you talk about how the town was based in part on stories your mom told you. When did she first mention a town like this, and what did you feel when she first mentioned it to you? We had a conversation on the phone around 2014. She mentioned offhandedly this place she remembered from her childhood. It struck me because I had always thought about colorism as interpersonal or systemic, but I never really thought of locating it within a specific town that the view that light skin is preferable to dark skin could be instituted within a town, and that the town would be so invested in light skin that they would be striving toward genetically engineering their population to get lighter. There was something so strange and really striking about the implications of that. If thats the core value of your town, thats going to affect not only how you think about your body, and how you think about other peoples bodies, but also who you marry and your kids. All of these really deeply intimate choices we all make in our lives will be governed by that core belief. I was interested in this town as a mythological space. Its a place that has been filtered down to you from somebody elses memory. When was the first time that you remember thinking about colorism and being aware of it? When I was a kid, I remember hearing people say things like, dark-skinned women shouldnt wear red lipstick or you shouldnt wear bright colors if youre dark. I remember seeing the movie Imitation of Life when I was a child, which is about a white-passing character. Its also a thing you just pick up on that nobody has to tell you. I was aware of the fact that when I was a child, the biggest black heartthrob was Halle Berry. I was aware of who is considered attractive, who is considered desirable, whos considered smart. But with this book, I was interested in the idea that colorism isnt something you observe, but is actually formalized and institutionalized in a place. Focusing on a pair of twins is such an interesting way to explore that idea, too. Once I knew I wanted to write about this town, the twins were the next step. When I started thinking about who lived in the town, I realized, Oh, I can have twin sisters who are living lives on opposite sides of the color line. Twins are so useful narratively. Theres the mythological component twins are important in a lot of different myths. They also allow us to explore questions of identity how people turn out to be similar or different to each other. Once I started imagining that one of the twins would marry a dark-skinned man and have a dark child and return to the town, I wondered about the polar opposite of that experience. So I started thinking, okay, well, the other one passes for white, and she has a white child, and shes living somewhere else. That was a way to stretch those characters as far apart from each other as I could, and see how the story could exist in the tension between those two women being stretched to their edges. Brit Bennett. Photo: Emma Trim And both of their lives are shaped by witnessing the same act of senseless violence when they were young. At what point in the writing process did that feel like necessary to you? I knew pretty early on that they would not have their father. The idea of them witnessing his murder was in fairly early drafts. I thought about these two little girls witnessing this thing that is both horrific and also unexplainable, so theyd have to exist in the illogic of this experience, have to spend their lives trying to make sense of something that doesnt make sense. In a way that traumatic moment is a second birth for them, setting them on their different paths, because of how differently they each react to this experience. When I was reading the sections about Stella living as a white woman, I was reminded a little bit of your Jezebel essay, because she basically becomes a good white person, and those are the sorts of white people shes surrounded by. I was curious to hear about how you thought about the kind of white person she would become. Its something I thought about a lot, because I kept thinking what type of guy is she gonna marry? In Nella Larsens Passing, the white-passing character marries this guy whos a huge bigot, and it increases the tension in the story because youre thinking, oh my God, whats going to happen when he finds out? That was one thing I thought about maybe she joins this deeply loud and proud racist white family, and she has to ingratiate herself that way? But what ultimately felt more interesting was for her to join this moderate, well-mannered, polite white family, because she has to learn how to perform whiteness in this way she has never experienced as a black person. She has to learn how to be white in a way that is acceptable within this suburban, upper-class community, and thats different than these men she saw murder her father. Thats different than what she had experienced as a black woman growing up in the Jim Crow South. I found that that was a lot more complex, that shes constantly having to teach herself how to perform whiteness when the scripts for whiteness are being changed around her all the time. And shes always kind of doing it wrong. Even beyond that, I didnt want current white readers to be able to separate themselves from these characters. Sometimes thats what you risk when you have white characters who are very obviously, cartoonishly bigoted. Nobody thinks of themselves as a bigot, so people see that and theyre just like, well, thats not me. These characters are pleasant. They would never burn a cross on somebodys lawn. They have values that are much more similar to most contemporary white American readers. Thats whats useful about the good white people community Stella joins. It doesnt allow the reader to look away. Were those the sort of white people you grew up around? Yeah, that was my experience. I grew up in Northern San Diego. I had white friends growing up, I had white teachers who mentored me. We had lots of white neighbors who were very kind to us. And I think about how unusual that is in the history of my family. I remember having white friends come over when my grandpa would be over, and he would just be amused. That was funny to him, because my grandpa lived in Watts, and that was certainly not his experience when he was a kid. Learning how to experience race and these intimacies in a way that is murkier, thats something thats true of me, not only because of where I grew up, but when I grew up. My parents didnt grow up with white friends. As adults, as co-workers and colleagues, they gained white friends. So I learned race differently than they did, and differently than my grandparents did. Youd have a much easier time learning to be white than Stella does. I think so. I have a fluency with white culture because Ive had to have that fluency, but also because Ive grown up alongside it and seen it displayed as the predominant culture. For Stella, its not like she grew up watching TV. They didnt have access to this white world theyre really sealed away from it. So she has to learn on the fly, how to speak differently, and how to express the right opinions. And its not only that shes become white, but that shes entered this upper-class world. She hasnt learned racial fluency in a way that she needs to succeed in this kind of world, so she has to constantly learn these new scripts, at a time in which they are being challenged and rewritten right around her. Shes passing during the civil rights and post civil-rights movement, at a time in which integration is increasing. So her performance of whiteness is always wrong, its always one step behind. Its interesting to think about performing race at this moment when racial tensions in the country are so high, when so much of the conversation right now revolves around the Black Lives Matter movement. The idea of performing race raises really interesting questions: what does it mean to live in a country that is built on racial hierarchies if the categories are permeable? If we cant even know the categories which we cant. We dont know peoples gender, or their race, we just make these assumptions. And then we have all of these social and political and economic implications that come from these assumptions were making. Sometimes when you say race or gender is a social construct, people think what youre saying is those things are not real. Its not the same as saying that race is not real, thats just saying that the way we think about race is not natural or inherent or inevitable. These are ideas that are constructed by us, over time, that weve agreed upon, that we have reinforced, that we have propagated. Theres nothing inevitable about these categories. What becomes really interesting about passing is that, on the one hand you have this character who is exposing the flimsiness of racial categories because if you can perform whiteness then what does it mean to be white? If you can move between these categories because you decide that you will, what does it mean that we have systems that are built on reinforcing those categories? And so the passing character is really transgressive and maybe even kind of liberatory. But on the other hand, these characters who pass usually end up reinforcing the hierarchies that they are potentially destabilizing. When Stella becomes a white woman, shes not attacking white supremacy. She actually ends up embodying white supremacy in order to maintain her role as a white woman. The tension within passing stories is between this idea of destabilizing race and then reaffirming race at the same time. Ive read you talk in other interviews about how you didnt want to write a story where the passing character would be punished or judged for her choice. But at the same time, reading the novel, Stella seems so unhappy. And as a reader, its clear she has made a choice thats left her empty in some sort of fundamental way. I think thats true. When I was a kid, and I watched Imitation of Life, I found that movie so baffling. Why would somebody do this? Why would you just decide that you want to be white? It was difficult for me to imagine, which I think is probably a credit to how I grew up and the love I was taught for myself and my culture. I had a hard time wrapping my mind around that movie, which is a very moralizing story. At the end, this character is punished her mother dies, and she feels so guilty she disowned her mother and shes shamed for transgressing between these categories. I didnt want to do that I just dont think that makes interesting fiction. But at the same time I did want to think about what Stella is losing by passing. We can imagine what shes gaining shes getting money, status, access, safety, all these things she didnt have before that she wanted. But the idea of what shes losing was the most interesting. Losing her family, her connection to her sister, her connection to her home. Shes got this hollow center, because this whole section of her life she cant talk about with anybody. She cant tell her daughter, her husband, who she loves; she cant be wholly herself because shes constantly worried about being caught. In addition to the protests around the country, this week has also been a dramatic one in the books world, with the strike, and the #PublishingPaidMe hashtag blowing up on Twitter. Although those conversations have also been going on for years, there seems to be heightened focus on the racial inequities within the publishing industry right now. In light of that, Im curious about what your path to publication was like. My road to publication was a lot smoother than a lot of writers were, particularly a lot of black writers. I wrote the Jezebel essay as I was finishing up at my MFA, and that essay led me to my agent. I was working on The Mothers at the time, and we were able to sell that book as I was leaving my MFA in the spring. We had interest from a bunch of different editors, and we received a preempt before we went to auction. Ive been really fortunate. Im an outlier, compared to what I saw on Twitter. But I hope its a moment of reckoning for the book world. Im hoping that this is not just this capitalism moment of, Oh, we see people are interested in black stories, lets push those. Weve seen this influx of anti-racist reading lists. And even for myself, my novel is not How to Be An Antiracist, its not White Fragility. Its not something I wrote to teach people anything. But even considering that, I know theres been a rush of support for this book because of the conversations that are happening right now about how its important to read black people and to read about black people. And I think thats good. But I also think you should read fiction by black people because these books are good, and not because those books will teach you how to be a better person. I always cringe a little bit at that kind of discourse: that reading a book by black person is like eating your broccoli. Two of our greatest living American writers right now are Colson Whitehead and Jesmyn Ward. How do you not read those people if youre reading contemporary American fiction? Lauren Michele Jackson wrote a great essay on Vulture about this recently, about the inherent problem with anti-racist reading lists. The idea of reading Beloved as some how-to guide just kills my spirit, you know? Yes, there are things I learned while reading Beloved, yes thats part of the experience, but its a book thats a marvel of language. Its the images, its the rhythm of the sentences, in addition to the ideas. Thats a thing that I find troubling that you can or should reduce fiction by black authors into ideas. That these books are content you can extract something from, and that is their value, versus the idea that you read these books because they are beautiful. *An earlier version of this piece misidentified the author Nella Larsen. Photo credit: Getty / Jewelyn Butron Hearst Magazines and Verizon Media may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. It's been one year since George Floyd's murder at the hands of law enforcement. As tributes flood news coverage and social media, so does the collective grief surrounding his death. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts in April 2021, but there is much work and healing needed. The trauma remains from the racist killings of Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo as well as Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd, and so many others. No trial verdict can restore the lives lost. What's more, continuous exposure to violence via media and news reports can and does take a serious toll on mental healthespecially for Black people. It amplifies the collective unease and distress felt in Black communities around the country, resulting in stress, increased heart rate and blood pressure, muscle tension, migraines, sleeplessness, and feelings of sadness, anger, fear, and hopelessness, Candice Hargons, PhD, director of the Center for Healing Racial Trauma, previously told Women's Health. Not to mention the fact that the COVID-19 (which has had a disproportionate impact on Black communities) has also led to increased anxiousness and uncertainty nationwide. It's also worth noting that only 30 percent of African Americans with mental illness receive treatment due to socioeconomic issues (the national average is 43 percent), according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Though it's just a start, these businesses and organizations are offering free or low-cost mental health resources for the Black community during this time of heightened trauma and need. Sad Girls Club This non-profit organization provides free mental health resources, like talk therapy, for Black women and girls. They offer Soul Sessions, which are virtual group therapy group with peers around the world and led by accredited therapists of color. In addition to this safe space to vent and heal, Sad Girls Club offers more digital events. Story continues Access this service. For every $100 donated Sad Girls Club is able to provide a safe space for up to 10 community members to heal with an accredited wellness professional. Support this cause. Black Journalists' Therapy Relief Fund Sonia Weiser founded the Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund (BJTRF) in May 2020 in response to protests and calls for racial justice in the U.S. The organization provides assistance for Black journalists facing financial hardship who are unable to pay for the mental health support they need during this time. Journalists in need of support can apply here. Access this service. The BJTRF partnered with the International Womens Media Foundation (IWMF) to expand support of Black journalists of all genders, ages, experience levels, and backgrounds. It is currently accepting donations for the program. Support this cause. Therapy for Black Girls Founded by licensed psychologist Joy Harden Bradford, Therapy for Black Girls strives to work to remove the stigma of seeking mental health care and helps Black women find culturally competent therapists (pricing varies by provider). Dr. Bradford shares free mental wellness resources in live chats on Instagram and Facebook on Thursdays as well as via her popular podcast. Therapy for Black Girls also offers the Yellow Couch Collective ($9.99 per month or $99 annually) and members get access to Deep Dives on timely topics, Q&A sessions with experts, and the ability to connect with the community. Currently, the first month is free and all you have to do to join is create an account with your name, email, and password. Access this service. The Loveland Foundation Rachel Cargle's The Loveland Foundation is committed to supporting and empowering communities of color, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. It offers a Loveland Therapy Fund to help remove barriers to treatment for members of diverse ethnic and racial groups. It provides financial assistance to Black women and girls nationally seeking therapy. To apply, fill out this online form and wait for confirmation before attending your first appointment. Access this service. The Loveland Foundation is currently raising money for its next cohort. In its pilot program, the foundation raised over $250,000, and paid for hundreds of girls and women to see therapists with Therapy for Black Girls, Open Path Collective, National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network, and Talkspace. Support this cause. The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, which actress Taraji P. Henson founded to honor her Vietnam War veteran father in 2018, offered free virtual therapy for up to five sessions to BIPOC in 2020. Now, the organization offers free group therapy for teens and young adults. Fill out this online form to register and find one in your state. The nonprofit's vision is to eradicate the stigma around mental health in the Black community by providing support and bringing awareness to mental health issues. Access this service. The nonprofit's vision is to eradicate the stigma around mental health in the black community by providing support and bringing awareness to mental health issues. Support this cause. Inclusive Therapists Austin-based therapist Melody Li's network promises "care from a therapist who gets you." The directory only includes therapists whose "life and practice are social justice-oriented." There is a dedicated section for reduced-fee teletherapy so finances don't have to be an obstacle to care. You can filter therapists by price and location, and get their contact information to schedule a session or fill out your information online and get matched with a provider (lower-cost services available). Access this service. The network is also adding more Black and indigenous providers to keep up with demand by offering sponsored memberships. Sista Afya Based in Chicago and founded by Camesha Jones, Sista Afya is currently offering teletherapy only to Illinois residents. The group offers both free therapy and therapy on a sliding scale for those who qualify. Sister Support Groups ($10) and Workshops also cover timely topics in a caring community environment. (If you'd like to participate and can't afford the registration fee, email: booking@sistaafya.com.) The online chats cover timely topics and provide actionable tips. You can register for therapy sessions and Sister Support Groups here. Access this service. Support this cause. Ethel's Club This New York City-based digital community is "designed to help people of color thrive." Members have access to a full calendar of events, live streamed classes and salons, and more. Click here to join for a $16.99 monthly fee and try it free for one week. Ethel's Club also offers free healing and grieving group sessions for the Black community. It's in high demand, so you can get on the waitlist to join upcoming sessions here. Access this service. HealHaus HealHaus is a wellness space and cafe in Brooklyn, but it also offers live virtual workshops daily (like Breathwork with Therese Cator, Founder of Embodied Black Girl), as well as meditation classes and one-on-one teletherapy sessions. Some sessions are donation-based and others start at $10 for a drop-in class or $30 for monthly memberships. Right now, HealHaus is accepting donations for a therapy fund to offer free individual talk therapy sessions to members of the BIPOC community. HealHaus newcomers can also try an unlimited number of classes for seven days by signing up for a trial membership here. Access this service. Support this cause. Black Men Heal For your brother, friend, or SO, Black Men Heal provides access to mental health treatment, psycho-education, and community resources. Free mental health services with a provider of color are available to those who qualify through a donation fund. So far, the organization has provided 600 free therapy sessions. Access this service. Support this cause. You Might Also Like Instead of blaming a significant domestic terrorist takeover of a major city for a stock market collapse Thursday, the pundits and analysts are continuing their three-month-long talking points about COVID-19 to scare the public. They say we are worried about a second surge. The terrorist takeover of Seattle, a city with many large corporate headquarters, is hardly covered at all. That's a far more major reason. The market fell more than 6% overall but Boeing, a huge company with major activities in Seattle, fell 12%. Think there was no connection? Radio/television host Hugh Hewitt asked NBC's puppet Chuck Todd what was more important, the Seattle takeover or COVID-19. Like a dutiful dog, Todd said COVID-19 because that is what the left wants the public to think. Truth hasn't mattered for a long time. Look how they bury the massive stories of corruption of the Obama Justice department. To show how little reporting by major networks there was of the problems in Seattle, Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington said it was news to him. That should give Washington residents great confidence in his governing ability. As for COVID-19: Every day the media hypes up the number of deaths and cases. Today the big number is that there have now been two million cases in the U.S or a whopping six tenths of one percent of the population, despite massive testing. The two million includes people who were tested who have no symptoms. The two million is an average of around 20,000 per day for the last 100 days. To put the two million in perspective, I read that there were 60 million cases of the swine flu in the U.S. and there were no daily dire reports. CDC did not dictate that any death remotely associated with swine flu be attributed to swine flu. How many deaths would have been attributed to swine flu if the rules had been the same? As for a spike because of reopening: Through May 17th there were 1,480,000 known cases in the U.S and today, 25 days later, we have two million or around 20,000 additional cases per day. So where is the spike? The number of lies we continue to be told about COVID-19 is astonishing with the media just repeating the lies to scare everyone into submission. We were told the lie that people with no symptoms could easily spread the disease with no scientific evidence that it was true. That is why the economy was destroyed and why we wear masks, we social distance, and we must gather in small groups. We were told the lie that the disease would easily spread from surfaces even though there was no scientific evidence that was true. We have continuously been told that states without severe restrictions were going to have a spike and bad results. That is factually not true, but the lies persist. When states were reopening, we were told, without scientific evidence, that by the end of May we would have 3,000 deaths per day and 200,000 cases per day. Those made-up predictions were repeated by the media as if they were factual, with no questions asked, all to scare the public into submission and to keep the economy in depression. There has been no significant spike in Georgia, Florida and most other states that reopened earlier. The prediction on cases was 900% too high. And deaths were 200% too high. Why are modeling numbers on anything treated as factual? When the Republicans beat the Wisconsin governor in court to prevent his dictatorial, tyrannical discriminatory closures, we were told that cases would spike in Wisconsin. They did not, so why do journalists hide those facts from the public? When there were crowds in Missouri on Memorial Day weekend, we were told there would be spikes, but there were not. Facts havent mattered to the media throughout the reporting on COVID-19. Only the agenda to trash and beat Trump matters to them. As for racism: Why dont journalists and other Democrats list all the policies that Obama/Biden enacted in their eight years to help the inner cities and to lift blacks and other minorities up instead of continually making them more dependent on their masters, the power-hungry politicians? I cant think of any. I also fail to see any policies the Democrats are proposing to lift up everyone in the private sector. That would especially help the poor, middle class, the less-educated and women of all races. Why do Democrats defund school choice for minorities when polls show that a significant plurality of minorities supports vouchers? Democrats have run these major cities and their police departments for decades, so why didnt they solve the problems? Why is Trump blamed when the problems have existed for a long time? Why would Biden, after fifty years in D.C., suddenly be and have the solution? If journalists, entertainers, and rioters really cared about racism, they would propose getting rid of any reference to KKK leader Robert Byrd, who was a leading Democrat in the Senate. We would have also seen massive riots while Obama was president if the Confederate statues were so offensive. Somehow, they're only offensive when Trump is president. The Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers Association of Ghana and the Chamber of Pharmacy Ghana is asking government to ensure that monies owed their members by NHIA-accredited health facilities are paid immediately. The two associations warned the withdrawal of services from all National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) funded health facilities effective 1st July 2020 if the call is ignored. A joint statement signed by the Chairman of Chamber of Pharmacy Ghana, Harrison K. Abutiate, decried the failure of NHIA funded health facilities, regional medical stores and providers who are party to the framework contract to pay for pharmaceuticals products supplied to them for more than 12 calendar months. This will ensure that pharmaceutical companies are not forced to initiate supplies to the service providers in question-based on bank guarantees and /or cash and carry as a mode of payment in their quest to ensure continuous service delivery as well as avoid the collapse of their companies which are already distressed. In the absence of the above, both entities will have no other option than to stop supplies on credit to all NHIA funded health facilities effective 1st July 2020, the statement added. The association also stated that for transparency in repayment, the Minister of Health should ensure that payments made by the National Health Insurance Authority to all Health Insurance Service Providers are published on a real-time basis. ---citinewsroom BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping suggested Thursday that China and the Philippines devise innovative approaches and methods while conducting COVID-19 control on an ongoing basis in order to gradually resume exchanges of necessary personnel and promote practical cooperation in various areas in a coordinated way. Such efforts will help the two countries promote their respective social and economic development for the benefit of their people, Xi added in a telephone conversation in the night with his Philippine counterpart, Rodrigo Duterte. Xi stressed that, since the outbreak of COVID-19, the governments and peoples of China and the Philippines have extended helping hands to each other and fought the epidemic together, interpreting the brotherhood of looking out for each other and mutual assistance. Xi said that he is delighted to see that the Philippines, under the leadership of Duterte, has taken vigorous measures to prevent and control the epidemic and achieved positive results. Xi said he believes that the Philippine people will surely be able to carry forward the spirit of unity and cooperation to successfully overcome the epidemic and resume production and life order as soon as possible. China is willing to continuously provide staunch support to the Philippines according to its need, he said. Under the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, China provides funds, experiences and confidence to global prevention and control of the epidemic and extends helping hands to countries in need, Xi said. China is willing to work closely with the Philippines to support the international solidarity in the fight against the epidemic, support the World Health Organization to better play a leading role, and jointly build a health community with a shared future for mankind, Xi noted. Xi stressed that the epidemic is a crisis, but the two countries should have the courage to seize new opportunities in the crisis and make new prospects amid changes. Xi said he believes that in the process of fighting the epidemic and resuming development, the traditional friendship and mutual trust between China and the Philippines will deepen over time, and the two countries' relationship of comprehensive strategic cooperation will usher in a broader development prospect. Upholding friendship between China and the Philippines fully conforms to the fundamental and long-term interests of the two peoples, and history will surely prove that, Xi said. Duterte said that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, which is an important milestone in the relations between the two countries. Under Xi's strong leadership, he said, China has not only successfully controlled the epidemic itself, but also generously extended a helping hand to the Philippines and other partners. In particular, President Xi announced that China's COVID-19 vaccine, after research and development and being put into use, will be made a global public good, which will benefit all mankind, he added. The Philippine side will always be a friend of the Chinese people and will not allow anyone to use the Philippines to engage in anti-China activities, said Duterte. The Philippine side has made great efforts to continuously deepen the friendship between the two peoples and hopes to expand exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields and promote resumption of work and production as soon as possible, he said, adding that the Philippines will continue strengthening cooperation with the Chinese side and the World Health Organization. The US is a very diverse place. People from all walks of life call the country home. There are people who are rich and poor, extreme leftists and extreme right wingers, the risk-averse and those who wish to go hiking at night in the Grand Canyon without any light or shoes on their feet. To each their own. When it comes to religion, the scene is the same. Some states are quite openly religious, and others are much more secular. In 2016, Pew Research Center provided the public with statistics related to religion in the US by analyzing the results of something called the Religious Landscape Study (RLS). It was found that Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee are the most religious states in the country. People who are highly religious were defined as those who believe in God, who attend religious services regularly, and who pray on a daily basis. In the US, people who are Christians form the largest religious group, and mainline protestants come second, with Catholics following in third. People who follow non-Christian faiths such as Judaism and Islam comprise 6% of all religious groups in the country, and round 16% of Americans follow no religion in particular. Just 3% describe themselves as true atheists. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine are the least religious states in the country. Following this in order from least religious to slightly more are Connecticut, Wisconsin, Washington, Alaska, New York, Hawaii, and Colorado. These states form the top ten least religious states in the US. Why are some people less devout than others in some places? That is a complicated and difficult question to answer. Some of the answers may lie in history, some in the economics and geography of a place, and others remain as unknowns. As a group, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine might trace part of their higher levels of secularism to the historic influence of the Puritan religion in New England. Democratic Religion It is difficult to pinpoint exactly why places such as New England have developed into more secular societies than that of the South in the US. It could be the history of the Puritan religion in New England in particular, was a factor. People who formed the Purtian religion living in New England were free thinkers of their time. Puritans were English Protestants during the 16th and 17th centuries who believed the Church of England needed changing. This group felt the practices of the Church of England were still largely tolerant to those associated with the Roman Catholic Church, and that the English Reformation did not do enough to eliminate them. Some Puritans ended up separating from the Church of England, and others stayed but adjusted their religious practices. In breaking from the Church of England, Puritans formed a religion based on progressive ideas at the time. They developed a congregationalist church that was autonomous and democratic, without the top-down authoritarianism of religions like Catholicism. Puritans valued education, and worked hard to achieve universal literacy. It was believed that both men and women should be able to read, and that literacy was essential so that people could read the Bible to themselves, and form their own relationship with religion and God, without going through any church hierarchy. In 1647, the government of Massachusetts required all towns consisting of 50 or more households to hire a teacher. Students who did well were encouraged to attend burgeoning higher education at places such as Harvard and Yale, or by returning to England or Scotland, in some cases, for a doctors education. In New England, community and church were fully intertwined at this time, and ironically, this could be what laid the path for increased secularism. New Englanders believed that religion should influence politics, and that the two should not be separate. But in turn, believing that all members of their church be educated and encouraged to think freely to a certain extent, once New England began to experience an economic boom, the shift in the community from focusing on the church to focusing on business matters could have happened naturally, as a whole. Future Progressions Will the states in the US that are largely irreligious continue to be so as time goes on? This will be the case. According to Pew Research, people who describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated and identify as an atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular has grown by 17% in the last decade, and the number of Christians in the country has decreased by 12%. Atheism, specifically, has doubled from 2% to 4%. That being said, the number of non-Christian religious people has grown from 5% to 7%. More Democrats than Republicans are moving away from Christianity, but there are people from both political sides who are doing so. Older adults are much more likely to attend church regularly compared with millennials, and the number of religiously unaffiliated adults in the US has blossomed by almost 30 million people. One thing is for certain: the religious dynamics of the country are changing. BEIJING, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- JD.com, China's largest retailer , is hosting its 17th 618 Grand Promotion this year. Data thus far indicates an economic recovery post-COVID lockdown in China. On June 1st (as of 2:00 pm), JD saw an increase in transaction volume of 74% year on year, which demonstrates 618's important role in driving consumption. Established by Richard Liu ( Liu Qiangdong ), JD.com's founder, chairman, and CEO, 618 was originally a celebration of the founding of JD on June 18th. Today, 618 has turned into China's largest nationwide mid-year shopping event that lasts from June 1st to June 18th, celebrated not only by online e-commerce players but countless offline stores as well. Chenkai Ling, Vice President of JD.com and Head of Strategy of JD Retail, said: "JD has the responsibility and obligation to both restore consumer confidence and unlock their desire to shop at the same time." International Brands a Bright Spot on JD, This year, JD.com will offer products from 20,000 international and overseas brands from more than 100 countries. On June 8th, transaction volume on JD's platform for imported brands, JD Worldwide, increased over 150% year-on-year on JD PLUS Day, the designated promotion day for premium membership (JD PLUS) users . On the day, brands from 22 countries achieved transaction volume growth of over 100% year-on-year on the day, among which brands from Chile, Poland, Israel, and other niche markets saw growth of over 500%, demonstrating the robust growth opportunity that JD's 618 Grand Promotion gives to international brands of all sizes. In addition, on June 1st, HP launched its latest C2M product laptop OMEN 6 Plus collaborated with JD. Within just 30 minutes, the new laptop was sold out. On the same day, transaction volume of HP's Zhan 66 slim business laptops powered by JD's C2M project increased 21 times in the first 30 minutes on a monthly basis. On June 3rd, Lang Guo, President of Dyson Greater China attended a live streaming on the JD Live platform. He is one of the hundreds of executives from top brands that are joining JD's live streaming room this 618. According to Guo, in the seven years that Dyson and JD have partnered together , sales have increased more than 300 times. In 2019, JD jumped from 33rd to Dyson's second-largest retailer globally and is expected to become Dyson's largest channel partner in 2020. Minimal Impact from COVID-19 on Luxury Consumption; Strong Performance during 618 For the most part, JD's luxury consumers continued to make purchases as usual throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period . JD has launched over 40 luxury brands since January. Brands who launched during the period saw strong sales performance. For example, By Far sold out of 65% of its products after just four days; 90% of its products sold out after one month. Furthermore, luxury consumers who might have usually made purchases overseas while on holidays turned to online even more when the virus broke out, and JD's non-stop logistics and white glove delivery, JD Luxury Express, enabled customers to get the products they want quickly. The trend has continued through 618. On June 1st, sales of 60 brands increased over 500%, sales of 139 brands increased over 200% and sales of 201 brands increased over 100%. In addition, JD Luxury has seen the fastest customer increase in third-tier and below cities where many brands do not have physical stores, and JD's presence supplements their coverage. Lower-tier Cities Customers Growing Rapidly On June 1st, order distribution in sixth tier cities increased by as 1.36 times as much as in first-tier cities, indicating that the lower the city-tier, the fast consumption grows. This year, JD Logistics has expanded its lower-tier markets infrastructure program to reach more counties and towns with 24-hour delivery service. In addition, from June 1-4, transaction volume of agricultural products on JD increased 117% as compared with the same period last year, and 53% of the local specialty/poverty alleviation malls saw transaction volume increase by more than 100% year-over-year. The transaction volume of agricultural products in the fourth tier market increased the fastest, reaching 169% while sixth tier cities saw growth of 152% YOY. Zhao Ping, Director of International Trade Research Department at the Research Institute of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade said at a forum in Beijing to discuss how to motivate consumption: "In the short term, 618 will promote the rapid recovery of consumption, build consumer confidence and strengthen consumption habits." She added, "In the long run, 618 actually promotes the rapid recovery of various industries, which will lead to employment, meaning that income will be guaranteed and consumption will not decline." About JD JD.com is China's largest online retailer, its biggest overall retailer, and the country's biggest Internet company by revenue . JD's focus on technology and its own controlled logistics and supply networks position the retailer to be a valuable asset for the Chinese population in this uncertain time . Contact: [email protected], +86 10 8911-6155 SOURCE JD.com The Athens City Board of Education has approved an administrative leave request from Superintendent Trey Holladay, a move that came after the FBI was at Holladays home earlier this week. The Athens News Courier reported the board approved the request unanimously. In a statement, school board president Russell Johnson said the system is monitoring and fully cooperating with an investigation. The investigation is ongoing, confidential and at the request of federal officials, and so the school system will not discuss it further at this point, Johnson said. The system defers inquiries about it to Dr. Holladay's legal counsel and the federal officials involved. Holladay will be on leave indefinitely. Assisting Superintendent Beth Patton will serve as acting superintendent. Holladays lawyer issued a statement on his behalf: I am proud to be the superintendent of education for the Athens City School System. I have had the privilege of being an educator for over 35 years. There are absolutely no charges filed against me. I appreciate so much the overwhelming support from my friends and community. Earlier this week the FBI said it was at Holladays home as part of a law enforcement action. No other information on the nature of the incident has been released. A police officer monitors activity near a residence while responding to a shooting in Philadelphia, Penn., in a file photo. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) Overnight Shootings in Philadelphia Leave at Least 1 Dead, 11 Wounded: Police Separate shooting incidents that occurred overnight in Philadelphia left at least 11 people injured and one person dead, according to multiple reports. One shooting happened in the Hunting Park neighborhood in the city and involved at least six people. A group of people was standing outside on the sidewalk when they got ambushed by a group of masked men, who jumped out of a car and opened fire, authorities said. A victim caught in the gunfire returned fire on the armed men. Police said they suspect the incident was gang-related, FOX29 reported. 6 of 11 victims were shot on N Broad St near Lycoming Stpolice say a group jumped out of a car in ski masks & started firing at the group standing on the sidewalk, FOX29 reporter Kelly Rule wrote on Twitter, adding a video of the scene. The victims havent been identified but were reportedly five men and one woman. Four of the victims drove themselves to nearby hospitals. All victims of the shooting and have been listed as being in a stable condition, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Other shooting incidents that happened that night involves a man who was shot and killed while sitting inside his parked car in Juniata Park, police said. Another duo was hospitalized with gunshot wounds to the legs in the citys Kensington section. Two men had also been hospitalized that night in the Fairmount section, authorities said. The details of the shooting and conditions of the men are unknown. File photo showing a Philadelphia police officer monitoring activity while responding to a shooting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) A neighbor whose identity was not released told NBC10 that its never safe for her children to go outside. Something happens here almost every day like my kids cant come outside and play, she told the outlet. Youre basically stuck in the house, living here. Jim MacMillan, a Philadelphia journalist, wrote on Twitter that the recent wave of violence is not normal, not even for Philadelphia. This is Philadelphias second mass shooting in three nights. Six more people were shot in separate incidents across the city, MacMillan said. Earlier this week, an alleged gunman fired more than 70 shots outside a home in North Philadelphia. One person was killed in the incident and multiple others injured, FOX 29 reported. Commanding Officer of Southwest Police Division Derrick Wood said on Twitter that 158 of the citys 177 homicides so far this year involved gunfire. Last night, my nephew was killed-he is the 176th homicide victim of the year in Philadelphia, he added. Sometimes, they tell me I do not understand that BLACK LIVES MATTER because Im a cop. He is the 2nd nephew I have lost to gun violence, Wood said. Another senseless murder in this city. In my role as a Police Inspector, I go to community meetings and people tell me BLACK LIVES MATTER. Sometimes, they tell me I do not understand that BLACK LIVES MATTER because Im a cop. He is the 2nd nephew I have lost to gun violence. Derrick Wood (@PPDDerrickWood) June 9, 2020 While we are working on ending racism and police brutality, he added, we should be working just as hard on ending this gun violence. Detectives are currently working on finding clues that could lead to potential suspects. Authorities described the shootings as a major concern. People need to look at it, not look away, Wood said, because were losing lives. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Electoral Commission is facing another suit over its move to exclude the existing voter ID from the list of valid documents needed to register to vote. The plaintiff in this latest case, Mark Takyi-Banson, is also challenging the exclusion of the birth certificate. On June 9, Parliament voted to allow the EC to use the Ghana Card and Passports as the only forms of identification for persons registering to vote after relevant Constitutional Instrument had matured. The EC presented the Public Election (Amendment) Regulation, 2020 (C.I. 126) to Parliament to amend C.I. 91 in order to change the current identification requirements. But Mr. Takyi-Banson is now seeking an order directing that C.I.126 violates the provisions of article 42 and 45 of the 1992 constitution to the extent that it excludes Birth Certificates issued to Ghanaians as a mode of identification and establishing qualification to be registered in the register of voters. He is also seeking similar relief for the old voter ID. Mr. Takyi-Banson is also seeking a declaration that the Electoral Commission's decision to compile a new register of voters is inconsistent with and a violation of article 45(a) of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is currently also challenging the Electoral Commission in court on the exclusion of the old voters ID. The NDC fears this amendment will lead to many Ghanaians being disenfranchised. The opposition partys case will be settled on June 23 ahead of the compilation of the register on June 30. EC's justification The Electoral Commission submitted its legal justification for the amendment and described the old voter ID as a fruit from a poisoned tree and a breach of Article 42 of the constitution, which defines who is qualified to register to vote. The EC cited the court's judgement in the Abu Ramadan case, where it indicated that the use of the National Health Insurance Card to register a voter is inconsistent with Article 42 of the constitution and therefore void. In line with the judgement in the Abu Ramadan case , over 56,000 names registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cards were deleted. citinewsroom (Corrects spelling of Monterey County) By Mica Rosenberg, Kristina Cooke and Christopher Walljasper NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO, June 11 (Reuters) - From apple packing houses in Washington state to farm workers in Florida and a California county known as "the world's salad bowl," outbreaks of the novel coronavirus are emerging at U.S. fruit and vegetable farms and packing plants. A rising number of sick farm and packing house workers comes after thousands of meat plant employees contracted the virus and could lead to more labor shortages and a fresh wave of disruption to U.S. food production. The Trump administration said last month it may extend an executive order to keep meat plants operating to fruit and vegetable producers as well, a sign it is concerned fresh produce could be the next sector hit. While social distancing can be more easily implemented for workers harvesting fruits and vegetables in fields and working outside may reduce some risks for virus spread, plants that package foods such as apples and carrots resemble the elbow-to-elbow conditions that contributed to outbreaks at U.S. meat packing plants. By late May, there were more than 600 cases of COVID-19 among agricultural workers in Yakima County, Washington. Of those, 62% were workers in the apple industry and other packing operations or warehouses, according to a Reuters review of data from county health officials. With 4,834 known cases as of June 10, the county had the highest per-capita infection rate on the West Coast. "The (production) line moves super fast. And you're working side by side and back to back," said Edgar Franks, political director with local farmworker union Familias Unidas por la Justicia in Washington state. Workers at six fruit packing sites in Yakima County went on strike in May due to concerns they were not being provided adequate protection from COVID-19, Franks said. The health department in Monterey County, California, known as "the world's salad bowl" for its sprawling vegetable farms, reported 247 agricultural workers had tested positive for coronavirus as of June 5, 39% of county's total cases. Monterey is one of only a handful of health departments in nearly 30 of the largest U.S. fruit and vegetable producing counties that tracks virus cases among agricultural workers, Reuters found. Story continues In adjacent Kern county, Martin Baca, a 53 year-old forklift operator at carrot grower Grimmway Farms died on April 30, according to his obituary. His family said they believe he contracted the virus at work. Grimmway grieved the loss of an employee and was supporting the family, a spokesperson said. The company said it did not definitively know where Baca contracted COVID-19. Grimmway is the largest carrot producer in the world and dominates the market of popular packaged "baby carrots," for snacking. Juan, a Grimmway employee who asked to be identified only by his first name out of fear of losing his job, said at one point so many workers were out sick his shift dwindled to a third of the needed workers. "They made some announcements to stay six feet apart but that's basically impossible when you are loading boxes onto the same pallet," said Juan, who tested positive for coronavirus himself though he showed no symptoms. "Obviously you are going to be close to your co-workers." Grimmway declined to say how many workers had tested positive for the virus and said it has seen no issues of absenteeism. When a worker falls ill, the company talks to everyone working on that particular shift or department and offers company-funded COVID testing, Grimmway said in a statement. 'GET AHEAD OF THIS' On May 19 the U.S. Agriculture Department and Food and Drug Administration said the government could use the Defense Production Act to keep fruit and vegetable lines moving. The act would give companies some liability protection if workers fall sick. An FDA spokesperson said the act could be used "to protect the food supply and prevent significant food shortages." U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, said in an interview with Reuters farm workers face increased risks as fruits like apples and cherries enter harvest season. Stabenow, ranking member on the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced legislation on May 27 that would offer companies grants and loans to upgrade machinery and purchase personal protective equipment, fund COVID-19 testing and facility cleaning. "You can get ahead of this, which is what didn't happen in the meatpacking situation," she said. "The best way to protect our supply chain is to keep workers safe." Meanwhile, coronavirus cases near tomato-growing Immokalee, Florida, are also on the rise. The spread of the coronavirus among Florida farm workers has significant implications for national food production, as many agricultural workers travel north through the summer following the harvest through Georgia, the Carolinas, and into the Northeast. The Florida Department of Agriculture is planning for more on-farm outbreaks by partnering with county health departments, hotels for quarantine housing, and educating workers. Lupe Gonzalo, a farm worker from Immokalee, said many laborers can't afford to miss work, meaning many cases among farmworkers go undetected. "A lot of workers will hide their symptoms, or say it is just a cold or if they have a fever, just say it is too hot outside," potentially risking more infection, she said. (Reporting by Mica Rosenberg in New York, Kristina Cooke in Los Angeles and Christopher Walljasper in Chicago; Additional reporting from Tom Polansek and Andy Sullivan; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Edward Tobin) A lifesaver mourning the death of his mate killed in a shark attack became so drunk he threw a speaker at a woman's head before breaking into her home. Barry Wood was in Geelong, Victoria, on Sunday night when he learned Robin 'Rob' Pedretti, 60, had his leg viciously mauled by a three-metre great white while surfing earlier that day at Salt Beach, near Kingscliff, in far northern New South Wales. Mr Pedretti, a retired tradesman from the Gold Coast, died on the beach from his injuries a short time later. Wood, from Tweed Heads in northern NSW, had been heavily drinking at 9.30pm after hearing the tragic news. Robin 'Rob' Pedretti (pictured), 60, had his leg viciously attacked while surfing at Salt Beach near Kingscliff in far northern New South Wales on Sunday The pair knew each other due to Wood's position as a lifesaver, the Geelong Advertiser reported. Wood had threatened to kill the woman, who was known to him earlier in the night, the court was told. He hit her in the head with a speaker after a heavy drinking session leaving her with minor bruises. Wood was arrested and taken to Geelong Police Station where he was handed an intervention order. The order banned him from contacting the woman. But after being released from custody he went to the woman's home and broke in while she wasn't there. He was arrested once again. Wood's defence lawyer Richard Jakobson told the court his client went into a 'spiral' after learning of his friend's death and began drinking. Magistrate Simon Guthrie said while he was sorry for Wood's loss it did not excuse his behaviour. Surfers and friends of Mr Pedretti (pictured) gathered at his favourite surfing break at Tugan on Monday to mourn the 'gentle giant', where they insisted he wouldn't want the three-metre predator to be culled He issued Wood an 18-month good behaviour bond and fined him $500. No conviction was recorded. Wood must also complete a behaviour change program for men. Surfers and friends of Mr Pedretti gathered at his favourite surfing break at Tugan on Monday to mourn the 'gentle giant', where they insisted he wouldn't want the three metre predator to be culled. Mr Pedretti from the Gold Coast died on the beach from his injuries a short time later. Pictured: the scene after the retired tradie's death Barry Wood, from Tweed Heads in northern NSW, learned of his mate's death while in Geelong, Victoria, on Sunday night. Pictured: the shark Tributes were also laid at the beach south of the border where he spent his final moments. 'He was everyone's mate. He loved surfing and he loved life,' Craig Tulloch told reporters on Monday. 'Loved surfing, loved life. He was starting to enjoy life in retirement.' students took part in a parade on Swanston Street to celebrate their graduation from a University in Melbourne, Australia, December 17, 2008. (Luis Enrique Ascui/Getty images) Possible July Return for Foreign Students Prime Minister Scott Morrison hopes a pilot program allowing international students to enter Australia is in place by next month, depending on state borders. Authorities are working on a proposal that would allow students to travel to Australia on a pre-approved plan with particular institutions. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the appropriate quarantine entry requirements and biosecurity measures would have to be in place. I would hope to be in a position to do pilots next month, he said on Friday. The plan is contingent on the states opening their borders before international students can arrive. If you want to open up borders for international students, then you have to open up borders for Australians, Morrison told the premiers. Morrison said he wasnt concerned that Chinese students would be deterred from coming to Australia after Beijing warned about racist attacks. However, he said there was still work to do before any international students can arrive. Im not suggesting this is going to happen soon, he said. Weve received some very, I think, well thought through proposals from states as to how this can be done, particularly here in the ACT. Australias borders have been closed to non-citizens and non-residents since March. Universities Australia chief Catriona Jackson said a trial approach was sensible. Any trial will rigorously test the controlled entry of international students and will include robust quarantine arrangements put in place by state and territory governments, she said. International students understand that they have to play their part by obeying the rules on health and hygiene practices. They are a good bet as COVID-safe citizens. The international education sector contributed $39 billion to the Australian economy in 2019 and supports 259,000 jobs. By Rebecca Gredley New Netflix crime drama The Woods has arrived and its creator has a message for viewers. Harlan Coben the man behind The Stranger and Safe has returned with the new Polish drama following prosecutor Pawel Kopinski, whose sister's disappearance 30 years earlier is dredged up during a fresh homicide case. The story is told across two different time periods when Pawels sister and a boy went missing in 1994, and in 2019, when the boy reappears. As hope rises that his sister could still be alive, dangerous secrets from his familys past threaten to tear apart everything that Pawel has been trying to hold together, the synopsis reads. Coben alerted his fans to the shows Netflix premiere on Friday (12 June), but also urged them to choose subtitles over watching a dubbed version on offer by the streaming service. Netflix gives you the choice to watch The Woods dubbed or subtitled, he wrote, adding: I urge you to use subtitles, you do you. Rock on. Cobens previous show, The Stranger, was released on Netflix in February. Both seriees are available to stream on Netflix now. To receive Steve Gutterman's Week In Russia each week via e-mail, subscribe by clicking here. Within a few weeks, barring the truly unexpected, Vladimir Putin will have the option of seeking two more six-year stretches as Russian president after his current term expires in 2024, meaning he could remain in the Kremlin until May 2036. So why does talk of a post-Putin era -- a prominent topic after his election two years ago to what was supposed to be his final term, at least until 2030 -- persist? Several reasons. For one thing, there are his poll numbers. For many world leaders, they remain enviable, but if they were once unassailable, that does not seem to be the case any longer. Putin still outpolls other Russian political figures in most cases, but the results of two recent surveys by the independent Levada Center point to declines that cannot have gone unnoticed by the Kremlin -- and in one case clearly did not, as the state has lashed out at Western media outlets that published its results. One Levada poll showed Putin's job-approval rating at 59 percent in April, the lowest it has been since he was a novice prime minister in 1999. In the other poll, in May, exactly one-quarter of the respondents named Putin when asked to name politicians they trust -- far below the 59 percent who named Putin when Levada began asking the question in 2017. Putin's result was much higher than second-placed Sergei Shoigu, the defense minister, at 14 percent. And the government has pointed out that, when respondents are asked simply whether or not they trust Putin, his ratings are substantially higher. But with 25 percent of the population naming Putin when asked which politicians they trust, it might be hard to argue that there is no alternative. And that essentially was Putin's argument, implied if not stated outright, for the option of seeking reelection in 2024 and again in 2030: Late last year, he started talking about the need for stability going forward -- remarks that some analysts saw, accurately, as hints that he was not necessarily going to stick with the constitutional limit of two consecutive terms. Uninspired? A new Levada poll seemed to strike another blow at the idea that there is no alternative to Putin. Asked to name Russian public figures who inspire them, 8 percent named Putin and 4 percent named one of his best-known foes, Aleksei Navalny, an anti-corruption activist and opposition politician who is ignored or vilified by state TV, whose name is rarely uttered publicly by top officials, and who was barred from challenging Putin in the 2018 election due to convictions in criminal cases he contends were fabricated. But Navalny edged out Putin among people aged 40-54 and the two tied among people aged 25-39. Some of Putin's poll numbers have been falling for a few years, but they appear to have taken an additional hit from the coronavirus, as Russians question the state's response to the pandemic and worry about their future economic security. In a move that may have been influenced in part by concerns that the public mood might not improve much in the coming months, Putin has decided that the nationwide vote on constitutional changes -- including the one allowing him to seek two more terms reelection -- will be held on July 1. It had been planned for April but was postponed -- like the Red Square military parade marking 75 years since the Nazi defeat in World War II, which will now be held on June 24 due to the coronavirus. The vote, which is not required by law, appears aimed at putting a stamp of public approval on the possibility of two more terms for Putin -- and by extension on the idea that he is indispensable. But for some Russians, it seems certain to damage his legitimacy rather than deepening it. When Putin faced term limits in 2008, he played by the rules, stepping aside into the prime minister's post for four years and steering Dmitry Medvedev into the presidency. When he announced in 2011 that he would seek to return to the Kremlin the following year, Russians hoping for change were dismayed if not surprised -- and he weathered their anger, cracking down on a wave of protests and using a combination of popularity and levers of power to win another term in 2018. 'Gone Too Far' This time, instead of playing by the book he is rewriting it: tailoring the constitution to fit his plans rather than the other way around. "Since the very beginning of the constitutional reform back in January, the state has been making up the rules as it went along, ignoring established procedures," Tatyana Stanovaya a political analyst and nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Moscow Center, wrote in a June 9 article. "I'd venture to predict that this vote will be a turning point when it comes to Putin's perceived legitimacy in Russia," journalist Leonid Ragozin wrote on Twitter on June 10, adding: "Gone too far." Another upcoming vote -- not in Russia but in neighboring Belarus -- may also be giving Putin something to worry about, at least going forward. Ahead of an August 9 vote in which he is seeking a new term, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka is facing a perhaps unprecedented challenge to his authoritarian rule since he was first elected in 1994. Belarus is about the closest thing Russia has to an ally. They have close military and trade ties and are long-time partners in a Union State that exists mainly on paper and in some offices. Relations between Moscow and Minsk are often strained, and tension has been high in the past few years, as Lukashenka has sought to resist Russian pressure for closer integration -- suggesting that Putin wants to curtail his Belarus's sovereignty. But, if Lukashenka is voted out or driven out of the presidency and replaced by someone "brought to power by the people," it would be an "unimaginable blow to the current Russian regime," according to Vladislav Inozemtsev, an economist and director of the Moscow-based Center for the Study of Post-Industrial Society. "The events in Belarus are being underestimated in Russia at the moment, and that's a mistake," Inozemtsev wrote in an article in the Moscow newspaper MK on June 7, comparing developments there to the protests that swept entrenched leaders from power in Ukraine in 2014 and Armenia in 2018. "They show, in my view, how unstable post-Soviet authoritarian regimes are in this fast-changing world." 'Culture War' Events in the United States are also making waves in Russia, where many are airing their views about the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of police in the Midwestern city of Minneapolis on May 25, and about the protests against racism and injustice that have ensued nationwide. "A culture war like the one that has been waged in the United States for 30 years or more, between 'conservatives' and 'liberals,' has unfolded for real in Russia," journalist and commentator Konstantin Eggert wrote in a June 9 column in the online media outlet Snob. "I don't believe that the current regime is irreplaceable, and I believe that it will soon leave the stage," Eggert wrote. Russian responses to the U.S. developments "have revealed that a fierce ideological war for the future of Russia after Putin has already begun," he added. "At the moment, it's hard for me to imagine that it will end in a compromise." Stanovaya, whose article was headlined "Putin's System Has Run Out Of Ideas," suggested that Russia's leadership is adrift but still has staying power -- making for an uncertain future and raising the prospect of "permanent destabilization." "The regime appears increasingly precarious, but this is not to say that it will collapse: it still has plenty of resilience, and the public is disoriented and fearful of things getting worse," she wrote. However, she added, the state "will be unable to enter into dialogue should the public start to become politically active, and it is losing its consolidation, making it unable to speak with one unified voice." "There is a risk that battling a public challenge will turn into a form of survival for some power groups, while others, amid the lack of unity, will move closer to those who are discontented and turn contact with them into an asset," Stanovaya wrote. "All of this will lead to a change in priorities. For much of the elite, a situation of permanent destabilization will no longer be a major threat, but a survival tactic." After receiving permission from various state governments to resume shooting, many TV serials are gearing up to return to the sets by adhering to the guidelines issued to combat the spread of COVID-19. Some of the key rules to be adhered to include, not shooting with child actors below the age of 10 and senior actors above the age of 65. Meanwhile, the Bengali small screen industry has recently resumed shooting after 87 days. Many makers have decided to include COVID-19 in their storylines in order to explain social distancing between various characters. Writer-director Leena Gangopadhyay of Bengali TV serial Sreemoyee told TOI, We shot a scene with a character called Sankalpa. He is down with fever and has to be hospitalized. So, when someone wants to come close and check his temperature, Sankalpa asks the person to stay away and says: 'Dont come. Tumi kachhe esho na karon ekhon Corona hochhe. (sic) For the unversed, a minimum of 6 feet distance has to be maintained between two actors at all times during filming. This has posed another problem for shows as most of them have a huge ensemble of actors and in case of scenes involving a family, it now has to be written and shot in ways that dont require characters to stand close to one another. While a few makers plan on including social distancing caused due to the virus in their storylines, others are coming up with creative options such as planning on using mannequins for intimate scenes and for shots that require show actors to hug each on-screen. Kolkata based Sani Ghosh Ray, who produces Phirki, Dhrubotara, Sanjher Bati among other shows revealed, Everyone has been very cooperative. For the hugging scenes, we were planning to use cheat scenes and use mannequins for those characters who have their back to the camera. As a result, the artist facing the camera will actually be embracing a mannequin that is in costume! ALSO READ: Munmun Dutta Opens Up About Resuming Shoot For Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Amid COVID-19 Some economic trees in some parts of the Upper East Region are under serious threat as they are continuously being destroyed in the course of clearing land for agriculture activities. Among the trees most affected are the shea and baobab trees in the Kassena-Nankana area and its environs, with the hardwood of the shea used for roofing and charcoal. The trees are fast depleting and would soon become extinct if measures are not taken to safeguard the forest reserves. This came to light at a stakeholders engagement forum on Baobab and Shea Destruction held at Paga in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region. The forum, which was organised by the Kassena-Nankana Baobab Women Cooperative Union and facilitated by the Organisation for Indigenous Initiatives and Sustainability Ghana (ORGIIS-Ghana) was sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) under its Farm Forest Facility Programme. It brought together traditional rulers, Assembly members, technocrats, opinion leaders, security agencies, the media from the Kassena-Nankana Municipal and the Kassena-Nankana West District. Women groups that are into baobab and the shea nut picking and processing were also in attendance. The stakeholders lamented that apart from the farming activities that lead to the destruction of the economic trees, the farmers also cut down the same trees for charcoal production. Speaking to the stakeholders, Mr Julius Awaregya, the Director of ORGIIS-Ghana, said this year, Nakong, one of the communities in the Kassena-Nankana West District lost 55 hectares of Shea parkland whilst Gia in the Kassena Nankana Municipal lost over 100 acres of Shea population due to Burkina Fasos Settler farmers. Every year, we lose thousands of Shea trees in Pindaa area due to charcoal and fuelwood harvesters. This year, some people in Kayoro have gone back to timber business which is not sustainable, they cut the wood and transport it through Kajelo and Gia to Paga and Navrongo markets to sell. They also send the wood to Chiana and Kayoro markets to sell, while some is used by the local people to roof their buildings. I am not against the local people using the resources to build their houses, but since the trees are not replaced, it will not leave anything for our future generation tomorrow, he warned. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video U.S. President Donald Trump poses with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during their first summit on Sentosa Island in Singapore, June 12, 2018. AP-Yonhap By Yi Whan-woo North Korea said Friday it will not talk with the United States if it sticks to hostile policies, casting doubt over the future of their denuclearization dialogue on the second anniversary of the first summit in Singapore between the leaders of the two countries. In a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Foreign Minister Ri Son-gon said the North would never again gift U.S. President Trump with high-profile meetings and concessions he could boast of as foreign policy achievements unless it "receives something substantial." Ri said the North would instead build up its military force "to counter U.S. threats." The statement comes after Pyongyang began ratcheting up its rhetoric and measures against both Seoul and Washington. This week, it severed all official cross-border communication lines with the South, and threatened to disrupt the U.S. presidential election in November if Washington did not stay out of inter-Korean affairs. "The question is whether there will be a need to keep holding hands shaken in Singapore, as we see that there is nothing of factual improvement to be made in the DPRK-U.S. relations simply by maintaining personal relations between our supreme leadership and the U.S. President," Ri said. "Never again will we provide the U.S. chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns. Television actor Akanksha Puri, who has been in the news for her nasty break-up with Bigg Boss 13 finalist Paras Chhabra, said that she was offered a wild-card entry in the show. However, she chose not to take it up as she did not want to weaken his game. In an interview with The Times of India, Akanksha said, Yes I was offered a good offer from the makers to enter as a wild-card and things could have worked according to me. But I did not take up thinking that it might hamper his strategy and his game would get weaken. There was another reason that I am already doing a regular show. I am a very strong individual and would have come out as a strong competition. I feel if we ever enter any competition I would win as I am way stronger than him. Paras and Akanksha, who were in a relationship for more than three years, are said to have called it quits because of his closeness with Mahira Sharma in Bigg Boss 13. However, Mahira has vehemently denied being the reason for Paras and Akankshas break-up, insisting that she kept a distance from him as he was committed. Akanksha currently plays the lead role in Vighnaharta Ganesh and has no plans of entering Bigg Boss 14. When asked about it, she told the publication, Yaar, do you really think Bigg Boss 14 will happen during such a condition? Theres so much happening. Shows are shutting down and all. In fact, we dont even know if the shoots are going to start and if things are going to be fine soon. I have no clue if the show is going to happen this time or if it is coming up with a new season. Also read | Gulabo Sitabo movie review: Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmann Khurrana give us one of the finest films of the year She said that she is quite satisfied acting in Vighnaharta Ganesh for now and added, Right now, it is way too early to talk about a new show or being a part of Bigg Boss 14. Lets see where life takes. I would definitely like to entertain my audience in every possible way and I will continue doing different and new things. Meanwhile, Paras and Akanksha have been involved in a nasty war of words ever since they parted ways. He claimed that her claim to fame is being his ex-girlfriend, despite being the lead in a show for three years. She hit back by calling him insecure and unprofessional. Follow @htshowbiz for more While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau works to get a seat on the United Nations Security Council to ensure the world hears Canadas unique voice on global issues, the distinctive voices of Canadas news media are being muffled as they struggle to survive. This is because global social media platforms are eroding the economic viability of Canadas independent news media. Platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are freely sharing Canadian news organization content, annually collecting the more than $5 billion in advertising this information generates. Not only do these platforms rebroadcast content for free, they do not share profits from the ads nor do they collect sales tax on this advertising, which Canadian companies are obliged to do. It is time that the government protects our Canadian news media and those distinctive Canadian voices that Trudeau is so set on sharing with the world. There are provisions to do just that built into the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Inexplicably, Canada is ignoring these tools. Before signing the USMCA, Trudeau said a Cultural Industries Exemption was essential for Canada to approve any successor to the North American Free Trade Agreement. The prime minister secured the continuation of a broad exemption as part of the USMCA to promote cultural industries, including news media and broadcasting. The exemption was a counterbalance to treaty obligations, including the new Article 19.4 that requires that U.S. or Mexican-owned social media platforms receive the same treatment as Canadas fragile news media organizations. However, the Cultural Industries Exemption means that Canada is not bound to USMCA provisions whenever Canada makes policy regarding cultural industries such as news or broadcasting. Previous governments, irrespective of political stripe, aggressively relied upon the Cultural Industries Exemption when taking issues before the World Trade Organization and NAFTA tribunals. These independent bodies gave a broad interpretation to the exemption allowing Canada to apply government measures for sensitive cultural industries. The other treaty partners understood that cultural industry protection was integral for any trade deal with Canada. The only limitation is the creativity and willingness of governments to promote and protect Canadas cultural industries. Perhaps the best part of the Cultural Industries Exemption is its ease of use. Canada merely has to say that a policy is covered by the exemption. No advance permission is needed. Trade treaties have other broad policy reservations that could be used to enhance Canadian cultural industries even without applying the Cultural Industries Exemption, such as subsidies, labelling rules and sectoral development programs. And there are other areas such as tax policy in which governments retain broad regulatory scope. For example, Canadian cultural industries can receive more favourable tax treatment than foreign social media platforms for advertising deductions as well as other tax preferences like an exemption from collecting and remitting value-added tax. At the moment, the Canadian government collects sales tax from Canadian news media on advertising revenues. At the same time, it receives no sales tax from foreign platforms because the government decided not to make the foreign platforms pay. The difference in treatment is amplified because the foreign entities have economies of scale and currently occupy a massive part of the market making fragile Canadian competitors more expensive to advertisers simply because Canadians comply with Canadian tax laws while the foreign platforms are exempt. This lack of fairness favours the global companies and punishes the locals. It looks like a policy to end Canadian news media and silence the diversity of Canadian voices. This backward-facing approach certainly cannot constitute sensible public policy. Invoking the Cultural Industries Exemption does not mean that Canada will not see a pushback from social media platforms. Why would our government allow Canadian independent news media to wither on the vine? The timely failure to act will inevitably squelch Canadian voices and also hurt diversity. We risk an end to local and minority Canadian perspectives, editorials and news, as well as preserving and promoting Canadian experiences, values and culture from diverse regions and perspectives. The Canadian media meet independent professional reporting standards to assure fair and ethical reporting. Allowing global platforms to bankrupt Canadian news media weakens the independent scrutiny of government policies by the media, putting all Canadians at risk. Fifty years ago, Sen. Keith Davey issued a landmark three-volume report on the state of Canadas mass media. The Davey Commission outlined the special and integral importance Canadian news media has in our civic life, saying: The job is crucially important, for what is at stake is not only the vigour of our democracy. It also involves survival of our nationhood. Now, more than ever, Canadas distinctive news voice needs protection. Immediate public policy reform is needed to protect diversity and prevent the utter devastation of Canadas news media and the placing of another nail in the coffin of Canadas unique cultural heritage. Barry Appleton is an international lawyer at Appleton & Associates International Lawyers LP. He is also senior fellow and co-director of the Center for International Law at the New York Law School. He is the author of two books about NAFTA and is a frequent commentator about international trade, digital trade and dispute resolution. Germany pressed ahead with the implementation of a 130 billion-euro ($145 billion) stimulus package, as Europe's largest economy seeks a way out of the worst recession since World War II. At a special meeting on Friday, Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet signed off on numerous key initiatives agreed on by her ruling coalition last week. The goal is to get the bulk of the plan approved by parliament before its summer break, which typically begins a two-month recess in early July. With exports tumbling and unemployment surging from the fallout of lockdowns to contain the coronavirus pandemic, the government is under pressure to act. Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said Friday that figures for May could be as bad as April, when industrial production took a record hit. A recovery is only expected starting in July, he added. "Despite the gradual easing, the slump in sales in many industries is far longer than expected weeks ago," Eric Schweitzer, president of the DIHK business lobby, said in a statement. "The water is already up to the neck" of companies in hard-hit sectors such as travel and trade fairs. A value-added tax cut designed to reinvigorate demand after weeks of curbs on public life is set to go into effect on July 1. Other measures the cabinet approved include emergency aid for small and mid-sized companies, a family bonus of 300 euros per child and changes to tax rules to changes to tax rules to encourage people to buy less-polluting vehicles. "Our measures have punch," Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said in a press conference following the Cabinet meeting. "We want to come out of this crisis with full strength." To pay for the massive stimulus package, the government intends to increase borrowing this year by at least 30 billion euros, people familiar with the plan have said. A supplement to the 2020 budget to pave the way for the borrowing will be decided next week, Scholz said, declining to comment on the size. The move also requires parliamentary approval. After years of budget surpluses and restrained spending, Germany has reduced debt from over 80% of gross domestic product in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to around 60%, giving it room for extra borrowing, according to Scholz. Germans broadly back the latest stimulus package, according to a survey published Friday. Among 1,270 voters polled for broadcaster ZDF, 68% said they think the measures are positive and half think the right amount is being spent. However, 85% said they don't believe that the sales-tax reduction will do much to lift the economy. Even if the stimulus package were implemented in full, the economy is projected to shrink by 8.1% this year, according to the Berlin-based DIW institute. That's worse than the Bundesbank's prediction of -7.1% and the OECD's -6.6%. Altmaier said there was no reason to update official government forecasts for now. While Germany has kept the coronavirus in check in recent weeks, a second wave of infections is unavoidable, according to Lars Feld, the country's top economic adviser. "The goal is to avoid a lockdown during a second wave," Feld said in a Bloomberg TV interview. "Then we perhaps don't even need a second or a third package of fiscal stimulus." Recent figures suggest that there's a pick up in the economy from the low in April, "so it very much looks like we can realize a V-shaped scenario and then avoiding a second leg lockdown will be sufficient," he added. That might be too late for some companies. Auto suppliers have been particularly hard hit by the collapse in demand and have fewer resources than carmakers to weather a prolonged downturn. "Our industry has suffered a cardiac arrest in Europe," Elmar Degenhart, chief executive officer of German auto-parts giant Continental AG, told news agency DPA in an interview. "Such a cardiac arrest cannot be remedied with a high dose of vitamin C - what is needed is a defibrillator." William Callaghan's stepfather has revealed the touching words he shared with the 14-year-old boy's father while they waited for their son to be found in the Victorian bush. Hundreds of volunteers spent two days searching Mount Disappointment, north of Melbourne, for William after he ran ahead of his dad Phil while on a hike on Monday afternoon. Will Callaghan, in his stepfather's arms, after being found. His mother Penny follows close behind. Credit:Justin McManus The non-verbal teenager was found 46 hours later by experienced local bushman Ben Gibbs, cold and with a few injuries but otherwise well. "For all of us who work with Will, who are part of Will's life, one of our biggest fears is that he will go missing on our watch," his stepfather Nathan Ezard told the Channel Nine's Today program on Friday. CHICAGO, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Writers Museum , the country's first museum solely devoted to celebrating American writers and their works, is pleased to present a special reading of Frederick Douglass's groundbreaking memoir Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave in its entirety. The Agitator Broadcast will be preserved as part of the American Writers Museum's nationally lauded exhibit Frederick Douglass: AGITATOR and available to watch at AmericanWritersMuseum.org. Frederick Douglass: AGITATOR at American Writers Museum "In his 1845 memoir, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, he described learning to read as his 'pathway from slavery to freedom'," adds Cranston. "Frederick Douglass escaped slavery to become one of the most eloquent voices of abolitionism and his words remain a touchstone for anyone fighting inequality or pushing America to fulfill its promise of ensuring equality for all." 175 years later, his words remain all too relevant today. The Agitator Broadcast, a reading of his memoir in its entirety by twelve contemporary writers, scholars, activists, and a direct descendant of Frederick Douglass himself, aims to remind us of the depth of the pain and cruelty upon which our country was built, and how far we have yet to go to meet the true hope of equality that Douglass spent his life fighting and writing for. The featured readers are: Dr. Haki Madhubuti , Poet, Founder and Publisher Emeritus, Third World Press, Educator, and Institution Builder , Poet, Founder and Publisher Emeritus, Third World Press, Educator, and Institution Builder Dr. Henry Louis Gates , Jr., Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University , Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, literary scholar, journalist, cultural critic, and institution builder , Jr., Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at , Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, literary scholar, journalist, cultural critic, and institution builder Nora Brooks Blakely , Writer and President, Brooks Permissions ; Daughter of Gwendolyn Brooks , Writer and President, ; Daughter of Maudlyne Ihejirika , Columnist, Chicago Sun-Times , Columnist, Chicago Sun-Times Layla F. Saad , Author, Me and White Supremacy , Author, Me and White Supremacy Angelique Roche , Cultural Journalist , Cultural Journalist Dr. John Stauffer , Professor of English and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University , Professor of English and of African and African American Studies at Jacqueline Woodson , National Book Award-winning author & educator , National Book Award-winning author & educator Mikki Kendall , Author, Hood Feminism and Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists , Author, Hood Feminism and Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists Dr. Ivy Wilson , Professor of English and American Studies, Northwestern University , Professor of English and American Studies, Colin Johnson , Grandson of Maya Angelou , and Activist , Grandson of and Activist Kenneth B. Morris, Jr ., Co-Founder & President of Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, and great-great-great-grandson of Frederick Douglass . The Agitator Broadcast is a robust addition to virtual re-creation of Frederick Douglass: AGITATOR. Originally on display from June 2018 June 2019 at American Writers Museum, this nationally renowned display of Douglass's life and literary works is now available to visitors around the world for free at FD-Agitator.org. The virtual exhibit also provides a wealth of educational resources to assist teachers and students with a meaningful, culturally relevant curriculum. Media contact: Ryan Arnold [email protected] 312-600-7380 SOURCE American Writers Museum Related Links https://americanwritersmuseum.org Investigators were shocked when they saw the images of several gunmen attending a vigil for a Toronto rapper killed in another brazen shooting firing indiscriminately in the direction of the heavily travelled Highway 401. The surveillance video taken from a nearby building and leaked to some media outlets captured the mayhem after a car pulled up on the side the highway and sprayed a round of bullets at a group of friends and associates of slain Toronto rapper Dimarjio Jenkins. The initial rounds come from inside the vehicle into the rear of 55 Beverly Hills Dr., which is where a good portion of people are socializing and drinking outside, Toronto police Supt. Steve Watts said Friday, describing the sequence of events from Tuesday evening around 11:20 p.m. That vehicle sped away and is gone and, while continuing traffic is going by, there is in excess of 60 rounds discharged back towards the highway. Not in the air, but in response to that perceived threat but that threats no longer there. Four separate calibres of shell casings were discovered, meaning at least four guns were fired, Watts said. Two men walked into a nearby hospital with non-threatening gunshot wounds. One of them faces firearms offences and is an alleged member of a gang based near North Yorks Driftwood Avenue who was recently released on parole after serving a sentence for firearms. Police have not released his name or identified the other man who has been charged. Investigators continue to hunt for other suspects, including the gunmen who initially opened fire on the vigil from the highway. Jenkins, who performed under the name Houdini, was buried hours before the gathering after a private family funeral. He was gunned down in the middle of the afternoon on May 26 near Blue Jays Way and King Street West. Two of his associates returned fire after a lone man emerged from a car and started blasting his firearm. All three gunmen are still wanted by police. Police believe Jenkins, 21, was allied with gang members in the Driftwood area and are investigating the possibility he was killed in retaliation for threats and insults to rival gang members in his music videos. At least 20 underground GTA rappers have been killed in shootings in the last 10 years, eight of them shot dead within the year. Four of those, including Jenkins, performed in music produced by North York-based rap collective UpTop Movement Inc. Approaching the siege and Treaty of Limerick as a novel throws up new insights into the historic events which ended the three-year Williamite war in Ireland, according to the author of a new book on the fateful year. 1691: A Novel by author and former journalist Joe Joyce is an account of the year seen mainly from the viewpoints of two opposing generals, Patrick Sarsfield and Hugh Mackay, which takes them through the battle of Aughrim and the sieges of Athlone and Limerick. Its written as fiction but its not fictional in the sense that all the characters in it are real people and all the events happened, Joyce says. The fiction is in the dialogue and thoughts of the protagonists but is based on what we know of their characters, beliefs and experiences as well as their personal friendships and enmities. Approaching history as a fiction writer provides insights and perspectives that can be overlooked in conventional histories, he claims. I think it helps us better understand what happened and, more importantly, what the people involved thought was happening at the time. We always look back on the past as having been a simpler time because we know what happened but they didnt know what was going to happen any more than we know what is going to happen in our future. The idea for the book came from a friend of Joyces, Colman Morrissey, who has been fascinated by the battle of Aughrim since being given a tour of the Co Galway battlefield as a child by Joyces father, Martin, the local schoolteacher who built up a collection of artefacts from the battle in a classroom museum. The book was a labour of love and, to an extent, guilt that I didnt share my fathers passion for the local history when growing up in the village, Joyce says. When it came to researching and writing the book, however, I quickly realised that I needed to explain how Aughrim came about and its consequences in the treaty of Limerick. As a result almost half of the book is set in Limerick during the siege culminating in the negotiations that led to the treaty. The treaty itself and especially its subsequent abrogation by the English parliament are far better known than the circumstances which brought it about and the aims of its negotiators and how they saw the future at the time. One of the books main insights is how Patrick Sarsfield was deprived of his chief adviser, Henry Luttrell, at a crucial time when he found himself in charge of the city and its fate. Luttrell has gone down in history as the traitor who allowed the enemy cavalry through the Jacobite lines at Aughrim and turned imminent victory into a catastrophic defeat. But he wasnt seen in that light in the immediate aftermath of the battle. He was a close friend of and adviser to Patrick Sarsfield and, in Limerick, the victim of what Joyce describes as a clever piece of enemy psy-ops, or psychological warfare. A secret message was sent to him by the enemy commander. His superiors were tipped off by the enemy of its arrival. Luttrell was arrested and court-martialled on suspicion that he was negotiating with the Williamites. He was acquitted by the court martial although it was dominated by his critics. However, he was kept locked up in King Johns Castle until after the treaty was negotiated. When released, he joined the Williamites and, some 15 years later, was shot dead on a Dublin street. Nobody doubts Sarsfields bravery as a cavalry officer. He had proved it on several occasions during the war and, indeed, in England before the Irish campaign. But I dont think high politics was his forte and that was the stage he found himself acting on at the end, without the benefit of the two men most able to help out on that score, Henry Luttrell and Richard Talbot who had died of natural causes at the beginning of the siege. I think theres a good case to be made that Luttrell was the victim of what we would now call black ops, which successfully helped to sow dissension within the besieged city at a critical time when an expected convoy of aid from France was failing to materialise. 1691: A Novel is self-published and available as a paperback and ebook from Amazon and also from joejoyce.ie. New York, June 12, 2020 Authorities in Niger should immediately release journalist Samira Ibrahim Sabou and drop all charges against her, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Authorities arrested Sabou, editor with the privately owned Niger Search news website and manager of the Mides-Niger news website, on June 10 after she responded to a court summons, according to her lawyer, Abdou Leko Aboubacar, and Sahirou Youssoufou, secretary general of the Niger Press House, a local media association, both of whom spoke to CPJ over messaging app. The summons was issued in response to a defamation complaint filed by Sani Mahamadou Issoufou, the son and chief of staff of Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, according to Leko and Youssoufou. The complaint stemmed from a May 26 post on Sabous official Facebook account that alleged a connection between the son of the boss of the country and an audit of the military, as discussed in a March 24 report by the Jeune Afrique news site. The post shared a screenshot of the Jeune Afrique article. Sabou frequently posts political commentary and links to her reporting on her Facebook page, where she has more than 60,000 followers. Authorities charged Sabou with defamation by a means of electronic communication under Article 29 of Nigers cybercrime law for her post, and for a comment made on the post by another Facebook user, Leko told CPJ. Sabou was placed in pre-trial detention in the civil prison in Niamey; if convicted, she could face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to five million West African francs ($8,650), according to Leko and the cybercrime law, which CPJ reviewed. Authorities in Niger should immediately release Samira Ibrahim Sabou and halt their use of the countrys cybercrime law to arrest and detain journalists, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator. Nigers cybercrime law is just another disappointing example of the way criminal defamation persists across the continent, in defiance of international standards and African governments own commitments to freedom of expression. CPJ called Sani Issoufou Mahamadou for comment at a phone number provided by someone following the case, but the call did not go through. CPJ could not contact him through Twitter because he did not have direct messaging enabled. Sabou is the president of the local Association of Bloggers for Active Citizenship, previously worked with the government owned Le Sahel and privately owned lEnqueteur newspapers, and is widely known for her writing on social media, according to Youssoufou. Nigers Press House issued a statement condemning Sabous arrest, and restating Nigers prohibitions on preventive arrests for press violations. The statement also noted that Niger had signed the Table Mountain Declaration, a regional pact advocating for the abolition of criminal defamation laws. CPJ could not immediately find contact information for the judge overseeing Sabous case. In March, journalist Kaka Touda Mamane Goni was also arrested in Niamey and prosecuted under Nigers cybercrime law for posts on social media, as CPJ documented at the time. A 26-year-old man in Wuhan has gained 224 pounds in the space of five months while staying at home to avoid COVID-19, according to doctors. Mr Zhou had to be rushed to hospital by an ambulance earlier this month after falling critically ill because of the sudden increase in his weight. He now weighs 616 pounds and is reported to be the heaviest man in Wuhan. A 26-year-old man in Wuhan has gained 224 pounds in the space of five months while staying at home to avoid COVID-19, according to doctors. Mr Zhou is pictured being tended by medics Mr Zhou, a worker at an internet cafe, stopped leaving home when the city went into lockdown in late January. Mr Zhou's story was revealed by the hospital on a social media post today Mr Zhou, a worker at an internet cafe, stopped leaving home when the city went into lockdown in late January. After officials lifted the draconian measures in early April, he continued to be homebound. His family members said he was struggling to move due to his weight. Footage and images released by the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University show medical workers examining Mr Zhou after he was admitted to the hospital on June 1. After officials lifted the draconian measures in early April, Mr Zhou (pictured) continued to be homebound. His family members said he was struggling to move due to his weight Mr Zhou has been struggling with his weight for his entire life even though he tried different ways to lose weight. Pictured, Mr Zhou is being transported onto a hospital bed in Wuhan The Chinese man was immediately rushed to the hospital's intensive care units. He had to be carried onto the hospital bed by six security guys and four medical workers together According to the hospital, Mr Zhou has been struggling with his weight for his entire life even though he tried different ways to lose weight. At the end of last year, the 5ft7 man weighed 392 pounds. In late January, Wuhan was driven into a draconian lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic. The city's 11 million residents were put under strict home-isolation with minimal access to outside. The local government lifted the lockdown on April 8. Mr Zhou was left fighting for his life after being diagnosed with heart failure and respiratory dysfunction. He is pictured here at the hospital after his condition gradually became stable Mr Zhou (pictured right) is set to undergo a weight-loss operation by removing part of his stomach but he has to lose 25 kilos (55 pounds) in three months to reduce the surgery's risk Mr Zhou did not step out of his flat for five months, and as a result, his weight grew by a further 224 pounds. Li Zhen, a doctor from Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, received a phone call on May 31 from Mr Zhou desperately asking for help. The man said that he had not been able to fall asleep for 48 hours. Dr Li said that Mr Zhou was in such a frail state that he could barely speak when the medics arrived at his home the next day. He was immediately rushed to the hospital's intensive care units. He had to be carried onto the hospital bed by six security guys and four medical workers together. Pictured, two medical workers are giving Mr Zhou an injection at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. The man is said to be in stable condition after being at ICU for nine days Mr Zhou needs to lose 25 kilos (55 pounds) in the next three months to reduce the surgery's risk. The Chinese man is pictured with doctors at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University Mr Zhou was left fighting for his life after being diagnosed with heart failure and respiratory dysfunction. After being given round-the-clock care for nine days, the Wuhan resident's condition finally became stable. He was transferred to a regular ward yesterday. Mr Zhou is set to undergo a weight-loss operation by removing part of his stomach but he has to lose 55 pounds in the next three months to reduce the risk of the surgery. His story was revealed by the hospital in a social media post today. However, the hospital did not explain the exact cause of Mr Zhou's sudden weight gain. Artificial intelligence makes blurry faces look more than 60 times sharper DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University researchers have developed an AI tool that can turn blurry, unrecognizable pictures of people's faces into eerily convincing computer-generated portraits, in finer detail than ever before. Previous methods can scale an image of a face up to eight times its original resolution. But the Duke team has come up with a way to take a handful of pixels and create realistic-looking faces with up to 64 times the resolution, 'imagining' features such as fine lines, eyelashes and stubble that weren't there in the first place. "Never have super-resolution images been created at this resolution before with this much detail," said Duke computer scientist Cynthia Rudin, who led the team. The system cannot be used to identify people, the researchers say: It won't turn an out-of-focus, unrecognizable photo from a security camera into a crystal clear image of a real person. Rather, it is capable of generating new faces that don't exist, but look plausibly real. While the researchers focused on faces as a proof of concept, the same technique could in theory take low-res shots of almost anything and create sharp, realistic-looking pictures, with applications ranging from medicine and microscopy to astronomy and satellite imagery, said co-author Sachit Menon '20, who just graduated from Duke with a double-major in mathematics and computer science. The researchers will present their method, called PULSE, next week at the 2020 Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), held virtually from June 14 to June 19. Traditional approaches take a low-resolution image and 'guess' what extra pixels are needed by trying to get them to match, on average, with corresponding pixels in high-resolution images the computer has seen before. As a result of this averaging, textured areas in hair and skin that might not line up perfectly from one pixel to the next end up looking fuzzy and indistinct. The Duke team came up with a different approach. Instead of taking a low-resolution image and slowly adding new detail, the system scours AI-generated examples of high-resolution faces, searching for ones that look as much as possible like the input image when shrunk down to the same size. The team used a tool in machine learning called a "generative adversarial network," or GAN, which are two neural networks trained on the same data set of photos. One network comes up with AI-created human faces that mimic the ones it was trained on, while the other takes this output and decides if it is convincing enough to be mistaken for the real thing. The first network gets better and better with experience, until the second network can't tell the difference. PULSE can create realistic-looking images from noisy, poor-quality input that other methods can't, Rudin said. From a single blurred image of a face it can spit out any number of uncannily lifelike possibilities, each of which looks subtly like a different person. Even given pixelated photos where the eyes and mouth are barely recognizable, "our algorithm still manages to do something with it, which is something that traditional approaches can't do," said co-author Alex Damian '20, a Duke math major. The system can convert a 16x16-pixel image of a face to 1024 x 1024 pixels in a few seconds, adding more than a million pixels, akin to HD resolution. Details such as pores, wrinkles, and wisps of hair that are imperceptible in the low-res photos become crisp and clear in the computer-generated versions. The researchers asked 40 people to rate 1,440 images generated via PULSE and five other scaling methods on a scale of one to five, and PULSE did the best, scoring almost as high as high-quality photos of actual people. See the results and upload images for yourself at http://pulse. cs. duke. edu/ . ### This research was supported by the Lord Foundation of North Carolina and the Duke Department of Computer Science. CITATION: "PULSE: Self-Supervised Photo Upsampling via Latent Space Exploration of Generative Models," Sachit Menon, Alexandru Damian, Shijia Hu, Nikhil Ravi, Cynthia Rudin. IEEE/ CVF International Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), June 14-19, 2020. arXiv:2003.03808 This story has been published on: 2020-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Daisy G. Collins, an attorney at law and retired federal administrative law judge currently residing with her husband in the Cleveland, Ohio area, has published her new book Without Us, No U.S.R- Volume 1- a persuasive argument for every American to recognize, understand, and appreciate the indispensable role that the enslaved African American Ancestors played in the making and saving of the United States of America. The author writes, There are several reasons that African Americans can say accurately, on behalf of their enslaved African American Ancestors and themselves, Without Us, No U.S.R Just two of the reasons are the following: 1. Without the agreement to keep the African American Ancestors enslaved, the union of the thirteen colonies would not have been formed and the United States would not exist in its present form; and 2. Without the wealth created by the unpaid, forced, and very valuable labor of the enslaved African American Ancestorsthe Founding LaborersRthat laid the economic foundation of the United States of America, this country would not be the economic power it is today. The Founding LaborersR of the United States should be elevated to the high placeequal to the Founding Fathersthat they deserve in the history of the United States. It is illogical for African Americans to be criticized for being at the bottom of almost every measure of economic success when a realistic analysis is that if African Americans had inherited the tremendous wealth created by their enslaved African American Ancestors, African Americans would today be more competitive economically. One interesting statistic is that in 2013, black women earned 64 percent of the amount white men earned, and black men earned 75 percent. Apparently, America still treats the descendants of the enslaved persons as three-fifths of all other personsor little more than thatjust as the original Constitution did. (Three-fifths is 60 percent.) Fairness requires some form of reparations to correct this imbalance! The African American Ancestors have not been paid! Moreover, the Founding LaborersR should be thanked for the invaluable contributions they made to the United States. The government has never said Thank you to the enslaved African Americans Ancestors or their descendants. No one has ever given an official apology for the egregious wrongs inflicted on the enslaved African American Ancestors and their descendants. The United States Government should say Thank you and it should apologize. Published by Page Publishing, Daisy G. Collinss engrossing book is a compelling discussion of the enormous historical contributions of enslaved people African American to the prosperity and economic might of America. Readers who wish to experience this illuminating work can purchase Without Us, No U.S.R -Volume 1 at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. More than one year ago, the headless corpse of a jaguar was discovered inside garbage dump in Belize. The incident was one of series of related killings that sparked outrage among the residents. It also inspired authorities, private citizens and companies to put together an $8,000 reward to anyone who can provide information to whoever is the culprit of the heinous crime. The incident indicated the rise of jaguar poaching and killing across the species' range between Mexico and Argentina, as reported by The New York Times. Dwindling species An independent wildlife crime specialist, Pauline Verheji, who has conducted an investigation looking into details of the jaguar trade, said that she has long suspected that the deeds went unnoticed because authorities were complacent and did not pay attention. Verheji had, in recent years, investigated the trades in Suriname and Bolivia and said most, if not all, Latin American countries had zero priority in tackling wildlife crime until recently. The specialist, along with several others, had cautioned that jaguar trading seemed to be getting more traction at a time when the animals were at the brink of extinction. The creatures' small numbers is a result of losing their habitat and people killing them as revenge for preying on livestock. According to National Geographic, a new study that researchers published on June 2 in the Conservation Biology journal, found that between 2012 and 2018 in the regions of Central and South America, poachers have killed more than 800 jaguars to smuggle their teeth, skins, and skulls to China. The statistics show only the ones that law enforcement was able to intercept and report to the media. The lead author of the study, Thais Moriarty, who is a PhD. candidate at Oxford Brookes University in England said that they knew the illegal poaching existed, but they did not realise its growth. "It really concerns us," he added. Morcatty's team gathered and studied several reports of jaguar, puma, and ocelots, that poachers smuggled to China to try and understand what drove the illegal activities. Also Read: Trump Reverses Obama's Banned Alaskan Hunting Techniques, Threatens Wildlife Ecosystem Hidden links The study's findings have confirmed what conservationists have speculated: the smuggling is linked to Chinese workers that support megaprojects, including new roads and dams. Co-author of the study, Vincent Nijman, said that the findings help us learn that the patterns previously seen in Asia and Africa have made their way to South America. He added that if there were a demand, poachers would supply it, even if it was on the other side of the world. In 2003, a Chinese man who worked at a supermarket found in Paramaribo, Suriname, and approached a uniformed member of the country's forestry service and asked the officer if he could bring him a jaguar. Verheji said that her contact told the man that killing jaguars was illegal. The officer told Verheji that he was surprised the man was comfortable in asking for unlawful activity from a government official. Vice president of international policy at the Wildlife Conservation Society, Susan Lieberman, said that Chinese companies should educate their workers of the illegality of trading jaguar parts and take measures to avoid their workers' involvement in wildlife crimes. "It's important to get ahead of the curve by working with Chinese companies and not just wait for a crisis," said Lieberman. She added that the issue could be prevented without fighting against an adversary. Related Article: Harvard Professor Indicted for Alleged Ties to Wuhan Lab, Sold Intellectual Property for $50,000 a Month @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tacloban City (CNN Philippines, June 12) The provinces of Southern Leyte and Misamis Oriental have recorded their first cases of coronavirus disease. In Southern Leyte, an overseas Filipino worker who arrived there in May, tested positive for COVID-19, its local health department said. The infected OFW, a 23-year-old male seafarer, is currently admitted at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, according Department of Health Region 8 information officer John Paul Roca. Bontoc Mayor Jane Ruales announced in a statement on Thursday that the returning overseas worker arrived in their town on May 31. He was then made to go through quarantine in a facility in Bontoc, Ruales added. Ruales said that they immediately conducted contact tracing after receiving the confirmatory test result from the regional health office. He was among the 14 cases recorded in Eastern Visayas on Thursday, 12 of whom are from Baybay City in Leyte province. The region has a total of 90 infections. Of this number, 35 have recovered while 55 are currently sick. Eastern Samar is the only COVID-19 free province in Eastern Visayas. Meanwhile, in Misamis Oriental, the province's first case is a returning resident who arrived in Libertad town on June 6, the local disaster risk officials announced. The Provincial Task Force for COVID-19 said the 29-year-old male patient had no community exposure since he was immediately placed in the local quarantine facility upon arrival in his hometown. He showed symptoms such as cough and sore throat and underwent swab testing on June 11, the task force added. Authorities said they will transfer the patient from the isolation unit of Libertad town to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City, a referral hospital for COVID-19 cases. The task force assured the patient is not in critical condition. There are only 13 provinces left in the country that are free from COVID-19. Stringers Wil Mark Amazona and Alwen Saliring contributed to this report. A woman uses a smartphone and a mobilephone in front of a laptop on April 3, 2019, in Abidjan. - According to the figures of the platform of the fight against cybercrime (PLCC) of the national police, nearly one hundred crooks of the internet, were arrested in 2018 in Ivory Coast, a country known for its scammers on the web, has announced on April 2, 2019 the Ivorian authority of regulation of the telephony. (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP) (Photo credit should read ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images) A newly released draft intelligence bill, passed by the Senate Intelligence Committee last week, would require the government to detail the threats posed by commercial spyware and surveillance technology. The annual intelligence authorization bill, published Thursday, would take aim at private sector spyware makers, like NSO Group and Hacking Team, who build spyware and hacking tools designed to surreptitiously break into a victim's devices for conducting surveillance. Both NSO Group and Hacking Team say they only sell their hacking tools to governments, but critics say that its customers have included despotic and authoritarian regimes like Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. If passed, the bill would instruct the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report to both House and Senate intelligence committees within six months on the "threats posed by the use by foreign governments and entities of commercially available cyber intrusion and other surveillance technology" against U.S. citizens, residents and federal employees. The report would also have to note if any spyware or surveillance technology is built by U.S. companies and what export controls should apply to prevent that technology from getting into the hands of unfriendly foreign governments. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) was the only member of the Senate Intelligence Committee to vote against the bill, citing a broken, costly declassification system, but praised the inclusion of the commercial spyware provision. Commercial spyware and surveillance technology became a mainstream talking point two years ago after the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, which U.S. intelligence concluded was personally ordered by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto leader. A lawsuit filed by a Saudi dissident and friend of Khashoggi accuses NSO Group of selling its mobile hacking tool, dubbed Pegasus, to the Saudi regime, which allegedly used the technology to spy on Khashoggi shortly before his murder. NSO denies the claims. Story continues NSO is currently embroiled in a legal battle with Facebook for allegedly exploiting a now-fixed vulnerability in WhatsApp to deliver its spyware to the cell phones of 1,400 users, including government officials, journalists and human rights activists, using Amazon cloud servers based in the U.S. and Germany. In a separate incident, human rights experts at the United Nations have called for an investigation into allegations that the Saudi government used its spyware to hack into the phone of Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos. NSO has repeatedly denied the allegations. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the Citizen Lab, part of the Munk School at the University of Toronto, told TechCrunch that the bill's draft provisions "couldn't come at a more important time." "Reporting throughout the security industry, as well as actions taken by Apple, Google, Facebook and others have made it clear that [spyware] is a problem at scale and is dangerous to U.S. national security and these companies," said Scott-Railton. "Commercial spyware, when used by governments, is the 'next Huawei' in terms of the security of Americans and needs to be treated as a serious security threat," he said. "They brought this on themselves by claiming for years that everything was fine while evidence mounted in every sector of the U.S. and global society that there was a problem," he said. UTEP Interdisciplinary Collaborations Lead to Major Publications, Advances in Neuroscience Research and Education Last Updated on June 10, 2020 at 12:00 AM Originally published June 10, 2020 By Christina Rodriguez UTEP Communications In the Systems Neuroscience Laboratory at The University of Texas at El Paso, where Arshad Khan, Ph.D., associate professor of biological sciences, directs a team of undergraduate and graduate student researchers, the focus is on mapping individual pathways of the brain down to a cellular level to help understand how the human brain works. Arshad Khan, Ph.D., foreground center, associate professor of biological sciences, directs a team of undergraduate and graduate student researchers in the Systems Neuroscience Laboratory at The University of Texas at El Paso, where the focus is on mapping individual pathways of the brain down to a cellular level to help understand how the human brain works. Khans lab partnered with collaborators on and off campus to engage in two individual interdisciplinary research studies, both resulting in major scientific journal publications and new discoveries in the field of neuroscience. Collaborators include Jeffrey Olimpo, Ph.D., foreground right, assistant professor in biological sciences at UTEP, and Melissa Chee, Ph.D., on-screen, assistant professor of neuroscience at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Photo: Ivan Pierre Aguirre / UTEP Communications Note: This photo was taken in February 2020 before social distancing measures were enacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A team of UTEP researchers in Khans lab partnered with collaborators on and off campus to engage in two individual interdisciplinary research studies, both resulting in major scientific journal publications and new discoveries in the field of neuroscience. Tracking Learning Outcomes The first of the two studies was published in The Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education. The research was a collaboration between Khans brain mapping research team and Jeffrey Olimpo, Ph.D., assistant professor in biological sciences at UTEP, who specializes in the discipline of science education and directs the Biology Education Research Group. Olimpo and his team, along with Christina DArcy, Ph.D., who is a research assistant professor in Khans lab and lead author of the published study, spent three years tracking the learning outcomes of undergraduate students enrolled in Khans brain mapping lab class for freshmen and found that these students had a greater sense of identity as scientists, better appreciation of the research process, and were overall excited about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Anais Martinez, Ph.D., who was a graduate student in Khans lab when the study began and who was instrumental in working with the students enrolled in the class, is also a co-author of the study. The study was made possible through a $2.4 million education grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), a Washington, D.C.-based organization that has promoted undergraduate education for more than 25 years. The grant was awarded to develop methods to retain entering freshmen who historically drop out of STEM disciplines by their sophomore year. At UTEP, the interdisciplinary education grant titled Program to Educate and Retain Students in STEM Tracks (PERSIST), resulted in the creation of a three-course freshman research sequence developed by UTEP faculty. The UTEP team awarded the HHMI grant includes faculty members Stephen Aley, Ph.D., principal investigator of the project, and co-investigators Lourdes Echegoyen, Ph.D.; Dino Villagran, Ph.D.; and Eli Greenbaum, Ph.D.; and Khan. By synergizing PERSIST funds and funding from UTEPs BUILD grant from the National Institutes of Health, in which Echegoyen and Aley are also PIs, a larger program was developed that is dedicated to engaging incoming freshmen in research: the FYRIS (Freshman Year Research Intensive Sequence). The courses I developed consisted of brain mapping and the newly emerging discipline called connectomics the science of trying to understand every connection of the brain, Khan said. It was the first freshman laboratory of its kind in the country and still remains the only example of brain mapping at the microscopic, cellular level that freshmen take as their entry-level biology lab. From the very beginning, organizers were measuring outcomes of students before and after participation, and after two years the team started analyzing the data. The three of us Dr. Khan, Dr. DArcy, and myself connected to merge the curricular aspect of the course with the underlying assessment and evaluation piece, which resulted in a lot of rich discussion, Olimpo said. That helped iterate how the course was implemented and how to study outcomes in those spaces. UTEP junior and neuroscience major Monica Ponce said the PERSIST/FYRIS lab changed her life and career path and made her fall in love with neuroscience and research. I was impressed that, as freshmen, we were considered real researchers, Ponce shared. The lab inspired me to keep going in the science field and made me feel I was contributing something to the scientific community. If I hadnt taken the PERSIST/FYRIS lab, I wouldnt have changed my major to neuroscience. I love the brain now. The results of the study were not surprising to the researchers involved, but what struck them was the quality of neuroscience research produced by the freshmen researchers. There is a level of maturity to the approach of their work, DArcy said. You should not undersell our freshmen because they are research capable and ready to go We just need to give them the right environment, support them, and they are scientists. Canadian Collaboration The second interdisciplinary research study was published in The Journal of Comparative Neurology, the oldest continuously-published basic neuroscience journal and one of the most highly regarded for mapping the brain. Khan and his team partnered with Melissa Chee, Ph.D., assistant professor of neuroscience at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and her team of student researchers for an innovative collaboration that allowed both sides to expand upon their areas of study and expertise. Whereas Khans expertise is largely focused on mapping brain circuits controlling feeding, arousal and other functions, Chees laboratory specializes in using genetic technologies to study these same functions. The labs combined their expertise in mapping and genetics to track the locations of a novel population of nerve cells by experimentally tagging them with a fluorescent marker. This is an interdisciplinary collaboration in the sense that we are now combining state-of-the-art genetic tools, which are the expertise of Dr. Chee, with brain mapping techniques that are very unique to our lab and only a few other labs in the world, Khan said. I have known Melissa for over a decade, and shes an expert in understanding some of the technical tricks that are needed to be able to start identifying and tagging nerve cells, taking advantage of those genetics. The collaboration was formed over a shared area of study between both professors. Khan had a project he and his team were working on in his lab at UTEP, studying neurons in the brain that could potentially manufacture the molecule dopamine, which is a clinically important neurotransmitter that controls numerous brain functions and helps nerve cells communicate. Meanwhile, in her lab in Canada, Chee found brain hormones made in a region known as the hypothalamus that could regulate dopamine. Arshads team was working on studies looking at these specific brain cells in the hypothalamus that could possibly make dopamine, Chee said. We really dont know a lot about these cells. We know they are there but nobody has characterized them, so, although we know these cells could make dopamine, that has never been shown. What we set out to do with this project was a very unique point for collaboration. The overall goal of the study was to locate and identify these novel individual brain cells in the hypothalamus, determine if they have the machinery to synthesize dopamine, and then use brain mapping methods to create a standardized map of this new dopamine brain cell population that others could reference, giving them more direction and insight in their own research on dopamine. Ultimately, the two teams were able to identify and map a new population of dopamine neurons in the brain in a region known as the zona incerta that has been implicated in helping to mediate the brains responses to feeding, fear and aggression. Ken Negishi, a doctoral student in bioscience at UTEP, was the co-lead author of the study along with a team of students in Chees lab. The two teams of researchers worked closely and communicated regularly, despite the distance. A couple of Chees students had the opportunity to work remotely under Negishis direction. At a distance, they were able to immerse themselves in the work being done in brain mapping. I thought sharing our techniques and exchanging large datasets would be a big challenge, Negishi said. I lucked out in being able to work with well-organized and adaptive students, and those worries were hardly an afterthought. This really cemented trust and gave us a sense that we can accomplish a lot together as a group. The two teams were proud that their work was published and grateful for the experience of working together to achieve results that would not have been possible without their partnership. Other scientists also contributed to the study, including co-authors Gabor Wittman, Ph.D., at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, and Harry W. Steinbusch, Ph.D., at Maastricht University in The Netherlands. Together, members of the international team were able to synergize their individual talents and areas of focus. By combining different expertise, perspectives and approaches, we were able to go farther in our discovery, Chee said. Khan shared Chees sentiment and said there would have been no way of conducting such a study without the collaboration. Without the whole group, we literally wouldnt have the expertise and it wouldnt have been possible, Khan said. Since the time that these two studies were published, the coronavirus pandemic has brought new challenges for interdisciplinary work. For now, in-person lab meetings are on pause. The UTEP/Carleton team members are able to continue their work through online interactions and atlas-based digitizing software at home. In the meantime, DArcy, Olimpo and Khan are writing a follow-up review of their science education work. Fortunately, our interdisciplinary research workflow has allowed us to utilize the technologies we have on hand at UTEP to press on with our work and to continue with little loss in our momentum, Khan said. The 1994 horror flick, The Crow, was based on a gripping graphic novel. In the story, a young man and his ladylove are killed, and the man returns as an undead vigilante determined to exact vengeance. Film producer, Jeff Most, decided to turn that story into a film. Since The Crows release, rumors have persisted that the production was somehow cursed. Shudders Cursed Films examined the origin of those claims. Heres what we learned from the docuseries. Brandon Lee of The Crow | Barry King/WireImage Cursed Films explored The Crow AMCs streaming service, Shudder, launched Cursed Films, an original documentary series that explores so-called jinxed horror movies. Episode 4 of the show takes a look inside the supposed cursed movie, The Crow. The episode synopsis reads as follows: Years after actor Bruce Lees mysterious death is attributed to the Lee Family Curse, his son Brandons life is cut short due to a tragic on-set accident during the making of The Crow. The episode features interviews from movie pros who discuss the strange occurrences surrounding the film and its rising star, Brandon Lee. Bad omens surrounded The Crow production from the beginning RELATED: The Exorcist: The Creepy Story Behind the Films Legendary Curse The Crow began filming in Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1993. Cursed Films revealed that before production got underway, a mysterious caller left a voicemail message warning the crew not to shoot the movie because bad things would happen. Eerily, two on-set electricians were involved in an accident in which their truck hit a live wire. One of the men experienced second and third-degree burns and lost both ears. Disaster also struck the entire production when a hurricane destroyed the movie set. That is when the curse of The Crow rumors began circulating in Hollywood. Some fans blamed the mythical Lee Family Curse RELATED: The Omen: The Spooky Story Behind the Films Fabled Curse The star of The Crow, Brandon Lee, was the son of martial arts legend, Bruce Lee. The elder Lee died during the production of his final film. Some fans speculated that the Chinese mafia had placed a hit on the actor for betraying martial arts secrets. Others suspected that he had been struck by an insidious death blow at an earlier time. The most popular theory about The Dragons death is that he was a victim of the Lee Family Curse. His older brother had died, and Lees parents believed there was a demon targeting the males in the Lee family. Like his father, Brandon Lee died before he finished filming The Crow. In a fluke accident, the performer was shot while completing an action sequence, as described in Cursed Films. The crew used what are called dummy rounds, for the scene, but there was something in the barrel of the gun that acted as a lethal projectile, killing Lee. In order to complete the final photography for The Crow, the man who had been working as Lees stunt double wore a mask in his image. Is The Crow really cursed? RELATED: Poltergeist: The Chilling Story Behind the Films Mythical Curse Decades after the movie wrapped production, horror fans still buzz about the curse of The Crow. But the general consensus from those involved is that there is no curse. Actor, Michael Barryman, who worked with Lee on the film, summed it up by saying this: The Crow is not cursed. The Crow was created out of love and loss. In my opinion, Brandon died because a studio cut corners. Someone was overworked, and you miss one little oops, and something happens. Makes you appreciate every day. And then you should appreciate every hour. And pretty soon every moment. Im at most calm when I can appreciate each breath. And especially appreciative when I hear that beautiful note of a heartbeat. Life is very precious. You cant be prepared for these moments, but you can carry on in honor of those that have left us. Michael Barryman on Cursed Films Fans can check out the full episode of Cursed Films: The Crow now streaming on Shudder. RELATED: 5 Disturbing Horror Movie Scenes That You Just Cant Unsee VANCOUVERGarry Auguste can pinpoint the moment he began questioning whether he trusted the police in Canada to protect him and his family. It was when an RCMP officer pinned his teenage daughter to the ground. Now, as he watches protests break out across North America and beyond, he remembers the video vividly: His 16-year-old daughter, Ruthnie, who had been waiting for a bus, held to the ground face down and placed in handcuffs by two uniformed officers, as she bawled and screamed that they had mistaken her for someone else. He believes the officers looked at her and just saw a young Black woman, making a racist assumption she was the person they had set off to arrest that day in 2017. The Surrey RCMP have since said that they made a mistake in arresting her. Us Black people, we are the ones being targeted, treated in a negative way, not getting the same treatment as other people, Auguste said. If you look at the situation in Canada where people are still being exposed to police brutality, this is something I should use my voice to let people know that there is a problem and that problem should change. Three years later, the Black Lives Matter movement is calling for a teardown and rebuild of policing cutting funding, disarming police officers and even abolishing the police altogether. The ideas are gaining traction more deeply and broadly than perhaps ever before. During this watershed moment for policing in North America, the community of Surrey, B.C., is already in the midst of its own rebuild. The city has given notice to end its policing contract with the RCMP, and develop a municipal force. Its an unprecedented planned policing overhaul that means creating a new police force, setting up a local board to govern it, and, in all likelihood, developing relationships with the police association that is likely to ensue. It may not be the type of reinvention those appalled at the handcuffing of Augustes daughter are looking for. But on the cusp of such monumental change, Surrey may be the Canadian city uniquely positioned to make sweeping changes to policing to start over, from scratch. Replacing the RCMP with a municipal force is the landmark policy of Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum, a previous mayor of almost a decade and once prospective Conservative Party of Canada candidate who won re-election on a platform of bringing SkyTrain service to the city, and creating a made-in-Surrey police force that could better tackle gang violence than the RCMP. Following McCallums election, the city council voted unanimously to leave behind the RCMP by April 2021. Through his communications director, McCallum declined an interview for this story. With a population of about 520,000 people thats growing fast, Surrey is the suburb thats beginning to rival the city of Vancouver itself in size. Its the largest city in Canada without its own municipal police force, having contracted policing to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police since 1951. Its also an exceptionally diverse city, with more than half the population identifying as a member of a visible minority in the 2016 census. Surrey is, for now, the RCMPs largest detachment. Replacing it will fall to an integrated team including Surrey Police Department and RCMP leaders, as well as staff hired for the purpose of transitioning the departments. The intention is for the two forces to work alongside one another before the official Surrey Police Department go live date of April 2021, and beyond as needed for the purpose of maintaining investigation files. In the next 10 months, according to a 150-page report on the forces transition, a municipal committee will have to decide who among the 1,000 Surrey RCMP employees to keep on, recruit new trainees, and bargain for wages and pensions with a police union that has already stated its intention to form. The one-time cost of the transition, the city has said, would be $19 million, while critics fear the resulting police force itself would be more expensive than the RCMP, not the least because of the formation of a police union promoting higher pay and more officers on shift together. The operating budget of the Surrey Police Department, according to the plan, would be $192.5 million in 2021, about $19 million more than the budgeted amount for the RCMP that year. Wally Oppal, the former B.C. attorney general who led the transition study, said now that Surrey is going ahead with the transition, there is more opportunity for local input and accountability. When you have your own police force, you have the mayor as a chair, one other appointee, five other people from the local community, Oppal said. They can give the police force local direction. What kind of local direction may be given by a new police board, which will be be appointed by the province, remains to be seen, and the transition plan produced by city staff proposes little room for drastic reform, while increasing the number of proposed employees of the force. The report, a sort of roadmap for how the city can achieve the ambitious task of replacing the RCMP in 10 months, makes detailed recommendations on the issues of pensions and collective agreements, recruitment, training, information and investigation file continuity, and business impacts of a new force. In other words, it does not look like police abolition, or even a decrease in funding, is likely in Surrey. Oppal said he sympathizes with calls to reduce police funding, especially when the intention is to redirect money to crime prevention. I do think that we need to put far more money into prevention, into those people who are vulnerable, who often are homeless, who commit crimes because of the difficulties they have in their own lives, he said. He also wants to see greater accountability and praised the fact that B.C. has an independent oversight body for police complaints, whereas many U.S. jurisdictions do not. Jeff Shantz, an activist and criminology professor at Surrey-based Kwantlen Polytechnic University, takes neither the side of keeping the RCMP or developing a municipal force. Hes been part of a local police abolitionist movement for the past several years, called Anti-Police Power Surrey. He said in the present moment with the Black Lives Matter movement reaching unprecedented levels of energy and the local community at a critical juncture hes optimistic that the public is willing to hear about the kind of change hes asking for. If you can talk about change to a municipal force, you can talk about change in other ways, he said. I hope this is an opportunity where the framework gets shifted considerably so were not just talking about minor reforms or oversight. The group wants to see police funding reallocated to community resources such as peer support networks and keeping schools and community centres open for use by youth. Auguste views things differently. He does not agree the police should be abolished, but he does think they need to be recast as community servants in both reputation and reality. When Auguste thinks about the transition, he agrees with the mayor on one aspect: That a police force should reflect Surrey itself. Before the incident with his daughter, his trust in the Mounties was presumed. Auguste moved to Surrey with his family more than two decades ago from Haiti, where he himself served in a police uniform and was trained by members of the RCMP. Life in Canada seemed very safe. The images of his daughters arrest had resonance at the time the officers conduct in the incident served as a rallying point for Black Lives Matter activists on the West Coast to make calls for widespread change. Now Auguste wants to see major changes to the heart of the policing institution screening for potential officers with a strong desire for exerting power over others, cultural training. And fewer officers carrying guns. The strength of a police force is not big muscles or a big gun. Its having the backup of the community, he said. Its sad to see whats going on in the world right now, people losing their lives because a human being with a bad heart happened to have a gun. They are supposed to be there to serve. For Augustes part, he and his family are also waiting for an apology. Before the RCMP leaves Surrey I would like them to apologize to my family, he said. This is painful and this is very hard for us. My daughter, shes 19 now, and shes back in the same emotional mood (as three years ago). Shes still dealing with it. Read more about: Starbucks Will Let Staff Wear Black Lives Matter Shirts After Boycott Pressure Starbucks on Friday said it will allow employees to wear clothing that supports the Black Lives Matter protest movement. We see you. We hear you. Black Lives Matter. That is a fact and will never change, Starbucks said in a statement after a report revealed the existence of a memo to Starbucks employees that they cannot wear Black Lives Matter shirts and pins while on the job. We have always led with Our Mission and Values. Through every moment in our history, and in every crisis, Starbucks has come together to show: We will not be bystanders. This has never been more true than today, according to the statement. It added that the protests, which were sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, are a catalyst for change. As we talked about earlier this week, were designing new T-shirts with the graphic below to demonstrate our allyship and show we stand together in unity. Until these arrive, weve heard you want to show your support, so just be you. Wear your BLM pin or t-shirt. We are so proud of your passionate support of our common humanity. We trust you to do whats right while never forgetting Starbucks is a welcoming third place where all are treated with dignity and respect, the statement added. Protesters confront a row of police officers at a demonstration in Franklin Park in Boston, Mass., on June 2, 2020. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images) The statement was issued after a memo circulated by the Seattle-based firm noted that within the movement, there are agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the Black Lives Movement and in circumstances intentionally repurpose them to amplify divisiveness, BuzzFeed News reported. The update sent to baristas, obtained by BuzzFeed, added: Partners may only wear buttons or pins issued to the partner by Starbucks for special recognition or for advertising a Starbucks-sponsored event or promotion; and one reasonably sized and placed button or pin that identifies a particular labor organization or partners support for that organization, except if it interferes with safety or threatens to harm customer relations or otherwise unreasonably interferes with Starbucks public image. Pins must be securely fastened. Partners are not permitted to wear buttons or pins that advocate a political, religious or personal issue. The coffee giant was criticized by Black Lives Matter supporters on social media, and they said they would initiate a boycott. During the protests, which have mostly been peaceful, acts of violence against police officers and arson incidents have been reported. Reports of looting, vandalism, and threats have been commonly reported. The Black Lives Matter movement regained national prominence in recent weeks after George Floyds death in Minneapolis police custody. Former officer Derek Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder in the case, while three other officers were fired and charged. In recent days, a number of statues have been defaced during mass protests around the country, including Winston Churchills, which was daubed with the words was a racist. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who cites Churchill as a personal hero, said it was absurd and shameful that his statue was at risk of attack by violent protesters. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Philadelphia Joe Biden on Thursday released a plan that he says can jump-start an economy in free fall from the coronavirus pandemic and said he is better positioned than President Donald Trump to safeguard businesses and their employees and create jobs without taking unnecessary health risks. Trump's Democratic challenger is promising to guarantee testing for the virus and protective equipment for people called back to work, use federal money to ensure paid leave for anyone who becomes sick and oversee thousands of new hires to help track the spread of illness. "Trump has basically had a one-point plan: open businesses," Biden said at an event in Philadelphia with business owners and Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Pa. "It does nothing to keep workers safe, to keep businesses able to stay open, and secondly it does very little to increase consumer confidence." After remaining home for months during a campaign frozen by the virus, Biden has begun holding public events within driving distance of his house in Delaware. Unlike Trump, he has yet to schedule rallies. His campaign says it plans to do so when public health officials say it's safe. Biden's plan would seek to protect from discrimination older people, those with disabilities and others at high risk of infection from the coronavirus. He envisions a "safer shoppers" program intended to make consumers feel more secure. It would provide state and local officials with money to certify when businesses are complying with testing rules and conducting "spot checks as necessary" to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. He also wants to make more money available for small businesses and provide dollars for schools and child care centers reopening. Biden announced the plan a day after saying that his chief worry is that Trump will attempt to "steal" the November election. Biden said he's even considered the possibility that the Republican incumbent would refuse to leave the White House should he lose. "My single greatest concern: This president's going to try and steal this election," Biden said on "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah," which aired Wednesday night. "This is a guy who said all mail-in ballots are fraudulent, voting by mail, while he sits behind the desk in the Oval Office and writes his mail-in ballot to vote in the primary." Biden was asked whether he's considered what would happen if Trump refused to vacate the presidency in the event he wasn't reelected. "I have," Biden said, before suggesting that the military could step in to ensure a peaceful transition of power. "I am absolutely convinced they will escort him from the White House with great dispatch," the former vice president said. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany responded that Biden was taking "a ridiculous proposition." "This president's looking forward to November," McEnany told Fox News Channel's "America's Newsroom." "This president's hard at work for the American people. And leave it to Democrats to go out there and grandstand and level these conspiracy theories." Biden's comments come as Trump has intensified his claim that absentee voting, which many states are expanding to avoid large crowds at polling places during the coronavirus pandemic, increases the possibility of fraud. There is little evidence to support that assertion; Trump himself has voted by mail in the past. A chaotic Tuesday primary in Georgia, where there were problems with voting machines and long lines, may foreshadow a messy November election. Trump has scheduled a campaign rally in Oklahoma next week. Biden has previously suggested that Trump's opposition to mail-in ballots could upend the presidential election. "This president, mark my words, I think he's going to try to kick back the election somehow, come up with a rationale why it can't be held," he said during an April fundraiser. During the "Daily Show" interview, Biden said more than 20 states had passed 80-plus pieces of legislation "making it harder for people vote." He said his campaign was assembling a team of lawyers to observe balloting in "every district in the country." PARIS When an 8-year-old boy walked into a village supermarket in northern Switzerland last month and tried to pay with a fake 50 bill, it seemed like mere childhood mischief. The bill, with large Chinese lettering on it, was clearly toy money. The cashier immediately spotted it and threatened to call the police as the boy, along with a friend, left the store to meet his 10-year-old brother who was waiting outside. It could have ended there. But after a police officer launched an investigation into the boy, took his mug shot and filed a report on the incident, it will now be on police records until at least 2025. The episode in Diegten, a village of around 1,500 people, has become a source of head shaking and a matter of embarrassment for regional politicians, who debated the issue in the districts Parliament on Thursday after the story was reported by Swiss news outlets this week. Jeannette Rankin left Missoula more than a century ago and made a name for herself in state and national politics. The hometown of the nations first congresswoman has long had a hall on the university campus, a park at the south end of the Madison Street Bridge and a peace center on South Higgins Avenue named for her. And Jeannette Rankin elementary schools opened last fall in Missoula and Kalispell. Now bills in Helena and Washington, D.C., are in the works that would name a five-mile stretch of Interstate 90 through Missoula and the post office on West Kent for the suffragist, peace activist and pioneering politician. Rep. Kim Dudik, D-Missoula, is sponsoring House Bill 719 in the Montana Legislature to honor Rankin (1880-1973) by dubbing I-90 between milepost 101 and 106 the Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway. The House Transportation Committee approved the idea 14-0 last Thursday, and the full House passed it 81-17. On Monday the bill was referred to the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee. Back east, Republicans Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte introduced legislation on Thursday in the U.S. Senate and House, respectively, to name Missoulas central post office for her. Betsy Mulligan-Dague, executive director of the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center, applauded both bills. The more we can get word out about her and about her work and, I think, her courage in the world, is great, she said Monday. Its a great story and great inspiration for people, and people today need hope and inspiration, so its wonderful to see it happen. Dudiks bill encompasses the stretch of I-90 from the Reserve Street interchange to past the Van Buren Street exit. Jeannettes parents, John and Olive Pickering Rankin, raised their family on the Grant Creek Ranch north of the Reserve Street exit and at their town house at the north end of the current Madison Street Bridge. Jeannette was a 1902 graduate of the University of Montana in biology. The whereases in the bill note that Rankin was instrumental in gaining the right to vote for Montana women in 1914 and in initiating legislation that eventually became the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provides that the right to vote "shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." It was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, and ratified the following year. Mulligan-Dague said the upcoming 100th anniversaries of those events have stirred interest. There are movies and books and other things about that era, the whole story about what women went through and how they persevered, she said. Its great encouragement for us today, and I think its just got people thinking about all that. And Jeannette was a very prominent figure in it. Rankin made history as the first woman to hold federal office in the U.S. when she was elected to the House of Representatives as a Republican in 1916. She ran and won again in 1940, serving a single two-year term each time. Rankin left a legacy of advocacy and freedom for future generations, Dudiks bill says. Dudik said she learned this session that of all the memorial highways in Montana, none honors women. An I-90 bridge at Belgrade is named for late Montana Transportation Commissioner Patricia Abelin and the stretch of I-15 between Helena and Great Falls is named after Maureen and Mike Mansfield. "But that is it," she said. "So I thought in this day and age, it was time for a little highway equity." It's fitting to remember Rankin with a memorial highway, which have honored people "who have served Montana, who have been trailblazers, who have made our lives fundamentally better," Dudik said. "They serve to inspire and contribute to our collective identity as Montanans. As Jeannette said, she was the first but she wouldn't be the last. I hope that this is the first memorial highway named in honor of a woman but not the last." The legislation would direct the Montana Department of Transportation to design and install appropriate signs marking the location of the Rankin Memorial Highway and identify it on state maps when the department updates and publishes them. An appropriation of $1 from the state general fund is requested. The federal bill would designate the U.S. Postal Service facility at 1100 W. Kent the Jeannette Rankin Post Office Building. In a press statement, Daines called Rankin a trailblazer for womens rights in our nation and an inspiration to all women seeking public service. Gianforte acknowledged Rankin and her accomplishments on the House floor last month during Womens History month. The recent uptick in recognition for one of Montanas most prominent figures is understandable, Mulligan-Dague said. Womens issues right now are a hot topic, and that was one of her platforms womens and childrens issues, the peace center director said. I dont know about the #MeToo, but she would be leading the whole womens empowerment movement. Her one big quote was if women get behind this peace thing, war would be over. Peace is a womans job. Women birth children and they dont want to see them killed. Even today, Mulligan-Dague noted, Jeannette is a great spokesperson for that. The online version of this story has been corrected to reflect that each of Jeannette Rankin's two Congressional terms were of two years and updated with the status of Montana House Bill 719. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 20:24:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NINGBO, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Serbia and China have seen deepened cooperation in containing the COVID-19 outbreak and building the Belt and Road, according to Serbian Ambassador to China Milan Bacevic. In an interview with Xinhua at the opening of the 22nd China Zhejiang Investment & Trade Symposium, Bacevic spoke highly of China's measures to curb COVID-19. "These measures enabled China to control the spread of the disease within the shortest possible time," the ambassador said, noting the world could learn from the country's experience. Thanking China for sending humanitarian aid including supplies and medical experts to Serbia, the ambassador said his country has followed the Chinese model of battling the epidemic and generally kept it under control, with its economy on the track to recovery. Chinese and Serbian epidemiologists are also cementing cooperation in microbiology, bacteriology and medical research to combat COVID-19 and brace for new viruses in the future, he said. Bacevic envisioned the two countries will continue strengthening bilateral ties under the Belt and Road Initiative, adding that the initiative provides equal opportunities for all nations involved in developing their economies. He added that Chinese companies and their projects have always found support in Serbia, and expected the expansion of bilateral cooperation to more fields, such as culture and sports. "There are mutual interests for the cooperation in the fields of culture and sports, and we will be able to gain great results in this," he said. Enditem Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Amelie Bottollier-Depois (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Fri, June 12, 2020 19:30 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde5180c 2 World coronavirus,coronavirus-effect,mental-health,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,economic-impact Free While lockdowns undoubtedly avoided large numbers of deaths from the new coronavirus, the repercussions of the pandemic response are expected to blight economies and health systems long after restrictions are lifted. So how can we quantify the costs and benefits of one of the largest public health interventions ever? "This is a very difficult calculation to make," Sarah Burgard, a sociologist at the University of Michigan, told AFP. According to official counts, the virus has infected at least 7.4 million people around the world and more than 415,000 have died. Burgard said in the end it may prove difficult to untangle how many deaths were caused by COVID-19 and how many by "the chaos and fallout" of the crisis. "I don't have a lot of faith that we are going to be able to come up with a very clear number," she said. Even if a figure is reached, decisions over its implications would be "heavily political and ethically complex". The response to the disease had led to an unprecedented reorganization of societies, with businesses shuttered, stay-at-home orders, medical facilities refocused on treating COVID-19 patients. The economic impact of the measures has caused alarm and division. 'Unknown situation' In a study published in 2000, the American economist Christopher Ruhm asked a provocative question: "Are recessions good for your health?" His research found that a rise in unemployment sharpened stresses on mental health, causing increases in substance abuse and suicide. But there were unexpected benefits for physical health: road accidents and pollution reduced, while people had more time for exercise. Reflecting on his work two decades later, Ruhm said that in a normal economic slump "when unemployment was high, mortality was low and vice versa". But the coronavirus-induced recession is not a normal economic downturn. "We are in an unknown situation," Ruhm said in an April online talk for the University of Virginia, where he is a professor of public policy and economics. "I think it may be the first time in history that we are actually deliberately creating a recession, not because we want to create a recession, but because this health threat is so real." No silver linings Now societies are bearing the strain of both a deadly pandemic and a huge economic shock. The virus undercuts the usual "silver linings" of an economic downturn, said Burgard. Populations have been confined inside, reducing access to beneficial physical exercise. People struggling with bereavement, mental health issues or unemployment find it harder to access their normal support networks, with even visits to family members restricted. And the healthcare sector itself has been battered by the virus, with frontline staff at risk of infection while treatments for other illnesses have been postponed. Even in normal times, any positive effects seen in economic downturns are often in richer nations. "The opposite seems true in many low- and middle-income countries, where mortality actually increases during recession," said Thomas Hone, a public health researcher at Imperial College London. He said this may suggest that what protects people from the harms of recessions are "strong health systems and social security nets". Many fear the scale of the pandemic and economic downturn will disproportionately hurt the most vulnerable. UN agencies and the vaccine alliance Gavi have said virus restrictions caused immunizations to be disrupted in nearly 70 countries, affecting some 80 million children under the age of one and threatening a resurgence of preventable diseases like polio and measles. The World Food Program estimates the number of people facing acute hunger this year could nearly double -- to 265 million. 'No choice' Will the long-term ramifications of lockdowns counteract the effect they had on slowing contagion? In a study published on Monday, Imperial College researchers estimated that lockdowns had prevented around 3.1 million deaths in 11 European countries. On Wednesday, Imperial epidemiologist Neil Ferguson told a British parliamentary committee that because of the exponential spread of the virus, locking down just a week earlier would have reduced the final death toll by "at least a half". But any modeling is based on assumptions -- in this case calculations of what would have happened if action had not been taken. Restrictions were imposed after predictions of potentially enormous tolls, said Arthur Caplan, professor of bioethics at New York University. "I don't think politicians and leaders had a choice," he said. "If you saw those numbers in the millions of deaths, you had to take steps because you would have had a broken health system, a public that wouldn't have come out anyway because they would have been terrified." Caplan said there should be a "broad set of voices" in determining whether the lockdowns were the right solution, but added that the question would be "political". There is no question Jamail Amron died while in the custody of Harris County constables. But the gulf between what law enforcement said happened and the account given by bystanders has put his family on a decadelong legal and emotional roller coaster from despair to vindication and back again. On Sept. 30, 2010, the 23-year-old called for medical help after feeling anxious he was having a bad reaction to cocaine. The four Precinct 4 constables who responded said he was combative, so it was necessary to handcuff him and pin him to the ground to protect him from hurting himself. They said that while secured to a stretcher, Amron suddenly stopped breathing and, soon after, died. Eyewitnesses watching the confrontation from only several feet away saw something different. Amron was calm until the deputies arrived, they said. He tried to pull away only when the officers handcuffed him. While he was on the ground, two witnesses said a constable pressed his boot directly over Amrons mouth and nose for several minutes and pushed so hard I could tell the arch of the neck was going flat along with the asphalt, one recalled. At first, the constables version stood; none of the officers was disciplined and no charges were filed against them. In 2017 the family rejoiced when a civil jury believed the bystanders, awarding Amrons parents $11 million for the excessive force that caused their sons death. They were crushed again this February when an appeals court tossed the verdict. The Amrons long struggle seeking accountability for their sons death highlights how the relatively recent introduction of cellphone recordings has shifted the balance of power in disputes between police and their accusers. Over the past two weeks, clear differences between the official description of an event and what can be plainly observed in recordings has helped spur a call for an unprecedented overhaul of law enforcement. CATALYST FOR A MOVEMENT George Floyd: Im gonna change the world Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical stress, stated the initial report from the Minneapolis police incident ending in George Floyds death. Bystander videos of an officer kneeling on Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes while three others watched told a different story. All four have been criminally charged. As protests roiled across the country in the wake of Floyds death, additional recordings of interactions between citizens and police appeared to show more instances in which the police version of events was inaccurate or, at the least, incomplete. In Buffalo, N.Y., police said a protester injured his head when he tripped and fell. After video showing he was forcefully shoved by two police and left bleeding and unattended on the ground was widely broadcast, both officers were charged with assault. Discrepancies in the accounts of Amrons death might have been cleared up by recordings, as well. The four constable cruisers that responded to the scene had dashboard cameras, according to court documents. Each of the constables also wore a body mic to capture audio of their interactions. None of the devices was turned on. Other than the presence of a recording of what occurred, the similarities between Amrons and Floyds deaths are unmistakable, said Brad Gilde, the Amron familys attorney. This case is a carbon copy in every respect, he said. The difference is the cellphone footage caught by disinterested onlookers. We just have the eyeballs of disinterested onlookers. Constable: Amron detained for his own good Since 2005, just under 1,200 people died in police custody prior to being booked in jail, according to the Texas Justice Initiative. Although many deaths occurred during a police response to alleged crimes, a number did not, according to a 2017 Austin American-Statesman investigation. In 50 of the fatalities, the only charge the deceased faced was public intoxication or resisting arrest. In a dozen of the custodial deaths Amrons included the person faced no charges at all. While he still hoped to become an engineer, Amron was taking a break from attending a local college, working at a fast-food restaurant, his mother Barbara Coats said. Although he still lived at home, the night he died he was staying at his girlfriends apartment. He occasionally did drugs, including trying cocaine, the girlfriend later said. A couple of times hed become anxious and sought medical help. Just after midnight, he left her apartment in Spring and called 911. But he told the responding paramedics he didnt want treatment and walked to a nearby Burger King, where he asked for a glass of water. Amron was sitting on the curb when the first constable, Bryan Saintes, drove up. Saintes handcuffed Amron soon after approaching him and began walking him toward the ambulance, police reports show. Amron pulled away and the interaction quickly escalated. Although Amron was never under arrest, I attempted to detain him for the protection of himself, Saintes later wrote. Three other constable cruisers rolled up to assist. Together, the officers wrestled Amron to the ground and pinned him. The medics injected him with a sedative. He was moved to a stretcher. Soon after, reports say, he stopped breathing. Police and eyewitness accounts diverged on several points. The Burger King assistant manager, Cynthia Lansdale, who handed Amron the water and continued observing through the drive-thru window, described him as out of breath but polite, calm and articulate. When the police arrived, she said, he appeared cooperative. In their statements, deputies described Amron as sweating profusely and stuttering unknown words. He was abnormally stronger than his stature would have ever displayed, Saintes wrote. The descriptions are consistent with a controversial syndrome called excited delirium, which has been used to explain the sudden death of people typically under the influence of drugs who display violent and bizarre behavior and can appear to have super-human strength. Excited delirium deaths occur almost exclusively in police custody. A Minneapolis officer at the scene of Floyds death was heard mentioning it. The constables also said they had to forcibly hold Amrons head to protect him because he was slamming it against the pavement. Lansdale described him as motionless, and his autopsy mentioned no bruising or injuries on the back of his head. None of the officers reported putting their feet on Amron to hold him. But thats what Lansdale and a second Burger King employee saw. Deputy Kevin Vailes had his foot across Jamail Amrons nostrils and his mouth, Lansdale said, adding that he kept it pressed there between two and five minutes. A cook also said he saw Vailes press his foot on Amrons face but didnt note for how long. The autopsy report and photos taken at the time showed several cuts and bruises to the front of his face. Juror: Guilty or not guilty that was easy The following morning police told Ali Amron his son died of a heart attack, he recalled. The autopsy, released two days later, said he died from acute cocaine toxicity. Experts retained by the family said there was little cocaine in his system; Jamail had died of suffocation due to a combination of Vailes foot over his mouth and nose, and vomiting caused by another officer pushing on his stomach. In 2012, Coats and Ali Amron filed an excessive force lawsuit against Harris County, Precinct 4, medical responders and the responding constables. The medical parties settled; by 2017 the only remaining parties were Harris County and Vailes. A spokesman for the Harris County attorneys office, Robert Soard, said he could not discuss the lawsuit because it is pending. The trial was held that April. After three weeks, jurors unanimously sided with the eyewitness accounts over those of the deputies: Vailes was responsible for Jamails death, and the county was responsible for not communicating and enforcing a policy prohibiting the deputies from using their feet against people in their custody. Guilty or not guilty that was easy, recalled Joe Ray Cepeda, the jury foreman. We had no doubt that (Vailes) caused the death. I mean, how do you go from a call for help, to a drink of water, to death? There was no doubt the police were lying. One had a record of lying, according to trial testimony. A month before Amrons death, Saintes had punched a man at a local Hooters restaurant. Although he appears not to have been charged, an internal complaint against him was sustained, according to testimony. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer During that investigation, Saintes was found to have given a false, grossly exaggerated sworn statement contradicted by eyewitnesses. He was suspended for 10 days, returning to duty just before the Amron call. The same investigator who determined Saintes lied about the Hooters incident also investigated the agencys response to the Amron call. Asked at the trial about Saintes credibility, he said, I had no reason to disbelieve what he wrote in that (Amron) report. Q. Other than his falsifications and gross exaggerations that occurred a month before? A. That doesn't mean every time he opens his mouth he's lying. Q. But you did know about it? A. He was in trouble (at Hooters). This is just a call to him. Cepeda said jurors also were troubled that not one of the many police cameras or mics on scene had been activated a policy Precinct 4 constables had violated numerous times in previous years, according to testimony. Saintes had failed to activate his devices at least twice previously. None of the officers was disciplined beyond a reprimand, according to the testimony. The officers explained that because the Amron incident began as a medical assistance call, they hadnt thought it necessary to turn on their recording devices, although three arrived after the altercation already had begun. How convenient was that? Cepeda said. The only reason the jury deliberated for several hours, the foreman added, is we just got tied up in the amount to award the parents. They returned with the tally: $11 million. The jury saw what we saw, Coats said. That this wasnt the day he should have died. I was like, Finally! Finally! We had finally got justice in some way. Never-ending nightmare Their relief lasted less than three years. Harris County and Vailes appealed the award. In February, three justices from the 14th Court of Appeals overturned the verdict. The panel concluded that because the elected constable wasnt an official policymaker for Harris County, the county couldnt be held liable. And while Vailes may have used excessive force on Amron, the justices said the 2017 jury had been wrong when it concluded thats what killed him. The decision reduced the damages to $1 million in survival damages from Vailes money to pay for Amrons pain and suffering had he lived. But because the money can come only from Vailes personally, it almost certainly will never be collected, said Gilde, the familys attorney. Outrageous, said Cepeda, who had not heard the news. We all listened to the evidence. Where is the accountability? Coats and Ali Amron have requested a rehearing of their case. In the meantime, as the 10th anniversary of their sons death approaches, Were just living the same nightmare over and over again, Coats said. Its a never-ending nightmare. eric.dexheimer@chron.com Titled 'Viral Self-Portraits,' the online exhibition was created at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia's capital, when people were still self-isolating at home Egyptian artist Mahmoud Khaled is participating in the online exhibition 'Viral Self-Portraits,' organised by the Museum of Modern Art in Ljubljana and the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova, also located in the Slovenian capital. The exhibition kicked off on 15 May and will last until 31 December. Follow this link to view all the works. "We started thinking about the Viral Self-Portraits online exhibition at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when we were still self-isolating at home. We first contacted 23 curators across the globe to invite five artists each to do self-portraits, according to the invitation below. 100 international artists responded," the gallery's website clarifies. The only Egyptian among 100 artists from across the globe, Khaled contributes to the exhibition with a video titled 'A Day with a Self-Isolated Lady from the 80s'. His five-minute video is based on footage from the Egyptian 1987 film The Haunted House. View Mahmoud Khaled's work here. Born in 1982 in Alexandria, Khaled studied fine art at Alexandria University in Egypt and Trondheim University in Norway. Khaled lives and works in Trondheim and Alexandria. His work spans across a number of media: video, photography, sculpture, installation, sound and text; he explores what is real and what is hidden, disguised or staged. Khaled has held numerous exhibitions in Egypt and internationally. He is also participating in the upcoming show "MODERN LOVE or Love in the Age of Cold Intimacies" curated by Katerina Gregos, taking place between 3 October 2020 and 7 March 2021 in Museum fur Neue Kunst Freiburg, Germany and between June and September 2021 in Tallinn Art Hall, Estonia. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: In 2019, 82,955 people became homeless. Many were placed in housing, but there are hundreds of thousands of families teetering on the edge and that number has most likely already grown significantly amid massive job losses. Almost 60 percent of the newly homeless population said their homelessness was because of economic hardship, as opposed to, say, a disabling health condition. Ms. Marston also pointed to the urgent need to address wide racial disparities. In Los Angeles, black people are roughly four times more likely to experience homelessness. [Read about the direct line from redlining to Los Angeless homelessness crisis.] In 2018, the agency released a report outlining the ways systemic racism, including redlining and neighbors calling the police about people experiencing homelessness, has caused the gap. Ms. Marston stopped short of supporting calls to defund law enforcement agencies. But she echoed a point made by many activists, policymakers and even law enforcement leaders: That police officers have, over time, been asked to take on responsibilities that would be better done by people with more specific training. The reality is our outreach teams are amazing, but theyre not out 24/7, Ms. Marston said. Our law enforcement side is. Elise Buik, president and chief executive of United Way of Greater Los Angeles, said that now would be a great time to rethink budgets to create new public safety systems. And yes, that could mean moving funds from law enforcement. A well-known Spanish wine critic recently explained that anyone without technical qualifications involved in the wine trade is an 'intruder' (in Spanish 'intruso'). The English word does not exist in the context he uses. Nevertheless, he alleges that one of the greatest vulnerabilities of the trade is that many bodega owners, enologists, and sommeliers have no technical qualifications, thus making them intrusos. Even Spain's greatest winemakers should not be referred to as enologists unless they are technically qualified, he suggests. If we mention to an Australian or Californian winemaker that Spanish bodegas are limited to what grapes they can grow by the regional Regulatory Commission, the reaction is an amazed, "You mean they cannot plant the grapes they choose to make their wine?" In the majority of countries there are no such controls on winemakers. So why are the Spanish - and French and Germans - so enthusiastic about maintaining endless rules and regulations? It can only be to reduce the competition. If every bodega must have a qualified winemaker and every restaurant a certified sommelier, clearly this keeps the applicants for each job to a level where there are no unemployed professionals. Forget about your favourite self-taught sommelier who has been 40 years at his job, or the winemaker who grows vines on a corner of his farm and makes delicious wine. If the rule-makers have their way, these artisans will disappear as a consequence of the controls that every day appear to be taking over our lives. If such ridiculous measures as those suggested become obligatory, can we expect to see producers of hams, honey, foie gras, cheese or marmalade unable to do their work unless they have diplomas? Cant trust Trump: How can you believe two words the president of the United States says? Hes all over the place like a jumping bean. First, he says hes going to leave it up to the states how they want to open. We all know thats so if something goes wrong and people die, he can say, well, they opened it up. In Georgia, when the governor wanted to open, Trump was very low-key because it was a Republican. In Pennsylvania, he was all over the Democrat governor. Hes telling lies and inconsistencies. I dont believe anything he says. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 20:04:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- India and Bangladesh have seen record daily spikes of COVID-19 cases on Friday, as some Asia Pacific countries like Japan are coping with the economic woe of the pandemic by enacting a record supplementary budget. India's health ministry reported 396 new deaths, besides 10,956 new cases during the past 24 hours across the country, taking the number of deaths to 8,498 and total cases to 297,535. This is the largest single day spike in the country both in terms of new deaths and new cases. For the first time new cases reported in a single day surpassed 10,000. At the same time, the total number of confirmed cases in Bangladesh exceeded 81,000 after a record 3,471 new cases were detected in the last 24 hours. Japan's parliament enacted a record 31.91 trillion yen (297 billion U.S. dollars) second supplementary budget for the current fiscal year aimed at further cushioning the economic blow delivered by the coronavirus pandemic. The record extra budget, approved by the upper house and enacted at a plenary session thereafter Friday, will finance an additional package of 117 trillion yen (1.08 trillion U.S. dollars), with the latest spending plan aimed at continuing to provide fiscal support related to the coronavirus crisis. The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines rose to 24,787 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 615 more infections. The cases in Indonesia rose by 1,111 within one day to 36,406, with the death toll adding by 48 to 2,048, Health Ministry official Achmad Yurianto said at a press conference. Residents of Australia's Northern Territory (NT) will be handed vouchers in an attempt of the government to keep the tourism industry alive amid the COVID-19 crisis. Under the 5.2-million-Australian dollar (3.5 million U.S. dollars) scheme announced by the NT government on Thursday, Territorians will receive 200 Australian dollars (136.8 U.S. dollars) vouchers to be spent around the jurisdiction from July 1. Thailand's Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced that the government has approved to end the night curfew from June 15. "Ministers and health experts have all agreed that the 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. curfew will be lifted from next Monday (June 15) but the state of emergency in the country will continue," said CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin. South Korea reported 56 more cases of the COVID-19, raising the total number of infections to 12,003. The daily caseload moved between 30 and 60 for the past 12 days. Of the new cases, 13 were imported from overseas, lifting the combined figure to 1,325. New Zealand's Ministry of Health reported no cases, 21 days since the last new case was reported in the country. The combined number of confirmed and probable cases reported to the World Health Organization was 1,504, including 1,154 confirmed cases, said a ministry statement. Enditem Schools have been closed to many pupils during the Covid-19 pandemic (Tim Goode/PA) Teaching unions have lashed out at the DUP's Sammy Wilson after he accused them of being "out of step" with parents by opposing a return to the classroom by August 17. The East Antrim MP, who is the DUP's Westminster education spokesperson, said pupils here should not continue to be disadvantaged because of the Covid-19 crisis. Mr Wilson said that teaching unions are out of step with teachers and the parents by opposing an August 17 return for pupils such as those in years 12 and 14. "Learning must come first. Teaching unions have every right to speak up for teachers, but they must also keep in mind the duty of schools to provide an education for our children and young people," he said. "That must be the focus. The unions are not only out of step with parents, but out of step with many teachers who want to see their pupils learning and reaching their potential." The Department of Education has explained that "subject to medical and scientific advice", a phased reopening of schools will take place mid-August for key cohort years, followed by a phased return for all pupils in September. "For most pupils it will involve a schedule with a mixture of school attendance and remote learning at home," said a spokesperson. Expand Close Concerns: Sammy Wilson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Concerns: Sammy Wilson The Ulster Teachers' Union (UTU) branded the remarks "shameful" and Justin McCamphill of the NASUWT told the Belfast Telegraph that Mr Wilson's comments were "totally absurd" as feedback from teachers had indicated the opposite to the case. "Hundreds of teachers have been in contact with us about this, since it (the return date) was first mooted," he said. "Teachers do see this as an attack on the terms and conditions, while principals see this news as actually preventing them from having an orderly return to work for September." Mr McCamphill insisted it was "too simplistic" for anyone to call for schools to restart in around two months' time without any preparation by schools put in place. Jacquie White, general secretary of the UTU, said: "To suggest that we are not representing the views of our members by voicing concerns over health and safety issues around schools re-opening is quite simply preposterous and a disingenuous attempt it would seem to divide our resolve. "Yes, education must come first - that underpins our profession - but not at any price. Our members' concerns - and, yes, we have been in daily contact with members across Northern Ireland - are all too real. "They are desperate to get the children back in class for they too want to remove their job from their living rooms and kitchens which have been taken over for the last 12 weeks, regardless of the needs of their own households." The row mirrors a spat between teaching unions in England and the government after officials insisted pupils could not return to school unless they could be made "Covid secure". The government has since abandoned plans to have primary schools reopened by the end of this month. Mr Wilson stressed, however, that it was time for schools to act, as pressure continues to be felt on parents who are "trying their best" to provide home-schooling, adding some have "limited options for supervising children especially in single parent homes with grandparents shielding". "For any union to try and exploit legalities to stop teachers and pupils returning to schools in mid-August is reckless and gives little consideration to the pupils' education and particularly pupils in hard to reach communities," he said. "One of the greatest duties we have to our children is to ensure they get a good education. To do otherwise would be to fail that generation." The Department said it "fully appreciates the legitimate concerns" expressed by teachers and parents in relation to schools reopening, adding: "The Department has established a Restart Programme... to enable a safe phased reopening of schools." Facebook's recent purchase of GIF-making website Giphy is being investigated by British regulators. The social media giant bought the animation website in May for a fee believed to be around $400million (330million). But the CMA has opened an investigation and will determine whether the merger may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition. Facebook's takeover of GIF-making website Giphy is being investigated after claims it could stifle competition with other UK brands Giphy is a popular animation tool which helps members of the public produce GIFs, which are animated images often used in online interactions. Mark Zuckerberg's company has already integrated Giphy's user-uploaded animation library, with over 50 per cent of its traffic so far coming from Facebook's platforms, which include Messenger and WhatsApp. The takeover of Giphy was set to see the social media giant integrate the animation tool with Instagram, another popular platform owned by Facebook which also contributes to the animation website's traffic. However, the CMA have asked for Instagram and Giphy to remain separate while the investigation goes ahead. A spokesperson for Facebook said on Friday: 'We are prepared to show regulators that this acquisition is positive for consumers, developers, and content creators alike.' Other social media sites such as Twitter, Snapchat and TikTok use Giphy on their platforms, with Facebook maintaining after the purchase that the animation website's relationship with these companies will not change. Giphy already contributes to other social media sites such as Snapchat and TikTok (both pictured), with the Facebook deal set to see the animation website increase its activity with Instagram, which is owned by Mark Zuckerberg's company The investigation into the takeover begins on Friday, with the CMA inviting comments on the transaction from any interested party. Speaking back in May, Giphy announced it was excited to begin an official partnership with Instagram, via Facebook. A statement read: 'More than one billion people use Instagram to communicate how they're feeling and what they're passionate about we can't wait to help those people become even more animated. 'Weve had a lot of fun teaming up with Instagram over the years; GIPHYs Stickers were the perfect fit for layering on Instagram Stories, while our GIF search allowed everyone to capture that perfect emotion in Instagrams DMs. 'Based on the success of those collaborations (and many others) we know that there are exciting times ahead of us.' London: Marvin Rees would have had good reason to celebrate the toppling of slave trader Edward Colston's statue. As a boy, Rees was called the N-word by men driving past in cars. His father, Valentine a descendant of African slaves arrived in Bristol from Jamaica in the 1960s to signs saying "No Irish, no blacks, no dogs". But the United Kingdom's first popularly elected black mayor is far from jubilant. He is happy the statue is gone but criticises the way protesters tore it down. He worries the mass gathering could worsen the COVID-19 crisis, smashing his city's economy and claiming far more black lives than white. He also says there are good reasons for not removing the monument before now. "I could have expended a lot of political capital on a statue, entering into a symbolic act, that wouldn't have actually fed, clothed or paid any bills for people in Bristol," Rees said this week. Activists have drawn up a hit-list of nearly 100 other memorials to prominent historical figures who have links to slave trading, racism or imperial domination. Statues of Cecil Rhodes at the University of Oxford, James Cook in the seaside town of Whitby and Christopher Columbus in central London are prime targets. Princess Anne will be the first royal to return to working in-person with an engagement scheduled for next week to visit the Duke of Gloucester Barracks. A tweet shared by Gerts Royals outlined how the Princess Royal, 69, is set to meet with COVID-19 staff at the Barracks in South Cerney, Gloucesterhire on 16 June. If the engagement goes ahead, it will mark the first time that a member of the British royal family has had an in-person appearance since the start of the pandemic in March. And the news may come as a surprise to some because the 69-year-old would be more 'at risk' to the coronavirus than younger members of the royal family such as the Cambridges or the Wessexes. Princess Anne, 69, could become the first royal to return to work in person, with an engagement scheduled in her diary next week to visit the Duke of Gloucester Barracks If the engagement goes ahead, it will mark the first time that a member of the British royal family has had an in-person appearance since the start of the pandemic in March (pictured, the royal family making video messages to mark International Nurse's Day) As well as an engagement next week at the royal barracks in her role as Colonel-in-chief, the Princess Royal also has other appearances in the diary. The 69-year-old is also set to visit Scarborough and Ryedale Carers, of which she is president to mark the organisation's 25th anniversary on 30 June. And she will go on to visit Dovecote Park in Pontefract as part of her role as president of the City and Guilds of London Institute. There aren't currently any engagements in the diary for other senior members of the royal family. The Princess Royal has been conducting her engagements and appearances virtually from her home of Gatcombe Park since March The Princess Royal, who will celebrate her 70th birthday in August, was one of the last royals to have a public engagement, attending the National Convention at Addington Equestrian Centre on 16 March. The last members of the Firm to attend a visit in person were the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who met with NHS call centre staff days later on 20 March. That month, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that people aged over 70 would be required to self-isolate for up to four months in order to protect them from the Covid-19 illness. This impacted the senior royals, the monarch, who is 93, heir to the throne Charles, 71, and the 72-year-old Camilla. The news comes days after it emerged the Queen, 94, who has put all her public engagements on hold as she resides with her husband Prince Philip at Windsor Castle, may not be allowed to return to her public duties due to the risk of catching Covid-19 'for years' to come (Pictured during her address to the nation and the Commonwealth on the 75th anniversary of VE Day) It had been reported that those younger members of The Firm may be the first to return to in-person engagements, including that of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (pictured right with their children during Clap for Carers) and the Earl (left) and Countess of Wessex The younger households, including that of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Earl and Countess of Wessex, have been reportedly looking at how physical engagements can be done in the future but are yet to schedule anything officially in the diary, How at risk are older people from coronavirus? Since March 23, elderly Britons and those with chronic conditions have been told not to leave their homes or come into close contact with anyone. Families have been urged to avoid grandparents in case they pass on the highly contagious virus, which is lethal for elderly and already-ill patients. According to a PHE report, people over 80 in England who are hospitalised with covid-19 are 70 times more likely to die compared to people under 40. The probability of death is about three times higher for people aged 40 to 49, nine times higher among those aged 50 to 59. Meanwhile, the probability drastically increases for those over the age of 60, who are 27 times more likely to die if hospitalised with Covid, and 50 times higher for those in their 70s. In the ONS figures up to 24 April, 81.5 per cent of deaths in England and Wales with coronavirus on the death certificate were for people aged over 70. Advertisement The British royals have stayed in touch with fans through social media, with the Cambridges sharing a new photo of Prince William sheltering Prince George, six, and Princess Charlotte, five, under an umbrella to mark Volunteers' Week in the UK on Sunday. William and Kate have embraced the role of at-home teachers for their two eldest children during the lockdown, and with Gavin Williamson announcing the Government has scrapped its target of getting all primary school pupils back in the classroom before the summer holidays, it's likely they'll be continuing until next month. Last month it was reported that the Queen may remain in self-isolation 'for months' and never return to regular frontline royal duties. Her Majesty, 94, who has put all her public engagements on hold as she resides with her husband Prince Philip at Windsor Castle, may not be allowed to return to her public duties due to the risk of catching Covid-19 'for years' to come. Royal biographer Andrew Morton, 66, told The Sun that he feared the Queen, whose schedule is not expected to resume until the autumn at the earliest, may never be able to return to her regular duties and will most likely be seen on TV or video links rather than in public. Meanwhile Prince Charles, 71, remains in isolation with the Duchess of Cornwall at his Aberdeenshire home of Birkhall on the Balmoral estate. He contracted coronavirus in March but claims he was 'lucky' to have experienced 'relatively mild symptoms'. Princess Anne is oft regarded the 'hardest working royal' because of her high number of public appearances and engagements each year. Last year, the Prince of Wales was the busiest member of the family with 521 engagements, just ahead of the ever-active Princess Royal on 506. The Princess Royal last made an appearance in public in mid-March when she visited the Addington Equestrian Centre Analysis conducted by The Telegraph also showed that the Queen's daughter worked 180 days of the year in 2018. In March last year it was also revealed that she has clocked up 20,000 engagements in 50 years. Her official debut took place 50 years ago, on March 1, 1969, St Davids Day, when she handed out leeks to the Welsh Guards at Pirbright Camp in Surrey. On May 9, Chicopee police responded to a call for an alleged domestic assault in a basement apartment on Dwight Street, where they found a woman clutching a blood-soaked white bathrobe around her. He stabbed me, she told two responding officers. According to a police report, she had multiple puncture wounds to her upper body including a slashed bicep, bleeding heavily. The woman pointed to a 6-inch kitchen knife nearby. Arrested at the scene, after tussling with police who were forced to tase him, was Roberto Virola, 51. Virola was among thousands of pretrial inmates across Massachusetts including hundreds in Hampden County recently released from jail amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Inmate rights groups sued the state over the risk of rampant spreading of coronavirus behind the walls of jails and prisons. Epidemiologists have warned of potentially dire outcomes similar to those at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Virola was freed on May 8, just one day before he allegedly attacked the woman, who survived her injuries. He was released while awaiting trial on charges including indecent assault and battery on a family member and intimidation of a witness, according to court records. A Level 3 sex offender also convicted of rape in 1990, Virola is back at the Hampden County House of Corrections from whence he came -- charged with assault to murder. He is being held without the right to bail on the new charge. He has been arraigned on criminal charges 85 times as an adult, records show. Virola is one example among the recent inmate exodus Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi says lately causes him sleepless nights. This is literally a circus and its unfolding right before my very eyes. This is a serious public safety threat and many of these people also are dangers to themselves, Cocchi said. They get out of jail to escape COVID-19 and go back to far more dangerous and risky environments. It makes absolutely no sense. Cocchi also argues the tide of releases happened so swiftly, his department did not have the time nor resources to create sudden discharge plans for each inmate. This left some homeless, and many grappling with addiction and not enough support. One inmate died of a heroin overdose six days after his release on April 9. Another spent his first night after his release sleeping in a dumpster. A female, drug-reliant inmate relapsed after her release, also on April 9, and returned to prostitution before eventually finding a bed at a womens shelter, according to Cocchis records. Still others are in the wind, from the sheriff departments standpoint. However, defense attorneys say the pandemic is not only a public health crisis in penal institutions but a glaring spotlight on bloated incarceration rates. If its a matter of resources, whose fault is that? If Cocchi needs staff in other positions, take some of the 18 zillion correctional officers on his staff and put some of them in the community, in other roles to address those needs, said veteran defense lawyer David P. Hoose, president of Western Massachusetts Lawyers for Justice. The number of corrections staff in Cocchis department include 362 correctional officers, 25 correctional case workers and 77 uniformed supervisors for a total of 464, according to a spokesman. COVID-19 or no COVID-19, there are way too many people in jail, way too many people in jail. This is a result of our countrys 50-year addiction to incarceration, Hoose added. The Hampden County Sheriff Departments inmate census plummeted from 1,166 on March 1 to 731 on June 11, according to a spokesman. Hundreds of inmates statewide were presumptively released per a ruling by the state Supreme Judicial Court issued in April. In general, those inmates were awaiting trial for non-violent offenses and automatically freed based on the charges they faced, weighted against the virus threat. However, Cocchi and General Counsel Theresa S. Finnegan said many more defense attorneys filed motions on behalf of clients who fell outside that group. An additional throng were freed on low cash bails or no bails, nonetheless significantly boosting the total number of releases. They are having success getting their clients released even without the presumption, established by the SJC, Finnegan said. The charges that dont carry the presumption tend to be more serious crimes. We believe they would not have been released but for COVID. Virola was among the second group, Finnegan said. Cocchi has kept records of each release including pending charges; dates of release; and follow-up notes such as planned living arrangements; addiction services; and whether they have been arrested and charged for new crimes. Cocchi provided this information to The Republican with inmates names redacted. But, some of the defendants, like Virola, had already made headlines or their arrests were otherwise public record. Of 62 inmate synopses (which do not reflect the total number) provided to the newspaper, eight have been rearrested, according to Cocchis figures, which matches state numbers. At least 16 were homeless upon release, he said. Also of those, several were released on their own recognizance (meaning, without having to post any bail) after judges previously set bails as high as $30,000 or refusing to set bail at all. Among them were: Gregory Stevens, 39, of Easthampton, charged in September with allegedly paying for sex with a child under 14; $25,000 bail reduced to zero on May 1 and homeless upon release. Aramis Ares, 25, of Chicopee, charged in April with manslaughter and carrying a firearm while intoxicated after killing a man; $2,500 bail reduced to zero on April 28. Harold Wilson, 32, a Virginia resident, arrested in November during a drug raid in Springfield; charged with trafficking heroin and cocaine, plus illegal possession of firearms; bail reduced from $30,000 to zero on April 14. Michael Preli, 40, of Suffield, Connecticut, arrested and charged with the armed robbery of a Walgreens in Agawam when he robbed a pharmacist at gunpoint while wearing a surgical mask; held without the right to bail on April 17 and released four days later on zero bail. Another inmate was charged on April 18 with assaulting a family member, strangulation and suffocation and intimidation of a witness. He was held without the right to bail that day, but released with six days later, Cocchi said. And where do you think that guy went? He went back home. This is just crazy, he said, again referring to his sleepless nights. And, if Im gonna lose sleep, other people are going to be losing sleep with me. In addition to the large numbers of inmates leaving with no particular discharge plans -- coupled with traditional community support programs such as halfway houses also hobbled by the virus -- most of those released lack electronic monitoring. Its so counterintuitive to release these men and women without exit plans, Cocchi said. He said his department has the technology and capacity to fit the inmates with so-called ELMO bracelets but lacks the legal authority because his agency is not the states probation department, whose purview is pre- and post-trial supervision. The sheriff added that he has appealed to top Massachusetts Trial Court administrative judges to consider this extra step as a remedy. They appear open to it, the sheriff said. Jennifer Donahue, a spokeswoman for the state trial court, argues the rate of re-offending defendants among presumptive coronavirus releases has been minuscule. Between the issuance of the SJC Order on April 5, 2020 and May 25, 2020 there were 1,818 releases of all types from county facilities state wide. In that same period there were 46 rearrests recorded for this group of individuals, a re-arrest rate of 2.53%. In Hampden County, the rate is 3% or 8 rearrests out of 260 releases, she said. A spokesman for Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, similarly resistant to mass inmate releases, said courts in Greater Springfield have seen a downward trend in releases over the past month. Of 50 motions for reduced bails in the countys superior and district courts, nine have been allowed. Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno has for several years been vocal about bail reform for repeat offenders. He echoed Cocchis ire over the COVID-19 releases. Im with the sheriff 110 percent, Sarno said. We cant keep letting dangerous people back out on the streets. As of June 11, coronavirus diagnoses at Hampden County penal facilities have held steady at 11 after a cluster outbreak earlier this month, according to Cocchis staff. Four jail employees are out of work with COVID-19 diagnoses. The sheriff and his staff say the spread of the virus was quickly contained. Hoose said that containment came at what he considers a dehumanizing cost to inmates. These people didnt have showers for four or five days, and they were on top of their cellmates who didnt have showers for four or five days. They werent allowed calls to their families or lawyers. Thats a disaster, Hoose said. Telephone call privileges have been restored for most of the inmate population. The 11 ill inmates are recovering and expected to be out from quarantine by the end of the week, a spokesman for Cocchi said. Apple AAPL recently announced the detailed lineup for the all-digital Worldwide Developers Conference 2020 (WWDC 2020) that will take place between Jun 22 and Jun 26 owing to the pandemic that has disrupted the traditional way of conducting the conference. On Jun 22, the keynote address will be streamed live from Apple Park. Following the special keynote address, Apple will hold its annual Platforms State of the Union address, which is designed to provide developers with a deeper look into the newest updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Apples Focus on Developer Community in WWDC 2020 The global community of more than 23 million Apple developers will be able to learn how to build the next generation of apps with more than 100 technical and design-focused sessions helmed by Apple engineers. On Jun 16, Apple will celebrate student developers from all over the world with the announcement of finalists in the Swift Student Challenge, an opportunity for students of all ages to showcase their love for coding by creating their own Swift playground. Apple Inc. Price and Consensus Apple Inc. Price and Consensus Apple Inc. price-consensus-chart | Apple Inc. Quote In order to connect the company with the developer community, over 1,000 Apple engineers will be answering questions and engaging in technical discussions on Jun 18. Starting Jun 23, Apple will post videos of over 100 technical and design-focused sessions headed by Apple engineers. Moreover, the five-day virtual event will also cover a new developers' forum, and 1-on-1 labs featuring more than 1,000 Apple engineers. Apple has virtualized its Developer Labs for this years events. Developers will be able to request an appointment with engineers who helped build the technical advancements the developer wants to implement in their own apps. Apple Planning to Refresh iMac Apple could use this years WWDC to reveal ARM-based Macs. Apple is rumored to ditch Intel INTC chips over the ARM-based processors for its Mac computers soon. Markedly, as Arm-based architecture differs from Intel, Apples timely announcement will help third-party software developers get their apps ready before new Mac computers rollout in 2021. (Read More: Apple Speculated to Announce Arm-Based Macs at WWDC) Per 9TO5 Mac, Apple is also planning to revamp iMacs external design, which is expected to feature slender bezels, similar in appearance to Apple Pro Display XDR. The new, redefined iMac is expected to carry SSDs instead of hard drives. The device will be supported by Apple T2 coprocessor for the first time and is likely to feature new Navi GPUs from AMD. Moreover, Apple is set to launch a Mac trade-in program at its retail stores in the United States (on Jun 15) and Canada (on Jun 18), per Bloomberg. Notably, Apple allowed Mac trade-ins on its website but never accepted Mac trade-ins at its retail store locations previously. However, Apple faces significant competition from Lenovo, HP HPQ and Dell Technologies DELL in the PC space in terms of market share. Notably, in coronavirus-hit first-quarter 2020, the company registered its steepest decline in shipments, which fell 20.7% year on year, per IDC Report. (Read More: PC Shipments Slide in Q1 as Coronavirus Disrupts Supply Chain) Dell was the only PC vendor that reported shipment improvement in the quarter. While its shipments inched up 1.1%, HP, Acer and Lenovo reported a decline of 13.8%, 9.9% and 4.3%, respectively. Further, Apple reported lower Mac sales in second-quarter fiscal 2020, which totaled $5.35 billion, down 2.9% year over year, accounting for 9.2% of total sales. However, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company expects Mac sales to improve in third-quarter fiscal 2020. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Based on the aforementioned initiatives, we believe, Apples focus on its developer community and on bringing new features to Mac, will have a positive impact on its overall growth and innovation in the post-coronavirus era. Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, its expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity. A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time. See 8 breakthrough stocks now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report HP Inc. (HPQ) : Free Stock Analysis Report Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Intel Corporation (INTC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Apple Inc. (AAPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Chennai, June 12 : There was no helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu's Pudukkotai district, an official said on Friday. The clarification came in the wake of some media reports of a helicopter crash. "It is all rumour. There was no helicopter accident in the Pudukkotai district," P. Uma Maheswari, District Collector, told IANS. A police officer in the district dismissed the reports of chopper crash as fake news. (TNS) Following the lead of Amazon and IBM, Microsoft on Thursday announced it wont sell its facial recognition technology to U.S. police departments until a federal law regulating its use is implemented.Microsoft President Brad Smith made the announcement during a Washington Post livestreamed event, saying the company hasnt sold the technology to law enforcement as of yet.We will not sell facial-recognition technology to police departments in the United States until we have a national law in place, grounded in human rights that will govern this technology, Smith said.The move was applauded by a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union, which last year led a coalition of 80 civil rights groups calling on tech giants to halt such sales to law enforcement.When even the makers of face recognition refuse to sell this surveillance technology because it is so dangerous, lawmakers can no longer deny the threats to our rights and liberties, Matt Cagle, technology and civil liberties attorney for the ACLU in Northern California, said in a news release. Congress and legislatures nationwide must swiftly stop law enforcement use of face recognition, and companies like Microsoft should work with the civil rights community not against it to make that happen. This includes halting its current efforts to advance legislation that would legitimize and expand the police use of facial recognition in multiple states nationwide.The moves by Microsoft and other tech companies come as police nationwide face mounting accusations of brutality for their handling of protesters in the wake of the George Floyd killing in Minneapolis last month. On Wednesday, Amazon banned police from using its facial recognition technology for one year to buy Congress time to implement regulations surrounding its use.IBM said Tuesday its pulling out of the facial recognition business completely, given how the technology can be used for racial profiling and mass surveillance.Redmond-based Microsoft two years ago was the first major tech company to call for federal regulation of the technology. During the past two weeks, the company had a front-row seat to police brutality accusations, as Seattle police used tear gas and pepper spray to clear protesters downtown and in Capitol Hill.A local Black Lives Matter group has filed a lawsuit against Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best for the tactics used to break up what it said were mostly peaceful protests.Durkan has called police use of tear gas and flash-bang grenades unacceptable and vowed to fully review the response and implement changes. President Muhammadu Buhari said Nigerias revenue from cocoa and sesame seeds has increased by $79.4 million and $153 million respectively in the past year. He disclosed this in his speech during a national broadcast to commemorate the Nigerian Democracy Day, Friday. Our efforts on growing non-oil exports have started to yield some results. For instance, in the past year, our revenue from cocoa and sesame seed increased by $79.4 million and $153 million, he said. Meanwhile, a report by PREMIUM TIMES early February this year, showed that despite governments promises and efforts, Nigerias cocoa sector was still struggling as it hurtled from its second position in the 60s in the cocoa global market to seventh. Mr Buhari also said agriculture remains the key to our economic diversification strategy, and that the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) programme continues to deliver significant quantities of affordable and high-quality fertilisers to the Nigerian farmers. This initiative has also revived 31 blending plants and created a significant number of direct and indirect jobs across the value chain, he said. Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) Nigeria and Morocco in December 2016 signed a collaboration agreement to revive the abandoned Nigerian fertiliser blending plants. Following the agreement, about 21 fertiliser plants have been revitalised so far under the initiative with a capacity to produce over 2.3 million metric tonnes of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. For this year, the plan of the PFI was to produce 600,000 metric tonnes of this blend of fertiliser before the pandemic struck, Gideon Negedu, Fertiliser producers and Suppliers Association of Nigerias secretary said. So far, about 300,000 400,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers have been disbursed under this initiative and plans were already ongoing towards making sure that the process is more efficient and effective. Mr Buhari said the government is also revamping the cotton, textile and garment sector via a CBN Textile Revival Intervention Fund that would considerably reduce foreign exchange spent on cotton and other textile imports. Through the food security initiative, he said, we are promoting Grow What We Eat and Eat What We Grow. I am also delighted that more and more Nigerians are taking advantage of the opportunities in the agriculture and agri-business sector. I assure you that the government will continue to support the Agriculture sector through the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme and similar schemes, he said. Anchor Borrowers Programme In November 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari launched the ABP to provide farm inputs in kind and cash to small-holder farmers (SHFs) to boost agricultural production and for the country to reverse its negative balance of payments on food. Farmers captured under this programme include those cultivating cereal, cotton, roots and tubers, sugarcane, tree crops, legumes, tomato and livestock. The loans are disbursed through the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and Microfinance Banks (MFBs), all of which the programme recognises as Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs). Internet Archive is ending its program of offering free, unrestricted copies of ebooks because of a lawsuit from U.S. publishers, which said lending out books without compensation for authors or publishing houses was wilful mass copyright infringement. Since March, Internet Archive, a non-profit, has made more than 1.3 million books available online without restriction, calling them a National Emergency Library. It said the program was in place to serve the nations displaced learners during the coronavirus pandemic, and that it would keep the library open until June 30 or the end of the U.S. national emergency, whichever came later. In a blog post published Wednesday, however, it said it would close the library next week. It said that the vast majority of people used the ebooks for a very short period of time, so could be served under the organizations normal restrictions, which included limiting checkouts to 14 days. The lawsuit, filed June 1, does not just object to the National Emergency Library but to the way Internet Archive has long operated. Traditional libraries pay publishers licensing fees, and agree to terms that restrict how many times they can lend an ebook. Internet Archive, by contrast, takes books that have been donated or purchased, scans them and posts them online. The Association of American Publishers, which is helping to co-ordinate the publishing industrys response to Internet Archive, declined to comment Thursday. Internet Archive received additional scrutiny this week from the office of Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. and the chair of the intellectual property subcommittee on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Tillis sent a letter to the organization Wednesday questioning its plan to digitize and publish 500,000 sound recordings from Bop Street Records, a store in Seattle. His office also raised concerns about the National Emergency Library in April. I recognize the value in preserving culture and ensuring that it is accessible by future generations, Tillis wrote in the letter Wednesday. But I am concerned that the Internet Archive thinks that it not Congress gets to determine the scope of copyright law. UK sales of beer have slumped to the lowest level on record because of the coronavirus outbreak, trade industry body the British Beer and Pub Association said. (AFP/OLI SCARFF) In the first quarter of this year, overall sales were down 7.2 per cent year-on-year to 1.5 billion pints, the body said in its latest "Beer Barometer" report. The BBPA said the fall was "entirely down" to sales in pubs and bars, which were down 16.4 per cent compared to the same period last year to 668 million pints. Prime Minister Boris Johnson called time on pubs, bars, restaurants and other leisure facilities remaining open on Mar 20, three days before he ordered a nationwide lockdown. He acknowledged the closures were "extraordinary" and took away "the inalienable right of freeborn people of the United Kingdom to go to the pub". BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said the latest figures were "stark" and revealed the "devastating impact" of the virus outbreak on breweries and pubs. "The cliff-edge impact on our sector, when people were told to stop going to the pub and then when they were shut down, is clear to see," she added. "We are urging the government to get Britain brewing again and re-open our pubs from July 4." Britain is gradually easing stay-at-home restrictions, with widespread concern about the impact of two months of lockdown on the economy. Non-essential shops and services, as well as zoos, wildlife parks and drive-in cinemas can open from next Monday, and individual attendance will be allowed at places of worship. The pub trade said it needed a firm indication from the government about a date for reopening, as brewers required three weeks' notice to be able to brew fresh beer. Pubs also needed to be able to reopen safely, in line with social distancing measures. "This will help save pubs from permanent closure," said McClarkin. They are employing state media, proxy outlets, and social media accounts to amplify criticism of the United States related to the death of George Floyd and subsequent events. An intelligence bulletin obtained by Fox News Thursday indicates that American defense officials are warning about "foreign adversaries" capitalizing on the unrest following the death of George Floyd in order to "sow discord" among Americans. The bulletin further illustrates what has been known for years -- that enemies of the U.S., including Russia, China and Iran, have aimed to take advantage of and exacerbate domestic divisions in America to advance their own geopolitical goals, Fox News wrote. It was ABC News who first reported on the document. "This Intelligence Note describes how foreign adversaries are employing state media, proxy outlets, and social media accounts to amplify criticism of the United States related to the death of George Floyd and subsequent events," the note reads. It adds: "Foreign influence actors affiliated with Russia, China, and Iran are using state media, proxy websites, and social media accounts to amplify criticism of the US over the 25 May 2020 death of George Floyd and subsequent events. These actors criticize the United States as hypocritical, corrupt, undemocratic, racist, guilty of human rights abuses, and on the verge of collapsing." Read alsoRussia exploiting coronavirus situation to further own interests NATO The note gives specific examples of how these countries are working to "manipulate the public, sow discord and ill will, discredit the electoral process, disrupt markets, and undermine the interests of the American people." Russian state media, for example, ran stories on the protests which played up their "scale" and "intensity" while saying they were justified against "the 'corrupt American capitalist system'" and "white elites." Russia also used "proxy websites," according to the bulletin, to spread narratives harmful to the United States. It closes with a warning for intelligence and defense officials to double-check where they are getting their information from and ensure they are not spreading online disinformation or foreign propaganda themselves. In what can be called a huge success, Agra police's cyber cell recovered Rs 10.50 lakh stolen from a retired army officer in New Delhi. The fraudsters had cheated the Lt. General with a fake business proposal. They had promised to set up a business of exporting mineral to foreign pharmaceutical companies. Shutterstock According to a TOI report, the fraud contacted the former army officer, who lives in Delhi's Greater Kailash, on LinkedIn. The man had identified as Kiyoshi Nizuguchi who was based in Tokyo and associated with a pharma firm. "In December 2019, Nizuguchi asked me to represent his company and buy some mineral from Sanu mining group based in West Bengal's Siliguri. The mining group turned out to be fake. Later, the accused told me to contact a woman called Arti Mukherjee of the fake mining company," the report said quoting the officer's FIR. Shutterstock After a couple of contact and email exchanges, the fraud convinced the ex-army officer to buy a consignment of minerals worth Rs 10.50 lakh from the woman. Nizuguchi also told the general that his firm's employees would come to collect the mineral consignment. The fraud also assured 7 per cent commission to the ex-officer on the purchase of the mineral. When no one arrived to pick the consignment, the ex-officer contacted Delhi Police. Shutterstock "The officer had under-reported the amount of money he was cheated. During the course of the investigation, we traced a part of money amounting to Rs 10.50 lakh to a bank account which was put on freeze," the report quoted Shailesh Kumar, Agra IG range cyber cell in-charge as saying. Senior police officers in Agra said the money would be handed over to the ex-army officer once the court grants permission. The nationwide coronavirus tally crossed the 3-lakh mark on Friday with a record number of over 10,000 new cases being detected across states and union territories. Maharashtra accounts for more than one lakh of these cases. The government, meanwhile, stressed on the need for stringent containment measures to check the pandemic with the last one lakh cases emerging in just 10 days. While the first case was detected in India on January 30, it took more than 100 days to reach the one-lakh mark on May 18, but the 2-lakh mark was breached only about a fortnight later on June 2. India is the fourth worst-hit nation by the pandemic after the US, Brazil and Russia. While the US has reported more than 20 lakh confirmed cases so far, the tally for Brazil is over 8 lakh and for Russia more than 5 lakh. Globally, more than 4 lakh have died and over 75 lakh have tested positive since the outbreak of the disease in China last December. However, nearly 36 lakh have recovered as well. In India, more than 1.47 lakh patients have recovered so far, while there are nearly 1.42 lakh active cases, according to data from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Maharashtra, the worst-hit state, saw its tally cross the 1-lakh mark after 3,493 new cases were reported to take its total to 1,01,141, while its death toll rose to 3,717. It also reported a large number of recoveries. As many as 126 cancer patients, who had tested COVID-19 positive, have recovered in Mumbai itself. 'Emerging epicentres matter of concern' The Centre has asked states and UTs to pay special attention to emerging epicentres of cases and to focus on containment, testing and tracing, upgrading health infrastructure, clinical management and community engagement for effective management of COVID-19, said the health ministry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also hold a fresh round of consultation with chief ministers next week. In its morning update, the ministry said the total number of confirmed cases has reached 2,978,535 and the death toll to 8,498 after record numbers of 10,956 cases and 396 fatalities were recorded in the last 24 hours. However, figures announced by states and UTs, as of 10.15 pm on Friday, showed the overall national tally of confirmed cases having risen to 3,00,519 and the death toll to 8,872. It also showed a higher number of recoveries at more than 1.52 lakh. The ministry said the doubling time of coronavirus cases has improved to 17.4 days, from 3.4 days when the nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 25. A phased withdrawal of all lockdown restrictions began on June 1, except for those in containment zones. In Delhi, a record number of 2,137 new cases were detected to take its tally to 36,824, while its death toll rose to 1,214. In Tamil Nadu, another badly hit state, the tally saw a record daily jump of 1,982 cases to cross the 40,000-mark, while the toll reached 367. Gujarat reported 495 new cases and 31 more fatalities, taking its case count to 22,562 and the death toll to 1,416. Uttar Pradesh reported 20 more deaths and 528 fresh cases, the biggest single-day spike so far for the state. This took its death toll to 365 and the case count to 12,616. However, more than 7,600 people have recovered, giving a recovery rate of over 60%. West Bengal breached the 10,000-mark with its highest single-day spike of 476 cases, while nine more fatalities were reported to take the toll to 451. New cases were also reported from Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Goa, Chhatisgharh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Sikkim, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh. (With inputs from PTI) Henceforth, heads of MDAs who fail to honour the invitation of the Senate public accounts committee will be compelled to do so through issuance of warrants of arrest against them, the committee chairman has said. Matthew Urhoghide (PDP, Edo) gave this warning on Thursday after the absence of all six MDA heads invited for an investigative hearing on the audit queries issued by the office of the auditor-general. Culpable for this, Mr Urhoghide said, are the ministers for information, petroleum resources, power, women Affairs, solid minerals and the head of the National Population Commission (NPC). Over a month ago, we wrote to them to come and answer the audit queries raised against them by the auditor-general of the federation in its 2015 audit report, Mr Urhoghide said. But they have deliberately and irresponsibly failed to honour our invitation. Their failure to appear before this committee amount to outright disobedience to constituted authority. He noted further that rather than coming, the ministers and heads of the affected agencies gave different reasons which are are absurd, untenable and not serving any public interest for their nonappearance at the investigative hearing. For example, while the ministry of information gave flimsy excuse of contractors who handled 2015 projects not being around, other ministries like power, women affairs said they are seeing the copies of the queries for the first time, Mr Urhoghide explained. This, he said, is wont among public officers in the country and is a blight on public accountability which they should uphold. Ministers that even supposed to come ran away. We wont tolerate this any longer, because the infractions observed in the accounts of their various ministries run into billions of naira. They will surely be compelled to appear before this committee through issuance of warrants of arrest against them when next they fail our invitation in line with section 89 of the constitution, the lawmaker said. Mr Urhoghide said the nonappearance of the agency heads is undermining the efficiency of the National Assembly and one of the reasons Nigerians often accuse them of not discharging its duties. It is only in Nigeria that people will spend governments money and fail to show up to defend their expenditure, he said. Also at the hearing were the auditor-general, Anthony Ayine, Ibrahim Hadeija (APC, Jigawa), Yusuf Yusuf (APC, Taraba) among others. In their respective remarks, they pitched their tents with the committee chairman that warrant of arrest should be issued against ministers and heads of agencies that disregard their invitations when next they are invited. There are signs that young people who have been calling for change, are also energised about voting in November. Washington, DC Young people across the United States flooded the streets of their cities and towns in unprecedented numbers to denounce the killing of George Floyd, demand police reforms and an end to systemic racism in the country. Whether this will translate into a higher turnout in the November presidential election is still up in the air, experts say. But there are signs that this year, young voters are more energised about making their voices heard. There is no lack of enthusiasm or engagement, there is a distinct feeling that the system and the political leaders in that system have failed us, said Alex Butcher-Nesbitt, deputy press secretary at NextGen America, an organisation that seeks to encourage young people to vote. There is a huge power in numbers, we see that on the streets now and we will see it at the polls in November, Butcher-Nesbitt told Al Jazeera. Young adults, those aged 18-44 make up 39 percent of eligible voters, and could make a substantial difference in the presidential race, especially in crucial swing states. Historically in the US, voters younger than 30 years old have shown up at the polls in lower numbers than older voters. But there are indications this could change in 2020. Last week, Rock the Vote, a nonprofit organisation that assists and encourages young people to vote, said more than 80,000 new voters registered through their website last week the most registrations the group has experienced in a single week this election cycle. Demonstrators gathered in front of the fence surrounding Lafayette Park outside the White House in Washington, DC [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters/Daylife] For nearly three weeks, dozens of young people have gathered in the evenings in the newly-named Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House. The place has become symbolic in downtown Washington, DC of the protesters demand for justice for Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died on May 25 after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Not the ideal candidate A young man with a loudspeaker leads the chants, Black Lives Matter, No justice, no peace, no racist police the leading demands during the protests. I want my voice to be heard and I want there to be a change, said Lany, 20, who did not wish to give her last name. Lany said she initially supported Bernie Sanders, a self-described Democratic socialist who ended his campaign in April, and endorsed the presumptive nominee Joe Biden. Lany says although Biden is not her ideal candidate, she will still vote for the Democrat. While I dont like the two candidates that are running, theres clearly one thats better than the other, she said, I would rather have my voice heard and do my duty than just let Trump who is a fascist run our country. Recent polls show that Trump, who adopted a hardline approach to the protests and threatened to deploy the US military to quell violent dissent, is unpopular among young people, putting him at political risk. In a survey conducted by YouGov on June 10-11, 26 percent of voters aged 18-29 said they support Trump, compared with 59 percent of voters who said they back Biden. Bidens campaign has not made significant changes to its youth outreach amid the protests, but in a recent virtual fundraiser, he said he believed the protests will energise young people to turn out for him. Now they are engaged, Biden said. They feel it. They taste it. And theyre angry and theyre determined. Swing states The young vote may prove crucial in a race that is expected to be focused on several highly contested swing states. Given Trumps lead in key swing states, the only way Biden is going to win is if we see a massive uptick in turnout, said Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist and former leadership aide in the US Senate. No young person can look at the events in the last couple of months and not march to the polls and vote for Biden, Manley told Al Jazeera. He is going to show young people that he is a strong principled alternative to the chaos that is coming out of this White House. But for some protesters, animosity towards Trump will not be enough to push them to vote for Biden. I really dont care for any of the candidates that are running for office right now. I think they are the same, said Dion, 37, who did not want to provide his last name. He said he has been participating in every protest in Washington, DC since they began on May 29, and has no plans to stop showing up. I dont have any love for Biden, I wouldnt vote for him, he said. Progressives in the Democratic Party are seeking to push back on the pro-Israel policies championed by Joe Biden and other moderate Democrats File: Joshua Roberts/Reuters] Biden has rejected calls to defund the police, which has become a rallying cry for protesters. I dont think the police should be defunded, Biden said in an op-ed on Wednesday. The better answer is to give police departments the resources they need to implement meaningful reforms, and to condition other federal dollars on completing those reforms, he wrote. Observers say, for many protesters, Bidens position on these key issues may reassure his base of older and moderate voters, but will not satisfy younger people who want to see meaningful change. Biden has got to recognise that this energy does not automatically transfer to being an anti-Trump vote, said Cliff Albright, a co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund, its gotta be earned, Albright told Al Jazeera. Bidens response to the protests has been tone deaf, Albright adds. Three men posing in front of the White House in Washington, DC while holding signs reading Im a Black man, please dont shoot and Justice for Breonna Taylor [Jihan Abdalla/Al Jazeera] Trumps policies had already heightened interest among young voters, and the vote is a referendum on the president, said John Della Volpe, director of polling at Harvard Universitys Kennedy Institute of Politics. We were on our way to a significant turnout among young people because of Trump, Della Volpe told Al Jazeera, Now, there are two additional factors, COVID and these protests. It is now up to Biden, Della Volpe said. If he is able to meet the moment and transfer much of the energy of those who wouldnt normally vote and say we can change this country faster, more substantively if you both protest and you vote. The Punjab government on Friday launched a mobile application aimed at undertaking house to house surveillance to contain the spread of COVID-19. The app, 'Ghar ghar nigrani', was launched by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh through video conference, an official release said. The chief minister described the health department's initiative, encompassing ASHA (accredited social health activist) workers and community volunteers, as a tool for early detection and testing of coronavirus. Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Anurag Agarwal said the entire rural and urban population of Punjab above 30 years of age shall be surveyed as part of the drive, which will also cover persons below the age of 30 having co-morbidity or influenza-like illness. The survey would capture full medical conditions of a person for the previous one week and complete details of his/her co-morbidity, Agarwal said, adding that this would help the state develop an extremely important database to further plan its COVID containment strategy and make targeted interventions for the community. According to Special Secretary, health-cum-testing in charge for COVID, Isha Kalia, the user-friendly app had been developed and designed in-house by the health department, and field tested in Patiala and Mansa. Around 20,628 persons were surveyed, of whom 9,045 were found to be asymptomatic and 1,583 with symptoms like cough, fever, sore throat, breathlessness etc. The survey is currently underway in 518 villages and 47 urban wards. Around 4.88 per cent of the people surveyed have been found to be hypertensive, 2.23 per cent diabetic, 0.14 per cent having kidney disease, 0.64 per cent with heart disease, 0.13 per cent having TB and 0.13 per cent having cancer. The ASHA workers and community volunteers will be paid Rs 4 per head incentive/honorarium for every person surveyed and shall cover 500 households. A supervisor will oversee the work of ASHA and community volunteers, and would be engaged on a voluntary basis for Rs 5,000 per month. Students walk between classes at Los Angeles City College (Los Angeles Times) The presidents of 60 California community colleges have formed an alliance that aims to combat racism and educational inequities on campuses where the majority are students of color. The move follows mass protests triggered by the death of George Floyd , which have prompted calls for institutions around the country to take a hard look at issues of racism and racial inequity within their own walls. The newly formed California Community College Equity Leadership Alliance will work with the USC Race and Equity Center to train college representatives on topics like hiring and retaining faculty of color, fostering inclusive classrooms and integrating race across the curriculum. The members will also have access to online tools like case studies and readings on racial equity and will participate in campus surveys to assess how students, faculty and staff feel about their campus climate when it comes to issues of inclusion and diversity. Shaun R. Harper, executive director of the USC Race and Equity Center, said students and faculty of color have been pushing community colleges to commit to specific steps to address persistent inequities on campus. Those calls grew more urgent as protests swept the country. There are tremendous racial inequities on the California community college campuses, Harper said. You have a mostly white faculty teaching a mostly Latino, Black, Asian and Pacific Islander population. Therefore the curriculum tends to not be reflective of those students' cultural histories and identities and interests. The schools, like other institutions of higher education, also often have a stratified workforce, he said. Most Black and Latino employees work in food service, grounds keeping, or low-paid secretarial roles, Harper said. If you are a Black student at one of these community colleges and the only Black employees you really see are custodial workers or food service workers, it conveys to you quite powerfully how Black people are positioned at the institution. Story continues The schools will pay $25,000 per year to participate in the alliance, Harper said. Francisco Rodriguez, chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District, which is part of the alliance, said that in recent days hes heard very personal and often painful stories from students and faculty about the impact of racial inequity on their lives, including on campus. Students and staff have pushed for a more inclusive curriculum as well as stronger efforts to diversify hiring. About 85% of the student body at LACCD is made up of people of color, while only about 40-45% of faculty are, Rodriguez said. Weve made good progress in the last couple years, he said. But, weve not made enough progress. Now theres an urgency for institutions around the country to respond, he said. We need to do more than reflect, he said. We need to act and finally once and for all root out racism and racist policies and practices in higher education and Im committed to do that at LACCD. Montana now has only 21 cases of COVID-19, only three people are currently hospitalized. Only six counties have active cases. Meanwhile, we are paying out hundreds of millions of dollars in unemployment claims. What possible sense does it make to continue the extreme measures of an economic shutdown? UM Bureau of Business and Economic Research estimates 75,000 Montana job losses and $6.4 billion of lost income. We are seeing hundreds of small businesses fail. The Montana commerce department has urged tourists not to visit Montana, destroying hundreds of small tourist-dependent enterprises. Community programs and schools that contribute to the development of young people are unable to offer their services, putting teachers and mentors, at all skill levels, out of work. For the sake of people who need to care for their families and children who need these outlets, Montanas economy needs to open, safely but completely. The potential loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue will also leave thousands of vulnerable Montanans who rely on state assistance without needed help. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal A man awaiting trial in a gruesome child death case is now accused of violating his conditions of release for allegedly being around his girlfriends children unsupervised. Fabian Gonzales, 35, is charged with reckless abuse of a child resulting in death, tampering with evidence and conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence in the death of 10-year-old Victoria Martens in August 2016. Gonzales was released from jail in November. He is required to live at a residence that is determined by pretrial services and is not supposed to have contact with minors unless hes supervised by another adult, among other restrictions. According to a report filed on Wednesday by the 2nd Judicial District Courts Judicial Supervision and Diversion Program, last week, staff with Healthcare for the Homeless told pretrial services that Gonzales was at their facility recently with his girlfriend and her children. During the course of their interaction, Gonzales was observed to be in the presence of the children without supervision for several minutes, the report says. The report also says that Gonzales told his supervising officer that he was recently evicted and would be staying at motels until he found a permanent residence. The alleged violations come as Gonzales has a pending motion to have a judge loosen his conditions of release. Last month, Gonzales attorney, Stephen Aarons, filed a motion to have a judge allow Gonzales to be able to live with one of his brothers instead of paying for his own apartment and to allow him to work outside Bernalillo County. Gonzales isnt allowed to live with his brother because the brother is on the states witness list, but the two do work together. Aarons could not be reached for comment on Thursday. A compliance hearing is scheduled for June 23. Gonzales and his cousin, Jessica Kelley, and Victorias mother, Michelle Martens, were initially charged with killing Victoria. But now investigators believe an unidentified man killed the girl. Kelley and Michelle Martens are awaiting sentencing after accepting plea deals, while Gonzales case is in the Court of Appeals. Three New Yorkers, including two lawyers, were indicted for arson and the use of explosives after they allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at NYPD vehicles during a night of peaceful George Floyd protests on May 29. The seven-count indictment charged Samantha Shader, 27, and attorneys Colinford Mattis, 32, and Urooj Rahman, 31, for allegedly carrying out the attacks which were caught on video footage. The defendants are charged with the use of explosives, arson, use of explosives to commit a felony, arson conspiracy, use of a destructive device, civil disorder, and making or possessing a destructive device. A grand jury has indicted Samantha Shader (left), 27, and attorneys Colinford Mattis (center), 32, and Urooj Rahman (right), 31, with arson and the use of explosives allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at NYPD vehicles George Floyd protests May 29 Shader is seen in another image taken from footage of her allegedly lighting a Molotov cocktail The footage later shows her throwing the lit, homemade explosive at a cop vehicle The indictments were handed up by the grand jury in federal court in Central Islip, New York on Thursday. Convictions could lead to life sentences for all three, authorities say. The federal charges come as protests against police brutality continue across the nation in the wake of the death of Floyd, a 46-year-old black father-of-two, who was killed during an arrest. Floyd was alleged to have passed a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes when Chauvin pressed down on Floyd's neck with his knee for almost 9 minutes, causing his death. NYPD Commissioner Dermot F. Shea spoke out about the accusations made against Shader, Mattis and Rahman. 'Violence, like that alleged here, not only endangers our NYPD officers but threatens the constitutional right of people to peacefully protest. These indictments by our federal partners reflect our joint condemnation of the kind of isolated acts a just society can never tolerate,' stated Shea. Shea was among authorities announcing the indictments today. Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York says the defendants allegedly threw the homemade explosives at NYPD vehicles 'without regard for the potentially deadly consequences.' 'Such criminal acts should never be confused with legitimate protest. Those who carry out attacks on NYPD Officers or vehicles are not protesters, they are criminals, and they will be treated as such.' Court filings charging Mattis and Rahman say NYPD surveillance cameras shot video footate of Rahman allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at a cop vehicle parked outside the 88th Precinct in Brooklyn's Fort Green section. Court filings charging Mattis and Rahman say NYPD surveillance cameras shot video footate of Rahman allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at a cop vehicle parked outside the 88th Precinct in Brooklyn's Fort Green section. Rahman is pictured in an image from the footage He and Rahman were apprehended after they were alleged to have fled in a tan minvan after the incident. Mattis was driving. Inside the vehicle, according the filings, cops found ingredients for making Molotov cocktails, including a bottle filled with what was suspected to be gasoline, toilet paper, several more bottles, a lighter and a gasoline canister. Rahman's social media shows she graduated from Fordham University in New York. The super of Rahman's building in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn described her as 'an angel' who recently lost her legal job. 'I can't believe it. I'm stunned. This kid? She's an angel,' George Raleigh said. Mattis lives in East New York and graduated from Princeton University and New York University law school in 2016, according to his Linkedin page. He's an associate with Pryor Cashman, a corporate law firm in Times Square where he specializes in start-ups, and is a member of Community Board 5 in East New York. Mattis lives in East New York and graduated from Princeton University and New York University law school in 2016, according to his Linkedin page Court filings from the charges against Shader say video footage shot by a witness shows her lighting a Molotov cocktail and tossing it at a NYPD vehicle occupied by four officers. Two of the vehicle's windows were shattered. Shader was apprehended by the cops after she attempted to flee. Shader is a ukulele-playing street musician who has run afoul of the law in more than one quarter of the states in the nation, DailyMail.com has revealed. Prosecutors said Shader had been arrested in 11 states prior to the bombing incident but that wasn't even the complete list. DailyMail.com has unearthed arrests in both Oregon and upstate New York to add to the one-woman crime spree tally. But her friends insist she is misunderstood. 'She's a normal person,' said Kaelani Angelique, who got to know her after dating her neighbor in Malden on Hudson, a hamlet close to Saugerties, New York. Spader's friends insist she is misunderstood and is a good-hearted ukulele-playing street musician 'She's not this vile, evil vagabond hobo. She's a sister, a daughter and a friend to a lot of people. She's a sweet person she really is.' Shader grew up in a stunning 19th century, seven-bedroom former parsonage in Malden on Hudson which is now facing demolition because of the way the family abandoned it, seen in photos obtained by DailyMail.com FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney, also on hand for the announcement of the indictments says the alleged criminal behavior of the defendants 'risked lives, destroyed equipment that exists to serve the community, siphoned response resources, and created a threat to those who had every right to safely assemble and express their opinion.' The US attorney's National Security and Cybercrime Section is prosecuting the federal case. Assistant US Attorneys Ian C. Richardson and Jonathan Algor are the prosecutors. The three defendants are next in court on June 25 at 11am before Chief Magistrate Judge Cheryl L. Pollak. Longi will build 600 MW of unsubsidized PV in Datong, Shanxi province. The Shanghai Development and Reform Commission, meanwhile, has unveiled new 2020-21 FITs. Yingli is undergoing restructuring, while Trina had a solid listing debut in Shanghai. Longi will build a 600 MW unsubsidized solar project in the city of Datong, Shanxi province. The the energy department of the municipal government has finally confirmed rumors about the projects, which started to emerge in April. China outlined its plan to spur the development of subsidy-free PV projects at the beginning of 2019. In May, the Chinese ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey was left vomiting and sweating with 'pin-prick eyes' after being poisoned by Russian nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury in 2018 A police officer was left vomiting and sweating with 'pin-prick eyes' after being poisoned by novichok in Salisbury in 2018. Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey was poisoned by the Russian nerve agent put on the door handle of former GRU spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia's home. Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, DS Bailey told how he was left depressed after the attack, which he described as a 'terrifying and a very stressful time.' He said: 'At first I put it down to exhaustion or a migraine because at the time we had no idea what we were dealing with and we couldn't begin to comprehend that it could be something like a nerve agent. 'It was terrifying and a very stressful time.' Talking about the months after the attack, he said: 'It's been really tough. The first year was a complete whirlwind. 'It was very fast paced. But where it's died down for other people, for us we are still picking up the pieces. DS Bailey was poisoned by the nerve agent put on the door handle of former GRU spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia's (pictured together) home Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, DS Bailey (pictured) told how he was left depressed after the attack, which he described as a 'terrifying and a very stressful time' 'I've suffered depression and I've been trying to sort out myself but to be fair I also feel lucky because Dawn tragically passed away.' Mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess and her partner Charlie Rowley fell ill at a flat in Amesbury, near Salisbury, after she handled a perfume bottle containing the poison. DS Bailey spoke today ahead of the release of new BBC drama The Salisbury Poisonings. Pictured: Rafe Spall as DS Bailey Mr Rowley - who found the bottle and gifted it to 44-year-old Ms Sturgess - surviving the killer nerve agent. However, Mr Sturgess, who sprayed her skin with the substance, died in July 2018. DS Bailey spoke today ahead of the release of new BBC drama The Salisbury Poisonings. The series centres on the role of Wiltshire's director of public health Tracy Daszkiewicz during the incident. Talking about the drama, which reportedly upset his parents, DS Bailey said: 'They weren't happy, but that was because of how they found out about it and it got out in the press. 'Their reaction was more to protect me and my family because they didn't know it was happening. 'I sat down with the writer and I understood the vision and that's when we started to understand that it was about the human aspect of the story. 'It was a huge story and the human aspect can sometimes get lost. 'This (drama) is really about normal people going about their normal lives and getting caught up in a huge event.' The show's executive producer Laurence Bowen said the BBC One series has been shown to people including the family of Ms Sturgess and her partner Mr Rowley. Counter-terrorism police release images of two suspects in connection with Salisbury attack The Salisbury Poisonings will air on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday on BBC One at 9pm. Rafe Spall plays DS Bailey and Annabel Scholey plays his wife Sarah (pictured) Mr Bowen said that the screenings were a 'big moment', adding that small changes were made to the drama based on their feedback. The programme was also shown to DS Bailey as well as his family. Mr Bowen said that he was 'proud' of all of their responses, adding that they felt it was a 'truthful' portrayal of the events surrounding the attack. The plot follows the aftermath of the poisonings of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in 2018 and tells the story of how ordinary people and public services reacted to the crisis as Salisbury became the epicentre of a national emergency. Mr Bowen said: 'It is a big moment as a filmmaker when you show the result of what you have done to the real life people, because in a way their response is the most important response of anybody you are ever going to show it to, or will see it.' Members of the emergency services in green biohazard suits put a tent over a bench where Mr Skripal and Yulia were found unconscious He said that the screenings were 'difficult' for those associated with the story, adding: 'They were watching the most painful moments in their lives recreated, it's kind of surreal for them.' They 'sometimes had to watch it more than once to get their heads around it', he added. 'We showed it before we'd finished editing and occasionally they had a few comments and things that could be slightly tweaked, which we did, so it was a very intense and moving process screening it to them.' The drama features Anne-Marie Duff as Ms Daszkiewicz, MyAnna Buring as Ms Sturgess and Rafe Spall as Detective Sergeant Bailey. The show also stars Johnny Harris as Mr Rowley and Annabel Scholey as Detective Sergeant Bailey's wife Sarah. The Salisbury Poisonings will air on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday on BBC One at 9pm and all episodes will also be available as a boxset on BBC iPlayer after the first episode has aired. Mr Skripal and Yulia were found unconscious on a park bench on March 4, 2018. They were rushed to hospital and put in induced comas to prevent the poison damaging their organs. Yulia left hospital in the April and was taken by police to a secret location, where she was guarded by British intelligence agents. Her father joined her a month later. Education is a hot topic this Legislative session. Here's what bills we're watching. Here are some of the hot-button education bills were tracking at the Argus Leader. Check back each day to see where they stand as we update. Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service PATNA: Politics ahead of the Bihar elections took a new twist on Thursday when state minister Neeraj Kumar dropped a bombshell on the RJDs first family. Kumar presented a document of land registry deed paper, alleging that land was bought by Lalu Prasad during his rule in the names of his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav and Tarun Yadav. Now, the people want to know who is Tarun Yadav in the family of Lalu Prasad. The RJD chief should explain his links with this youth whose name has been shared on the land registry paper, the JD-U leader asked. Kumar made this disclosure that gave a new twist in the politics on the day when the entire RJD family was celebrating the 73th birthday of Lalu Prasad, who is imprisoned in connection with the fodder scams. A land registry was done in Gopalganj during the RJD rule in which the names of Lalus leader son Tej Pratap Yadav and Tarun Yadav are recorded on the land registry deed.After all, Lalus family ought to tell who is this Tarun Yadav in the family? he said at a hurriedly-convened media meet. Kumar accused the RJD boss of exploiting his political post and using it as a weapon for the people of his village. Where is Tarun Yadav? Is he an adopted son of Lalu Prasad? Lalu ji should explain it, the JD-U minister said, alleging that there is no person whom Lalu has not cheated. Prior to this disclosure, posters had come up highlighting 73 properties acquired by Lalu Prasad and his family using political influence. When asked about the JD-U ministers disclosure, RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said that Kumar was making false ,fabricated and politically motivated remarks to malign Lalu, who has again emerged as a hope to the people. When there is nothing to show in the performances, such kinds of indecent and false things and statements are made like what the JD-U minister did, he said. Commerce and industry groups warn that some regulations do not align with global practices Photo: Le Toan The National Assemblys (NA) Standing Committee in its Document No.537/BC-UBTVQH14 featured adjustments of the draft amendments to the Law on Investment 2014 after comments from NA deputies. The requirement for pre-approved ventures and relevant certificates at an earlier stage aims to further enhance the selection of foreign investment, thus increasing quality. The performance of these regulations will allow authorised state agencies to select foreign-invested projects based on the capacity of financiers, investment fields, locations, and resources for project development such as land, natural resources, energy, labour, technology, and more, states the document. In spite of this, many NA deputies and lawyers are worried that the rule might result in possible legal impediments for international ventures. Vaibhav Saxena, lawyer at Vietnam International Law Firm, said that the draft amendments (including the draft Law on Investment 2014 and the draft decree on guidelines for some articles of the Law on Investment 2014) provides almost the same procedure. However, comparing to the initial investment laws, the draft amendment provides much stricter procedure with some fundamental changes for a foreign investor to establish a business entity in Vietnam. Article 22 on the fundamental conditions to establish a business entity of the draft amendment to the Law on Investment 2014 provides more detailed conditions for foreign investor to establish business entity comparing to the Law on Investment 2014. Among those, foreign investors are required to comply with market access conditions prescribed under Article 9 of the draft. This article is still subject to further discussion of the NA due to its ambiguity. Especially, the market access conditions term is urged to be clarified, he told VIR. Similarly, Nguyen Thanh Ha, lawyer of Vietbid Consulting Co., Ltd. said, The new regulation would not actually increase the quality of foreign investment. It will take more time and cost more for businesses. Instead, the government could announce a list of closed or conditional business lines, with the remainder open to investors. Changes in legal procedures have been among the most talked-about issues among foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam. The European, American, Japanese, and South Korean chambers of commerce have already raised their voice over the situation. We are concerned about recent changes in policy and regulations, which are not consistent with international best practices. These changes expose many foreign investors to considerable risks and obstacles in executing their investments, said Adam Sitkoff, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi. Meanwhile, Antoine Logeay, chairman of the EuroCham Legal Sector Committee, said that the draft proposes conditions for market access to foreign investors. These include a new point on other conditions as stipulated in the laws, ordinances, and decrees. This new wording is ambiguous and foreign businesses are concerned that it may be used to impose unreasonable business conditions on them and restrict market access to Vietnam, for example by imposing new requirements for licences or sub-licences, he explained. The Southeast Asian nation is currently facing stiffening competition among regional countries which have recently announced new policies to lure foreign investment. For example, Indonesias sprawling capital of Jakarta is bettering governance with 16 new policy packages and an omnibus law on taxation, licensing, labour, and small- and medium-sized enterprises. The amendments to the Law on Investment 2014 will be fine-tuned to further ease procedures for international ventures, encouraging upcoming relocations and igniting a new wave of FDI, especially after the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement takes effect. One of the global insurers that has covered construction on the Adani Carmichael coal mine in central Queensland says it is reviewing its corporate policy on climate change, as the losses on the controversial project approach $800 million. Accounts lodged with the corporate regulator this month and obtained by this masthead show Adanis Australian arm made a $279 million loss for the year ending March 31, bringing its cumulative losses including write-offs and currency movements since inception to $794 million. In the accounts, Adani warned the coronavirus pandemic could have a significant impact on the valuation of the Carmichael mine and increase its dependence on its parent company in India. Adani has warned the coronavirus could have a big impact on the viability of the Carmichael mine. Credit:Cameron Laird The accounts have surfaced as Bermuda-based Aspen Reinsurnace, which this week was revealed to have insured work on the mine, signalled it would review its policies over projects that contribute to climate change. "We are currently reviewing our underwriting appetite around fossil fuel but cannot comment further at this time," the spokesman said. "Aspen understands the importance of environmental, social, and governance issues." The videos of the carnage in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are stark. Once beautiful cities have been decimated by feral primitives whose only achievement in life is instant gratification of the lowest kind and have shown, to their dimwitted glee, that the veneer of civilization and law and order is exceedingly thin. The way to deal with this situation is a pretty tough crackdown for the greater good. Whatever it takes nipping it in the bud before the criminality gains momentum. However, the Twin Cities are notoriously left-wing and have voted Democrat across the board for decades. Consequently, the cult that is left-wing ideology doesn't do too well with cracking down on rioters to maintain law and order. It's a classic impasse. What we saw in the Twin Cities was a snowflake leadership dazed and confused, clueless and terrorized by perish the thought the idea that strong and decisive action was needed. Instead, they caved to the screaming mob. Watching their press conferences revealed spineless ciphers terrified of saying the wrong thing lest they be harassed, doxxed, run out of town, or worse. This is an exemplar of unleadership at its finest. The crowning glory of this catastrophe was the declaration that the Minneapolis Police Department would be disbanded. This is a classic response of throwing your fellow man to the hungry lions in the hopes of being eaten last. Obviously, anyone with an I.Q. slightly above his shoe size understands very well that getting rid of police will mean unending anarchy, bloodshed, and civic horror. However, this idea has now gained momentum across the country, and the crazed leadership of many cities, seeing the hungry lions coming their way, have pre-emptively gone along with the no-police idea. Predictably, the idea of dismantling a city police force has generated much debate, all along the lines of how stupid the idea is and the societal disaster that is sure to follow if it's implemented. I think it's the wrong discussion and the wrong approach. I think we should call Minneapolis's bluff: Dismantle the entire police department and any related law-enforcement agencies immediately. Heck, disconnect 911. What's the point of calling 911 when there's nobody to answer or to respond when the criminal rioters peaceful protesters come crashing through good citizens' front doors with murder and mayhem on their minds? Why stop there? We know that the criminals have prevented firefighters from doing their jobs, so disband the city's fire department as well. Disband the city council. Instead, set up a bunch of rioters as the Committee for the Socialist Advancement of Power to the People and give them unilateral control over everything that happens in the city. Implement Community Brigades for the Betterment of Thought and Action so they can round up people deemed insufficiently woke. Process them and send them on to the Camps of Right-Thinking and Forced Reflection on Crimes against Tolerance. There will be those pesky few who don't immediately wet themselves and who will resist the perfect opportunity to establish the High Court of Solidarity with the Masses where the accused will be publicly debased and humiliated as they kneel before screaming BLM and Antifa Community Welfare Officers until they confess their racism, imperialism, colonialism, and white privilege. If the accused grovel appropriately, they can avoid the ritualized "Washing of the Master's Feet." When violent and mass crime breaks out, send in the Proletariat Team for Community Enhancement and Harmony. Populate the teams with socialist and communist college professors, psychotherapists, and counselors to facilitate Engagement Sessions where violent thugs and murderers will have their "life story" fawningly listened to. Then send in Liberation and Social Justice Panels to berate the victims for having the temerity to have interacted with the criminals in the first place. Don't stop there. Send all teachers to Pedagogical Learning Centers for Right History and Reasonableness to learn liberation teaching approaches, starting with the old-time revolutionary chant of "Liberation before Education!" Given the state of public education, this shouldn't be too difficult to achieve. Require all parents to undergo mandatory training in "village-based approaches to raising children." Remove children from their homes until parents are certificated in these approaches and until they have taken a knee to the local Committee for Allegiance to Inclusivity and Tolerance. I could go on, but you get the picture. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal More than 45 corrections officers and over 200 inmates at the state prison in Los Lunas were tested for COVID-19 after a corrections officer fell ill and tested positive for the coronavirus on Monday. The staff member also taught at the Department of Corrections academy in Santa Fe last week, and that led to several staff members at the academy and central office being asked to self-quarantine. On Wednesday, 213 inmates and 47 staff members at the Central New Mexico prison in Los Lunas were tested. The staff members have been asked to self-quarantine and the inmates are under quarantine, a department spokesman said. The staff member was on duty at the Los Lunas prison Monday when he began feeling ill, was tested for coronavirus and was sent home. Dirk Lee, president of the corrections officers union, said the union hasnt been receiving any information about COVID-19 transmissions within the prisons. They (the department) continue to develop new policies or change existing policies without bargaining, and they refuse to be transparent with plans and protocols, Lee said. As a union, we are at a loss due to the lack of information from NMCD (secretarys office). Department spokesman Eric Harrison said, We understand that frustration and tensions the staff are working under. But Harrison said union officials were invited to and participated in twice-weekly video meetings about COVID-19 protocols. We began those meetings in March and they are ongoing, he said. The union has participated in those meetings. We also have had weekly meetings with the union. Lee said the union has been asking for the departments COVID-19 testing plans for weeks without success. AFSCME Council 18 has requested numerous times that NMCD disclose this information, along with all training procedures, to no avail, he said. Nothing has been received. He said the unions contract with the state calls for joint health committees with full union participation. Harrison said the department is preparing to begin testing 5% of the staff at each prison each week for the foreseeable future. This is the state prison systems second COVID-19 scare. Last month, a nurse at the privately run prison in Santa Rosa tested positive for coronavirus but, after extensive testing and quarantines, there was no major outbreak. With the exception of the privately run prison facility in Otero County, state prison inmates have largely escaped coronavirus so far only three state inmates in other prisons had tested positive for the virus as of Thursday. There are 239 inmates who have tested positive for the virus at the Otero County prison. Harrison said most of those inmates more than 200 have shown no symptoms of the virus. Two have died and three are currently hospitalized in El Paso. He said the department is doing contact tracing to determine how the virus got into the prison since inmates have not been allowed family visits since mid-March. Since the most recent outbreak, he said all inmates have been tested. As of right now, we havent pinpointed how exactly the virus got into the facility, Harrison said during a separate interview. The whole concern is staff bringing it in because the inmates never leave. Although Harrison acknowledged it was a staff member who had to have brought the virus in, only 27 have been tested so far. They are still awaiting those results. Harrison said they were following a New Mexico Department of Health plan to test 25% of staff at Otero County and 5% of staff at every other prison in the state. He was unaware of any obstacles in testing every staff member at the facility, but could not say why they hadnt moved on that yet. There was never a full retest of all the staff, Harrison said. Thats what they want to do, the plan, it just hasnt happened yet. Nora Meyers Sackett, a governors spokeswoman, said 100% of the staff at Otero will be tested Monday. From here on out, she said 25% of the staff there will be tested each week. All new inmates in the New Mexico system are tested on entry to the reception and diagnostic units for men that is at the Los Lunas prison and for women it is at the Grants prison. After testing, they are kept separated from inmates in the system for 14 days and then retested before being sent to another prison. Delhi on Friday recorded 2,137 COVID-19 cases, the biggest spike for a single day, taking the total number of cases to over 36,000 even as city's Health Minister Satyender Jain said lockdown will not be re-imposed in the city. As the numbers rose, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal asked officials to ensure strict compliance of restrictions in containment areas and ramp up bed capacity and medical resources to handle the situation. According to the medical bulletin released on late Friday night, 71 deaths have been added to the toll, taking the total to 1,214. There are 22,212 people still under treatment, including 17,261 in home isolation. Follow live updates on coronavius here It said 667 people have been discharged in the past 24 hours, with the total number of recoveries rising to 13,398. The total number of cases is now at 36,824 and out of this 41.16% or 16,980 of the total cases were reported in June alone. The data also showed that with increase in number of testings, the number of cases also increased. While on June 10, 5,047 samples were tested out of which 1,501 tested positive, the number increased on June 11 to 1877 cases when 5,360 samples were tested. As per Friday's bulletin, there were 5,947 cases, the number crossed 2,000-mark. However, the Delhi government did not appear to re-imposing lockdown in the wake of rising cases, amid speculation about the authorities planning to do so. Jain's assertion that there has been no discussion on imposing lockdown in the capital came amid the state and the Centre differing on announcing the city entering the third stage of community transmission of COVID-19. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been among the first to say that one has to learn to live with the virus and one cannot continue with it for long, as it would have a negative impact on the economy. To a question on the mis-match between the official COVID-19 toll and the figures provided by the three municipal corporations, Jain asked why they were not sharing details like names, age and medical reports with the state government. "There are COVID-19 positive deaths, there are suspected COVID-19 deaths. All are cremated or buried as per COVID-19 protocol and marked so. The municipalities should provide us with details, including medical reports," he said. On Thursday, North Delhi Municipal Corporation Standing Committee Chairperson Jai Kishan said the three municipalities (North, East and South Delhi) had facilitated funerals of 2,098 COVID-19 positive people and over 200 suspected COVID-19 people between March and June 10. As on June 11, the official toll, however, stood at 1,085. As the number of cases crossed 35,000-mark, the Lieutenant Governor held a meeting to review the strategies for containment zones management in Delhi with Kejriwal, Jain, Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev and other senior officials. Baijal has said the objective is to break the chain of transmission and reduce mortality due to COVID-19. He directed officials to ramp up bed capacity and medical resources so that surge in cases does not overwhelm the healthcare system. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal held a meeting to review the strategies for containment zones management in Delhi with Kejriwal, Jain, Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev and other senior officials. He asked officials to ensure strict compliance of restrictions in containment areas and ramp up bed capacity and medical resources to handle the situation. The LG also asked all District Magistrates and Deputy Commissioners of Police to focus on proper delineation, strict perimeter control and active house to house surveillance with special focus on high risk population. He also urged field functionaries to ensure mobility restrictions, social distancing measures, hygienic practices, quarantine of contacts, risk communication and awareness among public on preventive and public health measures to contain COVID-19 and its further spread. Supreme Court of India The Supreme Court has directed employers to to negotiate with workers on the matter - regardless of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directives on payment of full wages during the lockdown period. Bench of Justices LN Rao, SK Kaul and BR Gavai, hearing multiple petitions on the issue through video conferencing on the MHA notice dated March 29, directing all employers to pay workers wages with no deduction during lockdown even if their businesses are shut. Reading the order Justice Bhushan said: "No industry can survive without the workers. Thus employers and employee need to negotiate and settle among themselves. If they are not able to settle it among themselves, they need to approach the concerned labour authorities to sort the issues out." "We directed no coercive action to be taken against employers. Our earlier orders will continue. A detailed affidavit has to be filed by Centre in last week of July. Negotiation between employees and employers to be facilitated by state government labour departments'," it directed. The SC also directed employers to set a date for settlement which may be effected by the MHA; asked for the settlement to be published for benefit of all employees; has asked state governments and labour commissioners to facilitate the exercise; and stated that workers willing to continue work should be allowed to do so regardless of progress on the settlement. Further, the apex court's previous stay on coercive action will continue till settlement is reached. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The case will next be heard during the last week of July. The MHA had issued the order on March 29 issued an order directing employers to pay wages to workers without any deduction even while their businesses remain closed during the lockdown. This was however met with resistance and several business owners and employers approached the Supreme Court for relief as the MHA order threatened action against those found in violation. Industry bodies had also opposed the MHA order citing their own cash flow issues as the reason behind their inability to make timely wage payments. As per the petition filed by the MSMEs, they have challenged the MHA notice saying that they are in violation of the provisions of the Constitution. They have further appealed to the SC that MSMEs be allowed to pay the employees 70 percent less and argued that the government should take care of the rest, utilising the funds collected by the Employees State Insurance Corporation or the PM Cares Fund or through any other government fund. Following multiple petitions on the matter, the Supreme Court on May 15 restrained the government from taking any coercive action against such companies. On May 18, the Centre withdrew its earlier order directing employers to ensure payment of wages to workers even if their businesses remain shuttered during the ongoing lockdown as a temporary measure for 54 days. During its first hearing on the matter on June 4, the apex court while reserving its order had granted liberties to all the parties to file their response within three days. On the same day, Attorney General KK Venugopal, representing MHA, submitted a short note on validity of the March 29 notification. New Delhi, June 12 : During the corona period, lakhs of migrant labourers who returned home from the cities have found support under the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). Under the scheme, the daily wage labourers in the villages got 84 per cent more work in June than in the corresponding period last year. In the ongoing corona crisis, the scheme has not only provided employment, but has also been the driver of the rural economy. Under the scheme, an average of 3.42 crore people have been offered daily work across the country in June, which is 83.87 per cent higher than the corresponding period last year. According to statistics from the Union Rural Development ministry, an average of 2.51 crore people got work under MGNREGA in May, which is 73 per cent higher than the average figure of 1.45 crore in the corresponding period last year. Therefore, in May employment under the scheme increased by 73.1 per cent. The average number of daily wage labourers working under the MGNREGA scheme in June has been 3.42 crore, while 1.86 crore people benefitted under the scheme in June last year. Under MGNREGA, employment is calculated on the basis of man days. On an average, in June, this figure has been 3.42 crore man days. Union Rural Development ministry official said the wages paid to the labourers under the MGNREGA are directly deposited into their bank accounts and nearly Rs 31,500 crore were released to the states from the amount allocated for the scheme. The total budgetary allocation under the MGNREGA in the current financial year 2020-21 was Rs 61,500 crore, but on May 17, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an allocation of additional amount of Rs 40,000 crore for the scheme. This amount is part of the Rs 20 lakh crore economic stimulus package announced by the Union government under the 'Aatmanirbhar' campaign. The government has increased the MGNREGA budget in view of the migration of labourers from the cities during the corona period so that they could get employment in their native villages. The government has increased the daily wage rate of labourers under MGNREGA from Rs 182 to Rs 202. Under MGNREGA, 60 per cent of the allocated amount is spent on providing work to unskilled labourers while up to 40 per cent is included in the project along with the cost of the material used in the work and wages paid to the skilled labour. The official said MNREGA pays special attention to water conservation and irrigation infrastructure development, which strengthens agriculture and rural economy. Economists have said that the MGNREGA is a source of income generation in the rural sector during the current corona crisis. If people get work, they will get money in their pockets and their purchasing power will increase, which will create demand. When CARES Act funding for higher education was doled out, Connecticut officials held out hope that a provision barring undocumented students from getting the money would be reversed. On Thursday, those hopes were dashed when the U.S. Department of Education released a rule to ensure taxpayer-funded coronavirus relief money does not go to foreign nationals, non-citizens and students who may be enrolled in ineligible education programs. This rule simply ensures the continuity of that well-established policy, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in a statement. As Ive said since the law passed, my first goal was to get these funds to eligible students in need as quickly as possible. Todays action helps erase any uncertainty some institutions have expressed and helps make sure we can support Americas students facing the greatest needs. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided $133.9 million to Connecticuts 63 colleges and universities. At least half was to be allocated to students for emergency cash grants related to campus operations because of the coronavirus. Nearly all campuses shut down in March and remained closed for the semester, leaving students learning remotely. At the time, Mark Ojakian, president of the Connecticut State College and University system, called the restriction unconscionable and wrote to DeVos in hopes the decision would be reversed. Without warning ... the Department of Education released guidance last week severely restricting which students are eligible to receive CARES Act payments, Ojakian said at the time. On Friday, Ojakian said at every turn throughout this pandemic, DeVos has gone out of her way to prevent the most vulnerable students - those who need it the most - from receiving the funding necessary to continue their studies. This latest rule will disproportionately harm low-income students and students of color, exacerbating structural societal inequities, Ojakian said. Already, the CSCU system has paid back $24.1 million in refunds between the four universities. Payments were based on the number of credits students were taking this spring. At the community colleges, about $1 million was turned back to students, with individual grants amounting to about $350. At the University of Connecticut, CARES funds were not set aside for undocumented students because of the U.S. Department of Education guidance issued in April. Instead, UConn utilized institutional funds to award emergency grants to eligible undocumented aid applicants in alignment with the same criteria and amounts used for distribution of actual CARES Act grants, said Michael Enright, a UConn spokesman. lclambeck@ctpost.com; twitter/lclambeck The Leader of the Economic Fighters' League, Ernesto Yeboah has been released from police custody, more than 30 hours after his bail was set by court. According to his lawyer, Francis Xavier Sosu, Ernesto Yeboah has met the bail requirement which was set at GHS100,000. He [Ernesto Yeboah] is doing well, but it is quite unfortunate this looks like an attempt to undermine his right to free speech and expression. It looks like a deliberate, calculated attempt to deliberately make it impossible for someone to freely express themselves and that is worrying. Ernesto Yeboah was arrested on June 6 at the Black Lives Matter vigil held in Accra. The police insisted that the Black Lives Matter vigil, which they described as a protest, was not authorised whilst organisers of the vigil produced evidence indicating they notified the police in line with the Public Order Act. He was subsequently granted a police enquiry bail. He appeared before court, yesterday, Thursday where he was charged with failure to notify the police of a special event contrary to section 1(1) of Act 491. He was subsequently granted a GHS100,000 bail. Mr. Yeboah pleaded not guilty and the court granted him bail with three sureties; with two of them being public servants. citinewsroom Charlevoix man denies wrongdoing despite signing illegitimate election document Charlevoix resident John Haggard is among a group of Republicans who signed an Electoral College certificate attempting to award the states 16 votes to Donald Trump following the 2020 election a document now under federal investigation. The lawyer for President Donald Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was greeted by tough questions by judges after she told a federal appeals court that the criminal case against him "cannot go on any longer." The remarks by attorney Sidney Powell came at a hearing in Washington where a federal appeals court is weighing whether a lower-court judge must dismiss criminal charges against Flynn for lying to Federal Bureau of Investigation agents. "The judge has no authority to do anything further in this case," Powell told a three-judge panel. "The parties have decided, the government has quit, and he also has no authority to go into the reasons behind the executive's determination to dismiss the case." But the appellate judges immediately peppered Powell with tough questions about why the judge's actions were inappropriate, expressing concern about constraining his discretion. "The courts have said he's not merely a rubber stamp either, so there's nothing wrong with him holding a hearing," Karen Henderson, one of the appeals court judges, said. "I don't know of any authority that says he can't hold a hearing before taking action." If the case is tossed, it will bring to an end a prosecution that Trump and his conservative allies have attacked as corrupt. But a ruling the other way may open the door to a potentially damaging inquiry by a judge into whether the Justice Department is acting chiefly to protect a political ally of the president. The arguments are focused on a technical though politically charged question: Does U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan have authority to inquire if the government has political motives for dismissal. Or must he accede to the Justice Department? Powell is seeking an order that would force Sullivan's hand. The hearing is the latest twist in a prosecution that began when Flynn lied to two FBI agents in January 2017 about phone calls with the Russian ambassador the previous month. Fired by Trump soon after, Flynn pleaded guilty in 2018 to charges brought by Robert Mueller's team investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. He later repeated his guilty plea. Since then, Flynn's case has more recently become a rallying cry for conservatives and the president, who has frequently called the Russian investigation a "hoax." In January, Flynn sought to withdraw his plea and have the case thrown out, claiming misconduct on the part of prosecutors and the FBI. The Justice Department made its request to drop the case on May 7, saying Flynn's lies to the two agents weren't "material" to the Russia probe and that he shouldn't have been interviewed in the first place. Sullivan declined to grant the request immediately, however. A lawyer representing the judge, Beth Wilkinson, said in a brief to the appeals court that the government's attempt to walk away from the case was "unprecedented" and that the circumstances gave him a plausible reason to question the legitimacy of the government's change of course. Mob Prosecutor Toward that end, Sullivan appointed a former federal judge and mob prosecutor, John Gleeson, to argue against the Justice Department's dismissal motion. In the proceeding before Sullivan, Gleeson on Wednesday filed a brief in which he called the government's move "corrupt" and urged the judge to deny the dismissal request and pass sentence, adding time for perjury based on Flynn's prior guilty plea. That argument is not before the appeals court Friday morning. The Justice Department maintains Sullivan has no authority to deny its motion or inquire into its motives. "The Constitution vests in the executive branch the power to decide when -- and when not -- to prosecute potential crimes," U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco said in the government's brief to the appeals court. A ruling allowing the case to move forward may not be the last time the appeals court hears the case. Should Sullivan ultimately refuse to toss the case, Flynn and the Justice Department are likely to appeal that decision as well. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- When new chief executive officers take over, they often face a stark choice: Praise their predecessors and continue in the same vein, or throw them under the bus and pursue a new tack. Even if theyd prefer to start afresh, they usually at least make a show of adopting their forerunners strategy. In the case of Pearson Plc, the activist investor Cevian Capital AB might have given the successor to outgoing CEO John Fallon cover to do away with the theatrics and forge their own vision for the education company. Cevian announced on Thursday that it has built a 5% stake in Pearson, becoming the London-based firms fifth-biggest shareholder. The Swedish activist is pouncing while Pearson is vulnerable. The stock has been trading near its lowest levels since 2003, and the search for a replacement for Fallon, who plans to step down this year, has been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. A successor has yet to be found. The activist is seizing the opportunity to push for a CEO appointment with a clear track record of shareholder value creation read: an external appointee. Its hard to argue with the companys share performance: The stock has lost half its value since Fallon took over in 2013, massively underperforming the benchmark FTSE 100 Index. Thats even as Fallon sold the Financial Times newspaper, along with stakes in the Economist and publisher Penguin Random House, to focus Pearson on education. And thats despite his pushing through three rounds of restructuring and investing significantly in new technologies. Capital expenditure in North America has totaled 762 million pounds ($960 million) over the past five years, yet revenue there has continued to decline. It has sometimes seemed unclear what Pearsons assortment of businesses including textbooks, examination centers and online coursework have in common operationally. Fallons response has been to centralize more corporate functions like sales, finance and administration, knitting the disparate units more tightly together. But that might have made it harder to react quickly to new online learning rivals. Having to request resources from HQ is inevitably slower than finding them within ones own business unit. Compare this to RELX Plc, the educational publisher formerly known as Reed-Elsevier, which has managed to navigate the digital tides by delegating responsibility to its operating units and keeping central operations lean. Its stock has almost doubled since 2013. Story continues Pearsons central costs of 449 million pounds now represent 12% of sales. It's unclear whether that overhead has become more bloated than it would be if distributed among the operating units, but it seems a likely vector of attack for Cevian. If the activist succeeds in getting the units more autonomy, that could also make the company more vulnerable to attempts to force a breakup a strategy that Cevian has deployed in the past. After years of underperformance, investors could be forgiven for getting impatient with Chairman Sidney Taurel and his board. The directors need to find a successor to Fallon quickly and give her or him all the tools to get the company's hodgepodge of businesses to work well together. If they don't, Cevian might convince shareholders that a breakup is the best way to realize value from their investment. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Alex Webb is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Europe's technology, media and communications industries. He previously covered Apple and other technology companies for Bloomberg News in San Francisco. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Three more Formula 1 Grand Prix have fallen victim to the coronavirus pandemic after circuit chiefs announced on Friday the cancellation of events in Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japan. The race in Azerbaijan should have been held on 7 June but due to the pandemic it was rescheduled to slot in when the reconfigured tour moved away from Europe. Singapore and Japan had been set for 20 September and 11 October respectively. "These decisions to cancel have been taken due to the different challenges our promoters face in those countries, an F1 statement added. In Singapore and Azerbaijan the long lead times required to construct street circuits made hosting the events during a period of uncertainty impossible and in Japan, ongoing travel restrictions also led to the decision not to proceed with the race. The 2020 season should have started in March at the Australian Grand Prix. But that was cancelled at the last minute due to health concerns as the coronavirus started to make an impact. Reconfigured circuit No races have taken place since. The campaign is due to start at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on 5 July. Another race will be held at the venue on 12 July before a third Grand Prix in Hungary. Eight Grand Prix are planned for Europe before the circuit moves to Asia. During the hiatus, the world champion, Lewis Hamilton, injected an edge of social conscience into the octane-fuelled melange of money, machismo, risk and glamour. The 35-year-old Briton, who is mixed race, hit out at the silence of fellow drivers following the death of George Floyd in police custody in the United States on 25 May. Several F1 pilots including Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and McLaren's Carlos Sainz responded to Hamilton and added their voices to the outrage over Floyd's death. Advertisement A coronavirus testing centre in Watford has been forced to shut down after a group of travellers set up a camp in the car park. A number of vehicles were seen arriving on Wednesday night at Watford Leisure Centre, the site of the testing facility. Tests had been carried out there on Thursdays and Sundays. The organisers of the Hertfordshire-based centre have now set up a temporary base in Apsley, a village seven miles away. Watford Borough Council revealed it has started legal proceedings. A coronavirus testing centre in Watford has closed after a group of travellers arrived and set up a camp on Wednesday night A number of vehicles were seen arriving at the Watford Leisure Centre car park and forced the drive-thru facility to shut down A police vehicle is pictured at the scene of the Hertfordshire-based camp after the disruption had been reported by the public Peter Taylor, Mayor of Watford, said: 'We are aware of an illegal encampment near Watford Central Leisure Centre. 'We are working with the police and have initiated legal proceedings to clear this site as soon as possible. We do not tolerate illegal encampments in our town.' Police said that a series of reports began to flood in concerning the encampment around 9pm on Wednesday night. A spokesman for Hertfordshire Constabulary said: 'A number of caravans moved on to a car park in Hempstead Road on Wednesday, June 10. 'The landowner, Watford Borough Council, is aware and liaising with local officers, who are monitoring the situation.' Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group added: 'On Wednesday evening, a group of travellers arrived on the site that was designated for the mobile testing unit for on Thursday. 'This means that we have had to change arrangements and for today and Sunday, testing will be carried out on the Apsley site in Hemel Hempstead. The public are being informed and being redirected. The landowner is aware.' The travellers have set up camp next to Watford Town Hall, home to Watford Borough Council - and witnesses have also reported that the camp is causing problems for nearby workers. Watford Borough Council revealed it started legal proceedings after the encampment and the camp has been labelled 'illegal' The organisers of the Hertfordshire-based facility have now set up a temporary centre in Apsley, a village seven miles away Witnesses have revealed that the camp is causing problems for nearby workers due to its proximity to offices in the area One resident asked the police on Twitter: 'Could you explain the reason why the car park for Watford Leisure Centre has turned into a caravan park? Wouldn't mind usually but they're not driving safely and seemed to be causing problems for office staff that share parking there.' Photographs taken over recent weeks have shown several drive-in testing centres across the country lying largely deserted. Airport and outlet store car parks were transformed into makeshift facilities. Regional centres at Glasgow and Manchester Airports showed only one or two cars at clinical tents, and soldiers were snapped waiting for vehicles to arrive at a base in Weston-super-Mare. Drive-thru centres across the country were pictured lying deserted over recent weeks as infection figures continue to fall A host of airport and outlet store car parks have been turned into the makeshift facilities and are typically manned by soldiers It also emerged that Britons were being told to swab themselves at centres without the option of trained medics carrying out the test for them. Staff have been seen leaning through car windows and swabbing patients, but one young family told MailOnline that they were not given the choice of professional assistance. They were instead given three testing kits and a set of instructions when they visited the centre at Twickenham Stadium. Experts have admitted that relying on self-swabbing can be 'dangerous' due to the increased risk of the test producing an inaccurate result. Any sub-par swabbing may produce false negatives. The trip is tentatively scheduled for October. Head of Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak has discussed with his Belarusian counterpart Igor Sergienko the upcoming visit of President Volodymyr Zelensky to Belarus. That's according to the president's press service. The visit is tentatively scheduled for October 2020. The parties express hope that the epidemiological situation will not thwart the two presidents' participation in the third Forum of Regions of Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus, to be held in the Belarusian city of Grodno. Read alsoZelensky not invited to attend Victory Parade in Moscow Besides the upcoming visit, Yermak and Sergienko discussed cooperation in the field of infrastructure, economic cooperation, and the Trilateral Contact Group's efforts toward Donbas settlement. GREENWICH As the state partially reopens from coronavirus lock-down orders and also due to a recent court decision, fingerprinting services will once again be offered to the public by the Greenwich Police Department. The department announced it will be resuming public fingerprinting on June 25, by appointment only. Beginning Monday, the GPD General Services Division will accept telephone requests for fingerprinting appointments. The phone number to call, 203-622-8024, will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to make appointments. Walk-ins will not be permitted, and facial coverings are required to enter Police Headquarters at 11 Bruce Place. The department stopped doing fingerprinting services in March due to concerns over spreading the coronavirus. In the state of Connecticut, fingerprints must be taken by local police for a background check in order to secure a handgun permit. A gunrights organization had pushed to reactivate fingerprinting services, over the objections of Gov. Ned Lamont, and a federal judge agreed earlier this week that fingerprinting should resume. The Connecticut Citizens Defense League said the indefinite suspension of fingerprinting violated the Second Amendment rights of citizens. Lamont said this week he made the order with the aim of preventing the spread of coronavirus Every executive order I did was in the name of public health. The state also requires people working in the fields of security and education to have their fingerprints on file. For more information on fingerprinting in Greenwich, visit: www.greenwichct.gov/426/Public-Fingerprinting Hong Kong: Gov't firmly opposes UK report The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today firmly opposed the Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong issued by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office. In a statement, it said the report made inaccurate and biased remarks on the national security law and the high degree of autonomy enjoyed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and emphasised its commitment to the implementation of "one country, two systems in accordance with the Basic Law. The statement pointed out that it is wrong and groundless for the report to allege that the enactment of the national security law for the Hong Kong SAR by the central authorities lies in direct conflict with Article 23 of the Basic Law. In accordance with Article 23, the Hong Kong SAR is authorised to legislate national security laws, but it does not preclude the central authorities from legislating at the state level for national security, the statement said, adding that legislating on national security is within the purview of the central authorities and outside the limits of the Hong Kong SARs autonomy. Given the current situation in Hong Kong and the difficulty faced by the Hong Kong SAR to complete on its own the legislation for safeguarding national security in the foreseeable future, the central authorities have the right and duty to introduce a national law to improve at the state level the legal framework and enforcement mechanisms for national security in the city. The statement also noted the report alleged that the Mainland and the Hong Kong SAR Government had sought to characterise the protests as primarily socio-economic, rather than political in nature and blamed foreign forces for instigating the unrest. In fact, despite the formal withdrawal of the Fugitive Offenders & Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 at the Legislative Council on October 23, last year, Hong Kong has been besieged by escalating violence since last June, the statement said. In addition to incidents involving explosives and firearms that posed risks of terrorism, organisations advocating Hong Kong independence and self-determination, allegedly supported by foreign or external forces, have incited protesters to challenge the authority of the central authorities and the Hong Kong SAR Government. It said that these are the facts on the ground, adding that Police have a statutory duty to take appropriate actions to maintain law and order and safeguard public safety. The Hong Kong SAR Government reiterated that foreign governments, legislatures and politicians should not interfere in any form in the citys internal affairs. This story has been published on: 2020-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Home Ministry on Friday eased restrictions on entry of foreign nationals into the country norms, allowing a larger number of Overseas Citizen of India cardholders and foreign nationals related to OCI cardholders or citizens to enter India. The specific categories who have been issued permit to travel to India include minors who the OCI Card and whose parents are Indian nationals. OCI card holders who wish to come to India on account of family emergencies like critical medical conditions of immediate family members or death have also been granted permission to travel to India. Government has also allowed married couples, where one spouse is an OCI card holder and the other is an Indian national, to enter the country. Students who are OCI card holders, where at least one of their parents is an Indian citizen or an OCI card holder, can also travel to India. A series of skyscrapers which will include one of the world's tallest residential towers are set to revamp a tired strip of the Gold Coast with cinemas, pools, a hotel and apartments from just $349,000. Imperial Square is set to break ground in Southport, on Queensland's Gold Coast, with the first of four towers beginning development in October. The first tower, Regal Residences, will include 143 apartments and a luxury hotel with 200 rooms over 18 levels. The development will have one, two and three-bedroom apartments that begin at $349,000. A series of skyscrapers are set to revamp a popular tourist area and will include cinemas, pools, a hotel and apartment from just $349,000. Pictured: Artist's rendering The first stage will have one, two and three-bedroom apartments that begin at $349,000. Pictured: Artist's rendering The property will be developed by Azzura. 'We are absolutely delighted to be bringing a project that has been the subject of meticulous planning and design for more than three years,' said Azzura's CEO Robert Badalotti said in a press release 'This is a defining project not only for Southport city's cosmopolitan hub but for the Gold Coast in general, taking advantage of the enormous infrastructure such as the light rail, the new Gold Coast Hospital and Griffith University. 'Imperial Square has been designed to become the cosmopolitan new heart of the Gold Coast's CBD and the dream we have had as a company for many years is about to come to life.' Later stages will include rooftop bars, commercial spaces, pools, gymnasiums and a cinema. The site is also based a short walk from two light rail stations, Gold Coast University Hospital and Griffith University. The second stage, Monarch Place, will have 48 levels and the third stage, The Majesty, will have 108 levels. Later stages will include rooftop bars, commercial spaces, pools, gymnasiums and a cinema. Pictured: Artist's rendering The Majesty will become one of the tallest building residential buildings in the world. The final stage, the Imperial Tower, will have 68 levels. The site will create 3,000 construction jobs during development and 2,600 jobs upon completion. Mr Badalotti told the Gold Coast Bulletin he believes the market is ready for the project. The site will create 3,000 construction jobs during development and 2,600 jobs upon completion. Pictured: Artist's rendering 'We have been paying close attention to the market and there are now a lot of people who are downsizing and this is something we want to penetrate and this development will have the facilities and price points to match that,' he said. 'I am not joking around with this project. We are here to make it successful and I hope the community of the Gold Coast will come in and support an empire for all.' He said he would fund the first stage of the project himself. Mr Badalotti first proposed the project six years ago. The testing capacity for COVID-19 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was boosted by the donation of 8,000 Rapid Test Kits from the Mustique Charitable Trust (MCT) to the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment (MOH). The Handover Ceremony, Tuesday 19th May 2020, saw Dularie Malcolm - MCT Administration Director - presenting eight (8) boxes of COVID-19 Rapid Test Kits to Luke Browne - Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment - in the company of Cuthbert Knights - Permanent Secretary of MOH and Elliot Samuel - Chief Laboratory Technologist. In accepting the donation, Minister Browne expressed his Ministrys gratitude for the donation, citing that the kits were expected to go a long way in the countrys fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The MCT Administration Director shared that the purchase of the kits was made possible by the generous support of the Mustique Homeowners, Guests & Friends of Mustique, and the entire Mustique Community. This was to be one of two recent gestures by the MCT. In anticipation of the return of Fifth Form students to school on Monday 25th May 2020, MCT Administration Director presented a letter of intent to St. Clair Prince, Minister of Education, National Reconciliation, Ecclesiastical Affairs and Information (MOE), in which the Trust stated its commitment to provide lunches to Fifth Form students in need. The intention, the Trust indicated, was to supply "daily lunches for fifth form students in need at 26 Secondary Schools across St. Vincent and the Grenadines, over the almost 5-week period for Term 3. The programme aims to provide daily lunches to approximately 40% of the Fifth Form student body. Minister Prince thanked the Trust for its tangible expression of care for the students, especially at this time of greatest need. The MCT Administration Director thanked all the principals, staff and lunch providers of the 26 Secondary Schools for their acceptance of and assistance with the implementation of the programme. She reiterated that the two recent gestures of assistance were a reflection of Mustiques care and concern for the people of St. Vincent & the Grenadines. (Photo : ANTON VAGANOV/REUTERS) US Army will begin human clinical trials of potential COVID-19 vaccine within two months. As the world continues to struggle against the novel coronavirus pandemic, various companies and countries, including the United States and the U.S. Army, are continuing their search for a COVID-19 vaccine, with potential candidates ready for human clinical trials. Finding a COVID-19 Vaccine In a report by Newsweek, the U.S. Army has announced Thursday, June 11, that their newly developed vaccine is expected to begin human trials within the next two months. Experts from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) have identified a probable vaccine against the coronavirus this month, and they are already working on having it tested by July within the Washington, D.C. area. The COVID-19 vaccine, known as Spike Ferritin Nanoparticle (SpFN), works by moving parts of the virus that it uses to attach itself to a healthy cell. By September, the military researchers are expected to start human clinical trials where doses will be injected into volunteers to see how their bodies react to it. "Key results will be obtained in less than two months, but the trial will extend beyond that to look at long-term immune responses," said Samir Deshpande, the WRAIR spokesperson. Read Also: [COVID-19 UPDATE] Muscle Pain, Mental Confusion Possible Coronavirus Signs; Polio Vaccine Can Offer Temporary Protection POTUS Ready to Back-up Vaccine Production If the vaccine gives promising results based on the initial tests, the U.S. Army will then prepare for a larger scale trial as soon as possible. The SpFN coronavirus vaccine will be given in conjunction with the Army Liposome Formulation, a proprietary immune system enhancer that has built "strong immune responses" during the researchers' preliminary investigation. Last month, U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced Operation Warp Seed that is created to speed up the process of developing a COVID-19 vaccine. In his announcement, the POTUS confirmed that the federal government would invest in the manufacturing of all top vaccine candidates before they are approved to provide doses in the event of successful trials readily. Risk Factors for Severe COVID-19 Identified In related news, South Korean doctors have found underlying health conditions that increase the risk of getting severe COVID-19. In an interview with Reuters, internal medicine Professor Ahn June-hong from Yeungnam University Medical Center and colleagues have found out that people with high body temperature, diabetes, pre-existing cardiac injury, and low oxygen saturation are more likely to become critically ill from the viral infection. The results of their research are published in the Journal of Korean Medical Science. In order to acquire the results, the doctors monitored 110 coronavirus patients from a local hospital in Daegu, which is deemed as the epicenter of South Korea's COVID-19 outbreak. The researchers observed the patients from February 19 to April 15 and found that 23 of them have developed a severe case of COVID-19. Professor Ahn said that the critically ill coronavirus patients have at least three of the four risk factors indicated in their paper, especially as they are significantly older and likely to have lower peripheral oxygen saturation as well as diabetes. Their study could help experts around the globe identify patients who are at most risk of getting critically ill early on and provide them with suitable treatment and care. Read Also: Northwestern Memorial Hospital Performs Successful First Double-Lung Transplant on Coronavirus Patient 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By Gabriela Mello SAO PAULO, June 12 (Reuters) - Brazilian homebuilder You Inc Incorporadora e Participacoes S.A. has resumed plans for an initial public offering on the Sao Paulo stock exchange after giving up the idea earlier this year due to the coronavirus outbreak. You Inc filed the IPO request with Brazil's securities exchange regulator CVM late on Wednesday. The company aims to sell new shares and existing shares owned by its chief executive and founder Abrao Muszkat, according to its preliminary IPO prospectus. The homebuilder said proceedings will be used to continue housing projects currently under development and with lower execution risks. You Inc has 13 construction sites, all still open despite the pandemic. "Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has taken preventive measures including, but not limited to, reducing expenses and negotiating payment terms with suppliers," You Inc said. In May, the company's gross sales hit 78% of the amount expected in its budget issued last December, compared with 47% in April. The investment banking units of Banco BTG Pactual SA and Banco Bradesco SA, as well as broker XP Inc. are managing the offering. The preliminary prospectus did not disclose the expected size of the offering, nor its pricing date. (Reporting by Gabriela Mello; Editing by Dan Grebler) 11.06.2020 LISTEN Dr. Vera Songwe, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), on Tuesday urged African youth to be bold and seek youth-driven solutions to some of the challenges affecting the continent. She embolden the young leaders into action at the end of a Virtual Youth Policy Consultation on the coronavirus and Building Back Better with Young Africans. We need the voices of the youth at the decision-making table when we talk about policy. Be leaders, be bold but with humility and help bring youth-driven solutions to the continent's problems, she told the youth in the meeting organised by the ECA, the African Union Commission (AUC) and Generation Unlimited. Ms. Songwe told the youth to organise themselves to become a formidable voice that cannot be ignored by the continents leaders. You have to ensure that as we go forward your voices will always be heard and begin to create momentum that can create change. That is your power. If we cannot use it collectively then we lose it. She said one thing that COVID-19 had done was to show the world how innovative Africas youth were. We know that the only thing that has survived COVID-19 is the internet. Every business that was forward-thinking and had their business online, is doing well. And those who did not have their business online are suffering. What we do not want to do is to go backwards. We want to go forward. Dr Songwe said Own the internet because it is the future, because it is the present. We cannot afford to just have our leaders say yes we are going to reform. She said Africas leaders need to walk the talk and open up their telecom space and ensure access to the internet is broadened, costs to access reduced with more players in the field and stimulate expansion of the broadband network. this is the time for them to open-up and give more licenses and ensure that we can crash the prices of internet access. Why do we still have in many countries one or two providers when we could have six, Dr Songwe asked. She said the continent was losing $78 billion in potential revenue annually because most of its youth were out of employment, especially in the 15-34 age group, which represents 34 percent of the continents population. During this COVID-19 crisis we are asking the rest of the world to give Africa a $100 billion in stimulus. If you all were working we would have a lot more resources that we need, she said. We are not a continent that can afford to lose $79 billion a year so we need to find some way of harnessing ourselves, harnessing the amazing innovation in this continents youth and ensure that we triple the $79 billion and meet the Decade of Action and Agenda 2063 as we do that. Earlier, Mr. Bakarry Dosso, Chief of the ECAs Demographic Dynamics for Development Center in the West Africa Sub-Regional Office, presented on the Impacts of COVID-19 on African Youth and urged governments to fully exploit the potential of the demographic dividend by increasing investments in health, education, infrastructure and in the future of work. The voices, and contribution of African youth are critical in shaping the narrative for building back better Africas economic and social fabrics, he said, adding fostering of innovation, entrepreneurship and technology to transform challenges of COVID-19 into opportunities was key. For his part, Generation Unlimited Director, Mr. Roberto Benes, spoke on investing with and for young people in Africa. He said GUs Global Youth Engagement Action Plan was creating opportunities for young people, especially the marginalized and disadvantaged to design solutions with potential to scale in education, training, employment, entrepreneurship and empowerment. Lets work hand in hand to build back better with young Africans, Mr. Benes said. Ms. Prudence Ngwenya, Head of the AUCs Youth and Education Division, spoke about the AUs Youth Sector Response to COVID-19. She said despite all the challenges, young Africans were taking responsibility towards solving the coronavirus pandemic. Weve turned lockdown limitations into opportunities to reach duty bearers and young people alike for behavior change, policy interventions and action at country level, said Ms. Ngwenya. The meeting highlighted the specific challenges faced by young Africans from the pandemic and its mitigation measures; showcased efforts by young people to respond to different aspects of todays reality within the pandemic; and dealt with the themes of education, innovation, employment, health, and meaningful civic and community engagement. B ereaved relatives of coronavirus victims are calling for an urgent public inquiry into the Governments handling of the crisis. The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group, 450 relatives of people who have died after contracting Covid-19, told the BBC a review of "life and death measures would help to prevent further deaths. Elkan Abrahamson, the groups lawyer, told the broadcaster an early inquiry should be held prior to any formal probe, which is expected to take place once the pandemic is over. What we need to look at straight away are the issues which are life-and-death decisions, he said. We expect there will be a second spike. We want to know what the Government is going to do when that happens. Relatives of coronavirus victims say a review is needed to save lives / PA Ministers have insisted that they have followed scientific advice and acted accordingly during the crisis. But the National Audit Office found that it is unknown how many of the 25,000 hospital patients discharged into care homes between March 17 and April 15, the peak of the virus, were infected, Health and Social Care Select Committee chairman Jeremy Hunt said it "seems extraordinary that no one appeared to consider" the risk. A separate report by England care chiefs, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said there were "tragic consequences" to moving patients from hospitals to care homes at the start of the pandemic. The Department of Health and Social Care said 60 per cent of all care homes had avoided outbreaks entirely. The call comes after Scotlands former chief scientific adviser Professor Dame Anne Glover said an inquiry must be held before a second wave of the virus hits the UK. A nurse puts on PPE (personal protective equipment) at the Wren Hall care home in Nottingham / AP A Government spokesperson said: At some point in the future there will be an opportunity for us to look back, to reflect and to learn some profound lessons. But at the moment, the most important thing to do is to focus on responding to the current situation. Photo: The Canadian Press Cineworld PLC says it has terminated its $2.8-billion takeover of Canadian movie exhibitor Cineplex Inc. after "certain breaches" of the acquisition deal. People leave a Cineplex theatre in Toronto on Friday, November 4, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette Cineworld PLC says it has terminated its $2.8-billion takeover of Canadian movie exhibitor Cineplex Inc. after "certain breaches" of the acquisition deal. The U.K-based theatre chain says it is backing away from the deal after becoming aware of a material adverse effect and breaches to the agreement by Toronto-based Cineplex. Cineworld did not specify what the breaches or effect was in a statement it released, but says Cineplex denies they have occurred. Cineworld says Cineplex has also separately alleged that Cineworld failed to comply with its obligations under the acquisition agreement. The spat comes after Cineworld struck a takeover deal with Cineplex, announced late last year, which valued the Canadian company at $34 per share, a 42 per cent premium on the chain's stock price at the time. Cineworld operated 9,498 screens across 786 sites across the globe, but its acquisition of Cineplex would have added 165 Canadian theatres and 1,695 screens to that count. Canberra, June 12 : Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison announded on Friday that a 100-person limit on indoor gatherings will be scrapped under step three of the government's plan to further ease coronavirus restrictions. The announcement was made following a meeting of the National Cabinet, which comprises the Prime Minister and state and territory leaders, earlier in the day, reports Xinhua news agency. Instead venues will be required to provide at least four square meters per person indoors. Stadiums with a capacity of up to 40,000 people will be allowed to have 10,000 people under step three while bigger venues will be required to apply for special exemptions, paving the way for crowds to return to sporting events in droves. "It would have to be a large, open area. There would need to be seats at the appropriate distance. It would need to be ticketed, and so people would be able to understand who was in attendance at that event," Morrison told reporters. The National Cabinet also reconfirmed the commitment to the three step framework for a COVID-safe Australia to be completed in next month. "We reaffirmed our commitment to the three-step process to ensure that we are on track for concluding the third step of that three-step process in July," said Morrison. The governments of Queensland and South Australia have announced plans to re-open their domestic borders on July 10 and July 20 respectively amid pressure from the federal government to do so to provide a boost for the tourism industry. Morrison also announced a pilot program for international students but said that only states with open domestic borders would be allowed to participate. "We'll be working closely with states and territories, firstly on a pilot basis and to enable, in a very controlled setting, for international students to be able to come to Australia but only on pre-approved plans for particular institutions worked up between federal authorities and state and territory authorities," he said. Morrison was joined by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Brendan Murphy who said that Australia's response to COVID-19 was in a "good place". "We've only had 38 new cases over the last week, more than half of them are overseas returned travellers," Murphy said. However, he reiterated warnings from the government and health experts that mass gatherings at Black Lives Matter protests could undo Australia's progress in preventing the spread of the virus. "Despite all the attempts of organizers to try and make them safe, those sort of events where people are crowded together and where you can't, we don't know who is there, are inherently unsafe," he said. Australia has reported a total of 7,285 COVID-19 cases with 102 deaths, according to the Department of Health. A Wallingford doctor charged with health care fraud and drug distribution will be released on a $750,000 bond approved by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Spector. Spectors conditions for granting bail to Dr. Anatoly Braylovsky include home confinement and wearing an electronic monitoring device. Braylovsky was arrested June 4 after his office was raided by federal investigators and Wallingford police. He is charged with health care fraud, making false statements relating to health care matters and two charges related to distribution of controlled substances. Braylovskys bail hearing was conducted via Zoom teleconferencing due to social distancing requirements associated with the coronavirus pandemic. The accused participated in the hearing from the New Haven Correctional Center on Whalley Avenue. The judge cited Braylovskys ties to the community and the fact that his bond was being signed by his brother, his parents and his girlfriend as reasons why Spector believed he would not be a flight risk. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pierpont had argued against granting Braylovsky bail. Pierpont said the doctor had continued to distribute drugs even after a 2016 visit from federal Drug Enforcement Administration officials regarding concerns the agency had about prescriptions Braylovsky wrote. And Pierpont said that when Braylovsky was arrested, an electronic device used to determine whether other individuals are wearing recording equipment was found among the doctors possessions. Even after the warning (from the DEA), he took steps to hide and continue to evade detection so he could continue to perpetrate this scheme, Pierpont said. But Braylovskys defense attorney, James Glasser, said his client is highly regarded in the community. He has lived in Connecticut nearly his entire life and has very few ties outside the Greater New Haven area, Glasser said. He has extensive ties to this community. Hes not going anywhere. Braylovskys passport was confiscated at the time of his arrest. A June 18 probable cause hearing has been set in his case, Spector said. Federal law enforcement officials said they used a confidential source during the investigation. Included in the information released about the case was that, between October 2019 and January 2020, the source visited Braylovskys office, gave him $1,600 in cash, and received a prescription for 150 oxycodone 30mg pills. Even though Braylovsky performed no physical examination and did not discuss the sources health, Braylovsky billed Medicaid for each office visit, federal officials said in a release. In addition, the source provided Braylovsky with $1,600 in cash for a prescription during an office visit on March 18, 2020, and delivered $1,600 to Braylovskys car after a telehealth appointment on April 30, 2020. luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com TV actor Dipika Chikhlia, who essayed the role of Sita in the popular mythological serial Ramanand Sagars Ramayana, has revealed that they once shot an entire scene with a fat snake right above their heads. She shared two pictures from the sets of the show in which Ram, Sita and Lakshman are seen sitting under a huge tree, perhaps discussing something. Dipika wrote on Instagram, There is a story behind this scene ....so I shared ...we were busy with the shoot, learning lines and so on...the day was as normal as could be, after the scene got over our cameraman Ajit naik (cinematography) came to tell us please vacate the place and dont stand underneath the tree and we were wondering all the three actors as to what was the hurry and why so abrupt ...he asked all the technicians also to clear the field ..sagar Saab was also wondering what happened ...and then he pointed out to a huge fat snake on the tree and what followed after that was we all RAN for our life sooo many memories ....#memories#ramayan#sagarworld# tree#banyantree#snake#fear#phobia#umbergoan#studio#sets#actors#actress#costume. Ramayan, originally aired in the late 80s and 90s, got a rerun recently during the lockdown imposed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Dipika played the lead role of Sita on the show. Talking about working with Ramanand Sagar on the show, Dipika had told Hindustan Times in an interview, It was very different because he came from the era of Raj Kapoor and had worked with people of that calibre. Its that level of intelligence, dedication, understanding of the medium, it makes a lot of difference when you work with such great minds. He was phenomenal in his work and his understanding of the subject was very, very good. Also read: Ailing actor Ashiesh Roy says soon I will have to stop dialysis because I will be left with no money In a separate interaction with media, Dipika had claimed she would have rather played Kaikeyi who had asked her husband Dashratha to send Ram, Lakshman and Sita on a 14-year exile. If today somebody would have offered me, I would have possibly done Kaikeyi, this is how much we have changed as actors (laughs). As an actor, it is exactly opposite playing a negative role. If I have to play a role, I will like to try playing a role where I have a dimension, where I can explore myself as a creative person, she said. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON By Chen Runchu SANYA, June 12 -- The 34th Chinese naval escort task group returned to a naval port in Sanya, south Chinas Hainan Province, on the morning of June 10, after successfully completing its mission. The 34th Chinese naval escort task group is composed of guided-missile destroyer Yinchuan (Hull 175), guided-missile frigate Yuncheng (Hull 571) and comprehensive supply ship Weishanhu (Hull 887), as well as ship-borne helicopter members and marine corps. During the 171 days of mission period, the task group has safely escorted 30 batches of 50 Chinese and foreign ships, implemented certain special escort tasks for 17 Chinese ships, and dispersed 14 suspected pirate speedboats approaching the protected ships. During this period, the task group has also participated in the China-Pakistan joint naval exercise, code-named Sea Guardians-2020. Cooperating with the Pakistani Navy, it completed anti-aircraft, anti-missile, joint anti-submarine and other training events. Exercises by mixed fleet, alternating commanding, and actual combat were carried out between the two sides for the first time. The joint exercise fully demonstrated the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries and high-level exchanges and cooperation between the two navies. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese naval escort task group had been kept out of in-port rest and replenishment for 96 consecutive days. All the service members aboard tided over their difficulties in this special period, and fulfilled China's mission as a responsible major power with practical actions. Hong Kong's surprise decision last month to reappoint its top securities regulator came after a suggestion from Beijing that he remain in the role, according to people familiar with the matter. China's government proposed that Ashley Alder stay on as head of Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission in part because he's viewed by foreign investors as a steady hand at a time of heightened economic and political turbulence, the people said, without elaborating on how the message was communicated to Hong Kong. Alder, a Briton who first took the job in 2011, had been planning to step down in September. He'll now stay on for another three years. While it's not unusual for China's government to give input on key Hong Kong personnel decisions, the Alder case is notable because Beijing appears to have originated the idea for his last-minute reappointment. That could add to concerns about increased Chinese meddling in Hong Kong affairs, even though Alder is considered by many market participants to be an independent and effective regulator. His reappointment was announced just days before China unveiled plans to impose controversial national security legislation on Hong Kong. The move roiled local markets and has been criticised for undermining the city's judicial independence, a feature that underpins its status as a hub for international companies and investors. The Securities and Futures Commission's chief executive Ashley Alder rappelling down from the 68th floor of the One Island East building in Quarry Bay during the Outward Bound Hong Kong (OBHK) Vertical 1000 "The Adventure of A Life Time" event on 9 December 2017. Photo: Winson Wong alt=The Securities and Futures Commission's chief executive Ashley Alder rappelling down from the 68th floor of the One Island East building in Quarry Bay during the Outward Bound Hong Kong (OBHK) Vertical 1000 "The Adventure of A Life Time" event on 9 December 2017. Photo: Winson Wong Story continues Hong Kong officials have in recent days been touting the benefits of greater financial integration with China, with Chief Executive Carrie Lam saying on Tuesday that the city should be "promoting greater connectivity" between the two markets. Financial Secretary Paul Chan said in a Bloomberg Television interview on June 5 that Hong Kong is ready to defend its currency's link to the US dollar with support from the mainland. In a statement last month on the Alder decision, Hong Kong's government cited the need for "continuity of leadership" at a time when the coronavirus pandemic is driving up financial-market volatility. The statement didn't say whether China played a role in the reappointment. An SFC spokesman declined to comment. China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and Lam's office " which is responsible for approving SFC chiefs " didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Lam was elected in 2017 by a committee dominated by Beijing loyalists. Inside the SFC, Alder's reappointment surprised rank-and-file employees and senior officials because the commission had already started a formal search for its next CEO, people familiar with the matter said. Some staffers and investors had expected him to be succeeded by his long-time deputy, Julia Leung. Even though Alder's reappointment was unexpected, it makes sense for him to stay, according to Tom Kirchmaier, a visiting senior fellow at the London School of Economics. "China needs Hong Kong to remain the gateway to international financial markets, and undoubtedly the events of the last weeks didn't help to calm nerves on the international stage," he said. "To reappoint a known and tested hand makes a lot of sense in this respect to send a signal." Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) deputy chief executive Julia Leung Fung-yee during the 2018 Pan Asian Regulatory Summit in Wan Chai on 9 October 2018. Photo: Dickson Lee alt=Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) deputy chief executive Julia Leung Fung-yee during the 2018 Pan Asian Regulatory Summit in Wan Chai on 9 October 2018. Photo: Dickson Lee Since taking office, Alder has overseen the introduction of dual-class share listings in Hong Kong and worked to root out fraud and market manipulation. The SFC has also gone after misbehaviour by banks, fining HSBC Holdings a record HK$400 million (US$52 million) in 2017 over sales of structured products that imploded after the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings. This week Alder was re-elected as chairman of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions, a group of regulators from more than 115 jurisdictions around the world. He's committing to another term during one of the most turbulent periods for Hong Kong since its handover from Britain in 1997. Doubts about the city's role as an international financial hub are rising, while political tensions are likely to stay elevated in the run-up to local legislative polls in September and the US presidential election in November. Speaking at a Bloomberg Policy Briefing Series on Thursday, Alder said his key focus will be to keep Hong Kong functioning "in a manner that's completely familiar to western investors." This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Their health condition is normal. Fourteen Ukrainians who are crewmembers of the Ruta oil products tanker have been freed in Libya after three-year imprisonment. They are now in the city of Misrata, the northwest of Libya, the TV news service TSN said, citing its sources. Read alsoUkrainian sailors on hunger strike in Libya may be placed under house arrest MFA The authorities are to decide how to bring them home. A doctor who assisted in their release estimates the health of the sailors, including 10 who went on hunger strike last month, as normal. The Ruta tanker, chartered by an Odesa-based company, was captured by the Libyan side in April 2017. The sailors were allegedly arrested on suspicion of smuggling oil products. No court hearings have been held since then, while the freight transported by the tanker has disappeared under unknown circumstances. Public authorities both locally and nationally continued to show optimism over the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic in Spain this week and the number of new cases. Data released for Malaga province, including the Costa del Sol, on Thursday afternoon by the regional ministry of Health showed just one new positive PCR test. There were four new local cases on Wednesday and two on Tuesday. No further deaths in Malaga province were reported on Thursday, meaning there had been an eleven-day continuous period with no fatalities. In hospitals in Malaga province, there were 16 patients with Covid-19 on Thursday, of whom three were in intensive care. Across the Andalucia region, 10 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the previous 24 hours, according to Thursday's data. At a national level, 156 new daily cases were announced on Thursday afternoon. This was slightly down from 167 on Wednesday but there was more concern expressed by officials and ministers over a number of isolated outbreaks. Thirty-two deaths had been recorded nationally in the last week, said the Health ministry. The government stressed that the five small outbreaks were under control. Particularly affected was a seniors' home in the Basque Country. Neighbouring regions said they were abandoning thoughts of opening their borders to the Basque Country for the time being. At his daily briefing to the media, the government's chief epidemic expert, Fernando Simon, explained that the outbreaks "are clearly identified but we should keep exercising caution". In a separate appearance before the parliamentary Health committee, Heath minister Salvador Illa stressed that the contagion ratio in Spain was still 0.3-0.4, well below the dangerous 1.0. However he highlighted the difficulty in stopping cases being imported into the country. In the last month, 96 infected people had entered Spain, he said, despite borders being closed, with 24 imported cases in the last week alone. Gulabo Sitabo is finally streaming online and I couldnt be more thrilled about this weekend. Amid all the dreariness surrounding us, this Shoojit Sircar directorial drama-comedy is definitely the perfect remedy for our sour mood. While the Gulabo Sitabo trailer itself was highly promising, all with its funny dialogues, cryptic overtones as well as Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurranas unmissable spin on playing the new-age Tom & Jerry on-screen, there still remained a few loose ends I wanted more insights on. Rising Sun Films So, I caught up with the mastermind himself, the creator of Gulabo Sitabo, director Shoojit Sircar, who came to my rescue and shared some valuable inside secrets related to the film which made me look at this dramedy in a whole new light. Here are the 5 inside secrets Shoojit Sircar shared about Gulabo Sitabo which will surely make your viewing experience twice as pleasurable: 1. What Does The Title Gulabo Sitabo Mean? Rising Sun Films If you werent intrigued by the unusual title of the film before this point, all I want to ask is, whats wrong with you?. Ever since the film was announced I was intrigued by its title and tried to make sense of what it could possibly mean. Well, let me tell you, I wasnt even close to the truth. Talking about his choice of title, Shoojit told me, We had just finished writing the script and were doing some further research on Lucknow, when we came across this puppeteer who was singing this Gulabo Sitabo song. It is an old, performance art form wherein the artist moves around from place to place and performs the puppetry to make a living. Rising Sun Films Sharing how this discovery inspired him, Shoojit added, Today, it has become a dying form of puppetry, with a lack of audience and puppeteers barely making a living. So, we thought, since we are making a film on Lucknow, one that deals with the ethos of its people and culture, why not use our film to give an ode to this art form and try to revive it by giving it a name Gulabo Sitabo. 2. Why Does The Story Play Out In Lucknow? Rising Sun Films Next came the choice of location for the film. When I saw the trailer I was instantly fascinated by the setting of the film. It had a touch of the old-world grittiness and nostalgia which added a layer of depth to the screenplay. Responding to this query Shoojit shared that, When Juhi (Chaturvedi) and I started writing the script, the story was somehow placed in Delhi. However, as we kept working on it and the script evolved, the film suddenly shifted to Lucknow. Rising Sun Films The premise of the film is basically set in a very old town of Lucknow. We were basically looking for a place which still has an old-world charm, where nothing has changed much. And the old city of Lucknow turned out to be perfect. When you watch the film, you will feel that we have captured the ethos of the old city Lucknow - the people, the food, the language, the get-up and even the structures. For me location is very crucial, even the location becomes a character in my films. 3. Was Gulabo Sitabo Tailor-Made For BigB & Ayushmann? Rising Sun Films Tell me the Gulabo Sitabo trailer didnt wow you with how effortlessly Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana pulled off these offbeat personas. While BigBs character looked almost unrecognizable, I was equally impressed by Ayushmanns screen presence. When I asked if the casting was premeditated, Shoojit told me, The script was surely written keeping Mr Bachchan in mind, but not Ayushmann. He came into the picture later since initially, we werent sure about the age factor of the other character. But as the script came along, we felt Ayushmann fit the role perfectly. And thats how Ayushmann came on board. Rising Sun Films As to why things panned out the way they did, Shoojit elaborated, One of the reasons is because Mr Bachchan is also from UP, he is well-acquainted with the lingo and I felt he is the only one who can carry this role. And Ayushmann is pretty simple and straightforward and knows how to portray the role of a regular guy pretty well. Besides all that, I felt it would be a very fresh pairing to have them together on-screen. 4. Why Does The Story Feel So Familiar & Relatable? Rising Sun Films I have never been to Lucknow, nor have I ever lived in an arrangement as shown in the film. Why then did I feel that I was familiar with the sentiments the lead characters expressed in the film? Why was it relatable to me? Shoojit clarifies, You will most definitely relate to this film. When youre watching the film you will see the simple human behaviours and struggles come to light. Such as the bantering between Mirza and Baankey that you must have witnessed in the trailer. It is very similar to real exchanges between a landlord and a tenant. Even in terms of the characters and the overall vibe of the film, it will remind you of the small-town existence and what life is like in those parts of our country. 5. Why Tell The World About Gulabo & Sitabos Story? Rising Sun Films Thats exactly what I asked Shoojit, why exactly did he want to share this kind of story with his audience. And his response simply reminded me once again why I fell in love with director Shoojit Sircar (and his creations) in the first place. This movie is a social satire. Thats a genre Ive never experimented with before. Normally I enjoy making stories that are fun and lively, which sort of motivated me to tell this one as well. You see everyday problems and struggles, but if you can take it all with a pinch of salt and laugh over it, it makes everything a little bit better. I related to this story very well and ended up smiling on various occasions, so I hope others will find it worthwhile too. Thats all I wanted. Well, did that help you understand things about the movie a lot better? Let me know in the comments section if you found these insights useful in terms of enjoying the film better! Happy Gulabo Sitabo-ing! Black Lives Matter protesters flocked to Londons Trafalgar Square on Friday afternoon, as widespread demonstrations continued following the death of George Floyd in the US. African American Mr Floyd died after a white police officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck in Minneapolis on May 25. hope for the endangered Pangolins: a Few days after China's state forestry administration has increased the protection status of the animals, painted the authorities, according to newspaper reports, the dandruff from the list of traditional Chinese medicine. Animal rights activists reacted on Wednesday with relief. The decisions "will not dry out the black market, probably, but you might put a brake on the commercial and legal consumers to be discouraged," said the founder of the Foundation for rare and endangered animals, Maria Diekmann, the AFP news Agency. They believe that the decision was "99 percent" with the Corona pandemic in context. Some scientists believe that the Coronavirus in China on bats and Pangolins to the people has been transferred. A reconstruction of the origin of the Virus is not likely to be possible. The most-traded wild animal in the world The Virus, Chinese authorities had broken out, according to the information in December on a market in the Central Chinese city of Wuhan, the wild animals and wild meat were sold. Since then, Beijing has banned the sale of wild animals for consumption, but your trade will be allowed, among other things, for the purposes of research or for traditional medicine remains. Pangolins are particularly threatened. The Mammal, according to the world conservation Union (IUCN), the most traded endangered wildlife of the world. More than a Million copies were hunted, therefore, in the past ten years in the forests in Asia and Africa. The mammals are on the list of cites Cites. On illegal markets in Asia, including Burma, achieve high prices. Updated Date: 12 June 2020, 09:21 Dear Editor, Have you ever been afraid because of the color of your skin? Have you ever been afraid based on ethnicity and even religious beliefs? I spent all morning visiting with a young man with an ethnic descent and we discussed an environment that I was aloof to. This young man has experienced difficulties due to his ethnical descent and shared experiences that caused me discomfort and awe. This even in our own county. This is a prerequisite to what I have to offer. I received a phone call from San Antonio, Texas. I do not know anyone there and have never been there, though the mess... Its taken almost a week for the brain vomit induced by former Republican state Sen. Toni Bouchers June 2 contribution to the op-ed page to pass. When one actually dissects the content and tone of her opinion piece it is typical of Connecticut Republicans. She praises the public response making masks and converting manufacturing to making ventilators. She then goes on to praise the federal government for rescuing the economy. But what this means in a functional reality is that The People had to watch out for themselves while Big Business was once again the beneficiary of a bailout. When you see where the PPP money went, it was billions for business and pennies for people. Ms. Boucher calls this unprecedented when on fact weve seen this played out before as was the case with the 2008-09 mortgage crises; Billions for Business, Pennies for People, and even those pennies only grudgingly meted out by a self-styled fiscally responsible Republican Party. Where was Ms. Bouchers praise for the Trump administrations unprecedented response to the COVID-19 pandemic? Absent, as Trumps virus response was non-existent beyond his daily disgorging of bovine manure laden wishful magical thinking. He did not unite the country. Instead, he dumped the virus in the laps of governors, for them to deal with and find their own PPP. Even with that, some governors found their PPP shipments diverted by federal agencies. Some states felt the need to keep their incoming PPP shipments secret, their airports guarded by state police and state National Guard troops, to keep them from the grasping hands of Trump and his cabinet of misfit toys. This is real life, not Celebrity Apprentice Presidential Edition. Ultimately Trump decided to merely declare victory over the virus despite the mounting number of cases and deaths, the highest in the world. But hey, were #1! So, who does Ms. Boucher now want to pay for the economic damage caused by the pandemic? Why, state workers, the boogie man of Connecticut Republicans. But looking back, who created this problem? Who emptied the state treasury? Republican Gov. John Rowland. Who emptied the rainy day fund? Republican Gov. Jodie Rell. Who failed to make payments into the state workers Pension Fund? Class, lets not always see the same hands. Once again Democrat governors are left to clean up the mess made by Republicans while the Republicans sit on the sidelines and snipe. Are the Connecticut Democrats perfect? Far from it, as anyone with half a brain knows. But when they screw up, its in the course of trying to help us, not feather their own nests. We are all tired of the social conditions imposed by the pandemic. We all feel the economic effects to one extent or another. We all want to see businesses reopen and the economy thrive. We all want to see our government function more effectively and economically. But unlike Ms. Boucher and the Washington Republicans, Im not willing for those gains to be paid for in human lives in order to fulfill a partisan agenda. And unlike Ms. Bouchers own wishful thinking, Normal will not be the same as it was before. A few months ago there was an op-ed piece about Connecticut needing a robust Republican Party. Given their performance of the last 3 years and especially the last few months, thats the last thing we need. Eric M. Chandler is a resident of Norwalk. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global market for bioseparation reached $18.4 billion in 2015. This market is expected to increase from $19.0 billion in 2016 to nearly $24.0 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7% for 2016-2021. Report Scope: The market for bioseparation systems is growing rapidly across all regions. Bioseparation purifies biological products on a largescale. The report focuses on the global market of bioseparation systems and provides an updated review, including basic design and its applications, in various arenas of biomedical and life science research. The scope of the study is global. BCC Research analyzes each market, new products and advancements, technologies involved, market projections and market shares. The geographical regions covered in the report are North America, Europe and emerging markets. The emerging market covers all countries like India, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, among others. The bioseparation techniques that are covered in this report are chromatography, centrifugation, electrophoresis, membrane filtration, flow cytometry, microarray, labonachip, biochip, and magnetic separation. Among chromatography techniques, liquid chromatography is the most active market. Also included in the report are relevant patent analysis and comprehensive profiles of companies that lead the bioseparation systems market. Key players include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Agilent Technologies Inc., BioRad Laboratories, Danaher Corp., Qiagen N.V., Merck KGaA GmbH, and Waters Corp. among others. Request For Report sample @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/11796 Report Includes: - An overview of the global market for the commercial applications of biotechnology separation systems by product, by company, and by geographic region. - Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2015 and 2016, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2021. - Examination of the various segments of the market, new applications for separation technology, and overall industry trends, as well as the separation process for a variety of biomolecules, including proteins, RNA, and DNA. - Identification of one of the major drivers for the separations system market: the development by the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries of proteins that can be used as biotherapeutic agents against a number of human diseases; another factor that will contribute to growth is the recognition of this technology in emerging markets such as Japan and the Pacific Rim countries. - Assessments of trends based on a number of parameters, including projected sales for existing products, new product introductions, and expanded indications for existing products. Report Summary Biomolecular separation is an important technique used in many industries including biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, food, and agriculture, among others. Biomolecular products, like protein and DNA, have become an important segment of the healthcare industry. New techniques to analyze complex biological mixtures and the genetic engineering technology have helped produce biological molecules with modified features. These biomolecular products are widely used in diagnosis and in the treatment of various life threatening diseases such as cancer and diabetes, among others. Separation systems for commercial biotechnology involve techniques including chromatography, centrifugation, electrophoresis, membrane filtration, flow cytometry, magnetic separation, microarray, biochip and labonachip. These techniques are widely used to separate biomolecular products.The global bioseparation system market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% through 2021. Liquid chromatography had the largest revenue in the bioseparation technique market in 2015. This market is at a rise because of its usage in research and clinical laboratories. The rising demand for biosimilars is leading to the growth of chromatographic separations and thus increasing the market. The newer techniques used in liquid chromatography are highly acceptable in the bioseparation system such as ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UPLC), ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and twodimensional liquid chromatography (2DLC). Membrane filtration is another growing segment in the biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. The use of filtration is in demand for producing more efficient and optimized biological products, which, in turn, drives the membrane filtration market. Upcoming new technologies in this industry include biochip and labonachip. The biochip market is increasing due to the demand for genetic diagnostics where a biochip helps perform an analysis in a fraction of a second, for example, decoding genes. The market for labonachip is increasing due to the new technologies available, like microfluidics and nanofluidics. Labonachip is a handy technique as the analysis of the sample can be performed at the same point where the sample is generated. It is in demand because of its contribution in the oncology sector. Major players in the global bioseparation system market include Agilent Technologies Inc., Alfa Laval, Danaher Corp., GEA Westfalia Separator Group GmbH, GE Healthcare, Hitachi Koki Co. Ltd., Merck KGaA, Miltenyi Biotec Inc., PerkinElmer Inc., Qiagen N.V., Shimadzu Corp., Sysmex Partec GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waters Corp. and 3M Company. The global bioseparation system market is expected to reach to nearly $24.0 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of 4.7%. The market in the United States is expected to reach nearly $9.3 billion by 2021, while Europe will reach $6.0 billion. Europe had revenue of about $4.8 billion in 2015, which is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 3.5% through 2021. Emerging markets is expected to reach nearly $8.7 billion by the end of 2021. Emerging markets led in 2016 followed by the United States. The rising population in India and China are increasing the healthcare spending and therefore causing a rise in the industry. Also, some liberty from the stringent regulatory laws of the Japanese government is expected to yield apositive impact on in the emerging markets. New technologies being implemented in life science research and diagnosis, as well as increasing healthcare spending by the United States government are some of the key factors for the growth in this region and the U.S. is expected to surpass emerging markets in 2021. More Info of Impact Covid19 @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/11796 She is an advocate for body confidence and uses her social media platform to encourage other women to love the skin they're in. And Malin Andersson was doing her bit for the cause once again on Friday, as she shared a hilarious clip of herself wearing a crop top on Instagram. The former Love Island contestant, 27, joked the reality of wearing a crop top is very different to the picture that is posed for and posted on the photo-sharing app. Candid: Malin Andersson was doing her bit for the cause once again on Friday, as she shared a hilarious clip of herself wearing a crop top on Instagram In the clip, Malin jumped around and giggled while squeezing her tummy and saying: 'The reality of wearing a crop top'. Malin looked stunning in the neutral two-piece, which considered of a straight cut crop top and matching leggings, which she wore with black sliders. The reality star wore her raven locks in a chic French plait, and highlighted her pretty features with a glamorous coat of make-up. Instagram vs reality! The former Love Island contestant, 27, joked the reality of wearing a crop top is very different to the picture that is posed for and posted on the photo-sharing app She captioned the video: 'Looks hella nice when you pose with it on, but REALITY SAYSSSSS OTHERWISE!' Malin's fans praised her for her honestly in the caption of the snap, with one writing: 'You are really beautiful and you really never fail to make my day brighter and you cheer me up xx' While another said: 'I love following you honestly your amazing.' A third added: 'You're so real! and no photoshop BS love you beautiful xx' Playful: In the clip, Malin jumped around and giggled while squeezing her tummy and saying: 'The reality of wearing a crop top' Beautiful: Malin looked stunning in the neutral two-piece, which considered of a straight cut crop top and matching leggings, which she wore with black sliders Wow: Malin has become a voice for body positivity and recently admitted it's important for her to still feel sexy during lockdown Malin has become a voice for body positivity and recently admitted it's important for her to still feel sexy during lockdown. The media personality undoubtedly set pulses racing as she slipped into hot pink lingerie. Showcasing her incredible curves, Malin smiled at the camera while wearing a light pallet of makeup. Alongside the snap, she wrote: 'Why do I look so eloquent here. LOL! I look so timid and cute. But I'm not, I'm WILD. 'Still part of 'Your shape your style' with @bouxavenue and I'm remaining on trend in lockdown as it's important for me to feel hella' sexy still. Lingerie does POWERFUL things.' Malin also uploaded several sultry clips modelling the lingerie to her Instagram Stories and jokingly described herself as a 'lingerie hoarder'. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday, 11 June stated that the Vande Bharat Mission has repatriated a total of 1,65,375 people back to India thus far. Srivastava added that 29,034 migrant workers were also returned. Read: AI Opens Bookings For Phase-3 Flights Under Vande Bharat Mission, Faces Overwhelming Demand Phase-3 adding more flights During an online press briefing, Anurag Srivastava said "Apart from Air India flights, repatriation has also been arranged through other streams like Indian naval vessels which have brought back our nationals from Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Iran through foreign carriers coming to India to pick up nationals from other countries, through chartered flights and from land borders. As part of the Vande Bharat Mission, the INS Shardul has returned to Gujarat from Iran carrying 233 stranded Indian nationals. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson also added that under Phase-3 of the Vande Bharat Mission 432 international flights from 43 countries will be reaching 17 states and Union Territories. Srivastava also added that Phase-3 would see 29 flights from private carriers, 24 IndiGo flights from GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries and from Malaysia, 3 GoAir flights from GCC countries and two Vistara flights from Singapore. Read: Vande Bharat Mission Tickets Reasonable As Compared To Other Countries: Aviation Minister As per reports, the third phase of Vande Bharat Mission had widened the scope of the mission and there were more countries, thereby increasing the number of entry points. India has added 58 more flights to evacuate stranded and distressed nationals from Gulf countries between now and June 30, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday. He informed that staring immediately, the number of flights from Gulf under phase-3 of the 'Vande Bharat Mission' has now increased from originally planned 107 to 165. The minister further said that Phase 3 of Vande Bharat Mission will have 80 flights to Europe, including two daily flights to London and two to other European destinations, between now and 30 June. Moreover, 10 additional flights to the United States and Canada will be flown apart from 70 that have already been announced. State-run carrier Air India had previously announced that it will operate around 300 flights to Europe, Australia, Canada, the USA, the UK and Africa between June 10 and July 1 during phase 3 of Vande Bharat Mission. Read: Vande Bharat Mission: Air India To Open Booking For These Seven Places In US; Details Here Read: Vande Bharat Mission: 58 More Flights Added To Repatriate Indians Stranded In Gulf (Inputs/Image credits ANI) Bob Dylan has reacted to the death of George Floyd in a rare new interview. The artist spoke to The New York Times ahead of the 19 June release of his new album, Rough and Rowdy Ways. It sickened me no end to see George tortured to death like that, Dylan told the newspaper. It was beyond ugly. Lets hope that justice comes swift for the Floyd family and for the nation. Dylan, 79, gave The New York Times the update the day following the death of Floyd, 46, in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Dylans native state), after a white police officer knelt on Floyds neck. That ex-officer, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with second-degree murder. Three others are facing aiding and abetting charges. Dylan spoke to the newspaper from his home in Malibu, California, where he has been sheltering during the coronavirus pandemic. Asked whether he thinks of the pandemic in almost biblical terms, Dylan replied: I think its a forerunner of something else to come. Its an invasion for sure, and its widespread, but biblical? You mean like some kind of warning sign for people to repent of their wrongdoings? That would imply that the world is in line for some sort of divine punishment. Extreme arrogance can have some disastrous penalties. Maybe we are on the eve of destruction. There are numerous ways you can think about this virus. I think you just have to let it run its course. Dylan unveiled Murder Most Foul, a 17-minute song, in March, as much of the US was in the process of entering lockdown. Greetings to my fans and followers with gratitude for all your support and loyalty across the years, he tweeted at the time. This is an unreleased song we recorded a while back that you might find interesting. Stay safe, stay observant and may God be with you. Since then, Dylan has released two more singles: I Contain Multitudes and False Prophet, respectively in April and May. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After one month of attempting to meet the demands of Gov. Andrew Cuomos executive order requiring nursing homes to test staff twice a week an obligation that Borough President James Oddo said was nearly impossible given the financial and staffing burden it placed on the establishments some relief is on the way for the boroughs skilled nursing facilities (SNF). While nursing homes fall under the jurisdiction of the state Health Department, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has stepped in to cover some of the coronavirus (COVID-19) testing costs and will help deliver staff to borough nursing homes in an effort to meet the requirements, said Oddo and Dr. Ginny Mantello, the boroughs health and wellness director. The controversial order has also been modified for regions in Phase 2 of New Yorks reopening plan, only requiring testing of nursing home staff once a week a request previously made by Oddo in a letter to Cuomo. The newly-offered support from the city Health Department is welcome news for nursing homes that are wiped out from the effects of the coronavirus and testing requirements, Mantello said. Nearly 30% of the boroughs virus deaths came at nursing home facilities, state Health Department data shows. I tip my hat to Dr. Kunins and the New York City Department of Health for engaging with nursing homes," Oddo said. You know, sometimes its easy for one level of government to say, well theyre not under our jurisdiction, so thats someone elses problem,' but the folks who live there, the folks who work there are New Yorkers, and I think the city is doing the right thing by getting engaged. It is currently unknown when New York City will enter Phase 2, leaving the time frame for the alteration of the order unclear. In the meantime, Mantello said meeting the ongoing order continues to be a struggle, saying that its been a big burden on the Islands nursing homes to front the costs of tests, locate available labs and also put aside the personnel necessary to gather the samples from staff. The hardship is that (the initial mandate) is taking away from routine resident care, and theres been a huge burden in terms of having personnel to actually do the tests, Mantello said. Reports have also shown significant delays for testing in relation to the initial executive order. Over one month ago, Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.30, which mandated that nursing homes test or make arrangements for the testing of all personnel, including all employees, contract staff, medical staff, operators and administrators, for COVID-19, twice per week. Mantello previously said when the order was put together, there was no guideline" as to how nursing homes were supposed to actually make this happen. Mantello explained that one nursing home on the Island was forced to have seven nurses assigned to gather and administer tests on a daily basis. These are nurses that should be taking care of the residents, Mantello said. The requirement to test twice a week, regardless of previous infection, also created redundancies and further staffing issues, Oddo and Mantello previously explained. Diagnostic tests merely provide a snapshot of current infection, and the tests detect the virus 45 to 60 days after initial infection, which far exceeds the 10-day period in which the CDC said an individual is contagious. As a result, the executive order requires individuals who previously tested positive, quarantined for two weeks and returned, to be tested again regardless of whether they are no longer deemed to be infectious. By following the mandate, Oddos letter said nursing facilities are forced to send home staff for an additional two weeks, even though CDC advises that patients may remain PCR positive for many weeks while not being infectious beyond 10 days, resulting in large staff shortages, and subsequent gaps in resident services and care. Additionally, the cost of each test about $100, which is the price Medicare reimburses spread out across hundreds of staff members, created severe financial constraints on facilities that house the Islands most vulnerable population. And, while the state Health Department ramped up efforts to provide materials, such as swabs, these efforts fell short of the aid nursing homes actually required, Mantello said. Beginning next week, in conjunction with the state Health Department, the NYC Health Department will begin providing support and guidance to meet the testing requirements outlined by Cuomos order, said Stephanie Buhle, a department spokeswoman. Additionally, the NYC DOH will be providing help regarding resident testing, which is not an element of Cuomos order, but an effort Borough Hall has previously pushed for. The city Health Department will be providing supplies for resident testing, including personal protective equipment (PPE), and will cover the remaining costs for tests after laboratories bill insurance companies, Buhle and Mantello said. The citys Health Department will utilize the Medical Reserve Corps installed in New York City to supply nursing homes with staff, and at least four facilities on Staten Island have already received medical professionals, Mantello said. The city has already placed more than 450 additional personnel in nursing homes citywide, Buhle added. Liaisons from the city Health Department have been assigned to nursing homes to help coordinate resources, obtain answers and troubleshoot a range of concerns, Buhle said, and 10 outbreak response teams, which can be sent to nursing homes and other congregate settings to rapidly respond and control outbreaks, including proper adherence to infectious disease protocol, among other services, have been created. Right now, what were doing is focusing on the here and now, Oddo said, and the here and now is to articulate to the state that the well-intentioned testing was having negative impacts on the ability to care for residents. In a perfect world with supply to equipment, with a turnaround time from labs that were instant ... we would want testing for everybody, every day, Oddo said, But youre operating in the real world, and the real world is that this order unintentionally impacted our nursing homes on Staten Island negatively. While Staten Island is not yet benefitting from the changes that will come from Phase 2, specifically concerning nursing homes, Oddo said he was happy to see them adjust the order. A demonstrator wearing a protective mask attends a Black Lives Matter protest in the aftermath of protests against the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Photo: REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw Europe could face a surge of Covid-19 infections in the coming weeks caused by mass protests over recent days, politicians, European Union officials and experts said yesterday. Tens of thousands of protesters have crowded together in Europe's big cities in recent days to demonstrate against racism after the killing in the United States of George Floyd while in police custody. "If you advise everybody to keep 1.5 metres from each other, and everybody just stands next to each other, holding each other, then I don't have a good feeling about that," Jozef Kesecioglu, who chairs the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, told a conference. Asked whether there could be a surge of infections in the coming two weeks, he said: "Yes, but hopefully I'm wrong." British Health Minister Matt Hancock said people should not attend large gatherings of more than six people. "I understand that people want to show their passion for a cause that they care deeply about. But this is a virus that thrives on social contact, regardless of what your cause may be," said Mr Hancock. Most European countries have passed the peak of the outbreak and are gradually reopening business and borders. Before recent protests, scientists expected a second wave only after the summer. But mass gatherings might halt this positive trend. "As for any infectious respiratory disease, mass events could be a major route of transmission," Martin Seychell, a health official at the EU Commission, said when asked about the possibility of an earlier second wave caused by demonstrations. The virus was still circulating, although at lower rates than some weeks ago, he said. The likelihood and size of a second wave would depend on the effective maintaining of social distancing measures and other factors, many of which are still unknown, he added. A Boston man is suing multiple Brookline law enforcement officers as well as the town itself and its police department, claiming he was racially profiled, harassed and had discriminatory comments lodged against him. Chiuba Eugene Obele, who is black, filed a civil rights lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Boston on Thursday against the town of Brookline, the communitys police department and three law enforcement officers. He accused the defendants of violating his rights guaranteed by the Fourth and 14th amendments of the Constitution. In his suit, the plaintiff claimed that in October 2017 he was aggressively questioned by a white police officer, who he identified as Dispatcher Brian Merrigan. The Boston man was at his girlfriends home while she was at a doctors appointment when he accidentally triggered an alarm system and prompted a police response. In his complaint, Obele wrote Merrigan was suspicious of him and did not believe he had a relationship with the homeowner. Obele accused the officer of forcing him to put his hands against a wall. He claimed Merrigan then searched him, patted him down and confiscated his wallet in what amounted to racial profiling that escalated into harassment. Finally, Officer Merrigan stated that he was fed up with Mr. Obeles attitude. He stated, Put your hands against the wall right now! If you want to talk back to me like a criminal, then Ill treat you like a criminal, the suit alleged. Talib Moreland, a tenant who lived with Obeles girlfriend in their condominium, was named as another plaintiff in the Boston mans suit and is accused of lying to Merrigan, falsely stating Obele had no relationship to the homeowner and also stole his wallet. The plaintiff claimed the Brookline police officer took out everything from Obeles wallet that did not bear the Boston mans name - including gift certificates, a transportation pass and cash - and insisted the contents belonged to Moreland. Despite being allowed to hold onto most of the contents of the wallet, Mr. Obele still felt humiliated, his suit stated. On Nov. 5 of the same year, Obele alleged, he called 911 to report Moreland made violent threats against his girlfriend and that there was enough evidence to charge the tenant with a criminal offense. However, the Boston man claimed, Officer Boris Vragovic chose not to charge Moreland. Vragovic, Obele claimed, harbored personal animus toward him for dating an older white woman. In his suit, the Boston resident accused the policeman of treating the couple in a disrespectful manner, giving them disdainful looks and even asking Obele, What business do you have being with someone her age? Dont you think its a little weird? At the time of the incident, Obele said, he was 27 years old and his girlfriend was 73. The police officer then questioned Obele about his partners finances, the Boston man alleged, asking whether the sole purpose he was dating the woman was to exploit her. Obele noted he was offended by Vragovics line of questioning. "Chill out, " Vragovic is accused of telling Obele. Im just saying, not too many brothas I know are dating white women who look like that, unless theyre hoping to get in some serious inheritance money. That same month in a separate incident, Obele claimed he was wrongfully arrested by Officer David Pilgrim, who allegedly refused to let him retrieve video from home security cameras. The evidence, Obele said, would have proved his innocence. The Boston man was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest and witness intimidation after Moreland, the plaintiff alleged, falsely claimed Obele had attacked him with a folding chair. Rather than conduct an honest and fair investigation into the allegations against Mr. Obele, Officer Pilgrim was determined to arrest him at all costs, the plaintiffs suit said. As a result of this wrongful arrest, Mr. Obele was forced to endure emotional distress. Obele, acting as his own attorney in the suit, accused the three officers of acting in accordance with a de facto policy from the Brookline Police Department and the town, which he claimed neglected or intentionally failed to rectify other cases of law enforcement misconduct. At the time of the incidents in which Obele reported police misconduct, he claimed it was the policy or custom of the town of Brookline to inadequately supervise and train its employees. He argued Merrigan, Vragovic and Pilgrim felt reasonably immune from discipline and believed their actions would be tolerated. The Boston man alleged the police department and the town have a pattern of ignoring accusations of law enforcement misconduct, particularly allegations made by people of color. Indeed it is the policy and/or custom of the Brookline Police Department and the town of Brookline to improperly and inadequately investigate citizen and other complaints of police misconduct, Obele wrote in his suit. Brookline Town Administrator Mel Kleckner said in a statement Friday the town is aware of Obeles complaint and that the matter is being reviewed by the town. Neither the town of Brookline nor the Brookline Police Department received a formal complaint from Mr. Obele prior to filing his complaint in court yesterday, the statement said. "The allegations in his complaint will be taken very seriously, and will be reviewed in accordance with appropriate legal process for all parties who are involved. Its often said that relationships between soldiers transcend race. Movies, books and personal testimonies have told us repeatedly that when two people fight for their lives alongside each other, a lasting sense of camaraderie and understanding is forged between them, regardless of background. But many Black veterans of the Vietnam War have told a different story. Although many formed enduring interracial friendships while fighting overseas, inequities and blatantly racist treatment stained their experiences both during and after the war. In Vietnam, they were disproportionately sent to the front lines, jailed or disciplined at a higher rate and promoted less often. Upon their return to the United States, they were presented with menial job opportunities, denied support by Veterans Affairs and received little empathy from their own communities. A new Spike Lee film debuting on Netflix on June 12, Da 5 Bloods, captures this continuing struggle, depicting four Black veterans who are filled with resentment and trauma as they return to Vietnam 50 years later. There, they attempt to find the body of a brother-in-arms as well as buried gold, and reckon with their complicity in an immoral war that wasnt ours, as one character puts it. In conjunction with the films release, TIME spoke with veterans and historians about the troubled history of Black Vietnam veterans, and the ways their stories connect to the current protests sweeping the nation. We have enough problems fighting white people back home The Vietnam War was the first American war in which its troops were fully integrated, a development that was supposed to turn the page on a ghastly history of institutional racism in the military. In 2016, a study released by the Equal Justice Initiative that found that between 1877 and 1950, no one was more at risk of experiencing violence and targeted racial terror than Black veterans. After World War II, the G.I. Bill was constructed in a way that denied benefits to many Black soldiersand only increased the gaps in wealth and education between white and Black Americans. Story continues Hasan Kwame Jeffries, a professor of African-American history at Ohio State University, says that before Vietnam, African-American soldiers were on the bottom of a rigid caste system. They were in service positions; they were mostly put in positions to do the grunt work, he tells TIME. Its also important to understand that even though it was segregated, it wasnt equal. Black soldiers were receiving inadequate training and resources. In 1964, American troops began arriving in Vietnam in large numbers following the Gulf of Tonkin incident, with the new integration policies a source of optimism. But many Black soldiers were immediately faced with discrimination and racism during basic training, which typically took place in the Jim Crow south. Although were talking about an era after the Civil Rights Act, officers and soldiers had deep Southern racist roots, Jeffries says. The racism was there: it was real and felt between soldiers. These structures persisted overseas, even if Black and white soldiers had to fight side-by-side. Out in the field, everyone had to depend on everyone, Duery Felton, a veteran, says. But when you got back to base camp, you had what youd call de facto segregation. In Saigon, Black troops often spent their time off in a section of the city that would come to be known as Soulsville; meanwhile, their white counterparts were being promoted at a higher rate. Soldiers were still dealing with those deeply rooted perceptions about who theyre fighting next to, Jeffries says. As the fighting dragged on, ugly statistics revealed how African Americans were being disproportionately affected by the war. Robert McNamaras Project 100,000, implemented in 1966, pulled hundreds of thousands of poor men into the war40% of them African American. By the following year, Black soldiers made up 16.3% of those drafted and 23% of Vietnam combat troops, despite accounting for only roughly 11% of the civilian population. These new draftees often had little understanding of the wars purpose and were increasingly disenchanted by their role in it. For many soldiers, a major tipping point happened when Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968, news of which reaches the soldiers in Da 5 Bloods during one particularly stirring sceneand in response, white soldiers burned crosses at Cam Ranh Bay and flew confederate flags at Danang. Things fell apart rapidly, Harry Humphries, a veteran who served as a military advisor on Da 5 Bloods, recalls. Fights between Black and white soldiers broke out across the country. At Long Binh Jail, a military prison where more than 50% of the incarcerated men were Black, prisoners overthrew the guards and destroyed many of the buildings. In 1970, the Marine Corps alone reported 1,060 violent racial incidents. In 1969, TIME Magazine correspondent Wallace Terry conducted a survey of 400 Black soldiers on the ground and found that 60% of them believed that Black people should not fight in Vietnam because of inequality in the U.S. Terry quoted one soldier as saying, Why should I come over here when some of the South Vietnamese live better than my people? We have enough problems fighting white people back home. Janice Terry, Wallace Terrys wife, tells TIME that during the course of her husbands reporting, he ran into extreme resistance from the military. The officers didnt like it at all, she says. At one point, he felt like his life was in danger because of this. Janice would often visit her husband at army camps and remembers seeing Confederate flags strewn from barracks and trucks. Youre in a war, and some idiots are flying the Confederate flag, she says. That made Black soldiers so angry. (Wallace Terry, who died in 2003, later wrote Bloods, an oral history of Black Vietnam soldiers, which heavily influenced Da 5 Bloods.) Londia Granger Wright joined the Navy in the mid-70s, and served as a chaplains assistant in Guam supporting Vietnamese refugees. Her late husband George Wright, a Marine sergeant major, had also fought in the war. Londia says that they both experienced racism while serving, including when a pilot told her that I should not have been allowed to be in the Navy and that I needed to go back to where I came from. But Wright says that her husband rarely discussed this aspect of his experience with her. I think the memories were too painful, she says. When wed watch military Hollywood films, he would shake his head and laugh and turn them off, because he said they were so wrong. Vietnam War soldiers | copyright Wallace Terry Archive The counselors didnt have time In the early 70s, the U.S. limped out of the war and began sending its troops back home to a country that was, in many ways, unrecognizable. Fashion, movies and music had changed; Black uprisings had occurred in cities from Detroit to Baltimore; activists like Angela Davis and writers like Toni Morrison were forging incendiary new forms of rhetoric. There was a culture shock. I felt like I was in a sci-fi movie, Felton says. And race relations were no better than when they had left. While Felton was recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., a fight broke out between hobbled white and Black veterans over a Temptations record. Once he was discharged, things only worsened: Im being accosted by other Blacks, who are excoriating me because I served in a white mans war. Then I tried to join one of the major service organizations, but the World War II veterans turned us back, because they said we had not fought in a real war, he remembers. Posttraumatic stress disorder, which had not yet been recognized by medical institutions, occurred in Black communities at a disproportionately high rate, according to a 1990 study. Delroy Lindos character in Da 5 Bloods, Paul, reflects the toll of decades of untreated PTSD. A 1972 study found that Black veterans were over twice as likely as white veterans to not be employed full-time, and were struggling to find jobs that would support them beyond manual labor. When desperate veterans turned to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for help, many were denied basic disability claims. White counterparts got their same kinds of needs fulfilledbut when Blacks went to get their benefits, the counselors didnt have time for them, Job Mashariki, a veteran, says. It got to the point where they just said, Whatever Im suffering with, Im going to continue to do that, instead of going to an institution thats supposed to be servicing me but instead disrespects me. Over the years, studies have found that the VA unlawfully turned away thousands of vulnerable veterans, while many have alleged that they discriminated against veterans of color. To fill the void, Mashariki co-founded the Black Veterans for Social Justice in 1979, which aimed to provide emotional, medical, and employment-based support. We had to come together to empower ourselves, he says. Are You A Pilot? More than two weeks after the police the killing of George Floyd, demonstrators and protesters continue to rally on the streets. These uprisings have shed light on widespread discrimination and racial inequality in the countyand the United States Military is no exception. This week, the Senate appointed the very first Black military chief. Charles Brown Jr. was unanimously confirmed on June 9 as the Chief of Staff for the U.S. Air Force. Just a week before his confirmation, Brown posted a video in which he spoke about the killing of Floyd, the protests and his own experience with racial inequality as a member of the military. Brown Jr. says he was often the only African American in his squadron and as a senior officer, and usually the only African American in the room. Im thinking about wearing the same flight suit with the same wings on my chest as my peers, and then being questioned by another military member, Are you a pilot?' he said in the video. Brown Jr. added that he rarely had a mentor that looked like him, and that he had to work twice as hard to overcome expectations. Though the demographics of active duty members in the military are diverse, there are only two senior officers who are Black, including Brown Jr. Since the protests, the military has started to reckon with the ways in which it has propped up racist structures. It was only this week, for instance, that both the Navy and the Marine Corps banned the Confederate flag. And the Pentagon is considering renaming Army bases bearing the names of Confederate officers, though President Trump says he opposes the suggestion. Times havent changed that much, Mashariki says. Mashariki hopes that the continuing protests, as well as Da 5 Bloods, will make people more aware of the plight suffered by men who are too often thought of as stoic, emotionless warriors. There was a lot of anger and disenchantment with what had taken place: people were dealing with drug addiction, PTSD, the military spraying Agent Orange on our troops, he says. We needed support. We needed love. Theres a grim familiarity to stories about young girls falling prey to men in positions of power. As readers, we recognize the girls first heady thrill at being called special by someone who seems to have the authority above all others to declare it, and then we follow that plotline to its heart-rending conclusion. The best-selling authors Candace Bushnell and Katie Cotugno explore this territory in RULES FOR BEING A GIRL (Balzer + Bray, 304 pp., $19.99; ages 13 and up), a book so engaging and lively it might take you a moment to pinpoint the disquiet you feel upon reaching its end. A senior in high school, Marin Lospato is delighted to find herself alone with her beloved and crushed-upon English teacher, Mr. Beckett (Bex) right up until the moment he kisses her. Afterward, as she unpacks the incident with her best friend, Chloe, the two stumble past Bexs obvious abuse of power to make the encounter as much Marins fault as it can be. Maybe he was just picking up what you were putting down, Chloe suggests before finally determining she wouldnt try to ruin somebodys whole life over something I wasnt even sure I interpreted correctly. Bex quickly dismisses their kiss as a little bit of confusion, and Marin herself wonders what a proportionate response might be, considering he wasnt a creepy perv who forced himself on me in a dark, deserted alley. But what seems to perturb Marin most is her struggle to untangle what she knows was wrong from her deep-seated feeling that she has no right to be upset about it or seek justice for it. Gradually, Marins eyes are opened to a school environment where acts of sexism and inequality, some of which she has participated in, are woven into the landscape. Furious, Marin writes an editorial for the school newspaper entitled Rules for Being a Girl, decrying this double standard. Bex warns it just might draw the ire of her peers. Hes right, of course: Chloe wonders if Marin has raging PMS; Marins bland boyfriend worries shes become a crazy feminist. But now that Marin is aware of the thousand great and small unfairnesses that surround her, she cant remain silent. Soon shes challenging Bexs uninspired all-white, all-male reading lists and starting a feminist book club. 2020 has been to the travel what 2008 was to housing. An elephant roll off a cliff. But although the property market, in Sydney at least, came up smelling of record-breaking auction ink, the wanderlust industry is still currently in its nadir. Before we climb back to the lofty heights of 2019 we must first navigate a few sticky patches. One among them: ghost flights. There are two types of ghost flights. The first, as Scientific American and CNN Travel reported earlier this year, are flights with no-one, or extremely few people on them, which are forced to run anyway. This either happens when federal regulations force airlines to fill a quota View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michael Anthony (@thegeniuslayman) on Apr 27, 2020 at 7:57am PDT or when bare-bones networks are created via subsidies (like when the Australian government shelled out so Qantas and Virgin Australia could continue operating a skeleton domestic network during the peak of Australias first wave of coronavirus). View this post on Instagram A post shared by molly choma (@mollychoma) on Mar 30, 2020 at 10:33pm PDT So far so pleasant, right (or at least, even if creepy, its better than being jammed in like sardines, at a time like this)? Unfortunately, the second type of ghost flight, first noticed by The Points Guy, is a bit peskier. Taking to Instagram to share the phenomenon on Tuesday, The Points Guy wrote: Beware of ghost flights, AKA flights that are very likely to end up getting cancelled. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Points Guy (@thepointsguy) on Jun 8, 2020 at 2:45pm PDT [We] first noticed this trend when planning a trip with Iceland Air, but weve noticed it on other airlines like @united, pictured here, The Points Guy wrote. Consider this: there are 13 (!) more NYC-SFO flights operating on July 6 compared to July 5, and from what we know about the airline industry, they arent planning on resuming their full schedules any time soonlet alone overnight. If you are booking a trip for later this year, pay close attention to disparities in flight schedules a few days before/after your desired flight and, perhaps more importantly, rely on COVID-related schedule updates and information provided by airline (and not just whats listed on flight search results). You can typically find this information on an airlines website, The Points Guy added. In other words: some airlines are still selling flights that are highly unlikely to run. Icelandairs take? Theyre just being optimistic. Whether this is misleading or whether, as Europes travel bans loosen, it is simply a smart business strategy (or both) remains to be seen. Only time (and confirmed cases) will tell. Either way: youve now been warned. Read Next Her youngest daughter Portia just graduated from sixth grade. And after celebrating the achievement with her family on Tuesday, Kyle Richards was spotted Thursday treating herself to lunch at the celebrity-friendly Italian restaurant Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills. The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star took plenty of precautions against the coronavirus, donning a patterned cloth face mask and pink disposable gloves. Outing: Kyle Richards treated herself to lunch at celebrity-friendly Italian restaurant Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills on Thursday, wearing a protective cloth mask and pink disposable gloves The reality star, 51, dressed for comfort on the hot June day, wearing a loose-fitting blouse decorated with yellow flowers and green leaves. She paired the top with skinny pale blue jeans and hot pink slingbacks. She wore her long dark hair straight and loose with a center parting and she carried a brown leather tote. Casual: Kyle, 51, dressed for comfort on the hot day, wearing a loose-fitting blouse decorated with yellow flowers that she paired with skinny pale blue jeans and hot pink slingbacks Kyle shares Portia, 12, and her two older sisters Alexia, 23, and Sophia, 21, with her second husband Mauricio Umansky. She also has a daughter Farrah, 31, from her first marriage to Guraish Aldjufrie. The former child actress has starred on Bravo's Real Housewives of Beverly Hills since 2010 and is now the only remaining original castmember on the Bravo show. Portia graduated from the private K-6 Wise School in LA and Kyle shared celebratory snaps to her Instagram. Big day: On Tuesday, Kyle had celebrated her youngest daughter Portia's graduation from sixth grade. She shared pics of Portia, 12, with her sisters Alexia, 23, and Sophia, 21 Celebrated: 'We are so proud of you Portia!!' the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star wrote on her Instagram She wrote in the caption: 'Our youngest @portia_umansky graduated today. Leaving behind the school that my husband also attended when he came from Mexico as a child and 3 of my 4 girls also attended.' Kyle continued: 'I have been driving up to that carpool every day for 16 years and now we are leaving. Portia is going to a new school for 7th grade!' She added: 'We are so proud of you Portia!! My whole family cried our eyes out today. We will miss the love & sense of community we had at @wiseschoolla and the amazing teachers and faculty.' 'Thank you for helping us educated and raise our children. I'm sad we were not able to hug goodbye today but know you are so appreciated and adored.' Daddy's girl: In another snap shared by Kyle, Portia was seen hugging her father Mauricio Umansky He calls on Ukrainians to abide by the quarantine rules. Health Minister Maksym Stepanov predicts Ukraine may return to previous stages of the coronavirus-related quarantine as the country has lately seen a surge in COVID-19 cases per day, which means the return of the respective restrictions. "Main criteria include an incidence and the growth that we see along with the number of confirmed cases with symptoms, as well as hospital bed occupancy, adequate systemic response, and medical assistance," he told the TV news service TSN. "I will give you an example: bed occupancy in Kyiv's hospitals designated for COVID-19 treatment was 35% as of June 1, but it's 46% today. Eleven percentage points in 11 days is a lot." Read alsoNumber of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ukraine exceeds 29,700 on June 12 When asked whether the country may return to the previous quarantine stages, the minister replied: "There are a few parameters: the number of cases per 100,000 people, hospital bed occupancy these are main parameters, and their dynamics matter. When figures reach certain levels, we'll immediately say that we will have to backtrack to the previous stage. There are several indicators that clearly show us the picture. That is why I ask all citizens not to neglect the rules introduced by the ministry." As UNIAN reported earlier, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases grew to 29,753 as of June 12, including 683 cases registered within the past day. By PTI BALLIA: A 30-year-old migrant labourer, who had returned home here last month from Uttarakhand, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree, police said on Friday. Family members of Anjani Kumar Singh claimed that he was facing financial problems and this drove him to end his life. Singh was a labourer at a company in Haridwar in Uttarakhand and had returned to his home in Mutt Yogendra Giri village 15 days ago, police said. His body was found hanging from a tree near the Beriya-Majhi Road on Thursday and it was sent for postmortem, they said. BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed Thursday that China and Belarus turn challenges to opportunities and deepen cooperation in the joint pursuit of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Xi made the remarks in a telephone conversation in the night with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko. Xi pointed out that since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Belarus have been sticking together through thick and thin and looking out for each other, demonstrating deep iron-clad friendship between the two sides and the high-level trait and particularity of China-Belarus relations. China firmly supports Belarus in taking prevention and control measures in line with its national conditions, and is willing to continue to share prevention and control experiences and diagnosis and treatment plans with Belarus without reservation, he said. He expressed belief that under Lukashenko's strong leadership, the Belarusian people will be able to defeat the epidemic as soon as possible. Xi thanked Belarus for providing help to Chinese citizens studying, working and living in Belarus, adding that he believed Belarus will continue protecting their safety and health effectively. China is willing to work with the international community, including Belarus, to strengthen cooperation and jointly build a community of common health for mankind, said Xi. At present, China-Belarus relations of comprehensive strategic partnership, featuring mutual trust and win-win cooperation, has been developing at a high level, Xi said. He said the two sides have been supporting each other with no hesitation on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, demonstrating the fact that the two countries have been true all-weather partners. China will, as always, support the development path chosen by Belarus in accordance with its national conditions. Although the COVID-19 pandemic will inevitably affect bilateral exchanges and practical cooperation, Xi said, China-Belarus relations have been enjoying a solid foundation and huge potential for cooperation. Xi called on the two sides to accelerate the construction of the China-Belarus industrial park, seek more achievements in mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, and push forward bilateral relations to new levels. For his part, Lukashenko said China has always respected the development path independently chosen by Belarus. China provided strong support and shared valuable experiences in its fight against the epidemic, and played an important role in the prevention and control of the epidemic in Belarus, for which Belarus is deeply grateful, Lukashenko said. Noting that Belarus and China are good friends and good brothers, Lukashenko said the Belarusian side firmly opposes politicizing or labeling the virus, and will continue standing resolutely with China on issues concerning China's core interests. Belarus stands ready to work with China to make full use of China-Europe freight trains to expand bilateral trade, jointly build the Belt and Road, and promote practical cooperation in a wide range of fields, said Lukashenko, adding that he earnestly looks forward to welcoming the Chinese president to visit his country again at an early date after the pandemic. (Source: Xinhua) This is whats making news stories from around the world today. Trump is getting his reopening even as the virus takes another swipe President Donald Trump is getting what he wants: The country is opening up come what may, despite alarming indications that the coronavirus pandemic is intensifying its assault. Trump campaign demands CNN apologize for poll that shows Biden leading President Donald Trumps campaign is demanding CNN retract and apologize for a recent poll that showed him well behind presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Medical supply company threw out products after Trump toured its facility A medical supply company said Tuesday that it discarded the products it had produced during President Donald Trumps visit to its headquarters in Maine last week. Brazils big cities start to reopen, fueling fears of another deadly coronavirus wave With the death toll in Brazil now over 38,000 and rising, stores and shopping malls in Sao Paulo are cracking their doors open for the first time in three months. NASCAR bans Confederate flags at all races, events On Monday, the only full-time African American driver in NASCARs Cup Series called for the auto racing body to ban Confederate flags from its events. Two days later, his dream came true. Revenge spending in China is giving luxury brands some hope Chinese shoppers are finally starting to snap up high-end handbags, shoes and jewelry again, giving the luxury goods industry hope that a recovery from the coronavirus pandemic is on the way. Michael Jordan and crew reel in 442-pound marlin in fishing tournament If we learned anything from The Last Dance documentary, it was that Michael Jordan really doesnt like losing. Why Anna Kendrick compares filming Twilight to surviving a hostage situation Twilight devotees loved the movie but filming it was not much fun, according to Anna Kendrick. Growing calls for government to cut 2m rule The government is facing calls from Tory backbenchers to drop the 2m (6ft) social distancing rule in England. MPs, including former cabinet ministers Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Damian Green, say it is essential for the economy. The government has said it is constantly reviewing its coronavirus lockdown guidance. JK Rowling responds to trans tweets criticism JK Rowling has said she spoke out about transgender issues in part due to her personal experience of domestic abuse and sexual assault. The Harry Potter author addressed criticism of her response to an article that described people who menstruate. Coronavirus pandemic set to cost Premier League clubs 1bn in 2019-20 Deloitte Premier League clubs face a 1bn reduction in their revenues in 2019-20 because of the coronavirus pandemic, says financial services firm Deloitte. The 20 English top-flight clubs had a combined revenue of more than 5bn for the first time in 2018-19. Football fan Finleys Fifa 20 joy spreads online A nine-year-old boy who made it through to a computer game cup final received VIP treatment from his dad to the delight of thousands on social media. Finley Stimson lifted the Carabao Cup albeit a plastic one after his beloved Peterborough Utd beat Spurs 2-1 in the Fifa 2020 video game. Joe Biden Doubles Down On His Stance Against Defunding The Police Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) has some ideas about how to improve policing without defunding it. Despite calls from activists to completely overhaul the policing system, the Democratic presidential nominee said he was against the concept in an op-ed published Wednesday, floating instead an additional $300 million investment in community policing as part of several proposals for police reform and rooting out systemic racism. How single people are dealing with the sex ban in England Being single during the pandemic is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, the pressure to date has finally lifted. On the other, I bitterly regret not having more sex before lockdown. Someone paid $2.6 million in fees to move $134 worth of crypto and oops There are typos, and then there are typos. Someone appears to have made a mistake this morning when transferring the cryptocurrency ether (ETH), the younger sibling to bitcoin, from one digital wallet to another. After all, when moving around $134 dollars worth of digital currency, it hardly seems like anyone would intentionally pay a $2.6 million fee and yet thats exactly what happened. Amazon says cops cant use its facial-recognition tech for a year, but not much else When it comes to publicly pushing back against an ever-encroaching police state, the devil is in the details or, in Amazons case, the lack of them. Amazon announced Wednesday in the most passive voice possible that, for a year, police will no longer have access to its controversial facial-recognition tool dubbed Rekognition. Amid the grim Covid-19 milestones, Mumbai is showing some signs of improvement, with its share in Maharashtras cases dropping to 54.82% as of June 12, from the average of 64% in May. The city has seen a dip in cases in Dharavi, Worli, Wadala and Parel, which had emerged as Covid hotspots, according to the states and civic bodys data for their wards. Some areas such as Govandi, and Mankhurd, Bandra East, and slums of Kurla and Ghatkopar, too, are registering a drop in cases in June, compared to May. Experts, however, say it is too early to rejoice. Reasons? None of the 24 wards of Mumbai are showing signs of flattening the curve. Experts feel Mumbai is in the middle of its peak right now, with this being its wait-and-watch period. And, with the staggered easing of relaxations announced in the city since June 5, as part of Maharashtras Mission Begin Again plan, cases are likely to surge again. Moreover, the number of cases on any given day in June for Mumbai has not dropped below 1,000. On an average, any given day in June saw 1,300 covid-19 cases, compared to the average of 1,250 in the last 10 days of May. OFFICIALSPEAK Municipal commissioner IS Chahal said, Over 25,000 patients have recovered. The doubling rate is 25 days now. For better management of bed availability, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) now has a decentralised ward-level bed management system and a dashboard for beds in real-time. There is an Uber platform for booking ambulances. BMC will also add 650 more ambulances to its fleet next week. There have been no deaths due to lack of dialysis in the past one month. A figure of 52,000 cases is scary, until you look at these things. According to a senior civic officer from BMCs health department, a person infected by Covid-19 will begin to show symptoms or will test positive anywhere between the first or fifth day from being infected. Taking this into consideration, BMC has decided to closely observe the period of two weeks from the time Mumbai began to ease its restrictions. The city has seen more cases on June 11 and June 12, which mark over six days since Mission Begin Again. June 11 recorded 1,418 and June 12 saw 1,366 cases. THE NUMBERS As of Friday, 45.35% or 25,152 people of cases have recovered. It has 28,248 active cases at present, or 50.94% of the total cases recorded so far. Mumbai contributes to 54.82% of Maharashtras total cases. It contributes to 56.9% of Maharashtras active cases, and 54.99% of its total deaths. On May 1, Mumbais share in Maharashtras cases was 67.89% and in the states deaths was 60.82%. On May 15, this went down to 60.62% share in cases, but 61.32% in deaths. At the end of last month, on May 31, Mumbai contributed to 58.65% of Maharashtras total cases, 59.97% of its active cases, and 55.94% of the deaths. This drop is mainly attributed to a decrease in Mumbais growth rate to 2.76% as of Thursday. A week ago, on June 5, it was 3.09%. On May 31, Mumbais growth rate was 3.85%, and on May 27, it was 5.17%. WARD DATA The G-North ward, with jurisdiction over Dharavi slum and earlier identified as a Covid-19 hotspot, and the G-South ward, with jurisdiction over Worli Koliwada, the first containment zone of Mumbai, have shown improvement in their curve. Both these wards have more recoveries than active cases. The G-North ward with areas of Dharavi, Dadar, and Mahim has recorded a total of 3,668 cases so far. It has 1,251 active cases (34%) as of Thursday. Over 60% of its patients have recovered and have been discharged. Its growth rate is 1.5%. The G-South ward, covering areas of Worli, Lower Parel, Elphinstone, and Prabhadevi, with a total of 2,593 cases, has shown a recovery rate of 55%. A total of 38% of its cases are active. Its growth rate is 1.8%. The E ward, comprising Byculla, Nagpada, and Mumbai Central, which is among the five wards with most number of cases in Mumbai (3,085) has more patients who have recovered in comparison to its active cases. While 52% of patients in E ward have been discharged, 44% of its total cases are active. The ward has a mortality rate of 3.10%. The M-East ward, comprising slums of Govandi and Mankhurd, also has a high recovery rate in comparison to its active cases. It has a total of 2,444 cases, 52% of them have recovered. It has 44% active cases (1,082). However, wards where the curve is steeply rising even now are K-East, with a total of 3,616 cases, a growth rate of 4.1%, and 53% active cases. P-North of Malad has shown a steep upward curve with a total of 2,569 cases, a growth rate of 4.9%, and 69% of its cases still active. Prashant Sapkale, assistant commissioner of K-East ward, said, There has been a rise in the number of cases in the past 15 days. It is a very big ward, in terms of population, floating population or bridge population of essential workers, and the area. It has Seven Hills Hospital, Marol Police Line, CISF camp, Trauma Hospital and airport. Sanjog Kabare, assistant commissioner of the P-North ward was not available for comment. EXPERTSPEAK Madhav Sathe, retired professor of microbiology at Nair Hospital, said, Cases are on a downward trend in certain areas, and hence it will impact Mumbais curve. While this is good news, the curve needs to further go downward. According to Sathe, an important aspect for Mumbai to focus on is further reduction of its death rate. He said, There are two or three treatment modalities which need to be activated soon, independent of government procedure of clearance. Remdesivir, an antiviral drug, and Tocilizumab , an immuno-modulant drug, can be proactively used. There is ICMR permission to use these drugs. However, the rule states the hospital committee has to approve its use in a medical college which can take seven-eight days. That is precious time lost. Sathe said this drug has shown good results in many countries battling Covid-19, and permission to use these drugs need to be fast-tracked. We will reduce the death rate to almost 1% with this, and plasma therapy. Regarding lifting of lockdown, Sathe said, I think we are in our peak of cases now. Cases are likely to increase due to staggered easing of relaxations, but that can be handled when mortality is reduced, and the phobia around the infection is reduced. Sanjay Pattiwar, a city-based public health consultant, said, Now that restrictions have eased, the scenario is going to change. Factors such as population density, use of public transport, compromised social distancing because of it are going to contribute to increase in cases. More contact tracing is required now. But the government may not have the resources required to trace so many contacts. It is not even possible considering Mumbais population. Seattle Mayor Defends Autonomous Zone, Says Trump Cant Send in Troops Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan defended the so-called autonomous zone thats been carved out in the city, alleging that President Donald Trump cannot send in military forces to seize the area back from activists. On the same day that Trump said his administration wont let Seattle be occupied by anarchists, Durkan also pushed back on calls to resign over the handling of protests and riots since a black man died in police custody in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. Durkan, a Democrat, and Police Chief Carmen Best are remaining in their positions for now. No and no, Durkan told reporters Thursday, referencing questions about resigning. Best said she still has faith in the mayor while Durkan said she remains confident in the police chief. Hundreds of protesters stormed Seattles City Hall on Tuesday, demanding Durkan resign. Durkan said at one point that she and Best thought about having a Thelma and Louise moment, referring to friends who drive off a cliff. City officials have faced increasing pressure after scores of activists and others commandeered part of the city following the police abandonment of a precinct building. A protester uses a scope on top of a barricade to look for police approaching the newly created Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle, Wash., on June 11, 2020. (Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images) A volunteer works security at an entrance to the so-called Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle, Wash., on June 10, 2020. (David Ryder/Getty Images) Now, armed people in the so-called Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone are checking identification. Police officials have received reports of businesses and people in the zone being extorted. Video footage from inside the zone show at least one instance of a person being ejected by a jeering crowd and several instances of assault, as well as at least one tense encounter with police officers. People who are armed include members of the John Brown Gun Club, according to activists. The club has links to Antifa, a far-left group that advocates for violence. Demands put forth by the occupiers include abolishing the Seattle Police Department, the release of any prisoner serving time for resisting arrest, and an end to qualified immunity for police officers. Best entered the abandoned East Precinct on Thursday, telling reporters later that the occupation has had detrimental effects. The actions of a small group cannot and should not deprive an entire segment of our community from public safety services, she said. On the first day after the precinct was abandoned, response times to crimes in progress were over 15 minutes, about three times the average. If that is your mother, your sister, your cousin, your neighbors kid that is being raped, robbed, assaulted, and otherwise victimized, youre not going to want to have to report that it took the police three times longer to get there to provide services to them, Best said, noting the time involved could be a matter of life or death. Neither she nor Durkan accepted responsibility for ordering the abandonment of the station. Best said in a video to her officers that it was not my decision, adding on Thursday: It didnt come from me. Durkan, who said some of her family members were inside the zone on Thursday, has vigorously defended the zone. She and police officials have so far declined to use force to take back city streets from protesters and activists. A group gathers in the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle, Wash., on June 10, 2020. (Ernie Li/NTD Television) Artists fill in the letters of a Black Lives Matter mural on E. Pine Street as protesters establish what they call an autonomous zone near the Seattle Police Departments East Precinct in this aerial photo taken over Seattle, Wash., on June 11, 2020. (Lindsey Wasson/Reuters) Lawfully gathering and expressing First Amendment rights, demanding we do better as a society, and providing true equity for communities of color is not terrorismit is patriotism, Durkan told reporters at the briefing. Trump took aim at the autonomous zone this week, saying that anarchists just took over Seattle and that Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, and Durkan are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before. Take back your city NOW. If you dont do it, I will, he said on social media. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Fox News Americas Newsroom earlier Thursday: The presidents message is that he will secure the streets in this country. While Trump prefers local leaders do their job, but when they dont, he will, she added, claiming credit for the president for surging National Guard troops to Minnesota and Washington amid recent riots. Trump told Fox News The Story later in the day that his administration is not going to let Seattle be occupied by anarchists. If there were more toughness, you wouldnt have the kind of devastation that you had in Minneapolis and in Seattle. I mean, lets see whats going on in Seattle, Trump said. I will tell you, if they dont straighten that situation out, were going to straighten it out. Durkan said at the briefing that it would be unconstitutional and illegal to send the military to Seattle, adding, there is no imminent threat of an invasion. Occupiers in the zone are mulling what to do next, according to a packet being distributed. Options include taking over the East Precinct, moving the zone, or dissolving the zone. What just happened? IO Interactive has confirmed that Hitman III will launch early next year. It was announced on June 11 during the PlayStation 5 reveal event but wont be exclusive to Sonys console. Instead, it should be widely available across multiple platforms when it drops in early 2021. Hitman III is the eighth installment in the popular Hitman series and the third and final episode in the World of Assassination trilogy (the first arrived in 2016. In it, Agent 47 returns to take players around the world on a globetrotting adventure to sprawling sandbox locations as they carry out the most important contracts of the characters career. Supported by his Agency handler, Diana Burnwood, 47 joins forces with his long-lost friend Lucas Grey. Their ultimate mission is to eliminate the partners of Providence, but they are forced to adapt as their hunt intensifies. When the dust settles, 47 and the world he inhabits will never be the same again. IO Interactive said each mission location is meticulously detailed and loaded with creative opportunities. Thanks to its proprietary Glacier game engine, the environment is able to react to everything players do for an unparalleled level of choice and replayability. Interestingly enough, the developer said players of earlier Hitman games will be able to import locations from the previous two games into Hitman III, essentially putting all 20+ locations from the entire trilogy in one place. Additional details about location and progression carryover will be shared in the coming months, were told. Look for Hitman III to infiltrate the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Windows PCs sometime next January. "This is simply unacceptable," the OCA's open letter reads. "As the Council considers its budget this year, it is imperative that you take strong steps to end the distribution of these funds, even in the face of declining revenues, to the same law enforcement agency that very often is the perpetrator of similar actions that caused the demonstrations in Portland these past weeks." Advertisement Thirty-five anti-government protesters have been arrested in Hong Kong after thousands marched on the streets to mark the one-year anniversary of a clash with riot police outside the semi-autonomous Chinese city's legislature. The pro-democracy activists are under arrest for 'wounding, unlawful assembly, participating in unauthorised assembly, disorderly conduct in public place and possession of offensive weapons', police have said. The protesters were commemorating a demonstration last year in which tens of thousands of protesters surrounded the legislative building, delaying the start of debate on an extradition bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial. Thirty-five anti-government protesters have been arrested by in Hong Kong after thousands marched on the streets to mark the one-year anniversary of a clash with riot police outside the semi-autonomous Chinese city's legislature. Hong Kong Riot police detain a protester during a protest in Causeway Bay district in Hong Kong on the evening of Friday, June 12 Pictured, protesters singing and gesture with five fingers, signifying the 'Five demands - not one less during a protest in Causeway Bay in Hong Kong on Friday. Thirty-five anti-government protesters have been arrested by in Hong Kong after thousands marched on the streets to mark the one-year anniversary of a clash with riot police at the city's legislature In this file picture taken on June 12, 2019, police officers are seen firing a tear gas during a demonstration that attempted to delay a proposed extradition bill in Hong Kong. In addition to water cannons, pepper spray and tear gas, riot police fired rubber bullets and beanbag rounds at unarmed protesters in the worst unrest the city had witnessed in decades In addition to water cannons, pepper spray and tear gas, riot police fired rubber bullets and beanbag rounds at unarmed protesters on June 12 last year. The officers said at the time that they had no choice but to carry out such extreme measures. It was the worst clash the city had witnessed in decades, and the violence left 81 people injured. The protest movement quieted down earlier this year as the coronavirus pandemic began, but picked up steam in recent weeks after China's ceremonial parliament agreed to enact a new national security law for Hong Kong, a former British colony. Hong Kong Riot police detain a protester during a protest in Causeway Bay in Hong Kong on Friday. The protest movement quieted down earlier this year as the coronavirus pandemic began, but picked up steam in recent weeks after China's ceremonial parliament agreed to enact a new national security law for Hong Kong, the former British colony In Causeway Bay, they held signs reading 'Heaven will destroy the CCP,' referring to the ruling Chinese Communist Party. A riot police is helped by others to clean his eye with water after being hit by pepper spray by other police during a protest A riot police officer is pictured dispersing pro-democracy demonstrators as they take part a singing song protest at Mong Kok On Friday evening, hundreds of protesters gathered in the popular Causeway Bay and Mongkok shopping districts and in the Sha Tin shopping mall in the New Territories. In Causeway Bay, they held signs reading 'Heaven will destroy the CCP,' referring to the ruling Chinese Communist Party. Riot police stood on standby as protesters shouted slogans and sang the protest anthem 'Glory to Hong Kong.' Thousands of Hong Kong protesters marched on the streets to mark the one-year anniversary of a violet clash A man is pictured sitting on the ground as police conduct a clearing operation around him as protesters gathered in Mong Kok A police officer puts plastic handcuffs on a man as protesters gathered in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong on June 12. Thousands of Hong Kong protesters marched on the streets to mark the one-year anniversary of a violet clash in the city In Mongkok and Causeway Bay, police raised a blue flag, warning that the gatherings were unlawful and force might be used to disperse the participants. Protesters gesture with five fingers, signifying the 'Five demands - not one less' during a protest In Mongkok and Causeway Bay, police raised a blue flag, warning that the gatherings were unlawful and force might be used to disperse the participants. Groups of protesters were detained and searched in Mongkok, and in Causeway Bay police used pepper spray and arrested several protesters, including pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui. Earlier, more than 100 people joined a lunchtime protest in a luxury shopping mall in the Admiralty business district. They held flags reading 'Hong Kong independence' and laid out a large banner saying 'The people fear not death, why threaten them with it?' Groups of protesters were detained and searched in Mongkok, and in Causeway Bay police used pepper spray and arrested several protesters, including pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui. Hui Chi-fung, or Ted Hui, (pictured left), a Democratic Party politician detained by riot police during a protest in Causeway Bay of Hong Kong on Friday evening Hong Kong Riot police officers are pictured detaining a protester during a protest in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Friday, June 12, 2020. Protesters in Hong Kong got its government to withdraw extradition legislation last year, but now they're getting a more dreaded national security law, and the message from Beijing is that protest is futile The government says the law is aimed at curbing secessionist and subversive behaviour in the city, as well as preventing foreign intervention in its internal affairs. Critics say it is an attack on the freedoms promised to Hong Kong when it was handed over to China in 1997. Riot police display warning banner during a protest in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong on Friday The government says the law is aimed at curbing secessionist and subversive behaviour in the city, as well as preventing foreign intervention in its internal affairs. Critics say it is an attack on the freedoms promised to Hong Kong when it was handed over to China in 1997. Hong Kong operates under a 'one country, two systems' framework that gives the city rights not found on the mainland, such as freedom of speech and assembly. Earlier Friday, more than 100 students in the Kowloon district formed a human chain to protest the removal of a music teacher for allegedly allowing students to sing protest songs. Hong Kong operates under a 'one country, two systems' framework that gives the city rights not found on the mainland, such as freedom of speech and assembly. Pictured, large crowds of protesters attend a pro-democracy rally at a shopping mall Earlier Friday, more than 100 students in the Kowloon district formed a human chain to protest the removal of a music teacher for allegedly allowing students to sing protest songs. Hong Kong Riot police detain a protester during a protest on Friday On Thursday, three pro-democracy activists were charged with 'inciting others to participate in an unauthorised assembly' over a candlelight vigil last week marking Beijing's 1989 crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square. A pro-democracy protester waves a banner during a protest at the New Town Plaza mall in Sha Tin in Hong Kong On Thursday, three pro-democracy activists and a media tycoon who owns the Apple Daily newspaper, Jimmy Lai, were charged with 'inciting others to participate in an unauthorised assembly' over a candlelight vigil last week marking Beijing's 1989 crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square. Police banned the annual vigil for the first time in three decades, citing public health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of people turned up anyway. In Beijing on Friday, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying lashed out at the U.K. for issuing a regular six-month report on developments in Hong Kong. Police banned the annual vigil of Tiananmen Square crackdown for the first time in three decades, citing public health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of people turned up anyway. Police officers are pictured conducting a clearing operation as protesters gathered in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong on Friday evening, June 12 Protesters light up their phones while chanting slogans and sing songs in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong on Friday In Beijing on Friday, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying lashed out at the U.K. for issuing a regular six-month report on developments in Hong Kong. Hui Chi-fung, center, a Democratic Party politician detained by riot police during a protest 'Hong Kong affairs are Chinas internal affairs. No foreign organisation or individual has the right to intervene. The British side has no sovereignty, governance, supervision or so-called responsibility over Hong Kong,' Hua said. Hua also defended the proposed national security legislation, saying Britain should 'face up to reality, respect Chinas sovereignty, security and integrity, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any way.' 'The more external forces intervene in Hong Kong affairs, the more determined China is to advance the national security legislation in Hong Kong,' Hua said. The protesters were commemorating a demonstration last year in which tens of thousands of protesters surrounded the legislative building, delaying the start of debate on an extradition bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial. Protesters attend a pro-democracy rally at a shopping mall in Hong Kong on June 12 In Beijing on Friday, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying lashed out at the U.K. for issuing a regular six-month report on developments in Hong Kong. Hui Chi-fung, a Democratic Party politician detained by riot police during a protest on Friday As America wrestles with the impact of racism, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois focuses on the solution. Children often learn racism at home. Girl Scouts teaches another perspective: respect for all, inclusivity and equity. Girls of all races experience equal opportunities to lead, set goals and achieve them. They work together on service projects, learn entrepreneurship and have fun together. Every February, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts celebrates the diversity, equity and inclusion in Girl Scout and Girl Guide troops. Girls at every level of Girl Scouting participate in World Thinking Day, celebrating the diverse global sisterhood of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides. Troops include girls of all races, ethnicities and abilities throughout the year and ensure everyone is treated fairly. As an African American female leader, I believe getting to know people of other cultures and races is key to ending racism. My dream is that we all understand people are people, no matter what color a persons skin is, where they were born or what religion they belong to. We have similar needs and desires. We all want to live in peace, make a decent living and raise healthy families. Girl Scouts arms girls with the courage, confidence and character to be leaders in their schools, communities and careers. They will be leaders of the next generations continued fight to end the impact of racism. I care deeply about ending racism because I grew up in the deep south. My father was a sharecropper in rural South Carolina who died when I was a child. My mother was a strong, optimistic woman who worked as a school custodian. She wanted better for her 14 children. So, she talked the school administration into allowing her children to attend the white high school. We lived on the white side of the tracks and were decidedly different because of our mother. My first assignment in my Girl Scout career was in North Dakota, a place with few black people. I like to say country music star Charley Pride and I were the only two black people there. My 26 years in North Dakota built bridges. My colleagues, Girl Scout volunteers, friends and neighbors learned that I am a lot like them! Girl Scouts of the USA proclaims Racism and hate have no place here. Girl Scouts are preparing for lifelong leadership around critical issues. I invite you to enroll your girl in Girl Scouts at gsofsi.org. Loretta Graham is the CEO of the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois An explosion in a Kabul mosque during Friday Prayers killed at least four people and wounded many more, Afghanistan's Interior Ministry said on June 12. "Explosives placed inside the Shir Shah-E-Suri Mosque exploded during Friday Prayers," the ministry said in a statement, adding that the West Kabul mosque's mullah was among those killed. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. The Taliban issued a statement condemning it and calling the death of the prayer leader a "great crime." Afghanistan's Islamic State affiliate has claimed a June 2 attack at a Kabul mosque in which a popular prayer leader was killed. U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was in the region earlier this week trying to resuscitate a peace deal that Washington and the Taliban signed in February to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan -- the longest military conflict in U.S. history. The deal lays out a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country in return for security commitments from the Taliban. Washington is also pushing for peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. The Islamic State extremist group also has a presence in the country and has carried out large-scale attacks in Kabul in recent months. With reporting by AP and Reuters Massachusetts health officials announced another 46 people have died from coronavirus. Across the state the death now stands at 7,538. Officials also confirmed another 392 cases, including 85 probable, of the virus, for a total of at least 105,059 confirmed and probable cases. The new cases are based on 10,186 molecular tests and 1,210 antibody tests reported on Friday. There are currently 1,143 people hospitalized with coronavirus, and 276 in intensive care, according to the Department of Public Health, marking a continued decline since the peak. Since April 15, theres been a 88% decrease in the rate of positive coronavirus cases by molecular testing, according to a seven-day weighted average; a 65% decrease in the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, according to a three-day average; a 76% decrease in the number of hospitals using surge capacity; and a 78% decrease in the number of coronavirus deaths, according to the latest data. Daily and Cumulative Deaths, June 12, 2020. Key metrics, June 12, 2020. The latest figures come as Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday said that the entire health care system in Massachusetts is out of surge," and that officials have opened up the system once again for routine service. Its critically important that everybody understand and recognize that we have a health care system here in Massachusetts thats looking to serve people, has the capacity to serve people, and with the advent of telehealth visits, in many respects, has more tools available to take care of and serve people than they did in some ways before all of this began some 150 days ago, Baker said at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center during U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azars visit on Friday. The news about Azars visit comes as a vaccine being developed by Beth Israel in collaboration with the health care giant Johnson & Johnson showed strong results in pre-clinical studies. Researchers announced earlier this month that the first part of the trial will start two months ahead of schedule in the second half of July, according to a statement Johnson & Johnson. Azars visit also comes a day after Cambridge-based Moderna Inc. announced it is ready to administer its candidate vaccine to 30,000 people in the United States. The company said it is ready to proceed to Phase 3 of its experimental study, which is based on feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Phase 2 of Bakers plan to reopen the economy got underway on Monday, opening up restaurants and retailers across the state. Bars, however, will not reopen until Phase 4 after initially planning to have them reopen during Phase 3, Baker said. Coronavirus in Mass.: Cases, maps, charts and resources Here are the cases listed by county: Barnstable County: 1,479 Berkshire County: 575 Bristol County: 7,872 Dukes County: 42 Essex County: 15,518 Franklin County: 348 Hampden County: 6,431 Hampshire County: 918 Middlesex County: 23,075 Nantucket County: 13 Norfolk County: 8,842 Plymouth County: 8,462 Suffolk County: 19,249 Worcester County: 11,937 Unknown location: 298 Related Content: As Russia Lifts Lockdowns, Expanded Surveillance Network May Remain By Matthew Luxmoore June 11, 2020 MOSCOW -- When Marina Khublarova, a Russian mother of seven, experienced coronavirus symptoms in late April, she called the local health service to report them. After a test for the virus came back positive, Khublarova got a text message instructing her to install a smartphone app called Social Monitoring, used by authorities to enforce stay-at-home rules and other coronavirus-related restrictions on movement. "That's when the hell began," she said in an interview. From that moment on, the app sent notifications every two hours -- day and night -- demanding Khublarova upload a selfie to prove she was home. When her condition worsened in late April, she was taken to a hospital. But the notifications continued. Convalescing in a ward with four other patients, she would switch the lights on to snap selfies at night. "They just don't let you sleep. You're constantly taking photos," she said. On May 19, Khublarova received a letter listing two fines totaling 8,000 rubles ($116) for leaving her apartment and failing to submit a photo when required. Both were incurred on April 30 -- the same day an ambulance arrived to take her away. Khublarova's tragicomic story is not unusual for users of Social Monitoring, which was rolled out in early April and uses GPS to track Moscow residents with suspected symptoms of COVID-19 -- sometimes issuing several fines per user, including a bedridden professor who had not left her home in over a year. "You get the sense that authorities are trying to compensate for everything that's happening at the expense of ordinary citizens," said Grigory Sakharov, another Social Monitoring user, who amassed 24,000 rubles ($350) in fines despite, he insists, taking care to stay indoors. On May 20, the Moscow official who oversees Social Monitoring, Eduard Lysenko, said that the app had issued penalties amounting to 216 million rubles ($3.1 million). The following day, Human Rights Watch urged the authorities to shelve the app, citing both arbitrary fines and what the New York-based group said was invasion of users' privacy. "The app is not only flawed from a technical standpoint," Tanya Lokshina, the organization's director in Moscow, told RFE/RL. "It is highly intrusive, violates rights to privacy, and effectively expands the government's arsenal of surveillance tools. Mobile tracking programs should be viewed as a strictly temporary measure until the pandemic is under control." Here To Stay? Judging by official statements, that time has come. In a blog post on June 9, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin congratulated residents on "our common victory" and announced the city was lifting most of its lockdown measures -- despite still recording almost 2,000 cases daily. But Social Monitoring will remain mandatory for people with coronavirus symptoms, and critics say other digital tools may integrate into a ratcheted-up, post-pandemic surveillance apparatus. Since March, when Russia's coronavirus epidemic began, the authorities have used facial-recognition technology to identify and fine quarantine violators, deploying, in Moscow alone, a network of over 100,000 cameras that link to a central database accessible to thousands of law enforcement officials at any time. New laws against dissemination of "fake news" have been used to punish criticism of the government's handling of the coronavirus. On May 29, Russian media reported that Moscow would commence an 18-month trial in July of "virtual passports" that may eventually replace paper IDs across the country and will store much of the same information as the digital passes that Russian cities unveiled during lockdown for users of private and public transport. But reports of data leaks and system crashes have prompted fears that the personal information they collect -- passport details, car registration numbers, and users' home and work addresses -- are not safe from third parties. And newly minted electoral reforms permit electronic and mail-in voting -- a move justified by officials as necessary to avoid crowds but denounced by activists as another target for hackers and cybercriminals. It's unclear whether the new rules will come into force before a July 1 vote on constitutional amendments that would hand President Vladimir Putin the option of seeking reelection in 2024 and again in 2030. 'Just The First Step' Critics say those digital technologies are merely pilot projects for more ambitious tools that the authorities are in the process of developing -- with few assurances that the data they gather will be protected from exploitation. "This is the first step to something much bigger," said Sarkis Darbinyan of Roskomsvoboda, an NGO that monitors censorship and which has partnered with other groups to track the use of restrictive digital technologies worldwide. "Many of those tools and restrictions may remain in place beyond the pandemic, which greatly concerns civil society." The concern is not only over the expansion of surveillance. It also relates to massive leaks of government-held personal data in Russia that now appear to be happening with alarming regularity. On May 18, the newspaper Kommersant reported that the names and passport details of thousands of self-isolation violators in Russia had been published online and made accessible through a simple search of a database listing government-imposed fines. It came a month after reports of an even bigger leak targeting COVID-19 patients across Russia. In comments to state news agency TASS on June 4, Moscow Mayor Sobyanin said that the use of personal data could be deemed "a violation of citizens' rights" and that all data stored in the Social Monitoring app and digital-pass system would be destroyed. The use of some data, he added, will be possible "in exceptional circumstances." But on June 8, Putin signed into force a law creating a "unified federal register" of data on Russian citizens, including digital images from facial-recognition cameras. The government said it will streamline a range of official services and data sharing between various state bodies, but it was immediately criticized as another dangerous breach of privacy. "There are major risks that this information will be leaked onto the black market," Darbinyan said. "The value of personal data is very high." Amid dire projections about the future of data security in Russia, some are pointing to the Nizhny Novgorod region east of Moscow as a paradigm for the rest of the country. Last month, local authorities obliged beauty salons, barbers, and other service providers to install surveillance cameras at their own expense -- a precondition to reopening after lockdown. The cameras will be connected to a central database overseen by the regional communications ministry, Governor Gleb Nikitin said, and will be used to check whether social-distancing norms and other precautions are being followed. In a Facebook post about the initiative, rights activist Alyona Popova, who launched a lawsuit last October against Moscow's use of facial-recognition cameras, said that "officials have lost their heads." "Under the guise of fighting the coronavirus, they're implementing total surveillance," she wrote. "The best thing to do is to create a system for surveillance of [government] officials. Let their lives become fully transparent and come under citizens' control." With reporting by Current Time Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/as-russia- lifts-lockdowns-expanded-surveillance- network-may-remain/30665176.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. 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This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. An explosion in the Syrian National Army controlled northern city of al-Bab has injured one person, with the perpetrator currently unknown writes Smart News. On Thursday, an explosive device injured a civilian in the city of al-Bab, 38 kilometers east of Aleppo. Local activists reported to Smart News that an explosive device, planted by unknown persons, exploded near the Farabi Hospital in the city center, injuring a civilian. The activists added that the wounded individual was transferred to the citys hospital. On May 5, 2020, an explosive device planted by unknown persons killed a civilian in the city of al-Bab, which is controlled by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army of the Syrian Interim Government. On Apr. 29, 2020, a car bomb explosion killed or injured 103 people in the city of Afrin, north of Aleppo. Explosions and shootings frequently take place in the governorates of Aleppo and Idleb. Such incidents have targeted fighters and commanders of the Free Syrian Army and Islamist battalions, and civilians, killing and injuring dozens. The perpetrators of most of the incidents remain unknown. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. A white substance weighing 100.1 grammes has gone missing from the substance suspected to be narcotic drugs impounded by security operatives at the Kpoglu Border post in the Ketu South Municipality in the Volta Region last Friday, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOB) has said. It said the substance was allegedly detected missing when the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), two days after the seizure, invited all agencies at the border post to verify the exhibits NACOB left in the custody of Customs before they were escorted to the headquarters of the GRA in Accra. The verification exercise revealed that Parcel (h), a 100.10g parcel of whitish substance wrapped in transparent polythene suspected to be cocaine, was missing, the acting Director General of the NACOB, Mr Francis Kofi Torkornoo, told the Daily Graphic. Recounting the seizure of the suspected narcotics from the perspective of the commission, he insisted that NACOB was the lead agency on narcotic drugs in the country, as the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), which was assented to by the President on May 11, this year, gave the commission independence in the performance of its functions over offences related to narcotic drugs, plants cultivated for narcotic purposes and for related matters. Based on that, Section 72 of Act 1019 also talks about seizure of currency and NACOB has the backing of the law to ask Customs to transfer the vehicle and all its contents to us for investigations to start in earnest, but since the seizure of the whitish substances suspected to be narcotics at the Kpoglu Border on Friday, June 5, 2020, we are yet to receive all the exhibits from the scene, he said. Busting Mr Torkornoo explained that the NACOB officer on the ground acted on intelligence and vigilance to personally bust the suspect, after he had insisted that a second false fuel tank be scanned to ascertain its contents. He said the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, with Nigerian registration number LSR 815 FV, arrived at the Kpoglu Border Post on Friday, June 5, loaded with goods, which the driver, Agbatch Sylvester, declared as assorted goods. Advertisement Mr Torkornoo said as part of arrival formalities, officials of NACOB, Customs, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) conducted a joint examination of the vehicle. He explained that the joint examination revealed that the items included spare parts, garments, drinks, gallons of flavours, footwear and a hand bag and wanted to release the vehicle. However, the NACOB officer, based on intelligence available to him on the vehicle and the driver, as well as his critical examination, made an official request to have the vehicle scanned at the Gateway Services Limited (GSL), he said. He added that on two occasions, the scan result was reported as normal, but the officer insisted that further physical examination be conducted on the vehicle. Mr Torkornoo said the vehicle was, therefore, returned to the examination bay and the NACOB officer recalled the other agencies to witness the examination. The assistance of a mechanic was sought to remove the false tank, and in the process of doing that, the driver jumped into the vehicle and sped off, forcing the NACOB officer to jump onto his motorbike to chase the vehicle, he said. Having given Sylvester a hot chase for about 45 minutes, the NACOB officer, at the peril of his life, bravely crashed his Fourtrax motorbike into the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, compelling the driver to stop the vehicle, Mr Torkornoo recounted. Sensing danger, he added, the suspect took to his heels and abandoned the vehicle, with the scene attracting many bystanders, but the NACOB officer stayed put by the vehicle and called his commander at the Aflao Border Post for reinforcement. Before the team could arrive, three officers of Customs at the Kpoglu Border had gone to the scene and the vehicle was transported to that post and later taken to Aflao for further examination. The director general said the agencies, that time including the Police, Immigration, Defence, Military Intelligence and National Security, converged to examine the false fuel tank, which revealed the substances. Bring the rest Mr Torkornoo said although the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019) required that the vehicle and all the items retrieved be transferred to NACOB, as of date, Customs has failed to hand over the exhibits to NACOB for further investigations. He said last Monday, an escort team of Customs and Immigration officers transported the vehicle and the seized items to the Customs Headquarters and also held a press conference on the seizure. That same day, he explained, some Customs and Immigration officials went to hand over a box, reportedly containing the narcotic exhibits, but NACOB declined to receive them, on grounds that all contents and the vehicle were to be returned, as per the NACOB Law. Not first time He expressed grave concern over the handling of the seized substances by Customs, which he said had delayed his outfit from launching full investigations into the issue. He said it was not the first time Customs had delayed in sending exhibits to NACOB to start investigations into substances seized at the same border, saying that in all instances, it was the vigilance of a NACOB official that had led to the seizure of the drugs. Customs posture NACOB is saying that this practice of Customs holding on to exhibits suspected to be narcotics and handing them over to NACOB later is very worrying, frustrating and disturbing, adding that the commission had exhibited its readiness to collaborate with other relevant agencies in its work. He also described as most unfortunate the statement made by the Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA, Colonel Kwadwo Damoah (retd), that although the substances were yet to be verified, I can say they are of the high-value narcotic category. Mr Torkornoo indicated that no test had been conducted on the seized whitish substances at the Kpoglu Border Post to confirm the type of drug, stressing that nobody could determine a narcotic drug by merely looking at it. Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video MANISTEE When the stay-at-home order went into effect in March, Michigan residents were urged to stay home and stay safe from the virus. But for many, home is anything but safe. More than 10 million Americans experience domestic violence each year, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). Experts warn these trends may be getting even worse due to isolation and stress brought on by the pandemic. At a recent meeting of the Manistee Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Response Team (MSVSART), chief assistant prosecuting attorney Jonathon Hauswirth reported an unprecedented spike in the number of domestic violence cases in the county. According to Hauswirth, Manistee experienced a 300% increase in minor domestic violence cases during the pandemic. We usually get one to two (reports) a week, and during the lockdown weve been averaging more like four to six, he said. Our domestic violence numbers fluctuate but theyre fairly steady and this has been a sharp increase. This would be a spike that is not in the norm of trends. Though Hauswirth is quick to point out that no incident of domestic violence is truly minor, these were incidents without serious or life-threatening injuries, he said. The bottom line is this: With everyone staying at home, tempers flare easily. Obviously people are short with one another and control seems to slip, which I think is what is attributing to these fairly minor incidents of domestic violence being increased so much, Hauswirth said. While cases of domestic abuse have increased locally, Detective Sgt. Josh Glass with the City of Manistee Police Department, told MSVSART members that child sexual abuse cases had fallen during the stay-at-home order. Michol Tanner, an outreach specialist and advocate for the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Victim Services Program said that these cases of abuse may have gone unreported. Because of the shelter-in-place (sic) order, children are not in contact with as many people who are mandated reporters, Tanner said adding that abuse may still be going on while not being reported, because kids are not having interactions with the adults that would normally be the ones who would report. Domestic violence experts like Tanner warn that coronavirus precautions may have created several unintended consequences for the victims of abuse. It makes sense because youre forced to be with your abuser 24/7, Tanner said. On top of that, the tensions that are caused by COVID-19 ... add to that risk. Abusers regularly try to control their partner's lives by restricting access to transportation and finances, Tanner said. She worries that the coronavirus precautions may have increased the amount of control wielded by abusers. Ive heard of instances where the abuser wouldnt allow their partner to go into work because they were fearful of bringing home the disease, she said. Whats more, the public health crisis has presented additional challenges for those like Tanner who are providing assistance to survivors. Weve pretty much had to cancel everything that we had on the calendar that required doing anything in person, she said. Despite this, Tanner said that she and other social workers have adapted to work during the pandemic. For the most part Ive been able to do everything remotely, although I did have one urgent case where I did have to go and meet with the client face to face, she said. It shows you how much you can still accomplish when you have to under different circumstances. Now that the states stay at home order has been lifted, Tanner is preparing for a potential surge in new cases. Its very possible that we could experience a higher volume of calls once people can get out, she said. Both Tanner and Hauswirth said that help is still available for those suffering under an abusive relationship. Those helplines, shelters, financial assistance through certain groups is still available, they just need to reach out online or by phone, Hauswirth said. Anyone experiencing domestic violence cancontact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522. The Victim Services Program can be reached at www.victimservicesprogram.org or by calling (231) 398-6719. Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti led senior Army and police officials in paying tributes at the wreath laying ceremony for the 17 soldiers killed in the militant attack on an Army base in Uri. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti laid wreaths on the coffins of the martyred soldiers at a somber ceremony held at headquarters of the Chinar Corps here at Badamibagh, an Army official said. ALSO READ: Live updates on Uri terror attack He said General officer Commanding of the Chinar Corps Lt General Satish Dua and Director General of Police K Rajendra Kumar were among senior security officials who laid wreaths to pay their respects. Srinagar: J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti at wreath laying ceremony of 17 soldiers who died in Uri terror attack. #UriAttack pic.twitter.com/ZA0WqXZ4YC ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 The Chief Minister later visited the soldiers, injured in yesterdays attack, at the 92 Base Hospital of the Army, the official said. ALSO READ: 17 Martyrs who left behind a glorious saga of bravery Following directions of Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar, the Army has made arrangements for transporting the mortal remains of all the martyrs directly to their respective hometowns. Srinagar: Wreath laying ceremony of 17 soldiers who died in Uri terror attack. #UriAttack pic.twitter.com/fyeSjzqz91 ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 While two of the 17 soldiers hail from Jammu and Kashmir, rest of them belong to Uttar Pradesh (four), Bihar (three), Maharashtra (three), West Bengal (two), Jharkhand (two) and Rajasthan (one). For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sonoro Metals Corp., (TSXV: SMO | OTCQB: SMOFF | FRA: 23SP), (Sonoro or the Company), provides the following update regarding proposed project debt finance, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts with China-based EPC companies. The Company has executed a third Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the finance and development of its proposed Cerro Caliche Heap Leach Pilot Operation (HLPO). As of February 28, 2020, Sonoro had received two executed MoUs regarding project debt financing and EPC services for its proposed Cerro Caliche HLPO. This latest MoU is from one of Chinas state champions whose geological team has extensively analyzed all of Sonoros data and approved it as a project they would like to proceed with, said the Companys representative, Dr. Wei Qian. Its a very good endorsement and clear indication that business in China is resuming, Dr. Qian added. Sonoro anticipates that it should begin receiving detailed proposals regarding the provision of EPC services together with project finance in the coming weeks, as internal travel restrictions in China continue to be more relaxed. Sonoros executive team and the EPC companies continue to wait for a further easing of current international travel restrictions in order to allow in-person meetings in China and the various EPC companies technical teams to fly to the proposed mine site in Sonora State, Mexico. Rescheduling of these meetings is subject to Chinese and Mexican authorities giving the green light for Chinese citizens to begin non-essential travel to Mexico. Chairman John Darch, Director of Finance Neil Maedel and Sonoros representative Dr. Wei Qian had originally planned to visit China last February 2020 to continue discussions regarding detailed agreements as now outlined in the respective MoUs. Despite its reported success in dealing with the virus, Chinas health officials remain cautious. In Mexico, most mining operations have resumed as the countrys lockdown of exploration and mining activities was recently lifted, an indication that the area where more than 80% of Mexican mining production occurs has very low levels or no COVID-19 infections within the local population. Story continues We are very pleased to execute this latest Memorandum of Understanding, said John Darch, the companys Chairman. Like Dr. Qian, I am especially encouraged by the fact that during this challenging time three of the well-established and highly respected Chinese EPC Companies we met in China continue to actively pursue a business relationship with Sonoro. About Sonoro Metals Corp. Sonoro Metals Corp. is a publicly listed exploration and development company with a portfolio of exploration-stage precious metal properties in Sonora State, Mexico. The Company has highly experienced operational and management teams with proven track records for the discovery and development of natural resource deposits. On behalf of the Board of SONORO METALS CORP. Per: John Darch JOHN DARCH Chairman For further information, please contact: Sonoro Metals Corp. John Darch, Chairman Phone: (604) 632-1764 Email: info@sonorometals.com THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH JURISDICTION. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. R in Wales drops to 0.7 First Minister says headroom that has been hard won could be so easily lost This article is old - Published: Friday, Jun 12th, 2020 The R figure for Wales has dropped to 0.7, First Minister Mark Drakeford said today. The R has played a prominent part of the lockdown debate, with it representing a reproduction rating of the diseases ability to spread. The figure is the number of people that one infected person will pass it onto, and therefore slowing, carrying on or snowballing the number of people infected. At todays Welsh Government press conference Mark Drakeford said the R figure in Wales had dropped from 0.8 to 0.7. Last month during the last announcement on the easing of the lockdown the figure remained at 0.8, with Wrexham.com asking why the figure hadnt reduced despite the restrictions on travel and social distancing We also pointed to a table previously presented by the First Minister that indicates an R of 0.8 could mean 800 deaths in the coming months. At the time Mr Drakeford said Coronavirus is a virulent virus and it continues to attack people, even with lockdown we have hundreds of new people being infected. During the briefing today it was also confirmed that 32 people across Wales were being treated in critical care beds the lowest since the early days of the pandemic on March 25th. He said: Today a further week of progress can be reported. The R number is compiled from a number of different studies and will become less significant as the number of cases of Coronavirus falls. Nevertheless, the latest evidence from the Centre For Mathematical Modelling of Infectious disease suggests that the most likely and recent figure for Wales has fallen from 0.8 to 0.7. Every day we continue to report deaths of Welsh citizens from Coronavirus. But while at its height, this reached over 40 people each day, this week, the daily figure so far has been below 10. For families who are grieving of course, it does not matter that the person you loved was one of 10 or one or four times that number. Each loss is that of an individual human life, a life that mattered and a life that had meaning and a life but Coronavirus has taken away. Nothing in the way we report these figures should ever and will never reduce that stark fact to just a set of numbers. The First Minister also indicated that the reduction in the R figure meant that there was some head room for changes to lockdown at the upcoming review next week. However he warned that any big changes would see the headroom that has been hard won could be so easily lost. Mr Drakeford added: Its because of the sober and cautious way in which we are lifting the restrictions. It is because of the way we are staying local and keeping Wales safe. All of that is important because Coronavirus is not over, we can choose a path in which we regained our freedoms gradually, carefully and safely using the headroom we have made together, but never taking steps, which would knowingly undermine everything we have achieved. Or we could throw it all away, lift the restrictions in a rush and run the real risk that this deadly virus would be on the rise again, in Wales. As I my cabinet colleagues make decisions next week, about the weeks ahead I want you to know that whatever happens elsewhere, and however long the demands to do things differently might be, we will stick to the path we have chosen. Your safety and that of your family will always be at the forefront of our thinking as we move to rebuild our society and our economy in Wales. After watching his big brother's death on video, after mourning him at multiple memorials, after grieving in front of the world at a funeral that lasted more than four hours on Tuesday afternoon and then seeing him laid to rest, Philonise Floyd flew to Washington to testify on Capitol Hill. He walked into a political chasm: at the hearing on policing practices and racial profiling. In the opening hour of the hearing, Floyd was allotted five minutes to speak about his older brother George Floyd, who died while held down by police officers in Minneapolis. But it may be that what was communicated in his silences, what came through in the absences as he sat alone behind his individual witness desk, will endure. He arrived at the hearing wearing a loosefitting dove gray suit and open-collar white shirt. Its lightness was reminiscent of the white suit he'd worn the day before. His black mask bore a picture of his brother, the image that's become so familiar to the public. The picture on the mask is captioned, "I can't breathe", which were among George Floyd's last words. Philonise Floyd isn't wearing a tie. He hasn't been wearing one these past few days because he hasn't been able to shake George's dying lament. "When he yelled, 'Please, please, I can't breathe,' I stopped wearing ties. I didn't want to wear a tie no more because I wanted to be able to breathe," Floyd said at the Houston funeral. "I went to memorials - no tie. I could have had one on. But right now, I want justice for my brother - my big brother." Floyd may still struggle to breathe free, but as he sat facing the members of the House Judiciary Committee, he didn't struggle to make himself heard. He was the first of many witnesses, many of whom spoke remotely. But Floyd was there in person, bringing the full weight of his humanity into the room. He described how his brother called the police officers "sir" even as he begged for his life. Floyd didn't wade into debate over 'defunding the police'. He simply asked lawmakers to "teach [police] what it means to treat people with empathy and respect". "He didn't deserve to die over $20," Floyd said of his brother, who was initially stopped because a merchant had accused him of circulating a counterfeit bill. "I'm asking you: Is that what a black man is worth?" The room was quiet and sparsely populated, thanks to social distancing, as the lawmakers took his words in. The committee's chairman, Democrat Jerrold Nadler, presided, keeping everyone to their limited time and asking that all witnesses and members wear a mask, except when speaking. Republican Jim Jordan ignored that request, and as usual wasn't wearing a suit jacket. He has said that he wears one when he's concerned about being respectful, but that a jacket encumbers his political pugilism. Jordan brought brief words of condolence and a fighting stance. After his expression of sympathy for the Floyd family, he quickly turned his attention to the property damage seen during protests. And then he praised President Donald Trump's leadership in front of a man who had barely been able to get in a word of his own when the president called him last week to offer his condolence. Floyd's remarks were succinct and focused. But there were moments when he paused and his hand swept across his bald head as if he was trying to wipe away the stress. Perhaps he was simply too exhausted. Or perhaps he knew that even now, a righteously angry black man is still, in the eyes of many, just a dangerous man. In the quiet between Floyd's words, it was possible to hear his sniffles. This man with the broad shoulders lost his big brother, the man he said he looked up to. And he had been tasked with stepping into the role of the family leader, its strength. He would bear up. The lawyers talked on and on, and so did the researchers. The Republicans defended police officers and described the bad ones as having gone rogue. They painted a picture of a country without policing as a country destroyed. The Democrats lamented the devaluing of black lives and systemic racism. They championed their desire for better policing, not the absence of it. Late in the afternoon, Floyd was still listening. The hearing continued. And Floyd slipped his mask back on, the one that reminded the room that he was still struggling to breathe. ( Washington Post) Last week, the hashtag #LadyGraham exploded on social media in response to allegations made on Twitter by gay adult-film star Sean Harding against Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina (the hashtag, along with the abbreviated form "Lady G," purportedly refers to Graham's nickname among male sex workers). What followed has been a mixed bag of political commentary, wanton speculation and downright trolling. While the #LadyGraham hashtag is a reflection of the coarseness of our politics and fury toward Graham for his embrace of President Donald Trump and his policies, rumors about politicians' sex lives are nothing new in American history. From George Washington to Trump, illicit sexual liaisons have spanned more than two centuries of American politics. Of the 44 men elected president, the historian Robert P. Watson has estimated, seven engaged in sexual affairs during their time in office, while many more were mired in scandal before their election. Though the nature of these affairs differ, they share one factor in common: Gossip has swirled about them. And the rumors about Graham's sexuality expose the expectation underlying this gossip: Americans have long expected their politicians to be male, cisgender, straight and married, and have scrutinized those who are not. Two men virtually leap off the page in this regard - James Buchanan of Pennsylvania and William Rufus King of Alabama, two 19th-century Democratic senators, one who became president, the other who became vice president, whose decades-long relationship sent tongues wagging in their day. While in Washington, they lived together in a shared boardinghouse for 10 years, and they exchanged more than 60 letters during their lifetimes. Like Graham, Buchanan and King were lifelong bachelors. Washington society took notice of their intimate friendship. A fellow Democrat, Andrew Jackson, took a special disliking to them. "Mr. Buchanan and his Wife," as one Jackson ally ridiculed the pair. They were also called "Aunt Nancy" or "Aunt Fancy" and "the Siamese twins," named for the famous conjoined twins, Chang and Eng Bunker. These names fingered the men as effeminate, even deviant. In private, Buchanan and King traded letters that revealed an intimate relationship. In one letter from 1844, Buchanan wrote of his desire to be with King, who'd departed Washington for a diplomatic post. "I am now 'solitary & alone,' having no companion in the house with me. I have gone a wooing to several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any one of them. I feel that it is not good for man to be alone; and should not be astonished to find myself married to some old maid who can nurse me when I am sick, provide good dinners for me when I am well & not expect from me any very ardent or romantic affection." In reply, King returned the sentiment. "I am selfish enough to hope you will not be able to procure an associate, who will cause you to feel no regret at our separation," he wrote. "For myself, I shall feel lonely in the midst of Paris, for there I shall have no Friends with whom I can commune as with my own thoughts." Despite their epistolary platitudes, King and Buchanan suffered an estrangement during their years apart, when distance and competition for elected office cooled their former intimacy. Nonetheless, Buchanan remains our only president never to marry, leading many to speculate that he was gay (ditto for King). Given these sorts of rumors, a surprising number of major political figures in the 19th and 20th centuries - almost always Democrats - were bachelors. Samuel Tilden, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1876, was a confirmed bachelor. Grover Cleveland, the next Democrat to be elected president after Buchanan, only married once in the White House. And David I. Walsh, longtime Massachusetts senator from the 1920s to the 1940s, never married and became ensnared in a scandal involving male sex workers in 1942. In the 1950s, Democrats even selected bachelor Adlai Stevenson as their presidential nominee twice. Like Graham, suspicions of various sorts dogged the men. The law has severely repressed same-sex desires, though its provisions have changed over time. Sodomy remained a crime punishable by death in many places until the American Revolution, and subsequently, it carried a prison sentence. After the invention of the concept of homosexuality in the late 19th century, same-sex sexual relations were commonly made illegal, with some states enforcing bans into the 21st century when the Supreme Court struck them down in Lawrence v. Texas. For politicians, especially, taboos around gendered and sexual norms could not easily be transgressed. Unlike today, politicians for most of American history faced what scholars of the subject have dubbed "compulsory heterosexuality." Little changed in this aspect of American society until the sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. Social values evolved, rates of divorce spiked and the concept of identity politics entered the lexicon. In response, many conservatives, closeted bachelors among them, embraced the rising "family values" movement, decrying LGBTQ participation in mainstream society and vocally defending marriage as an institution between a man and a woman. At the same time, ironically, the newly liberated world - along with newfound scrutiny of politicians by the media in the wake of Watergate and Vietnam - led to an exponential increase in the number of sex scandals, toppling everyone from Wilbur Mills to Gary Hart. These scandals spotlighted the hypocrisy of the era's sexual mores. The change also reflected the public's demand for greater accountability of our political leaders, while revealing sexuality, sexual orientation and gendered performance to be political projects with ongoing relevance. For its part, the gay rights movement encouraged Americans to come out of the closet. Outing politicians, especially those who hypocritically demonized LGBTQ people, was seen as a necessary part of the political project. By the 1980s, politicians were being outed, often against their will. Then-Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., who later became an icon of LGBTQ political activism, hid his sexual orientation until being more or less outed by former conservative congressman Robert Bauman in a tell-all book. Later mired in his own sex scandal, Frank subsequently embraced what has been called the "Frank rule," namely that one's right to sexual privacy does not include the right to hypocrisy. But in the age of social media, this rule is hard to enforce. Republicans like former congressman Aaron Schock of Illinois, who recently came out as gay in a post on social media, often are at the center of rumors, in part because speculation about their sexuality mixes with scorn for their votes against legislation that protect the rights of LGBTQ people. Yet, even respected LGBTQ allies like Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., a notable bachelor who is dating Rosario Dawson, confront speculation about their sexual orientation. Today, as long ago, lifelong bachelorhood continues to be a liability for politicians like Graham regardless of party. Even as the institution of marriage evolves, suspicions about bachelorhood largely have not. Behind the gossip about Graham and others lay the remnants of a stubbornly pernicious idea: the presumption of heterosexuality for those in positions of power. When combined with the tradition of sexual gossip embedded in American political culture, the sex lives of elected officials, and especially the unmarried, will continue to be grist for the rumor mill. - - - Balcerski teaches history at Eastern Connecticut State University and is author of "Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King." New Jersey will move to Phase 2 of its reopening on Monday, allowing outdoor dining, limited-capacity nonessential retail, and day care centers to operate for the first time since mid-March. At a news conference Friday, Gov. Phil Murphy defended the phased reopening against critics who have called on the state to move faster. New Jersey reported 495 new COVID-19 cases and 48 deaths Friday, continuing a downward trend that Murphy said the state must prioritize to avoid a resurgence of cases. We will move as quickly as we can, but as safely as we must, Murphy said. In Philadelphia, meanwhile, restaurants were allowed to serve diners on patios and sidewalks on Friday, provided the establishment was licensed, tables were six feet apart, and parties were limited to six people. Earlier this week in the Garden State, the Asbury Park City Council authorized restaurants in the Shore city to operate indoor dining at limited capacity, in defiance of the governors orders. On Friday, Murphy said the state had been unable to resolve the issue with city officials and would file a lawsuit to enforce its order. Were taking steps in small batches so that we have some amount of controlled variables, Murphy said. If we took 10 steps on Monday and had a flareup, it would be very hard to figure out which of those steps led to the flareup. Beginning Monday, libraries will be allowed to offer curbside pickup, the governor announced. And while many nonessential retail stores will reopen at limited capacity and with requirements that all employees and shoppers wear masks, malls will remain closed to the chagrin of townships in which these retail behemoths are major economic contributors. HELP US REPORT: Are you a health care worker, medical provider, government worker, patient, frontline worker or other expert? We want to hear from you. This week, the mayors of Bridgewater, Elizabeth, Paramus, Wayne, and Woodbridge sent a letter urging the governor to allow malls to resume operations. More businesses, including hair, nail and tanning salons; barber shops; hair braiding shops; massage parlors, day and medical spas; and tattoo parlors will be allowed to reopen June 22. This category of businesses will be required to operate by appointment only, require face masks for employees and customers unless they must be removed for a service being performed, and adhere to social distancing guidelines. More guidelines are expected in the coming days. READ MORE: Coronavirus politics are getting trickier for New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy As the state prepares for more businesses to reopen, the Health Department is gearing up its contact tracing program. More than 500 people have signed up for a 15-hour training program by the Rutgers School of Public Health. Murphy and New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli urged residents to cooperate with contact tracers. All information shared is confidential and contact tracers will not ask about citizenship status. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, eight more counties Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Luzerne, Monroe, Perry, Pike, and Schuylkill will move to the green phase of reopening next Friday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday. There are currently 46 counties in green and 21 in yellow, including Philadelphia and its surrounding counties. The state reported 686 new cases and 49 deaths Friday; Philadelphia reported 121 new cases and six deaths. READ MORE: 8 more Pa. counties will move to green reopening phase next week As more businesses regain their footing in the regions yellow phase, Macys reopened 10 stores in the Philadelphia area. In-store shopping, curbside delivery and in-store pick-up are now open at Macys Center City department store as well as at Roosevelt, Concord, Christiana, Oxford Valley, Lehigh Valley, Montgomery, Springfield, King of Prussia, and Willow Grove Park malls. Under Pennsylvanias yellow phase, mall shops with exterior entrances are allowed to reopen if they follow the states safety protocol, but those with indoor-only entrances must remain closed. Delaware malls were allowed to reopen at 30% of capacity in early May. Also, 20 state liquor stores in Philadelphia, two in Montgomery County, and one in Delaware County also reopened for limited in-store access on Friday, according to the Liquor Control Board. No more than 25 people including both employees and customers will be allowed in a store at one time, and the first hour each store is open will be reserved for customers 65 and older. Also on Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held a COVID-19 news teleconference for the first time in months. Jay Butler, deputy director of infectious diseases, called attention to three surveys conducted in early May and published in the latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that found widespread support for stay-at-home and shutdown orders. The national approval rate was 80%, and the rate was even higher in New York City and Los Angeles. Butler also released pages of considerations to help people decide whether and how much to resume normal activities. The advice stressed the familiar triumvirate of precautions: wash hands, wear a mask in public, and stay six feet away from other people. Mandates requiring face masks in public were associated with 66,000 fewer infections in New York City between April 17 and May 9, according to a new report published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Masks may have prevented 78,000 infections in Italy between early April and early May. Staff writers Marie McCullough and Oona Goodin-Smith contributed to this article. Partnering with Microsoft will help our clients to migrate even faster and will give us more opportunities to include the latest Cortex developments as part of our migration offering Xillio, a leading provider of ECM legacy content migrations to modern platforms like Microsoft 365, today announced that is has been named a charter member of the Microsoft Content Services Partner Program for the year of 2020. Microsoft recognized Xillio as Microsoft Preferred for its proven content services solutions helping companies moving systems from one operating environment to another. As part of this Content Services Partner Program, Xillio is able to work closely together with Microsoft to help companies around the globe get the most value of Microsoft 365. With its experience in migrating customers off legacy platforms, Xillio brings a complimentary solution to Microsoft 365 to the market. Microsoft 365 in combination with Project Cortex is a great alternative for legacy enterprise content management systems and Xillio develops high-impact solutions to migrate content to the Microsoft Content Services platform. We are excited to be able to team up with Microsoft, says Rikkert Engels, Xillio CEO. Since Microsoft announced Project Cortex, we feel that Microsoft 365 is the alternative that our customers have been looking for. Lack of an alternative kept their legacy ECM systems alive. With Cortex, this is no longer the case. Cortex offers better compliance for significantly lower costs making the need for legacy ECM obsolete. Partnering with Microsoft will help our clients to migrate even faster and will give us more opportunities to include the latest Cortex developments as part of our migration offering. Chris McNulty, Director of Product Marketing, Microsoft 365: Microsoft seeks partners who can help our customers realize the value of Microsoft 365. Xillio understands the content services landscape and has a proven track record of helping companies feel confident and comfortable shedding their legacy ECM systems in favor of new technologies such as Microsoft 365. Our combined solutions and services create powerful benefits for customers, such as enhanced production and dramatically improved company ROI. The Microsoft Content Services Partner Program is built and run to help organizations get the capabilities and control they need in their everyday work with an end-to-end content solution. This election is really about what type of police force were going to have in the city of Chicago, and everyone who votes for Lori, the blood of the next young black man or black woman who is killed by the police is on your hands, Rush said in March 2019. If youre against police brutality and murder, you ought to be for Toni Preckwinkle. Shes the only one who is going to have the police under her control. NEW YORK, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Computer Numerical Controls Market Research Report by Machine (Grinding Machines, Laser Machines, Lathe Machines, Milling Machines, and Welding Machines), by End User (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Construction Equipment, Consumer Goods, and Industrial) - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913925/?utm_source=PRN The Global Computer Numerical Controls Market is expected to grow from USD 15,154.29 Million in 2019 to USD 30,578.52 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.41%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Computer Numerical Controls to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: On the basis of Machine, the Computer Numerical Controls Market is studied across Grinding Machines, Laser Machines, Lathe Machines, Milling Machines, Welding Machines, and Winding Machines. On the basis of End User, the Computer Numerical Controls Market is studied across Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Construction Equipment, Consumer Goods, Industrial, Metal & Mining, Power & Energy, and Transportation. On the basis of Geography, the Computer Numerical Controls Market is studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region is studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region is studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region is studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Company Usability Profiles: The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Computer Numerical Controls Market including Amada Co., Ltd., Amera Seiki, Dmtg Corporation, Fanuc Corporation, Haas Automation, Hurco Companies, Inc., Hurco Companies, Inc., Okuma Corporation, Shenyang Machine Tool Co., Ltd., and Yamazaki Mazak Corporation. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Computer Numerical Controls Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on sulfuric acid offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Computer Numerical Controls Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Computer Numerical Controls Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Computer Numerical Controls Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Computer Numerical Controls Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Computer Numerical Controls Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Computer Numerical Controls Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913925/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker 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: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com Alabamas roadmap for reopening K-12 public schools in August will be a multi-tiered plan and will include a virtual option for parents uncomfortable sending their children back inside school buildings, according state superintendent Eric Mackey. Tiers in the plan will be based on the spread of coronavirus in the community, he said, and safety is the top priority. Theres no question, Mackey said, that our students will be as safe as we can make them in the fall. Mackey previously said the roadmap will be ready by June 19. One of the plans missing components right now, he said, is what exactly would trigger a school to move from one tier to the next, and whether the Alabama Department of Public Health or some other agency would make that call. While the task force for reopening schools is looking at plans from other states like Georgia and North Carolina, he said, those plans arent clear about those triggers, either. Beyond what those tiers look like is determining who will return to school buildings when the new school year starts. Some Alabama schools are starting back the first half of August, he said, and the biggest problem school officials are sorting through right now is exactly which students are coming back into school buildings. When youre deciding how many teachers you need doing traditional (school) versus how many teachers you need doing virtual, how many devices youre going to need, whether youre going to need any mobile hotspots, Mackey said, youve got to know a pretty good estimate. Local superintendents are currently surveying their communities to gather those numbers. Some have found up to 20% of their students want to do virtual school, he said. Not all school districts have the capability to serve that many students virtually, so the state department is creating a statewide virtual learning platform that schools can use to serve their students. The state department of education opened proposals on Monday from nine vendors who want to provide components of virtual instruction that can be used statewide, he said. The vendors include Fuel Education/K12, Edgenuity, Edmentum, Defined Learning, Acellus Academy, eDynamic, Schools PLO, Grade Results and Discovery Education. The exact cost isnt known yet, he said. Itll be in the millions, but we dont think it will be astronomical. Mackey said the committee charged with deciding on a vendor is in a very fast track and should make a decision within the next few days. Related: Alabama prepares for more students to choose online school next year Some districts already are operating virtual programs, he said, but a statewide provider is needed to help those school systems without a current virtual program in all grades. Hoover City Schools on Monday released results from a survey they recently conducted showing less than half of parents and teachers are comfortable returning to school buildings when school starts this year. Not knowing exactly what classrooms will look like is likely making it difficult for parents to choose. Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that if schools open, they may want to keep children in small groups throughout the school day, forego recess, and eat meals inside the classroom rather than the cafeteria. Mackey said CDC guidelines are being considered, as are those from the World Health Organization and the Alabama Department of Public Health. Related: Teachers in masks, lunches in classrooms, CDC guidelines envision stark new year for schools Local school officials will have final say over which guidelines they implement, he said, and school could look very different in one part of the state versus another. The second biggest struggle schools are facing, he said, is where the best place is to educate students who may have disabilities or medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19. Teachers are another concern. We know the vast majority of students want to come back to school, and were going to have to have teachers to teach them, Mackey said. At some point, the vast majority of teachers will have to come back to school, too. Teachers with underlying health conditions might become virtual teachers, he said, but those will be local decisions by individual school districts. The fact is, he said, we dont know exactly what every classroom in the state is going to look like two months from now because we dont know what every community is going to look like two months from now. Its difficult on everybody. Theres no question about that. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has condemned the killing of over 81 civilians by suspected Boko Haram members in Borno State. The killings occurred in Felo community, Gubio LGA. Armed bandits aboard motorcycles mounted a brutal attack killing dozens of civilians and carting hundreds of cattle. PREMIUM TIMES had earlier broken the news of the attack, quoting sources who said at least 69 persons died in the attack. The state governor, Babagana Zulum, visited the area Wednesday morning to access the situation. He described what he saw as barbaric according to a statement by his spokesperson, Isa Gusau. UN reacts In reaction to the incident, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, expressed condolences to the deceased families who lost their lives in this this abhorrent act. He said the attack is the deadliest recorded in North-central Borno State since July 2019, which has sent shockwaves across the humanitarian community working to provide life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable in Borno State. The official called for the immediate and safe release of all aid workers and civilians who remain in captivity. I am outraged and incensed by incoming reports of violent incidents against civilians carried out by non-state armed groups in Borno State, in which 81 civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others wounded, Mr Kallon said. READ ALSO: I vehemently condemn any and all acts of violence against innocent civilians who have been bearing the brunt of this decade-long conflict for too long, as well as aid workers who are risking their lives to help them. I call for the immediate and safe release of all aid workers and civilians who remain in captivity. I am also receiving worrying reports that civilians were shot while trying to escape and that assailants set ablaze homes with civilians still inside as well as stole more than 1,000 heads of cattle. I extend my sincere condolences to the families of the innocent people who lost their lives in this abhorrent act. They are mothers, fathers, daughters and sons who should never have been a target. My thoughts are with the countless members of this community whose homes and livestock were burned or stolen. I am also wishing a speedy recovery to the people who were injured. Mr Kallon also urged all actors on the ground to protect civilians and aid workers, and ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable women, children and men, who desperately need relief, particularly at this crucial time when we are all scaling up efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Many states across the north, particularly Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Borno have turned to theatres of bloodletting in recent weeks despite spirited efforts by the security agencies to curb the crises. Rotana, a leading hotel management company based in the UAE, is promising guests peace of mind from check-in to check-out with the launch of its new Rotana Safe Space health and safety programme. Understanding that consumer expectations have drastically changed since the global Covid-19 outbreak, the initiative focuses on what guests now value most a contactless hospitality experience throughout their stay using tools such as the Rotana app or their own devices and significantly enhanced cleaning and disinfection practices certified by leading water, hygiene and energy technologies and services provider, Ecolab. The hospitality firm, which operates 69 properties across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Turkey, has also partnered with SGS, the worlds leading inspection, testing, verification and certification company, to monitor and verify cleanliness and hygiene procedures at every property. Bolstered room-cleaning procedures that come with an Unlock your Safe Space assurance for guests are a focal point of the Rotana Safe Space programme and range from full disinfection processes using intense aerosol methods to strict chemical and thermal treatments for bed and bath linens. Rotana has also rolled out a host of contactless services, from online check-in, check-out, menus and restaurant bookings to grab-and-go packaged food options and flexible room-cleaning options to make guests feel as comfortable as possible. The wellbeing of our guests is always our priority at Rotana, but unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures, so we have embraced the latest technology, boosted our employee training and strengthened our already stringent health and safety procedures to launch a new programme that gives guests peace of mind throughout their stay.], said Guy Hutchinson, President and CEO of Rotana. Rotana Stay Safe focuses on what is most important to guests right now contactless experiences and services and robust cleaning and disinfection practices verified by global experts, providing them with reassurance that when they stay with us, they are safe in our care, he said. - TradeArabia News Service It is significant that it was when Britain sought to leave the European Union that questions both of the breakup of Britain (previously united by the imperial project) and unresolved issues of its imperial past emerged center stage. The discourses around the Brexit referendum sought to reclaim national sovereignty with little recognition that Britain had never been a nation, but an empire. This inadequate historical understanding disfigured contemporary arguments about who belongs and has rights, as was evident in the illegitimate deportations of Commonwealth citizens known as the Windrush scandal. The parochiality of Brexit has been disrupted by two more immediate contexts. The resurgence of the global Black Lives Matter movement in light of the death of George Floyd and the disproportionate deaths of black, Asian and other minority ethnic citizens in Britain mostly people with origins in the former colonies from Covid-19. The inherited consequences of colonialism are evident across all British ethnic minority populations. And their roles as front-line workers, keeping the country going during this crisis, has shifted the public sense of who constitutes the social and political community. This conjunction provokes all of us to reconsider the nature of the inequalities that structure our communities and the complicity of particular forms of public representation in this. The inequalities and injustices created by colonialism, enslavement and empire are manifest in the public display of statues of men such as Edward Colston, Cecil Rhodes, Henry Dundas and Robert Clive. They are manifest in statues of King Leopold II in Belgium or any number of Confederate statues in the United States. They represent and glorify those histories and call us to agree to be defined by them, to be represented by them. It is only if you are unaffected by Colstons trade in human beings that it is possible to value his philanthropy separated from it. If it is understood that his philanthropy is intimately connected to the slave trade and the imperial project and that we continue to live the hierarchies and inequalities established through such historical processes, then a reckoning is necessary. This is particularly so when we acknowledge the subjects of empire, and those who were subjected by it, as also being who we, collectively, are today. A mature political community addresses historical wrongs by recognizing and acting upon the just claims of others. In the process, it tackles the contemporary inequalities that flow from those histories and comes to a more expansive self-understanding. Pushkar Banakar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Nepals Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Thursday said his government will use diplomacy to get back disputed land from India. We will get back the land occupied by India through holding a dialogue. India built a Kali temple, created an artificial Kali river and encroached the Nepalese territory through deploying the Army at Kalapani. The river defines the border between the two countries, Oli said in the Nepalese Parliament. Olis comments came a day after his government tabled a constitutional amendment bill to include the disputed territories of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani in the new political map of Nepal. Reacting to the tabling of the bill, the ministry of external affairs said, India deeply values its civilization, cultural and friendly ties with Nepal. Our multi-faceted bilateral partnership has expanded and diversified in the recent years. The MEA also noted that India has extended all possible technical, medical and humanitarian assistance to Nepal. We have supplied about 25 tonnes of medical aid to Nepal including Paracetamol and HCQ, test kits and other medical supplies. We also ensured that there is no untoward disruption in trade and supply of essential goods to Nepal, despite the lockdown on both sides. India has also helped in the repatriation of Nepalese nationals stranded abroad on humanitarian grounds. The Nepalese Prime Minister had hit out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his remarks over the issue. It is not appropriate to threaten Nepal in that way... This should not have been spoken by a chief minister of UP, he said. It is a deplorable matter if he spoke so. Haiti - FLASH : Increase of cases in 8 departments The Ministry of Public Health informs that 145 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Haiti (the day before : 134), for a total of 3,941 cases throughout the national territory (40.3% of women and 59.7% of men) since the first case (March 19, 2020 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html ). Deaths : 6 new deaths were recorded 5 in the West and 1 in the Artibonite, bringing the national total to 64. Healings : 24 people healed (unchanged since May 31) Active cases : (less death and recovery) 3,853 cases (+ 3.74%) +139 in 24 hours (the day before: +132) Number of suspected cases investigated since March 19 : 8,081 cases +175 in 24 hours (the day before : +287) All the details in our daily report of 11 am See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31002-haiti-covid-19-daily-report-june-11-2020.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30996-haiti-flash-the-country-is-approaching-4-000-cases.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html S/ HaitiLibre M ichael Gove has said he has formally confirmed to the EU the UK will not extend the Brexit transition period. The Cabinet Office minister announced the decision on Friday, adding: The moment for extension has now passed. In a post on Twitter, Mr Gove said he had chaired a constructive meeting of the EU Joint Committee with EU Commission Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations Maros Sefcovic. He said: I formally confirmed the UK will not extend the transition period & the moment for extension has now passed. On January 1, 2021, we will take back control and regain our political & economic independence. It comes after Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford, the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, wrote to the Prime Minister on Friday calling on him to request the extension, saying it would be extraordinarily reckless to end the transition in the new year. The vice-president of the EU Commission Maros Sefcovic has said Fridays meeting of the EU-UK Joint Committee was positive but that there is still more to do. Speaking at the European Commission press briefing, Mr Sefcovic said: I have to underline that the meeting took place in very good atmosphere and I am glad that at the end of our discussions we also arrived at some positive results, which I believe would pave the way forward for the proper implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement. He added: However, with some six months to go before the end of the transition period we still have lots of work to do. Both sides can still agree to hold another such meeting, where under the Withdrawal Agreement a delay could be asked for / PA Mr Sefcovic added that this was particularly true with regards to the Northern Ireland protocol. He said: The window of opportunity to put in place the operational measures needed to ensure that the protocol can function as intended on January 1 2021 is rapidly closing. On the UKs command paper on implementing the Northern Ireland protocol, he added: We need to move from aspiration to operation and fast. Mr Sefcovic added that Mr Gove made it clear that the UK will not accept an extension to the transition period. The European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium / PA He said: Michael Gove confirmed to me that the UK will not consider an extension of the transition period. From our side, I have taken note of the position of the UK on this issue and have stated, as President von der Leyen has already done, that the EU remains open to such an extension. In this context, we both, with Chancellor Gove, agreed on accelerating the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and to accelerate our work, and we also agreed that the Joint Committee should meet again in early September. By this date we also concluded that specialised committees including the one on the Ireland/Northern Ireland protocol will meet in the coming weeks. Mr Sefcovic added that he made clear to Mr Gove the need for the UK to uphold its commitments to Northern Ireland. In a post on Twitter, Mr Gove said he had chaired a constructive meeting of the EU Joint Committee / @michaelgove He said: Only a sound and effective implementation of all these legal obligations can ensure continued peace and stability between all communities on the island of Ireland, uphold the Good Friday Belfast Agreement in all its dimensions while also preserving the EU single market, and I made these points to minister Gove very clearly. Mr Sefcovic added that it is up to the UK how it takes back control. Responding to reports of the Government abandoning plans on full border checks for EU goods, he said: This issue was not in particular discussed today and I would say that the UK has stated on several occasions that it wants to take back the control, and I would say it is up to the UK how they do it. What is of course very important for us is that at the end of the transition period the UK will decide how it wishes to organise its borders as a WTO member. He added that at the meeting, quite some time was spent discussing the enormity of the task when it comes to the proper implementation of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and that we agreed that the acceleration of work is necessary. UK sources were keen to depict the meeting as the last formal opportunity to request an extension to the transition period, as it is the last scheduled meeting of the joint committee before the July 1 deadline. But both sides can agree to hold another such meeting, where under the Withdrawal Agreement a delay could be asked for. Boris Johnson has repeatedly insisted he will not ask for a delay, despite businesses and critics warning of the dangers of a departure without a trade agreement in place. A virtual summit between the Prime Minister and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen to try to break the deadlock in trade negotiations has been scheduled for Monday. The negotiating teams have also agreed to an intensified timetable for July with possible discussions in person if public health guidelines enable them during the coronavirus pandemic. European Council president Charles Michel and the president of the European Parliament, David-Maria Sassoli will also join the political talks. The pace of talks will be scaled up so negotiators will meet in each of the five weeks between June 29 and July 27, No 10 said. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier lamented there having been no significant areas of progress as he accused the UK of having backtracking on the agreed political declaration. His counterpart in Downing Street, David Frost, said they would have to intensify and accelerate the process if there was to be any chance of an agreement. Both sides also said the remote meetings had reached their limit and that face-to-face meetings would be needed in order to progress. A pharmacy technician grabs a bottle of drugs off a shelf at the central pharmacy of Intermountain Heathcare, in Midvale, Utah, on Sept. 10, 2018. (George Frey/Getty Images) 46 State Attorneys General File Lawsuit Against 26 Drug Makers for Price Fixing Connecticut AG William Tong calls it the 'largest domestic corporate cartel in our nations history' Forty-six state attorneys general filed a lawsuit in Connecticut, June 10, against 26 drug manufacturers and 10 individuals for conspiracy to allocate markets and fix prices for multiple generic drugs. The 543-page lawsuit (pdf) accuses the companies of fixing prices from at least 2009 through early 2016 on a wide range of products that include Ritalin, used to treat attention deficit disorder, attention hyperactivity disorder, and some sleep disorders. The plaintiffs of the lawsuit are 46 states including Colorado, Florida, New York, Montana, and Washington. The defendants include 26 corporate drug manufacturers include Pfizer, Novartis, Mylan, Sandoz, John Wesolowski, and Wockhardt USA LLC and 10 individuals. The companies are stealing billions upon billions of dollars from American families every year, said Tong. Competitors are illegally sharing information about prices and colluding and conspiring to divide the market. https://t.co/yxwE5wqA33 AG William Tong (@AGWilliamTong) June 10, 2020 Connecticut Attorney General William Tong (D) accused the manufacturers in a statement of a multibillion-dollar fraud describing it as so systemic that it has touched nearly every single consumer of topical products. Topical drugs include mostly drugs that are administered on the external body surface: creams, lotions, gels, ointments, and solutions. Through phone calls, text messages, emails, corporate conventions, and cozy dinner parties, generic pharmaceutical executives were in constant communication, colluding to fix prices and restrain competition as though it were a standard course of business, Tong said. The lawsuit said for many years the generic pharma has avoided competing with each other and have instead settled for getting a fair share. This understanding has permeated every segment of the industry, and the purpose of the agreement was to avoid competition among generic manufacturers that would normally result in lower prices and greater savings to the ultimate consumer, said the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Tong said his investigation is ongoing and expanding and the states are currently preparing for the trial. Our case is built on hard evidence from multiple cooperating witnesses, millions of records, and contemporaneous notes that paint an undeniable picture of the largest domestic corporate cartel in our nations history, he said. The defendants, Pfizers spokeswoman, Sally Beatty said in a statement to Reuters that the company doesnt believe it engaged in unlawful conduct and Mylans spokeswoman, Lauren Kashtan said her company found no evidence about the accusation. WASHINGTON - A Republican-led Senate panel on Thursday approved a plan by Sen. Elizabeth Warren to have the names of Confederate figures removed from military bases and other Pentagon assets. Only Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, voted against the measure. France Extends Maritime Space by Nearly 58,000 Square Miles Sputnik News 16:09 GMT 11.06.2020 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, a body of the United Nations, has authorised France to further extend its underwater field by over 150,000 square kilometres (58,000 square miles) off the islands of Reunion, and French Southern and Antarctic Lands, according to a statement published on Thursday. "France will thus expand its underwater area of 151.323 km2 (58.121 km2 off reunion and 93.202 km2 off Saint-Paul and Amsterdam) the equivalent of more than a quarter of the area of the hexagon [France]", the statement by the Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service, the French Secretariat-General for the Sea and the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea said. The first extension of 579,000 square kilometres of the French continental shelf was consolidated by four decrees in 2015. It concerned Martinique, the Caribbean, Guyana, New Caledonia and the Kerguelen Islands. However, France is only entitled to the soil and subsoil of the sea and not to the body of water, which remains in the international domain, the statement added. Overall, the statement indicated a total of 730,000 square kilometres of the French continental shelf, in addition to the 10.2 million square kilometres of the country's internal waters and territorial sea, and waters under its jurisdiction that are a part of its exclusive economic zone. "France can also claim a share of the continental shelf of about 500,000 km2 in cases that are currently considered or await consideration by the United Nations", the statement said. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea from 1982 is an international agreement that regulates the division of maritime space between the world's countries. In particular, it grants permission to coastal countries to extend their continental shelf beyond nautical 200 miles to a maximum of 350 miles, provided their lands have natural prolongation of the continental margin's outer edge. The new extension empowers France to explore and exploit marine soil and subsurface resources beyond 200 nautical miles, the statement indicates. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has had an unenviable task in recent years. AIPAC was created to support and strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. But during the past two presidential administrations, a bipartisan consensus on what such support entails and whether it should be offered at all has eroded. The most recent example of this challenge involves Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to annex portions of the West Bank. On the surface, this might not seem to be a hard call for U.S. politicians. Israeli leaders have said for nearly three decades that any two-state solution with the Palestinians would have to allow Israel to defend its border in the Jordan River Valley and account for the Jewish majority settlements in the West Bank. President Donald Trump's peace plan, unveiled in January, says explicitly that the valley and Jewish majority settlements will be part of Israel in any final deal. Nonetheless, the issue has divided Republicans and Democrats. Even the Trump administration has quietly warned Netanyahu and his aides not to move forward with annexation unless and until it's clear that Israel's unity government is committed to Trump's broader peace plan. As my Bloomberg Opinion colleague Zev Chafets wrote this week, it appears that Netanyahu intends to move forward with annexation without implementing the other parts of that plan that are more favorable to the Palestinians. This looks like cherry picking to rationalize a land grab, especially considering that elements of the prime minister's political base oppose any Palestinian state at all. In light of all of that, AIPAC has decided to sidestep the issue. According to reporting this week from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, AIPAC is privately telling lawmakers that as long as they don't push to limit U.S. aid to Israel, "they can criticize the annexation plan without risking future support from the lobby group." In some ways this is not surprising. In the 1980s and 1990s, AIPAC on some occasions supported primary opponents against lawmakers who were outspoken critics of Israel. But in recent years the organization has backed away from this practice. In 2015, AIPAC still supported some Democrats in Congress who voted for the Iran nuclear deal that the organization opposed. The context matters, however. In recent weeks, more liberal groups have pressed Democrats to openly oppose Netanyahu's annexation ploy. Some have even favored leveraging U.S. military aid (of which Israel is the largest recipient) to dissuade the annexation. Here, AIPAC's message is important. While it takes no position on annexation, it says in a recent one-page policy paper sent to Congress, a sustainable peace is "achievable only if the United States continues to help ensure Israel's qualitative military edge - the ability to counter and defeat any credible conventional military threat while sustaining minimal damages and casualties." In other words, conditioning or decreasing military aid to Israel would undermine the larger goal of a two-state solution. That may be true. At the same time, it's also true that there will be times when Israeli and American leaders disagree on policy. The most recent example was Barack Obama's nuclear bargain with Iran. And it's almost certain that a Democratic president would clash with a center-right Israeli government on Trump's peace plan. Netanyahu sees that plan as a rare opportunity for Israel to create more secure borders for future generations. Most Democrats see it as cover to destroy what is left of the peace process that began nearly 30 years ago. In this respect, AIPAC is wise to avoid the annexation issue. The organization cannot be effective if it alienates one political party in favor of the other. But this controversy also raises a deeper question about AIPAC's broader purpose and strategy. America and Israel see eye to eye on most strategic issues. But there will be times when they don't. In those circumstances, $3.8 billion in U.S. military assistance will likely be used as a kind of leverage. A wiser long-term strategy for Israel and AIPAC would be to anticipate those inevitable disagreements and start gradually phasing out the aid altogether. - - - This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Lake is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering national security and foreign policy. A Maharashtra minister has tested positive for coronavirus but he is asymptomatic and his condition is stable, Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope disclosed on Friday. He is a third minister in Maharashtra to contract the virus. Jitendra Awhad (NCP) and Ashok Chavan (Congress) had tested positive earlier; both recovered from the infection. Asked whether others who had attended the cabinet meeting and the NCP event will be tested, Tope said social distancing was observed on both the occasions. If anyone has suspicion (of having caught infection) or develops symptoms, he or she should be tested as per the Indian Council of Medical Researchs guidelines, Tope said. It is true he has tested positive. He is stable. He is asymptomatic, but there is a minor problem of breathlessness, the health minister told reporters. We are admitting him to Breach Candy Hospital (in South Mumbai). He is a fighter. He will be active in eight to ten days, Tope said. He was there at the cabinet meeting and NCP foundation day ceremony. But we observed social distancing during the meeting as instructed by Dada (Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar), Tope said. The NCPs foundation day event lasted only five minutes, Tope said, as only state NCP chief Jayant Patil made a short speech. Only five NCP leaders were present for the flag hoisting. Social distancing was strictly observed, he added. Testing can be conducted if any person develops symptoms. No question of conducting tests if there are no symptoms, Tope said. The minister urged people to take all precautions including social distancing at public places and workplaces till a vaccine becomes available. Unpaid salaries to doctors and lack of quarantine facilities for healthcare workers engaged in fighting Covid-19 led the Supreme Court on Friday to remark that in a war-like situation, the Centre should travel the extra mile to ensure that corona warriors are kept safe and happy. The court was dealing with a petition by a doctor, Arushi Jain, who complained of inadequate quarantine facilities across the country. Representing the petitioner, senior advocate KV Vishwanathan informed the Court that as per May 15, 2020 guidelines issued by the Health Ministry titled Advisory for Managing Healthcare Workers working in Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 Areas of the Hospital, only high-risk healthcare workers or those showing symptoms of the disease needed 14-day quarantine. He wondered how such a distinction could be made. The bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, SK Kaul and MR Shah said, This is a kind of war (against the coronavirus pandemic). You cannot keep soldiers unhappy during a war. Travel the extra mile to make the corona warriors (doctors, nurses and medical staff) feel safe. ALSO READ | I salute corona warriors for risking their lives to save others: Amit Shah at West Bengal Jan Samvad Rally Vishwanathan also informed the court that doctors working at government hospitals have not been paid wages. The situation is similar in several private hospitals where there has been a wage cut. Noting these facts with concern, the bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who attended the virtual court hearing through videoconferencing, These issues should not engage our attention. It should be settled by you (Government). Mehta submitted that the concerns expressed by the petitioner seemed to be ad-hoc. However, he informed the court that the petitioner can frame a representation highlighting their problems and the same will be addressed by the government. The bench allowed the petitioner to file a representation highlighting their concerns and suggestions to the Union Health Secretary. The Centre was directed to consider the same and file a report in court by Wednesday, the next date of hearing. Earlier, in response to the petition, the Centre had filed an affidavit claiming that conserving healthcare workforce was top most priority as the Government expected a surge in the number of coronavirus infections in the coming days. At some point of time in the near future, apart from existing hospitals, a large number of temporary make-shift hospitals will have to be created in order to accommodate Covid-19 patients requiring admission, medical care and treatment, the Health Ministry affidavit stated. In response to the Centres affidavit, the petitioner filed a reply stating that all healthcare workers serving in Covid-19 dedicated centres and hospitals, by default are under high risk category due to the infectious nature of this disease. The petitioner even requested the court to add states as parties to this case since the Centre had claimed that public health is a state subject. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- As the coronavirus pandemic continues, Bloomberg Opinion will be running a series of features by our columnists that consider the long-term consequences of the crisis. This column is part of a package on how the pandemic is altering the business of eating and drinking. For more, see Bobby Ghosh on the future of destination dining, Adam Minter on how sanitized street food will hurt the worlds poor and James Gibneys interview with Daniel Okrent and Wayne Curtis on the future of bars and cocktails. At a time when most food producers are facing disruption, Ethan Brown is high on the hog. Well, the hogless hog. Brown is the founder and CEO of Beyond Meat, a protein company that sells plant-based meat products burgers, sausages, ground beef and fried chicken to U.S. retail stores, including Target and Whole Foods, and major food chains worldwide, such as KFC, Carls Jr., Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks. Following a funding windfall from investors including Bill Gates and Tyson Foods, Beyond Meat went public in May 2019. Its stock price quadrupled by July 2019, hitting $234 per share at its height before tumbling to $75 in January 2020 and now sitting at $128. Despite the swings in valuation, the companys earnings climbed 140%, from $40 million in first-quarter 2019 to $97 million in the first quarter of this year. When the pandemic hit, earnings more than doubled. I spoke with Brown at his office in Los Angeles about how hes keeping pace with the demand, and how climate change and Covid-19 have spurred trends in ethical eating. Heres a lightly edited transcript of our exchange. Amanda Little: Describe the growth at Beyond Meat and whats been driving it. Ethan Brown: We are seeing a few trends at once that are advantageous: More households are buying more of our products, more often and in more retail outlets. Weve also more than doubled our food service penetration. While we skew a little toward retail, 42% of our sales are now in food service. And were seeing strong international growth: Were in 75 countries worldwide, and international sales jumped nearly 5,000% from last year. Story continues Whats driving it? First and foremost, consumer health concerns associated with animal protein. There was a World Health Organization analysis in 2015 and a number of university studies since that have highlighted the carcinogenic and cardiovascular risks associated with red and processed meats. Theres also increasing public awareness of animal welfare and growing concern about climate change and natural resources. Our burgers have a fraction of the environmental impact using 99% less water, 90% lower greenhouse gas emissions, 93% less land and about half the energy required to produce beef from an animal. AL: What has happened to your growth since early March, when Covid-19 began to hit hard in the U.S.? EB: Our retail sales were up 233% for the four-week period ending March 22, 2020, outperforming the plant-based meat category as a whole, which rose 93%. What I did not anticipate was the disruptive pricing that would occur in the animal-protein market this year. Weve seen significant run-ups in the wholesale and retail costs of beef in a short period of time. AL: Your products are still quite a bit more expensive than conventional meats. EB: Yes. We set a goal over a year ago to underprice animal protein within five years. Because of progress and the recent price spikes in meat, were much closer to the goal. Of course, theyll be able to moderate the price of animal meats somewhat, but we now know the vulnerability of the system. Its a crucial moment. Theres no question that well be able to underprice animal protein. Instead of feeding plants to cows for 18 months or to pigs for six months, were taking the protein right from the plant in a matter of minutes, restructuring that protein to the form of animal muscle. We should be cheaper than animal meats, and we will be. AL: How will you maintain this growth after the pandemic? EB: Our household penetration in the U.S. is still only at 4%. So even with this growth we're just scratching the surface. In retail, we only have eight stock keeping units (individual products); we should, and will one day, have dozens of SKUs. We also feel good about our long-term prospects in food service. Take the U.S. market as an example there are some 650,000 restaurants. We are in less than 10% of them. So, in both retail and domestic food service, theres lots of room for growth. And then, of course, there are international markets. We very much view this as the beginning of our growth. AL: Walk me through the logistical challenges of this rapid growth. How are you keeping pace with demand? EB: I feel very equipped to deal with this growth its as if weve been waiting and preparing for this moment. Thats reflected in the hiring on our executive team. For example, Sanjay Shah, our COO, who joined eight months ago, had been at Amazon where he managed significant growth at North American fulfillment centers. He has deep experience in scaling and operating high-growth businesses. My chief growth officer is from Coca-Cola. The examples go on and on. Weve also made significant investments in production facilities here and in Europe. AL: Whats your take on the recent swings in your stock valuation? EB: I dont comment on short-term stock valuation. AL: Your competitor, Impossible Foods, built its brand in restaurants and fast-food chains, whereas you built your brand first in retail. Thats been a notable advantage during the pandemic. EB: It has. We actually began by selling in food service mainly hospitals and universities in the Mid-Atlantic along with the prepared foods section at Whole Foods and when we tried to expand to restaurants, we failed at first. So we maintained our focus on retail while we tried to make more progress in the restaurant space, and ultimately our success in retail were now in 25,000 U.S. stores drove our success in food service. It was important to me to build our brand and products in dialogue with the consumer. When we first started selling in Whole Foods stores, I spent a lot of time talking to consumers who were sampling or buying our products in and around Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, often off the beaten path and in smaller markets. You learn a tremendous amount from the consumer about what they want in a product simple plant-based ingredients and nothing genetically modified when you just are willing to listen to them. AL: Theres been a backlash against plant-based meats consumer concerns that the products are highly processed and unhealthy. How are you addressing this? EB: There are well-financed camps [in the conventional meat industry] that continue to feed the confusion. Heres the thing: We are really proud of the ingredients we use, the process we use, so its not like were scratching our heads, thinking, How do we spin this? We source our proteins, fats, minerals and carbohydrates directly from plants with no GMOs, nothing artificial and less saturated fat. Our ingredient list is longer because we have to list the component parts of making our meat sources of our amino acids, fats and vitamins. We dont have luxury of just writing beef. Were doing a lot of outreach to customers to educate them on our ingredients. I have also said that consumers are more than welcome to stop by our facilities in Missouri and see how the food is made. I stand by that. It seems like a basic right, no? AL: Impossible Foods CEO Pat Brown has said by 2035 well see the end of animal meat. Do you agree? EB: I dont share that perspective. I would say: I dont know. Its all up to the consumer. If we get the products to be indistinguishable from animal protein, we provide nutritional advantage more protein, more iron, no cholesterol, lower saturated fats, and if we drop the price below animal protein, it becomes in my view a minority of consumers that says, I just don't want to eat this. But I dont see the need to be adversarial. Its a distraction, a red herring, to make it us versus them. AL: Is it reasonable to compare this moment in plant-based meats to the birth of tech industries Im thinking cell phones in the mid-1990s which faced volatility at the outset but then became ingrained? EB: Think about the earliest computers and how big and expensive they were. Density and cost curves improved them and enabled mass adoption, just like with mobile phones. Were on a similar trajectory: Our products and platforms are getting better, and our costs will over time decline as we scale. For us, the path to mass accessibility centers on taste, nutrition and cost. The convergence of improved quality (taste and nutrition) and competitive pricing on the one hand, and these powerful trends in consumer behavior on the other, create a powerful moment for change. AL: Going forward, things will get harder for livestock producers. The pandemic has been devastating for many and climate change will put increasing pressure on their operations. EB: I think a lot about how many American farmers are hurting. The digital revolution over the last 30 years did very little to benefit the family farmer. We have a technology and approach that can empower farmers to make more money growing protein-rich plants and help bring economic prosperity back to rural America. (Clarifies findings of universities' studies in fifth paragraph. ) This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Amanda Little is a professor of journalism and science writing at Vanderbilt University. She is the author of a Bloomberg Opinion series on the fate of food after Covid-19 as well as the book "The Fate of Food: What We'll Eat in a Bigger, Hotter, Smarter World." For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Rights groups and lawmakers are calling on Cambodian authorities to carry out a thorough and transparent investigation into the possible kidnapping of a Thai dissident in the capital, Phnom Penh, last week. Wanchalearm Satsaksit was reportedly abducted by a group of armed men outside his apartment block on the afternoon of June 4, a few days after he posted a salacious Facebook message ridiculing Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha. He had fled Thailand when summoned for questioning by the military after a 2014 coup led by then-General Prayut and was hit with an arrest warrant two years ago over his Facebook page, which he has used to scold the junta and the government that followed a tainted election in 2019. Eight other Thai dissidents in exile have gone missing in Laos and Vietnam since the coup. Two of them were later found dead in the Mekong River; their bodies had been weighted down with concrete, presumably to make them sink. None of the cases has been solved. After initially dismissing calls for a probe of Wanchalearm's alleged abduction, Cambodian authorities said Tuesday that they would investigate. 'A legal obligation' Andrea Giorgetta, Asia director for the International Federation for Human Rights, said Cambodia was duty-bound to do so as one of the few countries in the region to have signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. "So they do have a legal obligation under international law to investigate this case," he said. Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson said Thailand had also "dragged its feet" in asking Cambodia to follow the case. "But now that the investigation has finally started, the Cambodian government must pursue a serious, impartial and transparent investigation that leaves no stone unturned in finding out what happened to Wanchalearm. They should not rest until they find him and prosecute those responsible for the abduction," he said. Both governments are also being urged to find Wanchalearm by Amnesty International and the Asian Parliamentarians for Human Rights, a network of past and present lawmakers from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. "ASEAN governments that allow these types of actions to take place on their territory are effectively turning our region into an autocrats heaven, where the persecution of dissent knows no borders, Malaysian lawmaker and APHR chairman Charles Santiago said in a statement. 'I thought it was a car crash' Cambodian officials could not be reached for comment. The Thai government referred questions to the spokesperson for the Defense Ministry, who said he knew nothing about the case. Both governments have rejected accusations of having orchestrated Wanchalearm's abduction. Wanchalearm's sister, Sitanan Satsaksit, said she was on the phone with her brother from Thailand when he was nabbed. "And then there was a sound; I thought it was a car crash or something," she recalled. "Then I heard some Cambodian voices, about four people. And all of a sudden, he was saying 'Argh, I can't breathe, I can't breathe, I can't breathe.'" Sitanan said the call went on like that for nearly half an hour before the line was finally cut. She found out that her brother had been bundled into a black SUV and driven away only after speaking with a Thai journalist who had gone to the apartment and spoken with the security guard, who said he witnessed the abduction but could not intervene because the men were armed. CCTV footage shows the SUV driving off. Wanchalearm had been living in Phnom Penh for a few years and focusing less on Thai politics than on a few local real estate deals Sitanan said she was also involved in. However, she said her brother's online invectives targeting Prayut and his government picked up after he learned that Thai authorities had visited their mother in Thailand on May 13 to ask about him. She urged authorities to investigate the case "immediately and quickly." 'They are afraid' Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, a Thai activist and past political prisoner who knows Wanchalearm, said the reported kidnapping has put other Thai dissidents living in Cambodia, thought to number around 10, on edge. "They are afraid and try to hide themselves. They cannot come out from the residence ... They just keep themselves in the room," said Somyot, who has been in touch with a few of them since Wanchalearm went missing. He had hoped that the reported abduction of three Thai activists in Vietnam just over a year ago would be the last. "Suddenly we have Wanchalearm again; that means it's not changed," he said. "They are going to try [to find] more and more people ... the people who are critical or criticize the government." Giorgetta said Cambodia was considered a relative safe haven for Thai dissidents in the first year or two of the junta. That changed as the new regime established regular ties with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has a long history of persecuting his own critics at home. "So we've seen in the past four or five years more effective cooperation in terms of tracking down dissidents on both sides of the border and in some cases even some of them being sent back or being forced to return to the country or seek refuge in third countries," he said. With the disappearances in Laos and Vietnam and last year's forced repatriation of a wanted activist from Malaysia, Wanchalearm's suspected kidnapping in Cambodia suggests the shelter for Thai dissidents in the region is shrinking. "The overall analysis [is] that close neighbors and regional neighbors of Thailand have become unsafe places for asylum seekers," Giorgetta said. First came the tweet, from a New York University economics professor on behalf of the American Association of Wine Economists: In terms of $$, the U.S. wine industry overwhelmingly supports Trump. Then came Domaine Serenes Instagram post pledging to fight racism and systemic inequality." Amid national protests in support of the Black Lives Matter social justice movement, the Willamette Valley winerys statement was met with harsh skepticism. Economist Karl Storchmanns June 4 Twitter post, which has since been deleted, referred to research from the AAWE showing that members of the American wine industry have donated more money to President Donald Trumps campaigns than to other major presidential candidates. At No. 4 on the associations list of top individual Trump donors was Grace Evenstad, co-owner of Domaine Serene Winery in Dayton. In 2016, she and her husband, Ken Evenstad, donated $50,000 each to the Great America PAC, an organization calling itself "the premiere Pro-Trump Super PAC." Ken Evenstad wasnt on the AAWE list because in 2016 he listed Upsher-Smith Laboratories as his employer, and association researchers missed him when culling the Federal Election Commission database for winery-related individuals. Also in 2016, the Evenstads donated $125,000 to the Republican National Committee and $5,400 directly to candidate Trump. The associations analysis drew criticism on several fronts. For example, the data included donations to Trump dating back to the 2016 campaign, but for other candidates, it included only donations in the current campaign. Storchmann has since corrected the database to include only contributions made as of June 3 to presidential candidates in the 2020 campaign. Four days after the tweet, Domaine Serenes Instagram account posted a social justice mission statement that read, in part, We are actively developing a comprehensive plan to do our part to be anti-racist through education and civil discourse, and commit ourselves to invest in organizations that are advancing systemic change and opportunities for BIPOC communities. BIPOC is an acronym for Black, Indigenous, People Of Color. Dozens of people responded negatively, including Dana Frank, owner of Bar Norman in Portland, who wrote, "Your financial support of Trump says otherwise, and this post is performative garbage meant to make yourselves feel better. Our industry has been outwardly exclusive of BIPOC community members, and we cannot possibly hope to move forward or make changes if we aren't willing to see how we got here. Supporting a racist, anti-Semitic president is a start. How can you post something like this after being financial supporters of Trump?" Grace Evenstad said in a statement: "My company, and the many businesses, large and small in our industry, are directly affected by a wide array of public policies, and I feel a strong obligation to take part in the process that shapes them. Indeed that's a bedrock right, even a duty, that all Americans share, and one that is fundamental to our democracy, even if we often differ on the best solutions. I have always tried to support candidates that advance policies that will best enable our business and our employees to flourish. But the various contributions I have made to political campaigns have always been done on my own initiative, and with my own resources, not the company's." Rachel Kendall Adams is the founder and executive director of the Assemblage Symposium, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women and diverse communities in the wine industry. Adams questions the wisdom of supporting candidates who are "on the wrong side of history" when it comes to issues impacting the wine industry. "Racism, immigration, climate change and tariffs are political issues with a direct line to what we do every day. We can't stick our heads in the sand and pretend our tasting rooms, wineries, marketing efforts and vineyards are apolitical spaces," Adams said. Adams said she hopes Domaine Serene will follow through on its pledge to take concrete steps to promote social justice. "I hope the Evenstads and the rest of us in the Oregon wine community will put our hard-earned dollars toward being on the right side of history," Adams said. Thursday, Linfield College in McMinnville said that Domaine Serene will be making a major donation to the colleges Evenstad Center for Wine Education for a new scholarship program to promote diversity. "The Evenstads are endowing a scholarship at $500,000 that will support underrepresented minorities interested in wine studies and the wine industry. We've been working on this for many months," Miles Davis, president of Linfield College, said in a telephone interview. There is not a lot of diversity among winemakers in Oregon. Often one of the big barriers to study at an institution like Linfield in a wine studies program like ours is the ability to pay for tuition and room and board. This scholarship will help break down those barriers, Davis said. -- Michael Alberty writes about wine for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He can be reached at malberty0@gmail.com. To read more of his coverage, go to oregonlive.com/wine. Minneapolis cops condemned former cop Derek Chauvin over the police-related slaying of George Floyd in an open letter to the community Thursday that comes after the City Council plans to disband the department amid calls for reform. 'Dear Everyone - but especially Minneapolis citizens,' the letter starts. 'We wholeheartedly condemn Derek Chauvin. We Are With You in the denouncement of Derek Chauvin's actions on Memorial Day, 2020,' the letter says. 'Like us, Derek Chauvin took an oath to hold the sanctity of life most precious. Derek Chauvin failed as a human and stripped George Floyd of his dignity and life,' the cops explain. 'This is not who we are.' Pictured is the open letter to the community signed by 14 officers who condemned former cop Derek Chauvin after the police-related slaying of George Floyd The cops in the letter say they are standing with Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, who is pictured speaking with reporters about reforms on Wednesday 'We are with you and want to communicate a sentiment that is broad within our ranks. We ask that our voices be heard,' the cops say in the letter which was posted on Documentedcloud,' reports the StarTribune. 'We are leaders, formal and informal, and from all ranks within the Minneapolis Police Department. We're not the union or the administration,' the letter explains. 'We are officers who represent the voices of hundreds of other Minneapolis Police Officers. Hundreds,' says the letter signed by 14 officers. Minneapolis cops condemned former officer Derek Chauvin over the police-related slaying of George Floyd in an open letter to the community Thursday. Officers are pictured in riot gear responding to George Floyd protests that followed Floyd's passing Memorial Day The letter comes after the City Council plans to disband the department amid calls for reform that have come along with the protests over Floyd's police-related slaying. Officers in riot gear are pictured during the demonstrations The department has about 800 sworn cops on the force and 300 civilian workers. The cops in the letter say they are standing with Police Chief Medaria Arradondo. 'We acknowledge that Chief Arradondo needs each of us to dutifully follow him while he shows us the way,' write the officers. 'We stand ready to listen and embrace the calls for change, reform and rebuilding. We Are With You moving forward. We want to work with you and for you to regain your trust,' the cops wrote to the community. It ends, 'Sincerely, Minneapolis Police Officers,' and includes the names Mark Klukow, Charlie Adams, Darcy Klund, Christie Nelson, Nick Torborg, Mike Kirchen, Pete Stanton, Gary Nelson, Rich Jackson, Mohamed Abdullahi, Molly Fischer, Steve McCarty, John Delmonico and Richard Zimmerman. A final line at the bottom of the letter says the letter 'represents our statement in whole.' 'We will not be having an additional comment or allowing additional interviews. Thank you for giving us voice.' The letter comes as protests against police brutality continue across the nation in the wake of the death of Floyd, a 46-year-old black father-of-two, who was killed during an arrest. Floyd was alleged to have passed a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes when Chauvin pressed down on Floyd's neck with his knee for almost 9 minutes, causing his death. Video of the incident taken by a bystander went viral and emboldened the Black Lives Matter movement in a national call for reforms. The letter comes as protests against police brutality continue across the nation in the wake of the death of George Floyd (pictured), a 46-year-old black father-of-two, who was killed during an arrest on Memorial Day in Minneapolis Floyd was alleged to have passed a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes when former cop Derek Chauvin pressed down on Floyd's neck with his knee for almost 9 minutes, causing his death. Chauvin and Floyd are pictured in an image from footage taken of the slaying Chauvin was arrested for Floyd's death and charges were upgraded to include second degree murder last Wednesday, the same day that three other officers at the scene were arrested. Since his arrest, Chauvin was swiftly off-loaded by his wife of ten years. The former Minneapolis pageant queen Kellie, 45, filed for divorce the day before charges were brought. Meanwhile two of the three officers who looked on as Floyd died placed all blame firmly on the 20-year-old veteran at their own first appearances last Thursday. Chauvin was arrested for Floyd's death and charges were upgraded to include second degree murder last Wednesday, the same day that three other officers at the scene were arrested On Sunday nine members of the Minneapolis City Council announced they intend to defund and dismantle the city's police department. 'We committed to dismantling policing as we know it in the city of Minneapolis and to rebuild with our community a new model of public safety that actually keeps our community safe,' Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender said. With nine votes the city council would have a veto-proof supermajority of the council's 13 members to dismantle the police force. Bender during an interview earlier this week defended the revolutionary move to disband the police force, saying Floyd's death was a 'wake-up call' that the police are 'not keeping every member of our community safe.' 'What if, in the middle of the night, my home is broken into. Who do I call?' CNN's Alisyn Camerota asked on Monday. 'Yes, I mean I hear that loud and clear from a lot of my neighbors, and myself, too, and I know that that comes from a place of privilege,' Bender replied. 'Because for those of us for whom the system is working, I think we need to step back and imagine what it would feel like to already live in that reality where calling the police may mean more harm is done,' she added. Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender says the governing body is 'committed to dismantling policing as we know it in the city of Minneapolis'. She is pictured during a broadcast interview where she defended the decision We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. By Elsie Leung The decision of the National People's Congress to draft a new security law to be imposed in Hong Kong, has sparked severe concerns around the globe. Many people fear that the new law could undermine the constitutional arrangement of one country, two systems and plunge the once-freewheeling city into turmoil and despair. As a result, Hong Kong, dubbed the pearl of the Orient, could lose its halo as a global financial hub. While the concerns are somewhat understandable, I would like to clarify a few key points relating to the HKSAR's national security issue. First of all, the People's Republic of China is a unitary country, and Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China (BL 1 & 12). It is a special administrative region directly under the central government which has complete authority over it. Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy is confined to those authorities delegated to it by NPC and set out in the Basic Law, and all other powers belong to the sovereign. Under such a constitutional order, Beijing is undoubtedly responsible for national security, which is beyond the scope of the Hong Kong SAR's authority. Sadly, many Hong Kongers have misunderstood this new constitutional order some of them willfully. Some people argue that the PRC has no power over Hong Kong at all, apart from defense and foreign affairs. It should be clarified herewith that the high degree of autonomy at the center of the constitutional question is not total autonomy. It is common sense that Hong Kong is not an independent sovereign state, as all of its power and autonomy was granted by the central government, which established the region on its return to China from Britain in 1997. Defense and foreign affairs are matters clearly within the sphere and scope of the central government, as stipulated unambiguously in the Basic Law. But Beijing's governing powers over Hong Kong are much more than that. Certain powers are reserved to the central government, particularly in matters of sovereignty. Some may argue that in bypassing Hong Kong's legislature, Beijing is setting a dangerous precedent of overriding HK's legal system. It my view, it is entirely in compliance with the Constitution and the Basic Law, and does not undermine one country two systems or Hong Kong's legal system. We all know that the Constitution is the supreme law and no law can contravene the Constitution. It applies to the whole territory. In other words, the Constitution is the foundational source and the authorizing vehicle for all laws promulgated by the NPC or its Standing Committee. The Basic Law is the specific law applicable to Hong Kong, and when there is a difference between the two, then the Basic Law applies. The decision to propose a new law is in accordance with Article 31 and Article 62 (2), (14) and (16) of the Constitution, and with Article 18 of Hong Kong's Basic Law. A further discussion on the concern: Will freedoms and autonomy be eroded under the new laws once enacted? Although the details of the law have not yet been disclosed, we know the scope of the law and the principles on which it will be drafted. I am fully confident that notwithstanding the enactment of the law, Hong Kong people's freedom of speech, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration will remain intact, as they are well protected by our robust rule of law and an independent judiciary. The parameters of the law were also set out in the decision on May 28. Some people may ask: Does Hong Kong really need a national security law? Every country needs legislation to protect its national security, and China is no exception. Any behavior or activity in the HKSAR that endangers national security affects China, and the need is clear for national security legislation to prevent, stop and punish it. The National Security Law of the PRC that was passed in 2015 does not apply to Hong Kong because of the differences in the two systems. It is therefore necessary for separate Nationality Security Legislation to be promulgated that is applicable to Hong Kong. Because National Security is outside the autonomy of the HKSAR and is certainly the responsibility of the central government, BL 23 entrusts Hong Kong with the responsibility to make legislation regarding certain acts that endanger national security. Unfortunately, Hong Kong has failed in the past 23 years to implement BL 23. Beijing's patience has gradually worn thin. In particular, the wanton acts of violence, instigated by a handful of opposition figures and radical elements colluding with foreign forces, have crossed China's bottom line. People around the globe had witnessed the rioters rampaging through HK's streets during the movement against the proposed extradition bill in 2019, which illustrates the urgency and necessity of introducing national security legislation. The worsening situation truly warrants the NPC's initiative to take into its own hands the promulgation of the law in accordance with BL 18. In making this decision, the NPC cited Articles 31 and 62(2)(14) & (16) of the Constitution as the source of its authority. These articles relate to the power to establish a special administrative region and to decide the systems applicable to it and the standing required to exercise such other functions and powers as the highest organ of state power should exercise. If making the decision is authorized by the Constitution and the Basic Law, how can this be bypassing the legislature? Hong Kong itself has failed to do it. The entrusting authority can certainly take measures to remedy such a default. Finally, many pundits claim that 50 years unchanged, as promised by Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiao Ping means that Hong Kong should remain as it was on June 30, 1997. My understanding is that 50 years unchanged means the basic policies of the Chinese mainland toward Hong Kong as set out in Annex 1 to the Sino British Joint Declaration shall not be changed, but the implementation of such policies may of course be changed, particularly when it allows for the beneficial development of Hong Kong. Imposition of a national law is actually turning a new chapter for sustainable, stable governance and prosperity in Hong Kong. Improving legislation and enforcement mechanisms in protecting national security are important for the return to law and order. Instead of ruining one country, two systems, the newly enacted law could help Hong Kong regain the full confidence and trust of its citizens, and ensure that the Basic Law being correctly implemented. (The author Elsie Leung is a Hong Kong politician and solicitor. The article is originally published on chinausfocus.com and does not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.) North Korea on Friday said that its goal is to build up a "more reliable" force against long-term military threats from the United States. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon made the remark as the two countries marked the second anniversary of the first-ever summit of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump, Yonhap News Agency reported Ri said that Pyongyang would "never again" provide the U.S. with "another package" that President could use to boast as his achievements. "The secure strategic goal of the DPRK is to build up more reliable force to cope with the long-term military threats from the U.S. This is our reply message to the U.S. on the occasion of the second anniversary of June 12," Ri said in an interview with the Korean Central News Agency. "What stands out is that the hope for improved DPRK-U.S. relations -- which was high in the air under the global spotlight two years ago -- has now been shifted into despair," he added. "Never again will we provide the U.S. chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns. Authorities in central California confirmed that the suspected gunman who shot a deputy and killed a second victim has died and that multiple officers had been injured during a shootout Thursday afternoon. Paso Robles police tweeted earlier that the suspect was down after cops closed in on him. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office later confirmed that the injured officers were from the California Highway Patrol, the Arroyo Grande Police Department and Kings County Sheriff's Office. The officers transported to local area hospitals are in good condition with non-life threatening injuries. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office posted on Twitter that there was only one suspect in the shooting and that no additional suspects were outstanding in the incident. An intense statewide manhunt had been underway since Wednesday for Mason James Lira, who allegedly ambushed a San Luis Obispo County deputy and was wanted in the homicide of a homeless man, CBS San Francisco reported. Authorities said Lira used a handgun to fire dozens of rounds at the Paso Robles Police Department early Wednesday. When police responded, he shot Nicolas Dreyfus, 28, in the side of the head. Dreyfus is now recovering in the hospital. Deputy Nicholas Dreyfus is in guarded condition. All of the Sheriffs Office has him, his wife, and his friends and family in our thoughts at this time. pic.twitter.com/uGEmZqSisd SLO County Sheriff (@SLOSheriff) June 11, 2020 Authorities locked down a 2-mile radius on the southern end of Paso Robles near the Salinas River on Thursday afternoon at around 2:10 p.m. as they closed in on Lira. The San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Office said it received a report of an officer shot in the area of Ramada Drive and Volpi Ysabel Road. Law enforcement officers were stationed in the area to prevent Lira from evading officers who were searching the riverbed. The wounded officer was transported to a local hospital for treatment, the office said. More officers arrived at the scene to search for Lira when he opened fire, wounding two more. Story continues Those two officers were also evacuated to area hospitals for treatment. Officers kept searching along the Salinas River until they found Lira hiding in the riverbed. He attempted to flee from the riverbed towards Highway 101 when he was shot. Lira was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the statement. Officers found him carrying two handguns that are believed to have been stolen from a commercial burglary in the City of San Luis Obispo a few days prior. San Luis Obispo Sheriff Ian Parkinson said he believes police brutality protests inspired Lira. "There's people that shouldn't be doing the job and that do bad things, but we're hoping that our people will heal from this and the community will heal from this," he said. In addition to Paso Robles police and San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's deputies, law enforcement from neighboring cities, the California Highway Patrol and the FBI also responded to Thursday's incident. mason-james-lira.jpg Mason James Lira San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office Trump addresses graduating cadets at West Point SpaceX rocket successfully carries new satellites into orbit DJ Henry death: Cell phone video shows scene after fatal 2010 shooting The Voice of America Armenian service spoke with Deborah Grieser, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Armenia Mission Director, about this missions programs and activities in Armenia. Grieser said she is impressed with the progress made by Armenia over the past two years in terms of democratic development. In the Nations in Transit report by the Freedom House, Armenia's respective indicators in the last two years have recorded the biggest progress in the history of this report, she stressed. According to Grieser, the funding of USAID Armenia programs had been declining since 2012, but the velvet revolution in the country has significantly changed the situation, and now the budget for this mission has grown by about 88 percent. As per Grieser, along with democracy development programs, the USAID is assisting in economic development programs in Armenia, and one of them is the tourism sector, which is experiencing significant growth in the country. Deborah Grieser, who is in the last year of her mission in Armenia, has traveled extensively in the country. She is confident that after the end of her mission in Armenia, she will miss the warm atmosphere in which she has been in recent years. Grieser added that she will miss everything about Armenia. KARACHI, Pakistan - The brutal killing of George Floyd by police in the United States has sent shock waves across the world, even reaching Pakistans southern Sindh province where a truck artist has painted a large mural of the slain African American on a wall of his home. The 40-year-old artist, Haider Ali, depicted Floyd surrounded by a colorful heart-shaped garland of flowers, with slogans such as #Black Lives Matter on one side and #justice and #equality on the other. This is a message of peace and love to all, Ali told The Associated Press on Friday, as he put the finishing touches on the mural. Its not from an individual, this message of love is from all of Pakistan. The mural stands out as a burst of colour on Alis porch wall in the southern port city of Karachi. On one side of the portrait, Ali painted candles burning in memory of Floyd and in the upper right-hand corner, an American and Pakistani flag next to one another. Floyd, a black man, gasped for breath in Minneapolis while being pressed under the knee of a white police officer for several minutes. His death sparked protests in the U.S. and elsewhere, challenging activists from all backgrounds to rise up against abuse of police power, racism and inequality. Ali, who said he was in tears when he watched the video of Floyds killing, makes his living as a truck artist in Sindh and often takes to the road, catching truckers in moments of rest, when they take a break and park their trucks at truck stops and on wide open fields by the roadside. Truck painting is popular in Pakistan and Ali said he plans to paint more pictures of Floyd on the back of trucks sometime soon. For now, he has been staying at home fearing he could be exposed to the new coronavirus if he mingles too much with the truckers. Karachi and the entire Sindh province have been badly affected by the virus. The province alone has reported over 46,800 cases of the virus so far, including 776 deaths from COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. In all of Pakistan, authorities have said there are more than 125,000 cases, and 2,463 deaths. Ali said he believes that Floyds killing is not a reflection of the American society as a whole but of the individuals who committed the horrific slaying. I did not know that there are still a few people in America who can be involved in this kind of brutality, he said. He said he has visited 40 states in the U.S., making the trip for the first time when he was 21. I never faced any discrimination because I am a Muslim or a Pakistani, he said of the trips. Being dark-skinned himself, Ali said he has been aware all his life of the many prejudices against people with dark skin in his own homeland. Racism is more dangerous than coronavirus, he said. Still, Ali says he dreams of a better world, which is why he chose to include the words of a popular Indian song that inspired him and write them in his language, Urdu, on Floyds mural: Hum kaalay hain toh kia hua, dilwale hain (So what if we are dark-skinned. We have got big hearts) and Goron ki na kaalon ki, dunya dil walon ki (This world doesnt belong to white or black people, it belongs to the ones with heart). He also has his own take on skin colour: Black people are like the sky. You will never be able to see the stars and moon if the sky is white, Ali said. You see shining stars and the moon only when there is a black sky. ___ Ahmed reported from Islamabad. A week of protests and dozens of comments to Flagstaff City Council have called for elected officials to make significant and drastic changes to police departments across the country and in Flagstaff. Protesters who are looking to bring their protests into the Flagstaff City Hall are now facing a new hurdle multimillion-dollar budgets are not built in a day. State law requires the city to have passed its budget for the 2021 fiscal year by the third week of July. Just last week, the Flagstaff City Council passed the budget in the first of two votes on the topic. The second and final vote is set to occur at 3 p.m. on June 16. During the rescheduled city council meeting on Thursday night, the city received about 150 public comments regarding calls for reduced police funding. Three city staff members read the comments aloud in shifts, with most comments in support of the department and opposing potential funding changes. While the police department's $25.6 million budget for 2021 makes up a fairly small portion of the citys total $450 million budget, it takes a significant amount of money from the citys most important and unrestricted fund. On Wednesday, in response to dozens of emails regarding police funding, the City of Flagstaff released a statement saying no decision has been made regarding changes in police funding so far and the topic is not yet on the city council agenda. City spokesperson Jessica Drum clarified that the council still could discuss the topic in the future, but it is not on the agenda so far. Protesters spent the days before the councils last meeting on the 2021 fiscal year budget on the city halls lawn reading through hundreds of pages of online police training manuals, reports and budget documents. Despite the potential challenges and the timeline, activists feel the moment is ripe for change. People across the country have protested for two weeks in response to the deaths of George Floyd and other people of color by police. Cities like Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Floyd was killed, are looking at abolishing their police departments entirely. Budget cycle Flagstaff city manager Greg Clifton has called the budget the most important policy document created by the city each year. Councilmembers often frame the budget within the context of city priorities, weighing the value of different proposals from fire departments to water services, parks and recreation to housing. Next years budget has passed the first round of voting. During that vote, all but one member supported the budget. Councilmember Jamie Whelan has repeatedly expressed concern that the citys budget has been drawn up in a way that ignores the current economic crisis. For the 2021 fiscal year, the police departments budget was raised by 1.8% from the current budget to about $25.6 million, making up a large amount of the citys unrestricted general fund. Councilmembers and staff can use the $81.6 million general fund on any department or purpose. Nearly every department gets at least some general fund money. This is different from other parts of the budget, where taxes and fees are designed with certain projects in mind. When it comes to the police department, nearly all of its $25.6 million budget comes from the general fund. In this way, while the police department makes up about 5% of the citys total 2021 budget, its portion is 31% of the general fund. The department has generally seen increases in funding as the city has recovered from the Great Recession. The largest increase to the departments budget occurred in 2019, when the council approved 3% merit-based pay increases for police to reduce the amount of turnover within the department. But in the five-year plan, as the city continues to see the effects of the COVID-19 economic downturn, the departments budget is expected to be cut as low as $18 million. But any accurate prediction during such uncertain times is hard to make, city staff has warned. Perspectives Deborah Harris, the president of the Southside Community Association, said that in her view, the issues black residents in Flagstaff and across the United States face every day are much larger than police departments. Although it is only in its early stages, Harris is helping to organize a group of black community members and develop a plan addressing and educating residents on issues faced by black residents. Harris said while there might be places for which funding needs to be shifted, she felt those pushing for the abolition of police departments were co-opting the larger conversation about the lived experience of black residents. How do we have a conversation about Black Lives Matter, and what exactly does that mean here in Flagstaff and for us here on this mountain in terms of African American people and their lived experience? Harris said. Were absolutely clear and we absolutely understand that all lives matter; however, the conversation needs to come back to black lives because they have been disproportionately at risk. Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans said she and her colleagues on the council had received about 60 emails both for and against reducing police funding as of Wednesday evening. Evans said she couldnt read the tea leaves as to what the discussion might look like next week but said if the majority of Council wants to reduce police funding, the city will do so before the deadline. But Evans said she would personally oppose such a change to the budget. I don't see merit in reducing police funding, as an individual, as one member of Council, Evans said. The fact of the matter is the budget that we will be discussing on Tuesday is reflective of the community resources we have at this time. I think Council spent a lot of time over the past few months on this budget and I am interested in moving forward with the budget as it is currently proposed. Evans added that she sees this moment as an opportunity to stop and listen to black residents of Flagstaff. Both Vice Mayor Adam Shimoni and Whelan said the current moment begs a longer and more involved conversation that goes beyond the current fiscal year 2021 budget. Whelan said she thought reallocation of funding from the police department to other departments may be something the city needs to do, but she wanted to see a longer conversation with as many voices heard as possible. Shimoni agreed. I think at the end of the day there are things that the cops are overseeing that they dont need to be overseeing, Shimoni said. If we can find a safe and quality alternative to just dispatching an officer to the scene where an officer might not be needed, I think it's a win-win across the board and I think we're going to have buy-in from all sides. The Flagstaff Police Department and Councilmember Charlie Odegaard did not respond to requests for comment by press time. Updated for correction at 9 a.m. on June 12. Love 6 Funny 7 Wow 4 Sad 0 Angry 20 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Kolkata-based girls' school halted online classes merely two weeks after adopting the method. The school was forced to take this step because a student shared the login link with a friend, who entered the online class with his elder brother. In another instance, a Bengaluru-based school suspended Zoom classes indefinitely last week after inappropriate images popped up. These instances are hardly isolated or even surprising. As such incidents increase, several schools are beginning to suspend online classes even as these institutions continue to be shut due to COVID-19 pandemic. While inability to resume classes is a concern, many parents and schools are worried about sensitive details being compromised by hackers. Privacy of children is India is a challenge. Schools going online COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show With no clarity on when the schools will be allowed to reopen, many schools adopted online classes model starting May 1. This meant that schools had to change their way of teaching overnight, from physical classrooms to online teaching. The obvious challenges around this transition, apart from such setting up infrastructure and teaching methods, are understanding privacy issues. India has close to 400,000 unaided private schools with close to 8 crore children enrolled, according to a 2016-17 study by Central Square Foundation. There are about 14 lakh government schools in India with close to 60 lakh students from Class 1 to 10, according to another report. Most schools, a cybersecurity expert pointed out, used Zoom, a video calling app, since it was free and easy to use. However, it did not take much time for problems to surface. Take for instance the case of the Kolkata-based school. A student shared her login details to a friend who was not part of the school. Deepali Roy, a parent of a 12 year-old-girl studying in the school, said that, "The external participants started clicking pictures of girl students and it proved to be an unsafe experience. In a Delhi-based school, a student was seen sharing adult Tiktok videos with his fellow students during school hours. His school has been forced to suspend classes for two weeks as a result. Also Read | Are online classes widening the digital divide in education? In Chennai, a petition was filed in the Madras High Court recently by a mother of two, wherein she claimed that her children were exposed to immoral content during online classes. Zoom is yet to respond to questions sent by Moneycontrol. The copy will be updated with the company's response once they send. How serious could this situation be? Pretty serious considering that it could impact children psychologically if sufficient steps were not taken. Swapna Pandey, a Noida-based child psychologist, told Moneycontrol that dangers of online schooling are very high in India, especially since the platforms used are not secure. "Young boys and girls could get mentally impacted if any untoward incident like hackers posting obscene content or their pictures/personal information being stolen. This could have long-term repercussions on the child's emotional well-being," she added. What is the solution? Most agree that doing away with online classes is not a solution, especially at a time when there is not much certainty around reopening of schools as the country is struggling to flatten the COVID-19 curve. One solution could be using more secure platforms and taking care of basic hygiene online would solve some of the issues. Pointing out issues related to Zoom, Pankit Desai, co-founder and CEO, Sequretek, a cybersecurity platform, pointed out that the issue with Zoom was that it became popular overnight, something even the company did not anticipate. This made the platform a target for hackers. Over the last two months, Desai pointed out that the company was able to fix issues and has released major security patches for vulnerabilities. Issues some of them are still facing like hacking into account could be because they are yet to download the new patch, he said. Kumar Ritesh, founder & CEO, Cyfirma, a cyber intelligence firm, said that lack of awareness itself is a part of the problem. He said that not all schools are aware of the security features available in the Zoom free version. Schools can make sure that each session has a new ID and password for each course while setting it up. Track this blog for latest updates on the coronavirus crisis Few others, however, seem to have taken a cautious call to use secure platforms. VIBGYOR Group of Schools spokesperson said that their schools have opted for Microsoft's Office 365 Suites and Microsoft teams for classes along with TCS iON for uploading assignments and worksheets. "In addition, we have created unique IDs for every student for the online classes by using Office365 IDs provided by their school. This provides a completely secured access for every student for the Online and Virtual Classes of VIBGYOR Group of schools," the spokesperson added. Enabling regulation However this addresses only part of the problem. The need of the hour right now is awareness in cyberspace and enabling legal infrastructure. Keshav R Murugesh, Group CEO, WNS Global Services, told Moneycontrol, during an earlier interaction that as young children venture into cyber space at the back of pandemic they need to be made aware of cyberspace etiquette to protect themselves from cyber bullying and other potential threats. Another option is to not expose children below a certain age and avoid putting them at risk unnecessarily. For instance, recently Karnataka government has proposed to ban online schooling for students till Class 7. According to Pavan Duggal, a senior advocate practicing cyberlaw in Supreme Court, there is a need for regulation that can protect children in cyberspace. India has a lot of work to do in this matter, especially post COVID-19 as now more children are accessing internet without the enabling infrastructure. It is high time we have a dedicated law to protect children from online content. Unless we have a holistic law, it will have a detrimental impact. For this, you need to understand the rights of the children in the online space and responsibilities each stakeholder will have including parents and intermediaries," he said. Follow our coverage of the coronavirus crisis By Giuseppe Fonte ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte was questioned by prosecutors on Friday about the country's response to its coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more than 34,000 people. The prosecutors from Bergamo, one of the northern cities hit hardest by the pandemic, are looking into why badly affected small towns around the city were not locked down earlier in the outbreak, when infections were rising fast. Conte, who was questioned as a witness for three hours in his office in Rome and is not under criminal investigation, later told reporters via his spokesman: "I wanted to explain every stage to the smallest detail." Prosecutors also questioned Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese and Health Minister Roberto Speranza. In interviews with several Italian newspapers on Friday, Conte said he would tell prosecutors everything he knew and was not worried by the possibility he could be personally investigated. If that did happen, it would be likely to weaken an already fractious coalition government and add fuel to already frequent speculation that Conte may be pushed out despite his high personal approval ratings in opinion polls. Prosecutor Maria Cristina Rota said the meeting had taken place "in an atmosphere of great calm and institutional collaboration". The region of Lombardy, which includes Bergamo, was the original epicentre of Italy's virus outbreak and has remained by far the worst hit of its 20 regions, accounting for about half of its total deaths and most new infections. The decision not to isolate Bergamo and the surrounding towns has been one of the most contentious episodes, with the central government and Lombardy's regional authorities each saying the other was responsible. In Lombardy, which is led by the right-wing opposition League party, the Bergamo prosecutors have already interrogated the regional president and health chief. League leader Matteo Salvini was quick to seek political capital from Conte's interrogation, tweeting that it was Rome's decision not to set up a so-called "red zone" to seal off Bergamo and enforce it with the army and police. Story continues "Now we expect that Conte will at least apologise to the relatives and the friends of too many Bergamo citizens who have died," he tweeted. COVID-19 death rates and infections have subsided in Italy in recent weeks, but anger is still running high among residents of the towns and cities at the centre of the epidemic. A group representing relatives of those who died in Bergamo asked prosecutors on Wednesday to investigate possible criminal responsibility in allowing contagion to run riot. (Writing by Gavin Jones; Editing by Hugh Lawson) "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." When I took the citizenship exam at 18, my parents and I having emigrated from Canada to Los Angeles when I was 12, one of the questions I was asked was the origin of that quote. I correctly answered that it was in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence. And then came May 25, 2020, a Memorial Day that will be etched in our national psyche, the day that George Floyd, an African American, bound and helpless and gasping "I can't breathe," lay dying in the street in broad daylight as a police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Doesn't say much for Mr. Floyd's unalienable rights, does it? And we only know about him because of the horrifying video taken by a bystander. Recently a dear friend sent me a jubilant email to tell me that her only son, whom I've known since he was barely tall enough to wrap his arms around my waist in a hug, would be presenting her with her first grandchild early next year. Since her son is biracial, I can only pray that if the child is male, he will grow up in a society where his dad will never need to have "the talk" with him. The time for change and for everyone's unalienable rights to be acknowledged and respected is long overdue. Remember 1965? How about 1968? Then there was 1992. And now 2020. And then there were all the brutal incidents in between, the vast majority of which never came to light in the pre-cellphone era. As I watch the marches and interviews on TV, "Harlem," a poem written by Langston Hughes in 1951, runs through my mind: What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? As timely today as when it was published 69 years ago, it describes the limitations of the American dream for African Americans. Systemic racism is a cancer that I believe is still treatable. While I have no scientific credentials when it comes to cancer, I've picked up some knowledge as a volunteer and 29-year survivor of this disease, so here's my quick intro to its four stages. Stage 1 usually means the growth is fairly small and contained where it started. Stage 2 usually means the tumor is larger but hasn't yet spread into the surrounding tissues. Stage 3 usually means the cancer is larger, may have started to spread into surrounding tissues, and there are cancer cells in the nearby lymph nodes. Stage 4 means the cancer has metastasized and spread from where it started to other parts of the body. I'd say we're approaching Stage 4, and an intensive treatment protocol is in order, STAT. The disease of racism needs to be eradicated, and that message is being delivered daily through the crowds we see on television, peacefully and passionately protesting across the country. And those crowds are diverse, which heartens me and gives me hope that we have reached a NEVER AGAIN moment. "Never again" is a phrase that has profound personal meaning for me as it is associated with the Holocaust, a horrific period in which I lost a great many family members for whom I continue to grieve. That grieving includes George Floyd, with whom I am connected as are we all as members of the human family. Early in this article I mentioned that I came to this country when I was 12. That was in 1951, the same year a landmark case called Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka originated when the public school district in Topeka, Kansas refused to enroll the daughter of local black resident, Oliver Brown, at the school closest to the child's home, causing her to take a bus to a segregated black elementary school farther away. The case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court and captured my attention in 1954, before a decision was handed down. I was 15 and furious at what I saw to be a great inequity in the Board of Education's argument that racial segregation was not in itself a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause if the facilities in question were otherwise equal, a doctrine that had come to be known as "separate but equal." I fired off a carefully typed multi-page letter to "Chief Justice, Supreme Court, Washington, DC" in which my opening sentence ran something like this: "Although I'm only a schoolgirl, common sense alone tells me that 'separate but equal' is inherently a false premise." I never received a response but I know the letter got there as it was never returned to me. And on May 17, 1954 the Supreme Court handed down its unanimous decision that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." You can imagine my elation. Now here I am, 66 years later, again with my sad and angry fingers on the keys. Wrong is wrong. Racism is wrong. I knew it then and I know it now. Thankfully, so do throngs of protesters of all races and creeds who refuse to be silent in the face of injustice. Wanting the perspective of a black member of the community, I reached out to my neighbor, Pastor Michael Barrett, a husband, father, author, filmmaker and fellow Culver City resident about whom I had written in 2017 (https://www.culvercityobserver.com/story/2017/07/06/news/praying-lemons-into-lemonade/6773.html). He graciously consented to be interviewed and began with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr .: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." "The killing of George Floyd has sparked a social movement in the heart of America that echoes the sound of Black Lives Matter throughout the world," Pastor Barrett continued. "While the cries of numerous killings of unarmed African Americans during slavery, the civil rights era and up to the death of Ahmaud Arbery may have missed their opportunity for justice, the court is now back in session. Today marks a paused moment in our history where the blind eyes of injustice can be opened and the America bell of liberty can ring forth its true tune of freedom." He shared that "it is beyond my gated community that I find the greatest need. In June 2019 my wife sang as I gave a eulogy at the funeral of Ryan Twyman, who was murdered by LA County Sheriffs three days after his 24th birthday. Sheriff's deputies shot nearly 40 rounds into his vehicle, opening fire with an assault rifle after their sidearms emptied into his girlfriend's car as he sat there unarmed. His family is still pleading for justice. In my continued support for the family, I prayed at his gravesite June 3, 2020 one year later on what would have been his 25th birthday. Like George Floyd, Ryan was a father and he didn't deserve to die." Pastor Barrett discussed his participation in the protests. "With the continuing police brutality of unarmed African American men and women, my voice has joined the many voices in the world who believe 'enough is enough,'" he said. "Instead of talking about change, people have been taking their voices to the streets and drawing attention to the injustices of lethal force tactics within the police force, the need for criminal reform in the justice system, and the lack of job opportunities in inner city communities. The days of turning the other cheek and having dogs and water hoses released on black people have been put before a jury, and this time the jury of peers is the American people who see beyond color and want justice." He was part of the protest on June 2nd when "black, white, Latino and Asian church leaders marched hand-in-hand with old and young residents of California, including community activists and students, to LAPD headquarters in a sign of unity with the community after several days of unrest across the nation and a day after peaceful protesters and clergy members were tear-gassed outside the White House. As the blood of George Floyd cries out from the ground, the protests will continue until justice is served." He ended on a hopeful note. "As we marched onto the streets of downtown to the Los Angeles Police Department, I felt the heartbeat of the crowd as they chanted 'no justice, no peace,'" he said. "The face of the crowd was the face of an America without its ugliness of racism, injustice and hatred." It looks as if the message is getting through in Culver City, as I was pleased to see this post on the CCPD website: "The Culver City Police Department shares in the public's disappointment and outrage regarding the disturbing circumstances surrounding the death of George Floyd. As a professional law enforcement organization, public partnerships and building trust with our community is at the foundation of everything we do. The women and men of the CCPD continually strive to not only provide the highest level of public safety to our community, but to do so in a manner that is compassionate, professional, and is reflective of the diverse community we serve. Any lack of compassion or abuse of authority doesn't just tarnish our badge; it tears at the very fabric of law enforcement and community relations. "Although this tragic incident occurred in a different part of our country, the CCPD understands and is sensitive to the fact that incidents like this can have a profound impact on all of our communities. CCPD would like to reassure all the members of our community that we will continue to hold all our members to the highest standards of accountability and transparency as we strive each day to foster and preserve the trust and relationship between our Department and the community we serve." In this year of 2020 we especially need 20/20 clarity and vision because we're simultaneously experiencing not only a medical pandemic but a social pandemic as well. Brave folks like Pastor Barrett who are peacefully demonstrating and making themselves heard are what I consider first responders for justice, putting themselves out there for a cause that is truly a matter of life and death, as shown in the video of George Floyd's last breaths. My hope is that we come away from this experience with not only empathy, compassion and wisdom but also with the ability gained through representation on federal, state and local levels to create the changes needed in order for EVERYONE'S unalienable rights to flourish. And talking about rights, PLEASE BE SURE TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE. If you're not registered, go to https://registertovote.ca.gov/. As Abraham Lincoln said, "Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters." Turkey fiercely criticised Twitter on Friday for suspending more than 7,000 accounts that supported President Tayyip Erdogan, saying the company was smearing the government and trying to redesign Turkish politics. Twitter said it was taking down 7,340 accounts from a network detected early in 2020 that it said was being used to amplify political narratives favourable to Erdogan's AK Party. "(This) has demonstrated yet again that Twitter is no mere social media company, but a propaganda machine with certain political and ideological inclinations," said presidency communications director Fahrettin Altun. In a written statement, he added that allegations these were "fake" profiles designed to support the president and were managed by a central authority were untrue. He also said documents cited to support Twitter's decision were unscientific, biased and politically motivated, and that it was scandalous to cite a report by individuals "peddling their ideological views". Those remarks appeared to refer to a report by the Stanford Internet Observatory, with which Twitter shared its information, that said the network posted some 37 million tweets, promoting the AKP and criticising Turkey's main opposition parties. "We would like to remind the company (Twitter) of the eventual fate of a number of organisations which attempted to take similar steps in the past," Altun said. In the past, Turkey has blocked access to online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, YouTube and Twitter. Yaman Akdeniz, cyber rights expert and professor at Istanbul Bilgi University, said the accounts removed by Twitter were only "the tip of the iceberg" of other questionable activity. "This looks like a bout network that I think is not very active," he said, suggesting further investigation was needed. "But it makes it official that bots are used in Turkey for political purposes." On Thursday, Twitter also said it removed more than 170,000 accounts tied to a Beijing-backed influence operation. Search Keywords: Short link: Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 14:08:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People wearing face masks are seen in a street in Havana, Cuba, June 12, 2020. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Thursday that the country will start a phased post-COVID-19 recovery plan in the coming weeks. "Production and social activities will return to normal in a gradual, staged, and asymmetrical way," he said during a special program on state TV Cubavision. "We have to maintain sanitary measures in all public spaces." (Xinhua/Zhu Wanjun) by Yosley Carrero HAVANA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Thursday that the country will start a phased post-COVID-19 recovery plan in the coming weeks. "Production and social activities will return to normal in a gradual, staged, and asymmetrical way," he said during a special program on state TV Cubavision. "We have to maintain sanitary measures in all public spaces." Diaz-Canel also said the Cuban government is making efforts to avoid a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak on the island between September and November as predicted by experts. It comes after the nationwide tally of daily increased COVID-19 cases dropped from a peak of nearly 70 in early May to an average of fewer than 10 over the past few weeks. "Restrictions on entering and leaving the country remain effective during the first and second phases of the plan as well as suspension of commercial flights," Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said on the same occasion on TV Thursday. The Caribbean country's tourism industry will open hotel facilities for Cubans and subsequently, international tourists will be only allowed to enter resorts in the northern and southern keys of the island nation, Marrero added. "Passengers will be subjected to temperature checks and PCR tests when arriving at Cuban airports as well as epidemiological monitoring to be carried out by a medical team at touristic centers and hotels," he said. Cuba will resume public transportation in metropolitan and rural areas, mainly to support essential services across the country's 168 municipalities. And schools are due to reopen in September. According to the Caribbean island's post-COVID-19 recovery plan, Cubans will go back to the country's beaches, swimming pools, camping sites, and gyms, albeit social distancing measures will be adopted in keeping with COVID-19 health protocols. Local authorities urged citizens to maintain sanitary and disinfecting procedures at workplaces, adding that people reporting symptoms of respiratory diseases will not be permitted to work. Keeping physical distance and wearing face masks will be compulsory at outdoor and public activities during the implementation of the first phase of the plan, which will be relaxed in at the second stage, the Cuban government said. Meanwhile, Cuban Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Alejandro Gil said on the same occasion Thursday that the island is facing a complex economic situation due to the coronavirus pandemic. "The most effective way to protect the economy is protecting people's health," he said. "National food production is the first priority at the moment." As Cuba's capital Havana stands as the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic on the island, 13 provinces have remained virus-free during the past two weeks. On March 11, Cuba reported three Italian tourists visiting the city of Trinidad, located some 350 km away from Havana, as the country's first confirmed COVID-19 cases. So far, the island nation has registered 84 deaths from the deadly virus as confirmed cases on Thursday topped 2,229. The United States has surpassed 2 million coronavirus cases, even as states forge ahead with reopening their economies and demonstrators gather en masse to protest police brutality and racial inequality. It took the U.S. nearly three months to officially hit 1 million confirmed cases on April 28, but just six weeks to double it. Reporting of Covid-19 cases got off to a slow start amid the Trump administrations delays in rolling out widespread testing capacity. Testing has now ramped up significantly, from nearly 6 million conducted in late April to over 21 million as of this week. But there are also signs of increased spread, as numerous states have started to see a spike in cases. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/11/us-coronavirus-cases-surpass-2m-312718 TRENTON Richard Kulak was cleared. The man who accused the former Lawrence Police officer and firearms salesman of brandishing a weapon during a road-rage incident in Trenton over Memorial Day weekend no-showed scheduled police interviews. He has since signed a non-prosecution form agreeing that he doesnt want to pursue aggravated assault charges against Kulak, Trenton Police Lt. Jason Kmiec said. Trenton Police closed the investigation into the crime, and Kulak was reinstated to his civilian post with the township, according to Lawrence Police Chief Brian Caloiaro. Kulaks attorney did not immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment. As for the more sensational aspects of the Kulak story, the township said it had no records about an incident involving pizzeria owner Frank Candela and Kulak from the 1990s. Everyone agrees Kulak and Candela were together in a vehicle together in the 1990s, but the parties differed on when it happened and the reasons Kulak, then a cop, was fraternizing with a convicted cocaine dealer who says he reformed his life. Sources contended the car stop was closer to the time of Kulaks resignation. while Raymond Staub, Kulaks attorney, previously told The Trentonian that his client resigned from the police force in 1999, or three years after the stop. I know about the incident youre speaking with, but it had nothing to do with any incident with Mr. [Frank] Candela, Staub said. It wasnt a resignation in lieu of forfeiture of job or in lieu of discipline, or anything like that. Internal records obtained by this newspaper suggested Kulak resigned in May 1999 to run a restaurant. The Trentonian sought records to solve the mystery, but came to a dead end. There are no responsive records in either the Police Department or the Office of the Municipal Court, the township said in response to the newspapers public records request for records about the Candela stop. The township cleared up Kulaks dates of employment: April 4, 1994 to May 14, 1999. Township records filled out by Kulak suggested he worked as a patrolman for Lawrence Police from April 1993 until December 1999 at an annual salary of $70,000. Sources provided a screenshot of an internal employee database kept by Lawrence Police that conflicted with those dates, suggesting Kulak was a cop from April 1994 to May 8, 1999. The database showed Kulak resigned to run a restaurant, but some township insiders claimed a connection between Kulaks resignation and the incident with the beloved restaurateur Candela. Kulak was re-hired by the township in 2017 as a civilian municipal court attendant at more than $22 an hour, records show. He currently works as a brush code enforcement officer and a part-time civilian employee handling gun permits and administrative tasks for Lawrence Police. Hes also a licensed firearms dealer and runs the internet-sales Kulak Arms out of his township home on Lawrenceville Road. In November 2016, he applied for a variance to operate the business out of his residence. Insiders suggested Kulaks return to the township payroll was a patronage hire because of his ties to township manager Kevin Nerwinski. For years, Kulak cut Nerwinskis grass. Nerwinski acknowledged that Kulak has done his landscaping for years but insisted that he always compensated Kulak for the work. During an email exchange, the township manager strongly rebuffed the insinuation of an underhanded agreement or that he exerted influence to get Kulak re-hired in Lawrence. He bashed jilted cops upset over the township fighting a whistleblower lawsuit for the alleged smear campaign. After The Trentonian published the story about Kulak being a suspect, Nerwinski went on the offensive on his blog. On the front page of the Trentonian newspaper today there was an extremely odd and poorly written article that was intended solely to disparage the reputation of Richard Kulak, myself and Frank Candela, he wrote. It was a misguided attempt to advance personal interests. It is articles like the one in the paper today that work to destroy my faith in others, and question why I bother to do this job. Richard Kulak and Frankie Candela are, in my opinion, the definition of collateral damage in a continuing fight between the Township (whichever Municipal Manager is in the position at the time) and a group of misguided and unethical police officers hell bent on destroying anyone or anything that they believe stands in the way of whatever it is they think they deserve. Not to be too dramatic, but my heart genuinely aches today for Rich, his wife and child, and his parents. And for Frankie who has worked so hard to turn his life around, mentor others who struggle with addictions, and is an asset to our community (despite his poor jokes that he often tells while we eat at his restaurantsorry Frank). An MP has launched a petition calling for Newton Rigg College to be saved from closure amid concerns the move would deal a 'hammer blow' to Cumbria. Askham Bryan Colleges Newton Rigg Campus has been earmarked for closure in July 2021 after an independent review found the site was not financially viable. The review said recruitment had been a major issue due to the low population density of rural Cumbria, and future low demographic growth of 16 to 18-year-olds. It added that Newton Rigg also operated a deficit of around 1 million and lacked a sustainable business model due to declining student numbers. But the University and College Union (UCU) warned that the proposals would cost 117 jobs and leave the region without agricultural education. Now local Conservative MP Neil Hudson has launched a petition calling for Askham Bryan to secure the future of the site. "I am deeply concerned about the situation regarding Newton Rigg," the Penrith and the Border MP said. "It is disappointing news that Askham Bryan has requested the Further Education Commissioner to undertake a formal Local Provision Needs Analysis." He said Newton Rigg provided 'fantastic training' in a variety of areas that developed the skills needed by people working in the rural economy. "Not only does Newton Rigg serve the agricultural and land based needs of Cumbria, it is also a further education establishment, supporting the Eden Valley," Mr Hudson said. "Please show your support for the college, its staff and students by signing this online petition. Penrith needs Newton Rigg. Cumbria needs Newton Rigg. "The UK rural economy needs Newton Rigg. Lets show them how much we care." Page Content On June 9, 2020, a story under the title, When Women Lead, The Virus Loses, What do Taiwan, New Zealand, Iceland, Finland, Germany, and Kerala have in common? Low COVID-19 death rates and women in charge. The story written by C.Y. Gopinath, featured Sint Maartens Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and her performance during the COVID-19 pandemic when she hit the ground running in closing the country down to prevent a serious impact of the coronavirus on the country back in March 2020. The publication is considered Indias most engaging local newspaper, MiD-DAY. It covers local news, career guidance, dream homes, and looks at what is on in the city or best of Bollywood gossip, MiD-DAYs sections also offer readers staple news and amusers like comics and crosswords. The company also has an established presence in the multimedia space, with its web version, www.mid-day.com with presently over 23 million-page views per month as well as MiD-DAY news feeds on cell phones. The story also includes Sint Maarten up there with six other countries, namely, Taiwan, New Zealand, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Germany that acted swiftly and decisively in taking action which resulted in keeping their death rates down. The story makes reference to the fact that all six countries are led by women: Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-Wen; New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Arden; Iceland's Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir; Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin, only 34; Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg; and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel. PHOTO CUTLINE: Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs MiD-DAY.com is a publication out of Mumbai, India, that is a part of Jagran Prakashan Ltd (JPL) described as India's leading media and communications group with its interests spanning across Print, Mobile and Online that covers all of India as its footprint and is arguably amongst one of the largest media conglomerates in India. FILE PHOTO: Logos of ExxonMobil are seen in its booth at Gastech, the world's biggest expo for the gas industry, in Chiba HOUSTON (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp is considering slipping the completion of an expansion of its Beaumont, Texas, refinery by up to a year into 2023 because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oil demand, said sources familiar with the companys plans. "Exxon Mobil is evaluating all appropriate steps to significantly reduce capital and operating expenses in the near term as a result of market conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and commodity price decreases," Exxon spokesman Jeremy Eikenberry said on Friday. Eikenberry declined to comment on the Beaumont refinery expansion project, which will add a 250,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) crude distillation unit (CDU), boosting the refinery's capacity to 619,000 bpd. Exxon said in April that it would slow spending on its $20 billion Growing the Gulf Initiative, to expand downstream manufacturing in Texas and Louisiana, including the Beaumont refinery expansion. The new CDU would make the Beaumont refinery the largest in the United States, surpassing the 607,000-bpd Motiva Enterprises Port Arthur, Texas, refinery by 12,000 bpd if the Motiva plant does not expand before the Exxon Beaumont project is completed. The expansion, when formally announced in January 2019, was planned to take advantage of new crude supplies from Exxon's newly developed oil fields in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico. In April, Exxon announced it would also slow spending in development of the Permian. Exxon began preparing the site of the new CDU in 2018, before the final decision to build the unit was made. The CDU is being built in modules that will be assembled at the Beaumont refinery, the sources said. CDUs do the initial breakdown of crude oil into hydrocarbon feedstocks for all other production units in the refinery, as well as producing unfinished motor fuels. (Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jonathan Oatis) President Donald Trump warned against 'falsely labeling tens of millions of decent Americans as racists or bigots' during a roundtable discussing 'justice disparities'. The event at Gateway Church in Dallas, Texas on Thursday evening saw the president gather with police union officials and allies from the African American community, including a member of Black Voices for Trump. 'We have to work together to confront bigotry and prejudice wherever they appear,' Trump said. Donald Trump hosts a roundtable with faith leaders, law enforcement officials, and small business owners at Gateway Church Dallas Campus in Dallas, Texas, on June 11 'But we'll make no progress and heal no wounds by falsely labeling tens of millions of decent Americans as racists or bigots.' The president said the nation also needs to bolster its efforts to confront its long-simmering racial relations problems by focusing on inequality, redoubling on his contention that solving economic issues is the fastest way to healing racial wounds. It comes as the country continues to rally against police brutality following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer last month. President Trump said during the discussion he would pursue an executive order to encourage police departments to meet 'current professional standards for the use of force,' while accusing Democrats of broadly branding police as the problem. He also defended his calls on governors and mayors to aggressively quell violent protests that erupted across the country after the death of George Floyd, boasting, 'We're dominating the street with compassion.' The president said the nation also needs to bolster its efforts to confront its long-simmering racial relations problems by focusing on inequality, redoubling on his contention that solving economic issues is the fastest way to healing racial wounds Trump offered few details about the yet-to-be-formalized order during the discussion on race relations and policing. The call for establishing a national use-of-force standard amounted to his first concrete proposal for police reform in response to the national outcry following Floyd's death in a violent encounter with Minneapolis police. The president also acknowledged that law enforcement may have some 'bad apples,' but he said it is unfair to broadly paint police officers as bigots. He said his administration would aggressively pursue economic development in minority communities, confront health care disparities by investing 'substantial sums' in minority-serving medical institutions, and improve school choice options. Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall, Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown and Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot did not receive invitations to the event, according to their offices. Mayor Eric Johnson was invited but did not attend because of prior commitments, according to an aide. A senior administration official who briefed reporters ahead of Trump's trip noted other law enforcement officials were in attendance but did not directly respond to a question about why the three officials weren't invited. Democrats on Capitol Hill have unveiled sweeping police reform legislation, including provisions to ban choke holds and limit legal protections for police. Congressional Republicans say they are also open to some reforms, including a national registry of use-of-force incidents so police officers cannot transfer between departments without public awareness of their records. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and senior adviser Jared Kushner have been discussing possible packages with GOP lawmakers, but it's unclear what the president himself would be willing to accept. Trump, for his part, lashed at some in the Democratic party who have called for 'defunding the police,' a broad call to reframe thinking about how communities should approach public safety. 'Unfortunately there's some trying to stoke division and to push an extreme agenda, which we won't go for, that will produce only more poverty, more crime, more suffering,' Trump said. Protesters hold placards near Gateway Church Dallas Campus as Trump arrives for a roundtable Glenn Heights, Texas, Police Chief Vernell Dooley urged Trump to increase resources to provide police with more training. 'We need training,' Dooley said. 'This is not the time to defund police departments.' Attorney General William Barr, who accompanied Trump to the event, backed up the president's emphasis on law and order. Barr said what happened to Floyd shouldn't obscure the fact that police offers are decent people 'who put their lives on the line for us.' 'We can't let this event obscure the fact that the real oppression and danger to our communities comes more from violent crime and lawlessness than it does from the police,' Barr said. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, dismissed Trump's Dallas visit in advance as a 'photo op' and charged that the president has 'run away from a meaningful conversation on systemic racism and police brutality.' Trump, whose campaign effort has been largely sidelined by the coronavirus, also held a high-dollar fundraiser during his visit to Dallas. The intimate event for about 25 supporters was expected to raise $10 million to be split between his campaign, the Republican National Committee and 22 state parties, according to a GOP official. In the early hours of June 2, amid violent riots in St. Louis, looters gunned down David Dorn, a retired African-American police captain who had responded to an alarm at his friends pawnshop. His last moments of service were captured on a passerbys Facebook feed. In the days since, many on the left have defended destruction and rioting as a form of protest. Destroying property, which can be replaced, is not violence, one New York Times writer averred in a TV interview. And now many left-wing activists, cheered on by the media, are ready to do away with law enforcement altogether, campaigning to Defund the Police. This radical agenda amounts to an assault on American life as we know it. And David Dorns tragic death is a stark reminder that the costs of this radicalism will be borne not by the many elites who advocate it but by the working class of all races both those who are most vulnerable to crime and those who staff our police forces and protect our neighborhoods. The truth is, American elites dont fear violent crime because, increasingly, they dont encounter it. Those below the poverty line are more than twice as likely to be the victims of violent crime as those with high incomes. Rather than make high-crime neighborhoods safe and habitable for the people who live there, urban elites demolish them and put up luxury high-rises for the upper class. And from the safety of a luxury loft, policing becomes an abstract concept. But ask a poor senior whose pharmacy was burned whether she thinks violent rioters should be left unaccountable. Ask an immigrant small-business owner whose store was looted whether the protection of the police matters. Or ask the victims of violent crime who cant afford the private security of the wealthy. The FBI reports that African Americans suffer over half of all homicides tracked by that agency. Like all Americans, they depend on the police to keep them safe. And policing works. As the liberal news site Vox noted last year, in a survey of studies on the subject, The research is clear: More cops = less crime. Thats why one Democratic pollster found that the vast majority of African Americans and Latinos more than 60 percent of each favor increasing the number of police officers, not abolishing them. Story continues In reality, Americans of all walks of life reject the lefts anti-American, anti-police narrative. Most Americans simply do not believe that America is, as the New York Times 1619 Project argues, a fundamentally racist and therefore evil nation. And most Americans see what I saw as the chief law enforcer of the state of Missouri: that police work is vital work, honorable work, and noble. The men and women who sign up for it most from working-class homes are among the best of Americans. Law enforcement has its share of corruption, no doubt, but the police are not the foot soldiers of modern-day oppression. They are the thin blue line whose service and sacrifice makes life in a free republic possible. But if Americans dont support the Lefts agenda, that doesnt mean we can afford to ignore it. This week, House Democrats introduced a bill that would federalize the 18,000 law-enforcement agencies in this country and kneecap our officers ability to protect the most vulnerable. In a Biden administration, this agenda would no doubt be a first-hundred-days priority. That means more cooking the books on crime by corrupt politicians to suppress crime statistics. It means abandoning the central duty of justice, the protection of the innocent. It means leaving the working people of our country to fend for themselves in the name of what the woke Left calls social justice. Our founding Declaration asserts that all men are created equal. We have struggled to live up to that creed, and fallen short, and gotten back up to struggle again. But it is our struggle, all of us together. The work of achieving a more perfect union is, for Americans, a shared labor of shared love. Thats the story of America. And it is one worth defending. More from National Review Piraeus, Greece, June 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GasLog Ltd. ("GasLog") (GLOG) and GasLog Partners LP ("GasLog Partners" or the "Partnership") (GLOP) announced today that their 2019 Sustainability Reports are available for download and can be accessed from their respective websites using the links provided below. Paul Wogan, Chief Executive Officer of GasLog, stated Producing our first Sustainability Report has allowed us to focus on where we are in terms of our environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. We proudly demonstrate in this inaugural report how we have already embedded many ESG elements into our controls and processes and how we will ensure that our ESG standards are aligned to achieve excellence for the benefit of all our stakeholders. We have also set a clear roadmap for further enhancements to allow us to continue to deliver LNG, a cleaner alternative energy source to coal and other hydrocarbons, for our customers in a responsible and sustainable manner. Andy Orekar, Chief Executive Officer of GasLog Partners, stated Although we rely on our general partner, GasLog, for the management and operation of our ships, in this report our stakeholders will see the Partnership has its own clear vison and commitment from its Board of Directors to a sustainability strategy. High levels of environmental, social and governance standards are embedded in the GasLog Partners culture and led from the Board by example. We believe this report transparently demonstrates our current position and shows a vision for the way ahead. GasLog Ltd. 2019 Sustainability Report: www.gaslogltd.com/how-we-do-it/sustainability GasLog Partners LP 2019 Sustainability Report: www.gaslogmlp.com/investors/sustainability Contacts: Joseph Nelson Head of Investor Relations Phone: +1 212-223-0643 Email: ir@gaslogltd.com About GasLog GasLog is an international owner, operator and manager of LNG carriers providing support to international energy companies as part of their LNG logistics chain. GasLogs consolidated fleet consists of 35 LNG carriers. Of these vessels, 19 (14 on the water and five on order) are owned by GasLog, one has been sold to a subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and leased back to GasLog under a long-term bareboat charter and the remaining 15 LNG carriers are owned by the Companys subsidiary, GasLog Partners. GasLogs principal executive offices are at 69 Akti Miaouli, 18537 Piraeus, Greece. Visit GasLogs website at http://www.gaslogltd.com. Story continues About GasLog Partners GasLog Partners is a growth-oriented master limited partnership focused on owning, operating and acquiring LNG carriers under multi-year charters. GasLog Partners fleet consists of 15 LNG carriers with an average carrying capacity of approximately 158,000 cbm. GasLog Partners principal executive offices are located at 69 Akti Miaouli, 18537 Piraeus, Greece. Visit GasLog Partners website at http://www.gaslogmlp.com. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 22:48:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WARSAW, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and his Lithuanian counterpart Saulius Skvernelis on Friday morning officially reopened the border between the two countries. At the Budzisko-Kalvarija crossing in northeastern Poland, the two prime ministers announced the reopening of the border. The Polish borders with remaining EU countries will be opened on Saturday, according to the Polish Press Agency (PAP). Addressing a joint press conference, Morawiecki thanked Skvernelis for consultations and talks in recent months and expressed confidence that both countries will continue their good economic, commercial and cultural cooperation. He praised cooperation with Vilnius in key areas, including the new EU budget and joint infrastructural projects. Skvernelis said that the reopening of the Polish-Lithuanian border several hours before the opening of Poland's remaining borders carries a symbolic sign of partnership binding the two countries. "The traffic which we see behind our backs shows that our businesses, our countries are cooperating, that the citizens of our countries are in contact and life is actively going on," said Skvernelis. Enditem Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Bassem Aboualabass (Agence France-Presse) Cairo Fri, June 12, 2020 18:05 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde4efff 2 Science & Tech TikTok,Egypt,influencer Free Young Egyptian women with thousands of followers each on the popular TikTok app have become the latest target of state authorities who accuse them of spreading "immorality" in society. Since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came to power in 2014, hundreds of journalists, activists, lawyers and intellectuals have been arrested and many websites blocked in the name of state security. But in recent months a popular group of female social media "influencers" has also drawn the ire of the government, and several have been arrested in a crackdown cheered by many in the deeply conservative country. University student Haneen Hossam in April posted a three-minute video clip telling her more than 1.3 million followers that girls on the social media platform could make money working with her. "You will get to know new people and form friendships in a respectful manner ... but please keep it clean," she said, smiling cheekily from under a red veil. "The most important thing for me is my reputation," she stressed, adding that participants who collaborate with her, depending on the number of clicks, could earn thousands of dollars. Following allegations from online users that she was promoting prostitution, Egyptian police arrested Hossam on April 21. 'Iron fist' In May, another influencer was arrested, Mowada al-Adham, who rose to fame posting satirical clips on TikTok and Instagram, where she has two million followers. The prosecutor-general said both women were charged with "attacking the family values of Egyptian society" through their inflammatory posts. A court ordered Hossam's release on bail this week, but a statement by the prosecutor-general on Thursday said she had been re-arrested "after new evidence was brought against her". "The prosecutor-general decided to refer the two accused... and three others to a criminal trial, while continuing their custody," the statement said. The young women drew a storm of sexist and hateful comments online. "This is excellent," wrote one user about the arrests, arguing that Egyptian justice must safeguard "the morals of the Egyptian street and society... It needs to do it with an iron fist." An even more shocking case followed later in May. A sobbing Menna Abdel-Aziz, 17, her face battered and bruised, posted a TikTok video in which she said she had been gang raped by a group of young men. The authorities' response was swift: she was arrested, along with her six alleged attackers, and all were charged with "promoting debauchery". "She committed crimes, she admitted to some of them," the prosecutor-general said in a statement. "She deserves to be punished." The non-government Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights called for her immediate release, the dropping of all charges and for the teenage girl to be "treated as a rape victim and survivor". Only this Tuesday did prosecutors announce that she had been transferred from custody to a rehabilitation centre for female victims of abuse and violence. Read also: Egypt cleans up for return of tourists 'Tech revolution' Human rights lawyer Tarek al-Awadi said the recent arrests show how a deeply conservative and religious society is wrestling with the rapid rise of modern communications technology. Internet penetration has reached over 40 percent of Egypt's youthful population of more than 100 million. Online communications were a key instrument in the Arab Spring protests almost a decade ago. "There is a technological revolution happening and legislators need to take into account a constantly changing environment," Awadi said. He said that while "there are crimes that must be punished," many "incidents fall squarely within the realm of personal freedoms". Helwan University sociologist Inshad Ezzeldin agreed that "traditions and rituals trump the law" in Egypt, at a time when "the younger generations have access to, and knowledge of, everything now". The latest arrests fits into a wider pattern of the state targeting dissent online, said Joey Shea, a non-resident fellow researching cyber security at the Washington-based Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. "This is yet another attempt to increase and legitimize surveillance of digital platforms," she told AFP, pointing to laws criminalising "fake news" that are used to restrict freedom of expression. The feminist Ghadeer Ahmed argued the latest crackdown is also about class and status. "Young women used the internet to create different opportunities for themselves that are ordinarily unavailable because of their class," she said on Facebook. In the eyes of many Egyptians, she said, this "is contrary to the behavior expected of women hailing from poor classes". Topics : TikTok Egypt influencer "She complained of lack of care, attention and manhandling from people in her room who she did not recognize, Lolley said. Sometimes, she added, her mother went entire days with no food. Many of these issues began, Lolley said, after a nursing home employee tested positive for coronavirus. The pandemic has ravaged nursing homes across the country, killing more than 44,000 long-term care residents and staff, representing over a third of the nation's known coronavirus deaths. But one researcher who spoke to the House subcommittee disputed reports that the coronavirus has been more prevalent in low-quality nursing homes than those with high ratings from the federal government. "Cases are concentrated where COVID is present in the community, said David Grabowski, a professor of health care policy at the Harvard Medical School. While visitors have been kept out of facilities in an effort to stem the spread, he said, staff unknowingly bring the virus from the community into the facility. Until we get rapid and accurate testing for all staff and residents, we won't be able to contain COVID. We need a surveillance program that regularly tests staff and residents in order to identify new cases as they emerge." Lawmakers were also told that there remains a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, gloves and gowns. Chris Brown, a certified nursing assistant in a Chicago long-term care facility, told the subcommittee that he never knew when he was working with a resident who was infected with COVID-19. I was scared the entire time and eventually had to move out of my house because I was afraid to get my family sick, he said. At one point, Brown said, he used a garbage bag to protect himself because of the lack of PPE at his facility. These people needed to be taken care of, Brown said, echoing Lolley's pleas for better communication about exactly what is going on in individual facilities. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), who chairs the subcommittee, called for a national strategy. Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recommended the nursing homes test our residents and staff, Clyburn said. But without a comprehensive national testing plan, and distribution of testing supplies, nursing homes in at least half of the states are unable to conduct the recommended testing." AARP has advocated for more transparency around coronavirus cases and deaths in nursing homes, for more testing and PPE in the facilities, for more support for virtual visits between residents and loved ones or representatives, and against proposals to grant legal immunity related to COVID-19 for nursing homes, assisted living and other long-term care facilities. Iranian media have recently been speculating about the possible nomination of Seyed Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Khomeini, in Iran's presidential election next spring. "Reformists can consider Seyed Hassan Khomeini if they decide to run by the merit of their own identity rather than in coalition with any Principlist group," reformist Sharq newspaper wrote on Thursday. The 47-year-old Seyed Hassan Khomeini is a cleric, seminary teacher, and the Custodian of Khomeini's Shrine. He is known as a reformist and has close relations with former President Mohammad Khatami. Currently, the fractured reformist camp whose most prominent figures have no chance of being qualified for running in any elections, may be considering his nomination as their candidate for president, media say. However, the hardliner establishment represented by the election watchdog, the Guardian Council, has rejected him once before as a candidate. In February 2016 when he decided to run for the Assembly of Experts the Council rejected him on the grounds that he had failed to take an exam to prove his religious qualifications (ijtihad/ejtehad), for the want of any other reason. Seyed Hassan's religious qualifications have reportedly been confirmed by several grand ayatollahs Shiite sources of emulation including Grand Ayatollah Hossein Vahid-Khorasani, which will make the excuse to reject him again difficult for the Guardian Council if he can produce their written approval before running this time. If not Hassan Khomeini, reformists may nominate Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif whose popularity has considerably diminished in comparison with 2015 when he negotiated the nuclear deal known as JCPOA with western powers. Other possible and probable candidates are Vice-President Es'haq Jahangiri and the Tehran City Council Chairman Mohsen Hashemi whose chances of approval by the Guardian Council are quite slim. However, the reformist camp faces a much bigger problem than that. They have lost much of their political influence in the Iranian society which has always been forced to choose "between bad and worse" as Iranians quite often say at the time of elections. This time many voters appear to be determined not to concede to making that choice again. Dragging voters to ballot boxes will be more than a feat for reformists even if they decided and could reach a consensus among themselves -- to field a candidate of their own. Their supporters are more disillusioned than ever before, many say they will never vote again in elections that are far from fair and free. In February most reformists kept clear of the parliamentary elections in protest to disqualification of their candidates by the Guardian Council. In Tehran, the bastion of reformists, only twenty percent of eligible voters went to the ballot boxes which is roughly the number of conservative voters. "Reformists have the failed experience of resorting to a candidate who did not belong to their camp [Hassan Rouhani] to survive," conservative politician Hossein Kan'ani-Moqaddam was quoted by Young Journalists Club (YJC) as saying on June 10. He maintained that fielding Rouhani has alienated their supporters because once elected, he failed to deliver his campaign promises. "They can't justify [the failure to make any impact through Rouhani who wasn't a reformist himself] to their supporters, so it is likely that they will nominate someone akin to [former President Mohammad] Khatami if they decide to run, someone such as Seyed Hassan Khomeini," he said. Hassan Khomeini has not expressed any desire to run until now at least. WATERLOO REGION Muslims in Waterloo Region will be allowed to return to mosques for prayer on Friday for the first time in three months. Asif Manzoor, head of the Kitchener Waterloo chapter of the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC), said mosques in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge are set to resume daily prayers, Friday prayer services and other services under strict provincial health guidelines. Local mosques were closed in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Churches and other religious buildings across Ontario will also be allowed to open at reduced capacity. Its an exciting time, but with a cautionary start to balance our duty to serve with our duty to protect, Manzoor said on Thursday. MAC has instituted a list of precautionary steps to protect individuals during prayer on top of the province limiting attendance to 30 per cent of a buildings capacity: Individuals will be asked to preregister for space to not only secure a spot, but to make it easier to contact people should someone who attended a prayer service be diagnosed with the virus, Manzoor said. They will be required to bring their own prayer mats, and face masks are also encouraged. The mosque will provide hand sanitizer and the rooms will be sanitized after each prayer. Clear plastic bags will be provided for individuals to put their shoes in during prayer. Anyone over 70 years old is being asked to not attend since they are more vulnerable to COVID-19, and young children will also not be permitted to make it easier to control social distancing procedures. Prayer time will be limited to about 10 minutes, and social interaction before or after will also be limited to help prevent the spread of any illness. MAC had submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development of Ontario that included best practices for the safe reopening of mosques across Ontario. The organization operates 11 mosques in Ontario, including three in Waterloo Region. Manzoor said hes in constant communication with mosques in other communities and theyll be sharing tips on what worked and what didnt as the lockdown eases. Well try it out and roll things out slowly and well see how things go, he said. Leader of Opposition MP Ralph Regenvanu (c) flanked by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition MP Charlot Salwai,(l) and MP Jotham Napat (r) at the brief press conference, yesterday. Photo: Terence Malapa In this Monday, April 13, 2020 file photo, medical students test a self-designed computer-controlled ventilator prototype at the Chandaria Business and Incubation Centre of Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. (AP Photo/John Muchucha, File) More than two dozen international aid groups have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic, as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. The letter obtained by The Associated Press and signed by groups including Save the Children, CARE USA, World Vision and others says that "in spite of months of promising conversations with USAID field staff, few organizations have received an executed award for COVID-19 humanitarian assistance." It calls the delays "devastating" and says the window is closing for the U.S. to help mitigate the worst impacts of the pandemic around the world. The letter to U.S. Agency for International Development acting administrator John Barsa is dated June 4the same day that other USAID officials were touting the U.S. government's "global leadership" in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. "To date, we have committed more than $1 billion to benefit the global COVID response," Kenneth Staley, the leader of the USAID COVID-19 task force, told reporters covering Africa. The funds are typically provided to aid groups as well as private contractors and United Nations agencies. But much of that aid has been tied up in "uncharacteristic delays" nearly three months after the passage of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, the letter from aid groups says. In this Monday, April 13, 2020 file photo, medical students test a self-designed computer-controlled ventilator prototype at the Chandaria Business and Incubation Centre of Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. (AP Photo/John Muchucha, File) "The long delays in COVID-19 awardsand as a result, U.S. response to a dynamic global emergencystands in stark contrast to our experience in crises where (the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance) is known to turn around funding in a matter of weeks, if not days," the letter says. The letter makes clear the aid problem is a global one, pointing out the exponential rise in cases in Pakistan, and saying "the time to move is now." "The U.S. has basically been missing in action on the global front, which is very heartbreaking for me to see," a director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance during the Obama administration, Jeremy Konyndyk, said Thursday during a Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion. "What we have is kind of a vacuum and a lot of chaos on the international level." Acting USAID spokeswoman Pooja Jhunjhunwala told AP that the more than $1 billion includes $218 million in humanitarian aid through the International Disaster Assistance accountnearly $100 million of that authorized as awards. Aid groups can begin spending the rest of it via "essentially a promissory note from USAID." Some of that amount, however, can also go to U.N. agencies. In this Wednesday, May 13, 2020 file photo, a doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to the breathing of a patient confirmed to have the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, at the Fann university hospital in the capital Dakar, Senegal. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui, File) "We are in unprecedented times right now, with a rapidly evolving situation on the ground in almost every country," she said. For months while promoting U.S. coronavirus assistance, U.S. officials have not given details on the number of crucial itemssuch as ventilators and testing kitsdelivered to countries in Africa, where such equipment has been in short supply for months. And the need is growing. Cases on the African continent are accelerating, the World Health Organization warned Thursday, saying it took 98 days to reach 100,000 cases and just 18 to reach 200,000. The total number of confirmed is now above 218,000 with more than 5,000 deaths. Just 3 million tests for the virus have been conducted across Africa, a continent of 1.3 billion people, far short of the goal of 13 million. "One of the biggest challenges we face in the response continues to be the availability of supplies," WHO Africa chief Matshidiso Moeti told reporters on Thursday. In this Thursday, April 16, 2020 file photo, relatives grieve coffee shop manager Benedict Somi Vilakasi, who died of a COVID-19 infection in a Johannesburg hospital, at his burial ceremony at the Nasrec Memorial Park outside Johannesburg. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File) Another growing problem is infected health workers - nearly 5,000 in the 47-country WHO Africa regionamid shortages of protective gear. U.S. President Donald Trump in recent weeks has spoken of deliveries of ventilators to African countries, saying 1,000 of the machines were being sent to Nigeria alone. But Nigeria's government said none has arrived. In fact, just 50 ventilators have arrived in Africa from the U.S. government, all of them going to South Africa in recent days. That country has about a quarter of Africa's virus cases. A State Department official on Thursday said the U.S. has pledged ventilator assistance to Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Rwanda as well. The U.S. is supplying ventilators as soon as the domestic supply chain and vendors can produce and deliver them, the official said. In this Thursday, May 7, 2020 file photo, members of a team dedicated to burying Muslim victims of the new coronavirus spray disinfectant into the grave before burying Mohamed Ali Hassan, whose cousin said had been unaware he had the new coronavirus and died in his house in the Eastleigh area, at the Langata Muslim cemetery in Nairobi, Kenya. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File) In this Friday, May 1, 2020 file photo, a patient lies on his bed reading the Bible in a ward for those who have tested positive for the new coronavirus, at the infectious disease unit of Kenyatta National Hospital, located at Mbagathi Hospital, in Nairobi, Kenya. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File) Some African officials have expressed open dismay or signaled quiet frustration over the U.S. response. Some have called for a "Made in Africa" push to reduce reliance on imports, amid efforts to create homemade ventilators and repurpose factories. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been quick to praise assistance from the Jack Ma Foundation and others for deliveries of ventilators, testing kits and other badly needed items. But asked about just how many of those items the U.S. has delivered, Africa CDC chief John Nkengasong on Thursday said that "unfortunately, I cannot give you a number ... It has been a challenging time for many countries to fight their own pandemic." Explore further Africa virus cases surpass 100,000; lockdowns slowed growth 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The new details about the book came just days after Boltons attorney said he was pushing ahead with the June 23 publication of his memoir, despite a new warning from the administration that it contains classified material and needs to be further revised. It has been over 80 days Nepal has been on complete lockdown. Services and industrial and consumption sub-sectors are closed, which account for more than 70% of our economy. A study done by IIDS before the 40th day of lockdown revealed that the small and medium enterprises they contacted from across the country have seen a 95% drop in income and three out of five (60%) have lost their jobs. Now, you can imagine what may be the number of unemployed by now. Let it be a pandemic or a financial crisis, it is always low-earning wage workers and the lower middle class who suffer. Rich people are safe in their decorated houses; even if they contract the virus, they will be the first ones to be treated in first-class hospitals. People have been staying at home following the government-imposed rules, but for how long? If lockdown opens, people will flood outside, and the government fears the virus would spread rapidly. If the fear comes true, the health system of Nepal will not be able to handle it. But, at the same time, if the lockdown continues, the citizens living conditions would be worse than death. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan recently tweeted that South Asia is faced with the stark choice between a lockdown to control the virus and ensuring that people do not die of hunger and our economy does not collapse. Daily wage earners whose income is less than $2 per day, rely on daily wage to make sure food on their plate. Nepal, being one of the least developed countries, does not have a choice of continuing lockdown, copying strategies of developed countries. We have our problems and we cannot afford to retaliate the consequences as rich economies do. According to a community mobility report by Google, Nepal has been implementing one of the strictest lockdowns in the world where our mobility trends for workplaces and retail recreation is -49% and -66% respectively compared to the baseline. Nepals economy is already weak and the government-imposed prolonged lockdown will create an economic catastrophe. Three main pillars of GDP in Nepal are agriculture, remittance and wholesale-retail sector. Agriculture occupies 25.3% of the GDP, but the farmers are unable to transport their goods produced to the market due to the lockdown. Likewise, a shortage of food supplies has increased the price of specific products. The short-term supply shortage problem will end, but people will not be able to consume proper food because they will not be able to afford food. Two meals a day could be a dream-come-true for many low-wage workers. The United Nations is warning global hunger could double as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, putting 265 million people at risk. Remittance is also a significant part of our economy, but its size will drop significantly because migrant workers are getting cut off from their jobs abroad. Remittance inflow has already dropped near to 1 % in the last two months. Many families dependent on remittance would lose their source of income. The wholesale and retail sector contributes 14.37% to the economy, but a majority of markets are closed and consumers are unable to commute. This sector has also been affected harshly. Meanwhile, consumer spending of our economy will be paralysed which will have other adverse effects as more people will lose their source of income amidst the lack of effective stimulus packages from the government. These all cases result in lower consumer spending, higher unemployment, increased poverty and increased government burden. An economy consists of different components including several enterprises, industries and a long chain of consumers and producers. If one of them breaks down, it will have multiplier effects. Migrant workers returning from other countries, hence, will add to the unemployed population and our government will not be able to handle it. Covid-19 is considered less dangerous to the young population. Luckily, we have a demographic advantage where 63.7% of the total population is below the age of 30. Nonetheless, researchers have projected 40 million people would die from the virus if no control measures were taken. But, in recent weeks, international agencies have released stark figures highlighting the risk that poverty and hunger would end up killing even more people worldwide. Experts say Covid-19 will be with us for at least a year, but this does not mean we stay in continuous lockdown. Eventually, we need to learn to live with the virus. The government ought to weigh the trade-off between the lives of people who die from Covid-19 versus the lives of people who die from the economic damage it has created. Other low-income developing economies like India, Indonesia and Malaysia have taken bold decisions to ease lockdown. Nepal should also reopen the nation by taking the necessary safety measures. Shrestha is a Nepali student based in China. On Monday, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) went on The View and promptly schooled Meghan McCain on the real meaning of defund the police. This morning, it was Stacey Abrams turn. Abrams, who was promoting her latest book Our Time Is Now, spoke out against the voting disaster this week in her home state of Georgia. After Abrams blamed the Republican secretary of state for showing a deliberate indifference to the needs of Georgia voters, McCain tried to spin the situation on the ground in a different way. Theres a lot of finger pointing going on, and you seem to be implying it was Georgias secretary of state who was targeting communities of color, McCain said. But most of the counties that had issues this week were run by Democrats. Do you think we should be quick to blame Republicans when most of the problems like consolidated polling locations and older poll workers canceling over health concerns were a result of the coronavirus? So I want to decouple a couple of things, Abrams began. She calmly explained to McCain that in the state of Georgia, the secretary of state is in charge of elections, something she knows well from running for governor against former secretary of state Brian Kemp, who refused to recuse himself during his own election. We allow counties to do the direct implementation, but its the responsibility of the secretary of state to make sure they know how to do it and that they have the resources to get it done. Abrams went on to call out the false narrative that the secretary of state has pushed out this is only happening because of Democratic leadership, telling McCain, This affected every single part of our state, and the reality is your access to democracy shouldnt depend on your county of residence. She added: Fundamentally we deserve to have elections that work for everyone. Michael Moore Warns Trump Will Use Coronavirus to Try to Postpone 2020 Election Later in the show, when it was McCains turn to ask Abrams another question, she brought up recent comments she made suggesting that the United States is in the early stages of an authoritarian regime and comparing the Trump administration to Erdogans Turkish regimecomments made on Marc Marons WTF podcast, of all places. Story continues Given that Erdogan is a horrific, murderous dictator, McCain wanted to know, Do you really think its fair to call the United States no better than Turkey? I didnt call it no better than Turkey, Abrams shot back. I said that were on the path to populist authoritarianism. After explaining that Erdogan was a democratically elected president who over time diminished the utility of the courts by packing it with people who supported him, he eliminated the voices of those who were supposed to be the independent guardrails on democracy and he used that power to call for militarization of their public institutions, Abrams said, We are seeing evidence of that in the United States. Now Im not comparing apples to oranges, but Im saying they are all fruit of the same poisonous tree, Abrams continued. And we need to take steps now to ensure that our presidency is not a gateway to the types of authoritarian regimes weve seen in Turkey, that weve seen pop up in Hungary, what were seeing in India, and what Jair Bolsonaro is trying to do in Brazil. We have to acknowledge the authoritarian nature of Donald Trump, Abrams concluded. And we've got to nip it in the bud if we want democracy to continue here and if we want to continue to be the moral leader abroad. There wasnt much McCain could say to that. Kamala Harris Schools Meghan McCain on Defund the Police Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Consumers buy pork at a supermarket (Photo: VNA) In a document sent on June 11, the ministry assigned its Department of Animal Health to issue detailed guidance on sanitary measures for the imported pigs in line with existing regulations to prevent animal disease and ensure the safety of domestic herds. The department director is also responsible for boosting its coordination with inter-sectoral agencies at ports of entry and local authorities to strictly manage the imports. This is the first time Vietnam has permitted the importation of live pigs, in a bid to counter skyrocketing live pig prices in the domestic market. WATERLOO REGION Public board trustee Scott Piatkowski will ask his colleagues for a review of the School Resource Officer program. At Mondays meeting, the Waterloo Region District School Board trustee will notify the board that he wants to bring forward a motion asking for a committee to be formed to review the police in schools program. We have received numerous emails on this subject from parents and alumni and from people in the community who are concerned about the issue, Piatkowski said about the program. Piatkowski said he wants a committee to look into how the program has evolved, among other things. It seems to be more of an enforcement thing than a friendly face with a badge, he said. I think thats the concern of our friends in Black Lives Matter who have, along with others in the community, requested a review. The African, Caribbean, and Black Network of Waterloo Region said they dont want officers in schools dealing with racialized youth. They say students have said they are not safe and that the program targets marginalized youth. Instead, nurses and social workers should be in schools, said the group. There is absolutely no place for a punitive surveillance policing presence in schools, Ruth Cameron, a member of the networks advisory committee, said in an interview. It in no way supports the learning goals of marginalized, racialized, Black, Indigenous and poor students. Kitchener Centre MPP Laura Mae Lindo said there is no more time to waste in removing police from schools. It is no different than police in neighbourhoods who are over-surveilling marginalized people, she said. If policing hasnt been working in communities and hurting Black, brown and Indigenous, then bringing that same system into the school will just amplify the hurt, she said. The School Resource Officer program has existed for about 20 years. Currently there are 10 officers in the program who are assigned to 240 secondary and elementary schools in the region. Officers are available to the public and Catholic school boards as well as private and independent schools, according to the Waterloo Regional Polices 2019 annual report. The goal of the program is to develop positive relationships between youth and police, reduce youth victimization and partner with school staff to proactively address student, family and school challenges, the report says. Officers make regular visits to schools and bring awareness on topics such as online safety, substance abuse, bullying and sexual harassment. These officers also investigate school-related incidents occurring on school grounds, such as reports of a suspicious person and altercations between students, and assist in situations such as lockdowns and suspension re-entry meetings, the report says. Police Chief Bryan Larkin is willing for there to be a review of the program. He said police and schools have a good relationship and that officers are in the schools by invitation. Weve never imposed ourselves on the schools, he said. Mark Egers, president of the Waterloo Regional Police Association, said the program was started as a way to connect to youth so they wouldnt be afraid of police and to decrease the number of calls for service. With officers in schools, they would be better able to deal with issues more efficiently, he said. They are a friendly face, he said. If you see an officer in the school, you would be more likely to report it (crime). Egers said hes concerned with the program being seen by some as a way to target Black youth. By no means do we want to see anyone marginalized, he said. Piatkowski said hes pleased to know the chief is open to a review of the program. Whatever happens, we dont want to have a confrontational relationship with the police service, he said. Piatkowskis motion will ask that a committee be formed to look at the history and origin of the program, its scope, gather data, host consultations with the community, and to examine whether to continue with the program. The committee would include trustees, a student trustee, a superintendent, teachers, parents, a youth worker, principals or vice-principals, a human rights and equity adviser, and an administrator responsible for student discipline. Piatkowski said he is optimistic his motion will move forward, adding five trustees have already offered to be co-signers to Mondays notice of motion. Im confident that this will be treated as priority and probably come back at our first meeting following Labour Day and then hopefully will pass and then well get the review underway, said Piatkowski. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. "I would like to congratulate Colombia for the development of this biosafety certificationthe first in the region. I would also like to express the World Tourism Organization's support for this important initiative that will provide confidence to travelers and consumers in the reactivation phase of tourism", stated Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary General. The biosafety certification (Check-in certificado, COVID-19 bioseguro) was created by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism, with the support of ProColombia and ICONTEC, the Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification. Its main objectives are to generate trust among travelers and consumers, minimize the risk of infection, and encourage the best development of tourism in Colombia. "Obtaining this endorsement is voluntary and may be used by tourism related services providers, tourist areas, and tourist attractions in order to certify compliance with biosafety protocols once the sector is reactivated", explained Jose Manuel Restrepo, the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Tourism. Vice Minister of Tourism Julian Guerrero added that "with this certification entrepreneurs from the industry are invited to identify their business brands with the seal, as well, to follow all the biosafety measures. This with the ultimate aim of tourists being able to check-in with confidence in a hotel, restaurant, bar or any touristic place. The idea is to make them feel that they are entering a protected space". On the other hand, Colombia is joining efforts with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), in working towards a good implementation of the biosafety protocols in the tourism industry. The certification will be valid for 2 years, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism will keep a record of the tourism service providers, attractions, and destinations that are granted the seal. SOURCE ProColombia Seven new monitor farms have joined a network of farms across the UK with a shared aim to improve business performance and best practice. The farmers will scrutinise aspects of their businesses over the next three years from soil health to machinery policy and comparing costs. They will try out new ideas as part of AHDBs Farm Excellence programme, which brings together farmers by holding regular meetings in their area over a three-year period. The 'farmer led and farmer driven' programme is now in its seventh year and has seen the levy board work with over 40 farms since 2014. Head of AHDBs arable knowledge exchange team, Richard Meredith said: All of them are open-minded with a desire to see the industry succeed. Due to the ongoing government restrictions, meetings with the new hosts have been postponed until later this year. The seven new monitor farms join the Farm Excellence programme this summer. They are: South West: Salisbury Monitor Farm Ben Jeans is manager and partner in an 830 hectare mixed family farm. There are 530 hectares of arable crops including maize, a 180-cow dairy herd, a sheep enterprise and extensive stewardship schemes. Ben wants to make his business more adaptable, keep improving soil health and reduce inputs by further integrating the livestock and arable sides of his business. West & Wales: Hereford Monitor Farm Jack Hopkins, Rob Beaumont, Martin Carr and Adam Lewis team up to take on the Hereford Monitor Farm. They want to increase businesses resilience against the growing challenges farmers face. By hosting as a group Jack, Rob, Martin and Adam will make in-depth comparisons of their individual businesses, providing a wide breadth of topics for meetings. North West: Penrith Monitor Farm James Turner manages a mixed farm of 300 hectares comprising arable, dairy, hill cattle, sheep and pigs, alongside trainee farm manager Henry Scholefield. The arable rotation includes winter wheat and barley, oilseed rape, spring beans, oats, stubble turnips and grass leys. James and Henry want to embrace new advice and incentives on sustainability; seek rewards from natural capital assets and develop a strong successor for the business. North East: Chathill Monitor Farm Pip Robson runs a mixed farm, totalling over 800 hectares of owned, tenanted and contracted land. Rob Waterston, who will run Newbury Monitor Farm, is the farm manager for the Welford Park Estate which covers 1,072 hectares Her enterprises include 480 hectares of arable cropping, beef, sheep, a straw pelleting plant and contracting. The soil varies from reclaimed moorland to heavy clay and his cultivation policy varies from ploughing to minimum tillage. Pip is keen to learn from other peoples experiences to continue to grow his business while remaining profitable. East Midlands: Wainfleet Monitor Farm Gary and Debbie Willoughby have built up their business over the past five years to include an arable cropping enterprise and contract spraying and combining. They are interested in looking at collaboration, shared machinery and succession. They would like to explore ways to improve soil health and trial new cultivations to move away from an entirely plough-based system. East Anglia: Wisbech Monitor Farm Andrew and Sam Melton farm 1,400 hectares of wheat, barley, oilseed rape, beans and sugar beet on silty clay loam. They operate minimum tillage and full inversion cultivation systems. Having invested in a zero tillage drill, they would like to reduce tillage to zero and use cover crops to improve soil health. Their business ambitions are to reduce their cost of production and emissions without affecting profitability or yield. South East: Newbury Monitor Farm Rob Waterston is the farm manager for the Welford Park Estate which covers 1072 hectares. His role involves the management of 864 hectares of arable land of which 224 hectares are under a contract farming agreement. Robs ambitions are to develop a no-till farming system that is sustainable, viable and carbon neutral. He wants to improve water efficiency and reduce reliance on agro-chemicals by improving the farms rotation and soil health. Being gay in a conservative country like Malaysia is anything but easy. For human rights activist Terry Rawther, confronting his homosexuality in a largely Muslim community led to years of emotional pain before he eventually came out stronger with his parents support. The 29-year-old illustrator had in the past hid his sexual orientation in fear of being rejected by a society that does not view the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, or LGBT, community kindly. Despite being a melting pot of different cultures, Malaysia has strict laws that sentence those attempting intercourse against the order of nature up to 20 years in prison. A former tourism minister also once made international headlines for denying that gay people exist in the country. I feel lonely sometimes with the current climate for minorities in the world, but with them (his parents), at least I have a place to belong, Rawther told Coconuts KL in a recent interview. Their acceptance and support mean the world to me, and absolutely beneficial for my mental health. Rawther, originally named Tahir, knew that he was homosexual at the tender age of seven but his suspicions began much earlier when he was around three years old. It was not until he was in his late teens that he began to come out to his parents, starting with his mother. At three or four years old, I remember asking my mom why do I have a penis when I dont identify with it, nor like it, he said. He wasnt satisfied when his mother simply replied that it was because he was biologically male. Muslims at a pride parade in London. Photo: inkdrop Tough, painful journey Life as a gay and Muslim man is a tough, painful existential journey of discovery, he said. He had spiraled into depression after reading up on homosexuality and its connection to Islam when he was only 12 years old. Among the things he said he learned was that homosexuality was not accepted in Islam and that he could not be both gay and Muslim. I developed depression right after that knowing how hateful religion(s), society, and even god is towards LGBT, he said. Story continues He also experienced incidents of homophobia and discrimination regularly, including from his own family members. Rawther said he was beaten up by his cousin, harassed by his peers, and called a pondan (a derogatory term for gay in Malay language) by his family members and teachers. Being gay in a homophobic country, with almost everyone and everything invalidates you and your experience and life, is lonely and depressing, he said. I was lucky enough to be blessed by supportive parents. According to a 2013 study, 86% of Malaysians believe that homosexuality should be rejected. But Rawther rediscovered his place in Islam when he was 18, after he found a global online community of people that was open and accepting of LGBT Muslims. Their existence made me hopeful that there are places where Muslim LGBTIQ+ are accepted; they can worship Allah and be Muslim without fear of being harmed or invalidated, he said. Rawther now identifies himself as a humanist. An llustration of a gay couple by Terry. Photo: Terry Rawther/Instagram Coming out in Mecca Coming out to his parents was a long process that started when he was 17 while on pilgrimage with his mother in the holy Islamic city of Mecca. He recounted confessing to his mother about being different at the Great Mosque. I told her right after I prayed in front of Kaaba for compassion. I told her again when I was 18, and that was when my depression got worse, and I was suicidal, he said. She cried and hold me, told me God didnt hate me nor would want me dead and be in hell, and I have a place in Islam, and she vows to protect me from the outside world. Terry Rawther and his mother. Photo: Terry Rawther His mother has been kind towards him and remains his trusted ally until today. She even kept his secret for six years from his dad, who Rawther describes as a conservative. But then he became hospitalized after a suicide attempt and decided it was time to pluck up the courage to come out to his father, whose reaction later surprised him. I cant keep hiding from him and the world, so I decided to let him know it couldve gone badly since hes conservative and orthodox, but he actually embraced me and said its okay, Im still his child, and hell still love me as I am, he said. His relationship with both his parents grew stronger after his hospitalization and even considers them his best friends; people he could share his thoughts and feelings regarding his sexuality, faith, and relationships, without prejudice. Photo of Terry and his beloved cat. Photo: Terry Rawther For now, his home may seem like the only safe space for Rawther, but he is also happy to note that Malaysias LGBT community is thriving despite the widespread homophobia in the country. Theyre surviving, thriving, despite the staunchly homophobic and transphobic government and society are. They still persevere and endure, theyre a hardy bunch, he said. Rawther, who is an LGBT activist himself but is now on mental health break, said he looks up to other activists such as Pang Khee Teik and 2016 International Women of Courage Award recipient Nisha Ayub. He also expressed hope that the LGBT community could one day exist without fear, neglect, or rejection from society and the government. Be strong, and be safe. Know that you have allies and support all around you, Rawther advises queers out there. If theres none physically, there are a lot online. Know that it gets better, and there are places in the world that would love to have you, and there are friends, lovers that would love to be with you. Your identity, your sexuality, your journey to discovery, happiness is valid. You are valid, and loved. Dont give up, it does get better. Other stories to check out: Man arrested for growing weed told police he thought they were bamboo Man arrested, drugs seized from luxe Penang condo-turned-drug lab Limkokwing University under fire over King of Africa billboard This article, Man opens up on struggle with religion, homosexuality, and coming out in Mecca, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters! Workers at Fords Kentucky Truck Plant (KTP) in Louisville, Kentucky, who have taken leaves due to concerns over the danger of contracting COVID-19, are being threatened with the loss of their jobs by the United Auto Workers union (UAW). According to KTP building chairman for UAW Local 862 Allen Hughes, 1,000 workers at the plant have applied for COVID-19 leave under the federal CARES Act, and 1,350 workers on A and C crew shifts did not report to work on June 4. The plant has 8,500 workers who produce the line of F-250 through F-550 heavy-duty pickup trucks and the Super Duty pickup trucks, among Fords most profitable models, as well as the Lincoln Navigator and Expedition. Hughes wrote in the manner of a plant manager in a memo posted on Twitter Wednesday, attempting to both browbeat opposition to the homicidal back-to-work policy and cajole workers into returning to the factory and exposing themselves to the virus. Workers assemble Ford trucks at the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, KY (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) This is a critical time for our plant. Our Super Duty [truck] order bank is back to pre-COVID levels With other pending launches at other plants and since the whole UAW-Ford system was shutdown for 9 weeks, the company is going to capitalize on the order bank (emphasis added). We have to do all we can to protect C crew, our job security and our products without turning on each other as I have seen on Facebook Lives have been lost, health has been lost and some jobs are not coming back when the Cares Act expires. Marcus Sheckles, vice president of UAW Local 862 at KTP, further told the Courier Journal that if the plant didnt fill its orders, they [Ford] will send the work elsewhere. Leaves of absence under the federal CARES Act are protected by law through its duration, but the UAW, acting on behalf of Ford management, is making clear that it will do nothing to defend workers who refuse to work under life-threatening conditions. On the contrary, the UAWs overriding concern is to protect the UAW-Ford systemnamely, the system of union-management partnership at Ford and other companiesin order to ensure the continued exploitation of workers and flow of profits to Fords investors, and thus the maintenance of the UAWs own institutional and financial interests, regardless of the toll on workers health and lives. The support for the automakers production increases is by no means limited to UAW officials at KTP. Everybody is working very, very hard to get people in here, keep them safe and build trucks, all while keeping the safety processes in place. But were a very important model to the UAW and General Motors, Eric Welter, UAW Local 598 shop chairman at GM Flint Assembly, told the Detroit Free Press. We have got to perform. The UAW from top to bottom supports the ramp-up in production being carried out across the US. The same Free Press article described comments by Brian Rothenberg, the main UAW spokesman and mouthpiece for the companies: Make no mistake, the union supports ramping up production, Rothenberg said. It benefits the company, shareholders and union members, who get bigger profit-sharing checks when things go well. But the priority must be health and safety protections for workers, which protects factory production long-term, he said. Rothenberg concluded, None of the parties involved want production shutdowns. Excluded from his comments, yet ever present in the minds of the auto bosses and their union enforcers, is the widespread opposition among workers to the sacrifice of their health and lives for corporate profit. A worker at Ford Kentucky Truck who has recently been staying home from work told the WSWS, Im concerned about the dirty working conditions. The person that tested positive for the coronavirus didnt get released to go home for three hours. The masks are so thick and its so hot in the factory. I had an anxiety attack because Im worried about having to go work in those conditions as well as being worried about contracting the virus. Legacy people arent coming back because they are afraid they will get COVID-19. The UAW is attempting to coerce workers back into the plants just as the premature reopening of the economy, forced through by the combined efforts of the Trump administration and Democratic and Republican state governments, is resulting in an accelerating spread of the coronavirus, an outcome widely predicted and warned about by epidemiologists. Kentucky itself is one of 19 states where the COVID-19 infection rate is rising, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The states seven-day rolling average of cases reached a new high, 226, just last Saturday. Coronavirus infections have been mushrooming across auto plants since the restart of the Detroit Three auto plants on May 18. At least one worker tested positive for the coronavirus at KTP within days of the plants reopening. For six days, the union and company management deliberately withheld information about the confirmed case from workers at both KTP and the neighboring Louisville Auto Plant (LAP). Six cases have been confirmed at General Motors Wentzville Assembly plant near St. Louis within the last week. Six cases have also been reported at electric carmaker Teslas massive operations in Fremont, California, according to workers, and cases continue to emerge across auto parts suppliers such as Lear, Faurecia, and Flex-N-Gate. The UAW and company management carried out a PR campaign in the run-up to the auto industry restart, claiming that all safety guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would be followed, including the provision of personal protective equipment, social distancing measures, adequate cleaning supplies and procedures and health screenings for workers. However, these protocols have quickly proven themselves to be largely cosmetic and ineffective, particularly in the absence of universal testing for the coronavirus and systematic contact tracing. Temperature checks and health surveys do nothing to catch those who show no symptoms from coming to work and unknowingly spreading the virus. Workers are increasingly incensed over the lack of information on cases being provided by either management or the UAW. No tallies of either COVID-19 infections or deaths have been made available to workers at any of the companies or by the UAW. Following the pattern of labor-management restructuring of the auto industry implemented in every UAW contract since the 2008 Wall Street crash, the UAW and Ford plan to replace higher-paid long-term workers who take leaves out of concerns for their health with lower-paid temporary part-time and temporary full-time (TPT and TFT) workers, who have few benefits and job protections, and are drawn mainly from the younger generations who have suffered the greatest economic impact from the economic depression brought on by the pandemic. Since March there has been 795 TFTs hired in at KTP and more TFTs are getting hired in at KTP, Hughes wrote in his memo. Workers will confront increasingly unbearable conditions and demands for speed-up from management as the automakers ramp up production with the assistance of the UAW. The threats against KTP workers came the same day that Fords Chief Operating Officer, Jim Farley, announced that the company expects production to return to pre-pandemic levels by July 6. Ford has announced that four of its plants that produce profitable vehicles in high demandKentucky Truck, Louisville Assembly, Chicago Assembly and Flat Rock Assemblywill shorten their typical summer shutdowns from two weeks to one. Representatives for GM and Fiat Chrysler expressed their intentions Wednesday to return to pre-pandemic production levels even earlier than Ford, by the end of June and the week of June 22, respectively. Inside the plants there is an increasing conflict between the mad drive to increase production and profits for Fords shareholders and Wall Street investors, which is fully backed by the UAW, and the efforts by workers to assert their interests and protect their lives and those of their loved ones. The World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Party urge autoworkers to adopt a collective response and form rank-and-file safety committees, independent of the corrupt UAW, to oversee the safety measures in the plants, with the assistance of trusted medical and public health experts. These committees must raise and formulate demands such as full access to information about the spread and location of infections, workers control over line speed and production, universal testing and contact tracing, the isolation and immediate treatment of ill workers and complete income and job protection for all those on leave or affected by shutdowns. If working conditions are not satisfactory or judged to dangerous, these committees will have the right to halt production until a safe environment can be guaranteed. With workers in both essential and non-essential industries being forced to expose themselves to the pandemic, and a broad movement against police violence and other attacks on democratic rights emerging, there is an urgent need for autoworkers to reach out across industries and workplaces, on social media and by other means, and form communication networks in order to organize the fight for workers rights and interests. A mass political movement of the working class must be built, independent of the representatives of the big business parties, led by the most class-conscious workers, and guided by a socialist and internationalist program. This is the perspective fought for by the Socialist Equality Party. We urge workers who agree with it to join this fight and write to us today at autoworkers@wsws.org. The Daily Beast Reuters/Arnd WiegmannTheatrical rock superstar Meat Loaf, whose Bat Out of Hell is one of the bestselling albums of all time, has died at the age of 74. Reports say the singer and actor had recently fallen sick with COVID-19.In an emotional statement posted to Facebook early Friday, the performers family said he was with his wife when he died and had said his final goodbyes to his two daughters in the past 24 hours. The star sold 100 million albums in his five-decade career and starred in movie Groupama launches construction with VINCI of Totals new head office, The Link, in partnership with Paris La Defense Paris La Defense, 11 June 2020 Groupama Group and Total signed an off-plan lease on 14 March 2020 covering the construction of The Link, Totals new head office in Paris La Defense. The project was designed by architects PCA-STREAM for Groupama, owner of the site, and will be built by VINCI, through subsidiary VINCI Construction France. At the end of the works and fitting out, scheduled to take five years, Total will take delivery of the building and lease The Link for a 12-year renewable period. The Link is specifically designed to meet Totals needs. With VINCI, we wanted to build a new-generation tower block comprising two buildings and their connecting walkways. Maintaining this project through the current unprecedented times is a strong indication of our confidence in the future, said Thierry Martel, Chief Executive Officer of Groupama. With The Link, we will bring together our teams, currently spread across Paris La Defense, in a modern working environment that is both bright and pleasant. It will cater to the comfort of individuals while meeting the highest possible environmental quality standards, said Namita Shah, Totals Executive Vice President, People & Social Responsibility, and member of its Executive Committee. The Link demonstrates VINCI Construction Frances capacity for combining property development skills and technical expertise in complex projects. It is one of a series of high-rise buildings erected in the Paris La Defense district, said Hugues Fourmentraux, Chairman of VINCI Construction France. Against the backdrop of the current public health crisis, the launch of The Link confirms the attractiveness of our business district. We are proud that The Link will enhance Paris La Defenses skyline, explains Georges Siffredi, President of the Hauts-de-Seine Departmental Council and Chairman of Paris La Defense Board of Directors. This tower and its location in the Michelet district will enable us to rework traffic patterns and connections with the city of Puteaux. Story continues The Link Located in the Michelet district of Paris La Defense, The Link comprises two towers connected over 30 storeys by green walkways. The 50-storey Arche wing will rise 228 metres above the forecourt; the 35-storey Seine wing will be 165 metres high. They will share a common three-storey base between the urban boulevard and forecourt. The walkways will enable the creation of 3,000 sq. metre platforms, 6,000 sq. metres in duplex, all floors being connected in pairs by large, open and easy-to-access staircases. Employees will have 130,000 sq. metres of office, restaurant, co-working and relaxation areas designed to promote an improved quality of well-being at work and collective efficiency. The Link will have the highest level of environmental certification (HQE Exceptionnel), guaranteeing the best standards in energy efficiency, heating and acoustics. All workstations will benefit from natural daylight and 25% of the complexs energy needs for lighting will be provided by its photovoltaic facade. The works will be executed in compliance with the Property and Construction Sectors Circular Economy Charter, signed by Groupama Immobilier and VINCI Construction France. PROJECT MILESTONES April 2018: preliminary approval for the creation of offices June 2018: building permit application filed April 2019: building permit granted March 2020: signature of the off-plan lease agreement between Groupama and Total and of the property development contract between Groupama and VINCI Construction France 2020: demolition of existing buildings; design 2021: construction of foundations 2022: construction of the seven-storey base (between the second basement level and second storey) 2023 - 2025: construction of the structure at the pace of one floor a week; interior fit-out Second quarter 2025: finishing work, inspection and acceptance About Groupama Group For more than 100 years, Groupama Group has been based on timeless humanist values to help as many people as possible build their lives with confidence It is based on human, close-knit, optimistic and responsible communities of mutual aid. Groupama Group, one of the leading mutual insurers in France, carries out its insurance and service businesses in 10 countries. The Group has 12 million members and customers and 32,000 employees throughout the world, with premium income of 14.4 billion. About Total Total is a major energy group that produces and markets fuels, natural gas and low-carbon electricity. Our 100,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, more affordable, cleaner and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, our ambition is to become the responsible energy major. About VINCI VINCI is a global player in concessions and contracting, employing 222,000 people in some 100 countries. We design, finance, build and operate infrastructure and facilities that help improve daily life and mobility for all. Because we believe in all-round performance, above and beyond economic and financial results, we are committed to operating in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. And because our projects are in the public interest, we consider that reaching out to all our stakeholders and engaging in dialogue with them is essential in the conduct of our business activities. VINCIs goal is to create long-term value for its customers, shareholders, employees and partners, and for society at large. www.vinci.com About Paris La Defense: Strengthen the links between the business district and the centre of Puteaux Paris La Defense, a public entity in charge of development, coordination and management, has major ambitions for the Michelet district, which is currently difficult to access. The completion of The Link in 2025 will transform the landscape of the district. In the future, it will benefit from mobility links with the rest of the Puteaux area and will give impetus to the business district. In close collaboration with the Hauts de Seine and Puteaux local authorities, discussions have taken place on the creation of urban connections to link the Paris La Defense pedestrian area with the city of Puteaux and upgrade the circular boulevard. Currently forming a border between the business district and the centre of Puteaux, it will be transformed into a calm urban thoroughfare that can be crossed on foot. In parallel, the Cours Michelet will be completely renovated and planted to strengthen its existing offering (shops, coffee bars, etc.) and create new urban spaces, with soft transport solutions between Puteaux city centre and the La Defense esplanade. Delivery of the Carre Michelet office complex (Eurosic Gecina) in September 2019 marked the beginning of this transformation. * * * * * Groupe Groupama contacts Marie-Laure Renaudie: +33 1 44 56 32 35 l marie-laure.renaudie@groupama.com Safia Bouda: +33 1 44 56 30 86 l safia.boudal@groupama.com Total Contacts Media Relations: +33 1 47 44 46 99 l presse@total.com l @TotalPress Investor Relations: +44 (0)207 719 79 62 l ir@total.com VINCI contacts VINCI Press Department: +33 1 47 16 31 82 | media.relations@vinci.com Paris La Defense contacts Treize Cent Treize Agency Aurelie Caron, Alain NDong T : +33 1 53 17 97 13 l Presse_ParisLaDefense@treizecenttreize.fr * * * * * Cautionary note This press release, from which no legal consequences may be drawn, is for information purposes only. The entities in which TOTAL S.A. directly or indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. TOTAL S.A. has no liability for their acts or omissions. In this document, the terms Total and Total Group are sometimes used for convenience where general references are made to TOTAL S.A. and/or its subsidiaries. Likewise, the words we, us and our may also be used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TOTAL S.A. nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Attachment Controversial wage-freeze legislation passed in 2017 by Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government has been struck down after a court determined it violated the constitutional rights of unionized public sector workers by eliminating their right to collective bargaining. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/6/2020 (589 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Controversial wage-freeze legislation passed in 2017 by Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government has been struck down after a court determined it violated the constitutional rights of unionized public sector workers by eliminating their right to collective bargaining. The decision by Court of Queen's Bench Judge Joan McKelvey was clear in its condemnation of the Tory government's infamous Public Services Sustainability Act, which was passed by the Manitoba Legislature in 2017 but never proclaimed. The PSSA is a "draconian measure which limits and reduces a union's bargaining power," McKelvey wrote in her 224-page decision, released Thursday afternoon. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour. "The PSSA has left no room for a meaningful collective bargaining process.... The right to meaningfully associate in pursuit of a fundamental and important workplace goal has been denied." Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour and spokesman for the coalition of more than two dozen public sector unions that challenged the law, said the decision validates all of the concerns they expressed about the PSSA when it was first unveiled. "This is a huge win for 120,000 public sector workers in Manitoba," Rebeck said in an interview. "Over the last four months, the premier has been calling public sector workers 'heroes.' Enough of that talk. It's time to go back to the bargaining table. I really hope the premier will starting using some common sense." Rebeck confirmed the coalition of unions will likely return to court to make arguments about being awarded costs and possibly to ask for damages. "The door is open to both of those options right now," he added. "This is a huge win for 120,000 public sector workers in Manitoba,. Over the last four months, the premier has been calling public sector workers 'heroes.' Enough of that talk. It's time to go back to the bargaining table. I really hope the premier will starting using some common sense." Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour Neither Premier Brian Pallister nor Finance Minister Scott Fielding were available for comment. In an emailed statement, a spokeswoman indicated that a final decision on whether to appeal had yet to be made. "We will take the time to carefully review the decision and assess appeal considerations," the spokeswoman said. "The legislation had never been proclaimed into law and was in the process of being amended. So, as before, regular labour relations and collective bargaining will continue." The spokeswoman did raise the prospect that the province would re-argue its case on appeal based on the fiscal challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic "and the unprecedented negative economic impacts it has caused." Although the province may still appeal, the detail and complexity of the analysis in McKelvey's decision makes for a steep hill. The province had argued that the PSSA represented a reasonable limit on the constitutional rights of unions because it was, at the time the law was drafted, facing a budget deficit crisis. However, McKelvey established in painstaking detail that by the time arguments were made in her court, the province had abandoned that rationale. Even the economic expert brought in by the province admitted that its fiscal policies most notably decisions to reduce revenues by hundreds of millions of dollars by cutting taxes and parking hundreds of millions of dollars more in the Fiscal Stabilization Account were political and absent of any "economic rationale." The judge was also concerned that through testimony, it was established the Pallister government made no attempt to consult with unions about alternatives to wage-freeze legislation and produced no estimates of how much money it expected to save from the PSSA. Despite its name, government officials could provide "no evidence ... as to how the PSSA would serve to protect public services and balance the budget." Further, the court said the PSSA's prescribed wage schedule two years of wage freezes followed by 0.75 per cent and one per cent in the third and four years was arrived at arbitrarily and without any analysis or internal modelling. Dan Lett | Not for Attribution A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world that is sent every Tuesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The court also found that despite the fact the PSSA has not yet been proclaimed, and thus has no legal authority, "is effectively in force in the Province of Manitoba" by creating a "substantial interference with collective bargaining." The court noted that only 21 public sector contracts representing only 8,800 employees less than eight per cent of all the workers represented by the public sector unions involved in the court challenge have been settled since the law was passed. The path to Thursday's court decision has been long and, at times, quite convoluted. Not only did the Pallister government change its argument in mid-stream abandoning claims that it was facing a fiscal crisis when it brought forward the legislation but also introduced a bill to amend the PSSA while arguments were still being made in court. Bill 9, which has not yet been passed, changes some of the terms under which the province can negotiate settlements that are above the four-year wage schedule in the original PSSA. However, public sector unions have argued that the amending legislation does not fundamentally change the sections of the PSSA that have been declared unconstitutional. If the Pallister government does not appeal this decision, or does and loses, then it could be forced to go back to the bargaining table and revisit at least three years of de facto wage freezes that were imposed on public sector workers simply by threatening to enact the PSSA. dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca Living together in lockdown: Dylan Kerin (17) and his grandmother Sheila Carty at her home in Lucan, Co Dublin. Photo: Frank McGrath When Dylan Kerin from Lucan in Dublin learned that lockdown was to be instated in Ireland, and that those considered at-risk had to cocoon, the 17-year-old immediately decided how he would spend the Covid-19 pandemic. He was staying over at his 'Gran' Sheila Carty's house the day the measures were announced by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and refused to go home, instead deciding to remain there to keep her company through lockdown. Dylan has not mixed with another person since March 27. He has kept his grandmother company, eased her fears, and looked after practicalities such as the shopping and getting her prescriptions. Shops Despite needing a cane to go to the shops himself because of a visual impairment, he did all this so she wouldn't have to leave the house and wouldn't feel nervous. Today, Mr Kerin is honoured as the Irish Independent Frontline Star of the Week in association with the Croke Park Hotel. Mr Kerin was nominated by his mother's friend, Lisa O'Neill, who said that while looking after his grandmother, the "selfless" fifth-year student was keeping up with school work. "He's such a lovely boy, he's really intelligent, he's got a really great sense of humour with a dry wit and he's just a really all-round great kid," she said. "Dylan has been visually impaired since birth and he needs a cane to get around but he has never let it get to him and he just takes it in his stride. "His grandmother lives on her own, she's in her 70s and she has underlying health conditions. "So when the news broke on Covid-19, and the high-risk cohort, she was quite afraid because she would be quite susceptible to it and ultimately she was afraid for her life. "What really spoke to me is that he doesn't realise the magnitude of what he did. It just came so natural to say, 'I'll look after gran' - he just wanted to do it." Dylan said he was shocked to receive the award. "My mam rang me to ask if I wanted to go home, because I only had one chance really to go home, but I just thought, 'No, I'll stay here and look after Gran'," he said. "She couldn't do anything so she would have just been lonely. Her husband is dead five years now and I knew that having some company would be really good for her. "The best way I can describe Gran is a 70-year-old who looks like a 50-year-old and acts like a 20-year-old. "As much as I was helping her she was always helping me as well and in the end, it was a team effort. "I was shocked to be nominated for this, I did not expect this at all. I was just doing what I thought anyone would do in this situation. "Gran loves getting out and having a coffee with her mates and I knew it would be a long time before she could do that, so it would have been cruel." For more than 60 years, the Irish Independent has honoured the Sportstar of the Week. This year our nation has faced a challenge far beyond our sporting fields. To nominate someone, email your submission (100 words max), along with a photo, to frontlinestar@independent.ie. Each weekly winner receives a complimentary dinner, bed and breakfast stay at the Croke Park Hotel. "More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness." - Charlie Chaplin Charles Siboto Stop and listen This #YouthMonth I want to look back at where we came from, back to the Soweto uprising of 1976. I want to remember how far we have come and to look forward to how far we have to go yet. The Soweto uprising of 1976 Equality and equal opportunity Start with kindness What I am getting at is the fighting for equality and equal opportunity for everyone is good for everyone in the end because if the social contract works for everyone there is no reason to breach it. That means crime rates drop and no one is marching and looting in the streets, because there is no need to. Being actively anti-racist, anti-sexist and anti-homophobic makes the world better for white men, men and straight people too! If 2020 was an old-school video game, it would be the level where they make you fight all the boss characters youve defeated before all at once and you have to remember the right button sequences to defeat each of them. While youre doing that they throw in Covid-19, the new ultra-powerful boss. All of our chickens are coming home to roost this year, it seems, and we have to deal with them somehow.One of the things that the outbreak of Covid-19 has made clear is that all of us are in the same boat, whether we like it or not. What happens in China affects all of us. What happens in the US affects all of us. What happens in South Africa affects all of us. The murder of George Floyd by police officers in the US started a wave of protests against police brutality towards black people and the huge issue that is racism in general. This has also made us look at our own cases of police brutality right here at home, especially with the murder of Colins Khosa by members of the SANDF.Ive been reading the stories around the #BlackLivesMatter protests and looking at how people I know respond to them, whether in anger that we still have to protest against systemic racism, that we still #CantBreathe or with hey, #AllLivesMatter or what about #FarmMurders and #WhiteGenocide? I spent the week just monitoring my social media accounts and watching people I know grapple with the issue of racism in various ways. Some of the responses I agree with and some not but my goal was to watch, listen and try and understand where everyone is coming from.My takeaway is that we all need to stop and honestly listen to the experiences of others, just listen and resist the temptation to say: Yes, but . . . As I said before, whether we like it or not we are in the same boat and even if something like racism doesnt affect you directly it does indirectly.What did the thousands of students want on 16 June 1976 when they took to the streets of Soweto in protest? They were protesting the Bantu Education Act that mandated that all school subjects be taught in Afrikaans. What those students wanted was to be taught in a language they understand, equality and equal opportunity for all youth. The Apartheid government clearly didnt like how those students were protesting and opened fire on them. When former President Nelson Mandela was fighting for the freedom of black people he was considered a terrorist and eventually imprisoned. Bantu Stephen Biko was murdered for his anti-Apartheid activism. In the US, Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated for his views even though he advocated for non-violent resistance against that racist system.What I am getting at is that all these people and movements want the same things and have been killed trying to get those things whether they did it peacefully or violently. Whatever system is in charge always responds with violence and that is what should appal us! That the Apartheid government killed people, that the miners in #Marikana were killed under the rule of this government, that Colins Khosa was killed by members of the SANDF.What black people and other people of colour want are equality and equal opportunity. What women want are equality and equal opportunity. What the LGBTQ+ community wants are equality and equal opportunity. That is all. None of these groups wants to take anything away from anyone and that cant be so difficult to understand! #BlackLivesMatter has never been about black lives being superior, just that they, too, matter. Just matter, that is all. That isnt difficult to understand.#MeToo and #MenAreTrash has never been about trying to destroy men but women holding men who sexually assault women accountable. Again, not such a highbrow concept. Take a step back and just think about this, every single woman you know has experienced some form of sexual harassment, every single woman. Unless they live in some secret pocket of the country I know nothing about, every single PoC you have encountered has experienced some form of racism. Every member of the LGBTQ+ community has been harassed for simply being who they are in some way. That is absolutely wild!If you are a straight, white male does your life not matter? Do your views not matter? Are you not suffering? Do white people not experience racial prejudice? Do men not experience sexism? As a straight, white male your life and views matter but the social contract we all live under tends to honour its responsibilities to you. You can and, in fact, you definitely do still experience hardships like any human being, though. You can be a victim of crime, you can lose your job, you can be poor and just generally have a difficult life.White people can suffer from prejudice, sure, but not from systemic racism. Men can suffer from prejudice and be sexually harassed by women but can also not suffer from the sort of systemic sexism that affects their careers or the sort of harassment that makes them fear to be around women in general. Straight, cisgender people suffer but not for their sexual orientation or not fitting into specific gender boxes.What can you do then? The best thing to do is simply to listen to PoC, to women and the LGBTQ+ community when they express their frustrations. Taking that time to say things like #AllLivesMatter or #NotAllMen does nothing to help anyone because we know these things. When your friend has been in an accident and is bleeding out on the street they know that it sucks that you got robbed last week but they definitely still would rather go to the hospital first.Educate yourself on social issues as much as you can. Own whatever privilege you have and use it to fight for those who dont have the same. Talking about things like race and sexism is uncomfortable but we have to do it if we ever hope to find solutions. Just start where you are and start with kindness. Kindness goes a long way and we need it since we have a long way to go before we reach our goal of equality and equal opportunity.One of the things many people are concerned about with the Covid-19 lockdown is the impact on the economy. As a society, we have a long history of squandering our human resources by not allowing people to fully participate in the economy based on race, gender and sexual orientation. Well, unless people were being forced to participate in the economy for the bare minimum wage.This #YouthMonth, let us look back at how far we have come and brace ourselves for how far we have to go until we are all free because this is #NotYetUhuru when every few months we have to remind people that #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo. Be actively anti-racist, anti-sexist and anti-homophobic in your everyday life. Small deeds go a long way as JRR Tolkien pointed out: I have found that it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love. A group of Aryzta shareholders led by Veraison Capital say they regret the delaying tactics of the board of directors in relation to the Extraordinary General Meeting, which they requested be held last month. The group, which together own about 18pc of the Swiss-Irish company, are seeking to remove Aryzta CEO Kevin Toland from the board and eject chairman Gary McGann. The Cuisine de France owner has said it will hold the EGM in August following a strategic review of the business, which is within the period allowed for holding the meeting. Mr Toland, who the activists want to see remain as CEO, was parachuted into company in 2017 to help turn around the group, whose customers include the likes of McDonald's and Subway, as well as big-name retailers. The activist shareholders want to oust four board members and replace the chairman with their own nominee. The deliberate delay of the EGM leads to the unacceptable situation that the strategy review announced at short notice on 13 May should be completed before EGM and thus before a comprehensive renewal of the board of directors, Veraison said in a statement. Since 2017, the existing board of directors has failed to set the right strategic course to focus and reduce the complexity of Aryzta. This has led to enormous value destruction for shareholders. It is unacceptable that before a renewal of the board and without taking all stakeholders into account, the strategy review, neglected for a long time, is now to be concluded on short notice with an investment bank. Under no circumstances can this be in the best interests of the company, it added. In a lengthy statement, Veraison said the determination of company strategy should be carried out by a board that manages the company on behalf of the shareholders over the longer term. We are convinced that the proven industry expertise of the independent candidates Urs Jordi, Heiner Kamps and Armin Bieri would bring valuable expertise to the ongoing strategy process, it added. Last month Aryzta hired Rothschild to advise it in a move that suggest no option including a sale or radical restructuring is off the table. When contacted by the Irish Independent this morning a spokesperson for Aryzta said it had noted the statement from Veraison. This isn't an easy piece to write, for reasons that will shortly become clear, but I know it's time to explain myself on an issue surrounded by toxicity. I write this without any desire to add to that toxicity. For people who don't know: last December I tweeted my support for Maya Forstater, a tax specialist who'd lost her job for what were deemed 'transphobic' tweets. She took her case to an employment tribunal, asking the judge to rule on whether a philosophical belief that sex is determined by biology is protected in law. Judge Tayler ruled that it wasn't. My interest in trans issues pre-dated Maya's case by almost two years, during which I followed the debate around the concept of gender identity closely. I've met trans people, and read sundry books, blogs and articles by trans people, gender specialists, intersex people, psychologists, safeguarding experts, social workers and doctors, and followed the discourse online and in traditional media. On one level, my interest in this issue has been professional, because I'm writing a crime series, set in the present day, and my fictional female detective is of an age to be interested in, and affected by, these issues herself, but on another, it's intensely personal, as I'm about to explain. All the time I've been researching and learning, accusations and threats from trans activists have been bubbling in my Twitter timeline. This was initially triggered by a 'like'. When I started taking an interest in gender identity and transgender matters, I began screenshotting comments that interested me, as a way of reminding myself what I might want to research later. On one occasion, I absent-mindedly 'liked' instead of screenshotting. That single 'like' was deemed evidence of wrongthink, and a persistent low level of harassment began. Months later, I compounded my accidental 'like' crime by following Magdalen Burns on Twitter. Magdalen was an immensely brave young feminist and lesbian who was dying of an aggressive brain tumour. I followed her because I wanted to contact her directly, which I succeeded in doing. However, as Magdalen was a great believer in the importance of biological sex, and didn't believe lesbians should be called bigots for not dating trans women with penises, dots were joined in the heads of twitter trans activists, and the level of social media abuse increased. I mention all this only to explain that I knew perfectly well what was going to happen when I supported Maya. I must have been on my fourth or fifth cancellation by then. I expected the threats of violence, to be told I was literally killing trans people with my hate, to be called cunt and bitch and, of course, for my books to be burned, although one particularly abusive man told me he'd composted them. What I didn't expect in the aftermath of my cancellation was the avalanche of emails and letters that came showering down upon me, the overwhelming majority of which were positive, grateful and supportive. They came from a cross-section of kind, empathetic and intelligent people, some of them working in fields dealing with gender dysphoria and trans people, who're all deeply concerned about the way a socio-political concept is influencing politics, medical practice and safeguarding. They're worried about the dangers to young people, gay people and about the erosion of women's and girl's rights. Above all, they're worried about a climate of fear that serves nobody least of all trans youth well. I'd stepped back from Twitter for many months both before and after tweeting support for Maya, because I knew it was doing nothing good for my mental health. I only returned because I wanted to share a free children's book during the pandemic. Immediately, activists who clearly believe themselves to be good, kind and progressive people swarmed back into my timeline, assuming a right to police my speech, accuse me of hatred, call me misogynistic slurs and, above all as every woman involved in this debate will know TERF. If you didn't already know and why should you? 'TERF' is an acronym coined by trans activists, which stands for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist. In practice, a huge and diverse cross-section of women are currently being called TERFs and the vast majority have never been radical feminists. Examples of so-called TERFs range from the mother of a gay child who was afraid their child wanted to transition to escape homophobic bullying, to a hitherto totally unfeminist older lady who's vowed never to visit Marks & Spencer again because they're allowing any man who says they identify as a woman into the women's changing rooms. Ironically, radical feminists aren't even trans-exclusionary they include trans men in their feminism, because they were born women. But accusations of TERFery have been sufficient to intimidate many people, institutions and organisations I once admired, who're cowering before the tactics of the playground. 'They'll call us transphobic!' 'They'll say I hate trans people!' What next, they'll say you've got fleas? Speaking as a biological woman, a lot of people in positions of power really need to grow a pair (which is doubtless literally possible, according to the kind of people who argue that clownfish prove humans aren't a dimorphic species). So why am I doing this? Why speak up? Why not quietly do my research and keep my head down? Well, I've got five reasons for being worried about the new trans activism, and deciding I need to speak up. Firstly, I have a charitable trust that focuses on alleviating social deprivation in Scotland, with a particular emphasis on women and children. Among other things, my trust supports projects for female prisoners and for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. I also fund medical research into MS, a disease that behaves very differently in men and women. It's been clear to me for a while that the new trans activism is having (or is likely to have, if all its demands are met) a significant impact on many of the causes I support, because it's pushing to erode the legal definition of sex and replace it with gender. The second reason is that I'm an ex-teacher and the founder of a children's charity, which gives me an interest in both education and safeguarding. Like many others, I have deep concerns about the effect the trans rights movement is having on both. The third is that, as a much-banned author, I'm interested in freedom of speech and have publicly defended it, even unto Donald Trump. The fourth is where things start to get truly personal. I'm concerned about the huge explosion in young women wishing to transition and also about the increasing numbers who seem to be detransitioning (returning to their original sex), because they regret taking steps that have, in some cases, altered their bodies irrevocably, and taken away their fertility. Some say they decided to transition after realising they were same-sex attracted, and that transitioning was partly driven by homophobia, either in society or in their families. Most people probably aren't aware I certainly wasn't, until I started researching this issue properly that ten years ago, the majority of people wanting to transition to the opposite sex were male. That ratio has now reversed. The UK has experienced a 4400% increase in girls being referred for transitioning treatment. Autistic girls are hugely overrepresented in their numbers. The same phenomenon has been seen in the US. In 2018, American physician and researcher Lisa Littman set out to explore it. In an interview, she said: 'Parents online were describing a very unusual pattern of transgender-identification where multiple friends and even entire friend groups became transgender-identified at the same time. I would have been remiss had I not considered social contagion and peer influences as potential factors.' Littman mentioned Tumblr, Reddit, Instagram and YouTube as contributing factors to Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria, where she believes that in the realm of transgender identification 'youth have created particularly insular echo chambers.' Her paper caused a furore. She was accused of bias and of spreading misinformation about transgender people, subjected to a tsunami of abuse and a concerted campaign to discredit both her and her work. The journal took the paper offline and re-reviewed it before republishing it. However, her career took a similar hit to that suffered by Maya Forstater. Lisa Littman had dared challenge one of the central tenets of trans activism, which is that a person's gender identity is innate, like sexual orientation. Nobody, the activists insisted, could ever be persuaded into being trans. The argument of many current trans activists is that if you don't let a gender dysphoric teenager transition, they will kill themselves. In an article explaining why he resigned from the Tavistock (an NHS gender clinic in England) psychiatrist Marcus Evans stated that claims that children will kill themselves if not permitted to transition do not 'align substantially with any robust data or studies in this area. Nor do they align with the cases I have encountered over decades as a psychotherapist.' The writings of young trans men reveal a group of notably sensitive and clever people. The more of their accounts of gender dysphoria I've read, with their insightful descriptions of anxiety, dissociation, eating disorders, self-harm and self-hatred, the more I've wondered whether, if I'd been born 30 years later, I too might have tried to transition. The allure of escaping womanhood would have been huge. I struggled with severe OCD as a teenager. If I'd found community and sympathy online that I couldn't find in my immediate environment, I believe I could have been persuaded to turn myself into the son my father had openly said he'd have preferred. When I read about the theory of gender identity, I remember how mentally sexless I felt in youth. I remember Colette's description of herself as a 'mental hermaphrodite' and Simone de Beauvoir's words: 'It is perfectly natural for the future woman to feel indignant at the limitations posed upon her by her sex. The real question is not why she should reject them: the problem is rather to understand why she accepts them.' As I didn't have a realistic possibility of becoming a man back in the 1980s, it had to be books and music that got me through both my mental health issues and the sexualised scrutiny and judgement that sets so many girls to war against their bodies in their teens. Fortunately for me, I found my own sense of otherness, and my ambivalence about being a woman, reflected in the work of female writers and musicians who reassured me that, in spite of everything a sexist world tries to throw at the female-bodied, it's fine not to feel pink, frilly and compliant inside your own head; it's OK to feel confused, dark, both sexual and non-sexual, unsure of what or who you are. I want to be very clear here: I know transition will be a solution for some gender dysphoric people, although I'm also aware through extensive research that studies have consistently shown that between 60-90% of gender dysphoric teens will grow out of their dysphoria. Again and again I've been told to 'just meet some trans people.' I have: in addition to a few younger people, who were all adorable, I happen to know a self-described transsexual woman who's older than I am and wonderful. Although she's open about her past as a gay man, I've always found it hard to think of her as anything other than a woman, and I believe (and certainly hope) she's completely happy to have transitioned. Being older, though, she went through a long and rigorous process of evaluation, psychotherapy and staged transformation. The current explosion of trans activism is urging a removal of almost all the robust systems through which candidates for sex reassignment were once required to pass. A man who intends to have no surgery and take no hormones may now secure himself a Gender Recognition Certificate and be a woman in the sight of the law. Many people aren't aware of this. We're living through the most misogynistic period I've experienced. Back in the 80s, I imagined that my future daughters, should I have any, would have it far better than I ever did, but between the backlash against feminism and a porn-saturated online culture, I believe things have got significantly worse for girls. Never have I seen women denigrated and dehumanised to the extent they are now. From the leader of the free world's long history of sexual assault accusations and his proud boast of 'grabbing them by the pussy', to the incel ('involuntarily celibate') movement that rages against women who won't give them sex, to the trans activists who declare that TERFs need punching and re-educating, men across the political spectrum seem to agree: women are asking for trouble. Everywhere, women are being told to shut up and sit down, or else. I've read all the arguments about femaleness not residing in the sexed body, and the assertions that biological women don't have common experiences, and I find them, too, deeply misogynistic and regressive. It's also clear that one of the objectives of denying the importance of sex is to erode what some seem to see as the cruelly segregationist idea of women having their own biological realities or just as threatening unifying realities that make them a cohesive political class. The hundreds of emails I've received in the last few days prove this erosion concerns many others just as much. It isn't enough for women to be trans allies. Women must accept and admit that there is no material difference between trans women and themselves. But, as many women have said before me, 'woman' is not a costume. 'Woman' is not an idea in a man's head. 'Woman' is not a pink brain, a liking for Jimmy Choos or any of the other sexist ideas now somehow touted as progressive. Moreover, the 'inclusive' language that calls female people 'menstruators' and 'people with vulvas' strikes many women as dehumanising and demeaning. I understand why trans activists consider this language to be appropriate and kind, but for those of us who've had degrading slurs spat at us by violent men, it's not neutral, it's hostile and alienating. Which brings me to the fifth reason I'm deeply concerned about the consequences of the current trans activism. I've been in the public eye now for over twenty years and have never talked publicly about being a domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor. This isn't because I'm ashamed those things happened to me, but because they're traumatic to revisit and remember. I also feel protective of my daughter from my first marriage. I didn't want to claim sole ownership of a story that belongs to her, too. However, a short while ago, I asked her how she'd feel if I were publicly honest about that part of my life, and she encouraged me to go ahead. I'm mentioning these things now not in an attempt to garner sympathy, but out of solidarity with the huge numbers of women who have histories like mine, who've been slurred as bigots for having concerns around single-sex spaces. I managed to escape my first violent marriage with some difficulty, but I'm now married to a truly good and principled man, safe and secure in ways I never in a million years expected to be. However, the scars left by violence and sexual assault don't disappear, no matter how loved you are, and no matter how much money you've made. My perennial jumpiness is a family joke and even I know it's funny but I pray my daughters never have the same reasons I do for hating sudden loud noises, or finding people behind me when I haven't heard them approaching. If you could come inside my head and understand what I feel when I read about a trans woman dying at the hands of a violent man, you'd find solidarity and kinship. I have a visceral sense of the terror in which those trans women will have spent their last seconds on earth, because I too have known moments of blind fear when I realised that the only thing keeping me alive was the shaky self-restraint of my attacker. I believe the majority of trans-identified people not only pose zero threat to others, but are vulnerable for all the reasons I've outlined. Trans people need and deserve protection. Like women, they're most likely to be killed by sexual partners. Trans women who work in the sex industry, particularly trans women of colour, are at particular risk. Like every other domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor I know, I feel nothing but empathy and solidarity with trans women who've been abused by men. So I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe. When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he's a woman and, as I've said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside. That is the simple truth. On Saturday morning, I read that the Scottish government is proceeding with its controversial gender recognition plans, which will in effect mean that all a man needs to 'become a woman' is to say he's one. To use a very contemporary word, I was 'triggered'. Ground down by the relentless attacks from trans activists on social media, when I was only there to give children feedback about pictures they'd drawn for my book under lockdown, I spent much of Saturday in a very dark place inside my head, as memories of a serious sexual assault I suffered in my twenties recurred on a loop. That assault happened at a time and in a space where I was vulnerable, and a man capitalised on an opportunity. I couldn't shut out those memories and I was finding it hard to contain my anger and disappointment about the way I believe my government is playing fast and loose with womens and girls' safety. Late on Saturday evening, scrolling through children's pictures before I went to bed, I forgot the first rule of Twitter never, ever expect a nuanced conversation and reacted to what I felt was degrading language about women. I spoke up about the importance of sex and have been paying the price ever since. I was transphobic, I was a cunt, a bitch, a TERF, I deserved cancelling, punching and death. You are Voldemort said one person, clearly feeling this was the only language I'd understand. It would be so much easier to tweet the approved hashtags because of course trans rights are human rights and of course trans lives matter scoop up the woke cookies and bask in a virtue-signalling afterglow. There's joy, relief and safety in conformity. As Simone de Beauvoir also wrote, ' without a doubt it is more comfortable to endure blind bondage than to work for one's liberation; the dead, too, are better suited to the earth than the living.' Huge numbers of women are justifiably terrified by the trans activists; I know this because so many have got in touch with me to tell their stories. They're afraid of doxxing, of losing their jobs or their livelihoods, and of violence. But endlessly unpleasant as its constant targeting of me has been, I refuse to bow down to a movement that I believe is doing demonstrable harm in seeking to erode 'woman' as a political and biological class and offering cover to predators like few before it. I stand alongside the brave women and men, gay, straight and trans, who're standing up for freedom of speech and thought, and for the rights and safety of some of the most vulnerable in our society: young gay kids, fragile teenagers, and women who're reliant on and wish to retain their single sex spaces. Polls show those women are in the vast majority, and exclude only those privileged or lucky enough never to have come up against male violence or sexual assault, and who've never troubled to educate themselves on how prevalent it is. The one thing that gives me hope is that the women who can protest and organise, are doing so, and they have some truly decent men and trans people alongside them. Political parties seeking to appease the loudest voices in this debate are ignoring women's concerns at their peril. In the UK, women are reaching out to each other across party lines, concerned about the erosion of their hard-won rights and widespread intimidation. None of the gender critical women I've talked to hates trans people; on the contrary. Many of them became interested in this issue in the first place out of concern for trans youth, and they're hugely sympathetic towards trans adults who simply want to live their lives, but who're facing a backlash for a brand of activism they don't endorse. The supreme irony is that the attempt to silence women with the word 'TERF' may have pushed more young women towards radical feminism than the movement's seen in decades. The last thing I want to say is this. I haven't written this essay in the hope that anybody will get out a violin for me, not even a teeny-weeny one. I'm extraordinarily fortunate; I'm a survivor, certainly not a victim. I've only mentioned my past because, like every other human being on this planet, I have a complex backstory, which shapes my fears, my interests and my opinions. I never forget that inner complexity when I'm creating a fictional character and I certainly never forget it when it comes to trans people. All I'm asking all I want is for similar empathy, similar understanding, to be extended to the many millions of women whose sole crime is wanting their concerns to be heard without receiving threats and abuse. Midway through Spike Lee's busy and intelligent action drama Da 5 Bloods, we discover that one of the four African-American veterans who've returned to Vietnam on a quixotic mission voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. "So you're the guy!" the others joke, recalling photos of a strangely enthusiastic black man who kept popping up in the foreground of Trump's profoundly vanilla rallies. Lee has a knack for being topical, but although this film is ostensibly looking backwards, he's outdone himself here. The Trump voter is Paul (Delroy Lindo), an angsty, angry man haunted by his three tours in Vietnam in the early 1970s. He and his comrades Eddie (Norm Lewis), Otis (Clarke Peters) and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) have returned to Vietnam to search for the remains of their fallen leader, 'Stormin' Norman (Chadwick Boseman), a fearless warrior whose death in a firefight way back in 1971 has deeply affected all of them ever since. This seems noble and as the firefight happened right beside a crashed helicopter, they have strong leads on where Norman might be. But there's another, less lofty motive - a hidden stash of gold bullion that would make them all millionaires. When Otis looks up his old Vietnamese girlfriend, she puts them in touch with a French wheeler and dealer (Jean Reno) who, for a fee, might be willing to smuggle the bullion back into America for them. But can he really be trusted? And what, for that matter, are the real motives of the suspiciously helpful members of a landmine charity (Melanie Thierry, Paul Walter Hauser) the boys meet at a club? The mood of what initially seems a jolly jaunt is transformed once the comrades reach the interior jungles, which are redolent with bad memories of wartime traumas and the hovering ghost of Norman himself, who might not approve of the boys' illicit treasure hunt. They're not the only ones who haven't forgotten about the war, and though a group of jolly Viet Cong veterans buy them a drink in Saigon, others are not so forgiving, and wonder what these grizzled invaders are up to. As they hack their way through the jungle, the four amigos give flashing insights into their post-war lives. Eddie has gotten rich, but doesn't seem too happy about it, and he and the others hint at the harsh realities that faced them when they got home from war, returning heroes who were not acknowledged or thanked - in fact, they were shunned. The one most bitter about his lot in life is Paul, a thoroughly disillusioned soul whose vote for Trump was perhaps the last desperate act of a man yearning forlornly to find a way of being accepted as truly American. His son David (Jonathan Majors) has accompanied him on the trip, but Paul's sourness has infected that relationship too, much to David's dismay. All are adrift in different ways and unlikely to find solace in the land that haunts their darkest dreams. As ever, there are bracing political undercurrents to Lee's war film, which is interrupted by jarring doses of reality courtesy of still images reminding us of real people mentioned and horrible atrocities committed in Vietnam. The movie itself is many things, an action film, a war film, an anti-war film, a horror-comedy, but also a kind of western. And this last element is poignant: Lee seems to be saying that African-Americans are subtly excluded from most of their country's cultural touchstones, and everyone knows that black people don't belong in a western. Da 5 Bloods reminded me a lot of John Huston's The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre, in which three men went nuts looking for gold in the Mexican hills, but the difference here is that the four comrades were half mad already, driven towards the edge by wartime trauma, and PTSD. African-Americans make up just 11pc of the US population, Lee points out, but accounted for 33pc of ground troops in Vietnam, over-represented out there as they now are in their country's creaking penal system. No matter what black people do or what sacrifices they make, they seem destined to remain excluded, distrusted, stuck forever at the bottom of the American pile. Video of the Day The idea of a black person voting for Trump is seen by Paul's friends as an act of insanity, but Lee is pointing out that to view African-Americans as one homogeneous lump that thinks and acts and votes the same is just another form of racism. Delroy Lindo is superb in this demanding central role and at one point, deep in the jungle, gives a heartbreaking stream-of-consciousness monologue straight to camera that reveals what the audience has long suspected - he's a broken man. Streaming movies: Your guide to all the weeks latest releases online The King Of Staten Island (Amazon, Apple TV, Sky Store) The harshness of Judd Apatows comic style is softened by this collaboration with comedian Pete Davidson, who co-wrote this film based on his own life. Scott (Davidson) lost his firefighter dad at the age of seven: now 24, he still lives on Staten Island (the only place New Jersey looks down on) with his mom (Marisa Tomei), and spends most of his time smoking pot, watching Spongebob and doing bad tattoos on his friends. When his mother meets a fireman called Ray (Bill Burr), Scott has a meltdown and ends up sleeping in the fire station, where he learns a few lessons. Its a likeable, funny, warm-hearted film. PW Artemis Fowl (Disney+) Optioned way back in 2001, Eoin Colfers bestselling childrens novel is only now realised as a film, and this Kenneth Branagh/Disney version feels suspiciously short and may have been butchered post-production. Precocious 12-year-old Artemis Fowl (Ferdia Shaw) lives in a grand house on Irelands Atlantic coast with his father, Artemis Snr (Colin Farrell), the source of whose wealth is a mystery. When his dad goes missing, Artemis discovers that fairies are real, and gets mixed up in a battle with an underground fairy city. Lara McDonnell plays Holly, a fairy messenger who gets caught by Artemis but proves more than a match for him, and an unfortunately attired Judi Dench is the little peoples grumpy leader, who barks commands in a passable Irish accent. But all performances get lost in this busy and confusing film. Conor McPherson co-wrote the screenplay, but wit is thin on the ground, and far more effort seems to have gone into creating the wispy special effects that frequently arrive to overwhelm the story. Beautiful locations across Ireland offer some respite from the CGI, and there are pleasing coastal panoramas, but the problem here seems to be the convoluted story, and decisions that were made or not made about where the film should focus. Ive never read any of Eoin Colfers books, and for all I know, the young Artemis in them is a delightful and charming fellow, but hes not here. A muddle of heavy effects and stuttering action, this is not an easy watch. Its set up for a sequel that may not ever be made. PW Here is our first impression of the Xiaomi Mi Laptop 14 Horizon Edition. It is powered by a 10th generation Intel Core i7-10510U and comes with an Nvidia Ge Force MX350. Laptops arent the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Xiaomi, but as it so happens, the company has been making laptops for some time now. If you have had a friend travel to China or seen our coverage from CES, you would have seen photos of these laptops and theres no denying that theyre good. The Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition is the companys first laptop to be launched in India, and as per the company, its been designed specifically for India and is being launched in the country before anywhere else in the world. Xiaomi sent over their Made-for-India Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition for us to review. While the laptop is still under review, just two days of using it have definitely left us with some impressions Xiaomi Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition Specifications The Xiaomi Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition comes with some very impressive specs. The unit we have runs off the 10th generation Intel Core i7-10510U. This is a quad-core processor with 4 cores, 8 threads and has a base clock speed of 1.8GHz and a boost clock of 4.90GHz. Accompanying the Comet Lake processor is Nvidias GeForce MX350 graphics with 2GB VRAM. This is the first laptop to launch in India with this GPU. Theres 8GB of DDR4 memory clocked at 2666MHz. Last but not the least, we also get a 512GB NVMe drive, which operates at PCIe 3.0 x4. The display used by Xiaomi is a 14-inch full HD display with a matte coating. The Horizon Edition means that the display is surrounded by slim bezels on three sides, measuring a measly 3mm. Xiaomi Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition Special Features The Xiaomi Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition doesnt feel like a laptop thats just been put together by using available parts. It is a laptop that feels purpose-built. After you take the Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition out of its very standard cardboard box, you realise that youre holding a laptop that feels almost as premium as a Lenovo or Dell machine. The whole thing is made using magnesium alloy but does not give off a MacBook vibe, which is great. There really is no way to iterate the high quality of the build, but you can definitely see the very minimal nature of the design. Theres no branding anywhere, except the mi logo on the bottom bezel of the display and an Intel Core i7 sticker on the bottom right corner of the keyboard island. I like minimal and Im sure you will too. The narrow bezel display is definitely appreciated, but in terms of its peak brightness and colour accuracy, thats a matter for the in-depth review that will come later. Saving the best for last is the Nvidia GeForce MX350, which has been often claimed to almost match the performance of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050. There are definitely more things to talk about, but we also want to leave some things for our longer review that comes out in a few days. Using the Xiaomi Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition While Ive only had the Xiaomi Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition fore two days, I have been using it to do most of my work like writing and even light photo editing (RAW files from a Sony A7 Mark3). The laptop has been chugging along mostly just fine, without throwing any serious performance issues my way. What stands out is the incredibly thin and light design, without compromising on the rigidity of the body. However, there is one glaring omission from the laptop and thats the webcam. Xiaomi prioritized the slim bezels on this machine, so theres no built-in webcam. Instead, the company provides an external USB-webcam in the box which slides neatly onto the display. This is actually also quite great if youre the paranoid kind who has his/her webcam taped up like me. Xiaomi Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition First Impressions Honestly, I was expecting a flimsy laptop, built using plastic parts. I expected the lid to have a lot of flex and the overall build to feel cheap. I have no shame in admitting how wrong I was. The Xiaomi Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition is built extremely well. Their choice of features and specifications also allude to a well thought out machine, choosing the performance-oriented Comet Lake processor over Ice Lake. The fact that we get a 512GB NVMe drive operating at a full PCIe 3.0 x4 interface is also super impressive. You get all this at an incredibly competitive price, with Xiaomi claiming that the models that the Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition competes against, coming in at the Rs 80,000-85,000 range, while this fully spec'd machine costs only Rs. 59,999. Early benchmarks of the processor do tell a favourable story, but the laptop still has a very long way to go in terms of testing. The initial impressions of the Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition are highly favourable, but we will reserve our verdict on the laptops value proposition for our full review, which comes out June 16 2020. The controversy is very specific to the United States, but more broadly, it exposed a fault line being tested in all countries where free speech exists. In a divisive age where the US President frequently tweets lies late into the night, and when a spotlight has been placed on inequalities of gender and race, the boundaries of acceptable speech are being challenged. The small-L liberal shibboleth that all views should be aired so they can be interrogated in the marketplace of ideas, is no longer settled. Social media has democratised punditry in a way that is powerfully challenging to traditional journalism. But it has also led to a backlash against so-called "offence culture", where, some say, the offence and hurt felt by discrete groups are prioritised over the freedom to speak, or even think out loud. Says Jack Latimore, an editor with NITV in Australia: "With my journalist and editor hat on, of course, in the right forum, we should be interrogating these issues, themes and topics. Loading "But there is a nuance in there. It needs to be recognised that some views are violent towards blackfellas or persons of colour." In Australia, similar issues arise with increasing frequency. Channel Sevens Sunrise program has been criticised for welcoming One Nation leader Pauline Hanson as a regular guest. The same program was lambasted in 2018 when it featured a panellist saying of the Stolen Generations: "we need to do it again, perhaps". This week it was announced by a group of Aboriginal elders and young leaders that they would sue the program for racial discrimination over the broadcast. Last week ABCs Insiders program had an all-white panel discussing the Black Lives Matter protests. This week it will feature its first-ever Indigenous panellist, reporter Bridget Brennan. In 2018 veteran ABC journalist Sarah Ferguson came under fire when she interviewed far-right former Trump strategist and Breitbart News chair Steve Bannon, and tweeted out a photograph of herself with her subject. Ferguson was accused of giving a platform to neo-Nazis. Journalist Osman Faruqi tweeted that Ferguson and those defending her had "zero awareness of what it might be like to be one of the very few PoC [people of colour] journalists at the ABC, watching the biggest names throw you and people like you under the bus". ABC Four Corners journalist Sarah Ferguson with Steven Bannon. Credit:ABC Reflecting this week, Ferguson admitted she was "surprised" by the backlash. She still cannot understand how "there were journalists who said Bannon should not be interviewed". "You do have to be careful what you do when you give people time on-air," she says. But with the Bannon interview, it seemed "so obvious" why he was a valuable subject, particularly on the subject of China, which was one of the primary motivations for doing the interview. More generally, it was an insight into the mind of a man who had read the mood of the US electorate better than the pollsters. "They [Bannon and Trump] had understood moods in the voters," Ferguson says. "Polling gets them wrong, but every now and then there are political strategists who see and sense people they can take advantage of and bring to their cause. Faruqi, who left the ABC to work at Schwartz Media, which publishes The Saturday Paper and The Monthly magazine, says he never objected to the interview itself, only the way it was prosecuted by Ferguson. He believes she did not interrogate Bannon's views on race as closely as she should have. Journalist Osman Faruqi. Credit:Facebook/Osman Faruqi "I don't think that diversity in newsrooms fixes all these problems but if the Four Corners production team had more people in it directly threatened by the ideas Bannon espoused, then it might not have gone to air dismissive of the idea that his ideas are threatening," he says. Ferguson rejects that characterisation. She says "the most important thing for Australia at that time was to understand Trump's likely actions on China". Trump's 2016 victory, orchestrated by Bannon, is often attributed in part to a revolt against the emergence of a youthful "woke" culture which was challenging norms. But even former President Barack Obama called out this culture at a summit last year. "I do get a sense sometimes now among certain young people, and this is accelerated by social media, there is this sense sometimes of: 'The way of me making change is to be as judgmental as possible about other people, and thats enough," he said. "That's not activism." Former NSW premier and federal foreign minister Bob Carr had his own brush with so-called "cancel culture" in 2018 when he was disinvited from the Brisbane Writers Festival, along with feminist and author Germaine Greer, who has offended many with her comments on rape and transgender people. Carr warns against the "group think and political orthodoxy" which he believes is a "particular danger for the centre-left because it invites a backlash". He attributes Trump's election, in part, to that backlash. "Let extremists talk and let their arguments die in the air," he says. President Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon. Credit:Bloomberg But such tolerance is increasingly being challenged. David Smith, senior lecturer at the United States Studies Centre of Sydney University, says it is naive to maintain that extremist opinions can be rationally debated by a well-informed public in a fictional "marketplace of ideas". The problem with that, Smith says, is that Trump has brought things that were previously "beyond the pale" - conspiracy theories, the promotion of violence and outright lying - into the political mainstream. "We have seen what happens when people refuse to be arbiters of truth or opinion," he says. Loading "You get Mark Zuckerberg - no fact-checking of any political speech on Facebook." Latimore says the tribalising effect of social media, turbocharged by populist leaders, has forever changed the media landscape. "If we think back even to the '90s and further-back generations, there wasn't as much ideological tribalism as there is these days, he says. Ferguson makes a similar point. At the time of the backlash to her Bannon interview, she was "outraged by the outrage". "I am less outraged now. I am troubled," she says. "Barack Obama warned us about this happening - people retreating to their groups so that we no longer have zones of inclusion. "If we don't listen to each other, we are screwed." A Millville police officer has been suspended after commenting on a Facebook post in which he said of looters, "Seems like target practice to me" Officer Antonio Delfinado commented this on a post of a screenshot Wednesday of a President Trump Facebook post that referred to shooting protesters. The post talks about sending the National Guard to Minneapolis to quell recent protests, the result of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling of the neck of George Floyd for nearly nine minutes, killing him. The post includes the line, Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Delfinado was suspended from his duties Wednesday and the police department is investigating the matter, a spokesperson said. He declined to say if Delfinado is suspended with or without pay. The Millville police department was made aware of a controversial Facebook post made by one of our officers. The officer has been removed from their duties pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation, Capt. Ross Hoffman said. We thank those members of the community who brought the post to our attention, he added. The Millville Police Department was made aware of a Facebook post made by one of our officers and our Professional... Posted by Millville, NJ Police Department on Thursday, June 11, 2020 Delfinado did not immediately respond to an email sent to his police department email and his Facebook profile appears to have been deactivated. Millville Commissioner Jim Parent told NJ Advance Media he was unaware of Delfinados comment, but when relayed the comment and context, he said, Yeah thats horrible, horrible. Horrible thing to be said. Thats not the America I know." People have a right to demonstrate, Im a firm believer in that. Parent declined to say if he thought Delfinado should be terminated, instead saying the decision is up to the system itself. Those who are in charge of that, he said. You know, its time for them to make their decision of whats best." Mayor Michael Santiago and Commissioner Joseph Pepitone did not immediately respond to requests for comment. EDITORS NOTE: A previous version of this story mistakenly attributed to the officer a reaction on his Facebook post made by someone else. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. The Camden County Prosecutor's Office on Thursday released video from a body cam worn by a Woodlynne Borough police officer charged with assault for allegedly using pepper spray on two people without provocation last week. Ryan Dubiel, 31, of Wenonah, was charged Wednesday with two counts of simple assault in the June 4 incident. The Prosecutors Office said in a statement that video recorded of the afternoon incident shows that at the time of the OC spray deployment, the individuals were not observed physically resisting or attempting to harm others or themselves. OC stands for oleoresin capsicum, oil found in peppers. Dubiel, who has worked for the Woodlynne Police Department for 10 months, was suspended without pay. The Prosecutors Office said Dubiel has worked for nine different police departments. The body cam video shows Dubiel and another officer responding to a 911 complaint about people trespassing and loitering in front of a residence. Several young males are seen on a porch when words are exchanged between Dubiel and one of them. The video shows Dubiel then spraying the males. Transport Canada Must Implement Mandatory Slowdown in the Cabot Strait OTTAWA, June 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oceana Canada today released one week of results of an ongoing analysis of vessel speeds in a voluntary slowdown zone in the Cabot Strait, a key passage for endangered North Atlantic right whales as they migrate into the Gulf of St. Lawrence in search of food. Using data from Global Fishing Watch, Oceana Canada revealed that between May 19 and 25, 2020, the vast majority, 72 per cent, were not complying with the voluntary slowdown of 10 knots, exposing the fact that mandatory speed limits are needed to slow vessels down. The highest observed speed 21.1 knots was a Canadian cargo ship. North Atlantic right whales are one of the worlds most endangered whales, with only around 400 left. Studies have found that slowing ship speeds to 10 knots or less in areas where these whales may be encountered can reduce the lethality of a collision by 86 per cent. Transport Canada uses several measures to try to protect right whales from ship strikes, including a combination of mandatory season-long and temporary slowdown zones. In February, Transport Canada announced a voluntary speed limit in the Cabot Strait of 10 knots for vessels that are 13 metres and longer that would take effect from April 28 to June 15 and again from October 1 to November 15, 2020. The main route into the Gulf of St. Lawrence for right whales is the Cabot Strait. Right whales were first spotted in the western Gulf of St. Lawrence last month on May 3. Oceana Canada has been sharing weekly reports of the exceptionally high level of non-compliance with the voluntary measures with Transport Canada, urging that they be made mandatory. In an industry where speed often provides a competitive advantage, we are concerned that having a voluntary slowdown creates a disincentive for vessel operators to comply with the speed restriction and an unfair edge to those who dont some of whom are travelling at almost double the recommended speed, said Kim Elmslie, Oceana Canada Campaign Director. The high level of non-compliance, and lack of consequence, poses a real threat for individual right whales and the survival of the species as a whole. Story continues Research has also shown that pregnant females and mothers with calves may be more susceptible to ship strikes, as they spend more time resting at the surface. One newborn calf has already been struck this winter in U.S. waters and is presumed to be dead. At least 10 right whales were killed last year and only seven calves were born over the winter. There were 22 deaths in Canadian waters between 2017 and 2019. We must do everything we can to protect all right whales and prevent the extinction of this species, said Elmslie. Vessels are not complying with the voluntary slowdown in the Cabot Strait; therefore, it must be made mandatory before it is too late. Each death pushes right whales closer to extinction. Oceana Canadas analysis used data from Global Fishing Watch, a tool developed by Oceana in partnership with Google and Skytruth, which uses machine learning to interpret data from various ship tracking sources, like the Automatic Identification System (AIS), to monitor ship speed and positions in North Atlantic right whale conservation areas. The mapping platform is a powerful tool for ocean conservation that has been generously supported by the Government of Canada. In July 2020, Oceana Canada will publish a full report on vessel speeds in the Cabot Strait throughout the first voluntary slowdown period. Last year, Oceana launched a joint campaign in Canada and the U.S. to reduce risks to North Atlantic right whales. Read our report: The Last 400: Strategies for Saving North Atlantic Right Whales in Canada . For information about the analysis and to learn more, visit: oceana.ca/en/cabot-strait Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canadas formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canadas oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits and protect our future. ASSETS FOR MEDIA LINKED HERE . BACKGROUND North Atlantic right whales were named for being the right whale to hunt because they were often found near shore, swim slowly and tend to float when killed. They were aggressively hunted, and their population dropped from peak estimates of up to 21,000 to perhaps fewer than 100 by the 1920s. After whaling of North Atlantic right whales was banned in 1935, their population increased to as many as 483 individuals in 2010. Unfortunately, that progress has now reversed. Collisions with ships is one of two leading causes of North Atlantic right whale injury and death. North Atlantic right whales are slow, swimming around 10 kilometres (5 knots) per hour, usually near the waters surface. They are also dark in color and lack a dorsal fin, making them very difficult to spot. Studies have found that the speed of a ship is a major factor in ship-related collisions with North Atlantic right whales. At normal operating speeds, ships cannot maneuver to avoid them, and North Atlantic right whales swim too slowly to be able to move out of the way. This puts them at great risk of being struck, which can cause deadly injuries from ship strikes or cuts from propellers. Entanglement in fishing gear is the other leading cause of North Atlantic right whale deaths. Fishing gear from the U.S. and Canada entangles an estimated 100 North Atlantic right whales each year, and about 86 per cent of all North Atlantic right whales have been entangled at least once. Ropes have been seen wrapped around North Atlantic right whales mouths, fins, tails and bodies, which slows them down, making it difficult to swim, reproduce and feed, and can cause death. The lines cut into the whales flesh, leading to life-threatening infections, and are so strong that they have severed fins and tails, and cut into bone. Contacts: Tammy Thorne, Oceana Canada, tthorne@oceana.ca , 437-247-0954 and Kathleen Munro, Pilot PMR, kathleen.munro@pilotpmr.com , 902-789-3165 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/67c2b845-ba04-48c7-a465-177a7c703077 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/72dfd910-b07e-423c-b38c-35b34e81c866 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cd77d71e-462a-4718-b24a-44d5802acff0 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2714f36b-6801-402f-b279-6522cc818574 Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 06:22 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde138bc 1 World Racism,racism-in-indonesia,black-lives-matter,Priest,united-states,protest Free An Indonesian priest based in the United States has caused a stir on social media because of a speech he made during a recent Black Lives Matter protest that referenced Indonesias history of discrimination. In a video that has now gone viral, Portland City Blessing Church lead pastor Oscar Surjadi addresses a group of protesters gathered in a public square in Portland. I came to the US not for this. I was born in Indonesia and I know what it means [to experience] prejudice and discrimination, Oscar said in the video. I thought I [fled] Indonesia, and I came here so I could breathe freedom. But I look at what has been happening since last week, and my heart has just melted. Indonesian netizens have since fired back at the priests speech. Some claimed that Indonesia had always protected the rights of minority groups and had therefore been described inaccurately. Dear Oscar Surjadi, Indonesia is a very safe and harmonious country for minorities. In this country, all minority faiths are given national holidays to observe their respective holy days. You must know about this if you were born in Indonesia. Stop disparaging your own country abroad! @Hilmi28 tweeted on Thursday. Other Twitter users accused Oscar of treason, saying his speech was a deliberate attempt to smear Indonesias reputation abroad. Oscar Surjadi is a traitor. He is one of the nations enemies, @404Termux tweeted. According to the churchs official website, Oscar has served as the general overseer of the Portland City Blessing Church in Portland, Oregon, since 1998. Read also: Chinese-Indonesians must support #PapuanLivesMatter Oscar, who was born in Jakarta, left business school and abandoned his career in New York to attend Philadelphia College of Bible in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1995. He was anointed a full-time minister the same year. Despite widespread claims of cultural and religious tolerance at a national level, Indonesian minorities have often faced discrimination and outright bigotry amid the worlds largest Muslim population. A survey conducted by the Indonesian Survey Circle in September 2019 found that nearly 60 percent of the countrys Muslims were against the idea of non-Muslims being elected president. More than 50 percent of the surveys Muslim respondents were also against the idea of non-Muslims building houses of worship in predominantly Muslim neighborhoods. Last December, Christian residents of Kampung Baru village in Dharmasraya regency in the predominantly Muslim province of West Sumatra were told by local police officers not to hold Christmas services in their own community. The polices suggestion was apparently made in response to a letter sent by village leaders earlier that month banning the community of about 16 families from celebrating Christmas in the neighborhood. Other minority groups, such as Papuans, have frequently been subjected to acts of racism over the years. Papua Police officers wrapped a snake around a native Papuan they suspected of theft during an interrogation last February. The police have since apologized for the act. Last August, riots broke out in several provinces in the archipelago as people protested the racial abuse of Papuan students in East Java. The death of George Floyd, an African-American man who died while being arrested in the US, and the ensuing global outcry have sparked renewed public discourse about racism against Papuans in Indonesia. Washington Solicitor General Noel J. Francisco, the Justice Department official responsible for defending the Trump administration before the Supreme Court, has told the department that he plans to leave, a person familiar with his decision said late Wednesday. Francisco's top deputy, Jeff Wall, will most likely step in as acting solicitor general as the White House searches for a replacement. While it is not unusual for solicitors general to leave as the Supreme Court winds down its term, Francisco would be the second high-ranking official to depart in the coming months. On Monday, Brian A. Benczkowski, the head of the department's criminal division, announced that he would leave in July. While at the department, he has worked to stem the nation's opioid crisis and handled the politically charged referral of a whistleblower complaint about President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine. The person who spoke of Francisco's planned departure did so on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the news media. The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment early Thursday. CNN first reported Francisco's decision to leave. Since Francisco, 50, was confirmed as solicitor general in September 2017, he has gone before the Supreme Court to argue some of the most controversial positions taken by the Trump administration, most notably Trump's decision in his first week in office to ban people from several predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. The travel ban set off a firestorm in the Justice Department when Sally Q. Yates, then the acting attorney general, refused to comply and was fired. The Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that Trump had the authority to impose the ban. The solicitor general got his start in high-level Republican politics when he joined the legal team of George W. Bush, then a presidential candidate, during the 2000 Florida election recount. Francisco served in Bush's administration until leaving in 2005 for Jones Day, the law firm that has produced several Trump administration legal hires, including Donald McGahn. Navy rescues two fishermen after Phuket storm swamps longtail boats, search continues for four more PHUKET: A search and rescue team from the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command have safely recovered two fishermen after two longtail boats sank in heavy seas off Koh Maithon early this morning (June 12). The search continues four more missing from the second longtail boat. marineSafetyweathermilitarypolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Friday 12 June 2020, 11:28AM The two fishermen were rescued by a Navy patrol boat this morning (June 12). Photo: Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command The two fishermen were rescued by a Navy patrol boat this morning (June 12). Photo: Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command The two fishermen were rescued by a Navy patrol boat this morning (June 12). Photo: Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command The search began at 8am after the Navy and Marine Police were informed that debris had been found in the water some eight kilometers southwest of Maiton Island. Koh Maithon itself lies some eight kilometres southwest off the tip of Cape Panwa, on Phukets east coast. Local fishermen passing by found foam crates floating on the sea, and the identification card of Witoon Mahawannasri, 38, from Phayao Province, reported Marine Police Region 8 Chief Col Prasert Srikhunrat. Navy boat Tor 229 was deployed immediately on receiving the notice, and safely recovered Suthep Hapsup and Arthit Banpoom, who were on one of the two longtail boats that sank in heavy seas, reported the Navy search team. The search continues for four other people still missing from the other longtail boat: Abi Wareesri (owner), Preechaprakon Hapsup, Witoon Mahawannasri and Nikorn Faipet. The two boats left Ao Makham, on Phukets east coast, at 4:30pm yesterday (June 11) with guests for fishing, Marine Police reported. The two boats were swamped by large waves and sank about 1.5 miles southwest of Koh Maithon at about 3am, The Phuket News was told. The search for the missing four continues with the Navy assisted by Marine Police and local fishermen. WASHINGTON - The U.S. military, under scrutiny for its role in efforts to quell protests and its own difficult history involving race, is facing another reckoning as it weighs how to confront a legacy of Confederate symbolism without running afoul of President Donald Trump. Momentum toward possible changes had been building in the Pentagon as the Marine Corps released a policy last week prohibiting the display of the Confederate Battle Flag from on its installations. The other services also acknowledged that they were discussing the issue, which the military has avoided for years. But Trump's intervention in one of the most significant parts of the discussion - 10 Army bases named after Confederate officers who fought to preserve slavery - has left military officials unclear how to proceed, according to six defense officials familiar with the issue. Once again, some of them said, the president has dragged an institution that prides itself on remaining apolitical into a heated partisan and cultural fight. "I think we kind of have whiplash right now," said one defense official, who like several others spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. "We don't know what's next." The conversation in the Army, which drew the president's wrath, had included the possibility of forming a blue-ribbon committee comprising retired service members, historians and lawmakers from both parties, including people of color, to develop recommendations for renaming the bases and other reforms, according to three defense officials. The service had declined to do so for years, including during the Obama administration. Senior Pentagon officials still want to proceed with other aspects of the plan, including the prohibitions on displaying the Confederate battle flag, two senior defense officials said. But "everyone is aware of the president's position" on renaming bases, and they are proceeding cautiously on the related issues because of it, one of those officials said. Trump's rebuke in tweets on Wednesday came after several days of mounting frustration and minutes before White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany went to brief reporters. She expected to be asked about the issue, and sought direction from the president, said three people familiar with the decision. Trump became animated as he talked about it with staff, aides said. He had not been told that Pentagon officials would disclose on Monday that Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy were open to bipartisan discussion about renaming bases. The president felt like he had to stop any changes, the officials said, asking "Where will it end?" The Senate Armed Services Committee, led by Republicans, also had just voted for an amendment proposed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., in the defense spending bill that would require the Defense Department to rename bases, buildings, streets, weapons and other "assets" that are named after Confederate leaders. After a wide-ranging discussion, the staff decided that president would announce his position in tweets and that McEnany would speak on the matter at the briefing, the officials familiar with the discussion said. Nearly immediately, Trump tweeted that his administration "will not even consider" renaming "legendary" bases like Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Hood, Texas, all of which are named after Confederates. "Our history as the Greatest Nation in the World will not be tampered with," Trump tweeted. "Respect our Military!" Trump has long been opposed to such efforts, including the proposed removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee that was at the center of white nationalist protests in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017 that turned violent. He sees such efforts as politically correct action that offend his supporters who are proud of their heritage, the officials said. He had watched on television this week as protesters tore down statues of Confederate leaders in several cities. "Don't they have more important things to be doing?" Trump told senior staff members this week of the military officials discussing base name changes, according to one person with direct knowledge of his comments. The Navy's top officer, Adm. Michael Gilday, also had just announced on Tuesday that he was planning prohibitions on Confederate battle flags that are similar to the Marine Corps'. The Air Force, whose leaders have spoken passionately about racism since the police killing of George Floyd last month, planned to release a policy on Thursday that prohibited the display of the Confederate battle flag amid a broader discussion about injustices, three defense officials said. But they have held back, following the president's rebuke of the Army. The Coast Guard, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, also has not yet addressed the issue publicly. The episode comes amid an extraordinary period of tension between Trump and the military, including opposition from Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to his desire to use active-duty troops to respond to protests triggered by Floyd's death. Trump ultimately acquiesced but only after shouting at the two leaders, senior administration officials said. Trump also has been frustrated by a backlash to Esper and Milley's presence with him on June 1 as he walked from the White House to a nearby church that had been partially burned in a protest. Trump is more frustrate with Esper than Milley, two officials said, and generally has more positive feelings toward Milley. Peaceful protesters had just been forcibly cleared from the area, prompting former defense secretary Jim Mattis and other past military officials to decry the appearance of senior Pentagon officials supporting a crackdown on freedom of speech. Milley and Esper have since apologized. The Army bases named after Confederate soldiers were mostly established in the 20th century, as the United States was training for World War I and needed vast open space. They courted approval from officials in Georgia, North Carolina and other southern states, and in some cases named camps at the request of local officials. The proposals could include buildings, ships and street names on bases in the other services, too. The Navy, for example, has a warship that was named in 1989 the USS Chancellorsville, after a Confederate win in the Civil War. While other ships in its class also are named after famous battles, including American losses, the ship's coat of arms includes an inverted wreath to recognize the death of Confederate Lt. Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, according to Navy history of the ship. Buildings on military installations also have been named after Confederates, including Lee Barracks at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Eliminating the symbolism, including the Army's base names, is a first step that shows the military is serious about more substantive change, said Terron Sims II, a former Army captain and Iraq War veteran. Sims, who is black, said that when returned from the war, he was assigned to Fort Polk, La., which is named after a Confederate general. "I can't speak for how white people have felt for all these years," said Sims, a graduate of West Point now active in Democratic politics. "But as a black person, you find it odd having to serve on an installation that is dedicated to someone whose sole purpose in life was to keep you in bondage." John Estrada, a retired sergeant major of the Marine Corps, said he was proud to see Gen. David Berger, the commandant of his service, announce in April that he was banning the display of Confederate battle flags, and then follow through with a new policy. Berger said that while some see the flag as a symbol of their heritage, it "carries the power to inflame feelings of division" and can weaken unit cohesion needed in combat. Estrada, a black immigrant who became a U.S. citizen while serving in the military, said that when he sees a Confederate battle flag flying on a vehicle near him on a back road, it still evokes anger and fear in him. He is in favor of banning the display of flags on bases and changing the names of Army bases. "I'm not saying that everyone who adores the Confederate flag is racist, by any means," said Estrada, who served as the U.S. ambassador to his native Trinidad and Tobago during the Obama administration. "But it's what that symbol represents to people of color. Black people, especially. It represents bondage. It represents people who embrace that." Activists should not let up on addressing the issue of both Confederate flags and names in the military, said Richard Brookshire, a former Army sergeant who now demonstrates with Black Lives Matter. Brookshire, who deployed to Afghanistan as a medic, said that he saw a fascination with Nazism among fellow soldiers while assigned to a U.S. unit in Germany that concerned him. After leaving the military, he co-founded the Black Veterans Project, a nonprofit that advocates for black veterans. "The time is now and the time has always been now to remove the vestiges of slavery from American institutions," Brookshire said of eliminating Confederate symbolism in the military. "I don't want to say it's the easy way out. But it's the easiest way to remove a symbol of white supremacy." The 'luckiest man alive' who worked on the River Kwai bridge and escaped a firing squad in a Japanese prisoners of war camp has celebrated his 100th birthday. Walter Stead, who lives in Acaster Malbis, York, marked the occasion with four generations of his family and 30 neighbours who joined from outside to sing him happy birthday. Born in Leeds, the Second World War veteran served in Burma and was one of the 180,000 labourers forced to work on the bridge, known as the Death Railway, which was started over 75 years ago. Walter Stead, pictured holding his birthday card, who lives in Acaster Malbis, York, marked the occasion with four generations of his family and 30 neighbours joined from outside Walter, circled, served in Burma and was one of the 180,000 labourers forced to work on the River Kwai bridge, known as the Death Railway, which was started over 75 years ago The construction of the infamous railway line saw 16,000 Allied servicemen, including 7,000 British troops, and 100,000 Asian labourers worked to death. Before joining the Territorial Army, Walter became a printer for the Yorkshire Post and used to write a knitting wool column under the pseudonym Jean Marshall. For his centenary, Walter received a handwritten-letter from Sophie the Duchess of Wessex, a patron of FEPOW (Far East prisoners of war), and the Queen. His son, Peter, told MailOnline: 'The celebrations were marvellous. He loved it and is so alert - it's encouraging to see him so happy when we're with him. 'He had four wonderful generations of his family there - myself, my son and my son's son. My father fully enjoyed himself in the moment and is still bright as a button and so switched on - his sense of humour is brilliant.' Referring to Walter's time as a prisoner of war, Peter added: 'He was recaptured, beaten and torture but has led a full, enjoyable and active life. A shot from the film 'The Bridge over the River Kwai', which stars Alec Guiness as the obsessed leader of a group of POW's working on the infamous 'Death Railway' in Burma Walter pictured during his 100th birthday celebrations, left, and his cake, right. His son, Peter, said: 'He loved it and is so alert - it's encouraging to see him so happy when we're with him' 'It happened 75 years ago and he always says "I live for the future and can't change the past, I just enjoy the moment"'. While he was taken prisoner, Walter was declared as 'missing in action presumed dead', according to the Mirror. After losing seven stone he sneaked out of camp in search of food, but was given the death penalty three weeks later after being found out and set to face the firing squad. However, the next day he was told: '"Youre the luckiest man alive. Theyve had people speaking on your behalf all night and they rescinded the death penalty.' The bridge on which Walter worked inspired the 1957 film Bridge On The River Kwai. Walter, back left, during the celebrations with four generations of his family. He received a handwritten card from Sophie the Duchess of Wessex and the Queen Walter pictured at his grandson's wedding. Before joining the Territorial Army, Walter became a printer for the Yorkshire Post and used to write a knitting wool column under a pseudonym It is a classic fictional film inspired by the true story of British and American POWs working to build the titular structure for their Japanese captors during World War II. The movie stars William Holden, Jack Hawkins, and Alec Guinness and is based on the 1952 novel Le Pont de la Riviere Kwai by French author Pierre Boulle, who also wrote Planet of the Apes. It sees the POWs arrive at a Japanese camp in modern-day Myanmar before being ordered to construct a railway bridge over the River Kwai to connect Bangkok and the city of Yangon. While building the bridge under horrific conditions, they secretly plot to blow up the construction. Bridge On The River Kwai won seven Academy Awards, and has been named the 11th greatest British film of the 20th Century by the British Film Institute. Government surveillance planes have been flying over George Floyd protests in several major U.S. cities, it has been revealed. The planes, believed to be operated by the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency and Customs and Border Protection, were tracked over Washington DC, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and elsewhere. Critics of the practice, including Democrats in Congress, believe the spy planes are equipped with infrared cameras and even 'dirt boxes' used to collect cell phone location data. In a letter to the FBI, DEA and CBP on Tuesday, nearly three dozen members of Congress expressed their 'deep and profound concerns' about the practice, and demanded that the surveillance flights cease. People attend a demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, protesting the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis, in Washington, DC, on June 4 Though the flights seem to involve a hodgepodge of agencies, some details about them can be gleaned from public flight records as well as the Congressional letter. In Washington DC, an FBI-operated Cessna 560 Citation was spotted on flight trackers circling the city on the night of June 1. The Congress members allege that this plane might have been equipped with the cell phone location data trackers. On June 2 and 3, and Air National Guard RC-26B Condor was also tracked circling in highly restricted DC airspace for hours. The RC-26B is a reconnaissance plane often used for drug interdictions, and is typically equipped with spotter scope, daylight mission video and Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) thermal video. The RC-26B (seen in file photo) is a reconnaissance plane often used for drug interdictions, and is typically equipped with spotter scope, daylight mission video and FLIR thermal video Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut tweeted of the flights over DC: 'I have questions.' 'First time I can find that this aircraft, normally used for war zones/disasters/narcotics, has been used to gather intel at a protest. Very troubling,' he wrote. In Minneapolis, San Antonio and Detroit, CBP flew Predator drones above protests to disseminate live feeds to law enforcement, according to the Congress members. The surveillance flights in Minneapolis began as early as May 29, when flight data shows a MQ-9 Predator B making a hexagonal pattern at 22,000 feet above the city where Floyd was killed days earlier. The drone with the call sign CBP-104 was spotted circling Minneapolis on May 29 at 22,000 feet, making several flights around the city before flying straight over back to base An unmanned Predator B taxis back to a hangar, stock image. Lawmakers have demanded an investigation into why a predator drone was used to record George Floyd protesters In a letter to Congress, the Department of Homeland Security said that the drone 'was preparing to provide live video to aid in situational awareness at the request of our federal law enforcement partners in Minneapolis.' However, the drone returned to base in North Dakota when 'no longer needed for operational awareness' the letter said. CBP has been using the remotely piloted Predator B since 2005 to monitor the border in areas that are remote or difficult to access. In Las Vegas, flight data shows an RC-26B flew circles over the city on June 2 and 3. The RC-26B is operated by the FBI as well as National Guard units, and it is unclear which was flying the aircraft over Las Vegas. The current situation in Brazil, now a global hotspot for the virus, is of increasing concern, especially in cities. The Americas are bearing the brunt of the global coronavirus pandemic at present, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, with North and South Americas currently having four of the 10 worst-hit countries in the world. The virus was highly active in Central and South America, the WHOs top emergency expert Mike Ryan said, highlighting problems in Brazil and Mexico. The current situation in Brazil, now one of the global hotspots for the virus, was of increasing concern, especially in heavily-populated cities, he told a news conference. The countrys health system was still coping, although some intensive care units were at a critical stage and under heavy pressure with more than 90 percent bed occupancy rates, Ryan said. Mexico meanwhile has nearly 130,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and more than 15,000 deaths, the WHO said. Brazil is the second worst-hit country in the world, with more than 800,000 cases and 41,000 deaths, according to a tally by the Reuters news agency. Both countries lag behind the United States, the worst-hit country, which has had more than two million cases and nearly 114,000 deaths. We are very much in the upswing of this pandemic, particularly in the global South, Ryan said. Some countries are having trouble exiting the so-called lockdowns as they are seeing an increase in cases. A relative gives farewell to his loved one in the dusty pantheon of the municipality of Valle de Chalco, Mexico; the cemetery of Valle de Chalco had to be expanded as it ran out of space for graves due to the pandemic [File: Jorge Nunez/EPA-EFE] It was possible the disease was spreading again as societies reopened and people began meeting again, Ryan said, especially when there was inadequate testing and social distancing was insufficient. He acknowledged, however, the pressures on countries to get back to normal, especially to reduce the economic damage the crisis has wrought. There is a careful balance between keeping people at home and the untoward effect of that on economic and society. That is not an easy balance. There are no correct answers, Ryan said. Ryan said although some countries appeared to be over the worst of the virus, clusters of the disease were still occurring. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Gheybreyesus said that vigilance was required worldwide against the very dangerous virus even in regions where it appeared to be on the wane. Our fear is although it is declining in Europe, it is increasing in other parts of the world. Even Europe cannot be safe because the virus can be reintroduced to Europe, he said. Tedros was also firm on the need for any vaccines had to be shared fairly between countries, amid concerns some could hoard any drugs they develop. Vaccines should be made available as a global public good, to ensure everyone had fair access to any life-saving products that are developed, Tedros said. On the morning of June 12, resident of Novosaratovka village of the Getabeki region of Azerbaijan Elshan Rasul Ogli Aliyev (born in 1994) found himself in Areguni village of the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia. As administrative head of Areguni village of the Geghamasar community of Gegharkunik Province Sos Hovhannisyan told Armenpress, the first person who spotted the Azerbaijani was one of the residents of the village and the guard of the summer camp in Areguni, and the resident was the one who escorted the Azerbaijani to the administrative office. We talked without a translator because I understand Azerbaijani a little since I have lived in one of the Armenian-populated villages of Azerbaijan for many years. My fellow village Nersik Petrosyan, who speaks Azerbaijani better than me, also joined our conversation. The Azerbaijani didnt have any document or weapon. According to him, he is Elshan Rasul Ogli Aliyev and was born in Kalmikia. His father is Azerbaijani, and his mother is Ukrainian. He was six years old when his parents divorced. The Ukrainian mother left Elshan and his brother, leaving it up to the father to take care of the brothers, but the father returned to Azerbaijan and took the children to an orphanage. After leaving the orphanage, Elshan lived the life of a wanderer, did heavy-duty work and found himself in Getabeki region to work as a shepherd. He lived in difficult conditions and decided to leave Azerbaijan. According to him, he explored the location on the map for a long time and became convinced that the closest and most appropriate spot is Armenia and crossed the border. After he told me this, I called representatives of the National Security Service of Armenia, and the Azerbaijani surrendered to the security officers, Sos Hovhannisyan said. Ithaca, N.Y. -- A city in Central New York is first in America to officially propose canceling rent during the coronavirus pandemic. WSKG reports the Ithaca Common Council has passed a resolution asking the state and federal government to provide rent and mortgage assistance in Ithaca, N.Y., where 70 percent of residents are renters. If financial aid isnt possible, the council is asking New York state to grant Mayor Svante Myrick the authority to cancel rent debt from the last three months, both for tenants and small businesses. According to Fast Company, Ithaca is the first U.S. city to propose a #CancelTheRents measure after Covid-19 shutdowns devastated the economy, putting more than 40 million Americans out of work. New York and other states have temporarily banned evictions but havent addressed how newly unemployed people will be able to pay outstanding rent when the ban ends. Its sort of rescheduling the problem rather than solving it, Ithaca Tenants Union organizer Genevieve Rand told Fast Company. Theres still the reality of the fact theres not enough money going into the pockets of a lot of poor people. And rescheduling the time where theyll be punished for that with eviction isnt the same as actually keeping us safe. However, U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (NY-23) told WSKG that he doesnt support the utopian and unrealistic idea of cancelling rent. Really? You think that this can work? the Republican congressman said. In the sense that you can waive rent and you can not have consequences that are going to impact those same people that you are trying to help. According to the Ithaca Voice, though, rent cancellation still wouldnt happen in the immediate future. Due to New York states emergency declaration, the resolution would have to be first approved by New York State Department of Health to give the mayor power to issue an executive order forgiving three months of rent. The Common Council would then need to approve the order, which also seeks to allow Myrick to prohibit eviction of residential or small-business tenants, and obligate landlords to offer lease extensions at the current rent level. Even if granted these powers, would I cancel rent tomorrow? I wouldnt, Myrick told the Voice. What I would do is put together a working group that would allow us to find real rent relief that likely would include rent cancellation but it would only come in partnership with relief for small landlords and homeowners. MORE: 3 Upstate NY cities named best post-pandemic places to live in the country Restarting NY, Phase 3: Whats opening? Whats closed? Pyramid gets extension on $430M in loans on Destiny USA: report When is 2nd stimulus check coming? How much will I get? Mnuchin talks new direct payments China is apparently operating some of its Y-8FQ ASW (Anti-submarine Warfare) aircraft from a 3,100 meter (10,000 foot) airstrip on the Fiery Cross (Yongshu) Reef airbase. This base was completed in 2016 by dredging up enough sand to create a 271 hectare (677 acre) artificial island. Before that, there were two tiny islands that were rocky outcroppings only exposed at low tide. Those rocks were the part of the reef that was a hazard and one of the ships that sank there is the 19th century was the Fiery Cross. The reef was most frequently visited by Vietnamese fishermen because the closest land, 600 kilometers away, was Vietnam. Rarely did Chinese fishermen visit because China was over a thousand kilometers away. China made a claim to the area in the 1930s, when Vietnam was a French colony and China was at war with Japan. In the 1970s China used force (some brief naval skirmishes) to force Vietnam out of the area. The Chinese claim is not recognized by international treaties, which China has signed, specifying who owns what offshore. Fiery Cross Reef is within the Spratly Islands. China describes the Fiery Cross facility as a naval rescue station but most of the time military aircraft are operating from the airbase. As many as 500 military personnel are stationed on Fiery Cross but the normal garrison is about half that. The base now has air-search radar and anti-aircraft weapons. There are also docks large enough to accommodate an aircraft carrier and storage areas for water and fuel. While some rainwater can be captured, most of it to be shipped in. Vegetables have been successfully grown in the sandy soil, but that requires freshwater. All supplies have to be regularly shipped in from mainland China. A special fleet of transports has been built to supply the growing number of South China Sea bases. The Spratlys are a group of some 100 islets, atolls, and reefs that total only about five square kilometers (1,200 acres) of land, but sprawl across some 410,000 square kilometers of the South China Sea. Set amid some of the world's most productive fishing grounds, the islands are believed to have enormous oil and gas reserves. Several nations have overlapping claims on the group. About 45 of the islands are currently occupied by small numbers of military personnel. China claims them all but long occupied only eight while Vietnam has occupied or marked 25, the Philippines 8, Malaysia 6, and Taiwan one. In 2014 China began its sand dredging operation to turn three reefs into artificial islands. Fiery Cross is the largest of these, so far. The Fiery Cross airbase, which occupies most of the island, has twelve reinforced concrete hangars for combat aircraft and four larger hangars for aircraft like the Y-8, which is similar to the American C-130 and used for a wide variety of special tasks, like EW (Electronic Warfare), ELINT (Electronic Intelligence Collection), AWACS (aerial warning and control), AEW (early warning) and ASW (anti-submarine warfare). Most of the 150 Y-8s (and slightly longer Y-9s) are still used as transports but over the years at least a third of the Y-8s have been converted to other uses. In 2017 China stationed four new Y-8Qs, the most advanced model of its ASW (anti-submarine warfare) aircraft, in the south (Hainan Island). This is where China stations warships and naval aircraft that operate throughout the South China Sea. This ASW version of the Y-8 was first seen in the air while being tested in 2010. By 2013 it was identified as the Y-8X (also known as the Gaoxin-6). A more advanced model, the Y-8FQ was eventually put into service in the north by the Northern Fleet. In 2015 the Y-8Q was first spotted, again in the north. This first sighting in the south was during early 2017. Four Y-8Qs were operating out of a Hainan Island naval base and were assigned to the Southern Fleet. The Chinese Navy has two fleets. The northern one operates from bases in the East China Sea (between China and Korea), while the southern fleet deals with areas off the south China coast, the South China Sea and adjacent areas. Because of the importance of the sea routes via the South China Sea to the Persian Gulf to the Middle East, Africa and Europe, the Southern Fleet has been growing in size and importance relative to the Northern Fleet. The Y-8Q/FQ is Chinas answer to the American P-3C maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft. Both aircraft are similar in shape and equipment. While outfitted in a similar fashion it is still unclear how close the Y-8Q is to the P-3C in capability. The first flight of a fully equipped Gaoxin-6 took place in 2012, and apparently the design was being rushed into service. China is playing catchup here, as the U.S. has been using such anti-submarine aircraft since the 1950s. While Chinese espionage efforts may have obtained details of most American anti-submarine aircraft equipment, theres no way to steal decades of experience. Another problem China will have is that when their anti-sub aircraft are actually put to use tracking American and other (especially Japanese and South Korean) submarines, this will take place in international waters where the Y-8Q can be followed and monitored by American intelligence collection aircraft and ships. The Y-8Q is a four-engine turboprop aircraft that weighs sixty-one tons, has a thirty-eight meter (124.7 foot) wingspan, and a cruising speed of six-hundred and sixty kilometers an hour. The Y-8 is based on the Russian An-12 and U.S. C-130. There is also a larger version, the seventy-seven ton Y-9, which is believed to be a Chinese attempt to build an aircraft with similar characteristics to the American C-130J, and at least one of this version has been seen equipped for ASW work. The American P-3 is based on the Electra civilian airliner that first flew in 1954. Only 170 Electras were built but there nearly four times as many P-3s. A few Electras and over 200 P-3s are still in service. This is far more than the few dozen Chinese Y-8Qs. Currently, there are about two-hundred P-8s, P-3s and smaller anti-submarine aircraft in the western Pacific and, except for a few Chinese and Russian ASW aircraft, most are operated by nations that dont get along well with China. Until the Y-8Q shows up in large numbers, China will be at a major disadvantage in this department. Chinese subs were under constant surveillance by foreign anti-submarine aircraft while China was restricted to comparatively slow warships with equipment for finding and attacking subs. China has even fewer helicopters equipped to anti-submarine work. China is trying to even the odds in the South China Sea by building three SURTASS (Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System) ships that use a LFA (Low-Frequency Active) sonar for detecting submarines in coastal waters and on the high seas, especially very quiet nuclear or non-nuclear subs. SURTASS was originally developed by the U.S. to complement the much more expensive SOSUS (SOund SUrveillance System) networks. SOSUS was a Cold War era system that was largely abandoned after the Cold War ended in 1991. Now SOSUS is back. China began installing underwater passive sonar systems in its coastal waters back in 2011. This enables China to monitor submarines operating off its coasts and, presumably, in the South China Sea. South Korea did the same in 2011 when it announced that it was installing underwater submarine sensors off its coasts and this was completed in 2013. The South Korean effort was in response to North Korea using a small submarine to torpedo a South Korea patrol ship in 2010. China simply wants to keep foreign warships as far away as possible, even if it means trying to force them out of international waters. Adding some Y-8Q aircraft to the South China Sea effort helps, especially in a crisis situation when China suspects foreign subs are threatening Chinese control of the South China Sea. Like the P-3C, the Y-8Q carries radars and other sensors, as well as a few tons of sonobuoys, depth charges, and torpedoes. The sixty-one ton P-3 has a 32.5 meter (one-hundred foot) wingspan and can stay in the air about ten hours per sortie. Cruise speed is 590 kilometers an hour. The Y-8Q has less endurance than the P-3 and its crews have far less experience. The P-3C is being replaced by the P-8 Poseidon, which entered service in 2013 and is based on the widely used Boeing 737 airliner. Although the Boeing 737 based P-8A is a two-engine jet, compared to the four-engine turboprop P-3, it is a far more capable plane. The P-8A has 23 percent more floor space than the P-3 and is larger (38 meter/118 foot wingspan, versus 32.25 meter/100 foot) and heavier (83 tons versus 61). Most other characteristics are the same. Both can stay in the air for about 10 hours per sortie. Speed is different. Cruise speed for the 737 is 910 kilometers an hour, versus 590 for the P-3. This makes it possible for the P-8A to get to a patrol area faster, which is a major advantage when chasing down subs first spotted by distant sonar arrays or satellites. However, the P-3 can carry more weapons (9 tons versus 5.6). This is less of a factor as the weapons (torpedoes, missiles, mines, sonobuoys) are lighter and more effective today and that trend continues. Both carry the same size crew of 10-11 pilots and equipment operators. Both aircraft carry search radar and various other sensors. The 737 has, like the P-3, been equipped with hardpoints on the wings for torpedoes or missiles. The B737 is a more modern design and has been used successfully since the 1960s by commercial aviation. Navy aviators are confident that it will be as reliable as the P-3. The Y-8/9 is based on an older Russian aircraft design, the An-12. This Chinese copy of the An-12 never caught on big as a transport and that was one reason so many were converted to other specialized tasks. China has been building the Y-8 since the early 1980s. The basic fifty-four ton propeller-driven Y-8 can, like the similar American C-130H, carry twenty tons. China only built about 150 Y-8s since the 1980s and sold some to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Sudan. Meanwhile, more uses are being found for the Y-8. One was converted to a medical evacuation aircraft, able to carry thirty-nine casualties on stretchers and fifteen able to sit, plus medical personnel. Many of the older An-12s are still flying. But Russia has grounded all its An-12s more frequently because of old-age related reliability problems. The Russian answer to the American C-130, the sixty-one ton An-12, entered service in 1959 (two years after the C-130), but production ceased in 1973 after 1,280 were built. Chinese production of the Y-8 continued to the present. The seventy ton C-130 remains in production and over 2,400 have been built. The Chinese Y-8s are well maintained and constantly updated with new equipment. China is apparently increasing production and finding, even more, uses for this sixty year old design, as well as producing an upgraded model, the Y-9. New Delhi: In an attempt by Britain to decolonise street names and statues following the anger sparked by George Floyd, a road in Southall, where the largest gurudwara in western Europe sits, could be renamed Guru Nanak Road. According to report in The Times of India, Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha is situated on Havelock Road in Southall, a road named after British general Sir Henry Havelock, who was involved in the recapture of Cawnpore (now Kanpur) in UP during the First War of Independence in 1857. The report stated that Ealing Council has begun to consult its residents on a proposed name change from Havelock Road to Guru Nanak Road, just as Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha prepares to open for private prayer on June 15. It will be the first time the gurdwara opens for individual prayer since the start of the lockdown. The move has come in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests, following which London mayor Sadiq Khan launched a commission to review the capital's memorials as Britain starts to decolonise street names and statues. Labour councils are now reviewing statues and commemorations in their areas. "We need to make sure our public realm, our statues, road names and buildings, reflect our diversity and not reflect a frozen past where colonialism, racism and the slave trade were present and celebrated," Ealing Council leader Julian Bell was quoted as saying. The report further stated that two years ago a radical outfit, the National Sikh Youth Federation, launched a campaign for a different name for the road "Sant Jarnail Singh Marg" in memory of slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The groups petition, addressed to Ealing Council, which is still live, has garnered just under 2,000 signatures. The King Of Staten Island (Various platforms including Sky Store and Amazon Prime Video, 15) Verdict: Engaging and funny Rating: Da 5 Bloods (Netflix, 15) Verdict: Timely but flawed Rating: Never mind Staten Island, Judd Apatow is often described as Hollywoods king of comedy. His long list of credits as director, writer or producer (and sometimes all three) includes the Anchorman films, Bridesmaids, Trainwreck and The 40-Year-Old Virgin. On the whole, he likes his comedy broad and unsubtle. You could say his films are as broad as they are long. Apatow has not, in his illustrious career, learned the art of brevity. In that respect, The King Of Staten Island is no exception. It runs for about two-and-a-quarter hours the same length as your average superhero blockbuster. We could all do with a trim in these days of lockdown and that, it seems, includes movies. Still, at least watching at home means we can hit the pause button for toilet breaks, mealtimes and exercises designed to prevent cramp in both the body and mind. And at least Apatow is merely this weeks apprentice in the business of making over-long films. Ill come back to the master, Spike Lee, later. Pete Davidson as Scott Carlin in "The King of Staten Island," directed by Judd Apatow Moreover, for a good deal of its 136 minutes, The King Of Staten Island is funny and engaging. Its leading man is Pete Davidson, with whom you might not be familiar, but in the U.S. he is a star turn on the TV institution Saturday Night Live. He has also co-written this film, which is significant, because it has thunderous personal resonance. Davidson plays Scott, a 24-year-old deadbeat who spends his life smoking dope with his loser buddies, decorating them with bad tattoos, and having sex with his girlfriend, Kelsey (a scene-stealing performance by English actress Bel Powley.) He also has attention deficit disorder and a debilitating dose of arrested development. Some of this is explained by the shadow that has loomed over his life since he was seven, when his firefighter father died in the line of duty. On Staten Island, the most suburban of New York Citys five boroughs, Scott lives with and, in his own awkward way, loves his mother Margie (Marisa Tomei), and younger sister Claire (the directors daughter, Maude Apatow). Claire has shunted him into another emotional shadow with her academic achievements. Shes the golden girl, off to college. Hes the misfit. But when Margie starts dating for the first time since her husband died, Scott finds a purpose beyond his doomed ambition to open a tattoo-themed restaurant. Hes had a run-in with her new suitor, Ray (Bill Burr), who also happens to be a firefighter. Scott makes it his mission to break them up. A lot of this is autobiographical. Aged seven, Davidson lost his firefighter father (on 9/11). He is a tattoo nut. Art imitates life even to the extent that Steve Buscemi, whose character works with Ray, used to be a fireman himself. Maybe it imitates life, too, in the way Scott gradually acquires empathy and a measure of social responsibility. Life and art also converge in Spike Lees Da 5 Bloods. The Black Lives Matter movement could hardly provide a more timely backdrop to his story of four African-American veterans of the Vietnam War (Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis and Isiah Whitlock Jr). Chadwick Boseman in Da 5 Bloods, set in the Vietnamese jungle where gold is stashed The group returns to the Vietnamese jungle to find a stash of CIA gold they buried during the heat of battle decades earlier. Their fallen commander Norm (played in flashback by Chadwick Boseman) told them that they, the bloods, deserved to keep it by way of reparations for all the injustices they and their forebears had suffered back in the States. The film chronicles their modern day efforts to find it, and indeed find him. Norms remains are still out there, and the quest to honour him gives the story its emotional propulsion, lest we think theyre just in it for the money. Lee himself is propelled by his long-simmering rage over racial inequality which, as I say, couldnt be more timely. He peppers the film with images of African-American heroes, and theres no doubt that the distressing footage of the assault on George Floyd would have been in there too, had it happened sooner. Unfortunately, and not for the first time, this grievance-driven agenda, while fully justified, undermines the quality of Lees storytelling. Characters are woven into the plot so they can educate us, not each other. Slowly but surely, in a film so long it appears to unfold in real time, the credibility of this tale is sapped until finally it dries up altogether. Its a fairy good effort from Dame Judi! Artemis Fowl (Disney+, PG) Verdict: Not so special Rating: This unwieldy mash-up of the Harry Potter and Lord Of The Rings films could be mischievously dubbed Lord Of The Potters, or Harry Of The Rings, were if not for conspicuous streaks of Star Trek in there, too. Lets just say it feels highly derivative from the moment, early on, that we meet Josh Gads Mulch Diggums, a hairy rascal who acts as a kind of whispering narrator. He could easily be a close cousin of Robbie Coltranes Hagrid in the Potter series. I havent read Eoin Colfers bestselling books myself, not even to my children when they were younger, but I know enough about them to be aware that Kenneth Branaghs long-awaited film adaptation fudges much of what gave the stories their appeal. I suspect true fans will cry Fowl. Judi Dench seen in full make-up and costume during in a scene from Artemis Fowl Here, Artemis (Ferdia Shaw) is a 12-yearold genius (When he was ten, he cloned a goat, Diggums tells us) who shares his home on the coast of Ireland with his father, Artemis Sr (Colin Farrell) and their faithful retainer, Domovoi Butler (Nonso Anozie). Artemis Sr is an antiques dealer, but is also thought to be a criminal mastermind responsible for the theft of such priceless artefacts as the Rosetta Stone and the Book of Kells. Artemis knows him only as a kindly, loving dad, but Artemis Sr is clearly mixed up in something fishy because he gets kidnapped by malevolent fairies who want the magical Aculos, a kind of glowing pine cone, which he has pinched, and keeps hidden in Fowl Manor. With it, they can destroy all of humankind. Meanwhile, the good fairies are after the Aculos too. They are led by Commander Root (Dame Judi Dench, acting her socks off despite a hairdo that brings John Bercow distractingly to mind, and an accent that meanders between Limerick and Somerset). All this plunges Artemis into a magical world his father has always shielded him from. Can his preternatural intelligence keep him safe, and help him outsmart the forces of evil? Thats one burning question. Another is whether Artemis Fowl will be, as Disney hopes, the new Harry Potter. Paradoxically, thats precisely the problem. He needs an identity of his own, and this film doesnt really provide it. President Trump has complained about polls from CNN and other news outlets that show him trailing Joe Biden. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) Polling has long been a favorite topic of President Trump's hyperactive Twitter feed, but lately he has been more angry than boastful. "They are called SUPPRESSION POLLS, and are put out to dampen enthusiasm," Trump recently wrote of surveys by CNN and other news outlets that show him significantly trailing rival Joe Biden. "Despite 3 years of phony Witch Hunts, we are winning, and will close it out on November 3rd!" His bellicose tone comes as polls show the presumptive Democratic nominee opening up an 8-point advantage nationally against Trump and, more important, notching smaller but consistent polling leads in key swing states such as Michigan, Florida and Wisconsin. Given the size of his margin and the consensus across polls, I think theres pretty strong evidence that Biden holds a clear lead," said Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll in Milwaukee. "While its possible the polls are wrong, they would have to all be wrong" to overstate Biden's support. Democrats are hardly crowing at least openly. They remember all too well their near-certainty in 2016 that Hillary Clinton would win, a view reinforced by national polls (which were largely accurate) and some key state polls (which were not). "Ignore the polls. We can't take anything for granted this November the stakes are simply too high," Biden tweeted Wednesday, along with a link to register to vote. The missteps from four years ago have fed into a sense that Trump's true standing can defy conventional survey methods. At this time in 2016, polling showed Clinton besting Trump, albeit at a slightly narrower margin than the current Biden-Trump matchup. Clinton largely maintained her advantage in national polls through election day, and national surveys came within 1 percentage point of her margin in the popular vote. But the presidency is decided by the electoral college, and state polls including Franklin's Marquette survey failed to capture Trump's narrow victories in the previously Democratic strongholds of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which catapulted him to the Oval Office. Story continues In their postmortems, pollsters identified one key problem with state-level polling: the failure to account for the education levels of respondents. "What we saw in 2016 was that, depending on the education, you voted for very different candidates, particularly among white respondents," said Josh Clinton (no relation to the former presidential candidate), who teaches political science at Vanderbilt University and co-directs the school's Vanderbilt Poll. Trump performed especially well with white voters without college degrees, while his rival proved more popular with those with higher education levels. By failing to account for those differences, pollsters understated Trump's support. Now, Clinton said, state pollsters are more diligent in accounting for education levels, a move he believed would make those surveys more accurate. There's little for Trump to cheer in the latest set of opinion surveys. Not only does he lag Biden in head-to-head matchups, but a growing majority disapprove of his job performance. He gets low marks on his temperament and trustworthiness, and more people prefer Biden in terms of ability to handle the COVID-19 pandemic and race relations, two issues that have surged to the top of the campaign agenda. Moreover, the president's numbers are slumping among women and independents, two groups that cost Republicans control of the House in the 2018 midterm election. Older voters, who backed Trump in 2016, now say they prefer Biden. One recent poll by the Public Religion Research Institute found that 62% of white evangelical voters hold favorable views of Trump, a decline of 15 percentage points among that bedrock constituency. Trump does maintain a modest advantage as to whom voters trust to best handle the economy, an important indicator for an incumbent who has staked much of his reelection pitch on the robust stock market performance and low unemployment the country enjoyed during most of his term. But even there, the pandemic and the economic shutdown it necessitated have cut into Trump's approval rating. The president appeared especially bothered by a CNN poll released Monday showing Biden with a sizable 14-point lead, based on responses from roughly 1,100 registered voters. Trump's campaign demanded the network retract the poll and apologize; CNN declined the extraordinary request. Trump tweeted a memo from a GOP pollster accusing CNN and other outlets of deliberately underrepresenting how many Republicans would likely vote in November, thus downplaying the president's chances. "The refusal to screen for actual likely voters is creating an under-polling of Republicans and therefore Trump voters," the pollster, John McLaughlin, wrote. "It seems intentional. Its exactly what the media did in 2016. Lets prove them wrong again." The argument harks back to 2012, when Republicans rallied around an obscure website that claimed to "unskew" polling that showed GOP nominee Mitt Romney trailing President Obama. The mathematical contortions proved unfounded when Obama handily beat Romney, as polls had indicated. "All those people who were making these John McLaughlin-like arguments in 2012 were completely wrong," said Matt Barreto, a UCLA political scientist and Democratic pollster. "They had these harebrained ideas, and that's exactly what this is." Despite the raft of good polling news for Biden, there remain warning signs for the presumptive Democratic nominee. Surveys suggest less-than-fervent enthusiasm for the former vice president among Black voters, the backbone of the Democratic base. "If the election were to happen today, it would not look good for Biden" with that crucial group, said Ray Block Jr., a professor of political science and African American studies at Penn State University. The risk for Biden is not that significant numbers of Black voters will flip to Trump but that they may not vote at all. The recent protests against racial injustice in response to George Floyd's killing by Minneapolis police prove that the Black community is clearly motivated for political action, Block said. But, he cautioned, "it will be up to the Biden camp to move with, not against, this momentum if he seeks the support of Black voters." Trump holds another advantage: Polls have shown that his die-hard base is more enthusiastic about voting in November than Biden's supporters. Trump's campaign will likely try to further dampen excitement for the Democrat as the election nears by pummeling Biden with negative advertising. "By November, voters are going to have a choice," said Neil Newhouse, a veteran Republican pollster. "They already know what they love and hate about Donald Trump. About that they're absolutely certain. What the voters don't know is what they love and hate about Joe Biden, and that's what the campaign is all about." And there are still nearly five months left plenty of time for voter sentiments to change. "We should have a great deal of confidence Biden is ahead today," said Mark Mellman, a longtime Democratic strategist who conducted polling for the presidential campaigns of Bill Clinton and John Kerry. But, he cautioned, "that's not the same thing as saying Biden will be ahead on election day." Hyderabad, June 12 : As many as 15 policemen of Banjara Hills police station in Hyderabad have tested positive for Covid-19. While a sub-inspector and nine constables tested positive on Thursday, five more were found infected on Friday. Those who tested positive on Friday include a sub-inspector, two constables and two home guards, sources said. All those tested positive have been admitted to state-run Gandhi Hospital, where a special ward has been set up for police personnel. This is the first incident of such a large number of policemen testing positive from a single police station. It sent the alarm bells ringing in the police circles. The police station, located in the posh Banjara Hills neighbourhood, has 150 personnel. At least 50 of them have so far undergone the test. About 20 police personnel were found Covid-19 positive since Thursday. The number of policemen infected by the dreaded virus has crossed 100. A 37-year-old constable from Kulsumpura police station had succumbed to Covid-19 last month. The policemen were reportedly infected while performing their duties in containment zones. Earlier, Director-General of Police M. Mahendar Reddy asked police personnel not feeling well to take rest. The police chief said while implementing lockdown at various places in the state, some police personnel were likely to get infected by Covid-19. "On such exposure, personnel may require rest, quarantine, consultation and treatment," he said. The DGP instructed the district Superintendents of Police and Commissioners of Police to ensure that official permission was given to all staff and officers to take rest without insisting for sanction of any leave when they are not feeling well. The staff or officers, who are sick, can take rest by being under quarantine either at home or in a government hospital to prevent further spread of the Covid-19 virus to other police personnel, the police chief said. A day after the Madison County Commission voted to seek permission to remove a Confederate monument outside the courthouse protected by Alabama law, the Alabama attorney generals office said there is no legal pathway to do so. The Confederate monument has been in place since 1905 and the attorney general's office confirmed that the law passed by the legislature to protect historical structures spells out no scenario to remove or relocate them after 40 years striking a blow to the request the commission approved Wednesday. The statement from the office of Attorney General Steve Marshall referenced only the law and not the Madison County Commissions resolution. "In circumstances where a memorial or monument has been in place for 40 or more years, the Memorial Preservation Act and the administrative rules of the Committee on Alabama Monument Protection clearly state that waivers cannot be granted," the office of Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement Thursday to AL.com. The commission voted unanimously to seek a waiver from the Committee on Alabama Monument Protection for authorization to remove the monument located on the courthouse's west side. The law protecting historical structures, passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey in 2017, allows that committee to grant that authorization for historical structures in place for 20 to 40 years. The commission's resolution makes no reference to that clause in the law. Madison County Commission Chair Dale Strong has not responded to phone calls or text messages from AL.com on Wednesday or Thursday. Alyce Spruell of Tuscaloosa, the chair of the appeals committee, did not respond to a phone message or email Wednesday from AL.com. At its meeting, the commission said it wanted to take proper steps to remove the statue rather than do so in violation of the law. The law assesses a fine of $25,000 to entities who remove or relocate historical structures without the permission of the appeals committee. That committee, according to the law, has 90 days to act on an application. If it does not render a decision within that time, the law said a waiver is considered to be granted. The statue is located in downtown Huntsville and city leaders including Mayor Tommy Battle -- issued statements Wednesday offering support for the commission's desire to remove the statue and to work with the commission to find a new location for the monument. "We need to do this in a lawful manner," Commissioner Phil Riddick said at the meeting. "We took oaths when we took this office to uphold the state Constitution and uphold the law. I think we're all resolved to get this done and I beg the public's patience and indulgence while we work through this in a legal manner. I think we all want the same thing. We just want to do it legally." Commissioner JesHenry Malone, who introduced the resolution, said at the meeting that the commission wanted to take this step in an effort at removal rather than doing so contrary to the law. He referenced efforts by protesters in Birmingham last month who attempted to topple a Confederate monument in a downtown park with a chain attached to a pick-up truck. The city of Birmingham removed the monument the next day without the approval of the appeals committee. Birmingham had previously been assessed the $25,000 fine for boarding up the monument and Marshall filed a lawsuit against the city last week for removing the statue. I will tell you, it is not our intention to back a pick-up truck to the statue, wrap a chain around it and pull it down, Malone said. I believe our community is much, much bigger than that. The city of Mobile also removed a Confederate statue last week without permission of the appeals committee, resulting in a letter from Marshall asking if the removal was permanent. Marshall also said that Mobile could be subject to a $25,000 fine. David Odom, head of the grassroots Tennessee Valley Progressives that has been lobbying to remove the monument for years, said he considered the commissions action Wednesday to be a strategy of stalling. Odoms group said it has raised more than $25,000 to pay the fine for removing the monument without state approval. Odom even brought a handmade oversized check to the monument on Wednesday. But we feel like this is a delay tactic and this is them passing the buck, Odom told AL.com. "Theyre trying to hit pause on everything for 90 days and then let the state tell the people no. The Congress party on Friday released yet another video, this time featuring its leader Rahul Gandhi interacting with former US Ambassador Nicholas Burns. In the interview, Burns pointed fingers at China, amid India's ongoing stand with it, and called it a geopolitical challenger to India. "The challenges India and US face are from authoritarian nations like China, Russia," he told Rahul. Burns added that the US was not looking for a conflict with China, but is waging a battle of ideas with it. Keeping the conversation focused around China, Burns pitched for a greater partnership between the US and India, adding that both nations must combine forces to "promote human freedom, democracy, rule of people in the world". "India, US can work together, not to fight China, but to make it observe rule of law," he said. Rahul, in turn, opined that Indo-US relationship, which was a partnership, was becoming very transactional and episodic. He drew comparisons on the rising internal social tensions in both nations and said, "The DNA of India, US is supposed to be tolerant, but don't see that level of tolerance now." This was a clear reference to the ongoing protests following the death of George Floyd in the US and the continuing attacks on the minorities by fringe groups since Narendra Modi tookover as the PM in 2014. He further criticised Modi's leadership style, calling it unilateral and episodic. "We are fighting the unilateral and episodic type of leadership in India, which is destructive and unfortunate," he said. This is not the first video interview featuring Rahul. In the past, he had spoken to industrialist Rajiv Bajaj, economist Abhijit Banerjee, and former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan. As per media reports, through these interactions with public intellectuals, the Congress party wants to portray the Gandhi scion as someone keenly following policy issues, as well as groom him for taking over the party in the future. Video-calling service Zoom said Thursday it will not comply with requests from the Chinese government to suspend hosts or block people from meetings if those people are not located in mainland China. It's Zoom's latest reaction to pressure amid a surge of popularity this year as the coronavirus sent people home from school and work. First, Zoom faced concerns about security and privacy as issues like lewd interruptions to meetings and security vulnerabilities became apparent, and the company took steps to address them. Earlier this month, U.S.-based civil-rights group Humanitarian China, founded by protest participant Zhou Fengsuo, said that the organization's Zoom account was shut down following an event commemorating the 1989 protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, which the Chinese government forbids citizens from observing. On Wednesday, Zoom acknowledged it had shut down the account, then later reinstated it. The company explained in a blog post Thursday that its action "fell short," and offered more details about what happened. In May and early June, the Chinese government alerted the company to four Tiananmen Square-related meetings and told Zoom to shut down the meetings and the accounts hosting them. The company saw that some of the meetings had attendees in mainland China, so it ended three of the four meetings and suspended or shut down the accounts that had hosted them. But not all of the attendees or hosts were located on the Chinese mainland. So Zoom reinstated the accounts for two hosts based in the U.S. and one in the Hong Kong special administrative region. It also admitted it was wrong to end the meetings entirely, even for users who were not in mainland China, but that it currently lacks technology to block individual users based on geography. Zoom is now building technology that can remove or block people based on country, which could help the company meet government requests without overreaching. "We are improving our global policy to respond to these types of requests. We will outline this policy as part of our transparency report, to be published by June 30, 2020," the company said. Zoom itself is based in the Silicon Valley city of San Jose, California, and CEO Eric Yuan is a U.S. citizen. Last week Yuan said that the company wants to work the FBI if people use Zoom with malicious intent and that Zoom wouldn't want to provide end-to-end encryption to people who use the service without paying for it. Zoom shares are up 226% so far this year as usage swelled alongside competing services like Cisco's Webex, which Yuan once worked on. Zoom's revenue grew 169% on an annualized basis in the quarter that ended on April 30. WATCH: Zoom CFO Kelly Steckelberg on how Zoom differentiates itself from competition Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2020) - Soma Gold Corp. (TSXV: SOMA) (WKN: A14YF1) (OTC: PRSRF) (formerly Para Resources Inc.) (the "Company" or "Soma") announces that a robbery occurred at the Company's wholly owned La Ye Mine in El Bagre, Colombia, on June 10th. An armed group of individuals entered the mine site after a gold pour but before the dore was transported by helicopter to the refinery in Medellin. No employee was injured during the theft but the thieves were able to steal a dore bar of 475 equivalent gold ounces. The Police and Colombian Military have been to site and an active investigation is underway. The gold was insured and the Company expects a full recovery. Javier Cordova, the Company's CEO, states, "the thieves took advantage of a change in the protocols during the transition as a result of the recent acquisition of Operadora by Soma. New protocols and a full security review have been instituted." ABOUT SOMA GOLD: Soma is a junior gold mining and exploration company. The Company owns two adjacent mining properties in Antioquia, Colombia with a combined milling capacity of 675 tpd. The La Ye mine is currently operating and producing and the El Limon mine and mill are scheduled to begin operating in Q1 2021. Internally generated funds will be used to finance a regional exploration program. The Company also owns an exploration and development property near Tucuma, Para State, Brazil. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Javier Cordova Unda" Chief Executive Officer and President For further information, please contact Andrea Laird, telephone: +1-604-259-0302 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. All statements, analysis and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. The company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements even if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/57760 Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Abdul Mu'ti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 09:03 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde2063b 3 Opinion COVID-19,religious-gathering,religion,coronavirus Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo invited leaders of Indonesias religious organizations to discuss government policies for easing the COVID-19 pandemic on June. He specifically appreciated the roles and contributions of religious communities. Within the context of a religiously diverse Indonesia, the pandemic is connected to religions. Fundamentalists argued that COVID-19 was destined to emerge and required mankind to simply seek divine protection through prayer and repentance. The pandemic is believed to be punishment from God for the sings people have committed. On the other hand, the progressive groups hold a view that the pandemic is a consequence of humans harmful behavior to the nature. It is a man-made disaster. According to the progressive, overcoming COVID-19 pandemic is possible through sciences, behavioral changes, medical treatment and spiritual endeavors. My observation of COVID-19 demonstrates how religious beliefs and understanding contributes to the spread of the pandemic. Though the numbers are relatively small, cases of COVID-19 were found within clusters of fundamentalist religious communities, such as members of churches in Bogor and Bandung in West Java and in the conservative Muslim group Jamaah Tabligh in West Jakarta, South Sulawesi and East Java. On the contrary, progressive groups have made serious efforts to contain COVID-19 transmission. They have significantly contributed to the fight against the pandemic in at least three fields. First, they built a constructive understanding or world view of COVID-19. As theories of religions, a world view is a very central aspect or even a locus of religious behavior. The progressive groups argue that what happens in the universe follows sunnatullah (the laws of nature) and mankind is the main actor responsible for its own deeds and the sustainability of life and nature. They do not condemn either the government or other countries as agents of COVID-19 but accept the pandemic as a reality that calls for action and solutions. Such a view differs from that of fundamentalists who tend to blame others based on conspiracy theories. Second, religious communities issue fatwas that are instrumental in the efforts to combat the pandemic. Most of the fatwas consist of guidance and advice for rituals and worship at home. These fatwas did not come out because of the governments orders or intervention. Fatwas reflect a comprehensive, deep and contextual understanding of Islam and responsibility to solve problems. COVID-19 is not exclusively the governments duty. It is a national call for every citizen to contribute accordingly. The pandemic is not the mistake of the government but a global disaster. It is clear how religious communities share a preventive contribution through religious public education. Compared to other public venues, places of worship are less likely to become epicenters of the virus spread. Progressive religious communities also play a role as bridgebuilders between the government and fundamentalist communities who oppose physical distancing rules and the closure of places of worship like mosques and churches. The fundamentalists have claimed that shutting down mosques while opening shopping malls are deliberate attempt to promote secularization and weaken the Muslim movement. Third, religious communities contribution to medical services cannot be disregarded. Having spiritual, national and social motives and responsibility, religious communities organize and serve people to save many lives from COVID-19. As part of its response to the pandemic, Muhammadiyah, the countrys largest progressive Islamic movement, set up the Muhammadiyah COVID-19 Command Center (MCCC). Muhammadiyah has allocated more than Rp 249 billion (US$18 million) for the fight against COVID-19. More than 60,000 medical, psychological and social volunteers participated in the program, and 77 Muhammadiyah and Aisyiah hospitals have become centers for COVID-19 patients. Services Muhammadiyah is providing also include medical care, as well as psychological, social and religious consultations. Likewise, the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) formed Churches Fight Against Corona (GMC), which also serves people with aid and medical care. These are just examples of the contributions of religious communities to COVID-19 mitigation programs. Further remarkable contributions have also come from the Humanitarian Forum of Indonesia (HFI). This interfaith humanitarian organization has participated in relief and rehabilitation programs. The HFI shows empirical evidence for how religions could unite people from different faiths to cooperate in meaningful ways. Undeniably, there are theological differences between religions. However, there are also common religious teachings and values on humanity. It is beautiful sight when Muslims clean churches and Christians heal Muslims suffering from COVID-19. Instead of wasting time on theological debates, this pluralist movement offers a living example of how religions become a uniting factor of people. Indonesia has a lot to share about how religious tolerance and cooperation can become social and spiritual modalities for national unity. It brings the message of the importance of strengthening religious dialogue and partnership in action. Another message is that religious communities do not simply contribute to the battle against COVID-19 through prayers and fatwas but more importantly, these communities serve as agents of development, social health, political stability and economic sustainability. *** The writer is secretary-general of Muhammadiyah and lecturer at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Dave Chappelle may be a comedian, but his meticulous commentary on race has always been what sets him apart. In a new set filmed for Netflix is a Joke, Chappelle addressed the brutal murder of George Floyd and slammed right-wing activist Candace Owens. Dave Chappelle 2018 | David Livingston/Getty Images The new special was filmed on June 6 Airing on Netflixs Youtube channel, Netflix is a Joke, 8:46 is the first time in nearly three months that Chappelle has taken the stage. The special was filmed on June 6, at an outdoor venue near his home in Yellow Springs, Ohio. In compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, the audience was spread out with distanced seating. Attendees were scanned for fevers upon entrance to the venue, and were given face masks marked with a C for courage. Chappelle suggested that the 27-minute show is the first concert in North America since the shutdown in March. The title of the special, 8:46, reflects the 8-minute and 46-second timeframe in which a Minneapolis police officer knelt on George Floyds neck, resulting in his death. Comedian Dave Chappelle | Sean Rayford/Getty Images RELATED: Story About Dave Chappelle Schooling a White Woman on Racism Goes Viral on Twitter Dave Chappelle makes a powerful statement with 8:46 In 8:46, Chappelle addresses Floyds murder and explains the significance of the protests. While referencing the brutal killings of other unarmed black men, including Eric Garner, Treyvon Martin, and John Crawford III, he suggests this uprising is not about one specific person. What are you signifying that you can kneel on a mans neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds and feel like you wouldnt get the wrath of God? Chappelle asks. Thats what is happening right now. Its not for a single cop, its for all of it. The comedian also notes CNN anchor Don Lemons cry for celebrities to speak up. He points out hes been talking about racism for years. And he explained he didnt feel the need to say anything because people were speaking through their actions. This is the streets talking for themselves, they dont need me right now, he said. Why would anyone care what their favorite comedian thinks after they saw a police officer kneel on a mans neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds? These streets will speak for themselves, whether Im alive or dead. Dave Chappelle slams Candace Owens In his Netflix set, Chappelle says hes been watching people talk about George Floyd and using the momentum to talk about race. And after using some choice words to describe conservative commentator Candace Owens, he slams her for criticizing the current protests. Candace Owens, shes the worst, Chappelle said. I cant think of a worst way to make money. Shes the most articulate idiot Ive ever seen in my f**king life. Shes so articulate, shell tell you how f**king stupid she is, precisely. He criticizes Owens for using Floyds criminal history to appease White America. And in regards to her questioning the Black community for choosing Floyd as a hero, the comedian pointed out that it wasnt a choice. Dave Chappelle sums up in 41 seconds why George Floyd is the hero. PS: President Trump, Candace Owens, Glenn Beck, and others critical of George Floyd please listen closely.pic.twitter.com/8cJLSkPVI1 MuslimMarine (@mansoortshams) June 12, 2020 We didnt choose him, you did, Chappelle said. They killed him and that wasnt right, so hes the guy. Were not desperate for heroes in the Black community. Any n****r that survives this nightmare is my God damned hero. Candace Owens responds to Chappelles set Owens responded to Chappelles criticisms on Twitter. She applauded the comedian for using his platform to exercise his freedom of speech. And while noting how much power she has, she said that as a fan of Chappelles, she was honored to be featured in his set. I have a sense of humor & I think comedians SHOULD make fun of people, Owens wrote in a tweet. Dave Chappelle is one of the greatest comedians of all time and I made it into one of his specials. Thats POWER! To every Democrat tweeting me the clip of #DaveChappelle insulting me: Im not a leftist. I have a sense of humor & I think comedians SHOULD make fun of people. Dave Chappelle is one of the greatest comedians of all time and I made it into one of his specials. Thats POWER! Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) June 12, 2020 Weve arrived too suddenly into a culture where people cant laugh at themselves, or want to restrain comedians, she continued to write on Twitter. I will never be a part of that culture. @DaveChappelle you are legend and Id love to meet you and challenge you to say any of that to my face! All love! Recently, Brazil has steadily climbed the chart of the top 10 countries with the highest total of COVID19 cases, now ranking number two just behind the US. The epidemiology forecast shows that Brazil has not reached peak and it is likely that the outbreak will continue to worsen there, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Brazil does not follow the same trajectory as China, the US, or Western European markets. Brazil has had a slower start, with the highest recorded daily cases not occurring until three months after the first local transmission (assumed to be when 100 cases were reported). Kasey Fu, MPH, Director of Epidemiology at GlobalData Fu continues: Several factors could have contributed to the slow start in Brazil. First, testing capabilities may not be sufficiently developed during the early weeks to detect cases. Second, geographical distance from China, where the virus first originated, may have lessened direct introductions. Indeed, the presumed first cases of confirmed COVID19 in Brazil had traveled from Europe. Lastly, while the science is still speculative, the warm weather in South America in February and March may have slowed the transmission of respiratory infections early on. There are also concerns about the accuracy of the confirmed case count, as alternative measures such as excess mortality and news stories of overflowing morgues show that official case counts are likely to be underestimations. Promises of federal money for anti-racism programs and Black community organizations need to be fulfilled more than ever, says the leader of a local group seeking grants to expand a mentorship program for Black youth. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/6/2020 (589 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Promises of federal money for anti-racism programs and Black community organizations need to be fulfilled more than ever, says the leader of a local group seeking grants to expand a mentorship program for Black youth. "How many lives do we have to lose before we get the money that we need for programs for our kids?" Titi Tijani said. Tijani is the president of African Communities of Manitoba Inc., which represents more than 30 local cultural groups for Manitobans of African descent. The organization is among those that have applied for funding from the federal governments $15-million anti-racism action program. Announced as part of Canadas $45-million anti-racism strategy last year, it has yet to distribute any money. Funding announcements for the program are expected this summer. Applications were accepted from September 2019 to January 2020, and are still being reviewed. Danielle Keenan, a spokeswoman for Bardish Chagger, federal minister of diversity, inclusion and youth, said getting the money out to help community programs continue their work is a priority for the minister. Community groups havent yet been able to apply for other federal money meant to support Black Canadians, including $25 million announced in the March 2019 federal budget proposed to be delivered over five years, starting last year. Last month, the office of Ahmed Hussen, minister of families, children and social development, announced the money would be doled out through intermediary organizations. In a statement to the Free Press, a spokesperson for Hussen said grassroots groups will be able to apply for $100,000 grants before the end of this month, and the money is expected to flow to them before the end of the year. Through her volunteer work with ACOMI, Tijani said shes seen a gap in community programs for Black people who are not refugees or newcomers to Canada. Thats part of the reason she wants to expand Black youth mentorship and focus on supporting their mental wellness. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Its particularly important, she said, amid international Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and while people are still coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. "It is heavily important now more than ever before. The mental health of our youth is key to having productive citizens, and also, for adults, to also be able to mentor them. So it is now, more than ever before, that we actually need those funds. If they are going to come, they need to come now," Tijani said. Support for grassroots programs is key, she said, because of the perception larger organizations are more disconnected from the people theyre meant to serve. "We want community programs (to be run) by community people, and thats why you can have long-term solutions for some of these social ills that are happening," Tijani said. "And the government needs to come along. Enough of supporting large organizations that are so far away from the grassroots." katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay Companies from across the globe have partnered up in the search for a coronavirus vaccine. Pharma company AstraZeneca has signed a $87 million deal with Emergent Biosolutions to manufacture Oxford University's corona vaccine while Brazil's Instituto Butantan has reached an agreement with China's Sinovac to create a COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, Moderna has said that it would start the final phase of clinical trials in July, as China's Sinopharm has cleared the animal trials. Additionally, Brussels has decided to pump billions of euros into advance purchase deals with pharmaceutical companies. Here are the latest updates from across the world on coronavirus vaccine developments: Leading pharma company Moderna has said that it has selected a dose for the final stage of clinical trials. It estimated that the trials would begin in July. Moderna's clinical trial for the possible coronavirus vaccine would include 30,000 people and would be conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The corona vaccine would be tested for preventing COVID symptoms. Also read: Coronavirus vaccine update: China inches closer; Japan sets June 2021 target AstraZeneca and Emergent BioSolutions have signed a deal for $87 million to manufacture the Oxford University's adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccine. As part of the deal, Emergent would reserve large-scale manufacturing capacity for the candidate. It would also aid AstraZeneca in achieving its aim of producing more than 2 billion doses by 2021. Brazil announced that Instituto Butantan has signed a deal with Sinovac to produce an experimental coronavirus vaccine. The tests for the same would begin in July and would include around 9,000 Brazilians. If proven effective, the corona vaccine would be produced in Brazil. "Today is a historic day for Sao Paulo, Brazil and world science. The vaccine that Butantan will produce is one of the most advanced," said Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria. Also read: Coronavirus vaccine update: Indian firm Panacea to make vaccine; Serum Institute puts in $100 million Additionally, Israeli researchers have identified molecules that may lead to the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, as stated by Bar Ilan University in Central Israel. BIU researchers have examined antigen molecules that could provoke an immune response of antibody production. Chinese pharma company Sinopharm has cleared the animal trials. Sinopharm researchers picked one viral strain from a patient that showed optimal ability to replicate to make the coronavirus vaccine. The researchers evaluated mice and rhesus macaques for their findings. The potential coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has reached human trial stage. The first phase of the trials taking place in Rochester would take six to eight weeks. If the vaccine works, it would simulate the recipients immune system to produce antigens to fight against the disease. Also read: Coronavirus vaccine: Sun Pharma starts Phase 2 of trials; PM Modi pledges $15 million to GAVI Brussels has planned to pump billions of euros into advance purchase deals with pharmaceutical companies. The EU has proposed a "large majority" of their 2.7 billion euros emergency fund to help in the efforts to fight coronavirus. Moreover, some scientists have proposed existing vaccines be repurposed to fight coronavirus. Researchers in Israel, the Netherlands, and Australia are investigating if tuberculosis vaccine could help in the fight against COVID-19. US scientists are also looking at polio vaccines for an answer. (TNS) In New Hampshire, Republican Gov. Chris Sununu says his executive order banning gatherings of 10 people or more is still in place. He also simultaneously and very publicly encourages the Black Lives Matter protests in his state, with thousands crowded together on public streets. In Pennsylvania, with one of the harshest lockdowns in the country, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has demanded strict adherence to his stay-at-home edicts, which still ban restaurant dining or groups of 25 or more. But last Wednesday, he joined arm-in-arm with hundreds of protesters on the streets of Harrisburg, in apparent defiance of his own order. Pressed about his apparent hypocrisy, Wolf acknowledged: It was inconsistent, I acknowledge that. But I was trying to show support for a cause the eradication of racism that I think is very, very important, and I was trying to show my support for that effort. These two governors are hardly alone. Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, whose state has been hit harder by the horrors of the coronavirus than any other, also went out of his way to praise Black Lives Matter protests despite both the massive crowds of people in close quarters and the destructive violence that followed some of the protests in New York City. The risk is so great, Cuomo says, people who attend the rallies should get tested. I would act as if you were exposed, and I would tell people you interacted with, Assume Im exposed to the virus, Cuomo said of the protesters. If you were at a protest act responsibly, get a test. The tidal wave of political two-stepping decrying a family trip to the beach as potentially fatal, then urging families to flood into the streets for political protests is feeding public cynicism about the true danger of the coronavirus. Its also raising questions about whether the severe stay-at-home strategy, which put millions out of work and cost the nation an estimated $500 billion in GDP per month, was necessary. Even more problematic, some social observers say, is the damage this is doing to public trust in government health experts. Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Tom Frieden, for example, spent months opposing desperate business owners and their attempts to reopen the economy and save their jobs. Now, hes publicly supporting mass protests involving large crowds of shouting and chanting strangers. Meanwhile, other health experts like former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb says, Were certainly going to see transmission of coronavirus due to protests, noting a German study found 250% increase in transmission after large outdoor gatherings. As Jeffrey Flier, the former dean of Harvard Medical School, told Politico: At least for me, the sudden change in views of the danger of mass gatherings has been disorienting, and I suspect it has been for many Americans. And what will those Americans do if theres another surge in COVID-19 cases this fall or winter and the same health professionals who told them it was OK to protest suddenly announce they have to go back into lockdown? Many observers believe Americans will simply refuse to comply. As author and social commentator J.D. Vance puts it: In a country of 330 million people, many will have their own causes for violating guidelines. And you cant just tell them, Well, you have to follow the rules because your worthy causes are stupid and bad. Data show that the COVID-19 virus, and the lockdowns in response to it, have disproportionately hurt people of color. Black Americans have been more likely than their white counterparts to die of the virus, and theyve also been more likely to lose their jobs during the shutdown. If that trend continues but public trust in public health policy is so eroded that it undermines future efforts to turn back another severe outbreak of the coronavirus the tragic and unintended consequence of the protest hypocrisy could be that communities of color will suffer yet again. Michael Graham is political editor at InsideSources.com. S o long to the Sazerac, au revoir to our favourite Old Fashioned: lockdown has unceremoniously kicked us out of Londons top cocktail bars (and we swear it wasnt even last orders). The solution? For many of us, its to grab the gin, dig out some tonic, grapple with any bit of citrus we can find and fudge together a G&T. While a gin and tonic is a wonderful thing and will hit the spot on many occasions, after who-knows-how-many weeks of mixological deprivation, we dont blame you for getting bored. We asked some of Londons top bartenders for their easiest gin cocktail recipes that use just three ingredients or fewer no more than you need to make a G&T. You will need a shaker for a few of these but, as any home bartender will tell you, thats an investment that pays dividends. From grapefruit gimlets to a martini with an aromatic twist, these are the cocktails London bartenders say are as easy to make as a gin and tonic. Alex Lawrence, Lyaness Blackcurrant Buck Ingredients 50ml Porter's Tropical Old Tom Gin 10ml Ribena Ginger ale Method Add the measured ingredients to a glass, and top up with ginger ale. Garnish with a slice of lemon and some fresh thyme sprigs. Rich Woods, Scout Mind Your Peas & Qs Ingredients 50ml sugar snap pea & mint-infused gin Tonic water For the pea and mint infused gin (makes 250ml) 250ml gin (preferably Bombay Sapphire, as it is a lighter style of gin) 55g sugar snap peas 1 medium mint sprig (approximately 5g) Method Wash and break the sugar snap peas into smaller pieces. Wash the mint, but do not tear. Add both to a sealable container and pour over the gin. Leave to infuse for a minimum of 6 hours, shaking occasionally to encourage the flavour to release. This can be also done by adding the peas and mint to a third-full bottle of gin. Filter through a coffee filter, or muslin. Add 50ml to a highball glass, top with tonic water and garnish with a mint sprig. Mia Johansson, Swift Gin Grapefruit Gimlet Ingredients 60 ml dry gin 25 ml grapefruit cordial For the grapefruit cordial (makes 100ml) 100g caster sugar 100ml fresh grapefruit juice 100g grapefruit peel Method Make your grapefruit cordial ahead of time. Soak and rub your peel in the sugar, and leave for one hour. Add your juice, stir, and voila you have a perfumed and lovely cordial. Stir cordial and gin over ice and strain into a coupette glass. Garnish with a circle of grapefruit. The best bars for a gin and tonic in London 1 /12 The best bars for a gin and tonic in London The Green Bar at Hotel Cafe Royal An honourable mention for the Green Bar at the Piccadilly hotel The Gin Bar at Holborn Dining Room Not all gin n tonics are equal, and the Holborn Dining Room should know. With 500 or so gins and 30 tonics which is frankly boggling in a country that 20 years ago drank nothing but Gordons and Schweppes they boast more than 14,000 possible G&T pairings. Gins are small batch, big batch, medium batch, you-name-it-batch, and come from the giants to the local independents. Youll never get through them all, but if you want to give it a try, head to their gin masterclasses, which run every Saturday. The only trouble with this place is that its obvious charms, from the red leather booths to the gorgeous Beef Wellington, will tempt you to stay for well beyond the well-intentioned one drink. Still, if you can stand the fact youll be end up spending far more than intentioned, its the place to be. If youre more into martinis, theyre predictably strong on these too, though you might want to try another hotel, Mayfairs Dukes. Mr Fogg's Gin Parlour A humble boozer from the outside, an eccentric pub on the inside, Mr Foggs in Theatreland is worth putting into your regular drinking schedule. Still, gin lovers should head upstairs, where there are more than 150 different types to explore quite literally, in fact, if you head on their Gin Safari (a fanciful name for a tasting masterclass). Though theyre strong on the classics, the rest of the cocktail list is worth getting into, too; theyve a gin for every occasion. Two One Four This place made a splash when it opened back in 2014 and remains as good as it ever was. A cosy, underground spot, its all ships lighting and bare woodwork, and theyve more than 100 gins to choose from. They push their own brand Bermondsey Mixer Co. tonic water, which is made with real, raw quinine. Its handmade in Bermondsey, too. Pollen Street Social A Michelin-starred restaurant might not seem the place to head for a humble highball, but Jason Athertons team take their gins very seriously here. Theyve more than 60 to choose from, signposted according to flavour ("unusual", "citrus", "harmonious", "floral" and so on). If youre especially indecisive, go with their gin of the month. It goes without saying that the food is excellent here arguably Athertons best. For a similarly upmarket experience, try 45 Jermyn St in Mayfair, which has 18 gins to choose from. East London Liquor Company An honourable mention for the East London Liquor Company, the first whiskey, gin and vodka distillery in east London for more than a century GinTonica You may think youre a big shot for serving up Hendricks at home with a little cucumber and your secret ingredient gasp, a twist of pepper but youve nothing on this place, which is in a four storey hotel and distillery dedicated to gin. They even have a visitor centre of sort, the Ginstitute. In the GinTonica bar they serve up G&Ts in the Spanish way, as the name suggests. Guests dive into 21oz balloon glasses, and theyve 100 gins, 14 tonics and countless garnishes; serves are anything but ordinary. Just down the road is the Portobello Star, serving up plenty of gin and cocktails made with in-house infusions, bitters, syrups and spirits. The Gibson An honourable mention for the Gibson, which offers quirky versions - such as the Electric Earl - and a selection of gin martinis Ask For Janice An honourable mention for this Farringdon bar, which offers more than 40 types of gin. Simone Spagnoli, Mr Foggs House of Botanicals White Rose Ingredients 50ml green tea-infused gin (preferably The Botanist) 10ml aloe vera juice (available at most supermarkets) 5 ml fresh lime juice For the green tea-infused gin 1 green tea teabag 1 bottle of gin Method To make the infused gin, simply pop the green tea teabag into the bottle of gin (or into an infuser if you have one) and leave for an hour. Add all ingredients into a shaker, shake with ice and strain into a coupette glass. Karina Elias, The Langham Afternoon Dynasty Ingredients 50ml gin 50ml cold brew white tea 1 teaspoon honey Method To make a frozen cocktail, blend all the ingredients in the blender with around six cubes of ice, and pour. To serve straight up, add the ingredients to a shaker, shake for about 20 seconds and strain into a cocktail glass. Andy Kerr, The Sun Tavern Bees Knees Ingredients 50ml gin (preferably The Botanist) 25ml lemon juice (use unwaxed lemons if possible) 12.5ml honey Method Add all ingredients into a shaker, shake with ice and strain into a martini glass. Alex Kratena, Tayer + Elementary - Jasmine Martini Ingredients 50ml gin (preferably Hepple) 15ml dry vermouth (preferably Noilly Prat) 15ml Muyu Jasmine Verte (available online) Method Stir the ingredients with ice in a separate glass or strainer. Strain into drinking glass. If you want, squeeze lemon peel over the glass to release its oils into the top of the drink. YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Nearly 7,000 coronavirus infected patients in Armenia are under home care control, Deputy minister of healthcare Anahit Avanesyan said at the extraordinary meeting of the government today. The remaining 1,800 are in hospitals. 425 of them are in serious condition, 100 are in critical condition and 23 patients are switched to ventilators, she said. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said when there is a certain decrease in the number of confirmed cases, a drastic decline in the level of the anti-coronavirus rules is being registered which is a major problem. According to the latest data, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 15,281, out of which 5,639 patients have already recovered. The number of active cases stands at 9,298. The death toll has risen to 258. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan NASA has reported that the completion of two major projects was delayed. According to the department, the delays were caused by a technical problem and the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. NASA announced earlier this week that it's decided to delay the launch of its new Mars Perseverance Rover. Aside from the rover, the agency also noted that the scheduled launch of the James Webb Space Telescope had been canceled. ALSO READ: NASA Packs Perseverance Rover Spacecraft Configuration Ahead For Its One-Way Trip COVID-19 pandemic, technical issues are to blame Perseverance was initially scheduled to begin on July 17. However, Tony Bruno, United Launch Alliance (ULA) CEO, noted on Twitter that the Atlas V launch rocket at the company was experiencing a problem with the crane. Although the technical issue had already been resolved, NASA postponed the launch of Perseverance to provide adequate time for the teams involved in the mission to prepare for the event. As NASA has noted, the new launch schedule for the mission is set for July 20. "NASA and ULA are now targeting Monday, July 20, for the launch of the Mars 2020 mission of the Perseverance Rover on an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida," NASA said in a statement. In addition to the rover, NASA has also agreed to delay the launch of another big project, the James Webb Space Telescope. However, unlike the Perseverance mission, the agency has not set a new start date for the space telescope. The James Webb Space Telescope had been designed to serve as the Hubble Space Telescope's official successor. NASA had initially been targeted March 2021 as the space-based observatory's potential launch window. Unfortunately, NASA was forced to delay project launch due to the effects of the coronavirus on the agency. Since 1989, JWST has been under development in some form, and its launch was planned in 2007. That date was pushed back more than a dozen times, and now the official start date is March 2021. According to Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA's Science Mission Directorate administrator, the current outbreak has significantly impacted NASA's operations regarding space telescope production. Apart from reducing working hours, NASA's workforce has also been hit by positive COVID-19 cases. "We will not launch in March; that is not in the cards right now," Zurbuchen said during a recent meeting of the Space Studies Board and Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, according to Space.com. Have to cope up with the lost days Zurbuchen said the pandemic and the resulting shutdowns made it challenging to keep the whole number of shifts employed on the telescope wholly staffed. As a result, time was lost. "Not everyone was available; we had positive cases here and there," he added. He said the situation is not anyone's fault or mismanagement. ALSO READ: 2 NASA Employees at Marshall Center Test Positive For Coronavirus: Is the $400 Billion Space Industry in Peril? NASA and Northrop Grumman, the primary contractor behind JWST construction, are reviewing the schedule and are hoping to set a new start date by the end of July. Zurbuchen said he's still hopeful that at some point in 2021, a launch will happen. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Patrons raise pint glasses at Chit Beer, a craft brewery outside Bangkok, Thailand, run by army officer Wichit Saiklao. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) He hardly seems like an outlaw a 48-year-old army colonel who holds a doctorate in computer engineering and teaches at Thailands most prestigious military academy. On a rustic island of palm trees and moldering temples upriver from Bangkok, Wichit Saiklao owns a weekend brewhouse where Thais flock to sample his latest selection of specialty beers and learn how to make their own. With empty bottles lining the walls, a bitcoin machine in a corner and a pop soundtrack playing overhead, the pleasantly ramshackle bar seems like just another outpost of the global craft beer craze. But in Thailand, selling homemade brews is banned under a decades-old law that protects two giant family-owned corporations, which control 90% of the country's $5.7-billion beer market. Small-time brewers face fines, potential jail time and the constant risk of raids by police and tax inspectors. To many Thais, the rules are the product of a political system that has grown more authoritarian since a 2014 military coup, squashing innovators while indulging the wealthy and well-connected. Chit, as he's known, believes some laws are not worth following even for an army man in a country ruled by former generals. So he pays the fines and endures the searches but carries on, serving up a quiet revolution with every pint. More than 3,000 home brewers have cycled through the Chit Beer academy, building a movement that has begun to challenge the alcohol law and, he hopes, the strictures of Thai society. I dont care if you make craft beer a business, or even if you make good beer, but I want you to feel the experience of releasing your potential, Chit said. For me, beer is just a way to change the country. Wichit "Chit" Saiklao conducts a beer-brewing class in February 2020 in Thailand. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) On a warm Saturday afternoon weeks before the kingdom locked down against the coronavirus, buoyant young Thais in canvas sneakers and flush-cheeked foreigners sweating under straw hats bellied up to wooden tables on Chits veranda on Koh Kret, an hour and a half from central Bangkok by train and ferry. Story continues Frank Sinatras My Way played on the speakers. Chits younger brother Porn worked the taps, pouring fruity, straw-hued Amata Weizens and golden Mosaic Hop Drop Saisons among eight beers on offer that weekend into glasses featuring a turtle logo and the motto, Its Good Chit. The terrapin is a reminder to slow down, Chit said to leave the frenzy of Bangkok behind and drink in the measured, earthy process of beer-making. Under a hand-painted Brewing Academy sign, grains steeped in a drum of water as Chit talked three pupils in their late 20s through the finer points of malt and yeast, amber and ale. If you can make one kind of beer, you can make them all, he told them. The point is to figure out what you like, and to know that you have choices. The power is yours. The two young men in the class nodded. The lone woman took notes. Chit Beer, a riverside brewhouse in Thailand, is packed on weekends. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) Since the army entered politics, dissent in Thailand has been harshly punished. But the alcohol law remains irregularly enforced. Chit has been fined eight times, paying anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $1,500. Still, he finds no contradiction between his renegade hobby and his job teaching engineering at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, the training ground for a centurys worth of army chiefs and politicians including the sitting prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha. Im not going to compete with any of them for any position, he said. Im not going to threaten their career path. So nobody in the army cares about what I do. Chit's malt storage facility is a converted garage near his brewhouse on Koh Kret island in Thailand. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) Seventeen years after ending his service as a soldier, Chit, who retains his officer's rank, still has the close-cropped hair, trim build and raw vigor of a young recruit. His hunger grew out of a poor, lonesome childhood in Phatthalung, a southern province of rice and rubber farms. The oldest of three children, Chit often watched his father come home drunk and scream at his mother. He would hide in another room when they fought, reading books through his tears. I felt so unlucky, he said. I always thought: Why did my parents get married? Why did they have me? I turned that into the energy to change. The pudgy teen excelled at school, earning admission to a military academy in Bangkok. Endless pushups slimmed him down. Still, he chafed at the discipline and yearned to go abroad, believing it was the only way to deliver his family from poverty. Many nights after lights out, he sneaked off to the bathroom with his backpack, burying himself in books until morning. He got a chance to go to the U.S. with a scholarship to the Virginia Military Institute. From there it was on to Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where on a Saturday night in 1996, an American buddy gave the sober young cadet his first taste of home-brewed beer. Bartenders pour pints at Chit Beer. Chit has been fined eight times for running the unlicensed brewery. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) Chit used an expletive to describe the taste. But what impressed me was the idea that you could make this at home. I wanted to brew beer too, but mainly so I wouldnt feel lonely. I thought, if I had beer, friends would come over. Juggling side jobs as a computer programmer and a bartender at Buffalo Wild Wings whose recipe he adapted for the spicy chicken wings served at the brew house Chit completed his PhD in 2003 and flew home to Thailand. He spent the 30-hour journey scribbling a manifesto for his future. When I was in the U.S. I looked at my country like, Why? Why? he said. I came back at 31 and I felt like I was starting my life. He launched a successful logistics startup, built his parents a house, put his brother and sister through college then turned back to beer. It was 2012, and artisanal beer didnt exist in Thailand. Customs officers probably didnt know what they were looking at when a home-brewing kit addressed to Chit arrived from the U.S. via Amazon. His first batches turned out treacly and flat. It wasnt until the third try that he realized that the little white packets he was discarding werent desiccants but yeast, which catalyzes fermentation and gives beer its alcohol content and bubbles. Soon he was hosting nighttime tastings at his house on Koh Kret and gaining a following on Facebook. After launching the weekly classes in 2014, he helped former students set up a brewery in Cambodia and ship the beer back to Thailand. Soon Thai beers were being made in Vietnam, Taiwan and Australia. The new varieties cost a premium because of heavy import taxes. But trendy young Thais thrilled to the fresh flavors of chocolaty stouts and pale ales infused with local ingredients: berries, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, a type of ginger called galangal. Chit brews several craft varieties, from pilsners and pale ales to rich stouts, for customers at Chit Beer. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) In Bangkoks craft beer scene, Chit came to be known as the godfather. Hes really nice and generous and a visionary, said Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, a 31-year-old home brewer who goes by Tao. Lanky and affable, with a slacker vibe that belies his law school education, Tao became enchanted with craft beer after tasting a refreshingly bitter India pale ale on a visit to New York. Back in Bangkok, he ditched his corporate job and set up an illicit brewery in a rented building, importing malt and hops from the U.S. and Europe. In early 2017, police arrived and demanded a hefty bribe. Tao didnt have the money, so he spent the night in jail and paid a $150 fine. But then he went on TV to denounce the alcohol laws and became a sensation. Thailand was beginning to prepare for 2019 parliamentary elections, the first since the coup. A progressive new party called Future Forward was casting around for young candidates, and Taos name came up. Taopiphop "Tao" Limjittrakorn pours a beer at his Bangkok pub. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) A pro-military party won the heavily skewed election, but Future Forward finished a surprising third with 80 seats including Taos. He became the second youngest member of the legislature, turning the ground floor of his new pub, the Taopiphop Bar Project, into his parliamentary office. On a warm night in January, Tao sat behind a microphone, beer in hand, at a small bar above a Bangkok bookshop. He had invited some of Thailands roughly 70 craft beer makers to discuss his partys proposal: to eliminate the minimum requirements for brewers and distillers, allowing them to manufacture beer and spirits domestically. Licenses are currently granted to brewpubs only if they produce at least 100,000 liters a year the equivalent of 800 single-serving bottles a day and have more than $300,000 invested. Industrial bottlers must churn out 100 times that amount, which leaves the two conglomerates that make Chang, Singha and Leo, pale lagers that are as unremarkable as they are ubiquitous. Friends gather at Taopiphop Bar Project in Bangkok, Thailand. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) People want to see small businesses fight against big corporations, Tao told the brewers. They really want us to be the symbol of change in this country." Moments later, the door creaked and in walked Chit. Brewers put down their beers, some joining their palms in respect. When Chit spoke, he was measured: We need to unlock home brewing so that people have peace of mind when they make beer. But as far as a commercial business, I dont know how far we can go. Thai home brewers call Chit "the godfather" of the country's craft beer movement. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) Afterward, sipping a pale ale at a picnic table outside his taproom Turtle Bar, he marveled that the movement he'd launched alone and in secret could be on the cusp of a breakthrough. But he predicted Tao's upstart party would provoke a backlash from the military. Weeks later, a court dissolved Future Forward over a campaign finance violation. Tao and other members, regrouped under a new party, have vowed to press ahead with the liquor bill. Back on Koh Kret, Chit steers clear of politics. His classes usually have a two-month wait list, but patience, as a brewmeister will tell you, is part of the process. Students must return to the island 14 days after the lesson, when their batches are ready to be bottled. In Chit's view, the wait teaches them to value the future a catalyst, like yeast, for political awakening. Chit Beer's brewing academy has a wait list, but the Thai bar is open to all on weekends. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) Special correspondent Poypiti Amatatham contributed to this report. Bismah Malik By Express News Service Amidst a hotly debated topic on GST on various types of flattened breads( Roti, Parota) on social media, Bengaluru based company ID Fresh said that it will appeal against a recent GST ruling of the Authority for Advance Rulings (Karnataka bench) which called for a distinction between Rotis and Parotas and subjected Parotas to a higher GST rate of 18%. ID Fresh Food which sells various types of Idli dosa batters and ready to heat flattened breads ( Parotas) did a brisk business during the lockdown as the whole country stayed indoors. PC Musthafa, co-founder and CEO of ID Fresh Food said in a statement, At ID Fresh Food, we are committed to follow the law of the land and work in the interest of the community. In todays challenging times, we need - more than ever before - to build an environment that is conducive to recovery and growth. We have decided to appeal against the recent ruling by the Authority of Advance Ruling (AAR) Karnataka that parota as classified under Chapter Heading 2106 is not khakhra, plain chapati, or roti, so 18% of Goods and Service Tax (GST) is applicable. The company also quoted a Maharashtra AAR ruling which noted that unleavened flatbreads such as plain chapatti, tortilla, roti, roti rolls, wraps, paratha and paratha wraps are covered under Entry No. 99 A of Schedule I and therefore they are liable to GST at 5%. Also, in its 2012 notification (FD 57 CSL 2012), under the Karnataka Value Added Tax Act, 2003, the Government had not made such distinction and reduced the tax payable for ready-to-cook chapati and parota to 5%. Im hopeful that we will get this matter resolved soon so that our consumers can continue to enjoy healthy Indian foods at affordable prices, Musthafa added. LA NACION Son las diez de la manana en Kabul, capital de Afganistan, y Donya, de 27 anos, esta en la redaccion del diario internacional para el que trabaja. Quedan pocas companeras en el diario, un medio internacional con oficina en el centro, uno de los pocos que aun estan alli. Por cuestiones de seguridad, pedira que su nombre y su lugar de trabajo sean modificados. Pueden matarme, lo se. Cuando salga de Afganistan o los talibanes sean derrotados y este segura, voy a escribir sobre todo lo que paso dur Agra, June 12 : Nine new cases of COVID-19 took Agra's tally to 1,008 on Friday. But it was the recovery of a nonagenarian that has brought cheer to all in the city. The 97-year-old patient is a former engineer and resident of the Gandhi Nagar colony, His recovery from the coronavirus not only brought cheer, but also raised hopes among the medical fraternity, who have been offering round the clock services in the government Covid-19 hospitals. With two more deaths on Thursday, the total death count in Agra stands at 56. District magistrate P.N. Singh said 840 patients had recovered and 112 were under treatment. So far 15,940 samples have been taken in the district. Agra now has 43 urban and 23 rural containment zones. Mathura reported an alarming 38 positive cases on Thursday. Most are said to be migrant workers who returned home from other states. Etah added seven, Mainpuri and Firozabad 10 each. The state government has now permitted private hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients, following the required tariff and protocols. Three local hospitals have already been giving their services. The Rajasthan border with Agra remains sealed, while people coming from Noida and Delhi are being thoroughly screened at the Yamuna Expressway toll, district officials said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Despite soaring first-quarter profits, the biggest grocery chains in the country are ending the wage premium they had been paying front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Loblaw and Metro told workers Wednesday afternoon they were ending the $2-per-hour premium June 13. In a note to employees, Loblaw Companies Ltd. president Sarah Davis said stores and distribution centres are experiencing a new normal, now that COVID-related safeguards have been in place for several months. With this stability and with economies reopening we have decided the time is right to transition out of our temporary pay premium, Davis said in the note. The company is still planning to spend about $25 million on a one-time bonus for workers whove been collecting the premium. That will add up to about $140 per person for workers on a full-time schedule, according to an estimate from the Unifor union. Ive said it again and again ... but its worth repeating: Im extremely proud of all the work our front-line people in stores (did) to help Canadians get through the early and complicated phase of the pandemic, Davis added. With more than $280 million invested in adjustments and safeguards, the company is no longer benefitting financially from COVID-19, Loblaw spokesperson Catherine Thomas said in an email. Thomas added that the company had extended the premium several times. Metro spokesperson Marie-Claude Bacon confirmed the Quebec-based retailer is also eliminating the premium June 13, and will be paying each full-time employee a final $200 bonus, with part-time workers getting $100. Our employees have done and continue to do a tremendous job. Their dedication to our communities was true before the pandemic and we are convinced it will remain true thereafter, Bacon said. Requests for comment from Empire Company Ltd., which owns Sobeys and FreshCo, were not immediately responded to. The head of the Unifor union, which represents approximately 2,000 Loblaw workers and tens of thousands of workers at Metro, blasted the decision. The pandemic is not over. The danger has not passed. These workers are no less at risk and are no less essential today than they were yesterday. There is no justification for ending pandemic pay now, or ever, said Unifor president Jerry Dias in an emailed statement. Retail workers have always been essential, and they have always deserved much better. The fact is, the pandemic did not make these workers essential and did not create the inequities in retail, it simply exposed them, Dias added. Diass assistant for the retail sector Chris MacDonald suggested its not a coincidence that companies are stopping the premium weeks before the Canada Emergency Response Benefit is winding down for most workers. The wages have been kept so low in the industry that people were wondering is it really worth risking my health and my familys health to work, when I can just collect CERB? So companies had to pay that premium or they wouldnt have had enough workers. It wasnt out of the goodness of their heart. Now that CERB is winding down, thats not as much of a problem for them any more, said MacDonald. Both Loblaw and Metro said the timing of the CERB program had nothing to do with their decision to eliminate the premium. The United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents roughly 70,000 Loblaw employees, expressed its disappointment with the decision. UFCW Canada is disappointed that employers in various sectors across Canada are choosing to stop paying COVID-19 premium pay while the pandemic continues, and some provinces are still enforcing precautionary measures. ... Premium pay should be maintained throughout the pandemic, the UFCW said in a statement. In the first quarter, Loblaw Companies Ltd. which owns the Loblaws grocery stores, No Frills and Shoppers Drug Mart reported that its first-quarter profits soared to $240 million, compared to $198 million in the same quarter last year. In the fiscal second quarter, Metro reported a profit of $176 million, compared to $122 million the year before. When the premium was introduced in late March, Loblaw chair Galen Weston said it was to help reward the incredible people whod continued to serve the public during the pandemic. Our supermarkets and pharmacies are performing well, he said in a statement. And the leaders in our business wanted to make sure that a significant portion of that benefit would go straight into the pockets of the incredible people on the front line. Read more about: By Shreyansi Singh (Reuters) - Thai rice export prices rose to their highest in about a month this week due to a strong baht currency and persistent supply concerns, losing out to cheaper offers from other Asian hubs. Quotes for Thailand's benchmark 5-percent broken rice prices rose to $505-$533 per tonne on Thursday - the highest level since early May - from $490-$512 last week. By Shreyansi Singh (Reuters) - Thai rice export prices rose to their highest in about a month this week due to a strong baht currency and persistent supply concerns, losing out to cheaper offers from other Asian hubs. Quotes for Thailand's benchmark 5-percent broken rice prices rose to $505-$533 per tonne on Thursday - the highest level since early May - from $490-$512 last week. "Our prices are higher than all of our competitors thanks to the strong baht which makes it hard to find buyers," a Bangkok-based trader said. The baht hit a more than four month high, translating into higher export prices in U.S. dollars. Supply concerns also persist in the domestic market despite rain that helped soften the blow from one of the worst droughts in decades earlier this year, adding to the rise in prices, another trader said. In Vietnam, rates for the benchmark 5% broken rice remained at their highest since early 2012, at $475 per tonne, as demand remains steady though supplies rose. "The Philippines' recently completed rice purchase and the build-up in domestic supplies have kept export prices from rising further," a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said. Vietnam exported 3.09 million tonnes of rice in the first five months of the year, up 12.2% from the year-earlier period. Prices of top exporter India's 5 percent broken parboiled variety were also unchanged at $368-$373 per tonne, the lowest in over two months, amid weak demand. The new season supplies have started in a few Indian states, but export demand is negligible, said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. India has raised the price at which it will buy new-season common rice varieties from local farmers by 2.9%. Neighbouring Bangladesh, the world's fourth-biggest rice producer, will speed up rice procurement to secure supplies for relief operations amid the coronavirus pandemic, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said. The virus has infected 78,052 people and killed 1,049 in Bangladesh as of Thursday. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, Ruma Paul in Dhaka, Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok; editing by Arpan Varghese and Nick Macfie) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. New Delhi, Jun 12 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke on phone with his counterpart from Lao Thongloun Sisoulith and exchanged views on the health and economic challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The prime minister commended the effective measures undertaken by the Government of Lao to contain spread of the pandemic in Laos. Both leaders agreed on the need for international cooperation, and for sharing of best-practices and experiences, in order to prepare for the post-COVID world, the Prime Ministers Office said in a statement. Mr Modi highlighted Indias historic and cultural links with Laos and expressed satisfaction at being involved in the restoration of the World Heritage Site at Vat Phou. Mr Sisoulith thanked Mr Modi for Indias support for Laos development programmes, in capacity building and for scholarships. Mr Modi reiterated Indias commitment to continue its development partnership with Lao PDR, a valued partner in Indias extended neighbourhood. UNI ASH PS 2112 A tree kangaroo worked out how to open a door handle while breaking into a lodge in Atherton, Queensland. Video posted to Twitter by Paul Webster showed the tree kangaroo, Nelson, using its arms and body weight to pull down the door handle and push the door open before entering the house on May 22. Nelson is the only known tree kangaroo that has demonstrated this level of intelligence and development [at the facility]. He is an orphan whose mother was killed by a vehicle strike, Webster told Storyful. Raised by humans, he now lives a normal life in the rainforest canopy by night and, for safety issues, returns each morning to a secure environment. According to the WWF (World Wildlife Fund), tree kangaroos live in lowland and mountainous rainforests in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the far north of Queensland, Australia. Credit: Paul Webster via Storyful The legislation was described as historic, and the commentary on multiple occasions matched the significance of the moment. It was a remarkable 90-plus minutes Thursday evening as state lawmakers unanimously approved racial justice legislation. The gravity of the moment did not escape those legislators who spoke about the proposal. The remarks there was no actual debate, at least not in the purest sense of the word were often insightful, introspective, heartfelt and emotional. We covered Thursdays events, including some of the most powerful testimony from state legislators. If you missed that coverage, we encourage you to find it online or in Fridays print editions: its worth the read. But there was so much more than what could fit into that story, so I wanted to share some of that here. I wrote previously that Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines, a Democrat and a black woman from Des Moines, recalled portraying civil rights icon Rosa Parks in a local community theater production. She said one line from that performance has always stuck with her: "Sometimes the Lord chooses us for special things." Gaines said she has been thinking about that line in recent weeks after the death of George Floyd, a Minnesota man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly 9 minutes. Gaines said her faith has led her to believe that perhaps Floyd was chosen by a higher power to serve as a spark for the calls for the advancement of racial justice that have become so prevalent since his death, and helped lead to the legislation that was passed this week in Iowa. "George Floyd has become a special person in death because he, as a symbol of life, is saying, 'We dont have to wait anymore. The time is now'," Gaines said Thursday on the House floor. "As I close, I will say sometimes the Lord chooses us for special things. George Floyd is bigger in death than in life, and I think theres a rhyme and reason to it." Rep. Ras Smith, a Democrat and a black man from Waterloo, described Thursdays events as bittersweet because of the injustices that led to the moment but the significance of the legislation being approved. Smith, like many other lawmakers who spoke Thursday, cautioned that the bill was merely a first step, and that much work ahead remained. "The work ahead is plentiful, but I have so much hope," Smith said. "Im hopeful because this time in Iowa we stepped up and made real change." Rep. Matt Windschitl, the Republican House majority leader from Missouri Valley, described watching Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad participate in the protests in Des Moines and attempt to keep them peaceful while reaching out to the young, black Iowans passionately demanding change. Windschitl recalled watching Abdul-Samad address a young protestor who said he just wanted his voice, his concerns, to be heard. Windschitl expressed his admiration for Abdul-Samads efforts, and had a stirring message to him, the protestors in the streets and the Black Lives Matter protestors who watched Thursdays events from the House and Senate galleries. "Is this a solution to every problem we have, every injustice? No. But its a damn good start. And we can move forward from here, and we can do so united as Iowans, regardless of race, color, creed, or sexual orientation. We can move together as people who care about one another and want the best for our fellow man," Windschitl said. "Rep. Abdul-Samad, Rep. Smith, I have the utmost respect for you and for your colleagues. I appreciate that you have stepped into the fray and tried to help. We also want to help, and were here. And to all the folks in the gallery, anybody who might watch this later, hear this later, to that young man who was talking with Rep. Abdul-Samad: we hear you. We hear you and we want justice for everyone. Everyone." Erin Murphy covers Iowa politics and government for Lee Enterprises. His email address is erin.murphy@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter at @ErinDMurphy. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 This isn't an easy piece to write, for reasons that will shortly become clear, but I know it's time to explain myself on an issue surrounded by toxicity. I write this without any desire to add to that toxicity. For people who don't know: last December I tweeted my support for Maya Forstater, a tax specialist who'd lost her job for what were deemed 'transphobic' tweets. She took her case to an employment tribunal, asking the judge to rule on whether a philosophical belief that sex is determined by biology is protected in law. Judge Tayler ruled that it wasn't. My interest in trans issues pre-dated Maya's case by almost two years, during which I followed the debate around the concept of gender identity closely. I've met trans people, and read sundry books, blogs and articles by trans people, gender specialists, intersex people, psychologists, safeguarding experts, social workers and doctors, and followed the discourse online and in traditional media. On one level, my interest in this issue has been professional, because I'm writing a crime series, set in the present day, and my fictional female detective is of an age to be interested in, and affected by, these issues herself, but on another, it's intensely personal, as I'm about to explain. All the time I've been researching and learning, accusations and threats from trans activists have been bubbling in my Twitter timeline. This was initially triggered by a 'like'. When I started taking an interest in gender identity and transgender matters, I began screenshotting comments that interested me, as a way of reminding myself what I might want to research later. On one occasion, I absent-mindedly 'liked' instead of screenshotting. That single 'like' was deemed evidence of wrongthink, and a persistent low level of harassment began. Months later, I compounded my accidental 'like' crime by following Magdalen Burns on Twitter. Magdalen was an immensely brave young feminist and lesbian who was dying of an aggressive brain tumour. I followed her because I wanted to contact her directly, which I succeeded in doing. However, as Magdalen was a great believer in the importance of biological sex, and didn't believe lesbians should be called bigots for not dating trans women with penises, dots were joined in the heads of twitter trans activists, and the level of social media abuse increased. I mention all this only to explain that I knew perfectly well what was going to happen when I supported Maya. I must have been on my fourth or fifth cancellation by then. I expected the threats of violence, to be told I was literally killing trans people with my hate, to be called c*** and b**** and, of course, for my books to be burned, although one particularly abusive man told me he'd composted them. What I didn't expect in the aftermath of my cancellation was the avalanche of emails and letters that came showering down upon me, the overwhelming majority of which were positive, grateful and supportive. They came from a cross-section of kind, empathetic and intelligent people, some of them working in fields dealing with gender dysphoria and trans people, who're all deeply concerned about the way a socio-political concept is influencing politics, medical practice and safeguarding. They're worried about the dangers to young people, gay people and about the erosion of women's and girl's rights. Above all, they're worried about a climate of fear that serves nobody least of all trans youth well. I'd stepped back from Twitter for many months both before and after tweeting support for Maya, because I knew it was doing nothing good for my mental health. I only returned because I wanted to share a free children's book during the pandemic. Immediately, activists who clearly believe themselves to be good, kind and progressive people swarmed back into my timeline, assuming a right to police my speech, accuse me of hatred, call me misogynistic slurs and, above all as every woman involved in this debate will know TERF. If you didn't already know and why should you? 'TERF' is an acronym coined by trans activists, which stands for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist. In practice, a huge and diverse cross-section of women are currently being called TERFs and the vast majority have never been radical feminists. Examples of so-called TERFs range from the mother of a gay child who was afraid their child wanted to transition to escape homophobic bullying, to a hitherto totally unfeminist older lady who's vowed never to visit Marks & Spencer again because they're allowing any man who says they identify as a woman into the women's changing rooms. Ironically, radical feminists aren't even trans-exclusionary they include trans men in their feminism, because they were born women. But accusations of TERFery have been sufficient to intimidate many people, institutions and organisations I once admired, who're cowering before the tactics of the playground. 'They'll call us transphobic!' 'They'll say I hate trans people!' What next, they'll say you've got fleas? Speaking as a biological woman, a lot of people in positions of power really need to grow a pair (which is doubtless literally possible, according to the kind of people who argue that clownfish prove humans aren't a dimorphic species). So why am I doing this? Why speak up? Why not quietly do my research and keep my head down? Well, I've got five reasons for being worried about the new trans activism, and deciding I need to speak up. Firstly, I have a charitable trust that focuses on alleviating social deprivation in Scotland, with a particular emphasis on women and children. Among other things, my trust supports projects for female prisoners and for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. I also fund medical research into MS, a disease that behaves very differently in men and women. It's been clear to me for a while that the new trans activism is having (or is likely to have, if all its demands are met) a significant impact on many of the causes I support, because it's pushing to erode the legal definition of sex and replace it with gender. The second reason is that I'm an ex-teacher and the founder of a children's charity, which gives me an interest in both education and safeguarding. Like many others, I have deep concerns about the effect the trans rights movement is having on both. The third is that, as a much-banned author, I'm interested in freedom of speech and have publicly defended it, even unto Donald Trump. The fourth is where things start to get truly personal. I'm concerned about the huge explosion in young women wishing to transition and also about the increasing numbers who seem to be detransitioning (returning to their original sex), because they regret taking steps that have, in some cases, altered their bodies irrevocably, and taken away their fertility. Some say they decided to transition after realising they were same-sex attracted, and that transitioning was partly driven by homophobia, either in society or in their families. Most people probably aren't aware I certainly wasn't, until I started researching this issue properly that ten years ago, the majority of people wanting to transition to the opposite sex were male. That ratio has now reversed. The UK has experienced a 4400% increase in girls being referred for transitioning treatment. Autistic girls are hugely overrepresented in their numbers. The same phenomenon has been seen in the US. In 2018, American physician and researcher Lisa Littman set out to explore it. In an interview, she said: 'Parents online were describing a very unusual pattern of transgender-identification where multiple friends and even entire friend groups became transgender-identified at the same time. I would have been remiss had I not considered social contagion and peer influences as potential factors.' Littman mentioned Tumblr, Reddit, Instagram and YouTube as contributing factors to Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria, where she believes that in the realm of transgender identification 'youth have created particularly insular echo chambers.' Her paper caused a furore. She was accused of bias and of spreading misinformation about transgender people, subjected to a tsunami of abuse and a concerted campaign to discredit both her and her work. The journal took the paper offline and re-reviewed it before republishing it. However, her career took a similar hit to that suffered by Maya Forstater. Lisa Littman had dared challenge one of the central tenets of trans activism, which is that a person's gender identity is innate, like sexual orientation. Nobody, the activists insisted, could ever be persuaded into being trans. The argument of many current trans activists is that if you don't let a gender dysphoric teenager transition, they will kill themselves. In an article explaining why he resigned from the Tavistock (an NHS gender clinic in England) psychiatrist Marcus Evans stated that claims that children will kill themselves if not permitted to transition do not 'align substantially with any robust data or studies in this area. Nor do they align with the cases I have encountered over decades as a psychotherapist.' The writings of young trans men reveal a group of notably sensitive and clever people. The more of their accounts of gender dysphoria I've read, with their insightful descriptions of anxiety, dissociation, eating disorders, self-harm and self-hatred, the more I've wondered whether, if I'd been born 30 years later, I too might have tried to transition. The allure of escaping womanhood would have been huge. I struggled with severe OCD as a teenager. If I'd found community and sympathy online that I couldn't find in my immediate environment, I believe I could have been persuaded to turn myself into the son my father had openly said he'd have preferred. When I read about the theory of gender identity, I remember how mentally sexless I felt in youth. I remember Colette's description of herself as a 'mental hermaphrodite' and Simone de Beauvoir's words: 'It is perfectly natural for the future woman to feel indignant at the limitations posed upon her by her sex. The real question is not why she should reject them: the problem is rather to understand why she accepts them.' As I didn't have a realistic possibility of becoming a man back in the 1980s, it had to be books and music that got me through both my mental health issues and the sexualised scrutiny and judgement that sets so many girls to war against their bodies in their teens. Fortunately for me, I found my own sense of otherness, and my ambivalence about being a woman, reflected in the work of female writers and musicians who reassured me that, in spite of everything a sexist world tries to throw at the female-bodied, it's fine not to feel pink, frilly and compliant inside your own head; it's OK to feel confused, dark, both sexual and non-sexual, unsure of what or who you are. I want to be very clear here: I know transition will be a solution for some gender dysphoric people, although I'm also aware through extensive research that studies have consistently shown that between 60-90% of gender dysphoric teens will grow out of their dysphoria. Again and again I've been told to 'just meet some trans people.' I have: in addition to a few younger people, who were all adorable, I happen to know a self-described transsexual woman who's older than I am and wonderful. Although she's open about her past as a gay man, I've always found it hard to think of her as anything other than a woman, and I believe (and certainly hope) she's completely happy to have transitioned. Being older, though, she went through a long and rigorous process of evaluation, psychotherapy and staged transformation. The current explosion of trans activism is urging a removal of almost all the robust systems through which candidates for sex reassignment were once required to pass. A man who intends to have no surgery and take no hormones may now secure himself a Gender Recognition Certificate and be a woman in the sight of the law. Many people aren't aware of this. We're living through the most misogynistic period I've experienced. Back in the 80s, I imagined that my future daughters, should I have any, would have it far better than I ever did, but between the backlash against feminism and a porn-saturated online culture, I believe things have got significantly worse for girls. Never have I seen women denigrated and dehumanised to the extent they are now. From the leader of the free world's long history of sexual assault accusations and his proud boast of 'grabbing them by the pussy', to the incel ('involuntarily celibate') movement that rages against women who won't give them sex, to the trans activists who declare that TERFs need punching and re-educating, men across the political spectrum seem to agree: women are asking for trouble. Everywhere, women are being told to shut up and sit down, or else. I've read all the arguments about femaleness not residing in the sexed body, and the assertions that biological women don't have common experiences, and I find them, too, deeply misogynistic and regressive. It's also clear that one of the objectives of denying the importance of sex is to erode what some seem to see as the cruelly segregationist idea of women having their own biological realities or just as threatening unifying realities that make them a cohesive political class. The hundreds of emails I've received in the last few days prove this erosion concerns many others just as much. It isn't enough for women to be trans allies. Women must accept and admit that there is no material difference between trans women and themselves. But, as many women have said before me, 'woman' is not a costume. 'Woman' is not an idea in a man's head. 'Woman' is not a pink brain, a liking for Jimmy Choos or any of the other sexist ideas now somehow touted as progressive. Moreover, the 'inclusive' language that calls female people 'menstruators' and 'people with vulvas' strikes many women as dehumanising and demeaning. I understand why trans activists consider this language to be appropriate and kind, but for those of us who've had degrading slurs spat at us by violent men, it's not neutral, it's hostile and alienating. Which brings me to the fifth reason I'm deeply concerned about the consequences of the current trans activism. I've been in the public eye now for over twenty years and have never talked publicly about being a domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor. This isn't because I'm ashamed those things happened to me, but because they're traumatic to revisit and remember. I also feel protective of my daughter from my first marriage. I didn't want to claim sole ownership of a story that belongs to her, too. However, a short while ago, I asked her how she'd feel if I were publicly honest about that part of my life, and she encouraged me to go ahead. I'm mentioning these things now not in an attempt to garner sympathy, but out of solidarity with the huge numbers of women who have histories like mine, who've been slurred as bigots for having concerns around single-sex spaces. I managed to escape my first violent marriage with some difficulty, but I'm now married to a truly good and principled man, safe and secure in ways I never in a million years expected to be. However, the scars left by violence and sexual assault don't disappear, no matter how loved you are, and no matter how much money you've made. My perennial jumpiness is a family joke and even I know it's funny but I pray my daughters never have the same reasons I do for hating sudden loud noises, or finding people behind me when I haven't heard them approaching. If you could come inside my head and understand what I feel when I read about a trans woman dying at the hands of a violent man, you'd find solidarity and kinship. I have a visceral sense of the terror in which those trans women will have spent their last seconds on earth, because I too have known moments of blind fear when I realised that the only thing keeping me alive was the shaky self-restraint of my attacker. I believe the majority of trans-identified people not only pose zero threat to others, but are vulnerable for all the reasons I've outlined. Trans people need and deserve protection. Like women, they're most likely to be killed by sexual partners. Trans women who work in the sex industry, particularly trans women of colour, are at particular risk. Like every other domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor I know, I feel nothing but empathy and solidarity with trans women who've been abused by men. So I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe. When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he's a woman and, as I've said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside. That is the simple truth. On Saturday morning, I read that the Scottish government is proceeding with its controversial gender recognition plans, which will in effect mean that all a man needs to 'become a woman' is to say he's one. To use a very contemporary word, I was 'triggered'. Ground down by the relentless attacks from trans activists on social media, when I was only there to give children feedback about pictures they'd drawn for my book under lockdown, I spent much of Saturday in a very dark place inside my head, as memories of a serious sexual assault I suffered in my twenties recurred on a loop. That assault happened at a time and in a space where I was vulnerable, and a man capitalised on an opportunity. I couldn't shut out those memories and I was finding it hard to contain my anger and disappointment about the way I believe my government is playing fast and loose with womens and girls' safety. Late on Saturday evening, scrolling through children's pictures before I went to bed, I forgot the first rule of Twitter never, ever expect a nuanced conversation and reacted to what I felt was degrading language about women. I spoke up about the importance of sex and have been paying the price ever since. I was transphobic, I was a c***, a bitch, a TERF, I deserved cancelling, punching and death. You are Voldemort said one person, clearly feeling this was the only language I'd understand. It would be so much easier to tweet the approved hashtags because of course trans rights are human rights and of course trans lives matter scoop up the woke cookies and bask in a virtue-signalling afterglow. There's joy, relief and safety in conformity. As Simone de Beauvoir also wrote, ' without a doubt it is more comfortable to endure blind bondage than to work for one's liberation; the dead, too, are better suited to the earth than the living.' Huge numbers of women are justifiably terrified by the trans activists; I know this because so many have got in touch with me to tell their stories. They're afraid of doxxing, of losing their jobs or their livelihoods, and of violence. But endlessly unpleasant as its constant targeting of me has been, I refuse to bow down to a movement that I believe is doing demonstrable harm in seeking to erode 'woman' as a political and biological class and offering cover to predators like few before it. I stand alongside the brave women and men, gay, straight and trans, who're standing up for freedom of speech and thought, and for the rights and safety of some of the most vulnerable in our society: young gay kids, fragile teenagers, and women who're reliant on and wish to retain their single sex spaces. Polls show those women are in the vast majority, and exclude only those privileged or lucky enough never to have come up against male violence or sexual assault, and who've never troubled to educate themselves on how prevalent it is. The one thing that gives me hope is that the women who can protest and organise, are doing so, and they have some truly decent men and trans people alongside them. Political parties seeking to appease the loudest voices in this debate are ignoring women's concerns at their peril. In the UK, women are reaching out to each other across party lines, concerned about the erosion of their hard-won rights and widespread intimidation. None of the gender critical women I've talked to hates trans people; on the contrary. Many of them became interested in this issue in the first place out of concern for trans youth, and they're hugely sympathetic towards trans adults who simply want to live their lives, but who're facing a backlash for a brand of activism they don't endorse. The supreme irony is that the attempt to silence women with the word 'TERF' may have pushed more young women towards radical feminism than the movement's seen in decades. The last thing I want to say is this. I haven't written this essay in the hope that anybody will get out a violin for me, not even a teeny-weeny one. I'm extraordinarily fortunate; I'm a survivor, certainly not a victim. I've only mentioned my past because, like every other human being on this planet, I have a complex backstory, which shapes my fears, my interests and my opinions. I never forget that inner complexity when I'm creating a fictional character and I certainly never forget it when it comes to trans people. All I'm asking all I want is for similar empathy, similar understanding, to be extended to the many millions of women whose sole crime is wanting their concerns to be heard without receiving threats and abuse. L: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks to media in the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 28, 2020; R: Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.).(Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) GOP Senators Introduce Beat China Bill in Push to Ramp Up US Manufacturing Three Republican senators on June 11 introduced a bill that aims to ramp up the manufacturing of prescription drugs, medical supplies, and devices in the United States, as concerns continue to mount about the countrys dependence on China, now amplified by the CCP virus pandemic. The Bring Entrepreneurial Advancements to Consumers Here In North America (BEAT CHINA) Act (pdf) was introduced Thursday by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), to incentivize pharmaceutical and medical device and supply manufacturers to relocate to the United States, according to a news release from Cruzs office. According to the release, the bill would amend the tax code to provide incentives to companies who wish to relocate the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other supplies to the United States. Cruz, in a statement, noted the United States must address its dependencies on Beijing, as much of Americas medical supply and manufacturing has been outsourced to China. Mouthpieces of the Chinese Communist Party have threatened to cut off U.S. access to life-saving pharmaceutical products, Cruz said in a statement. Because so much of our medical supply and manufacturing has been outsourced to China, this is a credible threat that if they were to follow through on, would be not just economic warfare but real warfare, endangering American lives. Ive called for structural, and bold initiatives to address our dependencies on China, and am proud to join my colleagues on this important measure to bring medical manufacturing and development back to our shores, he said. Loeffler expressed concern over Americas dependence on China, and noted that the CCP virus pandemic has shown us just how dangerous it is to rely so heavily on other countries, including China, for critical, life-saving products such as drugs and medical devices, and supplies like gowns, masks, and swabs. It is time we incentivize companies to bring those factories and jobs back to the United States, he said in a statement. Ernst meanwhile called the ongoing pandemic a great awakening which has highlighted vulnerabilities in Americas supply chain. While China is our trade partner, theres no doubt we can find ways to produce and manufacture goods and supplies right here in the U.S., and this bill is good step toward that end, he said. Under the bill, qualifying medical supply and pharmaceutical businesses that relocate to the United States can have non-residential real property purchases considered to be 20-year property instead of 39 years. This change will allow companies to be eligible for bonus depreciation, the release states. The bill would also allow qualifying businesses to exclude from gross income any gain earned on the disposition of assets in the country the company is moving from, the senators said. In order to qualify and be eligible for the benefits under the Beat China act, companies must meet at least the same production levels in the United States as they had in the country theyre leaving. News of the bill comes just weeks after President Donald Trump said he wanted the United States to be the worlds number one medical manufacturer, as he encouraged the reopening of America. Today, Im declaring a simple but vital national goal: The United States will be the worlds premier pharmacy, drugstore, and medical manufacturer, the president said in a speech at the plant on May 21. Were bringing our medicines back and many other things too. We must produce critical equipment, supplies, pharmaceuticals, technologies for ourselves, Trump added. We cannot rely on foreign nations to take care of us, especially in times of difficulty. Trump said that the global CCP virus pandemic has proven once and for all that to be a strong nation, America must be a manufacturing nation. True national independence requires economic independence, Trump said. From day one, Ive been fighting to bring back our jobs from China and many other countries. Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report. Workers remove a controversial statue of Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton from Civic Square in Hamilton on June 12, 2020, following a formal request by the Waikato-Tainui iwi (tribal confederation) and threats it would be torn down during a Black Lives Matter march due to take place the following day. (AFP) Hamilton: The New Zealand city of Hamilton on Friday tore down a statue of the colonial military commander after whom it was named, joining a growing list of places worldwide that are reckoning with their past. A crane hoisted the bronze sculpture of Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton from the town square Friday morning after requests from local Maori and threats from anti-racism protesters to topple it. A small group of cheering spectators looked on. Hamilton City Council acknowledged the statue's extraction was part of a push to remove memorials "which are seen to represent cultural disharmony and oppression" sparked by global anti-racism protests. "I know many people -- in fact, a growing number of people -- find the statue personally and culturally offensive," mayor Paula Southgate said. "We can't ignore what is happening all over the world and nor should we. At a time when we are trying to build tolerance and understanding... I don't think the statue helps us to bridge those gaps." Hamilton was a naval commander who fought indigenous Maori defending their land against British colonial expansion in the 19th century. He died at the Battle of Pukehinahina, or Gate Pa, in 1864, when -- in an early example of trench warfare -- a group of Maori in a fortified encampment successfully fended off British troops and artillery, despite being outnumbered. The statue was donated to the council in 2013 and the council said its removal came after a formal request from the regional iwi, or tribe, Waikato-Tainui. Anti-racism protesters had vowed to tear it down at a demonstration this weekend, with activist Taitimu Maipi labelling Hamilton a murderer. "How can we accept that he's a hero when he's a monster who led battles," Maipi told the Waikato Times. Waikato-Tainui praised the statue's removal, saying it was discussing other problematic colonial names and symbols with Hamilton council, including the prospect of restoring the city's original Maori name Kirikiriroa. "This was a devastating time for our people and these injustices of the past should not be a continual reminder as we look to grow and develop our beautiful city into the future," iwi chairman Rukumoana Schaafhausen said. Statues and place names honouring figures such as slavers and colonial military figures are being reassessed worldwide in response to anti-racism protests sparked by the police killing of African American man George Floyd. Hamilton council said the fate of the British commander's statue and what, if anything, should replace it were still under discussion. WASHINGTON Want tickets to President Donald Trumps campaign rally next week in Oklahoma? Then youve got to agree you won't sue him if you contract coronavirus. The sign-up page for free tickets on the Trump campaign website comes with a liability waiver that says the campaign or other parties associated with the event next Friday at the BOK Center in Tulsa cannot be held liable for exposure to coronavirus. By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present, the waiver says. By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury. President Donald Trump campaigns in Toledo, Ohio, on Jan. 9, 2020. The event, which the Trump campaign officially announced Thursday, will be Trumps first campaign rally since nationwide lockdowns took effect in March to slow the spread of COVID-19 and comes as the disease continues to rage across the country. The disease already has infected 2 million Americans and killed nearly 114,000. Public health officials have warned that large gatherings could cause it to spread further. The sign-up page for tickets to the Tulsa rally did not say what measures would be taken to assure the safety of crowds or whether masks or social distancing would be required. But Trump said Wednesday he picked Tulsa in part because the state has done a good job of stopping the spread of coronavirus. "They've done a great job with COVID, as you know, in the state of Oklahoma, he said. Coronavirus cases in Oklahoma dropped in May but have spiked over the past couple of weeks. The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported 146 new COVID-19 cases across the state Thursday, bringing the total number of the states positive cases to 7,626. Story continues Pandemic: World struggles to stop spread of coronavirus Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum said the city is still working out details of the rally. "Tulsans have managed one of the first successful re-openings in the nation, so we can only guess that may be the reason President Trump selected Tulsa as a rally site, Bynum said in a statement to CBS News. The City of Tulsa continues to follow the State of Oklahoma's OURS plan on COVID-19 response as it relates to events, which encourages the organizer to have enhanced hygiene considerations for attendees." Trump also is planning other rallies in Texas, Florida, Arizona and North Carolina. Critics slammed Trumps decision to resume political rallies while coronavirus continues to spread. "I think its insane to hold a political rally during a pandemic, Jonathan Reiner, professor of medicine at George Washington University, wrote on Twitter. Its also equally crazy to attend such an event, particularly when the candidate requires you to sign a disclaimer holding him harmless if you get COVID-19. He wants you there but doesnt care so much what happens." Anthony Scaramucci, a former communications director for Trump, called the liability waiver "selfish" and "irresponsible." "Two of the great hallmarks of his presidency: Selfish and irresponsible," he said. "Selfish, he thinks this helps him get re-elected irresponsible because it puts his supporters in harms way." Brutal history: Trump will return to rallying, starting with a Juneteenth event in Tulsa, site of horrific attack on African Americans This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Tickets to Donald Trump rally include liability waiver Lightfoots position against defunding has support from several City Council members. Ald. Anthony Napolitano, who represents the Far Northwest Side 41st Ward and has been a cop and firefighter, described himself on Facebook as disheartened by the defunding movement and said he planned to introduce a resolution calling on aldermen to voluntarily shift cops from their wards to the neighborhoods of council members who want them. The resolution different from a proposed ordinance that could be passed into law suggested that be followed by a report on crime across the city. New Delhi, June 12 : With just a week to go for the Rajya Sabha elections, the Congress on Friday approached the Election Commission accusing the BJP of indulging in corrupt practices and demanded that no MLAs should be arrested or harassed till June 19. Congress Treasurer Ahmed Patel and party's Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Singhvi approached the poll panel and submitted a petition to highlight instances of its legislators in Gujarat being lured and intimidated by the ruling BJP. The election for the four Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat will be held on June 19. In its petition, the Congress said it was sure of its victory in Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat and would bag two of the four seats as per its strength in the state legislature. Fearing poaching, the Congress has moved its MLAs to resorts in the state as well as in neighbouring Rajasthan. It said that after the nominations were filed in March, the BJP could have succeeded in getting five Congress MLAs to resign. For the protection of democracy as well as for their own safety, the Congress MLAs were moved to Rajasthan. In normal circumstances, the party could have managed to win 2 seats. However, the scheduled elections on March 26 were deferred on the orders of the Election Commission. Therefore on March 24, all Congress MLAs were brought back from Rajasthan. The party alleged that the BJP is now back to its old ways, resulting in the resignation of three Congress MLAs. However, no more MLAs could be pressured or managed from Congress, it said, asserting the ruling BJP has resorted to harassment of the Congress MLAs. The Congress in its petition also cited an instance of one of its Gujarat MLAs Panjbhai Kunjbhai Vansh being subjected to harassment at the hands of the state government in an old case even when he did not have any criminal record. "We very strongly apprehend that the ruling party is misusing the police machinery and is unnecessarily harassing the senior MLA. Further, we also strongly apprehend that with the help of police, the ruling party is likely to prevent the MLAs to reach the place of voting on June 19 by falsely implicating them in some criminal cases," said the Congress. "The tactic being adopted by the BJP is inexcusable and condemnable," it said, adding the Congress wants the EC to issue orders or directions to ensure that no FIRs or cases are registered or reopened by the authorities, including the Gujarat Police, against Congress MLAs in the state without the approval from the Commission. It also appealed to the poll panel to direct that no MLA should be harassed or arrested until June 19 on the grounds of false cases. The Congress also urged the poll panel to ascertain protection and safety of its MLAs and ensure that the official machinery is not used for furthering the political interests of the BJP. New Delhi, June 12 : The Supreme Court on Friday asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to convene a meeting of the Finance Ministry and RBI officials over the weekend to decide whether interest incurred on EMIs during the moratorium period can be charged by banks. A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and M.R. Shah queried Mehta as the court was concerned since the Centre has deferred loan for three months. "Then how can interest of these 3 months be added?" the apex bench asked. Mehta replied: "I need to sit down with the RBI officials and have a meeting." SBI's counsel, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, intervened during the proceedings and said "all banks are of the view that interest cannot be waived for a six month EMI moratorium period". "We need to discuss it with the RBI," insisted Rohatgi. Justice Bhushan then asked Mehta to convene a meeting of the RBI and Finance Ministry officials over the weekend, and listed the matter for further hearing on June 17. The top court, during the hearing, indicated that it was not considering a complete waiver of interest but was only concerned that postponement of interest shouldn't accrue further interest on it. After the RBI said the waiver of interest charges on EMIs during moratorium will lead to loss of 1 per cent of the nation's GDP, the top court had earlier asked the Finance Ministry to reply, whether the interest could be waived or it would continue during the moratorium period. The top court said these are not normal times, and it is a serious issue, as on one hand moratorium is granted and then, the interest is charged on loans during this period. "There are two issues in this (matter). No interest during the moratorium period and no interest on interest," said Justice Bhushan. The observation from the bench came on a petition by Gajendra Sharma, in which he sought a direction to declare portion of the RBI's March 27 notification as ultra vires to the extent it charged interest on the loan amount during the moratorium period. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Sitamarhi : June 12 (IANS) Amid an ongoing dispute between India and Nepal, an Indian farmer from Bihar's Sitamarhi district was killed while two others were injured in indiscriminate firing by the Nepal police at the India-Nepal border on Friday. The deceased has been identified as Vinesh Kumar, 25. According to sources, an Indian man has also been detained by the Nepal police. According to the police, the Nepal armed police near the Jankinagar border resorted to firing while the farmers were working in the field. Sources said following the incident, tension has increased in the area. Sitamarhi Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar told IANS that the injured have been admitted to hospital, where they are said to be out of danger. He said that three persons were injured in the firing and all were brought to the hospital. During treatment, one of the injured succumbed to his injuries. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel and additional forces have been deployed along the India-Nepal border following the firing incident. IG Sanjay Kumar of the SSB, Patna Frontier, told IANS that the reason behind the firing was not yet clear. Citing the villagers, he said that a person Lagan Rai went to the border with his son to meet a female relative. Suddenly, a heated argument took place between Rai and the Nepal police personnel following which the firing took place. IG Kumar was told by the villagers that Nepal police has taken Lagan Rai along with them. Kumar said the Nepal police alleged that these people were trying to snatch their weapons. He added that senior police officers have reached the spot and were monitoring the situation. The India-Nepal border along Bihar usually remains open and movement of people takes place as well. However, due to the coronavirus-triggered crisis, precautions are being taken along the border since the last few days. By Daniel McConnell and Juno McEnroe The Governments plan to offer a summer programme for up to 10,000 children with special needs may not be fully possible because of a lack of assistants to provide the care, ministers have warned. The Cabinet is today expected to approve an updated version of the July Provision the annual summer special needs programme but ministers have flagged a potential difficulty in securing the co-operation of enough special needs assistants (SNAs). Education Minister Joe McHugh is to bring a memo to Cabinet for approval for the summer programme but, while it is expected to be approved, it has been admitted that it will be reliant on the goodwill of teachers and SNAs. It is understood that the programme for 10,000 children, which seeks to include those with Down syndrome, is highly reliant on volunteers coming forward and there is a concern not enough have signalled a willingness to do so. Fianna Fails education spokesman, Thomas Byrne, has said that clarity must be brought to this issue. He said it was very concerning that policy is reliant on the goodwill of people who may not be in a position to participate. It is leaving it very tight, but parents badly need clarity, said Mr Byrne. Mr McHugh said that any programme will be voluntary in nature, and it will be a matter for individual choice as to whether a school or a teacher feels they can participate. The minister said he could not pretend it was a small request to teachers and SNAs. He said those who feel that they can do something over the summer to help in this endeavour should choose to do so. He said that he will return to Cabinet today to set out the shape of this years summer programme. Once the guidelines are announced, parents will have to register with the department, Mr McHugh said. Meanwhile, Leo Varadkar told the Fine Gael parliamentary party that they are fighting to protect the incomes of middle Ireland in the coalition talks, as well as the roads programme. Simon Coveney told colleagues that there is still some heavy lifting to be done in the talks, and that matters relating to the economy, transport, pensions, climate, and housing remain outstanding. Kabul, June 12 : US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said the intra-Afghan negotiations between the Kabul governments team and the Taliban "must begin immediately", and adding that the prisoner releases, which were a precursor for start of the negotiations, have reached a new milestone. "We welcome the government now having exceeded 3,000 Taliban prisoners released and the Taliban 500. It is important that the process continues, and the prisoners release roadblock resolved," TOLO News quoted Khalilzad as saying on Thursday. He said that "the Afghan-owned, Afghan-led negotiations between the inclusive Islamic Republic team and the Taliban negotiating team must begin immediately thereafter. From the start, getting to intra-Afghan negotiations (IAN) has been a key objective of our diplomacy". "We welcome the Taliban statement specifying they will participate in intra-Afghan negotiations within one week of the prisoner release commitment outlined in our agreement. Although many practical details need to be worked out, these developments are all very positive," he said. Khalilzad added that the US welcomed the Taliban statement specifying they will participate in IAN within one week of the prisoner release commitment outlined in our agreement. Based on the US-Taliban agreement, 5,000 Taliban prisoners should be released ahead of the intra-Afghan negotiations, something that now looks closer to happen as the government has released at least 3,000 Taliban prisoners. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Beijing, China Fri, June 12, 2020 07:20 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde16102 2 World China,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-vaccines,coronavirus-prevention,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,pandemic Free China is offering candidate vaccines for the new coronavirus to employees at state-owned firms travelling overseas, as it seeks more data on their efficacy, state media Global Times reported on Thursday. No proven vaccines have been developed yet for the virus, although mass trials for a number of candidate vaccines are expected to get underway soon in countries around the world. Employees in China can volunteer to take one of two vaccine candidates being developed by affiliates of state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), the newspaper backed by the Communist Party reported, citing a written notice sent to the state-owned companies. It did not name the two candidate vaccines, which are being tested on more than 1,000 people each and are among five candidates China has in clinical trials that showed "no distinct adverse reaction" in the first two phases of human trials. The plan is also part of China's effort to resume overseas projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative, a scheme to link China with Asia, Europe and beyond through large-scale infrastructure projects, according to the notice. "For better prevention and quicker recovery of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, Sinopharm has given priority to supporting workers intending to go overseas to vaccinate for urgent needs," it said. Before regulatory approval for sales, a vaccine normally has to go through large-scale, "Phase 3" trials to observe to what extent they provide protection against infection. That ideally requires exposing people in a real-life environment with relatively high infection risk. China, where the virus first originated in late December, has seen a sharp drop in the number of new cases, making it less favorable as a late-stage clinical trial site. Vaccinating people travelling abroad, especially those going to high-risk areas, is one option for conducting a Phase 3 trial, Zhu Fengcai, deputy director of a local branch of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told financial media service Caixin in April. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Reuters) Ankara Fri, June 12, 2020 15:35 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde42ca8 2 News Turkish-Airlines,travel,coronavirus,COVID-19,China,Airlines,united-states Free Turkish Airlines will resume some international flights this month to China, South Korea and the United States among other destinations, the airline said on Friday, a day after it began restarting such services. On Twitter, Chief Executive Bilal Eksi said flights to Chicago and Washington DC would resume on June 19, and those to Los Angeles would restart on June 24, with three each week. In a notice on its website, the airline said it would start a weekly flight to Shanghai from June 19, with two weekly flights each to Hong Kong and Seoul from June 24. On Thursday, it had resumed flights to Britain, Germany and the Netherlands. Kevin Hassett, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, speaks at the White House in Washington WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top White House economic adviser on Friday predicted an "increasing divergence" between states controlled by Republican governors and those led by Democrats, saying Republican "red" states opening up faster will see a stronger economic recovery. President Donald Trump has claimed repeatedly without evidence that Democratic-led "blue" states have not reopened more quickly amid the coronavirus pandemic in order to hurt his re-election bid in November. The Republican president has been pushing to reopen the crippled economy as the country works to recover from a virus that has so far killed more than 113,000 people in the United States, by far the most in the world. "The thing that as an economist gives me pause as I look forward is that there's a radical difference right now in the data between red states and blue states," senior White House adviser Kevin Hassett told Fox News Channel. Hassett pointed to Vermont, which he described as a blue state that elected a socialist U.S. senator - a reference to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders - as a state with a low number of coronavirus cases per capita whose economy remains basically closed. "Other states are wide open," he said. "So I think that there is going to be increasing divergence between the economies of blue states, where unemployment is going to be staying very, very high and the economies are going to stay closed, and the red states that are mostly open," Hassett said. About half a dozen states, including Republican-led Texas and Arizona, are grappling with a rising number of coronavirus patients filling hospital beds, fanning concerns that the reopening of the U.S. economy may spark a second wave of infections. Hassett said national trends continue to head down, but there are some flare-ups and "the battle is not over." (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Jonathan Oatis) Highlights Oppo has launched the A52 mid-range smartphone in India. It costs Rs 16,990 for a single variant but there will be more of them. Oppo Enco W11 truly wireless earbuds have also been launched. Oppo is launching the A52 mid-range smartphone in India after it was launched in China in April. The smartphone joins other A-series smartphones and counters the likes of Samsung Galaxy M21. The Oppo A52 boasts of an FHD display, a quad-camera setup at the back, and fast chargeable 5000mAh battery under the hood. Oppo's latest smartphone comes after some rumours suggested its launch to take place in the Indian market, alongside the A12 and A11k. While the Oppo A12 was launched earlier this week, the A11k is yet to be announced. Oppo has also launched W11 TWS earbuds in India. Oppo A52 Price in India and Offers The Oppo A52 has been launched in India for a price of Rs 16,990. It has a single storage variant but has two colour models - Twilight Black and Stream White. There will be two more storage models of the smartphone that will launch later. The smartphone goes on sale across offline and online platforms starting June 17. Oppo is bundling the purchase with some bank and EMI offers, such as 5 per cent cashback on EMI transactions of Bank of Baroda credit card and Federal Bank debit card. There are offers from Bajaj Finserv, IDFC First Bank, and HDB Financial Services among others. Oppo has also announced the Enco W11 truly wireless earbuds will arrive in the Indian market soon. Oppo A52 Specifications The Oppo A52 has a 6.5-inch FHD+ (1080x2400 pixels) LCD display with a punch-hole at the top-left, a pixel density of 405 PPI, and a screen-to-body ratio of 90.5 per cent. The smartphone has a Constellation Design at the back panel, along with a 3D four-curved surface. The Oppo A52 runs Android 10-based ColorOS 7.1 and is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor. It packs 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, with support for microSD card. However, Oppo will release the 4GB/128GB and 8GB/128GB variants for the A52 soon. For photography, the Oppo A52 has four cameras at the back, including a 12-megapixel main sensor, an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor, a 2-megapixel mono lens, and a 2-megapixel portrait sensor. The ultrawide sensor has a field of view of 119 degrees. For selfies, the Oppo A52 comes equipped with a 16-megapixel f/2.0 sensor that is housed in a punch-hole. The smartphone has stereo speakers powered by Dirac 2.0. The fingerprint sensor is embedded on the power button located on the side of the smartphone. The Oppo A52 is backed by a 5000mAh battery that charges at up 18W with the bundled charger. There are standard connectivity options available on the smartphone, as well, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 4G VoLTE, and a USB-C port. Oppo Enco W11 TWS Oppo's latest W11 truly wireless earbuds were launched in Thailand previously. The earbuds come with 8mm dynamic driver with the titanium-plated diaphragm and IPX5 dust and water resistance. They have an in-ear design, much like the Enco Free, and is said to offer enhanced bass output. The W11 earbuds come with USB-C charging port and a battery life of five hours on a single charge. With the charging case, the earbuds are claimed to deliver a total battery life of 20 hours. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-13 00:24:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese government spokesperson on Friday denounced the U.S. restrictions on Chinese students, saying that China "firmly opposes politicizing and stigmatizing the normal exchanges of international students." The spokesperson for the Ministry of Education said the restrictive measures taken by the United States contradicted what its leaders had said on many public occasions that Chinese students are welcomed in the United States. China urges the United States to return to rational thinking, respect public opinions and do things that are conducive to mutual exchanges and understanding between the two peoples, said the spokesperson. "We will continue to support exchange of students between China and the United States and welcome students from other countries, the United States included, to study in China," the spokesperson said. Enditem A Laois truck driver has appealed his conviction for bringing almost 300,000 worth of cocaine into Dublin. The driver had denied saying: So you found the drugs, then? to the officer who discovered the drugs, but the alleged admission was allowed into evidence at his trial. The drugs were found stashed into a fire extinguisher in Aidan Conroys truck after it was seized at Dublin Port almost five years ago. Judge Patricia Ryan jailed him for eight and a half years in 2018, describing him as a facilitator in the importation of the drugs. The 41-year-old from Ashbrook, Clonaslee, had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on August 20, 2015. The seizure was made as part of a joint operation involving the Revenue and Gardai. Following a tip off, customs officers searched Conroy's freight truck after it disembarked from a ferry. They found more than four kilos of cocaine inside a fire extinguisher in a compartment of the cab. The value of the drugs was estimated at 294,301. Another almost seven kilos of cocaine were found in a bag on top of pallets in the rear of the truck's trailer. However, a jury acquitted Conroy of the charges relating to the trailer drugs, and convicted him of possession of the cab drugs only. Conroy had no previous convictions and was described in court as having an excellent work record and being an asset to his community. He appealed the conviction to the Court of Appeal on Friday, June 12. His barrister, Patrick Gageby SC, informed the court that the grounds of appeal involved his alleged verbal admission. Mr Gageby reminded the court that following the discovery of the drugs in the fire extinguisher, a customs officer had gone to the room where his client was being held and told him they had something to show him. He said that it was during the walk to the truck when his client was alleged to have made the admission. So you found the drugs, then? Conroy gave evidence at trial, denying any knowledge of the drugs in his truck and denying having made the alleged admission at the port. He was in a form of custody (at the port) and about to be confronted with what (the officer) had found, Mr Gageby submitted. It was beyond doubt that the Judges Rules ought to have been engaged. Counsel was referring to rules, which specify that a person in such circumstances should not be questioned without a caution. Its hard to see what the purpose of showing him this was, except to gauge the reaction, he suggested. Mr Gageby added that the rules also meant that statements made by prisoners before such a caution would not be admissible in evidence. He submitted that the trial judge had erred by not excluding the alleged admission. Theres no doubt that the alleged verbal admission in this case was an essential feature, he said. The accused was acquitted of the drugs found in the trailer, but not those in the cab, in the fire extinguisher. He said that it was a reasonable inference that the alleged admission was certainly relevant to that. Mr Gageby further argued that, having admitted into evidence an admission alleged to have been made by his client, the trial judge was obliged by law to give a corroboration warning. He argued that she should have warned the jury of the fact that there was no corroborative evidence confirming that his client had actually made the alleged admission and that there was no corroborative evidence that he knew or had reasonable grounds to suspect that he was in possession of the controlled drugs. Karl Finnegan on behalf of the DPP said he remained of the view that there was corroborative evidence in the case. I didnt take the view that it had to be corroborative of the fact of the making of an admission but corroborative of the facts of the admission or confession. Justice John Edwards, presiding with Justice Patrick McCarthy and Justice Isobel Kennedy, reserved judgement in the case. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has today launched a US$186 million appeal to mainly provide lifesaving protection and assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees and host communities in the central Sahel region. The appeal includes the US$97 million in initial requirements for 2020, US$29 million to implement COVID-19 prevention and response measures in displacement areas, and an additional US$60 million to scale up UNHCRs emergency response as part of its Sahel Strategy. Launching the appeal in Geneva, Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, highlighted the remarkable generosity of local communities but noted they are at a breaking point, particularly in Burkina Faso where the number of people internally displaced has more than quadrupled from 193,000 in June 2019 to 848,000 at the end of April. The emergency in the Sahel is a humanitarian and protection crisis of major proportions, where horrifying violence against vulnerable populations is becoming endemic, said Filippo Grandi. The risk of spillover of the conflict into neighboring coastal countries is very real and now exacerbated by Covid 19, he added. For people who have fled wars and persecution and for the hosts that have graciously welcomed them, the additional impact of COVID-19 on what is mostly hand-to-mouth existence has been devastating. We need to scale up with a comprehensive and inclusive response, that places the rights and well-being of millions of displaced people at the heart of what we do. Grandi declared, adding: We must act now before it is too late. Fatima holds her baby among fellow Malian refugees in Goudoubo camp, Burkina Faso as they wait for dignity kits to be distributed. UNHCR/Sylvain Cherkaoui Through this appeal, UNHCR will be able to provide more shelters to decongest the most overcrowded sites, core relief items and respond to sexual and gender-based violence, which has become widespread and aggravated by confinement and overcrowding. It will also mean supporting education, rehabilitating schools and classrooms or providing distance learning opportunities. With climate change heavily impacting the Sahel, our response will follow a do-no-harm and eco-friendly approach, strengthening community-based preparedness to prevent climate related forced displacement; and supporting the use of clean energy as well as plastic and waste management. There are 3.1 million refugees, IDPs, returnees and people at risk of statelessness in the Sahel. The Governments of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger and Mauritania pledged to provide protection and solutions for these groups when they signed the Bamako Declaration in October 2019. Todays appeal will allow us to operationalize this commitment as well as strengthen support to the refugees living in the region. This appeal will be complemented by other high-level efforts from the United Nations and partners to galvanize financial and political support to the humanitarian response in the region over the coming months. For B-roll: Burkina Faso B-roll: https://media.unhcr.org/Share/u4pi2d4xg17r02k4x573au74whpcu55u Mauritania B-roll: https://media.unhcr.org/Share/gvk784v00s2jbi6qk6v24x66080318v4 Niger B-roll: https://media.unhcr.org/Share/ok4djdsi8b64dmr8lujs25j34hgf2ff8 For more information on this topic, please contact: In Niamey, Jean-Sebastien Josset, [email protected], +227 907 669 77 In Mali, Chadi Ouanes, [email protected], +223 75 997 247 In Burkina Faso, Moussa Bougma, [email protected], +226 253 40 522 In Dakar, Romain Desclous, [email protected], +221 786 396 385 In Geneva, Babar Baloch, [email protected], +41 79 513 9549 LOS ANGELESAs lockdowns hit New York City and the rest of the country in March, the Big Apples public health department issued a set of guidelines for how individuals could continue enjoying sexual activity even during the stay-at-home period, without contracting a coronavirus infection. COVID-19 is not considered a sexually transmitted disease, in that, at least according to current research, the virus does not appear to be passed from person-to-person specifically through sexual activity. But any type of person-to-person contact facilitates transmission of the disease, particularly activities that can be associated with sex such as kissing, talking, screaming, or even just heavy breathing. Anything that sends particles of fluid and mucous into the air, into another persons mouth, nose, or eyes can be a vector for infection. In their new guidelines, New York City health officials warn that the virus has been found in the semen and feces (poop) of people with COVID-19. At the same time, however, we do not know if COVID-19 can be spread through vaginal or anal sex. But to stay safe, health officials suggest having sex only with people close to you, most of all, yourself. You are your safest sex partner. Masturbation will not spread COVID-19, especially if you wash your hands (and any sex toys) with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after sex, the guidelines say. But recognizing that, New Yorkers will likely also want to engage in the more outwardly social forms of sex. While cautioning that group sex may not be the best idea, the guidelines recommend that sexual encounters involving three or more people take place in larger, more open, and well-ventilated spaces, and should include face masks for participants. In fact, the guidelines strongly suggest face masks for any sexual encounters involving more than one person but they add that the masking requirement, and even other forms of physical distancing, need not be an obstacle to quality sexual experiences. "Make it a little kinky," the New York health officials say. "Be creative with sexual positions and physical barriers, like walls, that allow sexual contact while preventing close face to face contact." The health department also suggests that New Yorkers masturbate together. Use physical distance and face coverings to reduce the risk. And while the health department is strongly encouraging of sexual activity, even in the age of coronavirus, the officials warn that the one time to hold off on having sex is if you or your partner are not feeling well. If you feel unwell, or even start to feel unwell, avoid kissing, sex or any close contact with others, the guidelines say. Photo By Igor Mattio / Pixabay Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-13 00:39:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Residents sign a petition in support of the national security legislation at a street stand in Hong Kong, south China, May 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday expressed strong dissatisfaction with a British government report meddling in Hong Kong affairs. "Unwarranted foreign interference in Hong Kong's affairs will only make China more determined in advancing the national security legislation for Hong Kong," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press briefing when commenting on the British government's wrong moves of issuing the so-called Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong on Thursday. Hua said Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs, and no foreign government, organization or individual has the right to interfere. "The UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or right to supervise Hong Kong, nor does it have any so-called 'responsibility'." China has repeatedly expounded on its solemn position on the national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hua said. "I would like to stress that the Chinese government is firmly committed to implementing 'one country, two systems' principle fully and faithfully, safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and upholding Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability," she said. "Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong. The UK should face up to reality, respect China's sovereignty, security and unity, and stop interfering in Hong Kong's affairs in any way," Hua said. V ideo calling app Zoom has admitted making mistakes after shutting down the accounts of human rights campaigners using its service to commemorate the Tiananmen Square massacre. The US-headquartered tech firm, which has enjoyed profitable growth to over 300 million users under coronavirus lockdowns, said Chinese government officials demanded it took action against virtual meetings marking the 31st anniversary of the brutal suppression of the student-led pro-democracy protests. The ruling Communist Party is extremely sensitive about online content related to the military crackdown on 4 June 1989, which is detected, censored and blocked inside the countrys restricted internet, dubbed "the Great Firewall of China", by advanced analytics tools. Western tech giants are often pressured to remove or modify content seen by users inside the country on their services. However, Zoom now says that under Beijing's pressure it fell short after it "terminated or suspended" accounts belonging to users in the US and Hong Kong, both separate legal jurisdictions. A vigil held in Hong Kong on 4 June to mark the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre / AFP via Getty Images The company said in a statement: The Chinese government informed us that this activity is illegal in China and demanded that Zoom terminate the meetings and host accounts. Zooms admission came as Twitter announced it had removed more than 170,000 accounts linked to China-backed influence operations related to the Hong Kong protests, Covid-19 and US demonstrations over the death of George Floyd. The Zoom account suspensions, first revealed by news site Axios, were sparked after key dissidents hosted a session for more than 250 people worldwide last month commemorating the massacres 31st anniversary. This famous image shows an unnamed Chinese man facing off against a tank the day after the fatal military crackdown. The tank manoeuvred around him. / Jeff Widener/AP They included a significant number of participants from mainland China who had dialled in to the video call, which was also live-streamed on social media to a further 4,000 people. Those present at the online event on 31 May included former student leaders, dissidents, writers, scholars and the Tiananmen Mothers group, which was established by parents who lost children in the massacre. The death toll estimate ranges from several hundred victims into the thousands after several weeks of protests were crushed when troops entered the central Beijing square and fired on civilians. The virtual commemorations were designed to give many the opportunity to connect with activists across the world for the first time, campaigners said. But afterwards, Zhou Fengsuo, a former student leader in the 1989 protests and now founder of American-based Humanitarian China, said his account was suspended. Zoom said the firm has 'reinstate' three host accounts that were shut down / AFP via Getty Images Mr Zhou told Axios: "As the most commercially popular meeting software worldwide, Zoom is essential as an unbanned outreach to Chinese audiences remembering and commemorating Tiananmen Massacre during the coronavirus pandemic." Former Hong Kong politician and pro-democracy activist Lee Cheuk Yan also said his account was closed but he has not had a response from Zoom after raising concerns. Wang Dan, another prominent former student leader living in exile in the US, told the Financial Times that Zoom calls he made on 4 June were twice cancelled and two of his teams paid accounts remained suspended. Zoom said it has reinstated three host accounts that had been suspended or terminated. The tech firm added it would no longer allow such requests affecting users outside of mainland China. Now Twitter has announced 23,750 highly engaged core accounts and about 150,000 amplifier accounts broadcasting content have been removed from its platform. Australian research has found such campaigns on Twitter, which is banned by the People's Republic of China, had sought to target Chinese-speaking audiences to influence perceptions or weaponise global issues for strategic advantage. San Francisco: Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's campaign published an open letter to Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday, calling for the company to police and fact-check politicians' ads and speech. The Biden campaign asked supporters to sign a petition for Facebook to crack down on misinformation in ads, and it issued a list of demands including that the company should promptly remove false, viral information and that there should be clear rules that also apply to President Donald Trump to prohibit "threats and lies about how to participate in the election." Democratic presidential candidate, former vice-president Joe Biden. Credit:AP In a blog post, Facebook said it would continue to protect political speech. "We live in a democracy, where the elected officials decide the rules around campaigns," the company responded. Russian invaders are strongly reluctant to comply with the Minsk agreements, openly ignoring their obligations undertaken within consultations by the Trilateral Contact Group. Ukrainian members of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) of the ceasefire and stabilization along the contact line in Donbas claim the Russian Federation systematically supplies personnel, weapons and military equipment to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. "In order to conceal the movement of occupying forces and assets and move unnoticed by OSCE SMM monitors, the enemy takes dirt roads bypassing official checkpoints," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation Headquarters said on Facebook. It is noted that violations of existing agreements on the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the contact line are constantly recorded, as well as the arrangement of fortified positions and mining of territories by disengagement sites and residential quarters, which, of course, endangers the lives of civilians of Donbas. These facts are confirmed by representatives of the OSCE SMM in their daily spot reports. In particular, the SMM long-range UAV has recently recorded at least 30 tilt trucks that crossed in from the Russian Federation to the temporarily occupied territory, bypassing official checkpoints. Read alsoDonbas children deployed as weapons in Russia's hybrid warfare against Ukraine, rights watchdog warns Over 70 military-type trucks, repair and recovery vehicles, two T-64 tanks and two BTR-80 armored personnel carriers, which were located in the occupied city of Luhansk. Also, the 9K35 Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile system was spotted near a residential area in the town of Khartsyzk. "Russian occupiers continue to use civilians in Donbas as a human shield, setting up fortified positions in residential neighborhoods of the town of Horlivka. Two new trenches and defenses built have been recently found in the town. In addition, about 590 anti-tank mines were recorded in the vicinity of the village of Shyroka Balka," the JCCC said. These facts indicate "the Russian invaders are still strongly reluctant to comply with the Minsk agreements, openly ignoring their obligations undertaken within consultations at the Trilateral Contact Group." "By their actions, they confirm the desire to further exacerbate the conflict by increasing the number of weapons and military equipment in the vicinity of the contact line, thereby endangering civilians in the settlements they have occupied," the JCCC members said. The obstacles to the kind of sweeping and immediate changes made in New York could also be seen in Minnesotas State Capitol, where an ambitious package of police reforms proposed by Democrats faced an uncertain future. Republicans who control one legislative chamber said they would oppose some of the most far-reaching changes, including restoring voting rights to felons or putting the states attorney general, rather than local prosecutors, in charge of investigating killings by the police. The clash over how much change lawmakers are willing to accept in a state that has become ground zero of a new movement to address racism and police brutality shows how difficult it may be to bring real changes across a patchwork of state governments and in a divided Washington. For years, policing has been a neglected corner of government when it comes to legislative activity, said Barry Friedman, the director of the Policing Project at New York University School of Law. I see movement in both parties to address that, but that movement is definitely unequal right now and thats too bad. House Democrats unveiled a sweeping bill on Monday aimed at addressing racial bias and overuse of force in policing. The bill would require all uniformed federal officers to wear body cameras, and would limit the military-grade equipment being shipped to state and local law enforcement. Republicans, who have been put on the defensive by public support for both protests and police reform, are still formulating a legislative response. But at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, Republicans on the panel spoke of bad apples among police officers, and decried calls to defund the police, even though no such proposal was in the Democrats bill. In the Senate, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the sole African-American in the Republican majority conference, said he would introduce a police reform bill next week, calling for reports on use of force incidents, and a so-called duty to intervene, by officers witnessing incidents of police brutality. On Friday morning, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted that he is set to discuss 'how the COVID crisis is reshaping the world order' with Ambassador Nicholas Burns On Friday morning, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted that he is set to discuss "how the COVID crisis is reshaping the world order" with Ambassador Nicholas Burns: Today, at 10:00 AM onwards, watch me discuss with Ambassador Nicholas Burns, Professor of Diplomacy & International Relations at Harvard, how the COVID crisis is reshaping the world order. pic.twitter.com/Gqn6HPYrIB Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 12, 2020 This discussion is the latest in a series of similar chats Rahul has had over the past few weeks with such experts as former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan and industrialist Rajiv Bajaj on a variety of topics surrounding the coronavirus crisis with which India, and indeed the world at large, is grappling. His guest is the Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School, Burns' profile on the school's website notes. The university professor-cum-columnist-cum-lecturer served in the US government as a diplomat for 27 years, during which time he served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2005 to 2008, US Ambassador to NATO (2001-2005), Ambassador to Greece (1997-2001) and State Department Spokesman (1995-1997). Notable milestones in his career include leading negotiations on the India-US Civil Nuclear agreement and on Iran's nuclear programme. Earlier in his career, he also served in the American Consulate-General in Jerusalem (1985-1987), and the American embassies in Egypt (1983-1985) and Mauritania (1980 as an intern). Follow all the latest updates from his discussion with Rahul Gandhi here [June 12, 2020] U.S. Conference of Mayors, Wells Fargo Address Community Housing Needs The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Wells Fargo (News - Alert) today announced that eight nonprofits will share $1 million in grants through the 2020 CommunityWINS grant program to create opportunities for people in communities across the U.S. to have a safe and affordable place to call home. "This Wells Fargo grant program is a great example of an effective collaboration that will bring real solutions to help address local housing challenges," said Tom Cochran, CEO and executive director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. "Wells Fargo and our members share a deep-rooted commitment to communities across the country and we are thrilled that CommunityWINS will help to spur housing solutions in many cities." The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Wells Fargo have teamed on CommunityWINS since 2015, including $6 million invested by Wells Fargo over six years for nonprofits in municipalities across the U.S. Wells Fargo's philanthropic strategy focuses on creating solutions to address housing security, small business stability, and consumer financial health and includes a $1 billion philanthropic commitment by 2025 to address the growing housing affordability crisis. "As the effects of COVID-19 are disproportionately impacting people of color and low-income communities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Wells Fargo continue to support nonprofits' efforts to create more affordable housing solutions in local municipalities," said Eileen Fitzgerald, head of housing affordability philanthropy with the Wells Fargo Foundation. "Wells Fargo is committed to the importance of home for everyone in our nation." Mayors representing USCM member cities can nominate up to three eligible nonprofit housing initiatives. Projects must address houing affordability solutions designed to increase availability and affordability of rentals, transitional housing, or sustainable homeownership. Grant requirements and the online application form are now available for submission at www.usmayors.org/communitywins. Nonprofits must submit applications by October 9, 2020. Grantees will be named during the Mayor's 89th Winter Meeting in Washington, DC. In 2019, CommunityWINS grants were presented to eight nonprofits: CNM Film Production Center of Excellence at the Albuquerque Rail Yards (Albuquerque, New Mexico); Wellspring Living, Inc. (Atlanta); Continuum of Care, Inc. (New Haven, Connecticut); Lewis Innovation Hub (Romeoville, Illinois); Affordable Central Texas, Inc. (Austin, Texas); Appetite For Change, Inc. (Minneapolis); Ecolibrium3 (Duluth, Minnesota); and Second Street Youth Center, Inc. (Plainfield, New Jersey). The CommunityWINS grant program collaboration between the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Wells Fargo follows a national alliance formed in 2011 to address foreclosure prevention, property disposition, homeownership promotion, and community development. About the U.S. Conference of Mayors The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the U.S. today, and each city is represented in the conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. The organization is on Facebook (News - Alert) at https://www.facebook.com/usmayors and on Twitter (News - Alert) at https://twitter.com/usmayors. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.98 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,400 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 31 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 263,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 30 on Fortune's 2020 rankings of America's largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005067/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] In recent days weve seen the return to our mainstream and social media of three familiar and tiresome old fallacies: "Theyll be tearing down the pyramids next!" "History is being destroyed by thugs!" "Everyone was racist Back Then!" The unholy trio has been working overtime in the services of what we might call the "anti-Topplers" since Edward Colstons unexpected dunking in Bristol. Its disappointing to see some historians employing them as well, since they of all people should know that tearing down the old IS an historical tradition. The "Slippery Slope Fallacy" about pyramids overlooks the fact only one person ever seriously worked to destroy the-12th century Sultan of Egypt Al-Aziz Uthman (he only gave up because they were too well built!) "History" is nothing if not a constantly changing record of what some people consider important at any one time. Because, as the truism runs, its so often written by "the victors", it is and should be subject to fresh perspectives. Monuments rise and fall in line with our ever-changing relationship with the past. Ancient Egyptians erased memorials to rulers who'd slipped from favour, like Pharaoh Hatshepsut, who brought great economic prosperity but was, unforgivably, female. The Romans actually made "destroying" history the law Damnatio memoriae, "condemnation of memory", was a legal sentence the Senate could enact to force compulsory "forgetting" of those judged to have dishonoured the Roman state. Henry VIII did the same for any number of historic (even then) monasteries and cathedrals. In America, on hearing the Declaration of Independence for the first time, colonists toppled a Manhattan statue of King George III and in an apt act of recycling, repurposed the lead as bullets for the Revolutionary War. Yet George III is not forgotten, any more than Hitler, Stalin or Mussolini, whose statues also got nixed or Saddam Hussein, whose monuments many of todays right-wing "anti-topplers" were delighted to see bite the dust. It seems "thuggishness" is dependent on the actors. When Lord Mandelson called Colstons demise result of the "law of the jungle", it was an unfortunate echo of an old racist trope about animalistic, violent black people The "everyone used to be racist" line doesnt stand up any better than Colstons statue now. It overlooks the fact that theres never been a time when "everyone" in Britain was white. And, as Femi Nylander, founder of Rhodes Must Fall, told me previously: "Not every historical figure was a white supremacist, or sexist. Plenty of people in the 18th century were fighting racism and sexism. Simply to say everyone in the past had some dodgy views is a copout." British abolitionists fought against slavery from the 1700s. The first anti-racist journal was established in 1888. The good news is that there are plenty of candidates for those empty podiums including those who escaped enslavement. Like Ignatius Sancho, composer and actor, painted by Gainsborough in 1768, and the first black voter in Britain. His wise, witty "Letters" were published in 1782 Or Olaudah Equiano, born in Benin in 1745, who made it to freedom to become a writer and abolitionist of note Like Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, tricked into slavery at 15, who came to Britain and wrote his life story as a free man in 1772. Or Mary Prince, born into slavery in Bermuda and brought to England where she escaped, and, despite terrible sufferings to win her freedom, became the first back woman to publish her life story in Britain, in 1831. Her book galvanised the Abolition movement. As theres talk of removing a statue Ive written a lot about, of William Gladstone on Bow Road in east London, we should also consider honouring the women forced to pay for it in 1882. They were both called "white slaves" and considered black by Victorian eugenicists, who categorised those of Irish descent as "negroid". Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Show all 16 1 /16 Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest The Edward Colston statue has been pulled down by Black Lives Matter protesters in Bristol. Colston was a 17th century slave trader who has numerous landmarks named after him in Bristol. Pictured is the statue covered up before it was pulled down Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Protesters pulling down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston William Want Twitter account/AFP Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Protesters pulling down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston William Want Twitter account/AFP Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest A protester presses his knee into the neck of the Edward Colston statue Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest The protest rally was in College Green, Bristol Ben Birchall/PA Wire Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest The Edward Colston statue is defaced Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest A crowd gathers Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Protesters dragging the statue of Edward Colston to Bristol harbourside PA Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest The statue is rolled along the street before being dropped into a nearby river SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Protesters throw the statue of Edward Colston into Bristol harbour PA Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Ben Birchall/PA Wire Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest TWITTER/SELLOTTIE via REUTERS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest PA The unveiling took place in 1882 at the behest of their hugely wealthy bosses Bryant and May, whod forced the matchwomen to pay for the statue from already starvation wages. The firm made workers attend the ceremony but watched in horror as the women turned it into a protest, attacking the statue with rocks, jabbing their fingers with hatpins to stain it red, and shouting "our blood paid for this!" Despite having no union and being at the bottom of the labour hierarchy, the matchwomen went on all-out strike in 1888, taking on a ruthless employer: and winning. They formed the largest union of women and girls in the country, launching the modern union movement. How appropriate to replace the statue the women hated as a symbol of oppression, with a GROUP statue of them. And we must remember them collectively because, like the many women who make up Black Lives Matter protestors today, they didnt believe in leaders, just unity, sisterhood and solidarity. Dr Louise Raw is the author of Striking a Light (Bloomsbury Press) on the Bryant and May Matchwomen. Follow her campaign to build a statue to the Bow Matchwomen on Twitter or Facebook Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the June 11 announcement made by US President Donald Trump on economic sanctions against International Criminal Court workers. Trump made his decision over an investigation of American troops for possible war crimes, but for Netanyahu, the decision would benefit also Israel, in thwarting possible probes against Israeli soldiers. Speaking at the beginning of a press conference on the coronavirus, Netanyahu said, "This court is politicized and obsessed with carrying out a headhunt against Israel and the United States as well as other democratic countries that respect human rights, but turns a blind eye to the world's worst human rights offenders, including the terrorist regime in Iran." The prime minister blamed the court for fabricating accusations against Israel by claiming that Jews living in their historic homeland constitutes a war crime, adding "this is ridiculous. Shame on them." Israel has signed the Rome Statute, which constitutes the legal framework of the ICC, but never ratified it. In other words, like the United States, it never joined the international court in The Hague as a member state, fearing probes against soldiers and politicians. In 2015, the ICC was one of the first international forums to accept Palestine as a member state. Since then, the Palestinians have been pushing ICC prosecution to open probes against Israel. And indeed, in December 2019, ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced a preliminary examination of possible war crimes committed by Israel in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Bensoudas move was contested by several European member states, headed by Germany and the Czech Republic. Prague filed a brief arguing that the Oslo Accord gives Israel exclusive jurisdiction over criminal issues in the West Bank relating to Israel, and proves that there is no Palestinian statehood. On May 25, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a stern warning to the ICC, qualifying it as a political body. He argued the court had no authority to advance such investigations because Israel, like the United States, never joined the Rome Statute. He also noted that the Palestinians "are not qualified to obtain full membership or participate as a state in international organizations, entities or conferences, including the ICC. But on June 8, the chief prosecutor told the ICCs Pretrial Chamber that a war crimes probe against Israelis could proceed despite the continued application of the accord. Israels Foreign Ministry preferred keeping a low profile on the announcement and did not react. On the other hand, several Israeli politicians joined Netanyahu on June 11, hailing Trump for his move against the ICC. Former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (now in the opposition) tweeted, "The International Criminal Court is being misused by the Palestinians and others to pursue political campaigns against democracies, while distorting international law." Israeli satisfaction over the American move of sanctioning the ICC is reminiscent of Israels reaction over the 2017 US decision to quit UNESCO. With Trump complaining about UNESCO discriminating Israel, Jerusalem had to follow Washington and pull out of the UN agency as well. Shortly after that decision, Jewish-French Audrey Azoulay was elected to head UNESCO, a nomination that made many in Israel regret its hasty pullout. WASHINGTONAs massive daily protests for police reform and racial justice have taken to the streets for more than two weeks, there has been a lot to find remarkable about them, particularly how theyve grown and the rapid shift in public opinion theyve inspired. But it has also been impossible not to notice another sudden change: with thousands of people crowded together in the street for hours, shoulder to shoulder, chanting and shouting, it appears months of social distancing practice had been abandoned. To be sure, the overwhelming majority of protesters wore masks, and the risk-benefit calculations of the protests aims and the coronavirus were subject of serious consideration and debate. But the widespread decision that the risks were worth taking was still remarkable, given the lockdowns they emerged from. The protesters are far from alone in that respect. Las Vegas has reopened its casinos. People are going to the malls in Utah. Boardwalks in beach towns like Ocean City are packed. Restrictions that were implemented to halt the spread of coronavirus have continued to be lifted in many parts of the U.S. At least some Americans feel they are done with coronavirus. But the numbers arent showing it is done with them. The U.S. continues to see close to 1,000 people die from COVID-19 every day. This week, 11 states Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Utah, Oregon, Arizona, Arkansas, Alabama, California, Nevada and Florida reached their highest levels of new infections averaged over seven days, according to the Washington Post. Some of those higher numbers are a result of more testing, but it doesnt appear thats the case everywhere. As Dr. Anthony Fauci, whose coronavirus task force has been scaled back by the president, said this week, It isnt over yet. The financial markets have taken notice of the persistence and possible resurgence of the virus: on Thursday, stock indexes suffered their worst one-day drop since mid-March, when the initial panic over coronavirus set in. In some places, signs of caution are emerging: Oregon announced a pause in its reopening plans Friday due to a surge in cases; the city of Houston is considering reimposing its lockdown as it may be approaching the precipice of disaster; Arizona hospitals have activated an emergency plan because intensive care beds are filling up. Yet the country as a whole is not scaling back its reopening plans. Though research from University of California at Berkeley researchers published this week estimated U.S. lockdowns may have prevented almost 5 million cases of coronavirus, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said Thursday that such measures arent coming back. We cant shut down the economy again, he said, arguing lockdowns do too much damage to the economy to be worthwhile. The charge to reopen regardless of consequences is being led from the top. Vice-President Mike Pence, who heads the administrations coronavirus task force, tweeted a photo of a group of hundreds of President Donald Trumps campaign staff members crowded together in a Virginia office, wearing no masks, in violation of local social-distancing guidelines. Trump himself reportedly intervened to relocate this summers Republican National Convention from Charlotte, N.C. because that states governor wouldnt agree to allow a typical convention with massive crowds and no masks. (Trump has apparently found a new home for the convention in Jacksonville. Fla.) Leading up to that business-as-usual convention, Trump is re-implementing a business-as-usual campaign: he announced this week hed resume holding rallies, beginning June 19 in Tulsa. Trumps campaign says it will have no social-distancing guidelines in place, beyond perhaps providing hand sanitizer. Americans are ready to get back to action and so is President Trump, the New York Times quoted the presidents campaign manager saying. The Great American Comeback is real and the rallies will be tremendous. Which doesnt mean the campaign is oblivious to the risk of holding the type of event that experts have warned could be a virus superspreader. In a change from earlier practices, the sign-up page for the rally now includes a legal waiver: By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present, it reads. By attending the rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury. It is a snapshot of much of the official attitude in the U.S. to coronavirus today: realizing a significant risk still exists, but going ahead full steam anyway, and asking the public to assume all responsibility for the consequences. Read more about: Maggie Mason spends two to three hours every day honoring a woman she has never met an enigma, whose first and last name she doesnt know. Heres what she has been able to piece together: The woman resided in the Midwest, primarily in Iowa, and lived for a time in Monona County. She attended church possibly First Congregational in Onawa and seemed to steer clear of alcohol. She was an adult by the 1960s and still alive in the early aughts. Mason deduced all this from the womans cast-off recipe box, which she stumbled upon at the Alameda flea market a couple of years ago. Now, shes paying homage to the unknown cook by creating a community of people eager to make her recipes and perhaps track down the cooks family, too. My objective when I found it was: I need to get this back to the people it belongs to, Mason says of the $20 acquisition. Its like the family bible. Who sells their recipe box? I tend to think that when it happens, it happens by mistake. But, with parenting a 5- and a 13-year-old occupying her days, the plastic box sat on a shelf until last month. Once she and her family had settled into a quarantine routine in their Oakland home, Mason, who was a blogger in the nascent days of that profession, retrieved the collection and started sharing the recipes on Instagram. They have so much history to them, she says. And they have these beautiful stains from a lot of use. Most of the recipes were written in cursive on index cards. Some were clipped from publications and product packaging, like Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes made with various Ore-Ida frozen goods. Margaret Mason As Mason began photographing the 800 or so recipes, her designer husband, Bradley Ellis, created an aptly retro logo for the project, dubbed the Kitchen Committee (@thekitchencommittee). How it works: Mason posts a picture of a recipe card and followers call dibs by replying with On it, confirming that the dish will be made within a week. Photos and feedback provided by the cook including what they would do differently, such as swapping out onion powder with sauteed onions in the Ore-Ida instructions are added to the Instagram feed. I intended it to be very chill: Oh, Ill spend 20 minutes a day posting a few of these; maybe Ill bake a cake every couple of weeks, says Mason. Between getting the recipes online and organizing submissions, which include images and videos, the undertaking has become far more time-consuming. Not that Mason seems to mind. For those who are attached to the romance or the nostalgia of old stuff, as Mason puts it, these timeworn recipes hold a special allure, whether youre a culinarian or not. Mason grew up with a mom who often sold at flea markets, and at age 16, Mason had a booth at an antiques shop in Sacramento. In all her years of thrift- and vintage-shopping, she never came across an entire recipe box, so it instantly piqued her curiosity. Plus, she says, for someone like me, who doesnt have a family recipe box thats been passed down, it can sort of become a surrogate family recipe box. The recipes tend to be simple and straightforward, requiring ingredients and tools that are fairly accessible which is key during a pandemic, when grocery-store trips are less frequent than usual. People have the things that are in the recipes, like flour and Crisco, says Mason. Theyre things that arent super difficult to obtain or that keep for a while. Theres also a contingent who are into (the Kitchen Committee) because they think its funny, she observes. They really want something with Velveeta or they really want an aspic. Some people have a nostalgic connection; it reminds them of their grandparents. April Walters signed up for the Home Baked Beans. Initially dubious of the recipes quantity of ketchup about 1 cup she nonetheless stuck to the measurements. I dont normally cook with a ton of ketchup, says the San Francisco artist, so it felt like an experiment. It was a hit in her household. As she stood in the kitchen consuming the beans, Walters flashed back to her childhood in Florida. Every Sunday, her family dined at Sonnys, a chain in the South thats been around since 1968. I thought, Oh my God, this reminds me so much of the baked beans we would get at this barbecue restaurant, she recalls. Serendipitously, Walters notes, she made the dish on the fifth anniversary of her fathers death. The Kitchen Committee recipes are very of a time and place, she says. I love the idea that (Mason) found this treasure, this long-held thing that kind of got loose in the wild. Mason, of course, did not invent the concept of cooking a repertoire as an exercise in history. In March 2019, Carol Einarsson established a Facebook account called Rescued Recipes that features the contents of a recipe box she procured at a garage sale. The oldest recipe dates back to 1917. This box held every birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter feast, Einarsson writes in her introduction to the endeavor. It held each family members favorite meal. I knew I had to save it. It mattered. Each meal she made mattered. Einarsson set out to post a snapshot of a different recipe each weekday until the entire box was shared, in the hope that others would enjoy seeing them and reading them, and maybe even cooking from them. She last updated the account in February. While Mason was surprised by the immediate enthusiasm around the Kitchen Committee, the timing was ripe for such a project to launch. With the country in varying degrees of lockdown for the past few months, home cooking has not only spiked out of necessity, but it has also served as a welcome distraction from coronavirus news. Everybodys experiencing feelings of anxiety and worry and fear, so were all looking for a break, says culinary art therapist Julie Ohana, a licensed social worker whose Michigan practice incorporates cooking and baking with her clients. (Shes currently holding sessions on Zoom.) The ability to step away from it all and be in the kitchen whether its just a few minutes chopping vegetables or doing something more intricate like bread-baking that ability to be mindful, to be present in the moment in the task at hand, its healthy and its helpful, she says. Margaret Mason Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. During the pandemic, cooking-centric sites have witnessed a surge in visitors. In April, traffic to Serious Eats recipe pages increased more than 90% from the previous year. Baking and bread-related content has been particularly popular, with interest in no-knead bread jumping more than 1,500%, for example. Although Mary Brunson, who works for a tech company, maintains a limited social media presence, the Kitchen Committee appealed to the avid cook. Being alone for this long, and also looking out at being in this position for several months going forward, has made me yearn for community, she explains. Cooking and baking, she adds, allow her to create something that you dont need to store long-term like a painting or sculpture, an especially attractive outlet given the small size of her San Francisco apartment. Brunson claimed a card that outlined the menu for an entire meal and whipped up Waldorf salad, fried chicken, sides of corn and buttered beans, along with a pumpkin pie. It was the first time in my life that I made fried chicken for myself, she says. And I discovered I dont like Waldorf salad. It was another salad, however, that drew near-unanimous repulsion from commenters, highlighting the fact that some of the decades-old recipes do not align with todays palate. Among the responses to the simply titled Salad, composed of cauliflower, grapes, nuts, unspecified salad dressing, mustard and cup of sugar: Such a strangely innocuous name for such a terrifying combination of ingredients, wrote @webec. Still, there was a brave taker for the recipe. Margaret Mason The Noodles and Meatballs recipe, which includes bacon and gingersnap crumbs, elicited skepticism, too and it was well-deserved. In her review, @tracyreally described the dish as every bit as disgusting as it sounded. I am sorry that I sacrificed innocent gingersnaps for this purpose, and sorrier still that I ate part of a meatball with this sauce on it. Truly awful. There have been more successes than flops, though. Broccoli With Corn Cheese was so tasty that @melaniefreelands son had three helpings. The Candied Sweet Potatoes turned out perfectly crunchy on top and lemon-buttery on the bottom, prompting @its_jessalynn to vow to make them again. Marions Eggplant Parmesan, claimed by @mallowry, was deemed completely delicious and dead easy. According to Mason, recipes are often spoken for in less than a minute. She predicts that any bundt cakes will garner considerable attention. And while she has received requests for certain fare, she is intent on posting the recipes in the order they appear in the box. As she does, more clues are gradually revealed about its original owner. For instance, through recipes attributed to Myra Baker, the Kitchen Committee now knows that that was the name of the owners grandmother. Mason is optimistic that the owners identity will ultimately come to light. I will be really surprised if we dont figure it out, she says. The hope is that she didnt pass away that long ago and that there are still people alive who knew her, remember her or were friends with her. My dream would be to give the recipes to someone who wants them. But maybe no one else wants them. Certainly I wanted them, right? Thats not the worst-case scenario of what could have happened to this recipe box. Anh-Minh Le is a freelance writer. Email culture@sfchronicle.com (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Ronald S. Lauder, the younger of Estee Lauders two sons, has been working for his late mothers eponymous company since 1964. At 76, hes still there presiding over the Clinique brand and serving as a director. He owns around 7% of the stock, most of which are Class B shares that give him and his family 87% of the voting power. He has also been an official in the Defense Department, the ambassador to Austria, the president of the World Jewish Congress, and a leading art collector and philanthropist. And one other thing: Lauder is a Republican. More than that, hes a Donald Trump Republican, having poured $1.6 million into pro-Trump organizations since 2016, according to Bloomberg News. Last week, amid the swirl of protests after the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, something took place at Estee Lauder Cos. that was both astonishing and troubling: About 100 employees sent a letter to the chairman, William Lauder, who is also Ronald Lauders nephew. They demanded that his uncle be removed from the board. Ronald Lauders involvement with the Estee Lauder Companies is damaging to our corporate values, our relationship with the Black community, our relationship with this companys Black employees, and this companys legacy, the letter said. The company responded with a vow to donate $1 million to advocate for social, economic and racial justice, and a promise to speed up a review of its policies with a commitment to tackle racial justice. As part of its statement, it also rejected Ronald Lauders politics: This week, several employees asked whether a single member of the Lauder family and our board, represents the views of our company. The answer is no. Not good enough, the employees replied. They came back with a demand that Estee Lauder commit $5 million instead of $1 million. They also sent around a petition that read, in part, This [$1 million] total does not match, or exceed Ronald Lauders personal donations in support of state-sanctioned violence. So far, 5,000 employees have signed the petition. Story continues To judge by the statistics Estee Lauder has posted on social media, its record of hiring and promoting black employees is better than most. (The company says that 12% of its employees and 14% of its executive officers are black, and that 19% of its directors are people of color.) But none of this matters to the employees who are objecting to Ronald Lauder. He is a Trump supporter, and thats enough in their view: He has to go. This notion of employee revolt has been a recent development. Sure, there have been strikes, but thats different from employees rising up against their employers for political or social reasons rather than financial ones. The push for companies to tackle climate change has come largely from outside groups, not employees. And when board members are pressured to resign, its usually because of poor performance, not politics, with shareholder activists leading the charge. Employees wouldnt dare, at least not before now. So why now? There are two reasons, I think, one obvious and one not so obvious. The obvious one is that the U.S. has a president who says and does things that are simply beyond the pale things that no one could ever imagine a previous president saying or doing: separating immigrant children from their parents; stating that the white supremacists who marched in Charlottesville were very fine people; and, most recently, having the police forcibly remove peaceful protesters so he could stage a photo op holding a Bible outside St. Johns Church in Washington. The list is long, and he adds to it almost every day. Many employees, especially younger ones, are repulsed at the idea that their company might be aiding and abetting this awful man. And theyre not willing to look the other way. Remember how, just weeks after Trump was inaugurated, an internal revolt at Uber forced Travis Kalanick, the chief executive at the time, to quit a Trump economic advisory council? Its happened again and again. David Remnick, the editor of the New Yorker, had to disinvite Trumps former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, from the New Yorker Festival after a huge outcry from readers, other invited speakers and the magazines staff. Facebook parted ways with a top executive, Palmer Luckey, because his support of Trump sparked a backlash among his colleagues, as the Wall Street Journal put it. (Facebook has denied any connection.) Trump supporter Robert Mercer stepped down from his position as co-chief executive officer of Renaissance Technologies, the quant hedge fund founded by James Simons, because of internal dissent. The not-so-obvious reason has to do with the culture of millennials, who make up a large proportion of these new employee activists. Charlotte Alter, the author of The Ones Weve Been Waiting For, a recent book about millennials, points out that her generation has spent most of their careers in the gig economy: They are less likely to have the protection of unions less likely to have a set nine-to-five schedule and less likely to stay at one company for long enough to build a track record of good work. In other words, if their activism costs them their job, theyll shrug and move on. Alter also has an interesting theory about how millennials developed their values. Boomer parents, she says, were overprotective, which in turn caused schools to become overprotective imposing predetermined draconian punishments on even minor childhood misbehavior, such as pushing other kids on the playground or calling names. She adds: Millennials were raised in a system where even a little misbehavior could get you suspended, expelled, or even imprisoned. Is it any surprise that these kids grew up to impose strict social codes on each other and themselves? The kids who grew up under zero tolerance policies for playground name-calling are the same ones who now cancel each other for bad jokes. She concludes, There is a direct line between zero tolerance school behavior policies and the sometimes merciless nature of millennial morality, in which anyone who violates the social code risks total ostracism for even a minor misstep. Like, for instance, Ronald Lauder. There is no question that the pressure placed on Estee Lauder by its employees has had a positive effect. On Wednesday, in their latest effort to defuse the situation, William Lauder and CEO Fabrizio Freda sent a memo to the staff. It included a long list of promises, among them a vow to donate $10 million to the NAACP and other groups and to focus on diversity at every level of the company. What they did not do was promise to remove Ronald Lauder from the board. Nor should they not only because he is a highly competent member of the founding family but also because everyone should be entitled to their own politics without fear of retribution. What Estee Lauder needs to do now is say, unapologetically, that Ronald Lauder will remain on the board. If some employees quit as a result, so be it. But just as young employees across the country have helped raise important issues and highlighted important values, there is one value that companies need to defend: tolerance for people who dont think the way they do. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Joe Nocera is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business. He has written business columns for Esquire, GQ and the New York Times, and is the former editorial director of Fortune. His latest project is the Bloomberg-Wondery podcast "The Shrink Next Door." For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. (Newser) Starbucks is changing course after uproar over a policy blocking baristas from sporting items in support of Black Lives Matter. After claiming the items might be misconstrued by people looking to "amplify divisiveness," the company said Friday that it would not only permit employees to wear attire and accessories supporting the movement but would make 250,000 of its own shirts to be shared with workers in the US and Canada, per CNBC. CNN has an image of the shirt design, which includes the words "Black Lives Matter," "no justice, no peace," and "time for change." story continues below Starbucks came under fire after BuzzFeed reported on its enforcement of a dress code prohibiting clothing or accessories that promote any "sort of political, religious, or personal issue." Some employees couldn't understand the company's stance since it allows employees to wear items in support of LGBTQ rights and even hands out its own shirts for Pride Month in June. In a Friday statement, Starbucks said it was "critical" to support Black Lives Matter. It also said employees would be permitted to wear a t-shirt or pin in support of the movement until its shirts are distributed. (Read more Starbucks stories.) New York, June 12 : A proposal to suspend H-1B and other temporary employment visas is under consideration by officials, but US President Donald Trump has not signed off on them, according to a newspaper report. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), quoting unidentified administration officials, reported on Friday that "the proposed suspension could extend into the government's new fiscal year, beginning Oct 1, when many new visas typically are issued". While people could not come into the country on H-1B visas, those already here on the visas are unlikely to be affected, it added. According to the US immigration service, 275,000 applicants had registered by the March 20 deadline to be considered for a lottery to submit applications for the total of 85,000 slots that will be made available in October. Indians make up 67 per cent of those eligible to apply, the agency said. The work visa suspension could also include H-2B visa for short-term seasonal workers such as those in agriculture, the J-1 visa for short-term workers including camp counsellors and au pairs and the L-1 visa for those coming on internal company transfers, the WSJ said. Some categories like health-care workers directly involved in treating Covid-19 patients and those critical to the food-supply chain could be exempted, according to WSJ. Employers who can prove that they cannot find Americans for a specific job could also be eligible to sponsor employees for H1-B visas, it said. When Trump temporarily stopped issuing some categories of immigration visas on April 22, H-1B visa was not included as it is only a temporary visa. Other proposals to limit the number of H1-B visas are also under consideration, according to media reports. Forbes reported that the administration was considering putting a minimum wage of between $150,000 and $250,000 per year for issuing H-1B visas. The amount could vary depending on the job title and the location of the work, it said, quoting unnamed sources. Forbes said that those in the administration opposed to immigration see the situation arising from the Covid-19 pandemic "as their best chance to prevent the vast majority of high-skilled foreign nationals from being allowed to work in America". There is a political tug of war for allowing or stopping H-1B visas that brings in highly qualified professionals from abroad or allows foreign US graduates to work in the US or other temporary work visas. The WSJ said that nine Republican senators, including Lindsey Graham and John Cornyn, asked Trump in a letter on May 27 to reconsider broad new restrictions on temporary work-visa programmes, which the senators said ultimately would hurt American businesses. "American businesses that rely on help from these visa programs should not be forced to close without serious consideration," the WSJ quoted them as saying. Earlier, five lawmakers asked Trump to temporarily suspend new H-1B and practical training visas as unemployment in the country soared to highest-ever numbers on record. Four Republican Senators wrote to Trump in early May: "Given the extreme lack of available jobs for American job-seekers as portions of our economy begin to reopen, it defies common sense to admit additional foreign guest workers to compete for such limited employment." A Republican member of the House of Representatives, Paul Gosar, had made a similar request to Trump in April. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis) KNOXVILLE, Tenn., June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mountain Commerce Bancorp, Inc. (OCTQX: MCBI) announced today thatfor the second consecutive yearits subsidiary, Mountain Commerce Bank (MCB), earned a place among the top 200 publicly traded community banks in the United States as determined by American Banker magazine. The annual ranking is for community banks and thrifts with less than $2 billion in assets and was released with the magazine's May 2020 issue. The rankingbased on a three-year average of each bank's return on average equity (ROAE)placed MCB at #43, up from its 96th-place showing last year. The honor recognizes the local community bank as one of just a handful of Tennessee-based banks to make the grade and secures MCB the only spot of any in East Tennessee. "ROAE is a financial metric that quantifies profitability performance in relation to the average shareholders' equity," said William E. (Bill) Edwards III, the bank's president and chief executive officer. "It's a measure of a management team's ability to generate income from the equity available to it." Over the last three years, MCB's ROAE averaged 12.59%, a reflection of the bank's financial stability and strength, but also its wise business strategy. "It's truly an honor to be included again in American Banker magazine's annual listing," Edwards stated. "Moving up the ladder as we did is an indication that MCB's strategy of super-serving our clients is both sound and effective, and we aim to continue to do just that every day." About Mountain Commerce Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiary Mountain Commerce Bank: Mountain Commerce Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company of Mountain Commerce Bank. The Company's shares of common stock trade on the OTCQX under the symbol "MCBI." Mountain Commerce Bank is state-chartered financial institution that traces its history over a century and is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, serving East Tennessee through five branches located in Erwin, Johnson City, Knoxville, and Unicoi. The Bank focuses on relationship banking of small- and medium-sized businesses and high net-worth individuals who value the personal service and attention that only a community bank can offer. For further information, please visit us at www.mcb.com. As of March 31, 2020, MCB had $997.4 million in total assets and $94.4 million in total shareholders' equity. SOURCE Mountain Commerce Bancorp, Inc. Related Links http://www.mcb.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: Asian Development Banks (ADB) operations in Kazakhstan now also include provisions for sovereign-guaranteed loans with state-owned enterprises (SOE) as borrowers, a representative of ADB told Trend. The official said that the ADB and Kazakhstans government agreed to amend the Partnership Framework Agreement (PFA), which was signed in 2014, to also include provisions for these types of loans. Talking the benefits of these amendments, the official said that the ratification of the amended PFA will enforce provisions of loan agreements with SOEs and ensure borrowers compliance with ADBs policies and rules and effective project implementation, especially in the case of discrepancy with national legislation. Unlike sovereign loans, the official said, sovereign-guaranteed loan agreements are not ratified by the countrys parliament, thus leaving borrowers exposed to compliance risks with respect to ADBs rules and regulations. Sovereign guarantee loan modality, the official said, extends ADBs exposure to different sectors, where the banks operations will add value by creating jobs, fostering innovation, building capacities, providing broad knowledge-based support, and introducing international best practices. "The focus of ADB operations is placed on enhancing Kazakhstans macroeconomic resilience; modernizing the countrys infrastructure and utilities; promoting agriculture sector development; improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises; and enhancing investment in infrastructure and social sectors," the official reminded. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members49 from the region. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh VinFast opens its research and development center in Australias Melbourne on June 11, 2020. Photo courtesy of VinFast. Vietnams first domestic car manufacturer, VinFast, has opened a research and development center in Melbourne to support its plans for international growth. The center will have nearly 100 staff and initially focus on developing both gasoline-driven and electric cars, VinFast, a unit of Vietnams largest conglomerate Vingroup JSC, said in a press statement Friday. The launch of VinFast's research and development center in Australia on Thursday aims to expand opportunities to access international markets, connect with leading suppliers and catch up with new technologies and trends, the car maker stated. VinFast last month tested its first electric car model in Hanoi with plans to introduce it at a U.S. auto show later this year. The company said late last month it would start mass production of its first electric models from July next year to target the U.S. market. The automaker has a plant with a production capacity of 250,000 cars and 250,000 electric bikes a year in the northern port city of Hai Phong. It delivered its first cars in June last year. Though the company does not release sales figures, official data shows 5,124 VinFast cars were registered in the first quarter of this year, putting it in fifth place in sales, behind Hyundai, Toyota, Kia and Honda. Yesterdays primary election in Georgia did not go smoothly. Voters reported a litany of issues : Many polling locations did not open on time, some of the newly purchased equipment malfunctioned, many poll workers did not understand how to turn on or operate the machines, polling locations lacked backup paper ballots, and voters reported four-hour lines.The election has been a catastrophe, said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director for the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.Democratic Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms at one point pleaded with voters to stay in line while officials attempted to fix malfunctioning machines. But many voters walked away from the polls, opting not to cast a ballot amid these barriers.The problems werent just at the voting locations. While the state mailed absentee ballot applications to all 6.9 million voters, many never received ballots they requested, some received the wrong mail-in ballots and others failed to receive legally required secrecy inner envelopes for their mail-in ballots. A record 1.5 million people asked for absentee ballots to avoid voting in person in the midst of a pandemic.Clarke, whose group helped run a hotline to report these issues, gave the state an F for its handling of the election. Three-quarters of the complaints came from black voters, she said.Georgia is a repeat offender to voter suppression efforts and actions that undermine voting rights, she said. With political will, they can get this right.Well keep pushing and fighting because voters in Georgia deserve better.Many of the problems occurred in four Atlanta-area counties: Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett, all of which have significant black populations.The office of Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger shifted blame to the counties, asserting that election equipment worked fine but poll workers werent trained to use it. The state spent $104 million on the new voting system, which uses touchscreens that create paper ballots.While these are unfortunate, they are not issues of the equipment but a function of counties engaging in poor planning, limited training, and failures of leadership, the office said in a statement . Well over 2,000 precincts are functioning normally throughout the state of Georgia.But voting rights advocates, like Helen Butler, executive director of the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples Agenda, said the state could have provided greater financial, logistical and training support for counties. The state also contracted out the mail-in ballot application processing to an Arizona-based company, which she said added to delays.Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed a new voting law last year to address many of the concerns of voting rights advocates, who took the state to federal court alleging voter disenfranchisement. Now polling places cannot legally change locations within 60 days of an election, and voters have more time to avoid being purged from the rolls.Voting rights advocates in other states that held primaries this week, including South Carolina and Nevada, also reported long lines that resulted from voters failing to receive their mail-in absentee ballots on time. This issue has plagued this primary season, as many election officials were unprepared to handle an election amid a global pandemic.These failures make it clear that Congress must inject more funding into state and local election offices before November, Clarke said. Congress allocated $400 million in March. But the Brennan Center for Justice estimates these officials need $4 billion. It is unclear whether Congress will allocate more money. Bone tissue is a highly specialized tissue, with a structure tailored to the specific functions of the body. A healthy bone is both strong, with great bearing capacity, and tough, with great breaking strength. An increased understanding of the basic structure of bones could lead to the prevention of various bone diseases and the development of completely new materials with unprecedented properties. An international team of scientists from Aarhus University (Denmark), the European Synchrotron, Chalmers University (Sweden) and the Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland) has found a new substructure in the bone tissue using the new method of x-ray tensor tomography on beamline ID13 at the ESRF. The findings open up new approaches to study the underlying architecture of bone tissue and create a better understanding of biological materials. The healthy architecture of bone tissue is made up of basically two types of building blocks: the so-called collagen fibrils, which primarily consist of the protein collagen, and the calcium phosphate nanocrystals, which weave the fibrils together. Jointly, the two types of tissue form a coherent hierarchical structure that combines the ability of the fibrils to bend with the toughness, hardness and resistance of the nanocrystals. It is this twisted structure that gives the bones their mechanical properties, but researchers still do not fully understand it. The challenge during all these years was that there was no method to detect the orientation of nanocrystals in the bone tissue, explains Henrik Birkedal, scientist at Aarhus University and corresponding author of the publication. The team at the ESRFs ID13 beamline joined forces with the Birkedal group from Aarhus University and Marianne Liebi from Chalmers University to improve significantly the technique of X-ray tensor tomography, which until now could only allow the study of the nanostructure. Thanks to their efforts, they can now map crystals and nanostructures: it makes it possible to see the way the nanocrystals actually lie in the structure. With the new technique, the researchers have discovered that the lime crystals may not only be homogeneously oriented relative to the fibrils, as previously thought. According to Manfred Burghammer, scientist in charge of ID13: "Our new approach is made possible by the great progress currently being made in the international X-ray synchrotrons, whose power is drastically increasing in these years". "We were honestly a little bit shocked to find the deviation from the models in what we could see with this new method," says Birkedal. "An interdisciplinary international collaboration has been crucial to our success in making this breakthrough that combines knowledge from different fields, ranging from physics and chemistry to medicine." Tilman Grunewald, first author of the paper, mounts the sample on the beamline ID13 at the ESRF. The new 3D images surprised the research leaders because it shakes up fundamental theories that state that bones are built in a predominantly uniform hierarchical structure. The finding now raises fundamental questions about some models that have been used to describe, among other things, the bone formation process. Admittedly, it is premature to give a clear explanation of what lies behind the deviation that has now been detected, but it has given science a new method of looking into the underlying structure of bones, and it shows that important puzzle pieces need to be added to our understanding of bone, says Tillman Grunewald, former ESRF scientist and currently at the Institut Fresnel, Marseille (France). Bones, and other biological materials such as seashells, have mechanical properties that are closely linked to their structure. The better we understand it, the closer we get to being able to emulate nature's construction methods. Our study here has given us a new tool to unveil a few more of natures secrets, concludes Birkedal. Reference: Grunewald, T., et al, Science Advances, 12 June 2020. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aba4171 Joe Biden, Donald Trump Joe Biden said he expects the military to escort President Trump out of the White House should the incumbent lose the 2020 election and refuse to leave. The former vice president, who last week secured enough delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination, told The Daily Show host Trevor Noah late Wednesday that Trump is going to try and steal this election, referring to Trumps claim that mail-in ballots lead to voter fraud, and his greatest concern is voting problems similar to what was seen in Georgias primaries. Biden was later asked if he has considered what would happen if he wins and Trump resists leaving the White House. Yes I have, he said. Following what appeared to be a jump in the interview, Biden touched on retired military leaders who have spoken out against Trump in recent days over his threat to use military force to quell unrest in protests across the nation in response to the death of George Floyd in police custody. He also noted so many rank-and-file military personnel saying, Whoa, were not a military state. This is not who we are.' Biden then said, I promise you: I am absolutely convinced they will escort him from the White House with great dispatch. Among the military leaders who have denounced the president are retired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis, who served as Trumps defense secretary, and John Allen, a retired four-star general in the Marine Corps. A letter of support for Biden bore the signatures of 55 retired military leaders. Biden also discussed police reform and race, saying, Donald Trump didnt invent racism, but he sure has promoted it. Students planning to study abroad this year may have to postpone or delay the plans because of the epidemic. Large universities have also adjusted their enrollment schedules. The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has decided that the 2019-2020 academic year must finish prior to July 15, and that high school finals will take place on August 8-18. Many students have expressed their worries that they may miss enrollment in overseas schools or miss opportunities for scholarships. Tran Van Anh, a 12th grader of Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, said she planned to go studying in Singapore in mid-July. However, because of the epidemic, schools have closed, while she is not sure about the school start date and deadline for application submission. Soshe decided to delay the plan to early 2021. According to Tran Phuong Hoa, managing director of Summit, an education institution, most students planning to study abroad in autumn 2020 received results before May and are awaiting visa procedures to be fulfilled. However, foreign embassies in Vietnam, referring to the reports about the epidemic situation, have stopped or restricted granting visas. The students who want to study in the US and Canada in 2020 may have to delay the plan to 2021. Students planning to study abroad this year may have to postpone or delay the plans because of the epidemic. Large universities have also adjusted their enrollment schedules. Bastien Palermo-Chevillard from the French Embassy in Vietnam said the number of interviews for those who applied for schools in France has decreased, which shows the students worries about the epidemic situation in France and other countries. However, this doesnt mean that students have to cancel their study abroad plans. They are still keeping a close watch over the general situation before making decisions on whether to pursue their study plans. Consular agencies on March 18 stopped granting visas to students planning to study in France until further notice. The closure of the border and the absence of international flights make it impossible for students who have visas to go to France. However, the visas will still be valid and they will be able to go to France as soon as the situation allows it, according to the official from the French Embassy. He affirmed that the suspension of consular agencies doesnt affect students, because most of them apply for visas from June to August. Also according to Bastien Palermo-Chevillard, "Etudes en France", the deadline for interview under Etudes en France, the concentrated enrollment program in France, will be extended from April 30 to June 7. In the US and Canada, some schools have adjusted their enrollment policies, easing requirements on standardized tests used to select students, including SAT Scholastic Assessment Test) and ACT (American College Testing). Vu Dung 85 percent of articles in international publications are from education sector A new study by Duy Tan University found that 12,307 articles in international publications in 2019 can be found at Vietnamese addresses, 85 percent of which were by researchers in the educational sector. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 10:10:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PYONGYANG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Ri Son Gwon, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), criticized the U.S. policy towards Pyongyang on Friday, saying his country will build up more reliable force to cope with the long-term military threats from Washington. Ri made the remarks on the two-year anniversary of the first DPRK-U.S. summit meeting in Singapore on June 12, 2018, during which DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump reached consensus on security guarantees for the DPRK, new peaceful relations, the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, recovery of soldiers' remains, and follow-up negotiations between high-level officials. "What stands out is that the hope for improved DPRK-U.S. relations -- which was high in the air under the global spotlight two years ago -- has now been shifted into despair characterized by spiraling deterioration and that even a slim ray of optimism for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula has faded away into a dark nightmare," Ri was quoted by the official Korean Central News Agency as saying. "The desire of the peoples of two countries to put a period to the world's most antagonistic relations between the DPRK and the United States and to open a new cooperative era of peace and prosperity runs deep as ever. Yet the situation on the Korean Peninsula is taking a turn for the worse in each passing day," he added. He said Pyongyang has done a lot to improve relations and build confidence with Washington, including the total shutdown of the northern nuclear test site, repatriation of scores of American POW/MIA remains, special pardon for U.S. convicted felons in detention, and the suspension of nuclear test and test launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles. However, Ri said they had got little back from Washington, who "professes to be an advocate for improved relations with the DPRK, but in fact, it is hell-bent on only exacerbating the situation. As a result, the Korean Peninsula has now turned into the world's most dangerous hotspot haunted uninterruptedly by the ghost of nuclear war." The U.S. administration, through the two years of totally unjust and anachronistic practices, laid bare openly that its much-claimed "improvement of relations" between the two sides means nothing but a regime change, "security guarantee" an all-out preemptive nuclear strike and "confidence building" an invariable pursuit of isolation and suffocation of the DPRK, the minister added. Ri said all the practices of the present U.S. administration so far are nothing but accumulating its political achievements, and Pyongyang will never again provide "the U.S. chief executive" with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns. "The secure strategic goal of the DPRK is to build up more reliable force to cope with the long-term military threats from the United States," he added. On Tuesday, the DPRK cut off all inter-Korean communication lines in protest of South Korean authorities for allowing "defectors" to fly leaflets across the border. Enditem Lucknow, June 12 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's personal secretary, Sandeep Singh, approached the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday, seeking anticipatory bail in a case filed against him by the Uttar Pradesh government. State Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, who is a co-accused in the same case for alleged cheating and forgery in a list of 1,000 buses sent to the state government to ferry migrant workers home, is already in jail. Singh, Lallu and 'others' were booked by the Hazratganj Police on May 19 for cheating and forging documents, after the Uttar Pradesh government said about 100 vehicles on the Congress list were not buses and majority of them lacked either a fitness certificate or valid insurance papers. The Congress rejected the claim. On Friday, Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan of the Lucknow bench asked the police to submit the case diary and fixed the next date of hearing for June 17. Singh's senior lawyer J. N. Mathur, argued that there was no case of criminality against his client and the FIR was a result of 'political vendetta'. The controversy around the Congress list of buses had led to a major war of words between the Congress and the BJP Ajay Kumar Lallu and other party workers staged a dharna on the Uttar Pradesh-Rajasthan border, where the party said it had lined up the buses to ferry migrants. Lallu was arrested following the dharna, but was granted bail by an Agra court. He was rearrested the same day by the Lucknow Police in connection with the forgery case. Washington: When NFL star Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 as a protest against police brutality, most Americans were not on his side. A YouGov poll taken at the time showed that 57 per cent disapproved of his decision to take a knee, compared to 32 per cent who approved. The protest cost Kaepernick his career, as NFL clubs turned their backs on him. When YouGov asked a near-identical question this week the results were reversed. A majority of respondents, 52 per cent, said they believed it was OK for NFL players to kneel during the national compared to 36 per cent opposed. Colin Kaepernick (centre), then the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, takes a knee during the national anthem with teammates Eli Harold (left) and Eric Reid at an NFL game in October 2016. Credit:AP The turnaround reflects a broader racial and cultural reckoning that is underway in America following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, especially among white Americans. Books aimed at educating white Americans about racism are flying off the shelves. The top five titles on the New York Times non-fiction bestseller list are currently: White Fragility, So You Want to Talk About Race, How to be an Antiracist, Me and White Supremacy and The New Jim Crow. Funded by the National Safety Council and the Road to Zero Coalition, Sharing the Road with Trucks aims to teach high school students how to drive safely around commercial trucks. Over the past two-and-a-half years, the research team has traveled to high schools in Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware, conducting 40 visits and reaching nearly 5,000 students. The program has gained recognition for its interactive safety demonstrations, which utilize VTTIs tractor-trailer, cars, and traffic cones to demonstrate blind spots, following distances, and other driving concepts that might be tough for inexperienced drivers to visualize. However, once the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, the team suddenly faced a roadblock. They had 17 demonstrations scheduled for the spring and summer and no way to conduct them as planned. It was a challenge. This program 100 percent relied on us traveling and meeting with students and instructors in person, but with the pandemic, we couldnt do anything, explained Camden. We didnt want to lose all this momentum that we had generated. So, we brainstormed: What could we do to meet our current deliverables and still get this valuable information out to students? After discussing with the National Safety Council, Camden and his colleagues Mark Golusky, lead research specialist, and Scott Tidwell, senior field research technician, decided to film a virtual demonstration on the Virginia Smart Roads testing facility and around Blacksburg. Conducting a film shoot in accordance with physical distancing guidelines required careful planning. After completing the universitys COVID-19 training, the researchers implemented additional safety measures, including arranging separate times to pick up the dispatch radios from the Smart Road Control Room. The radios, which were left on a desk for the researchers, were disinfected before and after each use. The researchers also thoroughly cleaned the truck and the car that were used both before and after the film shoot. To ensure physical distancing, no other groups were on the Smart Road and only one person was allowed inside each vehicle. We kept hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies inside each vehicle in case we had to pass a radio or GoPro batteries from one of us to the other for any reason. Clean it when you hand it over, clean it when you hand it back. Keeping the separation between us added a little more time and planning, ultimately, explained Mark Golusky, lead research specialist for VTTIs Center for Truck and Bus Safety. Despite these necessary precautions, the team discovered unique opportunities in their new teaching format. Rather than simply walking through their usual demonstration with a camera, the team opted to reenact common yet tricky interactions between cars and commercial vehicles, such as merging lanes. Camden, who drove the car, and Golusky, who drove the truck, wore GoPro cameras on their heads in order to depict each drivers point of view. Defense Minister of Ukraine Andriy Taran has said that the ministry is working out a program of transfer to advanced weapons based on a scientific assessment of risks and steps towards the rearmament of the Ukrainian army. "A program of transfer to advanced weapons is being developed. It will be based on a scientific approach to assessment of risks and steps towards the rearmament of the Armed Forces. The implementation of this program will give an opportunity to give a proper response to modern challenges and threats. In this context, support of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine by our foreign partners should be noted," Taran said during an online briefing on Friday. The minister emphasized that he dedicated the first 100 days of his work on the post to ensuring high defensive capacity of Ukraine. Among his achievements he mentioned the creation of a management system at the Armed Forces compatible with the management systems in NATO member states. "Our goal remains unchanged a full membership in the Alliance. The defense reform is aimed at it. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are developing exactly in this direction. The priorities of the defense reform will be stipulated in the national security strategy of Ukraine and the strategic defense bulletin," he said. Advertisement Hundreds of police officers in face masks have congregated at a banned Black Lives Matter rally in Sydney - and have warned they won't hesitate to arrest protesters. Demonstrators will gather in Sydney and Melbourne this weekend for a second round of rallies after 90,000 took to the streets in solidarity with the global movement a week ago. A rally calling for an end to Aboriginal deaths in custody - planned for Sydney Town Hall on Friday evening - was deemed unlawful by NSW Police because they weren't formally notified. Police officers showed up in force two hours early and protesters decided to move the gathering to Hyde Park in a last-ditch attempt to avoid authority. 'Due to the overwhelming police presence at Town Hall, we will now be starting from the Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park,' a Facebook post read. Police followed the activists to Hyde Park at 6.30pm and immediately attempted to disperse the crowds. Hundreds of police officers were deployed on Friday night after a protest was blocked by the NSW Supreme Court (pictured are police officers in face masks outside Town Hall) Police officers moved from Town Hall to Hyde Park in Sydney after protesters changed the location at the last minute (pictured are police officers guarding a statue of Captain Cook in Sydney's Hyde Park) Mounted police guard as protesters are moved on peacefully. Statues of figures associated with slavery and racism have been torn down in the UK and America during Black Lives Matter protests A Black Lives Matter protester wearing an 'I can't breathe' t-shirt speaks outside Town Hall. The demonstration comes after weeks of protests in the U.S. following the death of George Floyd Protesters holding placards are seen during the Stop Black Deaths in Custody: Solidarity with Long Bay Prisoners vigil on Friday Protesters chanted 'we'll be back' as they were moved on by police officers on Friday night A man in a white hoodie and skull face mask is walked away by police in Sydney's CBD on Friday One protester who had also attended Saturday's Black Lives Matter protest said there were 'a lot more police than last time'. Dewie, who would only give her first name, said it was 'frustrating' to see so many police officers at a peaceful protest. 'It's saddening and not surprising, unfortunately,' she said. Protesters chanted 'we'll be back' as they were moved on by officers. Lizzy Jarrett said that there had been a 'great turnout' but she was encouraging people to go home to avoid arrests. 'This is our win,' she said. 'None of my people will get arrested today, none of my people will get brutalised by police and we will be back another day.' The demonstrators were moved on by police from Hyde Park at about 6.45pm. Some protesters walked to Town Hall but were again followed by officers and told to disperse. NSW Police said one protester, a 24-year-old woman, was issued with a COVID-19 related infringement notice for disobeying a direction. Protesters in face masks are moved on by police at Sydney's Hyde Park on Friday evening 'If this is protection we don't want it,' one sign read at Friday evening's rally in Sydney Police walk a man on during Black Lives Matter protests in Sydney on Friday night Police officers were taking precautions and wearing face masks after a protester was diagnosed with coronavirus following a a Black Lives Matter protest in Melbourne last week Protesters brave the rain as they walk through Sydney's Hyde Park on Friday night. The protest was banned by police and demonstrators were told to move on One protester holds a sign reading 'strongly dislike the police'. Other demonstrators held signs or shouted 'we'll be back' after being moved on Dozens of police officers arrived two hours early for a Black Lives Matter protest at Sydney Town Hall on Friday to deter anyone from attending the rally The whole Town Hall precinct was cordoned off as hundreds of officers flooded the area in an overwhelming display of force NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing said police would deploy 'significant resources' to enforce coronavirus rules and could issue move-on notices or make arrests Friday's protest will be followed by separate events on Saturday calling for the release of refugees in detention around Australia. None of the protests are authorised by police and the NSW Supreme Court struck down a challenge by organisers of the Sydney refugee rally on Saturday. Participants therefore risk fines or arrest by being in breach of coronavirus limits on mass gatherings, and are not allowed to block traffic. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people in NSW and 20 in Victoria - far from the thousands planning to show up. Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared that every protester should be fined or arrested if they break the rules, but police chiefs have called this impractical. Aboriginal deaths in custody protest, Sydney A 'stop black deaths in custody' protest was scheduled to begin at 6.30pm on Friday outside the Sydney Town Hall with up to 4,000 people expected. The protest was moved to Hyde Park due to the heavy police presence. The event is a successor to the 50,000-strong march last Saturday in solidarity with BLM protests that have sprung up in the U.S. after the alleged murder of George Floyd by police. The protest is organised by Anticolonial Asian Alliance, Indigenous Social Justice Association, and the University of Sydney Autonomous Collective Against Racism. AAA is a group of activists of Asian descent who 'work in solidarity with First Nations communities and elders to dismantle colonialism'. Group member Eme, a 26-year-old artist and activist, explained her desire to fight colonialism in a recent interview with the National Association for the Visual Arts. 'We're taught to hate ourselves, to hate our brown skin, our features and, and for us to love ourselves and that's pretty much to be Indigenous as well and to unpack all of the self-hatred and the colonised mentality,' she said. The 'stop black deaths in custody' protest was due to begin at 6.30pm on Friday outside the Sydney Town Hall with up to 4,000 people expected Police horses joined huge numbers of cops setting up outside Town Hall in the rain AAA posted a graphic of a hooded woman holding a finger to her lips encouraging people not to 'snitch' on protesters breaking the law. 'Don't snitch! Let's keep each other safe from all forms of harm, including state violence,' the graphic read. 'Instead of calling Crime Stoppers, try to have caring conversations with people about the importance of distancing.' Raul Bassi, a leader in ISJA, is a veteran activist and the primary organiser both of Friday's protest and the march last Saturday. A driver for Toll Fast Office in Banksmeadow by day, he has a long history as a protest organiser for Aboriginal and Palestinian causes. Mr Bassi said the NSW Court of Appeals decision to allow the first protest created a 'legal precedent' for Friday's second rally. 'It was a beautiful protest last week, we were going strong. Only three people were arrested at the end,' he said. 'This event will be about the inhumane treatment of people in Long Bay Prison. 'Maybe instead of the government taking us to court, we will take them to court.' Anticolonial Asian Alliance posted a graphic of a hooded woman holding a finger to her lips encouraging people not to 'snitch' on protesters breaking the law Raul Bassi, a leader in ISJA, is a veteran activist and the primary organiser both of Friday's protest and the march last Saturday Anticolonial Asian Alliance led the 50,000-strong march last Saturday in solidarity with BLM protests that have sprung up in the U.S. after the alleged murder of George Floyd by police Mr Bassi said racism was just as important, urgent, and deadly issue as coronavirus, and the protest was therefore necessary. 'Yes the virus is a big problem. But we think there is another virus going around, and we have to respond now,' he said. 'That virus is the virus based in racism. It's a virus that kills Aboriginal people.' The University of Sydney Autonomous Collective Against Racism is an official branch of the university's student union. Bridget Harilaou a former officer of the group from when a student at the university, and is still heavily involved in activism. Harilaou was at Central Station in the first protest and was seen organising their contacts on social media before demonstrations, including giving tips on what to do if they get arrested and calling police the 'instigators' of violence. 'Protest tomorrow is 'not permitted' by Judge Fagan. Well buddy, you're in for a bit of flagrant disregard for your white man law,' Harilaou wrote. The writer and activist self-identifies as 'agender' with Christian Chinese-Indonesian background in a column for SBS in April. 'I have openly let go of womanhood. I no longer identify with the gender assigned to me at birth - a common way of understanding trans identity,' Harilaou wrote. Bridget Harilaou a former officer of the group from when a student at the university, and is still heavily involved in activism Harilaou has attended numerous protests for Aboriginal, refugee, abortion decriminalisation, and West Papuan causes Harilaou was dramatically arrested during a refugee protest at Parliament House in Canberra in 2016 'My gender has become a space where I can actively let go of all the gendered societal and cultural norms that were forced onto me, and build my own gender expression and embodiment. 'I have settled on the word 'agender', meaning without gender or no gender. Now, the word woman simply describes a relationship to patriarchy, it is a power dynamic, an external construct that has nothing to do with who I am on the inside.' Harilaou has attended numerous protests for Aboriginal, refugee, abortion decriminalisation, and West Papuan causes. Bridget was dramatically arrested during a protest in 2016 and has been part of other demonstrations where other activists were arrested. Harilaou accused police of instigating the ugly scenes at Central Station at the end of last Saturday's protest in Sydney. 'We made a choice to march when the courts said it was illegal & we stood our grand when police advanced. I'm proud of my comrades,' Harilaou wrote on Twitter afterwards. 'I'm uninjured physically but hurting for the state of society. No justice, no peace, abolish the police.' Friday's protest is squarely focused on Aboriginal deaths in custody after inmates were tear gassed during a riot at Sydney's Long Bay jail on Monday. Prisoners spelled out 'BLM' in the exercise yard during the aftermath of two fights between groups of inmates. Corrective Services said the Immediate Action Team was quelling a riot but protest organisers presented it as police brutality. 'These violent and harsh responses are inhumane, particularly during a time where family visits have been ceased for over two months with no plans announced to reverse this,' the event page claims. NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing said the protest was unauthorised because organisers had not formally notified police Assistant Commissioner Willing said police would deploy 'significant resources' to enforce coronavirus rules and could issue move on notices or make arrests Police wore masks to protect themselves from coronavirus as they massed in groups waiting for up to 4,000 protesters to arrive 'Police brutality is not an insular event - it is a result of a carceral system that actively uses violence against incarcerated people, of whom many are First Nations. 'We cannot sit idly by while these injustices happen across prisons in Australia, nor can we rely on the government to hold themselves accountable - this is why we fight for justice.' NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing said the protest was unauthorised because organisers had not formally notified police. He said police would deploy 'significant resources' to enforce coronavirus rules and could issue move on notices or make arrests. 'While the NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals to exercise their right to free speech in normal circumstances, these are not normal circumstances,' he said. Refugee rights protest, Sydney A protest demanding refugees held in immigration detention be released will go ahead in Sydney despite the Supreme Court ruling it unlawful. Refugee Action Coalition applied for the protest to be authorised so participants would be exempt from coronavirus gathering limits. 'We wouldn't be putting people in any different situation from what they experience when they go to the shopping centre or get on a train or bus,' organiser Nick Riemer told the Today show on Friday morning. Dr Riemer is a senior lecturer in English and Linguistics at the University of Sydney and veteran protest organiser who also championed the BLM rally last Saturday. Nick Riemer is a senior lecturer in English and Linguistics at the University of Sydney and veteran protest organiser leading the Sydney refugee rally He argued the protest was about coronavirus because refugees were kept in crammed, unsanitary conditions that left them vulnerable to infection. 'When the authorities want to stop a protest they invoke health reasons. When they want to torture refugees, health goes out the window,' he tweeted after the Supreme Court decision. 'Our calls for freedom and justice mustn't be silenced.' Dr Riemer railed against the BLM protest being struck down by the court last week before that decision was overturned on appeal. 'I'm not going to let public health become the latest excuse for the umpteenth ratification of state violence against Aboriginal people,' he wrote. Professional activist James Supple is another organiser of Sydney's refugee rally who addressed the court at RAC's failed bid to have it approved. 'I don't accept it's a gross breach of the guidelines,' he told the court said. Professional activist James Supple is another organiser of Sydney's refugee rally who addressed the court at RAC's failed bid to have it approved Mr Supple said only 150 to 200 protesters were expected and this would not make social distancing difficult to manage. All participants would be asked to wear masks and their details would be taken in case contact tracing was necessary. RAC's lawyer Barrister Emmanuel Kerkyasharian said the protests could not be delayed, as police requested, because of the plight of refugees. 'The purpose of this protest is to deal with people who are in prison against their will, in effect,' he told the court. 'Every day matters. Every day that that goes on matters.' However, Justice Michael Walton sided with the police and refused to authorise the protest due to health risks. 'Those public health risks, even in mitigated form, outweigh rights to public assembly and freedom of speech in public context,' he said. NSW Police Minister David Elliott welcomed the Supreme Court's decision and said people could expect to be arrested for disregarding police directions. 'I urge those thinking of protesting despite the Supreme Court decision and against the health advice to promptly reconsider their plans,' he said. Refugee rights protest, Melbourne A similar protest is planned for Melbourne on Saturday as part of a 'national day of action' for refugee rights. This one is led by the Refugee Action Collective, and planned as a 'decentralised' campaign to comply with coronavirus restrictions. One of the organisers listed on the contact list of the effort is schoolteacher Lucy Honan, who faced public scrutiny for her activism in 2016. She co-founded Teachers for Refugees and was accused of 'brainwashing' students by concerned parents. Ms Honan was reprimanded in 2012 after telling children they didn't have to sit compulsory NAPLAN if their parents had philosophical or religious objections. One of the leaders of Refugee Action Collective is schoolteacher Lucy Honan, who faced public scrutiny for her activism in 2016 The group of up to 500 educators wore shirts emblazoned with 'Close the Camps, Bring them Here' in a 2016 campaign. 'Some of us have taught refugees in offshore camps, or here in the community, and we know that they are denied basic human rights,' Ms Honan said at the time. 'We know there are both teachers and students on Nauru and Manus who should be in our schools, not in prison camps.' Protest organisers said Saturday's campaign would be spread across eight locations around Melbourne including hotels and detention centres holding refugees. Other protest sites were Border Force offices in Docklands, the Casselden Place Immigration Office, Liberal Party Headquarters, the State Library, State Parliament, and Immigration Minister Alan Tudge's office. 'Police have told us that if we have more than 20 people, even at different times, we will be in breach of health laws and get fined,' organisers said. A police blunder led to the German man suspected of murdering Madeleine McCann being informed he was being probed over the case as early as 2013, according to a Spiegel Online report Friday. Police raised hopes last week that the mystery over the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine could finally be solved when they revealed they are investigating a 43-year-old over her disappearance from the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz in 2007. Suspect Christian Brueckner has a history of previous sex offences including child abuse and rape. Christian Brueckner (left) was informed he was being probed over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann (right) as early as 2013, according to a Spiegel Online report Friday Spiegel reported that the federal criminal police (BKA) had contacted police in Brunswick for more information about the suspect after receiving a confidential tip-off in October 2013. But while calling the suspect in, police in their letter specified that it had to do with the 'Madeleine McCann missing persons case' and 'personal examination of Christian B'. The letter would have given Brueckner ample time to destroy any evidence, the report said, quoting experts who consider the police's actions to be a serious mistake. 'This should not have happened and in no way corresponds to the usual procedure in such a sensitive case,' an experienced police officer was quoted as saying. Police would usually gather information first before approaching a suspect, the report said. Despite revealing last week that police had identified a suspect in the case, prosecutors have not called Brueckner in for questioning. Such interrogation would take place only after an investigation is concluded so that investigators can put findings of the probe to the suspect, Brunswick prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters told national news agency DPA. Christian Brueckner apparently targeted holidaymakers in Praia da Luz, above as well as other resorts in Portugal It comes after a former friend claimed that Brueckner would try and sell himself to elderly holidaymakers and could be seen with groups of older women at Portuguese resorts, a former friend has claimed. Murder suspect and convicted paedophile Brueckner, 43, was often seen with 'an assortment of older women,' a source told The Sun, sparking rumours he was trying to get them to pay him for sex. The anonymous friend also revealed one of Brueckner's British exes was at least 15 years older than him. The friend told The Sun: 'He seemed to have a thing about much older women. That might account for why people who knew him didn't associate him with the McCann inquiry for years.' Speaking about one of Brueckner's exes, who is now thought be around 60-years-old, the former pal said: 'She was with him for three years and is on the verge of a nervous breakdown now she knows what kind of a man she was in a long- term relationship with. He beat her up and did the same to the other British woman he saw out here.' The other British ex is understood to be a 45-year-old woman from Berkshire. The anonymous tipster claims to have seen her in a bar after Brueckner had beaten her by throwing her head against a toilet wall. The woman, who does not want to be named spoke of how she was attacked by Brueckner after she hugged another man, by slamming her head against the wall of a ladies toilet at a bar in the Algarve. Madeleine McCann disappeared from her hotel room in May 2007 Brueckner then broke into her flat and hid under the bed, waiting for her to return, but when she got back he calmly left, saying 'goodbye' on his way out, as reported by the Daily Mirror. The couple ended their relationship in mid-2005, and he then embarked on a stalking campaign against her, but was never charged, despite Portuguese police being called out twice to deal with him. She has now revealed the convicted paedophile could be responsible for killing Madeleine. The victim told the newspaper: 'Until now I've refused to believe someone I was involved with could commit such a horrible and disgusting thing like hurting a child. 'But I'm not sure anymore. I'm starting to wonder if he did do it. And if he did, he needs to be really punished for it.' 'It's chilling to think my ex is suspected of abducting Madeleine McCann. I can't cope with it.' At the same time the defence minister insisted that the two sides must resolve the row through talks. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday reviewed India's overall military preparedness in eastern Ladakh and several other sensitive areas along the Line of Actual Control in Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh even as commanders of the Indian and Chinese armies held another round of talks to end the current standoff, official sources said. The defence minister was given a detailed account of the overall situation in eastern Ladakh by Army Chief Gen MM Naravane at a high-level meeting which was also attended by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. The Indian and Chinese armies are locked in an over five-week standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. The two sides have deployed additional troops along the Line of Actual Control, the de-facto Sino-India border, in North Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh in the last few days, the sources said. In the review meeting, Singh told the top military brass to continue to deal with the situation in eastern Ladakh and other areas with "firmness", at the same time insisting that the two sides must resolve the row through talks, they said. It is learnt that the Chief of Air Staff conveyed in the meeting that the Indian Air Force is keeping a close eye on all the air activities by China along the LAC while the Navy Chief talked about the situation in the Indian Ocean region where the Chinese Navy has been trying to increase its presence. "The defence minister carried out a comprehensive review of the situation in eastern Ladakh and other areas along the LAC," said a senior official on condition of anonymity. Military sources said the two armies held another round of Major General-level talks on Friday to find a way out to defuse the tension in eastern Ladakh. On Wednesday too, divisional commanders of the two armies held talks with an aim to end the bitter tussle. It is learnt that the Indian delegation pitched for restoration of status quo ante and immediate withdrawal of thousands of Chinese troops from the areas which India considers on its side of the LAC in eastern Ladakh, the sources said. On Thursday, Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava said India is maintaining military and diplomatic engagements with China to peacefully resolve the row at the "earliest". He said both sides agreed to work for an early resolution in sync with broader guidance provided by leaders of the two countries for ensuring peace and tranquillity along the border areas. Military sources on Tuesday claimed that the two armies began "disengagement" around patrolling points 14 and 15 in Galwan Valley and another in the Hot Spring area, adding the Chinese side has even moved back up to 1.5 km in the two areas. However, there was no official word on it so far. People familiar with the standoff said sizeable number of Chinese troops are still camping in Galwan Valley and Hot Spring and that the standoff in the areas continued. In their first serious efforts to end the row, Lt General Harinder Singh, the general officer commanding of Leh-based 14 Corps, and Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin held a nearly seven-hour meeting on June 6. In the next few days, the field commanders of the two sides are slated to hold a series of meetings to discuss specific measures to defuse the tension. After the standoff began in early last month, Indian military leadership decided that Indian troops will adopt a firm approach in dealing with the aggressive posturing by the Chinese troops in all disputed areas of Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie. The Chinese Army has been gradually ramping up its strategic reserves in its rear bases near the LAC by rushing in artillery guns, infantry combat vehicles and heavy military equipment. The trigger for the face-off was China's stiff opposition to India laying a key road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another road connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley. The road in the Finger area in Pangong Tso is considered crucial for India to carry out patrol. India has already decided not to stall any border infrastructure projects in eastern Ladakh in view of Chinese protests. The situation in the area deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on May 5 and 6. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on May 9. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it. Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says he and minister of healthcare Arsen Torosyan have discussed for many times and continue discussing the issue of providing social guarantees to the healthcare workers. We are discussing this issue with the minister, this issue has been voiced for many times. We still do not have a complete solution to this issue in the polyclinic system, but will find proper solutions in the future, he said at the special session of the Parliament in response to the question of the opposition Bright Armenia faction MP Mane Tandilyan. According to the latest data, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 15,281, out of which 5,639 patients have already recovered. The number of active cases stands at 9,298. The death toll has risen to 258. The government today extended the coronavirus-related state of emergency for another month, until July 13, 17:00. Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan While Delhi has been witnessing a spike in Covid-19 cases with the daily tally reaching almost 1,000, Noida has seen far less positive cases. However, on Thursday, the suburb witnessed 28 fresh cases which included an eight-year-old child. Meanwhile, a 62-year-old man has succumbed, taking the total death toll to 11 in Noida. The 28 fresh cases have been reported from across the Gautam Buddh Nagar district. Most cases have been reported from urban clusters. Thursday's figures take the total active cases to 247 in the district while the number of total cured stands at 477. The district has seen a total 795 positive cases so far, including 60 patients who were cross-notified to other districts of Uttar Pradesh and outside. Among the fresh 28 cases, a case was reported from Sector 12, which has previously seen Corona positive cases. Other cases have been reported from Sector 25, 93, 73, 76, 45, 44, 27 among other sectors. An 8-year-old boy has also been tested positive from Noida Sector 66. The 62-year-old who died was from Sector 25 and was suffering from bronchial asthma and hypertension. Meanwhile, health camps were organized in 12 different sensitive places including Mamura, Nithari, Sarfabad and Harola villages. Following the fresh cases, District Magistrate Suhas L.Y. wrote an open letter to the residents informing them about dos and don'ts. He also warned of the "challenge" lying ahead. He answered some frequently asked questions such as what to do if someone tests positive. Adult patients in hospital intensive care units (ICUs) are often given rehabilitation therapy and urged to keep mobile from an early point in their hospital stays. This has been shown to improve muscle strength, physical functioning and cognitive health, along with reducing the risk of pressure ulcers ("bed sores"), blood clots and other short-term threats. However, the prevalence or lack of rehabilitation practices for critically ill children in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) across the nation has been not been solidly researched. Now, a multicenter study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine shows that 65% of the PICU patients examined did not get physical or occupational therapy, or adequate opportunities to be mobile, while hospitalized during the study period. Female patients and those with normal physical function prior to illness were the most likely to not receive this important care. The study team also found that 19% of critically ill PICU patients were completely immobile during the same time span. The researchers reported their findings in the May 2020 issue of the journal Critical Care Medicine. In the study, known as PARK-PICU (for "Prevalence of Acute Rehab for Kids in the PICU"), researchers gathered data on critically ill children in 82 PICUs in 65 hospitals across the United States. This represents one-third of all PICU beds in the country. There were 1,769 patient days in the PICUs reviewed, with the researchers also evaluating perceived barriers and potential safety events for patient mobility. Despite the evidence that early rehabilitative therapy and mobility provide benefits to adults in ICUs, and despite the fact that it is known to be safe and reliable for children, our findings reveal that patients in PICUs are not getting the rehabilitative care they need." Sapna Kudchadkar, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and lead author of the study Kudchadkar and her colleagues also found that two-thirds of all children admitted to the PICU for three days or longer are under age 2. "Pediatric survivors of critical illness commonly experience long-term physical, cognitive and psychological problems, and these issues are compounded by the fact that while children are in the PICU, they are undergoing intensive physical and mental development," she says. Based on their study findings, the researchers urge hospitals to "systematically design and evaluate PICU rehabilitation interventions for a vulnerable patient population. The Supreme Court ruling in 2013 instructed the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) to reform the electoral process, high on the reform agenda was the voter register. However, the EC failed to heed to the Supreme Court recommendations. The Committee itself admitted that there was a problem with the credibility of the voter register and that the Biometric Verification System had problems. There were breakdowns of the system and hacking during the 2016 elections. This has put our elections on dangerous footings till today. The NPP petitioned the EC amidst demonstrations with fatal consequences, yet the EC closed its eyes. It was a miracle that the 2016 elections was successful. The reputation of the chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) and the courage demonstrated in applying the law impartially has contributed to the confidence the Ghanaians have in the ability of the Commission to discharge its function. The EC is widely seen as a buffer zone between the various political protagonists. Article 46 of the 1992 Constitution holds that the Commission is not subject to any authority in performing its functions, the independence of the Commission is guaranteed by the 1992 constitution. Even though the Commission should have regular consultations with the political parties and other stakeholders, the Commission is mandated not to give in to any pressure. The Chairperson of the Commission is supposed to be firm in its decisions, and should not easily give up to the wishes of stake holders under pressure. The firm decisions made by Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, the chairman of the Commission from 1993-2015, and Mrs Charlotte Osei, the chairwoman from June 2015 June 2018, have given great reputation and trust to the Commission over these years. In the run up to 2012 elections, some skeptics challenged the ECG on its creation of 45 additional constituencies. The matter went to the Supreme Court and the ECG won, under the interpretation of the Act 451 which set it up and Acts 47 and 51 of the 1992 Constitution. After the December 2012 elections, there was the historic election petition process at the nation's Supreme Court that challenged the declaration of the winner as the duly elected presidential candidate. Even though the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the declared winner, it made several recommendations that paved the way for numerous interventions aimed at putting together proposals for electoral reform to fine-tune Ghana's electoral processes. Several such reform proposals were submitted to the Electoral Commission by the end of 2013. Nevertheless, these were not implemented to guide the 2016 general elections. The successful conduct of the 2016 elections was therefore described as a miracle. Among other reforms ordered under the Supreme Court ruling by Justice William Atugubah (Justice Atuguba's judgement on the Election Petition, 4 September 2013) were the streamlining of the Biometric Device System to avoid breakdowns and stress on the electorate involved in an adjournment of the poll; and invalidating wholesale votes for insignificant excess numbers not the best application of the administrative principle of the proportionality test. The only proposal that was rejected by the Electoral Commission was the no verification, no vote principle (EC 2015). In the opinion of the EC, it would be unfair to turn back a voter if machines are unable to determine who is eligible to vote. The commission indeed recognised that the right of a citizen to vote is fundamental and guaranteed by the 1992 constitution. In its view, it has an inherent mandate to ensure that every eligible voter gets the opportunity to vote. The commission argued that in the absence of the biometric verification device, or when it malfunctions, there should be other physical or manual means of verifying voters in order not to disenfranchise Ghanaians. However, there were several issues that created doubts in the minds of many Ghanaians regarding the commission's preparedness for the task ahead. For instance, in the wake of several calls for electoral reform, the commission was caught in a quagmire of justifying the need to design a new logo. There were unresolved issues with the voters register that led to the fear that many people who used the national health insurance identity card to register were not given ample time to re-register in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling. Again, there was no clarity regarding how the register was going to be pruned to rid it of the names that were not supposed to be on it. Furthermore, there was a new commission chairperson, who was perceived as inexperienced. Also, the application of the electoral rules by the commission was perceived to have favoured the ruling party. Even though the main opposition party was cleared to contest the election, there were perceptions of executive and partisan manipulation on the part of the commission. Instead of focusing on the implementation of the proposals to clean the voter register, improve the biometric verification devices for voter registration and exhibition, extend the period of notice for voter registration, reduce the number of voters per polling station and the concentrate on the upcoming elections in 2016, the commission launched a broader Strategic Plan (20162020) to become the benchmark in Africa for conducting independent, trusted, world-class democratic elections for citizens and candidates alike. A Commission that sought to become a benchmark in Africa for conducting independent, trusted, world-class democratic elections for citizens and candidates alike, had no credible voter registry and credible means of registering voters. The ECG did not consider its pressing homework, but engaged and spent huge sums of its funds on proposals that were less necessary. One of the key proposals under the plan was to strengthen the EC's relations with key stakeholders and improve the flow of communications between them. In this regard, the EC was able to bring together several players and actors with differing interests and perspectives (EC; IPAC; candidates; media; voters; judiciary; security agencies; security task forces at the national, regional, and district levels; election observers; civil society organisations; development partners) to discuss issues relating to elections in Ghana and the role of the stakeholders. However, the launch of the plan was a waste of time as it dealt with overarching issues rather than focusing on the pressing demand for vigorous electoral reform and the implementation of the specific proposals from the Electoral Reform Committee. The state of electoral reform in Ghana appeared to be in limbo, as the key officials of the commission battled serious diversionary issues with respect to their integrity and continued stay in office as election management officials. Indeed, following the 2016 elections, there were petitions and counter-petitions to remove all three executive officers of the commission from office over allegations of corruption, malfeasance, in-fighting among the key officials, and abuse of office. In an article published in December 2017 by Ransford Edward Van Gyampo, a member of the Electoral Reform Committee from the civil society groups that submitted proposals for electoral reform to the Electoral Commission, the Commission invited proposals for electoral reforms from 38 key stakeholders including political parties, faith-based organisations, professional bodies, and civil society organisations. The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), for example, under the aegis of the Ghana Political Parties Program (GPPP), held a series of workshops to review the electoral processes. This culminated in the submission of 25 proposals for electoral reform to the EC on 20 November 2013. Subsequently, in January 2015, the EC inaugurated the 10-member Electoral Reforms Committee (ERC) to examine the proposals for electoral reform and advise the commission on the implementation of the proposals. The committee which comprised representatives of political parties, of the EC, and of civil society organisations submitted its report containing 41 proposals for electoral reform to the commission in April 2015 Moves towards electoral reform hit a snag in view of challenges within the EC itself at the time. The proposals that were submitted by the ERC could not be implemented, the changes in administrative practices and concrete actions that were discussed among the directors were pushed aside during the struggles among the commissioners and were not implemented. The success of electoral reform, even though it must be a shared responsibility, must be the concern of the commission more than any other stakeholder. In this regard, the EC may work with the other institutions, but to ensure that all proposals are implemented lies solely on the commission. The roles played by Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Ghana Political Parties Program (GPPP) and other stakeholders are very important, but their decisions are not mandatory to the work of the EC. In the run up to the 2016 elections, a handful of political parties sued the ECG for disqualifying their would-be candidates from running for the presidency on December 7 elections. The Commission made the decision after it detected errors in the nomination forms handed in by the candidates. This legal action raised fears that the elections might have to be postponed. The ECG filed a petition to the Supreme Court to challenge a ruling faulting it for not giving aggrieved candidates enough time to correct the alleged errors on their application forms. Many feared that the sum of legal battles would disrupt the 2016 election calendar. Ghanaian voters were doubtful that there could be a peaceful,elections in the year. "Looking at the rate at which the cases are coming, I am beginning to worry about the process that the Electoral Commission has to put together before the elections," an Accra resident told DW. Another resident also said, It won't surprise me if the court decides to postpone the elections to allow it to address all the cases against the Electoral Commission." Some political analysts suggested to the commission to try to reach an out-of-court settlement with the concerned candidates: "Assuming that we are not able to hold elections on December 7 because of the court cases, what happens?" Kwesi Jonah, a political analyst asked. Jonah would like Ghana to maintain its reputation as a peaceful country with a tradition of free, fair and transparent elections. The concerns of Ghanaians were that the December 7 2016 elections would be marred with the court case and ensuing disappointments of many voters. The ECs disqualifications left voters with only four presidential candidates to choose from. There were two favorites: the then President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress, who was running for a second and final term, and his main rival, the opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party. Their contest was expected to be very tight at the time. The EC did not expect the court's actions to disrupt the polls. Chairperson Charlotte Osei announced that almost 90 percent of preparations for the elections had been completed. "You cannot only look at the case from the perspective of those whose nominations were not accepted. You also have to look at the rights of those who met the requirements within the nomination period. So we have to be very balanced and we have to follow the law," Osei said. The Commission in 2016 admitted that the voter register was blotted, there were people who used national health insurance cards to register, which is not a proper proof of a Ghanaian, because foreigners can also join the national health insurance. In the Supreme Court's ruling in 2016, it was ordered that those who used the national insurance cards as identity should be removed from the register. The Commissioner, Ms. Charlotte Osei promised to audit the register and remove the names of those who used national health insurance cards according to the Supreme Court ruling. In July 2017, during the trial of Ms Osei, the former EC chairman by a committee set up by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo to investigate complaints and corruption allegations levelled against her, in which she accused of breaching procurement laws in awarding several contracts, prior to 2016 Ghana elections, she alleged that one of her deputies, the Deputy Chair of Operations, Amadu Sulley, has persistently effected illegal vote transfers from his office on the Voter management system. Charlotte Osei, who believed this was in clear breach of the law and operational policies of the Commission insisted such actions had major implications for the integrity of the work of the Commission and constitutes abuse of office. Mrs. Osei made this revelation in her response to the petition filed by the employees of EC that was calling for her removal at the time. Her response which was filed by her Lawyer, Thadeaus Sory also made other damning allegations against Mr. Sulley including a claim that the latter illegally bagged 6 million from political parties. The Deputy Chair Operations collected funds of six million Ghana cedis in cash from political parties for the organization of party primaries without recourse to the structures of the Commission, without the involvement of the finance department of the Commission. She alleged. Political party primaries were treated as a private commercial project by the Deputy Chair Operation with funds paid directly into the personal accounts of key staff for functions to be performed for party primaries She vowed to order a full scale investigation into the conduct of Mr. Sulley and other Commissioners believed to be flouting rules governing the Commission. This, according to the EC Chairperson was illegal, criminal and a breach of the policies of the Commission and the laws of Ghana. The Deputy Chair Operations also persistently effected illegal vote transfers from his office on the Voter management System in clear breach of the law and operational policies of the Commission. Such actions had major implications for the integrity of the work of the Commission and constitute abuse of office. These allegations undermine and cast dark shadows on the voter register system we have in Ghana now. One worrying complain concerning the old voter system is ECGs claim that it does not have the password of the old register system. The password is still under the control of the foreign company who were contracted by the government to set up the system. The company is not willing to train EC staffs to operate and control the system by itself. That means, they can easily manipulate the system to the advantage of any party at any time. During the time of the correlation of the 2016 election at the election control center, the ex-chair Charlotte Osei complained of tampering. A BBC News headline on December 8, 2016 read, Ghana election commission website hit by cyber attack. The news claimed that hackers had targeted the website of Ghana's electoral commission as votes were counted after tightly contested elections. The commission said later that the website was up again, and that an attempt to put up "fake results" failed. In a tweet, it urged people to ignore the "fake results" circulating on social media. We deplore the attempt to hack the EC's website. Please respect the integrity and independence of the EC," it said in a tweet. The website was offline for about four hours, but the commission had not put up results overnight so there was no chance of any tampering, a spokesman told the BBC. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) raised arguments against the credibility of the voter register following the Supreme Court ruling in 2012 after rejection of the election results and suing the EC. The NPP challenged the results of Ghanas 2012 presidential ballot in court, saying Mahama had benefited from illegitimate ballots. The court upheld Mahamas win after eight months of legal wrangling. However, the Supremacy Court punched various holes in the voter register and ordered the EC to correct them. But the EC failed to make the corrections. In August 2015, the NPP raised accusation against the EC's disobedience to the Supreme Court ruling, claiming that the voters register was incurably flawed and could not be relied on for the 2016 elections. The NPP vice presidential candidate Mahamudu Bawumia said in a news conference, This morning we presented our arguments and evidence on this matter to the electoral commission. The evidence is damning and shows that Ghanas voters register has been compromised, he said. The new register was expected to be created by June 2016 and be independently audited by an internationally reputable firm ahead of December 7 election, Bawumia added. But a five-member committee set up by the ECG to look into the calls for a new voters register rejected the evidence provided by the NPP citing it as unconvincing. Ms. Charlotte Osei was of the view that the NPPs method for compiling a new voters register would require that Ghanaians show proof of citizenship using either a passport, a drivers license or a National ID card. How many Ghanaians do you think have these? five million, six million?...I doubt if you can get even 10million Charlotte argued. for those who do not have a passport, drivers license or a National ID card how are they going to be identified as a Ghanaian? she wondered. Old voter ID cards would be unacceptable and the Supreme Court had already barred the use of them and National Health Insurance cards as proof of Ghanaian citizenship. But Charlotte Osei explained that the commission could also not use the accepted practice of two Ghanaians testifying to the citizenship of a person who did not have any of the three IDs. This is because the citizenship of the two can also not be proven with their old voter ID cards, Charlotte Osei said, explaining the limitations imposed by the NPP method. We are going to end up with a register that is very elitist and excludes the large majority of citizens. That is not our idea of inclusive democracy and that is not where we think we should be going, she insisted. But Ms Charlotte Osei could not solve the issue of blotting voter register. The problem of flaws remained with the all important component of Ghanas democratic process; credible voter register. The Electoral Commission maintained that the absence of a National Identification System was forcing Ghanaians to get a credible voters ID card. The old voter ID card therefore remained the only means and easiest method of voter identification despite the Supreme Court ruling of its flaws and clear evidence of its ineligibility. In 2015, the EC gave an intangible excuse that a new voters ID will worsen fears expressed by political parties that there are minors and foreigners on the electoral roll because everybody will rush to obtain one even if they are not eligible to vote. The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Mrs. Charlotte Osei said that Ghana would end up with a very elitist voters register if the Commission gave in to the methods suggested by the opposition New Patriotic Party. She explained that the commission had resolved to audit the voters' register instead of giving in to the demand by the NPP for a new register. The audit included excluding all people who registered using natural insurance cards as identification and other measures ordered by the Supreme Court in 2012. However, the EC failed to do the auditing. The issue of Ghanaian identity has been a headache since independence. No go enemies had taken the matter as a national priority from the era of the first president until recently. In countries such as Togo, Kenya and South Africa, citizens have a National ID and therefore do not need a voter ID card to determine citizenship. This was not the case in Ghana. The NPP governments prior agendum, in its first term in office in 2017 was to implement the Ghana National Identification. As at June 2020, the National Identification Authority (NIA) has registered and issued National ID cards to a total of eleven million Ghanaians, who are also eligible voters. This has eased the identification qualification of Ghanaians. With the addition of those who have Ghanaian passports, the number of voters who would need identification by the testimony of two Ghanaians to citizenry without national card and passport would be very little. Expected eligible voters for 2020: elections are around 17 million. The number of eligible voters had increased steadily. In 2000, the number were 10,698,652), 2004 (10,354,970), 2008 (12,472,758), 2012 (14,158,890) and 2016 (15,712,499). 2020 is expected to see an increase of nearly 2 million eligible voters, bringing the total eligible voters for 2020 elections to 17 million. With eleven million of them now having Ghana national ID, and with those who have no national ID yet, but Ghana passport, those to be identified by two Ghanaians would not be expected to be in a range of less than 3 million. This would aid ECs compilation of credible voter registration and ease the identification headache of many Ghanaians. The EC has a more credible way to identify and register eligible voters than ever before in the history of the electoral registration exercise. From 1993 till today, the three IDs used to register voters had been a passport, a drivers license, national health Insurance card, which was described as a National ID card. Apart from the passport, which provides a certain level of Ghanaian identity security, but not hundred percent since there were allegations that some foreigners in the country paid monies to acquire them, none of the identification materials were genuine proofs of Ghanaian identity. Drivers license can be acquired by any foreigner residing in Ghana. No Ghanaian was issued a credible National Identification card until recently. So the old voter registration is not a credible system to determine fair and flawless elections in Ghana. It cannot be acceptable as a credible voter register. The main identification materials, which were Ghana passport, a drivers license and a national health insurance card, were not sure materials to identify a Ghanaian. Based on these arguments, the only way to have a credible voter register in the country to ensure fair and flawless elections is a new voter register. The new voter register this round would be the most credible and reliable one than all the registers since 1993. The use of the old voter cards as identity for the registration of a new voter card would mean bringing in the flaws of the old system ams should not be allowed. If the old registration cards are allowed, how then would the EC ensure the exclusion of those who used the national health insurance cards and those who were registered by the EC director illegally as Ms Osei claimed? In 2012, the EC established a biometric system of registration for the electoral register prior to the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections to prevent double registration and to eliminate ghost names in the old register. In preparation towards the 2020 elections, 257 of the 260 offices all over the country were linked on the internet. MTN won the bid to provide the internet network and Persol Systems, the bid to build the Data Center. The function of the EC are laid out in Article 45 of the 1992 Constitution, namely: to compile the register of voters and revise it as such periods as may be determined by law; to undertake the delimitation of constituencies for both national and local government elections; to conduct and supervise all public elections and referenda; to educate the people on the electoral process and its purpose; to undertake programmes for the expansion of the registration of voters (see Voter registration and voters' rolls); and to perform such other functions as may be prescribed by law, such as election period and dates, overseeing candidates nominations and accrediting and election observation missions. The Electoral Commission Act of 1993, added the following functions: to undertake the preparation of voter identity cards; and to store properly election material. REGULATIONS The EC has the power to make regulations for the effective performance of its functions by the issue of constitutional instruments (C.Is), especially for the execution of the functions described in 1992 Constitution, Article 55). The constitution allows the EC to issue C.Is as it deemed. The EC is further empowered y the CIs to implement any reform that it sees necessary for the credibility and advancement of electoral process in Ghana. Court ruling in 2013 instructed the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) to reform the electoral process, high on the reform agenda was the voter register. However, the EC failed to heed to the Supreme Court recommendations. The EC itself admitted that there was a problem with the credible of the voter register and that the Biometric Verification System had problems. There were breakdown of the system and hacking during 2016 elections. This has put our elections on dangerous footings till today. The NPP petitioned the EC amidst demonstrations with fatal consequences, yet the EC closed its eyes. It was a miracle that the 2016 elections was successful. The reputation of the chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) and the courage demonstrated in applying the law impartially has contributed to the confidence the Ghanaians have in the ability of the Commission to discharge its function. The EC is widely seen as a buffer zone between the various political protagonists. Article 46 of the 1992 Constitution holds that the Commission is not subject to any authority in performing its functions, the independence of the Commission is guaranteed by the 1992 constitution. Even though the Commission should have regular consultations with the political parties and other stakeholders, the Commission is mandated not to give in to any pressure. The Chairperson of the Commission is supposed to be firm in its decisions, and should not easily give up to the wishes of stake holders under pressure. The firm decisions made by Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, the chairman of the Commission from 1993-2015, and Mrs Charlotte Osei, the chairwoman from June 2015 June 2018, have given great reputation and trust to the Commission over these years. In the run up to 2012 elections, some skeptics challenged the ECG on its creation of 45 additional constituencies. The matter went to the Supreme Court and the ECG won, under the interpretation of the Act 451 which set it up and Acts 47 and 51 of the 1992 Constitution. After the December 2012 elections, there was the historic election petition process at the nation's Supreme Court that challenged the declaration of the winner as the duly elected presidential candidate. Even though the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the declared winner, it made several recommendations that paved the way for numerous interventions aimed at putting together proposals for electoral reform to fine-tune Ghana's electoral processes. Several such reform proposals were submitted to the Electoral Commission by the end of 2013. Nevertheless, these were not implemented to guide the 2016 general elections. The successful conduct of the 2016 elections was therefore described as a miracle. Among other reforms ordered under the Supreme Court ruling by Justice William Atugubah (Justice Atuguba's judgement on the Election Petition, 4 September 2013) were the streamlining of the Biometric Device System to avoid breakdowns and stress on the electorate involved in an adjournment of the poll; and invalidating wholesale votes for insignificant excess numbers not the best application of the administrative principle of the proportionality test. The only proposal that was rejected by the Electoral Commission was the no verification, no vote principle (EC 2015). In the opinion of the EC, it would be unfair to turn back a voter if machines are unable to determine who is eligible to vote. The commission indeed recognised that the right of a citizen to vote is fundamental and guaranteed by the 1992 constitution. In its view, it has an inherent mandate to ensure that every eligible voter gets the opportunity to vote. The commission argued that in the absence of the biometric verification device, or when it malfunctions, there should be other physical or manual means of verifying voters in order not to disenfranchise Ghanaians. However, there were several issues that created doubts in the minds of many Ghanaians regarding the commission's preparedness for the task ahead. For instance, in the wake of several calls for electoral reform, the commission was caught in a quagmire of justifying the need to design a new logo. There were unresolved issues with the voters register that led to the fear that many people who used the national health insurance identity card to register were not given ample time to re-register in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling. Again, there was no clarity regarding how the register was going to be pruned to rid it of the names that were not supposed to be on it. Furthermore, there was a new commission chairperson, who was perceived as inexperienced. Also, the application of the electoral rules by the commission was perceived to have favoured the ruling party. Even though the main opposition party was cleared to contest the election, there were perceptions of executive and partisan manipulation on the part of the commission. Instead of focusing on the implementation of the proposals to clean the voter register, improve the biometric verification devices for voter registration and exhibition, extend the period of notice for voter registration, reduce the number of voters per polling station and the concentrate on the upcoming elections in 2016, the commission launched a broader Strategic Plan (20162020) to become the benchmark in Africa for conducting independent, trusted, world-class democratic elections for citizens and candidates alike. A Commission that sought to become a benchmark in Africa for conducting independent, trusted, world-class democratic elections for citizens and candidates alike, but had no credible voter registry and credible means of registering voters. The ECG did not consider its pressing homework, but engaged and spent huge sums of its funds on proposals that were less necessary. One of the key proposals under the plan was to strengthen the EC's relations with key stakeholders and improve the flow of communications between them. In this regard, the EC was able to bring together several players and actors with differing interests and perspectives (EC; IPAC; candidates; media; voters; judiciary; security agencies; security task forces at the national, regional, and district levels; election observers; civil society organisations; development partners) to discuss issues relating to elections in Ghana and the role of the stakeholders. However, the launch of the plan was a waste of time as it dealt with overarching issues rather than focusing on the pressing demand for vigorous electoral reform and the implementation of the specific proposals from the Electoral Reform Committee. The state of electoral reform in Ghana appeared to be in limbo, as the key officials of the commission battled serious diversionary issues with respect to their integrity and continued stay in office as election management officials. Indeed, following the 2016 elections, there were petitions and counter-petitions to remove all three executive officers of the commission from office over allegations of corruption, malfeasance, in-fighting among the key officials, and abuse of office. In an article published in December 2017 by Ransford Edward Van Gyampo, a member of the Electoral Reform Committee from the civil society groups that submitted proposals for electoral reform to the Electoral Commission, the Commission invited proposals for electoral reforms from 38 key stakeholders including political parties, faith-based organisations, professional bodies, and civil society organisations. The IEA, for example, under the aegis of the GPPP, held a series of workshops to review the electoral processes. This culminated in the submission of 25 proposals for electoral reform to the EC on 20 November 2013.5 Subsequently, in January 2015, the EC inaugurated the 10-member Electoral Reforms Committee (ERC) to examine the proposals for electoral reform and advise the commission on the implementation of the proposals. The committee which comprised representatives of political parties, of the EC, and of civil society organisations submitted its report containing 41 proposals for electoral reform to the commission in April 2015 Moves towards electoral reform hit a snag in view of challenges within the EC itself at the time. The proposals that were submitted by the ERC could not be implemented, the changes in administrative practices and concrete actions that were discussed among the directors were pushed aside during the struggles among the commissioners and were not implemented. The success of electoral reform, even though it must be a shared responsibility, must be the concern of the commission more than any other stakeholder. In this regard, the EC May work with the other institutions, but to ensure that all proposals are implemented lies solely on the commission. The roles played by Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Ghana Political Parties Program (GPPP) and other stakeholders are very important, but their decisions are not mandatory to the work of the EC. In the run up to the 2016 elections, a handful of political parties sued the ECG for disqualifying their would-be candidates from running for the presidency on December 7 elections. The Commission made the decision after it detected errors in the nomination forms handed in by the candidates. This legal action raised fears that the elections might have to be postponed. The ECG filed a petition to the Supreme Court to challenge a ruling faulting it for not giving aggrieved candidates enough time to correct the alleged errors on their application forms. Many feared that the sum of legal battles would disrupt the 2016 election calendar. Ghanaian voters were doubtful that there could be a peaceful,elections in the year. "Looking at the rate at which the cases are coming, I am beginning to worry about the process that the Electoral Commission has to put together before the elections," an Accra resident told DW. Another resident also said, It won't surprise me if the court decides to postpone the elections to allow it to address all the cases against the Electoral Commission." Some political analysts suggested to the commission to try to reach an out-of-court settlement with the concerned candidates: "Assuming that we are not able to hold elections on December 7 because of the court cases, what happens?" Kwesi Jonah, a political analyst asked. Jonah would like Ghana to maintain its reputation as a peaceful country with a tradition of free, fair and transparent elections. The concerns of Ghanaians were that the December 7 2016 elections would be marred with the court case and ensuing disappointments of many voters. The ECs disqualifications left voters with only four presidential candidates to choose from. There were two favorites: the then President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress, who was running for a second and final term, and his main rival, the opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party. Their contest was expected to be very tight at the time. The EC did not expect the court's actions to disrupt the polls. Chairperson Charlotte Osei announced that almost 90 percent of preparations for the elections had been completed. "You cannot only look at the case from the perspective of those whose nominations were not accepted. You also have to look at the rights of those who met the requirements within the nomination period. So we have to be very balanced and we have to follow the law," Osei said. The E Commission in 2016 admitted that the voter register was blotted, there were people who used national health insurance cards to register, which is not a proper proof of a Ghanaian, because foreigners can also join the national health insurance. The Supreme Court of Ghana, in a ruling in 2016 ordered that those who used the national insurance cards as identity should be removed from the register. The Commissioner, Ms. Charlotte Osei promised to audit the register and remove the names of those who used national health insurance cards according to the Supreme Court ruling. In July 2017, during the trial of Ms Osei, the former EC chairman by a committee set up by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo to investigate complaints and corruption allegations levelled against her, in which she accused of breaching procurement laws in awarding several contracts, prior to 2016 Ghana elections, she alleged that one of her deputies, the Deputy Chair of Operations, Amadu Sulley, has persistently effected illegal vote transfers from his office on the Voter management system. Charlotte Osei, who believes this was in clear breach of the law and operational policies of the Commission insisted such actions had major implications for the integrity of the work of the Commission and constitutes abuse of office. Mrs. Osei made this revelation in her response to the petition filed by the employees of EC that was calling for her removal at the time. Her response which was filed by her Lawyer, Thadeaus Sory also made other damning allegations against Mr. Sulley including a claim that the latter illegally bagged 6 million from political parties. The Deputy Chair Operations collected funds of six million Ghana cedis in cash from political parties for the organization of party primaries without recourse to the structures of the Commission, without the involvement of the finance department of the Commission. She alleged. Political party primaries were treated as a private commercial project by the Deputy Chair Operation with funds paid directly into the personal accounts of key staff for functions to be performed for party primaries She vowed to order a full scale investigation into the conduct of Mr. Sulley and other Commissioners believed to be flouting rules governing the Commission. This, according to the EC Chairperson was illegal, criminal and a breach of the policies of the Commission and the laws of Ghana. The Deputy Chair Operations also persistently effected illegal vote transfers from his office on the Voter management System in clear breach of the law and operational policies of the Commission. Such actions had major implications for the integrity of the work of the Commission and constitute abuse of office. These allegations undermine and cast dark shadows on the voter register system we have in Ghana now. One worrying complain concerning the old voter system is ECGs claim that it does not have the password of the old register system. The password is still under the control of the foreign company who were contracted by the government to set up the system. The company is not willing to train EC staffs to operate and control the system by itself. That means, they can easily manipulate the system to the advantage of any party at any time. During the time of the correlation of the 2016 election at the election control center, the ex-chair Charlotte Osei complained of tampering. A BBC News headline on December 8, 2016 read, Ghana election commission website hit by cyber attack. The news claimed that hackers had targeted the website of Ghana's electoral commission as votes were counted after tightly contested elections. The commission said later that the website was up again, and that an attempt to put up "fake results" failed. In a tweet, it urged people to ignore the "fake results" circulating on social media. We deplore the attempt to hack the EC's website. Please respect the integrity and independence of the EC," it said in a tweet. The website was offline for about four hours, but the commission had not put up results overnight so there was no chance of any tampering, a spokesman told the BBC. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) raised arguments against the credibility of the voter register following the Supreme Court ruling in 2012 after rejection of the election results and suing the ECG. The NPP challenged the results of Ghanas 2012 presidential ballot in court, saying Mahama had benefited from illegitimate ballots. The court upheld Mahamas win after eight months of legal wrangling. However, the Supremacy Court punched various holes in the voter register and ordered the ECG to correct them. But the ECG failed to make the corrections. In August 2015, the NPP raised accusation against the ECGs disobedience to the Supreme Court ruling, claiming that the voters register was incurably flawed and could not be relied on for the 2016 elections. The NPP vice presidential candidate Mahamudu Bawumia said in a news conference, This morning we presented our arguments and evidence on this matter to the electoral commission. The evidence is damning and shows that Ghanas voters register has been compromised, he said. The new register was expected to be created by June 2016 and be independently audited by an internationally reputable firm ahead of December 7 election, Bawumia added. But a five-member committee set up by the ECG to look into the calls for a new voters register rejected the evidence provided by the NPP citing it as unconvincing. Ms. Charlotte Osei was of the view that the NPPs method for compiling a new voters register would require that Ghanaians show proof of citizenship using either a passport, a drivers license or a National ID card. How many Ghanaians do you think have these? five million, six million?...I doubt if you can get even 10million Charlotte argued. for those who do not have a passport, drivers license or a National ID card how are they going to be identified as a Ghanaian? she wondered. Old voter ID cards would be unacceptable and the Supreme Court had already barred the use of them and National Health Insurance cards as proof of Ghanaian citizenship. But Charlotte Osei explained that the commission could also not use the accepted practice of two Ghanaians testifying to the citizenship of a person who did not have any of the three IDs. This is because the citizenship of the two can also not be proven with their old voter ID cards, Charlotte Osei said, explaining the limitations imposed by the NPP method. We are going to end up with a register that is very elitist and excludes the large majority of citizens. That is not our idea of inclusive democracy and that is not where we think we should be going, she insisted. But Ms Charlotte Osei could not solve the issue of blotting voter register. The problem of flaws remained with the all important component of Ghanas democratic process; credible voter register. The Electoral Commission maintained that the absence of a National Identification System was forcing Ghanaians to get a credible voters ID card. The old voter ID card therefore remained the only means and easiest method of voter identification despite the Supreme Court ruling of its flaws and clear evidence of its ineligibility. In 2015, the EC gave an intangible excuse that a new voters ID will worsen fears expressed by political parties that there are minors and foreigners on the electoral roll because everybody will rush to obtain one even if they are not eligible to vote. The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Mrs. Charlotte Osei said that Ghana would end up with a very elitist voters register if the Commission gave in to the methods suggested by the opposition New Patriotic Party. She explained that the commission had resolved to audit the voters' register instead of giving in to the demand by the NPP for a new register. The audit included excluding all people who registered using natural insurance cards as identification and other measures ordered by the Supreme Court in 2012. However, the EC failed to do the auditing. The issue of Ghanaian identity has been a headache since independence. No go enemies had taken the matter as a national priority from the era of the first president until recently. In countries such as Togo, Kenya and South Africa, citizens have a National ID and therefore do not need a voter ID card to determine citizenship. This was not the case in Ghana. The NPP governments prior agendum, in its first term in office in 2017 was to implement the Ghana National Identification. As at June 2020, the National Identification Authority (NIA) has registered and issued National ID cards to a total of eleven million Ghanaians, who are also eligible voters. This has eased the identification qualification of Ghanaians. With the addition of those who have Ghanaian passports, the number of voters who would need identification by the testimony of two Ghanaians to citizenry without national card and passport would be very little. Expected eligible voters for 2020: elections are around 17 million. The number of eligible voters had increased steadily. In 2000, the number were 10,698,652), 2004 (10,354,970), 2008 (12,472,758), 2012 (14,158,890) and 2016 (15,712,499). 2020 is expected to see an increase of nearly 2 million eligible voters, bringing the total eligible voters for 2020 elections to 17 million. With eleven million of them now having Ghana national ID, and with those who have no national ID yet, but Ghana passport, those to be identified by two Ghanaians would not be expected to be in a range of less than 3 million. This would aid ECs compilation of credible voter registration and ease the identification headache of many Ghanaians. The EC has a more credible way to identify and register eligible voters than ever before in the history of the electoral registration exercise. From 1993 till today, the three IDs used to register voters had been a passport, a drivers license, national health Insurance card, which was described as a National ID card. Apart from the passport, which provides a certain level of Ghanaian identity security, but not hundred percent since there were allegations that some foreigners in the country paid monies to acquire them, none of the identification materials were genuine proofs of Ghanaian identity. Drivers license can be acquired by any foreigner residing in Ghana. No Ghanaian was issued a credible National Identification card until recently. So the old voter registration is not a credible system to determine fair and flawless elections in Ghana. It cannot be acceptable as a credible voter register. The main identification materials, which were Ghana passport, a drivers license and a national health insurance card, were not sure materials to identify a Ghanaian. Based on these arguments, the only way to have a credible voter register in the country to ensure fair and flawless elections is a new voter register. The new voter register this round would be the most credible and reliable one than all the registers since 1993. The use of the old voter cards as identity for the registration of a new voter card would mean bringing in the flaws of the old system ams should not be allowed. If the old registration cards are allowed, how then would the EC ensure the exclusion of those who used the national health insurance cards and those who were registered by the EC director illegally as Ms Osei claimed? In 2012, the EC established a biometric system of registration for the electoral register prior to the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections to prevent double registration and to eliminate ghost names in the old register. In preparation towards the 2020 elections, 257 of the 260 offices all over the country were linked on the internet. MTN won the bid to provide the internet network and Persol Systems, the bid to build the Data Center. The function of the EC are laid out in Article 45 of the 1992 Constitution, namely: to compile the register of voters and revise it as such periods as may be determined by law; to undertake the delimitation of constituencies for both national and local government elections; to conduct and supervise all public elections and referenda; to educate the people on the electoral process and its purpose; to undertake programmes for the expansion of the registration of voters (see Voter registration and voters' rolls); and to perform such other functions as may be prescribed by law, such as election period and dates, overseeing candidates nominations and accrediting and election observation missions. The Electoral Commission Act of 1993, added the following functions: to undertake the preparation of voter identity cards; and to store properly election material. REGULATIONS The EC has the power to make regulations for the effective performance of its functions by the issue of constitutional instruments (C.Is), especially for the execution of the functions described in 1992 Constitution, Article 55). The constitution allows the EC to issue C.Is as it deemed. The EC is further empowered y the CIs to implement any reform that it sees necessary for the credibility and advancement of electoral process in Ghana. This has put our elections on dangerous footings till today. The NPP petitioned the EC amidst demonstrations with fatal consequences, yet the EC closed its eyes. It was a miracle that the 2016 elections was successful. The reputation of the chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) and the courage demonstrated in applying the law impartially has contributed to the confidence the Ghanaians have in the ability of the Commission to discharge its function. The EC is widely seen as a buffer zone between the various political protagonists. Article 46 of the 1992 Constitution holds that the Commission is not subject to any authority in performing its functions, the independence of the Commission is guaranteed by the 1992 constitution. Even though the Commission should have regular consultations with the political parties and other stakeholders, the Commission is mandated not to give in to any pressure. The Chairperson of the Commission is supposed to be firm in its decisions, and should not easily give up to the wishes of stake holders under pressure. The firm decisions made by Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, the chairman of the Commission from 1993-2015, and Mrs Charlotte Osei, the chairwoman from June 2015 June 2018, have given great reputation and trust to the Commission over these years. In the run up to 2012 elections, some skeptics challenged the ECG on its creation of 45 additional constituencies. The matter went to the Supreme Court and the ECG won, under the interpretation of the Act 451 which set it up and Acts 47 and 51 of the 1992 Constitution. After the December 2012 elections, there was the historic election petition process at the nation's Supreme Court that challenged the declaration of the winner as the duly elected presidential candidate. Even though the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the declared winner, it made several recommendations that paved the way for numerous interventions aimed at putting together proposals for electoral reform to fine-tune Ghana's electoral processes. Several such reform proposals were submitted to the Electoral Commission by the end of 2013. Nevertheless, these were not implemented to guide the 2016 general elections. The successful conduct of the 2016 elections was therefore described as a miracle. Among other reforms ordered under the Supreme Court ruling by Justice William Atugubah (Justice Atuguba's judgement on the Election Petition, 4 September 2013) were the streamlining of the Biometric Device System to avoid breakdowns and stress on the electorate involved in an adjournment of the poll; and invalidating wholesale votes for insignificant excess numbers not the best application of the administrative principle of the proportionality test. The only proposal that was rejected by the Electoral Commission was the no verification, no vote principle (EC 2015). In the opinion of the EC, it would be unfair to turn back a voter if machines are unable to determine who is eligible to vote. The commission indeed recognised that the right of a citizen to vote is fundamental and guaranteed by the 1992 constitution. In its view, it has an inherent mandate to ensure that every eligible voter gets the opportunity to vote. The commission argued that in the absence of the biometric verification device, or when it malfunctions, there should be other physical or manual means of verifying voters in order not to disenfranchise Ghanaians. However, there were several issues that created doubts in the minds of many Ghanaians regarding the commission's preparedness for the task ahead. For instance, in the wake of several calls for electoral reform, the commission was caught in a quagmire of justifying the need to design a new logo. There were unresolved issues with the voters register that led to the fear that many people who used the national health insurance identity card to register were not given ample time to re-register in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling. Again, there was no clarity regarding how the register was going to be pruned to rid it of the names that were not supposed to be on it. Furthermore, there was a new commission chairperson, who was perceived as inexperienced. Also, the application of the electoral rules by the commission was perceived to have favoured the ruling party. Even though the main opposition party was cleared to contest the election, there were perceptions of executive and partisan manipulation on the part of the commission. Instead of focusing on the implementation of the proposals to clean the voter register, improve the biometric verification devices for voter registration and exhibition, extend the period of notice for voter registration, reduce the number of voters per polling station and the concentrate on the upcoming elections in 2016, the commission launched a broader Strategic Plan (20162020) to become the benchmark in Africa for conducting independent, trusted, world-class democratic elections for citizens and candidates alike. A Commission that sought to become a benchmark in Africa for conducting independent, trusted, world-class democratic elections for citizens and candidates alike, but had no credible voter registry and credible means of registering voters. The ECG did not consider its pressing homework, but engaged and spent huge sums of its funds on proposals that were less necessary. One of the key proposals under the plan was to strengthen the EC's relations with key stakeholders and improve the flow of communications between them. In this regard, the EC was able to bring together several players and actors with differing interests and perspectives (EC; IPAC; candidates; media; voters; judiciary; security agencies; security task forces at the national, regional, and district levels; election observers; civil society organisations; development partners) to discuss issues relating to elections in Ghana and the role of the stakeholders. However, the launch of the plan was a waste of time as it dealt with overarching issues rather than focusing on the pressing demand for vigorous electoral reform and the implementation of the specific proposals from the Electoral Reform Committee. The state of electoral reform in Ghana appeared to be in limbo, as the key officials of the commission battled serious diversionary issues with respect to their integrity and continued stay in office as election management officials. Indeed, following the 2016 elections, there were petitions and counter-petitions to remove all three executive officers of the commission from office over allegations of corruption, malfeasance, in-fighting among the key officials, and abuse of office. In an article published in December 2017 by Ransford Edward Van Gyampo, a member of the Electoral Reform Committee from the civil society groups that submitted proposals for electoral reform to the Electoral Commission, the Commission invited proposals for electoral reforms from 38 key stakeholders including political parties, faith-based organisations, professional bodies, and civil society organisations. The IEA, for example, under the aegis of the GPPP, held a series of workshops to review the electoral processes. This culminated in the submission of 25 proposals for electoral reform to the EC on 20 November 2013.5 Subsequently, in January 2015, the EC inaugurated the 10-member Electoral Reforms Committee (ERC) to examine the proposals for electoral reform and advise the commission on the implementation of the proposals. The committee which comprised representatives of political parties, of the EC, and of civil society organisations submitted its report containing 41 proposals for electoral reform to the commission in April 2015 Moves towards electoral reform hit a snag in view of challenges within the EC itself at the time. The proposals that were submitted by the ERC could not be implemented, the changes in administrative practices and concrete actions that were discussed among the directors were pushed aside during the struggles among the commissioners and were not implemented. The success of electoral reform, even though it must be a shared responsibility, must be the concern of the commission more than any other stakeholder. In this regard, the EC May work with the other institutions, but to ensure that all proposals are implemented lies solely on the commission. The roles played by Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Ghana Political Parties Program (GPPP) and other stakeholders are very important, but their decisions are not mandatory to the work of the EC. In the run up to the 2016 elections, a handful of political parties sued the ECG for disqualifying their would-be candidates from running for the presidency on December 7 elections. The Commission made the decision after it detected errors in the nomination forms handed in by the candidates. This legal action raised fears that the elections might have to be postponed. The ECG filed a petition to the Supreme Court to challenge a ruling faulting it for not giving aggrieved candidates enough time to correct the alleged errors on their application forms. Many feared that the sum of legal battles would disrupt the 2016 election calendar. Ghanaian voters were doubtful that there could be a peaceful,elections in the year. "Looking at the rate at which the cases are coming, I am beginning to worry about the process that the Electoral Commission has to put together before the elections," an Accra resident told DW. Another resident also said, It won't surprise me if the court decides to postpone the elections to allow it to address all the cases against the Electoral Commission." Some political analysts suggested to the commission to try to reach an out-of-court settlement with the concerned candidates: "Assuming that we are not able to hold elections on December 7 because of the court cases, what happens?" Kwesi Jonah, a political analyst asked. Jonah would like Ghana to maintain its reputation as a peaceful country with a tradition of free, fair and transparent elections. The concerns of Ghanaians were that the December 7 2016 elections would be marred with the court case and ensuing disappointments of many voters. The ECs disqualifications left voters with only four presidential candidates to choose from. There were two favorites: the then President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress, who was running for a second and final term, and his main rival, the opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party. Their contest was expected to be very tight at the time. The EC did not expect the court's actions to disrupt the polls. Chairperson Charlotte Osei announced that almost 90 percent of preparations for the elections had been completed. "You cannot only look at the case from the perspective of those whose nominations were not accepted. You also have to look at the rights of those who met the requirements within the nomination period. So we have to be very balanced and we have to follow the law," Osei said. The E Commission in 2016 admitted that the voter register was blotted, there were people who used national health insurance cards to register, which is not a proper proof of a Ghanaian, because foreigners can also join the national health insurance. The Supreme Court of Ghana, in a ruling in 2016 ordered that those who used the national insurance cards as identity should be removed from the register. The Commissioner, Ms. Charlotte Osei promised to audit the register and remove the names of those who used national health insurance cards according to the Supreme Court ruling. In July 2017, during the trial of Ms Osei, the former EC chairman by a committee set up by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo to investigate complaints and corruption allegations levelled against her, in which she accused of breaching procurement laws in awarding several contracts, prior to 2016 Ghana elections, she alleged that one of her deputies, the Deputy Chair of Operations, Amadu Sulley, has persistently effected illegal vote transfers from his office on the Voter management system. Charlotte Osei, who believes this was in clear breach of the law and operational policies of the Commission insisted such actions had major implications for the integrity of the work of the Commission and constitutes abuse of office. Mrs. Osei made this revelation in her response to the petition filed by the employees of EC that was calling for her removal at the time. Her response which was filed by her Lawyer, Thadeaus Sory also made other damning allegations against Mr. Sulley including a claim that the latter illegally bagged 6 million from political parties. The Deputy Chair Operations collected funds of six million Ghana cedis in cash from political parties for the organization of party primaries without recourse to the structures of the Commission, without the involvement of the finance department of the Commission. She alleged. Political party primaries were treated as a private commercial project by the Deputy Chair Operation with funds paid directly into the personal accounts of key staff for functions to be performed for party primaries She vowed to order a full scale investigation into the conduct of Mr. Sulley and other Commissioners believed to be flouting rules governing the Commission. This, according to the EC Chairperson was illegal, criminal and a breach of the policies of the Commission and the laws of Ghana. The Deputy Chair Operations also persistently effected illegal vote transfers from his office on the Voter management System in clear breach of the law and operational policies of the Commission. Such actions had major implications for the integrity of the work of the Commission and constitute abuse of office. These allegations undermine and cast dark shadows on the voter register system we have in Ghana now. One worrying complain concerning the old voter system is ECGs claim that it does not have the password of the old register system. The password is still under the control of the foreign company who were contracted by the government to set up the system. The company is not willing to train EC staffs to operate and control the system by itself. That means, they can easily manipulate the system to the advantage of any party at any time. During the time of the correlation of the 2016 election at the election control center, the ex-chair Charlotte Osei complained of tampering. A BBC News headline on December 8, 2016 read, Ghana election commission website hit by cyber attack. The news claimed that hackers had targeted the website of Ghana's electoral commission as votes were counted after tightly contested elections. The commission said later that the website was up again, and that an attempt to put up "fake results" failed. In a tweet, it urged people to ignore the "fake results" circulating on social media. We deplore the attempt to hack the EC's website. Please respect the integrity and independence of the EC," it said in a tweet. The website was offline for about four hours, but the commission had not put up results overnight so there was no chance of any tampering, a spokesman told the BBC. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) raised arguments against the credibility of the voter register following the Supreme Court ruling in 2012 after rejection of the election results and suing the ECG. The NPP challenged the results of Ghanas 2012 presidential ballot in court, saying Mahama had benefited from illegitimate ballots. The court upheld Mahamas win after eight months of legal wrangling. However, the Supremacy Court punched various holes in the voter register and ordered the ECG to correct them. But the ECG failed to make the corrections. In August 2015, the NPP raised accusation against the ECGs disobedience to the Supreme Court ruling, claiming that the voters register was incurably flawed and could not be relied on for the 2016 elections. The NPP vice presidential candidate Mahamudu Bawumia said in a news conference, This morning we presented our arguments and evidence on this matter to the electoral commission. The evidence is damning and shows that Ghanas voters register has been compromised, he said. The new register was expected to be created by June 2016 and be independently audited by an internationally reputable firm ahead of December 7 election, Bawumia added. But a five-member committee set up by the ECG to look into the calls for a new voters register rejected the evidence provided by the NPP citing it as unconvincing. Ms. Charlotte Osei was of the view that the NPPs method for compiling a new voters register would require that Ghanaians show proof of citizenship using either a passport, a drivers license or a National ID card. How many Ghanaians do you think have these? five million, six million?...I doubt if you can get even 10million Charlotte argued. for those who do not have a passport, drivers license or a National ID card how are they going to be identified as a Ghanaian? she wondered. Old voter ID cards would be unacceptable and the Supreme Court had already barred the use of them and National Health Insurance cards as proof of Ghanaian citizenship. But Charlotte Osei explained that the commission could also not use the accepted practice of two Ghanaians testifying to the citizenship of a person who did not have any of the three IDs. This is because the citizenship of the two can also not be proven with their old voter ID cards, Charlotte Osei said, explaining the limitations imposed by the NPP method. We are going to end up with a register that is very elitist and excludes the large majority of citizens. That is not our idea of inclusive democracy and that is not where we think we should be going, she insisted. But Ms Charlotte Osei could not solve the issue of blotting voter register. The problem of flaws remained with the all important component of Ghanas democratic process; credible voter register. The Electoral Commission maintained that the absence of a National Identification System was forcing Ghanaians to get a credible voters ID card. The old voter ID card therefore remained the only means and easiest method of voter identification despite the Supreme Court ruling of its flaws and clear evidence of its ineligibility. In 2015, the EC gave an intangible excuse that a new voters ID will worsen fears expressed by political parties that there are minors and foreigners on the electoral roll because everybody will rush to obtain one even if they are not eligible to vote. The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Mrs. Charlotte Osei said that Ghana would end up with a very elitist voters register if the Commission gave in to the methods suggested by the opposition New Patriotic Party. She explained that the commission had resolved to audit the voters' register instead of giving in to the demand by the NPP for a new register. The audit included excluding all people who registered using natural insurance cards as identification and other measures ordered by the Supreme Court in 2012. However, the EC failed to do the auditing. The issue of Ghanaian identity has been a headache since independence. No go enemies had taken the matter as a national priority from the era of the first president until recently. In countries such as Togo, Kenya and South Africa, citizens have a National ID and therefore do not need a voter ID card to determine citizenship. This was not the case in Ghana. The NPP governments prior agendum, in its first term in office in 2017 was to implement the Ghana National Identification. As at June 2020, the National Identification Authority (NIA) has registered and issued National ID cards to a total of eleven million Ghanaians, who are also eligible voters. This has eased the identification qualification of Ghanaians. With the addition of those who have Ghanaian passports, the number of voters who would need identification by the testimony of two Ghanaians to citizenry without national card and passport would be very little. Expected eligible voters for 2020: elections are around 17 million. The number of eligible voters had increased steadily. In 2000, the number were 10,698,652), 2004 (10,354,970), 2008 (12,472,758), 2012 (14,158,890) and 2016 (15,712,499). 2020 is expected to see an increase of nearly 2 million eligible voters, bringing the total eligible voters for 2020 elections to 17 million. With eleven million of them now having Ghana national ID, and with those who have no national ID yet, but Ghana passport, those to be identified by two Ghanaians would not be expected to be in a range of less than 3 million. This would aid ECs compilation of credible voter registration and ease the identification headache of many Ghanaians. The EC has a more credible way to identify and register eligible voters than ever before in the history of the electoral registration exercise. From 1993 till today, the three IDs used to register voters had been a passport, a drivers license, national health Insurance card, which was described as a National ID card. Apart from the passport, which provides a certain level of Ghanaian identity security, but not hundred percent since there were allegations that some foreigners in the country paid monies to acquire them, none of the identification materials were genuine proofs of Ghanaian identity. Drivers license can be acquired by any foreigner residing in Ghana. No Ghanaian was issued a credible National Identification card until recently. So the old voter registration is not a credible system to determine fair and flawless elections in Ghana. It cannot be acceptable as a credible voter register. The main identification materials, which were Ghana passport, a drivers license and a national health insurance card, were not sure materials to identify a Ghanaian. Based on these arguments, the only way to have a credible voter register in the country to ensure fair and flawless elections is a new voter register. The new voter register this round would be the most credible and reliable one than all the registers since 1993. The use of the old voter cards as identity for the registration of a new voter card would mean bringing in the flaws of the old system ams should not be allowed. If the old registration cards are allowed, how then would the EC ensure the exclusion of those who used the national health insurance cards and those who were registered by the EC director illegally as Ms Osei claimed? In 2012, the EC established a biometric system of registration for the electoral register prior to the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections to prevent double registration and to eliminate ghost names in the old register. In preparation towards the 2020 elections, 257 of the 260 offices all over the country were linked on the internet. MTN won the bid to provide the internet network and Persol Systems, the bid to build the Data Center. The function of the EC are laid out in Article 45 of the 1992 Constitution, namely: to compile the register of voters and revise it as such periods as may be determined by law; to undertake the delimitation of constituencies for both national and local government elections; to conduct and supervise all public elections and referenda; to educate the people on the electoral process and its purpose; to undertake programmes for the expansion of the registration of voters (see Voter registration and voters' rolls); and to perform such other functions as may be prescribed by law, such as election period and dates, overseeing candidates nominations and accrediting and election observation missions. The Electoral Commission Act of 1993, added the following functions: to undertake the preparation of voter identity cards; and to store properly election material. REGULATIONS The EC has the power to make regulations for the effective performance of its functions by the issue of constitutional instruments (C.Is), especially for the execution of the functions described in 1992 Constitution, Article 55). The constitution allows the EC to issue C.Is as it deemed. The EC is further empowered y the CIs to implement any reform that it sees necessary for the credibility and advancement of electoral process in Ghana. (Second from left) Chris Johns, Andrea Tyrrell and Sarah Horsman of the Asgard Nursing Home in the new scrubs presented by (far left) Eithne Lee, Inch ICA secretary and (right) Mary DArcy, Wexford ICA Custom-made scrubs were presented to staff at the Asgard Nursing Home in Arklow by members of the Wexford ICA Guild on Thursday (4th). The 'Sew Scrubs for Ireland' initiative has been picked up enthusiastically by members of the Wexford Federation as its charity for 2020. There are 14 Wexford guilds involved in the initiative at present, namely Bree, Ballyfad, Boolavogue, Ballyanne, Ballyoughter, Castlebridge, Camross, Duncannon, Horeswood, Inch, Kilrane/Rosslare Harbour, Monaseed, Oylegate and Wexford Town. As some members of the Inch guild are based in Arklow, scrubs have been donated to the Arklow-based nursing home. The Wexford Federation continues to make scrubs for nursing homes in Co Wexford and their sewing machines are now working at high speed. Rolls of fabric suitable to be washed at 60 degrees in a variety of colours were bought online from Ann's Haberdashery. Patterns were cut voluntarily by Jim Wallace of Acorn Fashions with the help of his staff. The Wexford Federation will give a donation to The Hope Centre in Enniscorthy on Jim's behalf, as their second charity for 2020. A presentation has also been made to the Lawson House and Cherry Grove Nursing Homes in Co Wexford and requests have been received from other nursing homes in the county. Wexford woman and costume designer Sinead Murray had the idea for 'Sew Scrubs for Ireland', She turned to her colleagues in theatre and film for support and Ireland's crafters, including members of the ICA. Mary D'Arcy, Wexford Federation President is coordinating the project in Co Wexford. Anyone interested in getting involved can call Mary on 087 4183180. 13 Shares Share COVID-19 has made the inadequacy of our public health and hospital-based health care system to identify, mitigate, and resolve pandemic disaster self-evident. Gaps in hospital-based preparedness capacity are abundant, including the inadequacy of stockpiles for personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, medications, lack of surge inpatient and ICU capacity, and an inability to rapidly scale testing or interventions to meet pandemic demands. The initial outcry placed blame on Federal and State governments, rightly focusing on the failure of our political institutions to empower or resource the public health and hospital community to address the crisis. Aside from these shortcomings, hospital-based preparedness failures are likely the result of a series of implicit and explicit health system changes over the past decade aimed at improving efficiency and reducing cost. While a reflexive policy response to the crisis may seek to reverse these trends to prepare for the next pandemic, this would be disadvantageous as the dual goals of public health preparedness and slowing health care cost growth are not at odds. A restructuring of the U.S. acute and hospital-based care has been underway for decades. The health system has evolved to mitigate cost growth for increasingly complex patient populations. Across the U.S., non-hospital settings of care have expanded this includes skilled nursing facilities, short-term rehabilitation, and growing outpatient management of disease processes, like heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Hospital leaders have embraced LEAN health care, the principle of eliminating waste in every process and procedure. The vestiges of fee-for-service (FFS) make hospitals reliant on elective surgical procedures over medical admissions for revenue, while ongoing payment reforms target reducing admissions for medically complex patients. Spurred by market forces and Federal efforts, the number of inpatient stays has declined in recent years. This occurred despite the fact that emergency department patients, presenting in ever-increasing numbers, are older and with more comorbidities than ever. The net effect has been to shift complex patient populations away from acute care hospitals to ambulatory settings, so that costly hospital capacity, in the form of general medical and surgical beds and staff, is more limited. Declining inpatient stays may be a success story to slow health care cost growth, but this trend has also eroded marginal capacity within hospitals. Recognizing the need for flexible resources to meet unexpected demand, and balancing the importance of containing future health care cost growth, is essential in building our preparedness for the next global biological challenge. Our already-evolving delivery models changed rapidly with COVID-19. Regulatory burdens to telemedicine melted away, and clinics all over the nation began evaluating patients remotely. Still, the quick timeframe for COVID-19 case escalation left little time for efficient models of care to evolve. For example, the benefits of electronic health record interoperability are more acutely felt and missed where systems rely on antiquated technology or political barriers to information exchange, in the era of a global pandemic. Below we present an outline for hospital-based preparedness that simultaneously meets the demands of pandemic response while maintaining progress in the cost-effectiveness of routine health care. Restructure our payment models to be robust to pandemics. Interestingly, recent efforts to transition hospital-based payments towards population-based payments or capitated payments better position hospitals for the financial risks of pandemics. In fact, Maryland hospitals functioning under the global budgets, population-level payment for hospital services, may face the least financial risk of COVID-19. Hospitals with substantial population-based payment can more nimbly shift variable costs from canceled surgeries to new pandemic-related expenses such as PPE. Hospitals in FFS face bankruptcy risk because their revenue model relies on steady or rising demand and productivity improvement in elective services. Flexibility of care delivery requires flexibility of the payment model. The health care system should not require an act of Congress to avoid mass hospital closures with each ebb and flow of the pandemic. Build an infrastructure to apply equipment, medications, and human resources where they are needed. The marginal cost of maintaining a central, rapidly deployable stockpile of newer low-cost innovations such as limited-use ventilators will reduce inventory risk to hospitals. Preparedness can be as simple as an inventory of equipment and a voluntary registry of human resources, including physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists. Allowing health care workers movement across health systems and state lines, especially on a voluntary basis, would provide a just mechanism to distribute expertise to relieve overwhelmed systems. Existing platforms, like TaskRabbit, demonstrate how an appropriately designed platform can quickly distribute specialized human resources. Just as regulatory barriers to telemedicine can respond to a crisis, so too can regulatory barriers to human resources crossing state lines or traditional scopes of practice. Leverage flexible payment models and available resources to innovate care delivery and mitigate the impact on the quality of routine patient care. Novel access to hospital care capacity has emerged since COVID-19. First, the piecemeal transition towards telemedicine has lurched forward with many platforms providing virtual access to hospital-based providers at home or skilled nursing settings. Second, other countries have found innovative ways to manage a shortage of beds. China built hospitals in days. Germany is sending medical teams to patients homes to monitor their status and likelihood of decline. We can employ similar flexibility to provide high-quality care. The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response within the Department of Health and Human Services, in concert with other Federal agencies, including the CDC, is tasked with protecting Americans from 21st-century health threats. Americas most essential, but arguably least flexible and often costliest resource is our hospitals COVID-19 demonstrates the need for a forward-looking approach that leverages recent gains in efficiency. A national inventory and exchange for human resources, hospital supplies including PPE, ventilators, and other equipment could provide the daily insights we need to rationalize the distribution of limited resources. Innovative delivery and payment models would allow hospitals flexibility without dramatically interrupting their pre-pandemic operations. With appropriate leadership and attention to the right avenues of health care innovation, our future preparedness need not erode hard-earned gains in health care value. Alexander T. Janke is an emergency medicine resident. Arjun K. Venkatesh is an emergency medicine physician. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 19:51:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Palestinians have expressed appreciations to a visiting Chinese medical expert team tasked with helping Palestine fight against COVID-19. The team is composed of experts from various fields, including respiratory and infectious diseases, traditional Chinese medicine, epidemiology and nursing. Priyanka Chopra- Nick Jonas welcome their first child through surrogacy, fans feel she'd already dropped hints Brittany Casciotti could really use the $17,147.94 that belongs to her, but she cant touch it. Thats the amount employers have contributed on her behalf to two medical reimbursement accounts maintained by the city of San Francisco. Casciotti was laid off as a producer for Viacom CBS two weeks ago. Now, shes among the 1 in 7 San Francisco workers whos unemployed. She figured the big chunk of money would be arriving any day considering Mayor London Breed announced six weeks ago the city would be returning $138 million held in these accounts to workers so they could use the funds on rent, groceries and other necessities. We know that having access to food and housing is a basic need, and by giving people access to the funding in these accounts, we are helping keep people healthy and safe during this challenging time, Breed said in an April 28 news release. But Breeds plan wasnt fully hatched. It turns out Casciotti and the other account holders wont be getting their money back. Instead, theyll be given one-time cash grants of $500 apiece, and their money will continue to be available only if they submit receipts for co-pays, prescription drugs and other strictly medical costs. Even though its their money. And even though the whole world is weathering a health crisis. Thats it? Casciotti asked when told shed be given $500 and not the $17,147.94 she expected. Nick Otto / Special to The Chronicle Yes, thats it. Casciotti said that if shed received all of her money back, she could have stuck it out in San Francisco for another six months and hunted for a new job. But instead, shes moving to Thousand Oaks (Ventura County) to rent a room from a friend and figure out next steps. Shes been paying $1,800 a month to rent a tiny studio in the ever-worsening Tenderloin with just a fridge and microwave as its so-called kitchen. It just isnt worth it anymore not when the dream of San Francisco no longer matches the reality. I would have liked to have tried to make it work here, Casciotti said. But Im over it. Its too expensive to live here, and that money really could have helped me. That was the whole point of the mayors original plan to return the $138 million to help San Franciscans suddenly out of a job make ends meet. But its fallen apart for vague reasons that nobody at City Hall will fully explain. Its legal constraints that are preventing us from doing what we intended to do, said Jeff Cretan, spokesman for Breed, calling the $500 grants the best way we can provide support at this time. Were frustrated we cant do more, but this will make a difference for some people, he said. At issue is $138 million sitting in tens of thousands of individual medical reimbursement accounts funded by employer contributions required by a 2006 city law intended to ensure all San Franciscans have access to health care. In late April, Breeds office said the city would be contacting all account holders to give them the option of requesting that the money in their accounts be released to them. But the account holders were never contacted. No letter, no email, no call, no nothing, said Joseph Kim, 35, who has roughly $6,000 tied up in his account. Hes still working as a technical analyst for Disney but is suddenly paying an unwieldy $2,800 in rent for his Japantown apartment because his roommate got laid off and left town. Kim wants his money back so he can pay the bills while he searches for a roommate in an increasingly sparse pool of people looking for housing in San Francisco. Otherwise, hell probably leave the city, too. Kim and other account holders kept checking the web page for SF City Option, which maintains the accounts. And that website for weeks kept saying to check back. People called and emailed and couldnt get straight answers. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Finally on Thursday, the web page was updated to say those with at least $100 in their accounts would be eligible for a one-time $500 grant to be used for personal, family and living expenses incurred by you or your family as a result of COVID-19. Theres no explanation for why theyve heard nothing since April and why the mayors promise was broken. The $500 grants wont come out of their account balances, and instead is coming out of a separate pot of money worth $65 million. That comes from accounts that havent been touched in 24 months and are considered deactivated, though the city must pay employees back if they ever come asking for their funds. Rodney Fong, president of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, was part of the original negotiations to release the money and hadnt been told the plan was off the table. Were frustrated and disappointed, but perhaps not surprised, to learn that the city is not able to release funds to working families, he said, adding the structure of the accounts has always been overly complicated. Count Joe Steinocher, 31, as frustrated and disappointed, too. He was laid off from his job as a restaurant cook and hoped to get his more than $1,000 back. Hes been emailing SF City Plan workers regularly and getting no good answers. For me, its more just the principle of the thing, he said. They made it seem like it was going to happen, and now theyre backpedaling on their words. He pays $800 a month for a room in the Portola district and pointed out that people who are unemployed in San Francisco have had to pay monthly rent twice though the city is banning evictions during the pandemic and made several trips to the grocery store since the mayor announced her plan in April which made it seem like the money would be returned quickly. He said the $500 grant is better than nothing, but that the whole thing was mishandled. As for Kim, whos shouldering his $2,800 rent alone, hes furious. He said he can afford the full rent for only two months, maybe three at the most and then will have to move. In the meantime, hes concocting a plan to purchase health-related items for which hes allowed to get reimbursed including pricey air filters and activity trackers and then sell them for cash. Its frustrating they took six or seven weeks to come to this conclusion, he said. Five hundred dollars is not going to do jack in this city. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Tuesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf The rapidly unfolding movement to pull down Confederate monuments around the US in the wake of George Floyds death at the hands of police has extended to statues of slave traders, imperialists, conquerors and explorers around the world, including Christopher Columbus, Cecil Rhodes and Belgiums King Leopold II. Protests and, in some cases, acts of vandalism have taken place in such cities as Boston; New York; Paris; Brussels; and Oxford, England, in an intense re-examination of racial injustices over the centuries. Scholars are divided over whether the campaign amounts to erasing history or updating it. New Zealands fourth-largest city removed a bronze statue of the British naval officer Capt. John Hamilton, the citys namesake, on Friday, a day after a Maori tribe asked for the statue be taken down and one Maori elder threatened to tear it down himself. The city of Hamilton said it was clear the statue of the man accused of killing indigenous Maori people in the 1860s would be vandalized. The city has no plans to change its name. At the University of Oxford, protesters have stepped up their longtime push to remove a statue of Rhodes, the Victorian imperialist who served as prime minister of the Cape Colony in southern Africa. He made a fortune from gold and diamonds on the backs of miners who labored in brutal conditions. Oxfords vice chancellor Louise Richardson, in an interview with the BBC, balked at the idea. We need to confront our past, she said. My own view on this is that hiding our history is not the route to enlightenment. Near Santa Fe, New Mexico, activists are calling for the removal of a statue of Don Juan de Onate, a 16th-century Spanish conquistador revered as a Hispanic founding father and reviled for brutality against Native Americans, including an order to cut off the feet of two dozen people. Vandals sawed off the statues right foot in the 1990s. In Bristol, England, demonstrators over the weekend toppled a statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston and threw it in the harbor. City authorities said it will be put in a museum. Across Belgium, statues of Leopold II have been defaced in half a dozen cities because of the kings brutal rule over the Congo, where more than a century ago he forced multitudes into slavery to extract rubber, ivory and other resources for his own profit. Experts say he left as many as 10 million dead. The Germans would not get it into their head to erect statues of Hitler and cheer them, said Mireille-Tsheusi Robert, an activist in Congo who wants Leopold statues removed from Belgian cities. For us, Leopold has committed a genocide. In the US, the May 25 death of Floyd, a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee to his neck, has led to an all-out effort to remove symbols of the Confederacy and slavery. The Navy, the Marines and NASCAR have embraced bans on the display of the Confederate flag, and statues of rebel heroes across the South have been vandalized or taken down, either by protesters or local authorities. On Wednesday night, protesters pulled down a century-old statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Richmond, Virginia, the former capital of the Confederacy. The 8-foot (2.4-meter) bronze figure had already been targeted for removal by city leaders, but the crowd took matters into its own hands. No immediate arrests were made. It stood a few blocks away from a towering, 61-foot-high (18.5-meter-high) equestrian statue of General Robert E. Lee, the most revered of all Confederate leaders. Democratic Governor Ralph Northam last week ordered its removal, but a judge blocked such action for now. The spokesman for the Virginia division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, B. Frank Earnest, condemned the toppling of public works of art and likened losing the Confederate statues to losing a family member. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, who has proposed dismantling all Confederate statues in the city, asked protesters not to take matters into their own hands for their own safety. But he indicated the Davis statue is gone for good. He never deserved to be up on that pedestal, Stoney said, calling Davis a racist & traitor. Elsewhere around the South, authorities in Alabama got rid of a massive obelisk in Birmingham and a bronze likeness of a Confederate naval officer in Mobile. In Virginia, a slave auction block was removed in Fredericksburg, and protesters in Portsmouth knocked the heads off the statues of four Confederates. The monument is believed to be located where a slave whipping post once stood, and removing it is a small step in the right direction, Portsmouth activist and organizer Rocky Hines said. Its not a history that we as a nation should necessarily be proud of. For us, the history is a lot of history of slavery and hatred, he said. Its bothered people for a long time. In Washington, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it is time to remove statues of Confederate figures from the US Capitol and take their names off military bases such as Fort Bragg, Fort Benning and Fort Hood. President Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected the idea of renaming bases. But Republicans in the Senate, at risk of losing their majority in the November elections, arent with Trump on this. A GOP-led Senate panel on Thursday approved a plan to take Confederate names off military installations. Supporters of Confederate monuments have argued that they are important reminders of history; opponents contend they glorify those who went to war against the US to preserve slavery. The Davis monument and many others across the South were erected decades after the Civil War during the Jim Crow era, when states imposed tough new segregation laws, and during the Lost Cause movement, in which historians and others sought to recast the Souths rebellion as a noble undertaking, fought to defend not slavery but states rights. For protesters mobilized by Floyds death, the targets have ranged far beyond the Confederacy. Statues of Columbus have been toppled or vandalized in cities such as Miami; Richmond; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Boston, where one was decapitated. The city of Camden, New Jersey, removed a statue of Columbus. Protesters have accused the Italian explorer of genocide and exploitation of native peoples. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is Italian American, said he opposes removal of a statue of Columbus in Manhattans Columbus Circle. I understand the feelings about Christopher Columbus and some of his acts, which nobody would support, he said. But the statue has come to represent and signify appreciation for the Italian American contribution to New York. So for that reason I support it. Historians have differing views of the campaigns. How far is too far, in scrubbing away a history so that we wont remember it wrong or, indeed, have occasion to remember it at all? asked Mark Summers, a University of Kentucky professor. Ive always felt that honor to the past shouldnt be done by having fewer monuments and memorials, but more. Scott Sandage, a historian at Carnegie Mellon University, noted that Americans have a long tradition of arguing over monuments and memorials. He recalled the bitter debate over the now-beloved Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington when the design was unveiled. Removing a memorial doesnt erase history. It makes new history, Sandage said. And thats always happening, no matter whether statues go up, come down, or not. Alpin, an independent consultancy firm based in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, has signed a MoU with British group Urban Change for co-operation in the establishment of a network of professionals committed to delivering a sustainable and resilient built environment. A leading provider of holistic service packages for the built environment, Alpin works across all scales (policy development, airports, rail, government facilities, data centers, and critical infrastructure) to develop strategies and solutions for real estate and built asset management at all stages of the built asset life cycle, including design, construction, and operation. A newly-created boutique consultancy, Urban Change Group is a specialist in security, fire and sustainability services. As people grow ever more aware of the importance of the built environment, experts are tasked with providing the ongoing innovative sustainable and green building solutions needed to promote improved healthier living, said the companies. As per the deal, the duo will be supporting governments, city planners, real estate developers and end-users across Europe and the Middle East to help develop strategy and implement interventions that deliver positive societal, environmental and economic impacts, it added. Urban Change's Director Susan Hopley-Jones said: "Together, our combined expertise that spans strategy, master planning, design, assurance and commissioning of buildings and infrastructure means that we can offer a unique specialist service to responsible clients." The collaboration will leverage each organisation's complementary strengths and international experience to bring an unrivalled capability in solving some of the most pressing challenges facing communities and the built environment today, she stated. "We are proud to consider ourselves some of the world's leading voices and forward thinkers on everything to do with sustainable development and building commissioning," remarked Jourdan Younis of Alpin. "This new partnership will serve to fortify our already large skillset and provide even more expert services in the built environment," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 05:03:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The total number of COVID-19 cases in Yemen's government-controlled provinces increased to 591 on Thursday, as 31 new cases were confirmed. The Yemeni Health Ministry said in a brief statement that during the past 24 hours, the number of recoveries in the government-controlled areas remained 23 since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus on April 10. Also, the government announced that the death toll from the deadly respiratory disease climbed to 136 in different areas under its control, including the southern port city of Aden. The Yemeni government has taken several measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, including imposing a partial overnight curfew in Aden and other major cities under its control. The government called on donors and relevant international humanitarian organizations to provide support to help contain the pandemic. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized control of much of the country's north and forced the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa. Enditem Barbecue Baptist Church serves Gospel with a side of ribs, chicken and pulled pork Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An outreach ministry of the First Baptist Church in Navasota, Texas, called the Barbecue Baptist Church, kicked off a weeklong, multi-city mission Thursday to bring the Gospel to first responders and medical professionals along with ample servings of free barbecue meals. "We have been through such an incredibly painful season as a country. First with the pandemic and now with this racial tension. So in a small way, we are going to do the best we can to encourage people and lift them up," Pastor Chad McMillan, who works with the ministry, told news station KBTX. From June 11-17, 23 barbecue enthusiasts from the ministry will make 17 stops in Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma where they will serve up "Bibles & brisket, prayer & pulled pork, redemption & ribs, church & chicken and salvation & sausage!," according to the ministry's Facebook page. "People are fearful. People have lost their jobs. People have lost loved ones or even lost their own lives because of the pandemic," McMillan explained to KBTX. "And then, with the incredible tension and anger and frustration out of the tragedy that happened in Minnesota, people are struggling, and we believe the Bible gives people hope through Jesus Christ." The ministry was birthed in the small town of just under 8,000 people in March when the coronavirus hit and toilet paper became scarce. A few members of the church's student ministry responded by outfitting a trailer with a sound system, an air compressor and two specially designed pneumatic guns to launch rolls of toilet paper wrapped in Scripture verses around the community for people in need. Once they added a catering trailer, however, the ministry evolved even further. "The ministry received a big vote of confidence when a member of the church gave use of his catering trailer complete with charcoal grill, deep fryers, and a barbecue smoker the dream of the Barbecue Baptist Church was coming to life!" the group said on Facebook. "We need to go out there and tell them, 'Hey, there is a light at the end of the tunnel,'" Hunter Haug, a member of the Barbecue Baptist Church told KBTX. According to the ministry, while the stops on their road trip will vary from the number of people served to the menu their mission will not. And thanks to the generosity of members of the Navasota community, they have been able to cover the expenses of the mission to serve the Gospel and barbecue on a trip of nearly 2,000 miles. "We are trying to share with people, God loves you, and we love you, and we came to tell you that and share the Word of God with you and some delicious food," McMillan said. The Christian Post reached out to the ministry on Thursday, but no one was immediately available. In the year 1999, published in the short story "Rainbow Mars" by the American Science-Fiction author Larry Niven can travel people far in the future through wormholes to the past. Real what is happening to them is not experience but only if you go further back than to the eighties of the 20th century. Century. Because as Kip Stephen Thorne was recognized by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), that you could actually travel back in time, through suitably prepared worm holes. Before traveling in the past had been nothing more than a fairy tale, which is why Nivens figures land further back leading Trips in any of these Fantasy worlds. Ulf von rauchhaupt Responsible for the Department of "science," the Frankfurt General Sunday newspaper. F. A. Z. Kip Thorne's Work on worm holes in honorigen physical journals published. Because such hypothetical anomalies in the space-time geometry, which allowed, in the case of your existing short paths between distant regions of the universe, not just the novels, the only Prop of the future, but also valid solutions of the Albert Einstein laid down by the force of gravity Thornes special field equations. Here is part of the Utah-born son of a chemist, and an economist for more than 50 years one of the leading researchers. Together with his doctor father, the famous John Archibald Wheeler, and another former doctoral students of Charles Misner, is the author of Kip Thorne in 1972, the most widely used and until today, perhaps the best Textbook on the modern theory of gravitation. At the time, he was already two years a Full Professor at Caltech, as the youngest in the a penchant for spectacular Hypothetical the history of this very prestigious education. In California, he has since remained, geographically and intellectually, including part-time jobs in Hollywood: In 2014, he consulted with Christopher Nolan for his movie "Interstellar", and calculated as the emerging Black hole "Gargantua" had to look. He was not only a very readable book ("The Science of Interstellar"), but also an academic publication. The affinity for the popular culture he shared with the British Stephen Hawking, the famous gravitational theorist of his time. Like this, he has appeared in the Sitcom "The Big Bang Theory", and of course the two of them have been completed once the public is a bet: It went on to question whether the astronomical x-ray source Cygnus X-1 is now a black hole to hide or not. Thorne won. His penchant for spectacular Hypothetical limited never on the worm holes. He thought also about the stars, could sit in the Interior of other stars, so-called Thorne-Zytkow objects. Updated Date: 12 June 2020, 08:23 C inemas are finally back in action from July 4, and that means we can look forward to some of the most highly-anticipated films of the year in movie theatres. There have been so many ways to discover films recently, with enough fantastic options on streaming services and interesting subscription sites to keep us all going during difficult times. But there's no substitute for the cinema. There have been countless movies postponed or delayed already, but there are plenty of high-profile films currently still expected to arrive in theatres before 2020 is out. These are the films that are currently still set to be released later this year. Tenet August 12 Christopher Nolans latest mind-bending blockbuster sees John David Washingtons special agent attempt to prevent a conflict "worse than World War III" through the manipulation of time. The film has been moved back for a second time, after originally being slater for mid-July. It's still expected to be the first big release UK film fans get to enjoy in reopened cinemas in America, that honour belongs to Selena Gomez vehicle The Broken Hearts Gallery. Bill and Ted Face the Music - August 21 Patti Perret/Most Excellent Productions, LLC Party on, dudes! Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter return to their classic roles for the first time in 29 years. The pair head off on another journey through time, searching for inspiration after being tasked with writing a song that will reunite the world and "save reality as we know it". The film will follow them as they attempt to steal the song from their future selves, encountering very different, muscle-bound versions of themselves in prison. Most excellent? We'll see. Mulan - August 21 Disney's much-anticipated live-action reboot has been delayed from mid-July until mid-August. The update on the 1998 animation stars the likes of Yifei Liu, Donnie Yen, Li Gong and Jet Li, with the official synopsis reading: "To save her ailing father from serving in the Imperial Army, a fearless young woman disguises herself as a man to battle northern invaders in China." A Quiet Place Part II - September 4 Make a sound and you die its the wonderfully simple premise that made the first film the horror hit of 2018, and now Emily Blunt is back for more. The John Krasinski-directed film picks up shortly after the events of the original, with Blunts matriarch leading her family in the wake of an alien apocalypse. Will we finally get some answers to the film's infamous plot holes? The Kings Man - September 18 New spy prequel The King's Man explores the origins of the espionage agency at the heart of the recent Kingsman films. The movie appears to be set around the outbreak of World War One and will feature some of the 20th centurys most notorious figures, including Rasputin and Kaiser Wilhelm II. Being a prequel, there's no sign of Colin Firth or Taron Egerton, but the cast still has its fair share of heavy hitters, with Charles Dance, Gemma Arterton and Ralph Fiennes all putting in a turn. Candyman - September 25 The excellent Jordan Peele produces this fresh take on the cult 1992 horror, which revisits the infamous urban legend that states that the demonic figure with a hook for a hand will appear in the mirror if you say his name five times. The first trailer is especially eerie, and offers a first listen for the the films soundtrack, which puts a dark twist on the Destinys Child song Say My Name not dissimilar to the way Peele twisted the Luniz track I Got 5 On It so effectively in previous film Us. The Many Saints of Newark September 25 Getty Images James Gandolfinis son Michael plays a young Tony Soprano in the upcoming Sopranos prequel, telling the story of the mob bosss rise to prominence in New Jerseys criminal underbelly. The film, which plays out against the backdrop of the Newark race riots of the Sixties, is helmed by Sopranos creator David Chase, which should be a relief to the show's legions of fans worried that its legacy will be tarnished. Wonder Woman 1984 - October 2 The film that put the DC universe back on track, Wonder Woman, is back for a sequel. Gal Gadot will step into the role once again, taking on archenemy Cheetah (Kristen Wiig) against the backdrop of the Cold War. The film has been moved back from August 14 to October 2, so fans will have to wait a little longer than expected. Good news for fans of Chris Pine, though; filmmakers have found a way to bring back Steve Trevor, despite his apparent death in the first film. Death on the Nile - October 9 Kenneth Branagh is donning his moustache and preposterous French accent for a second time, returning to the role of Agatha Christie's detective Poirot. The follow-up to 2017's middling Murder on the Orient Express is another classic Christie tale, with Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, Armie Hammer, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Russel Brand among the cast. The French Dispatch - October 16 Searchlight Pictures Wes Andersons love letter to journalism is one of the movies that would have been recognised at the postponed Cannes Film Festival, and it looks to be one of the most visually arresting Anderson features to date. Its possible the strongest cast the director has had to play with, too, with the likes of Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Lea Seydoux, Frances McDormand, Timothee Chalamet and Bill Murray playing the staff of a European publication. Black Widow - November 6 Marvel Scarlett Johansson has had to wait a little longer to star in her first standalone Marvel film, which takes place following the events of 2016 film Captain America: Civil War and sees her unite with her estranged superhero family and face a formidable villain in the seemingly unstoppable Taskmaster. Johansson stars alongside the likes of Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz and David Harbour. Godzilla v Kong - November 20 We cant be the only ones looking forward to seeing two 100-foot monsters knock 10 bells out of each other later this year. Sure, 2019s Godzilla: King of the Monsters was as silly as they come, but this follow-up is going to be bigger, badder and all the better for it. Soul - November 20 This inventive new Pixar animation film follows jaded teacher, musician and New Yorker Joe Gardner, who dreams of playing at the Blue Note jazz club. After falling down a manhole, he becomes a spirit and enters a surreal new world. There, he connects with another lost soul and reevaluates the things important to him in life. No Time To Die - November 25 One of the first movies to be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the 25th Bond movie is the end of an era. The movie, co-written by Fleabags Phoebe Waller-Bridge, marks Daniel Craigs final outing as James Bond after 14 years and five movies in the role. There are rumours that Bond has a daughter in this one, too, so we may well see a different side of the man. Dune - December 18 David Lynchs take on Frank Herberts epic sci-fi novel Dune proved a notorious mess in 1984, and now visionary filmmaker Denis Villeneuve is attempting to put the record straight. The Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 director will tell the story of a planet containing the most valuable material in the universe, called the spice, with performances from Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin and more. Coming 2 America - December 18 Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall and Wesley Snipes are all on board for this blockbuster comedy sequel. The original tells the story of Prince Akeem (Murphy), who arrives in New York from a fictional African nation in an effort to find a woman interested in more than his wealth and status. The follow-up picks up 30 years later, as Akeem hopes to reunite with his long-lost son. West Side Story - December 18 Master filmmaker Steven Spielberg is rebooting the classic musical, with Baby Drivers Ansel Elgort in the lead role. The remake of the classic tale, itself based on Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, tells the story of a couple from warring street gangs, with stunning music from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. Top Gun: Maverick - December 23 Tom Cruise is back in the pilots seat as the legendary Pete Maverick Mitchell, more than three decades after starring in the 1986 original. Fans can expect all the adrenalin and aerial acrobatics of the original, with Val Kilmer, Miles Teller, John Hamm, Glenn Powell, Jennifer Connelly and Jay Ellis all joining Cruise in the case. The first two trailers promise breathtaking aerial aerobatics. Padma Lakshmi has revealed she stayed in her home for days after writing an op-ed detailing how she was raped as a teen in response to the sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh. The 49-year-old Top Chef host, who covers the new issue of Artful Living, told the lifestyle magazine that 'at first, it was scary' to have people approach her about the article and share their own stories of sexual assault. 'I didnt go out for three days after I wrote the article,' she said. 'Kavanaughs hearings were really triggering, which is what made me write the piece in the first place. But when I did go out, I walked literally half a block to my gym and people were coming up to me, even coming into the gym.' Padma Lakshmi, 49, opened up about writing her New York Times op-ed about her sexual assault in September 2018 during an interview with Artful Living 'It was jarring, and I felt like crying because it made it real,' she explained. 'Up until then, I hadnt really left my home. I could look at it online, but I wasnt going online. It was very difficult emotionally.' In the op-ed published by the New York Times, Lakshmi revealed that she was a virgin when she was raped at the age of 16 by her boyfriend who was 23 years old at the time. She also shared that she was molested by her stepfather's relative when she was seven. 'When you rip off a 32-year-old Band-Aid, it is devastating,' she said of sharing her trauma with the world. 'Then after a while, it got easier and easier. I dont regret writing that piece. It was a very healing moment for me to be able to say out loud something that I had never even said to my own mother.' Lakshmi said she was inspired to share her story during Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court confirmation hearings in September 2018. She recalled how President Donald Trump questioned Dr. Christine Blasey Ford for not coming forward earlier after she accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault while they were both in high school in 1982. In his tweet, he claimed that if the attack on Dr. Ford 'was as bad as she says,' she would have filed charges 'immediately' after the alleged assault. Candid: The Top Chef host revealed in the piece that she was a virgin when she was raped at the age of 16 by her boyfriend who was 23 years old at the time Painful memories: Lakshmi, pictured with her mother as a child, also shared that she was molested by her stepfather's relative when she was seven Lakshmi, who never reported her own assault, pointed out that survivors who do speak out, especially about a powerful man, 'wind up being traumatized all over again.' 'So any smart woman would think really long and hard before opening her mouth. Sometimes your own survival mental, physical, economic propels you more than doing whats right,' she explained. 'It doesnt mean that what happened to you is any less devastating or traumatic or completely life-altering. 'I know for a fact that I would have been much less insecure, that I would have conducted my life in a different way had that not happened to me,' she added. 'I resented the president using the fact that she hadnt come out before as evidence that it wasnt actually true.' Lakshmi said only a few people in the world know whether Kavanaugh did what Dr. Ford said he did, but she believes it should be easier for women and men who have been sexually assaulted to come forward. When she wrote the op-ed, she felt she was in a more secure position than when she was 'that scared 16-year-old girl being raised by a single mom' because she had her own business and was making her own money. 'I was just tired of people telling women that their lives arent as important as mens lives. Because thats really what it is,' said Lakshmi, who has a 10-year-old daughter named Krishna. Looking back: The mom, pictured with her daughter, said she didn't leave her home for three days after the op-ed was published because 'it was scary' to have people approach her about it Right decision: 'I dont regret writing that piece,' she said. 'It was a very healing moment for me to be able to say out loud something that I had never even said to my own mother' 'At that time, people were saying horrible things like, "Youre going to ruin a mans life for something that happened when he was in high school?" But what about her life?' she asked. 'Theres not one day that you dont think about it. It never goes away. Its like an iron shackle on your soul. 'We treat rape like its not something serious, but it is the most serious of crimes. It is literally the murder of your innocence,' she stressed. 'Because once you are violated physically, you are never the same. You are never totally relaxed. You are never totally free in the way a person who hasnt had that happen to them is. 'Theres always this lingering fear in the back of your mind, even if its not conscious anymore, about every date you go on, about every person youre interested in, that affects the way you move through the world at night, that affects the way you talk to your child about sexuality.' Lakshmi, whose new series Taste the Nation premieres on Hulu this summer, also opened up about being vocal about the fight against racial injustice in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of a police officer. 'The best way to improve matters in your own actions is to first understand and accept the reasons for systemic prejudice and how that discrimination manifests in peoples lives over generations,' she advised. 'Then you have to accept the ways in which some groups perhaps your own have benefited from this societal favoritism. And then you have to open your mouth and be an active member of your community to vote out elected officials who are part of the problem.' Timothee Chalamet and Elle Fanning in A Rainy Day in New York Neurotic and privileged white people whine about their blessed and exceedingly fortunate lives as storm clouds decant over Manhattan in Woody Allen's latest valentine to his home city. Blessed with a starry cast led by the equally luminous Timothee Chalamet and Elle Fanning, A Rainy Day In New York has been gathering dust on a shelf for two years after the MeToo movement refocused attention on the writer-director's private life. Perhaps this beautifully photographed yet emotionally lightweight exercise in navel-gazing should have remained sight unseen because the script falls short of his best work from the past four decades. Allen sideswipes real life when his insecure hero, a directionless college student, rages internally about his girlfriend's fascination with a man old enough to be her father. 'What the hell is it about older guys that seems so appealing to women? Christ, all they are is decrepit. What's sexy about short-term memory loss?' There are moments when Allen reaffirms his mastery of the tart one-liner like when a mother and son verbally joust about the best word to describe a prostitute and the parent ultimately quips, 'Let's not split pubic hairs'. However, some of his dialogue has been polished till it sounds fake tumbling from the lips of dithering characters. Yardley College student Gatsby Welles (Chalamet) is untouched by the rough edges of real life thanks to the vast fortune of his New York parents (Cherry Jones, Jonathan Hogan). He fawns deliriously over girlfriend Ashleigh Enright (Fanning), a beauty queen from Tucson, who also harks from wealthy stock and intends to make her name as a journalist on the college newspaper. Ashleigh lands an interview with revered film director Roland Pollard (Liev Schreiber) in Manhattan and Gatsby uses his 20,000 US dollar winnings from a game of stud poker to fund a romantic weekend including a lavish hotel suite and dinner at a favourite restaurant. Those plans are derailed when Ashleigh stumbles upon a scoop. Pollard is deeply unhappy with his latest project. 'I'm thinking of quitting', he tells the wide-eyed cub reporter. Ashleigh becomes embroiled in the director's existential crisis, which ensnares charismatic actor Francisco Vega (Diego Luna) and screenwriter Ted Davidoff (Jude Law). Meanwhile, an increasingly frustrated Gatsby is left to his own devices and he seeks fleeting pleasure in the company of his brother Hunter (Will Rogers) and an ex-girlfriend's little sister (Selena Gomez). A Rainy Day In New York is a fleeting diversion, that will be forgotten as quickly as the various continuity errors that allow Chalamet's jacket to miraculously dry each time he steps out of a downpour. The lead duo are appealing and Gomez embodies a spunky rival for Gatsby's fickle affections. Although Allen's script is musty, Manhattan looks sparkling and fresh through the lens of Oscar-winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro. Dr. Louise Carol Serwaa Donkor, a New Patriotic Party parliamentary aspirant in Old Tafo, says her belief in equity and equality will ensure the fair distribution of the national resources in the constituency. According to the Ghana Institute of Journalism lecturer and presidential staffer, this will create a community which will be safe and conducive for human development. I want the world to be better for all minorities for all persons who are vulnerable. Not long ago in the US, you know the kind of racism that persisted. That is something Im interested in. How people who are of a certain race can also move up the ladder when it comes to economic opportunities or social opportunities and all of that. The former Old Tafo polling station youth organiser, in an interview on Point Blank on Citi FM, also denounced the misconceptions around the formation of the feminist group Pepper Dem Ministries (PDM). She reiterated its essence as being one of the Akan symbols is Mko [Pepper] and what that means is unequal resources. It acknowledges that we have fingers and they are all not equal. And so if you are in a better place, you have to help another person to be better. So thats sort of the ministry of PDM. The current Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, an NPP member, is stepping down and will not be contesting in the upcoming primaries scheduled for Saturday, 20th June 2020. citinewsroom Kabul, June 12 : Four people were killed and several others injured when a blast ripped through a mosque in Kabul, Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Tareq Arian said. The blast took place at the Sher Shah Suri Mosque in the capital city's Kart-e-Char area, reports TOLO News. Among the four killed was the imam of the mosque, Azizullah Mofleh, according to the Ministry. The explosives were placed inside the mosque, it added. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Friday's attack comes after an IED blast in Wazir Akbar Khan Mosque in downtown Kabul on June 2 in which the imam of the mosque, Mohammad Ayaz Niazi, was killed. The June 2 attack follows a bombing claimed by the Islamic State against a television station's minibus in central Kabul on May 30, killing a scribe and the driver. The sad and twisted tale that ended in the killing of a former state senator and businesswoman in northeastern Arkansas is about to become a little more clear. After a year of near-silence in the case of Linda Collins-Smith, prosecutors and investigators are about to start explaining their version of what happened without witnesses along a quiet road in a town called Pocahontas. "It's an interesting case, a complicated case, a difficult case," prosecutor Robert Dittrich told ABC News in a rare interview. "There are very few murders in my career that weren't sad. And usually, it's sad for both sides, both for the victim's family and the defendant's family." After delays caused by repeated changes in what judge would hear the case and who would be prosecuting it -- as well as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic -- pretrial hearings in the Collins-Smith killing are due to resume Friday morning. The trial is slated for October. "The investigation is largely concluded at this point," said Dittrich, who entered the case in December. The original prosecutor Henry Boyce withdrew because of controversy surrounding the unprecedented level of secrecy surrounding the investigation. "There were a few things I asked [investigators] to follow up on based on some new technological developments," Dittrich said. "But I would say the investigation is 95, 98, 99% complete." PHOTO: In this Jan. 28, 2015, file photo, Sen. Linda Collins-Smith speaks at the Arkansas state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark. (Danny Johnston/AP, FILE) MORE: Fiance of suspect in ex-state senator's murder speaks out On June 4, 2019, the body of Collins-Smith, 57, was found at her home after she had disappeared in late May. Within days, authorities arrested Rebecca O'Donnell, 49, a longtime employee and friend of Collins-Smith, and charged her with murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against O'Donnell, who helped manage Collins-Smith's personal finances and motel business. Even as officials insisted they had a "mountain of evidence" against O'Donnell, they repeatedly refused to elaborate. A sweeping gag order was slapped on the case, and even scheduling information at the court was shrouded in secrecy. All the while, O'Donnell and her allies maintained the woman was innocent. O'Donnell continues to be held at the Randolph County Jail, awaiting her trial. Story continues "Becky's not capable of this. ... There's not a chance she did this," her fiance, Tim Loggains, told "Good Morning America" last year. As if the case were not bizarre enough, prosecutors in January charged O'Donnell with trying to hire people to kill Collins-Smith's ex-husband and the former judge and prosecutor on the murder case. Those allegations were based on information from jailhouse informants and she has pleaded not guilty to those counts. MORE: Suspect in killing of former Arkansas state senator now accused in murder-for-hire plot Her lawyers scoffed at the new charges. One of the defense lawyers, Lee Short, dismissed them as a blatant effort by inmates to "improve their situations by giving statements against" high-profile inmates. In the ABC News interview, Dittrich acknowledged the death penalty case "is not going to have an eyewitness." He did, however, say the prosecution "will have people testify to the relationship between the victim and the accused." He said the arguments he plans to present to the jury would be "quite scientific." The prosecutor declined to lay out a motive or his theory of the case, but he said the death of Collins-Smith boiled down to money. "The pecuniary gain aspect is an allegation that $15,000 in gold had been stolen by Becky (O'Donnell) from Linda and various possible information about the motel we're still trying to flesh out," Dittrich said. "The $15,000 was money that was taken from the motel, we believe." PHOTO: Rebecca O'Donnell is escorted down a hallway by Randolph County Sheriff Kevin Bell after a hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, at the Randolph County Courthouse in Pocahontas, Ark. (Alex Gladden/The Jonesboro Sun via AP, FILE) The prosecutor said he would try to convince a jury to sentence O'Donnell to death under the authority of two Arkansas statutes that would qualify the crime as deserving of capital punishment. He will have to prove both that the murder was premeditated for the purpose of financial gain, and that it was carried out to avoid detection or arrest, as he alleges. O'Donnell's attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. In one pretrial motion they said the financial specifics have not been explained properly and argued they would need to be laid out in detail if the jury is to be allowed to hear about them. They asked the judge to order prosecutors "to provide notice of the specific item of pecuniary gain allegedly sought." That motion is among a list scheduled to be heard during Friday's hearing, which is also expected to include testimony from the sheriff who ran the investigation and the administrator of the jail currently holding O'Donnell. In recent weeks, lawyers on both sides submitted motions in preparation for the hearing. In addition to the question about financial motivation, many of the issues deal with procedural or logistical questions that often arise in the run-up to a capital murder trial. MORE: More questions than answers in case of Rebecca O'Donnell, who allegedly killed a former Arkansas state senator Defense attorneys have taken issue with the validity of the charges, the legitimacy of the death penalty and they also complain that jailers have restricted O'Donnell's access to her attorneys because of visitation restrictions imposed amid the COVID-19 crisis. There is a history, as previously reported by ABC News, of jailers keeping O'Donnell locked up under the most stringent restrictions without legal justification. At the time, ODonnell had been placed on investigative status, though she hadnt violated any rules, officials said. It was eventually confirmed that the Arkansas State Police directed local officials to restrict her privileges without legal justification. When that was reported the night before Thanksgiving last year, the restrictions were lifted. Perhaps the most significant motion filed by defense lawyers heading into Friday's hearing notes that they would not contest the heinous nature of the crime and the bloody condition of Collins-Smith's body in return for the judge prohibiting the display of crime-scene photos at trial. O'Donnell, the attorneys wrote, "stipulates to the cause and manner of death and also to the location of the body. ... In light of the defendant's stipulation and the fact that the photographs of the deceased are extremely grotesque, the photographs should not be admitted." Dittrich did not address the specific defense motions, but did tell ABC News that there is an enormous amount of evidence and, "I plan to introduce video." He declined to say what the video would show. Hearings begin for suspect accused of killing former Arkansas state senator originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The Pennsylvania Republican Party is seeking a "unity resolution" to have Andy Reilly (left), the former chairman of the Republican Party in Delaware County, share a two-year term on the Republican National Committee with Bob Asher (right,) who has held the seat since 1998. Read more A unity resolution pitched by the leader of Pennsylvanias Republican Party to settle a battle brewing over a seat on the national committee before next months summer meeting might instead spark the GOPs next squabble. Clout hears the Republican National Committee has been called in to mediate the terms before the July 10 meeting. Talk about bad timing. The RNC is scrambling to coordinate a two-step presidential nominating convention for August, with a small gathering in Charlotte, N.C., followed by a larger confab in another state. That makes swing-state Pennsylvania, vital to President Donald Trumps bid for a second term, yet another headache for the national party. Lawrence Tabas, chairman of the states Republican Party, announced in a May 27 email to committee members the resolution to halt a battle over the RNC seat, held since 1998 by Bob Asher of Montgomery County. Asher, seeking another four-year term, was being challenged by state party Secretary Andy Reilly of Delaware County. The deal: Asher gets reelected but steps down at the partys Winter Meeting in February 2021 so Reilly can serve the bulk of the term. Tabas, in his email, said the deal allows for a peaceful transition in a critical election year. U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, a likely contender for the Republican nomination for governor in 2022, endorsed the deal in his own email to state committee members, writing last Friday, This is not the time for disunion in our nation and certainly not in our State Party. The problem: Clout hears Tabas oversold the solution, because it violates RNC rules. The state party can vote on a non-binding resolution to support Reillys bid to finish Ashers term, but cant formally elect him as an RNC member-in-waiting next month. Reilly, who has Tabas backing, told Clout he thought the deal was done. It was always structured to be like a one-stop shop, that there would be a vote that would have a binding impact," he said. Asher has declined to comment on internal matters, saying Thursday, I am solely focused on winning the election this November." Tabas, in a statement Thursday, said his unity resolution does not violate RNC rules, and praised Asher and Reilly for putting the president, our party and our candidates interests above their own. Tabas also said the RNC had urged him to get involved and he is confident the president is counting on this unity resolution. The state Republican Party, as Clout reported last month, was already on the outs with the RNC and Trumps campaign, which walked away earlier this year to set up its own election effort in Pennsylvania. READ MORE: The Trump campaign has walked away from the Pennsylvania Republican Party as 2020 heats up, sources say The beginning of the end for GOP control of the PPA? A new appointment to the six-member board of the Philadelphia Parking Authority could signal the slow-motion loss of political control for the citys only agency dominated by Republicans. Gov. Tom Wolf appointed fellow Democrat Lynette Brown-Sow to a 10-year term on the board for a seat that became vacant on June 1. Brown-Sow, a Philadelphia business consultant and former Community College executive, replaces Andrew Stutzman, a Republican who works at a Center City law firm. Wolf also reappointed Al Taubenberger, a Republican who lost his bid last year for another term on City Council. They were nominated by state Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, a Jefferson County Republican. The Senate, which controls two board seats, had to send Wolf at least three nominations. Scarnati submitted their names on May 12, along with Darren Smith, a lobbyist at Wojdak Public Relations and former Republican state Senate staffer. So Wolf split the appointments one Democrat and one Republican. The same rules apply next year, when the next speaker of the state House, which controls two seats, must submit at least three nominations. Those seats are now held by PPA Chair Joe Ashdale and Karen Wrigley. Their terms expire June 1, 2021. If Wolf again picks a Democrat and a Republican from those nominations, the board would shift to four Republicans and two Democrats. READ MORE: Top Republican Mike Turzai will resign from the Pa. House on June 15 Wolf gets to select two members of his own for seats that open on June 1, 2022, currently held by City Commissioner Al Schmidt and Russell Wagner, a hospital executive. If Wolf selects two Democrats, his party would take control with a 4-2 majority. Quotable vs. Quotable Jimmy, you worked for me for decades and yet every day you never cease to amaze me. You fought for this statue to be at that very location. How hypocritical of you now to remove it saying that it represented bigotry, hatred and oppression for too many people, for too long... Wow, did I miss something, did that just happen or were the feelings towards Rizzo the same back when YOU championed this very same statue? Former State Sen. Vince Fumo, in a long Facebook rant last week after Mayor Jim Kenney had the controversial statue of former Mayor Frank L. Rizzo removed overnight from the front of the Municipal Services Building amid Black Lives Matter protests. Mayor Kenney is far too busy doing his job and working to address the real issues facing our city to respond to the rambling Facebook comments of someone as irrelevant as Vince Fumo. Deana Gamble, spokesperson for Kenney, who worked his way up from Fumos state Senate staff. After sending four rovers to Mars with a fifth scheduled to launch in July NASA announced on Thursday a contract for putting its first wheeled robot on the moon. Astrobotic Technology Inc. of Pittsburgh won a $199.5-million (U.S.) contract to deliver the robotic explorer to the moon in late 2023. The price includes the rocket to launch the mission and the lander that will set the rover down near the moons South Pole. The rover the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER is the latest in a series of robotic missions that NASA is financing as part of its renewed interest in the moon. VIPER is to spend about 100 days rolling around in search of water ice, which is believed to exist in permanently shadowed craters near the moons poles among the coldest places in the solar system. That water could provide an invaluable resource for future astronauts. It would provide water to drink, and the water molecules could also be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen. That could yield oxygen for astronauts to breathe, as well as propellant for rockets travelling home to Earth or elsewhere in the solar system. However, the exact location and nature of the water ice is not known. It could be at the surface as frost or buried underground. It might be pure water or bound up in minerals. VIPERs mission is to figure that out, and the information would help plan where astronauts would land on the moon, which NASA optimistically has scheduled for 2024. VIPER is going to be the first robot to actually touch this water ice that weve detected, said Steven Clarke, who recently left his position as deputy associate administrator for exploration in NASAs science directorate for another role at the agency. The rover will carry a suite of instruments, including a drill that will allow it to investigate what is below the surface. 12.06.2020 LISTEN Through different historical epochs, it has not been lost on us that whenever a Blackman says I could not breath, his pain becomes extreme suddenly. During slavery we bellowed out we could not breathe. During colonization we howled we could not breathe. In the 1980s during the structural adjustment we could not breath because, we saw new patterns of poverty, vulnerability and food insecurity, Paralysis of the public services: Cash and carry in health: education for the rich only, Subsidy removals- poor agricultural production- poor rural incomes- peasantization of poverty: rural-urban migration, Loss of employment in state sector and slow growth of private sector. To top it all off, during globalization we thought that it was merely coming together of the world to trade we never thought it is this suicidal so we yelled out very sharply but we could not be heard. Waking up to the reality that, the neo colonial project lead by the Chinese is taking advantage of the disunity of Africa sooner than later will serve us a Godlike aura of speed and efficiency in our growth. We call it a world but in actuality, it is a jungle where neither equity nor its worse form equality has a place to dwell. When our leaders are invited, they are being told and made to believe by the gun salutes that welcome them that we are all equal sovereign states. And If that is true, why is it that, leadership of the common wealth is hereditary rather than rotational? Why are powers of the security council of the United Nations vested in the hands of some so-called super powers? What works is survival of the fitters and everything considered, the perishing of the least adapted. Africa became a hunting ground for Portuguese, Belgians, Spaniards for slaves and the story is true even today. Our ancestors built the USA who as at the 14th century had no place in history. Even today out of about 230 million Africans at the Diaspora make the best Doctors and other professionals in the USA and other countries. And when slavery lost its shine, they replaced it with yet another pernicious enterprise: the colonization of Africa which saw Africa divided into boundaries by the Berlin conference in 1884. In a misunderstanding between European tribes they called it world war. our ancestors were tools for the war. In 1946 when the league of nations dissolved, the USA was first to pen in their universal declaration of independence that: colonialism was undesirable and that, 'all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Right, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness'. You who preach virtue and practice vice. If the European union with a GDP of more than 18.8 trillion USD representing 22% of global GDP and the largest economy in the world could call for a bilateral negotiation with Benin which has a GDP less than the net worth of Bill Winters CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, America negotiating with the Burundian economy with a GDP of about USD 3 billion which is proportional to the same sum an American professional boxer earns annually, and if France USD 2920 billion could negotiate with Benin whose GDP is smaller than the budget for Coca-Cola in a year, then the world isn't fair and that we can't breath as a civilization. In other words, African economies can only realize their potential if they present themselves on the world stage as one body. This is the way forward and not just change of a leader who will continue to work in the same difficult environment. It gratifies my heart therefore that the African Continental Free Trade Agreement is set to kick start in July this year. It is time to give meaning to the words of the founding fathers, Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Ahmed Sekou Toure, Samora Moses Machelle, etc. The black man is capable of managing his own affairs (Kwame Nkrumah). The Senegalese started producing their testing kits and the French were not happy. As if it is their divine duty to instruct the Blackman. The French must not forget that, it is not the duty of the Blackman to make the Frenchman happy. We are aware of the pact designed by the French to force the 14 former French colonies to pay colonial tax for the benefits of slavery and colonization since independence till today and the community of nations have said nothing about. We have seen Africans being denied medical treatment in Italy because of the color of their skin. We have seen in China how Africans were being treated and evacuated from their homes. Meanwhile, there are just 100000 Africans in China yet 700000 Chinese in Ghana alone making 2.4 % of the people in Ghana our heritage and the figure is expected to reach 300 million by 2030 in Africa. On our own land we have seen Ghanaians being lashed like students in Chinese companies for being late for work. We have seen the activities of illegal mining being championed by Chinese that led to the deterioration of the environment and rendering our water bodies polluted. We have seen Zambia and Sri Lanka losing their port to China over their inability to pay their debt. Remaining on the drawing board for long waiting to attain perfection will do us harm. Africans must move to the ground even if we will make mistakes. Covid-19 and the death of George Floyd is a wake-up call to all Africans most especially to the stomach Politian who for many years has been perhaps Africa's curse. We have an army of young men and women who can turn on power in the areas of education, agriculture, politics etc. for good. I urge them not to fall to the trappings of power otherwise if we do, we are done. The co-owners of Coco Beauty Bar were ready to return to business once the Ontario government gave beauty salons a green light, but after seeing the strict COVID-19 restrictions required, they wonder if its even worth the effort. No facials, no microblading, face waxing or threading. And the biggest financial hit no lash extensions. Lash extensions are our moneymaker, and if we cant do that were thinking, Whats the sense of opening up? said Vesna Rosales, manager of the small business in Torontos Bloor West Village. Were going to be losing like crazy. We wont be able to pay full rent for July. Theres no way. Rosales and husband and business partner Tim Heffernan consulted the Toronto Public Health website, where he learned they can offer manicures and pedicures, as well as bikini and leg waxes. But he said that will only bring in about 30 to 40 per cent of the usual revenues, at best. So the couple, who are both in their 60s, broke the bad news to their staff in an email that read, in part: It doesnt look good. Now, theyre asking themselves some big questions about the future of a business they had already considered selling earlier this year, as they planned for retirement. Much of their frustration can be traced back to federal and provincial governments whove bogged down press conferences with confusing messages, a flurry of staggered deadlines for financial and rent support, and what many small businesses and commercial landlords have described as a total lack of clarity around COVID-19 financial support systems and how they apply. Among the biggest complaints is the lack of co-ordination between the federal and provincial governments over the rollout of the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program (CECRA) in May, which was meant to help small businesses keep from going under. Tenancy laws fall under provincial jurisdiction, but it took weeks before there was official response to widespread complaints that some landlords refused to adopt the measures, choosing instead to kick out their commercial tenants. Some provinces introduced bans or restrictions on commercial evictions. Ontario added itself to that group earlier this week with its temporary ban on evictions, which lasts until the end of August. But thats two months after the current CECRA support program expires, creating more questions over whether the federal government intends to extend its support for entrepreneurs who are deeply hurting. A new study released by Royal Bank of Canada found that small businesses accounted for 60 per cent of job losses in the first two months of the pandemic, twice as many as in the 2008-09 recession. Canadian Federation of Independent Business president Dan Kelly has called for broader financial support measures that last longer. He believes without a clear roadway to recovery, most business owners can only focus on short term uncertainties. Everybody was of the view that if ... (small businesses) were closed for a few months, government provided support, we reopened and things would (be) back to normal, no harm no foul. But unfortunately thats not the world were living in, he said. The CECRA program is ending before many of them are even back, and so the need for support to cover rent for shuttered businesses remains of critical importance to many, because they dont see the light at the end of the tunnel. More than 5,500 small business tenants were approved for CECRA as of June 8, according to data provided by the House of Commons finance committee on Thursday. Kelly suggests that figure is a drop in the bucket compared to the 400,000 to 500,000 businesses the CFIB estimates qualify for the program. For the owners of Coco Beauty Bar, theyre still questioning their fate. Other small business owners are in similar situations due to a variety of restricted services, and many will have to consider whether its worth staying in business with reduced operations. Tattoo parlours can pierce ears, but they cant decorate faces or necks. Barbers can cut clients hair, but they cant shave beards. And salons cant offer hand or feet massages. Rosales hopes for the sake of her business, provincial and municipal leaders will see the importance of returning to regular routines with COVID-19 precautions in place. She said offering a limited menu of mani-pedis wont be sustainable. Well be sitting there waiting for people to come while we have to pay for all the bills salary, rent, utilities and whatever else, said Rosales. Well be taking it out of our own pocket. Srinagar: The reign of terror continues to engulf the Kashmir Valley as terrorists attacked a police post near Handwara, Kashmir a day after the terrorist attack on an Army camp in Uri that killed 18 soldiers, news agency ANI has reported. As per media inputs,the terrorists had opened fire at the checkpost in Langata, Handwara late on Monday evening. As per intial reports coming in on the attack, it was not clear as to how severe the attack was and what were the casualties inflicted by it. Is is noteworthy that Handwara, in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, is about 70 km northwest of Srinagar. It lies close to the Line of Control (LoC). For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. MACKINAW CITY, Mich., June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Star Line Mackinac Island Hydro-Jet Ferry, a Mackinaw City, Mich. based ferry boat company serving Mackinac Island from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, Mich. and owner and operator of the Good Fortune pirate ship the only pirate ship traveling to Mackinac Island this summer, is hosting the first Great Lakes Pirate Festival on June 20th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at their Mackinaw City boat dock (801 S. Huron St., Mackinaw City, MI). The kick-off event will be proceeded by a weeklong series of videos on Star Line's social media pages beginning Monday June 15th, complete with award-winning authors virtually reading their own pirate-themed books. For photos of Star Line's Good Fortune pirate ship, click here. Star Line's 2020 summer season kick-off will culminate in the first-ever Great Lakes Pirate Festival that will include a pirate party on the Mackinaw City Dock, live DJ, pirate music, pirate trivia, family-friendly photo opportunities, food and drinks, and two competitions, Talk Like a Pirate and Dress Like a Pirate. Festival participants of all ages in the Dress Like a Pirate competition are expected to wear a pirate-themed outfit and will receive a free hot dog and drink, a buy one/get one free discount on any pirate cruises that day, and a free private cruise on the Good Fortune Pirate Ship for up to 50 people will be awarded to the first-place prize winner. The winner of the Talk Like a Pirate competition will earn four VIP tickets to any pirate cruise of their choice. Star Line's Good Fortune pirate ship will leave the festival at 4:45 p.m. and head to Mackinac Island where it will depart at 6 p.m. for a pirate cruise under the Mackinac Bridge. The night cruise will include pirate music and dancing, crew members dressed and talking like pirates, water cannons for kids on board, and the cruise will culminate with the firing off the Good Fortune's cannon. Snacks and refreshments will be available for purchase during the cruise. Beginning Monday, June 15th a social media video series hosted on Star Line's Facebook page will lead up to the Great Lakes Pirate Festival and will include three virtual readings by award-winning authors of popular children's pirate-themed books. The video series will start off with a pirate-themed introduction by Good Fortune's pirate deckhand Toussaint Ross on Monday, June 15th explaining Star Line's week-long festivities and allowing viewers to catch a glimpse of what it will be like to ride on the Good Fortune. Then, on Tuesday through Thursday special guest authors will be featured on social media: On June 19, the Good Fortune will kick off the summer with five trips to and from Mackinac Island for visitors, and June 20th marks the first-ever Great Lakes Pirate Festival. "We wanted to create an event that will give visitors an exciting reason to shake off the cabin fever that's been building over the last few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic," said Jerry Fetty, CEO of Star Line Mackinac Island Hydro-Jet Ferry. "And what better way to do that than with a pirate festival! We know there's a little pirate in everybody, and this festival is a fun, family-friendly event that both adults and children can enjoy." All Star Line Mackinac Island Hydro-Jet Ferry boats are sanitized with the Silver Bullet Tri-Jet ULV Non-Thermal fogging system and common areas on the boats are also wiped down and sanitized. Passengers are asked to wear masks and to "social distance" during the festival and on all the boats. Pirate cruises on the Good Fortune ship will be limited to 80 people, while trips to and from Mackinac Island will be limited to 100 people. For tickets and information go to www.mackinacferry.com About Star Line Mackinac Island Hydro-Jet Ferry St. Ignace, Mich. based Star Line Mackinac Island Hydro-Jet Ferry and its acquired lines of ferries began serving Mackinac Island in 1878 and has since been ferrying families and islanders from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace to Mackinac Island. The company is best known for their high-speed hydro-jet rooster tail boats, family-friendly atmosphere, most frequent number of trips to and from Mackinac Island and underneath the Mackinac Bridge. In addition to five classic ferries, Star Line's ferry boats include the Mackinac Express catamaran, Marquette II, Radisson, Cadillac, Joliet, LaSalle, and Anna May and their newest addition the pirate ship Good Fortune. MEDIA CONTACT: Pat Baskin, CKC Agency [email protected] C: 248.318.0095 W: 248.788.1744 SOURCE Star Line Mackinac Island Hydro-Jet Ferry Related Links http://www.mackinacferry.com Chandigarh, June 12 : The concept of self-reliant India is growing among farmers of Punjab, one of the country's prominent granaries, with the pruning of farm labour caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Even the farmers are branching out to become tech savvy, paving way for the government to sow the seeds of less water-intensive mechanised technology in the kharif season when the sowing of water guzzling paddy is on. For nearly a decade, the state has been advocating to put an end to the age-old method of transplanting water-guzzling way -- the puddle method -- with the mechanical method of paddy plantation. With the large migration of labourers to their home states amid the lockdown, agriculture experts believe circumstances have changed the mindset of a large number of farmers to opt the new mechanized method rather than sticking to the traditional way of sowing saplings in puddle fields. Government estimates this time around 25 per cent of the total area of paddy will be brought through the direct seeding of rice (DSR) technique -- a method that saves water and labour. Punjab has a target to sow paddy on 26 lakh hectares, including around seven lakh hectares under highly remunerative basmati rice, this season. For this, the state needs at least 600,000 labourers to transplant paddy if it goes by the traditional method. Progressive farmer Shubkarman Singh of Zira village in Ferozepur district said last year he had successful experimentation of DSR technique in half of his fields. "This time there is a huge shortage of labourer. So we have decided to go for the DSR technique for paddy plantation in the entire 12 acres," he told IANS. According to him, the mechanical plantation not only saves the money but also saves the time. "Almost a week-long exercise of plantation has been reduced to a few days," he added. An elated farmer Ramandeep Gill of Khanna town said: "When the government's drives have failed to motivate the farmers, it is the pandemic that forced them to opt the less labour intensive technique." He said owing to the migrant labour shortage and abnormally high rates demanded by the local labourers, the local farmers were forced to go for the mechanized method that saves irrigation water and power. "If the yields are comparable good, in the next season the DSR acreage will double," Gill told IANS. In the previous season, the average rate for paddy transplantation on an acre was Rs 2,500-3,000. This time it rose up to Rs 5,000 per acre. Also, the normal paddy transplantation is labour-intensive and time consuming. The farmers first prepare a nursery and then replant the saplings after 25-30 days in a puddled field. The DSR technique does not require nursery or sapling transplantation. The paddy seeds are directly drilled into the field by a tractor-powered machine. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana has developed 'Lucky Seeder' which not only sows paddy directly but also sprays weedicides. "Nearly 25 per cent of the area under paddy sowing is expected to come under the mechanized way as it will help slashing cultivation costs," Agriculture Secretary K.S. Pannu told IANS. He said the mechanised plantation will also help saving lakhs of litres of groundwater this year. According to Pannu, one machine covers seven-eight acres in a day. The government is also providing a 40 per cent subsidy on the DSR machine. Admitting the direct seeding of rice helped saving groundwater, Balbir Singh Sandhu of Moga said at the success rate of the DSR machine would be visible only at the time of paddy harvesting. "If the paddy yield is normal, then we can say the machine is successful. Otherwise, we will revert to the traditional method. Till that time we are keeping our fingers crossed." Some areas of Punjab, like Mukerian and Ferozepur belts, do grow basmati. But most farmers end up growing common paddy, called 'jhona' as the input cost is less. Punjab, with only 1.54 per cent of India's geographical area, produces around 20 per cent of wheat, 10 per cent of rice and 10 per cent of cotton production of the country. The state contributes over 50 per cent food grains to the national kitty alone. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) has purchased 98 Israeli SMASH 2000 systems for their M4 rifles. This seen as a solution to the increasing ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) use of quadcopters in Syria and Iraq. SOCOM has become increasingly desperate to find an effective and reliable way to take down these small UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). Israel had a solution, which they originally developed for taking down kites and balloons used by Hamas in Gaza to send incendiary devices and small explosives across the border into southern Israel. Sharpshooters and snipers had proven somewhat useful but not very efficient. Few expert shooters could reliably bring down these small targets. By early 2019 Israel found that a locally made device, SMASH 2000 could do the job once its software had been modified to handle kites, balloons and, it turned out, quadcopters. Initially SMASH 2000 could only guarantee a quadcopter hit if the small UAV was within 150 meters but that range has since been extended. The IDF (Israeli Defense Force) had already adopted the SMASH 2000 computerized sniper scope in 2018 and renamed it Dagger. When asked, the firm that developed SMASH quickly modified the Dagger software to go after moving fire kites and fire balloons. It worked and troops with the new software could use Dagger to take down a kite or balloon several hundred meters distant with one shot. When bought in large quantities SMASH 2000 gear for a rifle costs under $10,000 and the price is falling as more are purchased. Israel issues Dagger gear to sharpshooters (troops recognized as more accurate shooters) and snipers (those trained to operate independently and covertly as a sharpshooter). American and Israeli military leaders are considering adopting Dagger more wisely, especially if the price comes down. The U.S. is considering incorporating SHASH 2000 tech in its next-generation assault rifle to turn all troops into sharpshooters. Currently, SMASH 2000 is cost-effective if only one or two men in a Special Forces team (of twelve) have one. For SOCOM snipers, hitting the target with the first shot is even more important. SMASH 2000 enables troops to do that with more certainty and less stress for the shooter. For Israel SMASH 2000/Dagger solved an immediate problem. Since early 2018 thousands of kites and helium balloons have been launched towards Israel. Each one is equipped with a lightweight incendiary device that goes off (most of the time) when it lands on the Israeli side of the border. The kites and balloons are more of a nuisance than a threat but have started over a thousand fires. Most of these are small brush fires that do not spread, but several have destroyed crops or trees and required firefighters to put out. Eventually, some of the floaters carried small explosives. Israel has used airstrikes to destroy over a thousand of these kites and balloons on the ground at launching, storage or manufacturing sites, as well as several hundred in the air using UAVs operated by civilians who had developed similar skills for UAV battles. Israel has also adapted some radars and other sensors to detect these slow, low altitude objects and that made the special Dagger scope even more effective against the fire kite/balloon attack efforts. Because of all these countermeasures, the use of kites and balloons has declined but not disappeared. The SMASH scope also convinced the IDF that this device could turn just about any soldier into a sharpshooter or sniper. First offered the SMASH scope in 2017, the IDF tried it out with the infantry and special operations troops and by the end of the year approved it for use. Based on that success, in early 2018 SMASH was offered to foreign militaries (and police organizations). By early 2019, the SMASH scope demonstrated its flexibility by how quickly its software could be modified to handle wind-blown targets like fire kites and balloons as well as quadcopters. There were several major innovations in SMASH 2000 compared to the earlier computerized scopes pioneered by American firm TrackingPoint. SMASH could be mounted and used on any weapon with a Picatinny rail. This allows the scope software to work with the trigger of each different weapon. The scope puts a visual block around potential targets the user is aiming at. When the user has the intended target in the block, a button is pushed and that target is locked and a precise firing angle calculated, and shot automatically fired unless the user intervenes. Other computerized scopes use the same basic concept but more recent models do it more reliably and cheaper. The most convincing test of the SMASH scope was to have new recruits use it while receiving their first rifle training. Some 70 percent of these novice shooters made accurate shots the first time they fired the SMASH equipped rifle. A few dozen shots later and they were performing like expert snipers. In the hands of snipers and experienced troops, SMASH enabled difficult (moving, obscured by smoke) targets to be hit with the first shot. The IDF was sufficiently impressed to order 2,000 SMASH systems, mainly for use by snipers. For snipers, hitting a target with the first shot is important because the second shot will often be impossible as the target was alerted by the first one and taken cover. TrackingPoint pioneered this tech and in 2013 introduced its first computerized shooting system, the XS1. These initially cost $27,000 but the price has since come down to less than half that as the firm introduced more models and sales increased. These scopes were still expensive because they are sensor-equipped and computerized to the extent that initial tests showed that over 70 percent of first-time users could hit a target over 900 meters distant with the first shot. For a professional sniper first shot success averages about 25 percent and 70 percent on the second shot. The army tested the XS1 and found it worked but did not try to adopt the system for a lot of military sniper rifles, even though it would be a major improvement for snipers. The major obstacle was the wear and tear of battlefield use and the fact that most snipers were satisfied with their existing scopes. Snipers are trained to take good care of their rifles, scopes and the growing number of electronic gadgets they now use, but the XS1 was a major leap in terms of electronics, sensors and especially required maintenance. It was recognized that the XS1 technology was the future and just as the many new (since the 1990s) sniping accessories have become rugged and reliable enough to be standard items, so will the XS1 approach or something similar to it like SMASH. Meanwhile, the TrackingPoint tech was adopted for a small number of sniper rifles that could make good use of it as is. In 2016 TrackingPoint introduced another version of its computerized scopes; NightDragon. This version allows for using an IR (infrared) spotlight with a range of nearly 200 meters and a scope with a sensor that makes the IR light visible to the shooter. Normally IR is not visible to human (or animal) eyes. The computerized scope tracks the target in the crosshairs and fires when the computer determines that a hit will be achieved. Targets can be moving as fast as 24 kilometers an hour. Costing $13,000 each, this is one of the few TrackingPoint scopes available for the civilian market. Most of their computerized aiming systems are only for military or police organizations. The manufacturer sells TrackingPoint equipped rifles mainly to police organizations or a few wealthy hunters who dont like to miss. TrackingPoint now provides a growing list of computerized scopes for ranges of 350-1,300 meters. Prices range from $10,000 to $17,000. SMASH costs much less than the cheapest TrackingPoint system and can be used on a large number of rifles and pistols. SMASH is more rugged and was quickly adapted to shoot down small UAVs, be used at night, make videos and have 4x magnification. That version was modified to take down fire kites and balloons. There are other firms developing computer-controlled scopes and as time goes by these scopes will have more features, become cheaper and more reliable. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-13 00:57:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TASHKENT, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan's police and the State Security Service have detained some members of the jihadist group in eastern Andijan region during a raid, said the Interior Ministry on Friday. The police did not reveal such details as the number of arrested people, but said they found banned extremist literature on the phones and computers of the detainees. A criminal case has been launched against the arrested men, the police said. Enditem I am happy, as the state local member for South Brisbane, to lobby strongly for the state government to give this favourable consideration, she said. As we know, Lamb House is a site of significant heritage value for the city and the state and I believe that we should be working co-operatively and collectively to ensure its continued presence in our city. Prominent developer Kevin Seymour, who unsuccessfully tried to buy the property in 2019, said Lamb House should be acquired by the state and local governments and "held in trust" for the people of Brisbane. I have looked throughout Brisbane being a developer and there is no other house in Brisbane that I would want to save for the history of Brisbane than the Lamb House, he said. Cr Schrinner said he would speak with the state government in coming days to make sure they were "also on board with this process". Photo Illustration by Sarah Rogers/The Daily Beast/Photos Getty MOSCOWThe crackdown on political opposition took a sinister twist during two months of coronavirus quarantines in the Russian capital. Marches and rallies were banned, so protests were reduced to what were called solo pickets, as in a picket line with only one person. The protester would stand all alone, a surgical mask on his or her face and gloves on the hands that bore aloft a banner or placard in the last form of street expression allowed without a permit. And then police started arresting the single pickets, too, claiming they were breaking the lockdown rules. Last Thursday, Alisa Ganiyeva unrolled a banner demanding freedom for her friend, Novaya Gazeta journalist Ilya Azar, who had been arrested for a solo picket demo late last month. Ganiyeva stood outside the Moscow city police headquarters for just a few seconds, she said, before the cops grabbed her. It was so absurd to hear them talk about COVID-19 distancing after two policemen came very close to meand then shoved me into a crowded vehicle with other people in it, Ganiyeva told The Daily Beast. As they walked me away, I saw a crowd of soldiers celebrating Border Service Day in that very street. She also saw policemen detain two girls who had the word freedom written on their masks. The contrast with the mass protests taking place around the world right now, with many people consciously braving the coronavirus threat in order to march against racism and injustice, could not be more striking. Under Russian law, a single-person protester must stand at least 15 meters, or almost 50 feet, from any other person with a sign. And thats what they do. But the Kremlin has an obvious conflict of priorities: 67-year old Vladimir Putin is eager to see Russians vote in a postponed referendum on constitutional amendments, now rescheduled for July 1, that would allow him to stay in power until 2036. For such an event, social distancing be damned. And Putins opponents, meanwhile, are left with the single picket protests as their last chance to say no to police violations and political repression. Story continues By law I have a right to stand in a single picket and I will continue to exercise my right, Azar told The Daily Beast following his release on Sunday after 10 days in jail. Because tomorrow they might ban us from walking in the streets. If we do not defend our right to this very last form of protesting, well all end up behind bars tomorrow. A Moscow court had sentenced Azar for violating requirements of the Moscow mayors decree that bans any public events. But when Mayor Sergei Sobyanin ended the lockdown regime on Tuesday, people immediately flooded the streets and parks of the capital and traffic jams returned and, then, the detentions and arrests of single-man picket protesters continued. On Wednesday police detained five solo pickets outside the Presidential Administration and 18 opposition activists were picked up for earlier political actions. Many people had to pay fines. The bigger the scale of repression, the braver we areI am sure that people will find new forms to protest, Mikhail Lobanov, a math professor at Moscow State University told The Daily Beast. On March 21, a few days before the COVID-19 official lockdown, Lobanov demonstrated against the arrest of a graduate student; the court fined him $145 on Wednesday. Single-person pickets have become a popular movement in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and other Russian cities in the past few months as authorities grew more reluctant to approve street protests. In the past two weeks police have detained dozens of journalists, university professors, and students for single-person pickets. Many were sentenced to 15 days in jail. Why is the Kremlin so afraid of a few individual people who were by definition socially distancing? The last ounce of their patience must have been exhausted by the line of more than 200 people waiting to stand in a single picket outside the Federal Security Service [FSB] in February, Azar said. The few remaining elected deputies from the opposition, both in Moscow and St. Petersburg, say the current development shows rules are tightening. A deputy in the St. Petersburgs Legislative Assembly, Boris Vishnevsky, has been trying to offer legal help to detained protesters since late March. He makes the point that according to the Russian constitution the only time authorities can ban public protests, now limited to one-person protests in any case, is during curfew. But in Moscow and St. Petersburg authorities have been using the pandemic to terminate even the single pickets. This is the Kremlins tightest grip, the final bolt has been screwed," Vishnevsky told The Daily Beast. "After the first citation a detainee pays a $58 fine, after the second detention the punishment can be up to 15 days of jail and after the third single picket, you can go to prison for up to four years. The only place for protest left in Russia is the internet. A journalist at the independent radio station Echo of Moscow, Tania Felgenghauer, went to a solo protest in spite of police arrests. A single picket is is not a crime, her banner said. Two policemen grabbed her less than five seconds later, she said. It amazes me to see people in the United States consolidating in defense of dignity, defending law and human lives, while here only a few harmless protesters tried to exercise their legal rights and even they were shut up, Felgenghauer said, then added, My lawyer tells me I have used my limit for protesting this year. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Students have their temperature checked at Yio Chu Kang Secondary School, as schools reopen amid the COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore. (PHOTO: Reuters/Edgar Su) SINGAPORE All the five students who were confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 last week have recovered, said Education Minister Ong Ye Kung. In a post put up on his Facebook page on Thursday (11 June), Ong said that most of them will be returning to school next week, after they have been tested negative twice and discharged from hospital. One student in fact joined his classmates for an online lesson this morning, he wrote in his post. The five students, as well as one non-teaching staff, were tested positive on 7 June, during the Ministry of Educations (MOE) proactive testing of school staff members and students above the age of 12 who were diagnosed with acute respiratory infection. All six were from different schools in Singapore: Anglican High School, CHIJ Katong Convent, CHIJ St Theresas Convent, Geylang Methodist Secondary School, Hwa Chong Institution and Ascensia International School. 129 students, staff issued LOA or HQO A total of 29 staff members and 100 students who were in contact with the confirmed cases in school have been issued 14-day leaves of absence (LOA) or home quarantine orders (HQO). Last Sunday was a difficult day for MOE as we registered five COVID-19 cases in five different schools, Ong said in his Facebook post. The five schools have been keeping in close contact with affected students and staff to offer support. During this period, students who have been placed on LOA or HQO may be worried about catching up on their studies, but rest assured that the schools will support you with online lessons and consultations. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: COVID-19: 129 MOE students, staff on LOA, quarantined COVID-19: Singapore reports 383 new cases; including MOE school students Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. A long-term acute care refers a specialty care provided by long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) to the patients in their serious medical conditions. In these medical conditions patient requires intense and special treatment for an intended period of time. In long-term acute care, a patient needs to stay for 25 to 30 days in hospitals for their Medicare. On the basis of types of patient, long-term acute care market can be segmented into respiratory patients, multiple IV medications or transfusions required patients, renal failure patients, prolonged ventilator use patients, wound care patients and others. Long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) provide services such as cardiopulmonary monitoring, respiratory therapy, dialysis, mechanical ventilation, wound care and others. Get Free Sample Copy With Impact Analysis Of COVID-19 Of Market Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3336 Respiratory therapy includes products such as ventilators, oxygen delivery devices and aerosol delivery devices. Wound care includes product such as standards and advanced wound dressings, negative pressure wound therapy, skin substitutes and other products. Dialysis includes therapy such as hemodialysis, hemofiltration and peritoneal dialysis. Some of the monitoring technologies used by long-term acute care hospitals are cardiac monitors, pulse oximeters and blood pressure monitors. Various factors such as increasing aging population, technological advancement in patient care, rise in need for long-term care services, increasing number of patients in long-term acute care facilities are expected to drive the North American long-term acute care market. In addition, increasing government spending in healthcare sector is expected to drive the North American long-term acute care market. However, high cost of new technologies, time consuming technical interfaces and complicated workflow are some of the factors restraining the growth for long-term acute care market in North America. Adoption of technological advancement and growing demand for long-term acute care due to continuous rise in aging population are expected to offer good opportunities for long-term acute care market. Increasing patient centric approach and new product launches are some of the latest trends have been observed in North American long-term acute care market. Some of the major companies operating in the North American long-term acute care market are CareFusion, Fresenius Medical Care, Philips Healthcare, Prism Medical Ltd., Covidien, Kinetic Concepts, Inc., SelectMark and Promise Healthcare, Inc. You Can Buy This PMR Healthcare Report From Here @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/3336 Key points covered in the report The reason we wanted to talk with so many different people is to show that theres many different entry points into the field of paleontology, Graslie said. You dont just have to be a scientist in order to make a meaningful contribution. So we talked with landowners. We talked with two different tribal communities. We talked with universities, community colleges, amateurs just paleo nerds, illustrators, artists. We talked with anybody who we could find to ask them how paleontology and studying the fossil record had shaped them and their identity because thats kind of what the show is about, how my identity has been shaped by my proximity to this part of the world. Click here to read the full article. PARIS The shortage of masks and personal protection equipment France experienced at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak may well turn out to have a silver lining as the country faces a prolonged economic crisis: Its ailing textile industry is finding a second wind. With borders closed, the French textile industry rallied to fulfill needs. The Savoir-Faire Ensemble (a play on the French words for know-how and working together) group grew from a dozen to some 1,500 companies, from fabric mills to garment manufacturers, pooling their knowledge and resources to create a whole PPE production chain from scratch. In the historic garment region of Roubaix, northern France, Carol Girod and Christophe Lepine, a brand strategist and a veteran of Made in France production who previously founded workwear brand Bleu de Paname, cofounded Resilience, a sustainable and inclusive textile coalition that produced reusable masks through a network of partner workshops. In early May, Resilience opened R3, a 130-machine workshop, with a mix of public and private funds. The factory hired more than 200 workers with the support of a social outreach program designed by Stephanie Calvino, the founder of the Anti Fashion Project, an open platform dedicated to the renewal of fashion inspired by Li Edelkorts eponymous 2015 manifesto. Two more ateliers are planned for the fall. Made in France only makes sense with socially responsible projects like this, in places where the skills already exist, Calvino said. But I wouldnt deprive a project of exceptional craftsmanship just because it means theres a border crossing. The keys are transparency, benevolence. Guillaume Gibault, founder of French-manufactured apparel brand Le Slip Francais, was among the early participants in Savoir-Faire Ensemble. In this crisis lies the opportunity to invent the future of our business, he said. The post-COVID-19 challenge is to apply the same approach, which means setting out precise requirements for consumer products and finding French workshops that can meet them. Story continues All this suggests that the French textile sector, widely written off as defunct, could play an important role in the French governments economic recovery plan, to be presented next September. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire expects the French economy to contract by 11 percent in 2020, entailing the loss of 800,000 jobs. Second only to the food industry, the textile and clothing sector generated direct turnover of 154 billion euros in 2018 and directly employed more than half a million people, according to data published by the Institut Francais de la Mode. The French government has tasked Guillaume de Seynes, executive vice president of Hermes International, to set out a roadmap for the future of the industry based on sustainable development and relocating production in France. De Seynes, who sits on the executive committee of the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, French fashions governing body, heads the industry strategic committee for fashion and luxury. If the textile and clothing sector has long been emblematic of the collapse of the industrial workforce in France, it has shown signs of life in recent years which must now be consolidated and amplified, Brune Poirson, secretary of state for the ministry of ecological and inclusive transition, and Agnes Pannier-Runacher, secretary of state for the ministry of finance and the economy, said in a statement earlier this month. Today, there is a real opportunity to relocate certain activities, based on innovative, sustainable production, generating quality products and jobs that cannot be moved elsewhere, it added. De Seynes said it was up to the industry to capitalize on the momentum generated by the Savoir-Faire Ensemble initiative. The crisis has highlighted capacity for mobilization, adaptation and innovation of this sector, which is strategic for France in more ways that one, he said. Fashion is always reinventing itself. Sabine Durand-Hayes, retail and consumer industry leader in France at the auditing firm PwC, said that in order to remain viable, companies in the French textile sector would have to strike a balance between social responsibility commitments and making sure their approach is profitable. Companies will have to diversify their supply chain, articulate corporate social responsibility values and commit to them in the long term, all the while staying coherent between that commitment and their ability to bear the economic cost, she said. Bringing back mass production by rebuilding the garment industry of the past seems unlikely. Made in France wont hold up to cost considerations without additional qualitative advantages, she said. Recovery of non-food retail will take longer, up to several years, requiring rationalization of the sector. While purchasing domestically produced goods re-emerged as a way to support the national economy during lockdown, there was a shift towards consciously spending less and better. During lockdown, conversation increased around slow fashion but deglobalization remained a marginal idea, while long-term trends like craftsmanship, quality and social responsibility were boosted, supported by concrete long-term initiatives, said Sarah Laurier, a senior analyst at social media monitoring platform Linkfluence. For Gibault of Le Slip Francais, willingness to innovate is essential to face the challenges ahead. The true expertise of French textile manufacturers is adaptability. The current crisis is showing us that you need to put effort and money on the table to modernize craft while preserving its specificity. We have to change how we produce: on-demand, with automation, he said. Girod agreed. R3 is the proof that Made in France cannot happen without a coalition between political forces, industrials and actors of the social and socially responsible economy, she said. If there arent tax incentives, lower VAT rates, or quotas for locally-made goods, such fundamental changes are just wishful thinking. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Cookie Preferences Cookie List Cookie List A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website when visited by a user asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting for our advertising and marketing efforts. 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By Gary McWilliams HOUSTON (Reuters) - A federal judge in Texas set aside a $1.4 billion default judgment against a former Venezuelan oil minister, ruling he was not properly notified of the lawsuit, but said the U.S. By Gary McWilliams HOUSTON (Reuters) - A federal judge in Texas set aside a $1.4 billion default judgment against a former Venezuelan oil minister, ruling he was not properly notified of the lawsuit, but said the U.S. company that alleged fraud and bribery can move ahead with the case. Harvest Natural Resources sued Rafael Ramirez and others, alleging it lost millions when Venezuela refused to allow a sale of its oil operations in the country to a buyer it had lined up. It also alleged Ramirez and others sought a $10 million bribe to approve the sale. In her opinion, U.S. District Court Judge Lee Rosenthal overturned the default judgment, finding Ramirez's default "was not willful" and that he had raised defenses including that Harvest waived claims in its sale of Venezuelan operations. Dane Ball, a partner with law firm Smyser Kaplan & Veselka LLP, which represents Harvest, declined immediate comment. The lawsuit notice was faulty, Ramirez told the court, because he had fled the United States months before Harvest delivered its claims to his former residence and because it could have served him internationally. Rosenthal in late 2018 awarded Harvest millions in damages in a default ruling and later tripled the award to $1.4 billion. Harvest alleged it sold its Venezuelan assets for $470 million less than an original offer and later ceased all operations. The judge, whose order was signed on Tuesday, said Harvest can still bring its claims and set a scheduling hearing for June 25. Ramirez, who was Venezuela's oil minister for 12 years and later served as its foreign minister and U.N. ambassador, had sought to have the entire case, as well as the default judgment, thrown out. Harvest's suit "is filled with legal and factual errors," said Ramirez attorney Abbe David Lowell, adding his client looks forward to the chance to defend himself in court. (Reporting by Gary McWilliams; Editing by Bill Berkrot) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Global poverty will rise again to 1 billion people amid the COVID-19 pandemic, AP reported. A study of King's College London and The Australian National University shows a sharp increase in poverty in middle-income developing countries, where millions of people live just above the poverty line. Asian countries such as Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines are considered particularly vulnerable to economic pandemic shocks. The pandemic is fast becoming an economic crisis for developing countries, said Andy Sumner, a professor of international development at Kings College London and one of the reports co-authors. According to the worst-case scenario, the number of people living in extreme poverty will increase from 700 million to 1.1 billion. Without action this crisis could set back progress on reducing global poverty by 20 or even 30 years, Sumner said. Researchers call for urgent global leadership to overcome the crisis. But the hopes are low after the Group of Seven meeting of world leaders, which was supposed to take place on June 10-12, was postponed. US President Donald Trump plans to hold an expanded meeting in September, which will also bring together leaders from Russia, Australia, South Korea, and India. Sumner said three steps should be prioritized. First, it is necessary to create a rapid response global commission on poverty and COVID-19 under the guidance of a well-known world leader to determine the level of funding required. Secondly, funds should be quickly released by expanding the current debt servicing environment that the International Monetary Fund provides to all developing countries and freezing World Bank debt repayments at least until the end of 2020, possibly until 2021. When the crisis subsides, debt restructuring or outright cancellation of debt for some developing countries will be needed or even unavoidable. And thirdly, countries that benefit from the standstill should use this money to strengthen and expand social safety nets. News18 Daybreak | India Becomes Fourth Worst-affected Nation by Covid-19, Cases Inch Near 3 lakh-mark And Other Stories You Need to Watch Out For Jun 12, 2020 10:36 AM IST Share India overtook the United Kingdom to become the fourth most affected country by the coronavirus after recording a record daily spike in new cases. According to a tally maintained by Worldometer, India currently has 2,97,001 cases while the UK has 2,91,409. Meanwhile, Indias death due to COVID-19 rose to 8,102. Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Balram Bhargava at a press conference on Thursday said that the country is not in the community transmission stage. ICMR's statement comes amid India recording its biggest single-day jump in new coronavirus cases on Thursday. Warriors on strike: About 300 junior doctors are protesting at Telanganas nodal hospital for COVID-19 for the past three days demanding better facilities and more staff following an attack on their colleagues by a deceased patients family members. The state-run Gandhi Hospital was converted into an exclusive facility for treating coronavirus patients as the number of cases began to rise. Lying vacant: There have been complaints of non-availability of beds or denial of treatment to COVID-19 patients in the national capital despite nearly 70 per cent of beds in five designated hospitals run by the Delhi government lying vacant, with experts attributing it to people's aversion towards state-run facilities. Lawyer and public heath activist Ashok Agarwal said infrastructure and hygiene are two main factors, and people still want to avoid government facilities. In Other News Appeal for asylum: The central government said it has requested the United Kingdom to not consider fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya's asylum plea. Last month, Mallya lost his appeals in the UK Supreme Court against his extradition to India to face money laundering and fraud charges. On May 21, the MEA had said India was in touch with the British government over Mallya's extradition after he exhausted all legal options. 'The sacred act: A day after audio and video clips of Shivraj Singh Chouhan admitting they toppled the MP government on the instructions of the party high command went viral, the Madhya Pradesh chief minister defended his stance, saying destroying sinners is a sacred act. Congress leaders, including Kamal Nath, called it evidence that the BJP had dislodged them from power through a conspiracy and allegations. Slammed: The Supreme Court termed the demand by Department of Telecom for dues of Rs 4 lakh crore in Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) from PSUs as totally impermissible' and said DoT must consider withdrawing it. The bench raised questions on the demand raised by the government from the PSUs and said that its verdict in the case was misinterpreted as the issue of their dues based on AGR was not dealt with by the apex court. Resolving peacefully: India and China are maintaining military and diplomatic engagements to peacefully resolve the eastern Ladakh row at the earliest, the Ministry of External Affairs said Thursday. MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said both sides have agreed to work for an early resolution to the issue in keeping with broader guidance provided by leaders of the two countries for ensuring peace and tranquillity along the border areas. Dont panic: There is no need to panic due to the recent earthquakes in Delhi-NCR but it is vital to undertake preparedness and take precautionary measures, Director of the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) BK Bansal said. There is no proven technology in the world to predict earthquakes with certainty in terms of location, time and magnitude, he added. On Our Specials Living in denial? : The central governments repeated and continuing denial of community transmission of coronavirus is futile and counterproductive to slowing down the rise in cases, epidemiologists and health experts say. Despite one of the harshest lockdowns in the world, the country is steadily inching towards the mark of three lakh cases. The decision to not make this public officially has affected messaging on the pandemic, limited testing strategies and has also allowed the government to justify the prolonged lockdown, Nikhil Ghanekar reports. Adjudicated: Right to reservation isn't a fundamental right, observed the Supreme Court while adjudicating a clutch of cases on quota for OBC candidates in Tamil Nadu's medical colleges. The bench was categorical that nobody can claim right to reservation as a fundamental right, and hence not giving the quota benefits cannot be construed as a violation of any right. Utkarsh Anand writes, the SC bench has allowed petitioners to withdraw the petitions and move the High Court for any relief.. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- From Washington to Whitefish, Montana, white America is reckoning with racism, publicly demonstrating its belief that black lives have been too long neglected and abused. Theres just one question: Why now? According to a Civiqs poll, 53% of Americans support Black Lives Matter, and only 25% oppose it a 12-point increase in support since mid-April. By a double-digit margin, BLM is more popular than either Donald Trump or Joe Biden. As political scientist Drew Linzer noted: BLM is the single most favorably viewed national political organization or politician in America right now. Its difficult to pinpoint what exactly is driving the change. The brutal killing last month of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer was surely a dramatic event. But there have been other harrowing racial alarms in recent years. Actual Nazis marched by torchlight in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017, earning a presidential imprimatur very fine people even after a counter-protester was murdered. Ahmaud Arbery was hunted and killed by two white men in Georgia in February, for an offense that all available evidence suggests entailed jogging while black. His death produced sufficient outrage to derail an official whitewash of the killing and provoke a genuine investigation. Neither tragedy ignited national protests. This months widespread protests of police brutality have put racial reactionaries on the defensive. But they havent altered the operating manual of the Trump White House, which was in the midst of using Covid-19 to fan anti-Chinese sentiment when Floyd was killed. Trumps overt racism has made complaints about racism more credible, and perhaps easier for whites outside the White House/Fox News propaganda sphere to grasp. In one survey taken in the first days of June, two-thirds of Americans, including 63% of whites, said Trump has mostly increased racial tensions. There may be some precedent for what were seeing. The enormous Womens March, which took place the day after Trumps inauguration, was a reaction to the election of a president with a history of sexual assault and denigration of women. The #MeToo movement, a culmination of cultural forces that have been building for more than a century, grew from that outrage. It seems unlikely that the movements burst of success in the past two years is unrelated to an Oval Office boor who goes out of his way to attack women. Story continues Likewise, a white racist president may be a necessary predicate to the wave of protests unleashed in recent weeks. The election of the first black president in 2008 led many whites to conclude that discrimination against blacks was in the past. At the same time, policy and political disputes grew increasingly racialized. Once Obama was elected and in office is when you see the big changes, said Maneesh Arora, a political scientist at Wellesley College who researches racial appeals in U.S. politics. Obama became racialized and the Democratic Party became the nonwhite party. Barack Obama, who rarely spoke of racial issues, racialized American politics by his very existence. Trump does so by acting and speaking through racial aggression, racist policies, demagogic rhetoric and a White House staff that, in appearance and politics, approximates Jim Crow America. In the New York Times, Thomas Edsall surveys a range of experts about whether this time is different. There appears to be no firm consensus, and, given Trumps political volatility and personal corruption, almost any twist in the narrative is possible. Racial politics is more complex than it was in the 1960s, when a large white majority took a step back and watched the brutal effects of its systemic oppression of a small black minority. Hispanics and Asians, the two fastest-growing components of the U.S. population, are in the mix now, creating possibilities for new alliances and new tensions. It was only five years ago that Jeb Bush was running for president hoping to cement a conservative alliance of whites and Hispanics to create a new Republican majority. Trump has, for now at least, demolished that plan. His racial politics seek to put whites exclusively in the drivers seat, with rural and small-town whites elevated above the residents of cosmopolitan, multiracial, liberal America. So the emergence of protests in predominantly white small towns is perhaps the most surprising and poignant aspect of the BLM protests. Whites in cosmopolitan America assume little or no risk in protesting or virtue signaling, if you prefer on behalf of black lives. Whites in conservative small towns are more likely to face social consequences, including reputational risks. In small, conservative, white towns there are some white people willing to step forward to protest, said University of Pittsburgh historian Lara Putnam, who has studied contemporary grassroots politics. In small towns, people older than 30 or 40 are living in a media environment shaped by Fox News and Facebook. Younger people are living in a very different environment shaped by Instagram and TikTok. Theyre hearing a very different narrative about Black Lives Matter and race in America. If the current reckoning has staying power, it will take root in both small towns and the executive suites of large corporations. While America is vastly more diverse than it was during the civil-rights era, the hinge of racial politics is still white people. And the hinge of white sentiment and attitude is located in towns and suburbs. Trump has placed his bet on racial tribalism backed by authoritarian impulse. In Minneapolis, for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, a white police officer displayed the price that must be paid for that vision to prevail. If that proves too much for white Americans to bear in 2020, then the MAGA reaction against multiracial democracy is over. For now. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Francis Wilkinson writes editorials on politics and U.S. domestic policy for Bloomberg Opinion. He was executive editor of the Week. He was previously a writer for Rolling Stone, a communications consultant and a political media strategist. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. The #PublishingPaidMe campaign has pushed pay disparity and the lack of diversity in book publishing into the forefront. (Shaannon Broderick/AP) In theory, the advance paid on the signing of a book deal is just the beginning of a relationship between writer and publisher a guaranteed sum in expectation of shared royalties down the line. And yet it can be both an author's lifeblood and a vote of confidence. It's also, according to a spreadsheet shared under the hashtag #PublishingPaidMe, often shockingly low, especially for writers of color starting out. Among more than 2,500 writers who shared their information by Thursday, the median advance was $18,750. The embarrassment of low advances is one reason they have usually been closely guarded until now, with a push for transparency to expose disparities in the wake of worldwide protests over institutional racism. Writers who shared their advances gave their reasoning on Twitter. LL McKinney, an author who created the #PublishingPaidMe hashtag last week, wrote about the not-so-secret secret of publishing in a thread. So, you can't solve a problem unless you first admit there is one, right? That's what #PublishingPaidMe is for. To highlight the problem of what Black authors are paid vs non-Black authors. And yes, it's discouraging. It was discouraging before the hashtag. Because Black LL McKinney (@ElleOnWords) June 10, 2020 "It was short and to the point," McKinney said of the hashtag by phone. "I like alliteration, so it was just one of those things that clicked together. It was for the people who would be using it, so its like the beginning of a sentence." McKinney wanted advances to be the focus of the hashtag partly because they're easy to tweet and to understand and perhaps convert into action. "It was a culmination of frustration with publishing and people using the hashtag to amplify black voices," she said. "It took Black people being killed and protesting for this to happen." Story continues Author L.L. McKinney. (From L.L. McKinney) McKinney's goal, she says, it to raise up voices of color. This isnt about trying to take things away from people," she said. "This is very much about, 'OK, this is how you value those stories, we want you to value our stories. Our stories are universal too.' This is making sure that everybody is treated equally and fairly. Novelist Lydia Kiesling felt that One person's discomfort over being paid a lot of money is insignificant compared with the pain of being underpaid or passed over due to systemic racism, and so she put her anxiety aside to post her advance on Twitter. I got $200,000 for a literary fiction debut and I'm very far from selling that many books #publishingpaidme Lydia Kiesling (@lydiakiesling) June 6, 2020 Kiesling, author of Golden State, expanded over email on the seemingly arbitrary nature of publishing, particularly how It seems that white writers are given chances to experiment, succeed and/or fail early in their careers far more often than other writers. It's particularly offensive that Black writers and writers of color who have won the highest accolades in this profession are not even significantly compensated by publishers after the fact. Steph Cha, author of Your House Will Pay, also shared her advances. By phone, she said she hoped the movement could change minds. Steph Cha, author of, "Dead Soon Enough: A Juniper Song Mystery." (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) Real change in reaction to a social media movement is something that you dont always see, Cha said. and I would be surprised if the Big 5 [publishing conglomerates] responded to it in a meaningful way. Such change, she added, had to go beyond hashtags and short-term trends. These were the sentiments of author Reni Eddo-Lodge, among several authors (including Ibram X. Kendi and Ta-Nehisi Coates) climbing bestseller lists after the proliferation of antiracist reading lists. "Well, the numbers are in," Eddo-Lodge tweeted on Wednesday, the day her book "Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race" hit No. 1 on the UK's list. "Im the first and only black woman to top Britains nonfiction book bestseller chart." She was "dismayed" the achievement resulted from "tragic circumstances" and called the belated milestone "a horrible indictment of the publishing industry." Reni Eddo-Lodge, whose book about race topped the U.K.'s bestseller list this week. (Bloomsbury) The debate over advances, meanwhile, focuses less on the ultimate success of a book than the bets placed on a writer in the early going a gap most vividly illustrated in N.K. Jemisins revelation that she received only $25,000 for each book in her "Broken Earth" trilogy all three of which have won Hugo Awards for best novel. While passing along Jemisin's denial of a request to speak to The Times, her publisher, Orbit Books, reissued a statement from Publisher Tim Holman that read, in part, "I wholeheartedly support the right of Black writers to demand equality in the compensation for their work .... It has been a privilege to publish and promote such an extraordinary writer from the start of her novel-writing career." He added that their contract negotiations "have been conducted in good faith and based on the circumstances at the time." And he emphasized the "substantial royalty checks" she's been receiving ever since her advance have been earned out. Jess Walter, author of "Beautiful Ruins," fully supports the movement, but in an email he worried that the hashtag "will just reinforce the publishing industrys and writers' focus on big splashy advances especially for debuts." Walter didn't receive a six-figure advance until "Beautiful Ruins," his seventh book. His eighth book earned him a $10,000 advance, right before "Beautiful Ruins" hit the bestseller list. He finds the emphasis on advances to be somewhat problematic. "It creates high, often unreasonable expectations and a sort of culture-of-buzz around an art form that isn't (or shouldnt be) about buzz but about quality, about patience and timelessness, about earning a readership," he said. "Publishers pay out these big advances in the hopes of finding financial tent-poles like Hollywood, and the greatest thing about publishing is that it isnt Hollywood." Author Jess Walter shared his advances publicly but believes they are a small part of the problem. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times) Ultimately, Walter thinks the focus on advances is just the beginning: "I hope that there will also be a commitment from publishers to develop young writers of color too, beyond the big headline-screaming six- and seven-figure deals. A look at the bestseller list certainly gives some hope of that." Kiese Laymon, the author of "Heavy," joined in the movement after seeing Roxane Gay's tweets. "I just think this is a time when we probably need to be talking honestly about economic disparities in addition to prison reform and prison abolition, he said by phone. He also wanted to stress that this movement should help writers of color and specifically Black writers less established than he is. "As much as we can talk honestly about money, which is hard in this country, we just have to be courageous, so that people coming behind us dont have the same struggle," he said. "A lot of us didnt know our deals were so bad, we were embarrassed to talk about [them]. This thing is to let people know, we dont have to be embarrassed when there are disparities between different groups. He called for concrete changes, including real data collection: They need to run audits, they need to look at the kind of budgets that different kinds of books get. But ultimately to change publishing, the people that have the power have to change." Author Kiese Laymon believes "the people that have the power" in book publishing "have to change." (Scribner) Discussions about diversifying publishing were brewing long before the protests and flared up particularly around the debate over Jeanine Cummins' American Dirt," a novel featuring a Mexican woman and her family fleeing to the U.S., that many Latinos criticized as being inauthentic and filled with stereotypes. That novel earned Cummins, a white woman, a reported seven-figure advance. In February, a group that formed in response, Dignidad Literaria, forced a meeting with Cummins' publisher, Macmillan, after which the company committed to a series of steps aimed at increasing diversity within its ranks. The Big 5 publishers have responded to the latest hashtag campaign to varying degrees. Some have pinned statements acknowledging the Black Lives Matter movement on Twitter. Others have advertised the diversification of stories they chose to take on. Penguin Random House tweeted a comprehensive thread outlining its plan of action. As Penguin Random House, we recognize that our company & our industry can & must do better. We've taken the past week to reflect & listen, & to further identify how we can impact meaningful & lasting change in our company & in our society. Here's a thread about our action plan: pic.twitter.com/VkZNo9ro05 Penguin Random House (@penguinrandom) June 10, 2020 Simon and Schuster's Twitter account pinned a statement of solidarity in the wake of George Floyd's death. Conversation is important, but ongoing and meaningful action is critical. We remain committed to doing more, to doing better, and to doing it together with our employees, other ViacomCBS brands & partners. Were proud to be a part of the ViacomCBS family and part of this change. pic.twitter.com/OuvSLirmAu Simon & Schuster (@simonschuster) June 10, 2020 HarperCollins' account also pinned a brief statement. The first step in a plan toward reducing disparities in advances and beyond might be, as Laymon suggested, to compile some robust data. "I dont think it shows the whole picture," McKinney says of the #PublishingPaidMe spreadsheet. "I think if you were watching the hashtag from the start you might have a better idea." In fact, the document relies on data with its own diversity problem. As of Thursday, 70% of the survey takers were white; only 4% were Black. The fax was introduced as a communication sharing service to transmit data from one place to another. However, it gained popularity as the most reliable data transmission mode of all time. Even after many years to its origination, fax is still being used at a high frequency and offering reliable information exchange services. From large firms to startup organizations, people rely on fax for business communication. Google Fax Free has brought the most detailed blogs about the added conveniences of fax. Now you can get rid of hardware equipment and send faxes wirelessly without getting into the hassle of managing bulky systems. CocoFax, an Economical Fax Solution Google Fax Free details how to fax from computer and other devices as the leading fax blog featuring reliable ways to fax online. 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But the alignment of interests may not be long term, as its Beijings intention to eventually make Shanghai the financial capital of the world, displacing New York and the City of London. As Lenin reputedly said: "The capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them." By 2003 Goldman Sachs "had become the lead underwriter for major Chinese state-owned companies". In 2006 Henry Paulson moved from CEO of Goldman Sachs to Treasury secretary under George W. Bush, taking with him one of the best contact books on the Chinese elite. Paulson had visited the country some seventy times. He asked the president if he could take charge of Americas China economic policy and Bush agreed. Then-treasury secretary Henry Paulson (right) with then-president George W. Bush at a White House briefing in 2007. Credit:AP But Paulson, in the judgement of author and journalist Paul Blustein writing in Foreign Policy, screwed up. Blustein argues that if Paulson had responded more forcefully to Beijings currency manipulation, tight control of state-owned enterprises, mistreatment of US enterprises in China and program of technology theft, then the conditions that led to the trade war might not have arisen. Instead of recommending retaliatory actions to protect US companies, Paulson worked to head them off in Congress, proposing to hold a "Strategic Economic Dialogue" which began in December 2006. Needless to say, this gave the advantage to Beijing. Paulson, a good friend of Beijings then-mayor Wang Qishan, and already inclined to look benignly on the Partys efforts to open up the economy, was being manipulated. The CCP was drawing him further into its inner circle, stoking his perception of his own influence. He was granted a private, one-on-one briefing with President Hu Jintao. After Paulson left office in 2009 - having overseen the global financial crisis, during which he phoned Wang and begged him to order a state-owned Chinese bank to bail out Bear Stearns - the Goldman Sachs alumnus set up the Paulson Institute, dedicated "to fostering a US-China relationship that serves to maintain global order". John Thornton is another influential graduate of Goldman Sachs. He led Goldmans entry into China and when he retired as the banks chairman in 2003, he became director of the Global Leadership Program at Beijings Tsinghua University. Thornton is a strong supporter of the scholarship program at Tsinghua funded by billionaire investor and Trump friend Stephen Schwarzman, and he sits on the board of a number of top Chinese and American corporations. In 2006 he put his money into a new China Center at the Brookings Institution, where he is chairman of the board of trustees. In 2008 the Chinese Communist Party gave him its highest award for foreigners, the Friendship Award of the Peoples Republic of China. BlackRock chief Larry Fink (right) with US President Donald Trump and Wal-Mart chief Doug McMillon at the White House in 2017. Credit:Getty Images This part of the Wall Street story would not be complete without mentioning the US investment fund BlackRock, the worlds largest, with $6.5 trillion worth of assets under management. In 2019 its CEO, Larry Fink, told the companys shareholders that he planned to turn BlackRock into one of Chinas leading asset managers, saying he would be ready to take advantage once Beijing opened up its capital markets to foreigners, and that he aimed to become one of the first foreign-asset managers to raise renminbi funds in China. While the power of Wall Street in setting China policy has been real enough, in 2017 something changed. US manufacturers decided they had had enough of their intellectual property being stolen and they were no longer willing to wait for Beijing to honour its promises to liberalise Chinas economy and provide a level playing field for American firms. The US Chamber of Commerce published a report saying so, driving a wedge between finance and manufacturing, a gap that allowed the Trump administration, backed by the Democrats, to muscle up to Beijing. This prompted intensified lobbying by the finance sector and closer coordination with its allies in Beijing. Loading The princelings of Wall Street The CCP has not been content to rely solely on a concordance of interests between Beijing and big finance in the West. Another important avenue of influence is the princelings - the sons and daughters of top Party leaders past and present. For years, the giant state-owned investment company CITIC has been dominated by princelings, as has China Poly Group, the conglomerate built around arms manufacturing. Chinas burgeoning private equity sector is controlled by the "red aristocracy" and their children. For Western hedge funds, insurance companies, pension funds and banks, a prerequisite for doing business in the emerging, highly lucrative Chinese capital markets is a network of connections to the families that control the largest companies and dominate the Party hierarchy. Giving jobs to the sons, daughters, nephews and nieces of these families brings immediate guanxi, or personal networks for reciprocal benefit. The offspring need not be well qualified or even especially bright; its their connections that count. An ideal career path for a princeling is an undergraduate degree at a prestigious university, preferably an Ivy League college or Oxbridge, then straight onto the trading floor of a big bank or hedge fund in New York or London and after a few years there, an MBA and then a Wall Street firm. An unusual insight into how this works was provided by an inquiry by the US Securities and Exchange Commission in 2016, which led to JP Morgan paying $264 million for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. JP Morgan had been caught hiring Chinese princelings to win business, something the commission described as "systematic bribery". The company operated what it called the Sons and Daughters Program, which provided dozens of jobs in Hong Kong, Shanghai and New York to children of the Party elite. Fang Fang speaking at the 21st Century Annual Finance Summit of Asia in Beijing in 2011. Credit:AP One was Gao Jue, the son of Chinas commerce minister, Gao Hucheng. A recent graduate of Purdue University, Gao Jue landed a job after a meeting between his father and senior JP Morgan executive William Daley. (Daley was a US commerce secretary under Clinton and pushed for Chinas entry into the WTO. He later served as president Obamas chief of staff.) Gao Jue interviewed poorly but was offered a coveted analyst position with the bank. Prone to falling asleep at work, he was soon judged to be an "immature, irresponsible and unreliable" employee. When, as part of a general downsizing, the bank later wanted to lay him off, his father took the head of the banks Hong Kong office, Fang Fang, to dinner and pleaded for his son to be kept on, promising to "go extra miles" for JP Morgan in its China deals. Fang was persuaded and a senior executive in New York agreed to keep Gao Jue on, even though the executives own son had been laid off. Business is business. When Gao Jue was eventually let go, he took other finance jobs before winding up at Goldman Sachs. There are, of course, many mainland Chinese working in US finance who are highly competent and deserve their positions, often very senior ones. Fang is one example. He graduated from the prestigious Tsinghua University in the 1980s and then studied for an MBA at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. In 1993 he took a job at Merrill Lynch, working in New York and Hong Kong, and in 2001 he began a 13-year career with JP Morgan, rising to the position of chief executive for China investment banking, based in Hong Kong. In that time he brokered the appointment of many sons and daughters to positions within the bank. He also gained intimate knowledge of the personal finances of some of Chinas ruling elite. The New York Times described Fang as having a "deep network of contacts in Chinese government and business circles". While not CCP royalty, Fang is on very close terms with the red aristocracy. Fortune describes him as "a media-friendly executive with close ties to the Communist Party". In 2011 he founded the Hua Jing Society in Hong Kong, a social club for the children of mainland elites who had studied abroad and returned to Hong Kong. The society has been described as the Princelings Club and the Hong Kong branch for CCP princelings. Loading For the CCP elite, entanglement with the masters of Wall Street through the placement of scores of princelings serves a more important purpose than employment for their kids. It is a means of gathering intelligence and exerting influence because it places its informants and agents in the heart of American power. The entire workings of a US firm may be sent back to a father or an uncle in China, along with confidential information on the personal and financial affairs of the wealthiest people in North America. The CCP in the City of London European financial institutions were not slow to recruit princelings either. In the 2000s Deutsche Bank, Germanys biggest, used bribes and corrupt practices to gain access to China, including showering expensive gifts on leaders, especially the family of then prime minister Wen Jiabao and then Beijing mayor Wang, today a member of the Politburos inner cabinet, the Standing Committee. In 2009 Deutsche Bank beat JP Morgan to a deal because it had employed the daughter of the clients chairman. The bank also had an active program of employing the children of powerful officials. Among them was the son of then propaganda minister Liu Yunshan, and one of the daughters of Li Zhanshu - now one of the seven on the Standing Committee - even though both were rated unsuitable for the job. In Zurich, Credit Suisse employed Wens daughter. Credit Suisse kept a spreadsheet that tracked princeling hires against how much money they brought in. It hired over 100 sons, daughters and friends of senior government officials. One "princess" was employed after Credit Suisse bankers helped massage her resume. Once on the payroll, she often didnt show up for work. When she did, she was judged "rude and unprofessional" and sometimes brought her mother with her. Nevertheless, she was paid $US1 million a year and given a number of promotions because her family awarded deals to the bank. (In 2018 Credit Suisse agreed to pay $US77 million to US authorities to avoid prosecution on bribery charges.) While the placement of princelings and promises of access to Chinas huge financial market have been the foremost avenue of influence in Wall Street, in the City of London the situation is different. Londons financial district - the square mile known as the City of London, or simply the City - is also the financial hub of Europe, giving big finance an inordinate influence in British politics. Hidden Hand by Clive Hamilton and Mareike Ohlberg. Credit: Brexit has many wondering whether the City can retain its dominant position or will be displaced by its rivals in Frankfurt or even Paris. The mandarins of the City have been working hard to ensure its pre-eminence, which provides a golden opportunity for Beijing. It would be an exaggeration to say that if Beijing could control the City it could control Britain, but not a large one. An ominous, if small, sign of the influence Beijing already wields came in May 2019 when the City of London Corporation, the districts municipal government, banned Taiwans office in London from contributing a float to the annual lord mayors parade. Today the City of London Corporation cant get enough of China. In March 2019, two months before he banned Taiwans float in his parade, Lord Mayor Peter Estlin joined a delegation to China to promote "fintech and green finance" links, along with the Citys role in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While there, Estlin talked about the important part the City plays in Chinas success. Interviewed on Phoenix TV, he revealed that the City would be hosting a banquet the following September to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Peoples Republic. The lord mayor praised the BRIs "win-win culture" and said he sees the City playing a vital role in helping to finance "a fantastic initiative" and a "very exciting" vision. The delegation was led by John McLean, a board member of the China-Britain Business Council, who declared that "London is open for business for Chinese financial and tech companies". Earlier in 2019 the chair of the City of Londons policy committee, Catherine McGuinness, welcomed the launch of the global edition of the CCPs China Daily, noting that the paper "is based in the Square Mile and is a good friend of the City of London Corporation". Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Click here to read the full article. LA DOLCE VITA: Dior has linked with Italian brand Vespa to create an exclusive scooter and a range of matching accessories. In the works since before the coronavirus pandemic put the world in lockdown, the collaboration is rooted in the spirit of freedom, movement and expression, the companies said in a joint statement. Maria Grazia Chiuri, creative director of Dior womens collections, designed the limited-edition version of the Vespa 946, a modernized version of the scooter that was originally presented by manufacturer Piaggio in 2012. For me, Vespa is linked to my city, Rome, she said, evoking the image of Audrey Hepburn riding on the back of Gregory Pecks scooter in the 1953 movie Roman Holiday. I have so many happy memories starring a Vespa. Its how my husband and I used to get around Rome and go to the seaside in Fregene. Its a symbol of Italian-ness that is intricately linked to my personal history, and its now part of my professional life at Dior, Chiuri said. Pietro Beccari, chairman and chief executive officer of Christian Dior Couture, noted the houses founder Christian Dior was fascinated with the Italian Riviera in the Fifties. The Dolce Vita lifestyle never ceased to infuse its elegant spirit into his haute couture models, a sun-drenched magic that today, more than ever, is perpetuated in the collections of Maria Grazia Chiuri, he said. Dior was due to underscore its ties with Italian culture with the planned presentation of its cruise collection in Lecce on May 9, but it was forced to cancel the show due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vespa 946 Christian Dior, featuring a saddle patterned with the Dior Oblique motif, will go on sale in spring 2021 in Dior boutiques around the world and subsequently in a selection of Piaggios Motoplex stores. Accessories, including a matching helmet and top case designed to be fixed on the luggage rack, will be available exclusively in Dior boutiques. Story continues Michele Colaninno, ceo of holding company Immsi Group and Piaggios chief of product and strategy, noted the scooter was a symbol of escape to new horizons. In these unprecedented times, it is great to be able to dream of a better future. The house of Dior opened its doors in 1946 in Paris, the same year that Vespa made its debut in Italy. This new Vespa 946 celebrates that anniversary and honors our heritage, he said. Today, like yesterday, we have gone through a dark period and now we are joining forces to share some joie de vivre through a combination of style and craftsmanship, Colaninno concluded. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The death of George Floyd triggered looting and rioting during peaceful protests, prompting President Donald Trump to deal with police reform, plus bring back law and order but still consider ways to deal with racism. A black man's death brings about sweeping changes and one of them is Police Reform which the president promises to address and enact, reported CNN. Events in the last two weeks has faced the president with an option to defund the police or let the status quo stand, but go for reforms in policing that might affect the status of law and order. Despite the hardline posture taken by Trump which is seen by others as uncertain and not conducive to his presidency, he is weighing aspects of systemic racism and how it affects the conduct of law enforcement, according to New York Times. When protests began, an emphasis on law and order was an important consideration using police and military forces to keep the damage to property to a minimum as the focus for now. What is seen as negative actions with regards to dealing with racism is started to solve the problem associated with it. According to sources, there will be police reforms coming and charges of denying racism has no bearing in police conduct. Last Tuesday, he criticized an incident with 75-year-old Buffalo protester who he said was part of a setup, and is working with Antifa when he got injured and pushed by officers. There was widespread criticism when he went to St. John's Church that went sideways unintentionally despite his best intentions to reconcile. One of his advisers criticized how he worded his statements and concluded that he was not in tune to sentiments which needed more decisive actions Also read: Donald Trump Thinks Shoving Incident Involving an Elderly is Politically Motivated, Set Up by Other Parties Keeping law and order When protests were dying down, the President was focused on law and order to bring normalcy to the streets once again. President Trump selected a stern and decisive approach to deal with looters and rioters who would benefit from his indecision that drew negative opinions. He has objections to the death of George Floyd to police brutality and believes a tough against crime is the solution to prevent crime and violence. There is a move to listen to black leaders and see their side of the issue with VP Mike Pence joining a session. According to senior advisers Jared Kushner and Ja'Ron Smith, there are consultations to come up with good policies that are needed now like the First Step Act to be passed. Democrat's taking potshots The Democrats are proposing legislature ahead of the White House that is taking its time. Republicans are working on a proposal to reform the police without defunding it, as suggested by the Democrats. According to Mark Meadows, Kushner and Smith went to discuss police reform at Scott's office, revealed the Daily Mail. Later, President Trump met with law enforcement officials who said that they prefer reforms in law enforcement. Keep quiet get criticized by detractors He said in an interview that there should be a way to enforce the law better, and said that the police were great people, no bias to race. The president stressed that law enforcement is not racist, as Attorney General William Barr said to CBS News. Related article: Democrats Allow Changes to Police Reform Bill After Looting and Rioting Protesters Stopped the Chaos @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Phillipsburgs homegrown superintendent of schools, Gregory Troxell, has been awarded a second contract, running through June 2024. The agreement raises his salary to $210,000, up from the $185,000 hes been paid annually since being appointed to the position effective July 1, 2017. The board also agreed to minimum annual raises of 2.5% beginning July 1, 2021, or more if approved by Warren Countys executive schools superintendent. The board of education approved the four-year deal June 1 during a virtual meeting. The contract was hand-carried to that meetings agenda, meaning it had been discussed behind closed doors before being added to the agenda for the regular session, Troxell said. Members of the public had two opportunities to comment on the deal, both May 11 when it was on the agenda before being removed to be discussed in private and again June 1, board attorney Jeff Russo said. The contract itself was attached to the earlier agenda before being added for the June 1 meeting, Russo pointed out. Meeting agendas are available via pburgsd.net. "The meeting prior to the approval, it was published for the public to see, and remained published" between the May 11 and June 1 meetings, Russo explained. "The board prides itself on transparency and in this case the public had an opportunity to weigh in on two separate occasions," he continued. One citizen commented, on May 11, according to board President Rosemarie Person, and argued no one should be getting a raise at a time when the coronavirus is impacting public and personal budgets alike. "It was awful timing," Russo allowed. "Nobody predicted the pandemic. "This board's been working on this since November. Unfortunately, his contract expires June 30, so what are we supposed to do?" The board has been "very happy" with Troxell's tenure, Russo added. The 1990 graduate of Phillipsburg High School holds a doctorate in education and has been a Stateliner educator since 1995. When the board hired Troxell in May 2017 to succeed retiring Superintendent George Chando, he was wrapping up his second year as assistant superintendent. His unanimous appointment as superintendent followed a vocal show of support from the community who questioned considering any other candidate. His second contract also passed with no opposition from board members. This is the Phillipsburg School Districts first superintendent contract since Gov. Phil Murphy last July signed a bill overturning former Gov. Chris Christies $191,584 cap on school superintendent salaries in New Jersey. The board on June 1 also approved hand-carried contracts good through June 2021 for Assistant Superintendent Maureen Kehoe and district Business Administrator/Board Secretary Staci Horne, with salaries of $169,560 and $173,080, respectively. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. MIAMI, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Camanchaca Inc., the US-based division of Chilean-seafood industry leader Camanchaca S.A., has debuted a first of its kind Wild Argentine Red Shrimp under Pier 33 Gourmet by Grand Krust label. Camanchaca will be sweeping the industry as it offers retailers, food service operators and consumers the only shrimp option that is free of both sulfates and additives, making it the most natural product on the market. "At Camanchaca, we are committed to putting both our consumers and the communities we work in at the forefront of all we do. We are constantly challenging ourselves to provide the best, most delicious seafood in the market," said Jennifer Mata, National Shrimp Sales Manager of Camanchaca Inc. "We saw an opportunity to differentiate ourselves and to fill a void in the market with a unique item. With strict processes in place, we are proud to be first to market with such an amazing shrimp. This new offering of Wild Argentine Red Shrimp is the product of Camanchaca's visionary leadership and willingness to disrupt Argentina's artisanal shrimping industry. Camanchaca uses exclusive vessels and plants to control the quality of the shrimp from catch through production, ensuring the shrimp are free of preservatives, chemicals, or additives and only frozen once just before hitting the market. The result is a shrimp which is 100% natural, completely "clean", sweet in flavor, and that maintains a beautiful red throughout. "Our team at Camanchaca Inc. is always looking for ways to innovate and meet consumer expectations" said Cesar Lago, President. "The trend in our industry has been gearing towards wholesome, all-natural foods and we are proud to be the first in the market to develop a product that will give consumers what they are looking for." The new, All-Natural Wild Argentine Red Shrimp is currently available to consumers at national retailers including Costco. It is also available for food service and private label use in the peeled and deveined, tail-off format. For more information and to find a store near you, please visit http://www.pier33gourmet.com SOURCE Pier 33 by Camanchaca Related Links https://www.pier33gourmet.com/ Bengaluru, June 12 : Four Ola driver partners have been arrested for hoodwinking the startup and fleecing it of lakhs of rupees using a fake location app technology, a police official said on Thursday. "Central Crime Branch (CCB) detected a cheating case by the Ola drivers who cheated the startup of lakhs of rupees," Deputy Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Jain told IANS. The arrested people are Ravi, Manu, Satish and Nagesh. The drivers downloaded Mock Locations (fake GPS path) app to trick the app that they drove customers in real using false map locations. "Drivers use mock location app, show that they have driven the Ola cab by showing false map locations," said Joint Commissioner of Police Sandeep Patil. Available on Google Playstore, Mock Locations app enables a person to generate fake phone location information. "You simply navigate the route on the map and press 'Go' to have all of the application on your phone to give fake information about the location," says the app while downloading. According to Jain, the quartet was booking false or fake Ola cab trips using the counterfeit location technology so that they can earn commission from the startup. After three days, when the Ola system managed to detect that the rides created by the quartet were fake, it was too late as the drivers had already earned the commission and abandoned all the details and documents such as SIM card, vehicle registration cards and others. Later, they would replicate the same procedure with a new set of SIM cards and other details to con the startup again. In the effort to trick the startup, the fake drivers bought as many as 500 mobile phone SIM cards using counterfeit names and they themselves used to book the cabs. Police seized a laptop, printer, multiple cell phones, several identity cards, rubber stamps, SIM cards, documents, some stationery items, one Toyota Innova car, a red Maruti Swift and others. Incidentally, Ola did not file a complaint with the police and learnt about the matter from a police official's tweet. "I think there was a suo motu case filed by the police and they have nabbed the culprits. I am trying to understand but this is an old case," an Ola executive told IANS. Likewise, it is also not clear as to how many lakhs of rupees Ola lost. "I think these guys faked being a customer, they also faked being a driver. So on both sides," he said, deciphering their modus operandi. NEW MILFORD On day three of a search for two missing swimmers on the Housatonic River, dive teams recovered the body of one of the victims Friday, police said. Search and rescue efforts continued with members of the New Milford, Brookfield and state police dive teams, leading to the recovery of the body of the 21-year-old victim, Lt. Earl Wheeler said. She said the search for the second man, 24, continued into Friday evening. The victims been identified by police as residents from the Bronx, N.Y. The identities of both victims are not being released until search, rescue or recovery activities are completed, Lt. Earl Wheeler said. Police said the men had been with family and friends off the east bank of the Housatonic River, adjacent to the Bulls Bridge Power Plant, when they were observed going under water around 4:50 p.m. Wednesday. New Milford police have been searching for the men with help from other agencies, including Sherman, Kent, Danbury, Connecticut State Police, Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue, and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The search on Wednesday went until about 10:45 p.m. Thursdays search stopped around 3 p.m. and continued Friday morning. During Thursdays search efforts, loved ones of the missing men gathered outside the Gaylordsville firehouse. One of them was New Jersey resident Jonathan Diaz, who said his cousin was one of the missing men. Diaz went to the river Thursday to try and get a sense of what happened the day before. He said his cousin was a good swimmer. RELATED: Loved ones gather as search continues for missing swimmers Mayor Pete Bass said the search has been challenging because of the current in that part of the river. Its a really dangerous area, even for the most proficient swimmer, he said Thursday. The town has been looking for ways to make the river safer, especially for people who might not be familiar with it and first responders who might have to enter the waters for a search-and-rescue mission. We want to make sure another incident like this doesnt happen again, Bass said. Last August, a 25-year-old woman from Bronx, N.Y. drowned in the river near the Bulls Bridge Power Plant. HURON COUNTY The community of the Thumb thrives on its love for agriculture. Every year residents and visitors gather at farmers markets, where they shop for locally harvested fruits and vegetables. A couple unexpected occurrences led to some confusion this year. Statewide Stay Home, Stay Safe orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19 caused uncertainty as to whether the markets would run at all. Then, a line of storms caused severe damage to Pigeon and Sebewaing earlier this week. Never fear, some markets will go on and shoppers will still be able to enjoy fresh produce, baked good and other items. Port Austin Farmers Market The show is on in Port Austin. Its market opened on Memorial Day weekend Saturday, May 23 and will extend through mid-October, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market takes place in downtown Port Austin at the intersection of State Street and Lake Street. Starting Saturday, June 13 the market will be open to all vendors. "This weekend we are opening up to all arts and crafts vendors," Market Master Isabel Humphrey-Phillips said. However, there will be no music or pets this year and vendors will be social distancing from one another. Everyone is expected to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to help stay safe. Customers must pay by credit card or exact cash, as no change will be given. Face masks are highly recommended, and everyone is asked to follow social distancing guidelines. Hand sanitizing stations will be set up throughout the market. To learn of any updates, visit the Port Austin Farmers Market Facebook page. Harbor Beach Farmers Market Harbor Beach originally planned on hosting its annual farmers market every Thursday, May 24 to Oct. 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. This date has been pushed back to July. Kelly Jo Osentoski oversees community promotions and confirmed the chambers current plans to host a market every Friday, starting July 3, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Manager of the farmers market Barb Kozlowski sent an email to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessels office, asking for clarification on what vendors could sell. According to attorney generals office, they are pretty sure it is going to be listed so that we (all vendors) can all be there, Kozlowski said. The market will take place on the lawn of the Murphy Museum. If interested in becoming a vendor, email Kozlowski at tupperbarb1@gmail.com. Pigeon Farmers Market Details surrounding the Pigeon Farmers Market remain vague, following storm damage. It was scheduled to take place every Friday, May through October from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is no longer the case. Still planning for next Friday, Pigeon Historical Society member Duane Wurst said. "The village is busy cleaning up so it may be a confusing mess. The mess he was referring to occurred after Wednesday's storm system ripped through Pigeon and Sebewaing, leaving downed telephone poles and uprooted trees in its wake. Hope that the market will begin on Friday, June 19 remains. If this happens, it would take place at the farmers market building in downtown Pigeon, located between Village Hall and the history museum. "We have produce, baked, jams, and crafts and resale vendors," Wurst said. For more information and updates, visit the farmers market page on the Pigeon Chamber of Commerces website. Ubly Farmers Market Ubly has opted out of putting on a farmers market this year. Community club member Bonnie Irvine said the group thought about selling essential items. However, the market only has four or five committed food vendors present at varying times. If I were lucky, I would have two at a time, Irvine said. Instead, she is looking ahead to next years farmers market. Find additional information on the Ubly Community Club Facebook page. Caseville Farmers Market Kick-off for the market is Saturday, June 12. All vendors will be at the market, set to occur throughout the summer until September. We are starting (June 12) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.," Michelle Louwers from the Caseville Chamber of Commerce said. "We are full for the weekend. Expect 20 vendors." Louwers added that social distancing guidelines would be followed. The chamber of commerce may be reached at email@casevillechamber.com or by phone at 989-856-3818. Sebewaing Farmers Market Ray Parsons runs the farmers market in Sebewaing and hopes for a late June kickoff. However, he could not be certain and said he should know more next month. "I am thinking about starting June 28," Parsons said. To learn more, call Ray Parsons at 989-977-0052 or checkout the Sebewaing Farmers Market Facebook Page. The Farmers Market Association has asked that farmers market managers consult their local health departments and the state of Michigan for information related to COVID-19. If seeking information on how to stay safe at local Farmers Markets, the Huron County Health Department can be reached at 989-269-9721. BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 10 am ET Friday, the University of Michigan is due to release preliminary consumer sentiment for June. Ahead of the data, the greenback traded mixed against its major rivals. While the greenback recovered from its early low against the pound, it held steady against the rest of major rivals. The greenback was worth 107.27 against the yen, 0.9466 against the franc, 1.1309 against the euro and 1.2590 against the pound as of 9:55 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The Madhya Pradesh government announced on Thursday that markets in state capital Bhopal will remain close on Saturdays and Sundays in view of alarming rise in the number of coronavirus cases. We have decided that Bhopal will remain shut for two days in a week - on Saturdays and Sundays, state health minister Narottam Mishra said. Bhopal has so far reported 2,012 Covid-19 patients including 66 who died. After the lockdown was eased, the shops and markets outside containment zones were allowed to open. The coronavirus case count in Madhya Pradesh reached 10,241 on Thursday with 192 new patients being detected, 85 of them in Bhopal, since Wednesday evening. Four Covid-19 patients died during this period, taking the death toll to 431, the health department said. The state has added 2,152 new cases of the coronavirus disease since lockdown was eased on May 31. No new coronavirus case was reported from 28 districts since Wednesday evening. While cases have been reported from all 52 districts now, four of them did not have any active cases on Thursday, the bulletin from health department said on Thursday. Out of the total number of infections, 2,768 are active cases, 192 new and 7,042 have recovered. The state government has so far tested 2,33,740 people. The nationwide Covid-19 tally neared 2.9 lakh on Thursday with a record one-day increase of nearly 10,000 cases. In its morning update, the Union Health Ministry said the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases has risen to 2,86,579 after a record number of 9,996 cases were reported in 24 hours since Wednesday 8 am. Walnut Creek declared a citywide curfew Sunday night and asked businesses to shut down immediately in response to unrest and looting in the Broadway Plaza shopping area, one of several Bay Area suburbs where vandalism was reported. A woman was shot and wounded in the arm in connection with the Walnut Creek unrest, police told The Chronicle. Dozens of stores in the shopping district were vandalized, and officers eventually fired tear gas to disperse protesters. Due to civil unrest in the Broadway Plaza area, the city of Walnut Creek is establishing a curfew, effective at 6:00 pm today & asking all businesses downtown to close immediately, the Police Department tweeted. Please ensure your doors are locked & secured. Nearby Pleasant Hill warned people to stay away from that citys downtown and the Crossroads Shopping Center and declared a curfew Sunday night. Danville and Santa Clara also imposed curfews, joining San Francisco and San Jose in ordering people not to go out at night without a valid reason. In Fremont, access to the Pacific Commons shopping center was closed around 9 p.m. due to civil unrest throughout the region and shopping centers being targeted by looters, the Police Department there reported. And in San Leandro, there was widespread looting in and around Bayfair Mall. Dozens of stores were ransacked. Walnut Creek police Capt. Jay Hill said there had been a shooting related to the protests in the Contra Costa County city, but details were sketchy. Several officers said the victim was a woman. BART said it had closed the Walnut Creek, Concord, Lafayette and Hayward stations because of the unrest. The Walnut Creek station is near a Target store, one of several that the chain has temporarily shuttered in the Bay Area because of unrest prompted by the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd on Monday. The Walnut Creek Target was among the stores vandalized Sunday. The sound of saws and power tools filled the air downtown as dozens of stores boarded up after seeing the looting at dozens of other establishments, including at Macys in Broadway Plaza. Police in riot gear stood guard at every major entrance to the downtown core, blocking off traffic and telling people to go home before night fell. Weve got a lot of nice places to steal from, so maybe thats why theyre coming here, Hill said. I dont see any signs around these smashed stores, just broken glass. Around 7:30 p.m., about 30 protesters started marching down North Main Street yelling, No justice no peace, and other slogans. About an hour later, police fired tear gas at the group to keep them away from stores at North California Boulevard and Bonanza Street. The crowd ran north and appeared to have dispersed. I understand protesting, but when it comes to ruining peoples businesses, especially with this pandemic going on how can you do this? said Marc Croke of Pleasant Hill, who came to town to help friends board up the Havana restaurant on Bonanza Street. Its one thing to protest, but this? How does this help racial justice? Id say the police need to be leaning hard on this destruction to prevent it. Now Playing: Protesters refused to heed official pleas to stay home Saturday, instead taking to Oakland and Bay Area streets, where police officers in riot gear faced another night of outrage over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Here's an inside look. Video: Matthias Gafni, Erika Carlos Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Paris Peabody, 24, came from Concord to join the protest. He said he wanted to send a peaceful message, not one of vandalism. Its important for people to keep their heads cool, he said. Big corporations like Target in Minneapolis OK, maybe the destruction there you could understand. But little places around here? No. This is about racial justice, not looting. One woman who gave her name only as Bee drove to Walnut Creek in her Toyota SUV, which had been painted with slogans including, Listen to our cries, to join the protest. I live in the East Bay, and I went to Danville and a lot of places where white people need to wake up, she said. They need to hear things are not business as usual. If the cops stopped killing us, this stuff wouldnt happen. Kevin Fagan and Trapper Byrne are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com tbyrne@sfchronicle.com US video-conference company says accounts were briefly suspended because it could not block individual participants. Zoom Video Communications admitted on Thursday that it suspended user accounts and ended meetings linked to the anniversary of Chinas Tiananmen Square crackdown on its platform after the Chinese government demanded it do so. Zoom, which has seen its global popularity as a video conferencing tool soar during the COVID-19 pandemic, said it did not provide any user information or meeting content to the Chinese government, adding it would not allow further requests from China to affect users outside the country in the future. The companys statement comes after it temporarily shut three accounts belonging to activists, one of whom is based in Hong Kong and two of whom are in the United States. Humanitarian China founder Zhou Fengsuo, who is based in the US, said his account was suspended after holding a Zoom event to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the brutal military crackdown in Tiananmen Square. Viewers from mainland China, where Tiananmen has been all but erased, joined the event. Zoom said the Chinese government had notified it about four large planned commemoration meetings that were being publicised on social media. The authorities demanded they terminate the events and linked accounts, it added. Zoom decided to end three of those meetings and temporarily suspend the host accounts as it is currently unable to remove specific participants from a meeting or block participants from a certain country from joining a meeting, the company said. California-based Zoom said it left the last meeting undisturbed as it did not have any participants from mainland China. It has now reinstated the accounts. Working on blocks The company said it was developing technology to enable it to remove or block at the participant level based on geography, and would publish an updated global policy on June 30. This will enable us to comply with requests from local authorities when they determine activity on our platform is illegal within their borders, it said. However, we will also be able to protect these conversations for participants outside of those borders where the activity is allowed. Reuters was not immediately able to contact Chinas internet watchdog, the Cyberspace Administration of China. The semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong is the only place in China that holds a public commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown [Jerome Favre/EPA] Content related to the Tiananmen Square crackdown is regularly blocked or censored by authorities in China, and Western social media and chat platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp are blocked. Microsofts Skype was removed from Chinas Apple and Android stores in 2017, although a Skype for Business option remains available. Zoom, which said in its US Securities and Exchange Commission filings that it has many research and development personnel in China, is not blocked and has become a popular tool for Chinese users told to stay home during the COVID-19 outbreak. Wang Dan, an exiled Tiananmen Square student leader whose account was also shut down, said he was shocked to hear Zoom admit it had interrupted meetings. His June 3 event with about 200 participants was deactivated midstream, he said. Zoom complied with Chinas request, preventing us from going about our lives smoothly. It cannot get away with just a statement. We shall continue to use legal means and public opinion to ask Zoom to take responsibility for its mistake, he said. Pat OMalley, now flying solo, plans to reopen the Queen Village restaurant Hungry Pigeon on Saturday, nearly two weeks after his former partners racist statement on Instagram drew criticism and a staff revolt. OMalley took to Instagram on Thursday to offer the ways he would address systemic racism, while creating a healthier workplace and addressing inequalities in the food-service industry. The restaurant, he wrote, will address diversity and human relations issues, and will begin ways to help entry-level staff, such as bussers and food runners, find a clear career path; work with Sharing Love and other organizations to contribute food; and participate in the @bakersagainstracism campaign. Hungry Pigeon which opened to acclaim in January 2016 at Fourth and Fitzwater Streets will offer takeout, delivery, and walk-up sales. Weather permitting, three tables of four will offer outdoor seating. The name and visage of cofounder Scott Schroeder have been scrubbed from the restaurants website but not its Instagram account. On May 31, as protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd continued in Philadelphia and around the country, Schroeders posts on his now-deleted Instagram account included one that read, Thank you Black America. You had me at hip hop and fried chicken. Former Hungry Pigeon workers posted grievances on Medium on June 2, citing the posts and saying they did not come as a surprise given his bullyish behavior in the workplace. Neighborhood groups posted a letter addressed to Schroeder on the restaurants door that concluded with, Racism will not be tolerated in this community. Someone wrote Scott Schroeder owner of Hungry Pigeon is a racist!! on the bench in front of the restaurant. The workers group did not reply to messages seeking comment on the reopening. Schroeder and OMalley are entering a separation agreement. Schroeder said he wanted to step away from the restaurant business and "do something more meaningful and helpful to underprivileged people. Schroeders departure was one of a series of protest-related fallouts in Philadelphias food scene. Di Bruno Bros. offered free lunch to police, and then rescinded the offer and apologized after employees spoke out publicly and threatened to strike. In response, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 president John McNesby said cops would boycott Di Brunos. Kensington brewery Evil Genius also issued a statement clarifying its standpoint and explaining its actions after firing its head brewer for social media posts expressing anti-police sentiments. WASHINGTON Joe Bidens search for a running mate is entering a second round of vetting for a dwindling list of potential vice presidential nominees, with several black women in strong contention. Democrats with knowledge of the process said Bidens search committee has narrowed the choices to as few as six serious contenders after initial interviews. Among the group still in contention: Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kamala Harris of California, as well as Susan Rice, who served as President Barack Obama's national security adviser. Those with knowledge declined to name other contenders and said the process remains somewhat fluid. Additional candidates may still be asked to submit to the extensive document review process now underway for some top contenders. Those familiar with Biden's search spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the process. The campaign dismissed the idea of a shortened list as early speculation. Those who talk dont know and those who know dont talk, said Andrew Bates, a Biden spokesperson. Biden, who has already said he will pick a woman as his running mate, is facing increased calls from Democrats to put a woman of color on the ticket both because of the outsize role that black voters played in Biden's road to the nomination and because of the reckoning over racism and inequality roiling the nation following the death of George Floyd. The black Minneapolis man died after a white police officer pressed his knee on his neck for several minutes, an episode that was captured on video. Terry McAuliffe, the former Virginia governor and former Democratic National Committee chairman, said that while Biden's choice was likely to be all about personal chemistry," it would be exciting for the party to have a black woman on a major party presidential ticket for the first time. The campaign's list includes several black women, including Harris and Rice. Advisers have also looked closely at Florida Rep. Val Demings and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, both of whom are black, and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Latina. Biden's vetting committee had conversations with a larger group of women earlier this spring; those continuing on in the process have been asked to turn over financial records, past writings and other documentation. Biden has had various public and private interactions with many of the women his vetting committee has considered thus far, but has not yet had any formal one-on-one interviews expressly to discuss the No. 2 spot on the ticket. Those arent expected for several weeks. Rice, who worked closely with Biden during his time as vice president, has emerged as a favorite among some former Obama administration officials and is personally close to the former president. She has never held elected office but has extensive foreign policy experience, including as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She's also been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration since leaving the White House and considered running for U.S. Senate in Maine. Rice has long been a target of Republicans, including for statements she made after the deadly 2012 attacks on Americans in Benghazi, Libya. Republicans have also accused her of spying on Michael Flynn, Trump's first national security adviser, though records declassified by the Trump administration show no evidence of Rice improperly accessing any information. Harris and Warren have been seen as top contenders for the No. 2 spot since ending their own presidential campaigns. Warren and Biden have forged a surprising bond in recent months and talk regularly about the progressive policy ideas the Massachusetts senator put at the forefront of her campaign. Biden already has adopted her proposed bankruptcy law overhaul. And now, with the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic slowdown elevating the nuts-and-bolts of governing, some Democrats see Warren's policy credentials as an asset to the ticket. A Biden-Warren pairing would mean both Democrats on the ticket are white and in their 70s. Biden is 77, and Warren is 70. Harris is the lone black contender who has won statewide office, notable experience given Bidens emphasis on wanting a partner ready to be president. She and Biden have also demonstrated a comfortable manner with each other in online fundraisers. Harris is an expert voice in discussions of criminal justice, but some black progressives view her background as a prosecutor skeptically. One contender whose standing does appear to have fallen is Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who was a prosecutor years ago in the county that includes Minneapolis. During that period, more than two dozen people mostly minorities died during encounters with police. While the people with knowledge of Biden's vetting process did not rule Klobuchar out, she is widely viewed among Democrats with close ties to the Biden campaign as less likely to be tapped given recent events. Barrow reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Alexandra Jaffe and Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report. 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review by Thom Cannell and Steve Purdy 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review By Thom Cannell and Steve Purdy Senior Editors Michigan Bureau The Auto Channel This is the new normal, the launch of a new car without a car. Hyundai was to debut their 2020 Sonata Hybrid in California, plans made months ago and instead hosted a videoconference sponsored by MAMA, the Midwest Automotive Media Association. So now were talking about something weve only seen in pictures, oh, and at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show where it premiered. The 2020 Sonata Hybrid arrives in three models, Blue, SEL and Limited, with abundant features that rival their Genesis luxury sub-brand, and a majority are standard, among them are forward collision assist with bicycle recognition, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic assist, smart cruise control with stop-and-go, lane following assist, LED lighting and an upgraded powertrain. Reserved for the Limited are the best infotainment system and gauge cluster, highway driving assist and a solar roof capable of delivering over a thousand miles of cost-free driving every year. Better, that solar roof may prevent the 12 V battery from discharging while youre on vacation. Under the sleek new skin, a hungry shark-like structure with new grille and tail spoiler, is a Hyundais 2.0-liter Direct Injected Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder, now mated to a new 6-speed automatic transmission through a 39 kW e-motor. This shift-by-wire transmission has several selectable modes that include Eco and Sport, plus a Smart mode that memorizes your recent desires. If youre commuting, it may recall that the last hour has been laconic and stay in Eco mode. However, if youre accelerator is active, it will deliver Sport, with a sample rate of 160 ms. With all power systems humming, total output is 192 horsepower and expected Combined fuel economy ranges from 47 mpg to 52 mpg for the least expensive Blue. So yes, there are other hidden improvements like better undertrays to smooth out the greasy side and a triumvirate of what the industry calls Active Grille Shutters. They open or close according to a complexity of sensory input that juggles cooling needs with aerodynamic efficiency. Its easy to get stuck on the solar roof, a photovoltaic array capable of producing 205 Watts of power under sunny skies. Of course theres a weight penalty of roughly 20 kg or 44 pounds, which is still 13 kg less than a panoramic glass roof. Theoretically, this solar roof might provide power for 1,236 miles per year, if you live in West Hollywood where we did our calculations, according to Hyundai engineer Jerome Gregeois. A change from previous Sonata Hybrids is relocation of the fuel tank and 270-volt battery. The battery is moved forward, under rear passenger seats, and the fuel tank moved a bit back. The result is less yaw when cornering, improving handling anywhere but straight ahead. Plus, the change delivers 2.5 cubic feet of storage, according to Hyundai. Cool features were chuffed to experience include Apple Car Play and Android Auto, Text-to-Speech via Bluetooth, heated and ventilated front seats. And above all, the top-of-line 10.25-inch touch screen infotainment system. It should be amazing, as it promises to offer customizable split screens, natural language speech recognition through the cloud and Hyundais Blue Link telematics system. With the instrument cluster, it stretches over 12 inches. It does other nifty things, like showing your blind spot in the instrument cluster (if you use your turn signal to change lanes!!). Were also interested in Hyundais Highway Driving Assist, which promises to assist drivers in maintaining the vehicle in the center of the road, at an appropriate speed, while keeping a set distance from the car in front. Yes, there are good times ahead, once we actually drive the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. STEVES TAKE Certainly, an abbreviated, Zoom-enabled press conference to introduce a new model is novel taking the form of the briefing that goes just before we get into the cars for some drive time during a typical product launch. The hands-on part of a new product review will have to wait. As you can see from Thoms description above, Hyundais new Sonata Hybrid continues the companys product charge forward. Theyve been consistently offering new stuff with aplomb. While prices no longer come in under competitors, innovation, quality and overall value have continued to challenge the best in the business. In fact, check out the last three years of J.D. Power Initial Quality Surveys to see Hyundai and Kia at the top with many of their vehicles. So, with fuel prices at near-historic lows and expected to stay that way, and with a general move away from sedans in the market, will there be enough customers for this car. Obviously, the marketing folks at Hyundai think so as they strategize their long game. Theyre betting that people will still want four-door sedans and theyll continue to want to lower their carbon footprint. Good bets both, Ill say. The new Sonata Hybrid updates styling and design with yet more swoopyness and tweaks engineering details substantially while enhancing content needed to keep pace with competitors. From what we heard today it sounds like the competition should be worried. I look forward to experiencing the car first-hand and having that intimate close look. If recent Hyundai products are a guide, we can assume, excellent quality of materials and construction, attractive modern design and top-drawer engineering. Official Hyundai 2020 Sonata Hybrid Release Hyundai introduced its new 2020 Sonata Hybrid, boasting 686 miles of driving range and an EPA estimated 52 mpg combined fuel economy rating on the Blue trim. This is the first time the Sonata Hybrid has been shown in North America. The 2020 Sonata Hybrid is also equipped with the worlds first Active Shift Control (ASC) technology and a Solar Roof System (SRS), which increase driving range. The new Sonata Hybrid goes on sale this spring and is built in Asan, Korea. Overview The 2020 Sonata Hybrids exclusive styling has a slippery 0.24 drag coefficient, thanks to a unique cross-hole grille with active air flaps, a rear spoiler and aerodynamic alloy wheels. Hyundai Motors Solar Roof System makes its debut on the Sonata Hybrid. This system recharges the hybrid battery while preventing unnecessary battery discharge when the car is off. SRS can increase the driving range by a couple of miles after 6 hours of charging. Engineers also applied Active Shift Control technology to control the electric motor, aligning it with the rotational speeds of the engine and transmission, reducing gear-shifting times by 30%. This synchronization not only improves the Sonata Hybrids acceleration and fuel economy but also improves the durability of the transmission by minimizing friction during shifts. The Sonata Hybrid is equipped with a Smartstream G2.0 GDi HEV engine and a 6-speed hybrid automatic transmission. The engines power output is 150 horsepower and 139 lb.-ft. of torque. The cars electric motor delivers power output of 39 kW (51 HP) and maximum torque of 151 lb.-ft. of torque. Combined system power output is 192 horsepower and EPA estimated fuel economy numbers are 50 city, 54 highway and 52 combined for the Blue trim. Mechanical Specifications 2020 Sonata Hybrid 2020 Camry Hybrid 2020 Accord Hybrid Gasoline Engine Size 2.0L I4 GDI 2.5L I4 GDI 2.0L I4 GDI HP/Torque (lb.-ft.) 150 / 139 176 / 163 143 / 129 Electric Motor kW (HP) 39 kW (51 HP) 88 kW (118 HP) 135 kW (181 HP) Voltage 270V 259V N/A Net Horsepower 192 HP 208 HP 212 HP Fuel Economy (city/hwy./comb.) EPA estimates 50/54/52 Blue 45/51/47 SEL, Limited 51/53/52 LE 44/47/46 SE, XLE 48/47/48 Hybrid Solar Roof System Hyundai Sonata Hybrids solar-panel roof directly charges the 12-volt and hybrid batteries and outputs 205 watts of electricity. This system has several benefits: Mileage increases by about 2 miles per day Helps prevent battery discharge from infotainment or HVAC systems when the car is off Unique design cue Active Shift Control Technology ASC technology optimizes transmission efficiency by monitoring gear shifts 500 times per second and precisely adjusting the transmission rotation speed for faster shift times. ASC applies new control logic software to the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU), which aligns the electric motor with the rotational speeds of the engine and transmission to reduce gear shifts by 30%. The technology also delivers smoother gear changes and quicker shift times. The development of the worlds first ASC technology is a remarkable innovation that incorporates precise motor control to an automatic transmission, said KyoungJoon Chang, Vice President and Head of Powertrain Control System Group of Hyundai Motor Group. It will not only save fuel but also provide a more fun driving experience for our customers. Independently Developed Control Logic Software Applied to the Electric Motor Conventional hybrid vehicles do not have torque converters to improve fuel economy because torque converters lose energy while transferring power to the drive wheels. Although fuel efficient, such a system also requires longer shift times to ensure smoother gear changes. ASC technology allows the hybrids electric motor to also take control of gear shifts by applying new software logic to the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) to mitigate issues with slower shift time. The HCU monitors the rotational speed of transmission with a sensor installed inside the electric motor at 500 times per second to synchronize the rotational speed with that of the gasoline engine. The synchronization reduces shift time by 30% from 500 ms to 350 ms. This improves not only the hybrid vehicles acceleration performance and fuel economy but also the durability of the transmission, by minimizing friction during gear shifts. Aerodynamics The Sonata Hybrid slips through air with 0.24 drag coefficient. The low drag coefficient is accomplished by managing airflow over and under the body. Up front, the Sonata Hybrid has active air flaps behind the grille, which close when less engine cooling is needed. A redesigned rear spoiler further improves airflow. To reduce drag under the body Hyundai engineers added several elements: Bumper lip Front- and rear-wheel deflectors Undercovers in the front and back of the engine bay Center floor undercover Rear undercover Digital Key Continuing to promote the latest advances in technology, the new Sonata Hybrid offers an optional smartphone-based Hyundai Digital Key. Digital Key uses a dedicated mobile app, Near Field Communication (NFC), and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to allow a new Sonata to be unlocked, started and driven without a physical key, via a smartphone. Sonatas Digital Key also allows secure sharing of virtual keys with family and friends. Sonata owners can tailor the different vehicle functions available to each shared virtual key, and can make the key available for only a defined amount of time. The vehicle owner can preset the duration of vehicle use or limit the use to only certain features when loaning the vehicle, and can also revoke keys remotely. For additional convenience, such as using a valet service or visiting a Hyundai dealer, Hyundai Digital Key also works with an NFC card, which will be provided with each vehicle. Each Sonata still comes with traditional keys. Hyundai Digital Key is compatible only with phones using the Android operating system. Hyundai Digital Key utilizes NFC technology, which exhibits a high level of security. The NFC wireless data communication takes place only when the device and the reader are placed several centimeters apart. Optimized Hybrid Battery Placement By optimizing the placement of the high-voltage hybrid battery, Hyundai engineers were able to increase trunk capacity by 2.5 cubic feet, compared with the 2019 Sonata Hybrid. This placement also helps create best-in-class front headroom and legroom. 2020 Sonata Hybrid 2020 Camry Hybrid 2020 Accord Hybrid Headroom (F/R) in. 40.0/37.8 37.5/38.0 37.5/37.2 Legroom (F/R) in. 46.1/34.8 42.1/38.0 42.3/40.4 Shoulder Room (F/R) in. 57.9/56.1 57.7/55.7 58.3/56.5 Hip Room (F/R) in. 54.6/54.4 55.4/54.7 55.3/55.0 Convenience Technology The 2020 Sonata Hybrid features a number of advanced comfort and convenience features including an electric parking brake, Hands-free Smart Trunk, Qi high-speed wireless smartphone charging pad with cooling fan, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Text-to-Speech via Bluetooth, heated and ventilated front seats and split-folding rear seats. The top-of-the-line audio and navigation display is a wide, high-definition, customizable, 10.25-inch touchscreen monitor with split screens and natural language, and cloud-based speech recognition powered by Blue Link, while the cluster supervision display is a full 12.3 inches. The navigation system includes a birds-eye view in navigation maps, and drivers get HD Radio traffic flow and incident data without ever paying for a subscription. Dual Bluetooth support is also available, so two devices can be paired at the same timeone for phone calls and one for streaming audio. The navigation system also comes with three years of Blue Link Multimedia/Map updates. Hyundais eight-inch display audio user interface, equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, is standard on the 2020 Sonata Hybrid. An optional Bose audio system also delivers an exceptional experience to customers. SmartSense Safety Technologies Sonata features Hyundais latest SmartSense advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). A series of sensors and systems, often restricted to luxury cars, combine to potentially warn the driver and may take action in the event of a safety incident. Meanwhile, other ADAS systems can help the driver perform certain tasks using the cars 3 radar sensors, 12 ultrasonic sensors and 5 cameras. These features include: Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (standard) Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (standard) Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (standard) Lane Keeping Assist (standard) Advanced Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go (standard) Highway Driving Assist (optional) Safety Features 2020 Sonata Hybrid 2020 Camry Hybrid 2020 Accord Hybrid STANDARD SAFETY Total Standard Airbags 9 10 6 Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) x x x Smart Cruise Control with Stop/Start Capability x x x Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection x x x Daytime Running Lights (DRL) x x x High Beam Assist x x x Blind Spot Collision Avoidance-Assist (BCA) x O O Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance-Assist (RCTA) x O NA Highway Driving Assist Highway Driving Assist (HDA) is a driving convenience system that assists drivers in maintaining the vehicle in the center of the lane, at an appropriate speed, while keeping a set distance from the car in front. Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist The 2020 Sonata Hybrid is fitted with standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with pedestrian detection, an advanced active safety feature that helps alert drivers to certain emergency situations, and may brake autonomously, if necessary. Using front radar and front camera sensors, FCA operates in three stages. Initially warning the driver visually and acoustically, it helps assess the nature of potential collision danger and may apply increasing amounts of braking force to avoid a collision or minimize damage when a collision is unavoidable. Lane Following Assist Lane Following Assist (LFA) may automatically adjust steering to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane of travel. LFA can help keep the vehicle centered on both highways and city streets. Blind-Spot View Monitor and Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) The Blind-Spot View Monitor with the Sonatas outside mirror-mounted cameras offers the driver an enhanced field of vision. The BCW system helps scan for vehicles entering the drivers blind spot. If the driver activates a turn signal, an image of the view from the corresponding wing mirror appears in the 12.3-inch cluster display. If a vehicle is detected in the blind spot, audible and visual alerts are provided. Surround-View Monitor The new Sonata uses four cameras to provide the driver with an enhanced, birds-eye view of the cars exterior, giving the driver confidence when maneuvering into or out of spaces. Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist helps detect pedestrians and obstacles with a rearview camera and ultrasonic sensors. The system can provide warnings and apply emergency braking to assist in avoidance of a collision. Touch Sensor Outside Door Handles Touch Sensor Outside Door Handles on the Sonata Hybrid increase ease of use and further refine the design. To lock the door, the driver need only touch the sensor on the outside of the door handle. Pulling on the handle activates a larger sensor on the inside of the handle to open the door. Remote Start Remote Start has been a part of the Hyundai Blue Link system for years. It works by using a cellular data connection to warm up or cool down a Sonata when it is out of sight of the owner. To make that system even better, Hyundai engineers added Remote Start to the 2020 Sonata Hybrids key fob on models equipped with Proximity Key and Push Button Start. This allows a remote start to be performed when the car is within the owners line of sight. Blue Link The connected car team at Hyundai continues to improve Blue Links services, and the 2020 Sonata Hybrid received many system enhancements. As with most Hyundai models, Blue Link is complimentary on the 2020 Sonata Hybrid for three years and includes Remote Start with Climate Control, Remote Door Lock/Unlock, Stolen Vehicle Recovery and Destination Search by Voice. These 2020 improvements include: Remote Profile Managementstores select vehicle settings to the Blue Link cloud and enables the user to update them remotely and push them back to the vehicle Remote Start Enhancements: Remote seat heat/vent (full support on/off for each individual heated/cooled seat; ability to adjust level) Profile selection (preloads individual driver setting for seating position and side mirrors) Vehicle Status Notificationsif the vehicle is left with doors unlocked or windows open, customers will receive a notification POI Send to Car now with Waypoints (ability to add up to three waypoints, to be delivered to the vehicle together and which will automatically set order of destinations) Maintenance Alert Enhancementmaintenance interval tracking is now visible in the multimedia system, with ability to reset Quiet Cabin Several new improvements isolate passengers from unwanted noises: Double-junction soundproof glass has been added to the windshield and the front doors Improved carpet D3 sound absorption materials on the luggage side trim, wheel guard and package tray D3 sound absorption materials on the door trim and trunk board bottom Reinforcements to the front/rear wheel members HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA At Hyundai Motor America, we believe everyone deserves better. From the way we design and build our cars to the way we treat the people who drive them, making things better is at the heart of everything we do. Hyundais technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assuranceour promise to create a better experience for customers. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide and nearly half of those sold in the U.S. are built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. SCHENECTADY More than 200 people rallied outside City Hall Thursday night to demand changes in how the city operates its police department and for more criminal justice reforms. Led by civil rights activists from All of Us Community Action Group, the crowd cheered the list of demands made on the footsteps of City Hall then marched two blocks to the police station where the demands were again read and calls were made for police to come out and speak to them. There were no uniformed officers at the rally and no one came out of the police station. The "Justice Now or Shut it Down" rally was the latest effort to come in the wake of local Black Lives Matters rallies including two in Schenectady across the Capital Region that have been held to draw attention to the abuse of black men and women following the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. Jamaica Miles, the co-founder of All Of Us, read the list of demands through a bullhorn. Miles said that Mayor Gary McCarthy's decision to sign an executive order banning certain police actions was a result of the activists' postings on social media and the announcement of the Thursday evening rally. On Wednesday, McCarthy signed an executive order explicitly banning the use of knee-to-neck and choke holds by the city's police department. The announcement comes as law enforcement agencies across the country review their use-of-force standards in response to Floyd's death and days after the New York State Assembly passed the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act, which bans the use of the tactic by law enforcement. McCarthy's executive order also reaffirms the duty of an officer to report instances of excessive force and reaffirms department de-escalation training requirements. This order is to reaffirm to our residents our commitment to justice and equity in the City of Schenectady, McCarthy said in a statement. He noted that use-of-force data is collected and analyzed daily to review for officer frequency and other trends such as sex, race, mental health and type of force. An independent Civilian Police Review Board reviews all citizen initiated-complaints free from bias and informed by actual police policies, the mayor said. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The demands issued Thursday night included automatic firing of law enforcement and corrections officials for racist comments, social media postings, telephone calls and in other media; the Schenectady County District Attorney's Office and police should divert drug seizure money back to the community; prosecution of police officers and corrections officers for violation of civil rights, killings, beatings and other crimes; stop chargeable offenses arising from "living as black;" turning off or damaging body cameras will result in being fired; abolition of no knock warrants; sobriety tests must be video recorded; and abolition of choke holds, strangleholds and hog-tying by police and corrections officers. Outside the police station the rally goers took a knee. They also chanted "Come outside. Talk to us." Lehigh Valley International Airport never closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but passenger traffic ground almost to a halt as people only flew if it was necessary. Things are slowly looking up, as the Pennsylvanias shutdown that caused LVIAs passenger traffic to nosedive -- and ended a 29-month streak of growth -- comes to an end. Obviously air travel has slowed down to a standstill in the last several months, certainly (LVIA) was not spared from that, Tom Stoudt, executive director of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, said Thursday. Aviation really ground to a halt, really one of the first industries impacted when we saw the shutdown of international travel and obviously domestic travel," but it was Pennsylvanias stay-at-home order that hit LVIA hard. The shutdown, which began in mid-March, cut LVIA passenger traffic by 42% in March. The pandemic bottom to passenger traffic was in April, a normally a busy time of spring travel. LVIA saw a 96.7 % drop in passenger traffic compared to the same time last year, from 83,560 travelers in 2019 to only 2,749 passengers. Officials did not have the exact May traffic numbers on Thursday. While other Pennsylvania counties and some states reopened during that time, the Lehigh Valley was still under the stay-at-home order and only moved into the yellow phase of reopening last Friday. Still, Stoudt said it looks like Lehigh Valley International was on track to do 5% better in May than the national average of passenger traffic reported by the TSA. That is certainly welcome news, Stoudt said. Now, with the entire state reopening, travelers are coming back but slowly. On Thursday, the terminal had a steady influx of masked travelers making their way to flights. Its great to see people flying again as we move into the yellow phase, Stoudt said, adding some travelers are now focusing on taking vacations closer to home since other summer plans were ed because of the pandemic. People are moving about again, and we want to make sure we have plenty of safety protocols in place to keep people safe and healthy as they move about the facility and enjoy their vacation." After COVID-19 decimated air travel, travelers are slowly making their way back to Lehigh Valley International Airport in Hanover Township, Lehigh County. The airport has made a few changes to keep travelers safe, including extended the pathway to the TSA checkpoint, seen here on June 11, 2020.Sarah Cassi | For lehighvalleylive.com All passengers at LVIA must wear a mask or face covering in the terminals and plexiglass barriers have been installed at tickets counters and podiums. Hand sanitizer stations are around the airport and increased cleaning and disinfecting is in place at the airport and by the airlines, Stoudt said. The roped walkway to the TSA checkpoint has been extended to allow social distancing; if the line is too long on the ground level, travelers will be queued on the upper floor of the terminal to ensure six feet of space between them. The TSA has its own policies and recommendations for flyers, which can be found here. Im certain your first takeoff here at ABE is going to feel a little different, Stoudt said, and each airline has its own procedures and protocols during the pandemic. Scott Frable was waiting to start his business trip to Portland, Oregon. Frable, from Wind Gap, said he has been driving for business trips during the pandemic, but the West Coast was too far away, so this was his first business flight. He was gearing up to fly from LVIA to Charlotte, then Charlotte to Dallas, and from Dallas to Portland. His workplace, FlexLink, had several jobs on hold out there since March. He was concerned because the flight from Charlotte was full, and he was worried about being bumped off. He was wearing a black face mask and had his own hand sanitizer for the trip. Frable was waiting to make plans on his return flights, but Im worried about (COVID-19) ramping back up. Everything opening up and now youre starting to see the numbers go up. Its a little concerning, he said. United has temporarily suspended its service between Chicago and LVIA until late September, and restarting its Newark shuttle service at LVIA on July 6. American Airlines and Allegiant are still offering routes to Chicago. As for the future, a key piece for LVIA to be able to adapt for future health crises is a three-year, $22 million project to connect the main terminal to the Wilfred M. Wiley Post Jr. Concourse. Part of the project is relocating the TSA checkpoint to space where it can expand from two processing lanes to four processing lanes. Its critical now more than ever, Stoudt said. The project is in the design phase and is still planned to be bid in August or September, Stoudt said. Airport officials are keeping an eye out if any future federal stimulus funds could be used for the project. Editors note: This article was updated to correct the airline that has suspended service from LVIA to Chicago. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. WASHINGTON - The intertwined economies of Canada and the United States demand a more sophisticated solution to the threat of COVID-19 than a simple ban on non-essential travel, say business groups chafing at the prospect of another six weeks of border restrictions. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/6/2020 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer walks past a truck inspection station at the U.S. border in Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, June 6, 2006. Business groups and border communities that depend on traffic across the Canada-U.S. border are growing impatient with travel restrictions that appear poised to stretch into a fourth straight month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-David Duprey WASHINGTON - The intertwined economies of Canada and the United States demand a more sophisticated solution to the threat of COVID-19 than a simple ban on non-essential travel, say business groups chafing at the prospect of another six weeks of border restrictions. Land travel over the Canada-U.S. border has been limited to trade shipments and essential workers since mid-March, when the two countries negotiated a mutual ban on discretionary trips like vacations and shopping excursions a ban that now appears poised to extend well into July. But that "profoundly sad" ban has also made critical interactions like sales calls, site visits, in-person client meetings and networking all but impossible, said Garry Douglas, the CEO of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, based in the New York border community of Plattsburgh. "It is increasingly tearing at a unique and special social fabric, and the longer it continues the more we will be at risk of having normalized the extremely abnormal," Douglas said Friday. As it stands, the travel ban is set to expire June 21. But media reports and rumblings from both the U.S. and Canadian camps suggest that while negotiations between the two countries are ongoing, another 30-day extension aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 is likely. Douglas said he understands the reasons for the ban, but that the process now "seems driven by fear and feelings." He said he wants to see details of a gradual reopening process based on facts and a commitment to normalizing border operations, "all in recognition that enormous economic and, most importantly, social damage is now being done." "The next anticipated extension cries out for more thought and context," Douglas said, "and clearer valuing of the enormous damage we both need to minimize and ultimately end." Rep. Elise Stefanik and Rep. Brian Higgins, two New York members of the U.S. House of Representatives and co-chairs of the Northern Border Caucus, wrote Friday to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair calling for "nuanced and particularized guidance" on how to resume normal travel. "We are increasingly concerned about the impact a restricted border will have on our communities long-term," they wrote. "There must be bi-national co-ordination to develop a plan to safely allow for reasonable travel taking into account public health considerations but acknowledging our unique interconnected economies." Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, however, betrayed no indication Friday that Canada is contemplating any such thing. The partial ban has been doubly effective, Freeland said it has both permitted the movement of vital goods and essential services, preserving critical supply chains, while also keeping the risk of spreading COVID-19 between the two countries to a bare minimum. "Of course, we understand that Canada is an open society. We're an open country, we're used to travelling freely, and that is a great thing about our country," she said. "All of us are really excited about the gradual reopening of our economy ... but at the same time I think it's very, very important for all of us to appreciate how serious this situation is, and for all of us to act prudently and carefully." Tourism groups in Canada, long dependent on U.S. dollars during the lucrative summer season, penned an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week saying with businesses and governments easing restrictions across North America, the time has come to begin doing the same with international travel. "As we reopen, we are learning to live with the virus, not hide from it or each other," reads the letter from the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable. "Just like we are reopening the front doors of our homes and businesses, we need to reopen the doors of our provinces, territories and our country." John LaFalce, a former New York congressman who now makes his home in Buffalo, is also growing frustrated with the restrictions. He's one of many U.S. residents near the border who own cottages just on the other side in Fort Erie a property he's forbidden to visit, even though doing so wouldn't require him to have contact with anyone else. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. LaFalce said he suspects Donald Trump's White House is in no rush to ease restrictions at either border because the pandemic is allowing the U.S. to prevent immigrants from entering the country from Mexico, a happy circumstance for a U.S. president who's long made cracking down on immigration a cornerstone of his policy platform. But nearly three months in, the limits on incidental, short-term travel over the border are taking a toll, he said. "It's having quite a harmful effect," LaFalce said as he noted Trump's impatience in getting his country's economy back up to speed. Those who own property or pay taxes in both countries ought to be allowed to cross, provided they take the necessary precautions, he said. "It would seem to me that if the president wants to reopen the United States, he ought to reopen at least with Canada, and Canada should be responsive with appropriate restrictions." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2020. Follow James McCarten on Twitter @CdnPressStyle (Newser) John Bolton makes serious accusations in his new book, including charges that President Trump did things to help him be reelected that could have been impeachable. But some Democrats don't want to hear it, Politico reports. "John, we begged you to testify in impeachment," said Norm Eisen, a House Judiciary Committee lawyer during the impeachment process, adding: "You persistently refused. Now you want us to feel sorry for you & buy your book?" Rep. Mike Quigley said, "At the time the country needed him most, and history will reflect, he chose to sell books." Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, had no comment, but other Democrats pointed out that the revelations in Bolton's memoir would have been more help to them a few months ago; Trump was acquitted in a Senate trial in February. story continues below Chaos reigned in White House decision-making, and "getting reelected was the only thing that mattered" to Trump, Bolton writes in The Room Where It Happened. House Democrats blew it by limiting their impeachment inquiry, Bolton said. The former national security adviser can prove "Ukraine-like transgressions" throughout Trump's foreign policy, Bolton's publisher said Friday in a description of the book. But after refusing to testify, Bolton said in February at Vanderbilt University, "I will bet you a dollar right here and now my testimony would have made no difference to the ultimate outcome." Quigley said Friday that he'd give Bolton "one more chance to show some glimmer of standing up for what is right." But he also said he hoped people would borrow the book rather than buy it. (Read more John Bolton stories.) The Bombay high court (HC) on Friday continued its relief from arrest to Republic TVs editor-in-chief and primetime anchor Arnab Goswami until further orders and reserved its order in a criminal writ petition filed by the journalist seeking various reliefs, including quashing of two first information reports (FIRs) filed against him. The court directed Goswami and the Maharashtra government to submit written notes at the earliest before it passes its order. A two-member division bench, comprising Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Riyaz Chagla, was informed by senior counsel Harish Salve, who appeared on behalf of Goswami, via video-conference that the allegations against the journalist were unfounded. Goswami has been booked under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, and language), 295A (deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any citizen) 500 (defamation), 505 (2) (spreading rumour or alarming news with intent to create or promote feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The charges were based on two FIRs filed against him at Mumbais NM Joshi Marg police station and Pydhonie police station on April 22 and May 2, respectively. The charges are related to giving a communal angle to the lynching of two Hindu seers in Palghar on April 16 and a protest outside the Bandra railway station by stranded migrant workers on April 14. Salve read out each section under which Goswami was booked and denied the allegation that his comments on the Palghar and Bandra railway station incidents on his TV programmes were politically motivated. Salve said that Goswamis remarks on the programmes did not have any mala fide intention but could be attributed to journalistic enthusiasm. Salve also asked the court as to who would be held responsible if Goswami contracted the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) while attending various police stations across the country, where FIRs have been registered against him for the same incident. Kapil Sibal, who appeared on behalf of the Maharashtra government, refuted Salves claims and said that the statements on the programmes had hurt the sentiments of the people. The court heard both sides of the arguments and reserved its order. The court also extended the interim protection from any coercive action granted to Goswami in its earlier hearing on June 9 till the order was passed. Photo credit: Dan Kitwood From Esquire As Black Lives Matter protests continue to spread around the world, I have watched in awe at the outpouring of empathy in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. New hearts and minds have been won, new voices joined to the fight. But, inevitably, among the actions that have provided plenty of reason for hope, there have been brands and businesses whose expressions of solidarity feel performative and paper-thin. As I've watched the fashion industry voice its support the struggle against racial injustice, as a mixed-race Black man who has worked within its power structures for years, I've felt the awakening of an unexpected personal pain. This strange new feeling is shaped by experiences where I was repeatedly exposed to anti-Black sentiment. Sometimes this was carefully disclosed; at other times, it was openly discussed. I am the product of a Black Ghanaian father and white English mother. I am a mixed-race Black male, which has made me part of a tiny non-white minority in fashion's workplaces, as well as its shows and events. Despite my achievements, my ability, the talent attested to by my colleagues, none of it mattered. I was up against invisible barriers and obstructions. Racism stopped me dead in my tracks. From beneath this glass ceiling, I watched as opportunities were handed to other, whiter people, whose rises were unimpeded. I know, with some certainty, that this was not about ability, but a direct consequence of appearance, thanks to revealing slips of drunken tongues. Though it had often been noted that I had ability, prejudicial views in fashion's upper echelons too often bar people who look like me from progression. At the time I accepted this treatment largely without public complaint, until I finally departed. This kind of discrimination in the workplace is unlawful in the United Kingdom, but it is often so hard to prove that its victims are forced to absorb and accept it. I have been unable to let the gravity of this fact fully sink in as of yet. It adds a significant personal burden. Story continues While writing this article, I contacted a white ex-partner of several years, to ask if I had told them about this experience. It turns out I had never mentioned a word of it. You see, silence is a reaction well-practiced by minorities, over lifetimes. It is born of an unconscious need for to guard ourselves emotionally from the repeated unfairnesses we face. The reality can be too painful, and speaking out often requires an impossibly high burden of proof. It simply isnt worth the bother of explaining. We probably wont be taken seriously, anyway. We live here, we work here, we love here, we contribute here and we belong here. None among us deserve second-rate opportunities, casual micro-aggressions or intolerant cruelty, just because we are fewer in number. It is being asked to accept a pale and ghostly imitation of authentic equality, and it simply will not do. Coercively barring minorities from participating properly in the workplace is just one part of what systemic racism looks like in action today. On Tuesday last week, as black squares began to mushroom on my Instagram, I waited for those brands that rarely promoted people of colour to creative or business leadership positions that treated me differently to my colleagues because of the way I looked to pledge performative allyship to the Black Lives Matters cause. Sure enough, up they popped. But this is not just about singular experience. It is an endemic problem. Beyond the high-profile appointment of Edward Enninful at British Vogue, Black editors-in-chief across the UK and US are in startlingly short supply. Industry veteran Naomi Campbell reported as recently as last year that campaigns in which she was starring were not being used in certain countries, because she is Black. Photo credit: Justin Setterfield - Getty Images From leading campaigns to e-commerce imagery, minority models remain scarce. Despite my arguments on this front, I've been ignored by those with the power to actually enact change. Recently, as pro-diversity momentum has gained pace on social media, and in society at large, concessions have been made. But they still have invisible strings attached. Where non-white models are used, more often than not they are, mixed-race. Those with exclusively African heritage are still, in effect, barred. Even today, I note the persistent pattern of minority models being carefully excluded from the most important campaigns, or placed in less-prominent positions on website pages. This is a covert, perhaps unconscious, method of ensuring the survival and proliferation of a damaging, racially hierarchical beauty ideology. It places higher a value on Eurocentric aesthetic ideals. It is a meagre nod to diversity that doesn't embody the principles of true equality. This can be observed in the numbers of POC models on runways at fashion weeks. Though white people are a global minority, they are still heavily over-represented in fashion media. Much of the diversity that has been granted thus far has not come from a place of true belief in equality, but as the direct result of public pressure. It is rarely reflected in internal power structures and can often seem like a smokescreen. It is why you are seeing more black models, while south Asian models (for example) are far less visible. If you are not making enough noise, then you will continue to be excluded. POC make up almost half of Londons population, but they are rarely seen walking the corridors of corporate fashion brands. There are two important, unchallenged consensuses at play here. The first is that the white majority are effectively all colour-blind, which is too often an excuse for those with privilege to avoid making structural, impactful change. The second is the tacit acceptance of the idea of meritocracy, that everybody is more or less getting what they deserve. Those who subscribe to both those positions are unintentionally endorsing a racist position that they would most likely never dare to vocalise publicly. This offers us only three logical conclusions from which to choose. The first of these is that the disproportionate number of white people in Londons fashion industry is a result of natural better-suitedness, otherwise known as supremacy. The second suggests that our societal systems are actively working to the detriment of racial minorities. The third is that it is simply a matter of sheer coincidence. But this definitely isn't a coincidence. In reality, there are only two options from which to choose. You can either subscribe to the ideology of white supremacy or acknowledge the harmful effects of systemic racism. There are no other moves. But it seems that, finally, this protracted game of chess might be approaching its endgame. This is the essence of what Black Lives Matters is asking for: the end of systemic racism. The end to lies and corporate hand-washing from those who use their power to abuse, exclude and belittle those who they pretend to support in public. There is a genuine hunger to see meaningful change in the fashion industry, not just on billboards, but in boardrooms, in workshops and in all facets of these businesses. Reality and ethics must always trump optics. Support those minorities whose images, words, culture and ideas that you seek to profit from. Perhaps they are the sons or daughters of those same minority citizens who may be cleaning your toilets or guarding your doors. Their children, too, deserve a chance to be seen, rewarded and valued for their talents. It is an error to assume that scuttling for cover under black squares, empty words and the periodic use of vaguely ethnic models will prevent the chorus of discontent from arriving at your doorstep. Even if the noise abates, it will return with the addition of more and more voices, each time getting louder. There are plenty of initiatives looking to push for this desperately needed change. Design Can is one such example, specifically set up to address the issue of representation across the whole UK design industry, encouraging structural form. Pause Magazine, founded by Johnson Gold, is another, a Black-owned media platform which actively promotes and supports the interests of Black creatives and visual representation within the UK fashion industry. The Black Lives Matter movement has never been about inflicting guilt, revenge or fanning the flames of chaos. It is a rallying cry of despair in response to the indignity of centuries of punishment, terror and gruesome cruelty. It speaks with painful urgency of a need to remove the conditions which have robbed so many Black people of their opportunities, joy, dignity and lives. By allowing fair access to different types of talent, there is an opportunity for the fashion industry to be a powerful agent in spreading true equality, not just an image. Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more delivered straight to your inbox SIGN UP Need some positivity right now? Subscribe to Esquire now for a hit of style, fitness, culture and advice from the experts SUBSCRIBE You Might Also Like Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 12.06.2020: The government extended the state of emergency in Armenia on Friday for another month up to July 13. The decision was presented today at the parliament's special meeting. According to Armenian PM Nikol Pashinayn, the decision to extend the emergency came because the COVID-19 pandemic is still spreading in the country. Armenia confirmed 612 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the total number to 15,281. The total number of tests conducted so far is 77,656. According to the latest data, 5,639 people have recovered thus far. In total, 258 patientsan increase by 13have died thus far. In the meantime, health minister Arsen Torosyan noted that ten doctors from France would arrive in Armenia on Saturday. As he added, the number of COVID-19 patients in an extremely serious and serious condition ranges within 500. The news service of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia reports that a 26-year-old Azerbaijani has been apprehended on suspicion of trespassing the state border of the Republic of Armenia in the northeastern direction of the line of contact between the armed forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan at around 10 a.m. on June 12. The Azerbaijani had a bag in which there were personal items. The National Security Service is currently clarifying all the circumstances behind the border trespassing. A group of lawyers and human rights activists - Ruben Melikyan, Robert Hayrapetyan, Armen Galstyan, and Babken Harutyunyan - were apprehended Friday during the protests in front of the Armenian parliament. Later, police have released them. Robert Hayrapetyan told reporters that he doesnt think the police actions are lawful. President of the Public Oversight Center NGO Babken Harutyunyan told reporters the purpose of his and the other lawyers protest is to return the right of citizens to freedom of assembly and stated that extension of the state of emergency is exclusively politically motivated. Armenia is a great opportunity for Iran, Mehr reported referring to the Iranian Deputy FM for the Economic Diplomacy Affairs Gholamreza Ansari. "Armenia is a great opportunity for us and given that the Aras Free Zone has a unique opportunity to increase trade with this country and the Eurasian countries, we hope that the government will try to seize this special opportunity," he noted. The Administrative Court of Armenia has decided not to consider second President Robert Kocharyans lawsuit against the Penitentiary Service. With this lawsuit, Kocharyan had asked not to limit his visitation and telephone rights. The aforesaid court did not accept this lawsuit for proceedings because the oversight over the legality of decisions to ban visitation and telephone rights is subject to be carried out by criminal litigation procedure, not administrative. VEVEY (dpa-AFX) - Nestle (NSRGY.PK, NSTR.L) is exploring a sale of most of the North America waters business, including brands like Poland Spring and Pure Life, as the Swiss food major shifts focus to better performing brands. The company expects to complete the strategic review by early in 2021. The Nestle Waters business in North America, excluding International brands, had sales of about 3.4 billion Swiss francs in 2019. The company said will focus on international brands like San Pellegrino and Perrier, as well as functional water, like caffeinated water. Nestle Waters is committing to halve its use of virgin plastic by using more recycled PET and supporting the roll out of alternative delivery systems. The company also pledged to make its entire water portfolio carbon-neutral by 2025. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global cellular concrete market is anticipated to garner a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period (2017-2023), Market Research Future (MRFR) reveals in a detailed report. Cellular concrete is rapidly replacing traditional concrete materials in the construction sector due to several benefits it provides. It is a lightweight constriction material, which is made of water, Portland cement, compressed air, and foaming agent, and is also termed as aerated concrete. Market Potential and Pitfalls The soaring demand for lightweight and strong materials in the construction industry is driving the cellular concrete market across the globe. The surging preference for eco-friendly and cost-effective constructions is fueling the market growth during the assessment period. The production of conventional concrete involves the use of coal to make clinkers, which produces unwanted greenhouse gases. Cellular concrete, on the other hand, is considered an eco-friendly product, which is produced using fly-ash, at lower time and cost than conventional cement. Such benefits are likely to create huge demand from the cellular concrete market. Cellular concrete offers high-fluidity, fire resistivity, high strength, increased durability, mold resistance, and is economical. These properties enable it to offer cost-effective construction and better performance than conventional materials. On the contrary, foam liquid concentrates used to produce cellular cement may vary from poor to exceptional. This can raise concerns regarding the quality of the product. Moreover, several foam liquid concentrates promoted in the market are not designed for the production of cellular concrete. Such factors are estimated to restrict the market growth in the foreseeable future. Global Cellular Concrete Market: Segmental Analysis The global cellular concrete market has been segmented on the basis of application and end user. By application, the cellular concrete market is segmented into road sub-bases, building material, roof insulation, concrete pipes, bridge abutment, and others. Of these, the building material segment is likely to command the largest market share. The segment will retain its position in the coming years due to its low cost, less labor, and less building time. By end user, the cellular concrete market is segmented into residential and non-residential. Of these, the non-residential segment is likely to dominate the market as governments of developing as well as developed countries are emphasizing on the development of public infrastructure. This will further accelerate the demand for cellular concrete in the non-residential segment. Regional Frontiers Geographically, the global cellular concrete market spans across the Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest-of-the-World (RoW). Considering the global scenario, Europe commanded the largest market share in 2016. Growth in restructuring and remodeling of homes fuel the market growth in the region. Europe is considered the hub of autoclaved aerated concrete blocks manufacturers. This further has a positive impact on the growth of the cellular concrete market in the region. Asia Pacific is estimated to register the highest CAGR, mainly due to the recent boom in construction activities. India, China, Singapore, and Japan are some of the major countries in the region, contributing to the market growth. Economic growth in APAC has allowed for a greater requirement of commercial and institutional infrastructure spaces. Major players across the world are shifting their production facilities to cater to potential markets in the APAC, due to the availability of ample raw materials and low-cost labor. This has further influenced the growth of the market in the region. Moreover, the Chinese government has issued favorable policies to reduce the proportion of down payment for second house loans and to exempt of sales tax for ordinary housing, which has encouraged the market growth in the region. North America is considered a prominent market for the cellular concrete market due to increasing residential and non-residential construction activities in the region. Industry Updates July 2019: CEMATRIX Corporation has recently announced that the companys wholly-owned operating subsidiaries MixOnSite USA Inc. and CEMATRIX (Canada) Inc. have secured around $1.1 million in U.S. and new Canadian infrastructure contracts. Competitive Dashboard The players operating in the global cellular concrete market include Xella Group (Germany), Saint Gobain (France), Cematrix (Canada), Cellucrete (U.S.), Laston Italiana S.P.A (Italy), Litebuilt (Australia), Aerix Industries (U.S.), Cellular Concrete Technologies (U.S.), B. G. Shirke Construction Technology Pvt. Ltd (India), ACICO (Kuwait), Conco (U.S.), Broco Industries (Indonesia), CellFill, LLC (U.S.), JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd (India), and Aircrete Europe (Netherlands). WASHINGTON - First lady Melania Trump delayed her move to Washington after Donald Trump became president to gain leverage in renegotiating her prenuptial agreement, according to a new book. The White House denounced the book after it became public on Friday. Mary Jordan, author of the book The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump, wrote that the 2016 campaign had been rife with reports about Trumps alleged infidelities and the first lady was learning new details about them from media reports. Jordan, a reporter for The Washington Post, writes that the incoming first lady wanted time to cool off and amend her financial arrangement with Trump to ensure the financial future of both herself and their son, Barron. Melania Trump has said that she wanted to wait until the end of the school year to move to Washington. During the presidential campaign, Melania felt that a lot had changed since she signed her prenup, Jordan writes, citing interviews with several people close to the Trumps. She had been with him a long time longer than any other woman. She believed she made crucial contributions to his success. There was talk that Trump likely wouldnt return to overseeing the Trump Organization after running the country and Melania wanted to ensure that Barron got his rightful share of inheritance, particularly if Ivanka (the presidents daughter) took the reins of the family business. While she sorted out her plans as first lady, and a new school for her son, she also worked on getting her husband to sign a more generous financial deal for her and Barron, according to the book, which will be published June 16. The Associated Press purchased an early copy. According to The Washington Post, Jordan conducted more than 100 interviews for her book, including with the first ladys schoolmates in her native Slovenian and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Trump, said the book was based on inaccurate information. Yet another book about Mrs. Trump with false information and sources, Grisham said in an emailed statement. This book belongs in the fiction genre. The first lady and Barron, who was 11 at the time, settled into the White House in early June 2017 and she seemed visibly happier by mid-2018, the book said. According to three people close to Trump, a key reason was that she had finally reached a new and significantly improved financial agreement with Trump, which had left her in a noticeably better financial position, Jordan wrote. Those sources did not know precisely what she sought, but it was not simply more money. She wanted proof in writing that when it came to financial opportunities and inheritance, Barron would be treated as more of an equal to Trumps oldest three children. Among the items under discussion was involvement in the family business, the Trump Organization, and ownership of Trump property. One person aware of the negotiations noted that Barron has Slovenian citizenship so he could be especially well-positioned if the teenager ever wanted to be involved in a Trump business in Europe. Melania wanted and got options for him. ___ Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Bridgewater, New Jersey, contributed to this report. Police in Charlotte say they are conducting an internal investigation after complaints from attorneys on Thursday that they were denied the chance to talk with people who were arrested for blocking traffic on Interstate 277 during a protest. Charlotte attorney Amanda Wright wrote on Twitter after the experience: They threatened to use their weapons and arrest us. We announced we were attorneys and showed our bar cards. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers) screamed they didnt care and we would go to jail. Attorney Janki Kaneria with the Mecklenburg Public Defenders office said officers refused to give her information about the people arrested. CMPD officials responded on social media that the incident is under investigation by the departments Internal Affairs. The arrests related to I-277 came late Wednesday, hours after a march, organized by Million Youth March of Charlotte and Salisbury, and a vigil for George Floyd in uptown ended. Five people were charged, accused of blocking traffic on the interstate with traffic cones, according to CMPD. It was the 13th night of continuous demonstrations in Charlotte following Floyds death. A police officer in Minneapolis has been charged after pressing his knee into Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes. Five people were arrested after a group of protesters blocked Interstate 277 late Wednesday, CMPD says Thursday was a quieter scene in uptown. A group of about 30 to 50 people began marching from First Ward Park around 8:30 p.m. Earlier, many other people gravitated toward a large Black Lives Matter mural painted on the pavement on Tryon Street in uptown. This one block is where we can just enjoy without any negativity, Norman Respass, 59, said. Everything here is positive. Respass, a California resident, was sipping a whiskey and Coke from a nearby restaurant patio watching people who stopped to take pictures with the street art. Its a good thing, Respass said, surveying the scene. Its change. Civilian Bike Squad pedals for peace at Charlottes George Floyd protests Marlisa Douglas, 39, and her daughter Jazmyne Cortese, 21, spent the evening dodging traffic to get a photo in front of the mural. Story continues I had to see it for myself, Douglas said. I want something to hold on to. It gives me a little bit of hope that maybe change can come from this. Its time that we are treated equally, Douglas said. Douglas and Cortese said they havent been marching in Charlotte, but when protesters walked down the street around 8:30, calling on others to walk with us, they joined in. In front of the jail, volunteers with Charlotte Uprising set up tables and continued jail support services to help people who are arrested after leaving the jail. Keith Jones said he knows two of the people who were arrested late Wednesday. Hes been part of protests most nights since May 29, he said, but was not on the interstate Wednesday and didnt witness the arrests. Still, Jones, 18 from Boone, said he is unhappy with how some officers have treated largely peaceful protesters in Charlotte. When theyre not here, its more peaceful, Jones said. CMPD officials point to the departments constructive communications team and other initiatives in recent days as ways the department has tried to both support peaceful protests and respond to criticisms. Since the protests began, the department has introduced new policy to require officers to intervene if they witness police brutality and Charlotte City Council has moved to stop funding police use of chemical agents as a form of riot control. A lot of hope Akobe Ayotunde, 48, said he visited uptown Thursday night to support protesters calling for an end to police brutality and profiling of black people. After 14 days of demonstrations, marches and more, Ayotunde said he sees a marked difference in recent days in protest activity. Early on, he said, it seemed the police were a little aggressive in the beginning. It seems that aggression has whittled away some now. Ayotunde is from New York but has family in Charlotte and says he now hopes to move to North Carolina. He wants to continue being active with community groups, he said. Im happy with that change because now we can come out, and if the numbers get bigger, we dont have to worry about them (police) being a threat. We dont have to worry about being tear-gassed. Its changing for the better. Ayotunde said hes happy to see a diverse crowd of people participating in the Black Lives Matter movement. Having white people attend the protest, especially, is a sign of unity, he said. Thats touching. It fulfills a lot of hope for me. The world can change and people can do better. It gives me joy to see us all as one voice, one community. Observer staff member Anna Douglas contributed. Rigados Open Edge Framework leverages Cradlepoint connectivity and edge containers to deliver a flexible IoT solution that enables companies to get back to the workplace safely BOISE, Idaho, June 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cradlepoint , the global leader in cloud-delivered LTE and 5G wireless network edge solutions, today announced that Rigado, a leader in low-power edge networks for IoT, joined its Technology Alliance Partner program. Rigado is introducing a new Safe Workplace IoT solution, hosted on Microsoft Azure IoT Central, for companies getting back to the workplace under COVID-19 restrictions. Safe Workplace is Connected by Cradlepoint and will be the first to use the new NetCloud Edge Container Orchestrator for deploying and managing application containers on its wireless routers. As businesses, government agencies and commercial property owners begin to welcome employees back to the workplace, they need to adhere to local and CDC safety guidelines. These guidelines can include checks for shared spaces and desk occupancy and social distancing, and cleaning status. Additional capabilities include wayfinding, tracking and reporting on employee and contractor movement via badging and tagging. However, monitoring and enforcement can be challenging, especially for larger sites with thousands of people. IoT solutions with integrated camera and sensor technologies can reduce this burden by minimizing human interactions, automating processes, tracking occupancy and movement, and notifying administration of compliance issues. Microsoft partners are applying their creativity and ingenuity to help organizations manage the COVID-19 pandemic and support return to the workplace scenarios. Rigado and Cradlepoint have built an innovative solution on Azure IoT Centrals secure and scalable foundation to provide the spatial insights and connectivity needed to ensure buildings remain safe, clean, and healthy for its occupants, said Bert Van Hoof, Partner & Group Program Manager Microsoft Azure IoT. Story continues Safe Workplace, Connected by Cradlepoint Rigados new Safe Workplace solution is based on its Edge Connect platform and uses an open IoT architecture with plug-n-play cameras, applications, sensors and devices to provide critical workplace safety functions required under COVID-19 protocols and best practices. The integrated IoT solution provides occupancy monitoring, cleaning management and safety signage for common areas, restrooms and desks. Safe Workplace leverages Cradlepoint wireless routers for secure and reliable connections between Rigado IoT gateways and applications hosted in Microsoft Azure IoT Central. By contrast, closed IoT architectures require third-party sensors and devices to integrate with proprietary Application Program Interfaces (APIs). This proprietary approach restricts the diversity of IoT devices available and increases the time it takes to bring new innovative solutions to market. Rigados Open Edge Framework enables us to combine best-in-class sensors, cameras and devices with Cradlepoint wireless routers to quickly deliver flexible and extensible solutions to the market, said Kevin Tate, Chief Marketing Officer at Rigado. Because of the breadth of plug-n-play IoT devices available, customers can start using our Safe Workplace solution immediately and expand it over time without worrying about interoperability issues. Introducing Cradlepoint NetCloud Container Orchestrator Rigado is further streamlining its Safe Workplace IoT solution with Cradlepoints new edge container service called NetCloud Container Orchestrator (NCCO). Part of the Cradlepoint NetCloud platform, NCCO enables Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) personnel to build, deploy, run and manage Docker-compatible application containers directly on select Cradlepoint wireless routers with full integration into NetCloud management, connectivity and security functionality. NCCO is available today for compatible NetCloud Advanced service plans. Our new alliance partnership with Rigado highlights the valuable real estate Cradlepoint occupies at the customer edge for running distributed computing functionality, said Donna Johnson, Vice President of Product and Solutions Marketing at Cradlepoint. We developed the new Cradlepoint NetCloud Container Orchestrator service to help customers and partners leverage this real estate for container-based applications at the edge. Benefits include improved performance and reduced WAN, hardware and cloud storage costs. About The Cradlepoint Technology Alliance Program The new Technology Alliance Program (TAP) brings together curated ecosystem partnerships and technologies to deliver a portfolio of "Connected by Cradlepoint" solutions for wireless branch, mobile and IoT networking. TAP solutions currently in process target public safety, fleet management, enterprise IoT and private LTE. These tested and co-marketed industry solutions help partners expand their offerings, increase revenue and accelerate time to market. About Cradlepoint Cradlepoint is a global leader in cloud-delivered LTE and 5G wireless network edge solutions for branch, mobile, and IoT networks. Cradlepoint NetCloud and purpose-built endpoints make the Elastic Edge a reality, enabling a secure, software-defined, and wireless WAN edge that connects people, places, and things over LTE and 5G cellular networks. More than 20,000 enterprise and government organizations around the world including 75 percent of the world's top retailers, 50 percent of the Fortune 100, and first responder agencies in 25 of the largest US cities rely on Cradlepoint to keep fixed and mobile sites, points of commerce, remote workforces, vehicles, and IoT devices connected and protected. Major service providers use Cradlepoint solutions as the foundation for innovative managed services. Founded in 2006, Cradlepoint is a privately held company headquartered in Boise, Idaho, with a development center in Silicon Valley and international offices in the UK and Australia. The first-ever surviving set of African American sextuplets have graduated from high school, with all six gearing up to continue their education in the fall. Chris and Diamond Harris from Birmingham, Alabama welcomed their six babies in 2002, with Diamond delivering via C-section at 26.5 weeks. Nearly 18 years later, the odds-defying children are all grown up and officially high school graduates, and achievement they celebrated together last week. Ta-da! The first-ever surviving set of African American sextuplets have graduated from high school Next up: The Harris sextuplets are gearing up to continue their education in the fall In photos from the special day, the four boys and two girls don matching blue caps and gowns and smile proudly on their front steps. 'The morning of the ceremony, I sat in bed looking at their baby pictures and felt depressed,' Diamond, 45, told Today. 'It's going to be too quiet.' 'These kids have been my life for almost 18 years. They have been my reason,' added Chris, 46. 'I keep reminding myself its just going to be different, but everything will be OK.' The sextuplets turn 18 on July 8, and the next month, they'll pack for the next stages in their lives. Kiera and Kobe will attend Lawson State Community College, with Kiera studying cosmetology. Special delivery: Chris and Diamond Harris from Birmingham, Alabama welcomed their six babies in 2002, with Diamond delivering via C-section at 26.5 weeks Numbers going up! When she first got the news that she was pregnant, she was told she was having twins. But a sonogram later showed them they were actually having five children Little: At birth, each weighed between 1 lb. 3 oz. and 1 lb. 12 oz. - and the children remained in hospital for about about three months and were finally released at the end of October Kaylynne will go to Alabama State University for its physical therapy program. Kaleb and Kieran will attend Alabama A&M, with Kaleb majoring in computer science and Kieran pursuing art. Kyle, who has autism, will do a life skills program. The Harris sextuplets have been followed by the media since their birth in 2002. Diamond, a nurse, already had a five-year-old from her first marriage when she was prescribed fertility drugs by her doctor. When she first got the news that she was pregnant, she was told she was having twins. But a sonogram later showed them they were actually having five children. Then Diamond developed a blood clot on her lung. She went to stay at University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham, and at just 26.5 weeks along, she had to undergo a C-section. Big group: In 2003, Diamond said that she went through 60 disposable diapers and two cases of formula every day Full house: The six Harris children and mom Diamond are pictured here having lunch at their home in Birmingham in March 2005. They are aged two in this photo Pricey: Diamond said that the family spent about $1,100 a week in groceries, did 20 loads of laundry a week, and took out the trash five times a day It was only during delivery that doctors found out that they were actually sextuplets. At birth, each weighed between 1 lb. 3 oz. and 1 lb. 12 oz., which is normal premature babies, but doctors warned the parents that the first few days were the most dangerous. 'Kaleb worried me,' Diamond told NBC. 'Because he was like transparent almost. I could see his organs. I could see his veins and I was really, really worried.' The children remained in hospital for about about three months and were finally released at the end of October. During a Dateline interview in 2003, Diamond said that she went through 60 disposable diapers and two cases of formula every day. Celebrities: For years the Harris children were somewhat famous, and in 2007 the family appeared on Oprah Teenage years: (L-R) Kieran, Kobe, Kaylynne, Kiera, Kaleb,and Kyle Harris celebrated their 13th birthday five years ago Cute: Diamond told Today that the kids even seem to have their own way of speaking At the time, she said that the family spent about $1,100 a week in groceries, did 20 loads of laundry a week, and took out the trash five times a day. In April 2007 they even appeared on Oprah. In 2012, Chris and Diamond divorced, though the formal couple still gets along well and both will miss time with all six of the sextuplets around. Diamond told Today that the kids even seem to have their own way of speaking. 'No one else can understand what theyre saying,' she said. 'Ill be like "Slow down, annunciate." And they look at me all confused, like, "How did you not catch that?" Its been that way since they started talking." An audit report has found that U.S. Customs and Border Protection misused emergency funds earmarked for the care of undocumented migrants, instead using the money to purchase all-terrain vehicles, boats and computer systems. The federal investigation led by the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in the report released Thursday that CBP violated the law when it diverted some of the $112million that was allocated for 'consumables and medical care' on an emergency basis during a large increase in illegal border crossings in 2019. The immigration law enforcement agency also used part of the funds on its police dog program. In a statement to The Associated Press, CBP said it fully cooperated with GAO throughout its inquiry. It said the agency charged a small subset of expenses in fiscal year 2019 to the incorrect account. An audit report has found that U.S. Customs and Border Protection misused emergency funds destined for the care of undocumented migrants, instead using the money to purchase all-terrain vehicles, boats and computer systems File image from July 2, 2019 shows migrant families at an overcrowded CBP detention facility in McAllen, Texas. Congress provided CBP $708 million for 'operating migrant care and processing facilities' and $112 million for 'consumable and medical care'. Some of the funds were instead used to buy boats, all-terrain vehicles and computer systems CBP boat navigates the Rio Grande which separates Mexico and the United States 'We are working to itemize all such expenses, and correct our accounts as recommend by the GAO,' the agency wrote. 'We emphasize that, and GAOs opinion does not suggest otherwise, all of CBPs obligations were for lawful objects related to agency operations and the care of those in our custody; the violations identified are technical in nature and prompt remedial action will be taken.' The spring and summer of 2019 saw an extraordinary jump in border crossings. In May, the Border Patrol apprehended nearly 133,000 people at the southern border. In June, congress signed off on a $4.6billion funding bill to deal with the massive flow of undocumented immigrants, by the most part from Central America, at the United States-Mexico border. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection vehicle sits near the wall as President Donald Trump visits a new section of the border wall with Mexico in El Centro, California on April 5, 2019. A new report by a federal watchdog released Thursday said CBP misspent millions of dollars meant for migrant care during the 2019 surge in border crossings Border Patrol agents line up in formation on motor bikes in the Tucson Sector The constant arrival and detention of migrant families and children overwhelmed CBP holding facilities. The numbers started to decrease after that, but by the end of the government's fiscal year on September 30, the agency had apprehended 851,508 people. Reports of poor medical care and abuse were rampant. Several children and adults died in Border Patrol custody that fiscal year, including Carlos Hernandez Vasquez, a 16-year-old boy from Guatemala who on died of the flu in his Weslaco, Texas cell without anyone noticing for several hours. In response to the uptick in arrivals, Congress allocated CBP an extra $708 million for 'establishing and operating migrant care and processing facilities' and $112 million for 'consumable and medical care.' CBP acknowledged that some of the funds that were allocated to treat migrant families and children at holding facilities were charged to 'the incorrect account' Image from July 2, 2019 shows migrant families at a crowded CBP facility in Weslaco, Texas Some of the money meant for medical care and consumables - such as hygiene products and baby items - was instead spent on the canine program, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, computer upgrades, janitorial services and boats, among others, according to the report. U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, criticized the agency, saying it broke the law. 'This callous disregard for the law is yet another example of this administration's continuing failure to carry out its duty to provide humane conditions and medical care for migrants in its care,' he said in a written statement. Mexico is the second worst-affected country by coronavirus in Latin America after Brazil. Mexicos government is gradually reopening its economy, despite signs that the coronavirus pandemic is worsening. That puts the president at odds with some state governors, who are reluctant to loosen restrictions. Al Jazeeras Manuel Rapalo has more from Mexico City. Stock markets saw spectacular drop yesterday, as rising hospitalizations in states such as Texas and Arizona promoted fears that an uptick in coronavirus cases could cause more economic damage. Its a clear sign that traders are not going to be easily reassured in the current crisis. Yet, according to J.P. Morgan strategist Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Panigirtzoglou argues that the massive amount of cash currently in the financial system could be the spark that pushes risk assets higher, noting that billions could be pumped into equities. This potential, however, could come at the expense of bonds as portfolios are rebalanced. To support this stance, the strategist cited the fact that $1.2 trillion have been put into money-market funds, with fund managers holding on to cash, $591 billion overall, like never before, based on data reported by Bank of America. This means that investors can still prop up the market even during a tumultuous period of time. Investors are still underweight equities and signs of overextension are confined to momentum traders. There is still plenty of room for investors to raise their equity allocations, Panigirtzoglou wrote. Bearing this in mind, we wanted to take a closer look at two stocks that just received a thumbs up from J.P. Morgan. With the firms analysts projecting more than 25% upside potential for each, we ran the tickers through TipRanks database to get the rest of the Streets take. As it turns out, both have been praised by other analysts. Viavi Solutions (VIAV) Offering intuitive instruments, systems and technologies, Viavi Solutions helps service providers and IT organizations manage the network lifecycle for complex 5G and Fiber networks. Given the progress related to its field work and its compelling valuation, J.P. Morgan is jumping on board. Representing the firm, analyst Samik Chatterjee tells clients the field instruments segment was hit hard by COVID-19. VIAV on its latest earnings call highlighted that within the revenue shortfall in the NSE group, the portion attributable to lower demand in C1Q largely related to field instruments, which remains largely a book & ship business for every quarter... Production equipment has seen modest headwinds, more specific to end-markets with severe challenges, but have still been more resilient relative to Field instruments, which are impacted by the absence of technicians in the field, he commented. Story continues Having said that, Chatterjee argues that the easing of social distancing measures and outdoor field work restrictions will allow demand for test and measurement equipment to recover in the near-term. This is essential for VIAV as field instruments make up 60% of its core NE revenue. Long-term, the demand should remain largely unimpacted. He also pointed out, Companies in our coverage universe are citing unchanged robust plans from service providers to drive 5G as well as 400G adoption, both of which VIAV has leverage to. On top of this, Chatterjee believes any M&A activity could serve as a major catalyst for shares. The test & measurement landscape remains fragmented relative to suppliers and the disruption offers an opportunity for VIAV to further consolidate its position. Recent actions to establish a $300 million short-term credit line despite ample liquidity hints to similar intent, the analyst explained. Should the company acquire an asset with a complementary portfolio, Opex leverage could emerge as a possible synergy. Not to mention if the asset has profits from the U.S., Chatterjee thinks it will enable the company to accelerate usage of NOLs driving a higher valuation. Expounding on VIAVs valuation, the analyst stated, Additionally, with VIAV shares now trading at ~18x NTM EPS, i.e., below recent year P/E of ~20x, unlike most companies in the coverage universe that are trading at premiums to their recent year valuation multiples on account of credit for trough earnings during the pandemic, we see an attractive opportunity for investors to position themselves for upside. Based on all of the above, Chatterjee upgraded his rating from Neutral to Overweight, and bumped up the price target from $14 to $16. This target implies shares could climb 25% higher in the next twelve months. (To watch Chatterjees track record, click here) Like Chatterjee, most other analysts also take a bullish approach. VIAVs Strong Buy consensus rating breaks down into 7 Buys and 1 Hold. Given the $15.25 average price target, the upside potential lands at 20%. (See Viavi stock analysis on TipRanks) Stratasys (SSYS) As for J.P. Morgans second pick, we have Stratasys, which provides 3D printing and additive solutions. With its materials and services delivering speed, innovation, performance and customization, its no wonder the firm handed out a ratings upgrade. Analyst Paul Coster highlights the fact that in Q2 and Q3, SSYS is going to place a significant focus on resizing actions in order to cut operating expenses by 10% and yield $30 million in annualized run-rate savings, which should also bode well for COGS. Weighing in on this development, Coster said, We previously anticipated cost reductions in 2020 but not of this magnitude, so we are only taking about $15 million out of 2021 PF operating expenses, nonetheless the action overdue, in our view is significantly accretive for shareholders. The new CEO is delivering for shareholders. While Coster reduced his estimates for 2020-2021 gross margins to account for lower product volumes, it should be noted that this is his second upgrade for SSYS recently. Citing the launch of new products expected to come over the next 12-18 months, the analyst believes the company will slowly start to see growth again. With the expense reductions that the new CEO is pushing through, a return to modest growth should deliver operating leverage, and we think the stock will appreciate on upward revisions to estimates, he stated. That said, it will take some time for these gains to materialize, according to Coster. With COVID-19 still impacting activity in several of SSYSs end-markets, including autos and aerospace, lackluster Q2 revenues and near-term pressure on gross margins could be on the horizon. This fact, however, does not offset all of the positives, in Costers opinion. In line with his more bullish take, the analyst gave his rating a boost, from Neutral to Overweight. The price target got a lift as well, increasing to $22 from $19. Should the target be met, a twelve-month gain of 32% could be in store. (To watch Costers track record, click here) What does the rest of the Street think about SSYS? Opinions are split evenly down the middle, with the stock receiving 2 Buys and 2 Holds in the last three months. As a result, the consensus rating is a Moderate Buy. Additionally, the $20.33 average price target suggests 13% upside potential. (See Stratasys stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Hes chief executive of the nations 10th-largest school district, supervisor of more than 22,000 employees and commander of a police force hundreds strong. But Donald Fennoy, the first Black school superintendent in Palm Beach County, Florida, is also scared. Scared for himself, he says, and scared for his 11-year-old son. Prompted by the international outcry over the death of George Floyd who died after a Minneapolis police officer held a knee to his neck for more than eight minutes Fennoy delivered an unusually personal speech last week about how he and other Black men move through the world with heightened care and worry. Donald Fennoy, superintendent of schools in Palm Beach County, Florida, listens during a meeting about the coronavirus on March 10. Every morning when I get up to go outside and walk, Im conscious of Do I wear a hooded sweatshirt? because its dark outside and I might walk up on my neighbors who are walking, and they dont recognize me and they call the police, he said. I live in constant fear of offending other people or triggering something in other people to call the police on me, he said, speaking from his home during a virtual school board meeting. As a high-ranking, professionally accomplished Black leader, Fennoy said he typically conceals such insecurities in his efforts to be a catalyst for change. But in the aftermath of Floyds death, he told board members, I, for the first time in my career, need to be fully honest around my experiences as a Black man in America. Kids need to talk about George Floyd: With coronavirus school closures, it's hard to do Fennoy, 44, said he always recognized the importance of teaching his son to be polite and friendly in public not merely to ensure good manners, but to reduce the risk of a suspicious neighbor calling the police on him. Taking him to pick up mail at the center of their community, Fennoy said he instructs his son to go out of his way to be friendly and courteous. I need you to be respectful, he tells him. I need you to speak with people. I need you to open doors. Story continues Floyd's death put those efforts into sharp relief, he said, leading to a conversation with his son this week about the death and why he must always be congenial in their neighborhood. I began to explain to him why Im so hard on him about being respectful, he said. Because you know what, ladies and gentlemen? You know what I want the most? I want my child to survive the encounter. I want him to come home. His sons reaction to their talk, he said, was to wonder what their family would do if Fennoy were killed. And what am I supposed to do with that? Fennoy said to board members, his voice breaking. Racism and police brutality: How to talk about it with children Usually circumspect, Fennoy said he has realized the importance of declaring publicly that, despite his professional standing, I do operate in this world as a scared human being. I just want everyone to know that there are a lot of people like me that are not OK," he said. Theyre just not. And I want to give people who look like me the permission to at least say that for once in their lives. The wave of outcry over Floyds death has left him contemplating how to use his status and influence to work for deeper changes. Its a question hes still grappling with, he said. There comes a point where you have to start doing something, he said. So I am committed as a superintendent to doing something, and we will work through that. I hope, he continued, we dont take this as another dead Black man in America and move on with our lives. Defund police in schools?: How the movement got momentum after George Floyd's death Follow Andrew Marra on Twitter: @AMarranara This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: George Floyd's death: Florida school leader says he's 'scared' The fact that he was her managers boss felt strange. She soon transferred to another team. Later, both changed employers. Ms. Halla now works as a software engineer at New Relic and Mr. Thirlwall returned to Cylance. In what can only be described as equal parts sweet and nerdy, Mr. Thirlwall started a Google doc to record milestones in their relationship: first date, first trip, and so on. This was so special and so different, he said. I know life gets super busy and chaotic and random things happen like pandemics, apparently and I just didnt want to lose sight of this. I didnt want to look back and wonder, did we? They realized they both adored music. (Mr. Thirlwall had a vinyl record pressed with their favorite songs for Ms. Halla as a gift.) They loved reading and cooking. Mr. Thirlwall even joined Ms. Halla in her CrossFit workouts. Last May, he took her back to Colonel Summers Park, got down on one knee, and presented her with a ring in a small wooden box he had made with his daughters. They planned a tiny ceremony. No guests, just them, a witness and an officiant on the Oregon coast at Oswald West State Park, the site of their first hike together. They would walk from the parking lot on a short trail, through the temperate rainforest, until the sound of cars was replaced with a gurgling creek and, eventually, the rumble of the Pacific. To Mr. Thirlwall, the place had the feel of Endor in the Star Wars universe. An adventure photography company would document the day. We wanted to reflect on our journey together and reflect on our love rather than having a performance or showy thing, Ms. Halla said. Both had felt constricted by others at many times in their lives, and struggled with revealing their true selves. Zoom Says Chinese Regime Demanded It Shutdown Activists Accounts Over Tiananmen Square Anniversary Events Video-conferencing app Zoom confirmed Thursday that the Chinese regime demanded it suspend the accounts of several U.S. and Hong Kong-based Chinese activists who used the platform to hold events commemorating the 31st anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. In a public statement issued Thursday, the U.S.-based company admitted that it shut down three accountstwo in the United States and one in Hong Kongafter the Chinese regime notified them of four large public June 4th commemoration events, saying that participating in the events is considered illegal in China. Weve heard the concerns surrounding Lee Cheuk-yan, Wang Dan, and Zhou Fengsuos accounts. Weve thought a lot about this. Here are the facts and what were doing about it: https://t.co/XGzJD5raSX Zoom (@zoom_us) June 11, 2020 The Chinese government informed us that this activity is illegal in China and demanded that Zoom terminate the meetings and host accounts, Zoom said. The company said it did not provide any user information or meeting content to the Chinese communist regime and that it would not allow further requests from China to impact users outside the country. The company behind the platform, which can be accessed from within China without a VPN, said it chose not to suspend the account behind one of the events because it did not have any participants from mainland China. Zoom does not currently have the ability to remove specific participants from a meeting or block participants from a certain country from joining a meeting, the statement reads. As such, we made the decision to end three of the four meetings, and suspended or terminated the host accounts associated with the three meetings. Full statement of Humanitarian China on #ZOOM account closing after Tiananmen commemoration conference. Invited speakers were detained or put under house arrests to stop them from this conference, now it seems ZOOM is doing what CCP want to silence us.https://t.co/oU9UAiMSyD Fengsuo Zhou (@ZhouFengSuo) June 10, 2020 It comes after a group of U.S.-based activists, Humanitarian China, on Wednesday said that Zoom suspended their account just over a week after they used the platform to hold a three-hour event with a paid account. The event on May 31 was joined by over 250 people worldwide, and was also streamed on social media by more than 4,000 people, many of whom were from China. The account was then shut down on the evening of June 7, and multiple attempts to log back into the account were unsuccessful, Humanitarian China said. The 1989 pro-democracy protests that were brutally suppressed by the Chinese regime are a taboo subject in mainland China. The regime routinely blocks or censors content related to the Tiananmen Square massacre. Zoom on Thursday said the account was shut down because people who participated in the event from China had violated local laws. When a meeting is held across different countries, the participants within those countries are required to comply with their respective local laws, it said in an emailed statement. We aim to limit the actions we take to those necessary to comply with local law and continuously review and improve our process on these matters. Humanitarian China said in a statement that the platform was essential for reaching Chinese audiences who were remembering and commemorating [the] Tiananmen Massacre during the coronavirus pandemic. The latest statement from the U.S.-based company, which owns three companies in China that develop its software, underscores concerns that it has bowed to pressure from Beijing. We are users of the zoom platform. On June 4th, we held the June 4th 31st anniversary event, which was shut down twice by your company. In these two days of news about your company, we are both parties and victims. (@wangdan1989) June 12, 2020 Humanitarian China co-founder Zhou Fengsuo said on Wednesday that if Zoom acted on pressure from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) to suspend their account, it is complicit in erasing the memories of the Tiananmen massacre in collaboration with an authoritarian government. Zoom admitted that it had made two mistakes in suspending or terminating the three host accounts, and shutting down meetings instead of blocking participants by country. It said that all three accounts have since been reinstated. Going forward Zoom will not allow requests from the Chinese government to impact anyone outside of mainland China, Zoom said. We hope that one day, governments who build barriers to disconnect their people from the world and each other will recognize that they are acting against their own interests, as well as the rights of their citizens and all humanity. A woman enjoys a virtual happy hour during the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Arlington, Virginia, on April 8, 2020. (OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images) Zoom, which has exploded in popularity amid the CCP virus pandemic as millions of Americans work from home, has also recently drawn scrutiny over privacy and security concerns. In April, watchdog group Citizen Lab found after examining Zooms encryption that keys for encrypting and decrypting meetings were transmitted to servers in Beijing. Taiwans government also banned official use of the platform on April 7 citing security concerns, which marked the first time a government has imposed a formal action against the company. Much of Ontario took another step forward in terms of reopening Friday when most regions outside the GTA entered stage two of the governments plan to bounce back from a province-wide COVID-19 shutdown. The likelihood of encountering someone who is infected is low in the areas allowed to open, said microbiologist Dr. Dasantila Golemi-Kotra, an associate professor of biology at York University. Still, the risk of being exposed to the virus remains and could grow as people go out more often and in larger numbers, in part because asymptomatic people can silently spread the virus. In short, the world Ontarians are stepping into is not the one they left three months ago. That will still be true when the rest of the province, including Toronto, joins stage two something thats expected to happen in a matter of weeks. The main tenets of fighting COVID-19 remain, Golemi-Kotra said. Wash your hands as often as possible and use hand sanitizer when handwashing is not possible. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Maintain a physical distance of two metres when outside the home, especially in confined areas. Avoid crowds. Wear a face mask when you cant maintain safe physical distance at all times, like while shopping or taking public transportation. Wear a face shield and a face mask when safe physical distance is not possible and you are in frequent contact with people, such as if you are working as a store clerk. Wear gloves if you are in frequent contact with highly touched surfaces and frequent handwashing is not practical, such as in bathrooms and shopping areas. Dont leave the house if you are having symptoms or not feeling well. There are extra things she advises depending on where you plan to go. Being prepared is key and packing the right things along for any trip is important, she said. Golemi-Kotra suggests doing different activities on different days, and keeping them short to limit the amount of items you need to bring along for safety reasons. Make sure restaurants are screening patrons, employees are wearing masks and tables are being disinfected between use. Ensure salons are maintaining good hygiene by having employees wash hands between patrons and disinfecting equipment, like immersing combs in disinfecting solution and cleaning scissors between cuts. Check your cellphone and use the bathroom before you leave the house; you dont want to use either while out. Golemi-Kotra also suggests designating clothes for house-only use, to avoid possible household contamination, especially when going to high-traffic places where you sit for extended periods of time. Wondering what should be in your bag in stage two? Golemi-Kotra suggests a face mask, to be wrapped in a paper towel and stored in a Ziploc bag when not in use; Lysol wipes or hand sanitizer, to be used if youre touching high-traffic surfaces; gloves if you are in frequent contact with highly touched surfaces and frequent handwashing is not practical; and a credit card, kept in a handy spot so you dont have to search through your purse or wallet when making a purchase. Physical distancing will not be possible at salons because of the close interactions between patrons and the person providing the service, so Golemi-Kotra suggests avoiding coupling services, like a haircut and hair colour, on the same day. Washing your hair yourself before you go to the salon also cuts down on time, close contact and aerosols, which are submicron respiratory droplets that can linger in the air for a longer time, somewhere from eight minutes to 15 minutes or more, and can transmit the virus. Hair-drying could move respiratory droplets toward you, the hairdresser or anyone else nearby avoid it if you can. One way to mitigate the number of droplets in the air is by avoiding conversation where possible. Studies actually have shown when we normally breathe, these respiratory droplets are in smaller numbers but also relatively small in size, said Golemi-Kotra. When we talk loud or passionately, the number of these respiratory droplets goes up by 1,000 more or so. Not only do they go out in larger numbers, they go out with a bigger force. Youre getting more droplets out there and they can travel a bit further. Keeping conversations low or to a minimum is also recommended in restaurants, said Golemi-Kotra. She suggests frequenting places that you know and trust to be clean with trained staff who handle food safely, though there is a low risk of transmitting the virus through contaminated food. Patios are open for a reason, so stay on them rather than venturing into the restaurant. Dont share utensils or glasses, but there is no need to go so far as to bring your own; cutlery is washed at high enough temperatures to disinfect between uses. Public swimming pool water, or any public recreational water parks, should destroy the COVID-19 virus because of chemical treatments like chlorine or bromine, said Golemi-Kotra. Beaches should also be easier to navigate than other spaces because theyre outdoors. Physical distancing still needs to be observed, both in and out of the water. Areas around the beach or pool, like public change rooms, showers, food trucks or stores, can increase risk because of proximity to others and should be avoided. If you have to use a public washroom which often lack a good ventilation system, meaning aerosols can linger for longer periods of time keep it short, and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer afterwards. Golemi-Kotra was pleased to see the Ontario government release strict health and safety guidelines for reopening daycares, which she encourages parents to read. Children represent a very low risk group in terms of getting seriously sick with COVID-19, but care providers and the childrens family members may belong to a high-risk group. Challenges at daycare centres include: maintaining physical distance between children, and between the staff and the children; ensuring that young children dont share toys or put them in the mouth; and maintaining a constantly clean environment while the children are there. Protecting childrens safety starts at home, where parents should talk about the new daycare normal where possible, emphasizing to the child the importance of physical distancing, handwashing, not touching their faces and not putting things in their mouths. Golemi-Kotra encourages parents to wait until they get home from daycare to hug and kiss their child, and to monitor the child closely for symptoms, including Kawasaki syndrome. As for masks, Golemi-Kotra highly suggests not making children wear them. It just doesnt work, she said. It may actually be more harmful, especially if the mask ends up on the floor then (the child) has to put it back. They may get other infections. Protecting your household from contamination begins the minute you leave another location, like a salon or daycare, with the use of hand sanitizer. At home, Golemi-Kotra suggests both adults and children take a shower and change into designated indoor clothes. Outdoor clothes and face masks should be put in the laundry, ideally in a bin with a lid, though they do not have to be washed immediately. The virus will likely die on the clothes within three to four days, but they should still be washed, just in case. CAMDEN, N.J. It was the moment that America needed. Days after George Floyd died at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, a different scene was playing out in what was once the most dangerous city in the United States. Joseph D. Wysocki was marching in the streets of Camden alongside residents in Black Lives Matter T-shirts. He found the organizer of the protest: Yolanda Deaver. Wysocki introduced himself and asked whether he could join her. Absolutely, she said, and the two started marching together, holding up a sign reading STANDING IN SOLIDARITY. And then they posed for a now-viral photo. Id seen her do the peace symbol, you know, it's not something I ever do. But I really thought it was appropriate, he said. I think everybody wanted peace. Wysocki wasnt just any 50-year-old white man. He was chief of the Camden police. And as protests erupted across the country, this momentWysocki and the protester with their banner, peace signs and clenched fists held highgave Americans reason to think its widening social fractures really could be healed. Thank you Yolanda Deaver for organizing and leading Camden's peaceful protest over the weekend. Your leadership and example, alongside @CamdenCountyPD Chief Joe Wysocki, continues to send positive waves throughout our nation. https://t.co/dOgfzZvyg1 Donald Norcross (@DonNorcross4NJ) June 3, 2020 Behind that image is a yearslong story of how Camden officials transformed policing in a city where the murder rate was once on par with Honduras. The police were despised by residents for being ineffective at best and corrupt at worst. Today, violent crime in the city has decreased, and police officers are a regular presence at community block parties. Story continues As a movement grows in American cities and suburbs to overhaul police departments and confront their long records of racially unjust, violent enforcement, Camden is one rareand complicatedsuccess story, a city that really did manage to overhaul its police force and change how it operated. And it took a move as radical and controversial as what some activists are calling for today: Camden really did abolish its police department. And then the city set about rebuilding the police force with an entirely new one under county control, using the opportunity to increase the number of cops on the streets and push through a number of now-heralded progressive police reforms. And with time, the changes started to stick in a department that just years earlier seemed unfixable. Camden County Metro police officers in 2014. Over the past two weeks, Camden has become an example of reform that workscited in articles, tweets and on network shows as an example of what can go right. And its true that the reforms produced real change in the statistics: The excessive use of force rates plummeted. The homicide rate decreased. And new incentives laid the groundwork for a completely new understanding of what it meant to be a good cop. You had to change the underlying principles of the way police officers were being trained and taught, and the culture in the department, said former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who supported the changes in Camden. The most effective way to do that was to start over. The reforms carry lessons for what it takes to transform the police in any city. They ultimately amounted to nothing less than a reboot of the culture of policing in Camden, changing the way every beat cop in the city did his or her job. And they also required enough political will at the topall the way to the governorto survive opposition from police unions and some residents. The case of Camden shows that if theres enough motivation to blow it all up and start over from both the top and the bottom, reforming a police force is achievable. But nothing is as simple as it sounds in a tweet. While largely a success story, the overhaul was by no means a clear win for social-justice progressives who are driving the police-reform debate nationally. The Camden police reform wasand remainspolitically divisive. In part that was because union contracts were thrown out, leaving many on the force earning a lower salary and with fewer benefits. And it required very strange bedfellows to succeedan all-powerful Democratic machine, a Republican governor, conservative budget-cutters and progressive police thinkers, all aligned to break an established department and start over. In 2010, Camden hit rock bottom. The city, population 77,000, was widely considered one of the most dangerous in America. A depopulated former manufacturing center across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, and the home of the first condensed Campbells soup plant, the city had more than 3,000 abandoned buildings. Almost 40 percent of residents lived below the poverty line. At one point, the city had 175 open-air drug markets, and 80 percent of drug arrests were of nonresidents, suggesting that out-of-towners were making a stop in Camden just to buy and sell. Violent crime had been high in the city for decades, but it was about to get worse, because the police department was broke. In 2010, Camden, faced with a $14 million budget deficit, laid off half of its police force. Arrests in 2011 fell to almost half of what they had been just two years earlier, and burglaries increased by 65 percent. The murder rate skyrocketed. Eventually, residents largely gave up on calling police for minor crimes. On top of that, the police department had a reputation for bad cops. Of the 37 excessive use of force complaints levied in 2011, not one had been sustained, or clearly proven or disproven, which raised serious red flags about accountability with the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in New Jersey at the time. In 2010, five officers in the department were charged with evidence planting, fabrication and perjury. Later, state and federal courts would go on to overturn the convictions of 88 people who had been arrested and charged by those officers. The idea for dissolving the Camden police force came amid the backdrop of a push by both Governor Christie and Democratic state lawmakers to regionalize city and town services in a new era of government austerity. State Sen. Don Norcross, Camden County Freeholder Lou Cappelli and Mayor Dana Redd started promoting the idea of dissolving the Camden police force and creating a new county-led force to replace it. The plan also had the support of George Norcross, an insurance executive and Democratic power broker in southern New Jersey (and brother of Don), and Christie. Top: Camden Mayor Dana Redd. Bottom left: State Sen. Donald Norcross. Bottom right: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. A state statute was already on the books allowing counties to create police departments that towns then have the choice to opt into. But the plan would also involve busting a union: The city force had already been unionized, but the new county one would not be unionized, at least at first. The plan, as a result, was met with opposition from the police union. But the state of crime in Camden, coupled with the complete lack of money, dulled Democratic resistance to the proposal overall. Theres no alternative, theres no Plan B, Democratic City Council President, Frank Moran, told the New York Times in 2012. Its the only option we have. Without the restrictions of the union, proponents argued, more cops could be put on the streets of Camden, and hopefully, the citys deadly spiral could finally be stopped. Not everyone agreed with the changes. A group of Camden residents who saw this as high-handed intervention submitted a petition to stop the disbandment with the goal of placing the issue on the ballot in 2012. Redd and Moran filed a complaint against the residents on the grounds that the petition amounted to an unlawful restraint of legislative power. Top: In this March 3, 2011 file photograph, off-duty and retired police officers and firefighters fill a street outside the Statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., during a rally to protest staff cuts and promote public safety. Bottom: A small group of former Camden police officers complain to a new Camden County police officer as he tries to stop them from attending a ceremony for the new police force in May 2013. The case would work its way through New Jersey courts while the city went ahead with the changes. In May 2013, the Camden City Council approved resolutions that eliminated the city police department and established a new one under county control. The remaining city cops were all laid off and had to reapply to work with the county, under far less generous nonunion contracts. In a strange legal coda to the whole drama, the case filed by the Camden residents to save their local police department worked its way through New Jersey courts and ultimately ended up in front of the state Supreme Court, which ruled 6-0 in favor of the residents in 2015. But it was too late: The Camden County police force had been around for four years, and by most accounts, was already a success. In this case, politics had moved faster than the courts and, legally or not, the Camden city police force was long gone. Those who championed the disbandment of the department say the upheaval was critical to the departments ultimate success. Scott Thomson, the Camden police chief at the time, had locked horns with the police union for years over contracts and virtually any type of managerial decision, he says. I was able to do in three days what would normally take me three years to do, he said. All of the barriers were removed. I was now driving on a paved road. The most obvious change was that the Camden police was now bigger: By cutting salaries, the county was able to hire more officers, increasing the size of the department from 250 to 400 and putting the number of Camden police officers close to what it was before the 2010 budget cuts. But the more important changes went beyond the size of the roster. Thomson, who had been appointed chief in 2008 and oversaw the department through the transition, also used the changes as a way to implement a number of progressive policies. The challenge, he said, was reframing how officers viewed their roles. No longer would officers be the arbitrary decider of whats right and wrong, he said, but rather consider themselves as a facilitator and a convener. Chief Scott Thomson in 2014. In practice, this meant prioritizing resident complaints. According to Thomson, when someone was spoken to in a disrespectful way, that investigation was handled swiftly. The internal metric system for rating an officers performance was also overhauledno longer were officers rewarded for the number of tickets they had written, or how many arrests they had made. Thomson says his highest priority was working to integrate officers into the fabric of the community. I dont want you to write tickets, I dont want you to lock anybody up. Im dropping you off on this corner that has crime rates greater than that of Juarez, Mexico, and for the next 12 hours I dont want you to make an arrest unless its for an extremely vile offense, Thomson recalls telling his officers. Dont call uswere not coming back to get you until the end of your shift, so if you got to go to the bathroom, you need to make a friend out here. You want to get something to eat? You better find who the good cook is. Sean Brown, a business owner and native Camden resident, says he had complicated feelings about the department. While he supports the end result, the transition from the city-led to county-led force was quick and harsh, and he said he saw good people lose their jobs. But he says he now feels safer in his city than ever before, in part because police actively check in with him on the status of his neighborhood. Every couple of months I get a call from an officer, who just asks me how is everything going in my neighborhood? Do I feel safe? Is there anything I want to tell them? he said. Things are demonstrably different. Police officers can now be seen hosting block parties, flipping burgers and competing in games alongside kids in the neighborhoods. Another community-focused initiative is Camdens scoop-and-go policy, a mandate that requires officers to drive gunshot victims to a hospital if waiting for an ambulance would cause a delay. The policy, modeled on a long-standing one in Philadelphia, was put into effect after the outrage over the Ferguson police departments handling of Michael Browns body after a police officer shot him in 2014. The officers left him lying for four hours on a Ferguson street after the shooting before his body was taken to a morgue. The changes were not without hurdles. In the first year of the new department, for instance, the number of excessive force complaints by police spiked dramatically. But the department implemented a series of reforms to reduce conflict between officers and residents. Camden was chosen as one of seven cities by the Police Executive Research Forum, a reform think tank in Washington, D.C., to develop its signature de-escalation training, according to Executive Director Chuck Wexler. Camden soon had proof on video that the training worked in real life. Clips from surveillance and body cam footage in November 2015, which have since spread across YouTube, particularly in police-reform circles, show a man walking into a fried chicken shop in Camden, knife in hand. He leaves the shop, thrashing the knife in the air, and is encircled by a group of officers. They walk with the man for several minutes, asking him to drop it, drop the knife. They attempt to tase the man, and fail, but are ultimately are able to tackle him. Eighteen months before that we would have shot and killed that guy, two steps out of the store, said Thomson, the former police chief. Last year, the department implemented a use-of-force guidebook developed with New York Universitys Policing Project, which has gotten the seal of approval from both the ACLU and the Fraternal Order of Police. The rules clearly outline when deadly force can be used. Officers are required to intervene if they see another officer violating the rules, and the department can fire any officer who doesnt follow them. According to the department, complaints of excessive use of force have dropped from the range of 35 to 65 a year in the first years of the county force to less than five today. President Barack Obama speaks at the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, Monday, May 18, 2015, in Camden, NJ. When former President Barack Obama visited the city back in 2015, he held up Camdens police department as a model for police reform. He called Camden a symbol of promise for the nation, praising the improved relations between officers and residents. This city is on to something, he said before a crowd of hundreds. But there are critics who think the reforms have not gone far enough. There are concerns that the departments force does not reflect the communitythe department is just ever so slightly majority-minority. Camden is 93 percent minoritymostly (50.3 percent) Hispanic, with a large (42.4 percent) African American population, according to the most recent census figures. But the police department is nearly half white. Camden police officials agree that things need to change, but say they can do only so much within the current civil service requirements. Those rules require lists of eligible officers to include individuals from all over the state, including from the whiter, wealthier northern parts, thus making the overall talent pool less demographically representative of cities like Camden. I wrote out some thoughts on how to make this moment a real turning point to bring about real changeand pulled together some resources to help young activists sustain the momentum by channeling their energy into concrete action. https://t.co/jEczrOeFdv Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 1, 2020 Critics also say the department has been less than transparent. In particular, they point to Camdens failure so far to post any data online after entering into a federal partnership under the Obama administration to track and improve policing. Camden was one of 21 cities selected for the federal program, and its the only one that hasnt posted any data yet. There is also high turnover in the police department, according to several people interviewed for this article. Its hard to say that things are changing when youre having a revolving door of officers coming in, said Kevin Barfield, president of the Camden County NAACP chapter. And a lot of them are young. A lot of them are not really familiar with the community with which they serve. On Sunday, a group of activists gathered in Camden to give voice to these concerns, and let the public know that they hadnt gotten the full picture a week earlier. Hundreds of protesters walked the streets of the city in the midday June sun, ending their march on the steps of the Chief J. Scott Thomson police department building. President Obama tweeted out Camden has been the poster child for reform across the country, activist Ayinde Merrill yelled to the crowd. Say no, he told a crowd of hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters. No! the crowd responded in chorus. Lt. Zack James of the Camden County Metro Police Department marches along with demonstrators in Camden, N.J., on May 30. The tone of this gathering was markedly different from the one a week earlier. The participants in this protest spoke about the crooked cops and felt the viral photo was merely a feel-good photo op. As Merrill stood on the steps of the building, he called out for Police Chief Wysocki to stand beside him. We are going to hold everyone accountable, we have to stop being scared of authority figures and really hold them accountable, Merrill said, wearing a loose noose around his neck. He then presented the chief a list of demands, including working to help officers eliminate racial bias in policing, the creation of an independent civilian review board and recruiting a more diverse force. But what came next suggests why even the toughest critics feel like there is more hope in Camden than there is in other cities. We are going to give credit where credit is due. They said they are already starting to work on things we listed, Merrill said as he removed the rope from his neck. Today we are loosening this noose and taking it off. Those reforms were a start. But this is what still haunts me nearly a decade after our investigation: With the exception of Burge, who was convicted of perjury and imprisoned, not one other participant in this subversion of the criminal justice system we uncovered was held fully accountable. Not a single cop, evidence technician, prosecutor or judge who facilitated the wrongful convictions of those 85 innocent individuals has been indicted or convicted, and only a few were even disciplined. With the state crossing the mark of one lakh Covid cases on Friday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is bracing for a similar scenario by the end of the month. While the civic body said the city may not necessarily touch the mark by June-end, it is ramping up medical infrastructure to handle one lakh cases, of which 58,000 are expected to be active. According to BMC officials, if there is no sharp rise in the number of cases reported daily, the count could be 75,000 to 80,000 by the end of the month. On Friday, Mumbai reported 1,366 cases, taking the count to 55,451, of which 28,248 cases were active. Of the new cases, 29 were in Dharavi, taking the total of the area to 2,013 and toll to 77. Ninety new deaths took the citys toll to 2,044. BMC chief Iqbal Singh Chahal said, By the end of June, we will be prepared to handle one lakh cases, of which 58,299 are likely to be active. However, it is not correct to say we will have that many cases by June-end, but we will be prepared to handle this load, if it comes. To handle such a spike, the civic body will have to double the number of existing ICUs, oxygen beds and ventilator units. BMC data shows that of the 26,897 active cases on June 10, 1,152 are occupying ICU beds, 3,905 oxygen beds, followed by 483 ventilators. The occupancy of ICU beds is 99%, oxygen beds is 75% and ventilators is 95%. We are looking at double the number of cases, from the current 54,000, so the facilities will also have to be doubled, said a BMC official. By the end of the month, BMC plans to set up 1,700 ICU beds from the current capacity of 1,163. The civic body has 5,200 oxygen beds as of June 10 and plans to set up more than 9,000 by the end of the month. Officials said the capacity will be increased by co-opting more private and even smaller hospitals and expanding the existing field facilities. Currently, 483 of the 507 ventilators are occupied. This also means that 1.79 per cent of the total 26,897 patients need ventilators. By this logic, by month end, if we are preparing for 58,000 active cases, we should have at least 850 ventilators, added the official. The presumption is that over 39,000 patients would have recovered by June-end, up from the current figure of 24,209. The estimate is that of the 58,000 active cases, 26,000 will be asymptomatic and 19,000 patients will be treated in Covid centres and hospitals followed by nearly 3,000 in ICU and 10,000 in home quarantine. However, another BMC official said, The exact trend will be known by June 23 or June 25, by when the impact of relaxations of lockdown will be fully felt. Dr Ramesh Yadav, a private health consultant, said, BMC should also consider that several congested areas in the city have been breeding grounds for seasonal infections such as malaria, dengue and typhoid. We should also prepare for a number of other viral infections, along with Covid-19, with the onset of the monsoon. Meanwhile, 2,42,923 tests have been conducted in Mumbai so far and BMC has traced 9.91 lakh high- and low-risk contacts, as of June 10. BMC has screened 76.84 lakh citizens, including 3.27 lakh senior citizens. Moreover, citizens can now get updates about the waiting period or availability of slots at crematoriums on BMCs helpline 1916. The civic body in a statement on Friday said citizens can avail real-time updates, which will be obtained from the control room. BMC also issued a statement that Tata Memorial Hospital in Parel has so far treated 176 patients suffering from both Covid-19 and cancer at the NSCI Dome Corona Centre in Worli. Of them, 126 have recovered and no deaths have been reported so far. Also, with the rise in cases, six areas in P-N ward, which covers Malad, have been declared restricted zones, where only essential shops can remain open. According to BMC data, as of June 11, there are 1,683 cases in P-N ward. Daksha Patel, local BJP corporator from Malad, said, Areas such as Kokani Pada, Pimpri Pada, Appa Pada, Kranti Nagar, Shivaji Nagar and Tanaji Nagar that have a huge slum cover have been declared restricted zones. This is expected to bring down the number of cases. The Scottish red meat sector has said it is 'essential' for Scotch PGI brands to be protected in any post-Brexit trade deal. Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork are world-renowned for their quality, welfare and environmental standards of production. But concerns have now been raised that these products could be undercut by imported products made to lower standards. Since 1996, Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb have held the coveted European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status. Meanwhile, the Specially Selected Pork label ensures high welfare standards in pork production, with the Scottish SPCA inspecting each farm annually. Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) chair, Kate Rowell, said Scotland had 'pioneered the way' for whole-of-supply chain quality assurance. When consumers buy Scotch Beef, they have confidence that theyre are buying a premium product, sourced from sustainable Scottish farms where animal welfare and wellbeing are of paramount importance," she said. According to recent survey by UNISON/Savanta ComRes more than four-fifths (81%) of the British public have concerns about meat quality standards being relaxed post-Brexit. With the recent food production amendments to the Agriculture Bill being defeated, many producers feared that their world-class product would be undercut with imports that do not adhere to the same standards. QMS has voiced concerns regarding imports entering the country which are produced to lower welfare and sustainability standards, and the 'disastrous effect' this would have on the Scottish red meat industry. Mrs Rowell said: When the issue returned to the agenda in May, a proposed amendment to the Agriculture Bill failed in the House of Commons. "This amendment proposed that any trade agreement which allowed the import of agri-food products produced to lower standards than UK producers should not be ratified. Around 50,000 jobs rely on the Scottish red meat industry, with many of these jobs in fragile rural communities with fewer work opportunities. "That is why the UK government must ensure that the rules will not be changed in the future to allow the import of food produced under lower standards to safeguard our rural communities and our industry, added Mrs Rowell. LONDON (AP) Consumer goods giant Unilever says it will end its Anglo-Dutch corporate structure and be based in London, backing away from a proposal two years ago to move to the Netherlands. The group behind household names like Dove and Ben & Jerrys ice cream stressed that its presence in both countries would remain unchanged. Unilever had been forced to change previous plans to switch its headquarters from London to Rotterdam in 2018 amid anger from shareholders. The former CEO Paul Polman, and previous chairman, Marijn Dekkers, both quit soon after. Unilever will have its primary stock market listing in London. High school students taking a Bible history class in Ooltewah, Tennessee. Melanie Stetson Freeman/The Christian Science Monitor via Getty Images A bill requiring Tennessee schools to let students miss an hour of classes a day to go to church passed unanimously in the General Assembly. Last year, the Knox County school board tested a policy allowing students to miss one class a month to for church services, WBIR reported. Governor Bill Lee hasn't commented on the bill but he previously declared a statewide day of fasting and prayer to address the ongoing opioid epidemic. To prevent participants from missing mandatory lessons, schools would have to cut over 22 days of classes for all students, according to American Atheists. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A bill requiring public schools in Tennessee to allow students to miss up to an hour a day to go to church has cleared the General Assembly. The Tennessee House of Representatives passed HB 2542 unanimously on Monday, after a similar victory in the state Senate last week. The measure now heads to Governor Bill Lee, who is expected to sign it into law. Introduced by Rep. Dennis Powers (R-Jacksboro) and Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston), it mandates public schools excuse a student "to attend a released time course in religious moral instruction for no more than one class period per school day" if requested by a parent or guardian. Hume-Fogg Academic High School, the first public high school in Nashville, Tennessee. Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) HB 2542 also authorizes public school buses to be used to transport those students, provided the religious institution reimburses the board of education. Programs that allow for off-campus prayer or private religious education during school hours are typically known as "released time." Current Tennessee law allows students to take released time if it's approved by the local school board. The new measure would allow it "regardless of whether the local board of education has adopted a policy." Released-time initiatives began in the US in the 1910s and expanded through the 1940s, when they met their first constitutional challenges. In 1948, the Supreme Court ruled that schools were not allowed to use public resources to support such programs. Story continues Later rulings established that such programs cannot be held on school property and that students cannot be coerced into participating. However, schools are allowed to offer academic credit for released-time programs if they meet certain criteria. Last year, the Knox County school board tested out a released-time policy, allowing students to miss just one class a month to attend services at a nearby church. The school board voted 5-4 to end the program in December, WBIR reported. HB 2542 would overrule the board's decision. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Governor Lee did not respond to a request for comment, but he has been vocal about his Christian faith: In 2019, he declared a statewide day of fasting and prayer, the Tennessean reported. Lee told constituents that God would hear their pleas to improve the state's educational system and ease the opioid epidemic. "The separation of church and state is never intended to keep people of faith out of government," he told the Tennessee Legislative Prayer Caucus, the Tennessean reported, "but to keep government out of the church." In 2018, Lee signed a law requiring all public schools to display a marker reading "In God We Trust." The released-time bill has drawn criticism from some corners. American Atheists described HB 2542 as "the most expansive church release-time legislation in the country." "Tennessee's church release time bill harms public education throughout the state and, therefore, student performance," said the group's policy analyst, Allison Gill. "To prevent participating students from missing mandatory education, schools would have to cut programming for all students. By Gill's estimation, that would come to 22.5 missed school days every year for all students. Last year, Tennessee came 38th in U.S. News & World Report's ranking of state education systems. On Facebook, the Satanic Children's Ministry of Tennessee seemed to take pleasure in the vote. "We have waited so long for that wall of separation to be dismantled so we can get our message out to all children across the state," the group said. "We just can't contain our excitement! It's so hard to spread our message as of now but this will allow us to teach Satanic children the best ways our spreading our teachings to their classmates." "Satanism is already the fastest-growing religion in Tennessee," it added. "This should help us grow even faster." Read the original article on Insider In a last-ditch attempt, Rajasthan chief whip Mahesh Joshi, on Friday, has written to the state Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), alleging that certain 'anti-political' entities were involved in horse-trading of MLAs ahead of the Rajya Sabha's biennial elections. He alleged that these kind of horse-trading attempts indicated at money laundering activities by these entities and must be investigated. On one hand, Congress has claimed that it is confident to win two of the three Rajasthan seats in the Rajya Sabha, on the other, it has gathered all its 107 MLAs in a resort in Jaipur and is scheduled to keep them there till June 18. Rajasthan Dy CM Sachin Pilot exudes confidence of Congress candidates' victory in RS polls Raj Whip writes to ATS Rajya Sabha Polls for 24 seats to be held on June 19 announces Election Commission Dy CM Sachin Pilot: 'Our MLAs are united' On Thursday, Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot asserted that all the MLAs of the ruling coalition were united and would ensure a comfortable victory for the two Congress candidates in the upcoming the Rajya Sabha polls. Recalling that horse-trading had taken place in other states before the RS elections, he maintained that any such attempt in Rajasthan would be futile. He has also stated that all 170 MLAs were called to a resort as there was no other venue to meet amid lockdown. On Wednesday, Congress MLAs were moved to a resort to reportedly prevent horse-trading attempts. Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot alleged that some of the Congress MLAs were offered Rs.25 crore each by BJP with sources reporting that 23 Congress MLAs might defect to BJP. Congress has nominated KC Venugopal and Neeraj Dangi as its candidates, while BJP has fielded Rajendra Gehlot and Onkar Singh Lakhawat for the polls to be held in Jaipur on June 19. In the assembly of 200, the Congress has 107 MLAs, including six who defected to the party from the BSP last year. The party enjoys the support of 12 of the 13 Independent MLAs in the state. While BJP has 72 MLAs and RLP has 3 MLAs. Congress' rebel MLA Aditi Singh quits party's 'WhatsApp groups', hinting at resignation EC announces new Rajya Sabha poll dates On June 1, the Election Commission announced that the polls for 18 Rajya Sabha seats which were deferred due to Coronavirus, will be held on June 19 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The counting of the votes will be done on the same day at 5:00 PM. The 18 seats belong to the states of Andhra Pradesh (4 seats), Gujarat (4 seats), Jharkhand (2 seats), Madhya Pradesh (3 seats), Manipur (1 seat), Meghalaya (1 seat) and Rajasthan (3 seats). The polls which were to be held on March 26 were the seats whose term was expiring on March 30. This year, 55 Rajya Sabha seats fell vacant by April 2020 - 37 of which has been elected unopposed already. Coronavirus Live Updates: Active cases at 1,41,842; ICMR says 53,63,445 test conducted The US government plans to distribute 96 million cloth face coverings for free to people riding on planes, trains and public transportation systems. The Transportation Department said Friday it will provide 86.8 million masks to airports and 9.6 million to 458 transit agencies and Amtrak. This Administration is committed to protecting our people and reopening the economy, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said in a press release. Distributing these facial coverings will help boost public confidence as we begin to resume our normal lives. Airline and transit operations have seen dramatic reductions in use by the public in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. People are beginning to return to travel, but the levels are still far below a year ago. On Thursday, 502,209 people went through Transportation Security Administration airport screening, the most since March 21, according to the agency. That represents about 19% of the equivalent day a year ago. Most airlines and transit systems already require masks, though enforcement has been spotty. The Transportation Department is working with the Health and Human Services Department, it said in a press release. The cloth coverings were obtained by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and will be distributed in the coming weeks. Travelers are still responsible for having their own facial covering in situations in which it is required, the DOT said. The governments supply is intended to be supplemental and availability is not guaranteed. Workers in the transportation sector have been vulnerable to the disease. The Transportation Security Administration said 667 of its employees have tested positive for Covid-19, including five who have died. Because airlines and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention havent agreed on a system to trace passengers who have flown with ill people, its not clear how many have been infected by air travel. A second wave of infections by the novel coronavirus appears underway in the US The case load is slowly growing nationally, while it rages in local hot spots, with wide differences in infection rates even within states. Texas, California, Florida and Alabama all are among states where infections and hospitalizations are hitting new highs. ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigan is once again the leader and best among U.S. public universities, according to the QS World University Rankings for 2020-21. This marks the fifth-consecutive year UM has topped the QS rankings, maintaining its No. 21 overall ranking among higher education institutions worldwide. The QS World University Rankings, launched in 2004, are based on academic reputation (40%), employer reputation (10%), student-faculty ratio (20%), citations per faculty (20%), proportion of international faculty (5%) and proportion of international students (5%). Michigan has been lauded for having high standards of research, and the universitys comprehensive graduate program offers doctoral degrees in the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields as well as professional degrees in architecture, business, medicine, law, pharmacy, nursing, social work, public health, and dentistry, the description of the university on the rankings released Wednesday, June 10 reads. Michigans body of living alumni comprises more than a half million people, which is one of the largest alumni bases of any university in the world and a valuable resource for current students when it comes to networking and building industry connections. UM was one of just two U.S. public universities to make the top 30 in the rankings, with the University of California Berkeley coming in at No. 30. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology topped the rankings overall, while Stanford University, Harvard University, California Institute of Technology and the University of Oxford rounded out the top five. All are private schools. Earlier this year, UM was rated the No. 3 public university in the country in the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings, coming in at No. 25 overall. READ MORE: Michigan president still has doubts about college football in fall Former University of Michigan students get prison for taking photos on restricted Florida naval base University of Michigan to launch second wave of research re-engagement A blast in a Kabul mosque during Friday prayers killed at least four people and wounded many more, Afghanistans interior ministry said on Friday. Explosives placed inside the Shir Shah-E-Suri Mosque exploded during Friday prayers, said a Ministry of Interior statement, adding that the West Kabul mosques mullah was among those killed. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The United States is attempting to broker peace talks between the Afghan government and the insurgent Taliban to end 18 years of war. The Islamic State group also has a presence in the country and has carried out large-scale attacks in Kabul in recent months. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on June 12, 2020 2020/06/12 The Paper: The British government has published its latest Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong on June 11th. What is your comment? Hua Chunying: We are strongly dissatisfied with the British government's wrong moves of issuing the so-called Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong on a regular basis as well as interfering in Hong Kong affairs. Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs, and no foreign government, organization or individual has the right to interfere. The UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or right to supervise Hong Kong, nor does it have any so-called "responsibility". On the national security legislation for the HKSAR, China has repeatedly expounded on its solemn position. I would like to stress that the Chinese government is firmly committed to implementing "one country, two systems" fully and faithfully, safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and upholding Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability. Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong. The UK should face up to reality, respect China's sovereignty, security and unity, and stop interfering in Hong Kong's affairs in any way. Unwarranted foreign interference in Hong Kong's affairs will only make China more determined in advancing the national security legislation for Hong Kong. Shenzhen TV: UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that Hong Kong has experienced its greatest period of turmoil since last June. The solution to this unrest and its underlying causes must come from Hong Kong, and cannot be imposed from mainland China. For the Chinese Government, rather than Hong Kong's own institutions, to directly impose national security legislation would lie in direct conflict with Article 23 of Hong Kong's Basic Law, and with China's obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. There is still time for China to re-consider and respect Hong Kong's autonomy and its own international obligations. What is your comment? Hua Chunying: I just stated our position on the British government's Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong. We have also repeatedly made clear China's position on the national security legislation for the HKSAR. I would like to stress a few more points. First, since the unrest over the amendment bill took place in Hong Kong in June 2019, "Hong Kong independence" and radical separatist activities have become increasingly rampant, and violent and terrorist activities have escalated, seriously challenging the red line of the "one country, two systems" principle, severely undermining the safety, property and legitimate rights and interests of Hong Kong citizens, and posing a serious threat to China's national security. Some external forces flagrantly interfere in Hong Kong's affairs, support violent criminals, threaten the HKSAR government, and so bear unshirkable responsibility for the serious violence in Hong Kong. Hard facts show that the national security legislation for Hong Kong is reasonable, lawful, necessary and urgently needed. Within just eight days of the announcement, nearly three million Hong Kong people expressed their support for the legislation decision in signature campaigns. The decision has also seen support from some well-known foreign companies in recent days. Only some outside forces have been very high-profile in making their opposition heard. What makes them so agitated and anxious? They are simply worried that they will not be able to use Hong Kong in as reckless and unchecked ways as before to engage in activities that jeopardize China's national security. This proves once again that the national security legislation for the HKSAR is imperative and cannot be delayed. Second, national security legislation is in the power of the central government in all countries, and China is no exception. Through Article 23 of the Basic Law, the Central Government authorizes the HKSAR to fulfill its constitutional duty by enacting laws on its own. Article 23 does not change the fact that the Central Government is responsible for upholding national security in China. It has been nearly 23 years since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, and the legislation obligation under Article 23 of the Basic Law has yet to be completed. As the HKSAR is facing a grave situation in safeguarding national security, the central government has both the power and the responsibility to timely plug the loopholes and fill the gaps. Britain has also passed multiple pieces of national security legislation in recent years. During the British colonial rule of Hong Kong, the British Treason Act was applied in Hong Kong with special enforcement agencies. There is no reason for the UK to apply double standards on the matter of national security legislation. Third, the core of the Sino-British Joint Declaration is China's resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong. The basic policies on Hong Kong stipulated in the Joint Declaration are policy statements made by the Chinese side, which has been fully reflected in the Basic Law of the HKSAR formulated by the NPC. China's policy statements are not commitments to the UK, and nothing "breaches international obligations". I gave a detailed account on the Joint Declaration at my regular press conference on June 8. After the return of Hong Kong, all the provisions concerning the British side in the Joint Declaration have been fulfilled. Fourth, China never interferes in the internal affairs of the UK, which fully demonstrates China's respect for the British government's due rights. We hope the UK will also respect the Chinese Central Government's right to effectively exercise its overall jurisdiction over the HKSAR in accordance with the "one country, two systems" principle, the Constitution and the Basic Law, and respect China's legitimate right to safeguard its own sovereignty and security. China Daily: US Secretary of State Pompeo recently said, "We've taken note of the very modest financial donations that China and so-called private Chinese entities have disbursed in Africa." He also mentioned, "And I note our concern that China will exploit the pandemic as a pretext to continue its opaque lending practices in Africa." I wonder what is China's comment? Hua Chunying: China and Africa are good brothers and partners tiding over difficulties together. As AU Commission Chairperson Faki said, "Africa and China are friends and, more importantly, comrades-in-arms. Nothing can change or damage this friendship." Both sides have proven by concrete actions that our friendship is deep and unbreakable. Faced with the sudden attack of COVID-19, China and Africa have been supporting each other and making concerted efforts. Over 50 African leaders called or issued statements to express sincere sympathies and support for China. Also out of sincerity, China delivered batches of medical supplies and sent medical experts to African countries. Our medical teams in Africa have been actively helping local people guard against COVID-19. We held nearly 400 training programs for tens of thousands of African medical workers. We have also been taking care of Africans in China, treating them like members of our family. Among more than 3,000 African students in Wuhan and in Hubei Province, only one person got infected and was soon cured, while others have all been safe and sound. Currently, African countries are faced with COVID-19 and multiple other challenges. We hope the certain country can focus on helping African countries and doing things conducive to their development out of respect for the African people and help fight against the virus. Facts have proven time and again that it gains little support in Africa to sow discord between China and Africa. Yonhap News: Exactly two years ago, leaders of the DPRK and the US met in Singapore. The DPRK said it will continue to build up its military forces to cope with the threats from the US, while the US said it is open to a flexible approach in engagement in order to realize the agreement between the two leaders. Do you have any comment? Hua Chunying: The DPRK and the US are the main parties to the Korean Peninsula issue. Exactly two years ago, leaders of the DPRK and the US had their first meeting in Singapore and reached consensus on establishing a new type of DPRK-US relationship, building a peace mechanism on the Peninsula and realizing complete denuclearization on the Peninsula. Regrettably, however, the consensus has not been effectively implemented and the DPRK-US talks have come to a deadlock. Although there are many reasons, China believes that the main sticking point is that the DPRK's legitimate concerns have not been given due attention and resolved, and the denuclearization measures taken by the DPRK have not been responded to accordingly. Maintaining communication and dialogue between the DPRK and the US is important for resolving their differences and advancing the settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue. At the same time, building mutual trust and breaking the impasse on the Peninsula requires concrete actions. They need to not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk. The US side should take concrete actions to implement the consensus reached by the DPRK and the US leaders, respond to the DPRK's legitimate concerns on development and security, and safeguard the hard-won situation of amelioration and dialogue on the Korean Peninsula. China stands ready to continue playing a constructive role in the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue. Global Times: On June 8, the official account of US diplomatic missions in China retweeted Secretary Pompeo's comments, saying that the US and over 120 countries support an inquiry into the origins of the virus, and that though China co-sponsors the WHA resolution, it is still acting aggressively when it comes to the evaluation. However, the US is not among the co-sponsors of "COVID-19 Response", the resolution adopted in May at the WHA. It also has reservations over the resolution. Do you have any comment? Hua Chunying: On May 19, the 73rd World Health Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution on COVID-19 response. The resolution explicitly endorses and supports the key leadership of WHO and calls on Member States to prevent discrimination and stigmatization, combat misinformation and disinformation, strengthen cooperation in the development of diagnostic tools, treatments, drugs, vaccines and the zoonotic source of the virus, and to assess WHO's responses at an appropriate time. Together with over 140 countries, China is a co-sponsor of this draft resolution. But the US and a few others did not co-sponsor it. In its remarks at the assembly, the US made reservations about the content of the resolution, and now it is being so keen, which only demonstrates its double standards of making good use of multilateral institutions and international consensus when suitable and abandoning them when they are not. China will continue working with most countries in the international community to firmly support the work of WHO. China has always been open to the international scientific community carrying out research collaboration to trace the origin of the virus. We support research on a global scale led by WHO and made by scientists and medical experts based on the principle of professionalism, integrity and constructiveness, in order to enrich mankind's scientific knowledge of this kind of virus, better respond to major infectious diseases in the future, and improve the global public health system and governance capacity. Given that the US is the country most seriously hit by COVID-19 at the moment, for the sake of its own people and the world's public health security, we call on the US side to strengthen cooperation with the WHO, and invite or accept WHO experts to visit the US at an appropriate time. AFP: Twitter today said it removed tens of thousands of state-linked accounts used by China to spread disinformation or praise China's response. As Chinese diplomats are becoming regular users of Twitter, I wonder what's your comment on that? Hua Chunying: I'm not sure what is the basis of Twitter's decision, but I would say that to equate plaudits for China's epidemic response with disinformation is clearly untenable, unless we redefine "disinformation". It is generally understood that disinformation is false, untrue, or even maliciously fabricated lies and rumors. However, China's efforts to combat COVID-19 and the results it achieved are real and witnessed by all. Recently, a white paper titled "Fighting COVID-19: China in Action" issued by the Information Office of the State Council unequivocally presents how the Chinese people have fought in unity against COVID-19 by providing a clear timeline and hard facts. At the same time, as you can see, since the outbreak of the pandemic, some people and forces in the international community have been almost crazy and hysterical in slandering and badmouthing China with rumors. You must have known that as exposed by the Politico website, the US National Republican Senatorial Committee has sent campaigns a 57-page memo advising GOP candidates to address the coronavirus crisis by "aggressively attacking China". A few days ago, the same news website reported that in late March, 2.6 million tweets related to coronavirus were retweeted 25.5 million times within 10 days, and a lot of them spread rumors like "the coronavirus was a bioweapon created in China". According to the report, an analysis of these Twitter accounts found that many of them are linked to supporters of the GOP and the right wing in the US, and had the hallmarks of "bots". If Twitter believes that those tweets praising China's anti-epidemic efforts are "disinformation" and the accounts should be shut down, I wonder what they will do with the real disinformation which has undeniably smeared China with malicious intentions? If those who create and spread such disinformation can be allowed to have their way and do everything in their power, then this is the perfect example of ideological prejudice, bias against China, blatant double standards, and the behavior to confuse right and wrong. What should be shut down is precisely the accounts that attack and smear China in an organized and coordinated manner. Let me reiterate that China is the biggest victim of disinformation. China always opposes the fabrication and dissemination of disinformation. The United Nations and WHO have repeatedly called on all countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation to combat disinformation. We call on the international community to enhance solidarity and coordination, jointly reject disinformation, so that those political viruses such as rumors and slanders and the perpetrators and manipulators behind the scene will have no place to hide. As for the more frequent use of Twitter by Chinese diplomats, I think it's nothing strange. This is an era of new media. Just as many foreign diplomats and journalists in China use WeChat and Weibo, Chinese diplomats have taken Twitter as a channel and platform to communicate with people in other countries. Meanwhile, some foreign media and social platforms are fraught with lies and rumors against China. In the dark and ugly world of disinformation, it is necessary for some people, including Chinese diplomats, to speak in a truthful, objective and impartial manner, like striking a match in the dark night to bring some light. Anyone who is not playing deaf and dumb will be able to see the truth. South China Morning Post: As we understand, students at Harbin Institute of Technology and Harbin Engineering University could no longer access MATLAB since last week, an American computer program for research. It's because the two universities are included in the Entity List by the US. Do you have any comment on that? Are you concerned that more Chinese colleges' access to American software will be banned because they are enlisted? Hua Chunying: I'm not aware of the details. For some time the US has been saying and doing the wrong things, especially imposing sanctions, in our normal exchange and cooperation. Its behaviors reflect deep-rooted Cold-War mindset and a pattern of escalating political oppression on China. We believe US unilateral sanctions and blatant political oppression are not in line with the trend of the times, and they will not impede China's progress and development. The US unilateral sanctions and oppression will only hurt its own interests in the end, a fact that we hope US policy makers can realize. South China Morning Post: US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on June 11 that in response to China's national security legislation for Hong Kong, the US could restrict capital flows through the city. What is your comment? Will China consider taking countermeasures? Hua Chunying: The NPC's decision to establish a legal framework and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR is meant to plug the loopholes the HKSAR faces in national security legislation and uphold stability and prosperity for the HKSAR. This is simply China's internal affair. No external force, including the US, has any right to interfere. China is firmly determined in opposing foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs. The US violated international law and basic norms governing international relations when it waded into the matter of national security legislation for Hong Kong. There are 85,000 American citizens living in Hong Kong and over 1,300 American companies operating in Hong Kong. Almost all major American financial enterprises operate in the HKSAR. For many years the US has enormous trade surplus with Hong Kong. It is fair to say that the US has profound and immediate interests in Hong Kong. If the US takes any action to hurt Hong Kong's interests, its action will backfire to the detriment of its own interests. South China Morning Post: US Department of Justice said that Wang Xin, a Chinese citizen and an army officer, is arrested for visa fraud and trying to acquire lab data in the US. Can you confirm that and offer your comments? Hua Chunying: For a while we have witnessed a lot of erroneous words and deeds from the US side in bilateral people-to-people exchange. Recently many Chinese citizens were questioned for a long time by American law enforcement officials while leaving the US, and the digital devices they carried were also examined. For some people, all their digital devices were even wantonly seized. According to media reports, the US government also claims that it will revoke thousands of Chinese students' visas. The US act of holding a Chinese scholar returning to China due to so-called military background is in serious violation of the lawful rights of the Chinese national studying in the US and constitutes blatant political persecution. Emphasis on "army officer" is just another move for the US to demonize the Chinese national and pin labels on him. As far as I know, Wang Xin does research in the field of cardiovascular diseases. I don't see how that could ever threaten US national interest or security. On the reason of the arrest, well, I think anyone who has read The American Trap by former Alstrom executive Frederic Pierucci or has been observing US behaviors will understand that the US always selectively adopts or rejects international law. The law is just an excuse and tool for the US to oppress foreign institutions and personnel. We urge the US to acknowledge and immediately correct this serious mistake, stop imposing unwarranted restrictions and oppression under various pretexts on Chinese nationals studying in the US, and protect their legitimate and lawful rights. Video of police in riot gear clashing with unarmed protesters in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has filled social media feeds. Meanwhile, police surveillance of protesters has remained largely out of sight. Local, state and federal law enforcement organizations use an array of surveillance technologies to identify and track protesters, from facial recognition to military-grade drones. Police use of these national security-style surveillance techniques justified as cost-effective techniques that avoid human bias and error has grown hand-in-hand with the increased militarization of law enforcement. Extensive research, including my own, has shown that these expansive and powerful surveillance capabilities have exacerbated rather than reduced bias, overreach and abuse in policing, and they pose a growing threat to civil liberties. Police reform efforts are increasingly looking at law enforcement organizations use of surveillance technologies. In the wake of the current unrest, IBM, Amazon and Microsoft have put the brakes on police use of the companies facial recognition technology. And police reform bills submitted by the Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives call for regulating police use of facial recognition systems. A decade of big data policing We havent always lived in a world of police cameras, smart sensors and predictive analytics. Recession and rage fueled the initial rise of big data policing technologies. In 2009, in the face of federal, state and local budget cuts caused by the Great Recession, police departments began looking for ways to do more with less. Technology companies rushed to fill the gaps, offering new forms of data-driven policing as models of efficiency and cost reduction. Then, in 2014, the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, upended already fraying police and community relationships. The killings of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott, Sandra Bland, Freddie Gray and George Floyd all sparked nationwide protests and calls for racial justice and police reform. Policing was driven into crisis mode as community outrage threatened to delegitimize the existing police power structure. In response to the twin threats of cost pressures and community criticism, police departments further embraced startup technology companies selling big data efficiencies and the hope that something data-driven would allow communities to move beyond the all-too-human problems of policing. Predictive analytics and bodycam video capabilities were sold as objective solutions to racial bias. In large measure, the public relations strategy worked, which has allowed law enforcement to embrace predictive policing and increased digital surveillance. Today, in the midst of renewed outrage against structural racism and police brutality, and in the shadow of an even deeper economic recession, law enforcement organizations face the same temptation to adopt a technology-based solution to deep societal problems. Police chiefs are likely to want to turn the page from the current levels of community anger and distrust. The dangers of high-tech surveillance Instead of repeating the mistakes of the past 12 years or so, communities have an opportunity to reject the expansion of big data policing. The dangers have only increased, the harms made plain by experience. Those small startup companies that initially rushed into the policing business have been replaced by big technology companies with deep pockets and big ambitions. Axon capitalized on the demands for police accountability after the protests in Ferguson and Baltimore to become a multimillion dollar company providing digital services for police-worn body cameras. Amazon has been expanding partnerships with hundreds of police departments through its Ring cameras and Neighbors App. Other companies like BriefCam, Palantir and Shotspotter offer a host of video analytics, social network analysis and other sensor technologies with the ability to sell technology cheaply in the short run with the hope for long-term market advantage. The technology itself is more powerful. The algorithmic models created a decade ago pale in comparison to machine learning capabilities today. Video camera streams have been digitized and augmented with analytics and facial recognition capabilities, turning static surveillance into a virtual time machine to find patterns in crowds. Adding to the data trap are smartphones, smart homes and smart cars, which now allow police to uncover individuals digital trails with relative ease. The technology is more interconnected. One of the natural limiting factors of first generation big data policing technology was the fact that it remained siloed. Databases could not communicate with one another. Data could not be easily shared. That limiting factor has shrunk as more aggregated data systems have been developed within government and by private vendors. The promise of objective, unbiased technology didnt pan out. Race bias in policing was not fixed by turning on a camera. Instead the technology created new problems, including highlighting the lack of accountability for high-profile instances of police violence. Lessons for reining in police spying The harms of big data policing have been repeatedly exposed. Programs that attempted to predict individuals behaviors in Chicago and Los Angeles have been shut down after devastating audits cataloged their discriminatory impact and practical failure. Place-based predictive systems have been shut down in Los Angeles and other cities that initially had adopted the technology. Scandals involving facial recognition, social network analysis technology and large-scale sensor surveillance serve as a warning that technology cannot address the deeper issues of race, power and privacy that lie at the heart of modern-day policing. The lesson of the first era of big data policing is that issues of race, transparency and constitutional rights must be at the forefront of design, regulation and use. Every mistake can be traced to a failure to see how the surveillance technology fits within the context of modern police power a context that includes longstanding issues of racism and social control. Every solution points to addressing that power imbalance at the front end, through local oversight, community engagement and federal law, not after the technology has been adopted. The debates about defunding, demilitarizing and reimagining existing law enforcement practices must include a discussion about police surveillance. There are a decade of missteps to learn from and era-defining privacy and racial justice challenges ahead. How police departments respond to the siren call of big data surveillance will reveal whether theyre on course to repeat the same mistakes. This article was first posted on The Conversation. THE HAGUE, Netherlands, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Genetic predisposition to childhood leukemia is frequent (>1-5%), but less than 1% of genetic carriers will actually develop the disease. Infectious stimuli are believed to play a major role in the etiology of the most common types of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but the critical determinants leading to oncogenesis in children are unknown. We are trying to understand the mechanism by which natural exposure to common infections triggers the disease, with the ultimate goal of identifying potential preventive strategies. As there is clear crosstalk between commensal bacteria and the immune system, the gut microbiome may serve as an integration hub for environmental signals such as exposure to infections, modulating the risk of developing B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). In a mouse model of human B-precursor ALL, we have demonstrated that the microbiome profile provides a biomarker that might be used to identify predisposed carriers at risk to develop leukemia. Furthermore, we have shown that gut microbiome deprivation via antibiotic treatment early in life is a risk factor for leukemia development. We anticipate that the risk of developing leukemia may be reduced by modulating the gut microbiome early in life. Presenter: Dr Carolina Vicente-Duenas Affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain Abstract:S100 AN INTACT GUT MICROBIOME PROTECTS GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED MICE AGAINST LEUKEMIA About the EHA Annual Congress: Every year in June, EHA organizes its Annual Congress in a major European city. This year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, EHA transformed its physical meeting into a Virtual Congress. The Congress is aimed at health professionals working in or interested in the field of hematology. The scientific program topics range from stem cell physiology and development to leukemia; lymphoma; diagnosis and treatment; red blood cells; white blood cells and platelet disorders; hemophilia and myeloma; thrombosis and bleeding disorders; as well as transfusion and stem cell transplantation. Embargo: Please note that our embargo policy applies to all selected abstracts in the Press Briefings. For more information, see our EHA Media and Embargo policy here. Website: ehaweb.org Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/622259/EHA_Logo.jpg BEIJING, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by Science and Technology Daily: President Xi Jinping presided over a symposium on June 2 attended by experts and scholars. After this important meeting, some of the experts in medicine, public governance and law discussed how China's multi-dimensional response to the epidemic has achieved initial victory. Zhong Nanshan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a professor of respiratory medicine at Guangzhou Medical University, told Science and Technology Daily, "In fighting the epidemic, China pressed 'pause' on its economy. All medical workers have endeavored to save every patient and never give up, working as meticulously as one would when embroidering." In the medical treatment of COVID-19 patients, China has mobilized an unprecedented amount of national resources to carry out large-scale medical treatment, without missing any infected cases or giving up on a single patient. Treating severe cases has been one of the highest concerns of China's top leaders. Tong Zhaohui, vice president and chief physician of Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, and a member of a medical team dispatched to Hubei, recalled that after listening to his report, President Xi inquired about the cost of treatment for severe and ordinary patients, and noted that the combination of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine is one of the major characteristics of China's COVID-19 response. The whole country is fighting the epidemic as if playing a game of chess, relying on overall planning and coordination, and especially the command system, experts said. Xue Lan, dean of Schwarzman College and professor of the School of Public Policy and Management of Tsinghua University, believes that China's command system has been very strong in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic. The Central Leading Group for Novel Coronavirus Prevention and Control and the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council have played a huge role in quickly mobilizing all forces across the country and coordinating various resources. China has also attached great importance to popularizing laws and regulations on the safety of public health and epidemic prevention and control, as well as promoting the whole of society to act in accordance with the law. Wang Chenguang, a professor at the School of Law of Tsinghua University, and the executive vice chairman of the Chinese Society of Health Law, said that China has raised the strategy of Healthy China to the level of the law. It has also built a public health legal system with the Basic Healthcare and Health Promotion Law as its foundation, and multiple laws as the main body, such as the Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the Emergency Response Law, the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law, and the Drug Administration Law. This system ensured that epidemic prevention and control is conducted in compliance with the law. In addition, the combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine is a vivid example of making innovation while carrying forward the best practices of TCM. Zhang Boli, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of the TCM University in Tianjin said that President Xi has put forward a number of requirements for the construction of the national public health system. These include building a disease prevention and control system, strengthening early monitoring and early warning capabilities, further improving the abilities to treat major infectious diseases, enhancing the organization and leadership of TCM work, popularizing public health safety and epidemic prevention laws and regulations, increasing investment in science and technology in the field of healthcare, and continuing to actively fulfill international obligations. In addition, he also pointed out the direction for future work. SOURCE Science and Technology Daily Bank of Korea (BOK) Governor Lee Ju-yeol delivers a speech at the BOK headquarters in Seoul, Friday, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the central bank. He said the bank will maintain an accommodative monetary policy until the economy overcomes the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and shows signs of recovery. / Courtesy of BOK Women In Music Presents Marketing Yourself in the Time of COVID: Best Practices For Getting Hired [Midem Digital Edition Spotlight Series] Even in its 2020 digital form, Midem continued its commitment to providing resources and networking opportunities to university students and young professionals By Dillon Schindler In association with Women in Music, Midem recently hosted a live stream geared towards anyone looking to land a job in the music industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond. The panel, presented as part of Women in Musics Global Leadership Summit at Midem, was composed of seasoned HR professionals at Spotify, YouTube/Google, and Sony/ATV, and addresses best practices for making connections despite the pandemic. We are all virtually connected now. The panel focuses on the importance of reaching out through platforms like LinkedIn among other methods of digital communication. Elicia Felix-Hughey, senior vice president of Sonys ATV Music Publishing (USA), shares how the current conditions have created a great opportunity to tap into areas where we previously were not able to do so. We are all virtually connected now. Taara Sajnani, a recruiter for Google/YouTube (USA), reinforces the value of reaching out to professionals with a clear goal-oriented message. She poses a question to young professionals, asking, What is the easiest way for us (the recruiters) to connect with you (the applicants)? In an industry built on networking, learning how to communicate efficiently is essential. The panel gives insight into these matters, providing viewers with tips on how to prepare for success when communicating via digital platforms. From simple solutions like testing a computers wifi signal before a meeting to drafting questions before an interview, preparation is the key to success. The panel discusses the importance of providing recruiters with a powerful presentation of ones self. This process calls for someone to be concise and direct about their experience, skills, and goals. To candidates who are currently undergoing virtual interviews, Elicia Felix-Hughey says, You need to feel comfortable in this virtual space. It is important to learn how to properly adapt as a new era of the music industry unfolds. This includes adjusting to new workspaces, people, cultures, and norms. Possessing strong attributes and character is important to any employer. It is a great idea for someone to share their values which most significantly separate them from other candidates. The panel encourages candidates to express their diversity through resumes, virtual interviews, and online portfolios. Shannon Kelly, a technology recruiter for Spotify (USA), makes the point that diversity extends beyond race, gender, and ethnicity and ranges to individuals differences in thinking, skills, and experiences. She says, There is a lot that you can bring to the table depending on what each team needs. The panel urges candidates to share the various elements that they are able to offer to a team. Importance Of LinkedIn Throughout the session, the importance of LinkedIn continues to surface as a useful tool for recruiters and candidates alike. LinkedIn provides a platform for neatly organizing and sharing professional experiences and achievements. Being able to show where someones knowledge and skills have come from is essential during the application process. LinkedIn is a secure place to keep track of experiences, job positions, projects, and education. This online tool allows professionals to share their experiences with friends, colleagues, and recruiters. Taara Sajnani adds that LinkedIn is a place for you to be able to show everything that you do and anything that you do. She, along with other panelists, encourages professionals to share some of their passion projects which accurately portray their personalities and interests. an example of the commitment Midem is making to expand its academic programming More than ever, it is essential to seek out the latest information about the ever-changing music industry. Midems Digital Edition makes learning more accessible for students and professionals internationally. The forum provides audiences with key insights from some of the music industrys leading professionals. This panel is just an example of the commitment Midem is making to expand its academic programming. The conference provides an exclusive networking forum, and direct access to the global music industry, for university students, educators, and young professionals, says Joe Rapolla, chair of the music department and director of the music industry program at Monmouth University, and Midems Education Ambassador. Adds Nicole Barsalona, President of Women in Music: Women in Music has been committed to educating, empowering and advancing women in the music industry for 35 years. Now more than ever, our commitment extends past gender diversity to make sure we are actively highlighting diverse and inclusive voices that reflect our community, and to make sure the next generation sees themselves reflected in the industry leadership to which they aspire. Author Dillon Schindler is a Music Industry Major at Monmouth University in New Jersey. For more than 50 years, Midem has brought the global music community together in Cannes. This year, Midem Digital Edition features 264 speakers from 48 countries, 64 sessions, and 23 livestreamed keynote sessions, talks, and presentations. Free registration for all of the full sessions here: https://www.midem.com/en-gb/midem-digital-edition.html ABOUT WOMEN IN MUSIC, INC. Women in Music is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to advance the awareness, equality, diversity, heritage, opportunities, and cultural aspects of women in the musical arts through education, support, empowerment, and recognition, Originally founded in 1985 in New York, Women in Music now encompasses chapters across the country and across the globe from LA to India. Our members are a diverse group of individuals at all stages in their careers from students to seasoned industry veterans. We are record label executives, artist managers, songwriters, musicians, attorneys, recording engineers, agents, publicists, studio owners, music publishers, marketers, and more. Women in Music believes that the conversation around equality is an inclusive one, where all voices are welcome. Our panels, seminars, webinars, workshops, performance showcases, achievement awards, leadership summits, and global initiatives serve the needs of our diverse communities around the world. For more information, visit womeninmusic.org. Share on: WASHINGTON (AP) In his first eight months as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley carefully crafted a low-key public profile. He knew that splashy and sassy were unlikely to endear him to his boss, President Donald Trump. Then the walk happened. Milley, in his camouflage battle dress uniform, strolled with Trump and a presidential entourage across Lafayette Square on June 1 to be positioned in front of a church, where Trump held up a Bible for photographers. Critics immediately hit Milley, the nations top military officer and a former Fort Drum commander, for appearing to be a political pawn. On Thursday, he finally spoke out. It was a mistake, he said simple words that thrust the square-jawed general into the public spotlight like never before. That might not sit well with a president who dislikes any hint of criticism of his staged events, let alone criticism from those serving under him. Milley's words drew praise from some members of Congress, including Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, but added a new layer of tension between the Pentagon and the White House. That tension burst into public last week with Defense Secretary Mark Esper openly breaking with Trump on the use of federal troops to quell protests. Milley's willingness to admit he erred reflects a personal commitment to a principle deeply rooted in American military tradition: that members of the military are apolitical, sworn to defend the Constitution, not a president. Civilians are supposed to control the military, but not for personal political gain. That commitment had been questioned after the walk. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., an Iraq War veteran, said seeing Milley and Esper walking like lapdogs behind Trump sends a horrifying message to our troops including our black and brown troops that our militarys leaders will not protect them from unlawful orders. Former senior military leaders also weighed in, though in many cases didnt mention Milley by name. Jim Mattis, the retired Marine general who was Trumps first defense chief, called it a bizarre photo op for the elected commander in chief, with military leadership standing alongside. But it was Milley, along with other senior officials, who was urging Trump not to carry out his threat to deploy active-duty troops in D.C. As part of that effort, he spent time at the main security operations center, working to ensure that National Guard members were in the right places and had what they needed to protect the city, so active-duty forces would not be required. Striding along the streets talking with Guard members, he was a formidable figure with his piercing look, close-cropped gray hair, bushy eyebrows and imposing size. He talked openly about the need for troops to enable the peaceful protests while also preventing violence. Military generals are known for their egos, and Milley is no exception. Reserved is not a word one would use to describe the Massachusetts native. He is forceful, given to bouts of temper but quick with a laugh and a sharp retort. A student of military history, Milley peppers his conversations with references to lessons learned during Americas wars, the details of which he can recite instantly. He is given to regaling visitors to his official residence above Arlington National Cemetery with stories about the history of the house and its previous occupants. Milleys father, Alexander, served as a Navy corpsman with the 4th Marine Division during World War II and fought with them at the Battle of Iwo Jima. In a speech in January, Milley recalled walking the beach where his father landed and said he began to imagine what hell on earth was like and that was Iwo Jima. Reflecting on the costs of war, he took that moment to repeat his conviction that the military's job is to preserve the Constitution and prevent such war from happening again. After four decades in the military, Milley was a somewhat surprising pick by Trump to be Joint Chiefs chairman, a position that is the pinnacle of any military career. He had been serving as chief of staff of the Army when Mattis was ready in 2018 to recommend to the White House who should succeed Gen. Joseph Dunford as chairman. Milley was notably not his choice. Trump, however, disregarded Mattis' advice and chose Milley, saying, Hes a great gentleman, hes a great patriot, hes a great soldier." Two weeks later Mattis submitted his resignation, a move widely attributed to his disagreement with Trump over pulling out of Syria but also linked to his disappointment at Trump overruling him on Milley, who became chairman on Oct. 1, 2019. He commands no troops but is the principal military adviser to the president, the secretary of defense and the National Security Council. Milley, who was commanding general for Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division from 2011 to 2012, is known in the military as a charismatic leader who commanded troops during several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He hasnt been afraid to offer candid and sometimes blunt assessments, including to Congress. In 2017, he admonished the House Armed Services Committee for being slow to approve a defense budget, slamming the inaction as professional malpractice. In his three years as Army chief of staff, he helped shepherd the groundbreaking move of women into front-line infantry and other combat positions. He also played a role in one of the Armys more contentious criminal cases, making the early decision to charge former Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. Bergdahl abandoned his post in Afghanistan and was held captive by the Taliban. He was eventually found guilty and dishonorably discharged. A native of Winchester and a vocal fan of the Red Sox and other Boston teams, Milley received his Army commission in 1980 from Princeton University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science. He has two master's degrees. An infantry officer by training, he also commanded Special Forces units in a career that has included deployments in the invasion of Panama in 1989 and the multinational mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina to implement the Dayton Peace Accords. Realme Narzo 10 To Be Available For Purchase Again On June 15 In India News oi-Sandeep Sarkar Realme has emerged one of the most popular Chinese brands ever since it set its foot in the smartphone industry. Recently, the company introduced a new budget smartphone series dubbed Narzo in India. The new series has been introduced with the Narzo 10 and the Narzo 10A. The former has already gone up for sale once in the country. Now, the handset will be available for purchase again online. Realme Narzo 10 Sale And Price The Realme Narzo 10 will be available for sale again on June 15 in India. The device will be available for sale starting at 12 pm on Flipkart. The device will be available for sale starting at Rs. 11,999 and can be bought in two different shades including So White and So Blue colors. It is worth mentioning that a 'Notify Me' tab is also live on the e-commerce platform. You can click on this tab to stay updated on this device's availability. The handset draws its power by the MediaTek Helio G80 processor which is accompanied by ARM Mali-G52 2EEMC2 GPU. The device comes with 4GB RAM and 128GGB storage configuration. The handset ships with Android 10 based Realme UI skin. Upfront, the handset features a 6.5-inch HD+ LCD display with 720 x 1600 pixels. There is a waterdrop notch which accommodates a 16MP selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture. The device features a quad-rear camera module with a 48MP primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. The setup is completed by an 8MP wide-angle-sensor with an f/2.2 aperture, a 2MP macro lens with an f/2.4 aperture, and a 2MP depth sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. The rear panel has a fingerprint scanner that is used for biometric authentication. The unit gets its backup via a 5,000 mAh battery unit. At an asking price of Rs. 11,999, the device comes as one of the most capable handsets in the budget segment. It has got all the internals on point and comes out with a good daily driver. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, during the 2018 campaign, drew criticism from civil rights organizations for running a TV ad embracing a relatively new law protecting Confederate monuments and chastising out-of-state-liberals for instructing Alabamians on what it should do with the historical structures. Two years later, its in-state Democratic and Republican mayors, county commissioners and city officials who are overseeing the removal of monuments that are a national flashpoint since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. He was killed after a white police officer now charged with murder held his knee to Floyds neck for more than eight minutes, as three other officers stood nearby. Gone are Confederate monuments in Virginia, Indiana, Florida and Tennessee. The Marines and Navy have banned images of Confederacy on military property, and a debate has ensued on whether to rename military bases and installations after Confederate generals. NASCAR, on Wednesday, banned displays of the Confederate battle flag. Historians and scholars say the timing could be ripe for the 3-year-old Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017, to also come tumbling down. But they also acknowledge that in states controlled by conservative legislatures where Republicans dominate the halls of state power -- laws aimed to protect the Confederate monuments will likely remain in place. In Alabama, there has been a call to strengthen the law adding stiffer fines for cities or counties that remove the statues. The tradition of state legislatures dominating local governments in states like Alabama, will also come into play, they say. The issue aligns with Republican priorities and values: opposition to pluralism, defense of traditional values threated by political correctness, etc., said Fitzhugh Brundage, the William B. Umstead professor of history at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. So I think the laws will remain on the books in Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, etc., for the foreseeable future. Un-democratic The laws have been criticized as giving too much authority to state legislatures and leaders to govern monuments in cities where local leaders are combatting vandalism and property destruction from protest movements following Floyds brutal killing. According to scholars, the state laws are also un-democratic in that they remove decision-making away from local governments. The laws have thwarted healthy conversations for communities to deal with their built landscape as a community, said Hilary Green, associate professor of history in the Department of Gender and Race Studies at the University of Alabama. They have posed as obstacles and given rise to the frustration seen in the present. Said Brundage, These laws are a rear-guard action to slow and stifle the popular will. Were it not for the 2015 law in North Carolina, I doubt there would be a major Confederate memorial standing in any of the major cities in the state. Although Republicans cannot win control over any of the major cities in this state, they can prevent any change to the commemorative landscapes of those cities through the 2015 law. Jess Brown, a retired political science professor at Athens State University, points out that Alabama is a Dillons Rule state, which means local governments are limited to the powers granted to them by the Legislature. This is why the Legislature, from the get-go, was flawed, said Brown. Heritage is always going to be different. The subsets of history you want to cheerlead your heritage will differentiate from one pocket of the state to the next. Toppling monuments 9 University of Alabama Confederate Monument Quad Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia have state laws protecting the Confederate monuments. Virginia, which is a Democratic controlled state, also became the first state to rescind its state-authorized monument protections to allow cities to decide if the monuments should be removed. Starting July 1, localities in Virginia can remove, contextualize or relocate monuments as they wish. Mississippi has a 1972 law in place to protect war memorials, but South Carolinas Heritage law became the first of the modern wave of Confederate monument protection laws in 2000. Lawmakers approved the law at the same time the Confederate flag was relocated from the Statehouse dome in Columbia to a nearby Confederate memorial. Alabama is one of a few states that issues a fine per violation. In Alabama, fines of up to $25,000 can be charged per violation for the removal of any monument that is older than 40 years. My reading on this situation is that Alabamians have realized that for $25,000, we can get rid of this (monument) and that its worth the costs especially when dealing with security and the fact that it attracts controversy and protests which means you have to pay for police to be there, said Adam Domby, an assistant professor of history at the College of Charleston and author of the recently-released book, The False Cause: Fraud, Fabrication, and White Supremacy in Confederate Memory. He added, Part of this may be an economic decision in that its cheaper to just pay the fine. Its interesting in that were seeing a lot of locations finding ways to get around heritage laws. In the aftermath of Floyds brutal killing and the rise of the Black Lives Matter protests, local government officials are reacting by removing the statues and placing them in safe storage before getting approval from state leaders. The fine seems to be of little concern. Notable examples in Alabama include: -In Birmingham, protesters toppled a statue of Confederate officer Charles Linn during a May 31 demonstration and vandalized the 52-foot Confederate Sailors and Soldiers memorial in Linn Park. But before further damage occurred, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin arrived on the scene and promised to the protesters that the city would remove the monument and pay the $25,000 fine. The next day on June 1, a state-sanctioned holiday recognizing the birthday of Confederate leader Jefferson Davis - the massive statue was removed. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall filed a civil lawsuit on June 2, saying that Birmingham was on the hook to pay for the fine that would go into the state Historic Preservation Fund. -In Montgomery, once referred to as the Cradle of the Confederacy, protesters on June 1 toppled a statue of Robert E. Lee in front of the high school that is his namesake. Four were arrested and charged with first-degree criminal mischief, a felony, but later the charges were dismissed due to legal errors. Talks also are underway by Montgomery County school officials over the renaming of three schools Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and Sidney Lanier. -In Mobile, the Confederate Navy Adm. Raphael Semmes statue was removed on June 5 ahead of a protest that was being planned for last weekend in downtown Mobile. The statues removal was authorized by Mayor Sandy Stimpson. The statue stood for 120 years at Royal and Government streets, but its future at that site is in doubt. Marshall has since requested Stimpson provide a clarification as to why the monument was removed, and whether the removal was temporary. The state law does allow provision for the temporary removal of monuments for preservation purposes and repairs. A Go Fund Me account has been set up to pay for the fine, if one occurs. It has raised over $4,000 as of Thursday morning. -The University of Alabama Systems board of trustees, with the support of President Stuart Bell, authorized the removal of three plaques honoring students who served in the Confederate Army. The plaques are on and in front of Gorgas Library and they honor members of the student cadet corps who defended the campus during the Civil War. The plaques have been in place since before 1920. -The Madison County Commission voted Wednesday for the removal of a Confederate statue outside the county courthouse in downtown Huntsville. But unlike Birmingham and Mobile, the Madison County officials voted to pursue the legal channels in getting the monument removed. The unanimous vote of the commissioners moves the issue along to an 11-member committee established by the state law that reviews requests to remove historic structures. The group will have 90 days to render a decision. Outside the courthouse on Wednesday, a representative with the Tennessee Valley Progressives held up a handmade check for $25,000, suggesting they could raise enough money for its removal. David Odom, president of the Tennessee Valley Progressive Alliance, holds a handmade poster that was drawn to look like a $25,000 check to the county. Legislative process State leaders who have defended the law in the past have been quiet in recent days. Ivey is declining comment, deferring statements to Marshalls office. State Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, who sponsored the state law in 2017, did not respond to requests for comment. Marshalls office plans to enforce the state law consistently against all violators, even though hes received criticism for being more aggressive against Birmingham in pursuing legal recourse than against Mobile. Woodfin, a black mayor of Birmingham, is a Democrat while Stimpson, a white mayor of Mobile, is Republican. Marshalls office has since said it will evaluate each case as it arises and take action in accordance with the law. In his letter to Stimpson in the Mobile case, Marshall said it has been suggested that the city may be relying on working within the state law that allows a city to take appropriate measures to protect and preserve, care, repair or restore the monument. The committee, set up through the 2017 law, adopted administrative rules that will be implemented next week that allow permissible modifications to monuments that include any work intended for protection, preservation, care, repair or restoration of a monument. Marshall, during an interview on FM Talk 1065 in Mobile Wednesday, said the law includes a provision that talks about emergency repairs. Asked about protecting a monument from potential defacement, he said, Its hard to fault a city of protecting something they intend to restore back to its prior place. Marshall also acknowledged that movement was afoot in the Legislature this session to strengthen the 2017 law. Under SB127, sponsored by Allen, the fine for violating the state law would be assessed at $10,000 for each day that a violation occurred. State Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, said there are multiple sides to the dispute over what to do with the law. Republicans, in Alabama, hold a supermajority status in the Legislature. Legislators, particularly Senator Allen, are looking to strengthen the act, said Ward. Some on the other side want to reverse it and go in the opposite direction. Either way, the legislative process is how it should be dealt with. Watershed moment EDS NOTE: OBSCENITY - An image of George Floyd is projected on the base of the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue, Monday, June 8, 2020, in Richmond, Va. The statue has been the focal point of protester over the death of George Floyd. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has ordered the removal of the statue. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)AP Steve Flowers, a commentator on state politics who once served as a Republican in the Alabama House, predicted very little will change regarding the 2017 law. Our Constitution in Alabama gives an inordinate amount of power in the Legislature more so than in other states. Its archaic that a Legislature can tell cities what to do. But I dont think they will back off, he said. But some scholars are hopeful it will lead to their downfall. The laws have been criticized by historians for protecting monuments that were erected decades after the Civil War as testimonies to white supremacy ahead of the Jim Crow era in an effort to thwart advancements by blacks during Reconstruction in the late 1800s. When (defenders of the monuments) say it has nothing to do with racism, they are ignoring what people who were putting them up were saying at the time, said Domby. The monuments going up at the turn of the 20th century were a way to celebrate the overturning of Reconstruction and African-American (advances). The cementing, if you will, of Jim Crow. The Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, in a February 2019 report, noted that 1,747 Confederate symbols still stand in the U.S. That figure is down by 114, which was the number of Confederate symbols removed since the 2015 massacre of nine African Americans inside a church in Charleston, South Carolina. That killing by a deranged white supremacist, sparked the first major nationwide movement to remove Confederate monuments. But that movement also faced backlash by defenders of the Confederate flag who viewed it as an emblem of heritage and regional pride, resulting in the creation of the 2017 law in Alabama. Lecia Brooks, outreach coordinator at the SPLC, said she believes protesters at rallies in recent weeks following Floyds death are recognizing the Confederate symbols for their underlying purpose: A support of white supremacy. She said that Alabama lawmakers can take action to rescind the law, and shift the narrative, or allow protesters to take action. Its evidence where (protesters) are not going to wait for governments to recognize that these monuments/memorials are a painful part of how the systematic issues (of racism) continue to play out, said Brooks. We see this as a real watershed moment in a movement to remove the Confederate iconography from public spaces. One question that could surface in the weeks ahead is what will happen to the monuments removed. Domby said that some of the statues are not worth preserving, while others could have value at a park or some sort of venue dedicated to historical artifacts. I dont think its a fair argument to say that well put them in a museum, he said. Some of these monuments are just artistically unimportant. They are stock monuments and were sold for $500. He said museums also dont have space for the monuments. The Birmingham monument, for instance, is a five-story structure. Do museums have the space and how do they interpret them? said Domby, who suggests some of the statues should be put in storage for the next 20 or so years. He added, And in 20 years from now, we can talk about what happened in 2020. But ultimately, its up to the people to decide. New Delhi, June 12 : The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to take a stand on refunding by airlines on cancellation of tickets during the lockdown, and suggested that the airline operators must extend the credit period for two years. A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.R. Shah suggested that a credit note by airlines must have a life of at least 2 years, and for any route, if that is the way out. The top court also emphasized that the Centre must take a stand on this matter. The bench asked the Centre and airlines to sit together and devise modalities on the ways to refund the passengers for cancellation of their tickets during the lockdown. The observation from the top court came on a plea filed by Pravasi Legal Cell through advocate Jose Abraham. The plea urged the top court to declare non-refunding of the amount of the tickets by airlines as "illegal and violative of the Civil Aviation Requirement" issued by the DGCA. The petitioner contended that airlines, instead of providing full refund of the amount collected for cancelled tickets, are providing a credit shell, valid up to one year. Abraham said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta suggested if the person wants to change the original destination of the journey, then it should be allowed. During the hearing, a counsel suggested that the DGCA should call a meeting of airlines to discuss this issue. The top court said it will list the matter in the third week of July. The plea cited the Ministry of Civil Aviation's (MCA) April 16 office memorandum, which directed all airline operators to refund the full amount collected for all tickets booked during the first phase of the lockdown period, from March 25 to April 14, for domestic and international air travel. The MCA memorandum said if a passenger seeks refund during the first lockdown phase for travel during the second lockdown period (from April 15 to May 3), still the airline has to refund the full amount without levying any cancellation charges. The plea contended that the Office Memorandum leaves out the vast majority of passengers who had booked tickets before the flights operations were banned, and thus indirectly approves the practice of the airlines providing credit shell for booking affected before the lockdown, though the same clearly violates the refund rules of the DGCA. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Donald Trump Washington: US President Donald Trump is considering suspending a number of employment visas including the H-1B, most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, in view of the massive unemployment in America due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a media report. The proposed suspension could extend into the government's new fiscal year beginning October 1, when many new visas are issued. Advertisement Donald TrumpThat could bar any new H-1B holder outside the country from coming to work until the suspension is lifted, though visa holders already in the country are unlikely to be affected, the daily reported. The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. Advertisement H-1B visaSuch a decision by the Trump administration is likely to have an adverse impact on thousands of Indian IT professionals. Already a large number of Indians on the H-1B visas have lost their jobs and are headed back home during the coronavirus pandemic. The White House, however, said that no final decision has been made and the administration is considering various proposals. The administration is currently evaluating a wide range of options, formulated by career experts, to protect American workers and job seekers especially disadvantaged and underserved citizens but no decisions of any kind have been made, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement. Advertisement In addition to the H-1B visas, the suspension could apply to the H-2B visa for short-term seasonal workers, the J-1 visa for short-term workers including camp counselors and au pairs and the L-1 visa for internal company transfers, the financial daily reported. Srinagar: Security forces on Friday (June 12) apprehended one Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist from Khojpura in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. The terrorist has been identified as Zakir Khan, son of Md Yousuf Khan and is a Shopian resident. He was arrested after the Jammu and Kashmir Police received a special input about his involvement in terror-related activities and conducted a raid in Khojpura Reban village area of the district early on Friday. He had reportedly joined terrorist ranks recently and was to become active in terrorist violence. Meanwhile, the police recovered one 9 mm pistol, 2 magazine, ammunition and other warlike items from his possession. A case in this regard has been registered and further investigation in this regard has been taken up. More than 20 active terrorists have been arrested this year by security forces till now. (Inputs by: Syed Khalid Hussain Hussain and Manish Shukla) Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 20:49:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Two new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Beijing on Friday, after another case was reported a day earlier, according to the municipal government. The two cases are both employees of the China Meat Food Research Center in Fengtai District, said Zhang Jie, deputy head of the district, at a press conference. According to Zhang, one of the cases, aged 25 with the surname of Liu, went to a clinic on June 9 after showing symptoms of a sore throat, fever, cough and runny nose. The patient said he went on a five-day business trip to the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao in the past two weeks. The other patient, a colleague of Liu's with the surname of Yin, showed mild symptoms of a cough but no fever. Yin was taken to hospital on Friday and later diagnosed as being COVID-19 positive. An epidemiological investigation is underway. Closed-off management and temperature checks have been resumed in the patients' communities. Stricter monitoring will be done in communities, clinics and public places in surrounding areas, according to Zhang. A COVID-19 case was confirmed in the city's Xicheng District on Thursday. Beijing on Friday suspended the class resumption for primary schools' lower graders scheduled next Monday. Enditem Emily Brown was stretched thin. As the director of the Rio Grande County Public Health Department in rural Colorado, she was working 12- and 14-hour days, struggling to respond to the pandemic with only five full-time employees for more than 11,000 residents. Case counts were rising. She was already at odds with county commissioners, who were pushing to loosen public health restrictions in late May, against her advice. She had previously clashed with them over data releases and control and had haggled over a variance regarding reopening businesses. But she reasoned that standing up for public health principles was worth it, even if she risked losing the job that allowed her to live close to her hometown and help her parents with their farm. Then came the Facebook post: a photo of her and other health officials with comments about their weight and references to armed citizens and bodies swinging from trees. The commissioners had asked her to meet with them the next day. She intended to ask them for more support. Instead, she was fired. They finally were tired of me not going along the line they wanted me to go along, she said. In the battle against COVID-19, public health workers spread across states, cities and small towns make up an invisible army on the front lines. But that army, which has suffered neglect for decades, is under assault when its needed most. Officials who usually work behind the scenes managing tasks like immunizations and water quality inspections have found themselves center stage. Elected officials and members of the public who are frustrated with the lockdowns and safety restrictions have at times turned public health workers into politicized punching bags, battering them with countless angry calls and even physical threats. On Thursday, Ohios state health director, who had armed protesters come to her house, resigned. The health officer for Orange County, California, quit Monday after weeks of criticism and personal threats from residents and other public officials over an order requiring face coverings in public. As the pressure and scrutiny rise, many more health officials have chosen to leave or have been pushed out of their jobs. A review by Kaiser Health News and The Associated Press finds at least 27 state and local health leaders have resigned, retired or been fired since April across 13 states. From North Caolina to California, they have left their posts because of a mix of backlash and stressful, nonstop work, all while dealing with chronic staffing and funding shortages. Some health officials have not been up to the job during the biggest health crisis in a century. Others previously had plans to leave or cited their own health issues. But Lori Tremmel Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, said the majority of what she calls an alarming exodus resulted from increasing pressure as states reopen. Three of those 27 were members of her board and well known in the public health community Rio Grande Countys Brown; Detroits senior public health adviser, Dr. Kanzoni Asabigi; and the head of North Carolinas Gaston County Department of Health and Human Services, Chris Dobbins. Asabigis sudden retirement, considering his stature in the public health community, shocked Freeman. She also was upset to hear about the departure of Dobbins, who was chosen as health director of the year for North Carolina in 2017. Asabigi and Dobbins did not reply to requests for comment. They just dont leave like that, Freeman said. Public health officials are really getting tired of the ongoing pressures and the blame game, Freeman said. She warned that more departures could be expected in the coming days and weeks as political pressure trickles down from the federal to the state to the local level. From the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, federal public health officials have complained of being sidelined or politicized. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been marginalized; a government whistleblower said he faced retaliation because he opposed a White House directive to allow widespread access to the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment. In Hawaii, Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard called on the governor to fire his top public health officials, saying she believed they were too slow on testing, contact tracing and travel restrictions. In Wisconsin, several Republican lawmakers have repeatedly demanded that the states health services secretary resign, and the states conservative Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that she had exceeded her authority by extending a stay-at-home order. With the increased public scrutiny, security details like those seen on a federal level for Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious-disease expert have been assigned to top state health officials, including Georgias Dr. Kathleen Toomey after she was threatened. Ohios Dr. Amy Acton, who also had a security detail assigned after armed protesters showed up at her home, resigned Thursday. In Orange County, in late May, nearly 100 people attended a county supervisors meeting, waiting hours to speak against an order requiring face coverings. One person suggested that the order might make it necessary to invoke Second Amendment rights to bear arms, while another read aloud the home address of the orders author, the countys chief health officer, Dr. Nichole Quick, as well as the name of her boyfriend. Quick, attending by phone, left the meeting. In a statement, the sheriffs office later said Quick had expressed concern for her safety following several threatening statements both in public comment and online. She was given personal protection by the sheriff. But Monday, after yet another public meeting that included criticism from members of the board of supervisors, Quick resigned. She could not be reached for comment. Earlier, the countys deputy director of public health services, David Souleles, retired abruptly. An official in another California county also has been given a security detail, said Kat DeBurgh, the executive director of the Health Officers Association of California, declining to name the county or official because the threats have not been made public. Many local health leaders, accustomed to relative anonymity as they work to protect the publics health, have been shocked by the growing threats, said Theresa Anselmo, the executive director of the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials. After polling local health directors across the state at a meeting last month, Anselmo found about 80% said they or their personal property had been threatened since the pandemic began. About 80% also said theyd encountered threats to pull funding from their department or other forms of political pressure. To Anselmo, the ugly politics and threats are a result of the politicization of the pandemic from the start. So far in Colorado, six top local health officials have retired, resigned or been fired. A handful of state and local health department staff members have left as well, she said. Its just appalling that in this country that spends as much as we do on health care that were facing these really difficult ethical dilemmas: Do I stay in my job and risk threats, or do I leave because its not worth it? Anselmo asked. In California, senior health officials from seven counties, including Quick and Souleles, have resigned or retired since March 15. Dr. Charity Dean, the second in command at the state Department of Public Health, submitted her resignation June 4. Burnout seems to be contributing to many of those decisions, DeBurgh said. In addition to the harm to current officers, DeBurgh is worried about the impact these events will have on recruiting people into public health leadership. Its disheartening to see people who disagree with the order go from attacking the order to attacking the officer to questioning their motivation, expertise and patriotism, said DeBurgh. Thats not something that should ever happen. Some of the online abuse has been going on for years, said Bill Snook, a spokesperson for the health department in Kansas City, Missouri. He has seen instances in which people took a health inspectors name and made a meme out of it, or said a health worker should be strung up or killed. He said opponents of vaccinations, known as anti-vaxxers, have called staffers baby killers. The pandemic, though, has brought such behavior to another level. In Ohio, the Delaware General Health District has had two lockdowns since the pandemic began one after an angry individual came to the health department. Fortunately, the doors were locked, said Dustin Kent, program manager for the departments residential services unit. Angry calls over contact tracing continue to pour in, Kent said. In Colorado, the Tri-County Health Department, which serves Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties near Denver, has also been getting hundreds of calls and emails from frustrated citizens, deputy director Jennifer Ludwig said. Some have been angry their businesses could not open and blamed the health department for depriving them of their livelihood. Others were furious with neighbors who were not wearing masks outside. Its a constant wave of confusion and angst and anxiety and anger, she said. Then in April and May, rocks were thrown at one of their offices windows three separate times. The office was tagged with obscene graffiti. The department also received an email calling members of the department tyrants, adding youre about to start a hot-shooting civil war. Health department workers decamped to another office. Although the police determined there was no imminent threat, Ludwig stressed how proud she was of her staff, who weathered the pressure while working round-the-clock. It does wear on you, but at the same time, we know what we need to do to keep moving to keep our community safe, she said. Despite the complaints, the grievances, the threats, the vandalism the staff have really excelled and stood up. The threats didnt end there, however: Someone asked on the health departments Facebook page how many people would like to know the home addresses of the Tri-County Health Department leadership. You want to make this a war??? No problem, the poster wrote. Back in Colorados Rio Grande County, some members of the community have rallied in support of Brown with public comments and a letter to the editor of a local paper. Meanwhile, COVID-19 case counts have jumped from 14 to 49 as of Wednesday. Brown is grappling with what she should do next: Dive back into another strenuous public health job in a pandemic or take a moment to recoup? When she told her 6-year-old son she no longer had a job, he responded: Good, now you can spend more time with us. ___ Michelle R. Smith is a correspondent for the AP, and Lauren Weber and Anna Maria Barry-Jester are writers for KHN. AP writer Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu and KHN correspondent Angela Hart in Sacramento contributed to this report. ___ This story is a collaboration between The Associated Press and Kaiser Health News, which is a nonprofit, editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. Mr Bismark Adongo Ayorogo, the Executive Director of the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), says establishing Mining Community Development Schemes (MCDS) in mining areas will contribute significantly to the reduction of poverty and hunger for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) He said the passage of the Minerals Development Fund Act provides opportunity for communities and civil society groups working in mining communities to engage relevant state institutions to demand the establishment of the MCDS. Mr Bismark Adongo Ayorogo, the Executive Director of the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), says establishing Mining Community Development Schemes (MCDS) in mining areas will contribute significantly to the reduction of poverty and hunger for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) He said the passage of the Minerals Development Fund Act provides opportunity for communities and civil society groups working in mining communities to engage relevant state institutions to demand the establishment of the MCDS. This will undoubtedly rake in significant amount of resources to effectively finance sustainable livelihood programmes for socio-economic transformation of the mining communities to address poverty and deprivation. Mr Ayorogo in a signed statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, indicated that in light of the benefits of the MCDS, his outfit joined the Coalition of Social Movements on Mining (CSMM) in the Upper East Region to advocate the need to establish MCDS in every mining community in Ghana beginning with communities in the Talensi District of the Region. The Executive Director said in spite of policy frameworks of the Africa Union, ECOWAS and Ghana, It is regrettable to note that the policies have not impacted much on the lives of mining communities in the country. What is visible in mining communities across the country is extreme poverty, deprivation and general under-development. He added that it was worrying that instead of mining activities in communities to contribute to the social and economic development of the communities, mining was rather contributing to violent conflicts, pollution and many other social vices. Mr Ayorogo said the MCDS sought to facilitate socio-economic development of communities in which mining activities are undertaken and those affected by mining operations. He noted that sources of funds for the Scheme were stated in Section 18 of the Act as mining royalties being 20 per cent of the Minerals Development Fund (MDF) at the national level, while donations by mining companies and related business entities, grants, gifts and other voluntary contributions were also expected to be made. Management of the scheme shall be by a Local Management Committee which, according to Section 19 of the Act comprises the District Chief Executive, traditional ruler of the mining community, one representative of the District Office of the Minerals Commission, mining company, identified womens group and identified youth group in the community. The Executive Director said government further introduced Community Mining Programme to promote community participation in the mining industry aimed at increasing communities share of the mineral wealth and other social and economic benefits that mining promised for improved livelihoods. Strongly determined to ensure mining activities under the Community Mining Programme are carried out in a very responsible and sustainable manner, the government has already mobilized and trained a good number of interested members of mining communities across the country, to acquire the needed technical skills for a successful programme. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A city in New Zealand has taken down its statue of a former British naval officer, becoming the latest country to reassess elements of its colonial past amid the Black Lives Matter protests sweeping the globe. Authorities in the city of Hamilton removed a bronze statue of Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton the citys namesake who is accused of killing indigenous Maori people in the 1860s. The removal of the statue came after a Maori tribe requested it to be taken down, with one elder threatening to tear it down himself if officials did not act. Cities around the world are taking steps to remove statues that represent cultural or racial oppression following the killing of unarmed black man George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis. Demonstrations have taken place across the UK and there are concerns over the protection of monuments after a statue of slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down and dumped in Bristols harbour. Recommended Police say they will prevent disorder over protecting statues Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said in a statement that a growing number of people found the statue personally and culturally offensive. She said: We cant ignore what is happening all over the world and nor should we. At a time when we are trying to build tolerance and understanding between cultures and in the community, I dont think the statue helps us to bridge those gaps. The city was originally called Kirikiriroa by the indigenous Maori people but it was renamed in the 1860s after Captain Hamilton, a British officer who was killed in the infamous Gate Pa battle in the city of Tauranga. Recommended Statue of slave trader Robert Milligan removed from plinth in London The statue was gifted to the city in 2013 and the Waikato-Tainui tribe, or iwi, formally requested on Thursday for it to be removed. City authorities said it was clear the statue was going to be vandalised after Maori elder Taitimu Maipi this week told media website Stuff that he planned to tear it down himself. Mr Maipi said Hamilton was being represented as a hero when he was murderous and a monster. Edward Colston statue was removed from Bristol Harbour on early on Thursday morning (Bristol City Council/Twitter) City authorities said they have no plans to change the citys name at this point. Hamilton is the nations fourth-largest city with 160,000 people, about one-quarter of whom are Maori. Earlier this week, a statue of 18th century slave trader Robert Milligan was taken down by workers in east London following pressure from campaigners. Demonstrators in Belgium have also called on authorities to remove a statue of King Leopold II who is accused of killing millions of Congolese more than a century ago. Leopold is increasingly seen as a stain on the nation where he reigned from 1865 to 1909. Protesters want him removed from public view. Additional reporting by agencies Seattle's mayor told Donald Trump to "Go back to your bunker" Thursday, escalating a spat after the president threatened to intervene over a police-free autonomous zone protesters have set up in the western US city. The reference to a "bunker" was a nod to reports Trump was rushed by Secret Service agents to a secure area in the White House as demonstrations against racism and police brutality sparked by the death of George Floyd reached the president's residence. Trump sparked the spat when he threatened to intervene in the neighborhood in Seattle dubbed "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone," or CHAZ, which was agreed upon by demonstrators and the city's police department. "Take back your city NOW. If you don't do it, I will," Trump warned mayor Jenny Durkan and Washington state governor Jay Inslee -- both Democrats -- in a tweet late Wednesday, calling the protesters "domestic terrorists" who have taken over Seattle. "This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped (sic) IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST," he continued in another tweet. Mayor Jenny Durkan replied, urging Trump to "make us all safe. Go back to your bunker", with Inslee joining in the Twitter mockery of Trump. "A man who is totally incapable of governing should stay out of Washington state's business. 'Stoop' tweeting," Inslee wrote. Protests have taken place across the country following the death of Floyd, an unarmed black man killed in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25. Officials in Seattle have denied reports that left-wing activists are behind the setting up of the autonomous zone. - 'Peaceful as hell' - In the CHAZ area Thursday there were tents with supplies for volunteer medics as well as free gourmet food donated by local restaurants, along with fruit, snacks, and water bottles for the taking. The sunny afternoon gathering had a relaxed air, with people of all ages, including mothers with children, milling around the car-free streets. At one point a crowd locked arms and prevented two police officers from reaching a boarded up police station in the area. The officers failed to break in when they tried to enter through a different road. "The scene here is peaceful as hell," said a demonstrator who identified herself as Jahtia B. She wondered aloud what Trump meant by tweeting 'take back the city.' "This is our city. I was born and raised in this damn city. Let's give it to the people, the people who live in Seattle and have been thriving here," she told AFP. An African-American demonstrator, Rich Brown, said he was scared on Sunday when police used tear gas and flash bang grenades in an attempt to clear the area. "Today I feel supported, welcomed," he said. "We're able to speak, it's what we've been wanting to do this whole time, without intimidation, without fear." Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has sworn in a new state acting chief judge urging him to treat issues of rape and other criminal matters urgently. The governor, who spoke at the occasion, told the new official, Gumna Kaigama, at the Government House Damaturu that everyone is deeply concerned about upsurge in crimes such as rape and kidnapping and other legal challenges in the country at present. Mr Buni said, I am of the opinion that this unfortunate development should receive the urgent attention of the acting chief judge and the entire judiciary as they relate to doing justice, without fear or favour, to the culprits and victims of such crimes. The fundamental human rights of all citizens regardless of their social status should be equally protected. Nigerians, wherever they live, should feel free to express themselves without causing infringement on the honour and dignity of any person and be allowed to pursue their legitimate goals in the country. Mr Kaigama was appointed following the demise of the former judge, Garba Nabaruma, who died from a protracted renal illness on May 19. Meanwhile, Mr Buni described the new official as fearless, selfless and hard-working. He said he was appointed on merit and in line with the powers vested on him by section 174 subsection (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. The new judge is noted for his impartiality, hard work, simplicity, selflessness and fearlessness among other personal traits in the discharge of his duties. I am therefore, confident in his ability to discharge his duties effectively in our collective quest for quick dispensation of justice and a harmonious working relationship between the Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of Government in Yobe State, Mr Buni said. READ ALSO: Mr Kaigama obtained his Bachelor of Law degree from University of Maiduguri in 1987 and was appointed Chief Magistrate Grade 1 in 1995. He became the Chief Registrar in Sharia Court of Appeal in 1996. He also served as a judge in Damaturu High Court. He has also served in other capacities, the most recent of which are, the Chairman, Zamfara State Election Petition Tribunal in 2011 and also the Chairman, Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal from December, 2019 to May, 2020. The government also approved new criteria for foreigners crossing the border. Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a resolution on reopening border checkpoints at the country's international airports from June 15. According to the document, checkpoints and control points will resume servicing international flights with new criteria introduced for foreigners crossing the border, an UNIAN correspondent reported following an extraordinary government meeting on June 12. In turn, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Kryklii wrote on Facebook: "Today, by its resolution, the government opened checkpoints at Ukrainian airports and allowed entry for foreigners who are not citizens of countries with a high COVID-19 spread and have not visited such countries for the past 14 days. These changes will make allow air transport enterprises to resume operations and relaunch international air travel." Read alsoEgypt to resume limited flights to resorts least affected by coronavirus starting July Kryklii says Ukrainian citizens from June 15 will be able to travel to Albania and the United States (without restrictions at border), UK (subject to a 14-day quarantine upon arrival), Turkey (without restrictions at border, but with testing upon arrival, and Tunisia (from June 27, with testing upon arrival). Moreover, after the epidemic situation in Ukraine stabilizes, the government will consider the relaunch of air travel with Cyprus, Montenegro, Georgia, and Greece starting July 1. President of Ireland Michael Higgins has congratulated Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. As President of Ireland and on behalf of the people of Ireland may I convey to Your Excellency and the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan sincere congratulations and warmest greetings on the occasion of your National Day, President Higgins said. May I avail of this opportunity to express Irelands solidarity in the task of achieving a global economy that will be instrumental in offering security on the necessities of life to all the citizens who share our vulnerable planet, and in honoring our shared commitments in responding to climate change and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the president added. May the coming time bring peace, well-being and happiness to the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the president said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The opposition National Democratic Congress COVID-19 Technical Team has cautioned against a false sense of security following the easing of public gathering restrictions. As schools prepare to open for some category of students in the coming days, the NDC feels the recent trends in the spread of the virus do not suggest that students, teaching and non- teaching staff can avoid significant risk of exposure to the virus as the epidemic is not under control. It warned that the daily updates from GHS over the last four weeks tell a story of an expanding epidemic and rising risks in our communities. Ghana's COVID-19 cases currently stand at 10,358 with 48 deaths and 3,824 recoveries. Ghana has been noted by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being among 10 African countries said to be driving the spread of COVID-19 on the continent. May 2020 saw an average of over 200 new cases a day in Ghana which the NDC says should prompt the government to give greater consideration to the worrying trends in community spread. The NDC further suggested that all students, teaching and non-teaching staff be tested to preempt any potential spread on secondary schools and university campuses. This is in line with calls from stakeholders like the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) which proposed mass coronavirus testing of students, teaching and non-teaching staff of Senior High Schools (SHSs) before they are reopened. Among other suggestions, the NDC also called for better healthcare resources of schools, the provision of isolation centres on schools and ensuring social distancing protocols in boarding houses and classrooms. ---citinewsroom We havent always agreed on every issue, Lightfoot said of Rush. But today, we are in total alignment in our righteous anger and our steadfast determination, and I want to make sure thats very clear. What I know of Congressman Rush is this: He has committed his life to calling out and fighting against injustice, and this presents exactly one of those moments. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 14:04:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MANILA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Personal remittances or the money sent home by overseas Filipinos amounted to 2.652 billion U.S. dollars in March 2020, down 5.2 percent year-on-year, the Philippine central bank said in a report. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said in a statement on Thursday that this brought the total remittances for the first quarter of 2020 to 8.218 billion U.S. dollars, up 1.5 percent year-on-year. The BSP said personal remittances from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more declined to 2.014 billion U.S. dollars in March 2020, 6.7 percent lower than 2.157 billion U.S. dollars recorded in March 2019. Meanwhile, the BSP said remittances from sea-based workers and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year rose by 2.7 percent to 0.591 billion U.S. dollars from a year ago. Similarly, the BSP said the overseas Filipinos cash remittances that are coursed through banks declined by 4.7 percent to 2.397 billion U.S. dollars in March 2020 from 2.514 billion U.S. dollars in March 2019. "The decline in cash remittances in March was largely due to the lesser number of Filipinos deployed overseas in the first three months of 2020 relative to the comparable level last year," the BSP statement said. Notwithstanding the decline in March, the BSP said cash remittances for the first quarter of 2020 managed to post a modest increase of 1.4 percent to 7.403 billion U.S. dollars from the same period last year. The BSP said the slight growth for the quarter was supported by remittances from both land-based (5.79 billion U.S. dollars) and sea-based (1.613 billion U.S. dollars) workers, which rose by 1.3 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively. The United States registered the highest share to overall remittances at 39 percent in March 2020, according to the BSP. The government estimates the number of overseas Filipino workers at 12 million, accounting for one-tenth of the country's population. BSP data showed that personal remittances sent home by overseas Filipinos in 2019 reached a record high of 33.5 billion U.S. dollars, 3.9 percent higher than the 32.2 billion U.S. dollars recorded in 2018. Remittances from overseas Filipino workers are forecast to decline as industries such as tourism bear the brunt of lower demand due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of COVID-19 on other countries is expected to be felt in the Philippines via tourism, aviation, trade, and overseas Filipino workers' remittances. Nearly 40,000 overseas Filipino workers, both sea-based and land-based, have been repatriated due to the pandemic, data from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. DFA data showed that as of June 11 a total of 5,469 Filipinos in 51 countries and regions have contracted the virus. The Asian Development Bank has projected the remittances from overseas Filipino workers, equivalent to 9 percent of GDP, to slow this year due to COVID-19. Large flows of remittances come from the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, which collectively supply 70 percent of all remittances, the ADB said in a report released in April. Enditem Two Catholic priests and three Orthodox Jewish congregants have filed a lawsuit against New York governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City mayor Bill de Blasio in federal court, alleging that the states response to the coronavirus pandemic violated the constitutional rights of religious New Yorkers. Catholic priests Steven Soos and Nicholas Stamos, from upstate New York, and Orthodox Jewish congregants Elchanan Perr, Daniel Schonborn, and Mayer Mayerfeld, from Brooklyn, filed the suit alleging civil-rights violations in the Northern District of New York. In addition to Cuomo and de Blasio, it also names state attorney general Letitia James as a defendant. The lawsuit claims that the governor, mayor, and attorney general violated the First Amendment and due-process rights of the plaintiffs by selectively enforcing pandemic-control measures. Even as mass protests were allowed to take place across the state, people of faith were targeted with threats of criminal prosecution and $1000 fines for violating the restrictions on group gatherings, the suit alleges. As stringent restrictions on religious services remain in place until the coronavirus pandemic is brought under control, protests have taken place on a large scale across the state and the nation in response to the death of George Floyd. In New York City, groups much larger than ten people the limit de Blasio set for non-essential gatherings have not been broken up by law enforcement, the suit notes. Days later, a group of Hasidic Jewish children was kicked out of a park in Williamsburg by a police officer for not abiding by the ten-person limit. An attorney for the plaintiffs, Christopher Ferrara, argued in a statement that both New Yorks emergency stay-at-home order and its reopening plan clearly discriminate against houses of worship. The COVID-19 related orders purport to be facially neutral, yet fail to prohibit secular activity that endangers the state interest in public health equally or to a greater degree than the prohibited religious conduct, Ferrara tells National Review. Why is a large worship gathering deemed more dangerous than a mass protest, full of shouting, arm-waving people in close proximity to one another? Story continues It is time to end New Yorks experiment in absolute monarchy, Ferrara added. We are asking the court to put an end to these unconstitutional executive orders and their prejudicial enforcement. More from National Review Neighborhood Street Closures Become a Thing in Kansas City They started popping up in Kansas City neighborhoods in late April - homemade barriers, some quite creative, informing motorists a block is closed to traffic except for residents and deliveries. Call it a pandemic experiment. As schools, workplaces and even some public spaces like playgrounds closed, Kansas City rolled out a program called Neighborhood Open Streets. Here's more celebration of a bad idea we. . . KCPT offers a few throwaway lines in lieu of fairness but basically hopes that upscale neighborhoods can continue to impede traffic based only on the whims of bored, elitist Karens and their enablers.Read more: Kamerhe, President Tshisekedis chief of staff, is accused of embezzlement of more than $50m of public funds. Prosecutors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are seeking a 20-year prison sentence for Vital Kamerhe, President Felix Tshisekedis chief of staff, for his alleged role in the embezzlement of more than $50m of public funds The prosecution on Thursday also asked the 61-year-old to be disqualified from holding public office for 10 years after completing his sentence, and has requested the seizure of his wifes assets as well as those of other family members. Kamerhe is the most powerful politician to face corruption charges in the DRC. He denies any wrongdoing. The veteran political figure reportedly made a pact to back Tshisekedi in a 2018 election in the expectation of succeeding him. His supporters say the case is politically motivated, aimed at blocking his chances of challenging Tshisekedi at the next election in 2023. Kamerhe, who has been detained since April 8, and two co-defendants are accused of embezzling state funds intended to finance major public works. A 20-year prison sentence was also sought against one of Kamerhes co-accused, Lebanese contractor Jammal Samih, 78, who would be deported at the end of his sentence. 200511101934960 The prosecutors office, which took nearly two hours to present its case, upheld a money laundering charge against both defendants and requested an additional sentence for aggravated corruption. However, the office added that the total prison term should not exceed 20 years. Prosecutors said Kamerhe and his wife, who married in February 2019, had acquired and renovated a mansion in France for more than one million euros ($1.1m). Kamerhes Paris-based lawyers said the sentence request was unconstitutional and announced that they had referred the matter to the United Nationss Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The proceedings mention the embezzlement of public money. But there is no evidence of any illicit financial flows, Jean-Marie Kabengela and Pierre-Olivier Sur wrote in a statement. The two lawyers also said Kamerhes safety was in danger in the jail where he was being held, following rumours he was responsible for the sudden death of the trials presiding judge last month. Police said Judge Raphael Yanyi died from a heart attack, and the results of an autopsy are still pending. In hearings last week that ran almost 13 hours, Kamerhe insisted he never entered a private contract with Samih. He claimed that nothing was done without the knowledge of Tshisekedi and insisted he was not in office when the contract at the centre of the allegations was signed in 2018. A government adviser called by the prosecution during the hearing slammed Kamerhes comments as an insult to the president. The date of the verdict is not yet known. Nirupama Viswanathan By Express News Service CHENNAI: From being the biggest COVID-19 hotspot, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar has been consistently reporting fewer number of cases over the last few weeks. Officials attribute the dip in these numbers to rigorous testing, quick and efficient containment among other interventions. Express talks to officials in all three zones in an attempt to find out what intervention methods worked for Thiru Vi Ka Nagar and why the same could not be carried out to bring COVID-19 cases under control in its neighbouring Royapuram and Tondiarpet zones. As on Tuesday, Royapuram remained the most affected zone with 4192 cases, Tondiarpet with 3192 cases while Thiru Vi Ka Nagar had slipped to fifth place with 2351 cases. A month ago, on May 6, Thiru vi Ka Nagar had the most number of cases at 395 while Royapuram had 321 and Tondiarpet merely 149. A senior official working to control the number of cases in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar said that quick containment was one of the most effective measures that worked in favour of the zone. Here, by containment, I dont mean sealing the streets. Without delay, the houses where a positive case is recorded would be immediately sealed with a tin sheet with a small gap for residents of the building to get essential supplies, said the official. Initially, this was met with resistance with other residents in the house blaming officials for ruining their livelihoods. So, arrangements were made to provide residents with rice and vegetables free of cost for a period of 14 days. Thiru Vi Ka Nagar was also the first to start a zonal level call centre to listen to any issues those under home isolation may have. Those under home isolation and quarantine were also given the phone numbers of a Corporation volunteer to help them, ensuring that those who tested positive and their close contacts did not step outside their homes. In the slum areas also, cases have come down in the zone. Now, the fresh cases that are being reported are mostly other clusters like frontline workers, the official said. However, a senior official working in Tondiarpet said that the zone could not be looked at through the same lens as Thiru Vi Ka Nagar because of its demography. There are many dense areas here. In Tondiarpet alone, there are 144 slums, the official said. Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, on the other hand, had about 94 slums. Further, Corporation officials found that on an average, there were 6-8 residents in a single house in Tondiarpet. In this case, compulsory masking is only possible until a certain extent because they are obviously not going to wear masks when they are dining together," the official said. However, officials said that Tondiarpet had the highest Influenza like Illness (ILI) detection rates. Despite the numbers, the zone has a lower death rate when compared to the other two zones and has active cases in 645 of its 2995 streets. Meanwhile, in Royapuram, which packs in a population of around 6.5 lakhs in a 42.33-square-kilometre area, officials also said that the cases in slums and population dense areas have reduced to a large extent. "Royapuram has the highest number of slums of the three zones. We have a total of 175 slums including closely-packed Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board tenements. We have around 52 slums that are mainly encroachments," an official said. The city corporation has now set up zone-level call centres for all the zones. YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenian minister of healthcare Arsen Torosyan says its too early to speak about the decline in the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Its still too early to talk about the decline. We had days when more than 700 cases were confirmed, today as well the number of confirmed cases is over 600, which is not a low figure for our country having such capacities. Our actions should continue more intensively to restrain these numbers. Restraining the numbers with a collective behavior only will solve the problem, the minister told reporters in the Parliament. Torosyan said as the numbers increase, the number of patients in serious and critical condition also increase. The mortality rate of critical and serious cases is very high, large numbers lead to high mortality, and all actions should be directed to curbing the numbers, not to increasing the capacities only, he said. According to the latest data, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 15,281, out of which 5,639 patients have already recovered. The number of active cases stands at 9,298. The death toll has risen to 258. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan took to social media to release the first-look poster of his debut web show Breathe Into The Shadows. It is the second season of Breathe, a show that featured R Madhavan and Amit Sadh in lead roles. At the first glance, the poster shared by Junior Bachchan looks dark and creepy. A young girl can be seen lying unconscious in the middle of a giant broken mask. Nithya Menen and Saiyyami Kher will also enter the show in the second seaon. She lies into the shadows, waiting to be found. Here is the First Look of #BreatheIntoTheShadows. New Series, July 10 on @primevideoin @BreatheAmazon @MenenNithya @TheAmitSadh @SaiyamiKher @mayankvsharma @vikramix @Abundantia_Ent, Abhishek captioned the post. Check it out below: Director Mayank Sharma said in a statement, "We are happy to bring an all-new avatar of Breathe. While each character in the show has its own story to tell, viewers will discover just how intriguingly these storylines eventually get interwoven. With this new chapter, I am excited to take the audience on a new roller-coaster journey of emotions and thrills that will leave you gasping for breath." The show will stream from July 10, 2020. Follow @News18Movies for more WASHINGTON - A federal appeals court appears skeptical of arguments that it should order the dismissal of the criminal case against former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn despite a Justice Department bid to abandon the prosecution. Two of the three judges on the panel repeatedly signalled during arguments Friday that they were inclined to remain out of the fray and to instead permit U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan to evaluate on his own the departments unusual dismissal request. The pointed questioning suggested that the tussle over Flynns fate is likely to continue until at least next month, when Sullivan has scheduled a hearing in the case. Theres nothing wrong with him holding a hearing as far as I know. I dont know of any authority that says he cant hold a hearing before he takes action, said Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, a nominee of former President George H.W. Bush. With the arguments, the court waded into a power struggle between two branches of government as it weighed what role the judiciary should play when the Justice Department wants to dismiss one of its own cases. Its not only an important legal question but a political one too, given President Donald Trumps own personal interest in the case and the potential to undo one of the signature prosecutions from special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. The department last month moved to dismiss its case against Flynn, who pleaded guilty as part of Muellers investigation to lying to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition period. Justice Department officials say theyve concluded that Flynns interactions with the diplomat, in which the men discussed sanctions imposed on Russia for election interference, were appropriate and that there was insufficient basis for the FBI to interview him. The officials say Flynns statements to the FBI were not material to the broader counterintelligence investigation into the Trump campaign and Russia. But rather than immediately dismiss the case, Sullivan appointed a retired federal judge to argue against the Justice Departments position and to consider whether Flynn who previously admitted guilt but now asserts his innocence should be held in criminal contempt for perjury. That ex-judge, John Gleeson, said in a filing this week that the move to dismiss the case amounted to an abuse of power. The dismissal motion is one in a series of steps Attorney General William Barr has taken to scrutinize the Russia investigation and decisions made by both subordinates and predecessors at the Justice Department. He appointed prosecutors to investigate the handling of the Flynn case and the origins of the Russia probe, and overruled a sentencing recommendation for Trump associate Roger Stone that he thought was unduly harsh. The focus Friday was not on the merits of the Justice Departments position but rather on whether Flynns attorneys could bypass Sullivan and go straight to the appeals court to force him to dismiss the case. Flynns lawyer, Sidney Powell, told the court there was no role for the judge to play now that prosecutors have abandoned their pursuit of Flynn. She said Sullivan had no authority to do anything further in the case or to scrutinize the basis for the Justice Departments decision. The government has quit, and its time to leave the field, she added. Deputy Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall, arguing on behalf of the Justice Department, said Sullivan should not be permitted to undertake an intrusive, fact-intensive inquiry to second-guess the departments actions. He balked at the idea that the government should have to defend itself, in a politicized environment, against arguments from Gleeson that he said impugn the integrity of Barr and the Justice Department. This has already become, and I think is only becoming more of, a public spectacle, Wall said. It threatens to harm not just the integrity of the executive and its prosecutorial discretion and its deliberative processes, but I think frankly it threatens to do harm to the judiciary as well. The court appeared skeptical of arguments from lawyers for both Flynn and the government. Judge Robert Wilkins, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, asked why Sullivan was not empowered to conduct an independent evaluation of the case and the departments new position. He noted that if Sullivan were to reject the motion to dismiss, Flynns lawyers could simply return to the appeals court to press their case again. And Henderson said Flynns attorneys were seeking a drastic remedy in urging the appeals court to weigh in before Sullivan has had a chance to, especially since Sullivan may ultimately reject Gleesons position and decide in favour of the Justice Department. I dont see why we dont observe regular order and allow him to rule, Henderson said, describing Sullivan as an old hand. For all we know, he will say, This amicus brief is over the top. The dismissal motion is granted. Sullivans lawyer, Beth Wilkinson, faced multiple questions from the third judge on the panel, Trump appointee Neomi Rao, who asked whether Sullivan was creating a controversy where none existed by discounting the wishes of both Flynn and the Justice Department to dismiss the case. Wilkinson said Sullivan had not made up his mind and that there was no reason to believe at this point that he would definitely reject the Justice Departments dismissal motion. She said the judge simply wanted input from all sides. He is considering the governments motion and receiving briefings from all the parties, she said. After hearing the arguments, Judge Sullivan will do what he is called on to do on a daily basis. Hell decide the motion. Tax exemptions encouraging agricultural growth, illustration photo, VNA Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung has presented a draft resolution on the expansion of agricultural land use tax exemptions until 2025, following a similar move applied over the past 20 years, at different five-year periods. If the legislature passes the resolution, scheduled for June 10, total exempted tax for agricultural land usage will be about VND7.5 trillion ($326 million) per year. This would encourage the development of the agricultural sector via tax, helping concentrate land to promote agriculture, applying technology, and moving economic structure and labour in the rural areas, said Minister Dung. More jobs will be created, reducing the amount of labour working in other localities or overseas while increasing income for rural labour and contributing to the new rural area-building programme. As a foreign company, Dutch group De Heus is not allowed to own land and is not carrying out any commercial farming activities. However, the companys general director in Vietnam and Cambodia, Johan Van Den Ban, believed the tax move is a great decision. A big part of our customers growth depends on the availability of land where they can conduct their livestock activities. The decision, of course indirectly, is good for De Heus as a feed company as well, Ban said. Along with De Heus, all agricultural companies including Nafoods Group can benefit from the decision. We own 200 hectares of farming land, with 4,400ha on contract with farms and households, so it will be a great amount of tax. Therefore, the tax exemption expansion allows us and farmers to concentrate on our business, widening facilities, and applying technologies, Nguyen Manh Hung, general director of Nafoods, told VIR. According to Hung, his company aims to gain VND1.35 trillion ($58.7 million) of revenues and VND66 billion ($2.87 million) of after-tax profit in 2020. We identify that we must be active in market, materials, and finance. The market is opening while the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement is also about to come into effect. This is the chance for us, he said. Nguyen Duc Hai, Chairman of the National Assemblys Financial and Budgetary Committe, said that the policy of exempting tax to use agricultural land has been a catalyst to attract an increasing number of big companies to invest in agriculture in the past, developing high-quality agricultural products. Along with large-scale investment, using a large number of labourers in difficult economic areas, agricultural enterprises have promoted applying science and technology to improve product quality, Hai said. The initial results have affirmed that the Party and states policies, including tax exemption, is right. According to data from the Ministry of Finance, about 50,000 firms operating in the whole country are investing in agriculture. However, only 10,200 ones directly invest in producing items for agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, 96 per cent of which are small- and micro-sized enterprises. According to the governments socio-economic report for 2001-2010, the implementation of the tax exemption since the beginning of the century has partly helped increased agricultural production value by 4.2 per cent per year. The sectors export turnover also increased from $4.7 billion to $19.15 billion in the period. Last year, the export value of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries reached $41.3 billion. Meanwhile, according to the General Statistics Office, from 2011-2016 the exempted tax value to agricultural land was VND6.3 trillion ($273.9 million) per year while the value of 2016-2020 hit about VND9.7 trillion ($421.7 million). This is an essential support for organisations and individuals producing agriculture, and an important source of finance to invest and widen agricultural manufacturing, Minister Dung said, adding that tax exemptions on using agricultural land aim to create a favourable investment environment, attract capital, and quicken the countrys modernisation progress. Currently Vietnam has 8.6 million farmer households. Marisa Tomei attends the Independent Spirit Awards on February 08, 2020. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images) The King of Staten Island star Marisa Tomei says she regrets making the decision to play mother roles on the big screen. The 55-year-old Oscar-winner told Collider she wants the chance to play other types of character, including a film noir femme fatale and a screwball romcom lead. She portrays the mother of Pete Davidsons arrested development 20-something in The King of Staten Island, as well as portraying Aunt May in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Read more: Tomei on intimacy of watching King of Staten Island at home Tomei said she was talked into taking on parent roles, but wishes she hadnt taken that path. I really regret starting down this road and I really regret starting to do that, she said. Marisa Tomei and Pete Davidson in 'The King of Staten Island'. (Credit: Mary Cybulski/Universal) Tomei added: I think every actor and actress has a lot of dimensions to them and if the scope of what is being written and being made is narrow, and you want to keep working, you do what you can. I mean, I do. I tried it. It was maybe not the right road, but you know, I do try to make the most of it. Read more: Tomei suggested ageing up for Aunt May role Tomei said there were plenty of roles she would love the opportunity to play, outside of being the mother of a male protagonist, including a femme fatale in a noir. She added: I still think there are other aspects of even romantic comedies. I really love them, but you know really at a screwball level. Theres so many, many the breadth of as much as women are, theres so many roles. Tom Holland and Marisa Tomei attend the premiere of "Spider-Man: Homecoming" on June 28, 2017. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images) The King of Staten Island focuses on the way Davidsons character reacts to their mother dating a firefighter, seven years after their father himself a firefighter died on the job. Supporting roles are filled by the likes of Bill Burr, Steve Buscemi, Bel Powley and Maude Apatow. Read more: Judd Apatow on the depth of long comedy movies Universal had the film prepared for a cinema release prior to the coronavirus pandemic, but have now decided to release it as the latest example of the premium video-on-demand model. The King of Staten Island is available to rent at home from today. Lawyers for the Alabama Department of Corrections told a federal judge today they are optimistic the state can adequately staff its prisons by 2022. The ADOC responded to an order by U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson asking the agency to explain how it can meet a court order to add more than 2,000 correctional officers in the next two years. Thompson wrote that the ADOCs quarterly staffing reports showed an increase of slightly more than 100 officers over nine months, far short of the pace needed to reach the goal. The judge noted a decline in the number of supervisors. ADOC attorney William Lunsford wrote in todays filing that the state has laid the groundwork to hire and keep more officers with revamped recruiting methods and increased pay and bonuses approved by the Legislature. Its efforts are bearing fruit, Lunsford wrote. The State remains optimistic that its employment-related processes will enable ADOC to achieve adequate correctional staffing levels by February 20, 2022. The court should consider the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in evaluating the ADOCs staffing efforts, Lunsford wrote. The ready availability of enhanced unemployment benefits is making it harder to recruit, he wrote. Thompson based his staffing order on an analysis by consultants hired by the ADOC. Lunsford wrote today that the target staff numbers in the analysis are full-time equivalents and can include part-timers and overtime. He also wrote that the target numbers Thompson cited in his order are for an optimal level of staffing, not a normal level. Thompson gave the plaintiffs in the case until next Friday to file a response. The moves are the latest in a case filed on behalf of inmates six years ago by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, and others. Thompson ruled in June 2017 that mental health care in prisons was horrendously inadequate and found that a shortage of correctional officers was one of the causes. The state is working to find remedies that will satisfy the court. The case is separate from the Department of Justice investigation into Alabamas mens prisons. The DOJ alleged in April 2019 that the violent conditions violated the Constitution. Many of the problems the DOJ found overlap with issues identified in the lawsuit. Gov. Kay Ivey has said her administration will fix the longstanding problems with Alabamas overcrowded, understaffed, and violent prisons. Kosovo on Friday inaugurated a new museum documenting the stages of ethnic Albanians' fight for independence since World War II. The museum, in a former prison, was opened as Kosovo marked its liberation day 21 years ago, when NATO forces set foot in the former Yugoslav province. A 78-day allied bombing campaign in 1999 ended Serbias bloody crackdown on an insurrection by the majority ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo, which Serbs consider their historic and religious heartland. The war left more than 10,000 dead, and 1,641 are still missing. Kosovo declared independence in 2008 and is recognized by more than 110 countries, including the United States and the main Western powers, but not by Serbia and its allies, Russia or China. The former prison that hosts the museum was built by political prisoners during the communist regime in Yugoslavia in 1945. The exhibit documents the time from then, through Serbia's emergence from the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s until Kosovo effectively broke away from Serbia in 1999. Culture Minister Vlora Dumoshi said a covered bridge was used to bring detainees from a nearby police station, where some of them were tortured, to the cells. Meriman Braha, a former prisoner. said the cells had no beds, just a plank of wood on four legs. Isolation cells had a metal plate with 36 holes in it instead of a window. Graffiti on the wall ironically announces: welcome. The museum covers the various post-World War II stages, including resistance efforts in the 1960s, the demonstrations of 1968 and 1981 seeking to turn the province into a republic, and the time after Serbia became independent in 1990 until Kosovo's liberation in 1999. The museum of peace is an integral part of our history which we should tell so that it is not forgotten, Dumoshi said. Kosovo and its population of 1.8 million has been in continuous political squabbling that often hampers its economic development and the rule of law and keeps its democratic institutions weak and not focused on fighting high levels of poverty and unemployment. Advocates are renewing their call to end violence against transgender people after two black trans women were murdered this week Riah Milton in Liberty Township, Ohio, and Dominique "Rem'mie" Fells in Philadelphia. Advocates say transgender people are at heightened risk for fatal violence, especially transgender women of color. Fells and Milton are believed to be the 13th and 14th transgender or gender non-conforming murder victims in the U.S. this year, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The advocacy group said it's possible other cases have gone unreported. The FBI reported a significant increase in hate crimes motivated by gender identity bias between 2017 and 2018, the most recent year for which federal hate crime data is available. "As our country faces a long-overdue reckoning with the violence and indignities that black people have dealt with for centuries, we must affirm that Black Trans Lives Matter," Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David said in a statement. "And we must do everything we can to ensure that we create policies and laws that lift up our transgender siblings and communities where transgender people are not targeted for who they are. Today, we mourn alongside Dominique's and Riah's loved ones and call for all of us to confront transphobia," David added. Dominique In Southwest Philadelphia, Fells' body was found just before 7 p.m. Monday on the banks of the Schuylkill River, local station WPVI reported. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told the station that the woman had suffered stab wounds and trauma to the head and face, and her body was found with both legs severed. Police have not identified a suspect and they are asking the public for tips. In a statement, the Philadelphia Police Department's Office of LGBT affairs said the pain of losing a member of the city's LGBTQ community "is especially deep as we are in the midst of Pride montha season typically filled with joy and celebration for many in our community." Story continues "As thousands take to the streets to proclaim that Black Lives Matter, it is critical we remember that this includes Black trans lives. Dominique Rem'mie Fells' life mattered," the statement said. Investigators in Butler County, Ohio, have made two arrests and are still searching for a third suspect in the death of Milton early Tuesday. Sheriff Richard Jones, in a news conference, said Kaleb Tooson, Tyree Cross, and an unidentified 14-year-old girl lured Milton to an area near a park to rob her and steal her car. At some point, there was a fight and Tooson allegedly fatally shot Milton. Tooson also accidentally shot and injured himself, was treated at a hospital and arrested along with the girl. Riah Milton / Credit: GoFundMe The Butler County Sheriff's Office has issued a warrant for Cross for robbery and complicity to murder in Milton's death, and for unlawful sexual contact with the teen girl, who is charged as a juvenile. In a tweet that has since gone viral, Milton's sister, Ariel Mary Ann, said local media had initially misgendered the slain woman. She tweeted using the hashtags, #BlackLivesMatter, #BlackTransLivesMatter and #SayHerName. "So my birth sister, Riah, was tragically murdered yesterday," the tweet read. "Like me, she's also trans. The news has been misgendering her as well as other people and I want to make sure that she's remembered in death like she was in life," she wrote. In a statement she tweeted, Ariel Mary Ann said the stories of her sister and other slain transgender victims are "tragic and heartbreaking, but these stories need to be told." "It may be a sad song but we're gonna sing it again," she wrote. "I will continue to fight and push for the voices of black transgender women to be uplifted until the day I die. We deserve to be heard, to be loved, and for our very existence to be acknowledged." "Sometimes we have no choice": Guatemalan family recounts harrowing journey across the U.S. border Biden argues U.S. economy is improving after release of April jobs report Federal civil rights charges for 4 ex-officers in George Floyd's death TRENTON The state Attorney Generals Office on Friday asked for residents input as officials work to revise the states use-of-force policy for police. The Use of Force policy affects everyone, and so everyone should have the opportunity to weigh in on its revisions, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said. We want to hear from a broad cross-section of our state: police officers, civil rights advocates, religious leaders, victims rights organizations and community members. We especially want to hear from those that have had negative experiences with law enforcement officers because we are committed to getting this right. By engaging residents across New Jersey, we will ensure that the updated policy reflects New Jerseys values. +3 South Jersey law enforcement works to rebuild trust, communication as brutality protests continue Millville police Chief Jody Farabella said he was very proud to be a part of the police br A public comment portal is available for residents to submit comments on the policy, and listening sessions will be held across each of the states 21 counties with their respective prosecutor, according to a news release. The first listening session is scheduled for June 24, and, going forward, they will be held either in person or virtually. Steven Carrillo, a California man who was charged with murder after he ambushed two Santa Cruz County deputies, scrawled phrases tied to an online far-right extremist movement in blood on a car shortly before he was detained. Carrillo killed Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, critically injured another deputy and threw pipe bombs at police on June 6th, Santa Cruz District Attorney Jeffrey S. Rosell alleged on Thursday. Before he was apprehended, Carrillo scrawled the word boog and I became unreasonable in blood on the hood of a car. Boog is short for boogaloo, a far-right anti-government movement that began on the extremist site 4chan and aims to start a second American civil war. The phrase I became unreasonable has become a meme in public Boogaloo communities on Facebook, which discuss weapons and fantasize about a second civil war. One recent meme on Facebook shows a man holding a Boogaloo flag at a protest, along with the phrase Become unreasonable. I became unreasonable is a reference to a quote written by Marvin Heemeyer, an anti-government extremist who bulldozed 13 buildings in Granby, Colorado, in retribution for a zoning dispute. Heemeyer killed himself after the rampage, which occurred on June 4, 2004, almost 16 years to the day of Carrillos attack. Heemeyer is known by the nickname Killdozer in extremist groups online and is frequently quoted in Boogaloo Discord chats and Facebook groups. Heemeyer is revered in Boogaloo groups, said Megan Squire, a computer science professor at Elon University who tracks online extremism and is monitoring several private Boogaloo groups online. Referencing a nickname for Heemeyer, Squire said, Killdozer represents the intersection between the libertarian ideal of small government and the militant fantasy of the Boogaloo. Heemeyer, as Killdozer, meticulously planned a revenge fantasy on some local government entities that he blamed for excessive regulation of his business. Carrillo also wrote the phrase Stop the duopoly in blood on the car hood. Stop the duopoly is an otherwise nonviolent political slogan frequently pushed by third party and libertarian candidates. Story continues Carrillos presence on Facebook mostly featured support for a libertarian presidential candidate, anti-police sentiment and pro-gun causes. His profile picture showed George Washington and other American presidents holding modern weapons and tactical gear. In one of his last posts on Facebook, Carrillo posted a now infamous video of two Buffalo police officers shoving a 75-year-old man to the ground in a group called A Gun Page for Poors Who Know They Are Poors. Carrillos Facebook page and posts have since been removed from the social network. Online Boogaloo messaging has grown increasingly extreme amid pandemic lockdowns and nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd, according to a recent report by the Network Contagion Research Institute, an independent nonprofit organization of scientists and engineers that tracks misinformation and hate speech across social media. Elements of The Boogaloo have evolved from a gathering of militia enthusiasts and Second Amendment advocates into a full-fledged violent extremist group, which inspires lone wolf actors and cell-like actors alike, said Joel Finkelstein, director of the institute. Given recent events and the inability of law enforcement to grasp and intercept this new mode of distributed terror, we think an increase in these kinds of violent attacks against police are almost inevitable, Finkelstein said. Boogaloo groups are public and readily accessible on Facebook, but a company spokesperson told NBC News last week that the social network is now preventing these Pages and groups from being recommended on Facebook. Facebook accounts tied to three men who were arrested and charged with multiple state and federal violations of conspiracy to cause destruction at protests in Las Vegas were pulled from the platform last week. At least one of the men, Stephen T. Parshall, repeatedly posted to Boogaloo groups on Facebook, including the phrase "Start. Fomenting. Insurrection." Pam Sohn points out in an op-Ed in todays Times Free Press the racial disparity of two men arrested for gun possession at two different demonstrations downtown. Were this a perfect world, Trevan Young would have engaged with the policeman who asked him to stop and talk. The other man, drunk and with loaded weapons, did the opposite to Mr Young. He followed all commands. The point to be made now that Ms. Sohn does not make is that police and district attorneys have a task to complete to the fullest. That is to make an example of people who do not comply, submit, or accept dominance in an engagement with law enforcement. It is simple to keep hands in the open, say yes or no followed by sir and the outcome is what most desire. Of course I am white so I cant really engage with being stopped while black. I have still with my grey hair had a cop at my car door with his hand on his gun. I did work in a black majority country one time. Being one of two white men in a sea of people on market day was no big deal to me. The white guy who came to work from Indiana saw the place differently. He panicked, got the next flight home. His problem, he was scared, hed never been a minority and feared for his life for some reason. My time in Trinidad was excellent, I got to enjoy Carnival at the Queens Park Savannah and still want to go back. But back to the issue at hand, a sober black man goes to a demonstration legally carrying. He gets arrested, his house is searched, his car and gun in it are impounded. The white guy drunk, gets arrested, his weapons are impounded, his apartment, not sure if it got searched. His car was not mentioned in news stories. His bond is $3,000. Mr Youngs bond is $8,000.. At the very least this man with fear issues medicated by alcohol should have the court edict abstinence. Drugs and guns dont work together at all. Mr. Young needs to have charges dismissed. He also needs to have an earnest conversation with the cops who handled him about engaging with police. That said, law enforcement and the American court systems have to get past the exemplification system of retribution disguised as justice. The drag here is there is a middle ground. A bunch of us are really upset with law enforcement in the collective and law enforcement is tasked with keeping us all safe. Coming to a concealed carry encounter is an exercise in deescalation from both sides. Please read that twice. Would you want to converse with someone you know is carrying yet not willing to talk? A cousin of mine led a squad of fellow soldiers in Vietnam. He said it was the most civilized group he worked with. All were well armed and equally respectful. The man who represents Mr. Young I heard in a radio story a few weeks ago. For those with time to listen, check out wnycstudios podcasts - the writing on the wall segment. In the more recent news story about his representation of Mr. Young, Mr. Poston makes good comments about open carry rights and wrongs with this case in point. A point to ponder, I agree with grievances made at times about police. Especially this time with a death that woke the world. Those who demonstrate make the points well. The thing is, to march in the tradition of Ghandi or Dr. King, one has to reject all abuse, including that of fellow demonstrators defacing people or property. If you are going to call police on being silent for atrocities of fellow cops, you need to speak out to lawbreaking in your ranks. Two wrongs never equal a right. That is a major point made about nonviolent civil disobedience. Another point few remember is the right to carry in public came forth in California with Black Panther members taking their guns to the statehouse. It was legal. One of their members I heard speak in the mid 70s Eldridge Cleavor said, If youre not part of the solution you are part of the problem. He also said he left this country for better lands, lived in Cuba for a bit. And he very much believed in returning this is the finest country to be a citizen of. Just a few days ago I saw the quote Civilization is a race between education and catastrophe. What part carrying a gun in public has to do with education I am trying to learn, I know it has a big hand in catastrophe. So I hope both recent arrestees learn something from this. Change comes from within. Acceptance is key to moving forward with issues and resentment is toxic. Mr. Young, McCracken Poston is a wise man with a good long history. You have hired possibly the only lawyer in America who had to go to court with skunk aroma on his clothes and his files. I hope the skunk went free. I know his client did. Prentice Hicks The conversation about racism and discrimination at MU began months ago with students' announcements of experiences of overt racism on campus, but has recently escalated. Read up on the events that have quickly changed the dynamic of that conversation. [June 12, 2020] SmartBrief Launches New Consumer Publication with The Culinary Institute of America Building on a partnership that began in 2007 with ProChef SmartBrief, designed for industry professionals, SmartBrief is again taking its digital media capabilities and combining them with the expertise and knowledge of The Culinary Institute of America to launch The Friday Feed, the duo's first newsletter designed for food enthusiasts and home chefs. The first six launch issues will be sent to an audience of nearly 1 million email subscribers. The Friday Feed will highlight the most relevant food news, trends, insights and recipes, including content from SmartBrief editors as well as The CIA, the world's premier culinary college, bringing savvy culinary consumers deeper into the world of food. "Home cooks have always been close to our hearts here at CIA. Our long-running food enthusiast classes, boot camps and DISH online membership community have helped hundreds of thousands of people enhance their cooking skills," said Mark Erickson, provost of The CIA. "With more people cooking at home, there has never been a better time to team with SmartBrief to deliver the latest food and restaurant news and inspiration to the broader public." The Friday Feed will launch to food enthusiasts and high-level business professionals selected from The CIA's consumer courses, programs and events, as well as millions of high-value food-enthusist business professionals who subscribe to SmartBrief. This valuable demographic is enthusiastic and passionate about their hobbies and interests. "We've enjoyed a long relationship with The CIA and are excited to launch this new consumer-focused newsletter with them," said Rick Stamberger, CEO of SmartBrief. "SmartBrief is leveraging its unique curation platform to help consumers find information that's entertaining, fun and enjoyable." Sign up to receive The Friday Feed. About SmartBrief Serving nearly 6 million senior executives, thought leaders and industry professionals, SmartBrief is the leading digital media publisher of targeted business news and information by industry. By combining technology and editorial expertise, SmartBrief searches thousands of sources daily to deliver the most relevant industry news in partnership with leading trade associations, professional societies, nonprofits and corporate entities. SmartBrief is a subsidiary of Future Plc. About The Culinary Institute of America Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is the world's premier culinary college. Dedicated to developing leaders in foodservice and hospitality, the independent, not-for-profit CIA offers master's, bachelor's, and associate degrees with majors in culinary arts, baking & pastry arts, food business management, hospitality management, culinary science, and applied food studies. The college also offers executive education, certificate programs, and courses for professionals and enthusiasts. Its conferences, leadership initiatives, and consulting services have made the CIA the think tank of the food industry and its worldwide network of more than 50,000 alumni includes innovators in every area of the food world. The CIA has locations in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005035/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Independent Spirit Award winner Dakota Johnson paired a pink puff-sleeve shirt dress with $650 Gucci 'Bee' sneakers to run errands in Los Angeles on Thursday. The 30-year-old daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson fashioned a red bandana into a mask, which LA Mayor Eric Garcetti made mandatory for all outdoor activity back on May 13. Garcetti extended the stay-at home order indefinitely due to the 67K confirmed COVID-19 cases in LA County, which has led to 2,768 deaths as of Thursday - according to Johns Hopkins University. Frilly frock: Independent Spirit Award winner Dakota Johnson paired a pink puff-sleeve shirt dress with $650 Gucci 'Bee' sneakers to run errands in Los Angeles on Thursday Protection: The 30-year-old daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson fashioned a red bandana into a mask, which LA Mayor Eric Garcetti made mandatory for all outdoor activity back on May 13 That same day, Rodeo Queens creator Christy Hall (I Am Not Okay With This) confirmed that Dakota will executive produce and star in her ensemble comedy series directed by Carrie Brownstein. Hall's show 'in development at Amazon Studios' will follow 'Rodeo Queen hopefuls as they compete for the coveted crown' - according to THR. Johnson was last seen portraying an aspiring music producer called Maggie in Nisha Ganatra's comedy The High Note, which started streaming VOD on May 29. Missing from the Texas-born brunette's side was her boyfriend since 2017, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. Pandemic: Garcetti extended the stay-at home order indefinitely due to the 67K confirmed COVID-19 cases in LA County, which has led to 2,768 deaths as of Thursday Green light! That same day, Rodeo Queens creator Christy Hall (I Am Not Okay With This) confirmed that Dakota will executive produce and star in her ensemble comedy series 'In development at Amazon Studios': Hall's show, produced and directed by Carrie Brownstein, will follow 'Rodeo Queen hopefuls as they compete for the coveted crown' UK fans can catch an encore of the 43-year-old Englishman's seven-time Grammy-winning band's classic performances at Glastonbury from June 26-28 on BBC Two and BBC Four. Beyonce, Jay-Z, Adele, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Amy Winehouse, The Rolling Stones, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, and R.E.M. are among the other iconic headliners for the fest's 50th anniversary. Glastonbury Festival 2020 - featuring headliners Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, and Sir Paul McCartney - was canceled in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Divorced father-of-two: Missing from Johnson's side was her boyfriend since 2017, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin (2-L, pictured April 18) The times call yet again for the wisdom of Winston Churchill, who supposedly observed that Americans will always do the right thing, only after they have tried everything else. Currently were in the everything else phase, as recent events have brought sights here in the national capital I never thought Id witness. Like peaceful protesters gassed in front of the White House. Or National Guardsmen obstructing national memorials, and armoured tanks rolling through downtown. In my tree-lined neighbourhood, shops looted two nights in a row. On the pavement, scattered medicine bottles from a chemist with shattered windows, now boarded up like so many other businesses. Helicopters buzzing overhead, a reminder of the chaos in streets a short drive away. Protesters march across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Credit:AAP To mention my shock at all this, let alone my disrupted sleep, only proves the problem at hand, which is that there are two Americas. One is for white people, who can exist in society with reasonable assurance that those we pay to protect us the police will not kill us or our children. The other is for people of colour, but especially black people, who cannot say the same and must teach their children at an unconscionably early age that the world is a dangerous place for them. A MAN WAS LYNCHED BY THE POLICE, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? reads an A4 sign printed from a home computer, attached to a light post on my block. It refers to the death of a handcuffed George Floyd after a Minneapolis policeman kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. It would ordinarily be troubling for such an editorial decision to be made but to run with this during lockdown, when demand to Refuges National Domestic Abuse Helpline have increased by 66% is shocking, Refuge said in a statement. What this has done is give national media coverage to a perpetrator of domestic abuse to attempt to justify his actions. What started off as an armed rebellion in northern Mali in 2013 has now spread beyond the Sahel into Togo and Ivory Coast. The United Nations refugee agency is appealing for more than $200m to cope with a wave of displaced people who have fled violence in the Sahel region. Armed groups with bases in Mali have spread their attacks into Niger and Burkina Faso. At least 4,000 people were killed in the three countries last year. Al Jazeeras Nicolas Haque reports. DUBLIN, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Israel Venture Capital Online Database" directory has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Israel Venture Capital Online Database is a comprehensive information resource for high-tech industry in Israel. The database includes over 4,000 Israeli high-tech companies, venture capital and private equity funds, investment companies, technological incubators and Service Providers. In addition, it provides news updates, topical articles and a search engine allowing fast access to its wealth of data on high-tech companies, venture capital and private equity funds. It is a "one-stop" source that serves as a gateway to data on the industry, including, among others, breakdowns of financing rounds, information on VC and PE investors (including LPs), and contact details of 11,000 key executives engaged in the Israeli VC arena. The database includes facts on over 4,000 Israeli hi-tech companies, information on Israeli venture capital funds, news updates, relevant articles and more. This Database is a subscription based service for Israeli and foreign entities wishing to touch base with Israeli venture capital and hi-tech industries. It provides information on all start ups (seed to revenue stages, both venture backed and non-venture backed companies), info on and all various VC investors operating in Israel (VC funds, investment companies, incubators, foreign investors CVCs, angel investors etc) including LPs, portfolio, management and lots more. For each start up company, the subscription provides information on their core technology, business description, financing rounds, management team (including contact details - email, mobile phone, current and previous position and short biography). The subscription also provides various search options; you can either use the Quick Search to find a specific company (startup, VC fund, incubator etc.) or use the Advanced Search to search for startups in a specific sector, stage developing a specific technology, branch or main address and many other search criteria. For more information about this directory visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ossuz6 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com [June 12, 2020] Hesitant to Return to the Office? McAfee Survey Shows You're Not Alone As restrictions start to lift across the U.S., many businesses are exploring how employees can return to the office. However, a new study from McAfee (News - Alert) reveals that nearly half (47%) of employees do not want to go back to working how they were before the pandemic, with a fifth (21%) saying that they intend to remain at home for as long as possible. Some organizations view employees returning to the office as a necessity, especially from a security standpoint. McAfee's new study shows such concerns are valid with over half (54%) of employees saying that they have seen an increase in the number of cyber attacks in the past three months. In fact, a recent McAfee report shows that threat events to enterprises increased by 630% over the same period, with most attacks targeting collaboration services like Microsoft (News - Alert) 365. Having employees access work remotely is often seen as the security weak link. Many employees have already been the target or victim of a cybercriminal attack from email phishing scams (47%) to home network attacks (22%). But, nearly half (47%) of employees say that their company isn't currently responsible for securing their devices while they're at home. Businesses need to do more to protect their employees remotely, including ensuring that tools are set up so that they can keep all employees applications and systems up to date, patched and monitored for any issues that may arise. And, employees agree, with three-quarters (76%) of employees wanting to be fully protected by their employer. Wondering what steps to take to keep your home working environment safe? Here are a few tips to keep in mind: Be autious of correspondence asking you to act . You must stay vigilant if you receive an email or text asking you to take a certain action or download software. You shouldn't click on anything within the message. Instead, go straight to the organization's website to prevent malicious content from phishing links. . You must stay vigilant if you receive an email or text asking you to take a certain action or download software. You shouldn't click on anything within the message. Instead, go straight to the organization's website to prevent malicious content from phishing links. Keep infrastructure up to date . With an ongoing trend of vulnerabilities in consumer devices like home routers or smart home products, you should be regularly reminded to update such devices. . With an ongoing trend of vulnerabilities in consumer devices like home routers or smart home products, you should be regularly reminded to update such devices. Browse with security protection. Follow the security guidelines your employer has provided and use the tools they have in place. When in doubt, make sure you have a comprehensive security protection, like McAfee Total Protection, which can help protect devices against malware, phishing attacks and other threats. It includes McAfee WebAdvisor which can help identify malicious websites.* *McAfee consumer products are for use on the personal devices you own and subject to the terms and limitations in the License Agreement. Check with your Employer's IT department to stay protected on your work devices. Survey Methodology McAfee commissioned MSI (News - Alert)-ACI to conduct a survey of 1,000 adults in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 74 in May 2020. About McAfee McAfee is the device-to-cloud cybersecurity company. Inspired by the power of working together, McAfee creates business and consumer solutions that make our world a safer place. www.mcafee.com McAfee technologies' features and benefits depend on system configuration and may require enabled hardware, software, or service activation. No computer system can be absolutely secure. McAfee and the McAfee logo are trademarks of McAfee, LLC or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Other marks and brands may be claimed as the property of others. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005021/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Click here to read the full article. Tom Murry, former chief executive officer of Calvin Klein Inc., is returning to the fashion industry by taking on the role of ceo at Venezuelan designer brand Raul Penaranda LLC. Penaranda will continue as founder and creative director. During Murrys 17-year tenure at Calvin Klein, he oversaw tremendous growth for the brand, which expanded from $2.8 billion in global retail sales in 2003 to nearly $8 billion in 2013. He retired in the first quarter of 2015. Hes an amazing designer from Colombia and has incredible taste, Murry said of Penaranda, speaking from his home in Palm Beach, Fla. Murry said he was introduced to Penaranda by Mark Locks, who are all members of the same beach club in Palm Beach. Penaranda and his business partner, Larry Haack, have run the company for 10 years and have shown 21 collections. Alexandra Boet is the chief financial officer. This team will stay in place. The designer makes made-to-measure dresses that retail from $7,000 to $25,000. Every dress is one of a kind, said Murry, noting that Penaranda sells made-to-order dresses directly to consumers. He also makes designer sportswear, from $800 to $2,000, and a diffusion line from $150 to $450. Penaranda sells the designer collection and diffusion line on his web site, as well as at A Tempo on the Upper West Side in New York. What Raul wants me to do is rebuild the Calvin Klein business model with him, said Murry. We can do it slowly, judiciously and have consistent organic growth. Over time well add all the appropriate categories, such as high-end bags and shoes, he said. Eventually he would like to open stores, and the first one will be on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, which will be developed by Murrys wife, Lynda. Murry is also considering a New York flagship and is in discussions with PVH Corp. about the former Calvin Klein flagship at 654 Madison Avenue, which closed last year. To me that store is emblematic. Were ready for it. Its a big expensive store, he said, but he figures he can add various categories over time to fill the 20,000-square-foot space. Story continues If we could get it for a price, and we think its workable, well do it. Otherwise well find another location in the city. It would be a dream come true to return that store to its original beauty, said Murry. In an interview with Penaranda Friday, he said, I wanted to bring Tom in because of his track record, his sensibility, and the leadership with Calvin Klein is something I need to get to the next level. Im living my dream, said the 48-year-old designer. I was always in the shadows of these big fashion houses. I knew it was just a matter of time, dedication and humility that I would be taking a place among the big guys. He said over the years, when he worked for Donna Karan, Zac Posen and Oscar de la Renta. You always see them and want to learn the good, the bad, and you want to create your own identity based on who you are. He said he wants to create pieces that can go from day to night and then clothes to wear to a gala. I want to become the designer for the next generation with a humble heart. For me, I not only want to show an amazing collection, but I want to inspire, I want to educate and ignite a conversation. Fashion has become so hard, I want to be the inclusive guy, he added. I consider myself a hustler because I work hard for other brands, added Penaranda. Last year he consulted on design with Nicole Miller and now hes working on the revamping of Juicy Couture. He also designs a fashion line under his own name for the Baccarat Hotel in New York. Murry said hes not investing money in the venture, only his time and energy, but will be looking for financing. He has a profitable business today, said Murry. His plan is to add sportswear, outerwear and bags to the dresses. Asked isnt this a tough time to be launching a new business, Murry replied, Yes and no. There will be less competition, he said. Penaranda works out of an atelier in New York, and Murry plans to commute back and forth to New York City from his home in Palm Beach. Penaranda recently showed his 21st collection at New York Fashion Week in February called Shine. His collections are known for their craftsmanship and luxurious fabrics. Murry added that the collection features beautiful Latin colors and prints, and is manufactured in New York City. This guy is a very easy guy to work with. Hes probably the nicest designer Ive ever encountered, said Murry. Penaranda was born in Cali, Colombia, grew up in Caracas, Venezuela and moved to Miami with his family as a young adult. In 2000, he relocated to New York where he was offered a freelance design position at Liz Claiborne, while enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons. He worked at such fashion houses as Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karan, Zac Posen and Tommy Hilfiger, in roles such as creative director of merchandise and trend services, senior designer and textile/CAD designer. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Bhubaneswar, June 12 : The number of COVID-19 recovery cases is on the rise in Odisha and the latest figures from the Health Department shows the number is more than double the current active cases in Odisha. The total active corona cases is 1,131 while 2,354 patients have recovered so far, informed the health department on Friday. Odisha's COVID-19 total tally increased to 3,498 after 112 more persons tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours, the department said. Out of the 112 cases, 107 were detected from the quarantine centres and five are local contacts, said the health department. Among the fresh cases, 21 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and the Fire Services tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha. They were deployed in the cyclone Amphan restoration work. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 death cases rose to 10 in Odisha after 55-year-old male from Ganjam succumbed to the virus, informed the health department. "Regret to report the death of a Covid positive 55-year-old male of Ganjam, while under treatment in hospital. Cause of death was acute respiratory distress syndrome," said the department in a tweet. VANCOUVER, June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - CRH Medical Corporation (the "Company") (TSX: CRH) (NYSE MKT: CRHM), announces the following voting results for the Company's 2020 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held today (the "Meeting"). At the Meeting by way of votes by ballot, the nominees listed in the Company's management proxy circular (the "Circular") were elected as directors. A total of 42,704,668 common shares of the 71,583,784 common shares outstanding were voted at the Meeting, representing approximately 59.66% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. Detailed results of the vote for the election of directors are set out below: Nominee Votes For % Votes For Votes Withheld % Votes Withheld Dr. Tushar Ramani 35,159,589 99.80% 70,744 0.20% Dr. David Johnson 35,165,649 99.82% 64,684 0.18% Todd Patrick 34,930,530 99.15% 299,803 0.85% Ian Webb 30,497,513 86.57% 4,732,820 13.43% Brian Griffin 34,988,469 99.31% 241,864 0.69% In addition, the amendments to the Company's Share Unit Plan, as set out in the Circular, were authorized and approved and KPMG LLP was reappointed as auditor of the Company for the coming year. About CRH Medical Corporation: CRH Medical Corporation is a North American company focused on providing gastroenterologists throughout the United States with innovative services and products for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. In 2014, CRH became a full-service gastroenterology anesthesia company that provides anesthesia services for patients undergoing endoscopic procedures in ambulatory surgical centers. To date, CRH has completed 26 anesthesia acquisitions and serves 61 ambulatory surgical centers in eleven states. In addition, CRH owns the CRH O'Regan System, a single-use, disposable, hemorrhoid banding technology that is safe and highly effective in treating all grades of hemorrhoids. CRH distributes the O'Regan System, treatment protocols, operational and marketing expertise as a complete, turnkey package directly to gastroenterology practices, creating meaningful relationships with the gastroenterologists it serves. CRH's O'Regan System is currently used in all 48 lower US states. SOURCE CRH Medical Corporation Related Links www.crhmedcorp.com As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, demand for catfish has drastically reduced and put investors in catfish farming into financial distress. This came up when the Eastern Regional Office of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture led by Mr Francis Banks, the Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission, visited Blackmans Farms and Hatchery at Adoagyiri in the Eastern Region. The visit was part of a programme by the Department of Fisheries and Acquaculture to find out the impact of the coronavirus on the inland catfish farming industry. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the farm, Mr Samuel Koffie, said many Nigeria citizens in Ghana who were the biggest clients of the farm, had stopped visiting the farm because of the coronavirus. He said currently, the farm had a large stock of outgrown catfish ready for sale but because of COVID-19, people were not coming out to buy. Mr Koffie said hotels and eateries, which used to buy from the farm have stopped their orders. He said before the outbreak of COVID-19, many orders had been placed for thousands of fingerlings for new and old fish farms, but with the outbreak of the virus, all those orders had been cancelled. Mr Koffie said in the wake of this pandemic, the farm had been able to maintain all 15 employees, with restrictions on their salaries and allowances because the business was in distress. The Chief Executive Officer of the Farm, Mr Nicholas Dogbe, called for the removal of the many demands required before the establishment of fish farms to make the job attractive. He said the farm currently had 16 ponds and was operating a mini- zoo that people could visit. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Several sheriffs agencies in west-central Illinois are supporting the Illinois Sheriffs Association in its decision to file a lawsuit against Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Corrections after the department suspended intakes from county facilities. The suspension of intakes into the department has placed an burden on county facilities, some of which are filling to capacity and could use beds now being occupied by inmates who should have been transferred into the Illinois Department of Corrections. Because of concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 virus, IDOC facilities have stopped taking in inmates, even those sentenced to their facilities. Greene County Sheriff Rob McMillen said he has signed a letter that says hell help with the case if needed in an effort to unburden the jail, which is over capacity. We are completely full, McMillen said. Greene County Jail is a 21-bed facility that now is housing 24 inmates, three or four of whom have been sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections and should have been transferred out of the jail. We only have so many beds, we cant create any more, McMillen said. We cant release these inmates to the public, the department of corrections isnt taking them, were stuck. The association filed the lawsuit in May, claiming IDOC is failing in its responsibilities by suspending all intakes and not beginning preparations to restart them. On March 26, Gov. Pritzker unilaterally suspended all admissions to IDOC facilities in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the association said in a statement. At the time, the leaders at IDOC said they needed time to prepare and install proper intake procedures to reduce the spread of the virus from inmates transferred out of county jails. However, no such preparations have been made or implemented, despite repeated discussions between members of the ISA and IDOC. For many counties, prisoner transfers from a county jail to an IDOC facility happens within a few days of sentencing. The additional time jails are holding inmates also has added additional financial burdens. In Morgan County, nine prisoners being held by the county are waiting to be transferred. Sheriff Mike Carmody understands the unprecedented circumstances but there needs to be progress toward easing the burden on local jails, he said. While the county isnt an official complainant on the lawsuit, Carmody supports what the association is doing, he said. Its a burden for us to have nine extra inmates, especially with the need for us to have them social distancing, Carmody said. If a health issues does happen, it falls on the county. Carmody said several of the inmates have been at the jail for months and were sentenced to an IDOC facility in April. McMillen said the jail has attempted to alleviate the burden by limiting the types of infractions for which people are being jailed and releasing those with non-violent offenses. Something needs to change and it needs to change soon, McMillen said. While there still is space in the Pike County Jail, Pike County Sheriff David Greenwood is concerned about it filling if things continue as they are, he said. The facility now is housing 11 inmates who have been sentenced to the department but wont be transferred until the state reopens. While there are only 47 inmates in the 64-bed facility, Greenwood said the lower population is unusual and a result of the agency not housing everyone arrested but releasing those charged with more minor crimes. Noting he cant make decisions for the state, Greenwood said there are safety precautions that can ensure safe transfers, including quarantines. We take in the inmates and quarantine them for 14 days before they go into general population, Greenwood said. Itd be a lot easier for (IDOC) to do it than us. Theyll have more space and resources than us, but thats for the Department of Corrections to figure out. People Controls Privacy Google was supposed to launch the latest version of Android in the Google I/O this year, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event got canceled. Instead, the Android team decided to launch the Android 11 in a virtual event, which was originally decided to be held last week.However, Google later canceled the virtual launch event also to let people focus on more important discussions revolving around the police brutality and racial injustice. To honor these latest happenings, Google decided to launch the Android 11 Beta 1 in a very subtle manner.The company released more than a dozen videos on YouTube that were originally scheduled for the I/O. It will also host 11 Weeks of Android to cover topics related to the User Interface, Google Play Store and Machine Learning. Also, Google plans to hold online Android 11 Meetups Android 11 Beta 1 focuses on three main themes:Since Google intends to make Android less robotic and more people-centric and expressive, so it has added features that can make the Android reimagine the way humans converse on their phones.There is a dedicated section at the top of the notification tab called Conversations.This version also allows specific actions that let the users set reminders for various things and create shortcuts to threads on the home screen.Another change that is going to be present in this version is the ability of users to pop-out conversations with the feature Bubbles. These Bubbles give access to open a full conversation over whatever the user is doing with one click. Google highly recommends developers to adopt this API for Android 11.There are some consolidated keyboard suggestions along with Voice Access using an on-device visual cortex that understands the content on the screen and its context. It then generates labels and access points for accessibility commands. This way, an operating system that can recognize and prioritize the most important people in your life can be created.For Controls, this Android version has improved the controlling system of all smart home devices and Bluetooth accessories. Google Home supports the new API that can let you turn on or off the lights or adjust the brightness more easily.There are some tweaks in the Media Controls settings too. They can let you switch the output of playing audio or video to headphones, speakers, or TV sets.Now Playing is now integrated with Quick Settings. This feature can be enabled in Beta 1 from Developer Options > Media resumption before it is available for the official rollout.As far as Privacy settings are concerned, Android 11 gives one-time permissions to let you limit app access to the devices mic, location, and camera. However, these permissions will auto-reset if you do not use an app for a specific time period.On the other hand, Google Play Store will also be reviewing all Android apps requesting background location access . Existing apps will be given an extension until 2021 to come to terms with this change.The Android Beta Program is live now for early adopters and they can easily install it through an Over-the-air update.Read next: Google adds new features in Digital Wellbeing, Clock, and Family link [June 12, 2020] Three Ervin Cohen & Jessup Attorneys Named Rising Stars Ervin Cohen & Jessup today announced that three of its attorneys have been named to the 2020 Super Lawyers' list of Rising Stars. The "Southern California Rising Stars" selections are compiled through peer nominations and research. Lawyers chosen are 40 years old or younger or whom have been practicing for less than 10 years. Only 2% of lawyers in Southern California are selected for the distinction. The following Ervin Cohen & Jessup attorneys have been named 'Top Rated Attorneys in Beverly Hills' by Super Lawyers and selected as 2020 "Southern California Rising Stars": Elizabeth Dryden, Real Estate - Dryden's practice covers a broad range of real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, office, retail and other commercial leasing, financings, and joint venture and syndication formations. Her practice experience includes extensive representation of institutional and non-institutional lenders, property owners and developers, private equity investors and high-net worth individuals across all asset classes. Karen Ho, Business Litigation - Ho advises clients on a wide range of issues, focusing primarily on complex commercial litigation. She has represented clients from a variety of industries, including real estate, food and healthcare. She also served as an integral member of a trial team in a landmark victory, securing a $100 million estate tax win in a case recognized as one of the "Top Verdicts of 2012" by the Daily Journal. Her pro bono experience includes asylum, foster care benefits, adoption, unlawful detainer and international cultural property litigation. Pooja Nair, Business Litigation - Nair is a business litigator and problem solver with a focus on the food and beverage sector. She advises clients, including startups, on a comprehensive range of issues including trade secrets, partnership disputes, contract negotiations, employment, and licensing and franchise disputes. "We are honored to see our attorneys recognized by their peers in the profession and by the Super Lawyers organization," said Co-Managing Partner Randy S. Leff. "Elizabeth, Pooja and Karen are superb attorneys who regularly demonstrate excellence in the profession and in client service." Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual Rising Star selections are made using a process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews. Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP is a full-service firm that provides a broad range of business-related legal services including corporate law; litigation; intellectual property & technology law; real estate transactions, land use and finance; construction & environmental law; tax planning and controversies; employment law; health care law; bankruptcy, receivership and reorganization; and estate planning. For more information, visit http://www.ecjlaw.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005307/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] For guests checking into a high-profile California hotel, they might be staying in rooms that have been sanitized in part by an unusual new staff member: a three-foot-tall robot named Kennedy. Kennedy is among the Beverly Hilton Hotel's newest lines of defense against coronavirus. It's a machine designed to kill the virus by flashing intense, germ-killing ultraviolet light through the room, after the room has undergone the usual cleaning by Kennedy's human coworkers. "We really shifted our focus to researching and investing in state-of-the-art hospital-grade technologies to further protect our team members and guests more than we already were," David Alagem, one of the hotel's executives, told ABC News. In addition to the rooms themselves, guests' luggage and packages will also be sanitized using the UV light robots, Alagem said. Ultraviolet, or UV, light has long been used as a disinfectant in health care settings, but as businesses cautiously reopen their doors in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the technique is beginning to spread far more widely, from the hospitality industry to public transportation, even potentially to entertainment. UV light disinfection has been around about 100 years, said James Malley, professor of civil and environmental engineer at the University of New Hampshire. Done well, it can be a great tool in the toolbox, because its an extremely rapid physical disinfectant that is chemical free and it literally works at the speed of light. MORE: Ominous sign? Of the 14 states with rising new coronavirus cases, Arizona has experts especially worried PHOTO: A Xenex ultraviolet light robot patrols the halls of a hospital in this undated photo. (Xenex Disinfection Systems) Since the start of the pandemic, scientists have worked to determine how long the virus can live on various surfaces -- and found it's from a few hours to a few days depending on the surface. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily from person to person and that close contact is the driver for the current pandemic. It may also be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes. Story continues That may be why some industries are turning to new methods to sanitize their spaces in hopes of keeping people safer. Kennedy is one of three robots the Beverly Hills Hilton is using from the San Antonio-based company Xenex Disinfection Services. The firm said it has been deploying UV light robots in over 500 hospitals around the world for nearly a decade, working with large health care institutions like the Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson. Recently, the Texas BioMedical Research Institute tested the Xenexs Light Strike robot against SARS-COV2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It found that after two minutes of exposure to the UV light at one-meter distance, about three feet, the virus was eliminated by 99.999%. The robot creates a high-energy pulse of UV light that gets into the DNA and the RNA, the genetic material of viruses and bacteria, and basically makes it so they can't replicate anymore," said Dr. Mark Stibich, Xenex's founder and Chief Science Officer. "By pulsing the light, we're able to create very, very high intensity. So in a microsecond we're hitting [those] viruses and bacteria with all sorts of high-energy photons and that really messes up their genetic materials." The robots "phone home" to Xenex where they can be monitored for any malfunctions, and they have a safety feature that shuts off if it detects movement in the room. Xenex requires purchasers of their product to undergo training sessions to learn how to safely operate the robot. That's because the kind of UV light used to kill germs, known as UV-C, can be extremely harmful to humans if they are directly exposed to it at high intensities or for extended periods of time. We worry about UV light exposures doing damage to the eyes and to the skin, said Malley. Damage to the eyes can include cataracts, problems with cornea and temporary, or in some cases, loss of vision. Prolonged exposure to UV light can also impact the skin, making it harder for it to heal, and can cause skin cancer, he said. Malley said it was imperative the technology be used in secure spaces where no humans could potentially be exposed, and it should only be used by trained operators wearing proper Occupational Safety and Health Administration-approved personal protective equipment. UV light is not believed to have any lingering effects on the surfaces after the "cleaning" is over, Malley said. When it's gone, it's gone, and does not leave residual particles in air, water, or on solid surfaces, he said. Now, done right and safely, more businesses are exploring ways to use the technology. In addition to the Beverly Hilton, the InterContinental Hotels Group, which includes hotel brands Holiday Inn and Candlewood Suites, told ABC News they are now using UV light sanitizing technology in some of their hotels, including at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains, New York. Monika Henry, the general manager at the Plaza, said the hotel uses four UV light lamps from the company Fight with Lights as part of their cleaning process. Henry pointed out the importance of this extra step because their hotel has been home to many medical first responders who work at nearby hospitals. Stibich, who was an epidemiologist before founding Xenex, said that major airlines are in discussion with them about using a robot that would fit in a beverage cart. And movie studios who are looking to sanitize their sets have also shown interest. Movie studios pose a unique challenge. For example, the costumes are very difficult to disinfect. You cant use chemicals. You cant use sprays or anything. But we know our robot wont fade the materials and it will be effective in reducing the amount of potential contamination on costumes and props, Stibich told ABC News. In New York City, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the citys subway system, said a pilot program using portable UV lamps from PURO Lighting to disinfect officially begins Friday. "UV is a proven technology that has worked effectively in hospital emergency rooms, hospital operating rooms, urgent care centers, universities and first-responder locations," Patrick Foye, chairman and CEO of the MTA, said at a news conference last month where the technology was demonstrated. "I don't want to mislead anybody into thinking this is a cure-all. There is still much work to be done, but this is a significant and promising new development." MORE: Ultraviolet light to zap coronavirus on subways, buses PHOTO: New York City's Mass Transit Authority is using ultraviolet lamps from PURO to disinfect its subway cars, May 19 2020, in New York, (WABC) Amazon recently announced its robotics team developed a UV light robot that they tested in a Whole Foods Market. Were excited about the possibilities and will continue to innovate, said Amazon spokeswoman Alyssa Bronikowski, though she added none of the UV light mobile units are currently deployed in any Amazon or Whole Foods Market location. PBA Group, a robotics group based in Asia, has developed and deployed its Sunburst UV Robot in malls across Singapore. The company told ABC News they have orders from countries across Southeast Asia and estimate a rollout of over 500 robots in the future. PHOTO: The PBA Group is deploying its 'Sunburst UV Robot' to disinfect malls across Singapore. May 2020 in Singapore. (PBA Group) But experts said UV sanitation does have its limitations and should only be part of a cleaning regimen, especially for consumers. UV light only travels in straight lines, said Charles Gerba, Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Sciences at the University of Arizona, whose team of researchers have tested the efficacy of multiple disinfectants, including UV light. You have to be directly pointing to the surface you want to disinfect, and its really tricky for a consumer to use. He also said that proximity to the light source is a very important factor, because the amount of energy can vary based on the distance you are from the UV light source. UV light is best used on a table top, said Gerba. Dr. Kinna Thakarar, an infectious disease specialist at Maine Medical Center, also stressed that it would take more than UV light to defeat the spread of the coronavirus. "UV light should not be used alone as a disinfectant," Thakarar said. "To protect yourself and others from COVID-19, it is important to follow CDC guidelines around prevention: hand-washing, wearing a mask, physically distancing yourself and cleaning surfaces." Jay Bhatt, a practicing internist and Aspen Health Innovators Fellow, is an ABC News contributor. What to know about the coronavirus: How it started and how to protect yourself: Coronavirus explained What to do if you have symptoms: Coronavirus symptoms Tracking the spread in the U.S. and worldwide: Coronavirus map Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis. In hotels and beyond, UV light robots and lamps could help protect against coronavirus originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 16:24:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Uganda on Thursday unveiled a 45-trillion-shilling (12.3 billion U.S. dollars) fiscal budget that will revive the country's economy after facing shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic, flooding and destructive desert locusts. Matia Kasaija, minister of finance, presented the 2020/21 financial year budget before parliament in a ceremony broadcast live on television. The new budget, presented under the theme "Stimulating the Economy to safeguard Livelihoods, Jobs, Businesses and Industrial Recovery," reflects a 1.3-billion-dollar increase from the previous year. Minister Kasaija said 56.2 percent of the budget funding will come from domestic resources, while the rest will come from both local and foreign borrowing, as well as appropriation in budget aid. "The focus of the budget for the next financial year places emphasis on supporting livelihoods and the recovery of business enterprises, without losing focus on our long-term development initiatives," the minister said. "To this end, the government will support the private sector to scale up production, and sustain and increase employment," he added. The minister unveiled a stimulus package that will help small, medium and large enterprises withstand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Enterprises, according to the minister, will be allowed to delay payment of corporation tax or presumptive tax due between April and June 2020. For hard-hit sectors like tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, payment can be deferred until September 2020. The government has also introduced low interest loans that will be accessed through the Uganda Development Bank for investors in the manufacturing sector as well as commercial agriculture. Minister Kasaija said the government has increased import tax on goods that can be locally manufactured, in a bid to promote import substitution. Instead of relying on international supply, he said the scarcity of goods created by the COVID-19 pandemic has showed that local manufacturers can be empowered to step in. The minister announced a 60-percent increase in import duty on agricultural products and a 35-percent increase on others, in a bid to boost consumption of locally made products. "We have been importing refined industrial sugar, yet we are a surplus producer of sugar. We have agreed with sugar manufacturers to produce refined industrial sugar locally and we shall protect them from imports," Kasaija said. The minister also announced other tax incentives to further bolster local manufacturing. He said supply of agricultural equipment has been exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT), while supplies of processed milk will also be VAT exempt to enhance the price competitiveness of milk produced in the country. Kasaija said in order to respond effectively in fighting epidemics or pandemics, the government has scrapped customs tax on supplies for diagnosis, prevention, treatment and management. Enditem What has that got to do with his death? Absolutely nothing! If your brother had asthma, and someone intentionally introduced smoke into his room, and he died, you would be very upset if the system said well he had asthma, so nothing to see here. Look up Proximate Cause of Death and youd find that even if Mr Floyd was carrying the plague, someones knee pressing on his neck for almost 9 minutes cancels out all other probable causes. Lots to discuss. This is an opinion piece. Do NOT shoot the messenger. It is tempting to say we have tribalism back home to pay attention to rather than systemic racism far away in the United States of America. But too many a time does a powerful movement start and then nothing happens afterwards, be it at home in Ghana or elsewhere. I hope this is not one of those. That is why were all adding our voice. The best way we can effect change as part of a greater community is if we all add our voice. A lot of the leaders of America today can far too easily drown the voices of those currently advocating. If you can lend your voice to make your brothers and sisters issue be heard, do it! While John Agyekum Kufuor was President of Ghana, I personally heard many people brag about how they were related to him. Oh, Kufuor? Yeah I know him hes my mothers cousins brothers wifes nephew on the father side that kind of thing. Why? Well maybe its because everybody wants to be associated with something major and memorable. Maybe its because everybody wants justification to overdramatise their role in relevant history, even if it means shamelessly professing to prove some kind of lineage to a powerful man only by word of mouth. Well, something major and memorable is happening in America, the worlds biggest economy with a GDP of over 20 trillion US dollars just last year. This goes deeper than your average everyday protest or some hashtag culture. You might have heard about it. Here is your chance to be part of some history. Since the days of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s, never has there ever been protests against racial injustice as large, as prolonged and as widespread as what is currently happening in the USA. The killing of George Floyd in broad daylight hit a collective nerve across the world. My President is Black, and even he, amidst the complexities of international diplomatic relations, found it best to express his support for whats happening in America. On behalf of the people of the Republic of Ghana, President William Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo expressed his condolences to the family and loved ones of the late George Floyd. He further stated that Ghana stands with our kith and kin in America in these difficult and trying times, and we hope that the unfortunate, tragic death of George Floyd will inspire a lasting change in how America confronts head on the problems of hate and racism. We have all seen the footage of police officer Derek Chauvin smirk while he literally asphyxiates a handcuffed black man by placing his knee on George Floyds neck in broad daylight while Floyd repeatedly said I cant breathe, Mama, and please while onlookers were recording everything in plain sight while onlookers were screaming at him to stop. Question: Where does one get the audacity and the misplaced vim to commit such a gruesome crime when he ironically yet legally is law-enforcement? Answer: The system. Law enforcement had a big part to play in Americas complicated history with African Americans. Before they were African Americans, they were legally Slaves, Cargo. It is only logical to boldly infer that, back then, back a couple centuries ago, US law enforcement were trained to be racist, because that was the law, back then because law enforcement to them would literally mean enforcing laws that are now racist, but back then were legal and widely accepted. It makes sense, the inference makes sense. Nonetheless, when slavery is abolished, but the systems and institutions that are put in place arent fully purged of the very protocols and processes that make racism work, then whats the point. A system works only when IT WORKS. Now, the African American community together with overwhelming support from all over the world is saying the system isnt working that well for the race of former slaves. Thats what all this commotion is about. Thats what all the marching and protesting is about. Its not for an infinity gauntlet to snap racists and racism out of existence. Its an open admission that there will always be racism in the hearts and minds of some part of society but when systemic enablers are legally in place to facilitate and/or exonerate the illegal, how is that even remotely fair to the victims that are suspiciously predominantly the black community? The marching and the protests is their roaring cry out just like George Floyd did that the system is and has been suffocating them too. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be having nightmares by now because this is so not his dream. In his own words, It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." Understand that George Floyd wasnt an armed robber or some dangerous criminal to warrant such harsh approach by the police officers. Harsh is an understatement if youd want to catalogue all the unfortunate incidents that culminated to these protests. I had a healthy debate with a gentleman last week who argued that US Police has a zero tolerance for crime and therefore should be more understood. I understand. I understand that the logical basis for the Zero-Tolerance Policing is that if you stomp out minor crimes early, they wouldnt grow to be full on felonies. To carry this plan out, the US government flooded low-income neighbourhoods with hundreds of thousands of police officers. This zero tolerance policing culture is what gave way to the famous stop-and-frisk that allowed police officers in the US to stop you by the road arbitrarily and search you, without needing to give you a reason before for doing so. Deterrence is what I think should have been on the agenda. In some way I think that was the initial idea behind Zero-Tolerance Policing policies. But in some other twisted way, minor crimes within these communities started getting punished as if they were major crimes, and the laws allowed this. Black Americans were getting thrown in jail for minor offences as a way to crack down on crime, which makes no sense to me. Look at it this way. When a teacher wants to deter a class from making excessive noise during a lesson, yes he puts one or two students in detention. When that doesnt work, for whatever reason, he doesnt put the whole class in detention forever, as this will defeat the purpose of the deterrent. You dont double down on a failed tactic; you have to cook up fresh ones. The residents of low income neighbourhoods usually pick up bad habits growing up. It is good social work that continues to save many kids like that from a bad path. So what about Social Services? Maybe fund that aggressively. Aggressive funding for social services and awareness is what you do if you want to reform and not punish a whole community already suffering from the aftereffects of many centuries of oppression. One sure way many people invalidate an opposing view is to slam it as not having all the answers. You dont need to have all the answers in the world to be right. No movement is 100% perfect. But if you tell me nothing seems off to you when a man is killed by the road in a painful, sadistic manner as George Floyd was and you dont feel the urge to say hey, thats totally wrong and I want to add my voice to the millions saying this shouldnt be allowed to happen again because its only human to do so, then you might need a psychological evaluation. On 25th May, George Floyd popped into a store to buy some cigarettes in Minnesota, USA. He paid with a $20 bill. The person at the store suspected the note was counterfeit. So, stepped out and asked Floyd to return the cigarettes. Floyd refused. There was no violence at this point around or between Floyd or the storekeeper, only a verbal altercation. The storekeeper called 911. Fast forward a little later and the 46-year old black father of 5, nicknamed Gentle Giant, was handcuffed face down in the street, begging for his life while a police officer pressed his knee to Mr Floyds neck for almost 9 minutes. His murder was not a fluke. There exists a real distortion in the numbers when we talk about racial injustice in America. The numbers verify this. Dont let the hashtags fools you. All lives do matter. All races do matter. But if you asked me for water to put out the fire in your house and I said hey my house matters too, that wont stop your house from burning. This would be a completely tone-deaf approach to your harsh reality, especially when theres enough water to go around, especially when it is your legal right to have this water. So Black Lives Do Matter, and I hope no race has the urgent need to scream I Matter as much as African Americans are today in the United States of America. Additionally, what a time for a revolution! Theres a pandemic out there and Americans in all 50 States have taken to the streets to fight police brutality and systemic racism. Definitely this will affect the number of infected people. Businesses will come to a halt, even more so than they were because of the pandemic. It doesnt take an economic connoisseur so see that if one sneeze can wipe off 30% of the US stock markets, it would be safe to say that Floyds murder and these widespread protests in all 50 States would have tipped the markets scales materially had it not already been in a tumble thats getting back up. A lot of people are concerned more with activism than work at the moment in the United States of America. That will form part of a new normal moving forward to some degree. All this will affect you in your home country one way or another, whether you see it happening or not. The world is very much interconnected now. So best to pay attention and happen to something rather than let something happen to you. Dont slander a just cause by fixating on the few mind wanderers that maybe ask that we literally get rid of the police. Dont throw out the baby with the bath water. Many causes have asked for equality and gotten close to it or more. I think Black America asking to just matter shouldnt be that big an ask, should it? It shouldnt. Hit me up on social media and lets keep the conversation going! I read all the feedback you send me on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Go to bit.ly/maxwrites to read all my previous articles. Also, feel free to send me your articles on relevant topics for publication on the Macroeconomic Bulletin. Id give you full credit, an intro, and an outro. Kindly make it about 1000 words. Have a lovely week! The Spanish Health Ministry reported on Thursday that 156 new coronavirus cases had been detected in the previous 24 hours. This is the second day in a row that the number of daily infections has been over 150, according to data provided by regional authorities to the central Health Ministry. The weekly trend, however, remains stable, with 245 cases first reporting coronavirus symptoms in the last seven days. The Health Ministry has still not updated the total coronavirus death toll, which stands at 27,136 for the fifth consecutive day. According to the latest figures, there have been 32 coronavirus-related deaths in the last seven days. Most of these fatalities were recorded in Madrid (10) and Asturias (seven). Although health authorities reported 32 deaths in the past week, just nine fatalities have been added to the official toll in the past month Since May 11, when the Health Ministry changed the method for collecting data, the historical series on the number of Covid-19 fatalities has been updated at a very slow pace. Although authorities reported 32 deaths in the past week, just nine fatalities have been added to the official toll in the past month. Health authorities changed the way they present the total number of victims, so that fatalities are ordered according to the date of death, and not the date of notification. There are thousands of deaths that are yet to be assigned to a specific date, and that are in a kind of limbo. We all known that there can be a delay of between one and two days in the notification of deaths, but it is clear that this delay has remained more or less stable in the last week and that we are seeing that the number of deaths is falling day by day, said Fernando Simon, the director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts, at a government press conference on Thursday. Simon added that Spain is detecting around 10,000 suspected coronavirus cases a day, of whom 90% are tested for the virus. Despite the fact that we are detecting more [suspected cases], we are continuing to see a downward trend, said Simon. What we are interested in now is finding positive cases that are minor and asymptomatic and reducing them as early as possible. According to the health official, screening centers catch between 30% and 40% of detected cases, meaning it is not possible to identify when the patients began to experience coronavirus symptoms. The Health Ministry reported on Thursday that a total of 242,707 people have contracted the coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic. According to the latest figures, 151 patients were admitted into hospital in the past week, 10 of whom required intensive care. Outbreak in the Basque Country A coronavirus outbreak linked to two hospitals in Basque Country has led to 36 new infections and three deaths. At the Basurto hospital in Bilbao, 29 people have tested positive for coronavirus and two have died, the regional government reported on Thursday. At the Txagorritxu hospital in Vitoria, another seven cases and one fatality have been recorded. The outbreak has hampered plans to allow free movement between Spains northern regions of Galicia, Navarre, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, which have all entered Phase 3 of the coronavirus deescalation plan. Regional authorities in both Asturias and Cantabria announced on Thursday that they would not support the initiative at this point in time. Fewer than 1,000 seniors admitted into Madrid ICUs Only 921 coronavirus patients over the age of 70 have been admitted into intensive care units (ICUs) in the Madrid region since March 1, according to Madrid premier, Isabel Diaz Ayuso. As of Thursday, a total of 3,694 people have been placed in intensive care. Of this figure, only 25% were over the age of 70. This is despite the fact that this age group makes up 87% of all deaths in the region between 13,044 and 14,955. The news comes amid revelations that Madrid regional officials issued protocols with criteria to exclude some nursing home residents from being transferred to hospitals at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to these internal documents, physicians at healthcare centers were also instructed to apply certain guidelines to determine whether ill people living in their own homes should receive home treatment instead of being taken to the hospital. On Thursday, EL PAIS revealed that these restrictions did not apply to nursing home residents with private health insurance who received treatment in private hospitals. English version by Melissa Kitson. MIAMI, June 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- International Money Express, Inc. (IMXI) (Intermex or the Company), a leading money remittance services company focused primarily on the Latin America and Caribbean corridor, today announced that the location of the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Annual Meeting) of the Company has been changed. As previously announced, the Annual Meeting will be held on Friday, June 26, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the previously announced meeting location is no longer available on our meeting date, and we have made the decision that this years Annual Meeting will instead be held at The Biltmore Hotel 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134, in the Prado meeting room, on the date and at the time previously announced. It is important that each stockholder of record as of the close of business on May 5, 2020, or each holder of a legal proxy for the meeting provided by such holders bank, broker, or nominee, who is entitled to participate in the Annual Meeting read the proxy materials previously made available to them, and we encourage stockholders to vote in advance of the Annual Meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy materials. The proxy card included with the proxy materials previously distributed to stockholders will not be updated to reflect the change in location. Stockholders may continue to use the proxy card to vote in connection with the Annual Meeting. Stockholders who have already voted do not need to take any action unless they wish to change their vote. Proxy voting forms already returned by stockholders will remain valid and will be voted at the Annual Meeting unless revoked. WHETHER OR NOT A STOCKHOLDER PLANS TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, WE URGE ALL STOCKHOLDERS TO VOTE AND SUBMIT THEIR PROXY IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING BY ONE OF THE METHODS DESCRIBED IN THE PROXY MATERIALS. About International Money Express, Inc. Story continues At International Money Express, Inc. (IMXI), the customer is at the center of everything we do. We use proprietary technology that enables consumers to send money primarily from the United States to 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Mexico and Guatemala, four countries in Africa and one country in Asia. We offer electronic movement of money and data to our customers through our network of sending and paying agents located in all U.S. 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada, and throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and other territories. Our services are also available digitally through intermexonline.com. We were founded in 1994 and are headquartered in Miami, Florida with offices in Puebla, Mexico, and Guatemala City, Guatemala. As part of its TOD process, the RDA formed the Transit Development Districts Steering Committee, comprising citizens and planners from the cities and towns along the South Shore Line. The planning and design group MKSK has been working with the RDA and that committee. After taking over as the chief of Delhi Police, S N Shrivastavas thrust has been to strengthen the forces presence on various social platforms, especially Twitter to reach out to people, which has elicited praise from common man and celebrities alike. The police chief says the force is gradually working to improve their presence on social media. Delhi Police currently enjoys a following of over 5.33 lakh on Twitter while Shrivastavas handle has over 2.33 lakh followers. The Mumbai Police, which is known for its wit and humour on social media, has a following of 50,00,000 while Bengaluru Police, which is also active on the micro-blogging website, has almost 13 lakh followers. The Delhi Polices Facebook page has garnered 33,650 likes so far while on Instagram, it has 3,892 followers and has 80 posts. Mumbai police has 1,43,000 followers with 86 posts on Instagram. If somebody is trying to put out a negative narrative about Delhi police, we need to correct it and set a positive narrative about the force. So, for all these things, we need the social media cell which is gradually improving, he told PTI over phone. This emphasis on social media came in handy during the coronavirus-triggered lockdown when Delhi Police came up with a campaign -- Dil Ki Police -- to highlight the humanitarian efforts of its personnel. To thank corona warriors, the force organised a virtual concert Dil Se Shukriya last month, which witnessed the participation of celebrities, including Shankar Mahadevan, Usha Uthup and Harshdeep Kaur. Even Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan had tweeted about the concert. Shrivastava said while praises and endorsements by celebrities are welcome, it is the praise of the common man that is heartening for the force. Besides the celebrities, in fact it was very heartening to me to see likes, good posts and praises from common man. It is the common man who need our help and if they are praising and are happy with the police, then our job is done. Of course, celebrities are privileged people, so they definitely will be looked after but the common man should also be looked after, he said. Shrivastavas twitter handle @cpdelhi has also started responding to queries and requests for help, which he said has been possible due to his social media cell. I cant be much active on social media. My work demands that I look after other things as well but then I am on social media whenever I get time, especially late during the night. I attend to some of them but it may not be sufficient. So, we have set up a social media cell and a separate account of CP Delhi. @CPDelhi is handled by my social media cell and any request made to my official CP Delhi twitter handle - any request made besides some of which I take care, my social media cell responds to it and ensures something is done, he said. The police chief said the handle receives all kinds of requests, with some even asking for information on how to get back home while some ask for employment which the police may not be able to provide. But if we can do something, we will do. But any request regarding something to do with crime and law and order, we are duty bound to do, he said. The social media cell has police personnel along with paid volunteers from a firm, he said. They can do the work only when they are also assisted by the police, he added. Our fellow New Mexicans are the reason we do what we do. We are the 100,000-plus hospitality professionals who live and work in N.M. communities. And after enduring severe setbacks caused by the COVID pandemic, were proud to share some positive news. Together, New Mexico is making careful plans to reopen our states economy. Were doing this with the publics health and safety in mind no compromises. Today, were proud to announce a promise. A promise to prioritize the health and safety of our residents while welcoming customers with the warmth and spirit of inclusion found only in New Mexico. Today we join community leaders from across our state in introducing the New Mexico Safe Promise an invitation to all New Mexicans to make a personal promise to follow COVID-safe practices to make our state as safe as possible for our families, neighbors, coworkers and customers. Were all in this together. Through the New Mexico Safe Promise, we hope to inspire each other to follow recommended safety precautions: Use a face covering while in public, stay 6 feet apart from each other, take care of ourselves, use the recommended hygiene practices and participate in any COVID-19 training available at our workplace. The New Mexico Safe Promise reminds us we can still marvel at the glorious glow of New Mexicos night skies, soothe our bodies and spirits in our natural hot springs, expand our culinary horizons at our favorite restaurants, delight in the charm of our main streets, and experience all the wonders of our beautiful state just in a slightly different way. As we move forward carefully, New Mexico hospitality professionals promise to stand strong with communities across the state through recovery. And we promise to remember that when it comes to New Mexico tourism, New Mexicans come first. New Mexico hospitality professionals are proud to bring out the very best of all New Mexicans. We ask you to make the New Mexico Safe Promise with us. Together we can help protect our fellow hospitality associates, our customers and our communities. Make the promise at NMSafePromise.org. This op-ed was also signed by Rochelle Miller-Hernandez, executive director Visit Las Cruces; Jennifer Kimball, chairman of the board La Fonda on The Plaza; Karina Armijo, director of Marketing and Tourism Town of Taos; and Randy Randall, executive director Tourism Santa Fe. Sharp spikes in coronavirus cases are prompting governors and mayors in Oregon, Utah and Tennessee to pause reopening plans, while officials in Houston and elsewhere are warning of the potential need for new restrictions. The moves could be a harbinger of more slowdowns to come, with coronavirus infections and hospitalizations rising in more than a dozen states since Memorial Day weekend. But most state and local leaders have so far been reluctant to halt reopenings or reimpose restrictions, worried about further damaging economies or aggravating shutdown-fatigued residents. President Donald Trump and administration officials have meanwhile urged states to keep moving forward. Oregons Democratic Gov. Kate Brown announced Thursday night she would pause reopening plans for at least one week after the number of daily new infections nearly doubled in the past week. The virus makes the timeline, Brown said. We dont make the timeline. Utah Republican Gov. Gary Herbert earlier this week issued a similar weeklong pause. Nashville Mayor John Cooper, a Democrat, also halted reopening plans, citing a growing outbreak in the southeast part of the city, though citywide cases have declined in the past month. The Trump administration, eager for an economic reboot, has downplayed the recent spike in coronavirus cases and attributed it to an expansion of testing and virus tracing. However, public health experts say increasing hospitalizations and positivity rates for coronavirus tests are worrying signals the virus is spreading in some of the first areas to open up over a month ago. There is no emergency, there is no second wave, said White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow Friday, dismissing the idea of further widespread shutdowns. What you do have is certain spots are seeing a little bit of a jump up. Trying to project a return to normalcy, Trump this week announced plans to hold his first campaign rally in months at a large indoor arena in Tulsa, Okla., next Friday. Public health experts, including the CDC on Friday, have warned large gatherings in confined places pose a high risk for infection. Story continues The administration has largely deferred reopening plans to the states, with few following the White Houses suggested guidelines. CDC Director Robert Redfield on Friday said its possible some states or communities would need to shut down again if the virus keeps spreading but said those decisions will be made by local leaders. HHS Secretary Alex Azar on Friday also said any future shutdowns would be more localized. We think we have the tools we need to avoid the shutdowns in the future at least on a national level, Azar told reporters in a visit to a Boston hospital on Friday. There could be isolated communities that have outbreaks that may create the need to implement mitigation measures. Most of Texas is moving forward with reopening amid record-breaking levels of hospitalizations, but Houston-area officials this week announced possible plans for reimposing stay-at-home orders. They introduced a new threat-level ranking system that now warns of a significant and uncontrolled level of Covid-19 cases. It feels like were going back to where we were several months ago, said Umair Shah, a top public health official in Harris County, an area that includes Houston. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Thursday night she would pause reopening plans for at least one week after the number of daily new infections nearly doubled. States opting against stricter measures are instead urging residents to take personal responsibility for their safety. On Wednesday, Alabama saw the largest spike in Covid-19 cases, and hospitalizations have also reached a new high. With ongoing community transmission, it is safer to be at home, the states public health department said in a news release, adding that the state has seen large outbreaks in workplaces and cases linked to large gatherings during Memorial Day. The U.S. leads the world in coronavirus cases, surpassing 2 million earlier this week. The recent surge in cases is in part due to increased testing, from 6 million tests at the end of April to nearly 22 million as of this week. Michael Mina, a professor at Harvards School of Public Health, said debates over reopening are difficult because many states still dont have the capacity to trace the virus. Most places continue to fly blind, he said. And that handcuffs people and forces them into a position where one of their only solutions is to close down again. A video showing decomposed bodies, allegedly of Covid-19 victims, being loaded into a van by the city's civic body in daylight for cremation went viral on social media on Thursday, but authorities termed it "fake". The video also showed protests by locals at Garia, a suburb in the southern fringes of the city where the incident had allegedly taken place, who claimed that the bodies were those of novel coronavirus victims. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed concern over the video and sought a report regarding the incident from the state home secretary. The West Bengal Health Department and the city police said the video was "fake" and that the bodies were unclaimed ones from a hospital morgue. The video showed personnel of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation loading the decomposed bodies into a van allegedly outside Garia crematorium. It also showed locals objecting to the cremation of a number of decomposed bodies at the same place. According to the locals, the cremation of so many decomposed bodies of COVID-19 patients at the crematorium located in the vicinity of a densely populated locality at a time when the city is witnessing rising cases of the contagion would harm public health. The Kolkata Police dismissed as "rumours" the claim that the bodies were those of COVID-19 victims. "The West Bengal Health Department has informed that the dead bodies were not of COVID patients, but were unclaimed/ unidentified bodies from Hospital Morgue. Legal action is being taken against persons spreading #FakeNews", it said. The principal of NRS Medical College, Saibal Kumar Mukherjee, wrote to Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma that 14 unclaimed bodies were handed over to the KMC as per the list provided by different police stations under the jurisdiction of the hospital's morgue. "And none of these bodies were of COVID patients. The subject of this video is fake, and you may take necessary action in this regard," Mukherjee said in his letter. Dhankhar said in a tweet, "Anguished at the disposal of dead bodies with heartless indescribable insensitivity. Not sharing videos due to sensitivity. In our society, the dead body is accorded highest respect - rituals are performed as per tradition." In yet another post in the micro-blogging site, the governor said "Response @HomeSecretaryWB has come. Virtual admission about callous handling of dead bodies promising procedure will be streamlined. Rather than booking those responsible for such inhuman criminality, the police are being misused to 'teach a lesson' to those who exposed it." Assuring people that he would look into the incident, the city mayor Firhad Hakim said that the bodies of novel coronavirus victims in the city are cremated at a separate burning ground at Dhapa in its eastern fringes. The opposition CPI(M) and BJP criticised the state government and alleged that the "video clip is a proof of the TMC trying to hide the actual number of COVID-19 deaths in the state". BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said it must be ascertained whether the bodies are of those who died of COVID-19. The corpses that were kept in the crematorium appeared to be more than a month old, he said. "I have earlier said that the real number of COVID-19 deaths in West Bengal are being suppressed," he told newspersons at the party's state headquarter here. Fox News opinion host Sean Hannity. AP Photo/Julie Jacobson The nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd took a peaceful turn in the last week. But Fox News has stuck with visuals and segments focused on instances of rioting and looting, often running B-roll footage from prior weeks and protests. While some of the footage carried a timestamp to show a date such as a "Fox & Friends" segment with shots of fires in Minneapolis marked May 28 the continued focus on rioting and looting can be misleading and has often been described in the present tense. A Tuesday night chyron banner from Sean Hannity's show read "GROWING LAWLESSNESS IN MAJOR CITIES" despite a lack of evidence to back it up. With fewer and fewer new examples of full-blown unrest, the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle has taken center stage in Fox's coverage. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Throughout the week on Fox News, viewers have been shown harrowing scenes of rioting, looting, and widespread violence with indignant commentary from opinion hosts. The only problem: Much of the footage being shown isn't actually new. "Fox & Friends," the three-hour morning show frequently live-tweeted by President Trump, showed fires raging across Minneapolis on Tuesday. There were no widespread fires nor looting in the Twin Cities that day, and the B-roll footage had a little red May 28 time stamp on it. The same day, opinion host Sean Hannity ran a chyron banner reading "GROWING LAWLESSNESS IN MAJOR CITIES" despite a lack of evidence to back it up. Overall, the tenor of the coverage can imply that violent unrest is still unfolding, with the present tense overshadowing the smaller time signature visuals. The images of fires burning and looting taking place accompany a whole litany of segments, even if there is no ostensible connection to those events. TV News HQ (@TVNewsHQ) June 11, 2020 Story continues A Fox News spokesperson pointed Insider to examples of peaceful protests being highlighted on the network, and noted that the time signatures for the B-roll an industry term for accompanying footage shown in news packages fit the usual protocols. In this segment from "Hannity," a live shot of the reporter (left), is juxtaposed with unrest from earlier in the week (right). A time stamp for that Wednesday can be seen in the corner. Fox News With few examples of looting and full-blown unrest to report on in real-time, the Occupy Wall Street-esque "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone" in Seattle has taken center stage. Between 100 and 200 protesters some of whom have been reported to be armed by Fox and other outlets, though city officials dispute those claims have been occupying several blocks barricaded off in the city, with a local police precinct abandoned as part of a concession to the protesters With the National Guard also moving out of the city, the protesters have established an independent space under the notion that the zone is free from police. Along with the copious coverage on Fox, President Trump has tweeted about the demonstrations, making threats to Democratic Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. Armed protesters by a capitol building are nothing new earlier this year, anti-lockdown protesters bearing weapons from assault rifles to a rocket launcher stormed Michigan's state capitol building but Fox's coverage of Seattle has depicted the occupied area as a major insurrection. Last night on one of Hannity's panels, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., alleged that Antifa had made Seattle their own "capital." The network also had a reporter on the ground. Dan Springer, a Fox News correspondent, told Hannity last night that he had to move his live shot after going on Tucker Carlson because the scene was getting violent. "That is absolutely true, Sean, and we actually had to leave. We were actually at one of the barricades in our last live shot an hour ago [on Tucker Carlson Tonight]," Springer said. "But it got a little too hot, so we had to move a couple blocks away." No footage was shown to back up Springer's claims, though police have reportedly launched tear gas at times to disperse protesters around the area. During coverage of the Seattle autonomous zone on "Hannity" last night, most of the B-roll footage focused on a Confederate monument in Virginia. Fox News As Hannity dedicated the first half of his show to the scene in Seattle, B-roll on the screen showed a Confederate monument protest in Virginia. While Trump often takes his cues from Fox, he has also criticized the channel for not being as supportive of him as they used to be, even expressing nostalgia for the network's late disgraced CEO Roger Ailes. Yet despite Trump's criticism, Fox News remains a force in the Nielsen ratings night after night, sometimes doubling CNN and MSNBC's viewership combined. TV News HQ (@TVNewsHQ) June 10, 2020 As Fox's prime time lineup continues to dominate the ratings, millions of Americans may come away with the impression that destruction and chaos continue to rampage the country unless they squint to read the time stamp. Read the original article on Business Insider DENVER, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Farmland Partners Inc. (NYSE: FPI) (the "Company") announced today that Rota Fortunae, the pseudonymous author who executed a "short-and-distort" attack on the Company via a posting published on SeekingAlpha.com, has been identified as Quinton Mathews from Dallas, Texas. Mr. Mathews' disclosure of his name and the names of others he previously tried to shield from disclosure came in response to a Court order requiring him to do so, rejecting his attempts to hide behind anonymity protections reserved for those with legitimate First Amendment rights. Now that Farmland Partners has the names of these individuals and companies, the Company intends to promptly investigate their relationships to Mr. Mathews' short-and-distort scheme, including to explore their connection to Mr. Mathews' publication of false and misleading statements to artificially drive down the price of the Company's stock so that the relevant individuals and companies could profit from short positions. The Company intends to publicly disclose the names of, and pursue legal recourse against, any parties deemed to have participated in Mr. Mathews' short-and-distort scheme. Mr. Mathews also admitted in a June 8, 2020 blog post on SeekingAlpha.com that he profited from a short position he took prior to the publication of the defamatory posting in 2018, although he failed to mention in his blog post certain key facts from the Court's recent rulings, including Mr. Mathews' "strong motive" to publish his defamatory statements and his deception of investors, the Company, and the Court about the extent of and participation in his scheme. Mr. Mathews, in his own name and as Rota Fortunae, notably is the subject of another lawsuit regarding similar allegations involving a different company, suggesting Mr. Mathews has participated in a pattern of short-and-distort schemes, though the extent to which those other short-and-distort schemes involve the same individuals and companies Mr. Mathews recently revealed is unclear. Paul Pittman, Chairman and CEO of the Company commented: "This is not a case about protected free speech or legitimate short selling. It's about a conspiracy using false and misleading statements to manipulate the market, harm honest shareholders and damage a legitimate company." Farmland Partners is represented in this matter by Morrison & Foerster LLP. About Farmland Partners Inc. Farmland Partners Inc. is an internally managed real estate company that owns and seeks to acquire high-quality North American farmland and makes loans to farmers secured by farm real estate. As of the date of this release, the Company owns approximately 156,500 acres in 16 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Virginia. We have approximately 26 crop types and over 100 tenants. The Company elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with the taxable year ended December 31, 2014. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements with respect to our outlook, proposed and pending acquisitions and dispositions, the potential impact of trade disputes and recent extreme weather events on the Company's results, financing activities, crop yields and prices and anticipated rental rates. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "should," "could," "would," "predicts," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" or similar expressions or their negatives, as well as statements in future tense. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, beliefs and expectations, such forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events or guarantees of future performance and our actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Some factors that might cause such a difference include the following: the litigation discussed in this press release and related matters, including the possibility that these rulings are overturned or modified on appeal; general volatility of the capital markets and the market price of the Company's common stock or Series B participating preferred stock; changes in the Company's business strategy; availability, terms and deployment of capital; the Company's ability to refinance existing indebtedness at or prior to maturity on favorable terms or at all; availability of qualified personnel; changes in the Company's industry, interest rates or the general economy, including as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; adverse developments related to crop yields or crop prices; the degree and nature of the Company's competition; the timing, price or amount of repurchases, if any, under the Company's share repurchase program; and the other factors described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking information presented herein is made only as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise. SOURCE Farmland Partners Inc. SACRAMENTO California spent nearly $25 million to deploy 8,000 National Guard troops to cities across the state after some of the widespread protests against police violence and institutional racism turned chaotic. Most of that cost, $18.2 million, came from a state of emergency declaration in Los Angeles County, where the state sent 5,500 troops late last month to quell unrest related to the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, according to a letter that the state Department of Finance sent to legislative leaders Wednesday. As demonstrations erupted in many cities, Gov. Gavin Newsom called up thousands of National Guard members and California Highway Patrol officers to assist in communities experiencing vandalism, looting and clashes between protesters and police. After several days of more peaceful protests, officials ended the deployment over the weekend. In addition to the deployment to Los Angeles County, 2,500 Guard troops were sent to seven cities including Vallejo, San Leandro and Sacramento, at a cost of $6.6 million. San Francisco Mayor London Breed initially put the Guard on standby, but did not ultimately call them out. In its letter, the Department of Finance asked the Legislature to increase funding for the California Military Department by June 30 to cover those unexpected expenditures, which, unlike the Los Angeles County deployment, cannot be paid for through emergency accounts. Public health officials have raised alarms about a potential surge of new coronavirus cases tied to the protests, with the first links starting to emerge. At least seven Nebraska National Guard members have tested positive for the virus after helping with crowd control at protests in that state, as have an undisclosed number of Guard troops who were deployed in Washington, D.C. Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, a spokesman for the California Military Department, said Thursday that about 800 National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles County were tested for the virus and testing is provided to others when requested. None have yet tested positive, he said; however, it is too early to tell the full impact of what our service members were exposed to while activated in response to the demonstrations. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff Trump and Barr Fooled Them All Commentary President Donald Trump faced a seemingly insurmountable problem. Again. After having gone through a fake impeachment, the CCP virus pandemicwhich was coupled with a never-before-attempted economic shutdownthe Trump administration was suddenly faced with an escalating series of simultaneous riots in cities across the nation. Peaceful protests across the country following the death in police custody of a black man named George Floyd in Minneapolis quickly turned into a series of violent nationwide riots. It turned out much of this rioting seen across America was orchestrated by anarchist groups that are loosely referred to by the name Antifa. Trump and Attorney General William Barr on May 31 announced that the U.S. government would be designating Antifa as a terrorist group and that all federal law enforcement agencies were now coordinating their efforts through the 56 FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces to identify criminal organizers and instigators. While the Democrats and the media anticipated getting the optics they so desperately cravedof Trump sending in soldiers with bayonets fixed, charging at the peaceful protesterswhat they got instead was the sudden appearance of a bunch of federal tactical units from the FBI, the Secret Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Prisons, and other agencies, in full gear, many with no rifles, and certainly no bayonets. As the entire nation is about to belatedly discover, federal agents dont need the permission of governors or mayors before they can enter a state or a city to enforce federal laws and arrest those who are breaking them. And it happens to be a federal crime to conduct terror attacks against American communities. It seems the play among some Democrat governors and mayors was to refuse to call in the National Guard while also making their police departments stand down and give the rioters space to destroy, which would cause the situation to become so bad that Trump would be forced to act. And the action they anticipated the president to take was to seize control from the governors and send in the active-duty military to restore order. That would have allowed them to play their Trump the Dictator narrative all the way to the election. But Trump didnt do what they expected. If I could clearly see what the progressive left was attempting to bait Trump into doing from here in South Texas, then of course the president could see this for himself. So Trump didnt send the active-duty military in and the left isnt going to get their desired optics of regular military units chasing down rioters in the streets. Just as he did with his CCP virus response, Trump avoided the trap set for him while cutting the Gordian Knot that was presented to him. Recall that Democrats and the media spent months trying to browbeat this chief executive into seizing control from the Democratic governors and handling the virus response on a federal level. When they werent trying to bait him into doing that, they were trying to bait him into nationalizing various key industries. Trump refused to do that either. Instead of doing what they eagerly hoped he would do, Trumps enemies complained impotently as he forged an unprecedented alliance between federal agencies and private industry, the likes of which had not been seen since World War II. While experts stroked their chins for TV cameras and opined it would take months, if not years, to solve the four biggest needsventilators, virus testing, production of personal protective equipment, and a vaccineTrump and his handpicked team tackled these problems with innovative creativity. They cut massive amounts of red tape and got results in a matter of days and weeksnot the predicted months and years. Because Trump had successfully navigated the huge black swan event of a CCP virus pandemic, and as the new jobs report for May demonstrated, hes also successfully navigated the economic shutdown, Democrats immediately moved to try to turn nationwide rioting to their political advantage. But Trump is simply too smart for these people. He sent in the feds, who spent the past week quietly taking down Antifa behind the scenes. And now its mostly over. Once again, they lose, he wins. Brian Cates is a writer based in South Texas and the author of Nobody Asked For My Opinion But Here It Is Anyway! He can be reached on Twitter @drawandstrike. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Met Eireann's weather forecast for the weekend and the early parts of next week show humid and unsettled conditions prevailing. According to the national forecaster, Friday will be a fairly cloudy day with showery outbreaks of rain. However, good dry periods will develop during the afternoon before a further pulse of rain moves in across the southeast of the country on Friday evening. A humid day with highest temperatures of 15 to 19 or 20 degrees, mildest in the northwest, in moderate to fresh northeast winds. Outbreaks of rain will develop across much of Leinster and Munster on Friday night but it looks set to hold largely dry in Connacht and Ulster until morning. Minimum temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in moderate northeast winds. Met Eireann's latest forecast continued: "A showery day is expected across the country on Saturday with longer spells of rain likely in some areas. Feeling warm in any sunny spells with highest temperatures of 17 to 21 degrees as winds fall mostly light. A good deal of dry weather overnight but with a few scattered showers. Minimum temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees. "Warm and humid on Sunday with sunshine and heavy showers. There is a risk of heavy and prolonged downpours in places with a few thunderstorms breaking out. Highest temperatures ranging 18 to 23 degrees with generally light winds but gusty around heavy showers. Humid overnight with some scattered showers and the ongoing risk of an isolated thunderstorm. Lowest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees. "A warm and humid day on Monday with hazy sunny spells but also scattered heavy downpours and isolated thunderstorms. Highest temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees with light, variable winds. Isolated showers overnight with lowest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees. "Another day of sunny intervals and scattered heavy showers is expected on Tuesday with the ongoing risk of isolated thunderstorms. Highest temperatures of 17 to 20 degrees." Andy Cohen has denied a swirl of rumors that Lori Loughlin will become a Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills. The 52-year-old producer addressed the conjecture this week while appearing on his Radio Andy show on SiriusXM. 'There is a whole narrative apparently that I am produce - that I am pursuing Lori Loughlin for The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills, and the first I heard about that was Twitter, so, yeah, it's - but it's not true,' he said. Not happening: Andy Cohen has denied a swirl of rumors that Lori Loughlin will become a Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills 'Lori Loughlin is a very nice person, she's gonna have quite a story to tell and she's always been lovely,' said the Watch What Happens Live host. Lori and her husband Mossimo Giannulli are headed to jail over their role in the college admissions scandal involving their daughters Olivia Jade and Bella Rose. Last month Lori and Mossimo appeared at a Zoom court hearing and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit fraud. Mossimo will spend five months behind bars while Lori will go to prison for two, and each of them will have to pay a $150,000 fine. 'The first I heard about that was Twitter': The 52-year-old producer addressed the conjecture this week while appearing on his Radio Andy show on SiriusXM It emerged last March that the couple had bribed their daughters' way into the University Of Southern California. Lori and her fashion designer husband paid $500,000 to falsely pass the girls off as potential college rowers on USC's team. Olivia was holidaying on the yacht of the USC trustee board's billionaire chairman Rick Caruso the day her parents were indicted last March. She was apparently on the vessel with Rick's daughter Gigi, who is her age and also a freshman at USC, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Behind bars: Lori and her husband Mossimo Giannulli are headed to jail over their role in the college admissions scandal; pictured leaving a court date last April Meanwhile Andy revealed he recently had to rehome his beloved rescue dog Wacha after seven years with the pooch. Wacha had been experiencing 'behavioral issues,' and as Andy has a one-year-old son he felt it unsafe to keep the dog at his own residence. He ultimately left the dog with his friend Sherman, whom Wacha was already used to staying with whenever Andy left town. The Bravo impresario revealed on his radio show this week that 'Wacha is happy' at Sherman's home and still goes on walks with Andy. Australian government leaders have urged activists not to attend Black Lives Matter and other rallies planned for the weekend due to the pandemic risk. Rallies are planned for Australian cities this weekend over the Minnesota death of George Floyd; the coronavirus risk posed to asylum-seekers held in crowded Australian immigration detention centers; and the pandemic threat created by eating meat. Police largely did not enforce social distancing rules during peaceful Black Lives Matter rallies attended by thousands in Australian cities last weekend that focused on the high incarceration rate of indigenous Australians. But Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged police to charge protesters with breaching pandemic restrictions during the coming weekend. The very clear message is that people should not attend those events, because it is against the health advice to do so, Morrison told reporters. A large police presence gathered in Sydney around the site of a proposed Black Lives Matter rally hours ahead of its scheduled start in an apparent attempt to deter the public gathering. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann suggested demonstrators could lose government welfare payments if they attended rallies, but Morrison later ruled out any such federal retaliation. The government pays a wage subsidy to 3.5 million Australians to keep them in work during the pandemic lockdown. A protester became sick after attending a Melbourne rally on Saturday and later tested positive for COVID-19. Authorities suspected he became infected before the rally and might have spread the virus to other protesters. A court on Thursday ruled a refugee rally planned for Sydney on Saturday illegal because of the pandemic threat, increasing the range of powers available to police to prevent it. A High Court in Accra has varied downwards the bail conditions imposed on six persons accused of being part of a plot to overthrow the government. Dr Frederick Mac-Palm, Donya Kafui, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu, Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli, Corporal Seidu Abubakar and Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon were initially admitted to bail in the sum of GH10 million each, with two sureties to be justified. However, following an application for variation filed by their lawyers, the court, presided over by Justice Samuel Asiedu, reduced the bail sum to GH6 million each with three sureties to be justified. The six accused persons were part of a group of eight, including Johannes Zikpi and Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, who were admitted to bail by the court on May 8 this year. Two other accused persons Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dr Benjamin Agordzo and Warrant Officer (II) Esther Saan Dekuwine are already on bail. Hearing continues on July 3, 2020. Charges The 10 accused persons are alleged to be part of Take Action Ghana (TAG), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which, prosecutors claim, was planning to destabilise the country and possibly take over the government. Dr Mac-Palm, Kafui, Debrah, Dekuwine, Abubakar, L/Cpl Akanpewon, L/Cpl Solomon,and Zikpi have been charged with conspiracy to commit treason felony and treason felony, while Dr Mac-Palm and Kafui have been separately charged with conspiracy to possess explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse and possession of explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse. Col Gameli and ACP Dr Agordzo have been charged with abetment to treason felony. Prosecutions facts The facts of the case, as presented by the prosecution, were that TAG plotted to destabilise the country and overthrow the government. The prosecution claims that as part of the plot, Dr Mac-Palm, who is accused of being the mastermind, along with Kafui and Debrah planned on kidnapping the President, the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief of the Defence Staff, and force the President to announce his overthrow. Again, there were discussions on whether or not to kill the President in the process of overthrowing the government, the prosecution said. The prosecution added that in June 2018, the security agencies picked up intelligence that the accused persons, under the auspices of TAG, had planned to overthrow and take over the government. It said as part of the plan, Col Gameli recruited Zikpi, who was a signal specialist with the GAF, to help jam the radio signals of the National Communications Authority. TAG, the prosecution said, planned to jam all radio stations, with the exception of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. The prosecution said in furtherance of the plot, Dr Mac-Palm invited Kafui, who was a blacksmith at Alavanyo in the Volta Region, to Accra to manufacture explosives and pistols for the group. With regard to ACP Dr Agordzo, the prosecution said he donated GH2,000 to TAG to aid its cause and also drafted a speech for Dr Mac-Palm to be read at the planned demonstration by TAG. Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video CLEVELAND, Ohio Six Bureau of Motor Vehicles locations across the state will resume some in-person driving tests Friday. All testing will be by appointment only, which can be made online. Clevelands biggest tourist attraction, The Rock Hall, will reopen its doors on Monday. The museums safety measures include three sliding glass doors that have been installed at the museums entrance so visitors can avoid touching entryways. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will reopen Wednesday. The Cleveland Museum of Art plans to reopen June 30. And while amusement parks and water parks can open June 19, Cedar Point wont be opening its gates to visitors until July 9. Casinos and racinos also can also open June 19. Movies theater reopenings vary. Cleveland Cinemas will begin a phased reopening of its theaters on June 19. Theaters will open in three phases: the Apollo Theatre in Oberlin and Tower City Cinemas in downtown Cleveland will open June 19. The historic Capitol Theatre in the Gordon Square Arts District and Chagrin Cinemas in Chagrin Falls will follow on June 24. The chains flagship theater, the Cedar Lee in Cleveland Heights, opens its doors July 1. Regal Cinemas, with theaters at Crocker Park, Great Northern, Richmond Town Square and in Middleburg Heights, Akron, Hudson, Willoughby, said in a statement it anticipates to open all locations in July. AMC, with locations in Westwood Town Center in Rocky River, Ridge Park Square in Brooklyn and in Solon, expects to open almost all its theaters by mid-July. You can find the full list of reopenings or cancellations from Thursday here. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form WASHINGTON, June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Electric grid advocacy group Protect Our Power today applauded the Senate Armed Services Committee for including in its annual defense policy bill provisions to implement 11 of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission's recommendations, including a call for studying "the feasibility and advisability" of creating a national cybersecurity director. The Committee passed the bill on Wednesday on a 25-2 vote, and it will now head to a vote in the full Senate. "Importantly, the bill as passed extends the Cyberspace Solarium Commission for another 16 months, so that it can continue to pursue adoption of the dozens of other cybersecurity recommendations contained in its March 2020 report," said Jim Cunningham, executive director of Protect Our Power. "The Commission's report provides a detailed roadmap of necessary improvements to our critical national infrastructure, including the electric grid, and continuing that work is vital to creating a level of cybersecurity protection for our country that is equal to the sophisticated threats we face in today's world," Cunningham added. As envisioned by the Commission, the national cyber director would be a Senate-confirmed position, housed in the Executive Office of the President, with budget and policy authority to coordinate cyber policy across the federal government. "Our nation needs a cyber director, with White House level authority, to bring the focus, clarity and leadership necessary to oversee cybersecurity planning and defense across the disparate parts of the federal government, including the military, intelligence and critical infrastructure," Cunningham said. "It is especially important that we enhance the cybersecurity and resilience of the electric grid, since all other critical infrastructure relies on the grid for power to operate." "We urge the full Senate and the House to pass 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, including the 11 Cyberspace Solarium Commission recommendations, in the final version of the bill," Cunningham said. About Protect Our Power Protect Our Power is a not-for-profit organization designed to build a consensus among key stakeholders, decision-makers and public policy influencers to launch a coordinated and adequately funded effort to make the nation's electric grid more resilient and more resistant to all external threats. POP is singularly and uniquely positioned as a non-partisan, unbiased thought leader able to serve as a convening, moderating, action-oriented voice. SOURCE Protect Our Power (POP) OTTAWA - The federal lobbying watchdog is asking for a budget increase to enable her office to modernize the way it registers lobbyists and keeps track of their activities just as its seeing a surge in lobbying sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbying commissioner Nancy Belanger says 441 lobbyists have registered with her office to make their case to the federal government on matters related to the pandemic. Registrations during March were the highest for that month that her office has seen since its creation 12 years ago, she added in an interview Thursday. Back in December, before the pandemic hit Canada, Belanger said health was the fifth-ranked subject of meetings and phone calls with federal officials, according to the monthly reports lobbyists are required to file on their activities. During the first three months of this year, lobbying on the subject of health shot up so much so that it wound up at the top of her offices chart for the entire 2019-2020 fiscal year. The top federal institutions that were lobbied reflect the push by companies and organizations to press the federal government for emergency aid to weather the health crisis. Members of Parliament headed the list for the past fiscal year, followed by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Prime Ministers Office and Finance Canada. Belanger, who tabled Thursday her annual report to Parliament, said lobbying activity for 2019-2020 was down due to the federal election campaign before shooting up during the first three months of this year as the pandemic took hold. The numbers would have been much lower but for the pandemic, which had really boosted the numbers to the point where I think the month of March is the busiest month of March since the beginning of the lobbying registry, she said. According to her office, there were 5,854 meetings and phone calls between federal officials and outside consultants, corporate executives and organizations in February and March up 40 per cent from the same period last year. Belangers request for a budget hike is not directly related to the pandemic-induced increase in lobbying. She said she put in the request before COVID-19 began wreaking havoc on the global economy. Rather, she said she needs some $780,000 more per year to hire five additional employees, primarily specialists in information technology. Her current budget of $4.5 million has not changed in 12 years and she said 75 per cent of it goes to pay the salaries of her 26 staff. So I really dont have much left after that for the operational side, Belanger said, noting that IT does not get any cheaper. Her office currently pays for outside consultants to help it keep up with technological advances. They completed a modernization of the registry over the past year to make it more user-friendly for lobbyists and for journalists who report on their activities. We are getting the work done but I am getting concerned, as things are getting more and more expensive, that at some point people are doing a lot more with a lot less and something will have to give, Belanger said. And Im not really willing to give up on any part of my important mandate. So Ill keep asking and I hope that the need of the office will be recognized. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2020. CHATSWORTH, Calif.A new report by the advocacy group Open Democracy throws light on how sex workers have fared during the coronavirus shutdowns, depending on the differing policies of governments from country to country. For example, as AVN.com has reported, the Netherlands has forced sex workers to wait until September to get back to work, even as other businesses including hair salons have reopened. But in Switzerland, sex work was allowed to resume on June 6, even as other close contact activities such as ballroom dancing and judo must wait at least one more month. While COVID-19 has brought the marginalization of sex workers into sharp focus, wrote Open Democracys Lynzi Armstrong on Tuesday, the responses that have occurred are reflective of a much longer history of exclusion, where the laws surrounding sex workand how sex work is conceptualizedshape how sex workers are treated in society. Armstrong highlights New Zealand as an example of how government policies that have decriminalized sex work since 2003 allowed sex workers to access government relief programs. But in Scotland and Ireland, where sex workers remain subject to arrest, advocacy groups have fought hard to win any relief at all for the struggling sex workers. In Scotland, the government allocated only 60,000 (about $75,000) in a relief package for sex workersand the funds may be distributed only through EMCOMPASS, a network of groups that define sex work as violence against women. Umbrella Lane and Scotpep, the two sex worker advocacy groups that lobbied the Scottish government since March to provide aid, may not access the relief funds. This is a tiny amount of money and the reality is that none of it will go to people involved in sex work. It will pay for more people to answer phones for services that few people will take up, said Umbrella Lane founder Anastacia Ryan, an academic at Glasgow University. Conditions are similar in Ireland where the leading sex worker rights group, Sex Workers Alliance Ireland, has been shut out of government funding programs on the grounds that it defines sex work as work. Instead, the group Ruhamawhich defines sex work as violence against womenhas been placed in charge of distributing the small amount of government relief aid. COVID-19 has bared the deeply entrenched inequities that impact sex workers globally, imbued in laws, policies and discourses surrounding sex work, the Open Democracy report stated. However, in shining a light on these injustices it also offers possibilities for positive change. There is an opportunity to reflect on how laws impact sex workers, the messages policies send, and consider how the situation could be different. Photo By Bojan Cvetanovic / Wikimedia Commons The foreign capital inflow into Vietnam will help local enterprises expand their production, but the opportunity can only be grabbed by capable enterprises. Nguyen Van Hung, CEO of CNC Tech, in recent days received emails and phone calls from Japanese companies that want to place orders or cooperate with CNC Tech. It previously took six months or one year to reach a cooperation agreement with foreign partners. It now takes one or two months only, Hung said. The Japanese government has announced it would use $2.2 billion of the record high economic relief package to help Japanese manufacturers relocate their production out of China. A survey by Tokyo Shoko Institute showed that 37 percent of 2,600 polled enterprises want to relocate their factories out of China. Hung of CNC Tech feels that the process of relocating production bases out of China has become clearer than ever since the Japanese government made the announcement. A survey by Deep Knowledge Ventures, a Hong Kong-based investment fund, last April showed that Vietnam is second just to Singapore in Southeast Asia in the list of safe destinations. Not only Japanese but European enterprises are also considering leaving China. South China Morning Post cited a survey by the association of European and German enterprises in China as showing the discouraging business results of the enterprises. Half of them said their profit margin may decrease by 20 percent. A survey by Deep Knowledge Ventures, a Hong Kong-based investment fund, last April showed that Vietnam is second just to Singapore in Southeast Asia in the list of safe destinations. According to Deep Knowledge Ventures, investors will feel more secure when pouring capital into safe countries. We are continuing to make investment in anticipation of the production relocation movement, though the company is facing difficulties because of Covid-19, Hung said. Meanwhile, other enterprises, though seeing great opportunities from the production relocation movement, still dare not make big investment in the context of demand decreases and signs of global recession. Dang Quang Khoi, CEO of An Lap Plastics, which is the partner of some foreign electronics companies, said he knows the movement, but doesnt have resources and dare not take risks to expand production in the current conditions. During the social distancing days, like many other companies, An Lap had to cut 60 percent of production capacity because Samsung and Honda, the largest partners, cut orders. To date, 80 percent of production capacity has been restored, but Khoi still feels worried about the risks which may come in the future. In 2019, when realizing the capital inflow to Vietnam because of the US-China trade war, Khoi made big investment to increase productivity and improve quality with hope that the revenue would increase by 20 percent in 2020. However, because of Covid-19, he dreams of obtaining revenue equal to 2019. Mai Lan Enterprises in supporting industries busy with orders during COVID-19 While other industries complain about the lack of jobs, enterprises in supporting industries have been operating at full capacity to satisfy a high number of orders. On the positive side, we are finally seeing some contrition and empathy on the part of the police. We have been conditioned to expect them to circle the wagons at times like this, but the quick charges brought against Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, along with a good number of public statements, give some legitimate cause for optimism. What happens next? The circumstances that got us here are neither simple nor easy to address. But recognizing them is a good place to start. For decades, qualified immunity has protected police from the consequences of their misconduct. This has made policing an attractive profession for people with violent and racist tendencies. In the quest for votes and ratings, politicians and the media have pitted Americans against each other by attributing to reasonable people on both the left and right the crackpottery of the fringes, convincing each group that the other is either stupid, evil, or both. For decades, politicians have gathered power to themselves by promising to solve all manner of problems that are beyond their capabilities. The result? A political class that rules rather than serves. Unless we address these root problemsall of themwe can look forward to more of the same sorts of outcomes down the road. If ever there were a time to take stock of bad ideas, intentions and outcomes, its now. Antony Davies is associate professor of economics at Duquesne University. James R. Harrigan is managing director of the Center for the Philosophy of Freedom at the University of Arizona. They host the weekly podcast Words & Numbers. They wrote this for InsideSources.com. How does one compare a 400-year saga of racism in America with Indias endemic inequality? Is the latter a function of neo-economic policies, feudalism, colonial tinkering with social structures or a mix of it all? Though inquiry is taboo, it is vitally needed. In America, Jim Mattis, a respected Marine general and former defence secretary, is enjoying what Andy Warhol called five minutes of fame. He chastised a President whom everybody chastises except Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Never in his life had Gen. Mattis known a US President so dedicated to dividing Americans. He was particularly severe on Mr Trumps call to dominate the rioters by using troops, in violation of the militarys rules of engagement. Incumbent defence secretary Mark Esper also did himself proud by opposing Mr Trumps inclination to bring in troops. I wonder if it shames us there is neither a Mattis nor an Esper to provide relief in our arid wasteland, bereft of dissenters. Journalist Aakar Patel faces an FIR for having asked the dispossessed in his homeland to voice sympathy for African Americans. Rex Tillerson, a former US secretary of state, had while in office called Mr Trump a moron. Texas police chief Art Acevedo was comparatively mild: he asked the President to keep his mouth shut if he has no constructive ideas to offer. The vigour and success of a free society covered up an undercurrent of flaws like racism from the start. Extraordinary success in many fields was able to induce a national amnesia about some harsh realities: the United States was founded on genocide and slavery. Unreliable records of Christopher Columbus combined with modern anthropology point to anywhere between 2.5 million and eight million natives killed by disease or other means of extermination. This was a matter of envy for Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro. He lamented that the Brazilian cavalry had not been as effective as its US counterpart in exterminating natives. I havent seen anything as disturbing as the brutality of pre-abolition slave lives portrayed in Quentin Tarantinos Django Unchained. A gruesome image shows a petrified slave, tied to a tree. A pack of hungry dogs, the size of full-grown wolves, is let loose upon him by way of canine supper. Dont dismiss it as cinematic exaggeration. I have just been sent a clip from current disturbances a police dog set upon a black woman, screaming for dear life, even as three white policemen watch with scant interest, a sort of mechanical operation. To flavour the past, lets rewind at fast speed. In 1919, a black teenager, swimming in Lake Michigan, drifts involuntarily towards a whites-only beach. He is stoned until he drowns. Record riots follow in Chicago. This when President Woodrow Wilson was busy persuading senators to ratify the Versailles Treaty. What flourished simultaneously were called lynch laws. Bodies of niggers hanging from tall, shady trees were occasions for family outings, yielding photographs for albums kept for posterity. Everyone talks reverentially about Martin Luther King Jr having brought to fruition the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. But this reporter saw busing an issue in Boston even in the mid-1970s. Was an attitude ingrained over centuries going to be disbanded simply by legislation? Communalism in India has recent, deliberate beginnings, but caste beats western racism by millennia. Is its erasure possible by legislative means? The recent walk home by the impoverished, was laden with images of caste-class overlap. There have been a surfeit of newspaper writing on Americas riots. But a friend placed in my hand an editorial from New Democracy, which touches the nub of the matter. The piece contrasts Dr Kings failed quest for salvation within the American Dream with Malcolm Xs search for revolutionary change. Look farther afield, and even Nelson Mandelas adjustment with white South Africas last leader F.W. De Klerk looks like a bargain struck in a hurry. I was in South Africa weeks before Mandela walked free. That he was free of rancour or bitterness against whites, despite being in their jails for 27 years, did further elevate his charisma. De Klerk, on the other hand, came out smelling or roses for having renounced power. In truth, what decided their fate was the global situation. At the Cold Wars end, a nasty, nuclear-armed white outpost in the face of rising black anger had become unnecessary. The odium of apartheid could now be shed. In the high-voltage emotionalism of Mandelas release, reporters didnt seek out what Mandelas colleagues were thinking. How could they have been happy when Mandelas first finance minister, Trevor Manuel, had to be cleared by Gavin Riley, chairman of South Africas largest firm. No two situations are absolutely similar, but memory ferrets out a small detail from Independent Indias first Cabinet. When V. Shankar, ICS, was inducted into Sardar Patels secretariat, he had to go through a ritual interview with veteran industrialist Ghanshyam Das Birla. Capitalism, in other words, kept a wary eye on all transitions away from its stranglehold. Then capitalism overreached itself by mismanaging the post-Soviet globalisation. The 2008 financial crisis, and the huge slump after the Covid-19 mayhem, have induced some rethink. Comprehensive healthcare for all, universal basic income, a review of the Scandinavian model, are all part of a vigorous discourse in the West. There is, on the other hand, a deafening silence on these issues in India, where millions of the hungry and destitute sent on a trek may well return to plague us. On Tuesday, voters in Georgia went to cast their ballots in primary elections, but many of them found that they could notor not without a long wait. Voters in the Atlanta area, in particular, faced huge lines and hours-long delays outside polling places; a disproportionate number of those voters were Black. As the day progressed, reports emerged about new voting machines that were malfunctioning or missing altogether. Public-health measures, instituted to prevent voters from spreading COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, exacerbated the delays. There were problems with mail-in ballots, too. Democratic politicians blamed the states Republican leadership for the mess; the Republicans blamed local Democrats. There are no clear answers of exactly one thing that caused the breakdown, Tia Mitchell, a reporter with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said on The Takeaway. There are probably many. The confusion didnt stop news organizations from prominently covering the problems. The New York Times used drone footage to demonstrate just how long the lines were. Politico ran the headline, A hot, flaming mess; on Wednesday, the Journal-Constitutions front page splashed the words, COMPLETE MELTDOWN. News networks cut to reporters on the ground; one of them, Blayne Alexander, of NBC News, said she had waited in line for 2 hours and 19 minutes before casting her vote. Many stories noted Georgias history of voter suppression, and suggested that the debacle was a poor omen for November, when the state is expected to be in play in the presidential election, and voter turnout in the state could be more than twice what we saw on Tuesday. If those same issues are to happen again, Mitchell said, the lines will be even longer, the waits will be even longer, the possibility of disenfranchisement of voters will be even higher. Its not just Georgia, of coursepeople of color, in particular, are used to experiencing voter suppression nationwide. Throw in the problems of rampant disinformation about electoral processes, which is often targeted specifically at Black voters; foreign meddling; creaking electoral infrastructure; and a pandemic that makes it unsafe to go outside, and the integrity of the upcoming presidential race is in serious jeopardy. ICYMI: The mystery of Tucker Carlson The widespread and enduring coverage of the Georgia primaryamid everything else going on right nowwas welcome. But the media as a whole must do even more to draw attention to voter suppression; specifically, our coverage needs to be less reactive to outrages such as Tuesdays, and more anticipatory of whats to come. In April, Brian Friedberg, Gabrielle Lim, and Joan Donovan, researchers at Harvards Shorenstein Center, warned, in an essay for Nieman Reports, that the coming year may be witness to the largest challenge to voting rights since the civil rights era, and failures in the media ecosystem may intensify its impact. The pandemic has forced changes to voting procedures, making it easier than ever for bad actors onlineincluding the president of the United Statesto sow confusion and mistrust around electoral mechanics. Journalists, Friedberg, Lim, and Donovan wrote, must urgently fight backby confronting Republican misinformation about voting-by-mail, telling important stories about voting beyond the clamor of the news cycle, and forging ties with civil rights groups. This week, Jay Rosen, a media professor at New York University, suggested on Twitter that newsrooms should immediately assign threat modeling teams to assess possible risks facing the integrity of the vote, so editors know ahead of time where to funnel editorial resources. Rosen added, This election is in peril. In addition to disenfranchisement, news organizations must also think now about how they communicate election results. In April, a panel of experts led by Rick Hasen, an election-law specialist at the University of California, Irvine, published recommendations for how institutions in the fields of law, politics, tech, and the media might ensure public confidence come November. News organizations, the report advised, should launch campaigns to educate the public about how votes are cast and counted, and should train their journalists to appropriately set expectations ahead of election night, in order to minimize the traction of dubious voter-fraud narratives as the results come in. It is especially important for the media to convey to the public the idea that, given an expected increase in absentee ballot voting delays in election reporting are to be expected, not evidence of fraud, the report states. The 2020 presidential election may be too early to call until days after election day. This, of course, will cut against the normal rhythms of political news, which are ill-equipped to handle prolonged uncertainty. (Exhibit A: the excruciating dead air on cable following this years messed-up Democratic primary in Iowa.) Theres so much news to react to at the moment, but getting ahead of the election-integrity story should still be a priority for journalistsafter all, the protests and the pandemic come to bear on voting. And we cant do it alone. As Friedberg, Lim, and Donovan wrote for Nieman Reports, covering the election threat will require the collaboration of civil society, state agencies, social media companies, and news organizations. Thats a weird role for journalists, who are more accustomed to scrutinizing other institutions. We need to figure out what it entails, and fast. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Below, more on election threats: Voter suppression: In April, thousands of voters in Wisconsin were disenfranchised after the US Supreme Court, siding with Republican officials in the state, blocked Democrats from extending the deadline for mail-in ballots. And this week, Republican lawmakers in Iowa voted to bar that state from sending absentee ballots to voters who didnt request one in writing; the lawmakers said they were prioritizing election security even though Iowa held successful elections under the existing system just the week before. In an editorial, the Des Moines Register accused the lawmakers of voter suppression. In April, thousands of voters in Wisconsin were disenfranchised after the US Supreme Court, siding with Republican officials in the state, blocked Democrats from extending the deadline for mail-in ballots. And this week, Republican lawmakers in Iowa voted to bar that state from sending absentee ballots to voters who didnt request one in writing; the lawmakers said they were prioritizing election security even though Iowa held successful elections under the existing system just the week before. In an editorial, the Des Moines Register accused the lawmakers of voter suppression. Manipulation machines: For CJRs Fall 2019 magazine on disinformation, Errin Haines explored how online disinformation campaigns have been weaponized against the Black vote. Propaganda aimed at suppressing the Black vote is not new, of course, but social media has transformed its nature and scale, Haines wrote. In 2016, Russian trolls identified as assets people whose trust in Black media could be exploited to share manufactured disinformation on their own accounts. For CJRs Fall 2019 magazine on disinformation, Errin Haines explored how online disinformation campaigns have been weaponized against the Black vote. Propaganda aimed at suppressing the Black vote is not new, of course, but social media has transformed its nature and scale, Haines wrote. In 2016, Russian trolls identified as assets people whose trust in Black media could be exploited to share manufactured disinformation on their own accounts. More Than a Vote: In response to the protests that have followed George Floyds murder, a group of Black athletes and celebritiesincluding LeBron James, Trae Young, and Skylar Diggins-Smithis founding More Than a Vote, an organization that will aim to increase Black voter turnout. James told the Times that he plans to use his high media profile to draw attention to voter suppression efforts. Other notable stories: ICYMI: The Story Has Gotten Away from Us Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 12 (ANI/NewsVoir): OncoStem Diagnostics, an Oncology focused company that enables personalised cancer treatment, is pleased to announce the publication of a review paper on the impact of over treatment of early stage breast cancer on patients. The review indicates that in early-stage breast cancer where the risk of relapse is very low, overtreatment can be damaging to a patient both physically and financially. To avoid this, six senior cancer specialists from across India who authored the paper advocate that patients opt for OncoStem's 'CanAssist Breast' a prognostic test designed to classify patients depending on the risk of cancer recurrence. Low-risk patients typically do not benefit from adding chemotherapy to the treatment regime. OncoStem's "Made in India" test is developed and validated on Indian patients and thus is most suitable. By analysing the aggressiveness of patient's tumor CanAssist Breast identifies patients who will have minimal benefit (Low-risk) or who will benefit the most (high risk) by adding chemotherapy to their treatment. The review paper brings out key insights on the need for a personalized approach for treating breast cancer. The oncologists who authored the paper are Dr G S Bhattacharyya (Salt Lake Medical Center Kolkata), Dr DC Doval (RGCI, Delhi), Dr Chirag Desai (Vedanta, Ahmedabad), Dr Harit Chaturvedi (Max Hospital, Delhi), Dr Sanjay Sharma (ACI, Mumbai) and Dr Somashekhar S P (Manipal, Bangalore). These renowned oncologists have a combined experience of 15 decades in Oncology and are key opinion leaders with many scientific publications to their names. "We are pleased by the insights provided by this team of esteemed and highly experienced oncologists. This is a great validation for 'CanAssist Breast' and the team behind the research. The benefit that early-stage patients receive from chemotherapy is usually low. Since most early-stage patients can do well without chemotherapy, this makes accurate risk prediction an all-important prerequisite for effective treatment," said Dr Manjiri Bakre, CEO and Founder, OncoStem Diagnostics, while commenting on the review. "It is therefore necessary to find out patients with low-risk of cancer recurrence to avoid chemotherapy, given its side effects and the toll it takes on the patients' quality of life. Currently, despite prognostic tests that predict risk of cancer recurrence being widely adopted in the West, most Indian patients do not have access to these expensive tests," added Dr Bakre. "As a result, most Indian patients, including those who might have a 'low risk of recurrence', are often prescribed chemotherapy and consequently bear toxic effects of chemotherapy treatment that reduces their quality of life. Especially in the times of COVID-19 pandemic, taking chemotherapy in a hospital can increase patient's risk of contracting the infection. A test like 'CanAssist Breast' which can be helpful to doctors and patients determine the risk-benefit ratio of chemotherapy and plan accordingly," further added Dr Bakre. "There is also a huge cost to administering chemotherapy, whether paid for by the patient, insurance companies or the Indian Government. If the use of chemotherapy can be evidence-driven using a test like CanAssist Breast, then it can lead to potential cost savings to the patient, insurance companies and Government of about Rs 700 crores per annum. This is especially beneficial in a country like India where the breast cancer incidence is rising dramatically," further mentioned Dr Bakre. "'CanAssist Breast' is backed with robust scientific background and research. It's highly accurate, well validated on Indian patients and has a short turn around time. The test stratifies low and high risk breast cancer hormonal receptor patients and avoids unnecessary chemotherapy. In addition to this, it is highly cost effective without compromising the outcomes. It can help oncologists, tailor make risk stratification and better treatment planning," added Prof Dr Somashekhar S P, Chairman and HOD Surgical Oncology-MHEPL (Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru). "CanAssist Breast test helps in identifying the group of patients for whom chemotherapy is not helpful. We avoid the cost and side effects without compromising on the outcomes. The exorbitant cost of other tests serving the same purpose was beyond the reach of our population. 'CanAssist Breast' will lead to wide application of this knowledge and help tailor breast cancer treatment better than ever," said Dr Harit Chaturvedi, Chairman, Max Institute of Cancer Care, Delhi. The burden of a breast cancer diagnosis is multifold - women experience the physical trauma of cancer treatment as well as psycho-social issues due to side-effects of the treatment. Patients and their families undergo considerable financial toxicity in terms of high treatment costs, wage loss and loss in productivity. This is especially critical in India where most medical expenditure is out of their own savings. Most families experience catastrophic payments and financial distress as a result of a breast cancer diagnosis. With early-stage breast cancer where the risk of relapse is very low, overtreatment can be damaging to a patient both physically and financially. The review paper summarizes studies from India have shown that the cost of drugs like the chemotherapy drugs used in cancer treatment account for more than 1/3rd of a patient's total cost of illness. Other than medical expenses, patients also experience financial distress to the tune of an extra 20 per cent of cost of treatment, due to loss of income (both patient and caregiver) while undergoing cancer treatment, as well as travel and accommodation expenses incurred for treatment. Breast cancer is not a one-size-fits-all disease. Decades of research has shown that breast cancer has clearly distinguishable subtypes that need to be treated differently. A personalized approach is required to ensure optimal treatment. Treatment can easily be de-escalated for early stage breast cancer patients using biomarker based tests that determine the risk of recurrence and guide treatment accordingly. Studies have shown that patients with low risk of relapse can safely avoid chemotherapy with no difference in survival. We now have an Indian solution CanAssist Breast that can help 70 per cent breast cancer patients safely avoid chemotherapy. Indian patients can now take advantage of the latest in science and technology to improve their quality of life and decrease their financial burden. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trump Says June 19 Rally Date Wasnt Chosen on Purpose President Donald Trump responded to criticism about him holding a campaign rally on June 19, known as Juneteenth, which is an annual holiday that marks the end of slavery in the United States. No, but I know exactly what youre going to say, Trump replied when he was asked by a Fox News host on Friday about the rallys date. Think about it as a celebration. Theyre always a celebration, Trump said of the rally. In the history of politics, I think I can say theres never been any group or any person thats had rallies like I do. Trump is holding the rallythe first time in months during the COVID-19 pandemicin Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its the first of many to be held ahead of the November election. I go and I just say get me the biggest stadium and we fill it up every time. Weve never had a vacant seat, Trump remarked in the interview. The president said on Wednesday that he would hold the rally a week from Friday. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), who could be tapped to become Joe Bidens vice presidential choice, criticized the rally date choice, while noting that the hosting location is in Tulsa, which in 1921 was the site of the fiery Tulsa race massacre. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sept. 20, 2018. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) This isnt just a wink to white supremacistshes throwing them a welcome home party, Harris wrote on Twitter. To choose the date, to come to Tulsa, is totally disrespectful and a slap in the face to even happen, said Sherry Gamble Smith, president of Tulsas Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce, according to The Associated Press. His campaign should change it to Saturday the 20th, if theyre going to have it, she said. Trumps campaign and the White House defended his plan, with the Trump administration touting his record as being beneficial for African Americans. The African American community is very near and dear to his heart. At these rallies, he often shares the great work he has done for minority communities, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters Thursday. Katrina Pierson, senior adviser to the Trump campaign and who is black, also wrote that as the party of Lincoln, Republicans are proud of the history of Juneteenth, which is the anniversary of the last reading of the Emancipation Proclamation. President Trump has built a record of success for Black Americans, including unprecedented low unemployment prior to the global pandemic, all-time high funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and criminal justice reform, Pierson said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12 Trend: The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan introduced amendments to decree On additional measures in connection with the tightening of the special quarantine regime in Baku, Ganja, Lankaran, Sumgait cities, Absheron, Salyan, Kurdamir Yevlakh and Ismayilli districts. The relevant decree was signed by Prime Minister Ali Asadov, Trend reports. According to the amendment, the list of areas of activity and services that will be allowed to work in the lockdown days has been expanded. As a result, along with hospitals and ambulances, drugstores will work through delivering medicine to homes. Moreover, activities on harvesting agricultural products in the districts, as well as irrigation, emergency veterinary and plant protection services also will be allowed. Movement permission will be issued to individuals working in these areas on the basis of a certificate from local executive authorities. The permissions should be obtained by farmers prior to the strict quarantine regime going live. The permission should indicate the surname, name, identity card number, the territory on which a person is allowed to move, and the validity of the permission. Donald Trump supporters who attend the US presidents upcoming election rally must sign a waiver promising not to sue if they catch Covid-19 at the event. Trump announced on Wednesday that he would resume his campaign rallies in four states - Oklahoma, Florida, Arizona and North Carolina. His supporters must sign a waiver on his campaign website to register for the first of the rallies, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 19. By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to Covid-19 exists in any public place where people are present, the waiver says. By attending the rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to Covid-19 and agree not to hold the campaign, or any of its affiliates, contractors or employees responsible, it adds. Palmilla is a place where he can enjoy relative anonymity, though the arrival of his giant cruiser this week did capture the attention of locals who have been busy posting pictures on social media. The casino mogul previously told PS he would return to Sydney when his glittering new casino at Barangaroo was complete in around six months, however it appears unlikely it will be an extended stay in his home town. Packer has told friends that while he would like to return to Sydney on a more permanent basis, the constant scrutiny he attracts here is a major deterrent. James Packer in 2017. Credit:Getty Images However, he will be hard to spot when he takes the keys of his new 1000-square-metre palace in the sky being built overlooking Sydney in the One Barangaroo tower, where among his neighbours will be his ever-present right-hand-man Ben Tilley, who has also snapped up a two-bedder in the skyscraper. Packer's $60 million-plus apartment is likely to become the most luxurious quarter acre in Sydney and is currently being fitted out under the art-deco inspired eye of Packer's preferred decorator Blainey North. Indeed it will be a long way from the laid-back beach chic of Palmilla. The sun shines 350 days of the year in Cabo, and Packer was making the most of it aboard his cruiser this week. Since his breakup with Carey in 2016 and subsequent health and personal problems, the father of three, who has been seeing New York socialite Kylie Lim, has divided his time between his homes in Aspen, Los Angeles and Argentina. Salon scandal Double Bay's playboy celebrity hairdresser Tom Cole appears to have clicked his heels and disappeared following his rather awkward outing in PS's sister column Emerald City last Sunday. Hairdressers Mariah and Tom Cole. The handsome hairdresser, who offered a firm "no comment" when PS tracked him down, is no longer working at his eponymous salon, where his now ex-wife, Mariah Rota, has been valiantly manning the fort and putting on a brave face after it was revealed her hubby had been having romantic dalliances at the nearby Intercontinental Hotel with one of the salon's better known clients. "It's such a disgrace," one of Rota's confidante's told PS. "Mariah is tough, she will get through this, but the price she is paying is very heavy." Today PS can reveal Cole's mystery client getting a little, ahem, extra attention is Double Bay's very own "eyebrow queen" and social pages fixture Kristin Fisher. Fisher, a married mother of two, runs her own salon just around the corner from Cole Hair, where the likes of shoe designer Terry Biviano have their tresses tended. Friends say Fisher was "mortified" when PS started making inquiries. Fisher declined to comment to PS, offering only that she had separated from her husband "months ago in January". Curiously her husband, personal trainer Chris Barnes, posted a loving tribute to his wife for Mother's Day, calling her "the rock in our little family", just days before Rota confronted Cole about his relationship with Fisher after discovering a trail of text messages between them. "Mortified": Double Bay "eyebrow queen" Kristin Fisher. Credit:Louie Douvis While Fisher said her fling with Cole was over, Cole declined to be drawn on the relationship's status. Fashion under fire Simone and Nicky Zimmermann. Credit:Antoine Doyen Having worked decades building their global fashion business into one of Australia's most successful exports, sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann have broken their silence after being engulfed by an ugly storm over claims their employee style guide was racist. "Of course these issues are incredibly concerning for Nicky and I," Simone told PS. "They [accusations of racist grooming policies] go against everything we believe in as people and for our brand. We have always worked hard to create kind, joyful and positive experiences for our teams and clients. "But we must confront the issues as a company and are firmly committed to making the necessary changes, not just in America but everywhere, to do much better." Influential fashion watchdog Diet Prada shared an internal company grooming guide on Instagram which was criticised for alleged racial preferencing. However, Zimmermann argued the guide was out of date and the label embraced pro-diversity policies. Fellow Sydney designer Pip Edwards, one half of active-wear label PE Nation, experienced similar blow-back when she posted on social media her support for the Black Lives Matter movement, with critics accusing her of virtue signalling and pointing out her brand mostly uses white models. Pip Edwards and business partner Claire Tregoning, the women behind PE Nation. Credit:Nick Moir Edwards' spokeswoman told PS she maintained her stance in support of BLM, but that the designer would not be commenting any further on the criticism. Screening rethink Gone With The Wind, Chris Lilley's back catalogue, Little Britain: the list of films and television shows being accused of racist portrayals is growing. Paul Hogan resurrecting his Mick Dundee character in 2018. Credit:Tourism Australia But where will it end? This week television executives in Australia were going through their current playlists with a fine-tooth comb hoping to weed out any potential problems. Yet Australia's most beloved and successful productions could soon be in the firing line, not in the least Paul Hogan's beloved Mick Dundee. At least one film critic, Luke Buckmaster, has previously labelled Crocodile Dundee, which is still regularly played on free to air television, as "racist, sexist, transphobic and homophobic". Read your overview of news on Friday, June 12. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled This is your overview of news from Slovakia on Friday, June 12, 2020. Scroll down for our tips for weekend reading. If you appreciate our work and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Aftermath of the Vrutky attack The health condition of the five patients who were hospitalised in the University Hospital in Martin after the knife attack in the nearby town of Vrutky on Thursday has stabilised, the spokesperson of the hospital informed as quoted by the TASR newswire. Four of those hospitalised have undergone surgery. Related article Related article Only one door usually stands between schools and attackers Read more The European Commission has also expressed solidarity with Slovakia over the Vrutky attack, the EC spokesperson Eric Mamer said during a briefing on Friday. He conveyed condolences to the relatives and friends of the killed teacher, in the name of the EC President Ursula von der Leyen. Peter Stano, spokesperson for the High Representative of the European Union Josep Borrell, told TASR that the killed teacher Jaroslav Budz had been his teacher in the past. "Just like you, we too are shocked over the Vrutky tragedy and we share your sadness and pain," Stano said as quoted by TASR. Matovic visits Orban in Budapest Slovakia sees Hungarians as neighbours and close friends, PM Igor Matovic said during his first official visit to Hungary on Friday, June 12, as reported by the TASR newswire. Matovic met his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban in the Hungarian capital. He pledged that his government will create conditions in Slovakia for Hungarians to be able to use their language without fear. "It is our aim to protect every citizen regardless of the language they speak," Matovic said as quoted by TASR. Matovic has also met with representatives of the Slovak minority in Hungary and with the Hungarian Parliament's Speaker Laszlo Kover. GP proposed his own changes to law on prosecutors General Prosecutor Jaromir Ciznar has submitted his own draft amendment to the law on prosecution for interdepartmental review on June 12, the SITA newswire reported. Related article Related article Non-prosecutors for general prosecutor? New law faces criticism Read more His proposal widens the scope of the subjects who can propose candidates for general prosecutor, to include prosecutors, Constitutional Court and Judicial Council heads, the academic community and the ombudsman. Ciznars term in office ends in July. The government wants to elect his successor under the new rules. Ruling coalition MPs have already proposed their draft law to this effect, and a debate is expected to take place on June 24. President Zuzana Caputova has also convened a meeting of experts to discuss the matter. Ciznar also proposes changes to the disciplinary commissions, which could also include non-prosecutors chosen by the Judicial Council. Flying to and from Slovakia The transport Ministry has informed about the measures to be taken at airports. These include the obligation to wear a mask or a scarf at all times when inside the airport. Hand sanitisers must be provided, and contactless handling of passengers and luggage is to be preferred. Two-metre distance in queues is required. All those arriving in the country must have their temperature taken at the airport. Related article Related article Airports in Bratislava and Kosice to resume regular flights from mid-June Read more In other news: Entrepreneurs are still dissatisfied with the state of the business environment in Slovakia. Their negative view did not change in the second half of 2019. According to the Business Alliance of Slovakia (PAS), the Business Environment Index reached 41.56 points in the reported period, 1.13 points less than in the previous half-year. The index started in 2001 at 100 points. "Entrepreneurs identified law enforcement, functioning of the judiciary, efficiency of management of state finances, access to state aid, bureaucracy, and application of the principle of equality before the law as top barriers to business," PAS wrote. None of the eligible entities has submitted to the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic a proposal for candidate for judge of the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU CJEU) within the set deadline of June 8. The election of a candidate scheduled for June 29 will thus not take place. November 30, 2020 is the new deadline for member states to submit nominations for candidates for judges and advocates-general of the Court of Justice of the EU. (EU CJEU) within the set deadline of June 8. The election of a candidate scheduled for June 29 will thus not take place. November 30, 2020 is the new deadline for member states to submit nominations for candidates for judges and advocates-general of the Court of Justice of the EU. Labour Minister Milan Krajniak (Sme Rodina) has changed the organisational structure of the ministry. As of June 15, there will be two separate sections at the ministry: the family policy section and the social policy section. The former department of gender equality and equal opportunities will fall under the family policy section, to be led by former MP Anna Veresova. (Labour Ministry press release) Some weekend reading tips from Spectator.sk: Slovakia urged to think green after pandemic Read more Bratislavas Istrochem is a chemical time bomb Read more Roundup: Three castles in one go: Lietava, Hricov and Sulov Read more An art dealer with galleries in London and Miami was arrested on U.S. charges that he defrauded victims of more than $20 million to finance his business. Inigo Philbrick, who specializes in postwar and contemporary fine art, was arrested Thursday in the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, about 8,400 miles from New York, where he was charged. T he most senior military officer in the United States has apologised after taking part in President Donald Trump's photo-op at a church in Washington. Religious leaders accused the president of using the church as a "prop" after he posed for photos with a bible on June 1, moments after he made speech in which he threatened to deploy military to end protests over the death of George Floyd. After protesters were cleared from the Lafayette Square area using tear gas, Mr Trump led an entourage that included Army General Mark Milley and defence secretary Mark Esper to St Johns Episcopal Church, where he held up a bible for photographers.. Gen Milley said his presence "created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics. I should not have been there, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman said in his remarks to a National Defence University commencement ceremony. General Mark Milley has publicly apologised for his actions / AP Gen Milley said his presence and the photographs compromised his commitment to a military divorced from politics. My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics, he said. As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from, and I sincerely hope we all can learn from it." Gen Milleys comments were his first public statements about the Lafayette Square event, which the White House has hailed as a leadership moment for Mr Trump akin to Winston Churchill inspecting damage from German bombs in London during the Second World War. Meanwhile, Mr Esper told a press conference last week that when they left the White House he thought they were going to inspect damage in the square and at the church and to mingle with National Guard troops in the area. Trump walks with US Attorney General William Barr (L), US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper (C), chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley (R) / AFP via Getty Images The public uproar following Mr Floyds death has created multiple layers of tension between Mr Trump and senior Pentagon officials. When Mr Esper told reporters on June 3 that he had opposed Mr Trump bringing active-duty troops on the streets of the nations capital to confront protesters and potential looters, Mr Trump reprimanded him in a face-to-face meeting. This week, Mr Esper and Gen Milley let it be known through their spokesmen that they were open to a bipartisan discussion of whether the 10 Army bases named for Confederate Army officers should be renamed as a gesture aimed at disassociating the military from the racist legacy of the Civil War. On Wednesday, Mr Trump said he would never allow the names to be changed, catching some in the Pentagon by surprise. Boris Johnson will host the French president Emmanuel Macron in Downing Street next week following a virtual summit with Brussels to kickstart the deadlocked Brexit trade talks. The prime minister is expected to meet Mr Macron on Thursday as the French premier travels to London to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Charles de Gaulles wartime appeal to the people of France to resist the German occupation. Mr Macron will be hosted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House, before taking part in talks with Mr Johnson at No 10. Downing Street said Mr Macron would be exempt from the UKs quarantine rules, as representatives from foreign countries undertaking business in the UK are not required to self isolate for two weeks. The visit comes as the prime minister was expected to hold a virtual summit with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday to attempt to break the impasse in the trade negotiations. Recommended Full EU border controls delayed until six months after transition ends A statement from Clarence House said: The President of the French Republic will visit London on Thursday 18 June 2020 to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of General de Gaulles Appel to the French population to resist the German occupation of France during WWII. On behalf of Her Majestys Government, Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will formally receive President Emmanuel Macron at Clarence House with a Guard of Honour found by Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards accompanied by the Band of the Coldstream Guards. It added government guidelines on social distancing would be followed and part of the meeting would be staged in the open air. It comes as Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove formally declared on Friday that the UK will not request an extension to the transition period, leaving only six months to hammer out a complex trade agreement. Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Show all 37 1 /37 Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro-Brexit supporters celebrating in Parliament Square, after the UK left the European Union on 31 January. Ending 47 years of membership PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro Brexit supporters attend the Brexit Day Celebration Party hosted by Leave Means Leave Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage smiles on stage AFP/Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square People celebrate in Parliament Square Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A Brexit supporter celebrates during a rally in Parliament square AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Police form a line at Parliament Square to prevent a small group of anti-Brexit protestors from going through to the main Brexit rally PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square JD Wetherspoon Chairman Tim Martin speaks as people wave flags Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage arrives Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters gather AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Ann Widdecombe speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square People wave British Union Jack flags as they celebrate Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square on Brexit day Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square An EU flag lies trampled in the mud Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty The UK will leave the single market and customs union on 31 December when the transition period finishes, meaning seamless trade between with Europe will end. If a free trade agreement with Brussels cannot be agreed, then the UK faces a damaging no-deal Brexit scenario on top of the economic hit from the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Gove also backtracked on plans to introduce full border checks with the EU when the transition period ends, instead saying Britain would phase in changes over six months to allow businesses hit by the virus to adjust. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Cairo, Egypt Fri, June 12, 2020 07:50 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde184fb 2 World coronavirus,Egypt,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,pandemic Free Egypt will extend a night-time curfew by a further two weeks in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Information Minister Osama Heikal said Thursday, as infections rise. Heikal told a news conference the measure would be enforced from 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) to 4:00 am, from Sunday June 14 until the end of the month. Working hours for shops will be until 6:00 pm, instead of 5:00 pm, he said. "Tourism and flights to coastal cities with the lowest infection levels will be restarted from July," the minister added. It is not clear when flights to the capital, Cairo, will resume. Heikal also said the government will look into reopening places of worship in cities with low infections starting next month. Since March, authorities have halted air traffic, shuttered schools and closed tourist and religious sites to slow the spread of the virus among Egypt's 100 million people. The health ministry has so far recorded 1,342 deaths out of 38,284 confirmed cases. Since late last month, it has been reporting more than 1,000 new cases a day. The government has been seeking to gradually loosen lockdown measures, allowing hotels to partially reopen and resuming some public services it had suspended. Last month, Egypt's doctors union warned that a major COVID-19 outbreak could trigger a "complete collapse" of the country's health system. SPRINGFIELD The Land of Lincoln Honor Flight has learned that its national governing organization has suspended all flights through the end of 2020 due to continued concerns related to COVID-19. We are disappointed by these constraints resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and that the 600-plus local veterans on our waiting list will now have their flight delayed by a year, said board president Joan Bortolon. Editor's Note: With so much market volatility, stay on top of daily news! Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news and expert opinions. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Gold prices are modestly higher in early U.S. trading Friday, as the market pauses a bit to consolidate this weeks solid gains. Heading into the weekend there is still keener risk aversion in the marketplace that will likely limit any downside pressure in the safe-haven metals. August gold futures were last up $4.40 an ounce at $1,744.10. July Comex silver prices were last down $0.169 at $17.72 an ounce. Global stock markets were mixed in overnight trading, with Asian stocks mostly down and European stocks mostly up. U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward solidly higher openings when the New York day session begins, but the overnight gains are only about one-third of Thursdays very sharp losses. Risk aversion has returned to the marketplace late this week, on a surge in Covid-19 cases in some major global economies after they started to reopen businesses, which in turn increased human interaction. It could be that the rise is due to more testing that is prompting more cases to be reported. Traders and investors also got a reminder from the Federal Reserve this week of just how bad is the U.S. and global economic situation at present, and the tough road ahead. President Trump on Thursday criticized the Fed for being too dour in its predictions. U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin on Thursday said the government is mulling a second round of cash payments to American taxpayers who qualify. In overnight news, the U.K. reported its economy contracted by 20.4% in April. Meantime, Euro zone industrial output for April was reported down 17.1% from March and down 28% year-on-yearfor the largest drop ever recorded. The important outside markets early today see the U.S. dollar index slightly weaker. The greenback is in a steep downtrend and the USDX hit a three-month low this week. Meantime, Nymex crude oil prices are slightly up and trading around $36.50 a barrel. The yield on the benchmark U.S. Treasury 10-year note is currently around the 0.7% level. U.S. economic data due for release Friday includes import and export prices and the University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey. Technically, the gold bulls are having a very good week as they have negated a price downtrend on the daily bar chart. Bulls next upside price objective is to produce a close in August futures above solid resistance at $1,761.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,700.00. First resistance is seen at $1,750.00 and then at this weeks high of $1,754.90. First support is seen at the overnight low of $1,728.20 and then at Wednesdays low of $1,714.10. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 7.0 July silver futures bulls have the firm overall near-term technical advantage. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the February high of $19.075 an ounce. The next downside price breakout objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $17.00. First resistance is seen at $18.00 and then at $18.25. Next support is seen at the overnight low of $17.48 and then at last weeks low of $17.375. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 7.0. Comedian Ricky Gervais has skewered a group of celebrities who are receiving backlash for taking part in a PSA on white privilege, that has been described as 'cringe-inducing', three months after Gal Gadot and other celebs were mocked for singing Imagine. 'Terrible lack of diversity in this video,' Gervais, 58, joked on Thursday, re-tweeting the two-minute video that features white celebs such as Sarah Paulson, Aaron Paul, Aly Raisman, Ilana Glazer, Stanley Tucci and many more taking responsibility for perpetuating racism in their lives. Confluential Content, a production company that produces OWN's Black Love and Sony's The Perfect Guy, teamed up with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for the video, officially titled I Take Responsibility, which has drawn backlash from many on social media. Skewered: Ricky Gervais made a joke about the PSA on Thursday, which received backlash online for being 'cringe-inducing' Backlash: Three months after Gal Gadot and other celebs caught backlash for their video singing Imagine, another group of white celebs are facing backlash for another PSA Celebs: The two-minute video features white celebs such as Sarah Paulson, Aaron Paul, Aly Raisman, Ilana Glazer, Stanley Tucci and many more taking responsibility for perpetuating racism in their lives, vowing to take action, which has drawn backlash from many on social media The black and white video begins with Sarah Paulson saying 'I take responsibility,' followed by Aaron Paul and Kesha. Bethany Joy Lenz added that she takes responsibility, 'for every unchecked moment,' while Kristen Bell added she is responsible, 'for every time it was easier to ignore it than to call it out for what it was.' Justin Theroux took responsibility for, 'every not-so-funny joke, every unfair stereotype,' while Debra Messing took responsibility for, 'every injustice no matter how big or small.' Responsible: Bethany Joy Lenz added that she takes responsibility, 'for every unchecked moment,' while Kristen Bell added she is responsible, 'for every time it was easier to ignore it than to call it out for what it was' No joke: Justin Theroux took responsibility for, 'every not-so-funny joke, every unfair stereotype,' while Debra Messing took responsibility for, 'every injustice no matter how big or small.' Mark Duplass added, 'every time I remain silent,' and Bryce Dallas Howard took responsibility for, 'every time I explained away police brutality and every time I turned a blind eye.' Julianne Moore passionately added, 'Black people are being slaughtered in the street, killed in their own homes, these are our brothers and sisters.' Piper Perabo added, 'We are done watching them die. We are no longer bystanders. We will no longer be idle,' while Stanley Tucci added he will, 'no longer allow an unchecked moment' or 'racist jokes, words or stereotypes to be uttered in my presence.' Not silent: Mark Duplass added, 'every time I remain silent,' and Bryce Dallas Howard took responsibility for, 'every time I explained away police brutality and every time I turned a blind eye' Slaughtered: Julianne Moore passionately added, 'Black people are being slaughtered in the street, killed in their own homes, these are our brothers and sisters' Piper and Stanley: Piper Perabo added, 'We are done watching them die. We are no longer bystanders. We will no longer be idle,' while Stanley Tucci added he will, 'no longer allow an unchecked moment' or 'racist jokes, words or stereotypes to be uttered in my presence' Paulson, Duplass and Ilana Glazer added things like going to a store or sleeping in your own home or playing video games, 'should not be a death sentence. The celebs, which included new video segments with Aly Raisman, said they all, 'stand against hate,' while Aaron Paul ended the video by adding that, 'killer cops must be prosecuted.' 'They are murderers. We can turn the tide. It is time to take responsibility. Call out hate. Step up and take action,' Paul concludes. Death sentence: Paulson, Duplass and Ilana Glazer added things like going to a store or sleeping in your own home or playing video games, 'should not be a death sentence' No hate: The celebs, which included new video segments with Aly Raisman, said they all, 'stand against hate,' while Aaron Paul ended the video by adding that, 'killer cops must be prosecuted' Murderers: 'They are murderers. We can turn the tide. It is time to take responsibility. Call out hate. Step up and take action,' Paul concludes The video ends with a graphic asking fans to 'Take action today at ITakeResponsibility.org with the hashtag #ITakeResponsibility. Confluential Content's Adam Platzner told Deadline, 'Its critical that we understand and accept that racism is a white people problema problem that, collectively, we need to look to ourselves to fix. 'I had never seen it quite that way before. Recent events in this country have shown us that we need to take a different approach if were to be impactful. Thats what led me to create this effort,' he added. Responsible: The video ends with a graphic asking fans to 'Take action today at ITakeResponsibility.org with the hashtag #ITakeResponsibility. Platzner added that, 'This PSA is how we can begin a conversation among ourselves to achieve results, while at the same time standing up for our black friends and family,' though many didn't see it that way. The Daily Beast journalist Marlow Stern shared the video on Twitter, adding, 'I regret to inform you the celebs are at it again.' The NAACP also shared the video on Twitter with a quote from NAACP president Derrick Johnson, which read, 'The entire country has reached its limit and we cannot allow one more Black person to die at the hands of government....' Regret: The Daily Beast journalist Marlow Stern shared the video on Twitter, adding, 'I regret to inform you the celebs are at it again' NAACP: The NAACP also shared the video on Twitter with a quote from NAACP president Derrick Johnson, which read, 'The entire country has reached its limit and we cannot allow one more Black person to die at the hands of government....' Still, many fans were not impressed, with Christina Sommers calling the video 'cringe-inducing.' Others like Abby Higgs thought it was performative, asking, 'what are they auditioning for?' West Side Story star Rachel Zegler added, 'spread awareness and open the purse honestly' with Sofiya Ballin adding, '15 seconds in and I'm so uncomfortable.' Author Adrienne Lawrence offered that, 'I encourage each of these actors to hire a team of BIPOC feminists knowledgable on intersectionality to review and advise them on script choices. No more white savior films, racially tokenized roles, and stereotype perpetuating shenanigans. Take responsibility AND take action.' Cringe: Still, many fans were not impressed, with Christina Sommers calling the video 'cringe-inducing' Audition: Others like Abby Higgs thought it was performative, asking, 'what are they auditioning for? Honestly: West Side Story star Rachel Zegler added, 'spread awareness and open the purse honestly' Uncomfortable: Sofiya Ballin adding, '15 seconds in and I'm so uncomfortable' ISTANBUL An Istanbul court sentenced on Thursday a U.S. Consulate employee to more than eight years in prison on charges of aiding an armed terror group, a ruling likely to exacerbate a long-running dispute between Turkey and the United States over the prosecutions of three Turkish citizens employed by the American government. Metin Topuz had worked at the American Consulate in Istanbul for 25 years as a translator and later as an investigative assistant with the Drug Enforcement Administration, when he was detained more than two years ago. His sentence of eight years and nine months was a setback to efforts by American officials to resolve the dispute over the detention of Mr. Topuz, 61, and two other employees of U.S. consulates who have been in jail, under house arrest or under travel restrictions since 2017. U.S. diplomats have said the charges against the employees are baseless, but Turkey has refused to drop them. Critics have characterized the cases as political hostage-taking by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he tried to prevent several court cases against his own officials in the United States from proceeding. Protests against police brutality unfolded Thursday in Portland after city councilors failed to agree on a budget that would have made cuts to the citys police force. Officers broke up one downtown demonstration after some protesters set off fireworks toward the area where police had staged. The confrontation between police and protesters capped what had been a peaceful day of calls for systemic change. The demonstrations sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota have continued for 15 straight nights throughout Portland. Floyd, a black man from Minneapolis, died May 25 after a white officer restrained Floyd by kneeling on Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes. As Floyd pleaded for help, three other officers stood nearby. All four officers have been charged in connection with his death. Calls for sweeping reforms to protect African Americans from police violence have rippled across the globe. Mayor Ted Wheeler said Tuesday that he planned to make $7 million in cuts, including by getting rid of three police units. He pledged to divert that money and more to programs that help people of color. But hundreds of people testified Wednesday and Thursday that city officials should take much more drastic actions to begin to address systemic racism in the Portland Police Bureau. The Portland City Council ultimately failed to agree on the budget plans as they stood Thursday. Commissioner Chloe Eudaly said she could not vote for a plan that fell far short of the sweeping cuts to police that many protesters have called for. Demonstrators gathered in Southeast Portland for a nightly march, and before it began, an organizer urged the hundreds who were there to tell the city to make deeper cuts. Nate Santana, 26, and Cameron Robertson, 27, set up a table near the gathering site to give away water, juice and snacks bought with money donated by their employer. Santana said they were serving black lives so their message could be heard. Divine Niyungeko, 17, and Essie Ashton, 16, said they showed up to the demonstrations because the social movement will define their futures. You see so many people out here from multiple generations that are fighting for the same cause, which is so amazing, Ashton said. My fellow youth also need to be out here because this is what is going to be our future, and we need to fight for an equal future, and one that actually has changed. Niyungeko added: This is the first time in history that weve had so many allies come out and actually fight with us. Middle school teacher Kaylee ONeill, 27, said she attended on behalf of her students. I want my students to know that no matter who they are, no matter where they come from, that their backgrounds matter, she said. By the time the march left Stark Street and 12th Avenue around 7 p.m., the crowd surpassed 1,000 people. The marchers reached Grant Park along Northeast 33rd Avenue more than an hour later. As people walked, they chanted the names of people who had been killed by police, including Quanice Hayes, a Portland 17-year-old killed in 2017. A smaller group converged late Thursday near the Multnomah County Justice Center. The building, which houses the downtown jail, has emerged as an epicenter of the protests in downtown Portland. A few hundred people had gathered there by 9:30 p.m. Some protesters threw bottles over the fence surrounding the Justice Center. Others affixed reflective material to it so floodlights would shine back toward police. Several Portland police officers stood in places visible to the crowd, unlike recent nights. One officer used a loudspeaker to warn people not to damage the fence. The crowd shifted around 10:30 p.m. to Southwest Second Avenue and Jefferson Street, where a fence blocked access to a nearby federal office building and the police bureau parking garage. Some officers observed the crowd from the garage. Police remained mostly distant until some people started to set off loud firecrackers. Just after 11:15 p.m., officers declared the gathering an unlawful assembly and told everyone in downtown, between the waterfront and Broadway, to leave. Most people remained, and some continued to set off fireworks. The fireworks sometimes exploded over the fence, toward police. Officers started to constantly warn people to leave or be subject to crowd control munitions. Police started to move in around 11:30 p.m. Police wearing riot gear advanced quickly to clear the area and set off stun grenades to break up the crowd. Officers on foot were followed by more officers in riding in vehicles. As police advanced, the crowd split into small groups. Officers followed some of the groups and pressed them to walk or run west toward Broadway. When one group of demonstrators made it past Broadway, both police and protesters paused. After a minutes-long standoff, police boarded a transport van and left the group alone. Around 12:30 a.m. a small group of protesters went to Southwest Third Avenue and Southwest Main Street, police said Friday morning. The police declared the group a civil disturbance and ordered them to leave. Police arrested some protesters when they refused to do so. Oregonian/OregonLive journalists saw police detain two people. Police have not yet said how many people were arrested. Dave Killen and Everton Bailey Jr. of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report, which will be updated throughout the night. -- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 -- Ty Vinson, tvinson@oregonian.com, @ty_vinson_ Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Teacher Henrikus Suroto vowed his students wouldn't be cheated out of their education when the global pandemic forced schools to be closed in Indonesia's remote Kenalan village. So he braves windy mountain roads and sheer cliff drops to visit the poor farming community in Central Java, where online classes are out of the question due to a lack of Internet service -- a luxury few parents could afford anyway. Not only is Suroto risking death or serious illness from COVID-19, he is violating government orders not to hold in-person classes to prevent the spread of the disease. "No one's forcing me to do this -- it's something inside telling me to do it," the 57-year-old told AFP. "I feel a bit guilty about breaking [orders] to hold online classes, but the reality is that it isn't easy here. "The only solution is to be close to students with door-to-door teaching," he added. Suroto is one of a small number of teachers taking on dangerous terrain, bad weather and the chance of contracting the novel coronavirus, to reach home-bound students across the world's fourth-most populous nation, home to a quarter of billion people. Nearly 70 million children and young people have been affected by school shutdowns which started in mid-March. While the pandemic has sparked a boom in online learning, especially in wealthy nations, about one-third of Indonesia's nearly 270 million people don't have access to the Internet or even, in some cases, electricity. This photo taken on May 20, 2020 shows elementary school teachers riding their motorbicycles to their students' homes to teach in Magelang, Central Java, after schools were closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Photo: AFP 'Feet on the street' Suroto and other Indonesian teachers say they wear face masks, but the threats of becoming sick or infecting students are ever-present. Avan Fathurrahman, an elementary school instructor on East Java's Madura island, visits up to 11 students a day, an experience he wrote about in now-viral Facebook posts. He admits to being scared of getting ill. "But my fears were overcome by the call to teach," Fathurrahman said. "I would not be comfortable staying at home knowing that my students couldn't study properly." Aside from government calls for online learning, educational programms are being aired on a state-owned TV channel. Education minister Nadiem Makarim -- a co-founder of local ride-hailing app GoJek -- has acknowledged the challenges in remote learning, however, and even expressed shock at how many rural Indonesians lacked Internet service. "We have to rely on the feet on the street -- the actual teachers that mobilise themselves to teach door to door," he said last month. The pandemic has underscored huge challenges in updating creaky infrastructure across the nearly 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) Southeast Asian archipelago -- a key priority for president Joko Widodo. "Infrastructure-wise, Indonesia is not fully ready for online learning," said Christina Kristiyani, an education expert at Sanata Dharma University. "Even if it was possible to do real-time video conferencing, it costs too much in rural areas," she added. This photo taken on May 20, 2020 shows elementary school students (R) greeting their teacher Henrikus Suroto (L) as he arrives to teach them at their homes in Magelang, Central Java, after schools were closed due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Photo: AFP 'Can't help them' Meanwhile, many rural parents struggle to fill the gap as they juggle often low-paid jobs and child care. "I can only remind [the kids] to study because I can't help them like a teacher can," said Orlin Giri, a mother from East Nusa Tenggara, one of Indonesia's poorest regions. "And we don't have enough money for an Internet plan," she added. That is a common story nationwide, said Fina, a teacher on Borneo island. "Many parents only graduated from elementary school or junior high school -- or they didn't even go to school," she said. "Just being able to send their children to school is an extraordinary achievement." Fina, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, opted not to visit students as she has a baby and lives in an area with a high infection rate. "But this pandemic has taught us that, while technology is good and very helpful, it so far cannot replace the presence of teachers," she said. This photo taken on May 20, 2020 shows elementary school teacher Henrikus Suroto (C) conducting a class at his students' home in Magelang, Central Java, after schools were closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Photo: AFP Call to teach As Indonesian authorities consider reopening schools, critics warn it is too early as the nation's virus curve has yet to flatten. Officially, the country has more than 35,000 cases of COVID-19 and 2,000 deaths. But with one of the world's lowest testing rates, Indonesia's real toll is widely believed to be much higher. And the country's paediatric association has warned that malnutrition and mosquito-borne dengue fever may be putting children at a greater risk of dying from the respiratory illness. Nearly 18 percent of Indonesian children under five years old suffer from nutritional deficiencies, while kids aged five to 14 make up nearly 42 percent of dengue fever patients, according to health ministry data. The risk was highlighted in April when an 11-year-old girl with dengue fever, which itself can be fatal, died after contracting COVID-19. Health authorities said the pre-existing illness could have exacerbated the effect of the virus on her weakened immune system. Still, getting back to school can't come fast enough for some students. "I'm bored at home. I miss the school and all my friends and teachers," said Gratia Ratna Febriani, a pupil in Kenalan village. That feeling struck a chord with junior high school teacher Yunedi Sepdiana Sine who says she will keep answering the call to visit some 50 children a week. "Students really miss their teachers so I feel needed," she said. "And that's what makes me content." It infuriates me that our health is worth less to the federal government than Trumps wall, said Maria Singleton, 57, an Ajo resident who has documented on social media how work on the project has disrupted life in the town. Ms. Singleton said she had grown especially concerned about border wall workers moving around Ajo without masks, including in the towns only supermarket. The detection of coronavirus among the workers on the border wall comes at a time when President Trump has attempted to cast blame on Mexico for the spread of the virus in the borderlands. In a news conference this month in which he championed construction of a border wall, Mr. Trump claimed that Tijuana is the most heavily infected place anywhere in the world, an assertion unsupported by factual evidence San Diego, a smaller city on the other side of the border, has many more confirmed cases. Several residents of Ajo, including Ms. Singleton, said they had observed a sharp decline in truck traffic on Thursday and Friday, raising questions about whether work on the project had been scaled back. Raini Brunson, a spokeswoman for the Army Corps of Engineers, which is overseeing the border wall construction, said that construction progress had not been halted along the border as a result of any concerns over the coronavirus. Ms. Brunson said she could not confirm or deny the Pima County report of coronavirus cases among workers, but she said plans on the border now include quarantining employees who are sick or experience any symptoms related to Covid-19. Hyderabad: Defying the Telangana High Court, proxies of Hyderabad mayor Bonthu Rammohan have grabbed two acres of prime land worth at least Rs 100 crore near Narsingi, by forcibly evicting the owners. A first information report (FIR) at the Narsingi police station (457/2020) on June 9 by the plot owners of Westend Meadows layout in Narsingi said four people and their henchmen encroached their plots, erected a container, damaged the CCTVs and threatened the guards, besides snatching their mobiles. They then put up boards claiming ownership of the land. Inquiries by Deccan Chronicle revealed that the accused entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), (document no. 12383 of 2019 registered in sub-registrar office, Golconda,) with B. Sridevi, wife of Mayor Bonthu Rammohan, to clear litigation over the land besides liaison and invest for development of the project. The henchmen took the land just four days after High Court Justice A. Abhishek Reddy stayed the proceedings of K. Chandrakala, revenue divisional officer, Rajendranagar, restoring ownership to Bellam@Begari, family members with whom Sridevi entered into a sale cum general power of attorney (GPA), with possession. This modus operandi of creating disputes over NRI-owned or senior citizens' plots and forcibly taking unlawful possession was a common feature of Hyderabad and outskirts till two decades ago. The complainants appealed to K.T. Rama Rao, IT and municipal admin minister, to help regain their plots in the interest of protecting Hyderabads image as a realty and software investments destination. Since 2014 KTR has made efforts to build Brand Hyderabad, said a septuagenarian, whose plot was snatched. We are pinning our hopes on him. The mafia's well-executed plan began on June 22, 2018, with Dr S. Harish, joint collector, Ranga Reddy district, reopening a dispute over ownership of land in survey number 106 and 109 of Narsingi village, that was previously settled through orders passed by the-then RDO, Chevella, in file no G/622/2002 on May 6, 2002. In an ex-parte order, the joint collector had restored the ownership rights to Bellam@Begari family. Sridevi entered into sale cum general power of attorney with possession agreement through document no 12357 dated October 24, 2019, registered with the Gandipet sub-registrar office. The Rajendranagar RDO restored entries of Bellam@Begari family in the land records on July 18, 2019. Subsequently, the family and Sridevi entered into a tripartite agreement with some of the accused in the FIR. Several owners who regularised their plots under the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS), filed a Writ Petition 7696 of 2020 in the High Court challenging the RDO's 2019 orders. The HMDA regularised our plots under LRS, after satisfying itself about our ownership, another owner lamented. The High Court stayed the RDO proceedings. Yet the accused occupied our plots based on the RDO proceedings. When a powerful politician indulges in land grabbing, it creates a fear psychosis in the minds of the software industry, both in India and the US, about the safety of their real estate, said a California-based NRI plot owner. When contacted, mayor Rammohan said one Ravindranath Reddy of Radha Realty developed an unauthorised layout in Narsingi some time ago. He bought land from pattedars when ownership is with the protected tenants under the 38E certificate. He got their ownership scrapped illegally by then RDO and when the aggrieved parties approached the Ranga Reddy joint collector he restored their ownership after thorough enquiry, Rammohan said. Asked about his wife entering into agreements with the Bellam@Begari family and the tripartite agreement with the accused in the FIR, the Mayor said it is a minor issue. He alleged that Ravindranath Reddy was trying to expose people who are coming in his way. When it was pointed out that Sridevi personally executed the tripartite agreement in the Golconda sub-registrar office, he did not deny it. With regard to not honouring the High Court interim stay, the Mayor said, there is no one in possession right now because of the stay order. Let the court decide who is the owner, Till then neither the earlier plot owners nor the 38E certificate holders (with whom his wife entered into GPA) will be in possession. Even if omicron peak nears, Long Beach cases and hospitalizations will still be up for weeks, official says The coronavirus lockdown has provided people with a regular sleep schedule filled with more time in bed than normal. Seventy-five per cent of those surveyed reported sleeping up to 15 minutes longer than before the lockdown, on average. However, while the quantity of sleep has increased, the quality has dropped significantly, scientists say. This is thought to be because a 'self-perceived burden' has been weighing on the minds of people due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus lockdown has provided people with a regular sleep schedule filled with more hours in bed than normal. Seventy-five per cent of those surveyed reported sleeping up to 15 minutes longer than before the lockdown, on average (stock) Researchers from the University of Basel surveyed 435 individuals between 23 March and 26 April 2020 on how the lockdown has influenced their sleep cycles. The study, published in the journal Current Biology, states that the shift to a remote working lifestyle and increased time at home has led to more sleep. A primary reason for this, researchers say, is a lack of 'social jetlag'. Social jetlag is a term used to describe the tiredness and fatigue brought on by burning the candle at both ends and sacrificing sleep in order to spend time with friends and family. Under normal conditions, such as before the pandemic, people normally sleep far more on weekends than they do during the working week. However, lockdown has eradicated social jetlag and therefore, sleeping cycles have become more consistent over the course of seven days. While the quantity of sleep has increased, the quality of sleep has dropped significantly, scientists say. This is thought to be because a 'self-perceived burden' has been weighing on the minds of people due to the COVID-19 pandemic (stock) Teens who get more sleep are more resilient and better at dealing with stress Teenagers who get more sleep during the night are better at coping with change and stress, new research has found. Adolescents were quizzed on their sleep habits and how long it takes them to drop off in the evening while also answering questions on their resilience. The study revealed teens who have the best sleep patterns are also those who are most resilient. Over the course of 24 months, data was collected from 840 students via questionnaires. Chinese researchers conducting the study found higher resilience scores among teenagers who repeatedly had a good night's sleep. Being able to fall asleep quickly and not spend long periods of time tossing and turning in bed was also a good sign for high levels of resilience. Advertisement 'Usually, we would expect a decrease in social jetlag to be associated with reports of improved sleep quality,' says cognitive neuroscientist Christine Blume, who led the research. 'However, in our sample, overall sleep quality decreased. 'We think that the self-perceived burden, which substantially increased during this unprecedented COVID-19 lockdown, may have outweighed the otherwise beneficial effects of a reduced social jetlag.' In a separate study at the University of Colorado,researchers asked similar questions to 139 university students. They found that after their classes were moved online and they were not required to attend in-person, nightly sleep duration increased by about 30 minutes during weekdays and 24 minutes on weekends. The timing of sleep also became more regular from day to day, and there was less social jetlag. Professor Kenneth Wright, who led this study, says insufficient sleep, erratic sleep patterns and social jetlag are common in modern society. 'Poor sleep health behaviours contribute to and worsen major health and safety problems, including heart disease and stroke, weight gain and obesity, diabetes, mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, substance abuse, and impaired immune health, as well as morning sleepiness, cognitive impairment, reduced work productivity, poor school performance and risk of accident/drowsy driving crashes.' He adds: 'Not surprisingly, this unprecedented situation of the pandemic and the lockdown increased self-perceived burden and had adverse effects on sleep quality. 'On a positive note, though, the relaxation of social schedules also led to an improved alignment between external or social factors determining our sleep-wake timing and our body's internal biological signals. 'This was also associated with overall, more sleep.' EDMONTONThe police chief in Albertas capital says theres racism in Canadian policing, but he worries that any reduction in budgets could lead to a loss of officers and programs brought in to address diversity. Protests related to the death of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis who died under the knee of a white police officer, have called for the defunding of police departments across North America. Edmonton police Chief Dale McFee said Floyds death was fundamentally wrong and that the officer needs to be held accountable. That, by any stretch of the imagination, cant be defended, cant be justified, and we all need to say that doesnt happen and cant happen, he said on a Zoom call Thursday. While McFee said he believes policing in Canada is ahead of the United States, its not perfect. Systemic racism exists ... in every community. I think we need to be open and honest about that, he said. Its in health outcomes. Its in child-apprehension outcomes. But it doesnt mean its rampant. RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki said in a media interview this week that she was struggling with the definition of systemic racism within the national police force. Alberta deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki said Monday that Canada is different than the United States and he didnt think racism is systemic in Canadian policing. He did say that racism is prevalent in all aspects of society, including in police services. McFee said he didnt want to comment on the RCMP, but noted he has known Zablocki for a long time and he has a proven track record in policing. Groups such as Black Lives Matter are calling for policing money to be redirected to services such as affordable housing, mental-health programs and community-led organizations. McFee said he knows people are frustrated and angry, but he suggested its time to take the emotion out of the situation. As a police chief, I am fully committed to change, he said, but added it needs to be the right change. If you defund police, based on collective agreements, you ... lose all your new hires and you lose all of those programs, he said. Then you become an enforcement agency again, which makes zero sense. McFee said Edmonton Police Service programs dealing with community safety and well-being would be cut, because funding is necessary for front-line policing. You have to have a number of people to go to the calls, and you have to solve a homicide, and you have to solve a terrorism incident, and you have to solve an organized crime incident and you have to solve all violence and major property crimes, he said. So you have a majority of your police service that is still going to have to go to calls. McFee said the second cut would be officers who were hired in the past three to five years because their contracts have a last-in, first-out provision. Weve hired diversity in an extremely aggressive manner, he said, listing people from various backgrounds as well as officers with degrees in social work and communications. Statistics provided by the Edmonton Police Service from 2015 to 2019 show between 42 and 57 per cent of new hires annually came from under-represented backgrounds, including women and visible minorities. Read more about: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - LaToya Ratlieff remembers the blood spilling from her head, covering her clothes, the car ride from a stranger to the hospital and the 20 stitches sewn into her head after being shot in the face by a police officer with a rubber bullet during a Fort Lauderdale protest. The 34-year-old was getting ready to leave on May 31 after several hours at a peaceful protest sparked by the death of George Floyd. As she made her way through the parking garage, something shifted in the air. Further away, she could hear a group of angry protesters becoming more agitated. In the middle of the garage, a small group of peaceful protesters knelt down and she joined them. Moments later, without warning, she said Fort Lauderdale police officers released tear gas and she ran to a corner, disoriented and overcome by smoke. She remembers the pressure of the rubber bullet hitting her face and strangers rushing to help. She did not know the people who drove her to the hospital and removed their shirt to apply pressure to suppress the blood gushing from her head. Ratlieff sat down with The Associated Press for an interview Friday, nearly two weeks after a photo of her injured face went viral. Twenty-four hours after the incident, the haunting selfie documented her purple right eye swollen shut, her left eye puffy and half open and a thick bandage wrapped around her forehead. She is seeing specialists to assess whether theres long-term damage from the cranial fracture. On Friday, Ratlieffs right eye was open but filled with blood. Small bruises remain. Shes not angry, but said she wants answers from the police department. Where is the accountability to say that this is going to be the last incident, she said. For those officers that have that power and abuse that power, what are they gong to do to ensure that power is taken away. Fort Lauderdale Police did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Friday. Ratlieff said someone from the departments internal affairs contacted her last week, but it was literally too painful to speak. Her jaw was so swollen she drank smoothies twice a day for nearly a week. She still has severe headaches and struggles to see out of her right eye. She doesnt want money and hasnt filed a lawsuit, stressing its about reform and accountability. Graphic witness videos show Ratlieff wearing a bright pink backpack, bending over and coughing from the tear gas. As she walks away from police, they fire a rubber bullet and a protester grabs her hand and tries to hurry her. A second shot cracks loudly through the air and Ratlieff crumples to the concrete with a bone-chilling cry. Shes hurt, shes hurt. Shes bleeding, a witness screams frantically, as several gather around her and blood is seen pouring onto the ground. A Fort Lauderdale police officer was suspended for an incident during that same protest after video showed he pushed a kneeling woman to the ground. Angry protesters responded by throwing bottles. The officers colleagues quickly pushed him away from the woman and down the street. Its unclear the timeline of events and whether that happened before or after Ratlieff was shot, but witnesses said that the protest had been peaceful for several hours and turned violent after the officer pushed the kneeling woman. The department has not released the name of the officer who shot Ratlieff. Her attorney, Michael Davis, has also requested body-cam video and for an opportunity for the injured woman to have a conversation about their policies. LaToya was a peaceful demonstrator. She was in a place she was allowed to be and she was engaged in activity that was protected by the Constitution of the U.S., said Davis. Were just hoping to find answers as to why her rights were violated. Baptisms, miracles taking place in revival at site where George Floyd died, Christian groups say Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A number of Christian groups that have been holding revival services at the site where George Floyd died in Minneapolis say they're seeing many people turn to God in baptisms and miracles are happening. So tonight Gods moving. Theres a lot of people that gave their lives to the Lord again. We were baptizing people right here at the memorial. Gods on the move. Its wonderful, said Joshua Lindquist, a young Christian leader with Global Revival Harvest, who has been broadcasting the Unity Revival on his Facebook page since it started on Wednesday. I have a friend of mine, his name is J.T. Thomas, he said, revival is the new form of protest. Meaning, when injustice happens and the pain is there, the best way to heal hearts and to bring whats right and to bring whats truly real, is to petition Heaven. When revival breaks out its the kingdom of Heaven breaking in, he said in a broadcast from Thursday night. Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was shown on eyewitness video dying on May 25 with the knee of white officer Derek Chauvin pressed into his neck as two other officers with the Minneapolis Police Department held onto his back and legs while he was handcuffed and on the ground. Four officers were at the scene and none took action to physically pull Chauvin off Floyd, who said he was struggling to breathe. Officer Thomas Lane, who was holding on to Floyd's legs, twice asked whether they should roll Floyd on his side, saying he was concerned about "excited delirium." The final time Lane asked that question Floyd was already unresponsive. Chauvin, however, continued to press his knee into Floyd's neck even after he was dead. All the officers involved in the tragedy have been fired. Chauvin, 43, has been charged with second-degree murder while former Minneapolis officers J. Alexander Kueng, 26, Lane, 37, and Tou Thao, 34, have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for their role in Floyds death. Massive protests nationwide and globally have been calling for justice and police reform. Pointing to the Parable of the Unjust Judge told by Jesus in Luke 18, Lindquist said the Church can help bring justice to the crisis beyond what the world can offer. In the parable, a poor widow seeking justice is initially rejected by a judge, but because she is persistent with her demand, he eventually responds. She was persistent and [it] says in Luke 18, shall not God avenge his elect that cry out day and night and she cried out for justice. The earthly courts can only do so much, politicians can only do so much, we need to petition the politicians ultimately petitioning the throne of God, revival is the new form of protest, Lindquist said. I just believe that the church can step in and see a move of God that can bring healing to hearts that can bring justice down from Heaven. In a broadcast from Wednesday night, Lindquist explained that they were invited into the community by a local church and noted the presence of Pastor Charles Karuku of International Outreach Church, a growing multi-racial congregation in Burnsville, Minnesota, who he said was asked by Floyds family to spread the message of healing and forgiveness in the community. This pastor who is preaching right now, his name is Charles Karuku and George Floyds family asked him to come here and share his message of forgiveness and healing through Jesus every day he can. They endorsed him. They said, please, this is the message the community needs, he said. He also confirmed that along with a number of baptisms he had witnessed, he also saw miracles. I dont know if you believe in miracles but I do, and there was a deaf ear that popped open. God did a miracle. Gods using this tragic situation for his glory. God is shifting the narrative. Out of his (Floyds) life, many will come to the Lord. Many will come to Jesus, he said. Other ministries that have been at the site include Youth With a Mission and Circuit Riders, a California-based missions movement, Fox News reported. Christophe Ulysse, 37, a YWAM leader based in Kona, Hawaii, told the news network they were witnessing real change in the community. "We're going from pain and hatred to healing and hope," Ulysse, who's a black Canadian Christian leader, said. We need to show that we can affect positive change," Ulysse continued. "You have a voice and you can go to the nations. You can carry this on. Were empowering them to be carriers of hope." He explained that while the tragedy has affected his diverse team differently, he has been inspired by the hope of the Gospel. "I came here and I was broken. It affects team members differently, but those of us of color, as we're here, we're watching the change happen through the Gospel. My heart is so filled with hope. Those in the neighborhood are saying this is unprecedented unity. They're feeling an outpouring of love and hope from this nation, he said. "For us, there is this deep conviction that we have tried everything to deal with this issue. We've tried politics, we've tried economics, and we've tried social reform," Ulysse, who recalled the Rodney King riots as a kid, noted. "It's the same thing over and over. We have to go back to what actually works." Pierce Brosnan has revealed that he once sold a portrait he painted of Bob Dylan for a whopping 1.1 million. The former James Bond actor, 67, has spoken about his passion for art in a new interview and shared plans to have an exhibition in Santa Monica, California, in October. Pierce revealed that his wife, Keely, 56, had a documentary aired at Cannes Film Festival, and when organisers discovered Pierce was a painter, they asked him to auction an artwork for amFAR - a charity supporting AIDS research. Charitable donation: Pierce Brosnan has revealed that he once sold a portrait he painted of Bob Dylan for a whopping 1.1 million (pictured in 2019) In an interview with Parade magazine, Pierce said: 'I'd done a painting of Bob Dylan, who is a great hero of mine. 'It sold for $1.4million (1.1million) and Keely and I just danced into the night. If it could be like that all the time, I definitely would give up the acting game.' Pierce took up painting in 1987 when his late wife, Cassandra Harris, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Their daughter Charlotte died of the same disease in 2013 at the age of 41. Artistic: The former James Bond actor, 67, has spoken about his passion for art in a new interview and shared plans to have an exhibition in Santa Monica, California, in October (Brosnan is pictured with the portrait in 2018) When accepting the 1.1million bid at the AIDS auction in 2018, he told the audience: 'I started painting in 1987 when my late wife had cancer. 'I had been painting out of pain and now the pain sometimes comes through in colour.' The star said he wouldn't give up his day job as an actor but was 'proud and humbled' to be surrounded by 'such great artists' at the evening event. He also praised his second wife Keely for 'directing' his life for 25 years. The couple have two children - Dylan, 23, and Paris, 19. Pierce added that his art has become more meaningful and significant over the last few years. Along with Dylan and Paris, Pierce is also father to son Sean, 36, by Cassandra. He is also the adoptive father of Charlotte and Christopher Brosnan, Cassandra's two children by her first husband Dermot Harris, whose brother was Richard Harris of Harry Potter fame. He has often been vocal about how Keely saved him from depression following his personal tragedies, describing her as a strength 'I wouldn't be able to live without.' Pierce is now a proud grandfather of three - Charlotte's children Isabella, 21, and Lucas, 14, as well as Sean's daughter Marley May, four. Director Dealing BISHOPSGATE, LONDON / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2020 / Further to the Company's previous announcement of 8 June 2020 regarding the further subscription element of its capital raising, and following admission to trading today of the new ordinary shares in the capital of SolGold, the Company has received notification of the shares acquired by Managing Director and CEO Mr Nicholas Mather in the capital raising. The notifications below, made in accordance with the requirements of the EU Market Abuse Regulation, provide further detail on the Director Dealing. NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTIONS BY PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. 1. Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a) Name: Nicholas Mather 2. Reason for the notification a) Position/status: Director b) Initial notification/Amendment: Initial notification 3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name: SolGold plc b) LEI: 213800HGFADQBMIEVI76 4. Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument: Identification code: Ordinary shares of 1p GB00B0WD0R35 b) Nature of the transaction: Participation in Capital Raising c) Price(s) and volume(s): Acquisition Price(s) Volume(s) 21.5p 1,116,279 d) Aggregated information: Aggregated volume: Price: 1,116,279 21.5p (GBP240,000 in total) e) Date of the transaction: 12 June 2020 f) Place of the transaction: Outside of an Exchange By order of the Board Karl Schlobohm Company Secretary CONTACTS Nicholas Mather SolGold Plc (Chief Executive Officer) nmather@solgold.com.au Tel: +61 (0) 7 3303 0665 +61 (0) 417 880 448 Karl Schlobohm SolGold Plc (Company Secretary) kschlobohm@solgold.com.au Tel: +61 (0) 7 3303 0661 Ingo Hofmaier SolGold Plc (GM - Project & Corporate Finance) ihofmaier@solgold.com.au Tel: +44 (0) 20 3823 2131 Gordon Poole / Nick Hennis Camarco (Financial PR / IR) solgold@camarco.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 20 3757 4997 Andrew Chubb Hannam & Partners (Joint Broker and Financial Advisor) solgold@hannam.partners Tel: +44 (0) 20 7907 8500 Ross Allister / David McKeown Peel Hunt (Joint Broker and Financial Advisor) solgold@peelhunt.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7418 8900 James Kofman / Darren Wallace Cormark Securities Inc. (Financial Advisor) dwallace@cormark.com Tel: +1 416 943 6411 Follow us on twitter @SolGold_plc ABOUT SOLGOLD SolGold is a leading resources company focussed on the discovery, definition and development of world-class copper and gold deposits. In 2018, SolGold's management team was recognised by the "Mines and Money" Forum as an example of excellence in the industry and continues to strive to deliver objectives efficiently and in the interests of shareholders. SolGold is the largest and most active concession holder in Ecuador and is aggressively exploring the length and breadth of this highly prospective and gold-rich section of the Andean Copper Belt. The Company operates with transparency and in accordance with international best practices. SolGold is committed to delivering value to its shareholders, while simultaneously providing economic and social benefits to impacted communities, fostering a healthy and safe workplace and minimizing the environmental impact. Dedicated stakeholders SolGold employs a staff of 700 employees of whom 98% are Ecuadorean. This is expected to grow as the operations expand at Alpala, and in Ecuador generally. SolGold focusses its operations to be safe, reliable and environmentally responsible and maintains close relationships with its local communities. SolGold has engaged an increasingly skilled, refined and experienced team of geoscientists using state of the art geophysical and geochemical modelling applied to an extensive database to enable the delivery of ore grade intersections from nearly every drill hole at Alpala. SolGold has 86 geologists, of whom 30% are female, on the ground in Ecuador exploring for economic copper and gold deposits. About Cascabel and Alpala The Alpala deposit is the main target in the Cascabel concession, located on the northern section of the heavily endowed Andean Copper Belt, the entirety of which is renowned as the base for nearly half of the world's copper production. The project area hosts mineralisation of Eocene age, the same age as numerous Tier 1 deposits along the Andean Copper Belt in Chile and Peru to the south. The project base is located at Rocafuerte within the Cascabel concession in northern Ecuador, an approximately three-hour drive on sealed highway north of the capital Quito, close to water, power supply and Pacific ports. Having fulfilled its earn-in requirements, SolGold is a registered shareholder with an unencumbered legal and beneficial 85% interest in ENSA (Exploraciones Novomining S.A.) which holds 100% of the Cascabel concession covering approximately 50km2. The junior equity owner in ENSA is required to repay 15% of costs since SolGold's earn in was completed, from 90% of its share of distribution of earnings or dividends from ENSA or the Cascabel concession. It is also required to contribute to development or be diluted, and if its interest falls below 10%, it shall reduce to a 0.5% NSR royalty which SolGold may acquire for US$3.5m. Advancing Alpala towards development The resource at the Alpala deposit boasts a high-grade core which is targeted to facilitate early cashflows and an accelerated payback of initial capital. SolGold is currently assessing financing options available to the Company for the development of the Alpala mine following completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study. SolGold's Regional Exploration Drive SolGold is using its successful and cost-efficient blueprint established at Alpala, and Cascabel generally, to explore for additional world class copper and gold projects across Ecuador. SolGold is the largest and most active concessionaire in Ecuador. The Company wholly owns four other subsidiaries active throughout the country that are now focussed on thirteen high priority gold and copper resource targets, several of which the Company believes have the potential, subject to resource definition and feasibility, to be developed in close succession or even on a more accelerated basis compared to Alpala. SolGold is listed on the London Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange (LSE/TSX: SOLG). The Company has on issue a total of 2,072,213,495 fully-paid ordinary shares and 176,662,000 share options. Quality Assurance / Quality Control on Sample Collection, Security and Assaying SolGold operates according to its rigorous Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) protocol, which is consistent with industry best practices. Primary sample collection involves secure transport from SolGold's concessions in Ecuador, to the ALS certified sample preparation facility in Quito, Ecuador. Samples are then air freighted from Quito to the ALS certified laboratory in Lima, Peru where the assaying of drill core, channel samples, rock chips and soil samples is undertaken. SolGold utilises ALS certified laboratories in Canada and Australia for the analysis of metallurgical samples. Samples are prepared and analysed using 100g 4-Acid digest ICP with MS finish for 48 elements on a 0.25g aliquot (ME-MS61). Laboratory performance is routinely monitored using umpire assays, check batches and inter-laboratory comparisons between ALS certified laboratory in Lima and the ACME certified laboratory in Cuenca, Ecuador. In order to monitor the ongoing quality of its analytical database, SolGold's QA/QC protocol encompasses standard sampling methodologies, including the insertion of certified powder blanks, coarse chip blanks, standards, pulp duplicates and field duplicates. The blanks and standards are Certified Reference Materials supplied by Ore Research and Exploration, Australia. SolGold's QA/QC protocol also monitors the ongoing quality of its analytical database. The Company's protocol involves Independent data validation of the digital analytical database including search for sample overlaps, duplicate or absent samples as well as anomalous assay and survey results. These are routinely performed ahead of Mineral Resource Estimates and Feasibility Studies. No material QA/QC issues have been identified with respect to sample collection, security and assaying. Reviews of the sample preparation, chain of custody, data security procedures and assaying methods used by SolGold confirm that they are consistent with industry best practices and all results stated in this announcement have passed SolGold's QA/QC protocol. See www.solgold.com.au for more information. Follow us on twitter @SolGold_plc CAUTIONARY NOTICE News releases, presentations and public commentary made by SolGold plc (the "Company") and its Officers may contain certain statements and expressions of belief, expectation or opinion which are forward looking statements, and which relate, inter alia, to interpretations of exploration results to date and the Company's proposed strategy, plans and objectives or to the expectations or intentions of the Company's Directors. Such forward-looking and interpretative statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the control of the Company that could cause the actual performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from such interpretations and forward-looking statements. Accordingly, the reader should not rely on any interpretations or forward-looking statements; and save as required by the exchange rules of the TSX and LSE or by applicable laws, the Company does not accept any obligation to disseminate any updates or revisions to such interpretations or forward-looking statements. The Company may reinterpret results to date as the status of its assets and projects changes with time expenditure, metals prices and other affecting circumstances. This release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the Company's plans for developing its properties. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: transaction risks; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future prices of mineral prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages and other risks of the mining industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company and its officers do not endorse, or reject or otherwise comment on the conclusions, interpretations or views expressed in press articles or third-party analysis, and where possible aims to circulate all available material on its website. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: SolGold PLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/593702/SolGold-PLC-Announces-DirectorPDMR-Shareholding WASHINGTON The countrys top military official apologized Thursday for taking part in President Donald Trumps walk across Lafayette Square for a photo op after the authorities used tear gas and rubber bullets to clear the area of peaceful protesters. I should not have been there, Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a prerecorded video commencement address to National Defense University. My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics. Milleys first public remarks since Trumps photo op, in which federal authorities attacked peaceful protesters so that the president could hold up a Bible in front of St. Johns Church, are certain to anger the White House. Trump has spent the days since the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis taking increasingly tougher stances against the growing movement for change across the country. The back-and-forth between Trump and the Pentagon in recent days is evidence of the deepest civil-military divide since the Vietnam War except this time, military leaders, after halting steps in the beginning, are positioning themselves firmly with those calling for change. Associates of Milleys said he considered resigning, but he decided not to. On Wednesday, the president picked another fight with the military, slapping down the Pentagon for considering renaming Army bases named after Confederate officers who fought against the Union in the Civil War. The Marine Corps has banned display of the Confederate battle flag, and leaders of both the Army and the Navy have in recent days expressed a willingness to move forward with renaming installations. At the same time, the Senate Armed Services Committee, with bipartisan support, voted to require the Pentagon to strip military bases of Confederate names, setting up a possible election-year clash with the president. Trumps walk across Lafayette Square, current and former military leaders said, has started a critical moment of reckoning in the military. Milley addressed the issue head-on. As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from, Milley said. He said he had been angry about the senseless and brutal killing of George Floyd and repeated his opposition to the presidents suggestions that federal troops be deployed nationwide to quell protests. Milleys friends said that for the past 10 days, he had agonized about appearing in the combat fatigues he wears every day to work behind Trump during the walk, an act that critics said gave a stamp of military approval to the hard-line tactics used to clear the protesters. During his speech Thursday, Milley, after expressing his disgust over the killing of Floyd, spoke at length about the issue of race, both in the military and in civilian society. The protests that have ensued not only speak to his killing, but also to the centuries of injustice toward African Americans, he said. What we are seeing is the long shadow of our original sin in Jamestown 401 years ago, liberated by the Civil War, but not equal in the eyes of the law until 100 years later in 1965. He called on the military to address issues of systemic racism in the armed forces, where 43% of the enlisted troops are people of color but only a tiny handful are in the ranks of senior leadership. The Navy and Marine Corps have no African Americans serving above the two-star level, and the Army has just one African American four-star, he said, referring to officers who are generals and admirals. We all need to do better. After protesters were cleared from areas opposite the White House on June 1, Milley believed he was accompanying Trump and his entourage to review National Guard troops and other law enforcement personnel outside Lafayette Square, Defense Department officials said. In the days after the photo op, Milley told Trump that he was angered by what had happened. The two had already exchanged sharp words last Monday, when Milley engaged the president in a heated discussion in the Oval Office over whether to send active-duty troops into the streets, according to people in the room. Milley argued that the scattered fires and looting in some places were dwarfed by the peaceful protests and should be handled by the states, which command local law enforcement. Trump acquiesced, but he has continued to hold out the threat of sending active-duty troops. Last week, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper called a news conference to announce that he, too, opposed invoking the 1807 Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty troops across the country to quell protests, a line that a number of U.S. military officials said they would not cross. Although Espers comments at the Pentagon made clear that a rise in violence in cities nationwide could prompt a change in his stance, his statement was clear. Saying that the Insurrection Act should be invoked only in the most urgent and dire of situations, he added that we are not in one of those situations now. The president, aides say, has been furious with both Esper and Milley since then. Defense Department officials say they are unsure how long either will last in their respective jobs, but they also note that Trump can ill afford to go into open warfare with the Pentagon so close to an election. And the uproar comes days before the president is to give the commencement address at West Point. Since last Monday, Milley has spoken with lawmakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, both Democrats. He has also spoken with many of his predecessors, as well as with Republican congressional leaders, according to people with knowledge of the conversations. In most of the exchanges, Milley said he deeply regretted the park episode. The Lafayette Square events brought extraordinary public criticism from a number of high-profile former military officials, including Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and Jim Mattis, Trumps first defense secretary before he resigned in December 2018. In fact, the episode prompted Mattis, who had avoided publicly criticizing Trump, to write a statement denouncing his former boss. When I joined the military, some 50 years ago, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution, wrote Mattis, a retired Marine four-star general. Never did I dream that troops taking that same oath would be ordered under any circumstance to violate the constitutional rights of their fellow citizens much less to provide a bizarre photo op for the elected commander in chief, with military leadership standing alongside. A combat veteran who peppers his speech with references to the history of warfare, Milley has usually gotten along with Trump, mixing banter and bluntness when he speaks with his boss, officials say. The general went against the wishes of his own father who fought at Iwo Jima as a Marine when he joined the Army. In the tumultuous hours and days since the walk across Lafayette Square, Milley has taken pains to mitigate the damage. Two days afterward, he released a letter that forcefully reminded the troops that their military was supposed to protect the right to freedom of speech. He added a handwritten codicil to his letter, some of it straying outside the margins: We all committed our lives to the idea that is America we will stay true to that oath and the American people. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. When the UAE, which is made up of seven emirates, closed its borders in March, the stringent restrictions included withdrawing tourist visas and banning all outgoing flights. A nationwide night time curfew, officially called "the national sanitization program," was also put in place, while the emirate of Dubai issued a 24-hour lockdown, which meant its residents had to apply for a police permit to leave their homes. Now the Emirati authorities are gradually scaling down these restrictions. In the past few weeks, hotels have started to reopen for domestic tourists at a reduced capacity and under strict guidelines. In Dubai, guests are required to wear masks at all times and can only check in to rooms 24 hours after the previous guest has checked out. Meanwhile, in Abu Dhabi, masks are also compulsory for guests and all returning employees be required to undergo Covid-19 screenings. A number of shopping malls and restaurants in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah have been allowed to open their doors again, provided they follow strict sanitation and social-distancing rules, while Dubai's public parks and hotel beaches are permitted to open for groups of up to five people. In April, Dubai opened its first drive-through coronavirus testing center, located at the Al Nasr Club, which supplies tests for no charge. Although flights remain suspended, the Emirates' main airports are being reopened for connecting flights, while Emirates-based airlines Etihad, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia say they will recommence flight schedules in the coming weeks. "We welcome the UAE authorities' decision to re-open UAE airports for all connecting travelers. Emirates and Flydubai will shortly announce the resumption of passenger flights to more cities with connections to, and through, Dubai," Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, tweeted on June 3. "The decision includes Abu Dhabi International Airport, Dubai International Airport, and Sharjah International Port, and covers Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai, and Air Arabia." Despite this, officials are yet to offer a strong indication of when international tourists will be allowed to return to the Emirates. During a recent interview with Bloomberg TV, Helal Al Marri, the Director General of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, suggested that foreign travelers could return to the destination in July or September, depending on how the situation develops. "The thing about this current scenario is it's a global question: many airports internationally remain closed and it's really about the bilateral discussions that are under way to have a coordinated approach to the reopening," he said. "We're quite concerned about the timeline, that's the main risk: is it going to be July when things open up? Is it going to be September? "We just need to make sure we're ready if things come earlier than expected." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Award-winning legal clinic John Erbes, left, and Rebecca ONeill, are part of the SIU School of Law Legal Clinic, which is receiving the Illinois State Bar Associations 2020 Excellence in Legal Education Award. The award honors a law school program that emphasizes real world skill for students. (Photo by Russell Bailey) SIU School of Law Legal Clinic earns ISBA Legal Education Award by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. The Illinois State Bar Association is recognizing the valuable work of the SIU School of Law Legal Clinic at SIU Carbondale. The legal clinic, which began with the then-Prison Legal Aid Clinic in the mid-1970s, is the 2020 recipient of the Excellence in Legal Education Award presented by the ISBAs Standing Committee on Legal Education, Admission and Competence. Presented since 2015, the award honors a law school program that emphasizes real world skill for students and is the highest award the legal clinic can receive from the ISBA. Cindy Buys, interim law school dean, said she is thrilled that the essential work of the SIU School of Law clinical faculty, students, and staff is being recognized by this prestigious award. The award is further recognition of the vital role of the SIU School of Law in the Southern Illinois community and the valuable services we provide, Buys said. John Erbes, clinic director, said the award is significant because its an acknowledgement by a statewide collective group of attorneys of the vital role the clinic plays in teaching students identifiable practical legal skills that enhance and give meaning to their traditional doctrinal study of law, all while advancing access to quality legal representation for clients served by the clinics. Providing services in 13 counties Law school students are able to work with licensed attorneys in four clinics honing their skills while helping provide eligible residents with free legal services. The clinics are: The clinic is comprised of five full-time faculty and as many as 90 students enrolled in a year, with each faculty member supervising up to eight students per semester. There are also five to eight paid students working in the clinics each semester and during breaks to assist with administrative tasks and faculty research, Erbes said. Buys emphasized that those involved put in countless hours ensuring that the communities in 13 counties in Southern Illinois receive greater access to justice, The work by students for clients includes: Obtaining orders of protection for domestic violence victims. Acting as guardians ad litem for children caught up in the juvenile justice system. Ensuring veterans receive their entitled government benefits. Representing the best interests of elderly persons in the legal system. The annual number of cases vary by clinic, Erbes said. The Civil Practice Clinic has 700 active cases at times during the year. The Veterans Legal Assistance Program and Juvenile Justice Clinic each average 100 to 110 cases annually and the Domestic Violence Clinic averages 40 to 50 cases a year. Valuable service The legal services the clinic provides often meet the legal needs of people living beneath federal poverty guidelines and many of the clients would not seek legal representation through private attorneys, limiting their access to equal justice without the legal clinics work, Erbes said. Many of the 13 counties where the clinic provides services also have a very limited number of attorneys. A large part of the clinic education centers on students reflecting on what they learn, the legal work they performed, and the clients they served. They quickly learn first-hand how empowering it is for a person to have a lawyer representing them, Erbes said. A few students have changed career directions and chosen to work at a government agency or non-profit rather than a for-profit firm based on their clinic experiences, but all understand the value of providing pro bono assistance. Erbes said many law students have not experienced working with the elderly, people with disabilities, those with psychiatric and medical issues, people who live in poverty, domestic abuse victims, abused or neglected children, or veterans. The clinic experience offers students an opportunity to experience working with these people. This experience helps students develop a better understanding of peoples needs and behavior all while learning legal skills and substantive knowledge about the laws that impact these people. Nominated by alum Mike Maslanka, a 1984 law school alumnus who is with Chicago-based Sacks, Goreczny, Maslanka & Costello, P.C., nominated the legal clinic. Maslanka worked in the law schools then-Prison Legal Aid clinic as a student. During that time, he became 711 licensed and represented a client in a domestic relations hearing in Madison County Court. Maslanka was supervised by then-clinic director Richard Habiger and staff. The benefits of acting like a lawyer while learning how to be one are innumerable and go so hand-in-hand, Maslanka said. The clinics importance stems from the quality lawyer SIU Law can produce, Maslanka said. One with book smarts is great. However, one with book smarts plus some hands-on, real-world experience with a client or in the courtroom is a more polished quality lawyer. There is no substitute for this type of apprenticing. Current, former students also see value Kaitlyn Hutchison, a third-year law student, has worked in the clinic for two semesters. She wrote in her nomination letter that the clinic has been the most rewarding and educational part of her law school experience. As she gained experience, Hutchison noted she has become more confident in her abilities as a student and eventual attorney, and received the freedom to interview clients, take point on their case and perform document signings with attorneys supervising her. I have learned more in the legal clinic than any class in law school, Hutchison wrote. It is not only about the actual black letter law that I learned, but also how to communicate with clients, staff and attorneys; how to stay organized with clients, and how to be responsible and advocate effectively for my clients needs. Brandon Straub, a 2019 graduate, worked four semesters in the legal clinic and amassed more than 1,000 hours, handling more than 100 client matters. From interviewing clients to learning to manage steady caseloads and time management, the clinical programs help students grow in the skills needed to become great attorneys, he wrote. The legal clinics allow future attorneys to learn the fundamentals in the practice of law in a teaching-friendly environment, Straub wrote. Had it not been for the legal clinic programs at SIU, I do not think I would feel nor be prepared to practice law. HANOI -- Vietnam exported 3.09 million tonnes of rice in the first five months of this year, up 12.2% from a year earlier, official customs data released on Thursday showed. Rice export revenue in the January-May period rose 26.8% from a year earlier to $1.5 billion, the Customs Department said in a statement. Rice exports in May rose 87% from April to 953,950 tonnes, the department said. Vietnam, the worlds third largest rice exporter, briefly banned the shipment of the grain in March and limited the shipment at 500,000 tonnes in April to ensure food security amid the coronavirus outbreak. [June 11, 2020] New Hero Tagahl Sherekhan Arrives in "Shadow Arena" SEOUL, South Korea, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearl Abyss today announced that a new Hero Tagahl Sherekhan has arrived in Shadow Arena, Pearl Abyss' brand new action-packed battle royale game currently available in Early Access on Steam. The free-to-play game now offers eleven Heroes, each catering to different strategies and combat styles. With an origin story written in the annals of Black Desert Online lore, Tagahl Sherekhan is a descendant of the Dragon Hunter tribe Sherekhan. When a ferocious dragon appeared in Calpheon and terrorized its people, they called Tagahl for help. However, when Calpheon failed to reward him for defeating the dragon he turned his back on those lands in discontent and left. He has finally found his way to the world of Shadow Arena, where he is preparing himself for a new battle. Tagahl is a warrior who uses his main weapon, his signature glaive, to deliver widespread damage with every blow. His ability to bypass or weaken his opponents' defenses also allows him to attempt reversals. Players can now use his Inherent Skills to attack enemies more strategically. With the arrival of the new Hero, various in-game events are taking place in Shadow Arena. Players can now claim a Hero through the free DLC package on Steam until July 9. Those who submit their play strategies through the official website or participate in the social media event will also have the chance to win a special item. Until June 18, a Hot Time event will run where players can receive 5 times more silver for completing Daily Quests. In the meantime, "Shadow Arena Regional Cup - Asia" was hosted for the first time to determine the best of the best on the Asia server. The top 3 placements were announced based on points earned during the tournament who received rewards including a special winner's-exclusive skin, title, and a large amount of silver. For more information, visit the official website, Discord, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter . Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200612/2828406-1 SOURCE Pearl Abyss [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] At least one Indian was killed and four others were injured after Nepal police allegedly fired indiscriminately on them at the border near Sitamarhi district in Bihar on Friday, officials said. Sources said the firing took place after a clash between the Indians and personnel of Nepal police at the Lalbandi-Janki Nagar border in Pipra Parsain panchayat under Sonebarsha police station of the district. Jitendra Kumar, the additional director general of police (headquarters), confirmed the death and injuries. The place of firing falls under Nepal jurisdiction. Watch | 1 Indian killed, 4 injured after Nepal police fired near border area with Bihar Locals said Vikesh Kumar Rai, 25, died on the spot and Umesh Ram and Uday Thakur received bullet injuries when they were working in an agricultural field. Another person, Lagan Rai, is said to have been detained by the Nepal police. Injured persons were rushed to Sitamarhi Sadar Hospital for better treatment. Vikesh Kumar Rais father, Nageshwar Rai, said that his agriculture land falls under Narayanpur in Nepal where his son was working. On May 17, Nepal police had fired blank rounds to disperse dozens of Indians trying to cross the border. It was not clear if they were also farmers. The district magistrate and the superintendent of police of Sitamarhi have rushed to the spot. Nepal shares a 1,850-kilometre (1,150-mile) open border with India and people travel across it for work and to visit family. It had closed its international borders on March 22 amid the coronavirus pandemic. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Keir Starmer is facing huge pressure to condemn a letter from dozens of his MPs accusing Priti Patel of 'gaslighting' Black Lives Matter protesters by talking about her own experiences of racism. The Labour leader has refused to criticise the letter, signed by frontbenchers, despite a wave of outrage and fury from the Home Secretary. Meanwhile, London mayor Sadiq Khan defended the MPs for demanding Ms Patel recognise that racism against the black community was 'different', swiping that she 'lacked emotional intelligence'. The Labour politicians laid into Ms Patel for the way she spoke about her own background as the daughter of Gujarati refugees from Uganda during a Commons debate on BLM demos earlier this week. The letter voiced 'dismay at the way you used your heritage and experiences of racism to gaslight the very real racism faced by Black people and communities across the UK'. London mayor Sadiq Khan defended the MPs for demanding she recognise that racism against the black community was 'different', swiping that she 'lacked emotional intelligence' Dozens of Labour MPs have put their name to a letter to Priti Patel expressing 'dismay at the way you used your heritage and experiences of racism to gaslight the very real racism faced by Black people and communities across the UK' Neil O'Brienwas among the Tories demanding that Sir Keir speak out on the issue today Patel's searing retort to MPs who claimed she 'did not understand racial inequality' Priti Patel delivered a searing retort in the Commons on Monday to MPs suggesting she did not 'understand racial inequality'. 'On that basis, it must have been a very different Home Secretary who as a child was frequently called a Paki in the playground,' she said. 'A very different Home Secretary who was racially abused in the streets or even advised to drop her surname and use her husband's in order to advance her career. 'A different Home Secretary recently characterised, if madam deputy speaker I can say so, in The Guardian newspaper as a fat cow with a ring through its nose something that was not only racist but offensive, both culturally and religiously. 'This is hardly an example of respect, equality, tolerance or fairness. So, when it comes to racism, sexism, tolerance for social justice, I will not take lectures from the other side of the House.' Advertisement In a stinging rebuke, they said: 'Being a person of colour does not automatically make you an authority on all forms of racism.' However, an incensed Ms Patel shot back: 'I will not be silenced by @UKLabour MPs who continue to dismiss the contributions of those who don't conform to their view of how ethnic minorities should behave.' Cabinet ministers have lined up behind their colleague, with Matt Hancock swiping that critics seemed to 'think there is such a thing as the wrong type of BAME'. 'We think that people are equal,' he told the daily Downing Street briefing. Former chancellor Sajid Javid posted on Twitter: 'Imagine listening to an ethnic-minority woman's history of suffering racist abuse - and then deciding that you'd rather condemn the victim than her abusers. 'All because she doesn't fit your stereotype. An utterly misguided and irresponsible letter.' Labour sources stressed that the letter was organised by the MPs themselves rather than the party, and declined to say whether Sir Keir agreed with the content. Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds today dodged the issue by saying she would not 'speak for my colleagues', adding that the Government had done 'nothing' to tackle racial inequalities. But Tory MP Bob Blackman told MailOnline: 'If you are silent, you condone it. He should be saying, we should not be doing this. A failure to do so is a failure of leadership.' Fellow Conservative Neil O'Brien tweeted: 'Day two and still no condemnation of this vile letter from Starmer - thought he was better than that.' A senior Tory source: "Starmer now needs to pick a side on this. He either needs to condone or condemn - and quickly" Mr Khan told Sky News he was 'not sure' whether Ms Patel's words amount to 'gaslighting', and said he did not doubt she had suffered racism. But he said the Labour MPs had been pointing out that she should show 'respect' and 'understand that everyone's experiences are different'. 'I think what the MPs were calling for is some empathy and sympathy from Priti Patel,' he said. 'She is the Home Secretary with a huge amount of a power. 'When you lead with words like ''thuggery'', ''recklessness'' and ''criminality'' it shows a lack of emotional intelligence.' Speaking on BBC Breakfast earlier, Ms Dodds said: 'I'm not going to speak for my colleagues, and actually as I understand it, part of what they are pointing attention to is the fact that black people's voices often haven't been heard and they need to be heard. 'Now what's critically important to me and what I find quite frustrating about this is that we know those racial inequalities are there... time and time again people were asking when action was going to come. 'We've had the Windrush review, the Lammy review, and the Public Health England review, all showing there's substantial racial inequality and prejudice, and nothing being done about it. 'To me that's got to be the focus, we've got to take action against these inequalities.' Headline-making missteps put focus on newsroom diversity Alexis Johnson figures she wasnt the loser when the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said she couldnt cover protests triggered by George Floyds death. Her readers were denied the perspective of a black woman with family roots in law enforcement working in her hometown. Nobody anticipated it would lead to a staff revolt and become a national story, part of an extraordinary week where the news medias sluggishness in building diverse newsrooms became part of the national conversation. Editors lost jobs at The New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Bon Appetit magazine and the Refinery29 website. While each case had many factors, diversity is the common bond. ADVERTISEMENT Our communities are changing and our demographics are changing and we as a news industry have done a poor job of recognizing it, said Katrice Hardy, Indianapolis Star executive editor and head of the diversity committee for the News Leaders Association. Thats not a new complaint. The Kerner Commission that looked into causes of 1967 riots in American cities described the absence of black journalists in newsrooms then as shockingly backward. When a precursor to the News Leaders Association began measuring employment diversity at newspapers in the mid-1970s, it set goals to reach by 2000. That year passed without the goals being met, so the time frame was extended to 2025, said Richard Prince, who blogs about minority issues in the industry. Theyre not going to make that, either, said the former newspaper editor. The association even has trouble getting its annual diversity survey filled out. Only 293 newsrooms out of 1,700 queried last year responded. Four news organizations reported having a higher percentage of minority journalists than the community they cover. In electronic media, 12 percent of broadcast journalists are black, similar to the national population figure of 13 percent. But only 5.5 percent of news directors the bosses are black. Minority representation is growing more slowly than in the country as a whole, according to Hofstra University research. ADVERTISEMENT Whenever Im in a gathering of the leaders of media Im struck by the lack of diversity, Dean Baquet, the first black executive editor of The New York Times, told Prince in 2015. It is stunning, given that were supposed to capture the culture, and how tough we can be on the rest of society. Baquet declined an interview request. Pockets of success include the Times, where 43 percent of journalists hired in 2018 were people of color. Gannett, the newspaper chain for which Hardy works, has done well because meeting diversity goals is part of a managers evaluation, Prince said. Just over one in five journalists on the U.S. staff of The Associated Press are people of color, the news organization said. Its plain and simple, said Cheryl W. Thompson, NPR reporter and president of the nonprofit Investigative Reporters and Editors. You have to make the effort. You have to just do it. Its not complicated. At the Inquirer last week, black reporters led a sickout following use of an insensitive headline, Buildings Matter, Too, on a story about about architecture damaged when protests turned violent. Blunders like this undo years of work trying to get sources and readers to trust and read the paper, Inquirer columnist Jenice Armstrong wrote. Hardy suspects that such suspicion of mainstream media was behind people at a recent protest in Indianapolis saying a Star reporter wasnt welcome. Shes urged reporters covering the protests to build bridges as well as report news to come back with names and contacts for future stories. In Pittsburgh, Johnson ran afoul of rules that discourage journalists from being publicly opinionated on social media posts and elsewhere. Many newsrooms have strict social media policies to ensure sources feel they will be treated fairly. She had tweeted a pointed joke, showing pictures of a garbage-strewn parking lot and writing, Horrifying scenes and aftermath from selfish LOOTERS who dont care about this city! oh wait, sorry, no. These are pictures from a Kenny Chesney concert tailgate. She was told she could not cover the protests, and so were colleagues who retweeted her in solidarity. The papers executive editor, Keith C. Burris, wrote in a column Wednesday that Johnson had crossed a line separating reporting and commentary. Johnson doesnt believe the tweet inhibits her from covering the story fairly, or that readers would perceive her as biased. Its absolutely ridiculous, she said. Its kind of insulting to my experience and my professionalism as a journalist. Its not only insulting to me, but to black journalists around the country. A failure to include journalists of many different backgrounds means missing stories. Hardy, who just left a job in Greenville, S.C., said that without black journalists there, stories about gentrified neighborhoods would have gone untold. The sweep of national protests following the death of George Floyd has news leaders talking to their staffs about how the story affects them. A frank memo sent by Los Angeles Times executive editor Norman Pearlstine on Friday came after staff members pointed out instances of racial inequities. Pearlstine admitted that the newspaper had a long history feeding the citys racism as it grew. He said the paper did not have enough minority writers and managers and outlined steps to correct that. Our coverage didnt simply ignore people of color, it actively dehumanized them, Pearlstine wrote. More recently, we can be faulted for focusing on a white subscription base even as the city became majority non-white. Several issues led to The New York Times ouster of editorial page editor James Bennet over a flawed opinion piece by U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton. An internal outcry over the essay wasnt apparent until a number of black journalists tweeted that Cottons argument in favor of using federal troops to quell violence made them feel unsafe, and others throughout the newsroom supported them. The Bon Appetit editor, Adam Rapoport, resigned after a picture of him in a racially insensitive Halloween costume emerged. On Wednesday, the magazine promised major changes, stating our mastheads have been far too white for far too long. Complaints about racism alleged by former staff members led to Refinery29 editor Christene Barberichs reassignment. The impulse to take concerns about their news organizations public is one reason to believe that this time, concerns about diversity wont be forgotten anytime soon. Before, it stayed in-house, Thompson said. Now its out there. And theres power in social media. Johnson, uncomfortable and a little unnerved at the attention that her case has received, said she hopes that speaking out pressure her bosses to change their mind. At age 27, she doesnt want to be shut out of covering the biggest civil rights story of her generation. Instead, she became part of it. For the past two weeks, George Floyds name and image have been inescapable in Houston - at a massive downtown protest march, at a mural in the Third Ward neighborhood where he grew up, at the public viewing of his body, and on the streets leading to the church where his private funeral was conducted. These remembrances, memorials and protests, like others around the country, sprang up after Floyd died May 25 as a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck. The Houston events received heavy news coverage; TV stations went live from the June 2 protest march, and around a dozen Houston Chronicle reporters and photographers covered it. It's interesting to imagine how these events would have been covered 60 years ago, and to consider the implications of the difference. Its often noted that Houston escaped the worst of the violent demonstrations and riots that convulsed the nation during the Civil Rights and Vietnam War eras. This frequently leads to the observation that Houston is just not a protest city. But its not that simple, as Houston writer Leah Binkovitz explained in a 2017 article exploring the local history of protest and civil disobedience. Tens of thousands of Houstonians turned out for the local Womens March in 2017, far surpassing organizers expectations, and as many as 50,000 took to Houston streets in 2006 as part of a national action for immigrant rights. Theres a general story that its a city of oil and gas, and its not a city of activism and marching, but if you dig at all, you see a much more rich and complicated story, JD Pluecker, who has written about the citys protest history from the 1965 black student boycott to the 1978 Moody Park Riots, told Binkovitz. One important factor: For many years Houstons major news organizations, heeding pleas from business and civic leaders, all but ignored civil rights protests. A good example, which I explored in an essay last year, involved efforts to desegregate lunch counters in the 1960s. A group of Houston leaders persuaded proprietors to simultaneously open their lunch counters to African Americans; young black activists were to arrive at an arranged time. They asked editors of the citys three daily newspapers, and news directors of TV stations, to restrain coverage. This was based on concern that prominent stories would attract counter-protesters, which would lead to violence. The news leaders obediently buried their stories, or simply didnt produce any. Calm prevailed, but the costs of public ignorance of such a historical event are impossible to calculate. How much did the suppression of this news set back the local civil rights movement? This quiet, successful effort to desegregate Houstons public spaces did very little to improve the quality of life in Houstons black communities, Stephen L. Klineberg writes in his new book, Prophetic City: Houston on the Cusp of a Changing America. It didnt improve the segregated public schools. It did nothing to stop the refineries and industries from continuing to dump their toxic wastes in black communities. Of course, a dozen or so young people sitting at a lunch counter is hardly comparable to tens of thousands of shouting, sign-wielding protesters taking to the streets. Ignoring such an event would not have been possible even before the era of pervasive social media and the 24-hour-news cycle. But would the 1960 version of the story have taken up three-quarters of the front page of the Chronicle the next morning, as the 2020 story did? The different approaches to coverage are emblematic of broader changes in the city since the mid-20th century. For decades, starting in the 1930s, Houston was led by an insular group of business leaders who handpicked elected officials based on their concept of enlightened self-interest a firm conviction that what was good for business was good for Houston. This groups informal name came from its meeting place in Suite 8F of the old Lamar Hotel downtown. This singular focus on protecting the citys reputation as a good place to do business filtered into its media organizations. And their lack of persistent attention to problems such as abusive police practices surely helped the practices continue. Theres little pressure to solve a problem few people know about. Today the citys elected leadership comes closer to reflecting its diverse population; news organizations compete to cover scandals that might make Houston look bad, such as the corruption underlying a botched drug raid last year that left two civilians dead and five police officers injured. Its safe to say that no one from the Greater Houston Partnership called editors asking them to tone down coverage of the George Floyd protests. How was this history reflected in what happened on downtown streets on June 2, or in subsequent, smaller protests? Organizers of the June 2 march strongly discouraged violence, and police generally were credited with practicing restraint and de-escalation tactics to prevent the confrontations and injuries that have been widespread elsewhere. There were no reports of looting, although windows of downtown shops and restaurants were smashed on previous nights. Authorities reported no injuries, despite a few tense moments. But it wasnt all sweetness and light: Police reported that more than 200 people were arrested, mostly for throwing objects at officers or failing to heed orders to clear streets; a week later, prosecutors announced they were dismissing 796 charges filed against 654 protesters at George Floyd-related events. Some of those arrested have complained that they were treated unfairly and that media failed to cover what happend to them. Attorneys representing them said police had used batons, pepper spray and rubber bullets, allegations a police spokesman disputed. On balance, though, it seems that Houstons protests continue to be relatively calm. Are we just lucky in having effective leaders or an uncommonly law-abiding population? Or is something else at work? Angela Blanchard, an astute student of Houston who was the longtime CEO of one of its largest nonprofits, BakerRipley, kept coming back to two words when we discussed this question: dynamism and fluidity. Houston, she said, has a relatively flat social structure; you dont have to have a pedigree to get a City Council member or a prominent business executive to return your call. The city is big and spread out, and its neighborhoods are in constant flux, which makes entrenched pockets of despair less likely to develop and persist. My own sense, based on years of reporting in neglected Houston neighborhoods, is that these pockets exist, though perhaps their residents havent endured deprivation for as long as their counterparts in older cities like Detroit or Chicago. Another possible factor is that many Houstonians moved here in recent decades without extended families, a circumstance that could lead to lower levels of civic engagement and activism. Obviously, many thousands of Houstonians are angry and frustrated by the police killings of African Americans and by other racial, social and economic inequities. It would be naive to suggest that Houston is immune from these problems. But when its residents gather publicly to express their outrage, they seem to do so in a way that reflects the citys distinct history and culture. Whether this proves effective in bringing about change remains to be seen. Mike Snyder is a retired Houston Chronicle reporter, columnist and editor. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will on June 12 will hold a conversation with former US diplomat Nicholas Burns on how coronavirus crisis was reshaping the world order. The freewheeling interaction between Gandhi and Burns will cover a wide range of issues, including racism in the United States and the flashpoint created by George Floyd's killing. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the dialogue will be around reshaping of the world order in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the future of Indo-US relations and the key role played by the Indian diaspora in the US in building it. The clash of ideologies - 'authoritarian' China versus 'democratic' United States and India - will also be discussed. The conversation will be released on all social media platforms of the Congress at 10 am on Friday. Nicholas Burns is currently the Professor of Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics at Harvard's John F Kennedy School of Government. At the Harvard Kennedy School, Burns is the Director of The Future of Diplomacy Project and Faculty Chair for the programs on the Middle East, India and South Asia. During his career in the State Department, he was United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs within the United States Department of State. He was also the chief negotiator of the India-US nuclear deal. As part of his dialogues with various experts, Gandhi has spoken to leading global economists Raghuram Rajan and Abhijit Banerjee; internationally renowned epidemiologist Johann Giesceke; global public health expert Ashish Jha and Indian industrialist Rajiv Bajaj. Also read: Coronavirus pandemic could plunge 1.1 billion people into extreme poverty globally I ts a sign of just how strange things have become that news of the greatest economic collapse in our recorded history doesnt come as a surprise. We shut normal life down in March. Today we can see what happens to the economy when you do that: GDP plunged by 20.4 per cent in April, figures show. That is almost 10 times worse than any month that has come before. Try this as a comparison: the 2008/09 economic crash, an event whose consequences lasted for a decade and which transfixed the world at the time, led Britains GDP to fall by 4.2 per cent in 2009. Now to repeat todays extraordinary number we have managed 20.4 per cent in a single month. Shock wont get us very far, however. Two things matter. First, what we do in response, and second, how quickly we can recover. Will the cessation of much of our usual economic activity at the height of lockdown turn out to be temporary like flicking a light off and on again? Or will it lead to deep scarring from which parts of the economy will never recover? There are reasons for hope: in May and June Britain got busier, and that will be reflected in data when it comes. Over the year as a whole the fall in GDP will be less than 20.4 per cent. Next week many shops reopen. Next month should bring a recovery of sorts in parts of the hospitality industry. Some office workers in London are returning to their socially distanced desks. Growth is picking up in some other countries, too. A nimble response by the Chancellor has so far prevented mass job losses and bankruptcies. But the taxpayer cant pay the bills for the whole economy forever. As support is taken away, some businesses will find they arent viable. How many of Londons restaurants will be back at work, for example, if social distancing rules remain in place into next year? How many companies will cut back on staff, worried about cashflow? On top of this, there is another chilling question: having endured one of the developed worlds highest death tolls from Covid, will we now go on to suffer one of the worst recessions as well? The OECD predicts the UK economy will shrink by 11.5 per cent this year overall just ahead of France and Spain. Were strong in the service sector which has been worst hit by lockdown and wont recover quickly. When things do grow again we should be well placed: the OECD predicts nine per cent UK growth next year. But the horrific impact of this years immense economic collapse will be felt for generations and thats without the possibility of a no-deal Brexit to navigate just after Christmas. Starmer wins admirers There are two tests opposition parties need to pass. Does their leader look like a potential prime minister to voters? And are they trusted to look after the economy? Today our IpsosMORI poll shows that Sir Keir Starmer has managed the first of them: he has the best approval ratings of any opposition leader since Tony Blair in the Nineties. Labour is up eight points on last month too, and the Conservatives, although still ahead, are down nine. The party still has a massive way to go, but one thing is clear: after years of unelectability, the opposition is back and the Conservatives have a serious fight on their hands. London icons on sale Do you want to own one of The Beatles? Or perhaps Dame Helen Mirren? They are on sale or at least images of them are to help raise funds for our Food for London Now Appeal. They are part of a huge artwork by Sir Peter Blake which covered the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hyde Park during redevelopment now he is signing the pictures for charity. Its a great idea and we thank Sir Peter for his generosity. William S. Sessions, a director of the F.B.I. under three presidents, from 1987 to 1993, who challenged racial and gender bias in his agency but struggled to redefine its mission in a time of domestic turmoil, and who was fired after being accused of ethical lapses, died on Friday in San Antonio. He was 90. His daughter Sara Sessions Naughton confirmed the death, at the home of one of Mr. Sessionss sons. Mr. Sessions had lived in San Antonio as well. Mr. Sessions arrived in Washington as a figure of stern probity, a Republican hailed by Democrats and Republicans as a scrupulously fair federal judge from West Texas. Nominated by President Ronald Reagan, he sailed through Senate confirmation, 90-0, for what was supposed to be a 10-year term at the helm of 10,000 agents, 56 field offices and the traditions of a storied Federal Bureau of Investigation. But in a tenure crowded with troubles and stumbling responses, Mr. Sessions presided for less than six years over an agency that mounted much-criticized deadly sieges at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and Waco, Texas; tried to enlist American librarians to catch Soviet spies; and was forced to concede that agents in the past had overzealously spied on Americans protesting government policies in Central America. San Francisco, June 12 : Google has countersued audio company Sonos for patent infringement, alleging that the tech giant contributed "substantial Google engineering resources" to help Sonos in the past. According to the Verge, Google is suing Sonos over five patents related to mesh networking, echo cancellation, DRM, content notifications, and personalised search. In January this year, Sonos sued tech giant Google for allegedly copying its wireless speaker design, urging the International Trade Commission (ITC) to ban Google products like laptops, phones and speakers. Sonos CEO Patrick Spence testified before the US House antitrust committee that Google "blocked the company from enabling both Amazon's Alexa assistant and the Google Assistant from being active at the same time". Google said in its countersuit that "while Google rarely sues other companies for patent infringement, it must assert its intellectual property rights here". "We are disappointed that Sonos has made false claims about our work together and technology," Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda was quoted as saying. According to Sonos, starting in 2016 shortly after the first Google Home was launched, it began warning Google about patent infringement but to no avail. Sonos said it accused Google of infringing on a total of 100 patents. Spence told The Verge on Thursday that they "look forward to winning our original case, and winning this newly filed retaliatory case as well". Google has always maintained that its technology was developed independently and it was not copied from Sonos. Sonos, the maker of high-end wireless speakers, claimed in its lawsuit that Google "subsidized its own products to sell them at a cheaper price while using them to extract more data from buyers". "Google is an important partner with whom we have collaborated successfully for years, including bringing the Google Assistant to the Sonos platform last year. However, Google has been blatantly and knowingly copying our patented technology in creating its audio products," Sonos CEO Patrick Spence was quoted as saying. Sonos also claimed that Amazon too violated its patents with the Echo device family, but has decided to make its case "one by one". North Korea criticised Donald Trump in a stinging denunciation of the United States on Friday, the second anniversary of a landmark summit in Singapore where the US president shook hands with leader Kim Jong Un. It was the latest in a series of vitriolic statements from Pyongyang aimed at both Washington and Seoul, and came a day after the North implicitly threatened to disrupt November's election if the US did not stay out of inter-Korean affairs. In recent days, Pyongyang has excoriated the South over defectors launching leaflets criticising Kim into the North and announced it was cutting all official communication links with Seoul. Friday's broadside contained some of the harshest criticism Pyongyang has sent Washington's way in recent months, and casts doubt over the future of the two sides' long-stalled nuclear talks process. In the onslaught, the North's foreign minister Ri Son Gwon accused Washington of hypocrisy and seeking regime change, saying that the hopes of 2018 had "faded away into a dark nightmare". Trump and Kim were all smiles in front of the world's cameras in Singapore as a North Korean leader met a sitting US president for the first time, and afterwards Trump proclaimed on Twitter that "There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea." But a second meeting in Hanoi last year to put meat on the bones of the North's vaguely worded Singapore pledge to "work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula" collapsed over what Pyongyang would be willing to give up in exchange for sanctions relief. - 'Hypocritical' - US diplomats insist that they believe Kim promised in Singapore to give up its arsenal, something Pyongyang has taken no steps to do. The North is under multiple international sanctions over its banned weapons programmes. It believes it deserves to be rewarded for its moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests and the disabling of its atomic test site, along with the return of jailed US citizens and remains of soldiers killed in the Korean War. "Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise," Ri said in his statement, carried by the official KCNA news agency. Trump has made much of his connection with Kim -- at one point declaring that they had fallen "in love" through their exchanges of letters. But Ri said Pyongyang now believed there was no hope for an improvement "simply by maintaining personal relations between our Supreme Leadership and the US President". He stopped just short of criticising Trump by name, but referred to comments that "the master of the White House" had "reeled off time and time again as a boast". "Never again will we provide the US chief executive with another package to be used... without receiving any returns." Pyongyang's latest comments were not an empty threat, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a former North Korea analyst for the US government. "North Koreans know they will not be getting what they want either from South Korea or the US," she told AFP. "Diplomacy no longer seems to be in the cards." North Korea's chief diplomatic ally China urged Washington to acknowledge Pyongyang's "legitimate concerns", with foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying insisting the North had taken denuclearisation measures that merited a commensurate US response. - Deadline passed - Trump and Kim met a third time in June 2019 in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the Korean peninsula, when Trump stepped onto North Korean soil -- a first for any American president. But the meeting produced little in terms of tangible progress. Subsequently, the North repeatedly demanded that the US offer it fresh concessions by December 31, but the deadline came and went. Kim declared the North no longer considered itself bound by its unilateral testing moratoriums. It has not yet carried out any such actions, but analysts believe it has continued to develop its arsenal throughout the discussions. Ri accused Washington of seeking regime change and said the North had decided to bolster its nuclear deterrent "to cope with the US unabated threats of nuclear war". Pyongyang has carried out a series of tests of shorter-range weapons in recent months -- often describing them as multiple launch rocket systems, although Japan and the United States have called them ballistic missiles. The process leading to the Singapore summit was brokered by the South's President Moon Jae-in, but his office said Friday it had no comment to make on the anniversary. The Minneapolis City Council on Friday unanimously passed a resolution to replace the city's police department with a community-led public safety system. The move comes days after a veto-proof majority of the council voted to disband the police department after the country erupted in protest over the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died when a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The Minneapolis vote was cast as New York City Council pushed to cut $1billion from the NYPDs budget. The gigantic cut to the Big Apple police department's $6billion annual budget could see a reduction in the size of the force from 36,000 to 33,000, while removing functions like school safety and homeless outreach from the police. The Minneapolis Police Department is to be disbanded and replaced with a community-led public safety system, the city council voted Friday. Pictured, member of the MPD stand in a line on May 27 while facing protesters demonstrating against the death of George Floyd The City of Minneapolis announced on Friday that it has voted to begin the process of replacing the police department with a community-led public safety system What will Minneapolis look like without a police department? There is no short-term plan to scrap the Minneapolis police department, the city council says. As of Friday, the council have started a year-long process to find recommendations for what will replace it. The replacement is set to be a community-led public safety system that will redirect funds from the department and channel them into community services aimed at preventing crime. Money could be redirected to mental health services, social services, jobs programs, and arts groups. Jobs such as traffic stops, overdose call-outs and mental health calls may be taken away from officers. One recommendation from activists involves a smaller, more-specialized force of 'public servants' who would deal with solving violent crimes. County sheriffs, whose jurisdiction includes Minneapolis, could be used as a stop-gap police force. Advertisement In Minneapolis, the council voted for the community-led replacement Friday as members felt that the police department as it stands is past reform. 'The murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, by Minneapolis police officers is a tragedy that shows that no amount of reforms will prevent lethal violence and abuse by some members of the Police Department against members of our community, especially Black people and people of color,' five council members wrote in the resolution. It added that Floyd's death was one in a 'tragically long list' of people killed by the city's police that had led to 'wave of protests and uprisings across the United States and across the world and has led to thousands of voices asking for change'. 'Today's unanimous City Council resolution advances our shared commitment to transformative change in how Minneapolis approaches public safety so that every member of our community can be truly safe,' said City Council President Lisa Bender. 'As we respond to demands for immediate action to reduce police violence and support community safety, we will invite our community to help shape long-term transformative change, centering the voices of those most impacted by community violence and police violence.' According to the resolution, the city council will now begin a year-long process of engaging 'with every willing community member in Minneapolis' to come up with a new public safety model. It added that the process would center on 'the voices of Black people, American Indian people, people of color, immigrants, victims of harm, and other stakeholders who have been historically marginalized or under-served by our present system'. 'Together, we will identify what safety looks like for everyone,' the resolution reads. City Council President Lisa Bender, pictured, said Friday that the resolution 'advances our shared commitment to transformative change in how Minneapolis approaches public safety' The Minneapolis City Council on Friday voted for the city's police department, pictured, to be replaced with a community-led public safety system The council also commissioned a new work group named the Future of Community Safety Work Group to deliver recommendations by July 24 on how to engage with community stakeholders to transform the public safety system. It will be made up of staff from the Office of Violence Prevention, the Department of Civil Rights, and the City Coordinator's Office, in coordination with the 911 Working Group, the Division of Race and Equity, Neighborhood and Community Relations and other relevant departments. 'American democracy is an experiment, each generation has an opportunity to move this experiment forward, toward living out the true meaning of its creed,' said City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins. 'This resolution represents our moment to contribute to the progression of equality and freedom of every resident of the City of Minneapolis. The city's mayor, Jacob Frey, has stopped short of vying to abolish the police department, although he said this week he supported 'massive structural reform to revise a structurally racist system'. Friday's resolution said that the council would continue to work will willing partners such as Mayor Frey and Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo as the process of establishing the replacement continues. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, pictured, does not support the disbanding of the police department but has called for a different kind of reform to improve accountabilit New York City Council is pushing to cut the NYPD budget by up to $1billion that could see a reduction in the size of the force from 36,000 to 33,000 Elsewhere in New York City, the city council is pushing to cut the force's budget by up to $1billion, according to New York Daily News. The reduced budget could result in a hiring freeze that will decrease the number in the force by 3,000. 'We believe that we can and should work to get to $1 billion in cuts to New York Citys police spending in the Fiscal 2021 budget, an unprecedented reduction that would not only limit the scope of the NYPD, but also show our commitment towards moving away from the failed policing policies of the past,' said Council Speaker Corey Johnson in a joint statement with the chairs of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus. The Councils Budget Negotiating Team presented to prospective changes to the council members of Thursday and Friday. However, Mayor Bill de Blasio has opposed such a large reduction, New York Daily News reports. A source told the paper that the council was still making a decision over how the money would redistributed as the city faces a massive loss in tax revenue as a result of the coronavirus shutdown. 'Were still negotiating,' they said. 'The key areas obviously would be summer youth employment, education, health care all of the things that created the disparities around COVID-19.' The budget must be approved by the council and the mayor by June 30. New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson has supported a $1billion cut to New York Citys police spending in the 2021 budget, a move he said would help the city to 'show our commitment towards moving away from the failed policing policies of the past' Protesters demanding change in the wake of the death of George Floyd outside the Minnesota State Capitol Friday where a special session of the legislature was about to begin The Minneapolis city council's decision came as key Republican lawmakers in the Minnesota state Senate that they'll block most of the ambitious changes Democrats want to make to policing in the state where Floyd died. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and the chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, Warren Limmer, laid out their agenda shortly before the Legislature convened for a special session. They said there's only a limited amount of time to act because they intend to adjourn next Friday no matter what. That would effectively force the state House to adjourn too, but Gazelka said lawmakers would continue to work on bigger changes. 'Minnesota has the opportunity to lead the way for the whole nation for reconciliation of the races and some of the problems we're addressing,' Gazelka said. 'Let's begin here.' Minnesota is one of several states where Democratic lawmakers and governors are hoping to harness the anger over Floyds death to remake law enforcement, including by adding new restrictions on the use of force. The movement to 'defund the police,' as some advocates have termed it, predates the current protests. State legislatures have been slow to tackle those issues, however, since they were thrust into the spotlight by a wave of police killings of young black men in 2014, including Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Yet the movement has won new support since a video of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee to the neck of Floyd horrified viewers around the world. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has had an unenviable task in recent years. AIPAC was created to support and strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. But during the past two presidential administrations, a bipartisan consensus on what such support entails and whether it should be offered at all has eroded. The most recent example of this challenge involves Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plan to annex portions of the West Bank. On the surface, this might not seem to be a hard call for U.S. politicians. Israeli leaders have said for nearly three decades that any two-state solution with the Palestinians would have to allow Israel to defend its border in the Jordan River Valley and account for the Jewish majority settlements in the West Bank. President Donald Trumps peace plan, unveiled in January, says explicitly that the valley and Jewish majority settlements will be part of Israel in any final deal. Nonetheless, the issue has divided Republicans and Democrats. Even the Trump administration has quietly warned Netanyahu and his aides not to move forward with annexation unless and until its clear that Israels unity government is committed to Trumps broader peace plan. As my colleague Zev Chafets wrote this week, it appears that Netanyahu intends to move forward with annexation without implementing the other parts of that plan that are more favorable to the Palestinians. This looks like cherry-picking to rationalize a land grab, especially considering that elements of the prime ministers political base oppose any Palestinian state at all. In light of all that, AIPAC has decided to sidestep the issue. According to reporting this week from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, AIPAC is privately telling lawmakers that as long as they dont push to limit U.S. aid to Israel, they can criticize the annexation plan without risking future support from the lobby group. In some ways this is not surprising. In the 1980s and 1990s, AIPAC on some occasions supported primary opponents against lawmakers who were outspoken critics of Israel. But in recent years the organization has backed away from this practice. In 2015, AIPAC still supported some Democrats in Congress who voted for the Iran nuclear deal that the organization opposed. Story continues The context matters, however. In recent weeks, more liberal groups have pressed Democrats to openly oppose Netanyahus annexation ploy. Some have even favored leveraging U.S. military aid (of which Israel is the largest recipient) to dissuade the annexation. Here, AIPACs message is important. While it takes no position on annexation, it says in a recent one-page policy paper sent to Congress, a sustainable peace is achievable only if the United States continues to help ensure Israels qualitative military edge the ability to counter and defeat any credible conventional military threat while sustaining minimal damages and casualties. In other words, conditioning or decreasing military aid to Israel would undermine the larger goal of a two-state solution. That may be true. At the same time, its also true that there will be times when Israeli and American leaders disagree on policy. The most recent example was Barack Obamas nuclear bargain with Iran. And its almost certain that a Democratic president would clash with a center-right Israeli government on Trumps peace plan. Netanyahu sees that plan as a rare opportunity for Israel to create more secure borders for future generations. Most Democrats see it as cover to destroy what is left of the peace process that began nearly 30 years ago. In this respect, AIPAC is wise to avoid the annexation issue. The organization cannot be effective if it alienates one political party in favor of the other. But this controversy also raises a deeper question about AIPACs broader purpose and strategy. America and Israel see eye to eye on most strategic issues. But there will be times when they dont. In those circumstances, $3.8 billion in U.S. military assistance will likely be used as a kind of leverage. A wiser long-term strategy for Israel and AIPAC would be to anticipate those inevitable disagreements and start gradually phasing out the aid altogether. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Eli Lake is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering national security and foreign policy. He was the senior national security correspondent for the Daily Beast and covered national security and intelligence for the Washington Times, the New York Sun and UPI. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. The partner of Lyra McKee has said that she is hopeful the discovery of the murder weapon will bring her killers to justice. Sara Canning said that seeing pictures of the gun "brought it all home". She was informed of the discovery on Wednesday. "It's strange to think something so small caused so much damage and took so much away," she told BBC Radio Foyle. Ms Canning said her initial reaction to seeing the weapon was to leave work after finding it "really difficult" to look at. "Lots of things as we've walked on this path have been like punches to the gut, but that was a particularly big one," she said. "We have to hold out hope that is going to give up something that will bring us a step closer to getting the person who fired the gun." Lyra's sister Nichola Corner also spoke of her feelings at seeing the murder weapon. "Seeing it for the first time it's a terrible shock to know that that is the weapon that killed your sister," she told UTV. "It's a shock to see what was used to take her out of this world, to end her life, to steal her from all of us. There used to be a phrase that 'if you find the weapon, you find the man responsible for firing that weapon', and I'm hoping that this piece of the jigsaw - this weapon - will lead to that person." Following the discovery police in Londonderry have said the "net is tightening" around the killer. The gun was recovered by police during searches in the Ballymagroarty area of the city last Friday and Saturday. Following forensic testing police confirmed that the gun, a German Hammerli X-Esse pistol, was the same one used in the killing of Ms McKee during rioting in the Creggan area on April 18, 2019. Dissident republican group the New IRA admitted responsibility for her murder. Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy, who is leading the investigation into Ms McKee's murder, said one line of inquiry was that the gun had been stolen "some time ago". "I also know that that gun was used a number of times prior to Lyra's murder, but at this stage because those matters remain under investigation I cannot confirm any further details," he said. Detective Superintendent Murphy said that "a number of New IRA figures were involved in producing the gun that night". "I know who they are and the public know who they are and also I know who the gunman is," he said. Detective Superintendent Murphy said further forensic testing was planned on the gun. Expand Close Police have confirmed this was the gun used to kill journalist Lyra McKee during a riot in Londonderry / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police have confirmed this was the gun used to kill journalist Lyra McKee during a riot in Londonderry "For the New IRA the net is tightening, one positive result will have significant consequences for the New IRA," Detective Superintendent Murphy said. "If you know anything about the gun now is the time to talk to us." Londonderry man Paul McIntyre (52), who is currently in custody in Maghaberry Prison, is charged with murdering Ms McKee. He denies the charges. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood yesterday welcomed progress in the police investigation. The Foyle MP said: "The recovery of the gun used in the murder is significant and I hope that it will lead to further developments. "Those responsible for taking the life of a young journalist in Derry need to understand that there was nothing patriotic about it. "There is no honour to be found in the murder of someone with so much to contribute to our city and our island. "They have set themselves against the people of Derry and the people of Ireland. "They must face justice. "I am renewing my appeal to the people of our city. "If you have any information about Lyra's murder, no matter how small, and you haven't come forward yet, now is the moment. "We all have a part to play in ending the grip of violent men on our communities." Sterling Higgins, a 37-year-old Black man from Tennessee, died in March 2019 while being held in the Obion County Jail. Now, attorneys for his family are seeking justice as calls for changes to policing ripple across the United States in the wake of George Floyds death. An amended civil rights complaint, filed Friday with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee Eastern Division at Jackson on behalf of Higgins estate, claims that he died from trauma while being restrained by jail officers who choked him and stood on his chest. The family is asking for a trial by jury and $10 million in damages. The official cause of death was "excited delirium due to a methamphetamine overdose," according to an autopsy report, but the family's complaint alleges that the excessive force used in restraining Higgins led to his death. Sterling Higgins was a good man, who deserved fair and humane treatment, said Jennifer Jenkins, the administrator of Higgins estate and mother of one of his daughters. He left behind two young children, who will now grow up without a father. He was treated as if his life didnt matter. We want the truth to be known. We want accountability. We want justice for Sterling Higgins. Sterling Higgins, 37, died in March 2019 while being detained in Obion County Jail in Tennessee (Family photo) The new filing points out that the grand jury in the case were never shown videos of the incident based on a decision by Obion County's district attorney general. The grand jury declined last year to indict any of the jailers or law enforcement officers involved in the case. Imagine if a district attorney had empaneled a grand jury in the wake of George Floyds death for the purpose of determining whether to file criminal charges, Erik Heipt, the attorney who filed the complaint on Friday, said. Imagine if he withheld the video weve all seen and only presented the officers version of events. And imagine if no charges were filed because of this. Videos matter. They dont lie. Not showing the grand jury the videos in this case was a grave miscarriage of justice. Story continues The complaint names Union City, Obion County, three jail officers and a Union City police officer as defendants. The Obion County Sheriffs Department did not return a request for comment about the complaint. The Union City Police Department declined to comment. Higgins a father to two young daughters and a factory worker who enjoyed performing rap music at local clubs was being held on criminal trespass charges after a 911 call from a market stating that he had entered a storage locker area and refused to leave, according to the complaint. Related: Banning neck restraints does not address the structural problems in the police department and does not address the cultural problem that we have about devaluing black folks, a Minneapolis activist said. Higgins had called 911 from the same market earlier claiming that someone was following him and trying to kill him, and a 911 dispatcher said he seemed disoriented, according to the complaint. Mr. Higginss demeanor throughout the course of the conversation suggested that he suffered from an existing mental disability, the complaint states. Among other things, his speech patterns were jumbled, his thought process was tangential, he was sometimes nonsensical, he displayed signs of paranoia, and he was otherwise acting in such a way that it would have been clear to any reasonable police officer that he was mentally impaired. Officers at the scene suggested that Higgins might need to go to a hospital and the encounter ended with Higgins agreeing to leave the market, the complaint said. He wound up coming back into the store and refused to leave, which is what led to his arrest. Higgins was then taken to the Obion County Jail but was clearly in need of medical and/or mental health professionals, according to the complaint. Sterling Higgins and his family. (Family photo) The situation turned physical after Higgins grabbed a jail officer by the hair, claiming the officer was trying to harm him. Thats when several officers tried to restrain Higgins, according to the complaint. Two officers took Higgins down to the ground on his back with his hands handcuffed behind him, the complaint said. In videos, one officer is seen with his hands around Higgins throat, according to the complaint, and other officers put shackles on his legs and ankles. Later another officer is seen on video appearing to stand directly on top of Higgins. The complaint says that no officer intervened, and according to Heipt, the officer held onto Higgins neck for about 2 minutes after he lost consciousness. Related: The atmosphere at the "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone," where hundreds have gathered, has been part protest, part commune. Higgins was placed in a restraint chair as foam came from his mouth, and was then wheeled into a cell and left alone, the complaint says. Officers came into the room and checked Higgins for a pulse, and emergency services arrived at the jail 10 minutes later, the complaint states. It was another senseless, avoidable death of a young Black man in America. Like all the others, the life of Sterling Higgins mattered, and it was taken from him for no legitimate reason," Heipt said. Obion County's District Attorney General Tommy Thomas told NBC News affiliate WPSD Local 6 that he declined to show videos of the incident to the grand jury becausehe didnt believe they showed "any negligent conduct on behalf of the officers," and that he thought testimony from an agent with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation would be enough. Thomas later told NBC News that he encouraged the family to pursue a civil case when he was unable to secure criminal charges. Sterling Higgins. (Family photo) I met with the family many times and advised that they seek civil counsel, Thomas said. There very well could be civil damages, and then they did, and this lawsuit came out of that. I dont oppose it, but thats not in my jurisdiction. Thomas said he was aware Higgins had young children and he hoped that they would receive damages in their fathers death. However, Thomas said that, as a district attorney for 30 years and a lawyer for longer, he was confident that the defendants will have a different take than the plaintiff. Obviously, Mr. Higgins died in custody, but I feel confident they will deny some of the allegations, too. Itll just have to play out. Either the case will be settled or it will go to trial sometime in the future, Thomas said. But as far as Im concerned, my involvement is over. Related: Ten current and former Google employees pointed to rising complaints from some black employees about how the company has responded to the ongoing protests. Excited delirium syndrome, as cited in the autopsy report, has raised continued controversy regarding the cause and manner of death of some highly agitated persons held in police custody, according to research from the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The research states that the diagnosis typically comes when medical examiners have difficulty in identifying an anatomic cause of death, but stimulants are involved. Attorneys for Higgins estate believe excited delirium is not what caused Higgins death, that it was more likely asphyxia, suffocation, and/or strangulation. The autopsy report also showed there was trauma to Higgins neck and a hemorrhage of the left omohyoid muscle, deep in the neck. There was also bleeding in the white part of the eye, which can sometimes be present in cases of asphyxiation. Thomas said that for him to prosecute the case as a homicide, the autopsy and pathologist would have had to conclude that Higgins was killed, and they didn't. "The autopsy, the pathologist determined the gentleman died from methamphetamine toxicity and a very high level of methamphetamine in his system," Thomas said. "Now, if it had come back that he died of strangulation, then I would have had a homicide case. But he's the one who ingested the methamphetamine at such a high level." Erica Nichols Cook of the Iowa Public Defenders Office, and director of the wrongful convictions division, said a team of attorneys now was representing Beeman. She said the team had gotten a court order requiring the DCI to turn over Beemans report, which she said the DCI did grudgingly, and then only part of it. She said it was being litigated when COVID-19 shut down many courthouses. She said the report showed a lot of evidence that had been suppressed by the state. You cant hide evidence about alternate suspects from the defense before trial, she said. We are asking for a new trial for Mr. Beeman regardless of DNA evidence because the state hid this evidence and didnt turn it over. We believe hes innocent. The attorneys had argued in June 2019 that Beeman had always maintained his innocence and that a confession had been coerced by investigators. Beemans conviction was largely based on a confession that Beeman had signed at the end of a two-day interrogation. The state alleges that Beeman had taken Winkel for a motorcycle ride to Wildcat Den State Park, where he raped and killed her after she rejected his advances. Biden on Monday said he did not support efforts to defund the police and his campaign pointed to his proposal to spend $300 million on community policing programs, money that would be withheld if local agencies fail to mirror the demographics of the cities they serve. And while Trump has falsely tagged Biden as wanting to defund the police, his own budget proposals have called for major cuts to the community policing program that Biden wants to increase. Supreme Court has given a major relief to private companies and asked the government not to take any coercive action against them over non-payment of full salaries to employees. It has also asked the government to file a reply on the legality of the order. The Ministry of Home Affairs had ordered private companies to pay full salaries to employees during the lockdown period. The apex court has said that the issue should be resolved through negotiations between employees and employers. The court asked the labour departments of state governments to facilitate the dialogue between employer and employees regarding wage payment. The order passed by a bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M R Shah said the companies and their employees should sit together to arrive at a settlement. Further hearing on the matter will be done in the last week of July. Private companies challenged the government's order to pay full salaries to employees during the 54 days India was under lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The apex court had observed on June 4 that some negotiations needed to happen between employers and employees to resolve the situation. Also read: SBI top Sensex loser after SC seeks roadmap for clearing AGR dues [June 12, 2020] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a National Class Action Law Firm, Announces Investigation of Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) on Behalf of Investors Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a national investor rights law firm, today announced that it has commenced an investigation on behalf of Wells Fargo (News - Alert) & Company ("Wells Fargo" or the "Company") (NYSE: WFC) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of the federal securities laws. If you suffered a loss on your Wells Fargo investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information at https://www.glancylaw.com/cases/wells-fargo-company/.You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at [email protected] to learn more about your rights. On April 19, 2020, after at least one lawsuit was filed against the Company, reports surfaced that Wells Fargo may have unfairly distributed government-backed loans under the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"). On this news the Company's share prie fell $1.54, or over 5%, over two consecutive trading sessions to close at $26.84 per share on April 21, 2020, thereby injuring investors. Finally, on May 5, 2020, the Company revealed that "it has . . . received formal and informal inquiries from federal and state governmental agencies regarding its offering of PPP loans." On this news, the Company's share price fell $1.74, or over 6%, over two consecutive trading sessions to close at $25.61 per share on May 6, 2020, thereby injuring investors further. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. Whistleblower Notice: Persons with non-public information regarding Wells Fargo should consider their options to aid the investigation or take advantage of the SEC (News - Alert) Whistleblower Program. Under the program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Charles H. Linehan at 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 or email [email protected]. About GPM Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP is a premier law firm representing investors and consumers in securities litigation and other complex class action litigation. ISS Securities Class Action Services has consistently ranked GPM in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report. In 2018, GPM was ranked a top five law firm in number of securities class action settlements, and a top six law firm for total dollar size of settlements. With four offices across the country, GPM's nearly 40 attorneys have won groundbreaking rulings and recovered billions of dollars for investors and consumers in securities, antitrust, consumer, and employment class actions. GPM's lawyers have handled cases covering a wide spectrum of corporate misconduct including cases involving financial restatements, internal control weaknesses, earnings management, fraudulent earnings guidance and forward looking statements, auditor misconduct, insider trading, violations of FDA regulations, actions resulting in FDA and DOJ investigations, and many other forms of corporate misconduct. GPM's attorneys have worked on securities cases relating to nearly all industries and sectors in the financial markets, including, energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, real estate and REITs, financial, insurance, information technology, health care, biotech, cryptocurrency, medical devices, and many more. GPM's past successes have been widely covered by leading news and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Bloomberg (News - Alert) Businessweek, Reuters, the Associated Press, Barron's, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, and Money. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005045/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] REGINA - The family of a young man says he tried twice to get mental help at a hospital the day he drowned in a lake in Regina and that he was taken there the second time, just hours before his apparent suicide, by police. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/6/2020 (589 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Samwel Uko is shown in a family handout photo. The family of the young man believed to have committed suicide in Regina says they learned he sought help at the same hospital not once, but twice before his death-- including with a police officer only hours earlier.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Facebook MANDATORY CREDIT REGINA - The family of a young man says he tried twice to get mental help at a hospital the day he drowned in a lake in Regina and that he was taken there the second time, just hours before his apparent suicide, by police. Samwel Uko's relatives are trying to piece together the last moments of the 20-year-old's life before emergency responders discovered his body in Wascana Lake three weeks ago. Uko, who was from Abbotsford, B.C., had travelled to Saskatchewan's capital to visit an aunt. While there, relatives said Uko told them he felt ill and was afraid people were coming after him. He said he wanted to go to a hospital. His uncle Justin Nyee said the family has been trying to get answers about what happened at the Regina General Hospital on May 21. During a recent phone conference with health officials, Nyee said it was revealed that Uko had visited the hospital twice the day he died. Initially, they had only known about a first visit in the morning. Video surveillance shows Uko went back a second time later in the day with a police officer. "Saskatchewan Coroners Service can confirm that they have surveillance footage and that Mr. Uko was brought to the emergency by the Regina Police Service to seek medical assistance," Ministry of Justice spokeswoman Marieka Andrew said Thursday. A police spokeswoman confirmed that a dispatch went out about 5:36 p.m. after Uko called 911. An officer in the area of Broadway Avenue and Winnipeg Street responded. "The officer located the male, who would only say that he wanted to go to the hospital. He voluntarily got into the patrol car and the officer took him into the hospital to seek medical assistance," said Elizabeth Popowich. The officer stayed with Uko for awhile, she added. "This death is still under investigation by the Saskatchewan Coroners Service. Its not appropriate for us to say more." Nyee said he was told that Uko was eventually escorted out of the hospital by security and a nurse, because he didn't provide his name inside. It was shortly after that, about 7:30 p.m., that police have said witnesses reported seeing a man in the lake. "According to the timing, that means he left the hospital and went straight to commit suicide," said Nyee. "I was so upset." The health authority said it is also doing a review and talking throughout the process with Uko's family. "We again wish to convey our condolences to the family and friends of this young man," said spokeswoman Lisa Thomson. "This situation is heartbreaking for everyone involved." A cousin took Uko to the hospital the first time that morning, said Nyee. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the cousin was not allowed to accompany him inside. Nyee said that in talking with health officials, it appears Uko then spoke with four nurses as well as a doctor and was found to be depressed. Uko answered many questions, said the uncle, and told one nurse he had thought about hanging himself but couldn't carry through with it. Uko was prescribed some medication, referred to a mental-health clinic and given a 1-800 number to call for additional help, said Nyee. After one hour and 45 minutes, he was released. "How does a person who comes in the morning seeking help, you send them away and then they come back again in the evening and this time they come with a police officer and still, you kick him out?" The family buried Uko last weekend in British Columbia. Nyee said they are waiting for more information from the investigations. They also plan to seek legal advice. "The fights not going to be just for Samwel," said Nyee. "Its going to be for other people who might come after him." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2020. He continued: Honestly, I question their use in situations that are against unarmed people. Rubber bullets, one of the most common crowd-control munitions, are more than four times the diameter of typical bullets and weigh more than five times as much. They are usually fired from military grenade launchers and manufacturers say they are to be used for major muscle groups like buttocks or thighs, not aimed at the upper body or head. Since they are cylinder-shaped, without the pointy tips of regular bullets, they are not designed to penetrate the body. Injuries from them can run from mild bruising to bone fractures and damage to important blood vessels or nerves, doctors said. There is also a risk of developing internal bleeding if vital organs are impacted by the force of the projectile, said Dr. Ian Wittman, chief of emergency medicine at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn. Just like a real bullet, from a medical perspective a rubber bullet is what we describe as a missile, Dr. Wittman said. In this case the target is a human body, so it can still cause really significant injuries. Flash-bangs, or stun grenades, are also deployed by the police to disperse crowds, as they were by federal authorities in Washington to clear a park in front of the White House so President Trump could walk across it to a church for a staged photo op. They work by disorienting people with a loud noise or a brilliant flash of light. There is little medical research on the long-lasting effects of these types of weapons, but some case reports found that they can damage the eardrums, cause temporary deafness or leave people with prolonged ear pain and ringing, according to Physicians for Human Rights, a nonprofit organization that works to fight mass atrocities and human rights violations around the world. You dont have to go and ruin my life. Thats the self-pitying cry the two female teenagers whove been raped and sexually harassed hear from their abusers in the best-selling author Kelly Yangs novel PARACHUTES (Katherine Tegen Books, 496 pp., $18.99; ages 14 and up). Negating the crime by crippling the actual victim with a false burden of responsibility is one of the more toxic plays of rape culture. Things got out of hand, signals were misread, lets just put this matter behind us. Know this, weary readers: Parachutes is not a book about sexual violence or broken girls or the polluting forces of shame and isolation. It is about the radical possibility of young women finding and detonating their voices. In giving her characters permission to bravely unburden themselves of the vileness of their abusers and the systems that protect them, Yang takes a sledgehammer to rape culture itself, swinging with equal parts artistry and force. The title refers to Chinese kids who are parachuted into chic American high schools. Claire is a wealthy 17-year-old from Shanghai suddenly living in the spare room of her host family outside Los Angeles: a Filipino single mother who works as a housekeeper and her own 17-year-old daughter, Dani, a full-scholarship student at American Prep. The Chicago Police Department has more than 13,000 sworn officers, and we should not take this behavior to be the norm. Thousands of them were deployed during the unrest, making more than 2,000 arrests, and 215 of them were injured. The vast majority appear to have conducted themselves with professionalism and restraint. The bad ones, however, undermine public trust in all cops. AP Inter results 2020 declared | The Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education announced the Inter results 2020 today with 59 percent clearing the first year exam and 63 percent clearing the second year exam AP Inter result 2020 declared | The Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education announced the Inter results 2020 for first and second year on their official website https://bie.ap.gov.in/ today (Friday 12 June). This year, 59 percent of students who appeared for the Class 11 exams and 63 percent of students who appeared for the Class 12 exams in the Andhra board have passed. A total of 10,64,000 students had attended the exams of inter first year and second year, the board said, adding that, of them 5,7,230 students have passed in the first year while 2,76,389 passed the second year exam exam. In Class 12, girls outshined the boys with 67 percent and 60 percent, respectively, clearing the exams. Krishna District has stood at first place with 75 percent of passing results, followed by 71 percent in West Godavari and 63 percent in Vizag. Technical glitch delays results Students were unable to check their Intermediate results on the official website due to a technical glitch in the board's server. Students can also fill their details in the widget below to check their scores. In case, one is met with an error, students are advised to check again after some time. How to check AP Inter results Step 1: Go to official website at Bie.ap.gov.in. Step 2: Clink on the link for AP Inter result (first and second year). Step 3: Enter required details to log in and click on submit option. Step 4: Result will appear on the screen. The results were delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent lockdown. The exams for Class 11 and Class 12 were conducted as per schedule from 4 to 21 March and remained unaffected by the imposition of the first phase of the COVID-19 lockdown, which was put in place on 25 March. As per to Times Now, between 8 and 10 lakh students take the AP Inter first and second year examinations every year. About 4.80 lakh students appeared for Class 11 and nearly the same number appeared for Class 12. The state government has decided to hold Andhra Pradesh Secondary School Certificate (AP SSC) exams as per the revised schedule. AP SSC 2020 will take place from 10 July. Only six papers will be conducted instead of 11. Lab Innova for Africa, a technical-managerial training project set up by Italian Trade Agency has launched a virtual training programme with support from the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) for Ghanaian Agro-based businesses. The training program is aimed at increasing the technical and managerial skills of local agri-food companies to provide them with skills required to access the European Union (EU) markets and facilitate partnerships with Italian companies. It is designed to assist companies with a potential for the international market as well as companies that already sell internationally but intend to expand their reach. The first edition of the two-week course kicked off on June 8, 2020 and will focus on companies that produce fruits and vegetables specifically mango and pineapples. Speaking at the launch of the virtual training, the Chief Executive Officer of GEPA, Dr Afua Asabea Asare, said she was excited about the collaboration offered by Lab Innova and the Italian Trade Agency. GEPA's mandate aligns with developing and promoting non-traditional exports and the initiative advances President Nana Akuffo Addos industrialisation agenda. It also serves the dual purpose of building the capacities of these Ghanaian companies by tapping into best practice examples from the Italian Trade Agency she added. The Association of Ghanaian Industries (AGI) also a collaborative partner on this project, joined the virtual launch and encouraged participants to make the best of the opportunity offered by the best practice case studies and sessions being offered. Twenty participants from the agribusiness sector went through a two-tier scrutiny including one-on-one virtual interview sessions to qualify for the training sessions. Modules for the webinars will have practical sessions on how to approach and introduce one's business to prospective clients, how to relate and have a meaningful dialogue with counterparts. Lab Innova for Africa is an educational training program for the agri-food sector in Africa promoted by the Italian Trade Agency in close cooperation with other Italian Partners. Other African countries that have benefitted from the Lab Innova for Africa Project include Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Uganda. Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 11:50 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde2e7f3 1 World COVID-19,international-cooperation,multilateralism,multilateral-organization,diplomacy,international-relations Free A top diplomat from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry says the COVID-19 pandemic has served as a wake-up call for the multilateralism approach of diplomacy. The reason was that many countries had chosen to be reactive and protectionist at the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak, but later realized they needed to work together in a spirit of solidarity to battle the pandemic, said the ministrys multilateral cooperation director general, Febrian Ruddyard. It is a little bit contradictory, on one side [countries] tend to exclude themselves, but on the other side [they are aware that] collaborations are needed, he said during a webinar on Thursday. We can call it a wake-up call for multilateralism, where the old system [of multilateralism] that had been built is forced to remain effective [amid the pandemic] to fulfill the needs of the people, while at the same time, the global panic has caused many countries to push forward domestic interests, Febrian explained, citing the protectionist mindset in global trade as an example. Indonesia would remain consistent in promoting multilateralism to find equitable solutions, particularly for mitigating the global pandemic, he added. Moreover, Febrian said he believed the pandemic could give added value to multilateral cooperation as it provided room for countries to conduct a reality check on the readiness of their approach in response to the health crisis. It also provided [countries] with an opportunity to revitalize multilateral cooperation, for instance, in the realm of global health management, he said, adding that the reality check would allow the international community to evaluate whether the current system was ideal. Thanks to the pandemic, we now know that our system is not ideal. It is crumbling amid the pandemic [] This will encourage us to look for a new format, which may not be a totally different one, but maybe something that can give dynamics [of the model of cooperation], Febrian added. The coronavirus, which surfaced in China late last year, has killed nearly 420,000 people and infected some 7.4 million worldwide, according to worldometers.info. The pandemic has put half of humanity under some form of lockdown as countries scramble to counter the economic fallout from the coronavirus, which has also taken its toll on healthcare systems across the globe. Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) executive director Philips J. Vermonte agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic had highlighted vulnerabilities in various aspects of global and regional governance, particularly on the prevailing national interests linked to weaknesses that international institutions have. Every country comes up with their own agendas to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic, he said in the discussion on Thursday, calling on international communities to push cooperation and put nationalism and protectionism at bay. In this context, Febrian suggested an optimistic idea to shift the basis of multilateral cooperation, which traditionally was made and determined through historical factors, to move forward and become more practical and future-oriented. In the past, many [international] organizations were established after a problem, not to mitigate potential problems. This kind of way of thinking must change, he said. TORONTO, June 12, 2020 /CNW/ - Scotiabank announced today that it has received the highest ranking in customer satisfaction for its response to the COVID-19 crisis amongst Canadian business owners, according to the Bond COVID-19 Canadian Client Impact Study. Scotiabank outperformed its peers in Canada in overall satisfaction and advocacy and in 8 out of 10 factors measuring the major Canadian banks' responses to the COVID-19 crisis. The study draws on feedback from more than one thousand business owners across Canada. "We're very proud to be recognized by Bond and our Small Business and Business Banking clients. The pandemic has had such a tremendous impact on business owners across Canada, and we've made it a priority across the Bank to help them navigate this uncertainty," said Dan Rees, Group Head of Canadian Banking for Scotiabank. "During the pandemic, over 95% of our branch network remained open and available to serve our clients. Our dedicated team of Advisors and Relationship Managers have been working hard to ensure our clients are aware of the financial relief measures available and how to access them through our online tools, while delivering valuable advice as they begin to rebuild or re-open. We believe this recognition reinforces the importance of being there for our clients when they need it most." Scotiabank stands behind Canadian businesses Relief measures in support of eligible Canadian Small Business and Business Banking clients affected by COVID-19 include: Deferral of payment on small business credit cards and credit lines; Payment deferral on business loans; Online application for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) for small businesses; Emergency Business Account (CEBA) for small businesses; Online application for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS); Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS); Support through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) financial relief program; (BDC) financial relief program; Support through the Export Development Canada (EDC) financial relief program; Continued access to Small Business Advisors and Business Banking Relationship Managers for customized advice. "In light of COVID-19, it's never been more complexor more importantfor Canadian banks to provide critical support to businesses and help them accelerate the recovery," said Bob Macdonald, CEO of Bond. "The businesses that show up now, with the right efforts and experiences, will foster and strengthen customer relationships and brand loyalty for the long term. We congratulate Scotiabank on the strong marks that they received in the study and their efforts to help businesses rebuild and get back to business." The Bond COVID-19 Canadian Client Impact Study surveyed small businesses (808) and commercial businesses (504) between April 28 May 7. The survey asked how businesses were coping with the pandemic, uncovered areas that were most heavily impacted and asked how their financial service provider supported them during the pandemic. For more information about the report, please visit https://info.bondbrandloyalty.com/covidupdates For more information on Scotiabank's relief programs for individuals and businesses, please visit Scotiabank.com/COVID-19. To learn more about Scotiabank's business advice and services, please visit: Small business banking and Commercial banking for more details. About Scotiabank Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future," we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of approximately 97,000 employees and assets of over $1.2 trillion (as at April 30, 2020), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews. About Bond Bond solves complex customer challenges with a unique blend of human-centred design, data science and loyalty mechanics that transforms how brands win, serve and keep audiences. Working globally with iconic brands, Bond designs, builds and operates digital and human experiences that create measurable, authentic, and long-lasting relationships through a combination of solutions that includes customer experience design, loyalty consulting and management, CRM and digital marketing, research and analytics, channel and employee engagement and program technology and platforms. For more information, visit bondbrandloyalty.com, follow Bond on LinkedIn and Twitter, or connect by phone at 1-844-277-2663. SOURCE Scotiabank For further information: Media Contacts: Sheena Riviera, Scotiabank, [email protected], (416) 696-7409; Richard Lane, Bond Brand Loyalty, [email protected], 416-844-9658 Related Links www.scotiabank.ca IS bride Shamima Begum should have her British citizenship restored because she has no hope of a "fair and effective appeal" when she is not allowed in the country, the Court of Appeal has heard. Begum, now 20, is appealing former Home Secretary Sajid Javid's decision to revoke her citizenship after she travelled from her east London home to Syria with two friends so they could join Islamic State in February 2015. When Sky News tracked her down at a Syrian refugee camp in February 2019, she said she was "just a housewife" during her four years in the IS-held territory of Raqqa and "a lot of people should have sympathy for her". Last year she took legal action against the Home Office at the High Court and the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), a specialist tribunal that deals with decisions to remove someone's British citizenship on national security grounds. The SIAC ruled Mr Javid's decision was lawful, despite her lawyers' claims he had made her stateless, because she was a "citizen of Bangladesh by descent" at the time. Challenging that ruling at a remote hearing of the Court of Appeal in London today, Tom Hickman QC cast doubt over whether Begum has a "a fair or effective means of challenging the decision to deprive her of her British citizenship", because the SIAC rejected her claim to come back to Britain to fight her case. He said that depriving Begum of the right to defend herself in the UK was a "breach of natural justice", which means the original decision to revoke her citizenship was "unlawful" and should be reversed. Mr Hickman told the court: "It is a basic principle of our law that executive decisions cannot stand where the requirements of natural justice are not complied with." He claims Mr Javid knew she would not have a "fair and effective" appeal when he made the move. Mr Hickman added: "The consequence of the appellant not being able to have a fair and effective appeal means that the Secretary of State's decision stands indefinitely and possibly forever without there ever having been a judicial decision on the merits (of Ms Begum's appeal). That, we say, piles unfairness upon unfairness and is wrong in law." Story continues He pointed out that Begum, who is still living in the al-Roj camp in Syria where she was discovered last year, was only 15 when she left the UK, adding: "She had not even taken her GCSE exams." Mr Hickman claimed she had been "influenced" to join IS with her friends. Sir James Eadie QC, representing the Home Office, said that Begum's inability to "fully engage with the statutory appeal procedure" was a result of her decision to travel to Syria. He told the court: "This led to her being held in conditions akin to detention in a foreign state at the hands of a third party, the Syrian Defence Force. "It was not the result of any action by the Secretary of State and the deprivation decision did not have any causative impact on the appellant in this respect." Sir James said that Begum is in contact with her lawyers, and while it "might not be possible to mirror the level of access to legal advice that would be available if someone were at liberty in the UK, it does not mean the proceedings are unfair". Begum and two other pupils from Bethnal Green Academy - Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase - boarded a flight at Gatwick and flew to Istanbul in Turkey. They later made their way to Raqqa in Syria. Begum married a Dutch IS fighter, Yago Riedijk, three weeks after arriving in the country. She had three children, two sons and a daughter, who have all since died. The two-day hearing before Lord Justice Flaux, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Singh is being live-streamed on the judiciary's YouTube channel, and it is expected that the Court of Appeal will reserve its judgment to a later date. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 15:45:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHANGCHUN, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Yanbian, the only autonomous prefecture of China's Korean ethnic group in northeastern Jilin Province, has cast off poverty. By June, all five impoverished counties in the prefecture, including four state-level ones, were lifted out of poverty. Thanks to measures including developing industries like cattle raising, edible fungus planting and tourism, the poverty rate of the prefecture dropped from 12.2 percent at the end of 2015 to 0.05 percent now, according to the poverty alleviation office of the prefecture. China aims to eradicate absolute poverty by 2020. In the traditional Korean farming culture, cattle used to be so important that many farmers even spared a room as the cowshed. Although machines have replaced livestock for plowing in modern times, cattle are still considered quite a "cash cow" in the prefecture. By raising Yanbian yellow cattle, a crossbreed between the local and French Limousin breeds, Liu Jingyi brought home an additional income of 40,000 yuan a year due to higher prices for quality beef. "I used to raise cattle to make ends meet. Now it has brought me wealth," said Liu, a villager in the Dongshengyong Township in Yanbian's Longjing City. Steak and other beef products are sold to more than 50 five-star hotels at up to 200 yuan per kg, three times the price of ordinary beef. In 2019, the total number of cattle raised in the prefecture reached 167,000, according to the government of Yanbian. Located in the mountainous area at the border of China, Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Yanbian is one of the most impoverished areas in Jilin Province. Nearly 36 percent of the prefecture's population is ethnically Korean. To alleviate poverty for registered impoverished residents, the prefecture carried out more than 3,200 projects between 2016 and 2019. In Wangqing County, a forest zone known for black fungus production, workers are busy making and watering fungus packs in the production base of Baiyi, a local biotechnology company. "I was hired to guard the base and water the packs," said Wang Yuedong, who is unable to toil in the fields after a fall accident years ago resulted in a broken leg. General Manager Wang Guoguang said most of the company's employees are local villagers, each of whom earns over 4,000 yuan per month. The black fungus industry, which covers more than 120 villages in Wangqing County, has seen an annual output of 3.4 billion yuan, helping some 16,000 poor villagers out of poverty. Other major agricultural industries garnering income include blueberry, kiwi and ginseng plantations. At the former site of the Mingyan Village in Xicheng Township in the city of Helong, a new village featuring folk culture has been built after massive floods inundated and destroyed local houses and roads in July 2010. More than 70 percent of local households are now engaged in the tourism sector, such as family inns and folk performances. "Unlike in the past when we had to rely on the weather for a harvest, we can now earn an income without leaving home," said Li Yueshun, who has turned her new house into a family inn. Figures show a total of 24.23 million tourists brought in revenue of 47.4 billion yuan to the prefecture in 2019, up 13 percent and 17 percent respectively compared with the previous year. Mingyan Village has been renamed "Jindalai," meaning azalea flower. In Korean culture, blooming azalea flowers indicate the arrival of the spring. "The new name of our village symbolizes the good wish for a rebirth following the massive floods," said Jin Guangri, Party chief of the village. Enditem A vaccine made of mosquito spit that could protect people from the next epidemic might be in the offing after a recent study by ... A vaccine made of mosquito spit that could protect people from the next epidemic might be in the offing after a recent study by Jessica Manning, a US researcher. According to Reuters, in 2015, Manning conceived a novel idea of initiating a vaccine that could protect people against not just malaria but all mosquito-borne pathogens simultaneously. The vaccine would protect against all of the pathogens that the insects inject into humans including malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, yellow fever, West Nile, Mayaro viruses and anything else that may emerge if it becomes a success. Her vector-based vaccine is seeking to train the bodys immune system to recognise the saliva proteins and mount a response that would weaken or prevent an infection. The initial results of Mannings work with her colleagues, said to be published on the Lancet journal on Thursday, is believed to the first-ever clinical trial of a mosquito spit vaccine in humans. Findings from the trial revealed that an anopheles mosquito-based vaccine was safe and that it triggered antibody and cellular responses. Manning, who works as a clinical researcher for the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the vaccine would be the Holy Grail if the trial becomes a success. She, however, called for more innovative tools to facilitate the study. Michael McCracken, who studies immune responses to mosquito-borne viruses at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Maryland, described the initial results as foundational. This is big, important work. Mosquitoes are arguably the deadliest animal on Earth, he said. Mannings work comes against the backdrop of increasing focus on infectious diseases and vaccine research since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which was declared pandemic in March 2020. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mosquitoes are one of the deadliest animals in the world. Their ability to carry and spread disease to humans causes millions of deaths every year. In 2015, malaria alone caused 438 000 deaths. The COVID-19 pandemic, on the other hand, has so far killed nearly 425,000 worldwide with 7.7 million cases, according to worldometer. An elderly man shoved to the ground by Buffalo police denies being part of Antifa after President Donald Trump suggested he was a provocateur who faked his fall. Martin Gugino, 75, remains hospitalized with a bruise and cuts after two police officers shoved him Thursday during a protest against police brutality after the death of George Floyd. Video from NPRs Buffalo radio station, WBFO, showing Gugino on the ground and bleeding from the ear quickly went viral and outrage ensued as the Buffalo Police Department claimed in a statement he tripped & fell. Trump claimed without evidence that Gugino could be an ANTIFA provocateur on Twitter Tuesday and pushed a conspiracy theory that "Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment. @OANN I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up? Kelly Zarcone, a lawyer for Gugino, told TMZ on Tuesday that he denies being involved with the anti-fascist movement. Martin is out of ICU but still hospitalized and truly needs to rest. Martin has always been a peaceful protestor because he cares about todays society," Zarcone said in a statement. No one from law enforcement has suggested otherwise." Gugino "is also a typical Western New Yorker who loves his family. No one from law enforcement has even suggested anything otherwise, so we are at a loss to understand why the President of the United States would make such dark, dangerous, and untrue accusations against him. The BBC fact-checked Trumps claims Gugino was trying to scan or block police communications, noting that some apps allow phone users to listen to police scanners -- but wouldnt be able to jam police radio signals. In any event, even if you were attempting to scan police radios in order to jam them using a mobile phone, which is what the man appeared to be holding, this is not the equipment you would use. You would need much more sophisticated scanning equipment, Professor Alan Woodward, a cyber security expert at Surrey University told the British publication. In terms of interfering with police communications frequencies, mobile phones simply dont have components that work at those frequencies." Gov. Andrew Cuomo criticized Trump on Tuesday for the baseless tweet. Do you think the blood coming out of his head was staged? Is that what youre saying? the New York governor said. How reckless, how irresponsible, how mean, how crude. If there was ever a reprehensible dumb comment, and from the President of the United States. At this moment of anguish and anger, what does he do? Pours gasoline on the fire." Officers Aaron Torglaski and Robert McCabe were charged with second-degree assault Saturday and released without bail after pleading not guilty. Both officers were suspended without pay late Thursday night. Gugino, identified as a longtime peace activist from Amherst, is a member of two nonprofits: PUSH Buffalo, which focuses on affordable housing, and the Western New York Peace Center, a human rights organization. He is also part of the Catholic Worker Movement and politically active on social media, frequently criticizing Trump. Trump did not provide any evidence for claims that Gugino has antifa ties or that he faked his fall. His source, an OANN video, is from the conservative, far-right One America News Network known for promoting conspiracy theories. Trump has described antifa, an anti-fascist movement, as a domestic terrorist organization and blamed the collective on violence in cities where protests have occurred since Floyd died on Memorial Day when a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The Associated Press reports more than 85% of those arrested by police during protests and riots in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., were local residents. Only a small number of the 217 people arrested in those two epicenters for civil unrest appeared to have any affiliation with organized groups, according to court records, employment histories, social media posts and other sources of information. WATCH: Late-night TV hosts skewer Trump over Buffalo protester conspiracy theory 3 1 of 3 Google Maps Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Houston Police Department Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Two people were killed and four others injured Thursday night in a drive-by shooting in southwest Houston, police said. Police do not yet have a suspect in custody. The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed that all private hospitals that have been asked to reserve 20% beds for admitting Covid-19 patients should conduct tests on symptomatic and asymptomatic persons, who seek admission in the hospital for undergoing surgeries and procedures of other nature as well, saying that the city is fast heading towards becoming the Corona capital of the country, an epithet the city can well do without. A bench of justice Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad said it was the need of the hour that all private hospitals which are equipped with labs to conduct coronavirus tests and have the sanction of ICMR to do so should be permitted to conduct tests. Also read: Seven states see rapid increase in Covid-19 cases in 10 days The high court also noted that non-Covid patients, who are approaching private hospitals for admission to undergo emergency surgeries and other such procedures, are not being admitted before getting a coronavirus test done, for which they are compelled to go elsewhere. It is most unfortunate that non-Covid patients are being made to wait to undergo a test for Covid-19 at labs other than those which are situated within the premises of the hospitals, that is equipped and authorised to conduct the said test, the bench said. In view of the aforesaid situation brought to our attention, it is directed that all the private hospitals in Delhi that have been called upon to reserve 20% beds for admitting COVID-19 patients are equipped with labs to conduct the COVID-19 test and have the sanction of the ICMR to do so, should proceed to conduct tests on symptomatic/asymptomatic persons, who seek admission in the hospital for undergoing surgeries/procedures of other nature as well, it added. The order came on the application by advocate Sanjeev Sharma who contended that there have been several instances where non-Covid patients needing surgery or other procedures were asked to undergo testing before that, but the hospital concerned did not conduct the Covid test since they dont have the government permission. The application, filed through advocate Rakesh Malhotra, has also sought a direction to the Delhi government and all the hospitals and nursing homes permitted to treat Covid-19 cases to daily publish on their respective websites the status of vacancy of beds so that patients need not run from pillar to post for the same. Appearing for the Delhi government, its additional standing counsel Satyakam filed a status report stating that currently, there are 17 labs in the public sector and their current combined capacity for undertaking Covid-19 tests is 2,900 samples per day. In the private sector, 23 labs have been permitted to conduct the test and their combined capacity of testing is 5,700 samples per day. However, the counsel for the petitioner said that the status report is also incorrect as the Delhi government has not allowed about six laboratories from taking up Covid-19 tests. However, the Delhi government counsel disputed this submission stating that the details furnished in the status report have been collated only last night and they are correct. Also read| Use mobile data to keep tabs on home quarantine patients: Govt Following this, the court issued notice to all the 23 private laboratories who are testing samples to file affidavits clarifying whether they have been permitted to undertake tests for suspected Covid-19 patients by adopting the RT-PCR test or the CB-NAAT test. They shall also point out the difficulties, if any, faced by them on account of any bureaucratic red tape, the court added. It also asked the ICMR to file a status report indicating the number of applications submitted by accredited labs in Delhi that had sought permission to conduct Covid-19 test and the status of the applications. The matter would be heard next on June 18. Delhi government did not respond to requests for comment. Hattie McDaniel, left, gets an Oscar in 1940 from Fay Bainter. (Associated Press) By popular demand, monuments to the Confederacy have been tumbling down. Since 2015, around 110 statues have been removed, with roughly another 1700 to go. The worldwide protest of George Floyds killing by a Minneapolis police officer has sped the pace. From Mobile, Ala., to Antwerp, Belgium, symbols of white supremacy are taking a nosedive. And I couldnt be more thrilled. Until now. WarnerMedia has removed Gone With the Wind from its new streaming platform, HBO Max. AFI ranked the film No. 6 among the 100 Best Movies of All Time. The 1939 David O. Selznick-produced film not only won a bunch of Oscars, it also led to the first Academy Award for an African American actor, Hattie McDaniel. She played Mammy, a stereotypical maid role common to her era. The shelving of GWTW at the urging of another Academy Award winner, director and screenwriter John Ridley (12 Years a Slave), is happening for good reason: It doesnt just fall short with regard to representation, he pointed out in an op-ed in this newspaper. When it is not ignoring the horrors of slavery, ["Gone With the Wind"] pauses only to perpetuate some of the most painful stereotypes of people of color. Ive sat through GWTW exactly once as research for a historical novel in which McDaniel is a character. I dont like the film either. At the same time, it is sad to see the actress get canceled along with the movie. She endured so many trials to stand, briefly, in the spotlight. Shortly after winning her Academy Award in 1940, McDaniel found herself under attack: The head of the NAACP, Walter Francis White, came after her and the roles she and her contemporaries played. Already fighting segregation in education, housing and the military, he used his connections as a prominent civil rights leader to try to pressure Hollywood to portray Blacks in all kinds of roles, not just menial ones. White helped negotiate Lena Hornes seven-picture deal with MGM in 1942. His bent was toward actors like the newcomer whom he considered more attractive and sophisticated than McDaniel. And yet the studios tended to ignored Horne's acting ability and focus on her singing. Portraying Blacks mainly as the entertainment in a story is itself stereotyping. When Horne wasn't in musicals such as "Stormy Weather" or "Cabin in the Sky," she was typically filmed singing off to the side of the action, making it easier to cut her scenes in the South. Story continues White, who was based in New York, continued to visit Los Angeles to rub elbows with producers, and discourage them from making more films with the servile roles McDaniel played. The actress knew it was happening. One of her biographers said she reacted as if White were trying to grab the bread right out of her mouth. McDaniel bravely chose to pursue her passion in a time when the default for Black women was domestic work. She grew up the youngest of 13 in a talented family. Her father traveled with her brothers in an act called Henry McDaniel and Sons. She and her siblings produced shows for Denvers Black community. But her family was poor and struggled to get by. Hattie went on to work as a featured act on the Pantages Circuit, and to write and record blues music in Chicago but then lost two major gigs to the Depression. She viewed Hollywood as her last resort. Joining three siblings in L.A., she found work in one of the few industries still prospering: the motion pictures. She booked small parts in the early 1930s, won the role of Queenie in "Show Boat" (1936), and then the pinnacle came when she landed "Gone with the Wind." Its not a mystery why, in this racially charged moment, people would gather at the base of Hollywood's multi-Oscar-winning, highest-grossing Confederate statue eager to yank it from its perch. But when I think of "Gone With the Wind," I also think of all the years McDaniel invested in becoming an artist on her own terms. All the sacrifices. All the hope. An HBO Max representative has said the film is not gone for good, that it will come back with a discussion of its historical context and a denouncement of those [stereotypical] depictions. That sounds fair enough, although the portrayal of Black womanhood in the movie causes me pain. So I'm Team Hattie, not Team "GWTW." I especially love how, in the weeks after the film was released, McDaniel marched into Selznicks office, showed him the good notices for her performance and asked, if he agreed with them, to put her name in the running for the best supporting actress Oscar. That gutsy, well-timed move, and the results, are why she has been immortalized, and why I find her to be such a compelling figure. Her commitment to live as an artist, come what may, will always inspire me. Writer and filmmaker Pamela K. Johnson is finishing her first novel, Hattie and Walter." (@pamelasez) When we think about the world of tech, we know that a lot of the pioneering stuff came from people who dropped out of school and never really finished their education. Is it a surprise that when it comes to films, the situation is no different? Reuters One would imagine making something that was as magnanimous as the Titanic, or Avatar, the filmmakers would have had to attend some of the best film schools in the world. Oh boy, youre in for surprise. Twitter/jimcameron Here are 6 Directors who never went to film school, and yet completely revolutionised how we consume movies and cinema as an art form. Christopher Nolan Twitter/dunkirkmovie Yup, the man who singlehandedly revived Batman, who has given us some of the most mind-boggling films ever made, Christopher Nolan, did not attend film school. He truly is one of the best self-taught filmmakers we have today. And yet, so great is his understanding of the art form that he has been setting one precedent after another on how films are supposed to be made. Quentin Tarantino Reuters Although Tarantino had always surrounded himself with films, he never actually went to a film school. Instead, he learnt everything that he puts in his films, by watching films at a video parlour where he used to work. And yet, the visuals that he paints in his films, is simply mesmerising. And given that he shoots his movies on film, unlike most of his contemporaries, it makes his work even more impressive. Steven Spielberg Wiki Commons Well, technically, speaking Spielberg did get a degree in film & electronic arts, but in 2002, decades after he had given blockbusters like Jaws, two Indiana Jones films, Schindlers List, Saving Private Ryan, two Jurassic Park movies, Catch Me If You Can, and a whole lot of movies, which had already established him as a seminal filmmaker. Thats like Shakuntala Devi getting a degree in mathematics from some basic-ass University after getting recognition in the world for being the mathematical genius that she was. Heres the interesting bit in Spielbergs story: he was initially rejected by the University Of Southern Californias film school because he did not have sufficient grades. Bet guess who felt like morons later! Wes Anderson Twitter/jimcameron If you do not have an inclination of watching films other than Bollywood flicks and have been living under a rock, all this while, Wes Anderson is a filmmaker that you simply cannot afford to miss out on. Over the years, he has made some of the most visually appealing films, which always manage to tell a riveting story. He graduated with a degree in Philosophy, and never attended a film school. James Cameron Twitter/rWesAnderson Of the top 5 highest-grossing films ever made, two of them, Titanic & Avatar are the brainchildren of James Cameron. One would imagine that James would have attended the finest of film schools. Well, he started out studying Physics, switched to English Literature, before finally dropping out and working as a trucker. Never attended a film school or anything remotely resembling that, and yet, managed to be the most successful commercial director ever. Akira Kurosawa Wiki Commons Finally, we have the God of Filmmaking, Akira Kurosawa. If you havent watched his films, or at the very least read about the cinematic techniques he developed over his career, you cannot call yourself a cinephile. Kurosawa started out as a painter and eventually started making films in Japan, in 1936. The techniques in cinematography and visual storytelling that he developed over the next 50-60 years are still being used today, everywhere. And mind you, even though we have CGI & digital editing to help our filmmakers out, Akira did everything manually, using film. In a desert wilderness in Mali, close to the Algerian border, pitted with isolated rocks and weighed by oppressive heat, French special forces and combat helicopters begin an operation. At its climax, they claim one of the greatest successes of France's deployment in the Sahel region of north Africa -- the killing of the head of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) Abdelmalek Droukdel. The French military, for the first time, provided details on Thursday of how late last week it "neutralised" the man it has called "the third deputy" of Al-Qaeda's leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Officials describe the death of the Algerian Droukdel as the fruit of meticulous intelligence work. This was concluded by a military intervention in broad daylight, about ten kilometres (6.2 miles) from the Algerian border, east of the Malian town of Tessalit. A source close to the operation said about fifteen French special forces were dropped by at least two transport helicopters, as well as a Tiger combat helicopter and a Gazelle multipurpose helicopter, with a drone in support. "The capture of Droukdel was not possible," said the source, who asked not to be named. "The goal is not necessarily to kill," said the official. But "in combat, the men see just rocks" with combatants cowering behind them. "They don't know who is behind the gun". The source added: "This type of individual does not surrender". 'Building intelligence' The army is not giving details of the exchanges that took place during the operation, merely confirming that fighting took place at close quarters. "We knew that there was a target of interest in the region for two days. After that, it was all a work of mutual support, between the different sources of intelligence," said the source. "It is a case of building it up," said the official, without revealing the origin of the information but confirming the help of the United States. Once the objective was identified and located, conditions in northern Mali at the beginning of the rainy season slowed down the progress of forces on the ground. In the operation, one individual was captured and handed to the Malian authorities after being interrogated by the French forces. But the soldiers also seized important digital material, including phones, cards and computers. Analysing them may help explain what Droukdel, who was usually very discreet, was doing in the region. 'Buried at the scene' There has for some time been major fighting between groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda with those of Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (IS-GS). These have been "violent" fights with "losses on both sides", according to the French source. It is has not been ruled out that this could have prompted Droukdel's presence in the area. "It's a real question," said the source, expressing hope that analysis would shed more light on this. The IS-GS was designated in January as the number one enemy of France's 5,000 strong anti-jihadist force Barkhane and its G5 Sahel allies of Mauritania, Chad, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso. But, in the end, it was an Al-Qaeda figure who was killed in this operation. "The fact that today we have focused a certain number of our forces on the most virulent and urgent threat has not distracted us from the surveillance of other branches", said the source. Once the operation was finished, the special forces "applied the standards of armed conflict: the enemy combatants were buried at the scene". Meanwhile the prisoner taken "will answer for his actions before the courts", said the source. The official praised the operational efficiency of the French forces on the ground and in the air, saying they were capable of deploying in a clandestine situation in full gear in temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). In military terms, these are "extremely rustic conditions", said the source. Communities in Context is theme for Honors Program 2020-2021 The Flagler College Honors Program will be focused on Communities in Context as its theme for the programs fifth year. Associate Director Rachel Cremona said the theme was chosen because it will allow students to Use your community as your book. In the community of St. Augustine, that book includes a lot of layers. This should focus students to help them move into their new community, their new family. Listen to an interview with King and Cremona on Flagler Footnotes WFCF radio show, here. Each year the program has grown exponentially, largely due to the vision of its inaugural leaders, Director Eric Hoffman and Associate Director Wesley King. While King has moved into the directorship role, Cremona joined the ranks late last year to help plan for this year. The new team has already proven dynamic, setting the tone last year at the end-of-year induction ceremony with rousing speeches, challenges to the students and ambitious plans for the future. One of those goals is to introduce FlagSHIP courses specifically geared towards the honors students. New leadership seems timely as it coincides with the start of the colleges 5-year strategic plan initiatives, the Honors Programs future goals intertwining nicely with the goals of that plan. The theme adjusts yearly and serves as a cohesive direction for the new, incoming class of honors students, said King. We allow for a lot of faculty interpretation of the theme and how they want to approach it, he continued, as he explained the reason behind the theme and the desire to ensure unique class options for each incoming class of honors students. Although students are typically offered membership during their first year, there is an opportunity later in their college career to be accepted into the program if recommended by a member of the faculty. For more information on the Honors Program, please visit here. Tagged As Mysuru: With no positive cases for the last three days, Mandya district is on the path to be free from COVID-19. Out of the total 334 COVID-19 cases, 255 have already been discharged so far. There are only 72 active cases, with all of them being treated at the designated hospital in Mandya. Among the active cases, two are pregnant women, including one who is eight-months pregnant and the other four-months pregnant, 12 are below the age of 13, two are between 13 to 15 years of age and two are above 60. Out of the total 334 cases, only three patients showed any COVID-19 related symptoms. The first patient was diagnosed with pneumonia, while the second showed symptoms of mild fever. The third patient suffered from a throat ache, Mandya district health officer, Dr HP Manchegowda, said. Interestingly, only 39 patients out of the 334 are from Mandya, including four primary contacts of Tablighis who had visited Malavalli, and 17 of their primary contacts. Two are employees of Jubilant Pharmaceuticals, 13 are contacts of a Mumbai returnee P 869, and three frontline corona warriors. Rest are all outsiders, including one from Ranebennur, and as many as 294 from Mumbai. Among the infected locals, three frontline corona warriors are now cured, including a child development protection officer of Malavalli taluk. The other two are from KRpet taluka. One of them is a 46-year-old male police head constable at KR Nagar police station, who had gone to quarantine centres to write travel history of Mumbai returnees. The other is a 68-year-old woman gynaecologist who had been hired on a contract basis under the National Rural Health Mission for Kikkeri Community Health Centre. All three were given special farewell by the Mandya district administration. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, the police head constable said, "I still can't believe that I tested positive for COVID-19 as I did show any symtpoms. I was so happy to note that such excellent treatment was provided at a government set up. IGP Vipul Kumar, SP K Parashuram, ASP Shobha Rani, SI Byataraygowda spoke to me over the phone and instilled confidence in me. Since I had personally witnessed people recovering, I knew I would recover. I was in touch with my 19-year-old son and wife over the phone. I did not feel lonely during my hospitalisation as my focus was towards my recovery," he said. The 68-year-old doctor, another old frontline worker, said, I always stayed positive and confident. Though we often hear of complaints by few quarantined at institutions; some also escaped institutional quarantine, I am happy with the way I was taken care of." The nations top public health official is slated to tour a Boston hospital Friday. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar will visit Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston around 11 a.m. He will tour the hospitals coronavirus test kit assembly areas and primary care practice, according to a statement from Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito are expected to join Azar on his tour and later for a roundtable discussion on the commonwealths four-phase reopening plan, the statement said. The news about the Health and Human Services secretarys visit comes as a vaccine being developed by Beth Israel in collaboration with the health care giant Johnson & Johnson showed strong results in pre-clinical studies. Researchers announced earlier this month that the first part of the trial will start two months ahead of schedule in the second half of July, according to a statement Johnson & Johnson. Related Content: Advertisement Britons finally able to reunite with loved ones this weekend may well be firing up the barbecue for the occasion, with the UK set to enjoy 79F (26C) temperatures, making it hotter than Benidorm. Boris Johnson this week gave the green light for two households to merge into 'support bubbles' from Saturday, but only if one of them contains just one adult. Couples who live in separate homes will be allowed to interact as though they were one household, spending time together indoors, not having to follow the two-metre social distancing rule and they can even stay overnight. The new social bubble rules also mean that older people living alone will be able to go and stay with their children, or have their grandchildren to stay at their own homes to help with childcare. The return of warm and sunny weather is likely to see many once again make a beeline for the coast, with beaches having been packed with visitors, even before the Prime Minister eased lockdown restrictions. People packed the beach at Bournemouth on the last day of real sunshine on June 2, pictured, despite warnings to obey social distancing rules Two people out for a walk this morning at Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, were caught out by heavy rain, which is expected to continue falling either side of sunny spells this weekend The reunion of loved ones from different households may see many take advantage by having a barbecue, as a group on Southsea Common, Hants, were pictured doing on May 30 People sunbathed on a sunny day in London's Hampstead Heath on June 2, pictured, and are expected to do the same as the mercury rises again this weekend However, Britain will face another wet start to the weekend, with widespread rain expected later today and into Saturday. Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey told MailOnline: 'We are looking at a showery picture for tomorrow, including heavy thunder in some areas and rain particularly in the east, north and south-west. 'There is a chancy of sunny spells in between showers, but it's a fairly changeable, unsettled picture as we go through the weekend and into next week. 'Temperatures will pick up, though, and it could feel humid and close if you are under a cloud.' During the spells of sunshine tomorrow, the mercury could rise to as high as 79F (26C) in London, and just below in many other areas including Birmingham, Manchester and York. Temperatures are not expected to reach the 20s in Scotland, however. where it is likely to remain wet for most of the day. The rain is then expected to return on Sunday, with fog also likely in some areas, particularly in the north-east, with sunny spells again coming in between scattered showers. Despite the showers, though, some areas could experience temperatures up to 75F (24C). 'The picture is not really changing into early next week as the unsettled weather continues,' Ms Maxey added. 'We're likely to see a mix of sunshine and strong showers, with a risk of thunderstorms for the first half of next week.' England in particular has been beset by rainfall in recent days, with more than double the amount of water falling in the first 10 days of this month, compared to all of May. Indeed, last month was the warmest May on record with global temperatures 1.13F (0.63C) above average, according to the European Union's climate change monitor. Shoppers in Belfast, Northern Ireland, braved the rain this morning after all shopping centres and retailers were given the green light to reopen in a significant relaxation of coronavirus lockdown restriction A car creates a large splash as it drives through a puddle in Yeadon, Leeds, earlier today, with more rain expected this evening The UK has been beset by rainfall in recent days, with many areas seeing more water falling in the first 10 days of this month, compared to all of May. Pictured: Shoppers brave the rain in Belfast this morning The lifting of further restrictions this week is designed to help the UK's 'many lonely or isolated people' who are seen as struggling the most during the months-long lockdown. The Prime Minister said: 'I know how how difficult the past months have been for people cut off from their family and friends. 'There are still too many people, particularly those who live by themselves, who are by themselves and struggling'. He admitted that there would be many people disappointed by the restrictions on eligibility but cautioned that the change was not an excuse for a free-for-all. 'We are making this change to support those who are particularly lonely as a result of lockdown measures,' he said. 'It's a targeted intervention to limit the most harmful effects of the current social restrictions. 'It is emphatically not designed for people who don't qualify to start meeting inside other people's homes, because that remains against the law.' Mr Johnson also confirmed shops could reopen on Monday if they abide by social distancing rules, as well as zoos, safari parks and drive-in cinemas. Churches and other religious buildings can also re-open for individual worship, but there was no further announcements in relation to the opening of pubs. PM agrees to lift night curfew BANGKOK: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has agreed to lift the night curfew and allow most businesses to resume, except entertainment venues and wet massage parlours, according to Gen Somsak Roongsita, the secretary-general of the National Security Council. COVID-19healthcrimeeconomicstourism By Bangkok Post Friday 12 June 2020, 02:01PM Even before the end of May Phuket was among the leading provinces in the country for people arrested breaking the nightly curfew. Above is todays report for the number of curfew breakers arrested on the island. Image: Phuket Provincial Police The decision followed a meeting of the committee under the governments Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), reports the Bangkok Post. The prime minister chaired the meeting at Government House yesterday. The CCSA will today decide on the relaxations proposed by the business lockdown-easing committee led by Gen Somsak. Also present at the meeting yesterday were Dr Sukum Kanchanapimai, permanent secretary for health, Dr Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, director-general of the Disease Control Department and Chatchai Phromlert, permanent secretary for the interior. Gen Somsak said the prime minister agreed with his committees proposals saying they had been thoroughly considered. He confirmed 95% of business and activities would resume operation. He quoted the prime minister as saying people had been cooperating well with disease-control measures in the previous stages of relaxation of business and activity restrictions, so that justified the almost complete end to business/activity lockdowns. "Following the CCSAs resolution, the regulations will be announced, effective on June 15. On the lifting of the curfew, please wait to hear the good news from the CCSA. May I emphasise this is not a 15-day curfew-lift trial period but consideration of whether or not it will be lifted," he said referring to previous reports of a trial period. Sports competitions will be allowed but audiences can watch only via broadcasts. Alcoholic drinks will be allowed in restaurants, but not at pubs and bars, he said. A source who asked not to be named said Gen Prayut agreed to lift the 11pm-3am curfew so people could return to their normal lives. Almost all businesses would be allowed to resume except pubs, bars, karaoke outlets and bath-sauna-massage parlours. The prime minister wants to ease the pressure on people and boost the effectiveness of other disease-control measures instead, the source said. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said a master law will authorise announced measures. Among the measures, considered as necessary according to the situation, the curfew and the ban on gatherings might be lifted while the decree remains, he said. Yesterday morning, there were no new cases of COVID-19 in the country, and no deaths, in the previous 24 hours, the CCSA reported. Total local cases remained at 3,125, of whom 2,987 (96%) had recovered, including six patients discharged in the previous 24 hours. Eighty patients were still in hospital. The death toll was unchanged at 58. Panprapa Yongtrakul, CCSA assistant spokeswoman said despite the good news people should continue to wear face masks, wash their hands often and practise social distancing. Panprapa Yongtrakul, CCSA assistant spokeswoman said despite the good news people should continue to wear face masks, wash their hands often and practise social distancing. Phuket in national top 10 for curfew breakers Even before the end of May, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Rungrote Thakurapunyasiri confirmed to The Phuket News that the total number of people arrested in Phuket for breaking the nightly curfew had resulted in the island being ranked within the top 10 offending locations nationally. Phuket Provincial Police reported today (June 12) that so far a total of 1,986 people had been arrested for breaking the nightly curfew without essential reason. Only 109 of those were arrested at checkpoints. The remaining 1,877 arrests were made by patrols. The arrests so far were counted as 1,926 cases, of which 1,565 have been already processed, with 361 cases still waiting to be prosecuted, the Phuket Provincial Police also noted. According to the report, the number of arrests for breaking the curfew without essential reason reported by each police station on the island so far is as follows: Mourners viewed the site of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2019. This year marks the four-year anniversary of the tragic event that killed 49 victims, many Hispanic and LGBTQ. (Photo: Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) Its been four years since the Pulse LGBTQ nightclub massacre, when 49 people were gunned down while partying the night away at the beloved Orlando club. The somber anniversary of the event which was, at the time, the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history (until the 2017 open-fire attack on Las Vegas concertgoers) is being met with planned memorials and social media posts, as well as remembrances from survivors, with a continued commitment to activism during what is now a permanent dark spot in LGBTQ Pride Month. On the eve of 4 years since Pulse, amidst a national confrontation with racism & hate, we are launching the largest election program by a state equality org in history. Our task: mobilize 500,000 FL voters. Honoring them with our voices AND our votes.https://t.co/2FmaHLWPmO Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) June 11, 2020 Brandon Wolf, who survived the nightclub shooting but lost his best friends, partners Drew Leinonen and Juan Guerroro, in the attack, has become a full-time activist in the years since giving up his job as a retail manager to work for Equality Florida and also focus his efforts on the foundation launched in honor of his friends, the Dru Project. Pulse changed everything, he tells Yahoo Life. Pulse nightclub massacre survivor Brandon Wolf, left, at a press conference held by central Florida legislators and gun safety advocates inn 2019. (Photo: Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) This week, he announced both the launch of a major voter outreach project and a new milestone in awarding over $50,000 in college scholarships through the Dru Project. Out of darkness comes hope. We launched @thedruproject just weeks after Pulse. Now, weve given over $50k in college scholarships in honor of Drew. Check out a few familiar faces congratulating this years recipients! pic.twitter.com/dlGMFeb0i1 Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) June 12, 2020 I would be lying if I told you that the last four years have not been extra challenging, that every day is hard, that every day is painful, that June 12 is the hardest day of the year, and that I miss my friends a lot, Wolf, who testified before Congress last year in favor of stricter gun laws, shares. What keeps him hopeful is the promise he made at Leinonens funeral, when he was a pallbearer. Story continues I remember holding onto to the sides of the casket so tightly I thought my fingers would break off. I didnt want to let go until I found the right words to say goodbye, he recalls. I whispered, Im never going to stop fighting for a world that you would be proud of. The idea that the legacy of my best friend can be the world that deserves him is what keeps me going. Wolf understands that many have trouble remaining positive when goals have not been achieved, noting, I hear a lot of frustration over gun violence prevention, LGBTQ civil rights systemic racism, he says. I take solace in the fact that we are making progress. And I look to 2018 as example. Thats when the Parkland shooting occurred, not all that far from Pulse, and Wolf formed a bond with the young activists who became mobilized to create the March for Our Lives and an ongoing movement as a result of the tragedy. That group has totally changed the national dialogue, he says. Those young activists were among the many others, from George Takei and Gov. Andrew Cuomo to Pulse Orlando itself, that remembered the Pulse shooting on social media. 49 lives lost, many of them Latinx lives. Its been 4 years since the shooting at Pulse, a LGBTQ+ nightclub in Orlando. Deadly gun violence and hate has no place in America. We fight for Pulse, we fight for all the victims lost to hatred in our country. pic.twitter.com/A7uIjVwP4j March For Our Lives (@AMarch4OurLives) June 12, 2020 I remember the laughs at Pulse. I remember the music. I remember the people dancing. But most of all I remember the love. The sense of belonging and total acceptance that seemed to instantly envelop everyone who walked in the door. - Kelly Lafferman, Board Secretary pic.twitter.com/IeiICP4mDh Pulse Orlando (@pulseorlando) June 12, 2020 Four years ago today, in the early morning, a terrorist murdered 49 people, mostly LGBTQ people of color, at Pulse nightclub in Orlando -- one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history. That evening, @Lin_Manuel gave this speech at the Tony Awards. "Love is love is love..." pic.twitter.com/RVCNAv8OZk Charlotte Clymer (@cmclymer) June 12, 2020 never forget. it's been 4 years since the mass shooting at the pulse nightclub in Orlando that took 49 innocent lives just because they were part of the lgbtq+ community. spread love, not hate! pic.twitter.com/85DKxXgbBY bel (@btsamazed) June 12, 2020 Four years ago today, 49 innocent people were murdered at the #Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Today and every day New York will honor their memory by taking action against hate in all its forms. pic.twitter.com/CW7qNiyuXO Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 12, 2020 Today marks the 4-year anniversary of the #Pulse shootings in Orlando that took the lives of 49 innocent souls. We honor their memories today and every day. https://t.co/4KRnPmnQbt George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) June 12, 2020 Four years ago, 49 people lost their lives in the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. It is a national disgrace that Mitch McConnells Senate has not allowed a vote on commonsense gun safety legislation. My thoughts are with those who are remembering their loved ones today. https://t.co/ObqB2FUuWL Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 12, 2020 June 12, 2016, 49 people were killed and wounded 53 others in a mass shooting inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Please just take a moment to remember these people who died due to the hatred of others. #PulseNightclub #Pulseorlando pic.twitter.com/ciqd0FixdY Victor Garcia (@Victor_Dior115) June 12, 2020 Some, including Gays Against Guns in New York City and Pulse Orlando, announced live streaming vigils that will take place on Friday evening. While we're not physically together this year for the Annual Remembrance, we hope the ceremony brings you a sense of love and unity. Watch it at 7 p.m. EST on Facebook https://t.co/KIWqdqogu4 or YouTube https://t.co/fBwq9q415z pic.twitter.com/0Lvt91eF7I Pulse Orlando (@pulseorlando) June 12, 2020 Wolf says that the ways in which he marks this day each year are to find both comfort and purpose. I always start June 12th by eating ice cream for breakfast, he says, noting that its been a source of comfort ever since he lost his mother at a young age. He also chills a bottle of champagne and drinks some, as he would have with his friends, and takes some time to reflect in his grief. I look at old pictures and I remember why I continue to do this work, he says. On days like today, it feels difficult to keep moving forward. But when I reflect on the ones I love I know I cant quit. Read more from Yahoo Life: Want daily lifestyle and wellness news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. India is definitely not in the community transmission stage of COVID-19 spread, the government asserted on Thursday, even as cases and deaths continued to mount with the country recording the highest single-day spike of 9,996 new infections and 357 fatalities. India's first sero-survey to monitor the trend of coronavirus infection transmission has found that lockdown and containment measures were successful in preventing a rapid spread of COVID-19, but a large proportion of the population still remains susceptible, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General Balram Bhargava said at a media briefing. The sero-survey has two parts -- "estimate fraction of population infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the general population and in containment zones of hotspot cities. The first part has been completed and the second is ongoing, he said, adding the survey was conducted in May by the ICMR in collaboration with state health departments, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Bhargava said the study involves surveying 83 districts with 26,400 people enrolling for it so far and visit to 28,595 households. The districts were selected based on the incidence of COVID-19 cases as on April 25. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The slides that were shared with the media stated that data from 65 districts have been compiled until now. The sero-survey has found that 0.73 per cent of the population in the districts surveyed had evidence of past exposure to SARS-CoV-2, Bhargava said. "Lockdown and containment (measures) have been successful in keeping it low and preventing rapid spread," he said citing the survey. However, it means that a large proportion of the population is still susceptible and risk is higher in urban areas (1.09 times) and urban slums (1.89 times) than rural areas, the ICMR director-general said. The survey found that infection fatality rate is very low at 0.08 per cent. However, infection in containment zones were found to be high with significant variations, but the survey is still ongoing, he said. Since a large proportion of the population is susceptible and infection can spread, non-pharmacological interventions such as physical distancing, use of face mask or cover, hand hygiene, cough etiquette must be followed strictly, the official said. He also said that urban slums are highly vulnerable to the spread of the infection and local lockdown measures need to continue as already advised by the government. The elderly, those with chronic morbidities, pregnant women and children less than 10 years of age need to be protected as they fall in the high-risk category susceptible to COVID-19, he said. Asked if India is in the community transmission phase, Bhargava said, "There is a heightened debate around this term community transmission. Having said that I think even WHO has not given a definition for it. And as we have so shown that India is such a large country and the prevalence is so low." "The prevalence has been found to be less than 1 per cent in small districts. In urban and containment areas it may be slightly higher. But, India is definitely not in community transmission. I would like to emphasise it," he said. India has to continue with its strategy of testing, tracing, tracking and quarantine and continue with containment measures as success has been found up till now with those measures, Bhargava said, adding "we should not let down our guards". The ICMR DG's clarification came a day after Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that there is "transmission in the community" but only the Centre can declare if it is so. "There is transmission in the community. But if it is community transmission or not that can be declared by the Centre only. It is a technical term," a statement quoting Jain had said. Chairman of Empowered Group One and NITI Aayog member Dr V K Paul termed the study the largest sero-epidemiological survey in the world in the context of COVID-19 and said such information help fine-tune the response and strategies to deal with the COVID-19 challenge. The results indicate the situation of the country around April 30 as antibodies against an infection takes around 15 days to develop. The remarks by the government officials came on a day India saw the highest single-day spike of 357 fatalities and 9,996 cases, pushing the death toll to 8,102 and the nationwide tally to 2,86,579. Addressing the briefing, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said India has 20.77 cases and 0.59 fatalities per lakh population as against 91.67 cases and 5.23 deaths globally, which is amongst the lowest in the world. Responding to a question about patients being turned away by hospitals, especially those requiring ICU and oxygen support, Agarwal said symptomatic person or a suspect case should get in touch with states' helpline numbers and try to access the hospital facilities as advised. "In addition to this, we have requested the states to streamline the helpline system, provide guidance and also display the status of beds using technology," he said. Press Release June 12, 2020 Statement of Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on 122nd Philippine Independence Day Life, livelihood, rights essential in Filipinos' fight to preserve freedom, independence: Pangilinan "From our homes, our workplaces, the streets, the hospitals and quarantine centers, and via online, we celebrate our 122nd year of Independence inspired by the heroism of our ancestors and the greatness of every Filipino pivotal to nation-building. With the COVID-19 pandemic hovering over us and the rest of the world, the kind of freedom we desperately need could come from the vaccine that will shield us all from infection and secure people's health. But as we hope for the cure, we must not let our guard down in discerning the signs and symptoms threatening our civil liberties and fundamental rights. We must continue to resist the looming enactment into law of the anti-terrorism bill, which portends iron-hand suppression of freedom of expression and assembly, infringes on privacy, and justifies arrests and surveillance of critics. As we have witnessed prior to the bill's passage, slight infractions of quarantine protocols can be met with the most brutal force by police and military. Our democratic right to question and dissent are faced with harassment of paid trolls and threats of martial rule. We must be unflinching in raising our voice against attempts to curtail our right to information and expression, as can be gleaned from the shutdown of ABS-CBN network. We must persist in demanding for our right to live decently and to avail of government succor, especially as we grapple with this pandemic. There should be no let-up in providing cash assistance to all needy families, who are right now hard-pressed to feed their children and give them education amid joblessness and restrictions to mobility. Workers braving everyday commute to eke out a living should not be left to fend for their own without means of transportation, exposing them to risk of contagion and dangers on the streets. Efficient transportation is also called for that would ferry OFWs and locally stranded individuals to their homes and spare them from the inhumane conditions of waiting on the streets to catch a ride or flight to their destinations. Repatriated overseas Filipino workers and thousand others who have lost their source of income, and micro and small enterprises should be high on government's focus for assistance to help them become productive anew and find means of survival for their families. We must urge government to ramp up mass testing to ensure quick identification of cases, treatment and control of the spread of infection. This should be complemented by the speedy processing of the test and release of results to decongest quarantine centers and allow people to return home. Life. Livelihood. Rights. These are the most essential elements that every Filipino should fight for to preserve our freedom and independence. Guided by the past struggles and triumphs of our forefathers and foremothers, we move forward with a strong sense of solidarity and human compassion to face these trying times." Two former prison inmates have turned their lives around by starting a bootcamp business called 'Convict Fitness' which uses ex-inmates as personal trainers. Convict Fitness founder Joe Kwon served nine years in prison for directing a criminal enterprise to supply large quantities of MDMA in Sydney. Kwon told Daily Mail Australia he thought his only choice would be to become a career criminal until a friendship with a former accountant cell mate gave him the idea to turn his love of fitness into a positive way to help the community. This led Kwon, now 32, and another of his former prison inmate Nick Houllis, 40, who was serving three years for assault, to turn the workout routines they had been developing in their cells into a business. The result has become Convict Fitness, or Confit, which offers bootcamps taught by prisoners to help them adjust to life outside prison and reduce re-offending. 'I wanted to do something to create opportunities for these guys when they are released from prison and break down negative stereotyping,' Kwon said. Jow Kwon, 32, and trainer colleague Nick Houllis, 40, have started Confit in Sydney. Kwon was in prison on drug charges and Houllis for assault Confit runs bootcamps in the Sydney region - specialising in exercises using bodyweight instead of machines 'I wanted to do something to create opportunities for these guys when they are released from prison and break down negative stereotyping,' Kwon said 'Yes there are bad people in prison, as there are outside, but there are also people who have made mistakes and will be judged for that for the whole lives.' 'I just want to help them give back to society and reach their goals.' Confit runs bootcamps in the Sydney region - specialising in exercises using bodyweight instead of machines. The business uses ex-inmates as trainers such as Houllis who said he is now focused on creating positive changes in the lives of those around him after spending three years in prison for assault occasioning grievous bodily harm. Kwon explained that when gyms were shut during COVID-19 lockdowns he started making video classes and his clients surged. 'We're experts in using your own bodyweight to workout in confined spaces - nine years in prison you have a lot of time to formulate those exercises.' 'What we teach are the routines I would do in my prison cell - but people are not going to do 300 burpees - so we know how to streamline that down and make it interesting for classes. Kwon met Houllis when the two would work out together while behind bars. 'We would use water bottles and things like that as gym equipment and this started as a joke that we would make a gym out of this stuff when we got out.' With his sentence nearing an end, Kwon said he and Houllis decided they wanted to something to create opportunities for ex-prisoners and show them that there is another way. 'That turned into a serious plan of helping the community while doing what we're good at.' 'I would see my mates who would get released and then were right back in jail. I knew if I didn't change something that could happen to me so I really decided to push hard against that.' Kwon explained when gyms were shut during COVID-19 lockdowns his business turned to video classes and his clients surged Houllis (left) and Kwon (second from left) and some of Confit's other trainers Kwon has two years left to serve on parole but is also filling his schedule by studying a degree in commerce at the University of New South Wales. He said his interest in the business was developed after he borrowed the book 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' from the prison library. After reading the popular self-help title he said he tried to learn more about accounting but other books 'looked like hieroglyphics' to him. Then one day he met a fellow inmate who had been a successful accountant on the outside and the two struck up a friendship which further sparked his interest in doing something positive once outside of prison. 'He taught me a lot about business and just about self-worth. Ironically I had to go to prison to find a positive mentor,' he said. Kwon is now in the process of expanding Confit into a non-profit that could further help reform prisoners. Confit is currently running classes in Redfern and Rozelle in Sydney. Trump has handed day-to-day operations of the company to his eldest sons. Eric Trump did not respond to multiple requests for comment before this storys publication. After this story published Friday, he tweeted that the company had one of the BEST years in the HISTORY of the Organization in 2019 and that the details would be available in the presidents personal financial disclosure, likely to be made public later this month. He accused The Post of trying to harass the president and the company. We have very little debt, tremendous cash flow & some of the greatest properties on earth, which have never been better, & are winning every accolade & award. Israeli annexation of West Bank serious violation of intl. law: Jordan Iran Press TV Thursday, 11 June 2020 5:57 PM Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi says Israel's controversial plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank constitute a major violation of international law and cannot go unanswered. Addressing a joint press briefing along with his German counterpart Heiko Maas in the Jordanian capital of Amman, Safadi said the Israeli plan would torpedo any opportunity for peace in the region, the Palestinian Information Center reported on Thursday. "We are working with our partners and brothers in order to prevent Israel from carrying out its annexation plan because implementing it means killing any opportunity towards peace," the top Jordanian diplomat said. For his part, Maas expressed Berlin's concern over Israel's intent to annex parts of the occupied Palestinian territories. He said the European Union rejects any unilateral plans which may pose a serious threat to the region. The comments come after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu received the approval of his newly-installed coalition regime to put his annexation plan to vote in the Israeli cabinet or parliament as soon as July 1. Israeli officials, however, said on Wednesday that Netanyahu had decided to initially annex three settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank and delay the annexation of the Jordan Valley and other Palestinian areas. The three settlement blocs are home to almost 80 percent of the settler population in the occupied West Bank. Jordan is the only Arab state apart from Egypt to have diplomatic relations with Israel. Even though Amman and Tel Aviv signed a peace treaty in 1994, bilateral ties have been tense in recent years. Last month, Jordanian Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz said his country would review its relationship with Israel in case the Tel Aviv regime proceeded with its annexation plan. King Abduallah II has said the annexation would mean a collapse of the Palestinian Authority. United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov has also said the Israeli regime's annexation threats constitute a major violation of international law. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has already declared the end of all agreements signed with Israel and the United States, after the new Israeli coalition cabinet announced that it would annex parts of the West Bank. The plan, which enjoys the full support of the US government, has faced growing international criticism because Israel intends to annex the lands that were occupied after the 1967 war with Arabs. The international community views the entire West Bank and the eastern part of the occupied city of Jerusalem al-Quds as home to an independent Palestinian state in future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WASHINGTON : Eminent Indian-American soil scientist Rattan Lal was on Thursday named this years recipient of USD 250,000 World Food Prize, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lauding his research in soil science, saying he is helping millions of small farmers around the world with his work on increasing food production and recycling of nutrients. Lal, 75, was named as the 2020 World Food Prize Laureate for developing and mainstreaming a soil-centric approach to increasing food production that conserves natural resources and mitigates climate change. The worlds population continues to grow, and we need to use the resources we have more productively and efficiently to make sure everyone has enough food on their table," Pompeo said. Dr Lals research in soil science shows that the solution to this problem is right under our feet. Hes helping the earths estimated 500 million small farmers be faithful stewards of their land though improved management, less soil degradation, and the recycling of nutrients. The billions of people who depend on these farms stand to benefit greatly from his work," he said. A native of India and citizen of the United States, Lal has in his career of over 50 years and across four continents promoted innovative soil-saving techniques that benefited the livelihoods of more than 500 million smallholder farmers, improved the food and nutritional security of more than two billion people and saved hundreds of millions of hectares of natural tropical ecosystems, the World Food Prize organisation said. Describing his unbound joy and excitement" on receiving the 2020 World Food Prize, Lal said the urgent task of feeding humanity is not fulfilled until each and every person has access to an adequate amount of nutritious food grown on a healthy soil and in a clean environment." US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said the scientific innovations, like those developed by Lal, embody the US Department of Agricultures motto of to do right and feed everyone." The agricultural practices Lal developed and advocated for are now at the heart of efforts to improve agricultural systems," Perdue said. Lal serves as Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science and founding Director of the Carbon Management and Sequestration Center at The Ohio State University (OSU). This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics After three months of dining mostly in, its little wonder that many of us are sick of looking inside our own refrigerators. Whatever lay within those cold confines has lost much of its appeal: After all, were the ones who stocked and were the ones who likely will have to turn it into something edible. But someone elses fridge? That prospect entices, especially if were not responsible for its filling, emptying or sanitizing. A new book by Carrie Solomon and Adrian Moore, Chefs Fridges: More Than 35 World-Renowned Cooks Reveal What They Eat at Home ($40; Harper Collins) provides just that a peek into the fridges of others, with a bonus. The fridges belong to many notable chefs in the U.S and beyond, including two from the Bay Area: Alice Waters and Dominique Crenn. What do the chefs who cook the best food in the country keep on the shelves? Do they eat yogurt for breakfast like mere mortals? Do they, too, have nearly empty Sriracha bottles in their fridge door? Alas, not in these photographs, in which the interiors of the appliances are beautiful and well tended. These are supermodel refrigerators, possibly airbrushed. But, as craving for restaurants intensifies and disdain for our own sourdough starter grows, looking at the meticulous, thoughtful fridges of some of the best cooks in the country provides a respite and a moment of delicious inspiration. Fridges are intimate and telling; thats what makes them interesting. Solomon, whos also the author of Inside Chefs Fridges Europe and Makers Paris, has channeled this curiosity and crisscrossed the country, from New Orleans to Los Angeles to Berkeley, to see these fridges first-hand. She discovered large packed fridges and small, sparse ones. She uncovered a La Croix obsession (several chefs in the book) and a penchant for chowchow (a pickle relish soul food chef Carla Hall stocks up on). The chefs also cooked for her: Jessica Koslow of the popular Los Angeles breakfast spot Sqirl wanted to make her eggs as a treat her egg dishes are world-famous, after all. Sean Brock from South Carolinas comfort-food mecca Husk showed her how to batch-freeze grated potatoes for instant-gratification hashbrowns. She learned how to make the perfect muffaletta sandwich from Mason Hereford, of the cult New Orleans sandwich shop the Turkey and the Wolf. Enrique Olvera, of Mexicos Pujol, taught her to put chia seeds and lemons in refrigerated water for a refreshing sip. I enjoyed having chefs that have several nationalities, that have an attachment that spans across the globe, says Solomon. They include Jose Andres, a Spaniard who calls Maryland home, and Kristian Baumann, of Korean heritage who was adopted by Danish parents and lives in Copenhagen but frequently travels to South Korea. Not surprisingly, the fridges in the book are a marvel of clever shelving and order, but those of Crenn and Waters stood out. Theirs were two of the most conscientious fridges in the book, Solomon says, noting the chefs attention to locality, seasonality and nutrition. Theres probably something in the air in the Bay Area their fridges were compelling, and I could see their influence on many other chefs in the book. Carrie Solomon / Chefs Fridges Waters, for example, says no to plastic and uses artisanal hand-painted ceramic bowls to store leftovers, placing plates on top as lids. She also loves writing on jars one containing apple jelly is described with one word: divine. An array of hot sauces and umami-rich pastes lines the fridge door; jalapeno hot sauce, piripiri sauce and salted plum to name a few. In the cheese department, however, Waters is surprisingly restrained only Parmesan and Monterey jack. Thoughtful touches add interest (When we dont finish a bottle, especially of sweet wine like the Italian Barolo, I love to save it, Waters says. Sometimes it can moisten a fruit compote or be drizzled over a cake.) Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The fridge at Crenns Larkspur home holds a marriage of French decadence and Californian healthfulness. She loves pate and saucisson, French sausage, but theres also relaxation honey tonic and kombucha. I was interested in seeing where she would draw the line, what wouldnt she bring all the way across the ocean, Solomon says. The line is drawn at bringing cheese and pate from France Crenn is a strong believer in local products. In fact, Solomon says, many fridge staples come from Crenns farm or from Waters garden. In general, the fridges of California chefs lean strongly on seasonal produce, sourced if not from a private farm, then at least from the farmers market. Chefs Fridges includes recipes from Christina Tosis molten chocolate mug cake to Alex Stupaks Mexican spaghetti. Despite the fact many chefs harbor mainstream mayo and lettuce in their fridges, the book is pure escapism, especially now. In fact, Solomon couldnt dream of any sort of context that would bring this book to people in a moment they need more inspiration than normally. Theres no need to pressure ourselves to make Crenns pita crackers or mix our salad with bare hands like Waters. We can simply take a break from our own kitchens, get lost in its pages and keep longing for restaurants. When they reopen, well be able to dig into chefs creations and repeat the word on Waters jelly jar: divine. Flora Tsapovsky is a freelance writer. Email culture@sfchronicle.com The late Princess Diana is one of the most influential figures in Royal Family history, praised for everything from her charitable work to her style. But she was also known for a hands-on parenting approach, aiming to give her sons as normal an upbringing as possible. Now a new documentary has revealed how she would reportedly tease her "stuffy" royal advisors. Speaking in the Channel 5 documentary William & Kate: Too Good To Be True? royal author Tom Quinn recounted how Princess Diana rattled these advisors over her sons' education. AFP/Getty Images It was expected that Prince Harry and Prince William would study at Eton College. However, Princess Diana reportedly used to say that she was going to send them elsewhere. Quinn said, I heard a wonderful story that Diana used to tease the rather stuffy old-guard advisors, who were themselves old Etonians. She used to tease them and say, I really think I must look at sending Wills and Harry to Holland Park Comprehensive School. It would do them good to be educated with ordinary children, Quinn continued. Princess Diana was known to rebel against the traditional constraints of her royal role, even once disguising herself as a man and sneaking into a gay bar with Freddie Mercury. Getty Images On another occasion, her teenage son Prince William was the target of an hilarious prank on his 13th birthday. Diana invited a number of supermodels including Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and more - who he apparently had posters of on his wall - and had them surprise him when he got home from school. On top of that, former royal chef Darren McGrady revealed she had also arranged for a birthday cake shaped like "the biggest pair of boobs I've ever seen in my life" for her son and that he went "bright red" when it was presented to him. Getty Images The full documentary revolves around the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges royal journey so far and is set to air on Saturday at 9.15pm on Channel 5. In it, a number of royal experts provide an insight into what Princess Diana was like as a mother and how she helped prepare Prince William for his role as the future king. Royal commentator Victoria Arbiter said that she made sure that William was very aware of his privilege, explaining that the late princess used to take him with her to AIDS hospitals and homeless centres. Arbiter said, She wanted him to understand that with enormous privilege comes great responsibility. William & Kate: Too Good to be True? will air this Saturday at 9.15pm on Channel 5 The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has invited a host of Hot FM morning show, Isaac Darko Boamah, in connection with the trial of the General Overseer of Hezekiah Prayer Ministries, Kwabena Owusu Agyei, who was arrested a few days ago for threatening the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa. The CID also asked Hot FM to make available two other persons namely Awal Saeed Mohammed and a certain Gargantuan lady also in connection with the trial. In an invitation letter dated June 11, 2020 and signed by deputy Director General of CID, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Barima Tweneboah Sasraku II, the CID says the three should report at its headquarters in Accra at 10 am on Monday, June 15, 2020 to assist investigations. The CID says the station can get in touch Superintendent Joseph Edwards for further information. The prophet has since his arrest reportedly tested positive for Tramadol and cannabis popularly called wee. In his medical records signed by Superintendent of Police, Dr Adwoa Aburi-Panin from the Ghana Police Hospital, the prophet however tested negative to cocaine, opiates, alcohol, methamphetamine, cotinine, among others. The NDC prophet was picked up by officials of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) during a live interview with Accra-based Hot FM on Tuesday morning, June 9, 2020. The arrest followed his alleged threats on the life of Mrs Mensa. He warned Jean Mensa to stop the compilation of the new register or risk being killed. The prophet is also being probed for allegations he made against the President regarding the death of Abuakwa North MP J.B. Danquah-Adu. Source: daily guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video When Barry Choi heard the provincial government was reopening daycares across the province, his first thought was too soon. About a week ago, the daycare that Chois two-year-old daughter, Scarlett, attends opened for just one day to allow parents to pick up a few things their children left behind in March. The parents had to follow rigorous social distancing procedures. For example, only one adult was allowed in at a time. The strict protocol didnt leave Choi or his wife, Carla Salvosa, with the impression that daycare centres would be ready to open their doors to kids on June 12. Turns out his daycare provider and several others agree. In late April, the provincial government published a multi-stage plan to reopen the province. Until this past week, the entire province had been in Stage 1, which limited gatherings of people and allowed certain businesses to operate with social distancing measures in place. On June 8, the government announced that Ontario will be entering Stage 2, except for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, which has a high concentration of the provinces COVID-19 cases, and regions such as Windsor-Essex, Lambton County and Niagara and Haldimand-Norfolk. That same day the government extended the emergency closure order of all licensed Ontario child care centres until at least June 19. But the next day, Premier Doug Ford announced all licensed child care centres in Ontario could reopen on June 12. This took the sector by surprise and has left working parents confused and daycare centres scrambling. We just heard about phase two in Ontario and how it didnt apply to the GTA, Choi said. Then he got the news that daycares in the GTA were allowed to reopen. As soon as I saw this news I immediately thought theres no chance that were sending our child back on Friday, Choi, a personal finance expert at moneywehave.com, told the Star. My daughter cant hug her grandparents. But at the same time, the governments been telling us that theyre OK to (let the kids) go to daycare. I found that to be a bit confusing. When Chois daycare reached out to say it would not be reopening June 12, as it needed to make adjustments to the facility to make it safer, Choi and his wife were relieved. While he understands the financial strain many parents are under, and the need to get back to work, his main concern is his daughters safety. Choi is skeptical about the planned procedures to keep children at the accepted physical distance from each other. Mothercraft, a service based in Ontario, is just one of many child care centres that share those concerns. In a letter to parents, Mothercraft executive director Michele Lupa said the move to reopen seemed misaligned with the provinces reopening plans, as the GTA cannot join the rest of the province in Stage 2. The letter stated it will remain closed until it can secure the appropriate PPE and have all policies and protocols in place, including the training of staff. When daycares reopen, they are expected to follow the COVID-19 health and safety protocols, including sanitizing play spaces, toys and equipment as well as implementing physical distancing by scheduling shifts, in-person meetings and how parents will pick up and drop off their children. Children will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms each day they are dropped off, according to the report. These screening areas will be separated with a six-foot distance and will be shielded with Plexiglas barriers with screening staff to be protected with face shields. The staff responsible for screening is expected to keep a daily log of each child entering the building. If symptoms are detected, the child will be isolated until the parent is available to pick them up. To limit the risk of transmission, the guidelines suggest not allowing non-essential visitors and limiting the personal belongings children can keep in their cubbies. Parents have been left with a very difficult decision, said Choi. For me personally, Im not sending my child back quite yet, he said. Lou and her children designing their product. "This is a time to pause, to reset, and if you are a product entrepreneur, a time to give life to your dreams. Lou George, a native New Zealander living in Australia, has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. She has owned a family daycare, run a small business, and renovated investment properties. Now, the entrepreneurial mother of 5 has been inspired for a new product idea by her two youngest children. She was having regular discussions about the pandemic with her kids, when her son brought up anxiety children were having because of Covid-19. Together Lou and her two young co-developers thought up a calming feel-good, product that allows children to self-soothe with the sense of touch, bringing a feeling of familiarity, safety, love and protection when the lights go out. Lou gets training and guidance from Product Development Academy, a US based program that formerly brought students to China but has relaunched to be completely online. Lou and the other students learn from Steven Selikoff, the founder of Product Development Academy, serial product entrepreneur, former business manager at Microsoft, and champion for everyday people bringing unique products to life. Lou is targeting the end of the year for product launch. Although the details of Lous product line cannot be released due to intellectual property considerations, she is already testing prototypes with great responses from her children and their friends. The children love the products, and their parents love the relaxation and calming it brings to their kids. Steven has been actively involved in mentoring me and helping me avoid pitfalls. Im learning a lifetime of skills I can pass to my children. Lou said. Another of Stevens students, Carol, knows the benefits of expert mentorship firsthand. Carol launched her first product in December of 2019 and is joining the classes from Florida as she refines and expands her product line. Because of her products uniqueness, it was hard for Carol to anticipate the demand. She neednt have worried. Sales of her product have exceeded her expectations. Carol attributes her success to her training with Steven. Stevens emphasis on knowing your customer and their pain points really resonated with me, Carol said. As a member of the sandwich generation, Carol cares for both her 85-year-old mother and her 15-year-old special needs son. Her empathy and insight into the struggles of modern caregivers inspired her to create her product in the elder care space. She can happily report that she has sold over 1,000 units in just the first two months online. Carols dream is to sell primarily through retailers, which is a specialty of Product Development Academy. Amish immigrated to the United States from India in pursuit of a better life. Now, he works as a healthcare professional in one of the best hospitals in the United States. These days Amish is caught up in the daily rigors of the pandemic. However, a year ago, Amish attended the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China, with Steven. The Canton Fair gave me the chance to dream big about where I can be in the next 5 years, not where I am currently, Amish said. Freedom to do what I really want is the greatest motivation for me, Amish stated that shadowing Steven during live negotiations with Chinese vendors was a highlight of his trip to the Canton Fair. It was great to see how he was trying to build win-win relationships, Amish said. Based on what he learned, Amish launched several products and boosted his sales by three times in 2019. That same personal attention is available to entrepreneurs across the globe. Since the Product Development Academy is now purely online, travelling to China is no longer required and anyone can get the same experience Amish enjoyed. Steven created the Product Development Academy to train and mentor entrepreneurs like Amish, Carol, Lou, and others. He revels in the supportive family atmosphere of the group and gets visibly emotional when he talks about his students successes. I am the luckiest person ever, says Selikoff. I love every one of my students. The products they are creating can change lives. Their customers lives, and their own lives too. Like his students, Selikoff has made good use of the Covid-19 slowdown time too. In addition to selling his own products, and running the Product Development Academy, Selikoff has written and released a huge 514 page book, based on the training program and full of useful actionable information for product entrepreneurs. The book, The COMPLETE BOOK of Product Design, Development, Manufacturing, and Sales, is available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats. I realize that not everybody can afford the Product Development Academy, says Selikoff. This book is an affordable way for anybody with a dream of creating a unique product and putting it on retailers shelves, to learn how to do that on their own. Affordable is an understatement. Selikoff is running monthly free download days for the kindle version. And it is already free for anyone enrolled in the Kindle Unlimited program. Now with the program available online without travelling to China, its an opportunity for anyone, Selikoff points out. People are spending a lot of time in their homes. They see products every day that can be improved. They are facing problems every day that can be solved with solutions that could help others too. This is a time to pause, to reset, and if you are a product entrepreneur, a time to give life to your dreams. If you have children with inspiring ideas, like Lou George; if you see need within your family, like Carol; or if you are building a dream of freedom to do whatever you want, like Amish; developing a product, manufacturing it, and bringing it to market has never been easier. By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. military officer on Thursday said he should not have joined President Donald Trump as he walked from the White House to a nearby church for a photo opportunity after authorities cleared the way of protesters using tear gas and rubber bullets. By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. military officer on Thursday said he should not have joined President Donald Trump as he walked from the White House to a nearby church for a photo opportunity after authorities cleared the way of protesters using tear gas and rubber bullets. "I should not have been there," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley said of his appearance at the politically charged event on June 1. "My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics," he said in a prerecorded video commencement address to the National Defense University. Milley's remarks followed a rare outpouring of condemnation from retired U.S. generals and even former defense secretary Jim Mattis for taking part in the event, given that the U.S. military is meant to be apolitical and is sworn to defend the U.S. constitution, which protects the right to peaceful protest. Milley and Defense Secretary Mark Esper had joined Trump to pay a surprise visit to the historic Saint Johns Church, during which the president held up a Bible for photographers. Minutes before the visit, law enforcement used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse mostly peaceful protesters occupying the square between the White House and the church in a demonstration against the police killing of George Floyd, drawing condemnation from Democrats and some Republicans. The National Guard supported law enforcement at the site. "As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from, and I sincerely hope we all can learn from it," Milley said, but stopped short of apologizing outright. As authorities were clearing the square, Trump delivered a speech at the White House condemning "acts of domestic terror" and saying the United States was in the grips of professional anarchists, violent mobs, arsonists, looters, criminals and others. He promised the mobilization of thousands of U.S. troops and told U.S. governors that same day he was putting Milley "in charge" of the protest response. Milley later seemed to reinforce Trump's comments by appearing in downtown Washington D.C. that evening in camouflage fatigues. The protests following Floyd's killing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have been largely peaceful. Floyd, who was black, died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes on May 25. Milley has not appeared in public to answer questions since the walk with Trump. His decision to deliver his remarks in a prerecorded message, as opposed to a news conference, precluded the possibility of taking questions, including about any split with the Republican president. Esper told a Pentagon news conference more than a week ago that he regretted using the word "battlespace" to describe protest sites around the United States and said he was unaware that the church visit was going to be a "photo op." He also publicly stated that he did not support the use of the Insurrection Act, which would allow Trump to mobilize active duty troops to crack down on protests. Reuters has reported that Trump came closer to deploying active duty troops than thought and yelled at Esper after that news conference. In his address on Thursday, Milley stressed the need for members of the military to stay out of politics. "We who wear the cloth of our nation come from the people of our nation and we must hold dear the principle of an apolitical military that is so deeply rooted in the very essence of our republic," he said. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Howard Goller and Sonya Hepinstall) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. CHICAGO, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Results presented today at the American Diabetes Association's (ADA's) 80th Virtual Scientific Sessions show 18% of people living with diabetes in Denmark needed a referral for a psychologist but had not been offered one, and 36% said they did not receive the support they needed to cope with their emotions related to diabetes. The research was compiled through the study, "Psychological Impact and Need for Psychological Care and Support: What Do People with Diabetes and Caregivers Say? Results of a Scientific Survey of 9,869 People with Diabetes and Caregivers in Denmark." The data comes from the largest nationwide Danish survey to characterize a major need for better access to psychological and other non-medical diabetes care. The Danish Diabetes Association, Steno Diabetes Center North Denmark, Aalborg University Hospital, and Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark designed a national diabetes survey, "Life with Diabetes 2019," to benchmark impact to daily life, access to care and access to technology and services in order to discover top desires and priorities. Researchers sent out email invitations to 38,820 members of the Danish Diabetes Association (a patient organization that offers support to people with diabetes). Responses to the survey represented all Danish regions, and the age and gender of respondents were similar to the characteristics of the national population. Responses from a total of 8,918 people with diabetes and 761 caregivers were analyzed.1 Of the participants with diabetes, 71% had type 2 diabetes and 26% had type 1 diabetes. The responses indicated: Although most participants reported generally having access to quality medical diabetes care, approximately 20% of people with diabetes said they experienced a psychological negative impact due to their diabetes "most or all of the time." About 19% of people with diabetes reported feeling that "diabetes is taking up too much of their daily life," and 18% of people felt they needed a referral for a psychologist yet had not been offered one. Approximately 36% of people with diabetes and 21% of caregivers indicated they are not getting the "support they need to deal with diabetes-related emotions." 19% of respondents saw a need for a major system-wide improvement in support for dealing with the mental aspect of living with the condition. Women made up 51% of total respondents and were twice as likely as men to feel they needed a psychologist (24% vs. 12%). "We also found that people who are involuntarily unemployed, people using insulin for type 2 diabetes and people who have multiple health issues are at higher risks for negative psychological outcomes," said lead author of the study Soren E. Skovlund, MsC, senior research scientist, Steno Diabetes Center North Denmark, Aalborg University Hospital and the Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University Additional analyses of more than 1,100 open text responses revealed that people with diabetes suffer psychosocial affects due to gaps in multiple aspects of care, including access to new technology, quality care in a primary practice setting and local support for overall well-being. "Our study highlights that efforts to support vulnerable populations should be multi-pronged and include a psychologist's care", said Skovlund. "In Denmark, a national program for patient reported outcomes in diabetes is underway to incorporate psychological well-being and emotional aspects of living with diabetes in routine diabetes care visits, however presently there is no reimbursement for provision of psychological therapy for people with diabetes-related difficulties who may not have a psychiatric diagnosis. Even then, the availability of diabetes-trained mental health professionals remains scarce. The psychological impact of diabetes and the opportunities that exist to mitigate it, including optimal access to novel technologies, better individual medical care and person-centered self-management support services should not be under-estimated. Integration of psychosocial aspects of living with diabetes is a prerequisite for improving the long-term health and quality of life outcomes for many people with diabetes and their families." Research presentation details: Mr. Skovlund presented the research during the session listed below. Session title : Addressing Challenges to Diabetes Care Delivery : Addressing Challenges to Diabetes Care Delivery Date: Friday, June 12, 4:15 6:15 p.m. CT (all sessions will be recorded and available for viewing for up to 90 days) Friday, June 12, 4:15 6:15 p.m. CT (all sessions will be recorded and available for viewing for up to 90 days) Abstract Number 20-OR Note: in the paragraph above, Abstract Number 754-P and Abstract Number 753-P are referenced by the author and linked. Those abstracts are embargoed until June 13 , 10:00 a.m. CT . For more information, or the schedule an interview with Mr. Skovlund, please contact Daisy Diaz by phone at (703) 253-4807 or by email at [email protected]. About the ADA's Scientific Sessions The ADA's 80th Scientific Sessions, the world's largest scientific meeting focused on diabetes research, prevention and care, will be held virtually June 12-16, 2020. Leading physicians, scientists and health care professionals from around the world will unveil cutting-edge research, treatment recommendations and advances toward a cure for diabetes. Though the conference will be remote this year, attendees will receive exclusive access to nearly 2,000 original research presentations and take part in provocative and engaging exchanges with leading diabetes experts. Learn more and register at scientificsessions.diabetes.org and join the Scientific Sessions conversation on social media using #ADA2020 and #ADAGoesVirtual. About the American Diabetes Association Every day more than 4,000 people are newly diagnosed with diabetes in America. More than 122 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes and are striving to manage their lives while living with the disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For nearly 80 years the ADA has been driving discovery and research to treat, manage and prevent diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. We help people with diabetes thrive by fighting for their rights and developing programs, advocacy and education designed to improve their quality of life. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). 1 9,679 total surveys met criteria Contact: Daisy Diaz 703-253-4807 [email protected] SOURCE American Diabetes Association Related Links http://www.diabetes.org An international investigation into the illegal multimillion-dollar trade of cockfighting birds has led animal activists back to Alabama, where they are calling on local law enforcement and the legislators to take action. Animal Wellness Action (AWA), an animal social welfare organization based in Washington D.C., has allegedly traced cockfighting birds from places such as Mexico, the Philippines and Guam directly to numerous locations across the Yellowhammer state. In a Thursday press conference, AWA officials said they had pinpointed three farms in Nauvoo, a small town about 60 miles northwest of Birmingham, where a majority of the birds were found to have come from. Three farm owners are named in the investigation as accounting for 96% of cockfighting bird exports from Alabama, according to AWA. The animal rights group claims that one owner ships 6,000 birds a year from his farm to destinations all over the world, including 700 birds to a single buyer in Mexico, according to a video produced by the Philippines-based cockfighting broadcaster BNTV in April 2020. In addition to taking action against those who have sold cockfighting birds, the President of AWA, Wayne Pacelle, is calling on Alabama state legislators to upgrade the law against cockfighting to be more in line with the states tough anti-dog fighting law and the strong federal anti-animal fighting statute. While dogfighting is a felony, cockfighting warrants less in the way of penalties than a parking ticket, Pacelle noted. The law imposes no jail time for perpetrators, a minimum fine of $20, and a maximum fine of $50. The law has not been upgraded since it was enacted in 1896. The possession and shipping of birds for cockfighting has been banned under federal law since 2002 and has been a felony since 2007, when President George W. Bush signed enhanced penalty provisions into law and also criminalized the sale of cockfighting implements, according to AWA. AWA investigators used shipping records in Guam to trace the shipment of the birds back to the three individuals in Nauvoo but said there were other perpetrators in the state. Through public records requests to the Guam Department of Agriculture, the AWA claim to have obtained nearly 2,500 pages of avian shipping records dated November 2016 to September 2019. These records detail approximately 750 shipments of birds by 71 individuals from more than a dozen states to Guam. Alabama cockfighters had the fifth highest total number of shipments to Guam, according to AWA. Many of the cockfighting enthusiasts, whose operations dot many parts of the state, appear to be affiliated with the Alabama Gamefowl Breeders Association, and the operations are so numerous and extensive that AWA has dubbed Alabama is the cockfighting capital of the Southeast, said the AWA press release. AWA claim the birds are more than likely used for cockfighting because Guam has no poultry industry and the import of roosters to hens in the shipments was nearly 10 to 1 with some shipments being over 100 to 1. Its nonsensical to think of any animal agriculture enterprise requiring more males than females, said Marty Irby, executive director of Animal Wellness Action and a native of Mobile. Standard breeding protocols would have the ratio of male to female birds to be inverted." In all, 8,800 birds were shipped from the U.S. over the near three-year period, said AWA. Selling 6,000 birds for the fighting trade would likely yield $1 million to $3 million in gross sales, said Irby, who said the three farms in Nauvoo had become a major hub for the trade. Northern Alabama has become a launching point for global trafficking of fighting animals, and its time for authorities to crack down on this criminal conduct. (TNS) Neighborhood Allies on Thursday said it has partnered with Comcast to provide 1,000 Pittsburgh Public Schools families with in-home high-speed internet access, ensuring that nearly all district households will have the connectivity required for online learning.The local community development group has also raised about $400,000 to help the school district purchase devices for students.The effort is part of an ongoing campaign to eliminate the digital divide in Pittsburgh called Beyond the Laptop, an initiative of Neighborhood Allies.We will be covering the internet for all of the families identified by the Pittsburgh Public Schools home tech survey who previously lacked broadband access, Presley Gillespie, president of Neighborhood Allies, said during an online video conference with local business leaders. So 1,000 families will be hooked up to in-home high-speed internet access through Comcast Internet Essentials.Officials who participated in the video conference, including district Superintendent Anthony Hamlet and Lisa Birmingham, Comcasts vice president of external and government affairs, said they knew the digital divide was a problem before COVID-19, particularly with low-income communities and communities of color. The changes caused by the pandemic, however, have exacerbated the issue as schools shifted online.COVID brought the digital divide into stark relief when our schools were forced to close and families and educators had to adjust, Ms. Birmingham said.Thousands of Pittsburgh students lacked the resources needed for online learning when brick-and-mortar schools closed in mid-March. The district supplied the resources it could through its own stockpile, bulk laptop purchases and donations, but it still does not have enough for all students.The district distributed paper packets to students who were unable to complete school work online during the spring semester.Education officials believe remote instruction using online tools will be a part of the lesson plan when schools return in the fall, so the need for internet access and devices will continue.Vanessa Buffry, Neighborhood Allies senior program manager for digital inclusion, said the group was on track to activate more than 1,600 laptops with its partners at Computer Reach, a digital literacy organization.The $400,000 raised by Neighborhood Allies through donations from foundations, corporations and individuals will be used to purchase additional devices. The fundraising continues, and Mr. Gillespie said he hopes to reach $1 million.Even with the support of Neighborhood Allies, Mr. Hamlet said the school district wants to secure about 10,000 additional devices to make sure all students and staff members have one and to create a backup stockpile.Mr. Hamlet said he had been working toward making the Pittsburgh Public Schools a 1-to-1 device district meaning all students are provided with a device but the pandemic has forced it to happen more quickly.Historically there has been a digital divide, Mr. Hamlet said. We had in mind in the Pittsburgh Public Schools to move forward to 1-to-1, but not this fast. But COVID has moved us in that direction, which is great for us, great for our students and the community as well. Steni Simon By Express News Service KOCHI: For Biju C G, carving soap sculptures of different shapes and themes has been a passion for long time. However, during this lockdown period, he has been indulging in the art to relieve some stress. Sculpting soap has become a great stress-buster for me, especially since our daily lives have changed completely due to the pandemic. Art has the ability to heal anything and I am finding solace in my art, says Biju, who is currently in Qatar and waiting to return home through the Vande Bharat Mission. Biju, who hails from the capital city is a 3D visualiser by profession. However, it has been more than 14 years since he started making sculptures from bath soaps. He has made different figurines on soap bars, including personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Sachin Tendulkar, A P J Abdul Kalam and also miniature figurines such as King Cobra, turtle, eagle and other creatures. But right now, he is attempting to highlight some of the most widely discussed incidents and stories in the wake of Covid-19. Be it the Break the Chain campaign of Kerala government, with a message to wash hands, aiming to combat the spread of the virus, or the highly controversial case of George Floyds death in Minneapolis, Biju is documenting important events through his soap figurines during his lockdown days in Qatar. Earlier, I used to do soap sculptures during short breaks I got between work. But, since the pandemic began, I have got a lot of time. And this is helping me overcome the depressing developments around the world. Although I have done soap sculptures on special occasions or to highlight social issues, this time I thought of choosing a concept based on the pandemic, he says. Biju has done about nine soap sculptures, highlighting many important incidents. All the sculptures have been done using a single soap bar. Lot of patience and concentration is needed while carving on soap. A design once carved cannot be altered. This itself is something which makes this art unique. Also, there are limitations of using colouring materials as it depends on the types of soap available, says the artist. Bijus lockdown series collection also includes I trusted you human, a sculpture of the elephant which died after eating pineapples filled with fire crackers. The artist opines that some of his works have also been criticised on social media. My soap sculpture on the image of George Floyd being choked by police got many criticisms on social media. Many Europeans suggested that I should have instead gone for a portrait of George Floyd, shares Biju. His latest sculpture is a tribute to Nithin Chandran, an engineer in Dubai who waged a battle in the Supreme Court for the safe return of pregnant women stranded abroad due to the COVID-19 lockdown. As an artist, I always think about the best possible way to convey these messages to my viewers, he says. The United Kingdoms economy shrank by a record 20 per cent in April in the first month of lockdown, new figures said on Friday, as three airlines challenged the Boris Johnson governments quarantine rules in the high court. Calling the GDP contraction historic, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the fall affected virtually all areas of activity. The 20 per cent fall is thrice more than that recorded during the 2008 economic downturn. Reacting to the figures, chancellor Rishi Sunak said: In line with many other economies around the world, coronavirus is having a severe impact on our economy, adding that furlough scheme, grants, loans and tax cuts will help the economy recover quickly. Weve set out our plan to gradually and safely reopen the economy. Next week, more shops on the high street will be able to open again as we start to get our lives a little bit more back to normal, Sunak added. Presenting the figures, Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician at ONS, said: Aprils fall in GDP is the biggest the UK has ever seen, more than three times larger than last month and almost 10 times larger than the steepest pre-Covid-19 fall. The ONS figure complements recent assessment by OECD that the UK economy would shrink by more than any developed country and by the Bank of England that GDP could contract by 25% in the second quarter and unemployment more than double. As analysts debated the ONS figures, British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair announced that they had launched legal action against quarantine rules that took effect on Monday. According to them, the rules will end up crippling airlines and tourism industries. Terming the rules flawed, they said there was so far no evidence on how and when proposed air bridges between the UK and other countries will be implemented, adding that there was no consultation and no scientific evidence provided to support the policy. Under the rules defended by home secretary Priti Patel, most inbound travellers into UK ports need to self-isolate for 14 days, except those from Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Many airlines have shed thousands of jobs in recent days and weeks. Sandra Lane, Ph.D., MPH, is the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Public Health and Anthropology Syracuse University & Research Professor Obstetrics and Gynecology at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Jesse Harasta, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Social Science and director of the Cazenovia College Lead Poisoning Mapping Project at Cazenovia College. Syracuse has one of the worst lead poisoning problems in the United States. Over 600 Syracuse children were diagnosed with lead poisoning over 10% of all children tested in 2018. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control confirms there is no safe level of lead in the blood. Tragically, in our neighborhoods of the South, Southwest and Near North sides of Syracuse, over 20% of children have lead poisoning, based on testing results. This environmental toxin is transmitted to children primarily by paint dust particles in homes where the landlord has failed to protect residents from peeling, chipping, chalking paint, particularly in the older one- and two-family rental units. Yet protection of our children begins both by understanding the danger of lead poisoning, and also its disproportionate impact upon those living in our most segregated areas of the city. Lead in a childs body hurts the developing brain. Studies show that lead poisoned children cannot learn as well as others. Adolescents who were poisoned in early childhood often drop out of school and engage in other risky behavior. For girls, lead poisoning is linked to teen pregnancy; boys who have been lead poisoned are more likely to be drawn into activity that results in an arrest record or other high-risk dangers. Adults who have been lead poisoned are more likely to have high blood pressure and other chronic health problems meanwhile, lead absorbed by girls stays in the bones and is released years later during pregnancy as a neurotoxin to the fetal brain, and a risk factor for low birth weight. Syracuses lead problem is a main driver of the failure of many children in the Syracuse City School District, where in 2018 only 20% of all third-graders were able to read at grade level. It is a driver of the epidemic of neighborhood violence, in which we have shootings and stabbings that traumatize entire neighborhoods. In addition to the harm to children, an analysis by Sandra Lane, Robert A. Rubinstein and their students in 2008 showed that the cost to local taxpayers of ongoing lead poisoning tops $500,000 per year in Medicaid, special education and juvenile justice expenses. Lanes study also documented that childhood lead poisoning an issue of racial injustice. She assessed statistics from the New York state Health Department show that children of color in Syracuse are more than twice as likely to be lead poisoned, compared with white children, and comprised over two-thirds those with elevated blood lead. Our research on the ground locally as anthropologists confirms that communities of color disproportionately bear this terrible burden. Our city and nation are entering a long-needed reckoning with racial injustice and we encourage the Syracuse city leadership and our leaders at all levels of government to treat these concerns with the appropriate seriousness. But a systemic problem needs a systemic response. A bright spot, in the case of the scourge of childhood lead poisoning, is the city of Syracuse has already drafted legislation that would make a significant improvement in this area of needed change, provided it is revised to ensure tenants rights are protected during unanticipated temporary relocation during remediation work. We are concerned that if childhood lead poisoning is not understood as an issue of racial injustice, it may be set aside in this moment, and that would be a failure to serve this citys children, especially its black and brown children who disproportionately bear the damage of this toxin in their bodies. We encourage policymakers to consider including the end to childhood lead poisoning as a necessary part of any package of policies meant to address the systemic roots of racial inequities in our city. RELATED Syracuse children are poisoned by lead paint even when taxpayers pay the rent Syracuses lead-poisoning crisis: For hundreds of poor kids, home is making them sick HUD Secretary Carson in Syracuse: Lead paint poisoning is solvable TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- These days, the motives, targets, locations, and sectors for business acquisitions are becoming increasingly diverse. More and more strategic assets are now available for acquisition, with the aim to strengthen global portfolios and competences, and they remain pivotal in today's competitive business practices. In fact, what used to be considered "fair game" under the rules of modern capitalism has given way to the so-called "predatory behavior" of recent years, with ever increasing signs that various global powers are now looking to gain every advantage, whenever possible. Taiwanese legislator Kao stated that in recent years in Taiwan, reports and warnings about possible bids by foreign suitors, especially Chinese entities, have put the spotlight on a variety of industries. Taiwanese experts from the business, civil, and government sectors gathered for a discussion on the "Capital Market and National Security-Screening and Approval of Foreign Investment." Ever since China unveiled its latest national plan, which was dubbed "Made in China 2025", it has been working to aggressively transform itself from a manufacturing nation into a world-leading manufacturing powerhouse. At the same time, China has also been trying to raise its innovation capabilities, with plans to build a world-leading technological and industrial system. It is clear that the Chinese government is pushing hard to expand that nation's production and innovation in various areas in order to drive job growth and achieve its long-term strategic goals. Taiwan and China have long shared close ties. However, Taiwan's advantages, which have been built on decades of technical expertise in various fields, especially in the information technology (IT) industry, are now being undermined due to the direct hiring of Taiwanese experts by China-based companies and even the outright purchases of Taiwanese companies and technology by companies outside of Taiwan. In early June, the Taiwan Technology Law Institute (TTLI) and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) co-organized a seminar in Taipei that featured Yung-Chin Hsu, the Vice Chairman of the Financial Supervisory Commission; Arati Shroff, the Deputy Economic Chief at AIT; the legislator Chia-Yu Kao; representatives from the Institute for Information Industry; the National Security Council; National Chiao Tung University; and experts from the business, civil, and government sectors for a discussion on the "Capital Market and National SecurityScreening and Approval of Foreign Investment." The seminar mainly addressed the growing security concerns over the foreign exploitation of certain investment structures and the possibility of the Taiwanese government's extra-regulatory scrutiny, specifically the Taiwanese version of FIRRMAthe Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act, which was a US bill that was introduced in 2018 to block Chinese acquisitions. Echoing the US-China trade experiences shared by AIT, the Taiwanese legislator Kao stated that in recent years in Taiwan, reports and warnings about possible bids by foreign suitors, especially Chinese entities, have put the spotlight on a variety of industries, ranging from semi-conductors, real estate, online shopping platforms, and electronics manufacturing, among others. It was also shared that even more high-level activity involving high-tech Taiwanese firms, including purchases by foreign buyers, will likely take place. Overall, the main concern expressed was that Taiwan's position as a keystone in various supply chains will be rapidly eroded. Of course, in an increasingly globalized economy, all direct foreign investment carries risks, so it is very important to evaluate the economic climate thoroughly. The presenters at the seminar also expressed the importance of strengthening on-the-ground information gathering and sharing; increasing information-sharing through intensified dialogue; and standardizing processes in the government sector. It was also advised that the Taiwanese government tread carefully and weigh both the advantages and disadvantages of any actions in order to determine the best road to take. Media contact: George Hu [email protected] 0919563599 SOURCE Taiwan Technology Law Institute (TTLI) Every datum is essential in an untold narrative and every piece of information is a guide to the unknown, which is like an algebraic infinity. There is no room for disagreement with Syria-born Swiss physician Tammam Aloudat, who believes we need a Peoples History of the Corona virus. For this, he has created a Facebook group under the same name with over 1,000 members. Aloudats advantage is his activism as an insider of Doctors Without Borders and the International Red Cross/Red Crescent. He is used to working among people living in emerging nations confronting tough challenges. In an interview to Dan Drollette Jr, deputy editor, Bulletin of The Atomic Scientists, he said: Peoples History of the Coronavirus may not be completely typical of everyones experience of the pandemic, worldwide. By its very nature, this group is composed of people who are tied in to the digital world. And while theres no doubt that this is a very diverse group, there is also no doubt that it is heavily skewed toward richer countries people who have computers or smart phones and a reliable internet connection, and who can afford it all, for example. And most of the people on this group can afford shelter, and can afford to live in isolation for a time as well. So its definitely skewed in that direction. The need for an oral historical narrative is pressing in as much as Covid-19 is the first global pandemic being extensively documented on social media, where both precious information and misinformation are being collated. Social media researcher Raymond Serrato spotted at least 208 public groups on Covid-19 with a combined following of 6.5 million. Or even more. The groups posts range from the political to the deeply personal. Kelly Grote (53) of Massachusetts asks for ideas on how to mobilize an effective protest while on lockdown and for artworks, songs, and cartoons as well as offers for online chats to stave off the loneliness that comes with isolation. Others have shared their fears, anxieties, sorrows, and moments of joy. Books by Yuval Noah Harari. (Shutterstock) In an interview to the UNESCO Courier on 25 May, the International Day for Biological Diversity, Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari, author of Sapiens, Homo Deus, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, spoke about turning the crisis into an opportunity. For the duration of the crisis, some social distancing is inevitable. The virus spreads by exploiting our best human instincts. We are social animals. We like contact, especially in hard times. And when relatives, friends or neighbours are sick, our compassion arises and we want to come and help them. The virus is using this against us. This is how it spreads. So we need to act from the head rather than the heart, and despite the difficulties, reduce our level of contact. Whereas the virus is a mindless piece of genetic information, we humans have a mind, we can analyse the situation rationally, and we can vary the way we behave. Given this fractured reality to be under lockdown or not, the peoples history needs to be written wholly on the teeming millions that seem to be thrown into an experiment in eugenics. Fortunately, we have a model, strongly suggested by Aloudat too: the works of Svetlana Alexievich, who won the Nobel Prize in literature in 2015. Her books include The Unwomanly Face of War: An Oral History of Women in World War II (1985, trans. 2017), Zinky Boys: Soviet Voices from the Afghanistan War (1990, trans. 1992), and Last Witnesses: An Oral History of the Children of World War II (1985, trans. 2019). The first one is a sequential array of interviews of hundreds of among one million-plus Soviet women who went to the war front in World War II. There were nurses, doctors, medical assistant, pilots, tank drivers, machine gunners, snipers. Now these women are surprised at themselves. Alexievich exposed unfreedom for women under male authority and exposed the totalitarian face of 20th Century socialism, which was in contrast to the Marxian ideal. We were silent as fish. We never acknowledged to anybody that we had been at the front. We just kept in touch among ourselves, wrote letters. It was later that they began to honour us, thirty years later to invite us to meetings But back then we hid, we didnt even wear our medals. Men wore them, but not women. Men were victors, heroes, wooers, the war was theirs, but we were looked at with quite different eyes, said a former anti-aircraft artillery commander. Alexievich met them one by one for seven years (1978-1985). Finally, the book saw the light of day during the Perestroika years under Mikhail Gorbachev. Written in Russian, two million copies were sold within a week Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich. (Ulf Andersen/Getty Images) The same pattern follows in Zinky Boys: Soviet Voices from the Afghanistan War (1990, trans. 1992) with hundreds of interviews with those who lost their sons in Afghanistan. History, the gifted listener with a phenomenal sense of rhythm and repetition humanizes itself, becomes like ordinary life... Ive happened upon extraordinary storytellers. There are pages in their lives that can rival the best pages of the classics. The person sees herself so clearly from above from heaven, and from below from the ground. Before her is the whole path up and down from angel to beast. Remembering is not a passionate or dispassionate retelling of a reality that is no more, but a new birth of the past, when time goes in reverse. Above all it is creativity, writes Alexievich. Historians are split on oral history as a method of writing history. Marxist Eric Hobsbawm was among those who considered it ahistoriographical. So what? Historians like Alistair Thomson have explored the potential of oral history. This is why endeavours like Tammam Aloudats attempt to capture a Peoples History of the Corona virus on Facebook are interesting. It is a bulwark against forgetting, against obliterating the memories and consequently, the lessons learnt during this fraught time. Zarif: US has no right to abuse UN, IAEA to vilify Iran IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, June 11, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a message referred to US' attempts to escalate tensions with Iran, saying it has no right to abuse UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to vilify Iran. "US has tried to heighten tension w/ Iran & bully others to follow," Zarif wrote on his Twitter account on Thursday. "But having admitted to: -Terror assassination in Iraq -Complicity in war crimes in Yemen & Palestine -Piracy -Breaching JCPOA, UNSCR 2231, & IAEA decisions It retains NO right to abuse UN & IAEA to vilify Iran," he added. Earlier, Iran's Permanent Ambassador to the International Organizations in Vienna Kazem Gharibabadi in a letter to director-general of the IAEA warned about the US wrong and illegal move regarding its international commitments in the fields of nuclear cooperation and creating obstacles in the field. He reiterated that the US violations contradict the provisions of Articles 2 and 3 of the agency's Articles of Association, Article 4 of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, resolutions of the Agency's General Conference, JCOPA and the UN Security Council Resolution 2231. Noting that Iran is entitled to take retaliatory measures against these moves, he urged members of the IAEA to act responsibly against these illegal US actions. Gharibabadi also asked IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to reflect the US violations of its commitments in his reports on the implementation of the agency's relevant documents. 9376**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Despite killing the proposal earlier this year after negotiations fell through and expected budgetary shortfalls in the hundreds of millions of dollars, the Wyoming Legislature will likely take up a massive capital construction spending bill later this year. However, its not entirely clear what projects will be included in the plan, nor is it entirely certain which projects would be feasible. At a meeting of the Joint Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, lawmakers announced their intention to revive discussions on this winters failed capital construction bill, which died after House and Senate lawmakers were unable to come to a compromise before the deadline. Because of the funding concerns spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, the pared-down legislation will likely omit a large number of the projects that had previously been up for debate, including funding for athletic facilities renovations at the University of Wyoming and a substantial amount of new construction. Rather, state policymakers will likely take on a new list of priority projects outlined by the governors office, with additions and subtractions to the list still left to be decided in a bill that is weeks if not months away from being drafted. (Legislative leaders told members Thursday that a special session will no longer be held later this month, as had been expected.) Noticeably, the list of priorities from Gov. Mark Gordons office is significantly smaller than the $126 million spending plan presented to the committee several months ago. The new list totals just under $28 million in new state spending and focuses primarily on projects in dire need of completion, including renovations to the womens prison, funding for the Wyoming Life Resource Center and other much-needed projects around the state. We have just suffered the biggest drop in projected revenues in our states history, Gordon wrote in a letter to lawmakers on June 5. Clearly, this limits what is prudent for state-funded construction projects. Still, there will be challenges for many state lawmakers should the bill reach the floor, and many will likely face questions on the justification of spending millions of dollars on maintenance and construction during a time where government is likely to face unprecedented spending reductions. Despite these concerns, members of the committee see some value in using funding from the states general fund and from federal coronavirus relief to spur job creation in Wyoming communities while taking care of maintenance issues that could end up costing the state even more money if left unaddressed. In an interview Wednesday, Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Sen. Eli Bebout, R-Riverton, said that major maintenance could potentially be an area in which state funding could help spur local employment while keeping the budget in line. But those conversations, he added, cannot come without additional cuts in other areas in the budget to compensate for new spending. The thing that makes any community, state or nation work are jobs, Bebout said. And so if theres a way with our limited resources we can look at responsible funding, then we can do that. But everybodys got to look at the other side of that, which are the cuts we need to start with. Efforts to address both concerns will likely present even more questions for lawmakers to grapple with, however. Funding from the federal coronavirus relief bill, for example, can only be used to help improve or construct health care facilities, limiting the types of projects that can actually be constructed outside of the states general fund budget. Then there is the open question of whether any share of a projects cost could be carried by county and local governments, particularly as they work budgets already stretched thin by the economic fallout of the pandemic. Community colleges, which are likely to be left out of the funding, could potentially be the biggest snub by state government under such a deal. Facing millions of dollars in maintenance costs and plans deferred, the presidents of multiple community colleges Central Wyoming College, Western Wyoming College and the Northern Wyoming Community College District each presented their own cases for why they should be funded on Tuesday, from repairs preventing sewage from flowing into dining halls to taking on the maintenance costs of a state-of-the-art facility to helping supply a workforce for the areas burgeoning manufacturing sector. Investing one-time funds in such projects is a tool for legislators to use to help stimulate local economies, Northern Wyoming Community College District President Walter Tribley wrote in an email. If contractors from Wyoming are hired, those precious one-time funds pay a good wage to local folks and those wages circulate in our local economy. It is one type of deficit spending, when done carefully, can have a broader economic benefit than just to the institution gaining a building to offer programming. Whatever proposals the Legislature comes up with, Bebout said, will likely be conservative in nature as the state grapples with hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue shortfalls over the coming decade. But some investments, he hinted, will likely be worthier than others. Weve just got to have some hard discussions and make some tough decisions, he said. And hopefully we can get it done sooner than later, because the longer you wait the more money gets spent, and it just escalates. You cant just say youre not going to do it till next year, then when you finally get there, its going to cost twice as much. And thats the dilemma we face. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. When Dresden Raceways trackman Hank Lilley announced his retirement earlier this year they didnt have far to look as Alex Lilley and Darian Hamm stepped in to one of the hardest roles at the track. Lilley and Hamm have been awesome in their team approach to making Dresden Raceway one of the best surfaces in Ontario. The dynamic duo both have the same mission of keeping Dresden Raceway safe for the horses, drivers and great for racing. The 36-year-old Lilley is no stranger to the horse business as his grandfather is Mac Lilley a breeder and former driver and trainer, while his father Jeff is a trainer and former driver. Ive been around horses my whole life, said Lilley, "its a family business. The Dutton native recently hung up the driving colours for the seat of the tractor and water truck after a career that saw 10,740 starts with 974 wins and over $6 million in purses. I wasnt getting many live mounts and was ready for a change, I really dont miss driving and Im still part of the sport, said the soft-spoken Lilley. Lilley and wife Laci have multiple children who are all enamoured with the horse business. They are always at the barn helping out and are all real keen to learn the business, smiled Lilley. Ive raced at some awesome tracks including getting my start right here at Dresden as well as racing at Hiawatha, London and Windsor. Ive met some really great people through the years and even though Im not driving I will still get to see them. Lilley said. Darian is young but he is already lengths ahead of most and is dedicated to the sport, said Lilley. Lilleys partner Darian Hamm has also been around horses his whole life as his father Bill Hamm and grandfather Roger Hamm have owned, trained and driven horses. A 26-year-old West Lorne native, Hamm worked as a trackman at The Raceway at the Western Fair District last year under Doug Lilley and is looking forward to working with Alex. Alex is hard worker and tries to get everything perfect, Hamm said. Hamm noted that Dresden is a great place to work because all the horsepeople are so respectful of the property and all pitch in to help keep the grounds in top shape. I really love learning the skill, its a craft that not everyone can do. I think Alex and I make a great team and we are working hard to make Dresden a great surface, Hamm added. They say a good trackman is worth his weight in gold. If thats true, Dresden Raceway has struck it rich with Alex Lilley and Darian Hamm. (With files from Dresden) Officials warned Thursday that San Antonio is entering a second wave of COVID-19 earlier than expected, identified through alarming large increases in the number of people testing positive for the disease and in hospital admissions. Dawn Emerick, director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, pleaded with the public to resume social distancing practices, wash hands frequently and wear face coverings especially indoors. We are letting down our guard, and we are not adhering to some of these things that weve been preaching about for the last four months. So theres a sense of urgency right now, Emerick said during Thursdays city-county novel coronavirus briefing, now held twice a week instead of daily. The numbers of confirmed cases and people hospitalized with the disease in Bexar County are growing at disconcerting rates, officials said, reporting 192 new cases Thursday, following 180 on Tuesday and 135 Wednesday. Something is happening in our community, Emerick said. Its not just San Antonio. It is also some of the other larger cities in Texas as well. Our peers across the state are also seeing a very large increase in those positives, she added. Although a surge in cases that began last week was partly due to a backlog of test results, Emerick said, the last three to four days, thats not the case. We are entering a second wave, she said, attributing the trend to a relaxation in preventive practices since Memorial Day weekend, when many attended large gatherings without benefit of masks or social distancing. William Luther /Staff photographer The phased-in reopening of businesses also has contributed, she said. Take this serious, she said, emphasizing the need to follow health guidelines. No. 1: face coverings. Weve talked about that over and over and over again. Its the best way of mitigating the spread, in addition to the social distancing. We are definitely seeing more people not wearing masks. This is not healthy. In answer to a question, she said it would take about another week to know whether recent protests downtown will contribute to a continued rise in the virus. People attending protests should wear masks and attempt to maintain social distancing as much as possible. Thursdays new cases raised the Bexar County total to 3,840, up from 3,648 reported Wednesday. There were two more fatalities from the coronavirus reported Thursday, raising the death toll to 82, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. One was a Hispanic man in his 70s and the other an Anglo man in his 80s. Nirenberg said 122 people were in the hospital Thursday, up from 108 the day before. There were 54 in intensive care, up from 50 Wednesday. But only 25 were using ventilators to breathe, down from 28 the previous day. Those hospital figures are worrisome, officials noted. I always watch the hospital numbers more than I do anything else, and thats given me some real concern, County Judge Nelson Wolff said. We need to be a lot more careful about wearing our masks, social distancing, about cleaning our hands. Emerick noted that children who are younger than 2 shouldnt be wearing face coverings at any time because theres a risk of suffocating. The latest figures were reported as the San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio Zoo, Witte Museum and Splashtown San Antonio have begun phased-in reopening. Schlitterbahn water park in New Braunfels is set to resume operations Saturday, with precautions in place. Some resort hotels have reopened; others have begun taking reservations for July. The mayor said San Antonio-area residents proved they can contain the spread of COVID-19 when the infection and hospitalization rates were lower in April and early May. Weve done it before. We can do it again, Nirenberg said. One of the challenges, officials said, is that the city and county no longer can issue citations to people not wearing a face mask, bandanna or other covering. Wolff applauded Gov. Greg Abbotts decision to reopen the economy, but said it was a mistake for the governor to ban local jurisdictions from giving tickets for violations of mandatory face-covering rules. That forced cities and counties to turn the requirement to wear masks into a recommendation. If he had not done that, I dont think we would be where we are today, Wolff said. Another challenge, one similar to those in other cities, is that people testing positive for COVID-19 are not returning the health districts calls, which makes it difficult for health officials to conduct case investigations and contact tracing, Emerick said. We cant stop this disease from spreading if were not in partnership with you, she said. Emerick urged those who are sick to stay home and urged everyone to stay away from nursing homes, where members of the communitys most vulnerable population live. Nirenberg admonished the public to help contain the disease, as it did weeks earlier through voluntary actions, so the governor does not have to re-institute stay-at-home measures or other rules. Abbott has said he would in a second wave. We dont want to have go back in restrictions, the mayor said. It would be devastating economically and health-wise for us to do that. Testing for COVID-19 now is available to everyone, with or without symptoms. People over 65 and with underlying health risks such as hypertension or diabetes are encouraged to be tested. There are two pop-up testing sites open Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. One is in the cafeteria at Allen Elementary School, 101 Dumont Dr., not from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The other is in the main gym at Burbank High School, 1002 Edwards, on the South Side. Its free and no appointment is needed. For more information about other locations, call 311 or the citys COVID-19 hotline, 210-207-5779, or email COVID-19@sanantonio.gov. The first full card of two-year-old qualifiers at Woodbine Mohawk Park is now complete after a 14-race session on Friday (June 12) with a number of notable performances from the potential future stars of the sport. Winds were a factor on Friday morning, confronting the horses down the homesretch. AGCO judges rated the track as good with a two-second variant applied. The first three races on the card were the only dashes involving trotters. Of the three races, GW Chrome crossed the wire fastest of all after a wire-to-wire 2:02.2 score in the first for trainer-driver Anthony MacDonald. GW Chrome was five lengths better than strong-closing Muscle Jack (Chris Christoforou) and Shouldaknownbetter (Louis-Philippe Roy) A $12,500 Blooded Horse Yearling Sale purchase, GW Chrome (Break The Bank K - ATM Money) is owned by Thestable Gw Chrome Group of Guelph, Ont. On the pacing side, Twin B Heart Throb flashed the most speed with a wire-to-wire 1:57.3 effort for driver Sylvain Filion. She was nearly eight lengths better than his rivals in his first on-track appearance. Trained by Wayne McGean, Twin B Heart Throb (Betterthancheddar - Twin B Intimate) was a $20,000 London Selected Yearling Sale purchase now owned by 3 Capers Stable of Sydney, N.S. "He's slick-gaited and he can leave the gate pretty fast," said Filion during an interview during the COSA TV live broadcast. "I had a big hold of him leaving the gate, I didn't want him to get too excited...we had to cut it out, there wasn't much speed in there but he was really impressive. He doesn't seem like he goes fast when you sit behind him but he really does." McGean was one of a number of trainers to send out a pair of winners during the morning session as he and Filion also teamed up to win the fourth qualifier with Between I N U in 2:01. Also sending out a pair of winners on the morning were the following trainers: Anthony MacDonald; GQ Chrome (2:02.2) in Qualifier 1 and No Free Lunch (1:58.4) in Qualifier 9. Mario Baillargeon; Lincoln Hanover (2:04.1) in Qualifier 2 and Walkonthemoon (2:03.1) in Qualifier 3. Blake MacIntosh; Sports Dutchess (1:59.1) in Qualifier 10 and A Better Game (1:59.2) who survived a stretch-long slugfest with Alumni Seelster in Qualifier 14. Dr. Ian Moore; Lady Arthur (1:59.4) in Qualifier 12 and Andra Day (1:59) in Qualifier 13. For the results from the Friday session of baby races, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Baby Races). A replays of the Friday session is available below. COSA TV Live Broadcast Advertisement Trump lashed out again at Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan on Friday and said the Seattle 'takeover' had to end now Donald Trump has doubled down on his vow to 'straighten out Seattle' and its free autonomous zone, calling the protesters inside it 'terrorists' again who 'burn and pillage' the nation's cities, and taking another swipe at Mayor Jenny Durkan who is standing by them and thinks they may bring about a 'summer of love'. Trump tweeted on Friday: 'Seattle Mayor says, about the anarchists takeover of her city, it is a Summer of Love. 'These Liberal Dems dont have a clue. 'The terrorists burn and pillage our cities, and they think it is just wonderful, even the death. Must end this Seattle takeover now!' On Friday night, Durkan told Chris Cuomo on CNN: 'We could have the summer of love!' when asked how long the take-over would last. She previously told Trump to 'go back to his bunker' and stay out of the row. Protesters descended on the six-block zone in Seattle earlier this week to declare it an autonomous zone. They took over the police precinct, sending the few cops who remained there fleeing. Photos of armed guards and checkpoints startled outsiders and drove President Trump to declare the area full of 'domestic terrorists' and 'ugly anarchists'. But over the last few days, people inside the zone have likened it more to a peaceful street party where the protesters dine on vegan pizza, watch civil rights documentaries and listen to seminars and musical performances. Scroll down for video Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said on Thursday when asked how long the free zone would last: 'I don't know. We could have a summer of love!' Trump has said that his administration is 'not going to let Seattle be occupied by anarchists' after demonstrators took over a six-block section of the city, including a police precinct. 'If there were more toughness, you wouldn't have the kind of devastation that you had in Minneapolis and in Seattle. I mean, let's see what's going on in Seattle,' Trump told Fox News on Thursday. 'I will tell you, if they don't straighten that situation out, we're going to straighten it out.' Trump described Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan's handling of the situation as 'pathetic,' and asked 'Has she ever done this before?' He also called on Washington Governor Jay Inslee to send in National Guard troops to restore order. 'He's got great National Guard troops so he can do it,' Trump said of Inslee. 'But one way or the other, it's going to get done. These people are not going to occupy a major portion of a great city. 'It is unconstitutional and illegal to send the military into Seattle,' Durkan, a first-term Democrat, told a press conference yesterday. 'There is no imminent threat of an invasion of Seattle.' She defended the group who had created the autonomous zone, calling their actions 'patriotic'. 'Unfortunately, our President wants to tell a story about domestic terrorists who have a radical agenda and are promoting a conspiracy that fits his law and order initiatives,' Durkan added, according to Patch. 'It's simply not true. Lawfully gathering and expressing first amendment rights, demanding we do better as a society, and providing true equity for communities of color is not terrorism. It's patriotism.' President Donald Trump has said that his administration is 'not going to let Seattle be occupied by anarchists' after demonstrators took over a six-block section of the city, including a police precinct Artists fill in the letters of a 'Black Lives Matter' mural on E. Pine Street as protesters establish what they call an autonomous zone while protesting against racial inequality and calling for the defunding of Seattle police Protesters listen to a speaker as they sit in front of the Seattle Police Department East Precinct building, which has been boarded up and abandoned Thursday inside what is being called the 'Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone' in Seattle People walk past barricades on a street near Cal Anderson Park, Thursday inside the CHAZ A protester uses a scope on top of a barricade to look for police approaching the newly created CHAZ on Thursday Seattle Police Assistant Chief Deanna Nollette and Assistant Chief Adrian Diaz are blocked by protesters from entering the newly created Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in Seattle, Washington on Thursday In public statements, Inslee and Durkan have defended the CHAZ as 'largely peaceful' and 'like a block party,' indicating they believe a hands-off approach to the takeover is warranted. However, Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best disavowed the decision to abandon the East Precinct. Best posted a video message to officers Thursday in which she said the decision to leave the Capitol Hill precinct wasn't hers and she was angry about it. She also reiterated that police had been harassed and assaulted during protests. 'Ultimately, the city had other plans for the building and relented to severe public pressure,' Best said. At a Thursday news conference neither Best nor Durkan made it clear who decided that police should leave the precinct. Best said at the press conference that police response times to priority calls of violent crimes in progress had tripled this week. Police sources say that responses to low-priority calls have been suspended. 'If that is your mother, your sister, your cousin, your neighbor's kid that is being raped, robbed assaulted (or) otherwise victimized you're not going to want to have to report that it took the police three times longer to get there to provide services to them,' Best said. Durkan said regarding Trump's statements about Seattle that one of the things the president will never understand is that listening to community is not a weakness, but a strength. 'A real leader would see nationwide protest, the grief in so many communities of color, particularly our black communities, and the call to be an anti-racist society, as an opportunity for America. An opportunity to build a better nation,' she said. Protesters have said they want to see the precinct turned into a community center or used for purposes other than law enforcement. Trump blasted Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan (left) and Washington Governor Jay Inslee (right), both Democrats, for allowing protesters to set up an 'autonomous zone' where police officers are banned The word 'people' is spray painted over the word 'police' on the closed Seattle Police Department's East Precinct now surrounded by the area known as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), in Seattle on Thursday The words 'Black Lives Matter' are painted in the middle of East Pine Street in the newly created CHAZ Jahtia B (left), who did not want to use last name, and Sheila Lambert, both of Seattle, cheer after the Ride for Justice ride to the newly created Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in Seattle on Thursday The president has sparred before with Inslee and Durkan - both liberal Democrats. Inslee previously sought his party's presidential nomination. Inslee tweeted Thursday that state officials will not allow threats of military violence from the White House. 'The U.S. military serves to protect Americans, not the fragility of an insecure president,' he tweeted. The zone set up by protesters stretches a portion of Capitol Hill, where dozens of people show up to listen to speakers calling for police reform, racial justice and compensation for Native groups on whose land the city of Seattle was founded. Signs proclaim 'You are entering free Capitol Hill' and 'No cop co-op' along sidewalks where people sell water and other wares. The leadership situation inside the commune remained fluid and unclear on Thursday night. Rapper Raz Simone, who had been patrolling the zone with armed men as an alleged 'warlord', came under fire on Thursday after an old post from his Twitter account surfaced expressing anti-gay sentiment. Simone denied that the tweet was his doing, insisting that his account had been hacked and the 2010 tweet had been altered somehow. Rapper Raz Simone (seen Tuesday), who had been patrolling the zone with armed men as an alleged 'warlord', came under fire after an old post from his Twitter account surfaced expressing anti-gay sentiment A protester who did not want to be named appeared to be entering into negotiations with police on Thursday. The leadership situation in the CHAZ remained fluid and unclear on Thursday night Simone also faced scrutiny after a video emerged showing him and his entourage confronting a tagger within the CHAZ, with someone in the entourage declaring 'we are the police in this community now' before the altercation became physical. On Thursday, speakers used a microphone to discuss their demands and how to address the police presence after they visited the precinct during the day. Down the street, artists continued painting a block-long 'Black Lives Matter' mural on the street. 'The people that you see here have all come together because we see injustice in our system and we want to be part of the solution,' said Mark Henry Jr. of Black Lives Matter. Henry said Trump's rant about the gathering was unfounded. 'Donald Trump can call us a terrorist if he likes to, but what you see out here is people coming together and loving each other,' he said. Over the weekend, police were sharply criticized by City Council members and other elected leaders. Since officers dialed back their tactics, the demonstrations have largely been peaceful. The protesters wrote Black Lives Matter in enormous lettering down one of the streets in the autonomous zone on Wednesday night Artists have spray painted rainbow murals throughout the streets of the six-block zone A 'no cop co-op' offering free snacks, water, food, soda, sunscreen and hand sanitizer On Wednesday night, the protesters took a vote and watched Paris is Burning - the 1990s iconic LGBTQ movie. They watched an anti-slavery documentary the previous night Police officials say they are looking to reopen the precinct. At a news conference Wednesday, Assistant Chief Deanna Nollette said the barriers were removed from the front of the building after it became a flashpoint between officers and protesters. Nollette said the precinct has been boarded up because of credible threats that it would be vandalized or burned. She offered no details about the threats and no fires have been reported at the site. She said protesters have set up their own barricades, which are intimidating some residents. City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant disputed accounts of violence or intimidation by protesters within the area on Capitol Hill and said it was more like a street fair with political discussions and a drum circle. 'The right wing has been spreading rumors that there is some sort of lawlessness and crime taking place at the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, but it is exactly the opposite of that,' said Sawant, a socialist and a critic of Durkan and the police. Sawant said she wants the precinct to be 'converted into a public resource that will actually be helpful to society.' Members of African American Council are BOOED as they tell protesters in Seattle's 'autonomous zone' that they've 'hijacked' the Black Lives Matter movement with other causes like higher taxes for Amazon Two black female members of Seattle's African American Community Advisory Council were booed on Thursday as they told protesters inside the city's 'autonomous zone' that they have had hijacked the Black Lives Matter movement. Protesters descended on the six-block zone in Seattle earlier this week to declare it an autonomous zone. They took over the police precinct, sending the few cops who remained there fleeing. Photos of armed guards and checkpoints startled outsiders and drove President Trump to declare the area full of 'domestic terrorists' and 'ugly anarchists'. A member of the African American Community Advisory Council was booed telling the crowd of protesters they had to negotiate with the police to find a peaceful resolution inside Seattle's free zone on Thursday But over the last few days, people inside the zone have likened it more to a peaceful street party where the protesters dine on vegan pizza, watch civil rights documentaries and listen to seminars and musical performances. Among the many stands that have popped up is one that is collecting signatures on three petitions. One is to defund the Seattle Police Department but the other two are to slap Amazon with more taxes and to call on Mayor Jenny Durkan - who supports the free zone - to resign. Now, some say the original message of outrage over the brutal police killing of George Floyd, has been lost. On Thursday, members of the African American Community Advisory Council - which is part of the police department - went to the zone to plead with protesters to speak to them and come to a peaceful resolution. 'The thing is, you have hijacked this! 'You have taken the meaning away!' Victoria Beach, who is part of the council, fumed at the crowd. She and another black woman who told protesters they needed to talk with the police department were booed. Later, Beach told Komo News: 'How are we going to be heard if that's happening? Victoria Beach, the council president, told the protesters the message had been 'hijacked' 'How are we going to come to the table and talk?' The zone is being referred to as #CHAZ - the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. On Thursday, a handful of cops returned to their now defaced precinct to try to police it but the crowds set up barricades to keep them out. Mayor Jenny Durkan has stood by the protesters, despite ongoing criticism from President Trump. She said in an interview on Thursday that it could bring about a 'summer of love' that would bring people together. Trump tweeted on Friday: 'Seattle Mayor says, about the anarchists takeover of her city, it is a Summer of Love. 'These Liberal Dems dont have a clue. The terrorists burn and pillage our cities, and they think it is just wonderful, even the death. 'Must end this Seattle takeover now!' Trump has said that his administration is 'not going to let Seattle be occupied by anarchists' after demonstrators took over a six-block section of the city, including a police precinct. 'If there were more toughness, you wouldn't have the kind of devastation that you had in Minneapolis and in Seattle. 'I mean, let's see what's going on in Seattle,' Trump told Fox News on Thursday. 'I will tell you, if they don't straighten that situation out, we're going to straighten it out.' Photograph: Vanessa Carvalho/Rex/Shutterstock For many people in power, especially corporations, their biggest fear is not whether protesters on the street will break through a line of police. Its whether the conversation about racism will break through on issues beyond policing and draw attention to issues such as corporations role in mass incarceration, the abuse Black workers face, and the racism in our healthcare system that routinely kills Black people. We must win real structural change in our criminal justice system. But not just because its impact is so destructive and its takeover of Black communities is so unjust. We need to win on criminal justice because it will lay the foundation for what activism looks like, and set the standards for what justice looks like, which we can then apply to fighting the corporate takeover of our lives. Every time I see an act of violence against Black people hit the news, or see issues of race come up in public debate, my first reaction is to shake my head, hold my heart and push myself to find a way to fight ever harder and smarter for racial justice. And then I always wonder: after all this time, is it even possible for America to actually learn anything? Black people are doing so much teaching, but is anybody learning? The conversation on race rarely picks up where it last left off. It always seems to revert to the conversation we were having 30 years before. And it usually includes white conservatives quoting Dr Martin Luther King Jr back to us. As millions of people rise up to fight racism in America right now, however, I am getting a very different feeling. It feels like America is actually learning something about race. Not necessarily about what we need to do to end racism, or even the full extent of its harm. But at least the truth of Black experiences: the attacks on freedom and wellbeing that Black people face every day in this country at the hands of police and prosecutors, and also at the hands of bankers, doctors, employers and so many others. The truth of systemic racism. Story continues But that question leads to another, even more important, one: after falling in love with the dream of change, will America fall for false solutions? Thats where corporations come in. They run the factories that manufacture false solutions en masse. They want us to take we care for you for an answer. They want us to take body cameras for an answer. Corporations are one of the biggest threats to the protests taking place, though they are not on the street trying to stop them. Were seeing a lot of hypocrisy right now. George W Bush said that it remains shocking that Black people are harassed and threatened in their own country even though he himself, and his father, had appalling records on race and racism, and on Black lives. In a similar manner, corporations are now jumping over one another to message their support for Black people. A cottage industry of advisers provide guidance for how they should best do so, even as the cries of hypocrisy ring loud and ring true. Both corporations speaking out, and the incredible pushback they've received, are happening for a reason For people who want change, this is exactly what we must figure out how to counteract. Its time to convert protests against police in the streets to fights against prosecutors, including at the ballot box. Its also time to convert diversity and inclusion programs within corporations into anti-racist taskforces with the authority to make change. Its also time that we end the abuse and silencing of Black workers by corporations like Amazon, as well as force them to reckon with their role in racist policing. One thing we know: in order to do that, we have to take control of the story. Both corporations speaking out, and the incredible pushback theyve received, are happening for a reason. Its because we built the infrastructure to influence and organize the conversation on race. Weve given people language to talk about racism and privilege. Weve given people ideas for thinking about ending policing as we know it, rather than slightly reforming but mostly accepting the status quo of policing. Weve given people history lessons, connecting the attacks were seeing today to the history of attacks on Black communities, from the Red Summer to the Tulsa Massacre: both took place a hundred years ago and both are instances of police serving the agenda of white supremacy rather than protecting people against it. All of these groundbreaking analyses and solutions originated in Black communities. But much like the police themselves, these conversations could easily get out of control and be used against us. That will require calling out corporations for their injustices, and rallying as many people to fight their abuses as the millions weve seen rally around George Floyd. It will require more petitions and marches, and more donations and acts of defying complicity at work and among friends from everyone, of every identity. This is the moment for racism in America thats very similar to the recent shift in the fight against climate change: many defenders of the status quo have now conceded climate change is real, but they still fight every move to actually do something real about it. Its an opportunity but also a challenge. Our biggest mistake would be to be so focused on fighting the denial we have been fighting for decades that we forget to ensure that politicians and corporate executives actually make good on the recognition theyre now so readily offer. We must recognize the protests we see today as just the beginning. China has reported the first local coronavirus transmission in Beijing in weeks as the countrys capital gradually reopens due to a sharp decline in new cases. Six other new cases were Chinese citizens arriving from abroad, the National Health Commission said in its daily report. No new deaths were reported and 65 people remain in treatment, while another 104 are in isolation being monitored after having tested positive for the virus while showing no symptoms. One other person was listed as a suspected case after displaying other signs they may be infected. A woman wearing a face mask to protect against the new coronavirus dances with a parasol at a public park in Beijing on Wednesday. Pic: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein China has reported 4,634 deaths from Covid-19 a figure that has been static for weeks among 83,064 total cases since the virus was first detected in the central Chinese industrial city of Wuhan. Local authorities said the Beijing case is a 52-year-old man who went to a clinic with an intermittent fever but no other symptoms. He was swiftly diagnosed as having coronavirus, prompting authorities to isolate to family members and reinstate anti-virus measures in his neighbourhood. ~Outbreak Management Team (OMT) remains activated until further notice~ CAY HILL:--- As per May 11th, St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) has gradually resumed non-emergency health care services to the public as all COVID-19 has been transferred outside the hospital to the ICU tent and the Medical Mobile Pavilion (MMP). As of May 12th, 2020, there is one (1) patient admitted to the MMP. The patient, who previously tested positive and was previously admitted for COVID-19, is considered cured and non-infectious, however, due to pre-existing health conditions remains at the MMP for non-COVID care. Arrangements are being made for this patient to be transferred to another facility for the continuation of this care. Chairman of the OMT and SMMCs Medical Director Dr. Felix Holiday said As COVID-19 is a new disease, one that the world is learning how to manage it and the potential threat of another surge on the island still exists, SMMCs OMT remains activated until further notice. This is to ensure the continuation of our COVID care and capacity and to continue with the preparations to ensure the continuation of this care during hurricane season and we will keep the public updated via our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/stmaartenmedicalcenter) and via press releases to various media outlets. SMMC extends their gratitude to their entire staff and volunteers, the AMI team, the Government of St. Maarten, ESF6, civil servants especially their colleagues at the Ambulance Department, the HCLS/SLS labs, the Dutch Ministry of VWS, the Dutch Marines, SMMC suppliers, local General Practitioners, all organizations, companies and individuals who have made donations, and the people of St. Maarten for their support during the COVID-19 pandemic. SMMC encourages the public to remain vigilant, to continue practicing proper hand hygiene, wear a face mask and to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Outer Sunset Photo: Teresa Hammerl/Hoodline One adult suffered critical injuries in a house fire that broke out at 1683 35th Ave. (and Moraga) Thursday afternoon, SFFD spokesperson Lt. Jonathan Baxter wrote on Twitter. The victim was treated by medics and was on the way to a trauma center at a hospital at 5:42 p.m. The blaze was first reported around 5:15 p.m. and it was contained about half an hour later, at 5:50 p.m., Baxter said. He added that the fire remains under investigation. "The same crews that just pulled five people out of the water at Ocean Beach are now at a working fire," SFFD representatives added on Twitter, referring to a rescue at Ocean Beach. As we reported earlier today, five teenagers were rescued from the water at Ocean Beach Thursday afternoon, two of whom were transported to a hospital in critical condition, officials said. Ritwika Mitra By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Since the lockdown, Reena Devi has been struggling to make ends meet. When money ran out, she returned from Gujarats Surat to her village Gohal in Jharkhand paying Rs 800 per ticket to a broker. Even though initially she tried her best to not compromise on her husbands medicines who suffers from paralysis, she has lost hope of being able to fetch the monthly amount of Rs 6,000 required to support his health. The only aid she has received is in the form of rations which will last her a fortnight. I lost my elder son last year. I do not know how I will live if something happens to my husband. In Surat, I initially worked as a domestic help. Later, I started working in a saree factory. I have a younger son to support. But now, I am staring at no source of livelihood. There is no work in the village, said Reena. Bringing back my husband who is paralysed in the train was not easy either, she added. Lalit Kumar, founder of Evara Foundation said though while governments issued guidelines for differently-abled people, rights of workers or their family members who have disabilities were left largely unaddressed. Thousands of migrant workers were forced to walk back to their home states. People with disabilities were left with no other option either and were carried by their co-workers in some instances in the absence of transportation, said Kumar. As the large-scale humanitarian-scale unfolded amid the lockdown with migrant workers staring at large-scale loss of employment, those with ailing or differently-abled family members said the situation was grim. Nizamuddin Ansari who worked as a daily wage labourer in Surat and returned to Giridih in Jharkhand in mid-May. His wife worked as a domestic worker. Without a source of income they were forced to return home with their differently-abled daughter. She is different We tried a lot of treatments but nothing worked. Now there is not enough for everyone to eat. We have received nothing from the government...Any help we get would be good in these circumstances, said Ansari. According to Census 2011, around 2.68 crore persons were differently-abled which is 2.21 per cent of Indias population. The national policy for persons with disabilities 2006 recognises that persons with disabilities are valuable human resource for the country. The percentage of disabled population among males and females are 2.41 per cent and 2.01 per cent respectively. During 2001 2011, an increase in the number of disabled persons was observed both in rural and urban areas. J L Kaul, founder of the All India Conference of the Blind, pointed out incomes of visually-impaired workers who earn livelihood as small-scale shopkeepers or hawkers in their home states were put on hold during the lockdown. Rajesh Vishwakarma who is visually-challenged and runs a small shop which he set up with an NGO aid said his source of income dried up during the lockdown in Uttar Pradeshs Jalaun. It is a small store... It is the only source of income for my parents and me. But there was no sale of items. Things have marginally improved in the last seven days... There is a monthly pension of Rs 500 for the differently-abled which I receive, said Vishwakarma. The heterogeneity of disability is often ignored in terms of governance and policymaking. Despite existing policies, there are loopholes in their implementation. The political economy of disability needs to be understood. The attitude is governments are losing money if they are investing in infrastructure for differently-abled, said Anita Ghai, academician and disability rights activist. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 22:29:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ANKARA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish army held an offshore training exercise with its air and navy elements in the Mediterranean, the country's Defense Ministry said in a statement on Friday. "An 'open sea training' was performed on June 11, 2020, with the participation of air forces and navy elements, aiming to improve the continuous execution of the long-distance operational missions," said the statement. A total of 17 aircraft performed their duties in the exercise under the command of the Combat Air Force Center affiliated to the Air Force Command located in Eskisehir province, and eight frigates and corvettes participated in the mission under the Navy Command and the tactical command of the Northern Mission Group Command, said the statement. The sea elements were sent to different regions of the Mediterranean before the exercise, it added. The eight-hour mission took place along the route of approximately 1,050 nautical miles of Turkey's territorial waters, the ministry said. The exercise also included air refueling and sea-air joint training. Enditem CARGOTEC CORPORATION, PRESS RELEASE, 12 JUNE 2020 AT 9.30 (EEST) Kalmar, part of Cargotec, continues with its plans to optimise its operational footprint to deliver continuous business results. The company has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with ARX Mining and Construction Equipment Private Limited (ARX), according to which ARX would become Kalmar's contract manufacturing partner in India responsible for the manufacturing and development of Indital branded products. As a consequence, all the activities at Kalmar's current multi-assembly unit (MAU) in Bangalore, India, would discontinue as of 12 June 2020. The MAU Bangalore has been focusing on the manufacturing of Indital branded container handling equipment for the local market. Kalmar will continue to have a strong local presence in India through its local sales and service network, focusing on the sales and service of both Kalmar and Indital branded products."The competitive situation in India is challenging and it has impacted on production volumes and costs during the past few years. The planned actions would improve Kalmar's operational efficiency and profitability thanks to a more optimised global supply setup and streamlined product portfolio. Our ambition is to achieve long term sustainable business growth in India through this new contract manufacturing partnership. At the same time it is essential that we continue to serve our customers in India with a dedicated, local sales and service network, who will benefit from more efficient production capabilities," says, SVP Operations, Kalmar Mobile Solutions.The planned change is expected to result in the reduction of approx. 55 people in India. The exact number of people affected will be estimated later on in the process.Today, Kalmar employs approximately 150 people in India located in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. In addition, Cargotec's Navis, Hiab and MacGregor have a strong local presence in India. Claudio Strobl, Senior Vice President, Operations, Kalmar Mobile Solutions, tel. +46 72 0782903 Maija Eklof, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Kalmar, tel. +358 20 777 4096, maija.eklof@kalmarglobal.com Kalmar offers the widest range of cargo handling solutions and services to ports, terminals, distribution centres and to heavy industry. Kalmar is the industry forerunner in terminal automation and in energy efficient container handling, with one in four container movements around the globe being handled by a Kalmar solution. Through its extensive product portfolio, global service network and ability to enable a seamless integration of different terminal processes, Kalmar improves the efficiency of every move.www.kalmarglobal.com Kalmar is part of Cargotec. Cargotec's Fire broke out onboard a nuclear submarine docked at the Mediterranean port of Toulon on Friday and was still raging but under control by afternoon, local officials said. Nobody was hurt and no nuclear materials or weapons were on board the vessel, the Perle, which is in dry dock for repairs, the prefecture said in a statement. "The fire is under control. It will not spread, but it has not yet been put out," a spokeswoman for the Mediterranean prefecture told Reuters. The prefecture also said that smoke coming from the Perle was not radioactive. Dozens of firefighters were on the scene, helped by specialised teams and a firefighting ship brought in from Marseille, the prefecture said. Local newspaper Var-Matin reported on its website that the fire broke out at 10:30 a.m.. A defence ministry source said Defence Minister Florence Parly would go to Toulon as soon as possible. Toulon is France's biggest naval base and is home to most of its fleet, including the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and the nuclear submarines and other warships that escort it on its missions. The 74-metre-long (240-foot) Perle was launched in 1990 and started active service in 1993. It can be at sea 220 days per year. Search Keywords: Short link: - Kipkorir said virtual court proceedings had set a good precedence for the country's judicial system and should be embraced going forward - The lawyer also noted the process was friendly in a sense that it saved a lot of time wasted on traffic snarl-ups while heading to court - Seasoned lawyer Peter Wanyama concurred with Kipkorir and urged other players in the legal field to embrace technology in handling cases - However, a section of lawyers have lamented bitterly about the virtual process arguing it was not effective in communication and prosecution of serious cases Outspoken lawyer Donald Kipkorir has advocated for virtual court proceedings even after the end of coronavirus pandemic in order to eliminate small law firms that will not meet the demands. Kipkorir's sentiments came in the wake of increasing complaints from other lawyers who have been casting aspersions upon the effectiveness of the process in prosecuting cases. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Woman whose lungs were damaged by virus gets double transplant in historic 10-hour surgery City lawyer Donald Kipkorir (pictured) has endorsed virtual court proceedings post COVID-19 to eliminate incompetent law firms. Photo: Donald Kipkorir. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Kakake Barack Obama asema atamuunga mkono DP Ruto katika uchaguzi wa 2022 In his observation, the flashy city lawyer said virtual court proceedings have set a good precedence for the country's judicial system and should be embraced going forward. "Post-COVID-19, legal practice must continue as it is now. Meetings and court attendances should remain virtual except for board meetings and full trials with more than two witnesses. Fewer interactions help in the development of best legal practices as only the best law firms will survive," he said via his Twitter handle on Friday, June 12. READ ALSO: George Natembeya: Story of youngest, funniest regional commissioner who emulates late master John Michuki Kipkorir argued the process was not only effective but also friendly in a sense that it saves time wasted on traffic jams while heading to court and has further enhanced good time management between parties involved in a case. "I'm truly enjoying it ... it saves us wasting time in traffic jams, then going to waiting for three hours in court ... We now only log in on our designated time. The future is now," he added. Lawyer Peter Wanyama concurred with Kipkorir and urged other players in the legal field to embrace technology in handling cases. "True Don. I have just ordered the best laptop in the market. Clear camera resolution and so on. E-practice is the future. Video conferencing technology is the next investment," said Wanyama. However, a section of lawyers have lamented bitterly about the virtual process arguing it was not effective in communication and prosecution of serious cases. Advocate Ochieng Oginga poured cold water on the process terming it noisy and disturbing. Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi also expressed reservations on the adoption of video conferencing as a way of prosecuting cases. Havi noted that while it was necessary and effective to use the virtual process, Kenya's judicial system had not sufficiently invested in technology to enable the full rollout of the process. "You have had my colleagues complained about poor communication between them and the judges or magistrates and even the prosecution. Sometimes one is not sure if the judge has his file or not so they are challenges and need to seriously invest in technology," he said during an interview with citizen TV. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly Source: TUKO.co.ke Bristol University plans to review its logo featuring Edward Colston after Black Lives Matter protesters toppled the slaver's statue and dumped it in the city's harbour. Vice-chancellor and president Professor Hugh Brady said racism was 'still very much part of everyday life' but he was looking to play an 'active' part in stamping it out. The crest depicts the 17th century politician, who was from the city, and some of the institution's buildings - such as the Wills Memorial Building - have links to slavery. Bristol University, pictured, is considering redesigning its logo to remove all traces of people with links to the slave trade such as Edward Colston The statue of the 17th century slave trader was dumped into the docks in Bristol Henry Overton Wills III was the university's first chancellor and poured 100,000 - 10.5million today - into it in the 1870s. But his family made their fortune through the tobacco industry, which was built off the backs of African slaves in the US. It comes after Black Lives Matter protesters on Sunday ripped the Colston statue off its plinth, dragged it through the streets and dumped it in the river Avon. The move has sparked others across the country to call for around 100 statues linked to slavery to be torn down. Mr Brady said: 'We will initiate this debate with our staff, students, alumni, and wider city communities. 'We are painfully aware that racism did not occur overnight, and it will not end that way. We are taking a long-term view on effecting real change across our university. The crest depicts the 17th century politician, who was from the city, and some of the institution's buildings - such as the Wills Memorial Building - have links to slaver 'We firmly believe that if we all actively do our part and develop a speak-up culture that places responsibility on all of us - not only people of colour - to call out racism when it occurs, we will succeed.' Earlier today a 125-year-old copy of Tit-Bits magazine was found in the Colston statue - signed by the men who put it there - after it was fished out of the water yesterday. Museum workers began a clean-up operation on the statue of the 17th century slave trader after it was recovered from its watery grave in Bristol Harbour. M Shed, the museum where the monument will be placed without being cleaned of the graffiti sprayed on by protesters, found 'two surprising additions'. One was a bike tyre, which emerged with the statue as it was pulled from the harbour. The other item, however, was of a historical interest. Inside the coat-tails of the statue, the team found an 1895 copy of the British weekly magazine founded by an early father of popular journalism George Newnes. The toppled statue of Edward Colston, which was torn down and dumped into water by anti-racism protesters, contained a 125-year-old magazine signed by men who first put it up, it has been revealed. The magazine is called Tit-Bits - a forerunner to popular journalism in England After being fished-out from Bristol Harbour, where it was thrown into by protesters on Sunday, museum workers began a clean-up job on the statue of the 17th century slave trader Bosses at the museum, which will now house the statue, say the will not be cleaned of the graffiti sprayed on by protesters The conservator of the Edward Colston statue said it will be preserved as it is - with the rope used to haul it down and the tyre attached to it when it came out the water Tit-Bits: The magazine which gave rise to popular journalism Tit-Bits was a popular magazine founded by George Newnes in 1881 and featured small and interesting pieces of information - or 'Tit-Bits' as they were called. The magazine would run for more than 100 years, until 1984 when it was merged with Weekend - owned by Associated Newspapers, now DMGT Media, who own MailOnline and the Daily Mail. Interestingly, Tit-Bits helped pave the way for the Daily Mail in the first place. Alfred Harmsworth, who founded the Daily Mail A contributor by the name of Alfred Harmsworth, who would later become Lord Northcliffe, launched a rival publication to Tit-Bits named 'Answers to Correspondents on Every Subject under the Sun' After having success in the world of print, he would later go on to launch the Daily Mail. Another Tit-Bits contributor, Arthur Pearson, who won a job on Tit-Bits in a competition would go on to create the Daily Express. Advertisement After cleaning it, they discovered included the names of those who originally fitted the statue and the date on the inside pages. The team said on Twitter: 'We spent the morning removing mud from its inside with a hose and extendable brush. 'The painted graffiti was particularly at risk from the cleaning so this was done very carefully to ensure it wasn't washed off. 'The symbolism of his graffitti'd body has been preserved and the significance it has for us will be an important story to tell. 'We ended up with two surprise additions. Firstly a bicycle tyre which emerged from the harbour with the statue, and then the discovery of a clue to the people who first installed it in Bristol: A 1895 magazine rolled up inside the coat tails. 'After careful cleaning and drying we found someone had handwritten the names of those who originally fitted the statue and the date on the inside pages.' The statue, which had stood in the city centre since 1895, was pulled down and hurled in the River Avon during the Black Lives Matter protest on Sunday. As some 10,000 protesters gathered in the city, footage showed demonstrators heaving the monument down with ropes before cheering and dancing around it. The statue had been a hotly contested subject of controversy and the most recent petition to remove it garnered more than 11,000 signatures. Along with the tobacco trade, Colston's wealth helped to develop Bristol in the 17th century. He used a lot of his riches, accrued from his extensive slave trading, to build schools and almshouses in his home city. After the protest, Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees confirmed the bust was to be fished out and put on display locally. The future of the plinth the statue stood on will be decided by a democratic consultation, say the council Protesters tied ropes around the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol city centre, before tearing it to the ground on Sunday Crowds packed side by side at Bristol's harbour this afternoon to watch the statue as it was thrown into the water Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees has now confirmed the bust will be fished out and put on display It was hauled out of Bristol Harbour yesterday. The statue will now be placed alongside placards from the recent protests to help educate about slavery. The Mayor also revealed historians and local experts will be commissioned to 'look into the city's past'. Mr Rees said 'Bristol's true history will be researched by a new commission so the city can better understand its story'. Zoom CEO Eric Yuan. AP Photo/Mark Lennihan Zoom disclosed on Thursday that it had deactivated the accounts of several US-based human-rights activists at the request of the Chinese government. Zoom said it blocked the hosts' user accounts because it didn't have the functionality to block individual accounts by location. It said going forward it would "not allow requests from the Chinese government to impact anyone outside of mainland China." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The popular video-chat service Zoom said on Thursday that it had blocked the accounts of Chinese human-rights campaigners because China had asked it to. Axios reported Wednesday that an account belonging to Zhou Fengsuo, a US-based human-rights campaigner who was a student leader during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, had been suspended after he hosted an event commemorating the 31st anniversary of the protests. Initially Zoom said it had suspended Zhou's account to comply with "local laws" but was not specific about which local laws were being enforced. In a blog post published on Thursday, Zoom confirmed it was the Chinese government that had forced it to shut down multiple users' accounts after they hosted meetings about Tiananmen Square. The meetings were attended by Chinese users, which meant they fell under Chinese censorship laws forbidding the discussion of Tiananmen Square. Zoom said that it had shut down the meetings because it did not have the capability to block users individually by country. "We could have anticipated this need. While there would have been significant repercussions, we also could have kept the meetings running," Zoom said. It added that it had since reinstated the users' accounts and said it was working on functionality to block users based on their geographical location. "Going forward Zoom will not allow requests from the Chinese government to impact anyone outside of mainland China," it said. Story continues News of Zoom blocking the accounts prompted Republican Sen. Josh Hawley to write a letter to company CEO Eric Yuan, asking whether Zoom is trying to "curry favor" with China's Communist Party. The senator also recalled in April when Zoom said it had "mistakenly" routed some users' calls through servers in China, sparking privacy and security concerns. In some ways the news of Zoom censoring Tiananmen Square memorials mirrors concerns by US lawmakers around the wildly popular short-form video app TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance. Reports surfaced last year that TikTok's moderators had been instructed to censor mentions of politically contentious issues and events including Tiananmen Square, sparking fears that this could mean China's censorship laws could be enforced against users outside of China. The key difference is that while TikTok is owned by ByteDance, Zoom is an American company. "One would have thought that a supposedly American company whose claim to fame is serving a fast, virtually seamless video chat would value free speech," Hawley wrote. "But your company appears to have chosen censorship instead." Read the original article on Business Insider The two sides rejoiced at the fruitful development of the bilateral ties, especially the implementation of reached agreements during all-level delegation exchanges, and agreed to step up delegation exchanges, particularly those at the high level. Joint efforts will be made to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries (1971-2021), the consented. The ministers also reached consensus on orientations to boost economic and trade relations like accelerating the signing of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association to support the two economies and deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ignazio Cassis lauded Vietnams efforts in performing its roles as ASEAN Chair and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. He said the international community would learn from Vietnams experience in fighting the pandemic. Minh spoke highly of Switzerlands commitment to funding international cooperation in preventing, controlling and mitigating the impact of COVID-19, saying Vietnam stands ready to join the European countrys efforts against the epidemic. They agreed to enhance coordination in optimising cooperation potential between ASEAN and Switzerland in 2020 when Vietnam serves as ASEAN Chair. Four Rossin College researchers have been awarded grants from the Manufacturing PA Innovation Program, an academic-industry partnership initiative, in support of projects designed to spur new technologies and processes in the manufacturing sector. On May 29, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development announced the approval of more than $2.8 million in grants supporting a total of 43 projects across diverse areas of manufacturing, such as medical, energy, and consumer goods. Through the Manufacturing PA fellowship, the states seven engineering research institutions, including Lehigh University, partner with Pennsylvania-based manufacturing companies on graduate and undergraduate student research projects that foster innovation while developing a 21st-century workforce. Grants of approximately $70,000 each were awarded to the following principal investigators: John Coulter, senior associate dean for research in the Rossin College and a professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics, will partner with Noortek (Emmaus, PA) on smart and adaptive extrusion manufacturing technologies. The development, testing, and validation of prototype systems will help scale production for the growing company while minimizing costs. Anand Jagota, professor and founding chair of Lehighs Department of Bioengineering, will work with Adhezion Biomedical (Wyomissing, PA) and University of Pennsylvania collaborator Shu Yang, a professor of materials science and engineering, on fabricating innovative hydrogel adhesives for wound closure. The researchers, who have previously collaborated on a reversible superglue inspired by snail biology, will develop a durable, stretchy adhesive that is also biocompatible and bioabsorbable. Animesh Kundu, principal research scientist in Lehighs Center for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, will investigate the development of refractories for renewable energy with industry partners Dynalene (Whitehall, PA) and HarbisonWalker International (Moon Township, PA). Their efforts will lead to new refractory castable formations, or heat-resistant building materials, specifically designed for solar thermal applications. Alparslan Oztekin, a professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics, will collaborate with Solarflux Energy Technologies (Bethlehem, PA) on the manufacture of membrane modules for cleaning fracking flow-back water using a solar-assisted membrane distillation process. ### DANBURY The plea hearing of the 18-year-old arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing at the city skate park earlier this year has been continued to July 22. Nykeem Hawkins, of Danbury, is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first- and second-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace for his alleged role in the March 18 death of 21-year-old Willy Placencia. Officers responded to a report of a fight at the park and found Placencia lying on the ground with multiple stab wounds. He later died from injuries to his lungs, liver and kidney. Police said the incident at the park stemmed from an ongoing feud between rival Danbury groups. Hawkins is accused of starting the fight with Placencia at the skate park. He was arrested nine days after the incident. Witnesses told police that a 16-year-old, who got out of the same car as Hawkins, pulled out a knife during the altercation. The 16-year-old has been charged with first-degree conspiracy to commit manslaughter, first-degree assault, first- and second-degree conspiracy to commit assault, and breach of peace. Four other Danbury residents have been arrested in connection with the case, including two male juveniles, ages 15 and 16. The 15-year-old is facing first- and second-degree conspiracy to commit assault and breach of peace charges. Kenaas Council, 19, was charged with second-degree conspiracy to commit assault and breach of peace charges. James Lema-Zaruma, 20, was charged with first-degree criminal liability to commit assault. The plea hearings of Council and Lema-Zaruma have also been postponed to Aug. 26 and Sept. 2, respectively. Shalina Tallman, 36, is facing a second-degree hindering prosecution charge after police say she rendered criminal assistance to Hawkins and the 16-year-old following the fatal stabbing. Hawkins remains held on $100,000 bond and is being represented by Bethel-based attorney Dennis P. McDonough, according to court records. A statue of Captain James Stirling that has stood on Hay Street in Perth's central business district for more than 40 years has been damaged, and one person has been taken into custody. The statue had its neck and hands painted red, and an Aboriginal flag was painted at the bottom. The statue following the vandalism on Friday. The incident happened about 2pm with witnesses saying a man spraypainted the statue before running away. The man was apprehended by police and the statue has since been cleaned. French police officers have said they feel abandoned by the government, as police unions met the Interior Minister Christophe Castaner amid a wave of protests alleging racism and police brutality. Against the background of the killing of George Floyd by police in the US, protests in France have focused attention on allegations of brutality and racism in the French police service. One demonstration centring on the circumstances surrounding the death on police premises in 2016 of a young black man, Adama Traore, drew around 22,000 supporters. The case is still being examined. Leaders of France's police unions requested talks with Castaner on Thursday and Friday, saying their members feel abandonment and "disgust" following declarations earlier this week In a televised address on Monday on the issue of police conduct, Castaner said that any suspicion of racist acts or words which was proven would lead to the automatic suspension of the officer concerned. The unions are concerned that his use of the word "suspicion" is too loose. Castaner also announced a ban on the use of chokeholds by police, while unions maintain that as yet there is no effective alternative method to immobilise individuals who resist handcuffing. 'Police-bashing' More generally, the police unions intend to convey a growing anger among their ranks towards Castaner for what is seen as his failure to support officers amid what one called union leader called police-bashing protests. There are signs of mounting frustration within the force. In Nice on Thursday, police officers lined up in the city centre's Place Massena placing their handcuffs on the ground in front of them, in what they described as a spontaneous demonstration. The leader of the Unite-SGP-FO trade union warned this week that if the government doesn't change its attitude cops will just down tools and stop arresting people. There is clearly a feeling among some officers that the Interior Minister has allowed a number of particular allegations of brutality which are under investigation, to grow into more generalised accusations. Police unions want more support, saying their officers are exhausted after an extremely busy period in recent years coping with terrorism, the Yellow Vest protests and major anti-pension reform protests amongst much else including ordinary crime and Covid-19. The government used police officers to deal with these recent serious threats to public order, says Philippe Capon of Unsa-Police. But now, he asserts a problem in the United States has been transposed to France. And his members, he says, feel betrayed. Stigmatisation Capon complains of a knee-jerk stigmatisation of the police and worries that all police officers are vilified for the misconduct or crimes of a minority. He says the police are blamed for everything and it must stop. One trade unionist hinted that Castaner had abstained from louder support for the police in the face of a social media frenzy. We expected as much," he told Le Figaro newspaper. The relationship between Castaner and the police has been difficult for some time and it's widely assumed that he will be replaced in the expected upcoming government reshuffle. Public opinion Harder to judge is how the French public in general view their police force. A poll published by BFMTV and conducted by Elabe reveals a mixed picture. Trust in the police stands at 69 percent, a drop of 7 percent since April 2019 but 65 percent of those polled think that police violence in France is linked to the aggressive behaviour of some people, while half cite the high degree of social tension and the number of protests. Just over one third, 37 percent of those polled, felt police violence was down to the behaviour of some officers and their excessive use of force while 29 percent felt that such violence stemmed from a feeling of impunity. UAE ambassador to the US says move would be illegal takeover of land Palestinians seek for a state. The United Arab Emirates ambassador to the US has warned Israel against annexing parts of the occupied West Bank, saying the move would upend Israels efforts to improve ties with Arab countries. In a rare appeal to the Israeli public by an Arab official, Yousef al-Otaiba, said on Friday that the move would be an illegal takeover of land Palestinians seek for a state. Annexation would certainly and immediately upend all Israeli aspirations for improved security, economic and cultural ties with the Arab world and the UAE, al-Otaiba wrote in an op-ed in Israels Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. Al-Otaiba was among three Arab ambassadors who attended President Donald Trumps January unveiling of his Middle East plan, which allows Israel to annex around 30 percent of the already illegally occupied West Bank. The plan was immediately rejected by the Palestinians. Some Israeli officials have dismissed the notion that applying sovereignty to Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank would slow a discreet opening between Israel and Arab countries particularly with Gulf states who share Israeli concerns over Iran. Thawing relations Israel has no diplomatic relations with Gulf Arab countries, but common concerns over Irans regional influence have led to a limited thaw in ties. Egypt and Jordan are the only two Arab countries having formal relations with Israel. In May, Abu Dhabis Etihad made the first known flight by a UAE carrier to Israel, carrying coronavirus aid for the Palestinians. All the progress that youve seen and the attitudes that have been changing towards Israel, people becoming more accepting of Israel and less hostile to Israel, all of that could be undermined by a decision to annex, al-Otaiba said in a video that accompanied the article. The Israeli government intends to begin debating annexation on July 1. On Thursday, an Israeli minister said there were gaps with Washington on the issue and that the two allies had yet to agree on a map of territorial lines. Palestinians want the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem territory Israel captured in the 1967 war for an envisaged future independent state. They say annexation would make that impossible, and have called for international sanctions against Israel. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy during one of his daily coronavirus briefings in Trenton on May 26. Read more At Annettes Restaurant in Ventnor, owner Cheryl Venezia has weathered the coronavirus pandemic by offering takeout. Now shes hoping to turn her parking lot into an outdoor dining room. But since New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has said restaurants wont open until Monday, she faces another weekend before customers can sit down. I really dont think its fair what hes doing to all of us, Venezia said. I want to tell him how much money Ive spent to open up. Police barriers for parking lots. Its cost us thousands of dollars. I just dont get why we cant open up inside? Give the people the choice to come in or not? Why keep dragging this on? For Venezia and others suffering from the states frozen economy, the question of how Murphy has handled the shutdown is not theoretical. And with new confirmed coronavirus cases on the decline in the state, anger is growing. Ive asked, whats the data that says a restaurant can open on a Monday and not on a Friday? said State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester). Ive had people call me that own small businesses, and theyre saying they survived two recessions, theyve been around for 20 years. And theyre telling me, I cant believe the government Im paying taxes to is going to put me out of business. While Murphy, like many governors, saw a huge surge in support for the early stages of his coronavirus response, there are growing signs of tension as people tire of strict rules, other states open up, and the summer beckons. Protests over the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police have complicated things for the first-term Democratic governor: He faced a backlash for joining a protest while still advocating for social distancing. Hes in a position right now where youre damned if you do, youre damned if you dont, said Modia Butler, a Democratic consultant in New Jersey. Murphy has said New Jersey can move to stage two of its reopening Monday, meaning outdoor dining, limited retail, and day-care centers can resume. He relaxed restrictions on indoor gatherings from allowing groups of 10 people to permitting 50 people or 25% of a buildings capacity. But hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, and swimming pools will stay closed until June 22. New Jersey has had the second highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, second only to New York. Murphy risks a resurgence of the virus by moving too fast, but potential backlash if the case count keeps dropping and restrictions stay in place, said Ben Dworkin, director of the Rowan University Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship. READ MORE: Gov. Murphy announces New Jersey is loosening COVID-19 rules; critics urge him to move faster This is a very difficult needle to thread for any executive, Dworkin said. Asked how Murphy is weighing some of the criticism he faces from both sides of the debate, his spokesperson Darryl Isherwood said the governor has formed a 21-person commission from the fields of science, economics, finance, business, and academia to look at issues around restarting the states economy. He also has named an advisory council of almost 300 people from around New Jersey. This is an unprecedented situation without a master playbook on how to respond, Isherwood said in a statement. Throughout it, Gov. Murphy and his administration have sought guidance from public health professionals and have relied on the science to provide the clearest way forward. Not every decision is going to be popular with every constituent, but saving the lives of New Jerseyans has been the governors guiding force throughout. Some of Murphys decisions have been criticized as too lenient. After he announced last month that beaches could open for Memorial Day weekend, Pennsylvania health officials warned residents it wasnt safe to go. And in light of protests over Floyds death, Murphy said he would allow outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people for First Amendment-protected activities. But he drew backlash for attending demonstrations when his administration had hit people with citations for organizing protests against the coronavirus lockdown. The governor said he encourages protesters to wear masks and practice social distancing. READ MORE: Jersey Shore movie theater shuts its doors after being issued three violations Murphys daily coronavirus briefings, streamed live on Facebook to a virtual crowd of thousands, now feature a continuous scroll of mostly jeering comments, a window into the discontent spreading throughout the state. On Thursday, many centered on the continued closures. You can protest with hundreds safely you can open a restaurant, wrote one commenter. Only 174 more stages and we will all be open, said another, to a chorus of laughing face emojis. And, in one Jersey classic: Open tanning salons, you got me [messed] up with no base tan in June. This week, Asbury Park announced it would allowing indoor dining, and other cities have begun pushing the limits of Murphys orders. In Northfield, the owner of a movie theater was cited after he reopened early. Murphy said Thursday he had been in discussions with city leaders and would enforce his orders. Weve been engaging actively with the governing body, he said of Asbury Park. We completely understand the pressure to get open. The governor has even come under fire from prominent Democrats, like Brendan Sciarra, owner of the Mudhen Brewery and chair of the Cape May County Democrats, and Atlantic County Democratic Chair Michael Suleiman, who has urged Murphy to reopen casinos. State Sen. Michael Testa, a Republican who represents Cape May County, said the frustration transcends politics. Testa has filed a lawsuit against Murphy on behalf of a barbershop, a wedding venue, an equestrian center, a brewery, and the Republican State Committee, accusing Murphy of exceeding his authority. We were told we had to flatten the curve," he said. "Not only did we flatten the curve, now hes crushing the economy. Were crushing our summer. READ MORE: Court orders Atilis Gym in Bellmawr to close, co-owner calls Gov. Phil Murphy a slimeball Testa and others have said small businesses are drowning, and some officials and business owners wonder if Murphy, a former executive at Goldman Sachs, understands the challenges facing mom-and-pop operations. In North Wildwood, weeks of criticism from the mayor and attempts to begin outdoor seating ahead of schedule have been to no avail. Murphys "actions have shown a complete lack of the reality of small business and the reality of tourism in New Jersey, said Patrick Rosenello, the mayor of North Wildwood. HELP US REPORT: Are you a health care worker, medical provider, government worker, patient, frontline worker or other expert? We want to hear from you. Rosenello said people supported Murphys decisions at the outset of the public health crisis, but patience has worn thin. Since mid-April, Rosenello said, the governors plans have lacked clarity and guidance as to why businesses had to stay closed, or how they could plan to reopen. The reopening trajectory has been a disaster, particularly for small businesses," he said. "The impact is going to be felt for years in this state. Some San Antonio residents may remember when oil and gas production in the nearby Eagle Ford Shale basin was booming six years ago. The current market volatility and job losses have taken an economic toll on our community, but the threats posed by the rampant flaring of natural gas at operations in the Eagle Ford have been taking a toll on our communitys health for quite some time. There are similar concerns about West Texas, where the Permian Basin has grown into one of the largest oil fields in the world. Recent studies reveal that flaring in the Permian Basin has been emitting twice the amount of methane than previously thought and pollution released with oil and gas development poses risks to communities already struggling with respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19. Anyone who has driven through South or West Texas has seen flares at oil and gas production sites. Due to the current glut, oil and gas companies have little reason not to light excess gas on fire and burn it away. Many alternatives to flaring exist, such as increased gas utilization on-site, in-field gas storage and enhanced oil recovery. Unfortunately, Texas has few regulatory guard rails and flaring is often the cheapest solution for operators, so the practice persists to the detriment of the environment and public health of surrounding communities. Since 2013, Permian operators have squandered roughly a trillion cubic feet of natural gas through flaring enough to meet the yearly needs of every Texas home three times over. In 2019 alone, Permian operators sent 280 billion cubic feet of gas worth about $420 million up in flames. Methane, the main ingredient in natural gas, is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a driver of global warming during its first 20 years in the atmosphere. Flaring converts methane into carbon dioxide, but in the process emits toxic air pollutants, including soot, benzene and formaldehyde, along with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Most of these pollutants are known carcinogens that expose local communities to serious public health risks made worse by the pandemic. As investors in oil and gas companies and residents where these operations are based, we are disturbed by the industrys disregard for operational efficiency and clean air. We are calling on all oil and gas companies to implement cost-effective methane technologies and management processes to significantly reduce flaring. We recognize that companies are weathering serious economic turbulence as a result of the pandemic, and oil and gas companies face additional challenges given current market volatility. But part of the calculus for emerging as a healthy competitor must include consideration of future market demand, operational excellence that includes protections for workers, and strong climate and environmental standards that will safeguard public health. Investors will be watching operator strategies in these areas closely. This month the Texas Railroad Commission is meeting to discuss various oil and gas production issues, and one topic of discussion includes flaring limits. We stand with numerous other Texas landowners, residents and investors who made their voices heard at prior meetings, and ask the commission to minimize flaring in the oil fields and formally adopt the goal of ending routine flaring by 2025. At the last meeting, the organization asked an industry panel to develop recommendations to reduce flaring. We hope this results in strong recommendations. The debate over sensible and sustainable flaring standards long predates the pandemic, and it is an issue that will not go away on its own. Investors remain focused on the future, and we will continue to scrutinize operating practices until they reflect respect for the health of Texan communities and the greater environment. The Permian has been producing oil and gas for 100 years its time for Texas to develop oil and production policies that meet the needs of today. Anna Falkenberg, Ph.D., is executive director of the Socially Responsible Investment Coalition. First Lady Melania Trump delayed her 2017 move to Washington so she could renegotiate the terms of her prenuptial agreement with Donald Trump. That's what Mary Jordan, a Washington Post reporter, says in a new book that describes Ms Trump's efforts to "amend her financial agreement with [the president] what Melania referred to as 'taking care of Barron." That's the first couple's son, who then was 10 years old. A spokesman for the First Lady, however, dismissed it as a work of fiction. Among other tidbits, the book reports the first lady wanted her husband to state in writing that Barron would not be shut out of the Trump family business. She wanted a guarantee he would be treated the same as Mr Trump's adult children. What's more, the book reports Ms Trump needed time to herself after her husband's alleged sexual dalliances with other women. Ms Jordan's book, titled "The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump," is based on more than 100 interviews. Speculation has swirled around Washington since Mr Trump was elected that his wife insisted on a revised prenuptial pact before she and young Barron would join him in the capital city. The first lady's chief of staff said the contents of the book are not true. "Yet another book about Mrs. Trump with false information and sources," Stephanie Grisham, a former White House press secretary who moved back to the East Wing this year, said in a statement to CNN. "This book belongs in the fiction genre." KALAMAZOO, MI An outside investigator will be hired to scrutinize the police response to recent protests, according to Kalamazoo city officials. The city government announced the planned probe in a news release Friday, June 12. The release also outlined increased training for police and other city staff and other actions being taken to improve equity in public safety policies. Police and protesters clashed in Kalamazoo as people took to the streets to draw attention to police brutality and racial injustice. Businesses were damaged and police fired tear gas at people to disperse crowds. We recognize that many in the community had concerns about the events of the last couple of weeks and in order to openly and fairly address these concerns we are taking concrete steps, Kalamazoo City Manager Jim Ritsema said in a June 12 announcement. The city, with help from recently appointed Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Dorla Bonner, will hire an independent, outside investigator to review the events surrounding the protests and the citys actions in response. The Community Public Safety Review & Advisory Board (CPSRAB) will assist in the selection of the investigator. The outside investigator will review if procedures were followed, if existing procedures are appropriate, and if there are recommendations for changes. The city will also examine other existing KDPS procedures through the viewpoint of equity, the city said in a news release. The city will also update the traffic stop study which was last completed in 2013. The public will be kept informed throughout this process with the addition of a Public Information Officer, the city said. As we move forward together on this important and necessary work with the community, we know this is just the beginning and that there is much more to do, Ritsema said. We will continue to strive for greater diversity, equity and inclusion not only in our public safety endeavors, but everything we do to serve the community. The scene in downtown Kalamazoo from May 30 to June 2 included a handful of demonstrations and protests that filled the streets of Kalamazoo. Many were at the demonstration to call attention to racial injustice and police brutality and other causes. A rash of vandalism followed the protests late Monday night, June 1, and led city leaders to impose a citywide curfew the following night. Some of the actions outlined in the release from city leaders will be taken within the next six months, the release states. The city also listed a number of ongoing efforts, including: Increased training for Public Safety and city of Kalamazoo staff, including: history of racism in the United States, history of racism and protest in Kalamazoo and implicit biases. Strengthen relationships within community by creating opportunities for community to share their experiences with public safety and through community healing conversations, and learning from communities that have strong relationships between law enforcement and community. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief Karianne Thomas responded to criticism over tactics used by Kalamazoo officers during civil unrest in the city, saying the officer actions are also being reviewed in accordance with department policy. The city of Kalamazoo has received comments from citizens about the incidents, including criticism of how officers deployed tear gas on people lying on the ground in front of the Kalamazoo County Courthouse in downtown Kalamazoo during overnight demonstrations. The video that has been circulating of this incident only captures one moment and does not portray the complexity of the situation in the area at that time," Chief Karianne Thomas said in a June 11 email message to MLive, responding to criticism about the departments handling of the incident. In addition to large crowds, KDPS encountered individuals committing criminal acts to include property damage, looting, reckless driving and assaults on officers. In an effort to quell the criminal actions as well as disburse the numerous, large crowds, KDPS officers utilized multiple means to restore order, which included the use of pepper spray and tear gas," Thomas said in the email. Although categorized as peaceful protesters, there was no protest occurring and the situation was one of civil unrest. The group shown in the video was asked to voluntarily leave before any force was used." In accordance with the KDPS Use of Force Policy, Thomas said, the incident is subject to an automatic review. We respect the right to assemble and protest, but we have a duty to protect the community during civil unrest and we cannot allow an unsafe situation to escalate, she said. Willie Riddle Jr., 30, was among protesters marching in Kalamazoo that night, and watched as officers deployed tear gas toward the group of people on the ground. Riddle said his eyes and throat stung after the crowd dispersed. Riddle was critical of the handling of the incident and contacted Kalamazoo City Commissioner Eric Cunningham to complain about how it was handled. Riddle, who was protesting in support of police reforms, believes KDPS should not have tear gas in the first place. Assistant Chief Vernon Coakley said previously the people laying there had been chased all around the community before the gas was deployed. Police were outnumbered about 50 to 1 that night, he said during a news conference the day following the incident: The following day, on June 2, the city of Kalamazoo instituted a curfew and the Michigan National Guard and Michigan State Police came into the city to assist city officers with crowd control. Police deployed tear gas to disperse crowds in downtown Kalamazoo again on June 2, before the city curfew was lifted on June 3. Though police have said there is nothing connecting the fires to the protests, five houses burned the same night as the June 2 protest and that incident is being investigated as arson, according to Kalamazoos fire marshal. Read more: Kalamazoo blaze that ravaged five homes believed to be arson, fire marshal says What defund the police means to advocates in Michigan Black caucus members demand equity in Kalamazoo County policies Kalamazoo dismisses curfew violations issued to protester by Shafique Khokhar Social confinement has been replaced by weaker preventive measures. The World Health Organisation calls for a return to tougher measures. Last Tuesday, more than 5,000 cases were reported in a single day; in late May, they were around 1,700. Punjab police use stun batons against people who fail to respect restrictive measures. For one activist, the governments approach is confusing. Faisalabad (AsiaNews) Pakistan is experiencing a new wave of COVID-19 cases. The rise began in early June, after the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan replaced the lockdown with less restrictive measures. So far, 125,521 cases have been reported in the country with 2,463 deaths. On Tuesday, 5,385 cases were reported against 1,700 per day in late May. In a letter sent to Pakistans provincial governments on Sunday, World Health Organisation (WHO) Pakistan chief Palitha Mahipala recommended re-imposing some of the lifted restrictions to counter the spread of the novel coronavirus. According to the UN health agency, Pakistan's rate of coronavirus-positive patients was too high (24 per cent), indicating that not enough testing was being done. However, Prime Minister Khan has expressed his opposition to re-imposing a lockdown and has defended his decision to allow markets and public departments to reopen. His political adversaries and many independent observers are instead critical of his response to the crisis, demanding that some restrictions be re-imposed. The situation is alarming. Steps should be taken immediately to separate the infected from the rest of the population, said Daniel Bashir, a young Catholic doctor, speaking to AsiaNews. For Pakistani authorities, if people follow the new guidelines, the pandemic should be contained. Provincial administrations have instead increased controls. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the authorities closed 1,715 shops. Elsewhere, tougher measures have been used. In Faisalabad (Punjab) police have used stun batons against people for failing to respect anti-coronavirus restrictions. For many Pakistanis, such actions violate the countrys constitution and the UN convention against torture, of which Pakistan is a signatory. Robin Daniel, chairman of the National Minorities Alliance of Pakistan and interfaith Dialogue, slammed the police for using violence against people who do not respect the safety distance or do not wear a mask. In his view, the governments anti-pandemic policy is confusing and has led to the current unacceptable situation. TOPSHOT - A person holds up a placard that reads, 'Black lives matter' during a protest in the city of Detroit, Michigan, on May 29, 2020, during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white policeman knelt on his neck for several minutes. - Violent protests erupted across the United States late on May 29, over the death of a handcuffed black man in police custody, with murder charges laid against the arresting Minneapolis officer failing to quell boiling anger. (Photo by SETH HERALD / AFP) (Photo by SETH HERALD/AFP via Getty Images) Over the past couple of weeks, in the wake of the protests over extrajudicial killings of Black people, tech companies have made tens of millions of dollars in commitments to racial equity organizations. These commitments are a powerful signal of the moral heft of the protests and will certainly support these organizations in their vital work to advance change. But, as a biracial Black woman who has staked my career on making tech more equitable, I cant help but feel cynical about the meaning of these commitments. When I founded TechEquity four years ago, I set out to engage the tech community in advocacy work to address the structural inequities that make the tech industry a driver of inequality, rather than broad-based opportunity. We have had more success than I could have imagined in getting tech workers to use their privilege to further that goal. Just last year, for example, our tech workers used their civic power to help pass the biggest expansion of tenant protections in America. But convincing tech companies to step up has been a different story; they have largely opted to stay on the sidelines. Here are a few examples. Property tax reform For more than two years, TechEquity has been part of a coalition working to fix a gaping loophole in Californias tax code that allows corporations to avoid paying property taxes. This loophole has caused Californias school system and local governments to be massively underfunded for the last four decades, resulting in a steep decline in public education quality and social services that disproportionately impacts Black and brown communities. It also disadvantages new and forward-looking companies, like those in the tech industry, by giving a tax advantage to older corporations. I thought that supporting the ballot initiative to close this loophole would be a no-brainer for the tech industry. I even wrote an op-ed making a very clear case why this should be techs issue. But so far only one tech company, Postmates, has endorsed it. Story continues Empty promises for housing Last year Google, Apple and Facebook made high-profile announcements that they were making a collective $4.5B commitment to solving the Bay Areas housing crisis. Reading the fine print, it was clear that the majority of the contributions came in the form of land that wasnt zoned for housing production. Anyone who knows anything about housing in California knows how hard it is to build housing on land where its already legal, let alone to change the zoning code. Without complementary investments in a political strategy to change zoning laws, this makes the majority of their massive contributions effectively meaningless. But, as people are increasingly being pushed out of their homes and onto the streets, with homelessness disproportionately affecting Black people, these companies have made an active decision not to invest in the political and power-building work that is required to actually solve the housing crisis even when doing so would cost significantly less than $4.5B. Stripe has made a $1M contribution to California YIMBY, a group advocating for more housing production, but it stands conspicuously alone in funding housing policy advocacy work. Sustainable funding for homeless housing and services In 2018, voters in San Francisco approved a measure that would increase taxes on high-grossing companies based in the city in order to pay for homelessness services and affordable housing. Because of the same arcane law that created the property tax loophole described above, the city isnt allowed to spend the money it collects until a court case is resolved something that could take up to seven years. Meanwhile, there is a way for companies to allow the city to use the tax dollars theyre already paying in order to address a homelessness crisis that continues to worsen. Two companies, Salesforce and Postmates, have given the city permission to spend these funds. But many others have chosen not to follow suit. These are just a few examples, and I havent even touched on the persistent lack of diversity at tech companies and the industrys unwillingness to truly address it. More often than not, when advocates invite tech companies to do the things that would really move the needle on equity issues, they decline to participate. Were told it is because they just dont think its appropriate to get involved in politics. Theyre worried about taking a position that might draw negative attention. They dont want to alienate policymakers or constituencies who might disagree with their stances. Its easier to just stay out of it. But silence is complicity. As we have learned over the last five years, almost everything tech companies do is political, whether they like it or not. Its time for them to pull their heads out of the sand and use their power to support true racial and economic equity. What would this look like? Tech companies could: Throw their weight behind equitable legislation Weve seen how powerful it is to demonstrate tech worker support for equitable policy solutions. Tech companies can publicly endorse legislation that will improve economic resiliency for underresourced communities and potentially make the difference in whether they get passed. Fund advocacy work Many of the organizations doing the best work on advancing change are working with one hand tied behind their back because restrictions on their funding make it hard for them to do advocacy work. Tech companies, unlike many other institutional philanthropy organizations, dont have legal restrictions on funding advocacy. They can and should allow grantees to spend money to advance structural change through policy advocacy. Focus on diversity at the executive level. The people who make these decisions on behalf of tech companies are in the executive suite and they are overwhelmingly white. Adding people with more diverse backgrounds at the executive level can add different perspectives that can lead to more meaningful engagement on equity issues. We have found that a prerequisite to any company taking political positions is that there is executive buy-in. When the executive team is diverse, they are more likely to see the need for the company to take a stand on these issues. Its time to be honest about what the tech industry can do to truly invest in racial equity and to hold companies accountable when they dont. MAASTRICHT, Netherlands (Reuters) - At the Dadawan restaurant in the southern Dutch city of Maastricht, an unusual group of new staffers has been brought in to help after the Netherlands eased its coronavirus lockdown this week: robots. A robotic trio of waiters named Amy, Aker and James roll back and forth from the bar at the Asian fusion restaurant, handing out drinks -- and lessening the number of trips that human staff need to make through the restaurant. Each robot has a simple humanoid figure, including arms to hold serving trays. Simple displays on their faces shows a smile, or occasionally a frown. The service can be a bit stiff. "Hi, here is your order. Please take it away from the tray. I will go back automatically in 20 seconds", Amy informs a pair of women seated at a booth, after presenting them with two glasses of ice tea. Customers must pick up their own drinks. Though robotic servers were introduced in China several years ago and have since become a novelty at restaurants around the world, only a handful of Dutch eateries have so far introduced them. For now, Dadawan's robo-service is limited to drink delivery, but the owner hopes to quickly widen their repertoire. Restaurant representative Paul Seijben said waiters' jobs are not threatened by the newcomers. "Our team is actually really happy with the robots", Seijben said. Staff, who wear face masks, load drinks onto the trays, press a table number, then stand back as the robot rolls away. Restaurants in the Netherlands were closed from mid-March to June 1 for everything but take out and delivery. Since Monday, restaurants have been allowed to receive up to 30 people with a minimum distance of 1.5 metres (5 ft) between tables. Diners must make an appointment in advance. (Reporting by Piroschka van de Wouw and Christian Levaux. Writing by Toby Sterling. Editing by Alexandra Hudson) A man alleged to have delivered a trailer in which 39 migrants were found dead in Essex last year, has lost his latest challenge aimed at preventing his extradition to the United Kingdom. Eamon Ronald Harrison (23) of Mayobridge, Co Down, is wanted by Essex police to face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. It is alleged that Mr Harrison delivered the trailer, in which the bodies of 39 Vietnamese nationals were found in an industrial park in Grays, Essex on October 23 last, to a Belgian port before its onward journey to Britain. The cargo was recorded as biscuits and the migrants died from a lack of oxygen between 8pm and 10pm after they had entered UK territorial waters. The temperature inside the unit rose to 38.5 degrees before it steadily reduced, and police discovered bloody hand prints inside. The eight women and 31 men had arrived in England last October on a ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium. The youngest victims were two boys aged 15. The High Court in Dublin ordered Mr Harrison's extradition in January and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision today. Last May, lawyers for Mr Harrison told the Court of Appeal that the warrant seeking the arrest and surrender of the Northern Irish man was "wholly unsatisfactory". In a judgement delivered electronically today, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly said the details in the European Arrest Warrant (EAW), when read as a whole, gave sufficient information of the acts for which the appellant was sought, to permit the court to conclude that correspondence between offences could be established. Ms Justice Donnelly said the High Court had conducted an appropriate assessment of the information and correctly concluded that all the conditions for surrender to the issuing State had been met. President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards said they agreed with their colleague's decision. Dismissing the appeal, Ms Justice Donnelly said the order should not be perfected until 10 days have elapsed since the delivery of the judgment. The judge pointed out that should Mr Harrison want a stay on the order of surrender for the purpose of seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court, then he should bring notice of his intention to do so within five days of the delivery of the judgment. Ordering Mr Harrisons extradition to the UK in January, Mr Justice Donald Binchy said the British-Irish citizen was alleged to have been involved in transporting illegal migrants on two previous occasions, and that the trailer at the centre of the Essex discovery was used on one of those occasions. Earlier today, the High Court ordered the extradition of Ronan Hughes (40) who is also wanted in the UK to face charges in connection with the deaths of the 39 Vietnamese migrants in the UK last October. Mr Hughes, from Leitrim, Silverstream, Tyholland in Co Monaghan, who was described in court as "the ringleader" of the group which is alleged to have smuggled the migrants into the UK, is facing 39 charges of manslaughter and a charge of assisting unlawful immigration. Extradition appeal: Appealing the order for surrender last month, Mr Harrison's barrister, Siobhan Stack SC, submitted that the principle issue related to whether additional information was admissible before the High Court given that it did not come from the issuing judicial authority (a magistrate) but from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The barrister argued that the additional information was inadmissible as it was not submitted by the Issuing Judicial Authority as required. The second point of appeal related to whether the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) and the additional information state with sufficient clarity or detail the circumstances in which the offence is alleged to have been committed, including the time and place of its commission or alleged commission, and the degree of involvement or alleged degree of involvement of the person in the commission of the offence. Ms Stack maintained it was clear that the warrant had completely failed to give a precise description of the facts or even to set out what it was alleged Mr Harrison had done. She described the warrant in this case as brief in the extreme and said it was wholly unsatisfactory. There was no meaningful description of time and place nor a description of the event which Mr Harrison was alleged to have engaged in, she continued. Nothing more than the vaguest of circumstances and incredibly bald information concerning Mr Harrison allegedly dropping off the trailer had been provided, indicated Ms Stack, adding that there was also nothing about how the migrants had come to be in the trailer. She stated that this "critical information" should have been contained in the warrant. Concluding the legal challenge to Mr Harrisons pending extradition, Ms Stack said UK authorities should have gone back and issued the correct warrant but that was not done in this case. Counsel for the Minister for Justice, Ronan Kennedy SC, said there was no question but that this EAW was issued by the Issuing Judicial Authority, namely District judge Michael Snow sitting at Westminster Magistrates Court. He said it had received the appropriate scrutiny in terms of proportionality. At no time did the warrant seek to address that the CPS was acting as the Issuing Judicial Authority and it was no surprise that information had emanated from the CPS, he submitted. This confidence underpins the whole system and is the basis for mutual recognition, he argued. He further submitted that the High Court judge had engaged in a rigorous analysis of the additional information and whether he should have relied on it. Furthermore, Mr Kennedy said it was inaccurate to suggest that the warrant was deficient in the way it had been presented to the court and UK authorities had provided a level of detail which far surpassed the level of detail normally provided. The warrant contained most if not all of what was required and was not as marked as the appellant would have one believe, he added. The lawyer explained that what was being alleged against Mr Harrison was quite clear, namely that he was part of a conspiracy and had driven the trailer to a port, where it was loaded onto a ferry. Counsel said it was alleged: He had a part to play not only in the conspiracy but also in the manslaughter of people". Ferreting out an old tweet of Rahul Gandhi, who secretly met Chinese envoy at the height of Doklam crisis in 2017, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad questioned the need for the Congress leader to publically ask questions on the sensitive China issue, adding mockingly that the leader seems to have parallel information system in place. In 2017, against the backdrop of an India-China stand-off on the border, Rahul Gandhi, then the partys vice president, had met the Chinese envoy to India. The Congress initially dithered and denied any meeting between the two, even terming it fake news. However, they did admit later that Rahul Gandhi had met the envoy. Subsequently, Gandhi tweeted saying, It is my job to be informed on critical issues. I met the Chinese ambassador, ex-NSA, Congress leaders from NE & the Bhutanese ambassador. Ravi Shankar Prasad posted the same tweet from 2017 to take a swipe at the Congress leader. RahulGandhi is asking the Prime Minister to share in public facts about sensitive China border issues. I think Mr.Gandhi has a parallel information system in place. Did he not meet the Chinese envoy during the Doklam crisis? Denied it initially but accepted it after public outcry, said Prasad. RahulGandhi is asking the Prime Minister to share in public facts about sensitive China border issues. I think Mr.Gandhi has a parallel information system in place. Did he not meet the Chinese envoy during the Doklam crisis? Denied it initially but accepted it after public outcry pic.twitter.com/07jLjWmihz Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) June 12, 2020 Rahul Gandhi has been stepping up the attack on the government over some media reports that claimed Chinese troops had entered inside Indian territory during the ongoing standoff. On Wednesday morning, he aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Chinese have walked in and taken our territory in Ladakh. Meanwhile The PM is absolutely silent and has vanished from the scene, he tweeted. According to people familiar with developments, China has begun withdrawing its soldiers from three hotspots along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. India too has reciprocated by pulling back its forces deployed in those pockets as both sides have stepped up efforts to resolve a month-long tense border confrontation. On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs said India and China are continuing with their diplomatic and military engagements in an effort to reduce border tensions. Washington, June 12 : NASA has postponed the launch of its Perseverance Mars rover to July 20 after the team determined that it needed additional time to repair an issue with the ground system equipment. Perseverance was earlier scheduled to lift off aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket on July 17. "NASA and ULA are now targeting Monday, July 20, for launch of the Mars 2020 mission of the Perseverance Rover on an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida," NASA officials said in an update on Thursday. The launch is scheduled for 9.15 am ET with a two-hour window, they added. According to Tory Bruno, the CEO of United Launch Alliance, the issue involved a faulty crane. "Crane, now fixed. Rocket is fine," Bruno tweeted in response to a question by a Twitter user about the cause of the delay. The Perseverance rover, a robotic scientist weighing 1,025 kg, will search for signs of past microbial life on Mars and also collect samples for future return to Earth. It is scheduled to land on Mars' Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021. Perseverance is part of a larger programme that includes missions to the Moon as a way to prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet. Charged with returning astronauts to the Moon by 2024, NASA will establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon by 2028 through NASA's Artemis lunar exploration plans. Khazanah Nasional, Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund, is considering providing as much as 5 billion ringgit (US$1.2 billion) to the national flag carrier to see it through the coronavirus-induced slump in bookings, according to people familiar with the matter. Malaysia Airlines would use the fresh capital to resume some operations it has suspended, the people said. If it is approved, the cash infusion could happen in the coming weeks, said the people, asking not to be named as the information is private. A representative for Malaysia Airlines said that it is in ongoing discussions with Khazanah, which has been supportive of its efforts to cope with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, but that no specific amount of funds has been committed to the carrier. A Khazanah representative declined to comment. Malaysia Airlines, which has been struggling to turn around since it was taken private by Khazanah in 2014, would join carriers around the world in receiving a lifeline from their respective shareholders. Governments worldwide have pledged more than US$85 billion to prop up airlines after the coronavirus pandemic wiped out travel demand and grounded fleets. The Malaysian carrier is hoping to rebound from the near-halt in air travel brought on by Covid-19, and will undoubtedly look different when it emerges. It has named a new chairman, the president and CEO of national energy company Petroliam Nasional (Petronas), whose appointment will be effective July 1. Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin has already turned around one national champion in Petronas, which faced a commodity price rout beginning in 2014. Malaysia Airlines, has cancelled flights, deferred non-critical spending and cut costs since the onset of the crisis. In March, Malaysia's government explored the possibility of bailing out its domestic airlines, people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg News. Last year, Khazanah asked the flag carrier to come up with a strategic plan to help it compete and deliver better returns after it failed to meet deadlines for two profitability targets. Khazanah also hired Morgan Stanley to explore strategic options for the airline. Story continues Malaysia Airlines later released a follow-up statement, saying: "Malaysia Aviation Group [MAG] has not received any commitment by Khazanah Nasional, for a 5 billion ringgit funding for it to survive the slump in bookings due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "Khazanah Nasional being our sole shareholder has been supportive of our efforts to address and cope with the impact of the Covid-19 crisis to MAG. As we are currently realigning our Long Term Business Plan to the changing aviation landscape, we are in continuing discussions with Khazanah on the level of support needed moving forward. "On our own, we have taken some hard measures to contain the impact of the crisis which include undertaking negotiations with aircraft lessors and vendors to manage payments and financial obligations as well as offering unpaid leave and inducing salary cut of between 10-35 per cent among employees in order to sustain the company's cash flow. This is to protect those in the lower income bracket, and to avoid possible job cuts in our effort to trim costs further. A number of business investments have also been put on hold in view of the crisis. We've also proactively removed capacity to manage our cost effectively." This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. In celebration and support of the LGBTQIA+ community during this month of Pride, Instagram today launched a host of new features and a well-being guide, in collaboration with @thequeermuslimproject, a community that advocates for equal rights for the queer community, to help them get through these tough times. Pride is celebrated each year to recognize the impact the LGBTQIA+ community has in the world. This year, while the COVID-19 pandemic ensues, physical conventions will be impacted. Additionally, the community has also faced mental health and emotional wellbeing challenges. In the words of Tara Bedi, Public Policy and Community Outreach Manager, Instagram, India, We understand the challenges and diversity of emotions that the LGBTQIA+ community faces everyday, and want our platforms to be safe spaces for them to express themselves. Especially during COVID-19, we want to help the community celebrate virtually, find support online, and stay connected with the people they love. We are thankful for the partnership with @thequeermuslimproject for their insights that helped make the well-being guide and hope everyone shows support with our newly released features. The Queer Muslim Project has used visual art and storytelling to promote sex-positive, affirming and intersectional representations of the communities. Rafiul Alom Rahman, founder of @thequeermuslimproject, said, The pandemic has created mental health challenges for the youth at large, but doubly so for the queer community due to the stigmas attached with their identity. Expressing themselves, but being safe online is the need of the hour and so we are excited to collaborate with Instagram, for this wellbeing guide. The Well-being guide focuses on how to handle negativity and challenges in the current social media landscape. This guide will provide resources to young LGBTQIA+ people experiencing anxiety or feeling especially isolated or alone. It features inputs from creators and communities - Veer Mishra (@v.ierd), Gaysi Family (@gaysifamily), Under25 (@under25official), Solidarity Foundation (@solidarityfoundation), Sandy Saha (@sandysahaofficial), Ya_All (@ya.all.northeast), and illustrations from Sonaksha Iyenger (@sonaksha); highlighting their advice on staying positive and managing their online presence. Guidance from this resource will be shared via roundtable discussions with the community, in partnership with @thequeermuslimproject. The guide can be accessed from here. New features from Instagram: Rainbow hashtags in Feed - We partnered with GLAAD to identify prominent, popular, and important hashtags used throughout the LGBTQIA+ community. When used in a Feed post, these hashtags will be displayed in a rainbow gradient. Some examples include #lgbtq, #bornperfect, #equalitymatters, #accelerateacceptance, or #pride2020 We partnered with GLAAD to identify prominent, popular, and important hashtags used throughout the LGBTQIA+ community. When used in a Feed post, these hashtags will be displayed in a rainbow gradient. Some examples include #lgbtq, #bornperfect, #equalitymatters, #accelerateacceptance, or #pride2020 Rainbow Stories rings - We extended the rainbow gradient experience across both Feed and Stories with the Story ring. When used in a story, the GLAAD-identified hashtags will turn your Story ring rainbow gradient while the Story is live for 24 hours. This will roll out in a few days. We extended the rainbow gradient experience across both Feed and Stories with the Story ring. When used in a story, the GLAAD-identified hashtags will turn your Story ring rainbow gradient while the Story is live for 24 hours. This will roll out in a few days. Updated Stickers - In partnership with Instagram creators, weve expanded our Pride sticker pack to include new stickers that highlight the LGBTQIA+ community. In partnership with Instagram creators, weve expanded our Pride sticker pack to include new stickers that highlight the LGBTQIA+ community. Pride-themed AR Effect - For the first time ever, Instagram will be releasing a new Pride-themed AR effect including 12 LGBTQIA+ flag gradients that celebrate identities across the gender and sexuality spectrums. This initiative is the first of many to help honor the ever evolving LGBTQIA+ community. Follow and use #ShareWithPride to join the movement and encourage people to celebrate the month with pride and joy. DES MOINES The number of people filing initial unemployment claims in Iowa jumped last week, even as the state continued reopening after taking steps intended to slow spread of the coronavirus, according to state statistics released Thursday. Iowa Workforce Development reported that 10,112 people filed initial claims in the week ending June 6. Thats compared with 6,920 people who filed in the previous week. There were 159,966 continuing weekly unemployment claims last week, a decline of 2,596 from the previous week. The number of initial claims rose in Pottawattamie County as well, from 5,966 the week ending May 30 to 8,912 the week ending June 6. Statewide, the largest number of claims came from people employed in manufacturing, at 2,080. Nationally, nearly 1.5 million people applied for unemployment benefits last week. Nearly 21 million people in the country are officially classified as unemployed. The latest figure from the Labor Department marked the 10th straight weekly decline in applications for jobless aid since they peaked in mid-March when the coronavirus hit hard. Still, the pace of layoffs remains historically high. The total number of people who are receiving unemployment aid fell slightly, a sign that some people who were laid off when restaurants, retail chains and small businesses suddenly shut down have been recalled to work. The figures are consistent with a labor market that has begun what will be a slow and difficult healing process, said Nancy Vanden Houten, an economist at Oxford Economics. Still, initial jobless claims remain at levels that at the start of the year might have seemed unthinkable. Last weeks jobs report showed that employers added 2.5 million jobs in May, an unexpected increase that suggested that the job market has bottomed out. But the recovery has begun slowly. Though the unemployment rate unexpectedly declined from 14.7%, it is still a high 13.3%. And even with the May hiring gain, just one in nine jobs that were lost in March and April have returned. Nearly 21 million people are officially classified as unemployed. Even those figures dont capture the full scope of the damage to the job market. Including people the government said had been erroneously categorized as employed in the May jobs report and those who lost jobs but didnt look for new ones, 32.5 million people are out of work, economists estimate. That would have raised Mays unemployment rate to 19.7%. Thursdays report also shows that an additional 706,000 people applied for jobless benefits last week under a new program for self-employed and gig workers that made them eligible for aid for the first time. These figures arent adjusted for seasonal variations, so the government doesnt include them in the official count. The weekly reports on applications for unemployment benefits track layoffs. But they dont directly account for hiring, which can offset layoffs. The surprise job gain in May suggests that some employers are recalling laid-off workers. Private real-time data also points to steady, if modest, rehiring. Data from Kronos, whose software tracks workers hours, shows that the number of shifts worked has recovered steadily since bottoming in mid-April. Shifts worked have risen 25% since then, recovering nearly half the work that was lost to the pandemic-induced business shutdowns. The growth in shifts worked ... indicates that furloughed employees are being called back to work as each state opens up, said Dave Gilbertson, a Kronos executive. Twenty-four states reported a rise in applications for jobless aid last week, up from just four the week before, though the state data isnt adjusted for seasonal trends so it can be volatile. California, New York and Massachusetts reported sharp increases. Florida, Georgia and Texas, some of the earliest states to reopen their economies, reported large declines. In February, the economy fell into a deep recession, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the association of economists that is the official arbiter of recessions. The Federal Reserve estimated Wednesday that the economy will shrink 6.5% this year. That would be, by far, the deepest annual contraction on records dating to World War II. Even as restaurants, bars and gyms reopen, they are doing so at lower capacity. And consumer spending on such services remains far below what it was before the viral outbreak. Unemployment benefits are providing significant support for jobless Americans, with total payments having reached $94 billion in May six times the previous record set in 2010 just after the previous recession. This time, the benefits include an additional $600 a week from the federal government. But that extra benefit is set to end July 31, and the Trump administration opposes extending it. Its opposition has set up a possible clash with House Democrats, who have approved legislation to extend the $600-a-week in federal benefits for an additional six months. Republicans in Congress argue that the extra $600, which comes on top of state benefits that average about $375 nationwide, means many of the unemployed are receiving more money from jobless benefits than they earned at their old jobs. Republicans argue that this discourages people from returning to work. Studies suggest that roughly two-thirds of the recipients are receiving total unemployment aid that exceeds their previous paychecks. But many workers are also wary about returning to their old jobs for fear of contracting the virus. And recipients who receive aid can lose their benefits if they turn down job offers. Nonpareil News Editor Mike Brownlee contributed to this report, which also includes material from the Des Moines bureau of the Associated Press. COLUMBIA, S.C. - The first city in the United States named for Christopher Columbus has removed a statue of the explorer and placed it in storage for safekeeping after it was vandalized several times in a week. Workers in Columbia, South Carolina, dismembered the statue early Friday, and by mid-morning only the feet were attached to the pedestal at Riverfront Park. The statue will be stored until citizens, the Columbia City Council and other officials can have a comprehensive discussion about what to do next, Mayor Steve Benjamin said. The mayor said he didnt want the fate of the Columbus statue to be decided by protesters destroying it in the middle of the night. Statues of Columbus, who came to North America in 1492, have been torn down by protesters in other cities who said the explorer started European colonization which exploited and led to the deaths of millions of native people on the continent. The South Carolina State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution gave the city the statue. Benjamin notified that group and the Order of the Sons of Italy that he was putting the statue in storage. Columbia was named in 1786 for the female representation of Columbus. It won an 11-7 vote over the name Washington in the South Carolina Senate. South Carolina has a law protecting historic monuments from being taken down or altered without a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly. Ruby So Yuen Ling is a reporter with Nanyang Siang Pau (Malaysia). As part of the #MYMediaMatters campaign she talks about importance of journalists regaining the trust of the public in Malaysia. 1. What does it mean to be a journalist or media worker in Malaysia? Journalist shalt not stand with any faction, but be committed to the TRUTH. Journalists are frontline workers in combating fake news. 2. What can we do to be better? To ensure our survivability we must regain readers trust and public confidence. 3. What can we do to ensure media freedom? To ensure media freedom as journalists we must cut political ties and act independently. The #MYMediaMatters campaign is part of a multi-year project, Strengthening Malaysias Media for Change, supported by the European Union. For details please see the IFJ project page. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for updates. Some lawmakers in the Jigawa State House of Assembly on Thursday said they will go to court after their removal as chairpersons of house standing committees by the speaker, Idris Garba. The affected lawmakers include former speaker, Isa Idris, Aminu Sankara, Dayyabu Shehu and Sani Isyaku representing, Gwaram, Ringim, Taura, and Gumel constituencies respectively. Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Mr Isyaku said the speakers action violated the house standing rules. The entire process is a fraud because none of the house standing rules were followed and no reasons were given for the downsizing of the house committee as the monthly allocation of the state House of Assembly was not altered despite the 19 per cent reduction of the state budget, Mr Isyaku said. The speaker, Mr Garba, had during Thursdays plenary announced the removal of Mr Isyaku and three other members as chairpersons of house committees. He said the decision was due to paucity of funds following the impact of coronavirus pandemic. PREMIUM TIMES reported the running battle between the speaker and Mr Isyaku following the suspension of the latter over an alleged attack on Governor Muhammad Badarus convoy in Hadejia Local Government Area. Mr Isyaku is challenging his suspension in the state high court. The court in its first ruling, ordered the restoration of Mr Isyakus right and privileges and voided the resolution of the house on his suspension. The assembly has 30 members representatives and each member chairs a committee, and belongs to another committee as members. Lawmaker recalled The speaker, after announcing the removal of the lawmakers from the committees, also announced the recall of the suspended Mr Isyaku. He said, The indefinite suspension of Mr Isyaku is now lifted following the intervention of elders from his constituency and the state. After the announcements, he said the house had proceeded on an indefinite recess. However, Mr Isyaku said he would not comment on his recall to the house because he did not mandate any person to speak on his behalf. He said the matter was before a court of law and only his lawyers would decide the next line of action. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that Mr Isyaku has the sympathy of majority of his colleagues which made the speaker to announce an indefinite recess to give him more time to mend fences with some aggrieved lawmakers allegedly plotting to impeach him. Lawmakers accuse the speaker of turning the house to a loyal arm of the executive, loyal to the governor. The phone numbers of the speaker and that of the house spokesperson, Babangida Hadejia, did not connect Friday. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 22:36:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DOHA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Qatar's Health Ministry on Friday announced 1,517 new infections of COVID-19, increasing the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 76,588. "Some 1,965 people recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 53,296, while one died, raising the fatalities up to 70," the official Qatar News Agency reported, quoting a statement by the ministry. It revealed that infections had doubled due to people's gatherings and visits, and ignoring of preventive measures recommended by the government, the most important of which is staying at home and maintaining social distancing. A total of 280,665 persons in Qatar have undergone lab tests for COVID-19 so far, it added. China and Qatar have offered mutual help during the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. On Feb. 21, five Qatar Airways cargo freighters flew to China carrying approximately 300 tons of medical supplies donated by the airline. Enditem Decision to move convention to Florida comes despite the fact that the state on Friday reported a spike in COVID cases. The Republican mayor of Jacksonville, Florida has welcomed a decision by the Republican Party to move the bulk of its nominating convention business to his city so that President Donald Trump can hold one of his trademark spectacles with thousands of cheering supporters. Mayor Lenny Curry told reporters Friday morning that the city made no promises about large gatherings, social distancing or mask-wearing in order to secure the convention. Clearly the RNC wants a large event with a lot of people, he said. I want that too If COVID-19 presents challenges, we will put the safety of people first. Curry said it was too early to say what type of safety protocols would be needed during the events scheduled to be held from August 24 through 27. Republican Party officials announced on Thursday evening, after getting pushback from North Carolina officials over Trumps demand for mass gatherings without coronavirus prevention measures, that the more showy aspects of the convention including the presidents acceptance speech would be held in the North Florida city. The partys more mundane business, including discussions over the platform, will still be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, because of contractual obligations. We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion in the great city of Jacksonville, the chairwoman of the RNC said in announcing the decision. Not only does Florida hold a special place in President Trumps heart as his home state, but it is crucial in the path to victory in 2020. We look forward to bringing this great celebration and economic boon to the Sunshine State in just a few short months. McDaniel said the event would be held at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, which holds 15,000 people. She said more details would be released in the coming weeks. Then Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump delivers his address during the final day of the 2016 RNC in Cleveland, Ohio. [File: EPA] The decision comes despite the fact that Florida on Friday reported its largest daily increase to date for the second day in a row in coronavirus cases, with 1,902 confirmed cases reported in the last 24 hours. Florida now has 70,971 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There were already indications on Friday that the convention may be messier than Republicans would like. The partys executive committee voted earlier this week to keep the same 58-page platform it used in 2016 instead of forcing delegates to go to Charlotte en masse to adopt a new one. Trump, however, has different plans. In a tweet Friday morning, the president called on the Republican National Committee to adopt a new and updated platform. How to make that happen in light of the Jacksonville announcement remains unclear. The Republican Party has not yet voted on a Platform. No rush. I prefer a new and updated Platform, short form, if possible. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2020 The existing platform, at 58 pages, was adopted four years ago when President Barack Obama occupied the White House and contains several passages critical of the current administration as well as passages about traditional marriage and other contentious issues that some in the administration want excised in favour of a slimmer, less contentious document. The Jacksonville area is one of Floridas most populous, with 1.5 million residents. The community has tilted from the solidly conservative bastion it once was to a more politically diverse place in recent years. While the areas population is still mostly white, 21 percent of its 1.5 million residents are Black, and 9 percent are Latino, according to the US Census Bureau. Not everyone in the city is looking forward to the event. Ben Frazier, a Black activist with the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville, said the event would be disruptive to the city during a time of racial tension and a pandemic. I only see this exacerbating these problems, he said. The mayors concerned about the money the city could make. Were concerned about the lives of people here in Jacksonville more than anything else. We dont simply need to be concerned about dollars and cents. A war of words has broken out between Lord Sugar and Jason Manford after the comedian mocked the businessman for buying a new plane. The Apprentice star showed off his purchase on Twitter on Thursday, sharing a snap of himself standing beside his new toy. He said: 'Collected the new plane today flew it down From Knoxville to Pompano beach.' Showing off: Lord Sugar showed off his new plane on Twitter yesterday, leading to a war of words with Jason Manford who accused him of failing to judge the mood of the nation But Jason Manford joked about the timing of the tweet during a pandemic where many are losing their jobs as well as their loved ones. He said: 'What I love about Lord Sugar is he's so good at judging the mood of a nation.' Sir Alan appeared to take issue with the comedian's comment and bluntly retorted: 'What's your problem. You like to cause conflict and aggravation for no good reason. 'I just showed my new plane what has that got to do with the mood of the nation. 'I seem to recall Twitter got you in trouble a few years ago, the mood of the One Show producers.' Public disagreement: Lord Sugar took issue with the comedian's tweet and brought up his departure from the One Show in 2010 due to a sexting scandal Critical: The star has been volunteering during the coronavirus pandemic while Lord Sugar has been jetting around the world Jason was clearly taken aback by the attack referencing his departure from the One Show in 2010 after sexting women online, despite then being married with children. The funnyman deleted his initial tweet to Lord Sugar, before replying: 'Crikey! Talk about using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. I was only doing a joke. A humorous observation. Remember them? It's what we used to do on twitter before everyone took everything so serious. 'I even made it idiot proof by putting a [laughing crying emoji] Clearly not. Enjoy your plane.' Lord Sugar was proudly showing off his new plane and boasting to its followers that it has a 'new car smell'. Meanwhile Jason has been spending his time in lockdown volunteering, driving elderly neighbours to medical appointments. Doing his bit: Jason has landed a new job driving elderly people to medical appointments during lockdown Lord Sugar, who has had a pilot's licence since 1975, revealed he bought a single-engined Cirrus SR22T and took it for a test flight. The aircraft - which has a base price of 578,000, rising to 720,00 depending on the number of options on board - can carry five people, including the pilot. Lord Sugar posted a photograph of his new aircraft on Twitter, having flown from Knoville, Tennessee to Pompano beach in Florida. The businessman answered several questions from fans about his new aircraft, including that it does have a 'new car smell', and has a cruising speed of 180kts. The 73-year-old from Essex confirmed he is planning to bring the aircraft back to the United Kingdom, but will need to arrange for a ferry pilot to complete the job. The multi-millionaire tycoon is on holiday in Florida but is hoping to bring the aircraft to the UK Anti-China group urges Trump administration to block Chinese companies from U.S. markets: document Hearings to Examine Implementation of Title I of the CARES Act By Alexandra Alper WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An anti-China advocacy group that includes former White House adviser Steve Bannon is calling on the Trump administration to exclude Chinese companies from U.S. financial markets, as the White House studies new ways to crack down on China. In a letter dated Thursday, The Committee on the Present Danger: China (CPDC) urged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to make the move in light of a recent Senate report that found deficient oversight of Chinese state-owned telecoms companies operating in the United States. It also comes after U.S. President Donald Trump tasked a working group on financial markets, which includes Mnuchin, with studying U.S.-listed Chinese companies with an eye to protect American investors. China hawks in Washington have raised concerns that U.S. investors in Chinese companies are vulnerable to unforeseen risks because they are not subject to the same auditing and disclosure rules as American companies. The letter from the group, whose membership also includes hedge fund manager Kyle Bass, notes that the Chinese companies flagged by the Senate report - China Telecom Americas <0728.HK> , China Unicom Americas <0762.HK>, and ComNet USA, as well as China Mobile , which was ousted from U.S. consumer markets last year - have tapped U.S. capital markets to help underwrite their allegedly "malevolent activities." The document urges Mnuchin's working group to find that "Chinese companies may not be listed or traded on U.S. equity and debt exchanges ... unless they conform to all relevant U.S. laws, accounting standards and other financial sector regulations." The companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Treasury did not respond to a request for comment, but a Treasury Department official who declined to be named acknowledged the letter had been received. The letter comes amid growing pressure on Chinese telecoms companies operating in the United States. In April, the U.S. Justice Department and other federal agencies called on the Federal Communications Commission to revoke China Telecom (Americas) Corp's authorization to provide international telecommunications services to and from the United States. (Reporting by Alexandra Alper; editing by Jonathan Oatis) DUBLIN, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Ready-to-assemble (RTA) Furniture Market in US 2020-2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture market in the US is poised to grow by USD 1.06 billion during 2020-2024 progressing at a CAGR of 4% during the forecast period. The market is driven by the highly-developed retail sector. This study identifies the focus on sustainable operations and offerings as one of the prime reasons driving the ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture market growth during the next few years. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current US market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture market in US market analysis includes product segment. The report presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters. The ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture market in US covers the following areas: Ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture market in US sizing Ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture market in US forecast Ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture market in US industry analysis. The report includes a robust vendor analysis of several leading ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture market vendors, including Bush Industries Inc., Dorel Industries Inc., Euro Style Inc., Flexsteel Industries Inc., Homestar Corp., Inter IKEA Systems BV, Sauder Woodworking Co., Steinhoff International Holdings NV, Tvilum AS, and Walmart Inc. Also, the ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture market in US analysis report includes information on upcoming trends and challenges that will influence market growth. This is to help companies strategize and leverage on all forthcoming growth opportunities. This market research report provides a complete competitive landscape and an in-depth vendor selection methodology and analysis using qualitative and quantitative research to forecast an accurate market growth. Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Market Overview Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2019 Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 - 2024 Five Forces Analysis Five Forces Analysis 2019 & 2024 Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Product Market segments Comparison by Product Home - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Office - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity by Product Market Segmentation by Retail Formats Market segmentation by retail formats Customer landscape Market drivers Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors Bush Industries Inc. Dorel Industries Inc. Euro Style Inc. Flexsteel Industries Inc. Homestar Corp. Inter IKEA Systems BV Sauder Woodworking Co. Steinhoff International Holdings NV Tvilum AS Walmart Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rpwytw About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com A 10-year veteran of the San Antonio Fire Department was fired after posting racist and threatening comments and images on Facebook about the recent protests, according to a news release from the city Thursday. They employee was not identified. "The City of San Antonio and the SAFD consider these posts absolutely unacceptable and reprehensible," city officials said the news release. "This type of conduct will not be tolerated, and employees that choose to engage in such behavior will be dealt with swiftly and severely. The City of San Antonio and the SAFD remain committed to protecting the residents and visitors of our diverse, inclusive and multicultural community." "What we are facing now is not only a battle against the epidemic, but also fighting for economic growth. Centrally administrated SOEs have exerted a strong driving force in economic and social recovery. Now they have fully resumed work and production, leading the recovery of industrial chains and supply chains," said Ren Hongbin, vice-chairman of State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the country's top State asset regulator. Apart from protecting the life and health of people, central SOEs also stand for the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, he said. They have coordinated resources to strengthen international anti-virus cooperation by providing much-needed supplies and assistance to other countries within their capacity, boosting the international community's confidence in defeating the virus, Ren added. Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said that in recent months, mankind has been challenged by a public health crisis the likes of which the world has not seen in a century. As epidemic prevention and control have become a long-term campaign, Chinese enterprises are taking steps to resume business activities while continuing to help fight the disease, Zhou said in his opening remarks. During the recent two sessions, the annual meetings of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, President Xi Jinping prescribed endeavors to "cultivate new opportunities in crisis and open up new horizons amid drastic changes". This is the new guidance for China's economic development and the new motto for Chinese enterprises. Zhou said there is no doubt that the business community is a vital force in this global fight against the pandemic. In China, while the medical corps constituted a pivotal part of the battle against the virus in earlier stages, the corporate world has been stepping up to ensure victory in a long-lasting war. COFCO Corp, China's largest foodstuff producer and grain trader by sales revenue, mobilized its global and domestic resources to deliver urgently needed medical, food and other materials on time to ensure people's livelihoods were protected during the outbreak, said Yu Xubo, president of the Beijing-headquartered group. Yu said it has delivered a large amount of essential foodstuffs including vegetables, rice, edible oils and meat, to many places in Central China's Hubei province. He also said it provided large quantities of ethanol for disinfection to virus-hit areas in almost 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions nationwide after the epidemic began. "COVID-19 has connected us and made us re-examine our responsibilities, both as individuals and as businesspeople," Yu added. Ren Hongpeng, vice-president of China Railway Group, said the group has been teaming up with business partners across the world to sustain its projects, even though a number of infrastructure projects have been slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from working to resume operations in overseas markets, the Beijing-based central SOE did urgent construction work on the Huoshenshan and Leishenshan hospitals, which were completed within two weeks in early February and provided more than 2,000 beds for patients in Wuhan, Hubei province. It also worked around the clock and managed to build 45 emergency hospitals across 11 provinces and cities within 30 days, providing over 33,000 beds for patients in those areas over the past four months. Other central SOEs, such as China Eastern Airlines, China North Industries Group Corp, China State Construction Engineering Corp, China General Technology Group and China Electronics Corp, have reported a surge in service and project operations, as well as high-volume manufacturing of masks and protective clothing. To prevent financial losses caused by the outbreak in other countries, many central SOEs have shifted a part of their work from newly signed overseas infrastructure and manufacturing projects back to plants in China to ensure activity continues, according to the SASAC. Kevin Xu, chairman of the board at Beijing-headquartered MEBO Group, a manufacturer of regenerative medicine for burns, wounds and ulcers that supplies markets in more than 73 countries and regions, said in addition to supporting China's battle to contain the virus in Hubei province, the company also worked with the Clinton Foundation of the United States in April to establish the COVID-19 Student Action Fund. The project aims to provide seed funding for students around the world with innovative and creative ideas to improve methods for battling the novel coronavirus. Wineries in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region are offering both incentives and supplies to medical staff who had worked on the front lines of the COVID-19 epidemic. The Party committee of the Ningxia Helan Mountains East Foothill Wine Association has circulated a proposal to all wineries in the region to offer a free holiday for the medical staff around the country who have been involved in the epidemic fight in Hubei province. "The wines are for the medical staff to open when they finally put their masks down and celebrate their victory over the epidemic. It is our social duty and responsibility as Chinese entities, companies and just as human beings, to take good care of the medical staff who take care of patients every day," said Christelle Chene, the French director of the Ningxia Helan Mountains East Foothill Wine Education Institute. Chene, a French woman who has been living in China for 10 years, decided to settle down permanently in the region last year, as she saw a greater and meaningful cause behind the business where local companies work together to help build and develop society and change people's lives for the better. Kuang Ming, founder and CEO of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province-based Zhiyun Jiankang Health Consulting, a digital healthcare service provider, said businesses should shoulder more social responsibilities and by working together, China's economy will eventually recover, turning what was a crisis into a bright new opportunity. For Valdemar Rodrigues Augusto Tchipenhe, a field-applied scientist from China's genomics sequencing company BGI Genomics Huo-Yan Laboratory in Africa, studying in China and bringing Chinese biotech back to serve Africa gives him a feeling of extra responsibilities on his shoulders. Tchipenhe, who comes from Angola and has been in China for six years, said BGI has helped three African countries of Gabon, Togo, and Benin install biological nucleic acid laboratories and provided workflow training to local lab technicians to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic. He was selected to be part of a team for the Huo-Yan Project for the screening and testing of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, for both present and future needs. "Installing devices, building up labs, training local technicians, and dealing with all the problems that may occur in the process, the things I do here may look laborious, but I do believe that I'm doing good for the benefit of the African people, fighting against the coronavirus," he said. The event on Friday was the 13th Vision China event since its launch in 2018. Each event has featured global opinion leaders invited to discuss Chinese topics of international significance. By Zhong Nan [email protected] SOURCE China Daily Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 04:52:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkey on Thursday partially resumed international flights, which have been suspended for nearly two months over the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The national flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) began its operation with a flight from Istanbul Airport to Dusseldorf in Germany in the morning, which was followed by several other flights to some major cities like London and Amsterdam. AnadoluJet, a trademark of the THY, also flew from Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Berlin and London. Turkey is expected to increase the number of its international flights to 40 countries in the upcoming days. Enditem Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal A Wyoming-based tech company is moving some of its operations to Santa Fe, and hoping to make its new office a center for research related to a unique form of computing. The New Mexico Economic Development Department announced Friday that SavantX is planning to bring six current employees down to Santa Fe this summer, and is hiring about six local employees this year, according to CEO and co-founder Ed Heinbockel. The company is planning to bring in 116 employees over the next 10 years at an average salary of more than $90,000 as the Santa Fe facility becomes a hub for the companys quantum computing operations. You have a lot of bright people out there, Heinbockel told the Journal. SavantX, which was founded five years ago after spinning off from another of Heinbockels companies, has built a slate of data collection and visualization tools for industries ranging from healthcare to nuclear energy. Recently however, the Jackson, Wyoming-based company has devoted more of its attention to quantum computing, a form of computing that uses quantum mechanical principles to solve real-world problems. For example, Heinbockel said the company is involved in a project to redesign Pier 300 at the Port of Los Angeles, using quantum computing to optimize the ports infrastructure and reduce the distance cranes and other equipment need to travel, thereby reducing costs for operators. Going forward, Heinbockel said his companys quantum computing can help a wide range of industries, from trucking to aviation. Theyre just scratching the surface of practical applications, he said. While the company looked at sites in Oregon, Utah and Idaho for its new research center, Heinbockel said Santa Fe stood out because of its proximity to the national laboratories, which the company can use as a talent pool and as potential partners. That was really the driver to get us to Santa Fe, Heinbockel said. The Economic Development Department has pledged $450,000 in economic assistance to the project through the states Local Economic Development Act, and the City of Santa Fe has pledged $50,000, according to the state agency. Heinbockel said the company has signed a lease for a building at 504 Jose St. in Santa Fe, and is hoping to have new employees onboard by the end of July. The company is looking to hire software engineers, data scientists, programmers, mathematicians, cyber-security experts and an office manager. Heinbockel said the company is planning to reach 15 employees by next year, 26 by 2022, and 116 by 2030. If quantum computing grows the way Heinbockel expects, he said the company could blow past that projection in the next 10 years. A private legal practitioner and member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo has clarified a directive from the Supreme Court that compelled his party to withdraw a relief in its case in court yesterday. According to the legal practitioner, the directive from the bench was procedural. The NDC on Thursday, June 11, 202 was given a choice to select one of the two reliefs it was seeking in court. The party dropped its case on the compilation of a new register and decided to pursue the case on the rejection of the current voter ID on the list of identification documents needed to register to vote. Some persons have claimed the apex court was unfair to the NDC in that regard. But sharing his legal opinion on the matter on Eyewitness News, Mr. Samoa Addo said the directive from the apex court is not strange. There is nothing strange in the fact that the court is the master of its own procedure and especially when you are before the Supreme Court, which is the highest court of the land, empowered with all the powers of all the lower courts and itself, it has the powers to ask the parties appearing before it to conform to certain practices that in the opinion of the court will effectively lead to adjudication of matters before it. The legal practitioner said It is nothing strange that the court requests that certain things be done procedurally so as to make sure that justice is quickly and effectively served. This happens all the time. Parties amend their relief each and every single time in court. Even up before judgment, you are allowed to file an amendment of your case. I think it will be very unfair to say that the court had in any way prejudice the position of any of the parties. The court asked that between the reliefs, choose one and the lawyer who then decides that in respect of reliefs that I have which of them best gets me to the destination that I want to get to so then the lawyer then makes a decision informed by whatever his ultimate destination is in respect of whatever his instructions are and where he expects to get his client to. So it is nothing strange for a court to ask a party with multiple reliefs to narrow down their reliefs to a particular one or two to enable the court to effectively deal with the matter before it, he explained. ---citinewsroom New York States are rolling back lockdowns, but the coronavirus isn't done with the U.S. Cases are rising in nearly half the states, according to an Associated Press analysis, a trend that could intensify as people return to work and venture out during the summer. In Arizona, hospitals have been told to prepare for the worst. Texas has more hospitalized COVID-19 patients than at any time before. And the governor of North Carolina said recent jumps caused him to rethink plans to reopen schools or businesses. There is no single reason for the surges. In some cases, more testing has revealed more cases. In others, local outbreaks are big enough to push statewide tallies higher. But experts think at least some are due to lifting stay-at-home orders, school and business closures, and other restrictions put in place during the spring. The increase in infections pulled stocks down sharply Thursday on Wall Street. The infections deflated recent optimism that the economy could recover quickly from its worst crisis in decades. The virus is also gradually fanning out. "It is a disaster that spreads," said Dr. Jay Butler, who oversees coronavirus response work at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "It's not like there's an entire continental seismic shift and everyone feels the shaking all at once." That is also happening globally. The world is seeing more than 100,000 newly confirmed cases every day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The virus first landed on the U.S. coasts, carried by international travelers infected abroad. For months, the epicenter was in northeastern states. More recently, the biggest increases have been in the South and the West. The AP analyzed data compiled by The COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer organization that collects coronavirus testing data in the United States. The analysis found that in 21 states as of Monday, the rolling seven-day average of new cases per capita was higher than the average seven days earlier. Some worry the situation may get worse as social distancing restrictions lift and more people gather. One concern is that large recent racial justice protests across the country might spark at least some spread of the virus. Another: President Donald Trump this week said he's planning to hold rallies that may draw thousands of people. He will hold them in four states Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas. All of them are among the states with rising cases. Here's what's driving increases in some of the states with notable upticks: ARIZONA: Republican Gov. Doug Ducey ended Arizona's stay-at-home order May 15 and eased restrictions on businesses. Arizona residents flooded Phoenix-area bar districts, ignoring social distancing guidelines. The state began seeing a surge of new cases and hospitalizations about 10 days later. "It seems pretty clear to me that what we're seeing is directly related to the end of the stay-at-home order," said Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association. It wasn't just that the order ended: There were no requirements to wear face masks, no major increases in contact tracing to spot and stop evolving outbreaks, and no scale-up of infection control at nursing homes, he said. "Those are missed opportunities that, if implemented today, could still make a big difference," said Humble, a former director of the state Department of Health Services. Testing has been increasing in Arizona, which raises the chance of finding new cases. But the proportion of tests coming back positive has also been on the rise. The AP analysis found Arizona had a rolling average of fewer than 400 new cases a day at the time the shutdown was lifted, but it shot up two weeks later and surpassed 1,000 new cases a day by early this week. Hospitalizations have also risen dramatically, hitting the 1,200 mark last week. The state also passed another grim milestone last week, recording its 1,000th death. Meanwhile Arizona hospitals reported they were at 83 percent of capacity Tuesday, which could force the cancellation of elective surgeries. An executive order Ducey issued said hospitals wanting to resume elective surgeries had to have at least 20 percent of their beds available. NORTH CAROLINA: More testing plus more people out during reopening seem to be the main drivers of recent case upticks, said Kimberly Powers, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina. On Saturday, the state recorded its highest single-day increase, with 1,370. While testing has grown in the last two weeks, so has the rate of tests coming back positive. "These trends moving in the wrong direction is a signal we need to take very seriously," said North Carolina's top health official, Mandy Cohen, who has urged the public to take precautions to protect themselves. TEXAS: Few states are rebooting faster than Texas, where hospitalizations surged past 2,100 on Wednesday for the first time during the pandemic. That's a 42 percent increase in patients since Memorial Day weekend, when beachgoers swarmed Texas' coastline and a water park near Houston opened to big crowds in defiance of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's orders. Texas' percentage of tests coming back positive has also jumped to levels that are among the nation's highest. State officials point to hot spots at meatpacking plants and prisons in rural counties, where thousands of new cases have cropped up, but have not offered explanations for a rise in numbers elsewhere. On Friday, Texas is set to lift even more restrictions and let restaurant dining rooms reopen at nearly full capacity. ALABAMA: Outbreaks in nursing homes and poultry plants helped drive state numbers upward, though there was a drop more recently. But that may change there is evidence of community transmission in the capital, Montgomery, which has become an emerging hot spot, said State Health Officer Scott Harris. "I think reopening the economy gave a lot of people the wrong impression ... that, 'Hey everything is fine. Let's go back to normal,'" Harris said. "Clearly, it is not that way. Really, now more than ever we need people to stay 6 feet apart, wear face coverings and wash their hands." Montgomery hospital intensive care units are as busy as during flu season. ARKANSAS: This state has also seen increases in cases, hospitalizations and the percentage of tests that come back positive. But the state's situation is a complicated story of different outbreaks at different times. After a peak in April, levels were low until spikes began about three weeks ago mainly in the cities in the northwest and further south. The cases have been concentrated among Hispanics and those who work in chicken production facilities, which never were closed. The state will move into a new phase of reopening, starting Monday. Ukraine, in a memorandum to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under a new stand by program, declared the preservation of the autonomy of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) and the maintenance of independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) by maintaining limited grounds for dismissing its head. "We will ensure the autonomy of SAPO. In this regard, we will review the legal framework to improve the procedures for selection of SAPO officials, strengthen its capacity to regulate its organizational activities similar to the regional prosecutorial offices, and assess its performance through an external audit of reputable and respectable experts with international experience in anti-corruption law enforcement," the document reads. According to it, in terms of the work of NABU, Ukraine is obliged "to uphold NABU's institutional and operational independence, including by upholding procedures for appointment of its head and maintaining the limited and serious grounds for dismissal of its head." "We will strengthen the investigative powers of NABU to use a wide range of investigative techniques, including undercover operations, intercepting communications, accessing computer systems," the document reads. The memorandum emphasizes that Ukraine is committed by end-July 2020 to provide "adequate resources and equipment to enable NABU to effectively and independently implement interception of communications for landlines by end-September 2020." The memorandum also says that the conduct of an external audit of the NABU in accordance with the requirements set out in the NABU Law will be ensured. As for the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC), then according to the document, Ukraine in committed to provide adequate financial resources for its activities, including staffing and IT requirements and maintaining competitive staff remuneration. As reported, at the end of last year, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law that would allow NABU and the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) an autonomous right to wiretap. The Verkhovna Rada adopted this law on October 4. The document amends Article 263 of the Criminal Procedure Code according to which the NABU and the SBI will be authorized to intercept information from transport telecommunication networks, which is actually the right to wiretap. Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova accused the SAPO of the inefficiency of its prosecutors' perfomance. The SAPO reacted to this statement with disagreement and asked not to interfere with the work of anti-corruption bodies. Jurin Laksanawisit, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister of Thailand, helped sell nearly 5,000 durians and 20,000 young coconuts from his country to Chinese consumers via a live broadcast on June 9. (Photo/pixabay) With the fruit industry heavily impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic, the Ministry of Commerce in Thailand saw e-commerce as an opportunity to stimulate the economy. From June 1 to 7, about 140,000 durians, 320,000 young coconuts and 3.9 million mangosteens were sold through the marketplace under China's e-commerce giant Alibaba. The Chinese market is one of the most important in the world, and Thailand and China boast huge potential in cross-border e-commerce cooperation, said Jurin Laksanawisit. China has been one of Thailand's largest fruit trading partners in the past three years, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Commerce in Thailand. In 2019, Thailand exported over 1.2 million tons of fruit to China, accounting for 57.1 percent of the country's fruit exports and generating a revenue of 64.5 billion Thai Baht (about $2.1 billion). With demand in the Chinese market seeing a resurgence, Thailands fruit exports have continued to rise, with total exports for 2020 expected to increase 10 percent year on year, according to Paiboon Wongchotesathit, president of the Thai Fresh Fruit Traders & Exporters Association. E-commerce platforms, which are better tailored to consumers spending habits, have become a trend of bilateral trade. As China has formed a relatively advanced e-commerce development concept and technology and bilateral trade will be increasingly conducted through e-commerce platforms, Thailand hopes that more Chinese e-commerce companies will help promote the industrys development in Thailand, said Jurin Laksanawisit. Thailands Chiang Mai province recently announced the establishment of a China-Thailand cross-border industrial incubator together with Chinese companies and the China Overseas Security Research Institute to help Chinese cross-border companies do business in Thailand more conveniently. Technology is increasingly being used to mobilize groups protesting police violence and racial inequality across the United States. Messaging applications, or apps, are one of the main tools helping demonstrators communicate in real-time about where protests are happening. Other technology tools are being used to record violence by police or demonstrators and listen to police communications. Last weekend, Michelle Burris learned about a protest in downtown Washington D.C. through a Facebook message from a friend. When her friend asked her to join the protest, she said she knew she had to go. Burris bought a face covering with the expression Black Lives Matter on it to wear to the demonstration. That expression has been the central message shared by people taking part in widespread protests in recent weeks following the death of George Floyd. Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on May 25 after a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, kneeled on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes. The incident was caught on video. Burris marched carrying a sign that read No Justice, No Peace. After the first protest ended, she pulled up details on Instagram for another demonstration nearby involving a long line of cars. It was extremely powerful, not only Facebook but Instagram, Burris told The Associated Press. It was very easy to mobilize. Protesters are turning to secure messaging services like WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram to share information. These apps can encrypt, or change parts of a message to improve user privacy. These apps, along with others for listening to police communications and recording video, are growing in popularity. Experts say the most widely used apps are the ones that are easy to use and can reach large groups. Steve Jones is a media researcher who studies communication technology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He told the Associated Press that reaching as many people as possible is the number one criterion for which platform someone is going to use. The experts say this is why social media services like Twitter, Facebook and Facebook-owned Instagram have become top tools for organizing and documenting mass protests. Steve Jones noted that 50 years ago, during Americas civil rights protests, it was almost impossible to know what was going on during a protest. There was a lot of rumor, a lot of hearsay, he said. Now you can reach everyone almost instantaneously. Sarah Wildman said she used Instagram to find and document several protests she attended in Atlanta, Georgia. Wildman said she uses Instagrams live broadcasting service to find out what is happening during large protests. This is especially important when protesters in the back might not know what is happening at the front. Organizers are also using Telegram, an app that permits private messages to be sent to thousands of people at once. This makes it possible for information on protest areas and times, as well as where police are making arrests, to be shared across entire cities. One New York City Telegram channel for protests grew from just under 300 followers to nearly 2,500 followers last week. The ease of shooting and sharing video has also led to recordings of violence being shared with millions of people within moments. Smartphone video of the police incident involving George Floyd helped fuel the widespread anger that led to the protests. Apptopia is a company that records data on app use. It reports messaging apps offering encrypted communication, like Signal, are seeing an increase in downloads. Signal was downloaded 37,000 times last weekend in the U.S., the largest number since it launched in 2014. Apps like Police Scanner and 5-0 Police Scanner, which permit anyone to listen to live police communications, were downloaded 213,000 times over the weekend, Apptopia reported. The Anti-Defamation League, or ADL, said it had found evidence that some groups were using technology to try to harm the protest efforts. The ADLs Center on Extremism said recently that white supremacists had attempted to use Telegram to increase violence. The ADL said the efforts by white supremacists appeared to be aimed at using the protest environment to start a long promised race war in America. They are extremely active online, urging other white supremacists to take full advantage of the moment, the ADL added. Im Pete Musto. Barbara Ortutay and Amanda Seitz reported on this story for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story mobilize v. to bring people together for action criterion n. something that is used as a reason for making a judgment or decision platform n. a program or set of programs that controls the way a computer works and runs other programs rumor n. information or a story that is passed from person to person but has not been proven to be true hearsay n. something heard from another person channel n. a system used for sending something, such as information or supplies, from one place or person to another white supremacist n. a person who believes that the white race is better than all other races and should have control over all other races take advantage of v. to use something, such as an opportunity in a way that helps you Samsung is planning to release quite a few BTS Edition devices, it seems. The Galaxy S20+ BTS Edition phone leaked, along with the Galaxy Buds+ BTS Edition. Well, the Samsung Wireless Charging Pad is getting the BTS treatment as well, it seems. If you take a look at the image provided above, youll see the charger that is coming. This is essentially the regular Samsung Wireless Charging Pad with a BTS logo, and a different paint job. Samsung Wireless Charging Pad is getting the BTS Edition treatment as well In terms of the color, it will go hand-in-hand with the BTS Edition Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy Buds+, of course. This image has been shared by Evan Blass, who shared the other two devices as well. Advertisement Samsung logo is still included on this device as well, by the way. We still do not know when exactly will these devices launch, but chances are theyll all launch at the same time. The Samsung Wireless Charging Pad is basically a circular charging pad, which does come with some silicone reinforcement which is supposed to prevent slipping. It usually comes in black and white color options, but this BTS model will be purple-colored. This wireless charging pad is compatible with all Qi-certified devices, of course. Advertisement It will be able to charge both the Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy Buds+, as both support wireless charging. Though if you have a regular model, it will be the same in terms of functionality as the BTS model. The device is quite small, which is not a bad thing. Its large enough to accommodate smartphones, and also smaller accessories. It would be quite odd charging a tablet on this, though. A charging cable and brick probably wont be included in the package The regular charging pad does not come with a cable, or a charging brick, though. The BTS Edition probably wont either, but you do have a charging cable and brick from your phone, so that problem is solved. Advertisement Do note that youll need at least a 15W wall charger in order to take full advantage of this wireless charger. It can take full advantage of 15W wireless charging that is available on the Galaxy S20+. Chances are that many people who purchase the BTS Edition of the Samsung Wireless Charging Pad will also purchase the Galaxy S20+ BTS Edition, so that is worth noting. We still do not know when will these devices arrive. We know that they will first launch in Korea, though, and that they will make their way to Europe soon after that. Stay tuned. Grace Kelly's granddaughter Camille Gottlieb has revealed she 'loves' watching Geordie Shore but says her uncle Prince Albert of Monaco would 'kill her' if she tried to shoot her own reality show within the confines of exclusive enclave. Camille, 21, the youngest daughter of Princess Stephanie of Monaco, shares the insight in the upcoming episode of BBC2's Inside Monaco: Playground Of The Rich, which offers a rare look at life inside the tiny country. Speaking while having a lion tattooed on her arm, Camille says it is 'cool' growing up in Monte Carlo, but that it is also 'weird' because 'everybody knows everybody'. Monaco covers just two square kilometres and sits on the French Riviera. Its reigning monarch Prince Albert, Grace Kelly's son, waived strict privacy rules to grant access to the elite tax haven. Grace Kelly's granddaughter Camille Gottlieb (pictured) says her uncle Prince Albert of Monaco would 'kill her' if she shot reality show about her luxury lifestyle New BBC2 series Inside Monaco: Playground Of The Rich gave a glimpse into the life of 21-year-old Camille, a member of the Monaco royal family Speaking on the show, Camille says: 'I started tattoos when I was 17.' When asked if her mother minded her body art, she says: 'She was okay with it. She has tattoos too, it's so cool growing up in Monte Carlo, we have a lot of security, everybody knows everybody, but it's weird sometimes. 'To be the granddaughter of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly and the daughter of Princess Stephanie, we are the royal family. So we have to do a lot of things for Monaco, so that's good for us. 'I was watching Geordie Shore and I loved that, it's so funny and I thought it was so cool -but my uncle would probably kill me if I did a reality show here. No, I think not.' Camille is the daughter of Princess Stephanie of Monaco, who was the youngest child of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly, pictured on the set of High Society (left). Right, reigning monarch Prince Albert of Monaco Royal pedigree: Who are Camille Gottlieb's glamorous family Camille is the daughter of Princess Stephanie of Monaco, who was the youngest child of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly. Stephanie is the younger sister of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Caroline, Princess of Hanover. Camille, born in 1998, is the daughter of Stephanie and former palace security guard Jean Raymond Gottlieb, who is understood to have been head of the princess's security detail when they started a relationship. Camille is the daughter of Princess Stephanie of Monaco (left), who was the youngest child of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly (right) Camille with her mother Stephanie (right) and sister Pauline (centre) at Paris Fashion Week in February. Stephanie also has a son Louis, 27, who is married to Marie Stephanie has two older children, Louis, 27, and Pauline, 26, whom she shares with her first husband, bodyguard Daniel Ducruet. Louis and Pauline are 14th in 15th in line to the Monagasque throne however Camille is not in the line of succession as Stephanie and Gottlieb never married. Camille is a cousin of Jacques and Gabriella of Monaco, the five-year-old twins of Albert II and his wife Princess Charlene; as well as Princess Caroline's four children: Andrea Casiraghi, Charlotte Casiraghi, Pierre Casiraghi and Princess Alexandra of Hanover. Albert II also has two children, Jazmin Grimaldi and Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste, born out of wedlock. Caroline is stepmother to husband Prince Ernst August of Hanover's two other children, Prince Ernst August and Prince Christian. Advertisement Camille is the daughter of Stephanie and former palace security guard Jean Raymond Gottlieb, who is understood to have been head of the princess's security detail when they started a relationship. Although Camille shares Gottlieb's surname, his name is not on her birth certificate and Stephanie has never publicly confirmed that he is Camille's father. However Camille herself has identified Gottlieb, a former Paris gendarme, as her father in a gushing birthday post shared on Instagram in 2017. As Stephanie and Gottlieb never married, Camille is not in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne, unlike Stephanie's two eldest children, Louis, 27, and Pauline, 26, whom she shares with her first husband, bodyguard Daniel Ducruet. Monaco's advanced security allows it's royal family to be one of the most visible in the world. The sovereign state has one police officer for every seventy people - enforcing strict laws such as not wearing a shirt, going bear foot or driving or a camper van. Elsewhere in the programme, Prince Albert spoke of the importance safety and security holds in Monaco. He said: 'It's of paramount importance. If you conduct a survey not just of people living in Monaco, wanting to move to Monaco. If you ask the main reason, an overwhelming majority would say it's the security and safety aspect.' Head of police Richard Marangoni added: 'Today we have 577 police officers, which makes one police officer for every seventy inhabitants. Camille now appears to be building a life for herself in Monte Carlo, where she has founded a group that campaigns for better education around drink driving 'Every infraction is prosecuted, from the smallest to the largest, we take action. If you scratch a car door, there will be a procedure against you.' Camille now appears to be building a life for herself in Monte Carlo, where she has founded a group that campaigns for better education around drink driving. Photos shared on Camille's Instagram account suggest she might be living independently in Monaco, although she moved home to her mother's at the lavish illa Clos Saint-Martin Monaco-ville for lockdown. Speaking to Monaco Info, Pauline and Camille admitted they have not lived under their mother's roof in a long time, but made the best of the situation by walking their dogs and practicing yoga. GRAND RAPIDS Meijer announced today that it will begin accepting beverage containers for return on June 15 at its Michigan stores after temporarily discontinuing returns in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 241 supercenters throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. Currently, there is an estimated $65 million in unreturned beverage containers in Michigan, according to a news release from Meijer. Retailers will need to take additional action around sanitization and social distancing to accommodate the expected return of large quantities of bottles and cans that have been stockpiled during the pandemic. Therefore, Meijer is asking its customers to also prepare appropriately and follow a few simple tips when returning bottles and cans to make the process as smooth as possible. These include: Separate bottles and cans before coming to the store to help keep the flow of customers moving; Drain all cans and bottles and place them in clean bags/containers before coming to the store; Only bring beverage container brands that are sold at Meijer stores; Understand the maximum amount of returnable beverage containers is $25 each visit; Plan accordingly before arriving as the bottle return rooms will be busy; Be patient, practice social distancing and wear a face covering; "These last few months have posed numerous challenges, but we appreciate the patience of all our customers and team members as we navigated through them together," said Todd Weer, Meijer Senior Vice President of Stores. "We know there is an abundance of beverage containers waiting to be recycled, so we're asking all of our customers to please be patient and respectful toward each other as we deal with a volume of returnable containers that we've never seen before." Aircraft carriers may be that vulnerable when it comes to the lasts missile threats, but looking beyond the danger, these warships will pack a huge punch. There is no doubt that American flat tops are one of the most versatile attack platforms in naval warfare. Time and time again, ever since the Chief of Naval Operations have thought about the weaknesses that brought down the aircraft carriers in World War II are still the same except in modern forms with threats that are greater than ever before, according to Forbes. Instead of changing the carrier forces, the Office of the Secretary of Defense is thinking of ways to deal with these new threats to lessen these weaknesses. But some sectors want smaller navy vessels that are more numerous, even adding robotic ships to the fleet and less mammoth aircraft carriers that are according to analysts in the camp of Mark Esper, confirmed Real Clear Defense. One of these plans by Mark Esper and his aides is to reduce the number of carriers via their midlife refuelling with about ten left from the 11 carriers the navy needs. This was confirmed by Mike Fabey via the Jane's Navy International, last May 19. So as Mike Fabey reported in Jane's Navy International on May 19, Esper aides are cooking up plans to reduce the number of carriers by stretching out their midlife refuellings, leaving only ten available rather than the minimum of eleven mandated by Congress and the twelve that the Navy has repeatedly said it needs. The Navy needs 3-4 carriers to be sent to the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf, but there is a need to keep 12 carriers on standby. Also read: US Navy Will Upgrade Ships to Carry F-35s Augmenting Their Strike Power Carriers are expensive to maintain, so there is an attempt to save more money by working on other projects to replace expensive carrier. Some think tanks are willing to save more on alternative hardware than spend too much on an aircraft carrier, by Defense News. The current focus of the US military tactics is blocking the Chinese threat that includes their missiles that are aimed at American flat tops, that will be one of the dominant subjects. Some questions to answers are whether the danger faced by US carriers in relation to Chinese assets, is not as serious, how much of the joint force will be affected should the carrier fleet get smaller. What makes American supercarriers vulnerable? The sheer size of the USS Nimitz, Regan, Theodore Roosevelt makes them large targets, that can be traced and targeted, by enemies. The flight deck is a big 'hit me' sign. One of the advantages of US carriers is they are always on the move, when in operations. Add up their nuclear propulsion and they are hard to track, even the Chinese will have a hard time. China cannot afford an advance and expensive satellite system, and the sea is expansive. Another is that China missiles need guidance to hit the target, can't hit what cannot be seen. Everything depends on the kill chain, which is important to consider in combat that should not be broken. Having all layers of protection that US carriers enjoy as the most advanced. If cannot fight then run, a giant aircraft carrier has a top speed of 35 mph, a sub needs to get a lucky shot to kill it, inside are watertight cells to keep afloat. Another is the anti-sub system for this threat. Let's try to keep some of these details in mind as Washington approaches yet another debate on what its future Navy should look like. In the world, US flat tops are the weapon systems that pack a punch, and the US has the most carrier of any navy. Related article: US Navy Deploys Reagan, Nimitz Carrier Strike Group for Operations @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. HONG KONG, June 12, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - On June 11th, 2020, DL Holdings (1709.HK) announced a MOU for a significant transaction involving a capital of approximately $40 million HK dollars. According to the announcement, DL Holdings Group Ltd. will invest $5 million US dollars in Carmel Reserve LLC for a 28.5% stake in the company. Carmel Reserve LLC owns 891 acres of land in Carmel Valley which is located at San Francisco Bay Area in California, US. This project, ONE Carmel, planes to develop a premier community with 73 ultra-high-end residential lots. After acquiring securities business and establishing fund investment business, DL Holdings further added real estate development and global fund portfolios to expand its total asset and business lines.U.S. real estate has always been an important part of global asset allocation, especially in San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley. These places have been the favoured region in recent years. Due to the impact of the COVID-19, property prices in some areas have witnessed declines. However, both the volume and value of transactions of High-end houses and prime land lots have increased as more people chose to work from home. Particularly, in Bay Area and Silicon Valley, the new tech billionaires and wealthy families are actively purchasing land and even moving their corporate headquarters to more suitable areas for future working and living environment.The core business of DL Holdings is the Multi-family office services for ultra-high-net-worth family clients and it has been in stable operation for nearly 10 years. The growing demand for real estate investments from Asian clients have prompted the firm to look around the World for high quality properties. This investment transaction will accelerate the expansion of DL Holdings, serve more family office clients, and contribute to the development and sales of the ONE Carmel project. DL Holdings is expected to benefit from the long-term asset appreciation and penetrate into a broader set of real estate investment opportunities globally. Headquartered in Hong Kong, DL Holdings has also established offices in San Francisco, Singapore, and Shanghai, to serve the global investment needs of family offices and family businesses.For more details, please refer to WeChat official account: ONE CarmelSource: DL HoldingsCopyright 2020 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. Even as the US slowly comes down from the peak of the coronavirus pandemic's grip, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reporting shortages of some of the drugs Americans need most now. The US is running low on medications widely used in the care of critically ill and intubated patients, painkillers and popular generic antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs. Drugs that are in short supply across the US mirror the crises Americans simultaneously face: Scores of people who cannot breathe on their own due to COVID-19 and need powerful sedatives to avoid being in excruciating pain while intubated, and even more suffering mentally from being isolated amid the pandemic. A USA Today report found that 17 of the 28 drugs that have been added to the FDA's shortage list since January are related to the coronavirus pandemic. Intubation and mechanical ventilation are life-saving for some coronavirus patients - but the process is so painful it's next to impossible without sedatives like propofol and painkillers like injectable fentanyl - which are now in short supply amid the pandemic (file) DRUG SHORTAGES LINKED TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AVYCAZ (ceftazidime and avibactam) for Injection - anti-infection drug Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate Tablets - anti-infection drug Midazolam Injection - anesthetic Furosemide Injection - anti-inflammatory, used for patients in cardiac distress Cisatracurium Besylate Injection - anesthetic Dexmedetomidine Injection - anesthetic Etomidate Injection - anesthetic Propofol Injectable - anesthetic Azithromycin Tablets - antibiotic Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) Solutions - kidney failure drug Hydroxypropyl (Lacrisert) Cellulose Ophthalmic Insert - dry eyes treatment Famotidine - indigestion drug Vecuronium Bromide for Injection - anesthetic Sertraline Hydrochloride - antidepressant and anti-anxiety drug Timolol Maleate - eye glaucoma drug Source: USA TODAY/FDA Advertisement 'COVID-19 has caused such a huge surge in the numbers of patients,' Dr Erin Fox, director of Drug Information and Support Services at the University of Utah hospital told USA Today. 'That's really what's driving a lot of the shortages right now, especially critical care medications.' Among the best known of these are the antidepressant, Zoloft, painkillers, especially those used in hospital settings, like fentanyl, and propofol, a sedative used to put patients in a relaxed, semi-conscious state so they don't fight intubation. Accord, which makes a generic of Zoloft, cites COVID-19 as the reason it can't get sufficient supplies of the drug's active ingredients. As Americans isolated themselves at home and worried over whether or not they or their loved ones would get coronavirus, mental health tanked. As of that month, prescriptions for antidepressants had surged by 19 percent. Demand for anti-anxiety drugs went up by more than a third. Now depressed patients may face anxiety over the availability of their medications, further damaging mental health. Doctors are facing their own anxieties over worsening shortages of the drugs they rely on to treat hospitalized patients. Shortages of propofol were also first reported on April 10. Propofol is perhaps best known as the drug implicated in Michael Jackson's death. But in a health care setting, it is a crucial tool for doctors taking care of patients who need life support. Intubation is extremely painful, and feels wholly unnatural to patients. Without proper sedatives, they will not only be in agony, but will instinctively try to pull out the very tubes keeping them breathing. The coronavirus pandemic has also compounded drug shortages that were already ongoing before the world had heard of COVID-19, such as the paradoxical shortage of injectable opioids used in hospitals that has run parallel to the opioid addiction crisis. As opioid pills and patches fueled a two-decade epidemic of overdoses in the United States, hospitals faced chronic shortages of the same painkillers in injectable form - narcotics vital to patients on breathing machines. Prescriptions for antidepressants have surged by 19% since the start of the pandemic, driving a shortage of the popular drug Zoloft and its generics High demand and relatively cheap compounding and manufacturing for opioid pills means they return a high profit margin for their makers, like the now-infamous Purdue Pharma, which made billions on oxycontin. Injectable forms of painkillers, however, have low profit margins, so there is little incentive for pharmaceutical companies to make a surplus. The result has been a long-running shortage of these drugs that remained mostly a niche concern of the medical community. That is, until the coronavirus pandemic created a sudden and dire need for the drugs. Demand for injectable opioids exploded. By April, more than 16,000 COVID-19 patients a day were on ventilators, the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimated. After a highly public battle to secure enough ventilators, hospitals say they must scramble to obtain the powerful painkillers needed to use them. Opioids help keep patients in severe distress from reflexively ripping out the tubing that forces oxygen into their lungs. Underlying the persistent shortages - and the present crisis - are the basic economics of the American drug industry. The market discourages production of low-margin hospital injectable opioids in favor of high-profit prescription versions, according to interviews with dozens of government officials, medical practitioners and industry participants, as well as an analysis of government data. Propofol is perhaps best known for being implicated in the death of Michael Jackson, but the potent drug puts intubated patients into a necessary state of semi consciousness. It's now in short supply as coronavirus cases surpass two million in the US Though deficiencies in the supply of injectable opioids had long been recognized, U.S. drug makers, hospitals, regulators and lawmakers failed to fix the problem and were caught unprepared for a pandemic that suddenly and dramatically escalated demand, Reuters found. Janet Woodcock, senior adviser to the FDAs commissioner, told Reuters that when hospitals in Wuhan, China, began filling with patients on ventilators, she and her colleagues knew a wave of American cases would overwhelm shallow U.S. supplies. 'We recognized this was going to happen,' she said, adding, 'Were just trying to get every last vial of product into the system that we can.' Among the thousands of COVID-19 patients wheeled into American intensive care units, some have been intubated for weeks, far longer than is typical. Demand for injectable opioids more than doubled between January and early April, rapidly depleting what hospitals and drugmakers had on hand, according to Vizient, a large hospital purchasing organization. Orders for the commonly used injectable opioid fentanyl roughly tripled, but suppliers were able to ship only half of what hospitals asked for, said Amanda Forster, a spokeswoman for Premier Inc, another large hospital purchasing organization. Although ventilator use has fallen from the April peak, more than 7,000 COVID-19 patients are estimated to be relying on them each day. Several states are seeing a surge in cases, and many hospitals are resuming elective surgeries that were postponed early in the pandemic - further straining opioid supplies. The pill form of the painkiller fentanyl (pictured) is the villain of the opioid epidemic, but the less profitable injection form is preferred by ICU doctors for easing the excruciating pain of intubation. Pre-existing shortages of IV painkillers have been worsened by the pandemic For injectables, the supply chain is slow and fragile. Aging plants operated by a small group of manufacturers chug along at nearly full capacity, with little room to ramp up production. The risk of a mechanical breakdown or contamination runs high, and adding another production line or opening a new plant can take a year or more, industry experts said. 'This is no way to run an army,' said Jacob Sherkow, a Harvard University research fellow on biotechnology law. 'But fixing it is incredibly difficult and extraordinarily complex.' The marketplace, Sherkow and others told Reuters, is hard-wired to reward innovation - new, ostensibly improved products - over older workhorse medications, no matter how vital. According to a October 2019 report by a task force led by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the price for injectable drugs can dip below the cost of production. By comparison, sales of prescription opioids in pill and patch form such as OxyContin, Opana and Duragesic each exceeded $1 billion annually before their patents expired. Production of pills and other prescription opioids used outside hospitals began to explode in the late 1990s as drugmakers pursued new patients, patents and profits. By 2006, production of outpatient prescription opioids was at least nine times that of the low-margin injectable opioids most widely used by hospitals, according to a Reuters analysis of US Drug Enforcement Administration data. The findings were adjusted to account for differences in potency among the drugs. Multiple government agencies, from the FDA to the Department of Defense, knew about the chronic shortages of injectable opioids and other critical care drugs well before the coronavirus pandemic, according to federal documents and interviews with public officials. Injectable opioids in syringes and various vial sizes, including fentanyl, have been on the FDA's list of drugs in short supply at least since 2017. ST. LOUIS, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) announced on June 12, 2020 its updated 2020 financial guidance. Total revenues are expected to be $109.5 billion to $111.9 billion, and diluted earnings per share are expected to be $3.06 to $3.20. Adjusted diluted earnings per share for 2020 are expected to be $4.76 to $4.96, representing a $0.20 increase at the midpoint. The Company's updated guidance reflects the following: Total revenues reflect the delay in the startup of the North Carolina contract until 2021. Total revenues reflect the delay in the startup of the contract until 2021. Diluted earnings per share and adjusted diluted earnings per share reflect current estimates around membership, revenue and medical utilization trends. "Our increased earnings guidance for the full year demonstrates the strength of our business and our ability to navigate the pandemic while meeting the critical needs of our members, providers and state partners," said Michael Neidorff, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Centene Corporation. "We continue to see tremendous opportunity in a dynamic healthcare environment as the roles of managed care companies have never been more important than they are today. Today's virtual investor day will highlight the details of our near and long-term growth strategies across our Medicaid, Medicare and Marketplace businesses as well as our operational agility. We also acknowledge the deep-rooted racial and social justice issues at hand and stand united in our resolve to help drive systemic change in our country, through various initiatives such as the creation of our Health Disparities Task Force." Webcast & Presentation As previously announced, the Company will host a virtual investor meeting today, including a question-and-answer session. The event will begin promptly at 8:30 AM (Eastern Time). Investors and other interested parties are invited to watch the investor meeting via a live streamed webcast on the Company's website and view a copy of the investor presentation at www.centene.com , under the Investors section. Non-GAAP Financial Presentation The Company is providing certain non-GAAP financial measures in this release as the Company believes that these figures are helpful in allowing investors to more accurately assess the ongoing nature of the Company's operations and measure the Company's performance more consistently across periods. The Company uses the presented non-GAAP financial measures internally to allow management to focus on period-to-period changes in the Company's core business operations. Therefore, the Company believes that this information is meaningful in addition to the information contained in the GAAP presentation of financial information. The presentation of this additional non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Specifically, the Company believes the presentation of non-GAAP financial information that excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets, acquisition related expenses, as well as other items, allows investors to develop a more meaningful understanding of the Company's performance over time. The table below provides reconciliations of non-GAAP items per share: Annual Guidance December 31, 2020 GAAP diluted EPS $3.06 - $3.20 Amortization of acquired intangible assets (1) $0.98 - $1.00 Acquisition related expenses (2) $0.65 - $0.69 Other adjustments (3) $0.07 Adjusted diluted EPS $4.76 - $4.96 (1) The amortization of acquired intangible assets per diluted share presented above are net of the income tax benefit of an estimated $0.30 to $0.32 for the year ended December 31, 2020. (2) The acquisition related expenses per diluted share presented above are net of the income tax benefit of an estimated $0.10 to $0.11 for the year ended December 31, 2020. (3) Other adjustments for 2020 include the following items: (a) gain on the sale of the Illinois health plan of an estimated $0.10 per diluted share, net of income tax expense of $0.06; (b) non-cash impairment of our third party-care management software system of an estimated $0.10 per diluted share, net of an income tax benefit of $0.03; and (c) debt extinguishment costs of an estimated $0.07 per diluted share, net of an income tax benefit of $0.02. About Centene Corporation Centene Corporation, a Fortune 50 company, is a leading multi-national healthcare enterprise that is committed to helping people live healthier lives. The Company takes a local approach with local brands and local teams - to provide fully integrated, high-quality, and cost-effective services to government-sponsored and commercial healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Centene offers affordable and high-quality products to nearly 1 in 15 individuals across the nation, including Medicaid and Medicare members (including Medicare Prescription Drug Plans) as well as individuals and families served by the Health Insurance Marketplace, the TRICARE program, and individuals in correctional facilities. The Company also serves several international markets, and contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide a variety of specialty services focused on treating the whole person. Centene focuses on long-term growth and the development of its people, systems and capabilities so that it can better serve its members, providers, local communities, and government partners. Centene uses its investor relations website to publish important information about the company, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Centene is routinely posted and is accessible on Centene's investor relations website, http://www.centene.com/investors. Forward-Looking Statements All statements, other than statements of current or historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements often use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "seek," "target," "goal," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "can," "continue" and other similar words or expressions (and the negative thereof). Centene (the Company, our, or we) intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we are including this statement for purposes of complying with these safe-harbor provisions. In particular, these statements include, without limitation, statements about our future operating or financial performance, market opportunity, growth strategy, competition, expected activities in completed and future acquisitions, including statements about the impact of our recently completed acquisition (the WellCare Acquisition) of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (WellCare), other recent and future acquisitions, investments and the adequacy of our available cash resources. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on numerous assumptions and assessments made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, business strategies, operating environments, future developments and other factors we believe appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are subject to change because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future, including economic, regulatory, competitive and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to us on the date hereof. Except as may be otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date hereof. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as actual results may differ materially from projections, estimates, or other forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, variables and events including but not limited to: the impact of COVID-19 on global markets, economic conditions and the healthcare industry and our results of operations, which is unknown; uncertainty as to our expected financial performance following completion and integration of the WellCare Acquisition; the possibility that the expected synergies and value creation from the WellCare Acquisition will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period; the risk that unexpected costs will be incurred in connection with the integration of the WellCare Acquisition or that the integration of WellCare will be more difficult or time consuming than expected; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the WellCare Acquisition; the inability to retain key personnel; disruption from the completion of the WellCare Acquisition, including potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships with customers, employees, suppliers or regulators, making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; the risk that we may not be able to effectively manage our expanded operations; our ability to accurately predict and effectively manage health benefits and other operating expenses and reserves; competition; membership and revenue declines or unexpected trends; changes in healthcare practices, new technologies, and advances in medicine; increased healthcare costs; changes in economic, political or market conditions; changes in federal or state laws or regulations, including changes with respect to income tax reform or government healthcare programs as well as changes with respect to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, collectively referred to as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and any regulations enacted thereunder that may result from changing political conditions or judicial actions, including the ultimate outcome in "Texas v. United States of America" regarding the constitutionality of the ACA; rate cuts or other payment reductions or delays by governmental payors and other risks and uncertainties affecting our government businesses; our ability to adequately price products on the Health Insurance Marketplaces and other commercial and Medicare products; tax matters; disasters or major epidemics; the outcome of legal and regulatory proceedings; changes in expected contract start dates; provider, state, federal and other contract changes and timing of regulatory approval of contracts; the expiration, suspension, or termination of our contracts with federal or state governments (including but not limited to Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE or other customers); the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of pending or future litigation or government investigations; challenges to our contract awards; cyber-attacks or other privacy or data security incidents; the possibility that the expected synergies and value creation from acquired businesses, including businesses we may acquire in the future, will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period; the exertion of management's time and our resources, and other expenses incurred and business changes required in connection with complying with the undertakings in connection with any regulatory, governmental or third party consents or approvals for acquisitions; disruption caused by significant completed and pending acquisitions, including, among others, the WellCare Acquisition, making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; the risk that unexpected costs will be incurred in connection with the completion and/or integration of acquisition transactions; changes in expected closing dates, estimated purchase price and accretion for acquisitions; the risk that acquired businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that we may not be able to effectively manage our operations as they have expanded as a result of the WellCare Acquisition; restrictions and limitations in connection with our indebtedness; our ability to maintain or achieve improvement in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Star ratings and maintain or achieve improvement in other quality scores in each case that can impact revenue and future growth; availability of debt and equity financing, on terms that are favorable to us; inflation; foreign currency fluctuations; and risks and uncertainties discussed in the reports that Centene has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This list of important factors is not intended to be exhaustive. We discuss certain of these matters more fully, as well as certain other factors that may affect our business operations, financial condition and results of operations, in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Due to these important factors and risks, we cannot give assurances with respect to our future performance, including without limitation our ability to maintain adequate premium levels or our ability to control our future medical and selling, general and administrative costs. SOURCE Centene Corporation Related Links http://www.centene.com Kim Brent / The Enterprise Faith leaders come and go like top executives at many organizations, but it doesnt happen so often with the Catholic Diocese of Beaumont. It occurred this week for only the sixth time since 1966, and all Southeast Texans should welcome Monsignor David L. Toups, who will become the dioceses first bishop promoted to that position here. Toups comes to our region from Florida, though he was born not far away in Houma, Louisiana, and remembers driving through Beaumont with his family when he was a boy. He speaks Spanish, which will make it easier for him to reach out to our growing Hispanic population. He also seems to have a sense of humor, another plus, saying at his inaugural meeting at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, It is a pleasure to be with you all in Beaumont since COVID 19 and (Tropical Storm) Cristobal tried to scare me away. Melania Trump, the first lady, remained in New York during the first months of her husbands presidency because she was renegotiating their prenuptial agreement after his surprise victory in the 2016 election, according to a new book. In the book, The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump, Mary Jordan, a reporter for The Washington Post, writes that in the way she manages her image, Mrs. Trump is far more similar to President Trump than people have realized. But one of the most striking details that Ms. Jordan reveals is something that had been rumored for years that Mrs. Trump used the presidents victory in November 2016 as an opportunity to solidify her financial standing, for herself and for the couples son, Barron. During that time, Mrs. Trump was able to amend her financial arrangement with Trump what Melania referred to as taking care of Barron, Ms. Jordan wrote, according to The Post. Turkmenistan has further tightened the rationing of basic foodstuffs at subsidized prices, introducing special registration books to track purchases at state stores. An RFE/RL local correspondent reported that under the system, each household will receive a school notebook with a certificate inside from a neighborhood committee stating the number of people in the family and its address. Each purchase conducted by a household in state-owned stores will be registered in the book, according to the independent Turkmen.news website. An RFE/RL correspondent in the western province of Balkan reported on June 11 that the registration books were introduced in recent days in several cities in the region, including its capital, Balkanabat. Those who don't have a book aren't allowed to purchase some of the subsidized staples available in government stores, including flour, rice, cooking oil, sugar, and potatoes, the correspondent said. Tightly controlled Turkmenistan has been facing food price hikes and a food shortage in recent years. Food supplies are still available in bazaars and private stores for increasingly high prices, but many ordinary Turkmen can't afford them. Many people rely on state-owned shops, where staples are sold with subsidized prices, but the choice of foodstuffs there is sparse and supplies often arrive in limited amounts. Although the authorities insist there have been no coronavirus cases in Turkmenistan so far, they have imposed restrictions that have further curtailed food distribution in the country. Those measures included the closure of border crossings and roads inside the country, as well as restrictions on food imports from neighboring countries. Food shortages sparked a rare public protest in the southeastern province of Mary on April 3, when about 30 women briefly blocked a major highway before marching toward the regional government headquarters. The demonstrators stopped their march when local officials promised them each 2 kilograms of flour. Turkmenistan's secretive, authoritarian government, which controls all media in the country, never mentions food shortages or any other sign of economic hardship in the country. In Grutter v. Bollinger, the 2003 landmark affirmative action case, the United States Supreme Court hid the ball of affirmative action in college admissions behind the veneer of academic diversity, declaring that the University of Michigan Law School had a compelling interest in obtaining the benefits that naturally flow from a diverse educational environment. A classroom with a mix of students with varying backgrounds and experiences who will respect and learn from each other would do the work to diminish stereotypes and enrich the course material. Grutter gave us the repetitive edict heard from companies and colleges throughout America: Diversity is our strength. Advertisement I always thought the open forum Grutter stood for would easily foster social inclusivity. But framing diversity crises as fixable through conversation alone just normalizes unhelpful, abstract discussions about race in America. Black Americans dont have the luxury of abstraction. For us, the law can be measured in lifetimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just before my father was born, the United States Supreme Court decided Brown v. Board of Education. The Brown decision promised my grandparents that the racial segregation infecting their classrooms would not permeate in their childrens classrooms. All they had to do was wait for its enforcement. Regents of the University of California v. Bakke set precedent for race-conscious admissions policies without quota systems. The court finally confirmed for my father that the full weight of himself could and should be considered as a factor for admission. Already in his mid-20s and out of college, the promise came late. Advertisement Advertisement When I was in the third grade, another promise came. In Grutter, the University of Michigan Law School defended an admission policy designed to obtain a critical mass of students from historically underrepresented groups to ensure their meaningful participation in the schools diversity initiative. The school promised me that a diverse environment was enough to reckon with the lifelong sins of the American education system. All I had to do was make my way to a top 10 law school. Michigan Law School won the day in Grutter. The value of diversity replaced the affirmative action mandate, which stipulated that institutions that had engaged in a history of systemic racism be held responsible for promulgating that racism. Advertisement After a week of national protests over the police killing of George Floyd, Michigan Law dean Mark West issued a public statement that did not say Black Lives Matter, though other institutions had done so. Clarifying the delay, he said, Broad statements can seem superficial and irrelevant to your concerns, and if frequent, the efficacy of the messages decreases over time. So in this case, in accordance with our policy, I had no plan to issue a statement. This tepid statement, only issued after urgent prodding, gave little comfort to Black students who already felt abandoned by their administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michigan Laws Black Law Students Association had begged the school for years to make curriculum changes and to diversify the faculty. In 2019 only 11.71 percent of the full-time faculty identified as a minority, placing the school 169th out of the 200 law schools reporting such data to the American Bar Association. That it took my law school longer than my favorite brand of ice cream to recognize that the Black Lives Matter movement was not superficial felt extremely disrespectful. The University of Michigan Law Schools tone-deaf response to George Floyds murder is emblematic of the price Black America pays for White Americas comfort in higher education. Black students are not the ones who should be teaching others how not to be racist. Academia pays us lip service without addressing why there are so few Black voices in the first place: its own perpetuation of a racist system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My pain has always served as a steppingstone for the education of my white classmates. In my academic life, Grutters promise that diversity alone could cure racism meant that my pain has always served as a steppingstone for the education of my white classmates. I was one of nine Black students in my high schools graduating class. When history lessons stop after the Civil War and we lean on Black students to articulate the rest, we are agreeing to put children in dangerous and vulnerable positions. I didnt have the language in high school to explain why I was uncomfortable when a white student asked me if I would dress up as Jim Crow for Halloween since she wanted to know what he looked like. I was a teenager. I didnt know how to approach a teacher or administrator to advocate for myself. Advertisement I thought college would be better. Except even when I took courses in African American history at the University of Southern California, I was still waiting to advocate for myself. I wasnt a lawyer yet. I didnt think I had the credibility or the training to criticize the institutions around me. Advertisement I sat in predominately white classrooms learning curricula completely foreign to my real, lived experience as a Black woman in America. As one of the only diverse voices, I had to do the unpaid work of educating classmates, professors, and administrators countless times over. Other students had the privilege to learn uninterrupted while my time was spent agonizing over how to defend myself against racism. Advertisement Surely, I thought, when I got to Michigan Law and experienced Grutters promise in the home of its architects, I would finally see the diversity cure in action. Advertisement But during law school, I felt the same distress with far greater force. Black students were still expected to serve as unpaid race ambassadors. Underfunded campus affinity groups were constantly burdened with our own mentorship and recruitment. To have a cogent discussion on race in the law, we had to interrupt and fight the lesson plan. The universitys reporting system was purposefully opaque. Like everywhere else, the administration was frustratingly unwilling to acknowledge the real harms perpetuated against its Black students. There is a flaw in the Grutter promise. Grutter told a generation of Black students that our primary function in the classroom was to offer our perspectives to our white classmates. But the unspoken rule at school always was that we must be diverse quietly and gentlyas if our humanity were a matter of civil political debate. Talking too loudly would jeopardize our career prospects and reputations. In direct contradiction of the Grutter mandate, our silence was encouraged and rewarded. Advertisement After the deans statement was released, I have witnessed an emotional outpouring. Fellow Wolverines and students from other law schools commiserated in the open about our collective emotional labor. It was the same disheartening experience repeated over and over. We were all tired. Overwhelmed. Sick of waiting. At immense personal risk, we coordinated our efforts to be heard. It was the birth of #MLawLoud. The hashtag documents all the student experiences that administrators would rather have us keep quiet about, providing students with a public accountability mechanism. Soon students at other schools began sharing their own experiences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grutter finally came home to roost. In Grutter, Michigan Law made us all a promise that diversity alone would transform our institutions. Today it is alarmingly clear that Grutter is not enough. Black law students have promulgated a list of demands, including curriculum changes and mandatory anti-racism programing for all students and professors. Some alumni have pledged to withhold donations to the school until satisfactory progress is made. Im asking Michigan Law School and educational institutions everywhere to reimagine their responsibility for changing the educational environment. It is time to make a new promise. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to The Gist on Apple Podcasts or listen below. In a month defined by a global movement against systemic racism and police brutality following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin, Grinnell Colleges Office of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) initiated a fundraising drive to raise money for the College. When Amal Dadi 17 opened her email in early June, she thought the College was addressing the protests. The subject headline was something really vague like, Together were stronger, so at first I thought it was going to be about the protests, said the recent alum. Then I saw what it was actually about. Dadi said that Grinnells drive was obviously planned before the protests began, but that the timing of the release felt very inappropriate given the national movement occurring. In response to video of Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvins killing of Floyd, a Minneapolis rapper and father of one, and following the recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Nina Pop and Tony McDade, organizers across the world have led thousands of protests in support of Black lives and pushing for institutional anti-racist change. This is the kind of moment which is defining for the values of individuals and institutions, she said. Grinnell has been a school that prides itself on having such a long and storied history of social justice and activism and it just felt like, This is what youre focusing on right now? According to an email sent out to alumni from the DAR Director of Annual Giving Mae Parker on June 1, the fundraiser is to support students on their journey to become socially responsible leaders and proud members of the Grinnell College Alumni Community. Each donation to the College would be matched by alumni up to a total of $372,000. The DAR targeted alumni, parents, friends, faculty and staff to make a gift to Grinnell College before June 30 through emails and postcards. DAR conceptualized the campaign after they cancelled Scarlet and Give Back Day, a fundraising event held in April which has raised millions of dollars for the College through student, parent and alumni donations over its five-year tenure. The plan was to launch the June Match on June 1st, and the postcards we mailed prior to June 1st so alumni, parents and friends would have the information. The purpose of the match is to inspire alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff and students to support Grinnell College philanthropically, wrote Parker in an email to The S&B. Dadi, along with many other recent alums, contacted the DAR via email to express her disappointment and anger at the timing of the fundraising drive, given that it was the first outreach she had received from Grinnell since the protests began. Dadi received a phone call from DAR director of major gifts Jill Petsel, who contacted her to apologize for the timing of the email, which Petsel called tone deaf and inexcusable. Parker worked with members of the Development and Alumni Relations team to coordinate calling all alumni who expressed concerns with the timing of the Offices messages. Petsel said that the phone calls she had with those alumni to apologize for the insensitive donation push and to discuss the Colleges place in the current moment were some of the most meaningful phone calls she has made in a long time. She said that she takes pride in her job because Grinnellians care so deeply about social justice. Petsel pointed to the fact that Rebecca Lucero, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner who is currently leading an investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department, is a 2003 Grinnell graduate. The world needs more Grinnellians and more people like Rebecca to lead the way. Thats why Im here, she said. Dadi said that she was grateful for the outreach effort from the DAR but remained upset at the administrations prolonged silence on the movement for Black lives. When she received the email, the College had not yet released their Racial Justice and Donations plan, which they emailed out to students on June 10. Parker confirmed that the fundraising is ongoing and will continue until June 30. This article has been editing to correct a misspelling of Commissioner Luceros name. Ascend Performance Materials, the largest fully integrated producer of polyamide 66 resin, announced today it signed an agreement to purchase the assets of NCM (Changshu) Co., Ltd., and Tehe Engineering Plastic (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., located in Changshu Yushan High-tech Industrial Park (known as The Park), one of the major advanced manufacturing parks in the eastern coastal area of China, 100 kilometers outside of Shanghai. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200611005478/en/ Dr. Kevin Wu (second from the left), Ascend's APAC senior vice president and managing director, is joined by representatives of Changshu Yushan High-tech Industrial Park and the owners of the newly acquired assets at a signing ceremony in Shanghai on June 11, 2020. (Photo: Business Wire) The acquisition gives Ascend a flexible footprint for growth in the region. The companys master plan includes the expansion of compounding assets at the site along with a global research and development center with a focus on existing applications in the automotive, electrical and electronics, and consumer and industrial areas, as well as new ones in areas such as 3D-printing and high-performance films. Phil McDivitt, Ascends president and CEO, said the purchase positions the company to better facilitate supply to customers in Asia and to support future market growth. Ascends long-range plan includes providing world-class service to customers around the globe, McDivitt said. The Park, with its proximity to both Chinas major automotive industry clusters and to Shanghai, made it an ideal choice for a hub to help us better reach the rapidly emerging markets in Asia. Dr. Kevin Wu, senior vice president and managing director for Ascends Asia-Pacific operations, said the new facility will help support speed-to-market efforts and localized customer support. This is an exciting chapter for Ascend in Asia as it provides regional manufacturing and innovation capability to efficiently respond to customer needs and to customize formula solutions for Asian markets, he said. We are pleased that we have secured such a good location and we are grateful for the strong support given by officials of The Park and Changshu City. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The company plans to take final ownership in August. About Ascend Performance Materials Ascend Performance Materials is a global premium provider of high-quality plastics, fibers and chemicals and is the worlds largest integrated producer of PA66 resin. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Ascend has nine global locations, including five fully integrated manufacturing facilities located in the southeastern United States and an engineering plastics compounding facility in Europe, all dedicated to innovation and safe production. With three of the worlds largest chemical processing facilities, Ascends materials form the building blocks for products used in everyday applications from apparel to airbags, cable ties to circuit boards and carpets to car parts. Ascends 2,600-person global workforce is committed to making a difference in the communities we serve and leading the development of material solutions that inspire everyone, everywhere, every day. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200611005478/en/ ProAssurance Corp. PRA has been in investors' good books on the back of its strategic initiatives and a healthy balance sheet. Here we discuss the reasons for keeping this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company in your investment portfolio. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Given the companys strong fundamentals, it is well-placed for long-term growth. The companys core business has been witnessing significant growth over the past many quarters on the back of buyouts that have been accretive to its premiums. Gross premiums written witnessed a CAGR of 5.1% during the 2015-2019 period, mainly owing to solid acquisitions, segmental contributions and strength in the new physician business. Although the metric declined to some extent in the first quarter of 2020 due to the pressures induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect the addition of profitable businesses to the companys key business lines to drive the same going forward. Its inorganic growth story impresses, getting a boost from its financial flexibility. The acquisitions of American Physicians Service Group, Medmarc, Eastern Insurance Holdings among others significantly strengthened its position in the workers compensation market. In February 2020, ProAssurance inked a deal to buy NORCAL, which is expected to intensify its focus on Medical Professional Liability Insurance. The deal is anticipated to provide financial and strategic benefits to the company along with an expected $18-million gain in pre-tax synergies. This buyout will bolster the combined entitys position as the nation's third-largest specialty writer of liability insurance for healthcare professionals and facilities. With further penetration, we expect the company to generate more profitable businesses. ProAssurance has been enjoying significant cash flow from operating activities over the last few quarters, courtesy of its strong balance sheet. The company effectively reduced its debt burden over the last few years. Its debt-to-capital stands at 17.7%, lower than the industry's average of 22%. As of Mar 31, 2020, its cash and cash equivalents were worth $612 million, higher than its long-term debt load of $307 million. Set to expire in November 2024, ProAssurance also has a revolving credit facility of up to $250 million, which can be utilized to meet its debt obligations. Thus, the company's solvency level looks impressive. Its earnings estimate for 2021 stands at 13 cents per share, indicating an upside of 115.7% from the year-ago reported figure. Shares of this company have lost 57.7% in a years time, wider than its industrys decline of 8.4%. Story continues Stocks to Consider Some better-ranked stocks in the insurance industry are The Allstate Corporation ALL, Palomar Holdings, Inc. PLMR and National General Holdings Corp NGHC, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. Allstate provides property and casualty, and other insurance products in the United States and Canada. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average being 18.5%. Palomar Holdings provides specialty property insurance. Its bottom line surpassed estimates in three of the last four quarters while missing in one, the average positive surprise being 10.9%. National General Holdings provides various insurance products and services in the United States, Bermuda, Luxembourg and Sweden. Its earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters while missing in the remaining two, the average positive surprise being 5.7%. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Allstate Corporation (ALL) : Free Stock Analysis Report ProAssurance Corporation (PRA) : Free Stock Analysis Report National General Holdings Corp (NGHC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Palomar Holdings, Inc. (PLMR) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday held a meeting with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and the services chiefs for reviewing situation in Ladakh. The meeting comes on the heels of repeated dialogue between India and China who have attempted to resolve the border row with continuing diplomatic and military engagements for an early resolution of the stand-off between border troops, according to officials from external affairs ministry. A day earlier, people familiar with developments confirmed the build-up of Chinese forces extended to Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Earlier this week, the two sides began what Indian officials described as a limited military disengagement at three hotspots along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) Galwan Valley, Patrolling Point 15 and Hot Springs in eastern Ladakh, which has been the focus of the tensions. However, last months violent confrontations between Indian and Chinese soldiers in eastern Ladakh and north Sikkim triggered a military build-up on both sides of the LAC that stretched from Ladakh to Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, two senior officers said on condition of anonymity on Thursday. By Diane Bartz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Zoom Video Communications, whose remote meeting app made the obscure California company a hub for global communications during the coronavirus pandemic, now finds itself fighting political battles in Washington and Beijing. Even before Zoom ran into criticism from U.S. lawmakers about its relations with China this week, it had prepared itself for political problems. The California-based company recently brought on board several lobbyists, including a former Trump campaign official, and added a former White House official to its board. This month, Zoom suspended accounts of three U.S. and Hong Kong activists at Beijing's request after they tried to commemorate the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Then on Thursday, three U.S. lawmakers asked Zoom to clarify its data-collection practices and relationship with the Chinese government. "To be clear, their accounts have been reinstated, and going forward, we will have a new process for handling similar situations," Zoom said Thursday. Zoom's mobile app has been downloaded 5.4 million times from Apple's China store since Jan. 1, 11 times the number over the same period in 2019, according to research firm SensorTower. Earlier this spring, Zoom fielded complaints about "zoombombing," where people would inject hate speech and racist slurs into class meetings and other gatherings. In May, Zoom said it hired David Urban of the American Continental Group, who headed President Donald Trump's successful Pennsylvania campaign and is on the Trump 2020 Advisory Committee. Zoom also added Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, a former Trump national security adviser, to its board. In April Zoom said it had hired the lobbying firm Mehlman Castagnetti, Rosen and Thomas. Zoom also hired the Cohen Group, a company spokesman said. ACG and Cohen did not respond to a request for comment. Mehlman Castagnetti declined comment. Asked about the letters from lawmakers, Zoom said: "We appreciate the outreach we have received from various elected officials and look forward to engaging with them. (Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by David Gregorio) Mylan N.V. MYL and partner Biocon Ltd. obtained FDA approval for the New Drug Application (NDA) for diabetes treatment, Semglee (insulin glargine injection), in vial and pre-filled pen presentations. It has been approved for controlling high blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, and adult and pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes. It was approved as a drug product under the 505(b)(2) NDA pathway and is now deemed a biologic under section 351(a), in accordance with the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act in line with other insulin products. Per the companies, Semglee has an identical amino acid sequence to Sanofi's SNY Lantus and is approved for the same indications. The approval of Semglee was based on an analytical, preclinical and clinical program (including the INSTRIDE studies), which confirmed the PK/PD, efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of the drug in comparison to Lantus in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Sanofi's total IQVIA sales for the 12 months ending Apr 30, 2020, were approximately $1.68 billion for Lantus 100 Units/mL Vial and approximately $4.33 billion for Lantus SoloSTAR Pen. The approval brings an affordable treatment option for diabetes patients. It also broadens Mylans portfolio, which comprises Glatiramer Acetate, Yupelri, biosimilars to Neulasta and Herceptin, as well as a drug-device combination product, Wixela Inhub, which is the generic of GlaxoSmithKlines GSK Advair Diskus, These new approvals have boosted the companys performance, given the downturn in the generic business. Mylans stock has lost 19.9% in the year so far compared with the industrys decline of 10%. Last week, Mylan and partner Lupin obtained European Commissions (EC) approval for Nepexto, a biosimilar to Enbrel, for rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis (including ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis), plaque psoriasis and pediatric plaque psoriasis. Story continues Meanwhile, the companys decision to merge with Upjohn, Pfizer's PFE off-patent branded and generic established medicines business, is also encouraging. In November 2019, Mylan and Pfizer announced the name of the new entity to be Viatris. The merger will be completed in the second half of 2020. However, the impact of the coronavirus outbreak is most likely to negatively impact the second-quarter results. Mylan currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, its expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity. A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time. See 8 breakthrough stocks now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Sanofi (SNY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Pfizer Inc. (PFE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Mylan N.V. (MYL) : Free Stock Analysis Report GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research INDIANAPOLIS, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Dermira, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, presented new data from the Phase 2b clinical trial of lebrikizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Data from this study suggests that treatment with lebrikizumab provided rapid and clinically meaningful improvements in itch, sleep and overall measures of quality of life. Emma Guttman-Yassky, M.D., Ph.D., a leading investigator, presented the results of the data analysis during a virtual late-breaking, oral session at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) 2020 Annual Meeting. "Understanding the potential for lebrikizumab to improve the skin symptoms of atopic dermatitis as well as other commonly associated symptoms, such as itch and loss of sleep, is critical to understanding its true potential to help patients," said Guttman-Yassky, the Sol and Clara Kest professor of dermatology, vice chair of the department of dermatology, director of the Center for Excellence in Eczema and director of the laboratory of inflammatory skin diseases in the department of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "These results suggest that lebrikizumab could provide clinically meaningful improvement in treating symptoms that are most bothersome to patients." The results of the data analysis showed that lebrikizumab improved symptoms and quality of life in a rapid, dose-dependent manner across a range of atopic dermatitis-specific and other measures compared with placebo. Specifically, lebrikizumab improved: Itch by Day 2 with further improvement to Week 16 Sleep by the first on-treatment assessment at Week 1 with further improvement to Week 16 Disease severity as assessed by the POEM (Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure) by the first on-treatment assessment at Week 16 Dermatology health-related quality of life (DLQI) scores by the first on-treatment assessment at Week 8 Patient global assessment of change at Week 16, with statistically significant improvements in patients treated with 250 mg Q4W or 250 mg Q2W of lebrikizumab, respectively, rating their atopic dermatitis as "1, much better" compared with patients treated with placebo. "These data help us understand how the treatment may work for patients to alleviate symptoms such as itch and sleep which are known to severely impact the lives of the millions of patients living with atopic dermatitis," said Lotus Mallbris, M.D., Ph.D., vice president of immunology development at Lilly. "We are currently evaluating lebrikizumab in a broad Phase 3 clinical program and look forward to further progressing this important investigational medicine given the clear need for additional options for patients living with this debilitating condition." "Itch is a debilitating symptom for people living with atopic dermatitis, and it affects the physical, mental, emotional, social and financial areas in their lives," said Lisa Butler, senior vice president, strategic partnerships and programs at the National Eczema Association. "The burden on patients and families is still widely underappreciated, so it is encouraging to see new therapies in development that could potentially address the symptoms that this community struggles with the most on a daily basis." In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2b dose-ranging study, 280 patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis were randomized 3:3:3:2 to one of three doses of subcutaneous lebrikizumab (125 mg every four weeks, 250 mg every four weeks, or 250 mg every two weeks) or placebo every two weeks for 16 weeks with safety follow-up to Week 32. The primary endpoint was the percent change in Eczema Area Severity Index (EASI) from baseline at Week 16. Secondary endpoints measured atopic dermatitis severity, itch, sleep loss, and included the proportions of patients achieving EASI50, EASI75, EASI90, a score of 0 or 1 on the Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA), and a >4-point improvement on the pruritus (itch) 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS) assessing daily itch. Change in sleep loss from baseline also was measured. Lebrikizumab was generally well-tolerated. The safety profile was consistent with previous studies, including low frequency of conjunctivitis, herpes virus infections and injection site reactions. About Atopic Dermatitis Atopic dermatitis is the most common and severe form of eczema, a chronic inflammatory condition that can present as early as childhood and continue into adulthood. A moderate-to-severe form of the disease is characterized by a range of signs and symptoms, including rashes on the skin that often cover much of the body, as well as intense, persistent itching. The condition can have a negative impact on patients' mental and physical functioning, limiting their daily activities and health-related quality of life. Patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis have reported a larger impact on quality of life than patients with psoriasis. About Lebrikizumab Lebrikizumab is a novel, investigational, monoclonal antibody designed to bind IL-13 with very high affinity to specifically prevent the formation of the IL-13R1/IL-4R heterodimer complex and subsequent signaling, thereby inhibiting the biological effects of IL-13 in a targeted and efficient fashion. IL-13 is believed to be a central pathogenic mediator that drives multiple aspects of the pathophysiology underlying the range of signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis by promoting type 2 inflammation and mediating its effects on tissue, resulting in skin barrier dysfunction, itch, skin thickening and infection. Lebrikizumab is currently being evaluated in five Phase 3 studies. The ADvocate 1 and ADvocate 2 monotherapy studies and ADhere study in combination with topical corticosteriods are to confirm its safety and efficacy in adolescent and adult patients, ages 12 years and older and 40 kg or greater, with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, along with the ADore adolescent open label safety study and ADjoin long term extension study. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to lebrikizumab for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in patients aged 12 years and older and 40 kg or greater. About Lilly in Dermatology By following the science through unchartered territory, we continue Lilly's legacy of delivering innovative medicines that address unmet needs and have significant impacts on people's lives around the world. Skin-related diseases are more than skin deep. We understand the devastating impact this can have on people's lives. At Lilly, we are relentlessly pursuing a robust dermatology pipeline to provide innovative, patient-centered solutions so patients with skin-related diseases can aspire to live life without limitations. About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com and newsroom.lilly.com/social-channels. P-LLY About Dermira Dermira, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing biotech ingenuity to medical dermatology by delivering differentiated, new therapies to the millions of patients living with chronic skin conditions. Dermira is committed to understanding the needs of both patients and physicians and using its insight to identify, develop and commercialize leading-edge medical dermatology products. The company's approved treatment, QBREXZA (glycopyrronium) cloth, is indicated for pediatric and adult patients (ages 9 and older) with primary axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating). Please see the QBREXZA prescribing information. Dermira is headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif. For more information, please visit http://www.dermira.com. Follow Dermira on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. This press release also contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about lebrikizumab as a potential treatment for patients aged 12 years and older with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, and reflects Lilly's current beliefs. However, as with any pharmaceutical product, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of development and commercialization. Among other things, there can be no guarantee that lebrikizumab will receive regulatory approvals or be commercially successful. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see Lilly's most recent respective Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company Related Links http://www.lilly.com The complete closure of the hospitality and fast food sectors across the continent, the average EU price for R3 steers and bulls bottomed out that week at 3.44/kg. A 50m support package for beef farmers was approved at cabinet today by the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed. The package is to help beef farmers who have been impacted by the economic effects of Covid-19. The Minister said the Department will engage with farmers on any conditionality around the scheme, but said he hopes to keep it as simple as possible. He said he is aware of the concerns that were raised from the last scheme, but that was EU part-funded. This scheme, he said, is exclusively for finishers but he said such a targeted scheme for finishers helps others, especially when it comes to buying weanlings at the back end of the year. The Minister also said the BEEP suckler scheme is there for suckler farmers and BDPG, giving cumulatively over 100m to suckler farmers. "There is a very clear signal attached to the importance of that sector." The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Irish beef exports had been hit by a triple whammy this year and this scheme would help up to 78,000 farmers. Minister Creed said March there has been a significant collapse in the demand for Irish beef in the export market. "We are disproportionality reliant on foodservice exports, with 30pc going to foodservice and 30pc to manufacturing most of which also goes into food service. "This has had an immediate and severe impact on the beef sector." Since March there has been a price collapse and a problem with regard to a drop in the kill numbers, with around 50,000 cattle that normally would have been slaughtered and now, posing an overhang in the market, he said. Falling cattle prices have hit the sector in recent weeks and when marts re-opened this week many reported prices back by as much as 50-60/head. Minister Creed has been called on to ensure young bull beef finishers are prioritised in this latest proposed beef scheme. Bull beef finishers have seen quotes drop harder over the past two years, this is a vital section of the trade which must be protected, said Macra na Feirme President Thomas Duffy Macra has also called on the Minister to ensure that no farmers are left out and that no requirement for a stocking reduction be implemented. The scheme must provide for those in dairy-beef who have reared animals through to slaughter. This scheme cannot turn beef farmers against each other. The Minister must provide for all in the industry with a priority on young farmers as they are more exposed due to investments needed on farm, President Duffy added. Meanwhile, ICSA sheep chairman Sean McNamara has said sheep farmers must not be left out of any Government support packages aimed at mitigating the impact of Covid-19. Sheep farmers have been hit with the same market instability as beef farmers and should be entitled to receive some comparable aid, he said. Mr McNamara said a Family Farm Support Package would be more in order to deal with the fallout from Covid-19. All family farms have taken a big financial hit as a result of Covid-19, so all family farms should be recognised in any forthcoming support package. In the past we have had an exceptional aid package for beef farmers in the form of the BEAM scheme, yet despite repeated requests, sheep farmers received nothing. Sheep farmers must not be forgotten in all this; we will not stand back and be ignored again, he said. PanTech Design Dean is a great addition to our team! His experience and enthusiasm will serve our customers well and continue to make Adapt one the best supported products in our industry. PanTech Design is pleased to announce that Dean Detton is joining the PanTech Design Team. Dean is 17-year veteran of the custom electronics industry with extensive experience in audio and video integration and smart home automation programming. He will be filling the role of lead project programmer and Adapt support specialist. As a former programmer for a prestigious custom electronics integrator and Crestron dealer, Dean is proficient at programming, commissioning, and troubleshooting Crestron control systems. He is also one of the early adopters of PanTech Designs Adapt software platform, so he comes to this role with over five years of experience working with the product. This will prove to be a great asset in providing support to PanTech Designs Adapt dealers. Adapt is a set of software tools designed to simplify programming for Crestron home automation systems. It aids Crestron dealers by dramatically reducing programming overhead while allowing the unique customization and flexibility that the Crestron platform is known for. PanTech Design created Adapt to improve the efficiency and quality of Crestron programming. PanTech Design offers licensing for the Adapt software suite to Crestron dealers and uses it internally to program custom software solutions for individual projects, as a certified Crestron Services Provider. Dean will serve as a lead programmer for custom Adapt programming projects, aid dealers in commissioning those same projects, as well as provide support to PanTech Designs over 100 licensed Adapt dealers. PanTech Design is confident that his extensive experience with both Crestron and Adapt will support their commitment to service and industry-leading customer support. Troy Morgan, PanTech Design CEO commented, Dean is a great addition to our team! His experience and enthusiasm will serve our customers well and continue to make Adapt one the best supported products in our industry. PanTech Design is a veteran software development firm specializing in residential automation systems and is the creator of Adapt for Crestron and Adapt Energy. For more information, please visit http://www.pantechdesign.com. Since the pandemic, many of us have been watching movies and television shows remembering nostalgically how people used to stand next to each other in lines or sit next to each other at restaurants and movie theaters. For some of us, the same nostalgia exists around pet adoptions. We used to be able to visit an animal shelter, spend all day with a potential dog or cat to see how the pet interacted with other pets and people, complete the adoption process, and go home with our new pet. Today, you can still adopt a pet, but the process is much different. At San Antonios Animal Care Services, you make an appointment online to visit their campus. No more than two people are permitted per appointment. When you arrive and check-in, they take your temperature and make sure you are wearing a mask. You are then escorted through the kennels and can walk or spend time with any pets you are interested in. Walking traffic is kept one-way to maintain social distancing. Once you select your pet, you visit an open-air adoption area to complete the adoption process. Afterward, a staff person delivers your new dog or cat directly to your car. San Antonio Pets Alive (SAPA) oversees an urgent dog kennel at the ACS campus, and it operates in a similar way. You check out dogs and make your appointment online. If you want to visit an ACS kennel while there, SAPA will see if they have someone available to escort you. Otherwise, you have to make a separate appointment with ACS to see their kennels. At the Animal Defense League of Texas (ADL), you choose one or two pets online to visit, make an appointment online and arrive at the shelter with no more than five people in your group. Three groups are scheduled every half hour, but they also allow for two drop-in groups of no more than five during the same time. Masks must be worn and adoptions are completed in an open-air area before you go home with your pet. If this is too much contact for you, the San Antonio Humane Society is piloting a no-contact adoption program. You select a pet on their website, fill out an application and talk extensively with an adoption counselor about your home and the pet. If approved, you drive up curbside to pick up your dog or cat. You never meet your pet before the adoption, but SAHS says this method has resulted in successful adoption matches so far. The encouraging news is that ADL reports a 20 percent increase in adoptions over the last 10 weeks and SAPA reports a 22 percent increase in adoptions over the same time last year. Its great that San Antonio continues to find creative ways to foster and adopt pets in our community. Send your pet questions, tips and stories to cathy@petpundit.com. You can read the Animals Matter blog at http://blog.mysanantonio.com/animals and follow her at @cathymrosenthal. Rajasthan Congress MLAs stay overnight at resort to thwart 'poaching bid' India pti-PTI Jaipur, June 12: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and nearly 100 Congress and independent MLAs stayed overnight at a resort on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, amid allegations that the BJP was trying to poach ruling party legislators ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls. The MLAs held discussions on Thursday for the June 19 Rajya Sabha polls. Party sources said the MLAs have been asked to stay at the resort amid poaching threat. Chief Minister Gehlot, who on Wednesday alleged poaching attempts on the Congress legislators, is looking after the arrangements at the resort. Corona warriors: SC orders wages to be paid full & on time to medical staff | Oneindia News Rajasthan: Congress sniffs a plot to destabilise its government "Eight-ten MLAs returned last night for personal and health reasons and they will come back today. Rest of the MLAs, around 100, stayed in the resort last night," Rajasthan government chief whip Mahesh Joshi said on Friday. A meeting of Congress Rajya Sabha candidates KC Venugopal and Neeraj Dangi with the MLAs will be held on Friday at the resort in the presence of other senior party leaders. For three Rajya Sabha seats from Rajasthan, the Congress has fielded two candidates, while BJP's two candidates have filed nominations. In the assembly of 200, the Congress has 107 MLAs, including six those who defected to the party from the BSP last year. The party enjoys the support of 12 of the 13 Independent MLAs in the state. The BJP has 72 MLAs and enjoys the support of three Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MLAs. The Congress has more than enough majority for the victory of both of its candidates. Brandon University faculty members will have to decide whether to reopen their contract after a judge struck down a provincial act that froze their wages. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/6/2020 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Brandon University faculty members will have to decide whether to reopen their contract after a judge struck down a provincial act that froze their wages. "Lets be blunt here. They (the Pallister government) broke the law," Brandon University Faculty Association president Bruce Strang said Thursday. A Manitoba judge struck down the provincial governments attempt to freeze the wages of more than 110,000 public sector workers Thursday, calling the bill enacting the wage freeze unduly harsh and a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. See Labour Page A2 "I have concluded that the (bill) operates as a draconian measure that has inhibited and dramatically reduced the unions bargaining power and violates (charter) associational rights," Queens Bench Justice Joan McKelvey wrote. "The (bill) has made it impossible for the plaintiffs to achieve their collective goals and limits the right to freedom of association." The Progressive Conservative government introduced the Public Services Sustainability Act in 2017, one year after being elected on a promise to control spending. The bill included a two-year wage freeze for each new collective agreement, followed by pay increases of 0.75 per cent in the third year and one per cent in the fourth. Although the bill was passed by the legislature, it was never proclaimed into law and the government held out the possibility of amending it. The public-sector unions that took the government to court said the bill was already affecting contract talks. McKelvey agreed. "The (bill), despite the fact that it has not been proclaimed, is effectively in force in the province of Manitoba." She ruled that key provisions of the bill, including the wage limits, "are invalid and of no force and effect." The contract ratified in October 2019 by the Brandon University board of governors contains a clause under which either side may reopen negotiations should the act be repealed by the government or declared unconstitutional by the courts. "Weve got to have broad consultation among our membership," Strang said regarding the possibility of reopening the contract. "We have to have broad consultation with our executive and figure out our way forward. Its too early for us to be able to say for sure that well immediately open the collective agreement. "Its certainly something that we can do now that the governments shown to have worked in bad faith, but we have to figure out whether or not, given the provinces effective control over the budgets of universities if thats actually in our members interest to reopen the (collective agreement) right now." A spokesman for Brandon University did not respond to a request for comment by press time Thursday. The Manitoba Federation of Labour welcomed the ruling and said it was time for the government to get back to the bargaining table. Some workers have gone without collective agreements for more than three years. "We can now get to the table without this shadow looming over the ability to have frank and free and fair discussions," federation president Kevin Rebeck said. Finance Minister Scott Fielding said the government was reviewing the decision and might appeal. He also said it could put additional pressure on government coffers. "So, as before, regular labour relations and collective bargaining will continue," reads a statement from Fieldings office. "Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented negative economic impacts it has caused, these create even deeper fiscal challenges for the government of Manitoba." brobertson@brandonsun.com, with files from The Canadian Press Africa's relatively young population is one of the reasons cited why Africa has not so far seen the higher death rates. (AFP/Issouf SANOGO) According to an AFP tally, Africa topped the 200,000 mark on Tuesday. "It took 98 days to reach the first 100,000 cases, and only 18 days to move to 200,000 cases," Doctor Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO's regional director for Africa, told a video briefing hosted by the UN press association in Geneva. "Even though these cases in Africa account for less than three per cent of the global total, it's clear that the pandemic is accelerating." The novel coronavirus has infected nearly 7.4 million people worldwide and killed at least 416,000 since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP. Africa has reached 5,635 deaths from 210,519 confirmed cases, according to AFP's count at 1100 GMT on Thursday. In Africa, "the pandemic is still concentrated in and around capital cities but we are seeing more and more cases spread out into the provinces," Moeti said. She said that in most countries on the continent, the virus entered capitals through international flights from Europe. SOUTH AFRICA WORST HIT "Ten of the 54 countries in Africa are currently driving the numbers," Moeti explained, with those states accounting for 80 per cent of cases. South Africa accounts for nearly 25 per cent of the continent's total cases. "The majority of countries still have fewer than 1,000 reported cases," said Moeti. "There is community transmission in more than 50 percent of countries, however." Meanwhile more than 70 per cent of the deaths have occurred in just five countries: South Africa, Algeria, Nigeria, Egypt and Sudan. Moeti said that while it was possible that some asymptomatic and mild cases were going undetected, WHO Africa believed that large numbers of severe cases and deaths were not being missed on the continent. Africa's relatively young population compared to other continents, and in-built experience of dealing with disease outbreaks have been cited as reasons why Africa has not so far seen the death rates experienced on other continents. Moeti said early action by African countries had helped keep the numbers low - but constant vigilance was still needed. Asked by AFP how she saw the pandemic developing in Africa, Moeti said the continent had not seen the sustained exponential rise in cases previously witnessed in Europe and the United States. "Until such time as we have access to an effective vaccine, I'm afraid we are probably going to have to live with a steady increase in the region, with some hotspots having to be managed in a number of countries, as is happening now in South Africa, in Algeria, in Cameroon, which really require very strong public health measures," she said. "We're hoping very much not to see health systems overwhelmed with large numbers of people who are ill," she said. SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore on Wednesday approved the use of Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral drug remdesivir for the treatment of severely ill patients with COVID-19 infection. Remdesivir is the first drug shown to be effective against the novel coronavirus in human trials, with South Korea, Japan, India and the United States having already approved the drug for emergency use. Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said the conditional approval would allow treatment of adult patients if they have low blood oxygen levels, require supplemental oxygen or intensive breathing support. "Although the data on its efficacy and safety is very limited at this point in time, HSA has expedited the review of remdesivir given the urgent public health need during the COVID-19 pandemic," HSA said in statement. Clinical studies involving the drug are being closely watched as nations look for treatments for the disease that has infected more than 7 million people and killed over 400,000 globally. Tiny city-state Singapore has nearly 39,000 COVID-19 cases, one of the highest tallies in Asia due to mass outbreaks in cramped migrant worker dormitories, but only 25 people have died and only three patients are currently in critical condition. Remdesivir prevented lung disease in macaque monkeys infected with the new coronavirus, according to a study published on Tuesday. In a U.S.-run clinical trial released in late April, remdesivir reduced hospitalization stays by 31%, or about four days, compared to a placebo. (Reporting by Aradhana Aravindan and John Geddie in Singapore, editing by Louise Heavens) DUBLIN, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Quality Control Market - Forecast (2020 - 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. It is essential for every manufacturing company to maintain customers' trust and uniform commodity quality for established business and long-term survival in the current competitive landscape gradually increasing the global quality control market demand which is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 6.18% through to 2025. This continuously amplifies the global quality control market size owing to which it leveraged a huge profit of $36.89 billion as of 2020. Annually the food and beverage industry contributes around $31.1 billion to the UK economy along with a total of $23 billion exported food and drink services. This exponential data reflects the expanding opportunity for quality control system in this region extracting huge revenue income through it. Europe contributed a regional share of 31.18% to the global quality control market in the year 2020 attributing to the rising supply-demand chain. Automotive and public infrastructure are the two most macroeconomic industries which constantly require effective quality analysis and management procedures to persist in the ever-changing business market. As a result, this key segment will exert huge demand for quality control services which is projected to increase at a noticeable CAGR of 7.47% during the forecast period 2020-2025. Quality Control Market Growth Drivers: Growing industrialization and colossal investment on quality analysis of consumer products due to stringent government rules will significantly propel the global quality control market growth. Increasing instances of food adulteration, adverse drug reaction, and counterfeit products will enable frequent quality checks thereby ballooning the quality control market demand and revenue income. The key leaders in the quality control market includes Formel D (Deutsche Beteiligungs AG), SGS Group, Trigo, Eurofins, TUV SUD, DNV GL Group, TUV Nord Group, Dekera SE, Exact Systems, Bureau Veritas SA, and many others. The base year of the study is 2020, with forecasts up to 2025. The study presents a thorough analysis of the competitive landscape, taking into account the market shares of the leading companies. It also provides information on unit shipments. The assessment includes forecasts, an overview of the competitive structure, the market shares of the competitors, as well as the market trends, market demands, market drivers, market challenges, and product analysis. This report further identifies the key opportunities for growth while also detailing the key challenges and possible threats. The key areas of focus include the types of Quality Control in the Quality Control market and their specific applications in different areas. Key Topics Covered: 1. Quality Control Market - Overview 2. Quality Control Market - Executive summary 2.1. Market Revenue, Market Size and Key Trends by Company 2.2. Key Trends by type of Application 2.3. Key Trends segmented by Geography 3. Quality Control Market 3.1. Comparative analysis 3.1.1. Product Benchmarking - Top 10 companies 3.1.2. Top 5 Financials Analysis 3.1.3. Market Value split by Top 10 companies 3.1.4. Patent Analysis - Top 10 companies 3.1.5. Pricing Analysis 4. Quality Control Market Forces 4.1. Drivers 4.2. Constraints 4.3. Challenges 4.4. Porters five force model 5. Quality Control Market -Strategic analysis 5.1. Value chain analysis 5.2. Opportunities analysis 5.3. Product life cycle 5.4. Suppliers and distributors Market Share 6. Quality Control Market - By Type (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 6.1. Market Size and Market Share Analysis 6.2. Application Revenue and Trend Research 6.3. Product Segment Analysis 7. Quality Control Market - By Procedure (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 7.1. Inspection 7.2. Audit 8. Quality Control Market - By Services Offered (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 8.1. Preventive Quality Control Services 8.2. Corrective Quality Control Services 8.3. Laboratory Services 8.4. Engineering Support Services 9. Quality Control Market - By Industry Vertical (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 9.1. Agriculture Machinery 9.2. Automotive 9.3. Oil & Gas 9.4. Marine 9.5. Aerospace 9.6. Public Infrastructure 9.7. Manufacturing 9.8. Metal and Mining 9.9. Chemical 9.10. Medical and Life Science 9.11. Power and Energy 10. Quality Control - By Geography (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 10.1. Quality Control Market - North America Segment Research 10.2. North America Market Research 10.3. Quality Control - South America Segment Research 10.4. South America Market Research 10.5. Quality Control - Europe Segment Research 10.6. Europe Market Research 10.7. Quality Control - APAC Segment Research 10.8. APAC Market Research 11. Quality Control Market - Entropy 11.1. New product launches 11.2. M&A's, collaborations, JVs and partnerships 12. Quality Control Market Company Analysis 12.1. Market Share, Company Revenue, Products, M&A, Developments 12.2. Trigo 12.3. Aktrion Group 12.4. Exact Systems 12.5. Formel D 12.6. Invenio 12.7. G&P Quality Knowledge Service 12.8. Redi-Group 12.9. SGP Group 12.10. Bureau Veritas SA 12.11. DNV GL Group 12.12. SGS Group 12.13. Eurofins For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mna1si About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Kourtney Kardashian escaped to Wyoming this week for a dose of nature with her three children. The Poosh founder shared snaps of the stunning mountainous scenery as she enjoyed the time away with Penelope, seven, Mason, 10 and Reign, five, who she shares with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick. In one image she shared to Instagram stories, the doting mom could be seen hugging her two boys as they checked out some hot springs at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Family trip: Kourtney Kardashian shared this sweet snap hugging her boys Mason and Reign while visiting hot springs in Montana on Friday Another photo showed Reign admiring the rugged landscape while an additional clip showed Kourtney looking out of a car while being driven by a lake in Montana. Kourtney's sister Kim and her husband Kanye own a $14 million 6,713-acre ranch in Wyoming and regularly visit the beautiful state when they want to escape Los Angeles. On her Instagram Story, Kourtney took a moment to snap a glamorous selfie in the backseat of her vehicle. She donned a printed headscarf, a plain white tee, and a cozy beige coat. Her famous mug was decked out in plenty of mascara, natural complexion products, and a few swipes of her go-to nude lipstick shade. Glammed up: On her Instagram Story, Kourtney took a moment to snap a glamorous selfie in the backseat of her vehicle It's not clear whether Scott came along on this trip, however, sources say that the exes are 'best friends' after their 2015 split. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians stars dated on and off between 2006 and 2015, but despite calling time on their romance, they have remained close for the sake of their three children. The former couple spent time in Utah with their brood to celebrate Scotts 37th birthday last month and sources say the pair had 'so much fun'. An insider explained: 'Kourtney and Scott had so much fun with the kids in Utah, and the kids want them to do family trips all together more often. Getting away from it all: Kourtney filmed the stunning scenery on a car ride by a lake in Montana In awe: Kourtney took a snap of her youngest child looking at the rugged mountains 'Scott is so happy that he and Kourtney get along so well and how easy it is with her. Its weird to everyone else, but not to them. They are really like best friends.' The source also claimed Scott - who recently broke up with his girlfriend Sofia Richie - has been 'flirting' with Kourtney, although the beauty is 'not open to him in a romantic sense'. They added to Us Weekly magazine: 'Kourtney is not open to him in a romantic sense, but Scott is always flirting with her and thinks she looks better than ever. The family also loves him and hes like another son to Kris [Jenner].' Scott and Sofia, 21, were revealed to have split last month after three years together. 'There wasn't a fight or anything bad that happened between them. Sofia simply wants to do her own thing whilst Scott takes care of his health. Sofia thinks Scott has a lot on his plate right now and thinks it's best for them to be apart so he can focus on himself. The 41-year-old reality star visited a national park in the beautiful state Jaw-dropping: The family stood on an overlook and gazed over some rapids Russia-linked Gamaredon APT use a new module for Microsoft Outlook that creates custom emails with malicious documents and sends them to a victims contacts. Reseaerchers from ESET reported that Russia-linked Gamaredon APT has a new tool in its arsenal, it is a module for Microsoft Outlook that creates custom emails with malicious documents and sends them to a victims contacts The group was first discovered by Symantec and TrendMicro in 2015 but evidence of its activities has been dated back to 2013. The group targeted government and military organizations in Ukraine. In December 2019, the APT group targeted several Ukrainian diplomats, government and military officials, and law enforcement. The attackers first disable protections for running macro scripts in Outlook then deploy the code to send phishing messages to the victims contacts. The package contains a Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) project (.OTM file) that was specifically designed to target Microsoft Outlook email client with malicious macro scripts. ESET researchers have discovered several previously undocumented post-compromise tools used by the highly active Gamaredon threat group in various malicious campaigns. read the post published by ESET. One tool, a VBA macro targeting Microsoft Outlook, uses the targets email account to send spearphishing emails to contacts in the victims Microsoft Office address book. The VBScript first kills the Outlook process if it is running to remove security measures implemented for the VBA macro execution in Outlook, this is done by changing registry values. The script also saves to disk the malicious OTM file (Outlook VBA project) that contains a macro, the malicious email attachment and, in some cases, a list of contacts that will be targeted with phishing messages. Then, it relaunches Outlook with a special option, /altvba , to load the Gamaredon VBA project. Experts noticed that the new module was used to send malicious emails to: Everyone in the victims address book Everyone within the same organization A predefined list of targets This is the first time researchers publicly document an attack employing an OTM file and Outlook macro to carry out spear-phishing campaigns. The VBA code builds the email body and attaches the malicious document to the email in both .docx and .lnk formats. ESET also analyzed different variants for CodeBuilder that are used to inject malicious macros or remote templates in documents available on the compromised host. This method is efficient because documents are often shared within the organization and it also achieves persistence since the files are likely to be opened multiple times. These macro injection modules also have the functionality to tamper with the Microsoft Office macro security settings. Thus, affected users have no idea that they are again compromising their workstations whenever they open the documents. continues ESET. We have seen this module implemented in two different languages: C# and VBScript The arsenal of the group includes also multiple malware, most of them downloaders and backdoors. Additional details are included in the analysis published by ESET. Pierluigi Paganini (SecurityAffairs Gamaredon, malware) Share this... Linkedin Share this: Twitter Print LinkedIn Facebook More Tumblr Pocket Share On Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has said that there was nothing to celebrate today in terms of democratic governance, declaring that democracy will only return to the country when President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office. According to his Spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, the former governor, who was speaking on today's democracy day celebration, said it was painful that "legacy of free, fair and transparent elections bequeathed to Nigeria by the PDP government has been destroyed, with elections in the country now being held at gun point." Fayose said peace and prosperity can only be achieved, when leaders earn legitimacy through the ballot, decrying the open display of contempt for free, fair and transparent election by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government. He said; "Democracy will return to Nigeria again after President Buharis tenure. "Today, there is no democracy to celebrate and I have not stopped wondering how we got here in Nigeria. "I am sure Nigerians will still recall that I warned them in 2015. "The people mourn when the wicked are in authority while they rejoice when the righteous are in leadership. Today, Nigerians are mourning. "Nevertheless, we must all keep hope alive because after darkness, there will definitely be light." French police have staged a second day of protests over claims of racism and violence in their ranks, accusing the Interior Ministry of failing to defend officers against allegations amplified by US unrest over the death of George Floyd. Police unions marched down the Champs-Elysees on Friday, accusing the government of scapegoating law enforcement agencies as public anger over race discrimination swells. There were numerous protests late Thursday across France following a meeting between police unions and Interior Minister Christophe Castaner meant to try and allay the discontent among police. In the Paris suburb of Bobigny on Thursday, officers lined up outside a police station and placed their handcuffs on the ground. In Lyon, police parked their cars around the central Place Bellecour, blue lights flashing. The unions accuse President Emmanuel Macron and his government of showing disrespect after Castaner on Monday promised zero tolerance for racism within law enforcement agencies and banned a chokehold used to detain suspects. 'No police, no peace' Colleagues can't take this any more, Fabien Vanhemelryck of the National Police Alliance told reporters after Friday's protesters arrived at the front gate of the interior ministry. Police union vehicles in the convoy carried posters reading No police, no peace. Another contained graphic images of injuries sustained by police attacked in the line of duty, with the words: Who is massacring whom? We need to be protected, respected, supported. The police are never above the law, but they should never be left below the law, Vanhemelryck said. A wave of anger has swept around the world after the death of George Floyd, an African-American who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes while detaining him on May 25. 'Buying social peace' The outpouring of emotion has resonated in France, in particular in deprived city suburbs where accusations of brutal, racist treatment of residents of often immigrant background by French police remain largely unaddressed, rights groups say. Vanhemelryck said the police were being unfairly treated to calm the public. He said the unions told Castaner to stop buying social peace...where we appease a certain part of the population at the expense of the police. A Black Lives Matter protest is planned in Paris on Saturday. Police urged restaurants, shops and businesses between the upscale Place de la Republique and Opera areas to close and board up their windows due to the risk of civil disorder. (with Reuters) Olufolake Abdulrazaq, wife of Kwara governor, says Nigeria cant fight rape and other forms of sexual violence if those abused dont s... Olufolake Abdulrazaq, wife of Kwara governor, says Nigeria cant fight rape and other forms of sexual violence if those abused dont speak up. In a live Instagram chat with Dolapo Badmus, a trained domestic and sexual violence responder, on Thursday, Olufolake said speaking up about it is the first major step to addressing the scourge. There is no way we can get to the bottom of issues concerning rape if everyone keeps quiet. So, its important that those who have been abused speak up about their abusers, she said. I know sometimes, a lot of people cannot speak up because they are threatened. Thats why we need to counsel people on why they should speak up otherwise the abuse goes on for years without anything being done. But if people can speak up, the situation will be different because that is the first step to sorting out the problem. The governors wife also stressed the need for collective effort in combating gender-based violence in the country. She revealed that several initiatives including launch of an advocacy movement against rape in schools and the establishment of Ajike peoples support centre have been put in place in Kwara to combat sexual violence. The first lady also commended the decision by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to declare a state of emergency on gender-based and sexual form of violence in the country. She, however, faulted the trend of focusing discussions about sexual assaults around only females, calling for inclusive approach to involve their male counterparts. Badmus had recently featured Bisi Fayemi, wife of Ekiti governor, in the series aimed at enlightening Nigerians on gender-based violence. New Delhi: Maharashtra has become the first state where the number of COVID-19 positive cases has gone up to 101141. The state with the most number of confirmed coronavirus cases witnessed 3493 new cases with 127 deaths in the last 24 hours. The death toll in the state now stands at 3717. According to reports, as many as 1718 patients were discharged after recovery, and so far, 47796 patients have been recovered and discharged in the state. Amid rising COVID-19 cases, Maharashtra's Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde has also been tested positive for coronavirus. He is stated to be asymptomatic and his condition is stable. Munde, a Nationalist Congress Party leader, had attended a state cabinet meeting earlier this week and taken part in the NCP's foundation day event two days ago here. He is a third Cabinet minister in Maharashtra to contract the COVID-19 virus. Jitendra Awhad (NCP) and Ashok Chavan (Congress) had earlier tested positive, but both have now recovered from the infection. When asked whether others who had attended the cabinet meeting and the NCP event will be tested, Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope told media today that social distancing was observed on both the occasions. "If anyone has suspicion (of having caught infection) or develops symptoms, he or she should be tested as per the Indian Council of Medical Research's guidelines," Tope added. Tamil Nadu is second only to Maharashtra with 38,716 confirmed cases followed by Delhi with 34,687 cases and Gujarat with 22,067 cases. According to the Health Ministry, 10956 news COVID-19 cases and 396 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours since Thursday 8 am taking the country's total tally to 297,535 which includes 141,842 active cases, 147,194 recovered cases, 1 migrant patient, and 8,498 deaths. Her background, including at the much-missed Kinkeads in Washington, didnt prepare her for carryout. Ive never done that in my career, she says. Her introductory menu is a blend of lighter dishes for summer and what she calls place holders to see her through her first season. So far, so very good. Her soups have included such pleasures as shredded chicken, coconut milk and lime zest, each spoonful bold with sambal, while her salads have embraced a Cobb tweaked with thin tortilla strips, black beans and a cumin vinaigrette. Daily specials (Monday means fried chicken, Saturday stars tacos) are portioned for one or as dinner for four. Friday is better when it concludes with crab cakes formed with Maryland crab and surrounded by caraway-seasoned coleslaw and french fries that originate in-house. And in Quebec, Francois Legault, the premier, has said that special consideration for migrant caregivers does not constitute an open door for refugees generally. We have to be careful, he said. I dont want to send the message that in the future we will accept everybody if they find a job in Quebec. Like nursing homes across the world, Canadian care centers have suffered staggering mortality rates and acute staff shortages, with recent reports detailing worrisome conditions including the use of unsanitized equipment, and accusations of neglect and abuse of elderly patients. Both Quebec and Ontario, the most populous provinces, asked the Canadian military to intervene. The coronavirus has infected more than 97,000 Canadians and killed nearly 8,000, with more than 80 percent of the deaths in nursing homes. Many of those working in those homes are, like Ms. Lucien, asylum-seekers or immigrants. And like her, many of them entered Canada in recent years from the United States, bypassing the official border to benefit from a loophole in a treaty that allows migrants to make refugee claims in Canada if they did not arrive at legal ports of entry. Upon entry, they receive a work permit, a monthly stipend of about $650 Canadian dollars and access to free health care. But they have to wait sometimes for years to find out whether they can stay. The story goes like this: William Faulkner, then the reigning genius of American letters, was asked to come to Harvard to accept an Honorary Doctorate of Literature. He agreed to show up, which seems needy, seeing as he already had a Nobel and a Pulitzer. On the day, an alcoholically hollowed Southern gent wearing a loose-fitting suit got out of a Cadillac and was swarmed and frotted by the drooling humanities faculty, many of whom had been impregnated by his work and were expectant with novels in which small-town sheriffs committed enlightened acts. Faulkner was chaperoned to the faculty bar by the Dean of the University who said that in allowing them to bestow an honorary doctorate on him he was actually honoring them. Well, Faulkner didn't need to be told that. "It's OK," he replied. "I gave the Nobel committee a boost the same way." Credit: In the faculty bar professors of literature began to shout him drinks just so they could mention to their students ever after that they had. Faulkner used to tell people he wrote while drinking but I tend to think that was a lie he used to derail his younger competitors. In my experience drinking while writing doesn't work. In the morning you'll find the paragraphs that were gold when you went to bed have been sabotaged by hateful desk pixies while you slept. They have extricated your profundities and replaced them with tripe, salted your sentences with non-sequiturs and given them a bombastic tone and enigmatic syntax. So whether Faulkner was a good thinker while drunk, I'll leave you to decide. But by the time the ceremony kicked off he'd been shouted a bourbon by every professor exiled in the tower of his own novel. A great many exiles. And as they passed the tumblers they touched his hand for luck, hoping the great man might guide them to THE END. ANN ARBOR, MI From the coronavirus pandemic leading to the closure of several long-time Ann Arbor restaurants, to residents hitting the streets of Ypsilanti to peacefully protest police brutally, a lot has been going on in the Ann Arbor area this week. Here are some headlines you might have missed. Coronavirus forces Espresso Royale to close all locations A popular Ann Arbor coffee shop is permanently closing its doors due to the novel coronavirus. Espresso Royale announced on its website that the company has not survived the pandemic and is closing locations in Ann Arbor, East Lansing and Madison. The company closed all cafes on March 20 and owners anticipated it would be temporary, according to the announcement. Ann Arbors Aut Bar, longtime LGBT refuge, to close after 25 years A bar that long catered to Ann Arbors LGBT community after 25 years is shutting down. Micah Bartelme of BarStar Group, which owns Aut Bar, Nightcap, Lo-Fi and Babs Underground, said the closure is due to declining business and building improvement needs made more burdensome by the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. The bar announced the closure in a Facebook post Saturday, just before restrictions against restaurant and bar dine-services would be lifted Monday. Bartelme took over the company in 2019 from retiring former owners Martin Contreras and Keith Orr, who turned a former restaurant into the gay bar in 1995. Thousands march in support of Black Lives Matter in downtown Ypsilanti Thousands of people packed the streets of downtown Ypsilanti Saturday afternoon to protest police brutality and support Black Lives Matter. Many kneeled with Ypsilanti Police Chief Tony DeGiusti for a moment of silence. Starting in front of the Ypsilanti District Library, 229 W. Michigan Ave., the protest started with speakers addressing the crowd, which flooded into Michigan Avenue between Washington and Adams Street. Event organizer Terril Cotton said he was overwhelmed by the number of people who showed up and the support from the community. Police kneel with protesters in Pittsfield Township protest against police brutality Hundreds of protesters shut down one of the countys busiest roads Tuesday to take a stand, or a knee, in this case, against police brutality. Protesters marched from the Washtenaw County Sheriffs office to the Arborland shopping center in response to a deputy hitting ShaTeina Grady El of Ypsilanti Township three times during an arrest last month. Grady El tuned in via phone, sharing a poem, and protesters stopped at Carpenter Road and Washtenaw Avenue to take a knee with Matt Harshberger, director of public safety for the Pittsfield Township Police Department and Ritchie Coleman, the departments public safety community coordinator. How should sheriffs office respond to deputy punching Ypsilanti Township woman, survey asks A Washtenaw County law enforcement advisory group wants public comment on a May altercation between a sheriffs deputy and an Ypsilanti Township woman. The Community Advisory Board for Law Enforcement, a liaison group of Washtenaw County residents that shares public sentiment and recommendations to the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office, is asking residents to participate in an online survey on the topic. Patio seating draws customers as Ann Arbor restaurants reopen for dine-in service The familiar sounds of clinking glasses and silverware are returning to Ann Arbors downtown sidewalks and restaurants. With the governors order allowing restaurants across Michigan to reopen, many of Ann Arbors usual lunch spots sported bustling outdoor patios Monday. Familiar dine-in restaurants like Cafe Zola, Shalimar and Knights Steakhouse all offered indoor seating as well, with tables marked and rearranged to keep a six feet of distance between parties. University of Michigan medical students help Ypsilanti clinic with food deliveries during coronavirus outbreak Some University of Michigan medical students used their time away from studying to team up with a free clinic to deliver food to those in need during Michigans coronavirus outbreak. The students and Ypsilantis Hope Clinic began the partnership when students were temporarily pulled from their studies due to the outbreak. Emmeline Weinert, Hope Clinic food programs and communications manager, said the goal is to deliver food to those who cannot or do not wish to leave their homes. Driver punched in face after honking at car stopped at green light, police say Police are investigating claims from a motorist who said he was punched in the face Monday evening after honking his horn at a car in front of him that was stopped at a green light. Michigan Medicine ranked 5th best hospital in U.S., 15th in the world by Newsweek University of Michigans hospitals are among the best in the United States and the world, according to a new ranking from Newsweek. Newsweek has ranked Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor the fifth best hospital in the U.S. and 15th in the world on its 2020 best hospitals list, announced Monday, June 8. The health system jumped five spots from the 2019 ranking. Crisis team talks armed man out of house peacefully in Ypsilanti Township A police standoff with an armed man ended peacefully with the man surrendering to crisis negotiators embedded with the Washtenaw County SWAT team. The crisis team, which now employs medical and mental health professionals, was able to speak with the man and, after a short negation, was able to talk him out of the house peacefully. Report alleging affair, improper pay boost for janitor substantially false, Ann Arbor principal says An Ann Arbor Public Schools principal said a police report filed by the district alleging she authorized extra pay for a janitor with whom she had a sexual relationship is substantially false," tarnishing her name and reputation. New exhibits in a federal lawsuit filed June 5 allege Lawton Elementary Principal Shannon Blick, who was placed on leave in April 2019, had authorized paying janitor Willie Johnson wages to be a lunch room supervisor, in addition to wages he earned through his contracted employer, ABM Custodial Company. Former University of Michigan students get prison for taking photos on restricted Florida naval base Two Chinese nationals who were students at the University of Michigan will spend time in prison after pleading guilty to illegally entering a restricted military base and taking pictures of naval infrastructure in Florida. Yuhao Wang, 24, and Jielun Zhang, 25, were sentenced June 5 to 12 months and nine months in prison, respectively, followed by one year of supervised release, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Southern District of Florida. Police seek terrorist threat charge after tweet says Howell should be first to burn amid George Floyd protests Police are pursuing a criminal charge against a state employee accused of suggesting protesters burn the city of Howell in a message posted on Twitter. The results of an investigation into the tweet have been forwarded to the Livingston County Prosecutors Office, Howell Police Chief Scott Mannor said. Police are seeking a charge of making a terrorist threat, he said. Turkish-backed militants burn thousands of acres of farmland in Syria's Hasakah Iran Press TV Thursday, 11 June 2020 3:18 PM Large areas of farmland in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah have been burnt as part of what activists describe as a campaign by Turkish-backed Takfiri militants to destroy vital food crops. Local sources, requesting not to be named, told Syria's official news agency SANA that the militants set fire to roughly 3,450 acres of wheat and other crops in Farisah, al-Salhiyeh, and Tal Thalaj villages, which lie in the southwestern countryside of the key border town of Ra's al-Ayn, on Wednesday. The sources added that the act of arson is meant to descend hundreds of thousands of people living in the Jazira Region into poverty and famine, and denounced it as another war crime by Turkish-sponsored terrorists against ordinary Syrians. Turkish-backed militants were deployed to northern Syria last October after Turkish military forces launched a long-threatened cross-border invasion in a declared attempt to push the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militants away from border areas. Ankara views the US-backed YPG as a terrorist organization tied to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been seeking an autonomous Kurdish region in Turkey since 1984. More than 200,000 people have been internally displaced by the Turkish-led offensive, according to the United Nations. On October 22 last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, signed a memorandum of understanding that asserted the YPG militants had to withdraw from the Turkish-controlled "safe zone" in northeastern Syria within 150 hours, after which Ankara and Moscow would run joint patrols around the area. Several civilians injured in Aleppo bomb attack Separately in Syria's northwestern province of Aleppo, several people sustained injuries in a bomb attack. SANA reported that the explosion ripped through a popular market in the Turkish-controlled city of al-Bab, and caused material damage in the area as well. Syrian rally against US-sponsored SDF militants in Dayr al-Zawr again Moreover, dozens of people have staged demonstrations in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr against the presence of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Residents of several towns and villages, including al-Ezba, Ekedat, al-Kasrah, Diban and al-Hawaij, on Thursday protested against the shutdown of local businesses, poor living conditions and prevalent chaos in their regions, according to SANA. Locals argue that the SDF's constant raids and arrest campaigns have generated a state of frustration and instability, severely affecting their businesses and livelihoods. Residents accuse the US-backed militants of stealing crude oil and failing to spend money on service sectors. Local councils affiliated with the SDF have also been accused of financial corruption. They are said to be embezzling funds provided by donors, neglecting services and not meeting the people's basic needs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The U.S. federal government is investigating reports that Libyan General Khalifa Haftar had traveled to Venezuela to discuss oil contracts, Reuters has reported, citing a government official. An earlier report by the Wall Street Journal said that the U.S. was not the only country investigating these reports, adding that Haftar had reached out to Venezuela, as well as to brokers in the United Arab Emirates in a bid to raise money for his Libyan National Army through deals for the sale of crude oil. Libyan, European, and U.S. officials told WSJ at the time that the reports had prompted the UN and the UN-recognized Libyan government to launch an investigation into a Dubai-based ship-chartering company for its alleged help to Haftar to sell Libyan crude in the Mediterranean. Libyas National Oil Corporation is the only entity legally allowed to market Libyan crude, as per UN sanctions leveled on Libya during the civil war. Until last year, Haftars Libyan National Army was friendly towards the NOC, after the LNA wrestled control of the countrys oil export terminals from the Petroleum Facilities Guard, which had blockaded them to use as bargaining chop against the UN-recognized government. And then the LNA made a grab for Tripoli, in the course of which groups affiliated with it blockaded the oil ports and prompted the suspension of oil production, bringing Libyas total from over 1 million bpd to under 100,000 bpd. NOC has estimated the losses at more than $5 billion. And yet there seems to be enough oil to sell, judging by these reports. "The Haftar probes are part of a wider international campaign aimed at halting the militia leader's oil sales, which he is hoping to turn into a key source of funding for his 14-month insurgent assault on Libya's capital city of Tripoli," the WSJ wrote. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The former Minneapolis police officer who was seen pressing his knee into the neck of George Floyd for almost nine minutes before he died could receive more than $1million in pension benefits even if he is convicted in court. Derek Chauvin, 44, faces charges of second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for Floyds death. He kept his knee on Floyds neck even as the 46-year-old black man begged him to let up so that he could breathe. After Floyds death, Chauvin was fired by the Minneapolis Police Department. It took authorities four days to arrest and charge him amid intense pressure. Derek Chauvin, 44, faces second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges in the death of George Floyd Chauvin knelt on the neck of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, for some nine minutes before he died in police custody on May 25 Even if Chauvin is convicted and sentenced to prison for Floyds death, he could still collect pension payments if he decided to apply for retirement benefits after the age of 50, according to CNN. Some states do have pension forfeiture laws which allow for benefits to be denied to any public employee who is convicted of a serious crime. Minnesota, however, is not one of them. Minnesota state law protects the pensions of public safety employees even in cases of termination. Chauvin could decide to forego his pension by requesting a refund of his employer contributions, which would be paid out in a lump sum. But there is no legal mechanism by which Chauvin could have his pension denied, according to the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association. Neither our Board nor our staff have the discretion to increase, decrease, deny or revoke benefits, a PERA spokeswoman told CNN. Tou Thao (above), 34, amassed 10 years of service with the Minneapolis Police Department. He is also eligible to receive pension benefits Any changes to current law would need to be done through the legislative process. According to the terms governing the PERAs police and fire fund, employees contribute nearly 12 per cent of their total salaries while the employers in this case, state taxpayers contribute slightly more some 16 per cent. Those funds also accrue interest and gains from investments. PERA calculates the benefits by taking into account a persons age; the average salary during the five-year period in which the employee was paid his highest wage, also known as the high five period; and years of credited service. Chauvin's pension is determined by multiplying 3 per cent by the total years of his service - 19. That number would then be multiplied by his average wage during his 'high five' period. If Chauvin filed for retirement after he turns 55, he would be eligible to receive annual payments of around $50,000, according to CNN. That means that over a 30-year period, Chauvin could receive at least $1.5million, though this would not include any cost of living increases. The payments could be even higher if Chauvin accumulated significant overtime. The other two officers arrested in connection with Floyd's death - Thomas Lane (left) and J Alexander Kueng (right) - were rookies on the force Floyd's death sparked a massive, international outcry about racial justice Three other former Minneapolis police officers have also been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Tou Thao, who has amassed some 10 years of service on the force, could also be eligible to receive pension benefits. The 34-year-old officer is seen in video telling bystanders to keep their distance while Floyd was being suffocated by Chauvin. Thao completed police academy in 2009 and was laid off for two years before returning to the Minneapolis Police Department in 2012. It is unclear how much pension money Thao would be eligible for upon retirement. The other two officers arrested in connection with Floyd's death are rookies. Thomas Lane, 37, posted cash bail and was released from jail on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities said Lane initially took Floyd into custody. He is also said to have held down Floyds legs while Chauvin knelt on his neck. Lanes next court hearing is scheduled for June 29. His lawyer says he is planning to file a motion to dismiss the charges. J Alexander Kueng faces the same charges as Lang. (ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) Former Missouri governor Eric Greitens could be making a political comeback. Greitens filed paperwork to run for statewide office in 2024. Greitens stepped down from office in 2018 following a sex scandal with his former hair dresser. She claimed Greitens took an explicit photo of her without her permission. The former republican governor was also accused of misusing a charity fundraising list. Greitens denied breaking any laws at the time of his resignation. Even as India gradually opens after more than two months of the coronavirus lockdown, the film industry too is gearing up to resume work. However, there is one actor who will not be returning to the sets anytime soon. Veteran actor Shakti Kapoor, speaking to ETimes, said his daughter Shraddha Kapoor wont resume shooting immediately. I will not go out and work for now nor will I allow my daughter Shraddha to resume work. I dont think the threat is gone. I feel the worst is yet to come. I wont let my children out for now. I know work is important but not at the cost of ones life. It will be very chaotic if people start shooting now. I tell industry people in our group that it is better to wait than pay hospital bills. It is still a very bad state of affairs outside. The Maharashtra government has started to grant relaxations to various sectors to resume work. The state has been one of the worst hit in India. The team of John Abraham starrer Mumbai Saga will, reportedly, begin shoot in Hyderabads Ramoji Film City in July. According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, it will be a 12-day shooting schedule. Also read: Gulabo Sitabo movie review: Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmann Khurrana give us one of the finest films of the year Shraddha was last seen in Tiger Shroffs Baaghi 3, a film that released during the pandemic. The film was largely panned by critics. Writing about it, the Hindustan Times reviewer said, In the third iteration of the Baaghi franchise, Tiger is beating up anything and everything that can be broken or shredded -- men, cars, tanks, helicopters, his shirts. He bounces off buildings, treads on air; delivers triple roundhouse kicks and does devastating stuff with his hands and feet. But somewhere between him decimating helicopters and blowing up tanks, my suspension of disbelief snapped; and trust me when I say that I have been trained well by Hindi cinema. Prior to that, her film Street Dancer 3D had hit the screens but sank without much of an impact. Last year had been successful for her with her film, Chhichhore hitting the bulls eye and Saaho also doing well. Follow @htshowbiz for more The Guardian has been accused of hypocrisy for backing the Black Lives Matter protests despite branding Abraham Lincoln (pictured) 'abhorrent' during the US Civil War A petition has been launched to 'shut down' the Guardian newspaper over accusations of hypocrisy for backing Black Lives Matter protests when it branded Abraham Lincoln 'abhorrent' in the US Civil War. The paper, which was originally called the Manchester Guardian, was founded by John Edward Taylor in 1821 using profits from a cotton plantation that used slaves. During the US Civil War 40 years later, it sided with the southern Confederates against President Lincoln, who wanted slavery abolished. One extract from the paper on October 10, 1862, read: 'It was an evil day both for America and the world when he was chosen President of the United States.' A year later it even opposed the Proclamation of Emancipation - which freed slaves - and described the President's time in office after his assassination as 'abhorrent'. But in recent editorials the paper has tried to mask its past, with headlines such as 'The Guardian view on Colston's statue: a long time in going' and 'The Guardian view on Black Lives Matter worldwide: a common cause'. Many are baying for statues linked to slavery to be torn down and some have suggested the Guardian should also fall for being on the wrong side of history. A petition has even been launched now online to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) to 'shut down the newspaper'. Novelist and journalist Tony Parsons, who organised the petition, tweeted: 'Shameful links to slave-owning Confederate south. Built on the profits of cotton fields. Shut down The Guardian Newspaper.' The newspaper, which was then called the Manchester Guardian, sided with the Confederates during the US Civil War (pictured, the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in 1864) against the President, who wanted slavery abolished Mail On Sunday columnist Peter Hitchens added on Twitter: 'I do think this (beautifully honest) confession of the SuperWoke Guardian's support for the slave-owning Confederacy (and its furious loathing for Lincoln) in the American Civil War is one of the great discoveries of the day. ''Who shall 'scape whipping?''' And freelance journalist Kate Mulvery put: 'Maybe the Guardian should topple - given that its founder made a fortune in the cotton trade - went on the side of the confederates during the American Civil War - oh and denounced Lincoln for freeing slaves.' Several supporters of the petition have also called out The Guardian's 'hypocrisy' on the editorial stance. The newspaper was founded by cotton merchant John Edward Taylor in 1819, with his nephew CP Scott going on to become its most celebrated editor. Taylor's industry thrived on the backs of cotton-picking slaves out of sight and mind in the Americas, and the paper continued its relationship with it after his death in 1844. The Guardian maintained its relationship with cotton merchant advertisers and even railed against factory workers who refused to touch material picked by US slaves, according to Guido. The newspaper (pictured, its London office) was founded by cotton merchant John Edward Taylor in 1819, with his nephew CP Scott going on to become its most celebrated editor During the US Civil War - which lasted from 1861 to 1865 - the newspaper's onslaught against President Lincoln was ramped up. On January 2, 1863, it accused Lincoln of having 'no desire to abolish slavery except as a means of extrication from the difficulties of government'. A year and a half later, on November 22, 1864, it claimed: 'Nor is Mr Lincoln's re-election by fraud, violence, and intimidation rendered a matter of comparatively small importance solely by the fact that it reveals nothing with respect to the real wishes and thoughts of the majority of his fellow countrymen.' And upon hearing Lincoln had been murdered, the newspaper published on April 27, 1865: 'Of his rule we can never speak except as a series of acts abhorrent to every true notion of constitutional right and human liberty.' In his biography of the Manchester Guardian, David Ayerst noted: 'The Guardian was indeed convinced that the majority of Northerners, so far from having any antipathy to slavery, considered it to be the natural condition of the N**** and were content to profit by it.' The newspaper has been forced to address its historical choices in recent years, with associate editor and columnist Martin Kettle putting his name to a piece in 2011. The article's sub-heading uses a phrase strikingly familiar to today, saying: 'The Guardian's stance on the US civil war was of its era.' The piece goes on to defend the thundering editorial that branded Lincoln 'abhorrent' less than a month after his grisly assassination. Mr Kettle said the article 'was of its era', writing about 'immensely difficult issues' 'which are as irresolvable and hard to balance today as they were 150 years ago'. He added: 'He was not to know that later generations would have a different set of priorities.' This argument that things were different 155 years ago, so should not be judged by today's standards, echoes calls this week from those wanting statues to people linked to slavery to remain in place. It seems at odds with the Guardian's stance on the recent protests, which saw Colston's statue ripped from its plinth and dumped in the river Avon in Bristol. Many are baying for statues linked to slavery to be torn down (pictured, Edward Colston's statue in Bristol on Sunday) and some have suggested the Guardian should also fall for being on the wrong side of history The newspaper described this as 'a long time in going' and seems to miss its own point that during Colston's days standards were different. Many in the public have called for the newspaper to face up to its historical decisions, particularly surrounding the US Civil War. One person wrote: 'The Guardian, established by a cotton plantation owner using slave labour and being on the side of the Confederates against the abolition of Slavery is still here. Funny old world.' Another posted: 'Same with the guardian for supporting the southern confederates in the civil war and building their brand from it.' A Twitter user posted: 'Can you please show us how you supported the Confederates and how you called Lincoln an abhorant little man, for freeing the slaves.' And another added: 'Since we're going back into the past let us not forget that the Guardian newspaper profited from the slave trade, supported the Confederates in the US Civil War, hated President Lincoln and were against the Proclamation of Emancipation!' The Guardian has also updated its financial contributions request at the bottom of every article in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, adding the paper have covered injustice against ethnic minority communities 'for decades'. It reads: 'As the world protests against police violence and racism, the Guardian stands in solidarity with the struggle for truth, humanity and justice. For decades, we have reported on the brutality that has destroyed the lives of black and minority ethnic citizens around the world. Justice starts with uncovering the truth. That is what we try to do.' Not for turning: President Donald Trump said he would pursue an executive order encouraging police to meet current standards. Photo: Reuters President Donald Trump said last night that he would pursue an executive order to encourage police departments to meet "current professional standards for the use of force," while slamming Democrats for broadly branding police as the problem. He also defended his calls on governors and mayors to aggressively quell violent protests that erupted across the country after the death of George Floyd, boasting: "We're dominating the streets with compassion." Mr Trump offered few details about the yet-to-be-formalised order during a discussion on race relations and policing in Dallas. Notably, Dallas's mayor and three top law enforcement officials, all of whom are black, were not at the roundtable discussion. The call for establishing a national use-of-force standard amounted to Mr Trump's first concrete proposal for police reform in response to the national outcry following George Floyd's death in a violent encounter with police. The president acknowledged that law enforcement may have some "bad apples," but he said it is unfair to broadly paint police officers as bigots. "We have to work together to confront bigotry and prejudice wherever they appear," Mr Trump said. "But we'll make no progress and heal no wounds by falsely labeling tens of millions of decent Americans as racists or bigots. We have to get everybody together. We have to be on the same path." The president said the nation also needs to bolster its efforts to confront its long-simmering racial relations problems by focusing on inequality, backing his contention that solving economic issues is the fastest way to healing racial wounds. He said his administration would aggressively pursue economic development in minority communities, confront health care disparities by investing "substantial sums" in minority-serving medical institutions, and improve school choice options. His comments came after he rejected the idea of renaming military bases whose names honour Confederate military figures who fought to keep slavery. The president's refusal to even consider such a move sounded yet another divisive note as the US grapples with its treatment of African-American citizens. The US defence secretary, Mark Esper, had said he was prepared to consider it and prominent military figures, including retired general David Petraeus, had suggested that such a step was overdue. COVID-19 has already claimed the lives of more than 115,000 Americans, but one of the diseases most serious and lasting effects is just starting to hit: the mental health toll. The coming crisis, created by massive unemployment, social isolation and uncertainty about the future, has already caused a doubling of anxiety and depression from 2014, according to a U.S. Census Bureau survey released late last month. Now, a Texas group is predicting the ultimate mental health cost: a big spike in deaths because of suicide and drug overdose. COVID-19 has brought unprecedented change to peoples lives and, sadly, the stress and pain wont end when the risk to life subsides, said Andy Keller, president and CEO of the Austin-based Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, which produced the report projecting deaths. Mitigating and containing the threat from the coronavirus was the right immediate focus, but we now must become better prepared for the next stage of the pandemic diseases of despair. Mental health officials call such COVID-19 diseases of despair the epidemic within the pandemic. Without proactive interventions, as many as 3,150 Texans could die annually from resulting suicides and overdoses, according to the Meadows report. The report, which calculates the death toll under a number of scenarios, projects the number to go that high if unemployment hits 20 percent and remains there. The projections are in addition to the number of such deaths that already occur every year. Keller and others say the good news is that there is effective treatment for such diseases, unlike for COVID-19. The bad news is that only a tiny percentage of people seek it soon enough. COVID-19 may change that because experts expect its psychological impact to be greater than Hurricane Harvey and the 2008 recession combined. No one alive can remember a health event of such magnitude, the resulting job loss, isolation and unpredictability. No one thinks virtual community can make up for the one-two-three punch. Weve dealt with a lot of disasters in Houston, but this one is so different, said Dr. Lokesh Shahani, a professor of psychiatry at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. Its a global event that leaves everyone feeling helpless. You dont know when its going to resolve or whats coming the next day, for that matter. That sort of unpredictability leads to a lot of anxiety. Americans felt such anxiety early in the pandemic. In April, a Kaiser Family Foundation poll found nearly half of Americans reported the pandemic was impairing their mental health. In May, a Rice survey found a quarter of respondents were feeling moderate or severe anxiety. And last week, Houston Methodist Hospital psychologist Chris Fowler said the department was prescribing anti-anxiety medications at a rate 10 times higher than usual. It only figures to get worse, said mental health experts. Toxic psychological stress typically takes from a few months to six months to manifest. Initially, Keller said, some people think their job loss is temporary, then they watch unemployment drag on. At some point, some will start drinking or their marriages will deteriorate, which often leads to depression or even suicidal thoughts. Its a cascade of events, says Keller, unfolding at different paces depending on the person. The Meadows report, whose modeling relies heavily on data following the 2008 recession, projects annual deaths by suicide or drug overdose (heroin, cocaine or prescription misuse) on top of those already occurring 4,500 in 2018, the latest year for which statistics are available. Under the modeling, 725 Texans would die (300 by suicide, 425 by overdose) in a years time assuming 5 percent unemployment; 1,500 would die (650 by suicide, 850 by overdose) assuming 10 percent; and 3,150 would die (1,450 by suicide, 1,700 by overdose) assuming 20 percent unemployment. Nationally, according to the modeling, 9,500 would die under the first scenario, 19,000 under the second and 40,000 under the third. Some 600,000 more people would suffer from addiction. Keller said he hopes the modeling turns out to be wrong typical for such exercises as people seek and get the help they need. He noted that treatment for depression works about two-thirds of the time, but only 6 percent of Texans get better because they do not access the system early enough or at all. For all the stress they cause, COVID-19s social distancing efforts are providing one health care benefit: access. Thanks to telehealth appointments, its easier to get an appointment now than ever in both urban and more remote areas and people are taking advantage of the option. More Information Where to find help Texas Health and Human Services has launched a 24/7 statewide mental health support line to help Texans experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The toll-free COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line, 833-986-1919, operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Other related HHS mental health resources can be found here . The National Suicide Prevention lifeline is 800-273-8255 (800-273-TALK). Texas HHS contracts with 37 local mental health authorities and two local behavior health authorities across Texas to deliver mental health services. Access the list of authorities here . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has tips on managing anxiety and stress during COVID-19. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers tips on taking care of your behavioral health during an outbreak. See More Collapse Technology is the unsung hero of COVID-19, the thing thats enabled us to get more creative about health care, said Jon Stevens, a psychiatrist and chief of outpatient services at the Menninger Clinic. Its created greater access, same-day appointments. The hope is such virtual care continues after the pandemic is over. It wont come easy. The economic strain caused by the pandemic threatens to put many mental health and primary-care providers out of business unless the federal government provides more emergency funding. In addition, legislation is needed at both the federal and state levels to extend waivers allowing more telehealth services, such as audio-only appointments. If ever there were a time for government to come together for mental health relief, this is it, said Keller. Were all in a fight or flight situation, were all going to have our emotional well-being tested. todd.ackerman@chron.com JOHANNESBURG Queen Victoria, Cecil Rhodes, King Leopold. Statues honoring these leaders of colonial rule have been pulled down over the years in Africa after countries won independence or newer generations said racist relics had to go. New campaigns in the U.S. and Europe are now following Africas lead. Monuments to slave traders and colonial rulers have become the focus of protests around the world, driven by a reexamination of historical injustice after the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in the U.S. No protests have been spotted this week around the remaining statues in Africa, but several have faced furious demonstrations in the past. A boisterous student-led campaign pressed the University of Cape Town to remove a statue of Cecil Rhodes from the schools entrance in April 2015. The statue had been defaced and covered in excrement by students protesting against the colonial leader who supported white minority rule in South Africa and the colonization of the southern African territories named for him, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, which later became independent Zambia and Zimbabwe. Students celebrated as a crane lifted the statue off its base. Now the statue is covered by a tarpaulin at a local army base. Another statue of Rhodes was toppled in Zimbabwe in July 1980, a few months after the country became independent. When the statue was downed in the capital then known by its colonial name, Salisbury, now Harare demonstrators cheered and pounded it with a hammer. A statue of Britains Queen Victoria in Nairobi, Kenya, was knocked down and beheaded in 2015 by unknown vandals. The headless statue lies next to its plinth in a downtown square. This statue reminds me of the suffering our forefathers went through in the hands of colonialists and whenever we see them, the memories are fresh, Nairobi resident Samuel Obiero said. We need to get rid of them. All over the world they must be brought down and all people who suffered due to colonialism need to also be saved from all these kinds of memories. In Congo, a statue honoring colonial ruler King Leopold II of Belgium a copy of the statue that is now the focus of demonstrations in Belgium was pulled down decades ago. Erected in 1928, it was ordered taken down by then-dictator Mobutu Sese Seko seven years after independence in 1960. The statue made a return in 2005 with an updated plaque, intended by authorities to serve as a reminder of the horrors of colonial rule. Public outcry was so great that it was taken down a day later. Now it stands in a park of colonial monuments set up on the grounds of the Institute of National Museums set up by the U.N. mission in Congo. Although the park is technically open to the public, access is limited because of its proximity to the presidents residence in the capital, Kinshasa. The park also has statues of explorers Henry Morton Stanley and David Livingstone. There have been so many protests against the statue of Paul Kruger, an early white ruler of South Africa, in the capital, Pretoria, that fencing has been erected to keep people away from it. Killer Killer is prominently painted on its base. It just reminds me of, like, whats written over there, Killer Killer,' said Rogue Wanga, a 19-year-old street vendor. Those people were killers literally. And they never liked us. I feel like we should replace it. Maybe a fountain or a Madiba (Nelson Mandela) statue wouldnt hurt. A different view came from student Sambeso Soxa, 23. I think maybe maybe we could put, like, a statue of someone else next to it. You know, maybe (black rights activist) Steve Biko next to the statue, maybe above it to show that weve gone past now, Soxa said. But I dont think we should necessarily take it down, because its a reminder of something that happened in the past and something we should avoid in future, he said. South African author William Gumede said pulling down statues is just the first step in a process. Its important for these symbols of injustice to be pulled down, Gumede said. This has been going on for decades, and we are grappling with ridding ourselves of these monuments to domination. African countries must find ways to celebrate their own heroes, not just politicians but artists, social justice activists and many others, said Gumede, who is also chairman of the Democracy Works Foundation, which promotes good governance in Africa. Pulling down statues of colonialist is not enough, he said. We must put forward positive representations of our history, representations that instill pride in our identity. ___ Nqobile Ntshangase in Pretoria, South Africa; Josphat Kasire in Nairobi, Kenya; and Jean-Yves Kamale in Kinshasa, Congo, contributed. Hyderabad, June 12 : Greater Hyderabad Mayor Bonthu Rammohan underwent Covid-19 test on Friday, a day after his driver tested positive for the virus. The Mayor on Thursday went into self-quarantine after his driver tested positive. The driver was found positive after the tests were conducted on employees working the Mayor's chambers in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) office following an employee testing positive. Since the driver had accompanied him during his visit to various parts of the city, Rammohan went into quarantine and also underwent the test. With the employee in Mayor's office and his driver testing positive, the number of GHMC employees affected by Covid-19 has gone up to three. An employee in the solid waste management wing had tested positive last Monday. This is the second time in less than a week that the Mayor has undergone the Covid-19 test. Earlier, he had given his samples for the test on June 7 and the result was negative. Rammohan had voluntarily come forward to undergo the test after the worker at a hotel he had tea on June 1 tested positive. After participating in a sanitation programme, the Mayor had tea at a hotel in Adikmet. It was later found that a worker at the hotel had tested positive. The Mayor said the worker had left the hotel nine days before he had tea there and though the chances of catching Covid-19 ruled out, he was still going for a test as a precautionary measure. Facebook-owned WhatsApp is reportedly testing a plethora of new features presumably to be rolled out at some undisclosed point in 2020. The features were spotted first by WABetaInfo and pooled by XDA Developers, stretching from the global to the region-specific. Potentially geared at lessening the blow of the long-expected addition of in-app advertisements, theres something in the mix for just about everybody. Among the most useful of the incoming features are the ability to log-in with multiple devices and a revamped storage utility. The former change was already hinted at earlier this year. But it has now reportedly been confirmed under testing by WABetaInfo. It will support up to four devices at a time. That means that users will be able to sign in and keep it that way on up to four devices. In the latter case, WhatsApp is also tacking on a new Storage Usage feature. That should hit Android in the near future. That will essentially streamline the management of storage used by WhatsApp. It comes complete with new filters for sorting through and finding files. And that includes the ability to sort by size, newest, or oldest. Advertisement WhatsApp is altering the process for deleting files on iOS too. Users will be able to select by file type from photos, GIFs, and videos through voice messages, documents, and stickers. Theyll now have the option, instead of simply clearing everything selected, to only clear up items that havent been starred. But wait, theres more! Of course, there are other new features that have been discovered in testing too. That includes two features for everybody and one expressly for India. First, WhatsApp is currently testing a way to allow users to search by date. The app already allows searches of content in chats but there isnt really an easy way to find everything quickly based on when it was shared. With the new feature in place, users will notice a calendar icon in the search bar after its been tapped. Advertisement Tapping the calendar icon, in its current form, calls forward a cylindrically-scrolling date utility. Sliding up or down, users can select a date. Then, the search results will only show for the date thats been selected. Keeping with the search theme, WhatsApp will additionally be including a new button to upload shared images to Google for a reverse-image search. Last but not least, WhatsApp is looking to improve the experience even further for its users in India. Summarily, the company is testing integration with the popular Indian social network ShareChat. The company is hoping to cater to the over 60-million monthly active users on the video hosting social media service. To that end, its now working to add the ability to play shared ShareChat videos in PiP mode. Those would then be played directly in the messaging app. Advertisement These arent publicly available yet, even in beta Now, the features listed here are reportedly not even available in beta channels of the app. So they should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism. With that said, if and when the new WhatsApp features appear in 2020, its not immediately clear whether that will be a simultaneous update. Specifically for both iOS and Android apps. Because theyre under development still, there are plenty of changes that could be made too. WhatsApp will almost certainly make some aesthetic changes, for starters. But exactly how the features work and how the UI is presented or interacted with could feasibly be adjusted as well. Finally, it isnt clear when the features will be added or if theyll be added in individual updates since theyre still in development. Presumably, those that appear further along in development will arrive prior to changes that are in a less finished state right now. Each will undoubtedly prove useful, regardless of when they arrive. President Donald Trump on Thursday authorized sanctions against any official at the International Criminal Court who investigates US troops, ramping up pressure to stop its case into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. In an executive order, Trump said the United States would block US property and assets of anyone from The Hague-based tribunal involved in probing or prosecuting US troops. "We cannot -- we will not -- stand by as our people are threatened by a kangaroo court," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement to reporters. "I have a message to many close allies around the world -- your people could be next, especially those from NATO countries who fought terrorism in Afghanistan right alongside of us." The court responded by stating that its president O-Gon Kwon "rejects measures taken against ICC," calling them "unprecedented" and saying they "undermine our common endeavor to fight impunity and to ensure accountability for mass atrocities." US Attorney General Bill Barr alleged, without giving detail, that Russia and other adversaries of the United States have been "manipulating" the court. Using Trump's "America First" language, Barr said the administration was trying to bring accountability to a global body. "This institution has become, in practice, little more than a political tool employed by unaccountable international elites," he said. - 'Contempt' for rule of law - European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell voiced "serious concern" and said the court "must be respected and supported by all nations." Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said he was "very disturbed" by the US move, and said The Netherlands supported the court on its soil. "The ICC is crucial in the fight against impunity and upholding international rule of law," Blok wrote on Twitter. Human Rights Watch said Trump's order "demonstrates contempt for the global rule of law." "This assault on the ICC is an effort to block victims of serious crimes whether in Afghanistan, Israel or Palestine from seeing justice," said the group's Washington director, Andrea Prasow. But the move was hailed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of Trump's closest allies, who has been angered by the ICC's moves -- strongly opposed by Washington -- to probe alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories. In a reference to Israeli settlements, Netanyahu accused the court of fabricating accusations that Jews living in their historical homeland constitutes a war crime. "This is ridiculous. Shame on them," Netanyahu told reporters. Trump has been tearing down global institutions he sees as hindering his administration's interests, recently ordering a pullout from the World Health Organization over its coronavirus response. - Long-running US anger - The Trump administration has been livid over the International Criminal Court's investigation into atrocities in Afghanistan, America's longest-running war. The administration last year revoked the US visa of the court's chief prosecutor, Gambian-born Fatou Bensouda, to demand that she end the Afghanistan probe. But judges in March said the investigation could go ahead, overturning an initial rejection of Bensouda's request. Under Trump's order on Thursday, visa restrictions will be expanded to any court official involved in investigations into US forces. The United States argues that it has its own procedures in place to investigate accusations against troops. "We are committed to uncovering, and if possible holding people accountable, for their wrongdoing -- any wrongdoing," Barr said. Trump, however, used his executive powers last year to clear three military members over war crimes, including in Afghanistan. Among them was Eddie Gallagher, who had been convicted by a military tribunal of stabbing to death with a hunting knife a prisoner of war from the Islamic State group in Iraq. Gallagher had become a cause celebre among US conservatives, although Trump's action troubled some in the US military. Founded in 2002, the International Criminal Court immediately ran into opposition from Washington, where the then administration of George W. Bush encouraged countries to shun it. Former president Barack Obama took a more cooperative approach with the court, but the United States remained outside of it. China has signed special agreements with South Korea and Singapore. Japan is vetting allowing air travel from Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand. Cambodia plans to charge foreign visitors for the costs of anti-coronavirus checks. Indian borders remain closed. Hong Kong (AsiaNews) Several countries in the Asia-Pacific region are reactivating air links with foreign countries, after suspending them in late January and early February to counter the spread of the coronavirus. According to the International Air Transport Organization (IATA), air travel dropped by 94.3 per cent in April. At the end of May, daily flights were up by 30 per cent compared to the negative peak of the previous month. IATA estimates that traffic will return to pre-crisis levels only in 2023. The reopening of the borders is being driven by the need to revive national economies, hard hit by the pandemic-related recession. Below is an overview of the steps taken by some Asian-Pacific nations: China: Citizens can return, but the entry of most foreigners remains suspended. Beijing has signed a fast-track programme with South Korea and Singapore to allow business travel and is in talks with more countries to do so. It has also allowed foreign executives and technical personnel from other nations to enter on pre-approved charter flights, sometimes with reduced quarantine. Hong Kong: Transit flights at Hong Kong International Airport will be allowed to resume on 1 June. Non-residents coming from overseas countries and regions by plane are banned from entering Hong Kong. All passengers arriving into Hong Kong are tested for COVID-19. Taiwan: A limited number of international flights continue to operate. Borders remain closed for foreigners unless they have a residence permit. All those entering the country must undergo a 14-day quarantine. Japan: Borders are still closed for citizens of 111 countries. The government plans to let in 250 travellers per day from Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand. This reopening will start this summer and concern business executives and engineers. Later, the measure could be extended to travellers from China, the United States and South Korea. South Korea: A few international flights continue to operate. All citizens and foreigners who enter are quarantined for two weeks. Diplomats or foreigners with official business status are exempted from mandatory quarantine but are tested on arrival. Singapore: Borders are still closed, but the government is allowing travellers to transit through its main airport. It is in talks with some countries about reopening travel links. As of 8 June, government officials and business people can travel between Singapore and six Chinese provinces without undergoing long quarantines. Thailand: A ban on commercial international flights has been extended until the end of June. Some charter flights are allowed. Citizens must provide certificates issued by Thai embassies, and foreigners are required to present a negative coronavirus test. There is a mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival for both citizens and foreigners. Malaysia: Borders remain effectively closed. As of 10 June, returning Malaysians who test negative can now self-isolate at home for 14 days, instead of at a quarantine centre. Indonesia: Citizens and long-term pass holders may enter, but they must bring documents showing they are free of the coronavirus or undergo tests at the airport. Vietnam: Borders remain closed except for citizens as well as foreign experts with valid work permits and negative coronavirus test certificates who are returning on charter flights. A 14-day quarantine upon arrival is mandatory. The government said it was seeking to reinstate international flights to countries that were free of the virus for 30 days Cambodia: The Cambodian government will charge foreign visitors for COVID-1-related costs. This will include a US$ 5 travel fee from the airport to a waiting centre, US$ 100 for the COVID-19 test, and US$ 30 for accommodation whilst waiting for results. Philippines: The country is still closed for foreigners, unless they are spouses or children of Philippine citizens, diplomats or employees of an international organisation. All those who enter the country must undergo a 14-day quarantine. India: International travel is still suspended; the number of infections is rising in the country. Australia and New Zealand: Borders are closed for foreigners in both countries. Entry is allowed only to citizens and residents. A 14-day quarantine is required. The two countries are examining a plan to allow travel between their airports. Russia: Russian citizens can leave the country to work, study or take care of sick relatives. Foreigners can also visit Russia to care for relatives. WASHINGTON - In his first eight months as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley carefully crafted a low-key public profile. He knew that splashy and sassy were unlikely to endear him to his boss, President Donald Trump. Then the walk happened. Milley, in his camouflage battle dress uniform, strolled with Trump and a presidential entourage across Lafayette Square on June 1 to be positioned in front of a church, where Trump held up a Bible for photographers. Critics immediately hit Milley, the nations top military officer, for appearing to be a political pawn. On Thursday, he finally spoke out. It was a mistake, he said simple words that thrust the square-jawed general into the public spotlight like never before. That risked further antagonizing a president who dislikes any hint of criticism of his staged events and has made his embrace of military power a theme of his reelection campaign. Asked in a Fox News interview Thursday whether he thought Milleys expression of regret was significant, Trump said, No, I dont think so. I mean, if thats the way they feel, I think thats fine. Milleys words drew praise from some members of Congress, including Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, but added a new layer of tension between the Pentagon and the White House. That tension burst into public last week with Defence Secretary Mark Esper openly breaking with Trump on the use of federal troops to quell protests. Milleys willingness to admit he erred reflects a personal commitment to a principle deeply rooted in American military tradition: that members of the military are apolitical, sworn to defend the Constitution, not a president. Civilians are supposed to control the military, but not for personal political gain. That commitment had been questioned after the walk. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., an Iraq War veteran, said seeing Milley and Esper walking like lapdogs behind Trump sends a horrifying message to our troops including our black and brown troops that our militarys leaders will not protect them from unlawful orders. Former senior military leaders also weighed in, though in many cases didnt mention Milley by name. Jim Mattis, the retired Marine general who was Trumps first defence chief, called it a bizarre photo op for the elected commander in chief, with military leadership standing alongside. But it was Milley, along with other senior officials, who was urging Trump not to carry out his threat to deploy active-duty troops in D.C. As part of that effort, he spent time at the main security operations centre, working to ensure that National Guard members were in the right places and had what they needed to protect the city, so active-duty forces would not be required. Striding along the streets talking with Guard members, he was a formidable figure with his piercing look, close-cropped gray hair, bushy eyebrows and imposing size. He talked openly about the need for troops to enable the peaceful protests while also preventing violence. Military generals are known for their egos, and Milley is no exception. Reserved is not a word one would use to describe the Massachusetts native. He is forceful, given to bouts of temper but quick with a laugh and a sharp retort. A student of military history, Milley peppers his conversations with references to lessons learned during Americas wars, the details of which he can recite instantly. He is given to regaling visitors to his official residence above Arlington National Cemetery with stories about the history of the house and its previous occupants. Milleys father, Alexander, served as a Navy corpsman with the 4th Marine Division during World War II and fought with them at the Battle of Iwo Jima. In a speech in January, Milley recalled walking the beach where his father landed and said he began to imagine what hell on earth was like and that was Iwo Jima. Reflecting on the costs of war, he took that moment to repeat his conviction that the militarys job is to preserve the Constitution and prevent such war from happening again. After four decades in the military, Milley was a somewhat surprising pick by Trump to be Joint Chiefs chairman, a position that is the pinnacle of any military career. He had been serving as chief of staff of the Army when Mattis was ready in 2018 to recommend to the White House who should succeed Gen. Joseph Dunford as chairman. Milley was notably not his choice. Trump, however, disregarded Mattis advice and chose Milley, saying, Hes a great gentleman, hes a great patriot, hes a great soldier. Two weeks later Mattis submitted his resignation, a move widely attributed to his disagreement with Trump over pulling out of Syria but also linked to his disappointment at Trump overruling him on Milley, who became chairman on Oct. 1, 2019. He commands no troops but is the principal military adviser to the president, the secretary of defence and the National Security Council. Milley is known in the military as a charismatic leader who commanded troops during several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He hasnt been afraid to offer candid and sometimes blunt assessments, including to Congress. In 2017, he admonished the House Armed Services Committee for being slow to approve a defence budget, slamming the inaction as professional malpractice. A native of Winchester and a vocal fan of the Red Sox and other Boston teams, Milley received his Army commission in 1980 from Princeton University, where he earned a bachelors degree in political science. He has two masters degrees. An infantry officer by training, he also commanded Special Forces units in a career that has included deployments in the invasion of Panama in 1989 and the multinational mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina to implement the Dayton Peace Accords. Pierce Brosnan has revealed two of his lifelong friends have died after battling coronavirus. The former James Bond actor, 67, branded the disease 'a war' and described COVID-19 as an 'awful threat to life looming' during a cover feature with the latest issue of Parade magazine. He said: 'I lost two friends to COVID-19. They were friends of 45 years, and I am godfather to his son. Devastating: Pierce Brosnan, 67, has sadly revealed that he's lost two lifelong friends to coronavirus, asserting: 'We are at war... People are dying! 'No matter where you are and how beautiful it may be, you still have this awful threat to life looming. 'You have to keep pushing the rock uphill, and you have to keep involved in life. We are at war. People are dying. The actor added that he hopes a silver lining of the pandemic may be that people are kinder and more aware of the 'fragility of our planet.' Pierce has been isolating with his wife Keely Shaye Smith in their family cottage on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Everyone is in danger: The James Bond star also insisted that, regardless of your location there is still an ongoing 'threat to life looming' Pierce also explained how following the shutdown of his current project, Disney's Cinderella, ahead of the lockdown, he flew to be with his family straight away. He said: 'I was on a plane the next day. I was told I might not get out, and I wanted to be with my family.' Pierce and Keely, who married in 2001 at Ballintubber Abbey in County Mayo, Ireland, are parents to sons Dylan, 23, and Paris, 19. On April 10, the Mamma Mia actor shared a touching tribute to Keely on their wedding anniversary. Pierce wrote: 'My darling angel heart Keely, thank you for bringing such love and beauty into my life, for making these past twenty six years the greatest joy of my life...Happy anniversary my brown eyed girl.' He was previously married to Australian actress Cassandra Harris, herself a Bond girl to Roger Moore in For Your Eyes Only, from 1980 until her death after a battle with ovarian cancer in 1991. Along with Dylan and Paris, Pierce is also father to son Sean, 36, by Cassandra. He is also the adoptive father of Charlotte and Christopher Brosnan, Cassandra's two children by her first husband Dermot Harris, whose brother was Richard Harris of Harry Potter fame. Charlotte, who like Christopher took Pierce's surname when she was adopted, died at the age of 42 in 2013 of the same illness that claimed her mother's life. He has often been vocal about how Keely saved him from depression following his personal tragedies, describing her as a 'strength I wouldnt be able to live without.' Pierce is now a proud grandfather of three - Charlotte's children Isabella, 21, and Lucas, 14, as well as Sean's daughter Marley May, four. The Sun front page has been criticised as giving a voice to an alleged perpetrator of domestic violence. (PA/Twitter) MPs have condemned a front page of The Sun in which author JK Rowlings former husband admitted slapping her. Critics say the story, accompanied by the headline: I slapped JK and Im not sorry, gives a voice to an alleged perpetrator of domestic violence. The story comes as Rowling has been at the centre of a Twitter row over comments about transgender people. Labour MP Jess Phillips, who is shadow minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding, tweeted: The sun headline is awful, the perpetrator more awful still. You'd be surprised how only his hideous arrogant admission will allow some to believe. Still too often doubt and disbelief are the best weapon abusers have in their arsenal... "no one will believe you. Fellow Labour MP Stella Creasy added: The decision of the Sun to put an abusers side of the story reflects how violence against women so often gets dismissed as a domestic and so debate focuses on reasons it happens rather than how to stop it. Heads should roll for doing this, not newspaper presses The sun headline is awful, the perpetrator more awful still. You'd be surprised how only his hideous arrogant admission will allow some to believe. Still too often doubt and disbelief are the best weapon abusers have in their arsenal... "no one will believe you." Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) June 11, 2020 The decision of the Sun to put an abusers side of the story reflects how violence against women so often gets dismissed as a domestic and so debate focuses on reasons it happens rather than how to stop it. Heads should roll for doing this, not newspaper presses stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) June 12, 2020 Sam Smethers, CEO of The Fawcett Society, which campaigns for gender equality and womens rights, also criticised the front page story, saying: A woman discloses she is a survivor of #domesticabuse. A national newspaper gives a platform to her abuser on their front page. Never underestimate the extent of #misogyny in our society. Story continues Gillian Martin, member of the Scottish parliament, said the headline would be beyond triggering for many abuse survivors and enabling to abusers. She said: It is irresponsible and dangerous. The Suns headline quoting JK Rowlings abusive ex-husband is beyond triggering for many abuse survivors, and enabling to abusers. It is irresponsible and dangerous. I could weep for the way women are treated by the tabloid press- still- in 2020. Gillian Martin (@GillianMSP) June 11, 2020 A woman discloses she is a survivor of #domesticabuse. A national newspaper gives a platform to her abuser on their front page. Never underestimate the extent of #misogyny in our society. Sam Smethers (@Samsmethers) June 11, 2020 The row over Rowlings comments, which has seen the author garner widespread criticism, saw a school in Sussex drop plans to name a house after her. In a letter to parents and students on Wednesday, deputy headteacher Sarah Edwards said: In recent days it has come to light that one of our new names may in fact no longer be an appropriate role model for our community. JK Rowling has tweeted some messages which are considered to be offensive to the LGBT+ community (specifically, trans-phobic) and we feel that we do not wish to be associated with these views. In a statement, a Sun spokeswoman said they were disgusted by the comments of JK Rowlings ex-husband and had called him sick and unrepentant. She said: It was certainly not our intention to enable or glorify domestic abuse, our intention was to expose a perpetrators total lack of remorse. Our sympathies are always with the victims. The Sun has a long history of standing up for abused women and campaigning against domestic violence. Our campaigns have kept refuges open, providing a safe place for women and children to escape violence, as well as getting laws change. She added that over the years, supported by charities, the Sun had empowered countless victims to come forward and seek help. Amazon, the nations second-largest employer, says the safety of its 840,000 workers during the coronavirus pandemic is its first priority. But a new lawsuit in San Francisco says the technology giant does little to sanitize the workplaces or clean the uniforms of employees who work on grocery orders at Amazons food-delivery outlet. The pickers who fill and prepare orders for Amazon Fresh wear full-body freezer suits to protect them from low refrigerator temperatures and then simply hang them on a rack for the next worker without any sanitizing, a San Francisco employee said in a suit filed Thursday in Superior Court. It said there were no baskets for dirty suits or logs indicating when a suit was last cleaned. Pickers have been told not to clean up messes and have not been instructed to sanitize the work area, the employees lawyers said. Furthermore, the carts and baskets that pickers are required to use to collect items are not sanitized or cleaned between users. And because the workers are required to meet a quota electronically monitored of scanning at least 60 items an hour, they have no time for safety measures and must walk down narrow aisles far closer to co-workers than the 6-foot social distance minimum, the suit said. Amazon has not disclosed the number of warehouse workers who have tested positive for the coronavirus, the suit said, but an unnamed source tracking reported cases found 1,079 cases and nine confirmed deaths as of late May. Needlessly increasing essential workers risk of infection is unacceptable, and Amazons lack of attention to safety poses a threat to the entire community, said Jennie Lee Anderson, an attorney for plaintiff Chiyomi Brent. Her suit seeks unspecified damages, including punitive damages. I expressed my concerns about COVID-19 (virus) infection to supervisors and managers, and made suggestions about how to improve sanitation, for instance with the freezer suits, Brent said in a statement released by her lawyers. But my concerns were not taken seriously and no steps were taken to improve safety. In response, Amazon spokesman Timothy Carter said the company offered employees unlimited time away from work between early March and May 1, and since then has offered leave for those who are most vulnerable or who need to care for family members. He said Amazon has spent $4 billion since April on COVID-related initiatives, including more than $800 million on safety measures like temperature checks, masks, gloves, enhanced cleaning and sanitization, extended pay and benefits options, testing, and more. Brent works at the Amazon Fresh Fulfillment Center in San Francisco, one of 15 facilities in California that fill orders of groceries and other everyday items for same-day or next-day delivery. Orders have soared during the pandemic. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes On March 25, the lawsuit said, Brent sent an email to Amazons corporate office discussing the unsanitized freezer suits and describing the workplace as a total pigsty with boxes, product, plastic, etc. all over the floor. She said she had been told not to take the time necessary to clean the area. In response, she said, the office manager told her at a meeting April 1 that the suits were cleaned four times a week, a description she said did not match her observations and would be inadequate even if true. She then contacted San Francisco health officials, who sent a police inspection team to the site April 9. After hearing managers claim the suits were cleaned daily, Brent said, inspectors found no such evidence and told them improvements were needed. The citys Department of Public Health, the suit noted, issued directives in May requiring such workplaces to sanitize all high-touch surfaces under their control and disinfect them regularly throughout the day. All shared devices and equipment must be sanitized at the beginning and end of each work shift, employees should be instructed to avoid touching frequently touched objects such as door handles, tools and credit cards, and larger facilities must designate a sanitation worker to clean all commonly touched surfaces, the directives said. Brent filed a complaint with the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health on May 22 accusing Amazon of ignoring safety mandates. She said the company has not responded directly, but on May 27 after inquiries from the attorneys general of 12 states and Washington, D.C. Amazon released a video to television stations nationwide on its diligence in combating the coronavirus and its concern for its employees. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has taken a defiant stand and said she will not be silenced by the Opposition Labour Party MPs who accused her of using her Indian heritage to gaslight the very real racism faced by communities in Britain. The Indian-origin Cabinet minister had referenced her personal experience of racist abuse while growing up as an ethnic minority in the UK during an impassioned statement in the House of Commons earlier this week. A group of 12 ethnic minority Labour MPs, including Indian-origin MPs Virendra Sharma, Tan Dhesi, Preet Kaur Gill, Valerie Vaz, Seema Malhotra and Nadia Whittome, wrote to her on Thursday to say that being a person of colour does not automatically make you an authority on all forms of racism. We write to you as Black Asian and Ethnic Minority Labour MPs to highlight our dismay at the way you used your heritage and experiences of racism to gaslight the very real racism faced by Black people and communities across the UK, the MPs write. Gaslighting refers to a form of psychological manipulation where seeds of doubt are planted against a particular idea. Patel responded by making the letter public on Twitter, with the message: I will not be silenced by @UKLabour MPs who continue to dismiss the contributions of those who dont conform to their view of how ethnic minorities should behave. Addressing the House of Commons on Monday, a day after violent clashes between Black Lives Matter protesters and police officers, Patel had condemned the violence perpetrated by a minority of protesters who would face justice. Questioned by an Opposition Labour Party MP on whether the minister fully understood the anger and frustration felt by anti-racism demonstrators protesting against the brutal killing of African-American George Floyd in police custody in the US, Patel retaliated with references to her own experiences. The minister, born to Gujarati-origin parents who fled Uganda for the UK when dictator Idi Amin expelled Asians from the African country in the early 1970s, said: On that basis, it must have been a very different Home Secretary who as a child was frequently called a Paki in the playground; a very different Home Secretary who was racially abused in the streets or even advised to drop her surname and use her husbands in order to advance her career so when it comes to racism, sexism, tolerance or social justice, I will not take lectures from the those other side of the House. In their complaint letter, the group of 12 Labour MPs demand that Patel reflect on her words and the impact it had towards black communities in the UK. Structures of racism, hatred and equality have many layers and therefore, whilst it is true, there are some experiences of racism that we all face, there are also some experiences of racism that we all do not face, reads the letter. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock spoke out in support of his Cabinet colleague when asked about the row during the daily Downing Street briefing on Thursday evening. I abhor this divisive identity politics thats being levelled at Priti Patel. Im incredibly proud to be part of the most diverse government in history. We dont think that theres such a thing as the wrong type of BME [black and minority ethnic]. We think that people are equal, he said. Fellow Indian-origin Cabinet colleague Alok Sharma also extended his support via Twitter, to say: I stand with Priti. Pakistani-origin Conservative Party colleague and former UK Chancellor and Home Secretary Sajid Javid also spoke out in her favour as he branded the Labour Partys letter utterly misguided and irresponsible. Imagine listening to an ethnic-minority womans history of suffering racist abuse and then deciding that youd rather condemn the victim than her abusers. All because she doesnt fit your stereotype, he said. George Floyd was infected with COVID-19, autopsy reveals FILE PHOTO: Residents help clean up their small California town after riots and looting (Reuters) - George Floyd, whose fatal encounter with Minneapolis police stirred a global outcry over racial bias by U.S. law enforcement, tested positive for the coronavirus, his autopsy showed, but the infection was not listed as a factor in his death. The official cause of death, according to the full 20-page report made public on Wednesday by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office, was cardiopulmonary arrest while Floyd was being restrained by police taking him into custody on May 25. The coroner ruled the manner of death to be a homicide. Four police officers since fired from their jobs for their role in the incident, which was captured on a bystander's cellphone video, are being held on criminal charges, one of them accused of murder. The video showed that officer using his knee to press Floyd's neck into the street for nearly nine minutes while the 46-year-old victim gasped for air and repeatedly groaned, "please, I can't breathe." Floyd was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later. The video immediately went viral on the internet, igniting nine days of nationwide protest and civil strife. Demonstrators have also taken to the streets overseas, from Germany to New Zealand. The autopsy, in listing cardiopulmonary arrest as the cause of Floyd's death, also cited "complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint and neck compression." The report listed several additional factors as "significant conditions" contributing to Floyd's death, including heart disease, high blood pressure and intoxication from the powerful opioid fentanyl, as well as recent methamphetamine use. The report further noted that a nasal swab sample collected from Floyd's body came back positive for COVID-19, and that Floyd had also tested positive on April 3, nearly eight weeks before his death. The county's chief medical examiner, Dr. Andrew Baker, concluded that the post mortem test result "most likely reflects asymptomatic but persistent ... positivity from previous infection." There was no indication in the autopsy report that coronavirus played any role in Floyd's death. Dr. Michael Baden, one of two medical examiners who conducted a private autopsy for Floyd's family, told the New York Times that county officials never told him, or the funeral director, that Floyd had tested positive for COVID-19. (Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Nick Macfie) I'm not sure if you noticed, because Channel Seven clearly didn't. But on Saturday, in the middle of one of the worst global pandemics in history, 60,000 Australians gathered shoulder-to-shoulder in protest. You can call it 'irresponsible', 'dangerous' or 'illegal' - and many have. It's really not for me to say - I'm a TV recap guy, and certainly not here to wade into that debate. What I do know is that we've learned a lot of lessons about what it takes to convince Australians to leave the house right now. This week, days after 60,000 people ignored public health orders to protest in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, Big Brother sent three people of colour packing in its first three episodes. Pictured: Soobong Hwang, who was eliminated on Wednesday Episode One The twelfth season kicked off with the overused 'contestants enter one-by-one' gimmick the series started decades ago. Enter Adelaide's worst driver Kieran, 21, who has the look of Barry Humphries and the voice of Dame Edna. Kieran got overexcited upon entering the house. It sounded like Vice was doing a tour of Epstein's place: 'Oh my GOD!' The series, now in a heavily-edited format with staged narrative arcs, went about planting the 'Villain', 'Fan Favourite', 'Lovable Larrikin' and 'Will-They-Won't-They?' seeds. Laura became the Villain after suggesting everyone did their own dishes. The Fan Favourite hopefuls proceeded to b***h about Laura. Lovable Larrikin Daniel - who is also one half of the 'Will-They-Won't-They?' with Talia - was too lovable to b***h. They tried to make us think Daniel was going home with a staged snoring fiasco, and then everyone evicted Laura, obviously. Advertisement This isn't America. Only three humans and an emu turn up to the wedding of 'Australia's daughter' Bindi Irwin? Well, that's what happens when you're in the middle of a global pandemic. For the first time ever, the Gold Coast Titans aren't the only NRL team to have nobody show up to their home games? Must be a global pandemic. But despite this, 60,000 Aussies took to the streets over the weekend in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. How many more would there have been if we weren't in a global pandemic? People are clearly passionate about this. So naturally it struck a nerve when three people of colour were sent packing in the first three episodes of Big Brother, leaving just one non-white contestant left. The rhetoric coming from the eliminated contestants, who are under contract with Seven, is that this was merely a 'coincidence'. They could be right, but to many it might just look like subconscious prejudice. On Monday, Fijian-Australian Laura Coriakula, 25, had the nerve to suggest 'everyone should do their own dishes, what do you reckon?' And on Tuesday, Chinese-Australian Allan Liang had a 'wild AF' meltdown when he was put up for eviction and was subsequently sent packing. Funnily enough, Marissa Rankin had a similar meltdown when put up for eviction the next night and was treated to a group hug. Instead, Korean Soobong Hwang was booted after he made the classic Survivor mistake of showing everyone how ripped and dangerous he was. 'Want to see me do a two finger push up? Guys? Gaz, Kev, Bluey, come look!' You can call it 'irresponsible', 'dangerous' or 'illegal' - and many have. It's really not for me to say - I'm a TV recap guy, and certainly not here to wade into that debate. What I do know is that no one left the house for Bindi Irwin's dream wedding. People are clearly passionate about this The rhetoric coming from the eliminated contestants, who are under contract with Seven, is that this was merely a 'coincidence'. On Monday, Fijian-Australian Laura Coriakula, 25, was eliminated for having the nerve to suggest 'everyone should do their own dishes' And on Tuesday, Chinese-Australian Allan Liang had a 'wild AF' meltdown when he was put up for eviction and was subsequently sent packing On Wednesday, Korean-born Soobong made the classic Survivor mistake of whipping his shirt off and showing everyone how ripped and dangerous he was. That was the end of him And yes, there could be some underlying, subconscious prejudice going on in the minds of white Australians - but again, 'Recaps guy' isn't going to wade into that. Here's something Mr. Recaps can tell you: nothing, I repeat nothing, on reality TV in 2020 is a 'coincidence'. The advent of ratings cash cow Married At First Sight took the 'real' out of reality TV years ago. Producers have the final say on everything. If, for example, a contestant is drawing big ratings but decides to smear s**t on a co-star's toothbrush, you find a way to keep them on the show. And yes, there could be some underlying, subconscious prejudice going on in the minds of white Australians - but again, 'Recaps guy' isn't going to wade into that Here's something Mr. Recaps can tell you: NOTHING on reality TV in 2020 is a 'coincidence'. If, for example, a contestant is drawing ratings but decides to smear s**t on his wife's toothbrush, the producers find a way to keep them on the show. Pictured: MAFS star Hayley Vernon What about if Honey Badger tries to evict the Hollywood blonde stopping dad from switching it over to the footy every Thursday? You yell 'cut!' and pull the bloke aside to remind him that he's contractually obliged to have a sudden change of heart Episode Two Hey, did you leave episode one with a sense of excitement about what was next? Well, abandon all hope. Episode two was the worst episode in franchise history - and yes, I am aware of Sara-Marie, Merlin, Hot Dogs, Taco, Chiko Roll and the rest. Four new housemates entered. Eccentric talent agent Garth, 50, and six pack on legs Chad, 27, got their own intro video packages. These were AWFUL. Straight out of MAFS. 'Son, you're adoptive father is going to win Big Brother for YOU! Look out world, I'm doing it for my little boy!' Pass the bucket. It was so bad, we were left craving the old, STI-infected intro videos circa 2001: 'Yeah f**k you I'm Gav, good thanks! Why do I want to go on Big Brother? Because you can get fully nude on there and it's not even illegal! WOO up, up Cronulla.' In the 'melt a block of ice to retrieve a flag' eviction challenge, it was the battle of the bogan-trepreneurs. Garth used his head, literally, and Daniel used his urine, literally. The head won. Marketing exec Allan got put up for eviction, sparking a total, Mel Gibson-level meltdown. Naturally the housemates booted him out. Advertisement What about if Honey Badger tries to evict the Hollywood blonde stopping dad from switching it over to the footy every Thursday? You yell 'cut!' and pull the bloke aside to remind him that he's contractually obliged to have a sudden change of heart. Big Brother is one of the most manoeuvrable formats in television. An all-seeing, all-powerful robot has the final say on everything. There's so many things Seven could have done to erase the unfortunate coincidence of three people of colour being evicted amid the Black Lives Matter movement. Seven: 'Alright mate, it's your boss here, we're going to need you to duck to the recording booth, these first three eliminations are problematic.' Big Brother: 'But it's my day off...' Seven: 'Hold on for just a sec, sorry. Kerry Stokes is on the line and he's yelling something about how he owns you and you can take a day off when you're dead.' Big Brother: 'Never mind. See you in 20 minutes.' And with that, Big Brother could have called the housemates to the diary room for an urgent meeting, alerting them to the fact that their evictions could be perceived as problematic and all three housemates would return to the house. It would be an important learning moment for the housemates, who didn't afford Allan the same leeway they afforded Marissa. But what if Seven didn't pick up on it at the time, and only now, at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, realised how bad it looked? Well, you may not be surprised to know that episodes of pre-taped reality shows are regularly aired out of order. They could have staggered these evictions. It wouldn't matter if Soobong was missing for a few episodes - with 20 housemates, several of them don't make it into every episode. Xavier Molyneux could have drowned in the pool on night one and the viewers would be none the wiser. There's many things Seven could have done to erase the coincidence. Big Brother could have called a meeting, alerting housemates to the fact their evictions could be perceived as problematic and all three would return to the house. A nice learning moment for young viewers But what if Seven didn't pick up on it at the time, and only now, at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, realised how bad it looked? Well, pre-taped reality shows regularly air episodes out of order It wouldn't matter if Soobong was missing for a few episodes, not every housemate makes every episode. Remember Xavier? Neither. He hasn't been since since day one Episode Three And then in a shock twist - as if Seven was actually listening to feedback - episode three was brilliant. Four new housemates arrived in a cage, lowered into the backyard by a 20ft crane. There goes the budget. The crane was extremely slow. Quirky Bunnings employee Sarah realised she had a good five minutes to b***h about new girl Hannah before she was in earshot. 'See that tart up there with all the makeup? she was in my group interview, total try-hard!' she said. 'Of course she'd enter on a crane. Typical her!' Soobong, Shane and Danni also entered. Sports lover Hannah had a flirty exchange with failed AFL star Daniel. 'I'm a failed AFL star, so I know all about behinds - and yours is ace!' he said. This riled-up Daniel's 'will-they-won't they', Talia. Their intense jealously spurs them to a win in the eviction challenge, after which they nominate Hannah, Soobong and Marissa. Just like Allan, Marissa had a Mel Gibson meltdown: banging her head against the wall in time with the song Ho Hey by The Lumineers. 'I've been trying to do it right...' WHACK. 'I've been living a lonely life...' WHACK. But for some reason the house chose to evict Soobong instead. Not only did the housemates evict all of the diversity, they evicted the only contestants worth watching. Advertisement Matt Garrick, Chad Hurst, or the nerd who plays the spoons might have been kicked off for inappropriate conduct and Seven could have kept it hidden for weeks. In fact, the only reason that solution may not be possible is because Soobong and Allan were by far the funniest people on the show - and Laura's villainy was good TV. So now we're left with a barrel full of bogans trying to avoid eviction by being as boring as possible, a failed AFL player and a tradie in the same will-they-won't-they love story you've seen a million times before... and a bloke who plays the spoons. Oh, and then there's Ethiopian-Australian Angela Clancy, who broke down in tears in the diary room when Big Brother finally restocked the Earl Grey tea bags. Great TV. Sure, there's also Garth Saville, the eccentric 50-year-old who spent two hours motor-boating a block of ice without even creasing his Lowe's blazer. And did I mention the guy who plays the spoons? Content is at such a premium these days that rest assured this series of Big Brother will air to millions around the world - in America, the UK, parts of Europe and Asia. It's little wonder why Americans, with all of their social problems, still regard Australia as a less tolerant nation. 'Why do they get rid of all the entertaining people first? Isn't that counterproductive and nasty, these people should be celebrated!' asked Nancy from Wyoming, who was looking for something to watch while she cleaned her semi-automatic weapons. 'Over there they call it Tall Poppy Syndrome,' replied Brantley, who won't get up to change the channel because he has crippling gout and can't afford his medical bills. 'And I thought we were bad!' In fact, the only reason that solution may not be possible is because Soobong and Allan were by far the funniest people on the show - and Laura's villainy was good TV So now we're left with a barrel full of bogans trying to avoid eviction by being as boring as possible, a failed AFL player and a tradie in the same will-they-won't-they love story you've seen a million times before... and a bloke who plays the spoons UNI New Delhi/IBNS: After surpassing the United Kingdom in the global ranking of worst-hit coronavirus nations, India on Friday recorded another grim milestone of crossing 3 lakh cases of the highly contagious virus. Amid the observance of 'Unlock 1.0' in India, the Asian country, with a population of 1.3 billion people, registered 2,903 cases during the later part of the day to reach a tally of 3,04,019 from 2,97,535. Earlier in the day, India left behind the UK in the global arena with 10,956 fresh cases between Thursday and Friday mornings. The UK, which is now placed at fifth position in the list of worst-affected countries worldwide, has 2,94,401 cases so far, according to John Hopkins University's Coronavirus live map. India with its poor health facilities is preceded by the United States, Brazil and Russia. The death toll in India rose to 8,498 with a record single-day jump of 396 fatalities. The western state of Maharashtra continues to be the most-affected with 1,01,141 cases. Maharashtra is followed by Tamil Nadu with 40,698 and Delhi with 34,687 cases. The situation has turned grim at a time when the government had eased restrictions and limited the lockdown to only containment zones till June 30 in an attempt to boost the economy. As per various analyses, the pandemic will have a bearing effect on the country's economy pushing it to witness an increase in the number of people reeling under extreme poverty condition. Rate of recovery high in India: However, providing a ray of hope, the Union Health Ministry on Friday announced that the recovery rate in India continues to improve and is currently at 49.47% with 1,47,194 patients cured till Friday. "Doubling time improves to 17.4 days from 3.4 days at the beginning of #Lockdown," the Health Ministry said in a tweet. ai Recovery rate continues to improve and is currently at 49.47% with 1,47,194 patients cured ai Doubling time improves to 17.4 days from 3.4 days at the beginning of #Lockdown Find more updates in PIB's daily #COVID19 bulletin Y https://t.co/QwVSYXi0q8 pic.twitter.com/V45DxsCCm3 PIB India (@PIB_India) June 12, 2020 SC slams states over poor COVID-19 situation handling: The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up the Delhi government over the "horrendous, horrific and pathetic" COVID-19 situation in the national capital besides terming the condition in three other states- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal- as "grim." Slamming the Delhi government over its handling of the infected patients, the Supreme Court said as quoted by NDTV, "COVID-19 patients are treated worse than animals. In one case, a body was found in the garbage. Patients are dying and nobody is there to even attend to them." It added, "The situation in Delhi is horrendous, horrific and pathetic. (There is a) very sorry state of affairs in its hospitals that aren't giving due care and concern to the bodies. Patients' families aren't even informed about deaths. Families haven't been able to attend the last rites too in some cases." The court has also sought a response from Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal as well as the central government taking note of the reports of improper handling of patients and the disposal of the deceased in the country. India not in community transmission stage: ICMR Despite the steady rise in Covid-19 cases, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Thursday claimed India was not in the community transmission stage. ICMR DG Prof. Balram Bhargava had told a press briefing here, "India is not in community transmission. We have to continue with our strategy of testing, tracing, tracking, quarantine and containment measures and we should not give up our guard on these." The ICMR had also claimed India's mortality rate per lakh population is among the lowest in the world. A Liberal MP has called for Australians taking part in illegal demonstrations this weekend to be stripped of their welfare payments - with unemployment benefits now doubled. Refugee activists are vowing to ignore a New South Wales Supreme Court order banning a Sydney rally planned for Saturday. A Melbourne man in his thirties was yesterday confirmed as testing positive to COVID-19 after joining thousands at last weekend's Black Lives Matter demonstration. Brisbane-based Liberal MP Andrew Laming said those who defied bans on mass demonstrations this weekend, during the coronavirus pandemic, deserved to lose their welfare payments, with the JobSeeker payment temporarily doubled to more than $1,100 a fortnight. Scroll down for video A Liberal MP has called for Australians taking part in illegal demonstrations this weekend to be stripped of their welfare payments - with unemployment benefits now doubled. Pictured is the Brisbane Black Lives Matter rally on June 6, 2020 Brisbane -based Liberal MP Andrew Laming said those who defied bans on mass demonstrations this weekend, during the coronavirus pandemic, deserved to lose their welfare payments, with JobSeeker payment temporarily doubled to more than $1,100 a fortnight 'I'm asking Australians to reflect on the fact we're paying COVID and health-related payments to get through a crisis but here we have rallies where people are blatantly ignoring clear and unambiguous advice,' the member for Bowman told Sky News on Friday. Poll Should protesters lose welfare for defying COVID-19 rules? Yes No Undecided Should protesters lose welfare for defying COVID-19 rules? Yes 155 votes No 13 votes Undecided 2 votes Now share your opinion 'I'm challenging those protesters who are doing that to hand back those payments in advance. 'You can't simply collect from the taxpayer with one hand and risk infecting them with the other.' Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, who previously described the Black Lives Matter rallies as 'self indulgent', suggested it would be worth considering a docking of welfare payments if protesters defied bans on large public gatherings. 'That is a conversation that would be worthwhile having,' Senator Cormann told Sky News on Friday. Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul, an organiser of tomorrow's Sydney rally in defiance of a court order, described the calls from Liberal MPs to dock welfare an 'authoritarian'. 'It's the response of authoritarians - it's very obvious they want to use the COVID crisis on the right to protest. That's unacceptable,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Mr Rintoul said he expected 150 people to turn up outside Sydney Town Hall on Saturday afternoon despite NSW Supreme Court justice Michael Walton on Thursday banning their demonstration. 'We're still planning to go ahead in exactly the same form, we're still planning to have a rally tomorrow,' he said. 'We believe it's quite possible to have a safe rally.' The NSW Police have vowed to impose $1,000 fines on those who disobeyed coronavirus public health orders. A Melbourne man in his thirties was yesterday confirmed as testing positive to COVID-19 after joining thousands at last weekend's Black Lives Matter demonstration. Pictured is that demonstration Australia's chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy yesterday described large gatherings like rallies as 'extremely ill advised' - pointing to advice from the government's Health Protection Principal Committee which includes state chief health officers. 'Large gatherings, large mass gatherings such as a protest are extremely ill advised,' he told the ABC's 7.30 program. 'We think that they present a significant risk of transmission and a very significant risk because you can't, you don't know who you're contacting and so we feel that people should be discouraged from attending such events. 'We understand the passion that people have for wanting to protest, but we think it's a really bad idea at the moment.' Australia's chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy yesterday described large gatherings like rallies as 'extremely ill advised' - pointing to advice from the government's Health Protection Principal Committee which includes state chief health officers Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for those defying future protest bans, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to be charged. He has also pleaded with Black Lives Matter organisers to put off holding mass events in coming weeks. Since the end of April, his government has temporarily doubled unemployment benefits, adding a $550 coronavirus supplement to the existing $565.780 JobSeeker allowance. Until September, jobless Australians are receiving $1,115 a fortnight, as part of a $66billion stimulus. Workers affected by the coronavirus shutdowns are also receiving $1,500 a fortnight in wage subsidies as part of the $70billion JobKeeper program. Async Python is not faster Async Python is slower than "sync" Python under a realistic benchmark. A bigger worry is that async frameworks go a bit wobbly under load. Most people understand that async Python has a higher level of concurrency. It would make some sense for that to imply higher performance for common tasks like serving dynamic web sites or web APIs. Sadly async is not go-faster-stripes for the Python interpreter. Under realistic conditions (see below) asynchronous web frameworks are slightly worse throughput (requests/second) and much worse latency variance. Benchmark results I tested a wide variety of different sync and async webserver configurations: Webserver Framework Workers P50 P99 Throughput Gunicorn with meinheld Falcon 16 17 31 5589 Gunicorn with meinheld Bottle 16 17 32 5780 UWGGI over http Bottle 16 18 32 5497 UWSGI over http Flask 16 22 33 4431 Gunicorn with meinheld Flask 16 21 35 4510 UWSGI over 'uwsgi' Bottle 16 18 36 5281 UWSGI over http Falcon 16 18 37 5415 Gunicorn Flask 14 28 42 3473 Uvicorn Starlette 5 16 75 4952 AIOHTTP AIOHTTP 5 19 76 4501 Uvicorn Sanic 5 17 85 4687 Gunicorn with gevent Flask 12 24 136 3077 Daphne Starlette 5 20 364 2678 50th and 99th percentile response times are in milliseconds, throughput is in requests per second. The table is ordered by P99, which I think is perhaps the most important real world statistic. Note that: The best performers are sync frameworks but Flask has lower throughput than others The worst performers are all async frameworks Async frameworks have far worse latency variation Uvloop-based options do better than the builtin asyncio loop so if you have no option but to use asyncio, use uvloop Are these benchmarks really representative? I think so. I tried to make them as realistic as possible. Here's the architecture I used: I've tried to model a real world deployment as best I can. There is a reverse proxy, the python code (ie: the variable), and a database. I've also included an external database connection pooler as I think that is a pretty common feature of real deployments of web applications (at least, it is for postgresql). The application in question queries a row by random key and returns the value as JSON. Full source code is available on github. Why the worker count varies The rule I used for deciding on what the optimal number of worker processes was is simple: for each framework I started at a single worker and increased the worker count successively until performance got worse. The optimal number of workers varies between async and sync frameworks and the reasons are straightforward. Async frameworks, due to their IO concurrency, are able to saturate a single CPU with a single worker process. The same is not true of sync workers: when they do IO they will block until the IO is finished. Consequently they need to have enough workers to ensure that all CPU cores are always in full use when under load. For more information on this, see the gunicorn documentation: Generally we recommend (2 x $num_cores) + 1 as the number of workers to start off with. While not overly scientific, the formula is based on the assumption that for a given core, one worker will be reading or writing from the socket while the other worker is processing a request. Machine spec I ran the benchmark on Hetzner's CX31 machine type, which is basically a 4 "vCPU"/8 GB RAM machine. It was run under Ubuntu 20.04. I ran the load generator on another (smaller) VM. Why does async do worse? Throughput On throughput (ie: requests/second) the primary factor is not async vs sync but how much Python code has been replaced with native code. Simply put, the more performance sensitive Python code you can replace the better you will do. This is Python performance tactic with a long history (see also: numpy). Meinheld and UWSGI (~5.3k requests/sec each) are large bodies of C code. Standard Gunicorn (~3.4k requests/sec) is pure Python. Uvicorn+Starlette (~4.9k requests/sec) replaces much more Python code than AIOHTTP's default server (~4.5k requests/sec) (though AIOHTTP was also installed with its optional "speedups"). Latency On latency the problem is deeper. Under load, async does badly and latency starts to spike out to a much greater extent than under a traditional, sync, deployment. Why is this? In async Python, the multi-threading is co-operative, which simply means that threads are not interrupted by a central governor (such as the kernel) but instead have to voluntarily yield their execution time to others. In asyncio, the execution is yielded upon three language keywords: await , async for and async with . This means that execution time is not distributed "fairly" and one thread can inadvertently starve another of CPU time while it is working. This is why latency is more erratic. In contrast, traditional sync Python webservers like UWSGI use the pre-emptive multi-processing of the kernel scheduler, which works to ensure fairness by periodically swapping processes out from execution. This means that time is divided more fairly and that latency variance is lower. Why do other benchmarks show different results? The majority of other benchmarks (particularly those from async framework authors!) simply do not configure sync frameworks with enough workers. This means that those sync frameworks are effectively prevented from accessing most of the CPU time that is really available. Here is a sample benchmark from the Vibora project. (I didn't test this framework because it's one of the less popular ones.) Vibora claims 500% higher throughput than Flask. However when I reviewed their benchmark code I found that they are misconfiguring Flask to use one worker per CPU. When I correct that, I get the following numbers: Webserver Throughput Flask 11925 req/s Vibora 14148 req/s The throughput benefit of using Vibora over Flask is really just 18%. Flask is one of the lower throughput sync frameworks I tested so I expect that a better sync setup would be much faster than Vibora, despite the impressive looking graph. Another problem is that many benchmarks de-prioritise latency results in favour of throughput results (Vibora's doesn't even mention it for example). However, while throughput can be improved by adding machines, latency under load doesn't get better when you do that. Increased throughput is really only useful while latency is within an acceptable range. Further reasoning, supposition and anecdata Although my benchmark is fairly realistic in terms of the things involved it's still much more homogenous than a real life workload - all requests do a database query and they all do the same thing with that query. Real applications typically have much more inherent variation: there will be some slow operations, some fast ones, some that do lots of IO and some that use lots of CPU. It seems reasonable to assume (and it's true in my experience) that latency variance is actually much higher in a real application. My hunch is that async applications' performance will be even more problematic in this case. Publicly available anecdotes are consistent with this idea: Dan McKinley wrote about his experiences operating a Twisted-based system at Etsy. It seems that that system suffered from chronic latency variance: [The Twisted consultants] said that although Twisted was good at overall throughput, outlying requests could experience severe latency. Which was a problem for [Etsy's system], because the way the PHP frontend used it was hundreds/thousands of times per web request. Mike Bayer, the SQLAlchemy author, wrote Asynchronous Python and Databases several years ago in which he considers async from a slightly different perspective. He also benchmarks, and finds asyncio less efficient. "Rachel by the Bay" wrote an article called "We have to talk about this Python, Gunicorn, Gevent thing" in which she describes operations chaos arising from a gevent-based configuration. I've also had troubles (though not performance-related) with gevent in production. The other thing I should mention is that in the course of setting up these benchmarks every single async implementation managed to fall over in an annoying way. Uvicorn had its parent process terminate without terminating any of its children which meant that I then had to go pid hunting for the children who were still holding onto port 8001. At one point AIOHTTP raised an internal critical error to do with file descriptors but did not exit (and so would not be restarted by any process supervisor - a cardinal sin!). Daphne also ran into trouble locally but I forget exactly how. All of these errors were transient and easily resolved with SIGKILL. However the fact remains that I wouldn't want to be responsible for code based on these libraries in a production context. By contrast I didn't have any problems with Gunicorn or UWSGI - except that I really dislike that UWSGI doesn't exit if your app hasn't loaded correctly. In conclusion My recommendation: for performance purposes, just use normal, synchronous Python but use native code for as much as possible. For webservers, it's worth considering frameworks other than Flask if throughput is paramount but even Flask under UWSGI has latency characteristics as good as the best. Thanks to my friend Tudor Munteanu for double checking my numbers! Contact/etc Please do send me an email about this article, especially if you disagreed with it. If you liked it, you might like other things I've written. Find out when I write something new - by email or RSS If you have enjoyed this article and as a result are feeling charitable towards me, please test out my side project, Quarchive, a FOSS social bookmarking site, and email me your feedback! See also Flask's original author has posted a couple of times about his concerns regarding asyncio, first posting "I don't understand Python's Asyncio" which actually gives a pretty good explanation of the technology and recently with "I'm not feeling the async pressure" in which he says: async/await is great but it encourages writing stuff that will behave catastrophically when overloaded What color is your function? explains some of the reasons why it is more painful to have a language with sync and async at the same time. Function colouring is a big problem in Python and the community is now sadly bifurcated into people writing sync code and people writing async code - they can't share the same libraries. Worse yet, some async libraries are also incompatible with other async libraries so the async Python community is even further divided. Chris Wellons wrote an article recently which also touches on latency issues and some footguns in the asyncio standard library. This is the kind of problem that makes async programs much harder to get right unfortunately. Nathaniel J. Smith has a series of brill articles on async that I recommend to anyone trying to get to grips with it: He contends that the asyncio library is misconceived. My worry is that if the big brains who debate PEPs can't get it right, what hope is there for mere mortals like myself? We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. The Democratic Republic of Congo, which cultivates only 10 percent of its arable land, imports almost all of its food. At local markets, the rice comes from Asia, the fish from Latin America and the onions from Cameroon. The result of this reliance on imports is food insecurity. In March, the Covid-19 pandemic and the closure of borders made the situation worse. Commodity prices skyrocketed and some commodities, such as cornflour, are out of stock. And yet, the country has vast agricultural potential. Our correspondents report. JERSEY CITY A McNair Academic High School teacher has been suspended with pay after allegations of inappropriate behavior and sexual misconduct with students surfaced online and a petition seeking his removal was created. Superintendent Franklin Walker said a full-blown investigation is looking into the allegations, which originally surfaced in a petition signed by more than 3,000 on Change.org. An inquiry into the teachers behavior will take some time, Walker said, since some of the allegations were made by people who graduated from the highly-regarded Jersey City school as far back as 2012. We have alumni students who are talking about incidents, not so much the students that are currently there, Walker said. That is the reason why it is taking us the time it is taking us." The allegations came to light at about the same time 21 McNair students were called out by other students for allegedly using racial and anti-gay rhetoric, including the n-word. Three students have already been suspended in that case, Walker said. The name of the teacher is being withheld since no criminal charges have been filed. Walker questioned why the allegations against the teacher are coming out now. He speculated that people under quarantine from the coronavirus may be looking for ways to break out and things to transfer attention to. And so, a concern I had is that if these things were going on, why werent they brought forth before?" Walker said. What are the circumstances surrounding these allegations ... . I am not placing judgment on anyone or with anyone. Experts say teens often do not disclose sexual assault for years for a number of reasons, including emotional pain, shame, fear of not being believed and being blamed. Walker said the district is receiving guidance from Hudson County Prosecutors Office on its role in the investigation. We have been in communication with the McNair High School administration as recently as today and there have been no allegations that rise to the level of a crime," HCPO spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said. If anyone wants to report a sex crime by a teacher, please call the Hudson County Prosecutors Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) at 201-915-1234. McNair was ranked the fourth best high school in New Jersey in the 2020 U.S. News and World Report rankings. Students must apply and be accepted to attend. The student body is 81% persons of color and 52% are economically disadvantaged. Walker said the teacher will not be returning to McNair, no matter the outcome of the investigation. The thing that is so critical about this is that we have to protect the rights of the students. We have to protect the rights of the teacher. We have to protect the rights of everyone that is involved, Walker said. They are owed a due process. Board of Education President Lorenzo Richardson said there is not much he can comment on because it is a personnel matter. We are just being made aware of this, he said. We have to make sure we have all the facts together, and once we get all the facts, we can make a determination. Ky. megachurch shuts down again after 18 members test positive for coronavirus Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Kentucky megachurch pastor who clashed with Gov. Andy Beshear over restrictions on in-person services imposed during the coronavirus pandemic, says he's suspended in-person worship services again after 18 members of his church tested positive for the virus since he resumed in-person services a month after closing. Clay Mills Baptist Church on Brannon Road in Nicholasville, just south of the Lexington city limits, held in-person services on May 17 and May 24, Jeff Fugate, pastor of the 2,500-member church, told the Courier Journal. Since then, he said, at least 18 members of his church have tested positive for the new coronavirus. He stressed that there's "no indication" they were infected at church. Randy Gooch, executive director of the Jessamine County Health Department, told the publication, however, that evidence reviewed by his office suggests the infections were linked to the church. Our disease investigation is indicative of these cases tracing back to their contact with other cases at Clays Mill Baptist, Gooch said. Our initial case was confirmed symptomatic when they attended church, so this gives us good reason to believe they are connected. In an extended post on Wednesday morning, Fugate, who's also president of the Commonwealth Baptist College, slammed Kentuckys governor and the health department for targeting his church in an extended statement on Facebook. The contact tracing work seemed to stop with our church. Did the virus come from someones place of work, the mall, a grocery store or big box store? Why did Governor Beshear and the Health Department single out by name, me and our church? Why not reveal the names and places where the virus came from before coming to our church. This sounds like contact targeting rather than contact tracing, Fugate argued. Our church did not produce the virus, someone had to have picked up the virus somewhere before we opened church to the public for just two weeks. We had not had in-person church services since March 15. However, to prevent anyone else from getting the virus I suspended in-person services until June 21. I have said from the beginning that the health and safety of our people is most important to me, he continued. Fugate noted that his church is now meeting online only and said that Beshear did not like that he stood with Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron in April and called for him to lift restrictions on in-person worship. The governor is disappointed that I stood with Attorney General Daniel Cameron for the constitutional right of churches to hold in-person services, the pastor said. A May 8 ruling from U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, in a case involving Tabernacle Baptist Church, allowed churches in Kentucky to resume in-person gatherings ahead of the May 20 timeline when Beshear said he would lift his ban on church gatherings. Judge Van Tatenhove ruled against Governor Beshears restrictions on churches revealing in the judges decision the bias of the governor against churches. (Read the ruling). The truth is, and it is obvious that Governor Beshear is guilty of bias toward churches. He does not practice what he has preached every day since early March about wearing masks, social distancing and avoiding gatherings. He says one thing and does another, Fugate said. We will continue to work to keep our people safe and healthy while attending church. Governor Beshear can continue to promote large gatherings at protests (except those that disagree with him) or wherever he deems is appropriate and at the same time limit our Kentucky businesses and single out churches. That is his business but, his bias is showing! Fugate told the Courier Journal that on June 21, the church will resume in-person services in a new outdoor tent that can fit 400 people. "Folks can park all the way around the new tent and listen on the radio if they want to stay in their cars outside of the tent," he said, noting that those who are sick should stay home. Addressing the coronavirus in a recent briefing, Beshear said, I hope that everybody (who) tested positive from services at Clays Mill has seen or talked to a doctor. We want all of you to be OK." Beshear then mentioned how Fugate stood with Cameron in April and said, "Governor, we can do this safely." "Well, he couldnt," Beshear argued. The Uttarakhand government has approved the Comprehensive Mobility Plan of the Uttarakhand Metro Rail Project, clearing the way for ropeway projects in Dehradun, Rishikesh and Haridwar to ease traffic movement. In a meeting of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) on Thursday, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat gave the approval for the project. According to officials, a detailed project report for the rope-way system is being prepared with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for Dehradun city. The state government also approved the project for the construction of Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) in Haridwar city along with the construction of Metro Light in Haridwar-Rishikesh and Nepali Farm-Vidhan Sabha Corridor. Jitendra Tyagi, managing director of Uttarakhand Metro Rail gave a detailed presentation on Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh MetroLite System during which he shared information about the route plan study for the metro project from Haridwar to Rishikesh, Dehradun to Nepali Farm. In December last year, Uttarakhand had signed a contract with DMRC for the ropeway projects. A first instalment of Rs 43.30 lakh was also given to DMRC at that time. State urban development minister Madan Kaushik , who had signed the contract, had said that once completed, the ropeway system will ease the traffic problems in Dehradun. Till date, the ropeway system is not being used as a mode of mass transport at any other place in India. Dehradun will be the first city to adopt this system, said Kaushik. Two routes have been proposed for Dehradun city the first from Forest Research Institute till Rispana Bridge via Clock Tower and the second one from ISBT till Madhuban Hotel via Clock Tower. The ropeway will have a carrying capacity of around ten passengers. In Haridwar, Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) or pod-taxis will be started and for Rishikesh light metro transit will be established for connecting Dehradun and Haridwar. The projects will cover around 20 to 25 km and likely to cost up to Rs 2200 crore. Vietnam has voiced its objection to Chinas installment of undersea cables in the formers Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago. Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence and legal grounds affirming its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa [Spratly] archipelagoes in accordance with international law, Le Thi Thu Hang, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed while answering questions about the incident during a regular press conference on Thursday. Hang was referring to two groups of islands administered by Vietnam in the East Vietnam Sea. Any activity conducted in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa without Vietnams permission is null and void, she underlined. Relevant countries need to act responsibly and refrain from complicating the situation in the East Vietnam Sea, and have to contribute to the maintenance of peace and security in the maritime area, Hang stated. Benar News previously reported that a ship named Tian Yi Hai Gong had left Shanghai on May 28 and headed to Vietnams Hoang Sa. There was no specific information on the management of Tian Yi Hai Gong, the news outlet said, adding it could only confirm that the ship was built in early 2020 and carried a Chinese flag. Satellite images later showed that the vessel placed undersea cables to connect Cay (Tree) Island, Bac (North) Island, and Phu Lam (Woody) Island in Hoang Sa where many Chinese soldiers are illegally stationed. On June 5, the ship traveled southwest to the islands of Ba Ba (Yagong) and Duy Mong (Drummond) in the Hoang Sa archipelago. Benar News cited three experts as saying that the activity was related to a submarine cable system that China has been operating illicitly in the East Vietnam Sea. The cable system is likely used for military purposes, the experts added. In 2016, Reuters reported that China had installed a cable system connecting Vietnams Phu Lam Island and its Hainan Province. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! By PTI NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday said the Central government's decision of phased reopening of lockdown was not taken in haste and it was done to ensure a proper balance between containing the spread of COVID 19 pandemic and making it certain that people are not forced to starvation. The high court's order came while dismissing with a cost of Rs 20,000 a PIL by a law student challenging the May 30 order of the Centre by which lockdown was extended in containment zones and reopening of activities was done in a phased manner outside containment zones. The petition was 'completely misconceived' and has been filed only to 'gain publicity', said the 23-page judgement of the high court which held that nothing has been shown by the petitioner as to how the May 30 order was so arbitrary or is based on such irrelevant consideration that it deserves to be struck down as being violative of Article 14 of the Constitution. A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad said the government is expected to remain cognisant of the situation and evaluate it closely and if it is found that the rate of infection is going up, they can always review their decision and impose curbs, depending upon the situation. ALSO READ| Contempt plea in Delhi HC against authorities for violating orders on handling of COVID-19 bodies The high court said a series of orders have been passed by the government starting from March this year to tackle the situation and decisions have been taken to ensure minimum hardship to people and several economic packages have been announced to regenerate the economy. "This court can also take judicial notice of the fact that world over, the trend is now to reduce the restrictions which were imposed due to lockdown and to return to normal life," it said. In order to ensure a proper balance between containing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and at the same time make certain that people are not forced to starvation the government has issued the impugned order. "The re-opening has been directed in a phased manner and is not a decision that appears to have been taken in haste. The government is expected to remain cognisant of the situation and evaluate it closely. If it is found that the rate of infection is going up, they can always review their decision and impose curbs, depending upon the situation," the bench said. It noted that the lockdown has resulted in loss of jobs for several lakhs of people and scores of people were forced to walk considerable distance and stand in long queues at food distribution centers just to have two square meals a day. It said that several people have gone hungry and were not able to get one meal and many were left shelterless and several lakhs of migrant labour had to walk on foot and go back to their native places. The economic situation of the country has taken a terrible hit due to the lockdown. In fact, many analysts have opined that the lockdown has caused more human suffering than COVID-19 itself. Economists have forecasted that Indian economy will shrink as a result of the steps taken to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Indian economy virtually came to a standstill during nationwide lockdown. "Production in the country came to a grinding halt during the lockdown period. Construction activities in the country have stopped. People have become unemployed which raises grave concerns regarding the law and order situation in the country," the high court said. The bench said Arjun Aggarwal, a fifth year law student, filed the petition without looking at the position in law. He challenged the guidelines on the ground that phased reopening will result in rampant spread of COVID-19 in the country and it has been done only keeping in mind economic considerations while endangering its citizens to the extent of succumbing to a contagious disease in the absence of any proven medical cure for it. The plea claimed there was no need or justification for reopening the prohibited activities. The bench said in its order that during the hearing, it had informed the petitioner's counsel that the court was not inclined to entertain the petition as it found the plea was an abuse of the process of the law. "We had also warned the counsel that if he presses the petition, we would be constrained to dismiss it with costs. We cautioned the counsel only because the petitioner is a law student," it added. ALSO READ| Lockdown will not be extended in Delhi: Health Minister Satyendar Jain Despite that, counsel for the petitioner upon taking instructions from the petitioner, continued to address arguments, wasting valuable judicial time. "We deprecate this conduct of the petitioner. He has not cared to read the judgments relating to public interest litigations and the limits on the Court while exercising its power of judicial review on policy matters," the bench said. While dismissing the plea, it directed the petitioner to deposit the cost of Rs 20,000 in the Delhi High Court Bar Association Lawyers' Security and Welfare Fund within two weeks. The bench said the courts cannot act as an appellate authority examining the correctness, suitability and appropriateness of the policy. "...nor are courts advisors to the executive in matters of policy which the executive is entitled to formulate. The courts cannot interfere with the policy either on the ground that it is erroneous or on the ground that a better or a wiser alternative is available. Illegality of the policy and not the wisdom and soundness of the policy is the subject matter of judicial review," it said. Bafflingly, some observers seem to be taking McEnany at her word, even if they doubt the president can pull off a conciliatory performance. Writing for CNN, Chris Cillizza speculated that the intended audience for the Tulsa rally could be suburban white women disgusted by Trumps response to the killing of George Floyd and the resulting protests. Politico Playbook said, of this political moment: Donald John Trump is torn. Torn between the impulse to speak and cater to his base, and the demands of governing a multiracial country in the throes of unprecedented turmoil and upheaval. Somehow, even at this late date, there are professional commentators who have not grasped the full malignancy of this president. On Wednesday, in a brief blog post, Amazon made a surprising announcement: that it would implement a one-year moratorium on police use of its facial recognition service, Rekognition. The post did not mention the furious nationwide demand for reform in response to the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many other Black people. But it did cite developments in recent days indicating that Congress seemed prepared to implement stronger regulations to govern the ethical use of facial recognition technologyregulations that Amazon claims to be advocating for and ready to help shape in the coming year. Advertisement But Amazons sudden commitment to ostensibly transformative reform should be taken with a grain of salt hefty enough to unseat a Confederate monument from its rock-solid base. A pause on police partnerships isnt enough. Americans wont receive the privacy and civil rights protections they need because a company like Amazon decides to give them to us. We need those protections guaranteed by meaningful legislation and regulation, with functional enforcement mechanismslegislation and regulation that have not been watered down by Amazon. But the fact that a company as powerful, canny, and obdurate as Amazon feels the need to make us believe that it wants to grant us privacy and civil rights protections gives me hope: It means theyre losing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While a number of Amazons products and services have long been criticized for fueling institutional racism, Rekognition has been the subject of particular focus. Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies all over the country are using facial recognition programsfrom Amazon and elsewhereto identify people in photographs and video footage, almost always without their knowledge or consent. Their use of the technology is subject to few rules or meaningful oversight, despite constant stories of deeply flawed systems often used incorrectly. Polices embrace of facial recognition technology has disturbing implications for the safety and freedom of the people surveilled when false matches can mean an intrusive investigation, inclusion on a watch list, or even arrest. So-called emotion analysis capabilities, which Rekognition also offers (though its unclear how widely Rekognitions emotion analysis tools are currently being used by law enforcement), purport to assess the emotional state of the subject and add additional potential for junk science to threaten privacy, erode due process, and put peoples lives at risk. Amazon has refused to disclose how many law enforcement departments are using Rekognition, but its connected doorbell company Ring is being used by 1,300 law enforcement agencies and counting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To make matters worse, studies, including a prominent study on Rekognition specifically, have demonstrated that facial recognition technology struggles to accurately identify and assess nonwhite faces, particularly Black faces. In the hands of law enforcement agencies using facial recognition to monitor crowds, identify possible criminal suspects, and (supposedly) evaluate a subjects emotional state, a tool that struggles to accurately identify or assess Black faces exacerbates the institutional racism that already plagues American policing. Amazon is thus profiting handsomely from the practices that people all over the country (and abroad) have been demonstrating against. Research scientists, privacy and civil rights advocates, policymakers from both parties, and even many of the companys own shareholders and employees have lambasted Rekognitions privacy violations, chilling effects on free speech, discriminatory harms, and threats to due process. In addition to facial recognitions entrenched bias problems, it enables functionally unavoidable surveillance of people of all backgrounds that makes getting lost in a crowd, such as during a political protest, a thing of the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent calls for anti-racist reform come on the heels of a wave of anger toward exploitative tech companies, accompanying a crescendo of support for regulating and banning (temporarily or permanently) the use of facial recognition. In response, Amazon has poured millions of dollars into lobbying state legislatures and Congress in support of weak facial recognition and privacy laws and against strong ones. Just as Facebook, Google, AT&T, and their mouthpieces have attempted to burnish their privacy credentials by calling for privacy laws that would ossify an exploitative status quo, Amazon has seen the writing on the wall. Advertisement Advertisement Even before the George Floyd protests, Amazons competitors were shifting their own stances on the tech. In February 2019, Microsoft called for facial recognition regulation, and earlier this year, Google CEO Sundar Pichai publicly supported the notion of a temporary ban. Then came this week. IBM announced Monday that it would no longer offer general purpose facial recognition or analysis technology. Amazons moratorium came Wednesday. On Thursday, Microsoft followed suit with its own announcement that it will not sell facial recognition technology to law enforcement until there is a federal law grounded in human rights. Advertisement Tech companies embracing regulation may sound promising, and in some ways it is but I have no confidence that Microsoft and I share the same definition of what it means for a law to be grounded in human rights, or that Amazons definition of ethical regulation is one that would meaningfully curtail its ability to spy on people. Soon after Microsoft announced support for regulation, for instance, it came out against Washington state legislation about facial recognition technology. The companies want to pass porous federal rules that will allow them to deflect criticism while functionally allowing their business models to operate unchanged, all while preempting the possibility of stronger state protections. Such ineffective laws might limit facial tracking (the ability for systems to follow your face from one place to another) but still allow systems to identify you without limitations. They might only require a warrant for a high-threshold category of searches, such as tracking a persons whereabouts for 72 hours or more. Or they could provide capacious exceptions for exigent circumstances or serious crimes. A law that solely applied to the use of facial recognition in police body cameras would be even less effective. And a law that focused solely on policing would neglect the considerable surveillance and fairness concerns stemming from its deployment by non-law-enforcement agencies and private companies. None of these things will stop the worst abuses, but they would allow Amazon to declare the problems fixed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the coming year, Amazon may try to improve the bias problems in its facial recognition algorithms through whatever means possible. It might also try to cobble together some sort of self-regulatory code that it would (ostensibly) require law enforcement agencies that use Rekognition to adhere to. Either strategy or both would provide Amazon with a plausible defense for returning to law enforcement customers even absent new federal protections. Moreover, that the pause does not include similarly dangerous non-law-enforcement uses of facial recognition technology, and that we dont know whether Amazon will be applying its pause to its Ring partnerships and to its work with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement or how it plans to enforce the temporary ban are good reminders that civil rights victories cannot be defined on corporate terms. Amazon might also conclude that the reputational laurels of abandoning the law enforcement sector are sufficiently worth garnering given the tides turning against it as a tech company, as a provider of racist technology to police, and as a facial recognition vendor, particularly as criticisms of its labor and competition practices also persist and mount. Advertisement If I sound skeptical of Amazons commitment to privacy and civil rights, its because I am. But while the key details and ultimate effects of Amazons announcement remain to be seen, its still a heartening indication of how much public opinion has been pushed by tireless privacy and civil rights advocates. Its akin to Mitt Romney joining protesters and publicly stating that Black lives matter. Romney isnt going to vote to defund police departments anytime soon, but his participation shows how radically consensus has moved, and illustrates softened ground for key reforms. And implicit in Amazons announcement to pause law enforcement partnerships in the wake of the protests is the admission that it is complicit in the enthusiastic disregard for Black lives by law enforcement that the protesters are trying to eradicate. The remarkable concessions won by protesters are a forceful reminder that the complacency of racist institutions is not enough to maintain the shameful status quo those institutions assumed was immutable. Racist violence by law enforcement is not acceptable, and it is not inevitable. Nor is inescapable surveillance. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a series of police reforms Friday that include making police use of chokeholds that result in injury or death a crime. Cuomo in a tweet called this "a historic moment" for New York. PHOTO: NYPD officers stand by as a march against police brutality proceeds through Lower Manhattan on June 11, 2020, in New York. (Scott Heins/Getty Images) The law signed by Cuomo also prohibits false race-based 911 calls and appoints the state attorney general as an independent prosecutor when an unarmed person is killed by police. The reforms also include a repeal of a measure known as 50-A that shields police disciplinary records from public view. PHOTO: A protester is arrested by NYPD officers during a march against police brutality on June 11, 2020, in New York. (Scott Heins/Getty Images) Rev. Al Sharpton, who appeared at Friday's news conference alongside Cuomo, said the governor "raised the bar" by adding an executive order that requires 500 local governments and police agencies to modernize strategies and programs or risk losing state aid. MORE: What to know about police reforms after George Floyd's death and why 'defunding' might be a solution "There is no trust between the community and the police," Cuomo said at the news conference. "That has to be restored and repaired." PHOTO: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo addresses a briefing on the coronavirus disease response at the National Press Club following his meeting with President Trump in Washington, May 27, 2020. (Carlos Barria/Reuters, FILE) To the local cities and police departments, Cuomo said, "Address these issues, get to the root of these issues, get a plan, pass that plan by your local government. And if you don't, you're not going to get any additional state funds. Period." "We're not going to fund police agencies in this state that do not look at what has been happening, come to terms with it and reform themselves," he said. Cuomo announces New York state ban on chokeholds in series of police reforms originally appeared on abcnews.go.com An Accra High Court hearing the case of Dr Stephen Opuni, the former CEO of COCOBOD and two others has adjourned hearing of an application for stay of proceedings pending appeal to June 18, 2020. The adjournment was necessitated when it was discovered that Mr Samuel Cudjoe, the Counsel for Dr Opuni was unwell according to Johnson Normesinu, who held brief for him. The pending application for stay of proceedings pending an appeal at the Court Appeal was expected to have been moved today, but due to the indisposition of Mr Cudjoe. The court on March 16, 2020, dismissed a motion seeking the trial judge, Justice Clemence Honyenugah to recuse himself from continuing with the trial, alleging he made certain comments on a different forum. The motion was seeking the trial judge, who was a Court of Appeal Judge sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge, to stop the trial and refer the matter to the Chief Justice for reassignment. The court in its ruling dismissing the application, said the allegations raised on his comments were non-judicial and do not touch on the instant case. The court in adjourning the trial on Friday, the Supreme Court judge, said upon hearing Mr Normesinu, holding brief for lawyer Cudjoe, "I believe that, I will be a very good person to ask him to move the pending application." He said the explanation from the lawyer holding brief for Mr Cudjoe that he had the information this morning and does not even have the brief with him, the adjournment would be granted. He said the case is a part heard and application must be dealt with expeditiously as possible to pave way for the trial to proceed. The Judge said he was of the view that the adjournment sought is too long and unacceptable to the court, hence the resort to June 18. He said earlier on, there has been directives by Chief Justice on adjournments in view of the pandemic but for now, the situation has been revised and that hearing the application should not take so much time. when the case was called Mr Normesinu told the court that Mr Cudjoe wanted the trial be adjourned to July 8. "My Lord, my learned senior who was preparing to come and move our application for stay of proceedings pending appeal fell ill this morning and instructed our office manager to type a letter to be delivered to this honourable court for the case to be adjourned to July 8," he said. He said he was only informed about the situation and he does not even have the information to move the application "I am therefore incapacitated to move same and in view of this we will be grateful if your Lord will grant our humble request and adjourned trial". Mrs Stella Ohene-Appiah, Principal State Attorney in her response said "July 8 is almost a month from today, and my Lord the business for today (Friday) is for counsel to move his application for stay of proceedings." The Principal State Attorney, explained that this was only an application, and not the trial of which counsel must by all means be present. She told the court that already further cross examination by counsel for Seidu Agongo and Agricult Ghana Limited has stalled for quiet sometime now and therefore "this rather long adjournment is further going to delay the trial." Dr Opuni and Mr Seidu Agogngo are facing 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, corruption by public officer and contravention of the Public Procurement Act. They have both pleaded not guilty to the charges and are on a GH300,000.00 self-recognisance bail each. ---GNA Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers. A dedicated BrandBucket agent will manage your domain transfer from beginning to end, ensuring a secure and easy transaction. They will manage the receipt of the domain into one of BrandBuckets secure registrar accounts and then complete the transfer to you. 1. Verification and registrar choice After we receive the payment and verify it, we will reach out via email to confirm which registrar you want the domain transferred to. We also provide a link to our tracking system, where you can communicate with us, check on the status of your transfer, view your invoice, and download your logo files. In most cases, if a domain is moved between accounts at a single registrar, the transfer is quick and usually completes within 48 hours. If a domain changes registrars (in other words, you would like to move it away from where it is currently registered), the transfer is slower. The total transfer time can then be anywhere from 48 hours to 7 days. BrandBucket has vetted and supports the following registrars: GoDaddy Namesilo Uniregistry NameCheap Google Domains Network Solutions Name.com Dynadot Amazon Route 53 123 Reg Gandi 2. We request the name from the seller. Once we know where you would like the domain transferred, BrandBucket will request the domain from the seller. All of our sellers are very responsive, making for a quick process. 3. Transfer the name into your account As soon as we receive the name from the seller, we start the transfer into your account and guide you through the whole process. 4. Verify with the buyer that the transfer is complete Once we confirm that you have received the name, we consider the escrow process to be complete. Only then do we release payment to the domain seller. The health crisis gave Amazon an opening. Last month, Amazon introduced an online storefront with Vogue and the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Known as Common Threads, the initiative has been framed as an economic lifeline for small, independent designers without the resources or infrastructure to get their own collections to market during the coronavirus shutdown. For 20 brands, Amazon is providing much-needed fulfillment services, digital storefronts and other services, all of it fee free. In return, Amazon gets a cut of sales, as well as the allegiance of the designer fashion world. Amazon is clearly hoping that by demonstrating it can sell expensive designer products such as the $2,244 ruched-bodice silk spaghetti-strap dress in a Watteau-esque floral print by Brock Collection or the $1,595 top-handle lizard skin handbag by Hunting Season, both offered on the Common Threads store, it can change the minds of reluctant brands. The first two weeks we were seeing multiple sales a day, said Jonathan Cohen, one of the designers in the Common Threads store. While sales have slowed, its been helpful, he said. We were left with so much inventory from Covid, and in general from stores that were not paying from before. After the studio closed in March, Amazon ended contracts with the freelancers and long-term contractors who worked there, Ms. Jacobson told employees in the calls. As inventory mounted, Amazon scrambled to get images safely produced at other studios, without models. Ms. Jacobson explained to employees that a team of executives, safety experts and lawyers were involved in the decision to reopen the Brooklyn studio, and that the company had made many adjustments to enable social distancing, including deciding to have models do their own hair and makeup. She said the studio had also gotten special internal approval to give employees Uber rides, an option not available to the thousands of workers at Amazons Staten Island warehouse who cram into city buses. Employees kept asking on the calls how their work taking fashion photography was allowed, given that they heard officials on the news say New Yorkers should stay home for all but the most essential work, to limit community transmission of the virus. I know this question keeps coming up, Ms. Jacobson told her team before the reopening. I am not going to ask you all to agree that we are an essential business. Wisconsin law allows for telephone calls to be recorded as long as one party involved knows about it. Evers' attorney, Ryan Nilsestuen, would not say when asked Thursday who knew that the call was being recorded. He and Evers' chief of staff, Maggie Gau, were the only members of Evers' staff to speak during the call, but it's not known how many others were listening or who they were. By Akbar Mammadov Armenia is obstructing the settlement process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and undermines the fundamental principles of the Eastern Partnership, Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at the online meeting of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) held on June 11. During the video-teleconference meeting of the EaP Foreign Ministers, Mammadyarov noted: At a time when the whole world is mobilized to fight COVID, Armenia holds so-called "elections" and "inauguration" ceremonies in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. By refusing to negotiate and comply with the requirements of UN Security Council resolutions, Armenia is obstructing the process of resolving the conflict. Thus, Armenia undermines the fundamental principles of the Eastern Partnership, such as stability and prosperity. Mammadyarov also stressed that the presence of Armenian armed forces in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan remains the biggest threat to security in the region. Despite UN Secretary-General and EU High Representative Joseph Borel's call for a global ceasefire, the Armenian armed forces continue to violate the ceasefire and make every effort to increase tensions and impede a political solution to the conflict, the foreign minister added. The minister emphasized that Armenia presents itself as a "democracy", but still continues to violate the human rights of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis forcibly expelled from their native lands. Furthermore, Mammadyarov highlighted the fact that as stated in the latest EU Council Conclusions Document, the fundamental foundations of the EaP are based on the countries shared obligations under international law, including the rule-based international order and the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of partner countries. We stand with the EU in promoting these principles in bilateral and multilateral cooperation, he concluded. Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in a conflict over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region, which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France has been mediating the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts have resulted in no progress and to this date, Armenia has failed to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) that demand the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Moscow lifted some of the harshest coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday - Pavel Golovkin/AP The World Health Organization has suggested that Russia should review the way it counts coronavirus deaths, describing the countrys low death toll as unusual. The comments by a senior WHO official have once again raised suspicions about Russias Covid-19 death toll, which currently stands at just over 6,000 and is extremely low compared with other European countries. Russian officials have attributed it to widespread and early testing as well as the demographics. "The outbreak in Russia has been following a trajectory similar to other European countries, that is why Russias low death rate is hard to understand, Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHOs Health Emergencies Programme, told a briefing on Wednesday. It would be important that Russian authorities review the way in which death certification is done to assure themselves that theyre accurately certifying deaths in the appropriate way, he said. Mr Ryan added, however, that WHO officials do not imply that there is systematic under-reporting in Russia. His remarks have irked many in Moscow. Gennady Onishchenko, a former long-time chief of Russias health care watchdog and now a lawmaker, has accused Mr Ryan of politicising the outbreak and trying to discredit the countrys efforts to fight the disease. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that he does not find Russias low mortality unusual and expressed confidence that Russias healthcare watchdog would address the WHOs concerns. The WHOs guidelines for classifying Covid-19 deaths recommend that health care workers put Covid-19 in the death certificate even if the virus was ruled to be an "underlying" but not the primary cause of death. The organisation specifies that Covid-19 deaths should be counted independently of preexisting conditions that are suspected of triggering a severe course of Covid-19. Story continues Servicemen of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division - Sergei Bobylev\\TASS via Getty Images Russias interpretation of the guidelines has left hundreds of deaths unreported. Healthcare workers have been following a conservative protocol in attributing coronavirus deaths, which has allowed them to put down hundreds of fatalities of Covid-19 patients as those caused by underlying conditions. The nation of 144 million has officially reported just 6,532 coronavirus deaths despite the fact that the city of Moscow acknowledged on Wednesday that over 5,000 people with coronavirus died in the Russian capital in May alone. Numerous regions have reported hundreds of excess deaths, while just dozens were officially recorded as coronavirus deaths. Moscows health department released full data on Wednesday showing that 5,260 people with Covid-19 died in the city in May, which is twice as high as the official death toll. Authorities have revised the overall figure but that did not change the cumulative tally in their daily updates. Nor does it include the revised death toll for April that doubled upon revision. The epidemic may be on the wane in Moscow where the outbreak began earlier than in the rest of the country, but Russia still posts between 8,000 and 9,000 new coronavirus cases a day. That did not stop Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, from calling the vote for constitutional amendments on 25 June, claiming that Russia has withstood the challenge of the epidemic. Analysts say Mr Putin is in a hurry to hold the vote that would allow him to run for office again and stay in power until 2036. Russia has become the first country singled out by the WHO over its unusually low mortality, but concerns about under-reporting Covid-19 deaths have been raised in other countries including Brazil where the health ministry last week deleted all the cumulative death toll from its official website, fuelling speculation of a cover-up. Four days later, Brazils Supreme Court ordered the government to resume publication of full coronavirus data. Protests in the wake of African American George Floyd's killing by a white police officer in the United States have led to the unceremonious toppling and vandalism of statues of controversial historical and political figures. Five symbolic examples: - Bristol: slave trader Edward Colston - On Sunday, in England's southwestern port of Bristol, protesters pulled down a bronze statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston and dumped it in the local harbour. Colston was a leading figure in a royal slave trading company that sold 100,000 west Africans in the Caribbean and the Americas after first branding its initials on their chests. But his name remains attached to streets and buildings in honour of his funding of local hospitals and schools for the poor, and officials fished the statue out. - US: Christopher Columbus - Italian explorer Christopher Columbus has been accused of spurring genocide against indigenous groups in the Americas / AFP/File Overnight Tuesday, in Boston, a statue of Christopher Columbus was beheaded, in the park named after him. A Columbus statue was also vandalised in downtown Miami with red paint, and another was dragged into a lake earlier in the week in Richmond, Virginia. The Italian explorer, long hailed as the so-called discoverer of "The New World," is considered by many to have spurred years of genocide against indigenous groups in the Americas. He is regularly denounced in a similar way to Civil War generals of the pro-slavery South. - US: Jefferson Davis - Jefferson Davis was president of the Confederate States of America, which fought to preserve slavery in the United States / AFP/File On Wednesday, a statue of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America during the 1861-1865 Civil War, which opposed the pro-slavery South and the abolitionist North, was toppled in Richmond, Virginia. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the same day for removal of 11 Confederate statues from the US Capitol, part of a nationwide push to dismantle such memorials after the Floyd killing. According to a 2016 report from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SLC), which is specialised in extremist movements and civil rights, more than 1,500 confederate symbols are still on show in public places in the United States, most in the South. - Belgium: Leopold II - King of the Belgians Leopold II is accused of brutal colonial rule in Belgium's former central African colonies / AFP/File The Belgian port city of Antwerp took down a statue of late King of the Belgians Leopold II on Tuesday, days after it was daubed with red paint by anti-racism protesters. Statues of Leopold have long been a target of activists because of his record of brutal colonial rule in Belgium's former central African colonies, notably the then "Congo Free State", now the independent Democratic Republic of Congo It has been removed by officials from its public pedestal next to an Antwerp church and taken for restoration to a museum where it will be examined before deciding what steps to take next. - Churchill: graffitied in Prague, London - Protestors blame Winston Churchill for the death of millions during famine in the Indian state of Bengal in 1943 / AFP/File In Prague a statue to Britains World War II leader Winston Churchill was covered in graffiti early Thursday, daubed with the words "Black Lives Matter" in solidarity with the anti-racist movement in the United States. A central London statue of Churchill was also defaced, with the words "was a racist" with protesters blaming his policies for the death of millions during famine in the Indian state of Bengal in 1943. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-13 00:59:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Health Ministry on Friday launched a blood donation campaign to restock the national blood bank that has been faced with shortages, an official announced. Rashid Aman, Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Health, said that prior to the COVID-19 situation, the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service (KNBTS) used to collect 500 pints of blood every day, but the pints have since reduced dismally. "With the entry of COVID-19 in the country, the situation has changed and the figures have dropped," Aman told journalists in Nairobi. He revealed that to date KNBTS collects only 250 pints of blood hence the current shortage in the national banks that are strategically located in all parts of the country. He observed that the amount that is currently in the bank is below the World Health Organization (WHO) requirement that countries always maintain one percent of blood equivalent to their population. Aman noted that with Kenya's population that is currently 50 million, the blood bank is supposed to have 500,000 pints of blood at all times. "Unfortunately, over the last few years, the bank has staggered at 164,000 hence the need for a donation campaign," he said. The official revealed that the government is collaborating with Facebook and Damu Sasa Systems, an online social media blood appeal site in mobilizing blood donors in the next two days. He appealed to Kenyans to turn up in large numbers to come up and donate blood to save others who might be in need of the commodity. Enditem THERE have been many positive experiences that have emerged out of our current situation, which is always a testimony to the ability of the human spirit to rise to challenges. Some people have embraced it and have even benefited from aspects of the restrictions. Some people have experienced a shift in outlook that will serve them well into the future. That being said, for many this probably has been the most difficult period people have collectively lived through. I have heard and felt the pain of those who are sick and dying in such isolated circumstances. It has been torture for the families of the sick and the dying and it has been so difficult for those who bravely work on the frontline. Grandparents are missing their grandchildren and vice versa. People are deprived of the sense of touch, the hugs and the embraces that lifted their spirits. Working from home has been very stressful for many. People are experiencing great loneliness and isolation. Families are under pressure on so many fronts financial and otherwise. Peoples lives have been turned upside down and sadly for those who have been bereaved they will feel that their lives will never be the same again. Sadly there are probably other challenges that may only emerge as this continues. And yet the human spirit will always seek to make the most of these moments and find meaning, light and hope. If we cant find these things, we have to create them for ourselves and for others. For people of faith it has been unsettling. The closing of churches was very difficult as churches tend to be places of sanctuary where people find some peace and stillness. Also people missed the comforting ritual of lighting candles. Thankfully, now that the restrictions have eased, people are able to visit churches again and hopefully this is helping them find some of the comfort that they need. Sadly couples have had to face the disappointment of postponing the wedding day that they had been looking forward to for so long. Children and families have missed out on those beautiful occasions that Communion and Confirmation affords us, both on a family and a spiritual front. People who find the peace, healing and grace they need through the regular experience of Mass and Confession are feeling their absence acutely. Leaving cert and primary school graduation liturgies have all been effected. Certain parishioners will miss the priest calling with Holy Communion on the First Friday. It has been hard on priests, especially those who are cocooned. To not be able to celebrate or attend funeral Masses for people you know is so hard. Ministry is relationship orientated, meeting people, visiting hospitals, nursing homes and schools, celebrating sacraments. Equally the Bishop and those who work for the diocese face challenges we could never have foreseen. None of this is easy, but we are not the only ones feeling like this and so we have to make the most of it. The church has done this in so many shapes and forms. Suddenly a church that was slow to embrace technology has taken to offering online liturgies. Social media has been used in new and creative ways by way of trying to reach out to its people. A compilation of the out-takes or mistakes made would make entertaining viewing! Even those men who are cocooned have found new ways to support parishioners through phone calls and letters, just to mention a few. Priests may have lost many of their normal ways of ministering to their people, but they have not lost their desire to do so. People have responded well to our various efforts, no matter how humble or flawed they are. As always out of great difficulty great love and courage are born. We have all been inspired by the incredible kindness, commitment and thoughtfulness of so many in our communities and country. The church has equally experienced positive moments in the midst of the challenges: The pandemic has resulted in people reflecting a little more on life and the meaning of life and it has sharpened our vision around what is important. Questions of meaning and purpose tend to be questions that can open us up to God and faith and life. People who may not normally attend Mass have found themselves logging in to various liturgies and hopefully finding some comfort in them. Faith and prayer is helping people to cope with the heightened levels of stress, anxiety and loneliness. Irish people can have an innate reluctance or awkwardness around sharing or talking about our faith and praying together. That being said, recently a young father thanked me for the fact that his family are praying together in their home for the first time. In the midst of the enforced changes some lovely things are happening and we may even find more wholesome ways of living our faith. We are even being reminded that our church began in homes and so it is fitting that people are actually praying together in their homes. Currently people can feel very isolated and lonely. However praying communities are being created online and these times of prayer are helping people to feel connected while also giving them a few things every day that punctuates what can be long and weary days. Families who are scattered throughout the world can now attend Mass together in and through the online liturgies, when normally this wouldnt be possible. Also I feel people who are living abroad are finding great comfort and security by checking into the familiar sight of their home parish. As a church we have been forced to embrace the digital age. Now that technology is the only means by which we can reach our people we have finally made the leap (often with the help of many committed and generous parishioners). We have been reminded that our Church is more than a physical building, it is about people and community. So even when the physical building is inaccessible we can still be Church and we can still be a community. These are just a few of the positive things that I see happening in our church at the moment. Naturally as a church there are great challenges too. Being unable to visit parishioners who are sick or dying in hospitals and nursing homes is very hard. Despite the online engagement we cant but feel less connected to our people and to each other as priests as suddenly we are less likely to bump into colleagues as we are consumed with life in our individual parishes. Church revenue and the upkeep of churches are challenges that could have far reaching implications for our future. Also we know that online liturgies, while helpful, arent ideal. We would prefer more people involved and to have liturgies that are less priest-centred. Also people could find themselves as spectators rather than actively praying during these liturgies. Nothing about this is ideal and yet we have to minister in the present moment with a spirit of trust and love while sowing as many seeds of hope and joy as possible as we need these now more than ever. In Ireland we have always celebrated death really well. Sadly ministering to the sick and dying at the moment is very difficult. My heart breaks for people who are mourning and are deprived of the normal rituals and experiences that would help, heal and hold them during difficult times. I have been inspired by the creativity of people who find beautiful ways to safely reach out to the bereaved. I have had experiences of prayer with families and neighbours and friends that have been safe and incredibly wholesome and healing. My heart breaks for families who have to make decisions about who can attend the funeral. Everything about funerals is so much harder for people now and as a church and society we have to continue to try to find new ways of reaching out. There is a lot of worry, weariness, isolation and sadness. As a church and a people, we are called to continue to be witnesses of love and hope and to be bearers of good news and joy, now more than ever. With the help of God, our commitment to this will continue while the ways in which we do this will probably have to continually evolve. USS Montgomery Returns from Deployment Navy News Service Story Number: NNS200611-01 Release Date: 6/11/2020 7:51:00 AM From Commander, U.S. Third Fleet Public Affairs SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8) returned to its U.S. 3rd Fleet homeport of Naval Station San Diego June 10 following a 12-month rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. During the deployment, Montgomery operated with navies of six partner nations, participated in five multilateral and bilateral exercises, and made six strategic port visits across the Indo-Pacific. "I could not be more proud of the maritime security my ship and crew provided throughout this deployment. Their sacrifice resulted in the increased war fighting readiness of a Naval Surface Force that is, indeed, the world's best," said Cmdr. Edward Rosso, commanding officer, USS Montgomery. "It was an honor to have the opportunity to sail with allied and partner nations, and continue a forward presence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region." Montgomery contributed to maritime security through numerous presence operations in the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Strait of Malacca, and waters near Singapore. Montgomery joined with seven other warships from seven member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the first ASEAN U.S. Maritime Exercise. Operating as a combined task force, the crew operated multilaterally and worked with partners on basic maritime skills such as at-sea communication, and culminated with visit, board, search and seizure boarding exercises. USS Montgomery is assigned to U.S. 3rd Fleet, which leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy. U.S. 3rd Fleet constantly coordinates with U.S. 7th Fleet to plan and execute missions based on their complementary strengths to promote ongoing peace, security, and stability throughout the entire Pacific theater of operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Actor-director Kenneth Branagh has spoken about working with Ali Fazal on his upcoming film, Death on the Nile, a follow-up to 2017s Murder on the Orient Express, which launched a new series based on Agatha Christies Hercule Poirot books. Branagh said that Ali was very popular with star-studded cast. Ali was a joy to work with, an absolute joy. Hes a total pro. Hes a real details man. He was completely caught up in how the character looked sounded and was able to be very precise, but also very playful. He could improvise when I asked him to improvise, the filmmaker told PTI. Also read: Artemis Fowl movie review: Kenneth Branagh directs the biggest Disney dud in years, deservingly dumped online He added, He has a strong sense of humour. He is energetic and physically very adroit, so he was involved in both dancing and in action pieces. So his gifts like that were great. He was a fantastic ensemble player. He was incredibly popular with our cast, they loved him. Death on the Nile also stars Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Emma Mackey, Russell Brand, Annette Bening and features Branagh in the lead role. The actor-filmmaker, whose most recent release is the Disney+ fantasy film Artemis Fowl, will also appear in Christopher Nolans Tenet, which co-stars Dimple Kapadia. Also read: Kenneth Branagh says Dimple Kapadia has smashing part in Tenet: John David Washington was completely in love with her Shes got a really smashing part in Tenet. I know that our master director, Mr Nolan, was thrilled with her and our leading man, John David Washington was completely in love with her by the time they finished working together, Branagh told PTI. He added that even though he does not share scenes with her in the film, he was aware of her presence. There was a huge amount of excitement when we knew she was flying in and she pronounced herself very nervous. But then we heard about a rehearsal that she had with Christopher Nolan and John David Washington, and they both came away and said, Well, if thats nervous, I dont know what calm is. Because she was perfect and quite awesomely brilliant as far as they were concerned and also completely gracious and delightful with the crew. So she made a tremendous impression. Death on the Nile is currently slated for an October release, while Tenet is still holding onto its July release. Artemis Fowl is out on Disney+Hotstar. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Lockheed Martin Corp. LMT recently secured a modification contract for supporting the Phased Array Tracking to Intercept Of Target (PATRIOT) Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile program. Work related to the deal is scheduled to be over by Oct 31, 2024. Valued at $1.04 billion, the contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Red Stone Arsenal, AL. Per the terms of the deal, Lockheed will provide incidental services, hardware, facilities, equipment, and all technical, planning, management, manufacturing, and testing to produce PAC-3 missiles. Operations under the award will be carried out in Huntsville, AL; Camden, AK; Chelmsford, MA; Grand Prairie and Lufkin, TX. PAC-3s Significance It is worth mentioning that PAC-3 is among Lockheeds top-notch missile systems. Apart from enjoying strong demand in the domestic market, PAC-3 has a solid international customer base. Evidently, Lockheed has ongoing PAC-3 programs for production and sustainment activities in Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Poland and Taiwan. In the first quarter of 2020, increased sales volume of PAC-3 remained one of the primary growth drivers for Lockheeds Missile and Fire Control (MFC) business unit, which achieved solid 10% year-over-year top-line growth. So no doubt, the PAC-3 program remains a notable growth catalyst for Lockheed. Missile Market Growth Prospects Increasing geopolitical tensions along with a rapid rise in terrorism across the globe are prompting nations to strengthen their defense systems manifold. With rapid technological upgrades, missile defense is playing a pivotal role in the nations defense strategy. To this end, the rocket and missile market is projected to grow from $55.5 billion in 2017 to $70 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 4.74%, per a forecast made by Markets and Markets firm. With the United States being one of the key players in the global defense space, such projections indicate a golden era for the nations premier defense contractors like Lockheed, Raytheon Technologies RTX and Northrop Grumman NOC. Story continues As far as these stocks prospects within the nation are concerned, it is imperative to mention that the U.S. governments fiscal 2021 defense budget includes a significant spending plan of $13.6 billion on missile defense, 126.6% higher than the previous budget plan. Such an increased spending provision should usher in more contracts for the nations varied range of missile programs. Price Performance In a years time, shares of Lockheed Martin have rallied about 19.7% against the industrys decline of 15.2%. Zacks Rank & Key Pick Lockheed currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the same sector is CAE Inc. CAE, which holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. CAE delivered average positive earnings surprise of 3.48% in the trailing four quarters. The company has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8%. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report CAE Inc (CAE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Raytheon Technologies Corporation (RTX) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. PARIS The French police, furious at a popular backlash against them in the wake of the George Floyd killing, have pushed back against government attempts to change their practices and discipline officers suspected of racism, demonstrating Friday in Paris and throwing down handcuffs in front of police stations all over France. Late Friday the government of President Emmanuel Macron backtracked slightly, after the interior minister met hurriedly all afternoon with police unions to quell the storm of anger. The police protests, coming on the heels of 10 days of much larger demonstrations in France and across Europe after Mr. Floyds killing, placed Mr. Macron in an especially difficult position. The tens of thousands of French who turned out to demonstrate in solidarity with American protesters have also demanded that the government address a long history of policing that they say unfairly targets minorities, resulting in harassment, racial profiling, disproportionate arrests and unjustified deaths during confrontations and in detention. PORTLAND, Ore., June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ayin Health Solutions (Ayin), the national population health management company of Providence St. Joseph Health, announced today that its chief executive officer, Rhonda Medows, MD, FAAFP has been named as chairperson-elect of the Board of Trustees for the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) for fiscal year 2021-2022. The CHA, founded in 1915, advances the Catholic health ministry of the United States in caring for people and communities. Comprised of more than 600 hospitals and 1,600 long-term care and other health facilities in all 50 states, the Catholic health ministry is the largest group of nonprofit health care providers in the nation. Every day, more than one in seven patients in the U.S. is cared for in a Catholic hospital. "I am honored to serve as the chairperson-elect of the Board of Trustees for CHA. I look forward to supporting Julie Manas, the 2020 CHA board chairperson during these unprecedented times," said Rhonda Medows, MD, FAAFP, chief executive officer of Ayin Health Solutions. "With my background in population health, I am committed to spearheading efforts to improve the health of communities, especially the poor and vulnerable. I truly believe health is a human right, and I'm proud to serve on behalf of the board, who helps ensure CHA's fidelity to its mission and stewards CHA's resources and activities to support and strengthen the Catholic health ministry in the United States and the people it serves." Dr. Medows also serves as president, Population Health, at Providence St. Joseph Health (PSJH) where she oversees Providence Health Plan, Value Based Care, Payer & Strategy Contracting, Physician Services, Care Management, Population Health Informatics and the affiliated Pacific Medical Group. About Ayin Health Solutions Ayin Health Solutions is a national population health management company focused on helping organizations that are committed to improving patient outcomes maintain stability in a tumultuous healthcare landscape. The company's proven solutions and services are backed by day-to-day frontline experience and a heritage of service that spans decades. Ayin provides direct services to payers, providers, employers, and government entities. Ayin is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. For more information, visit ayin.com. About Providence St. Joseph Health Providence St. Joseph Health is a national, not-for-profit Catholic health system comprising a diverse family of organizations and driven by a belief that health is a human right. With 51 hospitals, 829 physician clinics, senior services, supportive housing and many other health and educational services, the health system and its partners employ more than 119,000 caregivers serving communities across seven states Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington with system offices based in Renton, Wash., and Irvine, Calif. SOURCE Ayin Health Solutions Related Links http://ayin.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Deena Beasley (Reuters) Fri, June 12, 2020 07:00 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde14bf1 2 World Regeneron-Pharmaceuticals,coronavirus,COVID-19,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,pandemic,antibody Free Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc on Thursday said it has begun human testing of its experimental antibody cocktail as a treatment for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The trial has an "adaptive" design and could quickly move from dozens of patients to eventually include thousands, Chief Scientific Officer George Yancopoulos told Reuters. "If it goes perfectly well, within a week or two we will move to the second phase. Within a month or so of that we will have clear data that this is or isn't working. By the end of summer, we could have sufficient data for broad utilization." The dual antibody, called REGN-COV2, is being compared to a placebo treatment in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and in COVID-19 patients who have symptoms but are not sick enough to be hospitalized. Regeneron also plans to study REGN-COV2 for preventing the infection in people at high-risk of exposure - such as healthcare workers - and in uninfected people with close exposure to someone who has tested positive for the virus. Antibodies are proteins made by the body's immune system that recognize, bind and neutralize an invading virus. Regeneron's cocktail - which contains an antibody made by the company and a second isolated from humans who recovered from COVID-19 - is designed so that its two antibodies bind to the coronavirus' spike protein, limiting the ability of viruses to escape. Trial patients will be given a single intravenous infusion of REGN-COV2. In the prevention segments of the study, participants will be given smaller subcutaneous doses, Yancopoulus said. Investigators will be measuring patients' viral loads and keeping track of symptoms. Regeneron said its treatment could be useful even if a COVID-19 vaccine is developed since the elderly and people with compromised immune systems often do not respond well to vaccines. Yancopoulos said, even though Regeneron does not yet have proof that REGN-COV2 is effective, the company has cleared the way for production of the antibody compound at its New York manufacturing facility. Starting Friday, restaurants are allowed to expand their occupancy levels to 75 percent as part of Phase 3 of Gov. Greg Abbott's "Open Texas" plan. The City of Laredo issued an order on March 19 that temporarily closed all dine-in restaurants in the city to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Some restaurants remained open by offering curbside, to-go and delivery options. In April, Gov. Greg Abbott announced his plan, which allowed restaurants to reopen its dine-in area at 25 percent capacity starting May 1. On June 3, restaurants were allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity. READ ALSO: What's new in 'Phase 3' of Gov. Abbott's plan to reopen Texas Here's what you should know about restaurants allowing more patrons into their dining rooms. - The 75 percent occupancy applies to restaurants that make less than 51 percent of their gross sales from alcoholic beverages. Restaurants may also continue to provide to-go or delivery services. Bars and similar establishments will remain at 50 percent capacity until further notice. - Restaurants can not have tables of more than 10 people, according to the order. - Groups must maintain 6 feet of distance from other groups at all times, the order added. - Tables should also be 6 feet apart. - The governor still recommends for Texans leaving their homes to wear face coverings, avoid groups of more than 10 and avoid nursing homes. People over the age of 65 are encouraged to stay home as much as possible. Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre We, the members of the local Easton and Bethlehem American Association of University Womens Diversity: Deeds and Dialogue study group, stand in solidarity with the protesters speaking out against police brutality, systemic racism and white supremacy. We remember those who have been murdered: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and too many more black citizens across the country. Our organization, AAUW, works to break down barriers for women and girls in the workplace, boardroom, classroom and everywhere they experience inequality. We stand up against racism, homophobia, sexism and religious hate when it occurs in the Valley and in our country. We ask now: How many lives have to be lost before the truths of systemic racism in the United States are accepted? What must be done to assure America does not once again ignore this moment in history or let it slip away with a few, superficial quick fixes? We must learn much more about, and come to understand exactly, what systemic racism means, its roots throughout Americans history, and its impact on inequity. We must seek out, open our ears and listen closely to both those who are knowledgeable about and those who live in inequity. We must read and we must welcome the difficult dialogues that come with commitment to meaningful change. We must invest in the personal and community work needed. As we in AAUW challenge ourselves, we encourage you to work ardently along with us for change. Randi Blauth Bethlehem Rosemary Baker Easton Co-chairs, Easton and Bethlehem AAUW Diversity: Deeds and Dialogue study group The sortie had to be executed in good weather and in sub-zero temperatures, which meant it was to be accomplished by mid or third week in May before the earth heated up and the monsoon clouds made things difficult. IMAGE: Left to right: Junior Warrant Officer Verma, Wing Commander Dr Verma, then Group Captain Suryakant Chafekar, centre, Wing Commander Ray, Wing Commander Aserkar at the Indian Air Force's Chandigarh airbase after their successful flight to the Daulat Beg Oldi airfield. Photograph: Kind courtesy Air Vice Marshal Suryakant Chafekar Air Vice Marshal Suryakant Chafekar had a long-standing dream -- to land a machine at the world's highest airfield -- Daulat Beg Oldi -- an old disused advanced landing ground situated near the northern-most part of Kashmir. "He was barely 18 or 19, already donning an ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) uniform and getting baptised at Daulat Beg Oldi. He kept following me as I went about checking the hardness of the soil using a screwdriver along the packed-mud runway that had been made in record time to facilitate our landing," Air Vice Marshal Suryakant Chafekar, AVSM, Shaurya Chakra, now a seasoned veteran settled in Nagpur, recalls in a telephone conversation with Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd). The ITBP trooper was rather intrigued by then Group Captain Chafekar's repeated trips to the world's highest advanced landing ground over the past few weeks in a helicopter. 'Aap kab aane waale ho apne jahaj mein, Sir?' (When will you come in your aeroplane sir?), the ITBP trooper asked, not hiding his curiosity of seeing a fixed wing aeroplane land at his base, where he stood guard, barely a few kilometres from the Karakoram Pass. A dilapidated shell of a crashed Mi-4 helicopter, painted white, has served as a beacon in the brown and muddy background of the bowl of land that accommodates the airfield. The shell also served as a cafeteria for visitors now, and had its own story to tell. It was in the late 1970s when the Mi-4 was the work horse of the Indian Air Force operating at these dizzy heights supplying the army with much needed rations. While it offloaded its cargo on the runway, a Fairchild 'Packet' aircraft had zoomed in overhead and disgorged a load of atta and daal which came floating down on parachutes. One of the parachutes along with its load had landed directly on top of the running rotors of the helicopter, destroying it instantly. Thankfully, there was no loss of life and the shell was left there to weather away in the cold and dry climate at 16,700 feet. IMAGE: Pangang Tso Lake seen from a Chetak helicopter en route to Hot Springs/Tsogtalu, January 1982. Photograph: Kind courtesy Wing Commander R Srinivasan (retd) 'Hum jaroor aayenge, aur jaldi aayenge (we will surely come, and soon)', 'Chafe -- as the AVM is known in the IAF -- told the young ITBP trooper. 'Aur jab hum aayenge, aap wahan par khade hona aur hame jaroor milna! (And when we come, you stand there and meet us,' Chafe added, pointing to a vantage point next to the end of the runway. He was then a Group Captain and the Commanding Officer of 48 Squadron based at Chandigarh. Chafe had taken over the reins of the squadron on New Year's Day 2008. IMAGE: Air Marshal Pranab Kumar Barbora, Vayu Sena Medal, PVSM. Photograph: Kind courtesy Air Vice Marshal Suryakant Chafekar Interestingly, on the same day, Air Marshal Pranab Kumar Barbora had taken over as Commander in Chief of the Western Air Command, the most operational and 'happening' command in the Indian Air Force. Air Marshal and Group Captain were soon to be involved in one of the most challenging missions -- landing an AN-32 aeroplane way beyond its operational limits at the world's highest advanced landing ground. The C-in-C was on his familiarisation visit to the squadron soon after taking over when Group Captain Chafekar briefed him about his dream of landing the machine at Daulat Beg Oldi. Having served in Chandigarh earlier and being experienced in the area, he was convinced in his mind that it was possible to put down the machine there safely. IMAGE: The then disused Daulat Beg Oldi advanced landing ground. An attempt had been made in 2002 and two pilots from the squadron were taken for a reccee in a Mi-26 helicopter. While conducting an inspection of the ground at the Daulat Beg Oldi advanced landing ground, the crew had noticed a large crater almost 15 to 20 feet long across the runway, probably caused by an earthquake that had jolted the area a few years ago. The crater required engineering effort with use of heavy equipment to be filled up. Nevertheless, despite the plan being abandoned, a Mi-26 helicopter was tasked to deliver some heavy equipment to the area so that work on filling the crater could continue. For helicopter pilots like me flying over the area, one would always wonder why could we not land a transport aircraft on this massive airstrip in the middle of nowhere. While discussing the purpose it would serve, we spoke about showing our strength to the Chinese, increasing our ability to augment troops in case of trouble, and the ability to door deliver rations and war fighting capability to our troops stationed there. The argument would thereafter veer to the fact that we would end up disturbing the peace and tranquillity on the border. Why do it when you can avoid it was the oft question asked which ended the discussions. Air Vice Marshal Chafekar gave me further insights into the reason for IAF aircraft not landing there for 43 years. He told me that three boards of officers had been commissioned to suggest how and why the Daulat Beg Oldi advanced landing ground should be made operational. All the three boards were headed by senior air force officers who had suggested that the An-32 aircraft should not be operated at the Daulat Beg Oldi advanced landing ground because:- Firstly, the height and temperature conditions would entail landing the machine at above the specified parameters given in the flight manuals and therefore would be dangerous to man and machine. Secondly, the airfield was too close to the border and one small mistake in navigation would cause an inadvertent air violation leading to further problems on the diplomatic front. Thirdly, should the An-32 require to switch off there, there was almost no way that it could be recovered back for flying in one piece. Even a small technical problem like a tyre burst or deflation could make things very very difficult. Fourthly, the soil expert had ruled that the surface of the Daulat Beg Oldi runway wasn't fit enough to take the load of a 17-odd ton aircraft landing at 280 kmph. Finally, it was too close to the China border and therefore government sanction may not be given at all to attempt the same. Chafekar explained that all the arguments by the staff at the Western Air Command headquarters suggested that the mission must not be attempted till such time we had a suitable aircraft like the present day four engine C-130 with us. At one such meeting in Delhi at the Western Air Command HQ, Air Marshal Barbora decided to attend. As the presentation wore on, the air marshal grew visibly irritated. 'Guys!' the air marshal said, 'I want to know from you how the mission can be done and not how we cannot do it!' 'Chafe!' the air marshal called out from his sofa in the front. 'Hoga ki nahi hoga? (Will it happen or not?) he asked. 'Hoga sir!' was Group Captain Chafekar's immediate response. The C in C got up and turned around to address the meeting. 'Gentlemen,' Air Marshal Barbora declared, 'We are going ahead with the mission. Leave the date and details to Chafe. I will now deal with this directly.' The meeting ended and a happy Group Captain Chafekar went back to Chandigarh to plan and train for the same. There was very little time. The sortie had to be executed in good weather and in sub-zero temperatures which meant that it was to be accomplished by the mid or third week in May before the earth heated up and the monsoon clouds made things difficult. Part 2: Mission Accomplished - When IAF Made History Veteran Air Commodore Nitin Sathe is a helicopter pilot who served the Indian Air Force for 35 years and was part of United Nations Peace Keeping Force operations in the Congo. Production: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 11, 2020) - Miramont Resources Corp. (CSE: MONT) (OTCQB: MRRMF) (FSE: 6MR) ("Miramont" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that on June 10, 2020 it executed a definitive agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") with Kuya Silver Corp. ("Kuya"), whereby the Company will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Kuya in exchange for shares of the Company (the "Transaction"). The Transaction will constitute a "Fundamental Change" of the Company as defined by Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") policies. Pursuant to the Definitive Agreement, the Company will complete a consolidation of its issued and outstanding common shares (the "Consolidation") on the basis of one post-Consolidation common share (the "Shares") for every ten (10) outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company. Following the Consolidation, each of the shareholders of Kuya (the "Kuya Shareholders") will receive 1.835 Shares in exchange for each share held in the capital of Kuya (the "Exchange Ratio") and holders of convertible securities in Kuya will receive replacement securities in the Company adjusted in accordance with the Exchange Ratio. As a condition to the completion of the Transaction, Kuya must complete a private placement financing as detailed below (the "Concurrent Financing"). Upon completion of the Transaction the Company will change its name to "Kuya Silver Corporation" or such other similar name as the parties may agree to (the "Name Change"). It is expected that the Transaction will be structured as a three-cornered amalgamation in accordance with Section 174 of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) in which Kuya will amalgamate with 2757974 Ontario Inc., a newly incorporated, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, formed solely for the purpose of facilitating the Transaction. Following the Transaction, the amalgamated company will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Story continues Concurrent Financing In connection with the Transaction, the Company announces that Kuya intends to complete a brokered private placement of subscription receipts at a price of C$1.65 ("Subscription Receipts") per Subscription Receipt to raise gross proceeds of up to C$10,000,000. The Concurrent Financing is being conducted by a syndicate of agents led by Cormark Securities Inc. ("Cormark") and will include Canaccord Genuity Corp., PI Financial Corp. and Red Cloud Securities Inc. Each Subscription Receipt will be deemed to be exchanged upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions (as defined below) on or before the day that is 180 days following closing of the Concurrent Financing (the "Release Deadline"), without payment of any additional consideration, for one common share of Kuya (each a "Kuya Share"). The Company following completion of the Transaction will use the net proceeds from the Concurrent Financing to fund exploration and engineering costs for the development of the Bethania project, as well as to complete its obligations to acquire an 80% interest in S&L Andes Export, the entity that holds the Bethania project. The gross proceeds of the Concurrent Financing will be deposited in escrow on the closing date and shall be released to Kuya upon Kuya having obtained the approval of the CSE and completion of certain other administrative matters (the "Release Conditions") on or before the Release Deadline. If the Release Conditions are not satisfied on or before the Release Deadline, or if prior to such date Kuya advises Cormark or announces to the public that it does not intend to satisfy the Release Conditions, the escrow agent will return to holders of the Subscription Receipts, an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price for the Subscription Receipts held by such holder, together with a pro rata portion of the interest earned on the escrowed proceeds. The Subscription Receipts issued in the Concurrent Financing will be subject to a statutory four month hold period. Closing of the private placement is subject to negotiation and execution of definitive documentation and receipt of all regulatory approvals. Closing of the Concurrent Financing is expected to occur on or about August 31, 2020. About Kuya Silver Corp. Kuya is a privately held Canadian-based silver-focused mining company, earning into an 80% interest in the Bethania Silver Mine, located in Central Peru. Bethania was in production until 2016, toll-milling its ore at various other concentrate plants in the region, and Kuya's plan is to implement an expansion and construct a concentrate plant at site before restarting operations. Bethania produced silver-lead and zinc concentrates from the run of mine material until being placed on care and maintenance due to market conditions and lack of working capital. It is expected that shortly after the closing of the Transaction and Concurrent Financing, Kuya will close its acquisition of the 80% interest in the Bethania Silver Mine. About Miramont Resources Corp. Miramont is a Canadian-based exploration company with a focus on acquiring and developing mineral prospects within worldclass belts of South America. The Company's shares are listed on the CSE under the symbol MONT and on the OTCQB under the symbol MRRMF. Miramont holds options to acquire two mineral properties in southern Peru. About the Combined Company Upon completion of the Transaction, the resulting Company (the "Combined Company") will continue to carry on the business of Kuya and the exploration and advancement of the material properties of Kuya. It is expected that upon closing of the Transaction, the Combined Company will issue from treasury 13,041,985 Shares to the Kuya Shareholders (not including the issuance of Shares pursuant to the Concurrent Financing), and that after such issuances, the Company will have approximately 18,619,308 issued and outstanding Shares on a non-diluted, post-Consolidation basis (not including the issuance of Shares pursuant to the Concurrent Financing). Based on the foregoing, following completion of the Transaction, the current shareholders of the Company will hold approximately 30% of the outstanding Shares and the Kuya Shareholders will hold approximately 70% of the outstanding Shares. The Shares issuable under the Transaction will be subject to the escrow requirements of the CSE and hold periods as required by applicable securities laws. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of closing conditions, including the completion of the Consolidation, completion of the Name Change, completion of the Concurrent Financing, and applicable shareholder and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that proposed Transaction or other transactions described in this news release will be completed as proposed or at all. Upon completion of the Transaction the current directors and officers of the Company will be reconstituted and are expected to be comprised of the following: David Stein - President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Mr. Stein is the Founder of Kuya and President since 2017. Educated with a technical background in Geology and Engineering, Mr. Stein jumped into the capital markets very early in his career, almost 20 years ago, as a mining equities analyst for a prominent Canadian broker-dealer. More recently Mr. Stein was President and CEO of Aberdeen International, where he led various private equity and public company investment mandates. Mr. Stein is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Geological Engineering) and Master of Science (Geology) degrees from Queen's University. Lesia Burianyk - Chief Financial Officer Ms. Burianyk is the current CFO of Miramont and has over 15 years of industry experience serving as CFO for various TSX-V and CSE listed companies. Ms. Burianyk is a CPA, CA and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University. Ms. Burianyk was previously employed as an audit manager at a Canadian accounting firm where she specialized in the mining industry. Leah Hodges - Corporate Secretary Mrs. Hodges is the current Corporate Secretary for Miramont and is the principal of Benchmark Governance, providing corporate compliance, administration, and governance support to private and public companies in the resource and technology sectors. Mrs. Hodges has over fourteen years of experience serving on, and for, numerous boards of directors of publicly listed companies. Tyson King - VP Corporate Development Mr. King is the founder of Miramont and has been the President and CEO since 2019. Mr. King has over 10 years' experience in the management of publicly listed and privately held companies in the resource sector. He has been actively engaged in overseeing the day-to-day operations of several companies where he has held various senior officer positions throughout his career. Mr. King holds a BA in Economics from the University of Calgary. Quinton Hennigh - Director Dr. Hennigh is an economic geologist with more than 25 years of exploration experience with major gold mining firms, including Homestake Mining, Newcrest Mining and Newmont Mining. Currently, Dr. Hennigh is the Executive Chairman of Miramont, President and Chairman of Novo Resources Corp and serves as a director for Irving Resources Inc., TriStar Gold Inc., Precipitate Gold Corp and NV Gold Corp. Dale Peniuk - Director Mr. Peniuk is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and corporate director. Mr. Peniuk has a B.Comm from the University of British Columbia and received his Chartered Accountant designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia (now the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia). He spent more than 20 years with KPMG LLP and predecessor firms, the last ten years as an Assurance Partner with a focus on mining companies. Mr. Peniuk currently serves as a director and Audit Committee Chair of Lundin Mining Corporation, Capstone Mining Corp., Argonaut Gold Inc. and Miramont. Andres Recalde - Director Mr. Recalde is the Director of Mining for Common Good. His expertise is with social performance and building stakeholder confidence for the extractive industries. Mr. Recalde is Peruvian/Canadian and has worked extensively all over Latin America as a consultant, advisor and corporate director to mining companies such as Barrick Gold, Pan American Silver and Torex Gold. Mr. Recalde is also actively involved as Past President of the Peruvian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Kuya will appoint a further nominee to the board of the Combined Company and will disclose the name of such nominee when available. Listing Statement and Caution Further details about the Transaction and the Combined Company will be provided in a listing statement of the Company to be prepared and filed in respect of the Transaction. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the listing statement, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the Company Shares Trading in the common shares of the Company will remain halted pending the review of the proposed Transaction by the CSE. There can be no assurance that trading in the common shares will resume prior to the completion of the Transaction. On behalf of the Board of Directors, MIRAMONT RESOURCES CORP. "Quinton Hennigh" Quinton Hennigh, Executive Chairman For more information, please contact the Company or Kuya at: Miramont Resources Corp. Telephone: (604) 3984493 Facsimile: (604) 8150770 info@miramontresources.com www.miramontresources.com Kuya Silver Corp. info@kuyasilver.com www.kuyasilver.com Forward Looking Information This news release contains forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forwardlooking statements or information. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forwardlooking statements and information relating to the closing of the Transaction, the conditions to completing the Transaction, completion and terms of the Concurrent Financing, timing and receipt of regulatory and exchange approvals, and other matters. The forwardlooking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company. As a result, there can be no assurance that the proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forwardlooking statements and information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. The forward-looking statements in this press release include the Company's intentions regarding the completion of the Transaction. Since forwardlooking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to continue operations if the Transaction is not completed, the Company's ability to raise further capital, the Company's ability to complete the Concurrent Financing, the Company's ability to obtain regulatory and exchange approvals, and the Company's ability to complete the Transaction. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forwardlooking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forwardlooking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forwardlooking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/57721 Dressed in the native garb of Ghana, Arku said that, If people are tired of hearing about racism, we are tired of experiencing it. Remembering the images of George Floyd being held in a choke hold until he died by former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, Amelias father, Ernest, merely shook his head and said, Its sad. It is sad. It shouldnt happen anywhere. Floyd's death has sparked nearly two weeks of protests in the Quad-City area and across the nation and internationally. The two-hour event included a story time for children, as well as people speaking about how they felt when racism touched them, Amelia Arku included. There also was a short march through town to top it off. Maxwell Van Hoe, of East Moline, has been going with his sister to each protest they can make it to in order to show support. Some things have changed but in a big way nothing has changed, Van Hoe said. Segregation was outlawed and yet theres still evidence that, not just black people but mostly black people, but also impoverished people are put off to the side so we forget about them. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/11/2020 -- AMA Research added a comprehensive research document of 200+ pages on 'Cleaning Robots' market with detailed insights on growth factors and strategies. The study segments key regions that includes North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific with country level break-up and provide volume* and value related cross segmented information by each country. Some of the important players from a wide list of coverage used under bottom-up approach are iRobot (United States), Neato Robotics (United States), LG Electronics (South Korea), Samsung Electronics (South Korea), Ecovacs Robotics (China), Dyson (United Kingdom), Intellibot Robotics (United States), Alfred KArcher (Germany), ILIFE (China), bObsweep (Canada), Bissell Homecare (United States) Keep yourself up-to-date with latest market trends and changing dynamics due to COVID Impact and Economic Slowdown globally. Maintain a competitive edge by sizing up with available business opportunity in Cleaning Robots Market various segments and emerging territory. Get Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/31879-global-cleaning-robots-market-1 Cleaning Robots is refer as an autonomously run cleaning robots that has intelligent programming and a limited cleaning system. There are varied designs in robots, like use of spinning brushes to reach tight corners. Others are combine of a number of features of cleaning such as mopping, UV sterilisation, etc. thus rendering that machine into something which is more than just a robot cleaner. Currently, the market of cleaning robots are mainly consist of disc-shaped, the design can also be of very convenient way to shuttle the narrow space under the sofa and so on Market Segmentation by Type (Floor Cleaning Robots, Pool Cleaning Robots, Window Cleaning Robots, Lawn Cleaning Robots), Application (Household, Hospitals, Commercial), Controlling (Self Controlling, Remote Controlling) Check for Discount @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/request-discount/31879-global-cleaning-robots-market-1 Highlights of Influencing Trends: Online availability of robotic cleaners Market Growth Drivers: Automation penetration in household appliances Increasing labour cost with regards to safety concern Variable size with self charging mode Restraints: Increasing cost associated with the cleaning robot Technical problems in the robot can eradicate it form market Challenges: Efficiency of cleaning robots Inadequate availability of skilled manforce to operate the robot Browse Complete Table of Contents (ToC) @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/31879-global-cleaning-robots-market-1 Country level Break-up includes: North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Nordic, Others) Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, Australia, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Middle East & Africa, Others) Limited scope research document specific to Country or Region meeting your business objective. GET FULL COPY OF Latest Edition of United States Cleaning Robots market study with COVID-19 Impact Analysis @ --------- USD 2000 And, 2020 Released copy of Europe Cleaning Robots market study with COVID-19 Impact Analysis @ --------- USD 2500 Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Global Cleaning Robots Market: Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Cleaning Robots market Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary the basic information of the Cleaning Robots Market. Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges & Opportunities of the Cleaning Robots Chapter 4: Presenting the Cleaning Robots Market Factor Analysis, Post COVID Impact Analysis, Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis. Chapter 5: Displaying the by Type, End User and Region 2014-2019 Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the Cleaning Robots market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile Chapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by Manufacturers/Company with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions (2020-2025) Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data Source How Research Study of AMA helps clients in their decision making: - Creating strategies for new product development - Supporting & Adjust Investment/business decisions - Benchmark and judge own competitiveness - Aiding in the business planning process - Serving as a credible, independent check on company internal forecasts - Supporting acquisition strategies Buy this report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/buy-now?format=1&report=31879 Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia. About Author: Advance Market Analytics is Global leaders of Market Research Industry provides the quantified B2B research to Fortune 500 companies on high growth emerging opportunities which will impact more than 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Our Analyst is tracking high growth study with detailed statistical and in-depth analysis of market trends & dynamics that provide a complete overview of the industry. We follow an extensive research methodology coupled with critical insights related industry factors and market forces to generate the best value for our clients. We Provides reliable primary and secondary data sources, our analysts and consultants derive informative and usable data suited for our clients business needs. The research study enable clients to meet varied market objectives a from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and from competitor profiling to M&As. Contact Us: Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) AMA Research & Media LLP Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA - 08837 Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218 sales@advancemarketanalytics.com Connect with us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/advance-market-analytics https://www.facebook.com/AMA-Research-Media-LLP-344722399585916 https://twitter.com/amareport Boris Johnson scrapped a team of Cabinet ministers tasked with protecting the UK from a pandemic six months before coronavirus arrived, a Mail investigation has found. The Governments anti-pandemic committee, which included senior ministers Michael Gove, Matt Hancock and Gavin Williamson, was disbanded without discussing virus control plans. The group, officially known as the Threats, Hazards, Resilience and Contingency Committee (THRCC), was supposed to ensure the UK was ready to cope with a pandemic. In July 2019, Boris Johnson scrapped a 'pandemic team' just six months before the virus hit the UK, a Mail investigation has learned But it was mothballed by former prime minister Theresa May on the advice of Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill so ministers and officials could focus on Brexit. It was abolished by Mr Johnson days after he entered No10 last July as part of a vow to streamline Whitehall. Six months later Covid-19 arrived. Experts claim the Prime Ministers delay in ordering a lockdown is partly why the UKs death toll is so high. Last night, a former Cabinet minister who was a member of THRCC until it was axed said it could have ensured the Government reacted more quickly to coronavirus, adding: Once the pandemic took hold in Italy... alarm bells would have been ringing. Senior MPs Michael Gove (pictured left) and Matt Hancock (right) were part of the Cabinet team tasked with discussing virus control plans Fellow Tory MP Gavin Williamson (pictured) was also part of the pandemic team We would have stress-tested the Governments contingency plans for dealing with a pandemic. The disclosure that the committee was scrapped is embarrassing for Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who would be a member were it still running. In July 2018 he was the security minister behind a Home Office report that insisted THRCC had a vital role in guarding against a pandemic. Mr Wallaces biological security strategy said an influenza pandemic was one of the most significant civil emergency risks facing the UK, adding: Such an outbreak could have the potential to cause hundreds of thousands of fatalities and cost the UK tens of billions of pounds. Significant outbreaks of disease are among the highest impact risks faced by any society, threatening lives and causing disruption to public services and the economy. The THRCC was a sub-committee of the National Security Council (NSC), which is chaired by Mr Johnson and made up of intelligence chiefs and senior ministers. Fifteen Cabinet ministers sat on the THRCC, which was chaired by Mrs Mays deputy prime minister David Lidington. Members included chancellor Philip Hammond, home secretary Sajid Javid and foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt. A former minister said fears that the UK was heading for a No Deal Brexit led to THRCC being wound down in late 2018 by Sir Mark, adding: We were having to spend more time on EU exit strategy and less on everything else. The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 41,481 lives in the UK with the nation going into lockdown at the end of March 'It was felt that if we were going to get our ducks in a row to prepare for the risk of a No Deal scenario we had to slow down on things including THRCC. Labours ex-foreign secretary Dame Margaret Beckett, who chairs the National Security Council Committee that oversees the NSC, pledged to investigate the axing of the THRCC as part of a cross-party inquiry into the Governments readiness for a pandemic. She said: The role of the Threats, Hazards, Resilience and Contingency sub-committee is exactly the kind of thing we will take an interest in. No10 and Mr Wallace declined to comment. The Cabinet Office said: The Government has taken the right steps at the right time to combat this pandemic. We regularly test our pandemic plans. Additional reporting: Owen Bennett A blast in a mosque during Friday prayers in the western part of capital Kabul has killed at least four people and wounded many more, Afghanistan's interior ministry said. "Explosives placed inside the Sher Shah Suri Mosque exploded during Friday prayers," said a statement issued by the ministry, which added that the mosque's prayer leader Azizullah Mofleh was among those killed Interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said police have cordoned off the area and helped move the wounded to ambulances and nearby hospitals. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but a mosque attack earlier this month was claimed by an ISIL (or ISIS) group affiliate, headquartered in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. "Interestingly, every time you have the peace process gaining some momentum and pace, you have these kinds of attacks in the country," Habib Wardak, a national security analyst based in Kabul, told Al Jazeera. "The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack that happened last week on a mosque in Kabul, so despite the fact that you have these news and press conference from the government that they have eliminated ISIL, how can they conduct such sophisticated operations?". Friday's blast had parallels to one earlier this month, when an explosion tore apart a famous Kabul mosque and led to the death of renowned Afghan cleric Maulvi Ayaz Niazi. "In this attack, the imam seems to be the target, not the rest of the crowd. These are the imams who have supported the peace process with the Taliban movement," Wardak said. "The other political aspect for these kinds of attacks is that there are peace spoilers trying to convey a message that peace with the Taliban will not eradicate violence in the country because you have ISIL." Violence has spiked in recent weeks in Afghanistan with most of the attacks claimed by the ISIL affiliate. The United States blamed the armed group for a horrific attack last month on a maternity hospital in the capital that killed 24 people, including two infants and several new mothers. The ISIL affiliate also took responsibility for an attack on a bus carrying journalists in Kabul on May 30, killing two. It also claimed credit for an attack on the funeral of a strongman loyal to the government last month that killed 35 people. Meanwhile, the US is attempting to broker peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban to end 18 years of war. Washington's peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was in the region earlier this week trying to resuscitate a US peace deal with the Taliban. Source: aljazeera.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 01:06:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Keren Setton JERUSALEM, June 11 (Xinhua) -- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned his Israeli counterpart on Wednesday that a move to annex territories in the West Bank would be viewed as a violation of international law. Arriving in Jerusalem for a series of meetings, Maas did not go into details about possible measures that could be taken against Israel, but the message to Israeli officials was clear. The meetings that Maas held with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu served as a demonstration, if not a warning, to the Israeli government that the controversial move will most likely be frowned upon by many in the international community. Netanyahu has yet to announce specific plans on the matter, probably due to the complexities attached to the move. The annexation, that may come during July, is part of U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, better known as the Deal of the Century that was revealed earlier this year. Israel captured the West Bank territories during the 1967 Middle East war. According to various UN resolutions, Israeli settlement activity is considered illegal. The annexation plan has drawn criticism from some of Israel's close allies, including Germany. Germany is slated to head the EU presidency as of next month, putting it in a leading position when formulating the policy in response to Israeli moves. In Jerusalem, Maas reiterated Germany's position that favors a two-state solution for the conflict. "We still believe that the negotiated two-state solution is the right way and annexation will not make this solution more probable," he said at a press conference after meeting with Ashkenazi. Despite the current wave of criticism, many believe that it will be hard to force the Israeli government to reverse the decision. "It will be impossible to reverse the decision," said Maya Sion-Tzidkiyahu, director of the Program on Israel-Europe Relations at the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies. "The EU prefers that such a step will not be taken because it will destabilize the region," the director added. A poll conducted in the daily newspaper Israel Today last month indicates the majority of Israelis are in favor of annexation. But Netanyahu also faces internal opposition from the right-wing which opposes the other part of the Trump deal, namely the establishment of a Palestinian state later on. Netanyahu's coalition partners also do not have a clear position on unilateral annexation and may oppose him. It is not clear whether they will jeopardize the coalition if they veto any move towards annexation. Faced with a dilemma, Netanyahu may decide to opt out of annexation for now or announce a smaller annexation which will not include all the West Bank territories and settlement enclaves. "The EU will respond regardless of the extent of the annexation, because the EU sees it as a violation of international law," Sion-Tzidkiyahu told Xinhua. But EU will "respond more harshly" if the annexation is "larger and decreases more chances of the Palestinians to establish a viable state," the expert added. "Taken into account the history between Israel and Germany, Germany will be in a difficult position to impose sanctions on Israel," said Hillel Frisch, from the Bar Ilan University's Department of Political Studies and Middle Eastern Studies. So far, Netanyahu's new government, sworn in just a few weeks ago, has been largely ambivalent. At the press conference on Wednesday, Ashkenazi made it clear that there were no maps drawn yet, indicating things were far from being finalized. According to Frisch, "the internal politics, instead of the international pressure, is the key factor that will determine whether Israel will move forward with annexation." Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 02:19:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi attended on Thursday a virtual mini-summit held by the African Union (AU) to discuss the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the continent, said the Egyptian presidency. "The president stressed that facing the coronavirus pandemic requires close cooperation among African countries in a comprehensive framework to limit the negative effects and consequences of the spread of the virus in Africa," Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement. Held via video conference, the mini-summit was attended by current AU chief and South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as chiefs of African economic blocs and the head of the AU Commission. During the meeting, Sisi stressed the necessity of urging international financial institutions and partners of Africa to provide economic support to African states, particularly through alleviating and exempting due debt installments owed by African countries. He reiterated that coping with the repercussions of the pandemic in Africa should be carried out in parallel with other continental efforts to combat various threats to the security and stability of African states, including terrorism and extremism. Until Wednesday night, Egypt has registered 38,284 COVID-19 infections, including 1,342 deaths and 10,289 recoveries. Enditem RTHK: North Korea plays down Kim-Trump relationship North Korea sees little use maintaining a personal relationship between leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump if Washington sticks to hostile policies, state media reported on Friday - the two-year anniversary of the leaders' first summit. US policies prove Washington remains a long-term threat to the North Korean state and its people and North Korea will develop more reliable military forces to counter that threat, Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA. Trump and Kim exchanged insults and threats during 2017 as North Korea made large advances in its nuclear and missile programme and the United States responded by leading an international effort to tighten sanctions. Relations improved significantly around the Singapore summit in June 2018, the first time a sitting American president met with a North Korean leader, but the statement that came out of the meeting was light on specifics. A second summit in February 2019 in Vietnam failed to reach a deal because of conflicts over US calls for North Korea to completely give up its nuclear weapons, and North Korean demands for swift sanctions relief. Ri said in retrospect the Trump administration appears to have been focusing on only scoring political points while seeking to isolate and suffocate North Korea, and threatening it with preemptive nuclear strikes and regime change. "Never again will we provide the US chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns," he said. "Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise." The US State Department and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On Thursday, a State Department spokesperson told South Korea's Yonhap news agency the United States remains committed to dialogue with North Korea, and is open to a "flexible approach to reach a balanced agreement." On Thursday North Korea criticised the United States for commenting on inter-Korean affairs, and said Washington should stay quiet if it wants the upcoming presidential election to go smoothly. North Korea is likely to try to increase pressure on the United States ahead of the upcoming election, said Daniel Russel, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia until early in the Trump administration. "Trumps claim to have solved the North Korea problem gives them leverage," he said. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a Korea expert at King's College London, said Ri's statement shows North Korea still sees all options on the table, from a proper diplomatic process to further developing its nuclear programme. "North Korea continues to need a proper deal more than the U.S.," Pacheco Pardo said on Twitter. "That hasn't changed." Ri said North Korea's desire to open a new cooperative era runs as deep as ever, but that the situation on the Korean peninsula is daily taking a turn for the worse. "The U.S. professes to be an advocate for improved relations with the DPRK, but in fact, it is hell-bent on only exacerbating the situation," Ri said. The official name of North Korea is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2020-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. HANOI/BANDAR LAMPUNG, Indonesia Vietnams local coffee prices remained unchanged from last week on Thursday in low trade, as farmers had almost sold out their stocks. Farmers in the Central Highlands, Vietnams largest coffee-growing area, sold coffee COFVN-DAK at 32,000 dong ($1.38) per kg, unchanged from a week ago. Theres not much coffee left and so we cant clinch new deals during the rest of the current crop year, said a trader based in the Central Highlands. The current 2019/20 crop year will officially end at the end of September. Farmers will start the new harvest in October. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday said coffee production in Vietnam was seen falling 3.5% to 30.2 million 60-kg bags in the 2020/21 crop, compared with the previous season due to unfavorable weather. Traders in Vietnam said they also expected output of the next crop to be 10%-15% lower. Apart from unfavorable weather condition, consistent low prices have discouraged farmers from taking care of their coffee trees as they have switched to fruit trees for better gains, another trader based in the coffee belt said. September robusta coffee settled up $6, or 0.48%, at $1,253 per metric ton on Wednesday. Traders in Vietnam offered 5% black and broken grade 2 robusta COFVN-G25-SAI at $200 premium per metric ton to the September contract, flat from last week. Meanwhile, in Indonesias Lampung province, Sumatran robusta beans were offered with $350 premium to July contract unchanged from last week, one trader said. Another trader said premium increased to $350 to August contract, compared to $320 on July contract last week. Premium for exports rose as offshore buyers compete for beans with local buyers, the trader said. Local roasters are offering high price for beans, the trader said. ($1 = VND23,215) PHILIPSBURG:--- MiD-DAY.com is a publication out of Mumbai, India, that is a part of Jagran Prakashan Ltd (JPL) described as India's leading media and communications group with its interests spanning across Print, Mobile and Online that covers all of India as its footprint and is arguably amongst one of the largest media conglomerates in India. On June 9, 2020, a story under the title, When Women Lead, The Virus Loses, What do Taiwan, New Zealand, Iceland, Finland, Germany, and Kerala have in common? Low COVID-19 death rates and women in charge. The story written by C.Y. Gopinath, featured Sint Maartens Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and her performance during the COVID-19 pandemic when she hit the ground running in closing the country down to prevent a serious impact of the coronavirus on the country back in March 2020. The publication is considered Indias most engaging local newspaper, MiD-DAY. It covers local news, career guidance, dream homes, and looks at what is on in the city or best of Bollywood gossip, MiD-DAYs sections also offer readers staple news and amusers like comics and crosswords. The company also has an established presence in the multimedia space, with its web version, www.mid-day.com with presently over 23 million-page views per month as well as MiD-DAY news feeds on cell phones. The story also includes Sint Maarten up there with six other countries, namely, Taiwan, New Zealand, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Germany that acted swiftly and decisively in taking action which resulted in keeping their death rates down. The story makes reference to the fact that all six countries are led by women: Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-Wen; New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Arden; Iceland's Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir; Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin, only 34; Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg; and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel. Jayanthi Pawar By Express News Service CHENNAI: Ramya* wakes up crying from her sleep often these days. The four-year-old cannot comprehend the crime committed against her, but the terror inflicted is still fresh in her mind. I stay up and sit by her side all night to ensure she sleeps peacefully, and doesnt start crying again, says Ramyas mother Jaya*. This has been the case for last one week. A week ago, Jaya, who works as a domestic help, left the child playing in front of the house and went for work. Before leaving she asked her neighbours to keep an eye on Ramya. As a single mother abandoned by her husband three years ago, Jaya is dependant on her neighbours to take care of Ramya when she is away at work. Jaya was away from Ramya for just for two hours. But by then, a lot changed in both their lives for worse. A 58-year-old man staying alone in the vicinity saw the child playing alone. He lured Ramya into his house with chocolates, say the police. Within minutes, the neighbours heard Ramya scream. When the rushed out, they saw her running out of the mans house, without clothes. The man was immediately nabbed and handed over to the cops. Ramya, however, is still reluctant to step out of her house. Every time she crosses that house, she clings to her mother, says a relative. Jayas relatives blame her for leaving the child alone. But none understands that she needs to work to feed them both. Ramya is just one of the thousands of children facing sexual abuses in our society. Most of them have to deal with the trauma alone. There is a serious lack of social support. As it is many such families used to hesitate approaching the police. Now, with the lockdown, its worse, says child rights activist A Devaneyan. The restrictions have also made counselling difficult. It is important to make the victim feel confident that it was not their mistake. Even worse, says Andrew Sesuraj, convenor of the TN Child Rights, is the state of children forced to live under the same roof as their predator. Sensing that children are especially vulnerable during the lockdown, rights organisations have sent a proposal to the State, asking for school teachers to be roped in as protection officers. Every teacher must be made to call their students on a weekly basis. When the school is underway, children talk to their friends or teachers if they face any abuses. That avenue has been sealed now. As in the case of Covid, government should provide additional helpline numbers for children facing abuse, says Sesuraj. In the last three months of lockdown alone, 209 cases have been filed under the POCSO Act across TN. Data shows that in most of these cases, the accused are related to the victims. Meanwhile, instructions have been sent out to ensure that all the helplines installed in All Women Police Stations are functional and also a log should be maintained to follow-up the action taken. Crimes on rise The UN and the National Commission for Women have acknowledged that crimes against women have increased manifold during the lockdown. Reporting of number of crimes against women on TN polices helpline have more than halved during the lockdown. However, the number of complaints rose significantly after the police delved deeper into the issue with an outreach programme, said ADGP of Crime against Women and Children, M Ravi during a webinar * Names changed Published on 2020/06/11 | Source Actor Ryoo Seung-bum is getting married to his foreign girlfriend. Advertisement Sam Company announced on the 11th that Ryoo Seung-bum is going to marry a woman residing in France. The bride-to-be is currently pregnant and the wedding will be kept simple with close friends and family but only after the childbirth due to COVID19. Meanwhile, Ryoo Seung-bum debuted in 2000 with the film "Die Bad" and starred in numerous dramas and films. He starred in the film "Tazza: One Eyed Jack" last year. He joined Sam Company which Hwang Jung-min and Park Jung-min also belong to in May last year and he has been communicating with fans via social media. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced on Thursday that President Donald Trump will accept the Republican nomination this year in Jacksonville, Florida. We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion in the great city of Jacksonville, McDaniel said in a news release. Not only does Florida hold a special place in President Trumps heart as his home state, but it is crucial in the path to victory in 2020. We look forward to bringing this great celebration and economic boon to the Sunshine State in just a few short months. We are thrilled to hold @realDonaldTrumps acceptance of the Republican nomination in the great city of Jacksonville! Not only is Florida his home state, it is crucial to victory. We look forward to bringing this great celebration and economic boon to the Sunshine State! Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) June 12, 2020 Because the party signed a contract to hold the convention in Charlotte, they are obligated to hold some portion of the convention in the North Carolina city. But the announcement now guarantees that this years Republican convention will be unlike any other in modern history, where delegates officially elect their nominee in one location, while the nominee accepts the nomination hundreds of miles away. Gov. Roy Cooper (D-N.C.) had been unprepared to commit to allowing Republicans to hold the large gathering in Charlotte in a few months time, citing COVID-19 risk. By selecting Jacksonville to host the marquee Republican event of the summer, the Trump campaign is making a big investment in another critical battleground state. In 2016, Trump carried Duval County, which includes all of Jacksonville, by slightly more than 1 percentage pointbut neighboring St. Johns County by more than 30 points. The stretch of northeastern Florida is deep red Trump country, where the campaign believes they can expand their margins to help win Florida, which is crucial in building a path to 270 electoral votes. The Republican National Committee executive committee paved the way to the announcement on Wednesday night when they unanimously approved a plan to significantly scale down the convention proceedings that will take place in Charlotte and to make no changes to the partys 2016 platform. The vote significantly pairs down the official business with each state and territory only sending six delegates to the gathering, for a total of 336 delegates where there would have been over 2,500. The delegates, regardless of whether they are physically present in Charlotte, will be able to vote for both Trump and Vice President Mike Pences nomination via proxy, but only the six present delegates in Charlotte will be able to vote on other convention business, according to the rules. All delegates who would have been invited to the convention, the spokesperson said, will be invited to Trumps acceptance speech. After the Republican National Committee began to search for alternative locations, Jacksonville had long been one of the leading contenders to host the celebratory portion of the event. McDaniel said Wednesday that Jacksonville is absolutely in the frontrunning position to host the celebration for the Republican convention. Jacksonville Republicans had pitched the site as the best big city venue where Republicans control both city and state government. This is Trump country here. This is the single best city in America, in which to host the Republican National Convention, and for several reasons. Its a battleground county in a battleground state, in a city where you have unified Republican governance, Duval County Republican Chairman Dean Black told CNN. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, the former chairman of the Florida Republicans and one of the few big city Republican mayors, pitched his city as the next convention host on Twitter last week and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who talks to the President regularly, told Fox this month that the state was ready to host the event. Well be able to make those decisions about what precautions need to be taken as you get closer, but to just rule out a convention at this stage, I think, is a mistake, DeSantis said. So weve said we want to get to yes on it, and I think youll be able to do it. The CNN Wire contributed to this article. For more than three months weve been asked repeatedly to wear a face mask to prevent spreading and contracting COVID-19. Now, an SFGate report has announced that a new modeling study out of Cambridge and Greenwich universities suggests that face mask use may be even more important than originally thought in preventing future outbreaks of the new coronavirus. To ward off resurgences, the reproduction number for the virus (the average number of people who will contract it from one infected person) needs to drop below 1.0, the report said. While researchers dont believe thats achievable with lockdowns alone, they say a combination of lockdowns and widespread mask compliance might do the trick. MORE: Face masks to wear in the summer heat, reasonably priced and available online We show that, when face masks are used by the public all the time (not just from when symptoms first appear), the effective reproduction number, Re, can be decreased below 1, leading to the mitigation of epidemic spread, the scientists wrote in the paper published Wednesday by the Proceedings of the Royal Society A. According to the SFGate report, the modeling study indicated that when lockdown periods are combined with 100% face mask use, disease spread is vastly diminished, preventing resurgence for 18 months, the time frame that has frequently been cited for developing a vaccine. It also demonstrated that if people wear masks in public, it is twice as effective at reducing the R number than if face coverings are only worn after symptoms appear. What kind of masks are suggested? The study said the masks dont have to be top-of-the-line surgical or respirator masks. Homemade coverings that catch only 50 percent of exhaled droplets would provide a population-level benefit, they concluded. As has been well-publicized, wearing a mask is not a sign that you consider others a danger. Rather, mask use primarily protects others from yourself, rather than the other way around. Dr. Richard Stutt, the studys lead author, and part of a team that usually models the spread of crop diseases at Cambridges department of plant sciences. was quoted by Science Focus as saying, Our analyses support the immediate and universal adoption of face masks by the public. A simple way to make your own coronavirus mask using a shop towel, two rubber bands, a paperclip, stapler and a piece of tape that doesnt require sewing. Experts say nonwoven materials like this can filter particles 2 to 3x better than cotton. Theresa Gage models the finished product. Lauren Long | llong@syracuse.comLauren Long | llong@syracuse.com Some counties in California currently require face-mask use. According to SFGate, Alameda County and San Francisco city health officials require residents to wear face coverings any time they leave home and get within 30 feet of anyone not living in their household. And, in San Francisco, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Sonoma counties (plus the cities of Pleasant Hill and Fremont) people must use basic non-medical, cloth masks, including scarves and bandannas, to cover their noses and mouths when they leave home to go to essential places like the supermarket, drugstore or doctor, the report said. xxxxxxx READ MORE: Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will on June 12 will hold a conversation with former US diplomat Nicholas Burns on how coronavirus crisis was reshaping the world order. The freewheeling interaction between Gandhi and Burns will cover a wide range of issues, including racism in the United States and the flashpoint created by George Floyd's killing. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the dialogue will be around reshaping of the world order in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the future of Indo-US relations and the key role played by the Indian diaspora in the US in building it. The clash of ideologies - authoritarian' China versus democratic' United States and India - will also be discussed. The conversation will be released on all social media platforms of the Congress at 10 am on Friday. Nicholas Burns is currently the Professor of Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics at Harvard's John F Kennedy School of Government. At the Harvard Kennedy School, Burns is the Director of The Future of Diplomacy Project and Faculty Chair for the programs on the Middle East, India and South Asia. During his career in the State Department, he was United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs within the United States Department of State. He was also the chief negotiator of the India-US nuclear deal. As part of his dialogues with various experts, Gandhi has spoken to leading global economists Raghuram Rajan and Abhijit Banerjee; internationally renowned epidemiologist Johann Giesceke; global public health expert Ashish Jha and Indian industrialist Rajiv Bajaj. A woman (56), who is suffering from a chronic kidney ailment and also underwent angioplasty six years ago, received a rousing reception by her housing society members on Thursday amid chants of Ganpati Bappa Morya (Lord Ganesha Bless us) after she returned home from a hospital having recovered from the SARS-COV-2 infection, which causes coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Residents of Omkar Rahiwasi Seva Sangh colony in Rangari Badak Chawl area at Kalachowki, Parel, greeted Nilima Harishchandra Zore by showering flowers on her, drawing a floral rangoli to welcome her and also gave a big round of applause. Zore returned home after spending 26 days at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run Nair Hospital after she had tested Covid-19 positive in May. In 2014, she had undergone angioplasty and is on dialysis for the past two years. Id regularly take my mother for dialysis at the Hinduja Hospital in a family friends vehicle, but was forced to take a private taxi on May 8 because of the lockdown restrictions that were enforced since end-March to contain the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak. The next day, I got a fever, and the following day my mother, too, showed symptoms for Covid-19 such as a fever, cold, cough, sore throat, and nausea. We immediately got ourselves tested at the Hinduja Hospital. Though initial reports came negative, my mother and I tested positive in the third and second tests, respectively, said Ankita, Zores daughter. We suspect that we might have contracted the virus from the taxi driver, she added. Zore was admitted to Nair Hospital, as it has a dialysis facility. On May 15, Ankita and the other family members were quarantined at a BMC-run quarantine centre in Saat Rasta area. Later, Ankita was shifted to a Covid-19 care facility at Nagpada for further treatment. Were shocked after my mother and I tested Covid-19 positive. Were worried the most about her, as she has a medical history and those with chronic health conditions have a low survival rate, if they get infected by the virus, Ankita said. Zore, too, was scared. On the first day at the hospital, I thought that Id never return home alive. Fortunately, my family members, housing society members, doctors, and paramedical staff rallied around me and gave me the confidence to recover, she said. My mother had developed an innate belief that shed get well soon, as she would tell us from her hospital bed that wed visit our native village Rajapur in the Konkan coast to celebrate Ganeshotsav, Ankita said. The Zores believe that the worst is behind them. We faced social discrimination from our neighbours. They called the civic authorities and lodged false complaints against us that were violating quarantine norms. But the housing society residents stood by us like a rock amid this unprecedented crisis, said Ankita. The Zores singled out society residents such as Narendra Pange, Dayanand Ghadigaonkar, Jayendra Mahadi, Subhash Pansare, Manali Bhosale, and Prashant Shinde for their unstinted support to help the middle-aged woman fight the deadly pathogen. Zore is a very kind and strong woman. We ensured that she didnt face any inconvenience. Makrand Dagadkhair, assistant commissioner, BMC, provided all the necessary support to her, Pange said. Ghadigaonkar, who is the president of the housing society, said: Were caught unaware since this was the first Covid-19 positive case. Initially, we didnt know how to deal with the situation. We stood by the family, while doctors and paramedical staff at the Nair Hospital did an excellent job. Zore was discharged from the hospital after she tested negative on Wednesday night and the following morning. There are too many misconceptions and myths doing the rounds about Covid-19. Ultimately, its the will power that helps a patient overcome the viral infection. The disease has taught us an important lesson of life, Ankita added. Zores husband is a retired employee of the state-run Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL). Her son is married and has a nine-month-old baby, and Ankita has recently finished her internship from a private firm. COLUMBUS, Ohio--Dr. Amy Acton, Ohios state health director who has become a household name around the state during the coronavirus crisis, has resigned effective immediately, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday. Acton will remain as the governors chief adviser on health issues, DeWine said. Lance Himes, the Ohio Department of Healths general counsel who briefly served as state health director twice under ex-Gov. John Kasich, will become interim director, the governor said. Asked why shes leaving now, Acton said the decision to resign is something Ive been struggling over the last couple of months. She said her routine during the past couple months, which involved getting up at 4 a.m. to read and catch up while going to bed late, wasnt a sustainable thing. Acton said with the state reopening, Ohio is entering a new phase of learning to resume life with the coronavirus. I think there is a sort of natural shift that is occurring here that makes it sort of a good time so I can refocus," she said. The governor said he tried in vain to convince Acton to stay as director, and he praised her wise advice and counsel and extraordinary bedside manner since he appointed her last year. Acton has drawn wide admiration in Ohio, as well as around the nation, for her appearances during DeWines daily coronavirus briefings, providing easy-to-understand analysis and information about the virus in a calm, soothing voice, and passionately pleading with Ohioans to stay at home and take other precautions. Bobbleheads and cartoons have been made featuring her. An April poll found almost 64 percent of Ohios registered voters had a favorable opinion of Acton, and almost 84 percent said they trusted the coronavirus information she was providing. But as the DeWine administration has moved in the past six weeks to lift the states stay-at-home and business-closure orders, Acton and the Ohio Department of Health have become increasingly sidelined. Starting last month, the governor turned to a number of working groups," composed of business people and experts, to determine how various sectors of Ohios economy will reopen. Acton has also become a lightning rod of criticism from opponents of the DeWine administrations coronavirus orders, who claimed she overestimated the deadliness of the coronavirus and overreached her authority in ordering closures. Republican lawmakers tried to strip her of her power, and protesters demonstrated outside her home in suburban Columbus. Asked how she felt about the criticism, Acton said any human being would be affected by the backlash, especially as she has never run for public office. But, she said, for anyone doing this job, youd be surprised how much a lot of that isnt your focus. She added: For me, my focus -- the need to protect Ohioans and save lives was so intense, especially during those first days (of the crisis), she said. I can honestly say, like -- it had to be a single point of meditation on the task at hand, and that remains that. Acton was named health director in April 2019, becoming the final member of DeWines cabinet to be appointed. Before joining the DeWine administration, she most recently served as a community research and grants administrator at the nonprofit Columbus Foundation. A Youngstown native, Acton has described how she grew up abused, neglected, and occasionally homeless. She attended Youngstown State University, and she paid her own way to earn a medical degree from what is now Northeast Ohio Medical University, followed by a masters degree in public health from Ohio State University. Read more Ohio coronavirus coverage: Meet Lance Himes, Dr. Amy Actons replacement as Ohios health director Ohio AG Dave Yost argues diner owners who reopened early shouldnt face criminal charges Bill to change how state health officials collect, report coronavirus information passes Ohio House At least 2,457 Ohioans have died with coronavirus: Wednesday update How much did coronavirus closings sink sales tax collections for Ohio, the counties and transit agencies? Lightfoot ordered the Riverwalk closed in March as part of a broader effort to curb the spread of coronavirus. Now, with the city easing restrictions on the public and allowing more businesses to reopen, the mayors office said it will allow people to visit the Riverwalk through limited access points on Lake Street. Gov. Andrew Cuomo today said he would sign an executive order to require the 500 local police agencies and governments across New York to develop plans that reinvent and modernize police strategies and programs. If the plans are not written and put into local law by April 1, Cuomo said he would withhold state funding to local police agencies. There is a breach of the trust and that has to be restored and repaired, Cuomo said. There is no one size fits all, he added, for improving police services. And any changes should continue to adhere to state and federal policing standards, he said. Fix your problems with your police in your community. Some of the specific areas to address include: use of force by police officers crowd management community policing implicit bias awareness training de-escalation training and practices restorative justice practices community-based outreach citizen complaint procedures You need public safety, Cuomo added. What public safety is should be redefined at the local level, he said. Those changes could be reduced police levels and more civilian workers responding to calls, he said. The police are public servants, he said. They do what the public wants them to do. Cuomo today also signed into laws that will criminalize police chokeholds, open up police disciplinary records and strengthen investigations into police-involved shootings and deaths. Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, was at the bill signing in New York City. So was Valerie Bell, whose son, Sean, was shot and killed by New York City police in 2006. The Rev. Al Sharpton was also there, along with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. As a black man, I felt, that could be me, Heastie said of deaths by police action. He added hes had problematic encounters with police since hes been speaker of the New York Assembly. They didnt know I was speaker, he said, adding that he didnt tell them. The New York State Legislature passed 10 bills in three days earlier this week that mean to improve police policies following police brutality protests around the world in recent days in reaction to the death of George Floyd. Today, Cuomo signed four of those into law, including one that criminalizes police chokeholds when a person is hurt or dies; gives the states attorney general the authority to investigate deaths caused by police; and removes a shield from some information contained in police disciplinary records. There is still more to do, Cuomo said. Police reform is long overdue. Sharpton commended the governor for the executive order requiring local governments to take action. He called it a model for other states and communities in dealing with civil rights in the 21st century. To say hes going to withhold funds means he means it, Sharpton said. Andrew Cuomo has raised the bar," he added, encouraging others across the nation to call on their governors for similar efforts. The April 1 deadline is the start of the states fiscal calendar. Cuomo also announced another 42 people have died in New York from coronavirus. The governor repeated his call for federal lawmakers to address education equality, child poverty and affordable housing. Cuomo also said hes no fan of talk about ending police unions. Do you want to end other public sector unions? he asked. Whats the difference between the police union and teachers union? Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274. Even in the realm of old locomotives, Genesee Valley Transportations latest acquisition is something of a relic among relics. The Lackawanna 409 switcher, which Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad purchased new from the American Locomotive Co. in 1940, is one of the nations oldest Alco diesel locomotives. It may also be the only Alco HH660 locomotive of its type still in existence that ever operated in a DL&W railyard. Genesee Valley, which operates the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad in Northeast Pennsylvania, announced last month that it has acquired the 80-year-old switcher. The company plans to bring the locomotive to Scranton and restore it to its original identity as Lackawanna 409. Charlie Monte Verde, GVTs director of government affairs and planning, described the locomotive as a near-perfect fit for the company. It checks a couple of boxes for us, he said. Genesee Valleys affinity for Alco locomotives dates to when the company was organizing in the mid-1980s, Monte Verde said. At that point, Alcos were readily available on the secondary market, as were parts, and there were efficiencies to be gained by using mostly just one make of locomotive. As other railroads have turned to locomotives from other manufacturers, GVT has emerged as the worlds largest owner and operator of Alco locomotives, he said. More recently, and certainly with the acquisition of the 409, the company has started to become self-appointed preservationists of the Alco lineage, Monte Verde said. The acquisition of the 409 also reflects the strong interest of GVTs owners, all of whom grew up around the DL&W in western New York, in preserving elements of that railroad, he said. The 409 will be the third Lackawanna locomotive the company has obtained and brought to Scranton, he said. The 426 is on display at Steamtown National Historic Site, and the 959 is in the midst of restoration. Norman Barrett, who is president of Steamtowns Iron Horse Society and involved in a number of rail history preservation projects, said he heard probably a year ago that the 409 was being retired and hoped someone would step in to preserve it . He was pleasantly surprised when GVT announced it had purchased the locomotive. Its good for the area, Barrett said. We have a national rail museum in our backyard, and our local rail operator is a rail fan and has purchased these things and is willing to show them once they are fixed up and operable. ... Its all good stuff. The 409 was most recently in service at a steel plant in Indiana, Monte Verde said. It is not clear when it will arrive in Scranton, but it will go to GVTs new maintenance facility in Green Ridge, where restoration will take place, he said. That work will include giving the locomotive a historically accurate paint scheme and preparing it for at least some amount of regular use. Whether that is special occasion use only or use as a yard switcher is to be determined, he said. Although the internet means few things worthy of saving escape the notice of would-be preservationists nowadays, it sometimes requires a beautiful set of coincidences for something like the Lackawanna 409 to survive for as long as it has, Monte Verde said. Theres always a patron saint somewhere in there, he said. Even if they werent using it, they took care of it or looked after it a protector of one sort or another. Thats how something like this makes it through to 2020. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to get it by email. This weeks issue is written by Besha Rodell, a columnist for the Australia bureau. The clink of glasses, the whir of an espresso machine, the laughter of other patrons, the banter of a pub owner I cant tell you how much Ive missed these things. The ability to forgo the midafternoon conversation with my husband: What should we make for dinner? No dishes to do! I have always loved restaurants, but the last few months have shown me along with most of the world what life would be like without them. And I realized, along with all the things I already knew, how much restaurants act as a respite from the grind of daily life. Dining out is also my job. What does a restaurant critic do when there are no restaurants? Its a question Ive been asked a lot over the past three months, in private and in public. In April, it was a topic I discussed with my American colleagues the Times chief restaurant critic, Pete Wells; the California restaurant critic, Tejal Rao; and Sam Sifton, a Times assistant managing editor as part of the ongoing TimesTalks series in which journalists from around the company discuss their work on a call that readers are invited to join. Factbox: Global surge in coronavirus cases raise fears about second wave The spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New Delhi (Reuters) - A second wave of the coronavirus could derail efforts by governments to reopen economies and ease lockdown restrictions. Here is a rundown of countries and regions with the highest infection rates and measures taken to curb infection rates. INDIA Since India started gradually easing lockdowns of its 1.3 billion people imposed in March, the pace of the virus spread has accelerated sharply. India has reported roughly 10,000 new infections daily over the last week and the country's case count surpassed Britain on Friday, making it the fourth most affected country globally. The western state of Maharashtra, home to financial hub Mumbai, has been the hardest hit with roughly a third of all cases in India. With nearly 100,000 cases, Maharashtra alone has recorded more infections than all of China. PAKISTAN New cases have surged in Pakistan since the government lifted lockdowns on May 9 citing economic pressure. It has reported record number of new infections since early June, also partly due to increased testing. Of 23,000 daily tests, more than one in five have been positive over the last 10 days. Before the lockdown was lifted the number of positive tests was approximately 1 in 10, government statistics show. The World Health Organization recommended this week that Pakistani authorities reimpose "intermittent lockdowns" of targeted areas, saying the country did not meet the WHO's conditions for lifting restrictions. INDONESIA Coronavirus cases keep rising across the world's fourth most populous nation. The country reported 1,241 new cases on Wednesday, its biggest daily rise for a second successive day, and added 979 new cases on Thursday. It resumed domestic flights this week, while the capital Jakarta began easing social restrictions last week. SOUTH KOREA, SINGAPORE South Korea and Singapore, which drew attention for what was seen as success in containing the early stages of the outbreak, experienced fresh outbreaks in recent months, showing how easily the virus may return. Story continues In early May, a cluster of new infections linked to nightclubs and bars in Seoul's Itaewon district raised concerns of a second wave, prompting the government to close some nightclubs and bars again and to delay the planned reopening of schools by a week. New cases in the country have persisted in the mid-double digits daily, after a series of new clusters in the Seoul area. The government said on Friday it will indefinitely extend intensive prevention and sanitation guidelines until the daily number drops to single digits. Singapore has the highest number of cases in Southeast Asia due to outbreaks in cramped dormitories housing thousands of migrant workers. It reopened schools and some businesses in early June but has said it will ease other restrictions gradually as at least half of newly discovered cases are in people showing no symptoms. UNITED STATES About half a dozen states including Texas and Arizona are grappling with a rising number of coronavirus patients filling hospital beds and some are beginning to run short on intensive care unit beds. A recent surge in cases partially reflects increased testing. COVID-19 deaths continue to increase in many U.S. states. Fears about a second wave grew late last month as Americans traveled to beaches and lakes to celebrate the Memorial Day long weekend. Protests across the country over the death of African American George Floyd in Minneapolis have stoked those worries. RUSSIA Russia, which has the third-largest number of confirmed cases globally, reported 8,779 new cases on Thursday. The country says it has a high number of cases due to its widespread and comprehensive testing regime. It lifted a lockdown imposed on Moscow for more than two months on Tuesday even though the capital is still reporting over 1,000 cases daily. BRAZIL It reported 30,412 new cases on Thursday, bringing its cumulative total to above 800,000, the second highest after the United States. Shops in the country's two largest cities, epicenter of a still surging epidemic in Brazil, reopened on Thursday, just a day after the most populous state Sao Paulo reported a record number of COVID-19 deaths for the second day. EUROPE The initial wave of transmission has passed its peak everywhere except for Poland and Sweden, according to an analysis by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. But the risk of a second wave big enough to require lockdowns to be reimposed is moderate to high, it said, and fending it off will depend on the gradual easing of restrictions and how people stick to them. In Britain, one of the worst hit countries, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday the rate of infection was slowing to "manageable levels" but cautioned restrictions could re-imposed. By Tuesday the death toll neared 52,000, according to a Reuters tally of official data sources. French President Emmanuel Macron is due to address the nation on Sunday to discuss the next steps of a lockdown, a month after restrictions started to be lifted. With the French economy expected to contract by 11% in 2020, many, including in the government, are calling for a quick return to normal. (Compiled by Josephine Mason and Alistair Smout in London, Miyoung Kim in Singapore and Matthias Blamont in Paris; Editing by Frances Kerry) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai zone officials have seized foreign brand cigarettes worth around 12 crore while they were being smuggled into the country from Dubai. The seized cigarettes were concealed in the container full of cartons of dates (Khajur). Two members involved in the racket have been arrested for creating dummy companies to facilitate the smuggling. DRI officials said that since there was a huge demand for cigarettes because of its unavailability due to lockdown of over 75 days, the syndicate was trying to smuggle a huge consignment to make a huge profit. The official claimed that the seized consignment of smuggled foreign brand cigarettes is one of the biggest in recent times. According to the DRI officials, they had received a tip-off about a large number of cigarettes of various foreign brands being smuggled into India through an import consignment that arrived at Navkar Corporation Ltd, a container freight station at Nhava Sheva. Based on this specific intelligence DRI team carried out a raid on June 10. The officials recovered 32,640 cartons containing 71,61,600 cigarettes sticks of foreign origin of various brands worth over 11 crore. The same was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Manish Sharma, 31, and Sunil Laxman Waghmare, 29, on Friday. Both are Chembur residents and were instrumental in creating dummy companies which would be used in smuggled activities. The two were looking after all the paperwork for the syndicate. They collected documents such as electricity bill, copy of PAN card, Aadhar card and photographs of different persons. They provided these documents to the members of the smuggling syndicate, for the opening of fake companies and to obtain GST number and import and export code (IEC), said a senior DRI official. The accused persons had also allegedly arranged the fake documents used in the import of the container having smuggled cigarettes in the present case. Documents arranged by them were used for the creation of dummy companies several times in the past and they had been doing this for monetary considerations. They would also be charged with sections of forgery in future, DRI officer said. Another senior DRI officer said we need to investigate the role of other key persons based in other cities in the country, involved with them, which appear to be operating at the international level. However, advocate Ravi Hirani representing the two arrested accused said that the two are innocent and they have just submitted documents for clearance. They had no knowledge about the smuggling of cigarettes. They have been made a scapegoat by the central law enforcement agency, claims Hirani. A local court on Friday sent the two accused to judicial custody till June 25. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (Novo or the Company) (TSX-V: NVO; OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement (the Option Agreement) with Bellary Dome Pty Ltd (Bellary Dome) for the option (the Option) to acquire the gold rights in exploration licence 47/3555 (the Tenement) located in the Southern Pilbara region of Western Australia (please see figure 1 and figure 2 below). The Option is conditional upon the removal of a caveat currently registered against the Tenement by a non-arms length party to Bellary Dome and subsequent registration of the Tenement in Bellary Domes name by July 31, 2020 (the Conditions). Subject to satisfaction of the Conditions, the Company will pay Bellary Dome A$25,000 for an initial option period of 12 months from the date of satisfaction of the Conditions (the Option Period). At any time during the Option Period, Novo may exercise its Option and earn a 100% gold rights interest in the Tenement by paying Bellary Dome A$1 million and granting Bellary Dome a 2% gross overriding royalty on all gold derived from future production by Novo from the Tenement. Before the expiry of the Option Period, Novo may extend the Option Period to 24 months from the date of satisfaction of the Conditions by paying Bellary Dome A$25,000, 36 months from the date of satisfaction of the Conditions by paying Bellary Dome A$50,000, or 48 months from the date of satisfaction of the Conditions by paying Bellary Dome A$100,000. Bellary Dome is a structural uplift along the southern margin of the Pilbara craton, commented Quinton Hennigh, President, Chairman, and a director of Novo Resources. Units of the Fortescue Group, including gold-bearing conglomerates, have been upwarped and exposed. This agreement gives Novo rights to one of the most prospective areas in the region, the site of significant gold nugget discoveries by previous landholders within the past few years. I reviewed samples of conglomerate material with in situ gold nuggets from exploration license 47/3555, and these appear very similar to material from our other Pilbara gold projects further north and east. Over the past few years, Novo has developed the in-house protocols to explore and advance projects like Bellary, and we are delighted to have yet another high-quality asset to add to our stable of conglomerate gold projects. Story continues About Novo Resources Corp. Novos focus is primarily to explore and develop gold projects in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and Novo has built up a significant land package covering approximately 13,000 square kilometres with varying ownership interests. In addition to the Companys primary focus, Novo seeks to leverage its internal geological expertise to deliver value-accretive opportunities to its shareholders. For more information, please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or e-mail leo@novoresources.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Novo Resources Corp. Quinton Hennigh Quinton Hennigh President and Chairman Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward-looking information Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation) including, without limitation, the expected satisfaction of the Conditions. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the removal of the caveat over the Tenement and subsequent registration of the Tenement in Bellary Domes name. Figure 1: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/c18c17e6-f96d-41f5-ae8c-5001b505920d Figure 2: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/aaab13e5-ae52-44ef-94fb-2e2864919f6f The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has started a probe into the high-profile illicit liquor trade that has snowballed into a major political issue in Punjab with opposition parties --- the Akali Dal and the BJP --- targeting the Congress government. The ED wing at Jalandhar has shot off letters to Punjab Police seeking records, including FIRs, investigation findings, bank details related to illicit liquor trade cases, it is learnt. Patiala SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu confirmed that they have received the ED letter and will send a reply soon. The directorate, conducting probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), is looking into least 11 FIRs registered in various police stations in Patiala, Khanna and Ludhiana, said officials privy to the development. On May 14, an illegal liquor bottling plant was busted in Shambu area of Ghanaur constituency in Patiala and Congress sarpanch Amrik Singh and Dipesh Kumar of Rajpura, an aide of a ruling party MLA, were booked. Dipesh, who is believed to be the kingpin of the racket, has been arrested. Probe begins The ED wing at Jalandhar has shot off letters to Punjab Police seeking records, including FIRs, investigation findings, bank details related to illicit liquor trade cases. The directorate, conducting probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), is looking into least 11 FIRs registered in various police stations in Patiala, Khanna and Ludhiana The ED decided to probe the matter as it has come to the fore that large amount of unaccounted wealth was generated through illegal liquor business during lockdown After two days, Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA), a primary raw material used for making illicit liquor, was seized from a tubewell owned by Akali leader and panchayat samiti member Darshan Singh in Pabri village of Ghanaur town. An illegal distillery busted in Khanna also under the ED lens. The focus of the ED probe is on financial transactions. As per a conservative estimate, the accused of Ghanaur illegal distillery had earned Rs 100 crore in the last five months, said an excise official, pleading anonymity. The ED has asked the Patiala police to provide photocopies of all FIRs registered in the case and details of properties of accused and suspects. They agency has also asked the excise and taxation department about details of ENA manufacturing and supply chain. The opposition --- Akalis, BJP and AAP --- has accused the state government of patronising illicit liquor trade. Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, on his part, has said that the guilty will be brought to book and no one will be spared. Apart from constituting a special investigation team, Amarinder has also set up an excise reforms group to break the nexus between producers, wholesalers, and retailers. The five-member group has been asked to submit its recommendations on destroying any such nexus within 60 days, thus paving the way for the elimination of illicit liquor trade and maximisation of the states excise revenue. Five-year contract engages Confluence Unity NXT Regulatory Reporting and cloud-based Revolution platform Pittsburgh, PA, and London, June 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Confluence Technologies, Inc. (Confluence), a global technology solutions provider delivering innovative products to the worldwide money management industry, has secured a five-year contract with a United Kingdom-based asset manager that will use the firms ESMA Money Market Fund Reporting and risk and compliance solutions. This deal demonstrates the value of Confluences expanded offering since its October 2019 acquisition of StatPro Group plc (StatPro), a firm that was recognized globally for its cloud-based portfolio analytics, asset data services and data management tools. The asset manager will use Unity NXT Regulatory Reporting to satisfy the complex disclosures required under the new European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) Money Market Fund Regulation (MMFR) and will use Revolution, a cloud-based platform, across its fund range as an investment risk and compliance oversight tool and to produce stress tests in line with evolving ESMA regulatory requirements. Our new client needed a robust solution to satisfy MMFR, but also wanted to improve on the independence of its risk and compliance functions, coupled with enhanced reporting capabilities, said Confluences President and Chief Operating Officer, Todd Moyer. Its senior management was able to see the value of addressing a range of operational and fiduciary responsibilities by using a single provider, and were pleased that we can help them achieve this goal. Confluences acquisition of StatPro brought together two highly complementary businesses to create a global technology provider delivering cloud-native solutions for risk, performance analytics, and regulatory and investor reporting to the asset management, asset owner and asset servicing markets, continued Moyer. While COVID-19 has changed our lives in a number of ways, it hasnt prevented us from moving forward at this pivotal time for our company. Our teams have been working tirelessly to integrate StatPros products and services with Confluences, demonstrating our commitment to providing our clients with the solutions they have come to expect and depend on. Todays announcement shows that asset managers have taken notice and are beginning to avail themselves of the expanded solutions we now offer. Story continues Revolution is a cloud-based platform, offering vital analysis of portfolio performance, attribution, risk and compliance. It helps clients reduce costs, improve client communication and control investment decisions. Unity NXT Regulatory Reporting eases data management challenges and automates the filing processes for global regulatory reporting obligations. It is a flexible platform that delivers solutions to global reporting challenges in an ever-evolving regulatory landscape. Under Article 37 of the MMFR, large European MMFs and their administrators are required to lodge their first reports by September 2020. ESMA is requiring detailed information on performance, liquidity, stress test results and holdings level-data. About Confluence Confluence is a global technology solutions provider delivering innovative products to the worldwide money management industry that meet asset manager and service provider performance, reporting, analytics, risk and data needs. With the recent acquisition of StatPro, Confluence offers its clients a broader range of data-driven managed investment solutions, including post-trade regulatory and shareholder reporting, performance and attribution, portfolio analytics, asset data services and data management, delivering a full technology suite to the front, middle and back office. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Confluence services over 400 clients in 39 countries, with locations across Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia and Asia. For more information, visit https://www.confluence.com/en-us/ Michael Kingsley Forefront Communications Group, Inc. + 1 212-320-8984 mkingsley@forefrontcomms.com The flag itself has changed many times over the years, adding states as our nation grew. The most recent changes were in 1959 when the 49th and 50th stars were added for Alaska and Hawaii, respectively, according to the Smithsonian Institution. The star for the Hoosier state came in 1816 when the nation grew to 20 states. It was the second round of changes to the original 13-star flag. Czech Senate Speaker Remains Firm on Plan to Visit Taiwan Despite Pressure The Speaker of the Czech Senate, Milos Vystrcil, officially announced his plans to travel to Taiwan with a trade mission at the end of August, despite strong opposition from Chinese communist officials and some Czech leaders. In his speech at a press briefing on June 9, Vystrcil said that he resolved to visit Taiwan for two reasons. That first one is that it is right in terms of our economic development, the development in education, science, culture, in terms of how democratic countries should treat each other and [in terms] what the Czech Senate and the Speaker of the Czech Senate should do, to communicate and work with those who are willing to be our true partners, Vystrcil said. The second reason is related to Czechias domestic affairs, Vystrcil explained. The conflict between fundamental values and principles on which the country stands, the conflict that we had won in 1989 [now] returned to the Czech Republic, re-emerged during the debate about his trip to Taiwan. Among the values won are sovereignty, independence, rule of law, freedom, [and] democracy versus what I call counting coins, Vystrcil said. In 1989, about a week after the Fall of the Berlin Wall, a peaceful student march in former Czechoslovakia, a Soviet bloc country that had remained under communist domination for over 41 years, turned into an anti-communist rally and gave rise to the Velvet Revolution. After almost two weeks of demonstrations, the Czech communist party relinquished power. In June, free elections were held for the first time in what would later become the Czech Republic. The Chinese regime strongly opposed the Senate Speakers visit as Beijing considers Taiwan a province of China with no right to state-to-state relations. Such action is significant interference into Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, Chinas embassy in Prague said in an email to Reuters. It significantly breaches basic norms of international relations and bilateral political commitments and it undermines the political basis for future cooperation between China and the Czech Republic, the embassy added. Vystrcil, a member of the center-right opposition, Civic Democratic Party (ODS), said on June 9 that he was motivated by business development and the countrys tradition of human rights policies. Vistrcil will be the highest-level politician to have ever visited Taiwan, according to Taiwan News. Taiwans Legislative Speaker You Si-kun welcomed Vistrcils decision to visit the country and said of Vistrcils on his Facebook, I deeply admire such courage, reported Taiwan News. Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the visit by the Czech parliamentarian and business delegation will contribute to cooperation between both countries in economic, technological, medical, touristic, and cultural areas. Czech Republics President Milos Zeman, right, and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, left, wait before signing a bilateral treaty of strategic partnership at the Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, March 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Trip to Taiwan not Welcomed by Czech Top Leaders, Supported by Opposition Czech President Milos Zeman has not approved the Senate Speakers visit to Taiwan, and the Speaker of the lower chamber of the parliament, the Czech Prime Minister, and Czech Foreign Minister have not approved it either, said Zemans spokesman in a tweet. The President of the Republic Milos Zeman states that the trip of the President of the Senate to Taiwan was not recommended by the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, the Prime Minister or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, a translation of the tweet says. Prezident republiky Milos Zeman konstatuje, ze cesta predsedy Senatu na Tchaj-wan nebyla doporucena prezidentem republiky, predsedou Poslanecke snemovny Parlamentu CR, predsedou vlady ani ministrem zahranicnich veci. Jiri Ovcacek (@PREZIDENTmluvci) June 9, 2020 Zeman, a proponent of stronger economic ties between the Czechia and China, has for years tried to build relations with Beijing. Trade statistics as of April 1, 2019, show that Taiwan invests fourteen times more in the Czech Republic than China does. The Czech Republic adheres to the Chinese regimes policy, which regards Taiwan as a part of Chinas territory, but unofficial ties with Taiwan exist, mainly in business and science. Opposition politicians, however, supported Vistrcils plan. Peter Fiala, the leader of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), said that the Czech Republic was a free and sovereign state that would not take orders as to who could travel where, reported Radio Prague International. Marek Vyborny, Member of the lower house of Czech parliament (MP) and a member of the Christian democratic party, said Vystrcils decision to visit Taiwan showed the Czech Republic would not be blackmailed, according to Radio Prague. We think that Taiwan is a strategic partner for the Czech Republic. Taiwans investments in Czechia are far greater than what China has made so it is good to maintain a good relationship with Taiwan, said Czech MP Mikulas Ferjencik from Czech Pirate Party, according to iRozhlas. Taiwan in not only our important business partner but also an ally which selflessly helped [us] in the COVID-19 crisis so we should build a very warm relationship with it, said Marketa Pekarova Adamova, First Vice-Chairwoman of TOP 09 party, according to iRozhlas. Vystrcils visit to Taiwan has been approved by the Czech Senate in a resolution passed on May 20. He was elected to the position of Senate Speaker in February after the sudden death of the former speaker, Jaroslav Kubera, about a month prior. Kubera had also made plans to visit Taiwan, but suddenly died days before his visit. After his death, a letter from the Chinese Embassy in Prague was discovered in his suitcase. The letter warned that if Kubera followed through with plans to visit the autonomous island of Taiwan, Czech companies with operations in China would pay. The letter threatened that Czech companies operating in mainland China, such as Volkswagen subsidiary Skoda Auto and lender Home Credit Group, as well as others, would suffer if Kubera visited Taiwan. Kubera last year said when announcing his visit to Taiwan that his intention was not anti-China but pro-business. He noted that Taiwan, also known as the Republic of China, is the Czechias third-largest trading partner in Asia. Milan Kajinek and Reuters contributed to this report. June 11 (Reuters) - Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd said on Thursday it will divest some over-the-counter and prescription drugs sold exclusively in Asia Pacific to South Korea's Celltrion Inc. Takeda will get $266 million upfront in cash and up to an additional $12 million in potential milestone payments, the company said. (Reporting By Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) "The alarming number of coronavirus positive cases a few weeks ago has decreased significantly since based on epidemiological theories we know that the number of deaths and hospitalized cases begins to decrease once the affected population has accounted for more than 60% of the total," he told Radio Nacional. Regarding "herd immunity," he explained that in order to demonstrate that the population or most of those infected have acquired immunity people have to undergo rapid or molecular tests, as well as the antibody screening, to determine how many of them have developed antibodies, but this has not been possible. "In theory, the majority of Loreto people have contracted the disease, due to the epidemiological curve experienced in recent weeks, but we still cannot reliably demonstrate that the population has developed immunity," Runciman remarked. In the next few days, he said, Loreto has to remain on alert at both (primary) care and hospital levels, because new coronavirus cases and patients needing mechanical ventilation may continue to emerge, "but we want the curve to continue to drop." Deceased doctors As for the situation of doctors in the region, Runciman reported that more than 250 doctors have been infected, while 22 have died The remainder are still getting over the disease, and most of them have not developed antibodies yet. Some continue to test positive and therefore cannot return to work. (END) TMC/JOT/RMB/MVB The number of COVID-19 cases, of hospitalized and ICU patients, and deaths per day has decreased in the rainforest Loreto region , Dean of Loreto College of Physicians Luis Runciman has affirmed.Published: 6/11/2020 Advertisement President Donald Trump has said that his administration is 'not going to let Seattle be occupied by anarchists' after demonstrators took over a six-block section of the city, including a police precinct. 'If there were more toughness, you wouldn't have the kind of devastation that you had in Minneapolis and in Seattle. I mean, let's see what's going on in Seattle,' Trump told Fox News on Thursday. 'I will tell you, if they don't straighten that situation out, we're going to straighten it out.' On Monday, police in Seattle abandoned the city's East Precinct after receiving threats that it would be burned down. The precinct and the surrounding blocks have since been taken over by George Floyd protesters, who have erected barricades, posted armed guards, and declared that police are not allowed inside. Demonstrators have dubbed the freewheeling commune the 'Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone', or CHAZ. Police officials say that the lack of ability to operate from the precinct building has made 911 response times to violent crimes in progress, including rapes and robberies, three times longer. Trump described Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan's handling of the situation as 'pathetic,' and asked 'Has she ever done this before?' He also called on Washington Governor Jay Inslee to send in National Guard troops to restore order. 'He's got great National Guard troops so he can do it,' Trump said of Inslee. 'But one way or the other, it's going to get done. These people are not going to occupy a major portion of a great city. 'It is unconstitutional and illegal to send the military into Seattle,' Durkan, a first-term Democrat, told a press conference yesterday. 'There is no imminent threat of an invasion of Seattle.' She defended the group who had created the autonomous zone, calling their actions 'patriotic'. 'Unfortunately, our President wants to tell a story about domestic terrorists who have a radical agenda and are promoting a conspiracy that fits his law and order initiatives,' Durkan added, according to Patch. 'It's simply not true. Lawfully gathering and expressing first amendment rights, demanding we do better as a society, and providing true equity for communities of color is not terrorism. It's patriotism.' President Donald Trump has said that his administration is 'not going to let Seattle be occupied by anarchists' after demonstrators took over a six-block section of the city, including a police precinct Artists fill in the letters of a 'Black Lives Matter' mural on E. Pine Street as protesters establish what they call an autonomous zone while protesting against racial inequality and calling for the defunding of Seattle police Protesters listen to a speaker as they sit in front of the Seattle Police Department East Precinct building, which has been boarded up and abandoned Thursday inside what is being called the 'Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone' in Seattle People walk past barricades on a street near Cal Anderson Park, Thursday inside the CHAZ A protester uses a scope on top of a barricade to look for police approaching the newly created CHAZ on Thursday Seattle Police Assistant Chief Deanna Nollette and Assistant Chief Adrian Diaz are blocked by protesters from entering the newly created Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in Seattle, Washington on Thursday In public statements, Inslee and Durkan have defended the CHAZ as 'largely peaceful' and 'like a block party,' indicating they believe a hands-off approach to the takeover is warranted. Appearing on CNN, Durkan was asked how long the CHAZ would remain in the hands of protesters. She replied: 'I don't know. We could have the summer of love!' However, Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best disavowed the decision to abandon the East Precinct. Best posted a video message to officers Thursday in which she said the decision to leave the Capitol Hill precinct wasn't hers and she was angry about it. She also reiterated that police had been harassed and assaulted during protests. 'Ultimately, the city had other plans for the building and relented to severe public pressure,' Best said. At a Thursday news conference neither Best nor Durkan made it clear who decided that police should leave the precinct. Best said at the press conference that police response times to priority calls of violent crimes in progress had tripled this week. Police sources say that responses to low-priority calls have been suspended. 'If that is your mother, your sister, your cousin, your neighbor's kid that is being raped, robbed assaulted (or) otherwise victimized you're not going to want to have to report that it took the police three times longer to get there to provide services to them,' Best said. Durkan said regarding Trump's statements about Seattle that one of the things the president will never understand is that listening to community is not a weakness, but a strength. 'A real leader would see nationwide protest, the grief in so many communities of color, particularly our black communities, and the call to be an anti-racist society, as an opportunity for America. An opportunity to build a better nation,' she said. Protesters have said they want to see the precinct turned into a community center or used for purposes other than law enforcement. Trump blasted Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan (left) and Washington Governor Jay Inslee (right), both Democrats, for allowing protesters to set up an 'autonomous zone' where police officers are banned The word 'people' is spray painted over the word 'police' on the closed Seattle Police Department's East Precinct now surrounded by the area known as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), in Seattle on Thursday The words 'Black Lives Matter' are painted in the middle of East Pine Street in the newly created CHAZ Jahtia B (left), who did not want to use last name, and Sheila Lambert, both of Seattle, cheer after the Ride for Justice ride to the newly created Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in Seattle on Thursday The president has sparred before with Inslee and Durkan - both liberal Democrats. Inslee previously sought his party's presidential nomination. Inslee tweeted Thursday that state officials will not allow threats of military violence from the White House. 'The U.S. military serves to protect Americans, not the fragility of an insecure president,' he tweeted. The zone set up by protesters stretches a portion of Capitol Hill, where dozens of people show up to listen to speakers calling for police reform, racial justice and compensation for Native groups on whose land the city of Seattle was founded. Signs proclaim 'You are entering free Capitol Hill' and 'No cop co-op' along sidewalks where people sell water and other wares. The leadership situation inside the commune remained fluid and unclear on Thursday night. Rapper Raz Simone, who had been patrolling the zone with armed men as an alleged 'warlord', came under fire on Thursday after an old post from his Twitter account surfaced expressing anti-gay sentiment. Simone denied that the tweet was his doing, insisting that his account had been hacked and the 2010 tweet had been altered somehow. Rapper Raz Simone (seen Tuesday), who had been patrolling the zone with armed men as an alleged 'warlord', came under fire after an old post from his Twitter account surfaced expressing anti-gay sentiment A protester who did not want to be named appeared to be entering into negotiations with police on Thursday. The leadership situation in the CHAZ remained fluid and unclear on Thursday night Simone also faced scrutiny after a video emerged showing him and his entourage confronting a tagger within the CHAZ, with someone in the entourage declaring 'we are the police in this community now' before the altercation became physical. On Thursday, speakers used a microphone to discuss their demands and how to address the police presence after they visited the precinct during the day. Down the street, artists continued painting a block-long 'Black Lives Matter' mural on the street. 'The people that you see here have all come together because we see injustice in our system and we want to be part of the solution,' said Mark Henry Jr. of Black Lives Matter. Henry said Trump's rant about the gathering was unfounded. 'Donald Trump can call us a terrorist if he likes to, but what you see out here is people coming together and loving each other,' he said. Over the weekend, police were sharply criticized by City Council members and other elected leaders. Since officers dialed back their tactics, the demonstrations have largely been peaceful. The protesters wrote Black Lives Matter in enormous lettering down one of the streets in the autonomous zone on Wednesday night Artists have spray painted rainbow murals throughout the streets of the six-block zone A 'no cop co-op' offering free snacks, water, food, soda, sunscreen and hand sanitizer On Wednesday night, the protesters took a vote and watched Paris is Burning - the 1990s iconic LGBTQ movie. They watched an anti-slavery documentary the previous night Police officials say they are looking to reopen the precinct. At a news conference Wednesday, Assistant Chief Deanna Nollette said the barriers were removed from the front of the building after it became a flashpoint between officers and protesters. Nollette said the precinct has been boarded up because of credible threats that it would be vandalized or burned. She offered no details about the threats and no fires have been reported at the site. She said protesters have set up their own barricades, which are intimidating some residents. City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant disputed accounts of violence or intimidation by protesters within the area on Capitol Hill and said it was more like a street fair with political discussions and a drum circle. 'The right wing has been spreading rumors that there is some sort of lawlessness and crime taking place at the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, but it is exactly the opposite of that,' said Sawant, a socialist and a critic of Durkan and the police. Sawant said she wants the precinct to be 'converted into a public resource that will actually be helpful to society.' There is a lot of misinformation being disseminated, starting from the authorities. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said during a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly today, responding to a question from deputy of the My Step faction Nazeli Baghdasaryan who said most citizens actions in this period are aimed at weakening the state apparatus and destroying certain state bodies and government agencies. Its not only about misinformation, but also targeted actions. What I mentioned contains elements of Article 304 of the Criminal Code (crime against state security). Are police taking or will they take actions against this? the deputy asked. Yes, there is a lot of misinformation being disseminated, starting from the authorities. The purpose is to create a confidence crisis. There are people who say my family and I have purchased a villa in Canada and are involved in smuggling. Can you imagine? In this regard, the Armenian legislation allows presses to be liberal, and I dont think we need to make artificial changes. These phenomena are linked to several criminal cases that you know or dont know about. Even if someone swears that I am making money on the side, know that it is a lie. That cant happen simply because when I assumed the office of Prime Minister, I told the people that if I become involved in corruption, I will call on the citizens of Armenia to hang me at Republic Square in Yerevan, Pashinyan said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 15:06 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde4133a 1 World diplomacy,elections,health,COVID-19,voter-turnout,preparation,Indonesia,South-Korea,consultation,health-protocol,awareness,campaign Free South Koreas envoy says the stringent application of health protocol and an effective awareness campaign were key to hosting a successful election during the pandemic, as Indonesia consults with Seoul on how to prepare for simultaneous regional polls in December. In an exclusive video interview with The Jakarta Post this week, Ambassador Kim Chang-beom shared key insight from South Koreas successful experience of hosting a nationwide legislative poll, one of the first to be held since COVID-19 broke out. The nation had imposed very stringent safety measures during its elections this year, which included disinfecting all 14,000 polling stations and requiring all voters to wear masks, have their temperature checked, use hand sanitizer and plastic gloves and maintain a safe distance from one another. Without that, [] we may not be able to address the lingering fear and doubts of the public as to whether its really safe to go to the polling booths, Kim told the Post on Tuesday. He insisted that would-be voters must be well informed ahead of time for them to follow the state-led safety measures. While the envoy noted there was no one-size-fits-all approach for countries in tackling the viral outbreak, he argued that advanced preparations were even more necessary for countries like Indonesia, which are much bigger in size and population, especially in the regions and at the village level. The Indonesian government announced that regional elections would be held on Dec. 9. The polls, initially scheduled for Sept. 23, would see 270 regional leaders elected, comprising nine governors, 224 regents and 37 mayors. However, observers have pointed out that the general public was still largely hesitant to head to the polling booths at a time when the prospects of recovering from the COVID-19 epidemic are still uncertain and the risk of infection remains high. Indonesias infection curve still appears to be steep, with the official tally rising to 35,295 confirmed cases and the death toll increasing to 2,000 on Thursday. The government is in talks with experts and partner countries that have had success in bringing the health crisis under control, including South Korea, with Ambassador Kim saying he had been speaking to Home Minister Tito Karnavian, who oversees regional autonomy and coordination. South Koreas legislative election has widely benefited from the governments swift response to the outbreak, which allowed it to significantly slow the rate of infection in a short span of time. Observers have pointed out that the largely successful campaign against the virus provided a boon in popularity for President Moon Jae-in and his Democratic Party, which won a three-fifths majority in the legislature, AFP reports. It also had the added effect of increasing voter turnout, the South Korean envoy argued, with the April 15 elections seeing 66.2 percent of eligible voters cast their ballot, the highest recorded in the country since 1992. While there were concerns and skepticism in some quarters, there was also a resounding national consensus that South Korea should go ahead with the planned election, Kim said. We were pleasantly surprised by this high turnout and also luckily enough we didn't have any new infection cases out of this general election process, he said in the interview. The envoy said the pandemic response had made the people feel more keen about the role of the government and state and how they could provide safety and a sense of stability to the public. In the case of Korea, weve been a bit excelling in times of crisis, so that might have made the people [...] feel obliged to go to the polling stations to exercise their right to vote, Kim said. South Korea managed to bring its epidemic under control due to extensive testing campaigns and intensive contact tracing. It had seen a steep spike in the case number just over a month after its first confirmed case on Jan. 20 and became the second-most infected country after China by early March. However, by the time the April legislative elections were held, the number of recovered patients in the country had already surpassed that of patients in quarantine or isolated treatment. According to data from the World Health Organization, South Korea recorded a total of 11,947 confirmed cases and 276 deaths as of Thursday. Indonesias General Elections Commission (KPU), in the meantime, has pegged a 77.5 percent voter turnout target for the upcoming elections. A survey conducted by Jakarta-based pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia recently found that public satisfaction with democracy in general has dropped significantly since the outbreak began in Indonesia. Only 49.5 percent of respondents said they were quite or very satisfied with the democratic system, compared with 75.6 percent in February, bringing it to the lowest level since 2004. Besides preparation for the polls themselves, Ambassador Kim pointed to the possible effect that a COVID-19 new normal would have on political campaigns ahead of the elections, with the fear of infections leading to less large-scale political gatherings and no more politician hugs and handshakes. He urged the government to discuss arrangements with the political leaders. She vowed to use her 'good looks' as part of her strategy to win this year's Big Brother. And 25-year-old Sophie Budack certainly knows how to turn heads, after working as a grid girl for supercar racing. The Darwin-born former gymnast, who was crowned 'Miss Supercar' in 2017, has an impressive portfolio of engine-revving snaps, where she is seen effortlessly lounging across high-powered racing cars in swimsuits. Now that's racy! Big Brother star Sophie Budack poses in a series of VERY sexy supercar racing modelling photos In one of her racy pictures, Sophie shows her toned physique in a black bikini bottoms and a cropped Fila t-shirt as she poses on the bonnet of a racing car. Her dark blonde hair is curled in voluminous waves, and she wears a ravishing red lipstick. Gentlemen, start your engines! In one of her racy pictures, Sophie shows her toned physique in a black bikini bottoms and a cropped Fila t-shirt as she poses on the bonnet of a racing car In another picture, Sophie stuns in a glittery silver bodysuit teamed with a black leather jacket. After she was announced as a housemate last month, Sophie said 'using [her] looks will be one of [her] strategies' in the house. The glamorous brunette is a former gymnast, who works as a part-time grid girl and makeup artist while studying at university. 'I'm going in there to win and failing is just not an option,' she said. Stunner: The Darwin-born former gymnast, who was crowned 'Miss Supercar' in 2017, has an impressive portfolio of engine-revving snaps All that glitters: In another picture, Sophie stuns in a glittery silver bodysuit teamed with a black leather jacket She and model Chad Hurst are rumoured to strike up a romance on the show. On Wednesday, it was announced the reality co-stars had signed up with the same talent agency, Lucky Ent. Chad's signing was announced first, with the talent agency posting about it on their Instagram page. 'Here's another one! We're excited to welcome @sophiebudack to the Lucky Crew!' they announced, revealing she would be available for appearances from July. Former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly broke with President Trump and revealed he favors a process to rename southern Army bases that bear the names of Confederate generals. Kelly, who was also among a group of top senior officials who criticized Trump's photo-op in Lafayette Square, spoke out even after Trump said he would 'not even consider' renaming the bases that bear Confederate names. With the nation reevaluating its racial heritage in the wake of protests over the killing of George Floyd, Kelly said the Army should take a 'hard look' at the issue and then take action. Former White House chief of staff John Kelly broke with President Trump and called for renaming Army bases named after Confederate generals 'We were certainly a different America back when most of the bases were named generally around World War I World War II,' Kelly told Politico. 'We were still in a process of reconciliation. Southern states dominated by powerful members of Congress, same for state and local leadership, and the War Department needed their assistance badly for mobilization and [training] facilities. Interestingly most of the generals the bases are named after were mediocre to poor generals,' Kelly observed. Kelly also agreed with former Pentagon chief Gen. Jim Mattis who called Trump divisive Former Defense Secretary James Mattis ripped Trump after his photo-op in Lafayette Square Fort Bragg is one of a group of U.S. Army bases named after confederates Trump said he would not even consider renaming bases Joe Biden backs an amendment by Sen. Elizabeth Warren to set up a process for renaming bases 'In 2020 I think it's time the [president], Congress and our Army take a hard look at renaming, and do it. I would hope the new bases would not be renamed after politicians, but after Medal of Honor recipients or exceptional soldiers who have fallen in defense of our country of which America's Army has any number to choose from. I am confident that with leaders like Secretaries Esper, McCarthy and General Milley they can convince the powers that be that it is the right thing to do,' he added. Kelly's posture comes amid outright defiance by Trump, even as senior current military leaders also signaled they would welcome a process to change the names. An amendment by Sen. Elizabeth Warren to a Defense bill to set up a renaming process passed on a voice vote - meaning it got Republican support. 'It has been suggested that we should rename as many as 10 of our Legendary Military Bases, such as Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Benning in Georgia, etc.,' Trump tweeted Wednesday. 'These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, and a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom,' he continued. 'The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars,' the president continued. 'Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations,' Trump said. His press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, also waved the flag in her statements at the White House, saying a change would insult the memory of 'great American fortresses.' 'And to suggest that these forts are somehow inherently racist and their names need to be changed is a complete disrespect to the men and women' who served there, she argued. 'For the last bit of American land that they saw before they went overseas and lost their lives were these forts.' Kelly's comment about the 'mediocre' stature of some of those honored points to a peculiar aspect of the debate. Braxton Bragg, for example whose name is attached to one of the most stories Army bases in addition to owning 150 slaves presided over a series of Confederate defeats. Trump rival Joe Biden drew a contrast with Trump, saying Friday that he would set in motion a renaming process. 'The names affixed to our military installations must honor the diverse heritage of leadership and sacrifice in our country's history,' Biden told Politico. 'He said he fully support's Warren's amendment on bases, which Trump vowed not to accept. It forms a commission to act on the issue over three years. 'I look forward to implementing the commission's work as president,' Biden said. A campaign aide also said Confederate flags are 'unwelcome' at Biden events, after Nascar took the stop of banning them at races. Last week Kelly told former Trump advisor Anthony Scaramucci that he agreed with former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' assertion that Trump is 'the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people.' 'I agree with him,' said Kelly. After state Supreme Court Chief Justice Judith Nakamura announced her upcoming retirement, state Attorney General Hector Balderas said she had established herself as one of our most respected jurists in the state. Thats high praise from a leading Democrat about the first Republican woman elected to the Supreme Court. Nakamura has been a champion of transparency and consensus-building on the Supreme Court. During her tenure, New Mexico courts implemented Secured Odyssey Public Access a system to access court records online and an Online Dispute Resolution Center that allows New Mexicans to resolve debt cases through an informal process that saves time and money. And when Nakamura became aware some courtrooms wouldnt even allow journalists to take tape recorders inside, she used the power of the Supreme Court to open more courtrooms to cameras and recording devices. The only Republican currently elected or appointed to the five-member Supreme Court, Nakamura has produced unanimous decisions in big cases since taking over as chief justice in June 2017, including the Supreme Courts unanimous rejection of straight-ticket voting in the weeks before the 2018 general election. Recently, she bridged an ideological divide about mail-in balloting, crafting a compromise that kept polls open for the June 2 primary while greatly expanding absentee balloting. Thats quite a record for someone who has served only four and a half years on the states high court. Before her appointment to the Supreme Court in November 2015 and historic election in November 2016 becoming the first female Republican elected to the Supreme Court, she was chief judge at Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court for more than a decade and a District Court judge for nearly three years. She had the reputation as a tough sentencer, but thorough and fair jurist. Nakamura, 59, who pilots hot air balloons in her spare time, will retire Aug. 1 after 21-plus years on the bench. Her tempered, even-handed leadership will be missed. Calm winds, Chief Justice Nakamura. Youve proven the skys the limit for judges of integrity. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. The Parliament of Armenia is holding a special session: the issue on extending the current state of emergency in the country conditioned by the novel coronavirus is on the agenda. The Armenian government made today a decision to extend the state of emergency for another 30 days. The current state of emergency has been declared on March 16 and was extended until June 13. According to the new decision, the state of emergency will be extended until July 13, 17:00. According to the latest data, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 15,281, out of which 5,639 patients have already recovered. The number of active cases stands at 9,298. The death toll has risen to 258. Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Scientists are testing whether blood plasma from coronavirus survivors could prevent the infection in others. Survivors of COVID-19 are donating their blood plasma in droves in hopes it helps other patients recover from the coronavirus. It's still not entirely clear if or how much plasma from recovered patients boosts survival odds for those still fighting virus, but if it is preventive, it could be a huge untapped resource as the US fights to suppress a second wave. 'We have glimmers of hope,' said Dr Shmuel Shoham of Johns Hopkins University, who is launching a study of 150 volunteers to find out whether the immune cell-rich plasma could prevent infection. Aubrie Cresswell, 24, of Delaware, is among the 20,000 American coronavirus survivors who have donated convalescent plasma. Now scientists hope plasma might prevent coronavirus infection as well as help to treat it Thousands of coronavirus patients in hospitals around the world have been treated with so-called convalescent plasma - including more than 20,000 in the US - with little solid evidence so far that it makes a difference. One recent study from China was unclear while another from New York offered a hint of benefit. With more rigorous testing of plasma treatment underway, Dr Shoham is launching a nationwide study asking the next logical question: Could giving survivors plasma right after a high-risk exposure to the virus stave off illness? To tell, researchers at Hopkins and 15 other sites will recruit health workers, spouses of the sick and residents of nursing homes where someone just fell ill and 'they're trying to nip it in the bud,' Shoham said. It's a strict study: The 150 volunteers will be randomly assigned to get either plasma from COVID-19 survivors that contains coronavirus-fighting antibodies or regular plasma, like is used daily in hospitals, that was frozen prior to the pandemic. Scientists will track if theres a difference in who gets sick. If it works, survivor plasma could have important ramifications until a vaccine arrives - raising the prospect of possibly protecting high-risk people with temporary immune-boosting infusions every so often. 'They're a paramedic, they're a police officer, they're a poultry industry worker, they're a submarine naval officer,' Shoham ticked off. 'Can we blanket protect them?' The new coronavirus has infected more than seven million people worldwide and killed more than 400,000, according to official tallies believed to be an underestimate. With no good treatments yet, researchers are frantically studying everything from drugs that tackle other viruses to survivor plasma - a century-old remedy used to fight infection before modern medicines came along. The yellowish, liquid component of blood, plasma (pictured) contains immune cells, including antibodies. Antibodies have the potential to both fight and block infection, so plasma from COVID-19 survivors may help prevent infection Coronavirus has triggered a flurry of rapid research and development, but in some ways, it set the world back to pre-modern-medicine era. There are no proven treatments (although remdesivir seems to help) and no drugs to prevent it. Scientists are working at break-neck pace to change that. Hydroxychloroquine is also being studied as both a treatment and a preventive - and was taken for the latter purpose by President Donald Trump. WHAT IS PLASMA-DERIVED THERAPY? Plasma-derived therapy' is based on the blood plasma of people who have recovered from the coronavirus. Plasma is the liquid which carries blood cells, nutrients and hormones through the blood vessels, and makes up around half of all blood. It also carries antibodies, which are proteins the body makes to destroy bacteria or viruses when they cause an infection. If somebody has never been exposed to a virus or bacteria before as is the case for everyone who catches the coronavirus they do not have any antibodies and they become ill during the time it takes their body to make them. Injecting them with antibodies from someone who has already made them saves time and helps the patient to fight off the illness faster. Advertisement So far, the evidence for hydroxychloroquine is not encouraging. Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that people treated with the malaria drug prophylactically were no less likely to catch coronavirus. What's more, the drug comes with potentially dangerous heart side effects. Plasma, at least, has a long track record of safety, if not consistent efficacy. The historical evidence is sketchy, but convalescent plasma's most famous use was during the 1918 flu pandemic, and reports suggest that recipients were less likely to die. Doctors still dust off the approach to tackle surprise outbreaks, like SARS, a cousin of COVID-19, in 2002 and the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, but even those recent uses lacked rigorous research. When the body encounters a new germ, it makes proteins called antibodies that are specially targeted to fight the infection. The antibodies float in plasma - the yellowish, liquid part of blood. Because it takes a few weeks for antibodies to form, the hope is that transfusing someone elses antibodies could help patients fight the virus before their own immune system kicks in. One donation is typically divided into two or three treatments. And as more people survive COVID-19, there are increasing calls for them to donate plasma so there's enough of a stockpile if it pans out. In addition to traditional infusions, donations can be combined into a high-dose product. Manufacturer Grifols is producing doses of that 'hyperimmune globulin' for a study expected to start next month. Convalescent plasma seems safe to use, Dr Michael Joyner of the Mayo Clinic reported last month. His team tracked the first 5,000 plasma recipients in a Food and Drug Administration-sponsored program that helps hospitals use the experimental treatment, and found few serious side effects. Not all plasma is equal. Scientists test vials of donated blood and plasma like these to see which are richest in antibodies Researchers at New York's Mt Sinai Hospital compared each of 39 plasma recipients to four other COVID-19 patients who didn't get plasma but were the same age, just as sick and being given the same amount of oxygen. People who received plasma before needing a ventilator were less likely to die than non-plasma recipients, said Dr Sean Liu, the study's lead author. 'We really tried to target patients who were early in their course, preferably within the first one to two weeks of their disease,' Liu said. 'Being a doctor during this time, you just feel helpless,' Liu added, stressing that more rigorous study was needed but he was glad to have tried this first-step research. 'Watching people die is, it's heartbreaking. It's scary and it's heartbreaking.' His work has brought him some optimism about plasma treatment, but results of the first strictly controlled study were disappointing. Hospitals in the hard-hit Chinese city of Wuhan were comparing severely ill patients randomly assigned to receive plasma or regular care, but ran out of new patients when the virus waned. With only half of the 200 planned patients enrolled, more plasma recipients survived but researchers couldn't tell if it was a real difference or coincidence, according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) last week. The real proof will come from ongoing, strict studies that compare patients assigned to get either survivor plasma or a dummy treatment. Further complicating the search for answers, COVID-19 survivors harbor widely varying levels of antibodies. And while researchers want to use what Hopkins Shoham calls 'the high-octane stuff,' no one knows the best dose to test. 'About 20 percent of recovered patients and donors have very strong immunity,' estimated Dr Michele Donato of Hackensack University Medical Center, who is studying how long they retain that level of protection. Those are the people researchers want to become repeat donors. 'It's, I think, our job as humans to step forward and help in society,' said Aubrie Cresswell, 24, of Bear, Delaware, who has donated three times and counting. One donation was shipped to a hospitalized friend of a friend, and 'it brought me to tears. I was like, overwhelmed with it just because the family was really thankful.' Ector County reported six more cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, making the total 227. Ector County reported 31 probable cases at this time, according to the health department website. ECHD reported that 152 people have recovered. There have been 3,083 tests taken, with 2,780 negative results and 76 pending results. ECHD has contacted 2,195 people during contact tracing. Medical Center Health System director of public relations Trevor Tankersley said MCH has taken 140 positive tests. Fifteen patients are being treated for coronavirus at MCH. Seven of the patients are on the isolation floor; three of those patients are residents at Focused Care Odessa. Six patients are in critical care, two of those patients are residents at Focused Care Odessa and two are on ventilators. MCH has taken 1,646 tests, with 447 negative results and 59 tests still pending. New York In a city famous for its lack of patience, some businesses have jumped ahead in what's supposed to be a slow and methodical emergence from coronavirus lockdown. Stores in some parts of New York City have already started to allow customers inside to shop, even though the phased reopening that began Monday only allows retailers to sell merchandise via curbside pickup for now. At least a dozen customers perused racks of women's clothing Wednesday inside Mini-Max in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood. Shoppers mostly self-policed for social distancing, which wasn't difficult given the store's size, but the only restriction applied by the owner, Albert Abeal, was that customers must wear masks. "We just opened. Everybody's hungry for merchandise," said Abeal, who has owned the store for about 20 years. He said business this week had essentially returned to normal, although he didn't expect that to last. "They didn't buy clothes for so long. It's going to slow down in a week." Abeal said he believed he was allowed to have customers inside because the store sold face masks and alcohol, although the latter did not appear to be on display. Food and beverage stores have always been exempt from the state's closure rules. Other shops in the neighborhood were also letting in customers. Mutali Sing, owner of J&M Sneaker, stood at his shop's door and encouraged customers to call ahead for curbside pickup, but said he's had trouble enforcing the policy. "Once they see you are open, they think you are open like normal, like you can walk in and do the browsing," he said. He's hardly in a position to turn them away not with his landlord demanding he continue paying his $8,000 monthly rent. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Customers are not supposed to be permitted indoors at most retailers until phase two of reopening, which could come as early as June 22, although Mayor Bill de Blasio has said it could be delayed until July. The cautious return to business is intended to prevent a resurgence of the coronavirus, which has killed at least 22,000 people in the city. While the number of new infections has dropped dramatically, it has not stopped entirely. Through the end of last week, hundreds of people were continuing to test positive each day. In other parts of New York state, businesses are further along in the reopening plan. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that several regions in the center and north of the state would be allowed to go to the third phase, which, among other things, allows restaurants to welcome patrons to their dining rooms again, though with reduced occupancy. Cuomo said the state has gotten some complaints about businesses not abiding by social distancing rules. "Please follow the guidelines and do what is permissible to do," he said. The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has denied fixing June 21, 2020, for resumption of air travel in the country. PTF Na... The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has denied fixing June 21, 2020, for resumption of air travel in the country. PTF National Coordinator, Sani Aliyu, stated this during the daily press briefing on Thursday in Abuja. According to him, the Aviation Ministry was asked to prepare for reopening and update the Task Force. Aliyu also said reopening airports, would also mean a reassessment of inter-state travel restrictions and curfews. As you know, the Aviation Industry is highly regulated, there are things they must do before they start flying, such as retraining of pilots, recalibrating the aircrafts and ensuring safety across the board, as well as measures we need to impose at the airports to make sure that people are safe. If they come back to us and say they are ready from June 21 onwards, we will open the skies for domestic travels. And thats when we will address the issue of inter-state restrictions and curfew. But for the moment, theres no plan right now, to say June 21 here we go, he said. If they come back to us and say they are ready from June 21 onwards, we will open the skies for domestic travels. And thats when we will address the issue of inter-state restrictions and curfew. But for the moment, theres no plan right now, to say June 21 here we go, he said. Nigeria currently has 13,873 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of that number, 4,351 have been discharged and 382 deaths recorded. On Jan. 8, 2020, rescue workers search the scene where a Ukrainian plane crashed in Shahedshahr, southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran. (Ebrahim Noroozi/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) Canada Wants Iran to Ship Black Boxes Back to France Immediately OTTAWACanada agrees with Irans new pledge to send the black boxes from a downed Ukraine Airlines jetliner directly to France instead of Ukraine, and wants it to happen as soon as possible, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said Friday. Garneau expressed dismay this week at a council meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization that more than three months have passed since Iran told the council it would give the flight-data and cockpit voice recorders to Ukraine within 14 days. The agreement was that if Ukrainian officials could not get at the data on the damaged devices they would then be sent to France, whose Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety is considered one of the best crashinvestigation agencies in the world. Farhad Parvaresh, Irans representative on the ICAO, said in an interview he told the council meeting Wednesday that Iran didnt fulfil that pledge because COVID19 suddenly shut down most of the worlds air routes and made travel difficult for all the parties that need to be there for the analysis. He told The Canadian Press that Iran has now reached out to the French agency and asked it to accept the equipment directly, as soon as all the other countries affected by the crash can travel to France. That includes Canada, which under the agreedupon rules governing international civilian plane crashes, can be a witness to the investigation because it had citizens aboard. When Iran receives the positive reply that technically its possible to have everybody there, I think Iran will take it out, to be read out, Parvaresh said. Garneau said Canada is OK with this plan. We think it is perfectly acceptable, in fact it is a good idea to send those black boxes to France, Garneau said. We know that the BEA, which is an agency in France like our Transportation Safety Board, has the capability and the expertise to analyze these boxes and we are strongly encouraging Iran to move those boxes to Paris as quickly as possible. Parvaresh did not explain why Iran is now sending the recorders directly to France, except to say that was the information he was given from his government, and that Irans accidentinvestigation board has an agreement with the BEA to help with planecrash probes. Flight PS752 was shot down by the Iranian military shortly after takeoff from Tehrans airport on Jan. 8, killing all 176 passengers and crew on board, including more than 50 Canadians. Iran initially denied having any involvement in the crash, but after photos and videos were posted to social media, and under intense international pressure, Iran admitted on Jan. 11 that its military had shot the plane down in the middle of military tensions with the United States. The Iranian government said it was the result of an airdefence batterys mistaking the civilian jet for a hostile intruder. More than 130 passengers on board the plane were travelling to Canada via Kyiv, many of them students and university professors returning to Canada after visiting family in Iran over the December break. By Mia Rabson Life in lockdown has a been a great way to discover fantastic small businesses delivering food and wine in my area and beyond. Here are some I would high recommend. (All these deliveries were kindly gifted to me but there was no expectation for content) 1. Chrissys Kitchen Once a female-led bespoke catering company founded by Chrissy, Chrissys Kitchen is now thriving on a new business by creating picnic hampers to give you a night off cooking whilst in lockdown. Growing up in a Swedish / Greek family, Chrissy was always passionate about food and after qualifying as a chef at world-renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland, she set up her own business catering events large and small. With the event catering paused, she is creating picnic hampers in order to diversify her business. Chrissy hand-delivered us a beautiful picnic package including sausage rolls, spiced nuts, Greek salad , cous cous salad, incredible caramel tarts and rose wine. My favourite thing was a little package for Oscar with his own sausage rolls. He loved them so much, he actually said yum! It was a little chilly when we went for our picnic but that didnt stop us having fun. 2. Dukeshill I was contacted by Dukeshill for a Zoom cheese and wine tasting, taking place on National Cheese Day. Yes, you read that correctly, this is a thing! Mr S and I had a fantastic night noshing on cheese and sipping wine under the instruction of Neale and his daughter Laura (and Doris the Labradoodle) the family behind Dukeshill. Dukeshill actually started life as a cured meat company but now sell complimentary products. Wine and cheese of course but also pantry items, sweet treats and fish. They can delivery all over the UK though some locations may have increased delivery charges. 3. Eat With Amas Kitchen Eat with Amas Kitchen is run by Ama, a fellow Mama who realised running her pop-up shops wasnt realistic once she had her daughter so she came up with idea of delivering freshly cooked hearty meals giving restaurant quality food in the home. Ama delivers individual meals and family hampers but she got in touch with me to try her date night box. I loved the idea as even without lockdown, Mr S and I have struggled to have a date night. We got all dressed up for our special evening and ate our gorgeous three course meal on our balcony. Our classic fish date night box came with negroni cocktails, salmon puff, prawn pasta and chocolate brownies for dessert! The dinner involved a little very minimal preparation from me and it was such a treat to experience. 4. Wine Trust Another company introduced to me via a Zoom wine tasting was Wine Trust who kindly sent me six bottles to sample as part of a tasting with Master of Wine Alistair Cooper. Wine Trust is a company that is passionate about both quality and value and their experts source wine for all over the world. Check their website for a curated selection available for delivery in mainland UK and abroad at bespoke rates. 5. Wine List Wine List is a different kind of wine delivery service to the ones mentioned above as its more focussed on learning and discovering new wines. The idea is every month youll be sent a box with information to help you learn more about the key concepts of the wine. The box will include two wines which arent readily available in the UK to taste and find out more about. The box also includes interactive tasting notes which are a really fun lockdown activity. 6. Bad Brownie Bad Brownie was started by Paz (a university friend of mine!) and Morag from a flat in Richmond and has gone on to be the most well-known Brownie company in the UK. The delicious brownies are sold in multiple London markets now and reached higher levels of fame after appearing on Dragons Den and securing investment from Touker Suleyman. The team behind the UKs best brownies didnt let the Covid-19 crisis phase them and have continued delivering throughout the UK. They kindly sent me a box of their bestsellers including salted caramel, triple chocolate, peanut butter and Ferrero Rocher. 7. Little Tummy With all these great food deliveries for grown ups, I found myself wishing there were baby deliveries too enter Little Tummy to solve my problems! Little Tummy was started by two mums, Sophie (also a paediatrician) and Nadine to help make a mums hectic day easier. They offer a selection of baby meals which use cold-pressed fresh ingredients which are both highly nutritional and ethically made. So far weve tried the chickpea, cauliflower and kale and also the blueberry yogurt and quinoa. We do baby-led weaning but the consistency of these purees still worked for us as they stuck to the spoon so Oscar could still self-feed. 8. Daisy Green Collection / Radio Lamington Daisy Green Collection have launched Radio Lamington, an online business for ordering the Aussie / Kiwi- originated cakes. The team baked 30,000 Lamingtons for NHS workers and now boxes are available for order. Theres the classic chocolate covered in coconut, Red Velvet, Salted Caramel and even a Rainbow Lamington for the NHS! For every box purchased, a box is sent to the NHS as well! 9. The Sea, The Sea The Sea, The Sea is a gorgeous little fish shop and seafood bar on Pavillion Road in Chelsea. To keep going during lockdown theyre delivering ready to cook meals and takeaway. They sent me a gorgeous selection of finish at home seafood as well as a box of sashimi. The menu changes daily but I enjoy chilli prawn and miso cod, plus it was super easy to make! 10. Dishoom Dishoom, one of the UKs favourite Indian restaurant has introduced their first every cookery kit. All the necessary fresh ingredients are dishoomed to your door in order to make their famous Naan bacon roll and Chai tea. I expected my attempt to be terrible but honestly theyre pretty fool proof and totally delicious! 11. Corbin & King Home Dining Iconic restaurant group Corbin & King are offering a twist on takeaway, with finish at home ready meals featuring some of their customers favourite dishes. Theres Wiener Schnitzel from the Wolseley, fish pie from Manzis and duck confit from Colbert. And then theres dessert too I recommend Brasserie Zedels chocolate mousse and the fruit crumble from the Wolseley. Also available on order, a full list of side dishes and wine. All profits go towards the staff to help top up their wages until the restaurants are back on full capacity. 12. Jamavar Fine dining North Indian restaurant, Jamavar now have an order online option! Taking inspiration from the joy of togetherness and feasting at home, you can order a la carte or opt for a celebration menu. PIN FOR LATER: University of Alaska System head Jim Johnsen abruptly withdrew from consideration for the top slot at the University of Wisconsin System Friday after his announcement as the sole finalist for the job drew pushback from students and faculty. Johnsen, who was in line to replace outgoing UW System President Ray Cross, was unveiled last week as the only contender for the position following a months-long, controversial presidential search process. But his candidacy and the broader search that led to his selection quickly drew fire as the American Association of University Professors Wisconsin called on System leaders to declare a failed search and withdraw Johnsens name from consideration. Johnsen in a Friday statement said he notified the search committee he would be withdrawing following deep reflection as to where I am called to lead a university system through these challenging times, it is clear to me and my family that it is in Alaska. He also took a parting shot at the search process, saying: I appreciate the strong support from the search committee at Wisconsin, and for all those who supported my candidacy, but its clear they have important process issues to work out." Board of Regents President Andrew Petersen called the news disappointing and added that its a dark day for the UW System. Dr. Johnsen is a fine person who conducted himself with professionalism and honor throughout the process, during which he was unanimously identified by the search committee as the best candidate for our system, he said in a statement. We will work to identify and get through our immediate financial and operational challenges with the pandemic, then deliberate on the next steps to conduct a new search when there is a better opportunity. The decision comes just days after Johnsen participated in a virtual campus forum where he faced questions about shared governance, fostering diversity and inclusion and how he'd handle budgetary challenges. But over the last week, critics of Johnsen have raised red flags over his candidacy, including his history as president at the University of Alaska System, where faculty expressed their disapproval through votes of no confidence and calls for his removal from office as early as 2017. Prior to his role as president, Johnsen served at the University of Minnesota and in various roles at the University of Alaska between 1996 and 2008, including vice president for administration and chief of staff. He has also served as chair of the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, vice chair of the Alaska Student Loan Corporation and founding chair of the Alaska State Committee on Research. While Gov. Tony Evers in an interview this week with the Cap Times stopped short of labeling Johnsen's record at the University of Alaska System disqualifying, he called for taking an "in-depth" look at some tenets of Johnsen's history. "Theres going to be plenty of time for people to weigh in and of course from what Ive read, his record, as far as faculty governance issues, it has to be examined in-depth and thats a big thing for our state," Evers, a former regent, said Tuesday. He also noted having a single finalist in the search process "makes it more difficult for Dr. Johnsen to do well" because there aren't any other candidates to compare him to, meaning reaching a final decision is "much more difficult." Assembly Speaker Robin Vos Friday lamented the news but said he remains confident the regents "will find a leader with strong business acumen, who can guide the System through challenging fiscal times." This is a disappointment," the Rochester Republican said in a statement. "If leftist liberals on campus can't decide on the UW System President, they become critics and drive out a qualified leader. We cant let intimidation become the way we choose our campus leaders." Johnsen was unanimously selected by the search committee after the panel began with a large group of candidates, where were recruited, nominated or self-nominated, committee chair and Board of Regents Vice President Michael Grebe said last week. The committee narrowed the group down into semifinalists without a set number of people allowed to advance who underwent multi-day interview sessions. Though the committee was prepared to advance multiple finalists names for recommendation, Johnsen was the groups unanimous favorite at the time, Grebe noted. The next steps are unclear. Cross, who announced his intentions to retire in October, has said he intends to stay in the role until the Board of Regents settles on his replacement, though it's unknown when that could occur. Whoever does take over will step into the role during a time of immense economic hardship for the UW System, including about $100 million in losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic this semester alone. Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Industries minister Bikram Singh on Friday urged the Centre to release the GST compensation of Himachal Pradesh for the month of March amounting to 216 crore. He was participating in the 40th Goods and Services Tax council held through video conferencing. Union finance minister and chairman of GST Council Nirmala Sitharaman presided over the meeting which was also attended by Union minister of state for finance Anurag Thakur. Singh said that Himachal was a small state and its entire economy is dependent on the tourism sector. Due to the lockdown induced to thwart the spread of Covid-19, tourism activities in the state have come to a severe halt in the state and mining activities have also come to standstill, said Singh. He added that the state has received the GST compensation of 612 crore till January this year. Seventeen people were arrested in connection with ta methamphetamine distribution ring in Bucks County, according to prosecutors. Some of the group included business owners who allowed the drugs to be stashed on their property. Read more Investigators in Bucks County have dismantled a drug ring they say was distributing as much as 20 pounds of methamphetamine throughout the region each week, earning nearly a million dollars in profits at a time. The drug empire," as District Attorney Matt Weintraub called it, was allegedly run by William Beetle Jefferson, 57, who was charged late Thursday with racketeering, conspiracy, and felony drug charges. They certainly were a scourge in Bucks County, Weintraub said Friday. They weaved a poisonous web all across our county. Jefferson remained jailed on $200,000 bail. It was unclear Friday if he had retained an attorney. The Northeast Philadelphia resident presided over an organization that was a main source supplier of the narcotic in Bucks County and surrounding areas, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest. He was one of 17 arrested by an interdepartmental drug task force that included the Pennsylvania State Police, the FBI, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The other drug-ring participants included dealers and distributors, along with owners of small businesses in lower Bucks County such as Detail Doctor, a car detailing service in Bristol Township who allowed Jefferson and his partners to stash their drugs in their buildings, according to court documents. Its a sign of sophistication for sure, Weintraub said. And I believe that because they were able to hide behind legitimate businesses, they were able to form a more stable framework for their operation. It permitted them to thrive, unfortunately. County detectives had been building the case against Jefferson and his organization since 2017, first learning about the drug ring through a series of undercover drug purchases, the affidavit said. Through search warrants and drug arrests, the investigators gradually gleaned information about Jeffersons alleged ring from its clients and former members. During their investigation, detectives followed Jefferson and watched him deliver drugs and collect payments at various locations in Bucks County and Philadelphia, according to the affidavit. The arrests mark the second large-scale dismantling of a drug operation in Bucks County this week. On Monday, prosecutors detailed how a two-year investigation into a Suboxone smuggling ring ended with the arrest of a corrections officer. Weintraub said Friday that with crime down amid the coronavirus shutdowns, his office had been able to prioritize these cases. The slowdown caused by the restrictions provided a natural opportunity to finalize the work they had been doing for years. Law enforcement is a thinking mans occupation. In order to shut down networks of this size and elaboration, we need to do a lot of planning, as opposed to making street busts of corner drug dealers, he said. Clearly this is the fruits of our labor. And I would say there is more to come. The Tokyo metropolitan government lifted its "Tokyo alert" that was issued on June 2 due to a sharp rise in the number of new COVID-19 cases detected in the capital. Along with lifting the alert on Thursday, which was aimed at making Tokyo residents aware of the extent of new infections spreading in the capital, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Thursday that business restrictions in the capital will be further eased from Friday, Xinhua news agency reported. "We have almost finished requesting companies to suspend their businesses. We are entering a new stage where we are able to fully carry out economic and social activities," Koike said. From Friday, as the capital enters its next and final phase of easing business restrictions, restaurants and pubs will be allowed to stay open for longer, and karaoke boxes, game centers and pachinko parlors will be allowed to reopen for the first time since the virus-induced restrictions were imposed. But Koike warned that residents need to remain vigilant and businesses should take the necessary anti-virus precautions as a second wave of COVID-19 infections at some point could not be ruled out. "We need to take appropriate anti-virus measures to prepare for a possible second wave of infections," she said. Koike had previously said that if the number of COVID-19 cases spiked again in the capital then the Tokyo metropolitan government would once again request businesses and people to restrict their activities. According to the Tokyo government, there were 22 new infections confirmed on Thursday, rising from 18 recorded a day earlier. While six of the new cases were connected to nightspots, 10 had unidentified transmission routes, the Tokyo government said. The Tokyo metropolitan government issued the alert on June 2 as 34 new coronavirus infections were reported in the capital, marking the highest since the state of emergency over the virus was completely lifted for Japan a week earlier. The spike in coronavirus cases in June marked the first time since March 14 that daily infections had breached the 30 mark in the city of about 14 million people. Since mid-April, in Tokyo, the hardest-hit among all of Japan's 47 prefectures by the pneumonia-causing virus, the number of recorded daily COVID-19 cases had been decreasing, with multiple days of single-digit cases cases seen over a period of time through May, until the uptick in June. Koike previously said that an alert for Tokyo will be issued if the number of new infections exceeds 20 a day or the ratio of the weekly new infection increases to more than one compared to the previous week. She also said another barometer for issuing an alert would be if the ratio for unknown infection routes climbs to more than 50 per cent. Dear Connecticut, Do you remember me? Nine years ago I was a senior at Stamford High School on the brink of a life-altering event. One night as I sat watching a movie, a group of anonymous boys called my cell phone and left me a series of voicemails. Their words, to this very day, represent the most horrific that I have ever heard uttered against another human being. They started off by telling me that they were going to kill me "just because" I was black. They warned me that if they found me at home, they were going to unload a bullet into the back of my head. They cited other "niggers" who had died before me, like Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. They threatened to tar and feather my family. I remember feeling shocked and scared because I could think of not a single person, much less a group of them, who wanted to watch me die. I was reluctant to report it, but the next day a teacher insisted I tell the school principal. And then nothing was ever the same. By some random stroke of misfortune one those involved was Gov. Dannel Malloys son a boy I had never even laid eyes upon. Malloy was mayor of Stamford at the time and, for obvious reasons, the mixture of politics and race proved irresistible to journalists. Soon my face was plastered on the front page of every newspaper across Connecticut and everyone from the NAACP, to Dr. Phil wanted in on the story. Do you vaguely recall me now? The connection meant that arrests would not immediately be made. The local police told me they needed to treat the case with special diligence, and they called in the FBI to help determine whether the four boys, three of whom were perfect strangers to me, had committed a hate crime. The boy I believed had orchestrated the voicemails (the only one out of the group whom I had ever seen or spoken to) denied the allegations vehemently, perhaps rolling the dice that his chance political association would protect him in the end. I stayed out of school for six weeks before formal charges were filed, and in that time the gossip escalated. It wasnt limited to the students. Parents, teachers and you, the general public, felt inclined to state your opinions about me online. I perused those words quietly, a stranger to the girl that the unsympathetic portion of you were depicting. I was a liar. I just wanted money. I was ugly. I was desperate for attention, another black girl taking advantage of a situation. I was a lot of bad things all at once. No one seemed to see me as a 17-year old girl going through a traumatic experience. Those words destroyed me. I held my head high at school, but I went home and I cried every single night. Without my consent or involvement, political forces took sides. The NAACP held press conferences outside my high school, which I relucantly attended. Malloys political enemies seized the opportunity to criticize him. Within my own family, lines were drawn. My father wanted to press charges. My mother just wanted to keep quiet so I could return to normal life. And all I wanted was an apology. I wanted someone to be accountable, admit they had made a mistake and just say Sorry. But, to this day, no one has. Not even our governor, who at the time had no comment, other than that his son had been fully cooperative with the police. And so what was my takeaway? I hated Stamford. I hated Connecticut, but above all else, I hated myself. I hated that my name would come up in a Google search for hate crime. I developed a severe eating disorder, to help me combat it. The skin against my bones for five years helped me to feel as though I had at least one aspect of my existence under control. After college, I moved to New York City and disappeared into its masses. The city was much too fast-paced for anybody to stop and take notice of me, much too distracted by its own idiosyncrasies. I felt lonely and, my god, it was magnificent. For the first time, I was given an opportunity to grow up. To remember who I was, absent the inked impressions of a judgmental community. In the city I emerged as a woman with a deep love and appreciation for children and a raw understanding of how fragile they are. And I looked back upon my high school experience with just that realization: We were children. I say we because I wasnt the only victim. I wasnt the only child who had to read your words. The four boys who left me those messages were labeled racists. They were labeled no good. Those are words that no child deserves to hear. Suddenly I found myself wondering, with a sympathetic heart, what happened to them. Had they maybe developed eating disorders as well? Or did they instead turn to drugs to numb the pain? Did they, too, feel paralyzed with anxiety by the idea of a simple Google search? Had they also tried to kill themselves a year later in their college dorms? Connecticut, do you remember any of us? I do, and Ill be the first to say I am sorry. To all of them, for having to endure that experience; a group of children dissected and labeled. Were they wrong? Categorically. Should they have been held accountable for their actions? Undeniably. Did they deserve to be branded by a society? No. Because Ill tell you something that you may not have realized about not only them, but all of us children from Generation Y. We are a generation of lab rats, a generation that participated as the world speeded up. We laughed at our ability to shoot messages through thin air in a matter of nanoseconds, never stopping to consider the implications. We were the white mice at the turn of a century in which technological advances made us infinitely more capable, and definitively less human. We no longer have to look someone in the eye to say something hurtful. We no longer have to watch their faces flush with hurt, or their eyes flood with tears. We just push send. For the last year, I have worked on creating a website, SocialAutospy.com, that will stop online bullying by outing the bullies. I created a searchable database of people who spew hate online. I hope it will make people think twice before they exercise their First Amendment rights online as a means to hurt others. And this wouldn't be fun without a public challenge to Gov. Malloy to contact me. To look me in the eye for the first time and stand with me as a leader in the fight against online bullying. I am once again so happy to be a part of Connecticut, my home state, and one that I believe will be a part of a real solution. Not just another perpetuator of divisive arguments. Sincerely, Candace Owens Consider it all a middle finger lifted to the idea that cops are answerable to the communities they serve. Consider it a microcosm of what is wrong with modern policing. How can you look at this sort of behavior, which is happening everywhere, and not read in it a sense of invulnerable arrogance, of authority unquestioned and unquestionable? Power without accountability is tyranny, plain and simple. Yet how tempting tyranny must be when you are shielded in your malfeasance by the deference of courts and politicians, by unions that make it nearly impossible to get rid of, or even meaningfully discipline, lawless cops, and by the infamous blue wall of silence, a code of omerta that would do Tony Soprano proud. So shall we defund the police, to quote what has become a liberal rallying cry? Well, the slogan is obviously designed less to foster consensus than confrontation. But the idea behind it seems self-evident. Namely, that we must tear down the old model of policing and, as Camden, N.J., did to great success seven years ago, build something better in its place, something that actually does protect and serve and uphold and improve our communities. When Katherine Hernandez and Jason Perez were each asked to describe their 10-year relationship in a single word, they simultaneously blurted out the same word: amazing. But four months ago, Ms. Hernandez, 36, and Mr. Perez, 37, were feeling anything but amazing when they realized their wedding had to be scaled back because of the coronavirus. The couple had planned a civil ceremony on May 20 at the Hempstead Village Court in Hempstead, N.Y., followed by a reception for nearly 40 guests at a nearby seafood restaurant. Though their wedding date remained the same, the number of guests was cut to about 20, and their ceremony and reception was moved to the back yard of their home in Queens Village, Queens. To make matters worse, Ms. Hernandez, who was born in the Philippines, and Mr. Perez, who is from Puerto Rico, had to cancel their long-awaited, European honeymoon a one-month tour of Amsterdam, Paris and Greece because of the pandemic. Peters Ice Cream has today launched its first-ever free online delivery service - but it's only available to select Melbourne postcodes. Australia's favourite ice cream brand will bring orders to doorsteps within 10km of the CBD from its headquarters in Mulgrave in the city's southeast from Friday, June 12. While Peters Ice Cream has been an Aussie tradition since it was founded in 1907, this is the first time the company is taking its products direct to consumers. Customers can choose between seven bundles priced from $32.95 to $41.95, filled with Australian classics like Peters Original and the iconic Drumstick, the nation's best-selling cone since it launched in 1963. Scroll down for video Brands available in Peters new free delivery service, available to customers within 10km of Melbourne's CBD from Friday, June 12 Tubs of Connoisseur, Crunchie and Milo are also on offer, along with sticks of Maxibon, Oreo, Kit Kat and Picnic. The bundles are designed for occasions like family dinners, children's birthday parties, office gatherings and movie nights with friends. Peters Drumstick, Australia's best-selling ice cream since it launched in 1963 The most luxurious offering is the 'sweet indulgence' box, packed with seven decadent Connoisseur flavours including Mango and White Chocolate, Caramel Honey and Macadamia and Belgian Chocolate. 'Family time', which is described as the perfect dessert for the whole family, features Aussie classics like tubs of Peters Original Neapolitan, cups of Milo and Drumsticks. The 'movie temptation' pack, touted as a great addition to a cosy night in, includes large tubs of Connoisseur Cookies and Cream, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Picnic and Crunchie. And all are just a click away on Peters official online store. Tubs of Crunchie (left) and sticks of Connoisseur (right) are just two of the classics that feature in Peters online delivery bundles Milo cups which come in the 'family time' bundle, tailor made to suit children's birthday parties and family dinners Peters CEO Emma-Jane Collins said the delivery service was created in response to customer demand. 'Our consumers have asked for it and so we're delivering right to their doors,' she said in a statement. 'This is the first time we are personally bringing products by the Peters Ice Cream team to our consumers, and what better place to start than in Melbourne, our backyard.' Visit the website to view Peters full range of brands here. DUBLIN, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "An Evolving Ecosystem: China's Autonomous Vehicle Roadmap" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Despite the current sales slump, China remains the world's largest traditional light-vehicle market. It is also forecast to be the world's largest market for autonomous vehicles. Yet reports say China significantly lags the U.S. in the development of autonomous-vehicle technology. Is that true? How far along is China in its development of AV capabilities? Do Chinese firms have the technology to accomplish full autonomy or will they need to rely on foreign firms' technology as well? What are China's criteria for different levels of autonomy and how do they differ from the U.S. and Europe? This report looks at the key characteristics of the AV market in China and automakers' game plan for deployment, including strategies to monetize AV tech on the way to Level 4. It contains a forecast for the market in China, an insightful survey of industry insiders, a scorecard on which automakers and suppliers are leading in the AV race and Q&As with high-ranking executives at several of the key players. Addressed in this report: How does China's AV technology stack up against the rest of the world's? AV technology stack up against the rest of the world's? What is the market in China for various levels of autonomous technology? for various levels of autonomous technology? What sectors will lead in AV development in China ? ? What are domestic automakers' AV plans? What hurdles does China face in developing AVs? face in developing AVs? What is China's AV infrastructure development plan? Of special interest to: AV component suppliers, China product planners and marketers, investors in autonomous vehicles and related companies, as well as anyone interested in China's path to AV leadership. Highlights: Enhance your understanding of China's strategy to achieve its AV goals. strategy to achieve its AV goals. Help clarify China's strengths and weakness in the AV sector. strengths and weakness in the AV sector. Determine areas where you can add value to China's AV industry. AV industry. Identify potential areas for investment. Better understand Chinese automakers' AV development approach. Target segments for marketing AV technology and products Key Topics Covered: 1. Overview Grading the OEMs Grading the Suppliers 2. Market Volume Outlook Modern Mobility Robot Vehicles Smart Cities 3. Policy & Infrastructure Strong Municipal Backing Infrastructure Challenges Road-Testing Data Restrictions China Vs. U.S. 4. Automakers Baic Group BMW Byd Byton Changan Chery Daimler Dongfeng FAW FCA Ford Gac Geely General Motors Great Wall Motors Honda Human Horizons Hyundai-Kia Jaguar Land Rover Nio Psa Group Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Saic Toyota Volkswagen WM Motor Xpeng 5. Suppliers Alibaba Aptiv Autox Banma Bosch Continental Hesai Horizon Robotics Huawei Kuandeng Magna Meituan Dianping Momenta Navinfo Nvidia Plus.Ai Pony.Ai Roadstar.Ai Tencent Tusimple Valeo Weride.Ai 6. Q&A Bosch's Hao Feng Continental's Neil Tang Didi Chuxing's Meng Xing ? ? Horizon Robotics' Zhang Yufeng Human Horizons' Mark Stanton Inceptio's Julian Ma Tusimple's Cheng Lu Xpeng Motors' He Xiaopeng Yanfeng's Steve Meszaros 7. Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ycv6cc About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Her ex-boyfriend recently admitted that he cannot face dating again following their messy split. Yet Maura Higgins put the drama behind her on Friday night as she took to Instagram to share a new sizzling snap. The Love Island star, 29, set pulses racing as she went braless in a daring cut-out black vest top. What drama? Maura Higgins put the drama behind her on Friday night as she took to Instagram to share a new sizzling snap Maura styled her brunette locks into a sweptback bun and added a slick of glamorous make-up for the photo. The Irish beauty knew how to work her best angles as she posed up a storm in the sizzling snap. She cryptically penned: 'Youre a good girl and you know it.' It comes after her ex Curtis admitted that he cannot face dating again following their messy split. Candid: It comes after her ex Curtis admitted that he cannot face dating again following their messy split (pictured in January) The Love Islander, 24, has said that he is not looking for another relationship after he and his former co-star broke up in a series of blazing bust-ups and public rows. Speaking to The Sun about the split, Curtis said: 'It hurt. I wasn't ready for everyone to know we had split up I wanted some time. 'It was a shock to see that she had announced it on social media hours later.' He insists that he is now content to remain single and will not be signing up to online dating platforms anytime soon. The TV personality added: 'I'm very old-fashioned. I don't actually like talking to people over a mobile phone or laptop. I'm a very sociable person. I like to be with somebody and talk to them.' Heartache: The Love Islander, 24, has said that he is not looking for another relationship after he and his former co-star broke up in a series of blazing bust-ups and public rows (pictured in January) However, it comes after Maura herself said that she would consider going back onto Love Island because she 'needs a man'. The 29-year-old took to Instagram last month to discuss her love life with fans. She rubbished claims linking her to Dancing on Ice partner Alexander Demetriou after he separated from his wife of four years, Carlotta Edwards, last month. Newly-single: It comes after Maura, 29, said that she would consider going back onto Love Island because she 'needs a man' Maura said during the Q and A: 'It doesn't bother me. We're in 2020 and a man and woman cannot just be friends...' She then zoomed in on her face and said: 'Pure sh*** you know.' Maura also revealed that she has struggled with adjusting to fame since leaving the Love Island villa but assured fans that she is still single. Asked if she would ever return to Love Island, the Irish beauty replied: 'Well, to be honest, I need a man. So maybe I'll go back in next year, you never know.' All over: Maura's revelation comes after Dancing On Ice star Alexander Demetriou confirmed he has separated from wife Carlotta Edwards (pictured together last November) Sad times: The reality star was asked by a fan if she's bothered by the speculation surrounding her and Alexander's relationship following the news he and his wife had split Confirmation: The professional skater took to Instagram stories to confirm the news and revealed to his followers that it had been a 'tough time' for him Last month, Alexander, 28, took to Instagram stories to confirm he had split from Carlotta amid reports that he became 'besotted' with Love Island beauty Maura. In a statement posted on Instagram stories, Alexander said: 'I'm sorry I have been quiet on social media recently but it's been a tough time for me personally. 'Carlotta and I have separated. Although it saddens me that we can no longer be together, I feel this is best for both of us. 'I'm looking forward to what the future will bring but in the meantime let's all say home and stay safe.' A friend of the former couple recently told their marriage troubles 'came as a shock', as they were so close before the last Dancing On Ice series. Construction works on the Tamale interchange project is progressing steadily and is about 40 percent complete, says roads and highways Minister, Kwesi Amoako-Atta. The Tamale interchange project funded under a barter arrangement between the governments of Ghana and Sinohydro Limited of China is one of several priority infrastructural projects worth $2 billion in exchange for Ghanas refined bauxite. The project which is expected to be completed within 24 months will enhance traffic flow reducing within the Tamale Metropolitan area and also enhance economic activities between Ghana and the Saharan regions. Kwesi Amoako-Atta, who was on-site to inspect the progress of work, expressed satisfaction with the quality and speed of work done. Speaking to journalists after inspecting the project, the Minister assured residents and business owners who have been affected by the construction that the government will pay them the necessary compensation. According to the roads minister, 65 road projects are at various stages of completion within the Northern Region while another set of 80 is going through procurement and execution processes. Mr. Amoako-Atta also revealed that some 66 kilometers of roads in both Tamale metro and Sagnarigu Municipality are either ceiled or Prema ceiled. The Air Force's 45th Space Wing's first all female weather team (from left to right): Melody Lovin, Hanna Mulcahey, Arlena Moses, Maj. Emily Graves, Jessica Williams, Capt. Nancy Zimmerman. Air Force SpaceX has become well-known for trailblazing new firsts for the space industry but, when the rocket company launches its next mission, it will be the U.S. Air Force's weather forecasting team that makes history. For the first time, all six members of the 45th's Space Wing's launch weather team are female. The Air Force team has made critical decisions for hundreds of rocket launches, always with at least one man among their ranks. But for the next SpaceX launch scheduled for Saturday morning, these six women will decide if the weather is clear: Major Emily Graves, Captain Nancy Zimmerman, Airman first class Hannah Mulcahey, Arlena Moses, Melody Lovin and Jessica Williams. "It's a testament to how far we've come, in the space industry and the Air Force," Zimmerman, the 45th Space Wing's launch weather director, told CNBC. "Looking back into the 50s and 60s, that was 100% male dominated ... then slowly but surely we've started introducing more females into the space industry." 45th Space Wing's launch weather director Capt. Nancy Zimmerman. Air Force The journey to this point has been different for each member of the team but all six emphasized that they hope it can serve as an inspiration to other women. Moses, the 45th Space Wing's lead launch weather officer, said that especially "as a person of color, there are a lot of preconceived notions about who you are and what you can do and what you're capable of." "Oftentimes, as a female and as a person of color, you have to work a little harder to show them that you can stand toe-to-toe with everybody else," Moses said. 45th Space Wing's lead launch weather officer Arlena Moses. Air Force This group of women has a critical job in supporting rocket launches, as they decide whether the often volatile weather near Florida's "Space Coast" is clear for liftoff. In addition to being scientists, all six women must have a clear understanding of the myriad of different weather combinations that can "scrub" a launch. Scrub is how the industry describes a "no go" call that postpones a launch. "My favorite part honestly is when there's a lot of weather going on," the 45th's launch weather commander Graves told CNBC. "Then it's a busy launch and we get to make a call, going from a 'no go' back to a 'go' status. It's a busy and intense moment, like this really long sprint that we're all doing together and we're all in sync and it just feels like you're saving the world." 45th Space Wing's launch weather commander Maj. Emily Graves. CNBC / Michael Sheetz Graves oversees the weather team, acting as a liaison between them and senior Air Force leadership during the mission. Zimmerman explained that the weather team has a twofold mission, supporting operations on the ground by communicating how weather could damage assets and then providing logistical support "through all stages of the launches," she said. That includes three broad stages, which the 45th Space Wing categorizes as generation, execution and recovery. "We provide weather support for the [SpaceX] barges to go out and recover those rocket parts," Zimmerman said. The landed Falcon 9 rocket booster from SpaceX's Demo-2 crewed mission returns to Port Canaveral in Florida. SpaceX The 45th Space Wing is stationed at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida and manages the Eastern Range: A designated U.S. rocket range for launches from either NASA's Kennedy Space Center or the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Weather is a big deal for rockets and the region is known as the lightning capital of the world, making the 45th Space Wing's job particularly difficult. "About 50% of all scrubs are due to weather," Zimmerman said. The impact of weather on 416 launches over more than 30 years. CNBC / Michael Sheetz While the weather team issues forecasts and monitors conditions days in advance of a launch, a scrub can happen in the final moments of the countdown to lift off. Graves noted that, for the recent SpaceX crewed launch, the 45th Space Wing can make a "no go" call due to a change in weather as late as five seconds before launch. "We're all scientists and a lot of times, in order to get everybody on the scene clear and convinced [about the weather,] it means we're having a lot of scientific discussion about where we are and how we think about what we're seeing in terms of different weather," Moses said. Williams, who serves as the 45th Space Wing's radar launch weather officer, explained that her role entails surveying through radar scans of precipitation. "We are digging into every single scan every three minutes and looking at how far each cloud edge is from the flight path and how tall each cloud is and how thick that cloud is, to evaluate the different weather launch commit criteria," Williams said. The launch commit criteria is essentially a set of 10 weather rules the Air Force has pre-established to determine whether it is safe for a rocket to launch. The launch weather rules set by the U.S. Air Force and the company operating the rocket. CNBC / Michael Sheetz The 10 launch weather rules set by the U.S. Air Force's 45th Space Wing. CNBC / Michael Sheetz Moses then communicates between the weather squadron, the Air Force's launch team and SpaceX's launch team, "relaying all the weather decisions that we make," she said. A historic moment The 45th Space Wing's team in the weather control center. Air Force Up until 2018, the 45th Space Wing weather squadron had only one female civilian launch officer, noted Lovin, the team's reconnaissance launch weather officer. That changed when some officers left and the unit was expanded, so there are now six women and nine men on the team. "Any little girl that's looking up to us, I want to encourage you to pursue math and science and don't shy away from it. There's a lot of stereotypes out there that women are not as good in math and science and they're just not true," Lovin said. "I look forward to not having to celebrate when we are on an all female launch team because that means it has become so normal ... and we're not fighting an uphill battle any more." Zimmerman noted that last year saw NASA complete the first all-female space walk and highlighted that some of the largest space companies are now lead by women. She hopes that continues to inspire women to work in fields such as engineering or the sciences. "If there's any doubt in your heart and mind but you have something that you want to do, whatever [it is] within the STEM career field, just go do it," Zimmerman said. The six women on the team are "all weather geeks," Moses said, and "many of us are space geeks as well." "The satisfaction of knowing that you helped launch a rocket is awesome," Moses said, adding that space and weather "go hand-in-hand" for her, because she "wanted to be a meteorologist on Mars, which is not a job that exists yet." Williams said she too was "a space nerd as a kid," wanting to be an astronaut before she became a meteorologist. The lack of women in her career field made it difficult at time, saying she "really had to work hard to prove myself." "At my previous job, I was the only female in a group of 100 in a science and engineering branch," Williams said. "I wasn't initially given some positions that other newcomers were initially given." But she pressed on, even flying into hurricanes with the famed National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration "Hurricane Hunters" for six years. "It was exciting and the adrenaline rush was very high," Williams said. "I have a small hope that I may someday get to fly high enough in a rocket to be able to see the curvature of the Earth myself." SpaceX is targeting Saturday at 5:21 a.m. EDT to launch its ninth batch of Starlink internet satellites. The mission will carry 58 of the company's Starlink satellites, as well as 3 imagery satellites for Planet. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket loaded with 60 Starlink satellites stands on the company's launchpad in Florida. SpaceX Press Release June 12, 2020 POE: NO REASON TO DELAY E-CASH AID TO PUV DRIVERS Cash aid to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) should no longer face delay with the promised electronic disbursement of the second tranche, Sen. Grace Poe said. "No delay in the distribution of assistance is justified. No more lives should be put in peril because of the lack of urgency in handing out lifeline to the people," the Senate public services committee chairperson stressed. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is expected to electronically release the SAP's second tranche to about 18 million families under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act. Based on the government's June 8 report, all 98,132 target PUV drivers have received cash aid from the list submitted by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. Poe suggested that the DSWD and local government units tap drivers' associations to vet the list of beneficiaries for faster and orderly release of subsidies. Poe pointed out that aid is vital especially since public utility buses and jeepneys were not yet allowed to ply their routes during Metro Manila's shift to a more relaxed general community quarantine. This has forced some drivers to beg on the streets to have food for their families and for their colleagues. "By this time, we expect that concerned government agencies have fine-tuned the criteria and system of distribution of cash aid so that it will get to the hands of the drivers in this period of poverty," Poe said. Poe said the tragic death of Michelle Silvertino, who died on a footbridge after days of trying to catch a ride to the province, should be the last case of help not coming soon enough to save a life. Virginia Tech researchers were recently awarded $2.4 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to accelerate the development of multiple concepts in fusion energy technology through theory, computational modeling, and experimental validation. Bhuvana Srinivasan, Colin Adams, and Stefano Brizzolara of the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, along with collaborators at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, will apply a versatile set of computational plasma modeling capabilities to better understand and advance the performance of lower-cost fusion concepts. The three-year project will bring together expertise from the fields of plasma physics and ocean engineering. According to Srinivasan, nuclear fusion has the potential to meet terrestrial energy demands in perpetuity as far as human time scales are concerned. However, controlled thermonuclear fusion remains one of the biggest unsolved problems of the previous and present centuries. "For most fusion concepts, theory has been trailing experiments," said Srinivasan. "Significant advances in theory are necessary to overcome a multitude of scientific and engineering challenges and to support stable operation of experiments that can eventually deliver power to the grid. The work of Virginia Tech's capability team will directly assist concept teams in their design, optimization, and in predicting and mitigating instabilities, losses, and other factors that could potentially prevent the concepts from succeeding." Specifically, the team at Virginia Tech will be improving capability in theory, modeling, and validation for a range of lower-cost, innovative fusion concepts. The team will do this using high-fidelity fluid and kinetic models, incompressible magnetohydrodynamic liquid metal models, and validation experiments to understand plasma dynamics, plasma-material interactions, and the response of liquid metals to the environment within fusion reactors. The primary focus of the capabilities team is twofold. One aspect is to study the plasma dynamics and stability of steady-state as well as pulsed fusion concepts. The second aspect is to study the effects of a liquid metal wall that may interact with the plasma in some fusion concepts. Most fusion experiments contain a plasma that interacts with solid walls and electrodes within the device. Since the plasma is very hot (up to 100,000,000 C), the plasma particles hit the wall and electrode with enough energy to cause erosion and substantial damage. Adams will be experimenting with interchanging the solid metal wall for a liquid metal wall to lessen the erosion issues. By driving very large electrical currents directly into a liquid metal in short timescales, the team will be able to look at the behavior and response of liquid metal walls to current and magnetic field pulses relevant to fusion regimes. Brizzolara brings his expertise in modeling multiphase incompressible magneto-hydrodynamic flows developed to study special underwater vehicle propulsors. He will extend computational capability to work on liquid metal response in the presence of these large currents. The inherent modeling capability will build on his expertise from modeling complex free surface flows with accurate resolution of waves and spray formation that affect the extremely short timescales and dynamic responses of pulsed fusion concepts. Srinivasan will be involved in both aspects of the project, working with Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory on fluid-kinetic modeling of plasma dynamics and stability, and with Adams and Brizzolara on the liquid metal response. Srinivasan has had several past collaborations with Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, working on computational capabilities to develop novel plasma modeling tools aimed to study fusion-relevant physics and physics relevant to plasma-based space propulsion. One specific contribution is an open-source simulation technology called Gkeyll, a state-of-the-art code that advances physics and numerical capabilities in plasma physics. Virginia Tech received this competitive award from ARPA-E's Breakthroughs Enabling Thermonuclear-fusion Energy program, also known as BETHE, which works to develop timely, commercially viable fusion energy technology with the goal of increasing the number and performance levels of lower-cost fusion concepts. Selected BETHE projects span three research categories: concept development to advance the performance of inherently lower-cost but less-mature fusion concepts; component technology development that could significantly reduce the capital cost of higher-cost, more-mature fusion concepts; and capability teams to improve or make advances in theory and computation, models and diagnostics. Virginia Tech's BETHE program award will support five additional personnel, including two post doctoral research associates and three Ph.D. candidates in the Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering. ### Written By Jama Green A study carried out among 2'766 people by the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), the Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, and the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, reveals that, at the time of the decline of the Coronavirus pandemic, only 10.8% of the Geneva population had been infected with Covid-19. Moreover, compared to adults between 20 and 50 years of age, children between 5 and 9 years of age are three times less likely to be infected and those over 65 years of age half as likely. These results were published in The Lancet. Over the five weeks of the study - from 6 April to 9 May - the overall seroprevalence increased from about 5% to about 11% of the population. Taking into account the time for antibodies to be produced after symptoms (with a median of 10.4 days), the researchers estimated that for every confirmed case, there were approximately 12 actual infections in the community. These results suggest that only a minority of the Geneva population has been infected during this pandemic wave, despite the high rate of COVID-19 cases identified during the acute phase of infection (1% of the population in less than 2 months). Children and elderly less affected Young children (5-9 years) and the elderly appear to have a much lower seroprevalence than other age groups. Indeed, only 1 in 123 children in this age group tested positive. However, further studies will be needed to better understand the dynamics of infection and of antibodies in children under 5 years of age, and to determine whether children, in addition to being generally less susceptible to Cov2-SARS, are also less severely affected. The study also reveals a high concentration of infections within households. For example, despite the low seroprevalence of children, 17.1% of children had at least one household member who tested positive, which may suggest that children are infected by adults. On the other hand, only 3.0% of participants over 65 years of age had a household member that tested positive. Furthermore, lower seroprevalence estimates among the elderly tend to confirm the effectiveness of partial containment measures. However, their ability to produce antibodies may be reduced due to age-related weakening of the immune system.. Protective measures have certainly contributed to the decline of the pandemic. The preliminary results of this study provide an important benchmark for assessing the outbreak status. At the time when Switzerland appears to be reaching the end of its first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, only 1 in 10 people have developed antibodies to SARS CoV-2, despite the fact that Switzerland is one of the most affected countries in Europe. The results of this study - the largest population-based seroprevalence study to date - are consistent with preliminary reports from other teams around the world. These results therefore underline that the decline of the epidemic may have taken place despite the fact that the vast majority of the population is not immune, which implies that other factors are at play. The value of seroprevalence studies Seroprevalence surveys based on the detection of specific immunoglobulin type G (IgG) are used to measure the proportion of the population that has ever been exposed to coronavirus. However, they do not provide any indication of full or partial immunity to coronavirus or of the duration of such immunity. Seroprevalence surveys are nevertheless crucial for estimating the dynamics of the epidemic and for preparing the appropriate public health response. They are also more accurate than studies based on nasopharyngeal smears and RT-PCR tests, which are largely dependent on screening policies and miss people with mild or no symptoms, or who do not come for testing. This general population seroprevalence study is ongoing and will be refined to take into account symptomatology and socio-demographic factors. 2'766 participants The study was conducted among a representative sample of the Geneva population drawn from the participants of the Bus Sante study, an annual survey that examines the health of the population of the Canton of Geneva. From 6 April to 9 May 2020, sampled people were invited, together with their family members, for a blood test and a questionnaire. This sample consisted of 52.6% women and 47.2% men, and included 4.4% children between 5 and 9 years of age and 13.3% people over 65 years of age. A total of 2,766 people from 1,339 households took part. The study was carried out by a team from the HUG and UNIGE under the direction of Professor Idris Guessous, Head of the HUG Primary Care Division and professor at the Department of Community Health and Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine, of Dr. Silvia Stringhini, epidemiologist in charge of the Population Epidemiology Unit at the HUG and Privat-Docent at the Faculty of Medicine, and of Professor Antoine Flahault, Director of the Institute of Global Health of the Faculty of Medicine. The study received support from Professor Laurent Kaiser's Virology Laboratory and from the Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, and was funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, the Swiss School of Public Health (Corona Immunitas programme), the Pictet Group's Charity Foundation, the Fondation Ancrage, the Fondation Privee des HUG and the Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases. ### B order Force officers unearthed 3 million worth of cannabis in a lorry containing crates of parsley. The 600kg haul was discovered inside a Spanish-registered vehicle at the Port of Dover on Monday, the Home Office said. A Spanish man was arrested and the investigation was passed on to the National Crime Agency (NCA). He was later released under investigation while NCA inquiries continue. The crates of parsley concealed packs of herbal cannabis / PA Chris Philp, minister for immigration compliance and the courts, said: The professionalism and vigilance of Border Force officers has prevented a significant quantity of illegal drugs entering the UK and ending up on our streets. Working with the National Crime Agency and other law enforcement partners, we will continue to tackle drug smuggling and bring those responsible to justice. An Ethiopian military leader issued a warning to Egypt today over the Nile river dam dispute involving the two African countries. The countrys deputy army chief told state media that Egypt should be aware of Ethiopias military capabilities as Egypt continues to oppose Ethiopias plan to start filling the hydroelectric dam next month. Egyptians and the rest of the world know too well how we conduct war whenever it comes, said Gen. Birhanu Jula, as reported by The Associated Press. Ethiopia began building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in 2011. It will serve as a hydroelectric power source when completed. The dam is on the Blue Nile River in northwest Ethiopia near the border with Sudan. A major tributary of the Nile, the Blue Nile joins the White Nile in Sudan; the Nile then flows into Egypt. Egyptian officials say they believe an unrestricted filling of the dam will reduce the Niles water levels to an extent that endangers the countrys water and food security. Negotiations on the dam are ongoing between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. Egypt has tried to get Sudan on its side in the talks following border clashes between an Ethiopian militia and Sudanese forces recently. Julas comments threaten to add more tensions to the deliberations. Recent remarks by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took a less confrontational tone, but the leader said the dam is necessary for Ethiopias prosperity. We dont want to hurt anyone else, and at the same time it will be difficult for us to accept the notion that we dont deserve to have electricity, he said this week, according to The Associated Press. The state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram reported today that Egypts Water Resources and Irrigation Ministry warned Ethiopia that Egypt remains opposed to the filling of the dam before an agreement is reached. Egypt stresses that Ethiopia should not take any unilateral action in violation of its legal obligations, the Egyptian ministry said Thursday, citing past agreements. Talks resumed this week via videoconference between the three countries after stalling in February under US and World Bank supervision. The United States, the European Union and South Africa have been participating as observers in this week's talks, according to Al-Ahram. Burma Why Yangon MPs Slashed Nearly $30 Million From Regional Govts Spending Requests Yangon / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy YANGONThe Yangon regional parliament has rejected spending requests totaling 41 billion kyats (US$29.3 million)equivalent to the cost of building two flyoverssubmitted by regional government departments, deeming them excessive or inappropriate. Last week, during a debate on budget proposals from 23 government departments for the upcoming 2020-21 fiscal year, regional lawmakers detected numerous spending proposals with potential for waste or misuse of public funds. One of the hot topics during the budget debate was excessive spending proposals. Among the irregularities that came under fire from lawmakers were a request for funds to cover transportation and labor fees that exceeded the actual requirements, large gaps between the estimated and real costs of certain items, and requests to purchase items deemed unnecessary while public needs go largely unmet. One of the items singled out was a request by the Information Department of the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) for 137.345 million kyats ($98,000) to establish a music band to play at its ceremonies. Will it be useful for the city? Arent there other things that are more important than this? MP U Zaw Moe Lwin from Kyauk Tan Township asked the parliament. He was not alone in his view; many lawmakers rejected the request. The YCDCs Market Department also came under fire for including inflated costs for materials needed to upgrade markets. For chain-link fencing, it quoted a price of 20,000 kyats ($14.30) per foot instead of 15,000 kyats ($10.72), which is the maximum defined rate set for the department. For the construction of concrete lanes, it quoted a price of 2,200 kyats (US$1.57) for a segment 6 inches deep and 1 foot long, instead of 1,850 kyats (US$1.32). Meanwhile, the YCDCs Water Supply Department claimed excessive labor costs. The parliament cut 653 million kyats ($47,000) from its proposed labor expenditure alone. Those are just a few examples of departments estimated costs being much higher than the likely actual cost or the governments fixed rates, the parliaments findings revealed. We have seen large gaps between the estimated costs and real costs, as well as inadequately accounted expenses. But this is nothing new. It happens every year, said MP Daw Khaing Mar Htay from Hlaing Township, expressing disappointment at departments continuation of old bad habits. According to the parliaments findings, the Department of Fisheries asked for travel expenses for 11 staff, though the department only has 10 employees. Additionally, to pay for removal of unwanted bushes, the Rural Development Department asked for 1.2 million kyats per mile ($857) in Taik Kyi Townshipmore than twice the normal rate. In other townships, clearing bushes costs 500,000 kyats per mile ($357). The above-mentioned cases are minor, however, compared to the Department of Road Managements 107.958-million-kyat ($0.07-million) proposed spending on fuel for officials vehicles. The parliament cut the request by more than half after discovering that the departments request exceeded the permitted amount. What angered parliamentarians most was that the department was fully aware that the request was excessive, as it had made similarly excessive fuel budget requests in previous years. Budgets come from taxpayers money. It is not a buffet [for the departments] to enjoy, MP U Nay Phone Latt of Thingangyun Township said during the parliamentary debate on June 5. Another controversy surrounded a spending proposal submitted by the Department of Road Management to fund the construction of a nine-story regional directors office in Dagon Township, equipped with elevators. The request prompted a backlash from lawmakers. During last years budget debate, the parliament rejected the plan for a nine-story building, approved only six floors and allocating an 888-million-kyat ($630,000) budget. But the department insisted on its original plan and commenced expansion work without informing the parliament, which must now allocate further funds to it, according to MP Daw Kyi Pyar of Kyauktada Township, who is a member of the Public Accounts Committee. This act ignored parliaments decision and used public funds irresponsibly. Because of that, a total of 1.7 billion kyats has to be spent on just one office building, she said. During the budget debate, MPs also criticized planned spending to repair or expand roads that are still in good condition, while many other urgent public needs were yet to be fulfilled. Regarding planned spending by YCDCs Roads and Bridges Department, MP Daw Thet Har Nwe Win of Thaketa Township said she had discovered that some townships roads were still in good condition, but the department had asked that the roads be raised or widened to allow parking. The MP suggested that instead of elevating the roads as a solution for flooding, upgrading the drainage system of the townships should be the priority. MP U Tint Lwin, who chairs the Public Accounts Committee, told The Irrawaddy on Friday that most departments this year had largely ignored public needs in drafting their expensesjust as they had in previous years budget proposals. The 41 billion kyats worth of spending rejected by parliament has been reallocated to neglected township development projects requested by the lawmakers, he said. The budget requests for the 2020-21 fiscal year will be forwarded to the Finance Commission chaired by the Union President. After the commissions review of the proposals, they will be sent back to the regional parliament for a final vote. So far, the parliament has approved 920 billion kyats worth of proposed spending. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Health Worker on China Border Tests COVID-19 Positive Eight Cases Opened Over Religious Gatherings for Violating COVID-19 Restrictions: Govt VIB set core business targets with steady growth in 2020 Pre-tax profit to reach $195.65 million, total assets up 20 per cent The Board of Directors (BoD) will be submitting its 2020 business plan to the AGM. Accordingly, the banks total assets is expected to surpass VND220 trillion ($9.57 billion), up 20 per cent compared to 2019. Its outstanding loan balance is expected to jump 24 per cent (depending on the approval of the central bank [SBV]). Deposits, including deposits from customers and valued papers issued, will also be up 19 per cent. Under the impact of COVID-19 on business performance, the bank expects profit of at least VND4.5 trillion ($195.65 million). Return on equity ratio (ROE) is 26 per cent. Listing plans on Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HSX) A point worth noting in the AGM document is that VIB plans to list on the HSX this year to bolster exposure among investors, which is good news for investors in 2020. Albeit being one of the most sought-after bank stocks, VIB tickers have not yet made it into the investment portfolios of major institutional investors and investment funds due to it being on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UpCOM). The BoD is authorised to decide the listing time after finalising its charter capital hike by bonus shares. 20 per cent increase to charter capital by bonus shares The BoD will also propose the AGM a 20 per cent charter capital increase by bonus shares in parallel to its 2019 profit distribution plan. Last year, VIB achieved a pre-tax profit of VND4.082 trillion ($177.48 million), with 27 per cent ROE. Total assets reached VND185 trillion ($8 billion), up 33 per cent on-year. Total outstanding loan balance jumped 31 per cent to touch VND132 trillion ($5.74 billion). Deposits from customers and valuable papers amounted to VND140 trillion ($6.1 billion), up 47 per cent. With this business result, the BoD proposes the AGM to approve a 20 per cent bonus share allocation, using 2019 profit and funds. Top-quality retail bank In the past three years, VIB has become a retail bank with a growth rate at the top of the banking industry with good asset quality. The proportion of retail banking outstanding balance to total outstanding loan balance increased from 30 to 82 per cent. Auto loan, mortgage, bancassurance and credit card (key products of VIB) are all leading in growth rate. MyVIB has been rated by The Asset magazine as Digital Bank of the Year and Best Retail Digital Banking Experience in Vietnam for the fourth consecutive year. VIB has held the No.1 position in the auto loan market for many years. 2019 was also a remarkable year of VIB, with the bank growing from the third to the top position in bancassurance business in Vietnam. Credit cards with outstanding features for the first time in Vietnam have also marked record card growth and card spending. VIB was recognised as the first bank to successfully apply virtual card technology, big data, and AI allowing customers to own credit cards in just a few hours, manage smart cards with the MyVIB mobile application without support from call center or branch. MyVIB has been rated by The Asset magazine as Digital Bank of the Year and Best Retail Digital Banking Experience in Vietnam for the fourth consecutive year. The banks asset quality is strictly managed, with a non-performing loan ratio (NPL) of only 1.7 per cent and no VAMC debt. Capital adequacy ratio (CAR) according to Basel II standard reached 9.8 per cent as of May 31, 2020. Th consumer loan portfolio is mostly secured by propertis. VIB is also well-known as a bank with an excellent operating model, quality, and high efficiency by customers and partners. With the sustainable development of quality and scale, VIB has experienced an average growth rate of 80 per cent in the three years 2017-2019 with ROE of 27 per cent in 2019. Camper fire claims the life of two people in Marshall County Joe Biden's search for a running mate is entering a second round of vetting for a dwindling list of potential vice presidential nominees, with several black women in strong contention. Democrats with knowledge of the process said Biden's search committee has narrowed the choices to as few as six serious contenders after initial interviews. Those still in contention include Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kamala Harris of California, as well as Susan Rice, who served as President Barack Obama's national security adviser. The process remains somewhat fluid, according to those with knowledge, and additional candidates may still be asked to submit to the extensive document review process now underway for top contenders. Those familiar with Biden's search spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the process. Choices from the Senate: Joe Biden is said to have bonded with Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts senator, recently and has a long personal relationship with Kamala Harris, the California senator, who was a friend of his late son Beau Inside or outside the beltway: Susan Rice was Barack Obama's last national security advisor and a lightning rod for Republicans but would bring foreign police experience while Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has exploded into a national profile in the wake of George Floyd protests Growing profile: Rep. Val Demings is the former police chief of Orlando who was one of the House impeachment managers and increasingly a national figure in the wake of George Floyd's death. Biden is also considering Michelle Lujan Grisham, the governor of New Mexico, the sole Latina is on the shortlist. She is also a former House member Biden, who has already said he will pick a woman as his running mate, is facing increased calls from Democrats to put a woman of color on the ticket - both because of the outsize role that black voters played in Biden's road to the nomination and because of the reckoning over racism and inequality roiling the nation following the death of George Floyd. The black Minneapolis man died after a white police officer pressed his knee on his neck for several minutes, an episode that was captured on video. Terry McAuliffe, the former Virginia governor and former Democratic National Committee chairman, said that while Biden's choice was likely to be 'all about personal chemistry,' it would be 'exciting for the party' to have a black woman on a major party presidential ticket for the first time. The campaign's short list includes several black women, including Harris and Rice. Advisers have also looked closely at Florida Rep. Val Demings and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, both of whom are black, and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Latina. Biden's vetting committee had conversations with a larger group of women earlier this spring; those continuing on in the process have been asked to turn over financial records, past writings and other documentation. Biden has had various public and private interactions with many of the women his vetting committee has considered thus far, but has not yet had any formal one-on-one interviews expressly to discuss the No. 2 spot on the ticket. Those aren't expected for several weeks. Rice, who worked closely with Biden during his time as vice president, has emerged as a favorite among some former Obama administration officials and is personally close to the former president. She has never held elected office but has extensive foreign policy experience, including as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She's also been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration since leaving the White House and considered running for U.S. Senate in Maine. Rice has long been a target of Republicans, including for statements she made after the deadly 2012 attacks on Americans in Benghazi, Libya. Republicans have also accused her of spying on Michael Flynn, Trump's first national security adviser, though records declassified by the Trump administration show no evidence of Rice improperly accessing any information. Harris and Warren have been seen as top contenders for the No. 2 spot since ending their own presidential campaigns. Weeks to go: Joe Biden has said he will have a female running mate but has not committed to a non-white one, despite Democratic calls for the ticket not to be all-white Warren and Biden have forged a surprising bond in recent months and talk regularly about the progressive policy ideas the Massachusetts senator put at the forefront of her campaign. Biden already has adopted her proposed bankruptcy law overhaul. And now, with the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic slowdown elevating the nuts-and-bolts of governing, some Democrats see Warren's policy credentials as an asset to the ticket. A Biden-Warren pairing would mean both Democrats on the ticket are white and in their 70s. Biden is 77, and Warren is 70. Harris is the lone black contender who has won statewide office, notable experience given Biden's emphasis on wanting a partner 'ready to be president.' She and Biden have also demonstrated a comfortable manner with each other in online fundraisers. Harris is an expert voice in discussions of criminal justice, but some black progressives view her background as a prosecutor skeptically. One contender whose standing does appear to have fallen is Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who was a prosecutor years ago in the county that includes Minneapolis. During that period, more than two dozen people - mostly minorities - died during encounters with police. While the people with knowledge of Biden's vetting process did not rule Klobuchar out, she is widely viewed among Democrats with close ties to the Biden campaign as less likely to be tapped given recent events. Editor's Note: With so much market volatility, stay on top of daily news! Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news and expert opinions. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - The gold bullion market is facing a new crisis of faith as one of the world's most prominent mints faces accusations of lacking auditing standards that could support unethical gold. Earlier this week, the Australian Financial Review published a story, citing unnamed sources, that accused the Perth Mint of buying conflict gold from Papua New Guinea (PNG). According to the newspaper's investigation, the mint buys up to A$200 million worth of gold a year from companies that buy gold from artisanal miners through the country. The mint argued that it does adhere to responsibility guidelines. According to the article, because of weak auditing measures, the mint doesn't know the full history of the supply chain for the gold it is buying. The article's unnamed sources said that the Perth Mint pays only "lip service" to the auditing process as it deals with the company's selling PNG artisanal gold. The accusations come as the Perth Mint promotes itself as an ethical source for gold. At the start of the year, the Perth Mint announced that it was developing an ethical gold supply chain that would use technology to track gold from the mine to retailers. "As the world's largest refiner of newly mined gold and a fully integrated precious metals enterprise, the Perth Mint has long been at the forefront of setting the highest possible ethical standards across all its operations," the Perth Mint said in a press release in February. The Perth Mint is also pushing back against the accusations. In an emailed statement to Kitco News, the mint said that it adheres to the highest ethical standards and is committed to boycotting conflict gold and other minerals. "We take Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting very seriously and are vigilant in our assessments of the companies from which we source gold and other metals for processing," Richard Hayes, chief executive officer of the Perth Mint, said in the statement. "We remain confident that we comply fully with all regulatory requirements and the responsible gold guidelines set out by the global gold industry's governing bodies." In light of the accusations, the mint said that it will be starting an independent third-party review of its audit processes. "The review will also assess our arrangements with licensed counterparties which may deal with Artisanal Small-scale Mining (ASM)," the mint said. In light of the allegations, the London Bullion Market Association has said that it will be reviewing the Perth Mint's gold purchases. "We take very seriously the recent allegations relating to the Perth Mint. LBMA has a robust incident review process which has been invoked in response to this matter and we will provide an update once that has concluded," the LBMA said in an email to Kitco News. The LBMA has set stringent guidelines for ethical gold, noting: "For higher-risk categories, an enhanced due diligence should be performed. The refiners should revisit the due diligence performed within a reasonable time frame, which should be defined in the internal procedure for non-high-risk and high-risk supply chain." Artisanal mining in Papua New Guinea According to national stats, Papua New Guinea has about 60,000 artisanal miners throughout the country who produce about four metric tons of gold a year. However, small-scale gold mining provides much-needed income at the village level in PNG, and entire communities often depend on it for their livelihood. The production ranges from full-time workers to family-run operations to supplement their farming income. According to a 2001 report, of the 60,000 people working as artisanal miners, 20% are women and 30% are children less than 16 years old. A significant issue with artisanal mining in PNG and worldwide is the use of mercury in the production process. The workers use mercury to bind to the gold and then burn off the metal. The practice is extremely hazardous for the environment and can cause significant health problems for the miners, who inhale the toxic mercury fumes. "The use of mercury has become popular among small-scale miners because amalgamation is known to efficiently extract fine gold particles from concentrates obtained by panning or sluicing operations," according to one undated PNG government report. "The most dangerous practice adopted by the miners is the gold recovery process from the amalgams. Mercury pollution has been recognized as the most disastrous aspect of the small-scale gold mining industry around the world." Although the use of mercury is a significant hazard for the environment, the LBMA doesn't preclude this gold production from its latest Responsible Sourcing Guidelines. "LBMA recognizes that mercury is used mainly by artisanal miners and small-scale mines and do not, therefore, ban such supply chains," the LBMA said in Responsible Gold Guidance Version 8. "LBMA requires refiners who work with such artisanal supply chains to assist them in establishing process to use mercury in a safe manner in order to limit negative impacts on environment and health and safety issues and to find alternative solution to mercury." * Anti-racism protests turn attention to statues * Effigies of some of Europe's empire builders are toppled * Some leaders, academics disagree with the approach * They say history, and lessons from it, should not be wiped out * Confederate memorials in United States also back in focus By Guy Faulconbridge LONDON, June 12 (Reuters) - Once feted as pioneers, some of the architects of Europe's empire building now face a backlash: anti-racism protesters are demanding their legacies be revisited and their often imposing statues be torn down and consigned to the trash heap of history. From Cecil Rhodes in England and Captain James Cook in Australia to Christopher Columbus in the United States and King Leopold II in Belgium, the imperialists are under attack, sometimes from the descendants of those they once colonised. The cause? A sweeping global reassessment of history and racism triggered by the May 25 death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes while detaining him. "Slavery is still very real history for black people - we are still living with the consequences of it, with a racial hierarchy that puts black people at the bottom," said Mary Ononokpono, who is doing a PhD at the University of Cambridge on the British-Biafran slave trade. "Britain, Europe and America - and Africa - have to confront their history," said Ononokpono. "We urgently need to have a long-overdue and honest discussion about the history of slavery and its legacy of impoverishment." Protesters pulled down a statue of Edward Colston, a 17th Century slave trader, in the English city of Bristol on Sunday and dumped it in the harbour. It has been retrieved and will be placed in a museum. Such is the anger that the movement has broadened to target colonialists, monarchs and explorers, who in some cases destroyed or enslaved local populations across the world in the European scramble for empire and treasure. It has also reignited debate in the United States over symbols associated with the South's pro-slavery Confederacy. Story continues Opponents of the symbols, including monuments, memorials and the Confederate flag, consider them emblems of slavery, racism and U.S. xenophobia. Supporters say they represent the Souths heritage and culture, and serve as a memorial to Confederate casualties during the 1861-65 Civil War. SINS OF THE PAST Statues have long been toppled as the currents of history shift and empires rise and fall. Just days after the American Declaration of Independence in 1776, revolutionaries felled a statue of George III. During the French Revolution, Louis XV was torn down. Josef Stalin fell in Budapest in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution. Vladimir Lenin was toppled as first the Berlin Wall and then the Soviet Union itself crumbled. 'Iron Felix' Dzerzhinsky, who established what became the KGB, was pulled down in 1991 outside KGB headquarters in Moscow. In Baghdad, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's statue was felled after the invasion in 2003, with the help of American troops. Moscow even has a cemetery for fallen statues: a museum littered with the crumbling heroes of a fallen superpower. While revolutions may usher in sharp changes in historical perspective, rarely has one man's death triggered so much debate about racism and the sins of the past - which many black people feel have yet to be atoned for. Some find the destruction of statues troubling. Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott condemned demands to take down a statue of Rhodes at Oxford University. "Pulling down statues of past heroes is cultural vandalism of the worst sort," Abbott, a Rhodes Scholar, told the Australian Financial Review. "We should learn from their strengths and their weaknesses but we should never imagine that we have the last word in wisdom and insight." In Africa, too, there is caution. Anthony Bouadi, 30, a tour guide at Cape Coast Castle in Ghana, where slaves were once held in windowless dungeons before being sent across the Atlantic, said it was wrong to tear down statues. "They should have a specific museum for those monuments and statues - a museum that portrays the history of slave-owners," Bouadi said. "The history of the transatlantic slave trade is very cruel, it's not a good thing. However, we have to remember what happened in the past so we don't repeat what happened." NOT EVERYONE WANTS CHANGE In the United States, the modern movement to remove Confederate memorials began with the 2015 murder of nine black worshippers at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, by a white supremacist. Outrage over the massacre prompted South Carolina's governor to sign a bill enabling the removal of the Confederate flag from the State House grounds, and, according to a Southern Poverty Law Center estimate, led to the removal of more than 100 other Confederate symbols. But resistance, both emotional and institutional, has been fierce. The planned removal of two Confederate statues in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017 sparked a deadly white supremacist protest in that city. On Monday, a Virginia judge temporarily blocked Governor Ralph Northam from taking down a Confederate monument in Richmond. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected any proposal to rename U.S. military bases that are named for Confederate leaders. EUROPE'S ORIGINAL SIN? In Britain, a statue of wartime leader Winston Churchill was scrawled with the words "was a racist" and obscene language during an anti-racist protest in central London on Sunday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was "absurd and shameful" that a Churchill statue should be at risk of attack, and that we should not "try to edit or censor our past." Italian explorer and colonialist Christopher Columbus was pulled down in Virginia on Tuesday. In the northeastern French town of Lille, outrage over Floyds death has brought new energy to a campaign to remove a statue of General Louis Faidherbe, who played a role in the colonialisation of Algeria in the 1840s and was governor of Senegal under Napoleon III. "He ruled Senegal through terror, burning villages and massacring people, yet despite that he continues to be glorified in Lille," said Nicolas Butor, an activist for Survie, which fights neocolonialism in France. "We want the Faidherbe statue removed from public space. We need to stop glorifying racist colonial figures," Butor said. London has announced a review of street names and statues, many of which reflect the rapid expansion of London's wealth and power at the height of Britain's empire under Queen Victoria. "Murderer" and "racist" were scrawled on a statue of Victoria, who reigned from 1837-1901, in the English city of Leeds. So what is the solution? Banksy, the street artist who hails from Bristol, had one suggestion for how to bridge the divide over the statue of Colston. "We drag him out the water, put him back on the plinth, tie cable round his neck and commission some life-size bronze statues of protesters in the act of pulling him down. Everyone happy. A famous day commemorated." (Additional reporting by Geert de Clercq and Richard Lough in Paris, Alessandra Prentice in Dakar, Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels and Peter Szekely and Leela de Kretser in New York; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Mike Collett-White) Gaurav Bhatia is a man who begets no introduction. His name, earlier synonymous with the world of art and culture, by his position as former MD of Sothebys India, is now an epitome of luxury living with Maison, a luxury & lifestyle advisory cell, launched earlier this year. So how can his home be any different! If one had to start describing the apartment in an upscale high rise in Mumbai, that is Gaurav and his wife Pratimas home, spectacular is the word one would begin with. Speaking about his abode, the proud owner, Gaurav says with love, India is an explosion of art and design that straddles its rich past and present beautifully. We are complete Indophiles and our home is really a metaphor of that. In his words, Our home is a slow collection built over two decades with details even we forget. It captures the patina of time in our lives. It is self-designed, a mix of spontaneous, studied, curious, playful and accidental. It is our passion of collecting and the inherent beauty in each object that perhaps creates what is quite an interesting juxtaposition. Amidst everything else, Gaurav is all praises about his fashion-designer and luxury consultant wife, Pratimas say in all this. He says, Pratima has a keen eye, and is quite often the final check. And shes a great editor. Or you wouldnt have space to move. Though every now and then, a few pieces do get smuggled in without her knowledge. Starting with the ante-room of his apartment, it is adorned with the frames of contemporary and modern Indian masters. Right from the striking photograph of Rebirth of Venus, to the Goan bench on an Afghan tribal rug, Tamil Nadu urns filled with Birds of Paradise and old Kerala Urlis brimming with Raat ki Rani! This feast of the senses is overpowering, yet stabilizing for anyone who walks into their home. Pieces such as a 19th0century Indo-Dutch colonial sideboard, an early-19th century brass-inlaid rosewood cabinet, a mid-century Burma teak dining table loaded with splendid ware atop hand-embroidered linens by Ranjit Ahuja, a Marc Newson sculpted Champagne bottle, a group of Chandigarh chairs by Pierre Jeanneret or the ultra-contemporary works by Ayesha Sultana! All this and more come together in an interesting juxtapose that creates the home-sweet-home of the Bhatias. The fragrance of tuberose and other flowers invades your senses just as you step in. Even as you are busy taking in the huge silverworks and art, shimmering in the candlelight, the decor invites you onto a wistful odyssey, with a lot of tastefully-acquired bric-a-brac and Persian carpets. The long list of beautiful knick-knack that is artistically distributed across the space is reminiscent of oriental as well as contemporary aesthetic. The beauty and splendor of the interiors is matched only by the inimitable scheme of colours that each of the pieces contributes to! One thing that is straightaway evident is the fact that Gaurav and Pratima make for one well-travelled couple, who love to bring back a piece, a souvenir of the destination that they visit, be it Africa, Turkey, Morocco, France or China. You will find a bit of different worlds within the world, in every corner of their splendid home space. Gauravs art collection boasts of at least a hundred pieces, some of which is placed across the living room, amidst the colonial furniture collection sourced from such iconic names as Mahendra Doshi, Farooq Issa and Laura Hamilton. The place can be called a cultural fusion inside a baroque theatre, with its carefully-curated pieces that carry the hallmark of the old world with new. Curtains, from Christian Lacroix and Maxmilano Modesti, give the home French chateau presence. Posh sofas furnished by Peter DAscoli and Shyam Ahuja are embellished with hand-embroidered pillows from Kashmir and silk cushions in Uzbek Ikat. The beautiful Jamawar Shawls strewn across the sofas remind of a warm winter evening somewhere in the mountains! However, we must not forget, it is a home, after all, not a museum or a gallery and Gaurav & Pratima intended it to be seen that way. Gaurav explains how they both wanted to mix it all up, not giving it the gallery like importance that collectors today give their art. It is a home, not a gallery after all. And everything must co-exist.Perhaps, that is why, amidst the plethora of rich and expensive art collection, you would also find a flea-market sketch from Paris and two oils, memories of their two sons toddler years! At the end of this exploration of Mr. and Mrs. Bhatias lovely home, Gauravs parting shot leaves a tremendous respect in the observers eyes, as he says, Have a deep reverence for art, always be curious and encourage the future generation to collect. Art opens your mind in a way little else can. Disclaimer: This is a company press release. No HT journalist was involved in the creation of this content. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON SPRINGFIELD The incoming president of Western New England University and the first to take the position with the institution holding university status will be introduced Monday. A press conference on the University Commons will be held at 11 a.m. Board of trustees chair Kenneth Rickson will introduce the individual to replace Anthony S. Caprio, who is retiring after 24 years. Caprio is the longest-serving president in the history of the institution. His tenure was marked by the 2011 ascent of Western New England from college to university status. The university in Springfield has maintained confidentiality of its candidates identities, but administrators reported a brisk level of interest, and a varied list of candidates, during the nationwide search. Caprio announced his retirement in November. The new president will be the sixth for an institution whose history dates back 101 years, and which was known as Western New England College from 1951 to 2011. The Western New England campus was shut down by the coronavirus pandemic in March, but WNEU has announced plans to reopen campus in the fall, with strict social distancing and related safety guidelines. The news conference on Monday will be held in accordance with social distancing guidelines offered by local, state, and federal health officials. Attendees are asked to wear a mask and remain six feet from others whenever feasible. Western Massachusetts will greet three new university presidents this year. Sandra Doran will begin her tenure at Bay Path University in Longmeadow at the end of June. Roy Saigo will serve as interim president of Westfield State University for the 2020-21 academic year. Saigos one-year service will allow time for the state university to pick a permanent successor. Saigo will not be a candidate for that job. Ramon Torrecilha announced in January that he would step down at Westfield State in August. Bay Path president Carol Leary will retire at the end of June. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12 2020 State-owned oil giant Pertamina is scouting for new partners to develop multibillion dollar oil refineries in Indonesia after its previous partners, from Saudi Aramco to Omans Overseas Oil and Gas LLC (OOG), pulled out. Pertamina recently signed deals with Taiwanese petrochemical giant CPC and a South Korean consortium to develop the Balongan and Tuban refineries respectively. It is eyeing other companies from various countries for other refineries, according to company spokesperson Fajriyah Usman. The refineries, once completed, are expected to double Indonesias fuel output, enabling Pertamina to meet the countrys growing transportation fuel demand without raising fuel imports, a major contributor to the nations trade deficit. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Continuing with his talks with experts ranging from economy to politics, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on June 12, spoke with former United States diplomat Nicholas Burns and delved on raging topics such as changing nature of India-US relations, and the custodial death of African American George Floyd. Burns dubbed Floyds death at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis horrific and recalled how Martin Luther King Junior fought peaceful and non-violent battles just like Mahatma Gandhi. He then went on to point out that despite the last US President Barack Obama being an African American, racism is resurging in the country. Commenting on the Black Lives Matter protests, he said, Millions of Americans are protesting peacefully as is our right. And yet, the President (Donald Trump) treats them like terrorists. Burns also said, At the core, what kind of nation are we? We are an immigrant nation, a tolerant nation. They discussed the open DNA and tolerance that the two greatest democracies in the world were known for. Rahul Gandhi also pointed out about the changing dynamics of the India-US relationship, which was once very broad, but now revolves mainly around defence. In the video chat with Burns, Rahul said, I think why our (India and US) partnership works is because we are tolerant systems. You mentioned you are an immigrant nation. We are a very tolerant nation. Our DNA is supposed to be tolerant. But the surprising thing is that the open DNA has sort of disappeared. I don't see that level of tolerance that I used to see in US and India. Notably, the Gandhi scion has been holding discussions with experts coming from varied disciplines and backgrounds since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease in India. Prior to this, he has interacted with former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee, epidemiologist Johann Giesceke, and industrialist Rajiv Bajaj. Joanna Hoffman, once a close advisor to the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs criticized Facebook for not being held accountable for some of the harmful effects the social networking platform has had on society, CNBC reported. As I look at Facebook, for example, I keep thinking are they really that ignorant or is this motivated by something darker than what appears? she said on a panel with former colleagues of Apples offshoot technology company General Magic. While Hoffman said she had enormous respect for what Facebook had achieved she noted that certain aspects of the social media giant were destroying the very fabric of human relationships and peddling in an addictive drug called anger. You know its just like tobacco, its no different than the opioids, she added. We know anger is addictive, we know we can attract people to our platform and get engagement if we get them p----d off enough. So therefore what, we should capitalize on that each and every time? Hoffman also said that leadership is extremely important, that individuals make a huge difference for the company. However, she added, we must admit that leaders are people and therefore they will have flaws. The question is, how flawed, how ignorant and how devious? she asked. According to her, today there are many leaders who were genius in what theyve accomplished and what they have done at a very young age but added that she found they were remarkably ignorant on what they are sowing in the world. While working with Jobs, Hoffman was one of the few who could challenge Apple co-founder. The image of Hoffman performed by Kate Winslet in the 2015 movie Steve Jobs reinforced this image of her as Jobs right-hand woman. Now she works at the Spanish agency of artificial intelligence Sherpa. New Delhi, June 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a telephonic conversation with Tanzanian President Dr John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, during which he thanked the latter for the assistance provided for the evacuation of Indian citizens in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. A PMO release said the Prime Minister "warmly recalled his July 2016 visit to Dar-es-Salaam and stressed on the importance that India attaches to its traditionally friendly ties with Tanzania". The Prime Minister reiterated India's commitment to partnering Tanzania in its development journey, as per the aspirations and needs of the Tanzanian government and people. PM Narendra Modi to Interact With All Chief Ministers via Video Conference on June 16-17 to Discuss Unlock 1.0 and COVID-19 Situation. "The Prime Minister thanked President Dr Magufuli for the assistance provided by the Tanzanian authorities for the evacuation of Indian citizens from Tanzania in the wake of COVID-19," the release said. Had a good talk with President @MagufuliJP on all aspects of our friendly relations with Tanzania. Also thanked him for taking care of Indian community in Tanzania during the COVID-19 crisis. India is committed to remain a reliable partner for Tanzania's development journey. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2020 The two leaders reviewed the overall bilateral relationship and "expressed satisfaction at the growing development partnership, educational linkages, and trade and investment flows between India and Tanzania, and discussed possibilities of further accelerating these trends". Modi conveyed his best wishes to Magufuli and the people of Tanzania for the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in Tanzania later this year, the release said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Click here to read the full article. Larry Hogan, the Republican governor of Maryland, was on his own. It was early April and COVID-19 infections were spiking. Hogan needed a dramatic increase in testing capacity if his state had any hope of tracking and slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus before it swamped the hospitals and led to thousands of unnecessary deaths. Hogan knew that the federal government could marshal the nations manufacturing power to speed up the production of test kits, swabs, reagents, and other diagnostic materials. Instead, the Trump administration had downplayed the coronavirus outbreak, broken one pledge after another about the testing availability, and left it to the states to find tests, personal protective equipment, and ventilators. It was a nightmare scenario. More from Rolling Stone We have 50 states 55 including all the territories competing with one another, and with the federal government, and with other states around the world over very limited resources in a crazy market on stuff that weve never had to buy before and that we never should have been buying, Hogan tells Rolling Stone. But we had to do it because there was no alternative. Hogan, who is serving his second term as Marylands governor, is a rare specimen in American politics today: a high-profile Republican who is not afraid to criticize or rebuke President Trump and his administration. When Trump vowed to reopen the country by Easter, Hogan said that doing so would be very harmful and that Maryland would obviously not do that. In late March, he called Trumps claim that testing was widely available just not true. He urged the president to defer to the scientists on his coronavirus task force and stop spreading harmful nonsense. [Americans] listen when the governor holds a press conference, and they certainly pay attention when the president of the United States is standing there giving a press conference about something as serious as this worldwide pandemic, he said in April. When misinformation comes out or you just say something that pops in your head, it does send a wrong message. Story continues In the absence of federal leadership, Hogan scrambled to come up with a creative solution to the testing crisis. With the help of his wife, Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan, who is Korean-American, the Hogan administration found a Korean manufacturer and cut a deal to buy a bulk supply of materials that would allow the state to run half a million COVID-19 tests. On April 18th, the Hogans, wearing surgical masks, greeted a Korean Air flight at Baltimore-Washington International Airport that had delivered their tests from the other side of the world. Hogan, who chairs the National Governors Association, has seen his popularity soar during the pandemic. A recent Washington Post poll ranked him as the most popular governor in America right now. His name briefly surfaced as a possible challenger to Trump in 2020, and while he declined to run, he is held up as a possible presidential candidate if the Republican Party ever returns to some semblance of sanity. Hogan first spoke with Rolling Stone before the killing of George Floyd and subsequent nationwide protests; he responded by email to a follow-up question about the demonstrations and the pandemic. Here, again, Hogan broke with Trump in his reaction. While the Trump administration tear-gassed and assaulted peaceful protesters outside the White House in early June, Hogan said he was incredibly proud of peaceful Baltimore protesters, both for their message and methods. It feels like the definition of what it means to be a governor has expanded and changed because of this crisis. Youve become a supply-chain expert. Theres been international diplomacy. How have you re-imagined or come to think of this role as the governor given what this crisis has required of you? All of the governors, really, out of necessity weve stepped up and been on the front lines of this crisis and dealt with things that I dont think any of us ever imagined having to deal with. For me, not only as the governor of Maryland, but as the chairman of the National Governors Association, and trying to deal with this crisis and work with my colleagues all across the country, were dealing with things we never, ever imagined that governors would have to deal with. Its obviously the most challenging thing that I think any governor in America has ever had to deal with and something that most of us would never have expected to have to deal with. Theres this tension that every governor, county official, and local official is dealing with right now and it is this tension between keeping your people safe and healthy and trying to get the economy going again. Tell me how you think about striking that balance. Do you think that those two things should not be at odds with each other? Our most important responsibility as governors is to keep our citizens safe and protect the lives and the safety of the people in our states and thats what weve been really focused on. But at the same time, we have this incredible economic crisis that its impacting people all across our states and across the country that weve also these twin crises that were dealing with at the same time and we have been getting the best advice we possibly can from the smartest scientists and doctors and public health officials in the world that are here in our state of Maryland. Im a lifelong small business owner who ran for governor because I wanted to help grow small businesses and help put people to work and grow our economy. And so theyre not completely at odds with one another. We want to make sure that were doing things in a safe manner and that were protecting the public health, but we also nobody wants to continue to harm the economy, with so many millions of people suffering economically and weve got to figure out a way to safely get back to some normalcy in our lives while still keeping people safe. There is no right or wrong answer and everybodys just grappling with How do you try to do both those things? Put people back to work, not have our economy like the Great Depression, and how do you keep people from dying? Its a terrible choice. Do you think its a zero-sum choice in that if you try to say, We need to keep restrictions in place, social distancing, etc., that necessarily the economy is going to suffer. If the economy is opened up in certain ways, that peoples health is endangered as well? Or is there some kind of way to have both? I think we put together what we call Marylands Roadmap to Recovery, which took into account the recommendations from Anthony Fauci and the White House plan for recovery. We put together one for the National Governors Association, which was the guidelines for Governors and States to consider. On my task force is a doctor from Johns Hopkins, Tom Inglesby, who wrote the book for Johns Hopkins and Bloomberg School of Public Health on how to handle it safely and re-open safely. We have on there the former FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, who wrote the book for AEI on how to open safely. Weve taken all those things into account, and put together a plan that we believe does accomplish those things. That helps us slowly, safely, cautiously, gradually, and effectively reopen our economies while keeping people safe. You never know if youve got it right until were going about this one step at a time. Thats the goal, I think, that were shooting to accomplish. You have been one of the few members of your political party to at times I feel like gently, constructively, try to nudge our president and the administration maybe in a more sort of factual direction. You had an appearance on Face the Nation; youve made some comments before. Why did you feel the need to do that? Im the chairman of the nations governors, and I represent all of the governors across America, the Democrats and the Republicans. Im also someone who has the ability, the entire time Ive been governor and the whole entire time that Trump has been president, Ive never been afraid to speak up and say exactly what I think. And maybe Im one of the few Republican governors who does that, but I have gone out of my way to try to be as constructive and direct as possible. Ive been out there trying to push to make sure that the states are getting the things that they need, and that were getting facts out there. Do you feel like its helped? I think we have pushed on certain things, and we have had some successes. Im not completely satisfied that we accomplished everything we set out to do, but look, governors have stepped up in a way that they never have before. Im proud of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and it was a unique period in time where the federal government left it up to the states in many ways, and said to a certain extent, Youre on your own, and go out and get it done. And thats what weve been trying to do. If there were one thing the federal government could do to help the states that are already at full capacity adapting, dealing, planning, responding, what would that one thing be? The federal government can do certain things better than the states and should have more of a role. On testing, on PPE, maybe even on contract tracing all these kind of building blocks that we need to get our economy back on track. Those are things that we have been doing at the state level, but where the federal government could have played and can still play more of a role. And then lastly, they have done some things which have been very helpful, both the administration and the Congress with respect to stimulating the economy, but we still need more help. And theres a need for another, fourth stimulus package, particularly that provides some assistance to the state and local governments that are on the front lines and our services are more in demand than ever. And our revenues are going to be down by 25 or 30%, and weve got to try to help people that really need the help. You looked all the way to South Korea to get test kits. Should you have to go that far and fill that kind of role? The answer to that is no. We should not have had to do that, but in my case we got half a million test kits from South Korea when there was almost none available in the country at that time. But other states, and weve also been sourcing PPE and masks and gloves and gowns and all of those things you mentioned all over the world and so has every other governor. We had to buy it, we had to go do it because there was no alternative; peoples lives were at stake. How have you and your administration thought about the kinds of things that need to be put in place to build up the resilience and safeguards and awareness for the next pandemic that comes along. Have you given any thought to what that might look like? All of the governors and the federal government need to do an after-action report and think about all the things that went wrong at every level of government. Ive been governor for five and a half years or so, and our emergency management teams and health teams do these pandemic table-top exercises and we go through these scenarios. But the hospital systems were not ready, the federal government wasnt ready, the states werent ready, and everybody should have been. I think we have to be prepared next time, and it may be the next wave of this [virus]. It may not even be waiting until the next one. But weve got to build resilience, and weve got to be able to deal with this at the federal level. It not only requires an investment of an enormous amount of money, but its got to have much more planning and actual stockpiles so that were not all scraping around at the last minute desperately trying to find [these supplies]. It was just absurd that none of these basic things like personal protective equipment were available anywhere in America. Were the greatest country on Earth. Is there something that you think could be put in place, a hole that youve identified somewhere in the landscape that could really help us get up to speed and ready for the next wave if not the next pandemic? The main thing weve got to do is just listen to these scientists and the experts that we have in place. Many of the top federal health institutions are here in my state of Maryland. Anthony Fauci and all these folks had been talking about this for a long time and been doing these plans and these exercises and warning about what might happen. Its just that no one was listening. The president was talking about disbanding the coronavirus task force at the White House, which I think he changed his mind on. Thatll be the last thing we need. The battles not over. This thing is far from over, and I think weve got to get all the smartest people in every agency in the federal government and all the governors and all the private-sector knowledge we can to figure out how we stop this current hidden enemy. And how do we stop the next one? How do you and your administration try to keep people focused on staying safe and taking proper precautions when many also feel the need to join the recent racial justice demonstrations? [Ed. note: This question was sent as a follow-up. Hogan responded via a spokeswoman over email.] I fully support the right to protest peacefully, but I would encourage anyone who has participated in protests to get tested for COVID-19. In Maryland, we have more than 100 no-cost, no-appointment testing sites available. While the coronavirus may not be leading the news headlines at this moment, it is still a serious concern and we should all continue to social distance, wear a mask in public places, and closely monitor our health. If you had a chance to give a piece of advice to our commander-in-chief to try to better prepare and grapple with that second wave, what would it be? My best piece of advice would be to listen to the scientists, look at the science, and make the decisions based on that. Stick with the plan and the best advice. Weve got really smart people who have given excellent advice, who have the knowledge, and have the information, and weve just got to listen to them. See where your favorite artists and songs rank on the Rolling Stone Charts. Sign up for Rolling Stones Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. DENVER - Former governor John Hickenlooper's ethics woes have unsettled a Colorado Senate race that Democrats consider one of their best chances of flipping a Republican-held seat, with the quirky brewery owner's reputation taking a hit with voters within days of the state's primary. The two-term governor and former Denver mayor is on the defensive after the Independent Ethics Commission found he violated a state gift ban in 2018 when he accepted a ride in a Maserati limousine at a conference in Turin, Italy, and traveled on a private jet owned by a home builder to Connecticut for the commissioning of the USS Colorado submarine. The commission voted Friday to impose fines of $2,750 on Hickenlooper - $2,200 for the private jet trip and $550 for the limousine ride in Italy. The penalty represents what is believed to be an estimate for each, although the commission said the lack of evidence presented by the two sides made it difficult to figure out the true costs. Earlier this week, Hickenlooper insisted voters would look past the violations. "I've campaigned twice in difficult elections, and it's clear I have a relationship with Coloradans through thick and thin," said the former petroleum geologist during a primary debate Tuesday. "They are going to recognize these as smear attacks." But Hickenlooper's behavior during a remote hearing held by the five-member panel last week overshadowed the ruling itself and injected momentum into the campaign of his primary opponent, former Colorado House speaker Andrew Romanoff. The winner of the June 30 contest will challenge Sen. Cory Gardner (R), considered one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the November election. The U.S. Senate seat is crucial to Democratic hopes of wresting the majority from Republicans, who hold a 53-to-47 advantage but are playing defense in more seats - 23 - including several in Democratic-leaning and swing states. After his short-lived run for president last year, Hickenlooper was considered an ideal Senate recruit for the Democratic Party - a well-known candidate who had won statewide twice and a former small-business owner who opened the first brewpub in Colorado. In his recent ads, Hickenlooper emphasizes how as governor he took the state from 40th in job creation to first. Facing ethics complaints, Hickenlooper, 68, refused to testify at the video conference and only appeared last week after the commission, some of whom he appointed while governor, held him in contempt of a subpoena. His taxpayer-funded attorney, Mark Grueskin, argued in a legal filing in May that the video conferencing format denied the candidate's due process rights to consult in person with counsel and asked for a delay. On Friday, Grueskin asked the commission to purge the contempt charge. The panel refused. With mail ballots arriving this week, the backlash from what one commissioner termed the former governor's "disrespect for the rule of law" is causing some voters to reconsider their preferred candidate. "I thought he was a good governor, and he did good things for the state," said Anne Holton, 72, a retired assistant attorney general and registered Democrat who planned to vote for Hickenlooper. "But if there were more to come out from the ethics commission, and if there were something I just thought 'I can't live with that,' I would vote for Romanoff," added the former state employee. "I always drop my ballot off at the last minute." Hickenlooper's ethics issues burst onto the national stage on June 5 when President Donald Trump tweeted about the commission holding the former governor in contempt saying he, "Got caught big time with his hand in the cookie jar. Should be the end of his Colorado Senate bid. Makes no difference, we already have a GREAT SENATOR." Gardner's unabashed embrace of Trump's policies on immigration and the environment is widely considered a liability in a state where Democrats swept the 2018 midterms, winning the governorship and both houses of the General Assembly. Polls over the past eight months consistently showed Hickenlooper beating the 45-year-old Yuma Republican by double digits in a state Hillary Clinton carried by five percentage points in 2016. "Republicans are going to be tied to the president whether they like it or not," said Jessica Taylor, Senate and governors editor for the Cook Political Report, which rated the race a toss-up. "I think Cory Gardner can run ahead of Trump, but can he run ahead of him enough to win?" she asked, saying Hickenlooper's ethics issues "have given Gardner an opening." Both Hickenlooper and Gardner hit the airwaves with six-figure ad buys recently, with Gardner highlighting how Congress enacted nine of his bills, his effort to bring the U.S. Space Command to Colorado and his work delivering protective equipment to the state during the coronavirus pandemic. There is no mention or image of Trump in the latest ad. Democratic campaign operatives said that regardless of the ethics scandal, they were confident Hickenlooper's widespread name recognition and popularity among voters will ensure that he prevails over Romanoff in the primary, and ultimately, Gardner in the general election. "I don't think this rises to the level of derailing a campaign - it's a storm in a tea cup," said Colm O'Comartun, former executive director of the Democratic Governors Association. "More and more in politics people have already made up their minds, and we are looking at a very small group in the middle who are swing voters." In Colorado, that group isn't so small. Four of every 10 voters are registered unaffiliated and are eligible to cast ballots in the primary. The remaining 60% is divided almost evenly among Democrats and Republicans. The once-purple Centennial State is tilting left, with liberal Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., winning the March 3 presidential primary with 37% of the vote. Like Sanders, Romanoff supports Medicare-for-all and the Green New Deal, making him a favorite among Colorado's growing number of millennials. Hickenlooper favors strengthening the Affordable Care Act and supports a plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Young people are phone banking for Romanoff, calling thousands of voters each week, seeking to boost the momentum provided by the ethics controversy. "Hickenlooper's the first person in history to be held in contempt by the ethics commission and that shows contempt for voters," said Michele Weindling, a regional organizer with the Sunrise Movement, a nonprofit formed to address climate change. "He defied a subpoena to testify because he didn't want us to have answers to his ethics inquiry before the primary." In the first of a series of debates before the primary, the former governor said Tuesday that "a dark money political group" was behind the ethics complaint filed in 2018 by former state Republican House speaker Frank McNulty. In the half-hour forum, Hickenlooper said commissioners absolved him of 95 out of 97 allegations in the document, including flights on company planes owned by friends. The constitutional gifts ban, enacted by voters in 2006, requires officials to report gifts that exceed a token value. Romanoff called on Hickenlooper to drop out of the race, saying that his questionable conduct endangered Democrat's chances of beating Gardner. "He represents a threat we cannot afford," said Romanoff, who lost two statewide races in 2010 and 2014 after he served eight years in the state House from 2000 to 2008. Even though he won the state caucuses and emerged from the state assembly with top billing on the primary ballot, Romanoff trails Hickenlooper in fundraising. Veteran independent pollsters in Colorado questioned if Romanoff could keep the former governor's ethics violations at the forefront for voters dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, economic fallout and the civic unrest after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. "The question is whether Romanoff can get it sufficiently in the political atmosphere," said Floyd Ciruli, director of the Crossley Center for Public Opinion Research at the University of Denver. "It clearly hurt the governor's reputation as being honest - he's always tried to maintain a reputation of being clean," he added. "As a matter of fact, he took a shower once with his clothes on to argue he wasn't going to go negative in campaigns." Republicans, who concede that Gardner's allegiance to Trump endangers his reelection prospects, said that Democrats are nervous about how the ethics commission investigation will play out. They emphasized the panel dropped most of the charges in the complaint because they were outside the one-year statute of limitations, adding the record points to a pattern of improper travel. "The fact that the DSCC sent out one of their top lawyers to basically oversee the Hickenlooper defense is indicative of the concern they've got," said Dick Wadhams, a Republican political consultant and former state party chairman. Republicans argue that despite a reputation for being well-liked, Hickenlooper won reelection to a second term as governor in 2014 by about three percentage points and his initial run for the office in 2010 with 51 percent of the vote in a three-way race. "John Hickenlooper's popularity is an inch deep and a mile wide," said Colorado Republican Party Chairman Ken Buck, who is also a member of Congress. London, June 12 : The UK government is expected to apply much less rigorous European Union (EU) border checks on imports than it initially had planned, after the Brexit transition period finishes at the end of this year, media reports said on Friday. According to the The Financial Times report, Ministers have abandoned plans to introduce full checks after pressure from businesses, the BBC reported. The UK had committed to introduce import controls on EU goods in January. A government source told the BBC that Ministers recognised the impact the virus was having on businesses, and so pragmatism and flexibility on imports made sense - "to help business adjust to the changes" that were now imminent. The UK left the EU at the end of January, but is in a transition period until the end of this year. The government is expected to formally confirm soon it will not ask for an extension to the transition period - despite the coronavirus crisis. However, there will be an about turn, in the short term at least, on the checks carried out on imports. In February, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said import controls were "necessary" to keep the country's borders "safe and secure" and to collect the appropriate taxes. Now a "temporary light-touch regime" is planned at UK ports such as Dover, regardless of whether a deal is done with the EU or not, according to the Financial Times report. The proposal applies only to rules on imports, which the UK will set. Checks on exports to the EU will be determined by Brussels. The new details came after the fourth round of negotiations failed to reach a breakthrough last week. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet the presidents of the European Commission, Council and Parliament remotely on June 15, as negotiations step up to attempt to secure a trade deal with the EU. International farm workers coming to the UK to provide much-needed labour do not need to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival, the government has announced. The rules on self-isolation for seasonal workers are different from those for other travellers to the UK because of the importance of their work. It is estimated that 80,000 agricultural workers are needed this year to help pick and pack British crops. The government has now said that migrant workers will need to prove at UK border control that they are a seasonal agricultural worker. A form will need to be filled out, showing contact details and the address at the farm where they will work and live. These details must be provided at border control. Workers will only be allowed to leave the farm where they are staying and working in 'exceptional circumstances'. If the workers do not live on the farm, they will not be able to work and will have to self-isolate on arrival, the government said in their advice. During their first 14 days in the UK, agricultural workers can work on the farm but they must avoid contact with others and follow social distancing rules. Leaving the farm is only permitted for reasons such as urgent medical assistance, and essentials - like food and medicines - which cannot be delivered. Within 2 hours of workers arriving at the farm, farmers have been told to give 'clear instructions' about their working and living arrangements, and industry guidance on social distancing. "You should ask workers to give written confirmation that they have received and understood this information," the government explained. "For the first 14 days, you should put workers into groups and strictly limit contact with others outside of those groups." It added: "The size of these groups will depend on the practicalities of self-isolating groups of workers on your farm should they subsequently develop disease. "The group should be made up of workers arriving on the farm within 24 hours of each other." Sydney broadcaster Ray Hadley has been accused of "extraordinary attempts" to influence potential witnesses in court proceedings where his former producer has accused him of more than 1000 incidents of bullying. Chris Bowen, who worked on Hadley's 2GB radio morning show as a producer for more than a decade, sued him in the NSW District Court last year alleging intentional infliction of mental harm which led to psychiatric injury. Broadcaster Ray Hadley at 2GB's Sydney studios. Credit:Peter Rae On Friday, during a preliminary hearing, Mr Bowen's barrister Shaun McCarthy said Hadley had been "manoeuvering ... behind the scenes" after the name of a potential witness, 2GB employee Luke Bona, was mentioned in court and reported in the media. Those manoeuvres included sending a message to Mr Bona which said he "strongly supported" him in the past and using an intermediary to offer his son a job, Mr McCarthy said. Hadley was accused in court of calling Mr Bona a "lazy black c---". Good Morning Britain suffered a bizarre glitch on Friday when a black screen suddenly appeared with the words 'Priti Commons Ulay Romy'. Weather presenter Alex Beresford was forecasting from his home along with his dog Peaches at the time of the malfunction. He was saying: 'Weather-wise, not looking the best this weekend, I have to say. Confused: Weather presenter Alex Beresford had been discussing the weekend's forecast on Good Morning Britain when a glitch happened 'It's going to be a little bit changeable, still quite warm but there is a risk of some thundery showers. Let's take a look.' But as the screen tried cut to a weather map, instead a song briefly started playing and a black screen appeared. Then in white lettering, the words 'Priti Commons Ulay Romy' were displayed across the screen. The bizarre words remained for a few seconds in silence as producers rushed to fix the glitch. Bizarre: The breakfast show suffered an unusual glitch as the words 'Priti Commons Ulay Romy' appeared on screen Awkward: The 39-year-old looked baffled after the black screen appeared and remained silent when the screen cut back to him Laughing it off: Alex joked, 'Not sure that was supposed to happen' when he reappeared on screen Alex then reappeared on the screen but seemed clueless as to what to say as he sat there looking confused. Then, seemingly prompted behind the scenes, he laughed and said: 'Not sure that was supposed to happen.' Alex made the headlines earlier this week when he spoke candidly about his personal experience with racism, as he insists the problems in the US and UK are 'similar'. The 39-year-old weather presenter penned an impassioned essay for The Sun, in which he shared his own thoughts on George Floyd's killing in police custody, which has sparked worldwide protests since late last month. Similarities: Alex has recently spoken candidly about his personal experience with racism, as he insists the problems in the US and UK are 'similar'. Pictured in 2019 'There is a perception that racism which results in police brutality is "not as bad here as it is over there",' Alex wrote. 'This perception is wrong, there are many similarities. Systemic racism has been proven to exist in these institutions.' Going on to state that the police have been 'proven to use excessive force disproportionately with people of colour', the Bristol native also said that things wouldn't unlikely improve until lawmen stopped 'stop policing stereotypes'. In sharing his point of view, Alex deemed it 'unthinkable' that US President Donald Trump would publicly say so little on a matter, given his usual outspokenness. He continued: 'It's also unthinkable that the leader of the "free world" has stayed uncharacteristically quiet, missing the biggest opportunity to address injustice and gain the respect of African Americans with an upcoming presidential election and hopes of a second term.' Killed: A private autopsy ordered by the family of George Floyd has found that he was killed by asphyxia due to 'neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain' While he branded the rioting that has accompanied some protests 'unfortunately predictable', with history as his reference point, Alex said he believed no solution could be reached without looking back at 'systemic racism going back 400 years'. The TV star, who was born to a white English mother and black Guyanese father, also spoke of his own experiences with racism, dating back to when he was first called the N-word at just 11 years old while growing up in his hometown of Bristol. Criticising those who keep 'clapping back' with #alllivesmatter to counter the #blacklivesmatter hashtag, Alex also spoke out at those who will 'seek to discredit the victim', despite video evidence of Floyd's shocking death. 'It is hard to prove covert racism and unconscious bias, which is often invisible to the naked eye,' he said, after touching on white privilege. 'Being on the receiving end of racism scars you mentally. Its traumatic.' PO Group, the leading pan-African communications and business consultancy, and Opera , one of the worlds leading browser providers and platforms in the field of integrated AI-driven digital content, are partnering up to boost the prominence of truthful news articles related to the spread of COVID-19 across Africa. The APO Group Newsroom website will now be integrated into the Opera News platform used by 200 million users worldwide. This partnership stems from the need to reduce the consumption of misleading news articles that include deliberate disinformation about COVID-19 in different African countries. It will provide millions of Opera users in the African region with official information from trusted and reputable online sources. Providing the public with accurate information about COVID-19 is crucial, especially as Africas coronavirus response is regularly obstructed by fake news, said APO Group Founder and Chairman, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard. This initiative will provide the millions of Africans who use Opera mobile applications with access to genuine, credible news content. We are proud to join forces with Opera to ensure that truthful, helpful and potentially life-saving information gains wider prominence in Africa. Regarding the integration of the APO Group Newsroom into the Opera News platform, Jrgen Arnesen, EVP of Mobile Browsers at Opera said, We just hit a new record of 200 million users with Opera News, which positions our news service as one of the largest in the world. We believe our partnership with APO Group is a great fit for our mobile apps and will benefit hundreds of millions of users who search for COVID-19 information every day on the Opera Mini browser and the Opera News app. Available in Opera browsers and the Opera News app For more than two months, APO Group has been collecting press releases and official statements from health ministries in Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO), the WHO Regional Office for Africa, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). More than 3,000 press releases are now available for people using the popular Opera Mini browser and Opera News the most downloaded news app in Africa. Users who want to read the APO Group feed of news releases on the Opera Mini browser can tap on the Coronavirus channel in the browsers newsfeed. Once there, they will easily identify the news releases as they appear under www.Africa-Newsroom.com. Those using the Opera News app can also tap on the Coronavirus category in the app or follow the brand-new APO Group button in the Following section. The APO Group follow button in the Opera News app is currently available in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, and Tanzania. The circulation of both misinformation and rumors about the virus poses an enormous risk to the public, which is why APO Group and Opera are proud to team up to disseminate reliable and critically important information to the public. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Justice Hosbet Suresh (91), one of the most respected judges of the Bombay high court (HC), who led many commissions that investigated human rights violations, passed away at his Andheri residence at 10:45 pm on Thursday night. He was cremated at the Santacruz crematorium at 1 am on Friday morning. Born on July 20, 1929, in Hosabettu town in Karnatakas Dakshina Kannada district, Justice Suresh finished his Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the Mangalore University before pursuing his Master in Arts (MA) from the Visvesvaraya Technological University in Belagavi. Soon, he moved to Mumbai to pursue his Legum Magister (LLM) from the Mumbai University and then enrolled in the Bombay HC as an advocate in 1953. Justice Suresh, who taught at the Government Law College and KC College, was appointed as the assistant government pleader in the Bombay City Civil & Sessions court before he was appointed as an additional judge in the sessions court on November 29, 1968. He was promoted as the second additional principal judge in October 1979, but resigned from the post in June 1980, to start his own legal practice at the Bombay HC. He was designated as a senior advocate in 1982 and took charge as the additional judge of the Bombay HC on November 21, 1986, from where he retired on July 19, 1991. He would be remembered for many of his judgements, including the landmark Subash Desai vs. Sharad J Rao case verdict that had set aside the election of a member of Maharashtra legislative assembly (MLA) on the ground that he had misused religion and indulged in religious propaganda to manipulate mass sentiments in a bid to garner votes. Many remember Justice Suresh as the flag-bearer of the human rights movement in the country, carrying on in the footsteps of his late mentor, Justice VR Krishna Iyer. In later years and after his retirement, Justice Suresh had responded to the calls of various social action groups and travelled to the remotest corners of the country and other parts of Asia, and headed several peoples inquiry commissions and brought out reports highlighting the rampant violation of basic human rights. Justice Suresh either participated or headed investigations into the riots following the Cauvery Waters Dispute, Bangalore (1991); the Mumbai riots (1992-93) following the demolition of the Babri Masjid; forced evictions of slum-dwellers by the civic authorities in Mumbai (1994); harmful effects of prawn farming on the eastern coast that led the Supreme Court (SC) to order a ban on prawn cultivation (1995). He was also part of the commission that investigated the drowning of Dalits by the Tamil Nadu Police (199); the shooting of tribals in Devas, Madhya Pradesh (1999); food scarcity in the military junta-ruled Myanmar (1999) and the inquiry into the 2002 Gujarat riots that led to the report of the Concerned Citizens Tribunal. Human rights activist Teesta Setalvad said, Ive known Justice Suresh since he retired as a judge of the Bombay HC. He was my mentor, a gentle guide to what substantive justice should be, how the bench much always be compassionate. He was utterly committed to the secular and socialist values of the Indian Constitution. He pioneered the Peoples Tribunals and public hearing after his retirement at a time when the formal justice system started creaking and crumbling. Setalvad also reminisced her precious moments with Justice Suresh during the Gujarat riots in 2002. Justice BR Srikrishna, a retired SC judge, said, He was very vociferous for peoples rights at the bar and the bench. He had even represented before me during the Mumbai Riots Commission. Though I didnt agree with him on that occasion and had even issued a contempt notice against him, he remained my good friend till the end. Ive lost a very good friend of mine. Justice Suresh, in all likelihood, would have responded to these accolades as my voice is my conscience. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Presley Thomas Presley Thomas heads the crime and legal team of Hindustan Times, Mumbai. Has been a journalist since the last 16 years and has worked with various national dailies. Covers defence and terrorism, and has reported from various states across the country ...view detail In the wake of George Floyd's tragic death and the resulting national outcry for systemic policing reforms, Texas Southern University's Center for Justice Research (CJR) has formed a National Police Reform Advisory Group. The expert-laden advisory group will help chart the national response for the sustainable improvement of police-community relations. "We have an opportunity to be at the forefront in the shift in American policing," said Dr. Howard Henderson, founding director of CJR, which formed in 2018 as a nonpartisan research center devoted to data-driven solutions for an equitable criminal justice system. "Out of the unprecedented support for change, we have found a lack of solution-oriented approaches to police-community relations. As such, the creation of the National Police Reform Advisory Group brings together nationally-recognized experts with prior police and criminal justice field experience." Henderson said members of the advisory group have experience in police training at the international, federal, state and local levels. The group will ultimately help shape the future of police reform by: Assisting with the strategic research and program approach to police reform Serving as technical advisors on police reform efforts, research protocols and policy developments Providing advice to police administrators, mayors, and other government officials on research and development sponsored and/or conducted in the name of police reform. Through the Center for Justice Research, the advisory group will provide evidence-supported recommendations of the existing police reform recommendations and put forth any necessary additions. The group will advise on the initial police reform policy and practice needs assessment and the continued activity of the national and local police reform movement. The group's overall objectives and the suggested path forward will be agreed to by its members, ultimately benefiting from the collective knowledge, skills and abilities of its credentialed members. Quotes from National Police Reform Advisory Group members: "As our elected officials and criminal justice leaders begin the tough work on criminal justice policy reform to address the historic and perpetual, unjust and unfair treatment of communities of color, it is imperative that they be provided with sound advice grounded in research evidence and lived experiences," said Paul Elam, Ph.D., chief strategy officer with MPHI. "Many of our policy efforts have failed because we have not placed the people who are most impacted at the center of conversations which seek to find solutions to problems affecting them. This advisory group will be comprised of doctorally prepared, national experts who have years of experience working in communities where structural racism has negatively impacted the life outcomes of many black and brown residents. The advisory group will use a culturally responsive and racial equity lens emphasizes that that emphasizes the powerful impact of inter-institutional dynamics, institutional dynamics, institutional resources inequities and historical legacies on racial inequalities in our current criminal justice system." "Because of the continued tumult between the police and the community, a think tank (research group) that examines policing from the perspective of the community, particularly communities of color, is essential to get at the root cause of the problem," said Lorenzo M. Boyd, Ph.D., assistant provost for diversity and inclusion and director of the Center for Advanced Policing at the University of New Haven and former president of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. "This multidisciplinary, multi-perspective approach will address not just the outcomes from police community relations, but we will delve into the underlying problems to address and view police training from a proactive, community-based lens." "The Advisory Group has been established to serve as an assemblage of intellectuals to facilitate the orchestration of policy changes in police and criminal justice reform," said Ronald Craig, Ph.D., assistant professor of criminal justice and criminology at Tennessee State University. "Further the group is solution orientated in the implementation of change in this unprecedented time in American history." "This advisory group is a response to a legacy of police violence that has heightened the current pain in the Black community. As such, we must continue to work diligently to challenge anti-Black racism in all forms so that George Floyd's death and the countless others won't be in vain," said David Baker, Ph.D., interim chair of the Administration of Justice department at Texas Southern University. "This country has reached a boiling point with many of its police departments and their relationship with the community, particularly the African American community," said K.B. Turner, Ph.D., department chair of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Memphis. "Indeed, this country is close to its nadir in the history of American policing. It is (past) time for a reexamination and evaluation of American policing. This includes personnel, police procedures and practices, equipment, and utility of that equipment. This advisory group brings its passion and collective experience to serve as change agents in providing reform to ensure constitutional policing and accountability. The issues that have become so salient in recent weeks demands that this advisory group provide effective leadership at a time where it is missing, but sorely needed." "It is vital that the voices of those with lived experience have a seat at the table from start to finish," said Bahiyyah M. Muhammad, Ph.D., assistant professor and Inside Out program administrator with the Department of Sociology and Criminology at Howard University. "Far too often are the voices and actions of the directly impacted heard from the sidelines. This approach is far from acceptable. As the world has come together during this time of grief, swift and democratic action is needed. It is often said, 'those who are closest to the problem are closest to the solution.' We are committed to making this a reality. With racist and outdated theories that perpetuate white supremacy, there is only one way forward. That being, through the leadership of Black scholars who have lived experience, community respect and a track record of renown scholarship and service to their own. This will be the only way to advance the movement beyond the hashtag #Blacklivesmatter soundbite that currently dominates national media. We are the only experts to our experience. There are no substitutes and that's a fact." ### For updates on status of Police Reform Advisory Group, visit https://centerforjusticeresearch.org/advisory-group/. Q is a patriot. He is someone that very much loves his country, and hes on the same page as us, and he is very pro-Trump, she said in a 2017 video posted to YouTube. In the video, she talks about an awakening that will expose deep corruption and unite Americans behind Trump. Amazon poor go hungry as Brazil slashes social safety net, cuts forests: Study by Shanna Hanbury June 12,2020 | Source: Mongabay Cash-poor riverine households in the Brazilian Amazon once able to live sustainably from hunting and fishing are going hungry as they struggle to catch enough fish to feed their families during the highwater season that runs yearly from roughly April to September, a recent study reveals. Hunger is intensifying due to many interacting factors: as COVID-19 assails the Amazon; Jair Bolsonaros government shreds once effective social welfare programs and cheerleads forest destruction; and climate change-driven extreme floods and droughts are on the upswing. Experts warn that these circumstances intensify threats to food security for the poor in remote riverine communities. With a third of households skipping meals, and a sixth not eating for a whole day during [the highwater] season, food security can be classed as severe, concluded the authors, who interviewed 556 households along 1,267 kilometers (787 miles) of river in the Brazilian states of Para and Amazonas. The study is the first to show that food insecurity among Amazonian ribeirinhos as riverside dwellers are called is determined by seasonal crashes in fish catch rates in combination with social inequalities and the shredding of the social welfare safety net. Lacking sufficient fish during the flood season, many riverine families are forced to make a tough choice: travel by boat to nearby cities to restock food supplies, putting their lives at risk from the COVID-19 pandemic that has already claimed more than 7,500 lives in the 9 states comprising Legal Amazonia, or face hunger at home. Poor families who need to retrieve welfare benefits, along with a Brazilian government-provided US$110 emergency COVID-19 stipend to buy food, also need to travel to nearby cities, according to lead author and ecologist Daniel Tregidgo. As the pandemic has worsened, so has food insecurity, a situation exacerbated by Bolsonaros policies. Since coming to power in January 2019, the president has made deep cuts to social welfare and his inflammatory rhetoric has encouraged Amazon land grabbers, resulting in skyrocketing deforestation rates which have impacted biodiversity, and by extension hunting and forest food gathering. Lauded for its efforts in eradicating hunger over the last two decades, Brazil first under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2003-2010), and then under President Dilma Rousseff (20112016) saw millions pulled out of extreme poverty through government welfare programs. But many of these measures were, and continue to be, reversed, first under President Michel Temer, and more so today under Bolsonaro. All the programs that contributed towards Brazil exiting the [UN World] Hunger Map in 2014, have been destroyed, Tereza Campello, an economist who was Brazils Minister of Development and Food Security from 2011 to 2016, told Mongabay in a telephone interview. On Bolsonaros first day in office on January 1st, 2019, he abolished the Council for Food and Nutrition Security (CONSEA), considered a fundamental driving force in Brazils dramatic reduction of hunger according to a 2019 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The extinction of CONSEA means were unable to monitor the [food security] situation. There is less infrastructure and less information, explained Flavia Mori Sarti, a nutritionist and economist at the University of Sao Paulo who specializes in studying food security. Mori Sarti added that rising deforestation has reduced biodiversity and the number of plants and animals available as food. Along the Amazons so-called Arc of Deforestation, a crescent-shaped region stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the border with Peru and Bolivia, vast swathes of rainforest have been replaced by commodity crops such as soy, sugar cane, corn and eucalyptus. 2020 Copyright Conservation news Theme(s): Communities and Organisations. Click here to read the full article. EXCLUSIVE: PBS investigative documentary series Frontline has acquired the Sundance documentary A Thousand Cuts directed by award-winning filmmaker Ramona S. Diaz. The timely documentary takes a look at the key players in the escalating war between press and government in the Philippines and the ongoing threat against freedom of the press. PBS distribution is planning a theatrical release in August followed by a TV broadcast in November. The news comes as the world awaits the verdict of the trial of CEO/Founder of the Philippine news site Rappler Maria Ressa, who has been charged with a cyber libel case, has been vocal about holding Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte accountable for the governments much-criticized violent war on drugs. A Thousand Cuts examines social media disinformation campaigns and the crackdown on the news media in the Philippines by Duterte who has made Ressa one of his top targets. More from Deadline Ressa was part of a group of journalists honored by Time magazine as Person of the Year in 2018 and since leading the charge against Duterte, he has barred Rappler reporters from the presidential palace and revoked Rapplers license. I cant be more thrilled to be working with Frontline to launch this film into the world, said Diaz. A Thousand Cuts comes at a time when journalists are being targeted for doing their jobs and independent media is at risk globally. Its both a timely and timeless story of abuse of power and people who refuse to be cowed into silence. With its unparalleled work in investigative journalism and its fervor for rolling out timely cinematic documentaries, Frontline is the perfect home for this film. Story continues Ressa is set to lead a conversation online focusing on reporting, truth, and democracy this June 13 at 8am ET. Moderated by Dr. Julie Posetti, Global Director of Research, International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), the panel will include a conversation with Ressa, Diaz and Frontlines Executive Producer Raney Aronson-Rath. The full film will be available in a special online broadcast only for those in the Philippines for 24 hours leading up to the verdict. The deal was negotiated by Amy Letourneau of PBS Distribution, Jim Bracciale of Frontline PBS and Josh Braun and Matt Burke of Submarine and CAA on behalf of Concordia Studio and the filmmakers. Watch two clips from the documentary below. The first is a look at Ressa being arrested and the second features Duterte confronting Rappler reporter Pia Ranada during a press conference. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. WASHINGTON NASCAR is demanding that its fans no longer fly Confederate flags at races. The Pentagon and some Republican senators are open to renaming military bases that bear the names of Confederate soldiers. Corporate America is taking stances against racial injustice. A majority of Americans say the police show racial bias in their use of force, and a majority of self-described conservatives acknowledge protesters frustrations are at least somewhat justified. Yet with public opinion shifting quickly on racism in America, and even some of the most cautious leaders and institutions talking openly about discrimination and reconciliation, there is still one glaring outlier: President Donald Trump. Whether it is suggesting shooting protesters or siccing dogs on them, pre-emptively defending the Confederate names of military installations or arguing that his supporters love the black people, Trump increasingly sounds like a cultural relic, detached from not just the left-leaning protesters in the streets but also the countrys political middle and even some Republican allies and his own military leaders. While Trump has a long history of making insensitive and tone-deaf comments on race, including remarks widely seen as racist, he has never appeared more isolated on a dominant social and political moment in the country, hunkered down at the White House tweeting conspiracy theories about injured protesters and describing demonstrators as THUGS. He regularly uses harsh and violent language that no other American leader employs, vocally supporting the views of white nationalists and even defenders of white supremacy rather than the views expressed by majorities of Americans in polls. Hes talking as if this is a country in the 1950s and not 2020, said Levar Stoney, the mayor of Richmond, Virginia, where a multiracial group of protesters has prompted the city and state to take down Confederate statues. At a time when the country is confronting three overlapping crises the coronavirus, an economic collapse and a reckoning with racism and injustice Trumps inability to demonstrate empathy illustrates the limitations of his political arsenal. He is well equipped to compete in a campaign where slashing negative attacks are the order of the day, and few salesmen speak in superlatives like the former hotel magnate. Yet when the moment calls for neither pugilism nor promotion, he has little to say. Reinforcing Trumps instincts and decisions are a small group of advisers, like those who arranged for the president to hold a campaign rally on June 19 in Tulsa, Oklahoma on a day dedicated to honoring black emancipation, Juneteenth, and in a city that saw one of the worst episodes of racial violence in the countrys history a century ago. Even if that choice of timing was unintentional, its hard to overlook the insensitivity over race when the presidents campaign is selling Baby Lives Matter onesies on its website. On Thursday, in remarks in Dallas, Trump tried to highlight how black unemployment had fallen before the coronavirus, and noted his administrations work on criminal justice reform. But he also falsely suggested that the protest movement seeking to defund the police would lead to eliminating emergency phone lines. I heard they want to close up all police forces, Trump said. Its not like they want to sort of bring a little money into something else. They want it actually closed. Im thinking, what happens late at night when you make that call to 911 and theres nobody there? That remark drew some applause, yet the substance and tone emphasized fear-mongering at a time when many Americans are grappling with how to address police violence. The president sounds even more out of step because of the comments of some of his Republican contemporaries, who have not focused on racial justice during the Black Lives Matter era. We are still wrestling with Americas original sin, said Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, who has praised the peaceful protests taking place in, as he noted, his states cities and small towns while lamenting the obvious racial discrimination that weve seen on full display on our television screens over the last two weeks. It is too soon to know whether Republicans like McConnell or even large numbers of Americans will support real action that curbs racial inequality. Trumps allies and supporters have rallied around him, time and again. And recent polling shows that many Republicans continue to view some claims of racial discrimination with suspicion. But this week, Democrats have introduced law enforcement overhaul legislation that goes far beyond what they have pushed before. And McConnell, recognizing the country is demanding action, tapped Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only black Senate Republican, to lead an effort on how to address police misconduct. As the GOP confronts an increasingly forbidding political climate this year, the party is responding to fast-moving polling, which indicates that an overwhelming number of independents and even about half of Republican voters believe George Floyds killing represents a broad problem with policing. Yet nearly five years since Trump announced his presidential campaign with the inflammatory accusation that Mexico was sending rapist migrants across the border, he is still conducting himself as if theres a vast audience for a hard-line tone on race. And its wearing on even some of his most steadfast allies. We need to have this president and both parties say, We feel your pain, said Bishop Harry Jackson, a black pastor who is one of Trumps evangelical advisers. There needs to be a discussion to African Americans and other minorities that the loss of life historically matters. Everybodys got to feel that from him. Politically speaking, Trump has long sought to align himself with law enforcement and cultural traditionalists. But if he has the support of many of them, his hostility toward the protesters has left him out of sync with many other Americans at a time when his reelection prospects are sagging. When I saw some of those people breaking into stores, I said, Damn, stop that, said former Gov. James B. Hunt of North Carolina, explaining that he was worried the looting would only prompt a moderate white backlash. But that hasnt become the story this time. People are seeing things differently today. Trump has never had most Americans trust on matters of race, helping to explain why hes struggled to stem the tide of a protest movement demanding racial justice. Trump has portrayed protesters as terrorists and extremists while praising most law enforcement officers as great people. Yet in a Monmouth University poll released last week, 57% of Americans including a majority of white people said the anger that led to the protests was completely justified. Even among self-described conservatives, 65% said the protesters frustrations were at least somewhat justified. The data is even more striking among younger people. In a new Washington Post-Schar School survey, 41% of Republicans over 55 said they believed the killing of Floyd reflected a broader problem. That figure grew to 52% among Republicans under 55, however. There is a similar generational gap among independent voters. Part of the difference owes to the experience of millennial Christians, who grew up in schools and churches that were integrated, enjoy a more diverse set of friends and are appalled by the police violence against black men they are seeing on their screens. Younger Republicans want to see racial disparities fixed, said Wesley Donehue, a South Carolina-based GOP strategist. If Republicans dont address these issues now, we will lose the next generation of young voters, just as we have minorities. Whats remarkable to a number of people across the political spectrum is that Trump seems to be missing what is all but screaming in neon clear in everything from the diverse makeup of the protesters to the legions of people sending anti-racist books to the top of best seller lists. It wasnt just black people, DeJuana Thompson, an Alabama-based activist who just returned home from marching in Minneapolis and Louisville, said of her experience. This is a clarifying moment for our country, and people are being asked to come out of our comfort zones. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents Washington, D.C., in Congress and was active in the 1960s civil rights movement, said she had been struck by how many of the protesters in her hometown have been white. So many white people have taken this to heart, Holmes Norton said. Paul Finebaum, a popular college football talk show host, is detecting that every day on his ESPN call-in show. Finebaum has had a series of candid and at times awkward conversations about race with callers and coaches, black and white alike, in recent weeks. This is a watershed moment, he said, remarking that the white people calling into his show were watching the protests more open-mindedly than Ive ever heard before. Yet on Wednesday, there was Trump, a native New Yorker, extolling the virtues of Southern heritage in making the case against changing the names of the military bases. His argument seemed even more jarring that night, when a 26-year-old black NASCAR driver, Bubba Wallace, wore a T-shirt that said I Cant Breathe and drove a Chevy with Black Lives Matter emblazoned on the side around the Martinsville, Virginia, track. Randall Woodfin, the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, is seeing changing attitudes in another conservative institution. CEOs and leaders across corporate Birmingham are engaging their employees and saying, Look, we cant ignore this conversation, lets make sure our values are not only in line, but lets make sure we act on our values, Woodfin said. Trump is often stilted in such discussions. And he has harbored offensive attitudes on race for years, including his searing attacks on the Central Park Five and his idea, on The Apprentice, for an all-white team competing against an all-black team. As Mitch Landrieu, the former New Orleans mayor, put it: America is grabbing white peoples faces and saying, Look at this, do not turn away and theyre not. But the most powerful white person in America is averting his gaze, and it appears more discordant by the day. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. New Delhi: The Indian Army on Sunday said that the Uri terror attack, in which 17 jawans were martyred, was orchestrated by terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad(JeM). In a long gun-battle, the Indian soldiers gunned down four terrorists. Among the martyrs, 15 jawans belonged to the Bihar Regiment, while two were from the Dogra Regiment. Condemning the attack in strong words, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that those responsible for the attacks would be punished. The Uri terror attack has drawn global condemnation. Here is a look at how the Pakistan media covered the Uri terror attack. We take a look at how Pakistani media covered the Uri terror attack: ALSO READ: What the defence experts have to say The News International The News International reported that militants attacked the military camp in Uri. The report had the statement of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The newspaper said that Pakistani security officials were confident that the Uri attack was Pathankot-like stage drama to trumpet its terrorism mantra against Pakistan The Express Tribune The Express Tribune reported that India is again blaming Pakistan for an attack which killed its 17 jawans. The newspaper also included Pakistan Defence Minister Khawja Asifs tweet that said: Dont rule out inside job to malign Azadi movement by blaming Pakistan. The article also said that the brazen militant attack near the LoC had triggered a verbal spat between New Delhi and Islamabad escalating the tension between the two bitter and nuclear-armed neighbours. Pakistan Observer The Pakistan Observer reported that four heavily-armed suspected militants killed 17 soldiers in an army base. It rejected baseless allegations from India and quoted Pakistans Director General of Military Operations saying that no infiltration is allowed from Pakistani soil because water-tight arrangements were on both sides of the LOC Working boundary all along. The newspaper also termed Home Minister Rajnath Singhs statement on Pakistan as an anti-Pakistan rant. Dawn The lead article in Dawn said that India regularly accuses Pakistan of arming and sending the militants across the LoC to launch attacks on its forces. The newspaper also dedicated an editorial column to the Uri attack and noted that the Indian authorities accusations against Pakistan has plunged Pak-India relations into a dangerous and unstable new phase. It also quoted Pakistans Foreign Office spokesperson saying, Pakistan is always blamed for any untoward incident in India. Click here for live updates on Uri terror attack For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. In the history books it became known as the Democracy Cluster. Tragically there were five deaths associated with it, an unusually high number given the circumstances, but thats the way the virus operated. You just couldnt predict who might get mild symptoms and who would succumb. It came about after Irish politicians namely three parties - failed to agree to form a Government, despite the world being in turmoil owing to a once in a century event that dominated 2020. Incredible, in retrospect, to think that a pandemic was raging globally yet those parties Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party failed to reach agreement after endless months of talks. A wry quote, from one of the many books written about the period, summed up how tortuous it all became. Just as matters were said to be at the last lap the Greens introduced to the table the idea of legislating for medicinal cannabis according to a leak. At that point the entire thing was so tortuous all involved would have been entitled to a personal prescription, recalled one participant. But it seemed that nothing could have been said or done to bring these negotiations to a successful conclusion. There was much talk about what a pity it was the party members and supporters never got to vote on a deal. Frankly, though, there had been so much negative mood music surrounding the talks, by the participants themselves, for so long, it was impossible to predict how that might have gone. During the first 2020 general election campaign, just a few months previously, held in February of that year, it was acknowledged the Irish people were still suffering a degree of trauma from the financial crash of a decade ago. Now in the midst of further, life altering trauma, that same population found themselves once again staring up at election posters. People remember how odd it was answering the door to canvassers wearing masks and how none of them could give an adequate answer as to how any politician, from any party or none, thought it was a good idea to hold an election during such a dangerous time. It was a logistical nightmare for the broadcasters trying to hold debates. Social distancing meant that some party leaders had to be in separate studios. Politicians were banned from shopping centres. The then Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said he did not want to comment on any particular politician, or indeed election, but that in general political walkabouts on city streets were not a thing to be encouraged given that they caused people to gather together. He never said it outright but keen observers knew from that particular way he used to purse his lips that he thought the idea of a general election was utterly daft and dangerous. There was no end to the Zoom campaigning at the time, but a bit like US Democratic candidate Joe Bidens efforts from his basement, earlier that year, during lockdown, they failed to sparkle. The preparation for a second election that year had been ongoing, on a contingency basis, so it wasnt a total bolt from the blue when it was called. But it is still remembered as a surreal moment. Everyone was nervous about the virus which had abated considerably after a lockdown but still lurked, with no sign of a vaccine. Sinn Fein, at an immediate advantage, made much of the risks involved, even with the plan to spread voting over a number of days. Liveline was inundated with callers expressing their fury that just at the time when we needed to put our best foot forward nationally, we instead faced the prospect of being without a government for another few months. Its absolutely crazy Joe, they fumed to the veteran broadcaster. What are these lads at at all? Its all about themselves. There were just over 3.4 million people registered to vote in that election. It was easy enough to organise voting in places like our populated islands a total of 19 islands off four constituencies. The highest number eligible to vote was 675 people on Co Galways, Inishmore. The social distancing was a bit of a nightmare there, even though the distance had been reduced just the week before to one metre in line with World Health Organisation recommendations. On the mainland authorities had the headache of dealing with far higher numbers. On voting day there were just over 6,500 polling stations spread throughout the country. The following day the counting for the 39 constituencies took place in count centres around the country, the largest number of votes were counted at the RDS where five of the Dublin constituencies had their ballot boxes turned out and votes counted. Under electoral law, returning officers are responsible for the conduct of elections and are independent in their functions. There was plenty of advice in advance on safety and social distancing and bottles of hand gel stood on every surface. The number of observers was severely restricted but there was no getting away from the up close and personal nature of counting for a PR system, and the inherent risks. Looking back on it all afterwards Fine Gael realised it had once again made that basic mistake of thinking the electorate would show itself to be grateful for the partys work, this time on the Covid emergency. That FG level of self belief once again confounded observers. No matter how hard he tried to shake it Fianna Fails then leader Micheal Martin had a bang of desperation off him throughout the entire campaign. He was so far gone beyond the last chance saloon his front benchers could barely contain their disregard for him during campaign outings. The bitterness in the Greens as to what went on during that period remarkably remains as strong to this day. No one can agree exactly where it all went wrong. The then leader Eamon Ryan was seen as a victim of the cancel culture that was all pervasive at the time. As far as many of the newer members of the party were concerned he couldnt do right for doing wrong. There were no shades of grey with those particular Greens things were either black or white. Usually with a general election the most interesting thing is the result, which party got the most seats, especially given that there had been an election so recently, and there would be much to compare. But this time it was the deaths of those five people at that count centre they had been counting the votes. All the precautions had apparently been taken, but it turns out there was a super spreader amongst them one of that small group that transmit infections to far more people than the majority do. It was a terrible tragedy. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) punted on questions about increasing coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in reopened states, claiming worrisome rises could be due to 'increased testing' during a Friday press briefing. CDC director Dr Robert Redfield and deputy director Dr Jay Butler addressed the press in the first telebriefing since the once-daily calls abruptly stopped in March. They announced the CDC's new guidelines for minimizing the spread of coronavirus as states reopen and people gather in groups, which rehashed the familiar standards: wash your hands, wear a mask, stay socially distanced when possible, and don't touch one another. Dr Butler - who seems to have replaced the conspicuously absent Dr Nancy Messonnier as the point-person for CDC briefings - acknowledged that cases may rise amid reopenings. He did not initially remark on increases already seen in states that reopened early, and responded to questions about these statistics by saying it is not yet clear that these rises are due to reopening, could reflect wider testing, and had not been followed by rises in hospitalizations. Meanwhile, in Arizona - one of 12 states where hospitalizations are rising - new cases confirmed in a single day hit a record high of 1,654 on Friday as officials told state hospitals to activate their emergency plans as ICU beds near capacity. The CDC held its first press briefing in three months, to issue guidelines for reducing coronavirus transmission risks this summer, but is no longer discouraging events or group gatherings The CDC issued 'common sense' recommendations for gathering in groups amid the pandemic this summer, such as wearing masks, but did not discourage crowds, such as protests (file) The CDC declined to directly address this. 'Hospitalization rates are going down [nationally] and most places where we have looked at increases in cases and diagnoses, we are not seeing an increase in hospitalizations,' Dr Butler said. He continued to stress that case increases reflected more widespread testing and the diagnosis of asymptomatic people. Case increases, he said, are 'sometimes driven by increased testing, sometimes by outbreaks ' - such as those in nursing homes - 'and sometimes by increased community transmission. 'We have boots on the ground to...explore whether [this is an issue] of infection in the community. 'Some people are tested without any symptoms and there are a certain proportion of people who will be diagnosed and contribute [to the caseload].' It's worth note that asymptomatic coronavirus carriers can still spread the virus. The number of tests being performed in Arizona increased substantially at the beginning of May. But the number of positives tests has further increased in the last two weeks. CDC Deputy Director Dr Jay Butler punted when asked about spikes in COVID-19 cases in states like Arizona, saying they may be due to increased testing (left). Director Dr Robert Redfield (right) thanked Americans for cooperating with public health guidelines and stay-at-home orders, but his agency is no longer discouraging group gatherings Hospitalizations continue to climb in Arizona, but Dr Butler said that increasing cases in some states did not appear to be leading to increasing hospitalizations in the US 'It's important Important to recall that temporal association doesnt prove causation,' Dr Butler said. As summer approaches, the CDC held its press briefing to announce its newly-issued guidelines for how to stay safe in gatherings and crowds - but did not advise against them. The agency has published a list of questions Americans might ask themselves to assess the risks of their planned activities, such as how coronavirus is spreading in their area, how many people will be present at a gathering and how much close contact will be involved. Its suggestions include eating outside at restaurants when possible, or choosing eateries with socially distanced tables, avoiding handshakes, elbow bumps, high fives and, of course, hugs, taking the stairs instead of elevators and using hand sanitizer after visiting the ATM. And, of course, officials continue to advise the use of face coverings, like Dr Butler's cloth mask featuring 'grizzly bears and wild salmon,' an homage to his home state, Alaska that he wear for protection and to 'express my personality,' he told reporters. According to CNN, President Trump 'insisted' that masks not be worn at the Republican National Convention (RNC), scheduled to take place in North Carolina in August. Trump wants the event to go on as originally planned: indoors in a convention center, with at full size with thousands in attendance, and unmasked faces. When asked how the CDC's guidance applied to the RNC, Dr Butler referred to the name of the document ('considerations') and reminded reporters that they are recommendations, 'not rules.' Americans have by and large been happy to comply with public health recommendations, according to the results of a CDC survey, released simultaneous with its guidance on Friday. Of the 1,676 people surveyed, 88 percent agreed that people should stay six feet apart, 82 percent agreed that groups of 10 or more should not be allowed to gather, and 80 percent supported stay-at-home orders and business closures. Dr Redfield thanked Americans for doing their part to uphold these public health measures - but his agency no longer appears to insist that they do so. 'I suppose the bad news today is the pandemic is not over,' said Dr Butler. 'The good news is nationally been successful in flattening the curve, but right now communities are experiencing different levels of transmission. 'As we head into the summer months, we know people will be looking forward to reconnecting and attending events and we want them to do that as safely as possible.' A South African regulator is studying insurance contracts after customers complained that claims related to the coronavirus were unfairly rejected. One outcome from the process could include an order from the Financial Sector Conduct Authority on the fairness of wording used in policies, Kedibone Dikokwe, the divisional executive for conduct of business supervision at the FSCA, said in an email response to questions on Friday. It may also choose to exercise its other powers, she said, which could include penalties. A strict lockdown imposed on March 27 to curb the spread of COVID-19 brought all businesses except essential services to a halt before the restrictions were gradually eased last month. Now, Insurance Claims Africa is helping more than 400 companies in the tourism and hospitality industry fight business-interruption claims that insurers said were invalid. While insurers will be guided by the terms of their contracts with policyholders, the entire cost of the Covid-19 crisis cannot be passed on to the industry, Sanlam Ltd.s Chief Executive Officer Ian Kirk told investors this week. Sanlams property and casualty insurance unit Santam, South Africas largest, has reviewed its policy conditions and will cover its business clients against infectious diseases in very specific circumstances. Typical policies for business interruptions or booking cancellations dont include pandemic cover, which is the case with the majority of insurers in South Africa and abroad, Santam said in an email. Business interruption is usually triggered by physical damage, such as a fire, and policies dont generally make provision for losses sustained during a lockdown. The reality is that no insurer can afford to offer widespread pandemic coverage within its standard policies, the premiums would be too high and it would become unaffordable for the majority of businesses, Santam said. The FSCAs investigation has so far raised some concerns with some of the wordings that it has received to date, but not all, Dikokwe said. The Pretoria-based regulator has received seven complaints, while others were lodged with the sectors ombudsman. One policyholder has approached a South African High Court. The regulator is in talks with Insurance Claims Africa, insurers, reinsurers and other regulators to determine trends in the local market around virus-related claims, Dikokwe said. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics COVID-19 Claims Revenue officers have seized 140,070 in drugs and cash following a number of searches carried out at Dublin and Shannon airports over the course of one week. On June 9, officers at Shannon Airport seized 4kgs of Kratom worth almost 81,000. The consignment originated from Luxembourg and was destined for an address in Mayo. Investigations in this case are ongoing. On June 8, officers at Dublin Airport with the help of detector dog Blue seized four packages containing over 2.2kgs of herbal cannabis. The drugs with an estimated value of 45,200 arrived from Italy and were destined for an address in Kilkenny. On June 5 following routine profiling, officers stopped and searched an Irish man, aged in his 20s, travelling to Amsterdam and seized 4,870 in cash. The cash is suspected to be the proceeds of or intended for use in criminal activity. The next day, Dublin District Court granted Revenue officers a three-month cash detention order by Judge Dermot Simms. On June 2, officers assisted by detector dog Luca seized 455gms of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of 9,000. The drugs originated in the USA and were destined for an address in Ballyboden in Dublin. The seizures are part of Revenue's ongoing work targeting the illegal importation of drugs and shadow economy activity. A 44-year-old Indian man in Singapore, who died of coronary heart disease on June 8, was infected by the coronavirus, the ministry of health has said. The man, who was not identified, developed chest and epigastric pain on May 28 and sought medical treatment at a general practitioner, MOH said in its press release on Thursday. He was found unconscious at his residence on June 8 and was admitted to Singapore General Hospitals emergency department. He died on the same day, according to media reports. He was confirmed to have Covid-19 infection on June 10 after his demise. The man is the eighth person in the country who had Covid-19 and died but was not added to the official toll because the death was not caused by the coronavirus. In all, seven deaths have been attributed to heart- or blood-related issues in Singapore. The eighth, a migrant worker from India with Covid-19, died from multiple injuries after he was found at a staircase landing in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. In some cases where patients died due to blood clots or heart-related issues, the patients were only confirmed to have had Covid-19 after their deaths. As the U.S. attorney in San Antonio from 1971 to 1974, William Sessions actively oversaw the successful prosecution of political boss George Parr, the notoriously corrupt Duke of Duval County. As the chief federal judge in San Antonio from 1980 to 1987, he presided over the trials of Charles Harrelson and others involved in the 1979 assassination of U.S. District Judge John Wood, who was gunned down in his Alamo Heights driveway. Sessions was a pallbearer at Woods funeral. Appointed to a 10-year term to lead the FBI in 1987, he grappled with two front-page national tragedies: The flawed federal standoff at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and the 51-day federal siege of the Branch Davidian complex east of Waco that resulted in more than 80 deaths, many of them children. And in 1993, he became the first FBI director to be removed from the post. More Information William S. Sessions Born: May 27, 1930 in Fort Smith, Ark. Died: June 12 in San Antonio Preceded by: His wife, Alice Lewis Sessions. Survivors: Sons William L. Sessions, Pete Sessions and Mark Sessions; daughter Sara Sessions Naughton; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. See More Collapse A man steeped in the law for almost six decades, Sessions, 90, died Friday in San Antonio, leaving a long legacy of judicial service. As a judge, he was a congenial straight-shooter who ran a tight courtroom, kept his word and showed no favor. He was a role model not only for me but for many judges. He had a national reputation for being a top-notch judge, recalled former U.S. District Judge Edward Prado, now the U.S. ambassador to Argentina. He was always sensitive to the dignity of what a federal courtroom represents. Fred Shannon, who served with Sessions on the federal bench and later appeared before him, recalls him as absolutely fair-minded. I think he based his rulings on the evidence and the law, and a sense of justice, which is all you can ask of a judge, he said. Defense lawyer Gerald Goldstein, said it was delightful to try a case in front of Sessions, no matter who he was representing. I always felt I got a fair shake, he said, adding that Sessions was willing to take the heat with unpopular judgments if he believed they were fair. The constitution is generally a protection of the minority from the majority, and I think Bill understood that. Sessions left the bench in 1987, when the U.S. Senate, in a 90-0 vote, approved his nomination by President Ronald Reagan to be director of the FBI, replacing William Webster. He was a breath of fresh air, a different breed of cat, recalled retired FBI Agent Mike Appleby, 70, who served under five directors. He didnt like to be called Judge and he didnt like a lot of bureaucratic crap, he said. Sessions soon opened the ranks of the bureau to more women and minorities, but he also earned the enmity of some senior officers and powerful figures in the Justice Department. President Bill Clinton fired Sessions in July 1993, six years into his 10-year term. The dismissal came after an investigation led by then-Attorney General William Barr revealed that Sessions had abused his directors privileges. Barr, now in his second tenure as attorney general, served his first stint under President George H.W. Bush and conducted the investigation before Clinton took office in 1993. The alleged misconduct included using an FBI plane for private trips and misusing government funds to build a private security fence at his home. His wifes inappropriate involvement in bureau affairs also was noted. When Sessions refused to step down, he was dismissed. Some felt that Washington politics more than personal misdeeds prompted his dismissal. Among them was longtime U.S. Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez of San Antonio, who accused Barr of conducting a smear campaign. I have never really met anyone who ever knew him who believed he had done anything that justified him being fired, said Ray Jahn, 77, a longtime federal prosecutor in San Antonio. He had a great deal of faith in the FBI and felt it should be independent of the Department of Justice. Bill Barr, on the other hand, did not have that position, he added. After leaving the FBI, Sessions practiced law in Washington D.C., and San Antonio until he retired in 2017. His upbringing Born into a devout Christian family in Fort Smith, Ark., Sessions was raised in Missouri, California and Nebraska. During World War II, his father, a First Christian Church minister, served four years as an Army chaplain in the Pacific. At age 16, Sessions contracted polio and for a time lost the use of his right arm, an ordeal that helped form his character. After graduating from high school in Kansas City, he attended Baylor University in Waco, earning both an undergraduate degree and law degree. From 1951 to 1955 he was in the Air Force, serving part of his tour as an instructor at James Connally AFB, north of Waco. In 1952, he married Alice Lewis, a high school classmate who would prove to be a forceful and at times problematic life partner. They had four children. Their son Pete Sessions served 11 terms as a congressman from Dallas before he was defeated in 2018. He is in a Republican runoff in July in a bid to return to Congress. Alice Sessions died last year in Washingon, D.C., where the couple still owned a home. After the Air Force, Sessions practiced law in Waco. He moved his family to Washington, D.C., in 1969 when he was hired by the Justice Department for a top prosecutors job. Two years later, he became the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas. In 1974, he joined the federal bench in El Paso. Six years later, he came back to San Antonio as chief judge of the Western District. Unlike some federal judges, the position never went to his head, said John Clark, 87, who was Sessions first assistant U.S. attorney in San Antonio. Its easy for someone who is appointed for life, especially to a federal court, to develop what lawyers call black robe syndrome, which is, By God, Im it for life and theres nothing you can do about it, Clark said. That was not Bill. He took his job seriously, but he didnt consider himself anything special. He was a good friend, he added. Attentive jurist Richard Durbin, 64, clerked for Sessions from 1981 to 1983, during the Wood murder investigation. He later appeared in Sessions court as a prosecutor. He was a terrific judge for the lawyers. He was very attentive and he let you try your case, he said. Sessions also was an avid note-taker during trials, which occasionally proved helpful. He could find testimony (in his notes) that might have been disputed by the parties, faster than the court reporter, he added. Art Nicholson, 62, who clerked for Sessions from 1982 to 1984, recalls him as an excellent mentor. He was a very good boss in a number of ways. One of them was that he required you (the clerk) to make a recommendation on whatever case you were working on and that was a great thing, he said. And I knew why he was doing it. It made you think and take some responsibility. Nicholson said he also learned from Sessions how to deal with lawyers, what good lawyers do and what a judge should be. One of Sessions remarks has stayed with him over the decades. I know this will sound strange, but he once said, You could kill my mother and I would still give you a fair trial, Nicholson said. Srinagar, June 12 : A woman was killed and another injured on Friday during ceasefire violations by Pakistan as it targetted defence and civilian facilities across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district. Official sources said Pakistan army engaged in unprovoked shelling in the morning in Rampur sector of Uri tehsil. Akhtara Begum of Batgarh village was killed when a shell fired by Pakistan fell on a house. While Parveen of Nambla village was injured. She has been shifted to hospital, official sources said. Some residential houses and private vehicles have also been damaged. Reports from the area said people have huddled inside homes frightened by indiscriminate shelling and firing from the Pakistani side. On Thursday, a soldier was killed and a civilian injured in ceasefire violation on the LoC in Jammu division. A few years ago, I spoke at a social club meeting in Mexico City. I answered several questions about the U.S., and specially the 2nd Amendment. The idea of a "right to bear arms" is hard for many people overseas to understand. It is also very difficult for many naturalized U.S. citizens to understand because they come from cultures that do not value personal freedom like we do. Let's go to Minneapolis, where the local government allowed criminals to burn your business and your dreams. This is from Fox: A Minneapolis small business owner gathered an armed group to protect her neighborhood and its residents when police stepped back amid rioting and looting that grew out of protests over the death of George Floyd in the city, according to a report. "Material things we can replace, that's true," restaurant owner Cesia Baires told NPR in a residential hallway above her business last week. "But there are families up here. These aren't empty buildings." Baires and other residents rallied armed, properly licensed citizens for protection after police shrank their presence in her neighborhood, according to the outlet. At times, they watched from rooftops with semiautomatic rifles. Don't mess with an armed citizenry is the name of that show. Of course, buildings or material things can be replaced. We lose them all the time when there is a tornado or bad hurricane. In this case, we are losing buildings because a local government was more worried about the feelings of criminals than the rights of citizens who run businesses, hire people, and pay the taxes. We are watching the best 2nd Amendment lesson ever. We are seeing with our eyes why the Founding Fathers understood our right to defend ourselves. PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. Betty Kyallos next business venture is in the cosmetics industry. The media personality this week took to social media to reveal plans to launch a beauty and skincare line dubbed, BKBeauty. She also unveiled some designs of her upcoming cosmetic products that will include body lotion, body cream, makeup foundation, eyeliners. Describing the projects exciting, the former K24 TV presenter also invited fans to suggest some of the beauty products they would want from her line. #BKBeauty Next project is just too exciting ? what do you want in a beauty and skin care line? I wanna know, she said, adding: Thank you guys. Keep the products wish list coming. Im working on something beautiful! Poor Prince Harry - even after stepping down as a senior royal member, he still feels immense pressure similar to what he felt in the royal family. On Thursday, the Duke of Sussex wrote an open letter to African Parks. African Parks is a non-profit organization that aims to rehabilitate and maintain national parks. He talked about how maintaining and caring for the earth is vital for the next generation of youth who are set to inherit it. The 35-year-old Prince explained how his mentality has changed since becoming a dad to one-year-old Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. "Since becoming a father, I feel the pressure is even greater to ensure we can give our children the future they deserve, a future that hasn't been taken from them and future full of possibility and opportunity," Prince Harry wrote. "I want us all to be able to tell our children that yes, we saw this coming, and with the determination and help from an extraordinary group of committed individuals, we did what we needed to restore these essential ecosystems." Prince Harry also explained the challenges that are currently plaguing the world right now, writing that we are living in an "extinction crisis," and a global pandemic "has shaken us to the core," that resulted in the world halting to a stop. "The gravity of these challenges is coming to light, but they must not paralyze us." Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, who are currently residing in their rented $18 million mansion, said that he hoped his actions would ensure that his son would be able to experience nature the same way he did was a child. "I have always been grateful for what wild places provide. Since my first trip to Africa as a young boy, I knew I would keep returning to this continent if I could, for its wildlife, for its people, and for its vast expense." The Duke of Sussex also praised the organization's commitment to conservation and for helping their local communities. He was appointed president of African Parks in 2017 and had been visiting Africa every year. In 2019, he visited the British Army's partnership with African Parks in Malawi. He had opened up about having a particular connection with the continent- a place where he could go to "get away from it all" after the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana. "It's the place where I feel more like myself than anywhere else in the world." Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Moving Out of Los Angeles Because It's Unsafe A few days ago, it was reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex believe that the US is not a safe place for their family anymore because of the violence, "fireworks, fighting, and explosions." A source told New Idea, "Prince Harry doesn't want Archie's first memories being of explosions and fear, which they will be at this rate, growing up in Los Angeles." A royal insider said that the couple might move to Australia because the couple was impressed with how the Australian government handles the COVID-19 crisis. However, with Prince Harry expressing how much he loves Africa, it may also not be surprising if the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to move there permanently. READ MORE: Meghan Markle True Identity: BFF Jessica Mulroney Manipulated to Lie About Duchess? Nurses at Tongji Hospital follow the request and recite an oath in Wuhan, China on May 12, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Wuhan, Ground Zero for CCP Virus, Also a Major Center for Organ Transplantation The central Chinese city of Wuhan is not only the origin point of the CCP virus, but also a hotspot of Chinas organ transplant industry. In 2015, former Deputy Health Minister Huang Jiefu stated at Chinas Organ Transplant Conference, held in Wuhan, that without Hubei, without Wuhan, there would be no organ transplants in China. According to leaked internal documents obtained by The Epoch Times, Wuhans Tongji Hospital has ranked among the top in organ transplantation in China: first in kidney transplants, third in heart transplants, and fifth in liver transplants. Wuhan is the ninth-largest city in China, and Tongji Hospital is just one of the hospitals in the city. Internal documents from Tongji Hospital expose the hospitals shocking organ transplant volume in the past several years. One of the internal documents shows that Tongji Hospital ranked No. 1 in the country for the number of donations after cardiac death (DCD) used in kidney transplant operations for three consecutive years, 2015 through 2017. Another internal document from Tongji Hospital shows that the number of kidney transplants is staggering. By 2018, it had become the first transplant center in China with more than 6,000 cumulative kidney transplants. In addition, the number of kidney transplants in Tongji Hospital surged in 2015, 2016, and 2017. The number of kidney transplants in 2015 was close to 350, an increase of approximately 100 cases from the previous year. The number of kidney transplants reached a peak in 2016, with about 460 cases. The Hubei Daily reported on April 10, 2019, that the numbers of heart and kidney transplants in Wuhan were among the highest in China. At least one transplant is performed at Tongji Hospital every day. According to the hospitals official website, it has so far completed more than 6,000 kidney transplants, nearly 2,000 liver transplants, more than 200 heart transplants, and nearly 200 pancreaskidney joint transplants. After the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) announced the suspension of using organs from death row prisoners in 2015, there was still a large number of transplants performed in Wuhan. Internal documents of Tongji Hospital showed that in 2014, there were 154 cases of DCD kidney transplantation and 73 cases of DCD liver transplantation; in 2015, there were 291 cases of DCD kidney transplantation and 101 cases of DCD liver transplantation; in 2016, 356 cases of DCD kidney transplantation and 111 cases of DCD liver transplantation. However, whether it is Wuhan, Hubei Province, or the whole country, the number of voluntary organ donations is extremely limited. According to a report from Hubei Daily on April 10, 2019, Wuhan requires 1,600 donated bodies every year, including 500 in Tongji Hospital alone, while the entire city receives only about 300 donated bodies each year. There is a huge gap between donations and demand. Doctors From Tongji Hospital Participate in Forced Organ Harvesting Wang Zhiyuan, president of the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG), told The Epoch Times that doctors and nurses at Tongji Hospital have admitted that they used organs taken from Falun Gong practitioners. We have the recorded phone conversation to prove it, Wang said. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline that has been severely persecuted in China since 1999. Practitioners of Falun Gong make up the majority of prisoners of conscience held inside Chinas jails, prisons, and detention facilities. An independent peoples tribunal determined in 2019 that Falun Gong adherents remain the main source of organs in Chinas for-profit transplant industry. In 2006, an investigator from WOIPFG called Tongji Hospitals Organ Transplant Institute and asked if it was possible to find a donor who was a Falun Gong practitioner. The person who answered replied: Yes, sure, no problem. When you are ready, you can come over directly, and we will discuss it in detail. In another undercover investigation on Oct. 12, 2015, a doctor surnamed Gong at the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department of Tongji Hospital was recorded saying that he had used organs of Falun Gong practitioners for transplantation and that the donors were sent to the hospital from prisons or labor camps. Director Wei at our department assigned a team dedicated to this task, and the team is headed by Professor Zhu, he said. Gong also stated that his department sometimes performed five heart transplants in a week. Occasionally, they had two operations in one day. On June 7, 2017, a surgeon surnamed Mao at Tongji Hospital told an undercover investigator: Last year, we had more than 100 liver transplants, and 400 to 500 kidney transplants. We rank the first in the country in kidney transplants. When police in Wuhan abuse Falun Gong practitioners held in detention, they often threaten practitioners that they will extract their organs. Zhang Su, a Falun Gong practitioner in Wuhan, told The Epoch Times that a police officer intimidated him by saying: We can easily kill you, just like killing a fly. If we take you out for execution, no one outside would know. If we cut out your organs and tell others you have committed suicide, who would know what really happened? According to a Minghui report on May 27, 2019, Falun Gong practitioner Zhang Bo and five other practitioners were taken away by police from their workplace on Dec. 26, 2018. At Wuhans Yujiatou Police Station, these six practitioners were forced to take a physical examination. Each had hundreds of milliliters of blood drawn, and the doctors also checked the health indices of their liver, kidney, heart, and lungs. They also had an eye examination to check their corneas. All six practitioners were young men who would be considered high-quality donors. About 27% of vacant lots in Woodlawn are owned by the city. Under the mayors proposed ordinance, developers who are building on city-owned vacant land are required to set aside a certain number of units for lower-income residents. That means a developer for a building with six to 14 units has to set aside 10% of apartments for households earning up to 80% of the area median income, or about $71,000 for a family of four. New Delhi, June 12 : What is the difference between a roti and a Paratha? Apart from the taste, it is 18 per cent GST that can be imposed on Parotas (or Parathas) because these need to be heated before consumption. Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra took to Twitter on Friday after the Karnataka bench of Authority for Advance Rulings (AAR) ruled that Parotas are not rotis and, therefore, can be taxed at higher 18 per cent GST compared to 5 per cent for rotis because they need to be heated before consumption. "With all the other challenges the country is facing, it makes you wonder if we should be worrying about an existential crisis for the 'Parota.' In any case, given Indian jugaad skills, I'm pretty sure there will be a new breed of 'Parotis' that will challenge any categorization," Mahindra tweeted. The Karnataka bench's order comes after a Bengaluru-based ready-to-cook food maker sought the authority for more clarification on GST rates for variants of parotas. As the post went viral, Twitterati flooded the social media with their reactions. One Twitter user said: "According to new GST ruling, Roti & Chapatti : 5 per cent GST Tax, Porotta : 18 per cent GST Tax. Kerala "Parota" is not "Roti" because unlike rotis which are ready to eat, Porotas need to be heated before consumption. Height of Indian Bureaucracy. #HandsOffPorotta". Another Twitter user asked: "You spell it as Parota, Parotha, Parontha, Paratha or Parantha? I grew calling it Parantha. More the letters, higher the tax?" The company called ID Fresh Food contended that its products should be treated in the same way as khakhra, plain chapati or roti under the law. "How about puri or for that mater Amritsar's Chole Kulche? Which has Aloo in it. With this additional ingredient in it, exclusivity of 28 per cent may be fine," tweeted another user. TINTON FALLS, N.J., June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kiely Family of Companies, a leading design-build enterprise in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, announces that its two companies, AAES Engineering, Inc. and J.F. Kiely Service Co., will combine its services as one company: Kiely Engineering. An ENR 500 and 600 enterprise, the Kiely Family of Companies has launched Kiely Engineering to provide clients with an engineering and consulting team of over 50 design professionals in 6 offices located throughout the country and abroad. By joining as one, Kiely Engineering will provide clients with an expanded list of full-service engineering, design, and project management services in the Civil, Structural, Utility Infrastructure, Mechanical and Energy markets. "For over six decades, the Kiely Family of Companies has continued to focus on customer success and design-build capabilities," says John M. Kiely, CEO of the Kiely Family of Companies. "Kiely Engineering will provide a unique approach in the industry, built around a culture of advanced customer support, technical innovation, and personal integrity." Kiely Engineering projects range from multi-million dollar installations to inspections and modifications. Each job is approached as a fresh opportunity to create solutions that encompass uncompromising quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness for clients. For more information about the Kiely Engineering, visit kielybuilds.com . Media Contact: James M. Pagano 1 Radar Way Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 [email protected] 732.403.8600 x231 SOURCE Kiely Engineering MONTREALFor Louise Delisle, an African Nova Scotian who grew up in the rural town of Shelburne, the racism her community has experienced over the years is reflected in the health of its members. Her father and brother died of cancer. Her mother is still alive after two bouts of breast cancer, and her sister and niece are also cancer survivors. The 69-year-old Delisle lays the blame for her communitys health problems on a now-closed toxic dump that existed for decades near the historical Black part of town. There is a lot of cancer in just about every family, she said in a recent interview. Ingrid Waldron, a professor in Dalhousie Universitys school of nursing, says the health conditions in Shelburne and another rural African Nova Scotia community, Lincolnville, are examples of systemic racism in Canada. Systemic racism, Waldron said, refers to the exclusion or underrepresentation of people of colour and Indigenous people in society through the policies and decisions of those in power. These policies and decisions lead to inequalities and disparities between races on such measures as income, education and, in the case of Shelburne, health. The term has re-entered mainstream public debate across Canada following the killing of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis police custody at the end of May. Floyds killing triggered anti-Black racism protests across the United States and in other parts of the world, including Canada. On Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Indigenous and racialized Canadians have long known that there is systemic discrimination right across our country and every part of our country and in our institutions. And recognizing that is difficult. Waldron said in a recent interview that systemic racism is the way disadvantage, discrimination and exclusion are embedded in social systems. It is reflected when people of colour and Indigenous people are under-represented in the judiciary and overrepresented in prisons. Or when people of colour earn less than others and provincial civil services are disproportionately white. Indigenous adults make up three per cent of Canadas population and visible minorities more than 22 per cent. But in Canadas federal and provincial judiciaries, 1.3 per cent of judges are Indigenous and four per cent are visible minorities. About 21 per cent of visible minorities in Canada are considered low-income, compared with just over 12 per cent of people who are not visible minorities. Nationally, the median total income for Black people is 34 per cent lower than the income for nonvisible minorities. In 2016, Indigenous women accounted for roughly 31 of the federal prison population, while men represented 23 per cent. Waldron says systemic racism explains why Nova Scotias Black rural communities are rarely mentioned when political leaders talk about environmental issues. Her 2018 book, Theres Something In The Water, examined the legacies of industrial pollution on towns such as Shelburne and Lincolnville. She argues that landfills, trash incinerators, coal plants, toxic waste facilities and other environmentally hazardous activities tend to be near communities of colour, Indigenous territories and the working poor. Delisle said growing up, no one in her community wanted to say anything about the dump fires that blew noxious gases and ash through her part of town. The dump was placed in her community, she said, because no one said anything about it. It was fully shut down in 2016. People didnt want to do anything that was going to make them stand out or seem like a troublemaker in the community, she said. Inequalities in Canada are reflected in many indicators beyond health. On Tuesday, Quebecs human rights commission published a report examining the demographics of public-sector workers in such areas as schools, police forces, public transit and municipalities. It found that visible minorities people who are not Caucasian or Indigenous made up about six per cent of that workforce in 2019, even though they account for 13 per cent of the Quebec population. The report also indicated that Indigenous people, who make up about 2.5 per cent of Quebecs population held just 0.3 per cent of those public-sector jobs. When it comes to policing, reports in cities such as Montreal and Halifax have indicated that people of colour are more likely to be subjected to so-called street checks. A 2019 report commissioned by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission indicates Black people in the Halifax area were stopped by police six times more often than whites. In Montreal, a 2019 report commissioned by the citys police force indicated Black people were 4.2 times more likely to be stopped by police than whites were, and that rate increased to 4.6 times for Indigenous people. During the past two weekends, thousands of people gathered in protests across Canada to denounce what they claimed was anti-Black racism in the countrys police forces. That same level of support, however, was not seen a few months earlier, before the COVID-19 pandemic, when First Nations people across the country protested in solidarity with hereditary chiefs from the Wetsuweten First Nation in British Columbia contesting a natural gas pipeline. Winnipeg-based Cree community organizer, Michael Redhead Champagne, said he is hopeful the recent mobilization is a sign of changing attitudes. He noted that thousands gathered at the Manitoba legislature to denounce anti-Black racism last Friday. Those people, he said in a recent interview, signalled they wanted to understand systemic racism and shed harmful habits. I can take a look at all the things that people didnt do, or I can take a look at the newly demonstrated capacity that our cities and communities have to address systemic racism, he said. It breaks my heart that I dont see 20,000 people showing up to support (Indigenous issues) and to support my relatives in that way, but it gives me hope that people are willing to learn now. CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has committed $100 million for a new racial justice and equality initiative saying, 'The unfinished work of racial justice and equality call us all to account.' 'Things must change, and Apple's committed to being a force for that change,' Cook tweeted. Cook had two weeks ago in a memo to employees condemned the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed 46-year-old African American, and called for the creation of a 'better, more just world for everyone. Detailing the new initiative in a video post accompanying the tweet, Cook said it will initially begin in the U.S. and expand globally over time to challenge the systemic barriers to opportunity and dignity that exists for communities of colour and particularly for the black community with special focus on issues of education, economic equality and criminal justice reform. He noted that the new initiative will be led by Lisa Jackson, Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives at Apple. She has already made a mark in achieving Apple's goal of improving the environmental sustainability of its supply chain. Apple is already partnering with community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), minority-serving institutions, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and others through programs like AppleCare College and Apple HBCU Scholars internship program. The new effort will build on this long standing work with these institutions and underserved students and teachers as well as forging new partnerships with organizations like the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit that focuses on criminal justice reform and racial injustice. Cook said Apple will run a new developer entrepreneurial camp for the black developers ahead of its worldwide developers conference later this month to foster the best ideas among them. Apple is also committed to increasing its total spending with black partners and increasing representation across companies it does business with in its supply chain and professional service partners, Cook said. Several other companies too have announced millions in donations to support the campaign BlackLivesMatter that was started with the protests seeking racial justice. They include Facebook, Cisco, Uber, Intel, shopify, PayPal, Airbnb, Amazon, H&M, McDonald's, Gap, and Alphabet's YouTube. PayPal has committed the highest amount of$530 million to support black and minority-owned businesses and communities in the U.S. to help address economic inequality. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Roman Leschenko, Head of The State Service of Ukraine for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre, since June 11, 2020 Many people struggled desperately to head Geocadastre. Not I. For many years, I had been teaching in the University and running the family business the private farm in Cherkaska oblast. It happened that last year I was asked to join Volodymyr Zelenskys team as the Land Commissioner for the President of Ukraine. Knowing how important land is for common people and local communities, and how much was stolen or mismanaged by bureaucrats, I could not refuse. I travelled all over the country to meet the farmers and local communities. Everywhere I went, I heard just how widespread land related corruption was and how it has sapped the energy and dynamism of small and medium farmers all over Ukraine, preventing them from investing, accessing credit, and harnessing the potential of the land. I realized that, without transforming the state institutions responsible, the historic land reforms already put in place by President Zelensky would not help farmers. So, I took a new challenge, heading one of the most corrupt state bodies - Geocadastre. I know what a massive task this will be. But again, this task has to be completed if we want our children to live in a country with thriving and attractive rather than desolate rural villages and towns. And failure is not an option. The mission of this body, as I see it, is to help the country manage its farmland and unique natural resources, provide the basis for planning and revenue collection by local government, help the private sector thrive, especially in agriculture, and above all for citizens to have secure rights to their land and easily access to quality services. Due to the cancer of corruption, Geocadastre failed its mission in the previous years. At the same time its services are needed now more than ever to help the country quickly overcome the negative effects of the crisis. In fact transforming Geocadastre into a corruption-free premier provider of geo-spatial information unleashes huge opportunities for all of us. Therefore, the first thing tomorrow morning is to start fighting the public land theft, which is the treasure of us all. Staff who are clean and honest have nothing to fear but any evidence of illegal or inappropriate behavior will be persecuted swiftly. The second priority is to make every possible effort to get the necessary legislation that transfers state land to local bodies, allows us to use streamlined and fully electronic processes for land management as well as auctions, and to put in place avenues for famers to come out of the shadows and get access to bank credit and state support without the fear of being taxed. To perform our mission, we will need support from the other parts of Government as well as civil society, the private sector and our international partners to help us expose corruption at every level and deal with it through appropriate channels while at the same time clearly focusing on the technical challenges ahead and equipping our staff to honestly and proudly serve the country through technical excellence. I am confident that with everybodys support we will be able to make progress and eventually complete this historic Presidents task: to make Ukraine the leader of the agricultural sector, and Ukrainians the real owners of our God-given land. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russias sovereign wealth fund, and the ChemRar Group on Thursday announced the delivery of the first batch of Avifavir to Russian hospitals. Avifavir is one of the two registered Covid-19 drugs in the world, said a Wam news agency report. RDIF and the ChemRar Group have started the mass production of Avifavir, which has proven effective against coronavirus in clinical trials and has become the first in Russia and one of the first coronavirus drugs in the world, it said. (Natural News) Nearly 30,000 Britons had to be retested for the coronavirus after their swabs, which their government had flown out to the U.S., turned out to be invalid. The voided tests were part of a batch of 67,000 that had to be sent over to a university in the U.S. after the privately run Randox laboratory in Northern Ireland experienced operational issues. The U.K. government had previously admitted to sending 50,000 tests across the Atlantic. A report by the Telegraph has revealed that this figure is 17,000 short of the true number and that 29,500 were later returned as void a move that could likely cost British taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds. (Related: UK coronavirus deaths surpass 50,000, according to official figures.) Voided tests sent back from the U.S. According to the report, the swabs were returned to the U.K. in two large bags. One of the bags was listed as containing a much higher than expected void rate. The report says that this was due to different equipment standards being applied in the U.S. compared to the United Kingdom. We worked hard to get complete tests for people under difficult circumstances. In many cases that worked and we are grateful to the team for their efforts, stated the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). But in some cases it didnt, and the correct judgment was made to void the tests. Everyone affected was offered a new test immediately and we worked quickly to restore full capacity in the UK. Last month, a spokesman for the DHSC stated that the laboratorys operational difficulties were due to a technical glitch, which slowed down the processing of the tests, resulting in a backlog. When problems arise, we have contingencies in place, which include creating extra temporary capacity for our labs or sending swabs abroad to partner labs for completion, the DHSC said. Of course, our partner labs must match our high standards. U.K. governments handling of the testing criticized The DHSC explained that the expansion of the U.K.s coronavirus testing network involved the setting up of an entirely new laboratory networked called Lighthouse to process test swabs. Despite this, the test swabs from the Randox lab were still sent to the U.S., a move that has drawn criticism. University of Leeds molecular virologist Nicola Stonehouse, who has staff and students working in the Lighthouse laboratories, questioned the decision to ship testing samples to the U.S. rather than to alternative labs in Britain. What I dont understand is if there were problems at one Lighthouse lab, why they didnt send samples to another Lighthouse lab, or to some of the NHS labs, she said in an interview with The Guardian. The individual Lighthouse labs, to my understanding, do not seem to be in contact and working as a unit: They seem to be working as separate, different labs and that doesnt seem to me to be a very logical thing to do, she added. Others had criticized the governments decision to ease the countrys lockdown even before its test-and-trace system was running optimally. What surprises me, I guess, is that we are moving ahead so quickly with easing lockdown before the system is at full speed, said Lisa McNally, public health director at Sandwell council in the West Midlands, in an interview with BBC Radio 4. We need to allow time to assess how things are going, get this system up to speed. In response to criticism, Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised that his government would work to speed up coronavirus testing in the country. The prime minister committed to getting all tests turned around in 24 hours by the end of June, except for difficulties with postal tests or insuperable problems like that. Johnson made the promise in the House of Commons Wednesday. This was after former health secretary Jeremy Hunt made a statement in which he said that the quick delivery of test results would be absolutely essential to the success of the governments test-and-trace system. Learn more about the coronavirus at Pandemic.news. Sources include: TheGuardian.com Telegraph.co.uk Independent.co.uk Capt Amarinder Singh Chandigarh: In a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at checking the community spread of Covid, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has launched a mobile based app - Ghar Ghar Nigrani, to undertake house to house surveillance in the state in an ongoing process, till the elimination of the pandemic. Launching the app through video conference in the presence of Health & Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, the Chief Minister described the Health Department initiative, encompassing ASHA workers/Community Volunteers, as a tool for early detection and testing of the coronavirus, and preventing its community spread. Advertisement Capt Amarinder SinghAdditional Chief Secretary (Health) Anurag Agarwal said that the entire rural and urban population of Punjab above 30 years of age shall be surveyed as part of the drive, which will also cover persons below the age of 30 having co-morbidity or Influenza like Illness/Severe Acute Respiratory Illness. This would not be a one-time activity but an ongoing process till the containment of Covid, said Agarwal. The survey would capture full medical conditions of a person for the previous one week and complete details of his/her co-morbidity, Agarwal said, adding that this would help the state develop an extremely important database to further plan its Covid containment strategy and make targeted interventions for the community. Apart from this, the survey shall give better direction to all state Health programmes by providing ideas for MIS based monitoring, he further said. Advertisement Punjab governmentAccording to Special Secretary, Health-cum-Testing Incharge Covid, Isha Kalia, the user-friendly app had been developed and designed in-house by the Health Department, and had been field tested in Patiala and Mansa. Around 20,628 persons were surveyed, of whom 9045 were found to be asymptomatic and 1583 with symptoms of cough/fever/sore throat/breathlessness etc. The survey is currently under way in 518 villages and 47 urban wards. Around 4.88% persons have been found to be hypertensive, 2.23 % diabetic, 0.14 % having kidney disease, 0.64% with Heart Disease, 0.13% having TB and 0.13% having Cancer. The ASHA worker/community volunteers will be paid Rs 4 per head incentive/honorarium for every person surveyed and shall cover 500 households. A certificate of appreciation will be issued by the Department to each volunteer as recognition of her contribution. Advertisement A supervisor will oversee the work of ASHA/Community Volunteers, and would be engaged on voluntary basis @ Rs 5000 per month. The supervisor shall be directly responsible for quality check of data fed by the volunteers, monitoring their daily progress and ensuring Covid testing of those found to be symptomatic. Capt Amarinder SinghCommunity volunteers will mainly be engaged in areas where ASHA workers are not available, for instance in Urban Areas, or where ASHA is unable to use Mobile App. A community volunteer can be any female over the age of 18, with 10+2 or more as educational qualification and resident of the same village or ward. Prominent amongst those present at the Video Conference were Cabinet Ministers Brahm Mohindra, Manpreet Singh Badal, OP Soni, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh, DGP Dinkar Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary Food & Civil Supplies K Siva Prasad and Principal Secretary Medical Education & Research DK Tiwari, Advisor Medical Education Dr KK Talwar, Vice Chancellor BFUHS Dr. Raj Bahadur, Director Food & Civil Supplies Anindita Mitra, Director Health Services Dr Avneet Kaur, Dr. Rajesh Kumar from PGIMER and Dr Rajesh Bhaskar Nodal Officer Covid-19. By PTI LONDON: "Harry Potter" star Emma Watson and "Fantastic Beasts" star Eddie Redmayne are among the actors who have spoken out against author JK Rowling for her anti-trans tweets that have sparked a massive controversy among her fans and followers. Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" series, joined her co-star Daniel Radcliffe in criticising the author's views. "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are," she tweeted. Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they arent who they say they are. Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) June 10, 2020 Radcliffe, in an essay on the Trevor Project, a non-profit dedicated to crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ people, wrote, "Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I." Redmayne, who plays Newt Scamander in Rowling's 'Harry Potter' spin-off, said he wanted to make his stand on the topic clear. "Respect for transgender people remains a cultural imperative, and over the years I have been trying to constantly educate myself. This is an ongoing process," Redmayne said in a statement to Variety. The actor, also known for his role as Lili Elbe, the first person in history to undergo a male-to-female sex reassignment surgery in "The Danish Girl", said he would never speak on behalf of the community but understands that they are "tired of this constant questing" of their identities. "I disagree with Jo's comments. Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid. "I would never want to speak on behalf of the community but I do know that my dear transgender friends and colleagues are tired of this constant questioning of their identities, which all too often results in violence and abuse. They simply want to live their lives peacefully, and it's time to let them do so," he wrote. Bonnie Wright, known as Ginny Weasley to "Harry Potter" fans, tweeted, "If Harry Potter was a source of love and belonging for you, that love is infinite and there to take without judgment or question. Transwomen are women. I see and love you." Rowling sparked a debate with her series of tweets on Saturday where she argued that discussion of gender identity invalidates biological sex. "If sex isn't real, there's no same-sex attraction. If sex isn't real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn't hate to speak the truth," Rowling wrote. "The idea that women like me, who've been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they're vulnerable in the same way as women - ie, to male violence - 'hate' trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences - is a nonsense," she wrote. The author's comments led to an uproar in Hollywood and among her fans and queer activists have denounced her comments as anti-trans. Rowling on Wednesday wrote an essay clarifying her tweets while coming out as a sexual assault survivor. "If you could come inside my head and understand what I feel when I read about a trans woman dying at the hands of a violent man, you'd find solidarity and kinship," she wrote. "I have a visceral sense of the terror in which those trans women will ave spent their last seconds on earth, because I too have known moments or blind fear when I realised that the only thing keeping me alive was the shaky self-restraint of my attacker," the author said. Rowling said her decision to mention these details was not an attempt to garner sympathy but out of solidarity with the huge number of women with similar history, "who've been slurred as bigots for having concerns around single-sex spaces". Argentine President Alberto Fernandez is facing resistance from the agriculture industry, businessmen and even pot-banging citizens after announcing he would seize control of one of the world's largest soy meal and oil exporters, Vicentin SAIC. Argentines from Buenos Aires to the northern town of Avellaneda, where Vicentin is headquartered, have protested the expropriation. And after a meeting with Fernandez on Thursday night, Vicentin indicated the government is willing to analyze other types of public-private partnerships to save the bankrupt firm from nationalization. A spokesman for Fernandez didn't immediately reply to requests for comment. Opposition leaders, farmers, economists and even a close former ally of Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner have slammed the move, saying it will only complicate the country's critical debt negotiations with private lenders. Because a court is overseeing Vicentin's bankruptcy, the executive branch is also being criticized for encroaching in judicial matters in a nation with a long history of such tensions. "There was no need to expropriate Vicentin," said Marcos Buscaglia, an Argentine economist and co-founder of consulting firm Alberdi Partners. "The nationalization could cost the government dearly and derail debt-restructuring talks." Fernandez announced the nationalization Monday without notifying Vicentin executives beforehand, but there's since been speculation about backtracking. A nationalization may curtail Fernandez's recent surge in the polls, boosted by Argentines who didn't vote for him in last year's election. In March, he implemented one of the strictest Covid-19 lockdowns in Latin America, earning praise as neighboring Brazil became a hot spot of the pandemic. However, the Vicentin takeover is reviving old, unpopular memories of the second term of now-deputy Kirchner's presidency. After expropriating oil company YPF in 2012, in the following years she saw her approval ratings slump and her party voted out of office. Indeed, the plan to nationalize Vicentin is reigniting debate about who really is in power in Argentina: President Fernandez or Kirchner. A poll by Buenos Aires-based pollster Management & Fit shows 47% of Argentines believe the decision was Kirchner's, with only 23% saying Fernandez made the call on his own. Forty-seven percent also disagreed with the expropriation; just 21% approved. "The government's biggest challenge is gaining the public's trust," said Mariel Fornoni, Management & Fit's director. "The ability to start building trust has been fundamental for Fernandez, and these types of things lose it." Kirchner's second term, from 2011 to 2015, also saw contentious policies to reform Argentina's judiciary in what critics labeled a move to amass power in the executive. Now, the constitutionality of the Vicentin nationalization is being questioned because a judge is already in charge of the company's bankruptcy. "We express the importance of respecting the division of Argentina's republican powers," Argentina's main grain exchanges said in a joint statement. Production Minister Matias Kulfas said in an interview that provincial Judge Fabian Lorenzini's rulings will be respected. The planned takeover of Vicentin has realized the farm industry's worst fears under Fernandez: state meddling in its business and the potential to unbalance grain markets. "State intervention implies the risk of distorting equilibrium prices," Argentina's main crop associations said in a statement. "State-run companies have different priorities to private companies; they don't necessarily need to be profitable." That sort of negative reaction may scare Fernandez, who's well aware of the risks of fueling a feud with the country's farmers. Back in 2008, when Kirchner was in charge and Fernandez was her chief of staff, a move to hike export taxes during a commodities boom turned into a political crisis after farmers across the country protested and set up roadblocks. Kirchner eventually lost a vote in congress and Fernandez resigned, staying out of public office for more than a decade until he became president in December. Vicentin defaulted on debt at around the same time after over-stretching itself with credit to farmers. Ironically, it was the figure of Fernandez who precipitated the firm's downfall. After it became clear he'd become president and probably raise export taxes, farmers rushed to tie in contracts. It felt, some said, like a bank run. And in the end, it led Vicentin, the 91-year-old firm specializing in exporting soy meal and oil, to file for bankruptcy, saying it couldn't meet a $350 million payment owed to suppliers and that it'd seek to restructure about $1 billion in debt. Judge Lorenzini said in March that the company's defaulted obligations totaled 99.3 billion pesos ($1.4 billion). Summer tuition looks set to be offered to more children this year in recognition of the impact the extended school closure has had on the families of children with special needs. The Cabinet is set to hear proposals today on summer programmes for thousands of children with special educational needs and students most at risk of disadvantage. Initial guidance on how classrooms and schools will operate when they reopen for the new school year is also expected to be published today. The summer programmes are expected to operate like July Provision, which is usually offered to children with severe or profound general learning disabilities, or autistic children. According to Government sources, the scheme looks set to be significantly expanded to include children with moderate learning disabilities, children with Down Syndrome, and children with emotional behavioural disorders. It is understood that children with hearing and visual disabilities will also be able to avail of the scheme. The significant expansion of the programme is being put in place in acknowledgement of the negative impact school closures have had on children with special educational needs, according to Government sources. It is understood that if a school isnt offering the summer programme this year, families will be able to ask a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) to provide the support. The programme can also be home-based, like with July Provision. Separately, DEIS schools will also be given the option to run summer camps for students they feel are most in need. It is understood that primary schools will be given the opportunity to run numeracy and literacy camps, with a module dedicated to wellbeing. DEIS secondary schools will also have the same option, with a focus on students wellbeing and skills to re-engage with school. The guidance is set to be published after Joe McHugh, the Minister for Education, briefs the Cabinet this afternoon. Both schemes will be dependent on the number of schools, teachers and SNAs that sign-up to take part. The roadmap on reopening schools will also give some form of clarity to schools, which closed their doors more than 13 weeks ago now. June is usually used as the time to prepare for the incoming school year. Questions around insurance, sanitisation and funding have all been raised during the course of talks between officials in the Department of Education and principals, teachers, and school management bodies. Concerns around maintaining physical distancing guidelines in classrooms have also been raised. Even if the two-metre physical distancing rule is reduced to one, this is still expected to cause issues within classrooms. Ireland is among the largest class sizes in the OECD. Some of the ideas mooted are understood to include potential changes to the curriculum, dividing younger students into pods as also suggested for creches; keeping classes well distanced from others within a school; and mixing remote learning with learning in the classroom. It is understood that the guidelines to be issued today are based on the most current public health advice, and can be tweaked should the advice change. Sources who took part in the discussions say they are confident that their submissions made to the department have been carefully considered. The department has also looked at how schools in other countries have managed to reopen their buildings safely, with Mr McHugh previously citing Germany, France, Denmark, and Greece as some of the examples considered. On Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari gave a nationwide broadcast in commemoration of this years Democracy Day. He used the opportunity... On Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari gave a nationwide broadcast in commemoration of this years Democracy Day. He used the opportunity to give an account of his stewardship in critical sectors. Buhari said his administration has recorded notable achievements notwithstanding some setbacks, and set timelines for more deliverable. Here are 10 key things the president said during the broadcast: 412KM SUKUK-FUNDED ROADS COMPLETED Buhari said his administration has taken advantage of the Sukuk bond first issued in 2017 to target key road projects to complete over 400 kilometres of road across the country He said out of the 643 kilometres of roads targeted through the bond, a total of 412 kilometres have been constructed. He also said: The Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund projects are also progressing very well. On the 2nd Niger Bridge, piling work has been completed and the approach roads are being constructed. 48% of work on this bridge has been achieved. We have constructed 102km of the 376km AbujaKadunaKano Road, representing 38%, and the 42.9km ObajanaKabba Road is 87.03% complete. Furthermore, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency has completed routine maintenance on over 4,000km of federal roads out of the 5,000km targeted. ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION THROUGH AGRICULTURE The president said agriculture remains the key to his administrations economic diversification strategy as evidenced in the progress made in the last one year. He said the presidential fertiliser initiative programme continues to deliver significant quantities of affordable and high-quality fertilisers to our farmers and that it has helped to revive 31 blending plants and create a significant number of jobs. Government is also revamping the cotton, textile and garment sector via a CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) Textile Revival Intervention Fund that would considerably reduce foreign exchange spent on cotton and other textile imports, he added. To protect our farming investments, we have deployed 5,000 Agro-Rangers and employed 30,289 in our para-military agencies. We are also integrating rural communities to the formal economy by extending access to credit and inputs to rural farmers and building feeder roads. Our efforts on growing non-oil exports have started to yield some results. For instance, in the past year, our revenue from Cocoa and Sesame Seed increased by $79.4 million and $153 million. EFFECTIVE USE OF RECOVERED LOOT In the broadcast, Buhari said anti-corruption agencies have secured more than 1,400 convictions and recovered funds in excess of N800 billion, and that his administration continues to ensure the funds recovered are used for development and infrastructure projects. He said the public service has continued to evolve as the bedrock for the formulation and implementation of policies, programmes and projects to enable the government to better tackle new socio-economic challenges. I will continue to give all the necessary support for the on-going reforms designed to return discipline, integrity and patriotism as the hallmark of the public service, the president pledged. ADEQUATE EFFORTS TO TACKLE INSECURITY: BOKO HARAM, BANDITS DOWNGRADED Efforts to tackle insecurity, which remains a major challenge especially with regard to armed banditry, kidnapping and Boko Haram insurgency, also featured in the presidents speech. He said his administration is according appropriate priorities to ending insurgency, banditry and other forms of crimes across Nigeria, and that men and women of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have considerably downgraded such threats across all geo-political zones. All the local governments that were taken over by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have long been recovered and are now occupied by indigenes of these areas who were hitherto forced to seek a living in areas far from their ancestral homes, he said. As part of the strengthening of our internal security architecture, the ministry of police affairs was created. Government has expanded the National Command and Control Centre to nineteen states of the federation, resuscitated the national public security communication system and commenced the implementation of the community policing strategy. 10M CHILDREN BEING FED IN SCHOOLS, SUCCESSES IN OTHER SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES Buhari said his government has continued to work to reduce social and economic inequality through targeted social investment programmes, education, technology and improved information. Our Social Investment Programme has continued to be a model to other nations and has engaged 549,500 N-Power beneficiaries, 408,682 beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme and 2,238,334 beneficiaries of the Growth Enhancement and Empowerment Programme, he said. Similarly, Marketmoni and Tradermoni Programmes have provided affordable loans to small and micro scale enterprises to grow their businesses. Under the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, over 9,963,729 children are being fed to keep them in school and improve their nutritional status. CRITICAL PROJECTS ONGOING IN POWER SECTOR Buhari said because the power sector remains key to meeting Nigerias development aspirations, he is determined to tackle the challenges that has made adequate power supply impossible for the citizens. He listed critical projects in the sector to include Alaoji to Onitsha, Delta power station to Benin and Kaduna to Kano; 330kv DC 62km line between Birnin Kebbi and Kamba; Lagos/Ogun transmission infrastructure project, Abuja transmission ring scheme and northern corridor transmission project. Our agreement with Siemens will transmit and distribute a total of 11,000 Megawatts by 2023, to serve our electricity needs, he said. FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN REMAINS THE GOAL The president said Nigeria remains committed to expanding access to quality education, and that the country will continue to pursue the enforcement of free and compulsory basic education for the first nine years of schooling. Although the Universal Basic Education Act provides for free and compulsory education for Nigerian children, this is not being implemented in many states. Buhari said to achieve early education for children, a project known as the Better Education Service Delivery for All has been launched in 17 states while six federal science and technical colleges have been established. In our revision of the operations of specialised education funds and to implement reforms that would optimise their benefits to the sector, we have adopted a Public-Private Sector Partnership for provision of infrastructure and also collaborate with the private sector to create jobs, he added. PRESS FREEDOM GUARANTEED Buhari thanked the media for their doggedness in the struggle for the attainment of Nigerias democracy and for being effective watchdog for the society especially in holding public officers to account. We will continue to guarantee freedom of the press as we place high premium on responsible journalism that is devoid of hate speech, fake news and other unethical professional conduct, he said. BIDDING FOR 57 MARGINAL OIL FIELDS ONGOING For the first time in over ten years, Nigeria is conducting bidding process for 57 Marginal Oil Fields to increase revenue and increase the participation of Nigerian companies in oil and exploration and production business, Buhari said, adding that $200 million intervention fund has also been disbursed to indigenous manufacturers and service providers in the oil and gas sector. He also said peace has been restored in the Niger Delta region and oil production levels maintained through sustained engagement of youths, opinion leaders and other stakeholders. EFFORTS TO MANAGE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Buhari lamented the impact of COVID-19 on Nigerians, saying the infection has also caused the death of a close member of my staff and some relatives and friends. He, however, expressed commitment to ensure adequate efforts are in place not only to manage the current situation but to ensure the impact is cushioned. Government is determined to turn this COVID-19 challenge into a motivation to action by building a nation-wide public health care system that will help us overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for any future outbreak, he said. Already, we have begun to look inward and I charge our inventors, researchers and scientists to come up with solutions to cure COVID-19. Amber Bolibruck had a deep passion for travelling. Her spontaneity and infectious smile also made it easy for her to make friends anywhere she went. She was such a bright light that the world wasnt big enough to contain her, Ambers mother, Talie Bolibruck, told Niagara This Week. The 26-year-old St. Catharines native suffered extensive injuries, including a severe brain injury, after falling from a 30-foot cliff in San Diego last week. Bolibruck succumbed to her injuries several days later. Amber has successfully made it to heaven, Talie shared in a Facebook post on June 6. She had been posting regular updates to friends, families and many strangers who followed along as Amber underwent several surgeries. Talie was asking them to keep Amber in their prayers. The Bolibruck family travelled to San Diego after receiving news of Ambers fall. While they werent able to physically be with Amber during her time in a U.S. hospital, due to COVID-19 restrictions, Talie was able to see her daughter via FaceTime. The outpouring of love that we have received has been absolutely profound and is unbelievable the strength and comfort it has given us, she said. Ambers recent move to California means she was without insurance, and now her family is left to pay for the crippling medical bills and travel expenses associated with bringing Amber back to Canada. Wanting to do something to help the family, two of Ambers close friends, Le-Anna Bowman and Jessica Lobosco, have organized an online fundraiser to help with the expenses. A Facebook page was set up late last week and raised about $22,000 of a $100,000 goal in seven days. The link to donate is available at https://www.facebook.com/donate/573571073535406/. Bowman and Lobosco said reaching that $100,000 goal will go a long way toward helping the Bolibruck family. Bowman and Lobosco described their friend as a spontaneous, wanderlust at heart who longed for adventure. Amber lived in different corners of the world, including Australia, Alberta, and just recently moved to San Diego. While she loved to travel, Amber kept a strong connection with her friends and family in the Niagara region. She was vivacious and generous, and in true Amber fashion, her generosity continues: in the last few days, Ambers organs have been donated, saving two lives, Bowman said. Authors of Journal of the American College of Surgeons article report use of elastomeric masks reduces the number of N95 masks needed by nearly 95 percent in one month CHICAGO (June 12, 2020): A cost-effective strategy for health care systems to offset N95 mask shortages due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is to switch to reusable elastomeric respirator masks, according to new study results. These long-lasting masks, often used in industry and construction, cost at least 10 times less per month than disinfecting and reusing N95 masks meant to be for single use, say authors of the study, published as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website in advance of print. The study is one of the first to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using elastomeric masks in a health care setting during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Sricharan Chalikonda, MD, MHA, FACS, lead study author and chief medical operations officer for Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network (AHN), where the study took place. Disposable N95 masks are the standard face covering when health care providers require high-level respiratory protection, but during the pandemic, providers experienced widespread supply chain shortages and price increases, Dr. Chalikonda said. He said hospitals need a long-term solution. "We don't know if there will be a shortage of N95s again. We don't know how long the pandemic will last and how often there will be virus surges," he said. "We believe now is the time to invest in an elastomeric mask program." Dr. Chalikonda said an immediate supply of elastomeric masks in a health care system's stockpile of personal protective equipment is "game changing" given the advantages. Benefits of elastomeric masks Elastomeric masks are made of a tight-fitting, flexible, rubber-like material that can adjust to nearly all individuals' faces and can withstand multiple cleanings, Dr. Chalikonda said. These devices, which resemble gas masks, use a replaceable filter. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), elastomeric masks offer health care workers equal or better protection from airborne infectious substances compared with N95 masks.1 Like many hospitals during the COVID-19 crisis, AHN was disinfecting and reusing N95 masks for a limited number of uses. However, Dr. Chalikonda said, "Many caregivers felt the N95 masks didn't fit quite as well after disinfection." At the end of March, AHN began a one-month trial of a half-facepiece elastomeric mask covering the nose and mouth. The mask holds a P100-rated cartridge filter, meaning it filters out almost 100 percent of airborne particles.2 Until AHN could procure more elastomeric masks, the system began its program for P100 elastomeric mask "super-users": those providers who have the most frequent contact with COVID-19 patients. At each of AHN's nine hospitals in Pennsylvania and Western New York, the first providers to receive the new masks were respiratory therapists, anesthesia providers, and emergency department and intensive care unit (ICU) doctors and nurses. Initially, providers shared the reusable masks with workers on other shifts, and the masks underwent decontamination between shifts using vaporized hydrogen peroxide similar to the technique used to sterilize disposable N95 masks. As more masks became available, workers kept their own mask and disinfected it themselves according to the manufacturer's guidelines. Gradually AHN provided more staff with the new masks. Among nearly 2,000 health care providers receiving fit testing for an elastomeric mask (as required for any mask to make sure no unfiltered air penetrates it), 94 percent could wear one, the investigators reported. The small number of workers without a proper fit received an alternate type of respirator mask. After a month of use, no one wearing an elastomeric mask chose to return to an N95 mask, according to the authors. Regarding the elastomeric masks, Dr. Chalikonda said, "Our clinicians were very comfortable with the fit, knowing it was an equivalent if not superior amount of protection, and that these masks were intended to be reused." Furthermore, patients were receptive to their care providers wearing this type of respirator, he noted. Cost savings To determine if the elastomeric masks were cost-effective, the researchers performed a cost-benefit analysis over one month of mask disinfection and reuse comparing the new masks, with the filter replaced monthly, versus N95 masks at one hospital's 18-bed intensive care unit (ICU). Although the elastomeric mask costs about $20 and the filter costs $10 compared with only $3 at that time for an N95 mask, the research team found the elastomeric masks were "conservatively" 10 times less expensive. The cost savings, Dr. Chalikonda said, increases the longer they use the elastomeric masks, which often can last for years, and these masks can remain in storage for long periods, thus improving the planning and management of the medical supply stockpile for future outbreaks. He explained the monthly cost is lower because they can disinfect elastomeric masks much more often, multiple caregivers can share the same mask, and, unlike N95s masks, they do not need to waste the mask after a failed fit test. Another advantage of an elastomeric respirator program, according to Dr. Chalikonda, is it does not require any additional hospital resources to implement if the hospital already has an N95 mask reuse and resterilization program. The AHN elastomeric mask program presented fewer operational challenges than disinfecting N95 masks, he stated. ### Other study authors are Hope Waltenbaugh, MSN, RN, CNOR, NE-BC; Sara Angelilli, MSN, RN, CNOR; Tiffany Dumont, DO; Curt Kvasager, MBA; Timothy Sauber, MD; Nino Servello, CRNA; Anil Singh, MD; and Rafael Diaz-Garcia, MD, FACS. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Citation: Implementation of an Elastomeric Mask Program as a Strategy to Eliminate Disposable N95 Mask Use and Resterilization: Results from a Large Academic Medical Center. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2020.05.022. The authors report no disclosures. 1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Elastomeric respirators: strategies during conventional and surge demand situations: conventional, contingency, and crisis strategies. Updated April 20, 2020. Accessed June 9, 2020. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/elastomeric-respirators-strategy/index.html. 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH-approved particulate filtering facepiece respirators. Updated April 9, 2020. Accessed June 9, 2020. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/. About the American College of Surgeons The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 82,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit http://www.facs.org. We answer some commonly asked questions about the spread of coronavirus by people who do not develop symptoms. Since the first cluster of cases of the novel coronavirus was reported in China last December, scientists have been racing to get a better understanding of the highly contagious disease, COVID-19, and how to stop its spread. The coronavirus is transmitted from person to person through direct contact, droplets of saliva while coughing or discharge from the nose when sneezing. But there is ongoing scientific debate and research concerning the contagion passing on from asymptomatic carriers. What is asymptomatic? Asymptomatic means a person has been infected by the virus, but does not feel sick or develop any symptoms. This is different from pre-symptomatic, which means a person does not show the symptoms in the early stages of the illness but develops them later on. For those who are not asymptomatic, the time between infection and the onset of symptoms can range from one to 14 days. Most infected people show symptoms within five to six days. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, fatigue and a dry cough. Some patients may experience aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhoea, or a loss of smell or taste. Can asymptomatic people spread coronavirus? The general consensus among health officials and experts is: Yes. WHO has maintained that asymptomatic people can transmit COVID-19 but more research is required to determine the extent of the transmission. Dr Naheed Usmani, president of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA), told Al Jazeera: Asymptomatic people are generally not being screened, at least in the United States. They can definitely spread the disease. How can asymptomatic carriers spread the virus? Like symptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases, asymptomatic people can shed the virus in many ways, including through spitting, coughing and sneezing. Infection can also be passed on through direct contact with others or by contaminating surfaces and objects. 200323064432820 When you speak, sometimes youll spit a little bit, Anne Rimoin, an epidemiology professor at UCLAs School of Public Health, told CNN. Youll rub your nose. Youll touch your mouth. Youll rub your eyes. And then youll touch other surfaces, and then you will be spreading virus if you are infected and shedding the virus. Are asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers less contagious? This remains unclear and more research is required. Based on current evidence, WHO says asymptomatically infected individuals are less likely to transmit the virus than those who develop symptoms. Dr Usmani concurs. She said: If infectivity correlates to the dose of the virus exposure, then asymptomatic carriers would be shedding lower viral copies. How can you protect yourself? It is recommended to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, keep surfaces and objects clean and wear face masks, especially in crowded places. Where possible, maintain a safe distance between yourself and others particularly if they are coughing and sneezing and avoid touching your face, eyes and mouth with unwashed hands. Follow Saba Aziz on Twitter: @saba_aziz Now that the coronavirus epidemic is considered to be under control in Spain, the next big danger will be the imported cases, warn health officials. If everything goes according to plan, the first tourists will arrive this coming Monday as part of a pilot project in the Balearic Islands. Then, on July 1, Spain will officially lift travel restrictions at the border, including the quarantine requirement. Despite the travel ban, a total of 33,500 people entered Spain during the month of May through air and maritime borders, thanks to exceptions made for specific workers, residents returning to their homes, and certain emergency situations. But this number is expected to soar as soon as the country reopens, and authorities are scrambling to get health teams ready in time to detect all incoming cases. A majority of people will no doubt say something when they feel symptoms, but as you scale up, there is a growing number of people who will not Alberto Infante, public health expert Until now, personnel from the Health Ministry have been in charge of conducting airport temperature checks and handing out forms that visitors must fill in with information about any symptoms they might have, and their contact address during their stay in Spain. Since May 11, these health workers have detected 104 coronavirus cases, according to Fernando Simon, head of the ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts and Emergencies. Most of the imported cases came from Latin America and the United States. But this group of around 600 employees will not be nearly enough to screen all the new arrivals. Spain will reach deals with countries of origin to conduct checks at departure points. Fernando Carreras, deputy director of Sanidad Exterior, the ministry department in charge of the screening, said that his team is incorporating automated processes such as computerized health declarations and thermal-imaging cameras, which can check the body temperature of several people simultaneously, an improvement from doing it one at a time with a thermometer pointed at a persons forehead. Although these ministry health workers will assess suspicious cases, they will be backed by personnel hired by Aena, the Spanish airports operator. The screening is planned only for people arriving by sea or air, not by land. Travelers arriving on trains or motor vehicles will not undergo any kind of health checks. Inefficient system In any case, temperature screening has not proven itself to be a very efficient method for detecting coronavirus infections. Asymptomatic individuals and those who are still in the incubation period and have yet to develop symptoms cannot be identified with this method. Fernando Simon, of the ministrys health coordination center, was himself opposed to adopting the system at the beginning of the crisis, and he recently noted that it is not a cure-all. The other element of the Covid-19 detection effort, the health declarations, seek to ensure that visitors can be contacted if necessary throughout their stay. For now, new arrivals have to self-quarantine for 14 days, with outings permitted only for essential purchases such as food and medicine. But the quarantine will be lifted in the Balearic Islands this coming Monday, June 15. Elsewhere in Spain, the official date for free travel without restrictions is July 1, although Brussels yesterday recommended that all EU member states lift restrictions on internal travel on Monday. As for the EUs external borders, Brussels wants to implement a plan in a coordinated manner. So far, workers have been randomly calling visitors to ask about their health and trying to make sure they are observing the quarantine. We need to keep in mind that this is not a police-controlled confinement, it largely depends on each persons sense of responsibility, said sources in the government of the Balearic Islands. The response has been very positive, and the calls also help travelers with any doubts they might have regarding the disease. Calls will continue after July 1, but it will be more difficult to keep tabs on travelers. We need to keep in mind that this is not a police-controlled confinement, it largely depends on each persons sense of responsibility Balearic Islands government source Reopening borders must be done, but it must be done very carefully, said Alberto Infante, a public health expert who talked about a case in which a Peruvian couple residing in Spain traveled to Peru because their son died of Covid-19, and a daughter was ill. By the time they boarded the plane back home they had symptoms, and also obviously upon arrival. But they were only detected two days later when they got worse and sought assistance. All the passengers and crew on the flight had to be isolated. Its clear we have to be more proactive. A majority of people will no doubt say something when they feel symptoms, but as you scale up, there is a growing number of people who will not," he added. "And its not the same thing keeping an outbreak with dozens of cases under control, as it is keeping hundreds or thousands of cases. The epidemiologist Alberto Garcia-Basteiro said that if epidemiology surveillance systems are boosted, including faster detection and an effective implementation of contact tracing, it should compensate for the risk of new cases arriving from countries with higher coronavirus transmission than Spain. English version by Susana Urra. Chandigarh, June 12 : Cracking down on the inter-state smuggling and sale of illicit liquor, Ropar Police in Punjab on Friday arrested five people and seized what it called the "biggest ever" quantity of material for illicit liquor in a 10-hour operation in forested terrain in Himachal Pradesh villages. Officials said seven working stills and two lakh kg of 'lahan' -- from which illicit liquor is distilled after fermentation -- were seized from a forest area with thorny bushes and seasonal rivulets. The police had to cut through dense and thorny undergrowth to get to the spot, said Ropar Senior Superintendent of Police Swapan Sharma, adding the operation was carried out jointly with Himachal Police. Twenty-two police teams, comprising seven police personnel each, participated in the operation. The teams cordoned off the entire area around the villages, located about two km from the Punjab border, said Sharma, adding the search operation covered a six-km stretch along the inter-state border. Investigations were in progress to trace the links of the accused across Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, Sharma said. The seizure came amid statewide efforts to check sale in illicit liquor, as well as smuggling of liquor from across the state's borders. Sharma said two Himachal villages, Majri and Dabt, along with the area around them are notorious for liquor and drug smuggling. The smugglers take advantage of the forest cover and the lack of access in the tough terrain to sneak from Himachal Pradesh into Punjab with contraband. In five years, 26 cases in Punjab and 38 cases in Himachal have been registered against people hailing from these areas, the police said. Still, some worried that the corridor which draws elbow-to-elbow crowds during street festivals such as the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts and Pride would become too packed at a time when social distancing is still highly necessary. On Friday, about half the diners and passersby wore masks, while others wandered about with faces unencumbered by the requisite facial coverings despite signs at restaurants reminding people to don them. New Delhi, June 12 : The Supreme Court on Friday ordered that there will be no coercive action against employers who did not comply with a March 29 government notification directing companies to pay wages to employees for 54 days during the lockdown period. "No coercive action against employers till July last week," said the top court. It emphasized that employers and employees should talk and settle the matter. A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.R. Shah asked the employers to negotiate a settlement with their employees. The bench added that companies that operated during lockdown, but were not operating on full strength too should hold settlement talks with their employees. The bench asked the Centre to file a detailed reply on petitions challenging the notification. The apex court noted that in case the talks failed, parties could approach the Labour Department, which could facilitate a settlement, but efforts should be made to settle disputes between workers and employers. The top court emphasized that the private establishments and workers sit together to negotiate to settle disputes relating to wages. The bench also asked state governments to facilitate such settlements and submit reports before the labour commissioners. The top court emphasized that "piecemeal consideration" cannot be made, and Centre and state governments should circulate court order through labour departments to facilitate settlements. The top court has asked the Centre to file an additional affidavit in 4 weeks, and scheduled the next hearing on the matter in July last week. The bench noted that workers who are willing to work should be allowed to work notwithstanding disputes regarding wages. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Liberal MP and former diplomat Dave Sharma says Australia and its western allies need to welcome Russia back into the world's most exclusive group of nations, likening the globe's challenge in containing China to when it needed to confront the Soviet Union. Comparing the threat of a rising China to when former United States president Richard Nixon turned to Beijing to contain the Soviet Union, Mr Sharma said the "main US rival for global leadership today, China, has the confidence of the Soviet Union of old". Liberal MP Dave Sharma says Russia should be welcomed back into the fold to contain China. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The comments are in stark contrast to the position of other countries in the G7, particularly Canada, which have rejected US President Donald Trump's move to bring Russia back into the group of nations. Russia was kicked out of the group - then called the G8 - over its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Mr Sharma's stance will also be met with pushback in many sections of Australia that have not forgotten the role of the Russian government in the shooting down of MH17, which killed 38 Australians. The skepticism of Judges Henderson and Rao was particularly notable because both have been more willing than most colleagues to interpret the law in ways more favorable to the Trump administration in other politically charged cases like fights over congressional access to information the executive branch wants to keep secret. Their random assignment to the panel had seemed to increase the possibility that Mr. Flynn might prevail even though many legal experts agreed that Ms. Powells request for immediate intervention by the appeals court at this stage was questionable. But all three judges on Friday seemed to share the view that Judge Sullivan had the power to hold a hearing. If so, that will be bad news for the Justice Department, argued the deputy solicitor general, Jeffrey Wall. He called Mr. Gleesons brief attacking Mr. Barrs decision to end the case a polemic, but said it would harm the executive branch to have to defend itself against it. The department is likely to have to provide information about its internal deliberations including why no career prosecutor signed the motion to dismiss the charge against Mr. Flynn in the spectacle of a politicized atmosphere, Mr. Wall said. There are real harms here and if we know what has to happen at the end of the day, with all respect, district court should be directed to do it now rather than have some unnecessary and very harmful proceedings, he said. The arguments on Friday left unanswered what would happen if Judge Sullivan were to reject the Justice Departments motion to dismiss the case. Ms. Wilkinson took no position on whether a judge could sentence a defendant who had pleaded guilty even though the executive branch no longer wanted to pursue the case. But Judge Henderson suggested that she took a skeptical view of Mr. Gleesons brief, saying that Judge Sullivan may have chosen an intemperate person to critique the Justice Departments move. For all anyone knows, she added, the judge may say next month that Mr. Gleesons brief is over the top and grant the dismissal motion. Woman Faces Attempted Murder Charges for Allegedly Running Over Officer During Protests A Philadelphia woman accused of running over a police officer and fleeing the scene amid protests is facing multiple felony charges, including attempted murder. Angela Hall, 41, was arrested on June 8 in connection with the incident which took place on May 30 at Seventh and Chestnut streets in Old City. Hall allegedly fled the scene of a looting at a beauty supply store when she ran over bike patrol officer Tony Nieves, who was trying to stop her. Video footage shows several people carrying merchandise out of the store while Hall waited outside in one of three vehicle according to District Attorney Larry Krasner, who announced the charges against Hall on Tuesday. The day after the incident, Hall reported the vehicle, which was rented, as stolen, but authorities said that video footage of the incident allegedly shows Hall abandoning it on the 6300 block of Eastwick Avenue in Southwest Philly later that night. She is facing a charge of burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary, two counts of aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of crime, filing false reports causing severe bodily injury to officer Nieves, and attempted murder. WPVIT-TV reported that Nieves was left with 12 broken ribs, a shattered sternum, and five fractured vertebrae in his back and neck from the attack. This individuals criminal actions are egregious and resulted in serious, possibly permanent injuries to a police officer who was responding to a situation that was already dangerous, Krasner said. My thoughts are with this officer and his loved ones at this time: I hope your recovery will be speedy and complete. This office intends to hold Angela Hall accountable for the severe harm she has caused Officer Nieves. Protests have erupted across the United States in recent weeks following the death of African American man, George Floyd, in Minnesota police custody on Memorial Day. Floyd, 46, was arrested by police outside a south Minneapolis grocery store for alleged fraud. A citizens cellphone video showed an officeridentified as 44-year-old Derek Chauvinkneeling on Floyds neck for almost 9 minutes as he struggled to breathe. He eventually became unresponsive, and the father of two was pronounced dead May 25. Chauvin was arrested and has since been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Three other officers, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J. Alexander Kueng, were fired from the Minneapolis Police Department. While many of the protests following Floyds have been peaceful demonstrations, some have escalated into looting, with a number of states across the country being forced to call upon the National Guard to assist law enforcement in keeping protests at bay. The violent protests have also reached other parts of the world, including Australia, France, Germany, and England, among others. A preliminary hearing for Hall has been scheduled for June 24. One of the federal government's first attacks on slavery during the war was an "Act to Secure Freedom to All Persons Within the Territories of the United States," passed on June 19, 1862. Exactly three years later, Gen. Gordon Granger would sail into Galveston, Texas, to read the Emancipation Proclamation to the people of Texas. The day would become known as "Juneteenth" and would be celebrated as a holiday -- a second independence day -- for former slaves. On June 19, 1865, Granger read the words written by Abraham Lincoln in 1862. Texas was the last state in the defeated Confederacy to hear them. "All persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free ... " and "the executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons," it read. According to the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF), that day was the first "Juneteenth" and began the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. In the years that followed, it was Texas that first celebrated the anniversary as a holiday. Since then, legislation has been passed to recognize the day as a state holiday or observance in 46 states and the District of Columbia. Lincoln's executive order didn't end slavery in the United States. It did mean that when the Union Army came rolling into a Confederate-controlled area, the slaves in that area would be set free. An Austin, Tx. Juneteenth Emancipation Day Celebration on Jun. 19, 1900. (Grace Murray/Austin History Center) Even though the Civil War brought the end of slavery in the former Confederacy, there were four "border" states where slavery was legal but that did not secede from the Union: Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri. The western counties of Virginia held a convention at the onset of the war, voting to break away from Virginia, form their own state and join the Union. The new state of West Virginia became an important border state -- though contributing significant numbers of troops to both sides of the war -- and it was the last admitted slave state. The "peculiar institution" itself wouldn't technically be abolished until the passage of the 13th Amendment on Dec. 18, 1865, ratified by the required three-quarters of states. President Lincoln signed the bill after it was passed but would not live to see its ratification In 1861, the newly elected President Lincoln wasn't seeking to abolish slavery from the United States. He did want to check the spread of slavery to new states, especially those carved from territories in the American West. Southerners in what would later become the Confederacy saw the writing on the wall, knowing that they would eventually be in the minority in Congress and would soon lose the cornerstone of the Southern economy. Time was not on their side, and the election of Lincoln in 1860 forced the Southern states' hands. In order to keep slavery legal, they would have to secede and form their own country. As the war dragged on, the government in Washington knew it would have to move to end slavery in the United States. Lincoln needed a great victory in order to announce the Emancipation Proclamation -- and Gen. George B. McClellan gave him that win at Antietam in September 1862. Three days after the battle, Lincoln warned the Southern states that they had 100 days to return to the Union, or the Union Army would emancipate slaves everywhere in the South they could reach. When the deadline on Lincoln's ultimatum lapsed, it had the dual effect of keeping external powers, such as Great Britain, from intervening for the slaveholding Confederacy and depriving the South of manpower. In July 1862, the Federal Congress, realizing the need for more men in uniform, passed the Militia Act, recognizing the "indispensable military necessity" of recruiting African American men for the North. The act allowed the president to recruit former slaves for the Union Army. Recruiting began in earnest in January 1863, after the South failed to heed Lincoln's ultimatum. Some 175 regiments comprising more than 178,000 free blacks and former slaves joined the newly formed United States Colored Troops' regiments, making up 10% of the Union Army. United States Colored Troops fought in every major campaign of the war's final two years. Lincoln acknowledged their contribution, saying, "Without the military help of the black freedmen, the war against the South could not have been won." Texas, the most distant of Confederate states, was the last to be occupied by Union forces after the Civil War. When Granger arrived in Galveston to read the Emancipation Proclamation to the state, he announced the freedom of an estimated quarter-million slaves, the last slaves in the newly restored Union. In the days and years that followed, the day became known as "Juneteenth." The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation calls it a holiday "marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future." A Juneteenth Celebration at the Hampton National Historic Site in Towson, Md. in 2019. (National Parks Service) On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It's the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created in 1983. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. New border controls planned have been ditched. (PA) The UK government has ditched plans for border checks on EU goods when Britains Brexit transition period finishes at the end of the year. The move was welcomed by business chiefs and haulage firms worried about trade disruption and delays on top of the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. But it marks a stark U-turn on detailed plans unveiled just four months ago for checks, partly to ensure imported goods meet Britains post-Brexit regulations. The government had announced new controls to reflect Britains likely exit from the EU single market and customs union, as part of plans for taking back control of our borders. The measures were intended to keep borders safe and secure by identifying what is entering the UK, ensure taxes have been paid and UK rules complied with. Prime minister Boris Johnsons Brexit withdrawal agreement paved the way for the UKs divergence from EU rules and thus a greater need for checks. But a government source told multiple news outlets on Friday the plans were being abandoned in the wake of the pandemic, effectively admitting new policies will not be fully enforced. READ MORE: Companies alarmed as Gove warns border checks inevitable Cabinet office minister Michael Gove announced the changes would instead be brought in gradually over six months to give firms struggling with the coronavirus time to adjust. The government has called it a flexible and pragmatic approach. The Road Haulage Association welcomed the news, calling it a sensible decision to relax post-transition red tape. It tweeted that it gave breathing space for firms recovering from COVID-19 to prepare for new processes still unknown. Firms had been warning they were not prepared for a new regime, criticising a lack of detailed guidance and highlighting their focus on the coronavirus crisis. Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), had said on Thursday firms were unprepared for their worst-case scenario of significant new checks and paperwork if no UK-EU trade deal can be agreed. The CBI dubbed the change of stance sensible. Story continues There is some suspicion that the U-turn may also be intended to give the government itself more time to prepare. The Financial Times reports that only 4,000 customs agents have been trained in the past 18 months, when Britain could need as many as 50,000 to help firms meet new paperwork requirements. The abandonment of plans to enforce likely new rules raises questions about safety, security and tax collection. Companies will still have to comply with new rules, but will know compliance will not be checked at the border and in some cases will have more time to comply after journeys have been made. READ MORE: No-deal Brexit during pandemic like setting alight shed while house on fire Britains plans to check EU imports were also announced partly in response to EU plans to enforce its own checks on UK exported goods. EU representatives have repeatedly highlighted the need to protect the integrity and security of trade within the bloc. Firms may welcome lower disruption to imports, but may therefore face significant disruption to exports. Delays for lorries carrying exports could also still spillover into import problems if they are due to return with imported goods or traffic builds up at ports. Top court approves researchers request to access Mitterrands documents, says debate is a matter of public interest. A researcher in France has won a protracted legal battle for access to ex-President Francois Mitterrands archives on the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which Kigali accuses Paris of having played a role. The State Council, Frances top administrative court, ruled on Friday the documents would allow researcher and author Francois Graner to shed light on a debate that is a matter of public interest. Presidential archives are usually confidential for 60 years after they were signed, but under certain circumstances, such as public interest, can be made public earlier. Protection of state secrets must be balanced against the interests of informing the public about historic events, the State Council said. This is a victory for the law, but also for history, Graners lawyer Patrice Spinosi was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. Mitterrand was president from 1981 to 1995. Researchers had previously complained that only a fraction of classified French documents have surfaced and say a conclusive account on the role played by Paris has yet to be produced. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has accused France of being complicit in the bloodshed in which Hutu militias killed about 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. France has always denied the allegations and last year, President Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a panel of historians and researchers to look into the claims. Before the genocides 20th anniversary in 2014, Kagame accused Paris of having played a direct role in the assassination of then-President Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu, which sparked the killings. Relations between the two countries had hit a low point in 2006 after a French judge recommended Kagame be prosecuted by a United Nations-backed tribunal over the 1994 killing of Habyarimana. The Rwandan president, who had led the Tutsi rebel force that eventually overthrew the genocidal Hutu regime, broke off ties with France for three years. The turning point came in 2010 when former president Nicolas Sarkozy acknowledged on a visit to Kigali that France had made serious errors of judgement in Rwanda. While falling short of an apology, it was seen as a breakthrough in Rwanda. But Frances perceived foot-dragging on bringing genocide suspects living in the country to justice, has aggravated tensions. On May 16, the genocides alleged financier, Felicien Kabuga, was arrested at his home outside Paris after a quarter-of-a-century on the run. On June 3, a Paris court approved his transfer to a UN body for trial in Arusha, Tanzania. French-Rwandan former hotel driver Claude Muhayimana is set to go on trial in Paris in February next year, accused of having transported Hutu militiamen to sites where massacres were carried out. In the two other Rwandan genocide trials concluded in France, a former officer in the presidential guard, Pascal Simbikangwa, was given a 25-year jail sentence in 2014, while Octavien Ngenzi and Tito Barahira, two former mayors, received life sentences in 2016. GREEN Party deputy leader Catherine Martin has said she hopes some good can come from Eamon Ryans n-word gaffe. Ms Martin has challenged Mr Ryan for the Green Partys leadership, though she says she wont be campaigning until after government formation talks with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have concluded. He is leading the Green Partys negotiating team. Mr Ryan landed in hot water and was heavily criticised by some members of his own party for the blunder in the Dail on Thursday while he was making an anti-racism speech. Read More The controversy came after he told the Dail: In the newspaper today there was a young Irish man Sean Gallen giving his experience of being othered, from the age of six being given that name: You n*****. Mr Ryan later apologised on Twitter: In quoting from an article I read this morning, I repeated a racial slur, and I was completely wrong to do so. I want to apologise for any hurt caused. I know this particular word should never be used. Some supporters of Ms Martin in the leadership race publicly condemned him, saying it underlined the need for a change of leader. Mr Ryan was defended by others in the Greens as well as politicians from Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein who rejected any suggestions he is racist. This evening Ms Martin posted on Twitter: I was in negotiations until 12.30am last night and in talks again today but wanted to take the time to address Eamon Ryans comments. Eamon is a thoroughly decent man who realises he made a mistake. He has apologised and will learn from it. I've been in touch to offer my support. Ms Martin added: My focus remains on the ongoing Programme for Government negotiations, which will continue over the weekend. She also said: I hope some good can come out of Eamons genuine mistake and we can all have a real and honest conversation amongst ourselves as a diverse nation about people's lived experiences. We have a lot of listening to do. During COVID-19, Endeavors' Veteran Wellness Center has provided eight weeks of virtual wellness activities targeted for stress reduction and workshops for the local VA, as well as daily wellness activities for nearly 500 employees . The Center is also postured to provide virtual mental healthcare and wellness services activities across the state of Texas. The Veteran Wellness Center will complement services already provided at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors which offers virtual mental health care provided by credentialed staff to Veterans and military families regardless of role, discharge status. Veterans and military family members receive services individually and together in the same place, at the same time, with the same treatment team via online therapy known as Telehealth. "This support from the Texas Veterans Commission is critical to the success of the first Veteran Wellness Center in Texas," said Jon Allman, Endeavors President & CEO. "I am incredibly proud of how Endeavors has continued to help so many communities across the nation virtually." The Cohen Clinics in San Antonio, Killeen and El Paso experienced up to a seven-fold increase in Telehealth services during COVID-19. Centrally located on the Northwest side of Bexar County in the Medical District area and co-located with the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors, the Endeavors Veteran Wellness Center (VWC) opening Spring 2021, will provide accessible, integrated health and wellness services that improve the quality of life for Veterans, their families, military dependents, survivors regardless of discharge status, and the care community. The VWC delivers positive, supportive, and integrated care in one location to focus on self-care and overall health that enhances daily choices for wellness. Driven by the vision to restore and improve quality of life, our Endeavors Wellness Model represents six principles of wellness. "We are honored to be entrusted with these funds to provide much needed support to any era Veteran and their families with Serious Mental Illness," said Dr. Jill E. Palmer, Senior Director of Clinic Operations at Endeavors. Since 2009, the Fund for Veterans' Assistance has awarded over $137 million to organizations across Texas and has helped over 300,000 Veterans and their families. The Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veteran's Assistance (FVA) grant program awards reimbursement grants to eligible charitable organizations, local government agencies, and Veterans Service Organizations that provide direct services to Texas Veterans and their families. Endeavors expects to serve over 500 clients with the funding awarded. Since founding in 1969, Endeavors has helped over 16,000 Veterans and their families every year to obtain a safer place to sleep at night, connect with resources for employment opportunities, and provide mental health services to post- 9/11 Veterans through a partnership with the Cohen Veterans Network. Endeavors believes that everyone can grow, heal, change, succeed, and affect others. "For the safety of our staff and clients, our operations are continuing to work 100% remotely, as we continue to meet urgent needs during COVID-19," said Chip Fulghum, Endeavors Chief Operating Officer. "COVID-19 has changed our world as we knew it. But our values and commitment to this community remain unchanged. Our communities where we operate keep us motivated to continue our mission. We are in this together." If you or someone you know needs virtual mental health services, counseling and peer support assistance, please contact Endeavors Veteran Wellness Center by emailing [email protected] or call 210-431-6466. Learn more at www.endeavors.org/programs/veteran-wellness-center/. ABOUT ENDEAVORS Endeavors, a San Antonio based nonprofit, is a longstanding national nonprofit agency that provides an array of programs and services in support of children, families, Veterans and those struggling with mental illness, disabilities, disasters or emergencies. Endeavors serves vulnerable people in crisis through personalized services. For more information, please visit www.endeavors.org. MEDIA CONTACT Shannon Gowen Chief Marketing Officer 210-431-6466 x126 [email protected] SOURCE Endeavors Related Links http://www.endeavors.org Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 12:12 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde30672 1 World COVID-19-vaccine,COVID-19,international-cooperation,vaccine,coronavirus,Foreign-Minister-Retno-Marsudi,Retno-Marsudi,virus-corona Free The Indonesian government has asserted the importance of international collaboration in COVID-19 vaccine development in order to ensure fair distribution of the vaccine to every corner of the globe. Speaking to journalists during a virtual press briefing on Thursday, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said she had conveyed such hope during a virtual meeting on Tuesday with the International Coordination Group (ICG), a grouping of countries aimed at resolving certain challenges in the COVID-19 pandemic response. Retno said she had underlined her hope that countries would not fulfill domestic needs at the expense of other countries once the COVID-19 vaccine was found. She emphasized the importance of a fair, transparent and inclusive mechanism to allocate [medical] supplies, particularly to the most vulnerable groups. Read also: Indonesia joins multilateral pursuit of 'practical', coordinated response to COVID-19 She added countries should also ensure the transfer of knowledge from vaccine producers to other countries in order to allow production to be scaled up . To achieve this, [apart from] flexibility of intellectual property rules, patent rights policy must also consider social responsibility, especially during the pandemic, said Retno. The foreign minister also encouraged more international cooperation on vaccine development and synergy between national and international efforts. Indonesia has established a national consortium that focuses on developing a COVID-19 vaccine comprising several ministries and the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, which is currently doing genome sequencing and preparing seed to produce a vaccine. Retno went on to say that the country was also exploring potential collaboration in procuring a vaccine and joint production of different types of vaccine with all international stakeholders, including the ICG state members. The ICG is comprised primarily of G20 countries -- including China, India, Japan Russia and the United States and non-G20 countries such as Singapore and Peru. (aly) The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has threatened to withdraw its members services nationwide if the federal government refuses to address their grievances especially the non-payment of salaries. It is not clear when the workers would commence the action. But, a senior official of the association, who requested not to be named, told PREMIUM TIMES the executive of an affiliate of the group called the Regulators Forum resolved at the end of its meeting on May 28 to withdraw their services after a seven-day notice issued to the government. PENGASSAN writes minister On June 8, PENGASSAN wrote to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to protest the decision by the government to withhold the salaries of some of its members working in federal government agencies across the country. The agencies include the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF), Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF), Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NNRA) and Petroleum Training Institute (PTI). In the letter signed by the General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN drew the ministers attention to its refusal to release the personnel allocation for these agencies for May. Mr Okugbawa told the minister this has resulted in the salaries of members of PENGASSAN in these agencies not being paid for May. He said the decision to withhold the salaries was at the instance of finance ministry which directed that workers not captured by the lntegrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (lPPlS) should not be paid their salaries. You may recall that the Association made its position clear that we are not averse to the governments intent on restructuring, or repositioning the agencies through its policies, including the introduction of the lPPlS. However, the IPPIS as it is currently set up seems not to have captured our peculiarities, the PENGASSAN scribe said. He recalled a series of meetings convened by the ministry with a committee constituted to address the concerns of the staff of the affected government agencies. However, Mr Okugbawa expressed regrets that the meetings failed to resolve the issues as the IPPIS representatives failed to give the necessary cooperation needed for a fruitful conclusion of the matter. He said the Association was surprised that while the matter was still being discussed, the ministry directed the withholding of allocations for personnel costs to these agencies, resulting in the non-payment of salaries to their workers for May 2020. PENGASSAN urged the minister to immediately release withheld funding to the affected agencies, while the committee set up to review the peculiarities of the affected agencies plans how to align them with the IPPIS structure. The group urged the minister to ensure the matter was resolved as soon as possible, considering the impact the continued withholding of the affected agencies might have on their workers. Copies of the letter seen by PREMIUM TIMES were sent to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipreye Sylva, as well as the Director, Trade Union Services and lndustrial Relations (TUSIR) in the Federal Ministry Labour. When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the minister for comment on Thursday, she did not respond to calls by our reporter. She however sent a short text message, Sorry, I cant talk right now, in response to a text message sent to her earlier to seek her clarification of the issues. IPPIS In October 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari, during the presentation of the 2020 budget proposal to the joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja said all federal government workers not captured on the IPPIS platform by October 31, 2019 would not be paid their monthly salaries. The president said this was part of efforts to manage the high personnel costs in line with his administrations commitment to fighting corruption. Accordingly, I have directed the stoppage of the salary of any Federal Government staff that is not captured on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) platform by the end of October 2019, he had said. ASUU debacle The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has consistently kicked against the directive of the government for its members to enroll on the IPPIS platform, saying the central payroll system was a violation of the university system autonomy. Advertisements Last January, the Federal Government, through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), commenced the process of implementation of the IPPIS in Nigerian universities. Consequently, from January 2020, the Federal Government withheld the release of funds for the payment of salaries of lecturers not enrolled on the IPPIS platform. The decision triggered a massive face-off between the government and the lecturers, with each party holding out on its positions. To compel the government to concede to its demand, ASUU, on March 23, called out its members on a nationwide strike. This followed the governments decision to stop the February salaries of its members across the federal universities for failure to enroll in the IPPIS. The government later decided to pay the withheld salaries to the lecturers to help cushion the socio-economic impact of coronavirus on their families. But it insists there is no going back on the agenda to ensure all federal workers enroll on the IPPIS platform. (Newser) Sen. Rand Paul says it's time to do away with "no-knock warrants" like the one that led to the death of a young black woman in his home state in a hail of police gunfire. The Kentucky Republican has introduced a bill that would ban federal law enforcement from entering a home without giving notice, Politico reports. The Justice for Breonna Taylor Act, which has bipartisan support, would also apply to state and local forces that receive funding from the Justice Department. "After talking with Breonna Taylors family, Ive come to the conclusion that its long past time to get rid of no-knock warrants," Paul said Thursday. "This bill will effectively end no-knock raids in the United States." story continues below House and Senate Democrats introduced a similar proposal earlier this week, the Hill reports. Taylor, a 26-year-old nurse and EMT, was shot in a late-night raid on March 13. Family members say plainclothes Louisville officers with a "no-knock" narcotics warrant broke into the home without warning and fired dozens of shots after her boyfriend, believing a home invasion was occurring, called 911 and fired a shot that hit an officer in the leg. No drugs were found in the home. NBC reports the Louisville Metro Council voted unanimously Thursday to ban no-knock warrants. "Breonna's Law" requires police to announce themselves and their purpose before entering a residence. (Read more Breonna Taylor stories.) Getting to Know the First 5G Solutions for Business With Cradlepoints recent announcement of 5G edge networking solutions for business, your companys 5G future starts now. Its an exciting time for organizations that are considering Wireless WAN. In this webinar, listen as Jake Alger, James Weaver and Roger Billings discuss: How 5G for business solutions can fit into your IT roadmap The different variations of 5G What the pathway to 5G looks like for organizations of all shapes and sizes Former top United States (US) diplomat Nicholas Burns on Friday dismissed suggestions China is winning the battle against the coronavirus, saying the country has a fearful leadership intent on preserving its power and incapable of accommodating the Chinese peoples desire for freedom. Democracies such as India and the US are waging a battle of ideas with China and should work together to make it observe the rule of law, he said during a video conversation with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The conversation was part of a series between Gandhi and global and Indian thought leaders to discuss the Covid-19 crisis and its consequences. As under secretary of state for political affairs during 2005-08 and the state departments third-ranking official, Burns led negotiations on the India-US civil nuclear agreement. His remarks come in the backdrop of a weeks-long border stand-off between India and China and intensified rivalry between the US and China. Responding to Gandhis question on why there has been almost no global cooperation on the Covid-19 crisis, Burns said: It is a terrible disappointment to me. Im sure it is to youthis crisis was made for the G20. It was made for Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping and Donald Trump to be working together, all of our countries, for the common global good. This hadnt happened, he said, because Donald Trump doesnt really believe in international cooperation. Hes a unilateralistAnd Xi Jinping chose to compete with Trump. He added that the US and China were at the heart of the problem and hoped they will better work together more effectively in any future crisis. Burns said: I think a lot of people right now are sayingChinas winning the battle of the Coronavirus, that its gaining hearts and minds. I actually dont see that. He added that China certainly had extraordinary power, which was probably not equal to the US militarily, economically, politically yet. But its gaining, no question about it. What China lacks is the sophistication and openness of a democratic country like India or the US. Describing China as an authoritarian country without the self-corrective part of the national DNA seen in India and the US, Burns said the leadership in Beijing is fearful. He added, Fearful men trying to preserve their own power, increasing the grip that they have on their own citizens. Look at whats happening in Xinjiangand in Hong Kong. He said he worried that the Chinese system is not going to be flexible enough to accommodate the desires of the Chinese people for human freedom and liberty. The governments of India and the US should together promote democracy, freedom and rule of law around the world, said Burns, who served in the US government for 27 years. I think it is a powerful idea that Indians and Americans can bring together to the rest of the world. Againwe are not looking for a conflict with China, but we are waging, in a way, a battle of ideas with China, he said. Gandhi said the partnership between India and the US worked because both were tolerant nations but that DNA of tolerance has now disappeared. He also said the India-US relationship used to be a partnership but now seems to have become very transactional and episodic. I think why our partnership works is because we are tolerant systems. You mentioned that you are an immigrant nation. We are a very tolerant nation. Our DNA is supposed to be tolerant. We are supposed to accept new ideas, the Congress leader said while responding to Burns, who insisted India and the US share many traits. We are supposed to be open but the surprising thing isthat open DNA is sort of disappearingI say this with sadness that I dont see that level of tolerance that I used to see. I dont see it in the Us and I dont see it in India, Gandhi said. The discussion also focused on the Black Lives Matter protests in the US triggered by the death of George Floyd, which Burns described as horrible. He added, And millions of Americans are protesting for our rights the way you have in India. And India and the US share many traits as we both have liberated ourselves from the British in different [eras].The US is in a deep political and existential crisis that has gripped us all. Gandhi criticised divisions in both countries, saying they weaken nations. When you divide African Americans, Mexicans and other people in the US, so you divide Hindus and Muslims and Sikhs in India, youre weakening the structure of the country. But then the same people who weaken the structure of the country say they are the nationalists, he said. Burns described Indian Americans as the secret weapon in the bilateral relationship and said the two sides should keep their doors open to each other and lower restrictions on the movement of people. Barriers should be kept low for schemes such as the H-1B visa programme as India can supply the engineers needed by the US, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON For Immediate Release Chicago, IL June 12, 2020 Zacks Value Trader is a podcast hosted weekly by Zacks Stock Strategist Tracey Ryniec. Every week, Tracey will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life. To listen to the podcast, click here: Alternative Energy Stocks: Values or Traps? Welcome to Episode #193 of the Value Investor Podcast. Every week, Tracey Ryniec, the editor of Zacks Value Investor portfolio, shares some of her top value investing tips and stock picks. The oil and natural gas stocks have been one of the big movers of the recovery rally as they had seen a sharp sell-off. But what about the alternative energy companies like solar and biofuels? With many Millennials and GenZ investors rejecting any fossil fuel companies, youd think theyd be in favor with investors. A Value Stock or a Value Trap? Are alternative energy stocks as cheap as oil and natural gas stocks in 2020? A value stock is defined as having attractive fundamentals, such as a low price-to-earnings, price-to-book, price-to-sales or PEG ratio. A value trap can also have similar fundamentals, and appear to be cheap, but with a value trap, the earnings estimates are usually being cut and earnings growth may be on the decline year-over-year. Even value investors want rising earnings. 5 Alternative Energy Stocks: Values or Traps? 1. Enphase Energy ENPH is one of the hottest alternative energy stocks on the Street in 2020. The supplier of solar microinventers is up 86% year-to-date. Analysts have cut their earnings estimates in the last 60 days, but is it still cheap enough to be a value? 2. First Solar FSLR is one of the well-known solar names. Shares are still down 7.7% year-to-date, despite a rally off the March lows. Yet, earnings are expected to rise 83% year-over-year. Is it cheap enough to be a true value stock? Story continues 3. Canadian Solar CSIQ is one of the rare companies where analysts are actually raising earnings estimates for the year. 3 analysts revised estimates higher over the last month. Additionally, earnings are expected to be up 22.8% year-over-year which means its not a trap. But is it cheap enough to be a value stock? 4. Renewable Energy Group REGI is involved in leading the transformation of biofuel into improving the environment. Shares are up 20.3% year-to-date. But are earnings on their way up, or down? 5. SolarEdge Technologies SEDG makes an intelligent inverter for the PV system. Estimates have been cut over the last 60 days. The shares are up 55% year-to-date, however. Are they too hot to handle for value investors? What else should you know about cheap alternative energy stocks? Tune into this weeks podcast to find out. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2019, while the S&P 500 gained and impressive +53.6%, five of our strategies returned +65.8%, +97.1%, +118.0%, +175.7% and even +186.7%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2019, while the S&P averaged +6.0% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +54.7% per year. See their latest picks free >> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com/performance Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ) : Free Stock Analysis Report First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Enphase Energy, Inc. (ENPH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REGI) : Free Stock Analysis Report SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (SEDG) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Two new studies from University of Utah researchers show what can be learned from a short seismic checkup of natural rock arches and how erosion sculpts some arches -- like the iconic Delicate Arch -- into shapes that lend added strength. A study published in Geophysical Research Letters begins with thorough measurements of vibrations at an arch in Utah, and applies those measurements to glean insights from 17 other arches with minimal scientific equipment required. The second study, published in Geomorphology, compares the strength of arch shapes, specifically beam-like shapes versus inverted catenary shapes (like Delicate Arch or Rainbow Bridge). A seismological stethoscope The Geohazards Research Group at the University of Utah measures small vibrations in rock structures, which come from earthquakes, wind and other sources both natural and human-made, to construct 3-D models of how the structures resonate. Part of the reason for these measurements is to assess the structural health of the rock feature. In studying 17 natural arches, doctoral candidates Paul Geimer, Riley Finnegan and their colleagues set seismometers on the arches for a few hours to a few days. The data from those measurements, coupled with the 3-D models, gave important information about the modes, or major movement directions, of the arches as well as the frequencies for those modes of vibration. advertisement "This is all possible using noninvasive methods," Geimer says, "that form the first step in improving our ability to detecting and identifying damage within arches and similar features." The noninvasive nature of the tests -- with the seismometers sitting on the arch's surface without damaging the rock -- is important, as many of Utah's rock arches are culturally significant. The studies of the 17 arches used just one or two seismometers each, so with permission from the National Park Service, the researchers went to Musselman Arch in Canyonlands National Park to verify their earlier measurements. The arch is flat across the top and easily accessible, so they dotted it with 30 seismometers and listened. "This added wealth of information helped us to confirm our assumptions that arch resonant modes closely follow simple predictive models, and surrounding bedrock acts as rigid support," Geimer says. "To my knowledge, it was the first measurement of its kind for a natural span, after decades of similar efforts at human-made bridges." All of the arches studied exhibited the property of low damping, Geimer says, which means that they continued to vibrate long after a gust of wind, for example, or a seismic wave from a far-off earthquake. The results also help researchers infer the mechanical properties of rocks without having to drill into the rock to take a sample. For example, the stiffness of the Navajo Sandstone, widespread in Southern Utah, seems to be related to the amount of iron in the rock. Sculpted for stability Natural arches come in a range of shapes, including beam-like spans that stretch between two rock masses and classic freestanding or partly freestanding inverted catenary arches. A catenary is the arc formed by a hanging chain or rope -- so flip it upside down and you've got an inverted catenary. advertisement "In its ideal form, the inverted catenary eliminates all tensile stresses," Geimer says, creating a stable curved span supported solely by compression, which the host sandstone can resist most strongly. The idea that inverted catenary arches are sculpted by erosion into strong shapes is not new. But the U team's approach to analyzing them is. Returning back to their 3-D models of arches and analysis of their vibration modes, the researchers simulated the gravitational stresses in detail on each arch and calculated a number, called the mean principle stress ratio, or MSR, that classifies whether the arch is more like a beam or more like an inverted catenary. The structure of the rock in which the arch is carved can also influence its shape. Inverted catenary arches are more likely to form in thick massive rock formations. "This allows gravitational stresses to be the dominant sculpting agent," Geimer says, "leaving behind a smooth arc of rock held in compression." Beam-like arches typically form in rock formations with multiple layers with varying strengths. "Weaker layers are removed by erosion more quickly," he adds, "leaving behind a layer of stronger material too thin to form a catenary curve." While the inverted catenary shape can lend an arch stability in its current form, Geimer and associate professor Jeff Moore are quick to point out that the arch is still vulnerable to other means of eventual collapse. "At Delicate Arch," Moore says, "the arch rests on a very thin easily eroded clayey layer, which provides weak connection to the ground, while Rainbow Bridge is restrained from falling over by being slightly connected to an adjoining rock knoll." Still, the MSR metric can help researchers and public lands managers evaluate an arch's stability due to its shape. The Geohazards Research Group is continuing to study other factors that can influence rock features' stability, including how cracks grow in rock and how arches have collapsed in the past. Find the group's 3-D models here. Watch (and listen - turn up your speakers!) how Moonshine Arch near Vernal, Utah, moves here. The 2020 Census has brought in results that are above 50% for Mount Pleasant response and above 60% for Michigans overall response rate. The Census is conducted every 10 years and counts every person living in the United States of America and five other U.S. territories. A complete count determines allocation of money towards workforce, disability, and food assistance programs as well as healthcare and education programs, Joan Gustafson, external affairs officer for the Michigan Nonprofit Association, said. The population determines where funds are allocated and the number of congressional seats for a state. Michigan has previously lost seats due to census results. The National Response rate is at over 60% and sees a total response of over 90 million households. The overall response rate for Michigan is over 67% which ranks Michigan at number four for the state rank for the census total self-response. The number of household responses is listed at over 3 million. In terms of the response rate for Gratiot County was over 71% and over 62% for Isabella County. Mount Pleasant had a self response rater over 58%. While Mt. Pleasants response rate is over half, it is still important for people to continue responding as more responses can help with funding for the community. The Census is more important than ever before, Gustafson said. Many communities can be under-counted and many are going to need funding due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Households need to count the children living there as it could affect early childhood programs. The census can be completed be done online, by phone, or through the mail. Its only a few basic questions and doesnt take long to answer, Gustafson said. Michigan will live with the results for the next 10 years. For more information, visit 2020census.gov. Vodafone Idea will begin offering cellular service for Apple Watch (GPS + Cellular) starting on June 12, 2020, giving customers the freedom to leave their phones behind and stay connected with just their Apple Watch. This service is available for Vodafone Postpaid customers, including Enterprise Postpaid, in select circles (Mumbai, Delhi, Gujarat) beginning June 12, 2020. Services will continue to be expanded to additional circles in the coming weeks. Whether users are out for a run, at the pool or just trying to be more active throughout their day, Apple Watch (GPS + Cellular) with Vodafone Idea allows them to stay connected, make calls, and stream Apple Music, even without iPhone nearby. Speaking about the development, Avneesh Khosla, Director Marketing, Vodafone Idea Ltd, said, Consumers today are increasingly moving towards having connected products in their lives. With the launch of cellular support for Apple Watch we are enabling our customers to connect their Apple Watch to their iPhone using the same / existing mobile number and enjoy the freedom of using their Apple Watch independently to stay connected. How to set up the service: Update iPhone to latest iOS Open the Watch app on your iPhone Start the pairing process of Apple Watch and iPhone Sign in with your Apple ID and password to continue Tap Setup Mobile Data to share your Postpaid number and plan with Apple Watch Enter your Vodafone postpaid number and self-care password (Note If not registered then tap on register to login to register your phone number) Tap Confirm once login is successful On Second confirmation the service will get activated within 30 min Enterprise Postpaid customers need prior confirmation from their Authorised signatory to set up the service. A woman wearing a mask walks past a wall bearing graffiti that asks for rent forgiveness amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in Los Angeles, Calif., on May 1, 2020. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images) Orange County Resumes Evictions During Pandemic ORANGE, Calif.The Orange County Sheriffs Department has resumed evictions that were in progress before California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a moratorium at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The departments Civil Process Services bureau, which handles the countys evictions, began contacting tenants on May 26 to notify them that court-ordered evictions were proceeding on June 1. The evictions begin amid confusion regarding Newsoms ongoing moratorium, which was issued on March 27 and initially lasted through May 31. On May 29, Newsom extended the moratorium on evictions through July 28but deferred the option to resume evictions to local governments. On June 2, Yorba Linda resident Patricia Hollis, 62, was served a notice to vacate by June 8. The notice caught her by surprise; she believed all evictions would be postponed until the end of the statewide emergency. We just thought we had a little more time, she told The Epoch Times. Her original eviction judgmentdated March 18, shortly before the courts temporarily closedwas one of 185 court-ordered county evictions postponed by the shutdown that have now resumed. Hollis said she called Community Legal Aid of Southern California for assistance, because her family has nowhere to go. The group provides legal services for low-income people throughout the county. Weve been packing, she said. But we just havent found a place, because were not supposed to go out and look. Hollis has stage-four kidney disease; her husband, James, 70, is considered high-risk due to his age. One of her sons moved in with them when he learned he had several kinds of cancer. Hes not allowed to go out. Were not letting him go anywhere, Hollis said. Our doctors told us, We dont want you out there at all. She said there are many places that wont show their properties due to the pandemic, so she has been trying to look onlinewithout success. The Epoch Times could not reach Hollis after June 8 to see if the eviction happened as scheduled. Legal Confusion Over the Moratorium David Levy, programs specialist at Fair Housing Council of Orange County, told The Epoch Times that Hollis understanding of Newsoms moratorium is predicated on a common misunderstanding. He [Newsom] never issued a statewide blanket ban on evictions, he said. His action was really quite limited. Levy said Newsoms executive order extended the time to respond to a summons from five days to 60 days, for tenants served with an eviction after March 27. The order also prohibited sheriffs from enforcing writs of possession in an evictionbut Levy said there was no real possibility of such writs existing, since the courts were already shut down. Levy has been working for Fair Housing for 26 years. He said there are lots and lots of unknowns with the current eviction situation, because something like this has never happened before. Hollis outcome will depend upon the quality of legal assistance she receives, Levy said. Any chance for Patricia [Hollis] to be given more time will depend on her being able to have an ex parte hearing with the judge before the lockout is complete, he said. An ex parte hearing does not require all parties to be present. Levy also consulted with another tenant who received a June eviction notice. Hes going to be out before he even had a chance to get in front of a judge to ask for a stay, Levy said. He didnt have any place to go. Hes very low income. He has a mental illness. That guy is probably going to be added to the number of homeless that we have, he said. Levy noted that county shelter services were stretched thin before the pandemicbut he is concerned shelter capacity could diminish further if bunks are spaced 6 feet apart due to social distancing requirements. In 2019, emergency shelters in the county had 2,539 available beds to accommodate nearly 7,000 homeless individuals, according to the years Point in Time count. If any of the 185 evictions go through, those individuals are faced with a real problem, Levy said. It is going to add, I think, to the homeless population. How much, we dont know. A press release issued by the sheriffs department on May 27 stated, Despite the fact that these evictions were in process prior to the start of the Governors order, deputies will work with tenants and landlords to mitigate the possibility that evicted tenants will experience homelessness during the pandemic. The sheriffs department did not respond to further inquiry from The Epoch Times. Landlords Also Facing Problems Levy said landlords are facing problems of their own. [If] you evict a bunch of people, you have a bunch of empty units, he said. Before any of this started, we already had a huge tenant population that was rent-burdened. He said people were struggling in the best of times to afford the countys high rents. Now, you go into the pandemic, where youre going to potentially displace these people. Are you going to be able to find a replacement customer? The business-as-usual idea is: youre gone, its a hot housing market, Ill just replace you. Well, is that going to be true? We dont know, Levy said. Victor Cao, vice president of public affairs for the California Apartment Association, told The Epoch Times that some landlords have been subsidizing rents for up to six months. For 60 percent of our membership, theyre small mom-and-pop owners, he said. They dont have the financial wherewithal to go through that. He said he was optimistic about the resumption of evictions. We need to allow the legal system to work, to function, he said. Cao said evictions are really a small drop in the bucket, and cited a CalMatters study showing a steady decline in evictions over the past decade. According to the study, Orange County saw over 15,000 evictions in 20102011; by 2018, that number had dropped below 10,000. The study cited high legal costs and better screening methods as possible contributing factors to the reduction. If you look at the total amount of evictions, that represents less than 1 percent of the total housing stock, Cao said. So we dont see evictions happening en masse. When you put it into context, its a manageable situation. For Hollis, the statistics offer little reliefbut ongoing confusion in the courts has worked to her benefit. Luckily, they couldnt set the court date, Hollis told The Epoch Times on June 5. They were so overburdened with people coming in and doing exactly what [my attorney] was doing for us, because they served a whole bunch of people with a weeks notice to move. She added, I guess the courts have just been inundated with all these people getting legal help because they cant get out that fast. It may take months for some of the evictions cases to actually get to trial, said Levy. By then, the environment will be very different, he said. Thats the part were all speculating about. We dont really have a good idea how its going to go, he said. UPDATE: State judge grants Murphy injunction to block Asbury Park indoor dining Two days after Asbury Park revealed it would violate Gov. Phil Murphys coronavirus lockdown orders and allow restaurants to offer indoor dining starting Monday, Murphy announced Friday the state was suing the Jersey Shores premier dining destination to stop that from happening. We have worked with the governing body of Asbury Park to try to amicably resolve the issue of their resolution regarding indoor dining. Unfortunately, they have not done so," Murphy said during his daily coronavirus briefing in Trenton. We have one set of rules and they are based on one principle: ensuring public health," the governor added. Asked if he would send the State Police to Asbury Park if restaurants do reopen indoor dining, Murphy declined to comment, saying the issue is now subject to a legal proceeding." Asbury Parks city council shocked the state Wednesday when it voted to allow restaurants to open for indoor service on June 15, at 25% capacity or 50 customers and staff, whichever is lower. That came two days after Murphy raised limits on indoor gatherings in the state to those levels as New Jerseys COVID-19 outbreak slows. But while Murphy has said outdoor dining will be allowed across New Jersey on June 15 as part of the states Stage 2 reopening plans, he stressed indoor dining remains prohibited, even under the new gathering limits. Murphy said the new limits were designed more to allow houses of worship to have larger services again. The governor has repeatedly said reopening indoor businsses and activities remains more dangerous than those outdoors. Theres just no question this virus is multiples more lethal inside than outside, Murphy said Friday. And then when you add to that lack of ventilation, sedentary, close proximity, theres a reason. Theres a method to what were doing here, folks, in many respects, not just relying on the data and the notion that public health creates economic health. But were taking steps ... in small batches so that weve got some amount of control variables that (health officials) can look at and figure out. Murphy promised we will get there on indoor dining or other indoor activities. But we have to get there at the right time and responsibly, he said, noting that the states rate of transmission must continue to be driven toward the ground and safety protocols must be in place. We will do whatever it takes to save any life we can, Murphy added. New Jerseys restaurant industry is reeling after months of relying on takeout and delivery service during the coronavirus pandemic, and preparing for outdoor dining is a challenge in its own right. No one thought indoor dining was on the table, and no one expected to get just three days notice to prepare for the major step toward fully reopening. The majority of Asbury Park restaurants reached by NJ Advance Media on Thursday said they had no plans to partake in indoor dining, with some predicting that Murphy would indeed block the decision. This indoor thing kind of threw us for a loop," Shanti Mignogna, the co-owner of pizza restaurant Talulas said. "To be honest, I think were going to spin our wheels for nothing because I doubt the governor is going to allow it. For now, were just moving forward with outdoor and trying to make it great and safe for everyone. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Dallas Hlatky, COO of the Smith Group which owns popular spots Porta, Pascal & Sabine, Brickwall Tavern and The Annex says she didnt receive reassurance from Asbury Park that restaurants would be protected from penalties if they reopened indoor dining. I asked a question at the council meeting: Im assuming you guys have looked at this from every angle, and that you dont believe that this will be an issue, like you found a legal loophole, youre coming out front and thats why youre doing this? And they said, No, were just using our common sense,'" Hlatky said. On Thursday, Murphy warned Asbury Park and any other towns or businesses that violate his orders that there will be enforcement. He said the goal is avoiding new spikes in cases and deaths that other states have seen lately. Weve gone through hell," Murphy said. "Please, lets not go back through it. Murphys administration had previously shut down a gym in Bellmawr for violating lockdown and recently closed a Northfield movie theater that reopened. The fact the Asbury Park showdown has risen to the level of a lawsuit is a surprise because Murphy is a Democrat and the city is predominantly Democratic. Still, the situation has become sticky for the governor. Murphy has faced sustained criticism in recent days after he violated his own executive order banning large gatherings he attended a pair of Black Lives Matter protests Sunday. Republicans have accused him of hypocrisy. On Tuesday, Murphy increased the limit on both indoor and outdoor gatherings in New Jersey and said outdoor protests and religious events are exempted from any limits. New Jersey, a densely populated state of 9 million residents, has reported 12,489 known deaths attributed to COVID-19, with 166,164 known cases, in the 101 days since the outbreak here started March 4. Only New York has more deaths and cases among U.S. states. State officials on Friday reported 48 new deaths and 495 new cases in New Jersey. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Hydrogen balloons float over the worlds most heavily-guarded border, unleashing their payloads in North Korea like snowflakes: Propaganda leaflets calling Kim Jong-un, the Norths leader, a devil who will meet the same bloody end as Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Muammar Gaddafi of Libya Seoul: The hydrogen balloons float over the worlds most heavily-guarded border, unleashing their payloads in North Korea like snowflakes: Propaganda leaflets calling Kim Jong-un, the Norths leader, a devil who will meet the same bloody end as Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. The plastic leaflets, millions of which have pierced the stranglehold of North Korean censorship over the years, recently drew an angry response from Pyongyang, threatening to upend the relatively cordial relations that the Koreas have maintained for two years. Kims government has called the propaganda much of it sent by North Korean defectors a provocation graver than gun and artillery fire. This week, it responded by cutting off communication lines with South Korea, which the two countries had set up after delicate peace negotiations. North Korea has an improbable ally in its efforts to stop the leaflets: The Souths government, which is introducing legislation to ban the launches, in hopes of keeping relations with the North on track. The government has sued two brothers, both defectors from the North, to try to force an end to their leaflet campaigns. And Thursday, President Moon Jae-ins office promised a thorough crackdown on attempts to send leaflets and other propaganda across the border. The issue has raised intense passions, not least among South Koreans living near the border. They are angry because much of the propaganda material ends up in their villages, creating a persistent trash problem. Park Sang-hak, one of the defectors being sued by the South, is enraged by the governments efforts to stop him. South Korea is gagging us, who are its citizens, while kowtowing to the evil regime in the North, said Park, who leads a group called Fighters for Free North Korea. The more they suppress us, the more leaflets we will send, and the more often. Despite numerous death threats and at least one apparent attempt by North Korea to assassinate him, Park has been sending balloons across the border since 2004. Besides the leaflets, some are loaded with Bibles, dollar bills, small radio sets (so that North Koreans can listen to banned broadcasts) or memory sticks with content that the North considers subversive, like South Korean soap operas. And Parks younger brother, Park Jong-o, has been carrying out a seaborne campaign. He and his supporters release plastic bottles full of similar propaganda (as well as dried rice) into waters near the border, hoping that the currents will carry them to the North. The idea is to chip away at the information blackout that makes the personality cult around Kim possible. In the North, all radio and TV sets are designed to receive only the governments propaganda-filled programs. The countrys smartphones are cut off from the global internet. Pyongyang tries to jam broadcasts from the outside world, but it can do little about balloons that drift too high for its soldiers to shoot down. The recent batch of leaflets half a million of which Park sent on 31 May alone may have come at a particularly upsetting time for Kim. The North Korean leader has been struggling; his nuclear diplomacy with President Donald Trump collapsed last year with no easing of the sanctions gripping his country, and his efforts to build a self-reliant economy have stalled. And COVID-19 has further hurt the Norths ability to acquire badly needed raw materials and hard currency through trading and smuggling. As its economic condition deteriorates, North Korea needs to shift the blame to an external enemy while using the leaflet threat to consolidate internal unity, said Shin Beom-chul, an analyst at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy in Seoul. Over the past week, North Korea has staged outdoor rallies denouncing the propaganda. People pumped their fists into the air, vowing to squash defectors and the human scum who dared to sully Kims supreme dignity. And what had been an almost giddy period of detente between the two Koreas has descended into bitterness, most of it coming from the North. The non-stop disposal of dirty rubbish from the south, North Korea recently said, has made it realize that enemies are enemies after all. The propaganda touches a historical nerve. Long after the Korean War ended in 1953, North and South Korea continued to wage psychological warfare, sending leaflets in both directions and broadcasting diatribes over shortwave radio, as well as blaring them from huge loudspeakers set up at the border. North Korean leaflets beckoned South Korean soldiers to flee to the socialist paradise. The South tried to lure North Koreans by highlighting its higher standard of living and, more recently, by deploying the sugary harmonies of K-pop girl bands. When Kim met with Moon, the Souths president, in 2018, they agreed to end their cross-border propaganda. But the Koreas had reached at least three such agreements before, none of which lasted. Moons party, which lacked a majority in Parliament, failed to pass a leaflet ban into law, and defectors from the North kept sending them. My leaflets are to the North Korean regime what Davids slingshot was to Goliaths forehead, said Lee Min-bok, another defector, who calls himself a balloon warrior. They show North Koreans that their countrys personality cult and its deification of the Kim family are all built on lies. Lee releases up to 1,500 balloons a year, each carrying 30,000 of his leaflets. They challenge North Koreas false claim that the Korean War started with an invasion from the South, and they ask why Kim is building ski resorts when the country cant feed its own people. The leaflets dont make noise or produce heat, and slip through the radar, Lee said. The North cant stop them, except by pressuring the South Korean authorities to stop them. Whether the authorities should yield to that pressure is a subject of much debate. In 2015, the Souths National Human Rights Commission said the government should not stop the leaflet campaigns, arguing that an agreement between the Koreas cannot limit individual citizens basic right of freedom of expression. But in 2016, the Supreme Court backed a move by the police to prevent the launches. The court ruled that the defectors freedom of expression conflicted with the safety of people living near the border. Border residents have been worrying about retaliation from North Korea especially since 2014, when the North shot at propaganda balloons and some of the bullets landed in a South Korean village. Villagers patience has also been tried by the fact that many of the leaflets and other items never make it out of the South. I first thought they were doing something good: sending bottles of rice to poor North Koreans, said Choi Min-ki, who lives on an island in Ganghwa County west of Seoul. But soon we learned that most of the bottles cluttered our fishing nets or washed back up on our beach, with rice rotting inside. The garbage is a real headache for us, Choi said. A villager once collected 1,000 bottles cluttering our shore in a single day. When the Park brothers and their supporters brought more bottles to Ganghwa County this week, residents blocked roads to deny them access to the beaches. Kim Tae-nyeon, a leading member of Moons Democratic Party, which gained a parliamentary majority in April elections, said this week that the party would again introduce legislation to ban the leaflet launches. South Korean officials said the recent launches had particularly upset North Koreans because of speculation that the propaganda material could somehow be carrying COVID-19. Officials were alarmed by defectors threats to use drones to carry leaflets deeper into the North, which they said Pyongyang could see as a much more provocative act. The conservative Opposition United Future Party in the South said a leaflet ban would mean capitulating to North Korean blackmail. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, essentially agreed. Moon should stand up to this bullying from the North, and not sacrifice democratic values and rights to placate an authoritarian North Korean leadership which everyone knows issues bellicose threats as a standard response to any irritation, Robertson said. Choe Sang-Hun c.2020 The New York Times Company KYODO NEWS - Jun 12, 2020 - 20:03 | Japan, All Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Friday she will run for re-election next month, seeking to continue to oversee the Japanese capital's response to the coronavirus and preparations for the Summer Olympics. Koike indicated she will run as an independent without support from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, stressing that she wants the backing of voters, not political parties. While acknowledging that Tokyo has to continue to be wary of the coronavirus, Koike also said the economy must start reopening. "Businesses are hurting. Tokyo's economy is the driver of the Japanese economy, and we have to bring it back to a healthy state," she told a press conference. The announcement came a day after the Tokyo metropolitan government lifted its warning over a possible rebound in infections, clearing the way to further ease restrictions on business activities. Official campaigning for the gubernatorial election starts next Thursday, with voting to take place on July 5. Koike said she will do most of her campaigning online, forgoing stump speeches that could draw large crowds and risk spreading the virus. She stressed the progress made during her four years in office in cutting down on wasteful spending by the metropolitan government and empowering women in the workplace, including by ensuring there is enough capacity at day-care centers and nursery schools. "Women make up half of the population and it is a waste to not put their talents to use," she said. A former LDP lawmaker, Koike served as environment minister and defense minister before giving up her lower house seat in 2016 to run for Tokyo governor. She won in a landslide despite not having LDP support, and during her first four-year term has cultivated an image as a capable leader in her work preparing for the Summer Games, which have been postponed to next year due to COVID-19. Her rivals include Kenji Utsunomiya, a prominent lawyer and former head of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, and Taisuke Ono, who recently stepped down as vice governor of Kumamoto Prefecture. Both are backed by opposition parties. Related coverage: FOCUS: Race for Tokyo governor is Koike's to lose Tokyo lifts warning about increased coronavirus infections Tokyo to ask nightclub workers to take coronavirus tests North Korea sees little use maintaining a personal relationship between leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump if Washington sticks to hostile policies, state media reported on Friday - the two-year anniversary of the leaders' first summit. U.S. policies prove Washington remains a long-term threat to the North Korean state and its people and North Korea will develop more reliable military forces to counter that threat, Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA. Trump and Kim exchanged insults and threats during 2017 as North Korea made large advances in its nuclear and missile programme and the United States responded by leading an international effort to tighten sanctions. Relations improved significantly around the Singapore summit in June 2018, the first time a sitting American president met with a North Korean leader, but the statement that came out of the meeting was light on specifics. A second summit in February 2019 in Vietnam failed to reach a deal because of conflicts over U.S. calls for North Korea to completely give up its nuclear weapons, and North Korean demands for swift sanctions relief. Ri said in retrospect the Trump administration appears to have been focusing on only scoring political points while seeking to isolate and suffocate North Korea, and threatening it with preemptive nuclear strikes and regime change. "Never again will we provide the U.S. chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns," he said. "Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise." The U.S. State Department and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On Thursday, a State Department spokesperson told South Korea's Yonhap news agency the United States remains committed to dialogue with North Korea, and is open to a "flexible approach to reach a balanced agreement." ELECTION PRESSURE On Thursday North Korea criticized the United States for commenting on inter-Korean affairs, and said Washington should stay quiet if it wants the upcoming presidential election to go smoothly. North Korea is likely to try to increase pressure on the United States ahead of the upcoming election, said Daniel Russel, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia until early in the Trump administration. "Trump's claim to have solved the North Korea problem gives them leverage," he said. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a Korea expert at King's College London, said Ri's statement shows North Korea still sees all options on the table, from a proper diplomatic process to further developing its nuclear programme. "North Korea continues to need a proper deal more than the U.S.," Pacheco Pardo said on Twitter. "That hasn't changed." Ri said North Korea's desire to open a new cooperative era runs as deep as ever, but that the situation on the Korean peninsula is daily taking a turn for the worse. "The U.S. professes to be an advocate for improved relations with the DPRK, but in fact, it is hell-bent on only exacerbating the situation," Ri said. The official name of North Korea is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). WASHINGTONThousands of Canadians who work or do business in the U.S., alongside others from around the world, are bracing for a possible announcement from the Trump administration that could restrict non-immigrant work visas. Immigration lawyers have been warning visa holders who are out of the country many of whom live in or own property in the U.S. that they soon may not be allowed back across the border. I have people right now saying, Im getting married next week, should I leave? and Im saying, I dont know what to tell you, Memphis-based immigration lawyer Greg Siskind said. A lot of people are going to be trapped in the United States. And a lot of people are going to be trapped outside the United States, he said, as happened when the White House imposed a travel ban on several Muslim countries in 2017. Siskind and other lawyers are advising clients outside the U.S. to return as soon as possible. The changes, expected to be announced within the next week, would point to the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic as justification for new restrictions on a series of non-immigrant work visas, including the H1B category for skilled workers and the L1 category for intercompany transfers, as well as H2B seasonal workers, and J1 short-term workers. TN visas under the NAFTA agreement governing certain professional categories are not expected to be affected. According to Siskind, there are two concerns: an immediate temporary order barring visa-holders entry into the country and new regulations on visa qualification that would go through a rule-making process subject to congressional oversight. The expected new regulations have been rumoured for months and reported recently by CNN and the Wall Street Journal. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, though the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday evening that such restrictions are in the works, awaiting sign off from President Donald Trump and subject to change, but likely to be announced in the coming weeks. The administration is currently evaluating a wide range of options, formulated by career experts, to protect American workers and job seekers, especially disadvantaged and underserved citizens but no decisions of any kind have been made, the Journal quotes White House spokesman Hogan Gidley saying in a statement. How such an announcement could affect Canadians and cross-border businesses depends on what it says. Exceptions to new rules for certain essential industries such as health care are expected, and it is possible such measures could exempt many or all Canadians. Its the old Canada-U.S. song and dance, where the administration in the U.S. sweeps with a broad brush and then we always have to go find an exception for Canada after the fact, says Dan Ujczo, a trade lawyer with Dickinson-Wright. . He says hes advising his corporate clients who rely on these visas to wait and see what comes. Theres a lot of hair on fire about rumours. And given that weve been through this since January of 2017 many, many times on the immigration side, we need to see what actually comes out and what the process looks like, he said. The Trump administrations history, he said, has many examples where, we see big headlines and then the process becomes more important down the road. So we really want to see what the details of the announcement are and, more importantly, what is the plan for implementation. But the uncertainty is hard to manage for many, Siskind said. It is possible, depending on how they draft this thing, that the owners and managers of these businesses, of these Canadian businesses in the United States, wouldnt be able to come into the United States to actually manage their own businesses here. Which would certainly probably lead to retaliation, he said. The expected move is part of a wave of immigration restrictions in the U.S. in response to the coronavirus that has in recent months included a temporary suspension of immigrant visas in April and new restrictions on asylum seekers this week. Siskind said its a renewed push as the election approaches to continue the immigration restrictions that have been a signature policy of the Trump administration since it took office. Its been pretty steady since the outset of this administration, he said. It is definitely clear that they are seeing the finish line, or the potential finish line, for the presidency, and they are trying to rush out as much as they can during this last six-month period. Read more about: The pangolin was found in a fishpond by a farmer and brought to the government-run rescue centre in Jinhua Rescued from a farmer's fishpond, a young pangolin's release back into China's wilderness this week was hailed as a small victory in the battle to save the critically endangered animal. The freeing of the scaly creature in the eastern province of Zhejiang came after Beijing's Forestry and Grassland Administration granted the world's most trafficked mammal similar protections to that of giant pandas. It was among at least six pangolinspoached for their meat and prized scalesreturned to the wild in the last month, according to conservationists. "This is a great miracle, we have really changed the status quo so that now pangolins are released back into the wild," said Sophia Zhang, director at the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation. The charity's staff, working with Jinhua Animal Rescue Centre, released the young female pangolin into a forest on Thursday. It was found in a fishpond by a farmer, who reported it to police, and the animal was brought to the government-run rescue centre in Jinhua. Zhang, who helps wildlife rescue centres across China release pangolins back into the wild, said May to July was primetime for spotting the creatures. "They will often roam around and get lost outside their natural habitat, or end up in farmers' homes in search of food." Beijing granted one of the most trafficked mammals similar protections to that of giant pandas But she said it is hard to accurately gauge the number of Chinese pangolins remaining in the wildonly that "very few" are left. Zhang added that four creatures, who cannot survive in captivity, were set free last month and another was released in eastern Anhui province last week. The mammals, native to parts of Africa and Asia, are thought by some scientists to be the possible host of the novel coronavirus that emerged at a market in China's Wuhan city last year. Beijing recently banned the sale of wild animals for food, citing the risk of diseases spreading to humans, but the trade remains legal for other purposesincluding research and traditional medicine. However, pangolins were left out of the official Chinese Pharmacopoeia this year, the state-owned Health Times reported this week. The landmark development in the creature's conservation efforts was hailed by campaigners who had lobbied for the change for a long time. The young female pangolin was released into a forest in eastern China's Zhejiang province Their scales are prized in traditional Chinese medicinedespite a lack of scientific proofand used for the treatment of various diseases such as arthritis, ulcers and tumours. A practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine told AFP, using his online name Xinglin Daoren because of the sensitivities involved, said the new restrictions would impact some treatments. He explained: "It can't be replaced." Explore further China removes pangolin from traditional medicine list 2020 AFP Grootvlei, Snake Park, an impoverished suburb on the fringe of one of the biggest mine dumps in Soweto, Johannesburg. Poor people have been hit hardest by the fallout of COVID-19 - Source: Mujahid Safodien/AFP via Getty Images 12.06.2020 LISTEN In trying to limit the spread of COVID-19, policymakers globally have the difficult task of balancing the positive health effects of lockdowns against their economic costs, particularly the burdens lockdowns impose on low-income and food-insecure households. In the case of South Africa, the lockdown policies are relatively stringent, and the economic impacts large . The lockdown has two components. First, people have restricted their movement outside their homes and engaged in physical distancing. The result has been a dramatic decline in demand for services. These range across establishments like restaurants, theatres, sporting events and hotels. Second, government has shuttered operations of non-essential industries to prevent spread of the disease at the workplace. Some industries closed voluntarily to stop the spread of the disease in their factories. In addition, the economic uncertainty associated with the lockdowns globally has led to declines in investment and international trade that are causing further economic contraction. We have used an economic modelling tool called SAM-multiplier analysis (Social Accounting Matrix) that is well-suited to assessing short term shocks to an economy. We have estimated the impact of the South African lockdown on aggregate production of goods and services for final demand (gross domestic product, or GDP), earnings of different categories of labour (low to high skill), and incomes of household groups (poor to rich). The work was conducted within the framework of the Towards Inclusive Economic Development in Southern Africa ( SA-TIED ) programme. Our findings show that the economic impact of the pandemic and policy response has been very large. Where it has hurt most The largest initial shocks were in mining, service sectors and non-essential industries directly affected by the lockdowns. Indirect linkages in the economy spread the impact across all industries. For example, because many business operations, including some in manufacturing, operate at low levels or not at all, demand for electricity has declined. This, in turn, has reduced the demand for coal. Once all indirect effects of the lockdown are considered, GDP, which is properly viewed as a flow of goods and services, is reduced by about one third (see right-most bar in Figure 1), with indirect effects accounting for most of the reduction. Figure 1: Impacts on wage earnings and income GDP components, as percentage deviation from their pre-crisis levels. Employment also fell dramatically. Low-skilled, less-educated workers have been hit the hardest. The net effect is that the shocks are most severe on poorer, more vulnerable households. On their own, these negative economic shocks are sufficiently large to push many households into positions of food insecurity. This reduced capability to buy food has been brought about by the severe shock to household income rather than a shock to food availability such as in a drought. Because the source of food insecurity has resulted from a collapse in earnings, income transfers via social protection have been highly effective in countering the economic effects of lockdowns. In South Africa, government transfers have helped to substantially support total income of households in the lower half of the income distribution. This has blunted (but far from offset) the impact of the crisis. The remarkably rapid and severe shocks imposed by COVID-19 illustrate the value of having in place channels to transfer income to vulnerable households. They enable policymakers to soften the effects of such rare disasters. Through the framework of social grants and unemployment insurance South Africa has to date been well placed to deploy income support during the lockdown. But the fiscal space to execute it is limited, and government revenues are coming under severe pressure. We estimate that tax revenue during the lockdown fell by as much as one-third below pre-crisis levels. The bulk of the losses is due to a decline in taxes from the sale of goods (such as value added tax and excises), as well as lower income taxes. Looking forward Great attention should now be devoted to developing a strategy for navigating the pandemic over the next 9-12 months. South Africa has begun a risk-based, alert-level approach to balance contagion risks and the economic consequences of lockdowns. Devising suitable responses will require that economists and epidemiologists work together to understand the mechanisms at work and balance the health dimensions of policies to contain the pandemic and the economic fallout especially on vulnerable groups. Even with optimistic assumptions about the pace at which health related restrictions are relieved and economic activity revives, the public health emergency will have deeply cut GDP in 2020 and worsened social and economic conditions. More generally, COVID-19 has highlighted vulnerabilities and made clear the urgent need to devise ways to make the economy more resilient to health, climate and other risks. One clear need is to rebuild fiscal space. Before the onset of the pandemic, national government debt was estimated to reach 65.6% of GDP in fiscal 2020/21. Lower revenues and higher demands for health spending and social assistance are adding pressure to already weak fiscal metrics. As the pandemic recedes, South Africa should look to rebuild fiscal resources so that it can respond to future crises. Rekindling economic growth is key to creating this fiscal space. It is also key to building in other forms of resilience and to achieving development objectives. A good starting point would be the national treasury's structural reform proposals . These are designed to raise the economy's growth potential, competitiveness and ability to absorb labour. With a catastrophic global pandemic coming on top of more than a decade of disappointing economic growth, South Africa needs coordinated efforts to manage the pandemic over the next 9-12 months. It also needs a deliberate process to lay the foundations for sustainable, durable and inclusive economic development. Channing Arndt receives funding from the National Treasury of the Republic of South Africa via IFPRI's involvement in the SA-TIED program. Sherman Robinson receives funding from IFPRI, World Bank, UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), and the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) for work on various research projects. Sherwin Gabriel does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. By Channing Arndt, Director: Environment and Production Technology Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), CGIAR System Organization And Sherman Robinson, Emeritus Research Fellow, The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Jacksonville, Florida, has been selected to host the celebration marking President Donald Trumps acceptance of his partys nomination for reelection, the Republican National Committee chairwoman said Thursday. RNC chair Ronna McDaniel made the announcement a day after saying that Jacksonville was a front-runner to hold the event. The governor of North Carolina, the official host of this summers Republican National Convention, had balked at promising Trump a full-blown convention in Charlotte free from social distancing measures during the coronavirus pandemic. 'We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion in the great city of Jacksonville,' McDaniel said. 'Not only does Florida hold a special place in President Trumps heart as his home state, but it is crucial in the path to victory in 2020. We look forward to bringing this great celebration and economic boon to the Sunshine State in just a few short months.' Jacksonville, Florida, has been selected to host the celebration marking President Donald Trumps acceptance of his partys nomination for reelection McDaniel said the event would be held at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, which holds 15,000 people. She said more details would be released in the coming weeks. The party's more mundane business, including discussions over the platform, will still be held in Charlotte because of contractual obligations. The president said Wednesday that he had 'no choice' but to move the convention to another location and previewed that he would be announcing the new venue shortly. 'We'll see how it all works out, but the governor doesn't want to give an inch,' Trump said during an previously unannounced Cabinet Room meeting with black supporters on Wednesday afternoon. He is referencing North Carolina Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, who has said he would not allow the RNC to fill a stadium for Trump's coronation speech as the Republican nominee. He said that while North Carolina is snubbing the event, there are 'many, many states' that would like to host the convention, including Texas, Georgia and Florida. In 2016, the then nominee gave his coronation speech as the Republican candidate in front of a massive pro-Trump crowd in Cleveland, Ohio (pictured) Florida, where Trump changed his permanent residence to last year, ended lockdown this month and allowed beaches, bars, gyms and almost all other businesses to reopen and operate as normal after months of observing social distancing guidelines. North Carolina is still in Phase 2 of its reopening plan and officials in the state have not been able to promise that Trump will have his desired packed arena for the August 24-27 event. The RNC had spent the last week scouting locations after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper rejected Trumps demand that the convention be allowed to take place Aug. 24-27 without social distancing measures. The Jacksonville area, home to a major military base, has a population of about 1.5 million. Mayor Len Curry is a former chairperson of the state Republican Party, and the area is the home base of GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, a key Trump ally. 'Florida is honored to host this special event where we will celebrate the re-nomination of President Donald J. Trump,' DeSantis said in a statement Thursday. 'Florida is honored to host this special event where we will celebrate the re-nomination of President Donald J. Trump,' Governor DeSantis said in a statement Thursday 'Jacksonville is a great city that will showcase Floridas energy, facilities, entrepreneurship and commitment to bring together the delegates of the Republican Party at a historic time in our nations history.' Curry called the announcement 'a huge win' for Jacksonville. 'The opportunity to highlight all our city has to offer and the tremendous economic impact is one I enthusiastically welcome, and we look forward to hosting an exciting event for all delegates and guests to enjoy,' Curry said in a statement provided by the RNC. Floridas prize of 29 electoral votes is considered crucial to Trumps bid for a second term. That celebration could generate at least $100 million in revenues for the host city, perhaps more. But Ben Frazier, a black activist with the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville, said the event would be disruptive to the city during a time of racial tension and a pandemic. 'I only see this exacerbating these problems,' he said. 'The mayors concerned about the money the city could make. Were concerned about the lives of people here in Jacksonville more than anything else. We dont simply need to be concerned about dollars and cents.' Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Savanna Region, Mohammed Issah has urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to boycott the 2020 general elections if the party is unhappy with processes leading to the elections. The NDC he said can also seek redress from the Supreme Court should the party lose the impending elections just like the NPP did in the 2012 general election. In 1992 when we were dissatisfied with the process leading to the election, we boycotted the elections and in 2012 when we saw that there was something substantially wrong with the elections we resorted to the Supreme court in order to preserve the sanctity of the democracy in Ghana, so candidate Mahama knows what to do if he is unhappy he can as well boycott the elections or better still run to the supreme court for redress. Reading an address on behalf of the communications directors of Northern, Savanna, Upper West, Upper East and North East regions of the NPP, Mohammed Issahn said Ghana is in a democracy and everything political actors say must seek to strengthen that process and not to shed blood. The NPP he added is a law-abiding political party and shall avail itself and its members to be registered as Ghanaian voters. The five regional communications directors of the NPP also alleged that the NDC in a clandestine move is preparing youth within the five regions of the North to unleash violence in the upcoming Voter Registration exercise. They claimed at the press conference that, some National Executives of the NDC led by their general secretary Johnson Aseidu Nketia have visited some known NDC youth groups including the Aluta boys, Azoka boys all in Tamale and some others in the others regions and made several promises including equipping them for the job at hand. In Tamale, they visited a section of the Shishagu abattoir which is a well-known NDC youth group and made several promises including equipping them for the job at hand. Similar groups as "Aluta boys" and "Azoka boys" were met behind closed doors for same agenda. Joshua Akamba, the National Organiser of the NDC was later engaged to release sets of ammunition to these youth groups to carry out the NDC agenda. Below is the full press release issued by the five regional directors of communications of the NPP. JOHN MAHAMA, ASEIDU NKETIA PREPARES NORTHERN NDC FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST ELECTION 2020 PRESS CONFERENCE BY FIVE (5) NORTHERN REGIONAL DIRECTORS OF COMMUNICATIONS. Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, thank you so much for honoring our invitation even at such short notice. We are once again called to duty and to protect the sovereignty of this nation whiles ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for Northerners and Ghanaians at large. The Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Candidate Mahama has yet again proven to the world that he and his party are not ready for this year's polls. He has sent yet a strong notice, that the NDC under his leadership shall reject the 2020 election results in the most likely event they lose. This is so bizarre coming from a former President who has held virtually every sensitive political position in this country. Candidate Mahama has proven to be the worse statesman to have ascended to the highest office of the land. It is terrible to hear a former President and now Presidential Candidate beat war drums at such a crucial hour over elections. No former President in the history of our land has been this reckless and insensitive to the people he desperately wants to misgovern. The recent call to violence and subsequent rejection of the 2020 polls by the NDC and Candidate Mahama is worrying and repugnant. Most especially coming from a supposed Northerner; Northerners who otherwise are seen as largely peaceful and law abiding. The Former President has shown clearly that the North is only meant for electoral violence and electoral malpractices. He has clearly vindicated the long-held view of many critics that the development of the North is not his priority but only for electoral successes. What have the Northern people done to candidate Mahama to merit such attitude that has the tendency of blocking the chances of well-meaning and fully baked Northern politicians to occupy the high office of the land? His attitude these days is very dangerous to the development of northern politics unless candidate Mahama is telling us that he is self-centered. The General Secretary of the opposition NDC, Mr Johnson Aseidu Nketia was also earlier in the Northern part of the country for the last one week in preparation for violence so to catch the eye of Candidate Mahama for the Vice Presidential slot of the NDC. The Chief Scribe of the incompetent NDC and his executives that simply failed to collate electoral results for the 2016 general elections have been in the North to prepare the grounds for disrupting the well-advertised New Voters Register. These warmongers who have shamefully revised their campaign from "No new Register" to "No new Register without old Voter ID" are trotting across the region to plot violence. The most worrying trend Candidate Mahama and his opposition NDC has consistently engaged in is the employment of our Northern brothers in the NDC to perpetuate violence whenever they plan to do so. It is common knowledge that the NDC is in court to challenge the legitimacy of the EC to compile a New Voter Register. Earlier, they had engaged the services of some self-seeking individuals from minority parties like Mr Bernard Mornah and other surrogates to organize various lawful fora to put forward their claims on this matter. Their embattled National Communication officer had also organized a series of Press engagements to do same. Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, all these lawful activities were carried out in the southern sector of the country. On the contrary, the People of the North have been engaged by Candidate Mahama and his NDC in rather the most bizarre violent activities in our immediate and past history. Even when it has to be done in any part of the country, our Northern NDC brothers are used for such nefarious activities whiles candidate Mahama and his family and few friends enjoy from the booties that may be associated with the said activities. A few examples would suffice; As we all heard and saw in the Commission seating of the famous Ayawaso West Wuagon incident, the violence was started and engineered by the NDC through the well-known Azoka boys. These boys are managed by the National Vice Chairman of the NDC. Again, the last demonstration that visited thuggery and violence on the Residents of Tamale and its environs was meant for ONLY Northerners and so was done in the North. Unlike the peaceful one that took place in Accra and Kumasi, the Tamale episode was well calculated for violence and same was executed by Northern NDC youth. In a similar fashion, the NDC and its National Executives led by the Chief scribe visited Upper East, Northern Region, Savannah and Upper West Regions to prepare them to unleash violence in the upcoming Voter Registration exercise. In Tamale, they visited a section of the Shishagu abattoir which is a well-knownNDC youth group and made several promises including equipping them for the job at hand. Similar groups as "Aluta boys" and "Azoka boys" were met behind closed doors for same agenda. Joshua Akamba, the National Organiser of the NDC was later engaged to release sets of ammunition to these youth groups to carry out the NDC agenda. One of the rival Chiefs to the Nantong skin was also visited and a specific promise was made to get him into Nantong either by hook or crook. This is bizarre and a strenuously wicked attempt by Candidate Mahama and his NDC to get the Northern Region back to its dark days. The NDC comfort is when the North is on flames and so shall they ensure the same for their benefit. The same admonishment has been replicated in almost all the Regions in the North by the NDC and in preparation towards engaging the NDC thugs to disrupt the registration process with violence. Must we always be seen as conduits to the electoral fortunes of Candidate Mahama and his NDC? Are Northern NDC youth only fit for violence? The North must rather see massive development as happening but not be used as tools to violence to sustain the political survival of a man who simply failed to create a Region to wipe the tears of his forefathers. The youth in the North are simply Proud that our pride as Northerners is back. Dagbang can pride itself of an overload that is well respected by all sides of the then rival gates. We have several road projects ongoing in the Northern Region including the first-ever interchange in the North (Tamale). The Bimbila Yendi road and the second phase of the Tamale airport project. The Youth of Gonjaland are proud and thankful to President Akufo-Addo for listening to our over 40 years cry to have a Region. Our own brother who takes TZ with us said it was not possible. Three (3) critical roads, Salaga-Kpandai, Bunjai-Fufulso, and the Almighty Daboya-Mankarigu-Wiasi roads are being fixed alongside water for Kpembewura, Yapeiwura and Yagbonwura are our pride. The Mamprugu youth can pride itself of the fixed Cheriponi, Bunkpurugu, Nalerigu, Gambaga and Walewale town roads. The new Mamprugu Region has Walewale, Gbimsi, Gambaga and Nalerigu town water projects almost completed. The youth of Upper West are excited over the massive road projects especially the WaBulenga and Wahabu-Funsi-Yaala No.1 roads that are impacting on our lives. The completion of our revered Regional Hospital that was never completed after the exit of H.E former President Kufuor is a great achievement under a visionary leader in President Akufo Addo. The youth of Upper East will rather pontificate the single biggest project in recent times and a legacy of President Abudani I in the country; the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam. The Almighty Bolga Bawku Road that has seen little or no attention by almost all successive governments is on course to completion under this government. May we humbly avert the minds of the media to an equally dangerous strenuous attempt by the NDC to sponsor a coup plot. We have read some clandestine threats at the security agencies not to enforce the law in the event they unleashed their arsenals on innocent Ghanaians. Let it be known, that the sudden manufacture of phantoms groups to draft limbless petitions to our revered Chiefs in an attempt to create some non-existing tension will fail. The Chiefs know better. We are finally calling on the Ghana Police Service, Civil Society Organizations, concerned clergy and our respected Imams, and all well-meaning Ghanaians to take cognizance of the notice we are serving. The New Patriotic Party is a law-abiding political party and shall avail itself and its members to be registered as Ghanaian voters. In 1992 when we were dissatisfied with the process leading to the election, we boycotted the elections and in 2012 when we saw that there was something substantially wrong with the elections we resorted to the Supreme court in order to preserve the sanctity of the democracy in Ghana, so candidate Mahama knows what to do if he is unhappy he can as well boycott the elections or better still run to the supreme court for redress. Candidate Mahama should know that we are in a democracy and everything we say must seek to strengthen that process not to shed blood. Thank you for your attention. God Bless us and bless our Homeland Ghana. Signed: Mohammed Issah (Savannah Region) 0244227266 Sule Salifu (Northern Region) 024 442 6937 Bukari Ali (Upper West Region) 020 420 9477 Walibe Amos (North East Region) 024 924 1977 Issah Sanusi (Upper East Region) Best lesson are erudite inordinately 024 873 1335 Haruna Mohammed (Deputy National Communications Director) 14:51 | Cusco (Cusco region), Jun. 12. "We have proposed that the Ministry of Transport and Communications should authorize cross-border travel from Latin American places where 'safety bubbles' are used, such as Colombia, Bolivia, and Chile, to allow tourism to resume," he told RPP. Benavente explained that cross-border travel to Cusco would be an option while Lima recovers from the impact of the coronavirus. "We are not asking that the trips are allowed starting July 1 , but to authorize them so as to begin the reopening process and, thus, facilitate access to Machu Picchu ," he added. On June 5, British Transport Police (BTP) referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) their reasons for closing the investigation into events related to the death of rail worker Belly Mujinga. After reportedly being spat at by an individual at London Victoria train station March 21, ticket office clerk Mujinga died on April 5 of COVID-19. Nearly 1.7 million people have signed a petition demanding justice for Belly. But BTPs decision to refer the findings of their investigation to the CPS is not in answer to demands for the reopening of the case. It is to secure a rubber stamp for their original decision not to pursue charges over what is now only ever referred to as an incident. Belly Mujinga and her husband Lusamba Gode Katalay On March 21, management forced 47-year-old Belly onto the station concourse. Her pleas that it was dangerous for her without personal protective equipment (PPE) due to her underlying respiratory condition were ignored. Belly and a colleague were then approached by a smartly dressed man who they said shouted, spat and coughed at them saying he had coronavirus. They retreated to the ticket office but were forced out again onto the concourse. Soon after Belly and her colleague fell ill and both tested positive for COVID-19. Belly was hospitalised and died on April 5. She left behind her husband Lusamba Gode Katalay and their 11-year-old daughter. The man said he had the virus and spat on them. They reported it to their supervisor. Belly came home and told me everything, Lusamba said. A colleague of Bellys explained, We begged not to go out. We said, Our lives are in danger.... We were told that we are not even allowed to put on masks. In their June 5 press release, BTP said of its decision to close its investigation that in recognition of the wider public interest in the circumstances of this case, whilst we made the decision not to charge, we have now invited independent review by the CPS of the available evidence, and whether there are any further lines of enquiry in relation to BTPs position on the prospect of meeting the general principle of a successful prosecution. The statement continued: Recognising the significance of the case, BTP commissioned its Major Serious and Organised Crime team (MSOC) to undertake an investigation and gather evidence of the incident. Perhaps unusually, given the passage of time between the incident and a report to BTP, the CCTV was still retrievable. Following review of the footage, and extensive enquiries, detectives identified a man they believed could provide information to help them understand more of the circumstances of the encounter with Mrs Mujinga and her colleagues. A man was interviewed by detectives and answered all questions put to him in the interview. The statement refers to a review of all the information available, including the CCTV footage, witness statements and explanations given in interviews, with senior detectives concluding that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate that any criminal offences had taken place and that the death of Mrs Mujinga did not occur as a consequence of that incident, including a prosecution based upon the allegation that the man spat deliberately on Mrs Mujinga or said that he had the virus. Aside from these assertions, the BTP has not made public any facts related to its investigation. In all their statements, BTP have refused to explain what happened, what the video footage did reveal and what was said by eyewitnesses. Media reports have established that a 57-year-old man was contacted by BTP, that he denied the spitting incident and provided an antibody test to prove he did not have the virus and could not have caused Bellys death. BTP are in effect calling into question the reports of the incident made by Belly and her colleagues. In response, Lusamba issued a statement June 5 declaring, We want justice for Belly. Belly didnt lie about being assaulted. Belly and her colleague were confronted and intimidated as front-line workers and their concerns and their fears were ignored. We continue to have questions after the police investigation. Lusamba explained, The public reaction to the British Transport Police closing the case into the incident my wife experienced at Victoria Station has taken us by surprise. At the same time, the righteous anger over the killing of George Floyd swelled in America, here in the UK and across the world. On Wednesday, thousands of people protested in London to cry it loud that Black Lives Matter. Black lives do matter. Bellys life mattered. It mattered to me, to our daughter, our friends and family, to Bellys colleagues, and now it matters to many thousands of you out there. Lusamba reiterated, We want to know why she was sent out to work unprotected on the station concourse that day. We want to know why she was working when she had a respiratory condition. We want justice for Bellys colleagues who still dont have full PPE. And we want justice for the families of all transport and key workersthey should all be eligible for the governments compensation scheme for NHS workers and carers who have sadly died from the virus. The decision to forward their investigation to the CPS, according to BTP, was to see if there were any other areas of possible prosecution to pursue that they were not aware of. But no trust can be placed in the CPS. Justice for Belly depends upon the independent intervention of the working class. Workers must demand that the following questions are answered: What was the nature of the incident referred to on March 21? Was there a confrontation between Belly, her colleague and the 57-year-old man? Did the CCTV or witnesses rule out spitting, or was there not enough evidence to prove this one way or another? The CCTV footage must be made available to Bellys family. With the use of standard video techniques, the anonymity of the alleged perpetrator can be preserved while doing so. Whether the man was infected with COVID-19 does not mean a criminal offense did not occur. Threatening to spit at someone, especially while claiming to be infected, is a criminal offence. It must also be said that if Belly was not infected by being spat on, she was either infected at work or worked while being infected andthanks to an absence of a face maskcould have passed the infection on to others. This points clearly to criminal negligence. The Transport Salaried Staff Association (TSSA) is representing Bellys family. General Secretary Manuel Cortes immediately accepted BTPs May 29 decision to terminate the case, writing, We are pleased that the British Transport Police investigated this incident as it sends a very strong message that abuse and attacks directed at transport workers are always unacceptable. Now, while acknowledging that the BTP had sent their investigation to the CPS due to mass public outrage, the TSSA takes no position. Instead, it promotes Labour MPs putting forward early day motions calling for an investigation and making appeals to Conservative government ministers to intervene on Bellys behalf. This is the traditional mechanism used to divert opposition into safe parliamentary channels where it can be buried. Under conditions of a pandemic, this will have immediate and deadly consequences. Even as workers lives are threatened, the unions are collaborating with the governments back-to-work drive. Instead of ordering a withdrawal of their members from an infected workplace after Bellys death, the TSSA continued talks with her employers, Govia Thameslink Railway. Now, in alliance with the Trades Union Congress and other rail unions, these are seeking to prepare a full resumption of services on the national rail, metros, London Underground and the bus network to maintain the flow of profits to the financial and business elite. To ensure that the horrors workers have witnessed over the last three months are not repeated on a greater scale, rail workers must establish rank-and-file safety committees, independent of the unions. We call on rail and other transport workers to c ontact the Socialist Equality Party, which will provide every assistance. Staten Island Remembers, a virtual interfaith vigil for those lost to COVID-19 was live-streamed on YouTube Thursday evening. Joining were were local residents of all walks of life, many of whom lost loved ones to the coronavirus. To help with the communal grieving process, clergy from houses of worship across Staten Island, representing diverse religious backgrounds and spiritual philosophies, offered prayers and words of comfort to the community during the virtual event. Religious leaders who took part in the virtual vigil included Rev. Karen Jackson, director of recovery and community initiatives at Project Hospitality; Rev. Maggie Howard of the Stapleton U.A.M.E. Episcopal Church; Rev. Bill Baker of the Church of the Ascension; Imam Tahir Kukaj of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center; Imam Zulqarnain Bait-ul Jamaat (House of Community) Inc., Islamic chaplain at Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, among others. Many of those who who spoke have lost members of their faith communities to COVID-19. Healthcare leaders also joined the vigil to share their learning, experience and empathy for families. The virtual memorial and service was moderated by Rev. Karen Jackson. For others and all those on Staten Island who died from COVID-19, may they rest in peace," she said before reciting a pray aloud. Marie Noel, pastoral associate of St. Clare's R.C. Church. (Staten Island Advance/Carol Ann Benanti)Staten Island Advance Maria Noel, pastoral associate of St. Clares R.C. Church, read a statement from Bishop John OHara, episcopal vicar of Staten Island. St. Clares suffered quite a loss. Monsignor Guastella, well-known to so many as Father Richard, led the church and the community and he stood for justice and for love. This is in honor of him, a boss, friend and father. And Monsignor Murphy, pastor before Father Richard also lost his life to COVID-19. Noel then sang the hymn Be Not Afraid, followed by a prayer. And as we mourn the loss of family members and friends as a result of COVID-19, our hearts are broken and grief intense and we pray for health, healing and a prayer for racial equality," she added. Congressman Max Rose. (Staten Island Advance/Carol Ann Benanti)Staten Island Advance Congressman Max Rose also offered words of comfort: Thanks for giving me this opportunity to come before you. I dont have words of wisdom when weve lost over 1,000 in the community. We realize its not the only pain we feel. Theres economic pain as a city and as a nation. I saw people who dug deep to help. Today we reaffirm; we pledge we will not allow anyone to have to deal with this alone and pledge to honor those we lost. Im proud to be here in mourning and remembrance. We will get through this. God bless Staten Island, New York and the United States of America. Imam Zulqarnain Bait-ul Jamaat (House of Community) Inc., Islamic chaplain at Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze stated: I bid you peace and solidarity. The coronavirus has played a pandemic that has affected the USA and the world. We believe there is a life after this life. We should rejoice so those who pass on dont have to endure trials and tribulations that we are suffering today. If it wasnt for the coronavirus people wouldnt have come out for George Floyd. God is talking to us all over the world. Its a time we can fast from everyday life. May we all learn for the coronavirus. And we are not alone. Rev. Maggie Howard. (Staten Island Advance/Carol Ann Benanti)Staten Island Advance Rev. Maggie Howard began with a prayer and added: COVID-19 has saddened the hearts of many. This season will pass. When Hurricane Sandy affected everyone we pulled together and we did on 9/11. And now with COVID-19 we will be better Staten Islanders and better New Yorkers. Pain pushes us forward and forces us to accept. Show us, God, how to get through this pandemic and racism. We must hold one anothers hands. Give us strength and dry the tears from our eyes. Imam Tahir Kukaj of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center, said: God is with us. I love all of you. I love New York City and I love Staten Island. I came from Egypt in 2002. Ive been humbled to learn so much from our society and the language and dialogue we learn from one another. I pray for everyone who has passed from COVID-19. And I pray and continue to pray for this virus of racism. We do care for our community and for all mankind. I know the power of prayer and almighty God will protect our city and our country and I pray for George Floyds family and other George Floyds who have been treated unjustly." Sri Dhiraji (Staten Island Advance/Carol Ann Benanti) Sri Dhiraji said: We gather in an unusual way distanced in an unusual manner. We would have one year ago never thought a virus would have us down on our knees. The loss is compounded by the surrounding situation making it unbearable as we have been blind sighted by the pandemic. May we be participants and not mere consumers." And in remembrance of those lost he shared a poem to honor the front line warriors and concluded with a prayer. Rabbi Michael Howald (Staten Island Advance/Carol Ann Benanti)Staten Island Advance Rabbi Michael Howald of Temple Israel Reform Congregation. The death of everyone is worthy of this moment. At this moment I am honored to offer traditional words from the Jewish religion. We honor the word of God for all those who died of COVID-19 every single Staten Islander and there were more than 1,000. May God console you who mourn in our state, our country and in the world. Dr. Hueldine Webb, a surgeon at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Brooklyn, spoke of the shortage of PPEs and the fact that it was difficult to tell patients they couldnt have surgery because operating rooms were closed. Being a surgeon I have no right to surrender to fear. Staying saved has been hard. Rev. Bill Baker of the Church of the Ascension: I wish to add thoughts of condolences and prayers. One of our sister churches in the Bronx lost 21 members. For many it has been a trying time. Colleagues and friends havent been able to get together. COVID goes to our lungs and people cant breath and George Floyd echoed those words. Through COVID-19 and with strength we are one as people on Staten Island can rely on one another. Lets pray for all who struggle and who are struggling especially for sickness and racism, to help our neighbor and love one another." To view the virtual Interfaith Vigil visit https://youtu.be/3C4UXQHOoZI A sign reminding beachgoers in Sa Coma, Mallorca about the need to keep a distance of two meters between people. Spains regions will on Monday undergo their last phase change as part of the ongoing deescalation from a coronavirus lockdown that began in mid-March. On June 15, most parts of Spain will enter Phase 3, the last stage before the end of the state of alarm that underpins the confinement measures. The northwestern region of Galicia is moving faster and will on Monday transition straight into what is being called the new normality by the Spanish government. This will restore freedom of movement but maintain certain safety norms in place, such as social distancing and heightened hygiene measures. But territories such as Madrid and Catalonia, which have been the epicenters of the Covid-19 pandemic in Spain, are scaling down slower. On Monday seven areas will remain in Phase 2: the Madrid region; the city of Barcelona and its metropolitan area, as well the healthcare area of Lleida in Catalonia; and the provinces of Salamanca, Avila, Segovia and Soria in the region of Castilla y Leon. These areas collectively represent a fourth of the Spanish population. La Fuente beach in Vigo on Thursday. The Galicia region will enter the new normality on Monday. Salvador Sas (EFE) Meanwhile the Valencia region, the other provinces of Castilla y Leon, the rest of Catalonia, the provinces of Cuenca, Toledo and Ciudad Real in Castilla-La Mancha, and the exclave city of Ceuta on the northern coast of Africa will move up from Phase 2 to Phase 3. These areas are home to a collective 10 million people. The main health-related difference between these two phases lies in the number of people who may gather in groups, and the maximum capacity allowed at public venues. But there is another dissimilarity that extends into the political sphere: under Phase 3, all decision-making powers are devolved to regional authorities, who may decide when to lift the state of alarm and enter the new normality. This is what Galicia is doing on Monday. Spanish Health Ministry officials said they are satisfied with the way Covid-19 figures have been evolving lately. Every day we are acquiring greater capacity for early detection of suspicious cases, said Fernando Simon, head of the Coordination Center for Health Alerts and Emergencies. We are detecting 55,000 suspicious cases a week, and between 90% and 93% of them are undergoing PCR testing, a rate that keeps rising. All of this allows us to think that the situation is really under control and that we can allow the phase changes. On June 21 at midnight, the last extension to the congressionally approved state of alarm will expire, and Spain will enter the new normality as described by the coalition government of the Socialist Party (PSOE) and the leftist Unidas Podemos. This normality will reflect the guidelines set out by a recent government decree and by additional norms to be established by the regions. Health Minister Salvador Illa (l) and Fernando Simon of the Health Alert and Emergency Coordination Center at a news conference on Thursday. Kiko Huesca (EFE) For instance, face masks will remain compulsory in closed spaces or when it is not possible to keep a distance of 1.5 meters between people. But citizens will be able to move freely across the Spanish territory, which is currently still not possible without justification. And in the event of future outbreaks, only the affected areas may be placed under lockdown. In Phase 3 there are no more time slots for outdoor activities, commercial premises may open at 50% capacity (75% for restaurants sidewalk tables), and shopping malls can open at 40% capacity. Movie theaters, auditoriums and theaters can operate as long as they only fill 50% of seats. Regions in Phase 2 must now decide whether to adopt Phase 3 restrictions after June 21, or whether to move straight into the new normality. In Madrid, regional premier Isabel Diaz Ayuso has not applied for Phase 3 status yet, although on Friday she said that this request will be made in a weeks time. By then, the decision will no longer be up to central health officials. But Fernando Simon said that the ministry will keep providing regions with any support they might need: If we can discuss and assess the conditions [of Madrid], that will be beneficial for everyone. English version by Susana Urra. The C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Science has set to Conduct Examination Online and Digital Platform for Final Years. According to Prof. Luguterah the acting Vice-Chancellor on behalf of the Interim Prof. Eric Magnus Wilmot, the university will conduct its examinations online and on a Digital Platform for all students. Those who feel safe at home and have internet connectivity are allowed to stay home and write using the online models while those who need to proceed to campus will be protected to do so in a safe environment. The circular reads; C.K.TEDAM UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED SCIENCES (CKT-UTAS) CIRCULAR TO ALL FINAL YEAR STUDENTS Following the President's directives, and the Minister of Education's guidelines, for the re-opening of Universities in Ghana, Management, after consultations, has decided on the following: 1. School re-opens for all level final year students on Monday 15th June 2020. 2. Following the re-opening of our University, there will be a two week period for revision and completion of assignments. 3. Exams start on Monday 29" June 2020 and ends on Friday 13th July 2020. 4. To minimize risks of infections to both staff and students, Examinations shall be done online and through digital platforms. 5. In order to cater for students who are unable to come to school, all assignments and Examination questions will also be available online, at the same time, to all Students, at specified times. 6. All such answered examinations questions and assignments, shall be submitted to the Examiner through his email address which will be communicated on the Question papers, on or before the specified times. 7. For the avoidance of doubt, all continuous assessments done over the trimester still remain valid and shall be used in addition to examination scores in grading the students. 8. Similar arrangements for Dissertations and Project work, that avoid or minimize contact with persons, have been made and shall be communicated to each student through their Faculties: Dissertations and Project works shall continue after the examination period (i.e., the 13th of July 2020). These are trying times and we trust that all final year students will cooperate with Management to ensure we have successful examinations, in a safe environment. We wish to acknowledge the patience and cooperation of all our students and admonish you to keep to all health and safety protocols. We pray that this too shall pass so we are able to come together again physically, for your graduation. Allow fliers to use credit till 2 years: SC on airline refunds India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, June 12: The Supreme Court today proposed that airlines provide a credit shell with a two-year validity against flight bookings that were cancelled during the lockdown. A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, S K Kaul and M R Shah asked the Centre to take a stand on the issue and work out ways for full refund. Centre should discuss ticket price refund with airlines says SC Covid-19: India registers over 10,000 fresh cases in 24 hours and 396 deaths | Oneindia News The Supreme Court also asked, "Why should credit being issued by the airlines be limited to a short period or for the same route?" The Supreme Court went on to suggest that passengers whose flight tickets were cancelled should get a time period of at least two years to use the credit amount. "Allow a passenger to use that credit for any route," said the Supreme Court. A plea was also raised that airlines across the world are facing tough time due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and they too be heard as parties to the plea filed by one NGO, 'Pravasi Legal Cell'. OTTAWAThe government of Canada is full of good intentions but in the global race to find a COVID-19 vaccine, Doctors Without Borders says thats not good enough. Dr. Jason Nickerson, a population health expert whos worked in some of the worlds toughest hot spots, says the Canadian government needs to back up its words and Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus calling for global co-operation with action. As researchers scramble to nail down a COVID-19 vaccine, MSF (the group goes by the French acronym for Medecins Sans Frontieres) says public research money must be tied to guarantees that any research or vaccine funded by Canadian taxpayer dollars is made available to all, and at a fair price to the poorest of countries. Good intentions quite frankly just arent going to be good enough, says Nickerson, whos battled infectious disease outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Afghanistan and Sudan with MSF. As of Wednesday, there were 183 vaccine candidates in various stages of development around the world, according to the Vaccine Centre at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Just the day before, the World Health Organization had listed 136 vaccines on its tracker. Thats how fast the science is moving. Yet around the world, only about 15 potential vaccines are at the stage of human clinical trials, including one in which the National Research Council is collaborating with CanSino Biologics Inc. a China-Canada company on a vaccine soon to be tested in a large trial at Dalhousie University. Research is also underway here into vaccine candidates in at least five Canadian locations including the University of Manitoba, VIDO-Intervac at the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Alberta, the University of Western Ontario, and CanSino is also working with Vancouvers Precision NanoSystems on a separate vaccine candidate. All are at the preclinical trial stage. Nickerson appealed to the Commons health committee this week to demand Ottawa finally enact recommendations MPs made two years ago to ensure equitable access to effective COVID-19 drugs and vaccines once they are discovered. Right now, there are no drugs or vaccines authorized to prevent, treat or cure the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Most experts like Dr. Jeff Kwong, interim director of the Center for Vaccine Preventable Disease and a professor at the University of Torontos Dalla School of Public Health, believe a vaccine will not be available in 2020, and possibly not until well into 2021. But Kwong says theres a high level of co-operation between pharmaceutical companies now, and he hopes it will not stop once a successful candidate is found. As long as companies are willing to share the intellectual property of how to make the vaccine, then I think were OK from a global perspective, said Kwong. I dont know, but based on the fact the level of sharing so far has been unprecedented, maybe that will continue to be the case. Maybe Im being naive. Kwong is also optimistic, or at least hopeful, that Canada is in a good position whenever that happens. I think theres definitely a possibility that Canada will be able to develop a vaccine and will be able to manufacture one and from a Canadian perspective thats really good because we wouldnt want to be relying on other countries, he said. Because I wouldnt be surprised if other countries basically nationalized any supply their companies made. Would you put it past Trump to say all the doses are going to stay in the U.S., were not going to send any out anywhere else? he asked. Nickerson says Canadian policy-makers should not rely on the good faith of the pharmaceutical industry. Whats needed, he said, are legally binding and enforceable clauses in research and licensing agreements that require data be open to scrutiny and independent evaluation so that others can build on it as well. It would be a radical shift from the way the industry has worked for nearly 50 years, he says. Often public money is invested in academic and health research that produces technology and products which are then licensed to big companies that scale up, manufacture and make big profits, at the expense of countries that cant afford drugs priced beyond their reach, he said. Beyond moral and ethical arguments for ensuring fair allocation of vaccines, he says there is a pragmatic argument too. There is no single manufacturer on the planet who is capable of meeting the demand for 7 billion doses of a vaccine, he said. The only way of scaling up production is going to be through sharing of these technologies and know how and ensuring that multiple manufacturers have the legal right to produce quality-assured versions of these vaccines. We cant have monopolies on vaccines and these drugs in the middle of a pandemic, we wont end the pandemic if we do. Last week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in the COVID-19 pandemic the global community needs to work together to make sure that people around the world have access to vaccinations especially the most vulnerable. Quite apart from whether a vaccine will be easily accessible to Canadians or anyone else, there is deep distrust among some in the Conservative party about any vaccine that is developed in conjunction with a Chinese research company. Conservative MP Tamara Jansen, a member of the Commons health committee, asked Nickerson whether Canada should even work with the Chinese Communist regime to develop a vaccine given it silenced doctors and scientists and quashed data. I know I wouldnt want to take a vaccine developed by a country with such a questionable track record, she said, adding many Canadians would object to a vaccine that uses a cell line developed from an aborted embryo, echoing concerns raised by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and first reported in Science Magazine. Do you think it is wise to move forward with a cell line if we cant reasonably expect full Canadian participation in a vaccination program like that? Jansen asked. Nickerson said he couldnt answer her specific questions, but he said any concerns about the science or reliability of vaccine research are an argument in favour of more transparency across this whole system. Read more about: The Post-Covid bride seems to be hitting the panic button with wedding functions slated to happen in July and September. However, designer stores both in Delhi and Mumbai are approaching customers with caution. Designer Falguni Shane Peacock whose stores opened in both cities observe that their staff has been seeing clients mostly on an appointment basis. We are not allowing trials at the store. We see two walk-ins each day into our stores. Brides along with their family have been coming in, but major buying isnt happening, says Falguni, whos offering 10 to 15 per cent discount on ready-to-wear pieces like the anarkalis. Designer Rahul Mishra has been able to offer some discount on the pieces. Currently, only our New Delhi flagship store is open, in a partial capacity where our retail team is available for virtual and personal appointments. Weve been observing a large influx of queries from different parts of the world, says Rahul who observes that after the lockdown has been eased up, the sales have begun to pick up. Designer Rimple Narula whose store in Defence Colony opened a week ago has been addressing bridal queries through virtual appointments of her local and NRI clients. Brides are worried about their weddings in the coming months. They have become bridezillas. Wedding function has been edited to a group of 40 and people are likely to do big functions once the vaccination is out. I allow two clients at a time in different areas of the store, shares Rimple. Designer Payal Singhal is offering 30% discount at her store in Mumbai In Mumbai, designer Payal Singhals Altamount Road and Khar stores opened on Friday last week. Im offering a discount of 30% and a free washable reversible mask and matching pouch free with any garment purchase, says she. Designer Namrata Joshipura is currently focusing on e-commerce as well as offering discounts (Photo: Raajessh Kashayap/HT) Designer Namrata Joshipura whos currently focusing on e-commerce is also offering discounts. In any case brands go on sale in June but since stores were closed, theres a discount on fresh stock too as opposed to End of Season Sale (EOSS), says Namrata, whos been shipping merchandise to customers in Pune and Gurgaon as borders are now opened. Designer Amit Aggarwal too is currently welcoming clients only by appointments.Brides are enquiring for lightweight but still grand-looking skirt-lehengas and saris for more intimate weddings, says he. Designer Priyanka Modi of AMPM observes that post lockdown there has been a staggering 90% drop in walk-ins. In our conventionally busiest store at Khan Market, were seeing a couple of customers come in everyday. In the upcoming weeks, we are going to be selling select pieces from our previous collections at special prices, shares Priyanka. Palak Shah, CEO and Founder, Ekaya Banaras shares that they have been receiving many queries, mostly for saris, and there have been store walk-ins, two to three per day. At the moment Delhi is seeing more walk-ins, but of course we receive daily updates from all stores, says Shah. Good Earth is currently offering free shipping on all domestic orders on their web boutique as well as in stores. Customers are walking in and we are taking all the necessary precautions for their safety as well as of our teams, shares a brand spokesperson. Follow HT Life&Style for more updates. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Police say a security operation is ongoing at the courthouse in Nimes, southern France, after local media reported a man shot himself on the premises. Police asked on Twitter for people to stay away from the area, which has been cordoned off. The man is said to have died in the hall of the court of appeal at about 8.20am on Friday, the franceinfo website reported Nimes public prosecutor Eric Maurel as saying. Mr Maurel said it was believed the man may have entered the courthouse through a staff entrance where there is no metal detector, franceinfo added. Explosives experts are reportedly at the scene, daily newspaper Midi Libre reports. More than 1000 protesters are tipped to block Brisbane streets on Saturday as part of a national day of refugee action, against advice from Australia's Chief Medical Officer. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who on Thursday called for protesters to be charged if they broke social distancing rules, on Friday rejected calls by Queensland Coalition MP Andrew Laming for attendees to be stripped of welfare payments. A refugee supporter walks by holding a sign as asylum seekers who are being held in detention at an inner city motel are seen protesting in Brisbane. Credit:Dan Peled/AAP Police charged or fined four people on Friday after protests at a makeshift Brisbane immigration facility ramped up. About 120 refugees and asylum seekers transferred from offshore detention for specialist medical treatment are being held at the Kangaroo Point hotel. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-11 23:47:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ABIDJAN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 soldiers were killed Thursday in an attack against a Cote d'lvoire's army post by unidentified armed militants in the sub-prefecture of Sikolo, according to an official statement from the Cote d'lvoire's Army. The attack happened at around 3 a.m. at an army post located between Cote d'lvoire and Burkina Faso by a group of unidentified armed men. At least ten soldiers died and six others were wounded, according to the statement. "Investigations are underway to determine the nature and the circumstances of this attack. In the meantime, urgent measures including the sweeping operation has been taken in this aera in order to find all the other militants," said the statement. This attack came weeks after a joint operation by the armies of Cote d'lvoire and Burkina Faso at the border between the two countries, which dismantled a terrorist base in Burkina Faso. Enditem Manhunt ensues after gunman opens fire on California police station, shoots deputy in face Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A statewide manhunt is underway in California for a suspect who opened fire on a police station in San Luis Obispo County and shot a sheriff's deputy in the face. Authorities say that 26-year-old Mason James Lira began shooting outside the police department in downtown Paso Robles in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Officials say deputy who was shot in the altercation was transported to a hospital where he's recovering. Hours later, authorities discovered the body of a deceased 58-year-old homeless man who was shot in the head. Authorities believe the crimes are related. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's office described the attack as an "ambush." "This morning, we had an unprovoked attack on local law enforcement. And in my opinion, an act of a coward," San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said during a press briefing Wednesday. "One of my sheriff's deputies, who was responding to the Paso Robles Police Department, was shot in the face by the suspect that was laying in ambush at the police department." "Our thoughts are with his family and all local law enforcement in this county," the sheriff added. The sheriff's office on Thursday named the injured deputy as 28-year-old Nicholas Dreyfus, who has served as a deputy in the county for two years and is assigned to the North County Sheriff's Station in Templeton. Dreyfus was flown to a trauma center for treatment." "While searching for the suspect in the active shooter incident, Dreyfus was shot in the face," a statement from the Sherriff's Office explains. "He was transported to a local hospital and then flown to a trauma center out of the area where he underwent surgery for his injuries." Dreyfus' surgery was successful and is listed in guarded condition while his prognosis is "good." "His wife and family members are with him as he recovers," the statement reads. According to Parkinson, the incident began at around 3:09 a.m. Wednesday, when staff inside the police department began hearing and observed through cameras, firing outside the police station. The officers responded to the incident and requested additional assistance from local law enforcement. "The suspect began firing at police cars as they entered the downtown area, where the building was located," the sheriff said. "Two of my deputies, who were driving in a two-person unit, arrived on scene at approximately 4 a.m. to assist the other officers that were being fired upon." "At approximately 4:19 a.m., the two deputies were searching the area in which the shooter was last seen. They were out of their vehicle and came under fire," Parkinson explained. After Dreyfus was shot, his partner moved him to a safer location until the fire department arrived to transport him to a nearby hospital. According to The Associated Press, hundreds of police officers across the state have been searching for Lira since he fled the scene. Lira was spotted at a Chevron gas station on Ramada Drive buying an energy drink, NBC News affiliate KSBY reported. "It's a wide-ranging, full-on, full-scale effort," Tony Cipolla, a spokesperson for the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's office, said, according to the news outlet. "We're right behind him. You can't run forever." A clerk at the gas station described the suspect to KSBY, saying he was sweaty, exhausted, and mumbling to himself. The clerk also said Lira "seemed crazy," but did not do anything to threaten her. The clerk said she recognized Lira and called the police after he left. Lira's actions come as there is much national scrutiny around law enforcement following the death of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis police custody while he was handcuffed and on the ground. Floyd dropped to the ground after exiting a police squad car. He died as officers restrained him and former officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for over eight minutes and kept it there even after he died. The police stop began after a store clerk called 911 to report that Floyd had used a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office ruled Floyd's death was a homicide and stated that he suffered "a cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained by law enforcement officer(s)." The medical examiner's office listed "arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease," "fentanyl intoxication" and "recent methamphetamine use" as "other significant conditions." Floyd also tested positive for COVID-19, according to the autopsy report. Social unrest following Floyd's death has included peaceful demonstrations in all 50 states, as well as numerous acts of violence, looting, and rioting in several cities. In St. Paul, Minnesota, rioters breached the Minneapolis Police Department's Third Precinct where officers involved in Floyd's death were stationed and set it on fire. This week, a St. Paul man was charged in connection to the burning down of the police station. Branden Michael Wolfe, 23, has been charged with one count of aiding and abetting arson. According to federal prosecutors, Wolfe was "wearing multiple items stolen from the Third Precinct, including body armor, a police-issue duty belt with handcuffs, an earphone piece, baton, and knife" at the time of his arrest. In Atlanta, three people were arrested after they tracked police officers down and threw Molotov cocktails at their police cars. In Los Angeles, demonstrators smashed the windows of a highway patrol car while protesting Floyd's death. In New York City, authorities say that two people threw Molotov cocktails through a police car window and also tried to pass out firebombs to other protesters on May 30. One of the suspects, Urooj Rahman, worked at both the State and Defense Departments during the Obama administration. Unrest over Floyd's death follows similar unrest that occurred in the wake of the controversial deaths of other African Americans in police custody in recent years, including Eric Garner in 2014 and Freddie Gray in Baltimore in 2015. Many have also recently spoken out about the killings of African Americans Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. HONG KONG, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The national security legislation is a step in the right direction, and will add momentum for Hong Kong's long-term development, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government Matthew Cheung has said. "It's not taking away anything that we enjoy. It's adding something that has been missing and should have been cherished in the last year or so - stability, security and safety," Cheung said on Wednesday in an interview with Xinhua. Stability, security and safety are the guarantees for the development and prosperity of any place, Cheung said. "Hong Kong is no exception. Without these three guarantees underpinning the economy, there is no core development in the long term." Cheung said the legislation will create a win-win situation as it will plug a loophole in national security for the nation and at the same time bring Hong Kong back on track. "Stability comes before prosperity. Without stability, there will only be empty talk about prosperity," he stressed. When the baseline of national security is tight, "one country, two systems", which has proven to be successful in the last 23 years and is the only way forward for Hong Kong, will continue to progress steadily in the years ahead, Cheung said. In that case, Hong Kong, which enjoys the best of both the Eastern and Western worlds, will have greater room to leverage its advantages and continue to thrive as an international financial center and metropolis, he added. This, in the eyes of Cheung, will also benefit international investors and foreign businesses here. The international trade community here understand the need for the national security legislation because they have witnessed and actually become victims to the social unrest since last year, he noted. "Investors come simply because it's a stable place with certainty guaranteed. It is a simple logic of doing business," He said. The National people's Congress (NPC) has made it clear that the national security legislation for the HKSAR aims at safeguarding Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability and guaranteeing the legitimate rights and interests of Hong Kong residents. It has also been clarified that the legislation only targets a tiny number of people involved in serious crimes endangering national security, including splitting the country, subverting state power, organizing and carrying out terrorist activities, as well as interfering in Hong Kong affairs by foreign and external forces. The central authorities have given assurance "from the very outset," Cheung said, rebutting misinformation that Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and Hong Kong residents' legitimate rights and freedoms will be compromised after the national security laws are enacted. On the part of the HKSAR government, the secretary said the whole team have been pro-actively trying to put across in the community the message that this legislation is urgently needed and to elaborate on its importance and objective. "Our job now is to explain, clear the air, debunk any myths, and put the record straight." Cheung said he believes the legislation will take into account the differences between legal systems in the mainland and Hong Kong and make sure the laws enacted are enforceable in Hong Kong. Expressing strong objection to foreign interference and threat of sanctions, Cheung urged the relevant countries to "think twice and be rational". "Any sanction is a two-edged sword that may hurt Hong Kong but may hurt themselves doubly more," he said, adding the United States, for example, has a lot of investment in Hong Kong and enjoys a huge trade surplus from Hong Kong. "The pendulum has been in their favor for a long time," but the situation may change due to the sanctions, he warned. Vietnam Objects to China's Undersea Cable Construction in Paracels By Drake Long 2020-06-11 -- Vietnam objected Thursday to China's recent reported laying of undersea cables in the disputed Paracel Islands, saying it was a violation of Vietnamese sovereignty. The Foreign Ministry comment came as Vietnam deployed a coastguard vessel into another contested island chain in the South China Sea, the Spratlys, in apparent response to the presence of Chinese maritime militia around a Vietnamese outpost there. In Hanoi, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang was asked about a BenarNews report on Monday, also carried by Radio Free Asia, that a Chinese ship was laying or repairing undersea cables near Chinese outposts in the Paracels. The reporting was based on commercial satellite imagery and vessel-tracking software, and was cited extensively by Vietnamese state media this week. "Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence and legal grounds affirming its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes in accordance with international law," Hang told reporters, according to the state-run Vietnam News Agency. "Therefore, any activity relating to the two archipelagoes conducted without Vietnam's permission are violations of its sovereignty and of no value," she said. U.S.-based experts interviewed by RFA said the cable work suggested that China was installing an undersea surveillance system for its occupied features in the Paracels, further militarizing the region. Vietnam and China both claim the Paracel Islands, a series of rocks and reefs in the north of the South China Sea. Vietnamese coast guard enters disputed area Meanwhile, RFA and BenarNews have detected that a Vietnamese coastguard vessel has entered the Union Banks, an area in the Spratlys that hosts four Vietnamese and two Chinese-occupied military outposts. The coastguard vessel, identifiable as the CSB-8005 on vessel-tracking software and spotted on satellite imagery, entered the area on June 4 and is currently patrolling nearby the Vietnamese outpost on Sinh Ton Dong/Sin Cowe East Island. It appears likely that the Vietnamese coastguard ship was sent to scare off Chinese maritime militia vessels. There has been a near-continuous presence of the maritime militia in the Union Banks area since March. Satellite imagery shows what appears to be at least 30 Chinese fishing vessels located directly north of Sinh Ton Dong as of June 5, and vessel-tracking software indicates that at least five maritime militia ships are in the area too. As of Thursday, the software showed the maritime militia were still in the Union Banks area, but had moved farther east. In Union Banks, China occupies Johnson South Reef and Hughes Reef. Vietnam occupies Collins Reef, Sin Cowe Island/Dao Sinh Ton, Sin Cowe East/Sinh Ton Dong, and Lansdowne Reef. China maintains it has "historic rights" to the entirety of the South China Sea, a claim that Vietnam and others claimants strongly object to. Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content June not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser Other Hosting Offers This forum is intended for web hosting companies to publish their special hosting offers for services that don't fit in any other advertising category: email, backup/storage, streaming, adult, website builder solutions, SEO hosting, etc. NOTE: 10 days of membership and 15 relevant and valuable posts are required in select community forums in order to start a thread in this forum. Non-value posts, added with the sole purpose of increasing your post count, will be deleted and infraction issued. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be meeting chief ministers over two days next week- June 16 and 17- amid concerns regarding a spike in coronavirus cases across the country. As the fourth phase of lockdown was drawing to a close, it was home minister Amit Shah who held a meeting with chief ministers to deliberate a way out and seek their views. On all earlier occasions, the PM had fronted the talks. Once again, Modi will be meeting the chief ministers as the coronavirus crisis get grimmer. Addressing the Indian Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, PM Modi stressed that the Covid-19 crisis has to be turned into an opportunity and push India towards a self-reliant path. Every citizen of this country has resolved to turn this crisis into an opportunity. We have to make this a major turning point for this nation. What is that turning point? A self-reliant India, said the PM. Coronavirus cases in the country crossed the grim milestone of three lakh cases, barely two weeks after the Centre announced lifting of the nationwide lockdown in phases and dubbed it Unlock 1, on Friday evening. With an economic focus, the ministry of home affairs, just before the close of lockdown 4.0, announced that all activities will be opened up in areas outside the containment zone and presented a three-phase plan. A lockdown will, however, remain in place in containment zones till June 30. Maharashtra has the highest Covid-19 positive cases in India with 1,01,141 patients, followed by Tamil Nadu with 40,698 and national capital Delhi with 34,687. India now ranks the fourth-highest in the list of nations hit hard by the highly infectious disease. Some commentators say that India went into lockdown early. Other countries, they say, lifted their lockdown when their disease curve had started to deflate, but here the restrictions are being eased as the curve is going up exponentially. Dave Chappelle surprised fans Friday with a blistering stand-up set reflecting on police brutality and the death of George Floyd. In a video shared to Chappelle's Instagram page and Netflix's YouTube account, the comedian got emotional as he discussed watching the video of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Noting that he believed Floyd "knew he was gonna die," Chappelle grew furious as he described former officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao watching Chavuin with "their hands in their pockets." "What are you signifying that you can kneel on a man's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds and feel like you wouldn't get the wrath of God?" Chappelle asked. "That's what is happening right now. It's not for a single cop, it's for all of it. F---ing all of it. I don't mean to get heavy, but we gotta say something." "[Floyd] told the police he couldn't breathe," Chappelle continued. "One of the hardest parts of the tape to listen to -- he said, 'Please.' I can't tell you, as a man, watching another man go through something like that, what it makes you feel like." Floyd's death on Memorial Day sparked nationwide outrage and spurred protests coast to coast. In Minneapolis, the city council voted unanimously to dismantle the police department and the police chief announced that the department had withdrawn from contract negotiations with the police union. Chappelle, who hadn't performed in nearly three months, titled his set "8:46," a reminder of how long Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck. For the comedian, the number holds a special significance. "I can't get that number out of my head because it was the time of my birth on my birth certificate," he said. "I was born at 8:46 in the morning and they killed this [man] in 8 minutes, 46 seconds." Story continues Throughout the wide-ranging June 6 performance, which Chappelle delivered outdoors in Yellow Springs, Ohio, to an audience that submitted to temperature checks and observed physical distancing guidelines, he reflected on the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, John Crawford III, Michael Brown and Philando Castile, and slammed conservative pundits Laura Ingraham and Candace Owens and the National Rifle Association. He also shared that his great-grandfather, William David Chappelle, visited former President Woodrow Wilson at the White House after a black man was lynched in South Carolina. The issues the nation is addressing, he added, are nothing new. "These streets will speak for themselves whether I am alive or dead," he closed. "I trust you guys. I love you guys." Dave Chappelle sounds off on George Floyd in new special originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com As shots were being fired at his platoon in the village south of Kuwait City in 1991, Mark OLoughlins first thoughts were of the other Marines with him. The major thing going through your mind is, No. 1, do your duty, living up to your leadership role and taking care of your Marines, he said. Theres fear about not living up to your responsibilities to take care of your Marines and lead them properly. Youre more worried about that than getting injured. OLoughlin, 48, was raised and trained to take care of others, whether it was on his familys farm in Iowa, throughout his career with the Marines or in his final assignment with the Wounded Warrior Battalion West. (Hes) very compassionate about taking care of the Marines and their families, said Neil OConnell, a retired sergeant major with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force headquarters group and a longtime friend. Advertisement OLoughlin retired in July after 30 years in the Marines, working as a drill instructor at the recruit depot, deploying overseas and leading and instructing other Marines, among other tasks. He grew up in Independence, Iowa, the son of an Army man who served during the Korean War. He was proud of his dad and knew that he wanted to get away from the farm one day and see the world, too, but he was drawn to the Marines. I think I saw some movies about the Marine Corps and I became kind of enamored with the Marine Corps, he said. I wanted to prove myself as a Marine. His father was an infantryman, and OLoughlin chose to do the same when he enlisted in 1982. He was deployed nine times, mostly to the western Pacific and the Middle East, including that first combat experience in Kuwait during the first Gulf War. Back then, he was a platoon guide for an infantry rifle platoon. They were searching small towns and villages, clearing the areas they were responsible for. They were on the ground for about 10 days before returning to their ship, where they stayed as a reserve contingent until returning home later that summer. He deployed three times between 2003 and 2007 during Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving as a gunnery sergeant and as a first sergeant for an infantry rifle company, and later for an infantry heavy weapons company. Over the years, he was responsible for logistics, advising his commanding officer, conducting leadership training, and keeping up with the status of the units morale. I think I was raised properly by my parents to have a sense of responsibility, and joining the Marine Corps just reinforced it, said OLoughlin, who who lives in Santee with his wife, Elsa, and has three children and one grandchild. OConnell has the impression that the early sense of community in Iowa had a large influence on his friend, noting that people helped one another out when times were tough. Im pretty confident his family values were instilled in him at a young age, and he was provided the sort of example that you keep strong to your faith, your family, your country. On becoming a Marine, he put that right at the top of his list, OConnell said. In the Wounded Warrior Battalion West, which falls under the Wounded Warrior Regiment, OLoughlins role as sergeant major included serving as the primary instructor for leadership and professional military education, advising the battalion commander on the welfare and morale of the unit, and making sure that the customs and traditions are maintained. The regiment provides nonmedical care to Marines who are wounded, ill or injured, regardless of whether it was the result of combat. This care is also extended to sailors who were attached to or in support of Marine units, along with family members of both groups. The focus in care forks into five areas: medical, mental, physical, bolstering the sense of identity around being a Marine, and working with the family members. The goal is to provide a balance between those areas to best serve the military members and their families. He was well-suited to all of his work, said OConnell, who describes him as enthusiastic, motivated, and a passionate leader who maintains high moral and physical standards. Hes volunteered over the years in the Irish community, including in the Irish Congress of Southern California, helping out with the annual parade, and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of San Diego. He also works with the Nice Guys of San Diego and that organizations Victory Fund, helping the public, active-duty military and veterans. Hes approachable, humorous, always wanting to have a good time. He can recite poetry, sings the Irish ballads and songs, and quotes, you know, verses out of the Bible with a pint of Guinness in his hand, OConnell said. He spends a heck of a lot of time within the community and he balances that with taking care of his family. Hes just lived his life that way. He puts himself last, puts forth as much energy into helping others and his family, thats just really been the way it is with him. When the BBC asked me back in the mid-Seventies to leave the United States and open a television news bureau in South Africa, I knew exactly what I would not do. I would not become one of those ghastly privileged whites who expressed their disgust for apartheid but enjoyed its benefits. I would not, for a start, have black servants. My resolve lasted roughly 24 hours. On my first day there, I set about cutting the overgrown grass in front of my house. Within 30 seconds I was surrounded by half a dozen young black men. Let me do that, boss, they were shouting over the noise of the mower. You shouldnt be doing that! And of course they were right. I shouldnt. They needed the money. That was the last time I tried to cut my own grass. And then there was Caroline. Shed been working for my old friend John Simpson, who asked me to take her in when he returned to London. I could have preserved my self-conferred status as a good liberal who was damned if hed exploit a poor black women. But then Caroline would have had to leave Johannesburg for her so-called homeland where she had no home and no job. Protesters throw statue of slave trader Edward Colston into Bristol harbour during a Black Lives Matter protest rally, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 So I gave her a job. Thats how apartheid worked. And I had become a part of it. I also lived for long periods in Rhodesia. It was the height of the war for independence from the white regime led by Ian Smith. Robert Mugabe and his fighters won. He had promised black people democracy and dignity in the new Zimbabwe. What he gave them was a hell on earth. He had his opponents murdered by the thousand and vast numbers died from starvation in what had once been the bread basket of southern Africa. Mugabe lived like an emperor. That was 40 years ago. The people are suffering still. So, two different kinds of racism. In South Africa the white Afrikaans leaders believed blacks were an inferior race. They had Gods word for it. Or so the former prime minister P.W. Botha told me. In Zimbabwe, once white rule had been overthrown, it was tribal racism. One has been defeated. The other survives. Its been hard to avoid thinking about those two former British colonies since the hideous killing in the United States of George Floyd, a black man choked to death by a white police officer. In the 20 turbulent days since it happened, we have been told repeatedly that we privileged whites must admit to our own racism. We are historically complicit in the great crime of colonialism and we are to blame for the troubled lives of so many black people today. But are we? Ive no doubt that what follows will be challenged by many black readers. Humphrys is a privileged white man so he would deny racism, wouldnt he? A demonstrator throws a bottle during a Black Lives Matter protest in London, with scenes of violence now marring the proceedings as tensions build Fair enough except that I havent always been privileged. My education ended at 15 and I know what its like to be poor. And, anyway, I cant help being white any more than someone else can help being black. It does not automatically confer guilt. And, though it seems almost trivial in the wider context, I have always been uncomfortable at the blacking-up of white actors or comedians for comic effect. So I rather approve of the cultural revolution thats finally reading the last rites. As for banning Gone With The Wind, the black maid happy to be a slave was always a grotesque mockery of reality. But to return to the big picture. Mr Floyd was murdered by a thug masquerading as an officer of the law. It has happened often before in America. Far too often. The peculiarly barbaric nature of this killing and the fact that it was filmed by a bystander for all to see is what brought it to the attention of the world. The symbolism could hardly have been more powerful: a white man kneeling on the neck of a black man, ignoring his victims ever more desperate gasps of I cant breathe. Hardly surprising that the organisation Black Lives Matter should have seized on it, nor that I cant breathe should have become a rallying cry at protests across the country. Nor, perhaps, that they should link it with the horror of slavery. Unsurprising, too, that they say the murder represents a tipping point. That everything must now change. And that it is white people who bear the responsibility for bringing about those changes. That certainly seems to be the view of the BBC. A Police officer receives medical attention after Police clashed with demonstrators in Whitehall during the Black Lives Matter protest in London Some of my old friends and colleagues who still work there tell me they are puzzled and a little worried that the BBC seems to have accepted the white guilt verdict. This is not the usual gripe about BBC News occasionally failing in its duty to be impartial. Those charges have been made ever since I can remember and my memory goes back a very long way. Sometimes they are justified, often they are not. This is more serious. Its about the BBC as a corporate body assuming that it is the conscience of the nation. One startling illustration came from Radio Fours Pick Of The Week. Its top item on Sunday was the murder. Fair enough. But it wasnt a graphic account of demonstrations or a moving interview with a relative of Mr Floyd. No It was a monologue from the Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo telling her audience why she had not been presenting as scheduled the day before. Heres a flavour: My mental health was in a really bad way. I didnt have the mental strength to face you yesterday. Then there was total silence for several seconds. Ms Amfo was overcome and weeping. She eventually recovered and told us the cause of her mental health problem had been the news of another brutalised black body. And then she added: . . .We know how the world enjoys blackness . . . we know they want our culture but they dont want us. You want my talent but you dont want me. This is not a criticism of Ms Amfo breaking down live on air. It is, though, a criticism of the BBC for repeating it. Put aside the absurdity of a successful radio presenter complaining that she is not wanted; by choosing to repeat it, the BBC is endorsing her sentiments. Is that its job? It was the same with one of Radio Fours most successful comedy programmes, the News Quiz. This time, it was the turn of the black stand-up comedian Sophie Duker. The point of the show is the (often hilarious) ad-libbing by the panellists. But Ms Duker had prepared an announcement. First she dismissed the Tory MP Desmond Swayne as a despicable human being for comments hed made about rioters and looters and then she said: If arsonists and looters have it coming (to them) then so do the Royal Family, the British Museum and the council that opted for cheaper and more flammable cladding. They had better watch their backs. From Windrush to Grenfell . . . Stephen Lawrence to Sarah Reed... our nation has blood on its hands. These protests are about Diane Abbott and Meghan Markle about you and me and those who clean your streets and save your lives. A protester was seen attempting to burn a flag at the cenotaph in Whitehall, London When she finished, the rest of the team applauded. And Angela Barnes, who was presenting the show, announced: If 500 people were in this studio they should feel uncomfortable and awkward... we bloody well should. This show was pre-recorded and broadcast twice. The BBC believes there is racism in this country and its director of news has said so. Shes right. Of course there is. I doubt there is a multicultural country on earth where it does not exist in one form or another and probably never has been. But thats not the point. The point is whether all of us are guilty. All of us whites, that is. By nailing its colours so firmly to the Black Lives Matter mast, the BBC has made clear where it stands. This is troubling. The BBC is our national broadcaster. It is our voice. But if it is not seen to give a platform to those who hold different views, we enter dangerous territory. By unquestioningly accepting the claim of BLM that we are all racists whether we realise it or not, it has effectively become a campaigning organisation. In doing so it risks creating the very thing it stands against a more polarised society. The BBC has an obligation to bring people closer together. This new accusatory tone an undiscriminating roll call of white sins across all its channels can only lead to division. How long before there are marches behind banners declaring White Lives Matter? Note that the odious Tommy Robinson and his followers are making an unwelcome reappearance. Many white people will have listened to those two black women Ive just quoted, and will say: I do not want the BBC to apologise on my behalf. I abhor racism. I have always treated black people in the same way I treat white people. I am not to blame for slavery or Grenfell Tower or those disgraceful police officers who abuse their power to single out young black men for harassment or worse. I believe what happened to the Windrush immigrants was disgraceful. I am a decent person who happens to be white. Yet many black people believe passionately they are the victims of white privilege. Its true that ships no longer sail from Bristol to transport black slaves kidnapped in West Africa. There are no slaves picking cotton to help build the massive wealth of a British Empire that ground other non-whites under its heel. But, they will say, white subjugation of blacks still exists. White colonialism has simply taken a new form. Its black victims are to be found at Grenfell, in police custody and in the mortuaries of Britains Covid hospitals. Britain remains a racist country and there is only one remedy: whites must admit guilt, offer apology and make amends. It is a compelling and emotionally powerful argument. But so is the case that Britain has made huge progress in countering discrimination. When I was a child, landlords could and did put signs in their windows saying No blacks or Irish. A parliamentary candidate really was elected in Birmingham in 1964 with the slogan: If you want a n***** for a neighbour, vote Labour. Illegal and unthinkable today. Enoch Powells rivers of blood never did flow. Instead, we are increasingly blind to the colour of a persons skin. Indeed, in more enlightened institutions (yes, including the BBC) you hear young white men complaining that theyd have a better chance of promotion if they were black. The masses turned out in Oxford to demand the removal of the Cecil Rhodes statue The problems are not about race: they are fundamentally social and economic. They are better seen in terms of social class and economic inequality. And best tackled in those terms too. The demand that the admission of white guilt must be the way forward is profoundly mistaken. Whites have no more nor less reason to feel guilty than anyone else. Even the charge of colonial guilt is hopelessly one-sided. Yes, many atrocities were committed by whites in the name of the British Empire. But did they bequeath no benefits to the world, including to black people? The legacy of decent education, fair laws and an incorruptible civil service system remains in many black countries though, tragically, not enough. Are we really to blame for the horror of modern Zimbabwe or the breath-taking corruption of Nigeria or the desperate state of the South African economy or the legacy of empire, and to absolve blacks themselves from any responsibility? It is the poor blacks in every case who suffer the most. And should our most urgent response to it all really be to tear down Cecil Rhodess statue in Oxford? I cannot get too excited about a few thousand young people staging protests nor about a few statues. But lets crack down on those who incite violence, and lets put the statues in museums rather than dump them in the harbour. And if we want to judge whether every white is guilty of racism, lets look at our children and grandchildren rather than listen to the Twitter mob or a sobbing radio presenter. My own experience is that when children choose their friends, the colour of their skin is irrelevant. Surely we must look to the future rather than the past. The death of African American George Floyd while being arrested by four Minneapolis police officers set off protests and some violence across the United States. Some protesters have now turned to bringing down symbols of the Confederacy and slavery. On Wednesday night, protesters brought down a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Richmond, Virginia. About 130 kilometers away in Portsmouth, Virginia, another group of protesters pulled down four statues that were part of a Confederate monument. A day earlier, protesters in Richmond tore down a statue of Christopher Columbus, set it on fire and threw it into a lake. Around the world, protesters wanted to bring down monuments to people linked to slavery and colonialism. They include Christopher Columbus, Cecil Rhodes and Belgiums King Leopold II. Confederate symbols Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy. It is where Jefferson Davis led 11 southern, slave-holding states against the north during the American Civil War. After four years of bitter fighting, the Confederate states surrendered and re-joined the Union. The United States approved an amendment to the Constitution in 1865 that legally ended slavery across the country. City leaders were planning to remove the bronze statue of Davis in a few weeks. But demonstrators chose to bring it down Wednesday night. A crowd cheered and police looked on. There were no immediate reports of any arrests. The Davis statue was not far away from a much larger monument of General Robert E. Lee, the military leader of the Confederates. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, a Democrat, last week ordered its removal, but a judge on Monday blocked any action for at least 10 days. Confederate statues and monuments like those of Davis and Lees were not built immediately after the Civil War. Many were built at the turn of the 20th century and in the 1950s. The Southern Poverty Law Center listed over 700 such monuments across 31 states. People who want Confederate monuments to remain have argued that they are important reminders of history. A spokesman for the Sons of Confederate Veterans in Virginia called the statues public works of art and likened losing the Confederate statues to losing a family member. B. Frank Earnest said, The men who served under Robert E. Lee were my great-grandfathers or their brothers and their cousins. So it is my family. NASCAR banning Confederate flags Davis statue was brought down on the same day NASCAR, a car racing organization, banned Confederate flags at its races. The flag was a common sight at the races where fans young and old proudly displayed them. Bubba Wallace, the only African American driver in NASCAR brought attention to the issue this week. He called for the ban saying, there was no place for the flag in the sport. NASCAR said, Bringing people together around a love for racing and the community that it creates is what makes our fans and sport special. The display of the Confederate flag will be prohibited from all NASCAR events and properties. The decision brought protests from Ray Ciccarelli, who wrote on Facebook: I could care less about the Confederate Flag but there are ppl [people] that do and it doesnt make them a racist. More politics In Washington, DC, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demanded Wednesday that statues of Confederate officials such as Jefferson Davis be removed from the U.S. Capitol. Pelosi, a leader in the Democratic Party, cannot order the removal of the 11 statues. She is urging the Joint Committee on the Library to vote to remove them. The Republican-controlled Senate also have a say in the matter. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump announced that his administration will not even consider changing the name of any of the 10 Army bases named after Confederate Army officers. Two days earlier, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that he was open to a discussion of such changes. The bases are named for Confederate Army officers, including Robert E. Lee and Henry L. Benning. The naming was done mostly after World War I and in the 1940s. Trump wrote, These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom. Im Jonathan Evans. Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on Associated Press reports. Mario Ritter Jr. was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story symbol n. an object, action or figure that represents an idea monument - n. a building, statue, etc., that honors a person or event bronze - n. a metal that is made by combining copper and tin bitter - adj. causing painful emotions prohibit - v. to order (someone) not to use or do something display - v. to put (something) where people can see it By IANS NEW DELHI: Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi during his conversation with Professor of Diplomacy at Harvard's Kennedy School, Nicholas Burns, said that the India-US partnership works because both are tolerant nations, but sadly the DNA of tolerance has disappeared in both the countries. Speaking to the former Ambassador of NATO, Rahul Gandhi said: "I think why our partnership works is because we are tolerant nations. You mentioned an immigrant nation, and we are a very very tolerant nation." "We are supposed to be open but surprisingly that open DNA is disappearing. I say this with sadness that I don't see the level of tolerance that I used to see. I don't see it in the US and I don't see it in India," the Congress leader said. Gandhi was responding to Burns, when he described the killing of George Floyd as "horrible" and said that people in the US were protesting over his killing. Floyd died after a police officer pressed his knee against his neck in Minneapolis on May 25 and despite Floyd's plea to let him go he was kept in that position until he lost consciousness and later was declared dead in a hospital. His last words "I can't breathe" have been a rallying cry for the protesters who have launched demonstrations in various parts of the US. The issue has also led to serious debate in the American society about racial discrimination. Burns said: "We are protesting and that is our right. And millions of Americans are protesting for our rights the way you have in India. And India and US shares many traits as we both have liberated ourselves from British in different years." Burns further said that he on many occasions admired the Indian society. "Country sometimes have to go through the political debate like who are we? At the core what kind of nation are we? We are an immigrant nation, we are tolerant nation," the Harvard Professor said. Burns also admitted that US is in "deep political and existential" crisis that has "gripped us all". "In the US we have a problem of race of mistreatment of African American, since the first ship of slaves arrived in 1619," Burns said, adding that the US adopted the idea of protesting in non-violent way as was taught by Mahatma Gandhi. Burns also referred to the American Civil War that fought slavery. "Our greatest, I think American of the last 100 years is Martin Luther King Junior. He fought battles peaceful, nonviolent battles. His of course, you know his ideal was Mahatma Gandhi. He modelled his movement after Gandhi's movement to liberate India from British rule," he said. "Peaceful non-violence. King Junior led us to become a better country. We elected an African-American President Barack Obama, a man I deeply respect. And yet you see racial debate come back now. You see African Americans mistreated this horrible murder of George Floyd, this young African-American man by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We have millions of Americans trying to protest peacefully, as is our right as is your right in India and yet the President treats them all like terrorists," Burns said. Burns further told Rahul Gandhi that he has identified the central issue at least for the US. "And the silver lining here is, the good news is that we have people demonstrating all across the country, in every major city in the US this week peacefully, on behalf of tolerance, inclusion, minority rights, all these essential issues at the core of our democracy." "And I think one of the advantages that we democracies have, say over an authoritarian country like China, is that we can correct ourselves. As a self-corrective part of our national DNA, and India and the US," he opined. He also stressed that like all democracies, we resolve this at the ballot box in free and fair elections. "We do not turn to violence. We do this peacefully. That's the Indian tradition that we love about India from your founding. Yeah, the 1930s, the protest movement, the Salt March all the way to 1947 and 48. So I take... that I can't comment on your country because I don't know it nearly as well, obviously, but my country I think we'll be back. We will be back, we will strengthen our democracy," the Harvard Professor said. Burns is currently the Professor of Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. In the last three months, the Congress leader has interacted with former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, Nobel Laureate Abhijeet Banerji, epidemiologist Johan Geseicke and Indian industrialist Rajiv Bajaj. We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage a people ever received, and each one must do his part if we wish to show that the nation is worthy of its good fortune. President Theodore Roosevelt Montana is many things. It is a small town with some very long roads. It is a collection of people, culture, faiths, and beliefs. It is a history of turmoil and peace. It is a collection of towering peaks dotting the skyline and expansive prairie as far as one can see. It is rivers starting in the alpine tundra as drops of rain on shale and ending on our borders as mighty forces that fuel our United States through food and power. It is a place so unique in the lower 48 that the visitors to our great state outnumber our residents 10 to 1 every year to seek a solitude unavailable for most citizens of the world. As President Roosevelt so eloquently affirmed more than a century ago, the people of Montana have inherited this great place. How we treat this place will leave an indelible mark on the land and in turn those that come. Those that inherit the peaks and the prairies, the rivers and the cathedrals, from us. Our decisions about the land must be for a greater good, because our decisions will be forever forged into the hillsides. Through a lifetime of conservation work, Ive watched the people of Montana continue to build society, as people do, and Ive watched the Smith River wind its way through the canyon, as the river does. The river is, for the most part, the same. It is the people who change. In 1977, the Council on Natural Resources and Development released a study and report on the Smith, its great bounty, and how it must be preserved. Public hearings with concerned Montana citizens were held. The report captures the sentiment at the time for those with an interest in the river: The testimony given reflected an exceptional general agreement in principle. The primary concern expressed was that the unique quality of the Smith River and its canyon must be preserved. The sentiment of the people, and the report, resulted in major conservation measures for the Smith that have withstood the tests of time and kept the river, for the most part, the same. The river meandering through the towering canyon, the bountiful fishery, and the abundant wildlife are still present. The greater lesson here is that the people, and not the river, will make the choice about what the next generation inherits. The Smith is now in the hands of a new generation, and the decisions it makes will determine the rivers fate. I worry deeply about the possibility of a large copper mine on its headwaters, and the permanent changes to the wild landscape, water quality, and recreation that could result. Allowing for large-scale mining on the headwaters of the Smith is a decision you cannot go back on. So many places in Montana have been irreparably damaged by the greed of a few, to the detriment of all. Here, the risks are just too great. It is my wish that the new generation of Montanans become stewards for the Smith and continue its conservation legacy, leaving the next generation with the rivers bounty, as my generation has done for yours. Between the peaks and the prairies, far off in the distance, we can see a horizon that we have not yet reached but continue to travel toward. As we cross the mighty Smith, we must be careful to leave it intact. We must show we have been worthy of its good fortune. Jim Posewitz of Helena spent 32 years with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, leading the agencys ecological program for 15 years. He then founded Orion the Hunters Institute. He served as executive director of the Cinnabar Foundation since its inception in 1983 to 2010. In 2015 the National Wildlife Federation named him Conservationist of the Year. Jim is the author of several popular books on the North American wildlife conservation model, including the nationally bestselling Beyond Fair Chase. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By PTI KOLKATA: Former West Bengal minister and sitting Trinamool Congress MLA Abani Mohan Joardar died at his Salt Lake residence on Friday after a prolonged illness.He was 79. Joardar, a former IPS officer, had joined Trinamool Congress in 2010 and was first elected from the Krishnanagar north assembly constituency in 2011. He had held the portfolio of Correctional Services in the TMC government. "He was ill for a long time as he was suffering from kidney ailments," party sources said. Very sad at the passing away of party colleague, former Minister & two-time MLA from Krishnanagar Uttar, Abani Mohan Joardar after an illness bravely fought. Served well both in IPS, govt & party. Condolences to his family & friends Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 12, 2020 "Very sad at the passing away of party colleague, former minister & two-time MLA from Krishnanagar Uttar, Abani Mohan Joardar after an illness bravely fought. Served well both in IPS, govt & party. Condolences to his family & friends," TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted. Amid a surge in coronavirus cases during the 'Unlock 1' phase, the Union health ministry on Friday issued guidelines on "COVID-appropriate behaviour" to be followed at restaurants, hotels, religious places, shopping malls and offices in a pictorial format to emphasise on precautions such as staggering of visitors and allowing only asymptomatic people in such premises. IMAGE: A security personnel demonstrates thermal screening at a mall in Amritsar. Photograph: PTI Photo On June 4, the ministry had issued the standard operating procedures for public and semi-public environments but the ministry released the fresh guidelines repackaged in a colourful pictorial format to sensitise people in a better way. "As we progress in Unlock 1.0, to contain the spread of COVID-19, we need to follow COVID appropriate behaviour at all times," the document stated. "The aim of issuing these guidelines is to instil COVID appropriate behaviour to contain the spread of the disease while allowing social and economic activity," a ministry official said. Religious places, restaurants and malls have resumed operations from June 8 under the first phase of India's graded reopening of various sectors, termed 'Unlock 1'. The guidelines to be followed in all the establishments include using masks or face covers, staggering of visitors, maintaining hand hygiene, adequate social distancing, respiratory etiquettes and thermal screening of all entrants and staff. It also includes measures like allowing only asymptomatic staff, guests and customers inside the premises, proper crowd management, prohibiting large gatherings and maintaining effective and frequent sanitation within the premises with particular focus on lavatories, drinking and hand washing stations or areas. As for inside religious places, physical offerings like 'prasad' distribution or sprinkling of holy water, etc. is not allowed, the ministry guidelines said. Also, touching of statues, idols or holy books will not be allowed, the ministry said, underlining community kitchens, langars, 'ann-daan', etc. at religious places should follow physical distancing norms while preparing and distributing food. In view of the potential threat of spread of infection, as far as feasible recorded devotional music or songs should be played and choir or singing groups should not be allowed, the ministry said. Common prayer mats will not be allowed and devotees should bring their own prayer mat or piece of cloth, the guidelines said. According to the guidelines released for restaurants, the ministry has curtailed the seating capacity to 50 per cent and has recommended use of disposable menus and disposable paper napkins instead of cloth napkins. It said delivery and takeaways should be encouraged and the packet to be left at the door. Staff for takeaway should be screened thermally and precautions should be taken while handling supplies/inventories, it stated. The ministry stressed on encouraging contact-less mode of ordering and digital payments. As for hotels, room service should be encouraged, instead of dine-in, luggage should be disinfected before sending them to rooms and communication between guests and in-house staff should be through intercom or mobile phone. Besides, all the establishments including offices, shopping malls and restaurants should be cleaned and regularly disinfected using 1 per cent sodium hypochlorite. Restricted number of people to be allowed in elevators and use of escalators with one person on alternate steps should be followed. Hand hygiene (sanitiser dispenser) and thermal screening provisions should be put in place mandatorily at the entrance and everyone should maintain respiratory etiquettes and follow the prescribed do's and dont's. Cinema halls, gaming arcades and children play areas in shopping malls will remain closed. Spitting is strictly prohibited, the guidelines said, while advising installation and use of Aarogya Setu App. For air-conditioning and ventilation, the ministry said the temperature setting of all air conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30 degrees Celsius, relative humidity should be in the range of 40-70 per cent and intake of fresh air should be as much as possible and cross ventilation should be adequate. As per the guidelines specific to offices, an entire office building need not be closed if one or two cases of COVID-19 are reported and the work can be resumed after disinfection. However, if there is a larger outbreak, the entire building will have to be closed for 48 hours and all the staff will work from home, till the building is adequately disinfected and is declared fit for re-occupation. The ministry's guidelines advised all those who are at higher risk like elderly employees, pregnant employees and those having underlying medical conditions and comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, etc. to stay at home except for essential and health purposes. Also, everyone should monitor their health and report illness at the district or state helpline immediately. The guidelines came on a day when for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak, India recorded over 10,000 new cases in a day, taking the tally to 2,97,535, while the death toll rose to 8,498 with a record single-day spike of 396 fatalities. India on Thursday went past the United Kingdom to become the fourth worst-hit nation by the COVID-19 pandemic. Register with JOC.com and receive 5 free pieces of content for the first thirty days. After thirty days, you will receive 3 pieces of content and after sixty days you will receive 1 piece of content. To receive full access, Subscribe Today . You can also subscribe to our daily newsletter. Register Investigators believe a pre-dawn explosion at a Third Ward bar Friday morning was caused by a fire that was intentionally set, officials said. The blast happened around 4:45 a.m. at Bar 5015 at 5015 Almeda Street. No one was injured, but witnesses said the damage was significant. Fire Chief Samuel Pena said the contents of two to three gas cans may have been poured out in the deck area of the bar. A ignition source was then found, he continued. The discovery has resulted in a criminal investigation, he said. Arson investigators had requested help from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The structure is still standing, although debris from a deck that was damaged reaches hundreds of feet away from the site. One man was sleeping on a nearby corner when he saw some kind of electrical problem. All I saw was an electrical fire, like static electricity, John Tracy Keeling said. It kept going and kept going, then I heard a boom. Then I heard another boom and another boom. Stuff started flying places. The explosion left debris scattered on the roadway. Firefighters tapped out a few small fires inside the building, but most of the damage was from the shock wave. I had just gotten home, said Travis Webb, who lives nearby. I literally walked up my stairs, looked out the window and there was a guy running down the street. All of a sudden, the f****** thing just exploded. I just started yelling, Wake up, the bar exploded. He said windows in the apartment blew inward, photo frames fell to the ground and heavy objects were knocked off a kitchen counter. Authorities have the roadway shutdown as they investigate. (Newser) After a jump in confirmed coronavirus cases, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is putting a seven-day hold on any further reopenings in the state. "This is essentially a statewide yellow light,'" said the governor. Oregon recorded 178 new cases Thursday, its high mark, and two deaths, reports the Oregonian. The state totals are now 5,287 cases and 171 deaths. Brown's move came just before Multnomah Countythe most populous county and home to Portlandwas to receive the all-clear to begin "Phase 1" of its reopening. The state's other 35 counties had been allowed to begin loosening restrictions, but now all county applications for further reopenings are on hold. story continues below The governor's right to impose restrictions was endorsed Friday by the state's Supreme Court. A group of churches, businesses, and citizens had sued, saying the governor's pandemic measures weren't constitutional or legal, per WDRV. The justices threw out a preliminary injunction that had been issued by a lower court and said they'd only step in if the pandemic restrictions went well beyond reasonable. "Those difficult choices must be made by the people's representatives in the legislative and executive branches of the government," the ruling said. Brown said the one-week break will give health officials time to investigate the increase in cases, which will help her decide whether to alter her reopening schedule. (Read more coronavirus stories.) Starbucks said Friday that the chain would allow workers to wear attire and accessories highlighting the Black Lives Matter movement, reversing its prior stance after social media users called for boycotts of the company. BuzzFeed first reported on Wednesday that the coffee chain would not allow its employees to wear Black Lives Matter clothing or accessories, and management justified the decision by saying that such items could be misunderstood and incite violence. While Starbucks has a policy against wearing personal, political or religious clothing or accessories, workers told BuzzFeed that the company hands out buttons and attire celebrating LGBTQ rights and marriage equality. Now, Starbucks will be doing the same for Black Lives Matter. The chain will make 250,000 shirts with a design that includes "Black Lives Matter" and "No Justice, No Peace" available to workers in its company-owned cafes in the United States and Canada. The company said that it began planning to provide shirts for employees last week. Until the shirts arrive, employees can wear pins or shirts to show support. June 12 : Wasim Akhtar, who has been a journalist and runs his own news portal online is helping poor and needy people in the ongoing lockdown. He not only helping the people financially but also setting the right example of humanity. Wasim Akhtar narrates, I was very disturbed during the first 14 days of lockdown especially after seeing such sad videos about needy and poor people. But then I decided to move out of my house and help these poor people despite of the fear of Corona Virus. We supply ration to around 200 people everyday so that their families wont sleep hungry. We are contacting those people who are daily wagers and have been locked in their houses since past 70 days. They cant even beg for food to anybody or stand in the long queues outside grocery stores. We are also making sure that the places which are inaccessible, we am transferring the money in their accounts according to their needs. We have also been feeding food to the migrants at Kurla and VT stations. At VT station, there was a bunch of Tamilian migrants among which there were 6 women and 2 men, who doesnt know Hindi or English language, who were helpless and no where to go to, we send them back to their natives, he adds. Besides all this, our Giving Care foundation also funded the funeral of a 65-year old man at the Worli crematorium. We also took care of the expenses of the delivery of a Kolkata based woman, whose husband in stuck in Bombay. Along with this, with the inadequate facilities available in the lockdown, a small girl passed away due to prolonged illness and her parents, who run their living on the streets of Jogeshwari area were short of money. I personally made arrangements for her funeral while others stepped back due to the threat of the virus, he continues. Being a Muslim myself, I urge all the fellow Muslims that limit your expenses for Eid shopping rather help the poor and needy in such times, he concludes. Members of the DC National Guard stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial monitoring demonstrators during a peaceful protest against police brutality and the death of George Floyd, on June 2, 2020 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty Images Members of the DC National Guard, who were deployed in response to protests against police brutality in the nation's capital last week, tested positive for the coronavirus, McClatchy reported on Tuesday. Those infected were among the 1,300 DC National Guard members called in to help law enforcement, according to the outlet. While the Guard did not release the exact number of its troops infected after the DC protests, US officials told Associated Press that they do not believe it to be a "large number." According to the Associated Press, many Guard members in DC were not wearing masks and were unable to maintain effective social distancing during protests. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the National Guard would begin the process of withdrawing troops from the capital. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Members of the DC National Guard, who were deployed in response to protests in the nation's capital last week, tested positive for the coronavirus. While the Guard did not release the exact number of its troops infected after the DC protests, US officials told the Associated Press that they do not believe it to be a "large number." News of the positive coronavirus cases was first reported by McClatchy, which said those infected were among the 1,300 DC National Guard members called in to help law enforcement. "The safety and security of our personnel is always a concern, especially in light of the COVID-19 era," Lt. Col. Brooke Davis, a National Guard spokeswoman, told the outlet on Tuesday. According to the AP, many Guard members in DC were not wearing masks and were unable to maintain effective social distancing during protests. A National Guard Bureau spokesman told Military Times that nearly 4,900 personnel were called in to support the DC National National Guard as of Sunday some from out of state. Story continues President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the National Guard would begin the process of withdrawing from the capital. According to Davis, guardsmen that tested positive for COVID-19 would stay back in DC until they were no longer sick. "All Guardsmen who are suspected to be at high risk of infection or have tested positive for COVID-19 during demobilization will not be released ... until risk of infection or illness has passed," Davis told McClatchy. According to McClatchy, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told reporters that National Guard units were expected to leave DC by Wednesday. More than two dozen states activated the National Guard last month following demonstrations over the May 25 death of George Floyd. Floyd, a black man, died after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for several minutes. Several major clashes between protesters and authorities broke out in DC last week. On Saturday, the city saw its largest protest to date. The majority of the protests remained peaceful even after DC ended its curfew. Trump previously touted the importance of having a National Guard presence at protests, encouraging troops to "dominate the streets," though DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said the deployment was "used for a show" of force. "I don't think that the military should be used on the streets of American cities against Americans," Bowser said. "And I definitely think it shouldn't be used for a show." Read the original article on Business Insider Outmigration from Bihar in search of livelihood has been normalised over several decades, with Bihar being one of the topmost states of origin for the migrants. Unemployment rate in Bihar remains higher than the country average. Agriculture has become unviable over the years due to low yields, increasing landlessness and lack of financial support by the state. The return migration to the state in the wake of COVID-19 necessitates that the state generate farm and non-farm employment to address the crisis situation. The working and living conditions in which migrant workers, who carry out back-breaking work to support the Indian economy in the cities, have hardly remained hidden from the public view. The plight of these workers became a subject of international attention after a nationwide lockdown was announced on 24 March 2020 at 8 pm (to be implemented after four hours). Not only did the state demonstrate total neglect of the marginalised migrants, but it also rendered them stateless, further exposing them to a world of infections, insecurity, and humiliations. With no state support and the loss of employment, the lockdown initiated a painful process for the migrants. According to a recent survey conducted between 8 and 13 April 2020, 90% of migrant workers in various states did not get paid by their employers, 96% did not receive ration from the government, and 70% migrant workers did not get cooked food (Hindu 2020). Thousands of migrant workers across the country started to walk hundreds and thousands of kilometres to reach their native places. According to the World Bank, in just a few days of the lockdown, around 60,000 people had moved from urban centres to rural areas (Economic Times 2020). Soon, news reports started pouring in that several migrant labourers and their family members, including children, lost their lives on their way back, either out of hunger or road accidents (Rawal et al 2020). Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 10:15:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Consumers have their body temperature measured before entering a shopping mall in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 11, 2020. Sao Paulo adopted a gradual reopening of non essential activities and opened the city malls. Brazil's total confirmed COVID-19 cases topped 800,000 and the death toll surpassed 40,000 on Thursday, local media reported citing the health ministry's data. (Xinhua/Rahel Patrasso) RIO DE JANEIRO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's total confirmed COVID-19 cases topped 800,000 and the death toll surpassed 40,000 on Thursday, local media quoted data from the country's health ministry as saying. In the past 24 hours, the ministry registered 30,412 new cases, taking the country's tally to 802,828, according to the reports. The death toll reached 40,919 as more than 1,200 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. Some 345,595 COVID-19 patients have recovered since the outbreak in the country, the ministry said. Brazil has the second highest number of confirmed cases in the world after the United States, and its death toll remains the third highest, following the United States and Britain. Enditem CLEVELAND, OHIO The walleye have not been jumping into the boat this week around Lake Erie, but when anglers dial in the right locations and depths, a full cooler of good-sized fish has most often been the result. The walleye fishermen who are struggling should visit the local bait and tackle shops along the Ohio shoreline of Lake Erie, where its easy to get spot on information and the tackle, lures and techniques that will spell success. It is quite true that things are difficult for both parents and children during this pandemic. The reopening of schools is no doubt an important and a hopefully welcome step, but as parents, I am sure you may have lots of questions that need to be addressed. Below you will find a number of these questions which is frequently asked by parents and also get some tips on how to support your kids as they plan on going back to school. Cop y and pas t e this link into y our browser https://www.excellenthomeclasses.com/looking-for-a-tutor/ What should I do if my child is struggling to get back into school mode? Remember that your child will be dealing with the stress of the ongoing crisis differently from you. Create a supportive and nurturing environment and respond positively to questions and expressions of their feelings. Show support and let your child know that its not only okay, but normal, to feel frustrated or anxious at times like this. Help your children to stick to their routines and make learning playful by incorporating it into everyday activities like cooking, family reading time or games. Another option could be joining a parent or community group to connect with other parents who are going through the same experience to share tips and get support. What should I do if my child has fallen behind? Students around the world have shown just how much they want to keep learning. They have persisted with their lessons under difficult circumstances, with the support of their dedicated teachers and parents. But many children will need extra support to catch up on their learning when schools reopen. Many schools are making plans for catch-up lessons to help bring students back up to speed. This might include starting the year with refresher or remedial courses, after-school programmes or supplemental assignments to be done at home. Given the possibility that many schools may not open full time or for all grades, schools may implement blended learning models, a mix of classroom instruction and remote education. Give extra support to your child at home by creating a routine around school and schoolwork. This can help if they are feeling restless and having trouble focusing. You may want to contact your childs teacher or school to ask questions and stay informed. But be sure to let them know if your child is facing specific challenges, like grief over a family loss or heightened anxiety due to the pandemic. What questions should I be asking my childs teacher or school administrator? During such a worrying and disruptive time, its natural to have a lot of questions. Some helpful ones you may want to ask include: What steps has the school taken to help ensure the safety of students? How will the school support the mental health of students and combat any stigma against people who have been sick? How will the school refer children who may need referrals for specialized support? Will any of the schools safeguarding and bullying policies change once schools start to re-open? How can I support school safety efforts, including through parent-teacher committees or other networks. What precautions should the school be taking to prevent COVID-19 virus from spreading? School reopenings should be consistent with each countrys overall COVID-19 health response to protect students, staff, teachers and their families. Some of the practical measures that schools can take include: Staggering the start and close of the school day Staggering mealtimes Moving classes to temporary spaces or outdoors Holding school in shifts, to reduce class size Water and hygiene facilities will be a crucial part of schools reopening safely. Administrators should look at opportunities to improve hygiene measures, including handwashing, respiratory etiquette, physical distancing measures, cleaning procedures for facilities and safe food preparation practices. Administrative staff and teachers should also be trained on physical distancing and school hygiene practices. Is it safe for my child to go back to school? Schools should only be reopened when it is safe for students. Going back to school will likely look a little different from what you and your child were used to before. Its possible that schools may reopen for a period of time and then a decision may be made to close them again temporarily, depending on the local context. Because of the evolving situation, authorities will need to be flexible and ready to adapt to ensure the safety of every child. Even if leaders in your area have not yet decided to reopen schools, its crucial that they begin detailed planning now, to help ensure students, teachers and other staff are safe when they return and communities are confident in sending their students back to school. Conclusion Life during COVID-19 pandemic is difficult for parents and children alike. I hope these frequently asked questions will help you in your decision of sending your child to school. Do you have any other question you may want an answer to, let us here from you in the comment space below. If you are looking for a home tutor for yourself or your child, please call: 0501457284, WhatsApp: 0246099277, email: [email protected] or visit: www.excellenthomeclasses.com WASHINGTON - A federal appeals court in Washington expressed reluctance Friday to order a judge to immediately dismiss the criminal case against President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn, suggesting it will allow the judge to question whether the Justice Department's decision to drop the prosecution is "in the public interest." Flynn, joined by the Justice Department, wants the appeals court to force U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan to quickly close the matter and put a stop to the judge's examination of the retired three-star general's politically charged case. But Judges Karen Henderson and Robert Wilkins of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit seemed skeptical of Flynn's argument that Sullivan cannot review the Justice Department's abandonment last month of the long-running prosecution. Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents about his pre-inauguration contacts with Russia's ambassador. "Courts have said he's not a 'mere rubber stamp,'" Henderson said of Sullivan's independent judicial authority. "There's nothing wrong with him holding a hearing; there's no authority I know of that says he can't hold a hearing." Wilkins agreed, citing past cases in which the Supreme Court upheld the power of judges "to perform an independent evaluation" of the government's action. "You're saying the Supreme Court got it wrong?" he asked Flynn's lawyer Sidney Powell. "No," Powell said, but in this case, Flynn and the Justice Department are on the same side. "The government has quit, and it's time to leave the field," Powell said, adding that "the toll it takes on a defendant to go through this is absolutely enormous." Flynn was the highest-ranking Trump adviser convicted in special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Flynn admitted lying before two different judges and told Sullivan at a 2018 hearing that no one had coerced him to admit his guilt and that he had no intention of taking back his plea. The appeals court hearing Friday came two days after a former judge who Sullivan appointed to argue against the Justice Department characterized its plan to dismiss the case as a "gross abuse of prosecutorial power." The highly unusual parallel proceedings raise novel questions about the scope of judicial power to check the Trump administration and whether a judge can sentence a defendant the government no longer wants to prosecute. Sullivan refused to sign off last month on the Justice Department's request to withdraw the charges against Flynn and instead appointed former New York federal judge John Gleeson to argue against the department's position to help him decide how to proceed. Gleeson issued a stinging rebuke in a brief filed Wednesday, writing that the "government has engaged in highly irregular conduct to benefit a political ally of the President." Sullivan scheduled a July 16 hearing on the Justice Department's move for dismissal. But Flynn took the rare step of asking the appeals court to get involved midstream to force Sullivan's hand and accused the judge of bias. Solicitor General Noel Francisco joined Flynn in arguing that the judge has no power to second-guess the government's prosecution decisions and said it would be unconstitutional for the court to refuse to dismiss when the defendant and the prosecution are on the same side. After the appeals court agreed to review Sullivan's actions, the judge hired a high-profile trial lawyer, Beth Wilkinson, to explain the judge's reasons for investigating whether dismissing the case is legally appropriate and in the public interest. Henderson and Wilkins are former District Court judges and seemed wary Friday of cutting short Sullivan's process before he has made a decision. Henderson was nominated by former President George H. W. Bush and Wilkins by former President Barack Obama. The third judge on the panel, Neomi Rao, is a Trump nominee who previously worked in his administration. Rao had the most questions for Sullivan's lawyer and expressed concern about the judiciary encroaching on the role of the prosecutor. She asked Wilkinson whether Sullivan's appointment of Gleeson was "creating a controversy where there isn't one." Wilkinson said the judge has the responsibility to question the government about its reversal. "Judge Sullivan isn't acting as a prosecutor, nor has he made up his mind," Wilkinson said. There is no justification for the appeals court to "enter the fray," she said. Henderson agreed. Sullivan "may have chosen an intemperate" advocate in Gleeson, but that doesn't mean he won't ultimately grant the government's request to dismiss the case against Flynn. "We have Judge Sullivan, who's an old hand. He's an excellent trial judge. He may say - to himself at least - you know, I asked for advice. I'm ignoring it." Wilkins pressed the government with a hypothetical torn from the news: Could a court review a decision to dismiss a police brutality case against a white officer who pleaded guilty to using excessive force against a black victim? The government does not have to state its reasons for dropping a case, answered Principal Deputy Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall, who noted there are other avenues for pursuing unconstitutional race-based decisions. In the Flynn case, he said, the government fully explained its rationale for wanting to end the prosecution. Wall urged the court to block Sullivan's review and said allowing a July hearing to go forward will create a "political spectacle." He argued it would pull the judiciary into a fight over Gleeson's "almost polemic" claims that "the president and the attorney general have engaged in grave misconduct," and subject the Justice Department to intrusive questions. "It's not up to courts to probe whether the government has pure or impure motives. That's up to the political and public arena," Wall said. Before the Justice Department's reversal in May, the government withdrew a request for leniency and said it no longer sought a sentence at the "low-end" of the zero- to six-month range for Flynn. Instead of proceeding to sentencing, Attorney General William Barr ordered a review of Flynn's case, which found the FBI had no valid basis to question Flynn, so any lies he told were irrelevant to any crime. In setting up a process to review the department's actions, Sullivan also asked Gleeson - a former mob prosecutor - to examine whether Flynn may have committed perjury while pleading guilty to a crime that he and the Justice Department now say is no longer a crime. Gleeson advised Sullivan in his filing this week not to impose contempt of court penalties on Flynn but to continue to the sentencing phase of the case. Prosecutors have broad authority to make charging decisions, but federal rules also require prosecutors to get permission from the presiding judge to formally dismiss charges. Legal experts and retired judges disagree about the scope of Sullivan's authority, offering different interpretations of a 2016 D.C. Circuit opinion that noted the judiciary generally lacks authority to "second-guess" charging decisions. Sullivan's position has drawn support in court filings from outside groups including a nonpartisan organization of former state and federal officials and a group of two dozen former federal judges appointed by presidents from both parties. On the other side, Republican members of Congress and a group of prominent federal lawyers, including former independent counsel Kenneth Starr, said there is no role for the judge to play when the government and the defendant are in agreement. Alkemics, the Paris-based platform that lets brands collaborate and launch products with retailers, has picked up 21 million in a Series C funding. It follows 20 million raised in 2016. Backing the round is growth-stage fund Highland Europe . Existing investors Cathay Innovation, Index Ventures, SEB Alliance and Serena Capital also participated. The new investment comes off the back of what Alkemics claims has been soaring demand from grocers and suppliers in response to the coronavirus pandemic and a "rapid shift" to omni-channel shopping. "Analysts now expect the online grocery market to grow by 25% in 2020, having seen sales leap by 30% during April," says the French company. Founded all the way back in 2012, Alkemics works with some of France and the U.K.s largest grocery retailers -- including E.Leclerc, Intermarche, Casino, Tesco and Ocado -- to help them digitise their commercial processes with more than 17,000 brands. The platform connects retailers to multinational suppliers, such as Nestle, as well as small local producers, to help them on-board and launch new products. Essentially, Alkemics digitises the different stages of "supplier-retailer relations," spanning product discovery, listings and sales across all channels. This has become increasingly important, especially within the context of online shopping, as consumers demand "detailed information and greater transparency about the products they consume," notes Alkemics. "Alkemics enables retailers to manage their business relationship with suppliers to discover, list and market all products to omni-channel shoppers in one single and secure platform," says Alkemics co-founder and CEO Antoine Durieux . More broadly, the premise is that by making it easier for retailers to collaborate with brands/suppliers, new products can go-to-market more quickly, while ensuring that product data is always as transparent and up to date as possible. Story continues This is in contrast to the status quo where Durieux says it can take on average 60 days for a producer to get a product in store. "Its [traditionally] a mix of trade shows, in-person meetings, hundreds of back and forth, XLS files sent over email...," he explains. Meanwhile, armed with new capital, Alkemics says it will launch in Scandinavia, Germany and Benelux. The company also plans to expand to different verticals. Adds Durieux: "Our aim is to make B2B business even quicker, easy and interactive. Any manufacturer should be able to put a product on the market as easily as if they were posting a message on a social network, and any store should be able to find the products that consumers are looking for by simply searching through an app." Donald Trumps administration has rolled back nondiscrimination healthcare protections for women and transgender people by reversing a rule that would prevent healthcare workers and insurance companies that receive federal funds from refusing to provide services like abortion or gender-affirming care. The rule changes could allow health providers to deny coverage and care to women and transgender people, as the nation is in the grip of the coronavirus pandemic. They also arrive in the middle of Pride month on the anniversary of the Pulse massacre, when 49 people were gunned down inside a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Invoking religious freedom, the Department of Health and Human Services had revised a rule under the Affordable Care Act to revert to the governments interpretation of sex discrimination according to the plain meaning of the word sex as male or female and as determined by biology. The changes revoke discrimination protections on the basis of gender identity and sex, including patients seeking an abortion. They are likely to be challenged in court: the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign and other groups have already announced plans to sue the administration. In the middle of a global pandemic, with our nation in uproar over a systemic devaluing of Black lives, this administration chose to prioritise a rule change attempting to roll back anti-discrimination protections in health care, said LGBT+ legal advocacy organisation Lambda Legal. Despicable doesnt begin to describe it. Human Rights Campaign president Alphonso David, said: LGBTQ people should not live in fear that they cannot get the care they need simply because of who they are. It is clear that this administration does not believe that LGBTQ people, or other marginalised communities, deserve equality under the law. Initial rules under former president Barack Obamas administration established civil rights protections in healthcare, barring discrimination on the basis of race, colour, national origin, age, disability or sex as well as gender identity. Health providers and insurers, under those anti-discrimination rules, would have to cover costs associated with gender-affirming care March for Women's Lives: History in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 March for Women's Lives: History in pictures March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Thousands rally in Washington DC on 25 April for the March for Women's Lives in favour of abortion rights AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Thousands rally in Washington DC on 25 April for the March for Women's Lives in favour of abortion rights Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Thousands rally in Washington DC on 25 April for the March for Women's Lives in favour of abortion rights Getty Images March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Thousands rally in Washington DC on 25 April for the March for Women's Lives in favour of abortion rights AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Demonstrators participating in the March for Women's Lives make their way over the Brooklyn Bridge to a rally at New York City Hall on 28 August 2004 AP March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 A demonstrator punches an effigy of President Bush as thousands take part in the March For Women's Lives Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Anti-abortion counter-protesters oppose the March For Women's Lives in Washington DC Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 A police officer stands between two priests outside the US Supreme Court during the March for Women's Lives in Washington DC AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Pro-choice activists shout slogans during the March For Women's Lives Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 The 2004 March for Women's Lives on the National Mall in Washington DC Jfruh March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2017 Protesters gather during the Women's March on Washington on 21 January Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2017 Protesters gather during the Women's March on Washington on 21 January Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2017 Protesters gather during the Women's March on Washington on 21 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 A woman shouts as she attends the Womens March on New York on 20 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 Protesters hold up placards during the Women's March in London on 21 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 Protesters hold signs as they attend the Womens March on New York on 20 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 Protesters hold signs near the White House following the Women's March on Washington on 20 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 A young protester hold up placards during the Women's March in London on 21 January Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2019 Protesters rally at the Womens March on Washington on 19 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2019 Protesters rally at the Womens March on Washington on 19 January AFP/Getty Sought by Christian conservative groups that the president has courted for his campaign, the rule changes have been widely condemned by health advocates who fear that the administration is endangering already-vulnerable patients amid the Covid-19 crisis. The rule changes also end Obama-era requirements that health providers offer non-English signage, alarming health organisations that serve immigrant communities. Neither a global pandemic, nor national uprisings over racist violence, nor Pride month will stop the Trump administration from doing everything in its power to discriminate, divide, and reduce access to healthcare, Planned Parenthood said in a statement. This cruel and discriminatory rule will only make it harder for transgender people, immigrants, and people seeking sexual and reproductive services to get care, and could even prevent people from getting the care they need entirely. The move is part of the administrations sweeping attempts to rewrite sex discrimination across housing, education and employment policy. A number of transgender health and advocacy groups are also joining legal challenges to the rule changes, which contradict federal law and two decades of court rulings and put up more unnecessary barriers between 2 million trans people in the US and the healthcare and insurance coverage they need, according to the Transgender Law Centre. Trans people should be able to seek medical care when we need help without being turned away or denied treatment because of who we are, executive director Kris Hayashi said in a statement. This appalling move by the Trump administration puts the lives of trans people in jeopardy especially trans people living with HIV, Black trans people and trans people of colour, trans people with disabilities, and trans people living in rural areas and in Southern states. New Delhi, June 12 : The Supreme Court on Friday slammed the Delhi government calling its patient care during Covid-19 pandemic horrendous, horrific and pathetic. The top court also cited news reports showing deplorable condition of medical wards in Delhi, where dead bodies were not only in wards, but were also found in lobby and waiting areas. The observation came from a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, S.K. Kaul and M.R. Shah, which suo moto took cognizance of the ill-treatment being meted out to Covid patients in hospitals and also the undignified way in which bodies of Covid patients were being handled. The bench minced no words in slamming the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government for its handling of dead bodies, terming it "very sorry state of affairs". The court noted that Covid patients were treated worse than animals with dead bodies being found in garbage. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said there was a case in Delhi where dead bodies were found alongside patients, who were undergoing treatment. Mehta contended that showing no respect to a dead body is also an offence under the Indian Penal Code. Justice Shah questioned Mehta, "So what have you done?" The bench added that patients are crying in pain and there is nobody to attend to them. "One video from LNJP hospital showed how badly the dead bodies are being treated. There is absolutely no respect for the dead bodies too", said the bench. The bench noted that there is no adherence to Centre's guidelines either, and that the hospitals are not giving due care to the dead bodies. The court criticized the Delhi government, noting that more than 2,000 beds are vacant, as nobody wants to go to these hospitals. The bench told advocate Chirag Shroff, representing Delhi government, patients are in a pathetic condition in the hospitals. It regretted that in some cases, families of the deceased aren't even informed about the deaths and last rites also happen with no information to them. The bench reproached the government for patients being placed alongside stacks of dead bodies in the hospitals. The bench noted that patients' families aren't even informed about deaths and in some cases, families haven't been able to attend the last rites. The bench noted that there is a problem with the way the pandemic was being fought in the national capital. "The number of tests conducted is low in Delhi compared to Chennai and Mumbai...Why are tests so less in Delhi?" the bench said. "Nobody should be denied testing on technical reasons...simplify procedure so more and more can test for Covid," said the bench. The top court pointed out that it is the duty of the state to conduct testing so that more people know about their health status. The top court also noted that the situation is grim even in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, and sought report from four states. The Supreme Court reiterated that hospitals across the country are not taking proper care of Covid-19 deceased. The bench -- taking into consideration the spike in cases in Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu -- issued notices to their chief secretaries and asked them to bring on record relevant statistics on patient management system, number of patients, availability of beds and doctors. The court also sought response from the Centre and listed the matter for further hearing next week. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) OTTAWAA Supreme Court of Canada decision delivered Friday is good news for minority-language communities across the country who feel shortchanged on services, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says. The high court sided with British Columbias francophone school board, at least in part, in a dispute over French-language education in the province, saying lower courts interpreted constitutional protections too narrowly. We now hope that the provincial governments will step up further in areas that are their exclusive jurisdictions, like education and certain services for minority-language communities, Trudeau said Friday at his daily media briefing. The court case began years ago when the board, Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique, and the parents of students alleged the province had breached a Charter of Rights and Freedoms provision guaranteeing minority-language education. They sought orders requiring the province to change how it funds French-language education, immediately fix problems with inadequate facilities in a number of communities and offer compensation for its failure to provide proper funding. After a long trial, the school board and parents won a partial victory, including an award for charter damages arising from unpaid transportation costs. However, they appealed the ruling on various points, but mainly the conclusion they were not entitled to millions of dollars in educational capital projects they had requested. The B.C. Court of Appeal dismissed the challenge and allowed the provinces cross-appeal, saying the trial judge should not have awarded the transportation costs given the traditional principle of government immunity. Read more about: (Photo : Northwestern Medicine) Patient's COVID lung (Photo : Northwestern Medicine) Patient's COVID lung x-ray (Photo : Northwestern Medicine) ECMO team 1 A Hispanic 20-year-old coronavirus patient in the U.S. was first to receive a double-lung transplant after spending two months in the hospital. Northwestern Medicine released a statement on Thursday, June 11, as reported by Live Science. The patient has been in the intensive care unit at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) in Chicago for six weeks after acquiring severe COVID-19. Doctors attached a ventilator and an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine to keep her heart and lungs going. However, her lungs showed irreversible damage earlier this month. She was placed on the waiting list for a double-lung transplant, according to the statement. COVID-19 infection did not hamper first double-lung transplant Last year, almost 40,000 organ transplants were performed in the U.S., but only 7% of that number was performed on lungs which are hard to find. Patients on the transplant list often wait for weeks to find a donor. According to Harvard Medical School, double-lung transplants were first performed in the 1960s, replacing both lungs with healthy ones from donors who just died. However, the procedure did not spread until the 1990s because of the risks and costs it entails. It is still riskier than kidney or heart transplants despite improvements in survival rates. The Hispanic woman is the COVID-19 patient to undergo the double lung transplant procedure. Since surgeries are not performed on patients with active infections, the statement said that the patient had to test negative for coronavirus before undergoing the procedure since she must take immune-suppressing drugs after the operation. "For many days, she was the sickest person in the COVID ICU - and possibly the entire hospital," NMH pulmonary and critical care specialist Dr. Beth Malsin said in the statement. She added that the team attending the patient had to help "her oxygenation and support her other organs to make sure they were healthy enough to support a transplant" when the donors became available. "One of the most exciting times was when the first coronavirus test came back negative and we had the first sign she may have cleared the virus to become eligible for a life-saving transplant," Dr. Malsin said. A 10-hour double lung transplant for the worst lungs The patient spent 10 hours on the operation table as surgeons replaced her lungs. The procedure is much longer than a normal surgery because COVID-19 caused her lungs to be "completely plastered" to the surrounding tissue, heart, chest wall, and the diaphragm. Dr. Ankit Bharat, NMH Chief of Thoracic Surgery and Surgical Director of the lung transplant program told The New York Times that it was one of the worst lung damages he had seen. Bharat also told the publication that the patient is now recovering. "She's awake, she's smiling, she FaceTimed with her family." She is currently on a ventilator and her recovery will take some time. The patient is taking immune system suppressing drugs to prevent the body from rejecting the lungs. She also tested negative for COVID-19 for few times as doctors check whether the drugs have reactivated the coronavirus. "A lung transplant was her only chance for survival," said Bharat. Currently, about 85% to 90% of patients survive lung transplants and can function independently in daily life. "How did a healthy woman in her 20s get to this point? There's still so much we have yet to learn about COVID-19," Dr. Rade Tomic, a pulmonologist and medical director of the Lung Transplant Program at Northwestern Medicine said in the statement. Related article: Performing CPR Is Still Safe During Coronavirus Pandemic; Black Men More Likely to Die From COVID-19 Than White Men 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. She is set to star in The Kissing Booth 2 this July. And Joey King looked summer ready as she headed out in Los Angeles on Thursday with her mom to grab some coffee. The 20-year-old actress donned a chic look in white linen overalls with blue pinstripes that she teamed with a white tank underneath. Chic King: Joey King donned a chic look in white linen overalls with blue pinstripes that she teamed with a white tank underneath as she went for a coffee run in Los Angeles on Thursday The Act star paired her look with lace-up white sneakers and brown sunglasses in hand. King went make-up free for the afternoon outing, with her natural dark brows and plump lips shining as her brown hair was pulled back into a messy bun. Her mom Jamie joined for the coffee run wearing a Lion King 'Hakuna Matata' tank top. Easy: King went make-up free for the afternoon outing, with her natural dark brows and plump lips shining as her brown hair was pulled back into a messy bun While King starred in director James Franco's indie film Zeroville in 2019, her last year was largely devoted to the small screen. She starred as Gypsy Rose Blanchard in Hulu's The Act, alongside Patricia Arquette and Chloe Sevigny. The actress was nominated for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her performance in the series. Release date: Just over two years after The Kissing Booth debuted on Netflix, she joined co-star Joel Courtney on a Youtube livestream last month to reveal the sequel will be arriving on July 24 Just over two years after The Kissing Booth debuted on Netflix, she joined co-star Joel Courtney on a Youtube livestream last month to reveal the sequel will be arriving on July 24. The puzzle pieces came in a group of lockboxes, which she opened with the help of some of her co-stars like Courtney. When it came time to reveal the last piece, they were both extremely excited that it revealed the date which King added is close to her 21st birthday. 'That's like six days before my birthday, what a wonderful birthday present,' King said after revealing the release date. ANKARA (Reuters) - The United States needs to play a more active role in Libya, both in achieving a ceasefire and in political talks, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday, as Libya's warring sides restarted U.N.-led ceasefire talks. Turkey supports Fayez al Serraj's internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), whose forces have in recent weeks repelled a 14-month assault on Tripoli by Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA). The LNA is backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia. While Washington has said it opposes Haftar's offensive, it has not thrown its support behind the GNA. It has also lambasted Russian involvement in support of Haftar. Cavusoglu said the involvement of the United States, a NATO ally, was important to protect the alliance's interests, adding that Turkish and U.S. officials would discuss possible steps, as Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed during a call on Monday. "For some reason, the United States has not been that active in Libya, perhaps because of past traumas," Cavusoglu said in an interview with broadcaster NTV. "The United States needs to play a more active role, both for achieving a ceasefire and in the political process." On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed the resumption of U.N.-led talks between Libya's warring sides and urged speedy negotiations to achieve a ceasefire, as a new round of talks began after the GNA's rapid gains. Cavusoglu, who dismissed a ceasefire proposal by Egypt as an attempt to save Haftar after losses on the battlefield, said on Thursday that only a lasting ceasefire under U.N. auspices would be acceptable. Trump also discussed Libya with Egypt's Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday, and the two leaders discussed ways to resume U.N. ceasefire talks and the departure of all foreign forces from Libya. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Daren Butler and Gareth Jones) Researchers have discovered a vast hacker-for-hire operation that is believed to have targeted thousands of people and hundreds of organizations all over the world--most notably groups and individuals involved in activism against major corporations.The group, a "cybermercenary" team called "Dark Basin," has been using targeted phishing campaigns to infiltrate organizations and conduct illicit investigations at the behest of wealthy clients, according to a new report published this week by Citizen Lab , a research unit with the University of Toronto. Among the group's many targets were nonprofits, activists, politicians, journalists and government officials. The group also appears to have targeted hedge funds, short sellers and financial journalists.The report states with "high confidence" that a little-known cyberfirm based in India is behind the global spy operations. BellTroX Digital Security, a Delhi-based company that advertises its services as involving "ethical hacking," is run by a businessman named Sumit Gupta. Gupta has denied any wrongdoing , according to though he was indicted in 2015 for a hack-for-hire scheme similar to the ones his company is currently being accused of facilitating.Many of the group's targets appear to have been engaged in activism against large corporations most notably environmental activism. Targets include organizations involved in the #ExxonKnew campaign , which accuses energy giant Exxon Mobil of having spent decades covering up evidence of global warming. Exxon Mobil has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the hacking case.Similarly, the group is said to have targeted activists involved in net neutrality advocacy efforts, as well as a wide variety of government officials. State and local governments in the U.S. were also among those targeted, said John Scott-Railton, one of Citizen Lab's lead researchers, in a phone call with"We found targeting of [government] officials in multiple countries, very senior people, people in multiple parts of governments," said Scott-Railton. "The existence of this group absolutely represents a threat to the ability of governments, especially governments that are attempting to hold powerful companies and entities accountable for bad behavior," he said, adding that he felt BellTroX may be just one "tool in the quiver" of its customers.Citizen Lab, which has been conducting their research with the help of NortonLifeLock , began their investigation close to three years ago."The initial seed came from a journalist who was targeted with suspicious emails," said Scott-Railton. "From that initial seed we began pulling a thread."That thread-pulling involved investigating URL shorteners that the hackers had used, which can mask the source of fake sites used in phishing operations. Researchers were able to trace these shorteners back to source sites, which eventually revealed some 28,000 fake websites setup by "Dark Basin.""The irony is that the very technique they used to disguise themselves from their targets made it possible to comprehensively unwrap what they were doing," he said.This kind of cybermercenary activity is likely widespread, said Scott-Railton."The market is large and goes beyong BellTroX," he said. "The issue is this particular area just has not achieved the level of scrutiny that some other cybercriminal activity has. So part of what we're trying to do with this report is make people realize that this is a booming industry, and that because of its existence, secrets are less safe, whether you're in government, industry, or civil society."Scott-Railton said he and his fellow researchers believe that companies like BellTroX may be routinely hired by private investigators and that their use may be something of an "open secret" in that industry."Hack-for-hire groups like BellTroX think that they can act with impunity," he said. "Everything about their security mistakes, everything about their public-facing identity, suggests that they're playing it as close to the edge as possible. To us, that reads that they feel like they are untouchable.""So, with this report we decided to reach out and touch them," he added.How many clients do they have?"We think they have hundreds," said Scott-Railton. "Their client pool is as diverse as their target pool. One common threat is that we think there is often the involvement of private investigators and law firms."The report makes note of the fact that BellTroX received numerous "endorsements" from state and local police agencies on Linkedin. Scott-Railton said this does not necessarily mean those agencies were clients."An endorsement as we all know, doesn't mean much on LinkedIn," he said. "That said, it's definitely interesting. It presents an interesting avenue for further investigation...There are many questions here that we just don't have the answers to yet," he said.The threat these groups pose to democratic institutions is great, the researcher added."They represent a threat to every sector: business is less safe because these guys exist and government is less safe. Elected officials all over the globe were targeted by these people," he said. "It's important to keep in mind that what these guys do is hacking-as-a-service... they're allowing for the offshoring of these activities. At the same time, that offshoring, combined, means that its very hard for any individual target even governments to really piece together the full scope and scale of what's going on."Scott-Railton said that his research group will likely be revealing more about their findings soon. In the meantime, Citizen Lab has shared its findings with the U.S. Department of Justice."We look forward to continuing to vigorously investigate this case," he said. Three leaders from the local community will discuss the theme of "Coming Together For A Brighter Future." Speakers scheduled to participate in the program are: Mary Figueroa, President of the Board of Trustees, Riverside Community College District; Reverend Paul Munford, Pastor of New Joy Baptist Church and President of the Riverside Clergy Association; and Chief Larry V. Gonzalez, Riverside Police Department. "Developing the principles of understanding, trust and sensitivity between the community and the police department are critical components towards energizing a successful partnership that ultimately benefits all residents of the city," says Figueroa. "The community and the police department, need to sit at the table as equal partners." "The fight for justice is an uphill struggle and battle, but be encouraged there is a shift in the blowing wind of justice," says Reverend Munford. "Protests across the country are more diverse than ever. People of all ages, races and backgrounds are standing up for justice. With our voices we can make a change and a difference." Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez stated, "Our police department is fortunate to serve a community where conversations like these have been taking place for years. The furtherance of our already established relationships ensures a mutual respect for one another and an understating that is necessary as we continue moving forward together." The Community Forum program can be viewed on the Facebook Live official page of the program host Jackeline Cacho at https://www.facebook.com/jackycachotv/ This community forum is sponsored by Optimum Seismic, Inc. About Optimum Seismic, Inc. The Optimum Seismic team has been making California cities safer since 1984 by providing full-service seismic retrofit engineering and construction services on multifamily residential, commercial and industrial buildings throughout the state. Optimum experts have completed more than 3,500 projects. Optimum Seismic's earthquake retrofit services include work on soft-story multifamily apartment buildings, unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings and tilt-up, non-ductile concrete and steel moment frame commercial buildings. For information, contact Optimum Seismic at (323) 678-4686 or visit OptimumSeismic.com. Contact: Tom Robinson (562) 237-1629 [email protected] SOURCE Optimum Seismic, Inc. Related Links http://www.optimumseismic.com [June 11, 2020] Company Alarm providing free business identity theft monitoring to all American truckers through the end of the year MERIDIAN, Idaho, June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Company Alarm, the nationwide leader in business identity theft protection, in conjunction with Melton Technologies, Inc., a developer of fleet dispatch technology, announced today that it is offering free monitoring services to all American truckers till December 31, 2020. "With strain the COVID-19 crisis is putting on our nation's supply lines, truckers are working incredibly long hours and are away from home for weeks at a time," said Company Alarm founder Andy Pham. "They have so much on their plates right now that they don't have the time to worry about the safety of their businesses and we know cybercrime is on the rise. As a thank you for all they do, Company Alarm is offering a year of its top-of-the-line business identity theft monitoring services to all American truckers for free, regardless of whether their business entities are related to trucking or transportation." All truckers need to do in order to sign up for free business identity theft monitoring is visit www.companyalarm.com/trucker . American businesses increasingly are under attack from identity theft because business information is public and easy to change on government websites. Cybercriminals use these sites to hijack businesses and plunder their financial resources. Company Alarm guards against this by altering subscribers the moment any of their business information is changed. "This is a great opportunity for truckers, many of whom are independent and thus are responsible for managing their own LLCs," said Chuck Melton, founder of Melton Technologies. "Company Alarm's monitoring software is second to none. Pham is also the owner of the San Paso Truck Stop in Paso Robles, California, which in partnership with the good folks at Melton Technologies provided free breakfast to all truckers who came by the truck stop through the end of May. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/company-alarm-providing-free-business-identity-theft-monitoring-to-all-american-truckers-through-the-end-of-the-year-301074928.html SOURCE Company Alarm [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] DPRK accuses U.S. of interference in inter-Korean relations People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:16, June 11, 2020 PYONGYANG, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) warned the United States on Thursday not to interfere in the inter-Korean affairs, denouncing the U.S. double-dealing on such issues as "disgusting." Kwon Jong Gun, director general of the Department of U.S. Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, told the official Korean Central News Agency that it was ridiculous for Washington to urge the DPRK to return to diplomacy and cooperation while keeping close coordination with South Korea. "No one is entitled to say this or that about the inter-Korean relations as the relations pertain to the internal affairs of the Korean nation from A to Z," Kwon said. On Tuesday, DPRK cut off all inter-Korean communication lines in protest of South Korean authorities for allowing "defectors" to fly leaflets across the border, which it says is a hostile act breaching a series of peace agreements between the two sides. The U.S. State Department expressed disappointment over Pyongyang's decision and urged both sides to solve the issue with diplomacy. Kwon said the United States feels uneasy over any slightest sign of improvement in the inter-Korean relations and pretends to get very anxious if the relations get worse, and this double-dealing attitude is disgusting. "If the U.S. pokes its nose into others' affairs with careless remarks, far from minding its internal affairs, at a time when its political situation is in the worst-ever confusion, it may encounter an unpleasant thing hard to deal with," Kwon said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The woman accused of killing her parents at their Northeast Side home Thursday before turning the gun on herself has died, according to San Antonio police said. Police have identified the 50-year-old woman as Lisa Theroux and her parents as 84-year-old James Browning and his wife 79-year-old Elizabeth Browning. On Thursday just before 7 a.m., Theroux called 911 to report that she shot her parents. When officers arrived at the home located in the 5000 Round Table Drive, they found Theroux in the backyard suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and her parents dead in the home. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Theroux was taken to a local hospital, where she later died, SAPD confirmed Friday. Police said they don't know why Theroux killed her parents and have not disclosed what was written on a note she left behind. RELATED: Daughter kills parents before turning the gun on herself, police say We know both parents were in ailing health and the daughter had been staying with them for the last 10 days, but we dont know if that had anything to do with this shooting, Chief William McManus said Thursday. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway Toilet roll isn't the only thing people have been stockpiling during quarantine - skincare has enjoyed a major boost since the world locked down. British retailer John Lewis reported that sales increased 183pc in April, as many of us stuck at home sought to change up our regimen. But if talk of acid toning still leaves you confused and you can't tell whether your skin is dry or dehydrated, a new book arriving this month will answer all your questions. Simply titled Skincare, it is the first book from Caroline Hirons, the British blogger and businesswoman who commands an audience of millions on her website and on social media. A trained aesthetician, 50-year-old Hirons stands apart from the majority of beauty influencers thanks to her 20-plus years of industry experience and her no-nonsense advice. Read More She's been dubbed "the most powerful woman in beauty", and products she recommends regularly sell out worldwide within hours of her posts. But you won't see her pouting in a sheet mask (one of the many trends she bluntly tells to "get in the sea") or swanning about on an influencer getaway to Bora Bora. Instead, she writes and films in her London office, with minimal makeup and hair swept into a familiar bun, her voluminous eyelash extensions the only hint of her line of work. "I don't really put myself in that arena, purely because I'm older and a businesswoman," she says of the beauty blogger world. "This is something I do for a living, not a competitive role I need to excel at. If I did see it that way, I doubt I'd have lasted, because I'm not about to go on a press trip in a bikini - my kids are the age of most of the big influencers!" As we speak, Hirons is in lockdown with her husband Jim, a musician, in London. They have four children, Ben (28), Daniel (25), Ava (18), and Max (15), the two eldest of whom are involved in her business. The youngest is keen to get a look in, too. "They all sort of have different parts to play. Ben generally helps me out if I need editing help, and Max wants to be head of IT but as he's only just doing his GCSEs, we'll see where that leads. He says things like, 'If I'm your head of IT, do I get a new computer?' And I say, 'Nice try, son.'" Expand Close Caroline Hirons / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Caroline Hirons After the UK and the US, Ireland is Hirons's third-biggest audience ("the Irish are properly addicted to beauty and skincare!") and when she makes personal appearances here, her followers turn out in droves - in 2017, a visit to Arnotts with seats for 120 saw hundreds of fans spilling out over the beauty hall and first floor. With a blog that has attracted 120m views, plus 18m views on YouTube and 43,000 self-described "Freaks" in her Facebook group, why did Hirons decide to go old-school and write a book? "My readers were saying, 'I know I can go online and find it all, but my mum doesn't and my little sister doesn't.' It was a lot of comments like that where I thought, writing a book might be useful," she explains. "I didn't grow up thinking, 'I want to be an author someday, I want to be on the Amazon bestsellers charts.' I've never thought like that, but the fact that it's happened is brilliant." As a child in Liverpool and Mississippi, Hirons says, she didn't harbour dreams of working in beauty, but skincare was an important part of her upbringing. "I had no plans to work in the industry until I was working in the industry, and then it was like the penny dropped and everything made sense. When I was younger, I didn't have much thought of what I wanted to do," she recalls. "My mum and my grandmother gave me a really good appreciation for skincare. I asked my mum to wear makeup and she said, 'That's fine, but you have to wash your face properly if you do.'" Expand Close Caroline Hirons. Photo: Nicky Johnston / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Caroline Hirons. Photo: Nicky Johnston Hirons remembers glamorous days visiting her grandmother on the Guerlain counter in Liverpool, before she and her parents moved to America when she was four. Her mother followed in those stylish footsteps by getting a job at Helena Rubinstein when they returned to the UK. Years later, after Hirons moved to London and had her first two children, she started working in retail, and joined the Aveda team in Harvey Nichols at the height of its fame. "It was the golden days. The internet didn't exist, everybody had to go shopping for what they wanted, and the shops were always really busy. It was just a really good laugh," she says. During staff training for treatments, Hirons made up her mind to qualify as a beauty therapist, and completed an evening course at the renowned Steiner Beauty School while working at Space NK in the day. She set up her own consultation business in 2009 and her blog the following year. "There was no one really talking about skincare," she remembers. "It was all very makeup-focused, and nails were huge. It was a prime time to do [the blog]. People say, 'How did you plan?' There has never been a plan, literally ever. I don't know if you can plan for that kind of success." Readers were immediately drawn to Hirons' straight-talking approach. She railed against face wipes (still her biggest bugbear), sung the praises of Biologique Recherche's acid toner P50 (still her favourite product), and was unsparing in describing what a product could and could not do. "I was one of the first people in the skincare world to talk about things it wasn't popular to say," she says. "I think in the early days, it was more shouty than it is now. I certainly toned down the blog, because once you get an audience, you kind of have a responsibility to just deliver the information and not bring emotion into it." As Hirons dialled it down, the rest of the beauty blogosphere exploded in response to the internet's insatiable appetite for "tea". Last summer, a feud between YouTubers James Charles and Tati Westbrook made its way into the mainstream, with everyone from the New York Times to this newspaper publishing explainers on the unfolding drama. On Instagram, the anonymous account @EsteeLaundry operates as a sort of industry watchdog, calling out cultural appropriation, fake reviews and workplace bullying. And on YouTube, the current vogue is to film reactions to celebrity skincare routines, but Hirons says that, apart from flagging irresponsible advice, she has no desire to wade in. "I can see what kind of posts really drive traffic. It's easy to get a big following if you want to go down a certain road of drama and exposes, and I've never really been interested in that. I'm coming from a much more educational standpoint," she explains. "I see how giving criticism can attract a following - my two biggest posts on the blog are me having a pop at a brand." In 2018, she reviewed millennial favourite Glossier's Solution, an acid toner, writing that it was "not a sophisticated formula" and "hard to recommend for anyone", rejecting claims it was "better than P50". It's now her most popular post ever. When Glossier's social media team promptly took to Instagram Stories to do a side-by-side comparison with P50, she cringed, and published a follow-up telling the brand: "It's time to grow up." "That made me realise the power of the blog. I thought if Glossier are taking it that seriously, it must have some effect on the industry," she says, adding that she's "good friends with Glossier now", and has learned to "wield the power" of her voice carefully to lobby brands to reformulate disappointing products and packaging. "It would be easy to do that kind of thing every day and be reactionary rather than try and be proactive in helping people. That's kind of where my head is at when I'm writing a blog post." She doesn't shy away from the truth, though, which is what has made her followers so loyal, in a landscape where the credibility of many bloggers is called into question, with readers sceptical about whether they are getting the full story about a product or just another sugar-coated rave. For Hirons, bloggers' reluctance to offer criticism comes down to sexism. "Because we're women, we're always told to watch our tone and make sure we're seen and not heard. That's the generation I was raised with, though thankfully my mother didn't raise me that way," she says, pointing out that male critics rarely feel such reluctance to speak out. "I think in terms of gaming and restaurant critics, they're revered - there are people who wait to see what a gaming critic has to say about something, and if he absolutely destroys a game, that game is dead in the water." Now, of course, Hirons is hugely revered, and fans all over the world are waiting to get their hands on her book, a straightforward guide designed to help readers "navigate the world of skincare simply and succinctly". The bulk is devoted to building a good routine, as Hirons breaks down skincare myths and gives advice on everything from double cleansing to retinoids, with colour photographs to illustrate how much product you should use at each stage. Elsewhere, she explains the difference between skin types and conditions, how to adapt your routine as you age, and what you should have in your kit, with tips on where to invest and where to save. She also includes a section busting industry jargon, detailing her problems with "clean beauty". Given the increased interest in all things green, are we set to see a boom in clean brands? "God, I really hope not," Hirons sighs. "All they do is tell people what's not in their products. Imagine buying a bag of mixed salad that says 'Does not contain banana peel'. It's that irrelevant! 'We don't contain formaldehyde' - why would you put formaldehyde in a serum?! It's not the green industry as a whole, because you'd hope the industry would have some positive effect on sustainability, but if you let them lead with bad messaging, how do they not see this will be seen as a negative by the consumer?" Expand Close Caroline Hirons / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Caroline Hirons She also lambasts celebrities who swear they "only ever use soap and water" on their faces: "The jig is up, people." Understandably, then, when Hirons decided to get Botox and cheek filler last year, she covered her experience comprehensively. "I just looked in the mirror one day and said, 'Time for some help'. I'd been on hormones and I'd lost some weight, which actually makes you look slightly more gaunt, and then my mother-in-law died so we were grief-stricken as a family for a couple of months. As it got closer to Christmas, I looked in the mirror and thought, 'God, you look tired, you look like you could do with a boost.' "So I went to see a dermatologist and had some filler around my temple area, just a teeny bit to sort of dabble, and I was really happy with it. I thought, 'You know what, that's made me feel so much better.' That and a combination of being on the right HRT regimen, you can really see the difference in your skin. For me, it was a no-brainer. I'd never said I'd never do it, I thought maybe I will one day, and then I woke up one day and it was one day." Hirons is adamant that injectables won't negate poor skincare, and must be combined with a good routine to improve the surface as well as the structure of skin. She's also frank about the limitations of skincare - there's only so much you can do without a laser, a needle or a knife. Tweakments, she observes, will "probably become the norm". "To me, it's no different to people who bleach their hair. Yes, it's more invasive, but only as far as you wanna go," she argues. One thing she would like to see change is how we talk about injectables. "I'd like the shame to come away from it," she says. "Anyone who has anything to say about what someone does with their body just has a monumental nerve, to be honest, especially if it's a man talking about a woman. And other women do it too. It's no one else's business, full stop." She hopes that her book will encourage people to "take skincare seriously", and laments those who dismiss it as a frivolous enterprise. "Very shortly after lockdown happened, people were saying, 'You shouldn't be encouraging people to buy things online, what about the postman?' I was immediately saying, 'No, no, no!'" she cries. "You shower every day, you brush your teeth every day, you wash your hair every day, and you take care of your face every day. Skincare is self-care." 'Skincare' by Caroline Hirons is published on June 25 (HQ, HarperCollins) in paperback, eBook and audiobook. Moscow: Russias ruling United Russia party has cruised to an easy victory in parliamentary polls that could pave the way for President Vladimir Putin to glide to a fourth term in 2018 elections, with more than 93 per cent of votes counted. Sundays ballot for the 450-seat State Duma was smooth sailing for authorities desperate to avoid a repeat of mass protests last time round and eager to increase their dominance as Russia faces the longest economic crisis of Putins rule. But a low turnout of less than 50 per cent suggested that many Russians may have been turned off by a system in which the Kremlin wields near-total power, which could raise questions over legitimacy. We can announce already with certainty that the party secured a good result, that it won, Putin said after polls closed. The situation is tough and difficult but the people still voted for United Russia, he said on state television. With more than 93 per cent of the votes counted, the United Russia party had 54.3 per cent of votes, securing it at least 343 seats in the 450-member parliament, up from 238 previously, and a constitutional majority, according to results announced Monday morning. It was followed by the Communists and the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party, on 13.5 per cent and 13.2 per cent respectively, and A Just Russia, which received 6.2 per cent, results published by the central election commission showed. Those four partieswhich made up the last parliament and all back the Kremlinwere the only ones to clear the five percent threshold needed to claim a share of the one-half of seats up for grabs. The vote comes as Putins approval ratings remain high at around 80 per cent and authorities appear to be banking on trouble-free presidential elections in two years. Results indicated that liberal opposition groups would not make it into parliament, with neither the Yabloko party, nor the Parnas party of former prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov and assassinated Putin critic Boris Nemtsov, having secured enough votes to win a seat. Im upset by such a low turnout at these polls. Russians are letting go possibly the last chance to change the authorities democratically, Kasyanov said after the vote ended. With only a fraction of the votes counted, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev confidently said that his party would end up with an absolute majority in the Duma. Though the overall tally for United Russia was higher than the 49 per cent it claimed in 2011, participation was low, particularly in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Only 47.8 of voters cast their ballots, against 60 per cent in 2011, electoral officials said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Students at the Xilinhaote Middle School (Inner Mongolia) are prohibited from taking part in religious activities inside and outside schools, on pain of expulsion. Parents are prohibited from educating children about religion. The country-wide directive was issued during the coronavirus crisis. Rome (AsiaNews) A directive sent to Middle School no. 6 in Xilinhaote (Inner Mongolia) says that students are banned from taking part in religious activities in or outside their school; parents are prohibited from educating their children about religion; and no religious organisation can operate in schools. AsiaNews obtained a copy of the directive, which includes an open threat. Failure to obey restrictions will be followed by necessary steps taken against students, parents and noncompliant teachers, such as expulsion of children and teachers from school. The directive demands that parents and students sign it. Interestingly, the document is dated 25 March 2020, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. In China, wiping out the "virus" of religion has become one of the most important tasks of the Chinese Communist Party. A year ago, President Xi Jinping, in a major speech, urged teachers to reject "misconceptions and ideologies," including religious ideas. The struggle is above all against Christianity, branded as "western" and therefore despised in the name of patriotic nationalism. This kind of material has been circulated in other Chinese provinces. Meant to counter the religious revival in society and interest shown by young people in Christianity, the new regulations on religious activities ban faith-based education for young people under 18. Regarding the participation of students at the Xilinhaote Middle School n.6 Letter to parents: In order to uphold the socialist educational line and maintain order in school education, we inform you that in accordance with the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, the Law on the Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, the Law on Education of the People's Republic of China and the rules regarding the Party, different ethnic groups, religion and educational policies, as well as taking into consideration the reality of schools: the socialist school uses Marxism, Mao's thoughts, Deng Xiaoping's theories, and Xi Jinping's ideas on socialism for a new era to educate students, transmit scientific-cultural knowledge, train new socialists who have great aspirations and moral integrity, acculturated and with a strong sense of discipline, banning all forms of religious activity. No religious organisation can build or establish religious facilities within schools. It is strictly forbidden to induce students to engage in religious activities. It is forbidden to force or induce students to participate in religious activities. Should the aforementioned occur, teachers, students and other individual social organisations must report them to local authorities and the relevant agencies, which will take the necessary steps in accordance with the laws and regulations in place. Students are the builders and heirs of socialism, so they are required to voluntarily accept patriotic, collective and communist ideologies, to form a scientific point of view of the world and life. Therefore, during their schooling, students can neither participate in religious activities, legal or otherwise, nor wear religious signs. Parents or others must not force students to profess a religion or participate in religious activities. Schools have a duty to educate students who take part in religious activities. Those who do not change their attitude will be handed over to the relevant agencies for appropriate action. Parents and schools must work closely together, respect and implement the aforementioned principles, fight against the infiltration and intrusion of religion in education, ensuring healthy growth for teenage students. Parents signature Students signature Xilinhaote, 25 March 2020 OIC decries Israeli annexation plan in West Bank as 'serious escalation' Iran Press TV Thursday, 11 June 2020 4:55 AM The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has warned against the Israeli regime's controversial plan to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank, saying such a move will mark a "serious escalation" that threatens the so-called peace process on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The looming annexation plan amounts to "an official declaration by Israel of revocation of all its signed agreements a termination of the negotiated solution, a serious escalation of its colonial policies and measures, a flagrant aggression on the historical, legal and political rights of the Palestinian people, and a blatant violation of the principles and standards of international law, the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions," the OIC said in a statement released late on Wednesday. The organization also held the Tel Aviv regime fully responsible for the consequences of its colonial policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, including its annexation plans. The OIC then called on the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) as well as other international organizations and bodies to counter Israel's expansionist policies, and condemn any party that supports such hostile steps in any way. It underlined the right of the State of Palestine to exercise sovereignty over all lands that the Israeli regime has occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem al-Quds. The OIC called on all member states to take necessary political, legal and economic measures against Israel's plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, and adopt deterrent measures against states, officials and individuals that support such a move in violation of international law and UN resolutions on the issue of Palestine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was sworn into office for another term on May 17, has set July 1 for the start of cabinet discussions on extending Israeli "sovereignty" over settlements in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley. In response to Israel's decision, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared the end of all agreements signed with Israel and the United States on May 19. Palestine urges Germany to pressure Israel Separately, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh urged Germany, an ally of Tel Aviv, to pressure the Israeli regime into abandoning its annexation plans. Shtayyeh described his trilateral online meeting with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi as "very important," stating it "focused on the Israeli annexation plans." "We explained our total opposition to annexation because it is a serious threat to the establishment of the Palestinian state, a clear violation of the international law and also a threat to the regional security," he noted. The Palestinian side has left the door open to serious and real political negotiations based on international law, Shtayyeh highlighted. Maas, for his part, reiterated Germany's rejection of the Israeli annexation plans, saying the move violates international law and harms the so-called two-state solution that Berlin backs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DP World (the United Arab Emirates), with a global network of 123 business units in 54 countries, has announced the completion of its acquisition of a 51% stake in TIS Container Terminal in the Port of Yuzhny, Ukraine. The announcement was posted on the official website of DP World on Thursday. This followed satisfaction of specific conditions including confirmation of regulatory approval from the relevant government authorities. "This acquisition establishes DP World in a highly attractive market, we look forwar to contributing our experience, expertise and resources to the continued development and growth of the TIS container terminal. In so doing, we will look to build on and expand the commercial success that TIS Container terminal has achieved," Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said. The company said that this project will be DP World's second partnership with TIS shareholders, the first being our very successful partnership in the P&O Maritime Ukraine which provides harbour towage services in the principal Black Sea ports in the Ukraine. "Today is the very day that DP World closed the acquisition of 51% of TIS Container Terminal Ukraine (one of the six shipping terminals we operate). We entered the family of 123 DP World companies in 54 countries on six continents. It is in the top five of the largest port operators in the world," Andriy Stavnitser, co-owner of the TIS terminal group, wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday evening. He also said that Head of the joint towing project of DP World and P&O Maritime Ukraine Mykhailo Sokolov will be responsible for the integration of new co-owners into the company. "Furthermore, this acquisition helps make Ukraine's trade more resilient during challenging economic times and gives DP World the potential to offer a unique Black Sea product by linking its terminals in Constanta and Yarimca with TIS Container Terminal using its Unifeeder network. This suite of trade enabling solutions, coupled with our technology to remove inefficiencies in the supply chain, offers cargo owners the ability to deploy their cargo strategically across essential trade lanes that serve Eastern European markets and complement DP World's existing portfolio in Romania and Turkey," DP World said. Under the terms of agreement, DP World has acquired a majority stake and will take control of the terminal operations going forward. "DP World will be a key player in the region and will look to expand the catchment of the terminal using its market leading rail connectivity," the company said. Mediate.com announced today that Colin Rule has been named President and Chief Executive Officer. Jim Melamed, the companys co-founder and CEO, will become chair of the board and general counsel. Rule returns to Mediate.com where he served as General Manager in 1999. Rule spun his company OnlineResolution out of Mediate.com in 2000, creating one of the worlds first ODR providers. In 2003 Rule became the first director of ODR for eBay and PayPal. In 2011 he co-founded Modria.com, where he was CEO and COO. Tyler Technologies acquired Modria in 2017, and Rule became Tylers first vice president of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR). I am very excited to be re-joining Mediate.com, said Rule. Mediate is the most important dispute resolution website on the internet with a deep library of mediation resources and a vibrant community of mediators, so it is uniquely positioned to lead the global effort to apply technology to the task of resolving disputes. I am excited to work with the Mediate.com team to evolve the practice of mediation over the next decade and to expand access to resolutions around the world. As director of ODR at eBay and PayPal, Rule led a worldwide team that resolved more than 400 million cross-border disputes over seven years. At Modria, Rule led the development of the ODR platform used by the American Arbitration Association to manage its largest caseload, eventually growing the company to resolve millions of disputes in government, insurance, eCommerce, and the courts. At Tyler Technologies, Rule helped to launch court ODR systems across the United States, including counties in Georgia, Texas, California, Florida, New Mexico, Ohio, and Nevada. Colin is the right leader for Mediate.com, said Jim Melamed, Mediate.com co-founder and CEO since it launched in 1996. There is only one person on this planet that I wanted to take over the leadership of Mediate.com, and that is Colin Rule. In addition to his having become the worlds leading expert and voice for ODR, Colin is, quite simply, a prince of a person. Colins intelligence, passion, integrity and generosity make him the perfect choice to lead RIS and Mediate.com going forward. While Covid-19 has rather suddenly driven nearly all dispute resolution online, seemingly overnight, Mediate.com has been preparing for this moment for over 25 years. For Mediate.com to now have Colin Rule leading our way forward is a blessing both for our company and for the world. Rule is the author of Online Dispute Resolution for Business, published by Jossey-Bass in 2002, and The New Handshake: Online Dispute Resolution and the Future of Consumer Protection, published by the American Bar Association in 2017. He received the first Frank Sander Award for Innovation in ADR from the American Bar Association in 2020 and the Mary Parker Follett Award from the Association for Conflict Resolution in 2013. About Resourceful Internet Solutions Resourceful Internet Solutions, Inc. (RIS) is the leading online technology provider to the dispute resolution industry. Founded by Jim Melamed and John Helie in 1995, RIS provides proven online technologies for mediation, ombuds and online dispute resolution programs. In addition to Mediate.com, RIS hosts leading websites and professional directories, including Arbitrate.com, OnlineMediators.com, OnlineArbitrators.com, and many other dispute resolution resources. RIS also offers the dispute resolution industrys leading case management system at CaseloadManager.com, in use by the IMF, ICANN, NASA, the International Red Cross, and several statewide dispute resolution programs. To learn more, visit http://www.resourceful.net. You worked with Spike Lee several times quite a few years ago. How did you end up coming back together for this project? Simple. Spike called me. We had not spoken in quite a few years. And Spike called and asked me to read [the script] and let him know what I thought. Youve probably heard by now that I did indeed have reservations about the Trumpian aspect of the character. Yes. I told Spike I was really having a hard time with that aspect. I asked Spike if we could make Paul conservative or even an archconservative without specifically being Trumpian. Spike said let me think about it. Three or four days later, [he] said he really needed the character to be specifically a Trumpite. I then said give me a few days with the script. I think I read it two more times, my lady read it, and it was clear to me that Paul was the part I needed to play. I was able to rationalize in my head how and why Paul could have become a Trump supporter. And how did you do that? Paul is a man who had been betrayed in his personal life, betrayed by his country in the manner in which many, many Vietnam vets were abandoned, essentially, by their own country. Added to that, the various betrayals and abandonments and the loss that I have experienced in my personal life led me to conclude that Paul is a man who is deeply vulnerable to being caught up in this individual saying, I can make it better. Now, I am 3,000 percent not a supporter of Trump, but all I had to do was get to a point where I could empathize with how a person could arrive at that place. And once I did that, I was fine. The woman who beat up her 2-year-old daughter and called her a prostitute after she caught a man raping her has been sent to a rehabilitation center for mentally challenged people by the Lagos state government and her two children taken away from her. Sharing a followup on the case, the Lagos State government shared the update on her Twitter page. Explaining the measures taken by the Ministry which led to the rescue of the mother and two children, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Yewande Falugba stated that as soon as the Ministry became aware of the incident, immediate action was taken. The children were rescued at Oniru beach, where they lived with their mother, on Sunday, 7th of June 2020, through a combined effort of the Child Protection Unit of Ministry, Police Officers, and the reporter who initially challenged the woman at Idumota. Advertisement READ ALSO Nigerian Mother Blames Her 2-Year-Old Daughter, Calls Her Ashawo After Being Raped (Video) She said the two children believed to have been abused, were taken for medical examination and treatment, adding that they are currently placed in one of the government-approved orphanages in the State for adequate care pending completion of investigations into the matter. She added that the mother of the two children, who was discovered to be mentally imbalanced, has since been taken to the State-owned rehabilitation center for mentally challenged persons. See Post Here: Lagos State Government on Wednesday disclosed that it rescued a mother and two children, male and female, who were allegedly sexually abused by an unidentified man in Idumota area of the State@jidesanwoolu @lagosmysd #LASG #ForAGreaterLagos pic.twitter.com/qzVHfpnMZo The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) June 12, 2020 He maintained that despite the increasing rate of rape cases of minors in some quarters across the State, the government remains unrelenting in its efforts to put an end to the vile act and prevent future occurrences@jidesanwoolu @lagosmysd #LASG #ForAGreaterLagos The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) June 12, 2020 The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Yewande Falugba stated that as soon as the Ministry became aware of the incident, immediate action was embarked upon to rescue the children at Oniru beach, where they lived with their mother, on Sunday, 7th of June 2020#LASG #ForAGreaterLagos The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) June 12, 2020 Despite sending out a message through their social media channels in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, Starbucks has banned all of their employees from wearing any clothing or accessories in support of the organization. Like many major corporations, Starbucks recently stood in solidarity with BLM by sharing a message on social media about their commitment to change the landscape of racism in the United States. "Black lives matter," the company tweeted last Thursday (June 4th). "We are committed to being a part of change." https://twitter.com/_/status/1268513794172411905 However, according to an internal memo sent to all staff, Starbucks has forbidden employees from wearing T-shirts, pins, or anything that makes any mention of Black Lives Matter. In the memo, which was obtained by BuzzFeed News, the company acknowledges that some of their employees have been inquiring about wearing BLM gear at work. They reiterate that their dress code policy states that employees may wear a pin or button that identifies [their] support for a particular labor organization unless it interferes with Starbucks public image or advocates a political, religious, or personal issue. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images They specifically state that "clothing and accessories highlighting Black Lives Matter do not currently adhere to policy because there are agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the Black Lives Matter movement - and in certain circumstances, intentionally repurpose them to amplify divisiveness. In short, garments and accessories supporting BLM could incite violence if its message is misconstrued, Starbucks says. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Many employees were upset and confused by this bulletin, especially since Starbucks allows and often encourages them to wear pins in support of causes like LGBTQ+ rights. Starbucks LGBTQ+ partners wear LGBTQ+ pins and shirts, that also could incite and create violent experiences amongst partners and customers, a Black transgender Starbucks employee told BuzzFeed. We have partners who experienced harassment and transphobia/homophobia for wearing their pins and shirts, and Starbucks still stands behind them. A spokesperson from Starbucks backed the memo's authenticity, and indicated that, "we respect all of our partners opinions and beliefs, and encourage them to bring their whole selves to work while adhering to our dress code policy." The sitter continued talking to the officer. Hes 14 no, 13, she told him, flustered. He has autism. She said shed informed the store as well. When the officer finished with his questions, he asked the store managers who were waiting in the background if they felt a case should be pursued. There was a long silence as they mulled it over. I wont list the many black people, including children, who have been killed at the hands of self-described vigilantes or police officers its all the news has been talking about since George Floyds killing in Minneapolis. That list feels interminable, especially when developmentally disabled people are added to it. Last year, an off-duty police officer shot and killed a developmentally disabled man, and wounded his parents, in a California Costco. A few years earlier, Charles Kinsey, a black health care aide, was shot in the leg by the police while trying to help a 26-year-old with autism, Arnaldo Rios Soto. In that case, the policeman missed his target the bullet was intended for the young autistic man who sat in the street playing with his toy truck. The fact that our sitter is white is never lost on me when I think of that day at Target, and I suspect it offered some layer of protection for my children. The managers finally told the police officer to just let them go, but before our tearful sitter got back into the car, the officer checked in to see how she was doing. I have often wondered why he didnt also ask about my children, as if they werent vulnerable or fragile, as if a part of their innocence hadnt been shattered, as if it were impossible for terror to simmer beneath their young skin. That afternoon, after I heard what had happened, I watched my older son play one of his original compositions over and over again on the piano, searching for residual cracks in his being. He is sensitive, perhaps more so than neurotypical folks. He can hear sounds at decibels most humans cant, and his deepest feelings operate on frequencies many cant detect. Before bed, I hugged him as long as he needed. I cuddled my 10-year old as he shared with me how scared he was for his brother, how there were parts he couldnt describe because he was too afraid to watch, how it made him nervous to see his sitter cry. Reverend Robert Seddoh, Chairman for the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region has said it would be difficult for private schools in the District to reopen for final year students to prepare for their final examinations. He said almost all 42 private schools in the District needed to be assisted financially to pay the three months salary arrears owed to staff and also put COVID-19 precautionary measures in place before reopening. Rev. Seddoh in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said their teachers insisted that until salary arrears were paid and COVID-19 preventive measures put in place, it would be difficult for them to return to school. He noted that most students in the District were helping their parents in the market during the closure of schools, exposing themselves to the virus and that, we have to rethink how we run our dormitory and the canteen system in the various schools before reopening. Rev. Seddoh said, We expect the Government to direct some stimulus package for small scale industries to us so that we can pay our teachers and also make the school environment ready to get the final year students back to school. He said Government also needed to honour its promise of fumigating schools and also provide nose masks for teachers. The South Tongu GNAPS Chairman also sent a distress call to other stakeholders to support private schools in the wake of COVID-19. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo -Addo, in his 10th address to update citizens on the enhanced national response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Sunday, 31st May, announced the partial reopening of schools for finalists from basic to tertiary levels to enable them to complete their programmes. Final-year university students are to report to their universities on 15th June, final-year senior high school students, together with senior high school 2 Gold Track students, on 22 June; and final-year junior high school students on 29 June, the President said. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In San Francisco, Dr. Maura Jones, a doctor at one of the city's largest hospitals located just 15 minutes from the Golden Gate bridge--the site of a massive protest, sees the effects of the pandemic. When her hospital, the University of California-San Francisco, gave doctors of color in her department a day off earlier this month to reflect, grieve and use their time in the best way that they felt, Jones went out with many of her colleagues to join protests against systemic racism and police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's death while in police custody. "Indescribable," Jones said. "I felt hopeful in knowing that so many people felt strongly about this issue to come out and have their voices heard in a pandemic no less." Jones understands the threat of the coronavirus pandemic but feels the threat of racism to her family is greater. I would argue that, yeah I'm a doctor and I encourage you to social distance and I care about coronavirus and I know that it's a real threat, but racism is, to me to my family, the bigger threat right now and it has been for hundreds of years," she said. An ABC News investigation found that black people were arrested at a rate that was five times higher than white people in 2018, after accounting for the demographics of the cities and counties those police departments serve. The investigation also found that In 250 jurisdictions, black people were also 10 times more likely to be arrested than white people. MORE:ABC News analysis of police arrests nationwide reveals stark racial disparity The protests against the disparate ways in which blacks are treated and impacted by law enforcement also come at a time where the coronavirus pandemic is disproportionately affecting communities of color across the country. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report from April highlighted 33% of hospitalized coronavirus patients are black, compared to 18% of the residents in surrounding areas. Story continues African Americans and Latinos are also more likely to know someone who has died of coronavirus disproportionately as well. In a recent ABC News/Ipsos poll, 30% of black adults and 26% of Latino adults in the country say they know a victim of the coronavirus, who died either from the disease or from complications related to the virus. Relatively that number for white adults it is 10%. MORE:Black Americans and Latinos nearly 3 times as likely to know someone who died of COVID-19: POLL In the midst of staggering statistics, health care workers across the country are hitting the streets in solidarity to protest--some right after their shifts, still donned in their scrubs and personal protective equipment. Yvette Courts, a mother and a health care worker at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, joined other doctors and nurses at the protest one recent evening, taking a knee in solidarity with the movement. Courts told ABC News, at the protest, that her son has a right to grow up. "He has a right to grow up, you know? He's okay. This world that we live in is not as cruel and as bad as everybody makes it. I want to live his dreams," Courts said. When Dr. Jasmine Johnson, a maternal-fetal medicine fellow in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, participated in a protest organized by the University of North Carolina Student National Medical Association, where approximately 500 health care workers were in attendance, she wore a mask, her white coat and held up a sign that read "Racism is a pandemic too!" PHOTO: Jasmine Johnson attends a protest in downtown Durham, North Carolina, June 6, 2020. (Nathan Johnson) She feels that the role of the same injustices with police brutality caused by systematic racism are also present in the public health arena. I definitely think it's connected. Were seeing it in pregnancy outcomes and unfortunately seeing it with coronavirus. I think that it took this pandemic for the world to pay attention but this is something that we've been trying to fight for and call attention to for a long time, Johnson said. MORE:2 viruses -- COVID and racism --devastate the black community and threaten America's stability Johnson sees first hand a glaring disparity for women that look like her; the mortality rates for black women during childbirth. According to the CDC, pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births, black women older than 30 was four to five times as high as it was for white women over 30. I'm the only black woman in the Maternal Fetal Medicine Division. So for me, especially in a place where almost 30% of our patients are black, I feel the weight of making sure that the issues of my people are known, said Johnson. Johnson described the protests as a great morale booster for her. As a mother of two black children, Johnson was worried about what the future would look like for them. This moment, around a large group of people marching for one cause, was invigorating for her. "I would say for me, in the personal aspect of being there, it really helped me. As a mother to black children, I started to get really discouraged about the fate of the things in our nation. Seeing all of those people come together for this cause and having the support of the community as we march downtown Durham, it was invigorating for me to feel like things could be changing for the better." Johnson said this moment feels different from recent protests before and referenced the change in the national conversation, conversations amongst her peers while coupled with the coronavirus pandemic. This moment in time, she said, has a different feel than nearly six years ago with the shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Mo. by police. Johnson said that tragedy occurred during her first year of residency at UNC; she said she felt alone then, but now, not as much. When Michael Brown died in Ferguson, that was my first year here and I remember overhearing a patient tell another resident Theyre always rioting, and we didn't talk about it as a department," she said. "We didn't talk about it amongst each other and that makes you feel so isolated and alone. I don't feel alone right now. White coats and black lives: Health care workers say 'racism is a pandemic too' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will now be aware of the possible extent of flooding in Mumbai three days prior to heavy rain events while 12-hour advance warnings will be issued for areas susceptible to flooding across all 24 wards this monsoon. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday inaugurated the integrated flood warning system for Mumbai (iFLOWS-Mumbai), the second one for any urban city in the country so far after Chennai, jointly conceived by various departments of the Union ministry of earth sciences (MoES) and BMC. Apart from forecasting location-specific rainfall across pockets in each ward, the system will allow the civic body to issue alerts for citizens and also evacuate people from low-lying areas in advance before heavy rain events occur. This warning system is a gift (vardaan) to the people of Mumbai. As we deal with a health crisis as well as the recent Cyclone Nisarga, both blood and flood management are equally important, said Thackeray, adding, Over the past 15 years (2005-2020), Mumbai has managed to augment its pumping stations to drain water from low lying areas. The newly launched system will further enhance our efforts to address flooding concerns. BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said early information on flood-prone areas would allow swift diversion of public transport and give BMC enough time to implement mitigation measures. We are launching the project before the monsoon sets in over Mumbai. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) will be providing us with heavy rain warnings three days in advance. The system was developed based on classified and non-classified ward-wise information, elevation levels etc provided by BMC to IMD, said Chahal. As of February 2020, 204 of 273 sites prone to waterlogging were attended to by BMC while remaining 69 sites continue to be unattended due to less manpower owing to Covid-19 pandemic, said a senior official from BMCs storm water drains department. On the day of flooding, we will be getting near real-time information and six-hour warning updates from IMD, giving us enough time to move our machinery towards affected areas. This can be a model for the rest of the country and will help make Mumbai become more resilient, said Chahal. The city faced two major flooding events over the past 15 years. On August 29, 2017, Mumbai witnessed downpour of 315.8 mm rain in a span of just 12 hours that battered the city leading to suspended transport operations and severe waterlogging. It was even worse on July 26, 2005 when torrential showers led to a deluge that killed over 1,000 people when Mumbai had recorded 688 mm rain over a span of 12 hours, and 944mm over 24 hours the highest all time rainfall recorded in the city. These two events are etched in everyones memory, not just in Mumbai but across India. This highly-advanced flood warning system will help ensure that mitigation measures for such disasters are planned and addressed in a systematic manner, said Union health and earth sciences minister Dr Harsh Vardhan. Meanwhile, scientists explained how iFLOWS-Mumbai system comprises seven components. The first module, which is data assimilation, collates weather information from IMD including advance forecasts as well as three to six hour immediate weather updates (Nowcast) and under-water depth of rivers (Mithi, Oshiwara, Poisar, and Dahisar) and lakes across Mumbai. It also takes into account location and elevation data provided by BMC for all 24 wards and develop maps. The second component inundation uses the data to forecast the probability of location wise floods three days in advance. This helps authorities assess the extent of flooding (including heavy rain, storm surge, high tide river bank breach etc.) and areas expected to be inundated. The next three components vulnerability, risks, and decision support system allows the authorities to assess the situation, draw up a plan, and take decisions based on available information. Lastly, the dissemination module ensures swift communication to field officers to implement mitigation measures on ground, said Dr MV Ramana Murthy, director, National Centre for Coastal Research, Chennai. This sophisticated system will be further enhanced with rain information from 160 rain gauges (currently there are 120 rain gauges), and the development of a C-Band Doppler weather radar, which is likely to be installed within the next three to four months, said M Rajeevan, secretary, MoES. Four more X-Band weather radars are expected to be set up next year. Combined with the present infrastructure, this will provide quantum of rain for every 500 metres every 15 minutes, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Technology is playing a greater role in U.S. defense as the country shifts its focus from counter-insurgency to near-peer competition, L3Harris Technologies CEO Bill Brown told CNBC Thursday. "The competition of the future, the war fight of the future, is going to be based on new technology," Brown said in a "Mad Money" interview with Jim Cramer. "We're aggressively leaning into this because technology is really, really going to drive the future." L3Harris, the aerospace and defense giant that formed via a merger between Harris Corporation and L3 Technologies about a year ago, is spending roughly 4% of its revenue on research and development in order to capitalize on the space, Brown explained. L3Harris has about $18 billion in annual revenue. The company bills itself as a technology firm that sells into defense and national security markets. The R&D investment is directed toward actionable intelligence, war-fighter effectiveness and spectrum superiority. L3Harris' portfolio spans military radios, air-traffic-control systems and space hardware. "The threats are becoming higher, greater not lower," Brown said. "You know, we see aggressive actions by China, by Russia, by Iran, by North Korea. Those threats are out there. If anything, they're getting worse." L3Harris is the sixth-largest defense contractor by market value, according to Factset. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies are among the leaders in the space. President Donald Trump in February requested that Congress earmark $740.5 billion for national defense for the forthcoming fiscal year, up from the $738 billion in the current budget. The figure includes $705.4 billion for the Department of Defense. The Trump administration has padded the Pentagon budget since Trump arrived to the White House in 2017. The defense budget for the fiscal year 2020 is $712 billion, about 6% more than the $670 billion approve for 2018. The spending placed an emphasis on the need for nuclear weapons and R&D for hypersonics, 5G, and artificial intelligence. Defense officials have spoken on the need to fend off threats from powers like Russia and China as the country tamps down on conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. When asked if investors should be worried about future defense spending due to the upcoming election in November, Brown said there's no need to be "worried." L3Harris client base, additionally, spans more than 100 countries. "Going against China requires technology. It requires delivering platforms to the fight, and those platforms have to get connected ... across space, airborne, ground, maritime," he explained. "Connecting those platforms means resilient networks, communications links, communication through jamming, ISR capabilities all of the things that are really are in the sweet spot of this company called L3Harris." Shares of L3Harris fell 5% during Thursday's market-wide sell-off. The stock closed at $196.51, within 1% of its stock price at the start of the year. The stock remains about $35 off its February highs. (Natural News) Well, weve seen it ALL now. The Black-hating Democrat leaders went to Party City and bought themselves some Kunta Kinte garb to bow down for the death of a guy who was not African American, but born in Cumberland County, North Carolina. This is beyond pandering, folks. This is highly disrespectful to every black person in the world, including African Americans and Africans, and wait until you hear about the social justice platform of the tribe that actually garners that garb wait for it they sold slaves to white European elitists. So youre telling us that if the next George Floyd happens to be a Native American, that Nancy and Chuck should attend a funeral-like ceremony wearing a full-feathered war bonnet on their heads while carrying a bow with a quiver full of arrows on their back, in a show of unity? Yeah, that works. Are you infuriated yet? Theres more. Maybe Nancy Chocolate Pelosi, Jerry The Nasty Troll Nadler and Chuck racist Schumer (who in 1974 pushed Blacks out of a White neighborhood in Brooklyn) should visit a black church next and put themselves up on their own homemade crucifixes out on the front lawn, with fake Jesus beards and a fat necklace of rosary beads, for that ultimate pandering and public relations effect. That would kill two birds with one stone, pretending to care about Christians and Blacks at the same time. Nancy and Chuck get on their knees and pray they can fool all 48 MILLION Black Americans into voting for socialism (communism) in November This is the complete exploitation of a whole culture in order to launder billions of dollars on a political front while killing millions of black babies through Planned Parenthood abortions, even on the day those babies are born. Look where these white elitist Demoncrats live, in mansions with high fences and guarded gates, do you really think they care anything about George Floyd, police brutality, or any blacks anywhere? The Democrats fought to keep slavery going. They fight now to keep blacks on welfare. They fight to keep autism-causing vaccines mandatory for all children in California. Yes, this is all while Nancy Pelosi owns $20 million worth of real estate spread out over NINE different properties, just like a slave plantation owner pretending to care about her slaves. Even Obama failed, after eight years in office, to write one single crime bill, and he came from the south side of Chicago. Go figure. Obamas legacy is that he let grown, perverted men act like girls and use the little girls room at stores and restaurants nationwide. Thanks Obama. Nancy and Chuck are too lazy to do any research to find out the African garb they wore around their necks symbolizes participation in slavery or maybe they DID know Is it one big joke, making fun of all American Blacks, African Americans, and Africans at the same time? Are they mocking slavery right in the face of the George Floyd spectacle and all the social justice protests? The garb these arrogant, racist Democrats wore actually belongs to the Ashanti tribe of Africa, who sold gold and Black SLAVES (usually their own prisoners of war) to Europeans for guns. Is that what Nancy Pelosi really represents and is praying about, selling Black slaves for guns? So these Democrats are down on one knee (from which they cant even stand back up on their own), and theyre wearing the symbol that represents selling black slaves to elite whites. Nice job. This is supposed to win the black vote in November and remove Trump, who actually does care about all Americans, including Blacks and African Americans. Its really Biden whos the extreme racist, but thats just not exposed on mainstream media. Intelligent rebuttals Listen to an actual African American woman excoriate these pandering white morons and expose their racism and idiocy for what it is: Check out the Hodgetwins rip these poser, shilling, lying, pandering, pathetic Democrat leaders to shreds: Now listen to the brilliant Candace Owens speak directly on how desperate the Left has become to win the Black vote: Tune your internet dial to Abortions.news to find out more about how every single Democrat Senator who ran for the Presidential nomination voted for infanticide, the violent execution of black babies during their pregnant mothers third trimester, including on their day of birth. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com Breitbart.com abortions.news TheBlackSphere.net Morfydd Clark won't return to Britain "for a while" after being stuck in New Zealand amid the coronavirus lockdown. The Welsh actress - who lives in south London - was filming the 'Lord Of The Rings' TV series when the lockdown was introduced and amid ongoing travel restrictions, she is unlikely to return home anytime soon. She said: "I was expected to be back in Britain. But not now. I've been calibrating in my head that I won't be home ... for a while." The actress praised the way in which New Zealand has dealt with the pandemic, saying the government's approach has already proven to be "quite effective". She explained: "[The country] went into lockdown so quickly ... which has been quite effective." Morfydd hopes she might be able to return home to London later in the year. But the actress - who has been in New Zealand since October - admitted she's loved the experience of shooting the TV series. She shared: "Every day your jaw drops on the floor again." Morfydd also revealed she previously relished the experience of working with Tilda Swinton on the Armando Iannucci-directed 'The Personal History of David Copperfield'. Recalling her time on set, Morfydd told the Daily Mail newspaper's Baz Bamigboye: "My first day on the film I didn't have any lines and just had to scream while pretending to give birth. "So I screamed. Then I looked up and there were Tilda and Dev [Patel, who plays David as a grown-up], looking down at me." What's more, Morfydd admitted to being overcome with excitement during her first meeting with the director. She recalled telling him: "I can't believe I'm even meeting you! And you're offering me a job." Nadia Cohen, widow of Eli Cohen, shows a photograph of herself with her late husband. By Lenore Richman Roland Thirty-two years ago, I watched "The Impossible Spy," a 90-minute film, released on HBO On Demand. It introduced to the Western world the real story of Eli Cohen, an Israeli hero, who had become a legend in the Mideast. An extraordinary Israeli spy from 1961-1965, he infiltrated the high command of Syria's socialist Ba'ath Party and gathered military information that enabled Israel to win the 1967 Six-Day War against Syria, Egypt and Jordan. In 2019, I viewed Netflix's six-episode TV series, "The Spy," also about Cohen, but this story presented him as a James Bon... Its been a lifelong dream for Chieff Bosompra to open his own business. Ever since he was young, he wanted to be a successful business man, but never knew how to go about it. My mother always told me as a Black man you need to work twice as hard for the same thing your Caucasian counterparts get, he said. And at 29, Bosompra has done it. He teamed up with Top Chef Canada semi-finalist and former owner of The Dirty Bird Chicken and Waffles in Kensington Market Adrian Forte. Together, theyve opened up a new burger joint, Aunty Lucys. Serving dishes like the Kumasi burger, named after the capital city of the Ashanti region in southern Ghana, Bosompra is hoping to use this platform to share parts of his culture through food, while simultaneously inspiring Black youth around him to consider entrepreneurship. Seeing Black men reach success just let me know it was possible to break through ceilings and invisible walls society had placed in front of us, Bosompra added. Forte feels that same notion. That entrepreneurial spirit, especially in the restaurant industry can be a challenge, but its something hes up for. Black chefs and businesses have to work twice as hard to get the same recognition from their non-BIPOC counterparts, he said. Its important to provide continual support to Black businesses after racial injustice is no longer a trendy topic or the most popular topic in the news cycle. The challenges that came with opening a business during not only the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in the midst of heated protests against anti-Black racism and police brutality across North America only lit a fire for Bosompra to see his passion through. Aunty Lucys shares space with Duggans Brewery Parkdale, owned by Michael Duggan. Parkdale is the perfect spot for Bosompras new venture as the diverse neighbourhood has welcomed the business with open arms. Within the first two days they sold out their entire menu before closing time, which was even more success than Bosompra had anticipated. Weve been off to an amazing start, he said, adding that it just increases his confidence to strive higher and aim for bigger goals. We want to continue to make amazing beef burgers while shedding light on Ghana and Ghanaian culture in our own way. For Bosompra, the work goes beyond operating a burger joint. It is also about using the platform to promote Black artists. For example, Bosompra has asked Kazeem Kuteyi, founder of artist collective New Currency, to curate a playlist to share with patrons. Its filled with Ghanaian highlife, afrobeats, and some other surprises, Bosompra shared. Now I try to lead by example and do projects and initiatives that people wouldnt expect all while hiring and highlighting Black creatives. Correction June 12, 2020: This article was updated from a previous version that mistakenly stated that Adrian Forte was a Top Chef Canada participant and owner of The Dirty Bird Chicken and Waffles. He was a semi-finalist in Top Chef Canada and is the former owner of The Dirty Bird Chicken and Waffles. Amid all the social distancing, Shannon Peterson knows girls can feel disconnected. So the Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska organization has found a way to connect with girls to help maintain a sense of normalcy. Girl Scouts at Home is a new type of online programming designed to give girls various experiences that include virtual camps, horse lessons, yoga, singalongs and science experiments. To ensure all girls can be involved, membership is not required to participate Girl Scouts at Home programs. Peterson said activities align with the Girl Scout Leadership Experience pillars (STEM, outdoors, life skills, and entrepreneurship). Examples include horse lessons with Dusty Trails of North Platte, interviews with women entrepreneurs, science experiments, and nature and conservation projects. Programs are offered at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. every weekday on Facebook. Past events can be viewed on YouTube. Calendar listings can be found at www.GirlScoutsNebraska.org/programs. There are also free resources for families and troop leaders. With so many in-person activities canceled or on hold right now, summer is going to look really different for girls in Fremont, said Peterson, the marketing director. Because Girl Scouts at Home is available to members and non-members, girls can connect with all their friends through these activities, whether they try STEM experiments, learn a new art technique or go to virtual horse camp together. Girl Scouts, Spirit of Nebraska is hosting online informational open houses for parents. Free virtual troop meetings are being offered for girls interested in giving Girl Scouts a try. Open houses for parents are at 7 p.m. Thursdays. Meetings for girls in kindergarten through third grade are at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, and meetings for fourth- and fifth-graders are at 7 p.m. Mondays. Families can learn more and register for these opportunities at www.GirlScoutsNebraska.org/discovergs. Families are invited to engage in Girl Scouts at Home by visiting www.GirlScoutsNebraska.org/GirlScoutsAtHome Peterson also notes another opportunity for Fremonters. Heres something for all Fremont residents to look forward to: our Soaring Hawk Zip Line Tour at Camp Crossed Arrows near Nickerson will be opening later this summer, Peterson said. Were looking forward to providing some adventure for those who are ready to get outdoors. Juliette Gordon Daisy Low founded Girl Scouts of the USA. Inspired by the work of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of Boy Scouts, she joined the Girl Guide movement in England. Low formed her own group of Girl Guides in England in 1911. Today, Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska is the largest girl-serving organization in the state and has 19,000 members. Nationally, there are 2.5 million girl and adult members. Those wishing to volunteer, reconnect, donate or join, may visit GirlScoutsNebraska.org or call 800-695-6690. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. You are clearly a super-user of NUVO.net. Thats a good thing. It means you depend on independent and local news sources to keep you informed. You are a smart person. Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else. On June 10, Ban Viet Bank and VNG Corporation (VNG) signed a cooperation agreement on the application of the TrueID solution developed by VNG on the banks system. It is the only comprehensive eKYC solution of Vietnam provided to the market at this time, enabling automatically online user identity verification via mobile apps. It was built by VNG engineers on the basis of artificial intelligence technology, face recognition and optical character recognition (ORC). The main features of TrueID are the identification of fake identity documents, information retrieval for OCR documents, facial recognition and real-life identity in selfies. It is a Make-in-Vietnam eKYC solution with the highest level of accuracy and anti-fraud ability provided on the Vietnamese market. All data will be processed and stored at servers of domestic banks, ensuring information security for users. Le Hong Minh, General Director of VNG emphasised that eKYC has been widely deployed and become the standard of banking and finance industries in many countries, including Vietnam. TrueID would help banks manage their users in a smart, accurate, secure and effective way, thereby saving a lot of time for both banks and customers, while increasing reliability for banking services and markedly improving user experience, he added. In fact, TrueID has been tested and applied on large and diverse data sets of ZaloPay e-wallet since 2018. TrueID was fully developed by a team of Vietnamese experts and engineers at VNG, including those who have many years of experience working in Silicon Valley in the field of software and artificial intelligence, Minh informed. Le Van Be Muoi, Deputy General Director of Ban Viet Bank said that as the first bank in the Vietnamese banking system to deploy TrueID, Ban Viet hopes to contribute to facilitating customers in using online banking services. VNG's True ID solution will help to shorten the process of providing products and services to customers, such as opening an online payment account, card services and electronic banking services. On June 9, New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster announced that Armed Response Teams (ARTs) would not be made permanent, following a six-month trial that ended in April. Costers announcement follows protests by thousands of people on June 1 in all major New Zealand cities as part of the global demonstrations over the US police murder of George Floyd. Opposition to the ARTs was a significant factor fuelling the local events. Police also received thousands of emails opposing the ARTs and tens of thousands of people expressed their opposition on social media. The decision represents a temporary retreat by the police, which has long been seeking to equip all frontline officers with guns. Efforts to militarise the police will continue as the ruling elite, like its counterparts internationally, prepares to confront growing opposition to social inequality and war. New Zealand is one of a handful of countries where officers do not carry guns by default, although they are in police vehicles, and officers frequently carry tasers (introduced by the previous Labour Party government in 2008). There is also a heavily-armed Police Armed Offenders Squad, which is regularly called out. The Labour Party-led government exploited the March 15, 2019 Christchurch massacre as a pretext to test the ARTs in three working-class areas: Christchurch, Waikato and Counties Manukau in South Auckland. Then-Police Commissioner Mike Bush declared that the operating environment has changed, particularly since March 15. Armed police would not have prevented the terrorist attack, in which fascist gunman Brenton Tarrant killed 51 people and wounded 49. In fact, Tarrant was able to carry out his atrocity because police in Australia and New Zealand ignored multiple warnings about neo-Nazi threats against Muslims, and dismissed reports about the danger posed by Tarrant. When the ART trial began, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it did not constitute routine arming, something she totally opposed. She claimed the ARTs were specialised units for dealing with armed offenders. These assurances were completely hollow. In the first five weeks of the trial, according to Radio NZ, the new teams were deployed 75 times a day more deployments per week than the Armed Offenders Squads had in an entire year. Newshub reported on May 30 that during the first three months the ARTs were used 339 times for bail checks, 224 times for basic enquiries, 223 times for suspicious activity and 43 times for burglar alarms. The armed officers were used 1,406 times for traffic stops. Armed incidents made up less than 3 percent of those attended by armed officers. These figures represent only a fraction of the incidents attended by the ARTs. Radio NZ reported on June 5 that during the first two months data was collected for just 17 percent of callouts. An internal police document from December 2019 referred to a general under-reporting of deployment activity and selective reporting practices across each district. Auckland University statistician Thomas Lumley commented that selective reporting completely undermines the trial. Officers may have filled out paperwork only for incidents where they felt that having armed police there was helpful. The trial followed a sharp increase in police violence. From 2007 to 2017, police shot 35 people, more than in the previous 40 years. In the seven months from December 2019 to May 2020, cops have shot four people dead. Of those shot in the past 10 years (fatal and non-fatal), two thirds were Maori or Pacific Islanders. These groups, which make up about 24 percent of the population, are over-represented in the poor and the working-class suburbs where police resources are concentrated. A survey of 1,155 Maori and Pacific people by ActionStation, published in April, found that 85 percent opposed the ART trial and 78 percent had experienced or witnessed police acting with bias or racism. Opposition was also expressed in support for the #ArmsDownNZ hashtag, which was tweeted thousands of times following the murder of George Floyd. Healthcare workers were among those voicing concerns. Chris Poynter wrote: I am an Intensive Care Specialist and have only dealt with a handful of gunshot wounds in 15 years in NZ ICUs. Why would we want to change that now? Psychologist Samuel Clack tweeted: Police brutality is a mental health issue too. People with serious mental illness are 16x more likely to be killed by the police. Police are frequently the first point of contact for vulnerable people in distress. We need to protect our communities. Commissioner Coster told Stuff the ARTs were scrapped because its been clear to me that there has not been acceptance of this as an appropriate style of policing in New Zealand. Police had received 4,000 letters in the last week alone opposing the units. The working class should be warned: the backdown over the ARTs does not signal an end to the militarisation of the police. With an election coming up in September, the governing coalition of Labour, the Greens and NZ First, apparently thought it politically unwise to introduce armed units at this point, amid the worldwide outrage over police violence. In an open letter to Coster, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson and justice spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman said the ARTs could lead to dangerous, military-style policing, which would impact low socio-economic and predominantly brown communities. The government, however, has already significantly strengthened the police, as well as the military and intelligence agencies. An extra 1,800 front-line officers have been recruited, and police training programs in schools have been expanded. Police Minister Stuart Nash has insisted that decisions about whether police should carry guns are operational matters, which do not require any special authorisation from the government. This means the Police Commissioner can still order a general arming at any time. Coster told Radio NZ on June 10 that he was considering giving officers rubber bullets. These have been used against peaceful protesters in the US, causing serious injuries. The New Zealand state clearly anticipates a similar eruption of mass protests, as well as strikes in opposition to rapidly increasing unemployment, poverty and inequality. To prop up capitalism, the ruling elite is preparing to forcibly suppress such a movement of the working class. A vegetation fire spanning more than 5,000 acres in Sacramento County was 65% contained as of Saturday morning, officials said. There were no reported injuries or structures damaged in the blaze that broke out Friday northeast of Elk Grove, Cal Fire officials said. Air North is moving its flight dispatch centre to Yukon, meaning it will operate solely out of the North. The new flight dispatch office will be able to more effectively route aircraft, which could increase the number of flight paths available allowing pilots to fly faster and with less turbulence, said a Monday news release from Air North. Air North began operating in 2002 and has been contracting out its flight dispatch service to a company based in Calgary, Atla. Joe Sparling, president and CEO of Air North, said the company had to outsource the work to Alberta because he didn't know of any qualified flight dispatchers in the territories. "It's something that we wanted to bring in house, bring those jobs up to the Yukon," Sparling said. Philippe Morin/CBC Air North's flight dispatch centre will begin operating on June 15. Sparling said having the new flight dispatch department in Whitehorse will create six to eight new jobs in the Yukon. Air North has also been training it's flight personnel to make them qualified flight dispatchers. Becoming a flight dispatcher involves passing an exam with Transport Canada, Sparling said. "You don't need to know how to fly the airplane, but you need to know a lot of the other stuff associated with operating the flight," he said, adding that the qualifications for a flight dispatcher are similar to those of a pilot. Flight dispatchers consult with the flight crew and sign off on plane departures and advise on rerouting flights. Air North is Yukon's primary airline and employs more than 400 people. Many Yukoners are Air North shareholders. we Begin our tour to the most beautiful churches in Switzerland, in the 8. Century. At the time, so the legend tells, no Less to Mustair have donated as Charles the Great, in the Val a monastery. Today's plant of the Benedictine monastery of St. Johann GR, however, is a conglomerate of different architectural styles; Unesco world heritage Status, came to the Abbey for its original frescoes from the early years, no Church to know such a complete painting from the early middle ages. Anyone who takes the time to let the Church and the frescoes on the act, too, can feel still today, the inwardness of medieval religiosity. This also applies to the small Romanesque Church in Rougemont, VD, near Gstaad, at the other end of Switzerland. Romanesque Church buildings in this country there is some (for example, the impressive Basel Cathedral), the small village Church of Saint-Nicolas on the site of Chateau d'oex is a particularly beautiful example. The small Church consists of bare, sand-colored stones, only adorned with a few paintings. Concentration on the Essentials is the motto here. The most beautiful Gothic Cathedral in Lausanne During the Romanesque churches act in their characteristic style rather thick-set, seeks to the subsequent Gothic style from the 13th century. Century in the height. Improved construction allows for high, light-flooded spaces, want to lead the people to God. The finest example of a Gothic Cathedral in Switzerland, in Lausanne. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame, with its slender pointed arches is Gothic in its most beautiful Form. Was consecrated in the house of God by the way, in the year 1275, in the presence of Pope Gregory X. and Rudolf I. of Habsburg high visit. According to the Gothic Baroque came The most famous Church buildings in all of Europe emerged in the Gothic style (Notre-Dame in Paris, Cologne Cathedral), the next major step in the development in art and architecture (if we will skip a few intermediate steps nonchalantly), the famous works and left behind, is the Baroque (17. and 18. Century). In Switzerland, for example, has buildings of Solothurn, a large density of Baroque. The first sacred, so religious Baroque building in Switzerland, on the Shores of lake Lucerne in Lucerne close to the chapel bridge, the Jesuit Church St. Franz Xaver, which is dedicated to the city patron. Typical of the Baroque stucco decorations, gilding and opulent ceiling dominate painting the interior. The Baroque tree, were the builders also harmonious Proportions. The room itself was a work of art. Other examples are the Abbey Church in St. Gallen, and the pilgrimage Church in Einsiedeln are. However, the Baroque Ostentation is not for everyone it is also a mediator goes. more Modern churches Only a few kilometers away you can enjoy a completely different kind of Church experience. The Pius Church (1960s) in the small village of Meggen resembles from the outside a gym offers in the interior, but the most beautiful color play of Switzerland. The cubic building is a steel construction that is covered with three inches of thin marble plates, through which the light shines. at The end of our Church Tour through Switzerland and the centuries, we still make a detour to the municipality of Heremence, VS, in the vicinity of morals. Here the architect and sculptor, Walter Maria Forderer has realized one of his many recognizable churches (1971). A construction made of pure concrete, the inserts due to its cool stone effect beautifully in the mountain landscape. view home where Switzerland is the most beautiful This year, the most trips abroad as a result of the Corona-pandemic into the water. Now holidays are popular in the home. But everything is only half bad after all, Switzerland has countless beautiful spots! VIEWS presented in the section views of the home daily of the best places to Travel, hike, Explore, Enjoy and Experience. Let yourself be inspired and enjoy a vacation in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Updated Date: 12 June 2020, 08:47 Hair salons and barbershops will be able reopen on Friday in Cumberland and York counties as those counties move into the green phase. They can open at 50 percent occupancy and appointments are required. The must also follow the states COVID-19 business guidance. Other counties moving into the green phase on Friday include: Adams, Beaver, Carbon, Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Northumberland, Union, Wayne and Wyoming counties. We have a short list below of some of the barbershops and salons that will reopen soon. If you are a barbershop or salon owner or manager in Cumberland or York counties and would like to have your establishment added to the list feel free to e-mail the name of the business, address, hours, when you plan to reopen and any other pertinent details from a business e-mail address to business@pennlive.com. Please place salon or barbershop in the subject line. Here is our list: 5th Avenue Salon 1911 W. Trindle Road, Suite 4, South Middleton Township The salon reopened on Friday and began reaching out to clients on Sunday to schedule appointments. A Roland Salon Studio 516 Bridge St., New Cumberland The salon announced on its website that it is reaching out to clients in the order in which appointments were scheduled pre-pandemic. The salon said on its Facebook page that it will be working over the upcoming weeks to prepare for its reopening and for rescheduling. It is working at 50 percent capacity. DiDi & Smiling Johns 119 S. Duke St., York The shop will open for barber clients by appointment only on June 29. The shop will reopen for stylist clients by appointment only and clients will start to hear from the salon about setting up an appointment but will start with those clients who had appointments booked during the quarantine, the shop said on its Facebook page. Great Clips 5230 Simpson Ferry Road, Lower Allen Township The barbershop will reopen on Friday and will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Great Clips 6391 Carlisle Pike, Hampden Township The barbershop will reopen on Friday and will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Jennys Full Service Salon & Boutique 4500 Gettysburg Road, Lower Allen Township The salon will open on Friday. It began rescheduling appointments earlier this week. Midtown Hair Company 2300 Industrial Highway, East York The salon is reopening at 50 percent capacity on June 12. Moda Salon 56 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg The salon will reopen on Friday and announced that it will call everyone that was previously scheduled for an appointment. Polished Salon, Spa & Wellness 1200 Market St., Lemoyne Polished has reopened and has contacted clients to reschedule appointments. Red Salon 1430 Saxton Way, Lower Allen Township The salon will reopen on Friday and will be contacting clients to schedule appointments. Roots, a hair salon 244 S. 17th St., Camp Hill The salon will reopen on Friday and will be contacting clients to set up an appointment. Sports Clips 6520 Carlisle Pike, Silver Spring Township The shop will reopen Friday and will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. A face mask will be required. Clients should check in online at SportClips.com or on the app. Sports Clips 10 Noble Blvd., 2C, Carlisle The store will open Friday and will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. A face mask will be required. Clients should check in online at SportClips.com or on the app. Vada Salon Studios 1847 Center St. in East Pennsboro Township Vada Salon Studios will reopen on Friday. Vada Salon Studios is a co-working salon space that includes Studio 4, Shear Action, J. Willow Hair Studio, Bella Vita Beauty Lounge, and B.E. Refined Studio. Clients are asked to reach out to their stylist. --Business Buzz --Sign up for PennLives newsletters Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like PennLives business page on Facebook at @PennLiveBusiness But Trumps intervention in one of the most significant parts of the discussion whether to change the names of the 10 Army bases named after Confederate officers who fought to preserve slavery has left military officials unclear on how to proceed, according to six defense officials familiar with the issue. Again, some of them said, the president has dragged an institution that prides itself on remaining apolitical into a heated partisan and cultural fight. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mardika Parama (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 07:58 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde19468 1 Business hospitality-industry,Hotel,tourism-industry,Marriott,Westin-Hotels-and-Resorts,COVID-19,Tourism-and-Creative-Economy-Ministry,hygiene Free Hospitality industry players are focusing on strengthening their online public relations (PR) campaigns to maintain their relations with customers in the hopes of rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to government and company officials. Global hotel chain Marriotts property in Bali, Westin Nusa Dua, for instance, has been actively conducting online campaigns through its website and social media accounts despite the coronavirus outbreak in a bid to stay connected with its customers, the propertys communications director, Dewi Anggraini, said. PR campaigns during a crisis are essential for companies, she said during an online discussion on Wednesday. We have to stay connected with our audience while also promoting a positive message and position ourselves as their partner through this trying time. The pandemic has hit the tourist industry hard with people staying at home to contain the virus spread. Foreign tourist visits to Indonesia plunged 87.44 percent year-on-year (yoy) to 160,000 visitors in April, a level unseen in the countrys history, as physical distancing and lockdown measures are imposed throughout around the world. As a result, 1,642 hotels and 353 restaurants had shut their businesses down, the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) reported in late April. The association also revealed that 180 tourist destinations and 232 tourist villages across Indonesia had been temporarily closed. Dewi said her companys online campaigns through social media were a low-cost investment to build up engagement with the companys audience while also delivering information on how the company was improving its hygiene standards to attract potential customers. Westin Nusa Duas social media pages run weekly online events, such as home workout programs, yoga activities and cooking shows, to attract audiences. Besides maintaining relations with travel-goers, Dewi said the property was also keeping in touch with the business sectors to promote their meetings and conference products, which also heavily focused on cleanliness. Since the pandemic began, weve been in close contact with our corporate partners. And from time to time, we also inform them about our new packages so that they remain our partner when the new normal begins, she said. We are also informing our audiences on our preparations to face the new normal, which heavily emphasizes the CHS [cleanliness, health and safety]. According to research released by mobile travel application Tripadvisor, 86 percent of surveyed consumers believed that cleanliness was a crucial aspect when selecting accommodation after post-pandemic. The research also show that 84 percent of consumers said cleanliness or sanitization certificates were important when booking a travel experience while 79 percent said it was important to publicly display compliance with government safety standards. Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry spokesperson Agustini Rahayu said during the discussion that the government was vying to regain the publics confidence in the Indonesian travel industry by actively promoting the CHS program. Public information regarding the governments efforts to [revive] the tourism sector is crucial, she said. To gain the publics confidence we have prepared content regarding the CHS program to be published through digital media, print media and out-of-home advertising. President Joko Jokowi Widodo called on the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry in late May to prepare special strategies to revive domestic tourism in regions safe from COVID-19 for the transition to the so-called new normal. However, he asked the ministry not to rush to open tourist areas, urging it to gradually identify areas that were ready based on COVID-19 basic reproduction rates. Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Wishnutama Kusubandio said his ministry had prepared standard operating procedures for various sectors in tourism and the creative economy. We are synchronizing the plan with other ministries, institutions and task forces, Wishnutama said in late May. Critics say the government could use proposed legislation to crack down on dissent. Activists hold placards while take part in a rainy protest against anti-terror legislation at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, Philippines, June 12, 2020. Hundreds of Philippine activists converged on a Metro Manila campus amid stormy weather Friday to protest against counter-terrorism legislation that they said could instead be used to curtail basic freedoms and stifle criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte. Both houses of Congress have passed the anti-terror bill, which is awaiting the presidents signature in order to be enacted. Analysts said that he would likely sign off on the new law before he delivers his annual address before Congress in July. On Friday, students, rights activists and other groups trooped in the rain to the University of the Philippines in Quezon City to rally against the bill, which seeks to amend provisions of the countrys Human Security Act and give security forces more teeth in battling militants, including Muslim extremist groups such as Abu Sayyaf that are largely concentrated in the south. The protesters in Quezon City chanted anti-government slogans and wore colorful get ups. Some did not mind getting drenched by torrential rain. One of them, a wheel-chair bound student, smiled wanly as she carried a miniature Philippine flag. Let her pass, let her pass, said a protester who donned a mask depicting Duterte as a sad-faced clown. The police cant stop us. You have the top clown, he said, pointing to his mask. An activist addresses a rally against anti-terror legislation in Manila, June 12, 2020. [Luis Liwanag/BenarNews] While the military has said that the bill has enough safeguards to protect Filipinos from arbitrary arrests and mistaken identities, it imposes stiff penalties and imprisonment against anyone found to be working with local and foreign terrorist organizations. It also authorizes officials to carry out warrantless arrests and hold suspects for up to two weeks. Rights groups say the Duterte administration could use this as a measure to clamp down on dissent against his administrations crackdown on illegal drugs that has left thousands of people dead since mid-2016. Fridays rally took place as the Philippines marked the 122nd anniversary of its independence from Spanish colonial rule. The true spirit of Independence Day lies in these protests against regimes and dictators who threaten to take away our freedoms, said Cristina Palabay of the rights group Karapatan, which has been closely following killings carried out under Dutertes anti-drug war. And if the government is so much willing to use scare tactics against people who want to protest, then whos the real terrorist? she asked, alluding to earlier threats by the government that it would arrest protesters who violated social distancing rules still in force amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A demonstrator wears a mask made of recycled plastic bottles while taking part in a protest against anti-terror legislation in Manila, June 12, 2020. [Jason Gutierrez/BenarNews] The bills principal author, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former national police chief, said the basic rights of the people would be protected under the anti-terror legislation. Under the Bill of Rights in our Constitution, no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances, Lacson said in a statement issued on the eve of Fridays protest. The demonstration, regardless of whether they have read and understood the bill, is their basic right, Lacson said, referring to the bills opponents who planned to protest on Independence Day. Such basic rights remain guaranteed even if and when the Anti-Terrorism Bill is signed into law by the president and becomes effective, he added. Also on Thursday, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Diosdado Peralta, said critics of the legislation could question the law at the high court once Duterte signed it. If it will become a law, then anybody can ... question the constitutionality of the law, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said in rare public remarks during an online press briefing. Peralta said the high courts actions, however, would depend on the issues to be raised by those who would petition to stop the legislation because they might be asking only a veto of certain provisions, or the veto of the entire law. His statement is being taken as a positive sign in the Philippines, where Duterte virtually controls Congress and had forced the removal of a former chief justice, who had questioned his drugs war. Jason Gutierrez in Manila contributed to this report. The statues of Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament Square have been boarded up to prevent them from being targeted during Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests that have sparked a review of historical figures in public places across the UK. The statues of Churchill and Gandhi were targeted during Sundays large demonstration in London, while in Bristol, the statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down and thrown into the Avon river. As another major demonstration is planned for the weekend, Londons local officials boarded up statues of Churchill, Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, as well as the Cenotaph (war memorial) in nearby Whitehall. In Leicester, the local council said it would review the Gandhi statue on Belgrave Road, along with other statues, street and building names. An online petition seeking its removal was close to reaching the limit of 5,000 signatories before being submitted to the council. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that it is absurd and shameful that Churchills statue has been so targeted, and recalled the former prime ministers contribution to British and European history, particularly during the Second World War. He said in a series of tweets: The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square is a permanent reminder of his achievement in saving this country and the whole of Europe from a fascist and racist tyranny. It is absurd and shameful that this national monument should today be at risk of attack by violence protestors. Yes, he sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial. Johnson, who wrote a biography of Churchill in 2014, added: We cannot now try to edit or censor our past. We cannot pretend to have a different history. The statues in our cities and towns were put up by previous generations. They had different perspectives, different understandings or rights and wrongs. But those statues teach us about our past, with all its faults. To tear them down would be to lie about our history, and impoverish the education of generations to come. Appealing to people to stay away from demonstrations, Johnson alleged that the protests had been hijacked by extremists intent on violence. The attacks on police in recent protests, he said, were intolerant and abhorrent. On the remove-Gandhi-statue petition in Leicester, former MP Keith Vaz said: This is a dreadful petition that seeks to divide communities in Leicester and in the country. Those behind it know full well the consequences of what they are asking for. Gandhis statues in Leicester and London are an inspiration for peace, harmony and non violence. He was one of the greatest peacemakers in history. If this is not withdrawn I will certainly refer it to the police to consider whether it incites racial hatred. We have come a long way in 33 years on racial equality but clearly there is a long way to go. If there is any attempt to remove it I will be there to defend it personally, he added. A Leicester City Council spokesperson said: We are aware of an online petition, calling for a statue of Gandhi funded by a charitable organisation and erected in Leicester in 2009 to be removed. Although this petition has not yet been submitted to us, these representations will be considered as part of a wider conversation about the context, relevance and appropriateness of street names, statues and monuments in the city. In such a culturally-diverse city as Leicester, its important that we respect the histories of all our communities and understand the context for the historical references that are part of our streetscape and built environment. A new hypersonic weapon concept has emerged inadvertently on a social media page managed by U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy that describes a Mach 5-plus projectile with the ability to penetrate into defended airspace and dispense a multi-role loitering air system over a target area. The conceptlabeled as the Vintage Racer Loitering Weapon Systemreveals a solution to an operational problem for the Army: When high-speed munitions, such as the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), enter service with the ability to strike targets thousands of kilometers away, how will the Army find the most elusive targets, such as road-mobile launchers for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) or radars for air defense batteries? The Vintage Racer concept, as revealed so far, suggests it may be possible to launch a hypersonic projectile into a general area without knowing the specific location of the target. As it reaches the target area, the projectile may be able to dispense a loitering air system, which is then uses its own sensors to find and identify the target. If the loitering system also carries a warhead, it may be able to strike the target by itself or transmit the target coordinates to another weapon. Once the existence of the Vintage Racer concept appeared, a Russian expert on military-political affairs noted such an idea has been discussed as a possibility within the hypersonic weapon community. The fear is that [this] hypersonic something might reach the patrol area of road-mobile ICBM launchers [after] penetrating any possible air and missile defense, and then dispense loitering submunitions that will find launchers in the forests, said Dmitry Stefanovitch, an expert at the Moscow-based Russian International Affairs Council. The Andhra Pradesh government will conduct random tests on asymptomatic devotees arriving at the famous Tirumala temple as well as employees of the shrine on a daily basis. At a recent meeting with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) board that manages the temple, the District Collector had suggested random testing of samples needs to be done in Tirumala as a precautionary measure amid the coronavirus spread. Tirumala, one of the richest temples in India, opened its doors to devotees on Thursday after conducting a trial run for three days, which included allowing only employees and people residing in nearby areas. The temple was shut for almost 82 days since the beginning of the lockdown. About 400 random samples, which include 200 samples of devotees and rest from employees, will be collected every day. The temple board has set up thermal scanners at points such as Alipiri, which is the entrance to Tirumala and a foothill point used by devotees to trek uphill. Swab samples will be collected from these points from asymptomatic people. 100 random samples will be taken from Alipiri and another 100 from the unit on the hills. Were screening pilgrims and those who are symptomatic are being tested already. However, the Collector has said random samples will also be collected and tested from now on, Anil Kumar Singhal, Executive Officer TTD, told News18. The samples are sent to Sri Venkateshwara Medical Sciences in Tirupati and results are expected in 6-8 hours. If a devotee tests positive, they will be taken to the nodal Covid-19 hospital in Tirupati. According to officials, the focus will be more on devotees coming from high incidence areas such as Tamil Nadu and also on districts within the state with high number of cases. As part of precautionary measures, there are markings done inside the temple to ensure physical distancing, wearing of masks is compulsory, and sanitizing at regular intervals is encouraged. TTD is currently allowing only 6,000 devotees per day to visit the temple. Tickets can be purchased online as well as at a counter in Alipiri. Meanwhile, Sri Govindaraja Swamy Temple in Tirupati was closed on Friday after one of its staff tested positive. It will reopen on June 14 after sanitization. According to the TTD board, a sanitization department inspector got infected with coronavirus. Click here to read the full article. Gucci has unveiled the 2020 class of Gucci North America Changemakers Scholars. The 20 recipients come from diverse backgrounds and are pursuing various careers within fashion at undergraduate colleges or universities. They will receive an academic scholarship for up to $20,000, in addition to mentorship and virtual internship opportunities through Gucci America. Antoine Phillips, vice president of brand and culture engagement at Gucci, said, As education is vital to implementing real change and ensuring diverse voices are in positions of power, it is more important than ever to foster the next generation of talent. Established in March 2019, the Gucci North America Changemakers Scholarship program is part of the relaunched Gucci Equilibrium platform, which details the companys commitment to generate positive change for people and the planet. The scholarship program provides funds to undergraduate students with unmet financial needs pursuing careers in fashion. The program focuses on students who live or study in one of the 12 Gucci North America Changemakers cities (Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington, D.C), and/or plan to attend or currently attend a historically Black college or university. However, all students who meet the eligibility criteria are able to apply and be considered for an award. Over the last six months, Gucci enlisted the support of the North America Changemakers Council to make the final selection of the students for the scholarship program. In addition, Gucci will award two recipients of the Gucci North America Changemakers x CFDA Scholars by Design program. The program aims to support two diverse graduating high school seniors who plan to study fashion design at an accredited four-year undergraduate college or university. This award is $20,000 a year for four years for both scholars. Story continues Steven Kolb, president and chief executive officer of the CFDA, said, CFDA and Gucci share a commitment to education, diversity and inclusion in fashion. Our Gucci North America Changemakers x CFDA Scholars by Design scholarship recipients Ajai Kasim and Kaya Ugorji have the opportunity to shape the future of fashion and we look forward to seeing their progress through the four-year scholarship support. Over the next four years, these scholarship programs will provide a total of $1.5 million. The 20 Gucci North America Changemakers Scholars are: Astrid Viera, a high school senior who will be attending Mt. San Jacinto College. Celese Haselrig, a college freshman attending Parsons. Destinee Elliott, a college freshman attending Thomas Jefferson University. Diop Russell, a college sophomore attending Spelman College. Fabiola Lopez, a college freshman attending Azusa Pacific University. Gabrielle DeLeon, a college freshman attending FIT. Gideon Gomm, currently a college freshman attending Parsons. Jasmine Bacchus, a college junior at Brown University. Kaitlyn Gilliam, a college junior at Howard University. Kristian Brown, a college sophomore at FIT. Malachi Williams, a high school senior who will be attending Hunter College. Marcus Williams, a college sophomore at University of Southern California; School of Cinematic Arts & Marshall School of Business. Marie France Mendy, a college sophomore at Cornell University. Maya Davis, a high school senior will will be attending Bowling Green State University. Miles Richards, a high school senior will be attending College for Creative Studies in Detroit. Nailah Barnes, a college sophomore at Spelman College. Nicole Scott, a college freshman at University of Cincinnati. Sekoi Cooper, a college junior at Parsons. Glory Lee, a college freshman at Brown University/Rhode Island School of Design. Trevon Barnes, a college sophomore at FIT. The Gucci North America Changemakers x CFDA Scholars by Design winners are; Ajai Kasm, a high school senior who will be attending Parsons. Kaya Ugorji, a high school senior who will be attending FIT. The next round of applications for the Gucci North America Changemakers Scholarship will open in the fall. Information is available at http://changemakersus-scholarshipprogram.gucci.com. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 16:01 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde44d28 1 National flash-flood,Gorontalo Free The Bone River in Gorontalo breached its banks on Thursday, inundating swaths of Bone Bolango regency as well as the northern part of Gorontalo city. Twenty-six villages in the regency's six districts were hit by the flood. The waters forced 5,407 residents, including 22 infants and 22 toddlers, to flee their homes, Bone Bolango regent Hamim Pou said. The districts affected by the flood included Bone, Suwawa, North Suwawa and Botupingge. Floodwaters also swept away the Molintogupo bridge, which connected South Suwawa to Central Suwawa. Taludaa village in Bone district accounted for the greatest share of evacuees, with 894 residents fleeing their homes. Tingkohubu and East Tungkohubu villages in Suwawa district recorded 700 and 626 evacuees respectively. This is temporary data as our officers are still collecting data in difficult conditions in the field," Hamim said as quoted by kompas.com on Friday, adding that the Search and Rescue (SAR) team had been evacuating residents since Thursday. The flood also affected the northern part of Gorontalo city. The local administration reported that some 1,150 residents were affected by 1.5-meter high waters in the area, tempo.co reported. We are still focusing on evacuating and rescuing residents who have been trapped by the flooding, Gorontalo SAR operational head M. Rizal said. The SAR team has established a public kitchen to feed the inhabitants of eight shelters in Bone Bolango and Gorontalo, where displaced residents are staying and storing their belongings. The water rose so fast that we could only carry important items, and we left the rest behind, North City resident Bagis Suleman told Kompas. Heavy rains at the headwaters of the Bone River are believed to have caused the flood. The flood spread to the forest enclave of Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park before hitting Bone Bolango and Gorontalo City. (mfp) A Harvard Medical School study that suggested COVID-19 was spreading in China last August after analyzing hospital traffic and search engine data in Wuhan has been met with doubts and criticism from scientists worldwide, who noted that the research, without being peer-reviewed, offered no convincing evidence to support its claims. The study, titled Analysis of hospital traffic and search engine data in Wuhan China indicates early disease activity in the Fall of 2019, used satellite imagery of hospital parking lots in Wuhan and data for symptom-related queries on Chinas search engine Baidu as evidence, noting that increased hospital traffic and symptom search data in Wuhan preceded the documented start of COVID-19 in December, 2019. The controversial research was met with negative comments from scientists worldwide, who noted that the study lacks convincing data and scientific research methods to support its claim. Harvard researchers selected six hospitals in Wuhan to conduct their study, including the Hubei Women and Childrens Hospital, which, ironically, doesnt even have a respiratory department for adults. The study also ignored the fact that many Chinese, unlike Americans, use public transportation to go to hospitals rather than drive themselves. Keith Neal, a professor of the epidemiology of infectious diseases at Britains Nottingham University, told Reuters that the study included traffic around at least one children's hospital, and that while children do get ill with flu, they do not tend to get sick with COVID-19. According to Global Times, three doctors from Wuhan's Zhongnan Hospital and Wuhan Tongji Hospital, which were cited in the Harvard paper, all rejected the paper's claim that they received more patients showing fever or diarrhea symptoms than usual last autumn. The doctors also denied there had been a sudden surge in traffic around the hospitals. The credibility of the teams search engine data has also been challenged by scientists. Though the team claimed that it had obtained data for symptom-related searches likely associated with COVID-19 in Wuhan from April 2017 to May 2020, the analysis was actually based on data from May 2018 to May 2020. Tracing back through searches for "cough" and "diarrhea" in the Baidu system dating back to June 2017 showed a steeper upward curve of searches for those two words in September to November of 2017 and 2018 than the same period in 2019, which contradicts the papers claims. Search engine Baidu also slammed Harvards claims, adding that there was no obvious difference in search data for cough between 2019 and previous years, while in December 2019 there was actually a drop in searches for diarrhoea. The Chinese tech giant criticised the Harvard researchers for not using their data in a more scientific way. Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, told Reuters that the research method has not been validated and is very indirect and imprecise. Topol, who was not involved with the research, said he doubts the outbreak began in August, while he and others pointed to genetic evidence suggesting the virus made the leap from animal host to humans some time in the fall. WHO senior advisor Michael Ryan has also expressed concerns regarding the groundless speculation based on the images and search data, noting that the research has yet to be validated. Its really important that we dont speculate too much regarding the implications of cars in the car parking lots and then make a jump two or three steps forward into what that represents, because there is no evidence per se that what was supposed actually to happen, he noted at a WHO press conference on June 10. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying also dismissed the findings when asked to comment at a daily press briefing on Tuesday. "To derive these conclusions from phenomena such as road vehicle traffic . . . is preposterous," she noted. Although scientists have dismissed the research, media outlets in the US, such as Fox News, have already started to hype up conspiracy theories, fomenting new hostility against China. Many experts have called the research another attempt to smear Chinas international image, with many Chinese experts and netizens accusing Harvard of damaging its time-honored reputation. "How could such a top-notch university downgrade itself and fall into the US politicians' finger-pointing game? It actually shows that everything in the US, from politicians to academicians, are engaged in this blame game," noted a Chinese netizen on Weibo. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Why did Dr. Amy Acton resign from her job leading the Ohio Department of Health? Were talking about Acton stepping down as Ohio reopens on This Week in the CLE. Listen online here. Editor Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour coronavirus news podcast, with help from editors Jane Kahoun, Kris Wernowsky and me. We answer many of the questions youve sent through our text message platform. Youve been sending Chris lots of thoughts and suggestions on our from-the-newsroom account, in which he shares once or twice a day what were thinking about at cleveland.com. You can sign up for free by sending a text to 216-868-4802. And youve been offering all sorts of great perspective in our coronavirus alert account, which has 13,000-plus subscribers. You can sign up for free by texting 216-279-7784. Here are the questions were answering today: Until Monday, find all our past episodes here. Why did Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton resign? Acton, who has become a household name in Ohio during the coronavirus crisis, said her routine during the past couple months, which involved getting up at 4 a.m. to read and catch up while going to bed late, wasnt a sustainable thing. Why is the Beverly Hillbillies theme song a key element in the big opioid lawsuits being handled in Cleveland? Attorneys for Cuyahoga and Summit counties say a major drug distributor withheld thousands of internal documents prior to reaching a multimillion-dollar settlement with the counties last fall over the opioid crisis. One of the records? A copy of a parody of The Beverly Hillbillies ridiculing pillbillies, who fled to Florida to scoop up painkillers because of what it called the states lax enforcement of pain clinics. Why is Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson opposed to defunding the police? Jackson called idea is completely unrealistic. He said even if the intention is to divert money to social programs, the city still needs police to provide for the health, safety and welfare of residents. Is Ohio expanding coronavirus testing to anyone who wants a test? Yes -- and it will even list pop-up testing locations. For months the state has worked to expand its testing capacity before loosening coronavirus restrictions. What will it take to bring diversity to police departments, so that they look like the communities they serve? There are deep fissures between many law enforcement agencies and black Americans. So experts say that if police departments want to appeal to a more diverse pool of applicants, the community needs to feel officers are held accountable for wrongdoing and to see changes during everyday traffic stops or routine calls. What threat did the town of Olmsted Falls make to the people who organized a peaceful protest there? Officials warned that the demonstration would cost $5,000 in extra police coverage -- and there was an implication that organizers might have to foot the bill. Why does the Ohio Legislative Black caucus say legislators need training on racial equity and bias? Because state Sen. Steven Huffman a doctor -- asked if the colored population is disproportionately suffering from the coronavirus due to not washing their hands as well as other groups. Thats it for this week. Were off until Monday, June 22. Until then, find all our past episodes here. Do you get your podcasts on Spotify. Find us here. If you use Stitcher, we are here. RadioPublic is another popular podcast vehicle, and we are here. On Google Podcasts, we are here. On PodParadise, find us here. And on PlayerFM, we are here. The toppling of Colstons statue in Bristol has reinvigorated calls for the removal of other monuments to figures associated with imperialism and racism. Authorities this week removed a statue of slave owner Robert Milligan from its perch in Londons docklands, and campaigners in Oxford are pressing for a likeness of Victorian imperialist Cecil Rhodes to be withdrawn from view at Oxford University. Americans seem to be uniting in the fight against racism. The death of George Floyd seems to be doing what we all thought impossible bipartisan cooperation toward a better state and a better nation. Republican political analyst Charlie Gerow and Democrat Mark S. Singel, former Lt. Gov. of Pennsylvania, will be guests at noon Friday on Live On with Joyce Davis on PennLives Facebook page to discuss the growing bipartisan support for police reform and an end to racism. They also will talk about developments at the state Capitol and in Washington, D.C. on the coronavirus, protests and politics. Gerow and Singel are Sunday columnists for PennLive and The Patriot-News, and they share the camera at 8:30 a.m. each Sunday on CBS21s Face the State. Bring your questions and comments to todays Live On with Joyce Davis on PennLives Facebook Live. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. And please subscribe to Battleground PA to stay abreast of the issues in the 2020 elections! ORLANDO, Fla., June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With Florida entering the second phase of reopening businesses and its economy, high school seniors across the state are hopeful they will be on college campuses this fall. Along with the COVID-19 pandemic, college costs are top-of-mind: There's help from Florida Realtors Education Foundation Inc., which has awarded scholarships to 132 well-deserving young people living in communities throughout the state. A not-for-profit corporation established by the state Realtor association, the Florida Realtors Education Foundation Inc. provides real estate-related educational scholarships. The Foundation's Board of Directors awarded $185,600 in scholarships to help pay for higher education expenses for 132 young people in the 2020-2021 school year. All recipients are Florida residents and will be attending community colleges, four-year universities, graduate programs or law schools, both in state and out-of-state. Some students wish to pursue careers in real estate. "Over the past decade, the Florida Realtors Education Foundation Student Scholarship Program has helped 1,189 young people realize their dreams for the future by continuing their education," said Sharon Voss, chairman of Florida Realtors Education Foundation Inc. "Florida Realtors has awarded a total of $1,739,400 in scholarships, providing much-needed financial support to these students and their families. These scholarships serve as an investment in the future, and Florida Realtors feels privileged to give back to our communities by helping these deserving young people." Scholarship recipients are enrolled at institutions of higher learning throughout the state, such as the University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of South Florida, University of North Florida, Florida Southern College, Florida Atlantic University, Stetson University and Florida Gulf Coast University, as well as other colleges throughout the U.S., including Yale University, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Arizona State University, George Washington University and the U.S. Air Force Academy, to name a few. A variety of criteria was considered for successful applicants including academic achievements, financial need, relationship to the Realtor family and contributions to family, school and community. Florida Realtors serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 195,000 members in 51 boards/associations. Florida Realtors Media Center website is available at http://media.floridarealtors.org. SOURCE Florida Realtors; Florida Realtors Education Foundation Related Links floridarealtors.org Advertisement By Godwin Akor, Makurdi Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has attributed his inability to introduce free education programme to change in political party. Ortom told journalists on the occasion of an interactive session, organized to mark democracy day that when he was with the APC, he promised free education but when he moved to the PDP, the manifesto changed. Advertisement He however observed that in the past five years, his administration upgraded over 1000 primary schools and supplied customized tables and chairs across the three senatorial zones. The governor also said two higher institutions, Akpera Orshi College of Education, Yandev and Akawe Terkula College of Advanced and Professional Studies, Makurdi, have been upgraded to Polytechnics. He said the states Health Insurance Scheme bill has signed into law, adding that Benue was in the position of feeding the nation but herdsmen attacks have done a devastating blow. Ortom disclosed that in the past two months, herdsmen have killed no fewer than 60 persons in Benue state and lent support to the call for restriction of entry by foreign herdsmen. He reiterated his call on the Federal Government to prosecute leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore for orchestrating killings in Benue and other parts of Nigeria. In a state of nature, it's all against all, red in tooth and claw, nasty and brutish and short. Governments are formed to protect their citizens from foreign threats and from each other. When governments fail in this duty, people resort to self-help, also known as vigilantism. It's no way for a civilized people to live. We've seen it already, in New York City, with Italian-Americans, and in Chicago, with Latin Americans. Defund the police, and you'll see it in Minneapolis, or wherever it's tried. People will defend their property, and their families, with force if necessary. The American people are well armed, and many are proficient in the use of firearms. We have a 2nd Amendment to the Constitution to provide our citizens with the means of self-defense. And defend themselves they will. Defund the police, and people will take things in their own hands. It's astonishing to see what one would think are halfway intelligent people spout this nonsense. They apparently have not thought of the real world consequences. Or maybe they have, or one of them , at least. I'm talking about George Soros, a sick and twisted man, the dedicated opponent of all American institutions. He is sometimes misidentified as a Jew. He's no more of a Jew than Benedict Arnold was an American. As a young man in Hungary under German occupation in World War II, he collaborated with the Nazis and betrayed his own people to save his skin. Perhaps it's a sense of self-loathing that leads him to hate our country, which liberated Europe and saved the Jews who had survived. But getting inside the head of George Soros would require the skills of a trained psychiatrist, and I'm not one of those. I just know it's a dark and evil place. He has no recognizable political philosophy. It's tempting to call him a nihilist, but that's not quite accurate, since he does have one core belief: hatred of the United States and all it stands for. To a man like George Soros, "defund the police" sounds like a great idea. And his money is certainly behind much of the recent civil unrest in this country. I expect that the Department of Justice is gathering evidence of his ties to Antifa. George Soros needs to face justice for his crimes against this country. In the part of the country where I live, rather than defund the police, we support our local sheriff. There are a lot of us. Every time some Democrat talks about defunding the police, Trump's chances of re-election go up a notch. Fritz Pettyjohn was given the Defender of Freedom Award by the Alaska chapter of the National Rifle Association. He blogs at ReaganProject.com. By Akbar Mammadov The Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan has protested the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival over the film screened by Armenia in occupied Karabakh. In the protest letter, the Karabakhs Azerbaijani community noted that Armenia had illegally screened the film If there is wind (Si le vent tombe) in the occupied Khojaly. The letter reads that the Khojaly airport shown in the film presented to Cannes Festival belongs to Azerbaijan, and Armenia illegally restored the airport after the occupation. The community also informed the festival organizers about the occupation of part of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia, the expulsion of more than a million people and the inability of these people to return to their homes for nearly 30 years. In the end, the letter concludes that the community hopes festival organizers will make efforts to restore justice and achieve a peaceful outcome to the conflict. It should be noted that the Khojaly airport was first put into operation in Azerbaijan's same-named city occupied by Armenia on 26 February 1992. As a result of the occupation, the airport stopped its operation for air communication. Although the airport, operated by the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh regime", was overhauled in 2009-2012 and was ready to be commissioned as an international airport, Azerbaijan and international community's strong objections have still been preventing it from using for flights. For this reason, the airport does not have special codes issued by the International Air Transport Association and the International Civil Aviation Organization. Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in a conflict over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region, which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France has been mediating the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts have resulted in no progress and to this date, Armenia has failed to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) that demand the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold a video conference with all chief ministers next week, for consultations about emerging from the lockdown and the increasing number of coronavirus disease cases across the country. The meeting, sixth since the PM announced a national lockdown on March 24 to arrest the spread of the virus, will be held over two days June 16 and 17 to cover 21 CMs on day 1 and the remaining on the second day. According to the schedule for the meeting, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh will begin the consultation process on Tuesday afternoon and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik will be the last to address it on Wednesday evening. HT has reviewed the schedule. The Prime Minister will listen to us, said a state minister who did not want to be identified, when asked about the agenda of the meeting. The last meeting was held on May 11 ahead of the deadline of the lockdown, and chief ministers had asked for greater autonomy to decide the future course of action to deal with the pandemic. Since then, each state has taken its own decision about restrictions, with the Union ministry of home affairs laying out broader guidelines. For instance, while announcing the `unlockdown towards the end of May, the MHA allowed inter-state movement of passengers but left each state to decide whether they wanted to go ahead with it or not. While Delhi allowed it, Haryana was initially hesitant and Uttar Pradesh still restricts movement from Delhi. The meeting comes at a time when the number of infections has been on the rise, especially in metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. We will know more details tomorrow but we are expecting him to discuss unlocking, said an official associated with a Chief Ministers office. The accounts belonged to users from Russia, China and Turkey Twitter once again stands against political propaganda AP photo The Twitter administration has blocked 32,242 personal pages of Chinese, Turkish and Russian social network users due to suspicion of political propaganda. This was reported by the networks press service. "Today we are disclosing 32,242 accounts to our archive of state-linked information operations the only one of its kind in the industry. The account sets were publishing to the archive today include three distinct operations that we have attributed to the People's Republic of China (PRC), Russia, and Turkey respectively. Every account and piece of content associated with these operations has been permanently removed from the service," the statement said. According to Twitter, 23,750 of these accounts were related to users from China, 7,340 - Turkey, and 1,152 - Russia. The administration of the social network claims that the accounts were used to distribute materials that were allegedly beneficial to the authorities of these countries. As we reported earlier, the diplomats of the European Union are working on imposing sanctions against persons responsible for a cyberattack on German Bundestag in 2015. EU diplomats will this week start to work on sanctions against the people responsible for the cyber attack on the German Bundestag in 2015, correspondent Rikard Jozwiak stated. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12 By Ilkin Seyfaddini Trend: The France-Uzbekistan business cooperation is growing, and is more and more diversified, Director for Eurasia, Asia, Pacific and Energy of MEDEF International (Mouvement des entreprises de France), Bogdan Gadenne-Feertchak told Trend in an interview. Gadenne-Feertchak added that MEDEF International has been working with Uzbekistan since the country gain independence in 1991, in the framework of the France-Uzbekistan Business council of MEDEF International, chaired by Mr. Christophe Fontaine, chairman of Roxalex. "For the past three years, Franco-Uzbek business relations have been growing and France's presence in the country is increasing; the openness of Uzbek authorities is highly appreciated by French companies. We have observed the changes in the country, and we share the feeling with French companies, of a strong appetite from the Uzbek side for the offer of products, services and solutions. If the bilateral exchanges remain overall modest, they are now on a sound path of growth," he said. Director of MEDEF International stressed that French companies are very interested in the opportunities Uzbekistan has to offer in many sectors including energy, water and waste management, engineering, transportation and agri-food industry. "Some very encouraging and satisfying results of the contacts that have been made over the past three years were observed this past month, with a few French companies that won contracts in Uzbekistan, mainly in the fields of sustainable city and renewable energies. We believe that these two sectors have a large potential for our bilateral relations, as Uzbekistan has great ambitions concerning their development, with the will of offering to its citizens an enhanced way of life, and complying with modern ideas of a sustainable development," Gadenne-Feertchak said. He also noted that current sanitary crisis and all of its consequences, with possible long periods of quarantine, has brought to light the utter importance of diversified economies, modern and prepared health systems, digital transformation, and also food safety and food self-sufficiency. French companies have solutions to offer in these sectors, and there are fields of great potential for business cooperation between the countries, said the director. "The spread of coronavirus, its impact on the global economy and on the international trade flows will surely have a consequence for France-Uzbekistan business relations, as it slows down the flows worldwide, and each economy has to face its own pressing issues created by the virus outbreak and the quarantine measures necessarily taken. In this challenging context, our main goal is to continue the work we have done the past years with Uzbek authorities and French companies interested in the country; we believe, particularly in this context of crisis, in the importance of keeping a regular and thorough communication with our Uzbek partners and maintaining the link between French companies and the Uzbek side," he said. Earlier, prospects for further consolidation of Uzbek-French interaction were discussed during a webinar organized by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in France, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan and the delegation of French enterprises led by MEDEF International on April 22, 2020. The event was attended by about 50 representatives of financial and industrial sectors, consulting services, as well as investment and commercial companies of France such as Airbus, Adeo, Air Liquide, BPI France, Credit Agricole, Suez, Fives, Idemia, Orano, Rothschild & CIE, Total-Eren and French Development Agency (FAR). "During the next months, we will keep building bridges between French and Uzbek partners, and as soon as it will be possible, we will be working on organizing a new visit of business delegations of French companies to Uzbekistan, and prepare to welcome Uzbek government representatives in France in the framework of business meetings of the France-Uzbekistan business council," Gadenne-Feertchak stressed. MEDEF International is the first French business international network, providing development support services. It is set up as an association by and for French companies. Without any public subsidy, MEDEF International operates in the collective interest of the French private sector and according to the priorities of organizations members. MEDEF International's activities concern all sectors of activity and covers more than 120 countries in the world, with an increased focus on emerging and developing countries which have been at the heart of organizations action for 30 years. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12 2020 The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has begun clinical trials of two new herbal medicines intended to boost the immune systems of COVID-19 patients. LIPI head Laksana Tri Handoko said both medicines were immunomodulator drugs, which is a type of medication that stimulates or suppresses the components of the immune system including both innate and adaptive immune responses. "The first medicine was made from Cordyceps militaris fungus, while the second was made from ginger, gripeweed, creat or green chireta and Ngai camphor or sambong," Handoko said in a statement on Wednesday as reported by kompas.com. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Night Shift While the city sleeps, a team of nurses cares for the sickest of the sick in the COVID-19 ICU at Northeast Baptist Hospital. For nurses, the night shift is long stretches of quiet punctuated by crisis. We spent two nights alongside them. Night Shift While the city sleeps, a team of nurses cares for the sickest of the sick in the COVID-19 ICU at Northeast Baptist Hospital. For nurses, the night shift is long stretches of quiet punctuated by crisis. We spent two nights alongside them. June 12, 2020 Alarms were blaring in the COVID-19 intensive care unit. A patient suddenly had awakened in the dark. A breathing tube was threaded down her throat. It was a few minutes before 1 a.m., and her sedatives had worn off. In her room, behind a wall of windows and a closed glass door, she twisted against the wrist restraint that kept her from dislodging the tube. She bit down on the tube and tried to lift her arm. If she pulled out the tube, she could die. Her nurse, Frank Salinas, hurried to her door. He needed to enter the room to calm her down. But first, he had to put on a yellow fabric gown, blue gloves, goggles, a respirator the PPE, or personal protective equipment, that has become the indispensable uniform of medical personnel during the coronavirus pandemic. It took Salinas nearly three minutes to suit up. As the patient struggled, the ICU charge nurse, Sam Beckett, stood on his toes outside the room, waving to her. Its OK. Its all right, he said through the glass door. Hold on. Hold on. Once at the patients bedside, Salinas tried to soothe her, but he had to raise his voice to be heard through his respirator. In the hall, where her IV stand was stationed, Beckett increased her sedatives to put her back to sleep. That night, four nurses and a respiratory therapist were caring for five patients, all but one of whom were breathing with the support of a mechanical ventilator. It was a rare slow shift in the 12-bed coronavirus ICU at Northeast Baptist Hospital. Some patients had been there for weeks, others just a few days. How we did this Reporter Lauren Caruba and photographer Bob Owen spent 18 hours reporting in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at Northeast Baptist Hospital. Over the course of two overnight shifts in late May, they observed nurses and respiratory therapists as they cared for the most critically ill patients. Caruba also interviewed charge nurses, ICU nurses, physicians, a staff chaplain and the hospitals CEO about how the pandemic has changed their work and the hospitals operations. To protect patient privacy, identifying details have been omitted. Ever since the pandemic hit San Antonio in March, the overnight team members have done their best to help the sickest coronavirus patients make it to morning. From 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., they see patient after patient stricken by the same terrible and perplexing disease, constricted by the same limited options for treatment. With doctors available by phone but not present, they rely more on each other. They are the lifeline for worried family members; and when a patient is dying, theyre the only ones allowed in the room. Their jobs have been fundamentally changed by the coronavirus. They put on and remove protective gear seven or eight times per shift. Their faces are hidden behind masks, and a layer of glass or protective gear always separates them from those under their care. If she pulls out her endotracheal tube, you cant run in there. Youve got to put your PPE on. If her heart stops, youve got to put your PPE on, Beckett said. Clockwise from top: Frank Salinas, a nurse in the Northeast Baptist Hospital COVID-19 ICU, records information for a patient. (Bob Owen | Express-News) ; Nurse Evelyn Menking adjusts equipment in the room of a coronavirus patient at Northeast Baptist Hospital. Health care workers have to duck under extended tubing that allows patients IV pumps to be stationed in the hallways. The setup allows nurses to administer medications without entering the room. (Bob Owen | Express-News) ; Sam Beckett, an overnight charge nurse for the ICU at the hospital, scrolls through the chart of patients in the emergency department who are under investigation for COVID-19. (Bob Owen | Express-News) ; ICU nurse Simon Denton leaves a coronavirus patients room. He hasnt been fazed by the protective equipment necessary to care for COVID-19 patients. (Bob Owen | Express-News) Through the glass As Beckett started his shift that night in May, he had his temperature checked outside the emergency room before making his way to the second floor of Northeast Baptist. He oversees the night operations of the hospitals two intensive care units one for COVID patients, the other for everyone else. At the nurses station on the non-COVID side, he was briefed by the day charge nurse. Every bed in the unit was taken, but the coronavirus ward was less than half full. LISTEN: Listen to reporter Lauren Caruba and photographer Bob Owen elaborate on what it was like behind the scenes of the story. EN Depth. When the virus first began spreading in San Antonio, Northeast Baptist had been flooded with COVID-19 patients. Now, the staff had learned to live with the virus, and the hospital was transitioning back to normal operations, as were other area hospitals. By June, COVID-19 would have sent a total of 500 people from across the city to hospitals. More than 200 of the patients needed intensive care. Another nurse, Charla Price, pulled out her phone to show Beckett a video that was circulating among the ICU staff. I got it yesterday, she said, hitting play. In the video, a coronavirus patient they had treated stood on the sidewalk. There were birds chirping, a blue sky overhead. Just wanted to let yall know that Im capable of walking very slowly, but Im getting there, the middle-aged man said to the camera. Thank you so much for saving my life. From what I hear, there were some scary moments, but thank you again for what yall did for me. In the ICU, they saw patients in desperate states. Many were still on ventilators when they left the hospital, bound for a long-term care facility. They rarely heard from them again. Here was a man who had managed to make it through. He was smiling, looking and sounding healthy. That is mind-blowing, Beckett said to Price, thinking back to how sick the patient once was. I would have bet everything I had that that wouldnt happen. *** Beckett pushed past a pair of double doors into the COVID unit. It was quiet. The glass doors to all the rooms were closed to prevent the airborne virus from drifting into the hallways. Behind the doors, patients lay motionless, hooked up to ventilators. Their ventilator settings are scrawled on their windows in dry erase marker one reads, 20 380 +8 40%. Extended tubing snakes across rooms and through cracks in the sliding doors to IV poles in the hall. The arrangement limits nurses exposures, allowing them to administer medications without having to enter the room each time. The long tubes can be like a birds nest, Beckett said. Sometimes it takes a team to figure out which tube is carrying which drug. Nurses and respiratory therapists duck under them as they work in the rooms. Walking through the unit with a clipboard, Beckett checked on all the patients and jotted notes to indicate which were restrained by wrist braces and large ankle cuffs. With COVID patients, such precautions are essential. If a patient yanked out a breathing tube, nurses wouldnt be able to pump air by hand, a procedure known as rescue breathing, until the patient could be reintubated. Doing so would spray particles of virus into the air, putting health care workers at a high risk of infection. He passed the room of a patient lying stomach-down on the bed. Hospitals have been using the technique, called proning, to help relieve pressure on the lungs of COVID patients who dont respond well to a ventilator. These patients require a higher level of care and their own nurse. Other rooms on the unit sat empty, not yet cleaned since their last occupants had left. An urgently needed room could be turned around in a few hours staff wait one hour after it is empty before starting to sanitize and another four before bringing in a new patient. When there are rooms to spare, leaving one vacant is itself a form of decontamination. The longer it sits, the higher the likelihood that the virus will die off without finding a new host. Beckett walked over to one of the nurses finishing his shift. A doctor had told the nurse to call the family of a patient who was doing poorly. He might die, the nurse said. Family members were coming to the hospital that evening to say goodbye. It is the only time visitors are allowed in the COVID unit. *** About 6:30 p.m., Beckett entered the staff lounge for a meeting with the nurses working that night. They trickled in and took seats around a long oval table. Many were dressed in royal blue, but those working with COVID patients wore powder blue surgical scrubs. Some of the nurses volunteer to staff the COVID unit, where they work three nights straight and are off the rest of the week. Others cant care for those patients, due to pregnancy or health conditions that made them vulnerable to complications, should they become infected. So far, the hospital had been lucky. None of the ICU staff had fallen ill from the virus. The conversation turned to the patient whose family was coming in. I thought he was doing so well last week. But he just, over a period of days ... one nurse said, punctuating the sentence with the sound of a deflating balloon. Thats how it goes, Beckett said. I know, its terrible. Thats what I try to tell people. Its like when it happens, its like that. The nurse snapped his fingers. A phone alarm went off, signaling the start of their shift. Everybody good on PPE? Beckett asked as the group dispersed. *** Outside the lounge, Beckett was approached by Margaret Kirby, the hospitals staff chaplain. The COVID patients family would be there soon, she said. This will be through the glass? he asked. Yes. After briefly visiting with the ER staff, Beckett went back upstairs to the COVID unit, minutes before the patients family was expected to arrive. As a supervisor, he wanted to be a second set of eyes while they were there. Entering the unit and seeing their loved ones in such a state is jarring to families, who sometimes lash out in anger at the staff. This illness is not something they could have planned for, and they have not been there to witness all the efforts to save the patient. In one instance, a person had accused a doctor of not caring about their family member. Kirby, 49, had done this before. Too many times. By now, she knew what to do. Downstairs, she prepared the family for what they were about to see. Cautiously, the patients wife and children approached the glass door of his room. A sob escaped from behind his daughters face mask. Her mother put an arm around her shoulders. This moment was always difficult. Not being able to touch their loved one. Being separated by a pane of glass. Kirby stood back. During the pandemic, she had been forced to adjust her approach. Her training at Northeast Baptist in 2009, and the decade of hospital and hospice chaplaincy that followed, had taught her the importance of consoling families with a hug, a squeeze of the hand. Her job now was to help families grieve from a distance. She had chairs ready, in case they were overwhelmed by emotion. Beckett had been watching from across the unit. He walked over to the family. In a hushed voice, he explained what the numbers displayed on the patients screen meant and answered their questions about his medical care. He knew they needed to see him with their own eyes to understand how serious his condition was. It was something that couldnt be conveyed over the phone. The patients nurse, Evelyn Menking, was inside the room. She would be the conduit for the family to communicate with the patient. For several minutes, Menking and Kirby fiddled with smartphones and two-way radios. Finally, they were ready. Menking held up a phone as a priest read a prayer over a video call. With oil on her finger, she traced the cross on the patients hands and forehead. The audio was broadcast to the family out in the hallway using the radios. Around them, the other nurses on the unit went about their work. One began donning protective gear at the door of an adjacent room. After the prayer, the family members took turns talking to their loved one over another video call. One after the other, they told him they loved him. We want you to rest in peace and keep an eye on us, wherever you are, his wife said, her voice wavering. I love you. He heard us, his daughter said. I know he heard us. His wife placed one hand, then the other, on the glass. She put her head against her hands and sobbed. It was as close as she could get. *** After the family left, Kirby turned to Menking and Salinas. She thanked them for their work. She hoped they were wrong, that the patient would rebound. It had happened before. Were praying he makes it through the night, Kirby said. Menking, one of the youngest nurses in the ICU, had done this before, too. With each patient, it felt like a balancing act of how much to invest emotionally. So many were at risk of dying, and what few treatments were available didnt work for everyone. It was hard to watch family members in pain. Being in the room during such moments felt like an enormous privilege and an intrusion. But the patients she remembered the most were those who were alone at the end. The pandemic had been emotionally taxing for others on staff, too. In the early weeks, when little was known about how to treat the illness, nurses could only watch, helplessly, as patients deteriorated. Family members would call three, four, five times a day. Often, there wasnt much to report. Once patients became critically ill, their condition would stagnate until a sudden change, for better or worse. Many were hospitalized for weeks, some for more than a month. For Beckett, 35, the pandemic affected most of his family. His father is a vascular surgeon, and his brother, also a nurse, traveled to New York City to help with the coronavirus surge there. At its peak, hundreds of people were dying every day, and some had to be buried in a potters field. Becketts brother seemed reluctant to share much about what he saw, aside from recounting one exchange he had with hospital administrators. When his brother asked what would happen if he became infected, he was told to put on a hospital-grade mask and fly home, because you dont want to die in New York. Heartrending scenes had played out at Northeast Baptist, too. During one busy week, back when both sides of the ICU and two other units were solely devoted to COVID patients, Beckett had seen a nurse stop in his tracks as he passed a patients room before quickly turning away. Beckett found him in the break room, crying. The nurse usually worked at another hospital, and this was his first shift helping with the influx of coronavirus patients. He told Beckett that he knew one of the patients she also was a nurse, and she had become like a second mother to him after he immigrated to America. He hadnt known she was hospitalized. She later died. Even after treating dozens of COVID patients, this was the case that stuck with Beckett, the one that brought a lump to his throat. He didnt know her, but it felt more personal. Like losing one of their own. *** In a negative pressure room that prevents the virus from escaping, a patient sat up and swung his legs over the side of his bed. His movement triggered an alarm. The patients nurse, Simon Denton, rushed over, worried the man would try to get up on his own. He was too weak and unsteady. Denton threw on his protective equipment. If he falls on the floor, he stays on the floor, Denton said. If we get sick, were no good to take care of them. With N95 masks scarce, Denton, like most of the nursing staff, had purchased his own respirator. The exterior could be disinfected with bleach wipes, and it had filters that lasted for about six months. His fellow nurses joked that they had just begun to understand his thick British accent, but now his speech was nearly impossible to discern through the respirator. When Salinas wore his own respirator, he said it made him sound like Darth Vader. Denton, 44, was not fazed by the protective equipment required to work with COVID patients. Hed undergone training for handling chemicals during his time as a diesel mechanic in the British Army and later in the U.S. as a military contractor. After a back injury, hed embarked on a new career in nursing, joining the staff at Northeast Baptist in 2016. The nurses store their equipment in large paper bags, which some have decorated. One depicts a hand-drawn skull and crossbones, flames and a banner reading COVID-19. On his, Salinas had written, Franks COVID killing magical paper bag. As seen on TV!!! Works just like magic! Salinas, 40, became a nurse after working in hospitals for years as a monitor technician, assisting with electrocardiograms. He longed to make a difference in the lives of patients. When he joined the ICU staff, he could do just that. It is the place of last resort. There, he found his sense of humor was more important than ever. His intent wasn't to come across as insensitive. It was a way of coping with the difficult environment so he could keep coming back every day. At a computer, Beckett clicked through the charts of patients coming through the ER who had been classified as PUIs persons under investigation for COVID-19. If any of those patients tested positive and began to go downhill, they could be transferred to the unit. It was Becketts job to know a patient was headed his way before he was told about it. Beckett read through the symptoms and medical histories of the patients. None seemed like a classic case of COVID-19. Then again, he had encountered plenty of surprises. But as the night progressed, negative results came back for one patient after another. 0 for 8, Beckett said to Salinas after 4 a.m. Three hours to go. A half-hour later, Salinas stood in a patients room, against the window, and held his arms up. On the other side, Lisa Nguyen, a respiratory therapist, traced his outline on the glass in black marker. It looked like an underwater diver, with a mask and goggles. Beckett walked over to the room and cracked the door so Salinas could hear him. Do your job, he said, eliciting laughs across the unit. Salinas emerged from the room and glanced at the drawing. Youre very good with a pen, he said. Thats awesome. By all accounts, this was a good night for the nursing staff. The shift had been largely uneventful, with no admissions, emergency codes or deaths. These were the kinds of nights they hoped for. *** The following week, after Memorial Day weekend, the pace was frenetic. The COVID ICU was full there were 12 patients, seven more than on that slow night. Five people had been admitted over the last two shifts. All but two were on ventilators. Screens above the nurses station displayed how long the patients had been hospitalized: Four days, two days, one day, 22 hours, 13 hours, one hour. Tonight, there was no point in monitoring possible ER admissions. Any new patient would have to be transferred elsewhere. Every bed also was taken in the lower-level COVID unit, which handled patients who werent as sick. If someone there began to deteriorate, Beckett could take them on. But he would be across the hospital, without access to rescue supplies and unable to perform his charge nurse duties. If one of those goes south, I dont have anywhere to put them, he said. In Becketts mind, the crush of patients had to be related to the reopening of businesses. Over the holiday weekend, his friends had invited him out to the Comal River. He had declined, but hed seen pictures of the scene on Instagram. It had been packed. Im already hot and sweaty, nurse Adam Alvarado said, less than an hour into his shift. A harried day side nurse, Marisela Martinez, sat at a computer nearby, an hour after she was supposed to clock out. A new patient had come in just before the shift change, and she still had work to do before she could go home. Whats up, Mari? Denton asked her just before 8 p.m. This is bad, she answered. This is not even Memorial weekend. Its not, Salinas said. Wait till two weeks after Memorial weekend, Martinez said, mentioning gatherings shed seen on social media. Its going to be bad. Clockwise from top: Charge nurse Sam Beckett, center, meets with the ICU nursing staff before the start of an overnight shift. Those working on the COVID-19 ward that night have changed into powder blue surgical scrubs. (Bob Owen | Express-News) ; Nurse Raymond Garcia taps on the glass door of a room for assistance in Northeast Baptist Hospitals ICU for coronavirus patients. The hospital expects to treat pandemic patients for the foreseeable future. (Bob Owen | Express-News) ; Wearing full protective gear, nurse Simon Denton, left, and Garcia look over information for a COVID-19 ICU patient. (Bob Owen | Express-News) ; Nurse Patrick Yancey prepares medicine for a COVID-19 ICU patient. He wears a powered-air purifying respirator to protect himself from exposure to the coronavirus. (Bob Owen | Express-News) *** As Martinez prepared to leave at 8:40 p.m., nearly two hours after the end of her shift, she turned to Salinas, who was taking over for her. The patient wasnt doing well. Frank, you need to call the family. Just in case, she said. Ill do it now. Forks of lightning flashed through the windows, and thunder rumbled overhead. Rain began to lash at the glass. Salinas called, but there was no answer. He left a voicemail. He hates these calls. The families always ask if the patient is going to get better. He tells them to be ready to come to the hospital. Just in case. Shortly before 9 p.m., Salinas entered a patients room. It wasnt long before he was back at the door, rapping at the glass to get Becketts attention. Something was wrong. The patients left eye was swollen, as if from a punch to the face. Air from the ventilator was escaping into the patients face, neck and torso. Salinas was joined by Nguyen, the respiratory therapist. Outside, Beckett was on the phone with the electronic ICU, which helped monitor critical patients overnight using cameras in their rooms. The staff in the room couldnt communicate well through their respirators. This looks pretty bad, Beckett said. Outside, the storm was worsening. There was another loud clap of thunder. Within minutes, a technician was rolling an X-ray machine into the unit and donning protective gear outside the patients room. Look at all that air, Nguyen said when the scan appeared on a screen. Outside, another nurse handed Salinas a phone. Hey Frank, its EICU. Theyre making changes. Nguyen went back into the room, dialing down the pressure settings on the ventilator. If it helped, the patient would remain that way for the night. Otherwise, a doctor could be called in. A half-hour later, the patient seemed to be doing better. Salinas stood at the door, watching Nguyen work inside. She drew a vial of blood for tests. He often had a smile on his face, but now he was serious. Nurse Raymond Garcia removes his stethoscope as he checks on a COVID-19 patient in Northeast Baptist Hospitals intensive care unit. Staff must wear personal protective gear while working with the patients. Nurse Raymond Garcia removes his stethoscope as he checks on a COVID-19 patient in Northeast Baptist Hospitals intensive care unit. Staff must wear personal protective gear while working with the patients. Photo: Bob Owen Photo: Bob Owen Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close 18 hours inside a COVID-19 intensive care unit: Caring for the sickest patients in the dead of night 1 / 20 Back to Gallery Not over The clock ticked past 11 p.m. It was still early. Alvarado prepared to transfuse a unit of convalescent plasma into a patient. Drawn from someone who had recovered from the virus, the plasma contains antibodies to combat the virus. 200 ccs of the juice of life, he said, before hanging the plastic bag on the IV stand. Across the unit, a clear liquid was seeping out from under a door and into the hall, an apparent leak from a dialysis machine. Three nurses began mopping up the mess with towels, a task made more difficult by the maze of wires and tubes extending from the patients bed. Two doors down, Nguyen was assisting Denton and another nurse as they moved a patient to a new mattress to help prevent the formation of pressure ulcers. They rolled the old bed outside the room, placing a sheet of paper on top of it. DO NOT TOUCH, the handmade sign warned. CONTAMINATED! Tonight, there wasnt a moment to spare in the unit. To Denton, it seemed that in the world outside the hospital, people were out in force, many without face masks. With bars and businesses opening back up, hed observed an uptick in auto traffic over the holiday weekend, crowds at the rivers. There was talk of reopening water and theme parks. By mid-June, close to 150 people would be hospitalized for the coronavirus in San Antonio, including almost 60 in ICUs, reaching the highest daily totals yet. In just a week, Bexar County would see more than 1,000 new cases, a worrying trend that officials called a second wave. Across Texas, hospitalizations would surpass 2,100. People didnt seem to be taking the virus seriously, Denton thought. They were acting as if the pandemic was over. For the nurses, there was no end in sight. Design by Joy-Marie Scott. Lauren Caruba, a reporter for the Express-News since 2016, writes about health and medicine. Her work has been recognized by a number of state and national journalism organizations, including the Livingston Awards for Young Journalists. lcaruba@express-news.net | Twitter: @LaurenCaruba Bob Owen has won numerous professional honors during his 37-year career at the San Antonio Express-News. Most recently, he was named 2020 Star Photojournalist of the Year by the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors and the Headliners Foundation of Texas. In 2015, he and two Express-News colleagues Jerry Lara and Lisa Krantz were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for their pictures of Central American migrants seeking refuge in the United States. rowen@express.net. Twitter: @photodado. "It is time for the United States to officially recognize racism as a public health issue and declare a public health emergency to address the negative impacts racism is having on the physical and mental well-being of millions of people," said the June 10 letter to Brooke Rollins, J.D., acting director of the Domestic Policy Council. Signed by Board Chair John Cullen, M.D., of Valdez, Alaska, a copy of the letter was sent to HHS Secretary Alex Azar. Because racism "dramatically impacts mental health, chronic diseases, maternal and infant mortality rates, and overall health outcomes and life expectancy," the Academy wrote, the council should "convene an interagency task force, comprised of program experts from across the federal government as well as state and local government officials, the private sector, medical professionals and community-based organizations, to develop a federal response to address systemic racism." "As a first step, the task force should examine ways that federal programs inadvertently perpetuate or exacerbate racism and make actionable recommendations to improve or discontinue them." The correspondence echoed sentiments in a May 31 statement by AAFP President Gary LeRoy, M.D., of Dayton, Ohio. "The elimination of health disparities will not be achieved without first acknowledging racism's contribution to health and social inequalities," LeRoy said. "This includes inequitable access to quality health care services. "Our members see the negative health outcomes of racism in their patients, who are often at an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, low birth weight, premature birth and infant mortality." Decades of research substantiate the role of systemic racism in driving poor public health outcomes. These health inequities are perpetuated today, as black, indigenous and Latino Americans have been particularly hard-hit by COVID-19, with infection, hospitalization and fatality rates far exceeding those seen among white people. With these concerns in mind, the Academy also offered information and urged legislative action in a June 10 letter to federal lawmakers. Landowners in the UK should be able to claim payments for rewilding schemes under Britain's post-Brexit farming policy, environmentalists have urged. The British Government has plans for a system of public money for public goods, paying farmers and landowners for delivering benefits such as wildlife habitat, flood prevention, healthy soils and carbon storage on their land. Under plans in legislation going through British Parliament, the environmental land management (ELM) scheme would replace the EU system of subsidies which are mostly paid for the amount of land farmed. Environmental group Rewilding Britain wants to see rewilding, which involves large-scale restoration of landscapes, with natural processes and even missing species such as beavers reinstated, as an option in the ELM scheme. On 30 June we are coming together for a virtual lobby, inviting you to ask MPs to put people, climate & nature at the heart of plans to rebuild from the Coronavirus crisis. Join us here: https://t.co/EjLSPZzoKf#TheTimeisNow #BuildBackBetter pic.twitter.com/pWLGAxWSTC Rewilding Britain (@RewildingB) June 11, 2020 The organisation said rewilding, which is becoming more popular among landowners, can deliver public goods, such as a boost to wildlife, water quality and carbon storage, at scale, efficiently and effectively. It can also help farmers diversify their income into areas including glamping and eco-tourism to make their businesses more resilient and less reliant on subsidies, Rewilding Britain director Alastair Driver said. Prof. Driver said rewilding in England still involves some kind of farming, with landowners delivering produce ranging from meat from a small number of free-ranging livestock to gin with juniper and other restored plants on the land. He said: The public goods that these projects are delivering, the reduced flood risk, the improved water quality, the improved carbon sequestration, the biodiversity, the health and wellbeing benefits, they are significant. And the bigger the scale you are operating at the more likely you are to make a difference. He said rewilding would fit in the top tier of the ELM scheme, which focuses on landscape-scale land-use change projects, and said it was a genuine serious option for managing land alongside regenerative or intensive farming. It should be explicitly mentioned as an option in the ELM scheme, he said, adding: Its time we got over this false hurdle of it being something scary. If it is not mentioned, elements of rewilding such as large scale tree planting and peat bog restoration would still take place, but it makes sense to do it all as a coordinated project. He said: If youre doing lots of these interventions at scale in the same location youre going to have a much bigger impact on the public goods and youre going to be much more efficient. "We know from #rewilding examples in this country & overseas that when done properly, the benefits to biodiversity is phenomenal" - listen to how this conversation unfolds between our @AliDriverUK and @BratleyBruce over at @firstmile https://t.co/tOc1Ybpuwa Rewilding Britain (@RewildingB) June 11, 2020 In answer to critics of rewilding who are concerned it turns land from productive farming to wilderness, he said rewilded land was still productive and accounted for less than 1% of land in Britain. Rewilding Britain wants to see that increase to 5% by 2100. Prof. Driver also said concerns about food security were best addressed by tackling food waste throughout the system. As the Agriculture Bill, the legislation which covers the changes, makes its way through the UK's House of Lords, Rewilding Britain is also calling for it to stick to the principle of public money for public goods, not paying for food production. The organisation wants a trusted network of advisers set up to support the shift to the new system and high trade standards in law so British farmers are not undercut by cheap, damaging imports that would be illegal to produce here. The leadership of the national assembly will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari over the recent killings by Boko Haram in the north-east. The Senate had passed a resolution, following a motion sponsored by Abubakar Kyari, senator representing Borno north. The lawmaker had called the attention of his colleague to the killings by the insurgents in Gubio local government area which is located in his constituency. Advertisement Mukhtar Isa Hazo, deputy speaker of Kaduna state house of assembly, has been impeached after only four months in office. The speaker was impeached by 24 members of the assembly during plenary session on Thursday. The Alaafin of Oyo state, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi has downplayed rumours of a grudge between him and Seyi Makinde, the Oyo state governor over the citing of the police mobile squadron at Ago-Are. According to varying reports, the respected monarch was said to have facilitated the police unit for Oyo town, but it was hijacked and sited elsewhere by the governor. The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has met and directed its members in the senate to object any future plan/request by President Muhammadu Buhari to apply for more loans for the country. This was made known by Prince Uche Second us, the national chairman of PDP after a closed-door meeting with its members on Wednesday. The Senate had so far approved $22.7 billion, $5.53 billion and N850 billion on different occasions for the Buharis administration to fund the 2020 national budget. A Lagos State High Court sitting in the Igbosere area has sentenced two robbers, Williams Udoh and Ubong Isaiah, to death for robbery. The Director of Public Affairs at the State Ministry of Justice, Kayode Oyekanmi, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday. Information Nigeria brings to you the full speech of Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari, delivered in commemoration of the countrys 2020 Democracy Day celebration. Fellow Nigerians, The 2020 celebration of Democracy Day marks 21 years of uninterrupted civil administration in our dear country. This day provides us an opportunity to reflect on our journey as a nation, our achievements and struggles. The property cell of the city crime branch arrested a 42-year-old man for allegedly duping a police constable on the pretext of providing a Mhada flat on low price to the tune of 12 lakh. The accused Sachin Dhuri, a resident of Lower Parel also forged Mhada documents. Police said Dhuri has cheated several people in the past with the same modus operandi. The victim, a 32-year-old police constable attached with the local arms in the Mumbai city, met Dhuri two years ago through a common friend. Constable wanted to buy his residence in Mumbai. Dhuri told him that he has an influence in the Mhada and has provided houses to several people on low price. Constable agreed and he gave 2 lakh first instalment in early 2019 and Dhuri promised him to give the house in Tilak Nagar area. Dhuri gave him fake allotment letter and took 10 lakh more in instalments, said senior inspector, Kedari Pawar, of the property cell. Constable borrowed money from his relatives and paid to Dhuri. The victim learnt that fact when the accused started avoiding his calls. He then discussed with his colleague and they approached property cell and a case was registered in Tilak Nagar police station on June 11 against Dhuri, said Pawar. During the inquiry, we learnt that Dhuri had cheated several in the past. Dhuri was earlier arrested by unit 3 of the crime branch for duping a woman of 48 lakh for giving her Mhada flat in Mazgaon area with the same modus operandi, added Pawar. A police team then nabbed Dhuri from his residence in Lower Parel on the same day and he was produced in the court on Friday and remanded in police custody till June 18. As the entire world continues its fight to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, more and more people are struggling to find reliable information about the disease. Many also want to know how they can get tested, protect themselves, and more, and find it hard to do so. Sadly, scammers are using the pandemic to benefit from other people, wherein most of them might be susceptible to their wicked efforts than ever before. Many government agencies and non-government organizations are intervening to combat these scam artists and protect people's safety. There are steps that you can take to avoid getting yourself scammed from these criminals. The most important thing, however, is being smart and being two steps ahead of these con artists. Fake Coronavirus Tests The scam works by calling or directing the consumers to a website that looks like a legitimate medical or clinic supply company providing a coronavirus test kit. These tests can presumably determine if you have been infected with the virus, even if after recovering from the disease. Moreover, some companies promise that these kits can deliver results in less than ten minutes. All you have to do is to fill in a form and type in your credit card details. In some instances, the tests are offered through a clinic, and other times, the test includes an at-home testing kit. However, the company selling these kits lack in detail and are not willing to hand out information regarding the COVID-19 test kits they are selling. Be warned. Do not fall for it because these alleged test kits aren't FDA-approved. You can avoid these scams by: Consult with a licensed doctor. If you want an antibody test performed on you, go to your nearest healthcare provider. These healthcare professionals can help you determine where to look for a legitimate clinic and if the test can be covered by insurance. Do thorough research. Fraudsters put lots of pressure on people to buy from them without allowing them to research. That said, to avoid fake tests, research all the claims and promises the company makes. Know if the company is BBB Accredited, have no complaints, and has good reviews. Know your options. A detailed guide to testing for the virus can be found on the official website of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Be aware of the various tests accessible and what you might need. Be on the lookout for scam texts and emails. In recent years, phishing schemes have become sophisticated. It can even include email addresses or official imagery that look like email addresses by accredited businesses. Texts and phone calls from fraudsters pretending to be trustworthy businesses might have your information, like your phone number or name, to convince you that they are legitimate. You Can't Buy A Cure Yet Fraudsters are always on the lookout for an opportunity to steal your personal information and money. What's more, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is providing them the perfect chance to try and find victims. The Federal Bureau of Investigation warns that there are a few emerging fraud schemes wherein scammers attempt to play on your fears. COVID-19 treatment and testing are two areas the FBI is seeing scam artists at work. Most COVID-19 scams include attempts by either individuals or companies to market products and insist it can cure or prevent the virus that killed nearly 500,000 people worldwide. Scammers sell fake remedies ranging from cow manure to colloidal silver. They randomly reach out to people to sell supplies or test kits. However, the novel coronavirus is entirely new, meaning there's no cure or vaccine for it yet. Vaccine trials are in progress, but any measurable results are still a few months away. That said, do not believe anyone who emails or calls you selling a treatment plan. The good news is, governments in different countries are trying to combat these scammers' MO. For instance, in the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently released warnings to seven companies after advertising products with unsupported claims. If the companies continue to engage in false promotions, the FTC can get a federal court injunction and grant an order requiring consumer refunds. According to FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, the promotion and sale of fake COVID-19 products are a threat to the health and safety of the public. If people purchase these fraudulent products and commodities in hopes that they'll prevent someone from getting infected, it could motivate them to disobey social distancing regulations. Besides, the public has many different ways to get free testing for COVID-19. Private clinics and country health departments also offer it. These institutions are recommended and reliable places to get a COVID-19 test. Takeaway Protecting yourself from COVID-19 testing scams takes a dose of skepticism and prep work. The FTC encourages the public to practice adequate online security to make it challenging for fraudsters to access personal information. Else, scammers will benefit from your money and information because these criminals will prey and steal even during this crisis. Report: Iran Will Send Flight Recorders From Ukrainian Jet To Paris June 11, 2020 Iran has told the United Nations aviation agency that it will send the black boxes from a downed Ukrainian passenger jet to Paris for analysis after it secures agreements with countries involved in the investigation, Reuters reported. Iran has refused to hand over the flight recorders from the Ukraine International Airlines flight, which was shot down on January 8 near Tehran by an Iranian surface-to-air missile, killing 176 people. Nearly half of the people killed were Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, which has pressed Iran to send the black boxes to France. The other countries involved in the investigation are Ukraine and the United States. In March, Iran told the UN's aviation agency that it would send the black boxes to Ukraine. But on June 10, a representative from Iran told a virtual meeting of the agency's governing council that Tehran would now send the heavily damaged recorders to the BEA air accident investigation agency in France, according to two sources quoted by Reuters. "Iran said they will send them to Paris soon subject to agreement of the states involved in the investigation," said one of the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity. A spokeswoman for Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau declined to comment on the question of the boxes being sent to Paris, but referred to the commitment Iran made in March. "They showed an openness to transferring the black boxes but we want to see concrete action on their part to see it through," the spokeswoman said, according to Reuters. Iranian officials were not immediately available for comment, the news agency reported. Under UN rules, Iran retains control of the investigation, while the United States and Ukraine are accredited as the countries where the jet was built and operated, respectively. Based on reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/report-iran -will-send-flight-recorders-from- ukrainian-jet-to-paris/30664598.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address If you like your parotta, you are not going to like what's coming. As per a recent rule by the Authority for Advance Rulings' Karnata bench, parotta and roti are separate. Distinguishing between the two Indian varieties of shortbread, the GST ruling said that unlike roti, parotta will be subjected to an increased 18 percent GST. In what many are calling a bizarre ruling, the institution said that since "roti" was generic, not every flatbread could be considered a part of it. The reason given for the higher GST on parotta? Ready-to-eat parotta require to be heated. Rotis, on the other hand, are subjected to five percent GST. According to Entry 99A in Schedule I of 2017 GST Notifications, five percent GST on sale of goods is only applicable to products classified under Tariff Headings of either 1905 or 2106 or are either roti, khakra or plain chappatti. As per reports, the ruling came in response to a Whitefield-based private food-makers' application to include parotta under the heading 1905 which includes rotis and khakras. The ruling on the flatbread fell "flat" on foodies and parotta lovers on Twitter, many of whom lashed out at the AAR for the bizarre distinction. INC spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill called it 'Parantha tax terrorism' on Twitter. Yet others questioned the logic behind the decision as #HandsOffKerala trended on the microblogging site. Decision to impose 18%GST on Parrotta/Parantha is Govt of Indias Marie-Antoinette if people dont dont have bread let them eat cake moment; when need is to provide bread & butter,finance ministry is taxing Parantha -Govt Parantha tax terrorism is act of stupidity & cruelty Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) June 12, 2020 Roti & Chapati - 5% GST Parotta - 18% GST Our tax authorities work in mysterious ways. (h/t @qfint ) Nitin Pai (@acorn) June 12, 2020 Classic and Whole Wheat Malabar "Parota" under Schedule III of GST Laws is taxable at 18% GST. The government gave a very lame explanation that Porotta is taxed simply because it's not Roti. The flawed logic shows the north south divide in their politics.#HandsOffPorotta Arya (@RantingDosa) June 12, 2020 So now on Porotta will be taxed at 18% GST while roti will enjoy the privilege of a mere 5% !?#HandsOffPorotta pic.twitter.com/BhryyiXRzu Sandheep Sudarsanan (@Sandheepmsn) June 12, 2020 On Twitter, the issue soon took on a more regional angle as many claimed the ruling was discriminatory of people from Kerala where parotta is a staple. Some even called it "food fascism". 5% GST for Rotis and 18% GST for Porotta?! This discrimination should end right now. Say No to Food Fascism! You dont get to decide what we should eat! #HandsOffPorotta pic.twitter.com/Y59zjkdT6q The Saudade Guy (@arunrajpaul) June 12, 2020 5% GST for Rotis and 18% GST for Porotta?! This discrimination should end right now. Say No to Food Fascism! You dont get to decide what we should eat! #HandsOffPorotta pic.twitter.com/Y59zjkdT6q The Saudade Guy (@arunrajpaul) June 12, 2020 Six months ago, Rlway removed pazhampori,puttu,porotta frm railway menu and included alien foods like rajma chaval. Now, they're going to impose 18%GST on porotta while roti, chapati still on 5% slab. That's food fascism.#handsoffporotta pic.twitter.com/cg8s0LRjHH D (@worker_bee44) June 12, 2020 Wowww... So Chappatti and Rotis only 5% GST (essential item) while Kerala Porottas will carry 18% GST (luxury item). What's next? Appam and Pazhampori having 28% GST?#HandsOffPorotta Advaid (@Advaidism) June 12, 2020 According to new GST ruling, Roti & Chapatti : 5% GST Tax Porotta : 18% GST Tax Kerala "Parota" is not "Roti" because unlike rotis which are ready to eat, Porotas need to be heated before consumption. The HEIGHTS of Indian Bureaucracy. #HandsOffPorotta pic.twitter.com/5wC2ufiTAJ Advaid (@Advaidism) June 12, 2020 Yet others claimed that even though they were not from Kerala or other southern states where parotta is popular, they loved the flatbread preparation and were outraged by the bizarre distinction. The message was clear - stay off our plates. The single best example of why tax laws need to be simple. Also, explains why so many different tax slabs under GST are a nuisance. If the taxman has to decide between what is parantha and what is roti, god help us. https://t.co/xQpaFrtwIT (@kaul_vivek) June 12, 2020 By imposing 18% gst on Porotta you are waging a war against common man We won't let you dictate what to eat and what not to.#HandsOffPorotta pic.twitter.com/HCrXQrY9I0 Adarsh Babu (@adarshbabucs) June 12, 2020 READ: 18% GST on Parota, 5% on Rotis: Karnataka Tax Authorities' New Ruling Explains the Difference And of course, there were memes and jokes. #HandsOffPorotta According to new GST ruling, Roti & Chapatti : 5% GST Tax Porotta : 18% GST Tax *Le Parathas - pic.twitter.com/xTCpfI8Nse Chicku (@sassy_naari) June 12, 2020 18 % GST on paratha 5 % GST on Roti and Chapati Meanwhile Punjabis : pic.twitter.com/QSinFxN4sh JRism (@Chaotic_mind999) June 12, 2020 Aloo to other food ingredients after getting into 18% GST Category : pic.twitter.com/Qb22qWp4ye Ram* (@SocialChartered) June 12, 2020 Roti - 5% GST Parota - 18%GST No way I'm looking at butter naan that would definitely place naan at 28% GST#handsofparota pic.twitter.com/khUeR0whcL simar ghuman (@ghumansimar98) June 12, 2020 A ransomware attack that targeted the offices of the City of Knoxville, Tennessee, forced to shut down its entire computer network. The city of Knoxville, Tennessee, has shut down its computer network following a ransomware attack. The attack took place in the night between June 10 and June 11, the malware encrypted multiple systems in the IT network. According to Chief Operations Officer David Brace, the attack has been discovered by employees of the citys fire department around 4:30 AM, June 11. Brace said The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigating is investigating into the incident. Knoxville is the third-largest city in Tennessee, after Nashville and Memphis, and has a population of over 180,000. The City of Knoxville computer networks have been attacked by ransomware, according to an email sent to city employees. reported WVLT. Please be advised that our network has been attacked with ransomware, said the notice sent Thursday morning. Information Systems is currently following recommended protocols. This includes shutting down servers, our internet connections, and PCs. Please do not log in to the network or use computer applications at this time. Cyber attacks can happen to anyone or any government no matter how good the defense is. In a lot of cases its not a matter of if but a matter of when. Our IT department has been in contact with the city and we stand ready to help if they need it." @GlennJacobsTN pic.twitter.com/34g5ljtGql Knox Co. Government (@KnoxGov) June 11, 2020 At this time, the website of the City of Knoxville is still down and the City Court sessions have also been canceled. The citys Fire Department spokesmen D.J. Corcoran and Scott Erland said that both Fire Department and Police Department operations are not affected following the security breach, but employees cannot access the citys network. A city spokesperson confirmed that City offices and services are open, though citizens may encounter some inconveniences. COO David Brace pointed out that no personal information was accessed during the attack. The City will use backup to resume operations, the good news is that backup servers were not affected. No credit card information is stored by the City, so individuals who have made any online reservations of City facilities are not believed to be at risk, Knoxville spokesman Eric Vreeland told WBIR. Operators behind the attack have already asked the payment of a ransom, but the Citys administration will not pay it. Brace said the attackers have requested a ransom payment to free city files they control, but he declined to reveal the amount or speak about the process other than to say forensic analysists and risk management consultants are working with law enforcement to resolve the issue. reported Knox News. Ransomware is we lock your stuff down and (you) give us money to get your stuff back, he said. Its not good. Thats exactly what has happened, and our experts are working on that and how to tackle it. It is still unclear which is the malware family that infected the systems of the City. Small cities are a privileged target for ransomware operators, it is quite easy for them to infect their systems. Other US cities that suffered similar incidents are Atlanta, Denver, New Orleans, Baltimore, Ocala, Naples, Lake City, Riviera Beach City, Pensacola City, Jackson County, Racine, and Palm Beach. Pierluigi Paganini (SecurityAffairs Knoxville, ransomware) Advertisement A renowned Russian artist has accused Facebook of trying to 'delete history' after it banned her colourised version of a famous Second World War image showing troops flying a Soviet flag over the Reichstag. Photo colourist Olga Shirnina from Moscow, Russia, is considered a world expert in transforming historic black and white pictures into colour. But she claims a series of photos, brought to life and posted to her 23,000 followers, were removed by Facebook for breaching 'Community Standards'. She said she was also suspended by the social media giant for three days. One photo shows a striking picture of a side profile of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler dressed in a black suit at a New Year's reception. Another colourised image shows the iconic scene of Russian Soviet soldiers lifting the 'Red Banner' over the Reichstag on May 2 1945 as they celebrated their victory in the Battle of Berlin. Another photograph shows a colourised portrait of Nazi, Hermann Goering, who ruled Germany between 1933 and 1945, before becoming a key member of Hitler's cabinet. Olga Shirona, who colourised the images including the one above of Adolf Hitler dressed in a black suit at a New Year's Eve function, said: 'We live in very absurd times. We should resist all attempts to rewrite history and delete it just because someone doesn't like it.' Olga Shirnina claims the picture of Yevgeni Khaldei's iconic World War Two photo, 'Raising a Flag Over the Reichstag' (pictured left) was banned from Facebook. The photo was taken during the Battle of Berlin on 2 May 1945 and came to be regarded as one of the most significant images from the war because of the Reichstag's symbolism as the heart of Nazi Germany. The banned portrait of Hermann Goering, (right), shows one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party. After the war Goering was taken to a prisoner of war camp in Luxembourg and became the second-highest ranking official to be later tried at Nuremberg. He was indicted of four charges during a trial that lasted 218 days and sentenced to death by hanging. The night before he was due to be executed, Goering committed suicide with a potassium cyanide capsule Soviet hero Natalya Meklin-Kravtsova (left) was a flight commander in the 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment. She had flown an estimated 980 night missions and dropped 147 tons of bombs on enemy-controlled territory by the end of the war. Evgeniya Rudneva (right) was the head navigator of the 46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment, and recieved the posthumous award of Hero of the Soviet Union. She flew 645 night combat missions before she was shot down on 9 April 1944 Despite being the most highly decorated unit in the Soviet Air Force during the war, the Night Witches regiment (above) was disbanded just six months after the end of World War Two. The daring female pilots who bombed the Nazis by night were a crucial Soviet asset to winning the war A banned image above shows a wreathe-laying ceremony in Warsaw in 1939, several months before Nazi Germany invaded Poland, held by soldiers with a Nazi-embellished sash hung draped around it A banned photograph shows prominent Nazi Heinrich Himmler, SS leader, front left, meeting with German Ambassador to Poland Hans-Adolf von Moltke in 1939. He was one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany and a prominent orchestrator of the Holocaust. After the war he tried to flee and go into hiding but was detained at a checkpoint and brought to the British 31st Civilian Interrogation Camp near Luneburg. Himmler admitted his identity and a doctor attempted to conduct a medical exam on him. He refused to open his mouth, before biting into a hidden potassium cyanide pill and collapsing on the floor, dying within 15 minutes Another banned picture shows a Russian soldier raising the Soviet flag over Berlin. Colourist Olga Shirmina said the photos, bought to life and posted to her 23,000 followers, were removed by Facebook for breaching 'Community Standards' Commander of the Taman Guards Women's Regiment, Yevdokia Bershanskaya, and navigator, Larissa Rozanova, are pictured together above Two Nazi soldiers dressed in white are seen outside a dilapidated building in Kharkhiv, Ukraine, in 1943. Olga claims the above photo was removed from Facebook This colourised image shows Russian soldiers raising a victory banner. 'People - especially from certain countries - even demanded that I 'stop the red propaganda.' I was stunned but then I thought well if people don't like it, I'll just give them more', Olga Shirnina said The first Olga says was removed was the picture of Hermann Goering before more were swiftly taken down. The colourist has since called for people to resist the 'attempt to rewrite history and delete it just because someone doesn't like it'. Shrina's account had been suspended before after she posted an image of two Nazi soldiers during a battle in the Ukraine, but she says she was suspended again for three days after posting a colourised version of the iconic Red Banner photograph last month. Olga, who developed an interest in photographic colouring through her passion for history, claims Facebook told her the images contained 'dangerous individuals and organisations'. 'When my images were taken down, there were many complaints so Facebook turned around and said there had been a 'technical error' but I don't believe that's true,' Olga said. 'Later, I received a message saying, "We confirmed your post didn't follow community standards." There was no mention of an error. I was surprised because one of the images had been on the website for one year. 'I was outraged. Goering was in fact a "dangerous individual" but I don't think anybody should try to delete history. There are so many Facebook pages on Nazi soldiers. 'However, I couldn't believe that they had said the same thing about the Soviet soldiers hoisting the victory banner - a celebration after four years of a horrible war. That's impertinence. 'Such things spur on my defiance. Even if they deleted my page, the Internet is a big place and my followers have already asked where else they'd be able to locate my work.' 'Raising a Flag over the Reichstag' is one of the most recognisable photos taken during World War II. It was taken during the Battle of Berlin and was subsequently reprinted thousands of times - becoming a symbol of the Soviet's victory over the Nazis.' At the time, the Soviet media was incredibly secretive over both the photographer and those captured in the image. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the photographer was named as Yevgeny Khalei. A Soviet regiment of dozens of men stand in front of tanks as they receive orders before embarking on a mission Soviet sniper, Semyon Nomokonov (1900-1973 and pictured left), smokes on a pipe. He initially marked the number of kills on his smoking pipe, and is credited with 367 in total. He was awarded two Orders of the Red Star, Order of the Red Banner, Order of Lenin among other medals. Ivan Serikov (right) is seen in colour in his uniform as he stands next to a tank. The photo was colourised by Olga Shirmina, considered to be one of the best in the world Marine scouts lay low under the command of junior lieutenant, A. Petrov, in 1942 Regiments are pictured left after storming the Reichstag on 7 May 1945, the day the German army surrendered in Western Europe, ending more than five years of warfare. A smiling Red Army traffic controller (right) stands in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The Red Army was established immediately after the October 1917 Revolution and, beginning in February 1946, embodied the main component of the Soviet Armed Forces The above photo shows the crew of junior liutenant A. Shilov, as they sit on top of a tank under a near crystal clear blue sky. Shilov was later awarded with orders for military merit in 1943 Crowds of adoring women and children flock onto a station platform as they greet victorious soldiers returning home from the war 'I noticed all colourised war photographs were of America, British, French, and German soldiers but no Russians. I decided to fill in the gap but the photos of the Red Army in colour caused a flurry of negativity,' Olga said. 'People - especially from certain countries - even demanded that I 'stop the red propaganda.' I was stunned but then I thought well if people don't like it, I'll just give them more. 'I colourise images because I like it. I love history and it's very interesting to create a new view of events from the past. 'We live in very absurd times. We should resist all attempts to rewrite history and delete it just because someone doesn't like it.' A Facebook company spokespersons said: 'This content was removed in error by our automated tools and has now been restored. We apologize to users for any inconvenience caused by this action.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-13 00:45:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People rest at a park in New York, the United States, June 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese government spokesperson on Friday denounced the U.S. restrictions on Chinese students, saying that China "firmly opposes politicizing and stigmatizing the normal exchanges of international students." The spokesperson for the Ministry of Education said the restrictive measures taken by the United States contradicted what its leaders had said on many public occasions that Chinese students are welcomed in the United States. China urges the United States to return to rational thinking, respect public opinions and do things that are conducive to mutual exchanges and understanding between the two peoples, said the spokesperson. "We will continue to support exchange of students between China and the United States and welcome students from other countries, the United States included, to study in China," the spokesperson said. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has announced that the statue of Confederate soldier Richard Dick Dowling will be moved from Hermann Park by Juneteenth. This is fitting, because you cant celebrate Juneteenth and Dick Dowling at the same time. By moving Dowling, Houston is finally choosing Juneteenth. Juneteenth is remembered as the date in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger read an order in Galveston that reminded white Texans of what they already knew. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863, had declared that all enslaved people living in the states of the Confederate rebellion were forever free. Why, then, did it take until June 19, 1865, for that proclamation to be enforced in Texas? Part of the answer: Dick Dowling. On Sept. 8, 1863, eight months after Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation, U.S. navy and army forces steamed up the Sabine River with a plan to return Texas to federal control. Had they succeeded, Texans might well remember that date, and not Juneteenth, as the moment when freedom came. Instead, federal forces were defeated at the Battle of Sabine Pass. The reason had as much to do with bungling and poor coordination by U.S. officers as it did with the defense of Texas mounted by Confederates, who had mostly abandoned their positions around the Sabine Pass before the battle. That left only Dowling, a few cannons and a few dozen men to defend Fort Griffin, a small fortification that had been built, in part, by the coerced labor of slaves. With some well-aimed cannon fire from the fort, Dowlings men forced the U.S. military to retreat. Federal troops would not return in force to Texas until the summer of 1865, by which time Dowlings victory had made him a Confederate legend. That legend is the one that Dowlings statue in Hermann Park honors. But consider how the Battle of Sabine Pass looked from the perspective of enslaved Texans in 1863. For these men and women, Dowlings famous victory was a moment of defeat that delayed their liberation. How would they have regarded the hero of Sabine Pass? It does not require great imagination to answer that question, because African Americans themselves participated in the Battle of Sabine Pass on the side of the Union, of course. At least two dozen black sailors were on board the Union gunboats that steamed into Sabine Pass to face Dowlings guns at Fort Griffin. Many of them never left the pass again. Casualty reports indicate that several African Americans were among the many Union sailors who suffered gruesome and often fatal wounds when one U.S. gunboats boiler exploded, spraying scalding hot water on the boats crew. Among those killed at the battle, according to a surgeon aboard another U.S. boat, were three contrabands the term that many Americans used at the time to describe enslaved freedom-seekers who fled to U.S. military lines during the war, effectively emancipating themselves and then enlisting in the fight for a broader emancipation. Other official casualty lists note the participation of black men in the battle, including one that reported the death of a negro contraband, name unknown. These and other documents about the Battle of Sabine Pass can be seen in a digital collection created by Rice University students, faculty and staff in 2011. Together, they reveal a story that centers not on Dowling, but on the people whom Dowling was shooting at. That story has long been erased or eclipsed by Dowlings admirers, including at the state historic site near Port Arthur that will apparently be the Houston statues new home. But the state site at least has something that the Hermann Park location lacks: a small monument that acknowledges Union Casualties. The battleground monument even notes that Twenty-Five African-American Men Fought Here on Behalf of the Union, though it does not mention slavery, and it is dwarfed by the statue of a gigantic, bare-chested man who represents Dowling as the defender of the pass. The Union monuments claim that all of their names are unrecorded also needs to be updated in light of more recent research. One African American sailor, who was named at the time, was George Houston, contraband. He survived the battle and appeared on a Navy muster roll a few months later. And in doing so, he made clear how enslaved and formerly enslaved people thought about the Civil War. They fought on the side of the war that proclaimed emancipation for all; Dowling fought on the side that was trying to keep emancipators out. This Juneteenth, an empty corner of Hermann Park will signal that the City of Houston is beginning to agree with George Houston at last. McDaniel, a professor of history at Rice, won a Pulitzer Prize for Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America in the history books category. Breaking Down the 2020 Agenda Lead by the California Legislative Black Caucus The current social climate has been engulfed by the demands for equality within underserved communities, highlighting the brutality by police towards Black Americans. Additionally, there has been explicit evidence of racial inequities among healthcare and other fundamental resources within African American communities emphasized during the COVID-19 pandemic. These concerns lied dormant until a multiple layered crisis exposed the tremendous threat the imbalances have on the livelihoods of all nationalities. The California Legislative Black Caucus has a mission to address legislative concerns of African Americans and other citizens of color. They represent the black community in California, provide political influence, and create visibility within higher levels of government. Today there are 10 members and they look to serve as the conscience of the legislative and ballot measures. The benchmarks the CLBC look to push forward includes Healthcare Access, Housing, Public Safety, Social Justice, Economic Development, and Education. The goal through these measurements is to promote racial and gender equality as well as justice for the poor and other disenfranchised groups. The CLBC has released their 2020 Legislative Agenda and there are two noted categories: Priority and Supported Bills. They cover economics, education, and social justice. Here is a summary of measurements proposed this year: ACA 5 California Act for Economic Prosperity or Opportunity for all, would remove Article l, Section 31 from the California Constitution; prohibiting the state to carry out any act of discrimination in the setting of public employment, public education, or public contracting agreements. There will be no tolerance for preferential treatment or blocked opportunity based off race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. ADVERTISEMENT ACA 6 Free to Vote restores voting rights to people serving parole, this would affect a massive amount of Black Americans in California that are incarcerated and play a critical role in re-imagining the justice system that weighs heavily with in African American communities. AB 3121 Reparations Task Force will create a body around the study and development of Reparation Proposals for Black Americans. The bill is set to provide an in depth examination of the impact of slavery within the state, in order to capture a sense of guidance on how to address the pockets of systemic racism within California. Moving into the Supported Bills; these measurements include proposals for improved health and safety. SBB 144 would end the collection of administrative fees applied against people in the criminal justice system. This will dramatically reduce court ordered debt, the bill was created as a buffer against a part of the court system relying on the wealth stripped from underserved and low-income communities. AB 1460 Ethnic Studies would provide opportunity for all California State Universities to have a required ethnic studies class to graduate. AB 1835 Local Control Funding Formula identifies unspent capital resources within local educational agencies. By annually reconciling the estimated amounts, educational firms will have the opportunity to add that amount inclusive with the Local Control Accountability Plan and state funding appropriated to them. AB 1950 modifies the states Penal Code, as the measurement of Probation Reform, misdemeanors will be reduced to a maximum of one year and two years for a felony case. ADVERTISEMENT AB 1994 and AB 2019 focuses on Juvenile wellbeing after their time has been served, they would have uninterrupted health service and full access of Medi-Cal eligibility (1994). Additionally, youth within alternative and Juvenile court schools will have access to College and Career Pathway programs. (2019) AB 2054 C.R.I.S.E.S. Act develops a community response to local emergencies, the pilot program seeks to fill a void within the current system that responds to the community concern within vulnerable populations. Lastly, the AB 2405 proposal focuses the step beyond creating shelter and establishes housing for children and families in California, looking to be effective January 1, 2026. Within the Justice Matters Meeting held earlier this week, representatives from the Legislative Black Caucus emphasized measurements within this package. As previously stated, a member of the Legislative Black Caucus Senator Holly Mitchell talked about the legislative package that is going forth. She emphasized ACA 6 bringing voting rights to those serving parole, ACA-5 affirmative action that will be beneficial economically to prioritize underserved communities, and AB 3121 that will cover the feasibility of reparations in California. Through this proposed plan, the CLBC look to gain overwhelming improvement within the livelihoods of those who are easily forgotten in the voting rooms of Capitol Hill. With measurements pinpointing groups of people that have been severely hit by the social inequities, the 2020 legislative package has the ingredients to bring change among all underserved communities. New Delhi: India on Thursday snubbed an offer by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on sharing knowhow regarding cash transfer to people amid the coronavirus pandemic, with New Delhi saying that its stimulus package is as large as Pakistan's annual GDP. According to recent reports from Islamabad, Khans popularity has waned sharply due to Pakistans ever-deepening economic crisis and observers feel his latest offer therefore could be a publicity stunt to divert attention from domestic criticism. In it sreaction, dripping with sarcasm, the MEA said, Pakistan is better known for making cash transfers to bank accounts outside the country rather than giving to its own people. Clearly, Imran Khan needs a new set of advisers and better information. We all know about their debt problem (almost 90 per cent of GDP) and how much they have pressed for debt restructuring. It would also be better for them to remember that India has a stimulus package, which is as large as Pakistan's annual GDP. In reaction to a Pakistani media report, the Pakistani PM had tweeted, According to this report, 34 per cent of households across India will not be able to survive for more than a week without add assistance. I am ready to offer help and share our successful cash transfer programme lauded internationally for its reach & transparency, with India. (sic) City Wides principals, Wayne Mah, Shaun Zipursky, Dara Fahy, and Rowan Smith bring more than 25 years of experience to the CIMBC team. They lead a Vancouver-based team of around 30 agents, generating over $500 million in closed volume. Its great to have our autonomy back in the direction of the company, Says Smith, whose City Wide team was previously a part of two large brokerage networks. Its nice to have control of all of our own tools. Those tools were previously one of the things that attracted us to a network, but technology has come so far that you can replicate a lot of what they offer on your own. Bargis, for his part, says that throughout the discovery process he was extremely impressed with the professionalism and transparency the City Wide team demonstrated. He says Smith and his team share a solid understanding about where the industry is headed. I think a lot of the networks are going to face people going back down the independent road, Smith says about his vision of the industrys future. In years past there was a trend towards joining the super brokers to get maximum compensation. I think that the way lenders operate now, the technological change in the industry, and the way CIMBC works benefits the small guys. In partnering with CIMBC, City Wide will now access a suite of standardized services, educational opportunities, and platforms designed to improve practice efficiency and profitability. Smith says for his team, it came down to a unique combination of autonomy and support. Dr. Vivian Fischer offered medical care in Minneapolis during protests following the death of George Floyd in police custody there, May 30, 2020. (JTA) - Dr. Vivian Fischer spent five hours Saturday walking toward Minneapolis's devastation from her home in a suburb immediately outside the city. The family physician put on gray scrubs, her stethoscope, a mask and gloves, filled a backpack with whatever she had at home - extra masks, medical gloves, asthma inhalers, bandages, tweezers to pick glass out of cuts and water, and went to see where she could help. She found countless people sweeping up the glass on the streets from storefront windows broken in the chaos of Friday night's rioting. Others were, as volunteers, boarding up the s... Maybe now she can pay back Hamilton. Former Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede went from leading the ninth-largest municipality in New Jersey to landing a job as a mayoral flack. Yaede was hired as Republican Mayor Owen Henrys spokeswoman. Her name has appeared on press releases sent out by Henrys office since June 3. Yaede answered the phone when The Trentonian called Henrys office Friday asking for comment and salary information. She promised to pass the message along to her boss. Yaede had expressed interest in starting her own PR firm if she not re-elected. She lost last years election to Democrat Jeff Martin, who was sworn in Jan. 1. Yaede spent more than 11 years working for the American Cancer Society before leaving her gig as senior director of corporate relationships to take a job in the private sector in 2012. In her political career, the lifelong Hamilton resident spent time on the township Board of Education, then as council president before ascending to first female mayor of the township. She took over Nov. 30, 2012, following the resignation of the federally convicted John Bencivengo, who was found guilty of extortion and money laundering. Yaede won a special election in 2013 to serve for the remainder of Bencivengos term and re-election in 2015. She survived a bruising primary against GOP challenger David Henderson, finding herself in her own legal owes. Yaede and ex-campaign manager Dan Scharfenberger were charged with a disorderly persons offenses for knowingly releasing Hendersons expunged criminal records. While Hendersons lawsuit alleging a Yaede-led conspiracy is still pending, the ex-mayor and her campaign manager were cleared when a judge tossed out the criminal charges. The township continues to pursue Yaede for the $5,000 retainer she paid to Trenton criminal defense attorney Robin Lord. Yaedes law director Michael Balint cited an ordinance claiming the township was on the hook for the mayors legal expenses. The Trentonian obtained records that revealed the township cut Yaede a $5,000 reimbursement check Dec. 30, on her second-to-last day as mayor. The township also cut another $11,250 check to Lord the same day, but the Martin administration put a stop payment on it. Yaede already cashed her check by the time Martin learned of the reimbursement. Last month, township law Elissa Grodd Schragger sent the ex-mayor a second demand letter for repayment of what Yaedes nemesis Henderson called stolen funds. Schragger contends the ex-mayors administration erred in approving the use of township funds to cover Yaedes legal expenses. Yaede was charged for actions she took part of her re-election campaign, which was not part of her mayoral duties, the Martin administration says. Schragger wrote in the letter that she hope the debt could be resolved without having to resort to additional legal remedies. They may look like video game addicts, staring at their phones and laptops constantly, but these police officers aren't playing around. Members of the Police Unit for High-Tech Crime Prevention of Quang Tri Province have to live in the routines as the criminals they chase by staying up late and sleeping at daytime. Photo thanhnien.com.vn Our job as police officers in high-tech crimes requires us to play and understand games to understand the criminals, said Lieutenant Nguyen Phi Hung of the Police Unit for High-Tech Crime Prevention of Quang Tri Province. The unit, which was established in March 2017, consists of eight officers, all of them under 30. We might be sticking to our smartphone screens at our office, in restaurants, at cafes, but thats what weve got to do to understand hi-tech criminals tricks, the rules of their games, the way theyre thinking, Hung said. Hung added that members of his team also have to live in the routines as the criminals they chase by staying up late and sleeping at daytime. We sometimes long for a normal night's sleep like others, said Nguyen Thi Thuy Tien, 23, the youngest member of the team. More complicated Major Tran Le Hai, deputy head of the unit, said online fraud is becoming more and more common and complex these days. The simplest cyber fraud is stealing Facebook accounts and tricking the real Facebook account owners friends and family into sending money to them. The criminals, after stealing Facebook accounts, go back through chat histories to learn about the relationships of the real owners with other accounts, then talk to them and ask them for money via telephone cards or bank transfer. Another type of fraud is pretending to buy items from online sellers on Facebook. In 2019, Nguyen Quang Hiep, 21, from Quang Tri Province, used a Facebook account named Thu Lieu Pham to order things from Facebook sellers. Then he told sellers he was abroad and if the sellers wanted to receive payment they would need to log in to a link he sent them. Then the sellers had to put in their banking information like account numbers, password and OTP code. At least one woman was deceived and Hiep managed to steal VND450 million (US$19,000) from her account. Hiep was sentenced to three years of jail for online fraud to appropriate property. The latest fraud discovered by the Quang Tri high tech crimes police is 'Voting for the Voice'. Nguyen Lam The Vinh and Le Anh Huy from Thieu Phong District of Quang Tri Province allegedly set up a website disguised as a website to vote for candidates of the TV programme The Voice. Via the website, they are accused of using an app called Weebly to collect Facebook accounts information. Many people who followed the link and logged in with their IDs and passwords to vote had their information allegedly hacked by Vinh and Huy. They then reportedly used the Facebook accounts to continue their fraud to take money from many people. The pair have been arrested and an investigation is ongoing. Lieutenant Nguyen Phi Hung of the unit said although many criminals have been caught, high-tech crimes were on the rise in the province. When theyre playing games in a group, they talk to each other about the frauds and the frauds just spread, Hung said. Major Hai said he felt pity for the lost talents. Weve caught many hackers, and many of them are real talents, even much more talented than us. I wish they would use their talents in the right place, he said. VNS Vietnam facing cybersecurity challenges With increasing technological developments, Vietnam is facing more cybersecurity risks that are threatening national security, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and Head of the Administration of the President of Belarus Igor Sergienko have discussed the deepening of bilateral cooperation, the Ukrainian presidential press service has reported. "The parties discussed the forthcoming official visit of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to Belarus, which is tentatively scheduled for October this year. The parties expressed hope that the epidemic situation would not prevent the participation of the presidents of the two countries in the third Forum of Regions of Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus, which is to take place in autumn in Grodno, Belarus," the report said. According to the report, the interlocutors noted the good dynamics of trade turnover between the two countries and expressed hope that the coronavirus pandemic would not have a significant negative impact on bilateral economic cooperation. In addition, Yermak and Sergienko discussed cooperation in the field of infrastructure. Sergienko called the resumption of oil transit through Ukraine to the Mozyr Oil Refinery this spring a significant success and expressed confidence that the continuation of such cooperation would help strengthen the energy security of Belarus. Separately, Yermak thanked the Belarusian side for providing a negotiating platform for the work of the Trilateral Contact Group for the Peaceful Settlement of the Situation in Donbas (TCG). Yermak and Sergienko discussed in detail the issues of the two countries' fight against coronavirus and expressed hope that the governments of Ukraine and Belarus would be able to minimize the impact of the pandemic on bilateral economic cooperation. During the visit, a number of meetings were also held with members of the newly appointed government of Belarus to maintain a high intensity of bilateral contacts. In particular, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories Oleksiy Reznikov met with Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Yuri Nazarov. Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Taran also met with Minister of Defense of Belarus Viktor Khrenin. Photo: President's Office "In a situation like the current one, there is a greater requirement, and we have arranged for S/127 million (about US$36.80 million) of the budget which is managed by municipalities in order to buy food to be increased by 50% (...)," he expressed. Likewise, the top official announced that S/17 million (about US$4.92 million) will be allocated to municipalities, so that hygiene kits are delivered to soup kitchens. "It is essential to feed the most vulnerable people. Thus, soup kitchens will have priority as well as the budget they require, since they are allies of the Government by assisting vulnerable people," he said. "But we need to activate all of them because we must guarantee people's food. Besides, 700,000 people are served by soup kitchens nationwide," he underlined. The statesman added that of the 13,664 soup kitchens 3,000 are fully operational and complying with the respective safety protocols. This amount is expected to climb to 6,000 by the end of June. Lastly, he projected that all of them should operate in July. Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: En coordinacion con las ministras de @MidisPeru y @MEF_Peru, se acordo transferir un 50% adicional del presupuesto destinado a los comedores populares, con el objetivo de incrementar la atencion de los ciudadanos en estos establecimientos. pic.twitter.com/Q1e6nABXLI As headline after headline spread Friday about a new biography on First Lady Melania Trump, the White House responded with a brief, disdainful dismissal. "Yet another book about Mrs. Trump with false information and sources," said Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's spokeswoman and chief of staff. "This book belongs in the fiction genre." Grisham was referring to The Art of Her Deal, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter Mary Jordan and, according to the publisher, based on more than 100 interviews. Details of the book were first reported by the Post on Friday morning, particularly what Jordan describes as the first lady's successful efforts to renegotiate her prenuptial agreement with President Donald Trump in the wake of his 2016 election win. The original agreement, according to Jordan, was not very good and the first lady's focus was on "taking care of Barron," the young son she shares with the president. Mrs. Trump, 50, "wanted proof in writing that when it came to financial opportunities and inheritance, Barron would be treated as more of an equal to Trumps oldest three children," Jordan writes, according to the Post. The first lady and Barron's pending move to the White House from New York City, to join President Trump, was used as leverage. The Art of Her Deal digs into Mrs. Trump's earlier life as well, according to the Post, and Jordan writes skeptically of some parts of the first lady's background including her assertions about her education and how she first met the 73-year-old president. The book publisher promises yet other new details, according to a press release: "While her public image is of an aloof woman floating above the political gamesmanship ... behind the scenes Melania Trump is not only part of President Trump's inner circle, but for some key decisions she has been his single most influential adviser." Story continues From left: Barron Trump with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in January RELATED: Melania Trump Urges Students to Take Care of Themselves amid Coronavirus Pandemic MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty First Lady Melania Trump In one scene recounted early in the book, according to the publisher, Mrs. Trump says that she wanted to put out a statement following the leaked Access Hollywood tape that caught her husband bragging about touching women's genitals. "I am not going to sit here and pretend that I don't have an opinion," she said. "I have an opinion and people need to know my opinion." Some of the reporting in Jordan's book echoes a biography last year of the first lady by CNN White House reporter Kate Bennett. Bennett had cooperation from Mrs. Trump's office, though they were displeased by the end result. Then, as now, her spokeswoman bit back. Mrs. Trump is surprised at Kate Bennetts reporting, Grisham told PEOPLE in a statement at the time about Free, Melania. Our office worked with Kate in good faith on her book, and thought she would do an honest job. Sadly, it includes many false details and opinions, showing Ms. Bennett spoke to many anonymous people who dont know the First Lady, Grisham said. It continues to be disappointing when people, especially journalists, write books with false information just to profit off the First Family. The Art of Her Deal will be released on Tuesday. Chennai, June 12 : A video on social media has brought to light an act of utmost cruelty meted out to a prized Jallikattu bull that died on June 6. The bull is seen tied to a tree, being taunted by a unidentified person resulting in its death. The man was seen provoking the bull by throwing mud at it. The heartless act was reported from in Krishnagiri district in Tamil Nadu. Everytime it is taunted, the infuriated beast tied to the tree would attempt to charge at its provocator only to hit the tree repeatedly. The man was also seen pulling the bulls horn standing behind the tree thereby further provoking the animal. At one point, the animal broke its horn by hitting the tree. The animal that used to participate in the bull race lost its orientation at one point and fell down. According to reports, the bull owner Vetrivel performed the final rites thinking that the animal died after getting injured by hitting the tree. However, the bull's cruel end came to light recently when the video was circulated in the social media. Police in Krishnagiri told IANS that the owner has not lodged a complaint after the video got circulated in the social media. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12 By Tamilla Mammadova Trend: The US-Georgia relations are exemplary especially in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said, Trend reports via Georgian media. The US ambassador spoke with journalists during her trip to Gori municipality in the Shida Kartli region. "Georgian government has done a great job of managing the crisis and the US is proud to be working with Georgia," Degnan said. According to her, the state of emergency has been managed very well to enable economic development, which Georgia needs so much. Ambassador Degnan also told Georgian journalists earlier that the US and Georgia have done a lot to build the partnership and cooperation. Stressing that the US continues to support the country, Ambassador Degnan said the two countries undoubtedly remain strong strategic partners. "We will continue to take many initiatives with Georgia, because we believe in future and success of the country", ambassador Degnan said. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356 An Indian national, Laagan Yadav (45), has been taken into custody by the Nepal border police. One person was killed and two others injured in alleged unprovoked firing by Nepals Armed Police Force (APF) at the border near Bihars Sitamarhi district on Friday. According to Sitamarhi police, the incident took place after a clash between Indians and Nepali armed police personnel at the Lalbandi Janki Nagar border in Pipra Parsain Panchayat under Sonebarsha police station of the district. The deceased identified as Vikesh Kumar, 25, died on the spot while two others were seriously wounded in the incident. Reports suggest that one person has been detained by the Nepali police team after the firing incident. The police said that the injured were rushed to the local hospital for treatment. According to reports, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and senior district officials are currently camping near the border and monitoring the situation. The Nepali police opened fire after a clash broke out near the border between 8.30 and 9 am. A person was killed and two others sustained bullet injuries. We have also been informed that a person has been detained by the Nepali police following the incident. The matter is being investigated and all necessary legal steps are being taken, Sitamarhi SP Anil Kumar said after the incident. Sources, however, said that the agricultural land of the one of the victim falls near the border where the incident took place. They were working in their fields when the Nepali armed police personnel started firing indiscriminately in which one person died and few others were injured. India shares around 1850 km long porous border with Nepal and people travel freely for work and to visit family and friends. The state government had sealed the Indo- Nepal border in March amid coronavirus pandemic. The incident also comes amid heightened border tensions between the two countries. In May, the Nepali government had issued a controversial map showing Indian territories of Kalapani and Lipulekh as its own. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday it was absurd and shameful that a statue of Winston Churchill was at risk of attack by protesters, some of whom daubed the words was a racist at an earlier anti-racism demonstration. It is absurd and shameful that this national monument should today be at risk of attack by violent protesters, the British leader wrote on Twitter. Yes, he sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial. We cannot now try to edit or censor our past. We cannot pretend to have a different history, he said, calling on people to avoid protests planned this weekend. [June 11, 2020] Government Technology Agency of Singapore Concludes Third HackerOne Bug Bounty Programme, Enhancing Cybersecurity Defenses SINGAPORE, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HackerOne, the number one hacker-powered security platform , and Singapore's Government Technology Agency (GovTech), supported by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) today announced the results of its third Government Bug Bounty Programme (GBBP), part of the Singapore Government's ongoing initiative to build a secure and resilient Smart Nation , a government-wide initiative to improve the lives of citizens and increase business opportunities through the adoption of digital and smart technologies throughout Singapore. Nearly 300 white hat hackers from around the world participated in GovTech's third bug bounty program from November 18 to December 8, 2019, testing 13 public government Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems, digital services and mobile applications with high end user touchpoints. Hackers discovered a total of 33 valid security vulnerabilities and earned US$30,800 in bounties, financial incentives awarded for submitting valid security vulnerabilities, making this the most successful program to date for the agency. Hackers from across the globe participated, including 72 local Singaporean hackers. Eugene Lim, a 24-year-old better known as @spaceraccoon , remained as the top hacker on the program, with local Singaporean hackers Samuel Eng ( @samengmg ) and Nicholas Lim ( @kactros_n ) taking the top 3 positions. Hacker-powered security continues to be a core tenet in GovTech's approach to cybersecurity, with three bug bounty programs successfully completed to date with HackerOne and a recently launched vulnerability disclosure program that allows any ethical hacker in the world to disclose a vulnerability at any time to GovTech. GvTech's first bug bounty challenge was launched in December 2018 and a second program in July 2019. HackerOne continues to be selected to manage GovTech's bug bounty programmes because of its proven track record of success with government agencies globally, including its work with the U.S. Department of Defense and the European Commission. HackerOne has the largest global ethical hacker community - over 600,000 strong representing 170 countries around the world. Our customers have also been investing in growing hacker talent in the region. In the last Bug Bounty Programme run by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) Singapore, half of the invited participants were local white-hat hackers, to groom talent and generate interest in white-hat hacking locally. "The Singapore Government continues to be an industry leader when it comes to cybersecurity," said Paul Turner, VP of Sales, EMEA and APAC at HackerOne. "Hacker-powered security is the foundation of any mature and proactive security program. By providing an opportunity to engage local as well as global hacker talent, GovTech is not only delivering on its Smart Nations goals, but also enhancing the way it services its citizens in terms of safety, security, and opportunity. Through its close relationships with ethical hackers, the Singapore Government is one step ahead in the ongoing battle against cybercriminals and ensuring that end users are safe online." This latest bug bounty challenge occurs against the backdrop of an evolution in cybersecurity, where everyone from government agencies to Fortune 500 companies are embracing the positive power of ethical hackers. Policymakers across the globe are recommending hacker-powered security, with some even introducing legislation to encourage and even require adoption. Just last month, the Singapore Government announced a budget commitment of one billion Singaporean dollars (S$1 billion) over the next three years to help shore up the government's cyber and data security capabilities. The Cyber Security Advisory Panel of the Monetary Authority of Singapore last year also recommended financial institutions adopt bug bounty programs as part of their cyber testing. The adoption of hacker-powered security is growing in the Asia Pacific region with the number of hacker-powered security programs increasing by 30% in 2019 according to platform data in HackerOne's 2019 Hacker-Powered Security Report . Organizations in Singapore awarded hackers nearly $390,000 in bug bounties the same year, the highest volume in the Asia Pacific region, explained HackerOne's 2020 Hacker Report released earlier this year. To meet the growing demand for hacker-powered security solutions in the region, HackerOne opened an office in Singapore last year. This expansion has led to additional customer programs with government, enterprise and technology organizations including GovTech, Toyota, Tencent Security Response Center, LINE, Nintendo, MINDEF Singapore, Grab, Alibaba, and mobile technology manufacturers OPPO and OnePlus. To learn more about bug bounty programs, please visit here . About HackerOne HackerOne is the #1 hacker-powered security platform , helping organizations find and fix critical vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. More Fortune 500 and Forbes Global 1000 companies trust HackerOne than any other hacker-powered security alternative. With more than 1,900 customer programs, including The U.S. Department of Defense, General Motors, Google, Goldman Sachs, PayPal, Hyatt, Twitter, GitHub, Nintendo, Lufthansa, Microsoft, MINDEF Singapore, Panasonic Avionics, Qualcomm, Starbucks, Dropbox, and Intel, HackerOne has helped to find over 170,000 vulnerabilities and award more than $100M in bug bounties to a growing community of over 700,000 hackers. HackerOne is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in London, New York, the Netherlands, France and Singapore. SOURCE HackerOne STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In the scramble for federal dollars we call the U.S. Census, how is Staten Island doing so far? Well, that depends on where you look. As a whole, the Island is on track to beat its participation performance in 2010 (62.2%), thereby placing Islanders in a better position to receive their share of $650 billion in federal funding for everything from education to public housing and medical emergency response. The census deadline has been extended to Oct. 31 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The figures compare participation with expected population based on the number of housing units in a particular community. And, Staten Islands current response rate of 57.9%, as of June 11, puts us ahead of all other boroughs, ahead of the overall state response rate of 56.2% and ahead of the New York City rate of 51.8%, according to figures provided by the New York City Census 2020 Team. Manhattan has a 53.3% rate, followed by the Bronx, with 53.2% of its citizens having participated thus far. Queens has a rate of 51.6%, and Brooklyn has the poorest showing thus far, with only 49% of its residents having filled out the census form at that point. Were in a nationwide competition, said Julie Menin, the director of the census for New York City. Theres a finite amount of federal dollars for roads, tunnels, bridges, education, public housing, emergency preparedness . . . Hundreds of programs depend on this. The U.S. Census, conducted every 10 years, is mandatory and is part of the U.S. Constitution (Article 1, Section 2). It legally requires the country to accurately count residents, whether citizens or not. In effect since 1790, the results of the federeal census determines how more than $650 billion in federal funds for public education, public housing, roads and bridges, and more, will be distributed annually throughout the country. It also defines the number of seats each state is allocated in the House of Representatives (and thus, the Electoral College). Residents are encouraged to fill out the quick survey online, by phone or mail. STATEN ISLAND LEADERS Looking closer at the Island results, Arden Heights leads the borough, with 65.9% of residents already responding to the query, followed closely by Richmond, with 65.8% responding. Staten Islands other leading communities include: CUNY College of Staten Island: 64.4% Eltingville: 64.2% Castleton Corners: 63.6% Great Kills: 63.5% Westerleigh: 63.2% Todt Hill: 63.1% Grasmere: 62.7% Rossville: 62.6% Census workers consider some communities to be priority neighborhoods. These are communities which historically have very low census participation rates, thereby hurting their community, and Staten Island as a whole, when I comes to receiving its fair share of federal funding. City Hall has launched a big push in these neighborhoods across the city in the form of the Census 2020 Team, in an effort to improve the count for the 2020 Census. Theres even an opportunity to win a $1,000 Grubhub gift card just for filling out the census form. Heres how Staten Islands priority neighborhoods have fared so far: Fort Wadsworth: 35.2% Clifton: 35.4% Stapleton: 41.8% Elm Park: 46.5% St. George: 47.1% Tompkinsville: 48.2% Port Richmond: 48.3% Mariners Harbor: 48.4% Port Ivory: 50.4% DID YOU KNOW? Census statistics are made available to private businesses who then can analyze population trends when making decisions about stores, where to open them, and what products to stock. The U.S. Census form: Residents will be asked the following questions on the 2020 Census form: Name Age Date of birth Race and ethnicity Gender Do you own or rent your home Number of people living in the home on April 1, 2020 Your relationship in comparison to the first person listed on the form There are no questions about citizenship on the census form. To complete the census form online visit the website, which is accessible now. Even as fake news regarding coronavirus has been on the rise, a false prescription from a New Delhi hospital has been going viral and misleading people on social media. The prescription, appearing under the name of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the capital, has been going viral on social media platforms including Twitter and WhatsApp. The contentious prescription suggested contacts of COVID-19 patients to observe home isolation and also prescribed them "preventive medicines" such as hydroxychloroquine and Vitamin C supplements. "As per ICMR guideline, the contacts of COVID +ve cases should be put on home isolation even with mild symptoms. It is advised that everybody takes these preventative medications apart from the following social distancing, hand hygiene, and wearing masks," the prescription reads. The fake prescription also contains the stamped signature of Dr Raj Kamal Agarwal of SGRHI. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Dr Agarwal confirmed that he had written no such prescription. Amid rising cases of COVID-19 in the city, the hospital itself took the microblogging site to post a clarification. "It has been brought to our notice that someone has circulated a fake image and forged the doctor's signature," SGHRI wrote on Twitter, further adding that it "strongly dissociates itself from such message". It has been brought to our notice that someone has circulated a fake image and forged the doctor's signature. #SGRHIndia strongly dissociates it self from such messages. pic.twitter.com/2obOptXxhp Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (@sgrhindia) June 11, 2020 The news comes even as Delhi records a surge in positive COVID-19 cases with third highest number of cases in India 34,687. On Friday, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal formed a high-level committee with scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to suggest measures to tackle coronavirus in the capital. Baijal said ramping up bed capacity and medical resources should be the topmost priority in handling the situation to ensure a surge in cases does not overwhelm the city's healthcare system. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday said a wave of anti-racism protests across Britain had been "hijacked by extremists", as fears mounted about clashes between activists and far-right groups, and vandalism spread. Several statues were boarded up as a precaution, including one of World War II leader Winston Churchill and the Cenotaph war memorial in central London, after previous damage. In Liverpool, street signs of Penny Lane, which was immortalised in The Beatles' 1967 song, were daubed with graffiti claiming it was named after a slave trader. In Bannockburn, central Scotland, a statue to king Robert the Bruce -- who led the Scots to victory against the English in 1314 -- was defaced, calling him a racist. Statues, monuments, street and building names commemorating historical figures from Britain's colonial past have increasingly become targets for activists, amid calls for a re-examination of how the country's historical legacy is marked in public spaces, and for many monuments to be torn down or relocated to museums. On Sunday, crowds in Bristol, southwest England, toppled a statue to a 17th century slave trader and philanthropist, Edward Colston, and threw it into the harbour. Several television shows, including an episode of the cult 1970s comedy series "Fawlty Towers", were also pulled from streaming services because of language now deemed offensive. Johnson said he recognised the "legitimate desire to protest against discrimination" but "we cannot now try to edit or censor our past." Earlier generations "had different perspectives, different understandings of right and wrong. But those statues teach us about our past, with all its faults," he said. "To tear them down would be to lie about our history, and impoverish the education of generations to come." - Fears grow - The protests were sparked by the death during a US police arrest of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American, which has triggered outrage around the world. Johnson acknowledged the anger of black and minority ethnic communities and said there had been "huge" strides in tackling discrimination in Britain. But after clashes marred largely peaceful demonstrations in London, he said the protests "have been sadly hijacked by extremists intent on violence." Attacks on the police and indiscriminate acts of violence were "intolerable" and "abhorrent", he said. Fears are growing of further splits in a society already deeply divided over Brexit and widening inequality caused by years of austerity. Police are promising a "robust" response to vandalism and violence. But some protests have been cancelled to avoid clashes with far-right groups and self-styled "patriots" who have promised to protect memorials. A Black Lives Matter protest originally planned for Saturday in London's Hyde Park was brought forward to Friday, over such fears. The BBC reported a statue of Jamaican poet, actor and playwright Alfred Fagon in Bristol was covered in an apparently corrosive substance. Black Lives Matter London unveiled a billboard on the banks of the River Thames to more than 3,000 victims of what it called "state and racist violence". Their names were contained in the letters of "I can't breathe" -- Floyd's last words before his death, as a white police officer held him down in a chokehold. London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Johnson both urged people to stay home this weekend. Extreme far-right groups who advocate hatred and division are planning counter-protests, which means that the risk of disorder is high," the mayor said. - 'Absurd and shameful' - Churchill's statue was vandalised last weekend by campaigners who say his "racist" policies led to the deaths of millions of people during famine in the Indian state of Bengal in 1943. Johnson, who has written a biography of the wartime leader, said it was "absurd and shameful" his memorial would be targeted, as he fought against fascism and tyranny. "Yes, he sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial," the premier wrote. Activists linked to the Stop Trump Coalition have compiled a crowd-sourced list of more than 60 statues and monuments across Britain that they say "celebrate slavery and racism" and should be removed. London's Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals announced they would remove two statues -- including to benefactor Thomas Guy -- because of their links to slavery. Search Keywords: Short link: The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] 12.06.2020 LISTEN In light of the recent killing of George Floyd, the old wounds of racism have opened up. The world is watching the United States with an eye of pity and condescension. The left-wing Congress, in an attempt to show solidarity, decided to wear Kente cloth. The social justice warriors deemed this to be cultural appropriation and the backlash was resounding and well deserved. The question that must be posed, is if racism is as rampant in modern-day America as the media claims on the news cycle. There is no doubting that The United States has a history of slavery and racial inequality, this fact will always haunt the nation. To make the claim that in modern-day America there is systematic racism is an overreach and making a mockery of true oppression. The land of opportunity is just that, every year millions of people have hopes to come to America. It would be self-sacrificing to run into a burning building but somehow immigration to America is always booming. From an African perspective, immigrating to the United States means winning the lottery of odds. Arriving in America is a chance to improve ones life and receive opportunities that were not feasible in Africa. It is curious that upon arrival and indoctrination to popular American culture, Africans begin to take the stance of a victim. The victim narrative in the African American community has spilt over into the African mindset. One of the main reasons why Nigerian Americans are more successful than their counterparts is that they have an eye on their goal and not on possible detractors. In an African household, kids are taught that they can achieve anything through education and that attempting to fit in will only lessen their chances. Regrettably, some Africans have taken the oppressed stance and have forgotten the values and ambition that brought them to this country. Issues back home in Africa are not ideal and nowhere near perfect therefore to harshly critique a host country is hypocritical. The Governments back home in Africa are ruthless in issues of human rights, the real change needs to happen there. The United States is flawed and there is no doubt about that, but to proclaim that it hinders the ability of one to succeed is irresponsible. The American constitution is unique in that it guarantees certain inalienable rights, the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In the year 2020, to blame ones shortcomings on the past is intellectual dishonesty. The great hope is that Africans will not fall victim to propaganda and instead actualize their dreams and goals. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday (June 12) asked the Centre and the airline companies to discuss modalities for full refund of tickets for domestic and international flights which were cancelled following the COVID-19 lockdown. A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, S K Kaul and M R Shah asked the Centre to take a stand on the issue and work out ways for full refund. A plea was also raised that airlines across the world are facing tough time due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and they too be heard as parties to the plea filed by one NGO, 'Pravasi Legal Cell'. The top court has now fixed the plea for further hearing after three weeks. It had on Monday had sought responses from the Centre and the DGCA on the plea seeking directions to airlines operating domestic and international fights in India to refund full amount collected for tickets due to cancellation of flights in wake of the lockdown. The plea urged the court to declare the alleged action of airlines of not refunding entire value of cancelled air tickets as violative of the civil aviation requirement issued by the authority. "It is submitted that the airlines instead of providing the full refund of the amount collected for the tickets due to cancellation, are providing a credit shell, valid up to one year, which is clear in violation of the Civil Aviation Requirement of May 2008 issued by the DGCA which clearly states that the option of holding the refund amount in credit shell by the airlines shall be the prerogative of the passenger and not a default practice of the airline," said the plea. Referring to the earlier prevalent practice, it has said in case of credit card payments, refund shall be made by the airlines within seven days of the cancellation to account of the credit-card holder and in case of a cash transaction, the refund shall be ?made immediately? by the airline office from where the ticket was purchased. The Civil Aviation Requirement of May 2008 sets a limit of 30 working days for airlines to complete the refund process for tickets booked through travel agents/ portals, the plea has said. The plea referred to the April 16 office memorandum of the Ministry of Civil Aviation which deals with refund of ticket amount collected without levy of cancellation charge. It claimed that the memorandum directed airlines to provide full refund to only those people who booked tickets during the lockdown period, and "leaving out people who booked tickets prior to lockdown but the flights cancelled due to lockdown amounts to treating equals unequally and thus the same is in clear violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution". The plea said: "It is clear from the Office Memorandum that directs the airlines to refund only those tickets that were booked during the lockdown period, leaves out the vast majority of passengers who had booked tickets before the flights were banned." "Which indirectly approves to the practice of the airlines providing Credit Shell for booking effected before the lockdown, though the same clearly violates the refund rules of the DGCA." There was no question of anyone booking a ticket during the lockdown knowing that schedule passenger flights were cancelled for period of travel and this made Office Memorandum of the Ministry of Civil Aviation 'ambiguous and devoid of any logic', the plea has claimed. U.S. property and casualty insurers have cast the coronavirus pandemic as an unprecedented event whose massive cost to small businesses they are neither able nor required to cover. The industry has warned it could cost them $255 billion to $431 billion a month if they are required, as some states are proposing, to compensate firms for income lost and expenses owed due to virus-led shutdowns, an amount it says would make insurers insolvent. The estimate, made by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), a trade group, was recently used by the industry to successfully lobby against state and city lawmakers' efforts to legislate to make the sector pay. Insurers say business interruption policies only apply when actual physical property damage prevents a business from operating and any attempt to apply cover beyond that, for a pandemic, are unconstitutional. The stance has discouraged some policyholders from filing claims and prompted others to take legal action. A Reuters examination of APCIA's estimate, however, suggests the possible bill may not be so onerous. The APCIA estimate is an industry worst-case scenario based on all small firms with business interruption coverage being able to claim. It also assumes that between 60% and 90% of businesses with fewer than 100 employees will be impacted by Covid-19. Only about 40% of small firms have business interruption coverage, according to the Insurance Information Institute, and most of the policies explicitly exclude pandemics, according to Tyler Leverty and Lawrence Powell, professors who specialize in insurance at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Alabama, respectively. Powell has estimated that insurers could be on the hook for a maximum of $120 billion a month in claims on the basis that half of small firms have business interruption insurance. Leverty said that if the estimate counted only businesses without explicit exclusions for pandemics, "it would be in the millions per month." The APCIA said it stood by its numbers, which it said reflect the unique and widespread impact of the virus. It declined to comment on Powell's analysis. "Yes, these are eye-popping figures," APCIA Chief Executive David Sampson told Reuters, referring to the association's estimate. "This pandemic is unprecedented in its scale, reach, and economic impact." Donalds in his bunker. Joes in his basement. And Americas lost both its patience and its cool. Americans are either in the streets protesting, defying state orders by packing restaurants and bars to capacity, or still hunkered down at home steering clear of the sometimes-deadly coronavirus and sometimes-violent protests over race and police brutality. But even with the president taking a late-night trip to a secure room beneath the White House grounds and the former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee mostly campaigning from his house, the 2020 race looks nothing like anyone expected. President Donald Trump and Joe Biden are now engaged in a campaign that is even more a referendum on the incumbent than just a few weeks ago. Thats largely because Trump often backs himself into a corner and lunges out of it like a desperate animal, claws and teeth thrashing about. He did just that last Monday evening, when his attorney general, William Barr, ordered federal officers and National Guard troops to forcibly remove protestors from the area around St Johns Episcopal Church across from Lafayette Park near the White House. They used pepper balls and tear gas to do so just minutes before Trump walked with his Pentagon brass and others to the church for a Bible-hoisting photo op. The moment was disastrous for the president. His defence secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff both have admitted their participation was a mistake. The presidents poll numbers are worse than ever. Sixty-four percent of those surveyed in one recent poll do not approve of the presidents response to the protests in Washington and elsewhere. The Gallup organisations latest presidential poll put his approval rating at just 39 percent. For an incumbent president seeking a second term amid an economic collapse, were talking Jimmy Carter levels. Whats more, the bunker-dwelling POTUS and the basement-bound former VP are trying to court a few hundred thousand votes in a few states that will determine the election at a time when much of the country seems fed up with, well, everything. Seventy percent of those surveyed recently by Politico and Morning Consult said the country is headed in the wrong direction. Even though Republicans will blame Democrats, math mandates there are a lot of Republican voters included in that 70 percent. People are tired. With Trump, its a day in-and-day-out dream sequence, one GOP pollster told me recently. They seem, at least right now, to desperately want a return to normalcy. Theres nothing normal about Trumps presidency. His top aides acknowledge that in private, saying thats why he won the presidency in the first place. But there also is nothing normal about a challenger trying to take down an incumbent chief executive from his basement, even if he is a former vice president with neatly arranged bookshelves and designer lamps. It appears Biden is doing just that, however. For the moment, at least. Which likely explains Trumps repeated attempts to paint the former VP as a convalescent who has lost a step mentally. Sleepy Joe Biden refuses to leave his basement sanctuary and tell his Radical Left BOSSES that they are heading in the wrong direction, the president tweeted Thursday morning. Never mind that Biden and his wife Jill were heading to Philadelphia for a roundtable event. Biden, however, has been getting out more. And no matter the venue when hes laying into Trump, the former Delaware senator keeps climbing in the polls and getting high marks from political observers. Trump had a chance to reframe the campaign around successful leadership during the domestic equivalent of wartime, William Galston said of the presidents response to the coronavirus outbreak. But his performance, on which the American people have rendered a negative verdict, has made this impossible. The president got another chance with the protests, including those in his own backyard here in the nations capital. Quelling the nationwide violence at the start of the protesting gave him the incumbents advantage to seem presidential, to seem effective, serious and measured while also showing empathy. Biden could do little more than give a speech or tweet. Marc Hetherington, a political science professor at the University of North Carolina, said Trump had the opportunity to demonstrate to the country that his law-and-order, divide-and-conquer approach to the crisis is effective. It is not looking so effective now, he said, noting that since Trump is the incumbent this time around he has no Democratic president to point at and argue that his softness is a failure success or failure was in Trumps hands. Law-and-order campaign themes have worked for Republican presidential candidates before, including Richard Nixon and Trump himself four years ago. But thats not what, according to polling data, the country craves right now. That hasnt stopped the president and his team from time and again pivoting back to his conservative base, even as 64 percent of Americans disapprove of the presidents response to the Floyd death protests and 69 percent say the killing shows larger problems within Americas police departments. As long as Trump continues to follow his instincts and worry almost exclusively about his base, it wont matter if Biden is campaigning from his basement or not. Its now the former vice presidents race to lose. And the president has no one to blame but himself. A 35-year-old black Lambeth councillor and vice-chairman of several police scrutiny committees has been stopped and searched at least 60 times since he was 13 almost always because police assume he is a drug dealer. Mahamed Hashi, who has no police record, told the Evening Standard one of the most galling things about his experiences is that every time I am put in handcuffs and I am always left feeling if I was white, I wouldnt have been stopped in the first place. The most recent incident occurred last August when Mr Hashi, was sitting in his new BMW 5 series waiting for a friend when two white police officers knocked on his window and told him to step out of the car. When Mr Hashi asked why, they said it was to search him under the Misuse of Drugs Act. When Mr Hashi asked what their grounds were, he was told, you look young, your car looks expensive, we suspect you might be a drug dealer. He asked: How old am I? How much did my car cost? On both counts, the officer said he didnt know. So where are your grounds, asked Mr Hashi. A second officer started shouting get out or be charged with obstruction. As soon as he stepped out, they handcuffed him. Mr Hashi said that he was told that because of his size (6ft 4in), he presented an unknown risk. He added: They searched me, found nothing, and said I had to sit in the police van while they went through my car. Again they refused my request to take off the cuffs. After 20 minutes, they told me I was free to go. They never once apologised for putting an innocent person in cuffs. Unbeknown to the officers, Mr Hashi is deputy chairman of a police-convened public order group at Scotland Yard as well as vice chairman of an independent advisory group for Trident, and had previously been chairman of the Stop and Search monitoring group in Lambeth. When Mr Hashi contacted the commander of the police unit who had stopped him and complained informally, she promised to investigate and he received an apology. Mr Hashi said the entire interaction was captured on the policemans body-worn camera. The fact that Mr Hashi had access to the top command made him confident and patient there would be consequences, he said. Mr Hashi added that the matter was closed as far as he was concerned, but that he wanted wider lessons to be learned. I told the police that I want what happened to be used as a training tool to show what a bad search looks like and how it leaves people feeling. A Met spokesman said: Officers engaged with the man to listen to his concerns that he felt the main reason he had been stopped was his ethnicity. As a result, learning has been incorporated into training packages delivered to officers to improve the stop and search process. Despite his repeated experiences, Mr Hashi is a voice of hope on the subject of public protests against disproportionate targeting of black people by police. The protests are useful because they show us how much deep feeling there is in our community, but we need an outlet for that feeling that leads to real change. Loading.... What I want to see is better training of the police and for the community to be more involved in mechanisms that hold them to account. I am pleased that some elements of the police are making sure their recruits meet the community as part of their training. We need our police to be more representative of the black community as well. Press release Brussels, June 12th, 2020 Michael Trabbia, currently CEO of Orange Belgium, promoted to Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at the Orange Group as from September 1st, 2020 Stephane Richard, Chairman and CEO of Orange Group, has decided to appoint Michael Trabbia, current CEO of Orange Belgium, to the position of Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Orange Group as from September 1st, 2020. With his engineering education and a rich career of 20 years in the public and private telecom environment, Michael Trabbia showed an excellent understanding of the Belgian telecom sector, its regulatory and technological environment. At Orange Belgium, he was particularly recognized for his leadership qualities, his strong strategic expertise and stakeholder relations. Therefore Stephane Richard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orange Group, decided to nominate Michael Trabbia as Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, within Orange Group's Executive Committee. The Orange Belgium Board of Directors will select his successor as new CEO of Orange Belgium by the end of June. Ramon Fernandez, Delegate Chief Executive Officer of the Orange Group: "In the name of the Orange Group, I want to warmly thank Michael for his decisive action at the head of Orange Belgium. Under his leading, Orange Belgium reached new major steps, thanks notably to its 'Bold challenger' strategy. I applaud Michael for his promotion and look forward to seeing him join the Executive Committee of the Group." Johan Deschuyffeleer, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Orange Belgium, reacts: "The Board and I would like to congratulate Michael for this new role in the Executive Committee of the Orange Group. We would like to warmly thank Michael for his many contributions, efforts and commitment over the past 4 years. As a strong leader he created value for every stakeholder inside and outside the company: from the 1,500 employees to the millions of Orange customers and the various shareholders worldwide. Michael pursued growth on all levels: operationally, financially as well as commercially. He created the fundaments for a future proof company, in a balanced and a sustainable way, thanks to the roll-out of an ambitious and bold transformation plan that made Orange Belgium more digital, caring and efficient. Under his leadership Orange Belgium is more than ever ready for the future. We wish Michael all the best in his new adventure." After his nomination, Michael Trabbia stated: I am particularly proud of the work done by our teams in Belgium and what we have achieved together during the past 4 years. We successfully positioned Orange Belgium as the customer-centric bold challenger of the Belgian market. Starting from a mobile-only position in a duopoly broadband market, we managed to build a strong convergent position and customer base with our convergent Love offers. On the mobile side, we were the first to launch an unlimited data offer in Belgium back in 2018; and recently we were again the first to launch mobile discounts for families with our GO offers. We also reached significant strategic achievements such as the RAN-sharing deal with Proximus, the MVNO deal with De Persgroep, the acquisition of BKM, the cable regulation improvement, the preparation of the networks of the future; and our Bold Inside transformation plan. I really want to warmly thank Orange Belgium's teams and Executive committee for their relentless commitment and the quality of their work, which were absolutely key in achieving these successes. I also want to sincerely thank the members of the Board for their trust and their support. As a result, Orange Belgium managed to steadily increase its value market share and is now recognized as a strong operator of growth. As from September, I will have the great honor to lead Orange Group's technology and innovation teams, next to Stephane Richard, Orange Chairman and CEO. I look forward enthusiastically to what we are going to achieve together." Michael Trabbia joined Orange in January 2011 and became Group Senior Vice-President for Corporate Public Affairs. He then moved to the team of the Chairman and CEO of Orange as Chief of staff and Secretary of the Group's Executive Committee in July 2014. He joined Orange Belgium in September 2016 as CEO. Born in 1976, Michael Trabbia is a graduate of Ecole polytechnique and Telecom ParisTech and holds a Master of Advanced Studies in Industrial Economics. He is married and father of 2 children. About Orange Belgium Orange Belgium is a leading telecommunications operator on the Belgian market with over 3 million customers; Orange is also active in Luxembourg through its subsidiary Orange Communications Luxembourg. As a convergent actor, we provide mobile telecommunications services, internet and TV to private clients as well as innovative mobile and fixed-line services to businesses. Our high-performance mobile network supports 2G, 3G, 4G and 4G+ technology and is the subject of ongoing investment. Orange Belgium is a subsidiary of the Orange Group, one of the leading European and African operators for mobile telephony and internet access, as well as one of the world leaders in telecommunications services for enterprises. Orange Belgium is listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange (OBEL). More information on: corporate.orange.be, www.orange.be or follow us on Twitter: @pressOrangeBe. Press contact Younes Al Bouchouari - younes.albouchouari@orange.com - +32 477 69 87 73 Annelore Marynissen - Annelore.marynissen@orange.com - +32 479 016 058 press@orange.be Attachment Resources for the Future (RFF) announced today the winners of three grants, totaling $300,000, to quantify the benefits of using satellite data in decisions that improve socioeconomic outcomes for people and the environment. These awards advance the work of the Consortium for the Valuation of Applications Benefits Linked to Earth Science (VALUABLES), a partnership between NASA and environmental and natural resource think tank RFF. The three winning teams are led by researchers from Moravian College, Salisbury University, and the University of Wyoming, with transdisciplinary personnel drawn from eleven more academic institutions and organizations. The award winners will conduct impact assessments that quantify the societal benefits of using Earth observations in health, ecosystem, and water quality applications. We are so appreciative of the 41 teams that competed for the grants, the 12 teams that submitted full proposals, our anonymous external reviewers, and feedback from our NASA partners." Alan Krupnick, Senior Fellow , Research for the Future Krupnick is also a VALUABLES team member who led the Grants for Assessing the Benefits of Satellites (GABS) competition. "Each of the winning projects features an interdisciplinary team, is on a compelling topic, and is being handled creatively and with state-of-the-art methods. The results of this research and demonstration of research methods to estimate the value of information from satellites should redound to benefit all of society, both in the areas targeted for research and to the improved generation and use of satellite information." The winning projects address diverse topics with important practical applications: Sonia Aziz (Moravian College) leads a field experiment that provides a satellite data-driven early warning system for cholera in Bangladesh through access to a cell phone app for a "treatment" community. Cholera rates and other outcome metrics will be compared to those of a "control" community without the app. The project team includes Emily Pakhtigian (Penn State University), Ali Akanda (University of Rhode Island), and Kevin J. Boyle (Virginia Tech). "We expect to provide estimates of potential societal benefits of satellite data as well as necessary inputs for policymakers to design and implement effective policies to limit the incidence and spread of cholera," say Aziz and her colleagues. "Providing households with satellite-aided information regarding the nature of cholera risk should improve their averting decisions." Jill Caviglia-Harris (Salisbury University) leads a project to explore how the Brazilian Forest Code is enforced through the use of satellite data that monitors deforestation. Satellite data already are being used for management and enforcement; this project will estimate how much deforestation would have happened without the satellite data and compare that to deforestation and its consequences with the satellite data. The project team includes Andrew Bell (New York University), Trent Biggs (San Diego State University), Katrina Mullan and Thais Ottoni Santiago (University of Montana), Erin Sills (North Carolina State University), and Thales West (New Zealand Forest Research Institute). "This will be the first study to estimate the amount of avoided deforestation resulting from the use of satellite images to support the Forest Code," say Caviglia-Harris and colleagues. "Our contributions will add to the limited evidence on whether and how the availability of satellite imagery has helped protect designated areas, and the even thinner literature on the benefits of monitoring deforestation to inform climate change policy and commitments." Stephen Newbold (University of Wyoming) leads the development of a model that describes how lake visitors in California adjust their recreation choices when outbreaks of harmful algal blooms are announced. This will improve our current understanding of how early warning systems supported by satellite data allow recreators to divert their visits away from water bodies currently experiencing a bloom, and instead visit un-impacted sites, thereby increasing the overall enjoyment of water-based recreation activities, reducing the risks of adverse health effects, and mitigating the regional economic impacts associated with lost visitation days. The project team includes Sarah Lindley and Shannon Albeke (University of Wyoming), Joshua Viers (University of California, Merced), Robert Johnston (Clark University), and George Parsons (University of Delaware). "Predicting where and when these events will occur is an ongoing challenge, and early prediction is important because it allows steps to be taken to reduce the damage caused by harmful algal blooms," Newbold and colleagues say. "The case study should shed light on the value of satellite-based early warning systems in other regions of the United States and beyond." "These projects will generate much-needed quantitative evidence on how satellite data improve societal outcomes," says Yusuke Kuwayama, an RFF fellow and the VALUABLES Consortium director. "But more importantly, they will help grow the community of Earth scientists and social scientists working together to demonstrate the return on investment in scientific information." (Newser) A young woman's exercise routine turned ugly Wednesday when a passing woman exploded in a racist tiradeand it was all caught on video, KTLA reports. "Go back to whatever [expletive] Asian country you belong in," the woman shouts at Charles H. Wilson Park in Torrance, Calif. "This is not your place. This is not your home. We do not want you here." One of two videos shows the young woman, who remains unidentified, exercising at the bottom of a staircase when her verbal assailant bumps into her. "Jesus," the young woman says. A second video shows the so-called "Karen" (defined by the Guardian as "a middle-aged white woman ... who happens to be as entitled as she is ignorant") going into full rant mode. story continues below "Listen to me. We don't play games here anymore. Next time you talk to me like that you're going to get your ... kicked by my family. They're gonna [expletive] you up," the woman says, per the LA Times . "This is not your place. This is not your home. We do not want you here." She walks off saying, "Who wears black in California sun? Are you an idiot?" Torrance Mayor Patrick Furey says police are investigating the verbal assault, ABC 7 reports. "Our open spaces should always feel safe and free to exercise while practicing social distancing without conflict," he says. "Conduct like that displayed on the video cannot be tolerated." The tirade video already has over 105,000 views on Twitter. (Read more racism stories.) The alleged leader of the Mexican Mafia was assassinated by two inmates at a California jail on Wednesday, according to prison officials. Danny Roman, 64, was pronounced dead moments after he was stabbed multiple suffered multiple stab wounds in the face and body at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison in Corcoran. Corrections department spokeswoman Terri Hardy said fellow inmates Raul Alvarado, 47, and Edward Cisneros, 31, carried out the killing. Hardy would not say if both men are believed to be members of the same or a rival gang. Roman's murder was the second homicide at the prison in a span of four days. Antonio Vasquez, 27, was found dead Saturday inside his jail cell. Prison officials placed his cellmate, Adrian Madrigal, in a separate cell away from the general population as part of the investigation Danny Roman, the alleged leader of the Mexican Mafia, was killed by two inmates Wednesday at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison in Corcoran, Los Angeles. Roman was serving a life sentence for a 1985 first-degree murder conviction Raul Alvarado (pictured) is one of two men who were placed in isolation after attacking Danny Roman, the purported leader of the Mexican Mafia Roman was accused by the federal government of running South Los Angeles street gang operations from Pelican Bay State Prison, a super-maximum security facility and the most secured jail in California. 'If this was not a sanctioned Mexican Mafia hit, then the retaliation for having one of their members hit is going to be significant,' said retired prison gang investigator Matthew Buechner. 'So for the safety of all the other inmates, I don't wish to downplay Roman's demise, but hopefully it was internal housecleaning or there will be a lot more blood shed.' In 2012, federal prosecutors charged more than two dozen people with racketeering conspiracy, alleging that they were involved with South Los Angeles gangs controlled by Roman. He was serving a life sentence for a 1985 first-degree murder conviction from Los Angles County, 700 miles away. Edward Cisneros (pictured), who is serving a life sentence for an attempted first-degree murder in San Bernardino County, is being investigated for the murder of Danny Roman Danny Roman, who the federal government once accused of controlling several South Los Angeles street gangs from prison, was killed by two inmates Wednesday at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison (pictured) in Corcoran, California Roman wasn't charged, but prosecutors said he was controlling a dozen gangs, including one that extorted vendors at a swap meet and another that targeted students at the University of Southern California in drug trafficking, killings and robberies. They alleged that Roman was passing orders to his daughter and son-in-law, who in turn directed gang members. Investigators said Vianna Roman used coded language to give information to her father and to get instructions from him during visits at the prison in far northwest California. She would then pass them to members of the Harpys street gang, who prosecutors said oversaw crimes both in their own territory and the broader area Roman controlled. That included collecting 'tax payments' from Latino gangs under his control, prosecutors said. His daughter was sentenced in 2015 to 15 years in federal prison, culminating an investigation that federal authorities dubbed 'Operation Roman Empire.' Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles, declined comment on Roman's death. The Kings County District Attorney's Office also declined comment. The Mexican Mafia - which did not originate in Mexico - was founded in 1957 by 13 Latino gang members at the Deuvel Vocational Institution, a California youth detention center. At the time, the members were looking to protect themselves from other rivals. Today it has close to 400 active members. His alleged assailants, Cisneros and Alvarado, are being held in isolation during the investigation. Officials said two stabbing weapons were recovered. Both men are serving life sentences, Cisneros for an attempted first-degree murder in San Bernardino County and Alvarado for a second-degree murder in Los Angeles County. 1. The sweeping calls for policing reforms are inching toward policy. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an expansive package of bills aimed, in the wake of George Floyds death, at combating police misconduct. The measures included a ban on the use of chokeholds and a repeal of a decades-old statute that has allowed the police to keep disciplinary records of officers secret. Above, police in Brooklyn last week. In Minnesota, where Mr. Floyd died after an officer pressed his knee into Mr. Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes, state lawmakers convened a special session to consider Democratic-backed bills that would create community alternatives to policing and restore voting rights for paroled prisoners. Republicans said they would oppose some of the measures. A North Carolina woman hasnt been heard from since Wednesday, after she told her family she was coming home from a camping trip in the Uwharrie National Forest, according to the Rowan County Sheriffs Office. Amber Nicole Torrence, 34, of Salisbury left her grandmothers house June 6 with camping gear and said she was going to the national forest south of Asheboro, the sheriffs office said. Torrence was last heard from on Wednesday, when she told her father she was headed home. Search and rescue workers, along with the U.S. Forest Service and the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, are looking for the missing woman in and around the national forest, the sheriffs office said. The Rowan County Sheriffs Office posted on Facebook about the missing woman Friday, but later deleted the post. Amber Nicole Torrence, 34, has not been heard from since Wednesday, the Rowan County Sheriffs Office said. Torrence had told her family that she was going camping with someone but did not say who, her grandmother told police. Her grandmother told investigators Torrence is an avid camper and has been camping in the Uwharrie National Forest many times. Amber did leave with a camping style backpack with extra clothes, wallet, money, food, water, and other various camping items. The sheriffs office said Torrence is 5-foot 1, weighs 102 pounds and has brown eyes and dark brown hair. She was driving a white 2008 Nissan Xterra, with North Carolina tag BAZ-7932 and a large white Bigfoot decal on the back glass. Family members advise that Amber has never done anything like this before, and that this is unlike her, the sheriffs office said. Family members have reached out to Ambers friends, but no one has heard from her at present. An ex-fiance did advise that he saw Amber on Tuesday, at Go Burrito in Salisbury, but there are no other details of that encounter. The sheriffs office asks that anyone with information contact Detective Cody Trexler at 704-216-8713. Zurich Insurance Group has announced the appointment of Belinda Bates (pictured) to the newly created role of senior risk consultant for climate change for commercial insurance. Risk management tools that can help businesses quantify the impact of climate change are in high demand, as climate change-related risks have increased in frequency and severity, said James Shea, CEO of commercial insurance. Businesses recognize the need for a comprehensive resilience approach that considers the changing environments in which they operate, and which helps them prepare for potential future challenges. Much ado has been made of J. K. Rowlings essay explaining her reasons for speaking out on sex and gender issues. She has been accused of transphobia far and wide. A school in West Sussex has dropped plans to name one of its houses after her as it does not wish to be associated with these views. An adviser for the Elizabeth Warren campaign has called her complete scum. A writer for the New York Times has implied that she is responsible for increasing suicidality in gender-dysphoric people. Sanctimonious younger cast members of the Harry Potter movie series (actors of mediocre talent who would not be where they are were it not for Rowling) have tweeted out woke platitudes. Almost all of her critics have ignored what she actually wrote. And next to none have engaged with her verified claims of being a domestic-abuse survivor. In her essay, Rowling provides five reasons for being worried about the new trans activism, and deciding I need to speak up. The first is her philanthropic activity, which supports projects for female prisoners and for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse as well as funding medical research into MS, a disease that behaves very differently in men and women. The second is that she is an ex-teacher and head of a childrens charity, with an interest in education and safeguarding. The third is that, as a much-banned author, she is interested in freedom of speech. The fourth is a concern about the huge explosion in young women wishing to transition, especially since she herself was once unhappy with her body. And the fifth reason is that, as a domestic- and sexual-abuse survivor, she stands in solidarity with the huge numbers of women who have histories like mine, whove been slurred as bigots for having concerns around single-sex spaces. What becomes clear from reading her essay is that she has done her homework and has been closely following this debate for the past two years. She has collected testimony from trans people, specialists, researchers, and women worried about the way a socio-political concept is influencing politics, medical practice and safeguarding and above all, a climate of fear that serves nobody least of all trans youth well. Story continues Since the mainstream media is intent on reporting only one side of the reaction to Rowlings essay, I have collected testimonies from those who have similar concerns and who are grateful to her for taking a stand. First, trans people. Debbie Hayton, a trans woman, told me of the need to listen to Rowling. Trans activism has overreached with endless demands, always taking and never giving, Hayton said. The time has come for us to stop and start thinking about others as well as ourselves. Scott Newgent, a trans man, told me of his agreement as well. Medical transition creates an illusion of the opposite sex and some find comfort in that. What it does not do is change biology. We cannot get to a place in our society where feelings trump facts, and that is currently what is happening within the transgender debate, Newgent said. Second, women and feminists. In her essay, J. K. Rowling reiterated her support for Maya Forstater, a tax expert, who lost her job for tweeting her belief in biological sex. Forstater told me, I am immensely grateful to J. K. Rowling for her courage and her voice. . . . It is lonely and scary to stand up on your own. In her essay, Rowling mentions Magdalen Berns, a lesbian feminist based in Scotland who sadly died last year, and who co-founded the grassroots movement For Women Scotland, which fights to hold the Scottish government accountable for relentlessly attempting to erode womens sex-based rights and protections. A spokesperson for the organization told me their work is often exhausting and demoralizing and cited the draft Hate Crimes bill introduced in April which could see women imprisoned for speaking biological truths if someone claims to find it offensive. (Yes, you read that correctly.) The women at For Women Scotland were so grateful and a little tearful reading her contribution as well as incredibly touched that she mentioned [Magdalen] in such a personal essay. Third, researchers. Rowling mentions Lisa Littman, a medical doctor and researcher, whose research at Brown University suggesting that the uptick in gender dysphoria among teenage girls was possible social and peer contagion became the subject of activist ire. I applaud J. K. Rowlings courage to speak out, despite the pushback, to defend the rights of vulnerable people including lesbian and gay youth, survivors of sexual and domestic violence, youth with autism, and detransitioners, Littman told me. Ken Zucker, the Canadian psychologist and world-renowned expert in gender dysphoria in children, who was unfairly fired after activists launched a smear campaign against him for trying to help some of his young patients through treatments other than gender affirmation (e.g. talk therapy and watchful waiting), told me It is sad that a brilliant writer of fantasy has had to confront the reality of transgender politics. Transgender politics often have little to do with science, unless it is convenient to rely on it to make a political point. A transgender activist/columnist for the New York Times implied that Rowlings essay might cause an increase in suicidality among trans youth, but Zucker, whose research spans four decades, told me although gender-dysphoric teenagers have a higher rate of suicidality, so do other youth who are referred for various mental-health issues. Moreover, there is certainly no convincing evidence that they will actually commit suicide. In this regard, the suicide trope can be used to evoke unwarranted anxiety in their parents. Abigail Shrier, a writer for the Wall Street Journal, and author of the exhaustively researched book, Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters (to be released later this month), also backed Rowling. She told me: The phenomenon of girls with no history of gender dysphoria suddenly deciding they are trans in friend groups is no laughing matter. Its connected to misogyny, pubescent angst, and the most ancient teenage desire for belonging. People who cheer on the social and medical transition of adolescent girls are making an enormous mistake, encouraging a vulnerable population in self-harm. J. K. Rowling has said what everyone is thinking but are too frightened to say, a spokesperson for Fair Play for Women told me. She speaks for the silent majority and a huge number of women will be grateful to her. Natasha Chart, Board Chair of the Womens Liberation Front, expressed her gratitude for Rowlings solidarity with all of the other women who have suffered this same, unfair monstering for speaking the truth. Rowling even manages to find a place for humor in her essay, something her attackers are completely deficient in. Speaking as a biological woman, a lot of people in positions of power really need to grow a pair (which is doubtless literally possible, according to the kind of people who argue that clownfish prove humans arent a dimorphic species). Well, speaking as someone who has spent a great deal of time on this issue, Rowlings voice in this debate is as evidenced welcome. Editors Note: This piece has been amended since its initial publication. More from National Review SBI Life Insurance Company rose 1.46% to Rs 752.25 as its offer for sale (OFS) opened for subscription for non-retail investors. Promoter State Bank of India (SBI) offered to sell a total of 2.10 crore shares, or 2.1% stake, through an OFS. The floor price for the OFS was set at Rs 725 each, a 2.22% discount to the closing price of Rs 741.45 on Thursday. The OFS opened on Friday (12 June) for non-retail investors, while both retail as well as non-retail investors will be able to subscribe on Monday (15 June). The company has set aside 21 lakh shares of retail investors and 1.89 crore shares for non-retail investors. As on 12:15 IST, the OFS received subscription for 15,53,784 shares or 8.22% against the non-retail offer size of 1.89 crore shares. SBI is reducing stake in the insurance unit to achieve minimum public shareholding of 25%. As of 31 March 2020, SBI held 57.60% stake in SBI Life. SBI Life's standalone net profit jumped 15.9% to Rs 530.67 crore on a 64% slump in total income to Rs 5,665.51 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019. SBI Life Insurance Company is one of the leading life Insurance companies in India. The company has strong distribution network of 1,86,495 trained insurance professional and widespread operations with 937 offices across country. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WATERLOO REGION Operators of local child care centres say they are waiting for more direction from the province before centres can safely reopen. On Tuesday, the provincial government announced that child care centres can reopen as early as Friday as long as they follow the proper health and safety protocols and operate at a reduced capacity, but most local child care centres say they are weeks away from being ready to reopen. Its not as easy as just walking back in and opening up the doors and starting all over again, there is a lot to do, said Peter Sweeney, chief executive officer of the YMCAs of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, the largest operator of child care centres in the region. The way we need to run child care until we have a vaccine is going to look very different. Sweeney said the YMCA and many other child care operators are eager to see a sustainable funding model put forward by the province because child care centres may need to operate at reduced levels until there is a vaccine. The YMCA operates 16 child care centres in public school buildings across Waterloo Region. Before the pandemic 1,900 children were enrolled at the nonprofits centres. Sweeney said those centres will not reopen until July 6, for several reasons. He said staff will need time to access the centres and clean them. Region of Waterloo Public Health needs to weigh in on public health and cleaning protocols within the facilities. The province needs to provide a clear framework on which families will be prioritized to receive child care. And more funding will be needed to sustain the reconfigured child care centres. Sweeney said child care centre operators need a better funding model if centres are going to be able to operate with a smaller ratio of children to educators. Child care centres are funded through parent fees, subsidies for those who need them, and grants from regional and provincial governments. Funding is currently based on the ratio of educators to children. The economic model is simply just not feasible, Sweeney added. Lori Prospero, executive director of Owl Child Care, said funding is a big issue as the nonprofit providers eight child care centres make plans to reopen. One of the key challenges to the system is, were not supposed to charge parents additional money, but if we are only operating at 30 per cent, where is the funding coming from to offset those empty spaces? she said. Owl Child Care has not announced a date for reopening yet, Prospero said. That will be dependent on what kind of guidance and funding the province will provide. As the economy reopens and more people head back to work, many parents are anxious to see child care centres reopen, too. We recognize this has been a difficult time for families, Sweeney said. We are asking for patience. We need to make sure we can reopen really, really well. Opening safely includes making sure health and safety protocols and personal protective equipment is in place for educators and staff when they return to work, he added. But when they do reopen, which families will be prioritized for the few spaces that will be available? Sweeney said he does not want his staff to be put into a position to make this decision. We want the (provinces) guidelines to be very clear about eligibility requirements, he said. Staff at Owl Child Care have been surveying parents on what their needs might be, and if they are able to find alternate care, in anticipation of having lower capacity upon reopening. The province said each room in a child care centre cannot have more than 10 people, including educators. Prospero said these ratios pose challenges for child care centres where a preschool room can have up to 24 children. There are still so many unanswered questions, Prospero said. The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, an advocacy group for child care providers, say a strengthened child care system could be the core of economic and social recovery from the pandemic. It is urging the province to increase base funding to child care centres. The group said more funds are needed to allow centres to operate with a reduced ratio of educator to children, and for additional staff for screening and cleaning protocols. Tuesdays provincial announcement did not include additional funding for child care centres. Child care is an essential service. The funding has to be in place so two years from now, it doesnt all fall apart, Sweeney said. F ourteen Minneapolis police officers penned an open letter condemning the actions of their colleague who was involved in the death of George Floyd. The officers promised to evolve and said their former colleague Derek Chauvin had "failed as a human". Chauvin was dismissed from the police force and charged with second-degree murder after footage emerged of him kneeling on the neck of 46-year-old African American while he pleaded for air. The three other officers involved - Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao - have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Mr Floyd's death sparked outrage and led to Black Lives Matter and anti-racism protests around the world. In a letter obtained by the Star Tribune, fourteen officers said they had written an open letter to express "what the vast majority of Minneapolis Police Officers feel at this moment". Police officers take the knee in support of George Floyd protesters 1 /8 Police officers take the knee in support of George Floyd protesters AFP via Getty Images AP AFP via Getty Images AP Reuters Aleeia Abraham "We wholeheartedly condemn Derek Chauvin," wrote the officers. "We Are With You in the denouncement of Derek Chauvin's actions on Memorial Day. Like us Derek Chauvin took an oath to hold the sanctity of life most precious. "Derek Chauvin failed as a human and stripped George Floyd of his dignity and life. This is not who we are." The police officers stressed that they were not a union or administration, but "formal and informal" leaders from all ranks within the Minneapolis Police Department. "We acknowledge that Chief Arradondo needs each of us to dutifully follow him while he shows us the way," said the officers. "We stand ready to listen and embrace the calls for change, reform and rebuilding. We want to work with you and regain your trust." Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder following the death of George Floyd / AFP / AP The officers' pledge to work with the public comes after Texas police joined forces with protesters by heeding their request to take a knee. The group of demonstrators in Fort Worth told police at the scene that they would go home if officers joined them in a show of solidarity. The two groups then shook hands and even exchanged hugs before leaving the area as promised. Texas officers took a knee in support of anti-racism protesters / Aleeia Abraham Police officers across the US have taken a knee down during demonstrations to show solidarity with anti-racism protesters. On Wednesday Chief Medaria Arradondo announced initial steps in what he said would be transformational reforms to the agency in the wake of Mr Floyds death. Faced with calls from activists and a majority of City Council members to dismantle or defund the department, Mr Arradondo also said he would use a new system to identify problem officers early and intervene. We will have a police department that our communities view as legitimate, trusting and working with their best interests at heart, he said at a news conference. Jackson County sheriff says law enforcement agencies often don't report misconduct to database LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. - At least 44 states, including Missouri, take part in a national database where law enforcement agencies report officers' misdeeds. When agencies get applications, they can then check this database for any red flags. The problem is many agencies don't report to it, Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte told FOX4. One of the most outspoken lawmen in KCMO is breaking with tradition and crossing the thin blue line as police grapple with continued public pressure. Check this worthwhile sit down interview on his motives and intentions.Read more: A demonstration planned for next week at Mid-Cities Church in Midland will demand equal treatment for Black & Brown Americans, according to a press release. Christians for a Change will host the protest along with local leaders and law enforcement, the release states. Christians For A Change will be hosting a peaceful, silent demonstration to display community wide unity as we advocate for equal treatment for Black & Brown Americans in our city and the nation, the group states in the press release. The organization believes its the churchs responsibility to lead during the current nationwide unrest following George Floyds death, according to the release. We believe in the power of us all standing as the body of Christ to show our city that we hear them and support them, it states. We would like to invite everyone from all backgrounds to silently stand with us in an organized demonstration and prayer vigil for justice and peace. We believe it is critical for racial reconciliation, social justice and our communitys oneness. According to the release, Christians for a Change is a faith based group of men and women who use their voices, platforms and resources to come together in love exercising the right to advocate for groups in need of a voice. The demonstration will be held beginning 7 p.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of Mid-Cities Neely Campus located at 3309 Neely Ave. One of the five men arrested recently for allegedly robbing and assaulting a pilot of a private airlines at IIT flyover in southwest Delhi has tested positive for COVID-19, police said on Friday. Around ten police personnel, who came in contact with the accused during the investigation, have also been quarantined, they said. The man was arrested along with two of his associates Rahul and Aasish on June 9. Two days later, two more accused involved in the incident were also arrested. The man who has tested positive for COVID-19 has been admitted to AIIMS. When the man was in police custody, he fell sick and started vomiting. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where doctors suggested endoscopy. His COVID-19 test was also conducted. According to his medical report which came on Thursday evening, he has tested positive for COVID-19, a senior police officer said. On the intervening night of June 2 and 3, the pilot was on his way to Indira Gandhi International Airport in his office cab from Faridabad when the men on two-wheelers intercepted the vehicle on IIT flyover and took his wallet which contained Rs 10,000 and other essential documents. They robbed the pilot at gunpoint and attacked him with a knife when he resisted, police said. Many Christian and political conservatives in the U.S. support legislation to deny sexual and gender minorities the rights most Americans enjoy: unfettered access to jobs, housing, services and public facilities; the opportunity to marry as they choose; and the right to adopt a child. A new study published in the American Journal of Community Psychology offers insight into the factors that correlate with support for such laws. The study asked 1,015 heterosexual college undergraduates who self-identified as either Christian (68%) or nonreligious a series of questions to determine their thoughts and attitudes about Christian privilege and power in American society. The researchers also asked whether participants supported or opposed efforts to curtail the rights of sexual and gender minorities. Although same-sex marriage is now the law of the land in the U.S., there continue to be problems with employment discrimination, housing discrimination and other types of discrimination against sexual and gender minorities." Nathan Todd, Study Lead Author, Professor of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign "One of the key barriers to those rights has been opposition from some Christian and political conservatives. We wanted to know whether people's ideas about political power explain some of this opposition." Todd and his colleagues evaluated participants' take on Christian power and influence in society. The students were asked to rank how strongly they agreed or disagreed with statements such as: "To be Christian is to have religious advantage in this country." Or, "Christianity is valued more in this society than other religions." The researchers also asked participants whether Christians "should have religious advantage in this country," or if Christianity "should be valued more in this society than other religions." These questions differentiated participants' awareness of advantages conferred to Christians in the U.S. from the belief that such advantages are right and should exist, Todd said. Because Christian practices and traditions are so embedded in American life and politics, identifying as Christian confers a lot of privileges, he said. "People who are Christian are not singled out or asked to speak for their religion on a regular basis, as members of other religions often are," Todd said. "Christians in the U.S. do not face systemic bias or violence based on their religion and they do not live in fear of this type of experience." Other advantages stem from the fact that government and school calendars revolve around the Christian sabbath and Christian holidays. A large majority of elected officials also identify as Christian. "All of these factors work together to the advantage of Christians," Todd said. Participants also rated their support or opposition to specific sexual- and gender-minority rights, such as the right to marry, to adopt children or to have equal access to jobs and housing, and to use public bathroom facilities that align with one's gender identity. They also rated how strongly they identified as political conservatives, and Christian students rated how strongly their religious beliefs aligned with conservative Christian views. "Our analyses revealed that opposition to sexual- and gender-minority rights was correlated with Christian and political conservatism, and with the belief that Christians should be the dominant group in society," Todd said. Further analyses suggested that greater support for Christians being the dominant group in power in the U.S. partially explains why Christian conservatives and political conservatives oppose sexual- and gender-minority rights, he said. These findings were consistent across Christian and nonreligious students. "Our goal with this study is not to antagonize or demonize political or Christian conservatives, but to learn more about what drives them to support or oppose sexual- and gender-minority rights," Todd said. "I also think it's a mistake to characterize all Christians as thinking or acting the same way, especially as some Christians do support rights for sexual and gender minorities." Todd said he hopes the research will increase constructive dialogue by promoting a broader understanding of the relationship between Christianity, politics, and sexual- and gender-minority rights. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 16:26 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde47274 1 Business tin-mining,tin-prices,Timah,exports Free State-owned tin miner PT Timah plans to cut costs and finish the construction of a smelter in an effort to turn its fortunes around after the company lost money last year. The publicly listed company announced on Thursday that it planned to deleverage debt, reprofile bank loans and cut costs in all lines of production. The company also planned to continue developing a multimillion dollar tin smelter on Bangka island at the behest of the government and to keep exporting the mineral strategically. We have to be selective in responding to the dynamism of the global tin market, said Timah president director Riza Pahlevi Tabrani in a statement. Riza told reporters late last year that Timah would cut export volumes by up to 2,500 metric tons each month to optimize earnings amid variable global tin prices. Timah, one of the world's top tin miners, began the construction of its new tin smelter on Jan. 30. The US$80 million facility is expected to yield 40,000 tons of crude tin yearly when completed in 2021. The development of the smelter is part of the governments policy to transform Indonesia into an industrial economy. Timah booked a loss of Rp 703.97 billion ($49.4 million) last year, down from a profit of Rp 278.88 billion the previous year. The miner attributed the loss mainly to depressed global tin prices since January 2019. Its revenue, however, jumped 75 percent year-on-year (yoy) to Rp 19.3 trillion while its costs rose 83 percent to Rp 18.16 trillion. Other than the trade war, which continues until today, the COVID-19 pandemic has major potential to affect global tin prices, said Timah corporate secretary Abdullah Umar, referring to the United States-China trade war. China is the worlds top importer of tin, a metal mostly used for soldering. Global tin prices closed at $16,855 per ton on Thursday at the benchmark London Metal Exchange (LME). Prices have rebounded from those of March but remain half of the pre-trade war price. Timahs shares, traded on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX), had fallen 0.86 percent during the trading day as of 2:43 p.m. Jakarta time on Friday as the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) gained 0.1 percent. The stocks have lost almost 30 percent of their value so far this year. In recent days, Karissa Lewis has been fielding calls and messages from senior management at clothing retailer Aritzia after she took to Twitter to suggest the companys public support of the Black Lives Matter movement was all for show. Lewis, 27, who is Black, says she left her job as an associate manager at one of Aritzias Toronto stores earlier this year because she was undervalued and treated differently than the other managers. While she appreciates the outreach from the companys top people, she says she cant help but feel their desire to learn more about her experience is an attempt at damage control. Her original tweet spawned a flurry of supportive messages on social media and other complaints about the company. Its bittersweet that George Floyd had to die for people to take some accountability for the stuff theyve said and done to us, she says, referring to the Minnesota man whose high-profile death at the hands of police triggered a wave of protests around the world decrying police violence and anti-Black racism. Lewis is not alone in sounding a note of skepticism in response to the rash of political and corporate leaders who, in recent days, have pledged to fight racial injustice. To some observers, the donations to Black charities and commitments to diversity and inclusion are performative acts that ring hollow because the makeup of so many corporate boards is still predominately white. In 2018, people who identified as visible minorities accounted for only five per cent of directors of companies publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange, according to the University of Toronto. They may be saying words that they havent said before, like anti-Black racism, but they have to be pushed to say that, says Beverly Bain, a University of Toronto professor of women and gender studies and anti-racism activist. It is critical for us to keep the momentum up. There is no question that this moment in history is significant, in terms of the scale of the protests, the pace with which certain terms anti-Black racism, white supremacy, defund the police have become part of everyday conversation, and the willingness to embrace the notion that racism isnt committed by a few bad apples but is systemic in many facets of society, Bain and other experts say. They compare the past couple of weeks to the watershed #MeToo movement that was founded by a Black woman, Tarana Burke, and reached a crescendo a few years ago when women around the world demanded accountability in cases of sexual abuse and harassment by powerful men. So much of the history of the last few decades of anti-racist work has really been about, implicitly, white people waiting for Black people to do the work to raise the issue, to talk about what needs changed. In a way, people have either been disengaged or passively involved, says Ellen Berrey, a University of Toronto sociology professor whose research focuses on race, inequality and the law. My sense of this moment, what I feel is happening, is that more and more white people are seeing this as a white persons problem. No longer are companies merely espousing their support for positive values such as diversity and inclusion, theyre coming out and saying they support the fight against anti-Black racism. Its a notable shift, she says, because it puts the emphasis on the problem. So how did we get here? Experts say its likely a confluence of factors: data showing COVID-19 was killing a disproportionately high number of Black Americans; the searing bystander video showing a Minneapolis police officer pressing his knee against Floyds neck; plus the visceral images of riot police using aggressive tactics against mostly peaceful protesters. In response to the outcry, major North American brands have come out in recent days to proclaim their support for anti-racism initiatives. Nike released a video ad with simple written messages on a black screen: For once, Dont Do It, it begins. Dont pretend theres not a problem in America. Dont turn your back on racism. Amazon announced that it was donating $10 million to organizations that work to improve the lives of Black Americans, saying that it was committed to helping build a country and a world where everyone can live with dignity and free from fear. But this moment of collective reckoning has also drawn backlash with critics accusing some companies of hypocrisy. Nearly 60 per cent of Amazons managers are white and only eight per cent are Black, according to an Associated Press analysis. However, more than 60 per cent of its warehouse and delivery workers, who have been working through the COVID-19 pandemic, are people of colour. Similarly, at Nike, 77 per cent of the companys vice-presidents are white, while just under 10 per cent are Black, The Associated Press reported. Sharon Chuter, the founder of California cosmetics company Uoma Beauty, launched a social media challenge dubbed Pull Up or Shut Up in which she called on companies to prove they were equal-opportunity employers by publicly releasing the racial makeup of their workforce. Meanwhile, several high-profile executives have lost their jobs after being called out for racially insensitive behaviour. Greg Glassman, the CEO of CrossFit stepped down after asking why he or his staff should be mourning the death of George Floyd, other than it is the white thing to do. Adam Rapoport, editor-in-chief of Bon Appetit magazine, resigned after it was revealed he had shown up at a costume party in 2013 in brownface. It is in this climate that Lewis says she felt compelled to respond when Aritzia posted an Instagram message saying it was using its platform as a call to action and donating $100,000 to Black Lives Matter and the NAACP. I worked for @aritzia for 5 months and I was the only black manager on my team, she wrote. During my time there, I was treated differently than other managers. She went on to say that her mistreatment included being assigned to working cashier shifts and being excluded from important decisions, including one that resulted in a Black employee being fired. In a statement to the Star, Jennifer Wong, Aritzias president and chief operating officer, said while the company disagrees with many of Lewis assertions it is focused on listening, learning, and taking action, recognizing we ourselves must lead and inspire change. The fight to end racial inequality deserves our attention, support, and most importantly, real and significant action. Real change starts from within, and as such, we have already begun investing $1 million to expand and strengthen our Diversity and Inclusion programs. We want to make certain that Aritzia is creating positive change, and that we are part of the solution. Jefferson Darrell, Toronto-based founder of Breakfast Culture, a marketing and communications firm specializing in diversity, equity and inclusion, says if companies want to be sincere supporters of Black Lives Matter, they need to ask themselves key questions, such as: Are there Black people employed at all levels in your organization? Does your organization reflect the demographics of the community youre serving? Does your organization support Black employees year round or just during Black History Month? What are your organizations rates of promotion and retention for people of colour? If you are going to make a statement, make sure you have something to back it up if people do call you out, Darrell said. Walk your talk, throw in some action with your words. Toronto entrepreneur Wes Hall, executive chairman of Kingsdale Advisors, a shareholder advisory firm, agrees. He says hes encouraged by the show of support for Black lives, but I hope its not a head fake. If you put out a statement youre against anti-Black racism, what will you do about it? Tell me. Dont just say youre against it. Of course youre going to be against it, he said. There have to be measurable results. We know as companies we like numbers. We want to set targets and objectives so we can measure results, he said. If I say, Were going to ensure Black people are in these positions by this date, thats a different statement. Hall recently founded the Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism. Its goal is to increase representation of Black people in boardrooms across Canada. Were corporate leaders. The only way to solve a problem is all of us gets together collectively, just like we did with COVID-19, he said. In an opinion column in this weekends Star, Hall writes: A system that oppresses Black people is not a problem for Black people to fix, its for the gatekeepers of the system. And those gatekeepers who fail to act must be moved aside. We need to chart a new course where the need for voices like mine is obsolete. Where there is no need for our youth to march in the streets to demand our attention. Lewis, meanwhile, said she continues to engage in conversation with Aritzias top brass. Shes worried though about what will happen after the news cycle ends. After this blows over like every other trending topic, we still have to wake up for the rest of our lives and live the Black experience. Its not something we can just turn a blind eye to a couple weeks from now. Its a constant thing we have to battle with. Read more about: Former President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bice Osei Kuffour, popularly known as Obour, is aspiring for the Asante Akyem South constituency to be elected as Member of Parliament on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The NPP has slated their Presidential and Parliamentary primaries for Saturday, June 20 this year and already the party's Parliamentary candidates have been pitching their campaign messages to the delegates. Obour is poised to contest the sitting Member of Parliament for the constituency, Kwaku Asante Boateng but since votes by delegates cannot be predicted, the question then arises does Obour fear his delegates? ''Fear delegates'' is a coinage by Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie aka Sir John, a former NPP General Secretary, and a term to describe the unsteady behaviour of political party delegates. The popular term was associated with Sir John after he suffered an overwhelming defeat in the NPP primaries in 2014 although he had an unflinching support of his delegates. Speaking in an interview on Peace FM's morning programme 'Kokrokoo', Bice Osei Kuffour told host Kwami Sefa Kayi that he is absolutely certain of his victory in the primaries. He explained that before he disclosed his interest in contesting the Asante Akyem South Parliamentary seat, he had already been behind the scenes working with the party delegates to improve the livelihood of the residents in the community. He noted that he has built a strong relationship, cemented on goodwill, with the delegates and expressed confidence in his delegates describing them as trustworthy. He strongly believes they will vote massively for him during the party's primaries. ''They have promised to vote for me and since they're dependable, I know they will honor their word to bring me victory.'' Obour further emphasized that he has ''no fears because of my relationship with them. And looking at this year's primaries which will be held at the electoral areas according to the leadership of the NPP, I know of some electoral areas in my constituency that, for instance, have six delegates and I know a number of the delegates who call me often to tell me how they adore me. So, it is when we go for the primaries and I get only one out of these six delegates to vote for me that will tell me to fear the delegates just as Sir John said but should I get a good result, then I will know they're trustworthy. But my delegates at Asante Akyem South are very loyal''. Watch his full submissions below: Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video When business first began drying up Dun Huang Plaza, where Debbie Chens restaurant, Shabu House, is located, Chen didint understand what was happening. She called other Chinatown business owners she knew. Everyone saw their business go down about 50 to 90 percent, she said. It was literally an overnight drop. And it never really recovered. Then, Chen discovered the root of the problem: In late January, rumors circulated that an employee at Jusgo Supermarket had the coronavirus. It wasnt true, but the gossip spread quickly on social media. Before long, a major loss in business spread through Chinatown. Parking lots emptied, and doors closed even before the citys fist confirmed COVID-19 case. That created a very gloomy economic situation, said Chi-mei Lin, CEO of the Chinese Community Center. It was a very high concern. Lin began driving around various shopping centers to see if the reports of lost revenue were true. It was not an understatement, she said. Still, even in the midst of this economic devastation, Houstons Asian community rallied, and Asian-American organizations became some of the most generous donors to frontline workers and individuals in need. About 70 organizations united under the umbrella Asian Americans Salute Frontline Heroes, which has already given $3 million worth of personal protective equipment, nonperishable food and hot meals to Houstonians affected by COVID-19. The collaboration also has an advocacy arm to address the ignorance and anti-Asian sentiment that shut Chinatown down in the first place. The rumors were devastating on multiple levels, Chen said. They werent just affecting Chinese businesses, she said. They were impacting the people who worked there, people who have to pay their bills. Thats been the biggest thing on my mind. We cannot go down; there are people who need us. In addition to business woes, this also had a psychological effect. Our community was getting nervous, Lin said. There was a lot of high anxiety about a growing anti-Asian sentiment. Many Houstonians also worried about family members in China, where the virus first appeared in December, said Alice Lee, executive director of the Southwest Management District. People with families in China were already starting to buy PPE to send back to China, she said. The curve flattened in China just as orders to stay at home hit the U.S. Instead of mailing masks away, Asian groups in Houston started to act locally, Lee said, distributing personal protective equipment, or PPE, to law enforcement and healthcare workers. Chinese American groups were the first to donate PPE, because they had already purchased them, Lee said. We had an early start. At the Chinese Community Center, Lin continued serving clients, giving out masks, helping disperse COVID-recovery funds and assisting families navigating unemployment. Were busy - even though our front door is closed most of the time, Lin said. We do a lot of behind-the-scenes work to make sure our clients still feel connected. She noticed a lot of community members helped however they could: A pharmacy created its own hand sanitizer to give to the fire department. There were also groups like the Joint Chinese College Alumni Association, which raised $24,000 on its first day of fundraising alone. Instead of working separately, in mid-April, several groups combined to create Asian Americans Salute Frontline Heroes. The steering committee included the OCA-Greater Houston, Southwest Management District, Asian Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Peter Chang at Hope Clinic. The International Management District also joined the collaboration. Lin became the groups treasurer and made it possible for donations, including more than 13,000 pre-packaged meals from struggling restaurants, to go through the Chinese Community Center. We wanted to show our appreciation and gratitude, Lin said. At the same time, were trying to bring business back to Chinatown. It was two-in-one. Already, the Asian Americans Salute Frontline Heroes collaboration has delivered 1.7 million pieces of personal protective equipment to frontline workers. The advocacy arm of the organization has also been busy, working with the Anti-Defamation League and American Jewish Committee to battle discrimination against Asian-Americans. At this time, any kind of racism, profiling or scapegoating is not acceptable, Lin said. This whole country needs peace. We have a challenge in front of us. We dont need any more division. Honoring heroes who have fought discrimination is part of the mission. The Chinese Community Center is planning the inaugural Lily and Vincent Chin Advocacy Award, co-sponsored by the Asian Americans Salute Frontline Heroes, on June 22. The award is named for Vincent Chin who was fatally beaten by two white men in Detroit in 1982. This first awardees are Zach Owen and Bernie Ramirez who came to the defense of Bawi Cung and his family when they were attacked at a Sams Club in March. The perpetrator blamed them for the coronavirus. After the award presentation, the OCA-Greater Houston will host a virtual panel for bystander training. People need to feel comfortable to speak up, Chen said. People need to feel they can step in and de-escalate a situation. Asian Americans Salute Frontline Heroes plans to hold additional programs to raise awareness and counter discrimination. Asian Americans Salute Frontline Heroes members, like the OCA-Greater Houston, are also active, delivering faceshields, hosting food drives and bringing meals to essential workers. The group recently delivered 2,000 masks and gloves to the Black Lives Matter rally. In May, The Joint Chinese College Alumni Association gave $40,000 the Houston Food Bank. Sometimes, when humans are facing a trial, or trying times, it can bring out the best and the worst, she said. We need to show our best. For more information or to donate to the relief fund, visit ccchouston.org/asian-americans-salute-frontline-heroes. The Authority of Advance Rulings in Karnataka has ruled that parottas should not be classified under the category Khakhara, plain chapati or roti. Have you ever distinguished between a roti and a parottas? Unless you are a foodie, its all the same for majority of Indians. However, the latest ruling of Goods and Service Tax by Authority of Advance Ruling might make you re-think about your decision. On Friday, a news report by a daily suggested the Authority of Advance Rulings in Karnataka has ruled that parottas should not be classified under the category Khakhara, plain chapati or roti, which are subject to a GST of 5%. A higher GST rate of 18% will be applied on parottas because they need to be heated before consumption. The ruling was made in response to a petition filed by a private food-manufacturing company based in Whitefield, which urged the authority to include parottas in the GST bracket of 5%. Pratik Jain, partner and leader, indirect tax, PwC India said that AAR has not appreciated that roti is as generic term and can cover different types of Indian breads. Soon after the ruling, #HandsOffPorotta took over social media with roti-parotta memes taking over social media. Also Read: Twitter testing fleets in India, announcement sparks meme fest on social media Also Read: Paatal Loks Hathoda Tyagi aka Abhishek Banerjee called Indian Thor, heres how actor reacts A Twitter user has called the distinction, The heights of Indian Bureaucracy. Meanwhile, many called it food fascism and urged this discrimination to end right now. Heres how social media is reacting to the Parotta decision: According to new GST ruling, Roti & Chapatti : 5% GST Tax Porotta : 18% GST Tax Kerala "Parota" is not "Roti" because unlike rotis which are ready to eat, Porotas need to be heated before consumption. The HEIGHTS of Indian Bureaucracy. #HandsOffPorotta pic.twitter.com/5wC2ufiTAJ Advaid (@Advaidism) June 12, 2020 "First they came for Pazhampori and Appam. Now they came for Kerala Porotta."#HandsOffPorotta pic.twitter.com/3nIK5aeQIh ComradeFromKerala (@ComradeMallu) June 12, 2020 5% GST for Rotis and 18% GST for Porotta?! This discrimination should end right now. Say No to Food Fascism! You dont get to decide what we should eat! #HandsOffPorotta pic.twitter.com/Y59zjkdT6q The Saudade Guy (@arunrajpaul) June 12, 2020 Also Read: Mahabharat: Netizens spot cooler behind Bhishma Pitamah! Call it a Game of Thrones cup fiasco For all the latest Offbeat News, download NewsX App 12.06.2020 LISTEN We have reached a very, very dangerous moment in our history, when all decent-minded and discerning Ghanaian citizens, ought to condemn, in no uncertain terms, the unpardonable and abominable insouciance, of the ruthless hardliners of the forever-bickering NPP/NDC duopoly's constituent entities. The reality of our current situation, as an aspirational and mostly-tolerant-society, is that we are in the midst of a public health emergency, involving a highly infectious COVID-19 global pandemic (with over 10,000 cases, thus far), which, if not effectively contained, could infect millions of our people, and kill hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians. Literally. If COVID-19 has the potential to bring our nation to it knees, while wrecking and more or less permanently crippling our national economy, by setting it back decades, then one's humble advice to our younger generations, is to look at the bigger picture - and opt for electing to protect Mother Ghana from unreasonable, selfish and greed-filled individuals-with-hidden-agendas. When menacing COVID-19 is actually threatening their collective future, they must be brave, and loving of their nation, and all its people, in this matter, by showing their disapproval of what is the bane of our country's politics: unproductive-parochial-politricks - at what is so obviously a danger-laden juncture, in our beleaguered nation's history. After all, it is their future that is at stake, is it not? Literally. That is why Ghana's aspirational and brilliant younger generations must now speak out against our forever-bickering politicians. Simple. Yooooo... Hmmmm, Oman Ghana, eyeasem ooooo - enti yewieye paaa enei? Asem kesie ebeba debi ankasa. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday sent a message of condolences to Burundian president-elect, Evariste Ndayishimiye, over the passing of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza. On behalf of the Chinese government and people and in his own name, Xi expressed deep condolences over Nkurunziza's death and sincere sympathies to his family as well as the Burundian people. Calling him an outstanding Burundian politician, Xi stressed that Nkurunziza was deeply beloved by the Burundian people as he had led them to safeguard national sovereignty and oppose foreign interference, and had actively promoted peace, stability and development in the country. Nkurunziza had been committed to advancing traditional friendship and political mutual trust between China and Burundi, and had made important contributions to deepening the all-weather partnership between the two countries, said Xi, adding that Nkurunziza's passing is a great loss to both the Burundian people and the cause of China-Burundi friendship. China cherishes the all-weather friendship between the two countries, and is willing to work together with Burundi to push forward the development of bilateral friendly cooperation, so as to better benefit the two countries and peoples, Xi said. R uthless hedge fund Cevian Capital today took a stake in Pearson in a bid to shake up the education publisher. The Swedish firm - which is renowned for targeting companies with weak profitability and complex structures - will use its 5.4% holding to seek a seat on the board and influence who becomes new chief executive after John Fallon leaves. In December Fallon said he would step down once a replacement had been found but as yet no one has been appointed. Cevians managing partner Christer Gardell, whose aggressive style has earnt him the nickname the Butcher in the Swedish press, has decided to step in and wants a chief executive in place who can boost profits and the share price. Gardell said in an emailed statement: We expect Pearson to appoint a chief executive with a clear track record of shareholder-value creation, and we look forward to working with the company to realize its full potential. Gardell added that he had been watching Pearson for some time and believes the group has businesses with plenty of potential but which have failed to fire under Fallons leadership. He continued: We have followed Pearson closely for several years. Based on our analysis, we see no reason Pearsons businesses shouldnt outperform their competitors, and produce attractive, growing and predictable returns. This will require first-rate decision-making and robust execution. Fallon has been at Pearsons helm for seven years but under his tenure the company has struggled as he tried to transform what was a publisher of news, novels and textbooks into an online learning specialist. Pearson has been hit by declining sales of textbooks used in US higher education and its digital learning business has failed to replace the revenue loss. The coronavirus pandemic has made its problems worse as exams have been put on hold and so testing and training centers around the globe have shut. Cevian is best known for its role in trying to split up German steel giant ThyssenKrupp into two separate companies back in 2018. The process was fractious and Ulrich Lehner, ThyssenKrup chairman at the time, accused the activist investors involved of psycho-terror tactics to force the resignation of several senior executives. The split never took place. Cevian is also currently the third largest shareholder in FTSE 100 listed cement maker CRH which is understood to be looking to sell off its underperforming European businesses. Shares in Pearson were up 10% or 47.6p at 560p. New Delhi: Just hours after the adverse comments on India by Samuel Brownback, the United States Ambassador-At-Large for International Religious Freedom, and release of the 2019 International Religious Freedom Report in the US, India on Thursday said it sees no locus standi for a foreign entity to pronounce on the state of our citizens constitutionally protected rights. New Delhi further said there is robust public discourse in India and constitutionally mandated institutions that guarantee protection of religious freedom and rule of law. Interestingly, the US itself is a facing a major crisis at home regarding treatment of its own racial minorities due to incidents of police brutality that have resulted in massive social unrest among African-Americans and racial tensions. According to news agency reports from Washington, Brownback expressed concerns eroding religious freedoms in India. Mandated by the US Congress, the 2019 International Religious Freedom Report documents major instances of violation of religious freedom across the world and was released by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department, as per news agency reports from Washington. In its reaction, the MEA on Thursday said, The report on international religious freedom for 2019 published by the United States department of state ... is published annually by the department of state as part of its legal requirement to the US Congress and is an internal document of the US government.Indias vibrant democratic traditions and practices are evident to the world. The MEA added, The people and government of India are proud of our countrys democratic traditions. We have a robust public discourse in India and constitutionally mandated institutions that guarantee protection of religious freedom and rule of law. Our principled position remains that we see no locus standi for a foreign entity to pronounce on the state of our citizens constitutionally protected rights. It may be recalled that in April this year, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) had singled out India in its Annual Report for 2020, saying there has been a sharp downward turn and deterioration in religious freedom in India and recommending to the US State Department that India be designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) along with a few others. 12th June 2020 Runtime 18:41 AIM-listed Simec Atlantis Energy are one of the UK's leading renewable energy companies, with three divisions, Tidal, Thermal and Hydro. In a detailed interview CEO Tim Cornelius gave London South East a progress update on their two big projects, the MayGen tidal wave power scheme off the Caithness coast in the North of Scotland, and the Uskmouth coal to fuel pellet power station conversion scheme. So where is the groundbreaking Uskmouth project at present? Bought in 2017 when Sanjeev Gupta bought 49% of the business, Uskmouth is only a few months from financial close. "We are unable to predict specifically when people will go back to work in Wales" said Tim. "However we anticipate early next year we will be in a position to achieve financial close and to commence construction." Combustion tests for the conversion scheme are 'ongoing' at Mitsubishi Hitachi's headquarters in Nagasaki. "Luckily we were able to ship the very large amounts of pellets needed for the tests before lockdown so Covid has not impeded our testing programme". The Scottish MayGen tidal energy project has proved that turbines beneath the water can be a source of reliable electricity generation with 30 GWh soon to have been exported to the grid, sufficient to power 2,600 houses, and creating a pathway to 400 MegaWatts of output. There are two possible routes forward for MayGen explained Tim. Scotland needs more digital infrastructure and a large Data Centre in Caithness has been proposed. "It needs 80 MegaWatts of electricity to run it and that can come from MayGen, created by 40 large turbines - enough energy to supply many homes". Secondly, the Government CfD subsidy scheme for renewable energy suppliers has another bi-annual auction for 15 year Government Contracts for Difference in 2021, and Tim is 'cautiously optimistic' about #SAE's chances. The Government are proposing to put offshore wind in a different pot to give them a route to market. Inadvertently SAE might just get a route to market as well. Which I did. I ordered a Polish and a bag of fries, and, well theres an old journalism saying that we dont write about the planes that land safely, only the ones that crash. Remember everything I just said about Weiners Circle reputation as a battlefield of abuse? The woman on the other end of my FaceTime call was ... cheerful, friendly, even flirtatious. Whats up (expletive)? she asked with a big smile. So I said, I want to order food. Then she said, OK (expletive), and where you from? NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP >> Newtown Township will be applying for federal funding to bolster its career firefighting force. And its crossing its fingers and hoping the third times a charm. At its Jan. 12 meeting, the board of supervisors voted unanimously to resubmit its SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to... Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) is not the first or second pandemic to hit humanity, perhaps it may be the first most of us as Ghanaians have witnessed. Every pandemic noticeably put many sectors, especially the business entities in a state of crawling, and we can all testify to the crisis of COVID-19 on business and various sectors as they snail to achieving their set target. With a quick glance on the educational system in Ghana, the assertion that COVID-19 is a necessary evil to the educational system in Ghana is neither true nor false. We must carefully evaluate every atomic unit of Ghanas Educational System, so shall we not be prejudicial in authenticating the above statement as being relatively true or false. In the first place, what is the true meaning of education? Education in its holistic form could be seen as giving students the necessary skills needed to succeed in this world and helping them grow the confidence to practice those skills. However, education before the 21st century is apprehended to differ largely from the current ways and means of educating individuals and societies at large, and the key factor is the advancement in technology. As the western world being able to hold on a firm to technology to its great extent better off their educational system as compared to sub-Saharan Africa, precisely Ghana. In Ghana, our politicians have and continue to work dismally to disappoint our educational system and the saviour could be Angel Covid-19. Subjectively, Covid-19 is an Angel who descended from the Heavens in a Satanic form to save Ghana and the entire world from the indigenous and cruel ways of doing certain things, ranging from Ministries to Organizations. Ghana since time memorial has twisted the act of schooling and education. The great Albert Einstein simply defined education as what is remained in ones mind after he is out of the classroom. To further expatiate this statement, education must as a necessary focus on the knowledge and skills acquisition, but not just the mere wearing of school uniforms and carrying bags full of books into the classroom. Further away from personalizing the issues of Ghanas Educational System, if we could cling to technology and host most of the things we do in school all in the name of education online, Ghana would not have a shameless Association like Unemployed Graduate Association of Ghana. Why do I say this? If it so happens, every student would be engaged in other activities and businesses, because they would have time to execute them other than staying in school and doing things of less importance aside going for lectures and other few necessary activities. With this, graduates will come out of school and would not only hope for the government to employ them, since they already have side business and activities that earn them with some income for living. Aside from this, the practicality of education in acquiring Knowledge and skills in Ghana is devalued. It rather focuses on memorizing and sense of who-beats-who in the examination. This arose the old statement chew pour pass and forget. So I question this statement; chewing and pouring what, and passing and forgetting what? In simply put, it means memorize and write it during the examination so you can pass and then forget it afterward. If so, then most graduates passing through the Ghana Educational System do not fit into Albert Einsteins definition of education as stated above. The competition in the examination should be disregarded. We must stay home in our comfort zones in most cases to be given assignments and tests online, so we can query the internet for substantial information which is very accurate to the subject matter, but not just skimming through lecture slides in school just to pass the examination. This would give students the task to do a lot of research works and by so doing, the knowledge is able to stick afterward. This is what explains the great philosophy; if I listen I forget, if I watch I remember, but if I do it becomes part of me forever. Inasmuch as the above points clearly glorify COVID-19 as an Angel to teach Ghana for immediate shift in her Educational System, it only could be seen as evil to our education sector on a single ground, and that is we do not have the full capacity to engage in education online, for we are under-resourced when it comes to technology. However, we hope for our politicians to see what we the ordinary Ghanaians see to enable us better our Educational System in post-COVID-19. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. UPDATE June 24: Ballot Measure To Overturn State Ban On Affirmative Action Moves Forward In 2014, Chunhua Liao started a Change.org petition to stop an ultimately-unsuccessful effort to restore affirmative action at California's public universities. Within two weeks, the scientist and father of two young boys recalled, the petition had drawn more than 100,000 signatures -- many from Chinese-born immigrants like him who fear racial preferences would deny their children seats at selective schools. "That one went viral," Liao said, still awed. "This time, it's slower." Liao is referring to a second online petition he launched three months ago to fight a new, more ambitious effort to bring back the consideration of race and gender -- not just in college admissions, but also in state contracting and hiring. GET THE BEST OF LAIST IN YOUR INBOX Sign up for our daily newsletter to receive the latest on local politics, food, culture and the absurdities of L.A. life. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5 passed the Assembly on Wednesday and is expected to clear the Senate this month in time to be placed on the November ballot. The initiative would repeal an affirmative-action ban that was set when voters approved Proposition 209 more than two decades ago. The new legislation has gained urgency as protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month churn the country's consciousness about the systemic inequality and abuse endured by Black Americans. "I'm so grateful I didn't have to convince you that racism is real, because George Floyd did that," said ACA 5's author Democratic Assemblywoman Shirley Weber before Wednesday's vote. California State Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) authored ACA 5 to repeal the state ban on affirmative action. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Weber said that repealing Prop 209 will not solve racism, but "it's one of the many tools that we have to have in California to say California is the land of great opportunity." ACA 5 has scores of endorsements, including from Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Federation of Teachers and progressive Asian American organizations. But Chunhua Liao said what's building public support for ACA 5 are "current events." "I think there's some people who try to show some sympathy by offering special treatment for some racial groups," Liao said. Liao, who is leading the "No ACA 5" campaign, said even as he and other activists face more of an "uphill" battle, they continue to email and call legislators. Should the measure advance to the November ballot he said not all is lost, pointing to a Pew Research Center survey that found most Americans oppose race-conscious college admissions. One thing the activists have developed a penchant for: Borrowing heavily from Martin Luther King, Jr. ("they will not be judged by the color of their skin") on their Facebook and WeChat pages. Chinese-born opponents of ACA 5 often cite Martin Luther King, Jr. for why they think the legislation is racist. (No ACA5 Facebook page) Surveys show that most Asian Americans back affirmative action. A 2014 Field Poll of Californians found support from 69% of Asians surveyed, compared to 81.4% of Latinos and 83.1% of African Americans. It is White voters who have shown the least support for affirmative action -- only 57.3% supported it in the Field Poll -- and who may prove to be the bigger hurdle for ACA 5 supporters at the ballot box. Conservative White-led organizations opposing affirmative action, like the free-market think tank Pacific Research Institute, have come out against ACA 5. Others are also bankrolling lawsuits against schools like Harvard, which they charge with discriminating against Asian Americans. Among Asian Americans, surveys have shown affirmative action's support is the smallest among Chinese, according to an analysis by APIA Data out of University of California, Riverside. That was borne out in 2014, when a predominantly Chinese group of activists became the face of the opposition. Surveys have shown affirmative action's support is the smallest among Chinese Americans. (AAPI Data) Their online and in-person protests led some Asian American politicians to publicly refuse to support Senate Constitutional Amendment 5, which would ask voters to bring affirmative action back onto the campuses of public universities. Three Asian American senators who ended up voting for SCA 5, including now-Congressman Ted Lieu, drew a lot of heat from Chinese activists. The trio later asked its author, Sen. Ed Hernandez, to withdraw his legislation. Looking back, the ballot initiative lacked organized support, said Vincent Pan, who advocated for SCA 5 at the time. "There wasn't like a campaign set up around it," said Pan, who is co-executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action, based in San Francisco. "The legislation was way ahead of the community." In contrast, ACA 5 is backed by a diverse group of organizations under the umbrella of the Opportunity For All coalition that Pan co-chairs and reflects "what the entire state thinks about the need to address both structural racism and systemic discrimination." Pan praised the breadth of ACA 5, which he said would not only benefit people of color, but women. "Prop 209 wiped out all the (small business) programs to support people of color-owned businesses and women-owned businesses," Pan said. "And we know in order to recover from the COVID-related economic downturn, we're going to need those small businesses." But affirmative action as it relates to education remains the most deeply divisive aspect of ACA 5 in the Asian American community. That was evident in the fact that the API caucus was the only one not to endorse ACA 5, and that none of its co-authors are Asian American. The votes from Asian American members of the Assembly were a mixed bag. Eight of the 10 Democrats on the Asian American Pacific Legislative Caucus voted for ACA 5. Thank you to my Assembly colleagues and all the supporters for making history happen today. The journey to right a wrong moves to the Senate. The end vote was 60-14 with bi-partisan support. Its time to let a new generation decide to expand opportunity for all #ACA5 pic.twitter.com/09f0GyeHmN Shirley Weber, PhD (@DrWeber4CA) June 11, 2020 The other two Democrats -- Ed Chau of Monterey Park and Kansen Chu of San Jose -- sat out the vote. Meanwhile, Republicans Phil Chen, Steven Choi and Vince Fong voted no. Republican Tyler Diep did not vote. Evan Low, D-Campbell, supported ACA 5 although he said that it comes at his political peril. He said during Wednesday's hearing that he had gotten 99 calls and emails in support, and 3,700 in opposition. Elected officials, he recounted, were asking him "Aren't you Yellow? Why are you voting against your own people? Why are you betraying us?" Still, Low said during his remarks before Wednesday's vote that he understood opponents' anxiety, pointing out that many went into debt so their children could attend college. Evan Low said he was accused of betraying other Asian Americans for supporting ACA 5. (No ACA 5 Facebook page) "Asian Pacific Islanders, particularly the Chinese community, fear the loss of good hard-working people who believe that if you do the hard work, as you are told, they will have their chance as well too," Low said. And because many are immigrants, Low said, they didn't understand the long-standing challenges faced by the other groups. But Choi, an Irvine Republican, equated passing ACA 5 to legalizing racism and sexism. "Colleagues, I do not want to live in a state of where the color of my skin or my my race or my sex, or my national origin, determines my qualifications for a position, a job or entering to college," Choi said Wednesday. "I came here to this country to get away from ideologies like that." Asian American members of the California Legislature pose for AAPI Month 2019. (AAPI Legislative Caucus) Chunhua Liao echoes the sentiment. He said his fight against ACA 5, and SCA 5 before that, is not because he's worried his two sons can't get into good schools. He said he is fortunate to have resources and connections. Liao, who founded the Silicon Valley Chinese Association Foundation six years ago to fight SCA 5, said his motive is that he wants to uphold the U.S. Constitution he's embraced as a naturalized citizen. "The only way to keep this kind of multiracial, multicultural country going forward smoothly is to treat each individual equally, not trying to group them into different skin colors," Liao said. Meanwhile, he's keeping an eye on his petition against ACA5. More than 83.000 had signed as of Friday afternoon. Four poachers were arrested this week in connection with the killing of a rare silverback gorilla in Ugandas Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a lush preserve of mist-shrouded hillsides and thick rain forests that is home to nearly half of the worlds mountain gorillas, the authorities said. The silverback, known as Rafiki, was killed by a poacher with a spear, according to the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Rafiki, who was believed to be about 25, was the leader of the famed Nkuringo gorilla group, which has been popular with tourists for decades. The last time a mountain gorilla was killed by a spear was in June 2011, according to the International Gorilla Conservation Programme. But there are signs that poaching in gorilla parks has increased in recent months, as tourism has fallen because of the coronavirus pandemic, the organization said. Rangers found Rafikis body on June 2, a day after he was reported missing in the park, the Uganda Wildlife Authority said. A post-mortem report showed that a sharp device or object had penetrated his abdomen and pierced his internal organs, the authority said. At a time when people across the globe are actively raising their voices against the continuous racist attacks over the years and existing deep-rooted racism, here we come across a racist post in our own country. On one hand, people in the United States are protesting against racist police violence through the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in broad daylight. On the other hand, here in India, recently parents of a primary school in West Bengal's Burdwan district took to the streets to protest against an illustration that depicted a dark-skinned person as ugly. Till when are we going to relate dark-skinned people with ugliness? What's that sick mentality? Isn't it high time to get over such a regressive mindset? Whether USA or India or any part of the world, discrimination on the basis of the colour is far from over and needs immediate attention. Whats more shocking is that such sick mentality is being taught to children right from the beginning. For instance, this recent incident. #WestBengal #government has suspended two women teachers on the charge of #teaching pre-primary students from an #English alphabet book consisting of a portion derogatory to people with dark complexion https://t.co/ROFU6pILeJ National Herald (@NH_India) June 12, 2020 According to news reports, the illustration in one of the chapters depicted U for Ugly with a photo of a person with dark complexion, next to the word. Thats next level derogatory! These little minds are being corrupted by such unethical teaching. When the parents came to know about this, quite naturally, they weren't comfortable with the usage of an image of a black person next to the word ugly in the children's curriculum book on alphabet and words. The-lallantop The report in India Today suggests that the book was issued by the pre-primary department of the government run school Municipal Girls High School located in East Burdwan district of West Bengal. A teacher of Kolkata Bangbasi (Evening) College, Sudip Majumdar was quoted by India Today as saying, "My daughter is studying in this Municipal Girls High School. I came across this subject while teaching my daughter. It is completely wrong to educate children by calling a black person ugly in this way." BCCL Besides, Majumdar also demanded for the book to be withdrawn as it discriminates against dark skinned people. He said, "This book should be withdrawn soon. In any case, the education being given to children in the name of blacks will work to fill their tender hearts with inferiority complexes and discriminate against blacks. This is wrong." Why not "U" for "UNITY"..? (@abhit16) June 12, 2020 Meanwhile, news outlets tried to contact Swapan Kumar Dutt, District Inspector of School Primary Education, who refused to comment on the matter initially. But, he later accepted the fact that such education is not right. He said, "This kind of book is not an official book given by the school. We will still talk to the school about it. If needed the book should be changed." Soon, following a thorough investigation into this sensitive matter, two teachers were suspended with immediate effect. Also, stricter action is to be taken against them. Clearing the stance of the government in this matter, in an interview, Education Minister Partha Chatterjee confirmed that the textbook was not issued by the government. He said, "The book is not part of the text books referred by the education department. It was introduced by the school itself. We have zero tolerance for acts which instill prejudices into the minds of students." Instances like these make us question the existing teaching system in place that pays little to no attention to the existing social evils. Children should be made aware of such sensitive topics right from their childhood rather than corrupting their minds. This particular incident came into light when the father of a student was referring to the textbook and teaching him at home. He immediately informed other parents and the education department about the issue. At just 5 years old, Amaya Olorunoje is already having a positive impact on the community of Staten Island. An East Coast USA Pageant Supreme titleholder, Amaya will host a beach clean-up with the help of her parents. Amaya, of Clifton and who attends the Harbor View School that focuses on the importance of the harbor and keeping it clean, will be collecting basic personal and beauty care and hygiene items for the elderly residents who reside in Carmel Richmond Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Dongan Hills during the clean-up. According to Amayas mom, Tiffany, the event is set to take place Saturday, June 20 from noon until to 2 p.m. at the Dolphins Monument near the South Fin Grill for a beach clean-up where they will have an oversized decorated box on site for donation drop offs by the meeting area. So even if people cant participate in the clean-up, they can drop something off for the elderly or they can do both. We are so excited for this event and hope it has a wonderful turn out and to drop off items for Carmel Richmond, said Tiffany. We would really love if you can help us get the word out to the community, said Tiffany. I think this is a great opportunity to get the community to work together during this time, especially with all thats going on right now. We will of course be social distancing. It is a beach, so there is plenty of space. Amaya is a kindergarten student and an extremely outgoing and caring child. She says one of her favorite pastimes is dancing and playing with her siblings. She misses her friends from school and most of all misses her teachers, Miss Salamon and Ms. Val. She is very concerned about marine life and the cleanliness of our harbor, adds her mom. But thanks to her school here on Staten Island that focuses on marine studies, Amaya has a really big passion for keeping the beach clean, always reminding us sea life can't live in dirty water. This is why she wants to get the community involved in a beach clean-up. Tiffany says being part of the East Coast USA Pageant Queens community service program is something the girls welcome, and take pride in and learn what being part of the system is all about. At East Coast USA the girls are encouraged to get out into the community, uplift each other, work together, build friendships with different people of all backgrounds and just be your best self. Being able to know youre beautiful for who you are and not what you look like is golden for our children., Tiffany adds. Amaya won the East Coast USA New York Supreme title in February right before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Her mom works at Carmel Richmond, a health care facility thats been hit hard by COVID-19. So Amaya and Tiffany followed up by spearheading a project to collect personal items and clothes to donate such as, T-shirts, sweat pants, grip socks and pajamas. It has been very hard on the residents because the families are not allowed to come visit so it makes it hard for them to get what they need during this time, Tiffany said. A truck driver was arrested and charged with a hit-and-run on the New Jersey Turnpike in Fort Lee that left a 21-year-old woman dead last week, the New Jersey State Police announced Thursday. Joel Lasanta, 37, of Kissimmee, Florida was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with fatal injuries and hindering apprehension, according to a statement from the police. Jada Smith, of Teaneck, was driving her Honda CRV south on the highway on June 4 when she was involved in a crash in the area of milepost 121.5 that caused her SUV to become disabled in the right lane, police said. She then stepped out of her car and was struck by a tractor trailer which fled the scene, authorities said. Troopers were called to the scene at 10:25 p.m., found Smith dead and subsequently started an investigation to find the driver of the truck. Lasanta was identified as a suspect and was arrested without incident at the Clara Barton Service Area on the Turnpike on June 6, police said. He was taken to the Bergen County Jail where he was held pending his detention hearing. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. The fathers of two police constables killed on duty have taken part in a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of work on a 4.5 million memorial honouring all fallen officers. Sir Hugh Orde, chairman of the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust, spoke at the event to commemorate police officers and staff killed in the line of duty since the 18th century. The UK Police Memorial will stand at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire, commemorating all personnel who have lost their lives since the 1749 formation of the Bow Street Runners. The fathers of Greater Manchester Police officers Pc Fiona Bone and Pc Nicola Hughes, who were murdered in 2012 while responding to reports of a burglary, cut the first ground on the project on Friday. Pc Hughes, 23, of Saddleworth, and Pc Bone, 32, from Sale, were murdered by Dale Cregan in a gun and grenade ambush after being lured to a house in Mottram in Longdendale, Tameside. Speaking after the ceremony, Pc Hughes father Bryn told the PA news agency: Its an honour to be asked to come and break the ground for such a fitting memorial to hundreds of police officers who we have lost while protecting the public. But in the same sense, at the back of my mind, there is only one reason why I am here and thats because Ive lost Nicola. Mr Hughes said of the memorial: Its vitally important. As a father, as a husband or a wife, you are never going to forget the person youve lost. But I think to have something like this its more than important, its beyond words how important it will be for their memory. Pc Bones father Paul said: It brings it back a little what we went through in 2012. But its nice to be here and its nice that the memorial is going to be built here to remember not just Fiona but all the other 4,200 officers that have been killed. Story continues Pc Fiona Bone (left) and Pc Nicola Hughes (Greater Manchester Police/PA) The physical memorial, due to be completed in 2021, will complement an existing online digital memorial, launched in November last year, to the thousands of officers and police staff who have died on duty. Sir Hugh, chairman of the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust, said: When we set out on this ambitious project in 2015 we had no idea how challenging it would be. Along the way we have overcome many hurdles and setbacks. But after five years of determination, amazing support and dedicated fundraising we have finally reached the position where construction of the new memorial can start. We have only been able to reach this point thanks to the generosity of individual benefactors, businesses, grant-makers, Government, police forces, staff associations and the wider public. Speaking at Alrewas after the ceremony, Sir Hugh added that the memorial would be a substantial brass structure. The memorial represents a half-open door, he said. It represents the dangerous space into which officers go, not knowing whats behind that door. Sir Hugh Orde welcomed the fathers of @gmpolice officers Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes at the @Nat_Mem_Arb to break ground on the new UK Police Memorial. He spoke about the #CourageAndSacrifice of the police service and the importance of #Remembrancehttps://t.co/vt1A9V1btd UK Police Memorial (@ukpmemorial) June 12, 2020 The new open-air memorial has been designed by Walter Jack and will include two low screens bearing the names of 2,000 police officers and staff, as well as spaces for reflection. Sir Hugh, who is former chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, added: The last few months have demonstrated to us all that we live in an uncertain world. Yet something we can be certain of, is that every day police officers will go out to patrol our cities, towns and villages, not knowing the dangers that they are likely to face or confront. Sadly there are some that wont return home at the end of their shift. Their courage and sacrifice will now be commemorated and remembered forever here at the National Memorial Arboretum. Continuing its restructuring moves, German bank Deutsche Bank DB is now mulling to combine the company's Wealth Management and Private & Commercial Business International units, and form a new International Private Bank. The bank targets to serve 3.4 million private, wealth and commercial clients through the new entity. Though the new division, Deutsche Bank aims to merge globally-connected Wealth Managements clients across Germany, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East and Africa, along with private clients and small- and medium-sized enterprises in Italy, Spain, Belgium and India. The combined business is likely to hold around 250 billion euros of assets under management and record revenues of about 3 billion euros. Moreover, Claudio de Sanctis, the recent Global Head of Wealth Management, will head the International Private Bank and serve as CEO EMEA. Karl von Rohr, Deutsche Banks president and head of the Private Bank, said, This exciting combination is the next step in the Private Banks transformation announced last July. I am delighted that Claudio will lead our new growth pillar. He has made a major contribution since joining Deutsche Bank in December 2018 and possesses all the qualities and energy needed to lead this strategically vital business for Deutsche Bank. De Sanctis further noted, With the International Private Bank, we will create a truly global organization with a unique focus on serving entrepreneurial individuals and families with European connectivity as well as a personal banking powerhouse in major Eurozone markets. Combining our internationally focused Private Bank businesses will allow us to develop our market share within and across local markets. We will be able to provide greater access for private banking clients to our wealth management capabilities and to combine forces to offer superior digital services to our private, wealth and commercial clients. Deutsche Banks restructuring moves were initiated before the pandemic hit us. In a bid to improve long-term profitability, the bank announced a number of major restructuring plans and a fresh set of targets it seeks to achieve by 2022 without raising additional capital last July. Following the restructuring moves, Deutsche Bank reported net loss of 5.4 billion for 2019 and revenues of 23.2 billion. Further, the pandemic has made it more difficult to retrieve its profitability. Notably, at a virtual conference, chief financial officer James von Moltke has announced reserving about 800 million in the current quarter for problem loans, per Bloomberg. Though Deutsche Banks restructuring efforts, including cost-saving measures, look encouraging, it is difficult to determine how much the bank will gain, considering the prevalent headwinds. The stock has gained 29.2% on the NYSE in the past six months as against the industrys decline of 27.5%. Story continues Deutsche Bank currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Stocks to Consider Grupo Financiero Galicia S.A. GGAL has witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions for 2020 over the past 60 days. Moreover, this Zacks #1 Ranked stock has lost 22.2% over the past six months on the NYSE. Macro Bank Inc.s BMA current-year earnings estimate moved north in 60 days time. Further, the companys shares have declined 22.8% over the past six months on the NYSE. At present, it holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). United Overseas Bank Ltd. UOVEY has witnessed upward earnings estimate revision for the ongoing year in the past 60 days. This Zacks #2 Ranked stock has depreciated 13.3% in six months time. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (DB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Macro Bank Inc. (BMA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Grupo Financiero Galicia S.A. (GGAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Overseas Bank Ltd. (UOVEY) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Daniel Itai The Zimbabwe Daily Masvingo, Zimbabwe Zimbabwe now has its first campus radio station which is situated at the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU). Many have welcomed the move from the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) which is responsible for the issuing of broadcasting licenses. Vivian Marara-Zhangazha the director of Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS) said the inaugural GZU campus radio station was a good call in the development of the media realm. This is a great development as this will ensure information sharing and participation amongst students. Additionally, broadcast media students will be able to undertake both theory and practical studio broadcasting lessons in preparation for entrance into the mainstream industry. - Advertisement - The hope is that despite the campus radio being part of a state institution, students will be allowed to exercise editorial independence in the operations of the station, which is one of the basic tenants of the media so as to further academic freedom at the institution, said the ZACRAS director. Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU) president Pijiwest Nhamburo, also welcomed the move by BAZ, there is more joy in witnessing development taking place in our own time and seeing it with our own eyes and as a student, I take this as a great honor to the students community since its a record breaking initiative that has been launched for the first time in one of our institutions of higher learning and we hope this be found in every province of Zimbabwe. Moreover, since 1980 information dissemination has been a problem between the Institution administrations and the key stakeholders who happen to be the students in matters of urgency and need and having campus radio is a milestone achievement for our leaners and administrators as it eases communication barriers between the two layers hence, the necessity of campus radio stations. It is now incumbent upon institutions to take this seriously and invest in these radio stations for them to have easy communication within their campuses and beyond. Income generating through conducting adverts for companies and harnessing talent and converting knowledge into formidable skill for our students in media field is also of paramount importance. Like this: Like Loading... Tinsley Mortimers swansong Instagram post prompted Sonja Morgan from The Real Housewives of New York City to take a little credit for her fairytale ending. Sonja Morgan, Tinsley Mortimer |Heidi Gutman/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Mortimers mid-season exit shocked fans as she shared a farewell post hours before her last episode. Viewers knew she got engaged to Scott Kluth in November and stopped filming. But her storyline didnt include that she was dating Kluth until the last few minutes of the previous episode. She teased she might be seeing him again. Then suddenly she was engaged and moving to Chicago. Kluth and Mortimer had an on-again/off-again relationship after Carole Radziwill introduced the couple. Kluth was Radziwills friend and she was the one who made the match. However, when Mortimer thanked Bravo and the series for creating the opportunity for her to meet Kluth, Morgan chimed in on her post that she could take the credit for the match too. Why is she staking claim to the love connection? Viewers are confused about why Morgan was taking any credit Fans and cast member Leah McSweeney rolled their eyes at Morgans response to Mortimers post. And without me you wouldnt have met, Morgan responded to Mortimers post thanking RHONY for the love match. So happy for you girl. You got the fairytale, Morgan continued. Moved to NYC to live with a true girlfriend who was there for you with open arms I got you on #rhony and my co star Introduced you to Scott the man May all your dreams come true. Im always here . RELATED: RHONY: Sonja Morgan Says She Wont Miss Filming with Tinsley Mortimer McSweeney responded with WTF and fans reminded Morgan she did not make the introduction. We all watched Carole introduce Tinsley to Scott, one person reminded Morgan. Plus a flood of fans responded to Morgan that the engagement was not about her. Carole is the one that introduced Tinsley & Scott, not you.. Plus you treated her like sh*t when she stayed with you., another person commented. Morgan takes a lot of credit for providing a path for Mortimer to re-enter society RHONY viewers met Mortimer when she moved into Morgans infamous townhouse. Mortimer returned to New York City after going underground following her arrest in Palm Beach. She was arrested for trespassing at ex-boyfriend Alexander Nico Fanjuls home. Charges were later dropped. While Morgan opened her home to Mortimer, she had some strict ground rules that werent made apparent to Mortimer until she broke them. Viewers saw how Morgan became agitated when Mortimer asked one of Morgans assistants for help. She doesnt want him to ever be distracted by what I might ask him or say to him, Mortimer told Bravos The Daily Dish in 2017. Mortimer was also forbidden from using the elevator in the home or feeding Morgans dogs. RELATED: RHONY: Tinsley Mortimer Appears in Her Final Episode as Dorinda Medley Mocks Her Engagement Also, Another thing is I am not allowed to have any guest over without, of course, telling her, she shared. The main one is Im also not allowed to have any men over, guys. So I cant invite a guy over and I cant have him, of course, stay in her daughters room where I live. Mortimer eventually moved into a hotel apartment but hosted a party for Morgan to thank her for her hospitality. However, at the time, Morgan didnt think Mortimer had been appreciative enough, so it took a few months for the cast members to rebuild their friendship. Accusing the BJP again of trying to topple his government, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said a complaint has been filed with state's Special Operation Group for investigation into the matter Jaipur: Accusing the BJP again of trying to topple his government, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said a complaint has been filed with state's Special Operation Group for investigation into the matter. Gehlot, however, refused to disclose names of those behind the toppling bids allegedly involving transfer of money for horse trading. "A complaint has been lodged with the SOG so that investigation about those who are involved in this organised crime of money transfer could be conducted," Gehot said at a press conference. The conference was held at a hotel on Delhi highway and near a resort, where the Congress and other MLAs supporting the state government are staying. He said what happened in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh is known to all, and now it is being tried here in Rajasthan. "If the BJP leaders are making calls to the Congress and independent MLAs, what should we call this?" he asked. Asked about Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot's statement that he received no complaint regarding horse trading, Gehlot asserted that he is the chief minister and if something comes to his notice, it must have come from a source. "How can we disclose this?" he asked. The complaint to the SOG was filed by the Congress chief whip Mahesh Joshi who on Wednesday had filed a similar complaint to Anti-Corruption Bureau, alleging that that some political and other persons are trying to influence the voting for Rajya Sabha elections and de-stabilise the state government by luring Congress MLAs and other lawmakers supporting the state government. The chief minister said that amid the coronavirus crisis, the BJP's central leadership was doing sabotage. "They toppled the government in Madhya Pradesh and are now hatching conspiracy in Rajasthan. They have been exposed among the public," he said. Gehlot said that two persons Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were taking all decisions which is not good for democracy. He said that democracy is being murdered in the country as it was seen in Madhya Pradesh. Gehlot said that the Rajya Sabha elections were deliberately postponed because the BJP could not manage to complete its horse trading . He said that Modi had stated about 'Congress-free India' but the Congress is in the DNA of the country. "The Congress is in the DNA of the country, it has a long history of great sacrifices but do not be surprised if the Modi government and their party ever gets destroyed because the public has seen their acts," he said. The chief minister also said amid the coronavirus pandemic, the predominant issue is saving lives, but how could this be done when all religions and political parties are not united. "Why does this thought not come to the mind of Modi and Shah?" he asked. He said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had stated that the party is with the government in its fight against the novel coronavirus. Meanwhile, Pilot said the election is for three seats and four candidates are in fray. Congress has a comfortable mandate to win two seats, besides having independent MLAs, supporting the state government for the last one and half years. Both of our candidates will win and there is no doubt on this, he said, adding those who are trying to create confusion are just indulging in time pass . Randeep Surjewala, AICC spokesperson and observer for the Rajya Sabha elections in Rajasthan, said the BJP is trying to steal the people's mandate. He asked why did the BJP field a second candidate when it does not even have the number of legislators to elect its second candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections. It shows the BJP's intention to steal public mandate, he said asserting that their conspiracy would be defeated. He said the party MLAs are united and will not be tempted. When asked if the party MLAs would be kept together at one place till the elections, he said, "If thieves come to your house to commit theft, you have to safeguard your house. If thieves are coming to steal democracy, it is our responsibility and duty to protect democracy." The MLAs have been staying at Shiv Vilas resort, Kuksas at Delhi highway since Thursday. Chief Minister Gehlot too stayed at the resort on Thursday night. AICC general secretary Avinash Pande and one of the party candidates for Rajya Sabha polls, KC Venugopal, too were also present in the press conference at hotel JW Marriott in Kukas. Elections for three Rajya Sabha seats will be held on 19 July for which the Congress has nominated Venugopal and Neeraj Dangi while the BJP has fielded Rajendra Gehlot and Onkar Singh Lakhawat. In the Assembly of 200, the Congress has 107 MLAs and has the support of independent MLAs and legislators of other parties like Rashtriya Lok Dal, CPI (M) and Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP). Ruling Congress has enough majority to win two seats and the opposition BJP, which has 72 MLAs and support of three Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MLAS, has the numbers to comfortably win one seat. Commercial farmers are being 'systematically written out' of government policy in the rush to push environmental enhancement 'above all else', a report warns. Commercial Farmers Group, a farming think-tank, has released a report examining the role of commercial agriculture in the UK. It highlights how farming has the potential to solve sustainability challenges, generate employment and boost the post-Covid-19 economy. However, it warns that the government's priority of environmental policy post-Brexit could undermine food production. As well as laying out the areas farming can impact positively, it argues that British farmers should be 'ready and willing' to compete with food imports provided there is clear labelling identifying differences in standards. James Black, a farmer from the group who produces pigs and arable crops in Suffolk, explained that commercial farming was 'important' as fewer than 10% of farming businesses produced over half the UKs agricultural output. He said these businesses were also 'ideally-placed' to stimulate local economies, support wider industries and address problems such as use of finite resources, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change and biodiversity decline. "However, they can only do this if allowed the chance, Mr Black said, adding that UK history was 'littered' with the results of aspirational concepts which had been 'poorly delivered'. "Policy makers have not fully engaged with the people most involved in the implementation. We must avoid food and farming becoming a casualty of this too. Mr Black added that commercial farmers should be seen 'as the solution, not the enemy', as they were 'efficient based on evidence-based decision making and best practice'. "They structure their operations to make optimal use of their natural resources and where they are already engaged in delivering public goods, they do so with accountability towards the outcomes." In short, they can quickly bring about change through capability, data, scale and technology, to meet changing market demands, Mr Black said. This is the thrust of our report and why our group wants to be involved as the details for implementing new agricultural policy are identified so that real public goods can be achieved alongside the imperatives of food security and economic viability. The report provides examples of areas where commercial farming could help to improve the success of future farming policy. These include the ability to use resources efficiently with fewer emissions, provide land and capital to invest in renewable energy technologies, and deliver land improvement and biodiversity projects. These actions could stimulate rural development and the contribution of Gross Value Added arising from the food and drink sector, the report adds. The state of Michigan filed a lawsuit on June 9 against the owner of two dams, seeking fines for the destruction of natural resources as well as gross mismanagement that preceded a devastating flood in Midland County. Blame for the May 19 flood, which destroyed at least 150 homes and forced thousands of people to flee, falls squarely on Boyce Hydro Power, Attorney General Dana Nessel said. If Boyce would only have abided by state and federal environmental laws, thousands of residents in Midland County and surrounding areas wouldnt have had their homes, businesses and personal belonging damaged or destroyed, Nessel said. The Edenville dam failed during a steady rain, draining Wixom Lake and unleashing the Tittabawassee River, which then overwhelmed the Sanford dam, about 140 miles (225 kilometers) north of Detroit. The Edenville dam was under federal authority as a producer of electricity, but the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission yanked the license in 2018 and passed oversight to the state. FERC said it repeatedly raised concerns about the dams ability to prevent flooding during extreme conditions because of an inadequate spillway capacity. A local group was attempting to acquire the dam and make repairs before disaster struck. The lawsuit describes the long relationship between the dam and FERC and how the state inherited regulatory control. It seeks a court order requiring Boyce Hydro to repair damage to natural resources, clean up any hazardous sediments, restore wetlands and pay the state for killing fish. Malfeasance and mismanagement has decimated the ecosystems of Wixom Lake and Sanford Lake, created mud pits where lakes used to be and caused the deposit of large amount of unauthorized material on bottomlands, the lawsuit states. An email seeking comment was sent to Boyce Hydros lawyer. The lawsuit reveals that the state has been talking to Boyce Hydro about fixing 60-foot-wide cracks on a portion of the dam that holds back the Tobacco River but there has been no compliance. Nessel said the state isnt trying to get ahead of residents who have filed lawsuits over damage. Boyce absolutely should pay every single solitary person, the attorney general said. There was $175 million in damage to homes, businesses and nonprofits and $34 million to public property, said Mark Bone, chairman of the Midland County Board of Commissioners. Most houses damaged by the flood were not in a flood zone, so only about 8% had flood insurance, he said. Separately, Liesl Clark, head of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, said the states investigation of the failed dams will involve people from outside state government. There needs to be an outside look at everything at happened. So well be ready to talk about that more shortly, Clark said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Flood Talent Michigan Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 17:54:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on July 21, 2019 from Xiangshan Mountain shows the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang) BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Friday warned that "Taiwan independence" forces must stop their secessionist activities before it is too late, and that anyone caught in such acts will face severe punishments. Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the secessionist forces and their activities for "Taiwan independence" pose the biggest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and represent the biggest obstacle to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. The Democratic Progressive Party authority in Taiwan has recently stepped up colluding with external forces to undermine peace and stability across the Strait through continuous provocations of confrontation between the mainland and Taiwan, making cross-Strait relations even more complex and grave, Zhu said. A tiny fraction of "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces have clamored for and stepped up activities seeking "Taiwan independence" in an attempt to push cross-Strait relations to the brink of danger and push Taiwan compatriots toward the abyss of disasters, she said. Their acts run counter to the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and the vital interests of Taiwan compatriots, and are doomed to fail, she added. Baptist group representing 1,000 churches sues Ill. over law forcing them to cover abortions Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Baptist church organization of about 1,000 member congregations and two businesses have filed a lawsuit against Illinois over a state law that requires insurance providers to cover abortion procedures. The Illinois Baptist State Association, Southland Smiles, Ltd, and Rock River Cartage, Inc. filed a lawsuit Wednesday in the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, Sangamon County. At issue is Sec. 356z.4a, which reads, in part, "no individual or group policy of accident and health insurance that provides pregnancy-related benefits may be issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this State unless the policy provides a covered person with coverage for abortion care." "As a matter of sincerely held religious beliefs, Plaintiffs believe abortion involves the destruction of human life and is gravely wrong and sinful," the lawsuit states. "Plaintiffs believe that they cannot facilitate access to, subsidize, or otherwise materially cooperate with the provision of abortion without violating their conscience and most sacred and solemn obligations to God, betraying their professed religious faith, and disserving the best interests of their fellow human beings." The complaint argues, among other things, that the coverage mandate violated Illinois' Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which states that the government cannot burden an individual's religious liberty, save for a compelling state interest, and in the least restrictive means possible. "The State has no compelling governmental interest to require Plaintiffs to comply with the Reproductive Health Act," the lawsuit adds. "The Reproductive Health Act is not narrowly tailored to achieve any compelling governmental interest in a way that is least restrictive to Plaintiffs' rights." The Baptist association and the businesses are being represented by the Chicago-based law firm, the Thomas More Society, which often takes on religious liberty cases. Society Vice President and Senior Counsel Peter Breen said in a statement that he believed state officials had "sat silent in response to the conscientious objections of people of faith to paying for elective abortions." "Radical partisans have forced employers of faith in Illinois into a terrible choice: either pay for the intentional termination of unborn children, or leave your employees' families and your own without health insurance," Breen said. "The United States Supreme Court has repeatedly condemned this sort of government coercion against people of faith, including in the 2014 Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. decision." Ameri Klafeta, director of the Women's and Reproductive Rights Project at the Illinois chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, denounced the Thomas More Society's lawsuit. "It is beyond cruel to try and reduce access to basic health care in the midst of a pandemic," Klafeta said, referring to abortion, according to The State Journal-Register. "Having lost an argument over the availability of abortion care in the hearts and minds of the American people and the legislature, TMS has run to court in an attempt to impose their religious views on all people in Illinois, including abortion care," she asserted. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 19:02:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Japan's parliament on Friday enacted a record 31.91 trillion yen (297 billion U.S. dollars) second supplementary budget for the current fiscal year aimed at further cushioning the economic blow delivered by the coronavirus pandemic. The record extra budget, approved by the upper house and enacted at a plenary session thereafter Friday, will finance an additional package of 117 trillion yen (1.08 trillion U.S. dollars), with the latest spending plan aimed at continuing to provide fiscal support related to the coronavirus crisis. The supplementary budget for fiscal 2020, approved by the more powerful lower house of parliament on Wednesday and backed by the majority of opposition parties, prioritizes financial support being provided to small businesses suffering due to economic activities slowing severely amid coronavirus pandemic. The package has also been designed to cater to medical workers who have been on the front lines providing emergency care for those infected with COVID-19. Specifically, allocations in the extra budget include a system to provide subsidies for small businesses of 6 million yen (56,000 U.S. dollars) to assist with rent payments, as well as sole proprietors hard-hit due to the adverse economic conditions. Medical workers at facilities treating COVID-19 patients will be provided 200,000 yen (1,860 U.S. dollars) each, while 100,000 yen will be given to members of staff at hospitals who have made beds available to COVID-19 patients. The extra budget also earmarks 10 trillion yen (93 billion U.S. dollars) as a reserve fund, 5 trillion yen of which will be split between improving medical services and helping companies keep their workers employed. Japan's largest-ever extra budget, initially approved by the Cabinet in May, will be financed by government bonds. Japan's fiscal health further deteriorate as its public debt is already the largest among industrialized countries at more than twice the size of its economy and set to rise to more than 240 percent of GDP in 2020 and 2021, according to a recent assessment by Fitch Ratings. Adding to the nation's fiscal woes, the world's third largest economy contracted an annualized real 2.2 percent in the January-March period from the previous quarter, upwardly revised from a preliminary reported 3.4 percent contraction, the Cabinet Office said earlier this week. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the contraction in real gross domestic product, equates to a 0.6 percent decrease, the office's revised data showed. Japan's economy shrank for a second straight quarter in the January-March period and entered a technical recession as a result of the adverse effects of the pandemic, the government said. Enditem [June 12, 2020] AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Health Services Welfare Society Limited AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bbb-" of Health Services Welfare Society Limited (New Zealand), trading as Accuro Health Insurance (Accuro). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect Accuro's balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorises as adequate, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. Accuro's balance sheet strength assessment is supported by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which remained at an adequate level in fiscal-year 2019, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Other balance sheet considerations include the company's relatively high underwriting leverage compared with other New Zealand health insurers and its small capital base, which increases the sensitivity of capital adequacy to stress scenarios or fluctuations in performance. In addition, since September 2019, the company's exposure to investment risk has increased as a result of shifting part of its portfolio from cash and short-term deposits to fixed income securities, equities and listed property holdings. Despite this change in investment strategy, the company's bond holdings are typically of high credit quality, and the allocation to equities and property is a relatively small portion of its investment portfolio. As a not-for-profit insurer, Accuro has no dividend commitments, with subsequent full retention of earnings; however, AM Best considers financial flexibility to be limited. AM Best views Accuro's operating performance to be adequate, as demonstrated by a five-year average operating ratio of 97.1% (fiscal-years 2015-2019), albeit with a moderate level of volatility over this period. The company's underwriting performance deteriorated in fiscal-year 2018, mainly owing to adverse claims experience. In response, the company increased prices across most of its products and continued re-balancing towards more profitable lines of business. Whilst these actions supported the reporting of an overall operating profit in fiscal-year 2019, the result remainedlower compared with pre-2018 levels. Going forward, while the public health care system in New Zealand is responsible for the pandemic response to COVID-19, AM Best does expect a level of volatility in Accuro's prospective loss experience. For fiscal-year 2020, claims volumes are expected to fall from the deferral of elective surgeries during the country's lockdown period, followed by a subsequent catch up in claims activity over the coming fiscal periods. Accuro is a not-for-profit organization that provides health insurance in New Zealand. The company's business profile assessment of limited is due to its relatively small-scale operations, and limited product and geographical diversification in New Zealand. It is a small insurer in New Zealand's health insurance industry, with a market share of less than 2% based on gross premiums in 2019. Despite challenging market conditions, membership has grown steadily over the past five years due to the development of new products, including various product enhancements bolstering the value proposition. Prospectively, Accuro's top line may be negatively affected due to cancellations and weaker sales as a result of economic downturn related to COVID-19. Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2020 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005456/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] BAY CITY, MI -- The Bay County Health Department has been working throughout the week to get a clearer picture of a recent spike in COVID-19 cases. Bay County Health Department Director Joel Strasz initially informed the Bay County Board of Commissioners at the Tuesday, June 9 regular meeting about the spike in cases. Strasz had explained to the Board of Commissioners that the increase stemmed from a cluster of employees from a subcontracted out-of-state flood cleanup company. Strasz Friday identified the company as BTN Inc. of Texas, and stated that the employees were subcontracted to clean up Mid-Michigan Health Centers facilities in Midland after they were impacted by the flooding event. According to Strasz, the company was subcontracted for the cleanup job through a chain of companies -- ServPro subcontracted with a yet to be named employment agency, which in turn hired BTN. The total number of cases from this spike is at 19. The original spike was thought to be just 10 from testing earlier this week, according to Strasz, but an additional 9 positive test results came back on Thursday, June 11. The cases will be removed, however, from Bay Countys case count in the near future. BTN and ServPro could not be immediately reached for comment. We are transitioning them to non-Michigan resident cases," said Strasz. Mid-Michigan Health Center and BTN have both been active in working cooperatively with the Bay County Health Department on the situation. Strasz emphasized that the Bay County Health Department has been active in working to get in touch with the employees. A majority of the employees have returned to their home states of Florida and Texas, despite being advised to quarantine by the Bay County Health Department, he said. Were working pretty diligently to get in touch with these people, as we indicated before, theres language barriers," he said. "We got in touch with all but one and weve also worked with the Michigan Department of Health and Humane Services to inform public health authorities in Texas and Florida. Strasz also said that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) was notified about the event. BTNs employees were residing temporarily in Bay County as they assisted with the ongoing flooding cleanup efforts in Midland after the area endured historic flooding and dam failures. As for concerned residents, Strasz said that it is unlikely that the affected workers were working within flood-impacted homes since they were specifically contracted to help with Mid-Michigan Medical Center and not private residences. Its pretty doubtful that they had them in their homes," he said. We were told at first that they really had minimal to no contact with members of the general public here," added Strasz. "But were still trying to determine the veracity of that, and we may never know to be quite honest. Strasz also stated that there was an indication that the virus was spread to a local worker that was working in proximity to the out-of-state crews. The spike comes at a time as restrictions have begun lifting, serving as a reminder about COVID-19 and its potential spread. I think the key thing with this, its important with anything especially as we open up, is during the pandemic that anyone can be a potential carrier or vector of the virus, said Strasz. "Thats why its important to maintain distance, to utilize good hygiene, and to these mitigation practices like wearing a mask. He added, The virus is still here and it should be taken very seriously, it hasnt gone away its not over. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces. Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. Related news: Out-of-state flood cleanup workers cited as source of Bay County coronavirus spike Michigans 108 new coronavirus cases is fewest since week 1 of pandemic Michigan coronavirus stay-at-home order lifted: Heres what opens when Coronavirus clips wings of Bay City Fathers Day fly-in pancake breakfast Bay County and Bay City facilities reopen to the public after coronavirus closures Bay City Rockin the River boat races and concerts in Bay City canceled for 2020 Relations between China and Australia have been on a downward spiral in recent months, triggered by Canberra's call for an international probe into the origins of the coronavirus, which was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan. In what is seen as retaliation against Australia's stance, Beijing suspended some beef imports, slapped hefty tariffs on barley and is reportedly considering more actions on products from wine to fruits. On Thursday, Australia's prime minister said he would not be intimidated by "coercion" after the moves from Beijing. "We are an open-trading nation, mate, but I'm never going to trade our values in response to coercion from wherever it comes," Scott Morrison told local media on Thursday, according to a Reuters report. The dispute is cause for concern as Australia's export trade with China is huge, said Gavin Thompson, Asia Pacific vice chairman for energy at Wood Mackenzie, a commodities consultancy. "By value, China currently buys around a third of everything Australia exports and the ongoing diplomatic bust-up risks spilling over into trade," he said in a note on Tuesday. While none of Beijing's moves against Australian agricultural commodities is welcomed, "the appetite of China's consumers for Aussie tenderloin and Merlot is insignificant in terms of overall trade," said Thompson. China has yet to target its biggest commodity import from Australia iron ore. That's because the Asian giant has very few options to source for that at the moment. Two other major commodities coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) have also been mostly spared so far. In fact, Australia's energy and natural resource exports to China have been "booming" and are "in over-drive," noted Thompson. Mining is one of the top contributors to Australia's economy. According to Wood Mackenzie, Australia's iron ore and LNG exports to China are up 8% and 9% year-to-date respectively, compared to a year ago. Chinese imports of Australia coal are also "way ahead of where they were before the pandemic." Chinese supporters rally outside Parliament House during the Beijing 2008 Olympic torch relay through Canberra, Australia on April 24, 2008. Torsten Blackwood | AFP | Getty Images Chinese state media slammed Canberra for its "ringleader" role in calling for an investigation, and warned that China could impose curbs that would hit the Australian economy hard. While it is possible that relations between China and Australia worsen to the point where iron ore, coal and LNG shipments to the East Asian economic giant would be hit, such tactics would also hit China's growth, said Thompson. "Such a move would also come at a cost to China. Any disruption to its imports of Australian energy and iron ore would have an immediate impact on both price and China's own supply needs," he added. With China's economy battered by the coronavirus outbreak, Beijing is rolling out massive stimulus to prop up growth. This will include infrastructure spending which would in turn require a lot of steel, iron ore and steel-making coal for building and construction. Placing restrictions on Australian iron ore imports would hurt domestic steel producers just as the Chinese government is directing stimulus money into construction and infrastructure. Gavin Thompson Asia Pacific vice chairman for energy at Wood Mackenzie China's steel mills were already ramping up production in anticipation of stimulus-led demand, Reuters reported. Just last month, an executive from the China Iron and Steel Association said that while China could swap Australian for African iron ore, there would be a lag of four to five years before deposits in Africa could be tapped. But "once such a transition is completed, Australia's place as an iron ore supplier to China will be lost forever," Li Xinchuang, a vice chairman of the industry association, told the Chinese Communist Party-linked Global Times. Iron ore is 'critical' to China's economy China is the world's biggest iron ore consumer. It depends heavily on Australian iron ore, which is "critical" to the Chinese economy, said Thompson. Australia the world's largest iron ore producer and exporter accounted for about 60% of the world's total seaborne shipments in 2019, according to the World Steel Association. Brazil was the second largest exporter, and accounted for 23% of global seaborne iron ore last year. The country's production has been hit by the pandemic, wet weather and the fallout from a major mining disaster in recent months. Wood Mackenzie is forecasting a 4% fall in Brazilian iron ore exports in 2020, extending from a 13% on-year decline in 2019. That leaves China, which imports over 60% of its iron ore from Australia, with few alternatives. China recently changed regulations for iron ore inspections, which were initially seen by some to be targeted at Australian imports. However, Thompson said that given the constraints on Brazilian supply, the move was unlikely to be aimed only at Australian imports. "Placing restrictions on Australian iron ore imports would hurt domestic steel producers just as the Chinese government is directing stimulus money into construction and infrastructure," said Thompson, who added there is "no disruption yet to Australia-China iron ore trade." In fact, Australian miners are operating at capacity and struggling to increase output due to infrastructure and capacity constraints, he said. Spot iron ore prices have jumped from around $80 a metric ton at the beginning of March to breach $100 a ton now. Possible headwinds for coal and LNG The picture for coal is more mixed as China is far more self sufficient in the fossil fuel compared to iron ore, raising the risks that China could target coal imports from Australia. There are two main types: metallurgical coal used in steel making, and thermal coal that's widely used to generate power and electricity. If there are restrictions on metallurgical coal, it has yet to show up in the trade numbers. In the first four months of the year, Chinese imports for metallurgical coal hit 28 million tons that's more than half of the 52 million tons China imported for the whole of 2019, according to Wood Mackenzie. Over 80% of China's metallurgical coal imports are sourced from Australia. The situation could be different in the thermal coal market, where rumors of Chinese restrictions on that category of Australian produce have surfaced. Diversifying away from Australia will be particularly appealing given that the country accounted for around 40.0% of Chinas total mining imports in 2019. Fitch Solutions As for LNG, imports through May were up almost 9% than a year ago, in part as demand recovered after the worst of the pandemic appeared to be behind China. "Moves against Australian LNG look an unlikely prospect given the scale and contracts in place," said Thompson. LNG contracts are traditionally locked in for 10 to 20 years. China may seek new sources 'Watching Amit Shah's speech on YouTube energised me, and I got back with renewed vigour to calculating how many months I can survive without a job,' says Sumit Bhattacharya. Illustration Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com After Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi's clarion call for atmanirbharta (self-reliance), Home Minister Amit Anilchandra Shah has given Bharat a new buzzword: Nishtha (commitment). The news piqued my interest, given that I have already become atmanirbhar by being laid off from a famously anti-establishment newspaper during the lockdown. Oops, sorry, I resigned voluntarily. Anyway, so I watched the clip on YouTube. Addressing the BJP's 'virtual rally' for Odisha, Shah declared that India was doing very well in comparison to the world in combatting the novel coronavirus. Sorry, I got the chronology wrong. He came to the coronavirus after reeling off the achievements of the Modi government from farm to toilet. A country surging ahead. 'Jab hamare yaha corona pahuncha Modiji ne ajeeb prakar ki ladhai ladhi hai (when corona reached here Modiji fought a unique battle), Shah said. Disasters and disease had struck earlier as well and governments had fought against them, Shah declared, but Modi had involved the common man of the country to fight along with the government. The result, he said emphatically, was that we are fighting this fight very well in comparison to the world. The Janata Curfew, he said, would have to be written about in letters of gold when the history of the fight against the coronavirus would be chronicled. For the first time ever in his life Shah said he saw that the police did not even have to do anything, 130 crore Indians stayed home. 'Usske baad, diya jalana, ghanti bajana, yoddhao ka sanmaan karna... (after that, lighting lamps, ringing bells, honouring warriors...)' Interstate workers did face problems, Shah conceded, and he had seen that too. Everyone including the prime minister, he added, was saddened by their plight, 'magar unki takleef ki zyada unki suraksha thhi (but they were more safe than hassled).' He did say: 'Sab sarkaro ne achcha kaam kiya (all governments did good work).' He also said that 'uss samay (at that time)' it was not conducive for the labourers to go home. Oh, and he said the states had paid for the labourers' train fare and given them money, citing Odisha giving Rs 2,000 each. He said it was due to the combined work of the states, which had plied buses to the stations, and the Centre that 1.15 crore workers had returned safely to their homes. Then came his nishtha masterstroke. 'Aur aaj kuchh vakradrashta log hain, jo vipaksh ke log hain, woh sawal uthate hain toh main unko poochna chahta hu ki bhaiya, hamari toh kahi chug bhi hui hogi, magar nishtha hamari barobar thii. Hamari galti hoi hogi, hum kahin kam padh gaye honge, kuchh nahi kar paye honge, magar aapne kya kiya? (Now there are some blabbermouths, who are of the Opposition, they are raising questions. I want to ask them, maybe we made some mistakes, came up short, but our commitment was full. What have you done?)' Presumably, his barb was aimed at the Opposition, but I felt like kicking myself in the butt for not saying that to my now-former boss when he laid me off. Oops. Sorry. When I resigned. Shah said the government was aware of the pain of the millions of interstate workers and camps were set up across the country for them. And he pointed out, to applause edited in, that the government had declared a package of Rs 1.7 lakh crore. Watching his speech on YouTube energised me, and I got back with renewed vigour to calculating how many months I can survive without a job. Till I got a call from a friend, a musician, who evidently did not know about India's shining achievements. "What happens when the money in the account runs out?" he asked me. Be atmanirbhar, I told him, and he let off a volley of insults about "you f****ng journalists". Then I got another call from another close friend. They all know I have become atmanirbhar and seem keen to make more conversation than usual with me, strangely. This friend is a businessman, and he started ranting about how a company he has a tie-up with in the UK had got 50,000 pounds within days of applying with the government and he could not pay salaries to his employees because business was shut. But isn't the Indian government also giving loans, I told him. He let loose about "you f****ng journalists". "There the loan has to be repaid in six years at 2 per cent interest," he thundered. "Here it is three years on 16 per cent interest on average for my sector. How will I repay a loan in three years?" "The Indian government thinks you being in business means you are making pots of money. And don't forget the corruption. Get a loan for yourself and then we will talk." I hung up and opened social media, compulsively, and the screen was flooded with outrage about people in Delhi not being able to find hospitals to take them in, and news about famous politicians being admitted in hospital without a hitch with COVID-19. I saw graphs of how India's coronavirus count seemed to be enjoying the lockdown more than the interstate labourers, or me. Snippets of alarm: 'Mumbai corona count crosses Wuhan's'. 'Maharashtra has more COVID-19 cases than China'. 'Delhi virus count will cross 5.5 lakh, says minister'. And headlines proclaiming 'India's fingers are under Chinese boots'. F****ng journalists, I told myself, they will soon be extinct what with so many being laid off. Oops. Sorry. Resigning. And I got back to calculating how many months I can add to my survival if I stop smoking. With nishtha. Sumit Bhattacharya is a Kolkata-based journalist and musician. Production: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Leesburg, VA, June 11, 2020--An open-access article published in the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR) by radiologists in Singapore recommends a number of applied updates to the workflow of diagnostic ultrasound (US) to prevent nosocomial transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to frontline US service providers, who could inadvertently become vectors for onward transmission. According to first author Apoorva Gogna and colleagues at Singapore General Hospital, "inpatient US services are segregated into the tertiary hospital and a colocated community hospital," adding that rooms with negative pressure ventilation are dedicated for isolation case scans. With all inpatient scans vetted for clinical urgency and COVID-19 status, patients not suspected of having COVID-19 arrive at a specified US imaging center via predefined route. Suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases, as well as intensive care patients or those in reverse isolation due to an immunocompromised state, receive portable bedside US by a sonographer and an attending radiologist. "This is in contrast to our regular inpatient portable US workflow in which a trained sonographer performs the scan alone and uploads the images (usually for several patients consecutively), and the images are then sent to a dedicated radiologist for reporting," explained Gogna et al. Acknowledging that throughput is diminished when an on-duty radiologist and a sonographer work in tandem, Gogna maintains that this sacrifice ensures neither repeat scans nor additional images will be necessary. Before entering the patient's room, US equipment (e.g., battery, probe, gel) is inspected to prevent failure during the examination, then covered with disposable plastic; in the room, the two imaging staff are designated nonpatient contact and direct patient contact. To help balance speed and clinical relevance, abbreviated scan protocols are acceptable, although Gogna points out that scanning time may not be significantly shortened. Sick patients may not be able to fully cooperate with the examination, and greater attention must be paid to safeguard against breaks in staff protection. Meanwhile, outpatient US services at Singapore General Hospital are physically segregated into two locations (general US and subspecialty US), and every outpatient request is vetted and prioritized according to clinical urgency. To prevent cross contamination, inpatients are not allowed to move to the outpatient scan area. Gogna advises simple steps, such as rearranging the seating in outpatient waiting areas, to help US departments reinforce social distancing guidelines. As of June 2020, all patients and visitors to Singapore General Hospital are required to wear face masks, and present policy restricts each patient to one accompanying person. US staff--mostly segregated by location or by time--can be assigned to standby teams to cover any personnel shortage. As Gogna et al. note, "segregating manpower into redundant functional teams allows continued provision of essential services in the unfortunate event of intrahospital transmission that could require coworkers to be quarantined." Because staff segregation "does significantly affect department workload," the authors of this AJR article suggest reducing elective case listing. ### Founded in 1900, the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) is the first and oldest radiological society in North America, dedicated to the advancement of medicine through the profession of radiology and its allied sciences. An international forum for progress in medical imaging since the discovery of the x-ray, ARRS maintains its mission of improving health through a community committed to advancing knowledge and skills with an annual scientific meeting, monthly publication of the peer-reviewed American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), quarterly issues of InPractice magazine, AJR Live Webinars and Podcasts, topical symposia, print and online educational materials, as well as awarding scholarships via The Roentgen Fund. Colo. voters to decide on late-term abortion ban in November referendum Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Colorado voters will soon get to decide whether to pass a pro-life measure that would ban most late-term abortions. Known as Initiative 120, the proposed measure would ban abortions after 22 weeks into a pregnancy, with an exemption for life-threatening medical emergencies. On Monday, the secretary of states office confirmed that the Due Date Too Late campaign had collected enough valid signatures to get the proposed measure on the November ballot. In order to qualify for the ballot, pro-life advocates had to get a minimum of 124,632 verified signatures in support of the initiative. The campaign ended up getting over 153,000 confirmed signatures. Lauren Castillo, spokesperson for the campaign, said in a statement released Monday that the inclusion of the measure on the November ballot was an incredible victory. our dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure that Coloradans will have the chance to vote to save lives from late-term abortion in November, Castillo said. The numbers handed in are indicative of the overwhelming support for Initiative 120 and we are prepared and excited for the next step in the campaign. Morgan Carroll, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, denounced the proposal to end late-term abortion, calling it a cruel, calculated proposed ballot measure. Carroll said, 120 allows for no exceptions for cases of incest, rape, fetal diagnosis, or domestic violence, and is just another attempt to take away a Coloradans ability to control their own body." In April 1967, Colorado became the first state to legalize abortion, passing a bill allowing it in certain circumstances and with the approval of a three-doctor panel. Presently, Colorado does not have any restrictions on late-term abortion, although the state does require parental notification for a minor and that a licensed doctor perform the procedure. Earlier this year, the Colorado House of Representatives killed two bills that would have banned late-term abortion and required doctors to provide medical care to babies born alive after an abortion. Both bills died in the Colorado House Veterans and Military Affairs Committee following hours of debate and testimony in which the abortion procedure was graphically described. In 2008, Colorado voters overwhelmingly defeated a proposal, known as a Personhood Amendment, which would have legally identified a fertilized egg as being a person. Divisadero Mini Bar staff serve to-go drinks. | Photo: Mini Bar/Facebook In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the notoriously strict California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has relaxed some key rules. Restaurants can now sell beer, wine and cocktails with to-go food, while distilleries can deliver hard liquor directly to customers (with size limits). But the good fortune hasn't extended to San Francisco bars without kitchens. Restaurants can reopen for outdoor dining today and indoor dining on July 13, but food-free bar reopenings are being put off until mid-August. Takeout should be the solution, bar owners say. But if a bar can't serve a "bona fide" meal, they legally can't serve cocktails to go. Any to-go booze has to be sold in sealed bottles, like at a liquor store. Snacks, like nuts and pretzels, obviously don't make the grade. But beyond that, "bona fide" is largely in the eye of the beholder. The Page (298 Divisadero St.) doesn't have a kitchen. So owner Bob Wait has been teaming up with his neighbors at The Little Chihuahua, serving burritos to accompany the bar's to-go cocktails, spirits, and beer. The collaboration itself is completely aboveboard, based on the ABC's rules. But the agency says "prepackaged food like sandwiches or salads" doesn't count as a bona fide meal. What about a burrito that's wrapped and sent over from down the street? Is that prepackaged? Wait said he's had several conversations with the ABC about the question. But while he found the agency surprisingly helpful and responsive," he still hasn't gotten a clear answer. Many representatives didnt even know about the food and to-go cocktail rules when he inquired about them. They are scrambling, too, he said. The Page is currently serving burritos from neighboring taqueria Little Chihuahua. | Photo: The Page/Facebook Down the street at Madrone Art Bar (500 Divisadero St.), owner Michael "Spike" Krouse faces a similar quandary. He's been teaming up with a few local vendors, such as Debonair Catering and private chef Krista Nakamura, to serve food with cocktails like his vodka-infused "Spike's Hard Lemonade." But he's not sure whether the content of the daily menu affects his legal standing. Story continues Is mac and cheese a bona fide meal? What about a carton of dumplings? A taco? Unsure of the line in the sand, Krause has sold them all, and hoped for the best. "At this point, I am like, 'Throw us a bone, let us at least try to get our livelihood going,'" he said. But were trying to figure it out as we go." The door outside or Madrone. | Photo: Courtesy of Madrone To serve to-go cocktails, Mini Bar (837 Divisadero St.) has been partnering for occasional pop-ups with private catering company Alamo Square Park Supper Club, whose owner is a neighbor and bar regular. With a menu of Jamaican meat pies and jerk chicken skewers, owner John Ordona says he's not sure whether he's clearing the "bona fide" bar, either. He wonders if the regulatory bodies that oversee bars are purposely trying to keep the rules ambiguous during the pandemic, to give businesses a bit more creative leeway. As we seek clarity, perhaps its better not to have that clarity, because the guidelines might be too strict or stringent." Luckily (or unluckily), Ordona won't have to worry about it anymore after one last team-up with Alamo Square this weekend, he's closing Mini Bar for a seismic retrofit. It should be completed just in time for the August 13 reopening date for bars. Seeing people walk by regularly, it's obvious they miss gathering at Mini Bar, and seeing familiar faces in that location, he said. John Ordona behind the bar at Mini Bar. | Photo: Vanessa Mendiata/Courtesy of Mini Bar The ABC didn't offer any clarity on whether a burrito or mac and cheese makes the "bona fide" grade. "I can't answer your question about a specific location until someone from ABC has had the opportunity to visit or review a location, and gather facts," spokesperson John Carr said via email. "ABC's preference is education over enforcement," Carr continued. "We understand the pandemic has created severe economic stress; that is why the department has pushed through five separate Notices of Regulatory Relief to assist struggling businesses deal[ing] with the pandemic." In a new set of regulations released today, the agency did address one fear: once the city allows bars to reopen for sit-down service, they won't have to serve food. (The previous iteration of the rules had made that unclear.) When he reopens The Page in August with outdoor seating on the sidewalk Wait had planned to serve Little Chihuahua's entire menu. Now that it's not required, he's not sure what he'll do. Either way, he says, teaming up to navigate the rules has "made him closer" with Andrew Johnstone, Little Chihuahua's co-owner. Madrone Art Bar currently features a painting of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by Nick Sirotich. | Photo: Courtesy of Madrone Art Bar Madrone's Krause says he's excited for the ambiguity around food to end, so he can get back to what he does best: being a bar. Ive never been in the business of selling one [to-go cocktail] thats not why I am successful," he said. "I sell community. I sell companionship. I sell experience. I sell gathering of people that are different from each other and talking and conversing. But for now, I am just trying to make it month by month and make it to the next step." Steven Bracco contributed reporting to this story. Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee speaks during a G20 teleconference of trade ministers, May 15. If Korea produces a candidate for the election of the WTO chief, experts say the first woman trade minister for Korea would be a fantastic choice. Korea Times file By Do Je-hae The World Trade Organization (WTO) opened its nomination process for a successor to Roberto Azevedo, June 8, after the head of the global trade body recently announced he would step down from the post Aug. 31, a year before his term officially ends. Candidates will have one month to submit their nominations, the WTO said in a statement following the current chief's surprise announcement late last month of his plans to resign. According to latest international media reports, the race for his successor is expected to be fierce, with candidates from several continents considering sending in their bids. The big question in local media regarding the vacancy at the WTO's top post is whether a Korean candidate will join the competition. More specifically, local media speculation has revolved around whether Kim Hyun-chong, who currently serves as second deputy director of the presidential National Security Office (NSO), will seek the position. He initiated free trade agreements with more than 40 countries as trade minister for the previous Roh Moo-hyun administration, and was rehired as trade minister when President Moon took office in May 2017. He also has extensive working experience with the WTO, having served as a senior lawyer in its Appellate Body Secretariat and Legal Affairs Division between 1999 and 2003 and other posts before joining the Moon administration. Trade minister Kim Hyun-chong is seen speaking on the phone as he appeared at the Incheon International Airport to meet with Yoo Myung-hee, the Korean representative for Korea-U.S. talks to revise their FTA, Jan. 4, 2018. Korea Times file His name has been mentioned in the media alongside Yoo Myung-hee, the current trade minister who succeeded Kim when he left for Cheong Wa Dae after being appointed second deputy director of the NSO in February 2019. She is the first woman to serve as Korea's trade minister and is considered one of the foremost experts in the field of international trade. If Korea produces a candidate for the election of the WTO chief, experts say the first woman trade minister for Korea would be a fantastic choice, given her extensive expertise and network. If the government backs a Korean bid for WTO chief, it will be the third time for the country to do so, after unsuccessful ones in 1995 and 2013. The administration has not announced a candidate yet, despite some media speculation about it selecting a seasoned trade expert to run for the post. "There have not been any discussions within Cheong Wa Dae about this issue yet," a senior presidential aide told The Korea Times, Friday. "But if we were to select a candidate, we would need to conduct a comprehensive review of the situation at the WTO, such as which region would be at an advantage in the election for the top post this time." Senior officials at the trade and foreign ministries contacted by The Korea Times were cautious about confirming whether or not the government will pick and announce a candidate soon. "There is nothing to share with the media about this at this point. Our position has not changed from a previous statement we issued regarding the WTO election," trade ministry spokesman Moon Shin-hak told The Korea Times, Friday. On May 29, the trade ministry said that the government will approach the issue of the WTO election from the point of "maximizing the national interest and expanding our trade capacity." Although Kim and Yoo are both considered to be competitive candidates, there is some skepticism over Kim leaving his current post and removing himself from the possibility of other government jobs, as he is a central figure in Moon's national security policy-making. Outgoing trade minister Kim Hyun-chong, left, and his successor Yoo Myung-hee are seated side by side during a ceremony to mark Yoo's appointment at the Sejong Government Complex, March 4, 2019. Korea Times file New policies are expected to accelerate the recovery of the real estate market and lay a firm foundation for the markets long-term development. After a long period of waiting, resettlement area construction, site clearance, and the component projects of the Long Thanh International Airport project have kicked off. Dong Nai provinces leaders committed to allocate 1,800 hectares of clean land by October to serve the first phase of the project implementation. The remaining land area will be allocated to the investor by 2021. Regarding the Trung Luong My Thuan highway project, 40 percent of the workload had been implemented as of the end of April and the highway would be put into operation the next year. HCM City has been speeding up the implementation of infrastructure projects to avoid the growth decline. The city plans to kick off 15 new transport projects in Q2 after starting 10 projects in Q1. New policies are expected to accelerate the recovery of the real estate market and lay a firm foundation for the markets long-term development. These are important projects that investors have been waiting for a long time, including the My Thuy 3 Bridge and the tunnel at Nguyen Huu Tho Nguyen Van Linh intersection, kicked off in late April. As for the anti-tidal flood project capitalized at VND10 trillion, 78 percent of the workload has been implemented. Meanwhile, the board management of the Ben Thanh Suoi Tien subway project has reported that 72 percent of the workload has been implemented. It is expected to be put into operation by the end of 2021. Good news has been reported for the Belt Road No 3 project: the Prime Minister has turned the green light on for the plan to borrow $190 million from South Korea Eximbank. The amount of money to be mobilized would be used to build the road section from Tan Van to Nhon Trach, 34.2 kilometers in length. The Belt Road No 3 runs through four cities/provinces HCM City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Long An. According to GSO, the disbursement for public investment in the first four months of the year increased by 12.9 percent compared with the same period last year, but only 18.1 percent of the plan has been implemented. Vietnam plans to disburse VND700 trillion worth of public investment capital this year. Vietnam obtained modest growth rate in Q1, just 3.82 percent. However, according to Cushman & Wakefield, the government of Vietnam now has a great opportunity to turn the real estate sector into the growth engine. To do this, the government can mobilize resources from the private sector. Quang Ninh province has decided to join forces with Sun Group to implement a series of projects, including airport, marina and high-quality highway. Similar models can be applied to other projects. Thanh Mai North-South Highway project to use public investment The National Assembly discussed changing to the public investment model for the North-South Highway during a meeting on Tuesday in Ha Noi. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 22:22:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday said its facing a critical funding gap to meet the needs of refugees in Ethiopia. A monthly fact sheet published by UNHCR, said it has only received 55.1 million U.S. dollars out of the total 298.5 million U.S. dollars required to meet the basic nutritional needs, as well as the education, health and accommodation needs of refugees in Ethiopia. As of May 31, 2020, the UNHCR has registered 763,827 refugees and asylum seekers in Ethiopia, most of whom are housed in refugee camps in six regional states. Ethiopia currently hosts the second largest refugee population in Africa, next to Uganda. Refugees in Ethiopia primarily come from Eritrea, South Sudan, Somalia and Sudan, according to figures from the Ethiopian government. Conflict and drought in neighboring countries continues to force people to seek refuge in Ethiopia, which has a long tradition of hosting refugees. Ethiopia has also in recent years hosted an increasing number of refugees fleeing conflicts in Yemen and Syria. Enditem Owing to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, uncertainty now looms large over the 2021 Mahakumbh Mela in the holy city of Haridwar. Scheduled to be held in the first quarter of next year, the Mahakumbh in 2010 had attracted 50 million pilgrims and this time, before the epidemic, officials had expected that over 120 million pilgrims would participate in the fair next year. Keeping in mind the Covid-19 situation, the apex body of the Akhadas---Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad- has stated that it is not averse to holding the Kumbh mela in a restrictive manner with only a selected lot of Akhada saints allowed to take part in the fair, adhering to social distancing norms. Akhada Parishad is of the view that the foremost priority of the government should be to hold the Kumbh in a proper way if the situation turns normal, but in case such a situation arises wherein the coronavirus spread threatens the Kumbh pilgrimage then it should be held in a restrictive manner and at a small level. Be it Mughal or British era or post-independence, the Kumbh mela has been held at the same date decided as per astrological calculations. Kumbh 2021 will also be held at an auspicious time decided by astrologers but as coronavirus spread has now touched the 10,000 positive patients per day mark, in special circumstances we are ready to carry out the fair in a small and ritualistic-symbolic manner only, Mahant Hari Giri Maharaj, general secretary of Akhada Parishad said. To ensure hassle-free hosting of the Mahakumbh Mela, Akhada Parishad will also organise a three-day major worship ritual across the country from June 21. These rituals are being conducted for the successful hosting of the Mahakumbh and the eradication of coronavirus from the planet. Akhada Parishad has also cautioned all the temple-ashram management committees to close respective temples for pilgrims if they come across any violation of social distancing and preventive measures by devotees. Additional Kumbh Mela officer Lalit Narayan Mishra said that the mela administration is ensuring time-bound completion of work related to the Kumbh and readying for the mega fair as per the schedule. Mishra pointed out that as still more than six months are left for the mega fair, the mela administration is ensuring the best possible facilities for pilgrims who come for the Kumbh. Under the Kumbh Mela budget, an amount of about Rs 350 crore has been sanctioned for various infrastructural work. These have a deadline of November 2020. Religious scholar Shiv Charan Naudiyal pointed out that whether the coronavirus gets contained or remains stable, pilgrims will arrive for Kumbh and the holy Ganga dip as faith transcends all hurdles and boundaries. Protests in the wake of African American George Floyd's killing by a white police officer in the United States have led to the unceremonious toppling and vandalism of statues of controversial historical and political figures. Five symbolic examples: Bristol: slave trader Edward Colston On Sunday, in England's southwestern port of Bristol, protesters pulled down a bronze statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston and dumped it in the local harbour. Colston was a leading figure in a royal slave trading company that sold 100,000 west Africans in the Caribbean and the Americas after first branding its initials on their chests. But his name remains attached to streets and buildings in honour of his funding of local hospitals and schools for the poor, and officials fished the statue out. US: Christopher Columbus Italian explorer Christopher Columbus as been accused of spurring genocide against indigenous groups in the Americas. By Joseph Prezioso (AFP/File) Overnight Tuesday, in Boston, a statue of Christopher Columbus was beheaded, in the park named after him. A Columbus statue was also vandalised in downtown Miami with red paint, and another was dragged into a lake earlier in the week in Richmond, Virginia. The Italian explorer, long hailed as the so-called discoverer of "The New World," is considered by many to have spurred years of genocide against indigenous groups in the Americas. He is regularly denounced in a similar way to Civil War generals of the pro-slavery South. US: Jefferson Davis Jefferson Davis was president of the Confederate States of America, which fought to preserve slavery in the United States. By Parker Michels-Boyce (AFP/File) On Wednesday, a statue of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America during the 1861-1865 Civil War, which opposed the pro-slavery South and the abolitionist North, was toppled in Richmond, Virginia. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the same day for removal of 11 Confederate statues from the US Capitol, part of a nationwide push to dismantle such memorials after the Floyd killing. According to a 2016 report from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SLC), which is specialised in extremist movements and civil rights, more than 1,500 confederate symbols are still on show in public places in the United States, most in the South. Belgium: Leopold II King of the Belgians Leopold II is accused of brutal colonial rule in Belgium's former central African colonies. By kenzo tribouillard (AFP/File) The Belgian port city of Antwerp took down a statue of late King of the Belgians Leopold II on Tuesday, days after it was daubed with red paint by anti-racism protesters. Statues of Leopold have long been a target of activists because of his record of brutal colonial rule in Belgium's former central African colonies, notably the then "Congo Free State", now the independent Democratic Republic of Congo It has been removed by officials from its public pedestal next to an Antwerp church and taken for restoration to a museum where it will be examined before deciding what steps to take next. Churchill: graffitied in Prague, London Protestors blame Winston Churchill for the death of millions during famine in the Indian state of Bengal in 1943. By ISABEL INFANTES (AFP/File) In Prague a statue to Britain's World War II leader Winston Churchill was covered in graffiti early Thursday, daubed with the words "Black Lives Matter" in solidarity with the anti-racist movement in the United States. A central London statue of Churchill was also defaced, with the words "was a racist" with protesters blaming his policies for the death of millions during famine in the Indian state of Bengal in 1943. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Political parties in Tamil Nadu have expressed their disappointment over the Supreme Courts ruling that right to reservation is not a fundamental right while rejecting pleas challenging the Centres decision not to grant 50 percent reservation to OBCs in Tamil Nadu medical colleges. K Thirunavukkarasu, historian of Dravidian Movement said: It is unfortunate that the SC has shirked its responsibility to give a clear cut answer to the issue. They just passed the responsibility to the State courts. Social justice is not a concession. It is a birthright of the backward and oppressed classes. Thirunavukkarasu said reservation enables each community to progress ahead through education. Reservation is there to give social status for the oppressed and backward classes and it helps ensure equality. As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, social justice issue was raised in the early 20th century. 1921, Communal G.O was issued. VCK general secretary D Ravikumar pointed out that the question put forth before the SC was not whether reservation is a fundamental right or not. It is about the legality of providing reservation to the OBCs. The Centre has given reservation to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) while the same has been denied to OBCs. So, naturally, the question arises whether reservation is a fundamental right for EWS. Stating that the petitioners just highlighted the discrimination shown between EWS and the OBCs in this regard, Ravikumar said the VCK would continue its legal battle in this regard. CPI state secretary R Muththarasan told Express: The Supreme Courts decision on these petitions is surprising. The first amendment in the constitution took place to protect the reservation in Tamil Nadu. Reservation is being given to the underprivileged in the society. Hence, it is the rights of those who were denied the opportunity for education and job opportunities for generations. We will fight for social justice till the end. CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan said: We did not seek clarification from SC whether reservation is a fundamental right. Already reservation has got constitutional protection. Hence, we sought the direction from the SC to provide reservation to OBCs as per the Constitution. We will explore legal options to carry forward the case till getting the SCs nod for reservation to OBCs. OTTAWA - A drive to make the RCMP's workforce more diverse stalled last year as the Mounties struggled to become fully representative of the communities they police, newly available statistics show. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/6/2020 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police "E" Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Friday April 13, 2018. A drive to make the RCMP's workforce more diverse stalled last year as the Mounties struggled to become fully representative of the communities they police, newly available statistics show. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck OTTAWA - A drive to make the RCMP's workforce more diverse stalled last year as the Mounties struggled to become fully representative of the communities they police, newly available statistics show. The national police force's report on employment equity for 2018-19 says the diversity of the RCMP's overall workforce had "not changed by any significant measure" from the previous year. The proportion of women, visible minorities and people with disabilities also remained lower than the rates found in the general Canadian workforce, while the proportion of Indigenous employees was a notable exception. "Diversity has traditionally been a challenge for police forces in Canada, and the RCMP is no exception," says the report, recently tabled in Parliament. The killing of a Black man by police in Minnesota has set off a global wave of calls for law-enforcement agencies to address entrenched racism and the oppression of minorities. RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki has acknowledged her police force can improve. But she initially stopped short of endorsing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's assessment that the force, like all Canadian institutions, exhibits systemic racism. On Friday, Lucki expressed regret for not doing so. "During some recent interviews, I shared that I struggled with the definition of systemic racism, while trying to highlight the great work done by the overwhelming majority of our employees," she said in a statement. "I did acknowledge that we, like others, have racism in our organization, but I did not say definitively that systemic racism exists in the RCMP. I should have. "As many have said, I do know that systemic racism is part of every institution, the RCMP included. Throughout our history and today, we have not always treated racialized and Indigenous people fairly." Trudeau said Friday that Lucki had already made strides within the RCMP but added that more needs to be done quickly across the country to ensure police officers, including Mounties, can better serve Canadians. "There are some deep changes we need to make in our institutions, and we need to work with people who want to make those changes, who want to be part of the solution and I know Commissioner Lucki is one of those," Trudeau said. The report says that on April 1, 2019, representation rates among regular RCMP members, as opposed to civilian employees, were 21.8 per cent for women, 11.5 per cent for visible minorities, 7.5 per cent for Indigenous people and 1.6 per cent for people with disabilities. The numbers are fairly consistent with 2018 data for all police forces in Canada, the report notes. "These results are not reflective of modern trends being observed in the Canadian population, and signal that a 'one size fits all' approach to attracting, selecting, developing and retaining diverse employees is not the most effective way of achieving diversity in the workforce," the report says. "The RCMP must continue to strive to increase the diversity of its workforce by removing barriers which inhibit attracting new employees who will bring a greater diversity of identities, backgrounds, experiences and expertise." Asked for comment on the report, the RCMP said that while year-over-year changes in diversity statistics will vary, the proportion of visible minorities among police officers has been increasing steadily for decades. The RCMP's modernization plan, spearheaded by Lucki, has identified a more representative employee base as critical to the force's future. "Delivering culturally relevant community policing solutions requires an in-depth understanding of the challenges people experience while accessing justice," the equity report says. "Making progress in this area requires meaningful dialogue with community leaders, enabled by a diverse workforce able to overcome differences and capable of building lasting relationships." The RCMP has tried to address employment-equity shortcomings through initiatives including an internal advisory council, fostering a better understanding of Indigenous traditions, and making the force's uniform and grooming requirements more sensitive to the needs of different faith groups. The force says it is also trying to attract candidates from different backgrounds through career fairs and a review of its application process to remove possible barriers. It has also developed a strategy to increase diversity at the executive levels in response to a recent audit. Understanding common barriers such as privilege, bias, harassment and the glass ceiling is not difficult, the report says. "Oftentimes, the real challenge is acknowledging that equity and inclusion-related issues must be addressed. This may mean accepting different approaches to conducting operations, which can lead to short- and long-term success." The report recommends a focus on identifying the "success factors" that contribute to a Mountie's advancement to the highest officer ranks. Reaching the executive level requires access to the right opportunities, networks and training, endorsement from other senior leaders, language skills and a balance between personal obligations and the increased demands of executive leadership, it says. However, members of the underrepresented groups "are likely to face additional challenges" in this respect. These factors point to a need to identify leadership potential early, so the organization is well-positioned to help promising members advance, the report says. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2020. Follow @JimBronskill on Twitter Accessibility 7 Steps to Making Your Schools Website Accessible to All With districts around the country relying on their websites to convey essential information to their communities, accessibility is more important than ever. A few years ago, an evolution in K12 websites took shape, with accessibility becoming a priority. Driven by an influx of Office of Civil Rights (OCR) complaints, many districts took the time to review their websites with a focus on how important information was being distributed onlineand how accessible that information was to all visitors. In the last few months, as COVID-19 has led to nationwide school closures, websites have become an essential way for schools to communicate rapidly changing information to parents, staff and the community. Accessibility is now much more than a compliance issue: All visitors need access to information theyre relying on to support and protect their families. These seven steps will help schools and districts make their websites accessible to all. Review your site for accessibility. There are many online tools and services that review your website for accessibility issues. The option a lot of our clients start with is a tool by WebAIM called WAVE. Its an extension you add to your Chrome or Firefox browser that looks for errors based on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). We suggest that IT managers and webmasters start by analyzing the homepage to see what pops up. Common errors we see are color contrast, font size, and missing alt text, but WAVE also finds and recommends code updates to work better with screen readers and other assistive technology. Choose a partner or partners. Depending on the resources you have in place, your IT department may be able to work with your website partner to address many accessibility errors. If you feel you need more support, compare bids from a couple of ADA specialists. Prices can vary wildly, so make sure training and ongoing support are included. Weve seen a large number of districts opt for more dedicated accessibility support like WebAIM, AudioEye, Siteimprove, and Monsido. Those who have received complaints from OCR usually go with one of these partners to reply quickly and get extra training for their staff. Address the errors. Once you have a list of errors, either through a full scan of your site by an accessibility solution or a self-assessment by scanning pages with WAVE, bring in your communications team members to discuss next steps. The big question here is whether to undertake a complete redesign or just fix errors. Your website partner will likely have plans prepared for K12 websites, including updating your design and re-coding. Often a redesign that focuses on accessibility takes care of the bulk of errors. Review your content. Is your content organized, or do you see duplicate content in various parts of the site? Another common error we see on K12 websites is relying on uploaded PDFs and document scans. WCAG requires all content on your website to be accessible, and if the PDF was not created and exported with accessibility in mind, your visitors may not be able to access what is in the document. We encourage districts to add the text directly to a page on the website. Also, review your website menu. Is it too big and disorganized? Again, your website provider can help with tips for serving todays website visitorsall of them. Finally, add a Website Accessibility Policy to your site, with details on who to contact for issues accessing content on your website. Make sure that link is on all pages. (Usually, the footer is the best option.) Train everyone who contributes to the website on the guidelines that apply to content creators. Anyone who has permission to post to your site should know how to write alt text, and how to stay with high-contrast colors, for example. They should also learn a bit about why this is important, to underline the challenges you may inadvertently create for some visitors by not following a few simple steps. Review your website regularly to ensure new errors are not popping up. If your website platform has built-in tools, make sure you have activated them for your site. Also, some accessibility solutions like AudioEye give visitors more control over how they interact with your website, taking some of the ownership of accessibility off the webmasters shoulders. Appoint an internal accessibility manager. The right person to be your school or districts accessibility manager doesn't necessarily need to know how to address the technical issues. Select a person who knows your community and can spearhead an accessibility initiative for your website. With the uncertainty that families are dealing with these days, a website that connects with everyone in the community is not just an operational necessityit can be an oasis of certainty for those who need it most. Godwin Obaseki, Edo state governor says some politicians are importing thugs and firearms into the state to cause trouble in the state, according to the intelligence report he received The governor made this known in a statement on Thursday, by Crusoe Osagie, special adviser to the governor on media and communications strategy, in Benin city, the state capital. According to the statement, some thugs are being imported into the state through riverine communities. He said, The Edo State Government has received intelligence reports that some unscrupulous politicians are mobilising hoodlums from neighbouring states to come into Edo through the riverine communities and other land borders, to cause mayhem. Advertisement We want to put the public on alert and warn them to be wary of strange faces and movements in their neigbhourhoods. Once such suspicious persons are identified, members of the public are advised to alert security agencies and the government so that appropriate action will be taken. In this light, we warn those stockpiling arms and plotting to cause mayhem to be assured that the government will spare nothing in ensuring that they are identified, arrested and brought to justice, no matter who they are. Read Also: I Dont Believe I Will Get Justice, Says Obaseki After APC Screening Governor Godwin Obaseki is charged with the duty of protecting the lives and property of Edo people. He will not abdicate this role because of political expediency. This is why he signed the gazette to ensure proper management of political gatherings, a move that was informed by the insights from an epidemiological study conducted by researchers at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). The Edo governorship election is scheduled for September 19 and the All Progressives Congress, APC primary election is scheduled for June 22. Ninety-six days since the first Covid-19 case was reported in Maharashtra, the state crossed the 100,000-mark on Friday, with an addition of 3,493 cases. The states coronavirus count stands at 101,141 cases. Fatalities in Maharashtra also rose to 3,717 as 127 more deaths were reported. Mumbai, which is the worst-hit city in India, recorded 1,366 new cases, taking its tally to 55,451, while 90 deaths took the citys toll past the 2,000-mark to 2,044. With the state reporting more than 3,000 cases daily for the past three days, the state government and health experts remained unsure about projections and trajectory of the virus curve. While the rise of infections in Mumbai has been arrested over the past couple of weeks, with hotspots such as Dharavi and Worli Koliwada leading the way, cases across the state have seen a spike. Over the past week, the state has recorded 20,912 cases and 868 deaths a daily average of 2,987 cases and 124 deaths till Friday. Health officials said Mumbais case curve may flatten first, going by the current trend. The citys daily rise in cases has dropped in comparison to the overall state figures over the past three weeks. Mumbai accounted for 63.73% of the states new cases on May 14, 56.47% on May 28, 49.06% on June 4 and 39.10% on Friday. This clearly indicates that the cases in other parts of the state are on the rise because the number of cases in Mumbai has dropped in the proportion of its percentage with the state level cases, said a health department official, on condition of anonymity. The plateau in Mumbai cases is a positive sign. We are more worried about the poor health infrastructure in some of the other districts such as Amravati. Dr Om Shrivastava, infectious diseases specialist and a member of the taskforce appointed by the state government for the clinical management of critically-ill patients, said the curve in Mumbai will stabilise soon. The number of cases in Mumbai has come down significantly in the past four weeks. We may expect flattening of the curve soon. But at the same time, in the rest of Maharashtra, the number of cases may rise. In June and July, the number of cases may keep rising and we need to be more cautious and observant. Once we get through these months, we will be in a position to see which direction we are moving, he said. Dr Avinash Supe, former KEM dean and member of the expert committee appointed by the state to recommend steps to curb the spread of the virus, said rise in the cases should not be a cause of worry to some extent. There are different trends and phenomena in different areas in the state. While there is a plateau in some parts of the state, a few areas are emerging as hotspots. As long as we are ready with the infrastructure to handle the cases and treat the patients, as per their conditions, this should not be a cause of concern. It is difficult to predict when we can see a downward trend, but the next two weeks are important and by end of June, we will have a clearer picture, he said. A senior health department official admitted that the state had been hoping to flatten the curve by May-end. We had been expecting the flattening of the curve by May-end and the chief minister had directed the authorities to set targets accordingly. In the current scenario, it seems to be difficult even by June-end. However, we have been successful in keeping our count much below projections by various agencies, including the Central government, for Mumbai and Maharasthra, said the official, who did not want to be named. Given the unpredictability of the disease, the government is unlikely to offer any relaxations now and will observe how the existing relaxations have impacted the states case tally. Many commercial and industrial activities have been allowed, except in Red Zones. Opening of shops, private offices and allowing outdoor physical activities from June 3 to 8 may lead to surge in cases in the next few days. We are very closely observing the trend and no more relaxations will be given at this stage, said a senior bureaucrat, who is part of the core group that finalised the strategy on handling the Covid-19 pandemic in Maharashtra. Officials from the state government, districts collectors and municipal corporations have been directed to concentrate on chasing the virus and at the same time containing it. It is a two-fold strategy. We have directed local authorities to ramp up infrastructure while tracing the high- and low-risk contacts within 24 hours after patients test positive. At the same time, they have been told to strictly implement the lockdown in containment zones. In rural and semi-urban areas, the spread is rapid through the people travelling from big cities like Mumbai and Pune. We have asked local authorities to monitor these travellers strictly, the bureaucrat said. The health department official pointed out that the rate of the doubling of cases had improved to more than 16 days, and even the case fatality rate (CFR) is in control (3.7% as of Friday). He said although the Centre has raised a red flag over high CFR in Mumbai, Thane, it is much lower than what it was three weeks ago. Scientists believe the lockdown helped reduce the infection rate, or R0 (referring to the number of people infected by one Covid-positive individual). Professor Bhalchandra Pujari of Savitribai Phule Pune University said R0 in most states, including Maharashtra, is estimated to be between 1 and 2 as INDSCI-SIM, the first India specific epidemiological developed by the Indian Scientists Response to Covid-19 (ISRC). ISRC is a voluntary group of more than 500 Indian scientists, engineers, doctors, technologists and public health researchers. Before the lockdown, RO was estimated to be between 2.5 to 3, which has significantly reduced to 2 owing to the lockdown, said Pujari, who was member of the team that developed INDISCI-SIM. The main purpose of the lockdown was to push the peak, flatten the curve and give space to prepare health infrastructure. Our earlier report, stating that peak infections will occur in June-July, still stands. According to Dr Pradip Awate, states surveillance officer, the health department has witnessed possible chances of community transmission in some parts of the state and this could be the reason for the continued increase in cases. We are seeing signs of community transmission not only in Mumbai, but also across Maharashtra. We are getting cases in clusters without the source of infection. The lockdown, to a great extent, has helped to control the spread of infection, said Dr Awate. While the number of positive cases in Mumbai is on decline, the state authorities are worried about the lapses in health services emerging over the past few days. The shortage of beds for Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients and reports of hardship faced by citizens is worrying. It is true that the reports about bodies and patients going missing and deaths reported due to non-availability of beds are not a good sign for the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, said a senior state minister, who did not want to be named. The Opposition has been cornering us, pointing at these lapses. The acquisition of the beds from private hospitals has not been done as per expectations and there are complaints of a few hospitals playing spoilsport. Health minister Rajesh Tope has asked municipal commissioner of Mumbai to ensure that 80% beds in private hospitals are acquired at the earliest. State health minister Rajesh Tope said strict action has been taken against the officials responsible for the negligence over treatment to patients. He said the cases of negligence at Shatabdi Hospital or the one in Jalgaon have been taken up seriously. With inputs by Snehal Fernandes and Rupsa Chakraborty SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON If you really want to honour him, implement his inclusive ideology: SC Bose's grandnephew As Covid-19 cases soar, PM Modi to hold fresh talks with chief ministers on June 16 and 17 India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Jun 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold a fresh round of consultation with chief ministers next week as the country gradually emerges out of coronavirus lockdown. The two-day virtual meet comes also against the backdrop of rising number of coronavirus cases in the country. Coronavirus: Maharashtra records more than one lakh COVID-19 cases; Minister tests positive Under "Unlock 1" several relaxations have been made for public and businesses to ensure that economic activities hit by the lockdown gather momentum. Modi will hold the video-conferencing with chief ministers on June 16 and 17. Rajnath Singh reviews Ladakh situation, holds meet with Cheif of defence staff | Oneindia News States have been divided in two slots for the two-day virtual meet. Twenty-one states and union territories, including Punjab and some northeastern states, will hold interaction on June 16, the Prime Minister's Office tweeted. The rest 15, including West Bengal, Delhi, Maharashtra and Karnataka, which have reported a surge in coronavirus cases, will interact with Modi on June 17. This would be the prime minister's sixth round of consultation with the chief ministers, the last being on May 11. Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with all the chief ministers over telephone in the last week of May, just before lockdown-4 was to end. A still from Gulabo Sitabo (Image courtesy: Amazon Prime Video) The announcement struck many different nerves. Who releases movies direct to a streaming service?! The theatre owners got into a tizzy, fearful of what they might do for survival. The multiplex audience got snarky about how they wouldnt have to pay two hundred rupees for popcorn. Small theatre owners, already making do by showing regional films began seeing the streaming services as a bigger enemy than before. Is this the new Direct to Video, some wondered. Subscribers like me cheered, hoping one day both Netflix and Amazon would now spend money on fixing the algorithm that offers search results so bizarre you threaten your computer, Im going to stop this subscription! For me, the greed of having Prime means no waiting for books This greed has become the subject of a lovely little film by Shoojit Sarkar called Gulabo Sitabo. A story of an irascible landlord wanting to evict his suspicious long time tenants, Gulabo Sitabo has been brought to life by the writing of Juhi Chaturvedi. It shows off her superior writing skills and throws us head first into this multi-cultural milieu of old time Lucknow. The greatest strengths of the film are not Amitabh Bachchan (and his greedy schnozz) or Ayushmann Khurrana (and his totes adorbs lisp) as protagonists, but the language. Here is an example: The inimitable Vijay Raaz who plays Gyanesh Shukla is perched precariously up on a tree taking pictures of the haveli. Ayushmann asks, What are you doing up there? Vijay Raaz who plays an ASI officer answers, Halua bana raha hoon. The conversation that follows gets funnier simply because of the deadpan delivery of the dialog. Its the attitude, and the writer, the director as well as the actors get it just right. Kaun ho be tum? Vakeel ho? Pulis ho? Army ho? Archeology hain Hain? Puratatv wale, aur tum ghonchu ho yeh tumhari shakal pe likha hai So the story. The crotchety old landlord wants his long time tenants to pay more, but the condition of the old haveli and the poor tenants make it a tough ask. So Mirza, the landlord (Amitabh Bachchan with a great big nose) begins doing things to irritate the tenants, one Baankey in particular. Ayushmann Khurrana plays Baankey who lives in the old haveli with his three sisters and a mother, making ends meet by running a flour mill. Mirza wants the haveli to himself, hes waiting to evict the tenants. The tenants are poor so they think the ASI agent will help them get small homes when the government takes over. The landlord's lawyer (Brijesh Kala shines as Christopher Clarke) has other motives. Baankeys sister Guddo (the oldest of the three, played with sass by Shristhi Shrivastava) is not exactly a shining example of purity. The other tenants are poor and greedy as well. In fact, all the residents of Fatima Manzil are ready to do terrible things in order to get a piece of the haveli. This is Shoojit Sarkars Ugly. Anurag Kashyap showed us the seamier side of humanity in the 2014 film which I think is better than even his other celebrated gangster films. Ugly is available on Amazon Prime as well. Gulabo Sitabo starts out as a funny story about a landlord and tenant and quickly dives into greed and you begin to pity the old man who loves the haveli more than he does his wife. (Image: Instagram/@manav.manglani) Tenants who are so poor and such simpletons, they can and are exploited by interest driven Gyanesh Shukla and Christopher Clarke. Even Baankeys girlfriend Fauzia (pronounced Faujia in the film, nice subtle touch of the vernacular use here!) turns out to be a mean girl. So does begum. The haveli, which stands dilapidated and uncared for is a perfect place to house these awful characters. The poignancy of this mute witness has been captured beautifully by the cinematography by Avik Mukhopadhyay. You remember the old home in the small town your father grew up in and know he will be shedding a tear or two understanding the love old Mirza has for his haveli. A small film called Gamak Ghar which was shown at the Mumbai International Film Festival needs a second viewing after seeing this film. The subtitling of this film ranges from lazy to dodgy. Best avoided. I understand that the local flavour of the language is impossible to translate, but sometimes it is good to be literal, the puns will not be lost. Like when Baankey spots Pandeyji who has brought Christopher for a visit to the haveli, and asks, Bahut dino ke baad tapak gaye Pandey ji! I dont need to explain the pun here, but the translation to this answer is just pathetic. Pandeyji says, Ab pake thay toh tapak gaye. I raise my teacup in a toast to that line. Wah! The film is wonderful, except when the narrative gets stuck after an hour into the viewing. I have to admit that I used the cursor to go forward to check when the counting of dus, sau, saikda, lakh stops but then I hate losing out on little fun scenes like that with Mirza at the burial ground, so I stayed with the story. It is two hours long but could have been shorter, tighter. That brings me back to watching the film on Amazon Prime Video. The website proudly proclaims that many filmmakers have decided to release their small films directly on these platforms because of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown. Gulabo Sitabo | Releasing on June 12 | Shoojit Sircars Gulabo Sitabo, starring Big B, Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurranawill directly release on Amazon Prime. (Image: Wikipedia) This is the first. And a part of me that loves watching movies on the big screen regrets this phenomenon. But one part of me says, It is best that some films do go to the home theatre because Gulabo Sitabo is not a giant spectacle like Star Wars, Batman and Avengers, even The Fast and the Furious. Its a decent film, but you have to have a nose for this kind of storytelling. The virus may be an excuse, but those who appreciate tiny gems will be happy. There are many like me who could be the characters of the film, greedy. I am already thinking of more subscriptions... Manisha Lakhe is a poet, film critic, traveller, founder of Caferati an online writers forum, hosts Mumbais oldest open mic, and teaches advertising, films and communication. India insisted on 'complete disengagement' in all its talks with China on eastern Ladakh row: Govt India ups military readiness to keep a check on muscle flexing by China India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 12: Amidst the multiple intrusions, India has ramped up its military readiness along the Indo-China border. The ramping up of the military readiness comes amidst both sides engaging with each other to diffuse tensions along the border areas. New Delhi says it is leaving nothing to chance and is keeping a close watch on the muscle flexing by China. The forward border management of the Indian troops will be maintained from Ladakh to Arunachal as long as the PLA does not withdraw its forces from close to the Line of Actual Control, sources tell OneIndia. India, China maintaining engagements to resolve eastern Ladakh row at earliest: MEA Meanwhile, New Delhi has said peace on border with China is essential for ties to grow, India as said as the stand-off continues. Covid-19: India registers over 10,000 fresh cases in 24 hours and 396 deaths | Oneindia News While talks continue between both sides, China is yet to withdraw its soldiers, who had transgressed the disputed boundary on the bank of the Pangong Tso lake. New Delhi has said that peace is essential for further developments of the Indo-China bilateral relations. Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, Anurag Srivastava said that the June 6 meeting between the senior military officers of both sides agreed to an early resolution of the dispute. He also referred to the guidance that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed to issue to the militaries of both sides, when the first informal summit was held in Wuhan, China. India and China are continuing military and diplomatic engagements to peacefully resolve the situation at the earliest. Both sides want to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas. This is essential for further development of the India-China bilateral relations, the MEA spokesperson also said. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Former Vice President Joe Biden answers the internets most searched questions about himself. Was Joe Biden an actor? Can Joe Biden play sports? Whats Joes immigration policy? Whats his plan for improving the economy? Whats his view on education? Joe answers all these questions and much more in the video Joe Biden answers the webs most searched questions Explore other recent videos from our content partners at Conde Nast. Food experts answer your questions about fried chicken | grilled cheese | lasagna | french fries | steak | mac and cheese Kevin Love gives a tour of his home wellness room Explore 14 celeb pools | Take a peek at 14 celebrity kitchens Peek inside 14 celebrity bedrooms Anna Kendrick breaks down her career highlights Who is the most popular fictional character from Ohio? Ricky Gervais breaks down more British slang Ellie Kemper breaks down the most popular questions about her on Google 73 questions with Wonder Woman 1984 star Gal Gadot What food and snacks have you been stocking up on? What emoji do you use most often? Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday said that the COVID-19 crisis has to be turned into an opportunity to create Atma Nirbhar Bharat. Virtually addressing the annual plenary session of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata from Delhi, the prime minister said that the COVID-19 crisis has further strengthened the countrys resolve to be self-reliant. Read More Teacher Henrikus Suroto vowed his students wouldn't be cheated out of their education when the global pandemic forced schools to be closed in Indonesia's remote Kenalan village. So he braves windy mountain roads and sheer cliff drops to visit the poor farming community in Central Java, where online classes are out of the question due to a lack of Internet service -- a luxury few parents could afford anyway. Not only is Suroto risking death or serious illness from COVID-19, he is violating government orders not to hold in-person classes to prevent the spread of the disease. "No one's forcing me to do this -- it's something inside telling me to do it," the 57-year-old told AFP. "I feel a bit guilty about breaking (orders) to hold online classes, but the reality is that it isn't easy here. "The only solution is to be close to students with door-to-door teaching," he added. Suroto is one of a small number of teachers taking on dangerous terrain, bad weather and the chance of contracting the novel coronavirus, to reach home-bound students across the world's fourth-most populous nation, home to a quarter of billion people. Nearly 70 million children and young people have been affected by school shutdowns which started in mid-March. While the pandemic has sparked a boom in online learning, especially in wealthy nations, about one-third of Indonesia's nearly 270 million people don't have access to the Internet or even, in some cases, electricity. - 'Feet on the street' - Suroto and other Indonesian teachers say they wear face masks, but the threats of becoming sick or infecting students are ever-present. Avan Fathurrahman, an elementary school instructor on East Java's Madura island, visits up to 11 students a day, an experience he wrote about in now-viral Facebook posts. He admits to being scared of getting ill. "But my fears were overcome by the call to teach," Fathurrahman said. "I would not be comfortable staying at home knowing that my students couldn't study properly." Aside from government calls for online learning, educational programmes are being aired on a state-owned TV channel. Education minister Nadiem Makarim -- a co-founder of local ride-hailing app GoJek -- has acknowledged the challenges in remote learning, however, and even expressed shock at how many rural Indonesians lacked Internet service. "We have to rely on the feet on the street -- the actual teachers that mobilise themselves to teach door to door," he said last month. The pandemic has underscored huge challenges in updating creaky infrastructure across the nearly 5,000 kilometre (3,100 mile) Southeast Asian archipelago -- a key priority for president Joko Widodo. "Infrastructure-wise, Indonesia is not fully ready for online learning," said Christina Kristiyani, an education expert at Sanata Dharma University. "Even if it was possible to do real-time video conferencing, it costs too much in rural areas," she added. - 'Can't help them' - Meanwhile, many rural parents struggle to fill the gap as they juggle often low-paid jobs and child care. "I can only remind (the kids) to study because I can't help them like a teacher can," said Orlin Giri, a mother from East Nusa Tenggara, one of Indonesia's poorest regions. "And we don't have enough money for an Internet plan," she added. That is a common story nationwide, said Fina, a teacher on Borneo island. "Many parents only graduated from elementary school or junior high school -- or they didn't even go to school," she said. "Just being able to send their children to school is an extraordinary achievement." Fina, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, opted not to visit students as she has a baby and lives in an area with a high infection rate. "But this pandemic has taught us that, while technology is good and very helpful, it so far cannot replace the presence of teachers," she said. - Call to teach - As Indonesian authorities consider reopening schools, critics warn it is too early as the nation's virus curve has yet to flatten. Officially, the country has more than 35,000 cases of COVID-19 and 2,000 deaths. But with one of the world's lowest testing rates, Indonesia's real toll is widely believed to be much higher. And the country's paediatric association has warned that malnutrition and mosquito-borne dengue fever may be putting children at a greater risk of dying from the respiratory illness. Nearly 18 percent of Indonesian children under five years old suffer from nutritional deficiencies, while kids aged five to 14 make up nearly 42 percent of dengue fever patients, according to health ministry data. The risk was highlighted in April when an 11-year-old girl with dengue fever, which itself can be fatal, died after contracting COVID-19. Health authorities said the pre-existing illness could have exacerbated the effect of the virus on her weakened immune system. Still, getting back to school can't come fast enough for some students. "I'm bored at home. I miss the school and all my friends and teachers," said Gratia Ratna Febriani, a pupil in Kenalan village. That feeling struck a chord with junior high school teacher Yunedi Sepdiana Sine who says she will keep answering the call to visit some 50 children a week. "Students really miss their teachers so I feel needed," she said. "And that's what makes me content." In Indonesia, some teachers are taking on dangerous terrain, bad weather and the risk of contracting the COVID-19 coronavirus, to reach home-bound students across the world's fourth-most populous nation, home to a quarter of billion people The pandemic has sparked a boom in online learning, especially in wealthy nations, but about one-third of Indonesia's nearly 270 million people don't have access to the Internet or even, in some cases, electricity Education minister Nadiem Makarim -- a co-founder of local ride-hailing app GoJek -- has acknowledged the challenges in remote learning, however, and even expressed shock at how many rural Indonesians lacked Internet service Indonesia's paediatric association has warned that malnutrition and mosquito-borne dengue fever may be putting children at a greater risk of dying from the respiratory illness LONDON, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Drug Store,Europe's leading CBD and natural health retailer, looks forward to reopening shops after record breaking online CBD sales during lockdown. While a global pandemic is challenging public health systems and a lockdown forces businesses and individuals to completely rethink the normal, one thing seems clear - rarely has health been more of a topic. A study by LEK has shown a significant increase in the consumption of supplements since the outbreak of COVID-19, with up to 140% growth. The London based wellness retailer, TheDrug.Store , can confirm that impact a 97% increase in online traffic and almost 3x revenue since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. TheDrug.Store co-founder Clemens Boninger says: "It's been incredible to see the boost in interest in the overall health and wellness category. It seems as if everyone is spending more on their health in these times. Interestingly, we have seen the biggest growth in the CBD category across all supplements." TheDrug.Store initially launched as a CBD specialist but has since expanded it's portfolio offering a curated collection of science-backed natural remedies and health products by some of the world's most pioneering brands. However, their CBD heritage was what primarily drove growth during the lockdown. Dr Julie Moltke, Editor of getthedose.com explains, "It is no surprise that there has been a rise in the online sales of CBD products. Uncertainty and change are known to increase levels of anxiety and stress in the general population and these are among the top reasons for using CBD." She continued, "We recently conducted a CBD user survey (below) of over-the-counter-CBD users. Among the CBD users, two-thirds found that they felt less anxious and half of the users thought less about their problems when using CBD. Almost 3 out of every 4 users found that they felt less stressed when using CBD and half could fall asleep faster. I often suggest CBD as a first-line treatment of stress and anxiety among my clients." TheDrug.Store is reopening it's Marylebone flagship store (14 Hinde Street, London) on Monday the 15th of June after the COVID-19 lockdown. ABOUT THE DRUG STORE The Drug Store offers a curated collection of science-backed natural remedies and health products by some of the world's most pioneering and industry-leading brands. The Drug Store was founded by Johan Obel and Clemens Boninger, who, alongside a specialist team of industry experts, share a focused ambition to extol the benefits of using natural health products and provide a reliable platform to help consumers purchase with confidence. The Drug Store has flagship stores in the heart of Marylebone, and The City of London to support its online platform, offering e-commerce alongside curated content, including key news and trends within the wellness industry The toppled statue of Edward Colston, which was torn down and dumped into water by anti-racism protesters, contained a 125-year-old copy of Tit-Bits magazine signed by men who first put it up, it has been revealed. After being fished out of Bristol Harbour, where it had been thrown by protesters on Sunday, museum workers began a clean-up job on the statue of the 17th century slave trader. But the team from M Shed, the museum which will now house the statue, which they say will not be cleaned of the graffiti sprayed on by protesters, discovered 'two surprising additions'. One was a bike tyre, which emerged with the statue as it was pulled from the harbour. It will be preserved alongside the rope used to pull the statue out of the water. The other item, however, was of a historical interest. Inside the coat-tails of the statue, the team found an 1895 copy of the British weekly magazine that was founded by an early father of popular journalism George Newnes and which gave rise to modern newspapers such as the Daily Mail. The toppled statue of Edward Colston, which was torn down and dumped into water by anti-racism protesters, contained a 125-year-old magazine signed by men who first put it up, it has been revealed. The magazine is called Tit-Bits - a forerunner to popular journalism in England After being fished-out from Bristol Harbour, where it was thrown into by protesters on Sunday, museum workers began a clean-up job on the statue of the 17th century slave trader Bosses at the museum, which will now house the statue, say the will not be cleaned of the graffiti sprayed on by protesters The conservator of the Edward Colston statue said it will be preserved as it is - with the rope used to haul it down and the tyre attached to it when it came out the water Tit-Bits: The magazine which gave rise to popular journalism Tit-Bits was a popular magazine founded by George Newnes in 1881 and featured small and interesting pieces of information - or 'Tit-Bits' as they were called. The magazine would run for more than 100 years, until 1984 when it was merged with Weekend - owned by Associated Newspapers, now DMGT Media, who own MailOnline and the Daily Mail. Interestingly, Tit-Bits helped pave the way for the Daily Mail in the first place. Alfred Harmsworth, who created the Daily Mail A contributor by the name of Alfred Harmsworth, who would later become Lord Northcliffe, launched a rival publication to Tit-Bits named 'Answers to Correspondents on Every Subject under the Sun'. After this success, he would later go on to launch the Daily Mail. Another Tit-Bits contributor, Arthur Pearson, who won a job on Tit-Bits in a competition, would go on to create the Daily Express. Advertisement After cleaning it, they discovered it included the names of those who originally fitted the statue and the date on the inside pages. In a thread on Twitter, the team said: 'We spent the morning removing mud from its inside with a hose and extendable brush. 'The painted graffiti was particularly at risk from the cleaning so this was done very carefully to ensure it wasnt washed off. 'The symbolism of his graffittid body has been preserved and the significance it has for us will be an important story to tell. 'We ended up with two surprise additions. Firstly a bicycle tyre which emerged from the harbour with the statue, and then the discovery of a clue to the people who first installed it in Bristol: A 1895 magazine rolled up inside the coat tails. 'After careful cleaning and drying we found someone had handwritten the names of those who originally fitted the statue and the date on the inside pages.' The statue, which had stood in the city centre since 1895, was pulled down and hurled in the River Avon during a Black Lives Matter protest on Sunday. As some 10,000 protesters gathered in the city, footage showed demonstrators heaving the monument down with ropes before cheering and dancing around it. The statue had been a hotly contested subject of controversy and the most recent petition to remove it garnered more than 11,000 signatures. Along with the tobacco trade, Colston's wealth helped to develop Bristol in the 17th century. He used a lot of his riches, accrued from his extensive slave trading, to build schools and almshouses in his home city. The future of the plinth the statue stood on will be decided by a democratic consultation, say the council After the protest, Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees confirmed the bust was to be fished out and put on display locally. It was hauled out of Bristol Harbour yesterday. The statue will now be placed alongside placards from the recent protests to help educate about the story of slavery and the fight for racial equality. The Mayor also revealed that historians and local experts will be commissioned to 'look into the city's past'. Mr Rees said 'Bristol's true history will be researched by a new commission so the city can better understand its story'. In an era of heightened attention on police spending, not even a routine grant aimed at tracking down car thieves can escape scrutiny. That was the unusual scene at a City Council meeting Thursday as council members probed Police Chief William McManus and city officials on an otherwise standard application for state funds to help pay for the citys and countys joint auto theft unit. Members of the unit hunt down stolen vehicles and the people who stole them. The unit also seeks to prevent vehicle theft. In the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, however, protesters have taken up the cry of defund police calling for a re-evaluation of how much cities spend on policing. In San Antonio, thats $479 million more than a third of the citys $1.3 billion operating budget. Reflecting that political reality, several council members took the opportunity to pepper McManus with questions about the grant and how the unit works. Were going to have to really start scrutinizing these a lot more, said District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda, who chairs the councils public safety committee. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio City Council grapples with reforming police discipline, budget in wake of George Floyd protests At issue was whether the City Council would allow SAPD to apply for an $800,000 grant from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to fund the local unit made up of 24 SAPD employees and four from the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. The grant covers the cost of seven detectives and one civilian employee, McManus said. The City Council already set aside the money to pay for the citys share of the program, about $2.7 million. But it had to give SAPD the go-ahead to apply. First, council members including Shirley Gonzales, Jada Andrews-Sullivan and John Courage had questions. How long has the city applied for the program? 26 years. How many car thefts did the city see last year? About 7,800. How many cars has the unit recovered? McManus couldnt say. Andrews-Sullivan noted the council members didnt get a briefing on the grant before it came before them Thursday morning. Cabello Havrda said such grants should first go through her committee before coming to the council. Gonzales then said they should go through the councils audit committee, which evaluates contracts. The unexpected debate over a grant application flummoxed at least two council members. Aside from car thieves, can you think of anybody who would oppose this? a nonplussed Manny Pelaez asked McManus. I guess well have to wait and see, McManus responded. Also taken aback was District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry, the councils most conservative member and a frequent critic of city spending. He sarcastically suggested the city should take six months to draft its upcoming budget given the new interest in an unremarkable grant application. I hope we get these kind of discussions on a lot of different areas within the citys budget and the scrutiny that should be applied to other areas on this budget, Perry said. Other council members defended their questioning. I think well probably have to start getting used to the questions for most things that have to do with the Police Department coming through here, District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval said. Thats not necessarily a bad thing. But was this a preview of how council will treat every penny of police spending going forward? I think the public expects that kind of scrutiny on everything we do with public money, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said after the meeting. He added, Its not simply about one grant. Its about the whole long view of the city budget, not just here in San Antonio but across the country. After about 25 minutes of discussion, the council unanimously approved the application. Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio government and politics. To read more from Joshua, become a subscriber. jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports Mama June Shannon tearfully denied using cocaine after testing positive for it during a voluntary drug screening. A clip from Friday's upcoming episode of From Not To Hot: Family Crisis was released on Friday which saw her getting results from family therapist Dr. Ish Major. June, 40, had admitted to taking Fioricet, which is a prescription pain medicine used to treat symptoms of a tension headache as well as Xanax, which is a benzodiazepine medication used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Sad: Mama June Shannon tearfully denied using cocaine after testing positive for it during a voluntary drug screening Interesting: A clip from Friday's upcoming episode of From Not To Hot: Family Crisis was released by People on Friday which saw her getting results from family therapist Dr. Ish Major However, the big blow came when the results of her urine test revealed she tested 'positive for cocaine.' The mother of four quickly broke down into tears as she said: 'No, I promise you Im not. 'I will take a blood test, I will take five of those. I want to take a blood test to prove that I am not.' Open book: June, 40, had admitted to taking Fioricet, which is a prescription pain medicine used to treat symptoms of a tension headache as well as Xanax, which is a benzodiazepine medication used to treat anxiety and panic disorders Hurt: However, the big blow came when the results of her urine test revealed she tested 'positive for cocaine' Taking a stand: She said: 'I will take a blood test, I will take five of those. I want to take a blood test to prove that I am not' She later goes on to take a blood test for further clarification but the results were not revealed in the clip. Her daughter Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Shannon had an interesting reaction to the news as she said: 'I really thought I was going to be mad if mamas drug test come back positive. 'But mama's reaction is showing me that she is basically crying for help.' Aww: She later goes on to take a blood test for further clarification but the results were not revealed in the clip a her daughter Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Shannon is seen embracing her Support system: Lauryn said: 'I really thought I was going to be mad if mamas drug test come back positive. 'But mama's reaction is showing me that she is basically crying for help' June's relationship with her daughters Lauryn and Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson has been rocky since she was arrested in March 2019. She was taken into custody possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia charges after allegedly having crack cocaine and a crack pipe on her. Mama June and her boyfriend Eugene Edward 'Geno' Doak pleaded not guilty to crack cocaine possession in October. Tough times: June's relationship with her daughters Lauryn and Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson has been rocky since she was arrested in March 2019 The pair were not present for the arraignment at the Macon County Courthouse, but used their lawyer to enter into not guilty pleas, according to TMZ. June and her 44-year-old beau are both facing charges of felony drug possession stemming from a March arrest in Alabama. The gossip site reported that WeTV camera crews were on-site for the hearing to 'catch June and film her' but to no avail. Shannon received the spin-off from her daughter's TLC reality series, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, which was a spin-off from the famed pageant show Toddlers and Tiaras. Governor Godwin Obaseki has been disqualified from contesting in the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2020 election. Mr Obaseki was disqualified by a screening panel constituted by the party to clear contenders for the partys ticket ahead of Edo State governorship election later this year. The governors disqualification, which was hinged on allegations that he had a problematic academic certificate, seemed expected. Mr Obaseki has been locked in an open and bitter contest against Adams Oshiomhole, the partys national chairman whose influence looms considerably over Edo politics. READ ALSO: Just before the announcement, the govermors spokesperson, Crusoe Osagie, had said they expected that Mr Oshiomhole-led party will announce the disqualification Friday afternoon. Like he stated recently that he is the Supreme Court and the ultimate determiner of the fate of aspirants for governorship seat under the APC, he has executed his pre-conceived agenda of stopping Governor Obaseki from flying the flag of the party, at all cost, Mr Osagie said in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday. After pushing the failed narrative about Governor Obasekis educational qualification and meeting a brick wall with the University of Ibadans response, he resorted to using his characteristic brute force to disqualify the governor. Mr Oshiomhole is believed to support Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the partys candidate in the election. Last Wednesday, Connie Evans testified before the Senate Small Business Committee. Evans is the president and CEO of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity. Over the course of her 25-year career which began in community mental health, and moved toward harnessing the marketplace for equity solutions she's advised everyone from the World Bank to the Clinton administration. When Evans put her testimony together, George Floyd was still alive. Shed planned to brief the senators on structural inequalities for minority small business owners that had compounded to exclude the vast majority of entrepreneurs of color from receiving stimulus aid, and to recommend corrective legislation. But as she made her way to Capitol Hill, the country was convulsing. The protests didn't change my main message, Evans says. I didnt want to get off into talking about the damages that are in some cases being caused to businesses during the protests. But the one thing I did say, more or less, was, I cannot be an African American woman leader of an organization that supports minority-owned, black-owned, Latinx-owned, etc. businesses without at least pointing out the inequity, the injustices and the challenges that the demonstrators are speaking to. Main Street can't solve all those problems, but they do play out on Main Street. Main Streets across America are where millions of people have gathered to make their voices heard most of them peacefully. But where there have been riots and looting, that has also happened on Main Streets, to Main Streets. Particularly at the beginning of the protests, around dinner tables and in newsrooms, mostly white commentators seemed to fixate on the looting as a complicating factor in whether to support the protests more broadly. The destruction of public property was threatening to people who had always felt comfortable in and served by those Main Street spaces. It was difficult for them to fathom how other people might feel so little fidelity to the businesses and buildings in their communities, or see the unrest as a chance to gain materially. In my conversation with Evans, she addressed this complicated issue. And she did so in language that will likely be familiar to many entrepreneurs: "Valuation." Related: These Entrepreneurs Were Affected by Riots, But They "See the Forest Instead of Focusing on the Trees" In the context of business and finance, how do you think the more chaotic elements of the protests are best understood? Evans: Well, I would like to think everybody of all races and ethnicities understands the outrage of the protests, and the long standing injustices and inequalities. What they might not understand is the burning, the looting, the riots. Seeing those things on television brings up questions and fear probably more for white people. And I think what needs to be shared is that those behaviors are a reaction to being undervalued. Valuation that's a term that entrepreneurs recognize, right? The valuation of a company. Consider how black people have been treated by the government, and by institutions. We can talk about banking relationships, or we can look at the stores and restaurants in black neighborhoods, which are mostly chains not black owned, and not owned by the people in those neighborhoods. I think those things compound to make people in those communities feel that they are not valued. The individuals who are rioting or looting feel like, why should they value these things around them these buildings, these stores, these corporate chains when there is no reciprocal value or appreciation for them? This whole issue of being seen as having value I think thats a message that everybody needs to hear. We're in a country that for all of these years has devalued the black individual not only their communities, but the individuals themselves. To understand what's happening now, we need to truly recognize that all people have value and should be treated as such. The economic "valuation" of black lives is so integral to our country's past. Evans: Think about the history of this country in terms of slavery. That was a valuation put on black people onto slaves and their labor. They were literally sold. So our ideas are rooted in the racism and discrimination and terror that stays with black folks today. I'm sure in your life you've heard somebody black say, "We have to work twice as hard to get half of white our peers are recognized as doing." All of that is about valuation, and how we're counted in this country. Related: How Should You Be Talking With Employees About Racism? What are some other areas of the economic landscape where we see stark devaluation of black communities? Evans: I was recently reading an article about homeownership in Chicago, and it was disgraceful. It was about how every bank that gives out mortgages in Chicago would devalue every single building or home in a black neighborhood compared to the same home by square foot and everything in a white neighborhood. The value assessment of homes in black neighborhoods is pennies compared to the same homes in white neighborhoods. We know that black-owned businesses have trouble finding capital to start businesses, and tend to stay smaller because they cant get funding to grow. Thats part and parcel with the fact that the average black family has 10 times less wealth than the average white family. What are some less-considered impediments to black individuals amassing wealth? Evans: I did some research back in 2006, at the height of when people were talking about remittances. [Remittances are funds that migrants send back to their families in their home countries.] I was the first black woman ever elected to the board of directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and during that time, a lot of folks were talking about all the remittances being sent to other countries. At one point, remittances made up the highest portion of GDP for the Mexican government. So the banks and Western Union and all these players were looking at how they were going to get a piece of that money. I did some research and wrote an article about how black people, and in particular black women, have always been sending money to take care of our family. Right? I'm up north, but Im sending money to help my mama down south pay for the rest of my siblings to go to school, or to do after school activities, or just to keep the heat on, or whatever. My research showed that a large part of the reason that black women were at the bottom of almost all financial indexes was because more than any other group they took care of the extended family. And that was hurting their ability to build up their own financial wealth. And those contributions werent valued enough that any system in this country was capturing or counting them. We count what we value. If this country values it, they have a way to count it. The Federal Reserve could tell you exactly how much money is being sent to Mexico in remittances because it was valued. It was not and still is not to this day valued that black people are sending money across this country to take care of their extended family members. The issue of value and valuation has been so distorted because of race and discrimination in this country. It started with the value of human beings in slavery, and it has permeated so many of our systems: Banking, business startups, the legal and justice systems. People of color, and black people in particular, simply have not been valued. Related: Minority-Owned Small Businesses Aren't Getting Stimulus Loans. Could That Finally Change? Related: To Understand the Riots, Consider the 'Valuation' of Black Lives 5 Ways Entrepreneurs of Color Can Determine an Ally's Authenticity These Entrepreneurs Were Affected by Riots, But They "See the Forest Instead of Focusing on the Trees" Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved CANBERRA, Australia - International students are expected to begin returning to Australia next month despite Chinese warnings of pandemic-related racism, the Australian prime minister said on Friday. International students would be allowed to come to Australia under approved plans to study at nominated institutions, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said after a pandemic meeting with state leaders. International students have been Australias most lucrative industry after mining, with China the largest source of foreign students. They stand to become among the first classes of passenger to exempted from an Australian ban on travel from China that has existed since Feb. 1. The students would return to Australian universities in a very controlled setting, Morrison said. He gave few details, but said well thought-through proposals had been forwarded by state government on how their return could be achieved. This is something that Im sure we would all welcome happening again, but it has to be done with the appropriate quarantine entry arrangements and biosecurity and all of those matters being addressed, Morrison said. Morrison said he expected all state borders to reopen in July, with the possible exception of Western Australia. China has warned its citizens of the risk of pandemic-related racism if they travelled to Australia. This follows China banning beef imports from Australias largest abattoirs and ending the trade in Australian barley through massive tariffs in what is widely regarded as retaliation for Australia calling for an investigation into the pandemic. Foreign Minister Marise Payne on Friday accused China of disinformation through its racism warning. Morrison said he was not concerned that Chinese government warnings could deter Chinese students from coming to Australia. When it comes to our record of multiculturalism, of freedom of religion, of liberty, treating everybody equally -- Im happy to stack Australias record up all around the world, Morrison said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing this week that Chinas warnings to Chinese students and tourists over racist incidents targeting Asians in Australia were based on a host of facts. She advised Australia to face up to its problems, do some soul-searching and take concrete measures to protect the safety, rights and interests of Chinese nationals in Australia. The travel warning came after Chinese Chinese Ambassador Cheng Jingyes told Australian media in April that the country might face a Chinese boycott of its tourism and exports of wine, beef and other goods if the government pressed for a coronavirus inquiry. The Australian Human Rights Commission reported a spike in the overall number of complaints of breaches of the Racial Discrimination Act in February. But police say racism offences are often underreported or data is not collected. Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson, a spokeswoman for the sector, welcomed the prime ministers announcement. The return of students will be crucial to reactivating businesses and creating jobs across the country, she said in a statement. Smaller Australian states have closed their borders mainly to stem the virus spread from the worst-affected states, New South Wales and Victoria. The state capitals, Sydney and Melbourne respectively, are Australias most populous cities. Morrison said states could not bring back international students if they did not open their borders. I made clear to the states and territories today: if someone cant come to your state from Sydney, then someone cant come to your state from Singapore, Morrison said. Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said Victoria was alone among Australias eight states and territories to experience community spread of COVID-19 in recent weeks. Australia has not recorded a COVID-19 death since May 23 when the toll rose to 102. The country has recorded 7,285 coronavirus cases and 524 cases remain active. The Corona-crisis affected in the first three months of 2020, the Smartphone sales in Europe. In comparison to the previous year, seven per cent fewer units were sold. The biggest slump was in Italy with a decline of 21 per cent, as the data of the analysts from Counterpoint show. However, it does not hit all producers equally. So could claim to Samsung with a market share of 29 percent, the top position in the Smartphone sales. But had to accept a Minus of two percent compared to the previous year. Apple was able to expand the market share in the first quarter of 2020 by one percent to 22 percent. The iPhone 11 was the best selling phone in Europe. A severe downturn suffered by Huawei. Instead of 23 percent, only 16 percent of buyers opted for the brand. This has nothing to do with Corona, but primarily with the US Boycott. So you have to give the new models to the pre-installed Google services. And Facebook, install, Twitter, or Instagram, is not for normal users quite easily. by the Way: 5G-cell phones only account for four percent of sales in Europe. But the experts expect that this number will increase in the next few months. And that 5G units for sale driver. Xiaomi and Oppo in Europe benefiting from Huawei's weakness From Huawei weakness of the other Chinese manufacturers benefit. Xiaomi, for example, is 11 percent of the former number two on the heels. Last year, Xiaomi had only a 4 percent market share in Europe. The newly launched brand-Oppo has its share of at least tripled from 1 to 3 percent Interestingly, the country-specific differences. So Apple has in England a market share of 49 percent, Samsung only 23 percent, Huawei 10 percent. In Russia, however, Apple isn't even in the Top 3. Here is Huawei subsidiary Honor is in first place with 33 percent, followed by Samsung with 19 percent, and Xiaomi with 18 percent. In global sales, it looks something different. Here, Huawei was able to compensate for the losses in Europe with sales in China and is unchanged with 17 per cent at number two in the sales charts. Samsung has lost a percent in the first quarter of 2020 in the world's market leader with 20 per cent. Apple was able to strengthen its share of the global from 12 to 14 percent. Behind Xiaomi with 10 percent built up, Oppo with 8 percent, and in Vivo with 7 percent. Updated Date: 12 June 2020, 14:48 Vietnam Airlines has announced plans to reopen international air routes as of July 1 to several destinations in the Republic of Korea (RoK), Taiwan (China), Hong Kong (China), and across Southeast Asia. Vietnam Airlines is the first domestic airline to unveil plans to resume operating international routes following their temporary suspension as a result of the impact caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The first international flights by Vietnam Airlines to return will see major hubs Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City linked with regional destinations such as the RoK, Taiwan (China), Hong Kong (China), Thailand, Singapore, Laos, and Cambodia. The new flight schedule will see Vietnam Airlines re-operate the Ho Chi Minh City - Seoul route by putting on seven flights per week. In addition, the Hanoi - Seoul route will also feature seven flights per week, whilst the Ho Chi Minh City - Busan route will be running three flights per week, with the Hanoi Busan route operating with four flights per week. Moreover, the airline will operate three flights from Ho Chi Minh City and four flights from Hanoi to Hong Kong (China) as of July 1. Furthermore, the Ho Chi Minh City- Taiwan route is also expected to reopen with three flights running per week, whilst the Hanoi - Taiwan will run four flights per week. Elsewhere, the Ho Chi Minh City - Bangkok route is scheduled to resume operations from July 9 with a frequency of seven flights per day, while the Hanoi - Bangkok route will reopen from July 2 and see seven flights per day transport passengers between the two capitals. Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh City - Singapore route is also expected to restart from July 2 with a frequency of seven flights per week. In addition, the Hanoi - Vientiane (Laos), Vientiane - Phnom Penh (Cambodia), and Phnom Penh - Ho Chi Minh City routes will all operate from July 2 with a frequency of seven flights per day. At present, all domestic airlines are working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Health to devise plans for international routes to resume in line with the Prime Minister's direction. VOV Private equity firm KKR's co-chief executive officer and co-founder, Henry Kravis, said 80% of companies that it controls now have at least two board directors with diverse backgrounds. The firm set out to reach that threshold a few years ago and accomplished that in the first quarter of 2020, Kravis told CNBC's Seema Mody on "The Exchange." "It has to start at the top. If it's not a priority for a CEO, it's not going to happen in my view," Kravis said. "At KKR ... it's been a priority for a while. We want diversity of gender, ethnicity and thought, and we get [a] better thinking and working environment if you have that diversity." KKR has been busy allocating money over the past few months, investing $18 billion since the coronavirus pandemic hit in several companies including makeup firm Coty and Indian digital company Jio. Kravis said beyond hiring minority talent, unveiling programs like unconscious bias training is important. KKR has been a big supporter of Sponsors for Educational Opportunity over the past years, and Kravis has been chair of SEO's board since 2014. SEO has two main programs one is the Scholars program that helps low-income high school students get into college with a 90% success rate. Perhaps most notable to Wall Street is SEO's Careers program, which helps minority graduates get placed at top Wall Street firms, including investment banks and private equity. Other backers include JPMorgan, Carlyle, TPG Capital and Bank of America, among others. SEO CEO William Goodloe said on "The Exchange" that his candidates go through intense training and are provided guidance around how to navigate the interview process at these firms. As Wall Street addresses the lack of diversity in the workplace, Goodloe said he's seeing strong inbound requests from investment firms, including Silver Lake Partners. The ongoing nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd have put pressure on Wall Street to increase diversity. Currently, fewer than 17% of board seats at financial services companies were held by minorities, according to consulting firm Deloitte. More broadly in corporate America, the lack of diversity is prevalent especially among the higher-ups. About 64% of workers in entry-level positions are white, while in the top executive ranks, 85% of positions are held by whites, according to data from human resources consulting company Mercer. Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world. On Thursdays episode, we spoke with Astead Herndon, a national political reporter, about the logistical meltdown in Georgias primary election. Astead was a regular guest on our series The Field, taking us with him on the campaign trail earlier this year. We asked him to reflect on what has changed since his last appearance for that show: I spent 2019 crisscrossing the country, making temporary homes for myself in cities like Waterloo, Iowa; Concord, N.H.; and Detroit. I was following the front lines of what felt, at the time, like the worlds biggest story: the 2020 presidential election. On The Daily, we probed voters anxieties in Iowa, asked black South Carolinians whether they supported Joe Biden and investigated what happened to Elizabeth Warren from her home state of Massachusetts. We thought we knew then what issues would dominate this election. How wrong we were. In the months since, the pandemic has sidelined the presidential campaign trail and me, for a time. Instead of being at news conferences or interviewing voters at events, I was confined to cover the race with my colleagues from home. This meant no hotel dry-cleaning, no fried fair food and no post-rally headaches. It also meant too many Zoom calls. With my plans for the year scrapped, I worked with my editor to chart a different course, one determined by the countrys crises. In April, I drove 14 hours (no planes!) to Wisconsin to witness one of the only primaries happening amid the pandemic. I also went back to South Carolina to cover protests against police brutality, to Texas for George Floyds memorial and, finally, to Georgia, where I spoke with voters waiting in five-hour lines. Their delays at the ballot box were the focus of our episode this week and a source of national outrage. The Odisha governments decision making it mandatory for all those returning to Odisha from outside the state to be stamped on the right inner forearm with indelible ink has left many people with burnt skin and rashes. Last month, the state government had ordered that all those returning to the state will have to be stamped with indelible ink on their right inner forearm at the border check point, receiving station, temporary medical centres and designated quarantine centres. The stamp showed the date of arrival with the slogan I am also a Covid-19 fighter. On April 29, Panchayati Raj secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh in a notification had ordered application of indelible ink on any finger on the left hand. The indelible ink mark was expected to last for three days when applied on the skin. However, 4 days later the decision was tweaked and a decision to stamp on the inner side of the right forearm using indelible ink, was taken. However, since then there have been numerous complaints of returnees suffering skin rashes and burns after they were stamped with indelible ink. Sristi Ray, who is doing her MA in English from Delhis Ambedkar University, had arrived at Bhubaneswar Airport on June 10. After her arrival at the Biju Patnaik Airport at Bhubaneswar she was stamped for quarantine. Soon after the stamping, she had an infection on her skin with blisters erupting. The ink is of extremely bad quality and does not seem to be made for topical use, she said. Similarly, Prakash who travelled from Pune to Bhubaneswar on June 7 and got stamped with the indelible ink at Bhubaneswar airport too suffered skin burns. I think the ink contains some acid content which resulted in the skin burning after one day, said Prakash. Another traveller Rajesh Kumar, who landed at the Bhubaneswar airport on June 5 too complained of skin infection. Officials in Panchayati Raj and the housing and urban development department did not comment on why some people were getting skin rashes after being stamped with indelible ink. Dr Satyadarshi Patnaik, professor of dermatology at the MKCG Medical College of Berhampur said it was basically an allergic reaction of the skin towards such ink. As the indelible ink contains silver nitrate, there is possibility of it causing some reaction on the skin of people who are sensitive to chemicals. Anyone who gets such rashes should see a dermatologist, he said. Oil shipments from Venezuela to China continued even after the United States tightened the screws on Venezuelan oil exports last August, threatening sanctions on all companies doing business with Nicolas Maduros government, Reuters says in a special report, quoting ship-tracking data, PDVSA documents, and oil analysts. According to Reuters findings, even after the U.S. increased the sanctions pressure on Venezuela, crude oil from the Latin American country continued to flow into China via the Switzerland-based unit of Russian oil giant Rosneft and after ship-to-ship transfers of the crude to conceal that its place of origin was Venezuela, Reuters has found. Between July and December, 18 tankers carried a total of 19.7 million barrels of rebranded Venezuelan crude oil to Chinese ports, Reuters found. After the new U.S. sanctions in August, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) one of PDVSAs top buyers of crude oil even after the initial rounds of sanctions on Venezuela took hold canceled loading plans for Venezuelan oil, after the Trump Administration targeted companies - even foreign ones - doing business with PDVSA, threatening to seize their assets in the United States if they have any. Shipments of oil from Venezuela to China have continued into this year, too, according to Reuters findings. Earlier this year, the United States slapped sanctions on Rosnefts Switzerland-based trading arm as part of its attempts to cut off all revenue streams to Nicolas Maduros government in Caracas. The U.S. has signaled that it is ready to tighten even more the noose around the Venezuelan government. Responding to a Reuters request to comment on the findings about Chinese imports of Venezuelan oil, Rosneft said it had done business in compliance with international legislation. The U.S. State Departments Special Representative for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, told Reuters that the Trump Administration would be taking individual actions with respect to ship-to-ship transfers and that sanctions against Chinese buyers of Venezuelan crude after transshipment were on the table. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: By Trend European Unions comprehensive partnership agreement with Azerbaijan should be signed, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said, Trend reports with reference to Daily News Hungary news agency. Szijjarto made the statement in a video posted on Facebook after a videoconference of EU foreign ministers and their counterparts representing the six Eastern Partnership countries, held on Jun. 11, 2020. Szijjarto said the Eastern Partnership was important to the European Union in the post-pandemic world, and that in post-COVID era nothing would stay the same as before, and this applied equally to politics and economics. In order to achieve this, the EU needs third countries as partners as allies, and so far the EU has only paid lip service to the importance of the Eastern Partnership. Today, however, four concrete proposals were made, he said. One of these proposals, he said, is in relation of a EUs comprehensive partnership agreement with Azerbaijan. ... comprehensive partnership agreement with Azerbaijan should be signed. Azerbaijan, whose volume of natural gas production is constantly rising, will play an important role in energy supplies, he said. On Jun. 11, 2020 Eastern Partnership foreign affairs ministers held a video conference in preparation for Eastern Partnership leaders' video conference, which is to be held on June 18, 2020. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz TOM O'MAHONY is to leave Origin Enterprises after 35 years at the agri-services company. For the last 13 years, he has been at the helm as chief executive. He will be succeeded by Sean Coyle, Origin's chief financial officer, effective from the start of next month. Rose Hynes, chair of Origin, yesterday thanked Mr O'Mahony for his "dedication, commitment and leadership" of Origin over the past 13 years. "Tom joined the business in 1985 and has made an invaluable contribution during his 35 years with the group," she said, "He has been a driving force behind the growth and development of Origin to become an international agri-services business. We wish him well for the future." Origin, which was spun off by IAWS in 2007, has operations in Ireland, the UK, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Belgium and Brazil. The company will now commence the search for a new CFO and announce a replacement "in due course." Meanwhile, upon his appointment as CFO of Origin in 2018, Mr Coyle also joined the board of the firm. The former group finance director and MD of the Supply Chain Division of UDG Healthcare has previously served as CFO and executive director at Aer Lingus and before that, held senior management positions at Ryanair. Jason Molins, analyst at Goodbody Stockbrokers, said the change in leadership should result in minimal disruption for the company. Mr Coyle is considered as "having strong credentials to take over the helm", he added. Origin is due to report its third quarter update next Wednesday. According to Mr Molins, the recent dry weather conditions are likely to put pressure on financial year 2020 forecasts, "where we currently anticipate an earnings per share outcome of 38.4c". Earlier this year the company said it would pause its mergers and acquisitions activity amid "particularly challenging conditions". In its financial year to July 31, 2019, Origin spent 54.6m on M&A. Montgomery County logged its most cases in a day on Friday, with health officials confirming 61 new COVID-19 cases. The total number of cases in the county is now 1,258. Additionally, the number of active cases jumped to 479, up 48 from the previous day. Of those active cases 10 people remain hospitalized with 469 in self-isolation. To date 747 people have recovered. The number of deaths remained at 32. As news of the number of cases increasing, the Montgomery County Public Health District urged residents to take precautions. Hospitals in our region are seeing an increase in COVID-19 patients, so it is imperative for Montgomery County residents to continue abiding by CDC guidelines when in public places, said Montgomery County Hospital District Spokeswoman Misti Willingham. If you do not feel well, stay home. Willingham added the CDC recommends the following measures in a public place: stay at least six feet from others at all times; wear a cloth face covering to help protect yourself and others; wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; and bring hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol to use if soap and water are not available. The MCHD/MCPHD COVID-19 Call Center is open for residents needing COVID-19 testing through the countys voucher program, or for general questions. Call 936-523-5040 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. cdominguez@hcnonline.com New Delhi, June 12 : Military-level talks between India and China continued for de-escalation in the Galwan region of eastern Ladakh on Friday with top army commanders from both sides meeting to resolve the face-off. The fifth round of military-level talks took place even as the troop build-up continued on both sides, days after a slight retreat by both armies at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The talks at the Major General-level focused on three trouble spots in the Galwan area. Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a review meeting with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and the three Service Chiefs to understand the ground situation, sources said. It was the second review meeting of the Defence Minister within a week. The first was on June 8, two days after the Lieutenant General-level meeting between the two countries. "The latest assessment on the LAC ground situation is done after military-level talks," said a source. General Rawat briefed Singh about the troop deployment at the stand-off places im eastern Ladakh. Singh also reviewed the ground situation in Arunachal Pradesh. He also discussed the ongoing infrastructure work along the LAC. On Thursday Ministry of External Affairs said India and China have agreed for an early resolution of the ongoing face-off at the LAC. Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, "It was agreed that an early resolution of the situation would be in keeping with the guidance of the leaders." He explained: "The two sides are, therefore, maintaining their military and diplomatic engagements to peacefully resolve the situation at the earliest as also to ensure peace and tranquillity in border areas. This is essential for the further development of India-China bilateral relations." Both sides have had discussions at military and diplomatic levels. At the level of militaries, Corps Commanders of India and China met at Chushul-Moldo region on June 6 and again on June 10 at Major General level. "The meeting ended on a positive trajectory and more similar meetings will take place," said the source. "The Major General-level talks took place at Chushul-Moldo on Wednesday about the ongoing de-escalation and the Pangong stand-off situation was discussed," said a senior government officer. He said more talks will take place at different levels in the days to come for complete de-induction and withdrawal of additional troops close to the LAC. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Wednesday in Beijing that both sides are taking steps to ease the situation along the borders. "Recently diplomatic and military channels of China and India held effective communication on the situation along the border and reached a positive consensus. The two sides are following this consensus to take action to ease the situation along the borders," the spokesperson said. Clashes between Indian and Chinese troops took place between May 5 and May 8. Thereafter, China increased the troop deployment. The Indian Army too deployed more troops and moved guns in equal numbers. "The reserve troops in Ladakh were swiftly moved to the stand-off positions," said a source. The Delhi high court on Thursday constituted a committee of two doctors who will visit two hotels in the city and give a report on the feasibility of these facilities being used as extended Covid hospitals. The court committee comprises AIIMS director Randeep Guleria and VK Paul, who is a member of Niti Aayog. The committee will visit two hotels in the city that had moved the court challenging the decision of the government to convert them into hospitals for Covid-19 patients. Justice Navin Chawla directed the committee of doctors to submit its report on or before June 14 after the two hotelsCHL Limited and Today Hotels Private Limited had raised several issues and problems in converting their facilities into hospitals. The court posted the matter for further hearing on June 15. On Thursday, the counsels for the petitioner hotels told the court that it would not be feasible for them to convert their premises into hospitals due to various infrastructural constraints. The lawyers submitted that since the hotels are centrally air-conditioned, which increases the risk of Covid-19 virus, and it would be difficult to now change the use for patients. The hotels, through their counsels, also raised concerns on the fate of the employees, who would not be able to come because of the place being turned into a hospital. Additionally, the employees also do not have the expertise to look after the patients. The counsels also said that patient transportation will be a difficulty since their lifts are not big enough to allow stretchers. They also said that since there was only one exit and entry point, it would be fatal for patients if a fire broke out. However, appearing for the Delhi government, additional solicitor general (ASG) Sanjay Jain, submitted that these apprehensions are unfounded and looking into the grave nature of the situation that has arisen because of the Covid-19 pandemic, certain drastic measures had been taken by the government. He also said that the hotels were being used for quarantine purposes even before the order to take them over was passed. Hence, the hotel authorities should have prepared themselves prior to the order was passed. After hearing the arguments, the court said, Be that as it may, as the issues raised by the petitioners would also have a bearing on whether it is advisable/feasible to use these hotels as Covid hospitals and may not lead to an adverse impact on the patients or the staff working therein, I deem it proper to constitute a committee of doctors, with a request to visit these two hotels and give a report on the advisability/feasibility of these hotels being used as extended Covid hospitals. I request Randeep Guleria, director, AIIMS and Dr VK Paul, member of the Niti Aayog, to visit the two hotels in question and give their report on advisability/feasibility of using them as extended Covid hospitals. Advocate Sugam Seth, appearing for CHL Limited said that since the matter is sub-judice, he would not comment on the order. The counsel for Today Hotels Private Limited, advocate Rahul Sharma, also said the matter is pending adjudication and hence he would refrain from making any comments. Dr Guleria confirmed to HT that he has received a mail informing him about the development. Dr VK Paul did not respond to requests for a comment . WASHINGTON In 2014, President Barack Obama signed into law legislation that required police departments and other law enforcement agencies to report to the federal government the death of any person who died in their custody. Six years later, the U.S. Department of Justice has still never begun collecting that data although it is mandated to do so by law. If implemented, the Death in Custody Reporting Act would have produced a national database of instances when people died while being incarcerated, arrested or detained by police or other law enforcement, long before the death of George Floyd on May 25. No such government database currently exists, although the Federal Bureau of Investigations collects vast amounts of other crime data. The stark staggering fact is that the nation has no idea how Americans die during arrest or in police custody every year, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the lead co-sponsor of the bill in the Senate in 2014. I will be very blunt: The Department of Justices failure to implement the measure has been pathetic... Theres no justification for the delay. The information is easy to collect if there is the will to collect it. RELATED: One CT city is changing how it funds police Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media In Connecticut, states attorneys investigate when police use deadly force. If created, the national database generated from the Deaths in Custody Reporting Act would include more information about deaths in prisons and deaths of individuals in police custody where direct force from an officer was not involved. The law requires that states report quarterly, and federal agencies report annually, the name, gender, race, ethnicity, and age of the deceased person, as well as the date and time of the death, the location of the death, and the circumstances surrounding the death. In order to ensure cooperation, the law authorized DOJ to withhold up to 10 percent of a specific federal grant from states that did not comply with reporting. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., who introduced the legislation in 2013, wrote to Attorney General William Barr Tuesday, urging him to immediately start amassing the data. Rep. John Larson, D-1, said it was unacceptable that DOJ had not already done so after six years. Access to grants must take such data into account, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, said. The Justice Department has not made the collection of data authorized by this law a priority, and the country is worse off for it. Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-New York City, and Rep. Karen Bass, D-Ca., wrote to the DOJ Inspector General in January to request an investigation into why DOJ had not yet adopted procedures to collect the data or published any reports. The DOJ Inspector General did investigate the matter in 2018. It found DOJ had considered and abandoned three different reporting mechanisms to collect the data from states since 2016. At the time, DOJ expected to begin its collection of this data until the beginning of FY 2020, or roughly October 2019. The Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment regarding whether data collection has now begun. Although the Inspector General found in 2018 that most federal law enforcement agencies had started reporting the deaths in their custody to DOJ, at the time, DOJ had no plans to make the reports public. The law gave DOJ two years to analyze the data, determine how and if the data could be used to reduce the number of such death and file a report to Congress. The law required that such a report be submitted to Congress no later than 2 years after December 18, 2014, the inspector general wrote. An earlier version of the Deaths in Custody Reporting Act passed in 2000 and focused more exclusively on prison confinement deaths. Under that law too, several years passed before states began sending in data and by the time the law expired in 2006, no report was ever released to Congress. Despite the failed history of data collection under the Deaths in Custody Reporting Act, Democrats in Congress are now pushing to gather more information on police encounters, as weeks of protests against police brutality and racial injustice continue across the nation. The Justice in Policing Act would establish a national registry of police officers who have committed misconduct and require state and local law enforcement to report data on use of force, disaggregated by race, sex, age, disability and religion, to the DOJ. Connecticut police do not currently report this data publicly. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2, said Friday the Deaths in Custody Reporting Act is another cautionary tale about haphazard government data collection and the importance of Congressional oversight. It really shows that passing a bill and having a bill signing ceremony in some ways is only the beginning of the job, not the end of the problem, Courtney said. Youve really got to stay on top of it. According to researchers at the organization Fatal Encounters, four individuals have died in police interactions in Connecticut so far in 2020, in addition to 174 in the past five years, based on media reports and some government records. Police officers in Connecticut have killed 21 people in the last five years, largely by gunfire, according to a Hartford Courant review of use of force investigations. Eleven of the 21 people shot and killed by police in Connecticut since Jan. 1, 2015 were white, according to a Washington Post database. Three were black, six were Hispanic and ones race was unknown. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson Regional Medical reimbursement facility to be provided to all retired employees of HPBSE: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur inaugurates Dharamshala Skyway Rains are likely in Punjab Haryana and Chandigarh on January 31 to 23 OTTAWAConservative Leader Andrew Scheer wants Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne to explain how his holding two mortgages with a Chinese bank doesnt compromise his ability to deal with the Peoples Republic. Scheer wants Champagne to appear before the special House of Commons committee on Canada-China relations and he says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to justify the cabinet appointment there too. Scheer says Champagne is Canadas top diplomat and Chinas communist leaders can use the $1.2 million he owes on two London properties to the Bank of China as leverage at a time of strained relations. Scheer pointed to the ongoing dispute that has seen two Canadian men arbitrarily detained by China since December 2018 and the fact Canada is dependent on Chinese supplies of personal protective equipment for COVID-19. Scheer says some of those Chinese imports have included millions of defective masks that were of no use to front-line health workers. Scheer is dismissing Liberal government rebuttals that Champagne disclosed the situation to the ethics commissioner and the information is posted publicly. But the ministers latest disclosure was only made on June 4, just a few days ago, Scheer told a press conference on Friday. So did the minister disclose both mortgages when he was elected in 2015 or not? Scheer said Canadians may bank all over the world, but theres a big difference between a Canadian having a mortgage at a Chinese bank and Canadas most senior diplomat being indebted to the PRC. Scheer said Chinas Communist Party uses leverage to expand its influence. Owing someone over a million dollars thats pretty big leverage. Relations between Canada and China have been severely strained since the RCMP arrested Chinese high-tech scion Meng Wanzhou on an American extradition warrant in December 2018. China arrested Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor nine days later in what is widely viewed as retaliation and has levelled accusations of spying against them. Canada calls their detention arbitrary and has marshalled a broad coalition of international support calling for their release and that has angered Chinese leaders. Champagne was appointed to his current cabinet post after last falls federal election, following stints as trade minister and infrastructure minister. Read more about: It is like a movie, watching the fireworks and gazing at the sky. In the recent episode of "Oh, My Baby," Yi Sang leaned over and gave Ha Ri a sweet kiss. Shortly after, a small crowd applauded them, leaving Ha Ri and Yi Sang startled. They headed home after that. Yi Sang admitted his feelings for Ha Ri. He asked her to continue discovering more interesting things in the future together. Ha Ri is happy looking at Yi Sang, and she can't help but smile all the time. Seung Tae had hesitations in promoting Ha Ri as the editor-in-chief. He is considering hiring a new one because he wanted that advertisement and sponsors are not affected. Ha Ri woke up with high energy and in a good vibe thinking of Yi Sang's kiss. As she goes to work, Yi Sang arrived with a cup of coffee for her. He picked her up and they went to work together. Jae Young saw them and surprised as they looked happy and relaxed with each other. Ha Ri prefers to keep their relationship secret. Yi Sang felt happy as Ha Ri accepted the fact that they are now a couple. He agreed to keep their status in low-key as Ha Ri is still trying to mellow down from what happened to her scandal before. Although Ha Ri's colleagues saw them, she advised them to keep quiet. Yi Sang invited Ha Ri for a lunch date. Eu Ddeum saw how sweet they were. Ha Ri changed her actions and pretended they were in a game. The couple then stepped out of the restaurant and headed to work as they held hands with their faces smiling brightly. At the office, Ha Ri got disappointed as the company released an announcement that Ha Ri is the interim editor-in-chief. Driven by her frustration, Ha Ri tended her resignation letter to Seung Tae. He did not accept it, and instead, he challenged her to get the previous subscribers to come back. If they sign up again, she will get the position. Yi Sang joined an art class. Ok-ran attended the same without their knowledge that he is dating Ha Ri. Later that afternoon, Yi Sang met Ha Ri at the cafe shop. He gave her a chain as a gift, which he crafted personally. Jae Young is doing Do Ah's birthday photoshoot. His ex-wife came along, which he didn't expect. Ha Ri advised Jung Won to join the photoshoot as a family. Jae Young felt awkward, plus he was anxious that Ha Ri is seeing Yi Sang. He did ask Ha Ri why she is happy with him. Ha Ri insisted that she is glad to meet someone like Yi Sang. After ten years of waiting, she felt loved again. Eun Young advised Jae Young to ignore his feelings. If he wanted to keep their friendship, he needs to let Ha Ri continue with Yi Sang. Yi Sang invited Ha Ri for a late-night date at the riverside once again. They looked at the city lights and the calm sea. Ha Ri can't help but smile always. Jae Young admitted that he liked Ha Ri to Ok-ran. At this moment he doesn't know what to do. Australia's finance minister urged students from all over the world to "consider Australia," telling CNBC the country remains "friendly" and "multicultural" as it grapples with the latest turn in increasing tensions with China. Beijing this week issued a warning to its students to "be cautious" about choosing Australia as a destination for overseas education. China's Ministry of Education claimed increasing discrimination against Asians following the coronavirus pandemic, which was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Relations between the two countries have worsened since Australia called for a global investigation into the origins of the coronavirus into China, angering Beijing. When asked how concerned Australia was about China's warning, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said: "Any students around the world who's considering a period of study in a foreign country, we would urge to consider Australia as a destination. This is a great place to come and study. Like all countries, of course we are managing issues from time to time, but overwhelmingly, Australia is a very welcoming, open, transparent, friendly country." In 2019, there were over 750,000 international students in Australia, according to government data. Students from China account for the greatest portion of enrollments in higher education. Fees from Chinese university students are worth about $12 billion Australian dollars ($8 billion) a year, according to Reuters. International students is a very important export market for us. Mathias Cormann Australia's Finance Minister During the interview, Cormann trumpeted Australia as a "friendly" and "multicultural" society. "International students is a very important export market for us ... Australia is an incredibly friendly, welcoming destination for international students. We are one of, if not the most successful, multicultural societies anywhere in the world." He added that he is "certain" any international student "would have a good experience" in the country. A student walks past buildings at the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. Brent Lewin | Bloomberg | Getty Images PRISTINA -- Thousands of supporters of Kosovo's largest party, the leftist-nationalist Vetevendosje (Self-Determination), have gathered in Pristina's main square to mark the 15th anniversary of the organization and the 21st year since NATO troops entered Kosovo. The participants at the June 12 demonstration on Skanderbeg Square called for new general elections, after parliament earlier this month approved a new government led by Avdullah Hoti of the center-right Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) by a razor-thin majority. Vetevendosje has been calling for new elections since the coalition government led by the party's leader, Albin Kurti, collapsed in March, less than two months after coming to power. Vetevendosje came in first place in elections in October, ahead of the LDK. Twenty-one years ago, 50,000 NATO troops entered Kosovo on the heels of a 78-day bombing campaign to stop Serbian forces from overrunning the territory. Kosovo, a former province of Serbia, declared independence in 2008 in a move rejected by Belgrade. NEW MILFORD Loved ones of the two men who were reported missing Wednesday while swimming in the Housatonic River gathered outside the Gaylordsville firehouse in New Miford on Thursday as search efforts continued for a second day. After hours of searching the day before, dive teams and first responders were back out scouring the river Thursday for the 21- and 24-year-old New York men, who reported to have disappeared near the Kent line Wednesday. Thursdays search began at 8 a.m. and continued until 3 p.m., when it was halted due to heavy reain and possibility of lightning, New Milford Police Chief Spencer Cerruto said Thursday night. Cerruto said the search will continued Friday morning with help from the Brookfield Police Departments Dive Team. The men had been with family and friends off the east bank of the Housatonic River, adjacent to the Bulls Bridge Power Plant, around 4:50 p.m. Wednesday when they were observed going under water, police said. Emergency personnel from New Milford, Sherman, Kent, Woodbury, Bantam, Danbury and Connecticut State Police responded to Wednesdays call about two possible drowning victims. The New Milford police helicopter and dive team along with state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection officers, Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue, RSAR, and underwater search and rescue personnel from Goshen spent hours searching for the swimmers. Crews halted Wednesdays search around 10:45 p.m. and resumed in the morning. The identities of both victims are not being released until search, rescue or recovery activities are completed, Lt. Earl Wheeler said. Mayor Pete Bass said the search has been challenging because of the current in that part of the river. Its a really dangerous area, even for the most proficient swimmer, he said. The town has been looking for ways to make the river safer, especially for people who might not be familiar with it and first responders who might have to enter the waters for a search and rescue mission. We want to make sure another incident like this doesnt happen again, Bass said. Last August, a 25-year-old woman from Bronx, N.Y., drowned in the river near the Bulls Bridge Power Plant. Swimming concerns Bass said last month he was concerned the closure of beaches at inland state parks due to the coronavirus would cause people to swim in the Housatonic River in unsafe areas. Two Sundays ago, he went up in a helicopter with fire and police chiefs to scout out areas where people might congregate along the river and potential problem sites. This is definitely a big concern, especially for people who dont know how to swim, Bass said. It becomes extra dangerous when you dont know the area, especially if you dont know the topography and current. The town already placed jersey barriers at the bridge in Gaylordsville by the Bittersweet Shop to prevent people from congregating and swimming at the river, but still allows first responders to get through if needed. Bass said there were times last summer when more than 100 people were gathering at the spot, including children. When he spoke with them, he found many there didnt know how to swim and people werent wearing life jackets. He hasnt seen that influx this summer, largely due to the weather, but Bass said they wanted to prevent people from gathering there for water safety reasons and to meet social distancing guidelines currently in place. Additional safety measures will be rolled out and announced in the coming days, including adding signs. What is the Vegas Preferred Club Deal Room? The Vegas Preferred Club Deal Room is an invite only conference for high net worth investors to meet with Small Cap companies. June 30, 2020 Reception on June 11th at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas. WHO IS THIS FOR? Small cap investors, value investors, portfolio and fund managers, bankers and investment advisors. LINK: https://cambridgehouse.com/vegas-preferred-club-deal-room By Investment Trends Editorial Special to kitco.com www.kitco.com/news/investment-trends/ Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. This is the second instance of a COVID-19 victim's body being given to the wrong family. Hyderabad: Utter chaos continues to mark COVID-19 care at Hyderabad's Gandhi Hospital with yet another instance of a body of a COVID-19 victim being handed over to a different family which had also lost a member to the disease. The other family completed the formalities and the body of the man, identified as Rashed Ali Khan, was sent away for burial in the presence of his representatives. This has left Rashed Ali Khans family in severe distress. Till late in the night, they were exploring the possibility of the grave being dug open so they can conduct their prayers and perform the last rites. According to Ubaid Ali Khan, nephew of Rashed Ali Khan, all they want is one last look at his body. What has happened has happened. There is no point in entering into a fight. We understand that the other family too has lost a loved one. We just want one last look at my uncles body. I am even willing to go and help the other family with burying their member who too lost his life to the disease, Ubaid Ali Khan told Deccan Chronicle. It was learnt that Rashed Ali Khan and the other deceased person were somewhat similar in appearance and it would not have been easy for the families to make out who was who after the bodies were disinfected and sealed in wrapping with a clear plastic sheet through which only the face could be seen. Because of this situation, Rashed Ali Khans body was mistaken to be that of their family member, an official explained. Rashed Ali Khans body was buried at a graveyard in Shivrampalli. Ubaid Ali Khan said his uncle was first admitted to a private hospital on June 8 and shifted to Gandhi Hospital the next day. On Wednesday morning, we received a call from the police saying my uncle passed away and that we had to come to identify the body. At the hospital, we had to wait for a long time and it was in the evening that the mortuary staff asked us to identify the body from among 13 others but we could not find my uncle, he said. He said that it was on Thursday that the police informed them that his uncles body was handed over to a family residing in Bandlaguda. A fired-up Dave Chappelle shares his anguish over George Floyd's death in a new Netflix comedy special filled with as much raw emotion as laughs. The 27-minute special is titled "8:46," which is the amount of time former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was filmed kneeling on Floyd's neck on May 25 before the 46-year-old Black man later died from his injuries. (Warning: This video contains strong language) "This man kneeled on a man's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, can you imagine that?!" Chappelle says. "He knew he was going to die. He called for his dead mother." Chappelle, 46, also ripped the other three former Minneapolis police officers who have been criminally charged along with Chauvin for not stepping in to stop him. "When I watched that tape, I understood this man knew he was gonna die," he said. "For some reason that I still don't understand, all these f----- police had their hands in their pockets. Who are you talking to? What are you signifying? That you can kneel on a man's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds and feel like you wouldn't get the wrath of God?! That's what is happening right now. "It's not for a single cop, it's for all of it. I don't mean to get heavy, but we gotta say something." Chappelle, who also noted he was born at 8:46 in the morning in an eerie coincidence, couldn't initially bring himself to watch the footage of Floyd's death as it went viral. "I can't tell you as a man watching another man go through something like that, what it makes you feel like,'' he says. "I didn't watch the tape for a week. I said I don't want to see this because I can't unsee it. When I finally watched it, I understood nobody is going home. Anyone who sees this, they're gonna be furious." The comedian also references the deaths of Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and others whose stories have fueled the protests against racial injustice. Story continues The show, which was filmed on June 6 in Yellow Springs, Ohio, marked Chappelle's first time onstage in 87 days amid the coronavirus pandemic. Everyone in the crowd was wearing masks after undergoing temperature checks, and seats were separated to maintain social distancing. Chappelle also explained the reason he didn't attend this year's Grammy Awards, where he won best comedy album for his Netflix special "Sticks and Stones." The ceremony was held in Los Angeles on Jan. 26, the day Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and eight others died in a helicopter crash in southern California. "I loved Kobe Bryant," Chappelle said. "He died the day I won a Grammy. That's why I didn't show up at the Grammys. I cried like a baby." He also takes shots at Fox News host Laura Ingraham and conservative commentator Candace Owens before wrapping up with a story about his great-great grandfather, whom he said was born a slave, to illustrate a point about racism continuing today. "These things are not old," he said. "It's not a long time ago. It's today." Racism tends to take two forms. Theres the overt brutality we saw less than three weeks ago when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee down on the neck of George Floyd for nearly nine minutes before he died. Theres also the casual form of racism, the kind that demeans with a flippant, dehumanizing aside. One form is criminal, the other merely offensive and insidious. But make no mistake: one feeds the other. Chauvin may have been the one who put his knee down on Floyd, but all the people who made light of the killing by replicating it with George Floyd Challenge social media posts are the ones feeding the ugliest side of humanity, the side that laughs at empathy and views the death of a 46-year-old black man as nothing more than meme fodder. A San Antonio firefighter recently indulged in casual racism. On Thursday, the Fire Department made the difficult but correct decision to terminate the firefighter, whose name was not released by the city. According to multiple sources, the firefighter is Lauran Bienek Liska, 33, a Floresville resident with 10 years experience in the SAFD. Liska recently shared two Facebook posts, obtained by the San Antonio Express-News, that disturbed her colleagues. Liska did not respond Thursday to an interview request for this column. On May 25 (by coincidence, the same day Floyd was killed), Liska posted a picture of former President Barack Obama from a New York Post article. Liska attached a photo of a monkey and made the following assessment of Obama, the first African-American president in this nations history: Is it wrong of me to say that he looks like a MONKEY???? Im just saying. The obvious answer to her question was that yes, it was wrong of her. It was wrong to give oxygen to a vile racist trope that has been used for centuries to justify unspeakable acts of cruelty. Timothy D. Easley /Associated Press It was wrong to join a club that includes 2016 Kentucky Republican state House candidate Dan Johnson who made several Facebook posts depicting both Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys. Johnson, the pastor of the Heart of Fire Church in Louisville, refused to apologize and defended his Facebook posts as satire. That club also includes Brian Conner a 2016 Minnesota county board candidate who posted a photo of a baby monkey and called it Obamas baby picture. That same year, Dr. Michelle Herren, a Colorado pediatric anesthesiologist at Denver Health, wrote the following Facebook comment about Michelle Obama: Monkey face and ebonic English. Liska not only ridiculed President Obama, she also joked about committing an act of violence against the Black Lives Matter demonstrators who have protested against Floyds killing. She shared a screenshot of someone asking Google if its legal to run over protesters who are blocking a road. GOOGLE SAYS: I can HIT the gas and plow through them!!!! the firefighter wrote. Jimmy Holmes, a retired African-American firefighter, joined the SAFD in 1971, at a time when there were few blacks in the department. RELATED: Boba Guys fires manager for racist comments after social media outrage I know a lot of the young guys that work there and I keep in touch with them. One of them sent me the message from Liska, Holmes said. They were very disappointed. They were upset by it. They thought it was out of line. They said (Liska) didnt think there was anything wrong with what she did. She thought it was blown out of proportion. Some of them talked to her about it and she just blew it off. San Antonio officials released a statement Thursday saying the city and SAFD consider these posts absolutely unacceptable and reprehensible. The statement added that such messages will not be tolerated, and employees that choose to engage in such behavior will be dealt with swiftly and severely. The termination came a week after Justin Silva, a detention deputy in the Bexar County Sheriffs Office, was placed on administrative leave for social media posts which advocated killing people who are rioting, looting, attacking innocent people and burning the city down. Over the years, our legal system often has failed us when it comes to adjudicating racist acts of violence. But it at least carries the potential for justice. RELATED: 'I'm not a racist': Two Hill Country politicians take heat for controversial comments Verbal expressions of bigotry are harder to address and easier to deny, easier for the perpetrator to dismiss as a joke or a constitutionally protected expression of free speech. For some, the lesson from the punitive actions taken by SAFD and Sheriffs Office will be that people need to be careful about sharing ugly, hateful thoughts on social media. But thats missing the point. The real lesson needs to be that these kinds of statements are unacceptable, whether theyre delivered on social media, at the workplace or in the privacy of your own home. Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Gilbert, become a subscriber. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 The National Identification Authority (NIA), on Thursday begun the distribution of the Ghana cards to applicants who could not obtain their cards during the time of registration. The one-week exercise is expected to provide cards to those who registered for it but could not obtain them since they were not ready during the time of registration in December 2019. A tour by the Ghana News Agency to some of the distribution centres in Kumasi indicated that few applicants had gone forward to collect their cards. At the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church centre at Suame-Maakro, a handful of applicants had gone for their cards as at 1000 hours, when the GNA visited there. Mr Isaac Kwadwo Adom, Coordinating Registration Officer was optimistic that applicants would come for their cards as the days pass by. He attributed the low turn-out on the first day to low publicity and said as people were becoming aware, they would come for their cards. Mr Adom said procedures for collection of ones card included the mentioning of the name, after which an official would go through the picture register and available cards to pick it out. He said when ones card is found, the person must clean his hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before proceeding to sign or thumbprint on a sheet provided and claim the card afterwards. Mr Adom said in order to heed to the Presidents directives, the NIA was ensuring that applicants were well spaced in accordance with social distancing protocols. The Ghana News Agency observed that all COVID-19 safety protocols such as the use of nose masks and social distancing were being observed. Mr Adom urged the public to attach importance to the exercise and not to wait till last minute as was the usual way of most Ghanaian. He said the card would be required during the new Voters Registration exercise so every Ghanaian citizen should get his or her card. He also advised all to observe the necessary COVID-19 protocols to prevent the spread of the virus. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video New Delhi: The 40th GST council meeting, first since lockdown, was held on Friday under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The GST Council has made the following recommendations on Law and Procedures changes. Reduction in Late Fee for past Returns As a measure to clean up pendency in return filing, late fee for non-furnishing FORM GSTR-3B for the tax period from July, 2017 to January, 2020 has been reduced / waived as under: - -NIL late fee if there is no tax liability -Maximum late fee capped at Rs 500 per return if there is any tax liability The reduced rate of late fee would apply for all the GSTR-3B returns furnished between July 01, 2020 to September 30, 2020. Further relief for small taxpayers for late filing of returns for February, March & April 2020 Tax periods For small taxpayers (aggregate turnover upto Rs 5 crore), for the supplies effected in the month of February, March and April, 2020, the rate of interest for late furnishing of return for the said months beyond specified dates (staggered upto 6th July 2020) is reduced from 18% per annum to 9% per annum till September 30, 2020. In other words, for these months, small taxpayers will not be charged any interest till the notified dates for relief (staggered upto 6th July 2020) and thereafter 9% interest will be charged till September 30, 2020. Relief for small taxpayers for subsequent tax periods (May, June & July 2020) In wake of COVID-19 pandemic, for taxpayers having aggregate turnover upto Rs 5 crore, further relief provided by waiver of late fees and interest if the returns in FORM GSTR-3B for the supplies effected in the months of May, June and July, 2020 are furnished by September, 2020 (staggered dates to be notified). One time extension in period for seeking revocation of cancellation of registration To facilitate taxpayers who could not get their cancelled GST registrations restored in time, an opportunity is being provided for filing of application for revocation of cancellation of registration up to September 30, 2020, in all cases where registrations have been cancelled till June 12, 2020. Certain clauses of the Finance Act, 2020 amending CGST Act 2017 and IGST Act, 2017 to be brought into force from June 30, 2020. Leader of the Opposition Andrew Scheer announces he will step down as Conservative leader in the House of Commons on Dec. 12, 2019. On June 11, 2020, he questioned the Liberals in Parliament about the Foreign Affairs Minister's two mortgages with Chinese banks. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld) Scheer Asks for Foreign Affairs Minister Champagne to Explain 2 Chinese Mortgages OTTAWAConservative Leader Andrew Scheer wants Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne to explain how his holding two mortgages with a Chinese bank doesnt compromise his ability to deal with the Peoples Republic. Scheer wants Champagne to appear before the special House of Commons committee on Canada-China relations and he says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to justify the cabinet appointment there too. Scheer says Champagne is Canadas top diplomat and Chinas communist leaders can use the $1.2 million he owes on two London properties to the Bank of China as leverage at a time of strained relations. Scheer pointed to the ongoing dispute that has seen two Canadian men arbitrarily detained by China since December 2018 and the fact Canada is dependent on Chinese supplies of personal protective equipment for COVID-19. Scheer says some of those Chinese imports have included millions of defective masks that were of no use to front-line health workers. Scheer is dismissing Liberal government rebuttals that Champagne disclosed the situation to the ethics commissioner and the information is posted publicly. But the ministers latest disclosure was only made on June 4, just a few days ago, Scheer told a press conference on Friday. So did the minister disclose both mortgages when he was elected in 2015 or not? Scheer said Canadians may bank all over the world, but theres a big difference between a Canadian having a mortgage at a Chinese bank and Canadas most senior diplomat being indebted to the PRC. Scheer said Chinas communist party uses leverage to expand its influence. Owing someone over a million dollarsthats pretty big leverage. Relations between Canada and China have been severely strained since the RCMP arrested Chinese high-tech scion Meng Wanzhou on an American extradition warrant in December 2018. China arrested Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor nine days later in what is widely viewed as retaliation and has levelled accusations of spying against them. Canada calls their detention arbitrary and has marshalled a broad coalition of international support calling for their release and that has angered Chinese leaders. Champagne was appointed to his current cabinet post after last falls federal election, following stints as trade minister and infrastructure minister. By Mike Blanchfield A former Minister of Information, Tony Momoh, on Friday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) should not expect a tea party in the Edo governorship election owing to the crisis at the state chapter. Mr Momoh, also an APC chieftain from the state, made the assertion while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone. He was reacting to Fridays disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki by APC Screening Committee from participating in the partys governorship primary. Mr Momoh, who was national chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), said the party needed to manage its crisis carefully in order not to give the state to the opposition. The former minister said the disqualification of Mr Obaseki was another serious development which might affect the chances of the party at the polls, if not resolved. There is a crisis in Edo APC and like I said before, they need to manage the crisis well, otherwise they should not expect the election to be a tea party. As for the disqualification of Obaseki, I wont say much because it is still a party affair. Obaseki is the sitting governor and if his disqualification stays, it might affect the party. READ ALSO: With what is happening in Edo APC, I think any party can win in the governorship election, he said. On the options before Mr Obaseki, he said the governor could approach the partys Appeal Committee to challenge his disqualification from the primary. The former minister said if that fails, he could approach the court to challenge the decision of the party. Mr Momoh urged party members in Edo not to allow clash of interests to affect the peace and progress of APC in the state. (NAN) Maximum Media is too big to fail and has too important a role in Ireland not to successfully emerge from its current High Court examinership process, according to publisher Niall McGarry. He said that it is up for debate whether he will be a future part of the company that oversees Joe.ie, Joe.co.uk and Her.ie. Mr McGarry was speaking on Independent.ies Big Tech Show podcast, where he was joined by Kinzen co-founder Mark Little, host Adrian Weckler and Ian Kehoe, co-founder of The Currency. The podcast featured a wide-ranging discussion on the likely future of media trends in a technology age. Mr McGarry addressed the issue of the click farm incident that saw his company lose substantial advertising revenue last year after an employee was found to have manipulated listenership figures on an AIB-sponsored podcast in 2017. It was so isolated, such a one-off and so unique to a publisher like us that I think a lot of people jumped on it and made it a much bigger story than it was, he said. It gave a huge amount of traditional media organisations an opportunity to have a pop at us because we came out of nowhere. We didn't come from the Dublin media set. We had created something new. We paid a big price. Maximum Media is currently in examinership with cumulative debts to lenders, landlords and the Revenue of over 6m. That pause in revenue massively disrupted us and our revenue last year, Mr McGarry said of the click farm incident. In 2017, an employee did something because they thought it would be able to solve a problem that they had on a particular day, he said. He over promised on a KPI and realised he wasn't going to deliver and went off and did this thing. He didn't consult anyone and it has absolutely been a major issue for us. It was unfortunate. It was a mistake. The guy lost his job. It still eats me up and annoys me. And it's something that I will hold onto for quite a period of time. However, Mr McGarry said that the controversy over the incident was disproportionate. I think that the level of blame and responsibility was disproportionate, he said. God knows how many instances in different verticals in different eras there have been of this type of thing. Mistakes happen in other organisations, like when someone is defamed. We've done that on two or three occasions where weve had to pay out significant sums. But thats more in line with other media and its more accepted in the media industry that these things can happen. Its not as big a deal. Joe.co.uk was responsible for some of the biggest online viral videos of the UK general election in 2019, including satirical rap mash-ups with figures using the voices of senior politicians such as Theresa May and Jacob Rees-Mogg. It also has a substantial online audience in Ireland through its Joe.ie and Her.ie brands, employing 50 people. Read More Mr McGarry said that he wants to put the incident behind us and move on, instead focusing on some of the amazing work we've done. I think our organisation has been incredibly impactful on things like the Eighth Amendment referendum and on marriage equality. We were the first brand to get out there and get behind a yes campaign. The company should also absolutely continue into the future, he said. Joe is in a process at the moment. The business is too big to fail. It plays too important a role in the Irish media scene. Whether Ill be part of that is up for debate. It's up for review. Who knows? I'm weighing it up myself. I'm 10 years in and Im an entrepreneur at heart. I will be in this arena. I passionately believe that there are huge changes coming in terms of how media and content are monetised and I want to be at the forefront of that. Whether that's with Joe or not, I'm not sure. Well see. However, he said that the digital media landscape still has structural flaws. We still have systematic issues where a lot of brands are drunk on high video views, because, back in 2015 and 2016 Facebook were counting video views that weren't real impressions at all. And then every brand manager suddenly needed 10 million views on their video. What happened was that Facebook got a big slap on the wrist [on how they counted video views]. Now theyve got more accurate video views. The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday hit back at a decision by US President Donald Trump to authorise sanctions against any official investigating American troops over alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. Trump said earlier that the United States would block US property and assets of anyone from The Hague-based tribunal involved in probing or prosecuting US troops. These attacks constitute an escalation and an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law and the Courts judicial proceedings, the court said in a statement. After a long-running legal process, the ICC said in March that an investigation into the Afghan war could go ahead. The Trump administration has been livid over the possibility of a probe into atrocities in Afghanistan, Americas longest-running war. But the ICC said the unprecedented sanctions undermine our common endeavour to fight impunity and to ensure accountability for mass atrocities. The court added: An attack on the ICC also represents an attack against the interests of victims of atrocity crimes, for many of whom the Court represents the last hope for justice. The International Criminal Court must step up to ensure its survival after US President Donald Trump authorised sanctions against the tribunal over an Afghan war crimes probe, experts said Friday. Trumps adminstration on Thursday unleashed an unprecedented onslaught against what it branded a kangaroo court, subjecting ICC officials to asset freezes and travel bans if they target US personnel. The move escalates long-standing US opposition to The Hague-based court, which is battling its own poor track record of convictions, lack of support from the worlds largest powers and internal disputes over pay. But analysts and rights groups urged the under-fire ICC set up in 2002 to prosecute the worlds worst crimes to continue its work with renewed vigour if it wants to cement its legitimacy. I believe that the future of the court depends on its willingness to prosecute the hard cases involving powerful countries like the United States, Israel, Russia and the United Kingdom, William Schabas, international criminal law professor at Leiden University, told AFP. For too long its work has been directed at developing countries and pariah states. Delivering equal justice for all means that it can tackle the strong as well as the weak. Unprecedented measures The United States like Russia, China, Israel, Syria and a number of other countries is not a member of the ICC, and its opposition to the court is longstanding. In 2002 the US Congress even passed the so-called Hague Invasion Act allowing the US president to authorise military force to free any US personnel held by the ICC in theory making an invasion of Dutch shores a possibility. But the Trump administration has now gone further, preemptively targeting the court over any attempt to prosecute US personnel over alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, or its ally Israel over the situation in the Palestinian territories. US Attorney General Bill Barr said Thursdays steps were just the first against a corrupt institution that he accused, without giving evidence, of being manipulated by Russia. Personal sanctions by Washington are unprecedented, said Carsten Stahn, programme director at Leiden Universitys Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies in The Hague. They may complicate the investigations and seek to discredit not only individuals but the institution as such. It is thus important that other states speak up clearly to support the independence of the court, Stahn told AFP. Rights groups too have called on the ICCs 123 member states to reaffirm its support for the tribunal, a court of last resort for war crimes and crimes against humanity if countries were unwilling or unable to prosecute suspects themselves. It is now upon ICC member states to translate their statements of support into action, said Amal Nassar, the International Federation for Human Rights representative at the ICC. This includes full cooperation with the court in its investigations, adequate resources, and a clear signal that ICC staff, their families, human rights defenders and legal professionals can count on their support and protection, Nassar said. Wave of solidarity But the virulent US opposition against the ICC might have a counter-productive effect, Stahn said. Curiously, the US political attacks may backfire in the sense that they may create a new wave of solidarity at a time where the ICC is undergoing internal reform efforts, he said. Its governing body, the Assembly of States Parties, in particular is now asked more than ever to reaffirm the core principles of the ICC, said Stahn. Stahn however said he did not believe the sanctions would threaten the courts existence. The ICC has started a new set of prosecutions which included the surrender of Ali Kushayb, a Janjaweed militiaman accused of war crimes committed in Sudans Darfur region in 2003-2004. In some situations, ICC investigations may also serve US interests, he said. Hide Transcript Show Transcript LETTER THE MAYOR SENT TO THEM. IT IS BEEN YEARS SINCE THE KANSAS CITY POLICE HAVE FACED A BROAD SCRUTINY AND CRITICISM GENERATED BY THE PROTEST MAYOR AND LUCAS SENT OUT A LETTER TO THE OFFICERS OF THE VORST YOU HAVE MORE SUPPORT THAN YOU KNOW FROM MORE CORNERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAN YOU MAY THINK. Combatting racism The Holocaust Center is announcing a multi-faceted approach to educating and empowering all people to combat prejudice and bigotry. The main vehicle will be the unveiling of a new exhibit called, "Uprooting Prejudice: Conversations for Change." Opening in September, the exhibit focuses on the hope-filled activism of Daryl Davis. As a legendary blues musician, he devoted his life not only to the power of music, but also to the power of peace building via courageous and thoughtful dialogue. Over the course of many years, Davis bravely befriended members of the Ku Klux K... Sioux Falls, SD -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/12/2020 -- Today's wealthy families put an incredible amount of faith in their advisors, so it's critical that these professionals make the right decision about where to domicile a client's trust. Sterling Trustees, a South Dakota-chartered trust company, encourages advisors to consider the Mount Rushmore state, boasting some of the nation's most progressive trust laws. One leading advantage of South Dakota trusts is that the state has no income tax or capital gains tax for trusts. Families can save millions of dollars over the term of their trusts, while allowing these significant tax savings to compound. Best of all, clients do not have to reside in South Dakota to take advantage of this exceptional tax-free growth. Sterling Trustees has designed a helpful online calculator that quickly and clearly shows the potential tax savings of situsing a trust in South Dakota versus a family's home state. Here's an illustration of the online calculator in action: An attorney or other advisor inputs a $10 million trust with a remaining term of 30 years and a 6% future return rate. Seventy percent of the trust assets are invested in stocks and the remaining 30% in bonds. Next, the advisor compares the tax consequences in various states to see the superior benefits of a South Dakota trust. In California, for example, after 30 years the $10 million trust would grow to approximately $30 million in assets after tax. In New York, $32 million; Illinois, $34 million. Meanwhile in South Dakota where the trust grows state-tax free the value soars to over $37 million. Sterling Trustees encourages advisors and clients to try this comparison exercise themselves with the convenient online tax calculator. 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Sterling Trustees is dedicated to keeping assets safe while remaining objective. BEIJING, June 11 (Reuters) - China is offering candidate vaccines for the new coronavirus to employees at state-owned firms travelling overseas, as it seeks more data on their efficacy, state media Global Times reported on Thursday. No proven vaccines have been developed yet for the virus, although mass trials for a number of candidate vaccines are expected to get underway soon in countries around the world. Employees in China can volunteer to take one of two vaccine candidates being developed by affiliates of state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), the newspaper backed by the Communist Party reported, citing a written notice sent to the state-owned companies. It did not name the two candidate vaccines, which are being tested on more than 1,000 people each and are among five candidates China has in clinical trials that showed "no distinct adverse reaction" in the first two phases of human trials. The plan is also part of China's effort to resume overseas projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative, a scheme to link China with Asia, Europe and beyond through large-scale infrastructure projects, according to the notice. "For better prevention and quicker recovery of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, Sinopharm has given priority to supporting workers intending to go overseas to vaccinate for urgent needs," it said. Before regulatory approval for sales, a vaccine normally has to go through large-scale, "Phase 3" trials to observe to what extent they provide protection against infection. That ideally requires exposing people in a real-life environment with relatively high infection risk. China, where the virus first originated in late December, has seen a sharp drop in the number of new cases, making it less favourable as a late-stage clinical trial site. Vaccinating people travelling abroad, especially those going to high-risk areas, is one option for conducting a Phase 3 trial, Zhu Fengcai, deputy director of a local branch of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told financial media service Caixin in April. (Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Brenda Goh; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Hugh Lawson) A 34-year-old man will face court after allegedly filming men and boys in a Gold Coast public toilet on 85 occasions over the course of more than a year. Detectives launched an investigation after an incident involving an 11-year-old boy in August 2019. The boy had allegedly entered a toilet stall at a Burleigh Heads shopping centre when he noticed a mobile phone filming him under the wall of the next cubicle and ran to tell his mother. Ongoing investigations led police to an address in Highland Park, about 17 kilometres to the north-west, where a mobile phone was seized. A total of 85 separate recordings of "males, including juveniles" using the same toilet facility were allegedly found, spanning from April 2018 to August last year. (Natural News) India reported 9,996 new coronavirus cases as well as 357 deaths in 24 hours on Wednesday. The figures bring the countrys total caseload to 276,583 and total deaths to 7,745, according to data from John Hopkins University. Over the weekend, the number of infections in the country surpassed Spains to become the fifth-highest in the world. India is now only behind the United States and Brazil in terms of daily cases, with recent figures showing an average of nearly 10,000 new cases every day. Government lifts restrictions After placing the nation on lockdown in March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi moved to ease restrictions on May 31. This allowed people to dine out, shop in malls and pray at religious sites, provided they wore masks and observed social distancing. Hotels remain closed, however, as the government requires them to serve as temporary hospitals or quarantine facilities. Movie theaters and gaming arcades also remain closed, even as malls reopen. In some states, people are barred from trying on clothes in shops. Meanwhile, schools and colleges are still closed across the country. Mumbai, the countrys financial center, has reopened. The city is currently the countrys coronavirus epicenter, housing over a fifth of all cases in India. While malls and religious sites remain closed in Mumbai, stores are now allowed to open on alternate days. Public transportation, however, are still unavailable. But despite the restrictions, locals still flocked Marine Drive, a popular shopping district, on Sunday. Major cities are struggling to cope Aside from Mumbai, the capital city of Delhi has also reported a surge in coronavirus cases. In fact, the virus has infected top government officials, causing major government agencies to close its doors. The citys healthcare system is starting to buckle under the strain. City officials are starting to convert hotels and community centers into coronavirus wards, as hospitals are running out of beds. In morgues and crematories, bodies are piling up, a sign that the facilities are now stretched beyond capacity. Public health experts are particularly concerned. They warn that infections in the city have not yet peaked, and they expect the numbers to rise in the coming weeks. According to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the citys total caseload is bound to exceed 550,000 by the end of July. In a statement over the weekend, Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhis chief executive, announced that hospitals will only treat residents from metropolitan Delhi, or the National Capital Territory. While the order was revoked on Monday, it painted a clear picture of the looming crisis in the capital city. If the government fails to head off the infection in the cities, medical experts fear that the contagion may spread into rural areas, where healthcare systems are even weaker. In these big cities there is at least some infrastructure and you are seeing some data. We will never get accurate data for the rest of the country, explained Dr. Harjit Singh Bhatti, president of the think tank Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum. Its a very bleak picture. There seems to be no comprehension of the dangers that lie ahead. Bhatti also decried the lack of government action to ramp up testing and improve coronavirus response. Currently, only 10 percent of infections are tested, and testing is limited to those with severe infections. (Related: After enforcing the worlds most severe lockdown, is India ready to come out of it?) The medical infrastructure was already broken. Now we want to cross the pandemic on this sinking ship, Bhatti added. As of Wednesday, Delhi has reported 32,810 confirmed cases and 984 deaths up by 30 percent from last weeks figures. Learn more about the Wuhan coronavirus at Pandemic.news. Sources include: Coronavirus.JHU.edu NPR.org NYTimes.com Bloomberg.com Yemeni bodies condemn Saudi-led coalition over use of banned cluster bombs in Sana'a Iran Press TV Thursday, 11 June 2020 8:11 AM Yemeni bodies have censured the Saudi Arabia-led military coalition over deploying cluster bombs against a residential neighborhood in the country's capital province of Sana'a, seriously injuring members of a family. Yemen's Ministry of Human Rights, in a statement released by the official SABA news agency, warned that cluster munitions pose a serious danger to the lives of civilians, especially women and children, if they come in close contact with them. The statement added that the alliance has used thousands of cluster bombs on residential areas, leaving many civilians dead or injured. Unexploded submunitions risk the lives of locals in the targeted areas as well. The ministry further highlighted that thousands of civilians, mostly women and children, have either lost their lives or sustained grave injuries since March 2015 as Saudi-led military aircraft continue to strike various areas across Yemen. On Wednesday, a couple and their three children were injured when Saudi-led warplanes dropped cluster bombs on a residential neighborhood in al-Subaha neighborhood of Sana'a province. Their house was also badly damaged in the bombardment. The Yemeni Ministry of Human Rights later held member states of the Saudi-led coalition and their mercenaries fully responsible for all crimes and perpetrations being perpetrated against the Yemeni nation. The ministry then called on the United Nations and the Security Council to stop the ongoing Saudi-led military aggression and blockade, and establish an independent and impartial international commission to investigate all crimes committed by the coalition and its proxies in Yemeni regions. Separately, the Supreme Council for the Management and Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (SCMCHA) decried the Saudi-led coalition's use of cluster munitions in al-Subaha neighborhood, stating it is not the first time the alliance has committed such a crime. The SCMCHA also denounced the shameful international silence on the Saudi Arabia-led coalition's continued attacks on residential regions and farms with utter disregard for civilian lives. The council then called on the UN to take up its humanitarian duties, and put pressure on the coalition of aggression to stop its military campaign and all-out blockade against Yemen. Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched the devastating war on Yemen in March 2015 in order to bring former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, back to power and crush the Houthi Ansarullah movement. The US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, estimates that the war has claimed more than 100,000 lives over the past five years. More than half of Yemen's hospitals and clinics have been destroyed or closed during the war by the Saudi-led coalition, which is supported militarily by the UK, US and other Western nations. At least 80 percent of the 28 million-strong population is also reliant on aid to survive in what the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Citing increases in new cases of COVID-19, hospitalizations and positive infection rates across the state, Gov. Kate Brown on Thursday put a seven-day hold on reopening the economy, leaving the states largest county stuck in neutral and several others with their applications to enter Phase 2 on hold. This is essentially a statewide yellow light, Brown said during a news conference Friday morning. "This one-week pause will give our public health experts time to assess what factors are driving the spread of the virus and determine if we need to adjust our approach to reopening. Health officials called the pause a reminder, not a rollback. But neither they nor Brown said what specific criteria would have to be met to resume the reopening process. Since all the public health metrics they cited are lagging indicators, it could be several weeks before her move has any noticeable impact on virus trends. Brown said she would continue to work with health experts to assess whether to lift the pause, extend it, or take other actions. We all wish this reopening could be happening faster, she said. My job, however, is to make tough decisions even when they are unpopular. And when it comes to health and safety of Oregonians, the buck stops here." Oregon is joining Utah as the first states to put a hold on their reopening process, though cases are on the rise in nearly half the states as they push ahead with reopening their economies, according to the Associated Press. Brown acknowledged the frustration that her move is causing, particularly for businesses and residents in Multnomah County, the states most populous and the only one that has yet to start the reopening process. The county had applied to start reopening Friday, and county officials said this week that they were in good shape to move forward, despite a surge in infections and an uptick in hospitalizations. Phase 1 guidelines allows limited reopening of restaurants and bars, personal services such as salons and barbershops, as well as gyms and malls. Gathering of up to 25 people are allowed for recreational, social and cultural events. Phase 2 eases restrictions further, allowing a limited return to office work, recreational sports, the reopening of pools, movie theaters, bowling alleys, and arcades, and bars and restaurants are able to stay open later. Allowable gathering sizes increase to 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors. Six counties remain in Phase 1, though Hood River, Polk and Marion counties have asked the governor to move to Phase 2. Twenty-nine counties are in Phase 2. And Multnomah County remains the only that hasnt entered the first phase. On Friday, some Portland restaurant and bar owners who had announced their reopening plans on social media expressed frustration with the timing of Browns announcement, which came after many had pulled staff off unemployment and purchased thousands of dollars in perishable food and drinks in preparation. Once they said theyre going to apply June 5 for a June 12 opening, that expectation was kind of set, said Tim Williams of Peters Bar & Grill in Northeast Portland. I am supportive of these measures, its not that I dont understand, it just creates a little bit of frustration. Public health officials said Friday that they are pumping the brakes because virus trend lines are moving in the wrong direction statewide, in urban and rural counties and from the coast to the mountains and in between. Jefferson, Wasco and Hood River counties have seen their case counts spike. Clackamas, Washington and Marion Counties are also seeing big increases. Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen detailed the trends that drove the decision to pause. The state recorded its highest new case count to date 178 - on Thursday. Newly reported cases increased by 75 percent statewide during the week ended June 7. The state has increased testing to more than 18,000 a week, so officials expected to see cases increase. But the positive test rate also increased from 1.9% to 3% statewide, still well below national averages but problematic. Meanwhile, the rolling 7-day average of hospitalizations has gone from from four to six cases. We want to see the percentage of positive cases stay flat or drop, not increase by half, Allen said. He added that because the number of severe coronavirus cases does not depend on the amount of testing were doing, new hospitalizations are a telling measure of how well were doing. Allen said the drivers of those increases include large workplace outbreaks around the state; increased testing finding more asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic cases; large gatherings; and, of course, reopening the economy. He said public health officials would have more information in coming days about whether large demonstrations in Portland or other communities are driving spread of the disease. My biggest fear is that people treat Phase 1 or Phase 2 like returning to things the way they were before the pandemic began, he said. Thats not what needs to happen." Brown said her pause is a reminder that Oregonians need to double down on measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19: wearing face coverings, maintaining six feet of physical distance, avoiding large gatherings, staying close to home, washing hands frequently and covering your mouths when you cough. We are all in this together and every single one of our actions matter, she said. Multnomah County is the states most populous and has the most cases, and the coronavirus trends are mimicked there. The county had 43 new cases Thursday and its seven-day rolling average of new cases reached an all-time high this week. During the last three weeks, the number of hospitalizations has increased from 9 to 11 and then to 14 per week. And public health officials were unable to trace 40 percent of new cases back to a known outbreak or disease cluster last week. Jennifer Vines, Multnomah Countys lead health officer, acknowledged that those numbers lag reality on the ground. What were seeing now is the result of viral transmission that happened days if not weeks ago, so were continually behind in trying to figure out where weve been and where were going, she said. Vines said county hospitalization numbers remain small, and that officials still feel their Phase 1 plan is adequate to reopen. She said she understood the frustration of businesses that want to get their lights on and residents stuck under the governors original stay-home order. But she said the governor had concerns statewide, and the county was not going to second guess her decision. We want to be cautious as a county. The governor wants to be cautious in her state role, so I certainly cant fault her for that, she said. County officials heard from the governors office early Thursday that there were concerns about statewide trends in public health metrics, but they only heard that the governor was hitting pause on their application just prior to her office issuing a news release Thursday night. Vines said fewer than five of the countys new cases had told investigators that they had attended a recent demonstration, though officials say they are still waiting to see if the protests become a major source of community spread. The county has avoided making any recommendation not to attend demonstrations. Commissioners have also declined to mandate that residents wear face coverings in public, recognizing thats a safety concern for people of color and that enforcement of such a requirement might become its own problem. But Vines said the county is advising residents to wear face coverings at protests, maintain physical distancing when possible, and stay home if theyre sick. In public health were very sensitive to the effects of racism on peoples health, she said. This is a lifelong effect, a longstanding issue in our communities of color. So we are not discouraging people from attending protests for a different but equally pressing public health issue, which unfortunately contradicts much of our guidance around COVID-19. - Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger - Staff writer Michael Russell contributed to this story. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Realme X50 Pro 5G will be the first smartphone from the brand's kitty to receive the recently rolled-out Android 11 Beta. In a statement, Realme said it will begin pushing the Android 11 Beta update to all the Realme X50 Pro 5G units sometime in early July. Since it is a public beta version, Realme X50 Pro users who have signed up for receiving beta updates are likely to receive the next Android version. Moreover, the company has said it will soon be resuming the production of Realme X50 Pro 5G after it was halted owing to the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The Android 11 Beta update was released by Google earlier this week for Pixel smartphones. However, a lot of OEMs who have complied with the Project Treble have begun announcing their smartphones will be eligible for the update soon. Realme has not said whether the Android 11 Beta update will be rolled out under the beta channel or whether users will need to sign up for the updates and receive them under the stable channel on their Realme X50 Pro units. Moreover, Realme will customise Android 11 Beta to add its own features and give it a makeover to ship under the Realme UI. Apart from the Realme X50 Pro 5G, more smartphones will receive the Android 11 Beta in future, the company said in a statement. The Realme X50 Pro 5G was launched in India in February this year as India's first 5G smartphone. The smartphone received mixed responses from consumers and experts for the 5G support that is functionless in India at the moment, owing to the lack of necessary infrastructure. But apart from the 5G factor, Realme X50 Pro has top-of-the-line innards, such as a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, a 90Hz AMOLED display with a punch-hole, 65W fast charging, and 64-megapixel quad cameras at the back. Realme launched the X50 Pro 5G at a starting price of Rs 39,999 for the 6GB/128GB variant. And it went on sale in early March. However, the lockdown, which began in late March, forced the company to suspend the manufacturing of the Realme X50 Pro and other smartphones. This caused a disruption in the supply of the smartphone that still continues. Realme has said it will resume the production of the Realme X50 Pro 5G soon and that the smartphone will be ready for sale starting July 9. Farming lobby groups have welcomed confirmation by the Cabinet of an emergency 50m support scheme for beef farmers. The scheme for beef finishers was announced by Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar following a meeting of the Cabinet at Dublin Castle on Friday. Mr Creed said the scheme is not open to suckler farmers but said the additional money will help all the industry. He said that more than 200m in new money has been made available specifically to beef farmers, on top of the 300m BDGP scheme, over the past two years. Tim Cullinan, president of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) welcomed the scheme: The details of the scheme and the small print will be very important. IFA is set to meet with the Department of Agriculture next Monday to progress the scheme details further." Mr Creed said the scheme will give support to beef farmers severely impacted by a fall in prices because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme, however, is subject to State Aid rules approval, he said: "Our hope is to keep the scheme as simple as possible. I am aware of the concerns around the last scheme but that had the added complication of being co-funded from Europe. This scheme is entirely exchequer funded." "It is exclusively for finishers but I see a scheme that is for finishers being beneficial to the entire beef sector because it gives finishers confidence to buy weanlings," Mr Creed added. He says there is an additional scheme for suckler farmers: "We will talk to farmers about the terms and conditions but the reduction elements in the previous scheme was a condition imposed as it was co-funded from Europe." Farmers with finished animals have suffered a dual impact over recent months: reduced prices and a reduced kill. This support for the beef sector is an emergency response to a dramatic economic shock, to mitigate the worst COVID-19 economic impacts on these farm enterprises, he said. Mr Creed, a Cork North-West TD, said the Department of Agriculture will be engaging with stakeholders on its development. Mr Creed said a meeting of the Beef Taskforce via video conference is planned for the end of June, with the distribution of the support likely to be high on the agenda: This is part of my ongoing efforts to ensure that all the appropriate support measures are put in place at national and EU level for our farming communities. "I urge all actors in the supply chain to recognise their interdependence and work collaboratively towards our shared objective a beef sector which is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable." The Taoiseach said the scheme has been approved and will be implemented: "It is separate from the Programme for Government talks so whether a new government is formed or not, this money will flow to farmers. It is not connected." Mr Varadkar said he hopes the farming community will be "pleasantly surprised" by the contents of the new Programme when they open it. He said they are prioritising the rollout of the National Broadband Plan, more rural development funds and the development of the road network. He also said there are plans aimed at giving farmers new streams of income into the future, which is part of the Government's plan to reduce carbon emissions by 7% a year. Many Americans are at risk of not receiving their $1,200 stimulus checks. Now, research estimates that as many as 12 million people could go without the payments due to them. That's according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a non-partisan research and policy institute. The center based its estimate on data from the Census Bureau. Congress authorized sending stimulus checks to millions of Americans under the $2 trillion CARES Act. The payments include up to $1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for married couples and $500 per child under 17. More from Personal Finance: Here's what could be in additional stimulus legislation Dems, GOP spar over extension of extra $600 in unemployment Fed holds rates near zero here's what that means for your wallet The money is targeted at low- to middle-income Americans. The payments begin phasing out at $75,000 in income for individuals, $112,500 for heads of household, and $150,000 for married couples. The IRS has been sending the payments via direct deposit or mail, based on tax returns. To date, the government has delivered about 159 million checks. However, the population of low-income individuals could be difficult to reach because many of these people typically either don't file tax returns or do not receive federal government benefits and thus are at risk of falling through the cracks. To prevent that, the IRS has created a non-filer tool online to let those individuals and families affected submit their information to get their payments. Following the first strategic dialogue session between Iraq and the United States in Baghdad on June 11, the two delegations issued a joint statement reflecting the decisions reached in the first round of talks. The statement reaffirmed the Strategic Framework Agreement signed in 2008, as well as other documents between the two countries, in particular two letters from Iraq to the UN Security Council in June and September 2014 calling on the international community to provide Iraq support in its fight against terrorist groups. Politically, Washington reaffirmed respect for Iraqs sovereignty, territorial integrity, and relevant decisions of the Iraqi legislative and executive authorities. The United States also expressed support for the new Iraqi government and its reform plan and its commitment to organize early elections. Humanitarian issues including respecting human rights and the return and reintegration of displaced people were also highlighted. As a political crisis has been plaguing Iraq in recent months, Iraqi political forces even pro-Iran groups have been sending positive signals toward the United States, calling for help to overcome the predicament. Speaking after parliament approved new Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in May, the head of the Popular Mobilization Units' (PMU) Fatah parliamentary bloc, Muhammad al-Ghabban, said, Washington should demonstrate its interest in Iraq by giving priority to supporting Iraq at this critical stage, and assure the Iraqi people of its seriousness in providing assistance to them, and not siding with any Iraqi political party against another. In the security realm, Iraq has committed to providing protection to US-led coalition forces operating on Iraqi territory. On the other side, the United States reiterated that it is not seeking permanent bases in Iraq. Instead, Washington is planning to continue reducing the number of forces in the country over the next few months, and will discuss the status of the remaining forces with Baghdad. Iraq has become a direct battleground between Washington and Tehran following the January assassination of Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani by a US airstrike and Iran's bombing of the US military base at Ain al-Asad. US bases in Iraq have been targeted by pro-Iran militias repeatedly over the last few months. Meanwhile, the United States has blamed the Iraqi government for not providing sufficient protection to its embassy, which was attacked by Shiite militias late last year and has been subsequently targeted by rockets launched by these militias. But Shite political parties close to Iran have been expressing concerns about the US willingness to keep its forces in Iraq. The parties passed a law in parliament after the killing of Soleimani asking the United States to end its troop presence in Iraq. However, Sunni and Kurdish politicians unanimously stood against the decision, while the United States said it would not abide by a decision made only by a group of Shite political parties. On the economic front, the United States has expressed readiness to send economic advisers to Iraq in order to work with the Iraqi government to rebuild the country's economy, which is facing a severe crisis. Also, potential US investment involving world-class US firms in the energy and other sectors was discussed, according to the joint statement. Following the global drop in oil prices, Iraq has been facing a critical economic situation, leading the Kadhimi government to adopt austerity measures, including reducing public sector salaries and other expenses in order to implement reform plans, while taking strong actions against corruption. In the cultural section, the two countries agreed to work on returning political archives," including the Baath Party archives, to Iraq. The latter, currently housed at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, includes millions of images and other files documenting the brutality of the Saddam Hussein regime. Finally, the two delegations agreed to discuss these issues at a second meeting in Washington, "likely in July," according to the statement. Although it is unlikely that the dialogue will resolve all issues in the next session, due to the complexity of the matters at hand, the talks will continue between the two countries and likely witness a significant improvement due to an apparent reduction of Iranian influence in Iraq and the region in general and Iraq's dire need for US support in various areas. PARK CITY, Utah, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dodd & Kuendig is proud to announce Attorney Roger Dodd has received the honor of selection to this year's Utah Super Lawyers list. Published by Thomson Reuters, Super Lawyers recognizes all-around attorney excellence. Using a custom 4-step process, the organization's independent research team identifies candidates, scores them on 12 different points of impact, asks a Blue Ribbon panel to evaluate high performers, and then publishes a select list of high performers. Super Lawyers is an exclusive honor given to only 5% of attorneys. Though attorneys can and do earn a spot on their region's list multiple years in a row, they are re-evaluated each year using the same process as all other candidates. This is the 4th straight year Attorney Roger Dodd has been selected to Utah's Super Lawyers publication. Roger has also been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Georgia since 2004 and Florida since 2009. Though primarily recognized for his success in the personal injury field, Mr. Dodd also provides support in both family law and criminal defense cases. He is especially known for helping clients with complex claims including: Catastrophic injury Truck accidents Medical malpractice Wrongful death Board Certified for 2 decades as a civil and criminal litigation specialist, Mr. Dodd has the skill and experience to successfully represent clients in front of a judge and jury. Few lawyers achieve this level of expertise in their careers, and these accreditations signify the dedication to excellence that earns attorneys inclusion in the Super Lawyers list. Mr. Dodd exemplifies multiple factors the Super Lawyers researchers consider when determining professional achievement: he has over 40 years of courtroom experience, has won multi-million dollar settlements, and regularly gives back to his legal community by joining educational panels and publishing books and articles. The team at Dodd & Kuendig would like to congratulate Mr. Dodd for this recognition. If you are looking for a skilled representative to help with personal injury concerns, they invite you to visit their office. A Park City law firm serving personal injury clients, Dodd & Kuendig provides a personalized and attentive process for all clients. Co-founder Patricia Kuendig originally worked in family law until the tragic death of her mother in a bus accident opened her eyes to the forces working against accident victims. She has since changed her focus to personal injury law, co-counseling clients with her esteemed co-founder, Roger Dodd. The team offers strategic representation and all-around support in every case. They can be found online at www.doddkuendig.com or reached by phone at 435-296-7434. SOURCE Dodd & Kuendig Related Links http://www.doddkuendig.com Lucknow, June 12 : The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has sent a letter to the Uttar Pradesh government, seeking a ban on online trade of pet animals. PETA has also urged the government to keep pet shops and dog breeders, not duly registered with their state animal welfare boards, closed. The animal rights body has also asked the government to stop online portals such as OLX and Quikr - which have registered offices in Haryana and Karnataka, respectively - from trading in animals. The UP government has already made it mandatory for all pet shops and dog breeding centres to register themselves with the state animal welfare board to prevent cruelty to animals and curb the spread of any disease. Recently, based on an advisory issued by the government body the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) that says pet shops not registered as required under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2018, and dog breeders not registered as required under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2017, must not be allowed to operate. The governments of Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra have already issued orders to ensure that illegal pet shops and dog breeders do not reopen after the lockdown. However, these orders do not include websites that facilitate the trade in animals, like OLX and Quikr, and many states and union territories are yet to take action on the AWBI advisory. PETA India Corporate Liaison Mallika Roy said, "While illegal physical pet shops are closed, brazen breeders and other animal sellers will likely resort to trading in vulnerable cats, dogs, and other animals online. PETA India is urging states and union territories to stop OLX and Quikr from functioning as pet shops, as they are not registered with animal welfare boards to trade in animals." In its letter, PETA India has shared recent Right to Information responses from states and union territories across India confirming that most pet shops - including online platforms - and dog breeders operating in the country are not registered as required by law. Former President Jerry John Rawlings has commended the Scholarship Secretariat for its decentralisation of the scholarship process. He said the move will make it easier for deserving students to obtain scholarships should they supervise the process adequately to ensure that there is no discrimination. He said this in a meeting with some representatives of the Secretariat in Accra on Wednesday. Touching on effective monitoring of the system, former President Rawlings said, I am impressed that responsibility has been devolved to the Districts. There has been so much prejudice against the scholarship secretariat because of the perception that there is discrimination in the choices made and it only benefits privileged persons. You have to monitor the devolved process otherwise the very thing you are trying to avoid will be repeated". He added that, During my tenure as President, I devoted 40 per cent of my time to checking corruptible tendencies. That is why I was able to contain corruption. We have difficulties giving fairness a chance in this country with influence often overriding ability and merit. This development makes me feel good and I urge you to give the new process more publicity so deserving students can take advantage of the process. For her part, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary candidate for Tema Central, Madam Ebi Bright stated that there is a cultural tendency towards patronage in the country adding that people who have access to power tend to always compromise situations. She noted that even with the devolution of the process it is still going to be difficult to balance the good intentions of the Secretariat, she therefore urged the Registrar and his team to do their utmost to support local talent and ideas in a fair environment. Aide to the former President, Dr. Donald Agumenu was of the view that the Scholarship Secretariat plays an integral role in building human capital, hence called for a fair distribution of scholarships, adequate and regular evaluation of the process. The Registrar of the Secretariat, Kingsley Agyemang on his part said his outfit, working in collaboration with regional and district authorities had devolved the selection process to ensure that deserving students across the country were offered opportunities to obtain scholarships to further their education. 'Shortlisted applicants will then appear before the District Scholarship Secretariat after which a recommendation will be made to the Central Scholarship Review Committee secretariat for the award of scholarships', he stated. Other members of the Scholarship Secretariat at the meeting were Director of Accounts, Mr Richard Aidoo, Deputy Directorof Administration, Mr Joseph Essah and two Assistant Protocol Officers, Grace Afari-Mensah and Jennifer Evelyn Bedu. Members of President Rawlings team included Dr. Anthony Dzegede, Kobina Andoh Amoakwa and Ogochukwu Nweke. Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In Houstons priciest neighborhoods, broker open houses are fancy affairs. They offer catered lunches, wine and cheese tastings and sometimes even live music and expensive champagne. Usually, the nicer the house, the better the spread. Since the pandemic struck, those practices have been thrown out the picture window. Nowadays, open houses are sparse, subdued affairs where attendees sport masks and breeze through in a matter of minutes. The traditional open house has changed dramatically over the past three months, reflecting both the fears of COVID-19 gripping buyers and sellers and the tentativeness of a once-booming housing market. The return of open houses, as stripped down as they may be, capture the competing forces shaping todays market, a confusing mix of pandemic, recession and ultra-low mortgage rates, which, in many cases, are giving house hunters the courage to hunt. Jittery sellers who have pulled listings from the market have pushed historically low inventory even lower. Buyers who have little to choose from are flocking to open houses or finding other ways to see properties, even if not in person. Agents have held more than 1,100 virtual open houses in Houston since mid-April and many online listings now feature 3D images allowing a prospect to view nearly every square inch of a home in high definition. Thats perhaps been the savior for the market, said national housing economist Ralph McLaughlin, who just sold his own home in a Washington, D.C., suburb, forgoing an open house. When the coronavirus became a threat in Houston and the city started shutting down, many sellers opted to do the same. They didnt want strangers traipsing through the bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens out of fear of the disease spreading to their families. Some open houses continued, but they were mostly limited to new homes or properties whose owners had already moved out. Now, as the local economy reopens, open houses have returned. Over the Memorial Day weekend, just after the Houston Association of Realtors began allowing agents to advertise open houses on har.com after blocking the notifications amid COVID, more than 3,200 houses were open for public showings. This weekend, 2,727 live open houses are scheduled. HOUSTON HOUSING: Home sales spike since first time since pandemic began During those months when in-person open houses were frowned upon, agents began showing properties through video calls or live streaming. Some, who arent yet comfortable with all the face time, still are. Some agents say theyre not even sure if theyre going to continue with open houses, Gordana Vickers, an agent with Compass, said last week at an open house in Briargrove, a leafy neighborhood west of the Galleria. Theyre doing the video tours on the phone, theyre opening virtually, and I think theyre getting a pretty decent response that way. Generally, open house activity has been tepid. People afraid to go out or worried about job security stopped looking for a new home. Sales during each of the last two months have been off 20 percent compared with the same April and May last year. Managing demand In some neighborhoods, however, demand hasnt seemed to have missed a beat. On the first Saturday in June, Boulevard Realty agent Star Massing hosted an open house in the Heights billed as a one-of-a-kind design recognized in architectural publications. The event started at 2 p.m. and a line to get in quickly snaked around the property. Over the next three hours, about 100 people walked through the house, many of whom waited in the blistering sun to get a look at the 1993 contemporary, built for an artist on a corner lot on Euclid and listed for $800,000. It took four people to manage the event. There was a check-in station, a waiting area and each group there were primarily couples was escorted through the house separately. Masks were provided for those who didnt have them and visitors were told not to touch anything. I was going to have two agents do it for me, Massing said. After five minutes they were like, We need help. OPEN HOUSES ARE BACK: The traditional open house is about to go on steriods Jon Shapley, Staff photographer / Staff photographer Whether geared toward buyers or agents, open houses are a vital part of the real estate industry. While they may not directly lead to a sale, the practice has long been used as a tool for agents or builders to find new clients. Oftentimes neighbors will come by just out of curiosity. In the industry, theyre known as looky-loos, but even those visits can help lead to an eventual sale if they help spread the word about a house. On Sunday in the Glenmore Forest subdivision of Spring Branch, Paul McHugh, a builder, had put up open house signs and was waiting for visitors inside the $1.45 million home he completed just before everything in Houston shut down. The first week was great and then it was nothing, McHugh said. It was just dead. But visits have picked up. In the last two weeks my open houses have been fantastic, he said. If I get four its a success. Last week I had seven on Saturday and nine on Sunday. Agents selling existing homes in the neighborhood have been doing more open houses, too. McHugh can see how homeowners might not want to open their houses due to the coronavirus, but shoppers want to experience a property in person before buying. They want to feel the finishes and walk through it. Vickers, the Compass agent, still thinks open houses are worth the effort even if theres only a 1 percent chance of a sale. If we dont have the open house, we miss that 1 percent, she said. EVICTION CONCERNS MOUNT: Apartment market suffers setback Jon Shapley, Staff photographer / Staff photographer In Briargrove last Thursday, more than a dozen agents were holding a progressive broker open house, where multiple houses were open at the same time for their peers to view in hopes theyd see something that would suit a client. Charlie Neath, an agent with Compass wearing a mask decorated by his nine-year-old daughter, said he was pleased with the positive feedback hed gotten from the agents that had breezed through his $1.7 million listing on Piping Rock. The home has been on the market for about three months. Across the street, Jackie Cathriner, an agent with Rob Adams Properties, greeted visitors from the foyer of the $1.1 million traditional built in 2006, standing by a table with a stack of masks, small bottles of hand sanitizer and a box of latex gloves. While she was glad be able to show off homes in person again, Cathriner said broker open houses used to be much more lively affairs. There was always lunch and it often became a social event. People would come and talk. You would get to know the agents and the brokers and who was looking for what. And youd get to experience the house as a home, she said. It was really fun, and the house would always smell good. nancy.sarnoff@chron.com twitter.com/nsarnoff Larnell Baldwin, owner of Baldwin Fine Custom Tailoring, has been in the same Queen Village location for 40 years. Last week, his store was looted during the George Floyd protests, but his son and former student helped raise more than $30,000. Read more After 40 years of leather-crafting, pattern-making, trims, hems, and creating bespoke suiting for celebrity athletes like Malcolm Jenkins and Moses Malone, Larnell Baldwin knows just about everything there is to know about tailoring. Hes even been dubbed a master tailor by his clients and apprentices. And since 1988, Queen Villages Baldwin Fine Custom Tailoring, on historic Fabric Row, has been the hub of his business and fashion institute, where hes helped nurture more than a thousand designers and tailors. Yet, one of his most enduring memories likely will be the night of May 30, when his store was looted after the protests of George Floyds death. Even more, hell remember how his son and a former student helped raise more than $30,000 for repairs in less than a week. READ MORE: The fires are out, but stores are still counting their losses from looting It was around 8:30 p.m. that Saturday when Baldwin, 60, was closing shop, waiting for his Uber ride home, and watching on TV the tensions rise around Philadelphia. I was on the opposite side of the store and I got a phone call from another merchant on the block saying that someone was breaking my window, Baldwin recalled. By the time he made it to the front of the store, looters had taken multiple leather jackets, dress forms, and face masks. Im not upset, said Baldwin on Wednesday, wearing a custom, embossed silk blazer. I do understand the frustration of some of the individuals, but in terms of the looting, I dont condone it. Im just glad I didnt sustain even more damage. Baldwin said his was the only business on Fabric Row that was looted that day. READ MORE: This black man understands the protests. But as a business owner, hes suffering, too | Elizabeth Wellington The next morning, news about Baldwins store spread through the neighborhood. His community of clients and former students, including Erica Q Mukai Faria, who studied under Baldwin two years ago, rallied. Hes such an important person to me, so I try to make sure I check in with him, said Faria, who lives in Lansdale. When he told me what happened to the shop, I had to go down there. Longtime client Colin Dixon said more than three-quarters of his wardrobe has been created by Baldwin. He usually visits once a month more now that Baldwin is making his masks so Dixon, too, went to check on his friend. They did a really bad job on the store. They really tore him down," Dixon said. [His feelings were] hurt, but he handled it in a very sophisticated way. Baldwin said he had property insurance but didnt think it would be enough to cover most of the damages. READ MORE: Black owned dont loot: For some business owners, signs show solidarity and provide protection Compounded by the stress of being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the looting really put him in a low, Faria said. She took to social media, where she says shes posted about her beloved teacher many times, to ask for donations to repair the shop. He didnt even ask me to do it, Faria said. I posted a little bit about it, and I, by no means, have a large following. I think the right people started blasting it out. Her phone was overwhelmed with notifications. People were making donations to Venmo and spreading the word. Baldwin was shocked the fund-raising was taking off. And then his son, Chris, reached out to Faria to start a GoFundMe. Between responses to Farias original ask and the GoFundMe, more than $30,000 have been raised so far. So now, its about keeping this black business strong, maybe stronger than its ever been," said Chris Baldwin, who lives in Boston but has been in Philly the past few days to help his father around the shop. Its been cool because its like a fresh start for my dad. READ MORE: I felt like Id robbed my own store: A Philly jeweler describes a race to save her shop from looting Plans for the money are still being developed. Fixing the front window of the store, which is still boarded up, is a priority Larnell Baldwin said, and then were going to be pushing the fashion institute and marketing that more," using some of the funds as scholarships. Baldwin said that many people from the community have visited to show support and drop off donations. A lot of times, we dont get that type of appreciation until were dead and gone, he said. But its really nice to see that outpouring of support while youre still alive. It shows that youve done something right. 'Unless we get the health and economic situations right at the same time, we will not recover.' Dr R Nagaraj, a professor at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, is one of the economists who drafted Mission Jai Hind -- a seven-point action plan for the government -- to revive the economy. "It will be quite a while before we get back to some semblance of normalcy," Dr Nagaraj tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier in the concluding segment of a two-part interview: Do you feel this is the time for the government to increase public spending, but the finance minister spoke of projects only in the PPP model? But we don't see confidence in the private sector to tie up with the government. Absolutely. Public spending is what most countries are doing. It is not just now, even six months ago also, we had seen that there was lack of trust in the government. When the private sector has no trust in the government, how can you expect them to tie up with the government? Who would want to take that risk? Recently, Dr Manmohan Singh remarked that what is most important is trust in the economy; trust between the government and its citizens. Why is it that private players have no trust in the government? Is it because of witch-hunting by various government departments? It seems like. That's what many businessmen are saying. This lack of trust is not enabling businesses to come forward to invest. The government may change its tune, but banks are not confident about lending. Just like businessmen do not want to lend due to lack of demand, bankers also do not want to lend because they fear they will be questioned by some government agencies for their decision tomorrow. It is a vicious cycle. Only when the bankers feel confident to lend without being harassed, only when businessmen feel confident that their business plans will be respected, we will see a restart of the virtuous cycle of investment and growth. Until then the economy will be in trouble. Your seven-point plan mentions that 50% of the stimulus package should go to the states. Do you feel decision-making has become more centralised now, like many states are complaining? Yes. There is a view among states and state finance ministers that they are being starved of funds. They complain that they have not received their dues. For example, the central government has pushed the responsibility of taking care of the migrant workers on to the states, but the states have very little money. They only have the responsibility, but no resources to tackle the issue. Many people say that in the Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package, what really works is less than Rs 2 lakh crore only. Do you feel that way? Yes. When the RBI has made announcements about making credit available, it is not as same as increasing expenditure. Giving direct cash support to the migrants is different from promising credit to entrepreneurs. These are two different things. What the government has done is make credit available to whoever wants to borrow to continue business or start business. This has not improved the situation of people not having cash in their hands because of lack of jobs. So many countries are spending close to 10% of the GDP now to revive the economy... Exactly. Canada is giving $2,000 every month to any citizen who lost their job during the pandemiccrisis. This is more than the minimum wages there. This will continue till the crisis is resolved. This is the kind of fiscal support these countries are giving to their citizens. On the other hand, what India is giving is pittance. I agree Canada is a rich country and they can afford to do it. But we can do better than what we have done so far. On one side, India is trying to woo those companies that are upset with China, and on the other, they are talking about Atma Nirbhar Bharat. Is there not a contradiction in this? (laughs) Yes, there is a contradiction. There is a contradiction between what the prime minister argued about self-reliance and what the finance minister talked, which is structural reforms. Structural reforms are about opening up of the economy, about liberalisation and privatisation whereas self-reliance is about increasing domestic production for domestic consumption, more savings and more investment. More importantly, greater ownership of assets and control of Indian firms and by Indian citizens. This is contrary to the idea of liberalisation. Here, you are going for FDI even in defence production. No country has done that. We need a national dialogue on this contradiction. Do you feel the reforms announced by the government are adequate enough to radically transform the economy? This is just political rhetoric. There is nothing much in the announcements that will radically transform the economy. In the short term, you have to increase demand because the economy has been slowing down for a much longer period. You have to step up investments in the economy, but our investment rate today is close to 10 percentage points of GDP less than what it was in 2008! Unless you revive investment to 38% to 39% of the GDP, you will not get 8% to 9% of output growth. So, we have to step up investment of that magnitude. Do you feel more than a health crisis, what India is facing right now is an economic crisis? If you recall, the economic crisis was already there before the pandemic struck. Unfortunately, the health crisis has come on top of the economic crisis. This has made India much more vulnerable. And the world economy has collapsed and the world demand has collapsed. So, unless we get the health and economic situations right at the same time, we will not recover. And this has to be done immediately from the demand side. Health expenditure has to go up. Just talking about reforms, which may have an effect in the long run, it will have no help right now. We will soon forget like we forgot Make in India, Skill India, etc etc. Where do you see the Indian economy in 2020? In 2020-2021, Indian economy will contract. No doubt about that. The size of the economy or economic growth will be lower in 2020-2021 compared to 2019-2020. It is obvious because the economy was shut down for almost 90 days. Lockdown was done in a hurry, and I don't think any other country had such a severe lockdown at such a short notice. Naturally, it has created havoc economically and socially. It will be quite a while before we get back to some semblance of normalcy. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has agreed to hold a round of negotiations with the Taliban in Qatari capital of Doha, said Qatari Foreign Ministry Special Envoy Mutlaq Al-Qahtani. President Ghani agreed to hold the negotiations with the Taliban in Qatar, Sputnik quoted Al-Qahtani as saying. The envoy made the remarks after a meeting with Chairman of the Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul. Abdullah said after the talks with Al-Qahtani that Kabul was appreciating Dohas efforts aimed at ensuring peace and security in Afghanistan. On Sunday, the TOLOnews broadcaster reported, citing sources close to the Taliban, that the negotiations between the group and the Afghan government would be held in Doha. The exact date of the meeting has not yet been revealed, but the government has reportedly agreed to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners, as envisioned by the US-Taliban peace deal signed in February. By Akbar Mammadov The United States has provided technical aid to Azerbaijan's Food Safety Institute, the US Embassy to Azerbaijan said on its Facebook page on June 12. "U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and USAID/Azerbaijan delivered vital equipment to the Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute to assist Azerbaijan in their ongoing fight against COVID-19", the embassy wrote. It should be noted that earlier, on 2 April, the US, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provided $1.7 million to support the Azerbaijani governments efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The award has been distributed to three international organizations: the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). These three international organizations contribute to Azerbaijan in order to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, since 1992, the US provided more than $1.5 billion in assistance to Azerbaijan in different areas such as security, healthcare, agriculture, civil society, economic development, job creation, womens entrepreneurship, and education. As of June 12, Azerbaijan has registered 8,882 COVID-19 cases and 108 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of recovered patients is 4,930. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Elizabeth Templeman of Midland graduated cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in theater and a minor in anthropology from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Muhlenberg College 2020 baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies have been rescheduled for Oct. 17-18. However, to commemorate this important milestone, the college hosted a Virtual Senior Week which culminated May 17 with the conferral of degrees by President Kathleen Harring. During the presentation, 518 students were awarded their undergraduate degrees. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 01:18:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Video: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on June 11, 2020, presents a set of recommended actions for the international community to help ensure all people are connected, respected, and protected in the digital age. (Xinhua/Xie E) "There are no borders in cyberspace," says Antonio Guterres. UNITED NATIONS, June 11 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday presented a set of recommended actions for the international community to help ensure all people are connected, respected, and protected in the digital age. "To fully reap its benefits and contain potential harms we must ensure the digital age is defined by increased international cooperation," said Guterres. "There are no borders in cyberspace. Today I call on all UN member states and our partners in industry and civil society to expand cooperation on digital technology issues. Only by working together can we connect all people by 2030, respect human rights online, and protect the most vulnerable from the potential perils of the digital age," said the UN chief. Officials of Bangladeshi tech company AIIM GLOBAL Limited and The China Electronics Technology Group Corporation shake hands and exchange documents after signing a cooperation agreement on the sidelines of the Bangladesh Digital Summit 2019 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Nov. 23, 2019. A day-long Bangladesh Digital Summit 2019 was held here on Saturday with more focus on the development of smart city, smart agriculture, smart campus and informatization. (Str/Xinhua) The secretary-general's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation is the result of a multi-year, multi-stakeholder, global effort to address a range of issues related to the internet, artificial intelligence, and other digital technologies, according to a press release. The Roadmap for Digital Cooperation comes at a critical inflection point for digital issues, with the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating digitization and magnifying both opportunities and challenges of digital technology. Nearly half of the global population, 46.4 percent according to the International Telecommunication Union, cannot connect to the internet and remain unable to fully participate in the digital age. Women are disproportionately affected with only 48 percent connected globally. Meanwhile, as efforts to connect more people proceed, new vulnerabilities have arisen. Cyberattacks and misinformation threaten human rights, privacy, and security. Attendees are seen at the launching ceremony of "The Belt and Road" Digital Economy International Cooperation Initiative during the 4th World Internet Conference, in the water town of Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec. 3, 2017. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) (lb) The rapid speed of adoption of digital technology has outpaced policy and governance at the national, regional, and global levels. The secretary-general's newly announced roadmap seeks to address these challenges by recommending concrete action to harness the best of these technologies and mitigate their risks, said the press release. To meet the call to connect, respect, and protect the online world, the action-oriented roadmap presents the secretary-general's recommendations for concrete action by diverse stakeholders that would enhance global digital cooperation in the following areas, such as achieving universal connectivity by 2030, promoting digital public goods to unlock a more equitable world, and ensuring digital inclusion for all, including the most vulnerable. (From L to R) Nanjira Sambuli, Digital Equality Advocacy Manager for the World Wide Web Foundation, Nikolai Astrup, Norway's Minister of Digitalization, and Vinton Cerf, Chief Internet Evangelist at Google, attend a press briefing on the report of the High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation, at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 10, 2019. An expert group appointed by the United Nations called on governments, the private sector and civil society, in its first report released Monday, to work together urgently to maximize the benefits and minimize the harms of digital technologies. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) The UN chief's roadmap builds on recommendations made by the High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation, and input from member states, the private sector, civil society, the technical community and other stakeholder groups. The High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation, co-chaired by Melinda Gates and Jack Ma, represented an unprecedented mix of disciplines and sectors as well as geographic, gender and age diversity. The panel's report, submitted in June 2019, was followed up with extensive multi-stakeholder outreach and consultations to provide input and help shape the roadmap. The Black Lives Matter protesters wont face any jail time if convicted of violating Fredericksburgs hastily enacted curfew last week, but theyre still facing the possibility of substantial fines. Approximately 25 people were on the docket Thursday in Fredericksburg General District Court after being charged with curfew violations last week. City officials declared a state of emergency in reaction to large local demonstrations stemming from the Memorial Day death of George Floyd at the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. The protests were still going on Thursday night, but the curfew was lifted last Friday. A group of protesters were outside the courthouse Thursday morning to offer support to their summoned colleagues. They werent allowed in the courtroom because of COVID-19 and social distancing concerns. Trial dates were set for July 31 and Oct. 30. The curfew violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor that carries the possibility of 12 months in jail, but prosecutors have already announced they wont be seeking jail time for people accused only of the curfew violation. However, Class 1 misdemeanors also carry the possibility of a fine of up to $2,500. The Koforidua Zonal Branch of the Coalition of Concerned TeachersGhana (CCT-GH), one of the teacher unions in the country has donated some items to six education offices within their zone in the Eastern Region. The gesture was to support the offices to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The group, at separate events, presented veronica buckets, cartons of liquid soaps, tissue papers, calendars and clocks to the offices to encourage them in the fight against the virus. The beneficiary offices included; the New Juaben North and South Municipal Education Offices, Suhum Municipal Education Office, Akuapem North Municipal Education Office, Akuapem South and Okere District Education offices. Speaking after the donation, the Koforidua Zonal Chairman of the union, Mr Kingsley Okoampa called for the reintroduction of the shift system to help create space for pupils in basic schools to observe social distance to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus among school children. He called on the government to provide teachers with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the re-opening of schools. Mr Okoampa said government should consider giving teachers some stimulus packages as they would become frontline workers when schools re-open. He commended government for establishing more testing sites for corona virus across the country. Ms Gloria Amponsah Duah, Deputy Director of Finance and Administration for New Juaben South Municipal Education Office thanked the group for the gesture extended to them. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In Boston, Los Angeles and Milwaukee, about one in every 10 dollars of local government spending goes to the police. In Minneapolis, its about one in every 20 dollars. American society has not settled on what that number should be how much of a priority the police ought to have, alongside schools and parks and housing and health care. But the police share of spending has grown over the past 40 years, even as cities have become far safer. And the protesters who are now calling to defund the police, all or in part, are fundamentally questioning what these numbers have become: Over the last 40 years, police budgets have grown as a share of public spending Note: Police spending is compared here with all general expenditures by local government entities within each city. Source: Lincoln Institute of Land Policys Fiscally Standardized Cities Across these 150 large cities, the average share of general expenditures devoted to the police has gradually increased by about 1.2 percentage points since the late 1970s, to 7.8 percent. That change is relatively modest. But it means that residents have watched city police budgets rise by millions of dollars annually even during lean years for city finances, and through a steep nationwide decline in violent crime that began in the early 1990s. For comparison, this same set of cities now devotes on average about 5 percent of spending to housing, and 3 percent to parks. These figures cover not only municipal budgets, but also all money spent on services within a city by different arms of local government, including counties, school districts, housing authorities or public hospital systems funded separately from City Hall. The data was constructed from census records by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, which researches taxation and city finances, and these numbers make it possible to compare police spending across cities where government is structured differently. The Los Angeles city budget does not include the school system, for example, while the New York City budget does. The Lincoln Institute accounts for such differences. And the data shown here compares police spending with all general expenditures, not city general funds used in other analyses. This data offers a sense of all public priorities, but not necessarily a road map for activists: Police spending controlled by cities cant simply be moved to independent school districts or county governments. The average share of public spending devoted to the police in 150 large cities Police budgets continued to expand over all these years as police unions grew more powerful, and as politicians from both parties competed for the mantle of law and order. The 1994 crime bill increased federal aid for policing, enabling cities to continue funding police at high levels even when their budgets were being squeezed. And after violent crime declined, the war on terror ramped up. The number of officers per capita hasnt budged as much over the last 20 years, but the technology and gear officers use, and the training they get, have increased significantly. The long rise in spending is also rooted in the war on crime that began in the 1960s. Federal and local officials wrestled then with how to address concentrated poverty and racial segregation in cities whether to focus on welfare programs or social control. Ultimately, the decision to manage these larger socioeconomic problems with law enforcement and with prisons ends up winning out, said Elizabeth Hinton, a historian at Harvard who has written a book on that era. That choice largely remains with us today. 2017 Police Share of All Local Spending City 2017 pop. Police Spending Cities with the highest police spending share and more than 250,000 residents are shown by default. As spending on the police increased, federal aid to cities shrank for antipoverty programs and social services. And increasingly, the police took on those roles, too. A public housing community center in Washington, D.C., became a police outpost, Ms. Hinton documents. A jobs program in Chicago put young people to work installing cameras and barbed wire around housing projects. These things become merged, Ms. Hinton said, and by the Carter administration, all urban policy becomes crime policy. More recently, the police have added the roles of managing domestic violence and substance abuse, and of responding to growing homeless populations and keeping students safe in schools. The police have been used to fill the gaps where city services are not adequate, said Charles H. Ramsey, the former police chief in Philadelphia and Washington, and a co-chair of President Obamas Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Mr. Ramsey dislikes the phrase defund the police. But he supports the idea that some police funding should be redirected after years of growth in the police mission. I dont even have a problem with that if they re-allocate to give more to substance abuse counselors and mental health professionals, Mr. Ramsey said. But then take away some of that responsibility from the police. Dont just take away money; take away responsibility as well. By 2017, all of these factors meant the police took up 13 percent of general expenditures in Baltimore, and 11 percent in Los Angeles. In New York City, that share has hovered around 6 percent, a number in 2017 that amounted to $5.7 billion. Even though New York doesnt show up at the high end of spending as a share of the budget because we spend so much on everything its a very high number in anyones book in absolute terms, said Howard Chernick, a professor emeritus of economics at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center, who developed the data set used here with Adam Langley at the Lincoln Institute and Andrew Reschovsky at the University of Wisconsin. How Police Budgets Have Changed as a Share of Public Spending Note: Three-year rolling average Beneath these trends is a subtler pattern found in numerous studies: As African-American populations have expanded in cities, so have police departments, by spending and force size. Ellora Derenoncourt, an incoming professor of economics and public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, has found that, dating to the mid-20th century, Northern cities reacted this way to the arrival of African-Americans during the Great Migration. You could imagine local governments saying, Lets invest, lets put more money into schools and social programs, Ms. Derenoncourt said. Thats not what happens here. Only one particular type of public spending increased. And thats the police. African-Americans migrated to the North for opportunity. But Northern cities moved to thwart that opportunity, she argues, pulling up the ladder for subsequent generations of black families. The power of white racial fears isnt necessarily overt. If you were to go to a city mayor or a police chief and say, Why are you hiring more police even though crime is going down? they wouldnt say, Oh, its because were afraid of this segregated black population we have in our city, said Stephanie Kent, a professor of criminology at Cleveland State University. Rather, those fears are expressed through politics, she said, where any politician who would suggest decreasing spending on crime control it would be political suicide to do so. Any debate over rebalancing those priorities is now clouded by the argument that crime declined because cities threw so many resources at it (researchers say the story is not so straightforward; they cannot fully explain why crime fell). Over the past week, Attorney General Bill Barr and President Trump have echoed that idea, arguing that any move to defund police departments would make cities less safe. The reality is that most Americans dont believe that crime declined at all. In surveys, they have repeatedly told pollsters that they think crime in America has gone up. People always think crime is a problem, and that its a growing problem, said Emily Owens, an economist who studies crime at the University of California, Irvine. In this light, spending patterns are less perplexing: Police budgets have grown, just as Americans believe the problem of crime has. This sense of threat, often racialized, has been constant for 50 years, said Jeffrey Fagan, a law professor at Columbia. Some of the sources may be newer: Now were told to fear terrorism. (If you see something, say something.) And President Trump has fanned fears of immigrant criminals. Mr. Fagan points to the cues all around us reinforcing these threats, like the public-address announcements in the New York subway that warn commuters to safeguard their belongings. Have a safe day, the recording offers. It's just a perfect example, Mr. Fagan said, of drilling into everyones consciousness that theres a constant threat. Maros Sefcovic, a commission vice-president - EU finally accepts there will be no extension to Brexit transition period - GETTY IMAGES There will not be an extension to the Brexit transition period, the European Commission said on Friday, before warning Britain it must now get ready to police the border in the Irish Sea. Michael Gove told Maros Sefcovic, a commission vice-president, that Britain would not ask for a delay to the period beyond the end of the year in a meeting of the joint committee on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster "couldn't be clearer" in his formal notice to the commission, Mr Sefcovic told reporters in Brussels, "he explained this was the promise that was given to the British citizens in the electoral campaign". "[He] was very clear, unequivocal on the fact that the UK is not going to seek the extension and because this was the last joint committee before the deadline expires we take this decision as a definitive one," said Mr Sefcovic. "Therefore, we are pleading for acceleration of work on all fronts." We have informed the EU [on Friday] that we will not extend the Transition Period. The moment for extension has now passed, Mr Gove said. The EU has always said it is open to negotiating an extension, especially because of the impact of coronavirus on the already tight deadline, despite Downing Street's repeated vow it would never ask for a delay. "We must now progress on substance," tweeted Michel Barnier as it was confirmed the end of June deadline for extension would expire without a request. The UK and EU agreed a programme of intensified negotiations in July before Monday's meeting of Boris Johnson and three presidents of the major EU institutions. Failure to strike a trade deal by the end of the year will mean the UK and EU trading on less lucrative WTO terms and with tariffs on goods, which experts warn will compound the economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Story continues Mr Sefcovic demanded more details from the UK Government over how it planned to enforce the new customs arrangements in Northern Ireland after the end of the transition period at the end of the year. A UK command paper was long on aspiration but short on detail, he said. The Government is backtracking on its plans to introduce full border controls on EU imports to the UK because the new controls will not be ready by the end of the year. It will instead introduce a staged light touch regime which gradually increases controls over time, which it claims to give businesses hit by coronavirus more time to prepare. "The UK has stated on several occasions it wants to take back control and I would say that it is up to the UK how they do it," Mr Sefcovic said when he was asked how the EU could trust the UK to enforce its customs rules when it could not its own. "As of January 1, 2021, the UK will have to meet all the requirements of the [Northern Ireland] protocol rigorously and effectively, he said. That meant all checks and controls on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain had to be in place to ensure they meet EU standards, including on animal health and food safety. Mr Sefcovic said the UK had to "facilitate" the presence of EU officials to check how the system was working. The border in the Irish Sea replaced the hated backstop plan in the Withdrawal Agreement and paved the way for Brexit. It prevents a hard border on the island of Ireland. Britain has refused an EU request to set up a permanent Northern Irish office to scrutinise the system. It has called for a limit of three pre-approved checks a year, sources in Brussels said. "Only a sound and effective implementation of all these legal obligations can ensure continued peace and stability between all communities on the island of Ireland, uphold the Good Friday Belfast agreement in all its dimensions, while also preserving the EU Single Market," Mr Sefcovic said. Professor Kwesi Yankah, Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education has performed three separate functions for work to begin on the construction of Modern Community Centres in the Agona East District of the Central region. The beneficiary communities are Agona Kenyakor, Agona Duaboni and Seth Okai. They will have facilities including; a big hall, offices and toilets and would be completed in three months. The Coastal Development Authority (CODA) is financing the projects under the One Million Dollar per Constituency programme. Professor Yankah, said the one Million Dollar per Constituency policy was a commitment of the government to give befitting facelift to all the 275 Constituencies nationwide. He said CODA was instituted to give equal opportunity to the people living in the Coastal belt with the aim of raising their living standards. Prof Yankah who is also the Parliamentary Candidate for Agona East for New Patriotic Party (NPP) said the government under President Akufo-Addo would never deny people in rural areas their fair share of the national cake. He urged the chiefs and people in Agona East to rally behind the government to enable it continue to undertake more development projects for them. The District he noted had lagged behind for far too long in the areas of health, roads, Electricity, modern Agriculture and others. The government was therefore showing full commitment to fulfil all campaign promises made to the people of Agona East and asked the people to continue supporting it. The Minister said his decision to contest the 2020 Parliamentary election was for him to serve the people in the district. Prof Yankah called on the chiefs and the people in the area to ignore and reject violent and disrespectful politicians, adding that elections was not war but exchange of ideas. Prof Yankah said the funds meant for the construction of the community Centers was from the Ghanaian tax payer and the Projects must not be personalized adding that more of such developmental projects were earmarked for other Communities in Agona East. He said the government would go all out to implement every policy and programmes rolled out to help fight poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and unemployment among Ghanaians. Mr Dennis Armah-Frempong, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Agona East thanked the Minister for lobbying government to bring numerous projects to the District to improve the living standards of the People. The projects included; the tarring of feeder roads in the district and school and health projects. He said Agona East was adjudged first in a recent assessment of all districts in terms of projects. The DCE asked the people to vote for Prof Yankah and President Akufo-Addo in the upcoming December 7 polls for them to complete ongoing projects to give proper facelift to the District. Mr Desmond Sam Essandoh, Agona East Constituency Chairman of NPP asked the people of Agona East to vote for Prof Yankah and President Akufo-Addo because within three and half years every Community in the area had had its fair share of development projects. Nana Kobina Annan III, Chief of Agona Kenyakor, Nana Kwesi Okai I, Chief of Seth Okai and Nana Kweku Ansah V, Chief of Duaboni jointly expressed their appreciation to Prof Kwesi Yankah for the projects. Nana Ansah said the people of Duaboni will never forget the Minister and the President in the upcoming December 7, polls for awarding the three and a-half Kilometre road from Kwesi Kum to the town for tarring of which work was progressing steadily. He said a Contractor was also working fervently to connect the town, which since 1992 not seen electricity, thanks to the national grid. Nana Ansah also praised the Agona East District Assembly for the construction of health Center and new school block for the town to improve health care delivery and education. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Public places, such as restaurants, cafes and markets, are still considered dangerous for citizens, as they are possible areas of contamination Open source Citizens refuse to obey the lockdown measures in the Ukrainian capital, and this is what caused the record-large number of Covid-19 cases in Kyiv on June 11. Volodymyr Bondarenko, the advisor of Kyiv mayor said so on the air of 112 Ukraine TV channel. The official reiterated that certain public places, such as restaurants, cafes and markets, are still dangerous for citizens. Kyiv city state administration urges the citizens to abide by quarantine restrictions. "(...) we continue looking into this situation because currently, we have no information about any certain sphere of urban life being aetiologic agents of increased contamination rate. There are two moments, objective and subjective ones", Bondarenko said. The objective reason for a rapid spike in the Covid-19 incidence in Kyiv was the weakening of the lockdown; the subjective reason was the flippant attitude to quarantine mitigation. "For most of our compatriots, weakened lockdown and the opportunity to get back to their jobs was somehow equal to ending of the quarantine, which is why they breach simple quarantine restrictions, such as wearing protective equipment and keeping social distance. So we begin to observe a massive spread. This is one of the reasons of the increasing numbers of infected people today", - Bondarenko said. Earlier, medics confirmed 95 new cases of Covid-19 in Kyiv on June 11 alone. That number became the all-time record in this city since the epidemic reached Ukraine. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images American public opinion is undergoing a transformative change in the wake of the George Floyd protests. Three-quarters of the country supports the demonstrations. An equal percentage believe Floyds death is a sign of broader problems in how police treat black Americans. A new poll by HuffPost finds broad support for a wide array of police reform measures. The only policy HuffPost found clear opposition to was defunding the police: Graphic: HuffPost/YouGov Some activists have framed the divide in racial terms. There is some racial difference in opinion on defunding the police, but it is relatively small. Black people hate the idea (29 percent favor, 49 percent oppose) somewhat less than white people do (29 percent/60 percent), but both groups register clear opposition: Graphic: HuffPost/YouGov This lack of a racial split may seem surprising given the tenor of the commentary around the issue. In some ways it reflects the same divide that took place during the Democratic primary, when Twitter magnified the impact of young, college-educated progressives and minimized the beliefs of older and working-class Americans. Many black voters have seen under-policing and over-policing of their communities as linked problems, rather than as alternatives. HuffPost also found most people understand the slogan to mean significant reductions in police budgets, rather than the more radical meaning of complete abolition that was proposed by activists in Minneapolis: Chart via Huffpost Graphic: HuffPost/YouGov Of course, activists dont always have a strong incentive to follow public opinion or to form demands that have clear definitions. They are often calculating slogans designed to bring together factions of the most committed activists within their coalition. Defund the police allows both advocates of reduced budgets and advocates of eliminating all policing to believe the movement is endorsing their position. Indeed, people who work in protest movements on the left or the right have an incentive not to align with majority public opinion. Their incentive is to distinguish themselves from mainstream opinion as authentic voices of the movement. A policy demand that presidential candidates or congressional leaders can easily take up is almost by definition not radical. Conservative grassroots politics often organizes around demands like shutting down the government or defunding Obamacare that are designed to force leaders to take unpopular stances. The goal is to test the depth of commitment by political leaders by forcing them to adopt unpopular positions. Many progressives have allowed some of these arguments to persuade them that defunding the police is actually a popular idea. The movement to defund the police is gaining significant support across America, reported the Guardian. Numerous left-wing critics have lambasted Democratic elected officials for rejecting the demand to defund the police. The Intercept described Joe Bidens call for more police funding along with deep reforms a striking rejection of the growing movement demanding better use of public dollars. The New Republic laments, As the momentum behind the demand grows, policymakers struggle to accept it at face value. It is entirely possible that activists are pursuing a correct strategy, by outlining a radical stance that allows Democratic leaders to reject their demands and position themselves in the center of public opinion while still proposing serious reforms. The activists may be playing a kind of kayfabe role, which requires them to flout public opinion and for political leaders to flout their demands. The risk of this method is that some activists will take the rhetoric seriously and actually believe that the politicians who oppose defunding the police are reactionary impediments to change, rather than accepting that they are doing what their constituents want. In any case, the overall shape of public opinion is quite favorable for the left. The protests have helped create widespread demand for real change to police practices. The end result may feel like a defeat to protesters because their primary slogan will be rejected, but the end result may be a lot of good that not long ago would have seemed inconceivable. Married At First Sight's Stacey Hampton got candid with fans on Friday. The 26-year-old law graduate reflected on the two weeks her son Kruz spent in ICU as a newborn, ahead of his third birthday on Saturday. Stacey posted a photo to Instagram Stories of Kruz in hospital with various tubes, and told her followers that she's 'so blessed' to have him in her life. 'I'm so blessed to have you': Married At First Sight's Stacey Hampton, 26, reflected on the time son Kruz spent in ICU as a newborn - ahead of his third birthday on Saturday. Pictured with Kruz and her eldest son Kosta, nearly five 'Tomorrow you're three. I almost lost you. We've been through hell and back,' Stacey penned online in an Instagram Story post. 'You're a soldier and look just like my brother. Can't wait to see your smile tomorrow on your birthday.' Stacey went on to reveal in another post how Kruz spent two weeks in ICU fighting for his life as a newborn. 'Can't wait to see your smile tomorrow': In a number of Instagram Story posts on Friday, the law graduate described Kruz as a 'soldier' who has been 'through hell and back' 'My heart broke into pieces': Stacey described the ordeal of seeing her son 'hooked to a machine', helping him breathe, moments after his birth 'Hooked to a machine helping you breathe, your lungs collapsed and my heart broke into pieces,' she wrote. 'We never left your side, your dad and I. You're so big now and strong. I'm so blessed to have you.' Stacey also shared photos of Kruz in ICU and told her followers that her struggles made her 'passionate' about starting her own charity, Not Alone, Always Here Inc, providing resources and insight into postnatal depression. Heartfelt: Stacey also shared photos of Kruz in ICU and told her followers that her struggles made her 'passionate' about starting her own charity, Not Alone, Always Here Inc Worthy cause: The charity provides resources and insight into postnatal depression The reality star shares Kruz and eldest son Kosta, nearly five, with ex-partner, Rebels bikie Shane Smith, 37. On the day Stacey was due to give birth to Kosta, her beloved older brother Jaimie was killed in a motorcycle accident. The former couple gave Kosta the middle name Jaimie in honour of the brother who stepped up to help raise Stacey after their father Alastair killed himself aged just 25. 'Family time': The reality star shared this sweet throwback photo of her sons Stacey, who has no regrets about her time with Smith, described their break-up as civil and him as an 'amazing' father in an interview with Daily Mail Australia last week. 'Shane and I met very young, I fell hard and fast and we will always be each other's kryptonite,' she said. 'He was always very supportive and I had terrible post-natal depression which is my motivation behind my charity. Family: Stacey shares Kruz and son Kosta with ex-partner, Rebels bikie Shane Smith, 37. Shane is pictured with Kruz 'He took the kids when I was in no state to have them. I had to fix myself and I was alone. He was great to me. 'He still emotionally supports me and my decisions, helps me with relationship advice and also looks out for me and my children's happiness. 'We still share kids birthdays together and do lunches. We just can't be together because we argue and we both have a lot of damage from our past which clashes.' Democrats in Congress and privacy watchdogs raise chilling concerns about domestic spying and use of military assets. Democrats in the United States Congress are questioning whether the administration of US President Donald Trump is improperly spying on Americans after it was revealed federal agencies used a drone, spy planes and covert techniques to surveil protests. We demand that you cease any and all surveilling of Americans engaged in peaceful protests, a group of 30 senior legislators wrote in a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and other top US law enforcement officials. A litany of domestic surveillance by authorities has emerged in the wake of largely peaceful protests following the death of George Floyd protests that have been met by police with tear gas, rubber bullets and batons and that have at times turned violent. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) deployed a predator drone on May 29 over the city of Minneapolis, where Floyd, a Black man, was killed when a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The FBI used a small plane equipped to collect mobile phone location data over Washington, DC on June 2, according to members of Congress and public reports. The FBI and US National Guard used a hi-tech RC-26 spy plane with infrared and electro-optical cameras over Washington, DC, and Las Vegas on the same day. Explanations demanded The US Drug Enforcement Administration was authorised to conduct covert surveillance of the protests. Attorney General William Barr told state governors the FBIs network of regional counterterrorism centres would be used to track protesters. Americans should not have to take proactive measures to protect themselves from government surveillance before engaging in peaceful demonstration, members of Congress led by Representatives Anna Eshoo and Bobby Rush said in the letter dated June 9. The politicians cited the chilling effect of the surveillance and demanded the Trump administration cease surveilling peaceful protests immediately and permanently. Separately, Democratic members of two House committees on Homeland Security and Intelligence have demanded explanations from Trump officials. Trump and other members of his administration have characterised the protests not as constitutionally protected free speech but as criminal acts, going so far as to label events as domestic terrorism. In tweets on Thursday, Trump said domestic terrorists and anarchists had taken over Seattle after protesters occupied and barricaded neighbourhood streets around an abandoned police precinct near the citys central business district. Domestic Terrorists have taken over Seattle, run by Radical Left Democrats, of course. LAW & ORDER! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2020 Attorney General Barr said at a news conference on June 4 that US prosecutors were collecting intelligence from the FBI and multiple different sources about so-called Antifa and Boogaloo violent groups that he said were using the protests to exacerbate the violence. We categorise those as domestic terrorism investigations and are actively pursuing them through our joint terrorism task forces, FBI Director Wray said at the news conference. DEA agents were conducting threat assessments and sharing information potential violations of federal law in real time, acting DEA chief Tim Shea said. Talking about protests in Washington, DC at the end of May, the acting head of the CBP said in a tweet: These protests have devolved into chaos and acts of domestic terrorism by groups of radicals & agitators. CBP personnel have deployed to the National Capital Region to assist law enforcement partners. These protests have devolved into chaos & acts of domestic terrorism by groups of radicals & agitators. @CBP is answering the call and will work to keep DC safe. pic.twitter.com/QLueFkgaPO CBP Mark Morgan (@CBPMarkMorgan) June 1, 2020 More than 10,000 people have been arrested nationwide, according to a tally by The Associated Press news agency. On widely publicised advice of privacy advocates, some protesters took steps to protect their data by switching off their phones antennae. They maced a mother and her child in their car and the mother was dragged out and arrested by 30 cops. DEA is tracking protestors and we are seeing that manifest. @MayorJenny what is going on? #seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/kJU4KBsXEa Dae (@daeshikjr) June 6, 2020 In recent years, the US government has used a variety of new technologies to surveil Americans, including facial recognition technology and automated licence plate readers as well as stingrays that mimic cell towers to collect location, call, text and browsing data from peoples smartphones. Although it can often take months or years to unearth law enforcement use of powerful surveillance tools to monitor protesters, some activities have already come to light, Jake Laperruque, a lawyer for the Project on Government Oversight (POGO), wrote on the non-profit organisations website. POGO was first to publicise the Trump administrations use of drones and spy planes developed for military use to surveil the protests. The mass surveillance of peaceful protesters by technological means raises serious First and Fourth Amendment concerns, David Greene, a lawyer at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, told Al Jazeera. The First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees free speech and the right to protest, while the Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. Will Joe Biden remain caged in his basement for the rest of the campaign, speaking only via edited video performances? There is a strong argument for his puppet masters to do so, given his inability to maintain mental focus and coherence, even at the price of refusing to participate in the presidential debates that have been customary since Kennedy met Nixon in a Chicago TV studio in 1960. As I wrote almost a week ago, Biden's sad mental decline cannot be concealed if he is liberated from his confinement. Yesterday, his handlers must have quickly regretted letting him out, as he lost his train of thought and drifted off into "You know...the thing" territory: Joe Biden brain freeze: "You know, the rapidly rising, uh, um, uh, in with uh, with uh, I don't know, uh" pic.twitter.com/hpDOqUvaO8 Trump War Room - Text TRUMP to 88022 & get the APP (@TrumpWarRoom) June 11, 2020 But that was not a one-off reveal. Biden defiled the memory of Martin Luther King by claiming that the death of one of the great heroes of American history an inspiring man of peace and great orator and leader had less impact than that of George Floyd, who died in police custody and sparked anger but, for all his apparent efforts to turn around his life of career criminality, was high on a possibly lethal cocktail of intoxicants when he expired. Joe Biden: Even Dr. Kings assassination did not have the worldwide impact the George Floyds death did. pic.twitter.com/b9LzB9bbNq (@ForAmerica) June 11, 2020 ForAmerica As Biden himself might say in one of his moments of relative clarity, "Come on, man!" Biden also revealed that he doesn't know what Juneteenth is: a celebration of the end of slavery on June 19th, confusing it with one of the worst anti-black race riots in the U.S., in Tulsa, Okla.: Joe Biden doesn't know what Juneteenth is: "Hes going down to Texas on Juneteenth, right? The first major massacre ... of the Black Wall Street, right?" 1. President Trump is going to Texas today, not June 19 2. Juneteenth is about emancipation 3. The massacre was in Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/vpNDQLwqBj Trump War Room - Text TRUMP to 88022 & get the APP (@TrumpWarRoom) June 11, 2020 Of course, keeping Biden confined to his basement has risks, as President Trump could attack him for being afraid to expose his mental decline. But it might be worth it, especially if the ravages of time continue to take their toll and Biden's status of a puppet, a placeholder for his vice president, becomes obvious to all. Correction:fate of Nixon-Kennedy debate was 1960, not 1962 Photo credit: Twitter video screen grab (cropped). In today's society, more and more companies are losing faith in physical stores and they choose to do business either entirely or partially online. For many industries, this approach is working really well. Purchasing insurance online is getting more and more popular, even in Vietnam. Ibaoviet keeps up with today's changes in the society and they are offering their customers the possibility to purchase online insurance packages. Customers who need insurance are no longer required to go to a physical store to buy the insurance they need. Online insurance has the convenience of being available at all hours of the day. 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Their health insurance packages can satisfy the needs of different categories of potential customers such as uninsured persons, persons who want to be treated abroad, persons who want to access high-quality health care, or pregnant women who want to use high-quality maternal services. Accident Insurance While working, studying, or enjoying life, people are always at risk of having an accident. Ibaoviets accident insurance packages provide cover to the insured and its dependents against the financial strain that can occur in case of an accident. The coverage of the accident insurance package includes the following: accidental death benefit, partial disability benefit, permanent disability benefit, cover of medical expenses arising from the treatment of the injury, allowances during hospitalization. Car Insurance Car insurance is an expensive service that anyone needs in order to legally drive a vehicle in Vietnam. Ibaoviet is offering three types of car insurance: compulsory car insurance, car material insurance, and car insurance for the people inside the vehicle. Compulsory car insurance will pay for the damages done by an insured vehicle to another vehicle or propriety. Car material insurance will reimburse the owner of the policy if the vehicle is damaged in events that cant be controlled such as crashing, overturning, fire, hurricanes, earthquakes, storms, flood, theft, and others. The accident insurance package for people sitting inside the vehicles like drivers, or passengers, will reimburse the costs to treat the injuries suffered in an accident. Travel Insurance Travel insurance can help customers deal with various risks, illnesses, or accidents that can occur when traveling to a foreign land. Ibaoviet is offering international and domestic travel insurance packages. There are several reasons why travelers should purchase this type of insurance. This insurance will cover the cost of lost luggage, flight cancellation, stolen wallet or passport, damages that are done to propriety, injuries done to a person, or if the insured needs immediate medical assistance. Technical Propriety Insurance The technical propriety insurance is an insurance package that can help cover the damages done to mechanical and technical proprieties. Property damage to work equipment and machines, or during building projects can occur suddenly and without warning. This risk can seriously affect companies and cause downtime. Technical propriety insurance can reimburse the policyholders in the following cases: collisions with vehicles or animals that are not under the control of the insured, damage done by earthquakes, volcanoes, thunderstorms, floods, fire, or explosion of residential boilers, theft, and robbery. In addition to the insurance packages described above, Ibaoviet has many other packages created to cover all types of damages and situations. Just contact them and check their insurance packages. Ibaoviet offers the best insurance packages for the best insurance premiums. For more info about the company's services, visit their website: https://ibaoviet.vn/. MEDIA CONTACT Address: Phong ban hang bao hiem Bao Viet So 19, Duong 21, Phuong 10, Quan 6, HCM. Map: https://goo.gl/maps/v76KtUtHSUgjQGZq7 Email: kinhdoanh@ibaoviet.vn SOCIAL LINKS Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ibaoviet/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ibaoviet Behance - https://www.behance.net/ibaoviet Tello - https://trello.com/ibaoviet/activity Chattanooga State student Kaitlyn Simpson was awarded the $1,000 two-year institution Tennessee Association on Higher Education and Disability (TN-AHEAD) Scholarship for 2020-2021. Ms. Simpson, a Signal Mountain resident, began her matriculation at ChattState in the fall of 2019. She is a pre-pharmacy major earning Deans List status with a cumulative GPA of 3.764. Earlier this year Ms. Simpson submitted her winning essay to TN-AHEAD describing how she learned to focus on her abilities by explaining how her language impairment disability is not to be confused with a hearing impairment. I hear volume normally, but sometimes cannot pick up the words, states Ms. Simpson. This affects me if I sit further away from a teacher, if a low-pitched man is speaking to me, or if I am listening to an untrained choir, but I make a tremendous effort to listen, she adds. In an effort to meet her disability head-on, Ms. Simpson began a self-advocacy blog as a freshman in a self-advocacy class during high school. This blog along with encouragement from her teacher helped her to love writing after years of hating it. When Ms. Simpson was beginning her first year of college, she scheduled a meeting with Chattanooga States Disabilities Support Services Department. Scheduled for 17 credit hours, there was some concern about her course load; however, after a closer look and because she attended a more rigorous high school, the only concern centered on her chemistry course. Again, relying on her self-advocacy skills, Ms. Simpson met with her chemistry lab professor to explain that she would learn the material, but that it would take her longer than the average person. I felt like I needed to tell her that I was trying my best and that I am not incapable of learning information, she recalls. Although she had a rough start, she persevered and earned an A in her lab with a B for the course. Coping with her disability has taught Ms. Simpson to ask questions at the right times, explain to others that she is listening and position herself to better pick up on words being said. I believe these skills will help me get whatever I need after college, says an eager Ms. Simpson about her future. For more information about the Disabilities Support Services Department at Chattanooga State Community College visit https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/disability-support-services or call 423-697-4452. Queensland's Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles says people should "find other ways" to have their say rather than attending further protests, as the state recorded one of its youngest COVID-19 cases. A two-year-old boy who had recently returned from overseas was the single case recorded overnight. His family had quarantined in Victoria before travelling home to Queensland. Mr Miles said the case was "one of the youngest" recorded in the state and took the total number of confirmed cases to 1064. Just four cases remain active, with two in hospital and one in intensive care. India has seen improvements in the coronavirus disease scenario in the months since the outbreak was reported. But there are some districts which are areas of concern, the Centre has said. These 46 districts have a Covid-19 confirmation rate (positives for total Covid-19 tests done) of more than 10% as compared to 5.70% national rate. They were identified in a meeting held by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba with states on Wednesday. Gauba also gave a detailed presentation in the meeting on the overall Covid-19 status in India as on June 9 and the challenges that have emerged since the government eased lockdown restrictions. He said that the highest number of these districts (12) are in Maharashtra, which is the worst-affected state due to the Covid-19 pandemic. These districts are: Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Aurangabad, Raigad, Pune, Solapur, Nashik, Akola, Osmanabad, Gondia and Jalgaon. In Delhi, nine out of 11 districts have a higher confirmation rate, the presentation said. These are North-West, Central, South-East, East, West, North, Shahdara, South-West and North-East. Telangana has four districts namely Medchal Malkajgiri, Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Suryapet. In Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Thiruvallur, Ariyalur have a higher confirmation rate. Similarly, Khgaria, Purbi Champran, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur in Bihar; Khargone, Burhanpur, Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh; Firozabad, Chitrakoot in UP; Hojai and Dima Hasao in Assam; Ahmedabad and Vadodara in Gujarat; Sepahijala in Tripura; Tehri Garhwal in Uttarakhand; Howrad and West Bengal and Pali in Rajasthan are the other districts where the Covid-19 confirmation rate is higher than the national average. The increase in confirmation rate (between May 18 and June 9) indicates at either increase in spread of coronavirus or lower testing during this period, the presentation said. The presentation also pointed out that there was a huge turnaround time for getting test results in several districts, especially in the rural areas. HT had reported that Jharkhand and Bihar were taking up to 14 days to provide results of the tests taken at the quarantine centers. The delay is because of the sudden increase in the swabs being taken, said Jharkhand health secretary Nitin Kulkarni. Bihar health secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh said the pendency of the tests results is reducing as swabs of most of the symptomatic persons in quarantine centers have been taken. On the positive side, the Cabinet Secretary said that the doubling rate has increased to 16.9 days from earlier 14.1 days and the national fatality rate was still below 3%. He also said that the spread of Covid-19 cases to newer districts was not very high and the situation there was under control. Gauba said that several districts have reported slowing down of Covid-19 cases, which indicated that the lockdown had a positive impact. A former employer of Chad Daybell has revealed the 'doomsday' author was an 'excellent' gravedigger - just three days after he was arrested for concealing the remains of his two step-children in his backyard. Chad was taken into custody Tuesday after the bodies of his wife Lori Vallow's two children - seven-year-old Joshua 'JJ' Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan - were discovered at his property in Salem, Idaho. On Friday, a spokesperson for Springville city in Utah revealed that Chad was previously employed with them as a cemetery sexton, where he dug graves for the newly deceased. Chad's first wife, Tammy Daybell, was also an employee at the city's cemetery. 'Both Chad and Tammy were excellent workers and did their jobs well and beyond expectation,' the spokesperson told KUTV, adding that Chad had been employed at the cemetery on multiple occasions throughout the years. 'Chad and Tammy were well respected in our community. They both continue to have many family members living here and our thoughts are with them'. Chad Daybell, 51, is facing two felony charges in the disappearance of his wife Lori's children. Lori is currently behind bars on charges of neglect and desertion Chad was taken into custody Tuesday after the bodies of seven-year-old Joshua 'JJ' Vallow (left) and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan (right) were discovered at his property in Salem, Idaho. Investigators found the remains of JJ and Tylee after excavating the backyard of Chad Daybell's property earlier this week (pictured) One Foot In The Grave: Chad Daybell penned book about how 'rewarding' it was working as a grave digger but that it's 'sad to bury babies' Years before he was linked to the disappearance of Lori Vallow's missing children, Chad Daybell worked as a 'cemetery sexton' - or grave digger - while studying at Brigham Young University in Utah in the mid-1990s. Chad described the job in an interview with the Deseret News in 2001. 'Taking care of the graves is rewarding, as well as helping widows and grieving family members deal with the trauma,' he said. 'Sad times are always when you have to bury babies. That's always a poignant moment.' Chad published an entire nonfiction book about his experiences that same year, entitled: One Foot in the Grave: Secrets of a Cemetery Sexton. He left that job soon after the book was finished and went on to publish more than 25 other titles, many of them about near-death experiences and the end of the world. Chad briefly reprised his sexton role years later in 2008 by working part time at a cemetery in Springville. Advertisement Chad - who is a prolific author - even penned a memoir about his days working at the cemetery. The book, titled One Foot In The Grave, is available through Amazon. Numerous other titles written by Chad are also available through the website - although there are reports the company plans to remove them from the site 'very soon'. DailyMail.com has contacted Amazon for comment. The bodies of JJ and Tylee were discovered Tuesday following a neighbor's tip about large bonfires on Chad's property. The children had been missing since September. Neighbor Matt Price, who has lived next door for about five years, said he recently informed detectives about having seen several bonfires at the property over the past nine months since the children were last seen. 'This year they had two really big fires that we noticed,' Price told the Deseret News. 'Probably less than a month ago.' Price claimed that the detectives told him his information, among other details, was used to secure the search warrant that eventually led to this week's discovery of the bodies. Chad was arrested after the bodies were uncovered. He remains behind bars on a $1 million bond. His wife, Lori Vallow, has spent the past four months behind bars at the neighboring Madison County Jail on five charges related to the children's disappearance: two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children and one misdemeanor count each for obstructing an investigation, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court. Prosecutors have not said whether they plan to add additional charges in light of the body discovery. Authorities began searching for the children in late November after performing a welfare check ordered by concerned relatives who said they hadn't spoken to seven-year-old JJ, who is autistic, in months. When officers first went to Lori's home in Idaho on November 26, she told them that JJ was visiting relatives in Arizona - which investigators say was a lie. Officers returned the following day and found that Lori and the man she married weeks earlier, Chad Daybell, had fled from the home. Authorities say the couple have repeatedly lied about where JJ and Tylee are and refused to cooperate with the investigation. Family members on Wednesday confirmed that the remains found buried outside Chad's home had been identified as seven-year-old JJ and 17-year-old Tylee, who disappeared in September Lori and Chad were named persons of interest in the children's disappearance after investigators said they believe the mother knew where her children were or what happened to them. The case captured nationwide attention with the revelations that police are also investigating three mysterious deaths linked to Lori and Chad, as well as family members' claims that the couple are members of a dangerous doomsday cult. The first death is that of Lori's estranged husband Charles Vallow, who was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox in Arizona on July 10. Charles and Lori had gotten into an argument when the father came to pick up JJ at the mother's home in Chandler. Lori's brother intervened and fatally shot Charles. Police initially determined that he acted in self defense - but the case was reopened amid the multi-state search for JJ and Tylee, who had moved to Idaho, where Chad lived, with their mother in August. The second mysterious death was Tammy Daybell, who was found dead at the home she shared with Chad on October 19. An obituary stated that Tammy passed away in her sleep and her cause of death was ruled as natural after Chad reportedly declined an autopsy. Investigators reopened the case after learning that JJ and Tylee were missing, as their mother had married Chad just two weeks after Tammy died. They believe the two cases could be linked. Tammy's body was exhumed on December 11 and the autopsy results have not yet been released. On December 12, Lori's brother, Alex Cox, was found dead in Gilbert, Arizona. An autopsy determined that the 51-year-old's died of natural causes but noted that he had the overdose drug Narcan in his system at the time. Police tracked Lori and Chad down in Princeville, Hawaii, in late January and served the mother with a court order requiring her to physically produce the children to authorities in Idaho by January 30. Lori failed to meet the deadline, prompting her arrest and extradition to Idaho, where she is currently being held at Madison County Jail in lieu of $1million bond. Timeline of JJ and Tylee's disappearance July 11, 2019: Lori Vallow's husband, Charles Vallow, is killed by her brother, Alex Cox, in Arizona. August: Lori moves children JJ and Tylee to Rexburg, Idaho, where Chad Daybell lives with his wife Tammy. September 8: The last time Tylee is seen during a trip to Yellowstone National Park with Lori, JJ and Alex. September 23: The last time JJ is seen at his school in Rexburg. October 19: Chad's wife Tammy, 49, dies at their Idaho home. October 25: A friend of Tylee receives a vague 'miss you' text from her phone but says that it didn't sound like the teen. November 5: Lori and Chad tie the knot on a beach in Kauai. November 26: Out-of-state relatives ask Idaho police to perform a welfare check on JJ and learn both he and Tylee have not been seen for months. November 27: Police execute a search warrant related to the children at Lori's home and discover that she and Chad have fled Idaho. December 11: Tammy's body is exhumed from a Utah cemetery and her death is reclassified as suspicious. December 12: Lori's brother, Alex Cox, is found unresponsive in Arizona and dies. December 21: Rexburg police issue the first press release about JJ and Tylee, revealing they believe their disappearance could be linked to Tammy's death. December 24: Lori and Chad issue a statement through an attorney saying they love their son and daughter and look forward to addressing 'allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor'. December 30: Police accuse Lori and Chad of lying to investigators and say they believe the couple know where the kids are or what happened to them. January 3, 2020: Police search Chad's home in Salem and remove 43 items. They also comb over sections of the snow-covered yard with rakes and metal detectors. January 26: Lori and Chad are seen for the first time in months as police serve them with a court order to produce the children to authorities in Idaho in five days. January 30: Lori misses the court deadline to produce the children to Idaho authorities. February 20: Lori is arrested in Kauai. March 5: Lori is extradited to Idaho, where she is held on $1million bond at Madison County Jail. April 9: Authorities reveal they are investigating Lori and Chad for murder, attempted murder and conspiracy in connection with Tammy's death. June 9:Police search Chad's home in Salem for the second time and discover human remains in the backyard. Chad is taken into police custody and charged with destruction or concealment of evidence. Advertisement Chad's wife Tammy Daybell (pictured together left) was found dead under suspicious circumstances at their home in Idaho in October. Chad married Lori less than two months after her children vanished. The couple are seen right during their wedding on the beach in Kauai What took them so long? Police searched Chad's home back in JANUARY but found nothing The house where Lori's missing children's remains were found this week was searched by police in January but cops found nothing, which adds to the questions over why it has taken so long for the kids to be found and their mother and stepfather charged. JJ and Tylee were last seen alive in Idaho in September but they weren't reported missing until November and their mother fled to Hawaii the first time she was questioned by police. She married Chad, a former grave digger and doomsday fanatic, and the pair evaded police, refusing to answer questions on where the children were, for months. Lori was finally arrested in December on charges of neglect. The case stalled again then until this week, when the Rexburg Police Department in Idaho suddenly carried out a search warrant on Daybell's property in Salem that allowed them to bring cadaver dogs for the first time. The police department is refusing to answer questions on why it took so long to arrest Lori and find the children's remains. The search warrant has been sealed, which shrouds the case in further mystery. In January, police seized several items from Chad's home after executing a search warrant but it was believed to have been in connection with his ex-wife's death and not the children's disappearance. Legal experts say they must have some form of new evidence which led them to believe the children's bodies were buried there, and that the force did not want to put a foot wrong in the complex investigation because it could jeopardize a future trial. Chad's home in Salem is seen in January, when police executed an earlier search warrant FBI agents removed 43 items from Chad's home during their initial raid in January. Officers were also seen combing sections of the yard with rakes and metal detectors 'I don't have any idea why it took that amount of time. There are so many legal issues that have to be dealt with prior,' Jennifer Shen, former cop and crime lab manager, told DailyMail.com on Wednesday. 'I don't know when it was the police would have gotten the information from that there were bodies on that property but they can't do any of that without probable cause. 'It's called fruit of the poisonous tree. If you wind up finding evidence but not legally, that evidence can be thrown out, all the evidence could be no longer useful they have to do it the right way. It could have catastrophic consequences.' Shen added that the case was 'tragic' but 'really complicated'. '[It is] one of the most bizarre cases from start to finish. 'This case has got dead bodies everywhere - you have to do things the right way,' she said. Frank Montoya Jr, who retired from the FBI in 2016 after serving since 1991, previously explained to DailyMail.com that the authorities in Idaho had been forced to hold off until there was any evidence of a crime which was more difficult to produce than before. He gave an interview in February - before the kids bodies were found - and said it 'wasn't enough' at the time that Lori simply was not cooperating with the authorities. 'When the parent herself is not cooperating.. it isn't enough to arrest them. 'What's the charge? If it's just child endangerment and she refuses to talk, how do you prove the children have been harmed or more tragically if they're dead? You can't. 'A judge and jury have no choice but to say there's no evidence to hold her in cases like this you'll hugely dependent,' he said. A 13-year-old boy has admitted kicking a police officer in the head in a group attack in Hackney that was captured on viral social media footage. The teenager joined in the violence when he saw a man being arrested, striking a male officer who was lying on the ground and kicking his female colleague in the leg while hurling abuse. The boy, who cannot be named, later admitted his part in the "group attack", insisting he was scared after watching recent news coverage and Black Lives Matter demonstrations. After footage of the incident went viral on social media, Home Secrtary Priti Patel denounced the incident as sickening and the Police Federation said officers were not societys punch bags. Prosecutor Varinder Hayre told Thames magistrates court this morning: This relates to an unprovoked and deliberate group attack on two serving police officers simply conducting their daily jobs. The incident has also attracted national media coverage and commentary from the Home Secretary Priti Patel, with the video placed on social media. She said the two Met Police officers PC Macpherson and PC Ali - were attempting to detain a man when they were set upon by a group of people, including the teenage boy. He kicked towards PC Macphersons head and kicked PC Ali in the leg while shouting abuse, said Ms Hayre. Subsequently he was arrested and interviewed, and made full admissions to the offence. He said he had identified himself on social media footage. The boy told detectives he believed he was helping when he joined in the violence, adding: He said he was scared at what he was witnessing, combined with everything he was seeing on the news regarding Black Lives Matter. He said he was sorry for kicking the officers and felt he shouldnt have got involved in the way that he had. The incident happened in Frampton Park Road, Hackney, at around 3.20pm on Wednesday. The boy pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting an emergency worker, and District Judge Jonathan Radway sent the case to the youth court for sentencing. The teen, accompanied at court by his aunt, was ordered to sleep each night at his east London home and observe a 7pm to 7am curfew until his sentencing hearing on July 8 at Stratford youth court. The judge also ordered that the boys mother attend the next hearing. Three men from Hackney who were allegedly also involved in the same incident were sent to the crown court to face a trial. Paul Kabemba, 33, is accused of assaulting a member of the public in the build-up to the alleged attack on the police officers. He also faces a charge of assaulting an emergency worker. Jordan Thomas, 20, and Marvin Henderson, 34, each face two charges of assaulting an emergency worker. All three entered not guilty pleas this afternoon and were freed on bail until a hearing at Wood Green crown court on July 10. Britons are slowly becoming less concerned about catching the coronavirus, a study shows. One in three adults (35 per cent) admit to being currently worried about getting infected with COVID-19, while only 15 per cent say the are 'seriously worried'. This shows a marked shift in the public psyche, as at the start of lockdown almost three months ago half of Britons were worried they may contract the virus. One in three adults (35 per cent) admit to being currently worried about getting infected with COVID-19, while only 15 per cent say the are 'seriously worried' (file photo) UCL is maintaining a social study throughout the course of the pandemic to chart how the people of the UK are coping. A total of 90,000 people are enrolled in the study and answer a host of questions relating to the coronavirus, including lockdown, the government handling of the crisis and wellbeing - both mental and physical. Separate studies have shown that the coronavirus is more dangerous to certain demographics, with men more at risk than women, BAME individuals more susceptible to severe symptoms than white people and older people disproportionately affected. However, concern over catching COVID-19 and becoming seriously ill remains consistent across all age group. Despite being statistically more likely to die from the disease should they contract the virus, the elderly are not significantly more worried than people in their 20s, the study found. Despite being statistically more likely to die from the disease should they contract the virus, the elderly are not significantly more worried than people in their 20s, found Men worry about the economy during COVID-19 but women are concerned about friends and family The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is causing heightened stress levels among Britons, but the reasons why vary dramatically depending on gender, a new study finds. According 2,500 UK residents, men's primary concern is the impact on society and the economy while women worry more about the impact of COVID-19 on loved ones. The UCL-led survey also found women express more anxiety overall than men. In the research, which has been published online as a pre-print but has not yet been peer-reviewed, participants were asked to write down their feelings about the coronavirus situation. Britons in the study were quizzed on April 6 and 7, when Boris Johnson was in hospital and a day after the Queen gave an unprecedented speech the pandemic. Each individual answer was categorised into one of several themes, including: 'national impact', 'family and friends', 'sickness/death', 'health worries' or 'other'. Advertisement However, concerns are not universal across all groups of people. For example. people from poorer households and those with diagnosed mental health conditions are more worried. Statistics show that those from a household with lower income are right to be more concerned, as they are more likely to catch the coronavirus. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found last month that people from poorer areas are twice as likely to die than those from affluent regions. Between March 1 and April 17, the poorest parts of England saw 55.1 coronavirus deaths per 100,000 population. However, this figure dropped to 25.3 deaths per 100,000 in the wealthiest areas. Lead author, Dr Daisy Fancourt, said: 'These data suggest that most people are not very worried about catching Covid-19, even though they are now leaving their homes more. 'But whilst these worries are still much lower than they were at the beginning of the lockdown, catching the virus is still a bigger stressor amongst those surveyed than finance, potential unemployment, or worries about access to food. 'Whilst younger people are less at risk from the virus, it's possible that their worries stem from fears of spreading the virus to others who are older or more vulnerable.' As well as decreasing levels of worry across the country, the study shows that levels of depression and anxiety continue to fall. In the first week of June anxiety was lower than at any point in the previous 12 weeks. Despite this, they are still above the average level recorded before the pandemic emerged. Other findings from the study show that people in England are less pleased with their government's handling of the pandemic than people in Scotland and Wales. One a scale of one (not confident) to seven (lots of confidence), people in England gave their officials a 3.5. Scotland and Wales graded their government's as a five and 4.5, respectively. Confidence continues to be lowest amongst those under 30, and is also lower amongst those in urban areas. The coronavirus pandemic has put millions of children at risk of being pushed into underage labor, reversing two decades of work to combat the practice and potentially marking the first rise in child labor since 2000, the United Nations warned on Friday. As the pandemic pummels the global economy, pushing millions of people into poverty, families may be under pressure to put their children to work for survival, the UN said, marking the World Day Against Child Labor. As the pandemic wreaks havoc on family incomes, without support, many could resort to child labour, said Guy Ryder, director-general of the International Labour Organization (ILO), a UN agency, in a statement. Social protection is vital in times of crisis, as it provides assistance to those who are most vulnerable. Due to global shutdowns, the world economy is forecast to shrink 3.2% this year, according to a Reuters poll of more than 250 economists. Forecasts for global economic growth had tended to range from 2.3% to 3.6% before the pandemic struck. The number of child labourers worldwide has dropped significantly to 152 million children from 246 million in 2000, according to the ILO. To prevent a rise in exploitation, the UN called upon governments to integrate child labour concerns into broader pieces of legislation, including policy on education, labour markets and human rights protections. Some countries have begun to do so. This month, Brazilian labour authorities launched a national campaign to help combat potential child labor, commissioning a song about child slavery to be written by well-known rappers Emicida and Drik Barbosa. The recent death of an 8-year-old maid in Pakistan prompted the government to propose legislative changes to make it illegal for children to do domestic work. Advocates also warn that children are susceptible to being put to work while schools are closed in the effort to stop the spread of coronavirus. As poverty rises, schools close and the availability of social services decreases, more children are pushed into the workforce, said Henrietta Fore, executive director of UNICEF, the UN childrens agency. A non-profit group in Ethiopia launched a novel way to keep thousands of children reading while school was out of session - deploying camels carrying wooden boxes filled with storybooks. Marty McFly perfectly plays Johnny B Goode for an unappreciative audience (Image by Universal Pictures) Back To The Future is packed to the brim with memorable scenes. But arguably the most iconic sequence of the entire movie comes towards the end, when Michael J Foxs Marty McFly takes it upon himself to blast out Chuck Berrys Johnny B. Goode for his unsuspecting high school audience. Read More: That irritating 'Back to the Future' plot hole has been filled by writer Bob Gale During a recent interview with Empire Magazine, Fox opened up about preparing for and filming the scene, revealing that he had to get a guitar teacher to teach him how to play the legendary song. I said to [director] Bob [Zemeckis], When I do this scene, I play guitar, so you can finger sync me. Feel free to cut to my hands any time you want. Having said that, it put pressure on me to get it f****** right. So I had this guy named Paul Hanson, who was my guitar teacher. Musician Huey Lewis (L) and actors Michael J. Fox (2nd L) Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson (R) attend the Back to the Future 30th Anniversary screening in the Manhattan borough of New York, October 21, 2015. The film franchise is celebrating today's date as in the first sequel, the main characters traveled through time to October 21, 2015. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Fox didnt just work with a guitar teacher, though. He also collaborated with a choreographer who had previously worked alongside Madonna. I said, I dance like a duck. I cant dance. But what Id like to do is incorporate all the characteristics and mannerisms and quirks of my favourite guitarists, so a Pete Townshend windmill, and Jimi Hendrix behind the back, and a Chuck Berry duck walk. And we worked all that in. Read More: 'Back to the Future Part III' at 30: 10 things you might not know about the sci-fi classic He made it flow. It was moments like that when you dont think, Im tired or I feel pressure to do this. You just do it and have a blast. The cheograpier and guitar teacher clearly did their jobs to perfection, too, as Foxs rendition of Johnny B. Goode is still rightfully regarded as one of the best musical performances in movie history. Even though the students at Hill Valley High School were less than impressed. Wyoming was met with yet another round of sobering news recently. Our states revenue projections showed a massive decline in expected revenues over the next two years. It is nearly impossible to overstate how dire the situation is. Even the best-case scenarios put us in a budgetary crisis. In previous columns, I have advocated for the legislature to start planning for coming changes in our long-term revenue picture. At that time, projections showed our rainy day fund running out in the next four to six years. The most recent projections have our states funds running out before even the next biennium is up. That means that without major changes to state spending beginning immediately, our state is bankrupt within two years. As an illustration, to balance the anticipated shortfall the state would have to lay off every single state employee or cut the entire education budget for the whole state. The legislature no longer has the choice: it must act to address the state budget, and act fast. We must recognize that this is not just another boom and bust situation. Global markets for both oil and coal have declined, and systemic changes make it unlikely that we will see anything approaching the revenues that Wyoming has had in the past. We must prepare ourselves for what comes next. We should anticipate a significant, and likely permanent, reduction in our state revenues from the natural resource sector. As this has been the primary source of government funding for decades, this means we are facing a drastic reduction in funds available for state government. Put simply, we should expect significant cuts to all areas of government including reducing government jobs and programs and should also expect some sort of tax increase. Where, how and to what extent those cuts and increases happen remains to be seen, but I have a hard time picturing a future where both do not occur in some form or another. Wyomings future will look very different from its past. I anticipate cuts to all sectors of government. Even previous untouchable areas education most prominently should anticipate reductions in available funds. Our state government will have fewer people employed in it and will likely have to offer fewer services and programs. I also anticipate more of state government will be funded out of the pockets of Wyoming residents. This may change our attitudes toward state spending. Historically, we have tended to spend freely, despite Wyomings self-image of a fiscally conservative state. I believe this is because the funds primarily came from pockets of large, out-of-state corporations and we did not feel the personal pain from funding state government. I expect attitudes to change as more of our state revenue comes from the pockets of state residents. We will likely see a more tightfisted approach to state spending, even after the immediate crisis is passed. If I were to advise the legislature, I would first tell it to take this situation very seriously. This is a new reality, not just another temporary bust. While we still see some ups and downs in revenues, I do not believe we will see the resource industry in a position to provide us with the budget surpluses we have seen in the past. I would advise the legislature to perform its duty to safeguard state funds. There will have to be significant budget cuts. I agree with those that say that those should come before any tax increase, but I also suspect that we do not have the time to sit and wait for long. Now is the time for statesmen to rise up and do what is right for the state, not what is convenient. Lastly, if I were to advise the voters of Wyoming, I would say that this is probably the most consequential election for our state government in recent history. Candidate filing closed just days ago, so we now know who is asking to step up and deal with this issue. This is not the time for platitudes. If a candidate cannot tell you what they believe should be done about our budget crisis, they are probably not serious enough to warrant your vote. If they tell you that they oppose spending cuts, you should ask them to list what taxes they intend to raise, because that is the only alternative. The legislature is out of time to wait for things to get better. They must be prepare to act, to lead and to accept the truth about our situation, even where it is painful. Anything less is failing in their duty to Wyoming. Khale Lenhart is an attorney in Cheyenne and a former Chairman of the Laramie County Republican Party. He can be reached at khale.lenhart@gmail.com. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-13 00:34:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GUIYANG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Five people died and eight others were missing after a rainstorm hit Zunyi City in southwest China's Guizhou Province, local authorities said Friday. Heavy rain began to batter Zunyi at 10 p.m. Thursday. More than 13,000 people were evacuated and 2,190 houses were damaged, according to the city's publicity authorities. A search operation for the missing is underway. Local authorities have also launched diaster relief for those affected. Enditem Chicagos new police union head has warned that officers who kneel in solidarity with Black Lives Matter protesters could be kicked out of the union. John Catanzara, who was appointed to lead the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police last month, labelled officers who kneeled alongside protesters as ridiculous. In comments made to Fox32 on Thursday, the police union boss argued that protesters were calling on authorities across the US to defund and abolish police departments following George Floyds killing in Minneapolis police custody on 25 May. I dont believe its the time or place to be doing that, said Mr Catanzara. If you kneel, youll be risking being brought up on charges and thrown out of the lodge. Specifically this weekend, he continued. This was about defunding and abolishing the police officers. And youre going to take a knee for that? Its ridiculous. Those comments come as police across the US have been seen in the kneeling position, otherwise known as taking the knee, with crowds demonstrating against systemic racism and police violence. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot soon criticised the union heads unfortunate comments, and said she was not going to dignify them with any further response. According to Fox32, members dismissed from the union would lose contractual benefits and protections but would be able to continue working as a cop in Chicago. Mr Catanzara was condemned in 2017 after he posed with a sign that supported President Donald Trump and gun rights, whilst in uniform, in a photo posted on Facebook. He compared his actions to those officers who have knelt with demonstrators, and said only politics separated them. Well thats a political stance. I want to see what happens on the department level, said Mr Catanzara. Im going to guess nothing because the mayor supports this kind of stuff. Max Verstappen says it is no disadvantage that he will not do any testing prior to the resumption of racing next month. Mercedes' two drivers ran a 2018 car around the Silverstone circuit this week, and Ferrari is expected to follow suit with a test at Fiorano prior to Austria. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told Osterreich: "It was about shaking off the rust. "Except for the winter tests, my boys have not been in the car for seven months. We also looked at the corona rules such as social distancing." But Verstappen says Red Bull is not doing the same. "You have to use an old car with tyres that are not the same so I decided not to do it," said the Red Bull driver. "I think three or four laps in Spielberg and we're back. It never takes me long to get the feel again because I practiced a lot with my father to be back on the limit as quickly as possible. "So far, that has always worked well." The Dutchman admits the long coronavirus shutdown was "boring", but he spent a lot of time in his home simulator and working with his personal trainer. "I've been training maybe even better than before because we simply had more time," Verstappen told Sky Germany. "I think my form is better than it was in Australia." (GMM) Ugandan wildlife authorities have detained four men in connection with the killing of a 25-year-old male gorilla, the leader of a gorilla group and hugely popular with tourists. The Silverback gorilla, named Rafiki, was killed in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park after going missing on June 1. His body was found the next day. The park, a UNESCO world heritage site near Uganda's border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a 320-sq-km patch of dense tropical forest that is home to primates, elephants, antelopes and other wildlife. Tourists are however mostly drawn to the park by its estimated 400 mountain gorillas - roughly half the worlds population. In a statement, the state-run Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) said the four men were detained for their role in the death of Rafiki. The arrests followed UWA's investigation of Rafiki's death "after a postmortem report revealed that the Silverback sustained an injury by a sharp device/object that penetrated its left upper part of the abdomen up to the internal organs". One of the detained men had been found in possession of wild hog meat, rope and wire snares and spears, the statement said. The man "confessed to killing the gorilla in self-defence," the statement said, adding he said it charged at him while he and a colleague were hunting. Rafiki was head of a 17-member gorilla group called Nkuringo. Poaching is rampant in Uganda's game parks and police frequently announce seizures of illicitly acquired wildlife products such as ivory, rhino horns, pangolin scales and others. A total of 145,452 and 100,330 printed Ghana Cards are to be distributed by the National Identification Authority (NIA) to owners in the Volta and Oti Regions respectively. Assistant Commissioner of Immigration, Mr Francis Palmdeti, Head of Corporate Affairs of the NIA, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency in an interview said the cards could be collected at the point of registration. He said the total registered number for Volta and Oti Regions currently stood at 568,261 and 362,035 respectively. Mr Palmdeti said there would be a window of opportunity for mopping-up across the country and complete registration of prospective applicants in regions, where work was unfinished not necessarily for the electoral purposes. It is our intention to have as many people as possible captured onto the National Identification Register and issue them with cards for applicants use for their social, economic and political activities," he said. Meanwhile, Parliament by majority decision on Tuesday approved the Constitutional Instrument (C.I. 126), which makes the Ghana Card and the Ghanaian passport the only legal citizenship identification document for the compilation of a new voters register. Under the C.I. 126, those who do not have the two citizen identification documents could still register provided they presented two already registered voters to vouch for them. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video New Delhi: As the border row between India and Nepal intensifies, Nepali forces fired at Indian farmers on Friday killing one while three others were left injured. The incident took place in Lalbandi near Indo-Nepal border at Sonawarsa in Bihar. One injured person has allegedly been taken away by the Nepal police. The IG of Sashastra Seema Bal of Bihar sector has confirmed the development. According to an eyewitness account, the group of Indians were farming in the area when they were fired upon while the Nepali forces claimed they resorted to firing after some Indians were seen trying to cross the border. Nepal's Armed Police Force (APF) Personnel at Narayanpur, Sarlahi border said that clashes erupted after a group of Indian nationals "forcefully" tried to enter Nepal via the border point. As per Nepali media reports, the APF personnel fired atleast ten shots in the air to disperse the people. Last month, the Nepali government issued a new controversial map showing Indian territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura as its own. On Saturday, the Nepali parliament is set to vote on the amendment of the Nepal map in the coat of arms which is expected to deepen the row. Meanwhile, massive protests have been taking place in the country against PM KP Oli over the lack of ability to contain the COVID-19 crisis and corruption. Demonstrators have been demanding the resignation of PM Oli. Oleksiy Danilov, the Secretary of National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine had a meeting with ambassadors of G7 member countries. The parties talked through reformation of Ukraine's defense industry branch. This is mentioned in the message of the press office of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC). Danilov shared with the ambasssadors about the current process of implementation of the reform - specifically, about the plans of transformation of Ukroboronprom state enterprise. Besides, the Ukrainian official expressed his gratitide to G7 member countries for their efforts to support Ukraine in its struggle for restoring the sovereignty and territorial integrity, and reforming the defense industry complex. In turn, the ambassadors of G7 member countries claimed that the policy of their respective governments towards Ukraine and further reforms in this counntry remains unchanged; they said they were ready to further expand cooperation with the Ukrainian government. Earlier, France claimed it stood against Russia's return to G8. A Texas father fatally shot his two teenage daughters before turning the gun on himself in an apparent double murder-suicide, authorities have said. Officers from the Mesquite Police Department responded to a home in the 1300 block of Bradford Place at around 10:25pm on Tuesday night to reports of gunshots heard. When police arrived at the residence, they found 63-year-old Raymond Haydel lying on the floor inside the home, with a gunshot wound to his head. As they continued their search of the property, they found the bodies of Natasha Haydel, 17, and her younger sister Alexa, 16, who both had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. They were dead at the scene, police said. Natasha Haydel (right), 17, and her younger sister Alexa (left), 16, were both shot dead by their father Raymond Haydel, 63, on Tuesday night Officers from the Mesquite Police Department responded to a home in the 1300 block of Bradford Place at around 10:25pm to reports of gunshots heard Investigators believe Haydel shot both of his children, and then committed suicide. Detectives are still working to establish a motive for the double murder-suicide. Police say it appears Haydel and the girls mother, Michelle Chapman, 42, were no longer together. Natasha and Alexa lived permanently with Chapman in Forney and had been visiting their father in Mesquite when the fatal incident occurred. Legal documents observed by DailyMail.com show that Haydel and Chapman filed for divorce in 2012. Chapman remarried three-years later. Wes Hardin, who is the father of one of the girls boyfriends, voiced his shock that Haydel was capable of committing such a cruel act of violence against his own daughters. We know what we need to know and sometimes things happen that you dont want to put a reason on, Harden told CBS DFW. Of course we are angry but we know the girls would want us to celebrate their life the outpouring of support from the kids is amazing. Darion and Lindsay Daily, who live two doors down from the scene of the shooting, told FOX4 how they watched through the night as investigators processed the crime scene. It was blocked off, and they had it taped all off so we really couldnt see nothing, Darion said. It was shocking to hear what transpired, added Lindsay. Darion said he spoke to the first officer on the scene: He was like, Im the one that had to kick the door in and see that." And it was too late, Darion recalled. Natasha and Alexa lived permanently with their mother Michelle Chapman (right) in Forney and had been visiting their father in Mesquite when the fatal incident occurred Natasha had just graduated from Forney High School just 10 days before the fatal shooting occurred. Alexa was a sophomore at the school, and both of the girls played in the schools band Natasha had just graduated from Forney High School just 10 days before the fatal shooting occurred. Alexa was a sophomore at the school, and both of the girls played in the schools band. The Forney Independent School District released a statement Wednesday, mourning the sisters deaths. Yesterday, we learned of the tragic loss of two of our Forney High School students, and our hearts are broken, the statement said. We extend condolences to Natasha and Alexa Haydels family and to our Forney Family. Forney High School is also offering online visits with grief counselors to classmates of the two girls. Tributes to the two girls have flooded onto social media, remembering them both as Bright, beautiful and talented. Tributes to the two girls have flooded onto social media, remembering them both as Bright, beautiful and talented A GoFundMe set up for Chapman (pictured with Alexa) to help cover funeral costs for the two girls had reached $24,430 in donations towards its $25,000 goal as of Thursday evening I am truly heartbroken by this loss, Sheri Jones wrote on Facebook. Natasha was one of the student aides that I got to work withHer creative nature inspired many story times. And her ideas brighten the days of so many little ones. The world lost two beautiful souls. Riley Warren, the percussion director at Forney High School, wrote: Please keep the mother of these girls in your prayers as the Forney community heals from the tragic loss of two incredibly bright and talented young people. Im at a loss for words A GoFundMe set up by the Hardin family to help cover funeral costs for the two girls had reached $24,430 in donations towards its $25,000 goal as of Thursday evening. Natasha is and always will be my best friend, Gwen Keem commented in one donation. She was loved by me and my whole family. I was with her the morning before and I'm forever heartbroken. Natasha and Alexa Haydel were taken from this world too soon, added Shannon Hardin, who organized the fundraiser. They have been stuck in different states during the coronavirus pandemic. But on Thursday, The Bachelorette stars Ali Oetjen and Taite Radley finally reunited after spending 88 days apart. Ali, 34, uploaded a video of herself excitedly driving to see Taite and captioned the post: 'In the car from Melbourne to Ballarat. 50 mins until I see Taite.' 'We're back!' The Bachelorette's Ali Oetjen and Taite Radley have reunited after being separated for 88 days amid the coronavirus pandemic She also shared a photo of her boyfriend standing with a bunch of roses to gift her when she arrived. Taite also posted a loved-up photo of the couple embracing one another after being reunited, and wrote: 'We're back!' In the photo, Ali looked cute in a blue jacket while the Sweaty AF co-founder, 29, looked stylish in a black coat. Taite then cooked a romantic dinner for his ladylove, which consisted of a stir-fry, rice, chicken and tofu, for the pair to enjoy. Not long! Ali, 34, uploaded a video of herself excitedly driving to see Taite and captioned the post: 'In the car from Melbourne to Ballarat. 50 mins until I see Taite' Taite and Ali had been forced apart by state travel restrictions since March. While Taite remained in Victoria for work, Ali went to Queensland to stay with her parents. Last month, Ali confessed to feeling angry, fearful and helpless in an emotional Instagram post. Ali wrote at length: 'Yesterday and today has been so S**T!!! ROAR! Angry!! Nothings changed I'm still in isolation, I don't need empathy or encouragement, please save that for people who REALLY need it. Reunited! She also shared a photo of her boyfriend standing with a bunch of roses he had gifted her when she arrived to see him 'I'm human and not happy all the time... So invite the fear, the s***ty moods and sad emotions as past it I know is freedom. But I'm smiling to stay strong, vulnerable to stay connected and working to stay productive.' 'I miss him SO much. Three weeks and counting,' she said of Taite at the time. 'I've been isolating at my parents property in the Glasshouse Mountains, Queensland, which is so beautiful and I'm incredibly grateful to be isolating here in nature and can connect with you all through yoga, meditation and workouts. 'It's just one of those days where I feel stuck in a helpless dark hole and I can't see the light out. When will I see him next? Sooner rather than later I'm sure, but IT'S S**t!' she finished the post. By Trend Kyrgyzstan confirmed on Friday 37 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 2166, Trend reports citing Kabar. Nurbolot Usenbaev, the countrys deputy health minister told a news briefing that of the new confirmed cases, 20 cases were identified among the contact persons, 14 are unknown sources and 3 are imported cases. He said that among the newly infected 6 are medical workers, bringing the total number of contracted medical workers to 425, including 321 recoveries. The official reported 38 recoveries in the past day. In all, 1668 have fully recovered from the infection. Currently, 472 people remained hospitalized, 11 are in serious condition and 1 patient is in intensive care. A total of 1693 people who have had contact with infected patients are under medical observation and another 9272 people are in home quarantine under the supervision of doctors. No death was recorded in the last 24 hours and the total number of fatalities remains at 26. 2866 laboratory tests were carried out in the last 24 hours. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A 3.5million West Sussex dream house which featured on Channel 4's Grand Designs has been used as the set for a lesbian porn film. The five-bed property, which contains a gym, 50ft pool, five bathrooms, underfloor heating and a sauna, was built by businessman Clinton Dall, 56. It is thought that self-made millionaire Mr Dall let the home to filming companies, including for a Peter Andre music video and the Ryan Reynolds BT ads. The property was even used to launch Michelle Keegan's Lipsy clothes range in 2016. However, the property - which cost over 1million to make after Mr Dall knocked down a farmhouse-style home in 2015 - was also used as the set for the French-made porn film Lesbian Games for These Three Stewardesses. A 3.5million West Sussex dream house created by a cleaning boss and shown on Channel 4's Grand Designs has been used as the set for a lesbian porn film The five-bed property, which contains a gym, 50ft pool, underfloor heating and a sauna, was the subject of a Grand Design's show in 2015, presented by Kevin McCloud In the movie, three bikini-clad women sip cocktails by the pool before romping, and cavort on a long table where Mr Dall discussed building his home with Grand Design's presenter Kevin McCloud, according to The Sun. One fan of the property show said: 'As soon as I saw the setting for this film it rang a bell - it's quite a distinctive property. I can't imagine for a minute that Kevin would have ever guessed what would have happened on that table. 'I love Grand Designs and seeing what twists and turns the people will go through as they try to pull their dream property together.' The property, named Pavello, sold for 3,450,000 last year. It is understood the porn film was shot before the sale, and neither owner was involved. Clinton Dall is the managing director of Dall Cleaning Services, which was founded in 1988 and services clients within a 150 mile radius of London The property was also used as the set for the French porn film Lesbian Games for These Three Stewardesses, who wear bikinis and romp around the pool while sipping cocktails During the 2015 episode, Mr Dall told presenter McCloud, who is invited to watch its development: 'I am a neat and tidy person. Everything has to be just right' A friend of Mr Dall said: 'The house was never intentionally let for a porn shoot although it was often let to film companies.' During the 2015 episode, Mr Dall told presenter McCloud, who is invited to inspect its construction: 'I am a neat and tidy person. Everything has to be just right.' Throughout the programme, McCloud is astonished by the sheer scale of the project, which runs nearly 200ft long in a field into woodland. Throughout the programme, McCloud is astonished by the sheer scale of the project, which runs nearly 200ft long in a field into woodland Commenting on the property's modernist finish, McCloud tells the viewers: 'Clinton may have to choose his party guests carefully' As McCloud surveys the finished property at the end of the show, he says: 'I'm slightly awestruck by this. More than slightly awestruck.' Commenting on the property's modernist aesthetic, McCloud tells the viewers: 'Clinton may have to choose his party guests carefully.' Mr Dall is the managing director of Dall Cleaning Services, which was founded in 1988 and services clients within a 150 mile radius of London. INDIANAPOLIS, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- What: Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, Radio One and WISH-TV invite people and organizations to come together to acknowledge the trauma of racial injustice, understand its many forms, and create a call to action for lasting change. The Indy Day of Solidarity We Stand Together virtual event will feature messages from Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett; Indianapolis City-County Council Member Maggie Lewis; Kennedy King Memorial Initiative Executive Director Darryl Lockett; longtime TV news anchor and reporter Angela Cain, and Lilly Chairman and CEO Dave Ricks. As Indianapolis' oldest African American newspaper, the largest minority-owned television station, the largest urban radio station and one of Indianapolis's major employers for more than 144 years, these partners are using their platforms to speak up, speak out, and work toward solutions to the racism and inequalities that African Americans and other minorities have experienced for far too long in Indiana and across the nation. "As our entire country cries out for real change, we must confront these problems now, and we must confront them head-on," said Dave Ricks, chairman and CEO, Eli Lilly and Company. "We commit to bringing people and organizations together to acknowledge the trauma of racial injustice in its many forms and create a call to action for lasting change." "The Recorder is honored to work alongside Lilly for the Indy Day of Solidarity initiative, as their proactive and sensible approach during challenging times is an example for all of us to follow," said Robert Shegog, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. "Additionally, how the Recorder, Radio One, and WISH-TV joined forces demonstrates solidarity at its finest. Having print, radio, and television outlets collaborate on such an important effort is incredibly powerful." "Radio One is excited to partner with Lilly, the Indianapolis Recorder and WISH-TV for the Indy Day of Solidarity," said Deon Levingston, regional vice president, Radio One. "We look forward to starting a conversation on Saturday that will lead to meaningful change in our community." "We are extremely honored to have been approached by Lilly as a collaborator on this campaign," said DuJuan McCoy, owner, president and CEO of Circle City Broadcasting parent company of WISH-TV. "As an Indianapolis native and African American owner of a local television station, I can affirm that WISH-TV, and its platforms, will remain committed to furthering discussions of change that allow us to pursue peace, justice, and liberty for all residents of the Circle City regardless of race." In addition to participating in the virtual event on Saturday, people can show their solidarity by: Wearing black to symbolize the dark time we're living in with a pandemic that is affecting minorities disproportionately and recent acts of deadly violence against African Americans. Taking time to read, think and reflect on the kind of community you want and what you can learn or change to help us get there. Reaching out to someone different from you to learn about each other's journey through life: how are you similar, and how have your experiences been different? Speaking out. Promote the Indy Day of Solidarity by sharing Lilly's social media posts on your social media accounts. When: Saturday, June 13, noon EDT Who: Angela Cain , independent Indianapolis communications consultant , independent communications consultant Dave Ricks , Chairman and CEO, Eli Lilly and Company , Chairman and CEO, Eli Lilly and Company Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett Maggie Lewis , City-County Council Member & Executive Director of Indianapolis Boys and Girls Club , City-County Council Member & Executive Director of Indianapolis Boys and Girls Club Darryl Lockett , Executive Director of the Kennedy King Memorial Initiative How to participate: Learn more about the simulcasts at: About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at lilly.com and lilly.com/newsroom. C-LLY About Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper The Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, the nation's fourth-oldest African American newspaper in the country, is celebrating 125 years of being a voice for the community and serving the underserved while maintaining a high level of journalistic integrity. What began in 1895 as a two-page church bulletin, created by co-founders George P. Stewart and William Porter, now hails as Indiana's Greatest Weekly by consistently providing the community with up-to-date local and national news grounded in journalistic excellence. The Recorder has remained steadfast in upholding the mission encapsulated on its masthead, "preparing a conscious community today and beyond." We are indeed for us by us." About WISH-TV WISH-TV has set the standard for television excellence in Central Indiana since 1954. The station has been honored as "Television Station of the Year" by the Indiana Broadcasters Association, for its "Overall Excellence" by the Edward R. Murrow Awards, and as "Outstanding News Operation," "Outstanding Weather Operation," "Best Newscast," and "Best Website" by the Indiana Associated Press Broadcast Association. WISH-TV offers viewers 77 hours per week of local news and local programming and provides around-the-clock information on its digital platforms. WISH-TV is locally owned and operated by Circle City Broadcasting, and is an affiliate of The CW network. The station serves more than one million households. About Radio One Urban One, Inc. (urban1.com), together with its subsidiaries, is the largest diversified media company that primarily targets African-American and urban consumers in the United States. Urban One is the parent company of Radio One, Reach Media, Inc. (blackamericaweb.com), TV One (tvone.tv), CLEO TV (mycleo.tv), iOne Digital (ionedigital.com) and One Solution. Formerly known as Radio One, Inc., the company was founded in 1980 with a single radio station and now owns and/or operates 60 broadcast stations (including HD and low power television stations) in 14 urban markets in the United States, making it one of the nation's largest radio broadcasting companies. SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company Related Links http://www.lilly.com Award-winning actress Catherine Kamau alias Kate Actress has shared some valuable nuggets of wisdom with young talents and creatives seeking to build a successful brand. In an open letter posted to her Instagram, the former Mother-in-law actress shared three tips that she wishes someone had told her before she clawed her way to the top. For starters, the highest paid actress in Kenya(arguably) advised young talents to avoid using their hard-earned savings to please their friends. Dear young talent, I know you are trying hard to create a brand but here are a few things I wish someone told me too.. 1. STOP USING YOUR LITTLE Savings or profits TO PLEASE FRIENDS OR YOUR FOLLOWERS. You work so hard, grow your money, invest, save for a rainy day. When you run out of money to buy the champagnes and the mzingas, they will run too ?, she wrote. Kate Actress also touched on the importance of living within ones means. She noted that while she earns enough to live in an upmarket neighborhood, her priorities lie elsewhere. 2. LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS . I earn enough to live in the the boojiest neighbourhoods but hey priorities ??, I even have comments thrown my way but I dont listen I know what am working for , so I stay focused, please live comfortably, grow slowly sweetheart, Kate penned. Also Read: Im the Highest Paid Actress in Kenya, Kate Kamau Last but not least, the actress stressed the importance of choosing ones circle of friends wisely. She observed that this is a struggle especially for genuine people who think everybody is the same. 3. CHOOSE YOUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS WISELY: may God grant you wisdom here, this is a struggle. If you are a genuine soul you think everybody is the same! Sweetheart, people are cruel, pray, good friends give you peace, encourage you, cheer you, and protect your dignity. She concluded: I really wish you the best. You dont have to make the same mistakes we did! We are here for you. We did better, you can too. With love Aunty Kate ?? In the comments section, fans and other thespians agreed with Kates pointers. Another top Kenyan actress, Lizz Konstantara, related with Kates second tip, disclosing how people were always shocked when they visited her modest home in Westlands. The thing about living in the boogiest neighbourhoods is so true.. everyone that came to Alexs and my house in Westi was always shocked by how simple we were and also the simple car we drove.. they expected us to be in a better place, drive a bigger car We spent our money on making content. We knew what we were doing.. I dont regret it one bit, she wrote. Some more reactions: ivlynmutua: Thanks big sis @kate_actress joyceomondi: @kate_actress Such truth. Also, how gorgeous are you?! ? Daniel Itai The Zimbabwe Daily Harare, Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS) is not happy with the way in which the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) is handling the ongoing applications for community radio stations licensing. Vivian Marara-Zhangazha, director of ZACRAS said some of their members were complaining about the daunting application process. Some of the applicants have indicated that the application process is daunting, BAZ has only one payment option for application fees which is through bank transfer, when some of the applicants went to the BAZ office to submit their applications, they had not done bank transfers into the BAZ account under the assumption that they could either swipe or pay through Ecocash upon getting to the BAZ offices. However, this was not the case when they got to the BAZ offices and hence, they could not submit the application pending payment of the application fees. - Advertisement - Since they are not technocrats, putting together a three year cash forecast, technical specifications and program schedules has proved to be difficult, said the ZACRAS director. To date, BAZ has only received two applicants, only two applications from Beitbridge and Plumtree have been received and the other one from Chiredzi which we have failed to categorise but we are assisting them in ensuring their papers are in order. We are not happy with the response, probably its the mentality that its difficult to obtain the licence, said Joice Kubukai, BAZs legal officer. Regardless, the ZACRAS director said BAZ should expect more applicants in the coming days, we will definitely see more applications not only from ZACRAS members but from across the board. ZACRAS has eight of its members who are vying for community radio licenses however, for them to be able to be considered by BAZ they have to submit their applications before the 1st of August 2020. Like this: Like Loading... EastEnders is set to return to the BBC with 20-minute episodes, four days a week, after filming resumes at the end of June. Episodes of the iconic BBC One soap opera that were filmed before the coronavirus pandemic are set to run out next week. And new instalments, which will be filmed in accordance with social-distancing guidelines, will be roughly 10 minutes shorter than usual. Return to Walford? EastEnders is set to return with shorter 20-minute episodes after filming resumes at the end of June Production of the new episodes is set to resume at the end of June but it hasn't yet been announced when these episodes will air. When episodes finally return to screens they will only air four times a week as opposed to the usual five times. Currently, only two pre-filmed EastEnders episodes have aired a week to make them last as long as possible. New normal: New instalments, which will be filmed in accordance with social-distancing guidelines, will be roughly 10 minutes shorter than usual EastEnders executive producer Jon Sen said: 'Resuming production is incredibly exciting and challenging in equal measure. 'Since we postponed filming we've been working non-stop trialling techniques, filming methods and new ways of working so that we can return to screens four times a week - as EastEnders should be. 'Filming will inevitably be a more complex process now so creating 20-minute episodes will enable us to ensure that when we return, EastEnders will still be the show the audience know and love.' Until the new episodes air, the show will plug the gap with classic EastEnders episodes and a spin-off show that will feature presenter Stacey Dooley. Running out: Episodes of the iconic BBC One soap opera that were filmed before the coronavirus pandemic are set to run out next week Stacey, 33, will host a new show called EastEnders: Secrets From The Square on Monday nights. She will present the show from the soap's famous restaurant Walford East and will be joined by two members from the cast. The cast members, who will include Letitia Dean (Sharon Watts), Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale), Danny Dyer (Mick Carter), Diane Parish (Denise Fox), Tameka Empson (Kim Fox) and Kellie Bright (Linda Carter), will reflect on their time on the show and tease what's to come when the show returns. There will also be an occasional sneak peek behind the scenes in the show, which launches on June 22. Coronation Street and Emmerdale have resumed filming. Spin-off: Until the new episodes air, the show will plug the gap with classic EastEnders episodes and a spin-off show that will feature presenter Stacey Dooley But older cast members will be absent when Corrie returns, meaning stalwarts such as William Roache (Ken Barlow), Barbara Knox (Rita Tanner) and Sue Nicholls (Audrey Roberts) will be off-screen. Production went on hold back in March, and since then EastEnders has only been broadcast on Mondays and Tuesdays to remain on air as long as possible. The update comes after confirmation that 'Hollyoaks' will resume production this week, but won't return to five nights a week until 2021. A Channel 4 spokesperson said: 'Hollyoaks will be resuming production this week in Liverpool ahead of a return to recording on set in July. 'The Channel 4 drama, which is shot differently to other soaps with single-camera, will increase in episodes from its current two nights a week to four nights a week from September, the current plan being to return to five episodes in 2021.' BRITISH SOAPS ARE GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS... EastEnders EastEnders episodes are set to go off air next week, having aired all their episodes before production shut down. New instalments, which will be filmed in accordance with social-distancing guidelines, will be roughly 10 minutes shorter than usual. Production of the new episodes is set to resume at the end of June. When episodes finally return to screens they will only air four times a week as opposed to the usual five times. Currently, only two pre-filmed EastEnders episodes have aired a week to make them last as long as possible. Builders were pictured getting to work on the new 87million set in Elstree Studios, London, last month. Return to Walford? EastEnders episodes are set to go off air next week but production will resume at the end of June (Steve McFadden pictured) Hollyoaks Hollyoaks bosses have announced production crew will return to the set in Liverpool in mid-June and filming will resume in full from July. The Channel 4 show, which is currently airing two nights a week, will then increase its output to four episodes a week from September with an aim to return to its full five episodes a week in 2021. In recent days, Hollyoaks has been subject to off-camera scrutiny, after actresses Rachel Adedeji and Laila Rouass accused show bosses of racism and sexism. This led to production company Lime Pictures releasing a statement which read: 'Lime Pictures strives to have zero tolerance of racism or any form of discrimination across all of its shows but it is clear we have further work to do. We must stamp out implicit bias which means calling out racism wherever and whenever we see it. 'We will continue to add to our action plan as we continue and broaden our dialogue with cast and staff. We are reaching out to all of our cast and staff that have raised matters to make sure that we address individual issues and concerns. We have asked all cast, staff and freelancers to share with us any further issues of concern or instances of unacceptable behaviour that they have not previously raised. 'We are working with unconscious bias trainers to augment Limes all staff training to help address concerns raised by cast and staff. All BAME staff, freelancers and cast will be offered mentoring from Limes senior management.' New beginning: Hollyoaks bosses have announced they will start filming again this month in Liverpool and will fully return to set in July Emmerdale Emmerdale has already started filming again, with a small cast and crew returning to production in late May. The soap has begun a phased return in order to minimise risk of infection at the studio while the outdoor set has been revamped. New safety measures have been put in place at ITV studios including medical screening, safe-distance queuing and ambulances on set amid the coronavirus pandemic. The channel's Health and Safety team and medical advisers have been working closely with the government to consult on social distancing guidelines to ensure the team are working in accordance with return-to-production protocols. ITV also revealed that they would not have any shoots on location, while scripts have been adapted to include fewer scenes and a small number of actors so that the cameras don't need to be moved on a regular basis. First ones back: Emmerdale has already started filming again, with a small cast and crew returning to production in late May Coronation Street Cast returned to set on June 9 to produce new episodes, with a plan to make enough shows to continue airing three episodes a week to ensure the soap remains on-screen in July. ITV bosses also confirmed that older cast members will be kept at home during the first few weeks of filming, with star Andy Whyment revealing that kissing scenes will be banned in accordance with new social distancing measures. Coronation Street bosses confirmed that the soap's production team began a health and safety induction to familiarise themselves with the new protocols that are now in place throughout the studios and on set. Crew have also begun preparations to ensure filming will resume as scheduled at the studios in Manchester. Return: Coronation Street stars returned to set on June 9 to produce new episodes after the shutdown (Ian Bartholomew and Shelley King pictured) Advertisement Across the world, monuments to racism and colonialism are being brought down. What comes next defines historical change. There is glory in seeing monuments, once dedicated to colonisers, enslavers, and brutal leaders, removed from their pedestals and layered with new inscriptions for social justice. Whether statues are toppled, defaced, or thrown into rivers, those removed in the last week across the United States and Europe reflect the growing acceptance that, if we want to interrupt the status quo in the present, we have to reckon with the traumas of the past. Apologists for racist terror once said: Leave the statues alone, they are part of our history. Now, protesters are claiming their rightful place by using monuments as sites of pivotal action. Richmond, Virginias Monument Avenue, resembles a freshly-breached Berlin Wall, another site of divisive infrastructure turned into a canvas for liberation. Activists in Bristol, England not only tore down the statue of enslaver and human trafficker Edward Colston but pushed him into the wharf and updated Google Maps to reflect its sunken relocation. We are living through a next chapter of history written by those who speak truth to power in public, dismantle antiquated systems, and break apart de facto apartheid. From Trafalgar Square to Stone Mountain, protests led by Black and brown activists are summoning waves of allies and accomplices to join, act, and put in the work towards anti-racist change. As we witness the opening days of global protests whose roots run deep, sparked yet again in resistance against entrenched systemic racism and state violence, we are reminded we can no longer postpone radical changes towards the creation of a more just world that we know is possible. We must explore the connections between our symbols and systems in order to make the urgent and generational change that the anti-racist protest movements require of us. A statue of Robert Milligan, a Scottish slave-trader, is removed by workers from outside the Museum of London Docklands near Canary Wharf, London on June 9, 2020 [John Sibley/Reuters] The latest monument takedowns are part of a longer struggle over the representation of history. The statues making headlines this week demonstrate how those with power not only build monuments in their own image but do so to justify continued abuses or to shore up support for exploitation. People make monuments to shape the past. For example, most Confederate monuments were elevated during the period of Black enfranchisement to promote the myths of the Lost Cause, a white-washed retelling of the traitorous role of the confederacy that also romanticised the institution of slavery. We are witnessing urgent acts of resistance to this sort of revisionist and violent storytelling. Rather than merely repeating the tactics of gilded age trophyism, the new architects of monuments, led by visionary artists and activists, balance presence and absence, consider social justice and harm reduction, and take into account the necessity of repair. Monuments are statements of power and presence in public. They are often designed to appear permanent but they require resources to keep them in mint condition and mindsets to hold them up. The idea that monuments are timeless, that they contain universal meaning, and that they are stand-alone figures of history these are the truisms that must also be dismantled. One can hope that the monument takedowns of the last decade were tremors of what we are seeing now. Now, as momentum builds through these protests, we are hearing demands to reckon with both the power of pedestals and government budgets that each continue to reinforce white supremacy. We see connections between disproportionately honouring larger-than-life heroes, whose progress meant pain for communities of colour, and outsized funding for militarised policing. In each case, violent forms of white domination and control are elevated and inscribed as business-as-usual policy. We have routinely euphemised brutal behaviour in the name of progress and white comfort. A profound reckoning is necessary to consider criteria of who or what deserves monumental status, and how that reinforces economic and civic policy. A statue of Christopher Columbus, which was toppled to the ground by protesters, is loaded onto a truck on the grounds of the State Capitol on June 10, 2020, in St Paul, Minnesota. The protest was led by Mike Forcia, a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, who called the statue a symbol of genocide [Stephen Maturen/Getty Images/AFP] In place of these broken monuments, we can ask new questions: What kind of cities do we want to live in? How can care, repair, and reconciliation be our highest priority? What is owed to communities of colour through monumental and economic redress? For too long, those in power have stood idly by and let the statues around us stand as disconnected from our everyday politics. We knew they were not neutral representations of the past, but often spoke to violence against subjugated peoples, and yet we walked by them with cognitive dissonance of acceptance. We have long tinkered with reforms and symbolic gestures rather than imagining new systems for justice. If we embrace the challenge of contending with symbols and systems together, we can create new pathways through history. In my work as a co-founder of Monument Lab, a public art and history studio that seeks to unearth the next generation of monuments through stories of social justice, I have the opportunity to learn from and with artists, activists, and civic designers who pilot new approaches to collective memory. They think bigger than marble and bronze. For example, artist Tania Bruguera built a monument to new immigrants, fashioned out of wet clay so that it would disappear over time as acknowledgement of the strength to start over. Sculptor Karyn Olivier covered an American Revolutionary War monument in a mirror to reflect the working-class Black community that lives in the neighbourhood around the statue. These new monuments are part of a giant wave of projects pushing us to truly contend with the past and make space for a reimagined public sphere. The imperative goes beyond taking down the vicious monuments we have inherited to build radical visions for public art that moves us towards justice, repair, and growth. London: A statue of Winston Churchill has been sealed inside a protective steel barrier ahead of a massive London race protest which Prime Minister Boris Johnson says has been "hijacked" by extremists. Construction workers boarded up the heritage-listed 3.5-metre tall bronze monument to the former prime minister overnight amid fears it could be torn down or become a flashpoint for clashes between rival protesters this weekend. A protective barrier around the statue of Winston Churchill on Parliament Square. Credit:Getty The extraordinary sight has shocked Britain. London Mayor Sadiq Khan also ordered another eight statues to be covered by protective casing while tensions are high. Those statues include tributes to Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, George Washington, and the cenotaph near Downing Street. In his strongest comments yet on the wave of demonstrations sweeping Britain in the wake of the death of African American George Floyd in police custody in Minnesota, a furious Johnson lashed the growing campaign to tear down statues of historic figures with links to racism or slavery. Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate From House Beautiful Looking for a fresh start? An entire 18th century spa village in Sweden, which spans over 60 acres of land, is up for auction for 5.9 million. Located in the beautiful province of Vastmanland, Satra Brunn village has picturesque timber red homes, a hotel, preschool, church, several parks, a bathhouse with a connected spa, sprawling forests, and a spring water source, too all of which will be included in the sale of the village. The current owners acquired the village back in 2002 with a vision to preserve and develop it into a thriving business. But now, it's on the market and searching for new buyers to continue its legacy. It was first established as a spa town in around 1700 by a doctor who praised the health benefits of its natural mineral spring. There might only be around 335 full-time residents, but it's a wonderful village with heaps of tradition and character. 'The current owners are now ready to hand over the reins after a very enriching and inspiring journey, and entrust leadership as well as ownership to a stalwart management team who see the potential and the charm in the village, and hopefully continue to develop this unique village into the fantastic oasis it is for so many,' explains the listing online. Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate It's also worth knowing that the turnover for the business is approximately 30-34 million SEK per year (2019). 'The business has, since the 1700s, mostly been run during the warmer months of the year, but many of the houses are made of timber and oer good possibilities for heating. Some of the houses are already insulated and are used throughout the year,' the listing explains. Just an hour from Stockholm by car, it's positioned in a popular Swedish region with plenty to do. You'll discover idyllic walking routes, scenic views and a tight-knit community spirit. Why settle for one large house when you can snap up an entire village instead? Satra Brunn will be sold through a bidding process. For more information on the sale, please email cecilia.carlsson@rc.se or jonas.martinsson@rc.se. Story continues Take a tour of the village below... Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Photo credit: Christie's International Real Estate Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. SIGN UP You Might Also Like Institutions linked to Qatars royal family have been named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed in New York by dozens of relatives of 10 Americans killed or wounded by Hamas attacks in Israel and the West Bank. The 51-plaintiff lawsuit alleges that Qatar National Bank, Masraf al-Rayan bank and Qatar Charity all tied to Qatars royal family facilitated payment to individuals involved in Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist attacks. The lawsuit, reported first by Arab News, focuses on attacks carried out by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad on US citizens in Israel and the West Bank between 2014-2016, including the killing of a former US Army captain and an assault on a man who later became a member of Israels Knesset. The lawsuit accuses Qatar National Bank of maintaining bank accounts for Hamas officials, including Husam Badran allegedly behind a number of suicide bombings in Israel in the early 2000s, including the 2001 Sbarro Pizza bombing in Jerusalem. The suit accuses specifically accuses Masraf al-Rayan of providing knowing support for Qatar Charitys financial provisions to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. It claims the bank converted Qatar Charity funds to US dollars through a bank in New York before distributing them back to the charitys local branches via the Bank of Palestine or the Islamic Bank in Ramallah. Qatar Charity is headed by Hamad bin Nasser al-Thani, of the countrys royal family. It has long been the official policy of the government of Qatar to provide financial support to the Hamas terrorist organization, the lawsuit reads. Besides being the largest foreign donor to Gaza, Qatar reportedly continues to fund Hamas, whose political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh relocated to Doha earlier this year. Qatar Charity, then called Qatar Charitable Society, was accused in 2003 of laundering money for Osama bin Laden. Q. My father bought this painting on a trip to Mexico in the 1960s. I do not know how much he paid for it. It is on canvas and with frame included measures 72.4 x 62.2 cm (28.5 x 24.5 inches). The signature is Gustavo Montoya. I was lucky enough to inherit it and hang it in my daughters bedroom. I am wondering what its value might be. With thanks, Denise, Cambridge A. Born in Mexico City, Montoya (1905-2003) began studying art when he was 14 at the Academia de San Carlos. He continued studies in Paris, France, Italy and England. Teacher, a founding member of the Liga de Escritores y Artistas Revolucionarios and a member of the Salon de la Plastica Mexicana an institution promoting Mexican contemporary art where members are top Mexican artists Montoya was an artistic force. He exhibited worldwide including Mexico, Peru, the United States, Belgium and Japan. He also worked as a poster artist in Hollywood. Montoya is best known for these compositions with young Mexican children in traditional garb holding small objects in various poses. His style is distinctive, captivating and very desirable. It is worth $10,000. Q. I was helping a friend renovate a pub he owned in Ottawa and he was throwing out a lot of old pottery. This piece caught my eye and before Id let him throw it out I thought of your column. The original pub owners were from England and they left it when they sold the pub. On the bottom, it is written Shorter England. Its about 30.5 cm tall (12 inches). Regards, Doug, Ottawa A. Shorter & Son began as such in Stoke around 1905. They operated into the 1960s. This prolific pottery produced novelties and utilitarian tableware objects with a vast portfolio of glazes and decoration. Your art pottery rescue vase represents the beginnings of Modernism where designers strove for novel, utilitarian and harmonious qualities. Even though the shape number 338 implies a commercial quality, evident handwork charms with two different applied strap handles and incised fish superimposed on a ringed body the fish possibly influenced by designer, Mabel Leigh who worked for Shorter in the 1930s. Now safe it stands tall at $90. Q. I own this Duncan Phyfe-type card table made by F.B.M. Co. Hoboken, N.J. Ferguson Brothers Manufacturing Company, New Jersey. The company existed from 1898 to 1953. I suspect this was made in the 1920s as it has a brass plate with their name and 4470 on it. The top swivels 90 degrees, which reveals a little storage compartment underneath before its unfolded. Its mahogany with metal claw feet and a double ballast base. Closed it is 91 cm wide and 76 cm high (36 x 30 inches). I am curious to hear what you think its worth. Thanks. Tara, Ottawa A. Ferguson was actually founded in New York City in 1878 and was a wholesale manufacturer. They relocated to Hoboken at the turn of the century, operated there until 1945, and continued operating in some form until 1953. They made a full line of furniture including cedar chests, fire screens and a variety of tables. Phyfe became well known for this leg type but many other cabinetmakers also used it. American furniture in this style is typical of the American Federal era of 1810 to 1830. In the British Isles, it would be called Regency. The base and acanthus leaf carvings are typical. Often there would be four colonnettes supporting the top. The grain is strong a type called ribbon mahogany. It is high quality with the reeded top edges. I would date it to the 1930s. Games tables are presently reasonable with this one valued at $550. Regardless, it is in top condition and a fine example. Military veterans gather in protest at a train station in Changsha city, Hunan Province. (Provided to The Epoch Times) Chinese Veterans Stage a Protest Over TV Insult, Ongoing Mistreatment A televised insult of soldiers was the catalyst for a gathering of nearly 100 veterans at the train station of Changsha, capital city of Hunan Province, at 4 p.m. local time on June 11. It was the first large-scale gathering of veterans after the loosening of restrictions for the pandemic in China. This gathering was in response to economist Wang Fuzhongs recent comment in a show: The soldiers fight against the enemy in the rain of bullets is just for vanity. To protest against the remarks, Changsha veterans decided to appeal to Beijing. In a notice issued by the Changsha Veteran Home on June 10, veterans were invited to gather outside the train station and depart for Beijing. Veterans were recommended to wear their uniforms. In one day, nearly 100 veterans gathered outside Changsha train station. Video showed police were also present. Veteran Lin Yi (an alias) told The Epoch Times, the plan was interrupted because of the police. He mentioned that their activity has gained many online signatures and support from veterans in other provinces of China. Ongoing Veteran Dissatisfaction With the Government Although their actions were nominally to protest against Wang Fuzhongs remarks, the underlying reason is because these veterans are dissatisfied with the government on several counts. After demobilization, various benefits payments were stolen or reduced one after another. Life has turned bitter for the veterans. In the past two years, protests by veterans have taken place one after another in China. Mistreatment of veterans is frequent news in China. On Dec. 31, 2019, a veteran in Shanxi Province committed suicide because years of petition had simply gone in vain. This May, another conflict erupted when a veteran asked for a half-price discount on transportation with a military disabled certificate. He was told to quit living if he cant afford to live. Lin Yi explained that what concerns the veterans is identity. The authorities lack of response has pushed the veterans to act together, said Lin Yi. A Time of Injustice Lin Yi indicated that this is a time of injustice, and veterans ought to demonstrate their characteristic bravery. He mentioned that the veteran protest in 2017 forced Beijing to establish the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. However, the regime has continually suppressed veterans who speak out. This injustice was caused by the system. Without fundamental advancement and reform, the veterans problems could be the last straw, added Lin Yi. He said, This is not about defending rights. It is about justice. We fight for honor. The number of retired military personnel has reached 57 million in China as of 2018, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The number increases at a rate of hundreds of thousands per year. MANILA, Philippines A Filipina seafarer of a cruise ship docked in Barbados took her own life while awaiting repatriation to the Philippines amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The sad news was reported by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. on his Twitter account on Thursday (June 11). It is my sad duty to report that a 28-year old female mariner committed suicide in her cabin in the ship where she's had to stay because repatriation flights back to the Philippines have been suspended again. I know our quarantine facilities are jam-packed; just don't know why. Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 11, 2020 The 28 year old female mariner, who locsin identified as Mariah Jocson, committed suicide in her cabin on board M/V Harmony of the Seas last Tuesday (June 9) where she had to stay because repatriation flights back to the Philippines had been suspended again. RIP. Ms. Mariah Jocson took her life onboard Harmony of the Seas where crew detained awaiting PH repeatedly rescinded repatriation. Second suicide. We are tartly reminded that Filipino resilience is no excuse to stretch them to breaking point. Di sila goma; tao sila. Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 11, 2020 Jocson is the second overseas Filipino who committed suicide amid the pandemic. Last month, a Filipina household service worker in Lebanon also took her life amid the pandemic as she was also waiting for repatriation to the Philippines. Malacanang expressed sympathy over the death of Jocson and assured that investigation is being undertaken by concerned authorities. Likewise, Presidential Spokesman Secretary Harry Roque said in a statement that Malacanang already ordered concerned agencies to check and look after the mental welfare of Filipinos affected by the crisis. Story continues We ask relevant agencies of the government to look into the mental anguish of those adversely impacted by the COVID-19. The worldwide pandemic is taking an emotional toll on everyone and we must help our countrymen cope with stress, fear and worry in this challenging time, Roque said. He added that the government is currently doing its best efforts to fast-track the repatriation of OFWs from countries with confirmed coronavirus cases. The post Filipina seafarer awaiting repatriation commits suicide in Barbados appeared first on UNTV News. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - With 826 additional deaths reporting in the last 24 hours, the total coronavirus death toll in the United States rose to 113820 on Friday. In the same period, 17847 new cases were reported in the country, taking the total number of people infected with the deadly disease to 2023,347, according to Johns Hopkins University's latest update. New York (30580 deaths, 380892 infections), New Jersey (12443 deaths, 165816 infections), Michigan (5985 deaths, 65449 infections), Massachusetts (7492 deaths, 104667 infections), Louisiana (2987 deaths, 44472 infections), Illinois (6185 deaths, 130603 infections), Pennsylvania (6113 deaths, 81848 infections), California (4934 deaths, 143377 infections), Connecticut (4146 deaths, 44461 infections), Texas (1930 deaths, 82658 infections), Georgia (2375 deaths, 54973 infections), Virginia (1520 deaths, 52647 infections), Maryland (2875 deaths, 60197 infections), Florida (2848 deaths, 69069 infections), Indiana (2380 deaths, 38748 infections), Ohio (2492 deaths, 40004 infections), Colorado (1582 deaths, 28632 infections), Minnesota (1280 deaths, 29316 infections), Arizona (1135 deaths, 31267 infections)and Washington (1194 deaths, 24779 infections) are the worst-affected U.S. states. According to the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering, global deaths reached 421,856, and the number of cases crossed 7.5 million. While the U.S. continue to be the worst affected country, the situation in India worsened with it overtaking the U.K. to become fourth in the total number of COVID cases - 297,535 - recorded. European Union Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told EU health ministers in a video conference that COVID-19 crisis is not over yet, and governments need to be vigilant. Meanwhile, a new study by researchers in Texas and California shows wearing a mask is the most effective way to stop community spread of coronavirus. Comparing Covid-19 infection rate trends in Italy and New York, it was found that cases came down only after wearing face masks was made mandatory. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. A nursing home worker in New Jersey rendezvoused with "the parking lot guy" to cut a deal for gowns. A director of safety-net clinics in Florida learned basic Chinese and waited outside past midnight for a truck to arrive with tens of thousands of masks. A cardiologist in South Carolina tried his luck with "shady characters" to buy ingredients to blend his own hand sanitizer. The global pandemic has ordinary health care workers going to extremes in a desperate hunt for medical supplies. Community clinics, nursing homes and independent doctors, in particular, find themselves on the fringe of the supply chain for masks, gowns, gloves and ventilators. Their missions have the cinematic quality of the drug trade or a black-market arms deal: Desperate administrators wire money to mysterious offshore bank accounts, wary of the flimflam man. Most medical supplies - from isolation gowns to the filtration components of N95 masks - originate in China, in vast factories that manufacture so-called spunbond polypropylene out of toxic chemicals. Decades of honing has turned the supply chain into an efficient, just-in-time wonder of globalization. But that system crumbled in the midst of the pandemic as countries, states, cities and health care providers all sought the same things at the same time. "You had all these brokers entering the market looking for arbitrage," said Michael Alkire, president of Premier, a company that negotiates supply contracts for hospitals. "Unless you were a significant player, it was hard to get access." That's how Carol Silver Elliott, president of the Jewish Home Family in Rockleigh, New Jersey, ended up here: "We wired 'the parking lot guy' half the money," she said. "I swear I don't know his name." At the end of May, the "parking lot guy" remained her go-to source. The nursing home is spending "significant money," Silver Elliott said, but the risk is worth it if she can outfit her staff with adequate personal protective equipment, known as PPE. As the crisis dissipates at major hospital systems in urban centers like New York, Seattle and Detroit, the collateral damage is becoming apparent elsewhere. The burden of managing the disease long term is shifting to nursing homes, safety-net clinics and outpatient medical practices. As these facilities brace for rolling waves of new infections, they are hustling to stock up on essential medical supplies masks, gowns, testing kits, even disinfectant wipes needed for basic care. Thus far, things are not going well. *** The first time Andy Behrman pulled up to the warehouse in Ocala, it was empty. Behrman, director of the Florida Association of Community Health Centers, had spent the beginning of April trying to get gowns, gloves and masks for community clinics across the state's 67 counties. During that time, he ventured into dark corners of the internet to identify 15 distributors, spent hours on the phone vetting vendors, traveled to Tallahassee to obtain a six-figure bank draft, rented a warehouse and loading trucks, and then hired staff for the three-day distribution operation. Getting the goods was "a complete free-for-all, a feeding frenzy," Behrman said. Sourcing has "basically come down to a huge dose of 'God, I hope these guys are legit.'" Despite his best efforts, the original order placed the second week of April with a vendor from Tulsa, Oklahoma was delayed for hours, then days. It had been diverted to Cincinnati the opposite direction. One hundred thousand N95 masks were expected. Only 50,000 arrived and they were KN95s, which do not meet U.S. quality standards. The bill due was the same: $180,000. After the distributor phoned on a Saturday morning to report another delay and request credentials to access funds in the secure FedEx account, Behrman said he had "so much angina that [he] couldn't practically breathe." He called it off. Nearly a week later, on April 24, a different vendor drove masks overnight from Duluth, Georgia, and 600 clinics had more of what they needed to safely treat their patients. Behrman is still hunting for gowns and gloves. Without bulk donations from organizations like Direct Relief, a provider of humanitarian aid, and the philanthropic arms of companies like Centene, a health insurer, "I don't know what the hell we'd do," he said. To get a leg up in negotiations, he's been teaching himself rudimentary Chinese. International Community Health Services (ICHS), a nonprofit health center in Seattle, depends on LabCorp for nasal swabs needed for testing but recently has been receiving oral swabs instead. Over the past two months, to alleviate shortages of various supplies, the organization "had to get extremely creative," said Rachel Koh, chief operating officer. They tried to get equipment from Hungary, "but that didn't really work out," Koh said. In the end, an ICHS physician knew a local businessman who knew an international distributor in Hong Kong, who could coordinate the logistics and arrange to import the supplies they needed. "We are always on the hunt for new suppliers," Koh said, "but you have to be brave, because you don't know [whom] you can trust anymore." Likewise, throughout April and May, Dr. Ian Smith a cardiologist in South Carolina tried to find necessities for the two clinics he owns. "I stopped at every general store between them," he said, "but all their shelves were cleared out." Then he turned to "shady characters" halfway across the world - learning a bit of Lithuanian in the process - to no avail. So he's taken on patient safety as a Sunday "do-it-yourself" project: ordering products like ethyl alcohol, aloe vera and storage vessels from Amazon and Etsy to mix his own hand sanitizer. Dr. Paula Muto, a general surgeon in Massachusetts, has struggled to find lidocaine and saline. Both are critical during surgery. "All the doctors are competing with each other to get this stuff," she said. Muto anticipates that when routine procedures begin again, given the fragility of the health care supply chain, "all the supplies you can't buy at Staples" may go on back order. This includes almost everything except hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes assuming she can find those on shelves. But she has a backup plan." A distributor she knows in Alabama sources supplies from Spain and other European countries. "We're already stocking up," she said. "We're trying to make sure we're at the top of every distributors' list." Some office workers across Britain have slowly returned to their desk in the last few weeks - but there is still a big slice working from home, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Even though many are keen to kickstart the economy one leading consultancy is warning of the risks of trying to return to the 'old ways of working' too fast. The questions for many workers will be: when will I be returning to the office, will I be able to work from home more often and what does the future of the office look like? Meanwhile, many firms - big and small - have voiced thoughts over potentially scaling back their offices entirely, including Barclays and Twitter. Things may not go back to 'normal'. According to a research conducted by video conferencing platform Whereby, 82 per cent of businesses are now considering allowing more staff to work remotely on a permanent basis Anna Barez-Brown, co-founder of Shine, which helps companies with gender balance, says: 'Companies which try to return to old systems and resume regular working too quickly are at risk of creating a toxic environment, missing a trick to establish a stronger, more diverse team. 'So even when government gives the green light to certain sectors, this needs to be done in a strategic, thought-out way. 'At the same time, a lot of businesses are going to be fighting for their lives, which will be reflected by hiring freezes and greater demands on everyone.' But do all businesses have the same survival plan? Here, companies tell us how they're adapting to life after lockdown and reveal their new ways of working. We're giving up our flashy office Mike Hampson of Bishopsgate Financial says he's ditching his swanky offices in London and getting 18 staff members to work remotely Mike Hampson, chief executive of Bishopsgate Financial says he's ditching his swanky offices in London. He says they were fortunate enough to have given notice just before the lockdown on their annual lease but won't be seeking a replacement. The business employs 18 people but following the lockdown Mike has realised that the staff only needs to meet a couple of times a month to operate. 'As we were all pushed to work on new tools, we found that remote working worked really well for us. 'As a team we're still going to have to meet up on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, but we don't need a permanent office for that. 'Our clients have accepted it as well. 'I think giving up office space will become a trend and the Regus's of this world will really struggle. 'The technology has only just got the stage where it's effective when it comes to internet speed. Also, this way of working has been more productive.' We're introducing team days and hot-desking Paul Sulyok, of Green Man Gaming says that some staff are still missing colleagues and want to go back Paul Sulyok, founder and chief of Green Man Gaming says that his company has gathered feedback from various teams through the creation of a taskforce of line managers and a dedicated 'Life After Lockdown' communication channel via Slack. He says: 'We have a very open culture so everyone feels very comfortable to share how they feel about work from home and what the future could look like without judgement.' The company says feedback so far is that some staff are highly productive working from home but still miss colleagues. So, the company is using a blended approach which includes work from home, team days and hot-desking. Paul explains: 'This might include team days where different departments have different days they are in the office - what works best for the individual and the teams.' He adds that the 'hot desk' way of working would include working to set core hours, to maximise face to face sessions. We're itching to get back Ruzbeh Bacha founder of financial and market news provider CityFalcon says employees will be free to return as they please Ruzbeh Bacha founder of financial and market news provider CityFalcon says the business has never been busier, but adds: 'Regardless, we have been well-positioned to adapt to the current changes to the working environment and continue to serve our users as well as we did previously. 'We already had a number of team members working remotely on a permanent basis, so had established channels for engaging via teleworking applications like Zoom and Slack. 'That said - some miss the camaraderie of a start-up office and are itching to get back. 'As such, we have decided that CityFalcon employees will be free to return to the offices as they please; we don't intend to phase things in slowly. 'However, this will be in strict adherence to guidance on social distancing, and we will be asking everyone to remain two meters from each other. 'If our offices start to get overcrowded, we have the option - and the flexibility - to ask people to work from home. 'The current situation has taught us that our business can operate just as effectively this way.' Twitter - we're working from home forever Small and medium sized workplaces are not the only ones that are ditching their office spaces in favour of remote working. Social media platform Twitter announced in a blog in March that it has shifted its stance from 'strongly encouraging work from home' to now enforcing a mandatory work from home policy. This policy will not only be adopted in its London office but globally. Twitter has adopted a global and mandatory work from home policy. It's also supporting its staff by creating communication channels and financial financial support for parents who have incurred extra day-care expenses The company said: 'We understand that this is an unprecedented step, but these are unprecedented times. 'And we will continue to do all that we can to support out Tweeps'. It added that support would be offered in numerous ways including help with setting up at-home offices, reimbursement for parents that have had to pay for additional day-care expenses, and that conversations would be encourage through its FlockTalk programme. We're doing a phased approach Major financial institutions in Canary Wharf, such as Barclays, Citigroup and HSBC are said to be adopting a phased approach which includes limiting lift capacity, daily deep cleans and one-way footfall routes According to an internal memo from Barclays one per cent of the workforce (around 700 staff) are set to return to work in July and August. This means the majority of the workforce (around 85,000 staff) are still working at home and this is expected to continue till the end of September. There are also no plans from Barclays to stop the opening of its technology centre in 2021, which is set to create 2,500 jobs in Glasgow. It's not certain if this will remain the way of working in the future though. Barclays boss Jes Staley has, after all, said having thousands of office workers in one building 'may be a thing of the past' in the most recent financial results briefing. Small steps: A host of City institutions are planning a 'phased' return to their Canary offices as the coronavirus lockdown eases Will we all return to 'normal'? While some are keen to get back to the office to socialise and reconnect with colleagues one study reveals that the new normal could prevail. According to a research conducted by video conferencing platform Whereby, which surveyed 1,500 respondents how they expect working practices to change once lockdown measures lift 82 per cent of businesses are now considering allowing more staff to work remotely on a permanent basis. Meanwhile, 65 percent said they will downsize or change the office space once lockdown is lifted. yvind Reed, chief executive of Whereby, says: 'To my mind, this research highlights two things. 'Firstly, remote working is not something people fear nor wish to resist: employees and decision-makers alike are recognising and embracing its benefits. 'Secondly, businesses are already looking ahead to how the lessons learned from lockdown might be applied to strengthen and streamline their working practices - from office rental to recruitment - once enforced remote working is no longer in place.' African-Americans and Latinos in New York will have another round of free COVID-19 testing on June 19, and another one may be conducted this summer by different churches and the state government. Free COVID-19 Tests for Latinos and Blacks Latinos and Blacks or the minorities in the state of New York have been adversely affected by the global pandemic. Aside from the economic and health devastation, minorities do not have access to COVID-19 tests that could somehow help flatten the curve of the increasing rate of infections in the state. According to a published article in The New York Times, churches that are serving the African-Americans and Latinos are now expanding their free COVID-19 testing services across the state. These churches are working closely with the governor's office and Northwell Health to make this charitable initiative possible. In addition, the government's office will provide the churches during the free COVID-19 tests with staff, supplies, and Personal Protective Equipment. Meanwhile, Northwell Health will be deploying nurses, emergency medical technicians, and phlebotomists. Results of the Previous COVID-19 Tests The free COVID-19 testing began in in May at 24 churches in New York. The result showed that out of 1,000 residents who were having the symptoms, nearly nine percent tested positive for the virus. Another COVID-19 testing was conducted on June 1 at the different churches serving African-Americans and Latinos in New York City, Hudson Valley, and Long Island. The free COVID-19 testing will continue on June 19 and may be conducted as well this summer. Latinos and Blacks Hardest Hit in New York In another published report from ABC News, the report revealed that more Blacks in the city of New York are dying from COVID-19 compared to other racial groups. This was also confirmed through the data released by the City Health Department. As of today, the country has recorded more than 2 million COVID-19 cases and a death toll of more than 116,000. Meanwhile, the state of New York has recorded more than 400,000 cases and a death toll of more than 30,000 according to worldometers. This makes New York the state in the country with the highest number of infections. They are followed by New Jersey, California, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Additionally, it is not only in one state where the African-Americans and Latinos were hardest hit by COVID-19. According to data gathered by the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, many of the states in the country found that African-Americans and Latinos are more likely to be hospitalized due to COVID-19. Meanwhile, a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed that African-American share a large amount on infections and death toll in almost all states across the country. It is for this reason that churches in the State of New York are now doubling their efforts to massively tests the minorities who are very vulnerable to COVID-19. The COVID-19 testing will help to treat the African-Americans and Latinos who will test positive for the virus. Check these out! The unfortunate reality, however, is that arrests and successful prosecutions are unlikely without cooperating witnesses. Police executives say anti-snitching norms undermine their ability to deliver desperately needed justice. And my research and others has found persuasive evidence of a strong anti-snitching subculture, especially among people like Jay, who are deeply entrenched in networks of offenders. But authorities who complain about anti-snitching edicts overlook that there are reasons for law-abiding residents to be wary of stepping forward with key information: Simply put, after cooperating with law enforcement, witnesses often return to the same communities where they felt unsafe to begin with. The streets talk, as the saying goes, and being labeled a snitch can easily lead to an upstanding citizens untimely death in neighborhoods where the police cant effectively protect them. So witnesses must weigh the costs when considering whether to cooperate with the police. And when the public sees law enforcement as lacking moral legitimacy, research shows, theyre less likely to support their crime-fighting missions which means that when police dont do their jobs well, its hard to improve. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. NSCN (IM) terror funding case: Charges filed against two India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 11: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet in connection with a terror funding case involving the NSCN (IM). The two persons charged are Alemla Jamir and Masasasong. The case relates to the recovery of Rs 72 lakh in cash by the Special Cell of the Delhi police. The case was later handed over to the NIA. NIA charges two in Bihar fake currency case The probe revealed that the accused had entered into a criminal conspiracy and directly raised, collected and layered terror funds through a maze of bank accounts, business entities on behalf of terrorist group NSCN (IM). Covid-19: India registers over 10,000 fresh cases in 24 hours and 396 deaths | Oneindia News Jamir was helped by the other accused in extortion and also channelisation of terror funds in a bid to commit disruptive acts. During the probe several incriminating articles such as prohibited ammunition, wildlife articles, documents pertaining to the modus operandi of the group, drone, satellite phones and documents pertaining to land deals were seized. An amount of Rs 2.70 crore in cash was also seized by the NIA. Marie D. De Jesus/Staff More than 100,000 U.S. oil and gas jobs have been lost during the economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, a new report shows. Rystad Energy analyzed federal Bureau of Labor Statistic data and found that 44,550 jobs have been cut from oil-field service companies; 23,050 jobs from oil and gas drilling and extraction companies; and 16,000 jobs from pipeline companies since the outbreak of the coronavirus in the U.S. in early February. The Norwegian energy research firm also found some 20,000 additional jobs in the oil and gas supply chain have been lost, bringing the total to more than 100,000. The tech industry is hitting the brakes on facial recognition software.On June 11, Microsoft President Brad Smith joined a growing list of tech companies coming out against facial recognition in law enforcement. Axon , the nations largest retailer of police body cameras, came out against facial recognition last year , citing ethical concerns about surveillance, accuracy and algorithms built on racially biased statistics. In January, CEO Sundar Pichai of Googles parent company, Alphabet, supported the European Unions temporary ban on facial recognition. On Monday, IBM sent a letter to Congress vowing not to sell facial recognition or analysis software, and offering advice on new policies. On Wednesday, Amazon reversed its prior stance on the issue and halted police use of its facial recognition technology for a year, awaiting federal legislation.Now Microsoft is on board as well.In a video interview withSmith said that Microsoft doesnt sell facial recognition technology to police departments today, but he went further to say the company wont do so until theres federal regulation.Weve decided that we will not sell facial recognition technology to police departments in the United States until we have a national law in place, grounded in human rights, that will govern this technology, he said. Well also put in place some additional review factors, so that were looking at other potential uses of this technology that go beyond what we already have, for other potential scenarios.Its unclear what potential scenarios Smith was referring to, but Microsoft taking a broad stance against facial recognition is a change for the company. Although Microsoft has turned down police department requests for facial recognition technology in the past and advocated for federal regulation, Smith broke with Alphabets CEO in January regarding the EUs call for a temporary ban. As recently as last month, Microsoft supported AB 2261 in California, a regulatory measure that left room for businesses or agencies to deny services based on a scan of someones face.The American Civil Liberties Union took issue with this, citing a government study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology that found facial recognition is up to 100 times more likely to misidentify African-American and Asian people than white people.In his comments today, though, Smith suggested the growing national attention on racism offers a chance to get an important thing right: new federal regulation of facial recognition software, rooted in a concern for human rights, which companies like his have been calling for. He made the point that without legislation, the market for facial recognition technology will belong to companies that dont have such concerns.If all of the responsible companies in the country cede this market to those not prepared to take a stand, we wont necessarily serve the national interest, or the lives of black and African American people of this nation well, Smith said. We need Congress to act, not just tech companies alone. That is the only way that we will guarantee that well protect the lives of people.So with Axon, Google, IBM, Amazon and now Microsoft imposing a moratorium on facial recognition, whos still selling it to law enforcement? It would seem not many, although the CEO of police tech vendor Wolfcom in Pasadena, Calif., doubled down on the idea when asked about it in March. Clearview AI also makes the technology explicitly for law enforcement. Americas first female spacewalker has made history yet again, this time by becoming the first woman to dive to the lowest known point on Earth, known as Challenger Deep, in a submersible expedition vehicle. Former NASA astronaut and oceanographer Kathryn Sullivan, 68, returned from Challenger Deep, located in the western Pacific, on June 7. She and her pilot, ex-Naval officer Victor Vescovo, dove almost 36,000 feet into the Pacific Oceans Mariana Trench off the coast of the Philippines in the submersible DSV Limiting Factor. The dive was organized by EYOS Expeditions. Dr. Kathy Sullivan and Victor Vescovo during a Mariana Trench dive. (Courtesy of Enrique Alvarez and EYOS Expeditions) This is the most exclusive destination on Earth, EYOSs expedition leader Rob McCallum said in a press release. More people have been to the moon than to the bottom of the ocean. After making a safe return to Limiting Factors docking ship, DSSV Pressure Drop, Sullivan and Vescovo made a momentous phone call to the International Space Station (ISS) to mark the occasion. As a hybrid oceanographer and astronaut this was an extraordinary day, a once-in-a-lifetime day, seeing the moonscape of the Challenger Deep and then comparing notes with my colleagues on the ISS about our remarkable reusable inner-space, outer-spacecraft, Sullivan said, as EYOS reported on a Facebook post. We made some more history today, added her colleague Vescovo, a veteran expeditioner who has scaled Mount Everest and is the fourth person ever to reach Challenger Deep. It was a pleasure to have Kathy along, both as an oceanographer during the dive and then as an astronaut to talk to the ISS. According to EYOS, the ISS is currently in low Earth orbit, maintaining an altitude of 254 miles, while Limiting Factor operates at a depth of almost 7 miles below sea level. Sullivan and Vescovo spent roughly an hour and a half at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, The New York Times reported, before making their four-hour ascent back to the surface. Limiting Factor deep-sea submersible vehicle attended to by surface crew (Courtesy of Enrique Alvarez and EYOS Expeditions) Sullivan is the first woman and the eighth person overall to reach the bottom of the trench, succeeding Don Walsh and Jacques Picard in 1960 and Titanic film director James Cameron in 2012. Limiting Factor is the first vehicle in history that has repeatedly made the trip. Challenger Deep is characterized by a blanket of darkness, extreme atmospheric pressure, and low temperatures, reports the Independent. Only basic microorganisms are able to survive its largely inhospitable environment. Dr. Kathy Sullivan and Victor Vescovo. (Courtesy of Enrique Alvarez and EYOS Expeditions) Dr. Kathy Sullivan and Victor Vescovo examine underwater survey data. (Courtesy of Enrique Alvarez and EYOS Expeditions) Dr. Kathy Sullivan, Victor Vescovo and crew of DSSV Pressure Drop (Courtesy of Enrique Alvarez and EYOS Expeditions) From outer space to the bottom of the ocean floor, Sullivans story began almost seven decades ago. Born in New Jersey on Oct. 3, 1951, she became a NASA astronaut in 1979. A veteran of three space shuttle flights, she became the first American woman to walk in space five years after her admission into the space administration. Sullivan was also part of a team that launched, rescued, repaired, and maintained the Hubble Space Telescope. She penned a book about her experience, Handprints on Hubble, in 2019. Dr. Kathy Sullivan (Courtesy of Enrique Alvarez and EYOS Expeditions) In 2004, Sullivan became an inductee into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. After Sullivans recent underwater feat, Tim Shank, a biologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, hailed her as a leader in the field of oceanography. Im thrilled to hear that she was in [Limiting Factor], he told The New York Times. Anytime we can reach such extreme places on Earth to learn about them, its a major event. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc The IAB SA's most recent IAB Insights online webinar took place yesterday, 11 June on Zoom, looking at building the basics in digital video and audio and enabling engagement and conversion in the digital economy. What was the key theme or message of your talk? Talk us through some of your key insights. People dont accidentally listen to a podcast. There has to be intent. They will seek out content that resonates with them, that answers a question for them, or that engages in a deeper discussion or conversation with them. This is not ephemeral, bubblegum radio. Its something deeper and more connected. What one main call to action would you advise brands to take at this time? The digital economy is changing at such a rapid rate, especially given the current global crisis. Comment on its impact of content (video | audio) on the digital economy in context of your talk. At this time of crisis please share one key learning that you have personally (or professionally) taken on board, that you believe will assist others to navigate the future of work as we (are getting to) know it. When recording at home, the room and environment you record in is more important than the microphone you use. Turn off aircons and noisy appliances, close windows to eliminate barking dogs and hadedas and ideally pack cushions and pillows around you. Yes, make a little cushion fort if you can. IAB SA Front Row winner and aspiring digital strategist and copywriter Motshidisi Mokoena spoke about the consumption of and use of digital media during Covid-19: a day in the life of a graduate. Kelvin Storie, Principal: Media Strategy & Insights: Business Enablement at DStv Media Sales, spoke about the evolution of digital video. IAB SA Digital Audio Committee member and founder and CEO of Solid Gold Podcast Studios, Gavin Kennedy spoke about storytelling, and Thato Rampedi, content creator and YouTuber, spoke about creating influence and the relationship between the content creator and the subscribers.Here, Mokoena, Storie, Kennedy and Rampedi share some key insights and takeaways from their presentationsThe consumption of digital media (video and audio) by a novice (a new graduate) and a freelancer who is new to the remote workforce during Covid-19.I speak to the evolution of digital video specifically on the convergence of screens, the fuelling of OTT and the video subscription evolution. It seems that too many of us are caught up in the space of digital video being a pure form digital space, but this is evolving at a massive rate. The adoption of screens and what each is providing, as well as the behavioural space the user is in when consuming and the content that each has available to offer is driving the spread of the OTT offering SVOD, AVOD, TVOD, BVOD. Each one has a place, its not one for the other. So, a video strategy needs to be adapted as per any other media along the consumer viewing journey (morning through to evening) across any platform, anywhere, anyhow.Humans are storytellers and story listeners. For millennia we had only oral communication, with stories, myths, legends and history passed from generation to generation by spoken word and as humans, we engage deeply with audio and are adept at listening and walking, driving, cooking, running, etc. So digital audio is here to stay, and with 25% of all podcast content having been created during the last three months, it is rapidly becoming an integrated part of our daily lives and should be included in all corporate communication and advertising plans.The key element of my talk was creating trust between the creator and the subscriber through consistent relatable content. Enabling trust through consistency introduces purchasing power and the ability to redirect traffic. Once trust is gained true influence is present.The risk of information overload. Too much streaming of information poses a risk if information anxiety, thus we should consume content with intention.When choosing between creating a video or audio, you need to understand the consumers of your audience and the value you want your content to add, then you can decide what type of content to share.OTT video planning is growing, but also evolving based on the user behaviour and driven by the content it has to offer.It isnt one for the other, these platforms are complementing each other, and each one plays a crucial role in the video mindset of the viewer. Live content viewing (information need-based) versus BVOD viewing (escapism need-based) are two different viewing moments in a viewers day.Subscription threshold management in the HH the rise of AVOD platforms to offset the overall HH subscription purse.Digital audio has entered an exponential growth phase. Although podcasting (originally known as audio blogging) has been around for 16 odd years, approximately 25% of all new podcast channels started in the past year.Digital audio players are now built into mobile device operating systems, removing much of the earlier friction encountered in getting content onto portable devices.There has been a significant shift from music-only to mixed listening, particularly long-form, deep-dive (engaging) content. Spotify, in particular, is undertaking a massive drive and investment into spoken-word audio content.Were entering a phase of hyper-focused audiences, rather than the old familiar FM radio mass market, and now should think along these lines It doesn't matter how many people you reach, but that you reach the people who matter.Digital audio audiences listen while... (e.g. while cooking, while exercising).Amazon predicts that audiobook downloads will overtake ebook sales this year.I would advise brands to focus on creating long term relationships with creators. Creators have spent months and some years growing their platform and gaining trust from their viewers.Audiences react and engagement is created from acts that are continuously made.Many campaigns with creators are once of creating once off traffic to the brand as well as sales where possible. If a creator was to continuously represent a brand their subscribers would be more inclined to invest in the new relationship.Create content that resonates with your community, tell a story, don't just push out information.It always starts with the consumer, so the same applies to starting with the viewer. Understand their content viewing behaviour and map that need state throughout the day. This is nothing new to any strategist, but somehow the basics are not being adhered too. What is that lean back moment (relax, escapism) versus the lean forward moment (info seeking, attention)? And ensure that your creative matches the platform as well as how that platform is viewed (i.e. smart TV versus mobile).The best time to start your podcast was 10 years ago, the next best time is today.Digital audio is being used in so many innovative ways to add value to the entire customer experience. From FAQ podcasts (that also reduce the burden on call centres) to deep-dive conversations on focused topics of interest to niche audiences. Case studies, conversations with clients and round table discussions are proving popular, useful and valuable too.Websites are seeing a shift to tl;dr (too long; didnt read) as web users pay less attention to the voluminous written word, and instead, listen to the content theyre after.There are approximately 31 million YouTube channels, while podcasts on Apple only recently topped the one million mark, so there is massive potential for growth still.During this pandemic people are more interested in consuming content. Now is definitely the time to create video content due to the increased traffic on the platforms. Personally in the last 30 days, I have grown over 10,000 new subscribers placing my channel at 37,000 subscribers. People need to be educated on the pandemic but at times distracted. These times call for art and creativity.Going digital is now a way to pivot, not just a trend, it is imperative that brands migrate to the digital space and integrate different types of content, especially now that most of us are at home. There is a lot of information going around so we want to consume content as we go, in the most convenient way possible, our attention span is very short so the message needs to be clear.Content has always been an important part of the quality of the video platform and what it can offer, but this has been even more dramatised and re-enforced. Usage behaviour is driven by the content you keep. Aggregation of content is the new economy as the viewer is confronted by so much choice that it may bring them to a point of not making a choice at all.Early indications are that digital audio not only survived global lockdowns but in many instances showed accelerated adoption. There was substantial growth of listeners and many companies and brands started their podcasts over this time as they realised just how rapidly, affordably, and effectively they could communicate with their clients.Fortunately for us, in the week before lockdown in South Africa, we commissioned several more at home studios so that our teams were able to continue with our existing clients, and also accommodate the rush of new clients who came on board during the crisis.One thing Ive learned during this time is that communication with your audience is key. Many creators are not able to create their normal video content due to the pandemic. Many have stopped and are waiting for the pandemic to end. Adapting to current situations and communicating why your content might change is key. Explaining to your audience that your content might be shorter/longer or completely different is all that is needed. Consumers are currently lenient on what is presented to them due to the pandemic if explained to.Adapt to the new normal but don't lose your tone and/or identity as a brand, and as individuals, may we learn to see the crisis as an opportunity to step out of our comfort zone.Keep calm and stick to the sound basics when it comes to data analysis, segmentation and behavioural analysis. The process and interpretation havent changed, only the amount of data that you have at your disposal.When people are scared, they search for information. There is a massive shift towards people listening to conversations that answer those questions, rather than simply reading social media posts.While we remain strong advocates of high-quality production values that include professional microphones, studios and editors, weve always maintained that content trumps form. A low-quality recording of compelling content is better value than a high-quality recording of someone talking nonsense.During lockdown, audiences affirmed this and continued to listen to content that may have been produced on laptop microphones in noisy kitchens at home. However, this is likely to be a temporary reprieve, and within the next months, listeners will expect quality content and recordings. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ludwig Burger and Matthias Blamont (Reuters) Frankfurt, Germany/Paris, France Fri, June 12, 2020 16:15 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde46c9f 2 World coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-vaccines,glass-vial,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,pandemic,medical-equipment Free Drugmakers are warning of a potential shortage of vials to bottle future COVID-19 vaccines, but their rush to secure supplies risks making matters worse, some major medical equipment manufacturers warn. Schott AG, the world's largest maker of specialty glass for vaccine vials, says it has turned down requests to reserve output from major pharmaceutical firms because it does not want to commit resources before it is clear which vaccines will work. "We have to keep the door open to give capacity to those who really are successful in the end. We don't want to be portrayed in the press as the ones who were unable to package the best vaccine," Chief Executive Frank Heinricht told Reuters. With thousands dying from COVID-19 every day and attempts to contain the virus plunging the world into recession, drugmakers and healthcare groups including Pfizer, AstraZeneca and the GAVI vaccines alliance are pushing to mass produce vaccines even before they are shown to work in trials. They want to be sure a successful jab can be rolled out as quickly as possible to billions of people across the world. But that is creating worries about supplies. AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot; the head of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Richard Hatchett; and the director general of global drugmakers' lobby group IFPMA, Thomas Cueni, have all warned there may not be enough glass vials available for a global immunization campaign. Privately-held Schott, the biggest supplier of borosilicate glass for medical bottles and syringes, is confident vial makers can meet the challenge, but says it has had to make some very difficult business decisions to try to ensure that is the case. Heinricht said Schott had turned down requests from major vaccine developers for future delivery of 800 million to 1 billion glass vials, which typically hold 5-10 doses, because the company believed it was too early to make such a commitment. "That is the dilemma we are in," Heinricht said, adding Schott's cautious stance may have contributed to an industry view that vials, which drugmakers buy for less than 10 euro cents apiece, may become in short supply. Pulling out the stops France's SGD Pharma, a maker of vials and one of the world's largest manufacturers of molded glass for the pharmaceutical industry, said it had a public health duty and would do everything to avoid vial shortages. "We trust our clients, with whom we have long standing relationships, not to make speculative moves. If this was to be the case, we would put the reputation and the mission of SGD above any cash gain," Chief Executive Christophe Nicoli said. He sought to allay concerns over shortages, saying SGD expected an additional pandemic demand for vials of no more than 3% of underlying annual volumes. Schott, whose founder Otto Schott invented heavy-duty borosilicate glass in the 1890s, also said it was pulling out all the stops for its part in supplying a billion multi-dose vials which it says will be needed for a global immunization drive, potentially next year. Schott, with 2.2 billion euros ($2.5 billion) in annual sales, competes in the market for borosilicate glass tubes with Nippon Electric Glass, Nipro and Corning Inc . It also makes the finished bottles, or vials, where it competes in a more fragmented market with companies including SGD, Germany's Gerresheimer and Italy's Stevanato Group. Corning this week won $204 million in U.S. government funding to boost output of its vials for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. That came a day after the U.S. government awarded $143 million to SiO2 Materials Science to boost production of its vials and syringes. Schott's Heinricht said the industry supplies about 50 billion medical borosilicate containers per year, of which 15-20 billion are medical vials, even without a pandemic. The glass type is favored by the pharma industry because it does not react with contents. Schott and its peers will manage to add about 1 billion vials likely needed for a global immunization effort, he said. That would require a vial to be used for multiple injections. Schott has invested in glass and vial production over recent years because China is switching to higher-quality borosilicate containers, standing the company in good stead for the pandemic, and 200 million euros were earmarked for new production lines this year. "The day a vaccine nears approval we will be ready and I am certain that not only we but also our competitors will deliver," said Heinricht. New Delhi, Jun 12 (UNI) Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Director General Kumar Rajesh Chandra on Friday said that the firing incident that took place on Indo-Nepal border in Sitamarhi district of Bihar was purely a local issue within the Nepalese territory. Mr Chandra said that as per the reports coming from ground zero, the unfortunate incident was purely local and triggered by an altercation between residents of the bordering village Janaki nagar on India side and personnel of Nepal Police this morning. A woman who has been married into a family of Janaki Nagar, was coming to her in-laws place along with some relatives from the Nepalese side. Since a COVID protocol is still in force in Nepal, the police asked them to disperse immediately which led to an altercation between the locals of Janaki Nagar and neighbouring country police, he said. The villagers also rang their relative in Janaki Nagar village and they also reached the spot. As per the Nepal police, around 15 rounds were fired, 10 in the air and five on the people killing an Indian and injuring three others. The firing was carried out to disperse the crowd which had assembled in Nepals area from the Indian side, the SSB DG said. However, a detailed report is awaited from Bihar, he added. The firing took place after a clash between the Indians and personnel of Nepal Sashtra Prahri, (a border guarding police) at the Lalbandi-Janki Nagar border in Pipra Parsain panchayat under Sonebarsha police station of the Sitamarhi district of Bihar. Nepal shares a 1,850-kilometre open border with India and people travel across it. It had closed its international borders on March 22 amid the coronavirus pandemic but since it is porous border all along with Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, people of both countries move freely. UNI AKS SB 1724 We've all heard it many times: Wear a face covering indoors, outdoors, on trains and buses. At work, in the supermarket and at church. But now a new modeling study out of Cambridge and Greenwich universities suggests that face masks may be even more important than originally thought in preventing future outbreaks of the new coronavirus. To ward off resurgences, the reproduction number for the virus (the average number of people who will contract it from one infected person) needs to drop below 1.0. Researchers dont believe thats achievable with lockdowns alone. However, a combination of lockdowns and widespread mask compliance might do the trick, they say. We show that, when face masks are used by the public all the time (not just from when symptoms first appear), the effective reproduction number, Re, can be decreased below 1, leading to the mitigation of epidemic spread, the scientists wrote in the paper published Wednesday by the Proceedings of the Royal Society A. The modeling indicated that when lockdown periods are combined with 100% face mask use, disease spread is vastly diminished, preventing resurgence for 18 months, the time frame that has frequently been cited for developing a vaccine. It also demonstrated that if people wear masks in public, it is twice as effective at reducing the R number than if face coverings are only worn after symptoms appear. The masks dont have to be top-of-the-line surgical or respirator masks. Homemade coverings that catch only 50 percent of exhaled droplets would provide a population-level benefit, they concluded. As has been well-publicized, wearing a mask primarily protects others from yourself, rather than the other way around. It is not a sign that you consider others a danger. Science Focus quoted the studys lead author, Dr Richard Stutt, as saying, Our analyses support the immediate and universal adoption of face masks by the public. Stutt is part of a team that usually models the spread of crop diseases at Cambridges department of plant sciences. Alameda County and San Francisco city health officials require residents to wear face coverings any time they leave home and get within 30 feet of anyone not living in their household. In San Francisco, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Sonoma counties (plus the cities of Pleasant Hill and Fremont) people must use basic nonmedical, cloth masks, including scarves and bandannas, to cover their noses and mouths when they leave home to go to essential places like the supermarket, drugstore or doctor. Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate On Nepal border firing, DG SSB Kumar Rajesh Chandra has said that one person has been detained by Nepal security personnel. The Indian side are in talks with them for his release so that the matter does not get escalate. An unprecedented incident of firing on Indians took place on Friday morning when some locals were going to Nepal as their daughter in law was there. Nepal security personnel started firing on them in which one person died. An incident took place around 8:40 a.m when a family belongs to a village at the border was going to Nepal as daughter-in-law was there. On the Nepal side, security personnel stopped them and asked them to go back which triggered a verbal altercation. The family called other persons as well. Nepal security personnel have fired around 15 rounds out of which 10 were in the air, DG SSB Kumar Rajesh Chandra told ANI. Everything happened in Nepal, not on the Indian side, he added. According to the DG, during the firing three persons suffered injuries and one person died. Also Read: Supreme Court slams Delhi govt over Covid-19 mismanagement, says patients being treated worse than animals Also Read: Be responsive in humane manner, urges West Bengal Governor to Mamata Banerjee after video of decomposed bodies goes viral A total of three persons have suffered injuries. Another person Vikesh Yadav succumbed to injuries. Two others who have sustained injuries have been identified as Umesh Ram and Uday Thakur. One person has been detained by Nepal security personnel. We are in talks so that they release him and matter does not get escalate, DG SSB Kumar Rajesh Chandra to ANI. Also Read: Congress slams BJP for postponing Rajya Sabha elections, charges horse-trading allegations For all the latest National News, download NewsX App Gov. (Michelle) Lujan Grishams public health order is devoted to addressing COVID-19 and its victims, but sadly, her handling of our hospitals during this pandemic has put many people not affected by COVID-19 at risk. When the governor spun her essential-non-essential roulette wheel, hospitals landed on a losing number: the governor decided to prevent elective surgeries and stopped various medical services, investing all medical resources in the state for COVID-19 patients. In a tragic touch of irony, hospitals have had to furlough workers and were forced to turn away ailing people, many who desperately sought immediate medical attention. Victims needing emergency care were suddenly shut out from our hospitals to make way for COVID-19 patients, resources and beds. I get it. Its imperative we treat and save the lives of COVID-19 victims, but we shouldnt sacrifice the lives of others who also need vital, life-saving health care. Too many times New Mexico hospitals have been forced to refuse treatment to non-COVID-19 sick or dying, even though theres been space in our medical facilities. Governor, all lives are essential. The treatment, or should I say lack of treatment, of one 40-year-old woman particularly pains me, as she wrestles with the horrifying obstacles of the governors health order. Lets call her Kathy. Kathy recently developed seizures, sometimes 20 or more per day. Her doctor evaluated her and insisted she needed tests only a hospital could administer. Her doctor feared she would have a stroke and possibly die. She contacted Medicaid to get the required approval. That agency assessed her condition and declared she needed tests as soon as she could get them. So Kathy approached an Albuquerque hospital, but it wouldnt admit her. The hospital referred to the governors health order, pointing out her tests were non-essential. The hospital told Kathy it was prohibited from providing non-essential services. After examining her medical situation, the hospital agreed she needed emergency tests, but because of the states health order, she has to wait. The hospital informed Kathy she would be high on the waiting list because her treatment is an emergency. Then the next punch in the gut happened: There are so many others awaiting emergency treatment that Kathy is six weeks down the list when non-essential services are restored. Kathy asked how many people at that Albuquerque hospital were being treated for COVID-19. Zero. Its sad and disgraceful its come to this. The Lujan Grisham administration has failed to really grasp the medical crisis created by her arbitrary rules. The governors COVID-19 health order is putting more peoples lives at risk. We all want to treat and save the lives of anyone who contracts COVID-19, but does the governor have the right to decide whether a patient needing hospital care should be admitted? Does the governor have the right to decide which New Mexicans live and which New Mexicans die? She hasnt thought through her public health order actions very carefully as they have literally become life-and-death decisions. IMF publishes letter of intent, memo on new program for Ukraine 09:40, 12.06.20 4144 The decision on the SBA was taken on June 9. [June 12, 2020] Georgia Champion Takes Top Honor at Prestigious International BioGENEius Challenge Shreya Ramesh, a Milton High School senior, from Milton, Georgia, and local winner of the Georgia BioGENEius Challenge, has taken the top prize at the fiercely competitive International BioGENEius Challenge. Shreya's innovative work on voice recognition data and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) stood out among her fellow finalists. "We just couldn't be more ecstatic-for Shreya as well as for the future of all biotech innovation," said Georgia Bio President and CEO Maria Thacker. "We knew how talented she was when we saw her work, but the fact that our local winner's unbelievably sophisticated research won the top prize at this advanced level shows you just what we can do in biotech here in Georgia, not to mention how brilliant and innovative Georgia students are." Organized by the Biotechnology Institute, the annual competition brings together young innovators from across North America and Germany to compete before an accomplished panel of established biotechnology researchers and academics. The winner walks away with the recognition, advisement, and support of some of the world's best biotech innovators as well $7,500 in prize money. Shreya's research topic focused on the problem of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients, many of whom rely on Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) tools such as Google (News - Alert) Voice, with voice characteristics that can unfortunately be unreadable to ARS programs. As a result of the condition, the voices of ALS patients can be slow and hgh pitched, making ARS software interaction problematic. Shreya's solution was to create a novel voice compensation algorithm that converted an ALS patient's unique vocal texture into one more easily recognized by the programs. "Winning the BioGENEius Challenge feels absolutely amazing," said Shreya Ramesh. "It's great to know that my project has the potential to change lives and that I'll have a supportive platform to help me do that. The competition was the best experience-I've met so many students who are just as passionate as I am about using biotech to change the world!" Judges of the 2020 International BioGENEius Challenge included BioEd Institute Board Member and past Chair, Jamie Graham, partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, to whom Georgia Bio and the Georgia BioEd Institute offer a special thanks. About the Biotechnology Institute The Biotechnology Institute is an independent, national nonprofit organization dedicated to education about the present and future impact of biotechnology. Its mission is to engage, excite and educate the public, particularly students and teachers, about biotechnology and its immense potential for solving human health, food and environmental problems. For more information, visit www.biotechinstitute.org. About the Georgia BioEd Institute The Georgia BioEd Institute is a division of Georgia Bio, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the state's life science industry. The Institute's mission is to strengthen Georgia's life sciences workforce pipeline through classroom-to-career initiatives that align with industry needs. Learn more at www.georgiabioed.org | www.gabio.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005572/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has sent a list of questions to U.S. video-conferencing company Zoom after it closed the accounts of several Chinese activists at Beijing's request. Why it matters: Zoom is now used by hundreds of millions worldwide amid the coronavirus pandemic, making its security and privacy policies a matter of widespread concern. Details: The letter dated June 12 and signed by 12 senators, led by Marco Rubio and Ron Wyden expresses concern over Zoom's actions and presses CEO Eric Yuan for more information. The lawmakers asked how many accounts Zoom has closed at the Chinese government's request; whether Zoom regularly shares data with the Chinese government; and whether Zoom or its Chinese partners have Chinese Communist Party committees embedded in them, as Beijing now requires of many foreign and domestic companies. What they're saying: "We urge you to be true to your companys stated values, which include embracing 'different ideas and visionaries.' Zoom must be transparent and not allow foreign governments, such as the PRC government, to dictate the terms of usage." The big picture: Zoom is caught up in a conflict between the democratic values of the country where it is based, and the authoritarian system of the country where some of its workforce and consumer base is located. Go deeper: Zoom closed account of U.S.-based Chinese activist to comply with local law The government during a hearing on loan waiver interest case on Friday told the Supreme Court that it'll discuss the issue with Reserve Bank of India and that a meeting in comprising all stakeholders will be held soon. The SC asked the government to finally decide in three days whether interest on EMIs during six month moratorium period till August 31 will be charged by banks or not. Deferring the case to June 17, the apex court said it was trying to do a "balancing act". "Our concern in these proceedings is only whether the interest that has been deferred for three months will be added to charges payable later and whether there will be interest on interest," it said. Meanwhile, state-owned State Bank of India, which moved an intervention plea in the Supreme Court against the allowance of interest waiver, said it was not a feasible option. The RBI in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court has already informed it that it cannot waive interest on loans for the six-month moratorium period, as it would jeopardise the financial stability and health of the banking sector. The apex bank also told the court that it assessed the interest payable on these loans to be approximately Rs 2 lakh crore, which it would lose if it forgoes the interest amount on loan repayments. Like banks, NBFCs have also granted loan moratorium to borrowers. Any decision by the government and the RBI will also have direct impact on NBFCs as they will also seek a waiver on interest. The RBI in May extended the moratorium on payment of all term loans by another three months till August 31. Before that, the central bank had allowed a three-month moratorium on payment of all term loans due between March 1 and May 31. The decision was announced following Centre's directions to the apex bank to ease the financial burden on the debtors in the wake of coronavirus-induced lockdown. Also read: Rs 2 lakh crore blow to banks if interest during loan moratorium waived, RBI cautions SC Above the Law By Matthew Whitaker Regnery. 262 pp. $28.99 --- There are good books and bad books. Then there are books so bad that they should be tried, convicted and sentenced to life without parole in literary prison, never again to see the light of day. Gentle reader, this is such a book. Matthew Whitaker - remember him? - was chief of staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions for 13 months, serving through some ennobling moments in the annals of justice, like the imposition of a travel ban based on religion and the soul-stirring speech in which Sessions justified separating children from their border-crossing families because the policy was ordained by God. When President Donald Trump keelhauled Sessions, a man he now derides as mentally unfit for the office, Whitaker stepped in as the acting attorney general for 14 weeks. "Above the Law" reads like it was written faster than that fleeting tenure. It's a thin excuse for a book, 128 pages of text brazenly padded with appendixes of government news releases, Whitaker's speeches and, somewhat shamelessly, the Constitution. The author avers that judges must adhere to the Bible and that states can nullify federal laws, views not easily reconciled with bedrock constitutional principles. But "Above the Law" is not a legal treatise. Nor is it a run-of-the-mill Beltway memoir. It's an angry argument that defeats itself as it tries to score points. Whitaker writes in the way Trump tweets, mixing a toxic cocktail of macho MAGA swagger, the angry cant of the Christian right and the whining of a petulant child. He sounds the dire warning that a nefarious "deep state" is working night and day to subvert Donald J. Trump. Don't buy that bogus notion. Definitely don't buy this book. There's been a lot of loose (and lucrative) talk of late about the "deep state," that sinister conclave of unelected government officials running the country in secret, corrupting the body politic, doing the dirty work of Barack Obama and his minions, and seeking to overturn the 2016 election and undermine America itself. It's an immense conspiracy, run by "a vicious group of people," as Trump said in an interview last month. This belief is a grand delusion, part of the paranoid strain of American politics defined in 1964 by the historian Richard Hofstadter by its "heated exaggeration, suspiciousness, and conspiratorial fantasy." You'll get all that and more from "Above the Law." It presents a parade of villains - chief among them the rock-ribbed Republican Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel investigating Russian election interference, and James Comey, the onetime FBI director who took part in what Whitaker calls "the extraordinary mutiny" enveloping Trump's Justice Department. He charges that Mueller and his team "maintained a presumption, shared by the Deep State and the Resistance, that Trump had to be guilty of something simply because they hated him and thought he shouldn't be President." He asserts that Comey single-handedly kick-started the Russia investigation to subvert Trump: "I'm sure the President could sense Comey's treachery from their first meeting." This is arrant nonsense. Trump set off the Muller investigation by his reckless decision to fire Comey, whose FBI was investigating the Russian role in the 2016 election. Whitaker must know this, but he wants the reader to think Trump has been persecuted by nearly everyone who has run the FBI in the 21st century - directors, deputy directors and their underlings. It's a claim whose credence depends on faith in a president for whom there are no facts and there is no truth. Whitaker also makes the incendiary assertion - couched in the weasel word "reportedly" - that "the U.S. intelligence community, led by John Brennan at the CIA and James Clapper at the National Security Agency, was also looking for crimes in Donald Trump's past." This is at best willful ignorance, at worst a baseless smear. American intelligence does not do criminal investigations, other than assisting the FBI in cases of suspected espionage. If Whitaker doesn't know this, he was the wrong man for the job. He bows to no man in his respect for his commander in chief, who in his eyes surpasses Dwight D. Eisenhower, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington in wisdom, judgment and temperament: "Watching President Trump lead, and lead effectively, while under withering attacks from the media, Democrats in Congress, former government officials, and even members of his own Justice Department, was like nothing else I've witnessed or even read about in American history." This suggests that the author is neither a student of the American presidency nor an astute judge of character. He defends Trump in the context of his impeachment by arguing (his italics): "Abuse of power is not a crime." It is, however, a violation of the oath of office and an impeachable offense. It's almost cruel to quote Whitaker's conclusions: "President Trump has brought back America's confidence on the world stage," he writes. "More threatening to Donald Trump's opponents than his shocking electability is his efficacy. President Trump has done a lot since the 2016 election to make America a safer, freer, and more prosperous country." I'll go out on a limb here and suggest that those words are untrue. The last time I checked, "Above the Law" was rated No. 1 in law enforcement books on Amazon. It will descend. Someday someone will write a great book about Trump's Justice Department. For the moment, this cheap-jack jeremiad will stand as a testament to a low, dishonest time in which the rule of law teetered on a terrible precipice. It deserves to die in obscurity. --- Weiner, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for reporting and writing on intelligence and national security, is the author of "The Folly and the Glory: America, Russia, and Political Warfare, 1945-2020," to be published in September. Be proud of our young people. At the citys first #IndyYouthSpeak, Indianapolis had a few things they needed to get off their chest both to the community as well as elected officials and community leaders. And I was here for all of it. (My company helped with the development and promotion of the event.) Alyssa Gaines, Indianapolis Youth Poet Laureate, gave us our living manifestation of why Black lives matter. In a poem about the challenges of interacting with a white friend who has the privilege of not dealing with the potential of having a younger sibling be killed by the police and getting off. We got a plain, unvarnished insight into why Black people are frustrated from a voice that is mature beyond her years. Yes, she went all the way there. We will hear more from her in the future, and she is already making Black Indianapolis proud. But she certainly wasnt the only one that had something to say. And if you havent guessed yet, this column is surrendering to powerful voices this week because young peoples voices matter. Derrick Slack, a Pike High School teacher, and Brandon Randall, youth advocate and program director at VOICES Corp, expertly facilitated the conversation. Khloe Britton kicked off the discussion raising the challenge of poverty and suggested we actually fund poverty alleviation programs better. She came with facts, noting the Indiana poverty rate was higher than the national poverty rate. T-yon Jones stated both resources and communication were challenges the city had with respect to young people. While there are some resources, the communication efforts often fail to consider some of the biases that adults have against young people in certain areas of town. Ronnelle Collins spoke directly to gun violence. He has lost five people in his immediate circle to gun violence. He called for the community to come together and build relationships with each other. Kevin Alcalla talked about the unequal distribution of resources in education, specifically referencing Carmels wealth advantage over other inner-city schools. Undefeated by this reality, he advised young people to take advantage of what they do have and if you do what you do, youll get out. Elaina Williams said young peoples voices are often unvalued simply because of their age. Elaina suggested that city leaders come to young people and show them that their perspectives are valid. She said, We inherited a world that is on fire and we are just trying to put it out. Saul Davidson talked about visiting Garfield Park library because he likes books. He spoke to the lack of appreciation of individuality he believes theres too much of a hive mind or mob mentality. He called for greater individuality and the space for young people to figure out who they are. He mentioned the Center for Leadership Developments Self Discovery program as a great program to facilitate this kind of learning. Michael Owens a music artist talked about gun violence and leadership. He called for the community to speak up when people are murdered in the city. He said it was a leadership problem the community needs to speak up. Norman Malone another music artist said we dont have enough real leaders who can connect to youth. He felt like he had to go to the protest because he had a cousin who was killed by police that the community didnt really talk about. About attending the protests, he offered a message of empathy when he said, You cant say stop rioting if youre not down there. He wanted people to try to see situations from the other persons perspective, to connect and even lead people a different direction. Alyssa, our reigning Indy Youth Poet Laureate, when asked about the biggest challenge facing the community, said that Black and brown communities dont have enough pathways to becoming agents of change. She was also aware of Black people being killed by police and other Black people who have died but their cases have not been solved. For her, It feels like the people in power dont care anymore. She wants more platforms so that young people can speak about their concerns. Felecia McGinnis said that youth are categorized as rebels and that adults need to take the time to learn about young people as individuals. She recommended classes for youth and adults to come together to understand each other. She said, Our community has to want to come together and understand each other better. This discussion happened in front of elected officials, nonprofit and community leaders and the young people advocated for themselves. City-county council President Vop Osili and councilor Ali Brown are committed to working with young people to develop some kind of youth council and look into getting them on city boards. MCCOY wants to increase their advocacy training for young people. All of the youth serving organizations recognized an opportunity to do more. Thanks to MCCOY, Lawrence Township schools, IPS, Pike Preparatory Academy, Indianapolis Urban League, VOICES Corp, IBE and the Indianapolis Recorder, who were key partners on this city-county council effort. See you next week Marshawn Wolley is a lecturer, commentator, business owner and civic entrepreneur. Contact him at marshawnwolley@gmail.com. After a long row with the governor of North Carolina over social distancing rules, Donald Trump has officially moved this summers Republican convention to Jacksonville, Florida. The switch reflects Mr Trumps desire to have a packed arena with a mask-free crowd something North Carolinas Roy Cooper said could not be guaranteed given the states measures to slow the spread of coronavirus. Mr Trump expressed his disappointment in Mr Cooper at a press conference earlier this week, describing him as a little backward and a little bit behind on lifting the states lockdown. We wanted to stay in North Carolina very badly, we love it, its a great state, a state I won, many many friends, many relatives, frankly, that live there. Florida, by contrast, was one of the first states to begin reopening its economy, against the advice of many public health experts but with the presidents blessing. At first, the signs were that reopening had not resulted in a higher number of coronavirus cases, but the state this week reported its highest one-day spike in cases since the outbreak began. Republican spokesperson Ronna McDaniel issued a statement celebrating the move south, saying the party was thrilled that Jacksonville would be the new venue. Not only does Florida hold a special place in President Trumps heart as his home state, but it is crucial in the path to victory in 2020. We look forward to bringing this great celebration and economic boon to the Sunshine State in just a few short months. Florida is certainly crucial to the presidents re-election. It was a clutch of ultra-close wins in the rust belt and Midwest that sealed his victory in 2016, and current polls show him slipping behind Joe Biden in those states. Without Florida, the path to victory will be narrow indeed. However, North Carolina is arguably just as worrying for the president; it voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and only narrowly broke for the Republicans in 2012 and 2016. Losing its 15 electoral votes would be a big liability for Mr Trump in an election where hes considered unlikely to pick up states he didnt win first time around. WASHINGTON Five months before the election in November, the incumbent president and his Democratic challenger each tell Americans his opponent could "steal" the election, perhaps setting the stage for a contentious fight even after the voting is over. The warnings from President Donald Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden are growing louder and earlier than in 2016, when Trump decried a "rigged" political system in the final weeks before his victory over Hillary Clinton. The claims are more direct, reflecting the deeply divided nation that has defined the Trump era. Both men's rhetoric is largely aimed at the same issue vote-by-mail, which Biden and Democrats support to allow citizens to vote safely amid the coronavirus pandemic and which Trump strongly opposes. Trump has long stoked fears of election-stealing. Wednesday, Biden ramped up his attacks on the president over voter access. More: Republicans, Democrats push ahead on absentee voting even as Trump blasts Michigan over it Former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump are on opposite sides of the vote-by-mail issue. "It's my greatest concern, my single greatest concern: This president is going to steal this election," the former vice president said in an interview with host Trevor Noah on "The Daily Show." "This is a guy who said all mail-in ballots are fraudulent, direct voting by mail, while he sits behind a desk in the Oval Office and writes his mail-in ballot to vote in the primary." States embrace mail voting Tim Murtaugh, communication director for the Trump campaign, called Biden's remarks "just another brainless conspiracy theory from Joe Biden as he continues to try to undermine confidence in our elections." "President Trump has been clear that he will accept the results of the 2020 election," he said. Matt Grossman, an associate political scientist at Michigan State University, said the "polarized information" in politics makes for legitimate fears in the public that losers of an election won't respect the outcome. He said election laws that differ state-by-state can further fuel suspicions. Story continues "Obviously, that becomes more of a concern if you have a close electoral outcome, especially one where there's some type of post-Election Day problems in getting all of the results," Grossman said. "Unfortunately, we're kind of headed that way." Several states, led by secretaries of states of both parties, have taken action to make voting by mail either available to all voters or more widespread. Thirty-four states and Washington, D.C., offered absentee voting by mail to all registered voters without an excuse before the pandemic. To keep people from packing polls during a health crisis, some states sent mail-ballot applications to all voters. California will send mail ballots to all voters for the election in November, joining Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Utah and Hawaii, which conduct their elections entirely by mail. More: 'Do-or-die moment' to boost vote-by-mail for November election. But the politics is getting harder In several of the 16 states where voters must provide an excuse to receive an absentee ballot being over 65 years old, out of town during Election Day or in the military, for example they can cite coronavirus as a reason. Most states made the change only for the upcoming primary election but could extend that to November. Only five states, each in the South, have not taken legislative action to expand voting by mail, but legal challenges could force them to make changes. A judge in Tennessee ruled last week the state must make absentee ballots available to all voters during the pandemic. The state is likely to appeal. Biden: Trump is trying to 'undermine' the election Biden said Trump is attempting to "undermine" the election by making it more difficult for people to vote through his opposition to vote-by-mail. He's called on Congress to provide enough funding for all states to allow individuals to cast a ballot by mail in November. We have to make it easier for everybody to be able to vote, particularly if we are still basically in the kind of lockdown circumstance we are in now, Biden told supporters during a virtual fundraiser in April. On "The Daily Show," Biden accused Republicans of passing 82 pieces of legislation to "make it harder for people to vote," referring to voter identification requirements and other laws that Republican legislatures have passed in recent years. He said his campaign will have a "major initiative" that deploys attorneys across the country during the election to fight voter suppression. He pointed to long lines and other delays voters faced Tuesday in Georgia's primary andPennsylvania primary June 2, suggesting it could preview things to come in November. Pennsylvania is still counting votes after its primary, lacking the resources to count mailed ballots quickly. Noah asked Biden whether he considered what would happen if Biden won the election but Trump refused to leave. "Yes, I have," Biden said, adding that he has faith in the military to intervene if needed. "I'm absolutely convinced they will escort him from the White House with great dispatch." The NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union mounted lawsuits against several states that limited vote-by-mail laws, seeking to force them to expand options. 'Complete catastrophe': Georgia primary voting blasted for long lines, malfunctioning equipment Trump returns to a 2016 theme A USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll last month found 65% of Americans support vote-by-mail as an alternative to in-person voting during the pandemic, compared with 32% of Americans who oppose the option. Despite strong public support, Trump has been on a crusade for weeks against vote-by-mail, arguing it leads to voter fraud, "vote harvesting" and hurts Republican candidates. "We cant let the Fake News, and their partner, the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats, get away with stealing the Election," Trump tweeted in April. "They tried that in 2016. How did that work out?" Last month he tweeted, "The United States cannot have all Mail In Ballots. It will be the greatest Rigged Election in history." The United States cannot have all Mail In Ballots. It will be the greatest Rigged Election in history. People grab them from mailboxes, print thousands of forgeries and force people to sign. Also, forge names. Some absentee OK, when necessary. Trying to use Covid for this Scam! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2020 Before the 2016 election, Trump singled out Philadelphia, which has a large African American population, as he warned the election could be "stolen" from him. USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll: Americans overwhelmingly support vote-by-mail push, but Republicans more wary This election cycle, Republicans launched a legal front to fight states moving to vote-by-mail. Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, accused Democrats "under the guise of the COVID-19 crisis" of trying to change the election to "fit many of their election agenda items that existed long before this crisis." She said the lawsuits from the left would "destroy the integrity of our elections." Studies dispute Trump's claim that vote-by-mail gives Democrats an advantage. Utah, one of the five entirely vote-by-mail states, is solidly Republican with two Republican U.S. senators and a Republican governor. A study by the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice at the New York School of Law found incidents of overall voter fraud "extraordinarily rare.". Despite Trump's claims, Republican Rep. Mike Garcia flipped a blue House seat in California last month, winning by 12 percentage points in a race conducted by all mail to replace Democratic Rep. Katie Hill. President Donald Trump says voting by mail favors Democrats. Last month, Trump threatened to withdraw federal funding to the swing state of Michigan if it "illegally" sends absentee ballot applications to citizens before its primary Aug. 4 and the election Nov. 3. Mailing absentee ballot request forms to all voters has been widely used in other states, even those led by Republicans. Will warnings suppress or motivate voters? Grossman pointed to other moments when one party accused the other of stealing an election. In the 2000 election, George W. Bush beat Al Gore after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to halt a recount in Florida. Speaking of the likelihood of one side disputing the election results, Grossman said, "There's precedent for it, but obviously, having the president and the other presidential candidate egg it on, or anticipate it, might make it more likely." More: U.S. voter registration plummets during coronavirus pandemic, challenging both parties Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden says he's confident the military will help him if Donald Trump doesn't accept the election results in November. Michael McDonald, associate professor of political science at the University of Florida, said both Trump and Biden use rhetoric devices to rally their bases. McDonald, who manages the United States Elections Project, which tracks voter turnout patterns, said many will vote by mail in November because of the pandemic. That poses a risk to Trump, he said, if his supporters follow his cue and don't vote by mail and instead pack understaffed polling sites, which could lead to long lines and "Trump suppressing his own vote." He said it's hard to predict whether more voters could sit out the election because of claims of stealing. He said the opposite could be the case among voters who closely watch the election. He said the accusations could be a motivator. "They're going to take these claims of the other side stealing the election more as a reinforcement for themselves to go out and vote," he said. Contributing: The Associated Press Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @Joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Election 2020: Biden says his 'concern' is Trump will 'steal election' Irish airports are among Europe's hardest-hit by the pandemic, and a major aviation body has warned their recovery could take until 2023. The airports have suffered a collapse in passenger numbers of more than 98pc. And the UK's "blunt instrument" deployment of quarantine as a control measure also threatens to inflict damage the sector will take years to recover from. While Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man have been exempted from the UK's controversial 14-day quarantine demand for all air travellers, Airports Council International (ACI) says it threatens to inflict not just an economic but a social blow to an already reeling industry. "Most national authorities are quite rightly taking a phased approach but it is vitally important devices such as quarantine are risk-based and proportionate," warned ACI director general Olivier Jankovec. "If quarantine is used as a blunt instrument as it is in the UK, it is one which will deliver an economic and social blow from which we will all struggle to recover." ACI said just 4.3 million passengers travelled through its 500 European member airports in May, compared with 216.8 million in May 2019. "With well over half a billion passengers lost so far this year and still no revenues coming in, Europe's airports are anxiously waiting for travel restrictions to be lifted and airlines to resume operations," said Mr Jankovec. "With the epidemic now de-escalating in many countries and a plan to allow for intra-European travel - at least within the Schengen area - by the end of the month, we are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. "But there is no escape that the recovery will be slow and gradual - and that the post-Covid-19 aviation market will be fundamentally disrupted and structurally very different. "For now, we do not see a return to last year's traffic volumes before 2023." Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports have endured falls in passenger numbers of more than 98pc since March. Ireland West-Knock airport has had to effectively shut down, while flights between Kerry and Donegal airports and Dublin have only been maintained through massive fare subsidies. ACI is now calling on governments to acknowledge that airports need financial support as much as the struggling airlines which have received cash. "Governments in Europe have almost exclusively helped airlines with more than 24bn of financial support already approved - and yet more to come," said Mr Jankovec. The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), which operates Dublin and Cork Airports, has urged all passengers to wear face masks and for only travellers to enter terminal buildings. Enhanced deep cleaning of all airport facilities has been organised as well as the provision of 960 hand sanitisers, 720 protective plexiglass screens and 10,500 individual pieces of Covid-19 signage. DAA chief Dalton Philips stressed safety was its priority. Fathers Day is fast approaching. If you dont have a gift planned for your old man, dont worry! Theres still plenty of time to order a great present before June 21. The only problem is dads are notoriously hard to buy for. Every year, its the same dilemma. Should you get him something traditional like a new shirt, take a chance on a fancy piece of tech or stick to something boring and practical like a new pair of socks? Well, why dont you get him something that he will actually enjoy like a nice quality bottle of whiskey? Its thoughtful, generous and you might even be able to toast the day with a glass together. If youre not sure where to start or what whiskey to choose, you should check out the Bushmills Irish Whiskey Single Malt range. This excellent selection includes Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt, and Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt. So, no matter what your dads taste, theres something for everyone. Bushmills Irish Whiskey has a reputation for excellence both at home and abroad. All of the whiskeys are made at the worlds oldest licensed whiskey distillery, The Old Bushmills Distillery in the village of Bushmills, County Antrim. The area has more than 400 years of whiskey-making heritage, which has been passed down through generations. The Old Bushmills Distillery is also one of the few grain to glass distilleries in Ireland, which means the whiskey is crafted in small batches with passion, great care and supreme craftmanship on one site, rather than in different locations. This process includes all the critical stages of production malt distilling, maturing, blending and bottling. Each stage involves skills that have been handed down over centuries. When it comes to choosing a bottle of whiskey for your old man, make sure youre choosing the best. Heres everything you need to know about the Bushmills Irish Whiskey Single Malt range. Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt (RRP45) Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt is an approachable single malt whiskey, triple distilled from 100pc malted barley and matured for a minimum of 10 years in sherry-aged and bourbon-seasoned casks. A delicate and quietly confident spirit, it has a honey, vanilla and milk chocolate aromas with soft, woody notes to taste. This amber gold spirit has a precise flavour with a crisp, clean finish, making it a perfect Fathers Day gift for the discerning whiskey drinker. Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt (RRP95) First released in 1997, Bushmills 16 Year Old is a premium single malt whiskey aged for 16 years in a combination of Oloroso sherry and bourbon-seasoned casks, before maturing for several months in port wine barrels. This unique maturation process imparts distinct notes of juicy fruits, toasted nuts and sweet spice in the whiskey, as well as a hint of ruby redness. Ideal for Fathers Day gifting, this great whiskey is best enjoyed neat, or over ice. Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt (RRP185) Named Irish Single Malt of the Year for 2020 by renowned whiskey expert Jim Murray, this is a rare whiskey in scarce supply. Its matured for a minimum of 19 years in a combination of Oloroso sherry and bourbon-seasoned casks, before being transferred to Madeira casks for a further two years. The result is dark chocolate and caramelised toffee aromas and a sip that clings to the palate, before releasing a mint-like burst with a long, delicate finish. This is a spirit of huge depth that should always be served neat - the ultimate addition to any whiskey enthusiasts collection this Fathers Day. So, which one will you choose this Fathers Day? The Bushmllls Single Malt Range is available to purchase in selected retailers and off-licences across the country. Follow @BushmillsIRL on social media to keep up to date with brand news. Please enjoy Bushmills responsibly. Visit drinkaware.ie. Sponsored by Feeding coral reefs a dose of good probiotic bacteria helps them tolerate rising ocean temperatures, new research shows. Scientists say theyve proved for the first time that feeding corals beneficial probiotics increases their overall health and improves their chances of survival during heat stress. In lab tests, corals that were fed beneficial microorganisms much like feeding probiotic yogurt to humans were in better health than those that were not. Lab-reared coral that receive probiotics in their food may have a better chance of survival once introduced to the natural reef. The research provides hope for the future of coral reefs, including Australia's 1,400-mile-long Great Barrier Reef, which is weathering its third mass bleaching in just five years. Coral bleaching killed about 30 per cent of the Great Barrier Reef's coral in 2016, according to scientists, and underwent its third mass bleaching event just this year. Scroll down for video Coral in the lab as part of experiments backed by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, an Australian non-profit organisation The lab experiments are backed by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, an Australian non-profit organisation that aims to save the world's largest coral reef system. People may be surprised to find out that just like us, corals rely on a host of good bacteria to help keep them healthy and, just like us, the balance between good and bad bacteria is often disrupted in times of stress, said managing director of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation Anna Marsden. Probiotics have been widely and successfully used to improve both human and animal health, however their use in marine ecosystems has been largely unexplored until now. Saving the Reef is a huge task and this pioneering research project is just one of the ways that were making a real difference with our partners. File photo taken in October 2016 shows coral bleaching at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, a World Heritage Site Researchers experimented with injecting coral with beneficial microorganisms before they were ingested via their zooplankton prey. Professor Raquel Peixoto at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro is running probiotic tests on different species of corals in the worlds largest artificial ocean 'The Biosphere 2' in Arizona and in labs at the University of Hawaii. This will help refine which groups of good bacteria are the best for each different species of coral. They are also investigating methods to scale up the application for use on coral reefs, such as delivering parcels of slow release probiotics to targeted reefs during times of heat stress. The underwater speakers played recordings of the sounds of a healthy reef including the noises made my shoals of fish, shrimps, and other reef dwellers. Pictured, young cardinal fish swimming around healthy coral on the Great Barrier Reef In humans, slow release probiotics distribute bacteria to the gut over a period of around half a day, and this treatment could give the microorganisms a better chance of survival as they do their job. The probiotic technique will be used by Queensland research institutions such as the Australian Institute of Marine Science to help boost the health of the corals reared in simulators before being transported to the Great Barrier Reef. The survival rate of these corals once they are out on the Reef is currently quite low so giving them a health boost while they are in the sea simulator will boost their chance of survival, said Marsden. Despite covering less than 0.1 per cent of the ocean floor, coral reefs are home to 25 per cent of the oceans marine life. Image obtained Monday, April 10, 2017 of bleaching damages on the Great barrier Reef. Recent aerial surveys by the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies has revealed only the southern third of the Great Barrier Reef has escaped unscathed from coral bleaching They harbour the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem globally and provide a food for marine life, protection from flooding and sustaining the fishing and tourism industries. But in the last five years, reefs around the world have suffered from mass coral bleaching events as a result of the increase in global surface temperature caused by greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. Theyre becoming increasingly stressed due to threats like rising water temperatures, which makes them prone to infections and less likely to survive. Coral bleaching occurs when seas become too warm, causing corals to shed colourful algae. As ocean temperatures rise, warmer waters stress corals, causing them to release algae that live inside them, which gives them up to 90 per cent of their energy. This event causes the vibrantly-coloured communities of coral to turn white an effect called coral bleaching. Bleached corals are not dead, but are at a higher risk of dying, and these bleaching events become more common under climate change. While some coral reefs are able to recover over time, others become dominated by seaweed. Over the years, repeated coral bleaching due to warming seas causes disruption to marine ecosystems around the world. This reduces the availability of food and shelter for many marine species that rely on these coral structures, resulting in biodiversity losses. Australian scientists warned earlier this year that the Great Barrier Reef underwent its third mass bleaching event in the space of five years in the Southern hemisphere summer this year. Air surveys revealed the northern, central and southern areas have been by coral bleaching this past summer Air surveys of 1,036 reefs revealed the northern, central and southern areas have been hit, according to Terry Hughes, a professor of marine biology at James Cook University in North Queensland. Bleaching also struck all three regions of the world's largest coral reef system for the first time. 'As summers grow hotter and hotter, we no longer need an El Nino event to trigger mass bleaching at the scale of the Great Barrier Reef,' said Professor Hughes, who called the bacteria probiotic technique another secret weapon. The ARC Centre of Excellence at the Australian governments research council has previously estimated that only the southern third of the Great Barrier Reef has escaped unscathed from coral bleaching. Syracuse, N.Y. -- Restaurant dining rooms in Central New York opened this morning for the first time in almost 90 days. You wouldnt know it by the scene around lunchtime today in Syracuses Westcott Street business district. Some places that decided to open their doors had decent crowds, but it was a nice morning and people sat outside on decks or patios, as they have been allowed to do for the past week. Many places also did a brisk takeout business, as they have since dining rooms were closed on March 16. For the first few hours, no one took advantage of the opportunity to sit inside. Its likely that will change over the course of the day and into the coming weeks. "Its all going to take time to figure out, just as everything else thats been happening for the last few months,'' said Roxanne Broda-Blake, general manager of Recess Coffee, at 110 Harvard Place just off Westcott. Were definitely ready for people to come in, when theyre ready. Honora Eskridge and her husband, Toye, came to Syracuse from their home in Nashville to visit her sister, Maggie Iribarne of DeWitt. They sat on Recess front porch instead of inside. After all, it was a nice morning. The Eskridges said theyve noticed a slow and cautious embrace of returning to restaurant dining and eating out in Nashville, which opened that phase up several weeks ago. So the absence of people dining in today didnt surprise them. Its like one step forward and one step back, Honora Eskridge said. Its like a dance, Iribarne agreed. The Westcott Street business district has a little bit of everything for diners and drinkers: Coffee shops and diners, sandwich shops and higher-end fare, bars and a brewery taproom, and mix of American and international-inspired cuisines. It also represents the full range of reactions to the limited reopening of restaurant dining rooms that started today: Some have opened their doors, some are going to stick with takeout-only for a while longer, and others are simply staying closed altogether for now. Like Recess Coffee, the Beer Belly Deli bar and restaurant and Yeti sandwich and frozen yogurt shop, both in the 500 block of Westcott, were set up Friday to welcome indoor diners. Their tables were spaced out, sanitizers were plentiful and the servers and staff had their masks on. And they were prepared to meet the requirement to allow no more than 50% of their dining room capacity inside. At the Rise N Shine diner at the corner of Westcott and Dell streets, the outdoor courtyard was busy, as it has been for the past week. But owner Danielle Mercuri decided to hold off one more day before opening indoor seating. That gave her more time to get ready. We want to do it right and have everything in place, Mercuri said. So we thought one more day would get us there. Meanwhile, the outside dining in the adjacent courtyard is doing well enough that Mecuri has started booking bands to play the space. Other Westcott area businesses are holding onto the takeout-only model, waiting to see how things shake out in this reopening phase. That includes Moms Diner, Alto Cinco Mexican cafe and Munjeds Middle Eastern Cafe. Munjeds owner Sammer Essi said his takeout business has been good, so he doesnt feel rushed to reopen. And the restrictions in place now make it difficult to think about reopening for dining and bar service. Too many many challenges and regulations. he said, adding hed like to wait and see if theres a spike in new coronavirus cases before reopening for inside dining. Another Westcott business in the Essi family, Taps bar, has been closed since the shutdown in March and has not announced when it will reopen. Other bar owners in Central New York have said theyll likely find it difficult to reopen with limits on capacity and social distancing. At Beer Belly Deli, manager Taylor Wollman was sure the crowds would come. People are ready to come back," he said. We know well see them in soon. Kyrie Nielson was one Westcott Street customer who is more than ready for the return. The 2020 Syracuse University graduate came to the Rise N Shine Friday with family from Utah. Its just so great to be able to go anywhere, she said. We have nice places here, and I just want to show them off. RELATED Watch: Kitty Hoynes owner in live Q&A on restaurant reopening Restarting NY, Phase 3: Whats opening? Whats closed? Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. New Delhi, June 12 : The Supreme Court on Friday permitted Tamil Nadu government to devise methods to sell liquor -- online or physical sales -- and said that it is not for a court to lay down a framework as to how alcohol can be sold. A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.R. Shah said that the medium for sale of alcohol is for the state government to decide, and it is not for the court to lay down a framework as to how it can be sold. The apex court accepted the plea by Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) that it cannot be instructed to sell liquor only through online mode and home delivery. The top court also agreed that regulations on sale of alcohol have to be made by the state government. TASMAC agreed to file an affidavit within three weeks regarding the standard operating procedure (SOP) put in place for sale of liquor in retail shops. In May, the apex court had stayed the Madras High Court order for the closure of state-owned liquor vends during the lockdown, as people, while purchasing liquor, blatantly violated social distancing norms. The apex court, after considering the appeal of TASMAC, stayed the Madras High Court order passed on May 8. "We can only say, it is for the government to consider online delivery, it is up to the government to decide," said the court. Senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for TASMAC, had said, "How can we trust somebody to carry liquor? There will be riots, someone can adulterate liquor. Tamil Nadu is a large state unlike Delhi." He insisted that the Madras High Court should not have imposed its own conditions for sale of liquor, and by doing this, the high court entered into the state's domain of policy making. Rohtagi insisted that it was the state's prerogative to decide how to conduct the sale of liquor. Lawyer P.V. Yogeswaran, representing the petitioners who moved the high court, said the sale of liquor was not a fundamental right and precautionary measures must be taken in view of the coronavirus outbreak, and the top court should not intervene in the matter. TASMAC was directed by the high court to close liquor shops. The state government in its plea said the apex court has refused to entertain a writ petition seeking total ban on sale of liquor, as the same is a policy matter within the domain of the state. "The high court misinterpreted the May 8 order passed by a three-member bench of this court, in which the court declined to direct states to close down liquor stores pending the lockdown and left it to each state's discretion to consider non-direct sale, including online sale/home delivery of liquor," said the plea filed in the top court. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text As protesters have taken to the streets across New York to protest police brutality, video footage has circulated of police using physical force, even violence, to control or disperse protesters. So far, only a few police officers have seen the beginnings of repercussions. Here are the known instances of officers facing discipline in well-known incidents. According to New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea, in his city at least, more discipline is on the way. NYPD officer shoves woman to the ground On the second night of protests in New York City, May 29, a video circulated of a police officer in Brooklyn shoving a young woman out of the street onto the curb. That woman, Dounya Zayer, suffered a seizure and was hospitalized. The NYPD announced about a week after the incident that the officer, Vincent DAndraia, was suspended without pay. The Brooklyn district attorney has also brought several charges against him, including assault. DAndraias supervisor Deputy Inspector Craig Edelman, who was walking beside him when the incident occurred, was reassigned, but has so far faced no other disciplinary or criminal repercussions. Buffalo officers shove an old man to the ground In another instance of police violently pushing a protester to the ground, a June 4 video taken by a reporter with the radio station WBFO showed two Buffalo police officers push an elderly protester to the ground. That man, 75-year-old Martin Gugino, began visibly bleeding from his head in the video as a crowd of police walked past him. Gugino went to the hospital in serious condition. The two officers who pushed him, Robert McCabe and Aaron Torgalski, were suspended from the Buffalo Police Department the next day. Soon after, the Buffalo district attorney charged them with assault on June 6, to which they both pleaded not guilty. NYPD officer pulls down the mask of and pepper sprays a protester During the first weekend of protests, when aggressive police enforcement was arguably at its peak, video showed an officer pulled down the mask of a Brooklyn protester and pepper sprayed him in the face. Footage showed Andrew Smith had been standing with his hands up and by all appearances peacefully protesting when the officer acted, apparently unprompted. The name of that officer remains unknown, but the NYPD announced that he had been suspended pending further disciplinary action at the conclusion of an internal investigation. NYPD police drive SUVs into crowd of protesters Once again, the name of the officers involved in this incident remain unknown, and since they remained in their cars, videos dont show their faces either. In two videos shot from different angles, footage shows two cop cars drive into a crowd of protesters blocking the vehicles. The first car was stopped by the protesters in front, with a metal barrier between it and the crowd and the SUV. After several items were thrown at the vehicle, it suddenly accelerated into the crowd. Video showed a second police SUV approaching from behind and driving around the stopped car where the crowd was slightly thinner, but still present, just before the first car accelerated. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the NYPD is investigating the incident, but no further information about the officers involved or potential discipline has been released. NYPD officer doors protester while driving by On May 29, the same night that police pushed Dounya Zayer in Brooklyn, another officer in the same borough opened his or her door into a protester as the car drove past. The officer involved in this incident has had his or her gun and shield taken away and is currently on modified duty. The disciplinary action came at the conclusion of an internal investigation. Tasered teen sparks investigation Sixteen-year-old Jahmel Leach was hospitalized on June 1 after police tasered him. Police officials claimed surveillance footage showed the teenager attempting to set garbage on fire several times that evening. Upon arriving at the scene, the video reportedly showed a uniformed officer taser Leach, who collapsed and also suffered injuries to his face upon hitting the ground. De Blasio that the incident is under investigation, but information about any specific officers has not been released. The Bronx district attorney and the Civilian Complaint Review Board are looking into the arrest as well. Police officers stand guard at the Caqueta market in the north of Lima, Peru. (AFP/ERNESTO BENAVIDES) Almost 10,000 officers have been infected with the disease as they enforced social distancing measures during Peru's 12 weeks of stay-at-home orders. "We have 9,900 infected personnel and 170 deceased personnel. That is the figure that we currently have despite the efforts being made," Interior Minister General Gaston Rodriguez told reporters. A further 4,000 police personnel, deemed vulnerable for reasons of age and health, were complying with mandatory quarantine, he said. Among those infected, at least 1,000 were asymptomatic, police said. According to the interior ministry, some 80,000 police officers are providing security in the country to enforce the country's mandatory confinement measures. Peru is the second worst-hit country in Latin America after Brazil, with more than 208,000 cases and 6,000 deaths. Most of the police cases occurred in the capital Lima, which is home to more than half the country's infections. The vast majority of police infections occurred when officers patrolled markets and streets to ensure people were observing social distancing measures to avoid spreading the virus. E mily Sheffield has been appointed as the new editor of the Evening Standard, replacing George Osborne, who becomes the title's editor-in-chief. Ms Sheffield, who began her career as a graduate news trainee at the Guardian newspaper before spending five years at the Standard, will take over from July 1 and will continue the Standard's progression towards being a digital-first operation. She has been a columnist for the Standard since 2018 and is also the founder of the female-led digital news brand ThisMuchIKnow, which won a Nesta government grant for Future News Innovation. She will remain a director of ThisMuchIKnow. Ms Sheffield said she was delighted to be returning to lead the newspaper. She added: The Evening Standard has been a core part of my daily life ever since I moved to London aged 18 and I spent five formative years with the paper as a young journalist during my 20s, returning two years ago as a columnist under Georges impressive leadership. The newspaper was delivered every day during this pandemic, because of the determined efforts of George, his deputy Charlotte Ross and the team, ensuring continuity for Londoners at a time of unparalleled uncertainty. And demonstrating the commitment at the heart of The Standard in delivering for its community. The proprietor Evgeny Lebedev has also worked tirelessly with the Standard raising 6.5 million for Londons most vulnerable during this crisis. A world-famous legacy news brand with both local and global impact, it is a huge honour for me to take on the editorship at such a key point in the Standards evolution. The opportunities are immense in the digital news sphere and I have spent the last two years focusing on how we are able to innovate and drive engagement around the news, while also remaining firmly attached to the value of printed media - the highly influential Standard newsprint edition will be continuing as a key part of the London landscape. Evgeny Lebedev, the proprietor of the Evening Standard, said: I am delighted to announce the appointment of Emily Sheffield as Editor of the Evening Standard. The last few months have been a very tough time for this city and for this paper. But we look forward to a bright future with a brilliant new editor who has read, written and breathed the Evening Standard for 20 years. I am also very pleased that after more than three years as an outstanding editor, George Osborne will become Editor-in-Chief. He will continue to champion the Standard and its journalism. Mr Osborne said: Ive had a wonderful time editing the Evening Standard over these last three incredible news-packed years. My goal was to make us a must read paper - provoking, campaigning, entertaining and informing in equal measure. Then came the pandemic, the biggest news story of my lifetime - and the greatest crisis in the Evening Standards two-hundred year history. Could the paper that survived the Blitz keep going when our streets were locked down? The answer was yes. Not a single edition was missed thanks to the heroic efforts of our brilliant team. Together weve kept the Evening Standard alive in its own darkest hour and produced some of our finest journalism. Thats a legacy Im very proud to be part of. Now I look forward in my new role to helping Emily as she takes the Standard to the next stage of its journey. Shes one of the most creative, hard-working people I know with a clear vision of the future. Its going to be very exciting. New Delhi: Militants on Sunday attacked the house of PDP Javaid Ahmad Sheikh in Dialgam, Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir, the reports said. In a blatant attack on ruling party's leader, more than one militant attacked the house and ran away with four rifles from Police on guard duty.. "FLASH: Terrorists attack PDP leader Javaid Ahmad Sheikh's house at Dialgam, Anantnag & took away 4 rifles from Police on guard duty": ANI tweeted. More details are awaited.A This is the second attack in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. In first, at least 17 armymen lost their lives as four terrorists attacked the base camp of Indian army in the wee hours.A FLASH: Terrorists attack PDP leader Javaid Ahmad Sheikh's house at Dialgam, Anantnag & took away 4 rifles from Police on guard duty. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. We know from experience that giving doesnt just happen. Significant financial planning has allowed our clients to be even more generous to those places that are important to them. With the help of its generous clients and the Naperville community, IntentGen Financial Partners, a Naperville-based financial planning firm, raised around $80,000 for four local charities through its successful Compassion Counts campaign. The firms $20,000 initiative, which launched on May 1 and ended on May 15, supported the following area charities: Project Help, Loaves and Fishes, DuPagePADS and Hesed House. IntentGen matched all donations up to $100 per donor and $5,000 per organization made during that two-week period. The overwhelming response netted 427 donations that came from the firms clients and the local community. Zac Larson and Corey Schmidt, founding partners of IntentGen, explained that the focus was not on raising a large amount of funds from a few donors, but to connect as many people in the community as possible. That in the end, would count towards something big. We know from experience that giving doesnt just happen. Significant financial planning has allowed our clients to be even more generous to those places that are important to them, Schmidt said. Larson noted, We are also grateful to those who have stepped up and given so much. Project Help is one nonprofit recipient that benefited from the initiative's campaign. The nonprofit's mission is to prevent child abuse and create safe and healthy families by empowering parents, nurturing families, and strengthening communities. Peggy McGuire, director of Child and Family Development with YWCA Metropolitan Chicago that oversees Project Help, was grateful for the much-needed donations as her families continue to get virtual services. With our main fundraiser being canceled in May, I was very concerned about the viability of this program, especially at this crucial time, McGuire said. I am forever grateful to this Compassion Counts Campaign and what it has given us. Weve been able to raise over $17,000 in two short weeks thanks to the generosity we received. This program changes families, keeps children safe and, ultimately, affects the community. Visit our website IntentGen.com to see thank you videos from our firm, as well as our nonprofit connections for this initiative. About IntentGen PLAN INTENTIONALLY. LIVE GENEROUSLY. These two simple phrases have guided CEOs and Wealth Advisors Zac Larson and Corey Schmidt for nearly 40 combined years, both with their clients and in their personal lives. It has been the cornerstone of their practice and now its the inspiration for their new name IntentGen Financial Partners. As an independent practice of Thrivent, IntentGen Financial Partners retains the best that Thrivent offers, but can now offer new ways to serve their clients and their community in ways even greater than before. By empowering people to make wise financial decisions, IntentGen Financial Partners helps clients plan intentionally and live generously in order to maximize the impact on their families and their communities. About PROJECT HELP As a mission-driven organization, Project HELP is committed to improving the lives of children and families. Project HELP's mission is to prevent child abuse and create safe and healthy families by empowering parents, nurturing families, and strengthening communities. These needs are more pressing than ever during the Coronavirus pandemic, and were grateful to acknowledge that IntentGen Financial Partners is providing matching donations to assist Project Help as we extend our services. Project Help, Loaves and Fishes, DuPagePads and Hesed House are not affiliated with or endorsed by Thrivent. Thrivent is the Marketing Name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Insurance products issued by Thrivent. Not available in all states. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., a registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC, and a subsidiary of Thrivent. Licensed agent/producer of Thrivent. Registered representative of Thrivent Investment Management, Inc. Advisory services available through investment adviser representatives only. Thrivent.com/disclosures. 3122898-061120 TORONTO, June 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kilo Goldmines Ltd. (Kilo or the Company) (TSX VENTURE: KGL) announced that Mr. Donat Madilo, a current director, has been appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company, replacing Mr. Philip Gibbs in those offices following Mr. Gibbs resignation. The Company also announced the appointment of Ms. Nili Stolarsky to the board of directors of the Company filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. James Mustard. The appointments are subject to regulatory approval. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Mustard for their contributions to the Company. About Kilo Kilo Goldmines Ltd. is a Canadian mineral exploration company that is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'KGL' and on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol '02K'. Kilo holds a 20% interest in a bid for mining rights to four iron ore concessions located in the Bamyan province of Afghanistan. For further information, please contact: Donat Madilo Interim Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 (416) 360-3406 Website: www.kilogoldmines.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. MBABANE - The old adage a hungry man is an angry man rang true for a National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) volunteer, who was verbally attacked by residents of Ezulwini yesterday. This was during a verification exercise conducted by one of the non-governmental organisations, which were assigned to register people for food aid and cash-based transfers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The verification exercise came after the NDMA paid cash to some beneficiaries last Wednesday. Each household received E700 cash to buy groceries. The exercise was aimed at ensuring that all qualifying beneficiaries received the money. The beneficiaries were called according to lists to sign against their names and confirm if they received the money. Names The residents listened attentively as the volunteers called the names of the qualifying beneficiaries. Trouble began when some residents learnt that their names did not appear on the lists. They asked the volunteers why their names were not appearing on the lists. I have been listening to the names of the beneficiaries and looking at the people who qualified for the money. It is disappointing that some of the beneficiaries are not vulnerable like most of us whose names are not on the list. I was born in the area and I know the situation in each and every homestead. Some people are better off than others, but they have benefitted, said an elderly man. The elderly man alleged that some of the people who benefited were known landlords and civil servants in the area. He also alleged that the money was paid to all households in some families. Benefited Some families have registered more than six households and they have all benefited, said the elderly man while mentioning one of the homesteads where the entire family benefited. The attacked volunteer, only identified as Dludlu, angered the residents when he tried to clarify why some of them had missed out. He told the residents, some of whom were visibly angry, that the registration was divided into three phases. Dludlu stated that as far as he was concerned, the cash distribution was not over. He promised the residents that the process was ongoing. We will call you to this place during the next phase, he said. However, Dludlus explanation prompted the residents to seek further clarity. They asked him why landlords and civil servants were given preference over the elderly who lived with orphaned and vulnerable children in the area. The residents stated that according to their understanding, when the registration process started, they were told that the most vulnerable people would be given first preference. Does it make sense to give preference to landlords and civil servants and leave out the elderly? Who selected the beneficiaries after the registration? asked the residents while pointing Dludlu in the eyes. We disclosed our illnesses with the hope of getting food, but we missed out, said another resident. Distances The residents felt for the elderly who travelled long distances only to retun home empty-handed. Dludlu did not have answers to some of the questions except to assure the residents that the exercise was ongoing. Police watched the residents closely as they confronted Dludlu. Lobamba Indvuna Yenkhundla Bhekisisa Bhembe and Bucopho Menzi Mndzebele, also heard the concerns raised by the residents. Bhembe was also questioned about the selection criteria, as the residents felt that the most vulnerable people were left out. In response, Bhembe said; There is a lot that went wrong with the registration. We dont know how the beneficiaries were selected. He suggested that an urgent meeting be convened so that the issue could be addressed. Worth noting is that the COVID-19 regulations forbid meetings of more than 20 people during the pandemic. Mndzebele stated that he was also shocked by the outcome of the registration. Asked what happened, he stated that as far as he was concerned, the lists were submitted by caregivers to the NDMA. He said he did not know what happened thereafter. He stated that while at the Mvutshini Care Point, he observed that some landlords and civil servants benefited while the most vulnerable people missed out. He said when the registration started, it was agreed that the most vulnerable people would be given first preference. Asked how many people registered for the food aid in the area, Mndzebele said in the population of about 15 000 people, they registered 80 per cent of the people. The 15 000 was a number of people who registered for elections in 2018. He said the people included the youth who were employed at the local hotels, restaurants and shops. Many people were registered because they lost their jobs when government introduced the partial lockdown. Some of the residents are the tenants who were employed at the local hotels, security companies, shops, salons and restaurants. The worse thing is that all these people want answers how they missed out because they are hungry, he said. While at the zones, the residents confronted Mdzebele one by one seeking clarity on the ongoing exercise. Most of those who confronted Mndzebele were those who had not registered at all. They claimed that they were intentionally left out by the caregivers of the area. Demonstrators protest outside the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2012 after a panel heard oral arguments in San Francisco in a lawsuit seeking to overturn California's Proposition 209. (Paul Sakuma / Associated Press) Twenty-four years ago California voters made a mistake whose consequences continue to ripple through the state. They passed Proposition 209, a citizen initiative that barred state and local agencies from considering race, ethnicity or gender in hiring and public university admission. In so doing, voters bought into a false premise sold by misguided proponents: that giving women and people of color a small boost in a wildly unfair system was a worse kind of discrimination. Nearly a quarter of century later, women and people of color are still at a sharp disadvantage by almost every measure. Women still make less than men for the same work, and women of color less than white women. Women and nonwhite people are still woefully underrepresented in the board rooms and in the halls of power. The economic picture for Black Californians is still exceptionally bleak; they are underrepresented in the University of California but overrepresented in the state's prisons and among the homeless. Pretending we lived in a colorblind meritocracy for the past 24 years clearly didnt make it so. Now the states leaders have a chance to allow Californians to revisit Proposition 209. They should. California and the nation have been forced by the civil unrest ignited by the killing of George Floyd to start a long-overdue examination of the deeply embedded racism in public institutions, and there's new momentum for proposals that would make those institutions fairer and more just for all Americans. One of those proposals is Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5 by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), which would place a repeal of Proposition 209 on the November ballot. The California Assembly gave its blessing to it on Wednesday. Now it's the California Senate's turn to make the same correct choice, and with haste; the deadline for placing items on the November ballot is less than two weeks away. Just putting the measure before the voters is an important step as it will spark a deeper discussion about a hurtful episode in the state's history and its lingering effects a quarter century later. Story continues It will be a different conversation this time around, to be sure. For one thing, we now have data that show how certain ethnic groups and women were hurt by Proposition 209. Enrollment of Black, Latino and Native American students dropped at the University of California campuses after Proposition 209 and hasn't yet recovered for Black or Native American students. During that time Latinos overtook whites as the largest ethnic group, and while they increased enrollment they still make up only a quarter of the University of California student body. State and local governments were forced to cancel programs that gave preferential treatment in the awarding of contracts for minority- (a now-outdated term) and women-owned businesses, costing those firms nearly $1 billion a year, by one estimate, and put on hold other efforts to promote racial and gender diversity in hiring. We know that it will be a difficult conversation for Asian Americans, some of whom oppose putting the repeal of Proposition 209 up for a vote. They fear that a return of affirmative action policies will come at their expense in university admissions. We believe they're wrong, but we are eager for that and other aspects of the proposed repeal to be examined and critiqued. It's unfortunate if this important debate pits ethnic communities against each other. Affirmative action is an equalizer that benefits everyone, including members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community who collectively lost ground in UC admissions in the decade after Proposition 209 passed. It wouldnt abolish the 14 factors that admissions officials use to judge student applicants, which include academic performance; instead, it would merely allow them to add another factor, race, into the mix for a truer, more holistic picture. Having to ignore race has also put the UCs at a disadvantage with elite schools that are able to use race as a factor when considering applications. We wish race didnt matter in hiring and college admissions. We wish that everyone had an equal opportunity to access quality education and achieve economic prosperity. But they didn't in 1996 and still don't in 2020. Race and gender are still automatic disadvantages that are difficult to overcome. Helping to shrink the opportunity gap with a tiny leg up doesnt give them an unfair advantage over those born already ahead, just a slightly better chance than they have now. That's not discrimination. That's justice. And it's time Californians had another debate about how to achieve it. Stephanie Rapkin, the Wisconsin attorney who was recorded spitting on a 17-year-old at an anti-racism rally in Milwaukee was charged with a hate crime, reports AP. From AP: According to the criminal complaint, Rapkin told an investigating officer she was a cancer survivor and felt threatened because she was surrounded by protesters who were not wearing coronavirus protective masks. Video shows Rapkin did not wear a mask. Shorewood police went to Rapkin's home the following day in response to an altercation. She resisted arrest and kneed one officer in the groin, the complaint said. Multiple cycles of the irregular, but roughly 11 year cycle of solar and geomagnetic activity is mapped onto a regular solar cycle clock with increasing time read clockwise. Circles indicate the cycle maxima (red), minima (green) and terminators (blue). Measures of solar activity are the daily F10.7 solar radio flux (blue), and GOES X-class, M-Class and C-class solar flare occurrence plotted (red, blue and green scaled histograms). Extreme space weather events at earth seen in the aa geomagnetic index are shown as black dots arranged on concentric circles where increasing radius indicates aa values which in any given day exceeded 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600nT, large events appear as 'spokes'. The clock identified when activity switches on at the terminator and switches off at the pre-terminator (blue lines). CREDIT University of Warwick Extreme space weather events can significantly impact systems such as satellites, communications systems, power distribution and aviation. They are driven by solar activity which is known to have an irregular but roughly 11 year cycle. By devising a new, regular 'sun clock', researchers have found that the switch on and off of periods of high solar activity is quite sharp, and are able to determine the switch on/off times. Their analysis shows that whilst extreme events can happen at any time, they are much less likely to occur in the quiet interval. The clock will help scientists to determine more precisely when the risk for solar storms is highest and help to plan the impacts of space weather on our space infrastructure, important since the next switch on of activity may be imminent as solar activity moves from its current minimum. Published in Geophysical Research Letters by a team led by the University of Warwick, the sun clock uses the daily sunspot number record available since 1818 to map solar activity over 18 solar cycles to a standardised 11 year cycle or 'clock'. No two solar cycles are the same, but using a mathematical technique known as the Hilbert transform, the researchers were able to standardise the solar activity cycle for the first time. The clock revealed that the transitions between quiet and active periods in solar activity are sharp. Once the clock is constructed from sunspot observations it can be used to order observations of solar activity and space weather. These include occurrence of solar flares seen in X-ray by the GOES satellites and F10.7 solar radio flux that tracks solar coronal activity. These are all drivers of space weather on the Earth, for which the longest record is the aa index based on magnetic field measurements in the UK and Australia going back over 150 years. All these observations show the same sharp switch on and switch off times of activity. Once past switch on/off times are obtained from the clock, the occurrence rate of extreme events when the sun is active or quiet can be calculated. Lead author Professor Sandra Chapman, of the University of Warwick's Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics, said: "Scientists spend their lives trying to read the book of nature. Sometimes we create a new way to transform the data and what appeared to be messy and complicated is suddenly beautifully simple. In this instance, our sun clock method showed clear 'switch on' and 'switch off' times demarcating quiet and active intervals for space weather for the first time. "Large events can happen at any time, but are much more likely around solar maximum. By cleanly ordering the observations we find that in 150 years of geomagnetic activity at earth, only a few percent occur during these quiet conditions. "The ability to estimate the risk of a future solar superstorm occurring is vital for space and ground-based technologies that are particularly sensitive to space weather, such as satellites, communications system, power distribution and aviation. "If you have a system sensitive to space weather you need to know how likely a big event is, and it is useful to know when we are in a quiet period as it allows maintenance and other activities that make systems temporarily more fragile." The research was co-authored by Scott Mcintosh of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Robert Leamon of the University of Maryland and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and Nick Watkins of the University of Warwick and London School of Economics and Political Science. Robert Leamon said: "The Hilbert transform is a really powerful technique across all of science. Sandra suggested it to me on a completely different project - this really is a serendipitous chain of events - because of her work in lab fusion plasmas, and when we applied it to sunspots, we saw it tied to the sharp switch-on of activity that we'd seen elsewhere. Sandra then saw the switch-off looking at the aa index." Scott Mcintosh said: "We foresee that the door that this innovative work opens will lead to development of meaningful climatologies for solar activity and improved predictability that will result from that." Quantifying the solar cycle modulation of extreme space weather' is published in Geophysical Research Letters, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL087795 Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. REGN has initiated the first study on its experimental dual antibody cocktail, REGN-COV2, for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. This program consists of four separate study populations hospitalized COVID-19 patients, non-hospitalized symptomatic COVID-19 patients, uninfected patients in groups that are at high risk of exposure (such as healthcare workers or first responders) and uninfected patients with close exposure to a COVID-19 patient (such as the patient's housemate). The placebo-controlled studies will be conducted at multiple sites. The first two adaptive phase I/II/III studies are evaluating REGN-COV2 (REGN10933+REGN10987) as a treatment for hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The phase I portion will focus on virologic and safety endpoints while the phase II portion will focus on virologic and clinical endpoints. Data from the phase I and phase II studies will be used to refine the endpoints and determine size for the phase III studies. The antibody cocktail approach may also have long-term utility for elderly and immuno-compromised patients, who often do not respond well to vaccines. We note that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) partly funded REGN-COV2's preclinical development and preclinical/clinical manufacturing. A positive outcome will significantly boost the growth prospects of the company. Regenerons share price has surged 64.9% in the year so far compared with 4.4% growth for the industry. Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments for the severe illness caused by SARS-CoV-2. The pharma/biotech sector is running a race against time to come up with treatments and vaccines to cure the contagion. Given the alarming levels of spread and severity, quite a few biotechs are developing antibodies or evaluating their approved drugs or pipeline candidates to determine if they are effective in treating the infected patients. Story continues Regeneron has had a great year so far, soaring high and pioneering the race for a possible coronavirus treatment along with other biotechs like Gilead Sciences, Inc. GILD. Gileads remdesivir is leading the race for a possible treatment of this deadly virus. The company recently reported mixed results from a late-stage study on investigational antiviral remdesivir in hospitalized patients with moderate COVID-19 pneumonia. It was recently granted regulatory approval in Japan under the brand name, Veklury, as a treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The approval came under an exceptional approval pathway. Roche too has initiated a late-stage study on its arthritis drug, Actemra/RoActemra, in combination with remdesivir, in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Alexion ALXN is evaluating its rare disease drug, Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz), for the COVID-19 infection. Earlier, Incyte INCY initiated RUXCOVID, a global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Jakafi plus SoC in patients 12 years and above with COVID-19-associated cytokine storm. Regeneron currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, its expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity. A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time. See 8 breakthrough stocks now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALXN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Incyte Corporation (INCY) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research A Cook County judge on Friday shot down actor Jussie Smollett's attempt have the criminal charges against him dropped, telling the actor that the new charges against him do not violate his right against double jeopardy. Smollett's attorneys made the double jeopardy argument after a special prosecutor secured a six-count indictment on charges alleging that he lied to police about a racist and anti-gay attack that police say he staged himself. The new case came months after the county's state's attorney's office abruptly announced it was dropping charges against the actor, angering police and City Hall. The way Judge James Linn saw it, the only way double jeopardy would apply is if Smollett was legally punished for what had happened to him since he was charged in connection with the January 2019 incident in downtown Chicago. But Linn determined that the deal in which the state's attorney's office agreed to drop charges without requiring Smollett to admit any wrongdoing and Smollett agreed to forfeit his $10,000 bond did not add up to legal punishment. A Cook County judge on Friday shot down actor Jussie Smollett's attempt have the criminal charges against him dropped (he is pictured in February) 'There was no trial in this case, there was no jury empaneled, no witnesses were sworn, no evidence was heard, no guilty pleas were ever entered ... nothing like that every happened,' Linn said of the 2019 case. 'There was no adjudication of this case.' Smollett contends that early on Jan. 29, 2019, he was walking home when two masked men approached him, made racist and homophobic insults, beat him and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing. He said his assailants, at least one of whom he described as white, told him he was in 'MAGA country' - a reference to President Donald Trumps campaign slogan, 'Make America Great Again.' Weeks later, the story that already received international media attention took a shocking twist when police alleged that Smollett, who is black and openly gay, had paid two black friends $3,500 to help him stage the attack because he was unhappy with his salary as an actor on 'Empire,' a Fox series about that follows a black family as they navigate the ups and downs of the recording industry. Smollett was accused of using the scheme to drum up publicity for his career. Months after local prosecutors made their stunning announcement that they were dropping charges, a judge last August appointed Dan Webb, a former U.S. attorney, to look into why those original charges were dropped. Smollett was indicted again in February. He has maintained his innocence. It was not immediately clear when Smollett might stand trial. At the same time, Smollett is battling a lawsuit filed by the city seeking more than $130,000 for overtime paid to officers who were involved in investigating his report. Graffiti vandals have attacked a statue of Robert the Bruce in Scotland and branded him a 'racist king'. The monument at the Battle of Bannockburn site near Stirling was today found daubed with white paint which also read 'BLM', standing for Black Lives Matter. Another message defacing the statue's rotunda read 'Robert was a racist bring down the statue'. It comes as the Prime Minister launched a withering attack at those who have vandalised a statue to Sir Winston Churchill and the Cenotaph in central London. A campaign has sought to topple 100-plus 'racist' statues, with councils, schools and museums pulling some down without consultation to public fury. The monument at the Battle of Bannockburn site near Stirling was found this morning daubed with white paint which read 'BLM' and 'racist king' Another message defacing the monument's rotunda read 'Robert was a racist bring down the statue' (left, the back of it, right, the front) The vandalism at Robert the Bruce's memorial, run by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), has sparked outrage from many people online who condemned the graffiti The vandalism at Robert the Bruce's memorial, run by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), has sparked outrage from many people online who condemned the graffiti. On Twitter one woman posted: 'Numpties... a beautiful peaceful spot, should be used for quiet reflection regardless of political option or race.' Who was Robert the Bruce, hero of Bannockburn? Robert Bruce was king of Scotland between 1306 until his death in 1329. He is most famous for the Battle of Bannockburn, although he faced an eight-year war against enemies in Scotland loyal to England. The warrior king took the Scottish crown by force, murdering his rival John Comyn in a Franciscan church in Dumfries on February 10, 1306 before being crowned at Scone the following month. Edward I marched north to deal with the threat posed by Robert, but he died at Burgh-on-Sands - within sight of the Scottish border. Edward II continued the war against Robert, but was not a military commander such as his father. The decisive battle saw Robert's forces defeat the English army on June 24, 1314. Following the defeat of the English at Bannockburn, a decree stated all Scottish lords who continued loyalty to England should lose their land. It took 14 years for the English, by now led by Edward III, to agree to a peace treaty and recognise Robert as king of Scotland. The 1328 Treaty of Northampton also abandoned any English claim of overlordship. But in his final years, it is believed Robert suffered from leprosy. Advertisement Another user wrote: 'Struggling to see who he was racist against seeing as he had Scots, English and Norman ancestry.' The NTS confirmed a contractor will visit the site this afternoon to clean the historic monument. Robert the Bruce was king of Scotland from 1306 until his death in 1329 and led Scotland during the first war of Scottish independence against England. He is most famous for the Battle of Bannockburn but he also faced an eight-year war against enemies in Scotland loyal to England. National Trust for Scotland's general manager for Edinburgh and East Stuart Maxwell said: 'We are very disappointed by the vandalism of the iconic Bruce statue at Bannockburn and the A listed rotunda. 'This comes at a time when our charity is suffering serious financial hardship and this is a cost we could do without. 'We would like to thank the local community for their support in responding so quickly to this incident. A contractor will visit the site this afternoon.' Police Scotland has been approached for comment. Boris Johnson earlier slammed those who want to topple the Westminster statue to Churchill, Britain's greatest ever prime minister. He tweeted: 'The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square is a permanent reminder of his achievement in saving this country and the whole of Europe from a fascist and racist tyranny. 'It is absurd and shameful that this national monument should today be at risk of attack by violent protesters. 'Yes, he sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial.' He did not mention Sadiq Khan, but the London Mayor has been heavily criticised for boarding up monuments instead of having police officers defend them. Boris Johnson today blasted 'absurd and shameful' attacks on the statue of Sir Winston Churchill A statue of Sir Winston that looks on to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament is totally hidden from view this morning after it was graffitied last weekend Mr Khan today defended his decision to board the statues, saying the Met were also involved. He said: 'I have decided that the best thing to do is to take precautions rather than there be further criminal damage and vandalism to our statues. 'There will be others boarded up through the course of the day and this evening'. He did not say when they would be uncovered again. The statue of Edward Colston was toppled in Bristol last weekend and police chiefs have vowed to stop vandals damaging others. But Head of the National Police Chiefs Council Martin Hewitt admitted officers may not stop statues being torn down if it puts them or the public in danger. He also urged councils and museums considering removing monuments to act before monuments are targeted by protesters. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 01:15:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOGADISHU, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Thursday mourned the death of outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza early this week. Francisco Madeira, the head of AMISOM, said Nkurunziza worked tirelessly with the African Union to bring peace and security to Somalia. "On behalf of the mission, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the government, the people of Burundi and the bereaved family," Madeira said in a statement issued in Mogadishu. "Like many leaders of the countries that contribute both human and material resources to the stabilization of Somalia, the late president believed in the ideals of a reconciled, secure and prosperous Somalia," he said. The outgoing president Nkurunziza, 55, died on Monday of a heart attack. Madeira said the involvement of Burundi peacekeepers in the stabilization of Somalia is a great example of dedication, sacrifice, progression and fortitude. "The passing of President Nkurunziza is incredibly sad for all of us in AMISOM. The mission to achieve a peaceful Somalia will miss the late President Nkurunziza's guidance and leadership," said the AU envoy. Enditem AVON, N.C. - A class-action lawsuit has been filed against a real estate company on North Carolinas Outer Banks after it allegedly refused to issue refunds for people who couldnt visit because of coronavirus-related travel restrictions. The Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday that the suit was filed against Surf or Sound Realty. The company initially promised refunds to people who couldnt reach beach homes because Dare County closed its borders. But the Avon-based company then changed course, refusing to offer refunds but giving customers the chance to change vacation dates. Attorney Gary Jackson filed the suit on Tuesday in Dare County. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission had ruled that renters who could not reach their beach houses because of county restrictions were due a refund. And most companies are complying, said Jimmy Anderson, president of the Outer Banks Association of Realtors. But Dale Petty, Surf or Sound Realtys CEO, disagrees with the commissions decision, according to a letter to a homeowner that was later posted on Facebook. Petty said that many homeowners have lost jobs and are struggling financially. He said that the countys closure and the real estate commissions refund ruling amounted to a weapon of mass destruction for vacation rental companies. The Pilots phone calls to the companys attorney, Lloyd Smith of Windsor, were not immediately returned. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 15:40 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde43753 1 News COVID-19,pandemic,hiking,Papandayan,travel,West-Java,coronavirus,nature-tourism-park Free Mount Papandayan Nature Tourism Park in Garut, West Java, reopened to tourists on Monday with stricter protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Andri, manager of tour operator Papandayan Trip, said he had added new steps to protect the tourists and his staff. We have prepared protocols for the trips, Andri said as quoted by kompas.com. The tour operator has performed a simulation for the "new normal" trips, including spraying disinfectant before and after trips as well as providing handwashing facilities and hand sanitizer for tourists. In vehicles for tourists, only two people are allowed in each row of seats to comply with social distancing measures. All staff members, including drivers, guides, porters and cooks, are required to wear a face mask, gloves and eye protection. They also have to bring their own hand sanitizer. Only those who are in prime condition are allowed on the trips, Andri added. Read also: [UPDATED] Apps, sites you can use to detect COVID-19 Andri also extends the protocols to the tour's customers. For instance, only two people are allowed in a four-person tent. Prices of tour packages with Papandayan Trip start at Rp 600,000 (US$42.32) per person, including pick-ups in Jakarta. The new protocols in Papandayan are urged and monitored by the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA). Dodi Arisandi, head of conservation of BKSDA in Garut, said he had checked all facilities in the park on Monday. Handwashing facilities are provided and seating areas are marked with social distancing signs. (gis/wng) Anbang Insurance Group founder Wu Xiaohui / Reuters-Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk Anbang Insurance Group founder Wu Xiaohui's name has been mentioned during an ongoing legal battle between the Chinese insurer and Mirae Asset Global Investments over a disrupted $5.8 billion deal for 15 luxury hotels in the United States. Market observers are paying keen attention to this issue, wondering whether or not the jailed founder is connected to the fraudulent deeds that resulted in disputes over the ownership of the hotels. According to the New York-based news outlet Real Deal, the Korean investment firm's recent countersuit against its Chinese counterpart presented a theory connecting the deeds for the hotels to the former Anbang chairman, who was sentenced to 18 years in jail in 2018 for alleged fraud and embezzlement. The U.S. media outlet focusing on real estate news wrote that Mirae Asset's claim that a "Chinese power play" could be behind the disputed deeds is based on an agreement that bears Wu's signature. After Mirae Asset said it discovered dozens of lawsuits over Anbang's properties were pending in Delaware, the company attempted to cancel its purchase of the 15 U.S. hotels. It alleged the seller failed to guarantee its ownership of the properties without securing title insurance for them. Anbang has refuted the claim, saying it was not obliged to secure title insurance. Against this backdrop, Anbang sued Mirae Asset in April in Delaware for the buyer's refusal to complete payment for its purchase, and Mirae Asset answered with a counterclaim filed in May. A source familiar with this issue said Mirae Asset suspects that Wu's attempt to conceal his assets before his arrest caused problems with the ownership of the hotels. "Mirae Asset appears to doubt that Dajia Insurance Group, which replaced Anbang, has hastened to sell its assets, although it was aware that the properties had problems," the source said on condition of anonymity. "If it's true, the result of the trial will be in favor of Mirae Asset." Since the arrest of Wu, Anbang has been under control of Beijing, and has been rebranded as Dajia. In 2018, the Chinese government realized that most of Anbang's assets were owned by the former chairman and his acquaintances, so it ordered the insurer to sell the assets. A year later in September 2019, Mirae Asset signed a sale and purchase agreement for the Anbang-owned hotels in nine U.S. cities, including the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, JW Marriott Essex House in New York and the Four Seasons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Anbang has denied alleged problems with the hotels' ownership, regarding Mirae Asset's attempt to terminate the deal as a typical case of "buyer's remorse" amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has dealt a severe blow to the lodging industry worldwide. The Chinese insurer has urged the Korean firm to fulfill the contract, while Mirae Asset wants to get back its $580 million deposit and cancel the deal. "Whether the COVID-19 pandemic is an act of God or a force majeure will be the key issue of the forthcoming trial," another source close to the deal said on condition of anonymity. The Delaware Chancery Court set the trial date for August 24. Both Mirae Asset and Anbang declined to comment on the rumor about Wu's involvement in the U.S. hotel fraud, saying they are waiting for the court decision. Because Nunavut's assembly didn't sit this spring, the minister of finance has had to set aside nearly $49 million in COVID-19 emergency spending without approval from MLAs. The bulk of that money is meant to keep the airlines going and for bringing construction workers into the territory for various projects. This kind of legislative spending, using unbudgeted dollars, is only allowed during emergencies like when the House doesn't sit. It's done through special financial warrants, requested by departments for approval from a financial management board and Nunavut's commissioner. Seven COVID-19 related warrants, published in the Nunavut Gazette for April and May, add up to $48.9 million. It's money that's been allocated, but not all of it is spent yet. "We have to have money appropriated to legally enter into a contract, so we basically round a number up or use an estimation of what we're anticipating that contract will cost," said Finance Minister George Hickes, who chairs Nunavut's financial management board. The largest warrant allocates $18 million for Community and Government Services to isolate out-of-territory construction workers over the summer. The money will cover two-week isolations in the South, as well as food and security. Some contracts will also require the government to pay workers a negotiated wage while they isolate. It's not all the government has spent on pandemic response, as some previously approved money is able to be used toward COVID-19 related expenses, Hickes said, like support payments for harvesters, and even the $5.2 million the government had spent as of early June to quarantine residents and medical travellers. The warrants will come back to the House in the next sitting as supplementary appropriations, meaning money bills, so MLAs can evaluate how accountable the government has been with pandemic spending. Minister says airlines won't have to pay back 'grant' Story continues Four special warrants approved for airline subsidies add up to $24.6 million, for Canadian North and Calm Air from April through June. "This is basically a grant to the airline to keep them afloat," Hickes said. There are no plans now to have the companies pay the money back. Originally the airlines were being paid based on an average historical seat use by the government. But for more recent payments, Hickes said the airlines disclosed their financials to the government and Department of Finance staff were able to do their own analysis of how much was necessary to subsidize the companies. "They understood the level of scrutiny that we had to put on this discussion because these are public dollars," Hickes said. "I feel very comfortable in the work that our finance people did with the airlines that this is a fair amount. It's necessary." As travel opens up and airlines begin to book private flights more frequently, these subsidies will be changed, Hickes said. The federal government gave $5 million to Nunavut airlines. Hickes called the airline funding "difficult to absorb," and said conversations are ongoing with Indigenous Services Canada about added support. He is hoping to see the territory's airline expenses re-evaluated by the Canadian government and reflected in any future pandemic pay outs. Two other special warrants covered a food program for students in Iqaluit and a wage subsidy for low earners in essential services. South Africa: SA, Lesotho work towards shared vision: President Ramaphosa President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a shared vision and strategy between South Africa and Lesotho to revive the economy in the aftermath of COVID-19. Clearly, COVID-19 is having quite a negative impact on many economies around the world and we are also going to be adversely affected, both Lesotho and South Africa. He said international financial institutions like the World Bank are predicting that both Lesotho and SAs economies are going to shrink significantly. Therefore, it calls on us to come up with a clear vision, clear strategies of how were going to address our badly affected economy, in our case, which we share with Lesotho. President Ramaphosa and Lesothos Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro were addressing the media at Mahlamba Ndlopfu Presidential Guesthouse in Tshwane on Friday. This was the Prime Minister Majoros first courtesy visit since his swearing on 20 May 2020, following the resignation of his predecessor, Thomas Thabane. The two leaders discussed, among others, bilateral cooperation, and regional and continental issues of mutual interest amidst the fight against the Coronavirus global pandemic. This visit marks a very important milestone - the beginning of improving and deepening relations between South Africa and Lesotho at all levels that touch on the movement between South Africa and Lesotho and how we should find ways to support each others economy, particularly in relation to post COVID-19, President Ramaphosa told the media. He said it is important to look at how they are going to deal with the issue of unemployment. The two leaders also spoke about restructuring of the economic landscape by sharing their plans and deepen economic integration. The President said they are also looking at tackling the critical issues faced by the two nations, such as fighting cross border crimes and human trafficking. Well get our Ministers to begin the process of dealing with all these matters to prepare for a more formalised meeting between our two governments. Lesotho developments The visit was also an opportunity for President Ramaphosa to be apprised on developments in the Mountain Kingdom. Were also delighted to hear that stability has returned to Lesotho and that theres a renewed commitment to embark on the reforms that we, as South Africa, have been a facilitator in, the President said. On the issue of movement of people, he said they need to come up with a better way to enable people, who are documented, to move with greater ease. Prime Minister Majoro acknowledged that the two countries are linked. Both countries have a unique geographical situation, with Lesotho fully beating as a heart inside South Africa. It isnt always a healthy heart and we can see blood running to the face of SA whenever we have issues. But uppermost in our minds, is that relations between Lesotho and South Africa must at all times be warm. He said it is for this reason they moved quickly to pay a visit to President Ramaphosa to begin their work to improve their relations. The leaders also discussed COVID-related issues spanning beyond the medical and clinical fronts, including how to deal with the border control issues, which may tamper with efforts to control infections. We are going to address these issues, Prime Minister Majoro said. Lesotho has four COVID-19 cases, while SA had 58 568, as of Thursday. The Prime Minister said both countries will also collaborate in making decisions that affect both countries. Meanwhile, Majoro has promised that his government is also working on delivering services to citizens. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A lifesaving service designed to prevent Indigenous deaths in custody in Victoria will receive $2.1 million in federal government funding over three years. The state's custody notification service, which became law last year, places a mandatory requirement on police who take an Indigenous person into custody for any reason to notify support agencies, allowing for early legal advice and welfare checks. Ken Wyatt said custody notification services were a critical step in ensuring culturally appropriate care. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, which already provides a legal advice and support hotline for Indigenous people brought into custody, will deliver the expanded service. The issue has been politically charged in the past week following Black Lives Matter protests in capital cities over the high rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander incarceration and deaths in custody. Local Aontu representative Louise McGann has expressed concerns regarding a Black Lives Matter protest due to take place in Longford town tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon. Ms McGann said that she has been "inundated with messages and phone calls" from members of the public who are concerned and alarmed by the plans. "The brutal murder of George Floyd in the USA was heartbreaking to see on our TV screens in the last week. The fact that such levels of racism exist in the US in 2020 is both heartbreaking and the cause of deep frustration for so many of us," said Ms McGann. "For a country such as ours, with such deep ties to the USA, to see it burn night after night with such violence is distressing. It is radically important that there is justice for George Floyd and that racism is systematically rooted out in the US but also in every other country. "It can be easier to identify racism and prejudice abroad than at home. Many people are rightly angry at what is happening in the States, but are oblivious to what is happening to Travellers right here in Ireland. We need fix our own failings here in Ireland too." In relation to the protest, Ms McGann said that the county's response needs "reflect the health pandemic that exists in this country". "It is ludicrous for thousands of people to march in a manner where social distancing is impossible in the middle of a pandemic. It is wrong for organisers who last week called on people to protect front line workers to this week dismiss that threat and organise another mass gathering. "It is hypocritical to say to workers, bereaved families, small businesses; take the pain, financial and emotional effects of the lock down to protect the vulnerable and front-line workers while we go out and march in out thousands this weekend. "Public protest is a key element of a liberal democratic society. But Common Sense is also needed. Let us suppress this virus, get the country back to normal as quickly and as safely as possible and then let voices for justice be heard in unison. "Black lives matter, but I'll conclude by saying 'all lives matter' and by such marches been permitted to go ahead, ironically is showing the polar opposite. "I'm calling for support to ensure that the proposed march is postponed indefinitely until it can be organised safely at a time that is possible to guarantee public safety in the best interests of the people of Longford." Suggestions that the organisers intend to ensure social distancing is adhered to at tomorrow's protest did little to allay the concerns of Ms McGann. "I believe, however well the intentions are, that common sense is being ignored here," she said. "How can safe social distancing really be ensured? They have absolutely no idea how many people are going to turn up on the day. There is a risk more will turn up to the event than the organisers anticipated. Are organisers going to make sure everyone comes with their own PPE and face masks? Or will they be supplying face masks on the day? "From what we have learned about Covid-19, it's spread via close contact. So people are significantly increasing their risk of infection in a large crowd or gathering. "I completely understand why people want to go and make their feelings known on racism, but it is a clash when we are trying to manage Covid-19 and puts us in a dilemma." Read also: Black Lives Matter Protest in Longford tomorrow will be a 'standing protest' observing social distancing, say organisers As a physician, Saha was known for his unassuming, humble demeanor that counterbalanced his intellectual brilliance. Hutch faculty colleague and friend Dr. Andrew Hsieh remembers when Saha arrived in Seattle, He signed up for clinical duties right away," beyond what was required. Despite the heavy demands of starting up a new lab as an early-career scientist, he was eager to do patient care it was part of his blueprint, Hsieh said. In fact, it was a particular patient who inspired Saha's research path. The man had cholangiocarcinoma and was close to Saha in age. He had a mutation in the gene that codes for an enzyme called IDH1, whose activity is critical in fundamental cellular metabolism. But no one had ever mapped out how a mutation in the IDH1 gene upset those processes in a way to cause cancer. Saha was determined to figure out this mystery. There was a great need to do so: There are no standard treatments for people with cholangiocarcinoma for whom surgery or chemotherapy fail that is, the vast majority of patients with this cancer. Learning a cancers biology is a prerequisite for designing better ways to fight it. Saha was aided on his quest, said research mentor Bardeesy, by his calm demeanor, which allowed him to look rationally even at problems he was personally invested in, and by an unusual constitution that enabled hard work for long hours. "Hed send me an email considering a problem at 9 p.m., Bardeesy said. And then hed resolve it at 3 a.m., and then hed be in the lab or writing emails at 8 a.m. The tools Saha created to find his answers are an important part of his legacy, Bardeesy said. Notably among these are strains of mice genetically engineered to bear particular cancer-causing mutations in IDH1 and other key genes. Such mouse models are important resources for scientists who want to understand what makes a cancer tick and how best to target it with treatment. Saha developed these essential resources where there were none previously, which took an enormous investment and no payoff at the time, Bardeesy said. Its like starting a transportation company but you have to first build the road yourself its only after a huge investment in effort and time that you can eventually benefit from your work. Moreover, the benefit from the effort extends far beyond what one gains oneself. Shoop took that endeavor on and were harnessing what he began to this day. Eventually, Sahas hard work with his special mice and other tools revealed that the IDH1 mutation was causing cancer by interfering in the cells normal development essentially causing the cells to persist in a stem cell-like state instead of developing into the specialized liver cells they were intended to be. This state put these cells on a hair trigger. Any nudge such as exposure to a toxin or the presence of a mutation in another gene could set them off into the uncontrolled multiplication thats the hallmark of cancer. And, Saha and others found, there were drugs that could intervene. One week after Sahas death, an international team of scientists, including Sahas former mentor Zhu, published the results of a large, randomized Phase 3 clinical trial demonstrating that a new drug that blocks the mutant IDH1 enzyme helped slow cancer progression in patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma who had the mutation. Bardeesy and members of Sahas team at Fred Hutch, like postdoctoral researcher Dr. Iris Luk, now are carrying out continued work delving into the results. Theyre learning how the drug works just as Sahas lab research predicted, it turns out and how, perhaps, to make it work better. Luk remembers her last conversation with her mentor before his death. He said he really wanted the team to figure out the remaining details of how the IDH1 mutation causes cancer. And he believed in them to get it done. And thats completely in line with my passion. I really want to know, Luk said. Im going to commit myself, because of him, but also because of myself. Great mind, bigger heart Before entering hospice care in April, Saha had spent nearly a year and a half in the hospital for graft-vs.-host disease, a complication of transplant in which transplanted donor immune cells attack the patients healthy cells. Throughout that difficult time, he continued his research from his hospital bed, analyzing and writing up data, reading new scientific studies in his field and mentoring his lab members. His brain was constantly thinking about this disease not his disease, but the disease that he studied, said Hsieh, who would "talk shop with Saha on visits to his hospital room. Why Sahas continued devotion to his work, even in the midst of terrible illness? "One reason is his passion for science, Luk explained. Another reason, I think, is he wanted people in the lab to be taken care of; he didnt want people to feel abandoned. Egypt has so far allowed 155 hotels that have met safety protocols to reopen at a reduced occupancy rate to revive its key tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the virus restrictions. Egypt said it would resume international flights and allow foreign tourists to some coastal cities that have been least affected by the coronavirus starting from the beginning of July, the cabinet said on Thursday. Regular international flights will, however, continue to remain suspended until further notice, cabinet media advisor Hany Younes told Ahram Online. The tourist governorates with the least number of infections that will open to foreign tourists and international flights are South Sinai, the Red Sea and Marsa Matrouh, the cabinet said in a statement sent to Ahram Online. Egypt has suspended international flights on March 19 in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus. It has since only allowed its airports to open to domestic, freight and special repatriation flights. Egypt has so far allowed 155 hotels that have met safety protocols to reopen at a reduced occupancy rate to revive its key tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the virus restrictions. The permitted occupancy rate of the reopened hotels was initially set at 25%, but was increased to 50% earlier this month. Read alsoAir carriers may postpone relaunch of flights from Ukraine to EU Ambassador On Wednesday, the government announced it would exempt tourists coming on direct flights to seaside resort cities from visa fees until the end of October, the end of the summer tourism season. Ukraine's TSN news service says Egyptian authorities recommend that tourists refrain from dining and buying drinks beyond hotel compounds or safety-certified restaurants. Tourists are also asked to contact hotel administration if they experience any coronavirus symptoms. If tourists contract COVID-19 during their stay in Egypt, they will be provided medication and treatment at the expense of a special government fund. Upon arrival in Egypt, foreign nationals will have to sign a document confirming they have not earlier been infected with COVID-19, have not contacted an ill person, and have not experienced corona symptoms 14 days prior to the arrival. Those arriving from COVID-19 hotspots will have to present a negative test taken within 48 hours prior to the flight. In case no such test is available, tourists will be tested inside the airport. Test results will be ready in nearly four hours. Researchers and scientists are racing to develop treatment and vaccines against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), which has affected more than 7 million people and killed over 420,000 across the world. More than 150 groups all over the world are developing various vaccines for Covid-19 and at least 10 of them have entered the clinical trial phase. Heres the latest on how the companies have fared: Moderna Moderna Inc on Thursday confirmed it plans to start a trial of 30,000 volunteers of its much-anticipated coronavirus vaccine in July as the company enters the final stage of testing. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotech said the primary goal of the study would be to prevent symptomatic Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The key secondary goal would be the prevention of severe disease, as defined by keeping people out of the hospital. China National Biotec Group Co China is offering employees of some large state-run companies the option of being inoculated with two coronavirus vaccines currently in development, showing how quickly the country is moving to test the viability of its homegrown shots. Employees intending to travel overseas for work can volunteer to be administered vaccinations developed by China National Biotec Group Co or CNBG, a subsidiary of Beijing-based Sinopharm Group Co, Bloomberg has reported. Bloomberg said the proposal was relayed to state-owned companies by the government body that oversees them. CNBG is among the Chinese companies bidding to create a successful vaccine against the new coronavirus. There are currently five Chinese vaccine candidates in the human trial stage, competing with products being developed by global pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca Plc and Moderna that can bring an end to the pandemic. Emergent BioSolutions Emergent BioSolutions has said it has signed an $87 million deal to make AstraZeneca Plcs experimental Covid-19 vaccine in the United States, boosting the British drugmakers efforts to bring a vaccine to the market. Emergent said, under the agreement, large-scale manufacturing of the vaccine will be done at its Baltimore Bayview facility, which has the capacity to produce up to hundreds of millions of doses annually. AstraZeneca has said that the first indication of the effectiveness of its vaccine would likely be available in June or July. However, experts have cautioned that a safe and effective vaccine could take at least 12 to 18 months from the start of development. Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson said it had fast-tracked the start of human clinical trials for its recombinant Ad26.COV2-S vaccine by two months to the second half of July, which was initially planned for September. The decision may allow the American firm to take part in the massive clinical trials program or Operation Warp Speed planned by the US government. The vaccine candidate developed by J&J is based on adenovirus, a virus which causes the common cold, and it plans to test its efficacy and safety against a placebo by giving the doses to both younger and older volunteers. The company is also in talks with the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to start larger, late-stage trials ahead of schedule, depending on results of the early studies and regulatory approval. Eli Lilly The drug giant has said that its antibody-drug to treat Covid-19 patients can be available as early as September. It is testing three antibodies therapies to cure Covid-19, one of which is slated to enter clinical trials in the coming weeks, while human trials have already been conducted on the other two therapies. The drug companys chief scientific officer Daniel Skovronsky said in an interview with Reuters that they could have a possible treatment for the virus available if all goes well with the two antibody therapies it is testing. Skovronsky said the company is also doing preclinical studies of third antibody treatment for the illness caused by the novel coronavirus that could enter human clinical trials in the coming weeks. It has reportedly already launched human trials with two of the experimental therapies. One of them, currently designated as LY-CoV555, is being developed in partnership with Canadian biotech AbCellera. The other, JS016, is being developed with Chinese drugmaker Shanghai Junshi Biosciences. Sinovac Chinas Sinovac Biotech has turned to Brazil, the epicentre of Latin Americas outbreak, for at least part of its final testing. The government of Sao Paulo announced Thursday that Sinovac will ship enough of its experimental vaccine to test in 9,000 Brazilians starting next month. Sao Paulos governor Joao Doria has said if it works, with this vaccine we will be able to immunize millions of Brazilians. Indian companies The Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) has partnered with University of Oxford to ramp up trials and vaccine development. SII plans to start production of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by the Oxford University in the next two to three weeks and plans to bring the vaccination for the general public by the end of October if the vaccine candidate gets approved. It has said that it is investing $100 million on the Oxford vaccine. The company along with pharma company AstraZeneca has said that the AZD1222 vaccine would be supplied to India as well as other low-income countries. Panacea Biotec Ltd has said it would partner with US-based Refana Inc to make a potential Covid-19 vaccine. The firms aim to make more than 500 million doses of the vaccine candidate and around 40 million doses are expected to be ready by early next year, Panacea told the stock exchanges. (With agency inputs) SEOUL, South Korea North Korea on Friday said that two years of diplomacy with President Trump had faded away into a dark nightmare, and vowed to increase its nuclear weapons capabilities. Even a slim ray of optimism for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula has faded away into a dark nightmare, the countrys foreign minister, Ri Son-gwon, said in a statement on Friday marking the second anniversary of a historic summit meeting between Mr. Trump and the Norths leader, Kim Jong-un. When Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump met in Singapore on June 12, 2018, they signed a vaguely worded agreement to improve ties between their nations and work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. But bilateral ties have since deteriorated, especially after the two leaders second meeting, held in Vietnam in February 2019, ended without agreement on how to dismantle the Norths nuclear weapons program and when to ease sanctions against the North. Restaurants will not be allowed to have patrons indoors, health minister adds. Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has said the capital city of Kyiv is not yet allowed to transfer to the next stage of easing the coronavirus (COVID-19) quarantine due to high incidence. "Based on the current epidemic situation in the city of Kyiv, the transition to the stage with reopening of restaurants [indoor capacities] is impossible since the main indicator, the incidence, that is [the average] number of confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past seven days [per 100,000 population], is growing. It exceeds the acceptable norms established by the government's decree," he said during an online briefing on June 12. According to the minister, it is the regional commission on technogenic and environmental safety and emergency situations that takes decisions on relaxing quarantine based on said indicators. "They decided not to move to the stage that allows the reopening of indoor restaurants," he added. Read alsoUkrposhta mulls selling its iconic HQ on Kyiv's main Khreshchatyk Street As UNIAN reported earlier, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko on June 10 said that the city might not yet proceed to the next stages of easing the quarantine restrictions. "I'd like to note that the indicator of the number of patients per 100,000 residents over the past five days is more than 15 people. According to this criterion, Kyiv, unfortunately, is not able to proceed to the next stages of easing restrictions. Therefore, it's too early to talk about the reopening of restaurants, swimming pools, children's camps, etc.," he added. As UNIAN reported earlier, there were 29,753 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of the morning of June 12, including 870 COVID-19 deaths and 13,567 recoveries. Some 683 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours. As Alabama continues to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, a well-known innovation competition is pivoting to address how the business community can best serve the publics needs. The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama is retooling its Alabama Launchpad pitch competition to spur innovation. Reignite Alabama will call on companies to propose solutions for how the state can best continue its business growth while navigating the challenges of COVID-19. Alabama Launchpad allows startups to pitch their business plans to a panel of judges in order to win seed money or concept funding. Reignite Alabama will give applying companies wicked challenges in four sectors to pitch concepts. The sectors are commercial/retail/live events, healthcare, education and industrial efficiency and safety. Within those sectors, organizers hope, applicants can propose solutions to certain problems. Each of the sectors addresses concerns that bubbled to the surface during the coronavirus lockdown procedures, and the ongoing challenges of reopening society and commerce. For example, how can consumers expect to shop safely in small and large stores, or travel, or safely attend large gatherings? Can businesses improve access to personal protective equipment, improve safety for frontline healthcare workers, or improve and increase sterilization? Can entrepreneurs improve access to safe childcare environments so that parents can work, even when schools are closed? How can companies improve safety for employees while maintaining production? Instead of two cash awards in the Alabama Launchpad, Reignite Alabama will offer eight awards among the categories to encourage more innovation, EDPA Executive Vice President Steve Sewell said. Were focusing on ideas and innovations, more so than on companies," Sewell said. We want to encourage individual entrepreneurs to come forward ideas. Along with the Alabama Department of Commerce and ADECA, Reignite Alabama is also partnering with The Edge Incubator and Accelerator in Tuscaloosa, Alabama Power Company, The Alabama Capital Network, Venture For America, Endeavor, and The Fortif Law Firm. Application details are available here and will close on July 16, 2020. E mma Watson has become the latest figure to speak out in support of transgender people after author JK Rowling sparked controversy with her comments about gender. She joined fellow Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe by wading into the row, which followed series of controversial tweets from Rowling over the weekend. Watson said on Twitter: "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are. "I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are." She urged her followers to donate to the Mermaids charity, which helps transgender children, and the feminist fund Mama Cash. Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, added: "I donate to Mermaids-Gender and mamacash. If you can, perhaps you'll feel inclined to do the same." It comes after Rowling hit back at criticism of her comments on transgender women, saying she spoke out because she had been sexually assaulted and suffered from domestic abuse. In a lengthy blog post on her website, the Harry Potter author answered her critics with five reasons why she felt the need to talk about the issue. These included her interest in both education and safeguarding and freedom of speech. JK Rowling in lengthy explanation over transgender comments There was a furious online backlash to comments she made over the weekend, in which she took issue with a headline on an online article discussing people who menstruate. She tweeted: Im sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud? Among her critics were Radcliffe, the star of the Harry Potter film series, and Eddie Redmayne, who leads the cast of Fantastic Beasts. After days of silence Rowling responded on Wednesday, saying one of the reasons that motivated her to speak about the issue was her experience of domestic abuse and sexual assault. She wrote: Ive been in the public eye now for over 20 years and have never talked publicly about being a domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor. This isnt because Im ashamed those things happened to me, but because theyre traumatic to revisit and remember. I also feel protective of my daughter from my first marriage. I didnt want to claim sole ownership of a story that belongs to her, too. Rowling said her daughter encouraged me to go ahead after asking if she was comfortable with her publicly sharing details of that time in her life. Im mentioning these things now not in an attempt to garner sympathy, but out of solidarity with the huge numbers of women who have histories like mine, whove been slurred as bigots for having concerns around single-sex spaces. Everyone protesting the killing of George Floyd, police brutality and racial injustice must ask their elected officials a simple question: What are you doing about it? Before I answer, let me explain why I believe the relationship between the people and the police is so hard to change, why this moment is different, and what we must now do. Captives to systemic racism The relationship between many American communities and police is a conundrum. For generations, many black and Latino communities have been captive to abusive police forces they simultaneously rely on to combat criminal threats. Police officers are often both lifesaving and life-threatening. I grew up in neighborhoods commonly written off as bad slandered as undesirable by real estate agents or chamber of commerce types pitching investment sites to speculators. This depiction of my side of town the West Side of San Antonio bled over into a misunderstanding of the people who lived there. And while the crime rate was higher than in other parts of the city, I never felt my life or the people I grew up around were defined by the surrounding crime. I believe no one appreciates the need for effective law enforcement more than people in neighborhoods most burdened by crime. This relationship, combined with centuries of racism, police-friendly laws and collective bargaining agreements, contributes to insulating police from accountability for misconduct. Thats why the officer who shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice for carrying a toy gun was never charged. Nor the officer who choked to death Eric Garner for selling cigarettes. And when you allow the police system to be this broken, no one is safe from misconduct everyone is at risk. A new era of knowing Twenty-first century technology has created a new age of knowing. All of us walk around with cameras attached to mini-computers social documentarians ready to capture the world around us, share it with our networks and go viral. Before smartphones and police body cameras, there were countless excessive force complaints. People were killed by cops without accountability, but those cases were much harder to prove. Because of the tremendous legal and societal deference afforded to police, few officers paid a price for abuse. Complaints, even in cases of alleged murder, often came down to a question of credibility a he-said, she-said type of scenario where an officers word often prevailed, especially over black and brown people. The transition from written accounts to video moved us beyond a battle of credibility a dispute over whom to believe to a dispute over interpretation. Aggressive public relations campaigns by police unions encourage the public to view encounters primarily, if not exclusively, through the eyes of an officer. Americans take sides and debate whether Rodney King and Eric Garner were still threats to officers despite being weaponless, outnumbered and overcome. A significant reason why George Floyds death has sparked protests across America is because the video leaves no room for interpretation. A cop knelt on his neck so he couldnt breathe. Progressives see it. Conservatives see it. We know it. What are we going to do? With knowledge comes the burden and responsibility to act. Today we exist mostly in the stage between knowing and action. Bad cops enjoy a powerful array of laws and policies that protect them from accountability and, ultimately, justice. For example, about 70 percent of fired officers in San Antonio get their jobs back. Thats why I joined then-Councilman Rey Saldana in opposing the police union collective bargaining agreement in 2016. Officers need to be held to a higher standard of conduct with more accountability, not less, to save lives. Thats why I pushed back when an officer was reinstated after taking someones life. Thats why I called for video evidence to be made public after one tape showed a victims hands high in the air before he was shot and killed. Police brutality happens in our city. Thats why Ive blocked federal legislation to expand police collective bargaining on accountability. In Congress, I secured $25 million for body cameras for state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies. This technology enables greater transparency and accountability, and the safety that comes with the power of knowing. Every SAPD officer wears a body camera today. Now we must pass the Justice in Policing Act: ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants, eliminate qualified immunity, end racial profiling, create a national use of force standard and a police misconduct registry, demilitarize local police and make lynching a federal crime. Were a long way from the more perfect union we aspire to be, but Im dedicated to doing the work so everyone no matter race, ethnicity, religion, gender, class or creed is treated with equal justice under law. Joaquin Castro represents the 20th Congressional District of Texas and is chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. This clearly was intended to give Kim Yo Jong more prominence than she and probably any other non-Kim leader had ever received, she said, adding that this has transformed her image from being the leaders sister into a policymaker in her own right. SAGINAW, MI Demonstrators returned to a park near the Saginaw Police Department in the first of a two-day show of solidarity with other Black Lives Matter displays. Members of The Ghost of George Floyd, a Saginaw-based group that describes its goal as demand an end to white supremacy especially in the form of police brutality, on the afternoon of Thursday, June 11, appeared in Jeffers Park at 602 E. Genesee Ave., located in front of the police headquarters at 612 Federal Ave. At 3 p.m., the three members present lay face-down on the grass for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the same length of time Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin kneed on Floyds neck on May 25, which resulted in Floyds death. Organizers referred to the symbolic act as a die-in, akin to a sit-in. People in Lansing and Grand Rapids were having a conversation about doing a die-in across the state, said one organizer, who preferred not to give his name and instead refer to himself and those with him in the collective We Are The Ghost of George Floyd. We found out last minute that the people in Lansing were doing a similar Black Lives Matter project and were having their die-in today. We were like, Well do some solidarity with that. The group plans to hold another die-in at the same location at 3 p.m. on Friday, June 12. Working in shifts, the group previously held a 72-hour occupation at Jeffers Park from 10 a.m. May 31 to midnight on June 2. The Ghost of George Floyd can be followed on Facebook here and on Instagram here. In the video footage recorded of Chauvin kneeling on Floyds neck, Floyd can be heard repeatedly saying he cannot breathe as civilians urge Chauvin to get off him and check his pulse. Floyd later died. Chauvin and three fellow officers who were on scene were later fired, with Chauvin on May 29 arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Prosecutors on June 3 upgraded Chauvins murder charge to second-degree and charged the three then-officers with him Tou Thao, Thomas Lane, and J. Alexander Kueng with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. Related: My voice matters. We have to speak up, speaker says at Saginaw-area protest Saginaw remembers Milton Hall in powerful demonstration 8 years after he was killed by police Saginaw group spending 72 hours outside police department to protest George Floyd death in Minnesota Saginaw police chief says department changed its policies and culture after Milton Hall shooting Michigan police chief on leave, asks forgiveness for tweets calling protesters barbarians I sense and see something different, says Saginaw NAACP leader of protests in wake of George Floyd death Puerto Rico hadn't updated the laws that define a person's day-to-day life since 1930. Seeing an urgent need to replace them in a way that reflects modern society, Gov. Wanda Vazquez signed a new civil code into law this month. But critics say some of the laws represent a "historical setback." The new civil code, considered the second most significant legal document after the Puerto Rican constitution, infringes upon the "human rights gains of women and LGBTQI+ people" by giving rights to fetuses, limiting people's ability to amend their birth certificates in ways that are consistent with their gender identities and failing to "explicitly prohibit discrimination," according to the advocacy group Comite Amplio para la Busqueda de Equidad, which loosely translates to the Committee for Equity. The word "discrimination" doesn't appear in the new civil code. The updated language, set to go into effect in November, recognizes an unborn child's "condition as a person," adding that it's "considered born for all the effects that are favorable to him or her." However, it also states that "the rights recognized to the nasciturus [unborn child] are subject to it being born alive and in no way undermine the constitutional rights of the pregnant woman to make decisions about her pregnancy." Miguel Garay, a law professor who advised legislators creating the new civil code, said on a webinar last week that they were thinking "about the mother who doesn't want to have an abortion" while also preserving a woman's right to an abortion. "There are protections that people are going to want to give an unborn child," Garay said in Spanish, adding, for instance, that "in estate law, there are people who are going to want to leave an inheritance." Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, so abortion rights exist through the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling, Pedro Julio Serrano, a spokesperson for the Committee for Equity, said in a radio interview last week. Story continues "But granting rights to an unborn child means that the government could intervene and place more obstacles later on," Serrano said in Spanish. "It opens the door to start limiting abortions in Puerto Rico." Puerto Rico is no stranger to such efforts. Over the past year, conservative lawmakers have tried to pass legislation to limit women's access to abortions. Rep. Maria Milagros "Tata" Charbonier, president of the commission within Puerto Rico's House in charge of creating the new civil code, supported bills looking to limit abortions. She also spearheaded an unsuccessful attempt to block same-sex marriage in Puerto Rico after the Supreme Court legalized it in 2015. Charbonier and other conservative lawmakers have the support of many religious conservatives. Fundamentalist leaders like the evangelical pastor Rene Pereira and others have slammed Vazquez and lawmakers for legalizing the new civil code because, they say, it incorporates pro-abortion rights and pro-surrogacy language. "There's great displeasure among Christian people with what the governor has done and what the Legislature has also done," Pereira said on his radio show. Since she signed the new civil code into law, Vazquez has doubled down on her belief that it doesn't violate anyone's rights. Worry over protections for trans people The new civil code states that people cannot change the sex they were assigned at birth in their original birth certificates. That, according to the Committee for Equity, is effectively "jeopardizing the rights of trans people." Victoria Rodriguez-Roldan, a lawyer and the director of the nonprofit Trans/Gender Non-Conforming Justice Project at the National LGBTQ Task Force, told NBC News that "this type of action by the government, the Legislature, and the rhetoric that comes from the religious right inflicts physical harm" on trans people because it fuels "hate crimes and allows families to reject their trans relatives." At least five transgender people had been killed in Puerto Rico as of the end of April, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics Since 2018, transgender people in Puerto Rico have been able to correct their birth certificates to reflect their gender identities after winning a 15-year legal battle in federal court. Since then, a trans person can go to the Demographic Registry with an order from a social worker or a medical professional "who puts their credentials on the line" guaranteeing that a person lives with the gender of their preference. "You submit that alongside other documents, and you can get a fixed birth certificate in 20 minutes," Serrano said. The new civil code seems to roll back those protections when it says "no amendments to the sex a person was born with can be authorized in the original birth certificate," adding that a court is the only entity with the power to "make an annotation next to the original sex designation" if a person wishes to correct their designation after birth. Image: Puerto Rico governor's mansion (Ricardo Arduengo / AFP - Getty Images) Jose Javier Lamas, president of the Puerto Rico Bar Association's civil law commission, said on local radio last week that the annotation process perpetuates discrimination against trans people, a point raised by equal rights organizations. "The birth certificate is used to access a lot of basic needs in our society," Serrano said. "If every time a person shows it they have to explain why that annotation is there, you're violating their dignity, because trans people don't identify as such anymore." While the new civil code uses language explicitly banning sex changes on original birth certificates, at the same time it also appears to try to uphold the rights trans people earned through the 2018 case Arroyo v. Rossello saying that "nothing here established detracts from the process already in place." Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, a senior attorney at Lambda Legal, the nonprofit that represented three transgender Puerto Ricans in the 2018 legal case, said in a statement that while parts of the code seem "to be consistent with the federal court's judgment in Arroyo v. Rossello," it still falls "woefully short of reflecting the progress we have made in our society." Rodriguez-Roldan, who was also one of the plaintiffs in Arroyo v. Rossello, said she feels "very sorry that they're trying to take steps back even though they have a federal court order that requires them to follow the constitution, to follow the law and allow trans people like me to obtain birth certificates that reflect our identity." 'Positive and negative,' and a lot of litigation Lamas said the new code has "positive and negative parts that are going to create a lot of litigation and that are going to put some of our acquired rights at risk." The old civil code states that a marriage can take place only between a man and a woman, Garay said. But the new one defines marriage as a union between "two natural persons," acknowledging same-sex marriage. It also cuts back on some of the laws that made circumstances around divorces, wills and inheritances a traumatic experience for many families in Puerto Rico, Garay said. Among the new changes: Couples getting divorces no longer have to justify their decisions in front of judges, and inheritors are not responsible for the debts or obligations of those who died. But when it comes to unmarried couples, the new code has no legal framework to provide rights, Serrano said, "at a time when less couples decide to get married." Lamas and Garay agreed that the topic of "surrogate mothers" is poorly addressed; while it recognizes the existence of surrogacy, there are no provisions to regulate it. The code only "contemplates some scenarios of surrogacy motherhood," said Lamas, adding that "it doesn't take artificial insemination into consideration or other types of alternate reproduction." Garay anticipated a need for "special laws" to clarify some of those points. Garay pointed out that this is the first time Puerto Rico has a say in determining some of its basic rights, because the old civil code was largely imposed when the island was a Spanish colony. Questions about timing Throughout the years, proposed amendments to the code were occasionally put up for public comments, Garay said. But in May, amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Puerto Rican Senate approved the latest version and added about 60 last-minute amendments without holding a public hearing. Critics saw the move as a way for lawmakers to avoid pushback, and they raised concerns over unforeseen loopholes. Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz tweeted last week that the code "fully guarantees the recognized rights of women, the gay community and other sectors of the population," echoing some of the governor's remarks. Image: A traveler in Puerto Rico (Ricardo Arduengo / AFP - Getty Images) Islanders and legal professionals now have 168 days "to understand how 1,820 new articles are changing many aspects of their lives" before it goes into effect in November. This includes "the ways in which we marry, divorce, legally deem a person as disabled and the relationships between debtors and creditors," among other things, Lamas said. At the same times, this is happening "in the midst of a pandemic, when people are seeking to reintegrate into society under a new normal, and in an election year." These are some of the reasons the Puerto Rico Bar Association is urging the government to delay implementing the new civil code by a year. Vazquez has said several times that she believes a little over five months is more than enough time for the transition. Garay pointed out that as long as the new code doesn't go into effect, "the code that still says that marriage is between a man and a woman" will remain valid. "I think the new code is way better overall, even though I can't say it's a wonderful one," he added. Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. President Donald Trump is trying to refocus Americas attention away from the past three months of incoherence in addressing the ongoing coronavirus pandemic by firing up the Trump Train! The presidents poll numbers are sagging, and Americans are increasingly unhappy with not only the current state of affairs but where things appear to be headed. With few actual solutions to any real problemsand Trump himself is getting antsy without live crowds to inciteTrump World has decided to let the president limber up again in front of baying crowds starting next Friday, June 19, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Trumps first pandemic rally at the 19,000-seat BOK Center seems destined to flout social distancing and mask-wearing norms that Trump never really believed inor adhered toanyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant have a rally with, you know, seven seats in between everybody, Trump said last month. So what about those people that may well be jammed into those middle seven seats next Friday against the advice of the government that Trump heads? Well, according to the campaign, thats on you, dear Trump supporter. To enshrine that, the campaign has included a waiver for its upcoming eventthat will presumably be used throughout the remainder of the campaignthat absolves the campaign of liability if you happen to become ill at one of the presidents rallies. By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present, the disclaimer reads at the bottom of the ticket page on the Trump website. By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury. Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma, a state Mr. Trump won four years ago by 36 percentage points, began lifting restrictions on businesses on April 24 and moved into Phase 3 of its reopening on June 1, allowing summer camps to open and workplaces to return with full staffing, the New York Times notes. The states infection numbers are steady but not falling. But of the four states that the president announced this week as sites for rallies, three of themFlorida, Arizona and North Carolinaare seeing rising virus caseloads. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published June 12, 2020 The University of Louisiana Monroe announces the appointment of Valerie Fields, Ed.D., as the interim Vice President of Student Affairs. Her appointment as vice president will be confirmed at the June 25 meeting of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. She begins July 1. The Winnsboro native is a two-time ULM alumna and served at the university as Director of Student Development from 1996 until 2003 when she was named Assistant Dean for Student Life and Leadership. She served in that position for two years. She earned an M.Ed., Administration and Supervision, in 1992, and went on to add Education Specialist (Ed.S.), Administration and Supervision, to her academic credentials in 1997. Fields undergraduate B.A. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education is from Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge. She received her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (Instructional Technology) from Louisiana Tech University. Over the course of the next few months, I will be working with Interim President Dr. Edwin Litolff, the university community, the cities of Monroe and West Monroe, Ouachita Parish, and other key stakeholders all over these United States, said Fields. We will begin exploring frames to place the lenses that will be developed and recommended for the Division of Student Affairs to cultivate a vision that speaks to all students, past, present, and future, as well as the president who will be named soon. Camile Currier has been Vice President of Student Affairs for more than five years. He is retiring June 30 after 50 years of service to the university. Currier is confident Fields brings expertise and new ideas to the position. Ive had the opportunity to work with Valerie before. The university is fortunate to have someone with her experience and background come into this role. I feel she will be a great addition to the university, he said. Fields is a veteran educator, beginning as a teacher at J.S. Clark Magnet School in Monroe before holding associate and assistant professorships at two universities, including ULM, where she was a ULM Online Assistant Professor and supervisor of teacher and alternative certification candidates. Applying her education management and academic skills in the business world, she founded Valient Achieving Leaders, LLC, in 2016 to create partnerships and produce solutions for project management, assessment, technology integration, and curriculum development. Fields held several positions in administration at Denmark Technical College in Denmark, S.C., including Chief Academic Officer/Vice President of Academic Affairs (2014-16) and Chief Student Affairs Officer (2014-16). Among her many responsibilities were direct oversight in student affairs include enrollment management, student services (student activities, student organizations, judicial affairs, student center, residence life and housing, ID services, Health and Wellness Department), registrar, career planning and placement. At South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, S.C., Fields was Assistant/Associate, Interim, and Vice President for Student Affairs (2006-12). She was also an associate professor, LiveText administrator, and middle school coordinator (2010-14). Fields accomplishments at SCSU are numerous and varied. Her responsibilities focused on all aspects of student affairs as well as management and oversight of more than $39 million in state funds and $74 million in financial aid awards. At Southeastern Louisiana University (2005-06) in Hammond, she served as Executive Director of Louisiana Campus Compact for the Louisiana Board of Regents, forging partnerships with organizations committed to public and community service. Fields secured more than $2 million in grants, memberships, and in-kind services. Fields has numerous publications and research in education and learning, most recently as a co-author of a study on virtual learning strategies (2018). To provide emergency relief to people struggling to afford food during the pandemic, San Francisco is using $1.65 million from its soda tax to bolster local programs feeding vulnerable communities in the city. The use of the tax funds began in May. City officials said in a statement that the COVID-19 pandemic is worsening preexisting inequities in our society, and so the nearly $2 million is earmarked for low-income people, seniors, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and undocumented immigrants. As we respond to the health challenges of COVID-19, its important that we keep working together to make sure people have enough to eat and dont have to worry about where their next meal will come from, Mayor London Breed said. Breed worked closely with Supervisor Shamann Walton and Malia Cohen, a former supervisor and chair of the California State Board of Equalization, on the initiative. The funding follows recommendations made by the San Francisco Soda Tax Advisory Committee to the city in March. City officials said the money is going to help places like San Franciscos Wholesale Produce Market purchase fruits, vegetables and shelf-stable groceries, which are then given to community groups such as the Bayview Senior Center and the San Francisco African American Faith-Based Coalition. At the Bayview Senior Center, residents are now able to eat fresh fruit, including strawberries and pineapples, said Cathy Davis, executive director of Bayview Senior Services. Previously, the residents were mostly getting leftover produce from food banks. For the seniors, this has been one rainbow in all of this madness, she said. Also benefiting is the San Francisco Unified School District, which is using funds to provide meals to students. Despite school closures during the pandemic, the district has been operating sites throughout the city where families can pick up breakfast, lunch and dinner items to take home. The money going to the Housing Authority and Mission Language and Vocational School is being used to feed undocumented immigrants and public housing residents, along with black and African American faith-based groups. City officials said contracts with the latter organizations are still being finalized. The citys soda tax, also known as the Sugary Drinks Distributor Tax, was passed in November 2016. It established a 1-cent per ounce fee on the initial distribution of drinks with added sugar within San Francisco city and county. The price of a typical 12-ounce soda bottle will include 12 cents for the tax. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. The funds historically have been spent on local health programs, some of which include giving out produce vouchers; increasing the number of fresh, healthy meals kids eat in schools; and increasing the number of hydration stations in public venues, among other things. Food access, already an issue in parts of the Bay Area, has worsened as the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic spread. More than 6 million Californians are unemployed because of the pandemic, including countless hotel workers, cooks, waiters, janitors and day care workers who often live paycheck to paycheck. And Bay Area food distribution centers have been scrambling to meet the regions demand since early April. San Franciscos use of soda tax funds is the latest step in the Bay Areas push to address the hunger crisis, which was worsened by the pandemic. This is how we step up during a crisis, Walton said. Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips During a Fox News interview Thursday, President Donald Trump incorrectly said a racist phrase he used to target protesters originated from former Philadelphia Mayor and Police Commissioner Frank Rizzo (right) Read more President Donald Trump attempted to defend the use of a racist phrase aimed toward protesters by citing former Philadelphia Police Commissioner and Mayor Frank L. Rizzo, whose tenure was marked by brutality aimed at black communities. During an interview on Fox News with Harris Faulkner in Dallas on Thursday, Trump defended the use of the phrase when the looting starts, the shooting starts" by incorrectly attributing it to Rizzo. Faulkner corrected the president, telling him the phrase was said by former Miami Police Chief Walter Headley, who used it to threaten civil rights protesters during a 1967 news conference. We dont mind being accused of police brutality," Headley famously added. Well, it also comes from a very tough mayor, who might have been police commissioner at the time, but I think mayor of Philadelphia, named Frank Rizzo. And he had an expression like that, Trump said. While theres no record of Rizzo saying that phrase, he did tell Esquire in a 1968 interview: The man to go after is the one that shouts Burn! or Loot! He has to be taken on, and taken on good, and put right in short pants. If you looked up racism and brutality in the dictionary, youd find Frank Rizzos picture. He brutalized his citizens, particularly his citizens of color, and he celebrated that, David Axelrod, former chief strategist for Barack Obama, said on CNN Thursday night. Trump could not have invoked a worse symbol than Frank Rizzo, who is exactly what America is saying we need to leave in the past. READ MORE: Frank Rizzo leaves a legacy of unchecked police brutality and division in Philadelphia The White House did not respond to a request for comment. On June 3, Philadelphia removed the statue of Rizzo from outside the Municipal Services Building following massive protests in which it was targeted by demonstrators. A mural of Rizzo in the Italian Market was painted over on Sunday. The Police Athletic League of Philadelphia removed Rizzos name from its community center in Port Richmond, saying it wants to ensure all children and families feel welcome. Its not the first time Trump has invited comparisons to the former Philadelphia mayor. The presidents law and order messaging in response to protests echos Rizzos policing philosophy, which he summed up in blunt terms: The way to treat criminals is spacco il capo, he said while police commissioner, using the Italian for break their heads. READ MORE: Philadelphia is still unpacking the legacy of the Rizzo statue Rizzo "did have a kind of passionate fringe of people that could be readily identified, W. Wilson Goode Sr., Philadelphias first black mayor, told the New York Times during Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. It was law-and-order folks, people who were against crime, people who were emotionally racist. Theres a lot of connections" between Rizzo and Trump, "and a lot of that stems from narcissism, Robert Mugge, director of the 1978 documentary Amateur Night at City Hall: The Story of Frank L. Rizzo, told The Inquirer in 2016. French police unionists demonstrate with a banner reading "No police, no peace" down the Champs-Elysee avenue, in Paris, France, on June 12, 2020. (Michel Euler/AP Photo) French Police Hold Banned Demonstration to Demand Government Support PARISFrench police defied a ban on mass gatherings to protest what they see as a lack of government support, marching shoulder to shoulder on June 12 on the Champs-Elysees to show their anger against new limits on arrest tactics and criticism of racism in their ranks. France this week announced a ban on chokeholds as part of government efforts to stem police brutality and racism in the wake of global protests over the death of a black man, George Floyd, in the United States. But police have especially taken issue with any implication of systemic racism among French police. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said earlier this week any strong suspicion of racism would be punished, in response to investigations into racist comments on closed Facebook and WhatsApp groups for police. French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, gestures during a media conference in Paris on June 8, 2020. (Isa Harsin/Pool Photo via AP) French police unionists sing the national anthem as they demonstrate outside the presidential Elysee Palace and the Interior Ministry in Paris on June 12, 2020. (Michel Euler/AP Photo) Fridays protest was small but highly visible, with honking, flags, and blue smoke blowing under rainy skies. As officers marched close together, with hardly a mask in sight, Paris police issued a bulletin confirming that anti-police protests planned this weekend were banned because of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. Fridays group walked unimpeded to the interior ministry, which is next to the presidential palace and has been barricaded against demonstrators since the 2018 yellow-vest protests that frequently ended in violent clashes. Uniformed guards appeared startled at the arrival of the protest but did not intervene. After a minute of silence for dead police officers, they sang the French national anthem, spoke briefly, and dispersed. French police are the most controlled in the world, so when there are certain lapses by a tiny minority, dont stigmatize all police, said Fabien Vanhemelryck of the Alliance union. He accused politicians of responding hastily to a crisis in the United States that has nothing to do with us. French police unionists demonstrate with a banner reading No police, no peace down the Champs-Elysee in Paris on June 12, 2020. (Michel Euler/AP Photo) Police unions met Thursday and Friday with Castaner to discuss changes to police tactics after the minister announced Monday that police would no longer be taught to seize suspects by the neck or push on their necks. Castaner stopped short of banning another techniquepressing on a prone suspects chestthat also has been blamed for leading to asphyxiation and possible death. Such immobilization techniques have come under growing criticism since Floyds death. But French police say the new restrictions go too far. He doesnt even know what hes talking about, said Jean-Paul Megret, another police union leader. Sometimes you cant just ask people to follow you to be arrested. Every day, youre dealing with people who are completely insane. French police unionists fire blue flares as they demonstrate with a banner reading No police, no peace down the Champs-Elysee in Paris on June 12, 2020. (Michel Euler/AP Photo) Unions floated the idea this week of widening the use of stun-guns, which are only available to a handful of specialized officers. France has seen several anti-police protests sparked by Floyds death, and another is planned Saturday. Fridays protest began on the Champs-Elysees avenue, which was repeatedly the scene of violence between police and the yellow vest protesters last year. Last week, the Paris prosecutors office opened a preliminary investigation into racist insults and instigating racial hatred based on comments allegedly written in a private police Facebook group. Website Streetpress published a string of offensive messages that it said were published within the group, though acknowledged that it is unclear whether the authors were officers or people pretending to be police. Some of the reported comments mocked young men of color who have died fleeing police. Separately, six police officers in the Normandy city of Rouen are under internal investigation over racist comments in a private WhatsApp group. Both incidents have prompted public concerns about extreme views among French police. By Arno Pedram and Lori Hinnant Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jesse Vad (The Jakarta Post) California, United States Fri, June 12, 2020 13:00 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde347a1 1 Food restaurant,coronavirus,united-states,COVID-19,Indonesian-American,food Free Homemade chili sauce, bakso (meatballs), sambal goreng ati (fried chicken liver with diced potato and beans) and bebek betutu (Balinese slow-cooked duck) are a few of the dishes chef Siska Silitonga has been whipping up over the past few months. And those in Californias Bay Area who want to try Siska's dishes dont even have to leave their homes -- the food will come to them. Throughout the United States, Indonesian-American restaurateurs have adapted their businesses to delivery and take out in response to COVID-19 and the resulting shutdowns. From the east coast to the west, chefs have managed to stay afloat while still giving back to their communities. Siska is the chef and owner of ChiliCali, an Indonesian catering and pop-up restaurant in San Francisco. She was introduced to the culinary world at a young age. Siska grew up helping at her mothers small restaurant in the port of Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta. After moving to San Francisco for college, she noticed the lack of Indonesian food and representation. I felt so lonely, said Siska. I missed my community. I was upset that Indonesian food is not represented here. Thats when ChiliCali began. Siska started by holding dinners for friends, but soon people suggested she grow her operation into a business. Through fundraising, she sold her homemade sauces and then, in 2015, started doing popups where she would cook with a small staff and sell dishes to the public at various locations. Siska was looking for investors to expand ChiliCali right before the pandemic hit. Opening a restaurant is out of the question now, and shes had to shift entirely to a delivery model to survive. Through social media, Siska posts menus each week. Before the pandemic, most of her customers were not Indonesian. Now, she serves 150 people a week, almost all of whom are Indonesians. Siska thinks the crisis has intensified homesickness. Were worried about our families. So the food is, in a way, a little comfort that can bridge you, your memory, she said. Siska also noticed an increase in Indonesians who want to represent their community by starting their own businesses since the pandemic. In response, shes providing guidance and advice to those who are new to entrepreneurship. One such newcomer is Yohanes Ng, an Indonesian-American district manager for a catering company. Though he still has his job, Yohanes worries constantly about what will happen in the days to come and feels that he may be fired like many of his former coworkers. The job insecurity prompted him to start working toward another profession of his own making. Yohanes began to make bakso for his friends, delivering the soup to those who wanted it. The response was overwhelmingly positive, so he consulted Siska to see what steps he should take next. Yohanes built a social media presence with a strong following of potential customers. He also started the process of getting licensed and finding a kitchen to rent. His goal is to eventually turn his passion for cooking into a full-time job. Yohanes also hopes to bring the Indonesian-American community together and represent his culture. Maybe a silver lining of this pandemic is that we will see more and more Indonesian businesses, said Siska. Read also: New layout, new experience: Restaurateurs prepare for reopening Across the country in New York City, another chef has adapted in a similar fashion. Fefe Anggono, founder of the New York Indonesian Food Bazaar, was also forced to shift to takeouts. The bazaar was a place where vendors, including Fefe, could sell their homemade food and where customers could find high-quality Indonesian cuisine. But when the pandemic crippled New York City, the bazaar was unable to stay open. Instead, Fefe took a similar approach to ChiliCali and posted menus on social media. She cooked at home and delivered all over the five boroughs. Fefe Anggono (left) delivers food to a customer. (Courtesy of Fefe Anggono/File) Fefe didnt stop there. With donations from the community and her own money, she started delivering free meals to hospital healthcare workers throughout New York City. In addition to her Indonesian dishes, she also provided bottled water and fresh fruit. Last week, Fefe decided to help her vendors from the bazaar. She moved the bazaar online, open to any of her vendors who want to start selling food again. People can now order online, and she delivers everything, including the food from her vendors. In Philadelphia, yet another Indonesian-American chef is working to give back, despite her own challenges. Diana Widjojo is the chef and co-owner of Hardena, a James Beard Award semifinalist restaurant. Diana and her sister took over the restaurant from their parents a few years ago. They were hoping to expand soon, but the pandemic halted their plans. Hardena has been able to stay afloat thanks to takeout orders and funding from Off Their Plate, a nonprofit that raises money to keep restaurants operating during the pandemic. Diana has also been giving back to those who need help. Along with others in her community, she started gathering supplies to donate. What started as just extra face masks quickly turned into donations of rice, noodles, fresh produce, eggs and more. Like most restaurants, Hardena is still struggling. Ingredients, many of which are imported from Indonesia, have skyrocketed in price, all while the number of customers has dropped. But Widjojo hasnt lost hope, even in the face of uncertainty. We never see things in a negative view, said Diana. I know well always be here. (kes) __________ The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post. For the first time ever, Queen Elizabeth II has attended a video conference through the application Zoom to address viewers during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The fact that the Queen has not been able to step out in public ever since the coronavirus lockdown was announced has not been able to stop her from performing her royal duties. On Thursday, she attended a Zoom call with her daughter Princess Anne to speak to carers during the Carers' Week. The CNN reports that Carers' Week is observed to honour over seven million unpaid carers who tend to the ill, the frail and the disabled family members, friends and loved ones. The Queen was attending the call from the Oak Room at Windsor Castle, where she has been staying during the lockdown. The call took place a week ago and saw several prominent people join in. Even though the 94-year-old British monarch was breaking years of tradition by attending a public meeting through Zoom, she ensured that certain customs were followed. For instance, the Queen is always the last to arrive and the first to leave during any public event. And the same was followed in this case too. The Royal Family's official Twitter handle tweeted about the call too: BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 8:30 am ET Friday, the Labor Department will release U.S. import and export prices for May. Ahead of the data, the greenback traded mixed against its major rivals. While the greenback retreated against the franc, it held steady against the rest of major rivals. The greenback was worth 1.1305 against the euro, 1.2608 against the pound, 107.27 against the yen and 0.9460 against the franc as of 8:25 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The owner of crypto exchange CoinFlux has pled guilty to laundering over $1.8 million worth of Bitcoin. Vlad-Calin Nistor and 14 other defendants, including the owner of a car wash, pled guilty for their roles in a transnational and multi-million dollar scheme to defraud U.S. residents. The guilty pleas were issued at the Eastern District Court of Kentucky, per a Thursday announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Four of the guilty pleas were made by Romanian nationals in the past 24 days, with two taking place in the last 24 hours, the announcement stated. The defendants were involved in a racketeering conspiracy and online auction fraud, defrauding millions of dollars from U.S. residents by selling goods that didnt actually exist. The scheme began as early as 2013, according to the statement, when Romanian car wash owner Bodgan-Stefan Popescu coordinated the spread of tools like fake advertisements and account info for IP address anonymizing services to defraud American residents. Popescu also connected these residents with other members of the racketeering scheme, who would impersonate different people over the phone, including eBay customer service representatives and military members trying to sell items before deployment. Popescu collected Bitcoin through fraudulent means. One of the main ways he did this was by receiving cryptocurrency from co-conspirators through online scams and sending the money to Nistor. Nistor would launder funds generated through CoinFlux, exchange the cryptocurrency for fiat currency and then deposit the funds into bank accounts under the names of employees and family members. Through the use of digital currencies and trans-border organizational strategies, this criminal syndicate believed they were beyond the reach of law enforcement, Assistant Director Michael DAmbrosio, U.S. Secret Service, Office of Investigations, said in the DOJ statement. However, as this successful investigation clearly illustrates, with sustained, international cooperation, we can effectively hold cyber criminals accountable for their actions, no matter where they reside. Story continues Nistor was arrested in December 2018 on an international warrant and was extradited to the U.S. The defendants now await sentencing. 2020 The Block Crypto, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. The European Union will agree to borrow billions of euros from financial markets this summer, a European official predicted Friday, despite ongoing differences over how to deal with the economic shock from Covid-19. European countries have battled over a plan to raise 750 billion euros ($847 billion) in public markets since the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, presented the idea in late May. Negotiations are ongoing, but some member states are still reluctant to take the unprecedented step, fearing taking too much risk for their own taxpayers. However, speaking at a Goldman Sachs virtual conference on Friday, European Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said he is "confident" that member states will bridge their differences. The Italian said he hasn't seen "any door slamming," only "serious criticism." "That makes me feel that there is an opening for a discussion," Gentiloni said, adding that the details of the Commission's proposal can be adjusted, but in the end its substance will be adopted. The European Commission has never tapped markets on such a large scale. Supporters of the idea argue it is the right move at a time when all European economies are struggling with the coronavirus crisis. Opponents are wary of sharing debt with other nations that have been less fiscally sound. Steven Williams, 25, has been charged with killing four men over an 8-month period. The motive in one slaying is "murder for hire." Read more A West Oak Lane man who police said was a hit man has been charged with killing four men in a nine-month stretch that ended in May 2019. Steven Williams, 25, of the 6900 block of Ogontz Avenue, was behind bars for unrelated crimes at SCI Mahanoy in Schuylkill County when detectives brought him back to Philadelphia on Wednesday and charged him with the string of slayings, police records show. From September 2018 through May 2019, police say, Williams was paid thousands of dollars to execute four Philadelphia men who are linked only by how they died and who killed them. William Crawford, 35, was gunned down while getting out of his car in Rhawnhurst; Jermaine Simmons, 39, was shot dead while sitting in a parked car in West Oak Lane; Richard Isaac, 31, was shot in the head and chest while sitting on the front porch of a home in East Mount Airy; and Leslie Carrol, 46, was slain while sitting in his sons car with the engine running in Francisville. Williams initially denied any knowledge of the slayings, police said, but when confronted with evidence, said he knew of the crimes but others had conspired to make him the fall guy." District Attorney Larry Krasner announced the arrest Friday, saying: Following a complex investigation by Philadelphia homicide detectives, my office is today able to begin prosecution of Steven Williams, who collected thousands of dollars as a contract killer. His streak of wanton, violent crimes against our communities over the past two-plus years ends today. Despite the closure of most court functions, we will proceed as quickly as possible to bring him to justice, and to support those who have been mourning his victims for years, Krasner said in a statement. Williams, who is being held without bail, will have a preliminary hearing on July 1, according to court records. He is being represented by the Defender Association of Philadelphia. A law enforcement source said Williams was part of a group of men who killed for money. You go to somebody in that group and you say, I want so-and-so dead. They dont care who it is, they dont want to know the reason why. All they want to know is, Will you give me portraits of dead presidents on green paper called money?' If you can come up with the money, they will kill somebody for you, said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media about the case. The investigation is ongoing, said the source. Police said the first victim, Crawford, was slain the morning of Sept. 8, 2018. At 9:12 a.m., Philadelphia police officers responded to the 1900 block of Hartel Avenue in Rhawnhurst and found Crawford, 35, on the sidewalk suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and back. After Crawford parked his white Dodge Journey in front of a home on the block, police say, he was approached by Williams, wearing jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt with a white design on the back. After shooting Crawford, the gunman ran westbound toward Loretto Avenue, police said. After Crawfords death, his father, Stanley, founded the Families of Unsolved Murders Project, a grassroots organization that seeks to bring attention to cold cases. Crawford said he felt a sigh of relief that Williams had been charged in his sons death. One thing that helps a little bit more is that he was charged with three other murders. So, my premise has always been to help other families as well as my family, Crawford said Thursday night. Simmons was shot to death Feb. 10, 2019, police said. Simmons was sitting inside his vehicle in front of his house on the 7500 block of Forrest Avenue when a black vehicle pulled alongside and two people within opened fire, according to police. Isaac was fatally shot in the head and chest while sitting on a front porch in the 100 block of Meehan Street in East Mount Airy on March 25, 2019. Carroll died from gunshot wounds on the afternoon of May 4, 2019, as he sat in his sons car on the 2000 block of West Girard Avenue. A vehicle had pulled alongside him, and a gunman opened fire and sped away, police said. Staff writer Mike Newall contributed to this article. SARATOGA SPRINGS A bill that passed the state Assembly and Senate this week will allow for the politically appointed deputy commissioners to live outside city limits. Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D-Round Lake) said the bill, which she sponsored in the Assembly, would grant elected officials the option to draw from a larger pool of candidates. This is important, she said, as the deputies are often tasked with managing the day-to-day operations of the five departments that make up the citys commission form of government. Pre-pandemic, there was low unemployment rate in Saratoga, Woerner said. It is difficult to find qualified candidates at a time of low unemployment and the cost of living in the city is such that middle-income earners are not living in Saratoga. The city came to us and asked for some relief. Senator Daphne Jordan (R-Halfmoon) sponsored the bill in the Senate that is now under review in the governors office. Woerner also noted the bill does not allow for deputies, who are appointed by the mayor and the four commissioners, to rise to the position of the elected official in the absence of the elected official. Commissioner of Finance Michele Madigan said the change will be helpful to the City Council, but expects the mayor and commissioners will still try to seek a city resident first to fill the posts. For the deputy finance commissioner, which had required budgeting experience, it had been difficult to meet this criteria, Madigan said. I did a national search at one time and finding someone willing to relocate to the city due to the cost of living in Saratoga Springs was also difficult. The deputies are paid $77,680 a year. Tom Roohan of Roohan Realty said in the last 185 days, the average selling price for a home in Saratoga Springs was $444,305. The median, he said, during that same time period was $370,000. Even those who advocate for a different form of government, like Robert Turner who is an associate professor of political science at Skidmore College, said the change is a good one. A vast majority of cities have moved towards scrapping residency requirements for the city managers, teachers and police, especially in cities with expensive home values, Turner said. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. During her tenure in the Assembly, Woerner has sponsored other residency bills including one allowing Mechanicville to hire a city attorney who lives outside its limits and the village of South Glens Falls to hire from the town of Moreau of which the village is a part. This is pretty standard practice because in times when the economy is good, Woerner said. Filling governmental positions with quality people is not easy. In November, Saratoga Springs voters will once again decide if they wants to preserve the citys century-old commission form of government, which would eliminate the deputy positions. If the commission form of government is scrapped, Woerner said the residency requirement relief, "I assume we will need to redo." "I don't want to see that. I want our leaders to come out strong on this and say, 'we have got a problem here, we are going to own this problem and we want to unite this country like it has never been united before'." Two of Australia's most eminent historians, Geoffrey Blainey and Stuart Macintyre, were stunned by the events of this week. Blainey says the speed with which protests against the death of George Floyd morphed into a broader, global movement was astonishing. Macintyre likens it to a tsunami. "There is certainly a cathartic violence to it," he says. Beyond images of protesters wrangling statues of Christopher Columbus and defacing Winston Churchill, beyond the fallen, faintly ludicrous figure of Bristol slave trader Edward Colston and Belgium's King Leopold II, a cultural reckoning is being felt in other ways. Gone with the Wind, an 80-year-old American cinematic classic, was removed from the HBO Max streaming service. A company spokesman, in language reminiscent of China's Cultural Revolution, said the Civil War-period film could no longer be shown without "an explanation and a denouncement" of its racist depictions. Heroic depictions of antebellum life in Gone with the Wind have been condemned as glorifying slave ownership. Credit:MGM Streaming giant Netflix announced it had pulled its back catalogue of Chris Lilley comedies which include a contentious repertoire of racially diverse characters. Rival streaming service Stan, owned by Nine (the owner of this masthead), washed its hands of Little Britain, a comedy series which contains blackface skits. The ABC announced a "harm and offence" purge of its programming and the BBC pulled from its streaming platform "The Germans," an episode of Fawlty Towers in which a goose-stepping John Cleese gave us the unforgettable line, "don't mention the war". Macintyre says while the disappearance of blackface skits is "no great loss to anyone," the growing constraints on creative arts carry a cost. "Humanities and the creative arts are ways of taking us out of ourselves and exploring the circumstances of others," he says. "The idea that you can be educated in literature or drama but be unable to speak for, or make use of, any culture that is not your own seems to me to be absurd. Loading "Otherwise we have just got a case of solipsism, where the only thing you can speak for is the thing which is your own." Mcintyre, a protagonist in the history wars sparked by fellow historian Keith Windschuttle's denial of the stolen generations in his 2002 book, says the instinct to pull down statues is based on valid grievances but confuses symbolism with substance. "I recognise that a number of these monuments are extremely offensive to people for whom they have a meaning of repression and even extermination," he says. "The problem is that, if you remove them, you are removing the capacity for people to have an informed awareness of what has happened in the past and things that have changed since. "We should discourage virtue signalling, where one person has to go further than the others. It would be far more profitable to stop thinking about where I can find a rope and to try to think about ways in which we might make a properly critical response to these monuments that would satisfy the feelings of Indigenous people." Blainey likens mutilating a statue in a public place to destroying a work of art in a gallery. He is particularly troubled that the mob would turn on Churchill. "There must be millions of young people who know nothing about the Second World War," he says. "It may be that in 100 years time, the world is so different that people may say that Churchill should have given into the Germans and we would have been better to have a humiliating peace than the continuation of a disastrous war. You can't be sure which way history will spin." The treatment of Churchill by the Black Lives Matter movement goes to a conundrum faced by all historians. Churchill was unquestionably racist. As Macintyre says, he waged wars of colonial conquest in Africa and his views about India were abhorrent. Like many men of his time, he adhered to a variant of 19th century social Darwinism which held that the mission of higher races was to replace lower ones. Protesters hung a sign and painted "racist" on the Winston Churchill statue in Parliament Square during the Black Lives Matter protest in London. Credit:AP Churchill would have had no sympathy for the grievances of today's protesters. This is what he said in 1937, to the Palestine Royal Commission, about the dispossession of Aboriginal Australia: "I do not admit for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America or the black people of Australia. I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly-wise race, to put it that way, has come in and taken their place." Yet, for all his faults, he stood against Hitler at a time when no other European leader would and the United States had not joined the war. Macintyre says it is fitting for statues of Churchill and Oliver Cromwell to stand outside the House of Commons but such figures should be understood, not blindly revered. Arlene Mehan with the Edmund Barton statue in Port Macquarie. Arlene is leading a campaign to have the statue removed from a local park, which is also the site of an Aboriginal burial ground. Credit:Lindsay Moller "They do terrible things and they are products of their time," he says. "They have assumptions and values which are no longer ours, which we find deeply troubling. The idea that they be held up as heroes to emulate is simply unsustainable now but I think we lose something if we attempt to remove their presence altogether. We lose that understanding. "There will be historical research done by scholars but there will be almost no public awareness of it; the crucial battles that had to be fought, the changes that occurred, the way in which we now find these things abhorrent." What then, about Australia's first prime minister? Nearly 20 years ago, when Australia was celebrating the centenary of federation, a statue of Edmund Barton was unveiled in Port Macquarie's Town Green park. The park is in the heart of the NSW mid-north coast town. It is also the site of a traditional Aboriginal burial ground. Local Birpai woman Arlene Mehan is demanding the statue be put somewhere else. She says no one consulted the Aboriginal community before the statue was installed and its presence has rankled ever since. Barton's views on race differed little from Churchill's. During parliamentary debate on the 1901 Immigration Bill, the legislation which underpinned the White Australia policy, Barton said of the prospect of Asian immigration: "I do not think either that the doctrine of the equality of man was really ever intended to include racial equality. There is no racial equality. There is that basic inequality. These races are, in comparison with white races ... unequal and inferior." Mehan says that in Port Macquarie, the Black Lives Matter movement has given voice to an important local issue. She is not gathering an angry mob but rather, signatures to take to council. "I don't think anyone has had the courage to stand up and have a say until now," she says. "People are asking what can we do that is better? We can see how we put racism on a pedestal and dismantle that statue." A lesson of this week is that, when concerns like Mehan's aren't listened to, historic, racial grievances can unleash an unstoppable, destructive force. Liberal MP Russell Broadbent, who was first elected to the seat of McMillan in 1996 and now serves as the member for the renamed electorate of Monash, says he understands this from the way his constituents were able to reconcile with their history. "This was a very good way of saying to the Indigenous community that what you say and what you think really counts in Gippsland," says Broadbent, who petitioned the Australian Electoral Commission to make the change. "The community collectively made a decision about the name McMillan over the electorate." Loading He says the part Angus McMillan played in frontier massacres is well documented and "very clear to those who are interested". "Indigenous people were clearly on board for years and it took all that time for us to have the workings of government to enable the change without tearing down a statue," he says. "But if the community said we don't want that monument to McMillan on the highway, I am not going to stop them." It was a very different story this week in the British city of Bristol, which for many years has struggled to come to grips with its most prominent historical figure, Edward Colston, and his involvement in the transport of an estimated 80,000 slaves from Africa to the Americas. In recent years, some concessions had been made. A popular pub, the Colston Yard, had been renamed the Bristol Yard and the Colston Primary School had been renamed Cotham Gardens. There was a growing acceptance, even among some of Colston's supporters, that he could not stand forever. Yet still he did, in the centre of town, until a group of protesters looped a rope around his statue's neck and pulled it down. How long will it take for the mob to come for Captain Cook? For Lachlan Macquarie? For John Batman, the "founder" of Melbourne who, before arriving at the mouth of the Yarra, led roving parties in Tasmania which hunted Aboriginal people? A monument to Batman at Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market serves as a marker to the bad and good of Australian history. The original inscription on the Victorian-era monument, commemorating Batman's founding of a settlement on "the site of Melbourne, then unoccupied", perpetuates the myth of terra nullius. It has since been twice amended, in 1992 and most recently 2004, to make clear that the land was inhabited by Aboriginal people, that the original inscription was inaccurate and that Melbourne's traditional owners are owed an apology for the offence this caused. The monument, which stands on the edge of a parking lot, remains offensive to some Aboriginal people. It also opens a window into the slow process of reconciliation. John Batman, charcoal and pencil on white paper by Charles Nuttall, c.1912. Credit:State Library of Victoria It will come down soon enough. Earlier this month, the Melbourne City Council approved a plan to tear up the car park and make it an open public space. It is a site of enormous sensitivity, not just to Aboriginal people. The asphalt covers Melbourne's original cemetery and the remains of an estimated 6000 people, including Batman. The head of the UK's largest teaching union has been blasted for describing the Government's primary school U-turn, which will mean thousands of children missing out on lessons, as a 'win'. Kevin Courtney, the joined head of the NEU, made the comment after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson shelved plans for all primary pupils to return to class before the summer holiday. The two metre social distancing rule and guidelines on having classes of no more than 15 students in a room make a full return impossible, the minister admitted on Tuesday. It means that parents across the country face having to home-school and care for their children, often while also working full time, until September. Writing on Twitter, Mr Courtney said: 'This is a win for science and for every National Education Union member who wrote to their MP or local councillor and especially for every National Education Union rep, Covid rep or checklist monitor who was discussing social distancing with their head teacher.' Meanwhile Jo Grady, the UCU boss, praised the U-turn in a message to members seen by the Telegraphs, adding: 'We can achieve similar victories for our sector when we act collectively.' The comment was attacked by Tory Ipswich MP Tom Hunt, who sits on the Education Select Committee, who told the Telegraph: 'The fact that most children will not return until September should sadden us all ... This is not something to congratulate or give yourself a pat on the back for.' Kevin Courtney (top), the joined head of the NEU, made the comment (above) after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson shelved plans for all primary pupils to return to class before the summer holiday. The two metre social distancing rule and guidelines on having classes of no more than 15 students in a room make a full return impossible, the minister admitted on Tuesday. He added that 'winning the political game seemed to be the priority' for some unions. The Government's long-stated 'ambition' was to see all primary children return for at least a month before the end of the academic year but unions and councils have said school buildings would have to double in size to make that happen. Smaller classes and social distancing requirements forced the Education Secretary into a rethink as he conceded this week 'we are not able to welcome all primary children back for a full month before the summer'. He said large schools which do have space to bring back more pupils should do so in the coming weeks as he promised all children will be back in the classroom in England in September. However, anxious parents warned an entire generation of children could be irrevocably damaged by the delayed return to learning as they asked Mr Williamson 'what is going to be different' in September which will allow more pupils to return. Tory Ipswich MP Tom Hunt said: 'The fact that most children will not return until September should sadden us all ... This is not something to congratulate or give yourself a pat on the back for' It came as a survey suggested some primary schools have ignored the Government's safety guidance and operated larger class sizes since reopening to more children. More than one in five (22 per cent) support staff say primary schools have run classes of more than 15 pupils, according to a poll by Unison - who say 'corners have been cut' amid rushed Government reopening plans. The Department for Education (DfE) guidance - on reopening primary schools in England to more children - says primary school classes should be split into classes of no more than 15 pupils per group, and these small 'consistent' groups should be kept from mixing with other pupils during the day. Jon Richards, head of education at Unison, said: 'This survey shows the pressures schools have been under to meet the June deadline. 'The result is some corners have been cut, with staff either not consulted in time, or not at all in some cases. 'The focus has been on supporting pupils already in school, those still at home and the most vulnerable children. Now unions, staff and ministers must work together to get many more pupils back in September. Children and staff must be brought back safely, and parents allowed to get back to work.' A Department for Education spokeswoman said: 'Last week marked the first, cautious step in a phased approach to bringing more children back into the classroom, with secondary schools and colleges beginning to provide some face-to-face support to more students from Monday. 'We will be supporting primary schools that have capacity to bring back more children - with reduced class sizes of 15 - to do so if they can before the summer holidays, and we will be working with the sector to bring all children back to school in September.' Vonage Appoints New CEO Cloud communications provider Vonage, a well-known consumer communications company and digital transformation solutions provider for businesses across the globe, has announced its new Chief Executive Officer and member to its Board of Directors. Effective July 1, 2020, Rory Read will replace Alan Masarek who is stepping down. The company, which is headquartered in Holmdel Township, New Jersey, has been providing businesses with fully programmable UC and contact center solutions and enabling them to integrate video, voice, chat, messaging and verification into offerings so they can better communicate and operate from anywhere. The appointment of Read was decided by the Companys Board of Directors and will include close work with Masarek during the transition. Read comes with over three decades of experience in the global tech industry and previously worked at Dell Technologies as its Chief Operating Executive. He was also the CEO and President of Dells Virtustream business and the Executive Vice President of Dells Boomi business. Rory is a technology industry veteran with a unique background and strong understanding of SaaS and software. He is a proven leader and the New Vonage CEO Rory Read ideal CEO to drive Vonage into its next era of growth. With the support of our experienced Board, I know Rory will be able to leverage his significant expertise to further transform the business and position the Company to create substantial shareholder value. We look forward to embarking on this exciting new chapter together, said Jeffrey Citron, Chairman of the Vonage Board of Directors. One of the many notable accomplishments in Reads career included his role in the 2016 Dell and EMC merger worth $67B and one of the largest tech mergers to date. In his new role at Vonage, Read will be focused on driving even more digital transformation capabilities for businesses and will be focused on addressing business continuity and remote work needs as more of the world shifts to remote services. This is truly an exciting time to be joining Vonage. The need for businesses to accelerate their digital transformation through communications is expanding at an unprecedented pace, said Read. Vonage's Communications Services Platform brings unique value through the integration of multiple communications channels video, voice, messaging, chat and verification into customers' applications, products and workflows. This delivers both the power and the flexibility for our customers to create new emerging paradigms in their industries, and enables the type of business continuity, remote work, and remote delivery of services that is so critical in today's environment. This is why customers across the planet increasingly choose Vonage. Please enable JavaScript to view the Edited by Erik Linask The International Criminal Court, or ICC, is seen in The Hague, Netherlands. President Donald Trump is authorizing economic sanctions and travel restrictions against court workers directly involved in investigating American troops and intelligence officials for possible war crimes in Afghanistan without U.S. consent. Read more THE HAGUE, Netherlands The International Criminal Court has condemned the Trump administrations decision to authorize sanctions against court staff, saying it amounted to an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law and the Courts judicial proceedings. An executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday authorizes sanctions against ICC staff investigating American troops and intelligence officials and those of allied nations, including Israel, for possible war crimes in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Trumps order would block the financial assets of court employees and bar them and their immediate relatives from entering the United States. The court, which has 123 member states, said in a statement released early Friday that it stands firmly by its staff and officials and remains unwavering in its commitment to discharging, independently and impartially, the mandate laid down in its founding treaty, the Rome Statute. It said an attack on the Hague-based court also constitutes an attack against the interests of victims of atrocity crimes, for many of whom the Court represents the last hope for justice. O-Gon Kwon, president of the courts management and oversight mechanism, the Assembly of States Parties, also criticized the U.S. measures. They undermine our common endeavor to fight impunity and to ensure accountability for mass atrocities, he said in a statement. I deeply regret measures targeting Court officials, staff and their families. The Hague-based court was created in 2002 to prosecute war crimes and crimes of humanity and genocide in places where perpetrators might not otherwise face justice. The U.S. has never been an ICC member. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday denounced the tribunal as a kangaroo court that has been unsuccessful and inefficient in prosecuting war crimes. He said that the U.S. would punish the ICC employees for any investigation or prosecution of Americans in Afghanistan and added that they could also be banned for prosecuting Israelis for alleged abuses against Palestinians. It gives us no joy to punish them, Pompeo said. But we cannot allow ICC officials and their families to come to the United States to shop and travel and otherwise enjoy American freedoms as these same officials seek to prosecute the defender of those very freedoms. Last year, Pompeo revoked the visa of the courts chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, after she asked ICC judges to open an investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. The judges initially rejected the request, she appealed and the the court authorized the investigation in March. Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said in a tweet Friday he was very disturbed by the United States measures and called on Washington not to sanction ICC staff. The ICC is crucial in the fight against impunity and in upholding international rule of law, Blok tweeted. Senior U.N. and EU officials also spoke out against the decision. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Trumps order is a matter of serious concern and he described EU members as steadfast supporters of the tribunal. Borrell said it is a key factor in bringing justice and peace, and that it must be respected and supported by all nations. The United Nations has taken note with concern about reports of Trumps order, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The American Civil Liberties Union suggested it might seek legal recourse and said the order was a dangerous display of his contempt for human rights and those working to uphold them. Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, backed the U.S. action, accusing the court of fabricating outlandish charges against his country, and praising the U.S. for standing up for what he called truth and justice. ____ Associated Press Writers Deb Riechmann and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this article. An agreement on protection for the subsurface of the Edehzhie Protected Area in the Northwest Territories has been achieved, according to a news release sent on Friday. The territorial government is extending a subsurface land withdrawal for the Edehzhie Protected Area, states the joint news release between Premier Caroline Cochrane and Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Gladys Norwegian. Edehzhie, a plateau that rises out of the Mackenzie Valley to the west of Great Slave Lake, covers 25,000 square kilometres of land. Subsurface land is a term used to describe water bodies and anything that lies beneath the surface or the ground. The area has been a spiritual gathering and hunting place in the Dehcho since time immemorial. The land withdrawal provides indefinite protection for 14,200 square kilometres of subsurface land, complementing the designation of an Edehzhie National Wildlife Area. In 2018, after 16 years of negotiations, a portion of Edehzhie was officially federally protected as a national wildlife area. "The extended withdrawal will complement this culturally and ecologically important region's future designation as a National Wildlife Area," states the release. Kate Kyle/CBC The permanent protection of the ecological and cultural values of Edehzhie under the Canada Wildlife Act, was recommended by a multi-stakeholder working group, according to the release. Completing the designation will "support community job creation, climate action, regional decision making, and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples," the release states. Commitment to finish Dehcho land-use plan Premier Cochrane and Grand Chief Norwegian also committed to completing the Dehcho land-use plan "as soon as possible." "The finalized plan will provide a shared vision to respect land in the region in a manner that guides conservation and supports the economic, social and cultural well-being of residents in the Dehcho." Story continues Lands Minister Shane Thompson also emphasized the cultural and ecological significance of Edehzhie in the release, stating the work to advance the area is "an important piece of the land management picture for the Dehcho region." CBC In the release, Norwegian said this represents a new government to government relationship, saying elders have always seen Edehzhie as an important landmark. "Today we celebrate this important milestone. It ensures a successful future for Edehzhie that will help enable Dene survival and well being into the future," said Norwegian in the release. Cochrane is quoted as saying that by working together she is confident that the territorial government and the Dehcho First Nations can build "strong, trusting and respectful relationships that will resolve many of the complex challenges we have faced for decades." Open source On June 11, pro-Kremlin armed gangs of militants attacked Ukrainian positions eight times. They used 82 and 120 mm mortars that are banned by Minsk agreements, as well as drones, grenade launchers of various systems, sniper rifles, and small arms. Ukraine's Ministry of Defense reported this on Thursday evening. In the Donetsk region, 82 mm mines hit the vicinities of Hnutove. The enemy fired mortars and grenade launchers in their attacks on Mariinka. A drone dropped a rocket-propelled grenade on Ukrainian positions near Pavlopil. The hostile sniper opened fire near Chermalyk. Hostile forces fired small arms and grenade launchers in the vicinities of Novotroitske. In the Luhansk region, the enemy used 120 mm mortars, grenade launchers, and heavy machine guns to shell Orikhove. 82 mm mortars were used in the attack on Khutir Vilny. Ukrainian military units returned fire every time, repelling enemy attacks. Three Ukrainian fighters were wounded in action over the day. The enemy casualties are being specified. A socialist Seattle city council member will introduce a bill to keep a downtown area seized by protesters in community control. Kshama Sawant, of the Socialist Alternative party, announced that her office was currently working on legislation to protect the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or CHAZ. Protesters claimed control over a six-block area in Seattles third police precinct, after officers were ordered to abandon the precinct building. The movement, led by a multi-racial community of youth, won a major victory, forcing Seattle police & the big business-backed establishment to leave East Precinct. The movement was undaunted in the face of horrific violence from Mayor Durkans police. Congratulations, solidarity! Sawant wrote on Twitter. Our movement needs to urgently ensure East Precinct is not handed back to police, but is turned over permanently into community control, Sawant continued. My office is bringing legislation to convert East Precinct into a community center for restorative justice. The precinct was abandoned following clashes with protesters and police were made aware of threats that the precinct building would be burned down. Police Chief Carmen Best said Thursday that it was not my decision to evacuate the precinct, and that officers are having trouble responding to emergencies in the area. Our calls for service have more than tripled, Best told reporters. These are responses to emergency calls rapes, robberies, and all sorts of violent acts that have been occurring in the area that were not able to get to. Mayor Jenny Durkan wrote on Twitter Thursday that The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone #CHAZ is not a lawless wasteland of anarchist insurrection it is a peaceful expression of our communitys collective grief and their desire to build a better world. More from National Review Highlights Twitter has suspended Chinese accounts linked to Covid-19 misinformation The platform has publicly disclosed 32,242 accounts by adding them to its public archive In Russia, Twitter disclosed 1,152 accounts and suspended them for violations of platform manipulation policy Twitter has said that it has suspended thousands of Chinese accounts of state-linked information operations, mostly associated with Covid related information. The platform has publicly disclosed 32,242 accounts by adding them to its public archive. Twitter has attributed these accounts to China, Russia, and Turkey respectively. All the content associated with these operations has been permanently removed from the platform. In China, Twitter has identified "23,750 accounts that comprise the core of the network, e.g. the highly engaged core network". The platform has also identified a wider network of 150,000 amplifier accounts, which it didn't add to the public archive. The network was involved in manipulative and coordinated activities. "They were Tweeting predominantly in Chinese languages and spreading geopolitical narratives favorable to the Communist Party of China (CCP) while continuing to push deceptive narratives about the political dynamics in Hong Kong," Twitter said in a statement. In Russia, it disclosed 1,152 accounts and suspended them for violations of platform manipulation policy, specifically cross-posting and amplifying content in an inauthentic, coordinated manner for political ends. The Russian activities included promoting the United Russia party and attacking political dissidents. The Turkish network, according to Twitter was primarily targeted at domestic audiences within Turkey. "Based on our analysis of the network's technical indicators and account behaviors, the collection of fake and compromised accounts was being used to amplify political narratives favorable to the AK Parti, and demonstrated strong support for President Erdogan. We're disclosing 7,340 accounts to the archive today." Twitter said. Twitter has partnered with two leading research partners: Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO) and has shared additional data associated with the network. Former pupil Seyilogo Braithwaite says she has no regrets about coming forward over racism at St Columbas College as it has forced the school to acknowledge the issue A young Nigerian woman who spoke out about alleged racial abuse at her former south Dublin school said she experienced more discrimination in Ireland than in any other country. Seyilogo Braithwaite (20) came forward with allegations of racial discrimination at St Columba's College after being spurred on by the international Black Lives Matter movement. She has now inspired other black former pupils at the school to speak about their experiences. The allegations have prompted an inquiry at the fee-paying school, which described them as a "wake-up call". Ms Braithwaite attended St Columba's College from 2015 to 2017. She said she endured being called the "n-word" and other racist slurs. Hair Ms Braithwaite said she reported many incidents at the time, but said there needs to be a culture change at the school. St Columba's has around 300 students, and many are from abroad. "I was constantly called the n-word, over and over again," Ms Braithwaite said. There were also incidents where she was targeted because of her natural hair. She said that often after she reported incidents, the perpetrator would be given a "warning" but they would to do it again. Ms Braithwaite said she was "ostracised" for making the reports, and alleged there were instances where she heard staff pass racist comments. In one case, a presentation following a class trip to Zambia had suggested disease was rampant in Africa. Ms Braithwaite, now based in Malaysia, has lived in four countries over the course of her life. "My experience at the college definitely changed my opinion of Ireland," she said. "It made me very wary of making friends with white people when I left the college and went to university. "That's not to say all white people are racist or anything like that. "But the experience definitely gave me a bad impression, so I tried to stick with making friends with minority or black people instead, because they could understand having similar experiences. "I've lived in four countries, and Ireland is the one where I felt the most racism. "It really is the most racist country I've lived in." She added that her experience at St Columba's had an impact on her mental health. She first made the claims against her former school on social media. Since then, she has been inundated with messages from other former students who have also decided to come forward. Eventually, she wrote directly to the school. In her email, she said: "Ireland has a race problem and it's crystal clear that its most prestigious school is not exempt from that problem." She also included a document with the stories from other students that had been sent to her. "I didn't want to go on the media, I didn't want to make this a huge story, but now that it's forcing them to acknowledge that there is a problem at that school, I do not regret coming forward one bit," she told the Herald. Ms Braithwaite said there are many black former students who also want to see changes, and added that none of them ever saw a member of staff who was a person of colour. Courage Boarders at St Columba's pay fees of almost 30,000 a year. Day students pay between 8,600 and 11,500 at the Church of Ireland school. In a statement to RTE, the school said Ms Braithwaite had "bravely shared with us her experiences of racism while attending the school", which had prompted other students to share theirs. "We can only imagine how difficult it was for the young people involved to write down those experiences," it said. "We thank them for having the courage to bring these matters to our attention." The school said it was taking the allegations very seriously. Principal Mark Boobbyer said they had been a "wake-up call", and the school "would not shy away from making any changes". Amid speculation, the Syrian regime has revealed the identity of the company that invested in the Hejaz Railway Station writes Alsouria Net. The regimes General Foundation for the Hejaz Railway Station announced the identity of the company that obtained the construction investment contract for the historic central Damascus station, denying that the company was Iranian or Russian. Hassanein Muhammad Ali, the foundations general director told Al-Madina FM on Wednesday that the Syrian private company al-Hejaz for Investment won the tender after a competition between four other Syrian companies, noting that previous conversation on the issue was confused over the identity and history of the station. He added that the project consists of a five-star hotel next to the station, which will be unaffected by construction. The site will cover 5,100 sq. meters and consists of 12 floors, two of which are parking garages. Reports spread on social media last week about the regimes lease of the historic Hejaz Railway Station to an allied country such as Iran or Russia for a period of 45 years. This came after the General Foundation for the Hejaz Railway Station announced that it had issued the lease to a private company, without details on the companys identity. Ali told Al-Madina FM that the construction investment project for converting the vicinity of the railway station into a hotel is awaiting certification from the Tourism Ministry, and that it had already obtained all approvals, indicating that construction will start immediately upon certification. The construction period for the hotel may take three years, and the companys investment period will end after 45 years. According to Ali, the investment contract stipulates that the Foundation receives an annual revenue from the project of 1.6 billion Syrian pounds, or 13 percent of revenue, or whichever is higher. That allowance will increase by 10 percent each three years, bringing the total revenue to 100 billion Syrian pounds. The project will be built over the al-Waleed Gas Station and a group of shops located next to the Hejaz station. Owners will be issued a warning to evacuate within a month from the Tourism Ministrys certification, according to Ali. The Hejaz Railway Station, in Damascus al-Qanawat neighborhood, is the most prominent historical site in the Syrian capital. It was built in 1900, during Ottoman rule over Syria, to transport pilgrims to Mecca and Medina. It stopped its service in 1917. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Before solidifying their place in mainstream media, Wendy Williams and Charlamagne Tha God worked alongside each other for years hosting a popular New York City afternoon radio show. The outspoken personalities became infamous for giving their brutal opinions on hot topics in popular culture and their abrasive interview style. Their relationship ended when Charlamagne had a falling out with Williams then-husband, Kevin Hunter. In a new interview, Hunter takes all of the credit for Charlamagnes successful career and claims that Charlamagne is an opportunist. Wendy Williams and Charlemagne Tha God 2006 | Ray Tamarra/Getty Images Kevin Hunter gave Charlamagne Tha God his big break and says hes responsible for Charlamagnes career Hunter spoke with popular YouTube star Tasha K about the beginning of his relationship with Charlamagne. He first heard of The Breakfast Club host when Williams radio show was syndicated in Charlamagnes hometown of South Carolina. Charlamagne was working as a radio host and gave Hunter a heads up that the station was running repeats of old episodes instead of daily live shows. Kevin Hunter and Wendy Williams 2012 | Bobby Bank/WireImage Related: Charlamagne Tha God: From Ruthless Radio Host to $250k Donations to Charity When executives discovered that it was Charlamagne who told Hunter, he was fired. Hunter explained that he felt bad for Charlamagne losing his job and offered him a home in New York, where hed live for free until he found another gig. Simultaneously, Hunter was trying out different male comedians in hopes that he could find Williams a co-host. None of the comedians worked out. He admitted that he was interested in managing Charlamagne but allowed him to take his time to make a decision. Against the radio stations wishes, Hunter says he was able to get Charlamagne the co-hosting gig on Williams show. Wendy Williams and Charlemagne Tha God 2006 | Ray Tamarra/Getty Images Im literally the reason you hear that muthaf***a on the radio. If I would have chose to go another route, then he would have just be fired down in Columbia [South Carolina]. He probably would have resurfaced somewhere in another lower market but he definitely wouldnt have gotten the chance he got in the number one market in New York. Nobody would have put that muthaf***a on anything at the time that I put him next to Wendy. Kevin Hunter Charlamagne Tha God alleges that Kevin Hunter tried to sabotage his career after they parted ways While Hunter hinted that his relationship with Charlamagne went south after he felt used, Charlamagne revealed that he and Hunter fell out for personal reasons. According to Charlamagne, he was aware that Hunter was having an affair with the same woman he had a baby with, while he was still married to Williams. Wendy Williams and Charlemagne 2006 | Ray Tamarra/Getty Images The woman, Sharina Hudson, and Charlamagne were longtime friends who grew up together in South Carolina. Charlamagne told Page Six that he introduced Hudson and Hunter and that they both moved into a condo that Hunter. At some point, Hunter and Hudson began an affair and Hunter allegedly became enraged when he felt Charlamagne introduced his mistress to other men. The reason Kevin Hunter and I fell out, and the reason why I dont communicate with Wendy anymore is because of Sharina, Charlamagne told the publication. Kevin got upset because he thought Sharina liked one of my homeboys and he thought that I was hooking Sharina up [with other men]. Kevin Hunter and Wendy Williams 2008 | Johnny Nunez/WireImage Charlamagne says that things became tense at work and Hunter became controlling. He decided not to sign with Hunter as his manager and says Hunter fired him from Williams radio show as a result. He claims that Hunter used his influence to interfere with other jobs he was offered. Hunter allegedly leaked a story about Charlamagnes past arrest for sexual assault to the press, which Charlamagne spoke about on his radio show. Charlamagne explained that DNA evidence exonerated him and the charges were dropped, which is why he never spoke about the allegations before. Still, Hunter did enough damage that left Charlamagne hating his former friend. Hunter denied that Charlamagnes account, telling Tasha K that he cut him off due to Charlamagne doing shady business deals behind his back. Hunter was fired as Williams manager when they divorced. Michigan has launched an online platform to allow registered voters another means of digitally requesting an absentee ballot. On Friday, June 12, the Secretary of States office announced the online absentee voter application platform, which is available at Michigan.gov/vote. To apply for an absentee ballot, registered voters must use their drivers license or state ID, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. They must also use the online tool to send the handwritten signature they provided for their drivers license or state ID card. The more choices a person has when it comes to exercising their right to vote, the better they are able to make the choice that works best for them said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in a prepared statement. This tool provides another digital option for voters to safely and conveniently apply to receive their absentee ballot, while also offering clerks an easy, cost efficient way of processing the application securely. Last month, Benson announced that all registered Michigan voters would be mailed applications to request absentee ballots for the upcoming August and November elections. The effort, she said, is to maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. While testifying before Congress earlier this month, Benson said there is little evidence of election fraud in Michigan, but in the rare times it does occur, we catch it and we prosecute it. Related: Michigans absentee voting push wont cause mass election fraud, election experts say Voters can already submit applications digitally by scanning and emailing their signed applications to clerks. The online platform provides another means for notifying your local clerk of your desire to vote by mail. Clerks will be alerted of the request and be able to see the application and signature. After verification, local clerks are then able to mail the ballot to the voter within the appropriate time frame for the election theyve requested to vote absentee. Voters will still mail back their paper ballots to the clerks office, deposit them in a drop box or cast a ballot in person with the clerk by 8 p.m. on election day. Voters must sign the ballot return envelope and the signature must be verified and matched to the voters record for the ballot to be counted. Former Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is among those who have questioned Bensons decision. Johnson, who is a Republican senator, called it very troubling that Benson is "taking unilateral actions with no input and questionable motives. President Donald Trump has also opposed the move, calling Benson a rogue Secretary of State and threatening to withhold funding to the state for attempted voter fraud. Michigan voters approved no-reason absentee voting during the November 2018 election. Before the proposal passed, absentee voters needed to provide a reason for not being able to vote in-person on election day. A protest scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 12, is expected to bring participants together outside the DeltaPlex Arena in Walker to burn their absentee ballot applications, according to a Facebook event. Michigan has been in a state of emergency since March 10. As of Thursday, June 11, it has reported 59,496 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 5,737 deaths linked to the infectious respiratory virus. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. Read more on MLive: Michigan evictions ban, jail protections extended due to coronavirus pandemic Is the coronavirus jeopardizing the buffet as we know it? Friday, June 12: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Dear Editor: The June 3, 2020, statement from the Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Relations Council regarding the murder of George Floyd, does not speak for me. There is no question George Floyd was the victim of gross police brutality by four Minneapolis police officers. The murder of Mr. Floyd was a travesty, and justice was served on the four police officers, according to the Rule of Law. All four officers were immediately taken off the street while an internal investigation commenced. Less than 72 hours later, the investigation determined all four officers violated numerous tra... The governors early response to the coronavirus slowed the spread and saved lives, thankfully leading to a much lower-than-anticipated mortality rate. Weve learned the virus can be effectively managed to minimize loss of life without jeopardizing peoples livelihood, and thats exactly what is desired by most New Mexicans. To better understand New Mexicans opinions, New Mexico Business Coalition (NMBC) conducted an open survey netting over 1,100 responses. The results: 84% were dissatisfied with New Mexicos response to handling the shutdown; 73% were dissatisfied with the unemployment response; 85% said The governors leadership and/or decisions do not support what is best for all New Mexicans. Why the dissatisfaction? The governors orders, based on ever-changing science, have hurt minorities, the poor and business operations. They have led to a lack of faith in requirements on issues such as: 1) Mandatory face coverings based on conflicting data. Many users are frequently touching their face to adjust the mask, thus creating greater risk of infection. 2) Saying that statewide large-scale testing is necessary before the economy can be fully functional is ridiculous. We know that a test today does not guarantee an infection-free tomorrow. 3) Widespread availability of immunizations could take 18-24 months. If stay-at-home instructions and limited school and business operations continue that long, how will our state recover? We do not downplay the seriousness of the virus and offer our sincere condolences to anyone who has lost a loved one. Around the world, however, we see government leaders taking a different approach from New Mexico: South Dakotas Gov. Kristi Noem never instituted closures or lockdown requirements. Instead, she provided recommended safety measures and then trusted her people to do the right thing. That state has among the nations lowest COVID-19 involvement and a death rate of positive cases that is only a fraction of New Mexicos with a much higher recovery rate. Germanys journalist Patricia Riekel said the lockdown was a mistake and that she favored the Swedish way of only providing safety recommendations. Riekel added, We have become a people of compliers and snitches. New Mexico is doubling down on the snitch business. The governor encourages the public and employees to turn in anyone believed to be in violation of her rules. Hot lines have been set up while turning New Mexicans against each other. This untrusting scenario, which started with cellphone tracking, created mutual wariness. It is not what any of us love about our state and fellow New Mexicans. A recent trip to Colorado illustrated a different attitude. Employees there were ecstatic about being back to work and wanted to help drive success. They were quick to help patrons and fellow employees understand how best to comply with new COVID rules, never looking for violations to turn someone in, only to help. What a concept. The stay-at-home instructions continue while the governor tells us we should support local businesses. How exactly is that supposed to happen? Ten weeks after our economy was shut down, we still have no plan for recovery. Having four defined phases is not a plan, nor is telling business owners the night before they can open what that means. Unlike government, businesses depend on well-defined plans for operation and success. To illustrate why this is a problem, many restaurants were unable to open when allowed because the notice did not provide sufficient time to stock food and re-staff. More lost opportunities for a state that can ill afford it. New Mexicans are hard-working people who are proud to provide for their families while honoring and respecting others. To them, this is not an either-or proposition. We are responsible adults who put safety first. That is why NMBC believes the South Dakota model of trusting people to do the right thing is the best approach for New Mexico. It should be implemented immediately. For full survey results, please visit our website at: nmbizcoalition.org. Charles Butt, chairman of H-E-B, is personally donating $1 million to Prairie View A&M University in honor of its president Ruth J. Simmons, according to a university release. The gift will be used to support The Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and Justice at Prairie View A&M, which is slated to draw from several existing programs at the historically black university in order to facilitate a greater understanding of racism, discrimination and the need for justice. Simmons announced the center earlier this month in the wake of George Floyds tragic death. Floyd, who grew up in Houstons Third Ward, died while in Minneapolis police custody May 25. On HoustonChronicle.com: Prairie View launching race and justice center in wake of George Floyd death Simmons, who first joined Prairie View as interim president in 2017, said in a written statement that she was overwhelmed by Butts gift. His generosity to the children of the state of Texas and his concern for the quality of education afforded Prairie View students is inspiring to us all, Simmons said. Our students can learn a good deal from his humanity and the manner in which he lives and practices his values. The proposed center, to be led by endowed political science professor Melanye Price, will feature leadership training on inclusion, support for scholarship and research on areas of injustice crucial for policy makers, and educational programs and support for students, government, organizations and the public on bias and inclusivity. The center must be approved by the Texas A&M University System Chancellor, its board of regents and the Texas Higher Education Coordination Board. On HoustonChronicle.com: High expectations surround Ruth Simmons presidency at Prairie View A&M University Simmons, a Texas native born in Grapeland, served as president of Brown University from 2001 to 2012 and as president of Smith College from 1995 to 2001. She grew up in Houstons Fifth Ward and graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School. She later earned a bachelor of arts in French from Dillard University in New Orleans and received her master of arts and doctorate degrees in romance languages and literatures from Harvard University. brittany.britto@chron.com Unlock-1: Health ministry releases Covid-19 guidelines to be followed at religious places India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, June 12: The Ministry of Health on Friday released guidelines on preventive measures to be followed at religious places, to contain the spread of COVID19. There should be separate entry and exit for visitors, and persons to be allowed entry only if they are wearing face cover/masks. Rajnath Singh reviews Ladakh situation, holds meet with Cheif of defence staff | Oneindia News Here are the preventive measures at religious places: No mask, no entry - No person will be allowed to enter any religious premises without wearing a mask or face cover. There will be separate entry and exit routes for people visiting religious places. Shoes/footwear are to be taken off inside a person's own vehicle only. No person will be allowed to leave their shoes inside or outside the premises. Touching of statues, idols, holy books is strictly prohibited at religious places. Recorded devotional music/songs will be played and choir/singing groups are to be avoided. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh Thursday awarded a woman auto driver for ferrying a person who had recovered from COVID-19 in a hospital here to Kamjong district, over 100 km away. The ambulance service of the state-run Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal, where the woman patient was being treated, had refused to take her home as she hailed from another district, a release by the department of information and public relations said. Laibi Oinam volunteered to drop the recoverd patient, who had returned from Kolkata, and drove for eight long hours during the intervening night of May 31 and June 1 here to reach the destination in a village in the far flung hill district. Glad to honour and hand over a cash reward of Rs.1,10,000 to Smt Laibi Oinam, a auto driver from Pangei who took the trouble to take the discharged girl from JNIMS covering 8 hours journey to Kamjong on midnight of May 31. She truly exemplifies hard work and service above self. pic.twitter.com/oFwgcx0Kyz N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) June 11, 2020 The chief minister handed over cash award of Rs 1,10,000 to Oinam, the release said. The award was sponsored by some entrepreneurs of the state and by Manipuri expatriates as an appreciation of Oinam's humane act and service. Oinam, who is a mother of two sons, is the sole breadwinner of her family. A documentary film based on her life entitled 'Auto Driver' had won many accolades including best social issue film in the non-feature category at the 63rd National Film Awards in 2015 and Best Short Documentary in the Audience Choice category at the 2017 Women's Voices Now Film Festival. BRIDGEPORT For residents debating or fearful about getting tested for COVID-19, Bridgeports new health director has some words for you. No symptoms? No doctors order? No insurance? No car? No documentation? No problem. As the city works to expand COVID-19 screening locations and convince residents they do not need to jump through hoops to take advantage of them, Lisa Morrissey wants everybody to get tested who wants to. As of Thursday, Mayor Joe Ganims administration reported 3,561 diagnosed coronavirus cases in Connecticuts largest municipality. My goal is for every person that lives in the city that wants to be tested, we have a test available for them and accessible to them, Morrissey said in an interview Thursday. I want people to come out to get tested whether theyre symptomatic or asymptomatic, keeping in mind these tests are a photograph a snapshot from the time taken. Since even before she was formally hired for the job May 18, Morrissey, who previously ran Danburys health department, has made expanding coronavirus screening her top priority. As a result, within the past couple weeks, the city partnered with Murphy Medical Associates of Greenwich on a temporary pop-up location on a few different days at Central High School. Another round of testing is scheduled there for 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. For a more complete story on Morrisseys plan to increase testing, click here. When Morrissey arrived in town, Bridgeport had a handful of screening spots privately operated by Bridgeport Hospital, St. Vincents Medical Center and Optimus and Southwest community health centers, all of which remain operational. While continuing to assist and promote the hospitals and health centers efforts to ramp up testing, Morrissey also wanted City Hall to offer it, particularly to the underserved communities of color, she said. It became apparent we were going to need additional help in doing so, she said. By that time, Murphy Medical had established similar relationships with other cities in towns in Fairfield and New Haven counties. Since they had already started making pop-ups throughout the state ... they had a really great formula working for them that allowed us to jump right in using our existing staff, Morrissey said. One of Murphy Medicals crucial contributions is providing an on-site physician able to issue the state-required medical order for patients who show up without a referral. Morrissey stressed that insurance is not required and the city has found other funding sources like emergency preparedness dollars in the budget and federal aid to help cover the costs. Were not sending out any bills to any resident looking for testing, Morrissey said. Morrissey said her staff has also been hard at work as stay-at-home orders have been gradually lifted, inspecting restaurants, salons and other businesses re-opening with new health guidelines to keep customers and employees from contracting/spreading COVID-19. To be honest with you, what's really concerning to me right now as we get warmer and are reopening (is) that people start thinking this is not as serious, the threat has passed, and stop doing those things to protect themselves like social distancing, wearing that face covering or staying home, Morrissey said. The Liberal government has introduced a bill that threatens workers who refuse to return to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic with huge fines and jail time. With Bill C-17, Canadas ruling elite is dramatically intensifying its reckless, premature back-to-work campaign, which jeopardizes workers lives. The proposed legislation would impoverish and criminalize workers who refuse to risk their health and that of their families for corporate profit and who use the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to stave off being starved back to work under unsafe conditions. Presented to a special sitting of parliament Wednesday, Bill C-17 was drafted at the express demand of business, which has denounced the CERB as overly generous and a disincentive to work, although it provides just C$2,000 per month for a maximum of four months. Bill C-17 threatens those who spurn an employer request they return to work, fail to resume self-employment, or decline a reasonable job offer when reasonable to do so with fines up to three times any CERB benefits that they improperly claimed. It also makes it a crime punishable by fines and a six-month jail term to fraudulently obtain CERB benefits, including by misrepresenting ones income. But the legislations definition of fraud is so all-encompassing that it could be used to jail workers and youth who refuse to work under unsafe conditions and continue to receive the CERB (see: Canadian government threatens fines and jail time to force workers back to work). The trade unions and New Democratic Party (NDP) have bleated their opposition to Bill C-17. But if the minority Trudeau government now feels emboldened to take the whip to the working class, it is because the union bureaucrats and social-democrats have bolstered it at every turn since the pandemic erupted; suppressed the class struggle, including the burgeoning mass movement against Ontarios hard-right, Doug Ford-led Conservative government; and colluded with big business and governments across the country in reopening the economy, although none of the conditions set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other experts have been met. The immediate response of the unions to the greatest economic seizure of global capitalism since the Great Depression was to form what Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) President Hassan Yussuff has dubbed a collaborative front with Canadas employers organizations. The CERB and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)makeshift programs that effectively place workers on temporary rationswere designed by the Liberal government working in close consultation with the CLC, the NDP, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and other business groups. While Yussuff and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh publicly enthused over the Liberals readiness to work with the opposition and unions in providing temporary relief to workers, they were deafeningly silent on the massive bailout provided to the financial oligarchy. The Liberal government wasted a precious two months in mobilizing medical resources in response to the novel coronavirus. But, in an object demonstration of the governments true class priorities, Prime Minster Trudeau and Finance Minister Morneau organized almost overnight the funnelling of C$650 billion from federal coffers, the Bank of Canada, and other state institutions into the financial markets and big banks in order to guarantee the fortunes of Canadas rich and super-rich. Once the bailout had been successfully carried through behind the backs of the population, the ruling elite quickly transitioned to pushing for a speedy return to work and the resumption of corporate profit-making. Again, the unions and NDP rushed to offer their support. This included suppressing protests among health care and other essential workers over the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other unsafe working conditions. Even with workers dying from COVID-19 contracted on the job, the United Food and Commercial Workers ordered workers at Cargills High River, Alberta, meatpacking plant to report for work, insisting any job action would be illegal. In early May, the CLC released a document cynically entitled Health and safety conditions for reopening sectors of the economy. It trumpeted the role of federal and provincial state institutions in enforcing workplace safety at a time when the Ontario Labour Relations Board had not upheld even one of more than 200 COVID-19-related worker complaints. Unifor, Canadas largest private sector union, worked hand-in-hand with management at the Detroit Three auto plants to ensure that productionstopped in March by independent worker job action at plants in Windsor, Ontario, and across North Americawas restarted as soon as possible. For its part, the Quebec Labour Federations lauded right-wing Premier Francois Legaults reckless reopening as an economic recovery plan. This under conditions where Quebec was, and is, the center of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, and where Legaults government has failed to provide even health care workers with the requisite PPE. The unions prioritization of profit over human lives has also led them to enforce mass layoffs. At Air Canada, for example, management cited a drop in demand to justify the cutting of up to 22,800 jobs. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which had spent weeks tabling its own cost-cutting plans in the hopes of satisfying Air Canada management, has done nothing to mobilize opposition to this savage attack. Instead, CUPE has lectured its members that surplus cabin crew and market-dictated demand require job cuts (see: Air Canada announces lay off of up to 22,800 workers). That the unions are intent on cementing a long-term corporatist partnership with big business was underscored by a May 11 article co-written by the CLCs Yussuff and Canadian Chamber of Commerce President Perrin Beatty. It called for the creation of a tripartite union-business-government national task force on the post-endemic economy. We will enter recovery with substantial new public and private debt, they wrote. The reversal of decades of economic globalization and international supply chains will create challenges for a trading nation like ours. Canada requires a process to discuss these transformational changes and to avoid stakeholders going off in different directions. In other words, under conditions where Canadian imperialism is facing massive new domestic and international challenges, from soaring debt to trade war and surging global geopolitical tensions, the unions are offering to deepen their collaboration with the capitalist elite. And with the overriding aim of stopping stakeholders going off in different directionsi.e., preventing an explosion of working class opposition. At the end of May, Jagmeet Singh and his NDP moved to consolidate the political arm of this anti-worker corporatist conspiracy. With the CLCs support, the NDP once again gave the minority Liberal government the votes it needed to proceed with its agenda, voting for a Liberal motion to shut down regular sittings of parliament until September. In justifying this step, the CLC and NDP have pointed to a supposed commitment from Trudeau to press for all workers to have 10 days of paid sick leave per year. However, as could be expected, the provinces, under whose labour laws 90 percent of workers fall, have already declared mandatory paid sick leave a non-starter. The Liberals shutting down of parliament with the support of the NDP and Greens has enabled the Conservatives to posture as defenders of democracy. More importantly, it means that the government will be able to work out with big business free from virtually any public scrutiny the phasing out of the CERB and CEWSprograms that, as woefully inadequate as they are, have provided an economic lifeline for upwards of 8 million workers or more than 40 percent of the workforce. Starting July 5, millions of workers will have exhausted their 16-week maximum entitlement to the CERB, and by mid-August most of those who have drawn CERB benefits will be in the same situation. To date, the Liberal government has given only the vaguest indication of a possible extension of the entitlement periodone, moreover, that will be tied, as the terms of Bill C-17 spell out, to an accelerated and punitive back-to-work campaign. While the Liberals failed to get Bill C-17 through the House of Commons in a single days sitting this week, they are reportedly in backroom talks with the opposition about convening a special session of parliament as early as Monday to move ahead with it. The NDPs harsh rhetoric against C-17 is a cynical political ploy that will not stop them and their union allies from continuing their close collaboration with the Liberal government. Singh knows the NDPs parliamentary support for the bill is largely irrelevant, since the Liberals will almost certainly secure the necessary votes for its passage from either the Conservatives or the Bloc Quebecois. The Conservatives, as they themselves emphasized this week, have long been echoing businesss complaints about the CERB. They are merely demanding that in addition to using punitive measures to force workers back on the job amid the pandemic, the government resume regular sittings of the House of Commons so that they can use it to amplify their demand for a quick transition to austerity measures. A key factor motivating the NDP politicians sudden recourse to oppositional rhetoric is the eruption of mass protests across Canada, triggered by the Minneapolis polices murder of George Floyd and opposition to Canadian state violence and racism. Singh and the NDP are anxious to burnish their extremely tattered credentials as critics of the status quo, so as to prevent leftward-moving workers and young people breaking with establishment politics. Workers and youth must reject this political trap. To fight for their interests, including the guaranteeing of safe working conditions amid the pandemic, they must form rank-and-file safety committees in all workplaces, independent of and in opposition to the pro-capitalist trade union apparatuses and the NDP. These committees should consult with medical experts to decide on appropriate safety measures, including the provision of personal protective equipment at employers expense, and have full control over the organization and pace of production. They should also fight for full pay for all who cannot safely perform their duties until the pandemic is contained or a vaccine is available, and full compensation for the unemployed. These immediate demands can only be achieved in a head-on struggle with the capitalist system, which prioritizes corporate profit over human life. The provision of adequate financial assistance to all workers who have lost their jobs or are unable to work and the securing of safe workplaces is inextricably bound up with the struggle for a workers government committed to socialist policies. Its admirable that they took these jobs before the covid crisis, and its admirable that they have, in most cases, stayed in these positions to care for the most vulnerable, Kent told The Washington Post. But we dont believe that that should be a shortcut to Canadian permanent residency. It would be, I believe, an unacceptable precedent. In order to reveal the population interactions that gave rise to Africa's enormous linguistic, cultural, and economic diversity, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from Africa, Europe, and North America sampled key regions in which current models predict a legacy of significant population interactions. The collaborative study between researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (MPI-SHH), the National Museums of Kenya and other partners was led by archaeogeneticist Ke Wang and archaeologist Steven Goldstein of MPI-SHH. It sheds light on patterns of population change as food production spread throughout sub-Saharan Africa. A Complex Mosaic of Interactions While the spread of food production led to the gradual replacement of local foragers in most parts of the world, foraging lifeways have persisted in several regions of contemporary Africa among populations such as the San in the south, the Hazda in the east and the Mbuti of the central African rainforest. However, the present study shows that, thousands of years ago, the ancestors of these groups once formed an overlapping genetic cline that stretched across much of eastern and southern Africa. "Restricted gene flow between regional forager groups in contemporary eastern, southern, and central Africa, whether due to climactic and environmental factors or as a result of encapsulation by food producing groups, has likely contributed substantially to the spatial genetic structure we can see across the continent today," says Ke Wang. "We are still at a point where we learn a lot from every individual," Steven Goldstein adds, "the interactions between hunter-gatherers, pastoralists, and farmers were more complex even into recent centuries than we previously understood." To better understand these interactions and their impact on subsistence strategies, the researchers focused their investigations on key groups and regions previously identified as significant contributors to changes in food production: eastern and southern forager groups, eastern African Pastoral Neolithic and Iron Age groups, and Iron Age groups related to present-day Bantu speakers. advertisement Mixture and migration during the Pastoral Neolithic Genomic analysis of the six individuals here reported from Kenya's Pastoral Neolithic period (between 4,500 and 1,200 years ago) revealed greater ancestral complexity than previously reported individuals from the same region, supporting previous studies that have proposed early herders migrated south along multiple simultaneous but geographically distinct routes. "In such a scenario," Dr. Emmanuel Ndiema of the National Museums of Kenya explains, "a single base population in northern Africa may have branched into many as some herding groups moved along the Nile corridor, some through southern Ethiopia, and possibly some through eastern Uganda." Along the way, migrating pastoralists would have encountered different populations and formed varying inter-community relationships, ultimately resulting in varying integration of diverse ancestries. This model may explain why archaeologists observe stark differences in material culture, settlement strategies and burial traditions between Pastoral Neolithic populations whose ancestries are in fact closely related. The Iron Age and the Bantu Expansion Some of the most exciting findings come from the site of Kakapel Rockshelter in western Kenya, where the National Museums of Kenya and the MPI-SHH have teamed up to investigate early farming in the region. advertisement At Kakapel, two individuals dated to roughly 300 and 900 years ago show significant increases in ancestry related to people speaking Nilotic languages today, such as the Dinka from South Sudan, compared to previously published genomes from the Central Rift Valley. This suggests that genetic turnover must have been region-specific and could have involved multiple divergent migrations. Genomic analysis revealed that the 900-year-old individual had close affinity with Dinka populations, but also showed influence from West-Eurasian or North-African groups, suggesting that the population that this individual represents formed between Pastoral Neolithic-related herders and incoming Nilotic (Nile Valley) agropastoralists -- not from a major migration of groups with western African ancestries. Similar evidence is detected from Botswana, where analysis detected the first archaeogenetic support for the hypotheses that herders from eastern Africa spread to southern Africa before the arrival of Bantu-speaking farmers. Despite raising questions about the uniformity of the Bantu Expansion, the current study documents the arrival of people with Bantu-related ancestry in Botswana during the first millennium CE and their subsequent admixture with eastern African pastoralist and southern African forager populations. "We identified Bantu-related ancestry in Uganda, western Congo, Tanzania and Kenya, which is consistent with the well-documented genetic homogenization caused by the Bantu expansion," says Stephan Schiffels of the MPI-SHH, "but we also see highly variable patterns of Bantu admixture with regional forager and pastoralist populations in southern Africa." "While supraregional studies can help reveal population interactions on a continental scale," says Schiffels, "we want to emphasize the importance of regionally focused studies to better understand local patterns of cultural and population changes in the future." In order to get to the fifth phase of Pritzkers plan to reopen Illinois economy, when large events, festivals and conventions can resume, theres a high bar to clear: there would either need to a coronavirus vaccine, widely-available treatment or no new cases over a sustained period. The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, June 11 informed that India has asked the United Kingdom not to consider any request for asylum by fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya as there appeared to be no ground for his persecution in the country. Last week, the UK government indicated that Mallya is unlikely to be extradited to India anytime soon, saying there is a "legal issue that needed to be resolved" before his extradition can be arranged. READ | Big victory: CBI on Vijay Mallya losing final appeal against extradition in UK court 'Not to consider his asylum if requested by him' External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava told the media at a virtual briefing that India has been in touch with the UK authorities for Mallya's extradition. "We have been in touch with the UK authorities for the early extradition of Vijay Mallya. We have also requested the UK side not to consider his asylum if requested by him," he informed. According to an international media report, Mallya, the fugitive economic offender, has applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. In May, Mallya lost his appeals in the UK Supreme Court against his extradition to India to face money laundering and fraud charges. The UK top court's decision marked a major setback to Mallya as it came weeks after he lost his High Court appeal in April against an extradition order to India. READ | UK rules out immediate extradition of Vijay Mallya, reveals 'legal issue needs resolution' Agencies refute rumours Meanwhile, there was intense speculation last week that Vijay Mallya was being sent back to India but it turned out to be a false alarm. Republic TV's top sources in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) rubbished the article that was published by an agency. "Vijay Mallya lost his final extradition battle in the UK courts on May 14 and he has to be extradited within 28 days. So far there has been no communication from UK authorities," said a top source from ED. The agency has also confirmed to this reporter that the article published by the news agency was riddled with inaccurate information. Vijay Mallya has been in the United Kingdom since March 2016 and remains on bail on an extradition warrant executed three years ago by Scotland Yard on April 18, 2017. The High Court verdict in April upheld the 2018 ruling by Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot at the end of a year-long extradition trial in December 2018 that Vijay Mallya had a "case to answer" in the Indian courts. READ | Vijay Mallya hasn't been extradited; no word from UK authorities; Agencies refute rumours READ | Is Vijay Mallya taking the political asylum route? UK yet to communicate with India (With PTI inputs) mrtom-uk/iStockBy ALEXANDER MALLIN and MIKE LEVINE, ABC News (WASHINGTON) -- A former DEA spokesperson pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to an elaborate, years-long wire fraud scheme in which he posed as a covert CIA operative to scam companies and individuals who believed they were supporting a highly classified government program out of millions of dollars. Garrison Courtney, who served in the DEAs public affairs office between 2005 and 2009, admitted Thursday that he constructed his false identity and duped other unwitting individuals to help him convince companies to pay for involvement in either a special operations forces program operating covertly in Africa, or a separate program aimed at enhancing the United States' intelligence collection abilities. According to his plea, Courtney's scheme defrauded more than $4.4 million from at least a dozen companies. In exchange for those payments, Courtney told victims they would eventually be reimbursed by the CIA either by direct payments or lucrative contracts -- but the so-called "task force" touted by Courtney did not exist, he admitted to a judge Thursday. To help build his illusion, Courtney created fake documents, told victims that foreign agents might be surveilling them and convinced victims to use encrypted forms of communication, according to Courtney's statements in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia Thursday. According to his guilty plea, Courtney had convinced actual government officials that they were selected to participate in the covert government programs, and those officials then met with victim companies at Courtneys request, he admitted Thursday. "Unbeknownst to the public officials, Courtney separately would advise the corporate executives that the public official was leading the supposed classified program," according to court documents. "Courtney would then use the public official's attendance at these meetings to falsely burnish his legitimacy and the legitimacy of the supposed classified program in the eyes of the corporate executives." In order to further conceal his scam, Courtney directed his victims to sign non-disclosure agreements and convinced the real government officials to let him hold meetings with company officials inside an actual "Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility," or SCIF. Courtney or others would search individuals before entering the room and mandate they not bring in any electronic devices. Courtney also constructed a completely fraudulent backstory about himself, according to victims, telling them he served in the Gulf War where he killed hundreds in combat and that a hostile foreign intel service sought to assassinate him with ricin. At times, he would accuse victims of leaking sensitive information and then threatened to sue them or have them arrested, Courtney admitted. During his scheme, Courtney gained a position working as a private contractor for the National Institutes of Health Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center (NITAAC), a branch of the NIH. While there, he "gained access to sensitive, nonpublic information about the procurements of other federal agencies being supported by NITAAC... [and] used that information to attempt to corrupt the procurement process by steering the award of contracts to companies where he was then also on the payroll," according to the U.S. Attorneys office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Courtney now faces up to 20 years in prison, though he is expected to receive a lesser sentence. His sentencing date is set for Oct. 23. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Beverage enthusiasts in 46 continental states are now able to purchase first-of-its-kind system BEDFORD, Mass., June 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beverage-innovation company Drinkworks today officially expanded distribution of the Drinkworks Home Bar by Keurig to consumers in 46 continental states. This national availability comes just in time for summer sipping less than two years after the initial pilot launch in St. Louis. Drinkworks also unveiled a limited edition Summer Solstice Variety pack, a refreshing collection of cocktails infused with seasonal flavors that features an Aloha Margarita, Basil Tom Collins, Blackberry Mojito and Strawberry Vodka Lemonade. The Summer Solstice Variety pack will be available for purchase on the Drinkworks website beginning June 15 for $49.99 MSRP in select markets. This new addition increases Drinkworks beverage portfolio to include more than 30 bar-quality cocktails, brews and ciders, with more coming soon. We are focused on elevating the beverage experience through innovation and ease, and to be able to bring that to customers across the country is an exciting chapter in our story, said Drinkworks CEO Nathaniel Davis. Were thrilled to introduce more beverage enthusiasts to a new and improved form of at-home happy hour. The Drinkworks Home Bar by Keurig combines innovation and user-centric design, making it remarkably easy for consumers to prepare a variety of freshly made, bar-quality beverages at home with the push of a button. The Drinkworks Home Bar calculates the precise amount of water and carbonation needed for each proprietary Drinkworks Pod to deliver an exceptional chilled beverage every time. Drinkworks offers a wide variety of Pods, including special edition and seasonal release cocktails that contain a signature blend of premium spirits, real flavors and natural ingredients. The custom recipes are crafted, tested and perfected by in-house mixologists, brewers and scientists. Story continues The Drinkworks Home Bar by Keurig will cost $299 MSRP and Drinkworks recommends pricing cocktail Pods at $14.99-$18.99 for a tube of four and $49.99 for a 12 Pod variety pack. The Drinkworks Home Bar by Keurig is now available nationwide on drinkworks.com, as well as through select in-store and online retailers. For a list of participating retailers, please visit drinkworks.com . About Drinkworks Drinkworks is a design-driven, user-centric beverage innovation company defining new ways to make it remarkably simple to enjoy a variety of bar-quality drinks at home with convenience. The Drinkworks Home Bar by Keurig is a first-of-its-kind appliance designed to use Drinkworks pods to prepare cocktails, brews, ciders and more at the touch of a button. A joint venture between Keurig Dr Pepper (Keurig) and Anheuser-Busch InBev, Drinkworks is committed to making the entire drinking experience from purchase, to creation, to enjoyment more remarkable through innovation. The company is headquartered in Bedford, MA with facilities in Williston, VT. For more information and to purchase the Drinkworks Home Bar by Keurig, Drinkworks pods and Drinkworks accessories, visit Drinkworks.com. About Anheuser-Busch InBev Anheuser-Busch InBev is a publicly traded company (ABI.NX) based in Leuven, Belgium, with secondary listings on the Mexico (MEXBOL:ANB) and South Africa (ANH) stock exchanges and with American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange (BUD). Our Dream is to bring people together for a better world. Beer, the original social network, has been bringing people together for thousands of years. We are committed to building great brands that stand the test of time and to brewing the best beers using the finest natural ingredients. Our diverse portfolio of well over 500 beer brands includes global brands Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois; multi-country brands Becks, Castle, Castle Lite, Hoegaarden and Leffe; and local champions such as Aguila, Antarctica, Bud Light, Brahma, Cass, Cristal, Harbin, Jupiler, Michelob Ultra, Modelo Especial, Quilmes, Victoria, Sedrin, and Skol. Our brewing heritage dates back more than 600 years, spanning continents and generations. From our European roots at the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, Belgium. To the pioneering spirit of the Anheuser & Co brewery in St. Louis, US. To the creation of the Castle Brewery in South Africa during the Johannesburg gold rush. To Bohemia, the first brewery in Brazil. Geographically diversified with a balanced exposure to developed and developing markets, we leverage the collective strengths of approximately 175,000 employees. About Keurig Dr Pepper Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) is a leading beverage company in North America, with annual revenue in excess of $11 billion and nearly 26,000 employees. KDP holds leadership positions in soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, water, juice and juice drinks and mixers, and markets the #1 single serve coffee brewing system in the U.S. and Canada. The Companys portfolio of more than 125 owned, licensed and partner brands is designed to satisfy virtually any consumer need, any time, and includes Keurig, Dr Pepper, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Canada Dry, Snapple, Bai, Mott's, CORE and The Original Donut Shop. Through its powerful sales and distribution network, KDP can deliver its portfolio of hot and cold beverages to nearly every point of purchase for consumers. The Company is committed to sourcing, producing and distributing its beverages responsibly through its Drink Well. Do Good. corporate responsibility platform, including efforts around circular packaging, efficient natural resource use and supply chain sustainability. For more information, visit, www.keurigdrpepper.com. A recent research study showed that for 16 COVID19 positive women there were evidences that their placentas had blood clots and indications of abnormal blood flow from the mother to the baby with most of the women having normal pregnancies. Though these types of issues are present in women without COVID19 and placentas possess a large amount of redundancies, this indicates that pregnant COVID19 patients should be closely monitored using ultrasounds and non-stress tests to assess the levels of fetal oxygenation, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Pregnant women should not avoid their doctors due to fear of contracting COVID19 in a hospital setting as proper pre-natal care is important. Telemedicine, virtual visits, and self-monitoring of vital signs can help reduce contacts as a precautionary measure and to reduce strains on the healthcare system. Johanna Swanson, Product Manager at GlobalData Previous studies have shown that 8090% of pregnant women infected with COVID19 do not show any symptoms. Also currently, there is no evidence that pregnant women are more at risk than the general population in developing severe COVID19 requiring hospital admission. Moreover, there is currently no evidence of a documented miscarriage directly attributed to COVID19, nor any evidence that COVID19 is teratogenic or is transmitted to the infant in the womb. However, a newborn can contract COVID19 through close contact with an infected person. There has been no evidence of COVID19 being present in breast milk. However, pregnant women have been added to the moderate-risk group as a precaution, due to studies suggesting that pregnant women with severe flu symptoms are at higher risk of complications during pregnancy. This is the result of a weakened immune system in them. The city of Beijing today reported two new confirmed COVID-19 infections, just a day after the Chinese capital recorded its first domestic case in almost two months. City officials claimed the two new cases were colleagues and neither of them had come into close contact with any confirmed or suspected coronavirus carriers. The local government has locked down the residential compounds where the three patients and will delay the reopening of the city's primary schools to prevent a new outbreak. The picture taken on May 26 shows people wearing face masks to protect themselves against the novel coronavirus as they ride bicycles in the central business district in Beijing A wet market where one of the patient visited was forced to close. Security guards wearing face masks stand outside the Jingshen seafood market after new infections have been found The city of Beijing today reported two new confirmed COVID-19 infections, just a day after the Chinese capital recorded its first domestic case in almost two months. A person is pictured on June 12 wearing a face mask as he walks through Hutong neighbourhood in Beijing Zhang Jie, the deputy mayor of Fengtai district in Beijing, reported the two new infections today to Chinese media. One of the patients is a 25-year-old man, known by his surname Liu, who went to a local hospital on Tuesday after having fever symptoms. His testing results came back positive today. The man had travelled over 400 miles to eastern Chinese city Qingdao on a five-day business trip in the past two weeks, according to the authority. The other patient, 37, known by his surname Yin, works at the same company with Mr Liu. He was put under quarantine after Mr Liu was diagnosed. Mr Yin tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday. He said that he had not left the city for the past two weeks. Neither patients had closed contact with Hubei residents or people travelling from abroad. The Beijing official said that the two patients are being treated in hospital under isolation. It remains unclear if they are considered as native cases. The city of Beijing has recorded a new confirmed COVID-19 case after the Chinese capital reported no fresh coronavirus infections for 56 days. Pictured, a group of visitors wear protective mask as they tour the Tiananmen Square in China's capital city Beijing on May 24 Renowned tourists attractions across Beijing have reopened to the public as the city reported no new infections. Tourists visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China on May 1 Medical workers wearing full protective gear take swab samples from journalists to test for the COVID-19 coronavirus at the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing on May 28 Beijing has activated an emergency response to prevent a new spike after three new cases were detected in the city within two days. The government has suspended a plan that allows Year 1-3 students returning to schools from next Monday. Six wholesale markets across the city have been shut and all vendors are being tested for COVID-19, according to The Beijing News. People who had been in close contact with the patients are being isolated for observation. The patients' office has also been sealed off. It came four days after the authority announced that only one coronavirus patient was still being treated in hospital, a sign that the city had largely contained the outbreak. The capital city reported zero new cases between April 16 to June 10. Local officials also lowered Beijings emergency response to normalised epidemic control on Saturday. Renowned tourists attractions across Beijing, including the Great Wall and Forbidden City, reopened their doors to the public as the city claimed to be virus-free for nearly two months. But the new case could spoil the city's progress towards a post-virus recovery. As of today, Beijing city has reported a total of 595 confirmed coronavirus infections and nine deaths. This picture taken on May 12 shows commuters walking to the subway in Beijing Nationwide, China reported 11 new imported cases today, bringing the infection tally to 83,057. People are pictured on May 1 watching flag-raising ceremony at the Tiananmen Square Miao Jianhong, a deputy district mayor in Beijing, revealed details of the city's first infection on Thursday. The patient, a local male resident from the citys Xicheng district, went to hospital on Wednesday after suffering fever symptoms. The man said that he had not left the city for the past two weeks. He did not have close contact with anyone travelling in Beijing. The resident was diagnosed as a confirmed case after testing positive for coronavirus. The official said that the patient cycled to the hospital by himself and was wearing a face mask the whole time. Two family members of the patients were isolated for observation yesterday. The residential compound where the man lived has been put under lockdown. Nearby areas will also be disinfected and monitored, according to Mr Miao. The deputy mayor said in a press conference today that the authority identified 38 people - including an infant baby - who had close contact with the the resident and being put under quarantine. The new case could spoil the citys progress towards a post-virus era. Large crowds of tourists wearing protective face masks are seen walking in Nanluoguxiang alley in Beijing on May 1 Tourists are pictured wearing face masks as they visit the Forbidden City in Beijing on May 28 As of today, Beijing city has reported a total of 597 confirmed coronavirus infections and nine deaths. Nearly 200 of those cases came from passengers travelling from abroad. Nationwide, China reported seven new imported cases today, bringing the infection tally to 83,064. The death toll still stands at 4,634. Sixty-five coronavirus patients are currently being treated in hospitals across the country, according to official figures. He's not everyones cup of tea. But how I empathise with poor Piers Morgan, tied up in intellectual knots by the conflict between his professed beliefs and his affection for his son. As the high priest of lockdown and scourge of those Covidiots who break social distancing rules, Piers had no hesitation last week in lambasting Labours Barry Gardiner, calling him reckless and irresponsible for attending a thronged Black Lives Matter protest outside Parliament. Yet the very next day, after it emerged that his son Stanley had attended a similar lockdown-busting protest, the Good Morning Britain host and MailOnline columnist took to social media, tweeting: Proud of my son for attending the #BlackLivesMatter protest which he found profoundly inspiring. MailOnline columnist Piers Morgan (pictured left) found himself in a difficult situation as his son attended the Black Lives Matters protests in London shortly after the Good Morning Britain host criticised Labour MP Barry Gardiner (right) for taking part in the demonstrations Morgan tweeted his pride regarding his son's attendance in the protest and maintained that he kept to social distancing regulations He told me he maintained social distancing as best he could in the large crowd. Not easy given many others werent, but Im glad he tried. Hmmm. It strikes me that, whatever our view of the matter, and irrespective of how hard they tried to stay two metres apart, those who attended the BLM protests flagrantly breached the official advice that we should avoid large gatherings and stay at home as much as possible. It is therefore very hard to see why Piers should dismiss Barry Gardiner as a reckless Covidiot, while holding up the profoundly inspired Stanley Morgan as a worthy object of pride. Or, rather, as every parent reading this will appreciate, its perfectly easy to understand why. The answer, of course, is that one of the two is Piers Morgans son, and the other isnt. True, Morgan senior insists that his boy, described as an aspiring actor, wore a mask and gloves and that he met up with fewer than six friends before joining the protest. But is it unfair of me to remind Piers that he is the man who raged at the end of March: Just stay near your home. This is all you have to do. This is our contribution to the war effort. People cant get it in their thick skulls.? What a difference it makes when one of the thick skulls in question happens to be attached to the neck of our own beloved offspring! I confess that I am similarly torn, although perhaps not quite to the same extent as Mr Morgan. This is because the most Corbynist of my four sons has also attended at least one BLM protest over the past few days, joining the thousands who converged on the U.S. embassy in London on Sunday. Thousands of protestors have taken to the streets for the Black Lives Matters demonstrations at important UK landmarks, including the US embassy in London (pictured) He, too, has assured his dad that he did everything he could to observe social distancing rules (although having seen many photographs of the demonstration, I have to say that I didnt notice any lonely figure recognisable as an Utley or a Morgan standing apart from the crowd). But then Im not in exactly the same position as Piers. This is partly because, unlike him, Ive never felt sure that the blanket lockdown was a good idea and although Ive been as careful as the great majority of us to obey the rules myself, Ive hesitated to attack those who have broken them even when theyve seemed, as all too often, to defy common sense. For example, from the very beginning I never saw much wrong with those who liked to sunbathe in the park, while keeping a safe distance from others. Nor have I ever felt inclined to attack people who walked their dogs on isolated moors, even when this was strictly against the rules. Nor, come to that, could I get worked up about those who took more than an hours exercise outdoors every day. But on balance, I felt it was probably more responsible to abide by the rules, no matter how bonkers some of them seemed. Not very logical of me, perhaps. Im far from the only one, of course, who has been thrown into agonisingly illogical contortions by the lockdown. Take the BBC, which along with so many others relentlessly attacked Dominic Cummings for breaking the rules after his infamous trip to the north, in quest of a safe haven for his son. Yet, since George Floyds horrendous death in Minneapolis, Auntie has allowed barely a word of criticism of those thousands, such as my son and young Morgan, who have flouted the rules, blatantly posing quite as great a threat of spreading the virus as Cummings ever did. Is it unduly cynical to suggest that theres a straightforward explanation of this doublethink? I mean, of course, that Auntie disapproves strongly of Mr Cummings, the mastermind of the Leave campaign, while strongly approving of the BLM campaigners, even when theyre vandalising public and private property. As for the virus that is said to have killed more than 40,000 of our fellow citizens and counting who at the BBC thinks this is the big issue, when there are political axes to grind? But I realise that Im dodging the point of where precisely I stand on our sons participation in Sundays demo. So let me say, first, that Im proud of my boy for thinking deeply about politics and caring very much about the plight of oppressed minorities. Indeed, unlike many virtue-signallers who joined the protests, he plans to devote his life to helping others as a mental health worker for the NHS. I also give him high marks for being basically sweet-natured, peace-loving and kind qualities that set him far apart from many of his fellow Corbynistas, whose stock in trade is violence, vandalism and spewing hatred over the internet. But, unlike Piers, I cant say that Im proud of my son for joining the BLM demonstration. Others have failed to conform to social distancing rules whilst protesting across the UK (pictured: demonstrators in London this week) As an agnostic about the benefits of lockdown, Im not saying the boy definitely endangered lives here at home by mixing with the crowd, but why on earth take that risk? Enough to say that on this, as on so much else, my boy and I have profound differences. He thinks that my Toryism is a selfish creed, with nothing to offer the poorest in our society. I think hes plain deluded to believe that overthrowing capitalism will help anyone least of all those who have to struggle hardest to survive. Its an intergenerational war fought out in countless households all over the land. But, deep down, though we dont always show it, dont we all love our near and dear rather more than our principles? Just ask Mr Cummings or Piers. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Laibi Oinam, Manipurs only lady autorickshaw driver, who volunteered to drop off a recovered Covid-19 nurse from Imphal to her home in Kamjong district bordering Myanmar has won laurels for the yeoman service. Laibi said it was not entirely money but a sense of compassion that made her drive a long distance in the hills at night to take a young nurse to her home. Laibi Oinam wanted to help the nurse as no cab driver was willing to extend the service, Th. Chandrakumar Singh, a local, said quoting Laibi Oinam. This newspaper had reached out to her on the phone but the barrier of language stood in the way. The nurse, Somichon, had tested positive soon after her return from Kolkata where she was employed. She was treated at a hospital in Imphal and discharged on May 31. She wanted to go home but the taxi drivers were found unwilling. Singh said the nurse was at her wits end when an ambulance dropped her near Nagaram locality of Imphal. Laibi Oinam called her husband Oinam Rajendro Singh, who is a patient of diabetes, and discussed the nurses plight. A decision was made that the two of them would drop her at her house, Singh said. Somichon told this newspaper on Friday that she was not discriminated against by the couple. My father and my uncle had approached several cab drivers but they were unwilling to drive such a long distance in the hills and that too at night. Some were afraid as I had just recovered from the disease. Eventually, this lady came forward. We set out at 6 pm and reached Kamjong town, 170 km away, at around 2:30, am on June 1. I was picked up by an uncle and I reached my village in his car, Somichon, who is now lodged at a quarantine centre in her village, said. She said all throughout, she had to guide Laibi Oinam as the latter was not familiar with the roads. It was difficult driving an autorickshaw in the hills but she managed it well. She was not afraid of driving in a region she had never been to before, the nurse said, adding I was told an NGO from the hills had gifted her Rs 5,000 as a token of love. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday handed over a cash reward of Rs 1.1 lakh to her. Glad to honour and hand over a cash reward of Rs.1,10,000 to Smt Laibi Oinam, an auto driver from Pangei who took the trouble to take the discharged girl from JNIMS covering 8 hours journey to Kamjong on midnight of May 31. She truly exemplifies hard work and service above self, the CM tweeted. The money was gifted by a few entrepreneurs from Manipur besides Manipuri diaspora in the US, the UK, Canada and Singapore. Ningombam Bupenda Meitei, an academic, also hailed her. I telephoned to salute our auto lady driver Smt. Oinam Laibi who took the COVID-19 recovered patient when no other driver was ready to do so. What moved me more is the story of this lady penned by my school teacher, the late Bejoy K. Choudhury, Meitei tweeted. Laibi Oinam has two sons, both are college students, and she supports the family. In 2015, a documentary Auto Driver, based on her life, had won several awards. Directed by Meena Longjam, it tells her life in a non-traditional profession for women. The courthouse door is not locked, but airlines are exempt from state laws and local laws, which account for the vast majority of consumer laws, said Paul Hudson, the president of FlyersRights.org, an airline-passenger consumer-advocacy nonprofit. So even if your problem violates a regulation, that doesnt give you any individual relief. It just means the airline might get fined or admonished. Those penalties would come from the federal transportation department, which has an Aviation Consumer Protection Division tracking official complaints against domestic and foreign airlines. According to a May report, 45 refunds-related complaints were filed against British Airways between January and March; it was one of nine (of about 50) international carriers with more than 40 complaints. American Airlines 163 complaints made it the second most-complained-about domestic airline on the issue of refunds (after United Airlines whopping 653). Some class-action lawsuits against airlines have been successful. In 2018, British Airways settled a class action suit over the issue of fuel surcharges, ultimately repaying millions of dollars and Avios its miles currency to qualifying passengers. Its too early to tell whether the new American Airlines and British Airways clauses, if challenged, would be upheld in court and how they will influence the existing class actions, which are in the early stages of often yearslong processes. But Mr. Albanese said courts are generally more reluctant to uphold class-action waivers and arbitration provisions when theyve been implemented in response to and to affect pending litigation. Nowadays, its not uncommon to find arbitration clauses in car leases and class-action waivers in mortgage documents, but theyre still relatively uncommon in airline agreements for now. I would presume that if theyre at the forefront of doing this, and it turns out to work for them, then other airlines will do this, too, Dr. Hensler said. Theres also no evidence that corporations in a similar line of business would somehow view it as competitively useful to say, Well, well let you sue us, so therefore you should join our club. Loyalty is supposed to be rewarded Points-and-miles obsessives are circulating a theory of their own: British Airways could be preparing to change the value of Avios and girding itself for blowback. Loyalty programs pivot every couple of years, and airlines can make adjustments at will, including how many miles it takes to buy a flight. British Airways declined to comment on whether these measures are afoot. Confirmed: Phuket airport to open PHUKET: Phuket International Airport will reopen at midnight tonight following an order issued today by Dr Chula Sukmanop, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT). By The Phuket News Friday 12 June 2020, 04:29PM Phuket International Airport will reopen at midnight tonight (00:01am, June 13). Image: AoT Phuket) The news broke this afternoon as the order was posted by the PhuketAnti-COVID19 Facebook page, the official Facebook account for the Phuket Provincial Government to disseminate information regarding the COVID-19 situation in its capacity as an office of the Ministry of Interior. CAAT followed soon after with its own announcement. According to the order, Phuket airport will be allowed to reopen from 00:01 June 13. The order allows Phuket airport to reopen to receive domestic flights as long as the health guidelines already set out by CAAT are followed. While Phuket airport will be allowed to operate domestic flights after midnight tonight, the ban on all inbound international passenger flights from entering Thailand remains in effect until June 30. Phuket International Airport General Manager Thanee Chuangchoo confirmed to The Phuket News this afternoon, Phuket International Airport will reopen after midnight, which technically means on June 13. I am surprised about the CAAT notice today. Finally we can reopen. We are ready. We have had to wait a long time for this, Mr Thanee said with a happy voice. "I am not sure which airlines will provide flights at the airport tomorrow because they had planned to fly on June 16, Mr Thanee added. But if they can find an airplane, pilot and book a flight slot, they can do it because the airport will be open. he said. Next, we will talk more about the details about reopening this evening, he added. Passengers and airlines will need to follow safety conditions, including all travellers will have to register their travel through the airport with the AOT Airports application, Mr Thanee said. The CAAT order issued today simply added Phuket International Airport to the list of airports in Thailand already allowed to operate limited domestic flights and specially authorised international flights, namely flights organised by embassies to repatriate tourists stranded in Thailand. Of note, Phuket airport has been operating specially authorised flights to fly stranded tourists home all throughout the lockdown. Currently, the airports that are allowed to operate domestic flights only are as listed as: Khon Kaen, Chumphon, Tak, Trat Trang, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Buri Ram, Pai, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Phrae, Mae Sot, Mae Hong Son, Ranong, Roi Et, Loei Lampang, Sakon Nakhon, Sukhothai, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani. Airports that are allowed to operate domestic flights and specially authorised international flights are now listed as Phuket International Airport, Krabi International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Mae Fah Luang - Chiang Rai International Airport, Samui International Airport, Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, Surat Thani International Airport, Hat Yai International Airport , Hua Hin Airport and U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport. Nath calls toppling of his govt adharm, Shivraj counters him saying, 'Annihilation of sinners, a holy act' Bhopal: The audio in which Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan purportedly was heard saying that the Kamal Nath government was pulled down at the behest of the Central leadership of BJP, on Thursday triggered a massive Twitter war between Mr Chouhan and his predecessor. A tweet by Mr Chouhan in which he said The annihilation of sinners is a holy act and our religion has sanctioned it appeared to have ruffled the former chief minister and Congress veteran Kamal Nath to counter him in the social media, thus setting the tone for a showdown between them in Twitter. How can one be termed pious if one disregards and dishonors the peoples mandate, a (constitutional) sanctity, Mr Nath tweeted apparently referring to fall of his 15-month-old government in three months ago following resignation of 22 former Congress MLAs from the assembly. Mr Nath had earlier accused BJP of having masterminded to topple his government. Mr Chouhans twitter post came in the wake of Opposition Congress on Thursday mounting attack on the BJP leadership citing the alleged expose in the audio clip. Without taking anyones name, Mr Nath maintained, Some people project themselves as very pious. But, in reality, they are the most irreligious and sinners and added, Religion never teaches one to betray others or conspire against others State BJP president Vishnu Dutt Sharma on Thursday joined the issue saying that the Congress which had a history of pulling down non-Congress governments in the states in the past was itself the reason behind the collapse of Kamal Nath government. He reminded Mr Nath of his earlier purported statement in which he had blamed Congress veteran Digvijay Singh for giving him the wrong impression that Jyotiraditya Scindia had commanded no significant support in Congress Legislature Party (CLP) then and hence he had posed no danger to his government. It is Digvijay Singh who is to blame for the fall of Kamal Nath government, Mr Sharma claimed. Mr Scindia who had switched over to BJP from Congress recently, had raised a banner of revolt against Mr Nath then, prompting 22 former Congress MLAs, his loyalists, to resign from the assembly, forcing Mr Nath to step down from office. Mr Scindia had incurred Mr Naths anger for pointing out lapses in his government, leading him to quit Congress, Mr Sharma said. The bombshell announcement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle rocked the British royal family and shocked the entire world. The couple only announced it in January this year. They want to quit the royal family and become financially independent. But as it turns out, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have openly discussed leaving the royal family before they were getting married. Sources revealed to The Sun that their biography, "Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of A Modern Royal Family" is set to talk about the couple's journey into making the difficult decision. An insider told the publication, "The seeds of Megxit were sown before they even got married. The truth is that Harry had been deeply unhappy for a long time." The insider further said, "And he and Meghan openly discussed going in a different direction well before they got married." The source claims that the Duke and Duchess' biography will make clear that their choice to step back from their working royal lives was not an abrupt decision. Omid Scobie, royal commentator and co-author of the biography, recently spoke on the podcast The Heir Pod the story has included twists and turns that even Meghan Markle and Prince Harry didn't expect. "This project started about two years ago, and there have been twists and turns that no one expected. This is something no one expected," he said. "I don't even think Harry and Meghan, who by their own account struggled with the realities of the situation, expected things to turn out the way they did." Prince Harry's years of unhappiness Contrary to popular belief, 35-year-old Prince Harry set the record straight that it was his decision to leave the royal family because he was unhappy. A source told The Sun, "The reality is Harry drove that decision. The book will make that clear and explain why it had to happen. The truth is Harry had been unhappy for a long, long time." According to the source, the Duke of Sussex wanted to move to another direction and have actually considered it for more than a year. Lucky for him, Meghan Markle has always supported Prince Harry's decision "but there was more than one occasion where she asked him if he was certain it was what he wanted." "And she always made it clear she would support him in whatever he did." The father of one is said to have been furious that the finger had been pointed at his wife for the decision. Speaking at a charity event, Prince Harry said, "Once Meghan and I were married, we were excited, we were hopeful, and we were here to serve." Eyewitnesses at the charity said that the Duke has also opened up about his childhood and admitted that he still undergoes therapy to deal with the loss of his mom, Princess Diana. He also mentioned that living under constant pressure from the British press was something that he didn't wife his wife and his son to endure. "For those reasons, it brings me great sadness that it has come to this. It was so many months of talks, after so many years of challenges and I know I haven't always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there was no other option." READ MORE: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Marriage Changed by the COVID-19 Virus Concerns over a potential hardening of the border with Northern Ireland in north Louth have been raised by a local TD this week. It comes after Deputy Ruairi O Murchu commented on "upgrading work" at a former British Army base in South Armagh. The Sinn Fein TD is seeking answers after he raised the issue of work activity on Forkhill Mountain with Minister for European Affairs, Helen McEntee TD, in Leinster House yesterday (June 11). The Louth TD says he visited the remote mountain-top site on Forkhill Mountain ahead of his contribution in Leinster House during a debate about Brexit. He was joined by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council representative, Cllr. Declan Murphy. Deputy O Murchu said he had been prompted to go to the site after receiving worrying reports from people who live in the area about large scale activity on the mountaintop the previous week. He added that what he saw on the mountain corroborated what he had been told by concerned residents. Mr O Murchu said: Forkhill Mountain is just half a mile from the border. It was previously the site of a major military installation for the British Army and they officially left in 2006. However, the helipad and other remnants of their time at this outpost remain. What I saw on Thursday was a heavily fortified area, which contained a massive mast, with a number of satellite dishes on it, along with six sizeable steel container-style structures, some of which emit loud whirring noises. Telecommunications infrastructure, at least one sizeable camera, has been maintained and upgraded and major works have taken place recently. This was all surrounded with high grade steel fencing, with barbed wire at the top. It is sited right at the peak of Forkill Mountain, which gives unrivalled and uninterrupted views right over Dundalk, Ravensdale and all the way to Carlingford Lough. Mr O Murchu claimed that six locals said that on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week (June 3, 4 and 5 2020), numerous vehicles and a huge amount of personnel were on the site. They claimed that this included five or six police cars and a further six or seven civilian vans. In addition, the locals told Deputy O Murchu that there was a Bogmaster vehicle brought up the mountain. According to the Sinn Fein TD, the last similar-sized operation on the site happened at the end of October 2019 and it has been reported that there are regular smaller visits three or four times a month. During some operations helicopters have been used to carry equipment and personnel to the site. Mr O Murchu said locals have previously been told the equipment was for ambulance and fire service communications, but he says there are fears this is not the case. There were also reports that the PSNI admitted that British army engineers were involved in the October operation. The Sinn Fein TD raised the issue in Leinster House on Thursday with Minister McEntee, and asked her to contact the British government to get clarity on these operations. We welcome the fact that the Irish Government have stated that they are, and have been, committed to ensuring the border community is protected and no border infrastructure is developed. However, there is a low level of trust among the people of North Louth and South Armagh that the British government would keep their word on the Withdrawal Agreement and the Irish Protocol. The people of the border area need certainty from both Governments that no border infrastructure hard or soft will be erected. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has long made creating jobs for women central to his economic policy, but now women are suffering a bigger share of the pain as the country heads for its worst economic slump since World War Two. Helped by a worker shortage, female labour participation hit a decade-high of more than 70% under Abe's campaign, often dubbed "Womenomics". The catch: many women lack the job security of male workers, with more than half holding vulnerable part-time, contract or temporary jobs. The number of such "non-regular" workers posted its ... Gulabo Sitabo director Shoojit Sircar has revealed a fun fact about Ayushmann Khurranas casting in the film. In a recent interview with Zoom TV, he said that he narrated the idea of the film to Ayushmann at the wedding reception of Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. Yes, he (Ayushmann) was the first choice but before that we debated a lot. His casting was done later. First was Mr Bachchans casting and then I remember I think I broke the news to him, I remember it was....Deepika Padukones reception (laughs). So at that reception I gave him the basic narration, I remember. And you know thats when we agreed (to do the film). He was excited, he was jumping since then. So, I think we first bounced the idea to him at the their reception. Suddenly mere ko yaad aa raha hai. I think you are the first one I am telling this. So, thats when I told him the idea, Shoojit said in the interview. Ayushmann will be seen in the film with Amitabh Bachchan.In the film, scripted by Juhi Chaturvedi, Amitabh is seen as Mirza, landlord of an old dilapidated 'haveli' in the heart of Lucknow, named Fatima Mahal, while Ayushmann is his shrewd tenant, Baankey. Ayushmann said that Amitbah helped him improvise his lines. "That was such an eye opener for me. I remember when I was marking my own lines in the script and he was like why are you marking your own lines you should mark my lines also. That goes to show he believes in the totality of the process, he's not a selfish actor, he is a collaborator," he told IANS. Gulabo Sitabo is set to release on online video streaming platform Amazon Prime Video on June 12. It will premiere in 200 countries with subtitles in 15 languages. Also read: TV actor Nupur Alankar in financial distress, friend Renuka Shahane posts plea for help Some of the languages in which subtitles of the film will be available are Arabic, Russian, German, French, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, and among others. The film was slated to hit the screens on April 17. Follow @htshowbiz for more He explains what's wrong with the so-called "evidence". A fake report that is now being spun across social networks claims Ukrainian nationals participated in the battles for the Libyan capital of Tripoli as part of Russia's Wagner PMC. As a "proof" of this, photos emerged of some inscriptions and a drawing of the alleged coat of arms of Ukraine, purportedly made in the southern districts of the city, Ukrainian journalist Ihor Solovey reported, according to Obozrevatel. He ridiculed the fake spin, noting a way too obvious mistake in the word "Ukraine" written on the wall. Also, those who drew what they thought was Ukraine's coat of arms seem to be unaware of how it actually looks like. The photo also shows a "confession", for some reason written in Russian: "We are khokhols" [which in fact is a derogatory term for Ukrainians which is widely used in Russia]. "Ask yourself: could any Ukrainian label himself a 'khokhol', pass off Poseidon's trident as Ukraine's coat of arms, and finally write 'Glory of Ukraine' with massive mistakes? But those people who actually did this could," the journalist wrote. Read alsoU.S. accuses Russia of sending jets to Libya In his opinion, it is Russian info-ops troops with the GRU military intelligence who have long launched a propaganda campaign to claim Ukraine is one way or another involved in the Libyan conflict. As reported earlier, a video captured Libyan government forces using Russian self-propelled anti-aircraft system "Pantsir" (NATO codename SA-22 "Greyhound"), hitting it from a Turkish-made Bayraktar drone. As UNIAN reported earlier with the reference to Al Jazeera, Russian fighters in Libya were flown out to a town south of Tripoli by their eastern-based allies after retreating from front lines at the capital, Tripoli. The reported departure of the Russians to the airport of Bani Walid, a town 150 km southeast of Tripoli, was another blow to renegade eastern commander Khalifa Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) and his foreign allies, who have been trying to take the capital for more than a year from the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), Al Jazeera reports. Although LNA spokesman earlier denied any foreigners were fighting with his force, the presence of the Russian fighters has been widely documented by diplomats and journalists, and photographs purporting to show Russians in the city of Bani Walid have been posted on social media. What works for Kandamangalam Block, explain Poongodi and Sankar, the most senior healthcare workers of the team, is that Dr Aarthi is on top of every survey to be done, every day. Editor's note: This multimedia series documents the mechanics of how 12 districts in Tamil Nadu worked during the COVID-19 lockdown; told through the stories of healthcare workers, sanitary workers, district officials, other essential workers, administrators, locals and patients. The series resulted from three weeks of travel through the state. *** A sleepy middle-aged man walks out of his home to determine the source of noise, in an otherwise dead neighbourhood, as is the case with all COVID 19 containment zones. He acknowledges the familiar faces gathered just across the barricade erected around his compound. Leading the group is chief civil surgeon and block medical officer (BMO) Dr Aarthi R, who has worked in Kandamangalam Block for 22 years. This is her home ground. This is where she started as a medical officer and is now on top, as BMO. Alongside her, a team of health nurses and health supervisors, central among them 27-year-old Neela. This neighbourhood falls under the precint where Neela is a village health nurse. They are paying a visit to the most dreaded man in the neighbourhood, a COVID-19 positive patient who has just returned after 14 days in a facility. Mr X looks fine. He says he feels fine.To me, he looks healthy. And bored. His mother, who'd followed him out, says the same. I never had any symptoms, even when I tested positive, Mr X tells us. He's standing behind the barricades, more than 10 feet away. There are barricades aplenty. More so because this containment zone is just a few hundred meters away from the Siruvanthadu Primary Health Centre. Navigating the barricades is like playing an episode of Temple Run. We pass three before we reach Mr Xs lane. I've already slipped twice. There are two diagonally opposite leading up to his home. Two more either side of his home. A sticker on the door announcing Mr Xs condition. Though we are taking all precautions required, all those who have tested positive in my block are asymptomatic, like Mr X here. Maybe the strain of the virus isnt as virulent here, maybe our immunity is good, explains Dr Aarthi as she checks on those on the same lane as Mr X. The precautions Dr Aarthi mentions is what has now turned into her teams primary duty: to monitor, track and follow up with every individual in the block who may exhibit severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) or influenza-like illness (ILI) Respiratory symptoms are central to both, as is the case for the new pandemic in town, COVID 19. Both are medical terms which have been put into wider popular use by the World Health Organisation (WHO), after they insisted on routine surveillance of hospitalised SARI and ILI cases in the aftermath of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. A study by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention put the number of deaths worldwide, just during the first year of the virus, between 151,700 and 575,400. Since then, many countries across the world, including India, have attempted to monitor patterns of hospitalised SARI and ILI outpatients through their public healthcare systems. So, it helps Dr Aarthis team that surveillance mapping and techniques are already in place for keeping track of COVID-19 in Kandamangalam Block, which is home to 1,40,000. Kandamangalam Block has five Primary Health Centers at Puranasingupalayam, Kondur, Siruvanthadu, Rampakkam and Kandamangalam. These serve as the nodal points for all mapping operations. Additionally, there are 31 Health-Sub Centres (HSC). The population to be monitored has been split up among healthcare workers in these centres, who track them every day through phone calls and house visits where they note down those who are displaying symptoms or are developing symptoms. These visits mean direct exposure, say Neela and T Samaresan, 58, the block health inspector. One such visit sent the entire team into a frenzy, recollects Neela. April was when everybody was still trying to grasp how to track those with symptoms. And those who eventually end up testing positive. With many returning from outside the district, healthcare workers were plagued with queries. In a similar fashion, Mr A approached Neela and Samaresan. After returning from Chennai, he submitted his test sample at Villupuram and went to his village. He had many questions for Neela the day she visited his area, all of which she had patiently answered. In a day, his test results reached Dr Aarthi. Mr A was positive. Neela was scared, says Dr Aarthi. She spoke to him for a long time and though she was wearing a mask, he wasnt. Samaresan also spent considerable time talking to Mr A. Basically, the entire team stood exposed. The same day, Dr Aarthi directed her team to go back into the area and collect swabs of all those in contact with Mr A. Everybody panicked. But this is our work. We did what had to be done, explains Sankar M, 55, block health supervisor, who oversaw the swab collection. Dr Aarthi had to do something to put her team at ease. She decided to test Samerasan for the virus, as he was older and had spent the most amount of time with Mr A. He eventually tested negative. The fear subsided a little after this, explains Neela. Samerasan, who was slated to retire but extended his tenure by a year after the onset of the pandemic, has another take: Since we started on 28 February many of us have not even taken a single Sunday off. No time for fear! Neela says they are informed as soon as anyone shows a symptom of COVID-19. In fact, people are so paranoid about tracking those with symptoms that we get a call the minute somebody as much as coughs on the street. But that doesnt mean we instantly test that person. We monitor for a day or two, and proceed if symptoms persist, she explains. But what about cases like Mr X and Mr A, both asymptomatic? The strategy is to closely monitor those living with the positive patients (referred to as primary contacts, in COVID-19 parlance) who might be more at risk. Those with comorbidities. Which means, those who suffer from a particular condition or conditions which might put them at a higher risk from COVID-19 exposure. Diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and lung disease are red flags. If a primary contact has one or more of the red flags, they are tested on high priority. The other high priority group for Dr Aarthi was all expecting mothers. In March, all five PHCs mapped those who were expecting or delivered post-February. Once this was done, the priority of the sector health nurses and community health nurses kept track of all those who are under antenatal and postnatal care. They are supplied with zinc and calcium supplements in regular intervals on the basis of a chart which has been drawn up. Daily reports are submitted to Dr Aarthi, who performs scans on expecting mothers across the five PHCs and surgeries when required. A total of 845 women are being monitored and of these, 145 have been tested for COVID-19 on a priority basis. Two tested positive and were asymptomatic, but Dr Aarthi didnt want to take any chances. One of them, who is seven months pregnant, was transferred to an isolation ward at the district headquarters. The other delivered a baby at Villupuram Medical College this week. Both mother and baby are fine. What works for Kandamangalam Block, explain Poongodi and Sankar, the most senior healthcare workers of the team, is that Dr Aarthi is on top of every survey to be done, every day. Her role of managing the team's emotions is crucial in keeping us going, says Sankar. In fact, Sankar saw the worst of it. He was in charge of the first quarantine facility which housed those who returned from outside the district. They had been highly irritable and difficult to work with, as all of them wanted to be let off, since none of them were displaying symptoms. Some attempted escapes but were unsuccessful. For 14 days, Sankar and his team negotiated with them constantly, helping them see reason in their isolation. This, while also performing other duties, most important of which are the daily surveys and mapping.When that batch left from the quarantine facility, they left with no complaints and an understanding of COVID-19. Communication is crucial, says Sankar. Cookies op Tweakers Tweakers maakt gebruik van cookies Tweakers is onderdeel van DPG Media en maakt gebruik van cookies, JavaScript en vergelijkbare technologie om je onder andere een optimale gebruikerservaring te bieden. 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Accepteer cookies ... Om deze pagina op Tweakers te kunnen bekijken, moet je cookies accepteren. Cookies accepteren Heb je al een account? Dan kun je hier inloggen! Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping suggested Thursday that China and the Philippines devise innovative approaches and methods while conducting COVID-19 control on an ongoing basis in order to gradually resume exchanges of necessary personnel and promote practical cooperation in various areas in a coordinated way. Such efforts will help the two countries promote their respective social and economic development for the benefit of their people, Xi added in a telephone conversation in the night with his Philippine counterpart, Rodrigo Duterte. Xi stressed that, since the outbreak of COVID-19, the governments and peoples of China and the Philippines have extended helping hands to each other and fought the epidemic together, interpreting the brotherhood of looking out for each other and mutual assistance. Xi said that he is delighted to see that the Philippines, under the leadership of Duterte, has taken vigorous measures to prevent and control the epidemic and achieved positive results. Xi said he believes that the Philippine people will surely be able to carry forward the spirit of unity and cooperation to successfully overcome the epidemic and resume production and life order as soon as possible. China is willing to continuously provide staunch support to the Philippines according to its need, he said. Under the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, China provides funds, experiences and confidence to global prevention and control of the epidemic and extends helping hands to countries in need, Xi said. China is willing to work closely with the Philippines to support the international solidarity in the fight against the epidemic, support the World Health Organization to better play a leading role, and jointly build a health community with a shared future for mankind, Xi noted. Xi stressed that the epidemic is a crisis, but the two countries should have the courage to seize new opportunities in the crisis and make new prospects amid changes. Xi said he believes that in the process of fighting the epidemic and resuming development, the traditional friendship and mutual trust between China and the Philippines will deepen over time, and the two countries' relationship of comprehensive strategic cooperation will usher in a broader development prospect. Upholding friendship between China and the Philippines fully conforms to the fundamental and long-term interests of the two peoples, and history will surely prove that, Xi said. Duterte said that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, which is an important milestone in the relations between the two countries. Under Xi's strong leadership, he said, China has not only successfully controlled the epidemic itself, but also generously extended a helping hand to the Philippines and other partners. In particular, President Xi announced that China's COVID-19 vaccine, after research and development and being put into use, will be made a global public good, which will benefit all mankind, he added. The Philippine side will always be a friend of the Chinese people and will not allow anyone to use the Philippines to engage in anti-China activities, said Duterte. The Philippine side has made great efforts to continuously deepen the friendship between the two peoples and hopes to expand exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields and promote resumption of work and production as soon as possible, he said, adding that the Philippines will continue strengthening cooperation with the Chinese side and the World Health Organization. Amaravati, June 12 : Former Andhra Pradesh minister and opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader K. Atchannaidu was arrested on Friday by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in the ESI scam, with his party dubbing it "political vendetta". The opposition member of Legislative Assembly was taken into custody from his house in Nimmada village in Srikakulam district around 7.30 am for his alleged involvement in the irregularities in the procurement of medicines and equipment for Employees' State Insurance (ESI) hospitals during the earlier TDP rule. The ACB announced that six accused, including Atchannaidu, were arrested who will be presented before a magistrate in Vijayawada by evening. Atchannaidu is the first top TDP leader to be arrested in a corruption case since YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) came to power a year ago. However, the manner in which the key TDP leader was arrested sparked protests from the main opposition party with its president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu alleging that Atchannaidu was 'kidnapped'. The Tekkali MLA's wife Vijaya Madhavi alleged that 200 to 300 people barged into their house by scaling the compound wall and whisked him away. Atchannaidu's nephew and Srikakulam MP K. Rammohan Naidu alleged that his uncle was arrested without prior notice or information. He vowed to fight a legal battle in the case, saying their family is known for a clean public record. He termed the arrest "political vendetta" by the Jagan Mohan Reddy government. Atchannaidu is the TDP deputy leader in the Assembly and considered a confidant of Chandrababu Naidu. He is the younger brother of senior TDP leader and former union minister K. Yerran Naidu, who died in a road accident in 2012. In February this year, the Vigilance and Enforcement Department claimed to have unearthed a major scam in the procurement of medicines and other items worth over Rs 975 crore in ESI hospitals by the Insurance Medical Services (IMS) Directorate in the last five years. Atchannaidu, who was minister for labour and employment in the previous TDP government, allegedly directed then IMS director to issue work orders to a company named 'Tele Health Services Pvt Ltd', without inviting open tenders. The department pointed out that three officials - Dr B Ravi Kumar, C K Ramesh Kumar and G Vijaya Kumar -- who worked as directors of IMS between 2014 and 2019 -- had placed purchase orders for drugs, medical equipment, surgical items, lab kits and furniture worth Rs 975.79 crore by violating procedures and guidelines. The purchases were allegedly made without constituting drug procurement committee and without calling for open tenders, causing huge loss to the government exchequer. It said the directors had procured most of the drugs under non-rate contract instead of rate contract. ACB Joint Director Ravi Kumar told reporters on Friday that Atchannaidu was among the six persons arrested, including Ramesh Kumar in Tirupati and Vijay Kumar in Rajahmundry. He alleged the procurements were made on the basis of nomination and not through e-procurement and the medicines and equipment bought by paying 50 to 130 per cent more than their actual prices. Atchannaidu had earlier denied any wrongdoings. He claimed that his move to replicate the telehealth services model of Telangana was twisted out of context and misinformation was launched against him. "I am ready to face any probe," he had said. Meanwhile, TDP president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu blamed the Jaganmohan Reddy government for "targeting and harassing" Atchannaidu because of his relentless fight against the ruling party for its excesses and sand, land and liquor scams. Chandrababu asked what was the need to use 300 men to raid Atchannaidu residence without prior intimation to his family members. "In an inhuman way, the officials did not allow the TDP leader to take along his medicines as he was resting at his home after recently undergoing a surgery," the TDP chief said. He alleged that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy was "going out of control and his sadism was reaching new peaks with each passing day". The former chief minister said Jagan Reddy's "frustration" was evident as he was not confident of facing the debates in the Budget session of Assembly beginning on June 16. Constitutional Court receives MPs' motion on compliance with Constitution of bank law necessary for cooperation with IMF The Constitutional Court of Ukraine has received a constitutional motion on the conformity of the Constitution of Ukraine to the law "On Amending Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding the Improvement of Banking Regulation Mechanisms," its separate provisions, as well as the provisions of other legislative acts as amended by this law. According to the communications department of the Constitutional Court and legal monitoring, the submission was received from 64 deputies of Ukraine on June 11. The pandemic has been hard on many businesses, and Kilt Check Brewing Co. is no exception. Owner and brewer Mike Campbell, trying to make light of the situation, created a beer to commemorate the current state of affairs. Brewed in isolation and cold quarantined for your protection, is his slogan for Lockdown Lager. Lockdown Lager is a Prohibition-style beer, similar to those that were a precursor to the American lagers we know today. The beer is made from corn grown in Los Lunas and barley from a company in Monte Vista, Colorado. It has barley from a new company called Proximity Malt, and they supplied all the barley, he said. The corn comes from Los Lunas. It was this giant cracked corn. It looks like the old corn nuts. Kind of sweet. Its real nice, real light, real crisp, and its not really hoppy. Its just enough to add a little bit of a slight pepper tinge to it. It really goes down easy in the sun. Lockdown Lager was to be a one-time deal, but Campbell has teamed up with distributor Favorite Brands to get the beer into restaurants and bars for more people to enjoy. Heres another thing also: I have the recipe and I can brew it again, but its kind of a pain in the ass because its a separate yeast from what I usually use for my other beers, he said. So although I can make it again, I was kind of thinking that this would be a one-time seasonal, and now that weve named it Lockdown Lager, I would like to sell it to other bars and restaurants and let everybody else drink it and lets just blitz through it, you know, commemorative beer, and drink to putting the end to lockdown. Campbell always has fun with naming his beers. The Campbell-Toe IPA is one of the more malty IPAs in town, according to Campbell. It uses the same hops that are in Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Obliviscaris oatmeal stout was named after Campbells family crest. It uses the same recipe that won Campbell a bronze medal at the 2013 World Beer Cup. Its a Latin word, and it means forget, Campbell said. My family crest, its motto is Dont Forget, Ne Obliviscaris. I dont know what kind of grudge Im supposed to be having after 500 years. Groundskeeper Willie, a cream ale, is the brewerys perennial bestselling beer. The beer is made using an Old World method of dropping hot stones into the wort to caramelize the sugars. It has a low hop bitterness and a slightly malty, sweet corn taste. The Royal Redhead, an Imperial Red, is popular among patrons who are looking for a more intense hop aroma and flavor. It is full-bodied with a caramel malt flavor and citrus fruity esters. Wee Beastie is a Scottish Ale that features barley smoked over peat moss in Scotland. It has a cigar, Scotch smoky flavor and aroma. Patrons can purchase 32-ounce or 64-ounce growlers of their favorites and buy Kilt Check T-shirts. Regulars have been supportive and stopping by often to grab a growler or two. I need to keep my chin up when its hard to keep your head above water, Campbell said. But I cant complain. My customers have been generous, theyve been frequent, theyve been often. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 03:44:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People burn tyres during a protest in Lebanon's northern city Tripoli, on June 11, 2020. Thousands of Lebanese took to the streets on Thursday night to protest against the hike in the price of U.S. dollar to the Lebanese pound and the deteriorating economic situation, the National News Agency reported. (Photo by Khalid/Xinhua) BEIRUT, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Lebanese took to the streets on Thursday night to protest against the hike in the price of U.S. dollar to the Lebanese pound and the deteriorating economic situation, the National News Agency reported. Protesters cut roads in several areas in Beirut, Tyre, Sidon, Tripoli and other regions. They attempted to cut the road near the Association of Banks in Lebanon which prompted the intervention of riot police and led to clashes with protesters. Protesters also burned tires and waste containers placed on the sides of the streets in different areas of the country. Lebanon has witnessed protests since Oct. 17 of last year due to the dire living conditions in the country. The protests led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and appointment of Prime Minister Hassan Diab. Si Qiuying, founder of a volunteer group in Jining City, North China's Shandong Province, visits a child in a local village. [Jining Women's Federation] Si Qiuying, founder of a volunteer group in Jining City, North China's Shandong Province, attended an activity of providing pairing-up services to needy children in a village in Jining City, North China's Shandong Province, as International Children's Day approached. The activity, recently initiated by the Jining Women's Federation, collected 2,000 wishes from needy children who would like to buy stationery such as paintbrushes or other daily necessities. It called on charity organizations or volunteers for donations to help these children realize their small wishes through pairing-up aid. Si's volunteer team joined the activity and organized a group of young volunteers to donate and show care to the children in need. Si, also a member of the Executive Committee of the Jingning Women's Federation, has been involved in volunteer work for almost 30 years. She has lent her helping hand to Qianqian, an autistic teenager whose mother passed away five years ago. Si took Qianqian home in 2016 and treated her just like her daughter. She took the girl to have a shower and a haircut, and bought her new clothes and daily necessities. To help Qianqian live an independent life in the future, Si recommended her to work in a friend's beauty salon. Si also took Qianqian with her while calling on friends. She often introduced her with "This is my daughter," so as to engage her in more social activities. Qianqian gained a sense of security and self-confidence bit by bit, and changed a lot in appearance as well as social manners. Si burst into tears when receiving a message from Qianqian that read "Mom, I miss you!" According to Si, what's more important is to inspire impoverished children to regain their confidence. She set up a precise poverty-relief program targeted at the children of impoverished families with good academic performance, and offered them psychological and material aid. Si led her volunteer members to visit local rural areas, and identified 51 children in need after several investigations. Notably, her group also helped local farmers sell products during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. Si's volunteer group has provided volunteer service of more than 66,600 cumulative hours and raised funds and materials amounting to more than 20 million yuan (US $2.94 million) since 2017. In addition, more than 600 service activities have been organized, benefiting more than 30,000 people in need. Si vows to continue targeted public-welfare activities to fulfill her duty as a member of the executive committee of the city's women's federation. "I don't expect to see others suffering, perhaps because I have experienced hard times myself," said Si. (Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China) Credit: CC0 Public Domain Norway said it will reopen its borders on Monday to its neighbours with the exception of much of Sweden, which is still battling the coronavirus outbreak. Oslo had already indicated it would reopen its frontiers to Denmark from Monday and will now extend the measure to Finland and Iceland. Restrictions would be lifted on some parts of Sweden as well, but only "regions where the epidemic level is acceptable," Prime Minister Erna Solberg told reporters Friday. That means only travellers from the southeastern Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea will be allowed to enter Norway without being quarantined. Solberg said lifting travel restrictions still came with risks, despite many neighbouring countries having brought their outbreaks under control. "Contamination from abroad represents a risk of resurgence here," she warned. Oslo plans to reassess the epidemiological situation in the region every 14 days. The European Commission this week appealed for the removal of virus-related travel restrictions within the European Union from Monday. Norway is not an EU member but is a signatory of the Schengen agreement on border check-free travel across 26 European states. From Monday, meanwhile, Oslo will allow public gatherings of up to 200 people from the current ceiling of 50 as long as people respect social distancing. Swimming pools, gyms and aquatic centres will also be allowed to open their doors again. Norway, which has limited its death toll to 242, is now seeing only a handful of coronavirus cases a day. Sweden in contrast has logged more than 4,600 deaths with dozens of new cases still emerging daily, after having controversially eschewed strict lockdown measures seen elsewhere in Europe. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 AFP - The federal government is opening up on Madagascars self-proclaimed herbal remedy for COVID-19 - The minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said they are yet to receive an update from research centres - Recall that President Buhari directed the presidential task force on COVID-19 to pick up the plant-based remedy PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! The federal government on Thursday, June 11, said research centres are yet to receive a report about the effectiveness of COVID-Organics, Madagascars self-proclaimed, plant-based remedy for coronavirus. Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the minister of health disclosed this during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, in Abuja The minister went on to note that though researchers have been given the purported coronavirus herbal cure imported from Madagascar none are yet to give feedback. Ehanire added that the time research will take is not what they know, however, he will get in contact with them for an interim report. Minister Ehanire said research centres are yet to receive a report about the COVID-19 cure imported from Madagascar Source: UGC He said: We do not have any information yet. We have given them to our research centres and they are working on them. None of them has reported back yet. The time it will take for all this researches is not what we know, but I think after a period, I will reach out to them to find out if they can give me an interim report. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that President Muhammadu Buhari directed the presidential task force on COVID-19 to pick up the plant-based remedy for coronavirus. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, broke the news at the daily briefing of the task force, which he heads on Monday, May 11. He said Madagascar donated some of the products to Nigeria through Guinea-Bissau and arrangements were being made to pick them up. However, the World Health Organization ruled out the claim by Madagascar president, Andry Rajoelina's, that a herbal tonic produced in the country can cure coronavirus patients. It should be noted that following the president's assertion, African countries such as Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau have made plans to import the said 'cure', which according to Aljeezera contains the artemisia plant, commonly used to treat malaria. The dismissal is coming days after several media had reported that Madagascar is curing Covid-19 cases with the herbal tonic and is the reason the country has had a 92% recovery rate out of its 128 cases. Madagascar is said to be using its own medicine to treat the virus. President Rajoelina launched the herbal tea, named COVID-Organics, on Monday, April 20. In a related development, the federal government on Monday, May 11 said the plant used for the herbal drug produced by Madagascar for the cure of coronavirus grows in Nigeria. This was disclosed by the minister of health during the PTF on COVID-19 daily briefing in Abuja. His words: We are going to get samples of the herb of the botanical product for analyses and also probably use that opportunity to speak with the health authorities there particularly the scientific community on how they use it. Coronavirus: Does the Madagascar cure really work? | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng FOUR investment firm executives are facing trial accused of misleading clients, after they were charged by gardai investigating an alleged multi-million euro fraud at the company. John Mulholland (69), John Whyte (50), Paul Lavery (43) and Ciara Kelleher (48) are all charged with offences alleged to have taken place at Irish investment firm Custom House Capital, which collapsed in 2011. The four were all granted bail at Dublin District Court today, and their cases were adjourned for the preparation of books of evidence. Mr Mulholland, of Salthill, Monkstown, Mr Whyte from Beech Park, Lucan, Mr Lavery of Rafeenan, Bellanode, Co Monaghan and Ms Kelleher of Martin Close, Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin 7 will appear in court again in July. Expand Close 12/06/20 Ciara Kelleher of Martin Close, Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin 7. Pic Colllins Courts / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp 12/06/20 Ciara Kelleher of Martin Close, Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin 7. Pic Colllins Courts They are each charged with one count of misleading investors as to where and/or how their assets were placed in Custom House Capital. The offences, contrary to Common Law, are alleged to have happened within the state on dates between October 2008 and July 2011. Detectives from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau gave evidence of arresting, charging and cautioning the four accused by appointment at Kevin Street Station today. Detective Garda David Coyne said Mr Mulholland made no reply to the charge, Det Sergeant Alan Govern said Mr Whyte also made no reply, and Det Gda Aidan Devenney said Mr Lavery made no comment, while Ms Kelleher said "I am innocent" when charged. None of the gardai had any objections to bail subject to conditions. Expand Close 12/06/20 Paul Lavery, 43, with an address at Rafeenan, Ballinode, Co Monaghan. Pic Colllins Courts / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp 12/06/20 Paul Lavery, 43, with an address at Rafeenan, Ballinode, Co Monaghan. Pic Colllins Courts Judge Bryan Smyth granted bail in each accused's own bonds, with no cash lodgements required. Mr Mulholland's bond was set at 1,000, while the other three were 500 each. Conditions are that they live at their home addresses, sign on weekly at their local garda stations, surrender their passports and not apply for any duplicates or other travel documents. They are also to have no contact, directly or indirectly with each other or any witnesses. Det Gda Coyne said he was seeking an independent surety in Mr Mulholland's case. Approving Mr Mulholland's daughter as a surety, Judge Smyth ordered that her bank account is frozen in the sum of 10,000. She confirmed that she was aware of the charge against her father, that she was not standing surety for anyone else, and that she understood she would lose that money if he did not turn up for his trial. Expand Close 12/06/20 John Whyte, 50 of Beechpark, Lucan. Pic Colllins Courts / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp 12/06/20 John Whyte, 50 of Beechpark, Lucan. Pic Colllins Courts The court heard the DPP was directing trial on indictment on all charges and was consenting to the accused being sent forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on signed pleas of guilty if that should arise. Solicitors Richard Young, for Mr Mulholland, Padraig O'Donovan for Mr Whyte, Peter Connolly for Mr Lavery and Michael Hennessy for Ms Kelleher, all consented to their clients being remanded on bail, to appear in court again on July 31. None of the accused were required to address the court during today's hearing and no details of the alleged offences were disclosed in court. CHC collapsed in October 2011 after High Court inspectors uncovered the "systematic and deliberate misuse" of more than 56m of assets and cash belonging to clients of the firm. Ontario is putting up another $15 million in aid to curb increasing outbreaks of COVID-19 among migrant workers, with assistance worth up to $7,500 per farm, The Star has learned. The money to improve workplace and bunkhouse protections from the virus that has killed two temporary foreign workers in Essex County will be announced Friday by Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Ernie Hardeman. Agri-food businesses and their hard-working employees play a crucial role in keeping our food supply chain strong, Hardeman said in a statement obtained by the Star. The program triples previous provincial and federal assistance in this regard and will allow farmers to adapt to this new environment and implement additional health and safety measures during the COVID-19 outbreak, he added. At least 70 migrant workers have tested positive for COVID-19 this week at agri-food operations around the Lake Erie town of Leamington, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has reported. That situation has caught the attention of public health officials at Queens Park. It is one thats concerning and we want to move on it quicklyto avoid further bad consequences, chief medical officer Dr. David Williams told reporters at a medical briefing Thursday. He offered the assistance of a mobile testing van to go to various workplaces in addition to a new assessment centre that opened Tuesday in Leamington. There are at least 8,000 migrant workers in Essex County and an estimated 430 have tested positive for COVID-19 in several workplace outbreaks throughout the farm belt stretching from Windsor to Niagara. Local health units are eager to stop any spread to vulnerable farm employees living and working in close quarters and to the general population, with wider outbreaks potentially putting food supplies in jeopardy. Farm and greenhouse operations applying for financial assistance will have to fill out forms explaining how the money will be used. If approval is granted, they will be reimbursed once the project is complete. The province will cover 70 per cent of the cost of approved projects, which can also include alternative transportation for workers so they are not crowded together on buses, fuelling transmission of COVID-19. Were putting everything we can into curtailing further outbreaks as best we canadding resources as necessary, Williams said. When workers test positive, they must be moved to local hotels and motels to isolate for 14 days, Williams said. Read more about: Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 21:32:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has called on Ethiopia not to take any "unilateral action" with regards to the filling of the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) until a tripartite agreement between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan is reached. Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources posted a statement on Friday on its official Facebook page, saying "Egypt stresses that Ethiopia should not take any unilateral action in violation of its legal obligations, especially the Declaration of Principles in 2015." Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia resumed technical talks on Tuesday for the first time since February, when United States and World Bank (WB) mediated negotiations came to a halt after Ethiopia pulled out. On the meeting, Egypt and Sudan have expressed concerns about a new Ethiopian proposal on GERD's filling and operation, said the statement. "The Ethiopian document completely backtracks from the principles and rules that were agreed upon between the three countries during the negotiations sponsored by the U.S. and the WB," it added. Urging Ethiopia to continue negotiations with "good intentions," the statement warned also that "the Ethiopian approach complicates the situation and may lead to worsen the situation in the region." Egypt had initialed a draft agreement in February when the tripartite talks have stalled, but Ethiopia and Sudan have not signed it. On May 1, Egypt sent a memo to the UN Security Council blaming Ethiopia for trying to establish a deal without taking the interests of downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan, into consideration. Enditem Youth Groups from the Kusaug Traditional Council in the Upper East Region have called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to rescind its decision to compile a new voters register as it posed a threat to national security. The youth groups from six administrative districts in the Region including Bawku Municipal, Bawku West, Binduri, Garu, Tempane and Pusiga Districts, at a press conference said time was too short to enable the EC compile a credible register that would ensure all eligible voters were registered. A statement signed by all the youth groups including the Kusasi, Bissa, Moshie, Bimoba and BONABOTO and read by Mr Francis Bukari, the Convener, expressed worry that with limited time and the difficult requirement for the registration of the new voters register, the exercise had the tendency to destabilize the peace in the area. Giving an example of the 2012 mass registration exercise, the youth said even though the EC spent 10 days in each polling station, it had to extend the days and yet many eligible voters could not register, it will be worse as the EC is planning to spend only six days at each polling station. The Youth Groups noted with concern that with the Ghana Card and Passport as the only requirement instead of the birth certificate, many eligible voters in the area would be disenfranchised since they did not have those two documents. The total voter population in the Upper East Region is over 720,000 and it is projected to increase to over 900,000 this year but the National Identification Authority was able to register just 220,000, out of this number, only 13,000 were issued with the ID cards. This means that only 1.4 per cent of the people in Upper East are qualified to register while citizens who possess the passport in the Region are not up to 0.01 per cent, the Youth added. The Youth further expressed concern about the spread of the coronavirus disease and said it would pose a serious threat to public health and safety if the EC went ahead with the new voter registration processes. The Youth said the current voters register was good enough to hold the general elections in December as it was used to hold credible elections in 2016, the referendum in 2018 as well as the District Assembly and Unit Committee elections in December, 2019 without any hitch. The young people therefore called on the EC to instead exhibit the current voter register for verification purposes and conduct a limited registration exercise to enable Ghanaians who had reached the age of voting to add their names to the electoral roll. They further called on the EC to restore the relevance of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to avoid mistrust and suspicion from all electoral stakeholders especially political parties. We therefore, call on all well-meaning Ghanaians including the National Peace Council, religious bodies, the National House of Chiefs, Civil Society Organization and all Labour Unions to add their voices to avert the calamitous path the EC is leading us to, they stressed. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Editor's Note: With so much market volatility, stay on top of daily news! Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news and expert opinions. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. has agreed to acquire Guyana Goldfields Inc. (TSX: GUY) in a deal valued at C$323 million, the companies announced Friday. Silvercorp Metals Inc. tried to acquire Guyana Goldfields this spring. The latter announced on June 3 that it got a superior offer from a "foreign-based multinational mining company," which Silvercorp declined to match this week. Under the deal announced Friday, Zijin will acquire all outstanding shares of Guyana Goldfields for C$1.85 each in an all-cash transaction. Based on the closing price of the Silvercorp shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on June 3, the Zijin deal represents a premium of approximately 35% to the implied value of the Silvercorp offer, the companies said. Zijin has also agreed to provide Guyana Goldfields with a $30 million loan facility to finance ongoing operations of the Aurora gold mine and to fund other liquidity needs. "The all-cash offer from Zijin represents a significant premium to the amended Silvercorp offer price and is an excellent outcome for Guyana Goldfields' shareholders," said Alan Pangbourne, president and chief executive officer of Guyana Goldfields. "Zijin is a highly regarded mining company with an impressive track record of successful international acquisitions and operations." Chen Jinghe, chairman of Zijin, said his company looks forward to "advancing and developing the next phase" of the Aurora mine, which reached commercial production at the beginning of 2016. The Zijin agreement was unanimously approved by the board of directors of Guyana Goldfields, which recommended that its shareholders vote in favor of deal. A special meeting is expected to occur by July 31, the company said. The Zijin agreement provides for a termination fee of C$11.3 million that would be payable by Guyana Goldfields in certain specified circumstances, as well as reimbursement of Zijin's expenses up to C$500,000. The agreement also includes a reverse termination fee in the amount of C$11.3 million, payable by Zijin to Guyana Goldfields in the event of certain circumstances. Protestors stand in front of Police to prevent conflict in Melbourne, Australia on June 6, 2020. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) Second Wave of Protests in Australia Continue Despite Police Warnings Protests against racism and asylum seeker policies will continue as planned across several Australian cities this weekend despite health measures and police warnings. Government officials have warned that police will intervene if protestors disregard measures put in place to stem the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus. This second wave of events is organized at locations in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. Having been working on reopening Australias economy and restoring the 800,000 jobs that were lost due to the CCP virus pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged people to think about the health risks involved in the protests, saying: Turning up to a rally this weekend would show great disrespect to your neighbours. Speaking to 3AW on June 11, Morrison agreed with the assertion that people should be charged for violating health measures, saying: I think they should. I mean, I really do think they should, because you cant have a double standard here. New South Wales Protests A protest by a group called the Refugee Action Coalition (RAC) planned for Sydney was blocked by the Supreme Court on June 11. The judge ruled that the risk of spreading COVID-19 was too high to grant a license for the June 13 event. The Supreme Court last night, 11 June 2020, made an order prohibiting the holding of the proposed public assembly by the Refugee Action Coalition on 13 June 2020. Read the judgment here: https://t.co/ng2oGmyLuO NSW Supreme Court (@NSWSupCt) June 11, 2020 The RAC organisers have said on social media that they would continue despite the courts decision. We are disappointed that this means any protest of more than 20 people in current circumstances will not get approval, read a statement by RAC. It goes on the say that ending racist refugee policies cannot wait several more months. The protest demands the release of refugees held in Papa New Guinea and Nauru. New South Wales (NSW) Central Metropolitan Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing, issued a statement urging people not to attend the unauthorised protests. I want to be clear about thisif people choose to break the law and attend this protest, police will not hesitate to take the appropriate action against them, Willing said. Current laws being enforced for the protection of public health mean unlawful assemblies of more than 10 people can be penalized, and so might people who obstruct traffic during protests. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said that anyone breaking a public health order would be fined $1,000, then asked to move on, and if they did not comply, they would be arrested. Fines can tally up to $10,000 if settled through the court system. Protests planned for Sydneys Town Hall on June 12 will focus on the Long Bay Prison where riots broke outand were broken up with the use of tear gasover the disruption of illicit drug trafficking into the prison caused by the CCP virus pandemic, according to 9News, who cited a prison boss as a source. Inmates spelled out BLM (Black Lives Matter) after guards used tear gas to break up the brawls. Victoria Protests The Refugee Action Collective plans to hold eight small rallies across Melbourne on Saturday afternoon against the long-term detention of asylum seekers. The group initially planned to host two large scale protests, one at the Mantra Bell City Hotel in Preston where some refugees are being held and another at a detention center in Broadmeadows. But they were warned by police that if there are gatherings over 20, they will be fined and arrested. As a global wave of protest spreads against racism and police impunity, it is outrageous that Preston police are threatening refugee supporters with their own peculiar interpretation of health regulations, RAC spokesman Chris Breen said in a statement on June 12. The group announced the changed plans via media release and updated its Facebook event to say the protests have now been decentralized and will occur at 8 different locations. About 260 people have indicated their intention to attend. Victoria Deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese Van Diemen said hosting smaller protests was a more responsible way forward and advised against going over the states current limit of 20 people outdoors. Related Coverage Melbourne BLM Protester Tests Positive for CCP Virus A man in his 30s who attended the Melbourne Black Lives Matter protest last weekend was diagnosed with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as coronavirus, on June 11. Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton revealed that it was unlikely he contracted the virus at the rally, but that he was there while presymptomatic but potentially infectious. Congress is using a key defense bill to push back against Defense Secretary Mark Espers reported plans to withdraw US peacekeeping forces from Egypts Sinai. The Senates annual defense authorization bill would require Esper to notify Congress 30 days before reducing the total number of members of the armed forces deployed to the Multinational Force and Observers in Egypt to fewer than 430 members, according to a summary of the legislation released today. Why it matters: The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Esper seeks to draw down troops from the Sinai peacekeeping mission despite opposition from the State Department. The report immediately prompted pushback from Israel, with Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz declaring, The international force in the Sinai is important, and [the] American participation in it is important. The US-led peacekeeping mission has been deployed in the Sinai since Egypts 1979 peace treaty with Israel. Egypt is also battling an insurgency in Sinai led by militias affiliated with the Islamic State. Cairos stance on scaling back the peacekeeping mission remains unclear. Whats next: The House is expected to release its version of the defense bill later this month. Know more: Al-Monitor examines whether the Islamic State is poised to make a comeback in Sinai. An Offaly based design and print company is leading the way with a range of signage solutions geared towards businesses that are preparing to reopen for staff and customers. The current Covid-19 pandemic is challenging us all to look at our office spaces, shop floors, bars and restaurants and all workplaces in terms of social distancing. Brosna Press Creative Design and Print, based in Ferbane, Co. Offaly have developed a range of signage products that help make this possible. Company Director, Diarmuid Guinan explains: We have all had to adapt very quickly to this new situation. Like many other businesses, we have found the last few months very challenging, but we have been able to respond to a demand for Covid signage. We have put together a very extensive range of wall and window signs, vinyl floor graphics, bannerstands that clearly communicate social distancing guidelines, manage traffic flow, create defined waiting and queuing zones and communicate hygiene protocols. This full range can be viewed and purchased online at their new online store www.brosnapress.ie, making the whole processs very simple. The signs come in a range of sizes and cover practically all possible requirements for businesses, retailers, as well as public buildings, offices, schools and colleges. The range is being added to all the time as we respond to individual customer requirements, adds Diarmuid. A very innovative product which has been very popular is their hand hygiene station. A very clever design, robust, but lightweight and simple to wipe down and clean, it is made of corriboard, with a solid PVC shelf. It can be assembled in about one minute without any tools, and its compact footprint makes it ideal for offices, shops and reception areas. Brosna Press are one of Irelands leading design and print companies. Established over 60 years ago, it is a family run business with a very keen focus on quality, service and value for money. According to Managing Director, Ciaran Guinan: We have a unique offering of a very strong design team alongside a state of the art print production facility where we can produce everything from business cards and stationery, to marketing material, brochures, books, large format indoor and outdoor signs and displays, as well as vehicle branding. With a customer base that spans small and medium sized businesses across all sectors, to large nationwide companies, multinationals and state bodies, their work is creative, high quality and very varied. Ciaran adds Value for money is very important to our clients. We make sure everything we print is really well designed, high quality and delivers excellent value for money. Their product portfolio also extends to catalogues, programmes, annual reports, magazines, newsletters, yearbooks, school journals and print for the hospitality sector including a new concept - single use table mat menus. The environment for business is going to remain difficult for some time to come. Brosna Press are the ideal company to get you back to business safely, and when you are up and running, work with you on design and print to promote your company and products. They have all the expertise and they do it all under one roof in County Offaly. If you want to find out more call Ciaran, Diarmuid or Arlene on 090 6454327 or visit www.brosnapress.ie. It is more important than ever to think local - think Brosna Press. State governments are considering making Australians returning from overseas pay for their own hotel quarantine after forking out millions of dollars for the 14-day stays. Queensland is leading the push to charge travellers but the two biggest states, NSW and Victoria, insist they will continue picking up the bill on behalf of taxpayers. Returning travellers have been put into enforced hotel quarantine for two weeks, with the states picking up the bill. Credit:Edwina Pickles National cabinet will meet on Friday, when Prime Minister Scott Morrison will push for states to agree on a date in July to open their borders and further ease restrictions. Mr Morrison on Thursday warned protests over the weekend had put "the whole track back to recovery at risk". SPRINGFIELD A 22-year Liberty Heights man is facing unlawful weapons and drug possession charges after police said they found him with two loaded firearms and some heroin. Joshua Heathman of Allendale Street was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm without a license, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of ammunition without a license, possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for narcotics or violent crime, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and violation of supervised release. According to police spokesman Ryan Walsh, Heathman was arrested at his home on a federal warrant issued by U.S. District Court. When officers searched his home, they found two loaded firearms, ammunition and 50 packets of heroin inside a safe. Heathman in 2017 was sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of crack cocaine. He was arrested with two others as part of a drug trafficking operation in the area of Brattleboro, Vermont. According to federal records, he was released from prison in May to serve three years probation. The first time Nanci Weinstein and Heather Bone met in July 2014, neither of them expected the meeting to go well. Weinstein and her husband, David, were the court-appointed foster parents for Bones daughter, Kristina, who had been removed from her custody shortly after birth when the newborn tested positive for methamphetamine. Bone, then 30 and a longtime drug addict, was angry that her child had been taken away and given to strangers, so Weinstein expected tension at their first supervised meeting at a McDonalds in Vista. What she didnt know was that Bone and her husband, Andy Tarnovsky, were secretly planning to snatch Kristina from her arms and go on the run. Advertisement But the more we got to know her, the more we realized we couldnt do something like that to this woman, Bone said. She was too nice. That was the beginning of an unlikely friendship that Bone describes today as the most important in her life. Weinstein has become her best friend, a mother figure, a fellow mommy confidante and the one person she trusts most for advice. She also credits Weinstein with giving her the tough love she needed in 2015 to get sober and get her daughter back. I heard horror stories about foster parents so I felt extremely blessed to end up with Nanci, she said. If it had been anyone else, I dont think Id be here today because I wouldnt have survived the path I was on. We were brought together for a reason. The Weinsteins, who live with their children in Encinitas, have served since 2013 as foster parents with the Angel Foster Family Network. Heather Bone of Texas, left, and Nanci Weinstein of Encinitas during a visit to the Alamo monument in San Antonio, Texas. The women have become close friends since Weinstein served as foster mom to Bones infant daughter while she battled drug addiction in 2014 and 2015. (Courtesy photo) Weinstein, 43, said surrendering Kristina to her birth parents after 14 months was the happiest day and most devastating day all at the same time. She was happy for the young familys reunification but sad that they were moving that week to Brookshire, Texas, where Bone and Tarnovsky now live with Kristina, 4, and younger daughter Emma, 3. I really miss them, said Weinstein, who still speaks by phone with Bone at least once a week and has twice vacationed with the family in Texas. I adore and love Andy and Heather. Theyre doing the best they can with their daughter and I really respect that. Jeff Wiemann, executive director of Angel Foster Family Network, said relationships between birth and foster parents can easily become oppositional and that causes stress for the children caught in the middle. An important tool he teaches foster parents is to create a relationship of mutual respect with birth parents by practicing nonjudgmental compassion. Heather and Nancis story is inspiring because both the foster and biological mother were committed to doing what was best for Kristina, Wiemann said. When you have two moms who see their work as a partnership, its the children who benefit. Weinstein, who works from home as a travel agent with Moments of Magic Travel specializing in Disney destinations, said she has always felt a calling to help children in need. In 1975, her parents adopted her through a private agency when she was 2 months old. Weinstein said she and her husband first considered adopting a child between the births of their daughters Grace, now 15, and Rebecca, 11. Then after moving to North County six years ago, the subject came up again and they decided fostering was a better choice. We can touch so many more lives by doing this than adopting one child, she said. We went to the orientation and heard about the great need in San Diego County for homes to nurture and love these children. How can I say no? Once you know theres a great need, its hard to walk away. Their first foster child in 2013 was a 7-month-old boy who reunified with his family after eight weeks. Kristina was their second. Their third is a boy who arrived as a newborn three years ago. His mother remains an active drug user so the Weinsteins are adopting him. Having been through this most recent experience, Weinstein said she now appreciates even more how hard Bone worked to reclaim her daughter. Bone grew up in New Jersey where she had a difficult childhood and started abusing drugs in her early 20s. I guess Ive struggled with addiction on and off for 13 years, she said. It wasnt always the same drug. Id put one down and pick up another. She became so expert in hiding her drug use that Tarnovsky, who shes been with for nine years, never knew she was on meth until Kristina tested positive. Bone said losing custody of her daughter sent her even deeper into her addiction and over the next several months her health and weight plummeted. I felt guilty and was coming to a point where I thought she was better off with Nanci than with me, Bone said. I was giving up on myself majorly. I didnt want to live. Then Kristina was diagnosed with a rare condition called craniosynostosis, where the usually flexible bone plates of her skull fused prematurely, preventing brain growth. She would need several major surgeries and Bone and Tarnovsky leaned heavily on Weinstein to support and advocate for them through the process. It was tough but Nanci was so supportive through it all, Bone said. I cant put into words how much I admire her. I think she reminded me a lot of myself if I hadnt ended up such a mess. Weinstein said the couple never missed a single doctors appointment and over the course of 14 months only canceled or rescheduled three supervised visits. She was impressed with their devotion to Kristina, but frustrated that Bone was still using meth. Finally, she confronted Bone in one of their McDonalds meetings. I told her, your daughter has to have this surgery and you havent made any changes. Theyre going to put your child up for adoption if you dont make a choice, Weinstein said. I said, youre so involved in her life and youre under the influence of drugs. Imagine what you could do off drugs? Youd be unstoppable. Bone said Weinsteins words were tough to hear but delivered with love. She told me Its very obvious you love your daughter but youre not ready to get your act together. You are worth it. You do deserve better, Bone said. Other people told me this many times but it never meant anything from anybody else. By the time Kristina had her first surgery in January 2015, Bone was in rehab and has been sober ever since. Staying clean hasnt been as tough as she expected because her daughters give her a reason to survive. I have to take care of them, she said. I know what happens if I go down that road again. Ive been down it so many times for so long and I cant do it anymore. pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com NORWALK A 23-year-old man, who police said led officers on a chase to Bridgeport after shooting someone in the stomach here, claimed Friday it was all a misunderstanding. Its not like I went around causing trouble, I was trying to get in a right place, Marcus Bonaparte told Bridgeport Superior Court Judge Kevin Russo during his arraignment hearing. The Monroe man also complained that a high bond wasnt appropriate because he didnt do anything wrong before the judge cautioned him to be quiet. Bonaparte was arrested Thursday afternoon in Bridgeport and charged with first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a firearm. His lawyer, assistant public defender Anne Marie Kindley, told the judge that Bonaparte had been steadily employed until the pandemic and requested leniency. But Senior Assistant States Attorney Judy Stevens told the judge that the allegations in the case were significant and that a high bond was appropriate. The court finds there are aggravating circumstances, he is accused of leading police in a pursuit and has conviction for prior crimes with violence and possession of a firearm, the judge said. He ordered Bonaparte held in lieu of $750,000 bond and continued the case to July 17. Lt. Jared Zwickler, a Norwalk police spokesman, did not release details about what led to the shooting that occurred around 10 a.m. Thursday in the Roodner Court housing complex, but said Bonaparte knew the 30-year-old Norwalk victim. Zwickler said the victim suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was transported to Norwalk Hospital for treatment and released later that day. Scott Appleby, a Bridgeport police spokesman, said Bonaparte was captured when he ran onto the property of Central High School and told a school security officer that he needed assistance and that he was being chased. The party was taken into the security office and police were notified. Upon police arrival, that party fled the security office and was immediately apprehended outside of the building and taken into custody, Appleby said. Zwickler said Bridgeport police later found a vehicle matching the suspect cars description in the area of Central High School. Detectives also recovered a gun, which they believe was used in the shooting, after it was tossed from a moving car in Fairfield, Zwickler said. The incident remains under investigation by the Norwalk Detective Bureau. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective John Sura at 203-854-3039. Mr Jonathan Osei Owusu, Executive Director, POS Foundation, has commended the Ghana Prisons Service for the preemptive protocols adopted, which has contributed significantly towards safeguarding the security of prisoners and ensuring their overall well- being in this era of COVID-19. The professionalism, strict adherence to precautionary Security protocols and contingency plans put in place by Service which includes a health alert communicated regularly to the inmates have worked to prevent and contain the spread of Covid-19. What would have been the situation if there was an outbreak in our prison with this huge congestion without the said Protocols; the Cost on the State, riot and perhaps jailbreak, insecurity, and a threat to National Security and chaos, instability, and loss of confidence in the system. Mr Osei Owusu made this observation when the Foundation, facilitators of the Justice For All Programme together with its funding Agencies GIZ/German Cooperation and Open Society Foundation/OSIWA under the COVID-19 Prisons Response Outreach Project donated PPE to the Kumasi Central Prisons. The Foundation also supported them with cotton materials for the production of about one million face masks by prison inmates for the prisons and families of prison officers in support of the hard work by Prison Service towards the prevention of COVID-19 in Prisons. The items include Vitamin C, veronica buckets, automated handwashing machine, and liquid soaps, bins, tissue, gloves, some food items worth GHc 41,000, and a cash cheque of GHc2,000 to be used as transportation for onward distribution of some items to Manhyia and Amanfrom local Prisons. Mr Osei Owusu said managing crisis such as a pandemic of this nature was an onerous task since the least miscommunication amongst the prison population could lead to a very chaotic situation. The only case recorded so far in Prison was that of a newly admitted inmate at the Ankaful Maximum Prison which is among the seven designated prisons across the country designated to receive new admission for monitoring before inmates are transferred to a traditional Prison that has so far recorded none. He said from the Foundations experience of work in prisons, they had always known that the plight of the Ghanaian Prisoner was the same as the Prison Officer, what affects one affected all. Ghana Prisons in its way of managing the pandemic paid critical attention to Officers, visitors, and new admissions. For instance, Officers are to adhere to strict protocol even when they are out of the prison facility, visitors have some hygiene protocols made available to them on entry into the facility with some restrictions while some prisons across Ghana have been selected to accommodate only new admissions. This is in line with protecting major prisons where the congestion rate is high such as Nsawam Medium Security Prisons and Central Prisons such as Kumasi, Sunyani, Koforidua etc. He said Prison Officers undoubtedly play a pivotal role as Frontline workers and therefore appealed to Government to provide incentives and contagious disease allowance for Officers for the dedication, professionalism, and health risk taken in these crucial times. He also entreated the Prison authority and all officers to safeguard the good record and continuously adhere to the strict protocols, saying, though there was gradual ease of restrictions by the State for the Public, they must remain resolute as they celebrated their success story. He again called on other organizations to come to the aid of Prisons as these items were shared with prison inmates, prison officers, and visitors. He said the Foundation had earlier donated similar items to the Nsawam Medium Security prisons and would replicate the same at Tamale Central and Navrongo Local Prisons, and Sunyani Central Prisons. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video THE Central Bank of Ireland has given the green light for an Irish domiciled investment fund that is seeking to raise up to 150m to back companies in the legal medicinal cannabis industry. The private equity Oskare Fund will be marketed internationally to wealthy private and institutional investors who can put in at least 100,000 to back a portfolio of investments based on the research, development and sale of cannabis-based products - but only for medicinal purposes. Investors over the past year have ploughed billions into such funds in North America in line with legalisation of cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes. In January, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on medical cannabis firms and managed by Canada's Purpose Investments listed on the Irish exchange. But the Oskare Fund - being offered by Irish firm Crossroads Capital Management and France-based cannabis investment specialist Oskare Capital with advice from solicitors Eversheds Sutherland - has become the first such fund to be domiciled here. The Central Bank approved the fund to register as an Irish collective asset-management vehicle (icav) last month. The prospectus describes the fund as "a long-term, potentially high-risk investment which is suitable only for sophisticated institutional and high-net-worth investors which are able to bear the risk of losing the entirety of the value of their shares". It specifies that the closed-end fund would seek 30m in its initial round and up to 120m more in successive rounds. Terms require investors to commit their money for at least four years. The Oskare-Crossroads strategy is to invest primarily "in unlisted cannabis-related companies" with "a broad global exposure to the cannabis industry". These include, it said, firms that "perform lawful research on the medical, technological and pharmaceutical applications of marijuana and cannabis extracts" and those that "produce and develop devices, goods and equipment related to the cannabis industry, including hemp and its legal derivatives". The fund seeks stakes and boardroom representation on early stage firms in the medicinal cannabis space, but will not invest directly in any growers. Its planned investments will be weighted in favour of enterprises based in Europe. Paris-based Oskare - named after the Mohawk language word for cannabis - said Europe "enjoys the best regulatory environment for innovation and for research and development in medical and therapeutic cannabinoids". It said legal medical cannabis sales in Europe reached 316m in 2018, are experiencing high double-digit growth - and could produce a continent-wide market topping 2.6bn by 2024 and 14bn by 2029. Deborah Hutton, partner and head of the asset management and regulatory team at Eversheds Sutherland in Dublin, said the firm had established a "cross-practice cannabis industry team primarily to help our clients navigate the regulatory uncertainty in this rapidly growing industry". She said the Oskare Fund was currently "unique" here but was likely to face more local competition. The United States has some 5,200 troops in Iraq as part of an international coalition fighting the Islamic State. The militant group still poses a threat in Iraq, although one that is much reduced from the period between 2014 and 2017, when it was building and then fighting for a sweeping landmass it described as its caliphate. So now we know. The "surge of biblical proportions" that Health Minister Robin Swann dramatically warned of in March, in which 14,000-15,000 people in Northern Ireland could be killed by the coronavirus, was never a reasonable prediction. According to a leaked document obtained by the BBC Spotlight programme, the scientific modelling at the time said that 14,000 deaths was the "worst-case scenario" if there was no compliance at all with social distancing. It was not, and never was, considered by scientists to be a realistic figure. Mr Swann did not share this additional, qualifying information with us, the public. Instead, he chose to use alarmist language and a particularly emotive phrase guaranteed to strike fear into the hearts of thousands. Here's a dictionary definition of the term "biblical proportions": "Of or pertaining to a natural disaster or other cataclysmic event so immense that it brings to mind biblical accounts of horrific catastrophes." The messaging was unmistakable: be afraid. Very afraid. A few days later, at the start of April, Mr Swann told us what the revised scientific modelling was now forecasting a death-toll of 3,000. This was described as "a reasonable worst-case scenario". Again, Mr Swann was selective. He omitted to mention that the best-case scenario modelled by the scientists was just 250 deaths. According to the leaked document, Mr Swann kept schtum because he was concerned that if that scenario was published the public would have a false sense of security. The Department of Health (DoH) also claimed that publishing both the projected best and worst outcomes would have sent out mixed messages at a crucial time. At the time of writing, 757 people have tragically lost their lives. As Spotlight pointed out, that figure is substantially closer to the best-case scenario - deemed "not realistic" by the modellers - than any of the numbers Mr Swann put forward. Using fear to exert control over people is nothing new. In fact it's the oldest, crudest trick in the book; political leaders have been doing it for millennia. It's the go-to remedy of totalitarian states. Once you get the populace quaking in their boots, especially if the threat is a common enemy such as a lethal disease, they are much more biddable than they would otherwise be. Some might argue that the threat to the public posed by Covid-19 is so great that such fear-mongering tactics are justifiable. They might say, like the DoH, that people can't understand "mixed messages". I profoundly disagree. At the start of the pandemic what we needed to hear was calm, sober, detailed advice outlining both the grave possible impact of the unmitigated virus and the great potential for social distancing measures to substantially reduce the death toll. Being honest and straightforward with people, trusting them with the best available information, the full range of possible outcomes, makes them more, not less, likely to comply with draconian restrictions. It gives them a powerful incentive to help themselves and others. As Tracey Brown of the charity Sense About Science told Spotlight: "This insistence on a worst-case scenario approach tells us something rather worrying about the way in which government is viewing the public, because at a time when they are asking the public really to trust them, what they're also saying is that we don't trust you." Precisely. I have some sympathy for Mr Swann. Only in the minister's post since January, he's been thrown into an unprecedented health crisis dealing with a new virus which international scientists, let alone provincial politicians, are still struggling to understand. With Fortress Stormont's traditional resistance to openness and accountability it's disappointing, but not surprising, that he chose to be economical with the figures - and his Executive colleagues clearly backed him. But the problem with crying wolf by presenting blatantly unrealistic worst-case scenarios to the public is that it can come back to bite you - hard. What if we were to be hit by another pandemic, or round two of this one, and it was far more deadly than the current outbreak? The terrible risk is that people might not believe the politicians' warnings of how dangerous it is. Last time you told us that 15,000 could die, people might say, and that didn't happen, so why should we listen to you now? If politicians want the public to have faith in them, especially in times of global crisis, it is vital that they treat people with respect. Be honest with us. Level with us. Trust us. In a real worst-case scenario our lives could depend upon it. As BuzzFeed News reported on Wednesday, in an article that amplified criticism of the coffee chain, an internal Starbucks dress code memo stated that wearing Black Lives Matter clothing and accessories could be misunderstood and incite violence. The guidance was issued in response to inquiries from store managers about whether it was acceptable for employees to wear Black Lives Matter buttons, pins or shirts on the job, according to BuzzFeed. No, the memo stated, as they violated the policy prohibiting personal or political clothing or accessories. Instead, Starbucks leadership urged employees to wear a Black Partner Networks Keep it Brewing shirt. Compounding the frustrations of employees and also a growing number of customers learning about this policy was the fact that Starbucks hands out pins and other attire to celebrate L.G.B.T.Q. rights and Pride month. On Friday, Starbucks said on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter that it had changed its policy. In response to questions on social media, the company clarified that the 250,000 Starbucks-branded Black Lives Matters shirts would not be for sale to customers but would be distributed to employees who wanted them. The company also clarified that until those shirts were ready, employees could wear their own Black Lives Matters attire. Tasmania is completely free from COVID-19 after the last infected person recovered from the virus. Premier Peter Gutwein announced that Australia's island state had zero cases of coronavirus on Friday afternoon. 'We have no active cases in Tasmania ... it's an important milestone,' he told reporters. Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein (pictured) announced that Australia's island state was completely coronavirus-free on Friday afternoon 'Today, after more than three months, I'm pleased to report that we've once again had no more positive cases yesterday, and importantly we have no active cases in Tasmania as of today.' 'Because of hard work and discipline today we have reached a very significant milestone,' Mr Gutwein said. He said the achievement was 'something Tasmanians should be proud of.' The state government announced some coronavirus restrictions would be lifted ahead of schedule next week. Outdoor and indoor gatherings will allow a maximum of 80 people from Wednesday onwards. The 80 person gathering limit will also apply to gyms, pubs, hospitality venues, plus weddings and funerals. Up to 20 people will be allowed to visit homes. Mr Gutwein said Tasmania's border would remain closed and the decision would be reviewed again next month. The island state has not recorded a new COVID-19 case in 27 days. The island state (Hobart Harbour pictured) has not recorded a new COVID-19 case in 27 days Thirteen people died from the virus and 213 of 226 cases have now recovered. Tasmania, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia are reportedly in discussions to establish a coronavirus travel bubble. Mr Gutwein said the possibility of a travel bubble had been 'discussed'. 'Obviously we would like to open our borders when it is safe to do so. 'It may be that there is an opportunity to step back into that with states and territories that have got a lower instance of the virus than other states,' he said. President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that that the coronavirus pandemic is yet to reach its peak Buhari warned against laxity in th... President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that that the coronavirus pandemic is yet to reach its peak Buhari warned against laxity in the fight against the pandemic and charged the ECOWAS Commission to come up with an economic recovery plan to help member-states to recover from COVID-19 shock. He spoke on Thursday at a virtual meeting with the President of the Commission, Jean Kassi-Brou. Buhari promised to provide logistic support to enable the sub-region receive and distribute procured and donated medical equipment using Abuja as the hub for the distribution. The Nigerian leader expressed ECOWAS appreciation for the swift interventions made to the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) and the Africa Centre for Disease Control by the Jack Ma Foundation. He commended development partners such as the European Union, African Development Bank, France and Germany for their financial contributions in the procurement of medical supplies. Speaking, Kassi-Brou advocated additional strategies to assist the sub-region in fighting the health and economic impact of COVID-19. He listed them as advocacy at continental and global levels including the G20, World Bank, United Nations and the African Development Bank, to get their support to negate the health and economic damage to the ECOWAS sub-region. A Bhopal-based man has alleged that his pregnant wife (23), who had tested coronavirus positive (Covid-19), died on May 28 because she was denied treatment in three government-run hospitals and passed away at the fourth state-run facility. The husbands allegation comes barely three days after Madhya Pradesh (MP) health minister Narottam Mishra blamed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for the death of a Covid-19 patient in Bhopal, who was allegedly denied treatment at several hospitals in the national capital. A Bhopal gas tragedy survivors organisation has alleged that the pregnant womans death was not the only case of medical negligence, as several state-run and private hospitals have been turning away patients amid the raging pandemic, which has stretched MPs creaking healthcare infrastructure. Earlier, there were several complaints from Indore and other parts of MP about patients, who were being denied treatment at government-run and private hospitals or an inordinate delay in attending to them. The man, whose pregnant wife died at Hamidia Hospital, the teaching hospital of Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, on May 28, has clarified that he couldnt raise the issue earlier, as he had to quarantine himself for 14 days because his late wife had tested Covid-19 positive. He narrated his ordeal, which laid bare the acute healthcare crisis in Bhopal and how the state government has been unable to provide timely treatment to Covid-19 patients. My wife was eight-month pregnant. On May 26, she complained of chest pain and severe difficulty in breathing. I took her to a nearby private hospital at 7 pm, from where she was referred to JP Hospital. We reached the hospital at 11:30 pm, where the staff told me that only those pregnant women would be treated there, who were already registered. They referred her to Indira Gandhi Woman and Child Hospital. However, no doctor was available on duty at that hospital. So, she had to be taken to Sultania Janana Hospital, where, too, I met with a similar response. We kept waiting at the hospital gate till 3 am while requesting the hospital authorities to admit her, as her condition was worsening. Finally, she was admitted at around 3 am, he said. He added: However, the doctor referred her to Hamidia Hospital at 4:30 am. The oxygen cylinder in the ambulance of Sultania Janana Hospital was defunct. She was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Hamidia Hospital and put on a ventilator after 8.30 am. He said: At 3 pm, her test report showed Covid-19 positive. The doctor, who was treating her, told me that my wifes chances of survival were slim, but all efforts would be made to save the baby. At 3:30 pm, I was handed over a stillborn baby boy, who I buried immediately and came back to the hospital. He added: The hospital authorities informed me about my wifes death at 1 pm, even though the record shows it at 10 am. The man said both his wife and the baby could have been saved had she got timely treatment. Rachna Dhingra, a social activist and a co-founder of Bhopal Group for Information and Action, said: This was not the only case of denial or negligence in treatment. A woman (30), who had tested Covid-19 positive, didnt get proper oxygen support, when she was referred from Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre to Hamidia Hospital in end-May. When her spouse put pressure to shift her to Chirayu Medical College, the doctors at Hamidia Hospital wrote on the hospital record that she left against medical advice (LAMA). There were several similar cases. Dr. Parag Sharma, the spokesperson for Gandhi Medical College, said, The particular patient, who was pregnant, was very serious, as she was admitted to the hospital at a critical stage. Unfortunately, in such cases, patients kin always blames the hospital authorities. However, were trying to provide the best treatment as per the World Health Organisations (WHO) guidelines. People must understand that the best remedy to the viral disease is an early diagnosis for which patients have to approach hospitals immediately after they feel that theyre showing signs of symptoms related to Covid-19. State health minister Narottam Mishra said, MPs recovery rate of over 65% suggests the quality of treatment being provided to Covid-19 patients. However, if there is any complaint regarding negligence in a hospital, well conduct an inquiry into it and take all necessary actions. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON WASHINGTON - The White House is floating a theory that travel from Mexico may be contributing to a new wave of coronavirus infections, rather than states efforts to reopen their economies. The notion was discussed at some length during a meeting of the administrations coronavirus task force in the White House Situation Room Thursday that focused, in part, on identifying commonalities between new outbreaks, according to two administration officials familiar with the discussions. COVID-19 cases are currently rising in nearly half of states across the country, according to an Associated Press analysis. That includes Arizona, where hospitals have been told to prepare for the worst, and Texas, which now has more hospitalized patients than ever. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was deploying teams to Arizona and other hotspots to try to trace the outbreaks and contain them, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly describe internal conversations. CDC officials and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In addition to Arizona, other states experiencing recent spikes of infections include California, Texas and North Carolina particularly within the Hispanic community. As a result, the task force is looking at whether those spikes may be tied to legal travel between the U.S. and Mexico, which is experiencing an ongoing severe coronavirus outbreak. Mexico has had more than 133,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and nearly 16,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University dramatically fewer than the U.S., which has surpassed 2 million cases and more than 113,000 deaths. The U.S. and Mexico entered into a joint agreement in March to restrict non-essential travel along the countries border to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus, though American citizens and many others are still allowed entry to the U.S., including those conducting commercial traffic and agricultural workers. Still, cross-border travel is down substantially, and the U.S. State Department continues to urge Americans to avoid all international travel due to the pandemic. Trump has long tried to used Mexico as a scapegoat, painting the country as a source of crime and disease in the U.S. And he has used the pandemic crisis to push forward some of his most hard-line stalled immigration proposals, including blocking asylum cases and placing new limits on green cards. In addition to its theory about Mexico, members of the White House task force were also exploring other potential causes for the recent uptick in numbers, noting that circumstances likely differ by location. Delays in test reporting and the fact that some infected people take multiple tests in order to get an all-clear to return to work are among the other theories that are being explored, but would not account for the increase in hospitalizations seen in some states. Australian Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow has repeated his call for the use of facial recognition technology to be strictly regulated, saying that law enforcement agencies shouldn't be allowed to use it without proper safeguards in place. "At the moment there are not strong and clear enough legal protections in place to prevent the misuse of facial recognition in high stakes areas like policing or law enforcement," he told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. A demonstration of facial recognition technology in China. Credit:Bloomberg "We want to see this new form of technology developed in a way that is safe and provides economic opportunities, but we need safeguards that prevent harm to humans." His comments come as US tech giants IBM, Amazon and Microsoft all pulled their facial recognition services out of police hands in the US. Da 5 Bloods star Delroy Lindo has praised the Thai film crew Spike Lee used on his new film, praising them as the real heroes of the film. Releasing on Netflix today, Da 5 Bloods tells the story of four Black US army veterans who return to Vietnam to find the body of their friend who died in the war. The film shot on location in Vietnam and Thailand, and in 2019 actor Jean Reno revealed it had been a gruelling shoot with people fainting on the set. Spike Lee admitted to Yahoo it was hard work shooting in Southeast Asia. It was 100 degrees every day, and insects, Lee tells us. Thats 37.7c for us Brits. The first day of every semester, I tell my students at NYU Grad Film: nothing is easy. This film would not be the same film if wed shot it on a Hollywood backlot. DA 5 BLOODS (L to R) ISIAH WHITLOCK JR. as MELVIN, NORM LEWIS as EDDIE, CLARKE PETERS as OTIS, DELROY LINDO as PAUL, JONATHAN MAJORS as DAVID in DA 5 BLOODS. Cr. DAVID LEE/NETFLIX 2020 Lee was committed to hiring local talent for all aspects of the production. You just cant come with that American imperialism thing, he explains in press notes for the film. I had never been to Thailand before. I had never been to Vietnam before. This is their land. This is their history. I welcomed their participation. We were shooting in 104 degrees (40c) on some days, adds Clarke Peters, who plays former medic Otis in the film. Read more: Da 5 Bloods star on playing a Trump supporter And it shows. The actors not only play their present day characters, they also play their younger selves at the height of the combat, taking part in exhausting action scenes. DA 5 BLOODS (L to R) Director SPIKE LEE, ISIAH WHITLOCK JR. as MELVIN, DELROY LINDO as PAUL, JONATHAN MAJORS as DAVID, CLARKE PETERS as OTIS and NORM LEWIS as EDDIE of DA 5 BLOODS Cr. DAVID LEE/NETFLIX 2020 You can see the sweat pouring off the actors but Delroy Lindo, who plays the Trump-supporting Paul, says it was easy work compared to the work of the crew. We were doing the heavy lifting, emotionally and psychologically, and somewhat physically, but the Thai crew that we were working with were one of the most extraordinary crews ive ever worked with. In. My. Life. DA 5 BLOODS (L to R) ISIAH WHITLOCK JR. as MELVIN, NORM LEWIS as EDDIE, DELROY LINDO as PAUL, CLARKE PETERS as OTIS and JONATHAN MAJORS as DAVID in DA 5 BLOODS Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX 2020 And they were doing literal heavy lifting, lugging hundreds of pounds of equipment up and down those hills. They did it every single day for the entirety of the shoot. And my thing is, if they can lug the hundreds and hundreds of pounds of equipment up and down that terrain, Im fine to do the heavy lifting I need to do psychologically and emotionally on this film. They were extraordinary. Da 5 Bloods releases globally on Netflix on 12 June. Watch a clip below. The EU has highlighted the need for the UK honour its commitments to the North at a Brexit meeting with the UK where they spent a lot of their time "discussing the enormity of the task when it comes to the proper implementation of Ireland and Northern Ireland". The British Government is expected to backtrack on its plan to introduce full border checks with the EU from January 1 over fears of the economic impact of coronavirus. UK Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove is anticipated to make an announcement today over border operations for when Brexit fully comes into effect at the end of the transition period. It comes as the UK economy contracted by more than a fifth in the first full month of lockdown, as shops and factories closed and workers were sent home. The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that economic activity was down by 20.4% in April, the largest drop in a single month since records began in 1997, and worse than many experts were forecasting. The UK had committed to introduce import controls on EU goods in the new year, but ministers are now expected to adopt a more flexible approach to prevent the departure compounding the chaos from Covid-19. A UK Government source said: We recognise the impact that coronavirus has had on UK businesses, and as we take back control of our laws and our borders at the end of this year, we will take a pragmatic and flexible approach to help business adjust to the changes and opportunities of being outside the single market and the customs union. Mr Gove held the second joint committee agreed under the Withdrawal Agreement with European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic today. Despite calls from Scotland and Wales for an extension to the transition period to avert an avoidable economic shock, Mr Gove formally confirmed that the UK will not be asking for a delay, saying the moment for extension has now passed. Mr Sefcovic told a briefing in Brussels that the EU remains open to such an extension, but said Mr Gove had been very clear, unequivocal that the UK will not seek one so we take this decision as a definitive one. Mr Sefcovic added that he made clear to Mr Gove the need for the UK to uphold its commitments to Northern Ireland. Only a sound and effective implementation of all these legal obligations can ensure continued peace and stability between all communities on the island of Ireland, uphold the Good Friday Belfast Agreement in all its dimensions while also preserving the EU single market, and I made these points to minister Gove very clearly. Mr Sefcovic added that it is up to the UK how it takes back control. Responding to reports of the British Government abandoning plans on full border checks for EU goods, he said: This issue was not in particular discussed today and I would say that the UK has stated on several occasions that it wants to take back the control, and I would say it is up to the UK how they do it. What is of course very important for us is that at the end of the transition period the UK will decide how it wishes to organise its borders as a WTO member. He added that at the meeting, quite some time was spent discussing the enormity of the task when it comes to the proper implementation of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and that we agreed that the acceleration of work is necessary. Mr Sefcovic added that Michael Gove could not be clearer on the UKs position that there will be no extension to the transition period. He said: I think that, if it comes to this issue, that Chancellor Gove couldnt be clearer. He referred to the very clear position of not asking for the extension even though, as you know, our President Ursula von der Leyen was ready to provide for one. He explained that this was the promise which was given to the British citizens in the election campaign and also Prime Minister Johnson was very explicit on this issue. So he made it very, very clear and, as you know, the only body which can decide about the possible extension in this spirit is the Joint Committee. We just concluded the proceedings so I take this as a definite conclusion of this discussion and therefore I was pleading so much for the acceleration of our work in my case on the proper implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, but I think it has also clear implications for the work of Michel Barnier to make sure that we will proceed much faster in the discussion on our future relationship. UK sources were keen to depict the meeting as the last formal opportunity to request an extension to the transition period, as it is the last scheduled meeting of the joint committee before the July 1 deadline. France launches Sahel coalition to fight rising jihadi violence FILE PHOTO: Niger's Foreign Minister Ankourao arrives at a G5 Sahel Ministerial meeting with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Mogherini at the EU headquarters in Brussels By Boureima Balima and John Irish NIAMEY/PARIS (Reuters) - France launched a coalition of West African and European allies on Friday to fight jihadi militants in the Sahel region, hoping more political cooperation and special forces would boost a military effort that has so far failed to stifle violence. Former colonial power France has deployed thousands of soldiers in the arid region south of the Sahara desert since 2013, and now has 5,100 troops there. But violence by groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State has been on the rise. The coalition, first announced at a January summit after a series of attacks killing over 200 soldiers, was ratified during virtual meetings of more than 40 defence and foreign ministers. "We can now hope that the setbacks suffered by our armies during the second half of 2019 and the difficulties implementing our development projects are behind us," said Niger's Foreign Minister Kalla Ankourao. The new structure brings the so-called G5 Sahel states of Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Mauritania, plus French forces and any future troops under a single command, and also coordinates development, governance and humanitarian work. Paris has long sought more support from other European countries and cooperation between Sahel states. The coalition would provide more help from European special forces for regional armies, and financial aid from countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. "This is a good example of the new multilateralism that the world needs today," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. Although France and Sahel forces have made some recent gains including the killing of al Qaeda's North Africa chief Abdelmalek Droukdel, militants have continued attacks, pushing further south towards coastal countries such as Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, suspected extrajudicial killings of civilians by national armies, including allegations that soldiers in Mali killed 43 people in two villages last week, have drawn condemnation. Story continues "If there are exactions against civilians, you cannot expect their collaboration," Drissa Traore, a Malian human rights activist, told a news conference on Thursday. Le Drian urged accountability while Mali's Foreign Minister Tiebile Drame said recent allegations would go to tribunals. Despite such promises in the past, no charges against security forces have been announced in recent years. (Reporting by Boureima Balima in Niamey, Thiam Ndiaga in Ouagadougou, Aaron Ross in Dakar, Bate Felix and John Irish Paris; Writing by Bate Felix and Aaron Ross; Editing by Peter Graff and Andrew Cawthorne) Japan's parliament passed a record 31.9 trillion yen ($298 billion) extra budget Friday in an effort to shore up the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic. The new spending provides financing help for struggling companies, payroll subsidies and aid to the medical system. The budget will help fund a 117 trillion yen stimulus package unveiled last month that doubles the scale of Japan's virus response. Japan's second record extra budget since April is widely seen as needed amid the nation's worst economic crisis in decades, but it also adds to a mountain of public debt. S&P Global Ratings cut its outlook on Japan's sovereign bond rating this week, citing the setback to debt stabilization efforts. A sharp slowing in the economic growth trend would be the most likely trigger for a downgrade of the sovereign ratings, S&P Global Ratings Senior Director Kim Eng Tan told Bloomberg News. To fund its additional general account spending this time, Japan will boost its debt issuance by 59.5 trillion yen, with some of the money used for government institution-led financing programs, according to the finance ministry. About a third of the extra budget will go to financing help for struggling firms, with an emphasis on smaller businesses. Some 2 trillion yen will be used to subsidize rent payments for companies and several trillion yen will go to supporting the medical system. Another 10 trillion yen will be set aside as a coronavirus reserve fund to be used to address needs such as a potential second wave of infections. All told, Japan's stimulus packages now total about 234 trillion yen, equal to more than 40% of gross domestic product. Still, some economists say a third or even a fourth extra budget may be needed to help boost demand and plug a record hole between surging spending and sliding tax receipts. Key Japanese cabinet members have defended the historic jump in spending, saying the priority now is to keep companies and households afloat and restoring fiscal health is impossible without a sound economy. The spending also comes amid assurance from the Bank of Japan that it won't allow bond yields to rise. Although the recession likely passed its weakest point following last month's lifting of Japan's state of emergency, the economy is forecast to shrink 22% this quarter, the most in records going back to 1955. Recovery could be slow if export markets struggle to reopen more fully and consumer spending stays subdued. (Adds Beijing markets closed, Turkish warning, U.S. stocks rise) * Record number of cases in India * China shuts down major food markets in Beijing * Pandemic worsening globally, solidarity needed-WHO says * Hospitalisations rise sharply in some U.S. states By Kate Kelland and Francesco Guarascio LONDON/BRUSSELS, June 12 (Reuters) - Fears of a second wave of COVID-19 infections shut six major food markets in Beijing on Friday, while India, which opened up this week, recorded a record daily increase and half a dozen U.S. states said their hospital beds were filling up fast. Health officials worldwide have expressed concerns in recent days that some countries grappling with the devastating economic impact of lockdowns may lift restrictions too swiftly, and that the coronavirus could spread during mass anti-racism protests. "We must be ready to roll back relaxation of measures if needed," the European Union's health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said after urging its 27 members to plough ahead with testing the population as they reopen schools and businesses. In China, where the new coronavirus originated, two new cases of COVID-19, the disease it causes, were recorded in the capital. Authorities closed part or all of six big wholesale food markets which the two men had recently visited but it was not known how they had become infected. India opened most public transport, offices and malls this week after nearly 70 days even though health officials said it was weeks away from flattening the rising infection curve. The official death toll, at 8,498, is relatively small, but the health ministry said registered cases rose by 10,956 on Friday, a record, with many in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the head of Delhi's Jama Masjid, one of India's biggest mosques, ordered a halt to congregations until the end of the month. "What is the point of visiting mosques at a time when the virus is spreading so fast?" he said. FIRST WAVE NOT OVERCOME In Turkey, the top medical association said the easing of restrictions on June 1 had come too soon, although the daily death toll as fallen in recent weeks to about 20. Story continues "There is talk of when the second wave will hit, but we have not yet been able to overcome the first wave," Cavit Isik Yavuz, part of the coronavirus research team at the Turkish Medics Association said. While new infections are slowing in most of Europe, health experts see a moderate to high risk that post-lockdown rises may warrant new restrictions. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) predicted a moderate acceleration across Europe in coming weeks, which could place healthcare systems under stress if not checked rapidly. Government control measures could check and reverse upward trends within two to three weeks, it said. Andrea Ammon, director of the ECDC, stressed the importance of maintaining physical distancing, hand hygiene and what she called "respiratory etiquette". Officials have expressed concern the virus could spread among the tens of thousands who have crowded together in Europe's big cities to demonstrate against racism after the death in U.S. police custody of George Floyd. "Mass events could be a major route of transmission," said Martin Seychell, a health official at the EU Commission. SOLIDARITY CALL World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said late on Thursday that the threat of a resurgence remained very real. "We must also remember that, although the situation is improving here in Europe, globally it's getting worse ... We will continue to need global solidarity to defeat this pandemic fully," he said. Of 5,347 new deaths recorded worldwide, 3,681 were in the Americas, the WHO said on Thursday. In about half a dozen U.S. states including Texas and Arizona, the number of coronavirus patients filling hospital beds is rising, fanning concerns that the reopening of the U.S. economy may unleash a second wave of infections. Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon and Nebraska all had a record number of new cases on Thursday. "I want the reopening to be successful," Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the top executive for the county that encompasses Houston, Texas, told reporters. "But I'm growing increasingly concerned that we may be approaching the precipice of a disaster." More hospitalisations inevitably mean more deaths ahead, said Spencer Fox, research associate at the University of Texas at Austin. "We are starting to see very worrying signs about the course the pandemic is taking in cities and states in the U.S. and around the world," he said. "When you start seeing those signs, you need to act fairly quickly." Wall Street's main indexes opened sharply higher on Friday, a day after the biggest one-day dive in about three months on fears of a resurgence in infections. Global stocks were up 1.3% after four days of consecutive losses. The United States has now recorded more than 113,000 coronavirus deaths, by far the most in the world. That figure could be over 200,000 by September, Ashish Jha, the head of Harvard's Global Health Institute, told CNN. (additional reporting by Reuters bureax around the world, writing by Philippa Fletcher; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Toby Chopra) Subscriber content preview By MATT O'BRIEN AP Technology Writer Microsoft has become the third big tech company this week to say it won't sell its facial recognition software to police, following similar moves by Amazon and IBM. Microsoft's president and chief counsel, Brad Smith, announced the decision and called on Congress to regulate the technology during a Washington Post video event on Thursday. . . . The coronavirus hammered New York City hotels, pushing struggling properties to the brink of insolvency and presenting grave challenges to a local economy that depends heavily on tourism. Now, with international flights cancelled and Broadway on ice, lodging owners and a hotel workers union that has seen 95 per cent of its members laid off are sparring over how to implement safety protocols that both sides see as a necessary step to luring tourists back. The fight has parallels across industries, as companies seek to balance safety against the need to cut costs, and furloughed workers struggle with their own financial pressures and fears of contracting the virus. The stakes are especially high in New York, where hotels are facing a long recovery. Tourists supported 400,000 jobs and generated $70 billion U.S. in economic activity in 2019, according to the citys tourism agency. New York officials are projecting hundreds of millions of dollars in lost hotel taxes, a number that doesnt account for revenue generated when tourists dine in restaurants, shop at brick-and-mortar stores and frequent cultural institutions. Im extremely worried because tourism has become a real driver for New Yorks economy, said Jonathan Bowles, executive director of the Center for an Urban Future. Its vital to the citys future for policy-makers to figure out how to restart tourism again, and I have a strong feeling that it will have to start with safety. The battle over work rules has been brewing for months. In March, the New York Hotel & Motel Trades Council, which represents workers at three-quarters of the citys hotel rooms, reached an agreement on safety protocols with more than 150 properties, including the New York Hilton and the Grand Hyatt. That pact reduced the number of rooms that housekeepers are required to clean during a shift and created new positions for staff dedicated to cleaning public spaces. At the time, few people were staying in hotels: occupancy rates in New York plummeted to 15 per cent in the week ending March 28, according to lodging data provider STR. New proposal As Americans start to travel again and Manhattan limps back to life, the union has circulated a new proposal for keeping workers and guests safe. The document, a copy of which was obtained by Bloomberg, calls for plenty of measures that are uncontroversial, like providing masks and hand sanitizer to workers and guests, and enforcing social-distancing in lobbies and elevators. But owners are rankled by union demands that would increase labour expenses, including a requirement that guest rooms be cleaned every day, whether or not guests want daily service. Another would give workers paid time to change into uniforms, which the union says would help prevent them from bringing the virus to work. The majority of owners and operators are shocked and are clueless as to how they can reopen a closed hotel with the very costly and very cumbersome new union demands, said Jonathan Falik, chief executive officer of JF Capital Advisors, which works with hotel owners. It will force many of the existing hotels to remain closed, file for bankruptcy or convert to other uses. Owners themselves have been more circumspect, declining to comment on the record for fear of upsetting a 40,000-member union with deep ties to Mayor Bill de Blasio and a track record of moving favoured legislation through the city council. Vijay Dandapani, CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City, said the ownership group was engaging with the union on safety protocols but declined to comment on the substance of the proposal. Push back Lodging owners have also pushed back on safety measures from hotel brand companies. In April, Marriott International Inc. said it planned to use tools called electrostatic sprayers to sterilize rooms, but delayed implementing them widely after some owners complained the devices would damage fabrics and inflame allergies, according to people familiar with the matter. Marriott declined to comment. New York hotel owners were hurting before the pandemic, hit by a glut of new rooms and the rise of Airbnb listings. Even with occupancy rates near all-time highs, operating profit dropped 14 per cent last year, according to STR. Hotel executives are predicting that at least 10 per cent of the citys existing rooms wont reopen after the pandemic, said Patrick Scholes, an analyst at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Inc. The closings have already started billionaire Robert Rowlings Omni Hotels informed loyalty members on June 11 that it was permanently closing a nearly century-old hotel on East 52nd Street. Union officials concede that the pandemic spells hard times for New York hotel owners, but argue that operators have thrived over the past decade, and can afford to embrace measures that protect workers and promote travel. We cant allow owners to use the pandemic as a Trojan horse to slip in workforce reductions just to increase their profits while decreasing the safety of guests and workers, Peter Ward, president of the Hotel Trades Council, said in an email. If the industry wont thoughtfully regulate itself, then policy-makers and elected officials need to step in and take real action. A newly wedded man, Azeez Bamidele has been sentenced to six months in prison for Internet fraud by an Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos State. Justice Mojisola Dada sentenced Bamidele after he had pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of fraudulent documents proffered against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Delivering judgment on Wednesday during the virtual proceeding, the judge said: The defendant, having pleaded guilty, is convicted as charged. He is hereby sentenced to six-month imprisonment, starting from March 18, 2020 when he was first remanded by this court. He is, however, granted an option of a fine of N50,000 in lieu of his prison term. The defendant shall, upon his release from custody, do a written undertaking to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC to be of good behaviour and not to be engaged in any criminal activities within or outside the shores of this country. The defence counsel, Babatunde Hamzat, in a plea, had earlier asked the court to temper justice with mercy based on the convicts status as a newly married man. Hamzat told the court: The defendant having pleaded guilty to the charge, I plead with the court to temper justice with mercy; he is a young man who just got married in December previous year. He was influenced by peer pressure and having been in custody since March this year, he has shown remorse and he is now penitent. We plead with the court to give him a fine, or if possible, community service, he added. In another news, a newly married 17-year-old wife has allegedly stabbed her husband to death as he tried to have first time sex with her at their residence in Bauchi. Ship shape: Vessels like the WB Yeats have seen a huge drop in passengers but Irish Ferries is expected to weather the storm SHARES in Irish Ferries operator ICG fell by 5.6pc in London yesterday after the group reported a sharp fall in passenger numbers. In the first five months of this year traveller numbers declined by 60pc, as measures taken to limit the spread of Covid-19 affected travel. Car volumes are down 62pc, according to an update from the group. ICG said it is "very difficult" to estimate the full year financial impact on the group "as the reduction in passenger revenue will be material". The severity of this reduction in passenger revenue is dependent on the duration and nature of travel restrictions particularly over the peak summer season, it added. Meanwhile, the company said the current Government position - of asking people from Britain who visit Ireland to self-isolate for two weeks - is not consistent with that of the British government, which does not require people travelling to Britain from Ireland to self-isolate. "In addition, there is nothing to stop people from Britain visiting Ireland by transiting via Northern Ireland without the requirement to self-isolate which is clearly anomalous. We have written to the Irish Government on this issue," ICG said. Elsewhere, since the start of Covid-19 restrictions here and in the UK, the company has experienced more limited disruption to its roll-on, roll-off freight business and its Container & Terminal division. In the year to June 6 roll-on, roll-off volumes are down 4pc, container volumes have fallen 13pc, with container lifts on ICG's terminals dropping 14pc. Meanwhile, ICG says it has terminated its contract with the German shipbuilder FSG, which was contracted to build a new vessel for Irish Ferries. This follows the yard making an application through the German court system to be placed in debtor-in-possession management under the oversight of an insolvency monitor. As part of the original contract with the yard, ICG paid a deposit on this vessel for 20pc (33m) of the purchase price with the remaining 80pc due on delivery of the ship. This deposit was protected by third party guarantees and has now been returned to ICG, the company said. The company added it is in "a strong financial position to weather this Covid-19 storm". Commenting on the update, analysts at Davy Stockbrokers said they expect "limited, if any, cash burn at the operating level and the balance - excluding exceptionals - is unlikely to be worse at year-end than end-2019". "This would be a great result, leaving ICG as a key European infrastructure investment play," they added. ONTARIO / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2020 / Yesterday, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced a major bust of contraband tobacco and other illicit products through Project CAIRNES. 16 people were arrested for 218 offences in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. "We would like to congratulate the OPP and all other law enforcement agencies for this major bust. The results of Project CAIRNES clearly show that illegal tobacco is a major driver for organized crime in Ontario and across Canada," began Ron Bell, a 30-year law enforcement veteran who is now the Law Enforcement Advisor for the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT). "Organized crime groups have acted with near impunity for decades selling contraband tobacco and making millions of dollars off the illicit trade." Project CAIRNES brought multiple law enforcement agencies together which culminated in the arrest of 16 people tied to an illegal tobacco manufacturing plant on the Six Nations territory in southwestern Ontario. The project led to the seizure of 11.5 million contraband cigarettes, 1,714 pounds of illegal cannabis, three handguns, cocaine and fentanyl. The street value of all illicit products seized exceeded $5 million. "Southwestern Ontario is the epicentre of contraband tobacco in Canada. Millions of illegal cigarettes are manufactured daily and are transported to all parts of the country by organized crime groups who are also involved in the sale and distribution of illegal cannabis, cocaine and human trafficking. Project CAIRNES makes it clear that contraband tobacco is a major issue that governments have paid little to no attention to," continued Bell. An EY report released by the Government of Ontario in 2018 found that the province loses over $750 million in provincial excise tax annually to contraband tobacco. The RCMP have found that over 175 organized crime groups are involved in the illicit trade, utilizing over 50 illegal manufacturing plants, the majority located in southwestern Ontario. One in three cigarettes sold in the province continue to be illegal. "Now is not time for another consultation on contraband tobacco. Project CAIRNES and dozens of other contraband tobacco seizures make it clear that this is a major issue in Ontario that is fueling organized crime. The Ontario Government must take action now to stop this illegal trade, stop criminals and return proceeds to the public treasury," concluded Bell. About Us The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is a Canadian advocacy group formed by organizations and associations concerned about the growing danger of contraband cigarettes. NCACT members share the goals of working together to educate people and urge government to take quick action to stop this growing threat. More information about the Coalition can be found on our website, www.stopcontrabandtobacco.ca. Contacts Carlos Godoy Public Affairs Advisor Work: 514-703-4208 carlos@impactcanada.com SOURCE: National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/593740/Coalition-Responds-to-Major-Illegal-Tobacco-Bust-by-OPP State Department of Correction Commissioner Rollin Cook has resigned from his post effective July 1, citing family obligations in Utah. Cook announced his resignation in a heartfelt internal memo Friday. Although I had planned and hoped for a longer tenure serving as Commissioner, I have submitted my resignation to Governor (Ned) Lamont, Cook said. Like all of you, my family is most important to me and this is really my opportunity to return to all of them. Cooks father died unexpectedly this past December, he wrote in the memo, and his family has remained in Utah. My wife, kids and my mom were all there when everything shutdown, he said. I could not and would not leave my responsibilities here knowing our organization would be facing its most challenging event in decades, so we weathered the storm apart. Cook said he understood his challenging circumstances are one story in the millions of stories faced by everyone through COVID-19, and I do not share it with you in an attempt for you to feel sorry or bad for me My intent is to only let you know I leave because my family needs me and I need them. Cook arrived in Connecticut early in Lamonts tenure with glowing references from Scott Semple, his predecessor, and the former governors criminal justice adviser, Michael P. Lawlor. Both had praised Cook as a reformer in his previous position as the top prison official in Utah. Commissioner Cook has been a reliable, steady hand at our Department of Correction since I came into office, and I am grateful for his service and leadership,Lamont said. He helped guide our prison system through a challenging and unprecedented time during this pandemic, and I cant thank him enough for all of the work and thoughtfulness he has brought to the position. Cook leaves amid an international pandemic and days after the state reached an agreement with the ACLU of Connecticut over a lawsuit filed to protect incarcerated people from COVID-19. Under his tutelage, the departments incarcerated population fell by 2,200 people due to a combination of a sharp decline in arrests and admissions to correctional facilities, and an increase in the number of discretionary releases that allowed people to get out of prison before the end of their sentence. Lamont has appointed Angel Quiros, the DOCs deputy commissioner of operations and rehabilitative services, to serve as acting commissioner while he conducts a national search to permanently fill the position. There are calls for resignation and profuse offers of apology after a Pa. township official attacked Pa. health secretary Dr. Rachel Levines gender. As KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh reports, it happened in Scott Township, Allegheny County, where Commissioner Paul Abel made these comments during Tuesday nights commissioners meeting broadcast over Zoom: Im tired of listening to a guy dressed up like a woman, said Abel, referring to Levine. The comment came after Abel asked Commissioner Angela Wateska about the green phase and what comes after that as the township emerges from the coronavirus lockdown under Pennsylvanias phased reopening largely being led by Levine and her office. At the time, no other township officials made mention of their colleagues personal attack on Levine, and the reopening discussion continued without missing a beat. Now, however, the comment attacking Levines gender has ignited a backlash, and other township officials are aghast, apologetic and regretful they didnt speak against their colleague during the meeting. Dr. Levine is a transgender person. I was very surprised and it took me a while to process what he was saying. By the time I realized what he was saying, too much time had gone by, but honestly, I still should have said something, Commissioner Wateska told KDKA of her part in the exchange. I try to think of myself as helping marginalized groups but the fact that I didnt say anything, I am ashamed that I didnt have the courage to say anything, Wateska added. Commissioner Paul Abel made these comments during Tuesday nights commissioners meeting broadcast over Zoom: Im tired of listening to a guy dressed up like a woman, he said, referring to Pa. health secretary Rachel Levines gender. (Scott Township photo via KDKA-TV) Township Manager Denise Fitzgerald told KDKA a letter of apology was being posted to the townships website and social media. Shes asking all the commissioners to sign it. Four commissioners have sent KDKA statements saying they were appalled by Abels comments and dont share his views. They also expressed regret for not speaking out against the comments during the meeting. The township, its board, administration and employees strive to serve and respect all residents and non-residents alike regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or social economic class, Fitzgerald told KDKA. At last report, Abel remained on the board, despite the growing backlash over his comments. READ MORE: Womans body found stuffed in suitcase left on Pa. street Pa. woman surprises attacker by shooting him in the neck with warning shot: cops Pa. man paralyzed in fight with McDonalds employees is fighting for his life 2 boys drown in Pa. river, one trying to save the other Grocery store chain halts sales of Pa. newspaper over George Floyd coverage flap Pa. girl, 3, hit, killed by neighbors car in front of family home 7 shot, 1 dead in hail of 50-plus bullets fired in Pa. apartment courtyard Pa. teen swallows world record for biggest mouth: jaw-dropping Teen on the run after shooting, killing his girlfriends dad during lovers quarrel: Pa. cops Pa. woman, 30, killed in ATV crash involving drunk driver: state police Driver finds man shot dead along Pa. road: state cops Nurse accused of switching patients OxyContin pills at Pa. hospital Pa. parents charged with manslaughter after son, 2, shoots himself in head with gun from toy basket 3 men accused of forcing Pa. woman to perform sex acts to pay off debt: cops Los Angeles The man suspected of ambushing and shooting a California sheriff's deputy is dead after a shootout with police, authorities said Thursday. Mason James Lira, 26, was accused of ambushing and seriously injuring a San Luis Obispo sheriff's deputy and killing a transient man Wednesday in Paso Robles. The attacks sent off a massive manhunt in the central California Coast that ended Thursday in the shootout. While Tony Cipolla, a San Luis Obispo County sheriff's spokesman, confirmed Lira's death, the surrounding details were not immediately available. Lira's father says his son had several mental illnesses and did not take his medication. Three officers were injured as police attempted to take Lira into custody Thursday afternoon at a chaotic scene in a riverbed, with residents in a 2-mile radius locked down. An Arroyo Grande officer was struck by gunfire, while officers with the California Highway Patrol and Kings County Sheriff's Office suffered unspecified wounds. All three are expected to survive their injuries. The manhunt for Lira began at dawn Wednesday, when authorities said he opened fire on the Paso Robles police station. Two sheriff's deputies heard gunshots and responded but didn't see the attacker until they were outside their patrol car and under fire. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Deputy Nicholas Dreyfus, 28, was hit in the face. His partner fired back and dragged Dreyfus behind a police car. Dreyfus, who was able to radio that he'd been shot, underwent surgery Thursday and was in guarded condition. While scores of officers searched for Lira, they received a report of a body near a train station and found a 58-year-old man shot to death on the tracks. He appeared to be a transient who was camping out overnight. Police believe Lira was responsible for the killing. Lira's father told The Associated Press he thinks the shooting at the police station might have been a suicide attempt. Jose Lira said his son had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, Asperger's syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He said his son has been in and out of jail and treatment centers, and often thinks he is a special agent or a soldier. On March 6, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal made a candid admission on the floor of Parliament. He told the Rajya Sabha that India's Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the 10-country ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), its biggest trade pact so far, has increased the country's trade deficit with them. India's trade deficit with ASEAN was $5 billion at the time of implementation of the FTA (FY11). In FY19, it was $21.8 billion, a four-fold increase, he said. The discomfort with large trade agreements like the one with ASEAN was visible in November 2019 too when India walked out of talks for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) - seen as leading to create the world's largest economic block - signed among 16 East Asian economies, including ASEAN members. However, worries about older existing trade deals are not preventing India from exploring new trade pacts. The RCEP may have been aborted, but the country has been in discussion for a trade agreement with its biggest trade partner, the US. The commerce ministry has also hinted that the country will explore opportunities arising out of shakeup in global supply chains due to trade wars (especially US-China) and outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) influenza. India has till date signed about two dozen trade agreements - from FTAs to preferential trade pacts - with countries and groups of countries. It is negotiating an equal number of deals with others. It seems to be confident that it can make future deals work. This is only possible if it can learn from its mistakes. Global Minnow Goyal says asymmetrical tariff commitment is the biggest reason for India's rising trade deficit with ASEAN countries. "Non-tariff barriers in many FTA partner countries are also an important factor contributing to this. While exports and imports vis-a-vis FTA partners continue to grow, the utilisation rate of FTAs, both for India and its partners, has been moderate," says Goyal. India accounts for just 2 per cent of global trade. Its plans to engage with economic giants are driven by a desire to increase its global footprint. Incidentally, India's cumulative trade with its FTA and bilateral trade agreement partners adds up to 15 per cent of its total global trade, with ASEAN member nations such as Singapore and Malaysia, and South Korea and Japan, accounting for a bulk of this. On the other hand, its top five trade partners - US, China, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong - with whom it does not have a trade pact account for 35 per cent of its $844 billion goods trade (in FY19). India hopes to find more opportunities in markets like the US, where it already has a bigger presence, if trade pacts facilitate better market access. But for that, it needs to understand what went wrong with the earlier FTAs. Steep Tariff Cuts Biswajit Dhar, a trade expert associated with the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, says India failed to take advantage of market access offered by comprehensive economic partnership agreements (CEPA) with ASEAN, Japan and South Korea. "The absolute value of exports to the Republic of Korea and Japan fell from FY11. Exports to ASEAN rose initially but declined until FY16. Import trends from CEPA partners are in contrast with trends in exports. Imports increased for all countries; increasing nearly 130 per cent for ASEAN and 50 per cent and 60 per cent for Japan and Korea, respectively," says Dhar. "CEPA partners exploited India's markets easily. Indian exporters were unable to leverage the lower tariffs offered by the partner countries," he says. One of the major findings of studies by Dhar is that India gave up much more than what was needed. In all three cases, ASEAN, Korea and Japan, India agreed to deep cuts in tariffs. "While India's obligation under the WTO was to remove tariffs on just 2 per cent imports, the range of tariff cuts it offered was in the range of 74 per cent to 86 per cent," he says. Non-Tariff Barriers In the run-up to India's hectic talks with ASEAN and its FTA partners such as China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea for the RCEP deal, New Delhi-based PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) had identified non-tariff barriers as causing harm to India-ASEAN trade. It noted that "proliferation of non-tariff measures in the ASEAN market has contained the economic integration of Indian products in ASEAN". The measures cited included import controls, import permits, sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures, product standards and technical barriers. It cited the example of gems and jewellery, where India is competitive, saying that shipments to Thailand had to be routed through Hong Kong due to high Customs duty and complex Customs procedures. This added to costs. ASEAN markets have stringent regulations, including different marking/labeling/packaging requirements, testing/quarantine requirements, pre-shipment inspection by authorities, etc. The cost has to be borne by exporters. The PHDCCI's fear has a solid base. Take Japan, with which India has an FTA. The World Banks database, World Integrated Trade Solution, says Japan's imports have a coverage ratio of 76.18 per cent and a frequency ratio of 61.20 per cent for non-tariff measures. In other words, 76 per cent products exported to Japan face some non-tariff regulation. In comparison, India's imports have a coverage ratio of 45.52 per cent and a frequency ratio of 43.71 per cent. Services Stuck The comprehensive agreements are not only about goods trade. They have a services component too. Services is considered India's strong area but its performance here is hampered because mutual recognition agreements (MRAs), which allow qualified personnel in one region to automatically qualify for offering services in any partner country, are either absent or not implemented in spirit. The slow pace of implementation even in cases where MRAs exist further affects Indian exporters. A trade expert associated with the commerce ministry says there isn't even a proper way to understand the quantum of services trade among FTA partners. "We do not have bilateral services data. Some of these FTAs had a built-in promise for negotiating MRAs. That process has been slow and far from complete. With ASEAN, I think we have an MRA for nursing services. Similarly, with Singapore, we have MRA for some areas, but it took decades to negotiate. The government missed the opportunity to finalise MRAs while FTA negotiations were on and left it for a later date," says the person, who did not want to be named. The Way Ahead One way to make FTAs work is to negotiate the new ones in a more informed manner and re-negotiate (if possible) the existing ones. Minister Goyal says "impact assessment of FTAs is a continuous process which is undertaken both in terms of data analysis and stakeholder consultations". He also says that awareness about FTAs is spread through outreaches across the country so that we can enhance the utilisation rate of preferential exports. Further, to protect the interests of the domestic industry and agriculture, FTAs provide for maintaining lists of sensitive, negative or excluded items on which limited or no tariff concessions are granted. He also says that in case of surge in imports and injury to the domestic industry, India can take remedial measures such as imposing anti-dumping duty and safeguards. These routine safeguards may not be enough. In fact, whatever you do, FTAs may not work for India, says Ashwani Mahajan, National Co-convenor of the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM). He says a very cleverly and intelligently negotiated bilateral agreement may be a possibility but a blanket free trade agreement or a regional trade agreement can never work. "In bilateral trade discussions, we talk to each other. Take the case of the US. We can tell them we are purchasing oil or aircraft from them. We cannot bring up individual trade matters while talking to a group of countries, which means hard bargain is not possible. Thats why we favour bilateral trade deals over FTAs. The experience shows that plurilateral and multilateral agreements are not doing the country any good," says Mahajan. He says India failed to reap benefits of bilateral agreements with Korea and Japan due to bad negotiation tactics. "The problem was not with the bilateral in principle but because we didnt heed to our competitive advantage. If youre not competitive in, say, 70 items, and you still open up those items, only they gain. See what gives you competitive advantages and make deals accordingly," says Mahajan, adding that "the fact that ASEAN, Japan and Korean agreements were bad is evident from the absence of an exit clause." To governments credit, it has taken a decision to review bad FTAs. While some countries such as Singapore have agreed to a review, one cannot expect too much change, as all such decisions are based on mutual agreement. Indias plans to pursue a deal with the US and continue talks with the European Union may take a backseat in the wake of the Covid-19 threat. But talks are set to resume once matters settle down. It will be interesting to see how India can negotiate a bilateral deal with the global majors with a long list of non-negotiable items from its side. For instance, as far as the India-EU FTA talk is concerned, any discussion on dairy will be met with stiff resistance in India. Intellectual property rights will remain a thorny issue, so will agriculture. Sectors such as medical devices, stents, etc, will remain a problem in concluding talks with the US too. Talks for a comprehensive FTA that encompasses all products and services seems to be extremely difficult at the moment. A truncated, limited deal, as was talked about during the first visit of US President Donald Trump to India early this year, seems to be the only possibility. Coronavirus days are not the best time to reach out. However, once social distancing gives way to global integration, governments will begin to talk to each other. Better strategy will have to be prepared. That alone will tell if preferential trade will have a role in the post-coronavirus world and, if so, whether India can benefit from change in the global supply chain dynamics. @joecmathew Getty The Senate Judiciary Committee has now headed down a partisan rabbit hole. On Thursday, the committee will likely vote to approve issuing 53 subpoenas against various political enemies of President Trump, including top campaign aides of Trumps 2020 opponent, Joe Biden. Republicans assure us that they are not just running a political errand to dirty up Trumps Democratic rival and advance Trumps conspiracy theories. Well see. It is fair to question whether this will be a real investigation, consistent with the Judiciary Committee tradition of bipartisanship and sound oversight, or a partisan, scattershot fusillade to serve the Trump 2020 campaign. Opening indications are not good. I recently read an article from The New York Post on the June 3 Judiciary Committee hearing that stopped mea former federal prosecutorin my tracks. The passage covered Rod Rosensteins testimony before us last week on his decision to sign off on FISA warrants. Heres the part that caught my eye: The key moment came in questioning from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who asked, If you knew then what you know now, would you have signed the warrant application?, referring to a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant renewal concerning Trump campaign aide Carter Page. No, testified Rosenstein, I would not. And just like that, it became clear that the national torture of three years of the Russian collusion investigation simply should not have occurred. State Department Inspector General Michael Horowitzs report on the Russia investigation issued last December confirmed that there were false statements and material omissions in the FBI warrant applications. As a prosecutor, I would send back a warrant application I thought contained any false statements or material omissions. No supervisor at the Justice Department should sign off on a warrant application he knew contained false statements or material omissions. So this was an easy question for Rosenstein to answer. Story continues But it does not support the conclusion that the Russian collusion investigation simply should not have occurred. If the warrant application I sent back came back to me corrected, without false statements or material omissions, I might well sign it. The fact that a prosecutor would not sign a warrant application he knew to be flawed does not mean the investigation stops; it merely means that the warrant application has to be corrected. Should the investigation have continued? The investigation here was into Russian election interference, and there was in fact indisputable evidence of Russian election interference; indeed the investigation showed Trump campaign officials knew of and approved of it. The investigation here was into Trump campaign contacts with agents of Russian influence, and there were in fact such contacts; indeed, the investigation showed 120 such contacts. Precision matters. The real question is whether Rosenstein would have refused to sign a corrected application, one without the errors or omissions identified by the Inspector General. Rosenstein conspicuously did not say that. Under the factual circumstances it is unreasonable to believe he would have ended the investigation rather than corrected the warrant application. When precision matters, one ought not skim over important distinctions. Its this kind of misleading narrative creation that gives me pause about what the Judiciary Committee investigation is pursuing, and whether creating these misleading narratives is in fact its purpose. Another example: In a story on the Judiciary Committee investigation, Newsweek reported on a declassified document identifying Obama administration officials who sought to unmask Michael Flynn, later Trumps short-lived national security advisor. This has been a Republican theme: that Obama officials went after Flynn to expose him. Again, precision matters. By definition, the request to unmask a U.S. person who is referenced in an intelligence intercept is a request to identify an unknown person; the identity of the person is not disclosed in the intelligence report. Thats why you have to ask. The implication that Obama officials were targeting Michael Flynn with an unmasking request elides that fact. It is only the unmasking that would reveal it was Michael Flynn. The implication that Flynn was the target of an unmasking creates a narrative of persecution, but its a false narrative if you understand how unmasking actually works. Following the persecution narrative, committee Republicans are working hard to suggest that Flynn was being surveilled by the FBI. Again, precision matters. The Russian ambassador was the target of the surveillance. Flynn called in to the Russian ambassador and was therefore picked up on the surveillance of the Russian ambassador. Ive done wiretaps, and thats a big difference; prosecutors and agents working wiretap cases understand clearly the difference between a surveilled target and someone who calls in to the surveilled target. Lawyers on the Judiciary Committee should understand that too. A narrative is already emerging: an investigation that should have stopped dead based on warrant application errors; an investigation that targeted Michael Flynn via unmasking, and that put him under surveillance. But precision matters in a search for truth. This narrative serves the President, but not the truth. If these misleadingly imprecise slants are what the Judiciary Committee investigation is out to create, we are off to a very bad start. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. United Nations: Recognising the importance of yoga in helping people deal with increased depression and anxiety due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, India's Permanent Mission to the UN has developed a special 'Yoga Module' of exercises, breathing and meditation practices to mark this year's International Yoga Day. The 6th International Day of Yoga will be commemorated virtually this year due to Covid-19 restrictions in place and requirements of social distancing. The Permanent Mission of India to the UN will commemorate the International Day of Yoga on June 19, at a time when the global outbreak of COVID-19 has upended lives and disrupted lifestyles of people across the world, the mission said. Recognising the important role of yoga, the mission, together with yoga gurus and therapists, has created a special yoga module, 'Yoga for Health - Yoga at Home' on the occasion of the International Yoga Day. The mission said that the module is a safe set of yoga practices, based on available scientific evidence, designed for all age-groups, which can be practiced from homes. The module, which includes simple yoga exercises, breathing and meditation practices to improve physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, will be webcast on various virtual platforms on June 19. The mission noted that adapting to lifestyle changes such as work from home and lack of physical contact with friends and colleagues have been particularly challenging for people. "Studies indicate that there has been a rise in depression, anxiety, and fear than normal among people during these changing times. The increasing psychological suffering, mental health problems and the mental health dimension of this pandemic needs to be effectively addressed," the mission said in a press release. Given the increase in depression and anxiety among people in the era of coronavirus, the message of yoga in promoting physical and mental health and the well-being of humanity have never been more relevant, it added. "There is a growing trend of people all over the world embracing yoga to fight social isolation and depression during the pandemic. Yoga can also play a significant role in the psycho-social care and rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients in quarantine and isolation. They are particularly useful in allaying their fears and anxiety," it noted. The module includes a session by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev on 'Yoga for Respiratory Health' where the spiritual leader will speak about the need and importance of maintaining an inner balance during these challenging times. In a 15-minute session 'Yoga for Soothing the Heart', Yoga Guru Kishor Chandra from the Bhakti Center will lead followers through asanas and pranayama that will help balance and soothe the heart. In the session 'Basics of Yoga', Yoga Acharya Swami Sivadasananda, Director of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres in Europe, will give a glimpse of simple Asanas along with Pranayama and relaxation. A meditation session from Sahaj Yoga will be a guided meditation exercise aimed to relax the mind. India's Consulate General in New York will host a virtual session titled 'Sustainability Yoga and Social Inclusion' on June 13 to mark International Yoga Day. Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty said on Twitter the event highlights the "intrinsic link between Yoga and Sustainability". As protests over the death of George Floyd rage, the National Association of Realtors has announced that it will give implicit bias training to its members and association staff. Floyd, an African American man, died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyds death has sparked protests over police brutality and racial inequality across the globe. NAR said that it was instituting the training as part of its commitment to addressing racial injustice in America. The association has begun circulating a 50-minute implicit-bias training video to its members and staff. The video draws upon recent research to illustrate how the human brain makes instant, automatic associations between stereotypes and particular groups associations that can cause people to treat those different from them unfairly, NAR said. Scientific evidence also suggests that these implicit biases persist in spite of peoples good intentions, and often without their conscious awareness. It's as if the Earth has closed its eyes, some scientists say: the coronavirus pandemic has forced astronomers in northern Chile to shut down the world's most powerful telescopes, running the risk of missing out on supernovas and other spectacles in space. Scientists have been unable to take advantage of the pristine skies over Chile's Atacama desert since late March, when its array of world-renowned observatories were shuttered. That means humans will be oblivious to what astronomers call randomly occurring transitory phenomena, like Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) or supernovas -- lost forever to the starry wastes. "Any GRB or supernova that goes off while we're shut down, we can't really observe it. We will have missed the opportunity to observe it because it catches on so fast and then fades away, so it's these opportunities that are lost," says astronomer John Carpenter. It's also a critical time to observe Betelgeuse, the giant red star in the constellation of Orion -- the 10th brightest in the night sky -- which has suddenly dimmed, prompting speculation that it could explode, though that could take decades. "We were starting a campaign to observe and monitor it when we had to close -- so we couldn't continue," Carpenter told AFP. - Eyes on the Skies - Carpenter is chief scientist at the revolutionary Atacama Large Millimeter Array, or ALMA, an observatory whose 66 antennae combine to make it the world's most advanced radio telescope. Carpenter said his observatory's operations have been on hold since March 18. ALMA is just one of an array of observatories in Chile's arid north that comprise more than half of humanity's astronomical power. Just 400 kilometers (250 miles) away from ALMA is the Paranal Observatory and its Very Large Telescope, the world's most powerful. The coronavirus pandemic has hit Chile hard, forcing a month-long lockdown of its capital Santiago. More than 2,450 people have died from Chile's 150,000 COVID-19 cases. "There are a very small number of people who are taking care of the observatory but no observation is being carried out," said Itziar de Gregorio, head of the science office of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) which runs some of the key observatories. De Gregorio voiced a more optimistic view over the opportunities for stargazing lost to the Earthly health crisis: scientists are likely to get another chance. "These transitory phenomena are not usually unique. If they occur today, bad luck! But the next year surely many more will come by," he said. - Stalled probes - Astronomers chose the vast Atacama desert for its pristine atmosphere -- there is little rain and low humidity year-round. With telescopes shut down and antennas switched off, space watchers are instead focusing on processing the myriad data collected during long accumulated nights of observation. Specialists have "several months" of work to keep them going until the pandemic passes and the planets are opened up to them again, said Caludio Melo, ESO representative in Chile. "Of course, at any given point new observations will be needed but we cannot know yet when that will be," Melo told AFP. In some ways, the biggest losers are young scientists working to finish research on doctoral studies, "because they have more critical deadlines," said Carpenter. The long weeks of standstill mean a lag in their observation requests, he said. "It will be a significant delay. We observe approximately 4,000 hours every year at ALMA with the 12-meter antenna complex, so if the shutdown lasts six months, it is 2,000 hours of lost observation." An aerial view of the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) La Silla facility in La Higuera in Chile's Atacama Desert, on June 6, 2019 An astronomer prepares equipment ahead of a solar eclipse at the La Silla European Southern Observatory in Chile's Coquimbo region, on July 2, 2019 A supermoon -- when the moon reaches its closest position to the Earth -- rises over Santiago, on April 7, 2020 New Delhi, June 12 : The Congress on Friday launched an awareness programme on the occasion of World Day against Child Labour, expressing concern over what it said was the trivial approach of the authorities in curtailing child labour menace. Ahmed Patel, Congress Treasurer and Rajya Sabha member, tweeted: "Imagine the prowess of human capital, if the children bound by the shackles of child labour are set free and allowed to prosper as respectable human beings! And like everything else, this change begins with our surroundings." Congress national spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala also urged people not to encourage child labour. "Those tender hands at the repair shop hold the potential to change the destiny of a nation. Let us not chain them in the limitations of child labour," Surjewala said in his message on Facebook. Even former Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari asserted that governments need to do more to eradicate child labour. "The next time you stop at a dhaba and see a 'Chotu' scurrying to fetch you tea, realise that a little child is putting his childhood at stake to earn a livelihood- And needs your voice to help eradicate child labour and have a fair shot at life," Tewari tweeted. Party leadership from various states, including Punjab Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla, former Himachal Cabinet Minister Asha Kumari, Haryana Minister Harish Chaudhary, Chhattisgarh Minister T.S. Singh Deo and Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi's close aide Archana Dalmiya also expressed concern over the increasing number of child labour cases in the country. According to International Labour Organization, there are more than 1.5 crore child labourers in India in the age group of 5 to 14. Britons look set to see thunder, hail and heavy downpours in what forecasters say will be a warm and humid weekend. Friday will get off to a dry and bright start in the southeast of England, with highs of 21C in London. However, the northeast and north of England will continue to see torrential rain throughout the morning, and temperatures will struggle to get above 16C. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for the northeast, where there could be up to 2.7 inches of rain and a chance of localised flooding. Through the course of Friday, the persistent rain weve had in the north and east is still around, pushing into Northern Ireland and moving northwards, said BBC meteorologist Helen Willetts. Recommended Britain braced for 34mph wind and more rain ahead of unsettled weekend An area of low pressure hovering around the south coast of the UK will bring more rain to southwest England, parts of the Midlands and south Wales. Scotland will remain most dry and bright, with some isolated showers expected on the east coast as the day progresses. Going into Saturday, the north and north east of England will see the worst of the wet conditions. Weve got the potential for some large downfalls of rain, once again a weather front in north east and north of England through the day on Saturday, pushing north, Ms Willetts added. Thunder, lightning and hail is expected on Saturday (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The area of low pressure hanging over the south coast will begin to move north on Saturday, bringing in warm winds from the south, making things feel warm and humid. The mercury could hit 24C in the southeast of England, while Cardiff, Liverpool and Edinburgh will see temperatures north of 20C. Despite the warmer conditions, there remains a risk of heavy downpours and thundery conditions in the south as well as the north. Slow moving and persistent showers, particularly prevalent through Wales, the Midlands and later northern England, Ms Willetts explained. Those showers could really be quite nasty on Saturday, with large hail and thunder and lightning. Sunday will see another warm and muggy day with sunny spells for most, although thundery showers are likely to break out once again across the north and west, while northeastern areas look mostly cloudy. Monday looks mostly cloudy for Scotland with spells of rain. Elsewhere, it will be partly cloudy with a few showers. Another changeable day on Tuesday with a mix of cloud, sunny spells and scattered showers. Some showers may turn heavy with the risk of some thunder during the afternoon and evening. Recommended Britain faces rain and thunder before sunny spells over weekend The weather remains rather mixed Tuesday through Thursday with all parts seeing some drier and sunnier spells but with the chance of showers developing. Showers may become heavy and merge into longer spells of rain at times with a risk of thunder also, although thunder seems most likely in southern or southwestern parts of the UK. Northwestern areas should see the best of any drier and sunnier conditions. Eastern coasts look to be cooler with mist here at the start of the period. Elsewhere though temperatures should be warm or very warm at times. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday registered a case against four officials of the Punjab National Bank (PNB) as well as the employees of a private company in Odishas Bhubaneswar in an alleged case of loan fraud amounting to Rs 31.92 crore. Officials of the probe agency said a case was registered under section 120-B and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act against four PNB employees, including its former chief manager, and managing director of a company named Globaal Trading Solutions. PNB officials had entered into a conspiracy with the private firm through its directors for sanction of a loan without verifying the genuineness of the business activities of the company between 2010 and 2015, CBI said. The private company had illegally diverted funds received from PNB to its group companies and misutilised them beyond the scope of funds sanctioned. Based on a complaint filed by the current manager of PNB of the Station Square branch of Bhubaneswar, CBI interrogated the bank officials as well as those of the private company. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 16:59 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde4a93f 1 World COVID-19,Foreign-Ministry,ventilator,coronavirus,united-states,Donald-Trump,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia,Retno-Marsudi,international-cooperation Free The first batch of ventilators donated by the United States to treat COVID-19 patients will arrive in Indonesia early next month, the Foreign Ministry has confirmed. The delivery will arrive behind the initial schedule of early June. We continue to communicate [with the US] and have received information that the first shipment of 100 ventilators will arrive in early July, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said on Thursday. The US made the donation following a phone call between Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo and his US counterpart Donald Trump in April, in which the two state leaders agreed find ways to overcome shortages of medical equipment. Apart from the US, Indonesia has also received two deliveries of medical supplies from China, comprising more than 150,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits, 80,000 medical masks, 1.3 million surgical masks, 80,000 units of personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as 50 ventilators. Indonesia has also received additional support in handling the outbreak from Japan, channeled through three international organizations, namely the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UNWOMEN) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). During the pandemic, Indonesia has collaborated with 116 international partners, comprising 11 countries, 12 international organizations and 93 NGOs. The country has also facilitated international business-to-business support for 15 entities. Retno said Indonesias international engagement regarding COVID-19 remained a top priority among other peace and security issues. The minister has twice participated in a meeting with other women foreign ministers about the gender impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as the role of women in spurring the post-pandemic economic recovery. She has also emphasized the importance of fair, transparent and inclusive allocation of vaccines, especially to the most vulnerable groups, with the International Coordination Group (ICG). The country has also reached out to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to discuss concerns about increasing cyberattacks on hospitals and the rise of misinformation during the pandemic. Wang Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the China Law Society, addresses a meeting on a program featuring 100 seminars to be given by jurists in Beijing, capital of China, June 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official on Thursday called for more efforts to popularize knowledge of the law among the public. Addressing a meeting on a program featuring 100 seminars to be given by jurists, Wang Chen, director of the China Law Society, said improving publicity and education on the rule of law is of great significance for better protecting people's lawful rights and interests and creating a sound legal environment. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stressed efforts to raise awareness of legislation in key areas, such as the newly adopted Civil Code, and promote explanation of laws and policies concerning epidemic control and economic and social development. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prospect Park Capital Corp. (the Company) (TSXV:PPK), announces a proposed non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $2,250,000 through the issuance of up to 20,000,000 units (a Unit or Units) of the Company at $0.1125 per Unit (the Offering). Each Unit shall consist of (i) one (1) common share of the Company, and (ii) one-half of one (1/2) transferable common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.50 per share until the date that is twenty-four (24) months from the closing. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Company for working capital. In connection with the issue and sale of the shares pursuant to the Offering, the Company will pay registered dealers and finders (i) a cash commission equal to 8% of the aggregate gross proceeds under the Offering, and (ii) non-transferable compensation options to purchase that number of common shares as is equal to 8% of the number of Units sold under the Offering, at an exercise price of $0.1125 per share exercisable for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the closing. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period. The Offering is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange). In addition, the Company announces the resignation of Mr. Joshua Kornberg from the board of directors of the Company. The directors will work on filling the vacancy on the board with a new independent director. For more information please contact: James Greig Chief Executive Officer Prospect Park Capital Corp. Tel: (778) 788-2745 Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, including completion of the Offering and the directors ability to identify a new independent member for the board, are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information, including, receipt of subscription agreements and completion of the conditions precedent to closing, and receipt of Exchange approval of the transactions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. These factors include, without limitation: receipt of Exchange approval of the transactions; changes in law; the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities; state of the capital markets; the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations; as well as general economic, market and business conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in disclosure documents filed by the Company with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release is made as of the date of this news release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Merhawit, a 34-year-old single mother of two school-aged children is an asylum-seeker from Eritrea. Fleeing war and her violent husband and his abusive family, she came to Israel some 10 years ago, brought by smugglers through Egypt and the Sinai desert, where she was repeatedly raped. Today, she lives in downscale south Tel Aviv in a crowded apartment with two other families. Until the coronavirus lockdown, she worked as a cleaner in an office building. She was fired in mid-March and has not been called back. "I have no money, no income," she told Al-Monitor in a WhatsApp conversation. "How will we survive? What will we do if I get sick?" There are approximately 30,000 asylum-seekers in Israeli, most of whom, like Merhawit, live in the south Tel Aviv area; the majority of them come from Sudan and Eritrea. According to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, which Israel has signed, individuals fleeing persecution are entitled to request asylum from the country to which they escaped. The host country is obligated to investigate, on an individual basis, whether the person is indeed entitled to refugee status, according to specific UN-mandated criteria. Refugee status automatically confers residency rights and numerous other benefits; if the individual does not meet the criteria, he or she can be deported. According to Noa Kaufman, director of the Refugee and Asylum-Seekers Unit at Kav Laoved-The Worker's Hotline, a nongovernmental organization (NGO) promoting workers' rights throughout the world, 86% of Eritreans and 65% of Sudanese receive refugee status. Israel, however, has refused to establish a process to review these applications. To date, less than 1% has received refugee status; this is the lowest rate in the Western world. Despite criticism from the United Nations, Israel refers to the asylum-seekers as "mistaninim," a particularly derogatory word, roughly translated as infiltrators, and insists that they are economic migrants, who pose an economic, demographic and security threat. This leaves the asylum-seekers in a state of limbo. According to UN regulations, they cannot be forcibly deported back to their native countries or to a third country. At the same time, they also cannot work in Israel although the government does not enforce this and they are not entitled to health care or other benefits. And now, many of them, like Merhawit, have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and, not eligible for state aid, are at risk of losing their homes and ending up on the streets. According to media reports, Israeli officials are concerned about the possibility that the virus is spreading within asylum-seeker communities. In late May, the Health Ministry set up a temporary site for free testing for the virus in the south Tel Aviv region. Merhawit has not received the results of her test and does not know how, or if, the medical officials will contact her or what she will do if her test is positive and she is sent to a government-mandated "corona hotel," until she is well. "I can't isolate myself in our tiny apartment," she said. "If I am sent away, who will take care of my children? At least we got our 'deposit money' back, so we have had money for food until now." "Deposit money" refers to Israel's 2017 law requiring that employers garnishee 20% of an asylum-seeker's wages, to be returned only when the asylum-seeker leaves Israel. In response to a petition by Israeli human rights organizations, the High Court of Justice determined April 23 that the law violated the property rights of the asylum-seekers, who have been particularly hurt by the recent economic and social lockdown. Numerous NGOs and volunteer groups have been founded to aid the immigrants, but the asylum-seekers also encounter opposition, sometimes violent, from residents in south Tel Aviv who demand that all the mistaninim be immediately expelled. One local resident, Sheffi Paz, has formed the "South Tel Aviv Liberation Front," which holds regular demonstrations in public parks where asylum-seekers congregate and in front of the schools their children attend. Paz has been indicted twice for spray-painting threatening graffiti on buildings in Tel Aviv. In mid-May, on his first day as public security minister in the newly established government, Amir Ohana (Likud) met with Paz and other local activists, indicating that he, too, intends to continue the current harsh Israeli policies. "These people escaped persecution in their home countries, hoping to find safety in Israel. Instead, they face constant discrimination, oppression and racism," Diddy Mymin-Kahn, director of Kuchinate, a collective for African women, told Al-Monitor. According to a stinging report by the State Comptroller in 2018, Israel has never established a coherent, effective policy for dealing with the African asylum-seekers, who first began arriving in 2007, escaping the wars and unrest in their home countries. Initially, their numbers were small, and Israeli authorities largely ignored them, allowing them to work and live "under the radar." But by 2011, as many as 2,000 asylum-seekers arrived in Israel every month. To put an end to the "infiltration," Israel built a wall along its border in the Sinai desert. It was completed in 2012; since then, few if any new asylum-seekers have arrived. In an effort to persuade the asylum-seekers to leave "voluntarily," Israel passed legislation to allow imprisonment of asylum-seekers for up to three years, When the Supreme Court struck down that legislation, Israel established a so-called open detention center, but the court once again ruled that the asylum-seekers could not be held there indefinitely. In April 2018, Israel came to an agreement with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, according to which 16,250 asylum-seekers would be resettled in Western countries and an equal number would receive residency status in Israel. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition opposed allowing any asylum-seekers to stay in Israel. "I am very thankful to the many Israelis who help us, and I am very afraid of the Israelis who hate us. I didn't come here to be a burden. I have nowhere to go," Merhawit concluded. The governments move to suspend the insolvency and bankruptcy law for six months to one year has put stakeholders of the insolvency regime in a bind. Many of them - insolvency professionals (IPs), insolvency professional entities (IPEs), valuers, lawyers and others - face uncertain times. An IPE is a legal entity of IPs, who are its partners/directors. Its objective is to provide support services to IPs, who run companies under insolvency and are appointed by the Committee of Creditors. Many of these professionals/entities have invested a lot in creating infrastructure, systems and networks to deal with insolvency cases. Over the last four years - the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) came into effect in June 2016 - thousands of professionals, including chartered accountants (CAs), company secretaries, lawyers and other professionals, have launched exclusive insolvency law-related practices. Many accountancy, company secretary and law firms have also created wings to deal with insolvency matters. In fact, India has 3,009 registered IPs, around 69 IPEs, 3,030 registered valuers and 29 valuer entities. Besides, there is an Information Utility, which collects financial information about a corporate entity and gets it authenticated by various sources, and a host of lawyers, auditors and other professionals directly or indirectly linked to the IBC. This entire ecosystem is staring at a disruption in case the insolvency law is suspended for a year. The Fineprint The government has announced suspension of Section 7, Section 9 and Section 10 of the IBC as part of measures to help businesses fight the impact of the lockdown. This effectively means no new cases will be initiated under IBC for a year from the date of notification of the change. Section 7 allows financial creditors such as banks, and Section 9 allows operational creditors, including vendors, suppliers and employees, to initiate insolvency proceedings against corporate loan defaulters. Section 10 allows promoters to initiate insolvency proceedings against their own firms. Apart from suspension of the IBC, the government also announced a couple of more relief measures for businesses. These include raising the minimum threshold to initiate insolvency proceedings from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1 crore, largely to insulate micro, small and medium industries (MSMEs) from the process, a special insolvency resolution framework for MSMEs and exclusion of Covid-related debt from definition of default. While legal experts and insolvency professionals say there are contradictions in these announcements - for example, if the IBC is suspended for a year, what is the need for increasing the threshold for insolvency proceedings? - they admit these exemptions will help businesses in general, even if they cause temporary distress among insolvency and bankruptcy professionals. "I am certainly one among the 3,000 people who will be left high and dry, but then, 3,000 is not a large enough number compared to lakhs of jobs involved in companies that may get protection from insolvency. There will be some collateral damage," says Sanjeev Ahuja, Founding Director, Ensemble Resolution Professionals - an IPE. But then, not everyone is equally optimistic. There are concerns about drying up of revenue streams and breaking up of professional networks and associations. Indrajit Mukherjee, a Mumbai-based insolvency professional and a lawyer, says even if the suspension comes into effect immediately, it will be six-seven months before cases dry up and the lean phase sets in. "Even if the ordinance comes and no new fresh (insolvency) cases are allowed, by the time the backlog (of pending cases) is cleared, six to seven months will lapse. So, the effect of the suspension will be felt only later," he says. The backlog can happen in two scenarios - First, due to ongoing insolvency cases, and second, because of thousands of applications filed before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), the adjudicating authority. According to data compiled by different branches of NCLTs - there are 15 such branches across the country - over 2,000 ongoing insolvency cases are being heard by different benches, and thousands of applications for initiating insolvency proceedings are awaiting nod. It typically takes the NCLT six months to one year to admit a case. This huge pendency will ensure no immediate impact on workflow for professionals associated with insolvency practices, says Mukherjee, but there will be a decline in number of cases not just due to the suspension but also because of increase in threshold for initiating the proceedings from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1 crore. "There are many cases in the range of Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. There are many IPs who handle such cases. These cases will go out of the system for the moment," he adds. Breaking the Chain This one-year hiatus will break many networks and associations. Professionals from different backgrounds - CAs, company secretaries and lawyers - have cleared exams to become IPs. Also, many lawyers and CAs, who are not IPs but provide legal and audit services associated with insolvency proceedings, will see weakening of their networks. Many may have to go back to their old practices to survive the lean period. The relationship between IPs, CAs and lawyers will be halted, says Sonam Chandwani, Managing Partner, KS Legal, a law firm. In a standard IBC case, which is not very complex and does not involve a very large firm, an IP takes help of five to seven other professionals -auditors, valuers and lawyers. Similarly, a lawyer working on a particular case may seek help from other professionals. Chandwani says when her firm works on a particular case, it also hires a CA or an IP. "Now, we won't be able to give them any work. Not that they are on our payrolls, but their income depends on work assigned to them. For example, if I have to do a forensic audit, I have to approach a CA or a company secretary. That is how it works in our industry," says Chandwani. IPEs, law firms and audit firms have all built infrastructure and manpower around bankruptcy resolution. For example, many law firms have hired a lot of in-house IPs, people have given IP exams, and many have resigned from their previous work to become IPs. All those investments and efforts will go waste for a year or so. Some people may even lose jobs. Says Chandwani: "Our revenues will be affected as we get a number of recovery suits. The IBC is used by many operational creditors as a recovery tool. Now, with its suspension, creditors will have to go through civil suits, which will take a lot of time." Disruption of Ecosystem So, even if temporarily, many professionals engaged in insolvency-related work may have to seek alternative sources of revenue to withstand a likely lean business phase. This will break the chain, and rebuilding could take time. "As professionals, we have alternatives. Our job is to advise companies on restructuring, mergers and acquisitions (M&As), buying and selling. Whether the IBC is there or not, you cannot stop M&As, you cannot stop buying and selling. These things will continue. As professionals, we have a number of roles to play," says Sutanu Sinha, IP, and Partner, Business Restructuring Practice, BDO Restructuring Advisory. Insolvency professionals are mostly CAs, cost accountants, company secretaries and lawyers, and many have other practices running in parallel. But, as Mukherjee puts it, most of those who work on insolvency practices focus only on this area. So, going back to old practices from their current jobs may not be that easy. Though the proposed suspension and other changes in the insolvency law were announced to provide relief to businesses unsettled by the lockdown, they could well end up unsettling the entire ecosystem built around the IBC. @dipak_journo Click here to read the full article. Update: Some Adidas Minority Employees Show Support for CHRO, 9 p.m. ET FN has learned that some members of the coalition and the 200-plus employees it represents are not calling for the resignation of Karen Parkin. Whats more, some of these employees and coalition members are working with Parkin on a diversity and inclusion global initiative for the brand. This story is developing. More from Footwear News What We Reported Earlier, 1:30 p.m. ET A 13-member coalition and the more than 200 Adidas employees it represents are calling for the resignation of Karen Parkin, the brands chief human resources officer and member of its executive board, FN has learned. The outcry stems from comments Parkin made last year at a company meeting in Boston at Adidas-owned-brand Reebok in response to a question regarding reports that Adidas was facing significant challenges in how it treated minority employees. Parkin, sources told FN, described concerns over racial disparities as noise and further suggested the company did not need to take action as the criticisms were only present in its North America offices for Adidas. In an internal memo sent to Adidas staffers today Parkin, whose been CHRO since November 2014, expressed regret for her commentary adding that she should have chosen a better word in describing how the company viewed issues of race. The development comes after weeks of diversity and inclusion challenges at the Germany-based companys offices in Portland, Ore. Roughly two years of turmoil came to a head for Adidas last week when two groups the 200-plus collective supported by the coalition, and another, led by Julia Bond, assistant designer for Adidas Originals apparel engaged in days of protests demanding change in how the brand treats it black staffers. Story continues Early this month, 13 black employees at Adidas united to form the coalition with the explicit goal of yielding swift and permanent change in how the company supports its black team members and community at-large with an added emphasis on pushing the brands top management in Germany to drive the organizational reset. On June 2, the group then representing about 100 employees delivered to Adidas North America management, including president Zion Armstrong, a 32-page deck, dubbed Our State of Emergency. In addition to claims that management doesnt grasp the discrimination minorities might face and that the difference in perception is largest in Germany, the document had listed four major asks. The coalition had demanded the company invest in its black employees; the black community; the fight for racial justice and change for black people and demonstrate accountability. As top execs mulled the demands, hundreds of minority staffers had agreed among themselves to a sit-out, in which they would all turn on their out of office emails until they had received the details of a go-forward strategy from management. Meanwhile, other employees, organized by Bond had started gathering at the companys HQ daily to protest purported discrepancies between the brands public messaging around racial justice and its own treatment of minority employees. Bond and her supporters had also asked management for an apology regarding the companys treatment of black team members. On Wednesday, Adidas leaders held a meeting in which they laid out several major steps the company planned to take immediately to address pass wrongs and create a better culture inclusive of black employees. First, we need to give credit where its long overdue: The success of Adidas would be nothing without Black athletes, Black artists, Black employees, and Black consumers. Period, the brand wrote in chain of tweets, which included a photo with the words Black Lives Matter. Its time to own up to our silence: Black Lives Matter. Here is how we are committing to change across People, Communities, and Accountability. The company has committed to, among other things, increasing to $120 million its investment in programs that support black communities over the next four years. It also promises that 30% of all open internal and external positions will be filled with black and Latinx talent while 50% of all open positions will be filled with diverse talent. Adidas further pledged to enforce a zero tolerance policy on racial discrimination, noting If there is evidence of retaliation offenders will be terminated. To ensure fairness and safety we are putting in place a 3rd party investigator to govern our policy and keep us accountable. It concluded, This is our commitment to the Black community, and the world. We can change, and we will. This is just the start. Neither Reebok or Adidas immediately responded to FNs request for comment. Honda Selects Producer Of Evolved Version Of The Auto Channel As Provider Of Dealer's Digital Marketing Platform. Publisher Note; Congratulations on your "inspired by the original" big investment dealer product, we think your version of The Auto Channel's first-to-be-used digital tools are really spectacular because you have updated vehicle shopper tools that The Auto Channel invented, created and published during the past 26 years, SEE Single Brand Buyers Guides. Except for dealer data inclusion, multi-platform data transfer, integrated technologies and site design it's rewarding for our team of conceptualizers, inventors, coders and artists to see an evolved and technologically modernized version of what they invented and made work with limited technology 20 years later...hmmm Cars.com has been copying us for over 20 years boy they have good taste. NAPERVILLE, Ill. June 11, 2020 --(DI), a Cars.com Inc. company that provides disruptive technology and digital marketing solutions to the automotive industry, announced today a new OEM agreement with. DI has been selected as a website and technology platform provider for Honda's 997 U.S.-based dealerships. The company is already an approved digital advertising provider for Honda and works with approximately 220 Honda dealers across the country. "We are excited to expand our relationship with Honda dealers and offer a fully connected and customizable website platform that seamlessly integrates with our digital advertising program and technology solutions for utmost efficiency," said Joe Chura, CEO and co-founder of Dealer Inspire. "We believe we can help Honda dealers meet the needs of today's digital shoppers and better compete in the rapidly shifting automotive market." A seven-time AWA Pinnacle Platform Winner, Dealer Inspire's advanced website platform is the core of its connected ecosystem of solutions that make automotive retail faster, easier, and smarter from search to signature. Built on a customizable platform and designed with user behavior data, DI websites are set apart by advanced technologies that drive modern consumers toward purchase decisions. DI customers receive additional benefits as part of Cars.com Inc., which includes Cars.com, Dealer Inspire and DealerRater. The company leverages integrated technologies across brands to drive Cars.com's 25 million in-market monthly car shoppers to dealers' digital and physical storefronts. Honda dealers who partner with DI also gain access to: Advanced Website Platform : DI's website platform is flexible, fast, and built to convert. It adapts to each individual shopper with personalization and geofencing technology, and features Lightning Inventory to instantly guide them to the right vehicle for their needs. Seamlessly integrated to the rest of DI's products, the website platform is the customizable core of any dealer's business. DI's website platform is flexible, fast, and built to convert. It adapts to each individual shopper with personalization and geofencing technology, and features Lightning Inventory to instantly guide them to the right vehicle for their needs. Seamlessly integrated to the rest of DI's products, the website platform is the customizable core of any dealer's business. 24/7 Omnichannel Messaging : Conversations is the advanced messaging platform built to connect today's car shoppers with dealerships wherever, whenever, and however they want to shop. Featuring live video and SMS texting capabilities to keep shoppers connected offline, Conversations is deeply integrated with the dealer's website in unprecedented ways, replacing static lead forms by instantly answering questions and making connections. Conversations is the advanced messaging platform built to connect today's car shoppers with dealerships wherever, whenever, and however they want to shop. Featuring live video and SMS texting capabilities to keep shoppers connected offline, Conversations is deeply integrated with the dealer's website in unprecedented ways, replacing static lead forms by instantly answering questions and making connections. Connected Marketing : DI also offers a full suite of connected digital marketing services to drive new customers to the platform, including Fuel In-Market Video , Search Engine Marketing, Email Marketing, Social Advertising and Creative Services. By deploying the company's fully connected strategy, dealers can guide customers through each touchpoint in the car shopping journey. DI also offers a full suite of connected digital marketing services to drive new customers to the platform, including , Search Engine Marketing, Email Marketing, Social Advertising and Creative Services. By deploying the company's fully connected strategy, dealers can guide customers through each touchpoint in the car shopping journey. Proprietary Reporting Platform : Every DI website also comes with PRIZM, an advanced reporting platform at no additional cost, giving dealers ROI summaries, metric deep dives, group-level reporting, and proactive alerts for website analytics, marketing and product performance, and even open support requests all from one beautiful dashboard. Every DI website also comes with PRIZM, an advanced reporting platform at no additional cost, giving dealers ROI summaries, metric deep dives, group-level reporting, and proactive alerts for website analytics, marketing and product performance, and even open support requests all from one beautiful dashboard. Superior Customer Support: Dealer Inspire supports a best-in-class dealer-to-employee ratio to ensure industry-leading service, achieving an average dealer satisfaction score of 9.5 out of 10. A dedicated team of performance managers partner with dealers to continually increase results through marketing strategy, execution, and transparent reporting. For more information about DI's offerings for Honda and other dealers, please visit www.dealerinspire.com/honda . Honda dealers interested in partnering with DI can call (877) 899-8346 or email sales@dealerinspire.com . Dealer Inspire Dealer Surveys, Based on 2,800 dealer respondents. Avg. quality satisfaction 9.58; Avg. NPS: 9.55, January-August 2019 ABOUT DEALER INSPIRE Founded in 2011, Dealer Inspire (DI), a Cars.com Inc. company is an award-winning website, technology, and digital marketing provider for progressive dealer partners across the United States and Canada. The company builds technology that helps future-proof dealerships for changing consumer behaviors and makes the car buying process faster and easier. With a team that has more than doubled in growth each year to serve 25 global brands, DI maintains its reputation for customer support with a standard of 15-minute response and 24-hour solution times. Co-founder's Note: Below is just one of the plagiarized concepts that was stolen by Cars.com from The Auto Channel Any Attorney's Out There Wanna Help Us? Prospect Park(The Auto Channel 2001 Dealer Digital Sales Proposal) Making E-Mail Auto Sales As Easy As A Walk In The Park Increase Sales With E-Up and E-Vive Web-based Dealer to Prospect (D2P) e-Mail Sales System for Franchised Dealers. Provides the Internet sales department with online tools to increase close ratios, increase grosses and revive stale leads. Salesperson Process 1. Choose a prospect and their e-mail address from your dealerships database of prospects 2. Go to the E-Up and E-Vive sections of your dealership web site 3. Determine what you will try to sell them and why 4. Choose the appropriate D2P E-Mail Template 5. Customize your Interactive D2P E-Mail: Type in your message Click and Drag to add: -Rebates and Special Financing -Pictures -Specs -Video -Competitive Compar-A-Graph -Reviews -Safety Info -Gas Mileage -Other sales points 6. Send custom composed E-Mail 7. Look at the Real-Time ScoreCard -You will see if prospect has read your E-mail - You will see what information the prospect looked at, for how long and in what order. - Determine the prospects HOT BUTTONS 8. Now you can intelligently formulate an effective Sales Pitch that is targeted to the prospects actual interests. 9. Next, telephone the prospect and use your newly gained knowledge to close the deal. Prospect Park is a division of Auto Channel, Inc 624 West Main Street Louisville KY 40202 Phone 502 584 4100 Fax 502 568 2501 E-Mail prospectpark@theautochannel.com Copyright 2001 All Right Reserved Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo state, says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) never recovered N7.9 billion f... Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo state, says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) never recovered N7.9 billion from him. Okorocha was reacting to a statement credited to Imam Usman, zonal head of the EFCC Port Harcourt office, on Thursday, that the commission has returned N2.7 billion out of the N7.9 billion allegedly recovered from the former governor to the state government. In a statement on Friday, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorochas spokesperson, said the EFCC was misinformed to peddle falsehood against the former governor. He asked the anti-graft agency to publish details and owners of the accounts where the money said to have been recovered from him was domiciled. The EFCC as a commission or Mr Usman Imam as a person and Head of Enugu zone then, and today, that of Port Harcourt Zone, of the commission, never recovered N7.9 billion or any other amount of money, from Rochas Okorocha, Onwuemeodo said. With this denial, we therefore challenge EFCC or Mr. Imam as the one who made the claim, to prove us wrong by publishing details of the bank accounts the money was found and the owners of the accounts. We hold the EFCC and its personnel in a very high esteem. And we expect the commission or Mr. Imam to take our denial very serious, because Nigerians of goodwill would like to know who is saying the truth or who is lying. Where the commission finds out that it had misinformed the public and had also blackmailed the former Imo governor, perhaps unconsciously, we expect the commission or Mr. Imam to do the needful, which is to retract the media statement and then tell Nigerians the correct story. The N7.9 billion in question must be in bank accounts. Let the EFCC publish the accounts details without delay. Mr Imam talked about properties owned by Okorocha which the commission had marked. It is also important that Mr. Imam publish those properties because the properties marked had been acquired by Okorocha about twenty years ago. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 22:04:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MAPUTO, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The transport sector in Mozambique registered an estimated loss of 7.6 billion meticais (about 109 million U.S. dollars) in the last three months due to the impact of COVID-19, according to a report by the country's largest newspaper Jornal Noticias on Friday. The loss were due to the closure of land borders for passengers and limitation imposed on the internal movement of people, which forced many transport operators to suspend their activities thus reduced the transport capacity, vice president of transport at the Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA), Faruque Assubuje, told the paper. Assubuje mentioned that Beira Corridor's volume of business in May was down by around 50 percent year on year. About 1,200 jobs in the transport sector were also said to have been suspended. Enditem Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday ordered a probe to ascertain the causes for the fire at an oil well in Tinsukia district. The probe will be conducted by Additional Chief Secretary Maninder Singh, who was given 15 days to submit a report. The blaze has claimed the lives of Durlav Gogoi and Tikheswar Gohain, both firefighters of Oil India Limited (OIL). The blowout or uncontrolled emission of natural gas that led to the inferno, had occurred on May 27. Congress leaders after meeting Governor regarding the fire | PTI On Thursday, the OIL said the fire was contained to the well. No flash fire was reported from nearby areas. In order to arrest any untoward incidents of flash fire, fire tenders have been kept ready at the site. Preparation of a roadmap for oil well control by an expert team from Singapore along with an ONGC team was under way, it said. Meanwhile, the blowout and resultant fire caused an uncertainty on the OILs plans to drill for hydrocarbon deposits at seven locations in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts. In May, the OIL had announced it received environmental clearance for drilling and testing. The proposed operations include horizontal drilling at a depth of 3.5 km under the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, to be done from a point beyond its boundary. Actually, most of the cantons the schools a free Hand in the choice of Apps and programs that you want to work with. Nevertheless above all a manufacturer has conquered the educational landscape and this is the US company Microsoft. By the student to the University Professor estimated that every second Person in education, Microsoft uses team. Why there is no strong domestic competition? "Swiss solutions are very desirable, but difficult, in addition to the comprehensive comfort solutions, great providers," writes Erwin Sommer, Director of education and cultural Affairs of the Canton of Berne, at the request of a VIEW. These difficulties Escola know. The SME from Zurich with twelve employees and provides a complete solution for schools that is built up in modules. Escola-founder Hannes Bartschi (43) even speaks of "monopoly" and "market distortion". The Problem for the manufacturer: figures in Many cantons, such as Aargau, St. Gallen and Lucerne are your schools Software for students management, and weekly planning. About the certificates to be printed and the cantons of education statistics. "The schools don't want to pay, of course, a new piece of Software out of your own pocket," said Bartschi. Microsoft is with free offered the big profiteer profiteer this Situation, Microsoft is. For schools that already have a Canton-funded management software, need a Supplement for the E-Schooling with document processing or Chats. The Microsoft Teams, is that schools are still free, and therefore, of course, is used offers. In other cantons, such as Zurich or Bern have Alternatives, better chances, because that is where the schools can really choose anything free. "We sincerely hope that the cantons will reconsider after the crisis, these monopoly and market distortion," says the owner of Escola. Swiss solutions would actually be harder, is it also in the schools. "They are simply more expensive and cannot compete with the advertising of international companies," says Daniel Jud, the management of the school ZH'm in Adliswil. But privacy and high security would be weighted standards at least equal to the cost. "The Department of education has not made a conscious decision for other solutions to be of large international companies," says Daniel Jud. With Escola you do for ten years now, a very good experience. A single platform for the entire digital school The primary school Schwerzenbach ZH has Escola, it is only since the beginning of the year. "In this short but intense time I've become a big Fan of School," says computer science coordinator Philipp Marti. He especially appreciates the Central database and the large range of functions. "Individual documents can, for example, will now be released specifically a student, a whole class or the whole school." The Sekundarschule Dielsdorf ZH is only switched in February to Escola and has thus replaced a special program as a notes and certificate management. "It was important for us that the school operating with a single platform," says headmaster Anton Kleiber. He also praises the platform, such as the quick and easy communication between teachers, students and parents by means of E-Mail, SMS, Chat, video conferencing, or Pinboards. "This is now the Corona-crisis especially valuable." 45'000 students of 120 schools are working with Escola "Our Software is designed for 13 years, together with the schools," says Escola-founder Hannes Bartschi. There on the platform as well as pupils and parents have access to, could react, the company is also in the Corona-crisis quickly. Schools that have previously used only a part of the Software could be changed within days to distance education. "We had a day on the other four Times more traffic. We had to drive more than once our server capacity, to expand, and new servers to buy," says Bartschi. Escola began as a digital education Manager. Meanwhile, 120 schools working with a total of 45'000 students with Escola. "We cover all areas of the Swiss school, everyday digital," says Hannes Bartschi. The schools can use a portion of the modules or all together from the absence management Online Tests to the Messenger. a Lot of value to the SME from Zurich puts on "Swissness". The Software is developed in Switzerland, all data is stored on Swiss servers, and also the new chat is being hosted on the Basis of Open Source. Updated Date: 12 June 2020, 18:48 A Chinese scientific researcher suspected of espionage was arrested in Los Angeles this week as he attempted to leave the United States, officials said Thursday. Xin Wang was taken into custody on June 7 as he prepared to board a flight to China, the US Attorneys Office in San Francisco and the local FBI office said in a joint statement. Authorities said Wang entered the US in March 2019 posing as a medical researcher seeking to do scientific research at the University of California, San Francisco. But officials said that in reality he admitted when questioned by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents at the airport that he was an officer in the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army, and was employed by a military university lab. Wang, according to court documents, told CBP agents that he had been instructed by his superiors in China to observe the layout of the UCSF lab and bring back information on how to replicate it in China. CBP received information that Wang had studies from UCSF with him which he was taking to share with his PLA colleagues, and he had sent research to his lab in China via email, officials said in their statement. Wang similarly told his supervising UCSF professor that he had duplicated some of the work of that professor at the lab in China, they added. Some of the work of the UCSF lab was funded by grants from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, federal officials said. Wang, they added, also wiped his personal phone of WeChat messaging content before arriving at the airport for his flight back home. He has been charged with visa fraud and faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. His arrest comes as relations between Washington and Beijing have soured in recent months over the Covid-19 pandemic and trade issues. China denied claims Friday that the man was involved in espionage. (The US) says that Wang Xin is a PLA officer, but (...) I understand he is a researcher in cardiovascular diseases, so I dont see that he has jeopardized the national interest or security of the US, said foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a regular press briefing. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When Melania Trump stayed behind in New York after her husband's presidential inauguration, she said it was because she didn't want to interrupt their then-10-year-old son Barron's school year. News stories at the time concentrated on an apparent frostiness between the first couple and the exorbitant taxpayer costs to protect Melania and Barron away from Washington. Those stories are true, but Washington Post reporter Mary Jordan reveals in a new book that the first lady was also using her delayed arrival to the White House as leverage for renegotiating her prenuptial agreement with President Donald Trump. The campaign had been full of harsh news about Trump's alleged sexual indiscretions and infidelities, from the "grab them by the p---y" Access Hollywood tape to an affair with Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal; Melania learned new details from the media coverage, Jordan writes. The incoming first lady needed time to cool off, and "to amend her financial arrangement with Trump - what Melania referred to as 'taking care of Barron,' " Jordan writes in "The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump." Melania's original prenup had not been incredibly generous, Jordan reports. But she has been married to Trump longer than both his ex-wives and had bargaining power: Her perceived calming effect on him was so great that Trump's pals and at least one of Trump's adult children exhorted her to come to the White House as soon as possible. The 286-page book, which plays off the title of Trump's well-known business guide, is a deeply reported look at the rise of the country's only immigrant first lady since Louisa Adams. For her book, Jordan conducted more than a hundred interviews, with everyone from Melania's Slovenian schoolmates to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and lays out an argument that Melania Trump is as devoted to her own mythmaking as her husband. "Both are avid creators of their own history," Jordan writes, arguing that the #FreeMelania hashtag ought to be retired because of her consistent support of her husband and her moves to stay in the White House. "She is ... much more like him than it appears," Jordan adds. Jordan, a longtime Post reporter who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2003, secured a rare one-on-one interview with Melania while covering the 2016 campaign. The Post received a copy of her book ahead of its June 16 release date. The reporting goes back to Melania's childhood in a small town in Slovenia, then part of Communist Yugoslavia, where her mother was a patternmaker in a children's clothing factory and her father, who joined the Communist Party at one point, was a chauffeur and repaired cars. Melania was walking runways by age 7, modeling clothes her mother made, and sat for a photo shoot at 16. The mythmaking, Jordan writes, began early, when she would fail to correct reporters who cited her age incorrectly, always younger than she was. Despite saying she wouldn't get plastic surgery, three photographers who worked with her said they've seen the scars. She attended a highly competitive architecture program at the University of Ljubljana, but did not graduate, though she claimed in sworn testimony to have a bachelor's degree. There's also little evidence to suggest her claims of being able to speak four or five languages fluently are true. "Photographers and others who have worked with her over the years - including native speakers of Italian, French, and German - told me that they never heard her use more than a few words of those languages," Jordan writes. Reporting in the book suggests she only speaks English and Slovene fluently. Meeting Trump accelerated that mythmaking, as he introduced her around the city as a "supermodel" when that was not true. Jordan found little evidence even of the story of how they met - he saw her at a club during Fashion Week in 1998 with a more famous model, but was fixated on Melania, who refused to give him her phone number. Multiple sources, including a German modeling agent she was working for that year, told Jordan that they had heard Melania was already dating Trump before the timeline they laid out. The ease of Melania's mythmaking has been aided, Jordan posits, by a pattern in her life of making clean breaks with her past. Old friends from Slovenia said they'd never heard from her again. Once-close friends from her New York City years say the same thing happened to them. She "would seize an opportunity and put great effort into it. Then she would move on and never look back," Jordan writes. As much as she and Trump seem like complete opposites, Jordan writes, "They are both fighters and survivors and prize loyalty over almost all else. ... Neither the very public Trump nor the very private Melania has many close friends. Their loner instincts filter into their own marriage." That includes the separate bedrooms both at the White House and whenever they travel, or how they'll often be in the same building but not the same room. They also seem to love each other, according to people who witnessed their early courtship, and others who have seen their relationship in the White House go from frosty to warm again. What emerges is a picture of personal ambition similar to Trump's. In 1999, when he ran for president on the Reform Party ticket, she gave interviews musing about becoming the next Jackie O. Later, she echoed Trump's calls for then-president Barack Obama to produce his birth certificate, an alignment with the "birther" attacks primarily driven by Trump. "There is ample evidence that from the very beginning," Jordan writes, "Melania not only accepted and embraced Trump's political aspirations but was also an encouraging partner." According to Roger Stone, the Trump mentor who is set to go to prison for 40 months on convictions ranging from witness tampering to lying to investigators with the Mueller Report, Melania always encouraged Trump to run for president. "She's the one who ultimately said: 'You know, Donald, stop talking about running for president and do it. ... And if you run, you're going to win,' " Stone told Jordan. On the campaign and in the White House, Melania has been Trump's sounding board. Christie said Melania was always Trump's first phone call when he got on a plane after a rally he knew had been televised. He'd ask what she thought, and, said Chris Christie, "She always had commentary to give him, and I think that tells a lot about what he thinks of her." She was a key reason Trump chose Mike Pence as his running mate, after Trump arranged a weekend for Melania to get to know him and his wife, Karen. She argued Pence would be a better choice than Christie or Newt Gingrich. "She believed that he would be content in a No. 2 spot and not gun for the top job," Jordan writes, "which was something she could not say about the other two." Her influence showed when she issued a rare statement of condemnation about deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel, which resulted in the adviser's termination. Had the coronavirus not forced their cancellation, she would have done her first solo fundraisers for the 2020 campaign in March. "She has told people she wants to win re-election," Jordan writes. Many of her moves of late point in that direction, from placing the Medal of Freedom around talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh's neck to clapping along as Trump called the FBI "scum" in his speech after his acquittal from impeachment charges. Observers in the White House had noticed an uptick in her mood by mid-2018 that might account for her being so willing to fight for a second term. According to three people close to Trump, Jordan writes, Melania had finally renegotiated the prenup to her liking. She'd already been looking out for Barron's future by making sure he had dual citizenship in Slovenia, which will position him to work in Europe for the Trump Organization when he comes of age. Now, she'd made sure he wasn't shut out of the family business. Jordan writes: "She wanted proof in writing that when it came to financial opportunities and inheritance, Barron would be treated as more of an equal to Trump's oldest three children." On June 7, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal dropped a bomb he proclaimed that the city-states hospitals would be accessible only to residents. In typical bureaucratic fashion a list of documents that would constitute proof of bona fide residence was also released. Apart from the moral depravity of preventing hospitals from providing medical assistance to sick persons, the move (thankfully overturned by the Lieutenant Governor on June 8) left residents scurrying for documentation to prove their residence. What about the many migrants take for instance, hostel dwellers, or recent entrants to the city who might not have any of these documents, and would have been completely shut out from access to healthcare, a fundamental right, in the midst of a pandemic? Ill-thought laws are far more pervasive than we imagine. Recently, the Union government passed an ordinance suspending the initiation of bankruptcy proceedings for a six-month period starting March 25 a very practical solution. However, it added a proviso which effectively said that no bankruptcy proceedings shall ever be started for defaults that accrued during the period of suspension. In practice, what does this do? For starts, debtors will be incentivised to default on their debts before the expiry of the period without the dagger of insolvency proceedings hanging over them. With such a huge question mark over recovery, will creditors be willing to advance money? If credit isnt easily available, what happens to economic recovery? Do remember that the creditors are also possible debtors in other transactions, and defaults could take on a domino effect. Or take the restriction on movement of non-essential goods during the early weeks of the nation-wide lockdown. As a newspapers editorial pointed out, sugar might be an essential commodity, but to manufacture and sell sugar, a mill needs not only cane, but also sulphur, lime and packing material apparently non-essential. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show So why do politicians and bureaucrats seem to be swearing by what lawyer Srishti Agnihotri calls the five-second rule of COVID responses? The answer, while simple, also shines a light on the deeply entrenched deficiencies in the way we draft laws. First, law-making has become a knee-jerk response to an immediate problem. However, it fails to consider the medium to longer-term consequences of these actions. Take the ordinance to suspend labour laws that served to protect workers by Uttar Pradesh and some other states. Do they not realise that the protections for labourers (rarely complied with fully) was not what prevented industries from setting shop in these states, but the harassment by local politicians and inspectors? Do they not see that the scrapping of laws could lead to the perilous descent into bonded labour, especially at a time when there is large scale migration back from urban India? At other times, our regulations are simply a reflection of bureaucratic tendency to assign blame. When Mumbai arranged for migrants to take Shramik trains, one of the requirements was a fitness certificate from a local doctor. Now, with doctors unable to test for Coronavirus before issuing the certificate, the certificate was probably worth nothing. However, several reports emerged of doctors issuing such certificates for a price classic rent-seeking that our bureaucracy facilitates without any real benefit to the country or the citizen. However, it lets the government wash its hands off the problem. You could say the same about the Aarogya Setu app, which clearly isnt serving any worthwhile purpose in checking the spread of the virus. What the government seems to be driven by is not whether its measures are effective, but by keeping up an appearance of doing all it can. Then there is the question of consequences. Just take the number of clarifications, explanations and amendments that have had to be issued after several of the governments big economic moves Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, Goods and Services Tax, Demonetisation, as well as the annual budgets. No bureaucrat or politician suffers consequences (electorally or otherwise) of decisions that lead to widespread hardships. The courts seem reluctant to even question the government for the humanitarian crisis inflicted upon migrants a crisis that could have been avoided with better planning. The Delhi government had two months to ramp up its hospital capacity. It dithered, and now, while the number of cases swell, the best the government can do is blame its neighbours. Prof. Fred McBagonluri, President of Academic City University College 12.06.2020 LISTEN Accra, June 12, 2020 - Academic City University College, a premium Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics tertiary institution has announced the introduction of a degree programme in BSc. Industrial and Systems Engineering, the first of its kind in Ghana. This innovative and demand-driven programme has successfully received the necessary approval from the National Accreditation Board and scheduled to commence in September 2020. The programme aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of the use of modern manufacturing systems and technologies, optimisations of complex systems, processes and organizations to gain production efficiencies, product quality and global leadership. As the African continent gears toward industrializations for economic development, it has become necessary to make industrial and system engineering an integral part of the industrialization drive. Industrial and Systems engineers are crucial in this phase of the development of the continent in order to provide an integrated and dynamic system perspective to challenges faced by businesses in the automobile manufacturing, healthcare, finance, education among others. It is in this endeavour that Academic City has launched its Industrial and Systems Engineering programme to nurture and equip the young generation with a broad-based engineering foundation, systems thinking perspective and strong data analysis skills to design, construct, optimize and administer efficient and complex modern production systems. Speaking about the new programme, Prof. Fred McBagonluri, President of Academic City expressed delight at the commencement of this new programme which he described as a key milestone in the history of the countrys tertiary education and follow up from the 2019 Peduase Declaration. According to a report by US Bureau of Labour Statistics, global employment of industrial and systems engineers is expected to grow steadily over the next decade, faster than the average for all occupations. As the world seeks engineers with analytical skills and strong systems perspective, Academic City is committed to nurturing students to become 21st engineering experts who can improve productivity and efficiency as well as improving existing systems and building dynamic modern systems for the continent, Prof. McBagonluri said. Industrial and Systems Engineering is concerned with the design, improvement and installation of integrated systems of people, materials, information, equipment and energy. It draws upon specialized knowledge and skill in the mathematical, physical, and social sciences together with the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design, to specify, predict, and evaluate the results to be obtained from such systems. As a forward-thinking educational institution, Academic City is on the verge of becoming the first university in Ghana to offer degrees in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Biomedical. According to Prof. McBagonluri, We have submitted all the necessary documentations to University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa which is our affiliate for review. Hopefully, we will get the approval from the National Accreditation Board on time to commence as soon as possible. At Academic City, innovation and entrepreneurial thinking are deemed core to a students foundational learning and development, and hence are designed into its programmes to create leaders of thought and initiators of ideas. It has one of the best equipped STEM workshops in Ghana and is on track to open its second engineering workshop in September. Both workshops are furnished with the real state of the art industry machinery and equipment to offer students a first-hand, practical experience of how these machines operate. www.acity.edu.gh The universitys fully digitized state-of-the-art campus is situated at Haatso, a suburb of Accra Ghana. It has a diverse academic community of students, faculty as well as staff from across the world. The ultra-modern campus offers small class sizes in an environment that emphasizes one-on-one attention. Indias package as big as Pak GDP: Modi govt counters Imran Khans offer Pakistan PM Imran Khan cited a news report highlighting plight of the poor in India. Khan offered to share Pak's 'successful cash transfer' scheme with India. Khan said that they have successfully transferred Rs 120 billion in 9 weeks to 10 million families. India hit out at Khan over his offer of 'help'. India countered by reminding Khan about the state of the Pakistani economy. Watch the full video for more. ...read more BELLEVILLE St. Clair County has submitted a proposed site near Scott Air Force Base to host the U.S. Space Command Headquarters. After careful review of the screening and evaluation criteria, we believe our community meets all minimum eligibility requirements and would earn a competitive score when assessed against the evaluation criteria, said St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern in a release. On June 4, Madison County Community Development Administrator Trudy Bodenbach told the RiverBend Growth Association that the Air Force had expanded its search for a permanent home for the U.S. Space Command. Among its requirements were the site had to be within 25 miles of an existing military base with an emphasis on community development factors. Kern on Monday said St. Clair County has submitted a site initially proposed for National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency as a viable site to host the Space Command Headquarters. He said the county office has been working with U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Strattons office, as well as local elected officials. Kerns nomination letter has been forwarded to Gov. J.B. Pritzkers office for endorsement. (Alliance News) - JPMorgan European Smaller Companies Trust PLC on Friday said it underperformed its benchmark in its most recent financial year due mostly to gearing. The London-based smaller companies investor reported a net asset value total return of negative 17.6% for its financial year ended March 31, underperforming the Euromoney Smaller European Companies net total return index, excluding the UK, by 4.8 percentage points. Most of this underperformance took place in the the final three months of the company's year. "The biggest detractor from performance was gearing as the portfolio was over 10% geared at the start of the sharp Covid-19 related drawdown in late February. As visibility worsened, we reduced gearing sharply by the end of March," investment managers Francesco Conte and Edward Greaves explained. Other performance detractors were "companies with weaker balance sheets" such as French technical services provider Spie and Swiss semiconductor manufacturer AMS, "which became a significant concern for investors following the Covid-19 outbreak". JPMorgan European Smaller Co sold its positions in both of these, along with its stake in Swedish facilities manager Coor, in order to reduce gearing. JPMorgan European Smaller Co has proposed a final dividend of 5.5p per share for financial 2020, equal to its financial 2019 dividend. Chair Marc van Gelder said: "At the time of writing it is difficult to predict the ultimate impact of the Covid-19 virus spread and the political, economic and societal outcomes and costs are very uncertain. Globally there are also continuing issues to address, not least the Brexit trade negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, but also trade friction between the US and China. "Notwithstanding the uncertainties we have confidence in the investment managers' ability to position the portfolio to weather the storms ahead and reiterate their belief that the pandemic will not change the principal investment themes in the portfolio - environmental improvement, technology and wellness." Shares in JPMorgan European Smaller Co were down 0.2% at 329.31p in London on Friday afternoon. By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Punjab on Friday reported two deaths and 82 fresh infections, taking the states tally to 3,018, as per the latest field reports received till 11pm. The state has reported 64 fatalities due to Covid-19 so far. JALANDHAR WOMAN DIES IN LUDHIANA A 67-year-old woman from Grover Colony, Jalandhar, died of Covid-19 while undergoing treatment at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana early on Friday. Civil surgeon Dr Rajesh Bagga said the woman, Shanu Sharma, was admitted on June 5 and tested positive the next day. Medical superintendent Dr Ashwani Chaudhary, who is in-charge of the Covid-19 units of the hospital, said the patient was brought to the hospital in a critical condition. She was suffering from diabetes and hypertension besides flu symptoms. She was on ventilator support ever since she was admitted in the hospital. MALERKOTA WOMAN SUCCUMBS TO VIRUS IN PATIALA A 52-year-old woman succumbed to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) at Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, on Friday. The patient, Bimla Devi, was a resident of Malerkotla town, around 35km from Sangrur. Covid-19 nodal officer Dr Ravinder Kaur Kaler said, Bimla Devi was first rushed to the local hospital where she tested positive for Covid-19. She was referred to the Government Rajindra Hospital at Patiala as she was also suffering from diabetes and hypertension. She was put on ventilator at the hospital but passed away. Meanwhile, Ludhiana reported 27 new Covid-19 cases, a biggest single-day spike ever since the lockdown was clamped in March. Of the 25 patients, 13 are women, while one is a 22-year-old expectant mother from Tibba Road. Two sisters (2.5 years and 12ears) from Vivek Nagar also tested poitive. Besides, a 42-year-old woman and her 20-year-old daughter living in Islam Gunj contracted the infection. Three more positive cases, two women aged 62, 35 years and a 3-year-old girl have reported from containment zone of Chhawani Mohalla. 36 FRESH INFECTIONS IN AMRITSAR Amritsar district on Friday recorded 36 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the districts total tally to 578, health officials say. Out of 36 cases, 17 are fresh community transmission cases. These patients were suffering from Covid-19 symptoms when they consulted the flu corners for testing. 18 people are the close contacts of the Covid-19 patents. All the patients have been isolated at government medical college and hospital (GMCH) here. 3 NEW CASES IN SANGRUR Three people tested positive for coronavirus disease in Sangrur on Friday. According to health department officials, one cop from Sangrur, one Malerkotla resident and a person admitted at DMC, Ludhiana, were reported infected with the disease. Two more people contracted the infection in Hoshiarpur. One of the patients is an armyman who recently came home from Jammu camp. The other infected person had returned from Gurugram. The latters wife and child were also tested but their reports came negative. Both the patients belong to Mukerian sub-division. Three persons tested positive of the novel coronavirus in Jalandhar, confirmed nodal officer for Covid-19, Dr TP Singh Sandhu adding that with this total 325 positive cases reported in the Jalandhar district so far. COP AMONG 6 INFECTED IN PATHANKOT Pathankot deputy commissioner GS Khaira said, Six more people of the district were tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday and most of them are contacts of Covid-19 patients. The six infected people include a policeman from Shahpurkandi area of the district. The total active cases in the district are now 63. Five persons tested positive of novel coronavirus in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district on Friday. Civil surgeon Dr Rajinder Prasad Bhatia said four people returned from Maharashtra while one person belongs to Sahalon village of the district. The accommodation and food service sector has furloughed 1.4 million people. (Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images) Shops, hotels, restaurants and other food businesses have leaned most heavily on government support for furloughed workers during the COVID-19 shutdown, new figures show. Numbers released by the Treasury on Thursday showed that retail and hospitality businesses have furloughed more workers than any other sectors. 161,900 businesses in wholesale and retail have furloughed 1.6 million people under the governments job retention scheme, figures show. 102,000 companies in accommodation and food service have furloughed 1.4 million people. READ MORE: Chinatown and Soho landlord warns some restaurants won't survive The two sectors are the only parts of the economy to have furloughed more than one million people, although the Treasury was unable to classify which sector a further one million furloughed workers were in. The numbers are perhaps unsurprising. The strict lockdown, introduced in March, forced all restaurants and pubs to shut down, while hotels have seen business collapse as airlines have been grounded worldwide and people have been told to stay at home. Chancellor Rishi Sunak: 'Our unprecedented coronavirus support schemes are protecting millions of vital jobs and businesses across the whole of the UK'. (John Sibley/Reuters) Some 8.9 million people have been furloughed across the UK by more than one million businesses since the launch of the job retention scheme in March. Under the scheme, the government pays 80% of furloughed staffs wages up to a maximum of 2,500 per month. Thursdays figures from the Treasury are the first time it has broken down furlough numbers by sector and geography. One million people are furloughed in London, with a further one million furloughed across the wider South East region. Some 628,000 are furloughed in Scotland, while fewer than 320,000 people are on the job retention scheme across each of Wales and Northern Ireland. Our unprecedented coronavirus support schemes are protecting millions of vital jobs and businesses across the whole of the United Kingdom and will help ensure we recover from this outbreak as swiftly as possible, chancellor Rishi Sunak said in a statement. Story continues READ MORE: UK government gives businesses 100bn helping hand The job retention scheme is due to run until the end of October, although employers will not be able to add more people from the end of this month. Employers will also be asked to contribute to the cost of the scheme from August onwards. The Treasury has also been awarding grants to help support the self-employed during the pandemic. The Treasury said 70% of those eligible for grants have so far applied. We have extended both schemes so they will continue to provide measured support across the UK as we start to reopen the economy, Sunak said. Police officers drive away a lorry (C) in which 39 dead bodies were discovered sparking a murder investigation at Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, east of London, on Oct. 23, 2019. (Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images) Two Northern Irishmen to Be Extradited Over Vietnamese Truck Deaths DublinTwo Northern Irishmen are set to be extradited to Britain to face manslaughter charges over the deaths of 39 Vietnamese people found in the back of a truck near London last year, Irelands courts heard on Friday. Irelands High Court approved the handover to Britain of Ronan Hughes, 40, on charges of manslaughter and immigration offenses. A separate court dismissed an appeal against extradition by Eamonn Harrison, 23, who also faces human trafficking charges. The discovery of the bodies in the back of a refrigerated truck highlighted how poor citizens of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East pay large sums to middlemen to make perilous, illicit journeys to the West. Northern Irish truck driver Maurice Robinson pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter related to the deaths in March. The victims, 31 men and boys and eight women whose ages ranged from 15 to 44, were discovered in October in a container at the back of a truck driven by Robinson to an industrial estate in Grays in Essex, about 30 km east of London. Irelands High Court heard that UK authorities allege that Hughes organized the drivers and travel. They also alleged in a separate case last year that Harrison delivered the trailer in which the people were found to a Belgian port before its onward journey to Britain. Irish broadcaster RTE reported that Hughes asked to be handed over to the UK authorities as soon as possible. Neither Harrison nor Hughes have yet to enter a plea in relation to the substance of the allegations as their hearings have only concerned extradition. By Padraic Halpin Simply Smarter Cloud-Managed Networking The wired and wireless networks for midsize businesses in the future must provide similar or in some cases better performance, security and reliability than is typically found in large enterprise environments. Yet, the IT team at a midsize business must deploy and maintain their network with limited staff, training and budget. Learn about a unified networking platform designed for midsize businesses in this white paper, and explore how it can help you get the performance you need at a reasonable price. There have been more false starts and unsubstantiated rumours regarding a possible end to the crisis that has set Qatar at odds with the Arab Quartet False hopes have surfaced once again since the end of the Holy month of Ramadan, and coinciding with the 39th anniversary of the establishment of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), that an opening in the Qatar crisis could be possible on its third anniversary. On 5 June 2017, GCC members Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, along with Egypt, cut relations with Qatar, accusing the tiny Gulf emirate of supporting terrorist and militant groups, interfering in the internal affairs of its neighbours, and opening its media to saboteurs and opponents of the four countries. Qatar has denied the accusations and said it has not reneged on previous agreements with its neighbours on such issues and insisting that it will not allow any infringement on its foreign policy as a sovereign state. Such stubbornness has led Doha to strengthen its relations with Iran and Turkey, both adversaries of the Quartet of the four boycotting states. But some calculated rumours recently made some think that an escalation in the crisis was underway before negotiations with each party opened in order to enhance their bargaining chips. A rumour of a military coup in Qatar was recently denied by Doha, which also denied reports that it was mulling its withdrawal from the GCC. Then there were reports about US pressure on the Quartet to at least allow Qatar to use their airspace. Recent reports have hinted that the US believes that Qatars switch to Iranian airspace may pose a miscalculated danger to American soldiers. Tehran makes financial gains from the use of its airspace, a situation that runs counter to the US resolve to tighten its economic stranglehold on Iran, said sources quoted by the Kuwaiti paper Al-Qabas. A Saudi source told Al-Ahram Weekly that nothing had changed in the Saudi positions, however, adding that if the Americans are concerned about the safety of their troops in and out of Doha, there could be an exception for American military planes to use our airspace. The source reiterated the Saudi commitment to keeping everything the same for Qatar Airways and the rest of the boycott measures. He added that this position was common to all the members of the Quartet. According to the Saudi source, the Qataris are feeling the pain of the boycott more than they admit in public. He said the atmosphere in Qatar was not as good as had been claimed and that the Qataris were becoming less at ease with their leadership not managing to end the crisis with their neighbours. Around the time of the Eid at the end of May, diplomatic missions started mainly by Kuwait tried to find a way of breaking the stalemate in the crisis. In a television interview last week, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohamed Bin Abdel-Rahman Al Thani said that Kuwait had launched a new initiative to end the emirates long-standing dispute with its Gulf neighbours, adding that the atmosphere is positive about this initiative. He hoped the new move would result in ending the three-year crisis. We hope that the new initiative will differ from the previous ones, he said. Over the past three years, Kuwait has sought to end the rift without success. Last September an opening initiated by the Americans halted when Qatar portrayed it as a compromise promoted by Saudi Arabia. It has been Dohas policy to try to present the crisis as a rift with Saudi Arabia, ignoring the rest of the Quartet on the assumption that negotiations with the Saudis will sideline the other members. This tactic has worked before, but this time round the Quartet has been taking the solid position that Qatar will have to meet its demands first before any negotiations on resuming relations begin. In an interview with the BBC, Saudi representative to the UN Abdallah Al-Mouallimi stressed that the boycott of Qatar could continue for years if Doha did not change its position, saying that officials in Qatar were the only ones who could decide. He added that Qatars failure to respond to the Quartets demands was nothing more than intransigence and narrow-mindedness, as well as the result of its wrong view that it can achieve gains with external alliances rather than with its Gulf brothers. These external alliances are deepening the crisis rather than softening it. The Quartet demands include ending the Turkish military presence, downgrading the relationship with Iran, non-interference in the internal affairs of the GCC states, and avoiding incitement and giving space to media platforms for agitators and opponents of the Gulf states as well as for terrorists and their supporters. UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said the Gulf region had changed and could not return to how it was before. He tweeted that I do not think that the Qatar crisis, on its third anniversary, deserves comment, adding that paths have diverged, and the Gulf has changed and cannot go back to what it was. According to a Dubai-based Saudi analyst, the steps taken by Qatar, especially its alliance with Turkey, make any opening in ending the crisis more remote. Many in the Gulf see Turkeys support for the insurgencies in Syria, Libya and elsewhere in the Arab world as supported and likely financed by Qatar. As a result, the new Kuwaiti efforts might not get much further than previous attempts at ending the standoff. The talk about American pressure also looks like wishful thinking by the Qataris. The US Trump administration is already mired in escalating internal issues, from the Covid-19 pandemic to rising protests over the killing of George Floyd, and these are likely to take up its attention in the near future at least. *A version of this article appears in print in the 11 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Rio Tinto chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques has broken his silence over the company's destruction of a 46,000-year-old Aboriginal site, issuing a public apology and pledging to cooperate with a federal inquiry into the incident. In his first public comments on the issue since Rio blew up the caves in Juukan Gorge in Western Australia's Pilbara region in May, Mr Jacques apologised to the traditional owners of the site, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people. "We are very sorry for the distress we have caused the PKKP in relation to Juukan Gorge and our first priority remains rebuilding trust with the PKKP," he said. Rio Tinto chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques. Credit:Bloomberg Mr Jacques was responding to a motion in the Senate last night under which the joint standing committee on northern Australia will investigate the incident at the company's Brockman 4 mine, and the operation of WA's Aboriginal Heritage Act that allowed it to happen. He said: "Rio Tinto has a long history of working in partnership and creating shared value with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around our operations and across Australia more broadly. We remain absolutely committed to continuing to do so." This is really not funny at all, Dave Chappelle admits midway through 8:46, the short-form comedy special he surprise-dropped on YouTube on Friday morning. Chappelles performance, which was recorded six days ago at an outdoor show near Dayton, Ohio, was billed as a talk with punchlines, and while hes a master of twisting painful truths until he can find the joke in them, the emotions that the killing of George Floyd and the protests that followed have brought to the surface are too raw to process, let alone transmute into something resembling humor. Normally I wouldnt show you something so unrefined, Chapelle wrote in the comments under the video. I hope you understand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the topics Chappelle touched on during the show reportedly included his own Netflix specials and an account of his son getting tear-gassed during a protest, 8:46 immediately raises the subject of Floyds death, although Chappelle is of two minds about whether he should address it or even be on stage at all. He keeps fiddling with the strap on his Moleskine notebook, as if he knows that once he opens it, he wont be able to shut it again.* He did the same thing with the video of George Floyds death, putting off watching it for a week, but when he finally did, he got why this particular horror had spurred more people to action than any of its many predecessors. When I finally watched it, I understood, Chapelle says. Nobodys going home. Advertisement Advertisement Chappelle opens with a thank-you to young protestersYou all are excellent drivers. I am comfortable in the back seatand keeps circling back to his ambivalence about taking a piece of their spotlight, even as hes heard the calls for people with platforms the size of his to speak out. This is the streets talking now, he says. They dont need me right now. But he also keeps coming back to the number that gives the special its title, the eight minutes and 46 seconds during which Derek Chauvin watched George Floyds life ebb away while three other police officers stood by with their hands in their pockets. Who are you talking to? he asks them. What are you signifyingthat you can kneel on a mans neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds and feel like you wouldnt get the wrath of God? Thats what is happening right now. Its not for a single cop. Its for all of it. Fucking all of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chappelle mentions the names of black men killed by the police, some familiar, some almost forgotten. He gives special attention to John Crawford III, the man who was shot dead while holding a BB gun inside an Ohio Walmart, whose killing was then overshadowed by that of Michael Brown four days later. (Its especially damning that there are more killings by the police than the national news cycle can even handle.) And he folds in the cases of Micah Johnson, an Army veteran who killed five police officers during a protest in Dallas, and Christopher Dorner, the LAPD officer who was fired after reporting his partner for using excessive force and subsequently killed several police officers and their family members. Chappelle doesnt endorse their actions, but he treats them as symptoms, cracks in the surface of society that centuries of racial injustice have taxed to the breaking point. This is the last stronghold of civil discourse, Chapelle finishes. After this, its just rat-a-tat-tat. For more of Slates culture coverage, listen to Working, where we interview creative people about their work. There were interruptions to police radio frequencies in the last weekend of May as despatchers tried to direct responses to large protests. A protester's sign is shown at Peachtree Plaza during a demonstration Saturday, June 6, 2020, in downtown Atlanta. Protesters were demonstrating against the death of George Floyd, who died after he was restrained by Minneapolis police on May 25. (Photo | AP) Austin: Authorities are investigating interference with police radio communications, websites and networks used by law enforcement and other officials during recent US protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Although the efforts to disrupt police radios and take down websites in Minnesota, Illinois and Texas arent considered technically difficult hacks, federal intelligence officials warned that law enforcement should be ready for such tactics as protests continue. Authorities have not yet identified anyone responsible or provided details about how the disruptions were carried out. But officials were particularly concerned by interruptions to police radio frequencies during the last weekend of May as dispatchers tried to direct responses to large protests and unrest that overshadowed peaceful demonstrations. During protests in Dallas on May 31, someone gained access to the police departments unencrypted radio frequency and disrupted officers communications by playing music over their radios, according to a June 1 intelligence assessment from the US Department of Homeland Security. N.W.A.s iconic song that disparages the police can be heard playing amid police radio chatter from the day, according to recordings from Broadcastify, which archives public safety radio feeds. Dallas police did not respond to questions about the incident. The assessment, which was obtained by The Associated Press, attributes the Dallas disruption to unknown actors and does not say how they accessed the radio frequency. It warned that attacks of various types would likely persist. Short-term disruptive cyber activities related to protests probably will continue _ various actors could be carrying out these operations _ with the potential to use more impactful capabilities, like ransomware, or target higher profile networks, the assessment warns. The assessment noted similar problems with Chicago polices unencrypted radio frequencies during large downtown protests on May 30 followed by reports of arson, theft and vandalism. Chicago police also have not said how the radio frequencies were accessed, but an official with the citys Office of Emergency Management and Communications told the Chicago Sun-Times that the tactic was very dangerous. Police around the country have encrypted their radio communications, often arguing that its a way to protect officers and block criminals from listening in on widely available phone apps that broadcast police radio channels. But media outlets and local hobbyists have been frustrated by the changes, which also prevent them from reporting on issues pertaining to public safety. The Department of Homeland Security issued a separate warning this week reporting that personal information of police officers nationwide is being leaked online. According to the report obtained by the AP, information shared on social media included officers phone numbers and home and email addresses. Law enforcement agencies have been targeted by online pranksters or hackers in recent years, including by some who claimed to be motivated by on-the-ground protests against police tactics. For example, the hacking collective Anonymous claimed responsibility for the defacement of local police departments websites in 2012 as protesters clashed with officers during the Occupy Wall Street movement. Individuals who self-identified as being part of the collective also claimed to have accessed dispatch tapes and other Ferguson Police Department records in 2014 after a white police officer shot and killed Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black man. Like other government entities, law enforcement agencies in recent years have been frequently targeted by ransomware attacks, in which a perpetrator virtually locks up a victims computer files or system and demands payment to release them. The prevalence of cyberattacks _ which can cause physical damage or far-reaching disruption _ and less severe online trickery, such as stealing passwords, has given law enforcement agencies more experience at fending off efforts to take down their websites or access critical information. But hackers adapt too, and governments with fewer resources than private companies often struggle to keep up, said Morgan Wright, chief security adviser for the cybersecurity company SentinelOne. The biggest concern they have right now is the safety of their communities, the safety of their officers, Wright said of how law enforcement agencies view cyberthreats amid large demonstrations and unrest. But if you look at what underpins everything we use to communicate, collaborate and operate, its all technology. As large protests gathered steam after the May 25 death of Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer used his knee to pin his neck down for several minutes, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said state networks had been targeted. He described the activity as a a very sophisticated denial of service attack. But experts said the strategy of bombarding a website with traffic is common and doesnt always take a high level of skill, counter to Walzs description. Minnesotas Chief Information Officer Tarek Tomes later said state services werent disrupted. But the efforts got a lot of attention, partly due to unverified online claims that Anonymous was responsible after years of infrequent activity. The decentralized group largely went quiet in 2015 but is still known globally based on headline-grabbing cyber attacks against Visa and MasterCard, the Church of Scientology and law enforcement agencies. Twitter users also made unverified claims that Anonymous was behind recent intermittent outages on the city governments website in the Texas capital of Austin. Their posts indicated that the disruption was retribution for police officers shooting a 20-year-old black man in the head with a bean bag during a May 31 protest outside of police headquarters. The injured protester, identified by family as Justin Howell, remained hospitalized Wednesday in critical condition. The citys IT department was looking into the sites issues, but a spokesman said Monday that he couldnt provide any information about the cause. He said the website was still experiencing a high volume of traffic. You should have expected us, an account purporting to be Anonymous posted on Twitter. It also warned that new targets are coming soon. The collectives approach _ anyone can act in its name _ makes it difficult to verify the recent claims of responsibility. But Twitter accounts long affiliated with Anonymous shared them, said Gabriella Coleman, a professor at McGill University in Montreal who has studied the Anonymous movement for years. People with more advanced and disruptive hacking skills often drove peak instances of attention for Anonymous, and its not clear whether that type of activity will resume, she added. Theres a lot of things going on in the background, people are chatting, Coleman said. Whether or not it materializes is another question. But certainly people are kind of aroused and talking and connecting. Seoul warns of crackdown on anti-North Korea leaflets after North's fury Iran Press TV Thursday, 11 June 2020 4:15 PM South Korea's presidential office has warned of a "thorough crackdown" against campaigners sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border, after North Korea expressed its fury over the campaigns. Kim You-geun, a national security official at the Blue House in Seoul, said on Thursday that the campaigns did not help the "efforts to achieve peace and prosperity of the Korean peninsula". Seoul's unification ministry also filed a legal complaint with the police against two defector groups for sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border. The ministry added that the two groups of North Korean defectors had "violated an agreement between the leaders of the North and the South and created tension." The leaflets -- usually attached to hot air balloons or floated in bottles -- criticize North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on a regular basis over his nuclear ambitions. North Korea has issued a series of vitriolic denunciations of the South since last week over sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets. Officials in Seoul said they will consider a ban on leaflet launches after a recent statement on the campaigns from Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister and key adviser to the North Korean leader. North has also warned South Korea of the possible scrapping of a recent inter-Korean military agreement if Seoul fails to stop North Korean defectors from sending propaganda leaflets into the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two countries. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has described leaflet scattering as "an act of a preemptive attack that precedes a war". South Korea's President Moon Jae-in earlier this week expressed "strong regret" over the leaflet launches, saying the government would mount a "thorough crackdown" against them. The leaflet campaigns have long been a thorny issue between the two Koreas. A thaw between the two Koreas began back in January 2018 when leaders from the two countries met, diplomatic visits were exchanged, and joint events were held. South Korea also brokered diplomacy between the North and the United States. While incumbent US President Donald Trump met with Kim three times, interactions between Washington and Pyongyang gradually came to a halt over Trump's refusal to relieve any of the harsh US sanctions on the North in spite of several major goodwill measures by Pyongyang. The United States has been attempting to pressure the North into giving up its nuclear weapons program. North Korea maintains that its nuclear and missile capabilities are intended to defend the country against potential aggression amid persisting joint war games by Seoul and Washington on the Korean peninsula. The two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950-1953 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MILFORD Milford Public Schools celebrated the end of the school year Friday with a Parade of Smiles. Superintendent of Schools Anna Cutaia summed up the trying experience for educators during the coronavirus pandemic. Three months ago, we were abruptly closing our school buildings and taking everything online, Cutaia said. It has been a community effort, so we wanted to celebrate big, citywide. Four routes were designated for the parade that consisted of teachers, staff, principals and administrators, along with a Durham school bus, fire engines, police cars and motorcycles. There were up to 60 cars in each of the four parades that drove past students from all schools lining the route with signs and smiles. We worked closely with our fire and police departments, our parents, of course, our administrators and our teachers, Cutaia said. It has been a whole group effort. This is to celebrate everyone. Something like this cant happen on only the backs of one individual or one group of people. Its funny, I know we had to stay away and socially distance, but I think it (the pandemic) brought us closer than ever as a city and particularly as a school district. Im so proud of our teachers. It took an entire community to take care of each other. The bond between school bus driver and student is is a key component of the day-to-day experience. For 13 years, Crystal Zimmerman has been driving Milford students to and from classes. This year, her riders came from John F. Kennedy Elementary, Harborside Middle School and Jonathan Law. I miss these guys. I have twins on my bus, they are fifth-graders this year, and I wont see them again because I dont drive for West Shore, where they will be going next year, said Zimmerman, who had her Durham bus fully decorated with signs and ribbons Those two, one sits with me every day and he just talks to me throughout the run. He tells me about the art project he was working on, or what he was going to do when he got home. My first few weeks, I know I was thinking that they are kids and that theyll just get on and off and they dont care, Zimmerman said. As time went on, I learned better. Especially the little ones, they take to you. They talk with you. The boys are like little old men, they sit up in the front and tell you everything, the girls are like, Ill go sit with my friends in the back. It is sad that we drivers dont get that last day to congratulate them and send them off on their next school adventure, she said. I know for me I always tell each child congratulations, that Im going to miss them and to have a good summer. Mayor Ben Blake welcomed the experience. You want to bring some connection between the students and the educators at the end of the year, Blake said. This is not the summer vacation for the students that any one of us would have wished for. But all our students and teachers should be proud of how they came together during this trying time. Diane Collins has been teaching for 27 years. I love all my first-graders, said Collins of her youngsters at JFK. Yesterday was very hard for me, doing that last Google meet with the class. There were a lot of tears. Everyone was there and it was very special. Today, this is all about them again. I cant wait to see them all. They have been texting me and letting me know what street they will be on and what colors their posters are. Amy Bugge from Mathewson School spoke about how difficult the transition was for students and teachers. It has been horrible (the last three months), said Bugge, who teaches second grade. I miss being with my kids, the interaction you have with them. They are rock stars. There was a sadness (teaching online), every day felt a little empty. Teachers arent meant to be behind computers. We are supposed to be with them, making relationships. It has been tough, but Milford has been doing a great job, Bugge said. Anna Cutaia and (Assistant Superintendent) Amy Fedigan have really led us through this. We had a parade for two of our teachers that are retiring. ... Being apart from each other has been hard as well. We all miss our kids. william.bloxsom@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @blox354 San Francisco officials have reached a deal with a group of Tenderloin residents and business owners who sued in federal court last month to compel the city to clear the neighborhoods dangerously crowded sidewalks of tents and find shelter for its homeless during the coronavirus pandemic. The settlement, filed Friday, requires the city to remove 70% of the tents crowding the neighborhoods sidewalks in just over a month and to get those living in them into vacant hotel rooms or sanctioned encampment sites. In exchange, the Tenderloin residents led by the UC Hastings School of Law agreed to stop pursuing litigation. There were about 415 tents scattered throughout the Tenderloins 49 blocks as of June 5. By July 20, around 300 of them must be gone, according to the terms of the settlement. The city also agreed to discourage additional people from erecting tents in the neighborhood and committed to employing ill-defined enforcement measures for people who refuse to accept an offer of a shelter bed or a spot in a sanctioned tent encampment. It was not immediately clear if the Board of Supervisors will approve the settlement, which they must do within the next three months. If the board rejects it, the litigation against the city can resume. There has been considerable tension between Mayor London Breed and the board over homelessness during the pandemic. The board has pushed for thousands of unhoused people to be put into hotel rooms while Breed has insisted the city is doing everything it can within the constraints of whats legally and logistically possible. COVID-19 has impacted many communities in our city, but we know that the Tenderloin has been particularly hard-hit, Breed said in a statement, adding that both the city and UC Hastings are committed to address the short-term challenges while we work towards long-term solutions. Kristen Villalobos, one of the plaintiffs who sued the city, said she watched in dismay and with growing horror as the conditions in the Tenderloin have deteriorated past a point that I had ever considered possible. I love my neighborhood, and I look forward to working with the city in any way I may to continue ensuring a better life for everyone who calls the Tenderloin home. Encampments in the Tenderloin have mushroomed to an unprecedented level during the pandemic, due in part to the strict limits the city placed on its shelter network in an effort to reduce the risk of outbreaks. Shelter capacity dropped by 77% in order to facilitate social distancing among residents, leaving people with few options other than sleeping outside, according to city data reviewed by The Chronicle. The number of tents and makeshift structures in the beleaguered neighborhood grew by 285% between January and early May, when Breed released a plan for addressing the swelling homeless population in the neighborhood in response to the lawsuit. As of Wednesday, 314 unhoused people from the Tenderloin have been moved into hotels since early May and 131 have been placed in safe sleeping villages, primarily the city-sanctioned encampment on Fulton Street between the Main Library and the Asian Art Museum. That site is slated to close June 30, though that date could change depending on the citys ability to safely relocate residents there. The city has secured nearly 2,400 hotel beds for homeless people and other vulnerable populations like those with no space to safely self-isolate according to city data. As of Friday, 1,274 were occupied along with 81 recreational vehicles leased by the city for the same purpose. Bringing people inside with services, mostly into hotel rooms, following the law passed by the board, should absolutely be the primary strategy, said Supervisor Matt Haney, who represents the Tenderloin, referring to an emergency ordinance the board passed in April to procure more than 8,000 hotel rooms for the citys homeless and frontline workers. Breed is not required to carry out that law, however. It shouldnt have taken a lawsuit to get the city to follow the law, but to the extent this lawsuit actually forced the mayor and the department of homelessness to take this crisis seriously and bring people inside, thats a good thing. Now lets make sure they actually follow through, Haney said. Under the terms of the settlement, the city will prioritize hotel rooms for unhoused people residing in the Tenderloin with heightened health risks, which render them especially vulnerable to serious illness or death if they contract the coronavirus. The city estimates around 30% of people currently living in Tenderloin tents will be eligible for a hotel room. Free testing will also be available to all Tenderloin residents during the pandemic, the city said. The deal also calls for city officials to open more safe sleeping villages outside of the Tenderloin for people not placed in hotel rooms. Inside the district, the city will also look for sites to set up sanctioned encampments in places like parking lots. The city agrees that this option will only be available for a maximum of 50-70 tents because of existing structures in the Tenderloin, the settlement reads. The city will also work to discourage new tents from cropping up in the neighborhood because the plan may have the effect of encouraging additional people to come to the Tenderloin in the hope of securing a hotel room or placement at a safe sleeping site, according to the settlement. What enforcement measures the city will take to prevent encampments from returning are not specified. On Thursday, Breed released a sweeping blueprint for reforming the citys Police Department, one pillar of which envisioned replacing officers with social workers and behavioral health experts on service calls that dont involve criminal acts or threats to public safety. How much of a role the police will play in preventing people from erecting tents in the Tenderloin following the setup isnt yet clear. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Homelessness activists have taken strong stances against the forced relocation of people in encampments, though the settlement does require all parties to respect the legal rights of the unhoused of the Tenderloin in all manners, including in relation to relocating and removing the unhoused, the tents, the other encamping materials and other personal property. In many ways, the lawsuit encapsulated long-simmering frustrations over the beleaguered neighborhoods myriad problems, some of which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. The tightly clustered encampments presented a serious health risk by making it near-impossible to maintain distance from other people, according to the group that sued the city. The lawsuit also highlighted the mobility problems the encampments posed for people with disabilities and the enduring issue of open-air narcotics dealing. Three nonprofits based in the Tenderloin filed a motion Tuesday requesting to join the lawsuit, arguing that it would violate the rights of the homeless by encouraging sweeps of encampments. On Thursday, the co-director of one of those nonprofits, Faithful Fools, said she hoped the motion will make the judge reconsider the settlement agreement. This lawsuit is just pitting housed people against unhoused people, one group of disabled people against another, said Sam Dennison, referring to the lawsuits contention that clusters of tents on the street impeded the ability of disabled people to leave their houses. A number of the homeless people on the street also have disabilities mental and physical. What were saying is you shouldnt favor one group over the other. There are solutions that can satisfy everybody. We need housing, not sweeps. The other two nonprofits filing the motion with Faithful Fools were Hospitality House and the San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness. Chronicle staff writer Kevin Fagan contributed to this report. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 14:34:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KATHMANDU, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali government has reported a substantially high number of COVID-19 cases among the young working age population, according to data of Nepal's Health and Population. The highest number of COVID-19 infections is among people aged between 21 and 30 years, followed by the age groups of 11-20 years and 31-40 years respectively, according to the ministry. As of Thursday, cases among people aged between 21 and 30 years stand at 1,792 which represent nearly 39 percent of total infections in the Himalayan country. The Nepali government on Thursday reported 4,614 total cases with 250 new cases. Likewise, 1,195 cases were identified in the age group from 11 to 20 years and 975 cases were confirmed in the age group of 31-40 years, according to the Health Ministry. Nepali officials and experts said the high infection rate among the youths is due to the fact that most of those infected are Nepali migrant workers returning from India. "Youths go to India to work and the high number of infections among returnee migrant workers means high number of infections was seen among the youths," Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population told Xinhua on Thursday. Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said at the House of Representative, Nepal's Lower House of parliament, on Wednesday that over 85 percent of those who have been infected with COVID-19 in Nepal are returnees from India. Nepal faces a high number of infections due to a porous border with India, which is among the countries with the highest number of infections worldwide. The argument is also supported by some Nepali experts on public health. Dr. Baburam Marasini, former director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division under the Department of Health Services, told Xinhua on Thursday that besides the India factor, tendency of youths to frequently go outside violating the health protocol compared to children and elderly population has also made them vulnerable to the coronavirus infection. "High infection rate among the young working age population has also shown that the novel coronavirus infects people of every age group," said Marasini. But Nepal faces the risk of more community transmission of COVID-19 after the government relaxed lockdown through a cabinet decision on Wednesday, allowing most of the economic activities to resume. "If community transmission of the coronavirus increases as a result of relaxation of lockdown, elderly people might basically be infected with the virus in the future more than now," said Spokesperson Gautam. Although the disease is usually more deadly for the elderly population, the infection rate among the older people in Nepal is very low. According to the ministry's data, only a single person aged over 80 years has been infected with COVID-19, while only nine people in the age group of 71-80 years have been infected. There are a relatively high number of infections among children aged below 10 years with 112 infections reported so far, according to the ministry. Enditem Washington (AFP) - The United States called Thursday for a UN-led ceasefire on Libya, distancing itself from a proposal by ally Egypt, and voiced alarm about the toll on civilians as the tide of war turns. Egypt -- a main backer of strongman Khalifa Haftar, who is losing ground to the UN-recognized, Turkish-backed government -- has proposed a truce in which "foreign mercenaries" would leave and militias would disband and disarm. David Schenker, the top US diplomat for the Middle East, voiced appreciation to Egypt, saying it was "productive to have more unity in Libya." "That said, we think that the UN-led process and the Berlin process are really the framework -- the most productive framework -- to engage in negotiations to make progress on a ceasefire," he told reporters. Germany in January brought together key stakeholders in Berlin in a conference aimed at ending the bloodshed and stabilizing Libya, a major gateway for migrants to Europe. Both Turkey and the UN-recognized Government of National Accord have voiced skepticism about the Egyptian initiative, seeing it as a way to buy time as Haftar loses ground. The UN mission to Libya on Thursday voiced "horror" at reports of at least eight mass graves in areas evacuated by Haftar. Schenker called the accounts of mass grounds "truly disturbing" and also warned that a government advance on Sirte, a remaining Haftar stronghold, "could have serious humanitarian consequences." He urged both sides to "protect civilians and prevent further damage to infrastructure," including schools, water supplies and oil facilities. "We continue to call for de-escalation, a ceasefire, a return to political negotiation," he said. "Now is a time for Libyans on all sides to act so neither Russia, nor any other country, can interfere in Libya." Russian mercenaries have assisted Haftar, according to a UN report. The strongman is also backed by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which have close relations with US President Donald Trump. The United States recognizes only the UN-backed government, but Trump caused confusion last year by praising Haftar after a telephone conversation with him. Over the past two weeks, thousands of Americans have stood shoulder to shoulder, marching down avenues into crowded public squares, demanding their elected officials do more to protect the lives of black men and women. For those protesting after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, the need to overhaul police departments across the nation outweighs the calls for social distancing to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. Yet the public health crisis remains. As of Thursday, there have been 2 million reported coronavirus cases in the United States and 112,000 people have died. Across the board, communities of color account for a disproportionate number of those affected. With people crowding together at demonstrations against police brutality, experts are concerned there could be a subsequent spike in cases. When it comes to attending a protest, "the risk is clearly nonzero," said Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist at Harvard's Chan School of Public Health. Members of the D.C. National Guard have tested positive for the coronavirus since responding to demonstrations around the city. After the first protests outside the White House, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser urged protesters to self-isolate and get tested if they found themselves in high-risk situations at a demonstration. Bill Miller, an epidemiologist and a physician at Ohio State University, said that people can calculate their risk for exposure by considering four factors: the time spent around other people, the distance you can place between you and others, knowing the people around you and how well they've been following social distancing guidelines, and whether you're gathered outside or inside. Put simply, Miller formed a rhyme: Time, space, people and place. Virtually all the protests have been outside, and research shows it's harder - but not impossible - to catch the virus outdoors, where there's better air circulation and a chance for droplets of the virus to be carried off into the surrounding atmosphere. Still, this is a respiratory virus that spreads when we exhale, cough, sneeze, talk and even sing. There's a case of a choir practice in Washington state where many of those in attendance ended up contracting the virus. And, if singing can spread the virus, experts are concerned shouting and chanting at a protest will have the same effect. "Shouting is clearly very risky," Feigl-Ding said. "Masks help, but, again, it helps when everyone does it, and a lot of protesters don't." Any risks are compounded when police fire pepper spray or tear gas to disperse crowds, causing demonstrators to start coughing. "Protesting has always been violent and risky, even outside of a pandemic," said Jade Pagkas-Bather, an infectious-disease expert and a clinician at the University of Chicago. "When you toss in a pandemic, that obviously makes things more complex." Before you go to a protest or rally, think about how your potential exposure may affect those you live with - especially if you live with older relatives or someone with a compromised immune system, Pagkas-Bather said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains that older adults and those with serious underlying medical conditions "might be at higher risk for severe illness" from the coronavirus and its disease, covid-19. If you do go to a protest, be sure to wear a mask and have hand sanitizer on you, "because you're going to absolutely need to be prudent about hand-washing," Pagkas-Bather said. She also noted many protesters understand the risks they are undertaking when they demonstrate in crowds. "They're saying that racism is the underlying bedrock ... and it's more detrimental than a virus," Pagkas-Bather said. "That's a really powerful stance to take." "These videos that we see are little glimpses into some of the violence that has been perpetuated against people of color, black and brown and indigenous folks, for centuries in this country," Pagkas-Bather said in a phone interview. "It's starting to really resonate with people who might have not considered its effects in such monumental ways." There may be a spike in coronavirus cases in the coming weeks, but that's not to say the protests would be the sole cause. The demonstrations are "one tree in a very big forest," Harvard epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch wrote in an email. States are beginning to reopen their economies. Whether people follow social distance guidelines and wear masks in public during their everyday lives will ultimately "matter much more" for any spike in the number of cases, Lipsitch wrote. City health officials in Boston, Dallas, Denver and elsewhere are offering free coronavirus testing for those who participated in protests. It is possible to get a test too early; in the first 24 to 48 hours, a test won't be able to identify whether you have the virus. If you plan on getting a test, Miller and other experts recommend going the fourth day after you've attended a demonstration or soon thereafter. "You don't want to wait too long, because if you're positive and asymptomatic, you could still potentially be spreading it to other people," Miller said. "You want to find it as early as you can." By Niu Yanli BEIRUT, June 12 -- The 18th Chinese peacekeeping multi-functional engineer contingent to Lebanon went to the area near the "Blue Line" between Lebanon and Israel to carry out humanitarian demining missions recently. This marks the official resumption of humanitarian mine clearance operations by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that had been interrupted for 10 years. Chinese demining peacekeepers to Lebanon have passed the qualification assessments conducted by the UN and Lebanon authorities separately in April this year. After preliminary minefield survey, they had been to the new minefield for the first time on June 1, but were forced to return because of the sensitive and complicated local situation. After coordination by the Lebanese government forces, Chinese minesweepers were able to enter the minefield three days later. The new minefield is an anti-tank minefield. This time, Chinese peacekeepers divided the field area according to various functions and identified safe and dangerous zones with cordon. The mine-clearing work is carried out in an orderly manner. As of June 10, they have cleared 60 square meters in the new minefield. Humanitarian mine clearance is an operation aiming to restore the safe living environment and the normal use of land for the local people. From 2006 to 2010, UNIFIL carried out humanitarian mine clearance within the framework of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. For various reasons, this operation was suspended in 2010. Since then, UNIFIL has focused on combat mine clearance operations, mainly to provide security for the operations such as "Blue Line" identification, "Blue Line" patrols, and channel maintenance. In January this year, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the United Nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Humanitarian Demining, which authorized UNIFIL to carry out humanitarian demining operations within the UN Missions area of operation in south Lebanon. By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijan has control over the roads linking Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh, the Defense Ministry said in a statement made on June 11. The ministry stressed that the roads linking Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh have been taken under control as a result of the successful military operations of the Azerbaijani Army in 2016 and 2018. Our strategically favourable situation forces the adversary to build new roads at great expense. The firearms in the armament of the Azerbaijani Army are capable of destroying the adversary's military infrastructure in the entire depths of operation. Earlier, on June 10, the European Parliament adopted a joint statement condemning the construction of a new highway between Armenia and Azerbaijans occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region. Thus, the statement said that the decision to build this highway has been taken without the consent of the competent authorities of Azerbaijan in violation of international law. In addition, it could symbolically entrench the illegal occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and of its surrounding districts Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in a conflict over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region, which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France has been mediating the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts have resulted in no progress and to this date, Armenia has failed to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) that demand the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz GENEVA, June 11 (Reuters) - The coronavirus pandemic is "accelerating" in Africa, spreading from capital cities where it arrived with travellers, but it does not appear that severe cases and deaths are being missed, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday. Ten countries are driving Africa's epidemic, accounting for 75% of the some 200,000 cases on the continent which has 5,000 deaths, Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's Africa regional director, told a Geneva briefing. South Africa accounts for a quarter of cases. "We believe that large numbers of severe cases and deaths are not being missed in Africa," she said. "One of the biggest challenges in Africa continues be availability of supplies, particularly test kits." (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Catherine Evans) "We started the program in 2016 with just a handful of Michigan State University students, but over the last five years it became apparent our program was valuable to all types of entrepreneurs, not just our direct network," said Thomas Stewart Conquer Accelerator Program Manager. "Given MSU's ties to the area, Grand Rapids is a natural fit for our first expansion of the program." Conquer Accelerator began in 2016 as a collaborative effort made possible through partnerships with parent organization Michigan State University Foundation and its subsidiaries Spartan Innovations, Red Cedar Ventures, and University Corporate Research Park (UCRP). Originated in East Lansing, the accelerator program supports rising startups by providing $20,000 in funding, access to 40+ mentors, access to follow-on funding, and other essential resources. With collaboration between the Grand Rapids SmartZone Local Development Finance Authority (Grand Rapids LDFA) and the Conquer Accelerator team, the program aims to expand community outreach and support startups in the area. "We are pleased to partner with the MSU Foundation and its subsidiaries to bring Conquer Accelerator to Grand Rapids," said Jeremiah Gracia, Economic Development Director at the City of Grand Rapids and staff liaison to the Grand Rapids LDFA. "This program aligns with the SmartZone's development plan objectives to support high-tech startups through incubation and accelerator programs. Bringing a program with a proven record of success along with early stage funding is a great opportunity for our community." Conquer Accelerator provides high-tech startups in the city of Grand Rapids with intensive programming, focusing on completing tailored, goal-driven benchmarks all while working with mentors on topics like fundraising, technology, longevity. "Grand Rapids has a strong manufacturing backbone yet has a wide diversity of industries from healthcare and furniture to craft beers and automotive glass," said Frank Urban Conquer Accelerator Director. "This has made the area a hub for creative ideas and entrepreneurs willing to take the risk of launching new companies. We are excited that the Conquer Accelerator program can help these entrepreneurs realize their dreams, stimulate the local economy, and create high-tech jobs." Conquer Accelerator's fifth East Lansing cohort started virtually on June 1st. Applications for the first-ever Conquer Accelerator Grand Rapids are now open until July 20th. The program runs September 14th November 20th. Head to conqueraccelerator.com for more information on the application process and program requirements. About Conquer Accelerator Launched in 2016, Conquer Accelerator has invested over $500K into its startups. From streetwear to AI-assisted language learning, Conquer Accelerator accepts committed entrepreneurs who are ready to take their startups to the next level. Bringing together business and industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and university expertsnot to mention angel and venture investorsConquer alums have access to a powerful network. Learn more at conqueraccelerator.com . SOURCE Conquer Accelerator Related Links https://www.conqueraccelerator.com Washington, June 12 : US President Donald Trump will accept the Republican Party's presidential nomination for a second term in Jacksonville, Florida, it was announced. The announcement by Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel on Thursday came after North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, refused to allow the Republican National Convention, scheduled for August 24-27 in Charlotte, to take place without restrictions on crowd size and other measures against COVID-19. "We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion in the great city of Jacksonville," said McDaniel said in a statement. "Not only does Florida hold a special place in President Trump's heart as his home state, but it is crucial in the path to victory in 2020. We look forward to bringing this great celebration and economic boon to the Sunshine State in just a few short months." The national convention's official business will still take place in Charlotte but "the celebration of the nomination and the economic impact that goes with it must be moved to Jacksonville", the Republican Party said in a press release. It added that Trump will deliver his speech at Jacksonville's VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, which holds around 15,000 people. Jacksonville is one of the largest cities in the US to be led by a Republican Mayor, Lenny Curry. He called the development "a huge win" for the city. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has eased restrictions in the state, said he was "honoured" to host the convention. The Democratic Party's national convention was rescheduled to take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from August 17-20, though party officials have discussed the possibility that it will be held virtually or in a modified form. Former Vice President Joe Biden is the Democratic Party's presumptive presidential nominee. People walk along Harbor Boulevard in downtown Fullerton in Orange County on Thursday. After the county's health officer resigned under pressure, officials announced that wearing masks in public is no longer mandatory. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Wearing masks should not be a contentious political issue, some public health experts say. In places like Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan, universal mask wearing is credited with helping prevent an out-of-control spread of the coronavirus. Yet, in California the idea of mandatory face coverings has become the subject of an intense political fight in areas , from Southern California to the Central Valley. Dr. Nichole Quick, who resigned as Orange County health officer this week, became the latest victim of the fight after receiving a death threat and being targeted by anti-mask protesters who showed up at a public meeting displaying Quick's photo with a Hitler mustache and swastikas. Under intense pressure from the Orange County Board of Supervisors, her interim replacement, Dr. Clayton Chau, who is also the county's Health Care Agency director, on Thursday rescinded Quick's mandatory face mask order and said Orange County instead "strongly recommends" wearing masks in public settings. Interim Health Officer Dr. Clayton Chau said Orange County now "strongly recommends" wearing masks in public settings, but they are not mandatory. (Orange County) Yet, as the U.S. death toll climbs past 114,000, some of the nation's top infectious disease and epidemiology experts say moving away from universal mask wearing one of the only tools we have against the coronavirus until a vaccine is available will only frustrate society's efforts to reopen. Its the only way we get back to work its to mask, said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of UC San Francisco's Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. All of the data tells us ... its pretty clear that masking is the element that changes the trajectories of the COVID pandemic. "Literally, the only way we open up which all of us want to do is put on a mask," Bibbins-Domingo said. She said it's no coincidence that some countries where universal masking has long been culturally accepted have been hit less hard by the pandemic. "I don't think there's any doubt about it," she said. Story continues In these countries, residents have been spared the most severe stay-at-home orders or have moved out of that phase more quickly. "They haven't seen large spikes because there's a strong universal masking culture," Bibbins-Domingo said. A new study adds even more weight to the suspicions of experts that masks are playing an important role in controlling the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing, quarantine and isolation aren't enough, the researchers found. The report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that, while a stay-at-home order that went into effect in New York on March 22 did slow the daily increase in new infections in New York City, it was a mandatory mask wearing order that went into effect April 17 that finally caused new infections to decline, at a rate of about 3% a day. The same pattern was seen in Italy, which announced a national lockdown on March 9 but didn't impose a face covering rule in the nation's hard-hit northern region until April 6. Again, researchers saw a difference in new daily cases after the mandatory mask rule was put in place. "Hence, the difference made by implementing face covering significantly shapes the pandemic trends worldwide," said the researchers, who are affiliated with Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin, Caltech and UC San Diego. The authors concluded that "wearing of face masks in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent interhuman transmission." They added: "This inexpensive practice, in conjunction with simultaneous social distancing, quarantine, and contact tracing, represents the most likely fighting opportunity to stop the COVID-19 pandemic." There are other studies that back up the importance of mask wearing. A recent study out of Germany found that face masks reduced the daily growth rate of reported infections by around 40%. In a British study, mathematical models found that wearing face masks all the time while in public and not just after symptoms appear would reduce the number of people with active infections over time. "If widespread face mask use by the public is combined with physical distancing and some lockdown, it may offer an acceptable way of managing the pandemic and reopening economic activity long before there is a working vaccine," the lead author of the British study, Richard Stutt of the University of Cambridge, said in a statement. In anecdotal evidence from the U.S., no customers of a salon in Missouri became infected with the virus, even though two hairstylists were sick and scientists think it was because the hairstylists were wearing face masks. Health experts are increasingly saying the U.S. authorities erred in the early weeks of the pandemic in discouraging the use of masks by healthy people. The message was "they don't work, when, in fact, what we meant to say was, 'We don't have enough masks. And we need to give them to people like healthcare workers,'" Bibbins-Domingo said. "That was a mistake." Some experts in the early days of the pandemic also emphasized what we didn't know about masks' usefulness. For one, there was much attention paid to the idea that masks alone are not particularly effective in preventing infection for the wearer, in part because they don't protect the eyes; and because masks are itchy and will cause people to touch their faces. But even in late March, other experts started to suspect that early success in keeping a lid on the coronavirus in Taiwan and Singapore was partly due to universal mask wearing, a legacy of the SARS outbreak from 2003. "If you go to Taiwan or Singapore, everyone's got a mask on all the time healthy or not, sick or not," Dr. Otto Yang, a UCLA expert on infectious disease, said in an interview in late March. "That's probably been an important thing in other countries' flattening their curve or preventing, containing infection." Now, some experts say masks are more important than social distancing. "They're both important don't get me wrong. If I had to choose one over another, ... I'd choose masks," Dr. George Rutherford, a UC San Francisco epidemiologist and infectious-diseases expert, said at a campus webinar in May. "Remember, what we're trying to do here is prevent people who are asymptomatically infected from transmitting. So it's about ... keeping your virus to yourself," Rutherford said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20% to 50% of everyone who gets infected by the coronavirus will remain asymptomatic yet may be just as contagious as people who are visibly ill. Those who do end up becoming visibly sick are also actually highly contagious two or three days before they develop their first symptoms, Yang said Thursday. "Everyone should really assume that they're infected and wear face masks to protect the people around them," Yang said. "It's really kind of a public-minded thing to wear face masks for general protection of the public." There are some unfounded theories floating around, such as one that face coverings pose a danger to people's oxygen levels. Cloth face masks and surgical masks do not pose such a threat, experts say, noting that many people who work in hospitals wear them all the time. No, theres nothing to that. Theres all sorts of conspiracy theories about low oxygen and high CO2 levels, Yang said. Its really not an issue. In California, which has reported more than 140,000 coronavirus infections and almost 5,000 deaths, whether mandatory mask orders are controversial seems to depend on the region. Mandatory masks have not been controversial in the two highly populated areas of California Los Angeles County and the San Francisco Bay Area. But mandatory mask laws have triggered opposition in other parts of Southern California and the Central Valley. Fresno County had a face mask rule for less than a day before it was pulled back. Riverside and San Bernardino counties lifted their orders after blowback. Stocktons mayor, Michael Tubbs, proposed face covering rules but failed to get any support from the City Council. Of Californias 15 most populous counties, those requiring the wearing of masks in public are: Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, Contra Costa, San Francisco and San Mateo. Those that do not require masks in public are Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Fresno, Kern, Ventura and San Joaquin. Among officials who have decided not to implement mandatory mask rules are Dr. Robert Levin, the Ventura County health officer. Levin said in April that he concluded that masks were not entirely effective, but added that he could change his mind "if the prevalence of disease increases in our county or some convincing evidence comes along." In Riverside County, elected officials last month voted to instruct their health officer to rescind the mandatory mask rule, saying people should make up their own minds whether to wear one. "People are smart enough to make [that] decision themselves," Supervisor Jeff Hewitt said. Some counties on California's Central Coast have mandatory mask rules, like Santa Barbara, Monterey and San Benito, but San Luis Obispo County does not have such a rule. "There is no incontrovertible, compelling or even a preponderance of evidence to support an order to wear a cloth mask in the community setting at this time," Dr. Penny Borenstein, the health officer for San Luis Obispo County, wrote on May 3. Some sparsely populated counties also have implemented mandatory mask orders, including Mono and Inyo counties in the eastern Sierra; counties north of the Bay Area, like Mendocino, Lake, Plumas and Del Norte; Imperial County east of San Diego; and other counties around and near the Sacramento region, including Sutter, Yolo, Yuba and Sierra. The Orange County Medical Assn. this week called Quick's resignation a "dangerous precedent that should concern all of us," and that "we must ... not allow bullying to drive the health recommendations that can keep us safe and healthy." "This public health crisis is not over. As we begin to reopen our county, the science is clear: Wearing a face covering can help slow the spread of this deadly virus," Dr. Diana Ramos, president of the Orange County Medical Assn., said in a statement. "We were absolutely appalled ... that a public servant is getting literally death threats to her and her family, and she has three small children," said the medical association's executive director, Jim Peterson. He said he was worried that some customers may start to refuse wearing masks in stores without the mandatory order. "It's going to cause a lot of problems in our community," Peterson said. "The only thing we have as any kind of barrier to slow down the transmission of COVID is wearing a mask and social distancing. That's all we've got right now. And it worked. There's no doubt about it." Peterson said the coronavirus is still as dangerous as it was months ago. "It's still there. It's still contagious. It's still a very deadly virus to a lot of different types of people." Times staff writers Kailyn Brown, Hannah Fry, Melissa Gomez, Stephanie Lai and Luke Money contributed to this report. A worrying social crisis is brewing in Latin America where the coronavirus pandemic is spiralling, experts are warning, as fears of a second wave in the United States sent shivers through global markets. More than 1.5 million people have been infected in Central and South America -- 70,000 of them are already dead -- with no signs of the disease slowing, especially in hard-hit Brazil. The crisis could provoke the region's "worst recession in history", the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) said. "We're worried the region could come out of this crisis with more debt, poorer, hungrier and with more unemployment. And most of all, angry," said ECLAC general secretary Alicia Barcena. The fracture lines in Brazilian society are already evident. Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the pandemic's scale, calling COVID-19 "a flu". Protesting that stance, campaigners on Thursday dug 100 graves on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, each marked with a black cross, to denounce what they called the "incompetence" of authorities. "We are here to demand a change of attitude from the president... who must understand that our nation is facing the most difficult moment in its history," said Antonio Carlos Costa. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the US economy would reopen even if there was a second wave of infections. By Al Drago (POOL/AFP) In the US, President Donald Trump was leading the charge to continue reopening the economy, announcing plans for a set of re-election rallies this month. That is despite signs that the pandemic is not tamed there, with more than 2 million infections and 114,000 deaths. Figures showed a spike in new infections in key states including Texas, California, Arizona and Florida. Equities and oil sank Friday in Asian trade, following a day of reckoning on American markets, where the main stock index plunged almost 7 percent to log one of its worst days in recent memory. Long way from safety The virus and resulting lockdowns have caused a spike in US unemployment -- 44.2 million people have been forced out of jobs since mid-March -- but stock markets have seemingly ignored the bad news on Main Street for weeks. Analysts blamed profit-taking for the big falls, which came after a huge run-up of up to 50 percent since March, with many saying investors had run ahead of themselves on hopes for a V-shaped recovery as states and countries across Europe reopen. But at a ceremony in Geneva, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned the world was a long way from safety. "The fight is not over. Most people remain susceptible to this virus and the threat of resurgence remains very real." Spread of the novel coronavirus. By Simon MALFATTO (AFP) That is particularly the case in poorer parts of the world, where the spread of the disease appears to be gathering pace, including in Africa. "It took 98 days to reach the first 100,000 cases (on the continent), and only 18 days to move to 200,000 cases," said the WHO's Matshidiso Moeti. In India, experts are warning the country is still a long way from its peak. Exhausted doctors at the Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital in New Delhi said they may not be able to cope if the number of cases continues to increase. "All of us are hoping for the best, but we are mentally and physically prepared for the worst," said Dr Deven Juneja. The long-term effects of the virus could devastate the lives of tens of millions of poor people, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF warned Friday. "As the pandemic wreaks havoc on family incomes, without support, many could resort to child labour," ILO chief Guy Ryder said. The two groups noted that the number of children locked in child labour had declined by 94 million since 2000. But "the COVID-19 pandemic poses very real risks of backtracking." According to the World Bank, the number of people in extreme poverty could potentially skyrocket by up to 60 million this year alone. burs-hg/rma 3 1 of 3 Evan Vucci Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Times Union Show More Show Less 3 of 3 About once a month, Capitol reporter Emilie Munson works a shift at the White House. On that day, she will be one of about a dozen reporters, camera operators and broadcasters allowed onto the grounds. She's obligated to cover every event on President Donald Trump's schedule that day, becoming the eyes and ears for thousands of reporters around the country. On this episode of The Eagle, Emilie talks about her most recent shift, which included covering a roundtable discussion the president held with law enforcement officials from around the country. Listen to this week's episode here: Health workers at the Pantang Hospital have threatened to withdraw their services if their concerns over encroachment on the hospitals lands are not addressed. The workers, who began a sit-down strike on Thursday say their lives are at risk following the activities of land guards. In an interview with Citi News, the spokesperson for the joint union executives at the Pantang hospital, Elvis Akuamoah gave the government a one-week ultimatum to address their concerns. The hospital is not safe for health workers and patients anymore. It didn't start today. We have been on this issue of land encroachment by private developers for about three years now. If one week after this, we still don't have anything concrete from our duty bearers, we will totally withdraw our services, Mr. Akuamoah warned. The workers have in the past engaged the Ghana Mental Authority, the Ministry of Health, the Lands Commission, the National Security, the Municipal Directorate, the Adenta Police Station, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council for some form of intervention. 2017 strike In July 2019, workers at the Pantang Hospital embarked on a sit-down strike in protest of the encroachment. The workers had organised a demonstration to voice out their concerns. Students of two training schools; the Pantang Nurses Training College and the Pantang Nursing and Midwifery Training College had also been complaining about the encroachment. Workers complained that the hospital authorities had shown no commitment to dealing with the encroachment of private developers. The workers resume normal operation after a few days following an assurance from the Ministry of Health to resolve the problem. After probing the matter, the Minister of Health said the developer had agreed to cooperate with the government and adhere to whatever decision that would be taken to solve the issue. ---citinewsroom The newspapers on Friday, June 12, have widely and extensively focused on Kenya's 2020/2021 budget as presented by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani. Coming at the time the country is fighting coronavirus pandemic, the KSh 2.7 trillion budget has attracted a lot of interest and attention from lawmakers, policymakers, financial experts and Kenyans at large. READ ALSO: Maria actor Luwi's girlfriend defends him after screenshots claiming he is a con leaked online Kenyan newspapers for June 12. Photo: UGC. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Soja atibua mpango wa mpishi kuramba asali 1. The Standard The daily has focused on the losers and winners in the KSh 2.7 trillion budget. Education, health, manufacturing sector, youths, small businesses, farmers and infrastructure are among greatest beneficiaries of the 2020/2021 budget. According to the breakdown by the daily, education has been allocated KSh 497. 7 billion, out of which KSh 7.4 billion will be used for the construction of classrooms and hiring of 11,000 intern teachers. Health, which is a critical sector at this time the country is battling coronavirus pandemic, received KSh 111. 7 billion. Out of this amount, KSh 1,7 billion would be used to hire 5,000 health workers, set up 20,000 beds and 50 walkthrough sanitisers. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Woman whose lungs were damaged by virus gets double transplant in historic 10-hour surgery For farmers, KSh 7.9 billion was set aside to provide subsidies to over 200,000 individuals practising small-scale farming. The money would also be used to expand irrigation and help horticultural farmers access international markets. A total of KSh 15 billion was allocated for rehabilitation of roads, footbridge and the ongoing Kazi Mtaani programme which targets to benefit over 200,000 youths. KSh 13 billion would be used as seed capital for cheap loans to small businesses. The money would also be used to refund Value Added Tax (VAT) and pending bills. The losers in the 2020/2021 budget include beer makers and consumers, digital businesses, steel and iron firms, which will now be taxed more. The Standard newspaper for June 12: Photo. UGC Source: UGC 2. The Star Uhuru has remained steadfast to ensure the Big Four agenda becomes a reality despite the challenges brought about by the outbreak of COVID-19. Treasury CS Ukur Yatani allocated KSh 128 billion for the president's legacy initiative which should be realised before the end of his term in 2022. During budget reading on Thursday, June 11, Yatani said key focus would be on enhancing health coverage, improving food security and living conditions through affordable housing. The KSh 111.7 billion allocated for the health sector will be extensively used to enhance the president's Universal Health Coverage programme Out of this amount, KSh 50 billion will be for UHC drivers and enablers, KSh 19,2 billion for lowering HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis, KSh 5.3 billion to transform health care systems and KSh 4,1 for free maternity care. Kenyatta National Hospital will receive KSh 15 billion, Moi Teaching and Referal Hospital (MTHR) KSh 10 billion and Kenya Medical Research Institute will receive KSh 7,7 billion. The Star newspaper for June 12. Photo: UGC. Source: UGC 3. Daily Nation The publication looks at the varied views expressed by lawmakers, policymakers and financial analysts regarding the viability of the 2020/2021 budget as tabled by CS Yatani. While Majority Leader Aden Duale and a host of Jubilee MPs praised Yatani's maiden budget as good presentation that was well balanced despite the prevailing tough economic times, his minority counterpart John Mbadi expressed reservation. According to Mbadi, the budget was too ambitious considering the current crisis brought about by COVID-19 pandemic and it would be difficult for the government to sustain it. The Suba South MP noted it the government would soon be back in the assembly to seek a supplementary budget. John Kinuthia, the lead researcher at the International Budget Partnership (IBP) concurred with Mbadi noting it would be very difficult for the government to raise the projected KSh 1.66 revenue collection considering the prevailing situation that has seen companies shut down and thousands of employees laid off. Daily Nation newspaper for June 12. Photo: UGC. Source: UGC 4. Taifa Leo The Swahili publication reports on the government proposal to impose taxes on basic goods such as maize flour, milk and eggs in a bid to finance the 2020/2021 budget. The move is seen as punitive measure that would adversely affect the livelihood of vulnerable families and individuals who have already been overwhelmed by the current situation. If the proposal would be adopted by MPs, a packet of Maize flour (2kg) currently retailing at KSh 120 would shoot to KSh 136 for instance. Taifa Leo newspaper for June 12. Photo: UGC. Source: UGC Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: TUKO news Tuko news. I married a man every woman wanted - Pastor Joan Chege | Tuko Talks | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke When hair salon owner Charlie Ryerson-Mains found out Cumberland County was moving to the green phase this week, she began to cry. Bella Uno Salon Inc. in Camp Hill hadnt had a customer since it closed its doors on March 19, part of a business shutdown ordered by Gov. Tom Wolf in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Ryerson-Mains and co-owner Lori Aloisi thought the closure would last a few weeks, tops. Instead they, like countless other hair salons and barber shops, endured three months of no clients, and no income. Were really excited to be back. Being able to go back to what feeds your soul is really good, Aloisi said Friday outside the business, just off the Carlisle Pike, that opened its doors 14 years ago. Friday marked the entry of Cumberland and 11 other counties into the green phase of Wolfs reopening plan, allowing hair salons to reopen with limited capacity and with federal health guidelines in mind. But Aloisi and Ryerson-Mains said they were in the dark as to what the state wanted them to do to keep clients safe. We did what we thought was best for us and our customers, to keep everyone safe and healthy, Ryerson-Mains said. This includes working 14-hour shifts for the time being to space out clients, to allow equipment to be cleaned between each customer while trying to accommodate the many clients who have been waiting three months for a haircut or other salon services. Bella Uno staff is seeing one client in the salon at a time, taking their temperatures before they come inside and asking them to fill out a health questionnaire. Each customers appointment date is tracked so an outbreak at the salon could more easily be tracked, the owners said. Everyone must wear a face mask. These are all recommendations they received from Barbicide, an independent company that provided them with sanitation training when the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetologys requirements seemed unclear. We feel responsible, Ryerson-Mains said. Everyones taking a risk to be here were taking a risk to be here. We want to be sure were taking all the precautions to be safe. The three month-closure created a financial strain, but the owners are thankful for the small business loan that helped them keep paying their receptionists and utilities. The hardest part, however, was being separated from their customers some of whom theyd been working with for decades. These are relationships Ive had for over 30 years, Aloisi said. Theyre like family. Ryerson-Mains said the clients are just as excited to get their first hair cuts in months. You can hear them doing back flips in their voice when we call, she said. The owners welcome new clients in addition to those whose appointments theyre still in the midst of rescheduling. It may just be a month before they can get you in. Aloisi and Ryerson-Mains are alternating working 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week to squeeze in as many clients as possible while still following their safety guidelines. But theyre not complaining about the long hours theyre just thankful to be back. When you love what you do its not a job, Aloisi said. Were just so happy to be here. READ MORE: Appointment books are filled as hair salons across Cumberland County prepare to open Friday CAT to resume full bus service Monday, but youll still have to wear a mask Which restaurants are opening for indoor dining? Red Robin, Olive Garden, Metro Diner, more WENZHOU, China, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ZK International Group Co., Ltd. (ZKIN) ("ZK International" or the "Company"), a designer, engineer, manufacturer, and supplier of patented high-performance stainless steel and carbon steel pipe products primarily used for water and gas supplies, today announced that it entered into an Exclusive Supplying and Distribution Framework Agreement with Shandong Huaye Group ("Huaye"), a leading structural and fencing piping products manufacturer and suppliers in China, for Huaye's ongoing production line and machine upgrades (the "Upgrades') and act as the Company's strategic supplier and distributor. The Upgrades, with Huaye's plan to allocate a total budget of RMB 350 million (approximately $49.7 million), is now underway at Huaye's existing 120,000 square meters facility in Mengyin County, Shandong Province. The Company licensed its patented technologies and assigned experienced engineers to support the Upgrades. Phase I of the Upgrades is expected to be completed by September, 2020 and will enable Huaye to manufacture premium gas and water pipe products that the Company specializes in. The major purpose for the partnership is to exchange resources and create synergies between Huaye and the Company. Upon completion of the Upgrades, Huaye will exclusively manufacture water and gas pipe products for the Company that will significantly shorten the Company's delivery cycle. Huaye, as a leading structural and fencing piping products manufacturer, will distribute the Company's products to its customer base which consists of more than 500 construction and real estate developing companies. Mr. Jiancong Huang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ZK International, commented, "For over 18 years, Huaye has established itself as one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of stainless steel structural and fencing piping products in the Northern and Eastern regions of China, particularly in Shandong Province. We are pleased to leverage our technological know-how with the Huaye partnership by assisting Huaye in its production line, re-tooling, and machine upgrades. As we are exploring potential broader cooperation with Huaye, we are optimistic that a geographically complementary and mutually beneficial relationship can be developed between the two parties." About Shandong Huaye Group Co., Ltd. Headquartered in Mengyin County, Shandong Province, Shandong Huaye Group Co., Ltd. ("Huaye") is a manufacturer and supplier of stainless steel coil/strip and pipe products with annual production capacity of 200,000 metric tons of stainless steel coil/strip and 100,000 metric tons of stainless steel pipe products. Since 2001, Huaye has been selling its stainless steel products that are widely used for kitchenware, architectural decoration, industrial manufacturing and many other areas both domestically and overseas in over 30 countries. More information about Huaya can be found at www.shandonghuaye.com. About ZK International Group Co., Ltd. ZK International Group Co., Ltd. is a China-based designer, engineer, manufacturer, and supplier of patented high-performance stainless steel and carbon steel pipe products that require sophisticated water or gas pipeline systems. The Company owns 33 patents, 21 trademarks, 2 Technical Achievement Awards, and 10 National and Industry Standard Awards. ZK International is Quality Management System Certified (ISO9001), Environmental Management System Certified (ISO1401), and a National Industrial Stainless Steel Production Licensee that is focused on supplying steel piping for the multi-billion dollar industries of Gas and Water sectors. ZK has supplied stainless steel pipelines for over 2,000 projects, including the Beijing National Airport, the "Water Cube", and "Bird's Nest", which were venues for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Emphasizing superior properties and durability of its steel piping, ZK International is providing a solution for the delivery of high quality, highly sustainable, environmentally sound drinkable water not only to the China market but also to international markets such as Europe, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. For more information please visit www.ZKInternationalGroup.com. Additionally, please follow the Company on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Weibo. For further information on the Company's SEC filings please visit www.sec.gov. Safe Harbor Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "estimate" or "continue" or the negative or other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantee of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of ZK International. Actual results may differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties, as well as other risk factors that are included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Although ZK International believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove inaccurate and, therefore, there can be no assurance that the results contemplated in forward-looking statements will be realized. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking information included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by ZK International or any other person that their objectives or plans will be achieved. ZK International does not undertake any obligation to revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investor Contact: Tony Tian, CFA Weitian Group LLC Phone: +1 (732) 910-9692 Email: [email protected] SOURCE ZK International Group Co., Ltd. Related Links www.ZKInternationalGroup.com OTTAWATout le monde en parle this wont be. But next weeks French-language debate has high stakes for Conservative leadership hopefuls, as they try to convince party members in vote-rich Quebec that they can speak for them or at least to them in their mother tongue. The four candidates Peter MacKay, Erin OToole, Leslyn Lewis and Derek Sloan will share a Toronto stage for the first time on Wednesday at the partys French-language debate. The English debate follows on Thursday. Both debates will be livestreamed on the Conservative Party website at 7 p.m. Its unlikely the contests will come down to a clash of ideas about the direction of the party the candidates, with the exception of Sloan, have released fairly similar policies. But the candidates proficiency in French could have a significant impact on the direction of the race, both in Quebec and in Francophone communities across the country. In the Conservatives leadership contest, each riding counts for 100 points, whether it has 10 party members or 10,000. That means Quebecs 78 ridings represent a total of 7,800 points out of a possible 33,800. But the party has a small footprint in Quebec, especially in the Montreal region, so convincing a few Conservative members in Westmount-Ville Marie can have as big an effect as swaying thousands in Edmonton-Manning. MacKay, the perceived front-runner, was mocked in the province for poor French at his campaign launch. The Journal de Montreal and the Journal de Quebec summarized the performance with the headline, Good luck, mister! The former cabinet minister has been taking daily two-hour French lessons in addition to his preparations for next weeks debate. He knows how important it is to communicate in French on a national political leadership stage, his spokesperson, Chisholm Pothier, wrote in a statement to the Star. OToole, who also served in cabinet, learned his French in the military, believes its extremely important, and is always working to improve, said OToole spokesperson Melanie Paradis. OToole devoted a significant section of his platform, which was released earlier this week, to Quebec voters. As long as I am your leader, Quebec nationalists, like conservatives from all walks of life, will be welcome in our party, it reads. Under my leadership, the federal government will respect the division of powers between our two orders of government; above all, it will never interfere in the internal affairs of Quebec. Neither the Lewis nor Sloan campaigns responded to requests for comment. In February, Lewis told the Stony Creek News that she isnt bilingual but the leader of the country should be able to communicate in both official languages. Sloan told CBC in January that he was aggressively working on his French, and. after stumbling with the language, described his response to a question in French as vaguely intelligible. Read more about: The Cape May city council on Thursday voted to allow outdoor consumption of alcohol, making it the latest Jersey Shore town to allow public drinking to help businesses that were forced to close during the coronavirus pandemic. The city, which has previously outlawed drinking in public, will allow alcohol consumption from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the beach, promenade, the local mall and several streets. Public drinking will be allowed in Cape May until Nov. 1, according to the resolution. With three members in favor, one opposed and another abstaining, the five-member council passed resolution 5P-10P, which suspends provisions in a previous ordinance that prohibiting drinking. The measure provides a modest counter-action to the devastating economic consequences to the COVID-19 quarantine and related restriction on our local economy, Mayor Clarence Chuck Lear said during the special council meeting, held on Zoom. I want us to be prudent, responsible and bold protecting our businesses, our tourism economy and our community, Lear said. Prohibitions on consumption city streets, highways and in vehicles, shall remain in effect, according to the resolution that was passed. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Anyone drinking alcohol must carry identification establishing they are age 21 or older, the resolution states. Purchased alcohol must be in sealed containers and unsealed only when the person who is drinking is in a designated public area. Open public consumption may only occur in plastic cups or appropriate plastic containers, such as sealed plastic pouches, the resolution states. No glass cups or bottles shall be permitted for open containers. In addition, the capacity of the cup or container cannot exceed 16 ounces and persons consuming in public must limit themselves to a single drink, and may not bring large containers of alcoholic beverages, such as kegs or coolers, into places where public consumption is allowed, the resolution says. The streets where drinking is allowed are: Lafayette Street from Perry to Franklin 400 block of Bank Street 400 block of Elmira Street Perry to Beach [starting at Lafayette] Jackson to Beach [starting at Lafayette] Decatur to Beach [starting at Lafayette] Ocean to Beach [starting at Lafayette] Washington Street [Perry to Jefferson Street] Carpenters Lane [Perry to Ocean] Lyle Lane [Perry to Ocean] Howard from Columbia to Beach 1300 block of Texas Avenue Beach Avenue from Patterson to Pittsburgh Cape May Deputy Mayor Patricia Gray Hendricks acknowledged during the virtual meeting that allowing public drinking raised a number of concerns among residents. But after listening to both residents and businesses, she decided to vote yes. This decision like all COVID decisions is a balancing act. Its one Id rather not have to make, but I cant shirk my responsibility (to the economy), she said. Outdoor alcohol consumption has been approved in other shore towns such as North Wildwood, Wildwood, and Atlantic City. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Lets get right to it. Why arent we all being ordered to wear masks in public? I have a sinking feeling, as Waterloo Region people joyfully come out of their homes and into shopping malls, restaurants and splash pads in a partial reopening of the economy. As we celebrate, were going to let our collective guard down and were going to breathe and cough all over each other. You know we are. Many of us are acting as if the public health crisis is over, but its not over. We know the second wave is coming and it will kill many more. A poll from Leger and Association for Canadian Studies, conducted last week, says three out of four Canadians expect a second wave of the COVID-19 virus and anticipate it will be worse than what we have already gone through. We know that even homemade masks provide some protection against infecting others. And so the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit will make it mandatory to have your face covered inside a commercial establishment, starting Friday. There are exceptions for children under age two, people who have difficulty breathing, and those who have medical problems if they wear a mask. Meanwhile, the cities of Hamilton and Toronto have each said masks will soon be mandatory when riding on transit. But Waterloo Region is only recommending these measures. Not requiring them. The suggestion is to wear a mask where physical distancing cannot be guaranteed, including on public transit, said acting medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang. There are a few problems with this approach. First, we live in an unpredictable world. If nothing else, this disaster called the year 2020 has taught us that there are no guarantees. That includes the mundane details of everyday life. You can be minding your own business, conscientiously following the arrows in the aisles at your local grocery store and waiting in line two metres behind someone else at the cash. But you cant guarantee that someone else wont surprise you by whipping around the corner in the wrong direction, or squeezing too close behind you as you check the nutrition label on the spaghetti sauce. Im not normally a germophobe. But last time I was on a bus, I was very nervous. About three-quarters of the passengers werent wearing masks. Because of the design of buses, physical distancing was impossible even though the vehicle was only about a quarter full. Peter Zinck, director of transit services for Waterloo Region, said drivers have been provided with masks which they may wear if they wish, and Plexiglas barriers have been installed. Officials will watch what happens, and may require masks if not enough riders wear them voluntarily. Well make necessary changes as we go forward, he said. The whole point, though, of masks and handwashing and physical distancing is that everyone has to do it for it to be effective. The only way to get everyone to do anything is to apply the power of the law. Its an ominous sign that Grand River Conservation Authority had to close some of its parks this week, because people congregated in large groups, without physical distancing. Perhaps its too hard. After three months of being obediently cooped up, we may be so giddy at the thought of lunch on a restaurant patio, or getting a haircut, or going to the beach, that we just cant take any more restrictions. Were bingeing on our new-found freedoms. We just cant be trusted to do the right thing on our own. The death of George Floyd has once more brought the issue of race and racism in America to the fore. A country which seems to be forever teetering on the brink of outright revolt has gone up in flames, its cities burning as protesters and demonstrators clash with police, with authorities, with each other. Here in Ireland, we watch from afar, horrified, unable to comprehend the senseless killing of Mr Floyd nor the chaos which followed. Because something like that wouldn't happen here. We're not like Americans. We are a fair-minded people. We are welcoming and accepting to all. We would never allow a person, regardless of their colour, to be treated in this way. Yet, we are not all we appear. True, we are not like America. But racism does exist here. Maybe it is not as overt as in other countries, but for those on the receiving end it is just as hurtful. We spoke to three people of colour from Wexford about their experiences of racism in Ireland. Noon Avubakar, Wexford town Noon was born in Wexford to Sudanese parents. She is Irish. She has an Irish passport. And racism is a part of her everyday life. 'People, my friends even, have said the "N word", and I have let it slide. I want to conform. I don't want to make people uncomfortable with my discomfort. Quietly, I let my white friends defend me. It's easier when they do it than when I do,' she says, Noon (17) says she has heard the "N word" so many times it no longer shocks or surprises her, the only issue now is deciding 'whether I want to get into a fight when I hear it or whether it's best to remain silent'. Because, she says, in this country, it's easier for a white person to speak out against racism than it is a person of colour. 'If I speak out about racial issues there is always the potential to upset people and lose my friends. There is a constant inner battle with remaining true to my ideals and cultivating meaningful friendships. 'I forsake everything I've ever believed. I forgive, and forgive and forgive. It's more acceptable for my friends to be actively outraged by racism than me. I know the reason. I don't say it.' Noon says she has tried to educate those who use derogatory terms about race, tried to explain that these micro-aggressions are not acceptable, but it has not had the desired effect. 'You really want to try and educate them, but when you try to do so they end up feeling attacked. So at some point I just stopped trying to change them,' she admits. But one person cannot hope to educate an entire community by themselves. For this to happen Noon believes we need to look at how our children are taught in schools, starting with history and the topics covered. 'When I was doing my Junior Cert in school there was almost nothing about black history in our curriculum, just four lines about slavery, and yet we learned about the American War, the French Revolution.' A student at the Loreto, Noon is set to go into Sixth Year in September, and like every young graduate-to-be, she has ambitions for the future; yet even that comes with reservations. 'In the future, I feel like this (racism) is something I will have to consider. There's a clear distinction between the reaction you receive if you are white or black. There's always going to be a fear of discrimination when I try to find work. 'But I like Ireland, I like the opportunities living here affords me. I was born here. I have an Irish passport. It's a beautiful country. The people are nice and even though it sounds like a contradiction the people here are accepting to change, even if there is a denial that racism exists here.' And therein lies the heart of the issue says Noon. 'There is racism in every country, and Ireland is no exception. The problem we have here is people deny there is an issue, they don't acknowledge it.' Yet Noon maintains that Irish attitudes to race aren't born of hate, more from a lack of understanding. 'I think racism here isn't down to hate but more to do with ignorance, I've even heard my teachers say things which aren't acceptable, but it's not their fault. However, there is a line between being ignorant and people who want to be ignorant.' Grace Odunlami, Enniscorthy Grace Odunlami was in her kitchen with her mother when she first heard the news about George Floyd's death. And it was news which elicited a familiar range of emotions for the 18-year-old. 'When the videos and clips started spreading I already knew what it was, I didn't want to know what was happening. Because every time this happens I always feel the same emotions; anger, rage, helplessness,' she says. 'I felt all these emotions again. And I was just praying that this would be the one which causes the outrage.' Although some of that outrage has spilled into violence, and some of those involved have used Mr Floyd's death for their own needs, Grace says the overall message should not be lost in the chaos that has followed. 'The protests have been happening for a long time in the US, but now they've spread to France, Germany and here in Ireland. My generation started this, we're spelling out that we've had enough and we're showing our support for you even though we're not in America.' The demonstration which had been due to take place in Wexford has been temporarily postponed, but Grace says we can still make a difference in this country by discussing the issue of race and how people of colour are viewed in Ireland. 'I think racism is embedded in our minds throughout the years, it's in people's blood and they don't realise how harmful it is. It started from hatred and became the new normal, a lot of people still have that hate but the majority of it comes from a lack of education. 'No one is born a racist, you're only raised as one. Black people have been dehumanised by the media, but by watching films like 12 Years a Slave and programmes like When They See Us you can visualise what happened and you become submerged into these experiences. It opens your eyes.' Grace's mother is South African, her dad Nigerian, but she and her two brothers were born in Ireland and have lived here all their lives. And although she says the racism she has experienced doesn't compare to that in other countries, it has nonetheless taken its toll. 'I have experienced racism but it hasn't been like it has been in America or even people living in other parts of Ireland, like Dublin. I've walked down the street and had people say the "N word" to me, seen people automatically grip their purse or bag when they see me, or people cross the road when they see me approaching. 'I always have to have my hood down and my hands out of my pockets when I go into a shop in case they think I'm going to steal something. People are always touching my hair, stroking it like I'm a dog. 'It makes me feel different obviously, like I'm the odd one out. In my secondary school, I was the only black girl in my year, there were only five other black girls in the school. It makes you feel like you're not a part of the community, you feel like an outcast. Even though I'm Irish I'm not treated like other Irish people.' Rather than dwell on these negative experiences, Grace sees herself as being in a position of responsibility and believes she can help eradicate racism for those who follow. 'We need to emphasise that a small step can make a big change,' she says. 'A person could have a conversation about race with their family, there could be four people in that family and each if those people goes out and discusses it with their friends it will continue. 'Pressure creates change. We are the generation who can create change and make things better for those who come after us.' Precious Obasohan, Enniscorthy Precious Obasohan hopes to one day study medicine in University, maybe in UCD. She hopes to graduate, find work in her chosen field, and build a successful career. But she worries her race will hinder her chances, that people who have never laid eyes on her will view her differently because of her name. 'Knowing my name is so distinctive, it could be the reason I don't get a job. It's so different to Irish names, and if someone sees it on a CV it could prevent me from getting a job in the future,' she says. 'I'm in Fifth Year at the moment and I'd love to do medicine after school, maybe in UCD. But I worry my colour might work against me. 'My parents know people who work in a hospital and it took them much longer than it should have to get work there bcause of the colour of their skin. People might say, how do you know that? But these people had amazing credentials, lots of qualifications, and people who had less than them got in ahead of them.' Born in Ireland to Nigerian parents, Precious says there's nowhere else in the world she would rather live than Wexford and wishes she could fulfil all of her ambitions right here. Yet she too has experienced racism, so much so that she has simply grown used to it. Her main concern now centres on her younger siblings. 'When I was younger I felt horrible, inferior, I felt less. But now I'm used to it. It doesn't affect me at all. I know other people are getting it worse. 'But I'm seeing it happen to my younger siblings now and that's tough. I have a brother who has just started primary school and my parents had to tell him if something happens don't do anything, just wait till he comes home and he can cry here.' And Precious believes that if behaviours are ever to change in this country it must begin in the home, with the parents. 'The thing about racism here is that it's casual. People aren't aware they are doing it. But it's not a biological thing either,' she says. 'I can understand why a two-year-old might look at me and point. But afterwards the child's parents need to have a conversation and explain that I am no different to them, that I just have more melanin in my skin. Black parents have had to have those kind of conversations about race with their children for generations.' These negative experiences haven't altered the way Precious views her country of birth. On the contrary; she is proud to be Irish, she is knowledgeable about the country's history, about the suffering of those who came before. 'I've grown up here, I know the history of Irish people, how they were oppressed for centuries, Irish people know about oppression and what it does.' Yet as the only black girl in her year, she admits to feelings of loneliness, of isolation, and points out how everyday events serve to remind her of how different she is. 'The hardest thing for me in school is not having anyone I can relate to. For example, when the sun is out everyone has to put on sun cream but I don't. Or if it's something to do with racism there's no one I can really talk to. But I wouldn't choose anywhere else to live. I love Wexford. There's so many positives to life here.' Furthermore, growing up as an ethnic minority has, she says, taught her a lot about life. 'Growing up in an area where I'm a minority has taught me a lot about accepting things as they are, and understanding that as a minority I need to represent my race in a positive light.' President Donald Trump participates in a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington on June 5, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Trump Calls for Toughness Against Activists in Seattles Autonomous Zone President Donald Trump said officials in Washington state need to get tough on activists who have carved out a portion of a city and are blocking some people, including police officers, from entering. If there were more toughness, you wouldnt have the kind of devastation that you had in Minneapolis and in Seattle. I mean, lets see whats going on in Seattle, Trump told Fox News in an interview Thursday that was released Friday. If they dont straighten that situation out, were going to straighten it out, he said. Trump, who is running for reelection, has promised to use force if state and local leaders dont re-take whats become known as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, an area comprising multiple blocks in Seattle that includes a precinct police officers abandoned last week. Were not going to let Seattle be occupied by anarchists, the president said in the new interview, adding that he wasnt referring to protesters. The boarded up Seattle Police Department East Precinct inside the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle, Wash., on June 10, 2020. (Ernie Li/NTD Television) While Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey acted weakly in the face of riots, Trump continued, he wondered if Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has ever done this before. Were not going to let this happen in Seattle. If we have to go in, were going to go in. The governors either going to do itlet the governor do it, hes got great National Guard troops, he can do itbut one way or another, its going to get done. These people are not going to occupy a major portion of a great city, he said. Being tough on troublemakers is a form of compassion in some cases, the president asserted, because people are getting badly hurt, pointing out the mayhem that consumed Minneapolis, including the abandonment of a police precinct building that was subsequently torched. By being soft and weak, you end up not being compassionate, and it ends up being a dangerous situation, he said. Activists in Seattle have so far refrained from damaging the East Precinct building, which remains boarded up. Police officers in recent days have visited the station as part of efforts to formulate a plan that would see it opened back up. Mark Henry Jr. of Black Lives Matter addresses a crowd in an area being called the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle, Wash., on June 11, 2020. (Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images) Response times have soared in the autonomous zone, with rapes and other violent crimes taking place, Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best told reporters this week. Durkan, a Democrat, and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, also a Democrat, have so far declined to use force to clear the occupiers, arguing that the best way to resolve the situation is through peaceful means. Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, didnt respond to a request for comment about actions hes taken or plans to take regarding the situation, as he faced criticism from GOP officials and challengers. Matt Larkin, a Republican candidate seeking to unseat Ferguson, said in a statement: The death of George Floyd was tragic and horribly heartbreaking. But this extreme takeover of an entire Seattle neighborhood isnt the way to enact the change we need. Alleging that Ferguson remains silent while protestors take over our city and call for disbanding our police department, he said the state needs an Attorney General who will enforce our laws, not ignore them. PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Authorities in northwestern Cambodia have scolded a man for his lawn decorations -- old land mines and other abandoned ordnance still containing live explosives, an official said Friday. About 30 unexploded munitions were hung from a tamarind tree and scattered around the mans yard, said Khen Srieng, an official from the Cambodian Mines Action Center, the government agency that oversees mine clearance. Khen Srieng, who went to the mans home on Wednesday to collect the munitions for destruction, said they were left over from three decades of civil war that ended in the 1990s and that most of the mines were still active and dangerous. He said the man used to be a junk collector and had gathered the devices from rice fields and forests near his home to sell as scrap. The man, whose name was not released, told Khen Srieng that after the government banned the sale and purchase of land mines and other unexploded ordnance, he didnt know what to do with them. Violators of the ban are rarely if ever prosecuted, because they are generally poor villagers seeking a bit of extra income. CMAC lectured the man for breaking the law. CMAC chief Heng Ratana, who on his Facebook page described the situation as unbelievable, said the man sometimes acted as an unlicensed deminer by clearing mines from the fields of other villagers for money, and then kept them. The mans house is in Banteay Meanchey province near the Cambodian-Thai border, where there was combat in the 1980s and 1990s between Cambodian government forces and communist Khmer Rouge fighters. An estimated 4 million to 6 million uncleared land mines and other pieces of unexploded ordnance remain in Cambodia. A January report by the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority said there were 77 casualties from land mines and other unexploded ordnance last year, including 12 fatalities. It said that from 1979 to 2019, such items killed 19,780 people and injured 45,075 others. "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Porsha Williams says she was first "smacked in the face with racism" as a 6-year-old. ADVERTISEMENT The 38-year-old shared her experience during Monday's episode of "Watch What Happens Live." Williams is the granddaughter of late civil rights activist Hosea Williams. Williams said she was attending a protest with her grandfather as a girl when the group was confronted by the KKK. "It was here in Georgia," she recalled. "We get out there and I'm excited, again, innocent, singing the songs 'We Shall Overcome,' et cetera. I was smacked in the face with racism. "We came across Ku Klux Klan, who decided they were going to protest our protest," she said. "They threw rocks at us. I actually got hit with one." Williams said the KKK chased the group of protesters back to the buses they had arrived in. "They chased us back to the buses and called us the n-word and any other thing you can imagine the KKK would be calling us," she said. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Williams said she has since come to feel "empowered" by the experience. "I was out there at such a young age with my grandfather because Forsyth County is really racist. They had actually driven out all of the African Americans who lived there over the years," she said. "We were going there to basically say, 'No, we need to bring black people back in here.'" Williams said she's dealt with racism in the years since and handles it in her "own way." During the after-show, Williams and fellow guest W. Kamau Bell urged people to follow through on their promises to learn and effect change in the wake of George Floyd's death. Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died May 25 in Minneapolis, while being restrained by a white police officer who knelt on his neck. "Don't just go black or just go silent after this. Keep continuing to make that voice be heard," Williams said. Williams also encouraged people, especially social media influencers, to amplify black voices. "Everybody's on social media," she said. "Believe it or not, just you posting about a black business or just a black person that you admire -- a black poet, writer, whatever -- it means a lot and it travels." By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS, June 11 (Reuters) - The European Union should gradually reopen its borders to non-EU travellers from July and draw up a list of countries outside the bloc for which restrictions can be removed, the European Commission said on Thursday. The EU executive said the list of countries with access should be based on three criteria: countries should have COVID-19 under at least as much control as the EU average, have containment measures during travel and also be willing to let in EU visitors. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said decisions on borders were for individual countries to take but she hoped the Commission could help ensure a coordinated approach, something she believed member states themselves also wanted. The Commission proposed allowing entry from the outset for travellers from the western Balkans countries of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Johansson declined to name any other country. "This has to be done step by step. So I think this list will grow, maybe not from day to day but at least maybe from week to week," she told a video news conference. Under the Commission proposal, travellers would be allowed in based on their place of residence, not nationality, and they would not have to go into quarantine on arrival. It also recommended on Thursday that the countries of the Schengen area, which normally have no border checks, lift controls put in place to the control the spread of the coronavirus by June 15. However, some countries such as Portugal and Spain have indicated they will not do so by Monday. The EU executive also proposed that a ban on non-essential visitors from outside the area be extended until June 30. The Schengen area comprises 22 EU countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. EU members Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania, which are not yet part of Schengen, have also applied the ban on entry from outside the zone. The travel ban has not applied to Ireland, which is not part of the Schengen area, and former EU member Britain. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Toby Chopra) Most Americans believe Trump has worsened race relations since the killing of George Floyd: poll Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Around two-thirds of Americans believe that the response of President Donald Trump to the killing of George Floyd has largely worsened racial tensions in the United States, according to a recent poll. An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll conducted last week found that 67% of respondents believe that Trumps response to the Floyd killing has mostly increased tensions, versus 18% who believe it has mostly decreased tensions and 15% who were unsure. Among white evangelical Christians, 40% said that Trumps response had increased tensions, while 35% said it decreased tensions, and 25% said they were unsure. The response also varied greatly among party lines, as 92% of Democrats responded that his response has mostly increased tensions while only 29% of Republican respondents agreed. Further, 41% of Republicans said Trump had mostly decreased tensions, versus 4% of Democrats and 12% of respondents who identified as independent. Of those surveyed, broken down by political, racial, economic, and educational lines, no group had a majority of respondents say they believe that Trump had decreased racial tensions. The group most likely to believe that Trumps response had decreased tensions were Republican women, in which 44% said that they felt he had. The rest were evenly split between saying he increased tensions and responding that they were unsure. Data for the poll was drawn from a sample of 1,062 United States adults conducted June 2-3, with a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points. The poll was taken after the president made his controversial decision to walk over to the historic St. Johns Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., and give remarks while holding a Bible. In advance of his arrival, U.S. Park Police and National Guard troops cleared the pathway from the White House to the church, which included peaceful protesters, using smoke canisters and, according to some, tear gas. Many, including Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, head of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, denounced Trumps decision to be in front of the church, and the manner in which protesters were cleared out. Budde said she did not support the presidents incendiary response to a wounded, grieving nation. In faithfulness to our Savior who lived a life of non-violence and sacrificial love, we align ourselves with those seeking justice for the death of George Floyd and countless others through the sacred act of peaceful protest. Trump has stated that Floyd's death will "not be in vain" and that America must "extinguish forever such racist abuse." His response to the rioting and looting, however, was denounced by some and censored by Twitter. Trump had called the rioters in Minneapolis who set fire to a police station, among other buildings, "thugs" and tweeted, "When the looting starts, the shooting starts." WASHINGTON - U.S. Customs and Border Protection used emergency funding meant for migrant families and children to pay for dirt bikes, canine supplies, computer equipment and other enforcement related-expenditures, according to a report published Thursday by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Congress last June approved a $4.6 billion emergency funding bill to cope with an unprecedented influx of Central American families and children at the Mexico border that left U.S. agents overwhelmed and detention cells dangerously cramped. READ ALSO: Houston to remove multiple Confederate statues from city parks The supplemental bill included a line item for about $112 million in "consumables and medical care," but CBP used some of the money to pay for enforcement-related hardware and expenses that were not authorized, according to the GAO, the federal government's leading oversight agency. CBP spent some of the funds on motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, boats and other transportation equipment, as well as supplies and services for CBP's canine program, vaccines for CBP personnel, computer upgrades, printers and security camera systems, among other expenses, the report found. The GAO report did not indicate how much money was misused, but it said the expenditures were a violation of the law. "CBP did not provide any explanation as to how these items relate to the consumables and medical care line item appropriation," the report states. "Therefore, we conclude that CBP violated the purpose statute when it obligated the consumables and medical care line item appropriation for these purposes and should adjust its accounts." The crisis at the southern border reached a peak in the weeks before the supplemental was passed, when CBP detained and processed more than 144,000 unauthorized migrants in May 2019. The majority were family groups from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, and in most cases they were issued an appointment to appear in immigration court and released into the interior of the United States. Overcrowding and unsanitary conditions in CBP border stations grew dire, and the deaths of seven children in less than one year put additional pressure on lawmakers to provide the border agency with the emergency funds it was seeking. Once the bill was passed, conditions at the border rapidly improved, as border officials set up spacious temporary facilities with air conditioning, toys and games for children and ample food and medical supplies. DEPUTY MISCONDUCT: At least three Harris County Precinct 2 deputies suspended during misconduct investigation Some lawmakers who voted against the emergency funding, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., argued at the time that the Trump administration would redirect the money to enforcement. Democrats were divided, but the bill passed both the Senate and House by a wide margin. "Congress provided this additional funding for the primary purpose of improving conditions for migrants at the border and ensuring migrants were receiving adequate health care after the deaths of multiple children in custody," Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement Thursday. "This callous disregard for the law is yet another example of this administration's continuing failure to carry out its duty to provide humane conditions and medical care for migrants in its care. CBP said in a statement Thursday that the report is "a legal opinion," rather than the result of a formal audit, and said the violations identified by the GAO were "technical in nature." "As the opinion notes, CBP charged a small subset of expenses in fiscal year 2019 to the incorrect account," the statement read. "We are working to itemize all such expenses, and correct our accounts as recommend by the GAO." The agency assured that "prompt remedial action will be taken." Andrew Meehan, a former Homeland Security official who was the spokesman for CBP during the crisis, said Border Patrol chiefs in the busiest sectors were under major financial strain and hard-pressed to find money before the emergency funding package was passed last June. "The sector chiefs were having to spend money on shower trailers, tens of thousands of consumables each day, and medical supplies that were well outside their resources," Meehan said. When flu season hit in the winter of 2018-2019, border agents were taking more than 60 trips to the hospital per day, he said. The GAO said it could not provide more details about the amount of humanitarian funding CBP used to pay for nonauthorized items and expenses, but the oversight agency said it is not finished with its probe. Chuck Young, a GAO spokesman, said the agency is conducting a separate ongoing audit report "looking at the extent to which CBP obligated and conducted oversight to funds from the emergency supplemental." Young said the GAO intends to issue a public version of the report "but we have to work through the concerns about the information that DHS has raised." During the 2019 fiscal year, U.S. border authorities detained nearly 1 million unauthorized migrants, the highest total in more than a decade. The number of border-crossers taken into custody has dropped more than 70 percent since then, the result of a wide-ranging crackdown by U.S. and Mexican authorities. Migration levels have fallen in the past two months to among the lowest levels on record, as the Trump administration has cited the coronavirus pandemic to suspend normal immigration proceedings and summarily "expel" migrants - including minors and asylum seekers - under the auspices of the public health emergency. A team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday visited the LNJP Hospital to take stock of its functioning and make a spot inspection of the facilities in wake of allegations that there is mismanagement and Covid patients are being denied admission and treatment. NHRC member Jyotika Kalra said: "We have come here to take stock of the situation on the complaints of the patients regarding discrepancies in availability of beds on Delhi corona app and in hospitals." The NHRC took suo moto cognizance of the matter. Kalra enquired about the viral video of a dead body on the floor at the hospital but authorities said that it was due to malfunctioning of the lift. The NHRC team inspected the wards and kitchen of the hospital. The Commission has already issued notice to the Delhi government and Union Health & Family Welfare Ministry on Wednesday to submit a report, within ten days, on the healthcare facilities and related issues in the national capital. The five member team, led by the NHRC Member, also comprised an Assistant Registrar (Law), a DSP, a Inspector and a Doctor on the panel of the Commission. Photo credit: Fairfax Media - Getty Images From Digital Spy Channel 4's Murder in the Outback delved back into the high-profile, mystifying case of Peter Falconio, a British man who disappeared on holiday in Australia back in July 2001. Falconio was driving with his girlfriend Joanne Lees near Alice Springs, a town in the Northern Territory, when the pair pulled over to the side of the road after a man in a white ute (utility vehicle) flagged them down. Falconio went to speak to the man, who said he'd seen sparks coming out of their exhaust, while Lees climbed into the driver's seat, where she revved the engine to see if they were still visible. What happened then would change all of their lives forever. Photo credit: Handout - Getty Images Lees said that she heard a loud bang and thought that her boyfriend had been shot, but she wasn't given an opportunity to check on him. The man appeared at the side of the couple's camper van, pointed a gun at her and tied her hands together. He also tried to tape Lees' mouth and ankles, but failed to secure them properly. He then bundled her into the back of his truck. The man then disappeared, presumably to attend to Falconio, which gave Lees an opportunity to escape and she ran into the bush. He tried to find her but was unsuccessful and several hours later, long after he'd gone, she managed to flag down a lorry driver who picked her up and took her to safety. A man called Bradley John Murdoch was later found guilty of abducting and assaulting Lees, and of Falconio's murder. He admitted to drug running and carrying firearms, but has always denied murder. Falconio's body has never been found. Photo credit: Handout - Getty Images Lees and Falconio's family refused to appear in or comment on the Channel 4 programme, which is understandable given that the docuseries, led by ex-defence attorney Andrew Fraser, aimed to cast doubt on Bradley's conviction. Fraser highlighted a number of details in an attempt dispel the guilty verdict, including the the fact that Lees had been unfaithful to her boyfriend, the fact that the DNA, which was pivotal in convicting Bradley, was low-grade, and the suggestion that Falconio was a scammer who had committed life-insurance fraud. He suggested she might have arranged the murder (something she vehemently denies). Story continues But there was no information about where Lees is now. Photo credit: Handout - Getty Images Following the ordeal, which has long divided the public, Lees wrote No Turning Back. "My intention is simple: to take the reader on the same journey I took, and have them experience the real truth of it," reads the official synopsis. "The book is for me, my family, the Falconios, for Pete, and for anyone who has been the victim of violent crime." It was later turned into a 2007 film for ITV, titled Murder in the Outback, with Liar star Joanne Froggatt playing the role of Lees. Photo credit: Fairfax Media - Getty Images Over the years, Lees has been interviewed on numerous occasions, including by Martin Bashir for ITV, for which she returned to Australia. In 2017, she appeared on CBS's 60 Minutes, for which she also returned to the exact location of the incident. "I just felt the isolation that I was completely alone," she said when recalling what happened. "I was screaming for Pete to come and help me, he didn't return. "Now I realise that Peter had already lost his life but I didn't want to accept that... I didn't have a choice; I wanted to leave but I was terrified... after evading Murdoch, I didn't want to then come out of hiding and him to find me." She also addressed claims that she had lied about the reality of that night: "I started to question myself and doubt myself, I guess that was a police tactic. I think they were hoping I would confess to something I hadn't done. "It was like a stab to the heart, how could they think that?" She added: "Pete lost his life on that night but I lost mine too." In an interview with The Times, she said that she had "been spied on, lied to, and exploited by people pretending to have my best interests at heart," adding: "I have been portrayed in the most luridly negative way in the press, and all but accused of murder." In 60 Minutes, she also revealed that she was planning to apply for Australian citizenship after finding out that she had a younger sister living there. "I have a strong connection to Australia because my father is Australian," she said. "Although my father's not been in my life, I've always been aware of who he is and his nationality." Speaking of her sister, she said: "I feel less alone in the world. "When wonderful things happen in the world I want to share them with Jess." Photo credit: Ian Waldie - Getty Images It was reported that Lees was living in Australia's Blue Mountains with friends following the trial. She then went on to study sociology at university in Sheffield, and has worked as a travel agent and with disabled people as a social worker. Digital Spy now has a newsletter sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox. Looking for more TV recommendations and discussion? Head over to our Facebook Group to see new picks every day, and chat with other readers about what they're watching right now. You Might Also Like Alden Global Capital increased its stock ownership in Davenport-based Lee Enterprises this week. Lee the parent company of the Quad-City Times, Dispatch-Argus and Muscatine Journal operates in 77 markets, after its purchase of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Media Group's holdings earlier this year. According to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, MNG Enterprises Inc., the business name for Alden, has purchased 4,099,700 Lee shares this year for about $10 million, which equals about 7.1% of the company. Alden now owns 7.1% of Lee's shares, and SEC documents filed this week show Alden purchased about 1.3% of the company via buying 522,400 shares in addition to its purchases earlier this year. Lee Enterprises officials declined to comment on the purchases. Alden also recently increased its ownership stake in Tribune newspapers, and through its majority ownership of Digital First Media, owns more than 50 daily newspapers. It has gained a reputation of aggressive cost cutting and staff reductions and was once called a destroyer of newspapers" in The New York Times. It is expected it will further increase its ownership in Tribune newspapers this summer. Rick Edmonds, media business analyst at the Poynter Institute, said Alden's move with Lee could mean different things. They may buy more and try to either get some control of the company or force a sale; that seems to be the scenario with Tribune Publishing, he said. Its kind of a win-win (for Alden) in that in one scenario they take over the company and run it the way they want to, pare it down or if somebody else comes in and buys it, that would probably be at a premium. Or Alden could buy up more shares to drive up the stock price and get a nice gain on their investment. At least in theory its a win-win for them, although not necessarily for Lee," he said. The purchase comes soon after the New York Stock Exchanged warned Lee it could face a downgrade because its stock price fell under $1 for more than 30 days. The stock remained under a dollar from March 31 until it climbed to $1.00 at the end of trading on May 21, and has remained above $1 since. Lee Enterprises also has yet to file financial documents related to its second fiscal quarter performance, which are due by June 22. Edmonds said Aldens purchase this week also might be because Lees stock was extremely cheap. Another element, which Edmonds said is hard to prove, could be Alden is shorting Lees stock. An investor shorts a stock by borrowing shares from their brokers and selling them, hoping to buy back the shares and return them once the companys stock price declines. The difference between the price at which they sold and the lower purchase price would be their profit. A short-seller who borrowed Lee shares, sold them at $300, and then bought them back at $200, would make a $100 gain, for example. But if the stock rises above the initial sales price, the short-seller would be sitting on a loss that could keep increasing if the stock continues to go up. Theres particular volatility brought in if short-sellers are influencing the price, Edmonds said. They could take positions without putting a ton of money in play because the stock is so cheap. There is a third possibility behind Aldens purchase, but Edmonds didnt think Alden having a 7.1% stake in Lee would be enough to force the issue. Thats a bankruptcy filing. I dont think their holding is enough to really push for this, (but it) would be bankruptcy with the idea that they could buy the company out of bankruptcy, and theres certainly been some speculation that bankruptcy could in the cards for Lee, he said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 On June 6, in Philadelphias Logan Square, outside a hotel that wasnt even open and in the middle of a Black Lives Matter march, Michael Gordon was waiting for his wedding to begin. He heard shouting, and then cheering, clapping and whistling, and the wedding participants 21 in all, the women in white and the men in black, all wearing masks designed for the event began leaving to see what was going on. So he did, too. What he saw was a swirl of protesters, who were beginning a march to City Hall on the parkway that ran in front of the hotel. But he didnt see his bride, Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins. So he started into the crowd. They parted like the Red Sea, he said. They knew who I was because I had on a tux. And in the middle of all these people is a circle around Kerry, looking like a black angel. Shes just there by herself, and they were there applauding her. FLINT, MI -- At a youth-led protest for Black Lives Matter, organizers urged people to put words into action while fighting racism and the killing of black people across the nation. Students and youth led the protest Friday, June 12. Hundreds gathered at the Flint Farmers Market, where organizers started the event with a smudging ritual -- a Native American purification step using smoke -- in recognition of indigenous people and their land. Organizers led 101 seconds of silence, representing the loss 101 black lives to police violence since the killing of Eric Garner, an African American man killed during an arrest in 2014. In todays world it isnt enough just not to be racist, people have to actively be anti-racist, said Mari Copeny, a 12-year-old known as Little Miss Flint. Copeny was the keynote speaker at the event That means calling out those closest to you when theyre racist and explaining why saying all lives matter does not address the fact that black lives are in danger and we need to address that when we say all lives matter," Copeny said. "Its about correcting our friends when they Tweet racist things, make racist TikTok (videos) or tell racist jokes. Uplift the voices of minorities that get silenced and when you see something wrong, bring attention to it. Dont sit by and let it happen. Do something. Copeny also addressed law enforcement. She told them its not enough to walk with, take pictures with or or agree with protesters, they must put their words to action. We are here today so tomorrows kid(s) never have to witness murder after murder being recorded and shared all over the internet, Copeny said. We are here to make sure that black people across the county dont have to worry that the color of their skin makes them a target. We are here today to make sure the value of black lives is never up for debate ever again. Many of the organizers and attendees of the event were present or former Carman-Ainsworth students and teachers. Adam Baker,19, graduated form Carman-Ainsworth last year. He said he is proud to be from a school that supports the black community and the teaching of black history. Im proud to be a student of life. The very fact that you guys are here right now shows that you understand that you are all students of life," he said. "That means that the life that were living today is a classroom. So if teachers are not speaking on whats going on right now in this here classroom, that means you are not doing your job. Im proud to come from a school where they talk about, not only the classroom that we were in, but the classroom that we will be stepping out into. Many teachers do not prepare their students for whats going to happen. Many teachers do not prepare their students for how people will see their skin color, but Im proud to come from a school that talked about it ... daily. Baker is proud to be a Flint resident. Im proud that Flint stood up in a time where its most important and, not only did we stand, but we were the epitome of what peace should look like, he said. We got the whole world looking at us. They put many labels on us. They said that we were violent. They said we didnt listen. They said we had people who didnt want to go to college, who didnt want to go to school, who did not care about education but Flint was the epitome of what peace should look like. We were in front of the world, not only proving that we were more than their labels, but we were in front of the world saying we will always -- whether its the Flint water crisis, whether its racism -- we will always stand up and fight for what we believe in." Flint youth are standing for action, Baker said. Without action, words are useless. Elders: teach us. It takes your wisdom," he said. "Dont see whats going on and turn a blind eye. Dont see whats going on and not talk to your youngsters. Dont see whats going on and say it will pass over. It wont. Read more: Flint residents say its time for change at candlelight vigil Claressa Shields joins Black Lives Matter march in Flint Lapeer community holds peaceful assembly against police brutality Flint youth join local officials in march to end racism Flint officials warn residents of outside groups coming in to incite violence Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mardika Parama (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 18:03 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde4edc2 1 Business Angkasa-Pura-II,passengers,restriction,new-normal,COVID-19 Free State-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura II (AP II) has recorded a jump in the number of passengers for both domestic and international flights, as the government relaxes restrictions on air travel. Recently issued Transportation Ministry circular letter no. 13/2020 allows for an increase in passenger numbers per flight to 70 percent of the respective aircrafts capacity, up from the previous 50 percent. The new regulation came into force on June 8 and on June 10 the number of passengers in AP IIs 19 airports doubled to 14,700 passengers, from an average of 7,000 passengers on June 8 and June 9. The number of passengers is slowly rising and stakeholders in our airports are working to ensure the health protocols are implemented, the companys president director Muhammad Awaluddin said on Thursday in an official statement. Pandemic-related large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) have severely limited demand for air travel. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the number of domestic air passengers fell 85.18 percent year-on-year (yoy) in April to around 840,000, while international air passenger numbers fell 98.26 percent yoy. Airline companies were beginning to resume operations, Awaluddin said. The countrys biggest airline company Lion Air Group resumed its operations starting on June 10, after a temporary flight suspension earlier this month. Meanwhile, national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia and its low-cost subsidiary Citilink are also operating their flights, and low-cost carrier AirAsia Indonesia is set to resume flights on June 19. The number of passengers is lower than in normal conditions, but it has started to pick up in this adaptation period, he said, referring to the countrys transition to so-called new normal. To prevent crowding at the airports, AP II is also planning to launch a mobile application called Travelation to allow passengers to upload the required documents to board and simplify the checking process. According to the new regulations, passengers need to provide a letter showing the negative result of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or a COVID-19 rapid test to travel. Rapid test result documents are valid for three days after the test is taken, while PCR tests are valid for seven days. Two Russian Bombers, Two Jets Intercepted Off Alaska, U.S. Says By RFE/RL June 11, 2020 U.S. fighter jets intercepted Russian jets and bombers twice on June 10 off the coast of Alaska, the U.S. air defense command said. Two Russian Tu-95 bombers, two Russian Su-35 fighter jets, and an A-50 airborne early-warning and control aircraft came within 32 kilometers of the coast of Alaska in the first incident, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), said on Twitter. A second formation consisting of two Tu-95s and an A-50 also came within 32 kilometers of Alaska. None of the aircraft entered U.S. airspace, NORAD said in a series of tweets. NORAD commander General Terrence O'Shaughnessy said intercepting multiple Russian aircraft demonstrates NORAD forces' readiness and "sends a clear message we continue executing our homeland defense missions with the same capability and capacity we always bring to the fight." The U.S. has intercepted multiple Russian aircraft off the Alaskan coast since 2019. Russia's Defense Ministry said four Tu-95MSs strategic missile-carrying bombers conducted a patrol flight over the neutral waters of the Chukchi, Bering, and Okhotsk seas and the northern part of the Pacific Ocean. The flight lasted about 11 hours, the ministry said, according to TASS. "At some sections of the route, the Russian aircraft were escorted by U.S. Air Force F-22 fighters," the ministry said. The Russian bombers took off from airfields in the Chukotka Autonomous District and the Amur region, the ministry said. It said Russian military planes perform all flights in strict compliance with international rules and without violating the airspace of other states. In May, U.S. Air Force strategic bombers performed flights along the Russian borders five times, the ministry said. Earlier on June 10, Estonia's army reported that a Russian aircraft had violated its airspace. The army said a Tu-204-300 jet airliner flew into the airspace of the NATO member without permission. Tallinn's Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to Estonia and gave him a note, the army statement said. This was the first incursion by Russian aircraft into Estonia's airspace this year, according to the statement. The violation occurred over the island of Vaindloo in the Baltic Sea and lasted less than a minute. With reporting by dpa, AFP, and TASS Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s -air-defense-says-russian-aircraft- intercepted-near-alaska/30664589.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Opinion Debate Will the Democrats face a midterm wipeout? Mark Penn and Andrew Stein write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. Matthew Continetti writes that time and again, the biggest obstacle to a red wave hasnt been the Democratic Party. Its been the Republican Party. writes that time and again, the biggest obstacle to a red wave hasnt been the Democratic Party. Its been the Republican Party. Ezra Klein speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. Michelle Cottle examines two primary contests that will shake the parties well beyond the states in play. The Trumpian connection The distinction between errors of dysfunction and sins of suppression is in one sense immaterial a ballot misplaced or miscounted is just as worthless as a ballot never cast but in recent years examples of the latter have become both more numerous and more brazen. Thats because President Trump and his allies know that their best chance of winning is to suppress turnout, Sue Halpern writes in The New Yorker. Many Republican governors and state legislators have made it increasingly difficult for Americans to vote by enacting draconian registration requirements and redrawing electoral maps. The Republican Party apparatus, following the lead of the president, is also working to limit voting by mail, arguing that it would be devastating to Republicans and lead to widespread voter fraud never mind that theres no evidence for either claim. Further undermining the practice are Mr. Trumps attacks on the U.S. Postal Service, which recently installed one of his ideologues as its head, according to Ms. Halpern, and the attorney generals outlandish theory that foreign governments might manipulate mailed ballots. That such efforts to undermine a secure and reliable voting method should occur amid a pandemic make them especially pernicious. Two bills providing for a universal vote-by-mail option have been introduced in Congress recently, but neither has gotten anywhere in the Republican-controlled Senate. The relief package Congress passed in March did allocate $400 million to help states run elections, but Richard L. Hasen, a professor of law and political science at the University of California, Irvine, said the states may need as much as $4 billion. With time running out, its up to the states to ensure Americans have a safe way to vote, David Ignatius writes in The Washington Post. But that is necessarily a patchwork solution, and, as the Georgia primary showed, an underfunded and opaque one at that. South Africa: Forty water tanks distributed to 11 Tshwane schools Forty water tanks have been distributed to 11 needy schools in the City of Tshwane in a bid to protect learners against the spread of Coronavirus. Learners in Grade 7 and 12 across the country returned to school on Monday, two months after the country went into lockdown to prevent the transmission of the disease and to flatten the curve. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) said 36 water tanks have been distributed to nine schools in Hammanskraal, while four tanks were distributed to two schools in Sokhulumi in the City of Tshwane. The nine schools are in areas that have been identified as hotspots in Hammanskraal, and therefore are required to increase their safety measures by supplying water tanks. Each school in Hammanskraal benefited from four 2 500-litre water tanks, while in Sokhulumi, the two schools each received two 5 000-litre water tanks, the departments Gauteng Provincial Head, Sibusiso Mthembu, said on Friday. Mthembu said the provision of the water tanks to the 11 schools will go a long way towards ensuring that the schools are better prepared to resume teaching and learning, and that both learners and staff are sufficiently protected in the midst of the spread of COVID-19. He warned that the lack of adequate access to water at schools would be detrimental. Hammanskraal is one of the areas with ongoing water challenges and this necessitated that it receives specific focus, especially as schools have reopened. We are acutely aware of the need to provide adequate water supply to schools, especially in areas that have water challenges. One of the ways to prevent the spread of Coronavirus is to make sure the challenge of water shortages at schools is swiftly addressed. Learners have lost so much time and must catch up as fast as possible. There is no need to burden them with issues of water shortages, Mthembu said. He called on other stakeholders in the water sector to extend a helping hand so that no school is left without all the necessary requirements to ensure the smooth resumption and continuation of learning and teaching. Education is one area of our important enterprises and therefore requires everyone to play a role. The provision of water for learners to wash their hands regularly is but one of the necessities needed for learners to catch up on their studies, Mthembu said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. BRUSSELS, June 11 (Reuters) - Euro zone finance ministers agreed on Thursday to release a transfer of 748 million euros to Greece in recognition of the country's continued progress with agreed reforms, the ministers said in a statement. "The necessary conditions are in place to confirm the release of the third tranche of policy-contingent debt measures," the statement said. The money comes from profits from Greek bond portfolios held by euro zone central banks that the euro zone had agreed to give back to Athens if reforms are continued after the last bailout ended. (Reporting by Jan Strupczewski) Will solve own problems, wont allow external interference says Nepals foreign minister No Beijing, only Delhi says former Nepal PM on ties with India Amidst Nepal dispute, India sends out subtle reminder on assistance India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 12: India has subtly reminded Nepal of the humanitarian and development assistance it had provided, including medicines to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our multi-faceted bilateral partnership has expanded and diversified in recent years with increased focus and enhanced humanitarian and development assistance by the Government of India and connectivity projects in Nepal," Anurag Srivastava, MEA spokesperson said. India built Temple, created artificial river on our territory says Nepal PM Covid-19: India registers over 10,000 fresh cases in 24 hours and 396 deaths | Oneindia News Nepal had alleged that India had encroached upon its territory by deploying soldiers, building a temple and creating an artificial river. Nepal's Prime Minister, K P Oli said that India had built a Kali Temple, created an artificial Kali river and deployed Indian Army personnel in order encroach upon the Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura. He said that these earlier belonged to his country. Oli also criticised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath for advising Nepal for not committing the mistake of ratcheting up a territorial dispute with India. He said that these remarks were not acceptable to the people of Nepal. Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura were based on historical records and India should return the areas it had encroached upon. While India is watching the developments closely, the government had said that the revised official map was a unilateral act and not based on facts. Anurag Srivastava, spokesperson Ministry of External Affairs had said that what Nepal did was contrary to the bilateral understanding to resolve outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue. Such artificial enlargement of territorial claims will not be accepted by India, he had also said. India also urged Nepal to refrain from such unjustified cartographic assertion and respect India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We hope that Nepalese leadership will create a positive atmosphere for diplomatic dialogue to resolve the outstanding boundary issues, the MEA spokesperson also said. Last month Nepal's cabinet endorsed a new political map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura under its territory, amid a border dispute with India. The move announced by foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali came weeks after he said that efforts were on to resolve the border issue with India through diplomatic initiatives. Nepal's ruling Nepal Communist Party lawmakers have also tabled a special resolution in Parliament demanding return of Nepal's territory in Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh. Indo-Nepal ties to hit rock bottom after latter makes strong pitch tore-draw its map The Lipulekh pass is a far western point near Kalapani. Both India and Nepal claim Kalapani as an integral part of their territory - India as part of Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district and Nepal as part of Dharchula district. Indian officials say that they are upset that Nepal did not wait for the foreign secretary level talks. The government had assured Kathmandu that the talks would take place once the threat from COVID-19 subsides. Nepal on the other hand claimed that a dialogue was sought in November last year itself. It may be recalled that India had donated the antimalarial drug HCQ and 30,000 test kits to Nepal. YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. As a result of telephone conversations between President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian and President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia will soon send a humanitarian aid to Armenia to help fighting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Armenian Presidents Office told Armenpress. Recently the Armenian President had a phone talk with his Serbian counterpart during which they discussed the current coronavirus-related situation. The Serbian President stated that his country is ready to assist Armenia. The Armenian President gave the list of the necessary medical items provided by the healthcare ministry to the Serbian side. Few days ago at the meeting with the healthcare specialists the Armenian President informed that he again had a talk to his Serbian counterpart and the latter informed what kind of assistance and in what amount he is going to send to his Armenian counterpart and in the person of him the good people of Armenia. In coming days two aircrafts carrying large amount of medical items and equipment will arrive from Serbia to Armenia via a special flight. In particular, 10 ventilators, 10 monitors, 500,000 surgical and 100,000 breathing masks, 25,000 protective glasses, 25,000 medical protective clothing and other necessary items will be delivered to Armenia. The total cost of the Serbian assistance will comprise nearly 1 million USD. In a phone talk with the Serbian counterpart, the Armenian President thanked for the constant warm attitude shown to Armenia and its people. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan [June 12, 2020] GigNet Completes Installation of 14-kilometer Fiber-Optic Broadband Network from Downtown Tulum to the Tulum Hotel Zone GigNet, a Digital Infrastructure company with a 200-kilometer fiber-optic broadband network from Costa Mujeres to Cancun to Tulum, announced today that it has completed the installation of an additional 14-kilometer fully redundant fiber-optic broadband network from downtown Tulum along the Hotel Zone to the entrance of the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve. Victor Mas Tah, Mayor of Tulum, said, "We consider fast and stable connectivity to be an important resource in today's digital world, and we are happy to be working with GigNet that has international experience and offers robust and dedicated service for the hospitality, health, security, education and business sectors of Tulum - while helping to maintain the ecologically friendly environment that Tulum is famous for. The Tulum Town Hall, as well as COVID-19 Military Hospital, Municipal Police Station, Tulum Community Hospital, CECyTE High School, Mexican Red Cross, the Municipal DIF, and Local Restaurants and Hotels now have connectivity as of June 1st. This will serve as attractive service for visitors as hotels and businesses open up this month." Dr. Juan Noriega Granados, director of the Tulum Hotel Association, explained, "The Hotel Association of Tulum continues to promote the improvement of the hotel zone, and the center of Tulum as a whole, in order to increase the demand for services to tourists who increase levels of occupancy and profitability. Those who are using the latest communications technology will offer their clients the best conditions for an optimal internet experience in a Tulum that is rustic, modern and comfortable. "In addition, we now have GigNet's very high-speed internet in the faciliies of our Hotel Association. GigNet is a reliable high-quality internet provider with the infrastructure and fiber-optic network that will improve the conditions for sustainable development of the area. We believe that visitors will feel more satisfied and thus extend their stay if they have better access to reliable high-speed internet," he added. Lio Malca, owner of Casa Malca, stated, "We are extremely happy to have GigNet in our hotel. The improvement is of great value to the entire zone of Tulum, allowing us to give our clients fast communications, complete coverage and improving our level of security. We look forward to welcoming back our guests to the hotel starting June 20, Bravo!" Eduardo Ruiz, General Manager of Rosa Negra and Taboo, two well-known restaurants in the Tulum Hotel Zone, added, "Tulum is the ideal place to live, offering excellent hotels, real estate, restaurants and ecological and archeological attractions, and now we have the best internet service, which I am sure will increase occupancy, real estate sales and customer satisfaction in our restaurants." Mizraim Corpus, Director of Be Tulum, Nomade Tulum and Yaan Spa Wellness Center, said, "Fast and reliable Internet connectivity is now something our guests insist on, and we aim to provide them with the best available service. GigNet is already helping us exceed customer expectations." Hotels and restaurants that recently acquired GigNet internet services are: Be Tulum, Casa Malca, Casa Shanti, Casa Teka, Esencial Jungla, Esencial Tulum, Grand Jungle, Nomade Tulum, Puerta del Cielo, Rosa Negra Restaurant, Salam, Selva, Taboo Restaurant, Tribal and Yaan Spa Wellness Center. "GigNet is the newest and most robust broadband network in the Mexican Caribbean designed specifically for hospitality, enterprise and mobile-carrier customers where a high level of reliability and service availability are essential," explained Mark Carney, OBE, Chief Business Development Officer for GigNet. "We are setting a new international connectivity standard for the Mexican Caribbean," said GigNet's Chairman & CEO Paul A. Moore. "As the leading Digital Infrastructure company in the region, we are leveraging our world-class connectivity to provide the best Broadband, Internet and WiFi (News - Alert) solutions. We look forward to working with the Tulum community." About GigNet GigNet is the Mexican Caribbean brand of GigNet, Inc., a U.S.-based international Digital Infrastructure company. Through its Mexico operating subsidiaries, GigNet, S.A. de C.V., and Sanalto Redes Peninsular, S.A.P.I. de C.V., the Company is a fully licensed telecommunications provider in Mexico. GigNet is actively adding customers to its 214-kilometer fiber-optic broadband network in the Mexican Caribbean, one of the largest and fastest growing tourism destinations in the world, with over 160,000 hotel rooms and over 23 million annual airport visitors. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005497/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Muslim pilgrims wear masks at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on February 28, 2020. Saudi Arabia suspended visas for visits to Islam's holiest sites for the "umrah" pilgrimage, an unprecedented move triggered by coronavirus fears that raises questions over the annual hajj. Saudi Arabia is considering canceling the annual hajj pilgrimage this year because the coronavirus pandemic, the Financial Times reported. The hajj, which involves traveling to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, is a mandatory ritual for all observant Muslims who can afford the trip and physically complete the journey at least once in their lifetime. One of the largest religious gatherings in the world, hajj draws about 2 million people to Saudi Arabia each year. However, following the postponement of other major events like the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Saudi officials have faced pressure to cancel this year's hajj to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, the report said. Officials are considering different scenarios and a "decision will be made within one week," a senior official from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah ministry told the newspaper. This year's hajj is supposed to take place from July 29 to Aug. 4, but Saudi Arabia has yet to lift an international travel ban implemented on May 20. Other countries have already declined to send pilgrims this year. The kingdom experienced a spike in coronavirus cases and deaths after loosening lockdown measures, the report said. Saudi Arabia has reported more than 119,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 893 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. A cancellation of the hajj could put further economic pressure on a country still reeling from the drop in oil demand brought upon by the pandemic. Those making the pilgrimage were expected to generate $12 billion for the kingdom. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah did not immediately reply to a request for comment. To read more about the potential cancellation of this year's hajj, check out the Financial Times' report. Meeting Trump accelerated that mythmaking, as he introduced her around the city as a supermodel when that was not true. Jordan found little evidence even of the story of how they met he saw her at a club during Fashion Week in 1998 with a more famous model, but was fixated on Melania, who refused to give him her phone number. Multiple sources, including a German modeling agent she was working for that year, told Jordan that they had heard Melania was already dating Trump before the timeline they laid out. Australian retail giant JB Hi-Fi is thriving during the coronavirus pandemic as sales for home appliances and technology products surged. While other companies are struggling to bounce back from the forced shut down in March due to COVID-19, the electronics and appliances retailer has managed to perform better than anyone predicted. The company had expected its full-year net profit to increase by between 6.1 per cent and 8.1 per cent, between $265 million and $270 million. But the increase in demand from customers stuck at home buying small appliances, televisions and mobile phones has seen sales growth tipped to increase by 10.8 per cent to $7.86 billion. Net profit is expected to be 20 to 22 per cent higher, in the range of $300 million to $305 million. JB Hi-Fi chief executive Richard Murray now believes the demand for consumer technology will continue until Christmas Australian retail giant JB Hi-Fi is thriving during the coronavirus pandemic as sales for home appliances and technology products surge Retailers, including Myer, Cotton On and Kathmandu, closed their doors during the lockdown as the government urged residents to remain home from March. The shutdown resulted in a slump in sales for many retailers, leaving companies battling to stay afloat after relying mainly on online shoppers for about two months. However, the majority of JB Hi-Fi stores in Australia remained open. The company enhanced its cleaning and social distancing measures during this time. The elevated sales growth, combined with disciplined cost control, has more than offset the additional operating costs associated with additional health and safety measures which were brought in. JB Hi-Fi chief executive Richard Murray believes the demand for consumer technology will continue until Christmas. 'The economy feels in better shape than we might have thought for consumers, and housing prices seem to be in good shape - customers are spending time at home and investing in their homes,' he told the Australian Financial Review. 'If JobKeeper gets us through a majority of the tough times for consumers and the government can focus on specific industries that have been impacted, such as hospitality or tourism, then that's a great outcome, because we do need to get the economy back as quickly as possible to a new normal.' The majority of JB Hi-Fi stores in Australia remained open during through March and April, with enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures in place, resulting in high demand during the past three months The group did feel a negative impact of COVID-19 at its 14-store New Zealand network, which was closed in March and April due to social restrictions there. Given the impact of the temporary closure, the group is reviewing the carrying value of its New Zealand business and said it will take a non-cash impairment of $25 million in its full year accounts. JB Hi-Fi said all New Zealand stores have resumed full trading and initial sales performance since reopening has been solid. The retailer also reinstated and upgraded its FY20 sales and earnings guidance after withdrawing its initial forecast in March amid the uncertainty arising from COVID-19. The group now expects net profit to be 20 to 22 per cent higher, in the range of $300 million to $305 million. A disabled teenager who had his pelvis shattered so severely in a schoolyard assault may never fully recover. The teenager, whose parents did not want him identified, was rushed into emergency surgery at Perth Childrens Hospital on Wednesday after being knocked to the ground in an alleged assault by a fellow student. Police have charged a 15-year-old boy with causing grievous bodily harm and common assault. He is due appear in Perth Childrens Court on June 25. A 14-year-old boy (pictured) was rushed to Perth Children's Hospital for emergency hospital on Wednesday after he was allegedly knocked to the ground by his 15-year-old classmate The victim has peroneal muscular atrophy which causes poor muscle strength and means he appears to walk on his tiptoes. He is now facing months of not being able to walk and doctors are unsure whether he will ever make a full recovery. Police allege the bully placed the boy in a headlock before he was knocked to the ground. The victim's injuries were so severe doctors had already begun operating as his parents rushed to the hospital from their home north of Perth. His mother said he had been bullied in the past over his appearance and described the call from the hospital as a 'parent's worst nightmare'. 'I was completely heartbroken and terrified that I couldnt be there with him. I think it is a parents worst nightmare,' she told the West Australian. 'He already has a hard enough time with his disability, and to have this on top of it is just heartbreaking. The injuries he has from this... we are not sure if he is going to even get back to the way he was before.' The victim has peroneal muscular atrophy which causes him to have poor muscle strength and means he appears to walk on his tiptoes. Doctors are unsure whether he will ever fully recover The victim's mother said he is really embarrassed about what has allegedly happened to him. She said he has been left mentally scarred and does not want to go back anywhere near where the incident took place. She also voiced fears that the alleged attack has set her son back and it will take him a long time to get over it. Education Department deputy director Stephen Baxter said all allegations of violence were treated very seriously and the school was assisting police with their investigation. Mr Baxter said the department backs schools completely to take a tough stance on violence and suspend or move to exclude any student who physically assaults another student. 'Violence is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Every child should feel safe and supported when they are at school,' he said. As the victim awoke and fought back, Lathem called out for help, so Warren put his hands over the victims mouth, hit him in the head with a heavy metal lamp and stabbed him in the chest with so much force that he broke the blade of one of the knives he used, prosecutors alleged. Geriatrics is the field of health care focused on care for older adults. Experts suggest that our current geriatrics workforce needs better preparation to care for the 5.7 million people living with dementia in this country. To help meet this challenge, the Institute of Medicine has called for enhancing educational and training programs for improving the competence of the workforce, and to ensure that our workforce reaches the level needed to serve the growing population of older adults with dementia. Despite these ongoing efforts, the shortage of geriatricians makes it difficult to meet these urgent educational needs. For this study, a team of researchers looked "outside the box" to learn more about whether creative solutions could offer valuable opportunities for addressing these issues. In this new study, the researchers outlined the results and outcomes of an undergraduate service-learning course that used music and filmmaking to teach person-centered approaches to dementia. The course, which included music, filmmaking, and reflective writing components, focused on service at local dementia care settings and was conducted in collaboration with Music & Memory, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing personalized music playlists to people living with dementia or other serious medical challenges. The three-credit undergraduate service-learning course was developed and taught by a music professor over three consecutive semesters with 16 to 18 students each term. The students worked in pairs at one of two dementia care settings. Students received initial classroom training on dementia, ethnomusicology (music anthropology), ethnographic fieldwork methods (the technical term for expert research based on studying people and culture), filmmaking basics, and creative aging. A gerontologist social worker was invited to offer guest lectures each semester to train students in the basics of dementia care and dementia communication. Students also attended an initial orientation visit to their field site before filming. Over five to eight weeks, students completed six or seven three-hour visits to the dementia care settings, either assisted living facilities or adult day health centers. Their tasks for the semester were to create personalized music playlists for participating older adults and to document these experiences through short films. During these visits, students worked with people living with dementia who had consented by proxy to participate. At the end of the semester, playlists developed for these participants were loaded onto iPods and given to the people with dementia to use with the help of staff and family members. The students took turns interacting with the people and filming the process. Throughout the course, students wrote multiple essays, workshopped their films, and discussed their experiences as a group. At the end of the course, students shared their films with the people with dementia and their families, the dementia care facilities, and the local community through public and private screenings. If given permission by families, student films were also shared online. As their final assignment, each student wrote a reflective essay about the film and their experiences in the course. Three major themes and one unexpected finding emerged in this study: 1. Music helps students connect with people with dementia in meaningful ways. 2. Filmmaking offers students the opportunity to share unique, person-centered stories about dementia and music that empowers the voices of people with dementia. 3. Reflective writing enables students to process new experiences and lessons learned. According to the researchers, one way to build a larger geriatrics workforce could involve using resources found outside the realm of geriatrics and health sciences education. For example, arts and humanities approaches to the study of dementia have the potential to humanize the condition for potential geriatric trainees. "By teaching students to view aging through creative, intercultural and interdisciplinary frames, we have the opportunity to shape a new generation of health care professionals, artists, and community members who will be motivated to collaboratively work towards addressing the needs of our rapidly aging populations," said lead author Jennie Gubner, Ph.D., from the University of Arizona and the Global Brain Health Institute. "Whether studying classical guitar, nursing, anthropology, public health, or business and marketing, everyone has something to offer to conversations about brain health and aging." As one student put it: "I wish I could meet everyone by learning their favorite songs because it tells you so much about a person, more than any conversation ever will. I also realized how many misconceptions I had about those living with dementia. It does not define them, it is just a piece of who they are, just as we are all made of different pieces." Explore further Music and filmmaking can transform undergraduate student perceptions of dementia More information: Jennie Gubner et al, Transforming Undergraduate Student Perceptions of Dementia through Music and Filmmaking, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2020). Journal information: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Jennie Gubner et al, Transforming Undergraduate Student Perceptions of Dementia through Music and Filmmaking,(2020). DOI: 10.1111/jgs.16418 Tourism sector insiders have expressed some hesitation at the governments announcement to make foreign tourists pay $3,000 upfront, to compensate for any potential COVID-19 treatment costs, which could be a deterrent for incoming travelers. The Ministry of Economy and Finance on Tuesday released a price list of costs that will be imposed on travelers visiting the country, including COVID-19 testing, hotel stay, transportation, and food costs. Tourism sector operators worry that these costs would deter tourists from coming to Cambodia, with the sector already facing massive economic hardship due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. In March, the government had announced that foreigners entering the country were expected to have a medical certification that they did not have COVID-19, at least $50,000 in health insurance, and would have to enter 14-day isolation on entry into the country. "Upon arrival to Cambodia, all foreign travelers will have to present their health insurance... and make a deposit (by cash or credit card) of USD 3,000 with designated commercial banks at points of entry," the Finance Ministry statement read. The ministry listed out every small expense involved, including a $3 charge for security guards at quarantine facilities, $5 to transport passengers to a designated area to await their test results. The heavier charges include $100 per COVID-19 test, with a minimum of four tests, and $30 each for hotel stay and food during a passengers stay at a designated quarantine center. The government is also charging a hefty $1,500, half the total upfront payment, for any potential cremation services. Incoming passengers will be expected to pay this money on arrival, with it being unclear who would be responsible for the money or how it was stored and accounted for. The statement only said local banks will be used to collect the money. The move is a departure from Prime Minister Hun Sens statement in March that Cambodia would bear the costs of any COVID-19 positive patient, attempting to set the country apart from other countries who were charging foreigners for treatment. The government had also embraced a Small Country, Big Heart campaign when it accepted the MS Westerdam cruise ship in February, which had been denied entry to multiple countries for fears it could be COVID-19 cluster. The passengers were given accommodation at a luxury hotel in Phnom Penh as they waited for their test results and even taken on a tour of the city by the municipality. Finance Ministry spokesperson Meas Soksensan said on Thursday the decision to charge foreign travelers and the pricing list set had been released after studying the issue. Can VOA Khmer tell me which country treats foreigners free of charge? he said. The move could exasperate the issues facing Cambodias tourism sector, which is one of the main drivers of the economy. The difficult decision to open up to foreign travelers is not unique to Cambodia, and multiple countries are attempting to grapple with how to resume international travel and tourism, to prop up their sagging economies. According to VN Express, Vietnam is considering restarting international air routes and is formulating a plan to bring tourists into the country as well. According to Asahi Shimbun in Japan, the country is also planning to allow business travelers from specific countries that have low case counts. Japan would test people on arrival, limit their movements to places of business but prevent them from using public transportation. Bloomberg News reported that Thailand plans to have bilateral agreements with countries to allow international movement of travelers, but would restrict movements within the country to travel bubbles. Chhay Sivlin, the president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA), welcomed guidelines for testing travelers to prevent the spread of the virus in Cambodia, but that the prices presented by the government were high and could be a deterrent to potential visitors. [It] should be half [the price] for testing for COVID-19, she said, adding some foreigners entering the country had complained they were being charged arbitrary prices for testing, ranging between $200 to $300. Chhay Sivlin said the government should lift the suspensions on visa-free entry, tourist visas, e-visas, and visas on arrival as visas. She added that there were some 630,000 Cambodians who were economically linked to the tourism sector, which had seen loss jobs and income. Travel sector veteran Ho Vandy said the measures, while needed, would be skeptical of the $3,000 charge, adding that Cambodians traveling overseas would also be deterred if their destination country asked for $3,000 on arrival. It is the same if Cambodians traveling abroad are required to deposit [$3,000], they dont feel comfortable, he said. It can curb their travels. Khek Norinda, a communications officer at the Phnom Penh International Airport, said there were only three arrivals and five departures on Thursday. Whereas on Wednesday, he said 1,720 people were moving through the airport, both arrivals and departures, which was low compared to 28,300 inbound and outbound passengers for the same day in 2019. We dont have the breakdown between inbound and outbound at this point. There are regular flights to Chinese cities and Seoul and one charter flight to Manila, he said. However, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge has said it can test up to 600 people a day, with the National Institute of Public Health able to do around 200 tests a day, according to government statistics from April. Duong Veasna, deputy head of virology at Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, said they had tested samples for free so far and had purchased more reagent that is needed to test for the virus. The General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu has described some comments made by NDCs flagbearer John Dramani Mahama to reject the December 7 polls if flawed as 'unnecessary'. According to him, anybody at all can challenge a flawed election including the NPP hence, Mahamas comment is just an empty noise. It wasnt even necessary for him [John Mahama] to say this anywhere. It really is not necessary. In anycase who will accept a flawed election? So why do you tell me what I know already? he questioned in an interview on Neat FM. We live in this country and have witnessed flawed election results challenged. In 1992. 1996. 2000 and even 2012, he added. Ex-Prez Mahama warns EC Former President John Dramani Mahama has issued a stern warning to the Electoral Commission (EC) ahead of this years general elections. According to the former President and flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the party will not accept the 2020 election results should they suspect any underhand dealings by the EC. As leader of the NDC, I wish to serve notice that we shall do all our parts to ensure that our country remains peaceful and that the electoral process proceeds smoothly, but let nobody assume that we will accept the results of a flawed elections," he cautioned. Mr. John Mahama made this comment at a ceremony on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 to mark the 28th anniversary of the National Democratic Congress. Mahama says NDC wont accept the result of a flawed election John Dramani Mahama has insisted that his party will not accept the results of the 2020 general elections should it deem the process as unfair. The party has participated in all elections in the Fourth Republic, he noted, adding they have accepted defeat each time they lost. But stressing on the disagreements between the NDC and the Electoral Commission (EC) on the voters register, Mahama warned the party may not accept the results of the upcoming elections. Addressing party members at the NDCs 28th Anniversary; Mr. Mahama promised that the party was committed to a peaceful electoral process but let nobody assume that we will accept the results of a flawed election. He said never has it been during the Fourth Republic that six months to a general election, we are all unsure of what register we are going to use for the vote. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The nation has witnessed a daily split screen as two different presidential candidates take dramatically different approaches to a sweeping protest movement. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump suggested without evidence that a 75-year-old protester in Buffalo who was pushed to the ground by police may have been part of a "set up"coordinated by anti-fascist demonstrators. The man was severely injured and spent days in the ICU. Hours later, an address by Joe Biden was played at the Houston funeral of George Floyd, whose May 25 death after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck sparked the protests. "Why in this nation do too many black Americans wake up knowing that they could lose their life in the course of just living their life?" Biden asked. "We can't turn away. We must not turn away. We cannot leave this moment thinking we can once again turn away from racism, that stings at our very soul - from systemic abuse that still plagues American life." Last week saw the same stark contrast. Biden prayed with black clergy inside a church, listened and took notes on their sometimes combative questions, and then, as the group posed for a photo, took a knee. Hours later, Trump marched through Lafayette Square after largely peaceful protesters had been aggressively cleared out, and posed standing alone in front of a church displaying a Bible. Biden and Trump have promoted those images as core to their political identity as they speak to entirely separate sets of voters in one fractured country. Where Trump supporters see strength in him clutching a Bible or standing with heavily armed police, Democrats see a tyrant who picks at the country's racial wounds. Where Biden supporters see an empathetic healer, Republicans see a coward. Both sides are betting that, whoever they may alienate, the approach they've chosen is their path to the White House. While Biden and other top Democrats believe systemic racism exists, Republicans from Trump on down have cast the Floyd killing as a more isolated incident. Trump has aligned himself with police officers, inviting them to the White House this week; one of Biden's first public appearances since the coronavirus hit was at a protest in Wilmington, Del. Their positioning reflects their political realities. Trump leads a party that is heavily white, older and conservative. Biden is steering one that is increasingly multiracial, younger and liberal. As they are navigating this moment, so is America - and so far public opinion seems to be on Biden's side. "This is a transformational moment," said Frank Luntz, the longtime Republican consultant. "People aren't expecting you to have an answer. But they do expect you to empathize, 'Do you truly feel what people feel?' And both Biden and Trump are empathizing with a different segment of society." "And if you ask," he added, "I think the Biden segment is bigger right now." Biden over the past week took out $4.9 million in Facebook ads - nearly four times more than Trump - with contrasting images of Trump holding the Bible and surrounded by heavily armed police, and with Biden kneeling to talk to a young black boy. Trump has attempted to peel voters from Biden with Facebook ads claiming he has driven black poverty rates to record lows, secured record funding for historically black colleges and universities, and passed criminal justice reform. The images he projects, directed well beyond the black community, aim to invoke strength and resilience, and cast him as unwilling to bend to those calling for change outside the gates of the White House. "He said, 'Look, if you all don't put this violence down, I will,'" said Darrell Scott, a pastor in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and an informal Trump adviser who once said Trump would be "the most pro-black president I've seen in my lifetime." "That's leadership right there. It's bold and courageous," Scott added. "Everyone tried to get mad at him but he said if police can't, won't, or don't stop this violence, then I'll deal with it - up to and including using the military." Over the weekend, Trump retweeted a tweet of a state Senate candidate in Connecticut who showed photos of Trump walking through Lafayette Square, and another with Biden kneeling with the black pastors inside the church. "Leaders lead," the caption read. "Cowards kneel." But the president's policy critique has meandered, as Trump has tried to simultaneously argue that Biden was wrong to write the 1994 crime bill, which led to more police officers and higher levels of African American incarceration, while also accusing him of wanting to "defund the police"- the slogan generated during the protests. Biden on Monday said he did not support efforts to defund the police - and his campaign pointed to his proposal to spend $300 million on community policing programs, money that would be withheld if local agencies fail to mirror the demographics of the cities they serve. And while Trump has falsely tagged Biden as wanting to defund the police, his own budget proposals have called for major cuts to the community policing program that Biden wants to increase. Biden released a digital ad last week that aligns him with the protesters. The camera at one point shows a cardboard sign bearing the words "Love over Hate," with the White House as a backdrop. "I'll seek to heal the racial wounds that have long plagued our country," Biden says in the ad, a clip from a speech he gave last week in Philadelphia. "Not use them for political gain." Biden has only lightly criticized some of the damage inflicted by protesters - "We can't allow the protesting to overshadow the purpose of the protest," he said - while Trump has repeatedly criticized looting. Biden also has largely avoided discussing his role in the 1994 crime bill. Instead, he has focused on his support for legislation that would ban chokeholds by police, set national training standards for them, and collect data on police misconduct. He has also promoted ideas to make it easier for black-owned businesses to get a loan, to make homeownership easier for minorities, and to help communities combat gentrification. In a Monday interview with "CBS Evening News" anchor Norah O'Donnell, Biden said that he believes there is "absolutely" systemic racism in policing, as well as in housing, in education and "in everything we do." "It's real. It's genuine. It's serious," Biden said. "Look, not all law enforcement officers are racist. My lord, there are some really good, good cops out there. But the way in which it works right now is we've seen too many examples of it." Trump has focused more on the damage done during the protests than on whether the country needs to address racism and police brutality. He has repeatedly said that he is for "law and order," tweeting the phrase numerous times. While he has expressed sympathy for Floyd's family, he also retweeted a tweet that raised questions about his character. During a roundtable on Monday with law enforcement officials, Trump focused most of his time on praising them for keeping crime rates low. He also suggested that the Floyd killing was a fairly isolated incident. "We want to make sure we don't have any bad actors in there. And sometimes you'll see some horrible things, like we witnessed recently," Trump said. "But 99 - I say 99.9, but let's go with 99 percent of them are great, great people." Attitudes toward police treatment of black Americans have shifted significantly in the aftermath of the Floyd killing. Sixty-nine percent of Americans said it represents a broader problem with law enforcement, compared with only 29% who say it is an isolated incident, according to a new Washington Post-Schar School poll. That is a major shift from six years ago, following killings of unarmed black men in Ferguson, Mo., and New York, when 43% described the deaths as indicative of broader problems in policing while 51% saw them as isolated incidents. The biggest shift is among Republicans. While 19% saw the killings as part of a wider problem in 2014, now 47% of Republicans see the killings as a broader issue. "The ability to scare middle-white America, to scare those suburban moms about the protester, is lessened by the fact that their kids are in the protest. And guess what? Mom's joining them in the protest," said Cornell Belcher, who was a pollster for Barack Obama and has been critical of his party's outreach to young black voters. "There are more Americans on the side of the protesters right now than on the side of police," he added. "That is a profoundly different place. That makes the 'tough guy crushing this' approach more problematic." Biden campaign advisers believe the shifts could help rebuild the Obama coalition by animating the young and black voters who are in the streets protesting, but who Hillary Clinton struggled to drive to the polls in 2016. "I think voters are reacting to two different things," said Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster. "One, to the police mistreatment of African Americans on the one hand. But they're also reacting to President Trump himself and the way he's dealt with this. Which is different from where we were in 2016." Tim Murtaugh, the communications director for the Trump campaign, said that Biden "has sided with the rioters" and "has watched as his entire party has become engulfed by the 'Defund the Police' movement." (Not only Biden but many other party leaders have said they opposes any such efforts). "President Trump stands for law and order while Biden can't even stand up to extremists in his own party," he added. Matt Hill, a spokesman for the Biden campaign, said that "the wounds of racial injustice have been ripped open again" and that Biden was showcasing leadership that is lacking in the White House. "While Donald Trump focuses on fanning the flames of racism, speaking to his base and dividing the country, Joe Biden has stepped up to show how to address systemic racism head on, empathize with all Americans, and heal our nation," Hill said. The verdict will ultimately be delivered in places such as Macomb County, a swing area outside Detroit that voted twice for Obama and then for Trump in 2016, where several thousand people marched over the weekend. "Joe Biden - I disagree with him on a lot of votes he's taken," said Rep. Andy Levin, D-Mich., who represents the area. "But basically what this moment does is sweep away the concerns with imperfections with someone's record and says, 'Constitutionally who is fit to unify the country on a next level of racial justice,' " he said. "It's just patently obvious that Donald Trump isn't that person." Nina Ahmad, a former deputy mayor in Philadelphia who sunk almost $500,000 of her own money into the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania auditor general, has prevailed over five other contenders. Michael Lamb, the four-term Pittsburgh city controller, finished second in the race despite landing the endorsement of Ahmads ex-boss, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. With almost all precincts having reported results for in-person votes Friday, Ahmad had about 35% of the vote to 28% for Lamb. While the Associated Press hadnt yet projected a winner, and a number of mail ballots remained to be counted, Ahmad declared victory Thursday after Lamb conceded. In a statement, Ahmad thanked her opponents for running strong campaigns based on progressive ideas for delivering positive change in our commonwealth. She will face Timothy DeFoor in the general election. DeFoor ran unopposed in the Republican primary. The Auditor Generals Office, a relatively obscure row office often overshadowed in Harrisburg by other agencies, is described as the states chief financial watchdog. The auditor general earns an annual salary of $158,764. We can rebuild our economy in a way that boosts our small businesses, and benefits working and middle-class families, Ahmad said. "We can ensure that police reform and criminal justice reform remain front and center. And as auditor general, I will view all of the audits that the office conducts through the lens of racial equity. I will work to stamp out sexual harassment and discrimination in state government, and change the culture in Harrisburg. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, was term-limited from seeking the office again. DePasquale won the Democratic primary in central Pennsylvanias 10th Congressional District. Ahmad, who invested $655,835 in a second-place finish in the 2018 primary for lieutenant governor, has said she and her husband, real estate developer Ahsan Nasratullah, had spent more than $1 million in those races combined. She said they believe its important to elect women to statewide office. Just five women have been elected to statewide executive offices in Pennsylvania in the last 66 years. No woman of color has been elected attorney general, treasurer, or auditor general. No woman has ever been elected governor. Ahmad moved to the United States from Bangladesh in 1980 and became a citizen nine years later. Ahmad, who also picked up $50,000 in donations from Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in the closing days of the primary campaign, spent $695,460 on broadcast and cable television commercials, according to the ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics. That outpaced Lamb, who spent $179,989 on television advertising. The other candidates were seven-term State Rep. Scott Conklin of Centre County, who lost a statewide race for lieutenant governor in 2010; Tracie Fountain, a certified public accountant who has served in the Auditor Generals Office for three decades; Rose Marie Davis, a certified public accountant from Monroe County; and Christina Hartman, a nonprofit executive from Lancaster County who ran for the U.S. House in 2016. DeFoor, the Republican, is a two-term Dauphin County controller. The Nov. 3 general election is expected to produce strong voter turnout due to Pennsylvanias status as a swing state in the presidential election. DEHRADUN: The Indian Military Academy (IMA) will hold the Passing out Parade (PoP) for the 146 Regular Course and 129 Technical Graduate Course on Saturday, June 13 in Dehradun. This years first passing out parade will be broadcasted live across the country on the Indian Army's Youtube channel - ADGPI Indian Army from 6 am onwards. Chief of Indian Army General Manoj Mukund Naravane will be the reviewing officer of the passing out parade which will see 333 Indian and 90 Gentlemen Cadets from nine foreign countries becoming army officers. Releasing a teaser of the parade, the Indian Army showed impressive visuals of the cadets lined up to graduate, ready to shoulder the nation's responsibility. ! ! Watch #IMA #Dehradun #PassingOutParade Live Coverage at 6 am on 13 June 2020 on #IndianArmy official YouTube channel (ADGPI-INDIAN ARMY).https://t.co/O5R2BAvYT7 pic.twitter.com/fPReOKde87 ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) June 11, 2020 Importantly, it will also be the first time that the parents and relatives of the gentlemen cadets are not invited to attend the event in view of the COVID-19 situation. IMA had said that all precautionary measures for COVID-19 are being taken for the June 13 event and, for the first time, parents and relatives of the cadets are not allowed to witness the event. In the backdrop of COVID-19 situation, parents and relatives of cadets have been advised to watch the live coverage of all POP events on media to feel part of the celebration and the pride associated with it. This was one of the major reasons why the Indian Army decided to broadcast the parade live on social media. Spectacular and Impressive Passing Out Parade of #IMA, #Dehradun will also be telecast live on DD News at 6 am on 13 Jun 20.#StayHomeStaySafe#NationFirst pic.twitter.com/nL40ucEHDP ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) June 12, 2020 The parents or relatives of cadets usually pip-in the ranks on the shoulders of cadets after the passing out parade. This year, the ranks would be put on by instructors or families residing within the academy premises. The passing out parade symbolises the culmination of rigorous training and transformation of a gentleman cadet into a young officer. Every six months, the IMA organises a passing out parade for its cadets who join different arms and services of the Indian Army while the foreign cadets go onto join the armies in their respective countries. Linick was asked at another point about Porter, a longtime aide to Pompeo in his Wichita office when he was a congressman who came to Washington with him in 2017, first at the CIA as chief of protocol and then at State as a senior adviser. Linick declined, saying that discussing Porter would require getting into matters involving our investigation, and I dont really want to comment on who she is or what she does or anything like that. The All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee for the Edo State governorship election has disqualified Governor Godwin Obaseki from contesting the forthcoming party primary. Mr Obasekis disqualification, which happened on Friday, climaxed a long-run battle between the governor and Adams Oshiomhole, the APC National Chairman who is a former governor of Edo State. Days before his disqualification, there was confusion about the genuineness of Mr Obasekis university certificate, until the University of Ibadan came out to confirm that he studied classics in the school and graduated in 1979 with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division. A source in the Edo State Government House hinted PREMIUM TIMES earlier on Friday that the APC at Abuja would announce Mr Obasekis disqualification in the next few hours. It is unfortunate that this open show of shame, illegality and travesty of justice is the brand of democracy which Comrade Oshiomhole has reduced the APC into, Governor Obasekis spokesperson, Crusoe Osagie, said in a statement forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES before the formal announcement of the disqualification. The situation is quite saddening because this is a party supposedly reputed for change, equity and social justice, Mr Osagie added. We have watched the mockery of democratic process, which Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is administering and superintending over in our great party the All Progressives Congress (APC). It has been an unfortunate, disheartening and dreadful spectacle. We had initially asserted that going by the open display and enthronement of illegality by one man in the party that comprises several organs and eminent personalities, there is no way that Governor Godwin Obaseki would get a fair assessment in the run-up to the nomination of candidates to fly the flag of the party in the forthcoming Edo gubernatorial election. Continuing, Mr Osagie said, We have, therefore, decided that it would be effort in futility to appeal whatever the unjust outcome of the evaluation and screening process of the APC will be, especially when Comrade Oshiomhole has declared that he is the Supreme Court and ultimate determiner of the fate and future of our great party. We wish Oshiomhole well in his maladministration of the party and trust that the Almighty will help our country to find the path to true liberty, freedom and justice. Mr Obasekis opponent, Osagie-Ize Iyamu, who was cleared by the committee, released a statement Friday giving more details about why Mr Obaseki was disqualified. READ ALSO: The statement by his spokesperson, John Maiyaki, said Mr Obaseki was deemed ineligible by the screening committee over multiple inconsistencies in his presented academic certificates, including a Higher School Leaving Certificate the Governor claimed to have obtained from an Institute of Continuing Education in Benin City, Edo State. The certificate, according to the committee, is unknown to the Nigerian education system and the Governor also admitted during the screening that he never received the certificate, the statement said. Furthermore, his NYSC certificate indicated the name Obasek, and while the Committee acknowledged that this could be an error on the part of the issuing body, it flagged the Governors failure to address the problem for years and thus solidified doubts on its authenticity. Governor Godwin Obaseki also failed to supply additional documents solicited as proof of its claims. The statement also said Chris Ogiemwonyi was also ruled ineligible over inconsistencies in the name contained in his submitted academic certificates. Another disqualified aspirant was Matthew Iduoriyekemwen. Pius Odubu and Osaro Obaze, however, passed the screening and joined Mr Ize-Iyamu as the aspirants ruled eligible to participate in the primary election. Gomez said he spoke with other restaurant owners on 26th Street about asking the city to close the street for outdoor seating, but they doubted it would help. Mayor Lori Lightfoot launched the Expanded Outdoor Dining Permit in late May, which allows businesses to offer temporary outdoor dining in the street or on private property such as parking lots. On the North Side, Lakeview was the first in the city to test street closures from Belmont Avenue to Diversey Parkway for outdoor dining, starting Friday. The American Primary Aluminum Association (APAA), which represents US producers Century Aluminum and Magnitude 7, says that Canadian imports have surged since the tariffs were removed and are threatening the viability of the US primary aluminium industry.In a letter to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the APAA blamed an increase in Canadian imports for the collapse in aluminium prices and noted that the Covid-19 pandemic had demonstrated how essential the metal is to the US economy.If US smelters continue to shutter, the United States will only become more dependent on offshore supply. While Canadian producers want the windfall of avoiding Section 232 duties, the Canadian surge is destroying what remains of the US industry, said the letter, signed by APAA chief executive Mark Duffy.This situation will increase supply chain vulnerability at the very time the United States is seeking to preserve a threshold level of production at home, it added.The Aluminum Association (AA), which represents more than 120 companies across the industry value chain, would strongly oppose a return to tariffs. According to AA president and chief executive officer Tom Dobbins, there are clear problems with the Section 232 program, but efforts to blame Canada miss the mark.To the extent the industry has seen a surge in foreign imports in recent years, it has been in flat-rolled aluminium products from countries receiving Section 232 product exclusions. Many of these imports are the subject of ongoing anti-dumping and countervailing duty cases, Dobbins said.Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this issue, but facts are facts. Imports of primary aluminium from Canada today are consistent with long-term trends long pre-dating the imposition of Section 232 tariffs, he added.The surgeSo what does the data show?For sure, imports from Canada have increased since Section 232 tariffs have been removed.According to the Aluminium Association of Canada, the United States has been importing an average of 186,369 tonnes of unwrought aluminium from Canada per month through 2020.But imports are still down from pre-Section 232 levels.In 2017, monthly imports averaged 209,587 tonnes. The Section 232 tariffs were imposed in March 2018 Last year, imports averaged 174,440 tonnes per month, and in the second half of 2019 - after tariffs were removed - the monthly average was 204,638 tonnes.Not such a surge after all, then.Canada supplies about 45% of US primary aluminium needs, with about 70% of the countrys aluminium production destined for its neighbor. Its biggest supplier is Rio Tinto Aluminium, the largest producer of primary aluminium in North America, with about 75% of its material supplying more than 35 US states.But its a two-way street: Three out of every four cars sold in America contain aluminium from Canada, while one out of every three car and truck wheels manufactured in the US contains aluminium that Rio Tinto produces in Canada. Parts cross the border sometimes more than half-a-dozen times before finishing in a vehicle that ends up in a sales lot in either the US or Canada.Its an integrated supply chain that has been built over years and reflects decades of cooperation between the two nations for example, Canada supplied half the aluminium used by allied forces in planes and other military assets during World War II.Like it or not, Canada is a critical supplier to the US. The Covid-19 pandemic may have heightened the desire to nearshore supply chains, but that relationship had been in place for years and deepened further recently.Last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Donald Trump announced that their countries would develop a joint action plan on critical minerals collaboration. The goal of the plan, which was finalized in January, is to strengthen North American production capacity and reduce reliance on global value chains for the sourcing and production of these materials.So why doesn't the US just produce more aluminium?A key problem is the high cost of electricity.An unprecedented 15-fold increase in spot electricity prices in the US Pacific Northwest - after long-term power contracts expired - led to the curtailment of 10 aluminium smelters in the region in 2000 and 2001.The US had 23 operating plants in 1998 but currently has eight, operated by Alcoa, Century Aluminum and Magnitude 7. Even if every domestic smelter were fully operational, the US could only meet around one-third of its demand for primary aluminium.Thats not to say there should be more greenfield projects or restarts in the US - if anything, there will be more closures, with Alcoa already slated to temporarily shutter its Intalco operation in Ferndale, Washington , in the next few weeks as it reviews its smelting portfolio.The energy-intensive nature of producing aluminium means that regions with low-cost hydroelectric power or natural gas have a natural advantage. The location of greenfield smelting capacity has shifted as a result, with low-cost producing regions such as the Middle East thriving along with Iceland, Norway, Russia and Canada.What has pushed Century and Magnitude 7 to seek a reintroduction of Section 232 tariffs on Canada?In its first-quarter results on April 30 , Century said that aluminium prices had been badly hit by the demand destruction caused by Covid-19, but that prices of key inputs such as alumina and electricity had declined in its favor. It did not mention Canadian imports.It also said it was moving away from value-added products and producing more commodity-grade material, lowering the average premium it receives as a result.As customer order books worsen, other producers are starting to make this switch from billet to ingot.Alcoa has moved around 20% of its sales from value-added castings to commodity-grade products . Rio Tinto has also reduced the proportion of primary metal being produced as value-added products.And what is the US Midwest P1020 premium doing?On January 22, 2018 - the day that US Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross delivered the Section 232 report on the impact of aluminium imports -Fastmarkets assessment of the aluminium P1020A premium, ddp Midwest US, was 10.25-10.75 cents per lb.During March 2018, Section 232 import tariffs were formally imposed against aluminium and steel imports into the US at a rate of 10% and 25% respectively.The premium more than doubled over the next several weeks, peaking at 22-23 cents per lb in April 2018. The current premium, assessed at 8-9.5 cents per lb on Tuesday June 9 , has more than halved from 19-19.5 cents per lb on March 23, 2018, when Section 232 tariffs came into force.So not only are aluminium prices lower, but producers have been forced to produce more ingot - and the premium for that product is lower too.The desire for a return to tariffs on Canadian imports along with the higher premium that provided a buffer to producers during the Section 232 period is perhaps better understood in this context. A view of the Immigration Detention Center, February 29, 2012 on Christmas Island, Australia. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images) Review Ordered After Darwin Prison Riot An independent review has been ordered into a riot by prisoners at the Darwin Correctional Centre in May. About 20 prisoners broke out of their cells, climbed on to roofs and started several fires, causing serious damage. The review will be conducted by John Paget, an associate professor at Charles Sturt University who holds a masters degree in prison design. Separate inquiries are also being conducted by police and NT Correctional Services. Attorney-General Natasha Fyles says a summary of Professor Pagets review would be made public. What occurred at the Darwin Correctional Facility was unacceptable and although it occurred behind the wire with no risk to the wider community, the public expects it to be investigated, Fyles said on June 12. Two prisoners suffered what were described as minor injuries in the incident, which lasted five hours. It started when 21 prisoners in low-security accommodation broke free, NT Correctional Services Commissioner Scott McNairn said. About 90 off-duty staff returned to the prison to back up the 16 who were working while police, firefighters and an ambulance also attended. The 21 men eventually agreed to come down from the roofs after negotiations and were returned to their cells. Four accommodation buildings were significantly damaged and the prison was placed in lockdown for three days. McNairn said he was not aware of any demands made by the prisoners and he praised the handling of the incident by staff. At the time, the coronavirus pandemic had stopped all social visits to prisoners by family and friends, and ceased prisoner work party camps in the community. DARWIN South Africa: Gauteng COVID-19 cases double in one week Over the past seven days, COVID-19 cases in Gauteng have doubled, with hospital admissions increasing and 20 more people dying as a result of COVID-19. Gauteng has entered a new period in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is gaining momentum. We must face this reality head-on and mobilise all resources and energy to save lives, Gauteng Premier David Makhura said. As of Thursday, the province had a total of 7 953 COVID-19 cases, 4 948 active cases, 2 948 recoveries and 57 deaths. The province has screened 7 458 034 people and conducted 338 211 tests. The Premier on Friday led the Provincial Command Council media briefing as the provincial government provided an update on COVID-19. Cumulatively, 1 033 patients were admitted in hospital, 476 of whom were discharged and 57 succumbed to the infection. Currently, 493 patients are admitted in hospital, 22 of whom are ventilated and 124 on oxygen, he said. Public servants affected by COVID-19 Since March, 335 public servants in Gauteng have tested positive for the virus. This includes public Health workers and Educators. Like all other patients, affected staff and their family members are receiving care and treatment in line with the World Health Organisation protocols. All other staff members, who were in contact with those who tested positive, have been tested and will follow all protocols to prevent the spread of the virus, Makhura said. There is ongoing decontamination of all public buildings regularly, as part of the measures to combat the spread of COVID-19. In addition, public servants undergo daily screening and some are referred for testing, as part of continuous medical surveillance protocol. In its efforts to save lives, the province is planning to meet with the Minister of Health in the coming week for reinforcement and further support in order to strengthen governments response. We call for significant behavioural change among the residents of our province: wear masks, wash your hands, sanitise and observe physical distance. We are deeply concerned about the surge in the number of trauma cases related to alcohol abuse, Makhura said. The Premier said everyone must take the necessary precautionary measures to stop the spread of Coronavirus. Based on the current patient load, we have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) in stock. However, we continue to order more stock for the next phases of the pandemic, he said. Makhura emphasised that surgical and N95 masks must be reserved for use only by frontline healthcare workers. Priority is on the empowerment of local manufacturing companies; small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and township businesses, he said. Schools reopening Most schools have now reopened, while some remain closed for various reasons, primarily due to issues relating to infrastructure, and specifically the supply of water, as well as the availability of ablution facilities. A number of schools have been temporarily closed due to confirmed COVID-19 cases. In some of these instances, we are awaiting the report from the Department of Health to confirm that it is safe to reopen. Both learner and teacher attendance has been above the 85%. A detailed assessment will be done at the end of the week. Many teachers, who have not returned, are teachers with comorbidities, the Premier said. Most of the learners, who did not return to school, have comorbidities or parents chose not to send them back to school. We are consolidating figures for educators and learners with comorbidities, which could influence the attendance rate in our schools, the Premier said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. AS LONG as theres evidence of community transmission of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Sitio Alaska in Barangay Mambaling, asymptomatic patients will not be allowed to go home even if they have been declared laboratory-negative. If we allow them to go home and there are still reported community transmission of the infection, we will only go back to zero, said Cebu City Health Officer Daisy Villa. The asymptomatic patients are staying in barangay isolation centers. Villa said the community would have to be cleared of infection before the patients who have recovered from Covid-19 would be allowed to go home. Sitio Alaska has been on lockdown since May 6, when clusters of infection were reported in the community and cases in Barangay Mambaling increased exponentially. Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said he will wait for the recommendation of the health department before lifting the lockdown. Its being assessed now, Labella said. Mambaling Barangay Councilor Anne Marie Vestil-Palomo, in a Facebook post, asked the City Hall for any update of the Alaska lockdown as most of the residents are getting hungry. Palomo said the estimated 22,000 residents of Alaska may not die of Covid-19, but of hunger. Labella said the City has sent relief goods to the community. Mambaling Barangay Captain Gines Abellana also said relief goods consisting of rice, canned goods and noodles were distributed last week until June 9. Abellana said the mayor has been supporting the barangay all throughout the lockdown. Wa tawn mi gipasagdan sa mayor, he said. (JJL) Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 19:11:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MADRID, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish government on Friday announced details of a pilot scheme under which German tourists can return to the Balearic Islands beginning June 15. The plan aims at reactivating tourism in one of Spain's most important destinations for foreign visitors after the coronavirus crisis. From June 15 to July 1, a total of 10,900 German tourists will travel to the islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The Spanish State Bulletin (BOE) explains that tourists will need to buy a return ticket, stay for a minimum of five days, and supply contact details for their stay. Tourists must also be from a region in a similar epidemiological situation to the Balearic Islands, with fewer than 9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Travelers also have to fly from an airport in the same region they live in. Health service officials will require tourists to fill out paperwork and have their temperature taken upon arrival. The 10,900 arrivals will make up around 1 percent of the number of visitors the islands would usually expect during the second half of June. Tourism accounts for around 13 percent of Spain's GDP and contributes 12 percent of its jobs, with the absence of travelers since March 14 costing an estimated 7,000 million euros (7,918 million U.S. dollars) in April and similar amounts in May and June. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said Spain will lift the quarantine imposed on visitors from abroad on July 1 as his government looks to restart a key sector of the economy. Enditem [June 12, 2020] 20 SwissTech startups zoom onto the world stage SHANGHAI, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 10, SwissTech Pitchinar, a pitching competition in webinar format, was joined by 20 leading Swiss startups in the fields of Advanced Instrument, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented/Virtual Reality, Biotech, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Energy, Fintech, HealthTech, IoT, Robotics, Software and VehicleTech. This first-of-its-kind virtual event held on Zoom received overwhelming interest from top-level audiences with more than 950 registrants from top universities, blue-chip companies, media and 238 investors with strong interest in Swiss technology and innovation, seeking opportunities for investment, partnerships and project cooperation. View event recording The virtual pitching competition featured 90-second pitches from each of the startups, providing them with a platform to spotlight their products and services with prospective investors, partners and industry experts. Ambassador Nicolas Bideau, Head of Presence Switzerland, and Gary Shapiro, CEO of Consumer Technology Association, which organizes CES ASIA and Las Vegas, delivered the keynote messages. Mithras Technology, a startup that developed wearable technology turning human body heat into usable electricity, emerged as the champion among the 20 competing startups. Eyeware, STOR-H Technologies, and Swiss Terahertz were chosen by the jury as finalists. The event reached its high peak as Swiss Ambassador to China Bernardino Regazzoni virtually awarded the trophies to the selected startups. The outstanding performance of all participating startups demonstrate the strength of the Swiss innovation ecosystem and the excellence of the world-class Swiss universities. "This was completely unexpected. We feel very proud and honored to have won the first SwissTech Pitchinar 2020. We already received lots of positive feedback from people reaching out to us, which could result in very interesting leads and this highlights the inestimable worth of such events", said Franco Membrini, Founder & CEO of Mithras Technology, "We would like to thank the team of swissnex China for an outstanding organisation and wish all the presented startups best of success." "Today, we pioneered a powerful virtual platform for Swiss startups to establish game-changing partnerships with investors, mentors, experts, potential business partners and highly-engaged audiences on a global scale: an unprecedented way to add value and build bridges", said Dr. Felix Moesner, Science Consul and CEO of swissnex China. "We saw overwhelming interest in our DeepTech startups and wish them every success with their many follow-ups." SwissTech Pitchinar 2020 is organized by swissnex China in collaboration with SwissTech, CES ASIA and Venture Leaders, and in partnership with EPFL, ETH Zurich, Greater Zurich Area, Innovaud, Swisscom and Venturelab. The SwissTech Campaign partners are Presence Switzerland, Switzerland Global Enterprise, Innosuisse, digitalswitzerland and swissnex Network. Further information on SwissTech Pitchinar 2020: www.cesasia.swissnexchina.org SwissTech Pitchinar 2020 Startups: ariadne.ai | Adrian Wanner | www.ariadne.ai High-throughput biomedical image analysis Biotech Battronics | Michael Hess | www.battronics.com Battery tech knowledge superpositioning to accelerate research on Li-ion batteries Vehicle Tech Code Lane | Simon Heinzle | www.codelane.ch Emotion-powered human-like 3D avatar rendered in real-time using artificial intelligence AR/VR collectID | David Geisser | www.collectid.io Authenticity and transparency through Blockchain-Technology Blockchain [Finalist] Eyeware | Serban Mogos | www.eyeware.tech Remote eye tracking software for laptops, smartphones, cars and more Artificial Intelligence GLOBAL ID | Lambert Sonna | www.globalid.swiss Leading B2B digital authentification solutions provider Cybersecurity holo|one | Jeffrey Li | www.holo-one.com The Mixed Reality Standard for Enterprises AR/VR !important | Bastien Beauchamp | www.important.com The Safety Belt for Pedestrians Vehicle Tech KUDO | Parham Akhavan | www.kudoway.com Multilingual Video Conferencing and Live Events for Businesses Software [Winner] Mithras Technology | Franco Membrini | www.mithras.tech Wearable technology turning human body heat into usable electricity IoT Risklick | Poorya Amini | www.risklick.ch AI solutions enabling analysis and mitigation of clinical trial risks in protocol design phase HealthTech Scientific Visual | Frederic Falise | www.scientificvisual.ch Quality control instrument for semiconductor Advanced Instrument Sevensense Robotics | Gianluca Cesari | www.sevensense.ch Empowering mobile robots to move into crowded and fast-changing spaces Robotics Siodb | Nicolas Penot | www.siodb.io Open Source relational database that secures your data by default Software [Finalist] STOR-H Technologies | Michael Levy | www.aaqius.com The global energy standard for zero-carbon mobility Energy [Finalist] Swiss Terahertz | Mostafa Shalaby | www.swissterahertz.com High tech terahertz laser technologies for security and quality control Advanced Instrument Tinamu Labs | Tobias Nageli | www.tinamu-labs.com Using drones for automated data acquisition in all environments Robotics TRUSTLESS.AI | Rufo Guerreschi | www.trustless.ai Radically-unprecedented security and privacy for your private digital life, e-health and e-banking Fintech Typewise | David Eberle | www.typewise.app Secure and intelligent human-machine interface Artificial Intelligence Voliro | Loris Niederberger | www.voliro.com Revolutionizing work at height Robotics swissnex China official website: https://www.swissnexchina.org/ swissnex China LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swissnex-china/ swissnex China Weibo: https://weibo.com/swissnexchina SOURCE swissnex China [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] JD Greear endorses black lives matter as gospel issue, denounces organization Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment President of the Southern Baptist Convention, J.D. Greear, endorsed the black lives matter movement as a Gospel issue to members of the world's largest Baptist denomination Wednesday, but denounced the Black Lives Matter organization that sparked the movement in 2013. Greear made the endorsement during an SBC presidential address in which he told Southern Baptists that disagreeing with the worldview of the Black Lives Matter organization doesnt make the issue black lives matter untrue. Black lives matter, Greear said after acknowledging the SBCs racist past and highlighting the denominations growing diversity, as well as the ongoing civil unrest over racial inequality in the wake of the death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day. I realize that the movement and the website have been hijacked by some political operatives whose worldview and policy prescriptions would be deeply at odds with my own, but that doesnt mean that the sentiment behind it is untrue. I do not align myself with the Black Lives Matter organization, he said. I think saying bold things like defund the police is unhelpful and deeply disrespectful to many public servants who bravely put themselves in harms way every day to protect us. But I know that we need to take a deep look at our police systems and structures and ask what were missing. Where are we missing the mark? And Ill say that we do that because black lives matter. We know that honoring Christ in this moment means listening to those who hurt, lamenting with them, and bearing their burdens, he said. Greear, who leads The Summit Church in the Raleigh-Durham area and has long been a champion of intentional diversity in the SBC, explained how the denomination started 175 years ago because founding members supported slavery. The denomination has, over the years since then, rejected and repented of its racist past to become one of the most ethnically diverse religious groups in the United States. A lot of people dont know that, but nearly 20% of all Southern Baptist churches are majority non-white and the North America Mission Board tells us that more than 60% of new churches planted recently have been planted and led by people of color, Greear said. Following Floyds death, which was caught on a video showing him handcuffed, lying face down, begging for his life and crying for his mother before he stopped breathing, Greear urged Southern Baptists to see racial injustice as a real issue that must be addressed. We realize that especially in a moment like this one, we need our brothers and sisters of color. We need the wisdom of leadership that God has written in their community. We know that many in our country, particularly our brothers and sisters of color, right now are hurting, he said. Pursuing justice means laboring for the protection of others as fiercely as we would our own children. A racially reconciled church requires more than just sentiments and hashtags and twitter posts. It requires the humility to listen to one another. The empathy to see things from anothers perspective, the charity to give their motives the benefit of the doubt that we would want them to give to us, he continued. Southern Baptists, we need to say it clearly: As a Gospel issue, black lives matter. Of course, black lives matter. Our black brothers and sisters are made in the image of God. Black lives matter because Jesus died for them. Black lives are a beautiful part of Gods Creation and they make up an essential and beautiful part of this body, he said. Reacting to Greears address, the Rev. Dwight McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church, a predominantly African American congregation in Arlington, Texas, told the Houston Chronicle that he was shocked but thankful beyond measure to hear Greears comments, which he praised as sensible, therapeutic and without qualification or equivocation. Its almost surreal to me that it would come off the lips of a president of the Southern Baptist Convention, McKissic said. Its true, its right and it should have been said 50 years ago. Kyle Howard, a preacher, theologian and Christian counselor, expressed concern that Greear seemingly had to use apologetics to exhort Southern Baptists to believe that black lives indeed matter. This is absolutely no shade to JD Greear, I have no doubt whatsoever regarding hes sincere. BUT, if you have to do a video appealing to Southern Baptists to care abt black lives & are having to convince them to value black lives via apologetics, something is deeply wrong, he tweeted. In a separate tweet, he rebuked white Christians for valuing "idols erected in worship to the god of white supremacy" over people. The only idols White [Christian] America has a problem seeing torn down are idols erected in worship to the god of white supremacy. In scripture, God delights in seeing idols torn down, but many 'Christians' in America have become content w/ them, they even value them over people," he wrote in a Twitter thread. LONDON - Britains Prince Charles will host French President Emmanuel Macron for a special celebration marking the 80th anniversary of Gen. Charles de Gaulles defiant appeal to the French people to resist the Nazis during World War II. Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, will receive Macron at his Clarence House home with a Guard of Honor formed by Number 7 Company of the Coldstream Guards and their band. The event on Thursday commemorates De Gaulles Apel via a BBC broadcast to his countrymen on June 18, 1940, urging them to fight on. The speech is widely considered to be the moment that gave birth to the French Resistance. I, General de Gaulle, currently in London, call upon the officers and the French soldiers who are located in British territory or who might end up here, with their weapons or without their weapons ... to get in touch with me, De Gaulle said. Whatever happens, the flame of the French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished. The moment has huge significance for Macron. It is his first trip abroad since the lockdown of the country in the pandemic, and he is eager to associate his presidency with the wartime leader. On May 17, as France was just starting to ease virus-related restrictions, Macron went to northern France at the site of a battle, lost to Nazi Germany in 1940, in which De Gaulle took part. Macron then celebrated Frances spirit of resistance. A visit to Colombey-les-deux-Eglises, the home of De Gaulle in eastern France, is also scheduled in November. The year 2020 also marks the 130th anniversary of De Gaulles birth and 50 years after his death. ___ Sylvie Corbet reported from Paris. Committed to the Tauranga community, Bay Venues is supporting the transition to a new normal by looking at a range of well-being topics over the next six weeks with the help of resilience expert Rachel Matheson. The first topic explores the challenge of keeping teams connected as employees seek more flexibility after successfully working from home over the past few months. And the challenge for businesses to find more effective and efficient ways to operate in this new normal. This week, Bay Venues and Matheson look at healthy relationships and positive interactions, including what lockdown taught us about the value of friendship. Exploring the importance of connecting with people who share the same values as you, why this is so important for our mental health and where you might make these connections. Keep an eye out for the columns at www.bayvenues.co.nz/wellness New topics will be released weekly and are available to read online Staying connected in the new normal The Covid-19 lockdown disrupted our normal working rhythm, with many of us experiencing working from home for the first time. What surprised many employees and employers alike was how many people enjoyed working from home and the positive impact on productivity. Some said they got to know their colleagues better through glimpses of their living rooms, home offices and kids as they appeared on camera via Zoom and Skype. But for others the story was different life worries, lack of space, distractions (like kids, pets and TV) and interruptions by others in the bubble meant productivity dropped, and many felt lonely, isolated and disconnected missing the human interactions and laughs over the water cooler! However, despite these challenges, a University of Otago study has found 89% of working New Zealanders want to continue to work from home post lockdown, at least part-time. To make this work long-term, businesses will need to find more effective and efficient ways to operate as we all continue to navigate the new environment of business unusual and leverage off the experiences and learnings from alert levels 3 and 4. The top priorities for employers are ensuring people feel connected with others and keeping teams together, regardless of where they are located. During lockdown many struggled with the inability to communicate through face to face meetings. We are social beings by nature connection through bonding with others is one of our basic human needs along with shelter, food, and clothing. Human connection enriches our lives, makes us feel safe and allows us to recognise that were part of something bigger than ourselves. Many of us have experienced the frustrating glitches and lags in the world of DIY online meetings. However, there is more advanced technology that can ensure connecting virtually is just as effective as traditional face to face meetings, presentations or conferences. Placing the technology in the hands of experts means that we can successfully stay connected while working apart. Keeping the team connected Its probably fair to say that many employees who worked from home during the lockdown have experienced Zoom or Skype fatigue after endless technical challenges, Wi-Fi dropouts, video glitches, presentation freezes and muted microphones. If you need a more robust virtual meeting solution to keep the team connected, host virtual training or to reach potential clients worldwide, speak to the technical experts BayAudioVisual. They can help you to host a meeting for ten, a conference for 1000 or live stream to tens of thousands. Plus, they can host the virtual event at your place or at one of the many venues across the Bay Venues network, including purpose-built studios at Trustpower Arena which meet broadcasting standards. For more information visit the website: bayaudiovisual.co.nz In theory, Cafe Trio-the well-known, upscale Plaza bistro-was supposed to reopen today. Or should we say, re-reopen. The original date was postponed from June 4th-their 16th anniversary-at the beginning of Pride month, which owners Tai Nguyen and Chris Youngers look forward to as supportive members of the LGBTQ community. A Bexar County Sheriffs Office employee has resigned in lieu of termination following an off-duty family violence arrest. Anita Lares, 41, was arrested by the San Antonio Police Department on Thursday. Lares was charged with assault causing bodily injury. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox A jail programs civilian employee, Lares had been employed with the Sheriffs Office since May 2014, officials said. "This former employee learned the hard way, that we can pick our actions, but not our consequences," Sheriff Javier Salazar said in a statement. The Sheriffs Office noted that SAPD is handling the family violence investigation, which is ongoing. Court records show that Lares was released Friday on a $3,5o0 bond. Heads of Second Cycle institutions in the Upper East Region have appealed to the government to post health workers to the various schools to test students when they return to school. They noted that though the government promised to supply teachers and students with some Personal Protective Equipment, it was imperative for the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to post some frontline workers to the various schools to screen all teachers and students before they entered the schools. This, they underscored, would ensure that students who had symptoms of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) were identified, isolated and given the necessary treatment required. During President Akufo-Addos 10th address to the nation on the measures being adopted to ease restrictions with regards to the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus Disease, final year students as well as gold track second year students of second cycle institutions were asked to return to school by June 22, 2020. The President further asked management of the schools to ensure that the prescribed safety protocols were followed to curtail the spread of the infectious disease. When the Ghana News Agency visited some schools in the Region to interact with management of the schools to ascertain their preparedness level towards reopening of the schools, the heads expressed readiness and said measures were being put in place to ensure the necessary directives were strictly adhered to. The Headmasters said their schools had been fumigated and they had acquired some sanitation materials including veronica buckets, hand sanitizers and soap, to ensure both teachers and students practiced regular hand washing. Mrs Patricia Anaba, the Headmistress of Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School (BOGISS), said the number of classes had been expanded from the usual 12 and 10 for third and second years gold track to 23 and 22 classes respectively as the number of students per each class was reduced to between 25 and 30. She added that the number of students per table at the dining had also been reduced from 12 to 6 students per table while only 20 students would be in each dormitory as against the normal 40. While indicating that the school had few sanitation materials including veronica buckets, hand sanitizers and soap positioned at vantage points to encourage hand washing, the Headmistress appealed to government to increase the PPE especially the nose masks for each teacher and student. Speaking to the GNA in an interview, Mr Afelbeik Ababu, the Headmaster of the Bolgatanga Senior High School (BIG BOSS), said the school was ready for the students to resume, while the required precautionary protocols including physical distancing would be strictly ensured. He said the school had been fumigated and some Personal Protective Equipment provided for the staff who were still in school. The school management had procured 20 veronica buckets, soap, hand sanitizers and stands and two infrared gun thermometer for the dispensary. The Headmaster said the classes had been reduced to between 25 and 30 while the dining sitting arrangement was also reduced from 12 to six persons per table and the number of students in each dormitory had also been reduced. Mr Joseph Tham, the Senior House Master, Bolgatanga Technical Institute (BOTECH), said the school was running only one track and about 830 final years students were expected to return to school. He explained that all the necessary directives were being implemented to ensure that the teachers and students observed the precautionary protocols to curtail the spread of the virus. All the Heads of the schools told GNA that sirens would be employed to make announcements for all social gathering such as Assemblies and public prayers among others. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video New Delhi: The Shahi Fatehpuri Masjid in old Delhis Chandni Chowk on Friday announced that the mosque will remain shut till July 4. The announcement comes a day after the historic Jama Masjid shut its doors amid the spike in Covid-19 cases in the national capital. Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, imam of the Fatehpuri Masjid, announced the decision through a video message. We have been holding consultations on the issue for a while. It was observed that despite repeated requests, people were not following the norms. Senior citizens and children were still coming in. The number of Covid cases is rising and this is being done as a precautionary measure for safety of all, said Ahmed. The Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid had on Thursday urged heads of mosques in the city to take a decision regarding closing of mosques. Englands chief nurse was dropped from one of Downing Streets daily coronavirus briefings after refusing to publicly back Dominic Cummings, senior sources have told The Independent. As Boris Johnsons chief aide was engulfed in scandal over his trips to Durham and Barnard Castle during lockdown, Ruth May had been due to appear alongside the health secretary Matt Hancock in the press conference. But, in practice questions hours before the briefing, she was asked about Mr Cummings and, after failing to give support to the prime ministers chief adviser, she was immediately dropped from the press conference, according to senior NHS sources. Instead the health secretary had to present the slides on Covid-19 himself for the first time, alongside Professor John Newton from Public Health England. The incident, on 1 June, was two days after Englands deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam sparked headlines by saying that lockdown rules apply to all when asked about Mr Cummings. He has not appeared at the press conferences since 30 May. A senior NHS source said: A No 10 spad [special adviser] asked her directly how she would answer the Dominic Cummings question and she refused to play along and told them she would answer the same way as Jonathan Van-Tam. She was dropped immediately from the press briefing. Another added: JVT was the first to publicly push back on TV. Everyone is being asked to support the government positions prior to doing a press conference. If they dont, they get dropped. First it was Dominic Cummings, then easing lockdown and now the R-rate and the two-metre rule. Separately, Whitehall officials are critical of what they see as No 10s grip on the daily briefings and the way the science and health advice is being used. No 10 has previously touted the briefings with ministers alongside health and scientific advisers as an opportunity for the public to get advice directly from the experts on coronavirus. When they began in March, Downing Street said they would focus on informing the public on how to protect themselves. In April, when questions from members of the public were introduced alongside those from journalists, the prime ministers official spokesman said it was absolutely right that the public gets the chance to put their questions to the government and its experts. Mr Johnson repeatedly insisted that public adherence to lockdown would not be affected by the revelations involving Mr Cummings. On 28 May, he blocked chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance from answering a media question about the affair, before both men insisted that as civil servants they did not want to be pulled into politics. The chief nurse was also due to appear at the press conference on 5 June, but did not after being delayed by traffic. At the daily press briefings in Downing Street, transport secretary Grant Shapps was asked whether Ruth May was barred from attending because she may criticise Mr Cummings. I dont think it is true, he said, and referred to Downing Streets Twitter account where a tweet from Ruth May about Black Lives Matter has been pinned to the top of the feed. Mr Shapps said he was sure Ruth May would be back at the briefings in future. NHS England medical director Steve Powis said he did not know anything about the various discussions, adding: Ive been here many times saying exactly what I think. Asked to comment, No 10 said it strongly denied the claims that Ms May had been dropped over her views on Mr Cummings and added that health and scientific advisers would continue to take questions in the briefings. NHS England was also approached for comment. The man accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe said he had to "carry around the guilt of having murdered a cop in Ireland," a witness has told his murder trial. Molly Staunton said in her direct evidence that the accused man Aaron Brady also claimed during a drunken "rant" to be "the most feared man in Ireland". However, under cross-examination defence counsel Fiona Murphy SC put it to Ms Staunton that the accused was concerned and upset that gardai were looking for him in relation to the shooting but that he never made any admission to having carried out the shooting of Det Gda Donohoe. The witness replied: "That's correct." Giving her evidence via video link from her home in New York, Molly Staunton (24) told the Central Criminal Court trial that in July 2016 Aaron Brady lived with her then boyfriend and another man in an apartment in New York. She remembered one evening Mr Brady came out of his bedroom, she thought he had been drinking. He was distressed and "ranting" about wanting to be a good father, she said. When Brendan Grehan SC for the prosecution asked what Aaron Brady said, Ms Staunton replied: "That he had murdered someone in Ireland and he had to carry around the guilt of having murdered a cop in Ireland." She later said that Mr Brady was, "intoxicated and was kind of going kind of crazy, crying, going on like a huge rant." She added: "He said that he was in fear of the cops coming to the apartment because he shot a cop in Ireland and was worried he did not have enough money to take care of his son that he was going to be having and that he was the most feared man in Ireland." Ms Staunton said he was worried that he wasn't earning enough money working in construction. She described how one of the other men in the apartment tried to calm him down and "eventually he went back into his bedroom." She said this happened only once when she was there and that she thought Mr Brady was "fine, ok, I got on with him fine". Later that summer the three men moved out of the apartment on 1st Avenue and she moved in with her boyfriend while Mr Brady moved in with his girlfriend. She didn't see Mr Brady again after that. Under cross examination Ms Murphy said that her client denies making any admission to Ms Staunton or anyone else because he did not carry out the shooting. Counsel put it to the witness that Mr Brady did not say he "killed a cop" but was upset because gardai were looking for him in relation to the killing. The witness replied: "Yes, that was part of the reason he was upset." Ms Murphy continued that Irish people wouldn't use the word "cop" and suggested that he hadn't said he was involved in a shooting and wasn't making an admission. Ms Staunton agreed and said that most of what she had heard came from the other two men in the apartment. Ms Murphy said her client was worried because police were looking for him, "but he didn't make any admission to shooting a garda". Ms Staunton replied, "No, he did not". Counsel suggested her client was upset because "he was being sought by gardai for the shooting." The witness agreed. When Ms Murphy said: "He never made any admission to having carried out that shooting," the witness replied: "That's correct." Aaron Brady (28) from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Siochana on active duty on January 25, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately e7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location. The cross examination of Ms Staunton will continue today in front of Mr Justice Michael White and the jury of six men and seven women. Turkey's military conducted an air and naval exercise in the eastern Mediterranean, its defence ministry said Friday, in an apparent show of force linked to the Libyan conflict. The drill, which lasted for eight hours Thursday, was dubbed an "Open Sea Training" exercise by the ministry in a statement that did not mention Libya directly. Eight frigates and corvettes participated, along with 17 planes that flew from Eskisehir, central Turkey on a 2,000-km (1,250-mile) round trip, it said. The private NTV broadcaster said the exercise was held in Libyan waters but did not offer any explanation. The defence ministry reported that the exercise was "conducted successfully", sharing photographs and videos of the F-16 fighter jets and warships in action. Turkish state news agency Anadolu dubbed the drill a "show of force". The exercise came as tensions grow in the eastern Mediterranean owing to the conflict in Libya, and a dispute with Cyprus and Greece over offshore hydrocarbon resources. Turkey has already sent ships to search for oil and gas off the divided island of Cyprus. Turkey backs the UN-recognised Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, which has been under attack by rivals Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar since April 2019. Haftar is supported by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, with whom Turkey's relations are strained, as well as by Russia. Momentum in the conflict changed after Ankara sent Syrian fighters, drones and military advisors to Libya after signing maritime and security agreements with Tripoli. GNA forces have in recent weeks recaptured outposts in western Libya that had been seized by pro-Haftar loyalists, who then tried to march on the capital. On Wednesday, a Turkish warship prevented a new EU naval mission enforcing the Libya arms embargo from checking a suspect freighter off the war-torn country's coast. Turkish pro-government daily Yeni Safak reported Friday that Ankara could set up two bases in Libya, one southwest of Tripoli at Al-Watiya that would host drones and the other in the port city of Misrata. Arab and Western countries welcomed on Saturday the Cairo Declaration on Libya, a joint political initiative announced by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to resolve the Libyan crisis and end the armed conflict in the Arab country. El-Sisi, Haftar, and Libya's parliament speaker Aguila Saleh announced the new joint political initiative in Cairo on Saturday. The initiative mandates intra-Libyan resolution as a basis for resolving the countrys conflict under resolutions by the UN and past efforts in Paris, Rome, Abu Dhabi, and most recently in Berlin. El-Sisi stressed on the gravity of the current situation in Libya, especially with the crisis repercussions not being limited to Libya, but spreading to neighboring countries as well. He warned against some actors on the Libyan scene pursuing any military action in the war-torn country. What worries us is actions by some actors on the scene despite efforts to find an appropriate solution for the crisis, El-Sisi said. Search Keywords: Short link: Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Margaryta Chornokondratenko (Reuters) Kiev, Ukraine Fri, June 12, 2020 12:34 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde31dda 2 Entertainment Ukraine,rock-band,music,coronavirus,pandemic,social-distancing,concert Free Ukrainian rock band Green Grey says it has reinvented the concert hall so it can perform for fans while they are social distancing. In a show on Sunday that organizers dubbed "the world's first vertical concert", the band played on the roof of a small building, while the audience watched from dozens of balconies, each taking up to 4 people, on the upper floors of a hotel directly opposite. With coronavirus still prevalent in Ukraine, the band was forced to look for creative ways of playing. "It was absolutely wonderful as we understood that we cannot perform without our audience, without our fans. It is strange without them," Green Grey co-founder and lead guitarist Diezel said after the concert. "I personally tried to watch concerts of the bands I like, I watched streams and I did not like them. That is why we wanted to do something different," vocalist Murik added. Read also: Social-distancing Greek style: Shimmy and sing from your car Fans had to check in at the hotel reception to get keys for the rooms, which were closed for regular guests. "We saw each of you, everyone who attended the concert, as if we were face to face. And I believe it is an absolutely new, cool feeling," Diezel said. Kiev's Hotel Bratislava, which hosted the concert, was not a random choice. Back in 1993, Diezel had his hair styled in dreadlocks there. A rooftop stage will remain in place for outdoor summer concerts by other musicians. As tickets sold out within days, Grey Green saw scope for expansion. They plan to build stages in front of hotels in other Ukrainian cities. Former Victoria Police sergeant Rosa Rossi (pictured) posed as a landlord for six vacant properties and collected rent between between April 2016 and June 2017 A disgraced police officer created an elaborate scam where she took over empty properties, changed the locks and then rented the homes out to pocket the cash. Former Victorian police sergeant Rosa Rossi targeted six vacant homes - three in Melbourne and three in Willaura - between April 2016 to June 2017. The 57-year-old's sophisticated scam saw her clear out any furniture before changing the locks and renting them to unsuspecting tenants. Karen Lang's home Willaura was taken over by Rossi while she was living in Melbourne with her partner. When she returned to the property, she found her key no longer worked. The home had been cleaned out and the locks had been changed. Ms Lang told A Current Affair she was disgusted to discover a police officer had been behind it. Karen Lang's (pictured) home Willaura was taken over by Rossi while she was living in Melbourne with her partner Rossi targeted six vacant homes - three in Melbourne and three in Willaura - between April 2016 to June 2017 'I think she has no shame,' she said. 'For a police officer to do something like that to a family, is pretty appalling. We've got special needs children too and she stole from special needs children.' Rossi began by targeting smaller homes in Willaura worth $50,000 and $108,500. But the fraudster became more confident and began researching properties in Melbourne worth up to $1 million to target next. She used the police database to research one property owner's details. On one occasion she went to a suburban Melbourne council office in police uniform to demand an owner's number. She created false documents as part of deception to change the addresses with water and power companies. Pictured: A rural property in Lara that Rossi attempted to acquire in October 2019 Her web of lies unraveled when a concerned neighbour spotted a woman removing furniture from a home while the owner was overseas. When police arrived, Rossi assured them there was nothing suspicious happening, telling them she was an officer too. She said she had the keys because she was looking at buying the home. But investigators later discovered the home was owned by a man in South Africa, who was not selling the property. Rossi (pictured) pleaded guilty to nine charges including obtaining property by deception, perjury and unauthorised access to police information Rossi eventually resigned from Victoria Police and pleaded guilty to nine charges including of obtaining property by deception, perjury, and unauthorised access to police information following an anti-corruption investigation. She remains on bail working on a farm and as a hairdresser. She faces more than a decade behind bars or a fine. She will be sentenced at a later date. Toby Antony By Express News Service KOCHI: It was the single imprint traced from the Cochin Shipyard that helped the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to crack the case related to the theft of computer hardware of Indias first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC). NIA officials believe the theft was well planned and executed by two arrested persons Sumit Kumar Singh of Bihar and Daya Ram of Rajasthan. According to sources, only one credible imprint that of the bottom portion of the palm- was received from the place where the theft took place. The accused might have worn gloves to leave no trace of fingerprints. But somehow, the imprint of the bottom portion of the palm was traced. As both were confident that there was no fingerprint, they came to Kochi early this year to give their fingerprint imprint as part of the investigation. It was the fingerprint analysis that helped to crack the case, sources said. Fingerprints of as many as 6,400 persons were collected. After the imprint of Sumit Kumar was found matching, NIA recorded his statement and he confessed about the involvement of the second accused. Reaching the first accused was a difficult task as he stayed in a Maoist-affected village in Bihar, sources said. Of the 20 lost hardware including five micro-processors, 10 RAMs and five solid state drives (SSD), almost all were recovered. The stolen components were hidden at the residence of Sumit Kumars brother in Gujarat. One component was sold via OLX for Rs 5,000 when the accused were staying in Kochi. The investigation team are also checking the involvement of more persons in the case. They were employed as painters in the IAC. First accused had good knowledge of computer hardware. But it might be with the help of someone else that the accused persons came to know about such a system in IAC. We have to interrogate them to get further details for which their custody will be sought, sources said. Covid test to be crucial An anti-body test result will be crucial for the NIA because if the test turns positive, the investigation will take a hit. According to sources, the case was registered under various sections of IPC and IT Act. We have to seek custody of the accused within the first 14 days of the remand period, sources said. You may know her from radio station V-103, where shes a warm and gracious host. Or you may remember her from WCIUs You and Me This Morning, which she co-hosted with Melissa Forman until 2017. Maybe you remember her from her WGCI days. Shes been a Chicago media staple for three decades, having moved north from New Iberia, Louisiana, to attend Northwestern University. Sompo International Holdings Ltd., a Bermuda-based specialty property/casualty insurer, has formed a new team offering products to the technology industry through its network of retail brokers. This new unit will build on the Sompo Internationals global insurance business that currently offers products to the technology sector through its Property, Casualty, Financial Lines and Specialty business units. The new unit, part of Sompo Global Risk Solutions (GRS), will work through a network of retail brokers to offer general liability, commercial auto, workers compensation, as well as an integrated property and primary casualty and a lead umbrella product, to technology companies. The Sompo GRS Technology team will be led by Michael Carroll, who recently joined Sompo GRS as a senior vice president, and who will also continue the development of the Sompo GRS Life Sciences Business. The unit will target large, middle market, and small technology organizations, including electronic manufacturers, IT service providers and integrators, software providers, technology hardware and storage companies, on-demand mobility electronics firms and government IT contractors. Sompo International companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of Sompo Holdings, Inc. Topics Tech Bohdan says Zelensky traded dreams about 'a country of happy people' without corruption for a 'warm bath' and allows himself to be manipulated Bohdan says Zelensky traded dreams about 'a country of happy people' without corruption for a 'warm bath' and allows himself to be manipulated KYIV. June 12 (Interfax-Ukraine) Former President's Office Head Andriy Bohdan has said President Volodymyr Zelensky traded "joint dreams of a country of happy people without corruption for a warm bath and the cheap whims of unprofessional and narcissistic people who manipulate the current head of state." "About depriving me of power - I am so grateful to you, because my name will not be related to the chaos into which you are throwing the country. Let me remind you of one of our agreements - I promised that I will work honestly with you, until that moment until you let me leave. Since I was looking for high posts, but realizing the dream. And I did a lot in six months - you and the team democratically concentrated absolute power in the country, which you have turned into a laughing stock in four months," Bohdan said on Facebook on Thursday evening. At the same time, Bohdan indicated that he intends to abide by the rules of business ethics, which do not allow decent people to comment on the period of joint activity, even when these people parted ways. "Of course, I am a bearer of knowledge that is very sensitive for you and for the country, but believe me, I will remain a decent person," he said. Earlier in an interview published by Ukrayinska Pravda on Wednesday, Zelensky expressed the view that power was "not useful" to Bohdan as an individual. "Power changed him a lot. He has normal qualities, professional ones. What I saw, unfortunately, he did not. We need to deal with power, we must not change as a person. We must remain human and respect others, from within the team and outside of it. You don't have to show your power where it's wrong. Sometimes you need to include diplomacy, because he was almost the second person in the state, well, I think so. But you don't have to show everyone that you are the second person," Zelensky said. Zelensky also indicated that he did not like the conflicts within the team. He did not like the demonstration of power. "When I saw that Andriukha didn't see how the power was eating him up, that he was going to be eaten and that everything would end very badly, I decided that we needed ... I believe that from the very beginning I had a wrong decision with him because of the head of the President's Office, because from the very beginning I thought that he was a strong lawyer, that he wanted to put people in jail and that he should become Prosecutor General. I thought so. Then we saw we didn't have enough people with such experience as he did to serve in the administration, in the President's Office," Zelensky said. The president said he "saved" Bohdan from power. "I'm not sure that he now thinks so too, but this is his business," Zelensky said. Mothers of Ukrainians captivated in occupied Donbas hold protests near Presidents Office t.me/pavlovskynews About 10 mothers of Ukrainian military and volunteers who remain in captivity in the territory of occupied Donbas organized the lying protest near the Presidents Office. They demand from the highest authorities of the country to do everything to release their children. The women complain that nobody else is interested in the release of their sons from the captivity. They are captivated since 2014. That's a shame that our children were the first in 2014 to protect the sovereignty of Ukraine. For example, my son Borys did not serve in the army due to the health issues but he went to Poltavska square, was elected as the chair of the self-defense of the region, and stayed at the checkpoints, preventing titushky from crossing Poltava-Kyiv, Poltava-Kharkiv. There were a lot of them, they stood there, then the supplies of the humanitarian aid to the checkpoints started and the aid was provided to the military units. Then, when the guys were needed, they were caught by mass media and when they got in trouble no friends, no authority. Five years of the horrible authority of Poroshenko. I just got chills when I remember how beaten I was thrown in the police van on May 8, 2017. We started the protest, we legally processed it, we stood 97 days and nights in the dust and asked to be admitted b Poroshenko. He did not admit us; all mothers were beaten and taken to the Pechersky police department. It is painful to remember, mother of volunteer Lidia Misyurenko said. She also added that despite the hot weather, they will continue their lying protest until the representatives come to them. A year ago we believed Volodymyr Zelensky and saw that his heart echoes in time. After he became the guarantor of the Constitution of Ukraine, he invited us to the round table on captivated children. We were into it; there was a support of the mothers. Later, our group was closed during the change of power at the Presidents Office; they do not need us, the woman added. As we reported, the agreement was reached on the discussion of the forming lists for prisoners exchange at the session of the Trilateral Contact Group. Why this Seven Springs clip grabbed the attention of 1 million people The tweet has been seen by more than 1 million people so far. Many commenters asked if the clip was planned or fake. (JTA) Right-wing conspiracy theorists are increasingly claiming that George Soros is funding recent protests and riots across the United States in the aftermath of the George Floyd killing. According to the Anti-Defamation League, aggressive language towards Soros has exploded on social media this week. Negative tweets about the billionaire Jewish philanthropist rose from 20,000 per day on May 26 to 500,000 per day on May 30. The posts, according to the ADL, mostly allege (without evidence) that Soros is funding riots across the country, and that he is backing Antifa, a loose netw... BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A European Union lawmaker on Tuesday was reminded of the perils of videoconferencing when he appeared to be wearing no trousers as he discussed policy matters with his peers. The European Parliament's official live broadcast showed Ireland's Luke Ming Flanagan wearing a shirt and sitting on the edge of an unmade bed with his legs crossed, rubbing his thighs as he addressed an agriculture committee for two minutes. Flanagan, of the left-wing Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left faction, offered a sanguine explanation of the video call incident: "I was just back from a run so was in my shorts. Decided to put on a shirt to look kinda respectable! That didn't work out very well!," he told Reuters. His light-hearted response won him sympathy on social media where many people shared their own struggles with video calls and working from home amid the pandemic. (Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) The Romanian toyboy who inherited his 81-year-old British husband's cash when he died has insisted he'd not a gold digger after relatives branded him a 'leech'. Philip Clements, a retired Church of England vicar, passed away overnight on May 31 in a Bucharest hospital room that was closed to visitors amid the coronavirus pandemic. Widow Florin Marin - who is 54 years younger than his husband - will get 150,000 from a life insurance policy, a 100,000 house that was put into his name before Mr Clements died, and a 2,000-a-month-for-life pension. Mr Clements' older brother, 71-year-old Anthony, was left with just two 'favourite family photographs'. Detailing exactly what he received in the will, Mr Marin said he will get 150,000 from a life insurance policy, a 100,000 apartment in Bucharest that was put into his name, and a 2,000-for-life British pension - unless he remarries In contrast to the 150,000 Widow Florin Marin will get from a life insurance policy, a 100,000 house that was put into his name before Mr Clements died, and a 2,000-a-month-for-life pension - Phillip's brother Anthony has been given two family favourite photographs (pictured) Another brother, 76-year-old Brian, branded Mr Marin a 'leech' who 'got what he always wanted'. But Mr Marin has hit back at his late husband's family. During an interview today with This Morning he insisted: 'All the time people are thinking when someone marries a woman or a man, more old than him or her, it's just about money. 'No it's not like that. It's not like that. No. No. It wasn't. 'Yes, he left me in the will and I'm married to him, he's my husband. 'What his family said, I want to tell them to mind their own business, and best wishes in their lives.' Mr Marin said this morning that 'It's not like that' when asked if he had married Mr Clements for his money A favourite family photo Of Anthony Clements (71), brother Of Deceased Former Vicar Philip Clements, pictured with his brothers on their mother's 90th birthday, Dover, Kent The furious relatives of Mr Clements say otherwise. Brother Anthony said: I told my brother this many times. Florin is nothing but a gold digger who set out to rob my brother from the moment they met. And now he has got what he wanted. The man is a disgrace. I made my feelings clear to Anthony many times. What has happened speaks for itself. Florin has cashed in and has done very well out of my brother. Philip Clements and Florin Marin on their wedding day in Kent three years ago. After a rift the pair are living reconciled earlier this year in Bucharest, but Mr Clements has now passed away following a period of ill health Mr Clements (right) sold his home in Kent for 214,750 before moving to Romania and buying a flat in Bucharest. He returned to England shortly after because the pair experienced turbulence in their relationship, but Mr Clements says they have now reached an understanding and are living together again The retired postman added: The whole family feels the same way. Ive spoken to my other brother Brian about it too and hes not happy either about the way Florin has taken advantage of Phillip. We were supposed to inherit Philips estate but now its all gone to Florin. But its not about the money because I would rather have my brother alive. What angers us is the way hes been treated by his husband. He claims the pair were 'always fighting and breaking up. On one occasion about four years ago I went to console Philip because he was in bits. I supported him through it, but I also told him that Florin was no good for him.' Pictured: Anthony Clements, brother of Phillip, who passed away alone on May 31 in a Bucharest hospital room that was closed to visitors amid the coronavirus pandemic. He described his his late brother as ' a very intelligent man but not very street wise and it was easy to pull the wool over his eyes and take advantage of him. I could see what was going on but sadly, he couldnt. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline after Mr Clements' death, Mr Marin said: 'People will think that I am a widow with a black hat who is crying, and I did cry, but two days is enough. 'Philip didn't want me to cry, he wanted people to be happy whatever happened. 'I don't want to show people my feelings because my husband died, because some people take advantage of that and there are people who are happy because of your sadness,' he added. 'I am 27 years old and I'm not challenged.' Mr Clements fell ill during the coronavirus lockdown after running low on medication and initially refused to go to hospital (pictured left at home not long before he died) but was eventually taken there by Florin (pictured on the ward right) where he was put in isolation before passing away Mr Florin (left) said he cried 'for two days' at the death of Mr Clements (right) but 'that is enough' and he is now determined to get on with his life and enjoy the inheritance he has been given Mr Marin will enjoy a 2,000 British widower pension for the rest of life unless he remarries. 'He was my husband and this is my right,' he said. Mr Marin will also get 10,000 from a life insurance policy to organise a funeral, but said it will be a simple ceremony with no wake or party - and that Mr Clements' ashes will be spread in a park in accordance with his will. In addition, Mr Marin will get around 150,000 from Mr Clements' life insurance policy. Two years ago Mr Marin appeared with Philip on the Jeremy Kyle Show, when he was asked about his intentions and what he thought about perceptions he was only with the former vicar for his money. Mr Marin replied: I love this nickname of gold-digger, people are so interested in me thats why they have given me a nickname.' Mr Marin (right) said that Mr Clements (left) became sick with a fever last month after he ran out of medication during the coronavirus lockdown, before being taken to hospital. He tested negative for COVID, but died overnight on May 31 Mr Clements died after becoming unwell during the coronavirus lockdown. He was unable to visit his GP in the UK and was left running low on medication. Mr Marin insists that Mr Clements refused to go to hospital for several days - developing a fever and becoming disoriented - before he insisted on taking the elderly man himself. Once in hospital, Florin said he was separated from his husband as he was placed on a quarantined coroanvirus ward amid fears he had the disease. Tests came back negative and Mr Clements was transferred instead to a cardiac ward, but slipped into a coma and was placed on life support. Florin said he then received a call around midnight on May 31 from the hospital confirming that his husband had passed away. 'My darling people, it is not my fault that left me with this money,' the 27-year-old said. He added the the amount was 'not that huge, it's not like saying, wow, it's one or two million pounds.' Mr Marin says he will 'always remember Philip' but hasn't ruled out future relationships. The couple met on the online dating site Gaydar and got married three years ago in Kent - but their relationship hadn't been plain sailing. They experienced turbulence early on when Mr Clements tried living in Bucharest. Rows over Mr Marin's clubbing into the early hours and an alleged affair with a Spaniard named Jesus saw the former vicar move back to England after just a few months, despite having sold his home to live in the Romanian capital. Mr Clements (left and right) lived and worked as a clergyman before meeting Mr Marin on dating site Gaydar four years ago, when he decided to leave his former life behind and move to Bucharest so they could be together Mr Clements (left at a gay pride parade and right at home) briefly split from Florin after disapproving of his late-night visits to clubs and a rumoured affair with a man named Jesus, but the pair eventually reconciled They were able to keep their romance alive with Whatsapp messaging, however, while Mr Marin moved to work in Spain. The couple reconciled in March this year after the ex-vicar said he was happy for Mr Marin to visit gay clubs at the weekends with people his own age. Mr Clements requested a private funeral attended only by his widower and a handful of relatives and friends as well as a simple religious ceremony held in his memory. Mr Marin said he will find an Anglican priest to conduct the ceremony as opposed to an Orthodox priest from the socially conservative and anti-gay marriage Romanian Church. He said he kept provided regular updates to Mr Clements' UK family and friends on his husband's ailing health. Although Mr Marin has been rejected by the brothers, he said he is ready to 'forgive what happened in the past' for the sake of his husband. The New Patriotic Party, through its General Secretary, John Boadu, on Wednesday, June 10, honoured a financier of the party in the Bono East Region, by name, Alhaji Mohammed Adam, for his invaluable support and contribution in financing the activities of the party in the Region. John Boadu presented an award in the form of a citation to the said financier on behalf of the Bono East Regional Executive Committee led by the Regional Chairman, Thomas Adu Appiah, who described the financier as a great pillar to the Regional Party and the various Constituencies in the Region. Presenting the citation to the financier, the NPP chief scribe used the occasion to urge members of the party to draw inspiration from commendable feat chalked by Alhaji Mohammed Adam, and not hesitate to sacrifice the little they have for the good of the larger party. The NPP, he noted, was founded on the immense sacrifices and selflessness of individual members of the party, and continues to survive on their sacrifices and selflessness. On his part, Alhaji Mohammed Adam, said, he was inspired by the exploits of the NPP General Secretary, whom he described as a true patriot and a great source of inspiration for the current generation particularly members and sympathizers of the NPP political tradition. He promised to do even much more to support the activities of the regional party especially as the party gears up for election 2020. The NPP General Secretary was in the Bono Region leading some national officers of the party including the National 3rd Vice Chairman, F.F. Anto as well as the National Nasara Coordinator, Abdul Aziz Futah, to train party executives at the regional and constituency levels in preparations for the upcoming new voter registration by the EC, scheduled to begin on June 30, 2020. The John Boadu-led team had already held similar training workshops in the Central Region, Ashanti Region, Ahafo Region, and the Bono Regions. Other national officers of the party are leading a team of resource persons to the other regions of the country to organize similar exercise. The party is urging all Ghanaians and its members to come out in their numbers to participate in the registration exercise when the window is opened on June 30. Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Brooks Range stretches across northern Alaska. Boreal forests in North America are among the largest areas experiencing a relatively low human impact. Credit: Jason Riggio/UC Davis Roughly half of Earth's ice-free land remains without significant human influence, according to a study from a team of international researchers led by the National Geographic Society and the University of California, Davis. The study, published in the journal Global Change Biology, compared four recent global maps of the conversion of natural lands to anthropogenic land uses to reach its conclusions. The more impacted half of Earth's lands includes cities, croplands, and places intensively ranched or mined. "The encouraging takeaway from this study is that if we act quickly and decisively, there is a slim window in which we can still conserve roughly half of Earth's land in a relatively intact state," said lead author Jason Riggio, a postdoctoral scholar at the UC Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology. The study, published June 5 on World Environment Day, aims to inform the upcoming global Convention on Biological Diversitythe Conference of Parties 15. The historic meeting was scheduled to occur in China this fall but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Among the meeting's goals is to establish specific, and higher, targets for land and water protection. Approximately 15 percent of the Earth's land surface and 10 percent of the oceans are currently protected in some form. However, led by organizations including Nature Needs Half and the Half-Earth Project, there have been bold global calls for governments to commit to protecting 30 percent of the land and water by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050. Intact natural lands across the globe can help purify air and water, recycle nutrients, enhance soil fertility and retention, pollinate plants, and break down waste products. The value of maintaining these vital ecosystem services to the human economy has been placed in the trillions of U.S. dollars annually. Conservation and COVID-19 The coronavirus pandemic now shaking the globe illustrates the importance of maintaining natural lands to separate animal and human activity. The leading scientific evidence points to the likelihood that SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes the disease COVID-19, is a zoonotic virus that jumped from animals to humans. Ebola, bird flu and SARS are other diseases known to have spilled over into the human population from nonhuman animals. "Human risk to diseases like COVID-19 could be reduced by halting the trade and sale of wildlife, and minimizing human intrusion into wild areas," said senior author Andrew Jacobson, professor of GIS and conservation at Catawba College in North Carolina. Jacobson said that regional and national land-use planning that identify and appropriately zone locations best suited to urban growth and agriculture could help control the spread of human development. Establishing protections for other landscapes, particularly those currently experiencing low human impacts, would also be beneficial. From the tundra to the desert Among the largest low-impact areas are broad stretches of boreal forests and tundra across northern Asia and North America and vast deserts like the Sahara in Africa and the Australian Outback. These areas tend to be colder and/or drier and less fit for agriculture. "Though human land uses are increasingly threatening Earth's remaining natural habitats, especially in warmer and more hospitable areas, nearly half of Earth still remains in areas without large-scale intensive use," said co-author Erle Ellis, professor of geography at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Areas having low human influence do not necessarily exclude people, livestock or sustainable management of resources. A balanced conservation response that addresses land sovereignty and weighs agriculture, settlement or other resource needs with the protection of ecosystem services and biodiversity is essential, the authors note. "Achieving this balance will be necessary if we hope to meet ambitious conservation targets," said Riggio. "But our study optimistically shows that these targets are still within reach." Explore further Much of the Earth is still wild, but threatened by fragmentation More information: Jason Riggio et al, Global human influence maps reveal clear opportunities in conserving Earth's remaining intact terrestrial ecosystems, Global Change Biology (2020). Journal information: Global Change Biology Jason Riggio et al, Global human influence maps reveal clear opportunities in conserving Earth's remaining intact terrestrial ecosystems,(2020). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15109 Mason James Lira is shown. A hunt by authorities began on June 11, 2020, for Lira, who has been identified as a suspected gunman who ambushed officers the previous day outside a California Central Coast police station, shooting a sheriff's deputy in the head. (Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Department/San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Department via AP) Ambush Suspect Who Wounded Several Officers Gets Killed in Shootout LOS ANGELESSeveral police officers were wounded Thursday in separate shootouts with a man suspected of ambushing and seriously injuring a deputy a day earlier. The suspect was shot and killed during a shootout, authorities said. Scores of police officers have been searching for Mason James Lira, 26, since early Wednesday when authorities said he opened fire on the Paso Robles police station on Californias Central Coast and then shot a San Luis Obispo County sheriffs deputy in the face. The deputy is in serious condition. These surveillance cameras still images shows a suspect believed to be responsible for a shooting that took place in Paso Robles in the morning on June 10, 2020. (San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office via AP) An Arroyo Grande police officer helping with the search was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with Lira at about 3 p.m., according to a post on the city of Arroyo Grande website that said the injury wasnt life-threatening. Later, after a second exchange of gunfire, the Paso Robles Police Department tweeted Suspect down. Several officers wounded. There was no immediate word on their conditions. A San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Department spokesman said Lira was secured and is unresponsive. Police say Lira opened fire on the police station around 4 a.m. Wednesday. Two sheriffs deputies heard gunshots and responded but didnt see the attacker until they were outside their patrol car and under fire. Nicholas Dreyfus, 28, was hit in the face. His partner fired back and dragged Dreyfus behind a police car. Dreyfus, who was able to radio that hed been shot, underwent surgery Thursday and was in guarded condition. While officers searched for Lira, they received a report of a body near a train station and found a 58-year-old man shot to death on the tracks. He appeared to be a transient who was camping out overnight. Police believe Lira was responsible for the killing. As police searched for Lira, his father told The Associated Press his son had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, Aspergers syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Jose Lira said his son has been in and out of jail and treatment centers. Jose Lira said his son often thinks he is a special agent or a soldier. Although authorities have described the attack on the Paso Robles police station as an ambush, his father thinks it might have been a suicide attempt. He lives in a fantasy world, Jose Lira said. He doesnt have a beef with the police. By Stefanie Dazio and Christopher Weber What Its Like to Come Out of the Closet, As Told by 13 Proud Gay Men LGBTQ+ Community Members Share Their Personal Coming Out Stories Theres a lot of weight behind an individuals decision to come out. No two experiences are alike, with varying reasons to their approach and decision to embrace their sexuality at that specific point in their life. Coming out isnt an easy process either, and not all members of the LGBTQ+ community have a support system on the other end that accepts them for who they are, ultimately deciding to disregard what they have to say. And even if youve come out once to your family and friends, those whove been out of the closet for years and years are still tasked with repeatedly explaining their sexuality to strangers, co-workers, and other various acquaintances. RELATED: Best Gay and LGBTQ+ Dating Sites Im gay. Oh, Im actually gay. Nope, not straight Im gay. Quite frankly, theres no right or wrong time as to when you should come out. When you do, however, that feeling of freedom is a feeling like no other. With June being a month that highlights the LGBTQ+ community in all its glitter and glory, we had 13 different gay men speak upon how it was for them to come out, what their experience was like, and how it framed who they are today. Here are their stories: Sal, 26 My coming out story was a JOURNEY, albeit pretty positive. I came out completely when I was 23 years old back in 2017. Prior to that, my plan was to start this process once I graduated from college in 2015. I had a double life for a good chunk of 2015-2016 of seeing both men and women. I started telling people who I wasn't as close with the truth about me being gay. It was always so emotional (I am very sensitive and cry at everything). I felt like it was harder to tell people who I was closer with because they knew so much about me, yet, I was hiding this huge part of my life. I had been wanting to tell my family about this, but one morning when I was visiting them, my mom straight out asked me if I was gay over breakfast. All I had to do was respond and say yes which I followed through with. It led to a very emotional day of me telling each family member one at a time. Let me add that this was all done during Father's Day weekend ... fast forward a year from then, I became more comfortable with myself and started to post more "gay" content on social media. My family eventually gave me the okay to let everyone know about this secret, especially since other family members were starting to question my sexuality to my parents. I made one big Facebook post, so that I covered all grounds. I was one of the lucky ones since I received a tremendous amount of support from both family and friends from all over the world. I also want to note this very important detail: I was dating someone during most of this coming out process, and I couldn't have done any of this without him. I am forever grateful. Javier, 29 Looking back at my coming out journey, it feels anticlimactic. Rumors of my sexuality had always plagued me, but I managed to make it to college without ever actually coming out to anyone. Growing up a military brat, the constant moving allowed me to keep my friendships at surface level. My secret was safe. Many years growing up in church youth groups and Sunday School further solidified the shame. I was never really ready to come out, but alcohol has a funny way of lowering our defenses. After pulling aside one of my best friends the summer before junior year of undergrad, I finally said those 2 words that had scared me for so long: I'm gay. I don't know if I expected my life to immediately do a 180 or for some internal switch to go off and I would finally be free, but that didn't happen. Admitting my queerness didn't mean I was comfortable with it. In reality, it was several years of relearning how to be honest with myself and others, slowly shedding all the defenses I had l put up my entire life. It all culminated with my immediate family finding out from a rogue instagram post 8 years later. Not how I envisioned coming out to them, but there are worst ways. I guess it feels anticlimactic because it's still ongoing. While out and proud, I think I'm always going to carry some part of the scared closeted kid around with me. Brandon, 28 My coming out was such a mixed bag. I started telling friends when I was 15 and the news spread fast. Overall no negative reactions from friends, except for one: A female friend of mine thought we were on the verge of dating, and I thought she already assumed I was gay. When I told her, she threw up. My parents were less than pleased, I got sent to Christian therapy for several months to straighten me out, and had a lot of restrictions on where I could be, and what friends I was allowed to hang out with. Eventually they came around and are very supportive now, but it took years! I'm so thankful for having my supportive friends and my sister back then. Alan, 29 I was going on a trip down to Tampa to visit my boyfriend at the time for a week. It was 2 a.m. the day before my flight, and I was watching re-runs of "Real Housewives" at my parents house. My dad woke up and passed by the living room, asking me why I was watching such trash TV (GASP). At that moment, I thought ... this is it. This is my moment to say it out loud as a 20-year old. Dad. Im gay. He looked at me in shock. The only words that could come from him were I love you. He went out for a walk, and I proceeded to wake up my mom and share the same news. She said, I love you, my son. Never had I felt so free. It felt amazing not to hide something so big in my life. From that moment on, I didnt feel the need to make it a big statement to everyone I met along the way. It was just simply who I am. Anonymous, 27 Coming out was a gradual process for me. The first person I came out to was my best friend when I was drunk in a Taco Bell parking lot. I felt a slight sense of relief, but knew that it would be a long process for me. It took me another full year to tell the next person, which was my sister. After that, I gradually began telling more people. Overall, nobody was surprised and nobody rejected me, so I'd say it was a fairly smooth experience. Billy, 31 The first time I came out to my parents I was 16. I figured the most direct way would be to casually slip it into a conversation. We always ate dinner as a family, all 7 of us. My parents went around the table asking how everyones day went; my older brother talked about wrestling practice, my sister told them she failed a test, and I took that opening to blurt it out, Im gay. My siblings knew hell, everyone knew but it was just something no one ever brought up. My brothers and sister snickered at the awkward silence that followed, and in typical Walsh woman fashion of burying their heads to anything they dont want to talk about, my mother, Susan, says, Pass the salt. Pass. The. Salt. At that moment I knew this was something we werent going to delve deeper into, so I just left it alone. Flash forward 4 years. My parents would be hosting a New Years Eve party and I asked if a few of my friends could come over. One of my oldest and closest girlfriends, Melissa, whom my mother has had a lady boner for since we were kids, was there. Ever since middle school, she pushed for us to date, and that wasnt happening for obvious reasons. Later in the night, my mom gets to talking with Melissa about school, and since Susan has had a few drinks, presses the dating issue again. You know, you and Billy would make a great couple. Melissa replies, Yeah, well if we end up still single at 35, maybe well give it a shot. Susan follows with, But why wait, youre beautiful and would have gorgeous babies together. Melissa agrees, saying We would, and if he ever wants children, Id be happy to donate my eggs. Mom, still not getting the picture, goes I dont understand why you wouldnt both want to give it a shot. So poor Melissa had to deliver the final blow, Because hes not interested in me, or women, hes gay, he likes penis. And in a perfect cinematic moment, a song was changing, and the entire party heard, He likes penis echo through the house before some Flo Rida song started. Thats all she needed to hear, the poor things face losing all its color before she excused herself to bed. She then proceeded to call all of my aunts and cousins asking if they knew to which everyone replied with some variation of yeah, duh. In the morning, I went to her room, and she swiveled around from her computer chair, robe on, hair a mess, and her coke bottle sized glasses on (very John Roberts in My Son is Gay educate yourselves if youve never seen), and says, Anything you want to tell me? Our conversation was super emotional because she felt like a bad mother being the last to know. I had to remind her of all the things I did growing up that were clearly signs, and that she always knew but just didnt know how to approach it. She was worried for me because the world was a scary place in her eyes for a gay man, and she didnt want to lose me from someone being hateful. I then look over at her computer screen and she was searching My son is gay, what do I say to support? What a gem. Shes always been my biggest supporter, and she never stopped. Shes my ride or die, even when she asks me to pass the salt. Ken, 31 Coming out for me was similar to many other queer Asian Americans, where the notion of saving face is prevalent within our immigrant families. Due to the needs for cultural assimilation and frankly, survival, our parents likely taught us to avoid anything that could be controversial, for the sake of putting our families first. This can manifest in suppressing many personal things, which result in us delaying the process or avoiding it altogether. For me, I knew I was different at a young age, but didnt fully address those facets of my identity until decades later. In 2012, after a series of personal challenges and unfortunate events, I decided to let my immediate family know about me being gay. Thankfully, the initial talk with my dad and brother was an easy one with both being incredibly supportive. The one with my mom, however, was another story. Being the first out member of both sides of my family carries a lot of weight, and I realize that her concerns stem from what other members of the extended family may think of me. In these moments, I refer back to Janet Mocks book Redefining Realness, and how she stated that coming out is also a process for those we come out to, especially for our loved ones. We need to give them the time to process it, as thats an important part of our coming out. Giving my mom the space to ask questions is a step forward. In addition, having my extended family members be supportive of my coming out and meet my boyfriend has helped her get to a place of acceptance. My sexuality is still not something we talk about too often, but I know that my mom does care a lot for me. What she cant express comfortably in words, I have been able to feel through her actions. Thomas, 28 My whole life I struggled with my sexuality and figuring out who I was. I buried myself in school and work, and never felt comfortable opening up when it came to conversations around my dating life. My mindset was that if I excelled in other areas, I could hide behind them. My aha moment came while watching a show that ended up saving me. Dan Levy created a brilliant town named Schitts Creek where I met David Rose. He was a character I had never seen represented before, and one that spoke to me so much. I never understood that I didnt have to fit in a box sexually, and that there was a spectrum between straight and gay. David opened my eyes and made me begin to have a conversation with myself about who I was. Things started to spiral shortly after and I found myself in a really dark place. I reached out to the LGBT Center of NYC who set me up in a coming out program through Identity House. I met weekly with an amazing mental health counselor who broke me free from the weight I constantly put on myself. I first came out to my best friends on my 27th birthday. It was just the three of us at my apartment for dinner, and they let me tell my story and made me feel safe during a tumultuous time. Shortly after, I told my parents who are the most loving and supportive people. They marched alongside me and my friends during World Pride in 2019. I know I am privileged with such a positive experience, and I know everyones story is not like mine, but I hope for a change in the world. I hope that my friends and family continue to push to be that change in the future, and I am so thankful for organizations like the LGBT Center of NYC who save lives and help people discover who they are. Ben, 28 I was 27, out to all my friends and most of my extended family at the time ,but always had this unspoken #DontAskDontTell policy with my parents. I mean, I have no idea how they never outright asked me after I was caught multiple times making up my own choreo to Janet Jackson at the age of 6 ,or the multiple times I had guys stay the night after college, but who's to say. I always told myself It was only important to have the conversation with them if I was seriously seeing a guy, and that wasn't until June 2018 when my ex and I finally made it official. I was bringing him to a 4th of July Provincetown party with me, and there was a strong chance we would arrange to see my family who would also be in the area. I called my mom up the night before we were leaving for Cape Cod the conversation went as follows: Me: Hey, just wanted to let you know I have been seeing this guy for a few months and will be bringing him to Cape Cod with me. Mom: (Long pause) Hmm, what do you mean by "seeing" someone? Me: Mom, I mean dating. I have been dating a guy for 3 months. Mom: Yeah, but like, I thought you always dated girls? Me: Mmmm no, not really. Mom: But what about Danielle, Kelly, Steph ... not even Mary? Me: Mom, they have all been my friends since middle school, only friends. Mom: Alright, f*ck it, as long as he keeps you happy. Vadim, 28 Part of me had always known I was gay since I was at least 13. However, it would ultimately take me another 13 years to acknowledge that. It started out as it does with many gay guys - sparks of sexual interest in men at a young age, denial of those feelings, pretending to be straight, and compartmentalizing. After graduating from college in 2014 and going into the professional world, it began to weigh on me. It was harder to keep up the facade. At 26 years old, I met a guy who I had my first quasi-real relationship with; one that outlasted all the previous flings. It's hard to explain why or how it became that way, but it felt different. We went on dates, cooked, and watched movies it felt good. Even after it ended, a seed in mind was planted. Could this be a real thing? Watching Love, Simon for the first time changed my life. Never have I ever felt so seen by a teenage coming-of-age movie. I saw a lot of myself in Simon and his coming-of-age-while-being-gay story. I cried my eyes out. I was emotionally impacted by this gay movie, increasingly open to the idea of a relationship for the first time in my life, and right around the corner from Pride. It was like coming out shouldve been no-brainer, but I feared how Id be judged. What would people say? The first time I came out was the hardest. I had dinner plans with my two best friends, and failed at least five different times to say something over the course of the night. My heart was beating through my chest. As they went to drop me off at my apartment, I told myself, "I am not getting out of this car until I tell them." After an awkward pause and a stumble, I told them. It was uncomfortable and strange to tell someone I was gay, but it was one of the biggest reliefs of my life when they responded with nothing but unconditional love and support. The largest weight of my back evaporated, and it felt like I had the momentum to tell everyone else I cared for. The day after, I told my brother and the rest of my close friends. Everyone's responses were supportive and loving in their own ways. About a week later, with the support of my brother, I told my parents. Their response was miles better than I anticipated, even if it took them some time to get acclimated to that idea. By the end of that month, I celebrated my first Pride as an out, gay man. Life has only gotten better since. Torrean, 27 The day I came out to my family was totally unplanned, and I actually wasnt the one to initiate the conversation. I am very fortunate to be born into a family already containing LGBTQ+ members of varying degrees, so I was certainly not breaking any new ground by coming out. Even with that dynamic, something held me back from fully owning my truth with my loved ones. My initial plan was to tell my family before heading off to college, but of course, I backed out due to fear of rejection. Flash forward to the Christmas holiday season of my freshman year, I hadn't told anyone outside of a few college friends and had been secretly dating a guy for almost 2 months. While visiting home for the holidays, my sister caught a glimpse of one of my texts saying, I miss you to the guy I was dating at the time. I was sitting in the front seat of the car while she sat in the back, so I had not realized she could see my screen. Immediately, I tried to write off the relationship as a really close friend from college. Luckily, not much time was spent on the text. A few days later as I was prepping my suitcase to head back to NYC the next morning, my mom called me into her room and immediately shut the door behind her. As she closed the door, she said, You know I love you more than anything in this world, and you know I dont give a damn about who you love man, woman, or otherwise. You are my son no matter what and nothing you could ever do would change that. You are not leaving again until I hear the truth from you. I immediately broke down in tears. Though I was 99.9% sure I would get a positive response from my mom, it was hard for me to initiate that conversation myself. We talked for hours about my hesitation in telling her, and how she had always known but was waiting for me to realize for myself. She explained that she took it upon herself to finally initiate the conversation because she did not want to me to get the idea that I needed to lead a separate life from her. She had already felt the physical distance between us since I had just moved to NYC while she resided in Mississippi. She refused let me leave knowing there was something else that could eventually lead me away from her due to fear on my part. My mom helped me share my entire life with the rest of the family. I am extremely lucky that this was the experience I had. For many others, especially in the black community, their experiences are far from positive. While we wait for the day when coming out is no longer necessary due to education, visibility, and acceptance, I hope other LGBTQ+ members can find similar support systems through their journeys, whether it be from blood or chosen family. Myles, 27 I started my coming out process during the summer going into sophomore year of college. At the beginning of the semester, I went to Tulane University in New Orleans to tell one of my best friends. After I told her, we went out to a bar on campus called The Palm where I met a guy there visiting from a college in a different state. We went to some apartment on top of the bar where he was staying on some sorority girls couch. We were up all night playing tummy sticks if you get what I mean. When I woke up, I realized it looked like I was strangled. My neck was completely black and blue, covered in hickies. It was a lovely first hookup experience, thank you Tinder. When I went back to school, I still hadn't come out to my friends. Right when I arrived, my whole house looked at me, asking who left the marks on the neck. My response: His name was Zackary. My roommate responded with, Wasnt expecting that to start my Monday morning, but good for you. Looks like you like it rough. It was pretty seamless after that with the rest of my college friends. Everyone knew within the next day or so, and I started hooking up later that week with our rival fraternitys president. Those frat parties after that were hella fun. Sean, 28 My first sexual experience with a guy wasnt until I was 21, a college junior who had no idea what the hell it was like to be with anyone, really. After labeling myself as bisexual for 2 years, it wasnt until post-graduation that I finally bit the bullet, coming out as a full blown homosexual to the world. The inspiration came from my first steady hookup with a college friend that was a year younger. After going up to visit school and somehow ending up in his bed (I hadnt known he was gay until his penis was in my hand), I made recurring trips at least once a month. It was when my mother began to question those excursions that I took the opportunity to explain why. Its because Ive been going to see someone, I said. His name is Richie. My mom immediately asked if I was gay, which hello, in retrospect, wasnt that obvious? If the Britney Spears cassette and binge watching of Charmed wasnt a dead giveaway, this was. She claimed she knew the whole time, wondered why I hadnt come out earlier, and made sure to tell me that I was her son who she loved no matter what. Despite me saying Id tell the rest of my immediate family, she did it for me (something I took issue with initially), but it ended up saving me the trouble. Coming out to my friends was seamless for the most part, even my incredibly straight wrestling team roommates. I know that many LGTBQ+ people cant say that, and I know I should be thankful for being so lucky in my situation. I couldnt be more grateful for the support system I have, and I am so, so incredibly proud to be a member of this community. You Might Also Dig: 3D print of a spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19--in front of a 3D print of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. The spike protein (foreground) enables the virus to enter and infect human cells. On the virus model, the virus surface (blue) is covered with spike proteins (red) that enable the virus to enter and infect human cells. Credit: NIH The mass of growing and constantly changing data resulting from multiple disciplines represents one of the biggest challenges researchers and public health officials must confront while trying to manage the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But several centers across the country, including the University at Buffalo's National Center for Ontological Research (NCOR), are working to develop ontologies to assist in the efforts to control the current outbreak, accelerate data discovery in future pandemics, and promote reproducible infectious disease research, according to Barry Smith, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and director of NCOR. Smith is among the co-authors of a new paper discussing how ontologies can assist in the fight against COVID-19. To realize the scope of the challenge faced by scientists confronting COVID-19, consider the disciplines involved in the fighteverything from immunochemistry to behavioral population modeling. All the data collected by biologists, pathologists, sociologists, geographers, physicians and epidemiologists require integration, but the relevant information is captured using discipline-specific terms and is often stored in ways that are accessible only to those working in the fields in which they originated. "Ontology was designed to address that problem by creating common controlled vocabularies for data descriptions that everyone can use," says Smith, who was named one of the 50 most influential living philosophers in 2016 by TheBestSchools.org. "It's nearly impossible, unless you're an expert in multiple separate disciplines, to join data deriving from multiple different sources. This problem is especially acute in the face of a novel pathogen such as SARS-CoV-2, where no one can anticipate which combinations of factors will prove crucial in understanding how it affects its human hosts." Accessing and integrating massive amounts of information from multiple data sources in the absence of ontologies is like trying to find information in library books using only old catalog cards as our guide, when the cards themselves have been dumped on the floor. Ontologies are data sharing tools that provide for interoperability through a computerized lexicon with a taxonomy and a set of terms and relations with logically structured definitions. Smith has been working for some 15 years with biologists and bioinformatics specialists to create a suite of ontologies to cover all the life sciences. The paperwith Shane Babcock (Niagara University), John Beverley (Northwestern University) and Lindsay G. Cowell (University of Texas Southwest Medical School)has not yet been accepted for publication. However, in light of the urgency of the pandemic, it appears already on the preprint repository of the Open Science Foundation. It presents, first, an Infectious Disease Ontology (IDO) Core, which contains terms relating to infectious diseases generally before describing how this IDO Core has been extended in a number of ontologies relating to specific infectious diseases, such as malaria, staph and flu. The paper concludes with a treatment of IDO ontologies for viral infectious diseases in general, for coronavirus infectious diseases, and for COVID-19, specifically. These ontologies help to fill the need for standardized terminology in describing coronavirus data and information, and because they are all constructed in the same way, they make it easier to compare COVID-19 data with data pertaining to other coronavirus diseases, such as SARS, MERS and the novel coronavirus diseases of the future. "An infectious disease ontology can also contribute to solving the problem of reproducibility," says Smith. Reproducing the results of experiments as part of the research process requires a precise description not merely of the results achieved but also of the protocols, statistics, equipment, samples and tests used. "We believe that, when used in combination with other life science ontologies such as the Ontology for Biomedical Investigations, the IDO framework provides a promising strategy for the creation of comparable, integratable, and discoverable provenance metadata for the data generated in infectious disease research," Smith says. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Shane Babcock et al. The Infectious Disease Ontology in the Age of COVID-19, (2020). Shane Babcock et al. The Infectious Disease Ontology in the Age of COVID-19,(2020). DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/az6u5 More than 3 million Americans have glaucoma, a serious eye condition causing vision loss. Using human stem cell models, researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine found they could analyze deficits within cells damaged by glaucoma, with the potential to use this information to develop new strategies to slow the disease process. The study, published June 11 in Stem Cell Reports, focused on targeting genetic mutations within retinal ganglion cells, which serve as the connection between the eye and the brain. Researchers found that when differentiating pluripotent human stem cells into retinal ganglion cells, they were able to identify characteristics associated with neurodegeneration in glaucoma. Once you've identified a target like this--what's going wrong in the cells--this opens up a number of possibilities for the eventual development of therapeutic approaches, especially pharmacology approaches to slow down and reverse these degenerative phenotypes." Jason Meyer, PhD, Associate professor of medical and molecular genetics at IU School of Medicine The team of researchers was led by Meyer, along with the co-first authors of the publication, Kirstin VanderWall and Kang-Chieh Huang, graduate students from the School of Science at IUPUI in Meyer's lab, which is located within Stark Neurosciences Research Institute. Meyer's lab had previously been located within the School of Science. When retinal ganglion cells degenerate through glaucoma, it leads to the loss of vision and eventual blindness. Researchers in this study derived pluripotent stem cells from a patient that had a genetic form of glaucoma, Meyer said. They then differentiated the stem cells into retinal ganglion cells to search for neurodegeneration deficits. "One of the powerful things about (stem cell research) is when you get the cells from a patient that has a genetic basis for a disease, all of the blueprints are there in the cell's DNA to develop features of the disease," Meyer said. They also used gene editing technology--CRISPR-Cas9--to introduce a genetic mutation commonly associated with glaucoma into existing lines of the stem cells for disease modeling, as well as to correct the gene defect in patient-derived cells. "CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing approaches not only allowed us to study the disease, but using this approach we were also able to show how correcting the gene mutation reversed the disease, demonstrating the potential for gene therapy approaches as well," Huang said. Meyer said the team discovered dysfunction in the process of autophagy, the body's way of removing damaged cells to regenerate healthy cells. "We found that in the glaucoma patient cells, there are some deficits in this autophagy process, so you had too much cellular junk that was being built up," Meyer said, adding that those deficits correlated with the degeneration of the cells, which would shrivel up and eventually die off. Using a pharmaceutical compound called rapamycin--which is known to boost the process of autophagy--Meyer said they found that many of the neurodegenerative characteristics they had previously identified slowed down and the cells seemed to recover and appear more normal. Meyer said human stem cells are instrumental in studying human disease, especially neurodegeneration. Past studies on retinal ganglion cells and glaucoma as a degenerative disease using animal models suggest differences in how cells respond between species. "Since they are human cells, it gives somewhat of a more representative model for us to test pharmacological compounds," VanderWall added, "and it gives us a better idea of how it could potentially be toxic or nontoxic to human cells compared to testing compounds in animals." Meyer said having identified a target within the cells--the process of autophagy--the lab's ongoing work will focus on analyzing ways to use different types of pharmaceutical compounds for treatment of glaucoma. As is the case for many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, there are very few treatments, if any, and no cures. "There is a dire need to try and identify new approaches to treat these diseases," Meyer said. Grant support for this research was provided by the National Eye Institute, the Indiana Department of Health Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Fund and the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday called on Filipinos to show the same gallantry exercised by the nation's forefathers 122 years ago as the country and the rest of the world face the COVID-19 pandemic. "As we wage united battle against COVID-19, we now have the opportunity to demonstrate that we possess the same gallantry of spirit and the nobility of character as the heroes of our past. Let us now move forward with courage, hope, and optimism as we overcome this pandemic," he said in his Independence Day taped address. Duterte skipped Independence Day rites at Manila's Rizal Park to avoid mass gatherings as the country continues to curb the spread of COVID-19. He is staying in his hometown of Davao City. He added, "I join all Filipinos in celebrating the 122nd anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine independence. 122 years ago our forefathers proudly proclaimed the birth of the Filipino nation. Today, we honor them for their bravery, heroism, and sacrifice, as well as we thank them for the gifts of democracy and freedom." Several protests both online and street rallies are scheduled to be held today. Philippine National Police chief Archie Gamboa appealed to the public to refrain from staging huge gatherings, citing health protocols enforced by the countrys COVID-19 inter-agency task force. JTF COVID Shield commander PLGen Guillermo Eleazar urged protesters to consider other platforms to voice out their concerns, citing possible health risks amid the pandemic. Mr Harris said he wont be satisfied until all of the screening programmes are back up and running. Photo: Steve Humphreys Cervical screening may not restart until the end of the summer despite doctors saying they can carry out smear tests now, the Dail has been told. The four branches of the National Screening Service (NSS) have suspended screening due to the coronavirus crisis. There are fears that cases of cancer will go undetected as a result. The NSS oversees the CervicalCheck, BreastCheck, BowelScreen and Diabetic RetinaScreen services. Fianna Fail health spokesman Stephen Donnelly raised the issue with Health Minister Simon Harris. He said GPs have said they are ready to carry out smear tests, but the NSS won't be announcing restart dates until the end of the month. A phased reintroduction of screening is expected to begin by the end of the summer. Mr Donnelly said: "That means hundreds of thousands of people are not going to be screened at the same time as doctors are saying they are ready to do screening now." He expressed concern at suggestions that widespread screening won't start until a backlog of symptomatic cases are dealt with first. He asked Mr Harris if he is satisfied with the timeline of restarting screening at the end of summer. Mr Harris said he won't be satisfied until all of the screening programmes are back up and running. He said screening services were paused by many countries and the measure was taken to protect patients and staff. He said treatment continued for people who had already been screened and that the NSS is finalising its reopening plans. Mr Harris said that the NSS told him that cervical and diabetic retinal screening will restart first, followed by BreastCheck and then BowelScreen. "There's a lot of work going on to modify screening units and this obviously has to be completed before the restart," he said. Screening invitations will be issued on a phased basis according to "clinical prioritisation". "I won't be satisfied, like you, until these programmes are all back up and running. "But I am satisfied there's an incredible amount of work being done with very dedicated clinicians," Mr Harris said. A family of pewterers since 1755 Renowned American pewterers Danforth Pewter have been making metalware by hand for generations. Apart from a hundred-year break just after the Civil War, the Danforths have been bringing pewterware to American homes since colonial times. Around 1634, widower Nicholas Danforth set sail from Framlingham in England with his six children in tow, to begin a new life in Boston. (Framlingham may sound familiar: Danforths Farms in Massachusetts, was owned by Thomas Danforth, and he renamed the farms Framingham, without the L, as an allusion to his birthplace. Danforth Farms can still be seen on the Framingham town seal.) In 1634, Nicholas Danforth arrived in America. His descendant, Thomas Danforth II started the family pewter tradition in 1755. (Danforth Pewter) Danforth Pewter CEO, Bram Kleppner. (Danforth Pewter) But it wasnt until a century or so later that the first Danforth became a pewterer, explains Danforth Pewters CEO Bram Kleppner in a phone interview. In 1755, Thomas Danforth II opened a pewter workshop in the British colony of Connecticut, in the town of Middletown. That workshop still stands. At that time, almost everybody ate off of pewter and drank out of pewter, except the wealthy who ate off of porcelain and drank out of glass, Kleppner explained. Pewter has a lot of great qualities: It doesnt rust. It doesnt tarnish. It doesnt break when you drop it, and its easy to wash. So it was the common tableware for American households, he said. In his workshop, Danforth made teapots, tankards, plates, and so forth, marking each piece he made with a touch mark (trademark) of a rampant lion. Every Danforth pewterer after him used the rampant lion until the Revolution in 1776. The Danforths apparently supported the cause of independence and they thought the rampant lion looked too British, so they switched to an eagle as their touch mark to keep it clear which side they were on, Kleppner said. After the Civil War, in the late 1860s (and as a sign that nothing ever really changes, Kleppner said), the American pewter industry was wiped out by cheap imports from China that made porcelain and glass more affordable for working people. The last of the early American Danforth pewterers was Thomas Danforth Boardman. And as they say, he died with his boots on, Kleppner said. He worked up until the day he died in 1873, when he was in his late 80s. For over a hundred years, the Danforth touch mark gathered dust until fate intervened. A Danforth Pewter vase is one of the pewter items made by many hands at the Middlebury, Vt., workshop. (Danforth Pewter) Destined to Be a Danforth Pewterer Nearly 300 years after the Danforths took the eagle as their touch mark, a new Danforth pewterer picked up the family tradition. Fred Danforth grew up in Ohio, knowing a lot about his ancestors through his fathers interest in genealogy. And although he knew that some of his ancestors had been pewterers, he was heading toward a career in woodworkingthat was until he met Judi Whipple. Whipple grew up in New Hampshire. Having always been creative and drawn to the arts, she studied metalwork at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, where she was introduced to pewter. She immediately fell in love with the metal and became a pewter designer and worker. Fred met Judi in Vermont when they were in their 20s. When Fred introduced himself, Judi said Oh, did you know there were some guys who worked pewter in early America named Danforth? And Fred said, Oh yeah, those were my great-great-grandfathers, Kleppner explained. Fred and Judi discovered that they were both craftspeople and artists. And Judi sort of said: Look, youre a Danforth; you cant be a woodworker. You need to work pewter. So forget what youre planning, buddy, and let me show you your destiny and fate, Kleppner said. Thats how Fred became a Danforth pewterer. In 1975, Fred and Judi Danforth began making pewterware in Middlebury, Vt., from their barn workshop. (Danforth Pewter) The couple traveled to Nova Scotia, Canada, where they spent a year or so as apprentices in a pewter workshop. Then in 1975, they moved to Woodstock, Vermont, where they did what young artists in the 1970s in Vermont did: They rented an old farm and they set up a workshop in the barn, Kleppner said. They displayed their pewterware on a table by the side of the road. When people would stop to look, Fred and Judi would take them around the workshop, and theyd walk customers across the street to their home where theyd set up a little pewterware display in the corner of their living room. On the weekends, they sold their pewter at county fairs and craft markets. Through the 1970s, their pieces sold well, and they were able to earn a living as artisans. Fred Danforth uses a metal tool to hand spin some pewter. (Danforth Pewter) Judi Danforth solders the stems onto pewter wine glasses. (Danforth Pewter) From these small beginnings, and with a lot of hard work, Fred and Judis business grew. They learned as they went, offering wholesale to gift shops and the like, and then in the late 80s the business changed overnight. At a trade fair in New York, a Walt Disney representative offered them the opportunity to become a licensee, making Winnie the Pooh figurines. For around 10 years, the Disney contract brought Danforth Pewter expansion and healthy profits, which the Danforths shared with their artisans. All the people who worked at the company were getting nice bonus checks during the Disney years, Kleppner explained. The Disney license ceased in the late 1990s, and over the next decade or so, Danforth Pewter had to find its place in the market again. It was a tumultuous time, when Fred and Judi had to make hard decisions, such as to lay off people, something theyd never had to do before. The business settled into profitability around 2011 when Kleppner became CEO of Danforth Pewter, although hed been involved with the company since 2007. Then in 2015, Kleppner had a different challenge when, after 40 years, Fred and Judi retired. Fred and Judis partnership worked very well artistically, business-wise, and in their relationship. Kleppner said: Theyve been married for a very long timeto this day, you see them together and they obviously just delight in each others company, which is lovely. Judi and Fred Danforth founded Vermont-based, Danforth Pewter in 1975. Fred comes from a long line of Danforth pewterers who began making pewter in 1755. (Danforth Pewter) The workshop now continues without the Danforths at the creative helm, although they do still help the business. The Danforth Pewter Artisans All Danforth Pewters artisans are locals from Middlebury, Vermont, a small rural town nestled in the midst of rolling hills, agricultural land, farms, and tiny villages. Some of the artisans have worked for the company for 30 years, with many more having been there for over 20 years, Kleppner said. Everything is taught in-house. We have now been in business for 45 years, and Im pretty sure we have never hired anyone with experience working with pewter, he said. In the workshop, two main metalwork techniques are used: casting and spinning. Bronze mold casting (lost-wax casting) has been around for thousands of years, and Danforth Pewter uses the technique for a small number of castings, Kleppner said. Spinning pewter is only a couple of hundred years old, and Kleppner likens the process to casting a pot on a potters wheel. Spinning pewter is similar to casting a pot on a potters wheel; both take a steady hand and years of practice. (Danforth Pewter) Danforth Pewter worker Jake Michaud inspects a handspun pewter oil lamp base. (Danforth Pewter) Spinning pewter is highly specialized. We can train someone to cast, and to prep, and finish [a piece of pewter], in a week, but it does take months and months to train someone to spin pewter successfully. Its easy to rip the metal, or to have it deform, or to have it foldtheres lots of ways it can go wrong, Kleppner said. After a couple of years of practice and some specialized homemade tools, an experienced pewterer makes spinning pewter look easy.Its really magic when you see it, Kleppner said. Its a smooth and very kind of rhythmic process. The pewter is spun at room temperature; as pewter is mostly tin, its soft enough to shape without heat. The pewterer places a thin pewter disc on a lathe, and as it spins the pewterer pushes against it using a metal tool with just the right amount of pressure so that it transforms from a disc to a plate, a bowl, an oil lamp, or a vase, for example. The base of Danforth Pewters oil lamps are handspun on a lathe. Spinning pewter is a highly skilled process that takes years to master. (Danforth Pewter) Danforth Pewters captain oil lamp. (Danforth Pewter) Or Danforth Pewter pewterers can spin a Jefferson cup. Its often thought that Thomas Jefferson designed the Jefferson cup, which is almost true, Kleppner said. Jefferson had commissioned a silversmith hed met in France, when he was ambassador there, to make him a set of silver cups. The silversmith made the designs, which Jefferson modified. Danforth Pewter Jefferson cups are made by spinning pewter. (Danforth Pewter) Many Hands Make Pewterware Just like Jeffersons cup, a Danforth Pewter product is the result of people working together. Kleppner explains that even as the company has grownopened retail stores, and taken on big design orders or wholesale customerseach piece is still made by hand and in fact made by a lot of hands. Making a holiday ornament is a good example, he says. Lead designer Timothy Copeland creates a design and then makes a model either by hand carving some jewelers wax, which was Judis preferred technique, or modeling it on a computer and a little mill and then carving it out of a material called butter board. The carved design then goes to a mold maker. The lead mold maker used to be Fred and Judis housecleaner. She learned the technique 35 years ago, when Judi needed help making molds, and shes been a mold maker ever since. The molds are made out of vulcanized rubber and are then passed to a caster, who sets the temperature and pressure and gets the mold ready to pour the molten pewter into it. The pewter is then cast and then removed. Molten pewter being poured into a cast. (Danforth Pewter) The pewter ornament is then passed to a prepper, who files away the line where the two halves of the mold come together and corrects any other imperfections. If there is anything missing, the pewter piece gets thrown back into the crucible to be melted and reused. A handmade hummingbird ornament by Danforth Pewter. (Danforth Pewter) From the prepper, the pewter goes to the finisher, who runs it through a process that gives the metal its characteristic look. Then if the ornament needs to be colored, it goes to the enameling room where someone applies the color by hand. In the assembly room, someone ties a ribbon on the ornament and then puts it in its box to be sent to one of the Danforth Pewter stores or shipped out for a customer order. Many hands at Danforth Pewter continue to pass on the Danforth metalwork tradition. Regardless of whether artisans are a Danforth by blood, pewterware looks like it will course through Middlebury and the Vermont valley for generations to come. To find out more about Danforth Pewter, visit DanforthPewter.com Danforth Pewters specialist barware (LR) Julep cup, Abbey cup, and tumbler. (Danforth Pewter) Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-13 04:28:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KIEV, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has recognized Ukraine as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Facebook on Friday. Kuleba expressed gratitude to the alliance for the decision, adding that through cooperation, Ukraine and NATO will make each other stronger. Ukraine is now one of six partners in Enhanced Opportunities Program along with Australia, Finland, Georgia, Jordan and Sweden. Each partner has an individual relationship with NATO based on areas of mutual interest. "This status is part of NATO's Partnership Interoperability Initiative, which aims to maintain and deepen cooperation between Allies and partners that have made significant contributions to NATO-led operations and missions," NATO's press service stated on Friday. NATO, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance. Joining NATO is one of Ukraine's foreign policy priorities. Ukraine became a member of North Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1991 and a NATO partner for peace in 1994. In 1997, the Ukraine-NATO relations were strengthened with the signing of the 1997 Charter on a Distinctive Partnership, which established the NATO-Ukraine Commission. In June 2017, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted legislation reinstating membership in NATO as a strategic foreign and security policy objective. On Feb. 7, 2019, Ukraine's parliament backed amendments to the Constitution confirming Ukraine's path toward NATO. In January 2020, Ukraine officially applied for participation in the Enhanced Opportunities Program. Enditem Overnight reports from Jacksonville police: Samantha N. Warcup, 25, address unavailable, was arrested on a charge of criminal trespassing at 9:55 p.m. Thursday in the 1000 block of East Morton Avenue. Cheyenne D. Wilson, 21, of 821 S. Main St., Apt. 1, and Alisa A. Bowden, 27, of 819 W. College Ave., Apt. 3, were cited on charges of disorderly conduct at 10:04 p.m. Thursday after police said they caused a disturbance multiple times in the 800 block of West College Avenue. Leigh A. Crowley, 41, of 206 Zela Lane was arrested on charges of driving while license is suspended, possession of methamphetamine and manufacturing or delivery of methamphetamine at 2:36 p.m. Thursday after a traffic stop in the 600 block of North Main Street. A truck was spray-painted while it was parked in the 500 block of East Lafayette Avenue, according to a report filed at 6:40 a.m. Thursday. About $400 worth of property was taken from a car while it was parked in the first block of Briarwyck Drive, according to a report filed at 8:17 a.m. Thursday. A woman being treated in the emergency room at Passavant Area Hospital at 12:37 a.m. Friday said she had been attacked by three people in the parking lot of a West Morton Avenue business. Police are investigating. A suspicious bone was found in the back yard of an Alice Drive resident at 2:22 p.m. Thursday. Police said it appeared to be an animal bone. Compiled by David C.L. Bauer WHILE some counties have done much in the matter of publicizing their part in the fight for freedom, very little has been heard of the part played by Offaly in that great struggle, and yet it was within the borders of this historic county that some of the bravest and most daring deeds were done. It is not right, he said, that these should be allowed to pass into complete oblivion, and it is hoped the writing of this story of the Clara R.I.C. barrack attack will encourage others into penning the complete story of Offalys fight during that critical period of Irish history. These were the words of P. OM., (Paddy OMeara) in 1960, basing his account on that published in the local press on 5 June 1920. The witness statement of Sean ONeill, a manager in P.J. Whites Clara shop (Bureau of Military History) supports the press reports of the time. So to do the recollections of D.B. Quinn (1998) and Harold Goodbody (1940s) (forthcoming). IRA man and county councillor Sean Robbins of Clara was critical (1936) as was Fergus OBracken (2016) writing to vindicate the role of his father, overall IRA commandant Peadar Bracken, in the episode. The town of Clara which enjoyed the air of peacefulness was rudely awakened after the midnight hour on Wednesday 2 June, 1920, to witness a terrific attack on the R.I.C. Barrack, situated in the center of town. It is estimated the raiding partys strength was close on 200 men, but that they were not all engaged in the actual attack, prior to which elaborate precautionary measures were carried out. The main roads connecting Clara with the adjoining towns of Tullamore, Kilbeggan, Moate and the villages of Ballycumber, Horseleap and Rahan, were blocked by fallen trees, while the telegraph and telephone lines were cut. Sentries were posted at various points, making outside communication absolutely impossible. To avoid any possibility of surprise from the direction of the railway several sections of the main railroad were removed. This preliminary work was performed by the raiding party in a comparatively short time. Feeling secure from anything in the nature of a surprise they directed their attention towards the town, which they entered from all sides. Moved to safety The task of surrounding the barrack was quickly but quietly done. A notable feature was the respect and courtesy extended by the raiders to persons whose houses were entered. The manageress and female occupants of Williams Hotel were conveyed to the Post Office, while the male members, including a number of travellers, were taken to the rear of the premises and ordered to remain there. The rooms overlooking the roadway had a commanding view of the barrack and immediately the raiders got to work with sandbags and furniture to partially block the windows through which they subsequently directed their fire on the barrack. In Bridge Street, Mrs. Kenny and family were removed to a place of safety in the rear, while occupants of Mr. Joe Flynns premises were also conveyed to safety. Similarly every consideration was given to the wife of one of the sergeants and her children, who were taken from this home to the Post Office where they found shelter during the engagement. Amongst other buildings occupied by the attackers were the extensive flour mills owned by Messrs Goodbodys, as numerous windows commanded a perfect view of the thoroughfare and the police station. All these windows were practically packed up with heavy bags of grain, and when the attack began an almost incessant fire was kept up. Through a skylight in the mills, directly overlooking the barrack bombs were thrown, and in several places slates were removed to give snipers, positioned inside, an opportunity of firing through the barrack windows. The most dangerous position of all was that taken up by three men, who mounted the roof of an outhouse attached to Mr Tom Dalys business establishment, opposite Sergeant Somers private residence, and also facing the gable-end of the barracks. These kept up continuous fire and prevented the police from utilizing the gable-end windows. The R.I.C. garrison The garrison was comprised of Sergeant Somers, who was in charge, and Sergeant Coady, Constables Smyth, Fulton, Power, Folan, Byrne and special Constable Clarke. Of the garrison only a couple had retired for the night and these were quickly summoned and allotted to their posts. The police fired through the port holes in the steel shutters and from behind sandbags, placed at the windows upstairs. The fusillade was furious and the noise of rifle fire and bursting bombs struck terror into the inhabitants of River Street and Main Street. Many of them left their beds and sought shelter as bullets were flying in all directions. The attack was maintained with great vigour and bombs were thrown on the roof of the barrack from the mill roof. The police replied vigorously as shown by bullet marks and broken windows in nearby premises. Joe Flynns drapery establishment was constantly under fire as the I.R.A. had taken up positions there to concentrate on the gable-end windows of the barrack. At the rear of the barrack a number of men from the corrugated roof of a lean-to shed in Mr. Stewards yard, maintained the attack with great fury. While the firing was at its highest, excavations were made under the foundation of the barrack at a spot where it adjoins the mill. Explosives were placed in position, but these failed to explode. The attackers also gained entrance to the sergeants quarters, which was separated by a substantial wall from the barrack building. They bombed a breach of considerable dimensions and having done this one of them entered it and demanded the defenders to surrender. The police inside in this portion of the barrack, which was used as a dormitory, threw grenade after grenade through the breach, and the attackers were forced to evacuate this portion of the building. This, according to the witness statements of Martin Meleady and others in the military archive, was a turning point - with three men seriously injured it was time to get out. Danger to mills A breach was also made in the wall between the mill and the dayroom portion of the barracks. The attackers carried large supplies of petrol, but no effort was made to set the barrack on fire, presumably fearing the mills would suffer with consequent great loss to the workers and the town. While the attack was on armed sentries carrying rifles, guarded the approaches of the town and patrolled the streets. The attack eased off at 3 a.m. possibly because it was apprehended that the arrival of a goods train at that time might have contained military. While the police reported no casualties, three [or four] of the best and bravest of the I.R.A. were seriously wounded and one of them Patrick Seery, Cloneyheigue, died from wounds the following September and Martin Fleming, of Ballycumber, lost an arm. The third man wounded was also Ed. Brennan and appears that Martin Mileady suffered also. When hostilities had ceased information of the attack was conveyed to Tullamore by a dispatch rider. The military in that town did not receive any intimation of the attack until 5 a.m. It appears the constable sent to the attic to send up verey light signals could not do so as a concentrated attack was kept on him. He was standing on a box close to the roof sending signals through a skylight while around him rained bullets, some of which singed his clothing. It was stated after the attack that he had a providential escape. Police cyclists had to be used to get to Clara as a military vehicle found the roads blocked, but by the time reinforcements arrived, the attackers had gone. Military and Police officers made an investigation by the rifle fire and grenades and in the evening a military detachment entered with the police into joint occupation of the building which was strengthened with sandbags. The military, aided by the Black and Tans, made a thorough search for the attackers; and it was said they traced blood to McGlynns Bridge. Two civilian caps were also foundone in Mr. Stewards yard with a bullet hole through the peak and another in Mr. R. Goodbodys laurel adjacent to Bridge Street. The R.I.C. reported the finding of a rifle, shot gun and some bombs, stated by experts to be of home manufacture. While these were being examined a live cartridge which one exploded, the bullet hitting the roadway and ricocheting. A splinter struck Miss Rourke, a young lady from Ballycommon, who had been standing with her sister, Mrs Kenny, Bridge Street. Another splinter struck Mr. Coleman, Manager Hibernian Bank, while another injured Mr. Crosier, a dentist. A general house-to-house search was carried out and all the male occupants taken out on to the road, where machine guns were placed in front of them for several hours. They were later released. The wounded men were attended by the late Right Rev. Mgr. M. Bracken, P.P., V.G., and a member of the Jesuit Community, St. Stanislaus College, Rahan, the late Rev. Fr Tomkin, S.J., and the late Dr. M. C. OHara, Clara. While the attackers retired without having accomplished their task, the attack was carefully planned. The explosives which failed to work were calculated to have sufficient power to blow up the entire barracks and dwelling houses to pieces. It is also a tribute to the chivalry of the I.R.A. that before commencing the attack they had one of the sergeants wife and children brought to safety. Look after this woman and her children was the remark of the officer conducting Mrs. Somers and her youngsters to the post office. This gave the police a great chance of fortifying the building and being ready for the attack. Harold Goodbody, writing in the 1940s saw, correctly, that the Clara Barracks attack marked the beginning of a wave of attacks on barracks and courthouses that left the county and the country ungovernable. The Sinn Feiners cleared out these people and by means of explosives, blew a hole through the wall into the barracks proper, while another party did the same from the mill, having seized the keys from the mill manager. Others kept up rifle fire from the houses opposite and from the mill windows. The police, although in reduced strength, put up an excellent defence and a lucky Mills bomb thrown through the hole in the wall into the neighbouring house, is supposed to have killed two or three of the assailants although the particulars of the killed and wounded have never come out, and as the attackers came from distant places some from Tyrrelspass it was not possible to check up. It is understood that the Parish Priest, Father Bracken, refused to come out and shrive the wounded until the attacks were called off and the police remained victorious in a badly shattered building and subsequently evacuated Clara altogether for a time. In fact most of the barracks in the country were cleared into headquarters as being indefensible. We were then dependant on occasional patrols of police and military in motor lorries and the ordinary law ceased to function. In order to prevent these patrols the roads were blocked in one way or another although generally there was a way round. On 19th. June the Clara court house in Church St. adjoining the chapel was burnt. The long-serving County Inspector Crane had retired in December 1919 and the police reports of 1920 are not as entertaining or informative. The police put the raid on Clara at 300 men and later in the year the acting C.I. commented: Resignations from the force are becoming very numerous and no body of men can be expected to support indefinitely the condition under which the police in many places are forced to live, boycotted, forced to commandeer their food, crowded in many instance into cramped quarters without proper light or air, every mans hand against them in danger of their lives and subjected to the appeals of their parents and their families to them to leave the force and so put an end to the danger and annoyance to which continued service exposes them all. Geashill Barracks A diversionary attack on Geashill barracks on the same night commenced about 1am. Moral and political victory Both Geashill and Clara barracks were strongly protected against attack. It was noted that the Clara attack, though a failure, was well planned and carried out with determination. The 2nd of June 1920 was polling day in the county council elections and these proceeded that day with Sean Robbins, a Goodbody employee (Transport Union) and an I.R.A. man defeating his boss, the long-time public representative, deputy chairman of the council and largest employer in Offaly, James Perry Goodbody. Sean Robbins, speaking in 1936 thought that there were far too many IRA men called up. That is what happened. There were too many men there. The Brigade Commandant mobilised too many. He mobilised the first and second battalion of Offaly I and also portion of Offaly II took part. That is what happened the men were on top of one another. Fergus OBracken was of the view that only about 80 men were involved and of that only 21 directly. They did not have enough weapons to arm any more. The objective was to remove slates from the roof of the barracks, pour in petrol and force out the RIC in that way and secure their weapons. According to Bracken the plan in this regard was not adhered to by the commanders in the field led by Sean McGuinness who, Bracken says, had not turned up for a meeting in a Dublin hotel beforehand to advise Peadar Bracken of the impending attack date and details. Thirty years on Comrade in Arms writing in the press in 1950, a short time after Martin Flemings burial in Kilreehan, said that the Clara barracks attack just went wrong and was in fact a disastrous failure. He did not blame anyone. There was a trail of blood, he recalled, to Dr OHaras house (probably the blood of Martin Fleming who lived three miles out on the Ballycumber Road). Dr OHara would say nothing later despite attempts from the military the following day to account for himself and his patients. The Ballycumber man, McInerney helped transport the wounded to Dublin assisted by Tom Fleming, Liam Dignam, Tom Bracken and others including the parish priest and the Jesuits of Tullabeg College. At 4 p.m. in the evening, according to Comrade in Arms the car made its way to the Mater Hospital, Dublin. Martin Fleming lost an arm but despite the empty sleeve his spirit remained indomitable. The quest for a suitable memorial for Patrick Seery (born 1889, a farm labourer,) of Cloneyheigue near Tyrrellspass would go on for twenty years. Joe Begnell of Milltownpass had suggested in 1950 a suitable memorial for the captain of the Tyrrellspass Company in No 1 Offaly Brigade. On the 2nd of September 1920 Patrick Seery died at the Mater Hospital in Dublin from wounds received during the attack on the R.I.C. Barracks at Clara. Almost fifty years to the day his death was commemorated with that of other old I.R.A. members, but perhaps overshadowed with the repatriation of the remains of James Daly of the Connaught Rangers mutiny, also marked on that occasion. It was Tomas Malone who spoke, fittingly, as it was at his family home in Meedin, Tyrrellspass that the rebellion of 1916 was suitably proclaimed in Westmeath. He was accompanied by Sean McGuinness who as O.C., was to make many speeches over the period from the 1920s right up to his death in 1978. A wonderful memorial sculpted by Imogen Stuart now sits on the Green in Tyrrellspass of three children on the way to school and looking to the future. Yet, whatever the confusion in the execution of the battle plans (if any) for the Clara attack, great bravery and decency as soldiers was shown by all in Clara on that warm morning of 2 June 1920. It was Offalys opening salvo in the War of Independence. On the same day Sean Robbins would top the poll in the county council elections and Sinn Fein would dominate the new council. The Victorian government will spend almost $10 million extending the stay of homeless people in hotels and helping them find long-term housing, amid concerns they would end up back on the streets as COVID-19 restrictions ease. Homeless people disappeared from the streets within days in March after the government paid to put them up in hotels due to concerns of an outbreak of the deadly virus among vulnerable rough sleepers unable to socially isolate. Homelessness groups say COVID-19 has provided an opportunity to end rough sleeping. Credit:Pat Scala More than 4500 have been provided with emergency accommodation across Victoria - at a cost to the Victorian government of $15 million - with 1000 put up in hotels in the CBD alone. However as the pandemic recedes concerns have been raised that they would be forced back onto the streets, with homelessness groups urging the government to provide a long-term solution to rough sleeping. The demands called for more transparency in the complaint process against police officers; a mandated limit on the number of founded racist, sexist and excessive force complaints an officer can have; review of restraint tactics and removing suffocation as a form of restraint altogether; continued sensitivity training and psychological examinations for police officers; a clearly defined and attainable avenue that an individual is able to take to have their name removed from the gang database; a monthly open grievance forum that law enforcement is required to attend; not allowing government buildings to post Blue Lives Matter inside or outside the building unless other groups are allowed to post their statements as well; no cooperation with federal immigration authorities; that all officers should wear body cameras; and having all Aurora police officers live in Aurora. A small town named Cinquefrondi, located in the Calabria region of Italy, is proudly calling itself a Covid-free village. To make things better than before, the town has houses put up on market for sale at just 1 (about Rs 85). The town, which has reported zero coronavirus cases in the country, has put these houses on sale for such a cheap price in order to reverse a depopulation trend. This is usually caused as youths prefer to move towards cities for better job opportunities. The mayor of the town, Michele Conia has also given this the name of Operation Beauty. Talking to CNN about the operation, Conia said that the key part of it is to find new owners for the abandoned houses so that no part of the town is lost or degraded. We rise between the refreshing hills and two warm seas, a pristine river runs nearby and the beaches are just 15 minutes away by car. But a whole district of my town lies abandoned, with empty houses that are also unstable and risky, Conia described the village. Meanwhile, Italy, one of the worst affected countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has made remarkable progress in dealing with the deadly virus. The nation has also opened borders to tourists. Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here Left to right, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Norm Lewis, Clark Peters, Delroy Lindo and Jonathan Majors in a scene from "Da 5 Bloods." (David Lee/Netflix) When Spike Lee set out to make his new Netflix film "Da 5 Bloods," available for streaming today, he never imagined it would come out in the midst of a national reckoning with systemic racism unlike anything seen in half a century. That said, he isn't entirely shocked either. "In no way, shape or form did I think that a miracle had happened and Black and brown people would not be murdered," Lee told The Times two weeks ago, as protests were erupting across the country following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. "Its not like this stuff has gone away." Throughout his career, in films like "Do the Right Thing," "Malcolm X," "Chi-Raq" and the screenplay Oscar-winning "BlacKkKlansman," Lee has explored the countless ways that America's original sin of racial oppression has continued to trouble the nation's psyche and rend the fabric of society and "Da 5 Bloods" is no exception. In this "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" style action-adventure yarn about a group of Black Vietnam vets searching for buried treasure, Lee saw the opportunity to tell a deeper story about the sacrifices African Americans have made fighting overseas for rights they have not always been afforded by their own country. Retrofitting an original script by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo in which the soldiers were white, Lee and co-writer Kevin Willmott decided to bring those deeper themes to the fore by making one of the vets, the volatile, embittered Paul (Delroy Lindo), an ardent supporter of Donald Trump. In doing so, "Da 5 Bloods" ties the political turbulence and civil rights struggles of the Vietnam era directly to today, much as "BlacKkKlansman" drew a direct line from the story of a Black police officer infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s to the resurgent white supremacy movement of the Trump era. "Spike always tries to connect the past with the here and now," says Willmott, who previously collaborated with Lee on "Chi-Raq" and "BlacKkKlansman" and who is a professor of film and media studies at the University of Kansas. "Thats always something that were looking for when he brings me on to a project. That was really our way of connecting it to something really relevant to today." Story continues When Lindo, who had earlier worked with Lee on films including "Malcolm X" and "Crooklyn," first read the script, he was initially repulsed by the idea of playing a devoted fan of Trump, who he says is "anathema to everything I believe in." Before agreeing to sign on, Lindo went to Lee with his reservations. "I asked Spike, 'Can we make him like an arch-conservative without him being a Trumpite?' Lindo says. "He thought about it for a few days and reached out to me and said he really needed the character to be a Trumpite for the story. He said, 'I really need the MAGA hat and I need him to be a Trumpite.' " Lee, whose preferred nickname for the president is Agent Orange, persuaded Lindo that making Paul a Trump fan would not only generate some interesting dramatic friction with his fellow vets but would also enable the film to touch on the sort of hot-button political currents that his work has so often tapped. (As for the recent controversy over former Vice President Joe Biden's suggestion that any African American who supports Trump is not really Black, Lee says that was "a small misstep" when compared with the president's own incendiary and divisive rhetoric.) "Delroy tried to talk me out of it, but he knew it was the best thing for his character and the best thing for this film," Lee says. "It wasnt a long discussion. It was very short and Delroy understood." Left to right, Lee, Peters, Lindo, Majors and Lewis on the set of "Da 5 Bloods" (David Lee/Netflix) In placing a Black Trump supporter at the heart of the narrative, Willmott says the goal was not merely to be provocative but to more deeply explore what he sees as the misplaced anger that fuels the president's base. "The thing Spike and I are trying to do with Paul being a Trump supporter is really get at the issue of grievances," says Willmott, noting that he personally lives in "the only blue dot in an entirely red state." "I think grievances are a huge part of the whole Trump phenomenon. Hes been able to reach people that feel like theyve been screwed, and Pauls character has had such a hard time on so many different levels that he just seemed like he would connect with all of that. We try to show how when you distill the complicated reality that were living in right now into something really simple and angry and ultimately selfish, people can really respond to that." While he did not speak with any Black Trump supporters as part of his research, Lindo ultimately came to his own understanding of Paul's psychology. "This is a man who has been betrayed, not least by his country," Lindo says. "When he came back from Nam, it was as if they were the enemy, and Paul has personalized that kind of violation of himself. That was how I reconciled it within myself." "You might say Paul is a tragic Shakespearean figure," Lee says. "He has so many demons that are haunting him. You have to remember, they didnt have that term post-traumatic stress syndrome when these guys came back from Vietnam. They were called baby-killers. They were spat upon. And it is criminal that we have American vets who are homeless now. Its an absolute disgrace that these men and women white, black, brown put their lives on the line for this country and they come back and are living on the streets." In advance of the release of "Da 5 Bloods," Lee held screenings of the film for Black Vietnam veterans, who seemed gratified to see themselves represented by cinema's premier chronicler of the Black American experience. "All these guys gave me a big hug and said, 'Spike, thank you for making this film. But what took you so ... long?' he says. At a time of such extreme polarization, though, with a pandemic raging and images of protests continually splashed across the news, it remains to be seen what audiences will ultimately make of Lee's latest blend of action, comedy, history and sharp political commentary. "Im not going to predict how people are going to like it," Lee says. "I will say its definitely going to spur conversation, which is one of the things I want my films to do. Not necessarily to give them the answer." KAMIAH - An expanding partnership between the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is increasing hunter and angler access on National Forest System lands in north-central Idaho. Staff from both agencies work together to prioritize trail work in popular hunting and fishing destinations, discussing their priorities for work projects and matching those up to areas that are in the highest demand for hunter and angler access. Funding from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and other partner agencies makes these projects possible, and state and federal agency employees work together with partners and volunteers to accomplish the work on the ground to benefit hunters, anglers, and other recreationists across the forest. We continually hear from sportsmen that access is a huge concern for them, said Don Jenkins, Regional Wildlife Habitat Manager with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Partnering with the Forest Service to address deferred maintenance on trails, using funding secured through fees associated with license sales, has helped open miles of access for sportsmen. This partnership began in 2017, when the Idaho Department of Fish and Game approached the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests interested in an opportunity to improve access for elk hunters in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. That year, the agencies worked together and with the Montana Conservation Corps to clear Klopton Creek Trail, greatly improving access for public lands users. This initial partnership was so successful that the agencies agreed to continue to explore new ways of working together in the future. The following year, a project on Cayuse Creek Trail in the North Fork Clearwater River drainage was selected for Fish and Game access funding targeted to nonmotorized trail restoration. The agencies then worked with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation to secure additional Trail Program funding to support the project even further. The Forest Service partnered with crew members from the Great Burn Conservation Alliance and the Clearwater Basin Youth Conservation Corps to clear and realign trail tread along a three mile stretch of old trail downstream from Cayuse Landing Strip, greatly improving the experience for anglers coming to this popular location. The agencies and partners plan to complete the remaining sections of this trail over the next few years. The Sherman Creek, Holly Creek, and Skookum Creek trails in the Highway 12 corridor in the vicinity of the Lochsa Historical Ranger Station were selected for this years work, with an emphasis on singletrack motorized access. These trails provide easy access to a segment of Hunt Unit 12 that lies between U.S. Highway 12 and Forest Service Road #500, commonly known as the Lolo Motorway. The Sherman Creek Trail joins Highway 12 to the Lolo Motorway and is a segment of the Idaho Centennial Trail. This trail has also been designated for use by the Appaloosa Horse Club during the Chief Joseph Trail Ride along the Nez Perce National Historic Trail route. We are so grateful to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game for providing access funding to make this trail restoration work possible, and for helping prioritize work areas based on their knowledge of hunter and angler use of National Forest System lands, said Carol Hennessey, Program Manager for Recreation, Wilderness, Trails, Rivers, and Outfitters and Guides on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. The Forest Service is looking forward to future years accomplishing this important work on the ground, and the possibilities for continuing to expand this collaboration. By Aisha Jabbarova Azerbaijan has registered 336 new COVID-19 cases and five coronavirus-related deaths, the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers reported on 12 June. The number of recovered patients has been 183 today. The new cases brought the total coronavirius cases to 9,218 and virus-related deaths to 113. Azerbaijan registered its first COVID-19 case in February and imposed anti-coronavirus quarantine regime on March 24. The number of infection cases surged after the relaxation of the quarantine regime on May 18, which lifted restriction on the residents movement. On June 6-7, the country imposed a two-day weekend lockdown to curb the surge of COVID-19 cases. Another locdown will be in force between June 14 till June 16. __ Follow as on Twitter @AzerNews With pork prices rising relentlessly, pigs are being smuggled over the border from neighbouring countries into Vietnam. Border guards in An Giang Province prevent pig smuggling from Cambodia. VNS File Photo The meat now sells for around VND100,000 (US$4) per kilogramme. According to the An Giang Province Border Guard, in the first five months of this year it has helped prevent six cases of pig smuggling and seized more than six tonnes of smuggled pork. A spokesman said the incidence of smuggling has increased recently. He said smugglers bring pigs to the Tien and Hau rivers from neighbouring countries and use small boats to fetch them to local markets at night under the cover of darkness. If authorities find and pursue them, the smugglers flee, leaving all their belongings behind, he said. In the last three weeks of May, border guards in An Giang Province stopped three cases of smuggling and seized nearly 50 pigs weighing nearly three tonnes, he said. At 2.30am on May 30, soldiers from the Phu Huu Border Guard Station in An Giangs An Phu District found a man in a small boat in Canal No 5 in a local commune. When challenged by the troops, the man jumped into the canal and swam away into Cambodia, leaving behind the junk and 12 pigs. Authorities in other border provinces like Long An and Dong Thap have also recently stopped pig smuggling from Cambodia. On March 14, environmental police officers from the Ministry of Public Security came across smugglers in Long An Provinces Vinh Hung District and seized more than 100 pigs weighing more than 10 tonnes. They had found the pigs some five kilometres inside the border in lorries. Their drivers said they had been hired over phone to transport the pigs and did not know who their owners were. Pigs smuggled to central markets A source from the Lao Bao Border Guard Station in the central province of Quang Tri revealed that on May 21 soldiers had spotted two smugglers bringing pigs in from Laos. The smugglers escaped to Laos, leaving behind 14 pigs on a small boat. It was the fifth time the soldiers had accosted smugglers and in all seized nearly 100 pigs worth hundreds of millions of dong. According to relevant agencies in Quang Tri Province, the water level in the Se Pon River is now lower than normal, enabling smugglers to transport pigs from Savanakhet Province in Laos. Traders also buy the pigs in Thailand. Once the animals arrive in Vietnam, they are loaded on lorries and transported to markets. Pigs on the hoof sell for VND50,000-VND60,000 per kilogramme in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, but VND100,000 now in Vietnam, offering windfall profits to smugglers. According to the Peoples Committee of Huong Hoa District, since early May hundreds of pigs have been smuggled into Vietnam bypassing veterinary and quarantine requirements. Authorities warned this posed a risk of spreading African swine fever and threatened food safety. Since the last week of March, the Quang Tri Province administration has required authorities to prevent the smuggling of pigs across the border, but the situation has not improved. VNS. There has been a lot of debate in the public sphere around the degree and kind of legal regulation a society should apply to online speech. While the dialogue has become more intense and urgent in the last few years, the effort to impose limits on Internet speech has been contentious from the start. At the present juncture, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act is undergoing reconsideration. Its easy to take knee-jerk stances on Internet speech regulation, but they generally do not achieve as satisfactory or sustainable end results as stances that are grounded in an appreciation of history. In fact, it is precisely hasty judgment and foggy understanding of the Internets sheer novelty that got us to this fractious juncture in the first place. Thats why I want to present a brief overview of Internet regulatory history: to do my modest part to set the conditions for more enlightened outcomes. I owe much of the research that informs this treatment to a book called Blown to Bits, by Hal Abelson, Ken Ledeen and Harry Lewis. If you are interested in getting a fuller, but still digestible, understanding of how radically new and unprecedented the Internet is, it is worth checking out, which you can do for free (its licensed under Creative Commons). The Wild Wide Web Lets start at the beginning, but we wont spend too much time there. The Internet began in the 1960s as a military research project run by the Advanced Research Projects Agency, or ARPA, which since has been renamed DARPA (the D standing for Defense). It was devised as an outage-resistant communications medium, so that the downing of strategically placed telecommunications nodes would not prevent messages from being sent. To be precise, it was meant to be an alternative to traditional telecommunications, like telephone lines, which would fail if the Soviet Union leveled the right city. The Internet accomplished its goal brilliantly, and it still does what it was built to do. It effortlessly reroutes data packets on the fly, without a centralized architecture, to get them where theyre going as long as any path between the source and destination exists. To test this, ARPA partnered with the countrys most prestigious universities and research firms and linked them all together. For a while, the only people on the Internet were the researchers at those institutions, as this 1970 map of the Internet shows. By the 1980s, the Internet opened to the public, but it was so arcane and inaccessible that only a small cadre of private and public sector players and, as it turned out, their family members had any contact with it. Home computers ran in the thousands of dollars, making them impractical to most but obtainable for some. Large corporations had started using the Internet as part of their operations, so some of their employees followed suit at home to get in more practice. Government-employed computer scientists were among the first to have Internet-connected devices in the home. A lot of the first wave of hackers, as well as progenitors of cyberspace culture overall, were the children of those professionals, who used their parents devices to rove around the bulletin boards of the early Web. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Computers really proliferated among consumers in the 1990s. Email started to be a regular part of the lives of American adults. However, by the time consumers and crucially legislators first encountered abusive online behaviors that merited regulation, a robust tradition of total freedom already had taken root. Bulletin board services were accustomed to operating without interference, and Internet service providers (ISPs) were content to deliver the bytes and leave the rest to someone else. It was the dissonance between the reluctance of longtime users to give up their taste of freedom and the outcry from consumers and politicians appalled by the abuses of a few that begot the whiplash in Internet regulation. Theres a Sheriff in Town There were really two types of content that shaped speech on the Internet: defamatory content and obscene content, especially any that could harm children. In the analog world, many different parties must work together to facilitate the expression of speech, but they bear different degrees of legal responsibility for objectionable speech. Authors always bear the greatest responsibility, since the speech is their own. Publishers are also responsible, because they wield editorial control over the authors words, meaning they know what the authors they publish are saying and, by extension, signed off on it. Distributors generally arent held culpable, because they usually dont know, and arent expected to know, the content they are distributing. Think of newspaper delivery kids: Its not their job to read the newspaper and make sure it doesnt contain any falsehoods or obscenities. These categorizations of parties in the content production chain seem reasonable and intuitive enough, but what lawmakers, judges and Internet users found was that applying them to the Internet was no simple matter. In trying to bend the Internet content apparatus into a shape resembling the analog one, lawmakers generally can regulate only a few parties. They can regulate authors who reside within U.S. jurisdiction. Alternatively, they can regulate the authors ISP, but also only if it operates within U.S. jurisdiction. Finally, lawmakers also have the option of regulating the consumers ISP and consumers themselves, based on the assumption that the consumers are in the U.S. (just as Americans benefit from U.S. anti-defamation and anti-obscenity statutes due to their assumed physical residence within the reach of U.S. law). A legal scuffle between two online bulletin board services in 1991 marked the first time that U.S. courts affirmatively affixed a classification author, publisher or distributor to an online player. Back then, the company CompuServe maintained a rumor forum, Rumorville, which posted content provided by third parties. The key detail is that CompuServe did not review any of the material it received it merely posted whatever its contracted content producers provided. Another bulletin board operator, Cubby, propped up Skuttlebut, a competitor to Rumorville. Shortly afterward, a rumor cropped up on Rumorville alleging that Skuttlebut was phony, and because Cubby saw this as CompuServe spreading falsehoods to edge it out, Cubby sued CompuServe for defamation. In Blown to Bits, the authors characterize the case this way: Grasping for a better analogy, the court described CompuServe as an electronic for-profit library. Distributor or library, CompuServe was independent of [its content creator] and couldnt be held responsible for libelous statements in what [the creator] provided. The case of Cubby v. CompuServe was settled decisively in CompuServes favor. In other words, when the dust settled, online platforms were deemed to be distributors, meaning they were off the hook for any objectionable content their users or providers transmitted via their platform. Thats why the next landmark court case took online platforms completely by surprise. It started out in much the same way as Cubby v. CompuServe, with a bulletin board getting hit with a libel suit. In 1994, an anonymous user on Money Talk, a finance-focused board owned by Prodigy, accused the firm Stratton Oakmont of major criminal fraud. Stratton Oakmont sued Prodigy for libel, begetting Stratton Oakmont v. Prodigy. That case came with a twist: Eager to engender a family-friendly atmosphere on its boards, Prodigy openly advertised that it moderated its platforms to scrub them of obscene content. The court found that detail compelling, and it ruled in favor of the plaintiff. By exercising editorial control in support of its family-friendly image, said the court, Prodigy became a publisher, with the attendant responsibilities and risks, wrote Abelson et al. To the court, it did not matter that fact-checking went beyond the scope of Prodigys intentions through its moderating. If a platform moderated at all, it took on an editorial role, which would make it liable for anything and everything it hosted. Thus, the decision discouraged bulletin board services from taking on any editorial duties, lest they find themselves on the hook for objectionable content. The Perfect Torrent Would you believe me if I told you that an ethically suspect scientific study, sensational journalism, and overzealous senators led to the most influential Internet speech law ever passed? Strange as it sounds, thats exactly what happened. A shocking cover expos, CYBERPORN, was published in Time magazine on July 3, 1995, and it immediately set off moral panic in Washington. It later emerged that the researchers behind the study at the heart of the story used unethical methodologies. For example, they compensated participants for providing material that reinforced the authors confirmation bias (that the Internet was rife with pornography), and published their work in what masqueraded as a peer-reviewed journal but was little more than a student paper. Those in Congress seeking to stem the tide of profane Web content found themselves in a jam, because after Stratton Oakmont v. Prodigy, no one wanted to touch content moderation. The result was the near-unanimous passage of the Communications Decency Act, or CDA, in 1996. The law had two key components the display provisions and the Good Samaritan provision. The display provisions took aggressive aim at obscene and indecent content that could end up on a screen in front of a child. Among other things, the display provisions made it illegal for any interactive computer service to display in a manner available to a person under 18 years of age, any comment, request, suggestion, proposal, image, or other communication that, in context, depicts or describes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards, sexual or excretory activities or organs. Additionally, the law included a Good Samaritan provision, which makes up the heart of Section 230 (and which Section 230 generally is invoked to reference). Its language accomplishes two significant feats. First, it shields any interactive computer service from liability for the consequences of making good faith efforts to remove obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable content. Second, it classifies these services as distributors in the meatspace analogue: No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider. The ACLU challenged the CDA in ACLU v. Reno on the grounds that it unduly limited legitimate First Amendment speech, and got the display provisions struck down as unconstitutional. As Judge Stewart Dalzell stated in the majority opinion, It would chill discourse unacceptably to demand age verification over the Internet from every person who might see material that any adult has a legal right to see. The crux of the defenses case was that the Internet should be regulated the way TV is, but the court rejected the comparison as inapt. The Internet may fairly be regarded as a never-ending worldwide conversation. The Government may not, through the CDA, interrupt that conversation. As the most participatory form of mass speech yet developed, the Internet deserves the highest protection from governmental intrusion, Dalzell wrote. Good Samaritans, Questionably Good Outcomes Notably, the Good Samaritan language of Section 230 was left intact in the ACLU decision. Although this is the regulation public discourse now swirls around, that case did not mark the first time it sparked controversy. Indeed, problems emerged immediately. One test of the law played out in 1997 when Matt Drudge posted allegedly defamatory statements about Sidney Blumenthal, an aide to President Bill Clinton at the time, on AOL. Though AOL had editorial influence over the Drudge material it posted, the court ruled that the company was not a publisher, and therefore was not liable for libel. The opinion cites the CDAs Good Samaritan language. In 1998, Jane and John Doe (in this case, a mother and her son) sued AOL because it allowed a user to sell pornograhic material made of John when he was a minor. In its user agreement, AOL reserved the right to terminate service for any user who engaged in abusive behavior. The Good Samaritan provision also was cited in that case to absolve AOL of responsibility. Abelson et al. sum up the problem: Congress had made the muddle possible by saying nothing about the right analogy after saying that publishing was the wrong one. The Law of the Cyberland With this historical overview complete, we are more or less caught up to the current technological epoch. Section 230 remains one of the few forces incentivizing content moderation among online platforms. The fatal flaw here is that so long as they can argue convincingly that their actions were in good faith, they are immune to legal consequences. Granted, it has been established that online services lose their liability protection if they are notified of the commission of federal crimes or intellectual property theft and take no action, but Section 230 is nearly absolute otherwise. As a result, online platforms have wide latitude to create and enforce whatever community standards they choose. If the speech standards enforcement is excessive, deficient or lopsided, a platforms operator can hide behind the good faith defense, innocently claiming that nobodys perfect. True as that may be, free speech advocates contend that should not serve as a blank check to decide arbitrarily who can speak on a platform, and on what terms. The other contributing factor is, as I like to say, there are no sidewalks on the Web. Nearly the whole of the Web specifically the Web, as distinct from the Internet is private property. The First Amendment restrains the government from censoring Americans speech. Because sidewalks, for example, are public property, the government cant tell you what you can and cant say while youre standing on one (with a few exceptions for public safety). However, the First Amendment does not apply to private entities, which is what most Web platforms are. If you register to a social network, you consent to its rules, including those that prohibit certain kinds of speech. Just as the Web of the 80s and 90s was settled by pioneers, only for lawmakers to catch up gasping for breath, the trailblazers have kept pushing on to leave civil servants in the dust once again. Measures that seemed robust enough in the late 90s are beginning to groan under the weight of newer and more sophisticated usage patterns on the Internet. Daunting as it is to keep up, as members of a society we must do our best, which requires an appreciation of how we got here. The alternative is to make decisions on the spur of the moment, which are unlikely to withstand the test of time, and too likely to wreak havoc along the way. She has been keeping a low profile during the coronavirus pandemic. But Michelle Keegan was back at work on Thursday night, even though she didn't need to leave the house. The fresh-faced 33-year-old recorded a radio play and documented the moment on Instagram stories. Fresh-faced: Michelle Keegan returned to work on Thursday as she recorded a radio play from her home wearing loungewear and shared a snap on her Instagram Stories Wearing an oversized grey hoodie, she wrote; 'Recording a radio play without being in the studio. The future.' Michelle looked naturally beautiful in the snap, pulling her raven haired locks off her face and tying them up in a golden scrunchie. Earlier that day, she took to Instagram to celebrate the series two finale of her show Brassic. The actress shared snaps from behind-the-scenes of the Sky show, larking around with her castmates. She posed with the likes of co-stars Aaron Blu Heffernan, Ryan Sampson, Parth Thakerar, Damien Molony and Joanna Higson. Last one... for now: Michelle took to Instagram to celebrate the series two finale of her show Brassic earlier that evening Captioning her montage of images, Michelle wrote: 'Its the series finale tonight of Brassic on @skytv 10pm! 'Thank you all so much for your positive feedback and support. The gang will be back with you very soon for Series 3!' Shooting has not been able to start on the third run of episodes, due to the COVID-19 lockdown. But Michelle has still been able to undertake some work - sharing a snap of her recording her lines for a radio play from the comfort of her own home on Thursday. Pals: She posed with the likes of co-stars Aaron Blu Heffernan, Ryan Sampson, Parth Thakerar, Damien Molony and Joanna Higson Backstage pass: The actress, 33, shared snaps from behind-the-scenes of the Sky show, larking around with her castmates Captioning her montage of images, Michelle wrote: 'Its the series finale tonight of Brassic on @skytv 10pm' Hair up, sweats on, leaning back in a chair, Michelle snapped a selfie of herself in front of a microphone, wearing headphones. 'Recording a play without being in a studio... Welcome to the future!' she posted alongside the photo. Michelle also launched her Very.co.uk SS20 collection this week. The former Our Girl actress, who was accompanied by her pet pooch in the snaps, looked sensational as she slipped into a series of bright dresses while posing in a field. On her new edit, the media personality said: 'I love the new collection; its lovely for the British Summer and really wearable perfect to enjoy the nice weather were having.' She added: 'Thank you all so much for your positive feedback and support. The gang will be back with you very soon for Series 3!' Postponed: Shooting has not been able to start on the third run of episodes, due to the COVID-19 lockdown Home-bound: Michelle has still been able to undertake some work - sharing a snap of her recording her lines for a radio play from the comfort of her own home on Thursday Fashion savvy: Michelle also launched her Very.co.uk SS20 collection this week For one outfit, the ex-Coronation Street favourite turned heads in a yellow sundress, while she styled with her favourite circular-framed shades. The soap star accentuated her enviable frame in a figure-hugging midi frock, embellished with floral printing throughout. The brunette's collection also boasts a flowy emerald green dress, perfect for weddings and other fancy occasions. Her signature effortlessly chic style is also encapsulated in the pieces, with the TV star sporting a sleeveless blue bodysuit and ankle-grazing jeans for another look. Model status: The former Our Girl actress, who was accompanied by her pet pooch in the snaps, looked sensational as she slipped into a series of bright dresses while posing in the field Watch her glow: For one outfit, the ex-Coronation Street favourite turned heads in a yellow sundress, while she styled with her favourite circular-framed shades Michelle's range for the multi-category digital retailer features a total of 28 pieces and is available from Monday. The thespian and her husband Mark Wright are reportedly set to become multi-millionaires, after the former TOWIE star set up his own fitness company. The presenter, 33, is said to have registered companies Train Wright and Mysa Active on May 22. Exuding elegance: The brunette's collection also boasts a flowy emerald green dress, perfect for weddings and other fancy occasions Versatile: Her signature effortlessly chic style is also encapsulated in the pieces, with the TV star sporting a sleeveless blue bodysuit and ankle-grazing jeans for another look Both businesses are reportedly documented as 'physical well-being activities' with Mysa Active registered as the 'retail sale of clothing in specialised stores', claims The Sun. It appears that Mark has already planned his next business steps as he has created a Train Wright Instagram account. The page, which is yet to officially launch, already has 3,323 followers and is following Mark and Michelle. Google Maps At least three employees with the Harris County Pct. 2 Constable's Office have been suspended during an internal investigation into possible misconduct, according to a news release from Precict 2 Constable Chris Diaz. The release did not specify the details of the misconduct, only that it "pertained to residents/tenants being potentially ordered to leave a property in the city of South Houston without due process. The two people elected this week to fill seats on the Bismarck School Board say their experience mentoring students and working with local governments will help guide their decision-making. Dan Eastgate got 34% of the vote and Donnell Preskey Hushka got 20% in Tuesday's election. They beat out five other candidates: Kristine Johnson (12%), Karen Dunlap (10%), Sargianna Wutzke (9%), Brooke LeBeau (8%) and Nicholas Thueson (6%). About 36,300 people voted. Incumbents Heide Delorme and Rick Geloff did not seek reelection. The other three seats on the five-person board were not up for election. Terms are four years. Members are paid $9,000 per year. Eastgate is area director of Bismarck-Mandan Young Life and is a full-time Realtor at Venture Real Estate. He is a certified trainer with Sources of Strength, a bullying and suicide prevention program, and serves on the South Central High School Community Advisory Board. He is a board member of The Citizens of the World international health care nonprofit and serves as a director on the Bismarck Public Schools Foundation Board. He graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor of arts degree, majoring in Native American Studies with a minor in history. He and his wife, Lacey, are lifelong residents of Bismarck. Eastgate celebrated his win on election night with a family gathering at his home that included a taco bar. He said he's a "glass half full" kind of guy who looks forward to solving problems. "It's a role that I think really seeks servant leadership, and that's what I'm hoping to bring to the Bismarck School Board," he said. He noted some of the issues facing the board, including how to handle COVID-19, distance learning and enrollment growth within the district. He said he will bring an "upstream, positive" culture to the school district based off the values of Sources of Strength. "We're trying to create a positive, caring culture, where kids are hearing messages of hope, help and strength ... that they have these different sources of strength in their life to help them through the tough times and have people there to celebrate the good times," Eastgate said. "We already have a lot of positive people (in the district), and I think we need to continue to encourage and empower them." Preskey Hushka is a government affairs specialist for the North Dakota Association of Counties and executive director of the North Dakota Sheriffs & Deputies Association, as well as the County Auditors & Treasurers Association. She previously worked for nearly 20 years as a broadcast journalist. She is a member of the North Dakota School Safety Partners, a student safety program. She has been involved in writing the rules for the armed first responder program, launching a statewide school safety tip line and assessing the presence of law enforcement in schools across the state. She celebrated her win with friends at an election watch party. "It'll be interesting to be involved at this level and actually be at the table," she said. Her job as a government affairs specialist usually has her testifying at a podium, answering questions rather than asking them. "Working with our local governments has really broadened my understanding of the role of our local governments, and how important they are at each of the levels, whether it's the counties, the cities or the schools," she said. "I've really grown to love local governments." She, too, identified COVID-19, distance learning and enrollment growth as areas of focus for the board. She's especially passionate about school safety. "I think making sure our kids are safe at school, that is my No. 1 priority," Preskey Hushka said. "It's more than just securing the building ... it also extends to really getting a better understanding of the needs that are out there for addressing and assisting our kids with behavioral health issues." Reach Bilal Suleiman at 701-250-8261 or Bilal.Suleiman@bismarcktribune.com Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Paper Excellence to Curtail Production at Its NBSK Pulp Mill in Mackenzie, British Columbia The Mackenzie mill produces about 240,000 ADMT of Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) pulp per year and employs 253 people. June 12, 2020 - Paper Excellence Canada on June 11 announced the curtailment of operations at its pulp mill in Mackenzie, British Columbia, targeting the final week of June 2020. The mill produces about 240,000 ADMT of Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) pulp per year and employs 253 people. The plant is a combined Kraft pulp and energy facility, which satisfies 70% of its electrical and 90% of its steam requirements. Paper Excellence did not say how long the curtailment would last. Paper Excellence has substantially invested to improve mill operations since acquiring the Mackenzie facility in 2010. Despite best efforts by the company and its committed team of employees in Mackenzie, the COVID-19 global pandemic is having negative impacts on pulp markets creating conditions that no longer support the on-going operation of the mill. Furthermore, the deep fibre shortage in BC and the Mackenzie region have affected the mills competitiveness. This shortage was exacerbated by recent curtailment of sawmills in the Mackenzie region dramatically reducing economic fibre availability. Paper Excellences priority is to support the 253 employees affected by this curtailment. Where possible, it is hoped some offers of secondment can be made to some of its other facilities across Canada. Meanwhile, the terms of the collective agreement with UNIFOR local 1092 will be respected through the process. During the curtailment, Paper Excellence is committed to ensuring the safety of the mill facility and protection of the community and the receiving environment. A small team of employees will provide around the clock security and monitoring. Paper Excellence will continue to supply pulp and paper customers with production from its other operating mills in British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Paper Excellence Canada has grown through logical acquisitions from a single mill base to a multinational group producing 2.7 million tonnes of paper and pulp and employing over 2,300 people over the past decade. For more information, visit: www.paperexcellence.com SOURCE: Paper Excellence Canada A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress APC in Edo state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has called for an improvement in t... A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress APC in Edo state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has called for an improvement in the nations style of politics and conducting elections. Ize-Iyamu in his Democracy Day message said in spite of over two decades of unbroken democracy, it was not yet Uhuru for Nigerians due to certain militating factors. He said; As many have pointed out, it is not yet Uhuru for us. Certain challenges remain that have made it difficult for all Nigerians to enjoy the dividends of our democracy equally. Our elections and politics require obvious improvements to better reflect the will of the people, while governance still has a great distance to cover in addressing the challenges of economic inequality and social injustice made worse by a pandemic that brought the world to its knees. Yet, in spite of these challenges, and without minimizing their impact and urgent need to proffer solutions to them, what we have achieved before must give us hope for what we can do tomorrow. In 2015, this nation, for the first time, recorded a transition of power from an incumbent government to the opposition. And since then, the winner of that election, President Muhammadu Buhari has made great strides in electoral reform, economic transformation, social welfare, and securing the lives of our people. We must keep faith in him even as we hope and demand greater dividends. He said the attitude of Nigerians during the June 12, 1993, presidential election was a fine expression of democracy and an unblemished display of our ability to adapt and embrace a unifying message of hope, even in the face of cynicism and great challenges. Today, over two decades on that journey, we look back and recount progresses made, obstacles that persist, and how we can further perfect our democracy. There couldnt have been a better choice of a day to carry out these deep, and important, reflections than June 12. And by selecting this day and honoring the sacrifices of Chief MKO Abiola and other heroes, by challenging our nation to carry out these reflections against the background of the high and low points of June 12, President Buhari affirmed not only his commitment to democratic ideals without which true governance is impossible, he also showed loyalty to his message of being the President of all, but he also added. On his part, a former Chief Executive Officer of Sun Trust Bank, Jibrin Muhammad Barde has commended President Buhari for steering the country out of the woods of corruption and bad governance that has hindered our national development. In a statement he personally signed on Friday, Barde said the president took over the administration of the country at a most difficult period adding that the countrys pride and dignity have been restored and the battered image of the country rebranded making it truly the giant of Africa. He urged state governments to emulate the sterling examples of the President by putting the interests of the people ahead of theirs and to demonstrate their commitments by implementing the policies of the Buhari-led government. Barde also appealed to the people of his home state, Gombe not to give up but to be resilient and prayerful hoping that their expectations would be met now or in the future. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One as he departs from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on May 30, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Trump Creates 4-Point Plan to Address Disparities Following Protests President Donald Trump laid out a four-point plan to address disparities in the United States after meeting with pastors, law enforcement officials, and small-business owners at a Dallas church. The president said he is trying to build safety and opportunity and dignity. The new model calls for increasing access to capital for business owners in minority communities, dealing with racial disparities in health care, implementing an executive order to have police departments meet professional standards on use of force as well as a pilot program for social workers to be employed in police departments, and a push to have Congress pass a bill on school choice. Trump appeared to be responding to numerous nationwide protests that were sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis police custody. During the protests, a new slogan to defund the police began to circulate. However, Trump and a number of congressional leaders, including Democrats, have rejected such calls, while Democrats have unveiled a bill for sweeping reforms. Well take care of our police were not defunding police, Trump said. If anything, were going the other route: Were going to make sure that our police are well trained, perfectly trained, they have the best equipment. Attorney General William Barr, who has denounced violence and rioting during the George Floyd protests, also attended the event. Americans are good and virtuous people. We have to work together to confront bigotry and prejudice wherever they appear. But well make no progress and heal no wounds by falsely labeling tens of millions of decent Americans as racist or bigots, Trump said. Demonstrators confront law enforcement during a protest in downtown Washington on June 1, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) On the first point, Trump said his administration is aggressively pursuing economic development in minority communities, which will go above Opportunity Zones. Meanwhile, the government will confront healthcare disparities, including addressing chronic conditions and investing substantial sums in minority-serving medical institutions, Trump said. We have medical institutions in some areas of our country that are a disgrace, he said, adding that well take care of it. Third, were working to finalize an executive order that will encourage police departments nationwide to meet the most current professional standards for the use of force, including tactics for de-escalation, he said, without offering more details. The executive order on police reform will go in tandem with a pilot program to have social workers join law enforcement officers. The last point, regarding school choice, is the major civil rights issue of our time, the president said. When you can have children go to a school where their parents want them to go, and it creates competition, and other schools fight harder because, all of a sudden, they say, Wow. Were losing it. We have to fight hard. It gets better in so many different ways, he said. At the state level, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he would sign a package of bills on criminal justice and police reform following the protests. Under the New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative, his office said that state police agencies and local governments have to develop a plan that reinvents and modernizes police strategies and programs. They will have to enact the measures by April 2021 or lose state funding. A New Jersey police officer has been charged with assault after bodycam footage showed the man allegedly using pepper spray on a group of young black men unprovoked. Ryan Dubiel, 31, directed pepper spray at people without provocation when responding to a trespassing call, according to the Camden County Prosecutors Office. The cop and several of his colleagues were called to a home on 4 June from a property owner nearby who thought a group of people sitting on the front stoop of a home were trespassing. When responding to the call, the officers asked the young black men on the homes porch their names, many of whom refused. Dubiel then asked a teenager looking at his phone on the porch to place his hands behind his head, but he said he was texting his brother. This then prompted Dubiel to spray the young man with pepper spray before spraying other people on the porch. Bodycam footage also showed the officer chasing another person while spraying the irritant. The bodycam footage showing the incident was worn by Dubiel, prosecutors said. The office added the people sprayed by the officer were not observed physically resisting or attempting to harm others or themselves. Dubiel was charged with two counts of assault after prosecutors reviewed the footage of him spraying a teenager and his 20-year-old friend. The Attorney General Gurbir Grewal revealed that Dubiel had been with the department for 10 months and previously worked at nine other police departments. The attorney general said Dubiel also previously faced misconduct at his other departments, proving why a statewide police licensing program was necessary. Just as we license doctors, nurses, and lawyers, we must ensure that all officers meet baseline standards of professionalism, Grewal said in a statement. Officers who fail to meet those standards cannot be passed from one police department to another while posing a threat to the public and other officers. Dubiel is now suspended from the Woodlynne Police Department without pay. WATERLOO REGION If it looks like a stranger was trying to break into your home overnight and you have photos or video, you can now send them to police electronically without officers having to come to your house to collect it. The new technology allows residents to share digital evidence without an officer needing to pick it up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Axon Public Safety Canada technology means a secure link is sent to the resident via text or email. The evidence is then uploaded and stored in a secure cloud management system. Police are still encouraging residents to report crime. The online evidence pilot project is free for police until Dec. 31. RAMALLAH, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian prime minister on Thursday hailed the visit of a Chinese medical expert team tasked with helping Palestine fight against COVID-19. Mohammad Ishtaye thanked the team and expressed his appreciation to the visit, which he said constitutes a message of "both medical and political solidarity." "We are grateful that the team has come at the very right time," he said adding that there is a lot for Palestine to learn from the Chinese experience in fighting coronavirus. Meanwhile, Guo Wei, director of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine, said that the importance of the visit lies in its timing, where it would help support the capacity of the Palestinian health system ahead of a possible new wave of the deadly disease as warned by the World Health Organization. "We will seize this opportunity for both our peoples to exchange rich expertise and experiences in fighting the coronavirus. I have a firm belief that over the next seven days, there will be continued and in-depth exchanges in the medical and healthcare system to combat this pandemic," said Guo. The team, which arrived at Palestine on Wednesday, was put together by China's National Health Commission with the members selected by the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission. The team is composed of experts from various fields, such as respiratory and infectious diseases, traditional Chinese medicine, epidemiology and nursing. They are scheduled to hold a series of meetings and visits to quarantine centers and treatment centers in the West Bank. "A friend in need is a friend indeed," the Palestinian prime minister said in reference to the continuous Chinese support to the Palestinian people. Prior to this visit, China had sent medical supplies to Palestine and organized several meetings between Palestinian and Chinese medical experts via video conference. So far, there were 665 cases confirmed in Palestine, including five deaths. New Delhi: Google has released Android 11 beta for Pixel phone users bringing features like screen recorder, updated Voice Access, improved performance, and an improved share menu that makes it easier to share content from your phone. Google said that these features in Beta are available on Pixel 2+ phones currently while it will bring the features to devices in the coming weeks. Originally, the first beta version of Android 11 was expected to drop in May during the Google I/O Developers Conference. But the Covid-19 pandemic forced Google to cancel the annual event and the company decided to move the beta release to June 3, which was further postponed owing to the ongoing protests in the US over the death of African-American George Floyd. Whats inside the Google Android 11 beta? Android 11 will move all of your conversations across multiple messaging apps to a dedicated space in the notification section, so that you can easily see them, respond to them and manage your conversations all in one place, Google blog says. You can mark a conversation as priority to give it preference so you never miss an important message. These key conversations show up on your always-on display and can even break through a Do Not Disturb setting, Google said. The Bubbles feature Android 11 helps you respond and engage with important conversations without switching back and forth between your current task and the messaging app. You can open a bubble for your conversation right from the notification. When you type using Gboard in Android 11, youll get relevant and automatic suggestions for emoji and text. You can quickly access and control your smart devices in one place by long pressing on the power button. Adjusting the temperature, turning on the lights or unlocking the front door can now be done with a tap without opening multiple apps, Google said in its blog. The search engine gain also introduced new media controls in Android 11, so that you can quickly and conveniently switch the device your audio or video content is playing on. A team led by Fan Xuejun at the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a type of scramjet that ran continuously for 600 seconds in a ground test, Weihutang, a program on military affairs affiliated with state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), reported on over the weekend. This broke the world record of 210 seconds set by the US X-51 aircraft. Hypersonic missiles and vehicles are capable of flying faster than 5 times the speed of sound. Rockets can fly over 25 times the speed of sound. However, hypersonic missiles can be smaller and able to have better control of their flight. A longer duration engine would enable a hypersonic weapon to have longer powered flight. Ten minutes at mach 5 would be about 700 miles of range. Ten minutes at mach 10 would be about 1400 miles of range. Hypersonic missiles are very difficult to make. The scramjets only operate at over 4 times the speed of sound or faster. This has meant using other propulsion to reach speed. As they lack mechanical compressors, scramjets require the high kinetic energy of a hypersonic flow to compress the incoming air to operational conditions. This is usually done with a turbojet, railgun, or rocket engines. The Russians and Chinese have used rocket engine first stages to boost hypersonic warheads. The work could lead to a more advanced hypersonic cruise missile than Chinas current DF-17 hypersonic glide-boost missile. The US has hypersonic missiles in development. Russia has deployed some hypersonic missiles. On 27 December 2019, the first Russian missile regiment armed with the Avangard HGV officially entered combat duty. According to open-source analysis by Janes, Avangard is a pure glide vehicle without an independent propulsion system. When approaching a target, the glider is capable of sharp high speed horizontal and vertical evasive maneuvers in flight. China has the DF-ZF (aka WU-14). It is a hypersonic missile delivery vehicle. The system is operational in 2019. The DF-ZF is thought to reach speeds between Mach 5 (3,836 mph (6,173 km/h; 1,715 m/s)) and Mach 10 (7,680 mph (12,360 km/h; 3,430 m/s). The U.S. Air Force recently announced plans to buy at least eight prototype AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapons, or ARRWs. This initial batch of these hypersonic missiles will support live-fire flight testing, set to begin in 2021, and could help give the service an early operational capability to employ the weapons a year later. However, there are risks of delays as the project is already a year behind schedule and has seen its total cost increase by almost 40 percent. SpaceX Starship If SpaceX develops the fully reusable Super Heavy Starship or just the single-stage Starship, then the US military could use it as a reusable hypersonic launch vehicle. It could carry hypersonic warheads over many missions. This would vastly simplify and accelerate the US hypersonic missile program. The Starship would have a range of 7000 miles. A Super Heavy Starship would be able to deploy anywhere in the world. SOURCES- Global Times, Wikipedia Written By Brian Wang, Nextbigfuture.com By Aradhana Aravindan and Anshuman Daga SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A record flow of money poured into Singapore bank accounts in April as the COVID-19 pandemic rocked world economies, the latest in a stream of foreign cash that the city-state said has included deposits from rival financial centre Hong Kong. Singapore typically attracts capital flows during regional turmoil due to its political stability and AAA credit rating, a status that has been galvanised by political uncertainty and social unrest in Asia's other premier wealth centre, Hong Kong. Deposits from nonresidents into the city-state's banks jumped 44% to a record S$62.14 billion ($44.37 billion) in April from a year earlier, marking the fourth straight monthly rise, central bank data showed. The Monetary Authority of Singapore told Reuters in a statement that since mid-2019 there has been a broad-based increase of flows into Singapore by non-residents from multiple jurisdictions, including Hong Kong. "These flows have become more volatile in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting market fluctuations," the central bank said. Deposits have risen in all but one month over the past year, a period marked by escalating political unrest in Hong Kong, a U.S.-China trade row and the outbreak of the pandemic. The data did not break down the origin of the inflows, but analysts pointed to the turbulence in Hong Kong. "Hong Kong has been a source of funds for obvious reasons," said Song Seng Wun, an economist at CIMB Private Banking. He added the pandemic and pressure on regional currencies had also fed fears of a currency crisis and capital flight. The data also showed foreign-currency deposits at banks in Singapore almost quadrupled to a record S$27 billion in April from a year earlier. They were up nearly 200% in the first four months of 2020 from the same period last year. Non-resident deposits include funds from individuals and companies with registered addresses outside the city-state. Analysts say that while the data gives only a partial picture of flows, it is seen as a good gauge of market sentiment. Story continues Safe haven flows into Singapore should continue as long as regional uncertainties, such as those in Hong Kong and U.S.-China trade tensions, persist, said Andrea Choong, an analyst at CGS-CIMB Securities. ($1 = 1.4006 Singapore dollars) (Reporting by Aradhana Aravindan and Anshuman Daga in Singapore; editing by Richard Pullin and William Mallard) Twitter has removed more than 30,000 accounts linked to state-based actors, the majority of them from China, accusing them of spreading deceptive geopolitical narratives. The intervention from the American social media giant comes a day after Zoom appeared to go in the opposite direction by blocking the video accounts of three Chinese human rights leaders commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. The episodes highlight the increasingly hostile environment of digital diplomacy amid growing international tension. Twitter has removed more than 30,000 accounts linked to state-based actors. Credit:Getty Images Twitter, which also blocked 7340 accounts from Turkey and 1152 accounts from Russia, accused governments and their supporters of manipulative and coordinated activities that fuelled misinformation. The core of the China-based users also had 150,000 "amplifier accounts", designed to artificially inflate metrics, Twitter found. Sudanese civilians displaced during the devastating conflict in Darfur have welcomed news that a top militia leader accused of atrocities there has surrendered himself to the International Criminal Court. Ali Kushayb, also known as Ali Muhammad Abdelrahman, was wanted on more than 50 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the western region. He turned himself in earlier this week in the Central African Republic, ending 13 years on the run. I couldnt believe it at first, said Badria Saleh, who lives in a refugee camp of mud houses with grass and plastic roofs in the South Darfur region. Kushayb killed my husband and my brother as they were burying a relative in 2013, she told AFP. We fled our village, she added, bursting into tears. The Darfur conflict broke out in 2003 when ethnic African rebels, complaining of systematic discrimination, took up arms against the government of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir. The state hit back with violence by the mostly Arab Janjaweed militias, a campaign that saw the ICC accuse Bashir of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The United Nations says the conflict killed 300,000 people and displaced 2.5 million. Scared of his cruelty Kushayb, a senior Janjaweed commander in the early years of the conflict, was the target of a 2007 ICC arrest warrant on multiple counts including rape, murder and pillaging. Hassan al-Senousi, another displaced Darfuri at the Al-Sarif camp near South Darfurs regional capital Nyala, said Kushaybs arrest brought him deep satisfaction. Kushayb attacked our village with five cars and killed my brother and 35 other villagers, he said. That was eight years ago since then Ive been living in the camp because Im scared of his cruelty. Fellow camp resident Hamed Ahmed Harir said he had tried to return to his village of Raheid al-Bardi, 150 kilometres (90 miles) south of Nyala four months ago, but was blocked by Kushaybs forces. Kushayb detained me for two days and threatened to kill me if I didnt leave, he said. Ive never been back. Displaced 70-year-old Abdelrahman, who lives in the sprawling Kalma camp east of Nyala, said Kushaybs forces had looted his familys properties. My family was forced to abandon 150 shops in Raheid al-Bardi market, he said angrily. Kushayb seized them and turned them into private investments. Hopes of return Kushaybs arrest comes less than a year after a transitional government took power following Bashirs ouster by the military in April 2019 on the back of vast protests against his rule. The countrys new rulers, including civilian and military figures, have promised accountability for those responsible for crimes under Bashir. In December Bashir himself was sentenced to two years in a community reform centre over corruption. And in February, transitional authorities finally agreed to hand him over for trial at the ICC, although they have yet to do so. They have also started peace talks with rebel groups in Darfur and other conflict-torn parts of the country. Kushayb is set to be the first of five Sudanese suspects wanted by the ICC over atrocities in Darfur to appear before the court. Kushaybs arrest is a success for international justice and for the victims, Minni Minnawi, leader of a rebel group active in Darfur Sudanese Liberation Army, wrote on Twitter. May the rest follow, first and foremost Bashir. The ICC has also issued arrest warrants against several former officials including Ahmed Mohamed Haroun and Abdulreheem Mohamed Hussein, who held top government posts under Bashir. The ICCs chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda hailed Kushaybs arrest and urged Sudanese authorities to ramp up cooperation and allow investigators access to the country. Justice for Darfur has already been too elusive for too long, she said in a statement. A window of opportunity has been opened. We must collectively seize it to finally bring justice to the victims in Darfur. On Wednesday, Sudanese government spokesman Faisal Mohamed Saleh welcomed Kushaybs surrender and again stressed Khartoums readiness to discuss the appearance of the other defendants before the ICC. For displaced Darfuri Al-Maafi Madani Al-Ghali, Kushaybs surrender has rekindled hopes of going home. It will bring relative security to Darfur, he said. We can return to our villages that he forced us to leave. Thousands turned out at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on June 6, 2020 in the citys largest demonstration yet against police brutality and racial injustice after the death of George Floyd. Read more In the midst of the Black Lives Matter protests, which have occasionally converged on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the museums leaders sent a email to staff to acknowledge the importance of the unfolding events. At this historic moment of anger and protest it is vitally important to reaffirm that every individual life matters," director Timothy Rub and president Gail Harrity wrote as part of a May 31 email to the institutions nearly 500 employees. The blowback was swift. Staff members were upset by the emails language and said so. Your email asked us to join together to reaffirm that all individual lives matter, one wrote. To say this, despite the fact that the context of such sentiment is so well documented, was at the very least disappointing and for some, enraging. It plays into the minimization of what is happening in our communities and why people of all races are protesting around the country." The leaders were also told: We ask that you take a really good look at how race impacts the museum. From the staff makeup, to how they are treated, even to who gets the privilege of being considered staff, not contractors." The email exchanges and the leaders reply were obtained by The Inquirer. The rebukes clearly hit Rub and Harrity hard. Thank you for your note and the honest, heartfelt feelings it expressed, they responded, saying that the response email was difficult indeed, painful to read." While polling shows that support for the Black Lives Matter movement has grown dramatically in recent weeks, some critics have long sought to diminish it by saying that all lives matter. In their reply, the Art Museum leaders apologized for echoing that formulation. You were right to say that our letter did not make an obvious and essential point, Rub and Harrity replied. This victim of this murder was an innocent black man. Such a heinous act should not only be recognized and decried for this reason, but also understood as part of a longstanding pattern in this country of institutional violence visited upon African Americans, and most especially African American men. We certainly believe this to be true and apologize for not stating this explicitly. At this historic and deeply tragic moment, it is vitally important to affirm that black lives matter and that this is the issue at hand." They added: Institutions like ours, beginning with leadership but also extending into every aspect of work, have not done enough to acknowledge their own shortcomings. The museum has 481 employees, according to a spokesperson. Of those, 38 staff members are black, 8% of the workforce. Three department heads are black, as are two members of the executive office. (The uniformed guards in the galleries work for an outside firm and are not reflected in these numbers.) We must and will do more," Rub and Harrity vowed in their email. Rub and Harrity followed in the footsteps of other top museum officials nationally. In recent statements made publicly, unlike Rubs and Harritys internal message to staff leaders of the Getty Museum in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Museum of Art failed to mention either the black community or George Floyd, whose death sparked a worldwide movement. Like the Philadelphia leaders, the executives of the Getty and the San Francisco museum said they were sorry and promised to do better. Organisers of action against the detention of refugees will go ahead with rallies across Melbourne on Saturday, despite fines being issued to people behind last week's Black Lives Matter protest and demands from the Prime Minister for protesters to be arrested and charged. Three organisers of last Saturday's protest in Melbourne have been hit with $1652 fines, almost a week after thousands rallied against Indigenous deaths in custody and in solidarity with action in the US. Thousands marching in the streets of Melbourne last Saturday to protest Indigenous deaths in custody and to stand in solidarity with George Floyd. Credit:Chris Hopkins Refugee Action Collective spokeswoman Angelica Panopoulos said organisers would stage eight separate demonstrations across the city to ensure action remained compliant with COVID-19 social distancing restrictions. Some organisers would be risking a second coronavirus fine after a protest in May saw eight activists fined, Ms Panopoulos said. Polarized is a weekly series featuring Americans from all 50 states sharing their views on the 2020 elections. Click here if you would like to be a part of this project Bryce Lewis often gets funny looks while running errands and wearing a face mask, the 43-year-old Kansas voter says, since hes one of the few remaining residents of Wichita still following strict coronavirus guidelines. Our governor was pretty progressive and a lot of stuff got shut down early, Lewis says, noting that hes still concerned about a potential second wave. It seems like we kind of opened our economy inconsistently and we didnt have any measures in place to trace and test people. It kind of feels like were just taking a big risk. As the number of new coronavirus cases once again rise in reopened states like Kansas, Lewis, a former smoker, worries about contracting Covid-19. I think at the most weve been at like 50 percent of people wearing masks in Wichita, Lewis says. Now were at 15 percent, maybe 20. You seem like you get singled out. Its weird trying to participate in taking those precautions when nobody else does. And yet, Lewis seems like a pretty reasonable guy. He says hes been trying to put himself in the place of somebody younger, like his two sons, one of whom is 17 years old and has slowly begun going back out as the state reopens. Bryce Lewis: I just dont think Trump is good for our country (Photo courtesy Bryce Lewis) I just believe that when it comes to caring for others and wearing a mask, that if you dont have the will to do it for others out of generosity or humanitys sake, then do it for selfish reasons, he says. Do it so other people do it and you wont catch their germs. Lewis, who was born and raised in Wichita, appears to have a similar philosophy when it comes to his vote in the 2020 presidential elections. Though he sat out in 2016, the self-identified independent voter says he will be casting a ballot this year for former vice president Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee. When it comes to his reasoning, Lewis says its his social duty to remove Donald Trump from the White House. I dont know how to put into words how strange it is what kind of government we have right now, he says. Im a little beside myself, to be honest. When we spoke, the president was tweeting conspiracy theories about Martin Gugino, the elderly man shoved to the ground by police officers during protests in Buffalo over the death of George Floyd; an incident that later went viral. We have a president attacking an elderly man I just think its cowardly, Lewis says. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if your opinion sucks, you should probably keep it to yourself. Lewis notes that the problems weve been having, weve been having for a long, long time, but says he believes Trump is at least in part responsible for the divisiveness seen in recent weeks amid the nationwide protests against police brutality. The presidents supporters have begun showing up to the demonstrations in droves, a move Lewis says appeared to be ill-willed and which doesnt make a lot of sense. Protesters should be able to protest without being attacked, he says, adding: Soldiers should never have to attack their own citizens. Lewis says hes looking for a president to tackle the issues of income and wealth inequality, as well as someone who will begin connecting the dots with racism and how it connects to police policy. Click here to read more of The Independents series, Polarized: Voices From Across America Black Lives Matter is very important, but we need to go beyond that, he says. Thats what Im hoping to see in Biden. I just really dont want to see Trump again Im not going to throw my vote away for that. Lewis says he abstained from voting in 2016 because he did not support Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee, and was never planning to vote for Trump. Though he admits hes never been the biggest fan of Biden, things have just gotten so bad with Trump, he says, adding: Especially with the tweets. I just dont think the guy is good for our country. I think we could get Bozo the Clown in there and hed do better than Trump, he says. Im really not even trying to be insulting, but when we have a president attacking an elderly man who was shoved by police officers and claim he was bringing a device which was his cellphone and he was trying to disrupt their machinery... What planet does he live on? Its gotten to the point where Lewis says he doesnt even listen to what the president says during some of his recent briefings and speeches. You shouldnt ever get to that point with your president, he says. Out of every president Ive had, Ive never thought to myself that Im just not even going to listen to what they say. A lot of times, even if you disagree you still got to hear it. But with him, I mean, he changes his story every week. While he may not have felt it necessary to vote against Trump in 2016 with Clinton as the only formidable opponent, Lewis says the last few years and especially the presidents response to recent protests have proven why hes a terrible fit for office. I do have a little faith that Biden may not shoot at peaceful protesters to have a photo op, he says, referring to how protesters in Washington DC were tear-gassed by police officers so Trump could pose for photos outside of a church. Lewis concludes: The lesser of two evils, maybe. But if one is actually, really evil, you kind of have a no-brainer. A section of the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway, one of the component projects of the North-South Expressway - PHOTO: LE ANH They recalled that three years ago, the Government had convinced them about the feasibility of developing the expressway under the PPP (public-private-partnership) model but now intends to transfer three of the eight component projects of the expressway to the public investment model. Dang Thuan Phong, a delegate from Ben Tre Province, stated that the Government and Ministry of Transport failed to make it clear how they would attract PPP investment for the project and added that the PPP model would also increase the countrys public debts. Phong said if the project was approved to be built with public investment in 2017 itself, it could have been nearly complete now. Delegate Hoang Quang Ham from Phu Tho Province noted that although the Government wants to transfer only three of the eight component projects of the expressway to the public investment model, the components have a total length of 267 kilometers, equivalent to over 40% of the entire length of the eight expressway sections. Therefore, the PPP investment portion of the project would drop from the initial estimation of 81% to 40%. Ham said the National Assembly should have been more cautious during capital estimation and investment preparation, while the Government should draw up a detailed payback plan for the project. Delegate Vu Thi Luu Mai from Hanoi suggested that the Law on PPP Investment should clearly specify the responsibility of individuals and organizations in assessing and ensuring the feasibility of the project. Delegate Do Van Sinh from Quang Tri Province remarked that he was not convinced with the Governments report on transferring three of the eight component projects of the expressway to the public investment model. Sinh noted that two sections that are finding it hard to attract private investments including the National Highway 45-Nghi Son and Nghi Son-Dien Chau sections should be changed from PPP to public investment instead of the Mai Son-National Highway 45 and Phan Thiet-Dau Giay sections. Responding to the delegates concerns, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The said the North-South Expressway is a project of national importance and needs a cautious approach that complies with the Law on Investment as well as other laws. This is why the project has moved at a slow pace. The Ministry of Transport, the prime minister and other ministries and government departments are mobilizing all resources and trying their best to speed up work on the project, he said. SGT Ivanka Trump tried to take advantage of Melania Trump's delayed move to Washington D.C. to seize territory in the White House, suggesting the First Lady's Office be renamed the First Family's Office. The first daughter made her move after Trump was elected but Melania Trump elected to stay in New York City until June 2017 so Barron could finish out the school year and the first lady could renegotiate her prenup. Details are revealed in 'The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump,' a new biography of Melania Trump by Washington Post reporter Mary Jordan. Excerpts appeared in The Washington Post on Friday and reporters from the newspaper shared additional tidbits from the 286-page book on Twitter. The White House called the story 'totally false.' The White House denied a report Ivanka Trump tried to use Melania Trump's delayed move to Washington D.C. to rename the first lady's office the first family office; the two are seen together on Inauguration Day in January 2017 Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump have little overlap in the White House where Melania works out of East Wing and Ivanka works out of West Wing Details from the upcoming Melania Trump biography 'The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump,' appeared in The Washington Post on Friday and reporters from the newspaper shared additional tidbits from the 286-page book on Twitter 'This is totally false. The media is once again running untrue information from anonymous sources and not once did anyone fact check this with the White House or Ivanka Trump,' said deputy press secretary Judd Deere in a statement to Dailymail.com. The new Melania biography, out Tuesday, reveals how Melania used her position as first lady to renegotiate her prenup with Donald Trump, ensured Barron would be treated the same as the eldest Trump children, and has had plastic surgery. Melania Trump's office blasted the book as 'fiction.' 'Yet another book about Mrs. Trump with false information and sources. This book belongs in the fiction genre,' Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's chief of staff, said in a statement to DailyMail.com. Melania didn't move into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue until June 2017 - six months after President Donald Trump took the oath of office. And she used that time to renegotiate her prenuptial agreement. Trump's victory in the 2016 election meant he needed a first lady by his side and she used her new-found leverage 'to amend her financial arrangement with Trump - what Melania referred to as "taking care of Barron."' ' The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump ,' by Washington Post reporter Mary Jordan, is out on Tuesday 'She wanted proof in writing that when it came to financial opportunities and inheritance, Barron would be treated as more of an equal to Trump's oldest three children,' Jordan writes. Barron Trump was 10 when his father was elected president. The book also contains the latest report of tension between Melania and Ivanka, the two most prominent women in PresidentTrump's life: his 50-year-old wife and his 38-year-old eldest daughter. The two women have little overlap in the White House complex: Ivanka Trump, who serves as an adviser to her father, has an office in the West Wing. Melania Trump works out of the East Wing on the opposite side of the building. They have never hosted a joint initiative or event. And, tensions were so bad between the two in 2018 overly separately planned trips to Africa, then-White House Chief of Staff John Kelly had to step in and mediate between the women and their offices, The New York Times reported at the time. Both women made their first big solo trips of the Trump administration to Africa: Melania in October 2018 to focus on children's issues as part of her Be Best campaign and Ivanka went in April 2019 to highlight economic development, particularly among women. The 2019 biography of Melania Trump by CNN reporter Kate Bennett, entitled 'Free, Melania: The Unauthorized Biography,' described the relationship between the two women as 'cordial, but not close.' They do not have much in common even in their roles within the executive branch. Ivanka Trump has focused on women's issues, including expanding paid family leave, along with work place and vocational training. Melania Trump has worked with children as part of her Be Best campaign, which emphasizes kindness, well-being and online safety. They are seen together mainly at ceremonial events - such as last year's state visit to England and February's state visit to India - or are together on family occasions - like trips to Mar-a-Lago, the Winter White House in Palm Beach, Florida. Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump are rarely seen together but it's usually at family occasions such as this Thanksgiving Day dinner at Mar-a-Lago in November 2018 with Barron Trump and President Trump Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump are also together on ceremonial occasions such as February's state trip to India Both Melania and Ivanka made their first big solo trips of the Trump administration to Africa: Melania in October 2018 to focus on children's issues as part of her Be Best campaign Ivanka Trump went in April 2019 to highlight economic development, particularly among women; above she meets with women at a coffee shop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia When Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump are at the same event together - such as the first, failed SpaceX launch - Ivanka usually steps back to let Melania take the lead When they are together at official events, Ivanka usually lets Melania take the lead. When most of the Trump family went to Florida last month for the first, failed attempt at SpaceX's launch, both Melania and Ivanka made the trip. Melania Trump stayed closed to President Trump during the tour of the NASA facilities at Cape Canaveral while Ivanka stayed back with her husband Jared Kushner and their two eldest children. Both women also have influence on President Trump but in their both way. When, in 2018, the Trump administration put into action a policy that separated migrant children from their families caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, both Melania and Ivanka opposed it. Melania Trump made her feelings known directly to the president and then went to visit holding facilities on the border, a trip that was overshadowed when she was photographed wearing 'I really don't care, do you?' jacket. Ivanka Trump let it be known through media reports she was working to get her father to reverse the policy. There was some speculation that Melania's jacket was a dig at the first daughter although the first lady's office said of it: 'It's just a jacket.' President Trump acknowledged the influence of both women when he signed an executive order overturning the rule. 'Ivanka feels very strongly about it,' he said, adding: 'My wife feels very strongly about it.' New Delhi, June 12 : The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed various petitions challenging the governments order of 'Unlock 1 and observed that "lockdown caused more suffering than the Covid-19 pandemic itself". A Division Bench hearing the pleas took a strong view of the waste of time the hearing caused, termed the petition "misconceived" and filed only to "gain publicity". It put a penalty of Rs 20,000 on the petitioner, who is a law student. "Many were left shelterless. Several lakhs of migrant labourers had to walk on foot and go back to their native places. The economic situation of the country has taken a terrible hit due to the lockdown. In fact, many analysts have opined that the lockdown has caused more human suffering than COVID-19 itself," said a Division Bench presided by Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Subramonium Prasad. The court also noted that the lockdown has resulted in loss of jobs for several lakhs of people. "Scores of people were forced to walk considerable distances during the lockdown and stand in long queues at food distribution centers just to have two square meals a day. Several have gone hungry and were not able to get one meal," the court noted. "...World over, the trend is now to reduce the restrictions which were imposed due to lockdown and to return to normal life. In order to ensure a proper balance between containing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and at the same time make certain that people are not forced to starvation the Government has issued the impugned order," it said. The observations were passed while the court was hearing a petition filed by law student Arjun Aggarwal challenging the government's order of relaxing the lockdown imposed amid the coronavirus pandemic. Coming down heavily on the petitioner, the court said that during the hearing it had warned the counsel that if he presses the petition, the court would be constrained to dismiss it with costs and the warning was only given because the petitioner was a law student. "Despite that, counsel for the petitioner upon taking instructions from the petitioner, continued to addressing arguments, wasting valuable judicial time. We deprecate this conduct of the petitioner. The writ petition is accordingly dismissed along with pending application with costs of Rs 20,000," the court ruled. "The writ petition is completely misconceived and has been filed only to gain publicity," it said, adding that the petitioner who is a law student filed the same without looking at the position in law. Aggarwal in his petition challenged the guidelines on the ground that phased reopening will result in rampant spread of COVID-19 in the country. He told the court that the the reopening has been done only keeping in mind economic considerations while endangering its citizens to the extent of succumbing to a contagious disease in the absence of any proven medical cure for it. Following which the court said, "...Economists have forecast that Indian economy will shrink as a result of the steps taken to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Indian economy virtually came to a standstill during the nationwide lockdown. Production in the country came to a grinding halt during the lockdown period. "Construction activities in the country have stopped. People have become unemployed which raises grave concerns regarding the law and order situation in the country," the court said. The court also noted that the re-opening has been directed in a phased manner and is not a decision that appears to have been taken in haste. "The Government is expected to remain cognizant of the situation and evaluate it closely. If it is found that the rate of infection is going up, they can always review their decision and impose curbs, depending upon the situation," the court said. Through his counsel Apratim Animesh Thakur, Aggarwal contended that the impugned Notification will deprive the citizens of their basic fundamental rights such as life and it ignores the health of its citizens by exposing them to the threat from COVID-19. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text PG&E Corp. has agreed to provide more stock to pay wildfire victims as part of a deal that resolves one of the last hurdles in its waning bankruptcy case. The company said Friday that the estimated $13.5 billion trust it will establish to fund victims claims will now own 22.19% of its stock, up from the 20.9% level previously set. Additionally, PG&E and attorneys for fire victims said they have finally reached an agreement about how the trust will be allowed to sell stock in order to pay people whose homes and businesses burned in wildfires caused by the company. The deal provides that PG&E shall not offer more favorable terms to the shareholders helping fund its exit from bankruptcy unless those same terms apply to the victims trust or its trustee consents. The stock-selling agreement was negotiated for months and is a crucial piece of the PG&E bankruptcy because half of the $13.5 billion reserved for fire survivors will be paid in company shares. A bankruptcy lawyer for fire victims had warned that without a deal, it might take five or six years for the trust to sell off all the stock it would own due to federal regulations. Now, attorneys expect everyone to be paid within 18 months to two years, said Gerald Singleton, a San Diego lawyer for people harmed by PG&E wildfires. Singleton said the stock agreement ensures that fire victims and investors who committed to buying new stock in the company are treated similarly. All we wanted was parity, Singleton said. Thats exactly what we got. But Will Abrams, a Santa Rosa fire victim and frequent PG&E critic who has taken an active role in the bankruptcy case, is still concerned about the stock deal. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes He said he was looking for stronger assurances to protect the trust from seeing the value of its stock plummet if hedge funds quickly sell off their shares once the bankruptcy ends. This notion that victims have been prioritized first is just factually inaccurate, Abrams said. If victims were first, they would have priority order to be able to sell their shares before other investors. That does not seem like it was something that was secured here. PG&E had no comment beyond the court filings. The companys bankruptcy restructuring plan has already been approved by state regulators and is now being weighed by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali. PG&E needs the plan approved in court before June 30 in order to qualify for a new form of state-authorized corporate wildfire insurance. J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris Vietnamese retailers and distributors are apprehensive that its openness may lead to them losing their home advantage and facing more competition from EU companies. A supermarket in Vietnam PHOTO: QUOC HUNG Data from the Ministry of Industry and Trade revealed that Vietnam exported goods worth US$41.45 billion to the EU and spent US$14.9 billion on imports from the union in 2019, earning a trade surplus of US$26.55 billion. The Ministry of Planning and Investment estimated that the EVFTA could boost Vietnams imports from the EU by 33.06% by 2025 and 36.7% by 2030. Although products made in Vietnam still account for more than 60% of goods currently sold at supermarkets, the Vietnamese retail market is seeing fierce competition between local giants like Saigon Co.op, VinCommerce, Bach Hoa Xanh and Satra and their international rivals such as Lotte, Big C, and Circle K. This is only expected to get more intense once the country opens its doors wider to EU businesses. The EVFTA will boost high-quality investments from the EU and its partners to Vietnam, accelerating the restructuring and renovation of the countrys retail sector, the Domestic Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade said in a statement, adding that Vietnamese retailers that fail to adapt to the fast-changing business environment would find it tough to survive. Challenges that Vietnamese businesses, especially small and medium-sized retailers and distributors, would face are increasing competition, underdeveloped e-commerce infrastructure and management and food safety and hygiene. With lower competitiveness compared to EU enterprises, they stand to be taken over or lose their market share. The Ministry of Industry and Trade noted that deadlines for realizing commitments at the EVFTA would also be challenging for Vietnam. For other free trade agreements, the participating parties are required to realize their commitments in 10 years. However, the EVFTA requires Vietnam to realize its commitments in five to seven years, with some provisions expected to be executed right after the EVFTA comes into effect or within two or three years. According to the Domestic Market Department, Vietnamese products, especially farm produce, livestock products and seafood, will have to compete with cheap but quality goods from the EU in the domestic market. SGT LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR) Conference, one of the largest events exploring artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, deep learning, and more, will take place 14-19 June as a fully virtual event. Over the course of six days, the event will feature 45 sessions delivered by 1467 leading authors, academics, and experts to more than 6500 attendees, who have already registered for the event. "The excitement, enthusiasm, and support for CVPR from the global community has never been more apparent," said Professor of Computer Science at Cornell University and Co-Chair of the CVPR 2020 Committee Ramin Zabih. "With large attendance, state of the art research, and insights delivered by some of the leading authorities in computer vision, AI, and machine learning, our first-ever fully virtual event is shaping up to be an exciting experience for everyone involved." As a fully virtual event, attendees will have access to all CVPR program components, including fireside chats, workshops, tutorials, and oral and poster presentations via a robust, fully searchable, password-protected portal. Credentials to access the portal are provided to attendees shortly upon registration. CVPR fireside chats, workshops, and tutorials will be conducted via live video with live Q&A between presenters and participants. Oral and poster presentations, which will be repeated, will include a pre-recorded video from the presenter(s), followed by a live Q&A session. Attendees will also be able to access presentations/papers and the pre-recorded videos at their convenience to help ensure maximum access given the diverse time zones in which conference participants live. Additionally, CVPR participants can leverage complementary video chat features and threaded question and answer commenting associated with each session and each sponsor to support further knowledge sharing and understanding. Multiple online networking events with video and text chat elements are also included. "The CVPR Committee has gone to great lengths to deliver a first-in-class virtual conference experience that all attendees can enjoy," said IEEE Computer Society Executive Director Melissa Russell, co-sponsor of the event. "We are thrilled to be part of this endeavor and are excited to deliver and witness in the coming days the 'what's next' in AI, computer vision and machine learning." Details on the full virtual CVPR 2020 schedule can be found on the conference website at http://cvpr2020.thecvf.com/program. All times are Pacific Daylight Time (Seattle Time). Interested individuals can still register for CVPR at http://cvpr2020.thecvf.com/attend/registration. Accredited members of the media can register for the CVPR virtual conference by emailing [email protected]. About CVPR 2020 CVPR is the premier annual computer vision and pattern recognition conference. With first-in-class technical content, a main program, tutorials, workshops, a leading-edge expo, and attended by more than 9,000 people annually, CVPR creates a one-of-a-kind opportunity for networking, recruiting, inspiration, and motivation. CVPR 2020, originally scheduled to take place 14-19 June 2020 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle Washington, will now be a fully virtual event. Authors and presenters will virtually deliver presentations and engage in live Q&A with attendees. For more information about CVPR 2020, the program, and how to participate virtually, visit http://cvpr2020.thecvf.com/. About the Computer Vision Foundation The Computer Vision Foundation is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to foster and support research on all aspects of computer vision. Together with the IEEE Computer Society, it co-sponsors the two largest computer vision conferences, CVPR and the International Conference on Computer Vision (ICCV). About the IEEE Computer Society The IEEE Computer Society is the world's home for computer science, engineering, and technology. A global leader in providing access to computer science research, analysis, and information, the IEEE Computer Society offers a comprehensive array of unmatched products, services, and opportunities for individuals at all stages of their professional career. Known as the premier organization that empowers the people who drive technology, the IEEE Computer Society offers international conferences, peer-reviewed publications, a unique digital library, and training programs. Visit www.computer.org for more information. SOURCE IEEE Computer Society Related Links www.computer.org At least one person was reported dead and 15 injured in a bomb blast in Pakistan's a busy market area in Pakistan's garrison city of Rawalpindi on Friday. According to a report in the Dawn, the explosion took place in the city's Saddar area. It said three children were among those wounded. Police said that apparently the bomb was placed on a motorbike parked in the market. Properties around the site of the explosion have also been badly damaged. Rescue activities at the site of the blast are underway. So far nobody took responsibility for the attack. (With inputs from PTI) Sao Paulo, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2020 ) :Brazilian officials on Thursday announced an agreement with China's Sinovac Biotech to produce its coronavirus vaccine in the state of Sao Paulo, where tests involving 9,000 volunteers are to begin next month. Brazil has the world's second-highest coronavirus caseload after the United States, with more than 770,000 confirmed infections and nearly 40,000 deaths. Sao Paulo governor Joao Doria told a news conference that the Butantan Institute, Brazil's leading research center, had reached a technology transfer agreement with Sinovac Biotech. "The studies show that the vaccine could be distributed by June 2021," if tests prove conclusive, Doria said. "This agreement would allow us to produce at large scale and immunize millions of Brazilians." Sinovac Biotech, one of four Chinese laboratories authorized to conduct clinical vaccine trials, said a month ago that it was prepared to produce 100 million doses of the vaccine under the commercial name Coronavac. In Sao Paulo, 9,000 volunteers will be injected with doses of that vaccine beginning in mid-July, in the third and final phase of testing. Last week, Sao Paulo State University announced that a vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford will be tested among 2,000 Brazilian volunteers beginning in mid-June. Doria used the unveiling of the Sinovac Biotech deal, which he described as "historic," to criticize President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro in recent days has also threatened to withdraw Brazil from the World Health Organization -- as the United States did last month -- accusing it of "ideological bias." Alluding to the controversy, Doria said, "The politicization of disease has never saved a life, to the contrary."Since the onset of the pandemic, Bolsonaro has clashed with state governors over stay-at-home measures that they've adopted to prevent the spread of the virus. He has continued to press for a resumption of economic activities even though infections continue to rise. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EXMceuticals Inc. ( CSE: EXM ) ( FSE: A2PAW2 ), (the "Company" or "EXM"), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a letter of intent ("LOI") with Econnabis SAS, an operating subsidiary of Plena Global Holdings Inc. (Plena Global), a large-scale producer and supplier of medical grade cannabis ingredients, to supply EXMs proposed Portugal refinery with up to 200 kg of GMP compliant THC Distillate. This agreement continues EXMs focus on being the gateway to the European market for the existing legal cannabis industry. Over the past 60 days, Management has been focused on utilizing its existing Portugal operations as an expert powerhouse to the EU market. While many companies look to expand overseas into the EU marketplace, EXMs operational and business development footprint will be in a strategic position to build shareholder and stakeholder value across multiple verticals and a wide variety of cannabinoid formulations. Plena Global and its suppliers adhere to all regulatory requirements and follow both Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) and European Good Manufacturing Practices (EU-GMP) standards and procedures. Plena Global and its suppliers have rigorous quality and compliance controls to ensure secure shipment of products. Furthermore, Plena Globals access to leading a world-class collection of plant genetics will support EXM clients requirements for specific strains. The demand will explode in the next few years as the European cannabis industry continues to develop into one of the largest cannabis markets in the world and more countries require the use of EU GMP standards. Securing valuable sources of ingredients with consistent, large-scale suppliers such as Plena Global is more important than ever for the buildout of the EXM supply chain. Plena Globals capacity and expertise in genetics will complement EXM activities in Portugal, providing customized ingredients to clients. The Companys focus has been on commercializing cannabinoid formulations evolving with the market demand. CBD is truly becoming a revolutionary input for the cannabis and wellness market and research points to other interesting cannabinoids Plena Global can provides to us such as CBG and CBN, said Jonathan Summers, Chief Executive Officer of EXM. The tremendous amount of work that Plena Global has completed to date gives us a great deal of confidence that our collaborative approach to deliver the right inputs to costumers will be unmatched, Summers added. Story continues We are excited to supply EXM with high-quality extracts and continue to pursue the European market. Plena Globals access to genetic expertise and scalable capacity will bring consistent supply for EXM, said Richard Zwicky, Chief Executive Officer of Plena Global. Our model is to supply, grow and extract cannabis to the highest GACP and EU-GMP compliant standards. About Plena Global Plena Global is a global B2B cannabis production and supply company, headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, focused on supplying medical-grade cannabis products to licensed producers, pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers and distributors worldwide. With landholdings strategically located in Colombia, South America, Plena Global can scale cultivation and production operations in optimal growing environments. New strategic initiatives The Company, subject to regulatory approval, has retained Independent Trading Group, Inc. (ITG) to provide market-making services to the Company (the Engagement) and Luminous Capital Ltd as financial adviser. ITG will trade shares of EXMceuticals on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE) in compliance with the policies and guidelines of the CSE and other applicable legislation with the objective of maintaining a reasonable market and improving the liquidity of the common shares of the Company. The capital used for the market-making activities will be provided by ITG. Under the terms of the Engagement, ITG will receive $6,000 per month, payable by the Company monthly from its working capital. The Engagement is effective as of June 1, 2020 and has an initial term of three months. Thereafter, the Engagement will automatically renew for successive one (1) month terms until terminated by either party upon thirty (30) days prior written notice. There are no performance factors contained under the Engagement nor will ITG receive shares or options as compensation. ITG and EXM are unrelated and unaffiliated entities, and ITG has no present interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company or its securities. ITG is an independent, privately held broker-dealer based in Toronto, Ontario that provides a wide range of financial and investment services and is registered with the TSX, TSX-V and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. Luminous Capital Ltd, will provide Capital Market Advisory Services and assist with the future development of the Company. Luminous Capital Ltd will receive 1,000,000 restricted shares for its services. ITG and Luminous will provide value for shareholders given the milestones achieved and anticipated, we are now looking to engage with a far wider audience and engage with financials institution in financing our facility in Portugal. I am confident that this new advisory relationship will help EXM move to a different level, said Jonathan Summers. For further information, contact: Jonathan Summers, CEO Investor Relations Email: investors@exmceuticals.com Media Enquiries: Email: media@exmceuticals.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EXMceuticals Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/exmceuticalsinc/ CSE: EXM | FSE : A2PAW2 Neither the CSE nor the FSE has approved nor disapproved of the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor the FSE accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be", "expected", "proposes", "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the Company's business operations, the extraction of cannabis ingredients and the exportation of the extracts, the results of testing at our facilities established for the European market, future laws and regulations governing the sale of our products in Europe and elsewhere, and the potential to generate sales, and completion of a Qualifying Financing, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of EXM to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. EXM will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. Riot police officers stand guard ahead of a pro-democracy march in the Central district of Hong Kong on June 9, 2020, as the city marks the one-year anniversary since pro-democracy protests erupted following opposition to a bill allowing extraditions to mainland China. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images) UK Urges Beijing to Step Back From the Brink as Regime Tightens Grip on Hong Kong Beijing needs to step back from the brink and reconsider imposing a national security law on Hong Kong, British foreign secretary Dominic Raab said in a June 11 statement, while renewing a pledge to protect Hong Kongs freedoms. [T]he solution to this unrest and its underlying causes must come from Hong Kong, and cannot be imposed from mainland China, he wrote in the foreword of a semi-annual report (pdf) on Hong Kong, compiled since the former British colony was returned to China in 1997. The territory has experienced its largest demonstrations over the past year, with at times millions of locals taking to the streets to resist Beijings growing encroachment into the citys autonomy. The recently proposed Chinese law, criminalizing what the central government considers as secession, subversion, and foreign interference, has brought protesters back to the streets. Participants hold up their cellphones flash lights as they take part in a rally in Central district in Hong Kong, on June 9, 2020. (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images) If the Chinese regime moves forward with its plans, the UK will make arrangements allowing British overseas passport holders a pathway to citizenship, Raab said. Currently, around 350,000 Hongkongers born before 1997 hold such passports, while another 2.5 million are eligible to apply for one, according to the British government. Meanwhile, in a June 10 U.S. national security strategy report (pdf), the Republican Study Committee recommended using the Global Magnitsky Act to sanction a number of top Chinese officials for violating Hong Kongs political autonomy, including Han Zheng, one of the Communist Partys most powerful officials. Heightening Pressure Despite international pushback and a vow from the United States to revoke Hong Kongs special trading status, the Chinese government has quickened steps to press ahead with imposing the law. On Wednesday, Chinas foreign ministry issued a fact sheet claiming that the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, the bilateral agreement signed ahead of Hong Kongs sovereignty transfer, was not relevant with Chinas handling of Hong Kong. It further claimed that the UK has no sovereignty rights, rights of governance, and power of supervision over Hong Kong affairs. Zhang Xiaoming, vice director of Beijings representative agency in Hong Kong, the Liaison Office, said that central authorities will ensure the laws implementation in the city no matter what happens in Hong Kong nor what outside forces say or do. Deeming Hong Kongs challenge a political problem, he called the national security law an anti-virus software to ensure the citys stability. While the regime has yet to reveal details of the new law, critics have expressed fears of Chinese law enforcement working directly in the city and rising political prosecution. Hong Kongs security chief John Lee recently said the local government would set up a dedicated police unit to work with mainland security forces and apply the law. Im sure that the mainland authorities have a much wider network of intelligence gathering and also a much higher level of analysis, Lee said in an interview with South China Morning Post, adding that Chinese security authorities have a helicopter view of the whole thing. Japan, which had already voiced serious concerns about Beijings move on May 28, said on Wednesday that it has plans to take the lead among G-7 nations on issuing a statement on Hong Kong. Taiwan is also scrambling to prepare for an influx of Hongkongers who are fleeing the city amid Beijings tightening control. Riot police officers detain protesters during a rally in Central district in Hong Kong, on June 9, 2020. (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images) Widening Intelligence Net Fueling concerns of extralegal arrests after the laws implementation, a source told The Epoch Times that authorities have evacuated a detention center in the mainland city of Shenzhen that borders Hong Kong, in order to house those arrested from the territory. The person, who works at the Yantian facility, requested to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal. Located on the southern tip of China, the detention center is within walking distance from Sha Tau Kok, the northernmost district of Hong Kong. Reached by The Epoch Times, a staff member at the detention center confirmed that the facility has not admitted inmates since the CCP virus outbreak and had transferred previous detainees to Luohu District Detention Center, but refused to disclose details about the facilitys future use. The Luohu District Detention Center did not immediately return phone calls for an inquiry. Simon Cheng, a former worker for the British consulate in Hong Kong, was kept in custody and interrogated at the Luohu facility last August while on a business trip to Shenzhen. Boris Johnson has told Black Lives Matter protesters they should focus on the "positive stuff" around racial equality in the UK. Speaking to broadcasters on Monday the prime minister said the UK had made "huge progress" on tackling racism, citing progress on education. It comes after Mr Johnson defended the existence of statues of slave traders in British cities, arguing that taking them down would "impoverish the education of generations to come". "What I would say to everyone thinking about this issue is that I totally understand why people feel outraged, certainly about what happened in Minnesota and the death of George Floyd," the prime minister said. "Everybody understands the legitimate right to protest against discrimination, against racism, in our society. Recommended Boris Johnson book depicts Jews as controlling the media "I think this is a country that has made huge progress in tackling racism. "We should look sometimes at the positive stuff - we've got more young black and minority ethnic kids going to university than ever before, more black kids doing the tougher subjects at school, doing better than ever before in school. "We don't hear enough of this positive stuff." Mr Johnson himself has been criticised for making racist comments in the past. In 2016 he suggested that "part-Kenyan" US president Barack Obama had an "ancestral dislike" of Britain. Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Show all 16 1 /16 Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest The Edward Colston statue has been pulled down by Black Lives Matter protesters in Bristol. Colston was a 17th century slave trader who has numerous landmarks named after him in Bristol. Pictured is the statue covered up before it was pulled down Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Protesters pulling down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston William Want Twitter account/AFP Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Protesters pulling down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston William Want Twitter account/AFP Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest A protester presses his knee into the neck of the Edward Colston statue Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest The protest rally was in College Green, Bristol Ben Birchall/PA Wire Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest The Edward Colston statue is defaced Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest A crowd gathers Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Protesters dragging the statue of Edward Colston to Bristol harbourside PA Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest The statue is rolled along the street before being dropped into a nearby river SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Protesters throw the statue of Edward Colston into Bristol harbour PA Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Ben Birchall/PA Wire Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest TWITTER/SELLOTTIE via REUTERS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest PA He also wrote a novel while he was Conservative backbencher filled with highly questionable depictions of ethnic minorities and racial epithets. On Thursday Health Secretary Matt Hancock criticised 31 ethnic minority Labour MPs and accused them to "identity politics" after they wrote to the Home Secretary Priti Patel accusing her to dismissing the concerns of protesters. Click here to read the full article. Escada, the once high-flying brand synonymous with the big-shouldered Eighties and the Dynasty set, is said to be in increasingly bad financial shape. Only six months into new ownership under Regent LP, a Los Angeles private equity firm that officially acquired Escada from Megha Mittal last November, the brand has several retail fronts in North America closed and taken over by landlords; laid off or furloughed nearly its entire retail force (those on furlough continue to have paid benefits) and had its corporate headcount drastically reduced, including the likes of its chief executive officer and its chief financial officer. While some of these outcomes are indeed due to the coronavirus pandemic that forced nonessential retail to close for the last several months, sources have it that things were already looking grim in December and January. The corporate layoffs happened in December. A multitude of typical operating bills are said to have been piling up, more or less since since the acquisition, like payments to in-store seamstresses, UPS delivery services and even electricity for stand-alone retail stores. Internally, Regent is said by some to be investigating all expenses, but another view, as one industry source put it, is that theyre letting the brand bleed out. In Regents November announcement on the acquisition of Escada, the company said it planned to take the business to new heights. When Mittal purchased the brand out of insolvency in 2009, it was said to be a long-term investment. While there were efforts to modernize the label and increase sales, the company is thought to have not been profitable since before it filed for insolvency. Regent declined to comment on the financial position of the company. Before Regents takeover, Escada was already struggling financially but sources said bills were being paid, unlike today. Regents round of layoffs at corporate headquarters in Germany are said to have reduced headcount by at least 50 people, but by some accounts it was by as much as 100 people. All corporate roles in the U.S. were eliminated as well, leaving roughly 150 corporate employees remaining in Germany, where Escada was founded in 1978 by Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley. There are also said to be about that many workers left at Escadas factory in Slovenia. Story continues One source suggested that Escada is facing a current loss of at least $100 million. In a Companies House filing in the U.K. for 2018, the last year Escada made its mandatory annual financial disclosure there, the company listed a loss of 7 million pounds, or $8.8 million at current exchange. That was just for operations in the U.K., however, where it has five points of sale, only one of which is a stand-alone store. Since Regent took over there has been no indication of its strategy to get the brand back on track. At least three of Escadas six stand-alone stores in North America, in Beverly Hills, Dallas and Vancouver, have just been taken over by landlords for failure to pay rent for several consecutive months. Other stores in the U.S. are thought to be facing closure as well for the same reason, although some are said to be planning on reopening as coronavirus measures are lifted. To be sure, the pandemic has created a tense situation between many retailers and landlords, but to have a landlord change the locks on a storefront, as is the case with at least two Escada stores, is exceedingly rare. Sources have said there are current talks happening internally regarding a further reduction of stores and wholesale here and in Europe, mainly dependent on whether landlords are willing to look past months of missed rent. Escada currently has 298 points of distribution, but a vast majority of that is wholesale or shop-in-shops with department stores like Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Harrods. The brand is expecting that part of its business to be severely impacted, sources said, with a number of department stores having their own financial difficulties and looking to downsize. One of Escadas biggest wholesale accounts for many years has been Neiman Marcus, which recently filed for bankruptcy. Partly due to the pandemic, Escada is also not expected to produce its fall 2020 collection in full, samples of which were shown to buyers and press in February. In fact, the brand is said to be abandoning the traditional collection model altogether. It will instead focus on smaller capsule releases multiple times a year, leading to a much pared-down offering when the brand starts production again. The same plan is said to be in place for sister line Escada Sport. Other luxury brands, seemingly in a stronger financial position than Escada, have also been pushing for a change to the current fashion production calendar. When Escadas new production timeline will begin is unclear, however, despite its last new shipment of spring 2020 hitting stores late last year. Some sources expect new product to come out at some point this year, but others have pointed to pre-coronavirus issues with payment to manufacturers, which could well impact any attempts at production for this year. What this means for global design director Emma Cook, appointed just before Regent took over, is also unclear. She is said to be still under contract with Escada, but design plans going forward are said to be based around an idea of several different designers, possibly a new one for each capsule Escada puts out. Sources expect that when her contract runs out, thought to be later this year, her time with Escada will end and she will not be replaced. Other high-level roles at Escada are also going unfilled. Chief executive Iris Elisabeth Epple-Righi left the brand in December after about two years, not to be replaced. General counsel Lars Schmidt also just left the company. Torsten Duhring came on in January as chief financial officer only to leave abruptly mere weeks later, not to be replaced. Sources said that he quit after refusing to hand over customer data without regard for strict European laws at the demand of Regent founder and ceo Michael Reinstein, who some say is now the de facto leader of Escada. He is currently only listed as chairman. Accounting and finance for Escada is said to now be handled by a shared services center in Manchester, England. Regent would not specify who is running the day-to-day operations at Escada. Reinstein has no direct experience in fashion or retail and is a lawyer by trade who started Regent in 2013. The firm has focused on acquiring distressed assets. His other acquisitions in recent years include mass lingerie brand La Senza from L Brands; Sunset magazine from Time Inc., and Regis Corp., which operated Vidal Sassoon and hundreds of mall-based hair salons. The Sunset and Regis businesses are said to have been dealt a very similar experience to that of Escada under Regent. Namely, little to no financial investment and restructuring efforts that turned out to be not much more than drastic cuts to size and costs that turned the companies into barebones operations. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. A study by a team of researchers led by a Texas A&M University professor has found that not wearing a face mask dramatically increases a person's chances of being infected by the COVID-19 virus. Renyi Zhang, Texas A&M Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Sciences and the Harold J. Haynes Chair in the College of Geosciences, and colleagues from the University of Texas, the University of California-San Diego and the California Institute of Technology have had their work published in the current issue of PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences). The team examined the chances of COVID-19 infection and how the virus is easily passed from person to person. From trends and mitigation procedures in China, Italy and New York City, the researchers found that using a face mask reduced the number of infections by more than 78,000 in Italy from April 6-May 9 and by over 66,000 in New York City from April 17-May 9. "Our results clearly show that airborne transmission via respiratory aerosols represents the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19," Zhang said. "By analyzing the pandemic trends without face-covering using the statistical method and by projecting the trend, we calculated that over 66,000 infections were prevented by using a face mask in little over a month in New York City. We conclude that wearing a face mask in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent inter-human transmission. "This inexpensive practice, in conjunction with social distancing and other procedures, is the most likely opportunity to stop the COVID-19 pandemic. Our work also highlights that sound science is essential in decision-making for the current and future public health pandemics." One of the paper's co-authors, Mario Molina, is a professor at the University of California-San Diego and a co-recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his role in understanding the threat to the Earth's ozone layer of man-made halocarbon gases. "Our study establishes very clearly that using a face mask is not only useful to prevent infected coughing droplets from reaching uninfected persons, but is also crucial for these uninfected persons to avoid breathing the minute atmospheric particles (aerosols) that infected people emit when talking and that can remain in the atmosphere tens of minutes and can travel tens of feet," Molina said. Zhang said that many people in China have worn face masks for years, mainly because of the bad air quality of the country. "So people there are sort of used to this," he said. "Mandated face-covering helped China in containing the COVID-19 outbreak." Zhang said the results should send a clear message to people worldwide - wearing a face mask is essential in fighting the virus. "Our work suggests that the failure in containing the propagation of COVID-19 pandemic worldwide is largely attributed to the unrecognized importance of airborne virus transmission," he said. "Social-distancing and washing our hands must continue, but that's not sufficient enough protection. Wearing a face mask as well as practicing good hand hygiene and social distancing will greatly reduce the chances of anyone contracting the COVID-19 virus." ### The study was funded by the Robert A. Welch Foundation. The protests across the U.S. have many calling for a renewed national dialogue about race, policing, equity and what it means to be a black person in America today. And that is good news, said Nicole Mitchell, director of Diversity and Inclusion at Cedars-Sinai. We have so many people who want to be allies and to be voices, Mitchell said. ADVERTISEMENT But how do we begin talking about these sensitive issues? First, people should be mindful and avoid overloading their black friends and family with requests for information, Mitchell said, because every individual is coping with this differently. I need people to remember that right now, a lot of your black colleagues and friends and family members are hurting and are frustrated and are dealing with their own emotions, Mitchell said. Adding the extra level of stress to them to explain the situations or to help you advance your understanding could just add to that level of stress. Mitchell says those looking to be better allies to the black community can start by simply doing some research on racial equity. Doing the research first is a great way to come into conversations prepared to ask informed questions and to listen openly to experiences and perspectives. If we can enter a conversation with an open mind, with a listening ear, and with the fact that weve done some research to help to try to understand more, I feel that will help move the conversation forward, she said. In her role at Cedars-Sinai, Mitchell works daily to make sure that Cedars-Sinai continues to be a diverse, inclusive organization where everyoneincluding staff, patients and visitorsfeels like they belong. She leads education programs like implicit bias training, which can help in the fight against racial disparities in healthcare. ADVERTISEMENT From a Cedars-Sinai perspective, we continue to bring that conversation to the table, and were highlighting it even more, which is important in our role as a leader in the community and in healthcare, she said. But Mitchells fight for racial equality starts at home. My husband is black, his father is black, and our son is black, and the events that are happening in our country right now, I feel them very personally, Mitchell said. Every day I think about my family and friends, and Im worried about them, as a black wife and a mom. You wonder how your family is when theyre out in the public, when theyre just living their daily lives. What could happen to them? Thats a worry that some people dont have to carry with them every day, but we do. Talking to Children About Racism For many, discussing these issues with the children in their households in a healthy, age-appropriate and productive way presents a challenge. I think that starting the discussion about racism and race is really important, Mitchell said. We have to remember that our children are watching us all the time, and they are imitating us. Were the first role models that they see. Mitchell said that one of the best things families can do for their children is surround themselves with diversity as early as possible. One of the biggest things I can recommend is to expose your children at an early age to people who look different than them, to different cultures, and talk about it, Mitchell said. She recommends surrounding children with books, videos and cultural events in the community that show them a variety of races, cultures, religions, languages and other differences among people. As children get older, Mitchell recommends starting a dialogue about what they see and hear in their surroundings. Ask them, Well, what are you seeing? How do you feel about that?' Mitchell said. I think having those open dialogues with our children is really, really important. And I dont think we should shy away from them. As children become teens, parents can expect them to have more complicated questions, and to start to form their own opinions. Tools like videos and documentaries can help ease families into conversations. Those are critical years where you can have in-depth and important conversations because were shaping the youth and the next generation, Mitchell said. So lets talk about racism. Lets talk about what that looks like. Lets dive into their feelings on it. What are they seeing? Spreading Hope in Our Communities Mitchell is certainly putting her advice into action by taking her 17-month-old son to some of the recent protests. Even though hes so young, we have taken him out into the community and have joined a couple of the protests and have talked to him about whats happening, she said. Though he may not understand, we think its really important to expose him to that. We know as parents that its critically important for our son to understand what equity and justice mean, with the hope that when hes older and our age, these things wont be part of our daily lives, she said. But we know that we have to educate and expose him in an ongoing basis, so hes ready to face things that may come up. Mitchell has also helped clean up her community after looting broke out. She says its part of the obligation we each have to our communities and a key step in the path forward. I think that we just need to stay focused on making sure that were creating space for people to really have a voice, Mitchell said. I think that the protests will fade, but I think that its laying the foundation to really see change, systemic change, within organizations, within some of these major entities like housing, and were just talking about things differently. I think that the appetite to talk about them is there and Im hopeful that this is going to continue. Read more on the Cedars-Sinai blog: Faces of Cedars-Sinai: Nicole Mitchell, Director of Diversity and Inclusion Dozens of parents worried about childcare arrangements as Northern Ireland emerges from lockdown have come together to pen an open letter to Stormont ministers about their fears. The letter was sent to Health Minister Robin Swann and Education Minister Peter Weir. The signatories - who include University of Ulster law expert Ciara Fitzpatrick and Amnesty International's Grainne Teggart - say they are "very concerned about the lack of clarity on the issue of childcare provision for parents and guardians who are being asked to return to work, and for those who are balancing working from home with education and childcare responsibilities." They claim the lack of clarity over childcare risks "providing a vacuum in which parents will be forced to put people's health at risk, by seeking out their own arrangements". Last night Ministers Swann and Weir responded: "From 8 June, the range of working parents for whom childcare is now available has been widened significantly. "This includes parents working in the retail sector. "The availability of childcare will be a key consideration in future return-to-work decision-making by the Executive. "Parents seeking childcare should consult the Family Support NI website (https://www.familysupportni.gov.uk/Support/91/covid19-childcare-options-and-associated-guidance) to find out what childcare is available in their area. "If any parent has difficulties accessing childcare through the website, they should contact Parentline on 0808 8020 400," the two ministers said in a statement. The date was June 12, 1920. The place was Chicago, where 940 Republican delegates from across the country had gathered to nominate their partys candidates for president and vice president of the United States. The moment occurred when the national conventions presiding chair called upon a delegate from Oregon, who was seeking attention by standing on a chair and waving his arms. That delegates name was Wallace McCamant, and the brief speech he made upon being recognized would change American history. McCamants name is little known today, but for several decades his actions and opinions were the subject of Oregon newspaper headlines. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, McCamant headed west shortly after becoming a practicing lawyer in 1890. Landing in Portland, a rough-and-ready port town of about 46,000 people, he signed on with a Portland law firm that is known today as Miller, Nash, Graham & Dunn. McCamant quickly earned a reputation as an intelligent and eloquent attorney. He became involved in a number of patriotic organizations, and he married and started a family. Wallace McCamant, circa 1917-18 (Oregon Historical Society) Along with pursuing his law career (hed eventually become an Oregon Supreme Court justice), McCamant also became a loyal member of the Republican Party, which dominated Oregon politics at the time. He served as a delegate to the GOP national convention in 1896 and 1900. When the still-popular former President Theodore Roosevelt left the Republican Party in 1912 to run as a Bull Moose after becoming disenchanted with his hand-picked successor, President William Howard Taft, McCamant remained staunchly in Tafts camp. The Taft-Roosevelt split led to the election of Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, as the 28th president of the United States, and four years later Wilson narrowly won re-election. So when 1920 arrived, with no incumbent on the ballot, Republicans believed they had an excellent opportunity to return their party to the White House. McCamant, then 52, wanted to be a part of the effort. Seeking to attend his third national convention, he filed the required paperwork to run for election as a convention delegate. (At the time, both the Republican and Democratic parties in Oregon elected national convention delegates in May primary elections.) The Oregonian reported on McCamants filing in February, stating that Judge McCamant asks that the following be printed after his name on the ballot: For President, an American, a republican, and a statesman. In speeches leading up to the primary, McCamant made clear that, as a delegate, he would support the candidate who won the Oregon presidential primary -- unless, that is, that candidate was Sen. Hiram Johnson of California. McCamants refusal to support Johnson largely came down to his determined party loyalty: Back in 1912, Johnson had bolted the GOP to run as the vice-presidential nominee on Roosevelts Progressive, or Bull Moose, ticket. Sen. Hiram Johnson (Library of Congress) When the May 21 Oregon primary results were tabulated, Johnson had narrowly defeated former U.S. Army chief of staff Leonard Wood -- and McCamant had overwhelmingly been elected as a delegate. The Johnson forces wasted no time in arguing that, no matter his anti-Johnson campaign rhetoric, McCamant was bound by an Oregon statute requiring that each delegate take an oath that he will use his best efforts to bring about the nomination of the person receiving the largest number of votes at the primary. McCamant, a by-the-book lawyer, was ready with a response. He pointed out that the statute requiring delegates to support the primary winner referred explicitly to delegates who had their names placed on the ballot after simply paying a filing fee of $15. Every candidate for delegate except McCamant had paid that fee. The best efforts statute, however, did not reference the other method for delegate candidates to get on the ballot -- submitting a petition signed by 500 registered voters. This was how McCamant scored his place, with a petition containing more than 1,600 signatures. After the Oregon delegation arrived in Chicago, the conventions credentials committee sided with McCamant: he was free to support the candidate of his choice. In the end, McCamants presidential vote at the convention made no difference. A candidate needed 471 delegates to win the nomination. On the first ballot, Wood received the support of 287 delegates (including McCamant). Illinois Gov. Frank Lowden placed second with 211, and Johnson ended up in third place with 133. Twelve other favorite son candidates also received votes. After three more ballots resulted in little change, the convention adjourned for the evening. It was then that the partys bosses convened at the Blackstone Hotel in Room 404 -- a famed smoke-filled room, where presidential candidates often were chosen before the modern primary system began in the early 1970s. The party poobahs, many of them U.S. senators, hashed over the candidates strengths and weaknesses, and, at 3:00 a.m., they reached a consensus: Sen. Warren Harding of Ohio was the best option to break the deadlock. They regarded Harding, nearing the end of his first term in the Senate, as a genial, go-along-to-get-along type who would not be objectionable to either progressive or conservative Republicans. As one of the meetings attendees reportedly concluded: We have a lot of second raters and Harding is the best of them. It took a few ballots the next morning at the Chicago Coliseum for the decision reached in Room 404 to filter through to the delegates, and then Hardings momentum became unstoppable -- the nomination was his. The powers-that-be then quickly met in a small alcove under the speakers stand to choose Hardings vice-presidential running mate. In hopes of uniting the stalwart wing of the party that Harding represented with the more progressive wing, they decided that Sen. Irvine Lenroot of Wisconsin, a Johnson supporter, would fill out the ticket. Heres where McCamant stepped into his place in history. Sen. Irvine Lenroot (Library of Congress) Nominating speeches were quickly given for Lenroot, but before a roll-call vote could seal the deal, the chairman noticed a stocky, red-faced man standing on a chair and demanding he be recognized, Harding biographer Francis Russell has documented. Affably, the chairman recognized Wallace McCamant of Oregon, assuming that his was merely one more seconding voice for Lenroot. McCamant, however, had no intention of backing a Johnson ally. He called on his fellow delegates to instead support a man who is sterling in his Americanism and stands for all that the Republican Party holds dear. On behalf of the Oregon delegation, I name for the exalted office of vice president, Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts. The mention of Gov. Coolidge, who had achieved national prominence the previous year when he broke up a Boston police strike, ignited the convention floor. Not so much because the taciturn Coolidge was loved, but because few delegates liked that their decisions often were made for them in smoke-filled rooms. McCamant had tapped into a mood of revolt that had been simmering under the surface, and all of a sudden there was a Coolidge bandwagon. The Massachusetts governor received 874.5 delegates to Lenroots 146.5. McCamants role in choosing the vice-presidential nominee didnt get much attention across the U.S. -- though Oregon took note of it. Naming of Coolidge is Oregons Honor: Response to McCamants Speech Causes Thrill, read the June 13 headline in The Oregonian. The November election was never really in doubt. After the trauma of World War I, American voters were hungry for the stolid Hardings promise of a return to normalcy. On Nov. 2, 1920, the Harding-Coolidge ticket won a landslide victory over the Democratic nominee, Ohio Gov. James Cox, and his running mate, the 38-year-old assistant secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Less than three years later, on August 2, 1923, Harding died after what is believed to have been a massive heart attack. And, thanks to Oregon delegate Wallace McCamant, the man who took the oath of office as the 30th president of the United States was Calvin Coolidge, not Irvine Lenroot. Perhaps no Oregonian, before or since, can be said to have made a larger impact on the history of our country. The reason: he may have inadvertently helped bring about Franklin Roosevelts presidency. Coolidge, a pro-business Republican who reduced taxes and restored confidence in the government after various scandals rocked Hardings administration, would be elected president in his own right in 1924. Even though he was immensely popular, he chose not to run for re-election four years later. Republican Herbert Hoover won in his place, and Hoover would be in the White House in October 1929 when the stock-market crash helped usher in the Great Depression. Hoover would be overwhelmingly defeated by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932. But what if Irvine Lenroot had succeeded Harding as president? Would he have stood for election in 1924? Would he have run again in 1928? Would Roosevelt have had the opportunity to create the New Deal -- and lead the U.S. during World War II -- if a President Lenroot, much more progressive than the rigid Hoover, had been in office in October 1929 and responded aggressively to the countrys economic collapse? The answers to these questions are, of course, unknown, but they make for a fascinating, Oregon-themed what-if? What is known, however, is that Hiram Johnson was a man who held a grudge. Wallace McCamant, late in life (The Oregonian archives) On May 25, 1925, President Coolidge re-paid his debt to Wallace McCamant by appointing him to the United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Since McCamant was appointed during a Congressional recess, he was authorized to serve on the court for one year. If the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment during that year, then McCamants appointment would be for life. At that time, presidential nominees to federal courts were routinely confirmed without requiring the nominee to even appear at a Senate committee hearing. Those nominees, however, had not crossed Hiram Johnson. The senator from California used his seniority and influence to block a confirmation vote until he could personally question McCamant. On January 29, 1926, McCamant faced his adversary in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Oregonian proclaimed: It is doubtful the meeting between these sworn enemies from the west coast has been surpassed in dramatic interest by any that has ever taken place in the capitals long history. The hearing reached its dramatic crescendo when Johnson focused on speeches during which McCamant had said that the California senator was not a good American. He asked the judge to explain himself. McCamant responded by saying Johnsons support for allowing judicial decisions to be overruled by public vote, part of Theodore Roosevelts 1912 Progressive platform, meant he was not a good American. Johnson pointed out that the beloved Roosevelt, who had died in 1919, also supported that policy, and he demanded to know if McCamant believed that Roosevelt therefore also was not a good American. McCamant admitted that was, indeed, what he believed. I stand on that, Mr. Chairman, Johnson called out in triumph. I am willing to see if the United States Senate will confirm a man as circuit judge, the next highest judicial position in this country except only the Supreme Court, who tells this committee that Theodore Roosevelt was not a good American. Johnson was right. McCamants response had killed any hopes of his confirmation. The Portland-based judge did try to backtrack, sending a letter to committee members stating it was the idea of public recall of judicial decisions, and not Roosevelt, that was un-American, but it was too little too late. President Coolidge soon withdrew the nomination. McCamant would remain active in the Oregon legal community until his death at the age of 77 on Dec. 17, 1944. When he died, The Oregonian eulogized him as a champion of the Constitution of the United States and a lifelong advocate of the forthright Americanism of the founders. Tymchuk is the executive director of the Oregon Historical Society. Philadelphia Police investigate in the 25th District a Triple Shooting Homicide Wednesday, May 27, 2020 District Officers responded to 2800 N. 5th St. for a report of a "Person with a Gun, Male shot". Upon arrival, Officers located the Decedent later identified as 28 year old Angel Concepcion from the 2800 block of N. 8th St. lying on the highway suffering from a single gunshot wound to his back left shoulder. Police transported the victim to Temple University Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced at 10:33 P.M. Two other male victims were hospital walk-in that were treated and released. Read more As the term defund the police gains momentum throughout the country, detractors of the concept of reducing police budgets in favor of more social services raise concerns about the implication of smaller police forces for public safety. But the Philadelphia polices current track record on gun violence -- the most profound public safety crisis in Philadelphia -- suggests that the resources we pour into safety are having little impact on outcomes -- leading to a bigger question about the priorities of the citys police department. Stuck in the middle of both of the citys gun violence crisis and the policing crisis are Philadelphias black residents. Black Philadelphians are more likely to be stopped by police when they are walking down the street or driving their car, but also more likely to be the victims of gun violence and live in neighborhoods with higher crime rates as a result of decades of segregation and disinvestment. If police were having an impact on public safety, black communities should have benefited. But that is just not the case -- and whats left is over-policing. The lost month During April, the Philadelphia Police Department operated under special instructions for COVID-19 -- delaying arrests for non-violent offenses such as drug possession and sale. The order started mid-March and was lifted on May 1st. Between this policy and overall reduction in crime that followed the stay-at-home order, April 2020 was probably one of the least busy months for police in Philadelphias history. The overall number of crime incidents in April was a quarter less than it was in February -- the last full month without COVID-19. In fact, April was the month with the fewest crime incidents in Philadelphia at least since 2006. The most dramatic decline was in arrests: the police made only 875 arrests. Thats less than half of the arrests in March and a third of any other month since 2014. Fewer crimes, fewer stops, fewer arrests, no trials to testify in because courts were closed, no large public events for police to provide security: What did police do all of April? And how did they rack up more than $3.7 million in overtime, according to police figures? We know what they didnt do: prevented and solved shootings and homicides. According to data that the Philadelphia Police Department provided the editorial board, in 2020 through May 27th, an arrest followed only 20% non-fatal shooting incidents and 35% of homicides. Only nine of the 29 homicides and 20 of the 115 non-fatal shootings in April were cleared. A Washington Post investigation into homicide clearance rates found that most arrests are made 10 days following the incidents, with likelihood of solving it going down with every passing day. Well into June, it is likely that many of the homicides and non-fatal shootings will go unsolved forever. If a well-resourced, less burdened police department was able to prevent gun violence and solve shootings, Philadelphia could have proven that in April -- it didnt. Wrong priorities The issue of clearance rates came up in the police departments budget hearing last week. Commissioner Danielle Outlaw attributed the low clearance rate to the reluctance of community members to provide information to the police and testify. Police also said that the workload for homicides detective in Philadelphia is above the national average. READ MORE: You are more likely to win a coin toss than be caught for murder in Philadelphia | Editorial When the police department has the capacity to conduct tens of thousands of stops that dont yield arrest every month -- including April -- but homicide detectives are overworked, something profound in our approach to public safety has gotten lost. It is not only that these upside down priorities dont promote public safety, they potentially damage it. There is ample research that shows that police interactions that are perceived as unfair reduce police legitimacy. A survey of Philadelphia teens found that among the top reasons they wouldnt call the police was a negative personal experience. Fewer resources, but also reallocated Black Philadelphians are the ones who are most impacted by gun violence, least likely to see justice -- and most at risk to end up entangled in the criminal justice system for minor infractions. To promote public safety, Philadelphia must change both sides of the equation. That means diverting resources away from the unjust practices that reduce police legitimacy and toward solving serious crimes -- and toward community based violence prevention programs. Mariana Rivera worked an overnight shift caring for critical patients in the hospital, slept a few hours and then drove from San Jose to San Francisco with two co-workers-turned-friends. For months, the 33-year-old nurse has been on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus caring for patients on ventilators, dealing with a shortage of personal protective equipment, serving as the eyes and ears for family members forbidden from being with their dying relatives. But on Thursday night, Rivera and hundreds of other nurses from around the Bay Area rallied against what many described as a different pandemic: racism. Rivera jumped in for a photo with her fellow nurses, squatting with a fist raised. San Francisco City Hall glowed blue, red and white behind them as dusk fell. We save your lives when you cant breathe, her sign read. But why do you make it so we cant breathe? The Nurses for Racial Justice rally started at 7:45 p.m. timed for nurses getting off a 12-hour shift at CPMC Van Ness Campus. People in passing cars honked, raised fists and recorded video as the group marched along Van Ness Avenue to City Hall. The crowd cheered as a neighbor clanged together a metal spoon and pot while watching from an apartment high above the street. Earlier in the day, a group marched to San Francisco police headquarters on Third Street for a separate protest demanding police reform. Skateboarders gathered at Justin Herman Plaza for a protest dubbed "Bomb Hills 4 Black Lives." Others held a sit-in at Alameda police station. The nurses carried signs and chanted familiar slogans: Black lives matter, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. But the nurses focused on their own profession too: Racism is a pandemic, one sign said. Nurses say: Black lives matter, read another. What color am I when I risk my life to save yours? one sign said. Tatjana Nereu, 29, of San Francisco said she has seen people of color be treated differently in hospitals. For me, coming out with a bunch of nurses means a lot because its not just about reforming the police... its also reforming healthcare, Nereu said. Were not any better, we have change that needs to be done in health care. When the group reached City Hall, they sat in the grass while a nurse with a megaphone reminded the group that racism is a public health crisis and nurses must shine a light on racial health disparities existing within health care systems. Now Playing: Nurses for Racial Justice lie down for nine minutes in front of San Franciscos City Hall on Thursday, June 11. Video: San Francisco Chronicle We must demand equality in health care, the speaker said. Nurses should be frontline workers in the fight for racial justice. The nurse started a timer for eight minutes and 46 seconds the amount of time a former Minneapolis police officer knelt on George Floyds neck, killing him. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The crowd hushed. They stretched out on their backs, toes pointing up to the fading blue sky, hands resting on their stomachs. Others knelt with fists raised. Flags flapped in the chilly wind, traffic honked from blocks away and cameras clicked, but mostly, it was quiet. In the silence, Rivera said her mind raced through many thoughts about struggles black men like Floyd face every day. Thats a really long time to have to struggle or to plead for your life and then still lose it in the end, she said. The nurse checks in with friends and family about their mental health as they deal with the weight of two pandemics. Anxiety and paranoia are rising, she said. Racial injustice has always been an issue, its just not always at the forefront, she said. So now for it to come to the forefront in addition to the coronavirus, it really does a number on you psychologically. Still, she said she cant let it affect her work COVID-19 patients await. Anna Bauman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: anna.bauman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @abauman2 Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party again of trying to topple his government, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said a complaint has been filed with state's Special Operation Group for investigation into the matter. Gehlot, however, refused to disclose names of those behind the toppling bids allegedly involving transfer of money for horsetrading. "A complaint has been lodged with the SOG so that investigation about those who are involved in this organised crime of money transfer could be conducted," Gehot said at a press conference. The conference was held at a hotel at a hotel on Delhi highway and near a resort, where the Congress and other MLAs supporting the state government are staying. He said what happened in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh is known to all, and now it is being tried here in Rajasthan. "If the BJP leaders are making calls to the Congress and independent MLAs, what should we call this?" he asked. Asked about Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot's statement that he received no complaint regarding horse trading, Gehlot asserted that he is the chief minister and if something comes to his notice, it must have come from a source. "How can we disclose this?" he asked. The complaint to the SOG was filed by the Congress Chief Whip Mahesh Joshi who on Wednesday had filed a similar complaint to Anti-Corruption Bureau, alleging that that some political and other persons are trying to influence the voting for Rajya Sabha elections and destabilise the state government by luring the Congress MLAs and others lawmakers supporting the state government. The chief minister said amid the coronavirus crisis, the BJP's central leadership was doing sabotage. "They toppled the government in Madhya Pradesh and now hatching conspiracy in Rajasthan. They have been exposed among the public," he said. Gehlot said that two persons -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah -- were taking all decisions which is not a good for democracy. He said democracy is being murdered in the country as seen by the government putting all its force to topple the government in Madhya Pradesh. Gehlot said that the Rajya Sabha elections were deliberately postponed because 'the BJP could not manage to complete its horse trading'. He said Prime Minister Modi had stated about 'Congress-free India' but the Congress is in the DNA of the country. "The Congress is in the DNA of the country, it has a long history of great sacrifices but do not be surprised if the Modi government and their party ever gets destroyed because the public has seen their acts," he said. The chief minister said amid the corona pandemic, the predominant issue is saving lives and how this can be done when all religions, political parties are not united. "Why does this thought not come to the mind of Prime Minister Modi and (Home Minister) Amit Shah?" he asked. He said Congress president Sonia Gandhi had stated that the party is with the government in fight against corona. Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said the election is for three seats and four candidates are in fray. "Congress has a comfortable mandate to win two seats, besides having independent MLAs, supporting the state government for the last one and half years. "Both of our candidates will win and there is no doubt on this," he said, adding those who are trying to create confusion are 'just indulging in time pass'. Randeep Surjewala, All India Congress Committee spokesperson and observer for the Rajya Sabha elections in Rajasthan, said the BJP is trying to steal the people's mandate. He asked why did the BJP field a second candidate when it does not have the number of legislators to elect its second candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections/ It shows the BJP's intention to steal public mandate, he said asserting that their conspiracy would be defeated. He said the party MLAs are united and will not be tempted. Asked is the party MLAs would be kept together at one place till the elections, he said, "If thieves come to your house to commit theft, you have to safeguard your house. If thieves are coming to steal democracy, it is our responsibility and duty to protect democracy." The MLAs have been staying at Shiv Vilas resort, Kuksas at Delhi highway since Thursday. Chief Minister Gehlot too stayed at the resort on Thursday night. AICC general secretary Avinash Pande and one of the party candidates for Rajya Sabha polls, K C Venugopal, too were also present in the press conference at hotel JW Marriott, Kukas. Elections for three Rajya Sabha seats will be held on July 19 in Jaipur for which the Congress has nominated Venugopal and Neeraj Dangi while the BJP has fielded Rajendra Gehlot and Onkar Singh Lakhawat. In the assembly of 200, the Congress has 107 MLAs and has the support of independent MLAs and legislators of other parties like Rashtriya Lok Dal, Communist Party of India-Marxist and Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP). Ruling Congress has enough majority to win two seats and the opposition BJP, which has 72 MLAs and support of 3 Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MLAS, has the numbers to comfortably win one seat. A sounding Name, is a tempting low price, a clever Marketing: for the third Time trying to Escobar Inc. to draw bona fide purchasers of the money out of your pocket. With Golden Smartphones, which you can order, but the be delivered never. First, the company tried to do it from Colombia with two foldable Smartphone models. Now you can order the Escobar Gold 11 Pro 256GB effectively a gold-plated iPhone 11 Pro. But beware: if you order this, you risk to lose his money. neither the current model nor the predecessors, one finds evidence that ever a buyer has received the ordered Smartphone. Only some Youtuber some have received unsolicited a Review Sample, including Marques Brownlee, with 11.1 million subscribers, best-known Tech-specialist from the United States. All strongly advise you buying from and talk to the part of the "Scam" that is fraud, or at least rip-off. How does the Escobar rip-off? First of all go to Marketing. To alone, that as a figurehead and namesake Roberto Escobar (73) operates. He is the brother of Pablo Escobar, the 1993 deceased drug kingpin from Colombia. And also Roberto has a past in the Medellin cartel as the leading head, which was responsible for the finances. The marketing of the phones is also spectacular. All are golden, in the promotional videos of half-naked women play the main role and Escobar Inc. not stingy with spectacular announcements. The current Smartphone is supposedly the end for the Apple, the website RIPApple.com was also reserved at the same times and in the Shop for Gold 11 Pro redirected. Fittingly, Roberto has sued Escobar allegedly Apple to 2.6 billion dollars, because he had been because of an iPhone error, for its mortal enemies trackable and a lot of money in security measures had to invest. The action is listed together with other neatly on the website. Even with a lawsuit from Samsung against the company and against a former Manager Escobar advertising. This fits in with a number of popular Youtubers have received the new, but the old Phones will be sent to test you. Probably real Gold, but a much lower price. The verdict was and is devastating. The first two phones each with gold foil glued foldable Smartphones by Royole, and Samsung. Evidence that customers have received the devices, you will not find in relevant forums. Just the simple question of whether someone is ever an Escobar-to get Phone delivered. the latest offer is too good to be true. A iPhone 11 Pro with 256 GB of memory in 24-carat Gold. Actually, the gold plating seems this Time to be real but not so much. However, the normal iPhone costs to Apple and it is about 1300 francs. How can a price of 499 Swiss francs, with the gold plating possible? Escobar Inc. writes, it is recycled Apple be phones. But used iPhones 11 Pro are on the market at least twice as expensive. So here is discouraged, once again, strongly before placing an order. A final proof of fraud there, but many of the notes. In addition to the unlikely low price, also the payment methods. So you have to pay to the order of the amount by Bank Transfer, crypto-currency or Western Union Transfer. All methods to block the money or transfer the money back, when in fact, no product will be delivered. The signs of a crooked Tour are abundantly clear. This is probably the reason why nowhere Affected report. Anyone who has transferred money and no Escobar-Phone gets delivered, will be ashamed, and be silent. Updated Date: 12 June 2020, 16:48 Moscow Not Party to MH17 Crash Proceedings, Russian Foreign Ministry Says Sputnik News 15:47 GMT 11.06.2020 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow is not a party to the criminal process in the case of the MH17 flight crash, which takes place in the Netherlands, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, commenting on this week's hearings on the case. "I want to remind you our principled position: Russia is not a party to the criminal proceedings conducted by the District Court of The Hague. The charges were brought against three citizens of Russia Igor Girkin, Sergey Dubinsky and Oleg Pulatov, so we watch his progress in terms of respect for their legal rights", Zakharova said at a briefing in response to a request to comment on the hearings. The statement by the Dutch investigation that Russia is trying to 'manipulate' evidence in the case is a lie, she said. "Dutch prosecutor Thiis Berger recently stated that the model of missile that had hit the MH17 had been allegedly determined. This conclusion was made on the basis of distant similarity of the I-beam, the so-called butterfly wings, only two of the 370 fragments found, although the materials of the Dutch technical investigation clearly indicate that there should be about a quarter of the total, or about 100 such fragments", Zakharova said. The spokeswoman emphasized that not a single I-shaped hole was found in the airplane's hull, and the fragments themselves were discovered "under dubious circumstances." "Finally, two years later, the prosecution recalled the materials submitted by Russia. They prove the Ukrainian origin of the missile, which, according to the investigating group itself, hit the MH17 flight. Nevertheless, the prosecutors claim they do it without evidence that the Russian data 'were manipulated and rigged.' It's a lie. Another lie. After all, they were invited to visit Russia, to see the authenticity of the logbooks with their own eyes, but the investigators somehow cooled off right away. They neither expressed their desire to come, nor sent any additional requests", Zakharova said. A new block of MH17 hearings began on 8 June. The trial itself began on 9 March. Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down on 17 July 2014, in eastern Ukraine on its way to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam. All 298 people aboard, mostly Dutch citizens, died. The accident was investigated by Dutch prosecutors and the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT). The four suspects in the case are Russian nationals Igor Girkin, Sergey Dubinsky and Oleg Pulatov, and Ukrainian national Leonid Kharchenko. Russia, which conducted its own investigation after being denied access to the JIT's probe, said it had given the Dutch team evidence, such as radar data, proving the plane was shot down by a Ukrainian Buk missile. Dutch prosecutor Ward Ferdinandusse said the Russian evidence had been taken into account during the investigation. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Washington, June 12 : A metal fence built this month around the White House was removed, but many of the anti-racism posters and art that adorned the "wall" will become museum pieces and kept for possible exhibitions on protests. At the stroke of midnight on Wednesday, the Secret Service opened two panels and announced that Lafayette Square surrounding the White House was now "open" to the public, and on Thursday morning agents had removed most of the metal fence, reports Efe news. The barricades were erected more than a week ago after security forces dispersed protesters from the square with tear gas so that the President Donald Trump could walk from the White House to the nearby church and pose for a picture with a Bible in his hand. Many protesters were angered by the decision to widen both the perimeter around the White House and the lack of access to Lafayette Park, but they soon turned the over two-metre-high fence into a canvas on which they have hung their anti-racism posters and art. The Smithsonian Institution, which has nine museums in the capital, took note of this makeshift mural and on Thursday announced that three of its galleries have formed "a coalition to document, collect and preserve the expressions of protest and hope from Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C.". "It is critical that we collect so this moment does not get lost," the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) curator Aaron Bryant told The New York Times. Bryant and eight other commissioners visited the surroundings of the White House on Wednesday to identify the items they wanted to preserve, write down the names of artists and photographers and speak to several of the protesters who were still wandering around the area despite the fact that the protests have decreased in the last days. "We talk to people so we don't forget their stories. History is happening right before us," said Bryant. When the commissioners arrived, most of the posters were no longer on the metal fence of Lafayette Square. Due to rumors that the gates would be torn down, a group of volunteers moved them to an area next to the park, sticking them on a wall that is part of a construction zone. The museums involved in the project are the NMAAHC, the National Museum of American History, and the Anacostia Community Museum. Anacostia is a predominantly African-American neighbourhood in southern Washington. "At this stage, the Smithsonian cannot confirm which objects will become a part of its official collection," the institution said in a statement. The goal of the project, the statement added, is to "recognize that the tragic killing of George Floyd has spurred a transformative time in US history" and that "the world, in the present and future, can understand the role that race has played in our complicated 400-year history" since the beginning of slavery. The museums have also asked those who participated in the demonstrations to keep those objects that may be of interest to the museum, and to send them photographs to see if they can fit into the curators' project. At least 11 people were injured in Uttar Pradeshs Azamgarh district after an altercation over objectionable comments on some girls, police said on Friday. The incident happened in Maharajganj town in the district. The dozen men who attacked them have been arrested, the police said. Superintendent of Police (SP), Azamgarh, Triveni Singh said that according to the complainants, Pervez and Faizan along with his accomplices used to sit at a tubewell on the outskirts of their village in Maharajganj and used to pass insulting and taunting comments on the girls and women of Dalit Basti. On Wednesday evening, they passed comment on the two girls from the Dalit Basti. When the people of Dalit basti objected to it, Pervej and Faizan along with his over one dozen accomplices attacked them and indulged into stone pelting in which 11 members of Dalit Basti suffered injuries, Singh said. Police said that after the incident, locals filed a complaint against Parvej, Faizan and other unidentified people. A senior officer said that a case has been registered against nine people and 10 unidentified under Section 147 (rioting), Section 149 (Unlawful assembly), Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 504 (intentional insult), Section 506 (criminal intimidation), Section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), Section 188 (Disobedience to order promulgated by public servant), Section 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), Section 271 (disobedience to rule promulgated by government) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocties) act has also been imposed. The SP said that 12 people have so far been arrested and seven others are on the run. He said that four teams have been formed to ensure their arrest. Those injured have been admitted to the hospital. SP said that there is a possibility that Gangster Act and NSA can also be invoked. Representative image For doctors and healthcare workers in India's financial capital Mumbai who are grappling with surging coronavirus infections, the onset of the annual monsoon poses a serious threat - a new wave of patients with vector-borne diseases. Already stretched by a shortage of medics and critical care beds, the situation in Mumbai might turn uglier, health experts warn, as cases of malaria, dengue, leptospirosis and encephalitis are expected to soar in coming months. "Mumbai will be dealing with a crisis in the monsoon," said Kamakshi Bhate, professor emeritus of community medicine at the state-run King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital in Mumbai, noting there is typically a surge in hospital bed occupancy due to such diseases during India's annual June-September monsoon season. Water-logged streets are a common sight every monsoon across India. But in Mumbai, its most populous city, monsoons can often bring life to a standstill with flooding and water-logging, and result in a surge of diseases. In a report, local NGO Praja Foundation said official data from only government-run hospitals showed Mumbai recorded about 32,000 malaria and dengue cases in 2018, but the NGO said its own household survey indicated more than 200,000 cases of just those two diseases in the city that year. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show This year the city's hospitals are already overrun. Mumbai has been hit the hardest by COVID-19. About 25 percent of India's 297,535 coronavirus cases and roughly 29 percent of the 8,498 deaths recorded have come from the city and its surrounding suburbs. Suresh Kakani, an additional commissioner at Mumbai's civic authority, said it was asking clinics and dispensaries, some of which had shut during a two-month long nationwide lockdown, to re-open. Drains are being cleaned and stored water in houses were being inspected for larvae, Kakani said, adding that while major hospitals were on treating COVID patients, smaller nursing homes would be available to handle other cases. But, with local hospitals already strained by significant staff shortages, heath experts fear the spread of diseases in Mumbai's slums could compound issues for a healthcare network already reeling from COVID-19 cases. "We have a number of slums in low-lying areas and they are prone to flooding and disease," said Brinelle D'Souza, a health activist with Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, a local non-governmental organization. D'Souza said that while many isolation beds were available for patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms, the city, home to about 20 million people, needed substantially more critical care beds with oxygen supplies and ventilators. Gary Newland, President, Mohammad Ahmad, 1st VP, Kenneth Apicella, 2nd VP, Anthony Calzaretta, Treasurer, and Stephanie Garces Donat, Secretary Receiving the honor of being president of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association at the time of change in the field of law is a challenge for which I am prepared. I look forward to working with the NWSBA members to help our community confront the challenges ahead. Newland stated. Gary is a Founder and Partner of Newland & Newland, LLP along with his brother, Attorney Stephen S. Newland. The firm has offices in Arlington Heights, Libertyville, Chicago, Itasca, and Crystal Lake. He is an accomplished trial attorney with experience in the following practice areas: Workers Compensation, Personal Injury, Product Liability, Medical Malpractice, and Wrongful Death. He has successfully tried and settled cases against some of the worlds largest corporations and insurance companies. After receiving his Bachelors degree from Loyola University, Gary earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Gary has been a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, Illinois Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Chicago Bar Association, and the Northwest Suburban Bar Association. He was also the youngest person ever elected to the High School District 214 School Board. He has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career, including Elite Lawyer, Super Lawyers, and Avvos 10.0 Top Attorney Rating. During this unprecedented time in our country, law firms are essential businesses and that is why Newland & Newland, LLP never closed during the COVID-19 crisis. Under the new normal, they are evolving and mastering technologies to move society forward under the rule of law. Gary is committed to embracing innovation and change by educating and informing the NWSBA members to manage the shifting of the court process under what appears to be almost daily rule changes. Receiving the honor of being president of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association at the time of change in the field of law is a challenge for which I am prepared. I look forward to working with the NWSBA members to help our community confront the challenges ahead. We will overcome the current crises and although it will not be easy and the sacrifices may be great, we can and will get through this together, Newland stated. About Newland & Newland, LLP Newland & Newland, LLP was founded nearly 30 years ago by two brothers with the goal of serving the residents of Northern Illinois in all legal matters. Attorney Gary A. Newland and Attorney Stephen S. Newland have earned a reputation as honest, hardworking legal advocates for clients throughout the region. They have secured millions of dollars in favorable verdicts and settlements for their clients in the following practice areas: car accidents, premises liability accidents, defective products, and accidents involving public transportation, nursing home negligence or abuse, sexual abuse and assault, workers compensation, and medical malpractice. To learn more about Newland & Newland, LLP, visit https://www.newlandlaw.com/ or call 847-797-8000 to schedule a free consultation. TORONTO, June 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On June 11, 2020 Executive Director of Food For The Poor Canada (FFPC) Samantha Mahfood was named the recipient of the Harry Jerome Humanitarian Award for her work with FFPC over the last 12 years. The 38th Annual Harry Jerome Award winners were announced at a media launch held by the Black Business and Professionals Association (BBPA). The award was particularly poignant for Ms. Mahfood who grew up in Jamaica where she was confronted daily with poverty. She left and settled in Canada in part because she felt she could not change the inequity in Jamaica. When her uncle Ferdinand Mahfood started Food For The Poor (FFP), Samantha was 16 and doubted his ability as one man to change things; what she didnt consider is while one individual cannot change the world, by engaging others to work towards a common goal, so much is possible. Today FFP feeds 800,000 people daily across the Caribbean and Latin America, and has built close to 100,000 homes in the region. In reflecting on this award, Samantha said: I am honoured to be recognized by the BBPA with the Harry Jerome Award for the humanitarian work Food For The Poor Canada has allowed me to be a part of. Our work over the last 12 years has been supported heavily by the Caribbean diaspora in Canada to help raise people of African descent out of poverty in the Caribbean. In Jamaica we have focused on education; Canadians have partnered with us to build 32 schools. In Haiti we focused on housing and building villages with sustainability as part of the work. Today we are able to make a difference, address inequity and improve lives by partnering with philanthropic Canadians, many of African descent. Through my work with FFPC I have met incredible people, leaders in the Black community in Toronto as well as in the Caribbean. I was so pleased to receive my award, along with the other awardees on the night that Trevor Massey received his Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBPA. Trevors work with the organization, Lifelong Leadership Institute, has advanced leadership skills among Canadian youth of Caribbean and Black heritage. I am blessed to count many of the BBPA board, advisory board and founders as friends. The work that the BBPA does is especially important today. Black community leaders are making change in Toronto and across the globe for Black youth, Black professionals and their families, and I thank them for their important work. There is an opportunity for us to ask how we can support Black lives here and around the world, especially now with the multiple barriers of COVID-19, racism and job loss. FFPC is focusing on food aid in the Caribbean to support those who have been forced into immediate poverty. As the work of Food For The Poor Canada and the Black Business and Professionals Association show, one person cannot change the world, but working together, incredible things can happen. For The Poor Canada Food For The Poor Canada (FFPC) empowers communities in the Caribbean and Latin America through five areas of programming: food, housing, education, health and livelihood. FFPC responds to urgent needs while building community and social infrastructure. FFPC utilizes the pre-existing infrastructure of local affiliated organizations to better sustain and grow the communities they serve and responds effectively to emergencies and natural disasters when they occur. Over the last 12 years, FFPC and its Canadian donors have built 124 homes and 32 schools, as well as shipped and distributed $32 million worth of food, educational and medical supplies. FFPC is part of the Food For The Poor family of charities; the founding organization in the USA is Food For The Poor, an interdenominational Christian organization that works in 18 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America. For interviews or more information, contact: Samantha Mahfood Executive Director (416) 921-4008 Samantham@foodforthepoor.ca www.foodforthepoor.ca A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/641c9fc6-2872-40cf-bb55-247b858df554 Oklahoma City: Black community and political leaders called on President Donald Trump to change the date for a rally kicking off his return to public campaigning, saying that launching on the day that marks the end of slavery in America is a "slap in the face". Juneteenth marks the day Texas slaves learnt of their emancipation by the US federal government, more than five months after the end of slavery became effective on January 1, 1863, as the Civil War raged. The date is a state holiday in Texas and Oklahoma, among others. Joshua Benton leads protesters as they march down Main Street during a rally in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Credit:AP From Senator Kamala Harris of California to Tulsa civic officials, black leaders said it was offensive for Trump to pick June 19 and Tulsa, an Oklahoma city that in 1921 was the site of a fiery and orchestrated white-on-black massacre, for his rally comeback. "This isn't just a wink to white supremacists he's throwing them a welcome home party," Harris, a leading contender to be Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's running mate, tweeted of Trump's rally plans. Hundreds of people attended an unauthorised protest on Friday night despite police warning those who attended would be at risk of being fined or arrested. The protest was scheduled to begin at Town Hall but was relocated to Hyde Park at the last minute, with event organisers citing an overwhelming police presence as the reason. Protesters started chanting "Black Lives Matter" in Hyde Park, holding up photos of Indigenous people who had died in custody. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer The event was a protest against black deaths in custody, showing solidarity with Long Bay prisoners and had been organised by the same coalition of activists who organised last Saturday's protest. NSW Police Operation Commander Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing said it had been disappointing to see about 300 people disobey earlier warnings about not attending the protest. NEW DELHI: The Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education (APBIE) declared the Manabadi Inter results 2020 for first and second-year students at 4 pm on Friday (June 12). The results were declared on the official website - bieap.gov.in as well as on the other websites like manabadi, schools9 and examresults.net. The results were declared by Andhra Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh. Nearly 8 to 10 lakh students appear for AP Inter 1st and 2nd-year examinations every year. The results are declared by the board usually in the month of April. This year, however, the board results were delayed due to the coronavirus lockdown. Students obtaining 91-100 marks will be given A1 grade, 81-90 marks A2 grade, 71-80 marks B1 grade, 61-70 marks B2 grade, 51-60 marks C1 grade, 41-50 C2 marks grade and 35-40 marks D grade. AP Inter 1st, 2nd Year Results 2020 Live Updates - -A total of 2.76 lakh (2,76,389) students cleared the intermediate second-year examination successfully out of 4.35 lakh appeared. -A total of 3,00,560 students have cleared the intermediate first-year examination successfully. The pass percentage of first-year is 59 per cent. -A total of 59 per cent students cleared the first year exam successfully, while the pass percentage at second-year touched 63 per cent -Andhra Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh is now addressing the media, pass percentage, merit list is being announced. - The official website of APBIE is still unresponsive. -In order to get the marks recounted, the students have to first login to the official website apbie.apcfss.in. The fee once paid cannot re-funded. -Even though the Board of Intermediate Education, Andhra Pradesh, has said that all efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy in marks, the officials have still made provisions for recounting of marks. -Due to huge traffic, the official website of APBIE has crashed as the results are not yet displayed at the moment. Students are advised to have patience and check results and score after a few minutes at these official websites also examresults.net, manabadi.co.in. -Andhra Education Minister A Suresh declares the result for intermediate exam. The results will be available shortly at the website- bieap.gov.in, apart from it, partner websites, results.cgg.gov.in,, manabadi.co.in. -Andhra Education Minister A Suresh will announce the result for the intermediate exam at 4 pm today. -Nearly 60 per cent students passed the intermediate 1st-year exam last year, while in the second year, the pass percentage was 72 per cent -The first-year students can check their results by sending a text message at 5626 by typing - APGEN1Registration Number and result will be sent to them. -Those who have appeared for vocational exams can also check their result via SMS by typing APVOC1Registartion Number and sending it to 56263 -Students can refer to these websites for checking their results - examresults.net, goresults.net, manabadi.com, manabadi.co.in, exametc.com, educationandhra.com, bieap.gov.in, and results.cgg.gov.in. -The APBIE has declared the intermediate examination results at 12:30 pm, however, the students can check it online by 4 pm. -Results will be declared at bieap.gov.in, manabadi.co.in -Results to be declared shortly around 4 PM Here's how you can check your results: * Log on to BIEAP official website i.e. bie.ap.gov.in. * Find and click on the link for AP Inter Results 2020 * Enter your exam roll number and other details in the space provided. * Varify your details before submitting it. * Your AP Intermediate Result 2020 scorecard will be displayed on the screen * Download your result in PDF format for future reference. This year the results will be declared only through the online mode due to coronavirus outbreak. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the latest "absurd charge" brought against jailed Iranian journalist and human rights advocate Narges Mohammadi, who has been imprisoned since 2015. The Paris-based media-freedom watchdog on June 12 urged the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, Javaid Rehman, to "intervene quickly and do everything possible to obtain the release of Iran's longest-held woman journalist." Mohammadi, who was also the spokeswoman of the Center for Human Rights Defenders in Iran, is serving a 10-year prison sentence after being found guilty of anti-government propaganda and membership of a banned group opposed to the death penalty, among other charges. In a recent open letter to the Iranian judicial authorities, her brother revealed that she was now accused of "dancing in prison during the days of mourning" commemorating the seventh-century killing of Imam Hussein, a revered figure in Shi'ite Islam. Mehdi Mohammadi, now a refugee in Norway, also wrote that his sister had serious health problems but "was not allowed out of prison to see a doctor, who went to her cell." "This persecution of Narges Mohammadi is evidence of judicial discrimination at the behest of the Intelligence Ministry and senior justice system officials," said Reza Moini, the head of RSF's Iran-Afghanistan desk. Mohammadi, 47, has been awarded several prestigious prizes, including the American Physical Society's Andrei Sakharov Prize in 2018 for outstanding leadership in upholding human rights. Iran is ranked 173rd out of 180 countries and territories in RSF's 2020 World Press Freedom Index. The saddest and most enduring whistle in the history of the United States was pushed through the lips of a 14-year-old boy from up North who was unschooled in the ways down South and didnt know how deadly it could be. Years after those lips had been broken and silenced, the whistle from the Delta would be heard on dark, lonely roads and in the nightmares of African American children and adults. The whistle would be a sibilant call to a slowly mobilizing young movement, and it would be heard in Montgomery, Birmingham, Selma and across the nation. Rosa Parks would hear it and remain seated on a bus. In Louisville, a 13-year-old who would change his name to Muhammad Ali, shocked after seeing a picture of the boys corpse, derailed a diesel engine from the railroad tracks. On Aug. 24, 1955, a Chicago teenager named Emmett Till visiting relatives in Money, Miss., went into Bryants Grocery and Meat and may have whistled at Carolyn Bryant, who also claimed he grabbed her around the waist and used profanity. On the night of Aug. 28, her husband, Roy Bryant, and brother-in-law, J.W. Milam, kidnapped, beat and tortured Till for hours before shooting him and dumping his body in the Tallahatchie River with a 75-pound cotton gin tied around his neck with barbed wire. Bryant and Milam were acquitted but later confessed to the murder in interviews for which they were paid. A few years ago, Carolyn Bryant confessed to lying about Till grabbing her. The boys lynching was a transformative event in what would become the civil rights movement, one to which the killing of George Floyd and the protests its inspired has been compared. Its the visuals of both deaths that heightened their horror, captured the barbaric injustice and magnified their impact on the country. For Floyd, it was watching his death over 8 minutes and 46 seconds. For Till, it was The Photo. Emmett Tills mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, wanted the world to see what they had done to her son, so she opened the casket for mourners and for Jet magazine to photograph. The famously gruesome picture in the black news weekly showed what was a 14-year-old boy in a casket, but he looked like a monster, so horribly had he been beaten. It is a picture seared into the minds of African Americans. Told to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, Rosa Parks said she thought of Emmett and remained seated. But it is the Emmett Till generation of African Americans, his peers who became the vanguard of the civil rights movement, who were traumatized by his murder. Ali said, I realized that this could just as easily been a story about me or my brother. In Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement, civil rights leader and U.S. Rep. John Lewis wrote that Tills murder left him shaken to the core. In 2011, on the 50th anniversary of the integrated bus rides that challenged segregated bus terminals, Freedom Riders gathered in Money, Miss., to pay homage to Till. One of them, Joyce Ladner, said, Nothing frightened me more and others of my generation than when Emmett Till was killed. I was 12 years old at the time and remember seeing the picture of his bloated body in Jet magazine. Everyone I knew in SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) was galvanized by it. Were the Emmett Till Generation. Before Till, racial violence against African Americans in the South was covered exclusively by the black press. The trial of Bryant and Milam was the first such racial crime to attract the national white press. The impact of Emmett Tills death on the civil rights movement and his generation is undeniable, which makes it even more remarkable to say it doesnt come close to the immediate impact of George Floyds death. The key word is immediate. After the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott, the civil rights movement lost some energy before building momentum through the lunch counter sit-ins in 1960, the Freedom Rides in 1961, the Birmingham Campaign in 1963, Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1964 and the Selma Campaign in 1965, leading to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. We dont know how long this George Floyd movement will last or what will be the full range of its impact. But never in our history have protests arisen so quickly, been sustained for this long, and so quickly shifted the mindset and culture of the nation and even the world. Emmett Tills whistle was a haunting, clarion call to one generation. George Floyds last breaths are inspiring a new generation. Cary.Clack@express-news.net PLANO, Texas and BOSTON, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Oceans Healthcare and the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry have signed an agreement that will give patients of the behavioral health network access to some of the world's most highly qualified psychiatrists. As the coronavirus pandemic continues and the nation undertakes evolving isolation practices, behavioral health providers are called to think creatively about how individuals continue to seek and receive treatment. "Seeking mental health care, and ensuring those who are already in treatment continue, is critical during times of uncertainty," said Stuart Archer, CEO of Oceans Healthcare. "Our organization is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with clinical professionals of this caliber. We're fortunate to have passionate behavioral health leaders at our facilities but they, and our communities, need more support. We're excited at the chance to further expand our efforts to bring life-saving mental health treatment to individuals most in need." The agreement provides Oceans' patients, clinicians and hospital leaders direct access to psychiatrists trained at Mass General and Harvard Medical School via Mass General's TeleHealth phone and video conferencing service. This allows Oceans' teams to broaden access to much-needed behavioral health treatment for patients who live in underserved rural communities that lack this type of care. "Everyone deserves access to high-quality behavioral health treatment, regardless of where they live," said Dr. David Rubin, Executive Director, Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy. "This collaboration will help our dedicated physicians provide critical support and recovery to so many underserved individuals in need, well beyond the physical walls of our academic medical center." Oceans' network includes 29 treatment locations across the Southeast, where shortages of mental health professionals can be particularly acute. Between 79% to 93% of counties in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas face a shortage of mental health professionals. Because Oceans Healthcare provides specialized services for adolescents and older adults, telehealth support addresses access issues for those populations in rural areas and for those who could benefit from nontraditional counseling. "Ocean's Healthcare strives to provide patients with the highest quality care by working with the best local psychiatrists," Archer said. "To provide expert consultation and anticipate some of the future mental health needs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, adding the services of Massachusetts General Hospital will enhance our overall ability to provide the best care possible in the communities we serve. For nearly three decades Massachusetts has been ranked in the top three psychiatry programs in the country and we are honored to be able to partner with them to provide this high-quality care to our patients." At Massachusetts General Hospital, The Department of Psychiatry is ranked No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report. Massachusetts General Hospital Visiting, a program overseen by the MGH Psychiatry Academy, is aimed at helping underserved and understaffed health care facilities around the country meet the mental health care needs of their patients. Massachusetts General Hospital Visiting is a one-of-a-kind program that matches faculty and fellows from Mass General with individual health care facilities to provide clinical support, interim leadership assistance and consultation on clinical and financial matters. The goal of the Visiting program is to reduce the risks and disparities in patient outcomes associated with physician shortages, educational opportunities and quality leadership in health care systems. This unique program offers hospitals and health care systems access to experts in the field and can help mitigate physician shortages to meet expanding patient demand. Since Mass General is internationally recognized for its excellence in clinical care, training and research, staff are uniquely suited to address mental health care disparities and implement best practices to eliminate these gaps. As part of the Visiting program, physicians and psychologists trained at Mass General and Harvard Medical School work closely with each health care organization to develop a plan to meet their individual needs and challenges. ABOUT OCEANS HEALTHCARE Oceans Healthcare is a growing behavioral health provider focused on healing and long-term recovery. Founded in 2004, Oceans provides inpatient and outpatient treatment to individuals 18 and older, with a special focus on the unique physical and emotional needs of older adults. Oceans Healthcare's network includes 18 hospitals and 29 treatment locations across the Southeast. The company consistently achieves industry-leading performance metrics on national quality and safety measurements, as determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and The Joint Commission and was recently named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies in America for the fourth consecutive year. For more information, visit www.oceanshealthcare.com. ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The Mass General Research Institute conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the nation with annual research operations of more than $1 billion and comprises more than 9,500 researchers working across more than 30 institutes, centers and departments. In August 2019, Mass General was named #2 in the U.S. News & World Report list of "America's Best Hospitals." Media Contact: Kristy Lucero, Lovell Communications, [email protected] SOURCE Oceans Healthcare Lin Bingliang (front), a member of the Chinese medical expert team, also an epidemiologist from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sun University, speaks at a press conference in Belgrade, Serbia, June 10, 2020. After spending almost three months in Serbia helping fight the COVID-19 epidemic there, the Chinese medical expert team departed from Belgrade airport early Thursday with good wishes from Prime Minister Ana Brnabic. A sendoff for the six-strong team was held on Wednesday evening when they met with Brnabic, who later personally escorted them to the airport. (Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu) BELGRADE, June 11 (Xinhua) -- After spending almost three months in Serbia helping fight the COVID-19 epidemic there, the Chinese medical expert team departed from Belgrade airport early Thursday with good wishes from Prime Minister Ana Brnabic. A sendoff for the six-strong team was held on Wednesday evening when they met with Brnabic, who later personally escorted them to the airport. Brnabic said that the Chinese expert team served in Serbia for 82 days and thanked China and its leadership, as well as the medical team for playing "a key role in Serbia's battle against COVID-19" by transferring their knowledge and experience. The team arrived on March 21, just 15 days after Serbia confirmed the presence of the virus, she recalled. The plane they travelled in also carried much-needed medical supplies including protective gears and ventilators for Serbia. The Chinese experts "came here to transfer their knowledge and their experience, and to invest here their enormous energy and love, touring the country and managing to hold 150 meetings and activities with our healthcare workers in our facilities," said the Serbian head of government. Lin Bingliang, an epidemiologist from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sun University, said that the team worked hard to justify the trust of Serbian people and visited 22 cities and more than 70 institutions. Noting that the number of difficult cases and the death toll in Serbia have been low compared with the global situation, he said he was satisfied with the results. However, he warned of the remaining risks that require prevention and control measures in the future. "Although we are leaving Serbia and returning to our homeland, our hearts will remain with Serbia. We will continue to look after each other and mutually support each other. We wish all the best to Serbia and its people," he said. Chen Bo, Chinese ambassador to Serbia, said that the Chinese medical expert team successfully fulfilled its mission and shared their experience in prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19. "Wherever there was a hotbed, our experts were there - from Subotica to Vranje and from Loznica to Zajecar, across more than 20,000 km. We can say that the medical expert team has become a symbol of solidarity between our people in the battle against COVID-19," she said. For their dedicated work, all members of the team were previously awarded military memorial medals. The COVID-19 epidemic in Serbia started on March 6. The country lifted the state of emergency on May 6 due to a low ratio of infection among tested people. Currently, there are 432 active cases of COVID-19 in Serbia. Some 250 people died of the disease since the epidemic began. I first heard of Juneteenth when my family moved to Tulsa in 1997. Back then, Juneteenth was a time for the former site of Black Wall Street to play stage to what black families love doing most: celebrating life, no matter how much we have had to fight for it. I remember walking around with people who look like me while we watched Tulsas black music legends like Wayman Tisdale, Eldredge Jackson, and Charlie Redd and the Full Flava Kings. And if we were especially lucky, like we were at the citys Juneteenth celebration in 2001, Uncle Charlie from the Gap Band would perform. And at some point, I was bound to hear the black national anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing, bellow forth as a unified pronouncement that we might not be where we ideally wanted to be, but we were happy to have made it as far as we had. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, as you can imagine, I was particularly disappointed to hear that President Donald Trumpwho has been criminalizing black people since his earliest days as a New York real estate developerwould be holding a rally in my hometown this Juneteenth, in the wake of a national uprising against police brutality and systemic racism in policing following the murder of George Floyd. By the time Trump arrives on June 19, black Tulsans especially will still be wrestling with another jarring, more personal anniversary. Lingering in the back of every black Tulsans mind during every Juneteenth is the May 31June 1 anniversary of the Tulsa massacre, which forever transfigured black life in Tulsa. On May 30, 1921, a simple accident between a black shoeshine worker and a white female elevator operator was intentionally misconstrued in a local paper as assault. White Tulsans took this as just cause to set Black Wall Street aflame. Police arrested more than 5,000 black residents. The angry mob killed approximately 300 black people and injured even more. The fires that were lit consumed 1,256 homes, 191 commercial sites, some churches, and even schools, a hospital, and a library. Prior to this massacre, W.E.B. DuBois said of Black Wall Street, I have never seen a colored community so highly organized as that of Tulsa. The colored people of Tulsa have accumulated property, have established stores and business organizations, and have made money in oil. In an instant, it was all gone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now? The average life expectancy in one of former Black Wall Streets ZIP codes is approximately nine years lower than the average life expectancy for the county. From the perspective of positive intent, it is quite possible that Donald Trump and his advance team did not know this history when they announced a rally in Tulsa three weeks after we, as a city, mourned for the 99th time the devastation of the massacre. It has not always been a commonly known piece of history in this country. (In fact, as I have written elsewhere, though I lived in Tulsa growing up, I did not learn fully of the history of the massacre until I was much older.) Advertisement Advertisement Whats more likely is that Trump and his team felt welcomedeven in this momentby our mayor, G.T. Bynum, who has used his platform to consistently diminish the cause of the Black Lives Matter protesters. Just this past Sunday, Bynum appeared on CBS Sunday Morning to explain away the acquittal of a cop who killed an unarmed black man during a traffic stop in Tulsa four years ago. In memory of the Tulsa massacre, CBS did an in-depth special in which the network reflected not just on the massacre but on how police brutality against black people in Tulsa echoes injustice nearly 100 years later. On Sept. 16, 2016, Terence Crutcher, a 40-year-old black Tulsan, whose great-grandmother owned a barbecue joint in Black Wall Street, was stopped in his car by officer Betty Shelby and killed. Shelby was tried but then ultimately acquitted on manslaughter charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On CBS Sunday Morning, New Yorker writer Kelefa Sanneh asked Bynum directly: A lot of people saw what happened to Terence Crutcher and they said, This wouldnt have happened if [Terence Crutcher] was white. Do you think thats true? With all the steely, wrongheaded, history-ignoring confidence he could muster, Bynum replied: No, I dont. And as if ignoring the pain and heartbreak of racisms toll on black people in this country wasnt enough, he used his appearance to tarnish Crutchers name and to signal an implicit support for the all-too-common notion from the war on drugs that black people are somehow the cause of their own ills. Bynum suggested that the drugs found in Crutchers system made him less able to follow directions, stating, that the case was more about the really insidious nature of drug utilization than it is about race, in my opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In making it clear that Tulsas leaders will ignore the citys own historydistant and recentof racial terror, perhaps a signal was sent to Trump as well. On a day when we should be celebrating black liberation in America, my city will welcome a rally for a president who declared that stop and frisk works, implored law enforcement to please dont be too nice, echoed segregationists in threatening violence against protesters, and has continued to say he was right to call for the death penalty of the exonerated Central Park Five. Advertisement Juneteenth has always been a difficult celebration for black people on two dimensions. We celebrate that we are no longer enslaved in this country, while realizing that this country has been morally bankrupt for devaluing and enslaving us in the first place. But in Tulsa on May 31 and June 1, on the way to celebrating freedom on June 19, we also mourn every year a massacre that decimated lives and also decimated an important expression of living abundantly in a country that never wanted us. This year, G.T. Bynum and Donald Trump have chosen to make our communitys bittersweet festivities a bit more painful. They might be made for each other. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. Chuck Lovell listens during a news conference announcing his appointment Monday as the new police chief of Portland, Ore. (Beth Nakamura / Associated Press) Across the nation, political leaders are struggling to strike a balance between righting injustices in ways that might mollify those protesting racism and brutality while at the same time maintaining public safety. Some of the more original experiments in reimagining policing are unfolding in the Pacific Northwest, home to three of the most liberal cities in America. In Seattle, authorities boarded up and vacated a police precinct Monday where officers in riot gear had used tear gas and pepper spray on protesters who threw rocks, bottles and incendiary devices. They have also given free rein outside to demonstrators who have declared several blocks an "autonomous zone." That provoked angry tweets and threats of intervention from President Trump and a strong counter-response from the mayor. In Portland, Ore., the police chief a white woman resigned after just six months on the job to allow a Black man to take over. City Council members also appear ready to expand a pilot project based on a program in Eugene, Ore., in which civilians are dispatched instead of police on calls that don't require an armed response. Yet even with growing public support for change and allies in powerful positions, activists encounter limits. The new Portland chief, Chuck Lovell, an 18-year veteran of the force sworn in Thursday, opposes calls to cut the Police Department's budget. Crime, he said, doesn't cease during a pandemic or mass protests. Jo Ann Hardesty, the first Black woman elected to the Portland City Council, has called for a "revolution," but she defines it as cutting the size of the force rather than eliminating it. She also seeks to trim the size of a SWAT team and reassign police from school and transit duty to other beats. She said that officers should have one role solving and preventing crime and not be cast as experts on mental health, housing and social services. "There's a better alternative to sending people with weapons to address people with mental health issues and people who are sleeping in doorways," she said. Story continues The Portland pilot project that Hardesty and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler want to expand is based on a model that's attracting sudden national attention to Eugene, 100 miles south. In this smaller state-university town, 911 operators who determine that no armed intervention is needed dispatch two-person teams of medics and mental health counselors. The teams in Eugene handled 18% of the 133,000 calls to 911 last year, requesting police backup only 150 times, said Chris Hecht, executive coordinator of White Bird Clinic, which runs the operation called Cahoots. The program, short for Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets, operated on a $2-million budget last year that he said saved the Eugene-Springfield, Ore., area about $14 million in costs of ambulance transport and emergency room care. Hecht said that the teams, in place for three decades, can arrive at the scene of a homeless person experiencing a physical or mental health crisis, defuse the situation and prevent harm in ways that police officers are neither trained nor equipped to do. "The folks we're working with often have a history of really unfortunate interactions with police, hospitals or other institutions," Hecht said. "When a couple of people step out of one of our vans wearing jeans and hoodies, just right there we have a leg up on our colleagues in public safety." Crucial to the program, which extends to the neighboring city of Springfield, is a network including a sobering center and medical clinics where teams can refer people they encounter, he said. White Bird Clinic has been flooded with calls during the last two weeks from cities across the nation seeking alternatives, he said. In Portland, the City Council put off a vote Thursday on a proposed $245-million annual police budget after hearing hours of emotional testimony from citizens, many of whom called for $50 million in cuts. Wheeler had proposed $7 million in cuts, and Hardesty wanted to cut $16 million and lay off 52 officers. Wheeler says he will dismantle a team of about 30 officers who investigate shootings. Hardesty and other critics accuse the Gun Violence Reduction Team of targeting people of color. Portland's police union opposes breaking up the team and diverting funds. "We all see what's going on in the country" in reaction to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, said Daryl Turner, Portland Police Assn. president, in an interview Thursday. "Portland officers do not condone or practice race-based policing." Turner, a Portland officer for 29 years, granted that teams such as those in Eugene could free police to concentrate on incidents requiring enforcement. But he said the union had asked the city for years to provide officers with body cams to increase accountability. Chief Lovell succeeds Jami Resch, who will remain with the Police Department. Lovell said he wants to return to community policing, an approach pioneered by Portland in the 1980s when officers on patrol sought to build close ties in neighborhoods. Lovell said he was not about to withdraw defenses keeping protesters away from a downtown police building that contains a jail. "The situation in Seattle is one we definitely don't want to see here in Portland," he said. On Sunday, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan apologized for police conduct that reminded many longtime residents of a crackdown in 1999 on demonstrators protesting corporate globalization. During the "Battle of Seattle," officers wielded batons and fired tear gas as about 50,000 protesters shut down a World Trade Organization conference. "I know that safety was shattered for many by images, sounds and gas more fitting of a war zone," she said during a news conference Sunday. "I am sorry." The next day, Durkan closed the East Precinct in Seattle's Capitol Hill district, where gentrification in recent years has displaced many Black residents. She had tried to get police to tone down confrontations at barricades in front of the precinct, but she said they were too quick to advance with pepper spray on the crowd. Police Chief Carmen Best, a Black woman, told officers in a video Thursday that she disagreed with the decision to vacate the East Precinct, noting that officers had been pelted with projectiles while executing her orders to defend it. "Then to have a change of course nearly two weeks in, it seems like an insult to you and our community, she said. Three of Seattle's nine City Council members want Durkan to consider resigning. Protesters' demands include cutting the Police Department budget, funding community health programs and dropping all charges against demonstrators. Durkan has made some concessions, suspending use of tear gas, canceling a curfew and ordering police honoring fallen officers elsewhere to remove black mourning bands from their badges that obscured identification numbers. She is suspending planned purchases of weapons, technology vehicles and buildings. The mayor is seeking to divert $100 million in the city budget to programs for Black youths and adults, as well as alternatives to arrest and incarceration. Trump tweeted Wednesday that "Domestic Terrorists have taken over Seattle, run by Radical Left Democrats." And Thursday, he called on Durkan and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, both Democrats, to "take back" the city from "ugly Anarchists," adding that if they didn't, he would. Durkan responded that Trump didn't understand what was happening in the five-square-block area of the city, describing the zone as a peaceful expression of the community's grief and desire to build a better world. "We do not need anyone, including the president, to try to sow further divide, further distrust and misinformation, she said in a news conference Thursday. On Friday, a federal judge in Seattle constrained Durkans administration further, issuing a temporary restraining order forbidding police from firing tear gas, pepper spray, flash-bang grenades, rubber bullets or other projectiles indiscriminately into a crowd. U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones issued the 14-day ban in response to a lawsuit filed against the city by Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County, which contended that aggressive police tactics had violated protesters 1st and 4th Amendment rights. The protesters have made it clear that their determination will be relentless until change and police reform is made, wrote Jones, who was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2007. For the record: 4:37 PM, Jun. 12, 2020: An earlier version of this article said non-police teams in Eugene, Ore., handled 18% of 24,000 calls to 911 last year. The teams handled 18% of 133,000 calls to 911, or 24,000 calls, last year. Its a truism of politics: When youve got an incumbent on the ballot, the race will be a referendum on her or his leadership probably more than itll be about what the challenger is offering. So with United States President Donald Trumps approval rating stuck deep in the red, theres little doubt that he is facing an uphill battle. But theres a wrinkle to this situation: His likely Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, also has a favourability problem. Polling suggests that this Novembers election could become only the second presidential contest in the history of modern polling in which both candidates are seen negatively by most voters. The other was just four years ago, when pre-election surveys and exit polls found that both Trump and his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, were disliked by a majority of voters. The fact that so many Americans in both the last election and this one have expressed an aversion to each of the major candidates speaks to the heavy polarization that now defines the national electorate not to mention the wholesale disillusionment many voters feel with the political system. As a result, there are large slices of voters whose support is basically predictable. Elections are becoming more and more about pretty stark partisan divides between Democrats and Republicans, Guy Cecil, a Democratic strategist who leads the Priorities USA Action super PAC, said in an interview. But there are specific contours to the negative views this time around that offer insights into the weaknesses that both Trump and Biden will need to address as their campaigns enter the summer months. One key difference between this year and 2016 jumps out: In that election, people who saw both candidates unfavourably broke in favour of Trump, seeing him as the better of two bad options. This year, Biden holds an advantage by a mile among these ambivalent voters. In a Monmouth University poll released last week, roughly one-fifth of voters did not express a positive view of either candidate (Trumps net favourability rating was -19 in that poll; Bidens was -7). Those voters broke hard for Biden, 59 per cent to 18 per cent. In the days immediately leading up to the 2016 election, a Monmouth survey had found an even greater share of voters 34 per cent saying they did not like either Clinton or Trump. In that poll, Clinton had a slimmer edge over Trump among those voters. After the election, exit polls and other post-mortem polling found that they had in fact swung hard in Trumps favour, with many changing their minds at the last minute. Thanks in large part to those voters, he squeaked by with an Electoral College victory, even though more people actually said they disliked him (60 per cent) than said they disliked Clinton (55 per cent), according to exit polls. The picture this year is different. Americans views of the president have hardened in place, and far fewer who dislike him are likely to vote for him again. If youre a Trump voter, you dont like him you love him, Frank Luntz, a veteran Republican pollster, said in an interview. And nothing said by cable news or media is going to change that. He added, But in the end, if you dont like him, youre just as passionate. Indeed, few voters express a mild view of Trump. In the Monmouth poll, 48 per cent of the country had a very unfavourable view of him, while just 9% had a somewhat unfavourable opinion. For Biden, that wasnt the case. With Biden, you see a much more even split in his unfavourability rating, Cecil said. Among swing voters to the extent that we have a shrinking number of swing voters their views of Trump are much more intense than their views of Biden. And while Trumps ratings have stayed relatively stable, Bidens favourability numbers have been more fluid. Until last summer, most Americans held a positive view of the former vice-president; it was only when his presidential run heated up that his favourability rating began to dip into negative territory, partly the result of attacks from his Democratic rivals. In the early spring, as it became increasingly obvious that Biden would become the presumptive nominee, his average favourability ticked up, but it has since dropped again in most polls. An average of five high-quality telephone polls taken last month found his favourability stuck just below even, with 45 per cent holding a positive view of him on average, and 46 per cent negative. Most Democrats and Republicans continue to express a positive opinion of their partys presumptive nominee. But while Trump enjoys his strongest support from Republicans and conservatives, Biden continues to struggle among certain key components of the Democratic base. One-third of liberals said they saw Biden unfavourably, according to the latest Monmouth poll, and only 19 per cent of them said they held a very favourable view of him. By contrast, Trump enjoyed some of his strongest support from conservative voters, most of whom saw him very favourably. And among young people, typically a Democratic strong suit, Bidens numbers remain anemic months after Sen. Bernie Sanders his main rival for the Democratic nomination, who had the loyal support of most young voters left the race. Fifty-nine per cent of Americans under 35 said they saw Biden negatively, per Monmouth. Only eight per cent expressed a very positive view of him. Young people were particularly dissatisfied with their options: Those under 35 made up half of all the voters who saw neither candidate favourably. All of this bodes poorly for Bidens ability to excite his base and indeed, 32 per cent of Democrats in that poll said they were less enthusiastic than usual about voting in this years election. Among Republicans, only 12 per cent said so. But Trumps inability to win over voters closer to the political middle could be a far graver problem than Bidens mushy support on the left. Most political moderates tend to say they like Biden, and his net favourability rating among this group was +14 in the Monmouth poll. Trump, on the other hand, is viewed quite negatively by most of those middle-path voters. Fully 57 per cent of moderates expressed a very unfavourable view of him in the Monmouth survey; overall, his net favourability rating among them was -39. Its not that they embrace or like Biden, so much as that they dislike Trump, Luntz said of these voters in the middle. They dislike Trump, and theyve not made up their minds about Biden, because he was not a likely nominee as recently as 90 days ago. The latest Quinnipiac University poll contains evidence that Biden has room to grow. Unlike most, that survey offered respondents the option to say they hadnt heard enough to make up their minds on whether they saw him favourably or unfavourably. Twelve per cent of respondents said they needed more information about Biden before they decided. Just three per cent said so about Trump. Read more about: Bank of Ireland yesterday announced a new initiative with national charity Family Carers Ireland, to provide a bespoke support programme for colleagues within the Bank who have caring responsibilities. Family Carers Ireland has developed the programme, called Caring Employers, to provide guidance and assistance for companies to appropriately support their employees who also have a family caring role. The bank is giving access to the programme and the full range of support it offers to all colleagues who wish to use it. Bank of Ireland say there are over 355,000 family carers in Ireland with one in nine people in Irelands workforce juggling paid employment whilst caring for a family member. These caring requirements can take many forms, including caring for a child, a parent or a relative, and the increased stresses caused by juggling work with caring responsibilities can also have a significant impact on peoples wellbeing and performance at work. Where this occurs, Bank of Ireland say progressive employers need to ensure that adequate support systems are in place to avoid losing valued employees who may be under considerable pressure outside of their workplace. Speaking yesterday, Group Executive Sponsor for Parents and Carers at Bank of Ireland, Henry Dummer said, "We are proud to announce this new partnership with Family Carers Ireland, coming at a time when Covid-19 is impacting households across the country and the needs of families, the elderly and those with caring responsibilities are at the forefront of everyones minds. With our inclusive workplace at Bank of Ireland, we have many family carers across our Group who we know may need additional support." He added, "A caring role can take many forms, so its very important to us that all our colleagues know that we have the necessary supports in place whenever they are required. The Caring Employers programme is a great way to show that we care for our colleagues, and Bank of Ireland is delighted to partner with Family Carers Ireland in supporting it." Source: www.businessworld.ie Chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Tony Holohan told the most senior officials of Government departments that different approaches to Covid-19 containment on both sides of the Border could "pose threats to us all". Minutes of senior management meetings from the Department of Justice show how Dr Holohan delivered the warning in a briefing to secretaries general from across Government. Read More The minutes of the St Patrick's Day meeting said: "The CMO believes the differing responses in the North and the south of the country may pose threats to us all." As lockdown began, Dr Holohan told the State's most senior officials to expect the situation to "continue for some time" with not enough information available to estimate when cases were likely to peak. The records - which have been released under Freedom of Information - detail the Department of Justice response to the Covid-19 crisis throughout March, April, and May. Minutes of one management board meeting from early April show how the Department of Justice ran into difficulties in ensuring certain staff working from home had enough to do. "There were some challenges in ensuring staff who had yet to receive remote access had sufficient work," officials were told. The meeting said "more structured direction from line managers" would be needed. In the earliest meetings, the department's most senior officials were also told to "nominate substitutes" in the event they themselves became ill or were forced to self-isolate. On March 21, the meeting was told that "increased instances of domestic violence are being reported" and that the department was working with non-governmental organisations to provide extra support. Three days later, the department reported a suspected case at Dublin Airport. A spokesman for the Department of Justice said it was committed to openness and transparency and the "release of these minutes reflect that". "The department is part of a whole government response to crisis and inputs to the national structures managing the crisis," he said. On Dr Holohan's comments, they said potential issues "arising from differing responses" had been openly acknowledged at the time. The Department of Health said it would be "inappropriate" for them to comment on the proceedings of another government department. Melissa George once famously said she would 'rather be having a croissant in Paris' than return to Australia. So it's no surprise that the Perth-born actress looked like a fancy French local while riding her bicycle through the streets of Paris on Wednesday. The 43-year-old showed off her chic European style in a tailored brown suit as she pedalled the vintage bicycle down the road. Tres chic! Melissa George looked like a fancy French local while riding her bicycle through the streets of Paris on Wednesday The bourgeois beauty accessorised with a brown leather handbag and black sandals. Melissa currently lives in Paris with her two sons, Raphael, six, and Solal, four. Back in 2012, Melissa famously told The Sydney Morning Herald that she wouldn't return to Australia because she was sick of local media being 'disrespectful' by mentioning her role on Home and Away. Bourgeois beaute: The 43-year-old showed off her chic European style in a tailored brown suit 'I don't need credibility from my country any more, I just need them all to be quiet. If they have nothing intelligent to say, please don't speak to me any more,' she said. 'I'd rather be having a croissant and a little espresso in Paris or walking my French bulldog in New York City.' However, she later changed her tune after temporarily returning Down Under to film the drama Bad Mothers for Channel Nine. Her boys: Melissa lives in Paris with her two sons, Raphael, six, and Solal, four (pictured) During a promotional interview for the series last year, Melissa gushed to TV Week magazine: 'Whenever I come to Australia, I feel complete.' She had spent 10 days filming Bad Mothers in Melbourne in 2018, and believes the short stay helped her 'reconnect' with the Australian culture. 'This was a great opportunity to come home and be amongst Australian talent. That's why I wanted to do this,' she explained. 'I'd say a lot of Australian talent gets forced to go overseas that's the way things work. But when we come home, it's like the last piece of the puzzle to fit.' Given the many problems with the program, it is imperative American taxpayers know if the money is going where Congress intended to the truly small and unbanked small business, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Friday. The administrations resistance to transparency is outrageous and only serves to raise further suspicions about how the funds are being distributed and who is actually benefiting. A statue of former prime minister Robert Peel in Tamworth is the latest to be boarded up to protect it from potential damage. The move comes after a protective barrier was placed around a statue of Britain's war-time prime minister Winston Churchill at Parliament Square and the nearby Cenotaph on Thursday night amid concerns they could again be targeted by demonstrators. Activists scrawled "was a racist" on the statue of Churchill during a Black Lives Matter protest last weekend over the death of George Floyd in the United States. Tamworth MP Christopher Pincher said the council was trying to keep the Robert Peel statue safe from agitators who cant get their history right. Writing on Twitter, Mr Pincher said: Tamworths Robert Peel statue being covered to protect it from agitators who cant get their history right. The council is doing this because of the threat to the statue and man of whom we are all proud. These threats help no one, but distract from a message of peaceful protest. The George Washington statue in Trafalgar Square has also been covered up ahead of protests planned this weekend. The protests sparked by the death of Mr Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis has ignited a discussion about the UK's imperial past historical figures often associated with slavery and racism. Winston Churchill statue and Cenotaph boarded up in London 1 /28 Winston Churchill statue and Cenotaph boarded up in London Winston Churchill statue boarded up in Parliament Square Jeremy Selwyn Workers erect a protective barrier around the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square Getty Images Scaffolding has been placed around the statue of Winston Churchill in central London in anticipation of protests Getty Images PA A Westminster Council street marshal stands next to a protective covering installed overnight surrounding the statue of former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square PA The Cenotaph boarded up Jeremy Selwyn Getty Images Getty Images PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA Workers install a protective barrier around the Cenotaph Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was absurd and shameful that the statue of Churchill is at risk of attack from anti-racism protesters. He said: We cannot now try to edit or censor our past. We cannot pretend to have a different history." "Yes, he sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial," he added. We cannot now try to edit or censor our past. We cannot pretend to have a different history. The statues in our cities and towns were put up by previous generations." Two statues of people involved in the history of Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals are to be removed due to their links with the slave trade. Edward Colston statue recovered from Bristol harbour 1 /8 Edward Colston statue recovered from Bristol harbour PA PA PA PA PA Bristol Council The Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust announced on Thursday that the figures depicting Robert Clayton and Thomas Guy will be taken out of public view. Two slave trader statues have already been removed in recent days - one by campaigners at an anti-racism protest in Bristol and another with the approval of a local authority following a petition. A statue of slave owner Robert Milligan was removed from its position in the docks he founded at West India Quay, east London, on Tuesday. In Bristol, a statue of Edward Colston was torn down on Sunday and pushed into the harbour. Dozens more controversial statues could be pulled down after Labour-led councils across England and Wales agreed to work with their local communities to look at the "appropriateness" of certain monuments and statues. Standing where the Tittabawassee River waters ravaged downtown Sanford about three weeks earlier, leaders from throughout Midland County united on Thursday afternoon to support a $6 million bill introduced a day earlier in the Michigan House by Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, to bring flood relief for the City of Midland and Midland County. Glenn told a gathering of 50 or so people at the corner of Saginaw and Cedar streets that she anticipates bipartisan support in the Michigan Legislature and by the governor for House Bill 5843, which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday. "It was clear (after the flood that) our community would need a lot of financial help moving forward. And I immediately (began) looking for ways to make that happen and brainstorming on ways the state might be able to step up," Glenn said from behind a podium adorned with a bright yellow logo that read "Together We Will Rebuild." "The need is so tremendous, and unfortunately, we're facing a budget crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic. So finding a responsible way to find some funding for Midland without jeopardizing other communities' programs in our state budget is not necessarily an easy task." The money in the bill would be allocated from the Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund within the Michigan State Police budget. "Back in January, I was appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve as chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military and Veterans Affairs and State Police," Glenn explained. "I was very grateful for the opportunity. "A few weeks later I came to realize the purpose of my serving on the committee, if not for such a time as this. Had I not become chair of this budget setting committee, I likely wouldn't be able to stand here today with this announcement." Glenn said that if the bill passes, the $6 million would be used to pay for debris removal; emergency protective measures such as road blockages, sheltering and evacuation; chemical containment clean-up efforts; "and, most importantly, the repair of real estate and personal property." "We've already had a huge (amount) of bipartisan reach-out from the day this flood happened, wanting to know what they can do to help. And this is my first answer: 'Let's move this (legislation) quickly and let's get it done,'" Glenn said. "I do expect this to be a bipartisan appropriation and I trust that Gov. Whitmer will lend her support easily," Glenn continued. "We will work together to ensure that this money is properly distributed and spent on intended purposes. Six million dollars is nowhere close to the hundreds of millions we need to rebuild our community. However, it is a start for a community that I believe is ready to rebuild and start moving forward. We are Midland strong, we are Sanford strong, and together we will rebuild our community." Sanford Village President Dolores Porte, U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, Midland Mayor Maureen Donker and Midland County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mark Bone also spoke at the podium. State Rep. Roger Hauck, Midland Police Chief Nicole Ford, Midland City Manager Brad Kaye, Midland County Administrator/Controller Bridgette Gransden, Gerstacker Foundation Executive Vice President Bill Schuette, Meridian Public Schools Superintendent Craig Carmoney and County Commissioner Jeanette Snyder were also on hand, among others. "This has been a historic event but it's also pulled us together," Moolenaar said. "You know, the flood waters didn't determine if it was a Democratic or Republican house they were going to take out. It was simply a disaster. And so I want to commend the fact that we've got our local officials working together with our state officials. "The governor was here. Our U.S. Senators were here. Bill Schuette made a really good effort to make sure we got our U.S. Senators to visit Sanford to see first-hand what was happening." Earlier this week, Midland County submitted flood damage assessments to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, with totals of nearly $175 million in property damage to nearly 2,500 homes, businesses and nonprofits, and public property and emergency response costs of more than $34 million. Moolenaar also said that once Gov. Gretchen Whitmer submits a request to Pres. Trump for a major disaster declaration, Moolenaar will submit a letter of support that he has already written. "As soon as the governor makes that request, that letter is going in support of that," Moolenaar said. "I'm confident our two U.S. Senators will support it as well. (We're) working together, getting through this challenging time as a community and as a region. "I know the people in the community are tired, but we're going to persevere and we're going to do it together. We're going to get through this." A local resident asked about potential rebuilding of the Edenville and Sanford dams, the failure of which caused the flooding and caused Wixom and Sanford lakes to return to their original state as the Tittabawassee River. "We're working hard on it," Bone replied. "It's going to be a long process, but we do not plan on leaving this as a river. We plan on rebuilding if possible. It's going to take probably over $200 million to rebuild (the dams). But our plan is to figure that out. We've got a great team working on it, and I'd like to thank the Four Lakes Task Force because without them, it would be a much more difficult thing. But the plan is to rebuild." Police appeal for information as part of investigation into unexplained death of a Wrexham man This article is old - Published: Friday, Jun 12th, 2020 Police are appealing for anyone who has any information that could assist with the investigation into the unexplained death of a Wrexham man to come forward. On 1st June 2020, North Wales Police were called to the home address of 60-year-old Terrence Edwards in Pont Wen, following a report from a concerned neighbour that he had not been seen for a couple of days. Officers from Wrexham attended and found Mr Edwards was sadly deceased within the address. Police say the initial thoughts of attending officers was that this was non-suspicious, and a report was submitted in the usual way to the coroner. However in a fresh statement issued this evening, North Wales Police say the findings of the post mortem examination on 11th June have highlighted some concerns over the cause of death and we have therefore started an investigation into the matter. Chief Inspector Mark Williams said; As part of our investigation there is a police presence in the area and house to house enquiries are being made. If anyone had contact with Mr Edwards since May 28 or has any information that could assist our investigation please contact us on 101 or use the live webchat https://www.north-wales.police.uk/contact/live-chat-support. Alternatively you can call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting ref Y078626. Only the law has changed but not societys shameful attitude to those at the bottom of our rigid caste-based hierarchy Reservation in Government jobs and institutions has always been a grudging concession to the weakest sections in our society. Sadly, even as the country wrestles with the pandemic, the Supreme Court is busy in trying to whittle down the benefits bestowed by our founding fathers on a group that has suffered centuries of unmitigated oppression and human misery that persist to the present day. Only the law has changed but not societys shameful attitude to those at the bottom of our rigid caste-based hierarchy. Last year, a 21-year-old dalit was beaten to death for sitting on a chair and eating in the presence of upper caste men. Dalits have been assaulted for daring to ride a horse; killed for sitting cross-legged; and thrashed for wearing mojris, which are leather shoes associated with royalty. Data released by the RBI some years ago showed that the lowest percentage increase in wages in rural areas was that of sweepers and cobblers traditionally dalit occupations which was even lower than that of unskilled farm labourers. Every year there are more than 40,000 registered cases of atrocities against dalits, including murder and rape. Nobody in this country is scandalised, so routine are such happenings. The stark reality is that our society continues to be disfigured by this pervasive oppression of the dalit. Unfortunately, in the last few years, our highest Court has ignored the ugly legacy of caste discrimination even as it has sought to pare down the reservation policy. Let me elucidate with a few recent examples. In a body blow to dalit aspirations, the Supreme Court in 2018 quashed reservation in job promotions for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, thereby providing judicial imprimatur to an iniquitous system where dalits occupy 45 per cent of the safai karmachari posts but constitute a mere fraction in the higher echelons of government. In keeping with this upper caste, upper class predilection, the Supreme Court has remained quiescent regarding the governments controversial decision in January 2019 to grant 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections in the general category. A Court that has overzealously affirmed the sanctity of the 50 per cent cap on reservations whenever there were attempts to breach this lakshmanrekha for the weaker sections is now maintaining a deafening silence. Of course, as the beneficiaries in this case are not dalits, the issue of reservation hurting the meritorious would not be relevant to a Court that has hitherto repeatedly raised the phony pennant of merit to balk at reservation In February 2020, a two-judge SC bench, contravening the spirit of the Constitution and its Preamble, ignoring the hateful, continuing discrimination against dalits, decided that reservation was not a fundamental right and that the government is not duty bound to provide reservation in matters of appointment and promotion in favour of SCs/STs. According to the honorable judges, the power to decide on reservation rests with the government. The Central government has decided not to contest the case as it was not a party in the legal battle. From being a sacred constitutional commitment, the reservation policy is now dependent on the largesse of the political executive. At a time when the country faces its gravest crisis ever with death stalking the poor man's hovel but also the rich man's mansion the Supreme Court, on April 22, passed a judgment on reservation that is clearly another stab at diluting, if not ending, affirmative action for dalits. In a gratuitous swipe at the reservation policy, the honorable Court, while arbitrating on the legality of the Andhra Pradesh government decision on reserving 100 per cent jobs of teachers in an ST area, brought in the totally unrelated issue of the creamy layer, a derogatory term coined by the apex court and used only against backward classes when it should actually apply to the historically privileged who have fattened on this land. The latest judgment is problematic for several reasons. The honorable Court makes a sweeping, unsubstantiated allegation that the affluents [sic] and socially and economically advanced classes among the SCs/STs do not permit benefits to trickle down to the needy. The Courts panacea is to suitably modify the SC/ST lists under Articles 341(1) and 342(1) to exclude this creamy layer of beneficiaries. If one extends the Courts bizarre logic, should not the creamy layer in the general category also be declared ineligible for government employment as they impede the opportunities available to the really needy upper castes? Moreover, by setting aside the perfectly practical and rational Andhra Pradesh government orders reserving posts of teachers in tribal areas for scheduled tribes, this verdict contradicts the recent SC two-judge bench order bestowing complete power over reservation to the states. Ironically, the Supreme Court had expressed a quite different view in the February 2020 SC verdict restoring the punitive clauses of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, stating therein that in spite of reservation, the fruits of development have not reached to them, by and large, they remain unequal and vulnerable section of the society [sic]. In the context of the Supreme Courts capricious judgments, one is reminded of Justice R.H. Jacksons rationalisation for his inconsistency: I see no reason why I should be consciously wrong today because I was unconsciously wrong yesterday. The Court is guilty of cherry-picking from the Indira Sawhney nine-judge bench verdict to suit its argument regarding periodic review of SC lists, but leaves out that judgments most crucial observation that the test or requirement of social and educational backwardness cannot be applied to SCs and STs who indubitably fall within the expression backward class of citizens. The selective use of previous judgments as precedent to justify and bolster the preferred worldview of the presiding judges has become so blatant that it actually compromises justice. The guardians of the Constitution need to be reminded that reservation was envisaged for backward class of citizens who are stigmatised on account of their caste. By ignoring the ugly, unremitting saga of untouchability and the irrational belief in dalit inferiority embedded in our culture, and instead trivialising and reducing reservation to a purely economic tool for betterment, the Supreme Court has violated the philosophy and spirit behind reservation enshrined in our Constitution. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 19:14:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Six local people had died and 32 others hospitalized in northwest Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province after drinking suspected tainted wine, a provincial health chief said on Friday. "As of Friday morning, six people had been pronounced dead and 32 others were hospitalized after they consumed suspected tainted herbal wine," Le Chansangvath, director of Banteay Meanchey Provincial Health Department, told Xinhua. "The victims have the same symptoms such as dizziness, eye irritation, fatigue, stomachache and nausea," he said. Chansangvath said the suspected toxic wine under the label "Taing Kuoy" was unregistered and sold at the very cheap price of 1,000 riels (25 U.S. cents) for a 500 ml plastic bottle, and the consumers were among poor people, construction workers or porters. Meanwhile, he called on people not to consume the wine that has "no clear source" or produces without proper techniques. The General Department of Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Prevention said in its report released to local media Fresh News on Friday that a sample of the suspected wine had been diagnosed by its food testing laboratory, and the result indicated that "the wine contained the methanol level of higher than 0.35 percent, which can be fatal if consumed in large amounts." The report said the authorities have so far confiscated a total of 13,989 bottles, equivalent to 6,994.5 liters, of the Taing Kuoy-labelled wine from markets and are seeking for the producers. Rice wine is popular in rural areas in Cambodia due to its cheap price. In May 2018, methanol-laced rice wine and contaminated water left 13 people dead and nearly 300 others hospitalized in eastern Kratie province. Enditem Oregon on Friday recorded another in a string of recent high single-day counts for new coronavirus cases -- 142 -- bringing the states total to 5,377 as two more people died from the infection. The states death toll from the disease now stands at 173. A 96-year-old man from Washington County and a 68-year-old man from Multnomah County were the latest people to succumb to COVID-19. The 96-year-old man was one of now four people who have died that had no underlying health conditions, the Oregon Health Authority reported. The 142 new confirmed and presumptive coronavirus cases were reported in the last 24 hours. Its the third-highest daily count since Oregons outbreak began Feb. 28. The top four daily counts all have come this week, including 178 new cases Thursday, 146 new cases Sunday and 114 new cases Monday. Before this week, the highest daily count came April 4 at 100. Public health officials attribute the increase in cases to more testing, workplace outbreaks and increased tracing of people exposed by those with known coronavirus infections. Track the county-by-county trends as Oregon reopens with these charts. The newest batch of cases were in 14 of Oregons 36 counties with Multnomah, Marion, Washington and Lincoln counties reporting double-digit increases: Clackamas (9), Columbia (3), Deschutes (2), Hood River (3), Jackson (2), Klamath (2), Lincoln (14), Marion (29), Multnomah (36), Polk (9), Umatilla (5), Union (4), Wasco (3), Washington (21). Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter County case totals: Two counties -- Multnomah and Marion -- have more than 1,000 coronavirus cases each. Seven counties -- Washington, Clackamas, Deschutes, Lincoln, Linn, Umatilla and Polk -- have reported 100 coronavirus cases or more. Gilliam and Wheeler have reported none. Heres the overall count -- confirmed and presumptive cases -- by county: Baker (1), Benton (63), Clackamas (455), Clatsop (46), Columbia (20), Coos (32), Crook (8), Curry (7), Deschutes (137), Douglas (29), Grant (1), Harney (1), Hood River, (71), Jackson (78), Jefferson (65), Josephine (23), Klamath (48), Lake (4), Lane (85), Lincoln (184), Linn (124), Malheur (33), Marion (1,134), Morrow (13), Multnomah (1,440), Polk (117), Sherman (1), Tillamook (6), Umatilla (157), Union (12), Wallowa (4), Wasco (38), Washington (849) and Yamhill (91). Oregons Latino population has been disproportionately hit hard by the coronavirus. Though Latinos make up 13% of the states population, they represent at least 34% of all positive cases. Death toll: At least 173 people have died from the virus. They are from 13 counties -- 67 people from Multnomah, 30 from Marion, 19 from Washington, 14 from Clackamas, 12 from Polk, nine from Linn, eight from Yamhill, five from Benton, three from Umatilla, three from Lane and one each from Josephine, Malheur and Wasco. Their ages ranged from 36 to 100. Among them, 102 men have died and 71 women have died. All but four had underlying medical conditions. The breakdown of deaths by age: ages 30-39 (1), ages 40-49 (3), ages 50-59 (8), ages 60-69 (37), ages 70-79 (48), ages 80-plus (76). [Read about Oregon coronavirus deaths. Help us learn more.] Senior care homes: More than half of all coronavirus deaths in Oregon 92 are associated with a care center, a newsroom analysis of state data shows. More than 630 senior care home residents, staff and close contacts from more than 70 nursing, assisted and retirement homes have contracted COVID-19. One senior care home worker has died since the start of the Oregon epidemic, state data show. Officials did not say where the person worked or when they died. Workplace outbreaks: At least 883 coronavirus infections are linked to workplace outbreaks identified by The Oregon Health Authority. Among them: The Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem (167), Pacific Seafood in Newport (127) and Townsend Farms in Fairview (56). Testing: Another 4,376 people received coronavirus test results in the last day, down from the previous days 5,038, according to figures published on the Oregon Health Authoritys website. So far, 166,019 Oregonians have been tested for the illness since the state confirmed its first case on Feb. 28. Oregons positive test rate for COVID-19 is currently 3.1%, far below the 12% national average. Ages: Cases are so far spread about evenly among people in their 20s (18%), people in their 30s (17%), people in their 40s (17%) and people in their 50s (16%). The breakdown: 0-9 (114), ages 10-19 (262), ages 20-29 (954), ages 30-39 (935), ages 40-49 (920), ages 50-59 (877), ages 60-69 (627), ages 70-79 (401), ages 80-plus (282). Gender: 2,772 cases are among women, or 52%, and 2,599 or 48%, are among men. Hospitalizations: At least 875 of the states COVID-19 patients, or 16%, have been hospitalized at some point during their illness, according to the health authority. Most -- at least 648 -- have been 50 or older. The hospitalizations breakdown by age: 0-9 (7), ages 10-19 (4), ages 20-29 (43), ages 30-39 (67), ages 40-49 (106), ages 50-59 (156), ages 60-69 (189), ages 70-79 (177), ages 80-plus (126). Currently, 69 people with confirmed coronavirus cases are hospitalized, including 36 in intensive care and 14 on ventilators. Recoveries: At least 2,396 COVID-19 patients have recovered from the illness, or 44.5%, the health authority said. Nationwide: Confirmed coronavirus cases have surpassed 2 million. The death toll has grown to more than 114,000 people. -- Margaret Haberman; 503-221-8375 Email at mhaberman@oregonian.com Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) As the country celebrates its 122nd year as an independent nation, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) stressed the nation enjoys its independence. In an interview with CNN Philippines Rico Hizon, NHCP commissioner Emmanuel Calairo emphasized the country is not dictated by foreign countries in organizing its society. We are independent now as a people because we have our own government. We have our own decision-making process, said Calairo. The countrys independence is also maintained even the current and past Philippine governments are seeking help from superpower countries such as China and the United States over the years. In the present Duterte administration, the country enjoys a strengthened relationship with China despite the latters aggression in reclaiming islands under the Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea. READ: Duterte calls for further strengthening PH-China relations We are still independent because thats part of diplomacy of our country, developing partnerships and our economy. We could not live without collaboration with other countries. There must be a collaboration in the international community, Calairo said. Calairo, who is also the assistant vice chancellor for research at the De La Salle University-Dasmarinas, noted one proof the country enjoys its independence is the provision of basic human liberties in the society. We are operating the 1987 Constitution and we have the Bill of Rights there. We practice the provisions there such as right to expression, freedom of the press, and right to assembly, the historian explained. As the country commemorates Independence Day this year in a different mood due to the movement restrictions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Calairo said this is the perfect time to celebrate the hardships of frontliners who are fighting the spread of the virus. Just like those who fought for our independence in 1898, our frontliners are also in a dangerous situation just to serve the people. It is very timely and very relevant that we dedicate this Independence Day to our frontliners, Calairo said. In his Independence Day message, President Rodrigo Duterte echoed the same comparison in honoring the pandemic frontliners. "As we wage united battle against COVID-19, we now have the opportunity to demonstrate that we possess the same gallantry of spirit and the nobility of character as the heroes of our past. Let us now move forward with courage, hope, and optimism as we overcome this pandemic," he said in his taped address. Starbucks on Friday reversed its policy on employees wearing clothing supporting Black Lives Matter after a company memo prohibiting such apparel sparked backlash and a campaign to boycott the coffee company. Youve told us you need a way to express yourself at work, asking: Do you understand how I feel!? Do you understand the black community is in pain?' wrote Starbucks chief operating officer, Roz Brewer and Zing Shaw, the companys vice president for inclusion and diversity, in an open letter to partners. We see you. We hear you. Black Lives Matter. Starbucks said it is designing new t-shirts with a Black Lives Matter graphic to demonstrate our allyship and show we stand together in unity. Until these arrive, weve heard you want to show your support, so just be you. Wear your BLM pin or t-shirt, the letter said. We are so proud of your passionate support of our common humanity. We trust you to do whats right while never forgetting Starbucks is a welcoming third place where all are treated with dignity and respect. Black Lives Matter. We continue to listen to our partners and communities and their desire to stand for justice together. The Starbucks Black Partner Network co-designed t-shirts with this graphic that will soon be sent to 250,000+ store partners. pic.twitter.com/Wexb45RcTE Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) June 12, 2020 The coffee chain giant will provide additional operational guidance by Monday, a spokesperson said. Starbucks found itself the target of a boycott campaign after a company memo sent earlier this week informed employees that wearing gear supporting Black Lives Matter was against company policy because it advocated a political, religious or personal issue. Critics accused Starbucks of hypocrisy, pointing out that the company only last week promised to confront racism and stand in solidarity with its black customers as protests against racism and police brutality continue across the country in the wake of the death of George Floyd. Story continues Some employees also noted that Starbucks has sold products celebrating the LGBTQ community and even handed out buttons supporting the Pride movement. This is not the first time Starbucks has been caught in the middle of a controversy regarding its relationship with the black community. In 2018, two African-American men were arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks after they sat in the coffee shop without purchasing anything for what their attorney said was less than 15 minutes while waiting for an associate to arrive for a business meeting. Meanwhile, the manager called the police, who arrested them for trespassing. Neither man was ultimately charged with a crime. The incident, which was captured in a viral video, inspired boycotts and national outrage. More from National Review Property owners dealing with the impacts of the Tittabawassee River floods are reminded that some post-flood construction may require permits from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). EGLE staff is prioritizing and expediting post-flooding permitting if a home, building or critical infrastructure is under the immediate threat of failure. Property owners are urged to coordinate with EGLEs Saginaw Bay District Office if dealing with an emergency situation. For emergency shoreline permits, contact Brian Rudolph of EGLEs Saginaw District Office at 989-439-6065 or rudplphb1@michigan.gov. For floodplain permits, contact Joy Brooks at 989-280-1632 or brooksj@michigan.gov. To apply for a permit, use EGLEs MiWaters portal at https://bit.ly/2Yutf28. General information, including sample drawings, is also available. EGLE permits required for work in regulated areas EGLE permits are generally required for work being done within regulated areas, such as floodplains, streams, lakes, and wetlands such as replacing an existing or damaged structure, such as a home, garage or commercial building. Other activities within the 100-year floodplain that would require a permit include: Building a new structure, such as a home, garage or commercial building; Additions that alter a buildings existing footprint; New or replacement decks, stairs, porches, patios; Filling or grading; Reconstruction or replacement of a failed bridge or culvert, shoreline protection, or filling or grading in low areas, such as bottomland or wetlands. Activities for flood-damaged areas outside the 100-year floodplain do not require an EGLE floodplain permit. Examples include: Elevating an existing residence (no fill or grading or increase in the structures footprint); Interior repairs to existing structures, including elevating structures; New or replacement septic systems below grade; Replacing utilities with no change in grade; Tree and vegetation planting (with no fill added). It is important to contact a communitys building official if repairing or replacing a damaged structure. Starting repairs without proper permits may be in violation of local codes and ordinances. Depending on how much damage a building has sustained, the permitting and repair requirements may differ. Activities that require a permit For shoreline work on Wixom and Sanford Lakes, the following activities generally require a permit from EGLE: Dredging, filling or grading on the bottom lands in front of the seawall (authorization from the landowner Four Lakes Task Force or Boyce Hydro must accompany the application); Replacing a seawall or installing a new one; Installing new rock riprap. Activities that do not require a permit The following shoreline activities generally do not need a permit from EGLE: Filling or installing tiebacks behind an existing seawall (landward of the seawall); Repairing a seawall where the repairs are less than 25 percent of the existing seawall with the same material and with the existing design. (Rock riprap that has been displaced by erosion can be reset or reinstalled.) Helpful websites Residents should also check with their county Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control office for soil erosion permit requirements: Midland City: www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/687/Soil-Erosion-Sediment-Control Arenac County: www.co.arenac.mi.us/building_department/ Gladwin County: www.gladwincd.org/soil-erosion1.html Midland County: https://co.midland.mi.us/DrainCommissioner.aspx Saginaw County: www.saginawcounty.com/departments/public_works_-_drain_office/index.php [June 12, 2020] Comcast Business and NBCUniversal Join 'Stand for Small' Coalition Comcast (News - Alert) Business and NBCUniversal announced that they have joined 'Stand for Small' in partnership with American Express (News - Alert) and a growing group of companies to provide meaningful support for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership brings the power of more than 70 U.S. corporations to support millions of small businesses through a centralized, digital platform with valuable resources, offers, tools, expert advice, and other benefits to help companies navigate the COVID-19 crisis and recovery efforts. "Small businesses empower our communities and drive local economies. Right now, millions of them face unprecedented challenges as they steer their companies through the coronavirus pandemic," said Bill Stemper, President, Comcast Business. "Through the 'Stand for Small' coalition, Comcast Business is able to offer resources to help these small businesses succeed, along with tools on how to adapt during these times. We are proud to join 'Stand for Small' to help small businesses become stronger together." "We are grateful for the support of Comcast Business, NBCUniversal, and the many partners who have joined together to back small businesses around the country," said Glenda McNeal, President of Strategic Partnerships, American Express. "When small businesses succeed, we all thrive. Through partnership and collaboration, 'Stand for Small' makes it easier for small business owners to discover and access resources and offers they need, all in one place." Comcast Business has implemented a number of initiatives to serve customers and businesses of all sizes. With access to free webinars and third-party resources, as well as tools to manage a business from any device, anywhere, and a team of experts and engineers available 24/7, Comcast Business enables businesses to stay safe, online, and connected. To provide small businesses with the solutions they need to return to the marketplace even stronger, NBCUniversal has introduced a new Marketing & Creative Services assistance program that will connect selected businesses with the company's award-winning consultative resources, and provide expertise across creative, production, technology, commerce and more. Additionally, NBCUniversal launched a new information hub for SMBs featuring curated financial and business content for employers to turn to for insights and inspiration as they transform their business operations and navigate the reopening process. For more details on how Comcast Business is helping support its business customers at this time, please visit: https://business.comcast.com/response. Access more information on 'Stand for Small' and the list of partners, experiences, and services here: www.standforsmall.com. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV, At-Home Business Solutions and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. This includes Comcast Business at Home, a dedicated, enterprise-grade and business-paid, set of connectivity solutions for business owners with a premise-based location that also have employees working from home. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation's largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter (News - Alert) @Comcast Business and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About American Express American Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005034/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A leading travel insurance provider has changed its rules to allow thousands of policyholders to claim for Covid-19 cancellations. In March, Vhi said it was excluding virus-related claims for those renewing their MultiTrip insurance this year. Read More But in a major change, it will now allow anyone renewing their cover to claim for a cancelled holiday, as long as it was booked before March 19. It means someone who had booked a holiday at the start of the year, but renewed their policy in May, will be able to make a claim if the flights and accommodation have been cancelled and they cannot get a refund from the airline or the accommodation provider. The blanket refusal to allow any claims caused by or relating to Covid-19 had prompted many customers to question the value of their insurance cover. Some had asked if they should be refunded their premiums as a result. Vhi says it has now set up a fund to pay out on claims for coronavirus disruption. It said this means "all renewing customers will be covered for trip cancellation due to Covid-19 for any planned trips in 2020 provided they were booked prior to March 19, 2020". The insurer has seen a 60pc rise in queries from customers about making a claim for a trip cancellation. The insurer will also lift the exclusion on emergency medical cover abroad, provided people are not travelling against Government advice. A spokeswoman for Vhi said that for staycation travellers, the domestic trip cancellation benefit is being enhanced to cover all overnight pre-booked trips. And it is extending the cooling-off period to 28 days. "As we approach what would have been the peak of the travel season, we continue to see increasing volumes of cancellation claims for pre-booked trips," Vhi said. Meanwhile, Ciaran Mulligan of Blue Insurance and Multitrip.com said that consumers with these policies would have claims for Covid-related cancellations met if they booked before March 13. This applies to existing and renewed policyholders and is on the condition that people are not travelling against the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and are unable to get a refund from the airline and the accommodation provider. Ryanair has dismissed as "rubbish" reports that it is selling travel policies which will be invalidated if people fly with the airline while Government restrictions on travel overseas remain in force. A clause in the travel insurance policy offered by the airline makes it clear that people will not be able to make claims if anything happens while they are overseas if they have travelled outside the State contrary to advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs. The airline said: "Ryanair's insurance claims will not be rejected on the basis of the Irish Government advisory. "In any case, thousands of Ryanair customers are booking flights to travel over the next 12 months, whereas the Government advisory is likely to be withdrawn (as it has been in most other EU countries) over the coming days." However, travel insurance experts said no insurer was paying out for claims made when people travel against Government advice. Ryanair did not respond when asked why it was saying that reports its travel policies would be invalidated if someone travel contrary to advice were "rubbish". Press release Paris La Defense, 11 June 2020 Albioma wins 2.9 MWp of solar projects in mainland France Albioma has announced today that it won an aggregate capacity of 2.9 MWp in the government's call for tenders (CRE4) for "solar power plants on buildings with a capacity between 100 kWp and 8 MWp in March 2020. This capacity is spread over four projects, located in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur regions, where Albioma has been operating since December 2018, following the acquisition of Eneco France. Construction of these projects will begin in 2020 with commissioning scheduled for 2021. Next on the agenda: release of first-half 2020 results, on 27 July 2020 (post trading). About Albioma Contacts Independent renewable energy producer, Albioma is committed to the energy transition thanks to biomass and photovoltaics. The Group operates in the French overseas departments, mainland France, Mauritius and Brazil. For 25 years it has been developing a unique partnership with the sugar industry, producing renewable energy from bagasse, a fibrous residue of sugar cane. Albioma is also the leading generator of photovoltaic power overseas, where it constructs and operates innovative projects with integrated storage capabilities. Albioma has recently strengthened its position in solar power in metropolitan France. Investors Julien Gauthier +33 (0)1 47 76 67 00 Media Charlotte Neuvy +33 (0)1 47 76 66 65 presse@albioma.com Albioma shares are listed on NYSE EURONEXT PARIS (compartment B) and eligible for the PEA equity savings plans and for deferred settlement service (SRD) (ISIN FR0000060402 ticker symbol ABIO). The Group is also included in the Gaia Index, the benchmark for socially-responsible mid-caps. www.albioma.com Attachment New Delhi, June 12 : Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Friday said that ramping-up bed capacity and medical resources should be the topmost priority in handling the pandemic so that a surge in COVID-19 cases does not overwhelm the healthcare system. The statement was made in a meeting held with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Health Minister, Commissioner of Police and District Magistrates to review the containment zones' management strategies. During the meeting, Baijal reiterated that LED display boards should be put up by the hospitals to show the availability of beds and that it should be ensured that all those who are in need of medical care are attended to. At the outset, the Lt Governor stated that the objective is to break the chain of transmission and reduce the morbidity and mortality rate of COVID-19. He directed all District Magistrates and Deputy Commissioners of Police to focus on proper delineation, strict perimeter control, intensified IEC, active house to house surveillance with a special focus on the high risk population for their effective management as per the government's guidelines. Baijal advised those attending the meeting to constructively engage RWAs, MTAs and volunteers for managing containment zones and enforcing preventive measures. He urged field functionaries to ensure mobility restrictions, social distancing measures, hygienic practices, quarantine of contacts, risk communication and awareness among the public on preventive and public health measures to contain COVID-19 and its further spread. The Lt Governor added that a large number of COVID-19 patients are in home isolation and all efforts should be made for timely response in terms of testing, triaging and shifting of patients to the required level of dedicated COVID facilities to ensure proper medical care. He directed the authorities to closely monitor senior citizens and persons with co-morbid or underlying medical conditions. The Divisional Commissioner made a detailed presentation about the status of COVID-19 in Delhi. It was informed that up to June 11, 2020 there were a total of 34867 confirmed cases in Delhi out of which 12731 patients have recovered. 77.8% of the active cases are recuperating in home isolation and 242 containment zones are active in Delhi at present. Baijal was also apprised about cluster analysis and the district wise trend of COVID-19. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text To the Times: As I walk the trails of Swarthmores Crum Creek Park, I cant help but notice plastic litter strewn throughout the greenery. We depend on areas like this for respite, but the sight of loose grocery bags only reminds us of our current environmental crisis, and the countless stories like this one that span our state. To mitigate this issue, we need to ban single-use plastics like disposable bags and foam takeout containers. Unfortunately, the Pennsylvania Legislature has just passed an indefinite ban on municipal single-use plastic ordinances. This preemption, included in the state budget, will prevent communities from banning single-use plastic. Currently, only 9 percent of plastic packaging is ever recycled, with the rest ending up as litter or in landfills. This waste takes an economic toll, with $13 million dollars in litter cleanup spent by PennDOT annually. So how do we solve this? If municipalities want to be protected from litter, then they need to cut off its production at the source. Municipalities across the state have worked hard to draft plastic bans in past years, so its clear that this solution is popular. If we want to protect our towns from harmful single-use plastics, then we must fight preemptions, and join countless other municipalities in banning single-use plastics. Maya Rozin, Swarthmore Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images President Donald Trump says Seattles Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, a largely police-free community space fashioned amid protests, is run by domestic terrorists. Seattles police department made (and walked back) a claim about anarchists extorting businesses in the area. But actual businesses around the zone say theyre watching Ava DuVernay films, handing out granola bars, and having a nice time. Following several nights of showdowns between police and protesters, in which cops made liberal use of tear gas and flash grenades, Seattle reached a detente with activists on June 9. The city would open up a few streets for Black Lives Matter marches in its Capitol Hill neighborhood, and police would evacuate the nearby precinct. With police mostly gone, activistsincluding a mix of Black Lives Matter organizers, anarchists, and the two groups overlapset up barricades around several blocks and proceeded to turn the interior into a sort of cop-free commune. Local businesses are chipping in with free food and open bathrooms, despite rumors that activists were holding them prisoner in their own beer halls and indie movie theaters. But the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or CHAZ as it quickly became known, has inevitably became the focus of conservative hand-wringing. Domestic Terrorists have taken over Seattle, Trump tweeted late Wednesday, alongside a demand that state and local officials take back your city NOW. If you dont do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stopped IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST! The president has continued to inveigh about the allegedly dangerous project underway there. Trump Goes After George Floyd Protesters and Lincolns Questionable Legacy in Bizarre Fox News Interview Seattle Police circulated their own talking points about the CHAZ. Weve heard, anecdotally, reports of citizens and businesses being asked to pay a fee to operate within this area, Assistant Chief of Police Deanna Nollette said on Wednesday. This is the crime of extortion. If anyone has been subjected to this, we need them to call 911. Story continues Not only is that not true, local business owner Gay Gilmore told The Daily Beast, but some businesses are actually opening to protesters for the first time after long closures for COVID-19. Rumors that businesses have actually been tithed or taxed by the autonomous zone [are] absurd, said Gilmore, who co-owns the Optimism Brewing Company with her husband. No one is doing that there. I have no idea where that idea came from and I'm in contact with lots of the businesses who are in this neighborhood. Local business associations made the same observations. GSBA and Capitol Hill Business Alliance have also reached out to businesses in the area, and we have found no evidence of this occurring, the Greater Seattle Business Association tweeted on Thursday. The few concrete claims of discomfort stem from a Seattle Post-Intelligencer article that cites unnamed businesses worried about safety, and reports of at least one person carrying a gun on the scene. (Washington is an open-carry state, although Seattle banned weapons in an emergency order on May 30.) The Seattle Times traced the extortion rumors to a fringe Canadian blog that focuses almost pathologically on overheated fears about leftist activists. That article cited unnamed police sources, who allegedly claimed businesses were being extorted. Those claims spread quickly through the right-wing media sphere, until police repeated them on Wednesday, prompting more articles and completing the ouroboros of extortion rumors. The department appeared to backtrack on those claims Thursday, stating its anecdotal reports had come from media and social media. That has not happened affirmatively, Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best said during the Thursday evening press conference. We haven't had any formal reports of this occurring. The zones Northwest Film Forum, Northwest Liquor and Wine, and Pel Meni Dumpling Tzar all told Seattles Q13 FOX News that businesses were not being extorted. Ive been talking with neighboring businesses and theyre all elated honestly, a Pel Meni employee told the station. Some businesses told the Seattle Times that their sales had actually improved, since people were placing walk-up orders that didnt require delivery fees. This protest has not hurt us at all, Brian O'Connor, co-owner of the zones Bok a Bok Chicken told the paper, adding that someone gave him a free sandwich when he entered the CHAZ. Mx. Pucks APlenty, a local activist and performer who asked to speak under their performance name, said Capitol Hill is a historically Black and queer neighborhood, and that that history informs locals interactions with the CHAZ. The people of Capitol Hill have been extremely giving, Pucks told The Daily Beast. They have helped provide supplies. They have helped take care of people when they were tear gassed. They had their phones turned on to the police and made sure that people of the world were watching what's happening here in Seattle. And so I think a portion of what we were seeing on, on the Hill right now is this desire to give back to a community that really did support what was happening in it. Rancho Bravo, a restaurant in the CHAZ, was hosting a medical tenteven after its trash cans were damaged in the protests, Pucks said. You have restaurants in the area making food and delivering it to people on the frontline, they added. You have the Vermilion [an art gallery and bar], which was storing supplies, giving out supplies. Optimisma large beer hall located just outside the barricaded areahas been closed for months as COVID-19 swept the country. The business is in debt, Gilmore said, adding that they were opening a proper reopening in a few weeks. Even so, she and her colleagues agreed to open the beer halls bathrooms for protesters, after seeing them line up for a pair of port-a-potties on the street. It was the one thing that we could do was to open the bathrooms. Her staff has even been volunteering and using the halls long tables to collect donations for CHAZ-dwellers, she added. I'm looking at three huge tables covered in water bottles and toilet paper rolls and tampons and bandaids and markers to make signs and granola bars and oranges and bananas, Gilmore said. CHAZ activists have used those donations to assemble bags of food for the homeless, part of an organic activism program that also includes teach-ins on racial justice and movie screenings at night. Ava DuVernays film 13th, which highlights racist underpinnings of Americas criminal justice system, screened Tuesday night. Its a radical change from the tear gas and flash bangs that dominated the streets just days ago, and echoes similar mutual aid networks set up in protest flashpoints like Minneapolis. Likewise, local businesses allying themselves with protesters echoed the solidarity on display during past activist waves, including Occupy Wall Street. For the past few days, it hasn't [ever] felt safer, Gilmore said of the neighborhood. I'm taking the paper down from our windows. We are getting ready to open, now that the police are not here. For all the progressive activism, however, Pucks expressed concern that the initial protestone for Black liveswas being lost in the noise. I think the concept in and of itself is amazing and brilliant, they said, but I am terrified that [it will] be at the expense of the Black Lives Matter movement. It will be at the expense of getting equity for Black folks, and that will get forgotten again. Theres gotta be a balance and Im struggling to see that. Pucks son is Black, autistic, and tall for his age. My investment in this is that I gave birth to a Black man and I don't want my son to be killed because he's having a bad day or he's having a bad moment, Pucks said. That's my place in this fight. I am not in the business of giving birth to black children to bury them. Threats like Trumps, which implied the National Guard or other armed forces might move on the CHAZ, added to concerns about Black lives in the zone. Whenever Trump tweets, its pretty alarming because were watching someone who doesnt feel like hes connected to the reality of things that are happening. I read a tweet from him and its like the Twilight Zone. It doesnt feel real, Pucks said. But, they added, none of this feels real. Sometimes I feel like, am I in the middle of a fever dream? Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. This atmosphere of celebration and patriotism is supported at Sheremetyevo Airport by the display of symbolic images, achievements and scenes from the history of Russia on 140 media screens at the forecourt plazas and terminals. Airport employees and passengers decorated terminal surfaces with Russian-language stickers. The campaign was joined by the team of doctors who had just returned from Vladikavkaz, led by Konstantin Pokrovsky, head of the Vorokhobov Surgery Center of the City Clinical Hospital No. 67. The Moscow medical team completed a two-week humanitarian mission to protect the population of the Caucasus from coronavirus infection. Some of them were members of the first medical teams that had previously worked in Terminal F of Sheremetyevo when meeting passengers of international flights from epidemiologically disadvantaged countries. The doctors placed posters with the message #RussiaWeAreTogether (#) on the windows along the path from the gate to the baggage claim area. Images produced in a classic federal style greeted passengers and visitors of the airport in a show of national pride. In commemoration of Russia Day, the state flags of Russia were placed at the entrance to the terminals of Sheremetyevo Airport. Holiday greetings were broadcast over speakers in the terminals on June 12, and videos featuring employees are being published on the airport's social media. Russia Day is a national holiday of love for the Homeland, a symbol of Russian unity, strength and faith. Sheremetyevo International Airport is among the TOP-10 airport hubs in Europe, the largest Russian airport in terms of passenger and cargo traffic. In 2019, the airport served 49 million 933 thousand passengers, which was 8.9% more than in 2018. SOURCE Sheremetyevo International Airport Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media NORWALK State and local police are investigating the deaths of two people from self-inflicted gunshot wounds that happened hours apart on Thursday. The first incident happened around noon Thursday, when police say a man shot himself inside the Fairfield County Firearms & Archery gun range on New Canaan Avenue. Photo: The Canadian Press Leader of the Opposition Andrew Scheer leaves a news conference, Friday, June 12, 2020 in Ottawa. Scheer wants Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne to explain how his holding two mortgages with a Chinese bank doesn't compromise his ability to deal with the People's Republic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer called Friday for Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne to explain how his two mortgages with a Chinese state bank don't compromise his ability to handle Canada's tense relations with the People's Republic. Those mortgages on two properties in Britain he bought before entering politics were fully disclosed when Champagne was elected in 2015 and have no bearing on his ability to do his job, the minister's spokesman responded. In a morning news conference, Scheer said Champagne is Canada's top diplomat and China's communist leaders can use the $1.2 million he owes on two London properties to the Bank of China as leverage at a time of strained relations. "Owing someone over a million dollars that's pretty big leverage," he said. Champagne's spokesman Adam Austen said the minister disclosed the two mortgages to the ethics commissioner when he entered politics in 2015 and they were part of the public record. "When he entered politics, the two mortgages with Bank of China (UK) Ltd. along with all his other liabilities and assets have been fully disclosed to the ethics commissioner and have been placed in the online registry," Austen said Friday. "Neither of these mortgages or any of his other liabilities have ever had any bearing on his function as a public office holder." The mortgages became a subject of controversy following a report in the Globe and Mail newspaper this week. On Friday, Scheer pointed to the ongoing dispute that has seen two Canadian men arbitrarily detained by China since December 2018 and the fact Canada is dependent on Chinese supplies of personal protective equipment for COVID-19. Relations between Canada and China have been severely strained since the RCMP arrested Chinese high-tech scion Meng Wanzhou on an American extradition warrant in December 2018. China arrested Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor nine days later in what is widely viewed as retaliation and has levelled accusations of spying against them. "When it comes to China, our absolute priority of course is the cases of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor and all of the other Canadians who are detained in China," said Austen. "The minister works every day to pursue a policy with regards to China that has their well-being at its core." Canada calls their detention "arbitrary" and has marshalled a broad coalition of international support calling for their release and that has angered Chinese leaders. Scheer questioned why Champagne's latest disclosure was made on June 4, four days ago. "So did the minister disclose both mortgages when he was elected in 2015 or not?" The short answer, said Austen, is yes. "It's been fully disclosed to the ethics commissioner since 2015, and it's been placed in the public registry since 2015," Austen said, adding the most recent update to the public registry was done as part of Champagne's annual disclosure, as required. Austen declined to comment on Scheer's characterization of Champagne's real estate holdings. Austen said that before Champagne entered politics in 2015, he lived and worked in London and bought two apartments in 2009 and 2013, which he continues to own and rent. "At the time, Bank of China, (UK) Ltd., was one of a limited number of lenders who were providing mortgages to the individuals who were living in the U.K. on temporary work visas, as the minister was at that time." Champagne was appointed to his current cabinet post after last fall's federal election, following stints as trade minister and infrastructure minister. In his first week on the job, he pressed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi about Kovrig and Spavor in a face-to-face meeting at a G20 meeting in Japan. "I took the opportunity to express Canada's deep concern over the case of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who have been arbitrarily detained in China for almost a year. These cases are my (absolute) priority as foreign minister of Canada," Champagne told reporters at the time. "In particular, I expressed my concern and the concern of all Canadians regarding the conditions of their detention. Minister Wang and I committed to our continuing conversation and to continue to be discussing this issue." An Accra High Court on Friday directed the Attorney General (AG) to file the witness statement of the second prosecution witness in the trial of Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and Mr Anthony Kwaku Boahen by June 19, 2020. This followed an application to the court by Mr Ashong Okai, a Senior State Attorney for the prosecution to be given sometime to file the statements. Meanwhile the accused are challenging the constitutionality of the tendering in of some documents in the trial which included an audio tape at the Supreme Court. Mr Tony Lithur, counsel for Mr Ofosu-Ampofo told the Court that he would seek an earlier date at the Supreme Court for the hearing of that application on the tendered evidence. The Court presided over by Justice Samuel K. Asiedu has scheduled the trial dates to July 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17, 2020. Earlier, Counsel for Mr Ofosu Ampofo, who is also the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress applied for a stay of proceedings but the Court refused, but counsel went ahead to appeal the refusal at the Court of Appeal but later withdrew that appeal before proceeding to the Supreme Court. The lawyer had earlier cited Rule 27, of which Justice Asiedu in his ruling, said that though it had become a common practice for lawyers to cite Rule 27 as their authority when applying for stay of proceedings. He said however that the inherent power to stay proceedings applies to civil cases not criminal proceedings, adding that Rule 27 does not apply in criminal cases but falls under part two of the rules to civil cases brought before the Court of Appeal. Mr Lithur told the Court that the trial could only proceed if the automatic seven days pending the appeal to quash the admission of the witness statement by the Court had elapsed. The AG said the first prosecution witness in his evidence-in-chief identified his signature on the witness statement and did not object to his witness statement during the Case Management Conference stage. Mr Ampofo and Mr Boahen, Deputy Communications Director, of the party are facing charges including, conspiracy to cause harm and assault on Professor Emmanuel Asante, Chairman of the National Peace Council and Madam Jean Mensa, the Electoral Commission chairperson. They are on a GH100,000.00 bail each with a surety each. It would be recalled that on January 31, 2019, a by-election was conducted at the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency as a result of the demise of its Member of Parliament. Prosecution said there were disturbances in the course of the elections and on February 3, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo met the Partys Communications Directors at its Headquarters located at Adabraka, a suburb of Accra. The Prosecution said the meeting was recorded of which on that audio tape which was circulated later in a cross-section of the media, contained a set-up of a road-map of criminal activities targeted at the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Chairman of the National Peace Council. Prosecution said the tape was intercepted by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police Service. The Prosecution said Mr Ofosu Ampofo on the audio also incited the communicators of the Party to molest both the EC and Peace Council Chairpersons. The prosecution said that the orchestrated electoral violence plot was going to be attributed to the New Patriotic Party, which is the ruling Party. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. Janet Mills on Friday accelerated the date that lodging businesses can welcome out-of-state visitors, citing encouraging signs in several testing benchmarks during the pandemic. Lodging establishments can welcome out-of-state visitors on June 26, instead of July 1, as long as they meet the 14-day quarantine requirement or the new testing alternative. New Hampshire and Vermont residents are exempt from the requirements and were allowed to book rooms effective Friday. The Mills administration said the move allows more tourists to spend the week leading up to the Fourth of July in Maine. Maine looks forward to safely welcoming out of state visitors to enjoy all that Maine has to offer during the Fourth of July holiday, Heather Johnson, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, said in a statement. Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control, announced Friday that there had been no deaths for three consecutive days and that the cumulative positivity rate for testing dipped to 4.63%. The trend seems to be moving in our favour, he said. The governor defended the administrations actions in light of the encouraging test results. It says that what were doing is working, she said. The number of positive tests for the virus grew by 54 to a total of 2,721. The number of deaths held steady at 100. For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. Other coronavirus-related developments in Maine: ___ SCHOOL OPENING The Maine Department of Education says it, not local school boards, will determine when students return to classrooms. The department said it will do so in consultation with the Maine Emergency Management Agency and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. But local education officials will be responsible for details including classroom configurations to ensure social distancing. The draft plan, released Thursday, would require staffers to wear masks and encourage students to do so, as well. Maine schools closed in March to control the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. ___ NOVEL TREATMENT The first Mainer to receive transfusions of antibody-rich blood plasma says he remembers dreams of two groups chanting while he was on a ventilator for 18 days. Richard Stevenson said one group was chanting, Let him die, let him die, let him die! while the other chanted Go Rich, go Rich, go Rich! Stevenson, of Vinalhaven, told the Bangor Daily News that he credits his survival to the plasma transfusions at Mid Coast Hospital. He was the first person in Maine to get the experimental therapy. Stevenson believes he was exposed in December on an airplane long before the virus became widely known in the U.S. He never knew for sure whether he had COVID-19 then. But his symptoms returned, and he tested positive in March. He was weaned from the ventilator little more than a week after receiving plasma donated by COVID-19 survivors. Im the luckiest person on earth, is how I feel, he said. CLEVELAND, Ohio Two Pennsylvania men were indicted on federal conspiracy charges that accused them of bringing a gun and fire-starting materials to last months protests in Cleveland, authorities said Friday. A grand jury charged Devon Poland, 22, and Brandon Althof Long, 23, both of Erie, in a four-count indictment involving the May 30 demonstrations. They are accused of conspiracy to riot and cause civil disorder; conspiracy to use fire to commit a felony; interstate travel to riot; and transporting a firearm in furtherance of civil disorder. In documents filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Cleveland, Assistant U.S. Attorney Duncan Brown said Poland sent a message to an unidentified person on Snapchat, saying, Im going to Cleveland to riot. In another message to the same person, Poland wrote, Im gonna see if I cant break into a designer store, according to the filings. Earlier in the day, Poland wrote to another person, saying, Im going to set s--t on fire, according to Browns filing. The protests began peacefully downtown over the case of George Floyd, who died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than 8 minutes. The protests later turned violent, as some demonstrators burned police cars and vandalized stores and the Justice Center. Police arrested dozens, and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson ordered a curfew that he subsequently extended for six days. More charges are expected. A task force of Cleveland police and FBI agents is examining photographs and videos of the protest to identify others involved. In documents, an FBI agent said the two men discussed going to Pittsburgh or Cleveland to see the protests. They decided on Cleveland and drove about 90 miles to the city. They were initially stopped by Cleveland police and charged with curfew violations at 11:55 p.m. May 30 off Huron Road. Officers found a .45-caliber Glock, two bottles of fire starters and spray paint in Longs car, according to records prosecutors filed. Long said he carried the Glock for protection, but he did not take it during the demonstrations. Cleveland police turned the case over to the FBI. Authorities obtained a warrant to search the mens phones and found the messages. This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing you can witness and maybe participate in, Long wrote to Poland before they left Erie, according to the affidavits. Poland later asked, Should we bring Molotov supplies? Long responded: Sadly enough, I think I have everything needed for a Molotov in my car. Like normal. Poland also sent a message to someone else moments before he was stopped by Cleveland police in which he said that he and others broke into some bars. I gotta whole a-- bottle of liquor, according to Browns filing. Maria Goellner, an attorney who represented Poland after his Pennsylvania arrest, could not be reached for comment. Mitchell Yelsky, Longs attorney, said, The government has yet to show me any evidence that Brandon committed any act of violence or provoked or encouraged anyone to commit violence in the city of Cleveland. One of the more perplexing arguments made in recent days is that toppling, relocating or removing old statues amounts to the erasure of history. It is in fact the very opposite: it is history. To seek a fuller understanding of the past is not wrecking, but restoring, salvaging and deepening history. History is not just a set of facts but a series of questions, a mode of inquiry that seeks to comprehend and put flesh on dates, events and places, to understand and include all possible perspectives, all while knowing that, until about 50 years ago, history was almost solely written by white men, about white men. This history was comprised of flawed, incomplete and often deceptive stories that not only excluded vital records, but were frequently used for propaganda purposes, and the buffering of myths like: all war is good, mighty and noble, if somewhat sad; the expansion of empire was jolly impressive; all important people sat in parliament or courts; and women and non-white people have not done particularly much of note for millennia. Why do people panic when this is pointed out? How could a modern prime minister baldly state there was no slavery in Australia? When tens of thousands of Pacific Islanders were kidnapped or coerced to work as slave labourers on cotton and sugar plantations here, a practice known as blackbirding? And First Nations people were forced to work unpaid on cattle stations, kept, wrote the chief protector in the Northern Territory in 1927, in a servitude that is nothing short of slavery? Description Hosted by Gordon Robertson, Written in Stone takes you on a visual journey through the Bible. In the first release, Jesus of Nazareth, you can retrace the life of Jesus, from His birth in Bethlehem to His death and resurrection in Jerusalem. Where did Jesus live? Where did He teach? Where was He tried by Pontius Pilate? And do we know for sure where He was born and where He died? Some of the answers may surprise you. From excavations in Israel to some of the worlds most famous museums, this docuseries reveals how archaeology affirms the truth of the Bible. Written in Stone: Jesus of Nazareth is the newest production from CBN Films. I AM PATRICK: The Patron Saint of Ireland was released on St. Patricks Day in 2020 to universal acclaim. In 2019, Treasures of the Second Temple uncovered tantalizing evidence that points to the final resting place of Israels greatest treasure. To Life premiered in 2018 and told the story of how Israeli volunteers are changing the world through the Jewish tradition of tikkun olam. In 2017, In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem marked the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day Warpremiering to sold-out showings. In 2015, the Emmy-nominated docudrama, The Hope: The Rebirth of Israel, told the extraordinary journey through the 50 years that preceded the founding of the modern State of Israel. And, in 2014, CBN produced Made in Israel, which was nominated for three Emmy awards. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 20:08:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Aerial photo taken on June 12, 2020 shows a vessel and a fire engine extinguishing fire during the emergency drill at Macun port of Haikou Port in south China's Hainan Province. The drill held by the marine bureau of Haikou simulated an emergency situation caused by the leaking of a ship loaded with dangerous cargos. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) SBC could elect Rolland Slade as first black chair of executive committee Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Eight years after electing Fred Luter Jr. as the denominations first black president, the Southern Baptist Convention could soon elect California Pastor Rolland Slade, 62, as the first black chairman of its executive committee. Slade, who is senior pastor of Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon, California, is expected to be nominated to lead the committee that acts on behalf of the SBCs 47,000 churches between annual meetings next Tuesday, the Houston Chronicle reported. He currently serves as the committees vice chairman and no other candidates have been announced to replace Mike Stone, the present chair. Slade told the publication on Thursday that it would be humbling to become the first black chair of the executive committee. The news comes amid civil unrest over racial injustice sparked by the death of George Floyd and as SBC President J.D. Greear endorsed the black lives matter movement as a Gospel issue to members of the world's largest Baptist denomination on Wednesday. Greear noted that even though the SBC was started by Baptists who defended slavery, the denomination has evolved to become one of the most ethnically diverse religious groups in America today. A lot of people dont know that, but nearly 20% of all Southern Baptist churches are majority non-white and the North American Mission Board tells us that more than 60% of new churches planted recently have been planted and led by people of color, Greear said. Thank God for His grace. Gods grace writes new stories. He lamented, however, that the organizations leadership did not reflect the diversity of its congregations and they were working to change that. Sadly, our leadership does not yet reflect this great gift of diversity that God has given to our membership. So I along with your vice presidents are gonna continue to work on this within our appointments to make that a priority, Greear said. We realize that especially in a moment like this one, we need our brothers and sisters of color. We need the wisdom of leadership that God has written in their community. We know that many in our country, particularly our brothers and sisters of color, right now are hurting. Jared Wellman, the executive committee member who nominated Slade, told the Houston Chronicle that he is the most qualified candidate to chair the committee based on his work with the SBC. The fact that the most qualified person for the job is African American should encourage the SBC in our pursuit of an ethnic diversity that represents the coming Kingdom of God and the people God has called us to reach, Wellman said. Along with continuing to support reforms in how the denomination deals with sexual abuse, Slade also noted that he would work on improving communication between members of the executive committee, which has recently been plagued by infighting and internal disagreements. I know that there are few and far times when we get to be absolutely on the same page, he told the Chronicle. And it is my hope that when we look at what page we should be on, we should look to Gods Word to find that page and not the page of public opinion, news reports or political parties. While the executive committee does not control or direct the activities of the SBCs agencies, it reviews their financial statements and recommends the denominations annual operating budget. It also receives and distributes Southern Baptist funding for denominational ministries, acts as the recipient and trust agency for all SBC properties, and provides public relations and news services. Germany Urged To Prosecute Iranian Judge Linked To 'Torture' Of Journalists 06/12/20 By Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has filed a complaint with Germany's Federal Public Prosecutor against an Iranian judge whom the Paris-based media freedom watchdog accuses of being responsible for the "arrest and torture" of at least 20 journalists in 2013. In a Twitter post on June 11, RSF's Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said that Gholamreza Mansouri was currently in Germany. "The prosecutor must not let him escape justice!" he wrote. Iranian judge Gholamreza Mansouri The move comes two days after the London-based rights group Justice for Iran called for information that could lead to Mansouri's prosecution in Germany. Citing the testimony of "a significant number" of journalists, Justice for Iran said in a statement that Mansouri was "responsible for issuing arrest warrants against them." "These journalists were interrogated for months in [Tehran's] Evin prison in solitary confinement and pressured to confess against themselves and others." Mansouri is among several judges who were accused of corruption during the high-profile trial of a former senior judiciary official that opened in Tehran on June 7. 'Full Trust In The Islamic Republic' Officials have claimed that the judge, who has left the country, had received a bribe of 50,000 euros ($57,000). In a video posted online on June 8, Mansouri didn't give details about his whereabouts, but he said he would return to Iran as soon as travel restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic are eased. "I have full trust in the Islamic republic, Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei], and the judicial system," Mansouri said in the video, adding that he was proud of having served in the Iranian judiciary for three decades. Some media reports said Mansouri went abroad to receive medical treatment. Iran ranks 173th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2020 World Press Freedom Index. In recent years, Iranian authorities have detained and imprisoned dozens of journalists, bloggers, and media workers following trials described as unfair by human rights defenders. Scores of media publications have been also closed. About the author: Golnaz Esfandiari is a senior correspondent with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. She can be reached at esfandiarig@rferl.org DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran has signed a two-year contract with Iraq to export electricity to the neighbouring country, Iranian state news agency IRNA on Thursday quoted the country's Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian as saying. The agreement comes amid sanctions reimposed on Iran since 2018 which forbid countries from purchasing Iranian energy. U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 exited Iran's 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed the sanctions on Tehran that have battered its economy. "We signed a contract with Iraq for exporting electricity in 2020 and 2021," said Ardakanian, who travelled to Iraq on Wednesday. "With coordination of the Iranian embassy in Iraq, half of the disbursement worth $400 million was received during the trip." U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in May that Washington will grant a 120-day sanctions waiver for Iraq to continue importing electricity from Iran to help the new Iraqi government succeed. Washington has repeatedly extended the sanctions exemption for Baghdad to use crucial Iranian energy supplies for its power grid for periods of 90 or 120 days, but in April it granted an extension for only 30 days as Baghdad struggled to form a new government. Ardakanian said Tehran and Baghdad have reviewed a three-year plan for reconstructing the Iraqi electricity industry by the Iranian private sector. "Iranian technical and expert delegations will visit Iraq next week to sign two important contracts on reducing power grid losses and repairing electricity equipment," Ardakanian said. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SHARC International Systems Inc. (CSE: SHRC) (FSE: IWIA) (OTCQB: INTWF) ("SHARC Energy" or the Company) announces that due to high demand of the financing closed May 29th, 2020, the Company has allotted a 35% greenshoe option and it has closed a non-brokered private placement of convertible debenture units (Debenture Units) for gross proceeds of $700,000 (the Offering). The proceeds will be used for sales and marketing and general working capital purposes. Each Debenture Unit consists of: (i) $1,000 principal amount of 2.0% unsecured convertible debentures (the Debentures); and (ii) 3,333 warrants (the Warrants). The Debentures will bear interest from their issue date at 2.0% per annum calculated and payable semi-annually in arrears on June 30 and December 31 of each year commencing on June 30, 2020 and will mature three years following the closing of the Offering (the Maturity Date). The Debentures are unsecured and will rank pari passu in right of payment of principal and interest with all the existing and future unsecured indebtedness of the Company. The Debentures, (including any accrued and unpaid interest) will be convertible at the option of the holder into common shares of the Company (the Common Shares) at any time after June 12, 2021 and prior to the close of business on the last business day prior to the Maturity Date at a conversion price of $0.15 per Common Share. Each Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one Common Share (a Warrant Share) at an exercise price of $0.25 per Warrant Share for a period of three years following the Closing Date. The Debenture Units will be eligible for RRSP, RESP, RRIF, TFSA and DPSP accounts. The Debentures and the Warrants comprising each Debenture Unit, and any Common Shares issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof, are subject to a statutory four month and one day hold period until October 13, 2020. In connection with the Offering, the Company paid eligible finders an aggregate cash fee of $34,475 and issued 69 compensation warrants to eligible finders (the Compensation Warrants). Each Compensation Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Unit of the Company at an exercise price of $1,000 for a period of three years following the date of issuance. The Debenture Units issuable upon exercise of the Compensation Warrants are on the same terms as the Debenture Units sold under the Offering. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This financing provides additional capital that will be used to support sales and marketing efforts, says Hanspaul Pannu, Chief Financial Officer of Sharc International Systems Inc. As we continue to build our customer lead pipeline and work to bring leads to close, this capital also provides the Company some additional flexibility in dealing with current and future challenges created by COVID-19 related delays. About SHARC International Systems SHARC International Systems Inc. is a world leader in thermal heat recovery. SHARC systems recycle thermal energy from wastewater, generating one of the most energy efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water preheating for commercial, residential and industrial buildings. SHARC is publicly traded in Canada (CSE: SHRC), the United States (OTCQB: INTWF) and Germany (Frankfurt: IWIA). Further information about the Company is available on our website at www.sharcenergy.com or under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Lynn Mueller Chairman and Chief Executive Officer For further information, please contact: Investor Relations Phoenix Group Jason Shepherd SHARC International Systems Inc. Telephone: (250) 212-2122 Email: jason.shepherd@sharcenergy.com The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. SHARC's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. SHARC believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof, and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. What's left of the Islamic State is being attacked and harassed by the Palestinian-led Jerusalem Brigade, who are clearing hideouts and uncovering sleeper cells writes Al-Masdar. Recently, the Palestinian-led Jerusalem Brigade (Liwaa al-Quds) has been conducting a wide-scale combing operation against the Islamic State (ISIS) in the vast Syrian desert region. Backed by the Syrian army, the Jerusalem Brigade has been eliminating ISIS hideouts and dens, while also clearing areas believed to harbor ISIS sleeper cells in the Badiya al-Sham region between the governorates of Homs, Damascus, and Deir ez-Zor. Thus far, the operation has proven successful, as the Jerusalem Brigade has forced the ISIS terrorists to either surrender themselves, fight, or flee further into this vast desert region. In a video released by the Palestinian-led group this week, they can be seen blowing up ISIS bases and attacking the terrorist group throughout the Badiya al-Sham region. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporations new lending requirements will likely drive greater purchasing activity as many hopeful homeowners will attempt to beat the July 1 effectivity date of the tightened standards, industry players say. The new rules impose a minimum credit score of 680, a maximum debt-service ratio of 44, and a gross debt-service ratio of 35. Non-traditional sources of down payment that increase indebtedness will no longer be treated as equity for insurance purposes, CMHC said in its announcement late last week. We have also suspended refinancing for multi-unit mortgage insurance except when the funds are used for repairs or reinvestment in housing. Asbury Park restaurants wont be allowed to reopen for indoor dining Monday after all now that a state judge has issued a temporary injunction blocking the move just hours after Gov. Phil Murphy announced Friday the state was suing the city over the issue. Its the latest development in a quickly escalating battle between Murphy and the Jersey Shore dining destination as the governor gradually allows businesses to reopen after months of lockdowns to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The brisk ruling from state Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy, a former state attorney general, says Asbury Park is enjoined and restrained from executing, implementing or otherwise enforcing it recent ordinance permitting city restaurants to offer indoor dining at least until the next hearing in the case July 10. Thats unless Murphy allows indoor dining statewide before then. Shortly after the ruing, Asbury Parks council released a statement saying it will advise its restaurants not to proceed with indoor dining Monday because it could jeopardize your businesss liquor licenses and subject violators to fines and other penalties" from the state. But outdoor dining will be allowed in the city under state guidelines, the council said. We hope our position will encourage the State of New Jersey to outline guidelines for indoor dining in the upcoming weeks, the council added. We invite Governor Murphy to our city next week to meet with the local restaurant community and discuss alternate opportunities to support these businesses who rely heavily on the summer months. Meanwhile, Asbury Park Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn wrote on Twitter: Fingers crossed this stand motivates (the governor) to meet with our small biz community and propose guidelines for indoor dining." Going to be asking our restaurants NOT to open for indoor dining Monday. Fingers crossed this stand motivates @GovMurphy to meet with our small biz community and propose guidelines for indoor dining. pic.twitter.com/0Pe1ma6x38 Amy Quinn (@amyquinn) June 12, 2020 Murphy said Friday afternoon at his daily coronavirus briefing the state tried to work with city leaders to amicably resolve the issue of their resolution regarding indoor dining." Unfortunately, they have not done so, the governor said. We have one set of rules and they are based on one principle: ensuring public health." The issue started Wednesday night, when the Asbury Park council voted to allow local restaurants to open for indoor service on June 15, at 25% capacity or 50 customers and staff, whichever is lower. That matches a move Murphy made two days earlier, when he raised the limits on indoor gatherings in New Jersey to those perimeters as the states COVID-19 outbreak continues to slow. But while the state is allowing outdoor dining to resume Monday as the state begins Stage 2 of its reopening plan, Murphy stressed indoor dining will remain barred, even with the new indoor gathering limits. He said the new limits were designed more to allow houses of worship to have larger services again. The governor has repeatedly said reopening indoor businesses and activities remains more dangerous than those outdoors. Theres just no question this virus is multiples more lethal inside than outside, Murphy said Friday. And then when you add to that lack of ventilation, sedentary, close proximity, theres a reason. Theres a method to what were doing here, folks, in many respects, not just relying on the data and the notion that public health creates economic health. But were taking steps ... in small batches so that weve got some amount of control variables that (health officials) can look at and figure out. Murphy promised we will get there on indoor dining or other indoor activities. But we have to get there at the right time and responsibly, he said, noting that the states rate of transmission must continue to be driven toward the ground and safety protocols must be in place. We will do whatever it takes to save any life we can, Murphy added. New Jerseys restaurant industry is reeling after months of being limited to takeout and delivery service during the pandemic, and preparing for outdoor dining is a challenge in its own right. No one thought indoor dining was on the table, and no one expected to get just three days notice to prepare for the major step toward fully reopening. The majority of Asbury Park restaurants reached by NJ Advance Media on Thursday said they had no plans to partake in indoor dining, with some predicting that Murphy would indeed block the decision. This indoor thing kind of threw us for a loop," Shanti Mignogna, the co-owner of pizza restaurant Talulas said. "To be honest, I think were going to spin our wheels for nothing because I doubt the governor is going to allow it. For now, were just moving forward with outdoor and trying to make it great and safe for everyone. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Dallas Hlatky, COO of the Smith Group which owns popular spots Porta, Pascal & Sabine, Brickwall Tavern and The Annex says she didnt receive reassurance from Asbury Park that restaurants would be protected from penalties if they reopened indoor dining. I asked a question at the council meeting: Im assuming you guys have looked at this from every angle, and that you dont believe that this will be an issue, like you found a legal loophole, youre coming out front and thats why youre doing this? And they said, No, were just using our common sense,'" Hlatky said. On Thursday, Murphy warned Asbury Park and any other towns or businesses that violate his orders that there will be enforcement. He said the goal is avoiding new spikes in cases and deaths that other states have seen lately. Weve gone through hell," Murphy said. "Please, lets not go back through it. Murphys administration had previously shut down a gym in Bellmawr for violating lockdown and recently closed a Northfield movie theater that reopened. That the Asbury Park showdown has risen to the level of a lawsuit is a surprise because Murphy is a Democrat and the city is predominantly Democratic. But the situation has become sticky for the governor. Murphy has faced sustained criticism in recent days after he violated his own executive order banning large gatherings he attended a pair of Black Lives Matter protests Sunday. Republicans have accused him of hypocrisy. On Tuesday, Murphy increased the limit on both indoor and outdoor gatherings in New Jersey and said outdoor protests and religious events are exempted from any limits. New Jersey, a densely populated state of 9 million residents, has reported 12,489 known deaths attributed to COVID-19, with 166,164 known cases, in the 101 days since the outbreak here started March 4. Only New York has more deaths and cases among U.S. states. State officials on Friday reported 48 new deaths and 495 new cases in New Jersey. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Experts agree the CDC needs to be expanded, but disagree on how. Chinese health officials and medical experts are locked in a wide-ranging debate over how to strengthen the countrys public health system, after the coronavirus pandemic exposed gaps in its disease control and prevention mechanisms. At the center of the discussion is the future status of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC). Although the agency has been at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19, it effectively functions as a research and advisory body under the National Health Commission (NHC), Chinas health ministry. China CDCs lack of independence from the NHC has drawn criticism since the start of the outbreak. Officials and experts interviewed by Caixin said China should take inspiration from the American disease control system and grant the China CDC more decision-making authority, funding, and resources. But they disagree on what form the overhaul should take. The status of the China CDC The China CDC operates differently from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), which is a federal government agency, according to Chen Zhuo, an associate professor of health policy and management at the University of Georgia who previously worked for the American agency. Although the China CDC supports the NHCs efforts to maintain public health through research, planning and disease surveillance, it is subservient to it. The U.S. CDC has more authority to determine policy and conduct public health work across states and borders, Chen told Caixin in an interview. That means the China CDC generally has much smaller capacity than the U.S. CDC, Chen said. Compared to its Chinese counterpart, the U.S. CDC is also less affected by the work of the health department, has more statutory power, and has more power to direct federal funding toward state and county health departments to buttress local-level capacity, he said. That difference in stature can be seen in how the Chinese and American systems handle public health announcements. Technically, the U.S. CDCs leadership doesnt need White House permission to notify the public of health risks, Chen said. In China, the health commission has that authority, not the China CDC. Some Chinese officials, including the countrys top epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan, have previously called on the government to give the China CDC a status akin to its U.S. counterpart. We need to raise the position of disease control centers and give them a certain amount of administrative power, Zhong said at a February news conference. If we dont reform them in this way, the next epidemic will appear. Current China CDC Director Gao Fu said last month at the annual gathering of Chinas top legislature in Beijing that the agency cannot actively shape policy and lacks communication lines to senior ministers. He proposed the government grant the China CDC more decision-making power, more-direct channels to top leaders, and more authority to notify the public about outbreaks. In the same vein, NHC Vice-Director Li Bin said at a State Council Press Conference last month that the country was actively discussing the need to modernize disease control by focusing on defenses against infectious diseases and fast-moving public health events. Heated debate Experts have said the China CDC has obvious flaws: Its two-track nature hinders communication between administrative departments and disease control centers, and its sprawling hierarchies leave workers in ill-defined roles, making them underprepared and uncoordinated when disaster strikes. The head of the China CDCs Global Public Health Center, Dong Xiaoping, said at last months meetings that the epidemic revealed the shortcomings of Chinas infectious diseases law, which only permits disease control centers to collect, sort and analyze data, not publicize it. Forbidding them from making public announcements will definitely delay the process of effectively informing the public and international organizations about epidemics, he said. A group of experts headed by Peking University public health professor Li Liming went further, arguing that China should junk the current disease control system and set up a new bureau outside the NHC, with the authority to independently define policy and draw up development plans. Read More China Should Remove Red Tape for Disease Control Agencies, Official Says Thats a step too far for many specialists, including Peking University Hospital public health professor Chen Yude. You cant just hang a sign on something and call it a new administrative institution, he said. We already have too many of those. The more spread-out things are, the less smoothly they run, and the tougher it is to coordinate. Shao Yiming, a leading virologist at the China CDC, struck a similar tone in a March interview with Caixin. Turning (the China CDC) into a separate administrative department isnt a good way out, because the nature of its work isnt suited to that, he said. Government officials have tended to give more airplay to internal restructuring. Chen Xu, a national committee member in Chinas main political advisory body and a former political department aide, said last month that the government should consider merging administrative departments with disease control centers to form a new body with greater autonomy. Alternatively, the country could grant the centers extra powers to issue public announcements, take part in policy discussions, and allow specialist staff to speak publicly, he said. Several disease control center staff said they agreed with the view of former China CDC chief Yang Gonghuan, who told Caixin in an interview that the centers need more administrative and legal authority to carry out their mandate, but there was no need to transform them into separate administrative institutions. A top-down approach? Experts have also said the China CDC lacks strong top-down oversight, meaning national-level disease control centers have little authority over provincial centers. Shao, the virologist, said Chinas central government should merge national and provincial centers and make key staff responsible for work in different areas so they can gain an understanding of the situation in each part of the country. He added that the country could also assign responsibility for researching and monitoring certain diseases to regions with relatively high prevalence rates to prevent resources from concentrating in Beijing. A revamped China CDC should also monitor disease outbreaks in animals, a task currently undertaken by the agriculture department, according to Shao. In America, the U.S. CDC keeps tabs on animal-borne pathogens. Scientists believe the coronavirus likely passed to humans from wild animals. The frequency of disease outbreaks that affect both humans and animals reminds us that we need to strengthen cooperation between (the agriculture and disease-control) bodies and establish a common monitoring system, Shao said. Manpower and funding Chinas disease control agencies suffer from another chronic ailment: a lack of staff. About 20,000 people work for the U.S. CDC, compared with 2,000 at the China CDC, according to Shao. The two systems also differ markedly in terms of specialist personnel: The U.S. CDC has 500 experts in respiratory diseases, far more than the 20 at the China CDC. Out of the 36 ailments the Chinese government defines as significant diseases, less than half were covered by senior experts at the China CDC, Shao said. Low pay was a commonly cited reason for leaving. A disease control center worker said the average salary is around 80,000 yuan ($11,315) per year, not enough to live well in most major Chinese cities. In comparison, U.S. Masters graduates in public health earn a median salary of $68,000, according to a major American public health advocacy website citing the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Funding is another challenge. China CDCs Gao said the countrys spending on disease control institutions as a proportion of total health expenditure declined from 2.9% in 2010 to 2.4% in 2018. That left visible funding shortages for frontline work like testing and monitoring, he said. Chen Zhuo, the associate professor, said China should consider directing more funding toward increasing disease control capacity and paying specialist staff better. He also favors giving more money to the China CDC to help coordinate grassroots health initiatives using the funds as leverage, a practice commonly used by the U.S. CDC. Contact reporter Matthew Walsh (matthewwalsh@caixin.com) and editor Lu Zhenhua (zhenhualu@caixin.com) OSWEGO, N.Y. It was just before noon Tuesday and Capt. Jimmy Samia of Ace Charters had returned to the Oswego Marina with four happy anglers after a morning of fishing on Lake Ontario. We managed to get a few browns (trout), missed a few and then went out to fish deeper water and found some kings (salmon) today. Theyre getting cleaned right now (at the fish cleaning station), he said. Brian Calen, of Red Hook, N.Y., who went out with Samia, along with his teenage son, Justin, and two other friends from high school said the trip went wonderfully. We all know each other and havent been exposed to anything. We know the captain and mate. We felt safe, he said. As the lock downs on fishing guides in regions around the state have been lifted in recent weeks, the guides on Ontario and elsewhere are getting out again with clients. However, the big difference this spring is that theyre also obliged to follow social distancing protocol, with such measures as wearing masks, wiping down tackle and common surfaces with sanitizing chemicals after each trip and gathering information from everyone who comes aboard in case they need to be contacted afterward. Clients of Capt. Ed Kahler, of Salmon Tracker charters, cashed in with catches of king salmon, a coho, steelhead and lake trout on their outing this week. The last few months, though, have been an economic gut punch for many guides whove lost their usual batch of spring customers. Theyve been swamped with cancellations and requests to reschedule trips for latter this year or for next year. Add to that, difficulty in getting unemployment benefits for time lost. Some are weathering it. Others are unsure if theyll make it financially through this season. Others, have thrown in the towel and havent yet and dont plan to put their boats in the water this season. Adding to things in Oswego is the fact that the nearby city-run, Wrights Landing Marina is closed and undergoing a series of improvements, including the installation of a boater access center, a renovated and expanded bathhouse and other enhancements. Work on the $1.6 million project is expected at be completed in mid-July. However, the situation has impacted a number of fishing charter guides who normally dock there sending some over to the Oswego Marina on the eastern side of the Oswego River and to other marinas in Fair Haven, Sodus and Mexico Point. The marina in Oswego is currently undergoing $1.6 million in renovations and is closed until mid-July -- resulting in many boaters looking elsewhere to dock their boats. Capt. Joe Orsen of TSI charters, docks at the Oswego Marina and has been in the charter board business for 20 years. When the coronarvirus hit, he rescheduled all his charters from April, May and early June to late June and July. Were just putting in the boat today and taking it out for a test run tomorrow. Were taking out a group from Albany on Saturday form the Albany area that wants to fish for browns, he said. His advice to anyone considering going out on a fishing charter? I think they need to be confident in themselves and not scared of the virus, he said. If theyre scared of the virus or in bad health, I tell them to stay home. I have a lot of older clients whove cancelled elderly guys whove fished with me for years with their sons and grandsons. In the past, it was not uncommon to have three generations on my boat. Guides who rely heavily on customers from New England said they have been particularly hurting from cancellations of clients from those states. Those states require anyone traveling out of the state and returning to self quarantine for two weeks. No such restrictions are in place for residents from Pennsylvania or New Jersey. Half the license plates in Pulaski lately are from New Jersey, joked Capt. Troy Creasy, whos been taking out clients out of Oswego for the past three weeks. Capt. Ed Kahler, of Salmon Tracker charters, who has been guiding 34 years on Lake Ontario, said hes lost 40 trips to cancellations so far. Tuesday, he took out four New Jersey anglers for a morning outing out of Oswego. Hows the fishing? Has the lake level had an impact? Kahler and other charter boat captains interviewed at the Oswego Marina said fishing was great last year on Ontario, despite the record high water levels. The fishing continues to be good. The lake is lower this year and as usual, the fishing varies day to day, depending on such factors as wind and temperature. Up two weeks ago, the fishing was unreal, Kahler said. The last week or so, though, weve been struggling with a south wind that blew all the warm water (along the shore) out. The (browns) have scattered all over the place. He said his New Jersey clients boated 10 fish Tuesday and kept six. The catch include king salmon, coho salmon, steelhead and lake trout. At this point, he added, hes booked every day from here on out to mid-September. Samia, who also guides every spring on the Hudson River for striped bass, said this past spring was a complete wash for him. Guides on that waterway werent allowed to take clients out until May 25. Samia he said he ended up completely bagging things on the Hudson because the height of the striped bass run on the river was pretty much over by then. A happy Scott Elia, of Skaneateles, holds up a nice brown trout he caught after getting out recently on Lake Ontario with Capt. Troy Creasy of High Adventure Sportfishing. Capt. Rob Wescott, of Legacy Sportfishing out of Hamlin, N.Y., is president of the Lake Ontario Charter Boat Association. He said many in the charter boat world book a large number of reservations a year ahead. With all the uncertainty this spring, many guides didnt expect to be back to work this spring and now theyre scrambling to fill their schedules. He said a big issue in New York is that the governors actions and daily press conferences have put the state in the news every day and as a result, many out-of-staters are fearful to come here because of the coronavirus. It has created a lot of bad press. The number of cancellations from out-of-staters (for fishing charters) is extraordinary, he said. "Theyre thinking, Do I really want to go to New York now? " Charter boat captains out of Oswego were allowed to begin taking clients out May 16. Over on the western side of the state, the go-ahead was on May 19. Capt. Tony Buffa of Captain Tony Buffa Fishing Charters, is among those Oswego Marina charter boat captains who passed on taking out clients this spring. However, Buffa is now taking clients out on Oneida Lake and other waterways. Hes been guiding on Oneida Lake for 45 years -- and up until this spring, 43 years on Lake Ontario. Im just grateful to follow whatever protocol I need to follow, he said. Initially, the governor was making statements about not opening up businesses that brought in traffic from outside the state. At that point, I thought there would be no season. Meanwhile, Samia and other Ontario guides interviewed are looking forward to taking clients out on the Big O. Were here and were fishing, Samia said. MORE Upstate NY boy, 8, sets new state freshwater fishing record for rock bass News reports: Travel restrictions between U.S./Canada expected to extend beyond June 21 Bothered by black bears in your backyard? Youre not alone -- what to do Mumbai/New Delhi, June 12 : There is more controversy around absconder Mehul Choksi's companies Gitanjali Gems Limited (GGL), Nakshatra World Limited (NWL) and Nakshatra Brands Limited (NBL), as now the insolvency professional (IP), Vijay Kumar Garg, has been penalised for "attempt to siphon of crores" from the ailing companies. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) passed an order on June 8 penalising Garg, a Gurgaon-based IP. "Vijay Kumar Garg converted the noble insolvency profession to a business, converted professional client relationship to that of money lending and borrowing, manipulated the market for insolvency professional services, attempted to siphon off crores of rupees from the ailing corporate debtor to its partner in crime, acted under the influence of one creditor, and contravened every provision of the Code, Regulations and the Code of Conduct for ulterior purposes," the order passed by Navrang Saini, whole-time member, IBBI, said. The controversy relates to the appointment of Duff & Phelps India Private Limited (D&P) by Garg to provide support services during the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) of GGL, NWL and NBL. The findings in the order are: "Mr. Garg and D&P never had a professional-client relationship. The relationship between them is mysterious. It is observed that D&P has funded about Rs 1.62 crore to meet the various expenses of Mr Garg/CD. No professional-client relationship enables money lending, that too, of this order, to a client. "The RP buys an insurance policy to cover himself and employees of D&P. The terms of appointment of D&P in GGL indicate that it would be paid Rs 23.75 lakh per month. The fee of Rs.1.6 crore for the CIRP period was prima facie considered exorbitant by the AA and the Expert Committee constituted by the IBBI." The order said that "engagement of D&P is only a facade to siphon off funds of the ailing CD". The disciplinary committee of the IBBI has allowed payment of fee to Duff & Phelps for Gitanjali Gems, although it said in the order that "the engagement of D&P is illegal". "Such conduct does not call for any leniency. However, in view of the directions of the AA and the recommendations of the IBBI Expert Committee about reasonableness of fee, the DC is inclined to allow payment of fee, as determined by the Expert Committee to D&P in the matter of GGL, even though the engagement of D&P is illegal", the order said. Garg has been asked to pay a penalty equal to 25 per cent of fee payable to him as per agreed terms and conditions in CIRP of GGL, NBL and NWL where he has acted as an IRP/RP. The order said that Garg shall ensure that no amount beyond the reasonable fee, as determined by the Expert Committee, is paid to D&P. If any amount beyond this has been paid, Garg shall make it good to the CD within 45 days of this order and confirm the same to the Board. He has also been asked to go back to school and build expertise as an IP. "Mr. Vijay Kumar Garg shall undergo pre-registration educational course from the IPA of which he is a member and pass the Limited Insolvency Examination again to build his capacity to take up assignments on his own," the order said. Garg may take any new assignment process under the Code, only after compliance with the three conditions. The findings of the disciplinary committee said the fee payable to Garg is a handsome amount. He is expected to serve as IRP/RP and use his employees, if required, to assist him. The law enables him to use the services of an IPE of which he is a partner or director. "It is not permissible for an IP to tie-up with a third party and bid for a work jointly, whereby the IP and the third party are collectively appointed on their collective strength. This amounts to converting a noble profession to a business and manipulating the market for insolvency professional services through anti-competitive, tie-in arrangement. An IP, who wishes to compete on his own merit and does not indulge in nefarious tie-in arrangements, would never get any assignment," the order said. "Policy in the nature of 'Professional Indemnity for IP during the CIRPs' was available from SBI General Insurance on the date of purchase of policy (i.e. February 8, 2019). Mr. Garg had no business to buy policy in the name of D&P and unnecessarily extend benefits to a third party i.e. D&P. This establishes the meeting of mind of RP and D&P." the order said. The law envisages appointment of an IRP by the adjudicating authority, which appointed Garg as IRP. It does not envisage a collective appointment, either by the adjudicating authority or the CoC; it empowers the IP to appoint a professional. "If a particular creditor wanted the services of D&P, that creditor may engage him and bear the fee of D&P. That cannot be a part of the insolvency resolution process cost. In order to get the assignment, Mr. Garg mortgaged the interests of the CD to the creditor, by committing to engage D&P and transfer crore of rupees to D&P in the guise of fee," the order found. As claimed by Garg, the appointment of the IRP (Garg) and D&P was always envisaged collectively, and they were appointed on their collective strength and credentials of the RP and D&P. "It makes it clear that he has been appointed not on his own strength or merit, but on the strength of D&P. This makes him beholden to D&P and explains his undue favour to D&P. This makes clear that Garg alone is not capable of discharging the responsibilities as an IP," said the order. Section 20(1) of the Code provides that the interim resolution professional shall make every endeavour to protect and preserve the value of the property of the corporate debtor and manage the operations of the corporate debtor as a going concern. Section 23(2) reasserts this responsibility. "Instead of preserving and protecting the value of the CD, Garg frittered away the resources of the ailing CD for unlawful purposes," the order said. Garg has claimed that he engaged D&P as a professional under Section 20(2) read with Section 25(2) of the Code. However, as per the scope of work (as indicated in the joint proposal dated September 6, 2018, submitted by Garg, an IP assisted by D&P, to ICICI Bank), its mandate was initial analysis and strategy, taking control of business, monitoring business and cash, assisting in development of business resolution plan, finalising the resolution plan, and approval of resolution plan. None of these services is a service of a professional. The first three are responsibilities of the RP himself and for this, he may need support services, for which he has the option to either use his employees or take assistance of an IPE, if he is a member of that IPE. Other services are the responsibilities of a resolution applicant. None of these services fall within the ambit of services of a professional. Procurement of services, other than services of a professional, is not permissible under Section 20(2), the order said. Garg claimed that he appointed D&P for professional services. "Since D&P is not a professional, having authorisation of a regulator of any profession to render any professional service, and its conduct and performance is not subject to oversight of any regulator of any profession, appointment of D&P is in contravention of section 20(2) of the Code. Further, by not appointing a professional and by appointing a person who is not professional, Garg deprived the CD of professional services," the findings of the disciplinary committee said. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed By Express News Service CHENNAI: Even as the state government ruled out a fresh phase of lockdown in Chennai, the police personnel of bordering districts have intensified vehicle checks and only people with valid e-passes are allowed to enter Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur According to a senior police officer from Chengalpattu, the police are following the already existing rule of only allowing vehicles with e-passes. "For the last few weeks, thousands of vehicles have been entering and crossing Chengalpattu through GST Road. Since COVID-19 cases in Chengalpattu district have increased manyfold in the past few days, we started to allow only vehicles with passes and others were sent back," said the senior police officer. The last time the Chengalpattu border at Vandalur had severe checking was during May first week. Senior police officers from all three districts have confirmed that many people who reached the border claimed they wanted to get out of Chennai as they believed an intensified lockdown was about to come into place. "Many people had believed the rumor and we had to explain to them that the Chief Minister has denied it and that there will be no lockdown now," said a senior police officer from Tiruvallur. Chengalpattu superintendent of police Kannan told The New Indian Express that this checking will continue for the next few days until COVID-19 cases in Chengalpattu district come down. "We have sent back at least 8000 vehicles since morning and in some cases we had to calm the motorists who get angry because of the vehicle checking," he said. Similarly in Kancheepuram, the police have barricaded the city borders and intensified the vehicle checkings. Superintendent of Police D Samundeeswari said told Express, "Owing to the weekend and the rumour of lockdown in Chennai many people wanted to reach Kanchipuram or cross the district. Hundreds of people who are working in Chennai from Kanchipuram told us they had to go and come everyday and that they cannot get e-pass. We have asked them to contact the Collectorate for further details," Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have responded to dozens of scientists who criticized Facebook for not censoring President Donald Trump's comments. More than 160 researchers, who receive funding through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), sent a letter to the couple on Sunday, asking them to reconsider policies regarding people who post misinformation and 'incendiary language.' They claimed the current guidelines oppose the Initiative's goals of using technology to eradicate diseases, improve childhood education and reform the criminal justice system. In a reply, Zuckerberg and Chan said they were 'deeply shaken and disgusted by President Trump's divisive and incendiary rhetoric' on Facebook. However, they added the social media platform operates independently from their organization and has its own moderation policies. Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan responded to a letter criticizing Facebook's moderation policies regarding President Trump. Pictured: Chan and Zuckerberg attend the 2020 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony in Mountain View, California, November 2019 The couple said in a reply that they are 'deeply shaken and disgusted by President Trump's divisive and incendiary rhetoric' (pictured) 'We take your concerns seriously and to heart,' the letter, which was shared by Recode reporter Teddy Schleifer, reads. 'And personally, like you, we are deeply shaken and disgusted by President Trump's divisive and incendiary rhetoric at a time when our nation so desperately needs unity. 'Although CZI and Facebook are entirely separate and independent organizations with different missions and teams, we do share the same co-leader. And in this moment, we understand that CZI's relationship with Facebook is not an easy tension to bridge.' CZI's original letter argued that by not censoring Trump's posts, Facebook was spreading deliberate misinformation They said that Facebook's policies are 'directly antithetical' to the Initiative's goal: 'To find new ways to leverage technology, community-driven solutions, and collaboration to accelerate progress in Science, Education, and within our Justice & Opportunity work.' They wrote: 'The spread of deliberate misinformation and divisive language is directly antithetical to this goal, and we are therefore deeply concerned at the stance Facebook has taken.' Scientists specifically referenced Trump's May 29 Facebook post in which he wrote 'when the looting starts, the shooting starts,' referencing a Miami police chief's quote from 1967. When the president posted that very same message on Twitter it was flagged and placed behind a warning due to claims that it 'glorified violence.' Facebook, on the other hand, did no such thing and does not have a system in place to flag potentially incendiary posts. The letter said the post could have easily been flagged as a violation of Facebook's community standards. Shortly after the post, Zuckerberg explained his reasoning for leaving it alone. 'I know many people are upset that we've left the President's posts up, but our position is that we should enable as much expression as possible unless it will cause imminent risk of specific harms or dangers spelled out in clear policies,' he wrote. Zuckerberg and Facebook have been heavily criticized for not flagging Trump's posts like Twitter has done in the past. Pictured: Trump hosts a roundtable at Gateway Church Dallas Campus in Dallas, Texas, June 11 Trump's tweet described looters as 'thugs' and warned that the federal government would 'assume control' with 'shooting' if necessary after protesters set fire to a police precinct Twitter added a warning to the tweet with a comment that it 'glorifies violence' However, Facebook didn't do the same when Trump shared the same post on its platform In the letter with Chan, the billionaire pledged to "redouble" efforts at CZI to address racial injustice and inequities. Some Facebook employees have publicly objected to Zuckerberg's refusal to take down or label misleading or explosive posts by Trump and other politicians. In fact, on June 1, dozens of employees staged a virtual walkout. But Zuckerberg - who controls a majority of voting shares in the company - has so far refused. Last Friday, Zuckerberg said in a post that he would review 'potential options for handling violating or partially-violating content aside from the binary leave-it-up or take-it-down decisions' 'I know many of you think we should have labeled the President's posts in some way last week,' he wrote. 'Our current policy is that if content is actually inciting violence, then the right mitigation is to take that content down - not let people continue seeing it behind a flag. There is no exception to this policy for politicians or newsworthiness.' The ideological beliefs of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition hinges on the democratic selection process of leadership and its general application including parliamentary candidates. One of the many past stalwarts that the tradition has benefitted and been proud of is Dr. Joseph Kwame kweretwie Boakye Danquah affectionately called JB, whom the Watson Commission described in 1948 as The Doyen of Ghana Politics. He supported and fought all his life to ensuring that those principles were uphold at all times. The key role of his soul stood against suppression of individuals, dictatorial tendencies, and lack of openness of leadership. It is on the basis of this finest ideology and principles that encouraged and motivated us to opt for becoming members of NPP since the 4th republic of the constitution. Friends of the Press, The good people of Subin have contributed immensely to consolidate those virtues. In fact, Subin constituency has been committed and loyal to the success story of NPP. We have served the New Patriotic Party in diverse ways with love, passion, credibility and integrity from 28th July 1992 till date. The sterling contributions by the likes of former MPs and great personalities , S. K BOAFO, Isaac Osei, Agyei Ntow, Mr.Ayisi Boateng etc. readily comes to mind. The tradition of the party points out that individuals must not be taken for granted but included in the process of rule of law, true democracy and the fundamental rights of the people, which we believe the current MPs, including Hon.Eugene Boakye Antwi, have benefited from it. Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, we have gathered here this morning to brief you on matters relating to Subin parliamentary vetting. Five (5) sons from Subin filed their Nominations to contest as a parliamentary candidates. Three (3) aspirants satisfied the Article 1 of the New Patriotic Party Constitution; Selection of Parliamentary candidates. They were cleared and balloted on by the Ashanti Regional vetting committee chaired by Mr. John Boadu to contest, approved FRANK KWADWO DUODU, J.B. DANQUAH and HON. EUGENE BOAKYE ANTWI. So, all along, the good people of Subin thought that all was set for a smooth conduct of the primaries. Unfortunately, however, news got to us that an appeal process has been initiated by the Constituency Executives against two of the already approved candidates FRANK KWADWO DUODU and J.B. DANQUAH and the said committee whose membership are as followers; Peter Mac Manu as Chairman, Hon. Elizabeth Ohene, Hon. Cecilia Dapaah, Hon. S.K Boafo, Hon. Dr. Addo Kufour, Lawyer Emmanuel Darkwah and Evans Nimako and the committee performed its functions. When the final list was released by the NEC, it emerged that FRANK KWADWO DUODUs name has been omitted from the list. No reasons whatsoever was assigned for omitting his name. We do not want to believe the rumors that was rife prior to the final list that some big wigs in the Party had decided to curtail the contesting rights of FRANK KWADWO DUODU on grounds that he is the ONLY one who poses threat to the sitting MP, EUGENE BOAKYE ANTWI. But we never took it serious because such thing has never happened in subin before. The current MP was given free and fair opportunity when he contested and won against the former MP, Hon. Isaac Osei. Our checks shows that the appeals committee never communicated to Frank Kwadwo Duodu, there has not been any formal communication to him verbally or written on the position of the appeals committee. We are reliably informed further that names submitted to NEC by the appeals and the vetting committee had all the 3 aspirants cleared to contest by NEC. However, during the Press briefing in Accra by the General Secretary of the party Mr. John Boadu on Monday, June 8th, 2020 on the candidates who have been given green light to contest and the guidelines of the election, he forgetfully left out the name of one candidate, Mr. Frank Kwadwo Duodu. These action has sparked serious dissatisfaction among the polling station executives and the general voters. As a patriotic card bearing members of the party havent served from 1996 and in various capacities including but not limited to the following: Young Executive Forum (YEF), Polling Agent upholding the parties name to this level and also contesting at the last 2015 Parliamentary Primaries in the Subin constituency. We cannot sit aloof for the parties gains to retain the President to be compromised by few. We are the grassroots members and for that we understand the terrain and know our people better. Its in our own small capacity that we have calmed tempers of people pending the response on the error committed. Our meeting here today is not to dictate to the party leadership but rather request the party leadership headed by the President of the Republic Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, National Council, the National Executive Committee, and the Election Committee to reconsider the decision taken on the selection process of parliamentary candidates most especially the recent communique by the general secretary of the party Mr. John Boadu ,erroneously omitting the name of FRANK KWADWO DUODU from the approved list . Subin is waiting to vote on the 3 people that were earlier approved by the vetting committee. We have keenly observed, assessed and have come to the conclusion that the unfair treatment of one of the candidate must be reversed with immediate effect. We are the grass root members of the party and therefore the situation on the ground is not favorable at all for the growth of the party. It would not be good for the party if fairness does not prevail for the three contestants to compete and whoever emerge as winner will be accepted by the general voting population. If the party wants to maintain the seat and increase its fortune here in Subin, the rule of law and practice of democracy in Development and Freedom should be the order and prevent the Mafia hands manipulating Subin Constituency Parliamentary Elections. Long Live the New Patriotic Party and God Bless our Home Land Ghana. THANK YOU Spokespersons 0241386970 - Robert Osei Assibey 0553156900 Richard Owusu State Department Photo by Ronny Przysucha / Public DomainBy MATT SEYLER, ABC News (WASHINGTON) -- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo censured the International Criminal Court at a press conference Thursday after the White House announced President Donald Trump had signed an executive order authorizing economic sanctions and visa restrictions on ICC officials involved in investigating U.S. service members. A blitz against the ICC by Pompeo and other cabinet officials Thursday came three months after the court announced it had approved an investigation into members of the U.S. military and CIA for possible war crimes in Afghanistan. The ICC originally rejected its prosecutor's request to investigate last year, but that decision was successfully appealed in March. "Just for a time it looked like the ICC might do the right thing and kill the investigation," Pompeo said. The U.S. never consented to the ICC's founding document, the Rome Statute, and so is not subject to its judgement, according to Pompeo. "And even if a prosecution were to proceed, it would make a mockery of due process," Pompeo said. "There's no requirement for unanimity for a conviction; the prosecution can rely on hearsay to obtain a conviction; there's no real guarantee of a speedy trial; instead of facing a jury of one's peers, it's a panel of judges who aren't subject to any American accountability." The secretary went on to call the ICC "grossly ineffective and corrupt" and a "kangaroo court," warning U.S. allies: "Your people could be next." A statement from the White House Thursday morning suggested the ICC's investigation is a politically motivated ploy involving antagonistic countries to harm the U.S. Attorney General William Barr named Russia during Thursday's press conference with Pompeo. "This institution has become in practice a little more than a political tool employed by unaccountable international elites," Barr said. "These people wield this tool to manipulate and undercut the foreign policies of a democratically accountable sovereign nation, and other nations, including the United States ... Worse yet, we are concerned that foreign powers like Russia are also manipulating the ICC in pursuit of their own agenda." Barr claimed his agency has evidence of ICC corruption, but did not give details. "The U.S. government has reason to doubt the honesty of the ICC: The Department of Justice has received substantial credible information that raises serious concerns about a long history of financial corruption and malfeasance at the highest levels of the Office of the prosecutor," Barr said. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, also at the press conference with Pompeo, pledged that no U.S. personnel will ever stand before the Hague-based court. "Rest assured that the men and women of the United States armed forces will never appear before the ICC, and nor will they ever be subjected to the judgments of unaccountable international bodies," Esper said. The George W. Bush administration withdrew the U.S. from the ICC treaty before it went into effect in 2002. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said in a statement at the time that "the United States will regard as illegitimate any attempt by the court or state parties to the treaty to assert the ICC's jurisdiction over American citizens." Rob Berschinski, senior vice president for policy at Human Rights First, said Trump's threat of asset freezes and visa restrictions against ICC officials is counterproductive. Among other things, it appears to put foreign persons within human rights organizations at risk of sanctions, if those persons have conducted research and reporting on alleged criminal activity by U.S. or allied forces that is used to 'assist' an ICC investigation," Berschinski said. "Furthermore, it appears to indicate that the U.S. Government could sanction ICC staff and their families if they were to investigate crimes in countries allied with the United States." National Security Advisor Robert OBrien joined his fellow Trump cabinet members in condemning the ICC Thursday, saying U.S. service members should only be accountable to U.S. laws and institutions. "I was a JAG officer in the Army and I can tell you the United States government military justice systems are far more effective at holding Americans accountable than the ICC ever has been or ever will be, and we will never allow our American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to fall into the jurisdiction of that purported court," O'Brien said. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 21:54:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan authorities are considering landing international lights at the Ratmalana Airport, in the heart of Colombo city as part of the country's drive to strengthen the tourism industry, local media reported here Friday. Sri Lanka's Tourism Ministry, quoted in the media reports said that the government is currently in the process of selecting an international auditing firm to partner with, to create safety certification for flights to land in Ratmalana. The proposed certification is in line with international practice, the Ministry said. Further, the Ministry said it had lobbied the airline industry to maintain daily flights into Sri Lanka when the country's international airports re-open on Aug. 1 for international tourists. "This is going to be key. We spoke to the airlines and all of them agreed to continue their direct flights," the Ministry said. Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Kimarli Fernando, quoted in the report said when the country opens on Aug. 1, tourists would not have to undergo a quarantine period. Tourists would undergo multiple PCR tests and systems have been implemented at all relevant institutions, Fernando said adding that tourists will also soon be able to obtain long term visas facilitating multiple stays in Sri Lanka. Enditem To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! A case was registered against an educational institute in Pune district on Friday for holding a class 11 examination by calling students to the college in defiance of restrictions in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The case was registered against the principal and board of directors of Bal Vikas School run by Snehvardhan education trust at Talegaon Dabhade for violating the Disaster Management Act, Pandemic Act and relevant sections of the IPC, a police official said. The school allegedly called 27 students of class 11 for an examination of Information Technology (IT) subject on Friday. The message about the exam was put on the schools WhatsApp group, said a senior police official. We received information that the exam is being conducted. Our team reached there and found that students were taking the exam in groups of ten in separate rooms, he said, adding that further probe was on. A salesman arranges gold bangles inside a jewellery showroom on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold buying festival, in Mumbai By Eileen Soreng and Rajendra Jadhav BENGALURU/MUMBAI (Reuters) - Physical gold demand in India was lacklustre this week even as shops reopened, while Bangladesh announced plans to withdraw import taxes to clamp down on bullion smuggling. "Showrooms have opened, but still jewellers are waiting for customers. As public transport is not available in cities like Mumbai, consumers are not stepping out," said Ashok Jain, proprietor of Mumbai-based gold wholesaler Chenaji Narsinghji. Indian dealers offered discounts of up to $20 an ounce over official domestic prices, down from last week's $32, which was the highest since early April. The domestic price includes a 12.5% import tax and 3% sales tax. Some potential buyers have been delaying purchases due to volatile prices, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a bullion importing bank. Indian gold prices have risen nearly 18% so far in 2020. Neighboring Bangladesh, meanwhile, is set to scrap taxes on gold imports to curb smuggling, with the revised guidelines likely to be implemented from July 1. "Despite the Gold Policy 2018, gold has not been imported legally into the country due to the existing high tax incidence," Finance Minister A.H.M. Mustafa Kamal said on Thursday while unveiling the country's 2020/21 budget. "I propose to withdraw 15% VAT on the import of gold bar to discourage illegal import and encourage the import on legal routes through authorised dealers." In top consumer China, discounts eased to $5-$10 an ounce versus benchmark prices from last week's $11-$14 discounts. Investment demand dominates the market rather than retail, said Ronald Leung, chief dealer, Lee Cheong Gold Dealers in Hong Kong. Premiums in Hong Kong were steady at $0.50-$1 an ounce. In Singapore, premiums inched up to $1.25-$1.50 an ounce from $1-$1.50 last week. Demand is higher than before the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, said Vincent Tie, sales manager at Silver Bullion. Story continues Benchmark spot prices have risen 2.8% so far this week, amid the bleak economic outlook. [GOL/] In Japan, gold was sold anywhere between at par with the benchmark to a $0.50 premium. (Reporting by Ruma Paul in Dhaka, Eileen Soreng, K. Sathya Narayanan and Brijesh Patel in Bengaluru and Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai; editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) HOUSTON, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A Houston based grass roots community group, The Isensee Foundation for Safe Police Response (IFSPR) awarded the Houston Police Department a grant for training designed to help police officers deal with stress on the job. L to R: Houston Police Officer Emmanuel Shephard and Sgt. Leurena Reece receive grant check from Ted Isensee and Neal Sarahan of Isensee Foundation for Safe Police to be used for training of 1 to 1 peer support for HPD. Houston Police Officer Emmanuel Shephard and Sgt. Leurena Reece receive grant check from Ted Isensee of Isensss Foundation for Safe Police Response. The IFSPR board recognized months ago that the COVID-19 crisis presented additional challenges to first responders such as police. The board wanted to help first responders in some way, and asked the Houston Police Department (HPD) what would help them deal with the COVID-19 crisis. The answer: "Help us help ourselves with 1 on 1 peer support training." HPD had recently formed a special unit with this purpose, but it was short of funding for training. IFSPR raised $4,500 for the peer support training and presented a check for that amount on June 11, 2020 to the HPD in downtown Houston. Sgt. Leurena Reece of the HPD Peer Support Unit and Officer Emmanuel Shephard received the award from IFSPR President, Ted Isensee. Numerous other officers such as Assistant Chief Wendy Bambridge were also in attendance and expressed heartfelt thanks for the grant. Houston police officers have been faced with more work, stress and abuse on the job due to the protests taking place in Houston, around the nation and world. Assistant Chief Bambridge and other officers said they support the right to protest but have difficulty when peaceful protest escalates into violence. Ironically, the Houston Police Department itself has earned recognition around the nation as a leader in de-escalation training and crisis intervention. "To be blamed for the wrongful actions of other officers seems to be part of the job, but it stings nonetheless," officers say. Thus, the community-based grant from IFSPR boosts morale and shows that their good work and innovation is appreciated. IFSPR is a 401 C 3 nonprofit founded in 2013 by Ted Isensee and his family and friends. It promotes a safe response by law enforcement to those in a mental health crisis. IFSPR was founded after Ted's son, Sean D. Isensee lost his life in a mental health crisis in 2013 in a nearby city. Ted, a CPA by trade, has spoken to hundreds of law enforcement officers about his family's experience in dealing with mental illness and those of similar families. Press Contacts: Ted Isensee 832-541-0877 [email protected] www.safepoliceresponse.org facebook.com/safepoliceresponse SOURCE Isensee Foundation for Safe Police Response Related Links http://www.safepoliceresponse.org Inditex, the parent company of fashion brand Zara, announced this week plans to close up to 1,200 stores worldwide by the end of 2021. The closings will be stores at the end of their useful life and whose sales can be recovered in nearby stores and online," the company said. About 100 stores in North and South America will close. There are currently six Zara stores in New Jersey, but it is unknown if any will be impacted. An Inditex spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The company is expected to close 600 stores this year. Massimo Dutti and Pull & Bear are among its other brands with stores throughout North America. Inditex said its online sales surged amid the coronavirus pandemic, including a 95% increase in April. The brick-and-mortar retail industry already had been suffering, but the coronavirus has wreaked additional havoc on chains. Starbucks, Signet Jewelers, Nordstrom and JCPenney are among the companies that have recently announced store closures. RELATED STORIES ABOUT RETAIL: How to get an Amazon Echo Dot for 99 cents (theres a catch, but its still a great deal) Signet Jewelers closing about 380 stores, including Kay, Piercing Pagoda and Zales locations Fathers Day 2020 sales: A list of places you can find discounts of 50% or more Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Nicolette Accardi can be reached at naccardi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @N_Accardi. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips The origins of human innovation have traditionally been sought in the grasslands and coasts of Africa or the temperate environments of Europe. More extreme environments, such as the tropical rainforests of Asia, have been largely overlooked, despite their deep history of human occupation. A new study provides the earliest evidence for bow-and-arrow use, and perhaps the making of clothes, outside of Africa ~48-45,000 years ago -- in the tropics of Sri Lanka. The island of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, just south of the Indian subcontinent, is home to the earliest fossils of our species, Homo sapiens, in South Asia. It also preserves clear evidence for human occupation and the use of tropical rainforest environments outside of Africa from ~48,000 to 3,000 years ago -- refuting the idea that these supposedly resource-poor environments acted as barriers for migrating Pleistocene humans. The question as to exactly how humans obtained rainforest resources -- including fast-moving food sources like monkeys and squirrels -- remains unresolved. In this new study, published in Science Advances, an international team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (MPI-SHH) in Germany, Griffith University in Australia and the Department of Archaeology, Government of Sri Lanka, present evidence for the earliest use of bow-and-arrow technologies by humans anywhere outside of Africa. At ~48,000 years old, these tools are earlier than the first similar technology found in Europe. Clear evidence for use on the preserved bone arrowheads shows that they were likely used for hunting difficult-to-catch rainforest prey. Not only that, but the scientists show that other bone tools may have been used for making nets or clothing in tropical settings, dramatically altering traditional assumptions about how certain human innovations were linked with specific environmental requirements. Hunting in the open and sheltering from the cold? European cultural products in the form of cave art, amazingly detailed bone carvings, bone tool technologies, and tailored clothing have been frequently held up as the pinnacle of Late Pleistocene human cultural development. There, symbolic and technological innovations have been seen as key survival mechanisms equipping expanding populations to face cold northern climates. Meanwhile, discoveries of older bow-and-arrow technology and artistic or symbolic behaviors in open grassland or coastal settings in Africa have framed 'savannah' and marine environments, respectively, as key drivers behind early hunting and cultural experiments by Pleistocene humans in their evolutionary homeland. As co-author of the new study, Patrick Roberts of the MPI-SHH argues that "this traditional focus has meant that other parts of Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas have often been side-lined in discussions of the origins of material culture, such as novel projectile hunting methods or cultural innovations associated with our species." Nevertheless, the last twenty years have highlighted how Pleistocene humans occupied and adapted to a variety of extreme environments as they migrated beyond Africa, including deserts, high-altitude settings and tropical rainforests such as those of Sri Lanka. advertisement A tropical home The new study saw scientists turn to the beautifully preserved material culture from the cave of Fa-Hien Lena, deep in the heart of Sri Lanka's Wet Zone forests. As co-author Oshan Wedage, PhD at MPI-SHH, states, "Fa-Hien Lena has emerged as one of South Asia's most important archaeological sites since the 1980s, preserving remains of our species, their tools, and their prey in a tropical context." Some of the main finds from the site include remarkable single and doubled pointed bone tools that scientists had suspected were used in the exploitation of tropical resources. Direct proof had been lacking, however, in the absence of detailed high-powered microscopic analysis. Michelle Langley of Griffith University, the lead author of the new study, is an expert in the study of microscopic traces of tool use and the creation of symbolic material culture in Pleistocene contexts. Applying cutting edge methods to the Fa-Hien Lena material confirmed the researchers' hypothesis. As Langley states, "the fractures on the points indicate damage through high-powered impact -- something usually seen in the use of bow-and-arrow hunting of animals. This evidence is earlier than similar findings in Southeast Asia 32,000 years ago and is currently the earliest clear evidence for bow-and-arrow use beyond the African continent." The evidence for early human innovation did not stop there. Applying the same microscopic approach to other bone tools, the team identified implements which seem to have been associated with freshwater fishing in nearby tropical streams, as well as the working of fiber to make nets or clothing. "We also found clear evidence for the production of colored beads from mineral ochre and the refined making of shell beads traded from the coast, at a similar age to other 'social signaling' materials found in Eurasia and Southeast Asia, roughly 45,000 years ago," says Michelle Langley. Together, this reveals a complex, early human social network in the tropics of South Asia. A flexible toolkit for new hunting grounds The new study highlights that archaeologists can no longer link specific technological, symbolic, or cultural developments in Pleistocene humans to a single region or environment. "The Sri Lankan evidence shows that the invention of bows-and-arrows, clothing, and symbolic signaling occurred multiple times and in multiple different places, including within the tropical rainforests of Asia," says co-author Michael Petraglia of the MPI-SHH. In addition to insulation in cold environments, clothes may have also helped against tropical mosquitoes, "and instead of just hunting large grassland mammals," adds zooarchaeologist Noel Amano, another MPI-SHH co-author, "bows and arrows helped humans procure small, tree-dwelling primates and rodents." While archaeologists have long focused on the uniqueness of European markers of behavioural modernity, the new study is part of a growing awareness that many regions of the world saw extraordinary and complex new technologies emerge at the end of the Palaeolithic. "Humans at this time show extraordinary resourcefulness and the ability to exploit a range of new environments," notes Nicole Boivin, Director at the MPI-SHH and study coauthor. "These skills enabled them to colonize nearly all of the planet's continents by about 10,000 years ago, setting us clearly on the path to being the global species we are today." Cruise ships have been banned from entering Queensland waters until the coronavirus pandemic is over. On Friday, Queensland Health extended its ban on a foreign flagged cruise ship from entering state waters "until the end of the public health emergency". It will be some time before a cruise ship docks at Brisbane's Hamilton port again. Credit:Chris Hyde The public health emergency was due to expire on August 17, but that date can be extended. Four of the six Queenslanders who have died after contracting novel coronavirus were cruise ship passengers. Queen Elizabeth II may have played an important but unwitting role in the coup against Iran's prime minister because of a muddled telegram, newly-discovered documents have revealed. Communications found in Washington DC's archives show bungling US officials accidentally told the Shah of Iran that the monarch had urged him to stay in his country to successfully complete the coup, but she had no involvement at all. In 1953, Britain's Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden was organising a coup against Mohammad Mossadeq, Iran's prime minister. Mossadeq had two years earlier secured a unanimous vote in favour of nationalising the country's oil fields, which had been built through the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, later known as British Petroleum (BP). Communications found in Washington DC's archives show bungling US officials accidentally told the Shah of Iran that The Queen had urged him to stay in his country to successfully complete the coup, but she had actually had no involvement at all. Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visit Queen Farah and the Shah in Iran in 1961 To restore British control, Eden wanted to replaced him with the shah, an ally to the Western powers such as France, the United States and the UK. But the shah was unconvinced by the idea, instead preferring a more comfortable life in exile, having already lived in Italy after being removed. Looking to convince the royal by other means, Eden sent a telegram to Washington DC, urging them to put pressure on the shah to stay in Iran so that the coup could be carried out. Eden was on board the RMS Queen Elizabeth at the time, a luxury liner that travelled across the Atlantic. A US telegram is then sent to their ambassador in Tehran, Loy Henderson, saying: 'Foreign Office this afternoon informed us of receipt message from Eden from Queen Elizabeth expressing concern at latest developments re Shah and strong hope we can find some means of dissuading him from leaving country.' In 1953, Britain's Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden was organising a coup against Mohammad Mossadeq, Iran's prime minister, and sent a telegram from the RMS Queen Elizabeth to the Americans urging them to put pressure on the shah to stay in Iran It is believed that US officials so badly misunderstood the message, that they through Eden was speaking on behalf of Queen Elizabeth, rather than the fact he was on board the ship carrying her name. Richard Aldrich, one of the two historians who discovered the key documents in Washington's archives, told The Times: 'In 40 years as a historian this is the most astonishing collection of documents I have ever seen.' Henderson then met with the shahs entourage, while the leader was preparing to flee, describing later in a telegram how he told the shahs senior minister that in the 'interest of the country' he needed to stay put. He added that he had received a message from a 'very important personage for whom Shah had most friendly feelings' who had also implied that the shah was better off to stay. Professor Aldrich said there was no doubt that the shah would have taken that to refer to the Queen. But bungling officials misinterpreted the message as being The Queen's views. After the shah was informed that the monarch wanted him to remain in place, he obliged. The 1953 coup was successful The shah had met the Queen as a Princess during a visit to Buckingham Palace in 1948, with the pair developing a good connection. Without even hearing her words, the shah opted to stay, and the coup was carried out successfully. Mossadeq was overthrown in August 1953 and sentenced to three years in solitary confinement. He remained under house arrest before dying in 1967. The Americans quickly realised that they had made a huge diplomatic error, but sought to cover up to mistake rather than address it. A later telegram was by officials to John Foster Dulles, secretary of state under President Eisenhower, saying that they 'deeply regret[ed]' the mistake. The shah stayed in power under the Iranian Revolution in 1979, where he was succeeded by Ayatollah Khomeini, living out his life in exile in Egypt. The story features in The Queen and the Coup, which will be broadcast at 9pm on Sunday on Channel 4. LIMERICK Green Party TD Brian Leddin says his group is part of negotiating the most ambitious programme for government in the history of the State. It comes as negotiations with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail continue to form an administration in the 33rd Dail, more than four months after the general election. In that time, of course life in Ireland has changed beyond recognition with the onset of the coronavirus, and due to its handling of the crisis, FIne Gael has seen a boost in its poll ratings, largely at the expense of Fianna Fail. While a government still seems the likely outcome, its led some commentators to suggest that the party may seek a fresh election. But Mr Leddin, who is heavily involved in negotiating the Greens flagship environmental policy, does not believe from his talks this is the case. Ive never for a moment believed they are just winding down the clock. My engagements with the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail politicians have been very earnest and very thorough. They are working as hard as we are to strike a deal, he told the Limerick Leader this week. In any case, Mr Leddin argued, President Michael D Higgins might veto any bid for a second general election in 2020. While its unlikely Mr Leddin would make it into senior Cabinet any Green positions would likely go to leadership rivals Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin, plus Limerick-born Dublin TD Neasa Hourigan sources have indicated the newly elected local TD could be in line for a junior ministry. I went into politics to make changes and improve how our country is run. If I was offered a role which would help me to achieve that, I would certainly consider it seriously, was all Mr Leddin would say on that. He urged patience from the public, saying: This is not a conventional programme for government. There are thousands of policy points. Mr Leddin who has been holed up in Dublin four of the last five weekends said some plenary sessions between the Greens, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis. Everybodys lives and everybodys work has been upended because of Covid-19. But we are trying and we are working every day, he said. New Delhi: The Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education (APBIE) will release Manabadi Inter results 2020 for first and second-year students at 4 PM on Friday (June 12). The results would be released on the official website - bieap.gov.in as well as on the other websites like manabadi, schools9 and examresults.net. A statement issued by the board said that the state minister of education Adimulapu Suresh will release the results today. The evaluation process of Class 11 and 12 answer sheets has been completed. Students who have appeared for the examinations may check the results online, by visiting the official site of board, at bieap.gov.in. Nearly 8 to 10 lakh students appear for AP Inter 1st and 2nd year examinations every year. The results are declared by the board usually in the month of April. This year, however, the board results were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown. Once announced, the AP Inter Result 2020 will be made available to the students online via the direct link. Candidates should note that this year results would only be made available through digital mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Andhra Pradesh Inter exams for both first and second-year students were unaffected due to the crisis and had taken place from March 4-21, 2020. The exams were conducted in the morning session, from 9 am-12 noon. Follow these simple steps to check your results: Log on to BIEAP official website i.e. bie.ap.gov.in. Find and click on the link for AP Inter Results 2020 Enter your exam roll number and other details in the space provided. Varify your details before submitting it. Your AP Intermediate Result 2020 scorecard will be displayed on the screen Download your result in PDF format for future reference. Meanwhile, the Andhra government has decided to hold Andhra Pradesh Secondary School Certificate (AP SSC) exams as per the revised schedule. AP SSC 2020 will take place from 10 July. Only six papers will be conducted instead of 11. Kylie Jenner gave her 180 million Instagram followers a close look at her highlighted hair in a series of Instagram photos on Friday. The photo set was taken Monday while the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star celebrated her BFF Stassie Karanikolaou's 23rd birthday party. She showcased her curvy figure in an eye-catching patterned bodysuit that mirrored one she wore back in January. Stunner: Kylie Jenner, 22, showcased her curvy figure in an eye-catching patterned bodysuit in photos posted Friday to Instagram The skintight look showcased Kylie's curvy figure and featured a coral-like geometric pattern in yellow, gray and black. In a follow-up photo, she swept her hands through her hair while gazing seductively at the camera and showing off her best pout. She also pulled aside her highlighted strands to emphasize the contrast with her usual raven tresses. The reality star didn't have much to say and simply captioned the photo with four white hearts and a partly cloudy emoji. Sultry: In a follow-up photo, Kylie swept her hands through her hair while gazing seductively at the camera and showing off her best pout Lightened look: She also pulled aside her highlighted strands to emphasize the contrast with her usual raven tresses Back in January, Kylie posed in a bodysuit featuring the same pattern, but with a more muted color scheme. Kylie's friend Stassie also shared a photo of the Kylie Cosmetics founder from her 23rd birthday party on Monday evening. She posed in her hot pink crop top and a figure-hugging mini skirt, and the two friends had similar hair after Stassie dyed her usual blonde locks a deep brunette shade. 'It's a forever ting,' she captioned the snap. Putting on a show: Back in January, Kylie posted photos of herself in a bodysuit with the same pattern by her Mercedes-Benz SUV Muted: She highlighted her pert derriere in the outfit, which replaced the yellow, silver and black color scheme with beige and black Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, photos from the evening revealed Kylie and multiple friends not wearing masks and failing to stay at least six feet apart. Kylie's solo shots from Friday revealed a buffet line behind her, though infectious disease experts are wary of going to buffets unless sneeze guards are present and each item is served by an employee, according to Today. The lack of protective equipment came as places across the US are seeing an uptick in hospitalizations and positive COVID-19 tests. Los Angeles has already begun steps to open up shops and restaurants, and in neighboring Orange County, Health Care Agency Director Dr. Clayton Chau announced Thursday that masks would no longer be required in public places within the county. Kylie again stepped out sans mask on Wednesday, when she enjoyed dinner at Malibu's swanky Japanese restaurant Nobu with her friend Harry Hudson, Caitlyn Jenner and Sophia Hutchins. As part of its partial resumption of flights between Turkey and England in the first phase in June, Pegasus will be operating a daily flight between London Stansted and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen between 16 and 29 June, and a one-time direct flight between London Stansted and Izmir on 15 June 2020. Pegasus will also be restoring some flights between Turkey and Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland and The Netherlands. The schedule will be gradually increased further in the next phase, subject to the approvals of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in Turkey. For flights arriving in Turkey, health checks will be carried out on passengers entering the country. PCR tests will be performed free of charge in cases where symptoms are identified during the health check and wherever deemed necessary. The Turkish Ministry of Health also requires passengers who enter Turkey to abide by a 14-day quarantine in their homes or designated address upon arrival. A Make the Most of the Moment partnership between Vitalant, the John T. Vucurevich Foundation and United Way of the Black Hills helped Vitalant meet and exceed its goal of 1,000 blood donations during the month of May. However, more blood donations are needed on an ongoing basis. Make the Most of the Moment was an effort to fulfill the blood shortage in the Black Hills caused by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to spread in Pennington County and South Dakota. For every 100 scheduled blood donations at Vitalant in Rapid City in the month of May, the Vucurevich Foundation made a donation of $5,000 to the United We Stand COVID-19 Relief Fund. Overall, there were 1,033 donations of blood given, and the Vucurevich Foundation donated a total of $50,000 to the United We Stand COVID-19 Relief Fund. That partnership was a significant help. We have seen a good response from the Rapid City community, said Brittany Sigel, senior manager of Donor Recruitment for Vitalant. Vitalant is extremely grateful for the generous community we have and for those who chose to come out and donate and provide that life-saving product. Its really incredible. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reduced the number of blood drives, Sigel said. COVID-19 has affected every industry, including blood donation, and during the pandemic Vitalant had to cancel hundreds of mobile blood donations nationwide (including at Black Hills area businesses and organizations), she said. Vitalant is holding select blood drives in Rapid City and the surrounding areas, Sigel said. There are still some businesses and organizations that want to host blood drives. The Rushmore Mall is hosting the 15th annual Guns and Hoses blood drive June 23-26. Appointments are recommended; call 646-2625 or make an appointment online at bloodhero.com. Walk-ins are welcome. If you are feeling unwell, please do not donate blood. Stay home or seek medical care. People also can schedule an appointment to donate blood at Vitalants Rapid City center, which is open seven days a week. For more information, go to vitalant.org or facebook.com/VitalantRapidCity/. When blood is donated locally, at Vitalants Rapid City center or at blood drives in the region, the blood goes to help local needs first, Sigel said. We definitely support our area and the surrounding areas as well. If we have the ability to send blood products (elsewhere, we do), she said. If needed, blood could go to someone across the nation. You could be helping someone in California, or in New York where there was a COVID-19 hot spot. In the Black Hills, the majority of blood donated is used for routine surgeries, blood disorders or cancer, Sigel said. Its important we have regular blood donors. We encourage people to donate three or four times a year. We do have to rely on volunteers in our community, Sigel said. Even though we might see less tourists this summer, we still will have a large amount of people coming to this area, and any time you have an influx of people, that opportunity is there for accidents or an increased need for blood products. Vitalant is part of a national organization that can move blood products from one location to another to ensure blood is available to hospitals and health care partners at the right place and time its needed in 40 states, Sigel said. However, blood only has a shelf life of 42 days, so maintaining an adequate supply is essential. Every day, almost 5,000 blood donations are required to meet the needs for blood products. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, extra safety precautions are in place when people donate blood, Sigel said. All donors and Vitalant staff are required to wear masks. All donors temperatures are taken before they sign in, and temperatures are taken a second time during the donor screening process. Vitalant is enforcing social distancing as much as possible. Vitalant is providing a COVID-19 antibody screening for donors who successfully complete blood donations, Sigel said. While increasing the amount of blood donations, Make the Most of the Moment partnership also gave Black Hills nonprofits a $50,000 boost. The United We Stand COVID-19 Relief Fund was created to provide assistance to nonprofit agencies that are experiencing an increasing demand for their services amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. People across the Black Hills are being affected in multiple ways from the pandemic, including illness, financial struggle, and job losses. Local nonprofits are experiencing an extreme increase in demand for services, nearly doubling or tripling their operational costs. Many nonprofits are in need of more funding to help the communities they serve. United Way of the Black Hills provides funding to 50 nonprofit agencies that serve Rapid City, Sturgis, Northern Hills (Belle Fourche, Deadwood-Lead and Spearfish) and the Southern Hills (Custer, Edgemont, Hill City, Hot Springs and Keystone). For more information about the United We Stand COVID-19 Relief Fund, go to unitedwayblackhills.org/coronavirus-information. Kerry Washington knows that creating positive change within the community starts with educating ourselves and the ones around us, especially our children. In fact, the 43-year-old actress believes that there should be a different way of teaching Black history to kids. On Monday, the Little Fires Everywhere actress made a virtual appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to discuss the historic protests and the ongoing fight against racial injustice taking place around the globe. During the segment, Washington opened up about her approach to educating her three kids about racism and even suggested that school curriculums should change the way they teach Black history. "The thing I've been thinking about a lot, honestly, with my kidsand with my friends' kids [is] education," she said. "And a lot about talking about race and introducing ideas of race. And really thinking about the idea that for a lot of kidskids are introduced to race at Black History Month or in the concept of change-makers like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. I think it's really important that we start to introduce the idea of race with a Black history that begins before teaching kids about what Black people were told they couldn't do, she said. "Right, so theres Maasai warriors and the kingdoms of Ghana, Queen Nefertiti and the pyramids of Egypt. Black history and Black people were a lot of things before segregation and Jim Crow and the civil rights movement. Modifying the syllabus will hopefully give kids the opportunity to better understand the Black experience. So that we understand the beautiful complexity and elegance and richness of Black History before refusing to be put in the back of the bus, she stated. We couldnt agree more. RELATED: This Brand-New Childrens Book Is Already a Fave of Kerry Washington, Gabrielle Union & More Celebs Every day of a lockdown means that fewer businesses will survive to employ those who were cast out of work, dimming the prospects of the least skilled who thrive only in a vibrant economy. The scale of this regressive lockdown will not be known for some time, but we all know who will bear it and continue to bear it even after the shackles are gone. (Natural News) More than 200 homeless people have been evicted from a former hotel in southern Minneapolis. The owner told volunteers who helped organize the shelter on Monday night that the the buildings residents had to leave by Tuesday morning because of a report of a drug overdose. The former Sheraton Minneapolis Midtown Hotel, located approximately one mile from where George Floyd died, has been functioning as a shelter for over 200 homeless people since the beginning of the engineered riots on May 29. Residents at the Sheraton were awoken at 6 a.m. when the fire alarm went off and the owner of the hotel, Jay Patel, ordered their immediate eviction from the building. The scenes at the hotel afterward were described as chaotic. Homeless people, some with children in tow, began pouring out of the hotel lobby. Many former residents sat on curbs outside of the hotel because they had nowhere else to go. One angry former resident darted around the parking lot screaming at people leaving. In a press conference held outside the hotel on the morning of the eviction, residents and volunteers decried the inhumanity of the eviction and demanded that they be given permanent housing. Some of the residents stated that they wouldnt leave, and some volunteers said they would continue negotiating with Patel. I dont know if the owner has the power to evict us, said Rosemary Fister, one of the organizers of the new shelter. In addition to the homeless, some people who live near the former Sheraton moved in to seek sanctuary as the riots escalated. The hotel, unfortunately, lies on a stretch of Minneapolis that was badly damaged during the violent demonstrations. The organizers of the shelter handed out tents and sleeping bags to the people who left. Those who stayed met with elected city officials to ask them for government funding to keep the operation running. Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks about how people need to be careful because the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic isnt over yet, and people still need to be careful of future infections. Sheraton Midtown has functioned as an emergency shelter since the beginning of the riots When the civil unrest began, volunteers approached Patel and asked for his permission to turn the former hotel into an emergency shelter. Patel bought the hotel earlier this year and, according to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, was in the process of rebranding it. (Related: Minneapolis businessman UPROOTING his company, costing city over 50 jobs.) With Patels permission, the volunteers turned the 136-room hotel into a shelter. They began shepherding people they found sleeping in tents in the Midtown, Greenway area into the hotels empty rooms. In less than 48 hours, the former hotel was quickly transformed into a homeless cooperative. Volunteers and residents alike signed up on several massive online forms to take on many of the buildings essential tasks, such as delivering food, cleaning up rooms and providing security. The shelter organizers were even able to raise over $100,000 on GoFundMe and rake in thousands of individual donations for food, toiletries and other necessities. By Sunday, all the rooms in the four-story hotel had been filled, but people still kept coming in, which is why other areas of the hotel were quickly converted into sleeping quarters. As of Tuesday, the day of the eviction, the shelter had a waiting list of around 450 people. However, unlike traditional homeless shelters, the Sheraton had one glaring problem that the organizers chose to overlook: People who stayed were allowed to bring both drugs and alcohol into the building. The shelters volunteer medics were tasked with preventing overdoses and helping users get access to emergency health services rather than with kicking out the few bad apples. This rule, however, started becoming a problem in the days leading up to the overdose and Patels decision to evict the residents. Volunteers quickly became overwhelmed as both residents and non-residents began using drugs in the hallways. According to Jennie Taylor, one of the residents, the word spread around the community that the Sheraton was a place where people could use drugs freely This, she says, helped the shelter attract the wrong crowd. Moon Beaumaster, another resident who volunteered to help run the shelter, agreed with Taylor, stating that some parasitic drug dealers began abusing the hotels rules by using the shelter as a place where they can easily sell their wares. It only took one person for all of us to lose something that was a good thing, said Dani, another resident, about the person who overdosed in the shelter. Its unfortunately that a few people appear to have ruined it for everyone, said Taylor. There are some of us who do have hope for sobriety and housing. She said that, if she does have to leave, she will most likely pitch a tent near the hotel. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, shes afraid of entering any one of the other homeless shelters nearby. Riots have turned Minneapolis and other cities across the United States into war zones. Stay updated on whats happening with the civil unrest in the country by reading the articles at Rioting.news. Sources include: FoxNews.com StarTribune.com 1 StarTribune.com 2 MinnesotaReformer.com MIDDLETOWN Advocates for renaming the new combined middle school after a family crucial to the citys antislavery movement are pleased the matter was sent to the council for consideration. The vote to change the name of Woodrow Wilson Middle School, now under construction on Wildermans Way in a $87.35 million project, was approved 3-0 Wednesday by the Public Works Commission, according to Director William Russo. About eight members of the public voiced their concerns to the panel. At the same time, some graduates of the junior high school have passionately opposed the proposal. Proponents of the change said its time to remove the name of former President Woodrow Wilson from the building because of his racial opinions. Supporters hope the council will approve the idea of naming it Beman Middle School, after a family crucial to the citys antislavery movement and its participation in the Underground Railroad. It will incorporate sixth-graders from Keigwin Middle School with current seventh- and eighth-grade students. The school board voted Oct. 2 on the recommendation. The board overall felt that the children in our district deserved to have the middle school named after a positive family in the city, as well as a name that is welcoming to all, BOE Chairwoman Deborah Cain said Thursday. The majority of the feedback received from the community was a resounding yes for the name change, from the oldest Woodrow Wilson alumni to the youngest students. People in this community are ready for change, and are no longer accepting biases that benefit one group, Cain added. Weve been working on this a whole year, and are ready for this to be permanent, she said. Institutions across the nation named after Wilson have come under fire in recent years because of his segregationist views. Wilson taught history at Wesleyan University from 1888-90 and lived in Middletown during that time. Jehiel Beman (1789-1858), Jesse Baldwin and Benjamin Douglas formed the Middletown Anti-Slavery Society in 1834. Beman was a minister at the AME Zion Church on Cross Street. Cross Street was known as Freedom Church, because they sheltered those fleeing slavery in the building in the 1840s and 50s, Jesse Nasta, visiting assistant professor of African-American studies at Wesleyan University and director of the Middlesex County Historical Society, has told The Press. Deborah Shapiro, former longtime head of the historical society, and now municipal historian, was the first to speak Wednesday in an online conference. A new middle school offers a chance to look to the future to give students a chance to write their own personal histories. Middletown is a diverse community that has embraced people of many ethnicities, colors and creeds. The makeup of Middletowns population is far different from what it was 1931, when that school was named after the 28th president of the United States, she added. Molly Aunger, parent of a Middletown third-grader, said her childs social studies online class included the Beman family for the first time ever in Middletown history. What a moment that was for me. I wasnt expecting it, she said. Mother of two Diana Martinez supported the proposal. Im interested in having the opportunity for my child to be able to say they had a legacy and building they were proud of that reflects who we are. That wont erase history as much as it does enlighten a part of history thats always invisible here and hidden. Claudia DeFrance is a 1964 graduate of the old Woodrow High School. We have thousands of alumni from Wilson and from Middletown high who are against the name change, she said Wednesday night. In Middletown, we change the name of things often. We all knew the Bemans, we knew about the Beman Triangle. We learned about it in school. Its nothing new. Every 25 or 30 years, were going to change everything again. The old people are dying off, they wont know the difference. We need to keep history, DeFrance said. One question from former councilwoman Hope Kasper addresed a possible loss of state bond funding because it originally was applied for under the WWMS name. The state will allow council members to still receive the money even if a name change is approved, the city attorney told Russo. The Common Council has sole authority to rename all city property, according to the charter. Middle School Naming Committee Chairwoman Lisa Loomis said there is a lot of support for the initiative. I think this is a fantastic opportunity for Middletown to recognize some of its history and move forward into the next century, and show we value the history and experience of all our students, particularly those who havent been included in traditional curriculum. Those who would like to express their opinions on the matter are invited to email council clerk Linda Reed at Linda.Reed@Middletownct.gov. The council will hold two public hearings, July 6 and Aug. 3, open to the public, which will be livestreamed. The panel is expected to vote on the resolution at its August meeting. For information, visit cityofmiddletown.com. Loading the player... Delhi Medical Association seeks Amit Shah's intervention into non-payment of salaries The Delhi Medical Association has sought the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah into alleged non-payment of salaries of resident doctors at various health facilities under the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, including the Kasturba Hospital and Hindu Rao Hospital. Facing budget shortfalls and double-digit unemployment, governors of U.S. states that are COVID-19 hotspots on Thursday pressed ahead with economic reopenings that have raised fears of a second wave of infections. The moves by governors of states such as Florida and Arizona came as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the United States could not afford to let the novel coronavirus shut its economy again and global stocks tanked on worries of a pandemic resurgence. India has overtaken the United Kingdom in terms of coronavirus cases to become the fourth worst-hit country with a caseload of 2,97, 205. India is now at the fourth spot, only behind the US (20,76,495 cases), Brazil (7,87,489) and Russia (5,02,436), as per Worldometer figures.India has asked UK authorities to not consider absconding liquor baron Vijay Mallya's asylum plea. This request came amid reports that Mallya had filed an application with the UK government seeking asylum based on "humanitarian grounds". Official spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs Anurag Srivastava said that the Indian government is in touch with the UK government to ensure his early extradition.The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed capping the tenures of banks' chief executive officers (CEOs) and whole time directors (WTDs). The central bank suggested capping CEOs term to 10 years if they are promoters or major shareholders of the bank. For non-promoter CEOs, the RBI has proposed tenure of 15 years.India's trade with mainland China and Hong Kong declined by over 7 per cent to $109.76 billion in FY20, its steepest fall since FY13. It is a sharp reversal from the 3.2 per cent growth in trade in 2018-19 and the more robust 22 per cent jump in FY18, signalling the prevailing anti-China sentiment in the country. Bilateral trade with mainland China alone registered a 6 per cent decline in FY20 to $81.86 billion. [June 12, 2020] Spaceflight Inc. Acquisition Finalized Today satellite rideshare launch provider Spaceflight Inc. announced its acquisition by Mitsui & Co., Ltd., in partnership with Yamasa Co., Ltd., is now complete with the final review of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). In February 2020, Spaceflight's parent company, Spaceflight Industries, announced it had signed an agreement with the Japanese companies for the sale of the launch service provider, pending the CFIUS review. The review was complete in April and the acquisition finalized today, June 12, 2020. Mitsui & Co. and Yamasa will have 50/50 joint venture ownership in Spaceflight, but the launch service provider will continue to operate as a privately held, independent U.S.-based company. "The completion of this deal is an exciting step for Spaceflight," said Curt Blake (News - Alert), CEO and president of Spaceflight. "Joining the high-growth Mitsui & Co. portfolio positions Spaceflight to deliver and expand on the comprehensive launch services we offer. We're exploring the development of new standardized deployment systems, new digial initiatives, and other programs that further help our customers reliably and affordably access space, in the most flexible way possible. Our biggest priority, as always, is ensuring all our customers are fully supported through this transition and we're taking the necessary steps to establish infrastructure to meet their needs." The acquisition is a unique opportunity for Spaceflight to further invest and expand its commercial and government rideshare launch services while Mitsui & Co. expands its portfolio to offer space services. Since its founding in 2013, Spaceflight has launched a record-setting 271 satellites via 29 rocket launches, establishing itself as the leading rideshare service provider. The company offers comprehensive launch and integration services across a global portfolio of vehicles, including Falcon 9, PSLV, SSLV, Electron, Antares, and Vega. Spaceflight successfully executed nine missions in 2019, the most rideshare launches the company has performed in one year, with four launches spanning 16 days across three continents. In 2018, Spaceflight executed its historic dedicated rideshare mission, SSO-A, which deployed 64 satellites from 17 different countries from a Falcon 9. The company also completed the first-ever rideshare mission to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) in 2019, launching the first privately funded lunar lander. "Spaceflight has contributed significantly to the space industry, pushing boundaries and achieving great success making rideshare a credible and reliable option for smallsat launches," said Tomohiro Musha, general manager of Transportation & Machinery Business Div. IV in Mitsui & Co. "The acquisition of this industry leader will allow us to expand our business in exciting new ways." Spaceflight headquarters will remain in Seattle with Blake continuing to serve as the CEO and president, reporting to a newly formed board of directors established with a majority of U.S.-based persons. About Spaceflight Inc. Spaceflight Inc. is revolutionizing the business of spaceflight by delivering a new model for accessing space. A comprehensive launch services and mission management provider, the company provides a straightforward and cost-effective suite of products and services, including state-of-the-art satellite infrastructure and rideshare launch offerings that enable commercial and government entities to achieve their mission goals on time and on budget. Based in Seattle, Spaceflight provides its services through a global network of partners and launch vehicle providers. For more information, visit http://www.spaceflight.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005411/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Reuters Amazon.com Inc on Wednesday said it was implementing a one-year moratorium on police use of its facial recognition software, halting a business it long defended as many protested law enforcement brutality against people of color. The decision culminates a two-year battle between Amazon and civil liberties activists, who have voiced concern that inaccurate matches could lead to unjust arrests. The death of George Floyd, a black man who died under the knee of a white police officer last month, has fanned worries that facial recognition would be used unfairly against protesters. Critics have pointed to a past study showing Amazons Rekognition service struggled to identify the gender of individuals with darker skin, research that Amazon has contested. The company, which sells cloud computing technology via its Amazon Web Services division, said in a statement it has pushed for regulations to ensure the software was used ethically. We hope this one-year moratorium might give Congress enough time to implement appropriate rules, and we stand ready to help if requested, Amazon said. Congress has been weighing possible regulation of the technology for months. On Monday, IBM wrote lawmakers to say it no longer is offering facial recognition generally, while rival Microsoft Corp has turned down some sales and backed regulations but not a moratorium. Nicole Ozer, technology and civil liberties director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, gave Amazon credit while calling for a more blanket moratorium. Face recognition technology gives governments the unprecedented power to spy on us, Ozer said in a statement. We urge Microsoft and other companies to join IBM, Google, and Amazon in moving towards the right side of history. Microsoft spokespeople did not immediately answer a request for comment. (Also read: Apple, YouTube start $100 million racial equity and justice initiative amid US protest) Amazon, due to its prominence and defense of facial recognition, has faced the brunt of criticism, giving symbolic significance to its announcement. Still, firms such as Idemia and NEC Corp are known to have more facial recognition government business. Private-sector sales of Rekognition accounted for around $3 million of Amazons $25.7 billion in cloud revenue in 2018, according to news site The Information. One law enforcement user of Rekognition said Amazon was throwing us under the bus. Agencies generally have said they use facial recognition for post-crime investigations, not real-time monitoring. After over and over again saying that they stand by us and how we use the tech, they are making it seem like all of a sudden they dont think we use it right, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Amazon said it would continue to permit the technologys use by customers that help law enforcement find human trafficking victims. New York City police officers under investigation for using excessive force against protesters after the death of George Floyd are refusing to appear before an oversight board which wants to take their statements via videoconferencing. The Civilian Complaint Review Board, an independent agency which investigates NYPD personnel accused of wrongdoing, reportedly has a backlog of at least 1,109 cases that require interviews with officers. Since public gatherings are banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCRB wants to conduct these interviews online through a Zoom-like Webex system beginning on June 22, The City is reporting. But police unions have said they will not permit their members to be questioned by teleconference because they claim it deprives officers of the chance to have their attorneys properly advise them. New York Police Department officers watch protesters during a rally for George Floyd in Brooklyn on June 4. Police unions are forbidding their members from testifying before a civilian oversight agency investigating complaints of police brutality Since lawyers cannot see their clients body language, they cannot provide adequate representation, the unions claim. As a basic policy, we wont do Zoom, Phillip Karasyk, an attorney for the Detectives Endowment Association, told The City. We are there to fully protect our clients rights. The best way to have an interview is face to face. Everybody is in the same room and gets the feel of whats going on. New Yorks three other police unions the Police Benevolent Association, the Sergeants Benevolent Association, and the Captains Endowment Association have taken a similar position, according to The City. The unions refusal to have members participate in online hearings may not hold legal water. Because of state-mandated social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, legal systems in four states and Puerto Rico have moved to conducting their hearings through videoconferencing. New York State conducts bail hearings and arraignments remotely. City agencies like the Department of Education have also started to hold their proceedings online. Its being done across the legal system at every level, in every jurisdiction now, said John Siegal, a CCRB board member. And thats got to happen in the police disciplinary process, too. Theres no excuse at this point. Siegal added that even during proceedings in the pre-pandemic era, lawyers did not need to read the room. Attorneys were also not permitted to kick the witness under the table to send signals in any circumstance, he said. The Civilian Complaint Review Board wants officers to testify via Webex teleconference, but police unions say that this denies their members adequate legal representation since lawyers cannot be present in the same room. The image above shows a CCRB livstreamed meeting on Wednesday The CCRB receives complaints from New Yorkers who say they witnessed police misconduct. During the pandemic, the agency has taken sworn statements from complainants online. The CCRB has experienced delays in rolling out its videoconferencing format. Recent events, including the mass, widespread rioting following Floyds death in Minneapolis police custody on May 25, have complicated the schedule. But now that the system is up and running, the CCRB wants to move ahead. It says there are some 750 complaints alleging abuse by police during the protests as well as officers efforts to enforce the recent curfew. In the period between May 28 and June 7, nearly 2,500 people were arrested. More than half were detained for violating curfew, according to the NYPD. The department said that at least 350 officers and 132 protesters were injured during those 11 days. Dozens of protesters testified remotely during a City Council hearing on Tuesday. The CCRB usually interviews police after looking at medical records, surveillance footage, and other evidence. It then passes along any recommendation of disciplinary action to the NYPD commissioner. New York Gov. Cuomo signs major police reform bills that make disciplinary records public as Rev. Al Sharpton praises him for 'standing with us when no-one else will' New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed into a law a series of major police reform bills that will make disciplinary records public and ban police chokeholds, as Rev. Al Sharpton praises him for 'standing with us when no-one else will'. The package of four bills, which the governor described as 'nation-leading' and 'aggressive', will end 50-A, ban chokeholds, ban false race-based 911 calls and make the attorney general the independent prosecutor in killings of unarmed civilians by police. Cuomo also issued an executive order mandating reforms to local police departments and warned that if such steps are not taken, these departments will have all state funding cut. Cuomo signed the new bills in a press conference Friday attended by the mothers of Eric Garner and Sean Bell, unarmed black Americans who died at the hands of police in New York. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a major police reform bill that makes disciplinary records public The move has come in response to the widespread protests calling for an end to police brutality and racism across America following the killing of black man George Floyd who died when a white Minneapolis cop knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes on Memorial Day. The governor signed in the series of police reforms Friday to make cops more accountable and pave the way for police reform following the deaths of multiple black people during arrest or in police custody over the years. 'The truth is this: Police reform is long overdue, and Mr. Floyd's murder is just the most recent murder,' Cuomo said. 'It's about being here before - many, many times before.' The bills, which faced opposition from a coalition of law enforcement unions, include the 'Eric Garner Act', which bans cops from using chokeholds and allows prosecutors to charge cops if they do use the tactic and injure or kill someone in the process. The law is named after Garner, who died after being put in a chokehold by NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo on Staten Island back in 2014. His death was caught on camera as he was heard pleading for his life, saying 'I can't breathe' - the same final words of Floyd. The governor was praised by Rev. Al Sharpton over the move, who had joined Cuomo along with State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie at the unveiling of the historic bill Pantaleo was able to stay on the force until 2019 and was also able to keep his disciplinary records hidden from public view thanks to 50-a. Cuomo also announced the repealing of the 50-a in the widespread reforms unveiled today - now making police disciplinary records public. 'That should be done in every police agency in this country,' Cuomo said of the reforms to New York police. Cuomo also issued an executive order requiring local governments to develop and adopt plans to reform police forces across the Big Apple and address use of force, police bias and other issues within their departments. Sharpton, who spoke during Floyd's funeral in Houston last week (pictured) and has long called for an end to police brutality and racism, said: 'He has raised the bar.' Reforms must be developed with local communities and must 'reinvent and modernize police strategies', Cuomo said. If governments fail to take these steps by April 1, they will not receive funding from the state, Cuomo warned. 'We're not going to fund police agencies in this state that do not look at what has been happening, come to terms with it and reform themselves,' he said. The governor was praised by Rev. Al Sharpton over the move, who had joined Cuomo along with State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie at the unveiling of the historic bill. Sharpton, who spoke during Floyd's funeral in Houston last week and has long called for an end to police brutality and racism, said: 'He has raised the bar.' Hearst Connecticut Media asked readers to submit answers to the following three questions: How do you feel after the death of George Floyd? How do you feel about local protests and police response? What do you feel needs to change, if anything, after Floyd's death? Here are some of the opinions Connecticut residents gave TROY A 10th Mountain Division soldier returned to Fort Drum on Thursday wearing a GPS monitoring device on his ankle after he appeared in court for allegedly having a loaded pistol without a serial number while attending the Troy Rally for Black Lives on Sunday. A person briefed on the investigation said Noah Latham was carrying a self-manufactured "ghost gun." They are untraceable firearms assembled from parts, often obtained from online companies, which do not violate federal law but may violate New York laws if they are unregistered, resold or possessed without serial numbers. The person, who is not authorized to discuss the case publicly, said additional weapons were recovered from the vehicles that Latham and several other men who were with him had been traveling in on Sunday. Latham does not possess a New York state pistol permit, the person added. Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly said Latham and the other men he was with Sunday were wearing body armor when Troy police took them into custody. Donnelly said the case is complex, and one that goes beyond the Capital Region, with investigators exploring ties that Latham and the other men may have to outside groups. Donnelly declined to describe the nature of the groups saying it would become clear as the investigation continues during the next several days. "There's a lot more to it," Donnelly said Thursday night. The Times Union reported last year that law enforcement agencies across New York began encountering so-called "ghost guns" more frequently in recent years. They include assault-style rifles and semiautomatic handguns, and law enforcement officials said they are increasingly finding their way into the hands of criminals and resold in underground markets. Earlier: 'Ghost guns' becoming more common across New York Thousands of kits used to build the guns are being sold annually across the nation by online mail-order companies, which exploit a loophole in federal and state gun control laws by providing "unfinished" hardware with the drill bits and instructions including video tutorials needed to make a fully functioning firearm. Days after the publication of that article last September, Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter to 16 ghost gun companies ordering them to cease selling assault weapon kits in New York. Very few states, including New York, have laws specifically prohibiting the purchase, possession or sale of ghost guns. Several lawmakers have proposed bills that would do that. But James' letter contended the sale of even unfinished assault weapons violates state penal and general business laws. Officials with her office declined to provide an update Thursday on the status of the online ghost gun companies doing business in New York. AG orders ghost gun companies to stop selling assault weapons in New York Latham, 22, appeared virtually from the Rensselaer County jail for his preliminary hearing in Troy City Court. He is charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, which indicates he may not have legal authority to carry a loaded handgun in public. Latham was arrested Sunday on Sixth Avenue between Congress and Ferry streets for possessing a Glock-style 9mm Semi-Auto handgun marked P80 with no serial number loaded with a magazine containing live 9mm ammunition, according to the complaint filed by Troy police. Prosecutors declined to give further details about the weapon or the status of the investigation on Thursday. So far, no one else faces charges but the men who accompanied Latham have retained an attorney, sources said. Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hauf and Lathams defense attorney, Joel Abelove, told Judge Chris Maier they had reached an agreement in which Latham waived his hearing and would return to Fort Drum in Jefferson County where he would be confined to the military base while wearing the monitoring ankle bracelet. Latham is scheduled to return to City Court on July 9. Abelove declined to comment on the case when he left court. Lathams wife attended the court proceeding and left with Abelove. After the hearing, Abelove stood outside police headquarters speaking to Steve Felano of 2ANYS, which advocates for the Second Amendment, who held a press conference Thursday afternoon outside the Rensselaer County Court House to speak about Latham's arrest. Latham, who is from Leominster, Mass., is a specialist assigned to the 10th Mountain Division as a drone operator. Prior to his arrest Sunday, he had no criminal record, according to court discussions. Latham was with a group of armed men wearing camouflaged clothing as well as the body armor when police stopped them and took them into custody near the City Station apartment complex on Sunday. The complex is about two blocks south of the police station and near the route protesters used for their march. Latham is a Second Amendment advocate and has lobbied for the Jefferson County government to declare itself a Second Amendment sanctuary." The police returned Lathams wallet, keys and military ID that he needs to get on the military base. Police seized three vehicles from the group and planned to search them. But so far, police have said nothing about the search, although a source briefed on the case said other firearms were recovered. At the time of Latham's arrest, police said they anticipated filing additional charges but so far that has not happened. Felano said 2ANYS has questions about why Latham was arrested and is determining if it was proper. Felano said these issues included whether Latham had a pistol permit and if he had been singled out for his vocal Second Amendment advocacy in Jefferson County earlier this year. 2ANYS is seeking answers from the district attorney's office and city police, he said. "It seems based off of accounts from the arrest and police report the individual was simply arrested for carrying a firearm in the vicinity of the police station," Felano said. He added that the organization would look deeper into whether Latham had a pistol permit. Donnelly said she was unaware of Felano's organization contacting her office. She emphasized that this was not a case of a simple Safe Act violation. Police have not yet said why they believe the men were armed or in Troy. They appeared in the city when an estimated 11,000 people were marching in a rally that began in Riverfront Park and wended through downtown to the police station. Police said the men were detained by officers watching for trouble surrounding the protest. The rally was one of the countless demonstrations that have taken place across the country since the death of George Floyd, who died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Four Minneapolis police officers were fired and then indicted on murder or abetting murder charges. Governor Kim Reynolds is giving Iowa businesses the go-ahead to open their doors to full capacity. On June 10, the Governor issued a new order that removed the previous requirement that business operate at 50 percent capacity, issued May 13. Businesses can now operate at full capacity, as long as they continue social distancing measures and increased hygiene practices. The new order goes into effect today. Restrictions on businesses are being relaxed while the number of cases of COVID-19 in Iowa remains steady, at 200-300 confirmed positive cases per day. As of June 12, Iowa has had more than 20,000 cases of COVID-19 and 642 COVID-19-related deaths. Poweshiek County has reported 95 confirmed cases and eight deaths since March. All restaurants and businesses in Grinnell have opened to some capacity, according to President of the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce Rachael Kinnick. Pagliais Pizza and Relish are the only restaurants that have not resumed dine-in operation, Kinnick told The S&B in an email. Among the reopened establishments is the Grinnell Pub, which is owned and operated by Lonnie Lett. Lett opened the pub when Governor Reynolds first order allowing businesses to reopen took effect, and it has been operating ever since. Lett and his employees have made various changes to adhere to the states requirements, including using tape markers to enforce the six-foot rule and requiring customers to use hand sanitizer upon entry. Additionally, they reduced the number of tables in the restaurant and spaced out the remaining tables and chairs to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus, which spreads primarily through respiratory droplets. Grinnell Pub staff are regularly washing their hands and sanitizing surfaces and bathrooms in the restaurant, according to Lett. Although some of the restrictions were reduced this week, Grinnell Pub staff will continue their sanitizing and cleansing efforts. Realistically, we dont have to do it here [anymore], I just feel like its better to do it, Lett said. As for the lifting of the 50 percent capacity restriction, the pub has not reached 50 percent capacity during its reopening period, according to Lett. While the Iowa Department of Public Health encourages businesses to provide or allow employees to wear masks when appropriate, Lett has not been enforcing mask-wearing at the pub. The masks are optional. I dont believe our employees have to have them on. If someone feels ill, stay home. Ill pay you for it, he said. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted more than the spacing of tables and mask-wearing. The Grinnell Pub is operating with reduced staff and hours, and Lett is currently working in the kitchen as well as managing the bar after his kitchen manager left the job out of concern about exposing his family to the virus. Normally not my spot, but you have to do what you have to do when theres times that are tough, he said of the additional work. You have to be able to adapt and try and make things as profitable as you can think of. Over at Frontier Cafe, the reopening process has looked similar. Mickensi Story, a waitress at the popular diner, said that the restaurant has been seating customers at alternating booths and reducing table usage to protect diners and employees from potential virus spread. Hand sanitizer is stationed at the entrance to the diner, and condiment containers have been replaced by disposable single-use packets, according to a post on Frontier Cafes Facebook page. Story and other wait staff have been wearing gloves and masks, regularly sanitizing booths and tables. Frontier Cafe plans to continue these measures despite the lessening restrictions, Story said. Lett and Story agreed that the response to the new pandemic restrictions has been mostly positive. People have been very good with all the restrictions. Most everybody knows whats going on just about anywhere you go, said Lett. Story said there has been some pushback from customers who disagree with the severity of the measures, though. Its give or take. Some people are okay with it, some people feel the way that they feel about it. They think its silly, or whatever, she said. The Grinnell Pub is open for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and is delivering meals with a $25 minimum delivery charge. Frontier Cafe is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday and Sunday, and until 8 p.m. every other day. They do not have a delivery service, but take-out is available. In a befitting reply to Pakistan PM Imran Khan's assistance offer, India has said that our stimulus package is larger than their GDP and Pakistan PM needs to change its advisors. India on Thursday gave a befitting response to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans tweet in which he offered assistance to India. The Ministry of External Affairs Ministry said that Indias stimulus package is as large as Pakistans annual GDP. India also advised Pakistan PM to change his advisors. Pakistan is better known for making cash transfers to bank accounts outside the country rather than giving it to its own people. Clearly, Imran Khan needs a new set of advisers and better information, said Anurag Srivastava, MEA Spokesperson, during a video press conference. We all know about their debt problem (almost 90 per cent of GDP) and how much they have pressed for debt restructuring. It would also be better for them to remember that India has a stimulus package, which is as large as Pakistans annual GDP, the spokesperson said. Also Read: India China standoff: PoK leader Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri condemns Chinese intrusion in Ladakh Also Read: ICMR denies Covid-19 community transmission in India Earlier today Imran Khan tweeted, Acc to this report, 34% of households across India will not be able to survive for more than a week without add assistance. I am ready to offer help & share our successful cash transfer prog, lauded internationally for its reach & transparency, with India. Another tweet by Imran Khan claimed, Our govt successfully transferred Rs 120 billion in 9 weeks to over 10 million families in a transparent manner to deal with the COVID19 fallout on the poor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced 266 billion USD stimulus package for multiple sectors in the wake of crisis created by COVID-19. Also Read: India China stand-off: Chinese army build-up from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, Indian Army increases troop deployment For all the latest National News, download NewsX App Reuters Eli Lilly and Co could have a drug specifically designed to treat COVID-19 authorized for use as early as September if all goes well with either of two antibody therapies it is testing, its chief scientist told Reuters on Wednesday. Lilly is also doing preclinical studies of third antibody treatment for the illness caused by the new coronavirus that could enter human clinical trials in the coming weeks, Chief Scientific Officer Daniel Skovronsky said in an interview. Lilly has already launched human trials with two of the experimental therapies. The drugs belong to a class of biotech medicines called monoclonal antibodies widely used to treat cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and many other conditions. A monoclonal antibody drug developed against COVID-19 is likely to be more effective than repurposed medicines currently being tested against the virus. Skovronsky said the therapies - which may also be used to prevent the disease - could beat a vaccine to widespread use as a COVID-19 treatment if they prove effective. For the treatment indication, particularly, this could go pretty fast, he said in an interview. If in August or September were seeing the people who got treated are not progressing to hospitalization, that would be powerful data and could lead to emergency use authorization. So that puts you in the fall time: September, October, November is not unreasonable, he said. Coronavirus vaccines being developed and tested at unprecedented speed are not likely to be ready before the end of the year at the earliest. Earlier this month, Lilly announced it had initiated patient testing for two separate antibody treatments. One currently designated LY-CoV555 is being developed in partnership with Canadian biotech AbCellera. The other, JS016, is being developed with Chinese drugmaker Shanghai Junshi Biosciences. Both work by blocking part of the virus so-called spike protein that it uses to enter human cells and replicate. Lillys third antibody treatment candidate acts on a different part of the virus and will most likely be tested in combination with one or both of the others, Skovronsky said. The drugmaker, however, said it has a strong preference to develop a treatment that can work well in COVID-19 patients as a stand-alone, as manufacturing these type of drugs, which are typically administered by infusion, is a complex process and capacity is limited. Its good to have two antibodies. The downside is that manufacturing is precious. We have limited manufacturing capacity. If two antibodies are required, half as many people will get treated, Skovronsky said. So our goal is to see if we can do one antibody at as low a dose as possible. Lilly will have the capacity to make hundreds of thousands of doses by the end of the year if it can treat COVID-19 patients using a single antibody drug rather than with a combination, he said. Preventing the disease with these type of drugs presents a different manufacturing challenge entirely. Global capacity for antibodies is just not high enough that we could ever think about adequate doses for billions of people in the prophylactic setting, Skovronsky said. The better solution is to widely inoculate people with COVID-19 vaccines when available, and reserve antibody treatments for people who have the disease or were recently exposed to it. They could also help vulnerable populations where vaccines are less effective, such as nursing home patients, he said. Lilly hopes to conduct a COVID-19 prevention clinical trial in nursing home patients later this year, he added. The Indianapolis-based drugmaker plans to produce the medicines in plants in Kinsale, Ireland and New Jersey, and is willing to use its capacity to help manufacture another companys successful treatment, should Lillys fail in clinical trials. Lilly is continuing to screen for antibodies through its partnership with AbCellera, which is working with the U.S. National Institutes of Health to identify promising compounds, Skovronsky said. He did three years' jail in Adelaide and seven in Brisbane. He nearly died of a smack overdose inside. It was coppers who gave him smack when he was undercover. It was callous and cold-blooded because they could use him to get inside places they couldnt, Banks says. The police who exploited Harry were the same ones who one night in the Brisbane police club asked Banks and a mate to sell seized heroin. Well give you some powder, you offload it when you are on a job and well split the profits, they said. Little wonder: the commissioner of the day was Terry Lewis, who would be jailed for bribery and oversaw a police force that was politically compliant and infested with corruption. One day Banks walked into the drug squad to find detectives bagging seized drugs to re-sell. They just looked up and kept working. Chosen for undercover work because he didn't look like a cop, Banks entered a world of corruption. The UCs had keys to the exhibit room and could take as much dope as needed, officially to use in undercover stings but unofficially to use whenever they liked. They had a standing $20 bet on who could engage the highest-ranking officer in a chat at the Police Club while high. Banks has told his story in a raw and honest autobiography, Drugs, Guns & Lies. It is the best true crime book published in Australia in a decade. It tells how in the 1980s undercovers fended for themselves and lived on their wits. He took to wearing moccasins because they were comfortable and wide enough to hide his .25 Browning pistol: Theres no training course, you have to figure it out. He says the bosses saw them as expendable, declaring there was complete indifference from the men who were supposed to be looking out for us. The undercover operatives became real-life actors, taking on different characters for infiltration. I was a nice, well-mannered guy from the bush, but I learned to play the heavy or the wimp depending on the circumstances. That was the fun part. It was NIDA [National Institute of Dramatic Art] on steroids. Drugs, Guns & Lies: The best crime book released in Australia in a decade. You could get on the gas, smoke weed and there was no supervision. You had guns and a shitload of cash. Whats not to like? (These days UCs are drug tested and better supervised.) Think of how often you have a chance meeting with someone you know. Now imagine you are undercover, leading a double life. Every one of them has a story of that chance meeting and how they had to think on their feet to survive. One Victorian infiltrating the Mafia saw a policewoman from his Academy squad walking towards him at a nightclub. Much to her surprise he kissed her passionately and led her to the dance floor, nuzzling her neck so that he could whisper he was undercover. Another, who was inside a bikie gang, hid behind his Harley-Davidson when a neighbour pulled up next to him in a service station. Banks says a mate was in a car with a drug dealer when a cop drove past and waved. He backhanded the bloke and said 'you must be a dog! That cop waved at you!' In one deal Banks didnt know the friendly dealer he was targeting was an escapee and double murderer. While Banks was setting him up, the dealer was planning to kill him for the buy money. I wanted to arrest him, and he wanted to kill me. He was quite an affable guy when he wasnt planning homicides. That is why undercover work is so dangerous. Being undercover is like being an informer, you get close to people to betray them. I met some bloody good blokes who happened to be drug dealers. The UC was caught in the middle. Many traditional cops resented their wild lifestyles and the crooks felt they were sold out by so-called friends. As Banks wrote: Youre not yourself and you are not the person you pretend to be. Youre nobody. They also broke the same laws they were enforcing: We smoked as much as the dealers we arrested. Many did not recover from their time in the shadows. Some left the job and cut all ties with police, some continued to use drugs while others would spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulders. Banks wasnt addicted to drugs - he took speed once on a job and spun out so badly he swore off powders - but perhaps he was addicted to adrenaline. When he returned to orthodox policing he joined the Tactical Response Group and in 1987 was on the raiding party sent to arrest Paul Mullin, a violent armed robber who had been on the run for nine years. Mullin, armed with a high-powered .223 rifle, fired through the door, fatally wounding Senior Constable Peter Kidd and injuring Senior Constable Stephen Grant. Banks and others returned fire, killing Mullin: We sent him on his way. In the days before professional counselling, Banks suffered survivors guilt, replaying in his mind the raid and nursing his dying mate in his arms. Friends of Mullin's took a contract out on Banks and other members of the Tactical Response Group and they were told to carry their guns at all times. I was pissed every night. Two months later I put a gun in my mouth at home. I cocked it thinking I wanted to feel what Peter did. What stopped me was I didnt want my girlfriend to find the blood splatter and have to clean it up. When he came to his senses he dismantled the gun and placed it in different parts of his home. While he was no longer suicidal he was, he admits, homicidal. He was angry, anxious, suffered nightmares and kept thinking about his fallen mate. It would be years later that he would be diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Loading Instead of shrinking from danger, he hunted it. I wanted to knock someone. I volunteered for the most dangerous jobs in the hope there would be a fatal confrontation. Eleven months later he was on a raid in the Gold Coast where the suspect was shot and badly wounded. Two years after he lost his mate, Banks knew he shouldnt be in the Tactical Response Group. I told the boss Ive gotta go. But Banks refused to find a safe spot to work. Six years after he shot Mullin as a detective sergeant, he confronted an armed man and the result was entirely different. The offender walked into Brisbanes MLC building armed with a rifle, hand grenade, 16 sticks of gelignite and three detonators. After the gunman fired shots, Banks was one of the first on the scene. He and another police officer spent 90 minutes persuading him to surrender even after he threatened to detonate his bomb and kill them all. Banks is one of the few police in Australia to win two Valour Awards, for the Mullin raid and the MLC building siege. Keith Banks receives two Valour Awards on one day. A few years later he was drinking in the Melbourne Police Club when he was introduced to Mark Wylie, who in 1985 was shot arresting a suspect for the Russell Street bombing. Big Jimmy Venn [ex-Special Operations Group and Valour Award winner] introduced us. He said: Youve got something in common. Youve shot someone and hes been shot. Wylie, who had resigned from policing, later head-hunted Banks to work with him at Myer. It is 25 years since Keith Banks retired from policing, but it is still in his blood. He manages his PTSD, saying you can control it but it always remains in the shadows. Wylie battled those demons for years. In 2014 he took his own life. Banks says one of the reasons he wrote the book is to highlight PTSD and the toll policing takes on career cops. Almost everyone I worked with ended up wracked by trauma, substance dependency and mental instability ... It is an epidemic. Eamon Ryan's use of a racial slur has intensified the internal split in the Green Party that is destabilising efforts to form a government. As talks between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens to finalise a programme for government continued late last night, Mr Ryan was facing calls to drop out of next month's leadership contest after he used the n-word during a debate on racism in Irish society. Read More Mr Ryan said in the Dail: "In the newspaper today there was a young Irish man Sean Gallen giving his experience of being 'othered', from the age of six being given that name: 'You n*****'." He later apologised on Twitter: "In quoting from an article I read this morning, I repeated a racial slur, and I was completely wrong to do so. I want to apologise for any hurt caused. I know this particular word should never be used." Mr Ryan's latest gaffe sparked turmoil in the party yesterday with Green Party councillors publicly condemning him and supporters of his opponent, deputy leader Catherine Martin, saying it underlined the need for a change of leader. Councillor Daniel Whooley told the Irish Independent that Mr Ryan should drop out of the leadership race. However, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael moved to quell the controversy. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said: "There is not a milligram of racism or prejudice in Eamon Ryan's blood. We need an informed sense of perspective here." Some Fianna Fail politicians also tweeted their support for the embattled party leader. It comes as an Irish Independent survey reveals that just over two-thirds of Green Party councillors are open to going into government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Thirty-three of the party's 49 councillors indicated they are not opposed to coalition with the Civil War parties in principle, though the majority said it would depend on the deal. The Green Party needs at least two-thirds of its wider membership of 2,700 to back any possible coalition deal. As the three parties' negotiating teams met late last night in a bid to clear sections of the draft programme for government, Mr Ryan attempted to quell internal disquiet by contacting senior Green Party figures. A senior Greens source said Mr Ryan had now committed a string of errors in recent times that have made his position more difficult. "[It] isn't just this gaffe. It's the cumulative factor of the M20, lettuce, wolves, car-pooling, et cetera," the source said, referring to previous controversies. Mr Whooley said Mr Ryan's comments were "morally reprehensible" and added: "He should consider dropping out of the leadership race." A number of councillors, including Peter Kavanagh, Una Power, Lorna Bogue and Janet Horner, condemned the remarks. However, other councillors backed Mr Ryan, including former party chair Dan Boyle who said anyone who knows him would never "attribute any malice" to the comments. An Irish Independent survey of 49 city and county councillors carried out before the n-word controversy shows the current Green Party leader has the support of 52pc of those who responded, ahead of Ms Martin, the deputy leader, who is on 48pc. The same survey reveals that 33 of the party's councillors - just over 67pc - are open to going into government provided the right deal is done. Just four expressed reservations or were outright opposed to going into government with the Civil War parties. The remaining councillors offered no comment or did not respond. Among those most supportive of the prospect of going into government were Waterford's Jody Power and Limerick's Sean Hartigan. Mr Power said he "absolutely" supports going into government, adding: "I know there will be compromises that have to be made . . . but that's the nature of politics." Mr Hartigan said: "With the current pandemic I don't think it's time to force an election on the people." Mr Whooley, meanwhile, is against joining Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in government, claiming their track records show the Greens "can't get the things we need from housing, to climate, to transport." Dublin City councillor Ms Horner said: "I have a lot of reservations but I am not going to say anything more." Separately, Fine Gael's parliamentary party last night heard that many elements of the draft programme for government were still not signed off on. There's an expectation that talks will now drag into the weekend. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told TDs and senators he wanted to get the right deal but said Fianna Fail was in a rush "for obvious reasons". The meeting also heard calls for the retention of the Minister for Children as a standalone full Cabinet post after it was revealed plans are being discussed to abolish it. Fianna Fail wants a new Cabinet post of Minister for Higher Education and a plan to create a senior minister with responsibility for both the Departments of Education and Children and Youth Affairs. Mr Varadkar told the meeting he wanted clear agreements in the coalition deal to avoid issues emerging down the line including a commitment not to increase income tax or USC. Meanwhile, a group of senators are to ask the High Court to determine whether the Seanad can sit without all 60 members in a move that could allow more time for a new government to be formed. Mr Varadkar told the group, which includes former justice minister Michael McDowell, in a letter on Wednesday that they had raised "an important point of law that needs to be clarified". Trump Issues Executive Order Authorising Sanctions Against ICC Officials Over Afghanistan Probe Sputnik News 13:33 GMT 11.06.2020(updated 16:53 GMT 11.06.2020) In March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) authorised the commencement of an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by parties to the Afghan conflict, including US personnel. US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order authorising economic sanctions and travel restrictions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) workers involved in probing American troops and intelligence officials for possible war crimes in Afghanistan without US consent. "The president has also authorised the expansion of visa restrictions against International Criminal Court officials and their family members", according to the White House's statement. US Attorney General Barr has stated that the US has substantial, credible information raising concerns about financial corruption at the ICC. "This information calls into question the integrity of the ICC's investigations", Barr told reporters. The UN has expressed concern over Trump's order to sanction ICC officials for probing possible US war crimes, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated. He also said that the organisation will follow the developments closely. The order comes after the ICC in The Hague launched an inquiry into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan perpetrated between 2003 and 2014, including the reported torture of prisoners at CIA "black sites" in Poland, Romania, and Lithuania. Earlier in June, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed that Washington is "determined to prevent having Americans and our friends and allies in Israel and elsewhere hauled in by this corrupt ICC", adding that the Trump administration would address the matter in the near future. The ICC greenlighted a probe into possible war crimes in Afghanistan just days after the US struck a peace deal with the Taliban* as a means to de-escalate what is now America's longest-running armed conflict. In April 2019, the United States revoked ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's visa and banned her from entering the United States in response to her campaign to probe US troops in Afghanistan. Prior to this, in September 2019, ICC judges partially granted a request by Bensouda to appeal an earlier decision rejecting a prosecution request to probe actions by US troops in Afghanistan for possible war crimes. According to the Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR), the crimes committed in Afghanistan and on the territories of other states through the US torture programme belong before the ICC because of their widespread and systematic nature, the harm done, and the unwillingness of the American government to investigate and prosecute the civilian and military leaders responsible for those acts. The United States refused to join the ICC, which is based in the Netherlands, saying the body would become a forum for politically motivated prosecutions of US and allied military personnel. In 2002, Congress enacted the American Service-Members' Protection Act, which authorises the president to use military force to free US military personnel jailed by the ICC. Critics dubbed the measure "The Hague Invasion Act". *Taliban is a terrorist organisation banned in Russia Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address " " Why is this happening to me? g-stockstudio/iStockphoto It forced Washington, D.C.,-to-Dallas American Airlines flight 1053 to make an emergency landing in Nashville in December 2006: the dreaded in-flight fart [source: Shu]. Only 16 percent of American adults admit they toot their own horn while taking public transportation, although surely the other 84 percent just don't admit to it [source: Lindenbaum]. When we're flying, we're prone to a phenomenon called jet bloat and yes, like jet lag, it's a real thing. More than 60 percent of pilots report they experience regular jet bloat [source: Robson]. And that distended, gassy feeling can only mean one thing: high-altitude, in-flight flatulence. Advertisement The average person can expect to pass about 1 liter (or a quart) of gas, which adds up to no fewer than 10 farts within 24 hours (and if you hold those farts in during the day, expect that gas to escape while you sleep) [source: Robson]. Fart composition varies from person to person, but it generally breaks down as 59 percent nitrogen, 21 percent hydrogen, 9 percent carbon dioxide, 7 percent methane and 4 percent oxygen. It's the remaining small percentage less than 1 percent of sulfur-containing gasses (including hydrogen sulfide) that gives farts their distinctive odors. And all that's needed to make that fart smellable is 1 part per 100 million parts air [source: Goldberg and Leyner]. It's not only the farts of those in the immediate vicinity that linger in the cabin; a single fart can reach speeds of up to 10 feet per second [source: Cohen]. Additionally, half of the cabin air is recirculated air which means each fart's odor is circulating throughout the plane. If you've ever noticed that the plastic water bottles you bring with you on your flights get a little crunched between takeoff and landing, then you already guess the answer to why we get gassy when we fly. It's all about pressure. While we typically fly at altitudes between 33,000 to 45,000 feet (10,058 to 13,716 meters), inside the cabin it feels to us as though we're only between 6,000 and 8,000 feet (1,829 and 2,438 meters) above sea level. On the ground, the human body is accustomed to an atmospheric pressure of 760 millimeters of mercury (mmHg), but when we fly that pressure decreases to about 565 mmHg. When altitude increases, pressure decreases; when the pressure drops, volume increases. This is the thermodynamic principle called the ideal gas law: PV=nRT, where P is the pressure of the gas, V is the volume of the gas, n is the amount of gas, R is the ideal gas constant and T is the temperature of the gas. When the atmospheric pressure in the plane's cabin drops, the air inside your body needs more space, and the volume of gas expands by roughly 25 percent. The greater volume of intestinal gas equals a greater number of farts and, perhaps, a couple temporary inches of bloat around your abdomen [source: Cox]. T his is the dramatic moment brave bystanders pinned a suspected knifeman to the ground following a stabbing in north-east London. Footage shows a number of members of the public holding the man as police raced to the scene on Friday morning. One member of public appears to have blood on his hand and what looks like blood can be also seen on the ground. A man in his 50s was rushed to hospital when he was stabbed in Stoke Newington High Street at around 10.45am. His condition is not yet known. The victim is believed to be Jewish and Scotland Yard said a possible hate crime motive is forming part of their investigations. Bystanders rushed to pin down the suspect / @artonanisland A man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. One of the witnesses who helped stop the assailant described rushing to help after hearing a serious scream. Construction site manager Lazar Friedlander and his brother Matt ran towards the alleged attacker. He said: We ran outside, I saw a Jewish man covered in blood. Im Jewish myself, and I can see another Jewish man shouting hold him, catch him, hes got a knife! Stabbing! There were a couple of other people trying to grab him. Me and my brother managed to force him down and put his hands behind his back until the police came. I wouldnt call myself a hero. You act in the heat of the moment, added Mr Friedlander. The modern information age: binary ones and zeros Did any of you ever take a Boolean algebra class? George Boole, a 19th-century professor of mathematics from Queens College in Cork, Ireland, is the person we can thank for it. He wrote about the world of binary logic in his 1847 book: The Mathematical Analysis of Logic. Most agree that Boole is responsible for the logical calculation processes used in digital computing systems. Boolean algebraic logic values, true and false variables, are used to analyze and streamline digital logic circuitry used in computing systems to execute programs. The zeros and ones used in binary coding are part of the Boolean sphere recognized as the false value known as 0, and the true value known as 1. In the mid-1970s, I took digital binary electronic circuitry classes correlating the 0 as an absence of voltage and the 1 as a voltage presence. Logic gates are a physical device applying a specific Boolean function used to control input/output combination possibilities for performing logical operations using digital circuitry, acting in a sense, as electronic switches. Signal inputs 0 or a 1 are used on electronic digital logic gates, such as NOR, AND, NAND, XNOR, and OR. An OR gate with two inputs of A/B using a 0/A 0/B input would result in an output of 0. In an OR logic gate, if any of the input A/B signal inputs are high (1), the output signal is high (1). Other types of logic gates will have different outputs based on their input signals. Sounds logical. I have previously written about some of the early 20th-century electronic digital computing systems using binary logic. In 1946, The Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer (ENIAC), known as The Giant Brain, was built at the University of Pennsylvania. Our British friends across the pond constructed the Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator (EDSAC). It was running computing programs in 1949. The US Army used a binary computer called the Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC), which became operational in 1949. My favorite is from 1951, the Universal Automatic Computer, commonly known as the UNIVAC. It was an electronic digital mainframe computer manufactured by the Remington Rand company in the US. UNIVAC is one of those room-sized computers with combined cabinet dimensions of 14 feet long by 7.5 feet wide by 8 feet high. The UNIVAC gained fame for its appearance on CBS television when it predicted the winner of the 1952 presidential election. I watched an archived video showing CBS newscaster Walter Cronkite reporting from his anchor desk on the evening of the presidential election, Nov. 4, 1952. A teletype machine was located near his anchor desk to send and receive information from the UNIVAC. At around 7:30 p.m. CST, the UNIVAC determined the presidential winner would be Dwight Eisenhower even though only a small percentage of the votes had been counted. The UNIVAC had calculated 100-1 odds in favor of Eisenhower winning the election over Adlai Stevenson. The accuracy of the UNIVACs prediction was less than 1 percent which stunned the news folks at CBS. CBS delayed disclosing the computers prediction because, at the time, public opinion polling showed Stevenson was leading. CBS executives feared the UNIVAC was wrong, and thus CBS, too, would be wrong. However, the UNIVACs prediction was correct. We saw it as an added feature to our coverage that could be very interesting in the future, and there was a great deal of pride that we had this exclusively. But I dont think that we felt the computer would become predominant in our coverage, in any way, Cronkite said about the UNIVAC. Lets talk a little about George Boole. He was born Nov. 2, 1815, in Lincoln, England. Boole specialized in differential mathematical equations and algebraic logic. He was an English mathematician and Professor of Mathematics at the University College in Cork, Ireland. Boole authored another book in 1854 titled The Laws of Thought, where he described algebraic logic probabilities and equations. The distinction between true and false, between correct and incorrect, exists in the processes of the intellect, but not in the region of a physical necessity. As we advance from the lower stages of organic being to the higher grade of conscious intelligence, this contrast gradually dawns upon us, Boole wrote. The basic principles in this book became the foundation of what would become the modern information age. Boole was 49 years old when he passed away on Dec. 8, 1864. He is buried in the village of Blackrock, within Cork City, Ireland. The Project Gutenberg organization has archived Booles book, Laws of Thought at http://tinyurl.com/bytesGB. Booles The Mathematical Analysis of Logic, published in 1847, can be read at http://tinyurl.com/bytes-1847. A detailed diagram of the OR gate can be seen here: http://tinyurl.com/bytes-OR. The University College Cork produced a 7-minute video about George Boole at http://tinyurl.com/Boolevid. Continue to stay safe out there. TUNIS - The number of corpses recovered by the Tunisian navy in the area of the sea between El Louza (Jebeniana) and Kraten off the Kerkennah islands has risen to 53. The bodies are those of passengers who had been on a boat carrying migrants, most of whom sub-Saharan origins, who left from Sfax over the night between June 4 and June 5 and were heading for the Italian coast, the TAP news agency quoted the Sfax civil defense chief as saying. According to Sfax regional health director Aly Ayadi, among the corpses found were those of at least 24 women including one pregnant woman, about 10 men and three children, all of whom believed to be from sub-Saharan Africa, and a 48-year-old Tunisian from Sfax who had been at the held of the fishing boat that sunk. After undergoing DNA testing, the corpses will be buried in the El Saltnya cemetery in the outskirts of Sfax. IRISH Water has been referred to the environmental watchdog over fears of raw sewage pumping into the water at Glin Pier. Fianna Fail councillor Michael Collins, who is expected to become the next mayor of Limerick, has written to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), saying the water treatment plant in the village is not fit for purpose. Hes also urged the state water utility to stop the discharge of water, as Covid-19 lockdown measures are eased, and more people head to the popular West Limerick swimming spot. Irish Water is aware of this issue, but its way down their list of priorities. Its a funding issue, basically, Cllr Collins told the Limerick Leader, As far as I am concerned, its a public health issue. People are bathing off Glin Pier, particularly in the last number of weeks. He says with more fine weather forecast, people will flock to Glin, rather than other seaside resorts along the west coast, with 20km travel restrictions in place. More and more people will be using Glin Pier. But what about the locals who have been using it all along. Has their health been put at risk, the Newcastle West-based councillor asked. Last year, the EPA identified Glin and nearby Foynes as being among 36 resorts across Ireland receiving unacceptable levels of raw, untreated sewage. In the report, Irish Water was criticised for being too slow to fix the issue. The EPA called on the water body to improve information on the condition and general performance of public sewers across Ireland as part of a concerted effort to direct upgrade and improvement works where they are most needed. A spokesperson for Irish Water said an upgrade to the Glin wastewater treatment plan is currently at design stage, and its anticipated will be complete by 2024. This project includes the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant and associated sewerage infrastructure, they added. The utility also said its on track to deliver a programme of unprecedented scale to stop the discharge of untreated or inadequately treated waste-water into Irelands seas and rivers. Irish Waters investment plan prioritises public health and safety by targeting locations where there is no treatment for raw sewage or where the treatment is not in compliance with the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, the spokesperson added. We are committed to providing a safe and reliable water supply, protecting the environment and supporting the growth of homes and businesses, they added in a statement provided this Tuesday to the Limerick Leader. Last week the European Commission adopted its latest strategy to address the ongoing loss of biodiversity and destruction of the natural world. There was much talk of a green recovery as the Union takes its first, tentative steps to recover from the initial wave of Covid-19. In addition to being ready to cope with another pandemic, there was wide acceptance of the need to build societies' resilience to future threats such as climate change impacts, forest fires, food insecurity or disease outbreaks, including by protecting wildlife and fighting illegal wildlife trade. The new plan for wildlife is called the 'EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030'. As other plans have had limited success to date, the new plan is the most comprehensive and ambitious one yet for protecting nature and reversing the degradation of ecosystems. A core part of the European Green Deal, the new Biodiversity Strategy has four main elements. First, it is committed to expanding the existing network of protected areas on land and at sea, with strict protection for areas of high biodiversity and climate value. Second, it makes a concrete commitment to restore wildlife areas that were degraded in the past and to manage them sustainably. Third, it recognises that 'paper protection' by Member States is meaningless and sets out measures for a new, strengthened governance framework to ensure better implementation and tracking of progress. And fourth, it seeks to demonstrate on the global stage that the EU is ready to lead by example towards the successful adoption of an ambitious global biodiversity framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Ireland has great scope for improvement. The target set by the EU for us to protect the part of the Union's marine waters that we are responsible for was 10% by 2020; we achieved 2.4%. The bar is now set at 30% by 2030 so, if we are to keep up, transformative change is required in the way we manage our seas and very extensive exclusive economic zone with its amazing cold-water coral reefs. With regard to protected areas on land, many have very admirable and detailed conservation objectives on paper, but few have management plans setting out the actual measures that need to be taken on the ground to achieve the paper objectives. The 'EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030' is the most ambitious plan yet to try to halt the ongoing loss of biodiversity and the destruction of the natural world. The statue of British naval officer John Hamilton has been removed from the New Zealand city named after him after Maoris threatened to tear it down. Captain Hamilton - who is accused of killing Maori people in the 1860s - was branded 'murderous' and a 'monster' by one Maori elder who said he would remove the statue himself before it was taken away by city authorities. A crane hoisted the bronze sculpture from the town square in Hamilton as a small group of cheering spectators looked on. Hamilton was a naval commander who fought indigenous Maori defending their land against British colonial expansion in the 19th century. Workers remove a controversial statue of Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton from Civic Square in Hamilton Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said in a statement that a growing number of people found the statue (pictured being removed) personally and culturally offensive Cities around the world are taking steps to remove statues that represent cultural or racial oppression as support grows for the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd by police last month in Minneapolis. Demonstrations have taken part across the UK and there are concerns over the protection of monuments after a statue of slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down and dumped in Bristol's harbour. Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said in a statement that a growing number of people found the statue personally and culturally offensive. She said: 'We can't ignore what is happening all over the world and nor should we. At a time when we are trying to build tolerance and understanding between cultures and in the community, I don't think the statue helps us to bridge those gaps.' Hamilton City Council acknowledged the statue's extraction was part of a push to remove memorials 'which are seen to represent cultural disharmony and oppression' sparked by global anti-racism protests. Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton is accused of killing indigenous Maori people in the 1860s. Pictured is the statue being removed The statue was gifted to the city in 2013 and the Waikato-Tainui tribe, or iwi, formally requested on Thursday for it to be removed The city was originally called Kirikiriroa by Maori but it was renamed in the 1860s after Captain Hamilton, a British officer who was killed in the infamous Gate Pa battle in the city of Tauranga. The statue was gifted to the city in 2013 and the Waikato-Tainui tribe, or iwi, formally requested on Thursday for it to be removed. City authorities said it was clear the statue was going to be vandalized, after Maori elder Taitimu Maipi this week told news organisation Stuff that he planned to tear it down himself. Mr Maipi said Hamilton was being represented as a hero when he was 'murderous' and a 'monster'. 'How can we accept that he's a hero when he's a monster who led battles,' Maipi told the Waikato Times. City authorities said they have no plans to change the city's name at this point. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said removing depictions of historic figures was part of 'a wave of idiocy' that would prevent future generations learning from past mistakes. 'Why do some woke New Zealanders feel the need to mimic mindless actions imported from overseas?' said Peters, who leads the populist New Zealand First Party, a coalition partner in Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's government. 'A self-confident country would never succumb to obliterating symbols of their history, whether it be good or bad or simply gone out of fashion.' Ardern has not yet weighed in on the statue debate but last year ordered that study of the conflict between Maori and British colonialists, known as the New Zealand wars, become compulsory in all schools. Waikato-Tainui praised the statue's removal, saying it was discussing other problematic colonial names and symbols with Hamilton council, including the prospect of restoring the city's original Maori name Kirikiriroa. 'This was a devastating time for our people and these injustices of the past should not be a continual reminder as we look to grow and develop our beautiful city into the future,' iwi chairman Rukumoana Schaafhausen said. Hamilton council said the fate of the British commander's statue and what, if anything, should replace it were still under discussion. Hamilton is the nation's fourth-largest city with 160,000 people, about one-quarter of whom are Maori. First Ministers of Wales and Scotland call for Brextension to provide a breathing space in wake of COVID-19 pandemic This article is old - Published: Friday, Jun 12th, 2020 The first minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford has written to Boris Johnson calling on the UK government to seek an extension of the Brexit transition period. Mr Drakeford has written a joint letter with his Scottish counterpart Nicola Sturgeon stating an extension is essential to avoid needless damage to the economy at a time when COVID-19 is hitting businesses when they are most vulnerable. The transition period is scheduled to finish on 31 Dec 2020 but can be extended by mutual agreement provided a decision is taken by 1 July. Ms Sturgeon and Mr Drakeford said: Without an extension to the transition period, at very best there will only be a damaging bare bones trade deal or even worse, a disastrous no deal outcome. We are mindful that the Withdrawal Agreement only permits an extension of the transition period if this has been agreed before the end of June. At the time the Withdrawal Agreement was signed, no-one could have imagined the enormous economic dislocation which the COVID-19 pandemic has caused in Wales, Scotland, the whole of the UK, in the EU and across the world. While we hope that the second half of this year will see the beginnings of a recovery, we believe that exiting the transition period at the end of the year would be extraordinarily reckless. It would pile a further very significant economic and social shock on top of the COVID-19 crisis, hitting businesses whose reserves, in many case, have already been exhausted, leading to more business closures and redundancies. But in this case, the shock would be avoidable. No-one could reproach the UK Government for changing its position in the light of the wholly unforeseeable COVID-19 crisis, particularly as the EU has made it clear it is open to an extension request. We therefore call on you to take the final opportunity which the next few weeks provide to ask for an extension to the transition period in order to provide a breathing space to complete the negotiations, to implement the outcome, and to give our businesses the opportunity to find their feet after the enormous disruption of recent months. In response, Welsh Conservative Shadow COVID Recovery Minister, Darren Millar MS, said: The Welsh Labour Government is up to its old tricks in seeking to undermine the will of the people of Wales by frustrating the Brexit process. But with the coronavirus pandemic hitting Wales hard, the last thing we need are delays to the negotiation of a free trade agreements with the EU, US, Japan, and other important trading partners which can help us bounce back in the future. The First Minister must move on from fighting old battles over Brexit and crack on with working constructively with the UK Government as it negotiates the best free trade deal possible with our European partners. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove tweeted today: I formally confirmed the UK will not extend the transition period & the moment for extension has now passed. On 1 January 2021 we will take back control and regain our political and economic independence. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12 2020 Indonesia has called on the Muslim world and its allies to join hands in a "massive mobilization" against Israel's plan to illegally annex a large part of the West Bank, issuing the call as top diplomats from Muslim and Muslim-majority countries convened to reiterate their support for Palestinian sovereignty and an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Speaking at an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Wednesday evening, Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi said that the member countries should work together to mobilize support for Palestine and hedge against any internal divisions over the contentious issue. Our voice should be solid to prevent the formal annexation from happening, Retno said in her speech, a transcript of which was made available to The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Eight years ago, Canada eliminated federal restrictions on the interprovincial shipment of wine for personal use. We were tantalizingly close to freeing domestic wine trade, but, unfortunately, most provinces retained their own restrictions. Last year, Doug Ford passed a sunset provision ending Ontario prohibitions on shipping Canadian wines to consumers from wineries in other provinces. Implementation was delayed but is now scheduled for July 1. Fords bold initiative couldnt be more timely. If the Ontario restrictions are, indeed, revoked on Canada Day without further delay, our wineries can start to build the truly Canadian supply chain that we need in this time of global economic uncertainty. My thanks to Premier Ford on this issue. I hope premiers Jason Kenney and Francois Legault follow his example. DC Circuit Signals Split on Flynn Case Intervention A three-judge panel of the District of Columbia appeals court appeared split on whether to intervene in the case of former Trump adviser Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn. Flynn and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are asking the appeals court for a writ of mandamusan order to District Judge Emmet Sullivan, who has presided over the Flynn caseto accept DOJs motion to drop the case. Flynn, a former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency during the Obama administration and former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty in 2017 to one count of lying during an FBI interview. In January, he disavowed the plea and asked the court to allow him to withdraw it. The DOJ moved to drop Flynns case on May 7, saying the FBI didnt have a proper reason to interview Flynn in the first place and appeared to only do so to elicit those very false statements and thereby criminalize Mr. Flynn. Sullivan not only hasnt accepted the dismissal, but also appointed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) to argue against it. Hes also indicated, through his lawyer, that he wants to probe the DOJ about its motives for dropping the case and consider whether Flynn should be held in contempt of court for withdrawing his plea. The unusual developments in this case provide at least a plausible reason to question the bona fides of the governments motion, said Beth Wilkinson, Sullivans lawyer, in a June 1 response to the court. Sidney Powell, Flynns attorney and former federal prosecutor, argued at a June 12 teleconference hearing that Sullivan has no authority to delay his decision as it would force Flynn to incur further harm. She said the judge is free to review the cases record before ruling, but shouldnt inquire any further because the Constitution leaves prosecutorial decisions exclusively to the executive branch. The DOJ, represented by Principal Deputy Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall, agreed, noting that it too would incur harm because Sullivan indicated he will ask about the governments deliberative processes that the executive branch should be allowed to keep to itself. Sullivans lawyer argued that the judge just wants to ask some questions to determine what are the boundaries of his authority to challenge the DOJs motion to dismiss the case. He hasnt yet impermissibly scrutinized the motion and, in any case, the government certainly knows how to refuse to answer or refuse to provide information if it thinks its appropriate. The DOJ disagreed. Wall said the court should consider the manner in which the DOJ would be forced to respond to Sullivans questions, raising the concern that if it isnt already, it is threatening to become and will become the sort of public spectacle that I think mandamus is warranted to foreclose at this point. You have all these allegations lobbed at the executive branch. Were going to have to answer them in a public forum, in a politicized environment, he said, adding, it invades our deliberative process, it chills law enforcement, it sets up a conflict between branches. The case was heard by Judges Karen Henderson, a G. W. Bush appointee; Robert Wilkins, an Obama appointee; and Neomi Rao, a Trump appointee. Henderson seemed unconvinced that its necessary for the appeals court to step in now, as there is still a chance that Sullivan will grant the motion and wont do what he has indicated hell do. Wall disagreed. The train of Sullivans inquiry has only partially left the station, he acknowledged, but added that a similar case a few years ago set a precedent that the trains never supposed to leave in the first place in order to respect the division of constitutional authorities between the executive and the judiciary. Wilkins questioned the idea that the district judge shouldnt be allowed to probe beyond what the government put in its motion to dismiss. What if the prosecutors acted out of racial bias, he asked, conjuring up a scenario where the DOJ drops a prosecution of a white police officer for beating a black person. Wall reminded the judge that, first of all, the government would need to state such a reason openly. Under normal circumstances, the government is entitled to a presumption of regularity, meaning that unless theres clear evidence to the contrary, the judge shouldnt go about theorizing about the governments ulterior motives. Even if the government was to state such a reason openly, the court can disagree, but still has to grant the dismissal, because only the government can bring prosecutions, Wall argued. Finally, he pointed out that racial bias is a constitutional issue, which goes beyond anything concerned in the Flynn case. Rao questioned why Sullivan appointed an amicus to argue against the governments motion to dismiss the case. On whose behalf is the amicus arguing, she asked. Wilkinson answered that the amicus represents the court, but that the judge is taking advantage of the adversarial position of the amicus to understand what is the scope of the authority of the judge in this situation. Rao didnt push the point further. Both Powell and Wall pointed out that the amicus, former federal judge John Gleeson, has openly accused the DOJ of dropping the case out of favoritism, de facto leveling accusations against Attorney General William Barr and President Donald Trump. They argued that the appointment sheds light on where Sullivan is trying to lead his inquiry. Indeed, Gleeson made his views known in a Washington Post op-ed two days before Sullivan appointed him. Henderson countered that appointing intemperate amicus doesnt necessarily mean Sullivan is going to listen to him. For all we know, he will say, this amicus brief is over the top, the dismissal motion is granted, she said. Wilkinson alluded to that notion. It may well be that the [lower] court reads both sides, both [sides] briefings, asks the government questions, and grants the motion to dismiss, she said. Even in that case, the appeals court should preemptively bar Sullivan from getting into fishing for evidence and probing the governments motives, Wall said. It seems to me they want some evidentiary discovery process that clearly should be off the table and contempt should be off the table, he said. Indeed, Sullivan also tasked Gleeson to argue why Flynn should be forced to defend himself from an accusation of contempt of court. The judges seemed to mostly elide that issue. Rao voiced a concern that issuing a partial mandamus would make the judges specify what precisely is on and off the table in Sullivans situation, which seemed to her like a lot of law to be making in a mandamus. Wall agreed that the cleaner way to do it is to just grant the mandamus. The judges didnt set a timetable for coming to a decision. The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai pulled down critical data on the availability of hospital beds in the city from its website for three days. Not only was the Covid-19 war room dashboard pulled down, but even the tab under which the data was uploaded was removed from the website. Hours after CNN-News18 reported on the move, the BMC restored the data. BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal himself took cognisance of the matter and directed officials to share the information regularly. The BMC attributed the error to technical problems and lack of manpower. The BMC uploads critical updates on the coronavirus situation in Mumbai on the website Stopcoronavirus.mcgm.in. Last week, the civic body started showing its war room dashboard under a tab named 'key updates and trends'. The dashboard has important data on the types of beds and the number of beds that are occupied. It has data on Covid-19 trends in Mumbai, ward-wise information, helpline numbers and testing figures. But three days ago, the BMC abruptly stopped sharing the information on the website. Not just that, it also removed the tab 'key updates and trends' from the website. More importantly, on all these days, Mumbai witnessed substantial increase in the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths. After News18 reported on the missing information, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) asked whether the BMC is playing with the lives of people, Demanding the immediate restoration of data, senior MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar said, This is a grave lapse. Is the BMC backstabbing the people of Mumbai? They must be held accountable. Within hours, municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal took cognisance of the lapse and personally intervened in the matter. He directed his officials to ensure that the tab is restored and updated information is shared. Speaking about the lapse, Mumbai Guardian Minister Aslam Sheikh told CNN-News18 that it was an error which has been corrected. He also claimed that there was no shortage of beds in the city and that the government is also ramping up the capacity of hospitals. An official BMC spokesperson News18 that it was a technical error because of lack of manpower. NETHER PROVIDENCE Police are awaiting toxicology reports for a 34-year-old Chester man found dead in a truck on Hastings Avenue June 2, Police Chief David Splain said. At 1:05 p.m., we responded to the 100 block of Hastings Avenue for a suspicious vehicle, said Splain. Upon investigating, officers found a subject deceased in the vehicle. It had been there for a period of time. It does not look suspicious at this time. Spalin said his department is working with Chester because the person was reported missing about a week before the body was found. Neighbors called about the truck being parked there and the body was found in the back seat of the truck, he said. The name of the person has not been released. Splain said the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division and Medical Examiners Office were called to the scene, but there was no obvious cause of death and the police department is waiting for the Medical Examiner on that point. File image Maharashtras Social Justice Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Dhananjay Munde and five of his staff tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection on Friday. Munde is the third minister in the state cabinet to have been infected by the deadly virus. As per an Indian Express report, Munde had complained of throat infection, which is a symptom of COVID-19. He was later admitted to Breach Candy hospital. Munde's private secretary, media advisor and three other employees in his office also tested positive for COVID-19. However, they are asymptomatic. Public Works Department Minister Ashok Chavan and Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad had previously tested positive for coronavirus; they have now recovered. Due to the rising number of cases in the state as well as the cabinet, some senior leaders in the government have decided to stay indoors for the next few days. Hours before Munde tested positive, he attended the weekly cabinet meeting at the Mantralaya. Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic Senior NCP leaders, including Member of Parliament Supriya Sule, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, state NCP president and Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil, Mumbai NCP president Nawab Malik, had attended foundation day ceremony. Moreover, Munde had also attended a meeting, chaired by Ajit Pawar, regarding cotton procurement. "Senior officials from Mundes department have been asked to home quarantine," sources told the newspaper. Maharashtra continues to be on edge with the state reporting over 97,000 coronavirus cases. Out of the total 8,498 fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 3,590 deaths till Friday morning. For the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak, India recorded over 10,000 new cases in a day taking the tally to 2,97,535, while the death toll rose to 8,498 with a record single-day spike of 396 fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Melbourne, Australia Fri, June 12, 2020 14:30 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde3cbe7 2 World Australia,Rio-Tinto,Aboriginal-heritage-site,Aborigin Free Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques on Friday apologized for distress caused by Rio's destruction last month of two ancient and sacred Aboriginal caves in Western Australia, pledging full cooperation with an Australian government inquiry. "We are very sorry for the distress we have caused the PKKP in relation to Juukan Gorge and our first priority remains rebuilding trust with the PKKP," Jacques said in a statement, referring to the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) people. The apology marked Jacques' first public comments on the event since it occurred more than two weeks ago. Head of iron ore Chris Salisbury had previously expressed the miner's remorse, although stopped short of saying Rio had done anything wrong in an interview with Australia media. With state government approval, the world's biggest iron ore miner destroyed two caves at Juukan Gorge that had previously contained evidence of continual human habitation stretching back 46,000 years as part of its Brockman mine expansion in the iron-rich Pilbara region. Australia's Senate agreed on Thursday to begin a national inquiry into how the destruction of a cultural and historically significant site occurred. Under terms of the inquiry the joint standing committee on Northern Australia must report back by Sept. 30. "Rio Tinto will fully cooperate with the inquiry," Jacques said his statement. The miner said it would also continue to support reforms to Western Australia's Aboriginal Heritage Act, under which permission to disturb the sites was granted in a process that denies traditional owners right of appeal. "Rio Tinto has a long history of working in partnership and creating shared value with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around our operations and across Australia more broadly. We remain absolutely committed to continuing to do so," Jacques said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-11 20:26:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese medical team members attend a meeting with Palestinian health officials in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on June 11, 2020. The visiting Chinese medical experts on Thursday began meeting with Palestinian health officials and counterparts, kicking off their mission to assist the Palestinian fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) RAMALLAH, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The visiting Chinese medical experts on Thursday began meeting with Palestinian health officials and counterparts, kicking off their mission to assist the Palestinian fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. A meeting was held by the Chinese team at the Palestinian Ministry of Health with Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila. After that, the Chinese experts joined a panel discussion for four hours, during which they listened to a presentation by the ministry's preventive medicine and public health departments in to explain the pandemic situation in Palestine. So far, there were 665 cases confirmed in Palestine, including five deaths and a recovery rate of nearly 88 percent. Osama Najjar, head of the Palestinian Health Ministry's paramedics unit, told Xinhua ahead of the discussion that it would focus on sharing the Palestinian side's information and listening to the Chinese experts' experiences in containing the coronavirus. "It will focus on the lab tests problems, the taking of samples, the treatment regime that we follow here in quarantines and hospitals, and what they do with their patients, especially the patients who have other diseases," Najjar said. The Chinese experts would also share their experiences of treating the coronavirus patients in their hospitals, labs and epidemiological centers, he said. Hu Peng, head of the Chinese team, said that his team was interested in the "comprehensive recovery and the treatment and diagnosis of the COVID-19 all over Palestine," as positive results have been achieved by the Palestinian medical staff. "I shall avail this opportunity to have an in-depth exchange of views with the medical institutions together with the medical staff to learn how this success was reached," he added. The team, which was put together by China's National Health Commission, includes experts from various departments such as respiratory and infectious diseases, traditional Chinese medicine, epidemiology and nursing. The Chinese experts are scheduled to hold a series of meetings and pay visits to quarantine and treatment centers in the West Bank until June 17. August 3, 1927 June 6, 2020 Carroll Leon Larabee, 92, passed away peacefully early Saturday morning, June 6, 2020 at Anna House Adult Care Home in Albany. He was born to Leon and Lillian (Brooks) Larabee in Kenosha, Wisconsin, joining half-brother Charles and half-sister Olive. He grew up in the small, nearby town of Bristol, graduating from Wilmot High School in 1946. After high school, he joined the Army, served for 7 months and was honorably discharged from Camp Hood, Texas in 1947. The next few years were spent working at various jobs in the Kenosha area, including delivering furniture for Montgomery Ward with his brother, Charles. In 1950, Carrolls dream to come out West came true when his parents decided to move to Oregon and join the Pesheck cousins in the Dever-Conner area. Through these cousins, he met the love of his life, Nadine Craft, who had moved to the same area 3 years earlier from Oklahoma. They were married March 9, 1951, at the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church in Albany, and recently celebrated 69 years together. Earlier in 1950, at a Billy Graham Crusade in Portland, Carroll accepted Jesus as his Savior. This decision guided the rest of his life as he led his family and served faithfully in many ways at Dever-Conner Community Church, where they attended for almost 70 years. His quiet wisdom and kindness were valued by his family, the church, the Jefferson School Board, and in his career. He spent 40 years working in the rare metals industry, beginning at the Bureau of Mines in Albany, Oregon and one year in Salt Lake City, Utah. Returning to Albany, he worked at Teledyne Wah Chang until he retired in 1991 as Manager of the Separations Department. Carroll & Nadine spent their retirement years travelling around the United States in their RV, as well as taking trips to Japan and Mexico. They enjoyed taking their grandchildren on summertime trips to the Oregon coast. After almost 50 years on their farm in Jefferson, Carroll and Nadine moved to the Mennonite Village in Albany, where they met many new friends. Their neighbor, Janet, has been a special help and comfort to them. Carroll is remembered by family and friends as a faithful husband, fun Daddy, trustworthy leader and a friend to everyone he met. He is survived by his wife Nadine, 3 daughters and a son: Kathy (Dave) Kennedy of Fullerton, California; Sandy (Roger) Barnett of Deer Park, Washington; Debbie (Stan) Baggett of Sublimity, Oregon; and Dwight (Gail) Larabee of Beaverton, Oregon. He will also be missed by 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Carroll was preceded in death by his parents, half-brother, half-sister, granddaughter Tia Larabee and great-grandson Ethan Orr. The family appreciates all the loving caregivers over the past year from Mennonite Village, Anna House, and Lumina Hospice. A graveside service will be held at Willamette Memorial Park in Albany. A public memorial service will be planned later in the summer. Contributions may be made in his memory to Lumina Hospice, 720 SW 4th Street, Corvallis, Oregon 97333 or to the Mennonite Village Foundation, 5353 Columbus Street SE, Albany, Oregon 97322. Arrangements are being made by Fisher Funeral Home www.fisherfuneralhome.com. A married couple who dumped Mustard Gas canisters from the Second World War in a lake have been sentenced for possessing a chemical weapon in what is thought to be the first such prosecution in the UK. Military enthusiast Martyn Tasker, 40, from Lincoln, was jailed for five years after 150 abandoned canisters were discovered at a former RAF based used in the Second World War as well as a separate charged of possessing two Bren machine guns. His wife Michaela Tasker, 32, and friend Stuart Holmes, 51, from Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, were spared jail for their part in helping to dispose of the canisters after receiving suspended sentences at Nottingham Crown Court today. Martyn and Michaela Tasker were sentenced for possession of mustard gas canisters, a chemical weapon The Environment Agency said the 'feckless' trio were the first to be charged with possessing a chemical weapon in the country. They were arrested after the Martyn sought medical help for arm blisters and a difficulty in breathing following their find at the former military base Roughton Woods near Woodhall Spa in October 2017. The court heard Mrs Tasker had collapsed in a GP's waiting room due to respiratory difficulties the following day. The couple and their friend found the canisters in an old store building at Roughton Woods, removed 16 of them and emptied three of them on the ground. Unsure what the canisters contained, they sought advice from fellow military enthusiast Paul Spence who identified it as mustard gas and told them to 'leave them alone and never go back there.' He advised them to dig a whole and bury them or call the bomb squad. Instead they rowed a dinghy out onto Stixwould Lake and dumped them in the water near where Holmes worked. Police declared a major incident and sealed off the wood while a team from the Ministry of Defences laboratory at Porton Down were brought in. The 11-day lake clean-up cost the taxpayer nearly 300,000 and involved more than 20 agencies 150 canisters were unearthed by a digging crew, two men suffered minor chemical burns after the discovery The clean-up two years ago cost almost 300,000, and two people were treated for minor burns. Authorities were forced to secure the lake, woods and some residential homes in a major 11-day operation which involved more than 20 separate agencies. Jailing Martyn Tasker, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker said the former Territorial Army soldier had shown a 'flagrant disregard for the law'. Speaking to the trio, the judge said: 'In my judgment this is a case where your state of mind involved the deliberate commission of this offence, in that it is clear in my judgment that the decision to dispose of the canisters instead of contacting Explosive Ordnance Disposal or any other lawful authority, was not, as I have already observed, due to any genuine belief that it would be safe to do so. 'Given your knowledge of the extremely hazardous nature of the contents of the canisters, I am satisfied that the decision to dispose of the canisters in this manner instead of contacting Explosive Ordnance Disposal or any other lawful authority, was not due to any genuine belief that it would be safe to do so, but was designed to cover up the fact that the three of you were in unlawful possession of the canisters.' Following the sentencing, Ben Thornely, incident management lead at the Environment Agency, said: 'Mustard gas is extremely toxic, so dumping it in a lake near people's homes and in a popular woodland enjoyed by Scouts and dog-walkers was appallingly dangerous. Mustard gas is a caustic airborne chemical that burns any skin it comes into contact with, including the inside of the lungs if it is inhaled 'Luckily the old, corroded containers didn't leak and were safely disposed of by professionals who showed bravery, ingenuity and collaboration to keep people safe. 'This incident was entirely unique, so it's satisfying the judge recognised the grave threat posed and we hope this sentence sends a clear message we won't hesitate to take action against those who so carelessly put people and our precious environment at risk.' Chief Inspector Phil Vickers, of Lincolnshire Police, said: 'This operation challenged the emergency services, military and partner agencies in ways that we have never experienced in Lincolnshire before in fact some of the issues had never been faced anywhere before. 'Bringing together 27 agencies to protect the community of Woodhall Spa and surrounding area was no mean feat everyone pulled together and we witnessed bravery from our military, insight from our specialist advisers, ingenuity from the Environment Agency and commitment from all involved. 'This was truly a successful multi-agency team effort we achieved our aim of protecting the community from harm, and used our wide range of skills and experience to do so.' Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino has resigned from his position of executive vice president and CFO at Cincinnati, Ohio-based American Financial Group Inc., the company said. Effective June 12, Consolino leaves AFG to pursue another opportunity in the insurance industry. In connection with this transition, Consolino will step down from AFGs board of directors. Consolino has been tapped by Enstar to take over as CEO of its specialty property/casualty insurance subsidiary StarStone U.S. Holdings Inc. Consolino joined American Financial Group in February 2013 from Validus. An insurance holding company, through the operations of Great American Insurance Group, AFG is engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance. Related: Its Time to Recall Gavin Newsom Commentary California is reeling from crisis to crisis. Water shortages, wildfires, power outages, government shutdowns, homelessness, exploding deficits, and uncontrolled crime and violence. All of these problems seem to be converging at once, and theyre leaving Californians angry and distraught. Simply stated, Californias problems arent a failure of ideas, industry, or familiestheyre a failure of leadership. In 2019, California was hit with wildfires, and then by electrical shutdowns by its largest electric utility, PG&E. Cast as a preventive measure to fires, the shutdowns damaged the economy and caused Californias tech industry to warn Gov. Gavin Newsom that if the state cant reliably provide electricity, they would be forced to relocate. 2019 also saw Californias homelessness crisis make national news for its scope and because theres no end in sight. In places such as San Francisco, the city has moved the homeless into hotels and delivers alcohol, marijuana, and syringes to them. The homelessness and wildfires/electrical crises joined Californias perennial water crisis. California farmers, who make up Californias largest industry, year after year are deprived of water and cant rely on consistent delivery of what little they get. Neither can the rest of Californians. The water crisis could be resolved, in part, if government captured the rain instead of allowing trillions of gallons of water to run off and flow unimpeded to the ocean. Desalination plants could help toobut, environmentalists and Newsom will have none of it. Instead, Sacramento wants to restrict water allocations to 50 gallons a day per person for California residents. Then COVID-19 hit. Newsoms ongoing response to the COVID crisis has plunged the state into a recessiona deep recession brought on by government. Its estimated that over 30 percent of California restaurants wont reopen. The hotel industry still has occupancy rates below 25 percent, while landlords deal with empty storefronts and a lack of cash flow. Meanwhile, car dealers are struggling because their buyers are unemployed and the anti-independent contractor law, AB5, limits the ability to work from home. The list could go on and on. The governor has only begrudgingly opened the state after threatening to keep large aspects of it shut throughout the summer. His hand, however, is said to have been forced by lawsuits demanding restoration of Constitutional rights and local officials facing huge budget deficits caused by lost tax revenue as a result of locking down the economy. Newsom still refuses to disclose the $1 billion contract he signed with a donors company to obtain masks. As if that isnt enough, in the months ahead, Californians can expect: The state budget deficit could top $54 billion; PG&E to conduct further power shutdowns as it labors under debt and environmental rules that prevent the utility company from clearing trees that present fire risks; A measure to take away Prop 13the 1978 ballot initiative that limits taxes on real estateprotections for commercial property is on the November ballot; and Newsom has threatened to lay off first responders unless the federal government bails out the budget mess. You can bet sales tax hikes and income tax hikes are about to occur as well. Even Democratic legislators are upset with Newsom for running the COVID-19 shutdown without consulting them. Californias problems arent accidental. Theyre the result of bad policies and the current governor. Hes had a full year to work with PG&E to address the growing fire hazards. He hasnt. When the COVID crisis hit, any responsible governor would know that state and local revenues would be devastated by a shutdown. Rather than work with individual counties and cities, however, Newsom dictated from Sacramentountil the protests were too large for him to ignore. Incredibly, hes banked the states fiscal future on the notion that the federal government will bail California out of its budget mess. Perhaps House Speaker Nancy Pelosi assured him it would, but last I checked, she isnt president. It has been just plain irresponsible for Newsom to forge ahead in the manner that he has. Amid that record of failure, Newsom now says he wants to take this opportunity to reshape the California economy. Yes, he wants to use the shutdown to direct a recovery from Sacramento favoring the green industries of his choosing. Politicians directing the economy are always a bad ideaNewsom doing it is a horrible idea. Best of all, he wants to be president in 2024. For the sake of the nation in the future and California today, Newsom must be recalled, and a signature drive (RecallGavin2020.com) is underway now to do just that. If successful, a special election would be set in February or March of 2021 and California could get a new governor. Californians deserve a fresh start with a leader who will allow everyone to prosper, and that starts with the recall of Newsom. Tom Del Beccaro, with others, recently launched the California Revival PAC (CaRevival.com), which supports the recall of Gavin Newsom, the defeat of the anti-Prop 13 measure, and common-sense policies for California. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. DUBLIN, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Plastic Bottles and Containers Market - Growth, Trends, Forecasts (2020 - 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The plastic bottles and containers market was estimated at USD 39.03 billion in 2019, and it is expected to reach a value of USD 50.19 billion by 2025 while registering a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period of 2020 to 2025. Plastic packaging is becoming popular among consumers, and the market has been seeing trends toward developing and utilizing plastic that can be recycled and reuse to manufacture of packaging products. For instance, in October 2019, Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) announced that its cleaning brands Fairy, Flash, and Viakal might replace virgin plastic in the supply chain by increasing the use of recycled plastic to 9,000t of post-consumer and post-industrial resin. This equates to the amount of waste produced by 6.5 million people in Europe every day. The company's plan is expected to result in a total of 300 million bottles to be converted to either 100% recycled or partially recycled plastic across the European household cleaning brands annually. Increasing the adoption of lightweight packaging methods is driving the market. Plastics are prized for being lightweight. According to Custom-Pak, though over 50% of all European goods are packaged in plastics, these plastics only account for 17% of all packaging weight. Further, a plastic two fl. oz bottle weighs only 0.023 lbs, while its glass counterpart weighs 0.177 lbs. Though this is a small difference when analyzing a single bottle, when ordering pallets in bulk, it can add up to significant figures that impact a company's profit margin. With the COVID-19 outbreak affecting the market, countries, globally, seem to be shifting toward single-use plastics. Supply chains, additionally, are being strained to meet a surge in demand for single-use plastic packaging and medical supplies. Multiple governments, such as in India, the Tamil Nadu government suspended the ban on single-use plastic bottles and bags in retail trade in the wake of the COVID-19 disruption. Some fast food and retail chains, such as Starbucks, banned the use of reusable cups and food containers to curb the spread of the virus. Whereas, in the United States, Maine postponed a plastic bag ban, while New Hampshire and the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, banned reusable bags during the outbreak while ordering the retail stores to use single-use paper or plastic bags. New York State's ban on single-use plastic bags, which went into effect on March 1, 2020, the enforcement was postponed to May 15, 2020. Such a spike in plastic demand would likely lead to a temporary change in the short-term initiatives and goals of transitioning to a circular economy. Apart from this, it is likely to put pressure on the plastic manufacturing chain. Key Topics Covered: 1 INTRODUCTION 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 MARKET DYNAMICS 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 Industry Value Chain Analysis 4.3 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Force Analysis 4.4 Market Drivers 4.4.1 Increasing Adoption of Lightweight Packaging Methods 4.5 Market Restraints 4.5.1 Environmental Concerns Regarding Use of Plastics 4.6 Assessment of Impact of Covid-19 on the Industry 5 MARKET SEGMENTATION 5.1 Raw Material 5.1.1 PET 5.1.2 PP 5.1.3 LDPE 5.1.4 HDPE 5.1.5 Other Raw Materials 5.2 End-user Vertical 5.2.1 Beverages 5.2.2 Food 5.2.3 Cosmetics 5.2.4 Pharmaceuticals 5.2.5 Household Care 5.2.6 Other End-user Verticals 5.3 Geography 6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 6.1 Company Profiles 6.1.1 ALPLA Group 6.1.2 Amcor PLC 6.1.3 Gerresheimer AG 6.1.4 Graham Packaging Company 6.1.5 Container Corporation of Canada Ltd 6.1.6 Altium Packaging LLC 6.1.7 Alpha Packaging 6.1.8 Plastipak Holdings Inc. 6.1.9 RESILUX NV 6.1.10 Greiner Packaging GmbH 6.1.11 Comar LLC 7 INVESTMENT ANALYSIS 8 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xtpuh0 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As New York City logs its first days in Phase 1 of the states reopening plan, coupled with recent protests concerning the death of George Floyd, doctors at both Staten Island hospitals worry about the potential for a spike in coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. I think its a definite possibility, said Dr. Theodore Maniatis, who is responsible for all medical affairs, quality management, patient safety issues and standards of care at the Staten Island University Hospital system. State authorities are looking to overhaul New Jerseys law enforcement use of force policy for the first time in two decades amid national turmoil over police violence, and theyre seeking public input. The state Attorney Generals Office on Friday launched a website, nj.gov/oag/force, seeking public comment on how to reform the rules given to police officers for when they can and cannot use violence in the course of their duties. We want to hear from a broad cross-section of our state: police officers, civil rights advocates, religious leaders, victims rights organizations, and community members," Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement. "We especially want to hear from those that have had negative experiences with law enforcement officers because we are committed to getting this right. The announcement follows weeks of protests and sometimes violent unrest in cities across New Jersey and the United States, spurred by the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. New Jersey last updated its use of force policy in June of 2000. According to the website, Grewals office is considering changes to policies concerning: Which controversial tactics including chokeholds, neck restraints, punches and the use of police dogs should be permitted. Whether limitations should be placed on the level of force used during arrests for nonviolent offenses. Firing a weapon at a moving vehicle and engaging in high-speed chases. The duty of police who witness excessive force by other officers to intervene. State authorities will be collecting public comments until August 1 and expect to roll out a new directive by the end of the year. The reforms follow a series of news media investigations from NJ Advance Media and The Asbury Park Press highlighting oversight gaps in use of force, internal affairs investigations and police chases. In December 2018, NJ Advance Media published The Force Report, an investigation into disparities in police use of force across the state, based on a database the news organization created by compiling five years worth of use of force reports from more than 500 police departments across the state. The data showed black New Jerseyans were, on average, three times more likely to face force during an arrest than a white suspect. It also demonstrated that a small number of officers accounted for a disproportionate amount of the total instances of use of force. In response, Grewal acknowledged his office should have been monitoring use of force by police in the state and launched an effort to track use of force. Initially limited to a pilot program consisting of six departments in Bridgeton, Dover, Linden, Millville, Paterson, and South Brunswick it will be open to all police agencies in the state starting in July. The Attorney Generals Office has said it eventually plans to create a public use of force database similar to The Force Report, but has not yet released any of its data. NJ Advance Media on Friday filed a public records request seeking access to the data. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Sterling Higgins called the police in March 2019 and told them someone was following him and trying to kill him. When officers arrived at a convenience store parking lot in northwestern Tennessee, they found Mr. Higgins distressed and yelling at a woman whom he accused of stealing from him. Do you take medication? You need to, a Union City, Tenn., police officer told him. Somethings wrong. Within hours, Mr. Higgins, 37, would be dead. Lawyers for his estate said that after the police arrested him for trespassing, officers held him down in a struggle at the Obion County jail, where they grabbed him by the neck until he went limp. As he was unconscious and foaming at the mouth, they tied him to a chair and left him in a cell for about 14 minutes before medical help arrived, the lawyers said. He died on March 25. It was all captured on disturbing video that was never shown to the grand jury that investigated the case. Lawyers for his estate released the video on Friday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has vowed to act on Indigenous disadvantage with more ambitious targets as soon as next month, after apologising for saying there was no slavery in Australia. Warning against a new "history war" over race, Mr Morrison said he wanted to put Indigenous issues at the forefront of government policy, with new goals to be agreed with states and territories. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said there had been "all sorts of hideous practices" in the nation's past. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Morrison expressed regret for his remark on Thursday that "there was no slavery in Australia" when talking about the settlement of the country. "My comments were not intended to give offence and if they did I deeply regret that and apologise for that," he said. When Samaira Shahs summer trip to South Africas famous Kruger National Park was called off due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 22-year-old marketing executive was disappointed. But she soon discovered that the park offers virtual safaris twice a day, at sunrise and sunset. I saw a male lion basking in the sun and hyena cubs, which are a rare sight. The safari guide also answered my wildlife queries in real time. It truly was an immersive experience, she says. With travel almost coming to a halt, wildlife enthusiasts the world over are slowly discovering the joys of taking off into a virtual safari, observing animals and birds in their natural habitat via webcams, and attending interactive sessions at zoos. Popular options include safari tours of Kruger National Park and Kenyas Maasai Mara, live feeds that let you observe a bald eagles nest in Iowa or watch gorillas lounging at the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and paying giant pandas a virtual visit at Chinas Shenshuping Gengda Panda Center. You could also get up close and personal with the meerkats of Zoo Miami or gaze at a gorgeous pride of lions at the Mala Mala Game Reserve in South Africa. Nine lakh people took a virtual tour of Patna Zoo within a week of the launch of its streaming channel. These live feeds and tours are free and easily available on social media. While a few have fixed timings, most are available through the day. All you need is a web browser or smartphone with a decent WiFi connection, and you are good to go. The best part is that these interactive sessions allow nature lovers to connect with wildlife experts to better understand the natural world. Vikas Jaisingh, an advertising professional, took a virtual dolphin and whale watching safari off the Dana Point Headlands in the US last week. The experts spoke about the ocean wildlife we spotted and we were given an insight into their eating, mating and migration patterns. This was followed by a discussion on the importance of connecting with nature. It was delightful and educational. And, theres nothing like watching a pod of 1,000 dolphins flipping through the ocean to feel uplifted after being locked indoors for weeks, he says. -- The U.S. government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic "self-interested, short-sighted, inefficient, and irresponsible." -- Long-existing and now deteriorating problems are exposed in the United States. -- "This has led the American people into grave human rights disasters." BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The China Society for Human Rights Studies on Thursday released an article titled "The COVID-19 Pandemic Magnifies the Crisis of 'U.S.-Style Human Rights'." The U.S. government's self-interested, short-sighted, inefficient, and irresponsible response to the pandemic has caused the tragedy in which about 2 million Americans became infected with the virus and more than 110,000 have died from it, the article said. It has exposed the long-existing and now deteriorating problems in the United States, such as a divisive society, the polarization between the rich and the poor, racial discrimination, and the inadequate protection of the rights and interests of vulnerable groups, according to the article. "This has led the American people into grave human rights disasters," it read. A healthcare worker wheels a stretcher into the emergency room at Lenox Health Greenwich Village during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York, the United States, May 26, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) The article pointed out that the U.S. government has ignored the pandemic warnings, prioritized capital interests and politicized the anti-pandemic endeavor in its COVID-19 response. When the virus broke out in the United States, some U.S. politicians used it as a weapon to attack political opponents, viewed it as an opportunity to seize power and partisan interests, and prioritized the response of the capital market, instead of regarding the drive to protect the lives and health of their people as their top priority, it said. "Due to this, the U.S. government failed to give effective warnings to the public and failed to get prepared for the potential consumption of medical resources caused by the pandemic, bringing the American people to the brink of infection and death," it noted. The article added that inequality within U.S. society has been fully exposed during the pandemic. "The pandemic has made the lives of people at the bottom of U.S. society increasingly difficult, and further intensified the social polarization between rich and poor," it said, adding that the high unemployment rate brought about by the pandemic has led the working class into a crisis of survival. A man wearing a face mask walks by a memorial for COVID-19 victims in front of Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, May 27, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) Vulnerable groups in the United States have been struggling to survive during the pandemic, it noted. The elderly have been the "victims" of the U.S. government's ineffectiveness in fighting the pandemic, which also left the homeless having nowhere to go and poor children and immigrant children in worrisome situation, according to the article. Photo taken on May 24, 2020 shows the front page of the New York Times, which features the names of 1,000 people who have died of COVID-19 in the United States, at the Times Square in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Highlighting intensified racial discrimination within the United States during the pandemic, the article said Asian Americans have been suffering from stigmatization, African and Hispanic Americans have fallen victims to severe racial inequality, and there has also been frequent racist violence. George Floyd, an African-American man from Minnesota, died recently after a white police officer pressed his knee on Floyd's neck for several minutes during his arrest. This led to large-scale protests and demonstrations across the United States, once again exposing the dissatisfaction and anger that the American people have for the worsening racial inequality. During a protest over the death of George Floyd, people demonstrate in front of the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on May 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The article pointed out that in the face of this global fight against the virus, the U.S. government, instead of focusing on controlling the pandemic, wields a hegemonic stick and fans the flames of trouble everywhere, trying to divert attention and shirk responsibility. The U.S. government has failed the national duty of ensuring the citizens' right to life with its ineffective anti-pandemic response; it maliciously stigmatized China in violation of the principles of equality and non-discrimination; it impeded the joint anti-pandemic efforts of the international community by suspending the payment of WHO membership fees; it also violated the spirit of humanitarianism and the principle of international cooperation by imposing unilateral sanctions, according to the article. During a protest over the death of George Floyd, demonstrators march across Brooklyn Bridge in New York, the United States, June 6, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) "Relevant behaviors of the U.S. government seriously violate the spirit of international human rights law," it said, noting that such behaviors also undermined the international community's concerted efforts to control the pandemic. Healthcare workers have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing care to the sick at great personal risk. Most of the proposed policies to protect their health and safety have focused on access to high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE) and other occupational safety needs. However, authors of a new Health Affairs blog post argue that a major component is being overlooked: behavioral health. The article, written by Regenstrief affiliated research scientist Theresa Cullen, M.D., M.S.; and Andrew Meshnick from Georgetown University School of Medicine and Lilian Ryan from Georgetown University, addresses concerns about the impact of sustained, acute psychological and moral distress on those working the front lines. They have proposed a coordinated national strategy to identify, prevent, mitigate and manage post traumatic stress disorder symptoms in healthcare workers. Previous research has shown healthcare providers caring for critically ill patients and disaster survivors experience symptoms of PTSD. I personally witnessed the impact a health crisis can have on frontline workers while working in Sierra Leone during the Ebola pandemic. Many U.S. healthcare workers now are facing similar stresses, and they lack access to services to help them cope. Action must be taken to address this, before the nation experiences an unprecedented crisis in its health workforce." Theresa Cullen, M.D., M.S., Regenstrief affiliated research scientist Dr. Cullen was recently named public health director of Pima County, Arizona. The authors present a three-part strategy: 1.Prevention 2.Treatment 3.Managing long-term effects The authors urge the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to gather stakeholders to develop a critical incident stress mitigation standard for the healthcare industry and implement it. They also urge new PTSD screening measures. Individuals identified as at an elevated risk of developing PTSD should be offered treatment. The goal of the treatment phase is to build behavioral health treatment capacity through public-private partnerships, creating a coordinated clinical team of primary care and PTSD specialists throughout the country. In part three, the authors state that the coordinated clinical team should use mechanisms developed in part two to guide health providers, as well as work to develop new evidence-based policies to manage PTSD. "The lasting impacts of this pandemic are unknown," said Dr. Cullen. "As we continue to address this crisis, those providing frontline care must not be left behind. We need to prioritize both their physical and mental health." "Beyond PPE: Protecting Health Care Workers To Prevent A Behavioral Health Disaster" was published in Health Affairs Blog on June 4, 2020. WASHINGTON Under the cloak of a pandemic and the convulsions of anti-racist protests, the Trump administration continues to advance its policies to restrict legal immigration, halting the flow of foreign workers and raising the bar for asylum seekers hoping for sanctuary. This week, administration officials proposed a fallback for when they need to lift emergency border closure rules for the coronavirus, proposing regulations that would raise the standard of proof for migrants hoping to obtain asylum and allow immigration judges to deny applications for protection without giving migrants an opportunity to testify in court. If adopted, the rules would lay a framework of restrictionist immigration policies that can be enforced well after the pandemic subsides. The administration last month extended a coronavirus border rule that has effectively blocked nearly 43,000 migrants from seeking asylum at the southwest border, according to Customs and Border Protection data released on Friday. In April, President Trump issued an executive order temporarily suspending the issuance of green cards to many outside the United States and is expected to limit certain visas issued to immigrants seeking temporary work in the country. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos issued an emergency rule on Thursday night barring colleges from granting virus relief funds to foreign and undocumented students, including tens of thousands protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program, or DACA. Job Title: Field Officer Organization: Brookside Dairy Limited Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Reports to: Head Milk Procurement (Central Region) About US: Brookside Dairy Limited, often referred to as Brookside Dairies, is a dairy processing company in Kenya, the largest economy in the East African Community. The company offers fresh pasteurized milk, cream, butter, yogurt, ghee, and long life milk products in Indian Ocean Islands, East Africa, Rwanda and Burundi. It provides products through distribution depots, agents, and sub agents to outlets in East Africa. Job Summary: The Field Officer will provide assistance to head milk procurement in planning, organizing and coordinating field operations involving milk collection, chilling and transportation to the main milk plant in Kampala and related tasks as per agreed Brookside limited guidelines/provisions reception and storage of only acceptable raw milk with required standards according to Brookside Limited policy. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Responsible in assisting the Head Milk Procurement in planning, organizing and coordinating field operations involving Milk collection, chilling and transportation to the main milk plant in Kampala. Ensure that testing of raw milk, grading, chilling, transportation and maintaining hygienic conditions at the Milk Collection Centers (MCCs) and Bulk Collection Centre (BCC) is conducted in conformity to the ISO Standards. Maintain that only raw milk of acceptable ISO quality/company standards is ferried to the bcc & received by the BCC Manager. Create and update competitors profile clearly highlighting their names, cooler capacities, milk quantities received, price per liter of raw milk paid to farmers and the competitors market for the raw milk they collect on a weekly basis. Liaise with the / Head Milk Procurement on the sensitization of farmers on Clean Milk Production and Productivity Enhancement besides addressing any technical problems that you may encounter. Responsible for the safe custody of the company property and reporting any breakdowns that may occur. Control and monitor wastages/losses of milk solids with in bench mark and reconciling on day to day basis the milk purchased and dispatched to the Kampala plant. Prepare weekly and monthly reports of your findings and action taken and submitting the same to your immediate supervisor. Coordinate with the / Head Milk Procurement and making sure that milk is lifted from the MCCs/BCC on day to day basis. As a representative of Brookside Limited, ensuring harmonious relationship between Brookside Limited, farmers and the general public within your area Scout and recommend to the / Head Milk Procurement areas with milk potential for the establishment of new MCCs or pick-up points in your area. Work with BCC In-charge/BCC Manager to identify milk tanker routes to be used when lifting milk from the MCCs. Monitor capacity utilization of milk coolers by MCCs and report your finding in the weekly reports to your immediate supervisor. Ensure that MCCs/BCCs maintain and update all the relevant records that they are expected to keep. Maintain that all MCCs prepare and send the invoices for the milk supplied in the period (1 15) and (16 30/31) to Kampala on the last day of the period. Monitor and report on MCC/BCC equipment inefficiency to your immediate supervisor as soon as it has been reported by the MCC. Maintain that MCCs receive SAP quality reports from the BCC for all the milk they have supplied to the BCC on a daily basis. Maintain that the MCCs/BCCs have adequate stocks of all the necessary consumable requirements and equipment at all times. Follow up the Tax, electricity and water bills of the BCC and ensure that they are immediately sent to Kampala for processing of payment. Maintain that service charges from out sourced agencies are billed to the company are verified. Responsible for supporting the Manager Quality and Extension to mobilize farmers for training, demonstration activities, farmer field days, and supervision of service provision to farmers. Carrying out any other duties as may be assigned to you from time to time by your immediate supervisor. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The applicant must hold a Bachelors of Science in Food Processing Technology or its equivalent from a recognized University. Diploma in Dairy Technology will be an added advantage from a recognized Institution. Trained in relevant ISO standards. A minimum of three years of experience in a similar position. Preferred experience working in food manufacturing industry. Computer Science knowledge/skills. Excellent interpersonal and relationship skills. How to Apply: All suitably qualified candidates should submit their CV and academic documents to talent@strategicengagement.biz Due to large volumes of CVs we receive, we are unable to respond to all the applicants. Only those shortlisted shall be contacted. Deadline: 20th June 2020 by 23:59 Hours For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline With Big Brother back on TV, time to look back on what was arguably the Reality fore-runner, Sylvania Waters, which was made by the BBC in Australia in 1992. It sent the Donaher family in pop culture history, as this ABC News report illustrates. Star Noeline Donaher even recorded a pop single to hit back at so much media intrusion into her life. It was also a heavy inspiration for Kath & Kim. Big Brother also followed 1998s House from Hell, which began as a radio contest by Andrew Denton and Amanda Keller before being a 10 series. CW100 We are the only people in Iceland who get excited when there is crazy wind in the weather forecast In the country of Ice and Fire, a young company is developing a new approach of capturing the wind. Based in a decommissioned coal power plant in Reykjavik, Iceland, IceWind is now in the final stages of development of their super rugged, vertical-axis micro wind turbines. Developing an innovative turbine design, the company has looked to the past to design the future. And as cheaper residential micro wind turbines flood the market, IceWind is setting itself apart from the competition with smart, simple design, using the highest quality construction materials. IceWind CEO Saethor Asgeirsson states, The concept is simple: Were taking time tested technologies and bringing them into the modern era. Using super strong materials such as aerospace grade aluminum, carbon fiber, and high-grade stainless steel, our turbines are built to withstand anything. Their unique design integrates two types of blades: Savonieus drag type blades that date back to the Persian Empire, and Darrieus lift type blades, commonly seen on conventional wind turbines and airplanes. This balanced combination results in a turbine that generates power in both mild and extreme wind conditions. Like all inhabitants of the arctic island, Asgeirsson and his team are no strangers to extreme storm and wind conditions. During the wintertime, winds regularly exceed 50 mph even within the capital area. While unfortunate for everyone else, these inclement weather conditions provide the perfect opportunity for IceWind to thoroughly test their turbines. Its actually quite funny states Asgeirsson. We are the only people in Iceland who get excited when there is crazy wind in the weather forecast. While everyone else is hunkering down at home, were huddled around a computer, excitedly watching our data feed. The young company is currently developing two product lines: one intended for mounting on telecom towers and in more extreme arctic conditions, and one for slightly milder residential applications. They are currently selling their turbines locally in Iceland, and plan to go to market in Europe and North America later this year. Testing here in Iceland has been very successful, and were excited to begin selling our products internationally. Our turbines survived Iceland- they will thrive everywhere else. IceWind plans to display one of their units at mile marker 39 on the Port Aransas beach in Corpus Christie, TX from 8am to 2pm on July 3rd and 4th. Long-Term Protection From Masks Dubious A NSW parliamentary inquiry into air quality heard the effectiveness of P2 masks in protecting people from bushfire smoke over a long-term period is dubious. Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research chief investigator Guy Marks says P2 face masks need to be tight-fitting and replaced regularly because they lose their effectiveness once moist. The likelihood that you can protect yourself from fine particles by a well-applied face mask for a long period of time is not that likely, Professor Marks told the NSW parliamentary inquiry into air quality on Friday. People are more likely to be protected by staying in an indoor environment with the windows closed but, of course, that is not that feasible for long periods of time. Marks said the effectiveness of face masks was still being investigated by the centre, particularly for those who are susceptible due to underlying lung conditions. He said the role of masks in 2020 has been very interesting, first during the bushfires and then the COVID-19 pandemic. In this latter crisis, the role of them is not only in protecting the individual from inhaling things but more importantly, preventing them from expelling things into the environment, the chief investigator said. But with the bushfire smoke, that was irrelevant and its only about protecting the wearer from whats in the environment, and the effectiveness of them for that over a long period of time is dubious. NSW Health acting executive director Dr Richard Broome told the inquiry the state distributed about 900,000 P2 masks during the crisis but agreed there was limited research about their effectiveness. PPE is really at the end of the spectrum and its for the reason that we really arent sure how well it works and if its not working you arent getting any protection at all, the health protection expert said. Broome added the state was focused on the development of a national air quality warning system to avoid inconsistency across states and territories. This is supposed to be implemented by the beginning of the next bushfire season on October 1. But Department of Planning, Industry and Environment climate director Matthew Riley said COVID-19 had slowed the development of the standardised system. Environment advocates told the inquiry the state government should implement a clean air strategy to tackle all causes of air pollution in NSW. Riley said draft documents have been prepared after a consultation paper was released in 2016 followed by a clean air summit in 2017. Environmental Justice Australia campaigner Maxwell Smith told the inquiry research from March 2020 estimated that bushfire smoke was responsible for 219 deaths in NSW. The inquiry continues. By Ashlea Witoslawski The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Midland County has increased by about 50 percent since the beginning of the month. The Midland Health Department reported another 14 cases on Thursday bringing the total to 194 since the pandemic started, up from 129 at the start of June. The spike has been enough that Midland Health officials are saying that coronavirus still exists and lives in the community. Both Midland Health President/CEO Russell Meyers and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Larry Wilson said Thursday the good news is that those impacted are younger and have immune systems capable of handling the virus. The statistics back up their comments in terms of the age of those impacted. Midland Health Department statistics show of the 65 cases reported since the end of May, 57 are younger than 60. And of those, 40 are in their 30s or younger. They tend to be younger than the cases we had been seeing earlier in the process, Meyers said. Almost all of the new cases are isolating at home. Meyers said Thursday that four patients at Midland Memorial Hospital have coronavirus, and one of those is in critical care. Both Meyers and Wilson talked about how important it was to keep coronavirus from spreading to the citys older residents, especially those in senior living facilities. Both men also said that while it was important for the community to open back up, they have seen a relationship between people being more active and the spread of the virus. Transmissibility is not a question; there should not be any doubt in anybody's mind, Wilson said. Wilson also reminded Midland County residents that it is important to practice social distancing and good hygiene and to wear a mask. Both Wilson and Meyers said Midlanders have become too relaxed in their efforts. The way you can mitigate that is by wearing the mask, Wilson said. I know people dont want to do that. I dont like it any more than anybody else does. But at the end of the day, youre going to decrease the breath getting out into space around you by wearing the mask. Meyers said testing has ramped up in nursing homes, based on Gov. Greg Abbotts order. He also said around 25 to 35 tests are being performed daily at Midland Health facilities. He added private practices also are performing tests on a daily basis. Coronavirus cases in Midland County Gender May 31 June 11 Female 81 115 Male 48 79 Age Group 0-19 12 25 20-29 22 34 30-39 15 30 40-49 11 19 50-59 17 26 60-69 10 14 70-79 18 21 80-plus 24 25 Patient Status Recovered 60 86 Home isolation 21 67 Nursing-rehab 29 21 Died 12 13 Hospital 2 4 Completed isolation 5 3 Source: Midland Health Department Ithaca, N.Y. -- A city in Central New York is first in America to officially propose canceling rent during the coronavirus pandemic. WSKG reports the Ithaca Common Council has passed a resolution asking the state and federal government to provide rent and mortgage assistance in Ithaca, N.Y., where 70 percent of residents are renters. If financial aid isnt possible, the council is asking New York state to grant Mayor Svante Myrick the authority to cancel rent debt from the last three months, both for tenants and small businesses. According to Fast Company, Ithaca is the first U.S. city to propose a #CancelTheRents measure after Covid-19 shutdowns devastated the economy, putting more than 40 million Americans out of work. New York and other states have temporarily banned evictions but havent addressed how newly unemployed people will be able to pay outstanding rent when the ban ends. Its sort of rescheduling the problem rather than solving it, Ithaca Tenants Union organizer Genevieve Rand told Fast Company. Theres still the reality of the fact theres not enough money going into the pockets of a lot of poor people. And rescheduling the time where theyll be punished for that with eviction isnt the same as actually keeping us safe. However, U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (NY-23) told WSKG that he doesnt support the utopian and unrealistic idea of cancelling rent. Really? You think that this can work? the Republican congressman said. In the sense that you can waive rent and you can not have consequences that are going to impact those same people that you are trying to help. Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter According to the Ithaca Voice, though, rent cancellation still wouldnt happen in the immediate future. Due to New York states emergency declaration, the resolution would have to be first approved by New York State Department of Health to give the mayor power to issue an executive order forgiving three months of rent. The Common Council would then need to approve the order, which also seeks to allow Myrick to prohibit eviction of residential or small-business tenants, and obligate landlords to offer lease extensions at the current rent level. Even if granted these powers, would I cancel rent tomorrow? I wouldnt, Myrick told the Voice. What I would do is put together a working group that would allow us to find real rent relief that likely would include rent cancellation but it would only come in partnership with relief for small landlords and homeowners. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Bangkok, June 12 : The Thai government has approved to end the night curfew from June 15 imposed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced on Friday. "Ministers and health experts have all agreed that the 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. curfew will be lifted from next Monday (June 15) but the state of emergency in the country will continue," Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin said. However, Taweesin said Thailand will continue to strictly control travel in and out of the country, as most of the COVID-19 patients were foreign returnees since late May, reports Xinhua news agency. The CCSA spokesman also added that as Thailand approaches the relaxation of Phase Four lockdown restrictions, pubs, bars and massage parlours will remain closed, as these venues only encourage clustering. "However, there are exceptions to some high-risk activities, such as the use of school buildings or some sports. These venues will resume operations," said Taweesin. "Sale of alcoholic beverages will be allowed, as well as the holding of concerts, as long as venue operators can ensure social distancing amongst patrons." The National Security Council (NSC), meanwhile, has proposed to the government that the lifting of the night curfew should be imposed for 15 days first as a trial period. The CCSA was yet to decide on NSC's proposal. As of Friday, the CCSA reported four new cases of COVID-19, all returnees from India, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in Thailand to 3,125, with 58 deaths. The Congress on Friday asked the Election Commission (EC) to take action against misuse and abuse of official machinery by the ruling party to harass party legislators in the run-up to the Rajya Sabha polls. In its representation, made by senior Congress leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Shaktisinh Gohil, Rajeev Satav, Ahmed Patel, Amit Chavda and Randeep Singh Surjewala, the party has asked the EC to take note of the FIR filed against its Gujarat MLA Punjabhai Vansh. This is a blatant use of police machinery, states the representation, a copy of which has been accessed by Hindustan Times. We strongly apprehend that anyhow, with illegal aid of the police, the ruling party is likely to prevent the MLAs from reaching the place of voting. It has also come to light that the ruling BJP intends to reopen old cases and lodge false and frivolous cases against INC MLAs with an intent to impede voters rights in the elections, it adds. The party has requested the EC to not allow the state government to file any more cases without its approval. We also request the EC to intervene and direct that no MLA should be harassed and/or arrested, said Congress. The Commission has already appointed a very senior former IAS officer, Raghav Chandra, as observer to ensure free and fair elections in the state, said an EC official. EC is determined to conduct free and fair elections but we cant intervene in this, matters of jurisprudence are a separate thing. But to ensure there are no apprehension we will keep a watch and take adequate action as and when necessary, the official added. A second official at the Commission said that a report has been sought from the state government and it will be assessed. The two parties have been at loggerheads over 24 Rajya Sabha seats, including the 18 for which elections were initially slated to be held in March but were pushed to June 19 due to the coronavirus crisis. The Congress, earlier this week, alleged that the BJP was trying to poach its legislators in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Subsequently, it moved its MLAs to resorts. If people wish to leave a sinking ship, should the BJP be blamed for it? asked BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli. With regard to the petition, the EC is a constitutional body, it will adjudicate on law and not on the basis of what Congress desires and does not desire. . If a new rumor is to be believed, then Lenovo may launch the Legion Gaming phone next month. A new report from GSM Arena citing Rescuer Gaming Phone on the Chinese social platform Weibo, states that Lenovo plans to launch the Legion Phone in July. The leak that accompanies this rumor is an image. It shows off the Legion branding along with the logo, and some wording in Chinese. This may suggest that a launch is happening in China only at first. However, the Legion Phone is going to have fierce competition that will release outside of China. So Lenovo may still choose to release the device globally. Advertisement The Legion Phone launch doesnt have a confirmed date Rescuer Gaming Phone appears to be the official handle for Lenovos Legion brand on Weibo. In the post, Lenovo acknowledges that fans have been waiting for a ling time, and that it would see everyone in July. While it does note July, hinting at an unveiling event in the weeks ahead, it doesnt actually mention an exact date. That leaves an entire month open for a potential reveal. But it also means that the phone will at the very least release this Summer. Whether thats China only or global remains to be seen. Advertisement A July unveiling shouldnt be surprising Lenovo hadnt really given out much information before now about a launch event. But it shouldnt be too big of a shock that July now seems to be the time frame. Back on June 2 it was discovered that the Legion Phone was certified in China. Which sort of suggested that a reveal event was probably close. How close was still uncertain but speculation arose that it would be sometime this Summer. Now thats more or less confirmed. And all thats left is to wait and see if Lenovo announces an official date. Advertisement The Legion Phone is Lenovos entry into the gaming smartphone market, competing with the likes of ASUS and its upcoming ROG Phone III that is rumored to launch sometime in the third quarter of 2020. Lenovo has hinted that the phone would come with some pretty exciting features. Such as an innovative cooling technology. The phone has also been rumored to come with a Snapdragon 865 Plus mobile platform. Its also may come with a 144Hz display for a super fast refresh rate, a pop-up camera, and a number of other gaming-focused features to help it stand out from similar devices. India has overtaken the United Kingdom in terms of coronavirus cases to become the fourth worst-hit country with a caseload of 2,97, 205. India is now at the fourth spot, only behind the US (20,76,495 cases), Brazil (7,87,489) and Russia (5,02,436), as per Worldometer figures. On June 6, India had crossed Italy and Spain on the same day. In recent days, India has witnessed a rapid rise in coronavirus tally. Between June 1 to June 11, India recorded 96,044 cases of coronavirus. However, according to Union Health Ministry data, updated at 8 am, India is still behind the UK in the number of coronavirus cases. As of Thursday, June 11, India reported 2.86 lakh cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases stands at 1,37,448, deaths at 8,102 till Thursday 8 am, while 1,41,028 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the health ministry said. Around 49.21 per cent patients have recovered so far. Thus, the number of recoveries remained more than the active cases for the second consecutive day. Out of the total 8,102 fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 3,438 deaths followed by Gujarat (1,347), Delhi (984), Madhya Pradesh (427), West Bengal (432), Tamil Nadu (326), Uttar Pradesh (321), Rajasthan (259) and Telangana (156). The death toll reached 78 in Andhra Pradesh, 69 in Karnataka and 55 in Punjab. Jammu and Kashmir has reported 51 fatalities due to the coronavirus disease, while 52 deaths have been reported from Haryana, 33 from Bihar, 18 from Kerala, 15 from Uttarakhand, nine from Odisha and eight from Jharkhand. Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh have registered six COVID-19 fatalities each, Chandigarh has five while Assam has recorded four deaths so far. Meghalaya, Tripura and Ladakh have reported one COVID-19 fatality each, according to ministry data. More than 70 per cent of the deaths are due to comorbidities, the ministry's website stated. The highest number of confirmed cases in the country are from Maharashtra at 94,041, followed by Tamil Nadu at 36,841, Delhi at 32,810, Gujarat at 21,521, Uttar Pradesh at 11,610, Rajasthan at 11,600 and Madhya Pradesh at 10,049, according to the health ministry's data. The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 9,328 in West Bengal, 6,041 in Karnataka, 5,710 in Bihar and 5,579 in Haryana. It has risen to 5,269 in Andhra Pradesh, 4,509 in Jammu and Kashmir, 4,111 in Telangana and 3,250 in Odisha. Assam has reported 3,092 novel coronavirus cases so far while Punjab has 2,805 cases. A total of 2,161 people have been infected by the virus in Kerala and 1,562 in Uttarakhand. Jharkhand has registered 1,489 cases, while 1,262 cases have been reported from Chhattisgarh, 895 from Tripura, 451 from Himachal Pradesh, 387 from Goa and 327 from Chandigarh. Manipur has 311 COVID-19 cases, Nagaland has 128, Puducherry has 127, Ladakh has 115, Mizoram has 93, Arunachal Pradesh has 57, Meghalaya 44 while Andaman and Nicobar Islands has registered 34 infections so far. Dadar and Nagar Haveli has 26 cases, Sikkim has reported 13 cases till now while Daman and Diu has two cases. Also read: Locust attacks: India-Pak technical level meet proposed for June 18, says MEA Also read: Coronavirus vaccine update: CCMB develops new low-cost COVID-19 tests Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) Sixteen student protesters who were earlier arrested in Iligan City in Lanao del Norte on Independence Day, have now been released from police custody. A group of students from Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology gathered at the Rotonda, Barangay Pala around 10 a.m. to call for the junking of the anti-terrorism bill, for mass testing for COVID-19 and awareness on other issues. However, police claimed that during the protest, health protocols on physical distancing amid the coronavirus crisis were not observed, prompting the City Intelligence Unit to "invite" the protesters to the police station to issue them a citation ticket. Investigation showed that out of the 16, three were not members of the protest group and only ran because of panic. All 16 students were released around 6 p.m. Police explained that the release was delayed due to a volunteer lawyer questioning their documentation procedure. The protesters' group earlier defended that health protocols were observed, adding that the arrest was illegal. Kabataan Party-list Representative Sarah Elago said in a tweet that authorities gave protesters 10 minutes to stage the protest but went on to arrest them anyway. The Kabataan Partylist Northern Mindanao earlier said 14 of the 16 protesters were arrested and held at the Iligan City Police Station 5. #RELEASEILIGAN14 trended on Twitter as netizens criticized the dispersal of the protesters, pointing out that they were wearing masks and practicing social distancing. In an afternoon statement, the Philippine National Police said "no arrests were made" in connection with Independence Day rallies, noting that there were "pockets of protests and public assemblies by small groups." The biggest rally was at the University of the Philippines Diliman campus in Quezon City. Groups were calling out the Duterte administration for the Anti-Terrorism Bill, saying its provisions are unconstitutional. The bill is one step away from becoming law. Protesters branded their gathering as a "mananita," a direct swipe at Metro Manila police chief Debold Sinas, who held a birthday gathering with police officers in their barracks inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan in violation of the enhanced community quarantine protocols. LOOK: Activist Mae Paner dresses up as Sinas for 'Grand Mananita' protest The PNP said there were other assemblies in the De La Salle University; St. Ignatius Quezon City; Santiago City, Isabela; Baguio City; Legazpi City; and Metro Colon, Cebu City. Police said those protesters dispersed on their own after staging morning programs. Stringer Alwen Saliring contributed to this report. New Jerseys state capital saw the largest one-week spike in cases of COVID-19 this week but theres a good reason, and its not a case of maskless lawmakers run amok. Over the last seven days, Trenton has gone from 2,539 cases of the coronavirus to 3,621, a rise of 14.0 cases per 1,000 residents. Thats the highest figure of any town or city in New Jersey. While it may sound like reason for concern, it actually stems from a change in how positive test figures were being collected. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage County numbers for a while have been reported separately due to high volume from testing sites, the city posted on its Facebook page last Thursday. The numbers we have reported were the numbers we obtained from physician, private, and job testing. The hike, then, came as a result of the decision to combine the results from public testing sites and private testing into one figure, which sent the citys rate soaring far above other New Jersey towns. Is the above chart not displaying? Click here. Keep in mind that testing availability has fluctuated throughout the state during the course of the outbreak. Its possible for a surge in cases to be more related to a rise in the availability of tests, rather than an indicator of a sudden outbreak. Trailing Trenton this week was Woodcliff Lake in Bergen County, which had a rate of 3.9 cases per 1,000 residents compared to Trentons 14 per 1,000. New Jersey, as a state, added 0.4 cases per 1,000 residents over the last week. The small borough of 5,862 went from 122 to 145 cases this week, and is one of four from Bergen County to land in the top 10. Bergen County has 18,719 cases overall, again the most in N.J. after trailing Hudson County for nearly a month. On the other end of the spectrum, there were 187 towns that either added 0 cases or subtracted, likely due to a reclassification of cases similar to Trenton. The largest of these is West New York in Hudson County. The city of 52,990 enter the week at 2,078 cases and remains there as of Thursday. Among the states seven cities of 100,000 people or more, Paterson had the highest rate of spread at 1.4 cases per 1,000 people, while Jersey City was the lowest at 0.2. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nick Devlin is a reporter on the data & investigations team. He can be reached at ndevlin@njadvancemedia.com. People understandably are on edge when someone sneezes. So its best to know the basic protocols when you finally get to travel abroad. Saying bless you has long been a common act of concern and courtesy. It comes from differing beliefs all designed to avert an impending illness. Some think it comes from the deadly 6th century pandemic of the Plague of Justinian in the hope that people wouldnt die after sneezing. Saying bless you has long been a common act of concern and courtesy when a person sneezes Others believe the soul deserted the body during a sneeze, leaving the devil to leap in and take possession and so saying bless you served as a way of stopping him. A third belief was that the heart would stop when you sneezed and so saying God bless you would stop you dying. In some cultures, sneezing is regarded as a sign of good fortune. In Greece it goes right back to Homeric times when it was widely recognised as a divine omen. Elsewhere in Europe, the French respond with a vos souhaits (to your wishes), the Germans gesundheit, the Italians salute and the Spanish salud (all meaning health). But theyre a pale shadow of Mongolia where they say burkhan orshoo butin chinee sakhal urga (God bless you and may your moustache grow like brushwood). In some cultures, sneezing is regarded as a sign of good fortune The Romans werent so optimistic and replied with Jupiter preserve you. They feared the soul escaping through the nose while sneezing, so called on their chief God for protection. In some parts of the world, the emphasis is on how many times you sneeze. One sneeze in Japan signifies praise (ichi home); two sneezes, criticism (ni-kusashi); three sneezes, disparagement (san-kenashi) while four or more is taken to mean that a cold is on its way. Some turn it into a conversation. In Brazil, they say saude (health) and the sneezer answers Amen. In Arabic, they go a step further with the sneezer saying alhamdullilah (praise be to God) first, to which you reply yarhamuk Allah (may Allah have mercy on you). Underlying all this protocol is superstition. For some cultures, sneezing between noon and midnight signifies good luck. Some believe if you sneeze while getting dressed, youll have a bad day. Others think that if you turn your head to the right when you sneeze youll have good luck. In Tonga its often a sign that a loved ones missing you. In Poland a sneeze means either your mother-in-law is talking badly about you or if you arent married, that your relationship with your future mother-in-law will be poor. As to the response to children sneezing: in Kenya, a parent will say kua (grow), or kukua juu, chini kuna moto (grow upwards, it is hot below). Perhaps its best to just be direct if you sneeze, and respond in the Nigerian way with ndo (sorry). People who trust what they see on social media are more likely to be prejudiced against Chinese people as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, a study suggests. Platforms like Twitter and Facebook have become 'playgrounds for racism', allowing users to express their prejudices freely, according to researchers in New Zealand, who surveyed white Americans. But the more a social media user believes their primary platform is fair and accurate, the more likely they are to believe Chinese people pose a realistic threat to their lives, they say. Researchers suggest that a different sort of pandemic is spreading online against Asian Americans, particularly those of Chinese descent, because the SARS-CoV-2 virus originated in China. More than 1,700 incidents of harassment and assaults against Asian-Americans have been reported since March 19 this year, according to a website for reporting hate. The more an individual believes their most used daily social media is fair, accurate, presents the facts, and is concerned about the public, the more that person sees Chinese Americans as a realistic and symbolic threat Due to physical and social isolation, people increasingly rely on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to facilitate human interactions and keep themselves up-to-date with information. Consequently, social media plays a crucial role in the public's perceptions and significantly influences their communication during a crisis. In the case of COVID-19, social media, and other media, were and are being used as venues to share and build ideas, values and morals, said lead author Dr Stephen Croucher, a professor of communication at Massey University in New Zealand. Many of these are very positive, but some are not. To learn more about how social media has impacted US perceptions, the authors surveyed 277 white Americans in the US on their attitudes towards China and Chinese people in the wake of the pandemic, which has killed more than 400,000 people worldwide. The team gathered data on demographics, social media use and various sentiments about Chinese people. They then used a popular theory in psychology the integrated threat theory (ITT) to work out their perceived threat from outsider groups. The ITT theory, first proposed in 200, has four components realistic threats, symbolic threats, intergroup anxiety and negative stereotypes to explain the prejudice between social groups. Due to physical and social isolation, people increasingly rely on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, to facilitate human interactions and keep themselves up to date with information. Consequently, social media plays a crucial role in the public's perceptions and significantly influences their communication during a crisis Realistic threats represent peoples fears towards economic or social power for example participants were asked whether they agreed with the statement, Because of the presence of Chinese, unemployment will increase, on a scale of one to five, from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Symbolic threats, on the other hand, relate to concerns about a group's way of life, while intergroup anxiety refers to negative perceptions that arise from individual interactions between a member of the majority and a minority. People who believed the social media channels they visited were fair, accurate, based on facts and were concerned about the public, were more likely to view China or the Chinese as a realistic and symbolic threat, they found. This was a big finding for us, as it shows the relationship between a pandemic, social media use and prejudice, said Dr Croucher. Individuals who reported not using social media on a daily basis scored lower on symbolic threat than those who identify Facebook as their most-used daily social media. Gender plays a key role, the team found, as women were more likely to express realistic or symbolic fears, while men were more likely to experience higher levels of anxiety. In this case, when faced with a crisis like a pandemic, it just makes sense that men would tend to respond more affectively while women would respond more cognitively, on average, Dr Croucher said. The first cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in the Chinese city of Wuhan back in December, which likely accounts for a wave of anti-Chinese rhetoric in the US and the UK The study, which has been published in Frontiers in Communication, concludes that women feel more threatened than men, as they are more likely to believe the presence of Chinese Americans has a negative influence. This stretches from a perceived influence on their welfare, political and economic power, physical and material well-being such as difficulties finding a job or a house and increased unemployment. Surprisingly, survey respondents who identified as Democrats scored higher than Republicans for perceiving Chinese Americans as a symbolic threat, although political affiliation had no effect on other types of prejudice. The experts say future research should look at how Chinese Americans and other groups have been portrayed on social media. In depth analyses of these messages could facilitate a critical awareness of how social media messages have introduced or reinforced blame for realistic and symbolic threats from Chinese Americans for Covid-19, they say. As the world continues to grapple with Covid-19, instances of prejudice and blaming minorities for the spread of the virus outside of the US should be examined and compared. Women feel more threatened than men as they are more likely to believe the presence of Chinese Americans has a negative influence on their welfare, political and economic power, physical and material well-being such as difficulties finding a job or a house and increases unemployment Since January 2020, Asian Americans have suffered racial slurs, wrongful workplace termination, being spat on, physical violence and extreme physical distancing, while media and government officials increasingly blame Asians for the spread of Covid-19, the researchers report. The Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center, a website maintained by Asian Pacific Policy Planning Council, said it had more than 1,700 reports of verbal harassment, shunning and physical assault against Asian Americans in the US, in the six weeks since its launch on March 19. More than a third of the reported incidents took place in public venues, including parks, parks and transit vehicles such as buses. Until the pandemic, anti-Asian hate crime had been on the decline for at least the past two decades, according to the Washington Post. The FBI had also not reported any anti-Asian-motivated murders since at least 2003, it said. In the UK, meanwhile, the number of hate crimes committed against Chinese people between January and March this year nearly tripled, compared with the same period for 2018 and 2019. Between January and March, as awareness of the coronavirus increased in the UK, at least 267 reports of hate crime were made in the country, according to freedom of information requests to the UK's 45 territorial police forces and British Transport Police (BTP) made by Sky News. This was already 71 per cent of the 375 hate crimes against Chinese people throughout the whole of 2019 and 74 per cent of the total 360 for 2018. Facebook is yet to respond to MailOnline's request for comment regarding the report on prejudice against Asian Americans during the pandemic. In a statement to MailOnline, a Twitter spokesperson said: 'We are committed to protect and serve the public conversation as we navigate this unprecedented global public healthcare crisis. 'Abusive and hateful conduct has no place on our service and as outlined in our Hateful Conduct Policy, we do not tolerate the abuse or harassment of people on the basis of race. 'We take down content that is in violation of our Twitter Rules and we have expanded our safety rules around Covid-19. 'Additionally, were continuing to review and require the removal of tweets that do not follow the Twitter Rules half of which we catch before theyre ever reported to us.' Riyadh Mayor Prince Faisal bin Abdul Aziz bin Ayyaf has instructed compounds and commercial centres in the Saudi capital to plant trees in their parking areas in a move aimed at increasing green areas in the city in line with the goals of the kingdoms Vision 2030 and National Transformation Programs. Prince Faisal said that the new regulation for planting trees in parking lots will be issued within two weeks, reported Saudi Gazette. A massive plan has been initiated under which Riyadh will go absolute green with planting of 7.5 million trees in the coming years to rank the Saudi capital city among the top 100 cities of the world, he stated. Saudi King Salman launched last year Green Riyadh project as a part of four grand projects chaired by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman. The Green Riyadh project will contribute to increasing the per capita share of green space, and raise total green spaces through planting trees around all city facilities as well as in all its governorates. There should be an emphasis on the plantation of the trees that provide wide-spreading canopies, consume minimum water and are suitable to climatic conditions of the capital, said Riyadh's mayor. He emphasised that the private sector is a strategic partner in implementing the qualitative initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life and services provided to the residents of the city. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A new video released by the Center for Medical Progress, the group behind the 2015 undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood negotiating the sale of fetal body parts, has the nations largest abortion provider once again denying, hedging, and using phrases like doctored and heavily edited. Five years ago, Planned Parenthood denied what videos clearly showed, executives at varying levels of leadership negotiating prices for fetal body parts. They denied it in media and in congressional testimony. When unedited videos debunked their denials, they insisted that all money received for fetal body parts was really for shipping and handling. Finally, they decided to sue the messengers. That decision may turn out to be a big mistake on their part, since it gave the Center for Medical Progress a chance to question Planned Parenthood employees under oath. That questioning was recorded and has now been released. Thus, viewers can now watch people who had denied all wrongdoing squirm when confronted with the evidence. One segment of the video features an official from Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast who is shown a proposed contract for the purchase of fetal body parts. When the original video was released five years ago, Planned Parenthood officials told The New York Times that the offer had been rejected. The deposition, however, tells a different story. Under oath, the official acknowledged wanting to pursue the deal and communicating this desire to another Planned Parenthood official. In another part of the video, the claim that any money received by the organization was only for reimbursement of expenses, which federal law allows, is actually not true, either. In fact, the contract with the biomedical company StemExpress stipulated that payment was contingent on Planned Parenthood providing usable body parts, in addition to accounting for time and transportation costs. The deposed official did not deny any of this. Well, she could not deny any of this. It was in writing. As for any attempt at a rogue affiliate defense, as if these officials were acting on their own, Planned Parenthoods Medical Director Dr. Deborah Nucatola testified, under oath, that she was aware that the Los Angeles affiliate was being paid for fetal body parts. In his statement accompanying the video release, Center for Medical Progress director David Daleiden said what is clear: Planned Parenthood lied to the public and to Congress about selling fetal body parts, commodifying living children in the womb and treating pregnant women like a cash crop. He added, The time has come for federal consequences for Planned Parenthood, and for the Justice Department to escalate the enforcement of laws against fetal trafficking to the highest level of priority. If the past few years are any indicator, this is unlikely to happen. In the past two years, Planned Parenthood not only hasnt been defunded, as was promised repeatedly, its federal funding went from $555 million in the last year of the Obama administration, to $617 million in the most recent fiscal year. That amounts to an 11 percent increase in federal funding, the largest increase in Planned Parenthoods history. Adding insult to injury, Planned Parenthood affiliates reportedly received $80 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans, which were intended to help small businesses and nonprofits weather coronavirus-related shutdowns. Several lawmakers have called for an investigation, and the Trump administration has demanded Planned Parenthood return the money. At the risk of repetition, thats not likely to happen. Because of the important work of the Center for Medical Progress, Planned Parenthoods guilt in selling fetal body parts and lying about it, consistently, couldnt be clearer. What happens next, however, is out of David Daleiden and CMPs hands. The ability of Planned Parenthood to, literally and figuratively, get away with murder, for so long, leads me to believe that it is somehow protected by supernatural evil forces. I dont say that lightly. So, if there are going to be federal consequences, pro-life Christians must demand more than political theater from our elected officials. If there are going to be permanent temporal consequences, the Spirit of God will have to break the strange, deadly strongholds Planned Parenthood and abortion have on Americas moral imagination. What we can be sure of is there will be eternal consequences. God will not hold guiltless those who take innocent life, nor those who enable it by their silence. Originally posted at breakpiont.org Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. Analysis banner Business Insider Protesters march down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol as George Floyd police brutality demonstrations and marches are held around Washington, DC, on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Bill Clark/Getty Images Democrats unveiled a sweeping policing reform bill this week, but it does not address the central or biggest demand of Black Lives Matter protesters: defunding police. Activists have called for funds to be moved away from police and toward other issues of concern, such as health care and education. Though Democratic leaders have not embraced the "defund the police" movement, President Donald Trump and his allies have falsely portrayed it as the party's default position in an effort to hurt former Vice President Joe Biden's 2020 campaign. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. "Defund the police" has become the rallying cry of the Black Lives Matter movement amid nationwide protests spurred by the brutal death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. And though President Donald Trump and his allies have sought to link this slogan to former Vice President Joe Biden and Democrats, essentially accusing them of condoning anarchy and being weak on crime, the party's leadership has not embraced the position whatsoever. Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, has explicitly rejected defunding the police. "No, I don't support defunding the police," Biden said on Monday. "I support conditioning federal aid to police based on whether or not they meet certain basic standards of decency and honorableness." The former vice president has actually called for even more funding to go toward law enforcement to "reinvigorate community policing." He views this as a path toward reform. "I've long been a firm believer in the power of community policinggetting cops out of their cruisers and building relationships with the people and the communities they are there to serve and protect," Biden wrote in a USA Today op-ed. "That's why I'm proposing an additional $300 million to reinvigorate community policing in our country," Biden said. Story continues Democrats unveiled a sweeping policing reform bill aimed at addressing racism in law enforcement, but it doesn't defund police As people across the country fill the streets to demand an end to police brutality and racism in law enforcement, Democratic leaders are pushing the Justice in Policing Act. The bill calls for an array of reforms to law enforcement, but doesn't go as far to support defunding police. It also doesn't condone disbanding police departments, as some localities and activists have pushed for. The legislation, which has over 200 sponsors, would: Ban the use of choke-holds and no-knock warrants Establish a national database on police misconduct Make lynching a federal hate crime Bar racial, religious and discriminatory profiling Require the use of body cameras Limit the transfer of military-grade weapons to police Condition federal aid on training/policies designed to quell racial profiling and bias The bill also reforms qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that has made it difficult for people to pursue damages when their constitutional rights were violated by police. As Democrats seek to build support for the legislation, a number of top congressional lawmakers in the party are gently pushing against calls to defund the police. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in an interview with MSNBC on Monday characterized defunding as a matter for local governments, not Congress. "Funding of police is a local matter," Pelosi said. "From the standpoint of legislation, we're not going to that place. What we're doing is talking about how we change policy to make our policing more just." With that said, a lot of funding for local police comes from the federal government. Earlier this month, for example, Attorney General William Barr announced the Justice Department was awarding $400 million in grant funding for law enforcement hiring under the Community Oriented Policing Services program, which was established through the 1994 crime bill that Biden helped write. "I think it can be used as a distraction and that's my concern," Democratic Rep. Karen Bass of California, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, told reporters on Monday regarding the push for defunding. "I think the intent behind it is something that I support the idea that communities need investments." Some Democratic lawmakers have been more direct. "You can't defund the police, that's stupid, it's crazy and anyone who talks about that is nuts," Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said on Monday. "You have to have the police." "This movement today, some people tried to hijack it," House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina said on a private caucus call on Monday, per what multiple sources told Politico. "Don't let yourselves be drawn into the debate about defunding police forces," Clyburn added. Meanwhile, critics of the bill contend that it is largely symbolic, given police departments across the US have already enacted similar reforms and problems persist. This explains the push to "defund the police," which has generated controversy and confusion. "There's a growing chant around defunding the police. And I think there are a lot of people who, if that scares them, they should take that as an incredible vote of lack of confidence in reform, and they should use it as a challenge to show that reform is possible," MSNBC legal analyst and civil rights activist Maya Wiley said during "The Oath with Chuck Rosenberg" podcast with this week. As Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza explained it on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday: "When we talk about defunding the police, what we're saying is 'invest in the resources that our communities need.'" "Are we willing to live in fear that our lives will be taken by police officers who are literally using their power in the wrong way?" she asked. "Or are we willing to adopt and absorb the fear of what it might mean to change our practices, which will ultimately lead to a better quality of life for everyone." In short, it's largely a call to reallocate funds and resources to other areas of concern, such as education and health care. Progressive Democrats are more sympathetic to calls to defund police Though the Democratic leadership in Congress has not embraced the movement to defund police, some congressional Democrats are more sympathetic to it. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, among the most progressive members of the House, on Monday's caucus call reportedly said: "It is not crazy for black and brown communities to want what white people have already given themselves and that is funding your schools more than you fund criminalizing your own kids." Ocasio-Cortez praised the Justice in Policing Act, according to Politico, but urged her colleagues "not to dismiss or mock" the growing calls among activists to defund police. In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez reiterated her support for defunding the police. "The New York City Police Department has a $6 billion a year budget that is more than we spend on youth, housing, health care and homelessness combined in New York City. So the problem is not a lack of resources here," she said. "In fact, many folks here in our community say the problem is the opposite." ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) June 10, 2020 Other progressive Democrats, such as Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, have also expressed support for defunding the police. "When we say #DefundPolice, what we mean is people are dying and we need to invest in people's livelihoods instead," Tlaib said in a tweet earlier this month. The intraparty disagreements over defunding police once again highlights the evident rift between moderate and progressive Democrats, which has seen relatively new members such as Ocasio-Cortez and veteran politicians like Pelosi clash over various issues in the recent past. Concurrently, the president and his allies are continuing to push the misleading narrative that all Democrats want to defund the police. "Not only will Sleepy Joe Biden DEFUND THE POLICE, but he will DEFUND OUR MILITARY! He has no choice, the Dems are controlled by the Radical Left," Trump tweeted on Sunday. The Trump administration has yet to offer any policy proposals aimed at addressing the demands of the protesters. And while polling shows most Americans support the demonstrations against police brutality and racism, Trump's approval numbers are tanking. Read the original article on Business Insider Principals of primary schools are willing to break their vacation in July and go back to school to prepare pupils for the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) examination. The National Primary Schools Principals Association (NAPSPA) says it will be co-operating with the Governments decision to administer the SEA exam on August 20. North Korea sees little use maintaining a personal relationship between leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump if Washington sticks to hostile policies, state media reported on Friday - the two-year anniversary of the leaders first summit. U.S. policies prove Washington remains a long-term threat to the North Korean state and its people and North Korea will develop more reliable military forces to counter that threat, Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA. Trump and Kim exchanged insults and threats during 2017 as North Korea made large advances in its nuclear and missile programme and the United States responded by leading an international effort to tighten sanctions. Relations improved significantly around the Singapore summit in June 2018, the first time a sitting American president met with a North Korean leader, but the statement that came out of the meeting was light on specifics. A second summit in February 2019 in Vietnam failed to reach a deal because of conflicts over U.S. calls for North Korea to completely give up its nuclear weapons, and North Korean demands for swift sanctions relief. Ri said in retrospect the Trump administration appears to have been focusing on only scoring political points while seeking to isolate and suffocate North Korea, and threatening it with preemptive nuclear strikes and regime change. Never again will we provide the U.S. chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns, he said. Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise. The U.S. State Department and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On Thursday, a State Department spokesperson told South Koreas Yonhap news agency the United States remains committed to dialogue with North Korea, and is open to a flexible approach to reach a balanced agreement. Election Pressure On Thursday North Korea criticized the United States for commenting on inter-Korean affairs, and said Washington should stay quiet if it wants the upcoming presidential election to go smoothly. North Korea is likely to try to increase pressure on the United States ahead of the upcoming election, said Daniel Russel, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia until early in the Trump administration. Trumps claim to have solved the North Korea problem gives them leverage, he said. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a Korea expert at Kings College London, said Ris statement shows North Korea still sees all options on the table, from a proper diplomatic process to further developing its nuclear programme. North Korea continues to need a proper deal more than the U.S., Pacheco Pardo said on Twitter. That hasnt changed. Ri said North Koreas desire to open a new cooperative era runs as deep as ever, but that the situation on the Korean peninsula is daily taking a turn for the worse. The U.S. professes to be an advocate for improved relations with the DPRK, but in fact, it is hell-bent on only exacerbating the situation, Ri said. The official name of North Korea is the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK). This is an opinion column. Confederate and racist monuments are coming down. Slowly. In defiance of law and tradition and a resistance to change that has spanned generations. It is remarkable, really. A rare moment of action. But more must fall. More names need to change. Not to rewrite history, because these monuments were erected to rewrite history in the first place. They must come down now to correct it, to give young Alabamians a fresh start, without the gilded trappings of a romanticized old South. Without pining for the old times that cant be forgotten, but ought to be remembered not for some glorified nobility but for the inhumanity it embraced, and left behind. These monuments say less about our history than they do about us. We cant blame it on 1865, or 1905, or 1927, or any other moment. They stand because we allow them to stand, and they tell the story of who and what we consider to be important. They tell the world and generations of our own people who we admire and what virtues we find worthy of honor. Rebellion against these United States. Racism. White supremacy. More roads in Alabama celebrate confederate officers and Klansmen than veterans of any other single war. Is that what we stand for? We choose Robert E. Lee like he won something at least 15 times on roads and high schools and monuments. Jefferson Davis is not far behind, and we mark his birthday as an official state holiday. These honors tell our children what kind of people we hold in esteem, just like they told us as children. It is not just Civil War generals and politicians. It is people we are told to admire as honorable citizens, who were often anything but. You can travel the Sam Englehardt Highway, honoring a man who used his power at the Highway Department to split black neighborhoods, who pioneered gerrymandering black people out of power because, as he put it, we couldn't stand seeing a Negro in the Alabama Legislature." Bibb Graves, who served as Alabama governor in the 1920s, is held up as someone to be revered on monuments and buildings on Alabama campuses, and with a bridge across the Coosa River. Generations simply accepted that. Not, as author Michael Newton put it, that he was almost certainly the Exalted Cyclops (chapter president) of the Montgomery chapter of the Klan. Across history our politicians have pandered to racists and their own racism by deifying those who condone it. Many of the roads were named in the 1920s, when growth of the Ku Klux Klan surged in Alabama, and during the years of Jim Crow and the civil rights movement. Our modern Legislature follows the pattern, claiming to represent history rather than racism. It passes laws to protect Alabama monuments. But not its people. You can travel roads named for notorious Birmingham Police Commissioner Eugene Bull, Connor, dedicated by the Alabama Legislature in 1971 as an outstanding public servant. You can drive the Thomas H. Watts Bridge across the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River and honor the man who signed Alabamas ordinance of secession. Alabama even honors R.B. Russell with a bridge across the Chattahoochee River in Eufaula. He was Georgias governor and U.S. Senator. He is remembered for long opposition to the civil rights movement. Alabama and the rest of the South spent lifetimes honoring those who valued white supremacy as if it were a virtue. It is not. Not then, and not now. Today, in 2020, we must make that stand. We must understand. It is not about rewriting history. Its about making it. John Archibald, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is a columnist for AL.com. His column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register, Birmingham Magazine and AL.com. Write him at jarchibald@al.com. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin: (Hennepin County Sheriff) Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd, could still receive up to $1m (797,000) in pension benefits, even if he is convicted of the felony crime. Mr Chauvin was charged with killing Mr Floyd last month, after footage emerged of him kneeling on the 46-year-olds neck for nearly nine minutes, while he detained him. He was fired from the Minneapolis Police Department, along with the three other officers at the scene, after footage of the incident was posted online. Mr Chauvin was originally charged with third degree murder and manslaughter, but after a week of protests, his charge was upgraded to second degree murder and manslaughter. However, the former police officer will still be entitled to his pension benefits, even if he is convicted of killing Mr Floyd, according to CNN. The Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association confirmed to CNN that Mr Chauvin would still be eligible for his pension, even if he was convicted. The outlet reported that in Minnesota, state laws do not allow those who have been convicted of a felony crime, that was related to their work, to lose their pension. They can be forfeited, but only by the individual, if they decide to receive a refund of the contributions they have made up until that point. Police pension benefits in the state are partially funded by taxpayers, as they are made up of contributions from local governments, that are funded by the public, and from the individual. Mr Chauvin could start benefiting from as early as 50-years-old, and the benefits could add up to $1.5m (1.2m), if Mr Chauvin decided to take them over a 30 year period, according to the outlet. A spokeswoman for the board, told the outlet: Neither our Board nor our staff have the discretion to increase, decrease, deny or revoke benefits. Any changes to current law would need to be done through the legislative process. Read more Three officers charged as accomplices to George Floyd killing Toronto in 2019 won the title of fastest growing city in Canada and the U.S. a boom fuelled by immigration unlikely to be derailed by the pandemic, experts say. The ranking was revealed by Diana Petramala and Hannah Chan Smyth of Ryerson Universitys Centre for Urban Research and Land Development. Analysing U.S. and Canadian figures for 12 months ending July 1, 2019, they show Toronto with the biggest growth, in terms of the city and also the census metropolitan area (CMA) that includes municipalities around Toronto. The data shows that Toronto was the fastest growing metropolitan area in Canada and the U.S. last year, overtaking Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington for the top spot, they wrote in a blog on their findings. Metropolitan Toronto grew by 127,575 people, compared to 117,380 newcomers to Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington. Metropolitan Montreal was the sixth fastest growing area, with a population increase of 65,205. New York, Los Angeles and Chicago metropolitan areas all shrank over the 12 months, with New York hit the hardest losing 60,462 people. Focusing on the cities themselves, both Toronto and New York saw established residents move to other cities, with high housing costs a likely driver. But Torontos immigration advantage saw the city achieve a net gain of 45,742 people, while New York City contracted by 53,264 residents. Overall, Canadian cities represented 11 of the top 20 central cities in the U.S. and Canada in population growth. The city of Montreal was second among U.S. and Canadian cities with 31,565 more residents. Petramala said the pandemic that has halted international flights will, in the short term, slow immigration to the GTA and other cities. But long term, the GTA magnet should remain strong. Toronto is better positioned for the recovery and for continuing to attract labour, than many other cities, she said. Kareem El-Assal, director of policy at Canadavisa.com which provides legal and other services to immigrants, also doubts the pandemic will hurt GTA growth. With a strong economy including a booming tech sector, many agencies to help newcomers, plus existing ethnic communities from all over the globe, the GTA will remain an international draw, El-Assal predicted. Toronto is, overall, a very welcoming city that respects different cultures, sexual orientations and other differences more so than many other places, he said. Once the pandemic is behind us, the GTA will remain by far the most attractive city or region in Canada, as well as one of the most attractive regions in the world. David Rider is the Stars City Hall bureau chief and a reporter covering city hall and municipal politics. Follow him on Twitter: @dmrider WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump in an interview broadcast Friday defended his photo opportunity at a church near the White House as "a beautiful picture" and downplayed concerns of the Pentagon's top general that it created the perception of military involvement in domestic politics. "I think it was a beautiful picture," Trump told Fox News. "I'll tell you, I think Christians think it was a beautiful picture." Trump's comments came in a wide-ranging interview taped Thursday in Dallas, where Trump held a roundtable discussion on race relations and policing. Portions of the interview were aired by the cable station Thursday night, while other portions aired Friday. In a segment aired Friday, Trump said he thinks outlawing chokeholds is "generally" a good idea but expressed concerns about officers who might engage in a one-on-one "scuffle" in which such a maneuver might be hard to avoid. He also said he hadn't purposely decided to hold a campaign rally next week in Tulsa, Okla., on Juneteenth, a day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Trump's comments about the church photo op came hours after Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, apologized for appearing alongside the president at St. John's Episcopal Church minutes after federal authorities forcibly removed mostly peaceful protesters from the area. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who also participated in the photo opportunity, has said he did not realize in advance what would be happening. Asked whether he thinks such concerns are "significant," Trump replied, "No, I don't think so." "I mean, if that's the way they feel, I think that's fine," Trump told Fox News's Harris Faulkner. "I have good relationships with the military. I've rebuilt our military. . . . When we took it over from President Obama and Biden, the military was a joke." Ahead of the June 1 photo opportunity, Milley, wearing combat fatigues, and Esper walked behind Trump and a cadre of presidential aides from the White House and across Lafayette Square to the historic church. The president then stood in front of it and posed for photographs holding up a Bible. Milley said in a prerecorded graduation speech to students at the National Defense University on Thursday that it was important to keep "a keen sense of situational awareness" and that he had failed to do so. "As many of you saw the results of the photograph of me in Lafayette Square last week, that sparked a national debate about the role of the military in civil society," Milley said. "I should not have been there. My presence in that moment, and in that environment, created the perception of the military involved in domestic politics." Asked about chokeholds - which Democrats are seeking to ban nationally - Trump said that he doesn't like them and thinks they should be "generally" barred. He said that could be done at the local level or through some "strong recommendations" federally. But he voiced some reservations. "Sometimes if you're alone, and you're fighting somebody, it's tough," said Trump, raising the specter of an officer being involved with "a real bad person." "You get somebody in a chokehold," he said. "What are you going to do now? Let go and say, 'Let's start all over again, I'm not allowed to have you in a choke hold.' It's a tough situation." In another segment that aired Friday, Trump said no when asked if his campaign rally planned for June 19 in Tulsa was set on that date on purpose. June 19, known as Juneteenth, is a date commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Tulsa is the site of one of the worst episodes of racial violence in U.S. history: a 1921 massacre in which a white mob killed dozens of black people and destroyed black-owned businesses. Democrats have accused Trump of sending the wrong message with the timing of the rally. "Think about it as a celebration. My rallies are celebrations," Trump said. "In the history of politics, I think I can say, there's never been any group or any person that's had rallies like I do. . . .The fact I'm having a rally on that day you can really think about that very positively." During the interview, Trump also asserted that, "I think I've done more for the black community than any other president." "And let's take a pass on Abraham Lincoln, 'cause he did good, though it's always questionable, you know," Trump added. At that point, Faulkner, who is African American, noted that, "Well, we are free, Mr. President." "You understand what I mean," Trump said, before citing a criminal justice bill passed during his tenure and claiming he had not received enough credit for it. At another point in the interview, Trump defended his tweet in response to recent unrest in Minneapolis that included the phrase "when the looting starts the shooting starts." He said the phrase does not necessarily imply a threat, as many people saw it. "It means two things, very different things," Trump said. "One is, if there's looting, there's probably going to be shooting, and that's not as a threat, that's really just a fact, because that's what happens. And the other is, if there's looting, there's going to be shooting. They're very different meanings." - - - The Washington Post's Missy Ryan and Allyson Chiu contributed to this report. SPRINGFIELD Racism is a wide-ranging problem in society, but recent college grad Kennedy Mitchum thought its definition in venerable Merriam-Webster dictionary was too narrow. It downplayed, she said, the way racism animates a society to harm entire groups of people. Its a thought thats found its time now with the protests against police brutality in the wake of George Floyds death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers now charged with murder. It is a thought that is timely when crowds and city governments are tearing down monuments to slaveholders and Confederates and Christopher Columbus. Its a thought she shared with Merriam-Webster and now the Springfield-based publisher is revising its definition to emphasize the role racism plays in society in addition to its presence as a personal belief. I basically told them they need to include that there is systematic oppression on people. It's not just 'I don't like someone,' it's a system of oppression for a certain group of people," Mitchum told St. Louis television station KMOV Peter Sokolowski, editor at large Merriam-Webster in Springfield -- a company founded in 1831, said a new definition has been drafted and will be made public in August when the company revises its online dictionary. Alumna Kennedy Mitchum knew there was more to racism than what appeared in @MerriamWebster's dictionary. Its not just disliking someone because of their race, she said. Read the dictionarys full response below. pic.twitter.com/0Yen4TrvuJ Drake University (@DrakeUniversity) June 9, 2020 "It's time for this definition to be revised," he said. "To be honest the job is revision. That's what we do every day." He wants to get he idea of systemic racism more to the forefront. "I think we can make it more explicit," Sokolowski said. The current definitions of racism are 1: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race 2a : a doctrine or political program based on the assumption of racism and designed to execute its principles b: a political or social system founded on racism 3: racial prejudice or discrimination He said even the most relevant meaning for systemic fundamental to a predominant social, economic, or political practice was added to the dictionary only a few months ago after being in use by sociologists and academics for years. And shockingly, the word "racism" did not appear in any Merriam-Webster dictionary for more than 120 years. It was not until 1961. It doesnt mean it didnt exist before, Sokolowski said. But it wasnt in our dictionary until 1961. I only found that out this week. Mitchum -- who graduated from Drake University in Iowa and lives in the St. Louis suburb of Florissant which has had its own issues with police brutality -- and her story have hit a nerve and the story has appeared in publications and broadcasts around the world. Its not the first time Merriam-Webster has made news with a change in a definition. Last year, Merriam-Webster has added definitions of they and themself as singular, gender-neutral pronouns to its online dictionary so the definitions include those who express nonbinary gender identities. With racism, Sokolowski said this isnt adding a new definition, but making the definition more explicit. Its easier to do today now that dictionary writers are not confined by tight confines of a printed dictionary. What we can do today is we can add example sentences to make the meaning more clear, he said. Now that Andalucia has entered Phase 3 of the easing of the state of alarm restrictions, the regional government is keen to attract travellers again and has chosen internationally famous actor Antonio Banderas, who is from Malaga, as the face of its post-pandemic tourism campaign. In a video filmed with Malaga's famous Roman theatre and Alcazaba fortress in the background, Banderas talks about his heart attack and says the coronavirus crisis has been similar and that there is a lesson to be learned from it: "Today, it is as if we were all recovering from a heart attack. Being alive doesn't just mean breathing again, it means feeling emotions again. This summer, let's go out and enjoy life to the full in Andalucia," he urges. This is the region's first tourism campaign after the Covid-19 crisis, and it was officially presented by Juan Marin, the vice-president of the Junta de Andalucia and its minister for Tourism. He expressed his thanks to Banderas, who he said had ceded all his rights for the media campaign, and announced that a special budget has been allocated for a series of campaigns to reactivate the Andalusian economy. The total sum is three million euros, and part of the money is being used for a new scheme to certify that hotels and other establishments in Andalucia fulfil all health and safety protocols. The vice-president said that 15,000 businesses have been informed about this so far, and 170 have already been awarded their safety certificate. Marin announced that the Junta de Andalucia will be investing 22.5 million euros to promote Andalucia as a tourist destination from now until the end of the year, These activities will put across the message that people are keen to travel after the coronavirus crisis, and Andalucia is keen to welcome them. The Junta has prepared a support plan for travel agencies, because they play such an important role in connecting travellers with destinations, and now that people are permitted to move between provinces within the region, it wants to encourage them to do so. It also aims to attract visitors from other parts of Spain once the state of alarm is over, and by the end of June it should be possible to travel freely within the country. "Andalucia wants you to come," is the message. With regard to visitors from abroad, over 600,000 euros will be spent to promote the region in Germany, Scandinavia, Belgium, France and Italy, and the Junta hopes to include the UK, which is Andalucia's biggest source market, depending on how the pandemic evolves there and what measures are adopted by the British government. Nevertheless, there will be promotions in the UK anyway, to maintain a presence there. The machine to bring people to the region will be working flat out, so that Andalucia can start to repair the damage caused by the coronavirus. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold a virtual press briefing at 12.45 pm on Friday to announce the outcomes of the 40th GST Council meeting held earlier in the day. "Finance Minister Smt. Nsitharaman to hold a virtual media briefing on the outcomes of the 40th GST Council meeting at 12:45 PM in New Delhi today," tweeted the Finance Ministry. The GST Council members discussed several issues via the over one-hour videoconferencing meet for the first time post the COVID-19 lockdown. The Finance Minister chaired the meeting which was expected to discuss the impact of coronavirus-induced lockdown on tax revenues of states and likely decide on the compensation payout framework to states. The topics likely to have been discussed during the meeting were revenue augmentation and waiver of late fee for the period from August 2017 to January 2020, review GST compliance data, etc. There may also not be any GST rate cut announcement as it can be a hindrance to the much-needed funds in state government's coffers. In the previous council meeting held on March 14, 2020, FM Sitharaman had said that the Centre will look into the legality of GST Council borrowing from market to meet the compensation requirements. With states raising the issue of shortfall in compensation kitty, there were discussions on resorting to market borrowing to meet the revenue guarantee to states. Under GST law, states were guaranteed to be paid for any loss of revenue in the first five years of the GST implementation from July 1, 2017. The shortfall is calculated assuming a 14 per cent annual growth in GST collections by states over the base year of 2015-16. Under the GST structure, taxes are levied under 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent slabs. On top of the highest tax slab, a cess is levied on luxury, sin and demerit goods and the proceeds from the same are used to compensate states for any revenue loss. Also Read: GST Council to discuss COVID-19 imapct on tax revenue in June 12 meet A 3D printed Zoom logo is placed on the keyboard in this illustration taken By Huizhong Wu and Brenda Goh BEIJING (Reuters) - Zoom Video Communications has gained a following in China in recent months from users ranging from underground churches to feminists who saw it as a rare way to connect with the world beyond the reach of state censors. Some fear that window may be closing. On Friday, Zoom said it had suspended accounts of three U.S. and Hong Kong activists at Beijing's request after they tried to commemorate the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, but that they had since been reactivated. The U.S. company also said it was developing technology to enable it to remove or block participants based on geography. The Chinese government heavily regulates the internet, in a system widely dubbed the Great Firewall, saying this is needed to maintain social stability. All Chinese social media platforms are required to censor public posts deemed illegal. "For us, the biggest challenge has been how to reach people within China because of the firewall, and Zoom for a while looked like a ray of hope," said U.S.-based Humanitarian China founder Zhou Fengsuo, whose account was suspended. The conferencing tool, originally designed for business use, saw Chinese user numbers surge in tandem with its global popularity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a rare feat given how Western peers such as WhatsApp, Google Meet and Facebook are blocked in China's cyberspace. Zoom's mobile app has been downloaded 5.4 million times from Apple's China store since Jan. 1, 11 times the number over the same period in 2019, according to research firm SensorTower. While most Chinese users turn to Zoom for conference calls and casual chats, some have seized the chance to discuss potentially sensitive topics, from patriotism to feminism. Some state-approved and underground churches use Zoom to hold services. "Zoom is not the only software, but we feel it's rather more accessible," said Xiao Meili, a feminist activist who held a Zoom talk in April on the #MeToo movement. Story continues "Before, some friends recommended Tencent conference ... but everyone would feel like you shouldn't say anything that's slightly sensitive," she said, referring to a tool offered by the Chinese tech giant behind WeChat. INSIDE THE FIREWALL In March, Youth Lectures kicked off a series of Zoom talks, the first of which was led by Chinese University of Hong Kong professor Chow Po Chung, on freedom of speech in China. Chow's mainland China account on the Twitter-like platform Weibo has been deleted multiple times. Other anonymous groups hosted lectures from a #MeToo activist and a gender-activist on their work in mid-May. New York-based Lu Pin, whose influential Feminist Voices accounts on Weibo and WeChat were shut by authorities in 2018, said Zoom was a way to connect a Chinese audience to the outside world. "You don't have to climb the firewall, people in China and outside of China both can connect to it," she said. There are few alternatives, she said. "This is not a multiple-choice question. If you're a Chinese person, if you don't use this, what will you use?" Zoom's China users had already been subject to new constraints since last month when the company announced that free users would no longer be able host meetings, and new registrations were limited to some enterprises. (Reporting by Huizhong Wu and Brenda Goh and Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Tony Munroe and Pravin Char) Inside the low bay of the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers assist as Sierra Nevada Corporation's (SNC) Dream Chaser pressure test article on its support structure is lowered by crane on June 3, 2020. The test article was being lowered for its move into the high bay. The test article was shipped from Louisville, Colorado. It is similar to the actual pressurized cabin being used in the Dream Chaser spaceplane for Commercial Resupply Services-2 (CRS-2) missions. NASA selected Dream Chaser to provide cargo delivery, return and disposal service for the International Space Station under the CRS-2 contract. The test article will remain at Kennedy while SNC engineers use it to develop and verify refurbishment operations that will be used on Dream Chaser between flights. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-20200603-PH-KLS01_0072 Larger image Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Are ACEI and ARB Safe to Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Observations that Support ACEI and ARB are Safe Only older hypertensive patients develop COVID-19 complications, while other age-groups remain unaffected No clinical evidence in humans show that ACE2 is upregulated by ACEI or ARB Since SARS-CoV-2 infection supresses ACE2, it follows that if ACEI and ARB were to upregulate ACE2, the latter would counter the effect produced by the virus, thereby reducing its infectivity Despite the fact that ACE2 is upregulated in women due to a sex-linked gene on the X-chromosome, they experience less severe disease than men, thereby nullifying the claim that upregulation of ACE2 is directly proportional to increase in infectivity and severity of SARS-CoV-2 illness Observations that Support ACEI and ARB are Unsafe Hypertensive patients develop the most severe complications of COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 enters cells by binding to the ACE2 receptor, which is the same receptor to which angiotensin-II also binds ACE2 receptors are found in high numbers in the cardiovascular system, besides the gut, kidneys, and lungs Some animal studies have shown that ACEI and ARB can increase ACE2 levels in heart cells, which can result in more serious SARS-CoV-2 infections To Prescribe or Not to Prescribe? - Key Recommendation Advertisement Angiotensin-II acts on the blood vessel walls by binding to its specific protein receptor, called angiotensin receptor (AR). There is another class of drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), which bind to these receptors before angiotensin-II has a chance to bind to them. Consequently, the blood vessels don't contract and so BP is reduced. Since both classes of drugs - ACEI and ARB - lower BP, they significantly reduce the chances of heart failure In normal times, ACEI and ARB are considered to be the safest and most effective drugs for treating hypertension and heart failure. However, these are not normal times due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic . Under these unprecedented circumstances, a controversy has arisen with regard to the safety of ACEI and ARB. The controversy revolves around the possible heightened risk of acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 infections due to use of these drugs, despite the fact that there is no clinching scientific or clinical evidence to support this claim. Only some circumstantial observations have been made that indicate that ACEI and ARB could be unsafe in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.Leading global health organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Heart Association, the European Society of Cardiology, and the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia, have made a collective recommendation with regard to prescribing ACEI and ARB during the COVID-19 pandemic . These world-renowned and highly reputed organizations have collectively recommended thatSource: Medindia Only shops dealing with essential commodities and services will be allowed to open in Punjab on Sundays and holidays while those selling non-essential items will have to down their shutters at 5pm on Saturdays, say the state governments new guidelines to deal with the rise in Covid-19 cases. But an exception has been made for liquor vends and restaurants (takeaway and home delivery) that may stay open till 8pm on all days. Also, inter-district movement in the state on weekends and holidays will be restricted barring e-pass holders. Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday approved the detailed weekend and holiday restriction guidelines. The CM on Thursday had cited fear of community spread of Covid-19 in Punjab in a preparedness review. The guidelines issued on Friday are in addition to those notified earlier by the state government for lockdown 5.0/unlock 1.0, and will remain in force on weekends and gazetted holidays till further orders. The new guidelines also state that the district magistrates in consultation with the market associations may choose to order closure of the non-essential shops on any other day of the week also, especially in the high-risk areas. Inter-district movement will be issued only for essential work but no pass shall be required for such travel in case of medical emergency. E-pass will also be required for a wedding function and will be issued only to 50 persons. The CM appealed to the people of Punjab to strictly adhere to the social-distancing norms and wear masks. The situation demanded stringent compliance with all the restrictions, he stressed, adding that though the situation in the state was relatively in control, the government was not ready to take any chances. By Trend The issue of fulfilling the Azerbaijani state budget for 2019 was discussed in second reading at the meeting of the extraordinary session of the Azerbaijani parliament on June 12, Trend reports. The state budget revenues were approved in the amount of 23.2 billion manat ($13.6 billion), expenses 24.2 billion manat ($14.2 billion) for 2019. Some 7.7 billion manat thats $4.5 billion (31.7 percent) of budget revenues accounted for the revenues through the State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy, 4.4 billion manat thats $2.6 billion (18.2 percent) - through the State Customs Committee, 11.4 billion manat thats $6.7 billion (46.9 percent) - for the share of the state budget transfer from the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan, 772.9 million manat thats $454.6 million (3.2 percent) - for the share of other income including 578.9 million manat thats $340.5 million from the paid services of budgetary organizations, 182.6 million manat thats $107.4 million - from other revenues, 11.4 million manat thats $6.7 million - from revenues from the rental of state property and lands on which privatized state enterprises and facilities are located. The state budget revenues for 2019, excluding transfers to the state budget from the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan reached 12.8 billion manat ($7.5 billion), which is by 1.3 billion manat thats $764,705 (11.3 percent) more compared to 2018. The state budget expenditures for 2019 were fulfilled at 24.4 billion manat ($14.3 billion) that makes up 97 percent of the predicted figure worth 25.2 billion manat ($14.8 billion) and is by 1.7 billion manat thats $1 billion (7.5 percent) more compared to 2018. The state budget expenditures worth 13.5 billion manat thats $7.9 billion (55.4 percent) were transferred for the current expenses (by 1.9 billion manat thats $1.1 billion or 17.1 percent more compared to 2018), 9.4 billion manat thats $5.5 billion (38.4 percent) - for main expenses (by 430.6 million manat thats $253.3 million or 4.8 percent more compared to 2018), 1.5 billion manat thats $882,352 (6.2 percent) - for expenses associated with the service on public debt and obligations in 2019. Some 31.8 percent (7.8 billion manat thats $4.6 billion) of the state budget expenditures for 2019 were transferred to finance the social expenses, which is 564.8 million manat thats $332.2 million (7.8 percent) more compared to 2018. Following the discussions, the issue was put to the vote and approved on second reading. (1 USD = 1.7 AZN on June 12) --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Daniel Itai The Zimbabwe Daily Harare, Zimbabwe The MDC Alliances Youth league has castigated the nature in which members of the armed forces are dealing with some of their members. This comes in the wake of Joana Mamombe, Cicilia Chimbiru and Netsai Marova who are facing charges of violating COVID-19 regulations when they organized a demonstration in Warren Park on the 13th of May. The trio who are currently out on bail will stand trial on the 13th of next month. Youth Assembly national vice chairperson Cecilia Chimbiri, deputy Organ, Netsai Marova and national secretary for Policy and Research, Joana Mamombe have been tossed around back and forth between hospital beds and police cells since their abduction from police custody on the fateful 13 May 2020. The latest arrest and detention of the unwell trio is another daring move by the illegitimate regime of Emmerson Mnangagwa on defenseless citizens. - Advertisement - It is clear that Mnangagwas reckless, corrupt and extravagant military dictatorship is itching for a showdown with civilians. The worst disregard to human emotions by any dictatorship is abuse of women and Emmerson Mnangagwa is doing exactly that. Surely Emmerson has chosen a wrong and dangerous path, as an Assembly, we want to make it clear that we are not going to take the latest abuse of our female comrades lightly. We demand for the immediate release of our comrades or else we release our anger, said Stephen Chuma, MDC Alliance Youth leagues national spokesperson. Like this: Like Loading... Godwin Tamakloe 12.06.2020 LISTEN The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has abandoned its claim that the Electoral Commission (EC) is enjoined to compile the register of voters only once at the inception of the Constitution. It has now made a tacit admission that the EC has the power and can compile a new voters' register. The NDC elements, after all their sabre-rattling stance against the new register, are now pushing for the inclusion of the existing voter ID cards as one of the primary documents for proof of citizenship for the upcoming voter registration exercise scheduled for June 30, 2020. The NDC's shifting of the goal-post came to the fore at the Supreme Court yesterday when its suit against the Attorney General (AG) and the EC, trying to stop the commission from compiling a new voters' register ahead of the general election in December, was heard. Legal Objection Matters came to a head when Deputy AG, Godfred Yeboah Dame, representing the AG, filed a preliminary legal objection insisting that the NDC was contradicting itself as far as the reliefs it was seeking from the court were concerned. The Deputy AG, in his legal submissions filed on June 8, 2020, had raised an issue about the competence of the reliefs sought by the NDC. He submitted at paragraph 9 that the bases for those claims are really not linked at and in fact contradict each other. Questions legitimately arise as to the maintainability by the same plaintiff of two separate causes of action, which contradict each other, in a writ. Court Discussion Yesterday, the seven-member panel presided over by the Chief Justice, Justice Anin-Yeboah, and assisted by Justices Jones Dotse, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Sule Gbadegbe, Samuel Marful-Sau, Nene Amegatcher and Prof. Nii Ashie Kotei asked the NDC lawyer, Godwin Tamakloe, to elect which of the reliefs he wanted to pursue before the court, since they were contradictory. The NDC lawyer then abandoned the course that the EC was enjoined to compile the register of voters only once at the inception of the Constitution and not on multiple occasions and they proceeded to strike out that relief on the NDC writ as abandoned, leaving the course where the party wants the court to compel the commission to include the old ID cards in the registration exercise, for the court to determine. Main Action The NDC in late March this year sued the AG and attached the EC over the commission's decision to compile a new voters' register for the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections. The party wants the Supreme Court to declare that the EC, per the 1992 Constitution, can only compile a voters' register once and subsequently review it over time and not compile a new one instead. The NDC is contending that the EC can only revise the existing register of voters and lacks the power to prepare a fresh register of voters for the conduct of the December 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections. Among the declaration being sought by the NDC is that the decision by the EC to amend the regulations that guide the registration of voters to exclude existing voter identification cards as proof of identification to enable a person to apply for registration as a voter is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect. AG's Opposition The writ was opposed to by the AG, which described the NDC's claims that the EC is enjoined to compile the register of voters only once at the inception of the Constitution and not on multiple occasions as patently absurd, far-fetched, outrageous and grossly erroneous. The EC, through its lawyer, Justin A. Amenuvor, also countered the NDC's claims, describing the position as an interpretation by the party to serve its 'parochial interest' and not a proper appreciation of the 1992 Constitution as a whole. He said the NDC's understanding and interpretation of Article 45(a) was an absurd, strained and far-fetched one. Court Argument Godwin Tamakloe, counsel for the NDC, when called upon to select one of the two reliefs, had wanted leave of the court to enquire from the party which of the reliefs it seeks to pursue, but the panel reminded him that as a lawyer, he should be able to choose which of the reliefs he wants the court to consider. He subsequently withdrew the relief that the EC can compile the register only once and stuck to the call for the inclusion of the old ID cards as proof of citizenship. Mr. Tamakloe then addressed the court that the EC could not exclude the existing voter ID cards as proof on the grounds because of the EC's claims that its registration officers abandoned the Constitutional Instrument regulating its compilation and rather relied on a training manual compiled by the commission, especially when there was no proof before the court. He said the EC could not hold that all the elections that were conducted using the current ID cards were fraught with illegalities and prayed the court for its inclusion. Dame Angle When called upon to present his brief oral arguments, Mr. Dame submitted that the NDC case was incompetent both in substance and in procedure. A major problem with the case, according to the Deputy AG, was that the counsel for the NDC had failed to indicate which existing voter ID card he wanted to be included in the registration exercise. Counsel submitted that as far as he was concerned, the voter ID card issued in 2012 under C. I. 72 had been outlawed by the Supreme Court and, therefore, could not be used for any voter registration exercise. The one issued in 1995 under C. I. 12 was fraught with unconstitutionality, as it was not subject to the requirements of proof of eligibility. Incidentally, that card formed the basis for compilation of the 2012 register, which in turn formed the basis for cards produced under C. I. 91. He said to compile a new register with old voter ID cards would amount to importing the sins and ills of the old voter registration process. He further argued that the EC had admitted to registering many people under a training manual which directed its officials to disregard proof of eligibility and, therefore, ID cards issued under that system cannot be credible or reliable and urged the court not to impede the EC in its quest to act constitutionally. When asked by the court as to why he was introducing new matters, Mr. Dame answered that the court could not shut its eyes to a matter the EC had admitted in its processes before the court. He finally argued that the action was incompetent because at the time of its institution, there was no constitutional instrument passed by Parliament. The Counsel for the EC, Justin Amenuvor, chose to rely solely on the EC's statement of case filed, except to say that the register compiled in 2012 using C.I. 72 which the Supreme Court found not to be reasonably credible was the same register used for the limited registration in 2016 under C.I. 91. Judges Concern The judges expressed displeasure at some developments in the matter, which they said created an impression about the court in the minds of the public. The court warned lawyers in the case to avoid granting media interviews, as well as discussing the matter on radio, and television while it was still before the court. Heavy Security There was a heavy security presence on the court premises yesterday, as about 15 vehicles transported police officers to the court to guard the place. One of the judges, Justice Gbadegbe, remarked one constitutional matter and you talk and talk. Why? The court has set June 23, 2020 to deliver its judgement on the matter. Daily Guide Queens Park is lifting the 30-day limit on prescriptions that was imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Monday, Ontarians will again be able to get 90 days worth of medications at one time from their local pharmacist. Health Minister Christine Elliott, who imposed the 30-day cap in March amid concerns about hoarding and potential drug shortages, made the announcement Thursday night after the Star revealed the move. CARP, an organization that advocates for older Canadians, has been warning that seniors on fixed incomes are concerned about being hit with multiple dispensing fees because they are having to buy their medications every month instead of every three months. But Daniel Chiasson, chief executive officer for the Canadian Association for Pharmacy Distribution Management, warned there could be challenges. Theres going to be a spike in demand for the 30 days that follow, said Chiasson, whose organization represents the distributors that buy medicines from pharmaceutical companies and sell them to pharmacies. We artificially created a 30-day cycle to flatten the demand in March and that was successful, he said. The supply chain is ready to go back to normal, but were not going to see normal demand patterns for a while. Chiasson noted that Ontario and Alberta are returning to 90-day cycles at the same time. He said when the smaller Atlantic Provinces did that in recent weeks, demand jumped 20 to 40 per cent. Were in favour of a more orderly transition, he added, recommending a phased approach to returning to three-month purchases. Even before the pandemic hit Ontario, which has been in a state of emergency since March 17, there were supply-chain issues because some manufacturers of pharmaceutical ingredients in China and India could not keep up with the global demand. The prescription change coincides with much of the province entering its second stage of reopening the economy on Friday. As of that day, gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed up from five throughout Ontario. Other than in the Great Toronto Area, Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand-Norfolk and Windsor, most of province will be opened up. That means restaurants and bars, which have been restricted to takeout meals and alcohol, will be allowed to do outdoor dine-in service on patios in Ottawa, Brant County, Muskoka, Haliburton, Kingston and scores of other communities across Ontario. Hair salons, barber shops, beauty parlours and tattoo studios in those areas will also be permitted to reopen. They must take safety precautions and ensure physical distancing to protect staff and clients. Premier Doug Ford is expected to announce as early as Monday when the GTA, which has seen most of the provinces COVID-19 deaths, will enter the next stage of opening. Chief medical officer Dr. David Williams said the reopening comes as theres a significant decline since last week in the number COVID-19 case that are serious enough to require hospitalization. Williams noted that recovered cases are outpacing new cases by a margin of more than two-to-one in Thursdays statistics. These are very good indicators of where were going, he told reporters, noting there are 3,172 active cases in the province and most new infections are less severe than at the peak of the virus in April. Discussions on whether to announce more areas of the province can expand business openings late next week will be held with local medical officers of health in a conference call Saturday, Williams added. With the second stage beginning Friday, there are hopes the third stage, when all workplaces would be allowed to open, will soon follow. While restrictions on public gatherings would be further relaxed, large public gatherings such as concerts and sporting events would continue to be restricted for the foreseeable future even in stage three. With files from Rob Ferguson Martin Gugino, the 75-year-old man who fell to the ground after being pushed by Buffalo police officers last week, sustained a brain injury and a fractured skull related to the incident, according to his attorney. Gugino, of Amherst, New York, had been in serious but stable condition before his condition was upgraded to fair earlier this week. He was moved to Erie County Medical Centers rehabilitation floor. On Friday, his lawyer, Kelly Zarcone, said Guginos skull was fractured and that he hasnt been able to walk yet. Shed previously said that Guginos brain was injured and he has started physical therapy. Gugino said via an attorney statement Friday that it was very unnecessary to focus on me...There are plenty of other things to think about besides me, such as helping each other and peacefully addressing societal shortcomings rather than spending energy on him, Zarcone clarified. Martin Gugino shown in June 2019 at at Buffalo Youth Climate Strike rally. Given these developments, Gugino does not plan to do media interviews, Zarcone said. He feels encouraged and uplifted by the outpouring of support which he has received from so many people all over the globe. It helps, Zarcones statement continued. He is looking forward to healing and determining what his 'new normal' might look like. Gugino was one of several dozen individuals standing in front of Buffalo City Hall at about 8:10 p.m. on June 4, after a peaceful protest held in the area had dispersed. Longtime activist: Elderly Buffalo man pushed to ground by police 'comes from a peace tradition' 'Black Lives Matter': Amherst man pushed by police responds after Trump tweet In a bystander video, Gugino can be seen approaching a group of police, and within seconds, he was shoved backward. He stumbled and fell back, his head whacking the sidewalk. Blood could be seen running from his ear and pooling near his head as police called emergency personnel. The incident stirred a powerful reaction from citizens across Buffalo and the nation, and within days, two Buffalo police officers had been charged with second-degree assault, a felony. Story continues President Donald Trump tweeted about the incident on Tuesday, theorizing that Gugino could be an "antifa provocateur" and that the whole interaction could have been a setup. Gugino is a longtime activist and has taken up a variety of causes, including prisoner rights. Hes the victim of police brutality, said Keith Giles, program director at Peace Catalyst International, a nonprofit based in Houston, Texas, and a longtime friend of Guginos. Gugino does want people to think, and he is a bit of a jokester, Giles said. He recalled a time when Gugino, while participating in a donation drive in southern California for soldiers overseas, brought small bottles of whisky and other alcohol to contribute. Martin Gugino, left, listens at a talk by West Cosgrove, of Rural & Migrant Ministry in Feb. 2019. I said, Martin, what are you doing? Giles said with a laugh. And he said, This is what they want! and I said, We cant send these to them from the church. He tried to make a point that was who he was, Giles said. But he didnt go looking for trouble, and nothing would have justified what happened to him, Giles said. The impact of the incident was made worse by the numerous theories that arose following Guginos injury, with social media users calling him a fake and accusing him of trying to disrupt police communications or using a tube of fake blood under his mask, Giles said. Almost immediately people would have noticed (a tube) when they looked at it . . . No one would have fallen for that, said Giles. This is the reason why I had to speak. I want people to know hes a real person. Sarah Taddeo is the consumer watchdog reporter for USA Today Network's New York State Team. She investigates stories about your consumer rights, including scams, negligent landlords, safety issues and unemployment troubles. Got a story tip or comment? Contact Sarah at STADDEO@Gannett.com or (585) 258-2774. Follow her on Twitter @Sjtaddeo. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription. This article originally appeared on New York State Team: Buffalo protester Martin Gugino, pushed by police, has brain injury Relations between North Korea and the US have subsided again since the leaders met in Singapore two years ago - AP North Korea sees little use in maintaining a personal relationship between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump if Washington sticks to hostile policies, state media reported on Friday on the two-year anniversary of the leaders' first summit. US policies prove Washington remains a long-term threat to the North Korean state and its people, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA. The Singapore summit in June 2018 represented the first time a sitting American president met with a North Korean leader, but the statement that came out of the meeting was light on specifics, opting instead for four general commitments. A second summit in February 2019 in Vietnams capital Hanoi, failed to reach a deal because of conflicts over US calls for North Korea to completely give up its nuclear weapons, and North Korean demands for sanctions relief. Ri said in retrospect the Trump administration appears to have been focusing on only scoring political points while seeking to isolate and suffocate North Korea, and threatening it with preemptive nuclear strikes and regime change. "Never again will we provide the US chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns," he said. "Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise." On Thursday North Korea criticised the United States for commenting on inter-Korean affairs, and said Washington should stay quiet if it wants the upcoming presidential election to go smoothly. The US State Department did not respond to requests for comment, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Thursday, a State Department spokesperson told South Korea's Yonhap news agency that the United States remains committed to dialogue with North Korea, and is open to a "flexible approach to reach a balanced agreement." Story continues Ri said North Korea's desire to open a new cooperative era runs as deep as ever, but that the situation on the Korean peninsula is daily taking a turn for the worse. "The U.S. professes to be an advocate for improved relations with the DPRK, but in fact, it is hell-bent on only exacerbating the situation," Ri said. The official name of North Korea is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). North Korea will continue to build up its military forces to cope with the threats from the United States, Ri said. (Photo : Unsplash) If you have a passion for art, this article will help you to know more about opportunities that the contemporary world offers you. Doing what you love makes you happy, and this list of Art Schools can help turn your favorite hobby into a successful career. Our purpose is to help you set clear objectives, and find the most appropriate program to develop your skills. One of the fundamental requirements for admission to a reputable and prestigious university is to write an essay or motivation letter where you have a chance to convince the admissions committee to select you from the thousands of applicants. If you need a professional proofread of an already written assignment or want to express your thoughts as concisely and convincingly as possible, seek professional essay writing help. The best art schools use creative and innovative approaches across disciplines and guide each student's artistic potential in the right direction. Using art-making software, cutting edge tools, and professional vision contributes to identifying and acknowledging students' talents and fulfilling future careers. At the time of decision making, you should take into consideration various factors. The first one is the location. On the other hand, you need to meet the admission requirements and be sure that the School can offer opportunities and facilities you want. Nothing is impossible. You will find a school that will help to reveal your talent. The main thing is to make the right choice. Royal College of Art, London, England, UK Established in 1837, this London educational institution can boast great traditions and a modern take on art. Impeccable reputation, the highly-qualified academic staff, and a wide range of educational programs place the Royal College of Art graduates among the most demanded in the market. Berlin University of the Arts, Berlin, Germany One of the oldest (date back to 1696) and largest art schools in Europe, The Berlin University of Arts faculty includes some of the most eminent contemporary artists. While studying at this university, you will have a unique and beneficial opportunity to present your works at all kinds of exhibitions, concerts, and other cultural events. Berlin is a mixture of cultures, bold and creative ideas. Another great advantage of studying here is participating in a cultural exchange program with one of 170 other universities. Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs (EnsAD), Paris, France EnsAD had officially opened in 1767. For more than two centuries, it occupies a distinguished position in the history and development of art and design in France. The professors of this School encourage the students to look beyond the accepted boundaries and develop their creative potential. The main feature of this university's programs is the practical application of the knowledge gained at various workshops, experiments, and research. ELISAVA: Barcelona School of Design and Engineering, Barcelona, Spain Pioneer in the design and engineering studies, Elisava is a trendsetter of the art scene in Spain. Its highly professional faculty motivates students to face challenges and to be openminded to new ideas. The School is a magnet for attracting art professionals and gives its students a lot of opportunities to meet future employers. Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, Milan, Italy The Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, also known as NABA, was founded in Milan in 1980. Ranked as the top 50 design school, NABA is famous for its highly skilled educators. The creative approach in practice learning gives the students a real-world perspective. The faculty aims to inspire the students to be involved in different projects, experiment, network, and grow. ArtEZ, University of the Arts, The Netherlands The university consists of three institutes situated in different Dutch cities: Arnhem, Enschede, and Zwolle. Depending on your devotion, you can choose the most appropriate program. ArtEZ identifies itself as a creative community of like-minded people that dare to discover unknown spaces. The faculty engages in questioning established paradigms and doesn't scare to be different. Luca, School of Arts, Brussels, Belgium Passion for experimentation guides the community of this Flemish education institution. The faculty expertise encouraging students to think creatively allows this School to be at the forefront of the contemporary art field. They believe that innovative strategies mixed with practice-based methodology and open communication guarantee success. Lausanne University of Art and Design (ECAL), Switzerland Founded in 1821, ECAL is currently one of the most prestigious art and design schools in the world. The multicultural community of students fosters fresh ideas; meanwhile, eminent teachers provide stimulating experiences motivating to use gained knowledge on practice and participate in international exhibitions, conferences, and shows. We hope that our list of the Top 8 Art Schools in Europe will be useful to you. Choose the right program that meets your expectations and open the doors for a bright and prosperous future career. All 26 members of the Louisville Metro Council voted on Thursday to pass a ban on no-knock warrants, a measure known as Breonnas Law, named after the former EMT who died in a police raid at her apartment. The ordinance, which still needs to be approved by the mayor, bans any search warrant that does not require police to announce themselves and their purpose at the premises. It requires any Louisville Metro Police Department or Metro law enforcement to knock and wait a minimum of 15 seconds for a response. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer vowed to pass the ban as soon as it hits my desk. This is one of many critical steps on police reform that weve taken to create a more peaceful, just, compassionate and equitable community, Fischer said on Twitter Thursday. This is one of many critical steps on police reform that weve taken to create a more peaceful, just, compassionate and equitable community. 2/2 Mayor Greg Fischer (@louisvillemayor) June 11, 2020 Taylor, who was a licensed emergency medical technician, was fatally shot by police when plainclothes officers arrived after midnight on March 13 to serve a no-knock warrant in a drug case. At a March 13 news conference, police Lt. Ted Eidem said officers had knocked on the door several times and "announced their presence as police who were there with a search warrant." After forcing their way in, they were immediately met by gunfire, Eidem said. Attorneys for Taylors family have said her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fearing a home invasion, called 911, grabbed a gun and fired, shooting an officer in the leg. He had a license to carry and kept firearms in the home, and Taylor was unarmed. A spokesman for the department said Wednesday that Det. Joshua Jaynes has been placed on administrative reassignment amid an investigation into how he secured the no-knock warrant in the case. Story continues Taylors family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against three of the officers Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove who arrived to execute the warrant, accusing them of "blindly firing" more than 20 shots into the apartment. Taylor was shot eight times and died. Taylor and Walker had no criminal history or drug convictions, and no drugs were found in the apartment during the raid, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit by Taylor's family in which Jaynes was not named also claims that police did not knock or identify themselves before they busted into the apartment. GLEN CARBON Tabling the purchase of many high-dollar or new items Thursday, Glen Carbon Fire Protection District Board voted to spend about $5,400 on new uniform badges for the firefighters. These badges were just one of many vehicle and equipment items on the agenda of a hastily-called special fire district meeting. During the public session, residents asked why the district is suddenly looking to spend money on fire apparatuses after claiming they were making changes to save taxpayers money. Taxpayers also wondered if they would see any increase in their taxes as a result of these capital expenditures. I dont see a need to increase taxes, thats one thing were trying to hold down, Harris said as he tried to explain the districts purchases. All of the things were doing are looking at how we can better serve and either maintain or lower the taxing percentage each year. Harris also pointed out that taxpayers property valuations are increasing at two percent per year, the fire district sees an increase in revenue. He added they also have a 1.5 percentage restriction per year on expenses. Only two members of the public spoke at the firehouse and initially, 12 people attended the Zoom meeting. The districts board trustees are Luke Harris, Jack Humes, Chris Otto, Alan Schaake and Ron Williams. Within 15 minutes of starting the meeting, the board temporarily adjourned to tour station ones fire apparatus with firefighters to justify why they need newer vehicles. While firefighter Doug Schultz transmitted video via the Zoom meeting, the screen was tiny and the audio sounded tinny. Per the fire districts website, its current vehicle fleet includes: a 1982 Ford pumper; a 1987 Chevrolet medium-duty rescue truck; a 1993 E-One pumper; a 1991 Ford 4x4 fire/rescue truck and a 1998 E-One 75-foot aerial truck. District officials found two used aerial ladder trucks to buy: a 2008 model with a 75-foot ladder for $175,000 that is located near the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, and would replace its 1998 aerial; other is a 1990 model with a 105-foot ladder near Rockford that would cost $40,000. After the trustees finished the tour, they voted unanimously to investigate the 75-foot aerial ladder truck and buy it if it is still available and suits the districts needs. Next, they voted 3-2 on the 105-foot aerial ladder truck with trustees Schaake and Humes dissenting. Before voting, there was discussion among board members about the wisdom of buying a 30-year-old fire truck. Harris said that personnel must check the trucks maintenance records and make sure it suits the districts needs. Wilson said he knows of mutual-aid calls in the past two years that needed a 105-foot ladder, but no in-district calls have required it. He told the board these two trucks are already on the used market and could be sold to someone else if Glen Carbon did not move quickly. Fire Chief Eric Wilson said a new 75-foot aerial ladder truck would cost between $850,000 and $950,000 depending on equipment while a new 105-foot aerial ladder truck would cost $1.1 million. A previously planned pumper purchase without the aerial component would have cost $700,000, Harris said, but it wasnt acted upon. The board tabled buying a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe Command SUV and a 2020 Ford F550 Ambulance. Harris said details on these would need to be specified, so it would make sense to return them to either the districts truck or capital committees first before the board votes on them later. On the equipment side, they tabled buying a set of battery-operated extrication tools ($33,000); a battery-operated positive pressure fan ($5,000); 3,000-feet of four-inch supply hose ($20,080); and a Lucas CPR device ($40,000). A resolution to hire a new accounting firm for payroll services, bill paying and the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), was tabled until the June 30 regular meeting, as was refinancing a loan for fire station 1. The districts new social media policy passed 4-1, with trustee Williams dissenting. Four other policies were tabled for better clarification before voting on them at a future meeting. Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at (618) 659-5735 The few issues that separate Dana Balter and Francis Conole could be a key to who emerges as the winner June 23 in the Democratic primary election in the 24th Congressional District. From climate change to taxes, Balter and Conole have aligned themselves with core Democratic principles. But there are some key differences between the candidates battling to challenge Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus, in November. Balter, 43, a Syracuse educator, and Conole, 42, a Syracuse veteran of the Iraq war, split when it comes to the idea of Medicare for All, a plan to provide government-run health insurance to all Americans. They also dont agree on the idea of imposing term limits on members of Congress, or about how to institute reforms to police departments amid protests over police brutality and systemic racism. Heres a look at where the candidates stand on nine key issues: Climate change Balter and Conole support restoring U.S participation in the Paris climate agreement, the landmark 2015 accord in which almost 200 countries agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Both candidates support ending subsidies for the fossil fuel industry. They want to invest the money in renewable energy projects and to train a green workforce. Balter wants to institute a federal carbon tax on fossil fuels such as coal and oil. Both candidates support using nuclear power as a bridge to transition to carbon-free energy sources such as wind, solar and hydropower. Criminal justice reforms Balter and Conole would establish a national use of force policy for police departments and require transparency in police union contracts. Both candidates want to ban the federal government from using privately-run prisons and detention centers. Balter supports passing a federal law to ban cash bail and eliminate fees imposed on defendants. She would end mandatory minimum sentences and three-strike laws. Both candidates support legalizing marijuana. Balter would expunge the records of those who have previously been convicted of marijuana-related crimes. Defunding police departments Balter opposes calls for defunding police departments that have emerged during protests against police brutality and racial inequality after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. I do not support abolishing police departments, Balter said. What we need to do is stop asking police officers to do things that are not part of their job, like providing services for homeless people and those who are mentally ill. We should only ask police to do law enforcement and make sure we root out systemic racism. Conole said he wants to see changes in policing. Our communities depend on our first responders, police officers, and firefighters, he said. But our communities are also crying out for real, fundamental reform. It is absolutely devastating what has happened to George Floyd and continues to happen in our communities. It is an outrage. And it has to change. When asked for specifics, he declined to say whether he would eliminate or reduce funding for police departments. Guns Balter wants to expand universal background checks for gun purchases. She would ban assault-style weapons, silencers, armor piercing bullets and high capacity magazines. Balter would repeal the Dickey Amendment, which limited the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from doing research into gun violence. Conole also wants to expand universal background checks to include all gun sales, restore the 1994 federal ban on assault-style weapons, and repeal the Dickey Amendment. Both candidates would close a loophole that allows for legal gun purchases by people placed on the U.S. no-fly list due to suspected ties to terrorism. Healthcare Balter supports transitioning in phases to a Medicare for All plan that provides free government-run health insurance to all Americans. She would start by lowering the age of Medicare eligibility from 65 to 55. Children would be enrolled in Medicare at birth, and anyone could buy into the program at any age. Conole does not support requiring Medicare for All. Instead, he supports making government health insurance a public option for those who want to buy into the program. Conole would allow those with private insurance to keep their plans, including those whose insurance is provided through their employer. He would keep and improve the key components of the Affordable Care Act. Balter would allow consumers to buy private health insurance plans to supplement their Medicare plans. Both candidates support Democratic proposals to allow Medicare to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs. Immigration Balter and Conole want Congress to provide a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. Both candidates would vote to renew the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that allowed undocumented immigrants who arrived as children to stay in the country without fear of deportation. President Donald Trump wants to end the program. RELATED: Polls open Saturday, June 13 for early voting Balter and Conole want to improve border security through better technology such as electronic and radar surveillance. Both candidates oppose Trumps plan to build a wall along the southern border with Mexico. Money in politics Balter and Conole support legislation that would allow for public financing of political campaigns and reduce the influence of money in politics. Both candidates support a House bill for electoral reforms that would use non-taxpayer funds to match small donations of up to $200 at a 6-to-1 ratio. The public funding would come from a 2.75% surcharge that would be added to fines and penalties collected by the federal government, mostly from corporate defendants and executives. Balter and Conole support overturning the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision in 2010 that gave corporations, nonprofits, unions and other special interests the right to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections. Neither candidate accepts donations from corporate political action committees. Balter and Conole support a bill requiring any group spending more than $10,000 on election ads to disclose their donors within 24 hours. Taxes and the economy Balter and Conole say they would vote to repeal the 2017 Republican tax overhaul, which lowered the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. Both candidates say they support raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. Balter would require U.S. companies to pay taxes on offshore corporate profits without any tax holiday. Conole would establish a federal infrastructure bank that would be used to modernize Americas bridges, highways and rail lines. He would use federal money to help spur the development of high-speed rail in New York and other states. Term limits Balter is against the idea of imposing term limits on members of Congress. Conole is undecided on the issue and says he wants to study the potential impact of term limits. Under existing law, House members can serve unlimited two-year terms and Senate members can serve unlimited six-year terms. Katko is seeking a fourth term representing Central New York. Balter supports other reforms to address voter concerns about elected officials who become entrenched in office. She would ban the practice of gerrymandering congressional districts, and ease access to the ballot through initiatives such as automatic voter registration. Conole wants to establish independent, non-partisan redistricting commissions to prevent gerrymandering. MORE POLITICS NY primary election 2020: Where, when to vote early in Central New York Veterans group to spend $100K on ads for Francis Conole in Democratic primary The virtual campaign for Congress: Balter, Conole innovate to reach CNY voters Dana Balter, Francis Conole agree to debate in Democratic primary for Congress Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 Court says Ndayishimiye to assume power despite constitution providing for speaker to over in event of a leaders death. Burundis Constitutional Court has agreed that president-elect Evariste Ndayishimiye should be sworn in immediately after the sudden death of the incumbent, Pierre Nkurunziza. The constitution provides for the speaker of Parliament to take over in such a situation. The court ruled, however, that the interim period is not necessary and that Ndayishimiye must be sworn in as soon as possible, the government said in a statement posted on Twitter on Friday. The statement did not say when the swearing-in would be conducted. There had been uncertainty as to who was in charge in Bujumbura since the government announced Nkurunzizas death on Tuesday. Observers were worried about possible discord over the succession among the ranks of Burundis powerful group of generals that might have sparked unrest. Ndayishimiye was declared the winner of the countrys May 20 vote after fending off a challenge from the oppositions Agathon Rwasa, and was officially due to be sworn in in August. Nkurunziza leaves behind a deeply isolated country in political and economic turmoil after his divisive 15-year rule. His controversial decision in 2015 to seek a third term in office prompted protests and a failed coup, with violence causing at least 1,200 deaths, some 400,000 fleeing the country amid a climate of fear marked by a crackdown on the opposition and media. The United Nations human rights investigators have said the period since 2015 has been marked by likely crimes against humanity committed by state forces, citing extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, disappearances, torture and sexual violence. The government denied the allegations. Nkurunzizas decision not to run in the May 20 election shocked many, as it came after the constitution was changed to allow him to do so. His successor, Ndayishimiye, 52, was handpicked by the governing partys core group of powerful generals, and won the election with 68.7 percent votes. Opposition claims of widespread fraud were dismissed by the Constitutional Court. Nkurunziza, named last year supreme guide for patriotism, was expected to continue to have a significant say in the countrys politics. In principle, it is an opportunity for him [Ndayishimiye] to free himself, in the sense that we would have expected Nkurunziza to play an important role in the future, said Richard Moncrieff, an expert with the International Crisis Group (ICG). However, some observers have said he may run into trouble with the generals if he tries to introduce reforms or improve the human rights situation in the country. Starbucks faces a boycott after it publicly got behind the Black Lives Matter movement, but later told employees they're not allowed to wear BLM-inspired t-shirts or pins. Store managers at the popular coffee chain relayed requests from employees who wanted to wear the clothes, but were told by superiors that it was against the company's dress code. The managers also were told that BLM swag could potentially incite violence. An internal memo explains 'there are agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the Black Lives Matter Movement - and in certain circumstances, intentionally repurpose them to amplify divisiveness. The memo was quoting remarks made by Zing Shaw, the company's vice president of inclusion and diversity. Starbucks publicly got behind the Black Lives Matter movement after protests against police brutality followed the police-related slaying of George Floyd, but later told employees they're not allowed to wear BLM-inspired t-shirts (pictured) or pins An employee wearing a Starbucks green apron is pictured An internal Starbucks memo addressing BLM-related clothing explains 'there are agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the Black Lives Matter Movement - and in certain circumstances, intentionally repurpose them to amplify divisiveness 'We know your intent is genuine and understand how personal this is for so many of us. This is important and we hear you,' the company continues in the memo obtained by BuzzFeed. People who learned of the ban took to Twitter to blast Starbucks and called for a boycott of the company. 'If Starbucks is saying #BlackLivesMatter attire is prohibited, and you end up there, Make 'Black Lives Matter' wrote Twitter user Steve Marmel. He encouraged pople to write their names on Starbucks coffee cups and to shout loudly, 'Black Lives Matter! Your frappacino is ready!' as the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks was trending Thursday. People who learned of the ban took to Twitter to blast Starbucks and called for a boycott of the company. Pictured is a tweet from Steve Marmel which was posted with the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks, which was trending Thursday Marmel's tweet includes a picture of a Starbucks coffee cup with the words, 'Black Lives Matter' written on the side (pictured) Katie Mowgli on Twitter said Starbucks was 'catering to the comfort of their racist customers,' in response to the ban. Mowgli, who tweets under the handle @KatieMowgli, vowed she would not be visiting the stores. 'I'll be telling EVERYONE I KNOW to boycott them as well, she adds in the tweet. A Twitter user who goes under the handle @MireyaaAzelinn suggested Starbucks change its famed mermaid logo in response to the ban. In her post, she includes an image of the black goddess Yemaya, a black mermaid from Santeria. The Twitter user claims that the current Starbucks logo is based on Yemaya. Starbucks claims its original logo is based on a siren from an ancient Norse woodcut. Katie Mowgli on Twitter said Starbucks was 'catering to the comfort of their racist customers,' in response to the ban; A twitter user who goes under the handle @MireyaaAzelinn suggested Starbucks change its famed mermaid logo in response to the ban In her post, @MireyaaAzelinn includes an image of the black goddess Yemaya, a black mermaid from Santeria. The twitter user claims that the current Starbucks logo is based on Yemaya (pictured) The company says it was looking at how 'we can show up and stand united with our black partners, customers and community members while proudly wearing the green apron in our stores.' It also adds that all within the company can wear a 'Keep it Brewing' t-shirt from its Black Partner Network. Starbucks employees who learned of the memo were critical of the policy. Starbucks says it was looking at how 'we can show up and stand united with our black partners, customers and community members while proudly wearing the green apron in our stores' 'That statement prioritizes those who feel discomfort over Black lives,' Atlanta barista Carl Bensen, 22, told BuzzFeed. 'My skin color incites violence at Starbucks. Should I not come to work?' he asked. 'It is silencing and Starbucks is complicit. Now more than ever, Starbucks needs to stand with us.' A Starbucks spokesperson told Buzzfeed that while the company was committed to ending systematic racism, the policy still stands to ensure that its stores remain safe and welcoming. Starbucks has encouraged all in the company to wear a 'Keep it Brewing' t-shirt from its Black Partner Network Starbucks in a tweet on June 1 as protests were erupting over the police-related slaying of George Floyd called for 'open and honest conversations about racial injustices.' 'We respect all of our partners' opinions and beliefs, and encourage them to bring their whole selves to work while adhering to our dress code policy,' the spokesperson said. The company created a 'Third Place Policy' in 2018, that says Starbuck is 'committed to creating a culture of warmth and belonging where everyone is welcome. 'We want our stores to be the third place, a warm and welcoming environment where customers can gather and connect,' a statement on the policy explains. 'Any customer is welcome to use Starbucks spaces, including our restrooms, cafes and patios, regardless of whether they make a purchase,' the statement says. In addition to the policy, Starbucks has pledged $1 million to design anti-bias resources and training to help confront bias and racism. The initiative, Starbucks says, comes through a partnership with Arizona State University. Starbucks has pledged $1 million to organizations that will promote racial equity. The funding comes through partnership with Arizona State University. A tweet from the company (pictured) announced the initiative Despite such efforts, Starbucks employees still complained the company was not being sincere enough in light of the George Floyd police-related slaying in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. The 46-year-old black father of two died as he was being arrested by a white officer. Video of the incident shows the now-fired cop Derek Chauvin pressing his knee against Floyd's neck for nearly 9 minutes, causing his death. Floyd's passing sparked protests across the country against police brutality and calling for reforms. 'We have a police detail outside of the store most days anyway. Let's just call him over if a customer is offended by someone's BLM pin,' an anonymous Starbucks employee told Buzzfeed. 'There's something deeper here,' the employee says, voicing criticism of Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson. 'Kevin Johnson talks a big talk on Twitter, but he's still the head of a multibillion-dollar company that has to keep up with its image,' the employee says. 'God forbid if employees tarnish that pristine global image.' GENEVA - The head of the World Health Organization said Friday he is truly concerned about divisions the coronavirus has created globally and within individual countries, calling it an invisible but a very small virus causing havoc. The world has never seen anything like this since the flu in 1918, WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing, comparing the ongoing pandemic to the Spanish influenza pandemic more than a century ago that is believed to have killed at least 50 million people. Calling on nations to learn from history and to do better, Tedros said the lack of political unity during the current crisis was problematic. This is a very dangerous virus, and its very hard to fight this virus in a divided world, he said. Tedros didnt elaborate, but the worlds two leading economic powers the United States, which has the highest caseload and death toll from the pandemic and China, where COVID-19 first emerged have traded recriminations and accusations about the origins and handling of the coronavirus. WHO became part of the quarrel. President Donald Trump vowed to pull the U.S. out of the U.N. health agency, accusing WHO of being too China-centric and accepting of Chinas assurances after the initial virus outbreak in the city of Wuhan. Dr. Michael Ryan, the U.N. health agencys emergencies chief, said Friday that the coronavirus currently is most active in the Americas, with four of the 10 countries with the most cases and deaths worldwide located in North America and South America. He noted in particular that the surging caseload in Brazil is worrying. Its clear that some areas of Brazil have quite a bit of pressure on the intensive care system, he said. There are clear hot spots in heavily populated areas. Ryan said that a few of Brazils administrative areas have over 80% of their intensive care unit capacity taken up, and some are at a critical stage with over 90% of their ICU beds filled. Brazil has reported over 802,000 confirmed virus cases the second-most in the world after the United States and over 40,000 COVID-19 deaths, according to a tally maintained by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. has over 2 million confirmed cases and 114,000 deaths The data we have at the moment supports a system under pressure, but a system still coping with the number of severe cases, Ryan said. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has rejected ordering quarantines, and many Brazilians have criticized him for opposing city and state measures such as lockdowns, social distancing and other steps meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus. WHO chief Tedros, as an example of the sort of national unity he thinks the pandemic requires, cited a phone call he had in which Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told him she was working with an opposition party to identify problems and propose solutions. Tedros noted that millions of people have lost their lives or their jobs because of the pandemic, calling it a humbling moment. This has to stop, he said. But it will be difficult in a divided world. WHO officials are particularly worried as the pandemic accelerates in developing countries about the disproportionate toll on people who may struggle to get health services: women, children and adolescents, Tedros said. The coronavirus has overwhelmed health systems in many countries, putting many women at a heightened risk of dying in childbirth, he said. Young people who are vulnerable to anxiety and depression also are at greater risk during the pandemic, Tedros said, noting that in some countries, more than one-third of teens receive mental health help exclusively at school. ___ AP Medical Writer Maria Cheng reported from London. Steven Carrillo, the man who has been charged with murdering a police officer in California, scrawled extremist phrases with blood moments before he was detained. Santa Cruz district attorney Jeffrey S. Rosell alleged on Thursday that Mr Carrillo, who was charged with murdering Santa Cruz sergeant Damon Gutzwiller and launching pipe bombs at another cop during an attack on 6 June, had written right-wing extremist phrases on a car hood with blood. Mr Carrillo was said to have scrawled the words boog and I became unreasonable in blood prior to his arrest. Boog, otherwise known as Boogalo, is an extremist right-wing movement with pro-gun, anti-government, tendencies that emerged on the website 4chan with ambitions to start a second American civil war. The phrase I became unreasonable, meanwhile, was originally written by Marvin Heemeyer, an anti-government extremist who bulldozed a town in Colorado after a zoning dispute in 2004. Mr Carrillos ambush on two Santa Cruz cops came almost 16 years to the day that Mr Heeyemer, who killed himself after that destruction, carried out his demolition. The three word phrase has since become a meme in public Boogaloo communities on Facebook, where members encourage each other to become unreasonable. Heemeyer is revered in Boogaloo groups, said Megan Squire to NBC News, who tracks online extremism at Elon University. Killdozer represents the intersection between the libertarian ideal of small government and the militant fantasy of the Boogaloo, said the professor, who referenced Mr Heemeys nickname, Kildozer. Heemeyer, as Killdozer, meticulously planned a revenge fantasy on some local government entities that he blamed for excessive regulation of his business, she added. Mr Carrillo was also said to have written the otherwise nonviolent political phrase Stop the duopoly in blood on the same car. According to NBC News, the Californian suspects Facebook presence had shown support for a libertarian presidential candidate, anti-police sentiment and pro-gun causes, who have all used the stop the duopoly slogan in the past. His profile picture, said the news outlet, showed George Washington and other American presidents with modern weapons and tactical gear. His page and posts have since been removed from the social media site. Santa Cruz chief sheriff Jim Hart said on Thursday that Mr Carrillo, who served with the US Air Force, was dangerous. Its the last time you are going to hear me say it, said Mr Hart. This guy was active Air Force. He was dangerous and he was an angry man intent on bringing harm to police officers. He murdered Sgt. Gutzwiller. He injured another deputy. Mr Carillo has now been charged with murder and attempted murder, which could carry a death sentence. Pakistan: Christian family shot by radical mob for buying house in Muslim neighborhood Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Christian family in Pakistan was shot last week for buying a house in a Muslim neighborhood. On Sunday, police in the city of Peshawar in the Khybar Pakhtunkhawa province arrested the sons of a man accused of shooting two members of the Christian family after they purchased a home in late May in the Sawati Phatak colony, Asia News reports. The alleged perpetrator, Salman Khan, is still at large. After Khan found out that his new neighbors were Christian, the Catholic press agency reports Khan told the family they had to leave the neighborhood immediately because Christians are seen as the enemy of Islam. What followed was days of alleged harassment against Nadeem Joseph and his family. The family was said to have been threatened with consequences if they did not leave their new home. Khan is accused of giving the family a 24-hour ultimatum on Sunday. But Joseph refused to leave his home. He tried to call the police once he noticed that Khan and his sons had returned with weapons. That's when Joseph was shot in the stomach by his attackers who also shot his mother-in-law in the shoulder. Joseph and his mother-in-law were taken to a nearby hospital and their injuries do not appear to be life-threatening. Joseph recorded a video message from his hospital bed, according to International Christian Concern, a U.S.-based Christian persecution watchdog group. From there, Joseph said that at one point, he was told that his new neighborhood was "meant for Muslim residents only" and that "Christians and Jews are the opponents of Muslims." Christian activist Khalid Shahzad, who is in touch with the family, told Asia News that the shooting is an example of the religious intolerance found in Pakistan. "The main offender is still at large," Shahzad was quoted as saying in an article Monday. "Law enforcement agencies must do everything possible to capture him and bring him to justice." Open Doors USA ranks Pakistan as the fifth-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution and notes that Christians are generally "regarded as second-class citizens." There are various forms of Christian persecution in Pakistan, including laws that criminalize blasphemy that are often abused by Muslims to take advantage of religious minorities. Christians in Pakistan have been killed by societal mob violence ever since the country's founding. Additionally, there have been several occasions in which Muslim radicals have attacked churches in Pakistan. In 2018, the U.S. State Department added Pakistan to its list of "countries of particular concern" that tolerate or engage in systemic and egregious violations of religious freedom. At the time, U.S. Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, told reporters that Pakistan is home to half of the world's blasphemy law cases. Christians and other religious minorities have languished in Pakistani prisons for years after Muslims falsely accused them of insulting Islam or its prophet, Muhammad. Christian couple Shagufta Kausar and her husband, Shafqat Emmanuel, have been on death row for over six years over false blasphemy charges of sending a text message insulting the Islamic prophet. Last week, their final hearing before the Lahore High Court was delayed. Christian mother Asia Bibi spent nearly a decade languishing in a Pakistani prison after Muslim field workers accused her of insulting their prophet. She was acquitted by Pakistan's Supreme Court in October 2018, which sparked national unrest and protests by radical Muslims. The Belgian Prince Joachim has failed in Spain against the Corona pads and must pay a fine of 10,400 euros. This is the news Agency AFP learned on Wednesday from local government circles. The Website "El Confidencial" was first reported, citing the Andalusian health authorities about the case. Thus, a Person from Belgium was at the end of may arrived, and was celebrated with almost 30 friends and Acquaintances in a house in Cordoba. The gathering of more than 15 people is prohibited to contain the Coronavirus pandemic. Two days after the Party, the same Person had been tested "from Belgium" positive for the novel Coronavirus. It is, apparently, Prince Joachim. The 28-year-old Prince, son of Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz, is a nephew of the Belgian king Philippe. Prince Joachim has two weeks to appeal against the sentence on appeal. In Spain have been infected so far, according to official data, 242.280 people with the new Coronavirus, 27.136 people died as a result of the infection. Spain is one of the strongest of the Corona-pandemic-affected countries in Europe. Updated Date: 12 June 2020, 07:21 WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Friday called on the Republican National Committee to adopt a "new and updated platform" after the party's executive committee voted this week to keep the current one in place for logistical reasons related to the late move of its high-profile convention events to Jacksonville, Fla. The decision to readopt the 2016 platform prompted a flurry of media reports Thursday about many instances of language critical of the "current administration" and "the president" that in 2016 was aimed at President Barack Obama but now could be read as targeting Trump. "The Republican Party has not yet voted on a Platform," Trump said in a morning tweet. "No rush. I prefer a new and updated Platform, short form, if possible." It was not immediately clear how Trump's wish would be accomplished. While the RNC is moving Trump's acceptance speech and other parts of the convention proceedings to Jacksonville, other meetings will still be conducted in Charlotte, the original choice of a convention site, in keeping with party rules and obligations. Part of the rationale for not updating the platform was to avoid having convention delegates travel to Charlotte to do so. The 2016 platform was critical of Obama and his administration on a wide range of issues, including an increase in the national debt, its frequent issuance of executive orders and an alleged alienation of U.S. allies. "The current Administration has abandoned America's friends and rewarded its enemies," the platform says in just one instance that now could be misinterpreted as criticizing Trump. The decision to keep the 2016 platform also means that the GOP's official positions on issues such as same-sex marriage the party endorsed only "traditional marriages" in the document will remain the same. Before the decision of the executive committee, Trump and his aides had been talking for months about adopting a slimmer document than the 58-page one approved in 2016. Axios reported in May that campaign officials, reporting to Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and White House adviser, were aiming to reduce the document to something that could fit on a pocket card. The RNC decided to move major parts of the convention to Jacksonville after the committee was unable to secure assurances from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, D, that large-scale gatherings could be held amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. In a television interview Friday, RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said the party will have a "packed arena" in Jacksonville in contrast with what would have happened in Charlotte, N.C. "We're obviously going to put safety checks in place to make sure the convention goers are safe," McDaniels said during an appearance on Fox News. "But we're going to have a packed arena, and we're going to recognize the renomination of our president as we go on to reelect him in November, and it's going to be a great celebration." McDaniel said "it became very apparent" that Cooper "was not going to give us guidelines so that we could hold our convention. And we had to move the celebration part to Florida, but we'll still have the business of the convention in North Carolina. We love both states." ____ The Washington Posts Aaron Blake contributed to this report. Kolkata: The West Bengal Doctors Forum (WBDF) has raised concern over the sudden flooding of spurious COVID-19 protective gears in the markets, and black marketing of masks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which is causing severe problems for the people and heath workers. Doctors in private capacity have resumed clinics and many will do so shortly. While doing so, there are challenges in procurement of personal protective gears and other sanitisation and safety equipment. It has been noticed that markets are flooded with spurious COVID-19 protective equipments. Not the least, black marketing is adding to the woes of the common man and the health care workers, Dr Koushik Chaki, WBDF Secretary, told News18. I personally visited markets to enquire and was given a fake N-95 mask by a pharmacist. Such masks should be manufactured while following strict norms. But I found that N-95 masks are available in Kolkata at a price ranging from Rs 110 to Rs 450. Similar faults have been observed in other protective gears as well, he said. He added, We had a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and requested her that the sale of protective gears must be done after proper checking via stringent notifications and appropriate quality. These gears should be made available at affordable prices through fare price government outlets or through government designated vendors immediately. There needs to be an emphasis on the fact that an unsafe healthcare provider is unsafe for the common people too. More than 200 healthcare workers are already affected and several are in quarantine. The already meagre healthcare force is being stretched too far for about four months now. We are hopeful that the government would act against these racketeers stringently. The WBDF also urged the West Bengal government to ensure every healthcare institution has a 24X7 real time digital display system notifying impatient category-wise bed availability status for the knowledge of people and healthcare providers. The doctors' forum believes that widespread public awareness efforts to notify general public and the healthcare workers about COVID-19 and non-COVID treatment centers will minimise harassment of the sick people running around to go to the appropriate place for appropriate care. Expressing concern over rates of RT-PCR test for SARS-COV-2 in private nursing homes and hospitals, the WBDF asked state government to intervene and reduce its pricing and look into the issue of designating treatment facilities for healthcare workers who need hospitalisation for COVID-19 treatment. The cost of treatment of Healthcare providers must be borne by the employer institutes irrespective of whether there is health insurance or not, Dr Chaki said. NICOSIA - he Leadership Council of the Cyprus branch of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN Cyprus) announces the official launching ceremony of SDSN Cyprus, which will take place online on 12th June at 15:30, in the presence of leading economist Jeffrey Sachs and the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of Cyprus, Costas Kadis. "One of the important lessons we have learned from the COVID-19 crisis - organizers say in a press release - is that humankind needs to find better, more sustainable ways to coexist with its environment, and SDSN Cyprus is ideally placed to foster the dialogue on possible solutions, centred around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)". SDSN Cyprus is hosted by the Cyprus Research and Educational Foundation (CREF), and co-chaired by Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas (President of the Cyprus Institute) and Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis (former Minister of Foreign Affairs). The Leadership Council of SDSN Cyprus currently has 17 members, from five universities/ research organisations (Frederick University, Neapolis University Paphos, Cyprus University of Technology, University of Nicosia and the Cyprus Institute), 3 NGOs (Birdlife Cyprus, CYMEPA, AKTI) and 10 representatives from the public and private sectors in Cyprus. SDSN Cyprus promotes the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. The Agenda provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 sustainable development goals, which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth - all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. Led by U.S. Economist Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) was set up in 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement. SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society. SDSN Cyprus will work with all sectors of society to improve the country's performance in implementing the SDGs, collecting and disseminating best practices, raising awareness, promoting sustainable development education, engaging with youth, and assisting the authorities, the private sector and civil society organisations in mainstreaming the SDGs into their daily operations. This article, Microsoft says it won't sell its facial recognition tech to police, originally appeared on CNET.com. Microsoft won't sell its facial recognition software to police and law enforcement until federal regulations for facial recognition tech are in place, company president Brad Smith told The Washington Post during an interview Thursday morning. The move follows nationwide protests against police brutality and similar steps by Amazon and IBM regarding facial recognition systems. "The bottom line for us is to protect the human rights of people as this technology is deployed," Smith told the Post, adding that the company hasn't previously sold the technology to law enforcement. Consumer advocates and civil liberties groups have long warned about facial recognition technology, particularly with respect to the police. Two years ago, the ACLU began calling on tech giants to stop providing the technology to governments and law enforcement agencies, arguing that it posed a potential threat, especially to immigrants and people of color. Last year, Microsoft quietly took down a massive facial recognition database, consisting of more than 10 million images culled from the internet, after the database was linked to the Chinese government's crackdown on ethnic Muslims. "When even the makers of face recognition refuse to sell this surveillance technology because it is so dangerous, lawmakers can no longer deny the threats to our rights and liberties," said Matt Cagle, a technology and civil liberties attorney with the ACLU of Northern California. "For the past two years we have been focused on developing and implementing strong principles that govern our use of facial recognition, and we've been calling for strong government regulation," a Microsoft spokesperson told CNET. "We do not sell our facial recognition technology to US police departments today, and until there is a strong national law grounded in human rights, we will not sell this technology to police departments." That might not be enough to win over the ACLU, which would like to see companies like Microsoft keep their facial recognition tech closed off to law enforcement indefinitely. "Congress and legislatures nationwide must swiftly stop law enforcement use of face recognition, and companies like Microsoft should work with the civil rights community - not against it - to make that happen," Cagle said. "This includes halting its current efforts to advance legislation that would legitimize and expand the police use of facial recognition in multiple states nationwide." "We're committed to working with others to advocate for the legislation that is needed," the Microsoft spokesperson says. "We're also taking this opportunity to further strengthen our review processes for any customer seeking to use this technology at scale. People on the boat tours were required to wear masks. Seating capacity was dramatically reduced to enforce social distancing. And not surprisingly given the absence of conventioneers, tourists and others downtown, as well as unusually cool temperatures by the lake attendance on the river boats was extremely light. BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - Twitter Inc. said it removed over 170,000 accounts for spreading narratives favorable to Chinese government mainly related to Hong Hong. According to the social media site, the suspension of the accounts were due to various violations of its platform manipulation policies. Twitter noted that the entire network in China was involved in a range of manipulative and coordinated activities. In a blog post, the company said, 'They were Tweeting predominantly in Chinese languages and spreading geopolitical narratives favorable to the Communist Party of China (CCP), while continuing to push deceptive narratives about the political dynamics in Hong Kong.' As per reports, these accounts also pushed state-linked influence campaigns around Covid-19, protests related to George Floyd and other topics. Twitter noted that it disclosed 32,242 accounts to its publicly available archive of state-linked information operations. The accounts were of three networks attributed to the People's Republic of China, Russia and Turkey. The company has permanently removed every account and related content from the service. In China, the deleted accounts included 23,750 accounts that were part of the highly engaged core network, and around 150,000 amplifier accounts that were designed to boost content shared by these core accounts. Meanwhile, the amplifier accounts are not included in the public archive, noting that majority had little to no follower counts either and were designed to artificially inflate impression metrics. In August last year, Twitter had disclosed 936 accounts originating from China, noting that they deliberately and specifically attempted to sow political discord in Hong Kong. As Twitter is blocked in China, many of these accounts accessed Twitter using VPNs, the company then noted. In Russia, Twitter disclosed all 1,152 accounts and associated media, associated with Current Policy, a media website engaging in state-backed political propaganda within the country. In Turkey, the company disclosed 7,340 accounts that were part of a network employing coordinated inauthentic activity, which was primarily targeted at domestic audiences. The company worked with research partners Australian Strategic Policy Institute and Stanford Internet Observatory to analyze the accounts. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de GRAND RAPIDS, MI Kent County officials announced Friday that the majority of departments, offices and agencies will resume in-person services on Monday, June 15. Court operations, including the 17th Circuit Court, 63rd District Court, and Probate, are open but remain closed to in-person services. The continued closure follows the mandated phased approach ordered by the Michigan Supreme Court. Court staff is assisting the public by e-mail and telephone. To the greatest extent possible, officials say hearings and proceedings are being conducted electronically and livestreamed via YouTube. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Gov. Gretchen Whitmers stay-at-home order, Kent County began modified service delivery - no in-person service - on March 15. When entering county buildings, visitors are asked to adhere to health and safety procedures. Those with county business are also encouraged to visit the countys website or call 616-632-7590 to determine if their service can be fulfilled remotely. We are excited that our state and region are beginning to get back to business, Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt said in a Friday, June 12 press release. However, we know COVID-19 is still in our community so we will remain vigilant in following state and local health guidelines to ensure the safety of our employees and residents. The Friend of the Court payment window is still closed. Some departments are resuming services by appointment only, including the Michigan State University Extension and some clinical services provided by the Health Department. Those entering county facilities should follow the following safety procedures: Stay home if they are feeling any symptoms of illness or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Wear a mask if they are medically able, Limit visits to one person per household, and Maintain a 6-foot physical distance between others. The public can visit the countys website for specific information on how to interact with each county department, office and agency. Ottawa County will also be reopening its buildings on Monday. More on MLive: Ottawa County to reopen buildings June 15 John Ball Zoo announces pregnant red panda Grand Rapids Public Library eliminates overdue fines By Express News Service Shruti Haasan, whose last releases were Singam 3 (Tamil) and Behen Hogi Teri (Hindi) in 2017, has since focussed on her musical career, performing in multiple musical shows in London and released several independent songs. The actor said this was a conscious shift. "I have found it really difficult to find my space in acting. In the beginning, I went the commercial way, and even though I enjoyed that phase, I was starting to get disillusioned. So, I decided to take a step back, and reassess," said Shruti, in a chat arranged as part of Indulge Time Pass, a series of webinars organised by The New Indian Express group, and hosted by senior journalist Kaveree Bamzai. Shruti delved in detail about her cinema experiences. "As an actress, I have been kind of a misfit. Nothing about me, say my facial features or my demeanour, made it easier. After a while, casting agents didn't know how to cast me. But once I came to terms with that, it has been a great learning experience. In fact, I like being this indescribable and non-geographical person. While I trained formally in music, I had so such training in the acting department. And so, I think I didn't have the tools to help me come to a decision quicker. But what I love about my acting career is that I have learnt and improved in front of a million people," she said. On her roles in the upcoming films, Laabam (Tamil) with Vijay Sethupathi and Krack (Telugu) with Ravi Teja, Shruti Haasan shared, "Yes, they are again commercial. But with these films, I have found voices that are not just caricatures of women, but also have a tonality that is relatable to my personality. To be honest, it's a great time to be an actor, especially in this multicultural environment, where it becomes impossible to guess someone's origin from their face." Shruti Haasan on making movies and music during lockdown https://t.co/XtJvozr6qp The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) June 12, 2020 Shruti shared that she is overwhelmed by all the adulation she has got as an actor. "As artistes, we work for the sound of cheer. It's not a 'drug' you can go and buy. It has to be earned. Recently, the Telugu film, Srimanthudu, brought me so much love." Shruti added that she has been doing lots of gigs and performances in London over the last couple of years. "I don't want to do Bollywood music only because I am from here. I am interested in giving Western music a smart Indian twist -- the Indianness being the tadka, not the dal itself." The actor also opened up about her struggles with anxiety. "I was trying to live somebody else's version of myself. It wasn't me. Soon, I realised that it's not about avoiding anxiety but to let it pass through you. The whole thing happens to be a journey of compassion towards yourself. Once I saw it, I never looked back. I guess turning 30 has been been the best thing that has happened in my life," she said. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. The protests that have swept the country and the world these last few weeks have largely happened in the streets. But last Friday, a group of demonstrators in Santa Monica decided to do things differently, heading into the ocean to memorialize the life of George Floyd and other victims of police brutality. It was a "paddle out" organized, in part, by Black Girls Surf -- a group that promotes surfing among girls and women of color. The founder is activist and surfer Rhonda Harper, who is based in Senegal. Sayuri Blondt is the head of the L.A. and SoCal chapter of Black Girls Surf. (Photo by Matthew Reamer) Sayuri Blondt is the head of the L.A. and SoCal chapter of Black Girls Surf. She told LAist/KPCC that unlike the march she joined in Beverly Hills: "The paddle out felt more like we were coming to listen to each other. We know that we're hurting, but we wanted to gather together to heal in that space and we wanted to create a sense of memorial for the person that we were honoring." A paddle-out is an ancient Hawaiian ritual where surfers form a circle with their boards in the water, maybe offer a prayer or token as a way of honoring the memory of someone who has passed. On June 6, the paddlers offered yellow roses to honor Floyd. The local surfing community is majority white, Sayuri said. So it felt significant for Black women to organize an event within a community that hasn't always included them. "In Hawaii you're used to being surrounded by men and women of color in the water and so you don't necessarily see it as being a white sport," said Sayuri, who is originally from Oahu. "And then I came to the mainland, then I saw that there was more white males in the water and there were very few of us women of color and people of color in the water, so you kind of feel like a unicorn." On the beach in Santa Monica, between 100-200 people gathered to hear speakers. Sharon Schaffer, the first African American female pro surfer, was greeted by rousing applause and took the microphone in tears, audible even behind her mask. "Thank you so much for acknowledging what us Black aquatic people have done to try to bring unity to the water," she said. Sayuri says that the act of surfing actually helps her navigate these challenging times. "When you're out there in the surf you quickly realize that being anxious about whether you catch a wave or not is not going to help you catch the wave...it's not going to help you walk on those waves. When you're in those times of uncertainty and confusion and anxiety, just being calm and taking a breath will get you through the situation... it's just like when you're out there surfing." Now other surfing organizations are planning future paddle outs. To find out more, you can search the hashtag #solidarityinsurf on Instagram and Twitter. Photos by Matthew Reamer and Nicole Gormley. (Photo by Matthew Reamer) (Photo by Matthew Reamer) (Photo by Matthew Reamer) (Photo by Matthew Reamer) (Photo by Matthew Reamer) (Photo by Matthew Reamer) (Photo by Matthew Reamer) (Photo by Matthew Reamer) (Photo by Matthew Reamer) (Photo by Matthew Reamer) (Photo by Matthew Reamer) (Photo by Nicole Gormley) (Photo by Nicole Gormley) (Photo by Nicole Gormley) (Photo by Nicole Gormley) (Photo by Nicole Gormley) (Photo by Nicole Gormley) (Photo by Nicole Gormley) MORE ON RACE AND PROTESTS: India and the US must work together to make the "authoritarian" China follow the rule of law, and it is a battle of ideas against the fearful Chinese leadership that has been suppressing voices of its own people, former US diplomat Nicholas Burns said on Friday in a video chat with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. On his part, the Congress leader said the DNA of openness and tolerance that India and the US were known for has "disappeared", and those creating divisions are now claiming to be nationalists. Gandhi also said the bilateral ties between India and the US, ... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dina Indrasafitri (The Jakarta Post) Alice Springs, Central Australia Fri, June 12, 2020 14:33 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde3d021 1 Art & Culture #art,#culture,#textile,#batik,#Indonesia,#Australia,#Aborigines Free Indonesian batik artist Agus Ismoyo recalled a chance meeting in Yogyakarta over 30 years ago that eventually led him to travel to the remote desert lands of Australia. That day, Ismoyo gave directions to the late Australian curator, Michael OFerrall, in Yogyakarta. OFerrall was actually looking for another artist, but further conversations and meetings between him and Ismoyo ensued nonetheless and OFerralls interest in Aboriginal art struck a chord with Ismoyos preference for traditional arts over pure modern aesthetics. I was getting a bit bored with the aesthetics of art, Ismoyo said in an interview. I wanted aesthetics to have a story behind them, so I was drawn closer to traditional batik art [...] I felt I can learn further with my ancestors and all that. Yet Ismoyo, founder of the Brahma Tirta Sari Batik Studio along with his wife, Nia Fliam, felt a certain alienation due to his preference. I was confused, because tradition is something that is considered to be in the past, in this modern age-something that needs to be left behind. Thus, both him and American-born Fliam were intrigued by OFerralls knowledge of Australian Aboriginal art. The conversations with Michael made me think that in this world with so many traditions, it would be very exciting for one tradition to meet the other [...] We started exploring the idea of collaborating with Aboriginal people, Fliam said. The meeting led to more introductions, including one with James Bennett, currently the curator of Asian Art in the South Australian Art Gallery, and Jenny Green, a linguist who has worked with indigenous peoples of Central Australia since the 1970s. It did not take long for the plan to materialize. In 1988, Ismoyo and Nia had their first workshop, which included the Australian Aboriginal art community. They then went to the Northern Territory and held numerous workshops in communities there. In 1994, 10 women from the Urapuntja Utopia community came to Yogyakarta for a workshop and to work on pieces for their joint exhibition, "Hot Wax". A year later, the couple traveled in the outback for three months, giving workshops in remote communities for the Northern Territory Department of Education. In 1999, eight of the Urapuntja Utopia artists agreed to collaborate with Ismoyo and Nia for the Asia-Pacific Triennial. The experiences of living and working in Aboriginal communities made their marks in the couples hearts. I felt as if I was enveloped by nature, Ismoyo recalled. When he arrived in the communities, he often refrained from moving straight to business. Instead he took part in their cultural events, such as hunting and eating together. The Aboriginals had the sensitivity, evident in them singing the songs of their ancestors; they believe nature is their ancestor. It is such a delicate law, Ismoyo said. The couple described how they felt welcomed, even accepted as part of the family by the women they worked with in the communities, most of whom, sadly, have passed away since. They patiently introduced their laws to us. I think it was a life-changing experience, Fliam said. Desert patterns: A batik piece titled Red Dirt was born out of a collaboration between Indonesian and indigenous Australian artists. (Courtesy of Nia Fliam/-) Renowned Aboriginal artist Barbara Weir still remembered the trip to Indonesia when the writer visited her early last year. Since the batik trip, Weir has traveled to other parts of Asia and Europe and her works. Most of them are acrylic paintings that have been displayed in a multitude of countries, including Japan, France and the United States. Even before the collaboration with Brahma Tirta Sari materialized, several Aboriginal communities were already familiar with batik techniques. Since the 1970s, a number of Aboriginal artists were already learning batik techniques, exhibiting their batik works and even going to Indonesia to learn more about the art form. According to a chapter featured in the book Raiki Wara: Long Cloth From Aboriginal Australia and the Torres Strait, Aboriginal artists living in the Ernabella community, South Australia, have been learning batik since 1971. Ernabella is also known as Pukatja. It is located near the South Australia and Northern Territory border and its latest population was recorded as 497 in the 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census. The chapters author, National Gallery of Victorias senior curator for Indigenous arts Judith Ryan, wrote how in the 1970s and 1980s, batik technique spread across Aboriginal communities in Australia, including Yuendumu and Utopia in Northern Territory. The region of Utopia covers thousands of square kilometers of land located some 230 kilometers northeast of the town Alice Springs. The population has been quoted by the National Museum of Australia to be around 800. It is the birthplace of artist Barbara Weir. Batik nostalgia: Artist Barbara Weir in Alice Springs holds up a photo of her younger self and a long batik cloth. (Courtesy of Dina Indrasafitri/-) Suzanne Bryce, who is currently living in Alice Springs and working in the field of nutrition, was one of the first art workers to be involved in the Utopia batik scene. Like many young women of her generation back then, she was fascinated by batik and the idea of traveling to places such as Indonesia, which, at that time, was seen as relatively new and unexplored. She went to Indonesia to learn the craft before returning to Australia and traveling to remote communities. I started out as somebody who could [help] women to make crafts, Bryce said. In 1974, I came from Melbourne with a box of naphthol dyes and a sewing machine and went to an aboriginal community. I've mostly been here ever since. Most batik facilitators in remote communities witnessed unique adaptations of the art form because of different climates and social environments. Most of the time, it was impossible to maintain the traditional Indonesian technique of applying the designs carefully using canting (a pen-like instrument consisting of a small copper reservoir with a spout on a wooden handle) and hot wax on stretched fabric. Indigenous Australian batik artists are known to be more spontaneous and bolder in their batik-making, applying the design using a brush instead of a canting, for example, or placing the cloth directly on their laps. Sand might make its way into the wax, causing blots or cracks, yet these were incorporated into designs that can range from purely decorative or referring to ancient stories. For some Aboriginal artists in the early days, batik equipment were simply one of the first introduced art materials, along with things such as brush, paper and paint. Some artists would simply take their inspiration from body paintings or marks for ceremonies or drawings on the sand, done when telling ancient stories or laws. At Ernabella, inspirations for batik designs were partly drawn from childrens pastel drawings. One artist from Fregon, as told in the book Across the Desert: Aboriginal Fabric from Central Australia, even humorously recalled how surprised Indonesian artists were when they saw how confident the Aboriginal women were in applying hot wax directly onto fabric without using stencils. These days, most Indigenous Australian artists have moved on to acrylic on canvas as their main medium, due to the methods practicality. However, Aboriginal Australian batik have succeeded in making a name for itself, at least from the 1970s to the 1990s, and many successful painters started out as batik artists. Several notable exhibitions of Indigenous Australian batik include Across the Desert and Raiki Wara in the National Gallery of Victoria; Hot Wax: An Exhibition of Australian, Aboriginal and Indonesian Batik at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory; the collaborative work of Urapuntja Utopia and Brahma Tirta Sari for the Asia-Pacific Triennale and the touring exhibition Utopia: A Picture Story. (ste) Radio host Bronte Langbroek has directly addressed a man who sexually harassed her in a powerful open letter. The 27-year-old, who also happens to be the niece of media personality Kate Langbroek, read the letter aloud on Hit Riverina's breakfast show on Friday. 'To the man who harassed me, you might not know who I am and I might not ever see you again, but I know that you saw the distress on my face when you chose to approach,' she began. Taking a stand: Radio host Bronte Langbroek has directly addressed a man who sexually harassed her in a powerful open letter Becoming emotional as she read the articulate letter, Bronte said it was important to her that the man 'hear the hurt in my voice and know what you've done'. 'Your actions and your decisions have shaken me to the point of tears for the past couple of days, and I don't know why you chose me,' she continued. Bronte said she was simply 'minding my own business, walking in a place that always felt safe, while the sun was still up'. Speaking out: The 27-year-old, who also happens to be the niece of media personality Kate Langbroek, read the letter aloud on Hit Riverina's breakfast show on Friday She said the fact that women need to be taught how to not put themselves in any potential danger is a problem in itself. 'I tried to ignore the things that I could hear you saying to get a rise out of me. I tried to look away, even though I could see you trying to get my attention, and I changed my direction to try and get away from you,' she added. But she said the man continued to follow her into a supermarket, where she had gone to do her grocery shopping. 'To the man who harassed me, you might not know who I am and I might not ever see you again, but I know that you saw the distress on my face when you chose to approach,' she began. Pictured right, Bronte's aunt, media personality Kate Langbroek '[You] continued to bait me, and then smashed on a partition that's the only thing that separated us so loudly that it caused me to gasp and jump, and drew unwanted attention from those around me,' she continued. 'You stole the right that I have to feel safe as a woman doing something as ordinary as grocery shopping.' Bronte said the man eventually walked away, but she felt 'intimidated to the point of breaking down'. Powerful: Becoming emotional as she read the articulate letter, Bronte said it was important to her that the man 'hear the hurt in my voice and know what you've done' 'You laughed in the face of a woman who felt unsafe leaving the store for fear that you were waiting outside,' she said. 'And you didn't see the tears rolling down my face as I had to call my mum so I could walk home and feel like I had someone there with me.' Between tears, Bronte said she was 'done with condoning this behaviour'. 'Your actions and your decisions have shaken me to the point of tears for the past couple of days, and I don't know why you chose me,' she continued 'I'm tired of the rhetoric that boys will be boys, and I'm finished with finding ways to disappear when I'm not the problem,' she added. She finished by asking the man to change his behaviour 'for my sake and the women across the Riverina and across the world'. 'You're part of the problem, and you have no right to make me or any other woman feel that way - unsafe and exposed,' she concluded, before signing off, 'a fed up woman'. Its not only sloppy credit users who will be squeezed further to the margins. Canadians with short credit histories will be hit hard. That includes two vital populations of potential buyers millennials and newly landed immigrants; the former makes up one of the largest population demographics in Canada, the latter is responsible for the countrys population growth, diversity and much of its economic might. Both groups will be at an acute disadvantage when they approach the market after July 1. Everybody has a story, Hansra says, referring to CMHCs assumption that a high Beacon score is the key factor in determining an individuals credit worthiness. Thats simply not true for immigrants. Someone new to the country and attempting to establish herself new credit cards, new apartment, new car is inevitably going to be subject to a high number of credit inquiries. Your credit scores going to go down because you have all of these credit inquiries, not necessarily because you have bad credit, he says. All of a sudden, your score can drop from 800 to 660. Youre not seeking credit, youre just trying to establish yourself in a new country. A policy change that impacts Canadas immigrant community at a time when the world is debating the evils of institutional racism is a case study in bad optics. A lot of the big lenders have new-to-Canada programs, Fabian says. Some of the rules and products are adjusted to reflect that, so there are opportunities and options for this population. TransUnion research suggests that new Canadians tend to perform as well or better than established Canadians. Many were experienced, responsible credit users abroad, but their credit score, if thats all one sees, doesnt tell that side of their story. Fortunately, Fabian says consumers with Beacon scores of below 680 can bring them up relatively easily by making their payments and monitoring their credit for any forgotten, lingering debt that may be bogging them down. FILE PHOTO: Thyssenkrupp's logo is seen outside elevator test tower in Rottweil By Anastasia Lyrchikova, Christoph Steitz and Tom Kackenhoff MOSCOW/FRANKFURT/DUESSELDORF (Reuters) - Russian steelmaker Severstal has no plans to get involved in industry consolidation in Europe, its finance chief said, effectively narrowing a list of potential partners for Germany's Thyssenkrupp. Thyssenkrupp said last month it could put its steel unit, Europe's second-largest, on the block, prompting investment banks and law firms to jostle for a role in the expected shakeout, people familiar with the matter said. India's Tata Steel is also looking to sell its European division, the people said, adding its struggling Port Talbot plant in Britain needed 500 million pounds ($632 million) in state aid. Meanwhile, industry-leader ArcelorMittal has run into trouble with the purchase of Italy's Ilva plant. "We have not considered the cases," Severstal's CFO Alexey Kulichenko told Reuters when asked whether the group had received proposals from the three firms. "Europe today does not look like an attractive option." Severstal has no plans for any big mergers or acquisitions but remains mindful of market opportunities, he added. Hit by oversupply, a struggling car sector and cheap Chinese imports, Europe's steel industry was already struggling to make a profit before the coronavirus pandemic worsened conditions. A tie-up between Thyssenkrupp and Tata Steel in Europe could materialise quickly, the people said, pointing to their long relationship that was dealt a blow last year when a planned joint venture was blocked by Brussels on antitrust grounds. Regulatory concerns are also seen as a hurdle to any deal in Europe, including with Sweden's SSAB and Germany's Salzgitter, which has said it would look at consolidation proposals if they made sense. While Thyssenkrupp is also in talks with China's Baoshan Iron & Steel (Baosteel), involvement of Asian players is certain to draw political opposition, the sources said. Story continues Thyssenkrupp could even revive plans for an initial public offering for the unit -- which made a 498 million euros ($564 million) first-half operating loss -- once the market recovers, they added. Thyssenkrupp declined to comment and referred to comments made by CEO Martina Merz last month, saying nothing was off-limits with regard to the steel division. Baosteel declined to comment. Tata Steel and SSAB did not respond to requests for comments. ($1 = 0.7914 pounds) ($1 = 0.8831 euros) (Additional reporting by Johannes Hellstrom in Stockholm, Neha Arora in New Delhi and Min Zangh in Beijing; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) No fewer than 500 illegal miners have been arrested in Ondo State by operatives of the Special Mines Surveillance Task Force on Illegal Mining from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. A Mine Officer with Ondo State Government, Silas Godwin, who led the operation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the suspects were arrested at Popoola Ehinoke community. Popoola Ehinoke community is located in Ile Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. He said the task force, comprising officials of the ministry, Army, Customs, Immigration, Civil Defence and Police, carried out the operation based on intelligence information on activities of illegal miners. We swung into action on receiving the tip off and we are able to arrest 500 people working without the Ministry of Mines authorisation. From the information we got from them now, they said they were prospecting for gold but we will get to verify this, Mr Godwin said. He explained that the task force would continue their investigations to know those behind the operation and uncover those who engaged them. The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, in conjunction with security agencies, are committed to get these people burst and brought to book, he said. READ ALSO: Mr Godwin, therefore, urged those who intended to venture into mining to follow the right channels and shun illegality. Anybody that wants to go into mining, should know that it must be backed by due process, procedure and laid down guidelines. It has become imperative to be within the law and must go through the right channel before you can engage in any mining in the country because the ministry has offices nationwide, he said. One of the suspects, Awalu Salisu, a labourer from the northern part of the country, said he was engaged by one Mr Kayode. (NAN) Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 19:50:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday sent a message of condolences to Burundian Foreign Minister Ezechiel Nibigira over the passing of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza. Calling Nkurunziza an outstanding politician and a good friend of the Chinese people, Wang said the president had been committed to deepening the traditional friendship between China and Burundi and promoting the exchange and cooperation in various areas. President Nkurunziza had made important contributions to building the all-weather partnership between China and Burundi, Wang said. The Chinese top diplomat said he is willing to make joint efforts with Nibigira to enhance the traditional China-Burundi friendship and push forward the further development of bilateral relations. Enditem The average loss for each container of shipments to the EU due to the ECs yellow card is 10,000 euros, according to a source. The figure was included in a Vietnamese document about the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, just released by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) recently. The EC issued the yellow card as a warning against Vietnams inadequate action to combat IUU fishing. The yellow card will not only affect Vietnams seafood exports to the EU, but also exports to the US and other potential markets. The document also shows that 100 percent of seafood containers exported to the EU will be retained for examining the origin of products until the yellow card is lifted. This means that the transport time will be longer, which may last three or four weeks for each container (24 tons). Meanwhile, the checking of product origin may cost up to 500 pounds per container, excluding the storage fee at port and possible consequences because of late deliveries. The average loss for each container of shipments to the EU due to the ECs yellow card is 10,000 euros, according to a source . However, the highest risk of the policy is the high proportion of containers to be refused, which would cause heavy economic losses, according to the document. The document shows that the loss could be up to 10,000 euros per container. However, when asked about the figure, Nguyen Hoai Nam, deputy secretary general of VASEP, said the estimated figure was given with reference to the Filipino enterprises. VASEP will check and re-calculate the average loss, Nam said. After two years of receiving the yellow card (2018 and 2019), exports to the EU have had losses. In 2018, seafood export turnover to the EU decreased by 6.5 percent from the year before to $390 million. In 2019, the figure was $372 million, another decrease of 5 percent. If compared with 2017, the exports to the EU in 2019 decreased by 10.3 percent, of which cuttlefish exports plunged by 37 percent. With the yellow card, the EU has fallen from the second position among the biggest seafood importers for Vietnam to the fifth position, just accounting for 13 percent instead of 18 percent as previously seen. In 2012, the ECs Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG-MARE) worked with the Vietnam General Department of Fisheries, examining and making recommendations for Vietnam to develop sustainable fishing and control IUU effectively. In May 2017, (DG-MARE) continued asking Vietnam to implement five groups of recommendations. In October 2017, EC officially issued a yellow card after concluding that Vietnams efforts were not enough to satisfy the requirements on IUU. After a lot of effort, Vietnam hopes the EC will lift the card. Linh Ha EC recognises Vietnam's improvements in combating IUU fishing The European Commissions (EC) inspection delegation has acknowledged recent improvements made by Vietnam in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). Washington (AFP) - More than a dozen US states are reporting their highest daily tolls of coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, but President Donald Trump and many local officials are showing no signs of worry and have ruled out new lockdown measures. The US chapter of the global health crisis has shifted from New York and the northeast to the south and west, with a particular focus now on hospitals in Arizona, Texas and Florida. The latter will host the most visible parts of the Republican presidential nominating convention in August, after Trump's spat with the Democratic governor of North Carolina over the need for masks and a scaled-back event prompted a switch. While some states like Virginia and New York move ahead with reopening businesses, other places like the city of Nashville, Tennessee and the Pacific state of Oregon are slowing down. Oregon Governor Kate Brown has announced a one-week pause in the easing of lockdown restrictions that began a month ago, after a rise in cases in both urban and rural areas. A map of the United States on the website Covidexitstrategy.org tells the tale: a majority of states do not meet the criteria set by the White House for reopening their economies, and have rising numbers of coronavirus cases, dwindling hospital capacity and insufficient testing. While the US hit 100,000 COVID-19 deaths on May 28, it will probably reach 130,000 by the July 4 Independence Day holiday, according to an average of several epidemiological models. Youyang Gu, an independent data scientist whose forecasts have turned out to be quite accurate, predicts 200,000 deaths by October 1. "It's important that we remember that this situation is unprecedented. And that the pandemic has not ended," Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told a media briefing on Friday. Redfield's comments came as the CDC unveiled long-awaited guidelines for Americans seeking to restore some bit of normality to their daily lives. Story continues Among them: maintain social distancing, wear masks in public, and bring your own food and drink to barbecues with friends. The Trump administration allows that there are new flare-ups in coronavirus caseloads in some states but insists there will be no shutdown of the economy if a second full-blown wave arises. Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, told Fox News on Friday, "There is no emergency. There is no second wave." - Hot spots - In some places, more widespread testing has contributed to a higher number of reported cases each day. Many of these are mild and do not lead to hospitalization. In Florida, where Trump is now technically a resident, the Republican governor says there has been a "modest" increase in cases but that the hospitalization rate is stable -- far from the spikes that New York saw. On a national level, the CDC says hospitalizations are on the wane, and in spots where they are rising, the situation is not "dramatic," said the CDC's COVID-19 response incident manager, Jay Butler. But in Arizona, case numbers have shot up, ICU beds are now 78 percent occupied and Phoenix has emerged as a hot spot. "We opened too much too early and so our hospitals are really struggling," Mayor Kate Gallego said at a panel discussion with other US mayors. This is also the case in Texas, where the number of people hospitalized has risen steadily since the long Memorial Day weekend in late May, which marks the unofficial start of summer and saw a rush of people headed to the beach. While the number of deaths in the Lone Star State has not shot up, the hospitalization figures show the virus is spreading. "People are driving the reopening because they're tired of the shutdown," Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, told CNBC last week. "Most states didn't really achieve the criteria set up by public health officials for reopening, or the White House, yet they reopened, because the people demanded it," Gottlieb said. These long weeks of sheltering in place have been trying for Americans and their public officials. Many of the latter, particularly Republicans, seem to think that people cannot take life under lockdown any more. The Republican governor of South Carolina, Henry McMaster, said that even if the virus makes a strong comeback, he would not make mask-wearing mandatory or shut down businesses. "At this point, the answer is individual responsibility, not mandates from the government," McMaster said. This still image taken from security video released by Rep. Bobby Rush's (D-Ill.) campaign office shows Chicago police inside Rush's burglarized congressional campaign office in Chicago, Ill., on May 31, 2020. (Congressman Bobby Rush's Campaign Office via AP) 13 Chicago Police Officers Lounged in Congressmans Office During Rioting Chicago police officers were captured on camera lounging in a congressmans office while rioters were damaging and looting nearby businesses, city officials said. The group of 13, including three supervisors, entered the offices of Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) overnight on June 1, hours after it was broken into. Surveillance footage showed some of them sleeping while others gathered snacks and coffee. They even had the unmitigated gall to go and make coffee for themselves and to pop popcorn, my popcorn, in my microwave while looters were tearing apart businesses within their sight, within their reach, Rush said at a briefing on Thursday. They didnt care, he added later. They absolutely didnt care. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a Democrat, apologized to Rush on behalf of the city, saying she was personally embarrassed. A Chicago police officer lies on a couch inside Rep. Bobby Rushs (D-Ill.) burglarized congressional campaign office in Chicago, Ill., on May 31, 2020. (Congressman Bobby Rushs Campaign Office via AP) When officers swear an oath to serve and protect, they must undertake that mission in all parts of the city, Lightfoot said. The officers demonstrated a total disregard for their colleagues and local residents, she added. Officials are still working on identifying all the officers and supervisors who were in the office. John Catanzara, the president of Chicagos Fraternal Order of Police, told a local outlet that Rushs staff members asked the officers to be at the office. Catanzara didnt respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times. Police officials condemned the actions. Chicago Superintendent David Brown told commanders in a call after seeing the footage that behavior reflects leadership. Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown speaks during a news conference as Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) looks on in Chicago, Ill., on June 11, 2020. (Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) Officers asleep during a riot, with supervisors in tow, reflects our leadership, he said at the briefing. If you sleep during a riot, what do you do during a regular shift when theres no riot? he asked. Anthony Riccio, first deputy superintendent, said what happened couldnt be defended. At the same time the officers were lounging, I was standing shoulder to should with hundreds of other officers on State Street as we got pelted with rocks by rioters, he said. On the same night, rioters injured 120 officers, damaged 167 vehicles, and damaged and looted countless businesses, Riccio added. The Chicago Police Departments Internal Affairs division is investigating what happened, as is the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Lightfoot said criminal charges are possible. A trio of Silicon Valley giants pledged to spend $730 million on fighting racial injustice today, as UK companies faced calls to tackle systemic racism in the workplace. In the wake of the George Floyd protests, Paypal said it would set aside $530 million to support black and minority-owned businesses in the US, with Apple and Alphabets YouTube each pledging $100 million to support racial justice efforts. Meanwhile fellow tech behemoth Microsoft today followed Amazon and IBM in vowing to limit the use of its facial recognition software by US police departments until America approves national regulation. The tech has been accused of being racially biased. In the UK, bosses are coming under increasing pressure to formalise their efforts to improve racial equality. Diversity lobbying network INvolves chief executive Suki Sandhu said: This is not a new issue for me. Weve been championing greater equality for years. There is no doubt that there is systemic racism in the workplace. However, it feels like the climate is right for something to really change. Employers need to be bolder and more daring. Our role is to help people do that. We are not here to blame or shame, but to bring about positive and lasting change in the business world. Our annual role model lists celebrate positive role models that other ethnic minority employees can look up to. They are more relevant now than ever. INvolve have set out priorities for businesses including holding hiring managers to account with diversity targets, rethinking recruitment processes and reviewing pay structures. The group is pressing the government to make ethnic minority pay gap reporting mandatory for businesses with 250 or more staff. The Bank of England found last year that the pay gap between ethnic minority and white workers was 10%. The Banks chief economist Andy Haldane said at the time: The ethnicity pay gap problem in the UK is every bit as acute as the gender pay gap problem. TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar said he hopes farmers will be "pleasantly surprised" by a coalition agreement struck by Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party. He insisted the slow government formation talks are "progressing" and said there's a "strong possibility" a deal will be struck in the coming days. Negotiating teams from the three parties are meeting this evening to thrash out the remaining sticking points including the Green Party's demand for a 7pc-a-year reduction in carbon emissions. There are fears in the farming community over how efforts to reduce emissions will impact on the agriculture sector. Read More But Mr Varadkar said he hopes farmers and rural Ireland will be "pleasantly surprised" by the potential Programme for Government. He said issues being focused on include the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and how investment in rural infrastructure - including road projects - should continue. There are to be real and meaningful gains for farmers, such as a REPS2 programme and reforms that will give those working on the land more reliable and new streams of income for doing things we need them to do around climate action and biodiversity. Mr Varadkar said of the talks: "I know it's taking a long time, but I'd certainly be of the view... that it's better to nail down some issues now, rather than have them become points of conflict during a five year government. "It's better to take that little bit of extra time to do that." He said Fine Gael's priorities include a stimulus plan to get people who lost their jobs in the coronavirus crisis back to work and guarantees on reducing the Budget deficit once the country returns to economic growth. He said: "The best way to avoid a return to austerity is to start to bring your debt down... when you can afford to do so. Mr Varadkar said Fine Gael also wants 'A New Care Deal for Ireland' including improved childcare subsidies, a better work-life balance for parents and statutory homecare for the elderly. "They're the kind of things that we're pushing quite hard on talks and I think we're getting good progress on them," he said. Shaking the Foundation of Racism in Kansas City Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas called out former President Andrew Jackson during comments made on the steps of City Hall last week. In doing so, he focused attention on Jackson County's namesake, a slave owner who also was responsible for pushing Native Americans down a "Trail of Tears." Make no mistake . . .However, this screed from "public" TV comesto inciting vandalism . . . Something that would get anybody else at least a stern warning from authorities.Meanwhile, these "journalists" enjoy hefty donations from "viewers like you" along with substantial government subsidy.Read more: Two black female members of Seattle's African American Community Advisory Council were booed on Thursday as they told protesters inside the city's 'autonomous zone' that they have hijacked the Black Lives Matter movement. Protesters descended on the six-block zone in Seattle earlier this week to declare it an autonomous zone. They took over the police precinct, sending the few cops who remained there fleeing. Photos of armed guards and checkpoints startled outsiders and drove President Trump to declare the area full of 'domestic terrorists' and 'ugly anarchists'. But over the last few days, people inside the zone have likened it more to a peaceful street party where the protesters dine on vegan pizza, watch civil rights documentaries and listen to seminars and musical performances. A member of the African American Community Advisory Council was booed telling the crowd of protesters they had to negotiate with the police to find a peaceful resolution inside Seattle's free zone on Thursday Among the many stands that have popped up is one that is collecting signatures on three petitions. One is to defund the Seattle Police Department but the other two are to slap Amazon with more taxes and to call on Mayor Jenny Durkan - who supports the free zone - to resign. Now, some say the original message of outrage over the brutal police killing of George Floyd, has been lost. On Thursday, members of the African American Community Advisory Council - which is part of the police department - went to the zone to plead with protesters to speak to them and come to a peaceful resolution. 'The thing is, you have hijacked this! 'You have taken the meaning away!' Victoria Beach, who is part of the council, fumed at the crowd. Victoria Beach, the council president, told the protesters the message had been 'hijacked' She and another black woman who told protesters they needed to talk with the police department were booed. Later, Beach told Komo News: 'How are we going to be heard if that's happening? 'How are we going to come to the table and talk?' The zone is being referred to as #CHAZ - the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. On Thursday, a handful of cops returned to their now defaced precinct to try to police it but the crowds set up barricades to keep them out. Mayor Jenny Durkan has stood by the protesters, despite ongoing criticism from President Trump. She said in an interview on Thursday that it could bring about a 'summer of love' that would bring people together. Trump tweeted on Friday: 'Seattle Mayor says, about the anarchists takeover of her city, it is a Summer of Love. Inside the autonomous zone, there are three petitions including one for raising Amazon's tax bill and one calling for Mayor Jenny Durkan to resign The 'no cop coop' in the free zone where people are encouraged to take free goods Armed men are seen manning checkpoints controlling entry to the CHAZ. Police say they have received complaints that protesters are demanding cash to enter the zone, and shaking down businesses inside for 'protection money' 'These Liberal Dems dont have a clue. The terrorists burn and pillage our cities, and they think it is just wonderful, even the death. 'Must end this Seattle takeover now!' Trump has said that his administration is 'not going to let Seattle be occupied by anarchists' after demonstrators took over a six-block section of the city, including a police precinct. 'If there were more toughness, you wouldn't have the kind of devastation that you had in Minneapolis and in Seattle. 'I mean, let's see what's going on in Seattle,' Trump told Fox News on Thursday. 'I will tell you, if they don't straighten that situation out, we're going to straighten it out.' A sign is seen on a barrier at an entrance to the so-called "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone" on June 10, 2020 in Seattle, Washington Artists have spray painted rainbow murals throughout the streets of the six-block zone The protesters have also planted flowers and plants in the grassy areas within the zone On Wednesday night, the protesters took a vote and watched Paris is Burning - the 1990s iconic LGBTQ movie. They watched an anti-slavery documentary the previous night Trump described Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan's handling of the situation as 'pathetic,' and asked 'Has she ever done this before?' He also called on Washington Governor Jay Inslee to send in National Guard troops to restore order. 'He's got great National Guard troops so he can do it,' Trump said of Inslee. 'But one way or the other, it's going to get done. 'These people are not going to occupy a major portion of a great city. 'It is unconstitutional and illegal to send the military into Seattle,' Durkan, a first-term Democrat, told a press conference yesterday. 'There is no imminent threat of an invasion of Seattle.' She defended the group who had created the autonomous zone, calling their actions 'patriotic'. 'Unfortunately, our President wants to tell a story about domestic terrorists who have a radical agenda and are promoting a conspiracy that fits his law and order initiatives,' Durkan added. There will be no increase to third-level fees under the next government, according to talks sources. Its understood Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party have agreed, that despite calls from some within the sector to increase fees in order to protect Irish universities, there will be no additional fees for irish students. One ministerial negotiator told the Irish Examiner that the Green Party will have an economic ministry in the next government. The source made clear that a repeat of the economic Management Council, which existed in the Fine Gael/Labour government is not likely but, some forum to agree key economic matters will be in place. The Green Party are not likely to occupy either at the Ministry of Finance, or the Department of Public expenditure reform but are likely to take at least one of the junior ministries in those departments. Fine Gael sources said they are confident of retaining Finance, while Michael McGrath of Fianna Fail is likely to be Public Expenditure Minister. Outstanding issues between the three include agriculture, enterprise, and climate while the talks are expected to go on late into Friday night. Housing saw a huge chunk done in recent days but also still has issues left outstanding. While one senior Green source said: We need to see clear policy about the emissions targets and thats not been forthcoming so far. Green sources say that there has been concern that the reference group has not heard from their TDs consistently due to the flat out talks, and that due to time constraints could be railroaded into decisions. Meanwhile, Greens deputy leader Catherine Martin has addressed her leadership rival Eamon Ryan's use of a slur in the Dail: Eamon is a thoroughly decent man who realises he made a mistake. He has apologised and will learn from it. I've been in touch to offer my support, she tweeted on Friday. I was in negotiations until 12.30am last night & in talks again today but wanted to take the time to address @EamonRyan's comments. Eamon is a thoroughly decent man who realises he made a mistake. He has apologised & will learn from it. I've been in touch to offer my support. 1/3 Catherine Martin TD (@cathmartingreen) June 12, 2020 My focus remains on the ongoing Programme for Government negotiations, which will continue over the weekend. Sources within Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have been privately briefing colleagues that the programme for government will be completed on Sunday. The Italian bistro chain Brio is back after the bankruptcy sale of restaurants across the nation but its new owner has signaled no immediate plans to resuscitate locations in Danbury or West Hartford. The restaurant posted notice several weeks ago of its intent to close permanently at Danbury Fair Mall. After FoodFirst Global Restaurants filed in May for bankruptcy protection from creditors, Earl Enterprises reached a deal to purchase both Brio Italian Grille and sibling chain Bravo Italian Kitchen. Earl Enterprises owns several other restaurant brands including Bertuccis and Planet Hollywood. In a statement forwarded by a public relations firm, the company indicated it was unable to come to an agreement with Danbury Fairs owner that would make sense for both parties. Brio was part of the original slate of tenants that took space in Macerichs redevelopment of the former Filenes department store at Danbury Fair, along with The Cheesecake Factory, L.L. Bean, Dicks Sporting Goods and Forever 21. After Forever 21 exited the mall in two stages, Dicks is taking over an adjacent level of the store in an expansion. The closures and moves are part of a volatile time for mall operators in general. Macerich was among the mall operators to report plummeting April rent collections amid retail closures ordered in Connecticut and nationally. This week, mall giant Simon Property Group announced it would pull out of a planned acquisition of Taubman Centers, which owns a 50 percent share of Stamford Town Center. Simon claims the pandemic has had a uniquely material and disproportionate effect on the shopping centers operated by Taubman, which vowed to seek damages if Simon does not proceed. Taubman also owns the Westfarms mall outside Hartford, where Brio had its only other Connecticut restaurant. Other mall mainstays have declared bankruptcy or raised the possibility, notably J.C. Penney, which is closing a Torrington store. Bloomberg reported this week that the parent company of Mens Wearhouse is exploring the possibility of a bankruptcy restructuring. The retailer has locations at Danbury Fair, Stamford Town Center and the Connecticut Post mall in Milford, as well as in Westport. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman Boris Johnson said yesterday he was looking for the moment to relax the two-metre social distancing rule. It raised hopes that the Prime Minister could switch to a one-metre rule within weeks after a combination of frightening economic statistics and a fall in the number of coronavirus infections. Despite their reservations, government scientists believe any decision to cut the recommended distance is a political one, giving Mr Johnson the green light to reduce it. They have told ministers that businesses could bring in new rules, such as regular breaks and getting workers to sit side by side, to make it safer for people to be within a metre of each other. It came as the full extent of the blow that the lockdown has dealt to Britains economy was laid bare yesterday. Boris Johnson (pictured wearing PPE) said yesterday he was looking for the moment to relax the two-metre social distancing rule GDP plummeted by more than a fifth in the first month of lockdown, and has now contracted by 25 per cent since February. In this chart, 100 on the vertical axis represents the size of the economy in April 2016, showing the extent of the fall compared to previous changes since 1997 Office for National Statistics figures showed that Britains national output plummeted by a record 20.4 per cent in April as millions of people were told to stay at home. At the same time, it emerged that the number of average new infections per day has fallen from 5,600 to 4,500 since the end of April. The two statistics intensified calls for Mr Johnson to move to World Health Organisation guidelines, which state social distancing has to be only one metre or 1.5m. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack yesterday became the first Cabinet minister to publicly call for the distance to be reduced to one metre as soon as possible, saying the move was vital to open up the economy. And Tory MP Damian Green, who was Theresa Mays de facto deputy, said: The latest infection rates are encouraging, and the economic figures are frightening, so I think its time to set a date for a move to one metre. A research paper published by the Governments Sage scientific advisory committee yesterday suggested companies should be given the freedom to choose how to operate safely. It said sitting side by side or behind another person at one metre carried a similar risk to being two metres face to face. It added that good ventilation in buildings can further reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Making his first public visit since he was treated in hospital for coronavirus, Mr Johnson said the sooner the number of infections fell, the sooner the two metre rule could be scrapped. He said: What were looking for is the moment when weve got the numbers down I wont give you a figure but I want to see, and were working with the scientists, to work out a moment when the numbers are down so far that we can really say that the two-metre rule is no longer necessary. On the GDP figures, Mr Johnson said: We are a resilient economy and we will bounce back. Officials warned that the virus's reproduction rate has risen to higher than 1 in the South West of England, to 1.1, while it remains somewhere between 0.8 and 1 almost everywhere else across the country. This means the outbreak could be increasing in size in the South West Business leaders warned that current social distancing rules will make it difficult for the economy to recovery quickly. Sir John Timpson, chairman of shoe repair chain Timpson, said: The one-metre vs two-metre rule is a crucial decision it is going to make a big difference to the economy. The British Beer and Pub Association warned that today was the deadline if ministers are going to give pubs three weeks notice that they can reopen on July 4. All Our Bars, a pub management company, said: Hospitality is about socialising. You cannot socialise at two-metre distances. Pub chain Greene King added: We expect to be able to accommodate about 30 per cent of trade with social distancing and this will impact which pubs we can open at different stages, as many will not be economically viable with social distancing. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey yesterday said he was ready to take further action to support the economy. It is thought the central bank could sanction the printing of 100 billion of emergency cash as soon as next week. We have to be ready to take action, not just the Bank but more broadly, on what we can do to offset those longer-term damaging effects, Mr Bailey said. Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said of the 20.4 per cent fall in GDP: This is catastrophic, literally on a scale never seen before in history. The real issue is what happens next. Andrew Wishart, an analyst at Capital Economics, added: We are past the worst. But the recovery will be a drawn-out affair. Top firms warn No10 distancing isn't viable By Claire Ellicott Political Correspondent Businesses have been privately consulted by ministers on how reducing the two-metre rule would affect them. Industry leaders warned them some sectors would be unable to operate unless the distance was relaxed to one metre. But Number 10 is facing resistance from scientists on its Sage advisory committee, who are understood to have demanded their objections to reducing it are put on record. Pictured: A window sticker outside a shop, asking customers to adhere to the British government's current social distancing guidelines The experts are said to have insisted official minutes include their fears of a higher infection rate and more deaths. Mr Johnson tasked Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill with canvassing opinion from businesses on the impact of the two-metre rule on their sectors, sources said yesterday. A document resulting from the exercise is the first evidence that Number 10 is actively looking at how it can reduce the distance, which the Government has said it is keeping under review. The consultation is being led by the Cabinet Office, Number 10 and the Treasury, which have approached businesses and other organisations to determine the effect of scrapping the rule. Wear a mask if youre in Uber Uber drivers and passengers must wear face coverings in the UK from Monday, the minicab app firm has said. Drivers in London will be required to submit a photograph of themselves to verify they are following the new rule before they can begin working. The company said this may also be rolled out across the UK. Passengers and drivers will be able to cancel a trip without financial penalty if the other is not wearing a face covering. The policy is in line with the Governments decision to make face coverings mandatory for public transport users in England from Monday. Drivers will also be asked to confirm they have taken additional safety measures such as regularly sanitising their car and washing their hands. Fact-box text Advertisement Companies sent responses to Downing Street following a request for feedback on behalf of Sir Mark last week. A virtual meeting was also held between civil servants and businesses earlier this week. According to the document, the aviation sector has warned that it will be physically impossible for it to operate with people always two metres apart. At one metre, however, passengers could travel and the tourism sector could reopen. If the rule is relaxed, automotive factories could move from 50 per cent capacity to 100 per cent. Train operators could operate at 40 per cent, up from 15 per cent at present, while bus operators would be able to increase their capacity to 35 to 40 per cent, up from 20 per cent. Universities would be able to increase capacity significantly. University College London, which has one of the largest lecture theatres in the country fitting 550 people, would be able to increase from 50 students to 250. The hospitality sector, however, has warned that it is unlikely to be able to stay afloat even if the rule is relaxed to one metre. Industry leaders who attended the virtual meeting said they were also told by civil servants the Government was facing pressure from backbenchers to relax the distance but scientists were digging in their heels. They reportedly said Sage advisers ensured they had their concerns minuted. The Government wants to reopen the hospitality industry as early as July 4. However, many businesses have said the two-metre rule would need to be reduced to one metre to make it commercially viable. They insisted it would not be possible to enforce the distancing inside their small venues. The World Health Organisation says one metre is safe. But the UK Government insisted it was important to move forward with caution. Sir Patrick Vallance, the Governments chief scientific adviser, this week told a media briefing that the two-metre rule is a political decision taken on advice from Sage. A spokesman for the Prime Minister told a Westminster briefing: As with all public health guidance, it is under constant review to ensure it reflects the latest advice from Sage. That will be based also on the latest evidence we have on transmission of the virus. Scientists are digging in heels You can catch it cuddling a pet By Eleanor Hayward Health Reporter Cuddling your pet dog or cat could give you coronavirus, Government scientists have warned. An official report by the UKs top vet said household pets may carry the virus on their fur, which risks spreading the disease from person to person. It said: Close contact such as cuddling, grooming, feeding and allowing animals to share food could all allow the transfer of virus. This means that if one member of a household has the virus, the pet could then pass it on to another family member. An official report by the UKs top vet said household pets may carry the virus on their fur, which risks spreading the disease from person to person. Pictured: Stock photo of a woman stroking her pet cat The document, prepared by the UKs Chief Veterinary Officer, was considered on April 30 at a meeting of the Governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Just one in 1,700 infected with Covid Only one in every 1,700 people were infected with Covid-19 at the beginning of this month, large-scale research has found. Based on tests carried out on more than 19,000 people, the Office for National Statistics estimated that 33,000 had the virus in England in the fortnight running from May 25 to June 7. The one in 1,700 level is less than a quarter of the one in 400 infection rate calculated by the ONS in the middle of May, when 133,000 were estimated to be infected. But the evidence of the apparent decline of the pandemic came alongside devastating figures on the impact of the virus on care homes. Levels of mortality in care homes in England, the ONS said, were more than double the average over the past five years. Its report said that death registrations up to May 25 showed that during March and April there were 147,785 deaths in the UK, 44,449 or 43 per cent more than the average from 2015 to 2019. Deaths in hospitals were 22.9 per cent above five-year average levels and deaths in private homes 40.3 per cent above typical levels for March and April. Advertisement The report warned that the virus could survive on pet fur, meaning there is a plausible pathway that the animal may act as a fomite [infectious object] for at least a few hours and transfer virus to others in the household. The document said that dogs and cats who have been in contact with a coronavirus patient pose a high risk for people with underlying conditions such as cancer of diabetes. It advised pet owners who have symptoms to prevent their dog or cat from coming into contact with susceptible humans. It said: We consider the overall risk of such an animal being present in the household to be high, where there are people with underlying health problems or poor immune systems, but otherwise would be medium. Any risk management procedures when considering the presence of a pet companion animal in the household should ensure that the companion animal remains controlled to prevent contact with susceptible humans, particularly taking account of underlying health problems, such as diabetes, heart conditions, respiratory conditions, cancer or anyone with a poor immune system. However Professor James Wood, Head of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge, yesterday insisted it was very unlikely that owners could get coronavirus from their pets. He said: There is no reason for vulnerable people to stop cuddling their dog or cat. Everyone should maintain good hygienic standards with their pets and wash their hands across the day, as is generally advised, to avoid the risks of them contaminating themselves. Professor Wood added that the risk to animals was low: Despite millions of people having had COVID19, the numbers of pets found to be ill or infected is still tiny. Put simply, our pet dogs and cats can catch COVID19 from us, when they are living with us, but only do on very rare occasions. The SAGE document referred to cases of pets testing positive for coronavirus, but said there was a low risk of infected pets passing it on to humans. It said two dogs, a 17 year old Pomeranian and a German Shepherd living Hong Kong, repeatedly tested positive for coronavirus, adding that a cat from Belgium had also tested positive. Secondary pupils will not go back full time in September, says academy boss Pupils will be unable to return to school full time in September with the two-metre rule in place, an academy boss warned yesterday. Hamid Patel, chief executive of Star Academies which runs 30 schools across the UK, said headteachers need an urgent Government decision over social distancing. He added to mounting pressure on Boris Johnson to slash the requirement to just one metre to help get children back to school. Primary pupils are being kept in protective bubbles of no more than 15 pupils. But for secondary schools going back in September, the guidance calls for a distancing of two-metres. Mr Patel said the main barrier to the full reopening of secondary schools is the two-metre social distancing rule as it leads to very small classes with only 30-40 per cent of the pupil population accommodated at one time. A Department for Education spokesman said it was working to get all pupils back into classrooms by September. Advertisement Former National Security Advisor John Bolton's forthcoming memoir will paint a picture of 'chaos' in the White House and a president focused exclusively on his own reelection, the book's publisher is promising. The book will lay out additional 'misconduct' beside the president's interactions with Ukraine actions that led to Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate and with an aggressive posture Bolton is describing as 'Game on.' Trump is a person 'for whom getting reelected was the only thing that mattered,' Bolton writes. Although Democrats tailored impeachment to Trump's conduct toward Ukraine, Bolton describes 'Ukraine-like 'transgressions' in a 'full-range of his foreign policy,' according to a release for the book. Former national security adviser John Bolton takes part in a discussion on global leadership at Vanderbilt University Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn 'I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision during my tenure that wasnt driven by reelection calculations,' Bolton writes. He writes that the House committed malpractice by tailoring impeachment exclusively to Ukraine. Bolton's book, which he signed with Simon & Schuster for a reported $2 million, has been a highly anticipated tell-all, adding to other portraits of chaos by former FBI Director James Comey, former Trump advisor Omarosa Manigault, and author Michael Wolff. It is'nt all tire. It promises to be filled with 'perspective and humor' from the mustachioed Iran hawk. The House Intelligence Committee sought to bring Bolton in for testimony during its impeachment probe into Trump's conduct toward Ukraine, but he didn't participate, to the consternation of some Democrats who said he was saving material for his book. His memoir will go beyond an administration pressure campaign to get Ukraine to investigate the Bidens, to include alleged misconduct in additional countries, Axios reported. The former UN ambassador and Iran hawk is also blasting Trump for trying to limit his ability to put out the book. The rumpled Bolton is known to take copious notes, and the White House is poised for the release of potentially damaging information. An excerpt from the epilogue on the back cover of the book reveals the fighting posture Bolton brings to the effort. 'As if impeachment were not enough, I also found myself confronting the daunting challenge of fighting an incumbent President determined to prevent publication of a book about my White House experiences,' he writes. The book's epilogue describes battles with the White House over publication of the book Bolton called Rudy Giuliani's interactions with Ukraine a 'drug deal,' according to impeachment testimony Bolton's book is the latest to describe chaos in the Trump White House 'Trump behaved typically, directing the seizure and withholding of my advisors personal and other unclassified documents, despite numerous requests for their return; obstructing my Twitter account; and making outright threats of censorship. His reaction thus ranged from the mean-spirited to the constitutionally impermissible. My reaction m response? Game on.' National security official Fiona Hill testified that during a tense meeting Bolton described Trump's Ukraine policy, being driven by Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, as a 'drug deal' that he wanted no part of. The parliamentary secretary to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews praised China over its response to the coronavirus around the time questions were first being raised over the country's transparency. Labor MP Danny Pearson told the Legislative Assembly in March the country had acted rapidly during the early days of the virus and slowed its spread to Australia, The Australian reported. 'When you look at it, I think we have been fortunate in the way in which China has dealt with it and the way in which this disease has played out in terms of having these interventions to try and prevent the spread of the disease,' he said. Danny Pearson (left, with former Labor leader Bill Shorten) told a Legislative Assembly in March the country had acted rapidly during the early days of the virus and slowed its spread to Australia The parliamentary secretary to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) praised China over its response to the coronavirus around the time questions were first being raised over the country's transparency 'Yes, the disease has spread, but imagine if those measures had not been put in place in a city like Wuhan and you had a population of five million people going about their business without that sort of rapid state intervention and the imposition of martial law which I appreciate for the people in the communities involved would be very challenging. 'But imagine if you had five million people who were in Wuhan for Chinese New Year and those five million people spread they went to Beijing, they went to Shanghai, they came to Melbourne or to Sydney and China had not responded in the way in which it has.' Mr Pearson is the parliamentary secretary to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who has received criticism for his defence of China and his slow approach to lifting coronavirus restrictions in Victoria. Liberal MP Tim Smith threw around labels such as 'friendless loser' and 'Chairman Dan', after Mr Andrews refused to open pubs and licensed venues while other states like Queensland and New South Wales slowly reopened venues in May. 'In Victoria with control freak wowsers like Dictator Dan running the show, you cant even sit down for a coffee, let alone a beer,' he wrote on Twitter. World health experts and officials began to raise questions about China's transparency and handling of the virus in China in January. Human Rights Watch's China director Sophie Richardson was concerned the Chinese state could have deliberately silenced medical experts raising the alarm about the virus, and halted medical research. An unnamed nurse wearing a protective suit uploaded a video and claimed there were as many as 90,000 people infected in China despite official government figures sitting at 1,975 at the time. 'I'm in the area where the coronavirus started,' she said. 'I'm here to tell the truth. At this moment, Hubei province, including Wuhan area, even China, 90,000 people have been infected by coronavirus.' Mr Pearson's comments were made after world experts and health officials began to raise questions about China's transparency and handling of the virus in January Mr Pearson is leading negotiations with the Victorian state's involvement in China's Belts and Road Initiative (pictured, Chinese president Xi Jinping) Mr Pearson is leading negotiations with the Victorian state's involvement in China's Belts and Road Initiative. The ambitious project refers to China's plan to expand its global trade route and create overland routes - like roads and train passages - and maritime passages in 138 different countries. Victoria is the only government in Australia to have signed onto the controversial $1.5 trillion deal. Premier Daniel Andrews has come under increasing pressure to scrap the deal, of which prime minister Scott Morrison has been a vocal critic. 'It is not a program the Australian government has signed up to,' he said on Thursday. 'It is not the Australian government's foreign policy and all states and territories should not be doing things that act inconsistently with federal policy.' Mr Andrews has insisted in the past the agreement was properly flagged with federal authorities. 'The first agreement was sent to DFAT in draft form and the second agreement is simply an extension of the first,' he said. Premier Daniel Andrews has come under increasing pressure to scrap the deal, of which prime minister Scott Morrison has been a vocal critic Liberal MP Tim Smith unleashed an extraordinary attack on Twitter (pictured), calling Daniel Andrews a 'control freak' and a 'friendless loser' 'We have a strong and good relationship with China and what that means is our exports are up 62 per cent in the last five years.' Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Pearson's office for comment. Seattles mayor told Donald Trump to Go back to your bunker Thursday, escalating a spat after the president threatened to intervene over a police-free autonomous zone protesters have set up in the western US city. The reference to a bunker was a nod to reports Trump was rushed by Secret Service agents to a secure area in the White House as demonstrations against racism and police brutality sparked by the death of George Floyd reached the presidents residence. Trump sparked the spat when he threatened to intervene in the neighbourhood in Seattle dubbed Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or CHAZ, which was agreed upon by demonstrators and the citys police department. Take back your city NOW. If you dont do it, I will, Trump warned mayor Jenny Durkan and Washington state governor Jay Inslee -- both Democrats -- in a tweet late Wednesday, calling the protesters domestic terrorists who have taken over Seattle. Radical Left Governor @JayInslee and the Mayor of Seattle are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before. Take back your city NOW. If you dont do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stopped IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2020 This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped (sic) IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST, he continued in another tweet. Mayor Jenny Durkan replied, urging Trump to make us all safe. Go back to your bunker, with Inslee joining in the Twitter mockery of Trump. Make us all safe. Go back to your bunker. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/H3TXduhlY4 Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) June 11, 2020 A man who is totally incapable of governing should stay out of Washington states business. Stoop tweeting, Inslee wrote. Protests have taken place across the country following the death of Floyd, an unarmed black man killed in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25. Officials in Seattle have denied reports that left-wing activists are behind the setting up of the autonomous zone. Peaceful as hell In the CHAZ area Thursday there were tents with supplies for volunteer medics as well as free gourmet food donated by local restaurants, along with fruit, snacks, and water bottles for the taking. The sunny afternoon gathering had a relaxed air, with people of all ages, including mothers with children, milling around the car-free streets. At one point a crowd locked arms and prevented two police officers from reaching a boarded up police station in the area. The officers failed to break in when they tried to enter through a different road. The scene here is peaceful as hell, said a demonstrator who identified herself as Jahtia B. She wondered aloud what Trump meant by tweeting take back the city. This is our city. I was born and raised in this damn city. Lets give it to the people, the people who live in Seattle and have been thriving here, she told AFP. An African-American demonstrator, Rich Brown, said he was scared on Sunday when police used tear gas and flash bang grenades in an attempt to clear the area. Today I feel supported, welcomed, he said. Were able to speak, its what weve been wanting to do this whole time, without intimidation, without fear. America is being "ripped apart by systemic racism" and "we need to do better" as a corporation to address social injustice in the country, PVH CEO Manny Chirico told CNBC's Jim Cramer on Thursday. "We need to do better from a recruiting point of view, we need to do better from a training and development point of view and, most importantly, we need to do better when it comes to representation at leadership [and] management positions throughout PVH," Chirico said in a "Mad Money" interview. Chirico was responding to a question from Cramer, who asked why it's important for companies to take a stance during the current climate in the nation. PVH, the parent company of such apparel brands as Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, in a press release earlier this month said that "Black lives matter," adding that it is not a "controversial or divisive statement." The slogan has been a rallying call in the fight against police violence and brutality against black people, who die at a rate disproportionately higher than other groups at the hands of law enforcement. "As a country, as individuals and as a corporation we need to do better," Chirico said. "We can do better, and we will do better." "We need to also focus on racial and ethnicity issues, as well, and get better representation in our executive ranks across the board." PVH is one of many American firms that have committed to doing more to fight racism in the wake of the high-profile killings of three black Americans across the country: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. Corporations have historically remained silent on issues of police brutality. Floyd died in police custody on Memorial Day after Minneapolis police officers detained him, over a suspected counterfeit $20 bill, in an incident caught on video. The four officers have since been charged in his death, including one for second-degree murder after he pinned him to the ground by driving his knee into his neck for nearly 9 minutes. Arbery was chased, shot and killed by vigilantes in Georgia in February, a case that was not brought to light until video footage of the shooting went viral online in May. Taylor was killed by police in Kentucky during a botched police raid. Their deaths and many others over the years, on top of longstanding economic inequities, have fueled days of massive protests against police brutality and for accountability across the world. As part of PVH's push to address the systemic racism that has plagued black communities for generations, the company said it would work to amplify the voices of its black workers and the black community. The company also said it would deliver a $100,000 donation to both the National Urban League and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. PVH also said it would match employee donations in North America to racial justice organizations. The corporation will also work to educate its staff on racism and bias. "Talk is cheap, but we've embarked on a journey. We're listening to our black associates" and "business resource group in PVH," Chirico said. "Over the next few months, we will come out with meaningful targets, and we will be accountable to ourselves and our stakeholders to meet those targets in the future." This year is when Samsung will be launching its Galaxy Tab S7. There haven't been any rumors of its design until recently. A leaked image has been circulating that has shown that this tablet will have a useful feature but with a possibly annoying feature as well. A famous leaker that goes by the name Onleaks tweeted out the leaked Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 pictures. The pictures he posted showed the upcoming Samsung tablet's front and back, and the measurements of the tablet were included with the pictures. The leaked pictures show that the tablet looks very similar to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 because of how it's a large rectangular tablet. However, the included dimensions of the Samsung tablet show that the Galaxy Tab S7 is a small fraction bigger than the Galaxy Tab S6. The leak shows that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 shows that there is an S Pen stylus slot, which was also in the Galaxy Tab S6. #GalaxyTabS7! 360 video + gorgeous 5K renders + dimensions, on behalf of my Friends over -> pic.twitter.com/TEQE7aaodq Here comes your very first look at the #Samsung 360 video + gorgeous 5K renders + dimensions, on behalf of my Friends over @Pigtou_ -> https://t.co/4I0pFuDhwb Steve H.McFly (@OnLeaks) June 11, 2020 Two major changes are evident in the leak. One of them is a change that excites many people. The other makes numerous people worry. What's The Good Change About The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7? The good change to the new addition to the Samsung Galaxy Tab lineup that people are excited about is the front-facing camera. What's new with the front-facing camera? The front-facing camera is now placed so that it would be above the screen when the tablet is held in landscape orientation. With preceding tablets from Samsung, the camera would be on the left-hand side of the screen when held in a horizontal orientation. The camera's new position might seem like a minor change, but this is actually a major change since it improves the user experience significantly. The video calling experience is drastically less difficult thanks to the new camera position. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is an excellent tablet if you'll be doing a lot of video calls, that is if the leak isn't wrong. Read Also: Samsung Teases Amazing Upgrades To The Galaxy S20 Series That Will Be Released Sooner Than You Thought Well, What's The Bad Specs Change Then? The bad change to the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 that people are worried about is the back-facing camera. What's wrong isn't the camera itself. What people don't like is the bump the camera has which looks annoyingly large. It's a frustrating protrusion that's stuck on the back of the tablet. The camera bump looks like it's larger than the Galaxy Tab S6's camera as well as many other tablets on the market. It would be annoying since the camera bump wouldn't let you lay the tablet flat on the table. The tablet would be wobble whenever you tried to use it whenever you use it while it's on a table. You should keep in mind that this is all information that's coming from a leak. It isn't official news, so whatever the leak shows is either entirely incorrect or it's subject to change. Read Also: Ever Wanted A 4G-Capable Mobile Phone With A Dialer? You Can Get One Of Your Own Soon! Steve Carillo, a 32-year-old Air Force sergeant, allegedly scribbled far-right extremist phrases in blood after he killed a Northern California sheriff's deputy and wounded two others in an ambush this weekend, authorities say An Air Force sergeant allegedly scribbled far-right extremist phrases in blood after he killed a Northern California sheriff's deputy and wounded two others in an ambush this weekend, authorities say. Steve Carillo, 32, was charged with 19 felonies following the incident on Saturday in Ben Lomond, an unincorporated area near Santa Cruz, as cops investigated reports of a van containing guns and bomb-making materials spotted in the area. The charges include, murder, attempted murder, explosives charges and carjacking. Carillo is alleged to have thrown pipe bombs in the confrontation before he was wounded and apprehended. Carillo is alleged to have written the words boog and I became unreasonable, which have ties to far-right extremism, on a car just before cops took him away. The word Boog is short version of boogaloo, a movement of far-right anti-government extremists on the site 4chan, NBC News reports. Carillow was charged with 19 felonies following the incident on Saturday in Ben Lomond, an unincorporated area near Santa Cruz, as cops investigated reports of a van containing guns and bomb-making materials spotted in the area. He is pictured as police take him away The quote I became unreasonable is from memes that have popped up in Facebook groups where users comment about their hopes of a second American civil war. The words were actually said by Marvin 'Killdozer' Heemeyer, a far-right extremist and business owner in Granby, Colorado, who knocked down buildings with a modified bulldozer over a zoning dispute in 2004. Carillo is also alleged to have written Stop the duopoly, also in blood on the car. The statement comes from non-violent political slogans used by libertarians running for office. Authorities say Deputy Damon Gutzwiller, 38, died in the ambush allegedly started by Carrillo. A second deputy was injured, and a third officer from the California Highway Patrol was shot in his hand. Carrillo was shot during his arrest and was treated at local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said. It was also revealed that the FBI is investigating if there is a link between Saturday's ambush and the death of Dave Patrick Underwood, a federal officer who was killed in a drive-by shooting at a US courthouse in Oakland on May 29. A Travis Air Force Base spokesman confirmed Sunday that Carrillo had arrived at Travis Air Force Base in June 2018 and was a member of the 60th Security Forces Squadron. They also revealed that Carrillo's wife Monika Leigh Scott Carrillo, who was also in the Air Force, was found dead in an off-base hotel in May 2018 while she was stationed in South Carolina. She was 30. Authorities say Deputy Damon Gutzwiller, 38, died in the ambush allegedly started by Carrillo. A second deputy was injured, and a third officer from the California Highway Patrol was shot in his hand Authorities revealed that Carrillo's wife Monika Leigh Scott Carrillo, who was also in the Air Force, was found dead in an off-base hotel in May 2018 while she was stationed in South Carolina. She was 30 It was also revealed that the FBI is investigating if there is a link between Saturday's ambush and the death of Dave Patrick Underwood, a federal officer who was killed in a drive-by shooting at a US courthouse in Oakland on May 29 Her death was investigated by the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, in coordination with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and ruled a suicide, according to the Air Force. The ambush unfolded in Santa Cruz County as officers responded to a 911 call about the suspicious van. A report was made to police that there were guns and bomb-making devices inside, authorities said. The ambush unfolded in Santa Cruz County as officers responded to a 911 call about the suspicious van. A report was made to police that there were guns and bomb-making devices inside. Cops are seen at the scene after the confrontation ended The van went down a driveway at Carrillo's home and the deputies were ambushed by gunfire and explosives after getting out of their vehicle. Gutzwiller was wounded and later died at a hospital. Another deputy was wounded by gunfire or shrapnel and struck by a vehicle as the suspect fled. Carrillo allegedly attempted to carjack a vehicle and was wounded while being arrested. Banks and bookstores. Gyms and juice bars. Dental offices and department stores. The Covid-19 crisis has shuttered some kinds of businesses, while others have stayed open. But which places represent the best and worst tradeoffs, in terms of the economic benefits and health risks? A new study by MIT researchers uses a variety of data on consumer and business activity to tackle that question, measuring 26 types of businesses by both their usefulness and risk. Vital forms of commerce that are relatively uncrowded fare the best in the study; less significant types of businesses that generate crowds perform worse. The results can help inform the policy decisions of government officials during the ongoing pandemic. As it happens, banks perform the best in the study, being economically significant and relatively uncrowded. "Banks have an outsize economic impact and tend to be bigger spaces that people visit only once in a while," says Seth G. Benzell, a postdoc at the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy (IDE) and co-author of a paper published Wednesday that outlines the study. Indeed, in the study, banks rank first in economic importance, out of the 26 business types, but just 14th in risk. By contrast, other business types create much more crowding while having far less economic importance. These include liquor and tobacco stores; sporting goods stores; cafes, juice bars, and dessert parlors; and gyms. All of those are in the bottom half of the study's rankings of economic importance. At the same time, cafes, juice bars, and dessert parlors, taken together, rank third-highest out of the 26 business types in risk, while gyms are the fifth-riskiest according to the study's metrics -- which include cellphone location data revealing how crowded U.S. businesses get. Policymakers have not been making clear explanations about how they are coming to their decisions. That's why we wanted to provide a more data-driven policy guide." Avinash Collis PhD '20, an MIT-trained economist and co-author of the new paper And if the Covid-19 pandemic worsens again, the research can apply to shuttering businesses again. "This is not only about which locations should reopen first," says Christos Nicolaides PhD '14, a digital fellow at IDE and study co-author. "You can also look at it from the perspective of which locations should close first, in another future wave of Covid-19." The paper, "Rationing Social Contact During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Transmission Risk and Social Benefits of U.S. Location," appears in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, with Benzell, Collis, and Nicolaides as the authors. Benzell is about to start a new position as an assistant professor at Chapman University; in July, Collis will become an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin; Nicolaides is also a faculty member at the University of Cyprus. Cumulative risk To conduct the study, the team examined anonymized location data from 47 million cellphones, from January 2019 through March 2020. The data included visits to 6 million distinct business venues in the U.S. The 26 types of businesses in the study accounted for 57 percent of those visits, meaning the study covers a broad swath of the economy. By examining the location data over an extended time period, the scholars were able to determine what the typical crowding level is for all business types in the study. The study also used payroll, revenue, and employment data from U.S. Census Bureau to rate the centrality of different industries to the economy. Businesses in the study represented 1.43 million firms, 32 million employees, $1.1 trillion in payroll, and $5.6 trillion in revenues. The researchers also added a survey of 1,099 people people to gauge public preferences about different types of business. A key to the researchers' approach is recognizing that during the pandemic, many consumers are trying to limit trips that generate interaction with strangers, while still needing to get essential and useful transactions done. As Benzell notes, "The idea was, how can we think about rationing social contacts in a way that gives us the most bang for our buck, in terms of meetings, while keeping the risk of Covid transmission as low as possible?" The study also rates risk on the basis of aggregate public exposure, per business type. On an individual basis, spending a couple of hours in a movie theater with strangers might seem quite risky. But in February 2020, movie theaters had about 17.6 million consumer visits in the U.S., whereas sit-down restaurants had almost 900 million visits in the same month. As a business category, sit-down restaurants would likely generate much more total transmission of Covid-19. It's not danger per visit, but it's a cumulative danger. If you look at movie theaters, they seem dangerous, but not that many people go to the movies every day ... and restaurants are a good counter-example." Christos Nicolaides PhD '14, a digital fellow at IDE and study co-author Outlier: Liquor stores staying open In many cases, the researchers say, policymakers have made reasonable decisions about which types of businesses should be open and closed. But there are exceptions to this. Take liquor stores, which have been deemed an "essential" business in many U.S. states. "What really jumps out at us is liquor and tobacco stores," Benzell says. "Most states have allowed liquor stores to remain open. This is a bit of a bad call from our perspective, because liquor stores don't create a lot of social value. If you ask people which stores they want to be open, liquor stores are near the bottom of that list. They don't have that many receipts or employees, and they tend to be these small, crowded places where people are up against each other trying to navigate." In the study, liquor stores rate 20th out of the 26 business types in economic importance, but 12th highest in risk. By contrast, the researchers are more bullish about the public health dynamics of college and universities, which they rank 8th out of the 26 business types in economic importance, but just 17th in terms of risk. If campus living arrangements could be made more safe, the researchers think, the other parts of university life could offer relatively reasonable conditions. "Colleges and universities actually have the potential to offer pretty good social contact tradeoffs," Benzell says. "They tend to be places with big campuses, they tend to be [composed of] consistently the same group of young people, visiting the same places. When people are worried about colleges and universities, they're mostly worried about dormitories and parties, people getting infected that way, and that's fair enough. But [for] research and teaching, these are big spaces, with pretty modest groups of people that produce a lot of economic and social value." The scholars note that the study contains national ratings, and acknowledge that there might be some regional variation in effect as well. "If a local government would like to apply this paper [to their policies], it may be a better idea to put in their own data to make decisions," says Nicolaides. That said, the study did not indicate significantly different results for urban and rural settings, something the researchers evaluated. To be sure, some businesses are adapting to the pandemic by using new protocols or safety measures, such as limited customers in hair salons or safety partitions at supermarket checkout counters. Studying business venues with such safety measures in place would also be valuable, the scholars note. "Moving forward, an interesting exercise would be to see how dangerous these locations are once you implement these mitigation strategies." Collis says. "Those are all interesting open questions, seeing which business adapt. And some of these adaptations will probably be temporary changes, but other business practices may stick in the Covid age." UL Hospitals Group has announced the appointment of a new chief clinical director. Professor Brian Lenehan, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon with a special interest in spinal surgery has been appointed to the role following the retirement of Dr Gerry Burke last month. Prof Lenehan was educated in St Aloysius College, Athlone, and graduated from the UCD School of Medicine in 1997. He completed his higher surgical training in trauma and orthopaedics with the RCSI in 2008 and his specialist fellowship training in adult spinal surgery in Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Prof Lenehan took up his post as consultant orthopaedic surgeon in University Hospital Limerick in 2009. Since that time, Prof Lenehan has held a number of positions within the group, including administrative head department of trauma and orthopaedics; regional clinical lead trauma and orthopaedic clinical programme and, since 2019, associate clinical director, perioperative directorate. He has been the clinical lead for a number of important service developments in the Mid-West, including the establishment in the region of the Irish National Orthopaedic Register, trauma assessment clinics and Orthopaedics and Rheumatology MSK Triage Programme. Prof Lenehan also sits on the Training Committee and Council of the Irish Institute for Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, RCSI. Prof Lenehan has more than 60 peer-reviewed publications. He was appointed Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Limerick Graduate Entry Medical School (GEMS) in 2011 and adjunct clinical professor in GEMS in 2019. Since March 2020, Prof Lenehan has been sitting on the UL Hospital Groups Executive Crisis Management Team set up in response to Covid-19. It is certainly a very challenging time to take up this post, said Prof Lenehan of his appointment. Prof Lenehan said he was keen to take on the role of chief clinical director at this stage rather than towards the end of his career. I am being supported in balancing my administrative functions with my clinical workload and it is important for my patients and for my GP colleagues to know that I am not stepping back entirely from clinical practice and that I am still accepting GP outpatient referrals and seeing patients. I feel that if I continue to be close to where the care is being delivered, I can be more effective in my role in linking our clinicians with the larger management team. I am very much looking forward to it, said Prof Lenehan. We have throughout the Covid-19 pandemic seen high numbers of presentations to our emergency department both medical and surgical. We have fundamentally changed how we deliver care within the UL Hospitals Group. Emergency and trauma surgery cases have continued throughout the pandemic but scheduled care has been significantly curtailed. Now that we appear to be emerging from the worst of Covid-19,we are planning how we can gradually and safely increase scheduled care activity within the hospital group while remaining conscious that we may have to stand up our Covid-19 capacity again at short notice. As a surgeon, I am acutely aware that we need to start bringing in patients for their procedures, for their appointments and for their consultations as soon as possible. Colette Cowan, CEO, UL Hospitals Group, said: It is often said that a crisis brings out the best in people and that has certainly been true of our senior clinicians in UHL. Prof Lenehan has shown exemplary leadership in recent weeks and months and I am delighted that he has accepted the post of group chief clinical director. Even as we look to restore services in the coming weeks, we must start to look beyond Covid-19 and continue our strategic planning to improve care in the region. Prof Lenehans experience and advice will be invaluable in that regard. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to operate more flights to Andhra Pradesh from Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Singapore under Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate the stranded Telugu people. In a letter written to Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Jagan appreciated the efforts of the MEA to bring back the stranded Indians in various countries under Vande Bharat Mission. We have noticed that only a few flights have been allotted to AP under Vande Bharat Mission, which are not sufficient given the number of Telugus still stranded in various countries. More Vande Bharat flights will ensure the safe return of the stranded Telugus to AP, Jagan said. The Chief Minister said Telugu associations from various countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Singapore have requested the MEA to allow chartered flights to send back the stranded Telugus to AP. I would like to reiterate that AP is ready to accept any number of stranded Telugus who either arrive in flights under Vande Bharat Mission or in chartered flights, which will be permitted to land in any of the international airports in AP, the Chief Minister said. To ensure the return of a large number of stranded NRTs from AP, Jagan requested the Union Minister to instruct Indian Missions in Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Singapore and the MEA officials to facilitate operation of adequate number of chartered flights to AP. Stranded Telugus Jagan requested the Union Minister to instruct Indian Missions in Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Singapore and the MEA officials to facilitate operation of adequate number of chartered flights to AP "The video footage from this traffic stop provides a firsthand look into the professional actions of Chicago police officers that occur throughout the city every day," Guglielmi said. "It also displays the value of body-worn camera technology that allows us to ensure investigations are guided by the facts, provide officers due process, and protect the civil rights of every Chicagoan." Madame and Monsieur had it all worked outor at least they thought they did. The fashionable Parisian couple bought a big apartment with many tiny rooms in the 2nd arrondissement, and promptly knocked down all the walls. They had no children, and much as they tried, it didnt look like they were meant to have any. You can guess what happened next. Boom! A week after they moved in, Madame got pregnant. Then she got pregnant again. Suddenly they needed rooms and wallsin short, they needed the whole habitat for bourgeois Paris family life. So they started looking for a new home. Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime The place they found, a 4,800-square-foot maze of rooms and hallways, all on one floor, is as classical as the previous was bohemian. The building dates from 1900 but was designed to evoke an even earlier time. Elaborate ornamental moldings summon the ghosts of the ancien regime. Decorating it would require a delicate touch. Somewhere between too stuffy and too funky lay the perfect balance, but where, exactly? To help find it, the owners called upon Fabrizio Casiraghi, a young Italian designer who set up his own practice in Paris five years ago and has been causing a stir since then. Casiraghi grew up in modernist Milan and cut his design teeth at the influential Dimore Studio, the AD100 firm that showed the world what you could do with a hodgepodge of found objects and the full range of colors in a pack of crayons. In more ways than one, this apartment did not speak his native tongue. Cerruti Draime The project was complicated for me at the beginning, but in a good wayI love a challenge, says Casiraghi. Its everything I dont know. In Milan, this doesnt exist. And with Dimore, its always a case of smooth boxes that you cover with objects and colors. This is the oppositea box that talks a lot. Youve got to enter a little bit on tiptoe. Take the apartments grand living room, for example. The walls are alive with the busy plasterwork filigree that is among the glories of French decorative art. Casiraghi even amped it up a bit by adding bronze-colored highlights in spotsif youve got it, aunt it. But then he countered the rococo dazzle with two blunt, almost brutally abstract sculptured plaster ceiling fixtures by contemporary designer Alexandre Loge and wall lamps by Jean Royere with sinuous, tendril-like arms. The right balance had been struck. Story continues Cerruti Draime Casiraghi likes to fresco his walls and ceilings. Hes commissioned constellations for the ceiling of his own charming at, and had fanciful nymphs painted on the walls of the Proust salon at Drouant, the iconic Paris eatery that he just redid top to bottom. But the more he thought about it, the more he felt that such whimsy wouldnt quite work here. In an apartment that is already so decorated on its own, its better to go with something more geometric, says Casiraghi. So we took forms a la Ellsworth Kelly, which is a reference that always comes in with me. And there they are, two chunky, unexpected blue shapes hovering above you as you enter, startling but also right. Casiraghi certainly has touchstoneshis paw, as the French put it. Kelly, frescoes, Wiener Werkstatte, rounded corners, and lacquer are a few elements that show up regularly, but you have to look hard to see his paw print. I dont have a real signatureif I had a style now, at age 33, what would I do at 50? I prefer adapting myself to the client and listening a lot. Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime Casiraghi's projects all start with a mood board of evocative images sent in by the client, and this one did too. But the mood board is never meant as a blueprint. Its more of a signpost toward an unknown destination. What I like about Fabrizio is that he didnt come back with the same images as ours, says Madame. In the kitchen, for instance, Casiraghi proposed a brick-colored terrazzo tile floor. Terrazzo has been basic Milanese vernacular for a long timeCasiraghis grandmothers house had terrazzo floors. She loved the idea, but in Paris, terrazzo is a novelty that is currently having its moment. Its a little mas tu vuHey, look at me. I dont trust things that are too a la mode, says the homeowner, who happens to work in the fashion business. Its a little like seeing a movie with an actor whos too well known. Youve got this incredible story, and then you find yourself saying, Wait, isnt that . . . ? In the end, the owners suggested using old tomettes, the glazed terra-cotta tiles that you see all over France. Its the French version of the terrazzo, but we never would have ended up there without Fabrizios original proposal. Cerruti Draime Of course, there was some pushing and pulling along the way. When is there not? Particularly when forceful personalities with strong preferences are collaborating, as they were here. At the beginning, I think it was not so easy for Fabrizio, says Madame. Theres what I like, and theres what Monsieur mon mari likes, and our taste isnt always the same. Sometimes its like were in two different countries. Tour a Charming Paris Flat Fit for a Fashionable Couple's Bourgeois Family Life (NEW) Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime Cerruti Draime Solomonic compromises were occasionally required. Monsieur doesnt really like tassels, for instance. Madame loves them (as does Casiraghi). So the orange tassel on the big Noguchi ceiling lantern in the dining room gets hung when her friends come to dinner, and removed when they leave. Mostly, though, everybodys tastes ultimately converged, to the point where it became difficult to tell whose paw was whose. A friend of ours came over and said, You can see its Fabrizio, but at the same time, its totally you. Which is exactly the compliment Madame was hoping for. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Countrys largest lender State Bank of India has re-launched SBI Insta Saving Bank Account an Aadhaar-based instant digital savings account, for customers who would like to open an account online through banks integrated banking and lifestyle platform YONO. This new service aims to provide convenient digital banking services. This new service will offer complete paperless and instant digital savings account opening experience with just PAN and Aadhaar number. The SBI Insta Saving Bank Account holders can have 24x7 banking access. SBI will also issue basic personalized RuPay ATM-cum-debit card to all the new account holders of Insta Saving Bank Account. Coronavirus India News LIVE Updates Customers just need to download YONO app, enter their PAN and Aadhaar details, submit OTP, and fill other relevant details to open the SBI Insta Saving Bank Account. The nomination facility is available for SBI Insta Saving Bank Account holders along with SMS Alerts and SBI Quick Missed call service. Once the process is complete, the account holder will get his/her account activated instantly and can start transacting immediately. Customers will have the flexibility to upgrade to full KYC by visiting their nearest SBI branch within one years time. SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar said, We are glad to re-launch SBI Insta Saving Bank Account. This account has all the features that would provide our potential customers a convenient, hassle-free and paperless banking experience without visiting the bank branch. In this digital age, we constantly aim to offer our customers the best digital banking experience backed up with the technology which would give them access to banking services anytime and anywhere. This product would be beneficial to customers in this prevailing COVID 19 situation, who can open Savings Account at the comfort of their homes, without visiting a Bank Branch. YONO SBI is to offer its customers a gamut of banking and lifestyle services at their doorsteps with just the click of a button. YONO SBI for the past two years is accepted greatly by the customers. The Platform has now reached global markets with YONO Global in UK & Mauritius. YONO has also crossed the landmark of 51 million downloads and 23 million registered users in a little over two years. It has partnered with more than 100 e-Commerce players across 20 plus categories. SBI through YONO has also come up with various initiatives which include YONO Cash, PAPL, YONO Krishi and the likes, catering to all categories of customers. T he New Zealand city of Hamilton has removed a bronze statue of the British naval officer who inspired its named after a Maori elder branded him "murderous" and a "monster". Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton is accused of killing indigenous Maori people in the 1860s. The removal of the statue by city authorities comes a day after a Maori tribe requested it and one elder threatened to tear it down himself. Cities around the world are taking steps to remove statues that represent cultural or racial oppression as support grows for the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd last month in Minneapolis. Hamilton was a British military commander who led a detachment against Maori during the Battle of Gate Pa in 1864 / AFP via Getty Images Demonstrations have taken part across the UK and there are concerns over the protection of monuments after a statue of slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down and dumped in Bristol's harbour. Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said in a statement that a growing number of people found the statue personally and culturally offensive. She said: "We can't ignore what is happening all over the world and nor should we. At a time when we are trying to build tolerance and understanding between cultures and in the community, I don't think the statue helps us to bridge those gaps." Winston Churchill statue and Cenotaph boarded up in London 1 /28 Winston Churchill statue and Cenotaph boarded up in London Winston Churchill statue boarded up in Parliament Square Jeremy Selwyn Workers erect a protective barrier around the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square Getty Images Scaffolding has been placed around the statue of Winston Churchill in central London in anticipation of protests Getty Images PA A Westminster Council street marshal stands next to a protective covering installed overnight surrounding the statue of former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square PA The Cenotaph boarded up Jeremy Selwyn Getty Images Getty Images PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA Workers install a protective barrier around the Cenotaph Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images The city was originally called Kirikiriroa by the Maori people, but it was renamed in 1860 after Captain Hamilton, a British officer who was killed in the infamous Gate Pa battle in the city of Tauranga. The statue was gifted to the city in 2013 and the Waikato-Tainui tribe, or iwi, formally requested on Thursday for it to be removed. TODO: define component type apester City authorities said it was clear the statue was going to be vandalized, after Maori elder Taitimu Maipi this week told news organisation Stuff that he planned to tear it down himself. Mr Maipi said Hamilton was being represented as a hero when he was "murderous" and a "monster". Statue of 18th century slaver Robert Milligan in east London removed 1 /18 Statue of 18th century slaver Robert Milligan in east London removed Workers prepare to take down a statue of slave owner Robert Milligan at West India Quay, east London PA Police officers look on as a statue of Robert Milligan is pictured being removed by workers from outside the Museum of London Docklands near Canary Wharf Reuters A statue of slave owner Robert Milligan is removed at West India Quay, east London as Labour councils across England and Wales will begin reviewing monuments and statues in their towns and cities PA Reuters Reuters PA PA PA TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL/AFP via Getty Images Reuters Slaveholder Robert Milligan's statue was removed on Tuesday TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL/AFP via Getty Images Workers remove the statue of slave-owner and slave merchant Robert Milligan after a petition in West India Quay, London Getty Images Protesters covered the Robert Milligan statue's head with fabric Ehtasham Haque The Robert Milligan statue was re-erected outside the Museum of London Docklands in 1997 Google Maps City authorities said they have no plans to change the city's name at this point. Hamilton is the nation's fourth-largest city with 160,000 people, about one-quarter of whom are Maori. Ukraine's border with Poland 24 Channel Ukraine will not restrict access to the border with Poland. This was reported by the press service of Ukraines Ministry of Internal Affairs on its Telegram channel. "State Border Guard Service of Ukraine does not limit the passage on the border with Poland," the statement reads. The Ministry clarified that the information about the intention of the Ukrainian side to close the checkpoints on the border with the Republic of Poland from June 15 was being spread across the Internet. In particular, some online publications published such news with reference to the letter of the Union of Fruit Producers of Poland to the Polish authorities with the announcement of the intention of the Ukrainian side to close the borders. "Regarding the need to terminate or limit the pass, the State Border Guard Service has not received any decisions from higher authorities (the competence of which includes the adoption of such decisions)," the press service said. As we reported earlier, the government of Ukraine has made the decision to open the border checkpoints in airports and to allow entry for foreigners who do not own the citizenship of countries where the spread of Covid-19 is considered moderate. Since the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola has received a renewal of the Grade 1 license, rumors are growing that F1 is about to return to Imola. Due to the coronavirus, many Grands Prix have already been cancelled, which means that F1 will have to look for alternatives. It seems more and more that the circuit in Imola is one of those alternatives. The F1 teams also see that these alternatives are becoming more and more realistic. AlphaTauri has even decided to hold a film day at Imola in the week of 22-28th of June, reports Formulapassion.it. During the filming day the Italian team will be allowed to drive the newest car on the circuit in Imola. In 2006 the last Grand Prix was held on the circuit, then under the name of the San Marino GP. AlphaTauri has decided to make the first miles on the circuit next week. Read more Imola can organize a Grand Prix; circuit renews Grade 1 license No test data Although AlphaTauri is allowed on the circuit, it will not benefit from data. In the 100 kilometers that the team will be allowed on the track, it will make a number of videos for sponsor purposes. For the drivers, however, it may mean that they can already make the first meters. In the end, these laps will not be representative, because they will be driven on completely different tyres. Since the cancellation of the Grands Prix of Singapore, Japan and Azerbaijan it seems that the whole playing field of F1 will stay in Europe even longer to drive some more Grands Prix, before they leave Europe for another continent. They call themselves the Radical Registrars. About 30 volunteers, motivated by demonstrations after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, are helping protesters in San Antonio make their voices heard at the ballot box by registering them to vote by Monday. At the protests, which have continued for almost two weeks, they have signed up more than 300 people. Monday is the deadline to register in time for the next election the primary runoff on July 14. The election had been postponed from May in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. One volunteer who became a Bexar County certified registrar this month is Valerie Reiffert, 32. I want to make a real difference and I want people to feel empowered with themselves to go and vote and exercise your right, she said. Do you know you can go vote anywhere in your county that says Vote Here? Do you know your employer must give you time to go vote? This is stuff a lot of people do not know. I have taken it upon myself to spread that word. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases The primary runoffs, which take place when no candidate in the primary election received more than 50 percent of the vote, include federal, state and county offices. One major race is between former Air Force pilot MJ Hegar and state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, who are competing for the Democratic nomination to challenge longtime Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Scott P. Yates / Associated Press Also on the Democratic Party ballot are runoffs in state Senate District 19, state House District 119 and Precinct 1 on Bexar County Commissioners Court. The Republican Party runoff ballot is shorter, with contests for U.S. House Districts 20 and 23, and Precinct 3 on Commissioners Court. Democratic and Republican party chairs in Bexar County also are in contention. Monica Alcantara and Grace Rose Gonzales are on the Democrats ballot. In the Republican Party, John Austin is challenging incumbent Cynthia Brehm, who has been asked to resign by several top Republican officials in Texas after a now-deleted post on social media suggesting the death of Floyd was staged by Democrats. On ExpressNews.com: Bexar Republican chairs Floyd conspiracy theory sparks demands for resignation Early voting begins June 29 and ends July 10. More Information How to register to vote First, check if you are already registered to vote here: https://www.bexar.org/2229/Voter-Registration-Check-Polling-location If you aren't already registered, you can register online, in person or by mail. To register online, go to the Texas Secretary of State's Voter Registration Application. After it's filled out, the application must be printed, signed and mailed to the Elections Department: https://webservices.sos.state.tx.us/vrapp/index.asp To register in person, you can go to the county's Elections Department, 1103 S. Frio, Suite 100. To register by mail, either call the Elections Department at 210-335-8683 and request the postage-paid form be sent to your address, or request it online: https://webservices.sos.state.tx.us/vrrequest/index.asp If you don't live in Bexar County, here are the addresses for all the other counties' elections departments: https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/voter/votregduties.shtml See More Collapse Reiffert first went to a protest in honor of Floyd on June 1 and became a deputy voter registrar two days later. Floyd, a black man raised in Houston, died after a white police officer used his knee to pin him to the ground for almost nine minutes. A bystanders cellphone video posted online sparked protests against police violence nationally and internationally. As hundreds of protesters chant and march during the nearly daily rallies, Reiffert and her small team promote registering and voting. Voting is a way to enact change from the inside out. Its your right as an American citizen to do so. And youre doing yourself a disservice by not exercising that right, truly, Reiffert said. Seeing the crowds, she said, was inspiring. JOHN DAVENPORT /San Antonio Express-News I was thinking, While were here with all these people, we should make sure theyre registered to vote, Reiffert said. I asked if somebody (from the Elections Department) could come out and do it, and when I went there, I realized Im going to have to be the somebody to do this. Which I wear with such honor. Growing up, while she attended schools in Northeast Independent School District, Reiffert frequently pushed back against authority, she said, winding up with a seat in the principals office and a call out to her mother on more than one occasion. She graduated from Madison High School and Texas State University, with a bachelor's degree in mass communications and a minor in criminal justice in 2011. Racism has unfortunately always been something thats been involved in most of my experiences in life, be it microaggressions or someone telling me how articulate I am, or somebody telling me Im pretty for a black girl, Reiffert said. Its so many things that people think are compliments that are digs. These days, nearly every demonstration for Floyd has had a tent designated for voter registration with her and her team inside. Theyve started collecting attendees emails and plan to send out information about how to vote and the candidates on the ballot. I dont see the Radical Registrars slowing down at all, she said. Were definitely going to keep going. Its something thats important to me, and I believe its important to all of us. Silvia Foster-Frau covers immigration news in the San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas area. To read more from Silvia, become a subscriber. sfosterfrau@express-news.net | Twitter: @SilviaElenaFF PARIS - Dozens of firefighters are battling a blaze on a French nuclear submarine that broke out Friday during renovation work. The submarines nuclear reactor, nuclear fuel and weapons were removed five months ago to prepare for the renovations, so are not at risk from the blaze, according to an official with the regional maritime authority. The authority tweeted that the smoke spewing from the site is not radioactive. All workers and sailors aboard the submarine when the fire broke out in the Mediterranean port of Toulon were safely evacuated, the official said. Local newspaper Var-Matin published images of white smoke rising from the port, and reported that some of the people aboard fled via the submarines torpedo holds. Some 30 specialized navy firefighters joined local fire brigades in trying to extinguish the blaze, which was still burning five hours after it broke out, the official said. The submarine, named Perle, is the most recent of Frances six Ruby-class nuclear attack submarines, and entered service in 1993, the official said. The body cam footage of the Woodlynne police officer charged with two counts of simple assault for pepper-spraying a man and teenager without provocation was made public Thursday and revealed more of officers actions. The footage shows Officer Ryan Dubiel, 31, of Wennoah, running after two suspects while unleashing pepper spray. Hes been suspended without pay after videos of the June 4 incident surfaced on social media. A version of the body cam footage edited by NJ Advance Media can be seen at the top of the article and a full version can be seen here. The incident began when the property manager of a home called the police and said that a bunch of kids" were loitering on his property and preventing tenants from entering the building, according to a 911 call released by the Camden County Prosecutors Office. The manager added that some were smoking marijuana and he wanted them ticketed. The body cam footage begins with Dubiel and another officer outside the home talking with a group of young black men with and Dubiel saying they received a call for trespassing and that people were smoking weed. The young men are all talking at the same time as Dubiel asks one of them their date of birth, and he refuses to tell him, the video shows. He then tells them to sit down on the steps, and he does for a short amount of time before Dubiel begins asking him his name again and to put his phone down. The young man then sits back down and starts texting on his phone, and says he wants to contact his brother. Dubiel can be seen shaking the can of pepper spray before telling him he is under arrest and to put his hands behind his back. Less than a second later, he sprays the man directly in the face along with others who were standing behind him on top of the steps of the home, then says, you guys wanna play games, right?" Another man who tries to run from the property was also sprayed by Dubiel. Weve got a combative group of people out here failing to disperse, I sprayed the boy, they just ran from us, Dubiel says over his radio. Weve got six guys out here and two of us. Dubiel then shouts you wanna run up on me too and turns toward another black man who is several feet of away from him on the sidewalk and pepper sprays him in the face as well. Another man approaches him from behind, Dubiel yells back up and then sprays him too. Dubiel then approaches the one he sprayed after saying you wanna run up on me and tells him to get on the ground as he screams in pain and shouts, its cause Im black, right? Dubiel handcuffs him and leads him away as a large crowd begins to form before he is placed in the back of a police car. Other officers arrive and take him from the car and give him water from a hose to cleanse his eyes and to drink before he is eventually placed back into a different police vehicle. The officer is later heard explaining how he thought the ordeal played out and said the person he was trying to arrest got away and that the man he ultimately handcuffed was just the one who decided to drop to his knees and make a scene. A 20-year-old man who was pepper-sprayed, whose name has not been released, was charged with two minor violations of disorderly conduct, Woodlynne Public Safety Director Edwin Figueroa said. Another unidentified man was given a summons and was released, he said. The prosecutors office announced Wednesday that it had charged Dubiel after reviewing footage of the incident. On June 4, at 1:30 p.m., video footage showed that at the time of the OC spray deployment, the individuals were not observed physically resisting or attempting to harm others or themselves, the prosecutors office said in a statement on Wednesday, using an abbreviation of oleoresin capsicum, an oily extract from pepper. The prosecutors office received a complaint about the incident Friday and launched a thorough investigation, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer. After careful review, it was clear Dubiels actions are not consistent with the State of New Jersey use-of-force policy, Mayer said. Dubiel served as a Woodlynne officer for 10 months, marking the ninth police department where he worked, according to officials. A complete list of his prior employers was not immediately available and officials did not say why he left his series of law enforcement posts. Disciplinary records of police officers in New Jersey are not public except in limited circumstances, including if the records become an exhibit at a trial or through civil service appeals. State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal called the alleged assault an appalling and completely unjustified use of force, and credited the county prosecutor for handling the investigation. Grewal last week announced New Jersey would create a licensing system for police officers. This officer, who has worked for nine different police departments, is a strong example of why we need a statewide licensing program for police officers a proposal that I initiated and that I will strongly support when it is presented later this month to the Police Training Commission, Grewal said in a statement. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Seven black and Latino artists joined forces Saturday to paint a mural to represent unity between the two communities and to nourish the Black Lives Matter movement. It took them nearly two days to finish. The next day, it was gone. Visiting Alaska? You'll need a COVID-19 test to get in. Planning a weekend in Canada? Sorry, it's closed to American visitors. So is Mexico. How about Europe? Be careful. Pick the wrong country and you may be quarantined, at your expense, for 14 days. With summer vacation season almost here, and museums, stadiums and national parks all shuttered, families are scrambling to make alternate plans. And with restrictions and hurdles such as these, is it any wonder that we'll be avoiding crowds and staying close to home? "Its no surprise that travelers will be inclined to take to the highways rather than travel by air as they begin to venture out," wrote Stephanie Quilligan, a travel PR specialist at marketing firm Mower. "Car travel gives a sense of control over ones environment that flying cannotno security lines, packing restrictions or strangers sharing a confined space. "Road trips are more economical also and the idea of driving freely on the open road can be very liberating for those who have spent the past few months at home," Quilligan added. At AAA Hudson Valley, staff members are putting together one-, three-, and five-day vacation ideas for members. One example: A wings road trip west to Buffalo, culminating at the Anchor Bar, which introduced the world to Buffalo wings. Latest coronavirus-related cancellations, postponements The latest coronavirus numbers in NY Sign up for the Times Union coronavirus newsletter Full coronavirus coverage AAA spokeswoman Tara Ricard said other suggestions also are being developed, with staff vetting each one to make sure everything is open. While hotels are beginning to open up again, some families are renting recreational vehicles instead. State-operated campgrounds have reopened, and having your own overnight accommodations will take the uncertainty out of trying to find a hotel room. For Andy Heck, president of recreational equipment retailer Alpin Haus, it's been a mixed up season. "First, we had a lot of RV rental cancellations. We do a lot for people going to music festivals" and other multi-day events, but the pandemic put the kibosh on those. "But now, we're getting families. It's very busy," Heck said Friday afternoon. Many head north to the Adirondacks, while others head east to Cape Cod or to Maine. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. And those who head far enough will find themselves in the North Country, which entered phase three of the reopening Friday. That lets restaurant patrons dine inside as well as outside, thanks to the move to phase three, said James McKenna, CEO of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism in Lake Placid. While Olympic facilities -- Lake Placid hosted the Winter Games in 1932 and again in 1980 -- are still closed, the village is surrounding by an extensive system of High Peaks hiking trails. Or, you can take a leisurely walk around Mirror Lake in the center of town. Restaurants, by the way, are limited to no more than 50% capacity. McKenna also urged visitors to follow social distancing practices and wear face masks. "We want people to visit, but we want them to be smart," he said Friday. After months of shutdown, "We want to keep our businesses going the next few months," and avoid the second wave other states have experienced. And during spring's flying insect season, face masks provide another advantage. "You won't inhale any black flies," McKenna said. EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story had the incorrect year for the 1932 Winter Olympics. The focus on COVID-19 couldnt last forever. Yes, it is a life and death pandemic. Yes, it threatens not only the health of people all over the world but the global economy. But there are other political forces at play. It was naive to think these would remain ignored. This is the context in which the debate over the Canada Emergency Response Benefit is taking place. When the CERB was inaugurated earlier this year, it was billed by politicians as part of an all-hands-on-deck effort to deal with an unprecedented crisis. To curb the spread of the new coronavirus, governments forced entire sectors of the economy to shut down. That, in turn, left hundreds of thousands of Canadian workers without income. Unemployment soared. The CERB was a desperate effort by Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberal government to get money into the hands of those Canadian workers. Offering $500 a week for a short period of time to those who had lost work because of the pandemic, it was billed as a national effort. Even the opposition parties supported it. At the time, the government downplayed any notion that some workers might make fraudulent claims. We knew the risk was there, Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough told CBC in May. But it was calculated. And we also knew we had to get the money to Canadians. So we took the risk. That, however, was then. Now the Liberal government has suddenly become worried about fraudulent misuse of the CERB. More to the point, it worries that workers will find this $500 per week benefit so princely that they wont return to their old jobs jobs that often pay less. Economists say that the CERB de-incentivises work. Normal people might say it puts pressure on employers to pay a living wage. However it is described, this is clearly not something the Liberals are willing to countenance. A draft bill they circulated this week would deny the CERB to workers who refuse to return to their old jobs or who refuse to accept reasonable new job offers. Under the draft bill, hefty penalties, including jail time, could be levied against those who knowingly break the CERB rules. For reasons that are far too complicated to pursue in this short space, the Liberal bill has been held up in the minority Parliament and may never see the light of day. Nonetheless, it signals how the Trudeau government now views the pandemic. It is no longer seen as a unique threat to human existence on the planet. Rather, it is just one of those things like the demands of the business lobby that any savvy government looking to be re-elected keeps in mind. The same logic lies behind Trudeaus somewhat puzzling decision to take part last week in a street demonstration protesting what he called the systemic racism of Canadian society. I say puzzling because, as prime minister, Trudeau has the power to implement some of the changes demonstrators were demanding. In effect, he was protesting against himself which is odd. He was also breaking his own pandemic advice (and probably Ontario law) by taking part in a gathering of more than five people. But as the prime minister explained later, the pandemic is no longer the sole determinant of political action. It is just one among many. Or, as he put it: We are trying to balance very important competing interests. Music College Deeply Sorry for Letting Boston Police Use Restrooms After Protest Berklee College of Music said it was deeply sorry for opening the schools restrooms to police officers who were stationed nearby following a protest in Boston. Berklees president Roger Brown, who is set to leave his position next year, said in an apology letter to the school community that allowing the officers inside had caused feelings of oppression, silencing, and marginalization. Brown confirmed in the letter that after a protest on May 31, Boston police officers were staying on guard at an intersection near the campus, and they were allowed to use the restroom facilities in the colleges performance center. The Berklee Public Safety Department later clarified on Facebook, saying that was not a formal decision by the institution, but an informal one, made on the spot. We have learned from many of you personally and across social channels of your hurt and anger that this access was permitted, especially as the facility is not currently open for students and members of our community, the letter continues. Allowing police officers into the space was in no way meant to undermine Berclees support of Black Lives Matter. Let us assure you, Brown wrote. This should not have happened, and going forward, it will not happen again. The apology letter has faced criticism on social media, including from Reasons editor-at-large Matt Welch and conservative filmmaker Dinesh DSouza. People are losing their ever-loving minds, commented Welch. And who will the Berklee College of Music call when rioters surround it and start burning it to the ground? wrote DSouza on twitter. Do they have a music performance planned for that occasion? The apology comes as Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, a Democrat, announced his plan to transfer a total of $12 million, or 20 percent of the police overtime budget for the 2021 fiscal year, to other programs such as health care. Meanwhile, Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker said he didnt support calls to defund the police, but he was willing to work with minority communities to create a police certification process for more transparency and accountability in law enforcement. Im not a big believer at the end of the day that the right way to solve a number of problems is to so-called defund the police, said Baker, in response to Walshs announcement. I do believe in more accountability and transparency and as I said yesterday, well be filing legislation on that next week that weve been working with the black and Latino Caucus on for quite a while. Rating: Solid neighborhood option Back Unturned Brewing Co. opened in November inside the former space of The Brooklynite cocktail bar downtown. It is the culmination of a passion project for owner Ricardo Garcia, who pursued the creation of his own brewpub for more than five years. Garcia said the name of the business is based on the idea to never turn your back on your dreams. The open kitchen is part of the show at Back Unturned, and customers can watch their sourdough crusts fly up in the air, get loaded up with toppings and put into the oven while enjoying a tasty pint. The beer is good here, but thats for another time. Garcia always intended for food to play a major element in his business; he just didnt know it would play as big of one as it has. Chef Jared Cattoni, using a fiery pizza oven that roars at 650 degrees, has created a 13-pizza menu that has more options than most businesses with pizza in their name. On ExpressNews.com: 52 Weeks of Pizza: Meatballs shine at Braza Brava Pizza Napoletana More Information Back Unturned Brewing Co. Rating: Solid neighborhood option Locations: 516 Brooklyn Ave., 210-257-0022 Online:backunturned.com Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays. Takeout/delivery: Yes/No See More Collapse Best pizza: The name might not look sexy on the menu, but the prosciutto mushroom pizza ($9 for a 6-inch) is the runaway winner and showcases Cattonis talents. This is a true unicorn pie with the application of walnuts, yes walnuts, roasted in truffle oil that soak up all of the great earthy flavor it is known for. Add to that tender mushrooms and proscuitto, and its a pizza thats love at first bite. Other pizzas: If blindfolded, I might tell you I was eating a basket of boneless chicken wings but for the texture. Back Unturned turns out one of the best Buffalo chicken pizzas ($9 for a 6-inch) you will find, because it comes doused with the essential ingredient to good wings: Franks RedHot sauce. The sharp hit of Gorgonzola is another key flavor player. On the more traditional pizza front, the Campagnola ($8.50 for a 6-inch) showcases the strength of a sourdough crust that comes with half-inch thick walls. The pizza is loaded with house-made Italian sausage, roasted peppers, onions and a mountain of mozzarella, but the slices didnt buckle to the pressure. On ExpressNews.com: 52 Weeks of Pizza: Hungry Chameleon Pizzeria restaurant a master of blended global flavors Let it be stated for the record that anchovies dont scare me. I love them. But the puttanesca ($8.50 for a 6-inch) smelled like I was walking through a fish market, and its a pizza I cant recommend. Anchovy oil is salty and stinky, and way too much was applied. A heavy handed layer of kalamata olives and capers only compounded the problem with additional brine. Chuck Blount is a food writer and columnist covering all things grilled and smoked in the San Antonio area. Find his Chuck's Food Shack columns on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.comTo read more from Chuck, become a subscriber. cblount@express-news.net | Twitter: @chuck_blount | Instagram: @bbqdiver Citing a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by publishers, Internet Archive founder Brewster Kahle announced this week that the IAs National Emergency Library initiative will cease operating on June 16, two weeks earlier than its previously announced June 30 closing date. We moved up our schedule because, last Monday, four commercial publishers chose to sue Internet Archive during a global pandemic, Kahle wrote in a blog post published this week. However, this lawsuit is not just about the temporary National Emergency Library. The complaint attacks the concept of any library owning and lending digital books, challenging the very idea of what a library is in the digital world." Currently, most trade publishers license e-books to publishers only on limited termsgenerally two years of access or 52 lends whichever comes first, before the title must be relicensedwhich librarians say inhibits their ability to build digital collections for the public. In addition, a number of older titles don't have digital editions, librarians add, and are not likely to get a commercial digital edition because the works have no commercial appeal, or their rights situations are unclear. The Internet Archive announced the National Emergency Library project on March 24, in response to the widespread closures of libraries and schools during the Covid-19 crisis. The temporary initiative unilaterally removed the usual one copy/one user restriction on scans borrowed from the Internet Archives Open Library project, allowing unlimited borrowing of the roughly 1.4 million titles scanned, unless an author or publisher opted out. The NEL was set to last until June 30, or until the crisis is over. After some positive initial headlines, the NEL drew strong rebukes from some individual authors and publishers, as well as accusations from trade associations, including the Association of American Publishers, which accused the Archive of an "opportunistic attack on the rights of authors and publishers." On June 1, the Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, John Wiley & Sons, and Penguin Random House, in coordination with the AAP, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York accusing the Internet Archive of massive copyright infringement in connection with its book scanning program. The suit asks the court to issue preliminary and permanent injunctions to prevent the IA from scanning, displaying, and distributing literary works in connection with its Open Library and National Emergency Library efforts. We moved up our schedule because, last Monday, four commercial publishers chose to sue Internet Archive during a global pandemic. While the NEL will end on June 16, Kahle said in the post that the Internet Archive will continue to operate the Open Library, lending scans of print library books on a one copy/one user model under an untested legal theory known as "controlled digital Lending." Under the controlled digital lending theory, a library or a nonprofit, like the Internet Archive scans a print copy of a book they have legally acquired, then makes the scan available to be borrowed in lieu of the print book, using a DRM-protected one user/one copy model, while, crucially, taking the corresponding print book out of circulation while the digital copy is on loan, or vice versa, maintaining a "one to one owned to loaned" ratio. But publishers and authors have for years expressed outrage over the practice of controlled digital lending, and in their June 1 complaint the plaintiff publishers called it an "invented" theory with no basis in law. "No concept of fair use supports the systematic mass copying or distribution of entire books for the purpose of mass reading, or put another way, for the purpose of providing to readers the very thing that publishers and authors provide in the first place through lawful and established channels," the publisher suit alleges. In his blog post this week, however, Kahle defended the practice. "Controlled digital lending is how many libraries have been providing access to digitized books for nine years," Kahle explained in the post. "The digitized book is protected by the same digital protections that publishers use for the digital offerings on their own sites. Many libraries, including the Internet Archive, have adopted this system since 2011 to leverage their investments in older print books in an increasingly digital world." The death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer galvanized long-simmering resentments about racial profiling and the use of excessive force by law enforcement, leading to protests in scores of cities in the U.S., Europe, Asia, South America and Africa.The demands for change have ranged from reform of policing practices to defunding, dismantling and even abolishing law enforcement agencies. On June 7 the Minneapolis City Council , at the heart of a global storm of outrage, concluded that its police department was beyond reform and should be dismantled. To date, theres been no conversation at the federal level regarding strategies that could help states respond to weeks of civil unrest. The first protests took place in late May and soon after, state legislators began to propose measures to help resolve inequities and protect citizens, the first signs of a wave that will inevitably grow. Here's a sampling of legislative action: SB20-217 , Enhancing Law Enforcement Integrity, creates a new use of force standard, with specific guidelines for protests and demonstrations. It outlaws chokeholds and requires an officer to intervene if a colleague is using unlawful physical force, with a penalty of decertification for failing to do so. The bill would require all local law enforcement agencies and the state patrol to issue body cameras to officers, to be activated during interactions with the public. Among other provisions, it requires a police officer to have a legal basis for making contact with a member of the public. HB51 , abill, addresses the concept of qualified immunity, which protects government officials against liability for actions taken in their official capacity. It would establish that no element of qualified immunity or any other kind of immunity can be claimed by law enforcement officers as a defense in wrongful death or physical injury cases. HR13 would establish a group to study policing and law enforcement systems, in response to deaths of black men at the hands of white police officers. The group would include representatives from the ACLU, the NAACP, the Southern Poverty Law Center and Urban League. SR0122 , enacted in, condemns extremist organizations such as Antifa and Boogaloo for acts of domestic terrorism and urges Congress to redouble its efforts to combat them. HB5837 would require persons seeking to become licensed as law enforcement officers in the state to complete training on topics including implicit bias, de-escalation techniques, non-lethal force and support available to law enforcement officers. SCR14 observes that the American Public Health Association identifies both racism and law enforcement violence as public health issues. It asks the governor to declare racism to be a public health crisis affecting the entire state, and to form a working group that would promote racial equality. Nearly 30 bills related to law enforcement have been introduced insince the beginning of June, and the governor is expected to sign a number of them. S8495 , which has passed the Senate, prohibits the use of racial profiling by police. It requires law enforcement agencies to adopt written policies to prevent profiling and procedures for responding to complaints. S8514 prohibits the use of tear gas by law enforcement personnel. A10601 requires diversity and inclusion training to be incorporated in basic and pre-employment training for state and municipal police officers as well as firefighters and corrections officers. Bills introduced ininclude S2562 , which establishes that an officer who knowingly chokes another person has engaged in the use of deadly force. A4211 imposes a moratorium on the use of facial recognition or other biometric surveillance systems. The bill was introduced on June 1, prior to IBMs announcement that it would no longer create or sell facial recognition software due to its potential to contribute to racial profiling by police. A4248 aims to establish a task force to make recommendations about identifying and treating police and other pandemic first responders experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. Health Minister Simon Harris is "mismanaging" Ireland's return to economic activity, according to Ryanair. It is the latest step in the row between health officials and the airline, which plans to operate 1,000 flights per day from July 1 despite recommendations for passengers arriving into Ireland to self-isolate for 14 days. The budget airline has written to Mr Harris to once again call for the removal of this requirement. It said the "form filling" questionnaire has "no scientific or medical efficacy" but is deterring European visitors from booking holidays in Ireland in July and August. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has been very vocal in his opposition to quarantine measures in Ireland and the UK, claiming they are ineffective and unenforceable. Protocols published by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) advise airline passengers to maintain physical distance, observe enhanced hygiene processes such as hand-washing, and wear face coverings in airports and aircrafts. They do not recommend a quarantine for passengers after they travel. A spokesperson for Ryanair said the quarantine is undermining Ireland's economic recovery. "Thousands of Irish families are booking holidays in Portugal, Spain and Italy during July and August," they said. "However, Irelands hotels, tour operators, visitor attractions and restaurants are being unnecessarily damaged by this useless and ineffective visitor quarantine, which will deter European visitors during the peak travel months. "Having managed the Covid-19 lockdown well, it is deeply regrettable that NPHET continues to mismanage the return to normality by being too cautious, and not following the well-established scientific advice being implemented by the rest of Europe." The airline called on Minister Harris to "scrap Ireland's useless and ineffective visitor quarantine" and replace it with mandatory use of face masks on all forms of public transport and rigorous hand hygiene. "If NPHET are not willing to make these sensible and scientifically based decisions, then Minister Harris and his Government should," they said. Responding to an earlier letter from Mr O'Leary, Mr Harris said "100% of non-exempt passengers" have filled out passenger locator forms. But, in his latest letter to the Minister, Mr O'Leary said there is no way of verifying the information provided and he claims "there is no follow up" phone call or email. Mr Harris' letter, dated June 9, says the government will continuously review its position and the public health advice to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in Ireland will be considered again on June 18. Ryanair published the letters on the same day it started legal action in the UK to overturn their quarantine policy. Ryanair, British Airways and EasyJet say the UK's quarantine is deferring bookings at a time when other European countries are opening up. Thursday night in Philadelphia was marred by a spate of shootings that left at least one person dead and 11 others wounded, including one episode where a pack of gunmen in ski masks opened fire on a group of people. Police described the incident in the Tioga neighborhood involving the masked shooters as possibly gang-related. According to investigators, a half-dozen people were standing outsider a house at North Broad and Colwyn streets at 1.30am on Friday when a black car pull up beside them. Scroll down for video Five men and a woman between ages 26-33 were shot by a group of gunmen in ski masks while standing outside this house in the Tioga section of Philadelphia overnight The gunmen arrived in a black car and fired at least 20 shots at the victims A group of men with ski masks obscuring their faces jumped out and opened fire, shooting at least 20 rounds. The victims - five men and one woman between ages 26 and 33 - scattered. One person from the group, described as a 32-year-old man, returned fire while fleeing, reported NBC10. All six suffered gunshot wounds to the back and lower extremities. Four drove themselves to hospitals, the 32-year-old was picked up by paramedics on the way, and another ran to a neighbor's house for help but was turned away. A 29-year-old man was shot dead while sitting in his Chevy and waiting for his girlfriend in the Juanita Park section early Friday Five of the victims were listed in stable condition. A 29-year-old man was critical after suffering a gunshot wound to the back and walking himself to the hospital. In a separate incident, a 29-year-old man was sitting in a Chevy waiting to pick up his girlfriend in the Juanita Park neighborhood at 2.30am when he was shot in the torso and killed. Responding police officers found the victim's vehicle parked in the 4300 block of M Street riddled with bullets after an unidentified gunman fired 25 rounds, reported WPVI. Gunfire in the Kensington neighborhood just before midnight resulted in leg wounds to two men, ages 24 and 29. They were described as in stable condition at Temple University Hospital. Two men in their 20s attending a graduation party in the Kensington section were shot in the legs by two gunmen The men were said to be attending a relative's graduation party on Malta Street when someone opened fire. Evidence gathered at the scene suggests that two guns were used in the attack. Witnesses also said they saw two men fleeing after the shooting on East Ontario Street. And a shooting in the Fairmount neighborhood, close to Philadelphia's row of art museums, sent two men to Presbyterian Hospital, authorities said. As of late Friday morning, no arrests have been made in connection to any of the shootings. Photo: The Canadian Press Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart Vancouver's mayor wants the B.C. government to conduct a review of policing across the province, claiming city councils can only "rubber stamp" decisions. City council can do little to change municipal policing in Vancouver because the provincial government can override its decisions, Mayor Kennedy Stewart told a news conference on Thursday. "The province's Police Act requires us to more or less rubber stamp police budgets outside minimal discretionary spending," he said. Instead, B.C. Premier John Horgan should initiate a comprehensive review of all levels of policing, including the RCMP, Stewart added. Stewart, who is also the chairman of the Vancouver Police Board, said city councils lack the ability to create large-scale change and the province should review everything from systemic racism to the impact policing has on vulnerable populations. "While many U.S. cities, including Minneapolis, can massively restructure its police, neither organizations which I chair can legally do this even if they wanted to," he added. In a statement, Vancouver Chief Constable Adam Palmer said: "If the province of B.C. chooses to initiate a review of policing in B.C., the VPD will participate fully." Stewart also offered support for an end to street checks, where a police officer can ask for a person's identification and personal information, and for police departments to examine using body cameras. Ontario has curtailed the practice of street checks, also known as carding, in light of data suggesting that people of colour were disproportionately stopped by officers in that province and asked to provide identifying information even if no particular offence had occurred. The B.C. Civil Liberties Association, which earlier on Thursday called for an end to street checks, called Stewart's push for a review "disappointing." "This is a game of passing the buck," said Latoya Farrell, a policy lawyer with the association. "There's nothing preventing (Stewart) and city council from taking action now." Instead, Stewart should be taking immediate action to stop procedures like street checks instead of initiating another review, she added. "Right now, it seems like he's saying 'I would like the province to review this and come up with recommendations' and that's not enough at this point." B.C.'s solicitor general said in a statement the province will create a committee to consult with communities and experts on how to best update the Police Act. "Everyone deserves to be be treated fairly by the police and our government acknowledges that for many Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour, that hasn't always been the case," said Mike Farnworth. By Kana Walsh, Missing Maps Youth Outreach Coordinator and Rachel Levine, American Red Cross Missing Maps Program Coordinator Many of us are practicing social distancing and looking for ways to give back while keeping ourselves, our families, and our communities safe. Volunteering to build digital maps is a great activity to do with the whole familyfrom the comfort of home. These maps help humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross to better prepare communities around the globe for disasters and respond to crises when they strike. Mappers need to be over the age of 13 to create their own account and need access to a computer. Mice are encouraged and touch screens are discouraged. With your internet access and our easy-to-use online mapping technologies, youre on your way to making a difference. Maps save lives Each year, disasters around the world kill nearly 100,000 people and affect or displace 200 million. Many of the places where these disasters occur are literally 'missing' from digital maps, so first responders lack the information to make valuable decisions about relief efforts. Missing Maps is an open, collaborative projectco-founded by the American Red Crossthat empowers volunteers to map areas where humanitarian organizations are working. We use a free and open source platform called OpenStreetMap (OSM) and have had more than 100,000 volunteers participate over the last five years. Weve worked on projects around the world. For example, to assist with a measles vaccine campaign, 6,000 mappers traced 400,000 buildings across Malawi. This helped the Red Cross and its partners target 8 million children in need of vaccinations in just one week. We also supported contact tracing initiatives during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. When only two out of every ten patients at clinics were able to be traced, 100 Red Cross volunteers in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone traveled to more than 7,000 border communities to ensure that these vulnerable areas were on the mapcreating open data in OpenStreetMap that can be used by responders if another emergency were to occur in those same communities. If you want to dig deeper, you can read our most recent blog post about supporting a pandemic preparedness program in Guinea. Im mapping with my online community When we map together, we call these events mapathons. Across the world, trained mapathon facilitators share this volunteer opportunity with their local communities. As a Missing Maps Youth Outreach Coordinator since 2017, I (Kana) have engaged youth in scouting organizations. Over the years, I have used mapping as an opportunity to teach other young people how to help disaster responders who are supporting vulnerable communities. I first started mapping while completing a community service project for the Girl Scouts of Hawai`i. Later, I expanded on this work in a follow-on service project organizing mapathons for high school students around the world. Now locked down due to COVID-19, I have been promoting community service through humanitarian mapping within the Boy Scouts of America. While earning my NOVA Award, I continue to engage with Missing Maps. I have developed a humanitarian mapping merit badge, hosted remote mapathons, and organized a global group of scouts to adopt a high need project. Now, I am in the process of organizing a remote mapathon for my troop in the Aloha Council. Through these initiatives, scouts have a chance to participate in remote mapathons and learn new skills while helping their community from the safety of their own homes. Many of us are spending more time at home right now. Mapping is a great way to use that time to contribute back to the world without leaving the house. This is one way we can be together, apart. How to get started The process is simple and its fun to grow your skill sets while learning this new tool. Its important that you feel comfortable with our interface before mapping, so you might want to watch a quick intro and training first. To get started, volunteers create a free account on OpenStreetMap (OSM). Then they use our tasking manager to pick a project to support. Volunteers check out a square to map and are provided instructions for their specific task. Next they review satellite imagery for their area and trace these missing features. Our first skill to build is tracing buildings and we then we can move on to tracing roads and validation. We also have a sister-app called MapSwipe. Through MapSwipe, volunteers pinpoint where critical infrastructure and populations are located, allowing mappers to focus only on areas where they know features need to be mapped. This can be done from a phone or tablet. Reach out to missingmaps@redcross.org with any questions. Happy mapping! The Nepali police present along the borders on Friday fired on the Indian side in Bihars Sitamarhi indiscriminately that left an Indian farmer dead and four others were injured. The incident took place along the Indo-Nepal border at Sonbarsa in Sitamarhi. As per reports, a clash between the Indians and Nepali police personnel had taken place at the Lalbandi-Janki Nagar border in Pipra Parsain Panchayat under the Sonebarsha police station. Bihar: One dead, two injured in firing in Sitamarhi near India-Nepal border, confirms Sashastra Seema Bal IG of Bihar sector. Locals allege it was caused due to firing from Nepal side. pic.twitter.com/zr5YaJN9YE ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2020 According to ANI, SSB DG Rajesh Chandra said, At around 8:40 am, a family was going to Nepal. They were stopped by the Nepali security forces at the border and asked to go back that triggered a verbal altercation. Nepal security personnel fired 15 rounds that injured three and one died. He added that one person was also detained by the Nepal security force. The additional director general of police, Jitendra Kumar confirmed the casualties and the injuries. The origin of the firing falls under the Nepal borderline. SSB 51st Batallion Deputy Commandment Satyendra Kumar said that the matter is serious and the investigation is underway. While Nepali side said that they were trying to snatch weapons and during that the firing happened. The deceased have been identified as Vikesh Kumar, 25. The injured Uday Sharma, Umesh Ram, and Shiv Dayal Yadav are admitted to the private hospital of the city. Nagen Yadav is reportedly being treated under the custody of the Nepali police. Meanwhile, the situation along the Indo-Nepal border is tensed. The SSB and the local police are camping on the spot. Currently, the Indian government and the Nepali government are engaged in conflict after Nepals government amendment to update the map of the country including the Indian territories of Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipulekh as Nepals. The map was allegedly released after India inaugurated its road via Lipulekh to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet. Monk Ha Van Phung, the abbot of Khmer Xa Xiem Cu Pagoda in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, always wanted to do something to help people in his hometown. Monk Ha Van Phung (first, left) walks on the bridge he and Buddhist followers designed and built in Xa Xiem Hamlet, Binh An Commune in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang. VNA/VNS Photos Witnessing children and adults in Binh An Commune travelling bumpy roads covered in wild grass and passing over slippery footbridges to schools, Phung decided to make the roads easier to traverse. Traffic was not convenient at all while the primary school was more than 4km and the secondary school was 5km away from the centre of the commune. It took them a lot of time to travel around, he said. Phung started building the first bridge connecting the two sides of a canal in Xa Xiem Hamlet in 2005. He learnt to design the bridge and called upon Buddhist followers to help with building it, meaning construction costs were kept to a minimum. It was the first concrete bridge in the hamlet. To date, four concrete bridges and thousands of metres of roads worth more than VND1 billion (US$42,840) have been built to help local people travel conveniently and safely. Monk Ha Van Phung, the abbot of the Khmer Xa Xiem Cu Pagoda, has been honoured for his contribution to his local community. Phung was born and raised in Xa Xiem Hamlet. Like most of his peers, he had to work in the fields to earn a living. At the age of 18, he became a monk and decided to spend his life performing good deeds. In 2004, Phung was appointed abbot of Xa Xiem Cu Pagoda. Phung thought it was time to raise his idea about the cement bridges and roads in the hamlet, a move warmly welcomed by both local authorities and citizens. The communes Peoples Committee donated VND300 million ($12,850) to build the bridges. By doing the work themselves, Phung and the Buddhist followers managed to return VND100 million ($4,280) to the committee. The money, he said, was returned to help other disadvantaged hamlets in the commune. Apart from building roads, Phung and local Buddhist followers give poor students rice and school equipment. During summer holidays, he opens Khmer language class to teach 200 local residents in the hamlet to preserve their culture. Phung also donated 3,000sq.m of land from the pagoda to build a primary school for children. Danh So Ri Gia, head of the Fatherland Front Committee of Xa Xiem Hamlet said Phung created solidarity among local people and authorities by building infrastructure in the commune. Nguyen Hung Tuan, vice chairman of the communes People's Committee, said Phung was very enthusiastic in rural transport work and teaching the Khmer language to children in the summer. He also helped encourage local people to work hard and escape poverty. Now, only 52 out of 418 households in the area are considered as living in poverty. Phung has been awarded many certificates of merit for his contribution to society. VNS Mum to hundreds of children with autism With the warm heart of a mother, Do Thi Nhi, owner of private special school Binh Minh in Tu Son Town, the northern province of Bac Ninh, has raised hundreds of children with autism, helping them gain confidence and lead a normal life. The all-you-can-eat buffet, apparently, is dead a victim of the coronavirus. Even when we return to normal life, it will never re-emerge. Never? Say it isnt so. In its heyday, the all-you-can buffet was a form of gambling in which you would place a wager on your own stomach, and that of your family, in a battle against the chef. If he made money, you lost the bet. Is the all you can eat buffet dead? Credit:iStock Many would fast for 24 hours before beginning the ordeal. Some families handed out chewing gum during the journey to the restaurant thinking it might supercharge the childrens digestive system. Others perfected methods of filling a plate in which ingredients would be balanced upon each other to form swaying towers of food; or in which a half-kilo of prawns would be hidden on the bread plate, a piece of sliced white bread expertly placed to hide the evidence. Education Department Formally Restricts Illegal Immigrants From Receiving CARES Aid In a finalized rule over the distribution of federal grants to help ease financial hardship for college students during the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education has re-affirmed its position that illegal immigrants and international students will not receive the relief money. Its clear the CARES Act was written to help Americans recover from the coronavirus pandemic, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said in a Thursday statement. U.S. taxpayers have long supported U.S. students pursuing higher education, and this rule simply ensures the continuity of that well-established policy. While setting aside $6 billion direct cash grants to help students cover expenses incurred due to the pandemic, Congress didnt define student in the legislation, according to DeVos, who called it a critical ambiguity requiring her department to exercise its narrow interpretative authority. Since the CARES Act did reference portions of the Higher Education Act that deals with Title IV aid programs, DeVos took this to mean that only Title IV-eligible students can receive the grants. DeVos also noted that many colleges and universities have already started to distribute their emergency aid funds based on their own definition of students. Under the finalized rule, however, those institutions would have to stop awarding grants to everyone who meets their broader definition. DeVos in April issued a guidance on which students can receive the CARES Act relief money. Although Congress didnt explicitly state in the legislation to bar certain students from getting those grants, the guidance said that the grants are only available to students who are also eligible for Federal Student Aid, which excludes illegal immigrants, including participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The guidance faced backlash, including two lawsuits filed against DeVosone from the California Community Colleges System and another from Washingtons attorney general. They argued that her department misinterpreted the will of Congress in not allowing CARES Act funds to be awarded to international students, DACA recipients, and many other students. In response to criticism, the Education Department took a step back, saying in a statement that it would not enforce that guidance because it lacked the force and effect of law. Created by the Obama administration in 2012, the DACA program grants those who were illegally brought to the United States as children protection from deportation, as well as renewable work permits. In 2017, the Trump administration announced it would terminate DACA, and the Supreme Court is expected to decide by this month on whether that decision was lawful. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters Starbucks said Friday that employees will be allowed to wear clothing and accessories in support of Black Lives Matter, responding to a backlash and boycott calls after the coffee chain banned staff from wearing their own T-shirts and pins supporting the movement. Related: George Floyd: US gears up for weekend of Black Lives Matter protests live updates In a bulletin last week, Starbucks said employees were prohibited from wearing items supporting Black Lives Matter, because it violated the companys dress-code policy. The bulletin, obtained by BuzzFeed News earlier this week, said employees were not permitted to wear buttons or pins that advocate a political, religious or personal issue. It said that Starbucks vice-president of diversity and inclusion Nzinga Shaw shared in an internal video why clothing that highlighted Black Lives Matter is against company policy. It read: [Shaw] explains there are agitators who misconstrue that fundamental principles of the Black Lives Matter movement and in certain circumstances, intentionally repurpose them to amplify divisiveness. Employees told BuzzFeed News that Starbucks exempts clothing and accessories that support LGBTQ rights and has handed out buttons supporting the cause. Starbucks came under fire for publicly supporting the Black Lives Matter movement as many US corporations have done in recent weeks while privately telling employees that they cannot wear clothing and accessories that support the movement. In response to the criticism, Starbucks said on Friday that it would design and distribute 250,000 T-shirts that feature a series of protest picket signs, including one that says Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. We continue to listen to our partners and communities and their desire to stand for justice together. The Starbucks Black Partner Network co-designed t-shirts with this graphic that will soon be sent to 250,000+ store partners. pic.twitter.com/Wexb45RcTE Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) June 12, 2020 These are alarming, uncertain times, and people everywhere are hurting. Youve told us you need to express yourself at work, asking: Do you understand how I feel? Do you understand the black community is in pain? Starbucks said in a statement announcing the policy reversal. We see you. We hear you. Black lives matter. That is a fact and will never change. Story continues Starbucks also announced earlier in the month, before the backlash, that it plans to donate $1m to organizations promoting racial equity and more inclusive and just communities. Starbucks has come under fire before in relation racial bias in its shops. In 2018, two black men were arrested in Philadelphia after an employee said they were trespassing by refusing to buy coffee and leave the shop. A video of the arrest went viral and garnered widespread criticism. In response to that incident, Starbucks closed all of its US stores for an afternoon to hold racial bias training. Gov. Kate Brown on Friday told the Oregon Department of Corrections director to review inmates for possible release to limit the spread of coronavirus in the state prison system. Brown asked the department to perform a case-by-case analysis of inmates who are vulnerable to the virus and outlined a list of criteria for possible commutation. An agency spokeswoman said about 100 inmates meet the governors criteria. The Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem is the largest coronavirus outbreak in the state. The latest count as of Thursday shows 139 inmates there have tested positive, with several dozen staff members also diagnosed with the virus, the department reported. Many inmates have balked at testing out of fear they will be transferred to an even more restrictive setting so the number of cases may underrepresent the actual state of the disease in the prison. The governors criteria includes inmates who are particularly vulnerable to the disease, those who have not been convicted of a crime against another person and those who have served at least half of their sentences. Potential candidates for commutation must have a good conduct record for the past 12 months and a suitable housing plan for release, she said in her letter to Colette Peters, Oregons corrections chief. In no case may an adult in custody be released if they present an unacceptable safety, security, or compliance risk to the community, she wrote. Brown told Peters to provide her with the names of eligible inmates by June 22. While DOC acted quickly to meet the threat presented by COVID-19, there are limits to the departments ability to implement physical distancing in a correctional setting, Brown wrote. Given what we now know about the disease and its pervasiveness in our communities, it is appropriate to release individuals who face significant health challenges should they contract COVID-19. In a statement, Peters said she has reviewed the letter from the governor. I appreciate the governor ensuring those she considers for commutation have community resources, as it relates to housing and medical care, she said. "We will work closely with our community public safety and public health partners throughout this process to protect the public to the best of our ability. The Oregon District Attorneys Association issued a statement Friday saying it has "significant public safety concerns about prison inmates being released prior to the completion of their sentences." The group said early releases undermine truth in sentencing, discounts the safety and security of victims who trusted in a sentence handed down by the court and erodes public confidence in a justice systems accountability for felony lawbreakers. Its not the first time Brown has floated the idea of releasing inmates in response to the pandemic. Early on, she sought similar information from the prison system but then backed away from approving a large-scale release. The governor has continued to face pressure from advocacy organizations to address the threat the virus poses to inmates and corrections staff. Before release, inmates will be required to take a coronavirus test. Anyone with symptoms of the illness or who has tested positive is ineligible until they have recovered. Bobbin Singh, executive director of the nonprofit Oregon Justice Resource Center, is among those who have advocated for early release. He called Browns letter a step in the right direction. He said he wants to see the governor expand the criteria for release to include people who committed person-to-person crimes. He said many have served long sentences and may be close to release. At this point, the most important thing is its a recognition that in order to protect people, we do need to reduce the population, he said. Earlier this month, a federal judge denied a preliminary injunction sought by seven Oregon inmates, finding the states prison system has not shown deliberate indifference to their well-being during the course of the pandemic. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman wrote in her opinion that the most effective protection is to reduce the prison population by releasing vulnerable inmates early if they do not pose a safety risk -- a step she said she lacked authority to direct. "Only the Governor has that power,'' she wrote. Beckerman noted that state has identified 2,584 inmates as scheduled for release within six months and 666 others who are considered "vulnerable'' to the coronavirus and who are serving time for non-Measure 11 offenses. None had been released early by the state as of June 1, though the majority of them arent in prison for person-against-person crimes, the judge said. "Its clear that there are medically vulnerable individuals in custody who could go home a few weeks or a few months early without a risk to public safety,'' Beckerman wrote in her 42-page ruling. The state penitentiary remains the single largest workplace outbreak in Oregon, with 175 cases between inmates and staff combined. The cases at Oregons only maximum-security prison have slowed significantly, though the entire population remains in quarantine conditions. Three other prisons have confirmed cases. Shutter Creek Correctional Institution in North Bend had 25 cases among inmates but this week state public health officials declared the outbreak there resolved. Santiam Correctional Institution in Salem has nine cases and Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla has one. Social distancing poses a challenge in prisons and jails, where people live in close quarters and where, studies show, the population in general tends to be sicker. Oregon is also home to an aging prison population -- it houses among the highest percentages of prisoners ages 55 and older in the country, according to a 2018 study by Pew Charitable Trusts. -- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. KNIVES OUT (2019) Stream on Amazon; rent on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu and YouTube. More than a whiff of Agatha Christie pervades this murder-mystery comedy from Rian Johnson. The deceased is Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), a rich novelist whose throat gets slit. The suspects include several members of Thrombeys family (played by Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon and others) and Thrombeys caretaker (Ana de Armas). The investigation of Thrombeys death, carried out by three investigators (Daniel Craig, Lakeith Stanfield and Noah Segan), makes for a sleek game of cat and mouse, Manohla Dargis wrote in her review for The Times. Whats on TV PRIDELAND 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings). The actor Dyllon Burnside (Pose) travels across the South to interview L.G.B.T.Q. politicians, activists and others in this hourlong special. Burnsides subjects include a competitive rodeo rider, Candy Pratt, who is the president of the International Gay Rodeo Association, and a state representative, Jessica Gonzalez of Texas. Bharat is coming to the aid of India Inc. With large parts of major urban consumption centres under curbs to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, rural India is paving the way for an initial economic recovery after the standstill witnessed in April. The semblance of revival in demand over May and June was on account of activities restarting, a bumper crop, higher allocation under MGNREGA and normal monsoon. A major indicator of farm mood is manifest in domestic tractor sales, which saw an increase of around 5 per cent at 61,000 units, according to data from the industry. In ... Omjasvin MD By Express News Service CHENNAI: In a story of hope, a 97-year-old man has recovered from COVID-19 in a private hospital in Chennai, making him the oldest survivor of the virus in Tamil Nadu -- and the second oldest in the country. The nonagenarian, A Krishna Murti, was admitted to Kauvery Hospital on May 30 after testing positive for COVID-19. Speaking to The New Indian Express, Dr Vijayalakshmi Balakrishnan, Senior Infectious Diseases Specialist at Kauvery Hospital, said he was admitted with pneumonia and mild hypoxia. He also had slight hypertension and was on medicine for coronary heart diseases. He had slight breathlessness which however improved very quickly after treatment, she said. ALSO READ | After 12-day battle, 97-year-old, UPs oldest patient, conquers COVID-19 Dr Vijayalakshmi said that the patient was also slightly deaf but the hospital staff still kept him in good mental health by talking to him. Initially, we had put diapers on him but after a few days, the patient wanted to walk to the bathroom himself, she said. The doctor says no experimental drugs were used. We only gave him supportive treatment and he showed good improvement, she said, adding that its not just therapy but the patients confidence too that matters a lot. "His food intake too got better after being low initially. With his family members staying abroad, some of his relatives came to take him from the hospital," the doctor said. Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, Executive Director, Kauvery Hospital, said the grit and strong willpower shown by the patient as he fought through the infection was commendable. "We hope that this success brings courage and faith for many people around the world. I would like to thank the patient for imbibing faith in us as we continue our fight against the pandemic," he said. A 95-year-old woman who recovered from COVID-19 in April after being treated at the Government Medical College Hospital in Karur was so far the oldest survivor in the state. Last month, a 106-year-old man from Delhi had been discharged after recovering from the infection and is believed to be the oldest COVID-19 survivor in the world. The Juaboso District Assembly in the Western North Region has supported 200 persons with disabilities (PWDs) to help improve upon their standards of living. Out of the number, 31 of them received GH 1000.00 cash each, while the rest received various items such as fufu pounding machines, deep freezers, industrial machines, wheelchairs and stabilizers. Presenting the items to the beneficiaries, Madam Martha Kwayie Manu, District Chief Executive (DCE), explained that the presentation was the fourth in the past three years. She said persons with disabilities in the District were not left out in this trying times of COVID-19 Pandemic, stressing that as she visited all registered PWDs in their homes, she donated nose masks and hand Sanitizers to help protect them and their families from COVID-19. Madam Manu, who is also the Parliamentary Candidate for the NPP in the Juaboso Constituency, said the Assembly had set up a monitoring team to advise and ensure beneficiaries used the items for the intended purpose, so as to stop the PWDs from begging for arms on the Streets. She commended the government and the Local Government Ministry for equipping persons with disabilities in the country, so as to make them useful to themselves and the society. She also appealed to families with relatives who have disabilities not to "hide such persons" but rather register them with the Social Welfare Department to enable them get support from the District Assembly. Mr Williams Agyeman Duah, President of Juaboso District Persons with Disabilities Association, said the COVID-19 had negatively affected them and that the support had come at the right time. He commended the government and the District Assembly for the support and promised to use the items to improve upon on their livelihood. He called on religious institutions and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) to emulate the government's efforts by supporting them with personal protective equipment to protect PWDs against COVID-19 infection. Mr Duah further expressed gratitude to Madam Manu for donating quantities of hand Sanitizers and nose masks to them in their homes. He also advised Ghanaians especially persons with disabilities to adhere to all the protocols aimed at fighting COVID-19. ---GNA (Natural News) Back in March, drug giant Novartis donated 130 million doses of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to the global Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic response. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been directly interfering with its distribution, which has prompted a new lawsuit. The American Association of Surgeons and Physicians (AASP) has filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief against the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), along with the FDA and the Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority, two of its constituent agencies. Also named in the suit are the lead officers of these agencies. According to the AASP, the FDA has been engaged in irrational interference concerning patients having timely access to hydroxychloroquine. Despite the fact that large amounts of hydroxychloroquine were donated to the federal government for prompt distribution, the FDA has seen to it that very few of these drug doses make it out to patients. On March 28, just days after Novartis donated large quantities of hydroxychloroquine to the federal government, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization that essentially prohibited the drug from being administered except in the case of already-hospitalized patients for whom clinical trials are unavailable. Through a biased, unlawful process described in greater detail below, the suit states, FDA officials from prior administrations acted contrary to the wishes of President Donald Trump, by arbitrarily limiting use of HCQ from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to prescribe to adolescent and adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19, as appropriate, when a clinical trial is not available or feasible. AASP lawsuit specifically names Barack Obama appointees as complicit in withholding hydroxychloroquine from coronavirus patients Though the FDA approved hydroxychloroquine as safe for human use some 65 years ago, partisan politics has clearly gotten in the way of its use now. Holdovers from previous administrations, including Barack Obamas, have been fighting against the widespread distribution of this drug, even though it was given to the government for this specific purpose. Rick Bright, a Barack Obama-appointed official who is outspokenly critical of President Trump, according to the lawsuit, has personally opposed making HCQ widely available to the public from the federal SNS. The lawsuit adds that Bright has further distorted the agency process to arbitrarily and unjustifiably limit access by patients to HCQ received as donations by the federal government for the purpose of making it available promptly to the public. HCQ, it turns out, is safer than numerous medications that are widely available over the counter with no prescription. These OTC drugs that are more dangerous include the common painkiller acetaminophen (Tylenol), as well as sleeping pills like diphenhydramine. Hydroxychloroquine is also likely safer than the experimental remdesivir drug that the deep state is pushing instead of hydroxychloroquine for treating the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). As it turns out, remdesivir fetches a much higher price per dose than generic hydroxychloroquine, which explains why Bright, Anthony Fauci, and other swamp holdovers have been pushing it so aggressively over hydroxychloroquine. This interference with the distribution of hydroxychloroquine also affects the political process by which the United States selects its president: national political conventions, the lawsuit goes on to contend. For nearly two centuries, thousands of delegates attend a national political convention together to nominate their candidate for president and to present their slate to the American public. Continued, irrational interference by Defendants with a safe prophylaxis for COVID-19 has the effect of infringing on the right of the people to hold national political conventions, which have been an essential part of our presidential elections since at least 1832. You can read the full lawsuit at this link. For more related news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, be sure to check out Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: Novartis.com AAPSonline.org NaturalNews.com Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, lawyer Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe has as part of the 28th anniversary celebration of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has acknowledged the role of the media in the political journey of the party. Describing the relationship as a symbiotic one, lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe professed that even though the relationship has not been rosy since 1992 to date, the media has helped for the past 28 years carry their messages to Ghanaians in every corner of the country, making the NDC win 4 elections out of the 7 elections that the country has had. Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, the private legal practitioner reiterated that there have been ups and downs in terms of their relationship with the media but insisted that the party has had healthy relationship with journalists. As we celebrate our anniversary, we must also acknowledge the role of Journalists in the political life of our party as the media always carry our messages to Ghanaians in every part of the country for us. Our relationship with the media is like a symbiotic relationship. We have a very strong relationship with the media since 1992 and it is important to say that our relationship with the media has been rosy; there have been ups and downs but overall, it has been a very healthy relationship, he said. He, however, mentioned that giant media groups like the Despite Media Group and Multimedia Group as well as many othersmedia houses obtained their licenses to operate under the various regimes of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), explaining the commitment of the party towards media pluralism. I can proudly say that the first license that Despite Group got to start the media work was under the NDC. That tells you the commitment the NDC has towards media pluralism. Most of the frequencies that the Despite Media Group has were obtained under one NDC regime or the other. What it tells you is that our political party believes media pluralism; from Joy FM, Citi FM, Radio Gold and others received their licenses under the NDC and this is because of the symbiotic relationship we have with journalists, he mentioned. He maintained that through the various regimes of the National Democratic (NDC), a lot of media houses have sprung up across the country; acknowledging the mutual effort put up by both the media and the NDC regimes to strengthen the democratic experiment. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Photo: Contributed As we move through stages of reopening and recovery, I have been connecting with many individuals and organizations from every sector. Many of our local tourism and business association groups have been working diligently connecting with their members and greater business community, offering important surveys that help us all understand how the pandemic has affected local businesses in detail. One virtual meeting I attended was with the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, hosting a large Advisory Council Industry Round Table focusing on three important business sectors in the Central Okanagan. These groups are providing insight and perspective that is useful as I bring forth their concerns and ideas into policy discussions and recommendations within the Official Opposition. A question that I get asked often is why parliamentary committees are important, and what work they do. The government voted to shut down full Parliament until late September, and most committees are also not active and sitting. This is really unfortunate as the work committees do is valuable, including commissioning studies, bringing in experts to testify, and preparing and tabling reports to the government. Fortunately, I sit on the Industry, Science, and Technology Committee, one of the few which have been allowed to meet virtually. With conversations turning to contact tracing as a way of informing health officials and the public about infections, it was timely hearing from a Google Canada representative at the Industry committee. Through my questioning, he provided interesting information about how Google tracks user movements through mobile devices, depending on the settings someone has set on their phones. We also had the privacy commissioner attend who laid out recommendations their department has made to the government on strengthening our privacy laws. We just started a study on the Canada Investment Act. There are concerns with international state-owned enterprises taking advantage of the pandemic situation, so it is a timely topic. Additionally, in a COVID-19 committee meeting, I asked the government to restart the work on breaking down interprovincial trade barriers that they put on hold due to the crisis. I believe it is imperative to help stimulate our economy, and one way, is the ability to move goods and labour interprovincially throughout Canada without barriers. I have been proactively reaching out to many individuals and businesses as the government announces policy or program changes. Some of the topics I have gone back and updated constituents on include reunification with family members from the U.S., the opening of the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF), addition of prohibited firearms to the governments prohibited list, and amendments to other programs. Therefore, I appreciate you continuing to reach out as it helps me know what is important to you and allows me to follow up when necessary. One underlying issue I hear about a lot is the anxiety around uncertainty for what the future will hold, the unknown makes it difficult to plan personally and professionally. I appreciate hearing from you. Reach me at 250-470-5075 or [email protected]. If you go to my website tracygraymp.ca, you can see clips from some of the questioning during recent committee meetings I mentioned. An angry Supreme Court on Friday rebuked states and hospitals across the country for the callous and insensitive manner in which they were treating coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients and the bodies of those who had fallen victim to the disease, issuing notices to the central government and five states Delhi, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat in a suo motu (on its own) case initiated by the apex court. It was especially harsh on the Delhi government and the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) hospital in the city-state, referring to the condition of patients in the hospital as patheticand its wards as deplorable . The duty of the state of NCT Delhi does not end in informing the people that it has arranged 5,814 beds in government hospitals and 9,535 beds including private hospitals. The state and its officers are duty-bound to ensure that patients are taken care (of)... and hospitals have necessary infrastructure and staff, it said in its order. A Delhi government spokesperson said the administration accepted the Supreme Courts observations with utmost respect and with absolute sincerity. The Delhi government is determined to provide health care for all and to ensure best possible treatment to each Covid-19 patient. But if there are any gaps that still remain and is brought to our notice, we will act on them sincerely and immediately. The spokesperson said it was an extraordinary situation and the Delhi government was trying its best. The front line workers in our hospitals, our doctors and nursing staff, are working day and night to serve the people... A three-judge bench headed by justice Ashok Bhushan asked the five states to submit detailed status reports on the government hospitals treating Covid-19-infected people, patient care and details of the staff and infrastructure in the hospitals before June 17, when the case will be taken up next for hearing. Covid-19 patients are treated worse than animals. In one case, a dead body was found in garbage, the bench, which also comprised justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MR Shah, remarked during the hearing of the case. The Supreme Court registered on Thursday the suo motu case over issues surrounding the treatment of Covid-19 patients and handling of the bodies of Covid-19 victims in hospitals. Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde took cognisance of media reports highlighting the issue and assigned the matter to the three-judge bench. We direct that the chief secretaries of the states shall immediately take appropriate notice of the status of patients management in the government hospital in their respective states and take remedial action. Status reports with regard to government hospitals, patient care and the details of the staff, infrastructure, etc. should be brought before the court so that appropriate directions can be issued by the court as found necessary on the next date of hearing, the order passed by the court said. The bench also expressed concern over reduced testing of samples in the national capital and described the situation in Delhi as horrific. LNJP hospital is a dedicated Covid hospital with 2,000 beds out which only 870 beds are occupied. The patients are in the wards and the dead bodies are also in the same wards. Dead bodies are seen also in the lobby and waiting area. The patients were not supplied with any oxygen support or any other support, no saline drips were shown with the beds and there was no one to attend the patients. Patients are crying and there is no one to attend to them, the court noted in its order. The court issued notice to LNJP Hospital as well. The director or medical superintendent of LNJP Hospital has to offer an explanation about the state of affairs in the hospital highlighted by the media Commenting on the courts observation on the LNJP health facility, the Delhi government spokesperson said it was the biggest Covid-19 hospital in Delhi and right now around 2,000 beds are operational there for the coronavirus patients. Many critical patients from the central government and the private hospitals in Delhi are being referred to LNJP Hospital for better medication. So far, over 2100 patients from LNJP hospital have successfully recovered from Covid-19 infection and returned to their homes, the spokesperson said. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is an autonomous body and their team visited the LNJP hospital on Thursday. They expressed their satisfaction after scrutinising facilities at the hospital. We will appraise the honourable Supreme Court about this as well, the spokesperson added. According to the Delhi Corona app, there are 5,814 beds for Covid-19 patients in Delhis government hospitals out of which only 2,620 beds are occupied. Despite that, patients suffering from Covid-19 are running around desperately for admission in hospitals. The large number of beds in government Covid-19 hospitals being vacant in a situation where patients suspected of Covid-19 are running from pillar to post to get admission in any hospital tells about the mismanagement and sorry state of government hospitals in Delhi, the order said. The courts order also mentioned the grim situation in other states also, more particularly, in the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Gujarat. The court also took note of the insensitive manner in which bodies of Covid-19 patients were being handled by hospitals in violation of a directive issued by the central government on March 15. The patients relatives are not even informed for several days about the death of the patient as has been reported in the media. It is also brought to our notice that the details of cremation as to when the dead body will be cremated are not even informed to their close relatives due to which the families of the patients are not even able to see the dead bodies or attend their last funeral rites, the order said. In a text reply, Bhushan Gagrani, principal secretary and member of Maharashtras task force to handle the Covid-19 crisis, who is authorised to speak on behalf of the government, said, We can comment when the state government examines the order and decides on an appropriate response. In West Bengal, senior Trinamool Congress leader and minister of state for parliamentary affairs Tapas Roy said, The Supreme Court did not make any observation on West Bengal. It has served a notice to the state, seeking its reply. The courts observations were related to Delhi and Tamil Nadu. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bengal was critical. The Bengal government does not wake up as long it is not pulled up by the judiciary, said BJP state president Dilip Ghosh. A senior official from the Tamil Nadu directorate of public health, who did not want to be named, said: We keep on expanding services based on the expected numbers. There is no shortage at any point of time. Matt Chandler: Church has mostly refused to participate on race, 'turned over' inheritance Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Texas megachurch Pastor Matt Chandler had harsh words for the American Church on Sunday, saying that since the civil rights movement of the 1960s, the Church has, for the most part, refused to participate on issues of race. Chandler, pastor of the multicampus Village Church in Flower Mound, got heated when he took time from his sermon on Ephesians 1:15-23 to address the racial issues facing the U.S. His sermon comes as the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody has sparked weeks of nationwide protests and riots, and increased attention on racial inequalities. The 45-year-old pastor said the second chapter of Apostle Pauls letter to the Ephesians is all about reconciliation between Jew and Gentile and God doing something through Jesus Christ that takes two and makes them one. This will preach to this moment, he said. Our inheritance and what we are being robbed of as believers in Jesus Christ right now in this moment is the unity of spirit between all ethnicities born of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is what this passage [Ephesians 1:18] says: That our inheritance in the saints is that men and women from every tribe tongue and nation on Earth are part of our family. Chandler told the audience that if they study the civil rights movement of the 1960s led by Martin Luther King Jr., theyll find that a pattern emerges. They would meet. They would pray. They would worship. They would kind of go over the rules of protest. And then, they would march, Chandler, who often speaks out about racial injustice, said. This was a rhythm that was established by King so that it was rooted in the Church, that the Church let out in a very real way on the civil rights movement in the '60s. And now one of the things that has happened is the Church, by and large, has refused to participate, which means that we have turned over God help us we have turned over what is our inheritance to dark ideologies, Chandler continued. Chandler criticized churches and pastors who dont want to get involved when it comes to issues of race but would rather preach the Gospel to that. He said he finds such responses, hypocritical. You dont just preach the Gospel on sex trafficking. You dont just preach the Gospel on the issue of life and abortion. No, you act, he said as he got riled up. Its like this brain-broke disjoint thats got us acting absurd and then critiquing this movement as being evil and dark when we have given up our inheritance! Chandler seemingly challenged those who want to point out all the flaws in this current movement while you have abandoned the place that we were meant to play! You cannot point out all the well, this means this, and this believes this, and thats this, and thats this, and ignore the sorrow and lament of 12 to 13 million image-bearers in our country! Chandler exclaimed. You cant do that! We mourn with those who mourn. And yes, there are demonic and evil ideologies at play, he continued. But thats where the people of God are meant to run with light and the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not to sit back and snipe via social media. Chandler then apologized for getting a little hot. He calmed down and encouraged Christians to grow in the hope that God will heal the wounds of racism, and what were watching on our TV unfold again will one day cease. Look at me this is our inheritance, he stressed. This is mine. This is yours. What youre seeing play out right now in violent riot and in murder that is a robbing of our inheritance. Im talking to the Church. Im talking to followers of Jesus Christ. Its mine bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are to grow and hope that this is possible. In 2018, Chandler, who leads a Southern Baptist congregation, said that he would often be accused of being a Marxist or being influenced by liberal media if he dared to preach on issues of race. But in instances in which he spoke out on issues like abortion, he would be cheered as courageous or a ferocious man of God. He has encouraged white pastors to help fight what he considers the miseducation of whites when it comes to black America. "I think there is a cascading effect and it starts with ignorance, Chandler said at the 2018 "MLK50: Gospel Reflections From the Mountaintop" summit sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and The Gospel Coalition. They don't know what they don't know and they are part of a system that encourages their not knowing. In 2014, amid riots in Ferguson, Missouri, after the shooting death of African American Michael Brown in a physical altercation with a police officer, Chandler spoke about white privilege in a tweet that drew some pushback. In a follow-up statement, Chandler said that white privilege is not like blatant racism and that folks who live through it may never have a racist bone in their body. "What is so deceptive about white privilege is that it is different from blatant racism or bias," Chandler said. A privileged person's heart may be free from racist thoughts or biased attitudes, but may still fail to see how the very privilege afforded to him or her shapes how he or she interprets and understands the situations and circumstances of people without privilege." The group was engaged in supporting in media space Russia's hybrid aggression against Ukraine. The SBU Security Service of Ukraine has served members of a special infowar group "Sapfir" (Sapphire) with charge papers on the encroachment on the foundations of national security. "The Ukrainian Security Service has reported in absentia the suspicion of an encroachment on the foundations of national security to two representatives of the 'Luhansk People's Republic' ('LPR') terrorist organization and their handler an active operative of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces. Perpetrators are part of a special anti-Ukrainian infowar unit, better known as 'Sapfir' group," the SBU's press center said. The group was engaged in supporting in media space Russia's hybrid aggression against Ukraine, namely launching propaganda campaigns across social networks, spinning fake news to compromise the Ukrainian Army, and sowing discord to spark tensions in Ukraine's peaceful territory. According to investigators, the group had also been gathering intelligence on the deployment, structure, number, and routes of military units involved in the Joint Forces Operation. Two key members of the information group from the "LPR" were additionally charged with high treason. Their Russian handler's actions have been qualified as incitement to treason. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNICEF say millions of children risk going into child labour as a result of the COVID-19 crisis that has affected the world globally. ILO Director-Genera, Guy Ryder, and UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, said this on Friday in Abuja at a ceremony to mark the 2020 World Day against Child Labour. The theme of this years anniversary is, COVID-19, Protect Children from Child Labour Now More than Ever. Mr Ryder said that a joint ILO-UNICEF new report, entitled: COVID-19 and Child Labour: A Time of Crisis, a Time to Act had been released. He said the report focused on the impact of COVID-19 on child labour and the elimination of child labour by 2021. The ILO chief said the report looked at some of the main ways through which the pandemic was likely to affect progress towards the eradication of child labour. According to the ILO chief, the report shows how the pandemic can lead to rise in child labour after 20 years of progress made to minimise child labour. He said child labour decreased by 94 million since 2000, adding that the gain was now at risk due to COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Ryder said the global estimates in 2017 showed that 152 million children were in child labour worldwide. Children already in child labour may be working longer hours or under worsening conditions. READ ALSO: More of them may be forced into the worst forms of labour, which causes significant harm to their health and safety. As the pandemic wreaks havoc on family incomes, without support, many may resort to child labour. Social protection is vital in times of crisis, as it provides assistance to those who are most vulnerable. Integrating child labour concerns across broader policies for education, social protection, justice, labour markets, and international human and labour rights makes a critical difference, he said. He said some studies have shown that one percentage point rise in poverty leads to at least a 0.7 per cent increase in child labour in certain countries. Also, Ms Fore said in times of crisis, child labour became a coping mechanism for many families. She said as poverty rose, schools closed and the availability of social services decreased as more children would be pushed into the workforce. As we re-imagine the world post-COVID, we need to make sure that children and their families have the tools they need to weather similar storms in the future. Quality education, social protection services and better economic opportunities can be game changers, she said. The UNICEF executive director also said that vulnerable groups, such as those working in the informal economy and migrant workers, would suffer most from economic downturn. Ms Fore added that there would be increase in unemployment, general fall in living standards, health shocks and insufficient social protection systems, among other pressures. Evidence is gradually mounting that child labour is rising as schools close during the pandemic. Temporary school closures are currently affecting more than one billion learners in over 130 countries. Even when classes restart, some parents may no longer be able to afford to send their children to school. Advertisements As a result, more children could be forced into exploitative and hazardous jobs. Gender inequalities may grow more acute, with girls particularly vulnerable to exploitation in agriculture and domestic work, she said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ILO and UNICEF proposed a number of measures to counter the threat of increased child labour. They included more comprehensive social protection, easier access to credit for poor households, promotion of decent work for adults and elimination of school fees to get children back to school, among others. (NAN) SPRINGFIELD The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit Thursday that charges the city of Springfield is withholding requests for records that could reveal a pattern of racially discriminatory practices within the Police Department. The suit, filed in Hampden Superior Court, charges that the Massachusetts chapter of the ACLU more than a year ago submitted two requests with the city under the Freedom of Information Act and the city has not responded in any substantial way. It seeks the court to order the city to release the records. The two requests, submitted on May 8 and 23, 2019, sought records of the general orders and administrative orders issued by the department related to policies and procedures governing police operations, and demographic data of street-level encounters between police and members of the public. According to the suit, The withheld records are critical to the publics ability to understand how the SPD operates in its community and interacts with people. Lisa deSousa, deputy city solicitor for the Springfield Law Department, said the city was made aware of the filing on Friday when it received an electronic copy. The Law Department has begun researching and has reached out to the ACLU attorneys, she said. If the city owes them any type of documents, we will make every effort to comply, deSousa said. Asked if she meant the city would like to be able to avoid needing to go a civil trial, she said, That is the hope. The ACLU made the records request with the city shortly after indictments were handed down in what has come to be known as the Nathan Bills affair. Fourteen current and former officers and two civilians were charged for their part in the off-duty assault on four black men outside an East Forest Park bar and a subsequent cover-up. The suit cites the Nathan Bills case as an example of what the ACLU called a pattern of racial profiling that has led to local, state and federal investigations. It notes that, between 2006 and 2018, the city settled 31 lawsuits for police misconduct, paying out $4.8 million in damages, and many of these claims of misconduct involve mistreatment of people of color. Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, said, The records were important when we requested them. But they are particularly important now. She cited the recent deaths of unarmed black people at the hands of police, including George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor in Louisville and Tony McDade in Tallahassee, Florida, and said across the country people are taking a closer look at how police departments operate. We need to fundamentally shift the role police play in our society; that begins with transparency and accountability, she said. The suit cites a 2019 report by the Police Executive Research Forum, hired by the city to conduct a review of police internal investigations procedures, which found Springfield police have various policies and memos that set forth administrative rules, but officers have no clear rules governing their conduct. In requesting the courts order the city release the requested records, the suit notes, the public has a right to know what these policies say, and as important, what they do not say. Kevin Prussia of WilmerHale, the Washington, D.C., law firm representing the ACLU in the case, said the public has a right to know how city police are routinely engaging with residents. As communities in Massachusetts and around the country call on their leaders to address racist and violent policing, public transparency remains necessary for police accountability, he said. Internal, regional, and international developments reinforced by the coronavirus crisis have submerged the Iranian regime's policy of war-mongering and export of fundamentalism and terrorism into a whirlpool of crises. Iran counts on Syria as its strategic ally. In the last 40 years, and especially the last nine since 2011, it has supported Bashar Assad's regime with a vengeance, spending enormous amounts of money. In its turn, Tehran uses Syria as a link to Lebanon's Hezb'allah, to supply it with weapons and logistics. On Feb. 25, 2019, on the invitation of Iran's chief terror master, Qassem Soleimani, Assad, for the first time since the 2011 start of Syria's civil war, visited Tehran unexpectedly, where he met and talked with Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. In this meeting, Khamenei said the Islamic Republic of Iran's help for the government and nation of Syria is equal to giving help to the "resistance" against the U.S.'s and its allies' pressures, and he honors it dearly. Hossein Taeb, the head of the Ammar Base Council affiliated with the IRGC, explained the strategic importance of Syria when he said: "Syria is Iran's 35th province. Defending it is a greater priority than defending Khuzestan (Iran's southern province)." After the onset of the uprising in Syria, when the Iranian regime vastly escalated its cooperation with Assad's regime to suppress it, Hossein Taeb declared: "If the enemy attacks us to invade Syria or Khuzestan, our priority is to preserve Syria. If we hold Syria, we can regain Khuzestan, but if we lose Syria, we will not even be able to hold Tehran." During the last nine years, the Iranian regime has mobilized all its financial, political, and diplomatic capacity as well as its armaments to confront the uprising of the Syrian people. Heshmatollah Falahat Pisheh, a member of the Iranian parliament's Security Commission, in an interview with Etemad Online daily on May 20, 2020, said: "We have given maybe 20 to 30 billion dollars to Syria and we must get it back. The nation's money is spent there." These are the words of a high-ranking security official of the regime. He spoke not because he cares for the Iranian nation and how its money could have been better spent, but because he is in despair at there being so little to show for the years invested in Syria. Not only has the investment borne no fruit, but the regime is facing military setbacks there on a daily basis. Such anxiety reflects the socio-economic dead end of the regime, the people of Syria showing they despise it as they target it in its entirety more and more each day. Recently, the Syrian military forces loyal to President Bashar Assad have deployed heavy contingents of troops to confront protests against Iran's presence in Daraa, but the protesters remain undeterred. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the protests have spread throughout the province, with demonstrators calling, "Liberate Syria, Iran out!" However, having in mind the creation of a completely new situation in Iran because of continuous uprisings such as Iran's youth uprising in November 2019 in 198 cities; the elimination of the regime's main architect in pursuing its policy, Qassem Soleimani; the regime's congenital inability to confront the coronavirus crisis; and the polarization of interests between Iran and Russia in Syria and regular blows to the regime's affiliated forces and bases there, it seems that there is little choice left for this regime other than to revise its policy. If we put the developments in Syria beside the uprising of the Iraqi people and the riots in Lebanon, we can portray a new vision for the future in which the mullahs' regime will be swept from the countries of the region. And, as Mullah Taeb put it, this will be accompanied by washing away the dictatorship from Iran. Hassan Mahmoudi, social analyst, researcher, is an independent observer and commentator of Middle Eastern and Iran tweets @hassan_mahmou1. Image credit: farsi.khameini.ir, via Wikimedia Commons. WASHINGTON Plans for a Senate-crafted version of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, a new military fund to boost deterrence against China in the Pacific, is one step closer to becoming law. The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved nearly $6 billion for the fund in its version of the annual defense policy bill, the panel announced Thursday. It authorizes $1.4 billion in fiscal 2021, which would be $188.6 million above the administrations budget request, and $5.5 billion for fiscal 2022. The bill also directs the defense secretary to create a spending plan for all of the funds. The best way to protect U.S. security and prosperity in Asia is to maintain a credible balance of military power, but, after years of underfunding, Americas ability to do so is at risk, the committees summary stated. The FY21 [National Defense Authorization Act] establishes the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) to send a strong signal to the Chinese Communist Party that America is deeply committed to defending our interests in the Indo-Pacific. PDI will enhance budgetary transparency and oversight, focus resources on key military capability gaps, reassure U.S. allies and partners, and bolster the credibility of American deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. Though not all details of the fund were immediately made public, SASC Chairman Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., and ranking member Jack Reed, D-R.I., previously said they would sponsor a measure to enable U.S. military operations in the region, beyond supporting new weapons platforms. Defense Secretary Mark Esper has said China is his departments top adversary, but Congress has worked to sharpen the Pentagons spending and focus in the region. The PDI would follow the form of the multiyear European Deterrence Initiative, which has consumed $22 billion since its inception after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Congress will have to internally negotiate the final dollar amount for PDI and what those funds would buy, but House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., and ranking member Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, have expressed support for the idea. Though the Senates approach differs, Thornberry has also proposed spending $6 billionall in FY21on priorities that include air and missile defense systems as well as new military construction in partner countries; Smith hasnt released his own plan. Story continues Once approved by the full Senate, its version of the NDAA would be reconciled with the Houses version, which the HASC is expected to make public late this month before it goes through markup July 1 and advances to the House floor. With an eye on China beyond the PDI, the SASC bill also encourages the Air Force to establish an operating location in the Indo-Pacific region for F-35A fighter jets and to allocate sufficient resources and prioritize the protection of air bases that might be under attack from current or emerging cruise missiles and advanced hypersonic missiles, specifically from China." There are also a number of provisions aimed at safeguarding Americas technology and industrial base from Chinese intellectual property theft and economic aggression, according to the summary. The bill would also require reports from the Pentagon on how to mitigate the risks from vendors like Chinese telecom firms Huawei and ZTE when basing U.S. troops overseas. The SASC summary said its proposed PDI would: Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong had phone talks on June 11 with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of the Russia Day, June 12. Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong On behalf of the Vietnamese Party, State and people, Party General Secretary and President Trong congratulated President Putin and the Russian people on their Russia Day, stating Vietnam always attaches importance to the countries comprehensive strategic partnership. He also spoke highly of Russias enormous achievements under Putins leadership. On this occasion, he also offered greetings to the Russian people on the 75th anniversary of the victory over fascism, affirming that the Vietnamese people always keep in mind and treasure this historic triumph. During the talks, the two leaders discussed many important cooperation aspects of their countries, along with some international and regional issues of shared concern. Party General Secretary and President Trong expressed his sympathies for the losses caused by COVID-19 to Russia and hailed the countrys drastic measures and contributions to the international communitys common fight against this pandemic. For his part, President Putin highly valued Vietnams successful control of the coronavirus outbreak and thanked it for practical assistance for his country in this combat. The two sides agreed to foster cooperation in the COVID-19 fight and continue to provide timely support for each others citizens. The leaders shared the view that the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership has continued to enjoy great strides in the recent past. As both nations are jointly celebrating many important events, including 70 years of their diplomatic ties, the two leaders agreed to maintain frequent contacts at all levels, especially high level, and coordinate to organise meaningful activities within the Vietnam-Russia Cross Year 2019-2020 that suit the current context. They also stated that defence, security and energy are important pillars of the bilateral cooperation, agreeing to further tighten links in these fields. Party General Secretary and President Trong and President Putin agreed to continue supporting and encouraging their countries oil and gas companies to take part in new projects in Vietnam and Russia. They will also further facilitate trade and investment partnerships and optimise the free trade agreement between Vietnam and Eurasian Economic Union, in which Russia is a member, to soon raise bilateral trade to 10 billion USD; while creating optimal conditions for the countries to develop economy and address consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Talking about international and regional issues of common concern, the leaders applauded and agreed to reinforce Vietnam-Russia cooperation at multilateral forums while coordinating with each other to promote peace, security, cooperation and international law in the world, as well as in their respective regions. The Vietnamese leader said as ASEAN Chair in 2020, his country will exert efforts to enhance ASEAN-Russia relations. In return, President Putin also voiced his belief that Vietnam will be successful in its post as ASEAN Chair this year and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021. On this occasion, Party General Secretary and President Trong invited President Putin to pay an official visit to Vietnam in the near future. The Russian leader accepted the invitation with pleasure./.VNA Protests against police brutality following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis are planned throughout New Jersey over the next several days. There have been hundreds of protests against police brutality in New Jersey over the last two weeks, as rallies and marches over Floyds death have continued to spread across the nation. The four police officers at the scene of Floyds death have been fired, and one, Derek Chauvin, is charged with second-degree manslaughter and second-degree murder in the case. Three other officers were charged with aiding and abetting. In New Jersey, all 21 N.J. county prosecutors offices have called images of Floyds death deeply disturbing and said police are not exempt from law. State PBA President Pat Colligan also condemned Chauvin and the four officers at the scene, saying "nobody in law enforcement can look at that video and justify the actions of those officers. Gov. Phil Murphy joined protests in two towns on Sunday. He marched with protesters in Hillside and spoke at a rally in Westfield. Among the protests, marches and rallies planned in New Jersey this week: FRIDAY, JUNE 12 A rally is planned at 3 p.m. Friday at the Wall Township Municipal Complex. The march will begin at Wall High School and move toward the Wall Police Department. The Newark Water Coalition is hosting a march beginning at 2 p.m. Friday. The march will begin at University High School at 55 Clinton Place in Newark. There will be a second rally from Rahway to Clark beginning at 3:30 p.m. Two South Brunswick High School alumni are hosting a march that will begin at 4:30 p.m. Friday. The march will start and end at South Brunswick High School at 750 Ridge Road and will be approximately 3.3 miles. Speakers at the demonstration include South Brunswick School District Superintendent Scott Feder, New Jersey General Assembly member Andrew Zwicker and more. There will be a demonstration at the corner of Grove and Hessian Ave. in National Park beginning at 5 p.m. Friday. Demonstrators will stand at the intersection and, if the crowd is too large, will be relocated to the fields across from Pats and Heritages. The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations will join the New Jersey branch of the INCA Council for Social Justice, the Council of Imams in New Jersey and the Muslim American Society in New Jersey for a 5 p.m. joint press conference in Newark. The conference will be held at Robert Treat Hotel at 50 Park Place in Newark. A rally for Black, Trans, and Queer Lives will be held on Friday at 5 p.m. on the Post Office steps at 801 Bangs Ave. in Asbury Park. SATURDAY, JUNE 13 There will be a protest held in Franklinville, where a group mocked George Floyds killing as protestors marched by earlier this week, beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday. The march will begin at the Franklinville library and will end at the Veterans of Foreign Wars building at 2179 Delsea Drive. Black Men Rising, a coalition of over 300 individuals, will lead a march demanding the removal of the Christopher Columbus state in Farnham Park in Camden at 12 p.m. on Saturday. The march will begin in front of the historic Elks Lodge, located at 1818 Mt. Ephraim Avenue. There will be a protest in Buena beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday. Demonstrators will meet at 1501 S Central Ave. and march to Bruno Melini Park. A protest will be held at 1 p.m. in Orange on Saturday. The march begins at Scotland Road and Central Avenue. A protest will be held in Woodbridge at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The protest will begin at the Woodbridge Community Center, from which point participants will march to the municipal building and then back to the community center. The city of Plainfield will host a protest between 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information contact blmplainfieldnj@gmail.com. The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations will join the New Jersey branch of the INCA Council for Social Justice, the Council of Imams in New Jersey and the Muslim American Society in New Jersey for a rally at 2 p.m. in front of Newark City Hall at 920 Broad St. There will be a social justice rally held at Community South Park in Princeton. The rally will be held between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at 380 Witherspoon St. in Princeton. All volunteers can reach out via email at Katrell.shariese@gmail.com. Metuchen leaders and activists are hosting the Metuchen Rally for Social Justice beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday. The event will be led by various community organizations including the Metuchen Human Relations Commission, the Metuchen-Edison chapter of the NAACP and local organizers with Speak Up NJ. Demonstrators will meet at Martin Luther King Park at 480 Middlesex Ave. A protest will be held at the Somerset County Courthouse in Somerville at 4 p.m. on Saturday. There will be a youth-led march in Florham Park and Madison beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday. The march will begin at Madison High School and will finish at the Florham Park Gazebo. A Paterson Solidarity Rally will be held at the Paterson Free Public Library on Saturday at 5 p.m. SUNDAY, JUNE 14 There will be a protest held at Warinanco Park in Roselle Sunday. Demonstrators are asked to gather at 1 p.m. as the program, coordinated by community leaders, will begin at 2 p.m. A peaceful protest will be held in Cresskill at 5 p.m. Participants will meet at the Cresskill fire department and march together to the Cresskill police station. The Cranbury Candlelight Vigil will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Cranbury Heritage Park at 57 S Main St. The event will feature a musical performance as well as speeches from Cranbury Township Mayor Matthew Scott, Reverend Bob Moore of the Coalition for Peace Action and many more. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 A protest will be held in Westampton at the Burlington County Library Amphitheater at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. FRIDAY, JUNE 19 A county-wide Juneteenth protest will be held in Bergen County. The demonstration will begin at 12:30 p.m. Friday at the Teaneck High School track and will march to the Teaneck Public Library. There will be a Juneteenth/protest march held in Somerville. Demonstrators will meet at the Somerset County Courthouse at 3 p.m. and walk down Bridge St. towards Rt. 22 and Rt. 206 and kneel for 8 minutes, 46 seconds before walking back to the courthouse. NJ Advance Media staff writer Andrew Koob contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Caroline Fassett may be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Representative image The number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra breached the 1-lakh mark on June 12. The state now has a total of 1,01,141 reported cases, with 3,493 new ones reported in the last 24 hours, as per the latest update from the state health department. The death toll in the state due to the viral outbreak stands at 3,717, of which 127 were reported today. The state health department also noted that a total of 47,793 people have been discharged after making a full recovery, with 1,718 discharged today. This comes at a time when India's total tally of COVID-19 cases has surpassed 3 lakh. On June 11, India had crossed the United Kingdom's tally to become the fourth worst-hit country by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Also Read | Coronavirus outbreak: Number of COVID-19 cases in India crosses 3 lakh-mark COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Mumbai, the country's financial capital, accounts for over half of the cases in Maharashtra. Matty 'J' Johnson has detailed his terrifying ordeal with a home intruder, in which he was forced to defend his family in nothing but a pair of underpants. The Bachelor hunk explained that the scary situation unfolded in the middle of the night after his fiancee Laura Byrne woke him when she 'heard footsteps and the front door shut.' Concerned for the safety of their one-year-old daughter Marlie-Mae, the reality star instinctively leapt into action, claiming he was fully prepared to 'chase the big man down the hallway and wrestle him to the ground.' 'Adrenaline was pumping': Matty 'J' Johnson, 32, has detailed his terrifying incident with a home intruder in which he was forced to defend his family in nothing but a pair of underpants 'In the middle of the night Laura rolls over and she grabs me and goes - someone's in the house! I hear footsteps and I can hear the front door shut! - which I can see from my bed,' he recalled on his podcast, The Babble, this week. 'I instinctively think, "oh sh** Marlie, she's in trouble! And luckily I'm wearing underpants because normally I sleep naked, I start running to the door and there's a big man standing there he's wearing black beanie, black pants, black jacket and I grab him!' Continuing to describe the shock turn of events, Matty explained: 'I'm about to start laying in to him. I'm shaking, because my adrenaline is pumping so much and I'm like "Do I call the police, what do I do?"' Terrifying! Revealing that the scary situation unfolded in the middle of the night, the former Bachelor hunk explained that his fiancee Laura Byrne woke him after 'hearing footsteps' Hero: The reality star instinctively leapt into action, claiming he was fully prepared to 'chase the big man down the hallway and wrestle him to the ground' But it looked like Matty didn't have to take drastic measures, as the home intruder ended up being a drunk punter who had simply gotten lost after a nearby party. 'So he had just come in and I think he thought it was the exit, he's taken four steps and been drunk because it was 3am. after a party and he's gone like "Oh god, I thought this was the exit!" 'Not knowing that I was going to hop up like a bloody hero and chase and down the hallway in my undies and wrestle him to the ground,' Matty continued. Elsewhere in the podcast, Matty discussed whether reality stars like himself, deserved privacy. 'It's crazy how invested people get in your life from going on a show like The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. I've had it said (to me) before "Oh I feel like I know you, even though you're just someone I follow in social media, I've been there since day one, I know everything".' False alarm! Continuing to detail the turn of events, Matty revealed that the intruder ended up being a confused party guest who had accidentally wandered into his house 'When you go on reality TV, it's just a real voyeuristic look into your life - in your private life, your love life, your social media. 'I think for me I try and make people laugh, but I know that people really like seeing all aspects of my life and I'm kind of happy to just keep being myself people come along for the ride,' he concluded. Matty and Laura have been a couple since he picked her as winner on The Bachelor in 2017. They became engaged while on vacation in Fiji in April 2019, two months before they welcomed their daughter Marlie-Mae. Indian drugmaker Zydus Cadila said on Friday it signed a non-exclusive agreement with Gilead Sciences Inc to manufacture and market antiviral drug remdesivir, the first treatment to show improvement in COVID-19 trials. New Delhi, June 12 : Posters often play a key role in signalling which way is the political wind blowing. In 2016, BJP National Executive in Uttar Pradesh posters featuring Varun Gandhi had irked Modi-Shah who saw it as Gandhi aspiring for the UP CM post. Much before Delhi poll counting began, state BJP had erected a massive Amit Shah poster that read "Victory doesn't make us egoistic, and defeat doesn't disappoint us". Many saw this as acceptance of defeat even before the counting started. Now, as 24 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh goes to bypoll, Jyoiraditya Scindia's ardent follower who switched side to BJP -- Tulsi Silawat, has put up BJP posters sans Scindia's face, sparking off speculations about "the Maharaja's role", if any, in this election that the Congress so desperately wanted to make it look like 'Scindia Vs Kamal Nath' battle. At the centre of the controversy are posters of Tulsi Silawat, Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Minister. He is expecting to contest from Indore on behalf of BJP this time. However, in the posters that are plastered across the constituency, all big and not-so-big BJP leaders find a place but the man who orchestrated his entry into BJP -- Jyotiraditya Scindia. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan to BJP national General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, even the area MP Shankar Lalwani finds a place but Scindia, whose very role in this crucial bypoll will come under scanner. "I will reiterate what I have been saying. His ardent supporters who were ready to do anything at one call of Scindia, have forgotten him," mocks Congress's state Spokesperson Narendra Saluja. He adds that those who joined BJP at the behest of Scindia have a new leader - Shivraj Singh Chauhan. The absence of Scindia in BJP posters that Congress wants to make into a direct fight between Scindia and Kamal Nath becomes even more stark as Chauhan has thrown his entire might behind Silawat, to get him selected. One recently purported video that created quite a storm where the Congress alleged Shivraj to be saying, "Central leadership has decided that the (Congress) government should fall" was made in Sanwer, the constituency of Scindia's trusted aide Silawat. In fact, former minister in Kamal Nath government, Jitu Patwari held a press conference to say, "During the Indore visit on Monday, Chief Minister Chouhan accepted before his party's activists from Sanwer that he toppled the government at the instance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President J.P. Nadda." But BJP rubbishes any suggestion of Scindia being sidelined within the BJP. Party's national Spokesperson Zafar ISlam told IANS: "These suggestions stem from Congress's insecurity. Mr Scindia's standing is well acknowledged within BJP. Together, we will make Congress lose all seats in the upcoming by poll in MP." However, it's not just about missing Jyotiraditya Scindia in BJP posters in Madhya Pradesh but also the way he is being addressed to, after his switch. Being a royal, during his decade-long stint in Congress, Scindia was addressed to either as "Maharajji" or "Srimant". That's definitely not the case in BJP. No wonder K.K. Mishra, who was appointed media in-charge in the Gwalior-Chambal area by the Congress, took a dig at him. He posted a tweet that said: "What a joke! The word 'Srimant' is missing from the name of the person who joined the BJP on March 11. His name is at the sixth place in the list of election coordination committee of the BJP. While the word 'Srimant' is very much there against the name of a candidate from Maharashtra -- Srimanta Udayana Raje Bhonsle!! joke?" Bhonsle is a BJP Rajya Sabha member. Scindia has also been away from the Gwalior-Chambal region -- his karmabhoomi, for the last few months owing to the nationwide lockdown and now admitted in hospital after being tested positive for corona. While this unavoidable absence from the ground may have given Scindia baiters an upper hand in Madhya Pradesh, but his trusted aide Silawat's poster without his face or name has only intensified speculations about the standing of the "Maharaja of Gwalior" in BJP. National flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) began its operation with a flight from Istanbul Airport to Dusseldorf in Germany on Thursday morning, which was followed by several other flights to some major cities like London and Amsterdam, reports Xinhua news agency. Ankara, June 12 (IANS) Turkey has partially resumed international flights, after remaining suspended for nearly two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. AnadoluJet, a trademark of the THY, also flew from Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Berlin and London. Turkey is expected to increase the number of its international flights to 40 countries in the upcoming days. Turkish Airlines had earlier announced that its international flights would start on June 10. The reason for the delay was not immediately clear. Turkey partially resumes domestic flights on June 1 after a two-month closure. --IANS ksk/ A teenager taken into foster care as her parents battled Covid-19 has today described her pain at losing her mother but her joy to be reunited with her father. Carmina Medel, 13, was taken in by Bridgend Council while her parents were treated for 'severe coronavirus' in the same intensive care unit at the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, South Wales. Brave nurse Leilani Medel, 41, died on Good Friday while her husband Johnny Medel Junior, 38, spent weeks in a coma and on a ventilator. At one stage, doctors feared he also may not survive. A distraught Carmina was left to cope with losing her mother and her father's heroic battle against the virus while staying in a council-run home for young people as the Medels, who originate from the Philippines, have no close family in the UK. After being reunited with her father, who was released from hospital last week following a near two-month stay, Carmina told MailOnline: 'I'm so happy to be with my father again because I wasn't sure if he was going to survive. Carmina Medel, 13, (above) who was taken into foster care as her parents battled Covid-19 has today described her pain at losing her mother but her joy to be reunited with her father (above) Brave nurse Leilani Medel, 41, died on Good Friday while her husband Johnny Medel Junior, 38, spent weeks in a coma and on a ventilator. At one stage, doctors feared he also may not survive A distraught Carmina was left to cope with losing her mother and her father's heroic battle against the virus while staying in a council-run home for young people as the Medels, who originate from the Philippines, have no close family in the UK 'It's been a very difficult time but now the most important thing is him getting back to full health and us getting on with our lives. 'My mother was a wonderful person and I miss her a lot. It's still very difficult for me to speak about her.' Mr Medel, who is known as Junior, revealed that his first words to Carmina were to tell her how brave she had been while he fought for his life. He awoke from a coma on April 28, her birthday. After arriving at his home in Bridgend, he saw Carmina for the first time since being admitted to hospital on April 1. Leilani was rushed into hospital two days before that. He told MailOnline: 'We have no close family in Britain and Carmina had to hear the news of her mother's death while I was in a coma. That's a very difficult thing for anybody, let alone a youngster. 'I told her how proud I was of her and how brave she is because she was in foster care where she didn't know anybody, dealing with all this. She is an amazing young woman.' Speaking for the first time about his experience, Mr Medel admitted that he is torn by contrasting emotions. Staff at the hospital had clapped and cheered in tribute to his 'miraculous recovery' as he left. He said: 'It was very emotional when I got home. Carmina was waiting for me and there were a lot of tears and hugging. 'The first thing I noticed was that she had grown a bit. Mr Medel, who is known as Junior, revealed that his first words to Carmina were to tell her how brave she had been while he fought for his life. He awoke from a coma on April 28, her birthday: 'The first thing I noticed was that she had grown a bit' 'But I had very contrasting emotions and still do. I was very happy that I was alive and could see my daughter again. But there is huge sorrow that my wife is no more. 'I'm still struggling to accept her loss, it hasn't properly sunk in yet and I'm trying to understand what has gone on.' Mr Medel revealed that after waking up from a coma, he began to desperately ask staff about Leilani. He was told the heart-breaking news that she had died in a Face Time call from his sister two days later. A devout Roman Catholic, Mr Medel said that he had decided to share his story because he wanted to publicly thank all those who helped and prayed for what he calls his 'miraculous recovery.' He said: 'I am a man of faith and want to thank God and all those who came to my aid: the doctors, nurses and health assistants at the Princess of Wales Hospital, especially in ward seven and the intensive care unit; the Filipino community in South Wales; Bridgend Council, who were fantastic with my daughter and all my friends, family and people around the world who prayed for me.' He proclaimed: 'I owe my life to them all. There are no words to describe my gratitude and the love and support they gave to me and Carmina.' Mr Medel revealed that after waking up from a coma, he began to desperately ask staff about Leilani (left). He was told the heart-breaking news that she had died in a Face Time call from his sister two days later A devout Roman Catholic, Mr Medel said he wanted to publicly thank all those who helped and prayed for what he calls his 'miraculous recovery.' Just three weeks before her death, Leilani posted a picture of herself and Carmina on Facebook adding: 'I can't stay at home. I'm a Nurse!' Just three weeks before her tragic death, Leilani posted a heart-warming picture of herself and Carmina on Facebook declaring: 'I can't stay at home. I'm a Nurse!' She then posted a picture of herself with Johnny and Carmina while on holiday with the words: 'Proud to be a Nurse.' Mr Medel said: 'She was so committed to her profession and determined to help people. She never once worried about going to work during the coronavirus pandemic and ultimately, she made the ultimate sacrifice.' Mr Medel originates from Davao City in the Philippines while Leilani was born and raised in Santiago, Philippines. The couple met at university in Santiago and married in 2003, with Leilani moving to Britain in the same year when she took up a job in a nursing home in Manchester. Mr Medel joined her two years later and started working in a supermarket, which he combined with studying as he always had an ambition to start his own business. Their daughter was born in Manchester in 2007. The family relocated to Bridgend in 2011 when Leilani started working at the Princess of Wales Hospital. After initially working for the Red Cross in Wales, Mr Medel completed an MBA from the University of Wales and started up his own finance business. Mr Medel said: 'She was so committed to her profession and determined to help people. She never once worried about going to work during the coronavirus pandemic and ultimately, she made the ultimate sacrifice' Leilani's funeral has yet to take place and Mr Medel revealed that he hopes to arrange it later this month. Her family have already told him that they want her ashes returned to the Philippines and scattered at her favourite places. He said: 'We're still not able to speak about Leilani together, that's just the way Carmina is coping at the moment. It's hard to accept that she has gone and that our life has been completely turned upside down. We both feel a bit lost without her. 'Leilani was a very kind, thoughtful, loving and giving person. That's what made her such a great nurse, mother and wife. This is giving us a lot of comfort right now and this is how we will always remember her.' South Africa: Trade dept amends COVID-19 regulations The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has effected changes to regulations and directions issued during the COVID-19 National State of Disaster. The department said the changes come after consultations with the Department of Health and other key stakeholders in relevant fields. The amendments withdraw and effect changes to some earlier provisions issued since the start of the National State of Disaster to combat the destructive and other effects of the national disaster, the department said. The changes include, among others, directions on call centres providing essential services and the sale of cars and emergency automobile repairs. On 4 June 2020, Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi, issued the directions addressing health protocols applicable across sectors, including the need for sector guidelines. The department said that the representatives of the industry have subsequently agreed to maintain the health and safety measures contained in the respective directions, and these directions have thus been withdrawn. In addition, the department said, the directions issued relating to the sale of clothing, bedding and footwear, as published on Government Notice No. R. 523 12 May 2020, expired on 31 May 2020 and are therefore no longer applicable. Categories of medication no longer require export permits The regulations related to export controls, under section 6 of the International Trade Administration Act, 2002 (Act No. 71 of 2002), have also been amended and simplified. This means a number of categories of medication (set out at 8-digit level), will no longer require export permits under the COVID-19 Export Control regime. In addition, these medicines deemed critical in the fight against COVID-19, will no longer require export permits when exporting to Southern African Customs Union (SACU) or for clinical trials, the department said. Block exemption for retail property Following consultations with the Competition Commission, the department said, the regulations pertaining to the COVID-19 Block Exemption for the Retail Property Sector have been amended to include the cinema exhibition industry. The regulations are aimed at exempting certain conduct between designated retail tenants and the retail property sector to promote concerted conduct to prevent an escalation of the national disaster, the department explained. The gazette on new amendments can be accessed on http://www.thedtic.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/43432_11-6_TradeIndustCompetition.pdf. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Swiss Post Solutions (SPS), a leading outsourcing provider for business process solutions and innovative services in document management, and IMMJ Systems were selected by Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to deliver a multi-speciality service to improve patient care through instant access to clinical information; improved integration; and collaboration between clinicians. Kingston Hospital has always been at the forefront of digitization and is one of only a handful of NHS Trusts in the UK at EMRAM score 6. The Trust supports around 350,000 patients and employs c. 3,200 staff. In 2017, it was the fourth Trust in the country to achieve stage 6 of the HIMSS Electronic Medical Record Analytics Adoption Model by becoming a paper lite hospital. The deployment of the MediViewer Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) is seen as a key enabler for the Trust to move to stage 7. SPS UKI chose IMMJ Systems to integrate their MediViewer EDMS with the Trusts Cerner Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system, where IMMJ Systems has already achieved a level of integration no other EDM vendor has been able to achieve. This allows a full comprehensive integrated care experience. MediViewer is a next generation digital platform providing searchable, categorized, digitized clinical content and full electronic patient records at the point of care. By choosing to unlock more efficient ways of delivering care through a fully integrated system, the Trust will achieve increased safety amongst its patients due to greater accuracy of data; 24/7 access to records anywhere geographically; and a full consistent and up-to-date version of patient information. Improved access to relevant information will increase staff morale allowing them to focus on core duties with decreased administrative workload and; provide better care. We are proud to be a leading Trust demonstrating a commitment to improve patient safety and the quality of clinical care whilst enabling our staff to carry out core duties more efficiently through the use of technology. Carl Chow, Chief Clinical Information Officer of Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust SPS UKI in partnership with IMMJ Systems were chosen because of their experience and proven ability to collaboratively deliver challenging large-scale digital transformation projects and knowledge of the health sector. Kingston Hospital has demonstrated innovation by leveraging technology to improve their patient experience and staff working culture and because of this SPS are proud to be a part of their digital transformation journey. We are committed to working together efficiently to deliver the change quickly. Gary Harrold, CEO of SPS UKI Phil Burke, Chief Projects Officer at IMMJ Systems said, IMMJ Systems are proud to be partnering with Kingston Hospital and SPS to deliver this project for such a forwarding thinking Trust and assist them in their journey towards paperless healthcare. We are also delighted that IMMJ Systems MediViewer EDMS has again been chosen as the preferred EDMS platform via another competitive procurement, further demonstrating the change in the market, by providing a uniquely architected solution for another NHS Trust. This project will enable so many benefits for the Trust in a number of areas, we are genuinely excited at the prospect and future successes we will jointly deliver. By PTI KOLKATA: West Bengal on Friday breached the 10,000-mark in COVID-19 cases with the highest single-day spike of 476 infections, raising the tally to 10,224, the state Health Department said. The death toll due to COVID-19 in the state rose to 451, with nine more people succumbing to the disease since Thursday evening, it said. All nine of them died due to co-morbidities, and COVID-19 in these cases was "incidental", the department said in its bulletin. Of the nine deaths, four were from Kolkata; two from Hooghly; and one each from Howrah, South 24 Parganas, Nadia districts, it added. Of the 476 new cases, 111 were reported from Kolkata, followed by North 24 Parganas (99), Howrah (52), Paschim Medinipur (30), South 24 Parganas (26), Nadia (14), Bankura (5) and Birbhum (3) and one in Purulia, the bulletin said. The North Bengal districts of Jalpaiguri reported 30 cases, followed by 27 in Coochbehar; 15 in Darjeeling; 10 each in Malda and Dakshin Dinajpur; four in Kalimpong; and two from Alipurduar, it added. The number of active cases in West Bengal is 5,587. During the past 24 hours, 218 people have been discharged as they have recovered from the disease. So far, 4,206 people in the state have recovered from the disease, the bulletin said. At least 8,758 samples were tested in the last 24 Hours, taking the total number of such examinations to 3,15,699, it added. State Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose was discharged from the hospital as he recovered from the disease, state Health Department sources said. Precautionary measures have been stepped up at the West Bengal state secretariat 'Nabanna' after two drivers working for senior officials tested positive for COVID-19, a highly-placed source said on Friday. One of the two persons drives the vehicle of a joint secretary-level officer posted in the finance department, while the other driver works for a senior police officer. Both of them tested positive for the disease on Thursday. The finance department is located on the 12th floor of the 14-storey building. Following this, attendance was slim at the secretariat, especially in the departments located on the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th as well as in Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on the top floor, on Friday, he added. "Now, the joint secretary-level officer has met several people during all these days. We have to identify them and sent them for isolation. People who came in touch with the two drivers and the officials for whom they work, have been directed to go for isolation," the source said. The two officials concerned were asked to go for home isolation while the drivers were sent for treatment. People are being allowed in the 14th floor "only for very very important reasons", sources at the CMO said. "As part of the precautionary measures, entry to the chamber of the chief minister was restricted even to senior officers," the source said. Most officials have been asked to speak on intercom, and employees are coming on shifts to avoid crowding and maintain social distancing. Last week, drivers of two senior officials posted at the CMO had tested positive for the disease following which the entire building was sanitized for two days. After that, employees including senior officials on the 12th, 13th and at the CMO were tested for the contagion. Earlier in the day, Banerjee had urged people to avoid crowding in buses and asked private firms to allow grace timing for employees reporting for work. "We've ensured no one's marked late in government offices. Visit public places only when it is urgent. Always wear masks and stay safe!" Banerjee tweeted. Benny Harlem is not only one of the most successful hair influencers on Instagram, but hes also a Guinness Record holder, for the worlds tallest high-top fade. California-based male model and artist Benny Harlem rose to fame in 2016, when photos of his impressive afro hairstyle went viral on social media. The fact that his daughter Jaxyn, who obviously inherited his hair genes, also featured in most of these photos only made them more popular. Harlem has always been a promoter of natural hairstyles and he has instilled the same kind of love in his daughter from a very young age. To maintain their regal locks looking fresh, Benny says that he and Jaxyn only use natural shampoo that they make at home, using natural ingredients. I look at our hair like a plant. Most plants need natural ingredients to grow and stay alive, and honestly, our souls and our bodies need the same thing, Benny told XO Nicole. In my family, we make our own shampoo, just as we take the time to make our own meals. Its just a discipline. In 2018, Benny Harlem was acknowledged by the Guinness Book of Records for having the worlds tallest high-top fade hairdo, which at the time measured a whopping 20.5 inches. This only added to his online fame, pushing the number of Instagram followers over 500,000. Unfortunately, in late 2018, Benny Harlem became somewhat of a controversial figure after being accused of allegedly hustling his followers by selling ultra-expensive hair care kits that he allegedly bought much cheaper from various retail stores and simply relabeled the bottles. He was reportedly asking for $399 per kit and justifying the price tag by claiming that he was traveling to Africa to gather the ingredients himself. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Benny Harlem (@bennyharlem) on Dec 8, 2017 at 1:24pm PST It was never proven that Benny ever defrauded his fans, but the scandal around these accusations didnt exactly do wonder for his career as an online hair influencer. In fact, he stopped posting in 2018, and didnt post for a year. Hes been uploading pics pretty rarely since. He still has that same impressive hair, though. View this post on Instagram Unchained A post shared by Benny Harlem (@bennyharlem) on Sep 28, 2017 at 6:23pm PDT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Benny Harlem (@bennyharlem) on May 17, 2017 at 6:00pm PDT View this post on Instagram Under that Monday Sun A post shared by Benny Harlem (@bennyharlem) on Sep 5, 2016 at 1:32pm PDT Businesswoman Naomi Milgrom - fresh from receiving Australia's highest Queen's Birthday Honours medal - is facing down angry landlords after penning a letter declaring her Sussan Group will not pay rent for April and May and will reopen stores with rent as a proportion of sales turnover. Naomi Milgrom, one of Australia's richest women, is refusing to pay landlords rent. Credit:Stephen Todd The declaration by the multi-millionaire businesswoman and prominent philanthropist - who controls retail brands Sussan, Sportsgirl and Suzanne Grae - is the latest salvo in a bitter rental battle being waged between retailers and landlords as the financial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic escalates. Ms Milgrom joins billionaire Solomon Lew who during the pandemic decreed his 1200 stores would not pay rent, saying they would reopen paying only a percentage of gross store sales rather than fixed rent as before. Hundreds of landlords, including Australia's large shopping mall owners Vicinity Centres and Scentre Group, are likely to be affected. A research intern with the Centre for Internal & Regional Security (IreS), named Nowmay Opalinski, has warned of the steadily increasing Sino-Pak state-to-state collaboration in Pakistan's media and telecommunications sector. A researcher has warned that Chinese inroads into Pakistans mainstream media, and state-level bilateral cooperation on telecommunications infrastructure and surveillance is growing, which poses a threat to peoples freedom of speech in the country. Nowmay Opalinski, a research intern with the Centre for Internal & Regional Security (IreS), IPCS explores the potential implications of the steadily increasing Sino-Pak state-to-state collaboration in Pakistans media and telecommunications sector. He said, These developments are taking place against a backdrop of Pakistani states growing attempts to censor online content domestically. How does this set of circumstances favour China? Where does Chinas big picture media strategy fit into this? He found that since 2012, the government of Pakistan has been attempting to implement a national firewall to tighten control over content shared online. The introduction of the Pakistan Electronic Crime Act in 2016 was supposed to regulate harmful content like terrorist propaganda. However, it has also been used to censor opposition leaders and critics of the government. Also Read: India on Imran khan assistance offer: Our stimulus package larger than Pakistans GDP Also Read: India China standoff: PoK leader Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri condemns Chinese intrusion in Ladakh Nowmay Opalinski said, January 2020, Pakistan adopted a new set of regulations framed under the Citizen Protection (Against-Online Harm) Rules, which entails plans for the Ministry of Information Technology and Communication to appoint a national coordinator in charge of online content regulation. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists denounced this move, and have argued its unconstitutionality. Reporters Without Borders and legal experts highlighted that the vague definitions of harmful contents leave room for arbitrary removal of content. Application of Article 6(s) also enables potential deactivation of user data encryption as it enforces social media companies to deliver extensive information, including subscriber information, traffic data, content data, and any other information or data. This new regulation includes an obligation for all social media companies to open offices in Pakistan, where strict supervision of their ability to remove or block content will be enforced. It empowers the national coordinator to ask online platforms to surrender all information, private or public. These measures could lead to international social media platforms to re-evaluate their operations in Pakistan, as the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) highlighted in their statement to Prime Minister Imran Khan. However, these new measures could also play in favour of Chinese social media platforms as an alternative in the country. Chinese content censorship on its online platforms is uniformly applicable, irrespective of whether an application is being used domestically or abroad. They could thus easily adapt to Pakistans new regulations, and Beijing could even work with Islamabad to define the extent of internet censorship in Pakistan. Nowmay Opalinski said, While such a cooperation has not yet taken place, Chinas growing footprint in Pakistans telecommunication infrastructure could enable its occurrence. For example, the new cross-border fiber-optic cable which goes from Xinjiang to Rawalpindi via Khunjerab will involve the routing of internet traffic through Chinas regulated network. This could facilitate the exportation of the Chinese firewall system to Pakistan through a direct linkage. China has already exported social media surveillance tools to several countries. It is also showcasing its model of internet control in UN-mandated working groups on international cyber-norms by challenging Internet freedoms and its multi-stakeholder governance. In December 2019, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Pakistans then special assistant to the prime minister on information, urged Pakistans local media to play an active role in promoting the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and to counter negative propaganda. Her statement came a month after US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Alice Wells, criticised Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and CPEC. The researcher said, Since then, China and Pakistan have continued to reiterate the need for closer media cooperation. This is already taking shape, with Chinas state-run Xinhua news agency signing an MoU with local Pakistani media, which includes the provision of free content in both English and Urdu to their Pakistani counterparts. While the provision of content might be perceived as a good opportunity for the countrys shrinking media industry, it could also be a step towards standardization of mainstream media information to promote BRI projects in Pakistan. There is a broader strategy at play here. China is now exporting news production through institutions such as the Belt and Road News Network. It has developed flooding strategies, which involve publishing large volumes of online content through various state-sponsored channels. In a recent interview, state-run Pakistan Television Corporation officials reported that a Rapid Response Initiative System will be implemented to coordinate the efforts of China Economic Net (a Beijing-based online news organisation) and Pakistan China Institute (an Islamabad based pro-Beijing think-tank) to systematically counter negative views against CPEC. Subsidised trips for Pakistani journalists with training sessions in China are also being organised on a frequent basis. Beijing wishes to promote a new model of journalism across the world, and is holding international conferences such as the Belt and Road Journalists Forum and the China-Pakistan Media Forum to get the word out. Beyond content-related issues, Chinas investment in the media sector mainly favours state-owned outlets over independent and/or private entities. In the midst of the Pakistani medias financial crisis, Chinas growing support will eventually strengthen state-run media over struggling independent outlets, thereby serving both governments interests. Also Read: ICMR denies Covid-19 community transmission in India For all the latest World News, download NewsX App Protesters demanding change in the wake of the death of George Floyd hold a media briefing outside the Minnesota State Capitol on Friday in St. Paul, Minn., where a special session of the legislature was about to begin. Read more MINNEAPOLIS Key Republican lawmakers in Minnesota said Friday that theyll block most of the ambitious changes Democrats want to make to policing in the state where George Floyd died, and that they plan to approve only a limited set of police accountability measures. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and the chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, Warren Limmer, laid out their agenda shortly before the Legislature convened for a special session. They said there's only a short amount of time to act because they intend to adjourn June 19 no matter what. That would effectively force the state House to adjourn too, but Gazelka said lawmakers would continue to work on bigger changes. "Minnesota has the opportunity to lead the way for the whole nation for reconciliation of the races and some of the problems we're addressing," Gazelka said. "Let's begin here." Minnesota is one of several states where Democratic lawmakers and governors are hoping to harness the anger over Floyd's death to remake law enforcement, including by adding new restrictions on the use of force. State legislatures have been slow to tackle those issues since a wave of police killings of young black men in 2014, including Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. READ MORE: Live coverage of what's happening Friday, June 12 Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and the House Democratic majority are backing a slate of proposals from the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus. They've been rolled into three bills on the themes of "Reclaiming Community Oversight," "Reforming Accountability" and "Reimagining Public Safety." The first House committee hearing on those bills is set for Saturday. But Gazelka told reporters that Senate Republicans' top priority was voting to end the emergency powers that Walz has used to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Republicans contend that Walz has used those powers to govern unchecked, causing unnecessary harm to the state's economy without achieving better results than states with looser restrictions, such as neighboring Wisconsin. The vote was 38-29, with three Democrats siding with Republicans. But the House blocked the GOP attempt, rejecting a similar resolution 73-61. Limmer said the five policing bills the Senate will pass before next Friday will include some of the noncontroversial Democratic proposals, including a ban on police chokeholds and neck restraints. Most Minnesota police departments already have rules limiting chokeholds, and Minneapolis recently strengthened its ban under a court-approved agreement with the state. He also said they may include a rewrite of rules governing the police use of force. Limmer specifically rejected a Democratic proposal to put the state attorney general in charge of prosecuting officer-involved killings. Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison has taken over the Floyd case, but as a nationally known figure from the liberal wing of his party, he's a lightning rod for Republicans. Democratic House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler said the Senate Republican plan falls short of what the moment requires. He said Limmer has a record of blocking efforts to make the criminal justice system more just. "It's entirely accurate to say that this is a lazy and last-minute approach to a problem that has been with us for a long time, and that we have been working on for a long time," Winkler said. The special session was already in the works before protests erupted in Minneapolis and spread around the world over Floyd's death in police custody. Walz called it so he could extend his emergency authority another 30 days. Given that Walz must call a special session each time he extends his emergency powers, House Speaker Melissa Hortman said her chamber would block the GOP attempt. Hortman said lawmakers will likely be back in another month "for a forced check-in" that would provide another opportunity to address policing issues. One of the other main agenda items for the special session is a public construction borrowing package known as a bonding bill, which lawmakers didnt finish before last months deadline for adjourning the 2020 regular session. Gazelka said hed be willing to consider increasing the size of the package from $1.1 billion to $1.35 billion to provide money for rebuilding neighborhoods and businesses damaged during the protests over Floyds death. There's no denying Tim Robards works hard for his muscular physique. And on Friday, the original Bachelor star, 37, showed off his impressive form on two portable gymnastics rings which were attached to a sturdy tree in a Melbourne park. In clips shared to Instagram, the Neighbours actor went through an intensive workout, doing a mix of pull-ups and dips, along with gymnastic moves like L-sits and candlestick poses on the outdoor equipment. Proud: The Bachelor's Tim Robards (pictured) showed off his rippling muscles as he powered through an impressive workout on Friday, sharing the footage to Instagram He continued with a move called 'skin the cat', in which he slowly flipped his body at a jaw-dropping angle, before pulling himself back out again. Tim puffed as he went through the excruciating routine, his muscles flexing to the max as he pushed through to the next move. Last month, the fitness fanatic encouraged his followers to constantly adapt, rather than focus on 'gain or loss' in a motivational post he shared to Instagram. Strong: The original Bachelor star, 37, showed off his impressive form on two portable gymnastics rings which were attached to a sturdy tree in a Melbourne park 'A master lives in a world of transformation, never gain or loss...' he captioned the post. 'Humans are built to adapt! Our body is amazing at adapting to the environment we put ourselves in,' he continued. The former chiropractor went on to explain that lifting weights was like 'playing an instrument' and you'd eventually get better with practice. How is that possible?Tim completed the routine with a move called 'skin the cat', in which he slowly flipped his body at a jaw-dropping angle, before pulling himself back out again He finished: 'We are all adapting right now... Trust in your body, both challenge and nurture it, and be open to transformation... Over gain or loss!' Tim rose to fame on the first season of The Bachelor, where he met his wife Anna Heinrich. The loved-up reality stars announced in May they are expecting their first child together. NEW YORK, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Concrete Pumps Market Research Report by Product (Specialized Concrete Pumps, Stationery Concrete Pumps, and Truck Mounted Concrete Pumps), by End User (Commercial, Domestic, and Industrial) - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913929/?utm_source=PRN The Global Concrete Pumps Market is expected to grow from USD 3,585.59 Million in 2019 to USD 4,715.85 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.67%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Concrete Pumps to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: On the basis of Product, the Concrete Pumps Market is studied across Specialized Concrete Pumps, Stationery Concrete Pumps, and Truck Mounted Concrete Pumps. On the basis of End User, the Concrete Pumps Market is studied across Commercial, Domestic, and Industrial. On the basis of Geography, the Concrete Pumps Market is studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region is studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region is studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region is studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Company Usability Profiles: The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Concrete Pumps Market including Alliance Concrete Pumps, Inc., Apollo Infratech Pvt. Ltd, Concord Concrete Pumps, Fangyuan Group Inc, KCP Heavy Industries, Liebherr Group, Putzmeister, Sany Group, Schwing Gmbh, and Zoomlion Heavy Machinery Co, Ltd. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Concrete Pumps Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on sulfuric acid offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Concrete Pumps Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Concrete Pumps Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Concrete Pumps Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Concrete Pumps Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Concrete Pumps Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Concrete Pumps Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913929/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker 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: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com Australians will be free to go to outdoor events with up to 10,000 spectators next month in a big step to remove pandemic restrictions, as federal and state leaders warn against holding major protests planned for this weekend. In a significant relief for restaurants and other venues, the 100 person cap will be removed on indoor gatherings under the national cabinet's stage three restrictions, but venues will have to enforce rules to allow only one person for every four square metres, limiting numbers according to the size of the space. Speaking after national cabinet met on Friday morning, Prime Minister Scott Morrison also aired plans for a pilot scheme to allow overseas students to come to Australia on flights arranged with universities and governments, but he said this would only happen in states with open domestic borders. "I made clear to the states and territories today, if someone can't come to your state from Sydney, then someone can't come to your state from Singapore," he said. Federal and state authorities arrested a North Carolina man Friday on charges of threatening to burn down a Black church in Virginia. John Malcolm Bareswill, 63, of Catawba, North Carolina, telephoned the church in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on the morning of June 7, several days after one of the church leaders took part in a prayer vigil and demonstration related to the death of George Floyd, according to court documents. Two people in the church who heard the call said the man told them, "you [racial slur] need to shut up and threatened to set fire to the church. John Malcolm Bareswill. (Western Tidewater Regional Jail) Investigators checked phone records and discovered that the church received one call that morning and traced the number to a cellphone belonging to Bareswill, who works in Virginia Beach. He told them he did not call any churches that morning and that he was asleep at the time, they said. But a review of the phone showed that Bareswill had searched for information about predominately Black churches in the area, including the one that received the call, according to the court documents. His cellphone data also revealed that a call to the church was placed the morning of June 7. "No one should be made to fear for their safety or the safety of their church for speaking out, and we will seek justices for victims of those who allegedly violate that right," said G. Zachary Terwilliger, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, where the charges were filed. Last year, China replaced the United States as the No. 1 importer of oil from Venezuela, yet another front in the heated rivalry between Washington and Beijing. The United States had imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company as part of a bid to topple that country's socialist president, Nicolas Maduro. US refineries stopped buying Venezuelan crude. Caracas' ally China, long a major customer, suddenly found itself the top purchaser. Through the first six months of 2019, it imported an average of 350,000 barrels per day of crude from Venezuela. But in August, Washington tightened its sanctions on Venezuela, warning that any foreign entity that continued to do business with the South American country's government could find itself subject to sanctions. State-owned China National Petroleum Corp, known as CNPC, stopped loading oil at Venezuelan ports that month. China's import data showed purchases started to slow, and by late 2019, abruptly stopped. China's largest oil company, like customers in some other countries, seemed to be knuckling under to US President Donald Trump's threats, despite Chinese President Xi Jinping's professed support for Maduro. But China never stopped buying. Crude from Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA, kept arriving at Chinese ports with the help of a Switzerland-based unit of Rosneft, Russia's state-owned oil company, and a roundabout delivery method that made it appear as if the oil's origin was Malaysia, Reuters has found. Between July 1 and Dec. 31, tanker ships delivered at least 18 shipments totaling 19.7 million barrels of rebranded Venezuelan crude to Chinese ports, Reuters determined. That finding is based on a review of ship-tracking data, internal PDVSA documents and interviews with four petroleum analysts who have tracked flows of Venezuelan oil around the globe. A unit of CNPC chartered at least one of those tankers, meaning it was responsible for the oil aboard, the ship-tracking data show. That vessel, called the Adventure, took on Venezuelan crude on July 18 and discharged it in China on Sept. 4, the data show. No charter information was available for the other ships that offloaded crude in China. CNPC did not respond to requests for comment. Those 18 shipments represented more than 5% of Venezuela's total exports in 2019, worth around $1 billion at market prices for the country's flagship crude grade, known as Merey, based on OPEC figures. The sales provided much-needed support to Maduro's government, though Reuters could not determine how much was added to state coffers; PDVSA often sells its crude at steep discounts, and some of its sales go to pay down debt rather than generate cash. The mislabeled shipments have continued into this year, Reuters found. The review used data available on financial information provider Refinitiv Eikon, photos culled from satellite imagery and Automatic Identification System (AIS) data transmitted by oil tankers. New York-based Refinitiv is part-owned by Reuters' parent company, Thomson Reuters. The shipping method - involving the transfer of oil between tanker ships at sea has for months been under scrutiny by the Trump administration. Washington in February slapped sanctions on Rosneft Trading SA, the Geneva-based subsidiary of Rosneft, which it alleges was helping Venezuela to export its oil using so-called ship-to-ship (STS) transfers to mask the true origin of the crude. Rosneft denied wrongdoing. "The Company has always been conducting and is conducting its business in full compliance with applicable international legislation," Rosneft said in a June 5 statement in response to questions for this article. Russia's energy ministry did not reply to a request for comment. China's indirect imports of Venezuelan crude fall into something of a gray zone, according to Peter Harrell, a sanctions expert at the Center for a New American Security think tank in Washington. Harrell believes US sanctions give Washington authority to punish foreign companies that purchase PDVSA oil through a middleman - particularly if the company "knows or should have known it was Venezuelan crude." But that does not obligate the US government to act. "At the end of the day, these sanctions are fundamentally policy calls," Harrell said. Reuters could not independently verify if China knew the oil that reached its shores via Rosneft Trading came from Venezuela. The US Treasury Department, which enforces trade sanctions, declined to comment. Asked about the Reuters findings, Elliott Abrams, the US State Department's special representative for Venezuela, said in an interview that potential US sanctions against Chinese companies purchasing transshipped crude were "on the table." "We will be taking individual actions with respect to STS transfers," Abrams said. China's General Administration of Customs did not respond to requests for comment. The Foreign Ministry told Reuters there was nothing improper about China's dealings with Venezuela. The ministry said US sanctions had "severely affected" relations between Venezuela and the rest of the world, but said Beijing intends to continue trading with the country. Neither PDVSA, Venezuela's Oil Ministry, nor the Information Ministry - which responds to media inquiries on the government's behalf - responded to requests for comment. Venezuelan officials have repeatedly described US sanctions on their country as illegal and unilateral. Oil analysts since last year have said Venezuelan oil was making its way to China by way of STS transfers. This account is the first to reveal the extent of those shipments and demonstrate how systematic the tactic has been. Reuters also reviewed internal PDVSA documents that showed the Rosneft unit was involved in moving the oil. So much PDVSA oil was shipped to China this way that the country's total 2019 imports of Venezuelan oil averaged 283,000 barrels a day. That's 24% higher than the 228,700 barrels a day reported by Chinese customs, according to Reuters calculations based on comparisons of the Refinitiv Eikon data to official Chinese customs data. That was not enough to offset entirely the impact that US sanctions had on PDVSA; US refiners were importing an average of 500,000 barrels per day when the sanctions were imposed in January 2019. But it helped Venezuela keep its oil industry alive at a time when the drop in demand from foreign buyers was creating a glut onshore, nearly forcing PDVSA to halt production in key oil fields. The STS maneuvers mirror tactics that Iran, whose oil industry is also under US sanctions, has used to ship its oil to China for years. As Reuters documented in reports in 2019 and 2015, Iranian oil often is labeled as coming from neighboring Iraq. A representative of the operator of a Chinese terminal where one such shipment unloaded in 2019 denied that the origin of the oil was Iranian. Alireza Miryousefi, spokesman for Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York, said in a statement "how we sell or export our oil is no one's business." He said US sanctions on Iran's oil exports are "illegal." The Chinese shipments of Venezuelan crude were unusual for a variety of reasons, oil analysts said. STS transfers typically are used for legitimate purposes - such as offloading oil from deep-water drilling ships or pumping oil from large tankers onto smaller vessels that can navigate narrow or shallow waterways. The use of this technique to transport oil from Venezuela to China was not seen until the middle of last year, the oil analysts said. Tankers leaving Venezuela loaded with PDVSA crude did not travel straight to China as they had in the past. Instead, 15 tankers whose routes were reviewed by Reuters left Venezuela and first headed for the coast of Malaysia, tracking data show. A few miles offshore, in the Malacca Strait, each rendezvoused with a second, empty tanker that had pulled alongside. The full tanker then pumped its load into the waiting vessel, and in some cases into multiple smaller vessels. Eighteen of those receiving ships then headed to China, where the Venezuelan crude was offloaded and recorded as a product of Malaysia, Chinese customs records show. Reuters could not ascertain who changed the crude's labeled origin before it reached Chinese customs, nor whether doing so expressly violated any maritime laws or local laws in any applicable jurisdictions. Michelle Bockmann, markets editor and analyst at Lloyd's List, a shipping trade publication, said the relabeling was highly uncommon. With the exception of Iran, Bockmann said she could not recall any other instance of crude changing identities in this way. The imports were a break from China's past practice. China routinely has imported oil from countries such as Brazil and Russia using STS transfers. But Chinese customs accurately recorded the true countries of origin in those cases, according to Chinese customs data and Emma Li, a Singapore-based oil analyst with Refinitiv. In addition, Malaysia is a mid-sized oil producer that has not traditionally sold crude to China in the volumes recorded by Chinese customs last year, the records show. China's stated 2019 imports from Malaysia were 400% higher than levels recorded just three years earlier, and the highest ever recorded by Refinitiv Eikon, whose figures date to 2006. The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, the government agency largely in charge of foreign trade, did not respond to requests for comment, nor did Malaysia's state-owned oil company Petronas. This triangulated trade in Venezuelan oil is now in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. The company that lifted the oil from Venezuela for the China shipments identified by Reuters was Rosneft Trading, according to internal PDVSA documents reviewed by Reuters. Until late March, it was a major player in Venezuela's oil industry. The US Treasury on Feb. 18 hit Rosneft Trading with sanctions for allegedly helping Venezuela sidestep the US pressure campaign and sell its oil abroad. Among the tactics employed by Rosneft Trading were STS transfers, US officials allege. By using one ship to haul crude out of Venezuela, then a second to deliver it to China, Rosneft Trading attempted to blur the chain of ownership and disguise the oil's provenance, Abrams, the State Department's special representative for Venezuela, told Reuters, without providing further proof of Rosneft's intentions. "The whole purpose is to evade, the whole purpose is to mislead," Abrams said. On March 28, Rosneft announced it was ending its Venezuela operations and selling all its assets in the country to another, unnamed Russian state-owned firm. "Rosneft has no ongoing business involvement, assets or operations in Venezuela; therefore, there is no subject for providing further comments," the company said in its June 5 statement to Reuters. The Trump administration, meanwhile, gave Rosneft Trading customers until May 20 to unwind their contracts with the company or face US sanctions. Asked whether Chinese customers were involved in hiding the Venezuelan origin of the crude, Abrams said that Asian clients often did not care "how it gets to them, what it's labeled, as long as they're getting what they bought." China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement it was not aware of the STS transfers in question. "The cooperation between China and Venezuela will be carried out normally no matter how the situation changes," the statement read. "It's legitimate and benefits the people of both countries and will not be affected by any unilateral sanction measures." Reuters could not ascertain the final customers for the PDVSA crude in China. But Venezuela's heavy Merey blend is a favored feedstock for refineries making asphalt in China, according to industry sources there. One of the earliest STS transfers involved the Adventure, a tanker chartered by a CNPC subsidiary. On July 18, it took on 1.9 million barrels of Venezuelan crude from another vessel in Malaysian waters, then headed for China, Refinitiv Eikon data show. The manager of the Adventure, Greece-based Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Ltd, said it had never entered into any agreement with PDVSA or any company sanctioned by the United States, and that it "respects and complies in full" with US sanctions. The maritime company said the cargo's bill of lading and certificate of origin said the oil had come from Malaysia.A PIT STOP IN MALAYSIA Malaysia is a popular location for STS transfers of crude because of its proximity to Singapore, one of the world's largest oil trading and storage hubs. One of the STS transfers reviewed by Reuters occurred near Malaysia's port of Kuala Linggi; the rest took place outside the country's Tanjung Bruas port. To demonstrate how these STS transfers work, Reuters used records available on Refinitiv Eikon to reconstruct a shipment to China of 2 million barrels that left the Jose terminal in northeastern Venezuela on Aug. 5, 2019. The oil was carried aboard a Liberia-flagged vessel called the Delta Aigaion, according to Refinitiv Eikon data and an internal PDVSA document seen by Reuters. The crude was a heavy blend known as Merey 16, which is unique to Venezuela, and the customer was listed as Rosneft Trading, the PDVSA document shows. The Delta Aigaion sailed to waters off Malaysia near the port of Tanjung Bruas. There, the crew used a STS transfer to offload the Merey 16 to another tanker, the Malta-flagged Lipari, on Oct. 28, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. The Lipari then headed for China, discharging its crude on Dec. 12 at the port of Zhanjiang, the data show. Refinitiv Eikon ship-tracking data shows the location of ships and indicates how full they are. In this case, the data showed that the draft of each ship changed dramatically while the two were in the same location off Malaysia's coast at the same time. The draft is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of a vessel's hull - a sign of how heavy a load it is carrying. The draft measurements showed that the Delta Aigaion arrived in Malaysia full and left empty, while the opposite was true for the Lipari - an indication that an oil transfer between the two took place. In a photo taken using a European Space Agency radar satellite and provided to Reuters by San Francisco-based earth imaging company Planet Labs, the Delta Aigaion and the Lipari can be seen approaching one another to start the oil transfer on Oct 28. The authenticity of that photo was verified by oil industry data provider TankerTrackers.com, which specializes in satellite image analysis for vessel tracking. Refinitiv Eikon retrieves location information from satellite images as well as from land-based sensors that collect data from ships' transponders. Ships are required by international maritime law to carry transponders to transmit information about their position, speed and destination. The US government has accused tankers and shipping firms transporting oil from Venezuela and Iran of manipulating this data to evade authorities, either by flashing false destinations or simply turning off their transponders. The Delta Aigaion, while on its way to Venezuela in July after leaving its previous berthing in India, never indicated it was heading to the South American country, Refinitiv Eikon data show. The tanker listed its destination as "For Orders," a message meaning it had not yet received instructions on where to go next. Delta Tankers Ltd and TMS Tankers Ltd, the shipping companies that manage the Delta Aigaion and Lipari, respectively, did not respond to requests for comment. MMC Corp Bhd and T.A.G. Marine Sdn Bhd, which operate the Tanjung Bruas and Kuala Linggi ports, respectively, did not respond to requests for comment. When the Lipari unloaded in the southwestern Chinese city of Zhanjiang, Chinese customs labeled the crude as "Singma blend," a grade of crude that did not exist in the market before last year. Customs recorded the country of origin as Malaysia. Li, the Refinitiv analyst, said the labeling of the crude as a blend appears to be incorrect. If the crude were a blend of different grades - a practice common in the oil industry - the STS operation would have involved multiple vessels bringing crude from separate origins, Li said. Ship-tracking data show no indication that this occurred. "It doesn't look like there's any blending," Li said. For 14 of the 18 tankers reviewed by Reuters, the grade of crude recorded by Chinese customs was Singma or Mal, another blend that did not exist before last year, data compiled by Li show. In other cases, the Venezuelan crude was given the names of more established Malaysian grades such as Miri or Kimanis, or was not specified, according to the data compiled by Li. Merey 16, the Venezuelan blend, was not mentioned. ROSNEFT EXIT The arrival of Venezuelan oil in China via STS transfers continued through at least the first two months of 2020. During January and February, Chinese customs once again reported no imports of Venezuelan crude. However, nearly 130,000 barrels per day of PDVSA oil arrived at Chinese ports in those two months from seven tankers that had done STS operations, according to the Reuters review. With US pressure on Venezuela rising, it is unclear whether the tactics PDVSA and its partners employed over the past year to export Venezuelan oil will remain viable. Even before it announced its complete withdrawal from Venezuela on March 28, Rosneft had not lifted any crude from the country's ports for around a month. Meanwhile, global oil prices have plunged in recent months due to a collapse in demand resulting from the spread of the novel coronavirus. Venezuela's crude output has dropped by more than 20% this year to below 700,000 barrels per day. Still, there are signs the discreet trade will continue. With few established oil companies willing to buy oil directly from Venezuela over fears of provoking Trump, two little-known Mexican firms - Libre Abordo and Schlager Business Group - recently emerged as the largest intermediaries for PDVSA crude. The companies told Reuters they had a deal with Maduro's government to supply goods, including corn and water trucks, in exchange for the oil, which they then resell. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has been investigating the two companies, among others, as part of an inquiry into possible violations of US sanctions on PDVSA, according to three people familiar with the matter. The Mexican firms said swaps of goods for Venezuelan oil were permitted under US sanctions as long as no cash payments reached Maduro's government. The companies said they have no knowledge of any US investigation into their practices. On Feb. 11, a Panama-flagged tanker named the Athens Voyager loaded some 700,000 barrels of crude near western Venezuela's Amuay oil port, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. Its customer was Libre Abordo, according to an internal PDVSA document viewed by Reuters. On Sunday, April 5, the fully loaded Athens Voyager arrived at its destination: the Linggi STS hub off the coast of Malaysia. There it pumped its cargo onto a Liberia-flagged vessel named the Loyalty A on April 17. The manager of the Athens Voyager, Greece-based Chemnav Shipmanagement Ltd, deferred comment to the vessel's owner, Marshall Islands-based Afranav Maritime Ltd. The manager of the Loyalty A, Jacinta Marine Corp of Lagos, Nigeria, did not respond to a request for comment. On June 2, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions against Afranav Shipmanagement for its alleged role in trading Venezuelan oil. It said the Athens Voyager had lifted oil from Venezuelan ports as recently as mid-February. Afranav did not respond to requests for comment. Libre Abordo, meanwhile, declared bankruptcy on May 31. It said its arrangement with Venezuela had been suspended by Maduro, and that it was the target of an international pressure campaign driven by Washington.A In a June 8 email to Reuters, Libre Abordo confirmed that the oil transported aboard the Athens Voyager was registered in its name. On June 10, Libre Abordo said further that the documentation of origin reflected that the crude came from Venezuela. The company said it sent the oil to Malaysia, where it was offloaded to another ship at the behest of the final customer, whose name it would not disclose. According to Refinitiv Eikon data, the receiving vessel, the Loyalty A, is currently en route to Qingdao, China. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 17:28:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RAMALLAH, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian officials on Friday criticized the decision of U.S. President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its judges. "It is an absurd, aggressive and arrogant decision," Mahmoud al-Habbash, the supreme judge of Palestine, said in a press statement sent to Xinhua. Meanwhile, Islamic Hamas movement, ruler of the Gaza Strip, said in a press statement "the decision reflects the logic of bullying that governs the behavior of this administration and its hostility to all international laws and norms." Hazem Qasem, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said "the U.S. sanctions against ICC officials aim to protect war criminals and the leaders of the Israeli occupation." "This decision encourages the Israeli leaders to continue their aggression against our people and their rebellion against all international laws, resolution and human morals," added Qasem. On Thursday, Israeli public radio reported that Trump authorized economic sanctions against ICC officials engaged in an investigation into possible war crimes by U.S. forces in Afghanistan, as well as the Chief Prosecutor's actions against Israel. Enditem The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) is calling for Covid-19 to be classified as a work-acquired injury to enable the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to investigate a high infection rate among healthcare staff. The nursing union wants regulations to be amended to include Covid-19 as a workplace injury as figures show that 88% of healthcare workers with Covid-19 contracted the virus at work. A third of all 25,385 Covid-19 cases confirmed up to May 30 were healthcare workers. Nurses were the largest single group of workers infected, the INMO said. Nurses (2,591) and healthcare assistants (2,056) accounted for more than half of the 8,018 Covid-19 infections confirmed among healthcare workers, followed by other allied healthcare workers, (1,878), doctors (483), and porters (90). Almost nine in ten or 88% of infections among healthcare workers were contracted at work when cases of unknown transmission were excluded (2,551). A small proportion of healthcare workers contracted the virus through contact with a confirmed case (4%), travel (3%), community transmission (3%), and as patients in a healthcare setting (1%). As of May 30, seven healthcare workers have died from the virus, 1,515 have recovered and 4,823 remain ill, while the health status of 20% of cases remains unknown. INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said the figures cannot be accepted as normal and that health and safety regulations should be revised to include the viral infection as a workplace injury. Currently, 2013 health and safety regulations provide for the protection of employees working with biological agents, such as bacteria and viruses. That would need to be amended to include Covid-19. Ms Ni Sheaghdha said the infection rate figures and hospitalisation figures among healthcare workers "require additional independent scrutiny in our view and thats the purpose of the Health and Safety Authority in any other industry". "For example in meat factories, correctly, the HSA will be examining what happened. We believe they should have exactly the same authority and power in the health service, Ms Ni Sheaghdha told the Today with Sarah McInerny programme on RTE radio. Amending health and safety regulations to include Covid-19, she said, may open up the health service to legal cases but she stressed that the safety of staff was paramount. It depends on whether or not the workplace accident and the injury is so severe, Ms Ni Sheaghdha said. We want the preventative measures put in place, we want a safe place of work, and we dont want our members to have to go through legal courts, she said, adding concern over the potential for a second Covid-19 wave and the "same situation" of a high infection rate remains. Ms Ni Sheaghdha said the requirement for healthcare staff to wear face masks should have been introduced at the beginning of the outbreak and that infection numbers dropped significantly after the policy was introduced on April 22. The INMO is also calling for regular testing of all healthcare staff, for healthcare workers to be permitted to self-isolate if they come into "unprotected close contact" with someone infected by Covid-19, and for a national policy to ensure that all personal protective equipment is quality assured and of a standard that provides the required protection. Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon have been co-hosting the Today show together since January and have shared plenty of laughs in that time. And on Friday, Karl took a playful swipe at his colleague during a segment about tax returns. The 45-year-old called Allison, 41, the 'Wicked Witch of the West,' after she jokingly dobbed him into the Australian Taxation Office and hinted that he had tax trouble. 'You're evil laughing!' Karl Stefanovic (left) called his Today co-host Allison Langdon (right) the 'Wicked Witch of the West' on Friday, after she jokingly dobbed him into the ATO The jab took place when the pair were talking to the ATO's assistant commissioner, Karen Foat. 'Great advice there and as I always say, I love, love, love the ATO and you guys do a fantastic job,' Karl said after the interview, which was filled with advice for viewers on lodging their tax returns this year. Allison then told Ms Foat, 'And you and I should talk afterwards... I'm just saying,' while pointing at Karl and making a funny face. Cheeky! Allison told the ATO's assistant commissioner, Karen Foat (right), that they should have a chat about Karl's tax affairs. She was only joking, of course, and Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Karl doesn't pay his taxes Karl was shocked by the suggestion he was rorting the taxman and even mentioned how Alison was cackling with laughter. 'Oh my God, you've just put me in it big time! That's not a pleasant thing to do, Ally. And look at you, you're nasty laughing!' he said. The father-of-four went on say: '[She's] like the Wicked Witch of the West! "Karl's in tax trouble!"' Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Karl doesn't pay his taxes. He's not happy! The father-of-four went on to call Allison 'the Wicked Witch of the West' Allison joined Karl for his much-anticipated return to breakfast TV earlier this year. Karl was infamously sacked from the Today show in late 2018 before being rehired 12 months later due to plummeting ratings. His contract with Channel Nine ends in December and he is believed to still be in negotiations with the network. Air Force Sergeant Steven Carrillo Charged With Murder in Santa Cruz Deputys Killing A U.S. Air Force sergeant accused of shooting a California deputy last week, throwing lit pipe bombs, and shooting at other deputies has been charged with 19 felonies on Thursday. Steven Carrillo, 32, has been charged with murder, murder by lying in wait, attempted murder, assault, carjacking, and possession of explosives, according to a 14-page indictment filed in the Superior Court of Santa Cruz. The charges against Carrillo make him eligible for the death penalty or life without parole, but prosecutors have not mentioned anything about pursuing the death penalty, Mercury News reported. Carrillo has been accused of the murder of Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, 38, and with the attempted murder of Deputy Alex Spencer, 38, who was critically injured and remains hospitalized. Spencer was shot in the chest but was saved by his bulletproof vest. Most of the injuries he suffered were from shrapnel wounds from an explosive before he was struck by Carrillos white van as the suspect fled the home in Ben Lomond, where Carrillo grew up and lived with his father. He murdered Sgt. Gutzwiller, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said at a news conference earlier this week. He injured another deputy, another police officer and hes going to be held accountable. File photo of Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller who was shot and killed in Ben Lomond, an unincorporated area near Santa Cruz, Calif., on June 6, 2020. (Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Office via AP) He was very intent on killing these police officers, Hart added. They had no idea that they were about to get into this firefight. The FBI has been working with the Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Department and believe Carrillo is also linked to other crimes committed in Oakland in the San Francisco Bay Area, including an attack that killed a Federal Protective Service officer and critically wounded another officer on May 29, which both involved a white van. John Bennett, an FBI special agent talked about the possible connection between Carrillos white van and one sought in connection with the Oakland shooting, KPIX5 reported. Many of you have asked about this (the white van) in connection with the shooting of two federal protection officers in Oakland, Bennett said. We are actively investigating the possibility of links between these cases. However, as this investigation is ongoing. I cannot provide or I will not provide details on it. Authorities said Carrillo posted anti-cop messages on social media on the night of June 6, shortly before the killing of Sgt. Gutzwiller. Gutzwiller and Spencer responded to a citizens call about a man (Carrillo) driving a van with guns and explosive devices when they were ambushed and shot by Carrillo at the Ben Lomond home. Santa Cruz Sheriff Jim Hart stands next to Harts wife and child and a photo of fallen Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, as more than a thousand people gather outside the Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroners Office to pay their respects in Santa Cruz, Calif., on June 7, 2020. (Martha Mendoza/AP Photo) Carrillo managed to escape, carjacked a vehicle, and tried to carjack several others before being subdued through the herculean efforts of a heroic resident, Hart said. The unidentified man saw Carrillo in his backyard and confronted him. Carrillo was armed with the AR-15 and demanded the mans car keys. The man retrieved the keys, gave them to Carrillo. Once Carrillo turned away the man tackled him and the rifle fell away from him. As they struggled, Carrillo pulled a pipe bomb from his pants and tried unsuccessfully to light it. He then pulled out a pistol and the man was able to knock it out of his hands and then subdue him as neighbors came to help, Hart said. This guy could have done a lot more damage in our community, Hart said. The man who subdued Carrillo does not want to be publicly identified, Hart said, but he plans to award him a medal. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From The NTD News By Express News Service Director Ranjith Sankar has opined that as far as independent films in Malayalam cinema are concerned, theatres are the best and most ideal option. In his new blog, the Ramante Edanthottam filmmaker talked about the ideal platform to release an independent film today. He said that while OTT seems like a great choice for independent films, the films made here go through various processes that an OTT release would undermine those efforts. The scripts go through several feasibility studies, the genres are carefully chosen, and the market thoroughly scrutinized. One has to also make sure that they are not repeated even if the scripts are good. Its more like a corporate production house or an advertising agency where you make ads to cater to an audience. Nothing independent or experimental about it. Ranjith added that there is no possibility of releasing an independent film on television as the demand for satellite rights are mostly reserved for films with a decent star cast or a filmmaker having a reputation for making commercially viable projects without the script being scrutinised for genres, market, and so on. What about film festivals? Well, the nature of film festivals has changed over the years. Its true that a film with great content made in any language can reap millions with international distribution. But Indian cinema is yet to crack this market, with very few exceptions, he said. He concluded by saying that for most of the filmmakers working in India, theatres are the only mode of release for independent films. The magic of cinema happens only in theatres. Commercial experiments happen only in theatres. While a few of them work, many of them misfire. But the experiments will continue. Paris: The vehement denial by French President Emmanuel Macron's office of a report that he may resign to trigger an early election has done little to quell that rumour. That's because there may some logic to such a move. The report in Le Figaro newspaper on Thursday said Macron had raised the possibility in a call with London-based donors. The Elysee palace denied it, saying the President was neither on such a call nor has he entertained such an idea the government spokeswoman told France Info radio Macron's resignation would be "bizarre". Still, it set the chattering classes abuzz, with political radio and television programs talking of little else. French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris, last week. Credit:EPA What lends the rumour credence is the fact that Macron is in a tight spot. While the pandemic pressed the pause button on all the thorny issues he was dealing with from the yellow vest protests to the highly contentious pension reforms they are all set to resurface. The country's early response to the coronavirus was deemed to be less than exemplary, and the lockdown-induced contraction of the economy and potential mass job losses will mean some difficult conversations. On the defensive, a new mandate might just be the thing Macron needs. A doctored photo of a student standing with Dr Martin Luther King, and a message refering to a racial slur, was somehow included in a Georgia high schools yearbook, to the confusion and horror of the schools staff. The photo shows a student standing next to a smiling Martin Luther King, Jr, who has been photoshopped in and whose hand rests on the students shoulder. The student is holding a binder with a piece of paper on top that says Official n-word Pass. According to WSB-TV 2 Atlanta, the school principal sent out a letter apologising to parents that the image made it into the yearbook. The principal said the school was committed to determining how the photo made it into the yearbook. This is unacceptable, and we are currently investigating to determine who submitted this photo and how our processes did not address this before it went to print, Kerensa Wing, the schools principal, said in the letter. According to the school, the photo was submitted to the yearbooks staff in lieu of a traditional school photo, and was apparently not rejected by the editors. As these photos were not available, the yearbook company replaced those pages with senior selfies that had been submitted, Ms Wing said. One of the schools graduating seniors, Aaliyah Williams, said she was excited to pick up her yearbook, but was dismayed when she saw the photo. Im excited for the yearbook. I get to see all the exciting memories and I open the book and I see this. And its like, wow! It hurts me to the core, Ms Williams said. Of everything thats going on right now, that shouldnt be a joke. It shouldnt be a joke right now. Its nothing to play around with. The photo comes as the nation is embroiled in the third week of George Floyd protests aimed at curbing systemic racism and police brutality. The students mother took to Facebook to voice her displeasure, and her post went viral. Her senior year shes already had enough to deal with. Im offended. Im offended only because who allowed it to get out? Where was your committee? I understand there are students on the committee but there are adults and teachers over the committee, Kavanti White, the students parent, said. When I looked at it, I thought, Oh my God. This is real? This is, like, people take out the time to do this and think its a joke. The school has not yet determined whether the student in the photo submitted the doctored photo or if the photo was later altered without the students knowledge or consent. On Thursday, Ms Wing sent out a second letter, informing parents that the yearbooks were being recalled and reprinted without the image. As a first step in rebuilding that trust, we are going to print new revised yearbooks, replacing this photo. Although we were presented with other options initially, we decided this was the right thing to do. As a result, we are calling for an immediate recall of ALL 2020 yearbooks that have been distributed, Ms Wing said in the letter. We also will be reviewing all of our yearbook processes -- from the submission of photos to final proofing -- to ensure this does not occur again. The British Council, which promotes UK cultural and language relations overseas, is seeking a multi-million-pound bailout to stave off insolvency because of the impact of COVID-19. (AFP/Alexander NEMENOV) Junior foreign minister Nigel Adams told parliament the organisation was seeking a 60-million (US$75-million) "advance" from the government's emergency Contingencies Fund. "The British Council's commercial income has been heavily hit by COVID-19, leading to significant losses and the risk of insolvency," Adams told MPs in a written statement. Despite cost-cutting measures, such as furloughing staff, the council's financial situation was dire, he added. "Without additional support from Government the British Council will shortly become insolvent," he said. "The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is therefore seeking a Contingencies Fund advance to provide an initial loan of up to 60 million to the British Council." The British Council is a key part of UK soft power overseas, and works in more than 100 countries, with over 7,000 staff worldwide. It was founded in 1934 to promote British culture and fight the rise of fascism. A British Council spokeswoman said: "We are grateful to the UK Government for this generous loan to help us stabilise." Madeleine McCann's family lawyer has told three police forces investigating her disappearance to work together - as tensions between them rise. Portuguese, British and German officers have been arguing over who knew what and when about the new prime suspect in the case. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 21:33:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ACCRA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The number of people infected with the new coronavirus in Ghana has reached 10,856, with 498 more cases confirmed as of Friday morning, according to data from the Ghana Health Service (GHS). An additional 98 patients recovered, bringing the total of recoveries to 3,921, while the number of deaths related to COVID-19 stays at 48, the GHS said. There are now 6,887 active COVID-19 cases in the west African country, it said. Final-year students at various levels of education in Ghana will return to school this month for their final examinations, to be conducted under strict COVID-19 protocols. Enditem Tim McLoone isnt taking the bait. Like the rest of Asbury Parks prominent dining scene, the stalwart Jersey Shore restaurateur received unlikely news Wednesday night. The city council would allow restaurants to open for indoor service on Monday at 25% capacity or 50 customers and staff, whichever is lower defying an executive order put forth by Gov. Phil Murphy. The governor announced last week outdoor dining would begin June 15, but indoor dining remains prohibited. McLoone, who owns Tim McLoones Supper Club and The Iron Whale in town as well as nearly a dozen restaurants throughout the state, has been a vocal supporter of getting diners back inside his eateries. But the longtime business owner knows the risks involved with opposing state mandates: hefty fines, license suspensions and license revocations worth up to seven figures. We are not prepared to go rogue and start serving, McLoone said, noting hes supported Murphys data determines dates and public health leads to economic health approach throughout the coronavirus crisis. While restaurants within the typically bustling downtown community have suffered since Marchs uniform pandemic shutdown, restaurant owners along Cookman and Mattison Avenues share McLoones wariness. Porta, one of the most popular restaurants in Asbury Park, had its massive dining room routinely packed before the coronavirus crisis, but will not be doing indoor dining despite the city allowing it. (Russ DeSantis/For The Star-Ledger)Russ DeSantis Dallas Hlatky, COO of the Smith Group which owns popular spots Porta, Pascal & Sabine, Brickwall Tavern and The Annex says she didnt receive reassurance that restaurants would be protected from penalties if they reopened indoor dining. I asked a question at the council meeting: Im assuming you guys have looked at this from every angle, and that you dont believe that this will be an issue, like you found a legal loophole, youre coming out front and thats why youre doing this? And they said, No, were just using our common sense,'" Hlatky said. Murphy lashed out at Asbury Park officials during his regular coronavirus briefing Thursday in Trenton. Weve gone through hell please, lets not go back through it," Murphy said. We will continue to enforce as evenly as we can and where we think public health is at risk. State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan said it will be up to local authorities to enforce the states rules and issue summonses. The Asbury Park Police Department did not return a request for comment. The state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control has issued notices of charges or fine letters to 88 licensees for violations of COVID-19 emergency orders, according to the division. Proposed penalties for the violations include two license revocations, license suspensions and monetary fines. Shakey Jakes Cafe in Stanhope and Tequila Club in Plainfield City are among the bars facing temporary license suspensions. Asbury Park Councilwoman Eileen Chapman said she voted yes to the resolution, despite the governors regulations, after hearing from struggling local restaurant owners who feared the downturn in business due to the coronavirus could force them to close. Weve heard from many of our restaurants that the numbers theyll be able to accommodate with outdoor dining, especially with social distancing of tables, would not allow them to sustain their businesses, Chapman said. They may not make it through the summer, and if they do, they may have to close in the fall. Earlier this month, the southern-style Asbury Park restaurant Modine, shut down permanently as a result of COVID-19s economic fallout, despite its prime downtown location and positive reviews. Chapman added that restaurants will follow safety guidelines outlined in Murphys executive order signed Monday, which allows indoor gatherings of up to 50 people, given everyone is wearing masks and remain six feet apart. Indoor dining was specifically excluded from this order. The state may still penalize restaurants that violate the governors executive order; owners should resume indoor dining at their own risk, Chapman said. An executive order signed in March nullifies any local ordinance or resolution that conflicts with the states coronavirus rules. Its a personal choice at this point for restaurant owners Chapman said. The pizza at Talula's in Asbury Park, which will be available for outdoor dining but not indoors starting June 15. (Peter Genovese | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) For Shanti Mignogna, co-owner of the acclaimed pizza restaurant Talulas, rolling the dice on indoor dining is not a risk worth taking, at least not yet. This indoor thing kind of threw us for a loop," Mignogna said. "To be honest, I think were going to spin our wheels for nothing because I doubt the governor is going to allow it. For now, were just moving forward with outdoor and trying to make it great and safe for everyone. Laura Brahn, co-owner of Cardinal Provisions, says she and her staff arent comfortable inviting people inside just yet, especially after investing thousands of dollars in outdoor seating plans. We werent expecting this at all," Brahn said. Were going to try our hand at outdoor dining first, and see if our guests and the public are following protocol and really respecting boundaries ... were gonna play it by ear after that. New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association President Marilou Halvorsen backs Asbury Parks decision and believes a slow reopening of indoor dining would be safe. Before making reservations to their favorite restaurant, Halvorsen said diners should look at their personal situation first, such as whether they or someone close to them are immunocompromised. I dont think [the council] is asking for anything more than what other retail establishments or public gathering or, you know, other entities have received," she said. "Im trying to be respectful to the governor. But I understand and can appreciate why theyre doing what theyre doing. At least one city restaurant is moving forward with indoor seating Monday. Executive chef James Avery of the seafood restaurant Bonney Read said take-out orders are barely keeping the place afloat financially amid the coronavirus. He needs more business. Avery said he is excited, but cautious, about allowing 50 people inside his building and has consulted with a liquor license attorney as a precaution. Im just trying to salvage my business and whatever bit of a summer we have," Avery said. "I dont know how you couldnt be excited about this. Im not a cowboy. Im doing it the right way. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo. Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Thousands of Australians undergoing surgery will have nasal swab and blood samples taken while under anaesthetic to screen them for coronavirus amid mounting international evidence those infected with COVID-19 are at heightened risk of dying post-operatively. About 3000 patients will be tested for evidence of the virus or antibodies that indicate previous infection over the next six weeks after a national elective surgery taskforce was established with testing sites at 14 public and private hospitals across Australia. Monash University Professor Paul Myles. Credit:Monash University Testing sites include The Alfred and Epworth hospitals and Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne. Doctors, surgeons and infectious disease experts have also been appointed at NSW's Royal North Shore and Westmead hospitals and Prince of Wales Private Hospital. About 200 elective surgery patients have already been tested for the virus this week. Demonstrators raise their fists up in a celebratory dance party of civil rights and black culture as they gather at the Black Lives Matter Plaza, near the White House, during a protest against racial inequality in the aftermath of the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Washington, June 6, 2020. Jim Bourg | Reuters In recent days, corporate America has made its strongest statements yet on racial inequality. But the protesters marching through small U.S. towns and gathering in large cities around the world want more than words. Business leaders now face a reckoning that won't be hashtagged away. Many are under pressure from activists, customers and even their own employees to demonstrate tangible actions. "The sense of urgency is something we and many corporate leaders haven't seen in our lifetime," said Stephanie Creary, assistant professor of management at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and who researches identity and diversity. Creary said she and more than a dozen of her academic colleagues have been "inundated" with calls from large and small businesses "all trying to figure out what to do next." A shift in public opinion is pushing companies to do more. Most American voters now support Black Lives Matter, according to a survey by online polling firm Civiqs. That support has jumped to 53% from 46% since the death of George Floyd in police custody on May 25. The vast majority of the public now expects CEOs to express support for racial equity and factors that in when deciding where to spend money. In a poll released Wednesday by Morning Consult, 81% of respondents said they agreed that CEOs should express or reaffirm that their company's hiring process is equitable and accessible to diverse populations, and that they should provide specifics about how they will ensure that. Nearly 70% of the more than 11,000 people polled in May and June said how a CEO reacts to an issue, such as the Black Lives Matter movement, would permanently affect their decision to buy from the company. Why this time is different From reactive to proactive Companies have spent years reacting to reports of racial discrimination or bias that thrust them into the spotlight. Employees at both General Motors and Fiat Chrysler have reported multiple instances of nooses hanging in at least two plants since 2017, according to lawsuits and media reports. In an emailed statement Tuesday, GM said it met with national, state and local civil rights leaders and Ohio's attorney general's office following racial harassment issues at its Toledo plant. It said it added mandatory training at the plant on inclusion and zero tolerance for discrimination and now requires all North American workers to take it. Nearly three years ago, Ford Motor was ordered to pay up to $10.1 million to settle sexual and racial harassment charges for a group of workers at two Chicago-area plants after an investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Antoine Bethea #41 and Rashard Robinson #33 of the San Francisco 49ers raise their first during the anthem as Eli Harold #58 while teammates Colin Kaepernick #7 and Eric Reid #35 take a knee, prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi Stadium on October 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. Michael Zagaris | Getty Images In each instance, automakers have condemned such actions, launched internal investigations including bringing in outside investigators, and fired employees found responsible for the racist acts. GM CEO Mary Barra was one of the most outspoken of the automotive executives regarding the country's systemic racism after the deaths of Floyd and other Black Americans. She is commissioning an "Inclusion Advisory Board" of both internal and external leaders, which she will chair. "It's my responsibility as CEO of this company to make sure it doesn't fall off the agenda," Barra said Tuesday during a LinkedIn webcast. Executives with Ford and Fiat Chrysler also spoke out against racism and racial inequality in messages to employees following Floyd's death. Starbucks changed its policy to allow anyone to use its bathrooms after police arrested Donte Robinson and Rashon Nelson, two Black men, at one of its Philadelphia cafes in April 2018. The two men were waiting for business meeting to begin and sat down without ordering anything. An employee called the police. A video of the incident, posted on Twitter, went viral and led to protests and calls for boycotts of the coffee chain. With its reputation as an inclusive and progressive brand under fire, Starbucks about a month later closed all of its company-owned cafes in the U.S. for a day of employee training aimed at stamping out racial bias. Industry experts estimated that the store closures cost the company millions in dollars in sales. After the May training session, Starbucks began regularly surveying its workers about its diversity and inclusion efforts. It also hired law firm Covington & Burling, with former Attorney General Eric Holder leading the effort, to assess Starbucks' policies and initiatives. Recent changes to encourage diversity and inclusion include launching an application portal this year that allows store-level employees, from baristas to store managers, to view internal promotion opportunities. In September, it launched a 15-course curriculum developed by Arizona State University to teach topics about bias, empathy and dialogue. "No company is perfect. What sets Starbucks apart is the Company's willingness to learn from these missteps and to address their underlying causes," Holder wrote, in an assessment of its efforts. "The Company did not treat these incidents as a public relations issue to be managed and then forgotten." The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in October 2017 issued a travel advisory for American Airlines after "monitoring a pattern of disturbing incidents reported by African-American passengers." Among them a report from activist Tamika Mallory about racial bias when a pilot ordered her to deplane after a dispute over her seat. The NAACP, which couldn't be reached for this article, lifted its travel advisory in 2018, after commending the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier for commitments including mandatory implicit bias training for its roughly 130,000 employees. The five-step plan, known by the acronym PAUSE, calls for employees to become better aware of their own judgments and reactions, to figure out how best to approach a situation. The airline also put in place a new process for customers' complaints about discrimination that includes having an specially trained American Airlines staff member call the passenger to discuss the issue. American appointed Kenneth Charles in January as chief inclusion and diversity officer, a new role and department, but CEO Doug Parker said that the not enough has been done. "All that work, really important work, has had really [a] positive impact," Parker said in June 4 CNBC interview. "What I think we are all seeing as a country is that those initiatives, while helpful, are insufficient and we need to do more." "There are structural barriers in place that keep these disparities in place," he said. Change starts at home In the past two weeks, some corporate leaders have been called out for race-related social media posts and actions in a way that's reminiscent of the #MeToo movement. The editor in chief of food magazine Bon Appetit, Adam Rapoport, stepped down this week after an old Halloween photo showed him in brown face and a food writer accused the company of mistreating people of color. Athletic wear company Reebok and several gyms cut have ties with CrossFit after its founder and CEO, Greg Glassman, made light of Floyd's death and Covid-19 on Twitter. Glassman later resigned. And at some companies, including Adidas and Estee Lauder, sharp criticism by employees has prompted pledges to increase diversity and invest in causes that advance equity. As company leaders and corporate groups have spoken out, their own makeup has underscored the need for more progress. Business Roundtable, for example, pledged to start a special committee to advance racial equity and justice. The group is made up of 185 chief executives from many U.S. companies but it has only two Black members. Only four Fortune 500 companies are led by Black CEOs. Many industries, including finance, skew white and male. A year ago, JPMorgan Chase started Advancing Black Pathways, a recruitment program aimed at increasing the number of Black professionals at the firm and helping close the racial wealth gap. Yet JPMorgan's efforts have been complicated by its past. Like other banks, it's perpetuated policies that have made it harder for Black Americans to get lower interest rates, qualify for mortgages or access capital. As recently as last year, a Black client and Black employee said the company discriminated against them. Former NFL player Jimmy Kennedy recorded conversations with a bank employee who referred to his race when explaining why he couldn't sign up as a "private client," a designation that would have given him access to loans and travel benefits, according to a report by The New York Times. Kennedy's JPMorgan financial advisor at the time, Ricardo Peters, said he was passed over for a promotion and transferred to a branch in a less-wealthy area, despite receiving awards for his performance. And he recorded a manager demeaning a Black prospective client and discouraging him from taking her business. Peters was later fired by JPMorgan. He then filed a discrimination claim with the EEOC and the civil rights division of the Arizona attorney general's office accusing the bank of discrimination, according to the Times report. Peters worked for JPMorgan in Arizona. JPMorgan denies Peters claim, the Times said. Sekou Kaalund, JPMorgan Chase managing director and head of Advancing Black Pathways, said that "like most institutions in America," the bank has a checkered legacy, which sets up a trust barrier. He said companies' pasts now amplified by protesters have raised the bar. "I don't think people are going to settle for just the statement," he said. "People are going to look ahead at four, six months, 12 months, three months. 'What have you done on that statement? How have you brought to life what you said you would do?'" "People will be looking for action-oriented items and executions versus just pacifying a moment with a statement." No quick fix Companies looking for solutions won't find a quick fix, said Magnus Ogunnaike of civil rights group Color of Change. She said Black voices are underrepresented at many companies, but adding a Black person to a company's board or the C-suite isn't enough. "Black faces in high spaces are not necessarily the answer to this problem," she said. "A few Black people advancing to the top is not necessarily what people are fighting about right now." The progressive group has pressed companies to release diversity reports, raise their minimum wage and examine their portrayal of Black people and police officers. It scored a victory this week when ViacomCBS canceled long-running reality TV show, "Cops" and A&E nixed "Live P.D.," one of the highest-rated shows on basic cable. She said corporate leaders must look top to bottom at their company with a civil rights audit that scrutinizes everything from worker pay and discrimination complaints to how they work with police. "We need these corporations to not only issue statements that say that they value Black lives, they need to fundamentally look at how their corporations are structured," she said. Creary, the Wharton assistant professor, said business leaders need to examine issues within their walls such as who's ideas get accepted and who gets credit. "Who gets to contribute sometimes in a hierarchical work team? The people who've been around the longest ... who are the most seasoned. They are the de facto bearers of credit." Part of JPMorgan's new approach has been to widen the funnel of people coming through the door by reaching out to Black students in their first two years of college, including at historically Black universities. This increases students' chances of landing an internship or job at the bank or another company. Kaalund said the company is tracking its progress. It has hired more than 1,000 Black students so far. About 4% of its executive and senior level jobs are made up of Black professionals, as of 2019, but he said the number of Black managing directors and executive directors has grown by more than 50% since it launched a Black leadership initiative four years ago. It created and filled a new position in April global head of diversity and inclusion to step up policies that prevent discrimination within the company and beyond it. The telecom brands Vodafone, Jio, and Airtel had introduced a host of new plans of late. While Airtel and Jio launched new work from home plans, Vodafone added extra benefits to its existing plans. The coronavirus pandemic has forced people to work from home and now even though the lockdown has been lifted, some people are still operating from home to avoid contracting the virus. Working from home means you need a good internet connection and sometimes your Wifi connection might just give. In situations like this, you can turn your phone into a router only if you recharge your phone numbers with plans that offer good data benefits. In this article, we would talk about the 2GB data per day plans offered by Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone. So check them out here. Vodafone Vodafone has three dedicated prepaid plans that offer 2GB data per day such as the Rs 299, Rs 449, and Rs 699 plans. But now these plans offer not 2 but 4GB data per day under Vodafone's double data offer. So let us break it down for you. The Rs 299 plan offers 4GB data per day, 100 SMS per day, unlimited calling, and a free subscription to Vodafone play and streaming app Zee5. The plan is valid for 28 days. The Rs 449 plan offers similar benefits but has valid for 56 days while the Rs 699 plan is valid for 84 days. All the plans offer a free subscription to Zee5 and Vodafone Play. Reliance Jio Out of all three telecom brands, Reliance Jio has the maximum number of prepaid plans that offer 2GB data per day. The company had recently added two new yearly plans to the list. So the plans are Rs 249, Rs 444, Rs 599, Rs 2399 and Rs 2599. These plans come with different validity but offer 2GB data per day. The plans ship with Jio-to-Jio unlimited calling and 100SMS per day. The Rs 2599 yearly prepaid plan also offers a free subscription to Disney+ Hotstar VIP. Airtel Airtel also has three prepaid plans that 2GB data per day such as Rs 298, Rs 349, Rs 449 and Rs 698 plans. The Rs 349 plan offers 2GB data per day, unlimited calls, and 100SMSes per day. It is valid for 28 days. While the Rs 449 plan offers the same benefits but has a validity of 56 days and Rs 698 plan is valid for 84 days. By Arthur I. Cyr "Give me liberty or give me death." That war cry of American Revolutionary firebrand Patrick Henry is now an increasingly popular slogan of the courageous protestors seeking freedom in besieged Hong Kong. Henry's fighting words are present on student backpacks, signs carried by freedom protestors and elsewhere. On May 21, China's National People's Congress, the rubber-stamp legislature controlled by the Communist Party, announced a harsh repressive national security law aimed at Hong Kong. Renewed protests immediately commenced in the territory. Last June, an estimated two million people peacefully protested a proposal that would have made extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China much easier. In response, Beijing backed off the effort to tighten control of Hong Kong. The proposal was first suspended, and then withdrawn entirely. A brutal murder in Taiwan, after which the suspect fled to Hong Kong, provided the pretext for Beijing. However, the actual agenda was to assert Beijing's authority over both the former British colony of Hong Kong, and eventually the large island of Taiwan. United States government leaders are reacting forcefully and with determination. On May 29, President Donald Trump announced that Hong Kong's autonomy effectively has ended, and therefore the territory will no longer have privileged trade status. A separate statement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reinforced the tough stance. The government of Britain announced that Hong Kong residents holding British passports could seek citizenship. The British colony became a "semiautonomous administrative region" of China in 1997. Beijing has since worked to remove residual freedom. In November 2016, China intervened to ban two young legislators from serving. Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-ching had demonstrated independence and inserted "Hong Kong Nation" into their oaths of office. Demonstrations and police confrontations followed. In 1992, Deng Xiaoping opened China's economy to private investment and market development with the declaration of "People's Socialism." In the years since, tensions have developed as the authorities have strived to promote commerce yet control the people. In late 2010, government censors placed severe restrictions on any online searches for the English term "freedom." Google that year withdrew search services from China and moved them to the relatively freer Hong Kong. Big Brother in Beijing constantly enforces an ever-changing official list of banned language. Last December, Google's development of Project Dragonfly, a censorship service in China, generated tremendous criticism, including from outraged employees within that mammoth corporation. The company then announced the project had been terminated. Other U.S. companies, including Cisco Systems and Microsoft, have helped Beijing implement censorship. Government and other leaders and organizations should publicly condemn this behavior. Yet significant economic cooperation between mainland China and Taiwan continues. Transportation accords in 2008 included direct shipping, expansion of weekly passenger flights from 36 to 108, and new cargo flights up to a maximum of 60 per month. The Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) facilitates this. Likewise, Hong Kong is vital to China's economy. In terms of economic, geographic and population size, vastly larger China dwarfs both Hong Kong and Taiwan. Yet economic and political realities encourage restraint. U.S. government leaders must complement current actions with a sustained strategy to limit and restrain China's expansion. This should include naval and air maneuvers, closer Taiwan ties, reinforcing the alliance with Japan, and non-commercial exchanges with Hong Kong, Beijing has backed off from bullying before. Today, global commercial as well as political tides are moving in the direction of freedom. Patrick Henry would be reassured. Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of "After the Cold War" (Macmillan/Palgrave and NYU Press). Contact acyr@carthage.edu By Jacek Rostowski and Arnab Das Jacek Rostowski Arnab Das Thousands of crew members and maritime workers were left stranded at sea around the world when the cruise shipping industry was suddenly shut down in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Many workers are in the same terrible situation months later. Cruise ships are moored around the coastline of the UK, including at ports. One of the ships is the Marella Explorer. One of the crew members aboard contacted the World Socialist Web Site to explain the situation. Around 650 Indian crew members of TUI/Marella cruise ship are still laid up in waters off Southampton on the south coast. They were put on less than half-pay in April, and plans for their repatriation have been confused and repeatedly delayed. Several repatriation flights have already been cancelled at short notice, creating further anxiety about the latest date they have been given. Crew members protesting aboard the Marella Explorer Their last guest disembarked in Mexico on March 23, after the industrywide lockdown began, and the ship then crossed to the UK. They anchored in Southampton on April 18. A month later, on May 21, the crew member wrote, Till now we dont have any idea when we are repatriating back to India. They have now been told June 14. Ships have been stranded along the south coast of England from Southampton to Weymouth since the shutdown. Six were moored at Weymouth Bay, with the sixth arriving last month. Three are located off the Isle of Wight. Initially, five ships were moored off Southampton, with around 4,000 crew members on board. The sudden and ill-planned lockdown imposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modis government prevented arrangements being made for their return. Four ships belonged to the Florida-based Carnival Corporation, which owns the Cunard lineAzura, Britannia, Ventura, and Queen Victoria. Each had 800-1,000 crew on board. Cunards RMS Queen Mary 2 docked at Weymouth later. Also moored off Southampton was the TUI/Marella ship Marella Explorer. All the ships had been taken out of service because of the risk of coronavirus. There were additional delays to repatriation when crew on the Azura tested positive for the virus. Carnival had been working on a repatriation plan for crew but has only now been able to put it in place. Its first flight, of 280 crew of the Ventura returning to Mumbai, took place last week. Cunard and P&O have another eight flights planned. The situation is less clear for the 500-600 Marella crew. TUI/Marella have said throughout that they are working hard to repatriate the crew members, but the crew are struggling with a lack of information. A sign announcing the opening of the coffee shop Marella did not respond to a request for information from the WSWS. TUI, like Carnival, moved all crew members out of their cabins in order to isolate them in passenger staterooms to minimise any risk of infection. No COVID-19 cases were recorded on board. The crew member wrote, About food and accommodation, company is good to take care of us very well. But we all want to go back home, as we just got full salary till March and in April we were given 40% of basic salary due to pandemic. Last week, TUI/Marella reopened the ships coffee shop. Purchases require a crew card, with money on it. As one crew member commented: So nice the management is planning how they can earn some money from crew but what about repatriation. He had been desperately trying to contact Indian diplomats without success, reporting No idea no news. Just delay every time. He has now posted photos of protests on board Marella Explorer. As the banners state, as of Wednesday, the crew have been at sea for 85 days. They were quarantined for 45 days. Crew members who have commented on social media are increasingly pointing at the Indian government for holding up arrangements to return them home. One tweeted June 10 that having been stuck on the Marella Explorer in Southampton for two months, weve just been waiting for a nod by our govt and our patience is running out. Pleas made by our company have been neglected multiple times. He was at pains to praise Marella for their support, saying our govt has left us behind. He protested that other Indian seafarers had been repatriated, but our flights have been cancelled twice. This is not just some minor inconvenience. The crew are becoming increasingly desperate, as this video shows. On Twitter, a crew member reports, The mental health of the crew on board has started to take a downward spiral and so is the overall situation of our family members back home. The workers are concerned at the rising risk of suicide. Protracted absence on reduced wages will do nothing to ease that situation for their families. The situation confronting crew members still stranded on board ship is worsening. On Tuesday, it was reported that a crew member had committed suicide on the RCI-Royal Caribbean ship Harmony of the Seas. The ship remains docked in Barbados awaiting charter-flight repatriation arrangements for around 2,000 crew. The nationality of the 28-year-old woman has not been revealed. The Marella crew fear that further stresses could lead to suicide attempts among their number, too. By Oluwatope Lawanson/Lagos June 12, the Democracy Day is here. Despite the COVID-19 limitations, the Lagos State Government is celebrating it in a big way, via Zoom. All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Cherie Blaire, wife of Tony Blaire, former UK Prime Minister, are among personalities expected at the virtual event. Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olus Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said the state will celebrate the 27th anniversary of June 12 and Democracy Day with Nigerian youths. The theme of the Zoom celebration is June 12: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future. The virtual event holding from noon, will also feature multi-award winning artiste, Timi Dakolo and TY Bello, among notable personalities. The statement said that the artistes would be joined by publisher of Ovation Magazine, Bashorun Dele Momodu, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu and former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Mr Dele Alake. Also featuring in the online event is the daughter of late Moshood Abiola, Dr Hafsat Abiola-Costello. She will speak on democratic values that will aid Nigerias continued development. Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu and others, including Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, Ms Yemi Adamolekun and Mr Seun Onigbinde, will further chronicle how June 12 was declared a public holiday by the Federal Government in honour of the memory of Moshood Abiola, it said. According to the statement, Sanwo-Olu would address the youths and explain how the present administration ensured that none of the citizens rights was trampled upon. The governor would explain what the administration has done in the last one year to ensure residents of Lagos got the dividends of democracy they agitated for while marching on the streets to demand for the return of civilian government over 21 years ago. It added that the participants would also have the opportunity to ask questions that would possibly help prepare them for the future. The event would be held virtually via Zoom and streamlined across various internet platforms, to accommodate large number of attendees while remaining in compliance with government directives on social distancing. June 12, since 1999, was celebrated annually in the Western part of Nigeria, to commemorate the annulment of the June 12 Presidential election in 1993. The election, regarded as the nations best, was won by Late Chief MKO Abiola, but annulled by former military dictator Ibrahim Babangida. 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The Downtown Business Association (DBA), which coordinates the event, announced the news via social media this week. Weve just decided not to have it this year, said Kevin Johnson, co-manager of DBA. He noted that the COVID-19 crisis has forced the postponement or cancellation of many events. Held in Frankfort Square in downtown Columbus during the summer, LawnChairs on the Square is a long-held tradition in which businesses will sponsor live music performances on Thursday evenings. Visitors bring their lawn chairs or other seating arrangements and enjoy the music. Music genres include but arent limited to bluegrass, country-western, classic rock, jazz and military bands. Johnson said that the number of attendees to LawnChairs on the Square has varied from 50 to 300 over the years. Some residents often attend the event every week, such as Michaela Kuta, who is also the manager of Barbara Jean's, 2605 13th St. Kuta noted that as LawnChairs is held on a night her husband doesn't work, she and her loved ones use the musical event as a way to spend time together as a family. As a member of 13th Street Again, a group of business owners on 13th Street who work together to help promote the downtown, shes also disappointed to see the event being postponed until next year. Local talent, such as dancers from dance studios and high school bands, have also performed during this annual event. Obviously, were really sad its canceled but with all the other circumstances this year, I do understand why they made that decision, Kuta said. But next year I do look forward to bringing my kids down to the nice event. Were always happy to have events downtown that draw people in. Barbara Jean's also usually sponsors bluegrass night at LawnChairs as Kutas family enjoys that genre of music. Kuta noted that polka night is another LawnChairs event that her family likes. Other business owners in that area are also sad to see the event being rescheduled for 2021. I was disappointed to see it canceled since it is usually a well-attended event that has been around for a while, said Nicole Saalfeld, another 13th Street Again member, who is owner of Cork and Barrel across the street from the square and co-owner of Fabulous Forever. Since people are able to sit wherever they wish, and bring their own chair, Im not sure what was the deciding factor on canceling. As a group, we have some other fun things planned for downtown this summer, though! But, Johnson added that he hopes to be able to hold LawnChairs on the Square in 2021. It is not in the best interest of our participants, customers, performers, merchants and community to hold the series with the uncertainty still surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the DBA stated on its Facebook page. Hannah Schrodt is the news editor of The Columbus Telegram. Reach her via email at hannah.schrodt@lee.net. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Car Buyers Go Back To Dealerships Like They Always Have No Matter What They Say, Americans Return to Car Dealer Showrooms, Thwarting Expected Shift Online In the middle of California's lockdown, Mike Sullivan sold 160 cars in a week by delivering online orders to customers' doorsteps, reports Bloomberg. Even though that total meant sales plummeted about 75% at his 12 dealerships in the Los Angeles area, Sullivan had reasons to be encouraged. He hustled to set up e-commerce after the state ordered the closure of many retailers, including car lots, and customers liked the new model. But since California loosened its coronavirus restrictions in May, shoppers have come back to Sullivan's showrooms. Not even recent protests over police brutality and looting, which hit three of his stores, kept them away. "The people that did it (online buying) say they thoroughly enjoyed it, but right after that they went to the old way of doing business," Sullivan said. "We're gonna continue, and I want to do it, but after the last week of April the story got watered down." Sullivan's experience raises the question: Do Americans really hate car dealerships as much as they say they do? Read more here Automakers in Lockdown Test Drive the Modern Car-Buying Experience Infiniti, a luxury-car division of Nissan Motor Co., prides itself on its showrooms. The pandemic has spurred Infiniti and a number of other car makers to speed up digital initiatives that were already in the works, reports The Wall Street Journal. Some car makers had held new technologies in beta status, or introduced them in select markets, because they believed most people weren't ready to consider buying a car without a visit to a showroom. That doesn't mean the showroom will die out altogether. Mercedes-Benz AG in Germany found 80% of customers still want to receive personal advice and take test drives, a company spokeswoman said. Mercedes-Benz USA is already questioning how its dealerships will look postpandemic, said Robert Moran, the company's director of communications. "For example, do they need big retail spaces?" he said. "Do vehicle showrooms and service facilities have to be shared in the same location? We are looking at many areas which invite the natural questions of what to keep, what to cut, and what to amplify." Read more here. TOP OF THE HOUR: Dallas officials agree to 90-day ban on use of tear gas against demonstrators. Judge orders pause on use of tear gas against protesters in Seattle. Minneapolis council takes step toward abolishing police department. ___ HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. Ten members of a South Florida police departments SWAT team have resigned from the team, citing safety concerns and local officials disdain for the unit. The eight officers and two sergeants resigned from the team, but did not resign from the Hallandale Beach Police Department. Police Chief Sonia Quinones received a memo from the SWAT team Friday morning, City Manager Greg Chavarria said in a statement, according to news outlets. The officers said they were minimally equipped and had been disrespected by city officials who refused to address equipment and training concerns. The risk of carrying out our duties in this capacity is no longer acceptable to us and our families, the officers wrote in the memo, dated June 9. The anguish and stress of knowing that what we may be lawfully called upon to do in todays political climate combined with the teams current situation and several recent local events, leave us in a position that is untenable. The officers also said they were outraged that command staff had recently joined protesters and other officials in taking a knee as demonstrators called for the case of Howard Bowe to be reopened. This lack of support by members of the Command Staff is crippling to the agency and its rank and file, the memo said. Bowe, a 34-year-old black man, was killed in 2014 by Hallandale Beachs SWAT team as it carried out a search warrant and raided his home. The officers wrote that investigators never found that any misconduct had been committed by the officers involved in Bowes death. The case later resulted in a $425,000 settlement between Bowes family and the city. DALLAS Dallas officials have agreed to a 90-day ban on the use of tear gas and other less-lethal police crowd-control weapons against demonstrators. U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay approved late Thursday a consent decree in which Dallas police agree not to use against peaceful demonstrators smoke bombs, flashbangs, pepperballs, Mace or other chemical agents. They also agree to not fire such impact projectiles as rubber bullets, bean bags or sponges. The preliminary injunction will remain in effect until Sept. 9 unless extended, amended or dissolved by the judge. Tasia Williams and Vincent Doyle sued the city and police after rubber bullets injured them during two separate Black Lives Matter marches in Dallas. The demonstrations are a reaction to the killing of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer. SEATTLE A federal judge has ordered Seattle to temporarily stop using tear gas, pepper spray and flash bang devices to break up peaceful protests. The 14-day edict is a victory for groups who say authorities overreacted to demonstrations in the city after the death of George Floyd. A Black Lives Matter group sued the Seattle Police Department this week to halt the violent tactics police have used to break up largely peaceful protests in recent days. Officers used tear gas, pepper spray and other less-lethal weapons against crowds that have demonstrated against racism and police brutality following the killing of Floyd in Minneapolis. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best apologized to peaceful protesters who were subjected to chemical weapons. However, Best has said some demonstrators had violently targeted police, throwing projectiles and ignoring orders to disperse. ___ MINNEAPOLIS Minneapolis City Council members took a first step Friday toward changing the City Charter to allow for abolishing the police department and replacing it with something else. Five of the 12 council members said Friday that theyll formally introduce a proposal later this month to remove the charters requirement that the city maintain a police department and fund a minimum number of officers. Voters would have to approve the change if the proposal makes it onto the November ballot. The Star Tribune reports the announcement came as council members face increased pressure to further define what they meant when a majority of them pledged to eliminate the Minneapolis Police Department following George Floyds death. Council Member Jeremiah Ellison said he still expects to spend a year seeking feedback from the community about how to change the department, but he fears that if they dont remove that charter provision, it will hamper those efforts. He said removing the language alone wont eliminate the department. Some business groups and Mayor Jacob Frey have said they prefer changing the department over eliminating it completely. ___ ATLANTA A protest organizer says a woman arrested Thursday at the Georgia State Capitol for defacing the statue of a Confederate general only wrote tear down on it in chalk. Organizer J.J. Nicole questions whether the action merited any criminal charges, much less the felony charges filed by the Georgia State Patrol. State Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Lt. Stephanie L. Stallings says 55-year-old Jamie Loughner of Atlanta was arrested Thursday. Loughner is charged with felony interference with government property and misdemeanor criminal trespass. Loughner remained in the Fulton County jail Friday. Bail was set at $1,500. Stallings says the statue of John Brown Gordon was defaced, according to the the Georgia Capitol Police. Protesters have been gathering at the statue of Gordon for daily protests demanding that it and other monuments be removed, saying they were white supremacists and that Georgia shouldnt honor them. ___ FRANKFORT, Ky. A Kentucky commission voted Friday to take down a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis from the state Capitol, adding its voice to a global push to remove symbols of racism and slavery. The Historic Properties Advisory Commission met remotely through video teleconferencing at the request of Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. It voted 11-1 to move the 15-foot (4.5-meter) marble statue of Davis to a state historic site in southern Kentucky where the Confederate leader was born. The commission is responsible for statues in the state Capitol. Relocating the Davis statue means it will no longer share space in the ornate Capitol Rotunda with a statue of Abraham Lincoln, his Civil War adversary and the president who freed the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation. Both were Kentucky natives. ___ COLUMBIA, S.C. The first city in the United States named for Christopher Columbus has removed a statue of the explorer and placed it in storage for safekeeping. Mayor Steve Benjamin of Columbia, South Carolina, said the statue had been vandalized with paint several times over the past week. The mayor said he would rather have citizens and the City Council decide the statues fate than protesters in the middle of the night. Workers dismembered the Columbus statue early Friday, and by mid-morning only the feet were attached to the pedestal at Riverfront Park. Benjamin didnt say where the statue was being stored. Statues of Columbus, who came to North America in 1492, have been torn down by protesters in other cities who said the explorer started European colonization which exploited and led to the deaths of millions of native people on the continent. Columbia was named in 1786 for the female representation of Columbus. It won an 11-7 vote over the name Washington in the South Carolina Senate. South Carolina has a law protecting historic monuments from being taken down or altered without a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly. ___ WASHINGTON President Donald Trump says hed like to see an end to the police use of choke holds, except in limited circumstances. Trump made the comments in an interview with Fox News Channel that aired Friday. Trump said he doesnt like choke holds and thinks that, generally speaking the practice should be ended. But Trump also talked at length about a scenario in which a police officer is alone and fighting one-on-one and might need to use the tactic. The White House has been working to craft an executive order on policing in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in police custody, which has sparked protests across the nation and around the world demanding justice and racial equality. Congress also has been working to craft legislation in response. ___ PARIS Activists dislodged a 19th century African funeral pole from its perch in a Paris museum Friday, saying they wanted to return it to Africa in a protest against colonial-era abuses. The incident in the Quai Branly Museum came amid growing anger at symbols of colonialism and slavery in the United States and Europe in the wake of George Floyds death and ensuing global protests against racial injustice. The five protesters were stopped before they could leave the museum with the artwork, and an investigation was opened, according to a statement from Frances culture minister. The work did not suffer serious damage. The activists posted live video of the protest online, in which Congo-born Mwazulu Diyabanza accused European museums of making millions from artworks taken from now-impoverished African countries. Its wealth that belongs to us, and deserves to be brought back, he said. I will bring to Africa what was taken. Culture Minister Franck Riester condemned the move, saying: While the debate on the restitution of works from the African continent is perfectly legitimate, it can in no way justify this type of action. ___ BOSTON Bostons mayor declared racism a public health crisis on Friday, outlining a series of police reforms in response to the nationwide reckoning sparked by the police killing of a black man in Minneapolis. Democratic Mayor Marty Walsh said he would propose transferring $12 million from the police department, or roughly 20% of its overtime budget, to fund a range of social services, including mental health counseling, housing and homelessness programs, and new public health commission efforts to address racial disparities in health care. Protesters have called on Walsh to defund police, and redirecting money from police to other social services is one of the goals of that movement. Activists have also asked Walsh to remove or rename city landmarks in recent days. The mayor also announced the creation of the Boston Police Reform Task Force to review the departments use of force policies and suggest ways to improve officer training, its body camera program and the citys police review board. ___ SPOKANE, Wash. Some political leaders in Washingtons second-largest city are criticizing people who have shown up armed to silently watch protesters participating in Spokanes recent weekend Black Lives Matter demonstrations. The Spokesman-Review reports the politicians have labeled the demonstrators as armed vigilantes. Officials who signed the statement include Mayor Nadine Woodward, the entire Spokane City Council, state legislators and some members of the citys school board. The protests were sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. There have been no confrontations in Spokane between the armed people and the protesters. Another protest is scheduled for Sunday. ___ PROVIDENCE, R.I. The smallest U.S. state has the longest name, and its not sitting well with some in the George Floyd era. Officially, Rhode Island was incorporated as The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations when it declared statehood in 1790. Now, opponents have revived an effort to lop off the plantations reference, saying it evokes the legacy of slavery. An online petition aims to ask the state to shorten the name to just Rhode Island, a nonbinding campaign intended to generate momentum toward an eventual ballot question this November. In no way am I trying to erase history. But we shouldnt glorify our shameful past, Tyson Pianka, a University of Rhode Island sophomore who organized the petition drive, said in an interview. Name alterations have been attempted before most recently in 2010, when nearly eight in 10 voters rejected the shorter name in a referendum. But supporters say theyre feeling a fresh sense of urgency and determination as the nation reckons with Floyds death. About 60% of all slave-trading voyages launched from North America came from Rhode Island, researchers say. Sixty-four MPs ask Ukraine's Constitutional Court to check law on banking regulation 16:50, 12.06.20 1396 The law violates numerous provisions of the Ukrainian Constitution, which is very important as it influences the legal system and the country's economy, the MPs say. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer speaks to a group gathered for a vigil in memory of Breonna Taylor on June 6, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) Louisville City Council Passes Legislation Banning No-knock Warrants All 26 members of the Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Council on June 11 voted unanimously to ban no-knock warrants. The legislation was titled Breonnas Law, in honor of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor who was killed during a raid on her home earlier this year. The council voted 26-0 in favor of the ordinance Thursday evening, according to WLKY. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer wrote on Twitter that he plans to sign the new law as soon as it hits my desk. I plan to sign Breonnas Law as soon as it hits my desk. I suspended use of these warrants indefinitely last month, and wholeheartedly agree with Council that the risk to residents and officers with this kind of search outweigh any benefit, Fischer said. This is one of many critical steps on police reform that weve taken to create a more peaceful, just, compassionate and equitable community, he added. The legislation passed on Thursday also requires police officers to wear body cameras when serving warrants and to turn on the cameras at least five minutes before beginning the operation, and to keep them on for at least another five minutes after it has concluded. All of the footage and data recorded from the operation must also be retained for five years following an executing action. Louisville Metro Police Department or Metro law enforcement must also knock and wait a minimum of 15 seconds for a response before entering the property where the operation is being conducted, according to NBC news. Taylor, who was an emergency medical technician, was killed by Louisville Metro Police Department on March 13 when officers entered her home on a no-knock warrant, in the middle of the night. Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire on police, allegedly believing he was being robbed. Officers returned fire and Taylor was shot multiple times and later died. Walker was initially charged with attempted murder of an officer, however, the charges against him have since been dropped. Taylors family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against three of the officers involved in the shooting; Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove, and they have been placed on administrative leave amid an investigation. Her death has become intertwined with the recent protests against police brutality and the death of George Floyd, an African American man who died while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Memorial Day. On Thursday, Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, along with the familys attorney, Benjamin Crump, praised the ban on no-knock warrants, telling reporters, Im just going to say that Breonna, thats all she wanted to do was save lives. So with this law, shell get to continue to do that. So were grateful for that, she would be so happy, Palmer added. Also on Thursday evening, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R) introduced a bill to the Senate that would require federal law enforcement officers to provide notice of their authority and purpose before they could execute a warrant. It would also require the same of any state or local law enforcement agency that receives funds from the Department of Justice. After talking with Breonna Taylors family, Ive come to the conclusion that its long past time to get rid of no-knock warrants, Paul said. This bill will effectively end no-knock raids in the United States. No-knock search warrants are allowed in every state except Oregon, where they are prohibited by state law, and in Florida, where they are banned under a state supreme court decision. World UNITY Week, June 20-27, 2020: Answering The Call "At a time when the deep divisions and inequities that fracture the human community are being exposed, World Unity Week provides a way for us to reweave the fabric of our interconnectedness with people of all beliefs and cultures while we continue to address the challenges we face. Rev V. Kazanjian Ms. Audrey Kitagawa is Chair of the Parliament of the World Religions, an organization that dates back to 1893. Referring to the historic coming together of World UNITY Week Ms. Kitagawa said civil society is the sleeping giant that has awakened to its power to create great global movements for the transformation of humanity. Rev. Victor H. Kazanjian Jr, Executive Director of the United Religions Initiative said: at a time when the deep divisions and inequities that fracture the human community is being exposed, World Unity Week provides a way for us to reweave the fabric of our interconnectedness with people of all beliefs and cultures and with our planet while we continue to address the challenges we face. The 2020 Solstice will be like none other. Beginning with an Indigenous-led global Opening Ceremony that follows the sun starting on Friday, June 19, 10:00 PM EDT and leads to a World Unity Ceremony that includes over 100 NGOS and all the Interfaith and Inter-spiritual voices of Mother Earth on June 20, at 8:00 PM EDT. The solstice broadcast and the week-long program are being carried by media platforms such as Unify, UPLIFT, the SINE Network, and Shift Network, comprising a potential audience of over 10 million people. The Opening Global Ceremony, which opens World UNITY Week, is being facilitated by Hereditary Chief Phil Lane Jr of the Ihanktowan and Chickasaw Nations. On June 20, 2020, it will be crystal clear that our Indigenous Peoples, of Mother Earth, are spiritually rising and unifying, uplifting our Human Family, everywhere all at once, in unprecedented, unified action, as prophesied. -- Chief Phil Lane Jr. Key conversations during World UNITY Week will spotlight such topics as collective climate action, partnerships for peace, global governance, interfaith harmony, interracial justice, sustainable and regenerative development, the role of business and economics, human rights, disarmament and other key elements of a new kind of future that we want to create. Dr. Marty K Casey is a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement from St Louis who is holding a program inside World UNITY Week. Dr. Casey reflected Unity is a creative collaboration that must be experienced by all! World Unity Week will include six Open Space Sessions in which participants self-organize into 60 minute sessions and focus on answering the framing question: What is needed to mobilize a world unity movement? Water is also a major theme of World UNITY Week. World UNITY Water Day will be celebrated on Wednesday June 24 and is devoted to water and water-related issues. EcoPeace MiddleEast is offering a special program during World UNITY Water Day, their Israeli Director Gidon Bromberg said If we allow water to naturally flow we nourish the environment and all communities in its path. If we take all the flow we create enemies and degrade the environment with boomerang impacts that often bite us back. Visionary author Dr. Jude Currivan, co-Founder of WholeWorld-View commented "Love lies at the heart of a growing and collective perception of the inter-connectedness and innate unity of the whole world. World UNITY Week, is not intended to be another "one off event, but is an open invitation for the global community to join in the monthly celebration of "The Global Days of Unity", leading towards the 11 Days of Global Unity culminating in a large-scale global celebration across Peace Weekend 2020 (September 19-21), centered on the annual U.N. International Day of Peace (September 21). Contact Us - if you would like to speak to any of the organizers or interview those quoted in this Press Release please write to info@unity.earth and/or Ben Bowler ben@unity.earth Website: https://worldunityweek.org Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/worldunityweek/ Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/538059070219416/ Promo Video: https://www.facebook.com/1unity.earth/videos/563623637631213/ Partner Assets: Including Banner, Slide Deck and Concept Note https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Z2F3kIk2W6HmmIk4Y9CQDOJq9WuhyR8u Hashtags: #worldunityweek #answeringthecall #worldunitemovement and looking ahead to #peaceweekend2020 The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Friday granted bail to nine members of Tablighi Jamat hailing from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan who were staying in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. The nine were arrested on April 29 for allegedly violating their visa conditions and lockdown prohibitory orders. Their lawyers Firdos Mirza and Mir Naan Ali told the court that the group arrived in Gadchiroli in the first week of March from Delhi. For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here As lockdown for containing coronavirus came into force, they had no option but to stay on in the district, the lawyers argued. The state government opposed the bail plea, saying the investigation in the case was not yet over. Justice Manish Pitale, however, noted that bail could be granted with certain conditions. The court granted them bail on a surety of Rs 20,000 and directed them to stay in Chandrapur and report to the concerned police station regularly. A gathering of Tablighi Jamat in Delhi in March turned out to be a major coronavirus hotspot, following which police in various states tracked down those who had attended it and put them in quarantine. OKLAHOMA CITY - An Oklahoma woman was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to a murder charge for leaving her 5-year-old grandson to die inside a hot car while she gambled at a casino. Alanna Jean Orr, 50, was sentenced Thursday to 210 months in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing said. According to court records, Orr was caring for her grandson on June 21, 2018, when she went to a casino in Harrah, about 20 miles (32 kilometres) east of Oklahoma City. Authorities said Orr left the boy inside her car for six hours as temperatures reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius.) Orr pleaded guilty last year to second-degree murder by child neglect in Indian Country. She had faced up to life in prison. VICTORIA, SEYCHELLES / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2020 / A crypto exchange called Nominex provides everyone with up to 3 BTC per day no-KYC operations, and up to $2,000 for trusted trading for everyone who left Coinbase afterthe unfortunate incident. As temperatures rise, the crypto market is trading crypto more and more intensely. Russia offering prison time for crypto fans, Heated debates about 66.6% (interesting number) of Coinbase users ready to leave because of privacy concerns, Predictions of $200 000+ Bitcoin price, Grayscale Investments buying massive amounts of crypto, And 12 hacked crypto exchanges in 2019 all throwing sparks at the same time in the crypto niche are fuelling users' fervent desire to find safe exchanges with strong security protocols and total privacy and follow in the steps of substantial investors and attain crypto assets. Is there rising interest in Bitcoins? Definitely. "On January 21, 2020, Grayscale became an SEC reporting company, registering its shares with the Commission and designating the Bitcoin Trust as the first digital currency investment vehicle to attain the status of a reporting company by the SEC....till the end of May, Grayscale Bitcoin Trust Fund had a total of 343,954 BTC under management, and the portfolio has soared to $3.37 billion." - Investopedia.com. It's becoming obvious that Bitcoin has a spectacular future. Simultaneously, centralized exchanges suffer inversely proportional fate: with Coinbase accumulating dramatic losses with millions leaking out as we speak according to users, Bitfinex and Bittrex going to court, and Binance already having experienced a serious breach, there is much more of a fervent need to invest in crypto and much fewer exchanges to do that on. Nominex provides unrivaled security from the world's cybersecurity capital Estonia and some of the lowest commissions in the business, which can be overclocked to the point of negative commissions (profits, not losses overall). Nominex's flagship invention, however, is its lack of KYC on operations of under 3BTC. Having effected this mechanism, Nominex avoided going down the same trainwreck scenario as Coinbase, who received derisive feedback from its users for collecting dozens of items of personal information and selling it plus providing investigative agencies such as the DEA and the IRS with better crypto tracking tools. Source "A number of different publications lambasted the company for associating itself with the ethically questionable employees. The publicity storm intensified into the Twitter campaign DeleteCoinbase, with users calling for a boycott of the service. According to Jesse Powell, CEO of competing cryptocurrency exchange Kraken: "Coinbase have been known to pass information with Kaspersky Lab, GroupIB, and other Russian firms closely linked with FSB [Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation]." - Cryptoslate. Nominex made a turn in the direction of Satoshi's Nakamoto's principles of anonymity just in time, and used to opportunity to invite the 66% of Coinbase users over to their platform where full anonymity comes by default: "We will give a cool bonus to that 66 % and generally everyone who decides to leave Coinbase: +20% of your deposit sum on Nominex is to be added to trusted trading, but no more than $2,000. Feel free to trade and withdraw all your profit. How to get the bonus? Choose your favorite social media: Facebook, VK, or Twitter, and follow Nominex Find a similar post with a hashtag DeleteCoinbase on a social media of your choice and share it Add to the repost " DeleteCoinbase and go to @Nominex" and screenshot proving that you deleted your account on Coinbase Join Nominex Telegram chat, send us your post link and DeleteCoinbase Our community will guide you in receiving your bonus." What's to come of heated battles between fans of crypto and fans of regulations? "Freedom to the people" is the very reason why crypto was created, meaning anonymity should remain the cornerstone of the crypto community, allowing everyone to have complete control over their finances. At the same, illegal=immoral, which is why licensing and compliance with the law is a priority. Nominex believes in flexible solutions that leave all parties satisfied and gaining maximum from their experience, which is why the above-mentioned solution was implemented as well as a strong emphasis on security. Why? Nominex sheds a tear for the fallen comrades, but they would want us to learn from their mistakes, so getting licensed in Tallinn, where cybersecurity demands are some of the highest in the industry, was a must for these mistakes not to be repeated. At the same time, privacy is everything, which is why, as there are fewer and fewer reputable exchanges that maintain the No-KYC-up-to-3BTC rule, Nominex sees itself as the sound consequence of natural selection. Source About Nominex Nominex is the next step in the evolution of exchanges around the world. It features a simple and intuitive trading platform both for new and advanced traders, registered in Seychelles and founded in 2019. Media Details Company Name: Nominex Limited Media contact: Natalie Prokhorova Email: natalie@nominex.io Website: https://nominex.io SOURCE: Nominex Limited View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/593730/Nominex-Exchange-Offers-Bonuses-of-Up-To-2000-And-NO-KYC-on-Operations-of-Up-To-3BTC-Per-Day The domestic and international parties of the civil war in Libya have recently intensified talks as Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarrajs UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli advanced on the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called his US counterpart, Donald Trump, Monday about Libya and other regional issues. Afterwards, Erdogan announced: A new era may begin between the US and Turkey regarding the [Libyan] process, and we had some agreements during our conversation, and such a step could be taken. This comes amid growing international diplomatic initiatives across the region. On June 4, in the Turkish capital, Ankara, al-Sarraj met Erdogan to discuss recent developments in the North African country. Then, at a joint press conference, Erdogan once again denounced Haftar as a putschist. History will judge those who cause bloodshed and tears in Libya by supporting the putschist Haftar, Erdogan said at the press conference. For his part, al-Sarraj told Haftars forces: you have been defeated in Tripoli; just accept it. On June 6, in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, who came to power in a US-backed coup, met Haftar and his political ally Aguila Saleh Issa of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives in Libya. After the meeting, Sisi, Haftar and Saleh Issa held a joint press conference and issued a Cairo Declaration also calling for a ceasefire and diplomatic talks in Libya. Previously, Haftar had rejected diplomacy and calls for a ceasefire when his forces were gaining ground against the GNA. Throwing its military and diplomatic weight behind Sarraj, Ankara denounced this declaration as stillborn. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters on Wednesday: Amid recent victories of the Government of National Accord, they are calling for a truce as Haftar began to lose on the ground. The cease-fire efforts in Cairo are stillborn. However, Washington has also continued separate discussions with Cairo. According to a White House statement, President Trump praised President El-Sisis efforts last weekend to promote political reconciliation and de-escalation in the Libyan conflict, during a phone call Wednesday. The European Unions (EU) response on the Cairo Declaration was not positive, calling on parties in the conflict to adhere to the German-led Berlin conference held in January. EU spokesperson Peter Stano declared on Monday that In general, any initiative in line with the UN-led Berlin process is a positive development. But no alternative to the inclusive political solution of the Berlin process, also confirmed by the UN, is acceptable. A further joint statement Tuesday by EU High Representative Josep Borrell and the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Italy urged all Libyan and International parties to effectively and immediately stop all military operations and engage constructively [in negotiations] for a comprehensive political agreement in accordance with the parameters agreed upon in Berlin. On Monday, Erdogan also stressed his sadness about Russias participation in the Cairo Summit, declaring: Especially Russias participation in Cairo Summit with a different role along with Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi administration, France, and Jordan saddened us. Previously, Erdogan had accused the Kremlin of deploying mercenaries to Libya alongside Haftars forces. The negotiations proceed as the civil war continues with unabated violence in Libya. The GNA announced that it had recaptured the surroundings of Tripoli, which Haftars army has besieged for nearly a year. It also recently captured several strategic LNA strongholds, including al-Watiya airbase near the Tunisian border, Tripoli International Airport and settlements like Ain Zara, Vadi er-Rebi and Tarhuna. The GNAs Libyan Army announced that it had launched a new operation called Victory Road targeting Sirte, Al Jufra and oil fields in southern Libya. Libya has been the scene of a bloody civil war since the 2011 NATO war and the assassination of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Since then, armed factions serving as foreign proxies have divided the country into two main rival power centers. Moreover, Libya has seen a surge in confirmed COVID-19 infections from 75 on May 25 to 378 as of Wednesdaylikely a significant underestimateunder conditions where it is highly vulnerable to a pandemic after the destruction of its health care system by years of imperialist and civil wars. Italy and Turkey are backing the GNA to gain more from the partition of energy resources in Libya and the eastern Mediterranean. Turkeys intervention in the conflictdeploying soldiers, drones and Islamist fighters from Syriahas changed the trajectory of the civil war to the GNAs benefit. Ankara aims to benefit from the carve-up of Libyan oil reserves overseen by the imperialist powers and from a future reconstruction of Libya. Moreover, it has broader ambitions in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey and the GNA signed agreements in November on military assistance and maritime boundaries to guarantee Turkish rights to offshore drilling in the eastern Mediterranean. Last month, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez announced that Turkey will be able to start our oil exploration operations there within three to four months. Last month, in a joint declaration, the foreign ministers of Greece, Egypt, France, the UAE, and Cyprus accused Ankaras drilling activities in eastern Mediterranean as illegal. The LNA, which controls vast swathes of eastern and southern Libya and is aligned with an influential faction of the House of Representatives, a rival parliamentary body that fled to the eastern city of Tobruk near the Egyptian border in 2014, is being armed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, France and Russia. Until recently, it held the upper hand in the conflict. By militarily supporting the belligerent parties in Libya, countries like Turkey, Russia and Egypt aim to be key actors not only in Libya but also in the eastern Mediterranean. However, the US and European imperialist powers intervention in both the Libyan conflict and the broader scramble for Africa and eastern Mediterranean will be decisive, threatening a regional or even world war. There is no joint position on Libya within the EU. Italy gives open support to the GNA to maintain the positions of its energy giant ENI. ENI, through its joint venture with Libyas National Oil Corporation (NOC), controls the el-Feed oil field along with other concessions in the Ghadames Basin in southwest Libya, as well as critical export and refining facilities in the north. However, France supports the LNA. Last year, Paris withdrew its ambassador to Italy as tensions mounted between Paris and Rome over Libya. Germany is trying to use its contacts with both opposing factions in Libya to increase its own influence across the region. Berlin has prepared to intervene more violently in Libya and Africa through the EU, such as its broad participation in the Irini military mission in the Mediterranean. This decision, praised by Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) as an example of Germany assuming more responsibility in the world, is part of the German bourgeoisies drive to remilitarize its foreign policy. As the WSWS stated last month, the United States has been backing both sides in the conflict so far. However, recent US statements signal that its neutrality could change to oppose growing Russian influence in Libya and across the region. After Sarrajs call with Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, the US Embassy in Libya declared on its social media account on May 25: The United States is proud to partner with the legitimate, UN-recognized government of Libya, the GNA. On May 26, General Stephen Townsend, commander of US Africa Command, declared on social media: Russia is clearly trying to tip the scales in its favor in Libya. Just like I saw them doing in Syria, they are expanding their military footprint in Africa using government-supported mercenary groups like Wagner. The world heard Mr. Haftar declare he was about to unleash a new air campaign. That will be Russian mercenary pilots flying Russian-supplied aircraft to bomb Libyans. In an interview with Italian daily La Repubblica last month, NATOs Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg declared, NATO is ready to give its support to the government of Tripoli, adding that the alliance has not put on the same level the forces led by Haftar and the government of Fayez al-Sarraj, the only one recognized by the UN. Somebody help me. I need a corona bed for my father, said Ajai Kumar, carrying his sick father who was gasping for breath into the emergency ward of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital in the Walled City of Delhi after being turned away by two private hospitals. That was last Friday (June 5). Sudama Kumar, a 63-year-old retired official of the Central Public Works Department had developed fever the week before, but when it progressed to breathlessness, his son took him to Max hospital, Patparganj on June 3, fearing it might be the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). He was so sick that he fell off the chair and collapsed in a heap on the floor [but] the hospital turned us away without testing him because they had no free beds for Covid or suspected Covid patients, said Kumar, whose father is a beneficiary of the Central Government Health Scheme, a health care facility scheme for current and former employees of the central government. When asked to verify Kumars account, Max Hospitals declined to comment. I next took him to a small nursing home, which got the test done but asked us to leave after he tested positive because the clinic did not treat Covid patients, said Kumar. Finally, Sudama Kumar received a bed in the Delhi government-run LNJP. With the number of cases rising every day, the strain on the health care infrastructure of metropolises like Delhi and Mumbai has begun to show. In the past two months, several people took to social media to express their dismay at being unable to find hospital beds or proper treatment for their family members and friends. During a recent press conference, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said that Delhi will require 80,000 hospital beds by the end of July; based on the infections current doubling rate of 12.6 days, by July 31, the number of cases in Delhi will reach 550,000. Mumbai was only testing 4000 samples daily at the beginning of this month; its testing capacity is 7000 tests a day. Hospitals, particularly those designated in various states as Covid-19 treatment hospitals, have been forced to adapt using limited infrastructure, space and human resources. Early in the pandemic itself, healthy patients were segregated from suspected and Covid-positive patients; the focus shifted to critical care treatment; hospitals staggered timings of staff to decongest the wards, and scaled up e-consultations and remote management of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. As early as March, hospitals like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi began to postpone elective surgeries to free up hospital staff for Covid care. Experts said that managing a pandemic will leave hospitals with some important lessons. Measures taken now will help reduce the overload on the tertiary and secondary hospitals and improve documentation, data-collection, diagnosis and care without risking the safety of the patients or the health workers. For patients already under treatment, reports can be viewed online and prescriptions made accordingly. Patients will need to come to tertiary care hospitals outpatient clinics only if the treatment needs an overhaul or if they need surgery or invasive treatments, like radiation, said Dr Nikhil Tandon, professor and head of the department of endocrinology and metabolism, AIIMS, Delhi. He is a member of the board of governors in supersession of the Medical Council of India that drafted the brand new Telemedicine Practice Guidelines notified in May. Telemedicine has already helped decongest AIIMS Delhi, which moved its out-patient department services online from April 8 to follow up with the around 60,000 patients registered for treatment during the lockdown. This is continuing post the lockdown at AIIMS, which is arguably one of the worlds busiest hospitals with a daily footfall of 15,000 (3.5 million patients in the outpatient clinics, 200,000 in the in-patient department) and 170,000 surgeries in pre-pandemic times. Around half of these patients are from other states. Telemedicine may well emerge as the most transformative change to provide health care. Leveraging Indias IT strength and increasing investment in telemedicine to shift from human resource-intensive care to meet shortfall to a great extent, especially of super-specialists. Start-ups are doing it already, we have e-ICUs and home-isolation support remote-managed from hundreds of kilometres away, said C K Mishra, former health secretary and mission director of National Health Mission. Do more with less With Covid-19 spreading , India was forced to rapidly scale up its critical care infrastructure after seven decades during which much of public health budgets went to programmes on maternal and child health. It did that, and with some measure of success. Several thousands with severe disease were treated, which would not have been possible a couple of months ago. As of June 11, 141,028 people are reportedly cured of Covid-19 in India, which translates into a recovery rate of 49.21%. For the first time since the pandemic began, the number of those recovered has overtaken the number of those who are currently infected. On March 30, four weeks after the first two Covid-19 cases in Delhi and Hyderabad (on March 2), there were just 32,000 ventilators for all diseases across all states in public and private hospitals, according to an internal assessment report of the ministry of health. According to the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry, a private industry body, the manufacturing capacity for ventilators alone has increased from 3,000 a month in February to 33,000 a month in May. By June 9, centre and states have designated 958 Covid hospitals across the country, as well as 2,313 Covid Health Centres (for those who dont need too much medical support) and 7,525 Covid Care Centres (for those with mild infections who cant isolate themselves at home). Thats only a start. A few thousand ventilator beds are not enough for Indias 1.35 billion population. Its certainly not enough for when cases peak in July and August. Its a jump-start, but we need to sustain it and [have] a lot more testing, a lot more beds, far more hospitals to make up for decades of neglect of public health, said Dr Jacob John, former head of the department of virology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu. In two short months, India has had to upgrade its flailing infrastructure and create a contingency plan for large-scale medical emergencies. This, despite public health expenditure hovering at just around 1.28% of its Gross Domestic Product. Many countries are learning that you cannot build health care capacity during a crisis. It takes time and investment to build a good public health system. India has failed to invest in health for decades and this must change post-Covid19. Health spend must at least increase to 2.5% of GDP, at a minimum, said Prof Madhukar Pai, director, McGill Global Health Programs, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. As part of the stimulus package finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in May, Rs 15,000 crore has been earmarked to strengthen public health infrastructure, down to the block level. India has 7,096 of them. Each city and district has to develop its own programme because there is a difference between metros and other cities, and between towns and rural India, said Dr Randeep Guleria, professor and head of pulmonology and director, AIIMS Delhi. Made in India With roughly 10% of all Covid-19 infections in India found in hospital employees in March and April, hospitals around the country became hot spots and were shut down the focus shifted early on to procuring protective personal equipment kits (PPEs). After an early consignment of 1.7 lakh imported kits from China were found to be faulty, domestic production was ramped up. By mid-April, the Bureau of Indian Standards came up with stringent measures. Now, domestic manufacturers provide medical devices, protective gear, diagnostics, hospital equipment, and telemedicine services. As of Tuesday, the Centre had provided 12.84 million N-95 masks and 10.47 million PPE kits to states. The China-Sri Lanka Belt and Road Political Parties Joint Consultation Mechanism between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and main political parties of Sri Lanka has been established, with the first meeting of the mechanism held via video conference on June 11. Song Tao, minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, and leaders of People's Front, United National Party, Sri Lanka Freedom Party, and People's United Front of Sri Lanka attended and addressed the event with the theme of building the Belt and Road Initiative and promoting economy and peoples livelihood. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa reached an important consensus on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation during their recent phone call, Song said. He added that the CPC is ready to work with Sri Lankan political parties to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen the exchange of experience in state governance, consolidate the political foundation and public support for China-Sri Lanka ties, promote bilateral cooperation in all areas and contribute to the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The meeting also approved a joint initiative of the political parties of China and Sri Lanka to support the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Look, no one wants to wear a face mask. But even as states open back up and the urge to forget COVID-19 ever happened becomes almost irresistible, its good to remember that wearing a mask in public places is not about you, its about keeping other people safe from a disease that has killed more than 115,000 people in the U.S. alone. That said, if wearing a face mask has proved problematic in late winter and spring, its going to get much worse when the sweat, sunscreen and sweltering temperatures of summer come into play. You may have already dealt with an unfortunate bout of maskne (thats mask acne, for people who arent keeping up on the new COVID lingo), but when youre essentially creating a hot box around half your face, strange skin issues will follow. To help you save face this summer, literally, we got in touch with Dr. Jaime Davis, Board Certified Dermatologist and Medical Director and CEO of Minnesotas Uptown Dermatology and SkinSpa, who has already been dealing with these conditions among patients. What sunscreen pairs best with a face mask? What materials should you avoid when buying one? And what issues should men, a generally dermatologically naive bunch, be aware of? Dr. Davis answered all these questions and more. What kind of face mask should I wear in summer? Before even talking about the type of mask, Dr. Davis pointed out that many issues are cropping up due to overuse. Wear the mask when necessary, but remove it as soon as it is not necessary, she said. Try to avoid prolonged stretches of mask wearing. This falls in line with current CDC guidelines that recommend wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Also, if you have severe breathing issues, its important to note that the CDC exempts you from that recommendation. In terms of materials, Dr. Davis recommends masks with moisture-venting features, which it should be said does not mean cutting a hole in it. While she says that medical-grade options are the most protective, theyre also the most occlusive (in other words, they provide the tightest seal, which is good for stopping virus transmission but potentially bad for your skin); instead, she recommends homemade alternatives made from tightly woven soft cotton fabric that has been washed in unscented soap, rinsed well of any residual detergent, and dried without fabric softener. Ive developed a rash from my mask. What is it? While you shouldnt self-diagnose a rash or other skin irritation, one issue Dr. Davis has dealt with at her practice that people should be aware of is allergic reactions to face-mask materials. She points specifically to the metal nose bridge (if nickel is in the alloy) or elastic (rubber allergy) or any textile-specific coatings on the fabric. The nickel issue will be familiar to people who wear earrings or other jewelry, and may be more of a concern for people wearing medical or medical-style coverings. If you think youre experiencing an allergic skin reaction, be sure to seek out professional help from a dermatologist. Even if youre nervous about venturing out to a doctors office, Dr. Davis notes that her Minneapolis practice has been offering e-visits which have been, in her words, freaking fantastic! She notes that insurance is covering the online sessions, care can be delivered quickly and theres always the potential for an in-person follow-up, so check with your local dermatologist. How do I avoid and treat maskne? Not all acne is the same and it should not be treated the same; the same goes for maskne. Dr. Davis says shes dealt with both acne rosacea (inflammatory acne exacerbated by heat and humidity of occlusive masks) and acne vulgaris (pimples and plugs from excess oil) in the current mask-wearing age, but notes people should seek a professional opinion if their acne doesnt go away. If face wash isnt part of your regular grooming arsenal, she says to use a mild cleanser like Cetaphil twice a day, which may solve your problem. What sunscreens go well with masks? The biggest conversation around sunscreen in recent years has been mineral versus chemical. Basically, chemical sunscreens are the most popular products youll find on shelves, available from companies like Banana Boat and Coppertone, but some of them are being banned because theyre unsafe for marine life. Mineral sunscreens are generally considered to be friendlier to oceans and the environment, but in terms of protecting you from skin cancer while wearing a mask, Dr. Davis says youll be better off with chemical versions. Mineral-based sunscreens sit on top of the skin and could be rubbed off by the mask. Chemical-based sunscreens absorb into the skin and generally provide longer-lasting protection, she says. Brands that are generally well tolerated by sensitive skin include Vanicream and Cetaphil. If you have a favorite brand already, she suggests using SPF 30 or higher for normal daily use. And yes, you should be applying sunscreen on your face every day. However, Dr. Davis also notes that if youre wearing a snug-fitting or tightly sealed mask, you could develop a sensitivity to the sunscreen. If you do end up with an unfortunate mask-shaped sunburn, the dermatologist-recommended salve is a cool, moist compress on the burn over a thin layer of 1% Hydrocortisone cream, which is available over the counter at local drugstores. What other skin issues should I be aware of? If youve got facial hair, you may be having problems with beard folliculitis, which is basically inflammation or infection in the hair follicles, similar to razor bumps. Dr. Davis says men have been experiencing this issue when short whiskers get caught in masks as their facial hair grows out. To avoid it, she advocates for beard commitment: either let it grow out or keep a close shave. Its that five oclock shadow or weekend of not shaving that is the stuff which gets caught and causes folliculitis, she says. In a similar vein, the last issue shes noticed is seborrheic dermatitis, which is a condition that generally leads to dandruff on the scalp but can also manifest in dandruff of the face (yes, 2020 is only getting worse). Thankfully, the solution is generally simple. People are skipping showers during the pandemic and were seeing a lot more dandruff, Dr. Davis says. So to keep face dandruff at bay just do what she already recommended and wash your face at least once a day. The post Is Wearing a Face Mask All Summer Bad for Your Skin? appeared first on InsideHook. Microsoft has become the third big tech company this week to say it won't sell its facial recognition software to police, following similar moves by Amazon and IBM. Microsoft's president and chief counsel, Brad Smith, announced the decision and called on Congress to regulate the technology during a Washington Post video event on Thursday. We've decided we will not sell facial recognition technology to police departments in the United States until we have a national law in place, grounded in human rights, that will govern this technology, Smith said. The trio of tech giants is stepping back from law-enforcement use of systems that have faced criticism for incorrectly identifying people with darker skin. Ongoing protests following the death of George Floyd have focused attention on racial injustice in the U.S. and how police use technology to track people. But while all three companies are known for their work in developing artificial intelligence, including face recognition software, none is a major player in selling such technology to police. Smith said Thursday that Microsoft currently doesn't sell its face recognition software to any U.S. police departments. He didn't say if that includes federal law enforcement agencies or police forces outside the U.S. Several other companies that are less well known dominate the market for government facial recognition contracts in the U.S., including Tokyo-based NEC and the European companies Idemia and Gemalto. Microsoft, Amazon and IBM are calling on Congress to set national rules over how police use facial recognition something that's now being considered as part of a police reform package sparked by the protests following Floyd's death. If all of the responsible companies in the country cede this market to those that are not prepared to take a stand, we won't necessarily serve the national interest or the lives of the black and African American people of this nation well," Smith said. "We need Congress to act, not just tech companies alone. Also read: George Floyd protests: Amazon stops police use of facial recognition software [June 11, 2020] Expeto Selected by Digital Technology Supercluster to Power Virtual Healthcare in Canada VANCOUVER, BC, June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Expeto joins the Digital Technology Supercluster to provide its enterprise-first networking solution over 4G/5G networks to provide a secure communications system to enable the safety of healthcare workers through remote care. Initially, this system is being used to connect healthcare professionals to robots capable of performing physical examinations of patients, using digital medical tools deployed within health authorities in British Columbia. Canadian healthcare workers are three times more likely to contract COVID-19 than the general public. There is an urgent need to protect their well-being to ensure continuity of the healthcare system. Long-term care facilities have had multiple cluster outbreaks and have been the source of more than 80 percent of COVID-19 fatalities in Canada. The Digital Technology Supercluster is investing $60 million to work with Canadian companies, post-secondary institutions and not-for-profit organizations to improve the health and safety of Canadians by supporting Canada's commitment to address the COVID-19 outbreak while building expertise and capacity to respond to future urgent situations. The project is working to test remotely operated general-purpose robots, using Expeto's secure connectivity solution, in long-term care and clinic settings using standard, off the shelf tools such as digital stethoscopes and non-contact biometric monitoring. Secure, reliable and fast connectivity is essential to support the virtual healthcare application, ensuring the security and confidentiality of patient information. "We are excited to work with Sanctuary AI on this groundbreaking Virtual Healthcare solution, delivering the critical connectivity between remote healthcare workers and robots, ensuring the safety and security of the patient and healthcare worker, while protecting patient data," explains Michael Anderson, CEO, Expeto. Expeto has partnered with a number of reputable organizations as part of the project, including the project lead Sanctuary AI, along with the University of British Columbia, the AInBC, a national communications & media company and a major technology company. "Currently, there is no technology that allows remote workers to participate in the economy to perform physical work. Sanctuary and Expeto ae utilizing advances in robotics and AI to create a foundation for digital job growth that can help drive Canada's economic recovery from COVID-19," delights Suzanne Gildert, CTO, Sanctuary AI. In hospital settings, workers will trial a real-world telerobotic system to conduct physical exams. The initiative expands the current capabilities of telework technology currently limited to video and audio interactions to make physical interactions possible by connecting and controlling general-purpose robots through secure 5G/LTE networks. About Expeto: Expeto maximizes control of industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices with transformative connectivity solutions for enterprises. Inspired to make IIoT connectivity simple, agile and secure, Expeto is an experienced team of wireless, telecom and cloud technology leaders who are creating a new IIoT customer experience with a patent-pending technology platform. With global headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and U.S. headquarters in Portland, Oregon, Expeto has customers who are leaders in the industrial and global energy sectors and partnerships with some of the world's largest telecom and cloud providers. More information about Expeto can be found at https://www.expeto.io/ About Digital Technology Supercluster: The Digital Technology Supercluster solves some of industry's and society's biggest problems through Canadian-made technologies. We bring together private and public sector organizations of all sizes to address challenges facing Canada's economic sectors including healthcare, natural resources, manufacturing, and transportation. Through this 'collaborative innovation,' the Supercluster helps to drive solutions better than any single organization could on its own. The Digital Technology Supercluster is led by industry leaders such as D-Wave, Finger Food Advanced Technology Group, LifeLabs, LlamaZOO, Lululemon, MDA, Microsoft, Mosaic Forest Management, Sanctuary AI, Teck Resources Limited, TELUS, Terramera, and 1Qbit. Together, we work to position Canada as a global hub for digital innovation. A full list of members can be found here. About the COVID-19 Program: The COVID-19 Program aims to improve the health and safety of Canadians and support Canada's ability to address issues created by the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, the program will build expertise and capacity to anticipate and address issues that may arise in future health crises, from healthcare to a return to work and community. Contact: Brian Anderson, VP of Product, Expeto [email protected] +1-855-273-5782 Related Images expeto-nextworking-a-unified.png Expeto Nextworking - A Unified Platform Across Private and Public Mobile Networks Expeto Nextworking - a unified platform across private and public mobile networks under enterprise control. Related Links Expeto.io Digital Telework for Remote Physical Work View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/expeto-selected-by-digital-technology-supercluster-to-power-virtual-healthcare-in-canada-301074861.html SOURCE Expeto [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] When we grieve as a public, we do not just sense our own vulnerability, but that of those around us who, in our collective confrontation with death and loss, share that grief. We see, acutely, that the world is beyond the full grasp of our control, despite our illusions to the contrary. And that realization, Butler suggests, can provide the grounds for collective political action: To grieve, and to make grief itself into a resource for politics, is not to be resigned to inaction, but it may be understood as the slow process by which we develop a point of identification with suffering itself. And in turn, an identification with suffering can bring us to an awareness of our collective responsibility for the physical lives of one another. WASHINGTON A key Senate committee voted Wednesday to require the Pentagon to strip military bases and equipment of Confederate names, monuments or symbols within three years, setting up an election-year clash with President Donald Trump on the issue amid a rapidly building national outcry against historical representations of racism. The move by the Armed Services Committee to insert the mandate into a must-pass defense authorization bill, which was supported by Republicans and Democrats alike, came as Trump publicly declared his refusal to even consider removing any of the names. He raged about it on Twitter on Thursday, exhorting members of his party to resist the effort even as a growing number of Republicans on Capitol Hill said they were open to removing symbols of the Confederacy. The conflict underscored how isolated the president is becoming, even from members of his own party, as protests of police brutality against black people fuel a broader discussion of race and identity in America. The break is more than rhetorical. The move to include the proposal, written by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., raised the prospect of an election-year Senate vote on the issue. The American people know these names have to go, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at a news conference Thursday. The president, she continued, seems to be the only person left who doesnt get it. Republican lawmakers willingness to break with the president on the issue comes as they have also distanced themselves from his bellicose response to the protests, instead scrambling to come up with a plan to combat racism in policing. Dramatizing the rift between Trump and members of his own party, he lashed out on Twitter on Thursday afternoon, apparently dismayed by the support the measure was picking up in Congress. Seriously failed presidential candidate, Senator Elizabeth Pocahontas Warren, just introduced an Amendment on the renaming of many of our legendary Military Bases from which we trained to WIN two World Wars, Trump tweeted. Hopefully our great Republican Senators wont fall for this! But the presidents message came as many Republicans on Capitol Hill had already endorsed or expressed openness to the idea, including the top leader in the House and several Republican senators. He posted it the day after the closed-door vote on the proposal, which would require the Defense Department to set up a panel to develop a plan to rename, within the next three years, military bases and other assets currently named for Confederate figures. The vote happened after Trump announced that his administration would not consider the idea. The proposal includes a measure that would exempt grave markers from the ban on Confederate symbols and markers, Senate aides familiar with the details said. The panel also included a measure that would ban the use of military force against peaceful protesters, a direct response to Trumps threat to call in the armed forces to quell unrest throughout the country, and the use of the National Guard to confront protesters in Washington, D.C. On Thursday, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., the House minority leader, told reporters he was not opposed to renaming the bases named for Confederate figures. There are a number of people in the armed services who think it could be appropriate to change some, he said, citing Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who has said he is open to renaming bases. Some would say otherwise not to. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said he didnt have any problem with the idea at all and added that theres been lots of great soldiers since the Civil War whose names could go on forts. Braxton Bragg was probably the worst commanding general in the Confederate Army, he continued, singling out Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Interesting general to name a fort after. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., held back from supporting renaming the bases but said it was important to start a discussion about why they were named after Confederates in the first place. A lot of those statues and monuments were put there to kind of declare, Were not going to integrate, Lankford said. I think we should acknowledge that and, say, No, we are. And for those that were digging in during the time of Jim Crow, they need to know that time has passed. By Thursday afternoon, only a handful of Republicans spoke out against the proposal. Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said he felt the issue should be decided by the local communities and states, as opposed to mandating something that maybe the people dont want. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who sits on the panel, told reporters he had risen in opposition to the bill shortly before the vote. I dont think Congress mandating these being renamed and attempting to erase that part of our history is the way you deal with that history, Hawley said. The push in the Senate came on the same day that Pelosi reiterated a long-standing call for the removal of 11 statues of Confederates including Jefferson Davis and Alexander Stephens, the president and vice president of the Confederate States of America that are displayed in the Capitol. They committed treason, and their statues are in the Capitol, Pelosi said. These names have to come from these bases and the statues have to go from the Capitol. Those statues were selected and donated by states to the Capitol, and current federal law places the power to remove a statue with the states. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the majority leader, said on Thursday that allowing the states to decide whether to replace the statues was the appropriate way to deal with the issue. Blunt, the chairman of the panel in charge of handling such a request, said on Thursday that seven states had already moved to replace their statues, four of which had been singled out by Pelosi. There is clearly an agreement that the federal government has made mistakes, he said. Im glad to see the states replacing some of these statues with statues of people that are more reflective of either the entire history of the country or even the recent history of the country. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. "She is ... much more like him than it appears," Jordan adds. Jordan, a longtime Post reporter who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2003, secured a rare one-on-one interview with Melania while covering the 2016 campaign. The Post received a copy of her book ahead of its June 16 release date. The reporting goes back to Melania's childhood in a small town in Slovenia, then part of Communist Yugoslavia, where her mother was a patternmaker in a children's clothing factory and her father, who joined the Communist Party at one point, was a chauffeur and repaired cars. Melania was walking runways by age 7, modelling clothes her mother made, and sat for a photo shoot at 16. The myth-making, Jordan writes, began early, when she would fail to correct reporters who cited her age incorrectly, always younger than she was. Despite saying she wouldn't get plastic surgery, three photographers who worked with her said they've seen the scars. She attended a highly competitive architecture program at the University of Ljubljana, but did not graduate, though she claimed in sworn testimony to have a bachelor's degree. There's also little evidence to suggest her claims of being able to speak four or five languages fluently are true. "Photographers and others who have worked with her over the years - including native speakers of Italian, French, and German - told me that they never heard her use more than a few words of those languages," Jordan writes. Reporting in the book suggests she only speaks English and Slovene fluently. Meeting Trump accelerated that myth-making, as he introduced her around the city as a "supermodel" when that was not true. Jordan found little evidence even of the story of how they met - he saw her at a club during Fashion Week in 1998 with a more famous model, but was fixated on Melania, who refused to give him her phone number. Multiple sources, including a German modelling agent she was working for that year, told Jordan that they had heard Melania was already dating Trump before the timeline they laid out. The ease of Melania's myth-making has been aided, Jordan posits, by a pattern in her life of making clean breaks with her past. Old friends from Slovenia said they'd never heard from her again. Once-close friends from her New York City years say the same thing happened to them. She "would seize an opportunity and put great effort into it. Then she would move on and never look back," Jordan writes. As much as she and Trump seem like complete opposites, Jordan writes, "They are both fighters and survivors and prize loyalty over almost all else. ... Neither the very public Trump nor the very private Melania has many close friends. Their loner instincts filter into their own marriage." That includes the separate bedrooms both at the White House and whenever they travel, or how they'll often be in the same building but not the same room. They also seem to love each other, according to people who witnessed their early courtship, and others who have seen their relationship in the White House go from frosty to warm again. Donald Trump and his future wife Melania Knauss, pictured in 2000 with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Credit:Getty Images What emerges is a picture of personal ambition similar to Trump's. In 1999, when he ran for president on the Reform Party ticket, she gave interviews musing about becoming the next Jackie O. Later, she echoed Trump's calls for then-president Barack Obama to produce his birth certificate, an alignment with the "birther" attacks primarily driven by Trump. "There is ample evidence that from the very beginning," Jordan writes, "Melania not only accepted and embraced Trump's political aspirations but was also an encouraging partner." According to Roger Stone, the Trump mentor who is set to go to prison for 40 months on convictions ranging from witness tampering to lying to investigators with the Mueller Report, Melania always encouraged Trump to run for president. "She's the one who ultimately said: 'You know, Donald, stop talking about running for president and do it. ... And if you run, you're going to win'," Stone told Jordan. On the campaign and in the White House, Melania has been Trump's sounding board. Christie said Melania was always Trump's first phone call when he got on a plane after a rally he knew had been televised. He'd ask what she thought, and, said Chris Christie, "She always had commentary to give him, and I think that tells a lot about what he thinks of her." Donald Trump, pictured with Melania and baby Barron in 2007 when Trump received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Credit:AP She was a key reason Trump chose Mike Pence as his running mate, after Trump arranged a weekend for Melania to get to know him and his wife, Karen. She argued Pence would be a better choice than Christie or Newt Gingrich. "She believed that he would be content in a No. 2 spot and not gun for the top job," Jordan writes, "which was something she could not say about the other two". Her influence showed when she issued a rare statement of condemnation about deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel, which resulted in the adviser's termination. Had the coronavirus not forced their cancellation, she would have done her first solo fundraisers for the 2020 campaign in March. "She has told people she wants to win re-election," Jordan writes. Many of her moves of late point in that direction, from placing the Medal of Freedom around talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh's neck to clapping along as Trump called the FBI "scum" in his speech after his acquittal from impeachment charges. Loading Far-right Serhiy Sternenko received a suspicion of murder, as well as of illegal carrying of knives. As he said himself, in the morning the police came to him with a decision to bring him to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The SBU also described in detail how they qualified the case and what is said in the investigation materials. So, according to intelligence, Ivan Kuznetsov and Oleksandr Isaikul attacked Sternenko in order to intimidate him and inflict bodily harm. Sternenko really had a need for self-defense, but only at the very beginning of the attack. Defending himself, a public activist covered himself with punches with his left hand and stabbed with his right. As a result, A. Isaykul received a cut wound in the anterior abdominal wall, and I. Kuznetsov - a penetrating stab-cut wound to the abdomen. We note that S. Sternenko may correspond to the concept of necessary defense, the SBU said. However, what happened later is difficult to call self-defense. Since I. Kuznetsov fled the scene, the attack on Sternenko is considered to be over - nothing threatened his life and health. However, Sternenko ran after Kuznetsov, caught up with him, and inflicted several wounds, in particular a stab in the heart, which led to death. The body of I. Kuznetsov was found almost 100 meters from the place of the first fight. That is, statements that S. Sternenko wounded I. Kuznetsov during self-defense, and subsequently did not inflict any wounds, are untrue, the SBU writes. The fact about the knife was also taken into account. Immediately after the attack, Sternenko on his Facebook page during the broadcast announced that the knife belonged to him. Although later he began to claim that he had taken the knife away from the attackers. Despite this, he was handed a petition to select a preventive measure in the form of round-the-clock house arrest. True, his lawyer, Masi Nai, equated this with detention. Given that Ukrainians spent several months of strict quarantine at home, it is unlikely that such a preventive measure will cause much sympathy. But still, if found guilty, he faces up to 15 years in prison. What is Sternenko known for? Another criminal proceeding in which Sternenko appears is a suspicion of involvement in the drug trade. For the first time, Sternenko came to the attention of employees of the Office for the fight against drug trafficking in 2013. That is, even before the Maidan and until the moment when he entered far-right "Right Sector" and became known as the head of the Odesa branch of this organization. According to the criminal proceedings registered in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations under the number 1201716000000092 of 12/14/2017, Sternenko is suspected of several episodes of drug sales via the Internet - he began to engage in this activity, according to investigators, since 2013. Also, Sternenkos former associate, activist Dmytro Rudy, told Strana news agency that in 2014, Sternenko as the head of the Right Sector in Odesa, was engaged in patronizing bars and stalls. However, in addition to suspicions of drug trafficking, the police have at least another two statements from people affected by Sternenko. This time we are talking about more serious crimes - kidnapping, robbery, and extortion. It is interesting that the criminal proceedings for kidnapping are already three years old, but they are still in a "frozen" state - apparently, for "political" reasons. According to one of the statements, Sternenko with someone Ruslan D. kidnapped and tortured the deputy of the Lyman town council Serhiy Shcherbych in 2015. After the kidnapping, Shcherbych was beaten with a club and tortured with sophisticated methods - for example, they crushed his fingers with pliers. Also, according to the victim, he was shot several times from a traumatic pistol in the back and legs. At the same time, Shcherbychs hands and feet were tied. According to police, the abductors, led by Sternenko, kept Shcherbich in the office of the Right Sector (on Zhukovsky Street in Odesa). After intimidation and beatings, the "activists" left the deputy near the local court. Another Odesa citizen, Stas V., spoke about the second case of abduction and torture by a group of activists led by Sternenko. His statement is also in the police. He claims that he was kidnapped and threatened by people, among whom was Sternenko - on a tip from the Right Sector from the Bila Tserkva to whom Stas had recently sold a car. As a result, 6,000 USD were taken from him. In 2017, Sternenko was still detained and sent to Odesa remand prison. However, he was released on bail. The bail was paid by then governor of Odesa region Maksym Stepanov, now occupying the post of Minister of Health. Impunity and protection Some sources in the central office of the SBU told Strana that the body has become interested in Sternenko back in 2014 after the young guy became the head of the Odesa branch of the then influential Right Sector. Before that, he was an ordinary student. During the Maidan in 2014, Sternenko traveled to Kyiv, enlisted the support of Kyiv, and came to Odesa as the head of the Odesa Right Sector. According to an intelligence officer, his agency made contact, and in simple terms, recruited Sternenko in the summer of 2015. By the way, the recruitment of leaders and the most active fighters of radical patriotic organizations took place in all cities of Ukraine. It was a centralized office policy that set itself the task of controlling radical organizations. The goal of the project is informal moral and forceful pressure on courts, police, customs, politicians, and opposition parties. Other tasks were implied as well pressure with the help of puppet patriots on business, as well as intervention and control over frankly criminal sectors game business, sales drugs, smuggling, arms trafficking, prostitution, and illegal migration. The radicals played the role of performers of any actions of the "customer" that did not fit into the framework of the law, a senior intelligence official admitted. The establishment by the SBU of control over radicals in 2015 coincided with the "purge" of ranks in patriotic organizations and the split of many of them. Thus, puppeteers from the special services cut off those who, in their opinion, had too "independent" positions. Or tried to work for themselves. According to the sources of Strana among the SBU employees, in Odesa, radicals, and in particular, the Odesa branch of the Right Sector and personally Sternenko was supervised by an employee of the SBU D. He worked in the "T" Department of Odesa USBU and, according to Strana, resigned in May, after the change of leadership of the office. A considerable budget was allocated for Sternenko and his team. It was spent on renting housing for activists, issuing a daily benefit for intimidation actions, a source in SBU assures. In the summer of 2019, Sternenko intimidated journalists and called for blocking the operation of the 112 Ukraine television channel. In connection with these threats, the channel turned to the SBU. New Delhi: Ashoka the Great was one of the greatest monarchs of India who laid an empire straddling the whole subcontinent. The emperors reign spread from the frontiers of Afghanistan in the West to Bengal in the east. So, when does the birth and death anniversary of King Ashoka falls and whether or not it is celebrated in our country? Four ministries of Union Government--Defence, Finance, Home and Culture--have been tasked by the Central Information Commission to furnish the information. Chief Information Commissioner R K Mathur issued this order on the plea of one Arun Kumar who wanted to know from the Prime Ministers Office the dates of birth and death anniversaries of legendary King Ashoka; whether they are celebrated and what is the action plan undertaken regarding their celebration. Kumar was told by the PMO that they have forwarded his request on dates and action plan regarding the celebrations to the Culture Ministry, while the query on whether it is celebrated or not has been marked to Defence Ministry, Home Ministry and Finance Ministry. "The Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs are advised to provide the information to the appellant on his RTI application...," Mathur said.Ashoka was the third monarch of the Mauryan dynasty. He was born in 304 BC and died in 232 BC. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai, June 12 : An innocuous order banning pesticides at the height of the lockdown has ignited an unholy row between two powerful and key central ministries, confounding bureaucratic, political, corporate and farming circles alike, official sources said. On May 18, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare issued a draft order -- 'Banning of Insecticides Order, 2020' (BIO), signed by Jt. Secretary Atish Chandra -- proposing to ban 27 major generic pesticides, which are widely used by the Indian agriculture community. Taking umbrage at the MAFW's unilateral and abrupt decision, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers (MCF) hit back sharply, virtually questioning the former's credentials to issue such an order without consulting all the stakeholders, including the MCF. The MAFW is headed by Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, while MCF is headed by Minister D. V. Sadananda Gowda -- both considered close confidantes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a stern letter on June 2, MCF Secretary R. K. Chaturvedi has slammed the MAFW, raising embarrassing questions on the latter's May 18 ban order. Simultaneously, the MCF picked holes in the MAFW's order by giving its own detailed, itemized comments, and objections from the industry and the farmers, leading to red faces in various departments, said the sources. Taking cognizance of the industry's reservations, the MCF pointed out that these 27 pesticides proposed to be banned comprise around 40 per cent of the total Indian market, besides dooming Indian exports to 130 countries like the US, Brazil, Australia, Canada, the UK, Japan, France, China, etc, and would hit the manufacturers badly. The MCF has practically rejected the MAFW's order which contends that most of the data for the products is incomplete though all these pesticides are registered by the regulator, Central Insecticide Board & Registration Committee (CIB&RC). "Once registered (by CIB&RC), a pesticide is supposed to meet all the requirements of bio-efficacy, toxicity, risk management to human and animal life and environment..." the MCF quickly pointed out. The industry goes ahead with investments and production facilities only after the CIB&RC's approvals, so such a sudden ban would not only render these huge investments wasteful, but cause huge loss of export earnings to India, the MCF added. Indirectly ridiculing the MAFW order, the MCF said that "banning of a particular pesticide by a few countries based on some studies somewhere" was not sufficient grounds to do the same in India "without having adequate scientific evidence in the Indian context". It advised that if any chemical posed hazards to humans, animals or environment, it could be banned after due socio-economic analysis, but any such chemical evaluation should be done using a 'risk-based (not hazard-based) approach'. In view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic which has badly affected all sectors including the chemical/agrochemical sectors worldwide, besides the current challenges posed by the recent locusts attack, the MAFW's ban "may not be an appropriate step," said MCF. The MCF said even if it was assumed that there was sufficient justification to ban these pesticides, there was still not adequate grounds to ban their production for export purposes to countries that want to use it with necessary risk management. Crop Care Foundation of India (CCFI) Executive Director Nirmala Pathrawal said owing to the MAFW's missive, the Rs.19,000-crore Indian pesticide industry with exports of more than Rs.22,000 crore, will be wiped out to the tune of 70 percent, with losses of around Rs.9000 crore and lakhs of job losses. "There will be a massive shortage of insecticides, all major crops will be exposed to pests, alternatives may be very expensive and out of reach of most farmers, thus affecting yield, incomes and impact food security in India," Pathrawal told IANS. Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) President Kishore Tiwari ominously warned that if the MAFW implements the ban, arising out of international pressures, the Indian agro-sector could go haywire for several years. "Cultivation costs will shoot up by 4-5 times, farmers suicides will increase, crop yields will fall, and it will make a joke of PM's 'Atmanirbhar' and 'doubling of farmers income' policies," Tiwari told IANS. Stating he would raise the issue with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Tiwari appealed to all other state chief ministers to speak out in the interests of the farmers and ensure the ban is revoked immediately. The BIO 2020 has proposed totally prohibiting import manufacture, sale, transport, distribution, use of the 27 pesticides/insecticides in India, coming as a shock to all the major players. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) THE HAGUE, Netherlands, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Prognosis in high risk Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is still unsatisfactory. Despite the availability of novel pharmaceutical agents (alone or in combination), response to therapy and long-lasting remissions are limited and can be improved. In the CLL2GIVe trial, the German CLL study group has evaluated a new first line therapy regimen for high risk CLL patients with 17p deletion and/or TP53 mutation. In this therapy regimen, patients receive the three agents obinutuzumab, venetoclax and ibrutinib in the first six months, followed by the combination of venetoclax and ibrutinib for another six months. Subsequently, ibrutinib maintenance therapy is given if undetectable minimal residual disease (MRD) and complete remission according to iwCLL criteria has not been achieved by then. (MRD refers to small numbers of leukemic cells that may remain in the patient during treatment, or after treatment when the patient has no disease symptoms. It is the major cause of relapse in leukemia.) The treatment regimen is a response-adapted limited therapy and showed encouraging response rates. The rate of complete remissions was 58.5%. In 80.5% of patients, MRD got undetectable in peripheral blood at cycle 15. The safety profile was acceptable. In conclusion, the GIVe regimen is a promising first line treatment option for patients with high risk CLL. Presenters: Dr Henriette Huber[1],[2] (oral presentation) and Dr Simone Edenhofer[1] (press briefing presentation) Affiliation: [1] Universitatsklinikum Ulm, Ulm, Germany; [2] Stadtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany Abstract:S157 CLL2-GIVE, A PROSPECTIVE, OPEN-LABEL, MULTICENTER PHASE-II TRIAL OF OBINUTUZUMAB (GA101, G), IBRUTINIB (I), PLUS VENETOCLAX (VE) IN UNTREATED PATIENTS WITH CLL WITH 17P DELETION / TP53 MUTATION About the EHA Annual Congress: Every year in June, EHA organizes its Annual Congress in a major European city. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, EHA transformed its physical meeting into a Virtual Congress this year. Please note that our embargo policy applies to all selected abstracts in the Press Briefings. For more information, see our EHA Media and Embargo policy here. Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/622259/EHA_Logo.jpg President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is finalizing an executive order focusing on police reforms, particularly on the current professional standard on the use of force. This was the first statement Trump has made about changes in law enforcement practices following the death of George Floyd. While he did not reveal more details of the executive order, Trump said that part of the recommendations include encouraging police officers' "tactics for de-escalation." He made this statement during a roundtable event together with faith leaders, law enforcement officials, and small business owners at Gateway Church in Dallas. An article from NBC News quoted Trump as saying, "We'll encourage pilot programs that allow social workers to join certain law enforcement officers so that they work together." Trump Will Not Defund Police Meanwhile, aside from the demand of the activists for justice, equality, and end to racism, they also called to defund the police. According to a published article by CNN, nine members of the Minneapolis City Council pledged to start the process of defunding the Minneapolis Police Department. However, Trump said that the federal government will not defund the police. He explained: "We'll take care of our police. We're not defunding police. If anything, we're going the other route. We're going to make sure that our police are well-trained, perfectly trained, they have the best equipment." Moreover, he clarified that he will prefer to dominate the streets with compassion. This means that deploying Police Officers practicing more professional standards on the use of force without violating human rights and that will not create another protest due to racism. Trump's Plans for the Minorities Aside from this, Trump also announced some of his plans for the minorities. That includes the economic welfare development of the African-Americans and Latinos by increasing the capital of their small businesses that are growing fast in the country. He also mentioned that he will address the health care and school choice of people from different colors. Additionally, though Trump did not mention how he will strategically implement the broad policy, there is now hope from the minority that the federal government is helping to combat racism. According to administration officials, Trump stressed out the importance of law enforcement on board with whatever reforms the White House proposes. In fact, Trump praised law enforcement who did their best in responding to the different protests over the past two weeks in the country. The protests that happened in the country for the past weeks led to the looting of businesses, burning some of establishments and vehicles, vandalism, and more. The protest even happened near the White House where two banks were burned and parks were vandalized. The circumstances during the protests across the country have been the main focus of Trump's administration and called the military to intervene on the streets to stabilize the situation involving people of different colors who have been outraged following the sudden death of George Floyd. Check these out! EDMONTONAlberta is closing the door on an agency that championed eco-initiatives but was ridiculed by Premier Jason Kenney as a costly conduit for shower heads and light bulbs. Grant Hunter, associate minister in charge of red-tape reduction, says the remaining duties and responsibilities of Energy Efficiency Alberta and its $8-million budget will be folded into other departments or the current Emissions Reduction Alberta. None of the programs that are currently there will be taken away, Hunter said in an interview Thursday. (But) we dont need to have two agencies doing the same thing. Emissions Reduction Alberta, established in 2007, is an arms-length agency that uses greenhouse gas levies paid by large emitters to invest in projects to reduce greenhouse gases. Our government has always maintained that we must leverage our industry partners and small and medium-sized businesses in order to tackle emissions, Environment Minister Jason Nixon said in a statement. We have also committed to streamlining government delivery of services and cutting red tape. By rolling (the two agencies together), we are accomplishing all of the above. Energy Efficiency Alberta was launched in 2017 by the former NDP government. It was the centrepiece of a broader commitment to move Alberta toward a greener economy. The agency used money from a carbon tax brought in by the NDP on gasoline and heating fuels to fund initiatives and rebates on everything from solar panels to energy-efficient appliances, windows, insulation, LED light bulbs and low-flow shower heads. Kenney, in the 2019 election campaign won by the United Conservatives, promised to end the provincial carbon tax. He followed through, but it was replaced with a federal one. He also promised to end Energy Efficiency Alberta, which he suggested epitomized an NDP government committed to raising taxes in the service of a bloated bureaucracy administering projects best left to the free market. We dont need bureaucrats changing our shower heads and our light bulbs, Kenney said in March 2019. Kenneys government cancelled Energy Efficiency Albertas rebate programs last fall while continuing with lesser-known programs such as the Green Loan Guarantee, which supports lenders offering cash to support renewable-energy projects. The agency has estimated its programs were not a drain on the economy, but rather a propellant, delivering $850 million in economic growth and returning $3.20 for every $1 invested. The agency shutdown is part of an omnibus bill introduced in the house by Hunter. Among other changes, it proposes an end to cabinet approval of oilsands projects. Those projects are currently accepted or rejected by the Alberta Energy Regulator, then go to cabinet for confirmation. Officials said the double approval isnt needed, because cabinet does not interfere in the regulators decisions. Hunter said it also needlessly delayed the approvals, sometimes by up to 10 months. The bill also eliminates Canadian residency requirements for boards of directors and devolves other powers from cabinet to individual ministers. NDP red-tape-reduction critic Chris Nielsen said the bill is 175 pages with hundreds of proposed legal changes, and its being pushed through the legislature in the middle of a pandemic. This bill gives enormous amounts of power to individual ministers, removes transparency and accountability measures (and) weakens legal protections across the board, Nielsen said. NDP environment critic Marlin Schmidt said cabinet must have a role in oilsands approvals, as it is responsible for broader public concerns beyond what is considered by the Alberta Energy Regulator. No one elected the AER, Schmidt said. The AER is not part of a system of government representing multiple perspectives held accountable to the public. Read more about: For Hungarian transgender couple Tamara Csillag and Elvira Angyal life is on hold, their wedding is postponed, and they are angry. Last month, Hungary banned people from changing their gender on identity documents. It was a move that LGBT+ advocates said was creating panic among transgender people, who feared a rise in discrimination and attacks. Tamara, whos 57, filed her paperwork two years ago -- just days before the government temporarily banned alterations to identity documents. That ban is now permanent. Elvira, whos 53, completed her paperwork years before. But Tamara is forced to write Thomas on official documents. The couple have put their wedding plans on hold while Tamara is forced to remain legally male. "The present government creates a worsening political situation for us. Because like it or not, we have been around the country, have been to restaurants, plazas, many places and there were very few negative reactions to us. I think just like many people verbally abuse overweight people or very small people. In my opinion, - and this may offend some - the government generates the negative criticism." Expensive gender change procedures are legal in Hungary and subsidised by the state, to a small extent. Gay marriage is not recognised, but legal partnership is. Rights groups say hostility to LGBT+ people has increased since nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban won a third term in 2018. At the time the law was passed in parliament, the government said it left everyone, quote, "free to exercise their identities as they wish". But Tamara disagrees - and says the government is targeting her, and preventing her from completing her documentation. Countdown 1945 By Chris Wallace with Mitch Weiss Avid Reader. 312 pp. $30 --- In the 75 years since President Harry Truman ordered atomic bombs to be dropped on two Japanese cities, American attitudes toward that decision have gradually shifted. Immediately after the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, polls showed that 85% of people in the United States approved of Truman's action. However, by 2005, on the 60th anniversary of the bombings, support for the decision had fallen to 57%, while 38% of Americans believed it either wrong or unnecessary. Approaching the commemoration of the bombings this summer, two veteran journalists have tried to put that decision in context. The book by Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, written with the Associated Press's Mitch Weiss, focuses on the 116 days between Truman's sudden ascent to the presidency, after Franklin Roosevelt's death in mid-April 1945, and the use of the first bomb, on Hiroshima, in early August. "Countdown 1945" contains no surprises and will quell no controversies. But it is a compelling and highly readable account of one of the most fateful decisions in American history. Like John Hersey in his book "Hiroshima," Wallace and Weiss humanize events too often reduced to technical or diplomatic arcana by telling their story through the lives of individuals. Truman is, of course, a major player, but so is Paul Tibbets, pilot of the Enola Gay, the B-29 that bombed Hiroshima, and his crew. Also profiled are the scientists at Los Alamos, like Robert Oppenheimer and Don Hornig, who built the weapons dropped on Japan. Ruth Sisson, one of the "Calutron Girls" at Oak Ridge, Tenn., ran a machine enriching the uranium used in Little Boy, the Hiroshima bomb. A Navy demolitions expert, Draper Kauffman, would have been among the first to land on the beaches of Kyushu had an invasion of Japan's home islands been deemed necessary. One of the book's most affecting stories is that of Hideko Tamura, a 10-year-old girl who was in Hiroshima on the day the bomb fell. Hideko survived the attack; her mother, Kimiko, did not. Presented as a countdown to the final event, the book moves along at a rapid clip, with colorful anecdotes enlivening the narrative. Navy frogmen like Kauffman are described as "half fish and half nuts." Sisson and her cohort were not told that the machines they operated were producing bomb-grade uranium, prompting a joke: "My job is so secret, even I don't know what I'm doing." The bleakness of the desert bombing range at Wendover, Utah, where Tibbets and his crew practiced for the Hiroshima mission, inspired one disgusted airman to observe: "If the United States ever needed an enema, this is where they would insert the tube." The authors' breakneck prose sometimes breezes past moments in history deserving of a more thorough treatment. For example, a "demonstration" of the bomb as an alternative to its military use - an idea promoted by several of the atomic scientists - receives bare mention. Wallace and Weiss pay proper attention, however, to an option that, in retrospect, seems the best - and possibly the only - course of action that might have brought an end to the war without either the atomic bomb or a horribly costly seaborne invasion: a conditional surrender by Japan. From intercepted and decrypted Japanese messages, the United States knew, by late July 1945, that Tokyo was seeking an end to the war and was even hopeful that Moscow might serve as an intermediary with Washington. The one nonnegotiable Japanese demand, however, was that Emperor Hirohito - who had divine status in that country - not be removed from the throne and treated as a war criminal in any postwar, Nuremberg-style trial. Truman was made aware of these facts while he was meeting with Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill at Potsdam in defeated Germany. Two of the president's close advisers even urged him to accept this sole condition and offer Japan a quick end to the war. Fatefully, however, only four days after becoming president, Truman, in his first address to Congress, had emphatically declared: "Our demand has been and it remains unconditional surrender" - pounding the lectern with his fists to emphasize each syllable of the last two words. Believing that he had inherited both the mantle and the policies of FDR, his much-admired predecessor, Truman concluded there was no way he could go back on that promise. At the end, Wallace and Weiss offer no argument as to the ultimate morality or immortality of the atomic bomb decision. But it is hard to disagree with their conclusion that "it is unrealistic to think Harry Truman would make any other choice." Perhaps unintentionally, "Countdown" also underscores just how much this country has changed in the past 75 years. Only two weeks after he became an "accidental president," Truman was briefed on the atomic bomb by Army Gen.Leslie Groves, head of the Manhattan Project. Handed a 24-page report, Truman balked, telling Groves, "I don't like to read papers." But the general stuck to his guns. "We can't tell you this in any more concise language. This is a big project," Groves insisted. For the next 45 minutes, the president listened as Groves talked about the bomb, its likely effects and the fact that Soviet spies had, for the past two years, been trying to steal America's atomic secrets. It was probably the first that Truman, the country's inaugural Cold War president, learned of Stalin's treachery. Since he had been on his way to Europe when the atomic bomb was tested in the New Mexico desert, Truman can perhaps be excused for not appreciating the revolutionary - and indiscriminate - nature of the new weapon. In his personal diary at Potsdam, the president wrote that the bomb would be used "so that military objectives and soldiers and sailors are the target and not women and children." In fact, the aiming point for the Hiroshima bomb was neither the city's port facilities nor the headquarters of Japan's Second General Army but a distinctive T-shaped bridge spanning the Ota River, near the urban center. "It's the most perfect AP [aiming point] I've seen in this whole damn war," exulted Tibbets's bombardier. Hiroshima was chosen as a primary target in part because of "adjacent hills which are likely to produce a focusing effect which would considerably increase the blast damage." But subsequent events, not covered in the book, show that Truman grew in his understanding of the bomb. At a Cabinet meeting on Aug. 10 - the day after the bombing of Nagasaki, and as casualty reports from Hiroshima had begun to come in - Truman announced, according to Commerce Secretary Henry Wallace, that "he had given orders to stop atomic bombing. He said the thought of wiping out another 100,000 people was too horrible. He didn't like the idea of killing, as he said, 'all those kids.'" --- Herken is an emeritus professor of American diplomatic history at the University of California and the author of "Brotherhood of the Bomb: The Tangled Lives and Loyalties of Robert Oppenheimer, Ernest Lawrence, and Edward Teller." TWIN FALLS Idaho moves into its final phase of reopening Saturday, amid the coronavirus pandemic. The new guidelines allow for the opening of large venues and gatherings of more than 50 people. Following the announcement, the Twin Falls Public Library announced it would open to the public with limited hours. Starting Monday, the library will open from 10 a.m. to 5 pm Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Library staff will follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by social distancing, wearing masks and practicing good hand hygiene. The library asks patrons visiting the library to do the same. Curbside delivery services will cease when the library opens back to the public, though exceptions may be made for vulnerable people. Call the library at 208-733-2964 or email at tfpl@twinfallspubliclibrary.org for more information. Herrett Center to reopen The College of Southern Idahos Herrett Center for Arts and Science will re-open to the public June 23. The Centennial Observatory will remain closed until further notice, as the close confines do not allow for proper social distancing, the college announced Friday. The Faulkner Planetarium reopens with a new Digistar 6 fulldome video system that offers significantly improved image quality, the college said. The planetarium will premier National Geographics Extreme Weather starting June 23. The large format film explores the effects of climate change on weather. Audiences join scientists studying melting glaciers in Alaska, a tornado researcher in the Midwest, and firefighters on the front lines in the American west. Showings will happen at 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, and 6:30 p.m. Saturdays. The planetarium will also be featuring seven other shows to choose from during the week. In order to allow for proper social distancing, the planetariums attendance will be limited to no more than 50 guests per show. Every other row of seats is closed off and we ask guests to leave a two-seat gap to each side of their party. The show schedule is reduced to allow time between shows for sanitizing. The summer show schedule has programs at 1:30 and 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and at 6:30 and 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The museum galleries resume regular open hours of 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 1 to 9 p.m. Saturdays. Guests are encouraged to use the hand sanitizing station at the front entrance upon arrival. Due to the risk of virus transmission, hands-on activities have been removed from the galleries for the time being. Guests are strongly encouraged to wear facemasks while visiting the museum and we ask that families stay together as they tour the facility. Attendance to Reptile Revue and story time programs will be limited to no more than 50 individuals. The college asks those that have a fever or are not feeling well to refrain from visiting the museum and planetarium until they have recovered. An adult bald eagle was released back into the wild at Roseland Park in Baytown Friday after spending the last several weeks recovering from an injury at the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal's Wildlife Center of Texas, one of the largest of its kind in the nation. The bird suffered injuries to its wings and leg when it hit a power line, according to Houston SPCA officials. Baytown resident Luis Arguello saw the bird hit the power line and get knocked out in his driveway. Arguello named the bird "Pearl" after watching it grow for the last several years in a nest near his home. A Texas game warden brought the bird to the Wildlife Center on May 29, where it spent the last several weeks healing and undergoing rehabilitation at the center's outdoor flight complex. (Bloomberg) -- Instacart Inc.s valuation hit $13.7 billion in a funding round after the popularity of the grocery delivery service exploded in recent months from an influx of people staying at home under pandemic lockdowns. The new value matches the price Amazon.com Inc. paid to acquire Whole Foods in 2017 and is a significant jump from Instacarts valuation in late 2018, which was $7.9 billion. Instacart raised $225 million in the funding round. It will use the infusion to support the surge of new customers, workers and partners and fuel behind-the-scenes work in advertising and business software it provides to grocery partners, Instacart said Thursday. DST Global and General Catalyst joined existing investor D1 Capital Partners in the round. The grocery delivery service, which is available to more than 85% of U.S. households and 70% in Canada, told Bloomberg last month its on track to process more than $35 billion in sales this year. Since the lockdowns began in the U.S. in March, demand for Instacart has risen to a level investors didnt expect to see before 2025. Read more: Instacarts Frantic Dash From Grocery App to Essential Service Were proud to have Instacart continue to play an important role in peoples lives now and long after this crisis subsides, Chief Executive Officer Apoorva Mehta said in a statement. Founded in 2012, Instacart has raised more than $2 billion of capital in total. The companys success hasnt always been smooth. Workers have staged at least two walkouts since the pandemic began to protest allegations of unsafe working conditions and low pay. Like other gig companies, Instacart categorizes many of its workers as independent contractors rather than employees -- a designation California lawmakers sought change with a law that went into effect this year. Read more: Help Wanted: Risk-Takers Willing to Work Hard Jobs for Low Pay San Francisco-based Instacart is among companies supporting an initiative on the November ballot to reverse the state law. The outcome of that vote is critical to Instacart as it seeks to increase its workforce from 180,000 shoppers a few months ago to 750,000. Story continues For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. CAIRO The joint venture of Egyptian companies Arab Contractors and El Sewedy Electric Company, under government guidance, continues to work on the Julius Nyerere hydropower project in the Rufiji River in Tanzania. On June 1, Egyptian Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Assem el-Gazzar praised the progress of the project and the commitment to preventive and precautionary measures to protect and ensure the health and safety of the workers part of it. Gazzars remarks came during a meeting he held to follow up on the execution of the Julius Nyerere hydropower dam and plant project, in the presence of ministry officials and representatives of the joint venture. The project aims to control the flooding of the Rufiji River, generate power and preserve the environment. It will include the construction of a 1,025-meter-long (3,363-feet) dam, with a height of 134 meters (440 feet) and a storage capacity of 34 billion cubic meters (bcm) of water. The hydroelectric power plant will generate electricity of 2115 megawatts, Mahmoud Nassar, chief of the Central Agency for Reconstruction affiliated with the Ministry of Housing, said during the June 1 meeting. The power station is to be located across the Rufiji River in the Stiegler's Gorge, at the Selous Game Reserve in the Morogoro region in the southwest of Dar es Salaam city in Tanzania, according to Nassar. In July 2019, Egypt and Tanzania laid the foundation stone for the hydroelectric dam project in the Rufiji River basin, which is completely located inside Tanzania. The Rufiji River basin consists of the confluence of Kilombero and Luwegu rivers and is approximately 600 kilometers (373 miles) long, with its source in southwestern Tanzania. The chairman of Arab Contractors, Mohsen Salah, told Al-Monitor that the dam covers an area of 1,350 square kilometers (521 square miles) with a length of 100 kilometers (62 miles). A total 80 kilometer (50 miles) of roads will be constructed for the dam, 40% of which have been completed. On the stages of the project, Salah explained that the project consists of five main components, including the dam body, the powerhouse, the water diversion tunnel, the energy distribution sites and the permanent bridge connecting the two sides of the project. This is in addition to constructing two quarries on the two sides of the project and a small village for the workers. He clarified that 20% of the planned housing camps, including the temporary camp, have been executed. The surveying works for all of the project area have been completed along with the soil exploration works with a total of 223 exploration wells. A concrete plant and a crusher were constructed to secure the materials needed by the project, he added. Nassar noted that the project includes the construction of four sub-dams to form the water reservoir, and two temporary dams in front and behind the main dam, for the drying and diversion during the construction of the main dam. He added that this also includes a water spillway in the middle of the main dam, an emergency spillway and a 703-meter-long (0.4-mile) tunnel to divert river water, three tunnels to ensure the flow of the water needed for the power station, a permanent concrete bridge and two temporary bridges over the Rufiji River. The project area is serviced by creating temporary roads and permanent roads to facilitate movement and connect the project components, Nassar said. He further noted that the entire project that started in 2019 will be completed in July 2022. Ahmed Bahaa Eddin, head of the Nile water department at the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, told Al-Monitor that the dam does not have a negative impact on neighboring countries. The dam does not affect Egypts water quota because it is located on the Rufiji River basin and is far from the Nile River. The Nile Basin riparian countries have a number of river basins. The Rufiji River is 220 kilometers (137 miles) southwest of the Tanzanian capital. It is a 600-kilometer-long internal river and its annual run-off ranges from 10 to 58 bcm. Al-Monitor spoke to Mahmoud Abu Zeid, head of the Arab Water Council and former minister of water resources and irrigation. He believes the Tanzanian dam project would boost Egypts influence among the Nile Basin countries, as it refutes Ethiopias accusations of obstructing development projects in the basin countries to monopolize the largest share of water. Egypt is strengthening its relations with the Nile Basin countries, by implementing joint development projects for the benefit of their people without harming anyone, and to take advantage of the annual rainwater that is being wasted in most of these countries. Abu Zeid stressed the importance of Egypt's support for Tanzanian funding requests to international institutions. This is all the more important in light of Egypt's presidency of the African Union [AU]. On Feb. 10, 2019, AU leaders elected Egypt to chair the AU for one year. Ethiopia claims that Egypt wanted to deprive it of its development projects and electricity generation in light of the dispute of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, alleging that the project goes beyond development since it is a matter of survival for Ethiopia. Over the past month, Egypt and Ethiopia exchanged accusations of infringing rights and foiling negotiations on the Nile dam dispute, amid verbal skirmishes, and diplomatic moves by officials of the two countries to mobilize international positions in their respective favor. Negotiations between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have been frozen after the latter withdrew from a meeting in Washington in late February, which was dedicated to concluding a final agreement regarding the rules for filling and operating the Renaissance dam. The European Commission is to recommend EU member states begin to reopen their external frontiers to travellers from outside the bloc from 1 July, diplomatic chief Josep Borrell has said. The decision on easing restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus rests with national capitals, but Borrell said Brussels would suggest "a gradual and partial lifting" of the ban. EU member states have begun to ease temporary restrictions on non-essential crossing of the borders within the bloc, with a goal of 15 June for restoring free travel. At the weekend, the interior ministers of the 27 member states agreed to coordinate a gradual reopening to travellers from outside the Schengen area, Britain and the EU. But Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson says that not all countries agree on the criteria for reopening, with some in more of a hurry than others. Greece, for example, whose economy depends heavily on tourism, has already announced it will reopen its skies from 15 June to a list of countries, including non-EU states such as Australia, China and South Korea. The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office has agreed to pay $6 million dollars to a man who was paralyzed for life after being shot by a deputy. In September of 2013, Dontrell Stephens was riding his bicycle when Deputy Adams Lin tried to stop him for a traffic offense. Video from the dash cam in Lins cruiser shows Stephens stop and get off his bicycle. As he walks out of the frame of the video, you hear Lin fire multiple shots. Stephens drops to the ground. Lin later told investigators he thought Stephens was reaching for a gun. It turned out to be a cell phone. I thought it was a gun, Lin said. And he started raising it towards me. I drew my gun and shot off three, maybe four rounds. After an internal affairs investigation called the shooting justified, Stephens attorney, Jack Scarola, filed a civil lawsuit against the Sheriffs Office. He never reached behind his back with his left hand to pull something out, Scarola said at the time. And he never should have been shot. A federal jury eventually ruled in Stephens favor and ordered the Sheriffs Office to pay Stephens $22.5 million dollars. That began a legal fight of its own, eventually winding up in the state legislature. Gov. Ron DeSantis officially ended the battle on Tuesday, signing a bill requiring the Sheriffs Office to pay Stephens $6 million dollars. According to the governors order, about $2.6 million of the money will be used to pay Stephens legal and medical bills. The remaining $3.4 million will be invested to provide Stephens money to live on. The Sheriffs Office told sister station WPBF-TV the governors order was not a surprise. They said this was a deal the sheriff had already agreed on with attorneys. Stephens could not be reached immediately for comment. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 17:47:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SYDNEY, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A crocodile killed a police officer in a river of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and escaped, with the victim still stuck in its jaws, local newspaper The National reported on Friday. "The victim was paddling to his village at Bekoro from Baimuru Police Station (last week) where he was providing voluntary service to maintain law and order in the Baimuru local level government," Acting Southern police Commander Chief Supt John Maru told reporters. "Along the river, the crocodile attacked him on his canoe and killed him." A search party was dispatched to locate the killer crocodile when the officer's empty canoe had been discovered by locals and reported the incident to the police. "When a search party spotted the crocodile resting on the muddy bank, they saw the victim still stuck in its jaw," Maru said. The police shoot the crocodile immediately but failed to kill it and the animal was still at large. Enditem Joe Biden has released an eight-point plan to reopen the US economy in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is promising to dramatically expand testing for the virus, guarantee federal paid leave for all who get sick and create a national task force to better track the spread of the disease. The former vice president released the plan Thursday as he held an economic round table with community leaders in Philadelphia. Taking serious note of instances of non-payment of salary to doctors treating Covid-19 patients the Supreme Court on Friday said the country cannot afford to have dissatisfied soldiers in the war against the pandemic, and asked authorities to go the extra mile to raise funds for them. In war, you do not make soldiers unhappy. Travel extra mile and channel some extra money to address their grievances. Country cannot afford to have dissatisfied soldiers in this war which is being fought against Corona, the court said. As the judiciary took up the cause of the frontline healthcare ... The long-delayed, Chinese-funded Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban railway line in Hanoi whose workload has remained 99 percent complete for over one year must be put into commercial operation this year, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has demanded. In a document sent to ministries, ministry-level agencies, government units, provincial and municipal administrations, and the National Traffic Safety Committee, the government leader asked relevant bodies to speed up the progress of key transport infrastructure projects, including the 13.5-kilometer Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line, the first of its kind in the Vietnamese capital city. The others are North-South Expressway, Long Thanh International Airport in the southern province of Dong Nai, runway upgrades at Hanoi-based Noi Bai International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, and the third passenger terminal at Tan Son Nhat. PM Phuc underlined the need for the commercial operations of the Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line to be launched this year. All the obstacles to these projects should be made known to the central government and the lawmaking National Assembly for consideration, according to the prime minister. The elevated railway runs from Cat Linh Station in downtown Dong Da District to Yen Nghia Station southwest of Ha Dong District. The project saw its investment cost ballooning to VND18 trillion (US$868 million) from the initial estimate of VND8.7 trillion ($552.8 million). Work on the railway began in October 2011 and was initially scheduled for completion in 2013. However, several hurdles, including official development assistance (ODA) loan disbursement issues with China that were only resolved in December 2017, have stalled it for years. The Ministry of Transport said in September 2019 that the project was unable to run commercially, and there was a high risk of a lengthy delay since the Chinese contractor China Railway Sixth Group Co. Ltd. had yet to follow the instructions of the ministry. Late last month, the Chinese contractor demanded $50 million for the trial operation of the railway before handing over the project to Vietnamese authorities. Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong said the demand would be rejected as it goes against the provisions of the project agreement. Dong cited the agreement as saying that even if the contractor was fraught with financial difficulties, they would be obliged to run a trial operation. Vietnam would not bear responsibility for any additional payment, the deputy minister noted, adding that the Southeast Asian nation had already paid 70 percent of the amount due for the project, while the rest will be settled before its handover. The metro line allows for a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour while the average speed of operation is 35 kilometers per hour, with trains running every few minutes. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A short while ago, police officers apprehended a group of public and political figures gathered near the police station, including Arsen Babayan and Artur Danielyan. First, the police officers gave the citizens three minutes to stop their protest. The citizens refused to leave, after which the police started apprehending them. Police had apprehended four lawyers who were protesting in front of the National Assembly, and demanding to permit the holding of peaceful rallies in a state of emergency. As the Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent reported from the scene, these persons are Ruben Melikyan, Robert Hayrapetyan, Armen Galstyan, and Babken Harutyunyan. These lawyers were standing at a social distance from each other, holdingin their words"solitary actions," emphasizing that they do not violate any restrictions imposed by the Commandant of the state of emergency. However, the police claimed that this action of theirs was a violation of the ban on rallies, and if the demonstrators did not stop it, they would be detained. The National Assembly is currently debating on the government's decision to extend the state of emergency in Armenia for another month. The aforesaid lawyers are urging the MPs to demand, during the debates, that the restrictions on rallies be lifted. A state of emergency has been declared in Armenia since March 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic. And according to the decision of the Commandant, all types of gatherings are prohibited during this period. Police detain lawyers protesting in front of Armenia parliament Creative Arts Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) would soon be launched in Accra to promote and advance the interest of persons in the creative industry in the country. Mr Philip Amanor, the President of the CACCI, in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the advent of the Chamber would also be a massive boost to the growth of the industry, which had been bedeviled by a number of challenges. He said some of the challenges included lack of clear-cut vision, lack of welfare and investment plans and unhealthy interferences and assured that with the coming to being of the CACCI the problems would be a thing of the past. Mr Amanor said the Chamber would be bent on addressing the issues with well-thought out ideas that would radically change the status quo of the creative industry. He said: The industry is pregnant with opportunities for investment, employment and international recognition, however, in Ghana the industry seems to be lagging behind in many respects coupled with unhealthy interferences. The President said the CACCI would be a one-stop shop for industry players that would mould them in line with similar businesses in Ghana and elsewhere and that the Chamber is currently working on a series of local and international projects and programmes. Mr Amanor urged industry experts or players to come on board to vie for vacant positions in the CACCI to contribute their quota for the expansion of the industry. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video On June 6, students from the Harbin Institute of Technology and Harbin Engineering University were denied access to MATLAB, a numerical computing software developed by US company MathWorks, with experts calling the companys decision the most recent collateral damage resulting from US sanctions against China. MATLAB, which allows matrix manipulations, plotting of functions and data, implementation of algorithms, creation of user interfaces, and interfacing with programs written in other languages, is one of the most commonly used coding software for scientists. In an email to affected students, MathWorks wrote that they are prohibited from providing technical or customer support to the two institutions due to recent U.S. government regulations. The two Chinese universities were added to the Entity List by the US Department of Commerce in May, with the latter explaining that the universities could pose a risk of procuring items for military end-use in China. Citing this policy as the reason, MathWorks has suspended its services for the two universities and deactivated the students accounts. MATLAB is only a piece software for scientific use. I see no reason why students like us should be barred from using it. It seems that we can no longer use this software to publish research papers or share data with other scientists around the world, which will hamper global science cooperation, a student from the Harbin Institute of Technology told Peoples Daily Online on condition of anonymity. Qin An, head of the Beijing-based Institute of China Cyberspace Strategy, told Peoples Daily Online that the universities have paid for MATLAB services, and banning ordinary students from using a common coding software only showed the US increasing Internet hegemony and groundless hostility against China. This decision has not only affected innocent Chinese students who use the software to conduct research, but has also damaged the US company itself, as the company, not Chinese universities, is the largest beneficiary from this, said Qin. As of 2020, MATLAB had more than 4 million users worldwide. MATLAB users come from various backgrounds, most of whom are engineers, scientists and commercial companies, while most universities in China use the software. The US government has officially torn off the last fig leaf on the Statue of Liberty. A country that boasts of freedom and which is the founder of the Internet is now the most closed-minded and arbitrary Internet bully. Cyberspace has now become a new battlefield for the US to promote its hegemony, said Qin. According to Qin, the US advanced technologies has allowed it to gain both financial and political benefits from a free Internet. By banning Chinese students from using a common coding software, the US government may successfully cater to the populist sentiment in the nation, but will receive a heavy blow in the long run. Ever since the Snowden incident, countries around the globe have realised the importance of protecting their cyber sovereignty. The US increasing Internet hegemony will only force other nations to throw off US control, and will surely encourage countries like China to develop their own cyber technologies, said Qin. Needless to say, scientific cooperation between China and US will be heavily affected by this incident. A groundless move like this is nothing more than the deathbed struggle of US hegemony, and will bring severe consequences to the US itself, Qin added. If you want to read some good ghost stories Google Haunted Old South Pittsburgs Hospital. If you want to personally experience the intrigue and possible paranormal (supernatural) activity of the abandoned hospital in South Pittsburg you will want to schedule a tour and possibly an overnight stay that can be arranged by the current owners. The hospital was built in 1959 by four physicians and closed in 1998, allegedly because it had been replaced by another hospital and was surplus property. Others claim that the facility was beset with supernatural happenings that included many acts of malpractices, murder and strange goings on involving shadowy spirts performing unusual and sinister acts in the abandoned medical facility located at 1100 Holly Avenue, South Pittsburg. The haunted hospital has been featured on the Travel Channel on Destination Fear and several other television shows. The literature promoting tours and overnight stays at the premises described it as one of the most haunted places in Tennessee. Descriptions of what you will encounter at the hospital included contact with the Naughty Nurse in the basement who delights in touching and groping individuals on private parts of their anatomy and who also likes to whisper sweet words in their ears if they are brave enough to visit the ghost in her chosen domain. If you would like to have an experience with a less sensuous spirit you might be fortunate enough to meet the reincarnation of the two-year-old toddler known as Buddy who is active and seems to enjoy playing or urging the visitors to play with him on the third floor. Other spirits that have been observed in this vacant hospital include a male described as a doctor and a janitorial spirit and another female nurse. There have also been reports of a man approximately seven feet tall that may be one of the past surgeons that practiced in this medical facility. Witnesses have allegedly reported that this spirit warns the visitors to get out or leave the premises. Other attendees have stated that this ghost does not want to be associated with the living. With these comforting remarks, ghost busters or fans of the paranormal world are invited to participate in an overnight ghost hunting adventure for the strong and brave patrons of the life after death crowd. Within the past few years new owners have taken over the facility after buying the property from the Internal Revenue Service and, according to South Pittsburg City Administrator Gene Vess, have corrected the problems incurred with the former owners and appear to be running a good business as reflected by the increasing sales tax revenue to the city. In an article listed in ghosthunterfans.com the earlier problems with the presence of mold and improper zoning have been corrected and out-of-town ghost seekers are regularly visiting the old facility that previously served as the hospital for South Pittsburg and the surrounding area. Overnight tours and lodging are available for fans of the supernatural. A large number of spirit seekers have been coming up from Atlanta. If you are brave enough to risk meeting the resident ghosts travel I-24 west to the South Pittsburg exit and turn right at Moss Motors. The hospital is located between 10th and 12th Streets on Holly Avenue up against South Pittsburg Mountain. For more information or bookings contact: Old South Pittsburg Hospital Paranormal Research Center, 1100 Holly Avenue, South Pittsburg, Tennessee 37380, (423) 228-7082 or check them out on Facebook. * * * Jerry Summers (If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com Bhopal, June 12 : With 24 by-elections lined up in Madhya Pradesh over the next couple of months, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government seems to have preferred smart means over wise ones to improve its report card on the coronavirus crisis. The pandemic is still peaking in the state with more than 150 patients testing positive every day during the past fortnight. The Chief Minister had warned people about possible explosion of cases in June and July. The virus has, indeed, spread rapidly taking the state to number four slot in the nation on corona deaths. The toll was 440 till Friday evening. With Indore and Bhopal figuring among top ten cities with active cases, the state on Friday has 10,443 active cases with the virus spreading to 51 of the 52 districts. The fear of continuing surge persists in the state. The "figure conscious" government first cut down on the frequency of health bulletins. Sources in the medical fraternity in Bhopal and Indore say that the hospitals are turning patients away after preliminary tests, asking them to stay quarantined at home. These patients have been placed in the "recovered" column, they claim. On Thursday, Health Minister Narottam Mishra tried to take credit for his 50 days as minister by claiming the second spot with 68.6 per cent "recoveries". The active cases could be higher and recovery much less, but for the "smart trick". The health authorities reject many samples for one reason or the other and keep the figures under check, according to the sources. For long, the Health Department bulletins would present district-wise data, with the worst-affected districts first. Indore has remained on top ever since the bulletin was started. From June 4, the bulletins followed alphabetical order to ensure Indore slips lower down as Chouhan was to visit Indore on his maiden trip since assuming charge as Chief Minister for three days. Active cases in Indore were pegged at 30 per day. On Chouhan's return to Bhopal on June 8, the bulletin reverted to the old format and Indore started getting more than 40 active cases every day. Friday's count was 50. With close to 4,000 cases, Indore still ranks among worst affected cities in the country. In Bhopal, hospitals that offer treatment only for corona are getting a higher number of patients. Many samples are rejected to show higher count of recovery, as per the sources. The number of those discharged on recovery is inflated. Some of them have returned with a relapse of corona symptoms. Indore and Bhopal both have reported cases where the patients died of coronavirus after being discharged on recovery. On Thursday, the Health Department reported the rural march of the virus. The Chief Minister held a virtual conference with some village heads to caution them about the scene changing on the return of migrants who might have been infected during travel. President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday showered praise on health workers and other essential services staff who have been a part of the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the country. He also reiterated his confidence in the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to provide guidance and leadership in tackling the pandemic nationwide. Mr Buhari, during his Democracy Day speech, praised those who have been working effortlessly towards containing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the country. He said their dedication is a testament of the courage and resilience of Nigerians as a people and as a great nation and that he was using this opportunity to say thank you to all of you for your service to the nation. He also added that he receives regular briefing from the PTF on COVID-19. The president noted that the national response relies on Science, Data and Experience in taking decisions and explained that it was the data that informed his approval for the ease of lockdown phase to ensure a balance between lives and livelihoods. I am confident that the steps being taken by the PTF would result in flattening the COVID-19 curve. I, therefore, implore all Nigerians to abide by the approved guidelines and protocols. There is hope for us all if we take individual and collective responsibility, he said. Nigeria is celebrating this years Democracy Day amidst the COVID-19 pandemic which is afflicting the nation and the world. As of the time of reporting, almost eight million people have been infected with the virus with over 400, 000 deaths reported across 216 countries. Of this, Nigeria has recorded over 14, 000 infections with 387 deaths. Meanwhile, there is yet no respite from the virus as the country is currently in the community transmission phase. Mr Buhari, while sympathising with Nigerians who have lost their loved ones to the virus, acknowledged that many Nigerians have been going through difficult times because of the outbreak. He said most of the stringent measures introduced at every level of government to contain the virus, was aimed at saving lives. The president said the overall objective of the PTF on COVID-19 is to ensure that the pandemic does not overwhelm our health systems, while ensuring that we maintain an effective Case Management System to help in containing the spread of the virus. There is no doubt that this pandemic has affected the global economy and all known socio-economic systems. It has also brought grief and pain to families that have lost their loved ones. Like many Nigerians, I feel the grief and pain, not only as your President, but also as someone who has lost a close member of my staff and some relatives and friends, he said. Mr Buhari said the impact of the pandemic has disrupted the nations economic system and to ensure it is functioning, while still addressing the spread, the federal government put in place a number of various non-pharmaceutical measures to slow down the spread of the virus, in addition to a progressive re-opening of the economy. He said the government is determined to turn the COVID-19 challenge into a motivation to action by building a nation-wide public health care system that will help us overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for any future outbreak. The president said part of the strategy is to create jobs in reducing the effect of COVID-19 on the youth, which is why he directed the employment of 774, 000 Nigerians. These youth will be engaged in Special Public Works Programme aimed at cushioning the effects of economic downturn. Each of the 774 local government areas in the country will be allotted 1,000 slots. I am pleased to report that this programme has commenced. Already, we have begun to look inward and I charge our inventors, researchers and scientists to come up with solutions to cure COVID-19. Bob Owen /San Antonio Express-News The numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases and people hospitalized with the disease in Bexar County are growing at alarming rates, officials said Wednesday, urging residents to stick to the guidelines recommended by health professionals. We are entering a second wave, said Dawn Emerick, director of Metro Health. The spike were seeing now .. theres an association, perhaps, with Memorial Day weekend. On June 10, the opening ceremony of a demonstration base for the commercialization of sci-tech research results in the G60 Science and Technology Innovation Valley in the Yangtze River Delta was held in Changlinhe township, Feidong county. Yu Aihua, secretary of the CPC Hefei Municipal Committee and officials from Shanghai attended the ceremony. The town was designated as a demonstration base for the commercialization of sci-tech research results in March. The demonstration base covers an area of 12 square kilometers, with a total investment of 150 billion yuan. On June 10, the base signed seven projects with a total investment of 2.09 billion yuan. (By Li Renjian) Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has assured that Ukraine will not introduce any additional amendments at the request of Hungary, except those recommended by the Venice Commission. "Ukraine will not introduce any additional amendments to the law on education, except those stipulated by the decisions of the Venice Commission, to make some compromises with Hungary," Kuleba said on the air of a Ukrainian TV channel, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. He recalled, in particular, that the Venice Commission recommended, among other things, to extend the transition period for the transition to a new system of education. The minister stressed that Ukraine would not change the principles of the education law. At the same time, Kuleba urged not to bring problematic issues in Zakarpattia region to the level of separatism, citing examples of Donbas or Crimea. "We did not have separatism in Donbas. We did not have separatism in Crimea. We have Russian aggression. If Russia had not invaded Donbas, if it had not invaded Crimea, we would have found solutions to those problems in society within our internal Ukrainian dialogue," the minister added. As reported, Ukraine-Hungary relations became more complicated after the Verkhovna Rada had passed the Law of Ukraine On Education. The law was adopted in the second reading and as a whole on September 5, 2017. It entered into force on September 28, 2017. According to the norms of the document, the use of the state language in school education was expanded. Hungary expressed concern about the future of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. In October 2019, President Volodymyr Zelensky informed the NATO Secretary General that Ukraine had already implemented six of the seven recommendations of the Venice Commission to amend the law on education for the protection of national minorities. ol Clear and detailed regulations are needed to strictly punish those who abuse labour export policies to make illegal profits, National Assembly deputies said on Wednesday morning when discussing in groups the draft revised law on Vietnamese guest workers under contract. Candidates learn Japanese before arriving in Japan for work. VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuan They agreed that the revised law must make progress in administrative reform, creating transparency and convenience for labour export companies as well as being an effective tool to punish violators, especially those who sent people overseas for work and irresponsibly left them without any care or support. Deputy Ngo Duy Hieu from Hanoi said that the revised law needs to include costs workers pay to get a job overseas. In some cases, workers reportedly had to pay a lot to brokers without being aware that the payment was not regulated and even illegal. Without clear regulations, many people face financial difficulties when they want to work overseas, Hieu said. Hieu also said that labour export policies should be in line with human resource development within the country, as Vietnam was facing an aging population and still had huge demand for quality human resources for its socio-economic development. Under the draft revised law, a labour export licence can be valid for five years and be extended every five years; the number of extensions is unlimited. Hieu said it was not necessary to extend the licence. The companies will be granted licences if they meet requirements and will have the licences withdrawn if they fail to meet requirements, he said, questioning the benefits of the licence extension to companies and workers. Deputy Thich Bao Nghiem from Hanoi said that licensed companies and organisations did a good job when sending Vietnamese workers to other countries for work, but in other cases, Vietnamese illegally lived and worked in other countries. The deputy recalled the tragedy over the death of 39 Vietnamese people in a refrigerated truck container in Essex, southeast England. He said that in those cases, Vietnamese workers were lured by brokers, which resulted in threats to their safety. The illegal guest workers live in other countries without being protected by law, he said, calling for regulations that help to minimise such incidents. NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said that companies found to have collected illegal fees from workers must be strictly punished. She also said that the Government needed to arrange commercial counsellors in countries where many Vietnamese guest workers were working so they could offer assistance and solve problems. The draft revised law consists of eight chapters with 79 articles, one article less than the current law. The draft abolishes eight articles, adds nine new ones, and revises about 70 articles of the existing law. The revision aims to institutionalise the 2013 Constitution and the Partys recent guidelines on the sending of Vietnamese workers abroad as well as address new problems that the current law dated 13 years ago fails to deal with. Last year, the country sent 152,530 labourers abroad, surpassing the years plan by 27.1 per cent. Japan was the biggest recipient with nearly 83,000 labourers, followed by Taiwan (China) with 54,480, the Republic of Korea (RoK) with 7,215, Romania with 3,478, and Saudi Arabia with 1,375. By the end of March, about 560,000 Vietnamese people were working in 36 countries and territories worldwide. Agriculture land-use tax exemption continued until 2025 Vietnam would continue exempting agriculture land-use tax until 2025 as the National Assembly passed a resolution about it on Wednesday. The policies on agricultural land use tax exemption and reduction have been implemented in Vietnam since 2001. The policies are said to encourage investment in agricultural and rural areas, encourage development and expansion of farms, and increase the efficiency of farming land. The tax exemption policy, which costs roughly VND7.5 trillion (US$322 million) per year from 2021 to 2025, is expected to be an effective direct assistance to farmers and agriculture investors, helping them spend their resources to invest and expand production scale, increase productivity and improve their farming products quality. According to the Finance Ministry, between 2003 and 2010, about VND3.286 trillion of the agricultural land-use tax was exempted or reduced each year. Between 2011 and 2016, the exempted and reduced tax was about VND6.308 trillion each year. Between 2017 and 2018 as well as this year, the exempted and reduced tax was about VND7.438 trillion each year. VNS Agricultural land tax exemption policy proposed to be extended to 2025 The Government has submitted a proposal to the National Assembly to extend the agricultural land tax exemption policy to the end of 2025 to support farmers and encourage the development of agriculture. AVON No new evidence was found during an extensive search of a property in Avon where Jennifer and Fotis Dulos once lived with their children, authorities revealed Friday. Detectives from the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad and members of the state police K-9 Unit conducted a second search of the property at 44 Sky View Drive in Avon on Thursday. Police spent roughly eight hours searching the house and wooded property for evidence linked to the disappearance and death of Jennifer Dulos. Jennifer and Fotis Dulos rented the Avon home until it was sold in 2010. The property has been vacant since 2017. The property had been searched once before last year. At that time, David Ford, who owns the property, told investigators they were welcome to return any time. Investigators searched with consent from Ford, who told Hearst Connecticut Media on Thursday that he told authorities they can do whatever is deemed necessary for their investigation, including knocking down walls if needed. State police said the homes septic system was included in the search. A septic company emptied the propertys large tank and the sludge will be examined for evidence, a source close to the investigation said. No new evidence or clues were discovered as a result of the search, state police said Friday. Fotis Dulos died Jan. 30 from an apparent suicide while facing murder and other charges in connection with his estranged wifes disappearance and death. Jennifer Dulos was last seen May 24, 2019, and has been presumed dead based on blood evidence found in the garage of her New Canaan home, arrest warrants provided by state police after Fotis Dulos arrest in January. Anyone with credible information related to her disappearance is asked to call the WDMCS at 800-203-0004. MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release Donald Cleveland June 10, 2020 Revitalizing America 7700 Congress Avenue Suite 3108 Boca Raton, Florida 33487 Day: 561-338-7488 Night: 954-675-8529 Enough is Enough ! Stop Faking Human Rights ! Enough is enough! Says Donald Cleveland. Most politicians are just pulling our chain when they talk about policing and anti-discrimination changes. Instead of giving us Constitutional guarantees, they propose policy changes, executive orders and statutes. Its a joke! The recent multi-year spate of unarmed black persons being killed by police in the United States may have finally lit a fuse that wont be extinguished. Cleveland authored Revitalizing America, a Declaration Against our Government, which specifically deals with the shortfalls in human rights guarantees in the United States practices, laws and Constitution. http://www.revitalizeamericanow.org The book deals with factual accounts of human rights abuses in the United States and sets forth a series of needed amendments to the Constitution. Cleveland said, The amendments are needed to move our human rights protections out of the dark ages when the Constitution was created. It was an era when women were still considered property and slavery was the flavor of the day! We are lucky if we can squeeze two human rights out of our Constitution. Maybe the founding fathers did a good job for their time, but that Model-T needs to become an all-electric or at least a hybrid! He pointed out that, Modern Europe, on the other hand, has guaranteed over 100 human rights to its citizens. He summarized his comments by stating, Its time we shake the politicians out of their comfort zone, and call for fundamental guarantees in the Constitution that cant be changed by the next party in power. Cleveland concluded by affirming the goals of the current rights movement in the following poem: Our Natural Right! by Donald Cleveland Were the seeds of our liberty, And We march, we march to be free. Were Black, were Brown, Yellow and White! Were here to claim our natural right! Dont raise your clubs to beat us down. We march, we march while many frown. Were Black, were Brown, Yellow and White ! Were here to claim our natural right! Your knees, bullets and chokeholds kill us, But were all as brave as one woman on a bus. Were Black, were Brown, Yellow and White! Were here to claim our natural right! Is it Wounded Knee, Tuskegee or Ferguson? Will you kill my wife, my daughter, cousin or son? Were Black, were Brown, Yellow and White! Were here to claim our natural right! Our spirits and seeds rise above race and chains. We come in peace to erase those stains. Were Black, were Brown, Yellow and White! Were here to claim our natural right! Let us finally breathe; Let us finally breathe! Were Black, were Brown, Yellow and White! Were here to claim our natural right! 2020 -30- As not only a journalist who has written about it since its inception, but a contributor to the project myself, I was outraged when it came under attack by supporters of Black Lives Matter. Its not that I dont support their cause, my point is people should know the full story before forming a firm opinion. Im not trying to change anyones mind, Id just like to explain the backstory as I see it now weve all had a moment to calm down. Days after a case against ex-Amnesty India chief Aakar Patel was registered for allegedly attempting to instigate a section of people against the government, Twitter has blocked his account in the country. It said that his account has been held in the country due to legal demand. While sharing a report of Black Lives Matter protest, Patel had urged the Muslim community, women, and SC/ STs in India to protest in a similar manner for the 'world to notice', opining that 'protests are a craft'. READ | Ex Amnesty International official booked for offensive remarks READ | Congress parrots 'intolerance' claim again in virtual meet with former US Diplomat Aakar Patel has in the past attempted to peddle fake news after historic Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute verdict. Back in November last year, in Congress mouthpiece National Herald, he had penned an article 'Why the Ayodhya verdict reminds us of the Supreme Court of Pakistan'. Patel opined that the 'Supreme Court of India ruled exactly what 'Vishwa Hindu Parishad and BJP wanted'. He explained that Pak Governor General Ghulam Muhammad had unlawfully dismissed the Pakistan Constituent Assembly in 1954 with the backing of the Pakistan Supreme Court which had justified his illegal action. Correlating that with the Ayodhya verdict, Patel added that while the Supreme Court did slam the demolition of the Mosque, it handed it over to those who were responsible for the demolition, echoing AIMIM's chief Owaisi's opinion. Later, after backlash, Herald removed his opinion piece. Earlier, in 2017, he had also warned the government of 'reprisal' attacks on civilians while condemning the "utter contempt for human life and the fundamental principles of humanity" after the attack on Amarnath. Case registered against Aakar Patel On June 5, a case was registered against Aakar Patel for posting offensive content on social media, which allegedly sought to instigate a section of people against the government. The case was registered on Tuesday following a complaint by the police inspector of JC Nagar police station alleging that the twitter post by Patel was offensive. It also alleged that his statements will cause public mischief and give provocation with intent to cause a riot. READ | Coronavirus Live Updates READ | Twitter blocks Amul after 'Exit The Dragon?' topical about China; restores later Only 2,000 pilgrims are likely to be allowed per day for Amarnath Yatra during the curtailed season between July 21 and August 3 this year via the shorter Baltal route due to threats posed by coronavirus pandemic, said officials of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB). They, however, added that the government was yet to give its nod to this proposal for pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre high holy cave shrine in south Kashmir. Works section of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board awaits a nod from the government to leave for Baltal to undertake track maintenance that leads to the cave shrine from where this years Yatra shall be allowed, they added. It has also been decided that barring the sadhus, pilgrims above 55 years of age will not be allowed to undertake the yatra. The yatra, as stated above, will follow the shorter Baltal route and the longer route from Pahalgam will not be used this year for the pilgrimage. It will be regulated in view of the pandemic and all those undertaking the Yatra must possess Covid-19 negative certificates. The pilgrims will be cross-checked for Covid- 19 infection on entry into J&K before they are allowed to undertake the yatra, said an official who did not wish to be named. For Coronavirus Live Updates In a first of its kind initiative, the SASB is also trying to telecast the aarti live from the cave shrine, both in the morning and the evening, for the devotees, he said. Another official said that there was also a possibility to allow the yatra only through helicopter trips. The J&K lieutenant governors principal secretary and CEO of SASB, Bipul Pathak said that the board is yet to take a decision on these issues. When it is decided, the media will come to know, Pathak said. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 The Amarnath yatra was originally scheduled to begin on June 23 through the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district and end on August 3 on the day of Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan). Last year too, the yatra was cut short following intelligence inputs of terror threats ahead of centres move to scrap Article 370 that assigned special status to Jammu and Kashmir. In 2018, the pilgrimage was held for 60 days. Every year thousands of pilgrims trek to the shrine either through the traditional and longer 45-km long Pahalgam route or the shorter 14 km route through Baltal. Smith also agrees series like hers might not have been possible until recently. There has been a new mold created in, say, the last 10-15 years, she says. It wasnt that long ago that women were kept in some pretty tight boxes. ... Its kind of up to us, as things do become more open, to re-engage with that history and pull the old dresses out of the closet and say, What was it really like to wear these? And are we still wearing them now? This is teen fantasy with a difference. In the dazzling new movie Artemis Fowl, a young boy goes in search of his missing father but finds himself not in a world full of the futuristic technology you might expect, but the mythical creatures we all learned about as children in fairy tales. Its a world of magic somewhere beneath the ground, where dwarves spar with gnomes, trolls are best avoided because of their propensity to eat people (good to know, notes young Artemis dryly when he learns this) and law and order is maintained by the Lower Elements Police Force, whose elite branch is known as LEPrecon. The film, beautifully shot on location in England, Northern Ireland and Vietnam, begins with an unkempt figure sitting at a table being addressed by an unseen interrogator. We want to know everything about the man you work for, demands the voice. This isnt about the father, the shaggy figure replies, shaking his head. This is about the son... In the dazzling new movie Artemis Fowl, a young boy goes in search of his missing father but finds himself not in a world full of the futuristic technology you might expect. Pictured: Judi Dench as Root And so we enter the world of Artemis Fowl. The character in the film has been made less of a villain than the young master criminal of the book series by Irish writer Eoin Colfer. There are eight books in total, but the film is based on the first two, published in 2001 and 2002. Artemis is the computer genius son of a sharp-dressing millionaire art collector who has more than a few secrets in his closet. But when Artemis Sr suddenly goes missing, his son learns that he must descend to Haven City, the capital of the Lower Elements world of the fairy creatures, in order to rescue him. From left: Nonso Anozie, Lara McDonnell, Josh Gad and Ferdia Shaw in a scene from Artemis Fowl For Kenneth Branagh who directs the film starring teenagers Ferdia Shaw as Artemis and Lara McDonnell as Holly Short, the Lower Elements Police Officer who will be his guide the challenge to take on the material was irresistible. Having directed both Thor in 2011 and Cinderella in 2015 hes now an old hand at myths and fairy tales, and he was backed up in this endeavour by acclaimed playwright Conor McPherson (best known for The Weir) and Hamish McColl (Johnny English Reborn) as screenwriters. Nonso Anozie plays Artemiss bodyguard Butle Eoin Colfer gives you such a broad canvas to work from, says Kenneth. There is the modern world of course, and set against that theres Haven City, a world of fairies living under all that emerald green grass in Ireland. In Haven City you get everything goblins, dwarves, trolls. You get this whole cityscape and the police force protecting it. Because Eoin wrote eight books, we could pilfer from the rest of them to understand all the things he developed later in his very vivid imagination. A lot of it was completely new, so our task was trying to make sure that every time we presented some new creature or some new craft or way of transportation, we sprinkled it with some very special Artemis Fowl-style fairy dust. He says he thought long and hard about the costumes, with Artemis clad in a sharply tailored black suit and tie. We wanted to give Artemis a sort of superhero costume that was in keeping with the fact that hes already years ahead of himself in terms of intelligence. He starts out as a regular sweatshirt-wearing Irish boy, but when he starts to look for his father he wants to look like whatever his version of cool is. A smaller role in the film, but no less essential, was that of Artemis Sr. I came late to the party, because the film had been shot when they added my character in, says Colin Farrell with Ferdia as Artemis Sr and son When it came to the fairies, Kenneth (who was born in Belfast and spent the first nine years of his life there) decided to stick as closely as possible to the books Irish heritage. We wanted to acknowledge the roots that come from that tradition of myths and fairy tales, so we had the pointed ears on the fairies and the colours of Ireland in the clothes, the browns and greens, the shades of running brooks and ferns and surf. BOOKS THAT SOLD 25 MILLION! Eoin Colfer, a former Irish schoolteacher, described his first Artemis Fowl book as Die Hard with fairies. Artemis is a 12-year-old prodigy who, with armed bodyguard Butler, devotes his life to criminality. In his first adventure he sets out to restore his family fortune by kidnapping a fairy for a ransom of gold. Eoin Colfer, a former Irish schoolteacher, described his first Artemis Fowl book as Die Hard with fairies The fairies have been living underground, hidden from human contact, in a world known as the Lower Elements. But they are extremely technologically advanced, and Artemiss plan threatens to topple civilisations and plunge the planet into a cross-species war. The Artemis Fowl series of eight novels has now sold more than 25 million copies in 44 languages. Advertisement On the other hand, because theres also a lot of action in the film, we wanted to have clothes that were aerodynamically sleek, that you could move around in and perform stunts in. All the actors had input into their costumes, and Lara in particular was brilliantly agile and had good opinions. He admits it took him more than a year before he settled on the two young leads. At 16 Lara has already played the title role in the West End production of Matilda, as well as appearing on TV in To Walk Invisible, while Ferdia, 15, grandson of legendary Jaws actor Robert Shaw, is making his professional debut here. It was a long process, says Kenneth. We met a ton of kids of that age from all over the globe, and one of the ways of working out whether or not they were right for the part was to talk to them about what interested them. One of the things I noticed in both Ferdia and Lara was the speed of their thought, their dexterity with ideas and their familiarity with the ideas that both Eoin, and JK Rowling, were pioneering in their books. Joining the young leads are a couple of Kens regular stable of actors: his old friend Judi Dench, rocking pointy ears and an Irish accent as LEPrecon head Commander Root (She takes the work very seriously, says Ken, but she also laughs a lot), and Murder On The Orient Expresss Josh Gad as Artemis and Hollys helper, the giant dwarf Mulch Diggums. Mulch, in our version, is not a full dwarf, says Josh. Hes half-dwarf and half-gnome, and in the underworld the difference between dwarves and gnomes is not only their height, but the fact that dwarves are excellent at mining because they use their mouths to do it. Because Mulch has dwarf blood he uses this ability to great effect, mining with his mouth to dig through dirt and break into places to benefit himself and others. Like many of the cast, Josh says he had a lot of fun with the special effects. There was one sequence I had with a giant troll puppet that was controlled by three puppeteers. It was a chase sequence that had me hanging off a giant chandelier. Its moments like that which make you think, What is my life? This is so surreal! A smaller role in the film, but no less essential, was that of Artemis Sr. I came late to the party, because the film had been shot when they added my character in, says Colin Farrell who plays him, and is the father of two sons in real life. Artemiss father had been mentioned, but because he was such a fundamental part of the tale they felt his absence more as the film went on. I went in to shoot those scenes six months later, which was a bit mad. Most of his scenes were with Ferdia, who he describes as an absolute joy. I think our scenes are important, as was the mythological background to the story, and I would love it if this film were to inspire a greater dialogue in the audience between fathers and sons and mothers and daughters too about the stories they grew up with, because there is an incredible emotional and psychological education to be found there. Artemis Fowl is available now on Disney+. The new update will prevent impacted employment, housing, and credit advertisers from targeting or excluding ads based on gender, age, parental status, marital status, or ZIP Code Google will be updating its ad policies, which will prohibit impacted employment, house and credit advertisers from targeting or excluding ads based on gender, age, parental or marital status or ZIP code of users. In a blog post, Scott Spenser, the VP of Product Management, Ads Privacy and Safety, wrote that Google Ad Policies are written to safeguard users, advertisers and publishers from discrimination. He assured that the company will swing into action if marketers violate these policies. Spencer wrote that Google will be introducing a new, personalised advertising policy for certain types of ads to crack down on discriminatory behaviour on the part of advertisers. The tech giant already has a long-standing policy of prohibiting marketers from targetting on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality and disability. Spender added that Google plans to roll out this update in the US and Canada at least by the end of the year. In the coming weeks, the company will give a complete picture of how the policy changes may impact advertisers. "Weve been working closely with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on these changes for some time, and we appreciate their guidance in helping us make progress on these important issues. As part of our effort, well provide housing advertisers with additional information about fair housing to help ensure they are acting in ways that support access to housing opportunities. We will also continue to work with HUD, civil rights and housing experts, and the broader advertising industry to address concerns around discrimination in ad targeting," he wrote. Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India) The widow of a Chinese whistle-blower medic who was punished by authorities for sounding the coronavirus alarm has given birth to their son, according to local media. Fu Xuejie, the wife of late doctor Li Wenliang, reportedly delivered a healthy boy in the wee hours today in Wuhan, where the COVID-19 pandemic started in December. Dr Li, an eye doctor, was among the first to inform other medics on social media about a 'SARS-like' disease, but was reprimanded by police for 'spreading fake news'. He lost his life to the killer infection on February 7 at the age of 34 after contracting it from his patients. The widow of Dr Li Wenliang has given birth to their son, according to a report. Dr Li died of the coronavirus on February 7 after being punished for sounding the alarm of a 'SARS-like' disease Ms Fu (left), 32, works at a local eye clinic. 'Husband, can you see it from heaven? The last gift you gave me was born today. I will definitely take good care of them,' she posted today (right) A social media post penned by Ms Fu read: 'Husband, can you see it from heaven? The last gift you gave me was born today. I will definitely take good care of them.' Ms Fu, 32, works as an optometrist at a local eye clinic. She and late Dr Li also have a five-year-old son, according to her employer. She told Chinese news outlet Litchi that her newborn son weighed 3.45kg (7.6lb) at birth. She said both she and the baby were doing well. Ms Fu's mother told Beijing News that she had arrived at the hospital to look after her daughter and grandson. Dr Li (right) was reprimanded for sharing the information and made to sign a statement (left) agreeing not to commit any more 'law-breaking actions'. His death caused an uproar in China The picture taken in Prague, Czech Republic on March 27, shows a woman wearing a face mask walking past a poster of late Li Wenliang, a Chinese doctor who died of coronavirus in Wuhan Ms Fu's late husband Dr Li was an ophthalmologist at the Wuhan Central Hospital. He was pronounced dead in the early hours of February 7 after testing positive on February 1. The news of his passing was initially reported by state media Global Times before being quickly retracted. His employer then claimed that doctors were still trying to save him. His death and the conflicting reports about it sparked an uproar on Chinese social media, with the public accusing the authority of trying to cover up the truth and controlling freedom of speech. 'He wasn't allowed to speak. He wasn't even allowed to die,' wrote one person on popular messaging app WeChat as she commented on a circulating notice which allegedly instructed all media outlets to suppress the coverage of the passing of Dr Li Wenliang. 'Dr Li Wenliang was only allowed to "die" after most web users had gone to bed,' condemned another person on Twitter-like Weibo. The critic claimed that Dr Li's hospital was quick to deny relevant reports and declared the medic's death. A woman cries while paying tribute to Dr Li in front of Wuhan Central Hospital on February 7 Flowers are put in front of Wuhan Central Hospital by Wuhan mourners on February 7. The card that comes with the flowers carries a message reading 'the long night is about to arrive. I, from today, will begin to be on watch as long as I am alive' The deceased medic blew the whistle on the coronavirus outbreak in late December, around three weeks before the authority locked down Wuhan to stop the spread of the contagion. Police reprimanded him for sharing the information and made him sign a statement agreeing not to commit any more 'law-breaking actions'. After his passing, his family were paid 90,000 by Wuhan officials who ruled his death 'a workplace injury' amid widespread criticism. A Chinese government investigation found in March that the police had acted 'inappropriately' in dealing with the case. The police apologised to the public and pardoned Dr Li. Since then, Dr Li has been named 'an advanced individual' and ranked as a 'martyr' by Chinese officials who lauded his bravery, dedication and quick reaction. Which forces and mechanisms determine the height of mountains? A group of researchers from Munster and Potsdam has now found a surprising answer: It is not erosion and weathering of rocks that determine the upper limit of mountain massifs, but rather an equilibrium of forces in the Earth's crust. This is a fundamentally new and important finding for the earth sciences. The researchers report on it in the scientific journal Nature. The highest mountain ranges on Earth -- such as the Himalayas or the Andes -- arise along convergent plate boundaries. At such plate boundaries two tectonic plates move toward each other, and one of the plates is forced beneath the other into the Earth's mantle. During this process of subduction, strong earthquakes repeatedly occur on the plate interface, and over millions of years mountain ranges are built at the edges of the continents. Whether the height of mountain ranges is mainly determined by tectonic processes in the Earth's interior or by erosional processes sculpturing the Earth's surface has long been debated in geosciences. A new study led by Armin Dielforder of GFZ German Research Centre for Geoscience now shows that erosion by rivers and glaciers has no significant influence on the height of mountain ranges. Together with scientists from the GFZ and the University of Munster (Germany), he resolved the longstanding debate by analysing the strength of various plate boundaries and calculating the forces acting along the plate interfaces. The researchers arrived at this surprising result by calculating the forces along different plate boundaries on the Earth. They used data that provide information about the strength of plate boundaries. These data are derived, for example, from heat flow measurements in the subsurface. The heat flow at convergent plate boundaries is in turn influenced by the frictional energy at the interfaces of the continental plates. One can imagine the formation of mountains using a tablecloth. If you place both hands under the cloth on the table top and push it, the cloth folds and at the same time it slides a little over the back of your hands. The emerging folds would correspond, for instance, to the Andes, the sliding over the back of the hands to the friction in the underground. Depending on the characteristics of the rock, tensions also build up in the deep underground which are discharged in severe earthquakes, especially in subduction zones. The researchers collected worldwide data from the literature on friction in the subsurface of mountain ranges of different heights (Himalayas, Andes, Sumatra, Japan) and calculated the resulting stress and thus the forces that lead to the uplift of the respective mountains. In this way they showed that in active mountains the force on the plate boundary and the forces resulting from the weight and height of the mountains are in balance. Such a balance of forces exists in all the mountain ranges studied, although they are located in different climatic zones with widely varying erosion rates. This result shows that mountain ranges are able to react to processes on the Earth's surface and to grow with rapid erosion in such a way that the balance of forces and the height of the mountain range are maintained. This fundamentally new finding opens up numerous opportunities to study the long-term development and growth of mountains in greater detail. Three men and a teenage boy have been charged over an attack on police officers in east London that was filmed and shared on social media. Two constables, one male and one female, were injured in the incident on Wednesday afternoon. The Metropolitan Police said they had been patrolling the Frampton Park Road area of Hackney when they were flagged down by a member of the public who said they had been attacked. As an officer tried to speak to a suspect, a man resisted and several other people became involved in a struggle with an officer on the ground. The incident was filmed, and footage was spread widely on social media. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 18 January 2022 Surfers enter the sea as the sun rises over Tynemouth on the North East coast PA UK news in pictures 17 January 2022 Bonhams Danny McIlwraith holds a Nigerian polycrome carved wood mask during a photocall for the sale of the Jim Lennon Collection at Bonhams in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 16 January 2022 The moon rises above the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, Hampshire PA UK news in pictures 15 January 2022 Demonstrators outside Downing Street during a Kill The Bill protest against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in London PA UK news in pictures 14 January 2022 Ecologist Emma Smart (left) and retired GP Dr Diana Warner outside HMP Bronzefield, in Surrey, following their release from the prison where Emma undertook a 26-day hunger strike during her incarceration. Ms Smart was sentenced in November, along with other members of Insulate Britain, to serve four months for breaking a High Court injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 motorway during the morning rush hour on 8 October last year PA UK news in pictures 13 January 2022 A TV presenter holds a copy of a newspaper outside 10 Downing Streetafter the Prime Minister apologised for attending a gathering of colleagues in the Number Ten garden in May 2020, while the UK was in strict lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic Getty UK news in pictures 12 January 2022 Fitness guru Derrick Evans after receiving an MBE during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 11 January 2022 A couple walk underneath an umbrella during wet weather on Westminster Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London AP UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 January 2022 A dog looks out of a car window at the wintry conditions in Killeshin, Co. Laois PA UK news in pictures 6 January 2022 People walk through frost and mist alongside a frozen lake during sunrise in Bushy Park, London REUTERS UK news in pictures 5 January 2022 A skier jumps on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 4 January 2022 Freshly-fallen snow covers houses in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 3 January 2022 Dean Morrison, 13, receives his Covid-19 vaccine from student nurse Anthony McLaughlin during a vaccination clinic at the Glasgow Central Mosque PA UK news in pictures 2 January 2022 Konastantinos Tsimikas of Liverpool with Chelseas Mason Mount during the Premier League match at Stamfrod Bridge Liverpool FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 January 2022 New Years Eve Lasers, drones and fireworks illuminate the sky in front of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich shortly after midnight in London EPA UK news in pictures 31 December 2021 Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year PA UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA A spokesperson for Hackney Police said three men and a 13-year-old boy had been charged. Paul Kabemba, 33, of Morning Lane in Hackney, is charged with assault of an emergency worker and assaulting a member of the public. Jordan Thomas, 20, of Woolridge Way in Hackney has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker alongside Marvin Henderson, 34, of Frampton Park Road in Hackney and the 13-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age. They were to appear at Thames Magistrates' Court later on Friday. Scotland Yard said the male and female police constable suffered cuts and bruises but did not require hospital treatment. Commander Marcus Barnet said: They have been back out at work, which is testament to their dedication. We have ensured the welfare of the officers and they continue to be supported by their colleagues. Police officers do not come to work to be attacked. Priti Patel, the home secretary, and mayor of London Sadiq Khan were among those to publicly condemn the incident. The vigour and success of a free society covered up an undercurrent of flaws like racism from the start How does one compare a 400-year saga of racism in America with Indias endemic inequality? Is the latter a function of neo-economic policies, feudalism, colonial tinkering with social structures or a mix of it all? Though inquiry is taboo, it is vitally needed. In America, Jim Mattis, a respected Marine general and former defence secretary, is enjoying what Andy Warhol called five minutes of fame. He chastised a President whom everybody chastises except Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Never in his life had Gen. Mattis known a US President so dedicated to dividing Americans. He was particularly severe on Mr Trumps call to dominate the rioters by using troops, in violation of the militarys rules of engagement. Incumbent defence secretary Mark Esper also did himself proud by opposing Mr Trumps inclination to bring in troops. I wonder if it shames us there is neither a Mattis nor an Esper to provide relief in our arid wasteland, bereft of dissenters. Journalist Aakar Patel faces an FIR for having asked the dispossessed in his homeland to voice sympathy for African Americans. Rex Tillerson, a former US secretary of state, had while in office called Mr Trump a moron. Texas police chief Art Acevedo was comparatively mild: he asked the President to keep his mouth shut if he has no constructive ideas to offer. The vigour and success of a free society covered up an undercurrent of flaws like racism from the start. Extraordinary success in many fields was able to induce a national amnesia about some harsh realities: the United States was founded on genocide and slavery. Unreliable records of Christopher Columbus combined with modern anthropology point to anywhere between 2.5 million and eight million natives killed by disease or other means of extermination. This was a matter of envy for Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro. He lamented that the Brazilian cavalry had not been as effective as its US counterpart in exterminating natives. I havent seen anything as disturbing as the brutality of pre-abolition slave lives portrayed in Quentin Tarantinos Django Unchained. A gruesome image shows a petrified slave, tied to a tree. A pack of hungry dogs, the size of full-grown wolves, is let loose upon him by way of canine supper. Dont dismiss it as cinematic exaggeration. I have just been sent a clip from current disturbances a police dog set upon a black woman, screaming for dear life, even as three white policemen watch with scant interest, a sort of mechanical operation. To flavour the past, lets rewind at fast speed. In 1919, a black teenager, swimming in Lake Michigan, drifts involuntarily towards a whites-only beach. He is stoned until he drowns. Record riots follow in Chicago. This when President Woodrow Wilson was busy persuading senators to ratify the Versailles Treaty. What flourished simultaneously were called lynch laws. Bodies of niggers hanging from tall, shady trees were occasions for family outings, yielding photographs for albums kept for posterity. Everyone talks reverentially about Martin Luther King Jr having brought to fruition the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. But this reporter saw busing an issue in Boston even in the mid-1970s. Was an attitude ingrained over centuries going to be disbanded simply by legislation? Communalism in India has recent, deliberate beginnings, but caste beats western racism by millennia. Is its erasure possible by legislative means? The recent walk home by the impoverished, was laden with images of caste-class overlap. There have been a surfeit of newspaper writing on Americas riots. But a friend placed in my hand an editorial from New Democracy, which touches the nub of the matter. The piece contrasts Dr Kings failed quest for salvation within the American Dream with Malcolm Xs search for revolutionary change. Look farther afield, and even Nelson Mandelas adjustment with white South Africas last leader F.W. De Klerk looks like a bargain struck in a hurry. I was in South Africa weeks before Mandela walked free. That he was free of rancour or bitterness against whites, despite being in their jails for 27 years, did further elevate his charisma. De Klerk, on the other hand, came out smelling or roses for having renounced power. In truth, what decided their fate was the global situation. At the Cold Wars end, a nasty, nuclear-armed white outpost in the face of rising black anger had become unnecessary. The odium of apartheid could now be shed. In the high-voltage emotionalism of Mandelas release, reporters didnt seek out what Mandelas colleagues were thinking. How could they have been happy when Mandelas first finance minister, Trevor Manuel, had to be cleared by Gavin Riley, chairman of South Africas largest firm. No two situations are absolutely similar, but memory ferrets out a small detail from Independent Indias first Cabinet. When V. Shankar, ICS, was inducted into Sardar Patels secretariat, he had to go through a ritual interview with veteran industrialist Ghanshyam Das Birla. Capitalism, in other words, kept a wary eye on all transitions away from its stranglehold. Then capitalism overreached itself by mismanaging the post-Soviet globalisation. The 2008 financial crisis, and the huge slump after the Covid-19 mayhem, have induced some rethink. Comprehensive healthcare for all, universal basic income, a review of the Scandinavian model, are all part of a vigorous discourse in the West. There is, on the other hand, a deafening silence on these issues in India, where millions of the hungry and destitute sent on a trek may well return to plague us. The Kerala government, amid a spike in coronavirus cases in the state, has announced a targeted containment strategy and asked grassroots health workers to collect details of elderly people and those suffering from comorbidities to implement reverse quarantine. Under reverse quarantine, people having underlying medical conditions, especially those above 65 years and persons who are immune-compromised will be segregated from other family members. This will be implemented through family members and local bodies which are tasked with providing medicine, food, counselling and other assistance to those who are set to undergo this exercise for their safety. The government has revised the containment zone protocol for targeted implementation of anti-pandemic measures. Out of 20 deaths in the state due to coronavirus, 15 were those of above age 65 and suffering from many other health complications. The health department is planning to detach vulnerable people from the rest and monitor their health indicators to reduce the mortality rate. We are planning a limited lockdown in a distributed manner based on the community pandemic level. In this case, we can target the affected areas specifically and take containment provisions accordingly. We will notify new containment zones every day, said state health minister K K Shailaja on Friday, adding the district collectors can decide the extension of lockdown after the mandatory seven-day period. The minister also said from now on home quarantine will be room quarantine and officials will ensure this before a particular patient undergoes it. We have reports that many in home quarantine are interacting with their family members as usual. This is one of the reasons for secondary infections, she said, adding the health department will encourage reverse quarantine in a big way. After test rates went up (over 1,02000 now) cases have also increased in the state, the minister added. The government has also roped in private hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients and the details will soon be worked out. So far, only government hospitals were dealing with coronavirus patients in the state. It has also decided to continue full lockdown on all Sundays till the situation improves. Using reverse quarantine, it hopes to keep a check on the community spread of the disease. India's Lonar Lake, which formed after a meteorite hit the Earth some 50,000 years ago, has changed from a green hue to a bright pink overnight. Deemed a 'wonder of nature,' experts say the change is due to either increased salinity in the water, an overgrowth of algae or a combination of the two. As photos of the lake's new flamingo-hued waters began to circulate on social media, experts said that although Lonar had changed color in the past, the transformation had never been so sharp before. Officials from the state's forest department have collected water samples to determine the exact cause behind the shift, experts said. Slide me India's Lonar Lake, which formed after a meteorite hit the Earth some 50,000 years ago, has changed from a green hue to a bright pink overnight. Deemed a 'wonder of nature,' experts say the change is due to either increased salinity in the water, an overgrowth of algae or a combination of the two Geologist Gajanan Kharat said in a video posted by the state-run Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation on Twitter: 'Salinity in the lake has increased as water level has gone down drastically this year and it has become warmer too resulting in overgrowth of algae.' 'This algae turns reddish in warmer temperatures and hence the lake turned pink overnight.' Experts have noted in the past that the body of water is highly alkaline with high salinity, which creates an environment perfect for bacteria. This specific bacteria, known as halobacteriaceae, occasionally produces a red pigment that gathers sunlight and transforms it into energy. Officials from the state's forest department have collected water samples to determine the exact cause behind the shift, experts said And when halobacteriaceae form in large numbers, the water can sometimes turn a reddish hue. With factories and offices shuttered for months due to the lockdown, which only began to ease this week, blue skies have returned to India's polluted cities, sparking speculation that the restrictions may have also had an impact on the lake. Madan Suryavashi, head of the geography department at Maharashtra's Babasaheb Ambedkar University, said: 'here wasn't much human activity due to lockdown which could also have accelerated the change.' 'But we will only know the exact causes once our scientific analysis is complete in a few days,' he told AFP. Lonar Lake is located about 300 miles east of Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra, and is a popular tourist destination for both residents and people all over the world. Lonar Lake is located about 300 miles east of Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra, and is a popular tourist destination for both residents and people all over the world And it is famous for the largest basaltic impact crater, reports The Times of India. Along with being a highly alkaline body of water, Lonar Lake also contains high levels of phosphorus and experts say the earliest signs of life on Earth may have evolved there. The high concentrations of phosphorus point to the existence of some common, natural mechanism that accumulates the mineral in these lakes, researchers at the University of Washington explained in a 2019 study. Life as we know it requires phosphorus, it's one of the main six chemical elements of life and is the backbone of DNA and RNA molecules but it is a scarce mineral. SPRINGFIELD Rep. Marcus Evans would like to see the conversation around policing in the U.S. and Illinois focus on bad individuals using police powers wrongly, rather than as a condemnation of policing in general. In an interview with Capitol News Illinois for the news bureaus Perspectives on Progress series, the Chicago Democrat called a video depicting the May 25 death of George Floyd a reflection of my reality. Ive been harassed by every, pretty much every, police department in the Chicagoland area at one point in my life and I don't have a criminal background, never been in serious trouble, but it's just that standard behavior, you know of, I dont want to say the police, but individuals who use police powers in the wrong way, Evans said. I hate saying the police because nothing wrong with the police. The issue is bad individuals are utilizing police powers. I think that's really a way I wish we could start crafting it. Evans is one of 31 members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, many of whom have been sharing their perspectives and experiences for the Capitol News Illinois podcast series in recent weeks. He said while he appreciates police, and everyone loves police officers because every type of person has a police officer in their life, no matter your color, race, eliminating police abuse of power is a human issue. Do you believe that people should be, you know, killed by the police and harassed by the police or harassed by individuals, bad individuals working as police, Evans asked. I mean, this is a, to me, is a very simple question. He said he was glad there was video of Floyds death, which came as a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. At least with video, people who don't have experience can see that, you know, we're not lying, exaggerating, he said. I mean, these are actual realities, you know, that people have to deal with when bad individuals are given police power. Evans said while some would like to see swift change, progress is often incremental and is going to take more than just changing laws. I'm not always one to say we have to change the law to change society, necessarily, he said. Because a lot of this is really how you treat human beings, more so than, you know, law X, Y and Z. While Evans said he is supportive of aggressive policing in certain situations, there needs to be more scrutiny of police use of lethal force and how officers detain individuals. I just dont think theres ever been a real push to solve the problem, he said. He also said that the arrest on aiding and abetting charges of the three officers that accompanied Chauvin represents progress. This is how you tell people that, you know hey, justice it should be a normalcy, he said. You shouldn't have to fight for justice. From the governor, Evans said he would like to see resources directed into black communities. Now, resourcesfor example, you know, black people make a lot less than white folks, and they don't have the same experience in general. And I think a lot of black people understand that and I think theres a fight for equity and fairness, you know, economically, but that's a different fight, he said. You can say, you know, hey, you have resources, what have you, but the fight for existence shouldn't be this difficult. Perspectives on Progress is a special edition of the CapitolCast podcast series, and previous episodes can be found at capitolnewsillinois.com/perspectivesonprogress or on your preferred podcast app. Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. Southern Illinoisans hold demonstrations in response to George Floyd's death Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A British pilot, Vietnams most severe case of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has made such impressive health improvements that doctors now believe he can be taken off a ventilator sooner than planned. The Briton, who was identified as Vietnams COVID-19 patient No. 91, has continued to get better, according to the daily update of the Ministry of Health on Friday morning The man is now able to eat 1.5 liters of liquid food a day, 0.5 liters more than the day before. Doctors have started disconnecting him from his ventilator for breathing practice at intervals. The machine is set on pressure support ventilation (PSV) mode at night to prepare him for ventilator withdrawal. His quick improvement in only one week after he had been disconnected from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) amazed his doctors, who had anticipated that it would take several weeks for him to wean himself off the ventilator and for his body movements to restore. Doctors now expect that the patient can be freed from the ventilator sooner. The 43-year-old Briton, a pilot for Vietnam Airlines, was diagnosed with COVID-19 in mid-March. He was admitted to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases on March 18 with a damaged right lung. He was on the verge of death many times and doctors once believed a lung transplant was the only viable option to save his life. On May 22, he was transferred to Cho Ray Hospital after being declared free of COVID-19. He has been making a remarkable recovery since. It was reported on Thursday that he was able to sit in a wheelchair to sunbathe daily with help from medical workers at Cho Ray. Friday was the 85th day the man had been hospitalized in Vietnam for treatment. Vietnam has reported 332 COVID-19 cases as of Friday morning the 56th day of no infection case in the community, with 326 having recovered and no deaths reported, according to the Ministry of Health. Only six patients, including the British pilot, remain in treatment at present. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Then-President Donald Trump speaks as Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Army Gen. Mark Milley looks on, in Washington on Oct. 7, 2019. (Mark WIlson/Getty Images) Trump Fine With General Apologizing for Accompanying President to Church President Donald Trump said it was fine when asked about a recent apology the top military official in the nation made for appearing with the president in public. If thats the way they feel, I think thats fine, Trump said in an interview with Fox News Outnumbered Overtime. Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staffs, said he should not have been there with Trump when the president and a group including Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on June 1 walked from the White House to St. Johns Church to survey damage inflicted during recent riots. Milley said his being part of the group created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics before adding, As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from, and I sincerely hope we all can learn from it. Milley, nominated by Trump several years ago, was speaking virtually to graduates at the National Defense University in Washington. President Donald Trump departs the White House to visit St. Johns Church in Washington on June 1, 2020. (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo) Fox anchor Harris Faulkner described Milleys apology as pushback, lumping him in with Esper, who declined to say whether he regretted being part of the group. She asked Trump whether he thinks the remarks were significant. Thats when he said no and it was fine. I have good relationships with the military. I rebuilt our military, he added, saying hes authorized the investment of trillions of dollars and alleging the Obama administration left it with aging planes and a lack of ammunition. Now we have the greatest military weve ever had, he said, along with the Space Force, a new branch dedicated to the space military agency. Trump also said a photograph of him holding a Bible in front of St. Johns was a beautiful picture. And Ill tell you, I think Christians think it was a beautiful picture, he said. Kyrgyzstan registered on Wednesday 38 new COVID - 19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 2093, Trend reports citing Kabar. Nurbolot Usenbaev, the countrys deputy health minister told a news briefing that of the new confirmed cases 7 are imported, 24 are contacts and 7 are unknown sources. He said that one of the COVID-19 cases was detected in Talas Oblast, the only coronavirus-free oblast of Kyrgyzstan. The deputy minister reported 2 more virus-related deaths, raising the nationwide death toll to 26. The official noted that 89 more people recovered from the disease and discharged from hospitals in the past day, taking the tally of recoveries to 1572. Currently, 495 people remained hospitalized, and 2 patients are in intensive care. In total, 1671 people who have had contact with infected patients are under medical observation and another 8558 people are in home quarantine under the supervision of doctors. Kyrgyzstan conducted 2816 tests in the past 24 hours. The uproar occurred when Khan offered to help India in making use of the cash transfer program called "Ehsaas Programme" to reach out to the poor. The Pakistani premier cited a report stating that "nearly 34 per cent households across India would not be able to survive for more than a week without assistance", and took to Twitter offering help by sharing his implemented cash transfer program. Remarks by the MEA's spokesperson reflect an unprofessional attempt at point-scoring over a serious issue that involves lives of millions of poor people in the sub-continent, worst affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Khan on Thursday offered to assist the Indian government in providing support to its impoverished households. Khan's offer grasps importance as it comes at a time when both countries are at war along the Line of Control (LoC) and the working boundary, with heavy exchanges of artillery claiming lives on both sides of the border. The Pakistan Foreign Office said that Prime Minister Imran Khan's proposition was in the framework of a study by a reputable US University that highlighted the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on Indian households, especially the poorest sections of the society and effectiveness of direct cash transfers and food to the poor families affected by lockdowns and its devastating burnouts. It further added that international agencies have appreciated the positive impact of the Government of Pakistan's direct cash transfer of Rs 120 billion to 10 million poor families in Pakistan was in the most transparent manner. Khan's offer at this challenging time of a global pandemic was in lieu with the initiative for sharing national experiences among SAARC member countries in dealing with the impact of Covid-19. If that intent was serious, then the MEA's response to Prime Minister Imran Khan's suggestion is inconsistent with the stated position of their own leadership. Pakistan's cash transfer programme has been appreciated and lauded by global financial outlets like World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The distribution of this cash transfer programme is the largest financial aid initiative that the country did. The Foreign Office said that the government of Pakistan underlines that the global pandemic is a common challenge demanding grave efforts and authentic sharing of national experiences among countries while rising above petty point-scoring and leg pulling, the world needs to come together to rise above this pandemic as a nation on a united front. With the country's crippling economy and GDP growth estimated to fall down to minus two on the index for the upcoming fiscal year, analysts say that the premier's offer to India should have been taken as a damage control step aimed at bringing the enemies closer on even grounds of consultation, to help tackle the financial impact of Covid-19 in the region together. --IANS hza/in By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 11, 2020 | 06:27 PM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY According to the McCracken County District Court Clerk, 44-year-old Alexander appeared before a judge for a preliminary hearing. The judge bound the case over to a grand jury, and his arraignment is scheduled for July 16 at 8:30 a.m. His bond amount remains at $150,000. Alexander was arrested on May 25 after a standoff with police that began at 7:30 a.m. on Buckner Lane. Paducah Police officers say Alexander had threatened his sister with a shotgun and knife, and held her against her will for approximately two hours. He also reportedly threatened his sister's boyfriend, and endangered his 19-year-old nephew, who was asleep in the basement. At 5:30 p.m. officers entered the home and arrested him without incident. He is being charged with kidnapping, first-degree wanton endangerment, and two counts of third-degree terroristic threatening. Wade Alexander made his first appearance in McCracken County Circuit Court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing. On the Net: A young woman whose lungs were destroyed by the coronavirus received a double lung transplant last week at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, the hospital reported on Thursday, the first known lung transplant in the United States for COVID-19. The 10-hour surgery was more difficult and took several hours longer than most lung transplants because inflammation from the disease had left the womans lungs completely plastered to tissue around them, the heart, the chest wall and diaphragm, said Dr. Ankit Bharat, the chief of thoracic surgery and surgical director of the lung transplant program at Northwestern Medicine, which includes Northwestern Memorial Hospital, in an interview. He said the patient, a woman in her 20s who had no serious underlying medical conditions, was recovering well: Shes awake, shes smiling, she FaceTimed with her family. But she has a long way to go. She is still on a ventilator because even though the transplanted lungs are healthy, her long illness has left her chest muscles too weak for breathing, and it will take time for her strength to return. The transplant was her only chance for survival, Bharat said. His team wanted other transplant centers to know that the operation could save some desperately ill COVID-19 patients. He said that other medical centers had been calling to find out about the operation and that some wanted to send COVID-19 patients to Northwestern for lung transplants. I want to emphasize that this is not for every COVID patient, Bharat said. We are talking about patients who are relatively young, very functional, with minimal to no comorbid conditions, with permanent lung damage who cant get off the ventilator. For such patients, he said, the news of a successful transplant absolutely could start something. He also said that doctors were closely monitoring COVID-19 survivors who had been on ventilators with severe lung damage, to see whether they recover fully or have scarring in the lungs that might eventually lead them also to need transplants. The patients name is being withheld to protect her privacy, and her family has declined to be interviewed, said a Northwestern spokeswoman, Jenny Nowatzke. She said the woman was in her late 20s, lives and works in Chicago, and had recently moved there from North Carolina. She also said the woman is Hispanic, an ethnic group that has been hard-hit by the virus in the U.S. She was healthy before she contracted the coronavirus, Bharat said. She had had a minor illness that required her to take a medication that suppressed her immune system somewhat, but it was not clear whether the drug made her especially vulnerable to the virus. She was ill for about two weeks before being admitted to the hospital on April 26. She soon needed a ventilator. Her condition kept worsening, and doctors connected her to a machine that pumps oxygen directly into the bloodstream. Weeks passed with no improvement, and the lung damage began to put a strain on her heart and liver. It became clear that her lungs would never recover, Bharat said. You have someone in their 20s, whos otherwise healthy, this poor girl, Bharat said. The whole team felt its hard to let someone go like that. We wanted to give her every option. Everybody was just rooting for her. Previously, he said, he and his colleagues had debated what they would do if they had a young patient with irreversible lung damage. They had heard of such cases at other centers where care was withdrawn, and patients died. It seemed reasonable to try a lung transplant. Northwestern Medicine performs 40 to 50 a year; Bharat said he does most of them. The patient was put on the waiting list for a transplant only after she tested negative for the coronavirus. A matching donor was quickly identified, and a few days later the young woman underwent the operation. She was the sickest patient to whom he had ever given a transplant, he said, and her lung damage was among the worst he had ever seen. A pathologist who examined the lungs confirmed that the damage was irreversible. Researchers are studying them in hopes of learning more about the disease, to help answer one of many unanswered questions, Bharat said: What is the failure of repair mechanisms in the human that make someone get to this point? The patient must take immune-suppressing drugs to prevent her body from rejecting the transplant. They can increase the risk of infection, Bharat said. The patient has already been tested several times to see if the drugs could somehow have reactivated the coronavirus, but so far, those tests have been negative. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Egypts general-prosecution on Thursday ordered the detention of a TikTok figure, Sherifa, who is commonly known on social media as Sherry Hanem, as well as her daughter Nora, who is commonly known as Zomoroda, on charges including indecency, debauchery, violating familial values and principles and soliciting for prostitution through social media accounts. According to the prosecutions statement, one of the two defendants is also accused of prostitution. The prosecution stated that users of social media reported the pairs videos to the authorities for sexual profanity and innuendo. The defendants were arrested and one of them admitted that they had used social media and published videos with profanities and sexual innuendo to increase viewership, while the other admitted she used to work in prostitution through social media, the statement added. Hanem is the third famous figure from TikTok to be arrested in the past two months over charges related to moral crimes. She has two accounts on the popular social network, with over 400 videos and a combined 164,000 followers. She gained fame in videos in which she appears without makeup and with messy hair, speaking and laughing in an eccentric way and making fun of her weight, in close-up mobile phone shots. From time-to-time, her daughter also appeared. Hanem and her daughter also have a YouTube channel with 56,500 subscribers. The YouTube channel began in May 2019 and has over 416 videos, some of which are imported from TikTok, including some with +18 explicit content. Also on Thursday, the prosecutor-general referred detained TikTok figures Haneen Hossam and Mawada Eladhm, who are well-known for their videos on the platform, to criminal trial for violating family values and principles in Egyptian society and establishing and running online accounts to commit this crime. Search Keywords: Short link: Thiruvananthapuram, June 12 : The number of Covid positive cases continue to rise in Kerala with 78 people turning positive for coronavirus on Friday. A 71-year-old man, who came from Mumbai on June 9 and died at Kannur on Thursday, was also found turned positive when his result came on Friday. He was under treatment and was a cardiac patient besides having breathing problems. With this, the Covid death toll in the state reached 19. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a Facebook post, said that at present, there are 1,303 people who are positive while 999 who have now been cured of the disease. He said that among the 78 new cases, 36 came from abroad, 31 were from within the country, while the rest were locals. As on date, 2,27,402 people are under observation at homes, corona care centres and 1,985 of them are in hospitals across the state. While 14 hotspots was excluded and nine fresh ones added, the total number of hotspots in the state was 128. Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is being sued after commissioning a group of artists to paint 'Black Lives Matter' on a road that leads to the White House. The activists claim that Bowser violated the First Amendment and is showing preference to 'the Black Lives Matter cult orthodoxy,' according to the lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, and viewed by DailyMail.com. She is also accused of violating the Fourteenth Amendment because the banner allegedly conveys that black people are the favored race of the city. In the complaint, the activists argue that renaming the street outside Lafayette Square, where President Trump had an ill-timed photo op, 'Black Lives Matter Plaza' is showing bias for one ethnicity and faith. Named as plaintiffs are Rich Penkoski, a self-proclaimed DC street preacher; Chris Servier, a former Judge Advocate General; and Tex Christopher, a DC lobbyist. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser was sued on Wednesday in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. Pictured: Bowser looks out over a Black Lives Matter sign that was painted on a street in DC, June 5 The 'Black Lives Matter' mural span two blocks of 16th Street, are 35 feet high and take up the width of the two-lane road (left and right). The plaintiffs demanded three murals be erected in its place reading 'Blue Lives Matter' for police, 'Green Lives Matter' for the National Guard and 'All Lives Matter' The plaintiffs, including DC street pastor Rich Penkoski (pictured), allege that the mural painted on 16th Street conveys that black people are the favored race of the city In the lawsuit, Penkoski and his co-plaintiffs assert that the 'Black Lives Matter' sign is 'a legal weapon against non-observers of the Black Lives Matter religion.' They suggest that Bowser take down the banner and that three other banners are painted in the city in their place. First, they suggest a 'Blue Lives Matter' banner for law enforcement and, second, a 'Green Lives Matter' banner for National Guard units that were called by Trump to respond to protesters. Lastly, they recommended an 'All Lives Matter' banner which is a 'secular' and 'self-evident message that is in the Declaration of Independence itself.' The plaintiffs also took offense to a corner of Lafayette Square being renamed 'Black Lives Matter Plaza.' They suggested the name being changed to something either secular or to rename another street 'Jesus is the answer Plaza.' Penkoski and the other plaintiffs say they are seeking damages for 'mental anguish and emotional distress' as well as 'for the violation of their constitutional rights.' However, a specific amount was not listed. Bowser's office did not immediately reply to DailyMail.com's request for comment on Friday morning. Twitter was swift with reaction to the news with some users praising the lawsuit. In the complaint, the three men also allege renaming the street outside Lafayette Square 'Black Lives Matter' plaza (pictured) show bias for one race They suggested it be removed or that another street be renamed 'Jesus is the answer Plaza'. Pictured: People walk down 16th Street in DC after 'Defund The Police' was painted on the street, June 8 'About time someone put this Mayor in check!' tweeted one person. Another likened the request that the mural be taken down to several cities where statues and monuments to Confederate leaders have been removed. 'I say destroy it, like they are destroying all of the historical statues that were commissioned and voted on by the people,' they wrote. However, the majority of users slammed the suit as 'frivolous' and said the plaintiffs don't actually understand what Black Lives Matter means. 'These white mfs [motherf*****s] really sued Mayor bowser for this. I hate it here,' wrote one user. Another tweeted: 'This whole lawsuit is c**p and should be thrown out. All it is is a "What about us?" retaliation from someone who clearly doesn't understand what #BlackLivesMatter actually stands for. This is frivolous and laughable. And you are supposed to be a preacher?' Twitter was swift with reaction to the news with some users praising the lawsuit (above) Others blasted the plaintiffs, saying that the lawsuit was 'frivolous' Last Friday, the mayor commissioned 'Black Lives Matter' to be painted on the street that leads to the White House ahead of a huge planned demonstration. It came in the wake of days of protest following the killing of George Floyd, a black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Memorial Day. Bowser said the painters were part of a crew hired by the city's Department of Public Works. The letters span two blocks of 16th Street, are 35 feet high and take up the width of the two-lane road. Additionally a section of the street, where protestors were teargassed to clear a path for Trump's photo-op has been officially renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza. 'There was a dispute this week about whose street this is,' John Falcicchio, Bowser's chief of staff, said in a tweet. 'Mayor Bowser wanted to make it abundantly clear that this is DC's street and to honor demonstrators who (were) peacefully protesting on Monday evening.' KITCHENER As of midnight on Wednesday, Ontario Healths interim support for hospital employees off sick due to COVID-19 has ended. On June 26, free child care for front-line workers and first responders will conclude. On July 1, hospital staff in Waterloo Region will once again have to pay for parking. Meanwhile, pandemic pay premiums have yet to be paid to front-line workers as hospitals begin to ramp up operations and capacity. Some of the things that the government and employers were doing to try and alleviate some of the burden are beginning to disappear, said Ontario Nurses Association president Vicki McKenna. In my 40 years as a nurse, I can say that morale is the worst its ever been. Scheduling has been sporadic, overtime is continuing to rise, rest has been hard to come by, and McKenna said summer vacation days at some hospitals could be in jeopardy their world is upside down. Personal protective equipment supplies have dogged hospitals for months, and while most critical shortages have been managed, McKenna said theyre not quite out of the woods as the need for supplies continues. Ontarians need treatment, and I know nurses and health professionals will do whatever they can to get through this, she said. But the effects of just getting through it for the people that actually do the work Im very worried about that. As some regions in Ontario enter into Phase 2, and more people are out in the community, epidemiologists have warned of the possible repercussions of heightened interactions. With no clear treatment model in place, COVID-19 remains as much a threat today as it did three months ago. And inside hospitals, McKenna said talk has already begun on the possibility of a second wave. Nurses and health professionals are very worried, she said. Its a compounding factor thats going on right now, and I fear were about to hit a breaking point. For hospital management, the focus through the COVID-19 pandemic has been on allocating proper supplies, managing new internal programs and relaying community support and opportunities to staff. At Kitcheners Grand River Hospital, spokesperson Cheryl Evans said fatigue is certainly a concern among staff right now. In addition to providing care to patients, they are donning and doffing personal protective gear multiple times daily, pivoting to implement changes to practices as new information becomes known, and bridging the gap between patients and their loved ones who are in many cases unable to enter hospital buildings for the safety of all, she said. Internally, she said the hospitals human resources department has been providing online sessions with mental health experts for staff to help them focus on self-care strategies. Its spiritual care department has been completing in-hospital rounds. Initiatives from the community and local businesses have been shared, and its wellness team has developed a resiliency campaign to support staff with information and resources. At neighbouring St. Marys General Hospital, similar outreach programs have been enacted to keep up morale. We continue to focus on regular, clear internal communication about COVID-related activities within the hospital, the region and the province, securing adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, responding to updates to government directives, education on infection prevention and control measures, as well as sharing the amazing show of support from our neighbours and wider community, said spokesperson Anne Kelly. Theyve also leveraged the local technology sector to co-ordinate deals for health care workers, including things like meals, online tutoring and pet care. But with no clear timeline on how long hospitals will be operating in a COVID-19 world, the question is how long health care workers can manage. We dont welcome a second wave, said Evans. But feel we have developed the expertise, processes and resources we would need to manage one if the need arises. Did you know that June 12 is designated as Women Veterans Day? The first Women Veterans Day was held June 12, 2018, marking the 70th anniversary of the groundbreaking Women's Armed Services Integration Act, signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on June 12, 1948. That law enabled women to serve as permanent, regular members of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and the recently formed Air Force. See: Seven Famous Women Veterans While the holiday has not been nationally recognized, state governors, including those in Kentucky and South Carolina, have signed proclamations marking its observance and other states are planning events. Texas has had the official holiday as part of its law since 2017. While women have served in the American military since before we became a nation, they were not officially recognized as military members or veterans until 1948. Women were originally relegated to serving in the civilian fields of nursing, laundering, mending clothing and cooking. Despite this segregation, many served in war zones alongside their male compatriots, and some even dressed as men during the Civil War and fought on the front lines. The first woman to enlist in the military was Loretta Walsh, who enlisted in the Navy in 1917. She served as a "Yeomanette," a female version of a yeoman or ship's secretary. During World War II, approximately 400,000 U.S. women served in support positions with the military, and nearly 500 were killed by enemy fire. After the end of the war, and in reaction to the rising strength of Russia, the military sought a peacetime draft to increase the size of its branches, which had shrunk in size after the war ended. Knowing that enacting a draft so soon after the entire nation had lived through a war would be unpopular, politicians realized that half of the population was willing but unable to serve. For this reason, the Women's Armed Services Integration Act was enacted, effectively giving women the right to serve as military members and making them deserving of full recognition as veterans. Throughout the years, women's roles have continued to grow in all branches and phases of military operations. Now, they serve freely alongside men in any branch or role they desire. Today, women make up 20% of new recruits, 16% of personnel serving on active duty, and 19% of the National Guard and reserve forces. Want to Know More About the U.S. Military? Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. Heres something to whet your appetite: Celeb pastry chef Dominique Ansel has picked up a droolworthy condo in New York City. The home sold in February for $2.8 million. And even if the chef's name doesn't ring a bell, you will know his signature creation. Namely, the part-croissant, part-donut, all-delicious Cronut. The calorie bomb landed in his bakery in 2013, and created an immediate craze as the must-eat treat in Manhattan. It has since spread to all corners of country and spawned a variety of imitations and spinoffs. While we wouldn't call Ansel's oversized, two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment overly sweet, it is a true delight. Start with the building itself. Located in Gramercy Park, it's an eye-popping wonder. Designed by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, or OMA, the firm founded by the celebrated Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, the residential structure is designed with a cool cascade of 3-D triangles that notch into the side of the building. Completed in 2018, this unit had been listed for as much as $3 million before Ansel picked it up earlier this year at a discount. Open layout with high-end kitchen realtor.com Marble bathroom realtor.com Indoor pool for residents realtor.com Landscaped courtyard in the building realtor.com Exterior of OMA building in Gramercy Park realtor.com The unit's 1,400-square-foot layout features split, king-sized bedrooms, with each en suite on either side of the living area. A terrace runs along one end of the apartment. The open space features a living and dining room area, with the kitchen adjacent. Fit for a celebrity chef, the elegant kitchen includes Gaggenau appliances, polished quartz countertops, bar seating, and glass cabinetry. We can only imagine what concoctions the Cronut creator is cooking up in his new digs. In the master suite, the bathroom comes with a lot of marble, and not only a tub but a separate shower with glass door. The building also provides high-end amenities, such as an indoor pool, a landscaped courtyard, a rooftop terrace with fire pit and grill, and a gym. Other services offered for residents include an automated indoor parking system, bike storage, private storage, a lobby attended 24/7, and full concierge services. The location is a quick ride (or a slightly longer jaunt) to the namesake bakery in SoHo that Ansel founded. It is now opening up again for to-go orders, for New Yorkers who need their fix. The French-born chef has a second place on Seventh Avenue with made-to-order desserts. In addition, hes opened bakeries in Los Angeles and London and recently released a cookbook entitled "Everyone Can Bake." His Cronut was listed in 2013 by Time magazine as one of the 25 best inventions of the year. The post Celeb Chef Dominique Ansel Buys Appetizing New York City Condo for $2.8M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Back cover: Simon & Schuster. Graphic: Axios John Bolton taunts President Trump, his former boss, on the back cover of his forthcoming book: "Game on." In a memoir coming June 23 that the White House has tried to delay, former national security adviser Bolton will offer multiple revelations about Trumps conduct in office, with direct quotes by the president and senior officials, according to a source familiar with the book. Why it matters: Bolton, who was U.S. ambassador to the U.N. under President George W. Bush, is a lifelong conservative and longtime Fox News contributor who is well-known by the Trump base, the source pointed out. In "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir," Bolton will go beyond Ukraine, and argue there was "Trump misconduct with other countries," the source said. A White House Memoir," Bolton will go beyond Ukraine, and argue there was "Trump misconduct with other countries," the source said. Axios agreed to grant anonymity to the source in order to give readers a window into the book ahead of publication. Behind the scenes: People close to Trump have been worried about the book because Bolton was known as the most prolific note taker in high-level meetings, Jonathan Swan reports. IRELAND'S National Centre for Applied Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence has received State funding for its first dedicated supercomputer to help its member companies engage in big data and artificial intelligence (AI) projects. The 247,000 computer being provided by Dell will be assembled in a secure data centre at University College Dublin and managed by the centre, known by the acronym CeADAR. A supercomputer performs at or near the currently highest operational rate for computers. Traditionally, they have been used for scientific and engineering applications that must handle extremely large databases or high volumes of calculations. More than 90 firms, as members of CeADAR, use the research facility's expertise and resources to develop their own AI and machine-learning abilities. But the centre says its new supercomputer, nicknamed Leon, "will bring higher combined processing and storage capabilities under a robust and scalable architecture". "This will allow the centre to accommodate continuously larger datasets and mainly enable other centres and companies to self-serve and utilise this resource to get quick wins when embracing AI," CeADAR said in a statement. Engineers at the centre have dubbed the machine Leon because it means lion in Spanish, the nationality of the centre's head of innovation and development, Ricardo Simon Carbajo. He hails from the Spanish city of Leon. "CeADAR, as the designated digital innovation hub in Ireland for AI, now has the capability to provide a powerful data science computer platform as a shared resource to our industry members and for collaborative projects at national and European level," Mr Carbajo said. The centre - which is funded by the IDA and Enterprise Ireland (EI) - was able to purchase the supercomputer using a 247,000 grant from EI's Capital Funding Programme, which helps industry source cutting-edge equipment and infrastructure. The supercomputer will help member firms to process, model and store vast datasets. It also will support the centre's applied research in AI, machine learning and data analytics. As part of this work its engineers produce prototypes and technology demonstrators to industry partners. Its partners include Accenture, AIB, AIG, Bank of Ireland, the Central Bank, ClickandGo.com, CPL, Dell, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, Elavon, Ericcson, Fexco, Fidelity Investments, KBC, PwC, RBS, Siemens, SSE Airtricity and Vodafone. "This new high-performance computer will find application across every industry sector and will be used by the widest possible number of companies," said CeADAR director Edward McDonnell. The Northern Region branch Chairmen caucus of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has presented a letter of appreciation to the Management of the Northern Development Authority (NDA) for initiating projects in fulfilment of the Presidents promise to the people. The presentation was done when the group paid courtesy call on the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NDA at his office in Tamale on Thursday to congratulate him on his appointment and his display of leadership with the swift award of contracts for the execution of projects under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP). Under the IPEP, the government undertakes infrastructure projects in each constituency of the country to the tune of one million dollars to address the felt needs of the people. So far, over 500 projects such as classroom blocks, mechanised boreholes, roads, dams, electrification, clinics and hospital wards have been initiated at all the constituencies in the Region. Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, Chairman of the group, said The organisation you now lead has been seen in a bad light for a long time before your appointment. It is therefore, commendable under the circumstance, that you have been able to speed up the process of awarding contracts for the IPEP projects. This has been long overdue and we are glad that you appreciate the urgency of the times and the relief it will bring to the Region. Mr Ibrahim added, It is our hope that you continue to lead NDA to deliver sustainable development to northern Ghana. We want to assure you of our unflinching support to get this done and also pledge to do our part to monitor the projects to a successful completion so that NDA and Government will regain the confidence of the people in the region. The group also applauded the NDA for the active involvement of the media and wide publicity in the handing over of projects, adding that it had increased the visibility of the NDA and its work. Mr Ibrahim noted the active involvement of Chiefs, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Members of Parliament, Regional Coordinating Council and other key stakeholders in the Region would foster unity for the sustainability of the projects. Dr Alhassan Sulemana Anamzoya, CEO of NDA, for his part, thanked the group for the encouragement and expressed his excitement about its involvement in ensuring that the Authority succeeded in the execution of the IPEP projects. Dr Anamzoya pledged his commitment to overseeing the successful completion of the projects, adding that the success of this phase of the IPEP would determine whether or not government would continue to allocate funds to provide infrastructural development across the country. He urged the group to treat the projects as their own and help to monitor and safeguard them to ensure they benefited the people once people chose the projects themselves. Mr Stephen Yir-Eru Engmen, Deputy CEO of NDA in-charge of Programmes, also thanked the group for the visit and encouraged them to continue to support the work of the NDA. He further encouraged them to propagate peace to their constituents, adding that in the absence of peace, development interventions would come to a standstill. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Northern Regional branch of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) has accused former president John Dramani Manama for beating war drums head of the December 7 general elections. Mr. Mahama who is also the NDCs flag bearer for the upcoming election is reported to have said that the NDC will not accept the results of any national poll that it deems 'flawed'. The NPP expressed worry at the statement made by the former president, adding that it is terrible to hear a former President beat war drums at such a crucial hour over elections. No former President in the history of our land has been this reckless and insensitive to the people he desperately wants to misgovern. The recent call to violence and subsequent rejection of the 2020 polls by the NDC and candidate Mahama is worrying and repugnant.Most especially coming from a supposed Northerner; Northerners who otherwise are seen as largely peaceful and law- abiding. Addressing a press conference in Tamale , the Savannah Regional Communication Director, Mohammed Issah, indicated that the Former President has shown clearly that the North is only meant for electoral violence and electoral malpractices. Mr. Issah accused candidate Mahama and his opposition NDC of consistently engaging the employment of his Northern brothers in the NDC to perpetuate violence whenever they plan to do so. Candidate Mahama knows what to do if he is unhappy he can as well boycott the elections or better still run to the supreme court for redress. He claim that there were attempt by the NDC to sponsor a coup plot. We have read some clandestine threats at the security agencies not to enforce the law in the event they unleashed their arsenals on innocent Ghanaians. Let it be known, that the sudden manufacture of phantoms groups to draft limbless petitions to our revered Chiefs in an attempt to create some non-existing tension will fail. He called on the Ghana Police Service, Civil Society Organizations, concerned clergy and all the respected Imams, and all well-meaning Ghanaians to take cognizance of the notice serving. The National Organiser of the NPP, Sammi Awuku, indicated that the party is not worried about losing any general election since it will be free , fair and transparent and that they will continue to advocate for a new voters register. He was shocked at the stands of the NDC with regards to the new voters register with Coronavirus as an excuse that citizens will be risking their lives. Mr. Awuku said Ivory coast will have their elections in October but they started compiling a new register just yesterday. Burundi just had their elections last month, Malawi is having their elections in July, South Korea which was one of the highest hit countries with Covid-19 had elections 3 months ago. The National Organiser of the NPP stated that the party will not allow any political party to intimate the Ghanaian people. He urged the General Secretary of the opposition NDC, Johnson Aseidu Nketia, and the NDC to desist from inciting the people of the north against the Electoral Commission and the compilation of a new voters register. Some of the statement made by the leadership of the NDC are deadly in the 5 northern regions and I don't think the NDC should always resort to the use of violence when it comes to pushing the democratic ideals of our country. Daily Guide STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police departments across the state will have until April 1 to put forth a plan to reform and reinvent their departments or they will lose state funding. The sweeping package of police accountability measures received new backing following protests of George Floyds killing, including one allowing the release of officers long-withheld disciplinary records. The measures were approved earlier this week by the state's Democratic-led Legislature. Some of the bills had been proposed in years past and failed to win approval, but lawmakers moved with new urgency in the wake of massive, nationwide demonstrations over Floyds death at the hands of police in Minneapolis. Police reform is long overdue, and Mr. Floyds murder is only the most recent murder, Cuomo, a Democrat, said. The announcement was made by Gov. Andrew Cuomo Friday after he signed an Executive Order requiring the 500 departments across the state to put forth a reform plan. The plans must address use of force, crowd management, community policing, implicit bias awareness training, de-escalation training and practices, restorative justice practices, community-based outreach, a transparent citizen complaint disposition procedure and other community-based issues. I respect this country for standing up and saying enough is enough, Cuomo said. Being angry and emotional is not enough. How do you channel that to change? The NYS Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative is that change, he said. If theres no trust, the police cant police and the community wont allow it. The protesters have shown that theres no trust, he said. Cuomo was joined by the Rev. Al Sharpton, of the National Action Network; Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senate majority leader, and Assembly SpeakerCarl Heastie during the announcement. Stewart-Cousins called the current state of affairs a moment of reckoning. The governor lauded the state legislature for quickly passing what he called the most aggressive reforms in the country. Here are some highlights of the legislative package: Repeal of Section 50-A. Eliminating the law would make complaints against officers, as well as transcripts and final dispositions of disciplinary proceedings, public for the first time in decades. Sen. Diane Savino, co-sponsor, (D-North Shore), Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island), Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore) voted in favor of the legislation and Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore), Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore), Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore) voted against. Ban on chokeholds -- the Eric Garner Act -- was named for the Staten Islander who died as the result of being put and a chokehold while being arrested in Tompkinsville. Lanza, Savino, Reilly, Fall, Malliotakis and Cusick unanimously voted in favor of the respective legislation. False race-based 911 reports prohibited, and the new law makes it easier to sue people who call police on others without good reason. Savino and Lanza voted in favor of the legislation. The laws also set up a special prosecutors office to investigate the deaths of people during and following encounters with police officers. Savino, Cusick and Fall voted in favor of the legislation; Reilly, Malliotakis and Lanza voted against the legislation. New York state must lead the way, Cuomo said. Sharpton said Cuomo has raised the bar for how we handle policing. Saying he will withhold funds shows he means it, Sharpton said. FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER. Details added, first version published on 21:01 (June 11) BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12 Trend: The policy of Armenia aimed at the annexation of the occupied Azerbaijani territories is doomed to fail, the press service of Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, Trend reports. The statement made due to the construction of the third highway by Armenia connecting the occupied Azerbaijani territories with the occupying country. The statement said that the construction of another, third highway, connecting Armenia with the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, is part of the illegal activities carried out by occupying Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts of Azerbaijan. Armenias step is aimed at consolidating the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijans surrounding districts, and can also serve to purposefully change the demographic situation in these territories, to continue the illegal settlement, looting, exploitation of natural resources of the occupied territories, the MFAs press service stated. The report Illegal economic and other activities in the occupied Azerbaijani territories prepared by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs back in 2016, as well as the reports prepared by the MFA and by Azercosmos OJSC in 2019, reflecting the illegal activities of Armenia in the occupied Azerbaijani territories in satellite imagery, provide sufficient evidence demonstrating the illegal activities of the occupying country, said the statement. This evidence reveals the fact that Armenia plays the role of a transport point in transporting illegally manufactured products and natural resources of Azerbaijan to international markets. The illegal actions of Armenia contradict its international obligations, and are also a gross violation of the norms and principles of international law, the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols, the statement noted. Armenia is fully responsible for the policy of aggression against Azerbaijan, the retention of Azerbaijani territories under military occupation and the violation of the fundamental rights of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis subjected to ethnic cleansing in these territories, as well as for all illegal activities carried out on these lands. The occupying country will sooner or later be held responsible for its committed actions, the MFA stated. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. By turning the red, blue, and green positions of one molecule like turning the steering wheel of a car, a single molecule developed by researchers in Japan can be turned into three types of catalysts for fuel cells, hydrogen production, or hydrogenation. The new insights from this work help unravel relationships between three catalysts that were previously intertwined. Scientists from Kyushu University and Kumamoto University in Japan have developed a new catalyst capable of assisting three key reactions for using hydrogen in energy and industry. Inspired by three types of enzymes in nature, this research can help elucidate unknown relationships among catalysts, paving the way for efficient use of hydrogen gas as a next-generation energy source in the future. Producing only water when used in a fuel cell to generate electricity, hydrogen holds great promise as a clean energy source to meet environmental challenges faced around the globe. One key for establishing hydrogen as a next-generation energy source is the development of catalysts--chemicals that assist and accelerate reactions without being consumed in the process--that help use it efficiently. Catalysts play a role not only in splitting hydrogen molecules to generate electricity in fuel cells but also in putting hydrogen atoms together to form the fuel. Hydrogen also has many applications in the chemical industry, often being attached to molecules through the process of hydrogenation to modify their properties. Nature has already developed its own set of biological catalysts, known as enzymes, capable of these same fundamental reactions. However, each of these three reactions requires a different type of enzyme, and these hydrogenase enzymes can be grouped by the metals they contain: an atom each of nickel and iron, two atoms of iron, or a single atom of iron. Taking inspiration from nature, research teams led by Seiji Ogo from Kyushu University and Shinya Hayami from Kumamoto University now report in the journal Science Advances that a single catalyst can perform all three roles. "Looking closely at key structures of the three types of hydrogenase enzymes in nature, we were able to design a molecule that could mimic all of these structures depending on where hydrogen attaches to it," said Ogo, professor of Kyushu University's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The catalyst the scientists developed contains nickel and iron as the key metals. Depending on reaction conditions, hydrogen atoms will connect to the molecule in a slightly different way, leading to a twisting of the molecule that puts it in a configuration best suited for one of the three types of reactions. While the enzymes in nature rely on different sets of metals to accomplish these reactions, the newly developed catalyst takes advantage of the molecular twist being enough to switch between structures similar to those of the three types of enzymes, thereby obtaining similar functions without changing the metals. "In a way, we've created a molecule with a steering wheel on it," explains Ogo. "By turning the steering wheel and twisting parts of the molecule, we can turn it into three different types of catalysts--one for fuel cells, one for hydrogen production, and another for hydrogenation." "This has allowed us to unravel three functions that were previously intertwined." While the molecule may not be suitable for practical applications at present, it points toward the possibility of developing a single catalyst with multiple uses. More importantly, the better understanding of the catalytic processes afforded by this molecule can give crucial insight into natural enzymes and the development of future catalysts for realizing a hydrogen-powered society. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- By running from St. George to Tottenville, Cesar Vargas and Yesenia Mata raised almost $1,600 to provide meals to essential workers. Vargas, an immigration attorney and member of the U.S. Army Reserve, and his spouse, the executive director of La Colmena and also a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, ran more than 16 miles to raise the money. According to Vargas, $500 will be sent to Maries Gourmet and $600 will be sent to Potrillos Mexican restaurants. From there, meals will be distributed to frontline workers. Supporting local businesses during the pandemic was especially important to Vargas, whose family used to run one. Ive seen them struggling since the beginning of the pandemic," he told the Advance/SILive.com. Knowing how my family used to have a small business back when I lived in Brooklyn, I know how hard it is to run a small business. The remaining money will be given to La Colmena, a community job center in Port Richmond. Vargas said it was particularly important to him to donate to the community center to support immigrant families. Many of them who are essential workers," Vargas said. "I wanted to make sure that their families had help through [the pandemic]. Initially, the couple intended for the money to be spent on frontline workers, such as police and nurses, but he got some different feedback after the initial article about the run was posted on SILive.com. We all love our nurses, our bus drivers, and other essential workers . . . its great that were supporting essential workers like this, but the reality is that they already get paid," Vargas explained. "Theyre getting an income, so why dont we help families, like immigrant families, or other essential workers that dont have the benefits? Many workers in supermarkets or kitchens are minorities or young people earning minimum wage, Vargas explained. He chose to support them because they are so often overlooked. Those are workers that may not capture the attention of cameras, like police officers or nurses, but theyre equally performing an essential part of the recovery efforts, he said. The meals will be distributed in coming weeks after the funds process, he explained. It took us a few days to recover from the pain, Vargas said. But we wanted to get the money right off the bat to the businesses. "Were in this together. Just the fact that were all going through these difficult times, and yet this period of giving back is so strong on Staten Island -- I really think its incredible. Advance staffer Joseph Ostapiuk contributed to this article. BP is bracing for a long recovery from the recent oil bust, planning to run its business next year under the assumption that crude prices will continue to hover around $35 a barrel. The British oil supermajor said Thursday that it aims to balance its 2021 budget, invest $12 billion in the business and continue paying shareholders a healthy dividend with oil around $35. The company, which plans to cut $2.5 billion from its operating budget by the end of 2021, announced plans Monday to lay off nearly 10,000 workers, 14 percent of its workforce, by the end of the year. Its a brutal environment that we face at the moment, CEO Bernard Looney said in an interview published Thursday by industry research firm IHS Markit. (Oil) has recovered a little bit over the recent weeks, but its a recovery from a very low point. Its a tough environment, and tough decisions have to be made, and were in the midst of doing that. Energy companies are slashing operating budgets, shutting in existing wells and curbing spending on new wells in the wake of the coronavirus-driven oil crash, which sent crude prices crashing from $63 a barrel in January to a record negative-$37 a barrel in April. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. oil benchmark, has since rebounded, settling in New York at $36.34 a barrel on Thursday. In response to the oil bust, BP has reduced its shale spending by $1 billion this year, cutting the number of operating rigs to one, down from 13 this year. However, the company has not shut in, or temporarily closed, any of its existing wells, primarily because BP has its own trading marketplace for the oil it produces. Were very fortunate in that regard, Looney said. Looney, in a wide-ranging interview with IHS Markit vice chairman Daniel Yergin, said BP had already significantly cut costs in the aftermath of the 2014-16 oil bust. The company in 2016 announced plans to add 1 million barrels of oil production a day by 2021 at a cost of about $50 billion. Today, the company hopes to reach that goal while spending $35-40 billion, Looney said. BP cut costs by using new technology, streamlining operations and shrinking its workforce. The company recently drilled a well in West Africa for $50 million, a third of the typical cost by running most of the operations out of London and reducing the number of employees it sent over, Looney said. BP once had 30,000 employed in its upstream business, which drills wells and pumps oil and gas. Today, the company has 17,000 upstream workers, Looney said. Ive always been a big believer that the numbers are so big in the upstream that there remains enormous opportunity for improvement, Looney said. The things weve been able to do with taking people out of harms way and out of the field, getting costs down and improvements we can make I think are exceptional. ... I believe there is more we can do. BP is also cutting costs in its traditional oil and gas business as it looks to pivot toward alternative sources of energy, including solar and wind. The supermajor in February set a goal to become a net-zero carbon emissions company by 2050 and has invested in electric vehicle charging networks in the U.K. and China. Looney, who last month said oil demand may have peaked and may never fully recover after the coronavirus pandemic, said no one is sure what the demand for oil will look like in the future. He said, however, the world will likely require fewer fossil fuels. Is oil demand going to grow at 3, 4, 5 percent per annum for the next 20 or 30 years? No, Looney said. Oil demand growth is probably slowing. paul.takahashi@chron.com twitter.com/paultakahashi Employees work in the production of N95 face masks at a factory that produces 40,000 N95 masks per day, in Mexico City, Mexico, on May 21, 2020. (Alfredo Estrella/AFP via Getty Images) First Shipment of Newsoms N95 Masks to Arrive Within Days The first shipment of approved N95 respirator masks from California Gov. Gavin Newsoms $1 billion deal with a China-based company should arrive within days, a spokesman for Newsom told The Epoch Times. On June 8, Newsom announced that the masks, produced by BYD (Build Your Dreams) Co., had received approval from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) after twice failing to pass safety certification. BYD would begin shipping 150 million of the N95 masks within days, Newsom said. The first shipments will begin arriving in the next few days and will be distributed to health care providers and counties who have previously requested, Brian Ferguson, a deputy director from the Governors Office of Emergency Services, said June 11 via email. BYD was forced to return half of the initial $495 million down payment in early May when the first batch of masks it delivered in April failed to get the required NIOSH approval. The masks failed to meet a second certification deadline May 31, forcing the governor to grant another extension on June 5 or void the deal. The original contract was for a total of 300 million N95 masks, used to protect health care workers and medical first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a cost of $3.30 per mask. Newsom has faced bipartisan scrutiny over the contract, which was granted to BYD without bidding or going through the normal legislative process. A man wearing a mask walks past the BYD office in Los Angeles, Calif., on May 13, 2020. N95 masks produced in China by BYD as part of Gov. Gavin Newsoms billion-dollar deal twice failed to meet required safety certification deadlines. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) told The Epoch Times he questioned the deal from the beginning. He was very doubtful BYD would be able to very quickly put together a mask that met quality standards, he said, and thought the deal should have been voided when the second set of masks failed certification. We could have let this contract go, and gone out and got a much better price and saved Californians hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds at a time when the money is sorely needed, he said. Some experts suggest we could have propped up our own factories here in California and got the masks at a much better price, for under $1. Kiley said that the state was overpaying for the masks, which had not yet arrived two months after the deal was announced by Newsom on MSNBCs Rachel Maddow Show on April 7. In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced April 28 that U.S.-based company Honeywell Corporation would provide the city with 24 million N95 masks for $0.79 each. The governor bought these at a time when we were preparing for a huge surge capacity which we havent actually needed, Kiley said. I hope that in the future, the governor heeds the calls of both parties in our legislature to have a more regularized process than what weve had in the past. Kiley has recently introduced a resolution (ACR 196) in the state assembly calling for an end to Newsoms emergency powers. Theres been a lot of concern expressed by legislators in both parties that the governor went ahead and spent this money without consulting the legislature, and he refused, for weeks, requests by the legislature to see the contract, Kiley said. Newsom said on June 8, Providing Californias front-line health care workers and responders the protective equipment they need is a critical part of our response to COVID-19. This new supply of N95 masks, as well as the surgical masks this contract has already provided, are game-changing and play a crucial role in our states public safety and reopening strategy. The first shipment of N95 masks produced as part of this contract are expected to arrive in the coming days. The contract will ensure that the state has a sufficient supply of masks going forward should there be need for them in the future. The state has already distributed 110 million looser-fitting surgical masks provided by BYD, Newsoms statement said. Frank Girardot, a BYD company spokesman, told The Epoch Times on June 11 that BYD has no comment regarding the mask deal. A May 13 statement issued by the company said earlier delays in the certification process were related to documentation control paperwork and that NIOSH found no issues with the quality of the masks. Symbolism tells stories, and it has become ever more important during current events where the friction of identity and cultural appropriation sit adjacent to the killing of innocent people. Photos of politicians kneeling Monday in solidarity, adorned in kente cloth stoles, is to many a sign of unity, whereas to others its viewed as disrespectful. Lets consider the reality that historically the African American community has been known pejoratively, as Negro, as colored, as black, and as we are now. And regardless of how one self-identifies, we have in our own ways tried to align our lives in reverence to our African ancestries, which remain elusive to many of us. Kente cloth, with its origins to the Ashanti people of Ghana, has been one readily available fabric with which we could adorn ourselves as people unashamed of where we come from, a continent full of beautiful people with thousands of cultural similarities and as many differences. In the spirit of reclaiming Africa as our ancestral home, many African Americans wear kente. Its one way of showing the world that though we may not be Ghanaian, we know our story begins in Africa. The symbolism of clothing is part of our culture that we can carry with us. I understand why U.S. representatives wore kente cloth to honor the late George Floyd while announcing legislation on police reform. But I can also understand the outrage. For example, when I discovered that my maternal ancestor was Bamileke, an ethnic group from Cameroon, I immediately tried to find ways to reconnect to my heritage. After a naming ceremony, I was given traditional garments to wear. The first question I asked my elders was whether those garments were reserved for royalty or someone of rank in Bamileke society. Symbolism is so important, I felt it necessary that I not misrepresent myself while showcasing my pride and love for my ancestral home. So, while there is power in symbolism, there is also deep meaning for those who have traditionally worn garments, like kente cloth, that needs to also be respected. For writers, symbolism and meaning in their work becomes important when marketing works in ways that speak to the content. While describing the inspiration for Shrimp (2Leaf Press, 2018), my debut collection of poetry, I was challenged to explain its title. In doing so, I found the threads for the listener that wove together what became the idea, the artifact or tool with which I told my story. My book cover features the continent of Africa with a red pushpin in the center of the Cameroonian flag, as one might see on a map of places traveled to. Therein the thread of place, one of my maternal ancestry. My paternal ancestry traces to Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and Britain, which made visceral the history of how the Portuguese initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. That trade led to the capture and shipping of my ancestor in chains to the New World. She would have called her home something completely different, but to the Portuguese, having traversed the Bight of Biafra, where they found large prawns up the Wouri River, so named the region Camarao (Portuguese for large prawn or shrimp). Its better known now as Cameroon. Shrimp comprises poems that analyze identity in a post-colonial context, in other words, what I questioned about myself after reading history books. Society labeled me black, which only exists in contrast to white; my true identity was nearly lost to the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, or beat from the backs of my relatives, who I learned were sold cheap because they were prone to die by their own hands rather than be slaves. Therein lives the thread of discovery. African My past and present ancestral the mask looking back at me from the mirror. Shrimp are one of the scavengers of the ocean floor, but for me, they are protagonists in a story in which the hero picks up pieces of the past in an effort to put it all back together, to shed light on a darkness that looms, hovers and is often the only brush used to paint blacks as a people without a cultural past. I would be remiss if I didnt admit that I was constantly bullied for being short, called a shrimp. Even as an adult, its a weight I have to carry. And the moment I decide to put it down, I am labeled with having a Napoleon complex. So as a brave African American man who chooses to stand up for himself, I am symbolically given the namesake of someone who pillaged Africa for its value, its people. These things become so ubiquitous that they are left in the subconscious as no big deal. Therein lies the thread of resilience. And so, I use the tools of discovery and resilience to repaint the picture of who I am and where I come from, to walk in the clothes of my own choosing. And this is what I think society is trying to do now, to push back against the tyranny of oppression. An effort to create community using what weve got, a shared legacy that can do one of two things: remind us of what weve done in the past, or tell a new story of where were headed in solidarity. Jason Vasser-Elong is a St. Louis-based author, poet and essayist. Mr Joseph Kwadwo Afari Yeboah, an Aspiring General Secretary of the Conventions Peoples Party (CPP) has implored the Electoral Commission (EC) to dialogue with all stakeholders on the up-coming voter registration to safeguard peace. He said it was only when there was consensus and peace that the purpose of compiling the new voter registration, that election 2020 general elections could be held. In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, Mr Yeboah appealed to the commission to ensure that every Ghanaian who qualified, registered to enable them to exercise their franchise. There has been friction between the EC, civil society organisations and some political parties on as to the need to compile a new register, cost, procurement and also the type of identification needed by people to register, it said. The Commission must not take an entrenched position as been done but must engage the opposing factions to reach an amicable solution. The statement said should there be an agreement between stakeholders to conduct the registration of voters, all Covid-19 safety protocol must be observed just as the Commission had outlined to be observed at the centres. It said the Commission must ensure that only 25 people, including registration officials, would be permitted at the registration centre at any given time and it would be compulsory to wear a nose mask before entering a registration centre. The statement said the temperature of people would be taken, provision of water and liquid soap for handwashing before one could join a queue. It said, to ensure safety the Commissions officials must be sanitised with alcohol wipes before the fingerprints of people were captured after, which those whose details had been captured would also be provided with hand sanitisers to clean their hands before leaving the registration centres. The statement urged the security agencies especially the Ghana Police Service to initiate a public engagement to assure the electorates of its preparedness to maintain law and order before, during and after the electoral process. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The department said it is reviewing information that was earlier withheld to protect personal privacy and pending court or law enforcement proceedings. Now that Stone has been convicted at trial, sentenced for lying in a congressional Russia probe and a gag order in his case lifted, the department is reviewing its redactions. Finance & Development, June 2020, Vol. 57, Number 2 PDF version PEOPLE IN ECONOMICS Poverty Fighters Andreas Adriano profiles MITs J-PAL, where Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee are reinventing development economics Some seemingly great development ideas dont work out as expected. One that famously flopped was to replace open-fire cooking used by 3 billion of the worlds poorest people with more efficient, less polluting stoves under the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves initiative. The $400 million project was backed by the United Nations and launched by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2010. It set out to reduce indoor air pollution, which kills 2 million people a year, while empowering women and helping the environment. After initial success, millions of stoves built in India were largely abandoned after four years. Why didnt it succeed? Researchers from the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, known as J-PAL, went to the field to find out. Following about 2,500 households in 44 villages in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, they discovered many seemingly minor reasons. The new stoves needed more attention, would break down and werent repaired, took longer to cook food, and couldnt be moved outdoors because of the chimneys that sent the smoke outside, the research showed. For the hyper-rational being that lives in economic models, none of this ought to matter, wrote Abhijit Banerjee, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) economics professor who is a cofounder and director of J-PAL, in an article. However, the experience was a reminder that the fact that we think something should work is not enoughit needs to work for the people who use them. During its 17-year history, J-PAL has developed a scientific, evidence-driven-economics approach to fighting poverty. According to Executive Director Iqbal Dhaliwal, this provides an alternative to basing decisions on instinct, ideology, or inertia. On the second floor of a nondescript MIT building in Cambridge, across the Charles River from Boston, J-PALs headquarters could easily be mistaken for any ordinary office in a large university. But J-PALs reach is broad. On its own or through a network of affiliated researchers around the world, the donor-funded organization has carried out more than 1,000 randomized controlled trials in more than 80 countries, applying to economics the research methodology thats long been the gold standard for testing new drugs and medical treatments. Programs verified in this way have been scaled up to reach more than 400 million people around the world, J-PAL says. This record was behind the 2019 Nobel Prize in economics awarded to Banerjee, his wife and J-PAL cofounder Esther Duflo, and their friend and frequent collaborator, Harvard economist Michael Kremer. Their experimental research methods now entirely dominate development economics, the Nobel Prize committee said. This has transformed development economics with its ability to provide reliable answers about the best ways to fight global poverty. In a world that increasingly despises expertise and academic research, where the very perception of reality is often shaped by political beliefs, J-PAL can claim objectivity, providing policy advice based on evidence tested in the field using a scientific approach. It can show palpable results in helping vulnerable people solve very practical problems. Banerjee and Duflo are at its center. They founded the organization in 2003 as the Poverty Action Lab, along with Sendhil Mullainathan, a former Harvard professor who is still a contributor. They set out to change the worlds approach to poverty, no less. In 2005, the Lab was renamed to honor the father of Mohammed Jameel, an MIT alum and Saudi businessman and philanthropist whose family foundation is an ongoing supporter. Other backers include large private donors and advanced economy development agencies. J-PALs staff includes about 400 research, policy, education, and training professionals, with headquarters in Cambridge and regional centers in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. An additional 200 researchers oversee projects that are executed by about 1,000 contractors. The organization has awarded $63 million in grants to fund new research since its founding in 2003. Although its focus was initially on poor and emerging market economies, J-PAL is now active in Europe, researching, for example, initiatives to promote social inclusion of immigrants. Its North America branch has projects on retraining and skills development for workers, homelessness and housing, criminal justice reform, and health. Divide to conquer Duflo, a 47-year-old French economist who earned her doctorate at MIT and made the institution break a rule against hiring its own students, describes the randomized trials at the core of J-PALs approach as taking a big problem and breaking it into manageable pieces, smaller questions that admit rigorous answers. The method consists of testing a potential solution to a development problemsuch as how to increase the use of bed nets to fight malariaby comparing a group that receives a treatment with a control group that receives nothing. The groups should be as similar as possible and randomly created so that no other factors have an influence and researchers can understand the treatments impact. There can be multiple groups to compare different solutions. Developed in the 19th century, such trials were applied in agriculture, medicine, and political science much earlier than in economics, where the first such studies date from the 1960s. Macroeconomic research often deals with lofty topics expressed in complex equations and tested with intricate econometric techniques. Even Nobel laureates struggle with some of it. In their 2019 book Good Economics for Hard Times, Duflo and Banerjee acknowledge that part of productivity growth cannot be explained by changes in things economists can measure. To make ourselves feel better, economists have given it its own name: Total Factor Productivity. Their MIT colleague and fellow Nobel laureate Robert Solow defined the concept as a measure of our ignorance. By contrast, development research can sound prosaic. Should anti-malaria bed nets in Kenya be given away, subsidized, or sold at market price? Is a buyback program a viable way to mop up the large amount of unused opioid pills in the United States? How do you make sure poor Indonesian households receive all the rice they are entitled to under a federal program? Information for the poor Those are all questions J-PAL has taken on. Researchers often uncover surprisingly simple solutions. One of Indonesias largest social assistance programs is Rice for the Poor, known locally as Raskin. The $1.5 billion-a-year system aimed to distribute 15 kg of rice a month to the poorest households at a fifth of the market price. However, bureaucracy and corruption were getting in the way. Community leaders responsible for distributing the rice would often tinker with pricing, allowances, or qualifying criteria. Eligible households ended up receiving a third of what they were entitled to at a cost 40 percent higher than it should have been. Rather than toughening up controls, Indonesia in 2012 assigned researchers to work with J-PAL in testing ways to raise awareness about qualification criteria, monthly allotments, and prices using information-bearing social protection cards. Randomized tests showed they were so effective that within a year the government issued about 15 million of them and bundled two other cash-transfer programs into the project, adding up to more than $4 billion. Expecting that there will be differences between theory and practice is one advantage of J-PALs approach. So is not presuming that well-trained lab scientists are wiser or more rational than the people they hope to help. The poor are no less rational than anyone elsequite the contrary, Banerjee and Duflo wrote in their 2011 book, Poor Economics. Precisely because they have so little, we often find them putting much careful thought into their choices: They have to be sophisticated economists just to survive. Born in Mumbai in 1961 to two accomplished economics professors, the Harvard PhD Banerjee has little patience with those hyper-rational beings living inside models. He derides the presumption of knowledge that he says accompanies much of macroeconomic research, often stemming from little more than a whole bunch of correlations, many of which are very hard to interpret, and some actual concrete facts, which are probably reasonably reliable. He spoke to F&D in his small office in the MIT economics department. Behind a door covered with economics and political cartoons, the cramped space full of books contrasts with expansive views of the Charles River and the Boston skyline. Duflos somewhat roomier office is two doors down from Banerjees. They met when he was her PhD supervisor at MIT in 1999, married in 2015, and have two children together. She has learned never to be disappointed by any set of research results. One thing that weve learned very early from randomized control trials is that you generally get surprised by what you find, she says. Does it add up? Breaking a big problem down does not necessarily mean the smaller pieces are simpler. In a 2016 lecture at the IMF, Duflo presented several studies showing how micro interventions can have significant macro effects. One involved better enforcement of environmental regulations in heavily polluting textile plants in the Indian state of Gujarat, home to some of the earths most polluted cities. The randomized trial changed the rules for assigning auditors to companies and found that enforcement improved when inspectors were not paid by those they were auditing. Although thats not exactly a groundbreaking finding, having the data to prove it strengthens the case. Duflo argued that broad principles that often guide international institutionssuch as democracy and good governancemay be of little value because theyre too general. Economists could achieve more concrete results by fixing the plumbing, the part of any system thats taken for granted and people notice only when it stops working. She titled the lecture The Economist as Plumber. One problem with randomized controlled trials is that the small answers might not add up to address the big problem. Another is that conclusions may be too specific to where the research was conducted. The findings of a malaria study in Kenya might be completely irrelevant for Brazil, for example. Economists refer to this as the transportation problem. Demonstrating that a treatment works in one situation is exceedingly weak evidence that it will work in the same way elsewhere, wrote Angus Deaton, the eminent Scottish development economist and 2015 economics Nobel laureate, in an article last year. Deaton wrote several papers laying out his reservations about randomized trials. The only way to apply the findings from one study in a new context, he wrote in the same article, is by using previous knowledge and understanding, interpreting the trial results within some structure, the structure that, somewhat paradoxically, the RCT [randomized controlled trial] gets its credibility from refusing to use. Macro versus micro Dhaliwal, the J-PAL executive director, was hired 11 years ago to address that specific problem. He is a fast-talking Indian economist with degrees from the University of Delhi and Princeton and is married to Gita Gopinath, the IMF chief economist. When Esther hired me in 2009, they had realized that the journey from a research result into a policy action requires much more considered effort, Dhaliwal says. To bridge the gap, evidence must be made accessible to policymakers andsvalidated by other studies in different contexts. In addition, implementation needs to be monitored to bring new reality checks back to the policy findings, Dhaliwal says. When asked how best to bridge the gaps between research and policy and between micro- and macroeconomics, Duflo points to a copy of Good Economics for Hard Times. This book and Poor Economics present what weve learned about one topic as a narrative that makes sense of it all together, she says. Good Economics for Hard Times compiles vast amounts of research to dismiss common assumptions on topics like migration, labor, and trade. It shows economists often get a lot of things right but still fail to establish trust with the wider public. Banerjee blames his professions shortcomings. People put faith in populist narratives because they dont put faith in economists narrative anymore, he says. As she contemplates the future, Duflo says she hopes the recognition of the Nobel Prize will put J-PAL in a different level and help expand its work into areas like climate change and helping governments improve the quality and make better use of the vast amounts of data they collect. J-PALs method of breaking a big problem down into smaller questions can be applied even to a quintessentially global problem like climate change. Field studies conducted in Mexico, Wisconsin, and Michigan showed that residential energy-efficiency-improving technologies often dont deliver the savings promised. Measures like updating appliances and retrofitting and weatherproofing houses have low uptake. And when they are adopted, the resulting efficiency gains are usually offset by higher consumption. Similarly, an investigation in India showed that when small farms were provided consulting help and loans to acquire new, more efficient equipment, they produced more and made more moneybut didnt save energy. Duflo attributes this to optimizing behavior that often is not properly calculated in estimates of potential benefits. Bigger problems As of mid-March, J-PAL, like the rest of the world, was locking down to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization quickly made operational adjustments like pulling staff from the field and increasing phone surveys. It offered financing to quickly launch new research initiatives such as cash transfers, digital identification, and innovation in government practices. The pandemic presented a new set of big problems and showed how critical it can be to have accurate, timely statistics. It underscored the importance of using government administrative data to improve decision-making and share results faster and cheaper than [with] field work, Dhaliwal says. Dhaliwal says the postCOVID-19 world will reassess the role and value of governments in a crisis, leading to better public management and more appreciation of the importance of social protection. For the last few years, a lot of new philanthropy has premised itself on the belief that governments are unnecessary and can be bypassed, he says. This crisis makes it clearer that we all need to invest in building governments capacity to make good decisions and to be resilient to handle big events like this one, he adds, mentioning as an example the ability to make quick emergency cash transfers, which has been a challenge even for a country like the United States. Dhaliwal sees the coronavirus plague as foreshadowing what a climate crisis could look like. This pandemic has shown us, first, the supremacy of nature and, second, how once a tipping point is hit (community spread of infections or increase in earths temperature), it is very hard to avoid significant damage and death, he says. So the time to act is now. It has also shown that if we do the right thing (like social distancing), and do it drastically, it can have a positive impact. Recently, Suning International launched the Authentic Italian Pavilion on the Suning owned e-commerce platform Suning.com. The Authentic Italian Pavilion is a collaboration between Suning International and Italian Trade Agency (ITA) to create an online platform to promote Italian products for domestic consumption in China. It allows more Chinese consumers to choose high-quality Italian goods selected by Suning International's overseas buyers without traveling aboard. Additionally, Suning International is working on a series of national pavilions through its advantages in overseas deployment. Suning International helps high-quality small and medium-sized brands enter the Chinese market, especially those emerging brands that have distinctive overseas features but haven't gain nationwide popularity in China. Leveraging the foundation of Suning's advantages of the localized full scene, full chain, and Omni-channel marketing solution, Suning swiftly aggregates the targeted audience on the platform, completes the commercial packaging, and provides localized campaigns and sales strategy. While providing additional outlets for traditional e-commerce retailers, Suning also provides a customized "content + marketing + channels" full-chain solutions like Buyer Selection, IP Incubation, and Innovative Content Scenarios as the brand attributes. Suning strives to attract more Increasingly personalized and young Chinese consumption upgrade population. The in-depth cooperation between Suning International and ITA indicates that Suning will further utilize the resource advantages of online and offline integration development, continue to highlight smart retail as a mainstream model leading the transformation of the global retail industry, and will further promote the cooperation with well-known overseas brand manufacturers to create more original foreign lifestyles meet the needs of consumers to upgrade both quality consumption and service experience. About Suning Holdings Group Founded in 1990, Suning is one of the leading commercial enterprises in China with two public companies in China and Japan. In 2019, Suning Holdings Group ranked as the top three brands among the top 500 non-state-owned enterprises in China with annual revenues of RMB 602.5 billion (approximately EURO 77.24 billion) and continued to top the list of Internet retailing category. Adhering to the enterprise mission of "Leading the Ecosystem across Industries by Creating Elite Quality of Life for All," Suning has strengthened and expanded its core business as retail through a corporate ecosystem comprised of multiple vertical industries, including commercial real estate, financial services, and sports. Suning.com, the primary subsidiary pioneering in online and offline retailing, has been listed in the Fortune Global 500 for three successive years from 2017 to 2019. SOURCE Suning Holdings Group New Delhi, June 12 : Soon after the Supreme Court came down hard on the Arvind Kejriwal government on Friday over its handling of the Coronavirus pandemic, terming it "horrendous, horrific and pathetic", the BJP claimed Delhi's health infrastructure has crumbled. "The Supreme Court's observation on the deplorable condition of medical wards in Delhi and the Kejriwal government's inhuman way of handling dead bodies is worrying. It is a signal that Delhi's heath infrastructure has badly totally crumbled," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra said in a statement, issued on behalf of the party. Though he said this is not a time to indulge in negative politics, Patra reiterated what the apex court said - the number of tests conducted are way low in Delhi compared to Chennai and Mumbai. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP President Adesh Gupta has also trained his guns at the Delhi Chief Minister. "Patients are not getting proper treatment in Delhi hospitals. The kind of videos that are doing the rounds on media are worrying, to say the least," he said. "I fail to understand why Delhi's daily testing capacity has been lowered to 5,000 each day from 7,000 each day when India is witnessing 10,000 fresh COVID-19 cases daily, across the nation," Patra said. The BJP raised objections to the recent press conference by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and the political allegations made from that platform. Patra said, the allegations labelled against BJP and the Delhi's LG Anil Baijal were uncalled for. Sisodia had alleged, "BJP pressurised Lieutenant Governor and made him overrule our decision, now priority will not be given to people of Delhi in Delhi hospitals." He made that statement after Lt. Governor Anil Baijal overruled the Kejriwal government's decision to reserve Delhi government run and private hospitals exclusively for residents of the national capital. "After today's observation by the Supreme Court, Kejriwal government should wake up. They have enough money to spend on publicity. But rather than tending to basic needs of the national capital, they prefer to indulge in politics," said the BJP, on Friday. Patra advised the Delhi government to spend the money allocated for publicity on Delhi hospitals. However, he promised every cooperation on behalf of the Centre and urged the Delhi Chief Minister to work "shoulder to shoulder" with it, instead. Delhi has a total number of 34,687 cases and 1,085 deaths. It ranks third in the total number of cases, behind Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The Talk. It is one of the most difficult and painful things that anyone raising black children has to do. To sit your children down and tell them how they must behave when interacting with the police to be calm, show their hands, avoid sudden movements, follow instructions, and always be respectful. The Talk almost always ends in tears. After all, how do you tell the young, beautiful, innocent children you love that they might be harassed or even killed by the very people who have vowed to protect them? There is no perfect time for having The Talk. Indeed, oftentimes, it is a response to a specific event typically another senseless killing of a black person that your child has heard about. That was the case for me, both in first receiving The Talk from my father and later giving The Talk to my own kids. My first memory of getting The Talk was around May 13, 1985. I was 9 years old and had relocated to Philadelphia less than two years earlier with my family after we fled political persecution in our home in Zaire. That evening, we were watching television at home and, like many other Philadelphians, were engrossed by a live feed of the standoff in West Philadelphia between the police and members of MOVE, a black liberation group. During the coverage, we saw a grainy image of a police helicopter circling ominously above a rowhouse on Osage Avenue before it dropped a strange object onto the roof. That object was a satchel containing four pounds of explosives. It unleashed a devastating explosion and fire that killed 11 people, including five children, and destroyed more than 60 homes and a beautiful community. The city let the fire burn. (Even today, nobody from the city was ever held accountable and the city has never formally apologized for this tragedy.) As a child, I was stunned and horrified by what I saw before my parents had quickly turned off the television. The image was closer to a scene plucked from a World War II reel than a residential neighborhood in my adopted city. At that point, my father probably like many other black parents across the city had no choice but to give me The Talk, though I am sure he didnt know at the time what it was called. While I have forgotten his exact words, I know his advice was short and effective and boiled down to a warning against defying the police. His (very rational) view was: If they can bomb a house in plain sight, what do you think they would do to you when nobodys looking? Though The Talk left me shaken and confused, it did instill in me, as a black kid, a fear of and respect for the awesome power that the police wield, even as I later worked alongside some dedicated officers as a federal prosecutor and then, as the citys top lawyer, personally negotiated the citys largest settlement in a police shooting case in 2017. This dread was critical for survival in my North Philadelphia neighborhood that was teeming with police in the 80s and 90s. READ MORE: A letter to my white friends | Perspective When I had children a boy who is 11 and girls who are 9 and 6 I foolishly thought that it would be up to me to decide when to have The Talk with them. I was wrong. The cold-blooded murder of George Floyd dictated the timeline for having, or repeating, The Talk with my own children. But it could have been the killings of Walter Scott, Tamir Rice, Freddie Gray, Michael Brown, or countless others. Despite having access to more resources and books than my father did, I did not do any better than he did in delivering The Talk. My version was short, awkward, and, in retrospect, woefully bewildering for my children. I told them that, as black people, they had to always listen to police, and then explained how Floyd was murdered and how peoples anger over his killing, and others like it, keeps happening. Two of my three kids cried during The Talk, with my middle one holding back in a youthful attempt to display strength. They were all scared, confused, and anxious. I was angry that I had to inflict pain on them and that I couldnt promise them that it would be OK. It did not go according to script, to say the least. READ MORE: Now its time for people with power to take a stand, not a knee, against police brutality | Helen Ubinas After my failed efforts at The Talk and seeing that my kids remained upset, I thought about how I can engage with them more productively about this moving forward. First, I plan to continue to offer them the cultural and historical context for our countrys systemic racism in policing and beyond. Police killings of black people seem random and out of context to them, though they are not to me or many black Americans. Over time, I will share with them not just the story of how America has never truly grappled with its original sin of racism, but also the slights, humiliation, and pain that I have suffered throughout my life because of my race. I will also point them to the wonderful anti-racism reading lists that have become invaluable for just this task. Second, I will need to take care of myself to take care of them. When I spoke to them, I was drained and not OK. They plainly could hear the anxiety, anger, and fear in my own voice, which was far from reassuring. As I continue to have these conversations with them, I want to make sure that either I have gathered myself, or am honest with them about the toll that this has taken on me. I want to ... [be] honest with [my kids] about the toll that this has taken on me. Sozi Pedro Tulante Last, I plan to do as much listening as talking with my children about these issues, especially as they inundate me with questions. While I might not have all of the answers, I see my role as their parent to give them the space they need to explore these questions at their own speed. So every couple of days I have been asking them, individually, how they are feeling and, after some bobbing and weaving, they have tentatively shared with me whats on their mind. Its been eye-opening for me. READ MORE: Reimagining police: 14 ways to change a broken system | Perspective While I have a lot of work to do going forward, my hope, too, is that it is not only black families who are having these conversations. We have borne the tremendous weight of anti-racism education for too long and it is enough. White parents should be having modified versions of The Talk with their children so they too understand their privilege and the nature of structural racism that favors them. Racism and dehumanization of black people is not a black problem; it is a problem that every American has an obligation to fix. The need to have The Talk with our children and with each other about the role of deep-rooted institutional racism is fierce and urgent right now. I know that I am ready to be part of those conversations. Sozi Pedro Tulante is a lawyer who lives in West Philadelphia with his family. He is a partner at Dechert LLP and an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. He was the city solicitor of Philadelphia from 2016 to 2018. President Donald Trump is known for packing arenas. But as he plans his next political rally while the U.S. reopens amid the coronavirus, Trumps re-election campaign hopes to avoid something else the businessman-turned-politician is known for: lawsuits. The registration page for tickets to Trumps first rally in months set for the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 19 includes a disclaimer at the bottom requiring attendees to voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19. By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present, the liability disclaimer reads. By attending the rally, registrants and guests agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury. The BOK Center seats more than 19,000. While states and the federal government have recommended social distancing measures remain in place as a mitigation effort against the spread of COVID-19, Trump in an interview with ABC in May said that he cant have a rally with, you know, seven seats in between everybody. The New York Times reported that the campaign is unlikely to implement social distancing measures for the rally, or force attendees to wear masks, with officials saying the state has progressed significantly in reopening. Oklahoma is not among the more than dozen states currently racking up record-high new infections, according to The Washington Post. The virus has infected more than 2 million Americans and left more than 112,000 dead. Already under fire from lawmakers of both parties and some former military leaders over his handling of unrest since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Trump faced sharp rebuke for restarting his rally season on Juneteenth, celebrated as African Americans Independence Day, and in Tulsa, which saw an outbreak of racist bloodshed in 1921. Tulsa was the site of the worst racist violence in American history, Rep. Val Demings of Florida, who is black, said on Twitter. The presidents speech there on Juneteenth is a message to every Black American: more of the same. On Thursday, Trump campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said that as the party of Lincoln, Republicans are proud of what Juneteenth represents and the Emancipation Proclamation. Parscale argued it was Trump who had a solid record of success for black Americans, while his likely opponent in the presidential race, former Vice President Joe Biden, has a record of racial division and condescension. The Trump campaign also mocked Biden for conflating the Tulsa Race Massacre with Juneteenth during a roundtable discussion with black community members in Philadelphia on Thursday. Biden called for a plan to safely reopen the country including guaranteed paid leave, a fully developed contact tracing program that could provide 100,000 jobs, more protective equipment and added support for businesses trying to stay afloat. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The Global Metalworking Fluids Market, as per a report by Market Research Future (MRFR) is touted to register a healthy CAGR during the forecast period (2016-2023). Metalworking fluids help to elevate a vehicle's component life by maintaining lubrication, reducing thermal & physical deformation, and minimizing wear. It also delivers excellent surface texture and finish in cutting and welding zone. Soaring consumer spending towards vehicle modifications is likely to augment the product demand by the end of the forecast period. Metalworking fluids also assist in lubricating cutting tool edge, which offers a cleaner cut besides improving the overall work hours of the tool. These factors are estimated to encourage the market growth in the coming years. Metalworking fluids play a vital role in the automobile industry due to its ability to offer top-notch surface finish and reduce friction between tool and workpiece. It is extensively used in the heavy machinery industry, which is experiencing significant growth, especially in emerging nations like Brazil, China, India, Russia, and other Southeast Asian nations. On the contrary, increased dumping of hazardous waste has resulted in several environmental issues, thereby contributing to natural resource pollution. This is a major concern likely to retard the market growth across the globe. Health risks to workers arising from microorganisms and chemicals in metalworking fluids will pose a great threat to the overall market. Global Metalworking Fluids Market: Segmental Analysis The global Covid-19 Analysis on Metalworking Fluids Market has been segmented on the basis of fluid type and application. By fluid type, the metalworking fluids market is segmented into soluble oils, straight oils, semi-synthetic oils, synthetic oils, and others. Of these, the soluble oils segment is predicted to gain prominence as their high oil content offer perfect lubricity for cutting operation, enhances surface finish, and provides protection to the machine tool. They are also ideal for general purpose cutting operations on medium and low tensile brass, steel, bronze, and cast iron. The application segment comprises industrial machinery, transportation equipment, construction, automotive, metal fabrication, and others. Of these, the transportation equipment segment is considered the largest due to the rapid growth of the transportation sector, owing to emerging means of transportation and expansion in global trade. Regional Frontiers Geographically, the metalworking fluids market spans across North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East & Africa. Considering the global scenario, the Asia Pacific will expand at the fastest rate, mainly due to rapid growth of major end user industries like automotive and building & construction, coupled with rapid industrialization in the region. Countries like Japan, India, China, and South Korea are considered dynamic regions, acquiring a prominent share of the regional market. Robust growth in the manufacturing and automotive industries are likely to influence the market demand. China led the shipbuilding and automotive industries in 2017. The global shift of MNCs to the region due to lenient regulations and cost-effective labor will catalyze the demand for the product in the years to come. North America will acquire the second spot, with the U.S. leading the market owing to the existence of well-established end users like marine and aerospace & defense. Europe is considered a major region, with France, the U.K., Switzerland, and Germany contributing a major share to the market. Automotive industries and industrial machinery in the region are garnering maximum demand for metalworking fluids, which is encouraging the regional markets growth. Competitive Dashboard The top players operating in the metalworking fluids market includes Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (India), Total SA (France), Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), Chevron Corporation (US), HPCL (India), Exxon Mobil Corporation (US ), BP (India), Houghton International Inc. (US), Croda International Plc. (UK), Shell (the Netherlands), and China Petrochemical Corporation (China). Browse Full Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/metalworking-fluids-market-5197 COVID-19 Impact Analysis on Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Market COVID-19 Impact on 3D Printing Materials Market COVID-19 Outbreak Impact on Carbon black Market NOTE: Our team of researchers are studying Covid19 and its impact on various industry verticals and wherever required we will be considering covid19 footprints for a better analysis of markets and industries. Cordially get in touch for more details. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Holdings Limited (JAC Holdings for short), the parent company of JAC Motors, inked on June 11 an investment agreement with Volkswagen (China) Investment Co., Ltd. (VW China for short) and the government of Anhui Province to further firm up the cooperation intention formed at the end of May. (Photo source: Volkswagen Group China) Upon completion of the aforesaid transaction, JAC Holdings will be evenly held by VW China and State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Anhui Province, and will still be controlled by the latter, according to the announcement issued by JAC Motors. Under the newly-signed agreement, JAC Holdings should issue and VW China should subscribe for 1,791,542,945 yuan ($253,332,592) worth of equity shares representative of JAC Holdings, which will made the registered capital of the Hefei-based company grow to 3,583,085,890 yuan ($506,665,185) once the transaction is finalized. On the same day, JAC Motor, VW China and JAC Volkswagen (JV for short), a NEV joint venture between the former two, struck a deal which will see VW Chinas share in the JV increase to 75% from 50%. In accordance with the agreement, the JVs total registered capital will rise to 7,355,615,280 yuan ($1,040,118,572) from 2 billion yuan ($282,809,400) after 4,516,711,460 yuan ($638,684,230) and 838,903,820 yuan ($118,624,943) worth of new equity stake are acquired by VW China and JAC Motors respectively. After gaining more shares in the JV, Volkswagen Group will authorize JAC Volkswagen to produce four to five BEV models, according to another agreement signed between JAC Motors and VW China at the same time. Besides, a manufacturing plant that is able to output vehicles at 60 units per hour is set to work at full capacity between 2025 and 2030. The vehicle plant is expected to increase its annual capacity to 350,000-400,000 units in 2029 from 200,000-250,000 units in 2025. Volkswagen has found a further partner to secure future demand for batteries for its Chinese e-models. With the signing of binding agreements, VW China will become the largest shareholder in Gotion, with 26% of the shares, through a buy-in of around 1.1 billion. Volkswagen is the first global automaker to invest direct in a Chinese battery supplier. It is planned to complete the deal by the end of 2020, subject to customary regulatory approvals. But some Democrats are still worried that the president will try somehow to interfere or undermine the outcome, pointing to Trumps allegation that there would be massive voter fraud through mail-in voting (without presenting much evidence to show thats true). New York: A 28-year-old naturalised US citizen of Afghan descent is being sought by authorities in New York with regard to investigation in the powerful explosion that rocked an upscale Manhattan locality on Sunday, injuring 29 people. The FBI is asking for assistance in locating Ahmad Khan Rahami, FBI New York said in a tweet. Rahami is a US citizen of Afghan descent born on January 23, 1988, in Afghanistan. His last known address was in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He is about 5.6 tall, has brown hair, brown eyes, and brown facial hair, the FBI tweet added. Rahami is wanted for questioning in connection with an explosion that occurred yesterday in Chelsea district of Manhattan, New York, and injured 29 people, it said. A second bomb that was discovered nearly four blocks away was defused successfully by the bomb disposal squad. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said Rahami could be armed and dangerous. We need to get this guy in right away. My experience is one the FBI zeroes in on someone, they will get them, de Blasio told CNN. The New York explosion was determined to have been an intentional act. Earlier, five people were being questioned by the FBI but none has been charged and the investigation was ongoing. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was clearly an act of terrorism, although it hadnt been linked to an international terrorist group. A bomb going off is generically a terrorist activity, said Cuomo, who ordered 1,000 New York State Police and National Guard members deployed across the city. Security had already been tightened in the city for the ongoing UN General Assembly, but the presence of officers throughout New York City after the blast will be bigger than ever, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Meanwhile, the federal authorities were also investigating whether the New York blast had any links to the suspicious backpack, containing multiple explosive devices, that was found at a train station in New Jersey today. One of the devices detonated while robot police was trying to disarm the device. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A bottle of hand disinfectant on a lecture desk in a classroom at Kyungbock High School in Seoul's Jongno District, May 19. Korea Times file By Ko Dong-hwan The South Korean government has detected 10 disinfectant, deodorant or cleaner brands used against the spread of COVID-19 that do not meet state safety laws for chemical products. The products did not validate or never passed safety inspections by state agencies that are required every three years to ensure ingredients meet safety standards, according to the Environment Ministry. Some also did not indicate on their containers that they passed the tests, violating the country's chemical products safety act. "Those products didn't abide by the mandatory procedure of passing the safety inspection test but bypassed it and have been illegally manufactured and distributed," the ministry's Chemical Products and Biocides Division said Thursday. One of the products, a disinfectant-cleaner, passed the tests for both categories but this was not indicated on containers and the results were not reported to authorities. Five of the products, which were for disinfecting face masks, were found to be potentially harmful to people who wore the masks. Another product faced three charges: It was produced differently from a manufacturing standard originally approved by the ministry; it was being sold locally when it was only approved for export, and the seller's online site used phrases that were banned by the ministry for selling disinfectants, including "non-toxic" and "eco-friendly." The phrases, including others like "safe to humans/animals," are banned under the chemical products safety act because they could cause confusion about the products' effects on human and animal health and the environment. The offending product brands now cannot be sold. Consumers must be refunded and the products returned to the manufacturers for disposal. The ministry has designated 35 consumer product groups for households, offices and multi-purpose spaces as possibly harmful and subjects them to mandatory safety tests. These include detergents, bleaches, printer toners, automobile coolants and repellents. The ministry said there are "no disinfectants that are safe to humans and the environment" and expressed concern that these products have been more widely used because of the coronavirus pandemic. It advised that only the minimum amount be used and only at places in need of disinfection. Sixteen Kazakh Military Officers, Defense Officials Go On Trial Over Deadly Ammo Blasts By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service June 11, 2020 SHYMKENT, Kazakhstan -- Sixteen Kazakh military officers and Defense Ministry officials have gone on trial over a series of explosions at an ammunition warehouse that killed four people in June 2019. A military court in the southern city of Shymkent started the trial on June 11, almost a year after the fire in the town of Arys, 67 kilometers west of Shymkent, which sparked the blasts that lasted for four days, killing three and injuring dozens of residents. The fourth victim, an 8-year-old boy, died weeks later in hospital. Among the 16 defendants are military officers from Arys and some senior Defense Ministry officials. Six of the defendants are taking part in the trial via a video link from Nur-Sultan, the capital. The charges against the defendants include negligence and violating safety regulations for storing arms and ammunition. Some 35,000 residents of the town fled their homes for Shymkent and nearby towns, returning days later after the authorities lifted a state of emergency. Kazakh officials said that 85 percent of the town's buildings, mainly private houses, had been damaged by heavy smoke, shock waves, and flying debris from the blasts. The government has promised to rebuild the houses, but many residents, some of whom attended the trial on June 11, complained that the rebuilding efforts had been too slow. After the blasts, hundreds of people rallied in Shymkent and blocked a major road demanding to be relocated permanently because they were afraid to go back as the June blasts were just the latest in a series of explosions to hit the depot since 2009. President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, who won a controversial election less than three weeks before the blasts, has vowed to punish those responsible. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/sixteen-kazakh-military -officers-defense-officials-go-on-trial- over-deadly-ammo-blasts/30665083.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Review at a glance M ake Lee great again. These are words you might have muttered to yourself when the ultra-fluid mind behind Do the Right Thing beset by funding problems and a general lack of purpose was shooting films like Da Sweet Blood of Jesus (a horror movie about a cursed dagger). Fortunately, the stars aligned for BlacKkKlansman and here we are. Lees second war movie is dominated by a black man who loves Trump. To put it mildly, Vietnam vet Paul (Delroy Lindo, London-born and raised), is NOT woke. And he probably wouldnt be a fan of the Black Lives Matter protests currently transforming the worlds political landscape. But hes a great character. Paul is one of four buddies who return to Nam to do right by their leader, Stormin Norman (Chadwick Boseman), killed on the battlefield and denied a proper burial. Paul, Otis (Clarke Peters; delicious), Eddie (Norm Lewis) and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock Jr) are also after a chest of gold they hid last time around, its whereabouts revealed by satellite images to which theyve recently gained access. They arrive in a Ho Chi Minh City that looks and sounds pungently real. Otiss former Vietnamese lover helps them make a deal with a frosty Frenchman (Jean Reno), and having gained a new addition Pauls teacher son, David (Jonathan Majors) the gang head for the jungle. Da 5 Bloods is the first movie Ive seen since lockdown began that made me yearn to be in a packed cinema. It might have been funded by Netflix but the story has been designed to get a reaction from crowds to make them not only think about injustice, systemic racism, sexism and the horrors of landmines but also guffaw at snakes and roar the words look behind you! Fortnite-obsessed 11-year-olds will get it. So will anyone who loved Girls Trip. While all the characters are damaged, Pauls prejudice and self-loathing and greed are what drive the movie. He spits out the word gooks as if applying balm to an infected wound. By the end of the movie hes looking into the camera and screaming: You will not kill Paul! Hes a victim of trauma-induced schizophrenia. Hes a figment of his creators imagination, fighting for his meta-narrative life. Whatever way you look at Paul, his anguish is raw to the touch. Though Lindo is and always has been brilliant (and has worked with Lee several times before), hes less well known, which makes him just right to play a man whos sick of being sidelined. And Majors makes almost as big an impression. Unless youve saw him in quirky indie epic The Last Black Man in San Francisco (in which he played a shy outsider), the 30-year-old will be an unknown quantity. Less of a Stormin Norman than a Docile David, hes the ying to Bosemans yang. Hes also this films secret weapon, utterly crucial to an ending that will lift your spirits and make you want to take to the streets. Netflix A woman who lost her legs in an IRA bomb is to take legal action against the Stormont Executive over the delay in the delivery of a victims' pension scheme. Jennifer McNern sustained horrific injuries when she was 21 in the 1972 Abercorn restaurant bomb in Belfast city centre. Her sister Rosaleen also lost her legs, and her right arm, in the explosion. Ms McNern will seek leave to apply for a judicial review in Belfast High Court early next week. The legal action will focus on the Executive's "failure to comply with legislation to provide payments for those severely injured through no fault of their own during the Troubles". The Victims' Payment Scheme had been due to open for applications on May 29. But a row over the definition of a victim has meant that didn't happen, and structures passed into law at Westminster in January to administer the scheme aren't in place. Victims sent a pre-action protocol letter to the Executive asking for an explanation three weeks ago. But last night they said that Stormont's response was "totally inadequate" and they now had no other option but to pursue the matter through the courts. Expand Close A man injured in the Abercorn bombing / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A man injured in the Abercorn bombing Alan McBride, coordinator of the Wave trauma centre, and who lost his wife Sharon and father-in-law Desmond Frizzell in the IRA's 1993 Shankill bombing, said he fully supported Ms McNern's legal action. "In our letter to the Executive, we spelt out how upsetting it is for victims - some of whom live with the most awful injuries - that the structures to set up the pension scheme aren't in place. "We asked when this would happen, when a department would be nominated to administer the scheme, and when the pension would actually be delivered to victims. "The answers we got back show that no significant progress has been made by Stormont. Jennifer McNern's lawyers will be working over the weekend and legal action will be launched against the Executive early next week. Quite frankly, I think it's disgraceful that victims have been put in this position." Mr McBride said that victims had taken their case to Westminster and that MPs had listened last year. "They legislated for a scheme and we thought that at last we were getting somewhere. "It was then up to the restored Executive to fulfil its legal and moral obligations to those who have suffered so much, but they are refusing to do so." Sinn Fein opposes the draft criteria for the scheme, which narrows the definition of victims to exclude those injured at their own hand or sentenced to more than two-and-a-half years in prison. It is refusing to allow a Stormont department to handle the scheme which would begin the process of the fund being administered. Sinn Fein blames the British Government for the delay and says its criteria is flawed and discriminates against ex-prisoners. There has also been a stand-off between Belfast and London over who pays the estimated 100m cost of the scheme, but Stormont sources believe that a compromise on this matter can be reached if the structures are set up. DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said: "Whatever Sinn Fein's objection to ineligibility of bombers, they should acknowledge that people without convictions are utterly deserving. It is inhumane and heartless to block this pension." Sinn Fein MLA Linda Dillon said her party wants a pension which meets the needs of all victims. "The British Government proposals on a victims' pension are unfair and discriminatory and do not reflect the Stormont House Agreement," she added. The scheme would mean payments of 2,000-10,000 a year for victims. Back in 2017, Statistics Canada predicted that by 2036, the number of people living in the country and practicing non-Christian religions would almost double. The article also mentioned that this group would specifically include Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. This opinion seems to agree with a report by the National Post, which showed the Muslim population growth rate at 72.53 percent, Hindu at 67.68 percent, and Sikh at 63.43 percent. Also surprising: the percentage of people who have no religion, or non-believers, also grew, to 63.68 percent. These numbers are much higher than the other religions listed, with some such as Jewish and Roman Catholic on the decline. Statistics Canada also claimed that most of the countrys immigrant population would stay concentrated in its largest cities, including Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. Reports also suggest that in the coming years, half of Canadas immigrant population will be arriving from Asian countries, while immigration from European nations will drop down to 15 percent. The transition will be clearly seen in work-age people here, with up to 40 percent being visible minorities. This high rate of immigration from Asian countries is set to change the religious demographics of the country significantly. Canada's Religious Composition Panoramic view of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church and CN Tower - Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Image credit: Diego Grandi/Shutterstock.com Worldpopulationreview has the most up-to-date figures on population, with Canadas shown at 37,724,826 in June of 2020. Toronto was the most populous city. However, the data on religious beliefs is only collected during every other census. The last figures for the country's religious composition is from 2011. According to it, the following is the share of the major religious groups in Canada's total population: 67 percent Christian 24 percent had no religion 2 percent Muslim 4 percent Sikh 1 percent Jewish Changing Religious Demographics People with signs which has a Canadian Flag welcoming refugees from Syria. Image credit: Arindambanerjee/Shutterstock.com In the 1970s and 1980s, most of Canadas immigrants were Europeans ahdering to the Christian faith. Now, about half are from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Two-thirds of Canadians (including adults and children) identify either as Catholic or as Protestant, but both Christian groups have seen substantial erosion in their shares of the total population according to the analysis by the Pew Research Centers Forum on Religion & Public Life. The percentage of Canadians who identify as Catholic has dropped from 47 percent to 39 percent over the last four decades, while the share that identifies as Protestant has fallen even more steeply, from 41 percent to 27 percent. The growth of non-believers has also been seen as younger, religiously unaffiliated people are replacing more observant, older generations. One out of ten Canadians who were born from 1947 to 1966 had no religious affiliation when surveyed in 1981; and one out of five had no religious affiliation in 2011. The data also showed that Canadian and U.S. men were less likely to be affiliated than females. It does appear that the influence of religion on public life in the country is waning. Another Pew Research survey showed that 64 percent of Canadian adults felt that religion was less important in the country than 20 years ago. Open Arms Canadianvisa.org claimed that one of Canadas core values is multiculturalism, and it was the first country on earth to adopt a policy of such. Some feel that Canada is more accepting of different cultures and religions that other places. As a result, its environment may be more welcoming and tolerant for immigrants of the Islamic faith. Another one of Canadas rig draws is that permanent residents have access to free healthcare until they turn 25. People are also attracted to the countrys education, as it is subsidized by the Canadian government up to secondary school. Changes Are A-Coming Canadas second-largest religion is now Islam. As the Islamic population grows, Globalnews predicted that less people will be speaking English and French here in the future. It is thought that the percentage of native-speaking Francophones will drop, and more people will be bilingual. This will possibly impact education and many other parts of society. There have been some cultural clashes, as well. Last year, the Quebec government passed a bill to cancel 16,000 immigration applications; it appeared as though they were attempting to slow down immigration. In June of 2019, Quebecs government also passed a law that barred public employees such as judges, police officers, and teachers from wearing religious symbols at their workplaces. This included Muslim head scarves and Sikh turbans as well as Catholic crosses and Jewish skullcaps. Though Quebec premier Francois Legault stated that it was necessary to protect the separation of religion and state, there was a public outcry that these regulations opposed civil liberties. Catherine McKenzie is a lawyer for a group that is trying to overturn the law, and was working to challenge it in Quebec Superior Court. This government is introducing a law that tramples on the rights of thousands of people, she said. There was a rally in April of 2019 in Montreal before the religious symbols bill was passed, with thousands of people protesting. She's been enjoying some downtime amid California's coronavirus lockdown. And Heather Graham appeared to be making the most of her time in quarantine as she was seen heading to a beach in Malibu on Thursday. The actress, 50, looked stylish in a white floral-print playsuit which had a plunging neckline and cut-out details on the shoulders for a chic flair, and showed off her slender legs. Stunning: Heather Graham, 50, showed off her slender legs in a floral-print playsuit and an orange swimsuit as she headed to the beach in Malibu on Thursday Heather's outerwear revealed a glimpse of her orange polka-dot swimsuit that she wore underneath, which had a halterneck design. The Twin Peaks star covered her golden tresses with a large sun hat and shielded her eyes with a pair of chic orange tinted shades. She stepped out in a pair of strapped sandals and kept her accessories minimal so that all attention remained on her ensemble. Summer ready: The Twin Peaks star covered her golden tresses with a large sun hat and shielded her eyes with a pair of chic orange tinted shades Before the coronavirus pandemic, Heather was on a promotional tour for her drama film The Rest Of Us. The thespian represented the movie at a special screening in February at a SAG-AFTRA Foundation event in Los Angeles. Heather portrays the role of a single mother who reluctantly takes in her ex-husband's second wife as a houseguest after his untimely death leaves his new family homeless. Busy bee: Before the coronavirus pandemic, the screen star was on a promotional tour for her drama film The Rest Of Us (pictured at LA premiere on February) The Rest Of Us premiered last September at the Toronto International Film Festival and opened in theaters on Valentine's Day. Heather first rose to prominence aged 17, when she played the role of Mercedes Lane opposite Corey Haim and Corey Feldman in the 1988 teen comedy License To Drive. The TV and film star garnered critical acclaim a year later for her performance in Gus Van Sant's gritty drama Drugstore Cowboy and later was featured in Boogie Nights and Swingers. Samaru Madkami, a 7th grader who converted to Christianity in 2017 had been receiving threats ever since his conversion to Christianity. Along with him and his dad, Christians, in general, have been harassed by local villagers in India who are not believers. In the night of June 4, 2020 in the east Indian village of Kenduguda in Odisha state, Hindu extremists and villagers came to Samaru's house with sticks and knives. They proceeded to stone Samaru to death and then burying his slain body before fleeing the scene. Samaru's family and other believers in their village believe Samaru was murdered because of his conversion to Christianity and for his determination to share about his newly found passion and love for God. Pastor Bijay shared about Samaru's passion for Christ in a statement, "He always shared from the Bible with youth and children from the village." Samaru and his father were active at the Bethel House Church led by Pastor Bijay. "If anything happens to my pastor, I will not fear. I will take charge of pastor's work and serve the Lord," Pastor Bijay recalled Samaru's words. Similar to Samaru's death, another incident where Christians were murdered for their faith in Odisha state was back in 1999 when a father and his two sons were burned alive by a Hindu fundamentalist group. 65 million Christians living in India are persecuted for their love for Christ -- as India, the world's second-most populous country ranks as the 10th most dangerous country for Christians. The pandemic doesn't seem to have helped the persecution either. A local Open Doors partner shared about the Christian persecution situation in India, "We are receiving news of persecution incidents from many areas, even in this situation where people have been ordered to stay inside their home. In fact, we believe that during this phase of lockdown, Christians are suffering even more than before, since most of them have to now combat economic problems as well as the opposition and hatred from the community." Prayers go out to believers who are standing strong in their faith in India. By John Whitesides and Jason Lange WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Georgia's tumultuous primary elections on Tuesday offer a grim preview of what could happen in November if states move to voting by mail and polling places are sharply reduced due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. A huge increase in absentee ballots overwhelmed officials and many voters did not receive requested ballots By John Whitesides and Jason Lange WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Georgia's tumultuous primary elections on Tuesday offer a grim preview of what could happen in November if states move to voting by mail and polling places are sharply reduced due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. A huge increase in absentee ballots overwhelmed officials and many voters did not receive requested ballots. That forced some to crowd into consolidated polling places on election day, exacerbating the hours-long waits for those voting in person. Unless states expand early in-person voting and make more polling places available, the chaos that plagued Georgia's voting could become the norm in the Nov. 3 general election, Democrats and voting rights groups warn. The problems, which also included issues with voting machines rolled out for the first time on Tuesday, were particularly prevalent in minority neighborhoods in Democratic strongholds of Fulton County and DeKalb County in metropolitan Atlanta. That has raised fears among Democrats and voting rights groups that tens of thousands of voters, especially African Americans, could be disenfranchised. Tuesday's contests were relatively low-stakes primary elections, featuring nominating battles including the White House race where President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden have already secured their parties' nominations. But Georgia, a long-time Republican bastion, has emerged as a vital political battleground in November. Biden is hoping a strong African-American turnout can make him competitive with Trump in Georgia, and two U.S. Senate seats are in play that could be crucial to control of the chamber. "We have to address these problems now," said Helen Butler, executive director of the Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda, a voting rights group. "If we don't, we'll be right back in the same place in November." The meltdown in Georgia was the latest example of voting problems amid the coronavirus pandemic. Voters in South Carolina and Nevada also encountered long lines on Tuesday. As in some other states, the final results in some Georgia races were delayed as officials tallied up a record volume of mail ballots. About 1 million voted by mail, roughly 30 times the 37,000 votes cast by mail in the 2016 primary elections. In Pennsylvania, votes were still being counted on Wednesday a week after its June 2 primary. The state has not reported results for four of more than 9,000 voting districts, according to its election results website. The delayed results in battleground states such as Pennsylvania and Georgia have raised the prospect that November's winner may not be known on election night. Counting mail ballots is often slower because a voter's identity must first be validated, a process handled in a polling center for ballots cast in person, said Richard Hasen, a professor of law and political science at the University of California, Irvine. UNPREPARED Georgia had pushed back its voting from March and mailed absentee ballot requests to 6.9 million active voters in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Along with the 1 million Georgians who cast absentee ballots by mail, more than 300,000 voted early. But Tuesday's problems suggest officials were unprepared for large numbers also voting in person on election day, particularly in counties with large black populations in and around Atlanta, where dozens of polling stations closed due to COVID-19 concerns. Fulton, which includes most of Atlanta and is 45% black, was operating only 164 of its planned 198 polling locations. In DeKalb County, which includes part of Atlanta, 27 polling stations in 191 voting precincts were moved because of worries over the novel virus, said county executive Mike Thurmond, a Democrat. Despite expanded voting by mail, voters of color have been slow to embrace it. A statewide study in May by a University of Florida professor showed Hispanic voters requested absentee ballots at a rate about three times lower than white voters, while black voters requested them at about half the rate of white voters. "They need to come up with a plan for high voter turnout in person," said Susannah Scott, the president of the League of Women Voters of Georgia. In Georgia, difficulties with new voting machines slowed the process further. Many workers were not adequately trained on the new equipment, while some polling locations struggled to start the machines or did not receive the equipment in time to start, officials said. Fulton County's top election official, Richard Barron, said Tuesday was a "learning experience" and officials would try to improve poll worker training and the absentee ballot process for November. Georgia's Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who called for probes into the problems in Fulton and DeKalb counties, blamed county officials who did not adequately train workers. Raffensperger told Reuters he would take a "hard look" at whether to send absentee ballot applications to all active voters for November, as he did for the primary. "We did that because of the situation with COVID-19, and we don't know where we will be in November," he said. (Reporting by John Whitesides and Jason Lange; Editing by Soyoung Kim and Stephen Coates) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. HOUSTON, June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Flotek Industries, Inc. ("Flotek" or the "Company") (NYSE: FTK) welcomes Kevin W. Brown to its Board of Directors. He will serve on the Audit Committee. As a part of Flotek's recent purchase of JP3, Mr. Brown was nominated to the Flotek Board of Directors. Most recently, he served on the Board of Managers of JP3 Measurement, LLC, prior to its purchase by the Company. He also serves on the Board of Directors of GCP Applied Technologies, Inc., a leading global provider of construction products technologies, where he is a member of the Compensation Committee and the Strategy, Operating and Risk Committee. Previously, Mr. Brown was a senior leader at global chemical company LyondellBasell Industries N.V., where he was Executive Vice President, Manufacturing & Refining, from 2015 to 2017, and Senior Vice President, Refining, beginning in 2009. Prior to that, Mr. Brown spent 22 years at Sinclair Oil Corporation, an American petroleum corporation, in various roles, including having served as Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President of Operations, from 1994 to 2009, and also serving as a director from 2006 to 2009. From 2005-2017, Mr. Brown served in various leadership roles with the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association, later renamed AFPM, including Chairman (2008-2009), Vice Chairman (2008) and Member of the Executive Committee (2005-2017). Mr. Brown received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Arkansas, where he recently completed a term as Chairman of the Dean's Advisory Council for College of Engineering and currently serves on the Campaign Arkansas Steering Committee. John W. Gibson, Jr., Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Flotek stated: "We are excited to welcome Kevin to the Flotek board. He will be an important asset to the Company, contributing his knowledge and extensive professional network in the downstream market which is particularly timely and beneficial, as JP3 and Phillips 66 advance their joint data service solution offering for refined fuels transmix reduction. Additionally, he brings a depth of expertise in chemistry and its applications, accelerating opportunities to advance synergies across the business and full hydrocarbon stream." Mr. Brown stated: "I am grateful to have the opportunity to partner with John Gibson and the rest of the Flotek board as we work together to strengthen the Company through accelerated growth. I am particularly pleased to be able to continue to work with JP3, as the company pivots from a startup company to a more fully developed commercial operation as part of the Flotek family. Throughout my four-decade career as a refiner, I recognized the need to better define the quality of hydrocarbon streams we purchased or transported to enable better commercial terms, make more efficient operating decisions and reduce product downgrades. JP3, with Flotek's backing, is filling the analytical void that has limited our ability to evaluate crude quality." About Flotek Industries, Inc. Flotek empowers the energy industry to maximize the value of their hydrocarbon streams and improve return on invested capital through data-driven platforms and chemistry technologies. Flotek serves downstream, midstream and upstream customers, both domestic and international. Flotek is a publicly traded company headquartered in Houston, Texas, and its common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "FTK." For additional information, please visit Flotek's web site at www.flotekind.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements set forth in this press release constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) regarding Flotek Industries, Inc.'s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Words such as will, well-positioned, strong position, guidance, looking forward, continue, expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements in this press release. Forward-looking statements in this press release are not historical facts, but reflect the good faith judgment of management and current assumptions and beliefs regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside the Company's control. Such statements include estimates, projections, and statements related to the Company's business plan, objectives, expected operating results, and assumptions upon which those statements are based. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements. Further information about the risks and uncertainties that may impact the Company are set forth in the Company's most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K (including, without limitation, in the "Risk Factors" section thereof), and in the Company's other SEC filings and publicly available documents. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this press release. SOURCE Flotek Industries, Inc. Related Links http://www.flotekind.com A Georgia sheriff shared a meme calling to 'get back to the tradition of hanging' in early May, sparking outrage when an activist re-shared it weeks later amid the George Floyd protests. Sheriff Harry Young, who has held the position in Grady County, south Georgia for 16 years, shared a meme on his personal Facebook page in early May depicting prisoners waiting to be executed underneath a set of gallows. The text over the image reads: 'Can we get back to the tradition of hanging traitors?' Young's post was forgotten for a number of weeks before local community activist, Laura Register shared it a second time, shortly after the death of George Floyd, saying she was 'completely disgusted' at the comments. Sheriff Harry Young, who has held the position in Grady County, south Georgia for 16 years, shared a meme on his personal Facebook page in early May She also inferred that people of color were likely to receive unfair treatment under his jurisdiction. The sheriff responded, passing a comment on the looting that followed protests across the country at the start of the month. 'If you like destroying hard working people's property because of one officer's horrible decision then you are the problem!!!' Young wrote. On 4 June, despite backlash from Register and other residents, Young said he would not apologize for the post and that resignation was out of the question, the Times Enterprise reported. Sheriff Harry Young, Grady Co Sheriff's Office, in an undated photograph. Young said 'I'm not a coward' and said he would not be resigning in the weeks after the allegations 'I'm not a coward,' he said. 'I'm not going to let some people who have no idea about anything in law enforcement or what you have to do in law enforcement sit there and make up rules that I need to do.' He added that the negative responses on social media mostly came from people who hate President Donald Trump and other Republicans, adding that one of the users was someone who had a personal vendetta against him for being arrested numerous times, adding they 'have no respect for the law.' Young said many residents had reached out to him to offer support. In an interview with the Times Enterprise, Register insisted that she didn't think Young should resign from his position. 'He is our top law enforcement officer, and that's the only reason I shared it,' she said. Young, who said he was a former Democrat, said that he employs as many black officers as white and that promotions are consistent. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-35, Russia's 4++ Generation multirole fighter, is adding new features to help its pilots fly in different and difficult situations with ease. One such feature being incorporated in MiG-35 is voice assistant help which can provide various recommendations to the pilot during a difficult and potentially dangerous situation. Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG Test Pilot Dmitry Selivanov told Sputniknews.com that the new voice assistant, which is unofficially called Rita, can suggest and even direct the pilot about the measures required during a particular situation. "Everything in the new fighter is aimed at helping the pilot. In a critical situation, it can even suggest what should be done. Apart from that, an expert system is being developed, which will direct the pilot in difficult situations. We call her Rita, the voice communicant. Her voice remains pleasant and calm even if a fire hits the engine. She does not talk all the time; she just makes recommendations if the plane approaches some restrictions. Hints are also provided during combat usage," Dmitry Selivanov was quoted as saying by Sputniknews.com According to Selivanov, the demonstration of the new voice assistant on the latest MiG combat aircraft being developed in single-seater and twin-seater versions has been progressing smoothly. The most difficult situation which a pilot is likely to face up in the air being currently being tested on the ground using simulators. Some of the situation being replicated include the cut-off of one engine or failure of a key system. "Of course, no one would test such emergencies during flights. The most important thing is that the test pilot is always ready for any developments. To ensure this, he should be well versed in the technical equipment. Nothing serious has happened to MiG-35 yet. There were only some routine issues, which were later adjusted." claimed Selivanov. Unveiled at the 2007 Aero India show in Bengaluru, the Russian fighter also entered the race for Indian Air Force (IAF) Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft deal for 126 jets. But the MiG-35 was later ruled out of the competition due to several shortcomings pointed out the IAF. The Russians now claim that the current MiG-35 is a completely new combat jet comparable to its top rivals in service with different air forces around the world. IAF test pilots Group Captain BS Reddy and Wing Commander FL Roy had in August 2019 flown the MiG-35 fighter at the International Aviation & Space Salon MAKS 2019 air show held at Zhukovskiy International Airport outside Moscow, Russia. At the ministrys regular press conference on June 11, Hang commented on the Vietnamese National Assemblys recent ratification of the EVFTA and EVIPA, as well as the plan to reopen the countrys market for the EU. She noted that the 14th-tenure parliament of Vietnam passed the resolutions ratifying the two deals on June 8, during its ninth session. The EVFTA is expected to take effect on August 1 this year while the EVIPA is set to become effective after it is ratified by EU member states. The ratification and early implementation of these agreements will generate concrete and practical benefits for the economies, businesses and peoples of both sides, creating new momentum for their comprehensive partnership and cooperation, according to Hang. Once coming into force, the two deals will help promote the Asia-Europe economic cooperation, international economic connectivity, trade liberalisation, along with equal, transparent and rules-based investment, thus contributing to peace, stability and development in both sides, as well as Asian and European regions and the whole world, the spokeswoman added. While Jordan was commended for being the first country in the region to impose a strict lockdown to confront and contain the coronavirus pandemic and with spectacular success just over 800 cases and nine deaths compared to tens of thousands of cases in Israel, Iraq and Saudi Arabia the government is now being criticized for taking its time to open up the economy and for failing to adopt measures to help ailing sectors. On June 6, almost 90% of businesses reopened and the curfew was limited to the early morning only. But the celebratory mood was short-lived as Jordanians ponder the huge economic impact of the lockdown and the governments measures, under a Defense Law that was activated in March to mitigate the losses. There are two main questions that occupy peoples minds: Have the governments measures exacerbated the economic blow and limited its role as a facilitator for a quick recovery? And when can Jordanians expect the lifting of the Defense Law under which the government was able to override laws and suspend articles in laws? One example of how the government used the Defense Law to absolve itself from responsibility toward both employers and employees is a May 31 decision by Prime Minister Omar Razzaz allowing employers to reduce wages of employees who are on duty by 30% for May and June, and by 50% for employees who are not required to work yet. For the latter, the employer does not require the approval of the Ministry of Labor or the employee. The decision also allows employers in extremely damaged sectors to reduce wages of all employees by 60% and without the approval of the Ministry of Labor. This decision has shocked public opinion and was seen as an abuse of the Defense Law as well as suspending the role of the Ministry of Labor, which is supposed to protect Jordanian workers. Economic columnist Khaled al-Zubaidi described the prime ministers decision as having an extreme impact on hundreds of thousands of Jordanian workers. Writing in Ad-Dustour daily on June 1, Zubaidi said that the majority of Jordanian workers are already suffering as a result of the lockdown while they still have to pay rent, repay bank loans, and so on. The government should have sought of ways to inject money into ailing sectors just as other governments have done around the world, as well as offering workers direct aid in these difficult times, he said. As a result, Zubaidi predicted that the number of Jordanians who will be unable to repay their bank loans will spike leaving most of them as victims to their employers on the one hand, and to banks on the other. A recent International Monetary Fund report noted Jordans positive steps in dealing with the virus that causes COVID-19, but warned that the "near-term economic outlook has worsened considerably." Jordans economic output is forecast to fall, the fiscal deficit and public debt are increasing, and there is a projected $1.5 billion balance of payment gap. While the government did not launch an economic stimulus program to help ailing sectors, it did initiate a three-month plan to provide monetary aid to thousands of day laborers at a cost of $120 million. Most of the money comes from a special fund that the government had set up to receive donations from public and private companies. The head of that fund, former Prime Minister Abdel Karim Kabariti, told the local media May 30 that he was disappointed that donations had stopped at 93.5 million Jordanian dinars ($132 million) only. He noted that the government will decide how the money will be disbursed. Calls by the private sector for the government to lower the sales tax on goods and services in order to stimulate public consumption have not been heeded. And in a surprise move on June 8, Razzaz canceled a council of ministers decision taken only four days before to delete fines and offer deductions on fees related to land, building and professions licenses for this year and previous years. State Minister for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said June 8, The decision was made so that the government can review it and expand tax exemptions and deductions to benefit more citizens and commercial entities. In a meeting with local journalists on June 8, King Abdullah stressed the importance of a quick economic recovery from the impact of the coronavirus disease to protect Jordanians, according to a Royal Court statement. He said that Jordans economy is poised to recover quickly, referring to plans to develop agricultural, pharmaceutical and medical supply industries, while also focusing on domestic tourism and appealing to international visitors by promoting trail, medical and film tourism within preventive measures that reflect Jordans capabilities to attract and protect tourists. But Jordanian economic experts believe that the government has been slow to take the initiative and offer a path to economic recovery. In addition to major losses to vital sectors such as travel and tourism, which constitute about 10% of the gross domestic product, the country will face a spike in the unemployment rate, which was already high before the pandemic at 19%, as well as mounting public debt, now standing at more than 30 billion Jordanian dinars ($42 billion). Economic analyst and columnist Salameh al-Dirawi wrote in Al-Ghad daily June 10 that Jordanians have the right to be worried because the government borrowed more than 1.4 billion Jordanian ($2 billion) from local banks in the last three months while borrowing more than 400 million Jordanian dinars ($564 million) from the Social Security Corporation. The main feature of the government is lack of openness when it comes to the economy, he said. The government has said that it is committed to paying salaries of the public sector for two years when in fact it had to borrow money locally to pay for current expenses. It should have been transparent from the start. Dirawi continued that instead of injecting money into the economy the government has suspended all bonuses and allowances for the public sector until the end of the year and canceled this years bread subsidy saving the Treasury more than 304 million Jordanian dinars ($429 million). This silent government should be open with the public about the state of the economy as a result of the lockdown and should tell citizens that it has no option but to borrow in order to meet its monthly expenses, he said. Political commentator Labib Qamhawi told Al-Monitor that the government may have abused its powers under the Defense Law while failing to rescue the economy. The need to suspend the Defense Law and return the government to its constitutional framework is urgent now that the threat of the coronavirus has receded, he said. The priority now must be to ensure economic recovery because there is a feeling that while the government may have succeeded in thwarting the health crisis it has failed so far in finding solutions to our economic quandary; the government cannot use one success in one crisis to counterbalance its failure somewhere else. Professor of political science Abdullah Swallha told Al-Monitor that the government is using the Defense Law to extend its life rather than to concentrate on opening the economy as the rest of the world. The government is using the threat of the coronavirus to manage citizens politically and socially when it should be focusing on how to create jobs and attract investments, he said. The government was not doing well before the pandemic and the health crisis has come as a gift to give it a new lease of life. Project management consultant Ibrahim al-Ajlouni believes that the government has failed to translate the kings directives about reviving the economy into an action plan. He told Al-Monitor that we may have missed a precious opportunity to restructure the Jordanian economy and erase any aberrations. All economic laws needed deep revisions so that we can create a new relationship between the public and private sectors, rearrange our priorities by focusing on productive sectors and reassuring foreign investors, he said. But what happened is that the government refused to engage the private sector in its discussions and came up with so-called solutions that will do nothing to revive the economy; I am afraid we have failed to turn the crisis into an opportunity. Patrick Semansky-Pool /Getty SEOULThe younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is taking center stage in an escalating, and very nasty, campaign against South Korea. If Kim Jong Un Dies, His Younger Sister Is Primed to Take Over While Numero Uno Kim Jong Un stays out of sight, 32-year-old Kim Yo Jong is putting her name on calls to punish Seoul. The proximate cause of her orchestrated wrath is the success defectors to the South have had launching balloons to drop leaflets in Kim Jong Un-land that bear heavy-handed messages about his supposed ill health, his egregious human-rights violations, and the general poverty of the North Korean people compared to the luxurious lifestyles of the elite. I would like to ask the south [sic] Korean authorities if they are ready to take care of the consequences of evil conduct done by the rubbish-like mongrel dogs, she said, professing to detest those who feign ignorance or encourage more than those who move to do others harm. A subsequent report by the news agency of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, which is to say the North, declared, The south [sic] Korean authorities connived at the hostile acts against the DPRK, and accused Seoul of trying to dodge heavy responsibility with nasty excuses. The Norths Korean Central News Agency cited Kim Yo Jong and Kim Yong Chol as the figures who decided to cut off the fragile connections previously agreed to by the leaders of the two Koreas. In consequence, the dream of reconciliation by South Koreas President Moon Jae-in appears to be drifting away over the horizon. North Korea is not only ignoring Moons entreaties for dialogue but cutting off channels that Moon proudly established after meeting Kim for what seemed like a landmark summit in the truce village of Panmunjom more than two years ago. Daily communication between North and South on telephone links between liaison officers, once hailed as symbols of reconciliation, have been terminated, it would seem, on the orders of Kim Yo Jong, although theres little doubt big brother is backing her up. Story continues It was in her capacity as first vice department director of the central committee of the Workers Party that she and the party vice chairman, Kim Yong Chol, decided there was nothing to discuss with South Korean authorities. The fact that she played a leading role in the decision despite her minor formal title clearly suggests that shes operating as a stand-in for her brother, the party chairman, who has delegated broad responsibilities to her while he keeps out of sight. She now appears to exercise real control over Kim Yong Chol, a former top-level intelligence official and negotiator who lost influence after the failure to get rid of sanctions in three meetings between President Trump and Kim Jong Un, even as the North avoided giving up its nuclear program. The KCNA report on the cut-off of communications was brimming with rage against the South, even though President Moons name was not mentioned. Seouls authorities connived at the hostile acts against the DPRK, initials for Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, it said, accusing the South Koreans of treacherous and cunning behavior. South Korean officials have been uncertain how to respond, remaining silent on the cut-off but promising to introduce legislation making the balloon launches illegal. The Souths unification ministry said its also drafting charges against two defector groups for sending stuff to North Korea without approval. The balloons often carry U.S. dollar bills and South Korean candy bars as reminders of the good life south of the DMZ. On a practical level, the cut-off of pro forma hi-and-goodbye calls and sporadic visits to a little used but sparkling liaison office built by South Korea at the shuttered industrial complex at Kaesong, next to Panmunjom, had almost no meaning. But Moon had held high hopes of building on these beginnings, opening up North-South trade and regular visits on a scale not seen since before the Korean War. Judging from the fierceness of the North Korean rhetoric, renewed dialogue between South and North does not seem likely any time soon, and any hopes that Kim Yo Jong would soften her brothers approach seem misplaced, given the role shes playing at the center of the standoff. Indeed, she might be even tougher than the brother, who may be suffering from the effects of diabetes brought on by obesity, heavy drinking, and smoking. Adding to concerns about the rhetoric from the North was the use of the word enemy in referring to the South. The KCNA report on the cut-off of communications said that Kim Yo Jong and Kim Yong Chol had stressed that the work toward the south should thoroughly turn into the one against the enemy. The two discussed phased plans, said the report, in order to make the betrayers and riff-raff pay for their crimes. It was in that spirit, it said, that they gave an instruction to completely cut off all the communication and liaison lines between the north and the south. (North Korea, viewing all Korea, North and South, as one country, uses the lower case in north and south.) None of the reports attacked Moon or other South Korean leaders by name, leaving open the slight possibility that some give-and-take might be possible, but the implications were worrying. South Koreans have been have been sending leaflets across the DMZ for many years, said David Straub, a former senior diplomat at the U.S. embassy in Seoul and on the Korea desk at the State Department, so its clear that North Koreas complaints about them are only a pretext for something else it has in mind. One of the riff raff whom Kim Yo Jong detests is Ji Seong-ho, who lost a leg when caught under a train during an attempt to defect from North Korea before he finally managed to escape. Ji, elected to the South Korean national assembly last month, totally believes in bombarding North Korea with leaflets. The distribution of leaflets to North Korea is a human rights issue that secures the right of North Koreans to know, he argues. The campaign to distribute leaflets to North Korea is a human rights movement recognized by the international community. The point is to inform North Koreans who are oppressed by the Norths hereditary dictatorship and trampling on their human rights. We need to save our compatriots. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. MORE than 100 TC Islanders came back to the territory this week from the United Kingdom and Italy, while several Bahamians returned home. A British Airways flight safely transported 114 citizens from London on Thursday (June 11). The return route was organised through a partnership with the TCI Government, the Governors Office and the Cayman Islands government. The Government secured seats for residents and covered travel costs for students under a full scholarship, partial scholarship or grant who wished to return home. Meanwhile, Bahamians who were able to secure seats were transported by a special Bahamasair flight back to Nassau, Bahamas. Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson thanked the partners and welcomed the TCI residents home. Minister of Tourism Ralph Higgs, speaking on June 1, said that Cabinet on May 15 gave consent to allow for the borders to be opened to allow citizens to return home. "To date we have seen the return of persons from the Dominican Republic and some recently trained police officers from Barbados, he said. "Plans will continue over the next few weeks to bring more Turks and Caicos Islanders home from the South Florida area and in conjunction with other countries in the region, trans-Atlantic flight for persons in those areas. "Our repatriation efforts will follow the stated regulations and are being planned closely with the Ministry of Health. He said efforts to bring resident home are "not without difficulty as many airports around the world are closed. "Despite the challenges these repatriation efforts are very important and we will see them through and ask for the cooperation of all concerned, he added. As of May 15, the Emergency Powers (Covid-19) (No. 4) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 came into operation. They provided for the return of Turks and Caicos Islanders, permanent residents and residence permit holders who are married to TC Islanders by international air travel. Additional flights will be announced to facilitate the return of residents prior to the reopening of the territorys borders on July 22. Any citizens wishing to return to the TCI can register with the Tourist Board by sending an email to [email protected] Applicants must provide their name, number travelling in party, contact information, country of departure and proof of legal status in the TCI. Returning residents should contact the airlines directly to book a seat. Details will be provided via email. They will be required to complete and submit to the airline a health screening questionnaire for Covid-19 prior to arrival in the Islands. They will be placed under quarantine in a specified place for a period of 14 days and will be monitored by a health officer for symptoms and signs of Covid-19. And they will be required to sign a quarantine order and to complete other relevant forms as required by the Ministry of Health. Ankara, June 13 : Turkish Foreign Ministry called on the United States to respect its judicial independence after Washington criticized a court ruling of a Turkish US consulate employee over terror-related charges. "The rule of law prevails in Turkey and the Turkish judiciary is independent... We ask the US authorities to respect the principle of judicial independence and stay away from any actions that may influence the judiciary," Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hami Aksoy said in a written statement on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported. The spokesperson blamed the US for becoming a "safe harbour" for members of Gulen movement, which the Turkish government accuses of orchestrating a failed coup attempt in 2016. He recalled that the US ignored Turkey's demand for the extradition of the Gulen movement members. "It is worrisome that our ally, who sees itself as the advocate of democracy, freedom and the rule of law, ignores these basic principles when it comes to Turkey and terrorist organisations," Aksoy said. Metin Topuz, an employee of the US consulate in Istanbul, was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison on Thursday over charges of aiding the followers of Fethullah Gulen, the US-based preacher who is accused in Turkey of being the mastermind of the 2016 coup attempt. The US Embassy in Ankara on Thursday tweeted that they are "deeply disappointed" at the decision. "We have seen no credible evidence to support this conviction and hope it will be swiftly overturned," said the statement. "For nearly three decades, Topuz performed outstanding work appreciated and lauded by officials and citizens of both countries. Under our direction, he promoted law enforcement cooperation between Turkey and the US, contributing to the safety of people in both nations," the statement said. People hold up placards to protest over the death of George Floyd outside the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct in Seattle, Washington on June 2, 2020. (Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images) Minneapolis City Council Passes Resolution to Replace Police With Community-Led Model The Minneapolis City Council unanimously on Friday passed a veto-proof resolution to pursue replacing its police department with a community-led public safety system. The murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, by Minneapolis police officers is a tragedy that shows that no amount of reforms will prevent lethal violence and abuse by some members of the Police Department against members of our community, especially Black people and people of color, the five city council members wrote in a resolution, reported Reuters. Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody, leading to nationwide protests and a resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Former officer Derek Chauvin, who faces second-degree murder charges in the case, was seen in a video with his knee on Floyds neck. The resolution said the city council will start a year-long plan to engage with every willing community member in Minneapolis to create a new public safety model. Days later, City Council President Lisa Bender, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, told news outlets that there are enough votes to dismantle the citys police department, although she didnt elaborate on the specifics. Bender also made comments on CNN that were widely criticized after saying that calling the police during a break-in comes from a place of privilege. Police take back the streets at around midnight after firing copious amounts of tear gas to disperse protesters and rioters outside the Minneapolis Police 5th Precinct during the fourth night of protests and violence following the death of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 29, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Last week, she vowed to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department and replace it with a transformative new model of public safety. Minneapolis City Council member Jeremiah Ellison, son of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, said he supports Benders calls to action. We are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department. And when were done, were not simply gonna glue it back together. We are going to dramatically rethink how we approach public safety and emergency response. Its really past due, Ellison, who had also professed his support for far-left militant group Antifa, wrote on Twitter. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, however, voiced opposition to the move. When he was asked by a group of protesters, Frey said he wouldnt commit to defunding the department before the crowd booed him and told him to go home. We need to entirely shift the culture that has for years failed black and brown people, he told NPR. We need a full structural revamp. But abolishing the police department? No, I think thats a bad idea. More than a dozen Minneapolis officers published a letter on Thursday that condemned the actions of Chauvin, expressing support for reforms, the Star-Tribune reported. They stopped short of calling for the abolishment of the police department. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey looks over a demonstration calling for the Minneapolis Police Department to be defunded in Minneapolis, Minn., on June 6, 2020. Frey spoke at the head of the march but was asked to leave by the organizers after declining to commit to fully defunding the MPD. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Following Floyds death, Minneapolis was overwhelmed by the riots, leading to a number of businesses being vandalized, looted, or destroyed. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who called in the National Guard, noted that the citys response to the unrest was an abject failure. One prominent manufacturing company, 7-Sigma Inc., will not return to Minneapolis. The owner told the Star-Tribune that he cannot trust public officials after the response after his plant burned. They dont care about my business, said Kris Wyrobek, president and owner of 7-Sigma Inc. They didnt protect our people. We were all on our own. The fire engine was just sitting there, Wyrobek added, but they wouldnt do anything. A former US Army sergeant in Florida fought off a nearly 13-foot alligator after it attacked his rescue dog during a morning walk. Trent Tweddale and his six-year-old dog, Loki, were walking along a riverbank near his Wesley Chapel farm in Pasco County on Monday. Tweddale told WFLA that Loki was standing in the river when an alligator lurking in the water suddenly lunged at the dog. 'The dog had his front paws in the river here that swelled after all the rain and the dog was attacked by a gator,' said Tweddale. He said the massive alligator grabbed Loki and pulled him into the water. Former US Army sergeant Trent Tweddale (pictured) fought of an alligator to save his dog, Loki, on Monday Tweddale, who was in the US Army for at least 10 years, quickly sprung into action. 'I grabbed the dogs collar to try to pull him back, and I ended up in a tug-of-war match with this gator, and the gator was not letting go,' said Tweddale. 'So I let go of the collar, and I got about knee-deep into the water and started pounding on the gators head until he eventually let go.' Tweddale only sustained minor scratches from the incident, but the gator nearly severed Loki's front right leg. Loki was rushed to a local veterinarian to undergo emergency surgery. Pictured: the river near Tweddale's Chapel Wesley farm in Pasco County, were Monday's incident took place Tweddale: 'I grabbed the dogs collar to try to pull him back, and I ended up in a tug-of-war match with this gator, and the gator was not letting go' Loki's front right leg was nearly severed by the alligator during the encounter and he was rushed to the veterinarian for emergency surgery 'When I pulled him back up, the bones were out and it looks like the arm was just hanging by a shred,' Tweddale explained. 'They put metal plates and screws in and were able to reconstruct it that way. Were hoping that he can regain full use of his paws after this.' Kristina Deak, Tweddale's wife, recalled in a Facebook post the heart-pounding moments after Loki was attacked and they rushed the dog to the veterinarian. 'I'll never forget running outside to his screams, holding Loki's shredded, broken leg together to stop the bleeding, and trying to keep him calm while Trent drove to the vet. I thought for sure Loki would die in my arms before we made it there,' she wrote. 'Loki started shaking extra hard in the last 15 minutes of the car ride and was in severe shock by the time we made it to the vet. 'When the vet took him in the building we weren't sure we'd ever see him again.' Kirstina Deak, Tweddale's wife, recalled the scary moments after Loki was attacked by the alligator in a Facebook post Pictured: six-year-old Loki with Trent Tweddale after undergoing emergency surgery on Monday Kristina Deak:'A gargantuan gator can crush [Loki's] leg but not his spirit, he's already wagging his tail like crazy and trying to follow us around the house' Deak then said that Loki is recovering from the encounter and is 'alive and back home, ready to be spoiled.' 'A gargantuan gator can crush his leg but not his spirit, he's already wagging his tail like crazy and trying to follow us around the house.' Now, Tweddale is determined to track down and catch the alligator who attacked Loki. He set up a trap for the gator with the help of Florida Fish and Wildlife using a rooster. Tweddale, with the help of Florida Fish and Wildlife, set up a alligator trap at the river in hopes of catching the massive reptile Tweddale said 'We love our dog a lot and Id fight tooth and nail for him' after recounting the incident involving Loki 'The trapper did not have any bait, so I grabbed one of my roosters and we used him as bait for the trap. We havent had any luck yet,' said Tweddale. 'We love our dog a lot and Id fight tooth and nail for him.' According to Defenders of Wildlife, a non-profit conservation organization, there are around 1.2 million alligators located across Florida. The reptile tends to be an opportunist feeder and usually pursue food that is 'abundant and easily accessible.' Alligators are in the midst of mating season, meaning that they can become more aggressive during this time. Actor Randeep Hooda had strictly been following the lockdown guidelines and did not step out during this period. However, after months the actor finally stepped out. An animal lover and activist, the actor made a special trip to meet his horse, Colossus, and the pictures of this reunion are such beyond adorable. The photos not only show Colossus, but also Bamby, Hoodas dog, who can be seen happily posing. To happy reunions, blue unpolluted skies and lots of love, Hooda captioned his post on Instagram. Shared some 16 hours ago, the post has collected over 1.1 lakh likes and many comments. Three days ago, the actor also shared a video of his sendoff for his horse Dream Girl to have a baby. My last visit to stables was to send away my baby #DreamGirl to have a baby to one of the best #Equine #vets #HasneynMirza father of the silver medal winner of the last #AsianGames and the only Olympic qualified Rider presently #FouaadMirza .. so far no good news but. Randeep made his Hollywood debut with Chris Hemsworth starrer Extraction recently and garnered praise for it. He will be seen next in Radhe, in which he plays the main antagonist. Also Read | Bird follows social distancing rules like a pro. Check it out Turkey reacted angrily to Twitters announcement yesterday that it had suspended over 7,000 fake and compromised accounts linked the youth wing of President Recep Tayyip Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP) that the social media giant said were used to amplify political narratives favorable to him and his ruling party. Twitter said the suspensions were part of a broader operation in which it had removed and suspended 32,242 accounts after investigations established their links to state-run propaganda and disinformation centers in China, Russia and Turkey. In a blistering statement, Erdogans communications director contested the companys assertion that the accounts were fake and run by a state-linked troll network. Fahrettin Altun called Twitters move an arbitrary act, hidden behind the smokescreen of transparency and freedom of expression that demonstrated yet again that Twitter is no mere social media company but a propaganda machine. Altun went on to accuse Twitter of seeking to support and promote black propaganda by anti-Turkish entities. In a thinly veiled threat, Altun added, We would like to remind this company of the eventual fate of a number of organizations, which attempted to take similar steps in the past. Altuns remarks prompted a flurry of derision and sympathy. Some tweeps likened him to Hitlers minister of propaganda, Joseph Goebbels. The hashtag #TrollerPatladi, which roughly translated means Trolls blown up, was trending on Turkish Twitter today as government critics celebrated the news. Thank you @Twitter for closing down the bot accounts managed by Turkey's presidency. Thank you for standing for the free democracy! We appreciate it very much.! #TrollerPatlad Burak Erim Yalcin (@burakerimy) June 12, 2020 Steven Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, called Altuns statement typical government claptrap. Cook added in emailed comments to Al-Monitor, Altun is seeking to undermine what Twitter has done to clean up its platform by insinuating that there is an ideological, anti-Turkish agenda at play. It will convince no one except the most ideologically committed to the AKP. Government sympathizers exhorted Altun to ban Twitter, something the government did for two weeks in 2014 after Erdogan vowed to wipe out Twitter. The move followed damaging allegations of graft within Erdogan's inner circle that began to circulate widely on social media. Altun's words today prompted speculation that the government may be gearing up for another ban. "This affair could result in a ban. I believe it's a good idea to get your VPNs ready," tweeted Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, Turkey director of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Turkey, alongside Russia, is the top petitioner for Twitter to remove content according to Twitters most recent transparency report. Twitter has become a veritable minefield in Turkey, where thousands of users have been investigated, prosecuted and in many cases detained on a panoply of thinly evidenced charges ranging from inciting terrorism to insulting Islam and Erdogan in their tweets. At the same time, its an effective tool to promote the AKPs own narrative through its alleged army of trolls who harass critics and besmirch them with wild accusations of violence and espionage, while at the same time attempting to hack their accounts. Twitter confirmed that the list of accounts it had removed includes several compromised accounts associated with organizations critical of President Erdogan and the Turkish government. These compromised accounts have been repeated targets of account hacking and takeover efforts by the state actors identified above. Their victims include Canaan Kaftancioglu, the gutsy provincial boss of the main opposition Republican Peoples Party Istanbul branch. Her account was temporarily suspended in May after being hacked by the so-called the Ebabil movement. The aggressively pro-Erdogan group surfaced online on May 10 vowing to combat tweeps who engage in enmity to the state. The number of accounts bearing its logo a bird in a yellow circle grew to 20,000 within weeks, according to the opposition newspaper Birgun. The Turkish accounts targeted by Twitter were created between June 9, 2008, and Jan. 18, 2020, according to Stanford Universitys Cyber Policy Center, which analyzed Twitters data in a report that was also released yesterday. They sought to drum up support for Turkey's military intervention against the Pentagon's Kurdish allies in northeast Syria and for a 2017 referendum to boost Erdogan's presidential powers among others, the center observed. Max Hoffman, associate director for national security and international policy at the Center for American Progress (CAP), said the DC-based think tanks recent research shows that government censorship and propaganda is feeding deep distrust of the mainstream media and driving many Turks particularly young voters to social media and online outlets that are seen as more independent. Hoffman told Al-Monitor in emailed comments that CAPs data showed that Turks who got their news on social media were more likely to oppose the government even after controlling for a range of other factors. So, it is a growing vulnerability for the AKP. This AKP bot network tells us that the party knows they have a problem on social media and with young voters, who were the main targets of the manipulation campaign. The pro-government camp is pushing back. Prominent pro-Erdogan columnist Hilal Kaplan, for example, called on her 528,000-plus Twitter flock to follow a new account set up in January to replace one that was removed in an earlier purge. The account, @FetoGercekleri, purported to counter disinformation spread by sympathizers of Fethullah Gulen, the Pennsylvania-based Sunni preacher who is accused of masterminding the July 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan. A prominent Turkish commentator who used to be a strong supporter of Erdogan insisted, however, that the Twitter cull had done little to dent the AKPs alleged cyber force. For example, the Pelican network, which everyone in Turkey is familiar with, hasnt been touched, he said. The so-called Pelican network of assorted pro-Erdogan figures is widely alleged to have laid the ground for the dismissal of Turkeys former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in May 2016 through a series of essays called the Pelican Dossier. They catalogued his alleged efforts to undermine Erdogan. The group is said to be led by Erdogans son-in-law, Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, and his businessman brother Serhat. The Pelican network is a black propaganda and fake news network that poisons democratic discourse and fabricates and spreads doctored videos and baseless news that is supported by the [Turkish] state, the commentator, who spoke on condition that he not be identified, told Al-Monitor via WhatsApp. He pointed to several accounts that he said operated on their behalf. Davutoglu, who set up his own Gelecek or Future party this year, hinted in an interview with oppositional Halk TV on May 26 that Erdogan was linked to the Pelican network. Davutoglu claimed without elaborating that Erdogan had visited the villa where the alleged group operates a think tank called Bosphorus Global. A new metal fence has been erected around the Chinese Consulate on the Malone Road, Belfast Belfast City Council has launched legal action to stop a metal wall being built around the Chinese Consulate. The local authority went to the High Court today seeking an injunction to restrain any further work on perimeter fencing erected at the headquarters in south Belfast. Lawyers for the council disputed any claims to diplomatic immunity over construction undertaken without planning permission. But the case was adjourned after the judge was informed that work has temporarily ceased. The security barrier, which reportedly replaced hedges, has provoked anger among some residents near the consulate located on the leafy Malone Road. Following complaints, Belfast Council began an enforcement investigation and served a temporary stop notice until planning issues could be resolved. Injunction proceedings were then commenced in an attempt to secure a judicial order for all associated building work to be halted. Denise Kiley, representing the Council, confirmed in court that the action was being taken against the Chinese Consul General in Belfast, Madame Zhang Meifang. "She is the occupier of the subject premises where, we say, works are being carried out in breach of planning control," the barrister contended. Rejecting claims that Madam Zhang is entitled to diplomatic immunity, Ms Kiley described those suggestions as "bland assertions". The hearing took place remotely due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation. During proceedings Madam Justice McBride was told correspondence from the consulate confirmed the building work has now stopped. Welcoming the development, she agreed to adjourn the application for further discussions between the two sides. The Tennessee Supreme Court today held that a citys employee handbook did not give a firefighter who was discharged a right to stay in his job. The Court clarified that employees can claim rights based on employee handbooks only when the handbooks say specifically they are intended to be a contract. Joshua Keller was hired by the city of Cleveland as a firefighter in December 2008. In 2009, he was convicted of driving under the influence. The city allowed him to remain employed as a firefighter if he underwent counseling for alcohol abuse. Two years later, Mr. Keller was drinking with some friends at his home. A fight broke out and Mr. Keller fired his gun twice, but did not hit anyone. The police officer who investigated said Mr. Keller was highly intoxicated. He was charged with reckless endangerment and aggravated assault. He pled guilty to simple assault. The citys fire chief recommended dismissing Mr. Keller. The fire chief said he could not condone this behavior from a firefighter and needed to uphold the standards of the fire department. The city agreed with his recommendation and discharged Mr. Keller. Under policies in the citys employee handbook, Mr. Keller filed an appeal to the city manager. After a hearing, the city manager upheld the decision to fire Mr. Keller. Mr. Keller filed a lawsuit against the city of Cleveland in the Bradley County Chancery Court. The lawsuit claimed Mr. Keller was deprived of his constitutional right to due process, based on policies and procedures in the citys employee handbook. The chancery court held that Mr. Keller had due process rights based on the employee handbook, but it dismissed his lawsuit because after he was fired Mr. Keller did not make reasonable efforts to find other employment. Mr. Keller appealed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. That court agreed with the chancery courts holding that Mr. Keller had due process rights based on the employee handbook, but it reversed the chancery courts dismissal of the lawsuit and held that the city had to pay damages to Mr. Keller. The Tennessee Supreme Court then granted the citys request to appeal. In its opinion, the Supreme Court pointed out that, in Tennessee, most employees are at-will employees, that is, they are hired for an indefinite period of time. At-will employees can legally be firedand can quitfor any reason, with or without cause, so long as there is not unlawful discrimination based on race or other protected categories. To be entitled to due process protection, Mr. Keller had to show he had a property interest in his employment that is protected under the Constitution, such as a contract right to continued employment. Mr. Keller claimed he had constitutionally protected property rights based on the citys employee handbook, and argued that the procedures in the handbook were unconstitutional. The Court explained that employers can adopt policies and procedures to promote fair, consistent treatment of employees, and can put those policies and procedures in an employee handbook. Unless the employee handbook says specifically that employer intends the handbook to be a contract with employees, the handbook will not change employees at-will status or give them a right to continued employment. In this case, the citys employee handbook said the opposite; it said specifically that the procedures in the handbook were not intended to be a contract and that all city employees were at-will employees. Under those circumstances, the Court said, Mr. Keller had no constitutionally protected property interest in his employment and no basis to make a due process claim against the city of Cleveland. The Court held in favor of the city of Cleveland and dismissed Mr. Kellers lawsuit. This case was heard in Kingsport as part of the Supreme Courts award-winning SCALES program. SCALES stands for Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students and brings the Supreme Court oral arguments directly to high school and college students. To read the unanimous opinion in Joshua Keller v. Janice Casteel et al., authored by Justice Holly Kirby, go to the opinions section of TNCourts.gov. The Opec Fund for International Development has signed a strategic partnership with Oman to help drive development in line with the country's ambitions to become a major regional logistics hub. The first joint project, the Alsharqiya Expressway Tunnels Project, is already under way to improve connectivity between the north and eastern regions of the country. The project is co-financed by a $130-million Opec Fund public sector loan and the Omani government. The project aligns with the sultanate's plans to strengthen the transportation sector to reinforce its credentials as a regional logistics hub: the Alsharqiya Expressway Tunnels Project is just one in a series of new investments with this goal in mind and the Opec Fund stands ready to provide further support. As part of the project, two twin-tube tunnels have been constructed with a combined length of around 4 km, said the Opec Fund in its statement. The tunnels safely bypass a critical floodplain, a major town and an area prone to landslides. The ultimate objective is to provide better access to jobs, markets and public services, it stated. Opec Fund Director-General Dr Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: "We are delighted to launch a major development partnership with Oman. It is befitting to mark the beginning of our cooperation with such a landmark project that includes the first-ever tunnels in the country and provides safer travel for over one million people." Established in 1976 by the then 13 member countries of Opec; including the UAE, the Fund is the development finance institution established as a channel of aid to developing countries. "We look forward to building our partnership and working on many more development projects together," noted Alkhalifa. The project aligns with a number of sustainable development goals including SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, and SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth. In addition, agriculture and tourism, two key sources of income-generation in the region, will be strengthened, he added.-TradeArabia News Service What rebound? North Dakota in economic crunch as virus batters oil, agriculture FILE PHOTO: Pumpjacks taken out of production temporarily stand idle at a Hess site while new wells are fracked near Williston By Laila Kearney and Karl Plume NEW YORK/CHICAGO (Reuters) - When the novel coronavirus first appeared in the United States, North Dakota was in the envious position of having more money in its state coffers than it had budgeted. Now, it is making sweeping cuts to state agencies in a bid to stem the financial bleeding from a historic oil price collapse sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, and a battered farm economy still struggling with the fallout from the U.S.-China trade war. Governor Doug Burgum has asked state agencies to begin slashing upcoming budgets between 5% and 15% to weather what he has described as an economic Armageddon as energy-related revenues plummet. North Dakota is among the states most dependent on both energy and agriculture. The impact of the virus and trade war on its lifeblood industries could ripple through its budget for years through cuts to education, government and highway services. With North Dakota generally maintaining a balanced budget and carrying little debt, its current struggles point to a long road to recovery for other U.S. states dependant on commodity production, many that were already on shakier financial ground when the virus hit. For a graphic, click https://tmsnrt.rs/2YqeVYr Oklahoma, one of the top producers of oil and wheat in the country, is projecting a $1.36 billion hole in its budget from the downturn. Alaska has suffered a credit downgrade, while New Mexico and Oklahoma have been given negative credit outlooks, meaning they're are on the verge of being downgraded. "Never after 25 years of working on the state budget have I been through a more volatile period of tremendous and multi-faceted changes," said Joe Morrissette, director of the state's Office of Management and Budget. The state's unemployment rate jumped to 8.5% in April, up from just 2% in March. Rising unemployment could cut North Dakota's tax revenues in half, according to North Dakota State University economists. State GDP may drop by 15% to 25% within a year, the economists said, putting it near the lowest in a decade. Story continues Signs of trouble are appearing across the state. At truck dealerships in the more-populous east, untouched rows of shiny vehicles are finding few buyers. There was a 29% drop in sales of medium and heavy-duty vehicles, and a 4% decline of lighter auto sales, in the first four months of 2020 compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data from the National Automobile Dealers Association. Extended stay hotels in the state's oil patch, normally buzzing with oilfield workers, sit largely unoccupied. "This energy slowdown happened right in conjunction with coronavirus. Our hotels went from a 70% to 80% occupancy rate to a 20% occupancy rate," said Rachel Richter Lordemann, president of the Williston Area Chamber of Commerce. Mineral rights owners, many who supplement their retirement income with royalty payments from oil and gas production in the state, have seen an 85% cut in payments compared to January, said Bob Skarphol a retiree with mineral rights and head of the Williston Basin Royalty Owners Association. "If you're someone who's living month to month on oil revenue, a drop like that is very significant and can force you to choose what not to pay - do you not pay your utility bill, do you not buy your drugs, do you not buy food?" Skarphol said. In Williston, an oil hub that has more than doubled in population over the last decade, specialty kitchen store Cooks On Main is selling far fewer pricy espresso machines and cutlery sets and far more staples like yeast, flour and coffee amid the pandemic and the oil crisis. "Everybody, no matter what industry you're in, is feeling some sort of negative impact," said owner Angela DeMars-Skogen. TAX REVENUES ERODE Taxes collected on oil production - the biggest contributor to North Dakota's tax revenue - more than halved to $95 million in March from around $200 million previously, said Morrissette. Oil producers have cut output quickly in North Dakota as benchmark prices fell below their costs of production. North Dakota's shale patch is prolific - the second largest in the country - but it's more expensive to pump oil from the state than from the giant shale fields of Texas. Oil and gas production tax revenue in North Dakota is 53% of all taxes collected, more than any other state and proportionally much higher than the 1.37% contribution to total tax revenue in the United States. Half of those revenues, which were projected to total $4.9 billion over the state's two-year budget, are redistributed to the school districts and localities where energy is produced, which will now get less than what was budgeted for. The rest goes into a series of special-purpose state funds and to North Dakota's general fund, the primary cash account that pays for day-to-day operations of the widest range of state agencies, from its university system to law enforcement. DOWN ON THE FARM Farming, the state's biggest industry and responsible directly or indirectly for nearly a quarter of all its jobs, is in a prolonged downturn, North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. The sector has suffered a string of crises in the past three years, from low prices due to global oversupply to crop-damaging storms and the U.S. trade war with China. North Dakota typically sells about two-thirds of its soybean crop to China, but those sales have been curtailed since 2018 due to the trade war. North Dakota's farmers are cutting spending and hoarding grain instead of selling at loss-making prices, with spring stockpiles of corn and soybeans reaching the second highest on record for the state. Paul Sproule, a farmer in Grand Forks, would normally trade in tractors and combine harvesters every two to three years for new ones. He is sticking with his existing farm fleet this year instead. "The economics aren't there," said Sproule. "You get what you absolutely need and repair what you've got. We'll be doing no purchasing at all." Five months after the two countries signed an interim trade deal that should have revived sales from North Dakota, tensions with China have risen over the virus, as well as China's policies toward Hong Kong. A survey by the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank found that 82% of agricultural lenders expect second-quarter farm incomes in North Dakota to fall from a year earlier, and 76% expect farm capital spending to decrease. The impact from the downturn will be more acutely felt once harvesting begins in late summer and farmers are unable to turn a profit on grain sales, said Frayne Olson, an agricultural economist at North Dakota State University. "There are only one or two crops, given today's prices, that a farmer can make any money on, and they are not the major ones like corn, soybeans or wheat," Olson said. (Editing by Simon Webb and Edward Tobin) Supreme Court New Delhi: An order will be issued on Friday on whether to pay full pay to workers of private companies and factories during lockdown. During the last hearing, the apex court had said that no action should be taken against the company owners who were unable to pay the full salaries to the employees till the order of the apex court in these cases. Supreme Court During the hearing in the Supreme Court, government said that when the lockdown started, the employees had issued a notice to stop them from leaving their place of work and going to their home states. But ultimately the matter is between the employees and the company and the government will not intervene. Advertisement In the last hearing, the apex court sought a reply from the Centre within a week. In this case, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court in which some industries expressed inability to pay their staff. LockdownDuring the hearing, the Centre told the apex court that the government involved in the lockdown had removed the condition of paying full pay to the employees during the lockdown in a new notification. The government has said that private companies are anxious to cut the salaries of their employees during lockdown, but industries have called the government's move insufficient. On this, some petitioners opposed the order not to pay full salary. Advertisement PhotoThe Supreme Court adjourned the hearing for a week and sought a reply from the government. The petitioners said that the work in the lockdown has come to a complete standstill, there is no income, the pockets are empty so in such a case from where to give salary to the staff, they said. In addition, several petitions have been filed by various industries, alleging that essential services industries were allowed to work in the lockdown, but most of the workers were ordered to pay full pay to all central government employees. Washington: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemns Uri terror attack on an army camp in North Kashmir's Uri town that killed 17 soldiers, Ban Ki-moon hoped the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice and all involved will work for the re-establishment of stability and prevent further loss of life. "The United Nations is following developments closely and shares the concerns of people living in the region for peace," a statement issued by Ban's spokesperson here said. Ban expressed hope that the perpetrators of the attack will be brought to justice and all stakeholders will meet their responsibilities to maintain peace and stability. Also Read: Live updates on Uri terror attack: PM Narendra Modi to meet top ministers today; Rajnath Singh reviews security situation "The Secretary-General hopes that the perpetrators of this crime will be identified and brought to justice," it said. He "hopes that all involved will prioritise the re-establishment of stability and prevent any further loss of life. The Secretary-General encourages all stakeholders to meet their respective responsibilities to maintain peace and stability," the statement said. Condemning the "militant attack", Ban expressed his "deepest sympathy and condolences" to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives and to the government of India and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the attack. Meanwhile, Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro, who succeeded Iranian President Hassan Rouhani as the head of the Non-Aligned Movement, also expressed solidarity with the people of India "who have suffered a terrorist attack." Also Read: Uri Attack: Bihar Regiment, Indian Army's bold and brave regiment "We are committed along with our brotherly people of the world to get into the depth of this problem that has generated proliferation of terrorist movements, which doesn't respect life and the need for coexistence of people," he said at a press conference after the summit in Margarita Island on Sunday. In one of the deadliest attacks on the Army in recent years, 17 soldiers were killed and 19 others injured as heavily armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the force in North Kashmir's Uri town early yesterday. Four militants involved in the terror strike were killed by the Army. The attack comes two years after militants had carried out a similar type of attack at Mohra in the same area. Ten security personnel were killed in the attack that took place on December 5, 2014. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 20:40:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The sobering death rate in the United States is a result of the country's "sluggish" anti-epidemic response, said an article published recently by Time magazine. "The stark disparity in COVID-19 death rates between the U.S. and other countries illustrates the enormous difference between the effectiveness of the U.S. and successful countries' responses to the pandemic," said the article published Wednesday and titled "U.S. Response to COVID-19 is Worse than China's. 100 Times Worse." The article specifically made a comparison between the epidemic responses of the United States and China, as the former's death rate is now "100 times greater" than the latter's. "By Dec. 31, Chinese authorities had informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the threat. By Jan. 12, Chinese scientists had identified the virus that causes the illness and shared its genetic sequence with the world so that all countries could develop COVID-19 tests and begin working on a vaccine," the article said. The Asian country also implemented "a massive lockdown" in Wuhan and deployed thousands of medical staff to the city, sped up testing and contact tracing to isolate new cases, and built temporary medical facilities to hospitalize COVID-19 patients -- steps that have controlled the virus' spread at home, "buying time for other parts of the country to prepare," it said. In contrast, the United States, due to a "much-delayed" response from the federal government and most state governments, "gave the virus weeks to spread unfettered and virtually undetected," it said. "Unfortunately, we see little sign that the federal government is mounting the kind of urgent, nationwide, coordinated approach that is need to reverse current trends," the article said, adding that the country lacks enough daily tests and contact tracing to safely end social distancing. Unlike some countries taking swift and coordinated actions, the United States has only obtained a "patchwork of varying state policies and often-contradictory messaging about safety measures," which will not only further endanger human health, but also harm the U.S. economy, it said. "Unless it aggressively implements the lessons to be learned from successful nations, we fear the U.S. death rate may rise to 200 times that of China," it added. Enditem By Joshua Franklin and Anirban Sen (Reuters) - Data mining firm Palantir Technologies Inc is aiming to file confidentially with U.S. regulators to go public in the coming weeks, emboldened by the strong performance of other initial public offerings (IPOs), people familiar with the matter said. A string of successful IPOs is paving the way for Silicon Valley firms, concerned about the economic fallout of the global coronavirus outbreak, to follow suit. Shares of online used car seller Vroom Inc more than doubled in their Nasdaq debut on Tuesday, on the heels of eight companies last week that raised more in their IPO than they had planned. Becoming a publicly listed company would subject Palantir to new scrutiny from investors and the media. Co-founded in 2004 by billionaire Peter Thiel, the data analytics company has been involved in some of the U.S. government's most politically sensitive projects, from identifying terrorists to the tracking of illegal immigrants. Palantir is still deliberating whether to go public via a traditional IPO or a direct listing, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the deliberations are private. Palantir could go public as soon as September, though the timetable is subject to change and market conditions, the sources said. A spokeswoman for Palantir declined to comment. Palantir has not yet hired investment banks for a listing, but is in discussions with potential advisers that could serve as underwriters, the sources said. Morgan Stanley is expected to have a leading role, the sources added. A Morgan Stanley spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Palantir was valued at around $20 billion in its most recent fundraising round in 2015. In the private market, its shares have been trading in recent weeks at a valuation of between $10 billion and $12 billion, according to market sources. Palantir expects revenue in 2020 to grow to $1 billion from around $700 million in 2019, according to the sources. For 2021, Palantir expects revenues growing to around $1.5 billion, the sources said. In 2015, the company had told investors it anticipated revenues of around $4 billion by the time it went public, one of the sources added. Story continues The company has communicated to existing investors the success it has had of late in winning government contracts, both in the United States and overseas, sources said. Palantir specializes in analyzing large quantities of data. Its customers range from global banks to the U.S. government and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The company's technology aided the U.S. government's successful search for Osama bin Laden, according to multiple media reports. Public scrutiny of major technology companies working with law enforcement authorities and government agencies has intensified in the wake of protests over the treatment of George Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis on May 25 after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Amazon.com Inc said on Wednesday it was implementing a one-year moratorium on police use of its facial recognition software, halting a business it long defended as many protested law enforcement brutality against people of color. Amazon said it would continue to permit the technology's use by customers that help law enforcement find human trafficking victims. Palantir has also been working with a number of countries to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, by tracing the spread of the virus and managing the production of critical medical supplies. (Reporting by Joshua Franklin in New York and Anirban Sen in Bangalore; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Daniel Wallis) Mr Kwesi Amoako-Atta, the Minister of Roads and Highways, has said a total of 3,312.7 kilometre road network representing 48.6 percent in the Northern Region are poor roads. He said, the region has a total road network size of 6,834 km and out of which 1,318.2 km are good roads representing 19.2 percent, 2,204.1 km are considered fair roads representing 32.2 percent and 3,312.7 km representing 48.6 percent are considered poor roads. The Minister, who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Atiwa West Constituency in the Eastern Region, gave these details at a press conference on Thursday in Tamale to give updates on the state of roads infrastructure in the Northern Region. According to the Minister, "Under the periodic and development aspects on the construction of the road in the region, a total length of roads currently under construction in the region is 916.3 km with 560.3 km, 136 km and 220 km being managed by the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA), Department of Urban Roads (DUR) and Department of Feeder Roads (DFR) respectively". The Minister said 65 different road projects are ongoing and at different stages of completion across the Northern Region, with particular reference to the Tamale interchange project which is at its 40 percent stage. He said the projects when complete would help improve travel times of commuters, improve on the local economy and reduce conflicts among the various transport companies in the region. The event also forms part of the Minister's six days working tour to the Northern part of the country. Mr Amoako-Atta said government has given the Northern Region its fair share of road infrastructure, adding that "within a period of three years, a total of 66 km of roads have been sealed or primer sealed within the Tamale Metropolis and Sagnarigu Municipality in the Region". Mr Amoako-Atta commended the Regional Directors of the GHA, DUR, DFR and their teams for their vigilance in ensuring that there was quality of work in the ongoing road projects in the region. He said the ongoing projects were a manifestation of government's determination to change the face of road network in the country as well as boost economic growth and development. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video ANN ARBOR, MI - Bars and eateries in downtown Ann Arbor will expand patio areas into streets this evening as the restaurant scene gets going again after months of mandated closures. After City Council voted unanimously to OK a street-closure plan for its downtown businesses, the city has approved the following downtown road closures beginning at 2 p.m. every Friday until 8 p.m. on Sunday, beginning Friday, June 12, through Sunday, Aug. 23. The closures include: Main Street from William Street to Liberty Street. Main Street from Liberty Street to Washington Street. Washington Street from South Ashley to Main Street. Maynard Street from East Liberty Street to East William Street (closure is seven days a week). East Liberty Street from Thompson Street to South State Street. South State Street from East Washington Street to East William Street. Closures beginning on Friday, June 19 include: Church Street from South University to Willard Street. Detroit Street from East Kingsley Avenue to North Fifth Avenue. Forest Street alley. City leaders say the closures will allow more space for businesses whose seating or sales capacities are restricted by state orders to safely operate amid the COVID-19 crisis, and give pedestrians and cyclists more room to get around safely while maintaining physical distance. Michigans stay-home order was lifted Monday, June 1, by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, signaling a milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic as cases trend downward. Bars and restaurants were allowed to open for indoor and outdoor dining at 50% capacity starting June 8, as long as each table is six feet apart from others. In addition to weekend closures, Ann Arbors street-closure plan calls for full closure of Maynard Street at all hours starting June 12 at the request of the State Street District. READ MORE: Downtown Ann Arbor bars, restaurants get councils OK to expand patios into streets Business, not as usual: Washtenaw County plans for a reopened and retooled economy Heres how to request Ann Arbor street closures for social distancing during pandemic Ann Arbor reopens canoe, kayak liveries on Huron River with coronavirus precautions With school leaders across the country denouncing racism, Gale Satchel, a black superintendent in a majority white Alabama school district, saw an opportunity to talk about racism in education. At a protest rally, she told the crowd about the students who casually used racial slurs around her son. She said that in a Facebook post, an angry parent compared her husband, a tall black man and high school principal in the district, to a gorilla. That colleagues confront her about personnel decisions, implying that she hires too many black people in a district where more than 80 percent of the students are white. But Satchel learned the hard way that not everybody in America is ready for the race conversation. Satchels speech at the rally against racism and police brutality has sparked a sharp debate about whether racism even exists in the Colbert County schools, a largely rural district in the northwest corner of the state. One school board member told the Times Daily, a newspaper in nearby Florence, Ala., that he was disappointed with the tone of Satchels speech and that it split us apart. Less than 5 percent of the nations 14,000 superintendents are black. But many of those superintendents and their districts are taking a prominent role in the push to denounce racism in schools in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in the custody of police in Minneapolissometimes at a high personal cost and after anguish and soul-searching. Whether the public and other school system leaders are ready to engage with them in that conversation remains an open question. The national conversation around racism is challenging, said Kevin Hampton, a longtime teacher and now the executive director of communications in the Ferguson-Florissant, Mo., school district. After Michael Brown, a black teenager, was shot dead by a white police officer near Ferguson in August 2014, the problem with police violence in the United States captured national and global attention. He had just graduated from the nearby Normandy school system less than a week before. Browns death sparked weeks of protests in Ferguson. But six years later as millions march around the country in protest to Floyds death, racism remains a hard word for some educators to hear and say. For some people, We want equity is easier to say than We stand against racism, said Hampton, who is white. Moral Obligation In the wake of George Floyds May 25 death during an arrest over a counterfeit $20 bill, the calls for change came swiftly from black educators around the nation. In California, state Superintendent Tony Thurmond, a black man, announced plans on June 1 to lead a statewide effort to address racism in schools. A week later on June 8, in Akron, Ohio, where the superintendent is black, the city school board declared racism a public health crisis that adversely impacts our students, our families, and our community. However, others came to take a stand more cautiously. In a speech where he struggled to hold back tears, Superintendent Donald Fennoy II of the Palm Beach County, Fla., schoolsthe nations 10th largest districttold his school board that he, as a black man, operates in this world as a scared human being despite his position and that he often fears for the life of his 11-year-old son because of racism. I hope we dont take this as another dead black man in America and move on with our lives, Fennoy said in an interview with Education Week. Even with a supportive school board that expressed concerns about addressing racism in schools, Fennoy was still reluctant to discuss how it shapes his life. His chief of staff and communications director urged him to forgo prepared remarks and speak from the heart. In the end, he listened. Were in the middle of a pandemic, Fennoy said. Many of us are experiencing personal loss of life in the pandemic. Weve got a looming budget crisis, theres so much going on and no one has been able to decompress, at all. So I think the normal filters that a person like me would normally have were just worn down. But a conversation with his son in the moments before the meeting convinced him. What I heard him say is, people in power shouldnt abuse their power and people in power should use their powers for good and positive change, Fennoy said. Well, who I am I? I am a powerful person in the grand scheme of things, in terms of where I sit in this world, in terms of this job. I have a moral obligation to do something. Thats what it boils down to. And if I choose not to, then shame on me. Jobs on the Line In stark contrast, a few school leaders have denounced the protests in provocative terms, or even suggested that Floyd was partly to blame for his deathand have lost their jobs as a result. The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools board fired its executive director, Ana Meyers, who is white, after she posted on Facebook that All Lives Matter and that the protests inspired by Floyds death left her disgusted. Meyers, the wife of a retired state police trooper, later apologized for her remarks, calling them insensitive and inappropriate, but could not save her job. In a statement, the coalition board said its member schools share a mission that rejects racism and injustice. In Grand Ledge, Mich., the school board fired its white superintendent, Brian Metcalf, after he wrote a Facebook post that suggested Floyd would be alive if he were a law-abiding citizen. Had he not paid with counterfeit money, had he not resisted, had he not been under the influencethen there would be no contact with officers; that does not excuse the officer, it just eliminates the conflict to being with!! It starts with being a good citizen! Metcalf wrote. Insisting his comments were taken out of context, Metcalf wrote an apology letter and offered to take a diversity awareness and sensitivity class, but public outcry led the board to terminate his contract. Satchel, Colbert County schools first black superintendent in its 106-year history, now realizes that her job may be on the line for entirely different reasons. In 37 counties in Alabama, school superintendents are elected. Four years ago, Satchel won her job in Colbert County, beating out a former coworker in the Democratic primary. But this November, she will face a Republican challenger. In the county seat of Tuscumbia, which has its own school system, three buildings are named for Confederate general James Deshler. In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump won two-thirds of the vote there. In her speech at the rally hosted by the local NAACP chapter, Satchel urged people to look out for hidden racism, warning that We got to stop it now. Its right here at home, its right here in church, its right here in school. When she said bias leads to disparities in discipline for black children and that was just as much a concern for her as a superintendent as it was for other school districts, that was a step too far for some residents. Federal data do not show that black students in Colbert County face greater rates of suspension and expulsion than their white classmates, but the districts schools are effectively segregated by race and white students are far more likely to enroll in honors and gifted classes than their black peers. Colbert County school board member Ricky Saint, a fellow Democrat and retired teacher, told the Times Daily that he is familiar with many district employees, including some he worked alongside, and I dont know a single one whos a racist. Theres not been a word to me about any incidents of racism in our classroom in the six years Ive served on this board, Saint, who is white, told the newspaper. I took her remarks as aimed at our system, and so did a lot of others. Im disappointed in the tone of that speech. Saint declined an interview request from Education Week. Satchel defended her remarks, saying she was discussing systemic racism in education as a national issue, not just in Colbert County. Racism is alive and well, it does not always look like Mr. Floyd and what he went through, Satchel said. Its subtle. Sometimes its not as plain, as black and white. Sometimes its gray, and people are not willing to have those conversations to address the tough questions. I thought that, by addressing that topic, that we would all have an, Aha! moment. That wasnt the case. They came to the Huntsville city council to ask questions and levy criticism after police twice last week released tear gas to break up protests over the death of George Floyd. More than three dozen people spoke, some firing harsh words at Huntsville police Chief Mark McMurray and Mayor Tommy Battle and others wanting to know why the protests were halted in a militaristic manner. The council listened, but did not respond to specific questions. Outside the window, hundreds of protesters marched to the Madison County Courthouse a block away and circled several times at the site where those first blasts of tear gas were released and past a Confederate monument the county commission and city council are now seeking permission to remove. Inside council chambers, emotions ranged from shame over living in the Rocket City to anger at the police reaction to a desire for better relations going forward. Xavier Sanders, 18, was the second speaker and, during his time at the podium, turned to a uniformed police officer in the audience and said, "Officer, I'm scared of you. I'm terrified of you. I have never felt safe with you. I'm afraid of catching you on a bad day." Xavier Sanders, speaking to the Huntsville City Council on June 11, 2020, said he is "scared" and "terrified" of police because he is black. The first speaker, Maurice Shingleton Jr., repeatedly asked the council what was done to warn the people at the protests of any dangers. Respect us, as we respect you, Shingleton said of police. Several speakers also objected to explanations from Huntsville police and the Madison County sheriffs department that outside agitators were largely to blame for the tear gas and rubber bullets that were deployed to end rallies last week. The only people who were not from here were state troopers, said Dustin Timbrook, referring to a heavy presence of state police at the June 3 protest. The conversation will continue, council President Devyn Keith told the capacity crowd, at a meeting on June 18 at 5 p.m. when police Chief McMurray will make a presentation to the council about the events of last week both the police actions at the end of the protests as well as what led up to those events and what followed. Only a handful of the speakers called the police chief by name, including Monica Joyce of the suburb of Harvest. "Chief McMurray described protesters as a splinter group," Joyce said. "This is a lie. He said they broke out their first aid kits, their water, their milk, their preparations for combat. If Band-Aids and milk are weapons of combat, I challenge Chief McMurray and Sheriff turner to demilitarize their forces and arm them with first aid kits, water and milk." Speakers also addressed the Confederate monument outside the Madison County Courthouse, some calling on Battle to take steps to have it removed himself. Paul Drude said he believed the best place to put the monument was in the Huntsville city sewer, so were all urinating on it. Keith, presiding over the meeting, ended Drudges speaking time because of the nature of his comments. Huntsville youth minister Dexter Strong, who spoke at the protests last week, said that he has been pulled over twice by Huntsville police while riding in the car with Keith, his council member. If we cant escape getting pulled over, who can? Strong asked. Tension arose early in the evening at the protest outside city hall when two white men arrived and began arguing with other protesters. One of the men was Owen Marshall Eason, who was arrested at a protest last week for bringing a gun. Afu Okosun, a local counselor, confronted the man and told him it was inappropriate to bring a gun to a protest. I get killed for that, I get pulled over for that, he said, standing on a cement retaining wall as the crowd applauded. I have to bring my daughter downtown to the park so that I can be humanized by these same individuals. Dont do that, bro. This is my same city just as much as it is yours. Police presence was minimal, with just a few officers standing near the front of City Hall and a few patrol cars driving around the square. The barricades and lines of officers from last weeks protests were absent. The marching crowd avoided gathering at the Confederate monument. Shauntia Ward, 19, led hundreds of marchers around the Courthouse Square, shouting names of black people who were killed by police. I want everybody to know were not bad people, said Ward, who graduated from Buckhorn High School last year and plans to attend Tennessee State University in the fall. Were not trying to hurt anybody, were not trying to wreck businesses. We just want them to listen. We dont want to lose another black man to police brutality. Haftar Air Forces Strike GNA Positions in Northwestern Libya, Spokesman Says Sputnik News 08:04 GMT 11.06.2020 BENGHAZI, Libya (Sputnik) The air forces of the Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an airstrike on troops and military supplies of the Government of National Accord (GNA) based to the south of the northwestern city of Misrata, despite a ceasefire initiative recently announced by Egypt, LNA spokesman Brig. Gen. Khaled Mahjoub has told Sputnik. "The Libyan air forces targeted a car, loaded with ammunition, and military personnel of the GNA forces in a severe airstrike in As-Saddadah area, south of the city of Misrata", Mahjoub said, adding that there were casualties in the strike. According to the LNA military information division, the air forces managed to destroy a Turkish air defence system in the attack. Ankara has given its support to the GNA during the ongoing conflict with Haftar's army. Turkish troops and military equipment have been shipped to Libya after the GNA made an official request for military assistance at the end of 2019. On 6 June, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi unveiled the Cairo initiative, envisaging a ceasefire in Libya beginning at 06:00 a.m. (04:00 GMT) on 8 June and conditions for a political settlement. The UN-backed Libyan government rejected the deal. Following this announcement, armed forces loyal to the LNA have launched a counteroffensive against the forces headed by Fayez Sarraj near Misrata. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address (Natural News) White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Wednesday argued that voters should not be worried about voting in November in the presidential election.. (Article by Charlie Spiering republished from Breitbart.com) I think theres a way to safely vote if you can safely protest, McEnany said during the White House Press briefing. One reporter asked McEnany whether it would be safe to vote in the November election amid the coronavirus pandemic. Youre asking a hypothetical about something five months from now at a time ironically when the media has expressed much outrage about a lack of mitigation efforts taken by some of the protesters, she said. McEnany said that people who were allowed to exercise their First Amendment right to protest even though many Churches were still closed. The First Amendment is a beautiful thing, she said. People have the right to go to church or mosque or synagogue. Read more at: Breitbart.com and VoteFraud.news. Tulsa Police Department By MEREDITH DELISO and MARCUS MOORE, ABC News (TULSA, Okla.) -- A Tulsa, Oklahoma family is calling for charges to be dropped after a teen was arrested for jaywalking last week. Tulsa police this week released body-camera footage of the June 4 incident, which shows officers detaining two teens. "These young men are just walking. Minding their own business," Damario Solomon-Simmons, the lawyer for the arrested teen, told ABC News' Marcus Moore Thursday. "That's it. That's it." In the blurred footage, the teens, who Solomon-Simmons said are cousins, can be seen walking in the middle of a quiet street when two officers get out of separate cars and approach them. When one of the teens asks why the officers were following them, an officer replies, "Because you were jaywalking, you broke the law, that's why." One of the teens is then handcuffed while on his stomach. "You guys harassing us for no reason, sir. We're just walking, man," the second teen says before he is also handcuffed. As one of the officers struggles to put the first teen in the squad car, the teen yells, "Call my momma!" He appears to spit, calls the officer racist and says he was punched. The officer tells the teen, "Do not headbutt me again," then asks the other officer to "request a cage." The first teen is placed in the caged squad car, while the second teen is released, before the 20-minute footage ends. Tulsa police said the arrest is under investigation by its Internal Affairs Unit and the department can't comment at this time. They released the two body-camera videos in the interests of transparency, police said. Solomon-Simmons said the arrest was illegal, and that the teens were walking in an area that doesn't have a sidewalk. He said the arrested teen is 13 and that police allegedly kicked, punched and slammed him against the door. "That is disheartening, particularly this time where police violence and brutality is everywhere," said Solomon-Simmons, adding that the teen was afraid. "He's seeing what happened to George Floyd. He doesn't know what's going to happen to him." The death of George Floyd at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers has touched off weeks of protests across the country. The mom of the arrested teen told Moore she was shocked by the footage. "I couldn't believe it. I was hurt," Tawanna Adkins said. "Why would they do him like that?" Charges against the teen include jaywalking, assault and battery of a police officer, and resisting arrest, according to Solomon-Simmons. He is calling for the charges, the latter two of which are felonies, to be dropped. The names of the officers have not been released. Tulsa Mayor G. T. Bynum responded to the incident on Facebook following the release of the footage. "I want every kid in Tulsa to feel safe to walk down the street in their neighborhood," he wrote on Wednesday. "No Tulsa kid should have to fear being tackled and cuffed for walking down the street. I viewed that footage last night more as a parent than a mayor." Bynum added that he is working with the police chief to review the way that particular police unit, which he said focuses on removing illegal guns from the streets, "goes about its work in general." "[The] goal of that work should be that families feel safe in their neighborhood. This instance accomplished the opposite," he wrote. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. WSU Sponsors Juneteenth Events: United in Hope June 12, 2020 OGDEN, Utah Weber State University is once again sponsoring Utahs Juneteenth Freedom & Heritage Festival, which marks the end of slavery in the U.S. The events are free and open to the public. We currently are experiencing issues around racism, inequality and discrimination, said Betty Sawyer, WSU Access & Diversity community engagement coordinator. Without coming to terms with the legacy of slavery, and all of its byproducts, we spend more time denying than making meaningful progress dismantling those systems embodied within slavery and racism. Instead, we need to promote and do the work of justice and equality. This years festival is centered around the theme Perfecting Unity/United In Hope. The theme was chosen to inspire local communities during the difficult times the world now faces. Most of the events will be held virtually. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Celebrations first began in Texas following the end of the Civil War. In 1980, Texas became the first state to declare Juneteenth a state holiday. In 2016, Utah officially recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday. Calendar of Events: For links to the virtual events and more information about Juneteenth, visit https://weber.edu/juneteenth. June 15 Our Story: Genealogy & Storytelling An interactive webinar at 7 p.m. will feature the Utah Afro-American Historical & Genealogy Society and the Nubian Storytellers of Utah Leadership. The event will help document and share family histories and stories. June 16 Virtual Film Screening Juneteenth participants can watch a 7:30 p.m. screening of the film BOSS: The Black Experience in Business." Produced by Peabody and Emmy Award winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson, the film examines more than 150 years of the business experience of African American men and women. The stories range from individuals in bondage to multimillion-dollar moguls. Local business owners and members of the Utah Black Chamber will participate in a pre-film discussion beginning at 6:30 p.m. June 19 The State of Black Utah Town Hall A virtual town hall will begin at 6 p.m. to discuss Mind, Body & Spirit: Black Mental Health in the Midst of Crisis. A thoughtful conversation will give youth, young adults and emerging leaders a chance to share how they are coping with racism and injustices. From 8-9 p.m., watch the Excellence in the Community Juneteenth Concert, streaming live from the Gallivan Center. June 20 Commemorative Caravan The community is invited to join a commemorative caravan on foot or in vehicles to celebrate and honor Juneteenth. Participants can line up for the caravan at 10 a.m. in front of the Marshall White Community Center (222 28th Street, Ogden). From 8-9 p.m., watch the Excellence in the Community Juneteenth Concert, streaming live from the Gallivan Center. June 20 Virtual Festival and Celebration Facebook, Instagram and Zoom will have live dancing, drumming, gospel, hip hop, jazz, R & B and spoken-word performances. From 8-9 p.m., watch the Excellence in the Community Juneteenth Concert, streaming live from the Gallivan Center. Utahs Juneteenth Festival is hosted by the Project Success Coalition in collaboration with local businesses and organizations including Weber State University. Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. S ince the fall of Saigon brought two inglorious decades of combat to a close, the Vietnam War has provided rich material for filmmakers, from auteurs reaching into the conflicts dark heart to cash-hungry studios churning out Rambo-like blockbusters. Look back through this canon, though, and an authentic African-American perspective is missing in action despite black soldiers being disproportionately represented on the wars front lines. Da 5 Bloods, the first war film from trailblazing director Spike Lee, is about to provide a much-needed corrective. Rooted in the experiences of black veterans, it follows four old comrades returning to Vietnam. We, meaning audiences, the culture at large, the world, are not exposed to conflict seen through the lens of black African-American experience, says Delroy Lindo, who stars as Paul, the troubled central figure of the movie. When black soldiers are included in these conflict films Apocalypse Now, Platoon were always on the periphery, if at all. African-Americans are 12 per cent of the population here in America and they were 30 plus per cent of the fighting force foot soldiers, grunts, on the front line. When they touch down in Ho Chi Minh City, Paul and his pals mission is twofold: to find the remains of their much-missed squadron leader Stormin Norm (played in flashback by Black Panthers Chadwick Boseman) and to hunt down a chest filled with gold, which they found and hid in the heat of battle decades ago. In another filmmakers hands, this premise might have all the raw material for a high-jinks tale of old-timers on one last hurrah but Da 5 Bloods is not that story. Like so many Vietnam veterans, Paul struggles with PTSD not that hed admit it to his bloods (played by Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis and Isiah Whitlock Jr). His return to the scene of battle catalyses a slow-burn breakdown, which Lindo describes as Shakespearean, [August] Wilsonian, tragic. Some of the cast with director Spike Lee The 67-year-old, who was born in south-east London but moved to the US aged 16, prepared for the role by drawing upon testimonies of veterans with PTSD, including that of a cousin who served in Vietnam, and argues that onscreen portraits of black soldiers are usually lacking in nuance. No life is one thing, right? he says. [This film] is a very human presentation of these men and all of the foibles, the misgivings they have amongst themselves, but ultimately the love. Da 5 Bloods marks Lindos fourth collaboration with Lee. His brief but indelible turn as gangster West Indian Archie opposite Denzel Washingtons Malcolm X in 1992 was quickly followed by roles in Crooklyn (1994) and Clockers (1995) then a quarter of a century elapsed before the right film came along. The director, Lindo says, has a clarity of purpose that makes it more smooth to jump into the work, so when he phoned up to offer the role, it was relatively simple and straightforward. He sent me the script. I read it. We talked about the Trump thing. Once we got past that, we were ready to go. That Windrush is absent from the British cultural narrative more than irks me it angers me Ah, the Trump thing. Paul is a proud MAGA cap-wearing, build-a-wall chanting supporter of the man in the White House. Just eight per cent of African-Americans voted for Trump in 2016, and given Lees avowed antipathy for the President, who he refers to only as Agent Orange, its certainly a surprising character trait. At first, Lindo petitioned the director to change his mind. I said, Man, does Paul need to be a Trumpite? Can we just make him a conservative? [Lee] took a few days and thought about it, then he called me back and said, No. A second and third read of the script, however, helped him to see how Paul might feel totally left behind by the establishment. Putting the cap on backwards, hiding the Make America Great Again slogan, took a little bit of the edge off wearing an item weighed down with political meaning. Spike, God bless him, never asked me to put in on front-side until it really played centrally into the scene. Da 5 Bloods is at its most devastating when it weaves together the two wars these soldiers were fighting. Battlefield scenes are interspersed with real newsreel footage of civil rights activists. That speaks to Spikes skill as a storyteller, Lindo says. The two are completely intertwined. You have flashbacks of whats going on in Vietnam, this brotherhood of African-American soldiers having to fight this war, being thrust into this abominable situation, and at home you have the intensity of the civil rights movement, which was tearing the country apart. From left, Isiah Whitlock Jr, Norm Lewis, Clarke Peters, Lindo and Jonathan Majors in the film The film will land on Netflix at a time when race relations in the United States are at a critical point. Watching footage of clashes between police and activists at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Da 5 Bloods and seeing similar clips proliferate in real time on Twitter begs the question have things changed? We each have to answer that in our own ways, but it does absolutely make the film very contemporary, very prescient in the things it is presenting, Lindo says. And I want to believe that it makes the experience of engaging with this story that much more acute and important. The best movies on Netflix, Disney+ and more this June 1 /8 The best movies on Netflix, Disney+ and more this June June 12 - Artemis Fowl One of the most popular childrens book series is finally getting the film adaptation it deserves. The live action take on Eoin Colfers novel follows a child genius in a fantasy world, who holds a fairy to ransom for a huge sum of gold. Its being made available after its cinema release was cancelled due to coronavirus and features the likes of Colin Farrell, Judi Dench and Josh Gad. Available on Disney+ June 3 - Spelling the Dream An intriguing new documentary arrives on Netflix on June 3, focusing on the success Indian Americans have had at the biggest spelling contest in the US. Follow four competitors as they prepare for the competition, while exploring its deeper cultural context. Available on Netflix June 26 - Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga And now for something a little dafter all the camp and cheese of the Eurovision song contest is being channelled into this new comedy, featuring the likes of Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Pierce Brosnan, Dan Stevens and Demi Lovato. Well have to wait to find out what the actual format of the film will be, although the trailer featuring a performance of the brilliant parody song Volcano Man is a total joy. Available on Netflix June 5 - The Last Days of American Crime Netflixs new high-concept crime thriller is one to watch out for this month. A career criminal and notorious gangster team up to commit one last job, in a world where law enforcement officials broadcast frequencies which make committing unlawful acts impossible. Edgar Ramirez, Michael Pitt and Anna Brewster all star. Available on Netflix June 12 - Da 5 Bloods Spike Lee recently showed solidarity with Black Lives Matter protesters by sharing a short film featuring footage of George Floyds death. His next full-length movie, Da 5 Bloods, arrives on June 12, telling the story of four African-American war veterans who return to Vietnam to find the remains of their squadron leader and the treasure they buried decades before. Chadwick Boseman stars in Lees first movie since the incredible BlackKklansman in 2018. Available on Netflix Available now Mr Jones This film from one of Polands leading filmmakers, Agnieszka Holland, tells the true story of Welsh journalist Gareth Jones, who ventured into Soviet Union in 1933. There, he learned of the sinister truths hidden by the communist regime and uncovered details of the Holodomor famine that killed millions of Ukrainians in the 30s. The film stars James Norton as the title role alongside Vanessa Kirby, Peter Sarsgaard and Game of Throness Joseph Mawle, who plays George Orwell. Available on Curzon Home Cinema Lindos mother, a nurse, was part of the Windrush generation, travelling from Jamaica to London in the early Fifties. His reckoning with his British connection has been a complicated process, and one that proves that Britain cannot afford to look at scenes across the Atlantic with complacency. Lindo knew nothing about the Wind-rush until he starred in Wondrous Oblivion (2003), a film about migrant families set in the Sixties. That this period is absent from the [British] cultural narrative, the historical narrative irks him. It more than irks me, it angers me ... given that it was so fundamentally critical to changing the make-up of the United Kingdom, and it changed the definition of what it meant to be British. He is candid about the dearth of opportunities hed have had as an actor if he had remained in London. Its a grand irony to me that you and I would not be having this conversation had I not had the opportunity to leave, he says. Ive made a career for myself in America. Im really clear that if Id stayed in England, I would never have been able to have the life that I have formulated for myself. Da 5 Bloods is released on Netflix on June 12 Popular video conference app Zoom has come under fire for suspending accounts of US-based activists who used the online platform to organise a virtual meet up on the anniversary of China's Tiananmen Square crackdown. Humanitarian China, a China-centric non-profit group has alleged that its paid Zoom account was closed after its members held a conference commemorating the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre. The group also alleged that individual accounts of Lee Cheuk Yan, Chairman of Hong Kong Alliance was also suspended. The group's leaders have alleged that the US-based technology company actually helped the Chinese regime. "We asked zoom for an explanation and we haven't been answered so far. At a critical moment, the CCP (Communist Party of China) blocked the internet, many speakers who participated in our commemorative meeting were arrested and the US company zoom helped" Fengsuo Zhou, group's co-founder wrote in his social media post. As part of the virtual meet up organised by the group on May 31, participants from China and those living outside joined in to share with the testimonies of people associated with infamous events of Tiananmen Square crackdown. The pro-democracy student-led demonstrations held at Tiananmen Square in Beijing were crushed by PLA troops on June 4, 1989. Responding to India Today, Zoom has said that that the accounts were closed in order "to comply with local law" and said it had now been re-activated. Zoom spokesperson said: "Like any global company, Zoom must comply with laws in the countries where we operate. Our platform is increasingly supporting complex, cross-border conversations, for which the compliance with the laws of multiple countries is very difficult." Zoom said that it regretted that a few recent meetings with participants both inside and outside of China were negatively impacted and important conversations were disrupted. However, it maintained that it is not in the company's power to change the laws of governments opposed to free speech. "Zoom is developing additional capabilities that protect these conversations for participants outside of those borders," the spokesperson said. These capabilities are likely to prevent the participants from joining such meetings that violate the local laws instead of being forced to shut down a meeting or terminate any account in the future. Earlier a report by Canada based Citizen's Lab had found that its encryption keys were delivered to participants through servers in China, even when all meeting participants, and subscribers, were outside of China. This leaves space for potential abuse of the Zoom's data by the Chinese government as the Chinese laws make it possible for the authorities to access data gathered by China-based companies. Headquartered in San Jose, USA, Zoom Video Communication is a publically traded company that has around two thousand employees worldwide. The tech company recently announced its first-quarter total revenue of $328.2 million, which is up 169% year-over-year. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 15:21:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SYDNEY, June 12 (Xinhua) -- China has bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic with deliberate vigour and is poised for a speedy economic recovery, positioning it to help Australia do the same, according to a report posted by the University of Sydney this week. Australia's lucrative trade relationship with China relies on a hasty return of Chinese consumer demand, which now appears more likely thanks to successful strategies introduced by the Chinese authorities in tackling COVID-19. Joint authors of the report, Dr Wei Li and Professor Hans Hendrischke from the University's Business School and China Studies Centre, pointed out it would not be the first time China has helped Australia out of a crisis. According to them, China was crucial for Australia's 2008-09 Global Financial Crisis (GFC) recovery, having become the country's largest two-way trading partner in 2007, accounting for 13 percent, or 39.6 billion U.S. dollars, of total trade, largely due to China's demand for Australia's iron ore. Ten years later, in 2018-19, two-way trade with China had surpassed 157.3 billion U.S. dollars, well over double the volume of trade with Australia's second-ranked trading partner, Japan, according to Australian Government figures. Trade had also diversified to include more small and medium sized Australian businesses, with China's middle-class developing a taste for Australia's food, beauty and health products, as well as service based industries like education and tourism. "The China trade effect that was concentrated on the resources industry after the GFC is now spread much more widely across Australia's rural and urban industries," the report said. Those industries rely on the speedy post-COVID-19 recovery of Chinese consumer demand, which the authors say is already showing signs of occurring largely thanks to the country's savvy approach to economic stimulus. "China has relied on digital technologies and decentralised economic policy to drive up consumption, rather than centralised stimulus payments through direct deposits or debt-financed guarantees as seen in Australia," they wrote. The authors described stimulus coupons worth 2.7 billion U.S. dollars, rolled out through the digital platforms of Alipay, Meituan, Dianping and WeChat as "efficient, flexible, easy to track," and able to be specifically targeted depending on local circumstances. According to Li and Hendrischke the strong rebound in Chinese consumption, which recorded a 32.1 percent monthly increase in early May, bodes well for the future and for the many Aussie businesses which sell to China. "Australia is facing a bigger crisis now than it did post-GFC, and it is also more closely interconnected with China," they said. "This makes the Australia-China economic partnership even more important than it was post-GFC." Enditem China urges US to return to JCPOA commitments IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Beijing, June 11, IRNA -- Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying referred to China's determination to uphold the efficacy of the JCPOA, saying thar Beijing urges Washington to return to its commitments under the nuclear deal. "We have noted relevant reports. China will work with all relevant parties to uphold the authority of the Security Council Resolution 2231 and the efficacy of the JCPOA," Chunying said addressing the Thursday press conference. "Recently, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi wrote to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council to state China's position on the Iranian nuclear issue," she added. "As we know, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also wrote a letter to make clear his position." "We urge the US to return to the right track of abiding by the JCPOA and the Security Council resolution, and work with all parties to uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and peace and stability in the Middle East," she reiterated. Earlier Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the US administration is still hatching conspiracy , adding that they are angry with lifting arms embargo on Iran and are lobbying for a draft resolution to present to the United Nations Security Council. Rouhani urged four permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to stand against US conspiracy. We expect Russia and china to confront the US conspiracy for the sake of the interests under the nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), he reiterated. 9376**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address This is clearly stated in Vietnams Constitution and legal system as well as guaranteed in practice, Hang said while answering a question raised at the ministrys regular press conference regarding the countrys reaction to the US Department of States 2019 international religious freedom report. Vietnam has made continuous efforts to perfect its legal system and policies on religion and belief, including approval of the Law on Belief and Religion and decrees guiding its implementation, she emphasised. Vietnam now has 43 organisations of 16 recognised and certified religions, with 55,000 dignitaries, 26 million followers, or 27 percent of the national population, 29,000 places of worship, and more than 8,000 annual religious festivals, Hang said. She added that many major international religious events have been held in the country, such as the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, the UN Day of Vesak in May 2019, and Capitulum Generale 2019. Such efforts have been lauded by the international community, she emphasised. We acknowledge the US Department of State speaking of Vietnams achievements and progress in guaranteeing and promoting religion and belief in the country, the spokesperson went on. However, there remain inaccurate and unverified information in the report about the situation in Vietnam, she added. Vietnam continues to maintain and stands ready to enhance cooperation and have discussions with the US on issues of shared concern in a spirit of frankness, openness, and mutual respect, through bilateral dialogue frameworks, including annual human rights dialogue, thus contributing to promoting the comprehensive partnership between the two countries, Hang stated. The representative body for solicitors has welcomed the nomination today of Supreme Court Judge Ms Justice Mary Irvine to the position of President of the High Court. The nomination was approved by ministers at today's Cabinet meeting at Dublin Castle. Currently, a judge of the Supreme Court, Ms Justice Irvine will be formally appointed to the position by President Michael D Higgins. Ms Justice Irvine will be the first woman to be nominated for this role. The position will become vacant when Mr Justice Peter Kelly retires on 18 June. Michele OBoyle, President of the Law Society of Ireland, said: I welcome in the warmest of terms this nomination of Ms Justice Mary Irvine both as an outstandingly-able judge and as the first woman in history to hold this absolutely key role in the Irish judiciary. She will bring the qualities of independence, deep legal knowledge and insight that have characterised her distinguished career as a judge. Ms Justice Irvine was appointed to the Supreme Court as a judge in 2019. Prior to that appointment, she was best known by the general public as the chair of the Cervical Check Tribunal that was established by the Government in 2018 to hear and determine claims made outside of the court process arising from acts of negligence on the part of Cervical Check as provided for in the Cervical Tribunal Act 2019. She was also appointed as a judge to the Appeal Court in 2014 after a stint as a High Court judge in which she was in charge of the Personal Injuries list from 2009 to 2014. During her tenure as a High Court Judge, she was responsible for the determination of all Garda compensation claims against the State. She also chaired the Working Group on Medical Negligence and Periodic Payments established by the President of the High Court in 2010 to examine the system within the courts for the management of claims for damages arising out of alleged medical negligence and to identify shortcomings in that system, according to the Courts Service. Ms Justice Irvine was born in Dublin and graduated from UCD and the Honourable Society of King's Inns before she was called to the Bar of Ireland in 1978 and to the Inner Bar in 1996. As a member of the Inner Bar, she specialised in medical law and was the legal assessor to the Fitness to Practice Committees of both the Medical Council and An Bord Altranais. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled Thursday that police must be wearing a uniform and driving a marked vehicle when initiating a stop in order to charge someone with a felony for fleeing. Outgoing Chief Justice Judith Nakamura was the only justice to dissent on the ruling. The opinion stems from two separate cases one from San Juan County, the other in Curry County where two men were charged with aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer after driving away from deputies who were driving unmarked vehicles that had lights and sirens. The Court of Appeals had previously determined in both cases that the vehicles driven by the deputies met the states legal standard for a marked police vehicle. The Supreme Court disagreed. Reiterating the definition of mark as that which provides identification, we cannot conclude that lights or a siren are unique in identifying a police officers vehicle, where emergency vehicles, tow trucks and even civilian vehicles may be equipped with these same signaling devices, Justice Michael E. Vigil wrote in the majority opinion. In the San Juan County case, William Daniel Martinez, who had active felony and misdemeanor warrants at the time, was accused of running several stop signs and nearly hitting pedestrians while fleeing from a San Juan County deputy in July 2014. A state district court judge dismissed the case because the deputy was in an unmarked vehicle. In Curry County, Roy Montano was also accused of running stop signs while fleeing from Deputy Glenn Russ. Russ activated his emergency lights. Russ was displaying a badge, but was also wearing dress slacks and a shirt and tie instead of the typical police uniform. His clothing professional attire did not in any way distinguish Deputy Russ as a law enforcement officer, the majority opinion states. Moreover, while a police officers badge is a distinctive accessory that identifies a police officer, it is not, standing alone, a uniform. Montano was convicted of aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer in state district court, but the conviction was reversed by the Court of Appeals after it determined that Russ attire did not constitute a uniform. The Supreme Court agreed with that part of the ruling. Montano died in May 2017. Nakamura wrote in her dissenting opinion that the defendants still should have known they were being pursued by law enforcement due to the lights and sirens. The standard I propose in this dissent attempts to give effect to the Legislatures real-world solution: to criminalize high-speed chases initiated by persons who know they have been signaled to stop by law enforcement. A large coronavirus outbreak on the Oregon coast has quickly overwhelmed the local public health department, offering a glimpse into how even a community well-equipped to combat the virus can struggle to contain a sudden surge. Health officials in Lincoln County have needed to turn to neighboring counties, a local tribe and even a community college to build up a team of contact tracers big enough to match the more than 100 workers at Pacific Seafood in Newport who tested positive Sunday for COVID-19. And yet it may still take up to two weeks to identify and reach all of those who came into close contact with the sickened workers, said Rebecca Austen, the health director for Lincoln County. The delay raises fears that the virus could continue to spread unchecked in the county of 50,000 people. To be able to stop the transmission, we need everybody to stay home, Austen said of people exposed to the virus. Dr. Paul Cieslak, Oregons medical director for communicable diseases, appeared surprised to learn Thursday that the county was in such dire straits. Only time can tell how fast were able to do the work and contain this outbreak, but Im very concerned, Cieslak said. The success of contact tracing hinges, in part, on how quickly public health investigators can complete the painstaking task before them. They must track down and speak to anyone exposed to an infected person, urge them to quarantine for up to 14 days and then monitor those people to see if they get sick. The Oregon Health Authority has set a goal that county health officials initiate contact tracing for 95% of new cases within 24 hours of discovering them. Lincoln County seemed to be in a good position to keep on top of infections it had seen only 15 coronavirus cases through the beginning of June. The state wanted the county to have seven public health investigators based on its population. It had twice as many. But that did us very little good when the outbreak hit, Austen said. Pacific Seafood saw its first worker test positive for COVID-19 on June 1 followed by three more employees a couple of days later, the company said in an email. It began meeting with officials from the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Agriculture to discuss preventative measures. On June 4, the seafood plant suspended operations at all five of its Newport facilities, which process shrimp and other seafood. It then paid to have 376 employees and contractors tested the following day through Signature Health and Kashi Laboratories, the company said. Pacific Seafood received the results Sunday: 124 of the tested workers or 33% were infected with COVID-19, currently the largest workplace outbreak in the state outside of the Oregon State Penitentiary, where 167 inmates and staff have fallen ill. The company said it began notifying its workers of the results immediately. Lincoln County did not receive the names and contact information of the infected workers until late Monday morning, according to Austen and Pacific Seafood. In a typical outbreak of this magnitude public health would be involved from the very start, Austen said. Nothing is common in this pandemic. All of this novel territory. It was clear that Lincoln County alone could not handle the sudden surge in infections, which quintupled the countys total number of cases nearly overnight, even after reassigning additional staff within the health department to work on investigations. More than 40 health workers from Benton, Tillamook and Coos counties, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Oregon Coast Community College, among other places, have stepped in to help with contact tracing. All received training Tuesday, Austen said. Still, it remains a slow process reaching all of the infected workers, many of them Spanish-speaking, and then all the people that the workers have recently been around. Interviews can sometimes take a couple of hours, even with bilingual health investigators. Adding to the delay is that a number of the Pacific Seafood workers speak Mam, a language indigenous to Guatemala, and are not fluent in Spanish or English. None of the bilingual health investigators working on the outbreak speak Mam. Austen said she hopes the county will be able to reach all of the workers by Friday. As for their close contacts? It could be a couple of weeks before we get to everybody, she said. Meanwhile, Lincoln county health officials have reported an additional 29 coronavirus cases this week on top of the sickened seafood workers nearly twice as many as theyd logged during the first three months of the pandemic. Some, but not all, of the cases appear to be people linked to the outbreak, the county said. County health officials also said they are monitoring six new potential workplace outbreaks but did not provide additional information. They said the Oregon Health Authority will release the names of any business with 30 or more employees where at least five of the workers test positive for COVID-19. Otherwise, the business will not be named. Gov. Kate Browns office is watching to see what happens next. As the governor has said, reopening comes with risks, said Charles Boyle, a spokesman for Brown. We are monitoring the situation closely to see if additional measures or interventions will be necessary in Lincoln County. Cieslak also sounded a note of caution. Theres certainly going to be more COVID-19 in Lincoln County than I had hoped for a week ago, he said. A lot of people are walking around with the virus. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632 Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories Don't mention the war? At the moment it's a bit hard to avoid it. Whisked off the virtual shelves faster than two-for-one-night at your local video store, Gone With the Wind, Little Britain, Come Fly With Me, The Mighty Boosh, The League of Gentlemen, Angry Boys, Summer Heights High, We Can Be Heroes and Jonah From Tonga are now heaped on a cultural bonfire. The Fawlty Towers cast: Andrew Sachs as Manuel; John Cleese as Basil; Connie Booth as Polly and Prunella Scales as Sybil. And at the top, the iconic British comedy Fawlty Towers the latest casualty of what looks to be a book-burning for the digital age, whipped up by anger on all sides of the cultural, racial and political divide. But as with most headlines, all the nuance is hidden in the fine print: in almost all cases the programs are available on a number of platforms and in a number of formats, and while the stories and the Twitter hand-wringing sounds alarming, the truth is almost all of them remain obtainable. RWB secures exclusive licensing rights for High Times branded locations and product brands for Michigan, Illinois and Florida and Culture for CBD nationally in the U.S. TORONTO, June 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Red White & Bloom Brands Inc. (CSE: RWB and OTC: TDRYD) (RWB or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has closed the previously announced Definitive Agreement (as herein defined) to acquire the licensing rights for the branding of High Times dispensaries and High Times cannabis-based CBD and THC products in the States of Michigan, Illinois and Florida and branding of High Times hemp derived CBD products nationally in the United States carrying the Culture brand. Under the terms of the Definitive Agreement, RWB has acquired the rights to exclusively brand both medical and recreational dispensaries and cannabis products within the States of Michigan, Illinois and Florida. RWB plans to sub-license to its investee in Michigan for its 18 planned and operational dispensaries, to be rebranded as High Times stores and allow the investee to create and sell cannabis derived products both within their own locations as well as to third parties in Michigan. The Definitive Agreement includes RWB securing the rights from HT Retail Licensing, LLC (HT) to Culture for the branding of CBD and whole hemp flower products nationally in the United States. Initial plans are to grow and manufacture these best-in-class products from its massive 3.6 million square foot facility in Illinois. In addition to dispensaries becoming High Times branded destinations, RWB plans to introduce High Times branded products including flower, vapes, tinctures, topicals, and edibles through both owned and other third party outlets, subject to the licensing agreements for each respective state. Brad Rogers, Chairman and CEO stated, Closing this deal with the only real iconic brand in cannabis and working alongside the first-class people that come with it, is just the beginning of another 45 year journey that will define RWB and High Times in this chapter of history as the best-in-class for generations to come. Story continues Lets make America dope again. Details of the Transaction Immediately prior to the entering into of the Definitive Agreement, Newco entered into: (i) a retail license agreement with HT whereby Newco was granted the right to use certain intellectual property associated with retail dispensary and local delivery services for cannabis products, cannabis accessories and merchandise in Michigan, Illinois and Florida; and (ii) a product licensing agreement with HT whereby Newco was granted an exclusive license to use certain intellectual property related to the commercialization of cannabis products in Michigan, Illinois and Florida and CBD products nationally carrying HT brands. RWB entered into an acquisition agreement (the Definitive Agreement) with HT, as licensor to Newco, and 1252240 B.C. Ltd. (the Seller), to acquire 1251881 B.C. Ltd. (Newco), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Seller (the Transaction). The Transaction was completed by way of a three-cornered amalgamation under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), whereby 1252034 B.C. Ltd. (Subco), a newly formed wholly-owned British Columbia subsidiary of RWB, amalgamated with Newco in exchange for 13,500,000 common shares of RWB (the Consideration Shares) issued at a deemed price of CDN$1.50 per share. The Company also issued one special warrant to Subco that is exercisable into 4,500,000 additional common shares of RWB in certain circumstances. The Company also paid a finders to an arms length finder in connection with the closing of the Transaction. About Red White & Bloom Brands Inc. The Company is positioning itself to be one of the top three multi-state cannabis operators active in the U.S. legal cannabis and hemp sector. RWB is predominately focusing its investments on major markets in the United States, including Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, California, and Florida in respect to cannabis and the entire US for legal hemp CBD based products. About High Times: For more than 45 years, High Times has been one of the worlds most well-known cannabis brands - championing the lifestyle and educating the masses on the benefits of this natural flower. From humble beginnings as a counterculture lifestyle publication, High Times has evolved into hosting industry-leading events like the Cannabis Cup and the High Times Business Summit, while providing digital TV and social networks, globally distributed merchandise, international licensing deals and providing content for its millions of fans and supporters across the globe. In the world of Cannabis, High Times is the arbiter of quality. For more information on High Times visit http://www.hightimes.com . For more information about Red White & Bloom Brands Inc., please contact: Tyler Troup, Managing Director Circadian Group IR IR@RedWhiteBloom.com Visit us on the web: www.RedWhiteBloom.com Follow us on social media: Twitter: @rwbbrands Facebook: @redwhitebloombrands Instagram: @redwhitebloombrands Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Companys current expectations. When used in this press release, the words estimate, project, belief, anticipate, intend, expect, plan, predict, may or should and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release includes information relating to the Proposed Transaction. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: risks associated with the expected timing and terms of the Proposed Transaction, the number of common shares of the Company that may be issued in connection with the Proposed Transaction, the required approvals in connection with the Proposed Transaction and the ability to obtain such approvals and the parties ability to satisfy closing conditions. Forward-looking statements are made based on managements beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Companys forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed a certain progression, which may not be realized. It has also assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time. THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. Parliamentary Aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the Akim Oda constituency didn't come to play as he has promised to give his monthly salary to the constituents. Alexander Akwesi Acquah, who aspires to win the NPP primaries to become the Parliamentary candidate for Akim Oda, has outlined five key manifesto for the constituents. He pledged to improve the health system of the constituency by introducing a comprehensive health insurance for the constituents, buy thirty (30) taxis to create jobs for the youth and ensure an operating factory in the community among other promises. Alexander Akwesi Acquah, who happens to be one of the foremost Producers of Peace FM's morning show, made a bold pledge to share his Parliamentary monthly salary with the residents. According to him, he will divide his salary into halves and devote the half to set up a constituency development fund. ''I have promised them that, by the blessings of God upon my life, I don't seek to go to Parliament because I want to pocket huge salary. I have therefore pledged to divide my pay into half and use the half to create a constituency development fund'', he said on Thursday's ''Kokrokoo''. Watch his full submissions below: Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ads have been popping up for Samsung users in the One UI and they are not happy, as reported by Android Police. Samsung updated the One UI recently but users are clearly not impressed with the ads that are popping up in the built-in apps. Even apps such as Weather are not immune to the unwanted advertising. Most of us have grown accustomed to advertising on websites but there are some places which customers still object to it. A Samsung subreddit has highlighted the problem and demonstrated customers discontent. Samsung Users Find Ads Obnoxious The ads which users are finding egregious are not just small text-based ads. Users have found large image ads which take up around a third of the apps real estate. Customers have found this most offensive when it comes to the most fundamental of apps such as the Weather or Health app. Advertisement This problem has not hit everyone, with some users not reporting such ads. The scattered approach to the One UI update has been shown in the past with confusion around whether the Galaxy 9 was going to receive the update. Samsung is not the only company that engages in such behavior surrounding advertising. Xiaomi is notorious for pushing ads to customers on its apps. However, this is more of a budget phone which in some senses makes it more acceptable. On the higher-end Samsung products though this sort of advertising is perceived to be much less reasonable. Unacceptable Behavior from Samsung In the lead up to the update, rumors suggested that it may even include lock screen ads. Although this turned out not be to true in itself, the ads that are being shown makes it seem believable. Advertisement Samsung does have form for this sort of behavior so perhaps we should not be surprised. Last year phones were bombarded with notifications for the Note 10. Even back in 2015, Samsung pushed advertising to users for certain apps. This is therefore not necessarily a massive shock. However, from such a large and reputable brand this sort of behavior is never acceptable. Even though rumors about this sort of advertising have been circulating for some time this does not make it ok. However, many seem to let this sort of advertising pass by. Especially when it comes to such central apps and the sorts of advertising that are being pushed. Hopefully, Samsung will heed this feedback from customers and make changes in the future. Can you trust what you read on Facebook? No. And why not? Because Facebook has now explicitly said that it will obey an executive order from President Trump and will refuse to fact-check misinformation and disinformation as American heads into the 2020 election. In April 2017, Facebook published a white paper that acknowledged the spread of information operations trying to divide and deceive Americans, in response to accusations that misinformation helped influence the 2016 U.S. elections. In September 2017, Facebook chief security officer Alex Stamos acknowledged that some of the accounts and Pages disseminating that information came from within Russia. Common Cause, a watchdog group, filed suit. Then Facebook joined Twitter and Google, telling Congress that they would do better. On Thursday, in response to a request by the presidential campaign of Senator Joe Biden to stop the spread of misinformation, Facebook threw in the towel. The company claimed that a recent executive order by President Trump tied its hands. Facebooks announcement came a day before Twitter eliminated thousands of accounts which it claimed were tied to state disinformation campaigns. The Biden campaign asked Facebook to proactively stem the tide of false information by no longer amplifying untrustworthy content and promptly fact-checking election-related material that goes viral. The campaign asked for clear rulesapplied to everyone, including Donald Trumpthat prohibit threatening behavior and lies about how to participate in the election. It also asked for a two-week period before the election during which all political advertisements would be fact-checked. Facebook declined, issuing this unsigned statement. We live in a democracy, where the elected officials decide the rules around campaigns, Facebook wrote in a short, unsigned statement. Two weeks ago the President of the United States issued an executive order directing Federal agencies to prevent social media sites from engaging in activities like fact-checking political statements. This week, the Democratic candidate for President started a petition calling on us to do the exact opposite. Just as they have done with broadcast networkswhere the US government prohibits rejecting politicians campaign adsthe peoples elected representatives should set the rules, and we will follow them. There is an election coming in November and we will protect political speech, even when we strongly disagree with it. Facebooks statement referred to an executive order Trump signed, which would propose new regulations under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act which protects them from liability. It would be up to the Commerce Department and the FCC to implement the new rules. On Friday, though, Michael ORielly, a Republican member of the Federal Communications Commission, told Bloomberg that hes not even sure that the FCC has the legal power to grant Trumps request. Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has said that Facebook would not police clear untruths or fact-check politicians. Its struggled to remove hate speech, based on its own algorithms. Yet it committed to providing accurate information the COVID-19 outbreak in its first-quarter earnings release, in which it reported profits of $4.9 billion on revenue of $17.7 billion. Recent reporting has still found that misinformation still circulates on Facebook regarding the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in treating the coronavirus. Facebook at least has publicly stated that it will try to combat misinformation around the coronavirus. But the companys recent statement about political fact-checking is its clearest declaration yet that its figuratively given up. Facebook helped sway the 2016 election, and it looks like it wont even try to prevent a repeat in 2020. Updated at 12:31 PM to note Twitters actions against disinformation. Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute were fired from Vanderpump Rules by Bravo for making racist comments and racially profiling former co-star Faith Stowers when they accused her of a false crime to police. And with the backlash reaching a fever pitch in the day since, the ladies at The Talk did not hold back in their disgust over their past comments in a teaser video for Friday's episode. Eve first sounded off and directed her harsh critique at Schroeder, calling her 'the poster child for white privilege.' Not holding back: Eve blasted Stassi Schroeder for making racist comments and racially profiling former co-star Faith Stowers Shroeder and Doute reported their costar Faith, who is black, to police in 2018, claiming she was the suspect they were seeking in an investigation. The stars, both of whom are white, were axed by Bravo on Tuesday, along with Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni. The story just resurfaced last week during an Instagram Live chat with Stowers. 'It is not funny to call the cops on anyone falsely, but especially a black woman,' Eve said with obvious emotion before adding, 'it disgusts me.' Head on! Eve and the rest of the ladies of The Talk took on the Vanderpump Rules scandal in a teaser clip for Friday's The Talk episode Direct and honest: Eve spoke during most of the short The Talk teaser clip, calling Schroeder 'the poster child for white privilege' for her racist comments and apology Schroeder also made offensive comments in a 2017 episode of her Straight Up With Stassi podcast where she talked about black people and how they ask for special treatment in Hollywood. In an Instagram post June 7, the reality star apologized for making 'racially insensitive comments' in the past and that it's important she 'continue to take accountability for what I have said and done, while pushing myself to do better.' She also maintained she has grown significantly from the person she was then, and that she's 'filled with remorse and regret for the hurt' she caused, including to Stowers. Take that! Eve said she was disgusted that Schroeder called the police and accused co-star Faith Stower of a false crime in 2018 Rebuke: The Talk co-host also blasted Schroeder's Instagram apology on June 7: 'I have read, you know, her statement, or her sorry, and I don't want your sorry. I don't think you've changed' Racial profiling: Faith Stowers was falsely accused of a crime by Schroeder and Kristen Doute But Eve didn't was having any of her apology. 'I have read, you know, her statement, or her sorry, and I don't want your sorry. I don't think you've changed,' she said in the short clip. 'I think you're sorry you got your, whoever dropped you from your endorsements, and I think you're sorry that you won't be on that TV being famous for nothing. That's why you're sorry.' It was at this point Eve called Schroeder 'the poster child for white privilege.' They're out: Kristen Doute was also fired by Bravo for the racially-charged prank that targeted Vanderpump Rules co-star Faith Stowers Schroeder also had her Straight Up With Stassi podcast removed from all streaming platforms and was let go by her publicist and agent Along with Schroeder and Doute, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni were also fired from Vanderpump Rules over inappropriate racial comments. The two ladies had starred on the reality show since its inception in 2013 while the men had only appeared on the most recent season eight. Schroeder also got let go by her publicist and agent and her podcast has been removed from all streaming platforms. Fans can see the entire episode of The Talk@Home on Friday, June 12 at 2pm ET/1pm PT. The head of the Seattles Police Department told officers in a video address on Thursday that the decision to abandon the citys Third Precinct to activists was not my decision, and has prevented the department from responding to emergency calls in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Police Chief Carmen Best, who joined Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan at a news conference Thursday afternoon, revealed that ultimately the city had other plans for the building and relented to public pressure. You should know, leaving the precinct was not my decision, Best told her fellow officers. You fought for days to protect it. I asked you to stand on that line. Day in and day out, to be pelted with projectiles, to be screamed at, threatened and in some cases hurt. Then to have a change of course nearly two weeks in, it seems like an insult to you and our community. On Wednesday, the Seattle Police Department said it would try to reopen the East Precinct, and Best was able to visit the location on Thursday. Our calls for service have more than tripled, she told reporters. These are responses to emergency calls rapes, robberies, and all sorts of violent acts that have been occurring in the area that were not able to get to. At the press conference with Durkan, who claimed the occupants of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) were engaging in an act of patriotism, Best remained noncommittal on a when police might return to the area, but explained that the evacuation had come after reports that the precinct could be burned down. We were asked to do an operational plan, in case we needed to leave, Best said, not saying who exactly gave the order to withdraw. We got an update that there was the potential for fire of course if the precinct goes down in fire, the whole block could potentially burn up. Best also clarified that her department had not received any formal reports of CHAZ occupants extorting businesses, after saying in the video address that police had heard of armed people in the area demanding payment from business owners in exchange for protection. Story continues Michael Solan, the head of Seattles police union, also slammed the decision to leave the precinct, calling it the closest Ive seen to our country becoming a lawless state. Where is the safety of the reasonable community of the city of Seattle? To me, that is absolutely appalling, and I am embarrassed being a Seattle resident to even talk about this, Solan told Tucker Carlson. More from National Review The American economy is crumbling, or so headline after headline would have you believe. Joblessness is at highs not seen since the Great Depression. More than 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment as of May 2020, and that figure only represents those whove filed. There may be millions more who could file but havent for various reasons. While the official unemployment rate sits at 13%, the real value is likely in the 20-25% range, as the standard metrics for gathering such data are unable to account for entire industries being shut down. Some economists are forecasting unemployment to stay as high as 15% through 2021 and nearly 13% still through 2022, as small businesses and big corporations alike have shuttered for good. With even decades-old, household names such as JCPenney, Golds Gym and Hertz declaring bankruptcy, its abundantly clear that COVID-19 will leave a lasting scar on the American economy. And yet, this is not another doomsday editorial. So, whats the silver lining? you ask. The good news, at least for startups, business managers and other entrepreneurs in need of creative support in a flash, is this Right now, talent is everywhere, sitting idle, just waiting to be given the green light. While the retail, transportation and travel sectors of the economy are taking the hardest hit from COVID-related shutdowns, many professionals in creative industries have also been let go, seen projects cut or work hours reduced. Related: Connect With Creative Professionals Now Thousands of writers, coders, web developers, graphic designers, photographers, videographers, project managers and other skill-based professionals are anxiously wonderingwhats next? And theyre more than ready to be reassembled into an elite team for some new venture, even if its only for a one-off project or recurring part-time work. But wait theres more. Not only is creative talent in ready supply at the moment, but The time is ripe for rethinking how that talent goes to work. Consider, for a moment, the current nine-to-five, butts-in-seats paradigm of American work life. Where did it come from? Just like the modern classroom setup, with its standardized curricula and rows of desks of pupils, has roots going all the way back to the 1800s that are largely outdated and unexamined, so, too, does the modern workplace owe its shape and structure to historical circumstances that are hardly relevant today. The first wave of the Industrial Revolution took place in the textile factories of Great Britain in the 18th century. Workers, primarily young women, were needed to operate looms that would spin cotton, linen or wool on a mass scale into yarn used to make garments, rugs, upholstery and other products. Productivity depended on human bodies congregating under one roof and attending to machinery. Workdays were overlong, with 70- to 100-hour workweeks not uncommon until Henry Ford popularized the 40-hour workweek in the 1910s, and Congress made it a workplace standard with the Fair Labor Act of 1938. Nowadays the script is flipped. Outside of the manufacturing sector, most workers no longer need to congregate within the same four walls to attend to big, cumbersome machinery. In fact, todays digital tools, rather than demanding attendance, largely free us of the need to be confined under one roof. Welcome to the dispersed workplace. Related: Get Help Setting Up and Managing Part-time Workers Whats more, the standard 40-hour workweek, divided into five eight-hour workdays, is largely a farce. According to one UK survey, the average office worker is only productive for less than 3 hours a day. The rest of the workday is given to distractions and faking productivity. (Interestingly enough, in Thomas Mores work Utopia, which imagined life in a perfect society, each workday was capped at four hours of physical labor the rest was for leisure and pursuits of the mind.) If coworkers no longer need to attend to machines or be proximate to be productive, and if the eight-hour workday is clearly unnecessary for most workers to adequately perform their jobs, then its high time to reconsider how we go to work. If only something would give us the opportunity to do so COVID-19 may permanently usher in a new era of business assemblage. Prior to COVID-19, around 5% of employed Americans worked from home or worked remotely. At the height of the pandemics stay-at-home orders, that percentage jumped to 62%. Many people discovered they enjoyed it. According to one survey, a vast majority of the WFH crowd say they were more productive, enjoyed seeing their family more often, enjoyed experiencing interruptions from coworkers less often, and even put in work hours outside the typical 9-to-5 slot without being required to. Three in five said they want to keep working remotely, if possible. And why not? Working from home, or remotely from a place of ones choosing, is in many regards a big step toward one very American dream: being ones own boss. Its a dream shared by 70% of Americans, and yet only 10% of Americans are actually self-employed. With todays digital tools, however, skill-based workers can connect to project-based work easier and faster than ever before and essentially become a one-person business without the need for expensive and time-consuming accoutrements, like an office building, marketing budget and so on. Related: Get the Help You Need Managing Budgets and Cashflow Sure, there are risks involved. But the rewards include many freedoms: the freedom to choose whom one works for, and when, and for how long, and on what projects; the freedom from an unnecessary commute, which is the bane of many a big-city workers existence and a leading curtailer of overall life satisfaction; the freedom from a predetermined salary cap; the freedom to set your own work-life balance; the freedom to be authentically you, rather than play-acting for bosses, managers and other superiors; and the freedom to take pride in saying youre self-made. Of course, hard work is still a given, but is there any more American way than venturing out on ones own? The digital tools are here. Consider them bootstraps. Related: Going to Work Is So 20th Century How to Establish an Entrepreneurial Edge After the Great Shutdown Are You Willing to Face the Tiger? How Entrepreneurs Continually Rise to the Challenge. Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Turkey rescues 42 migrants in Aegean Sea 'After being pushed back by Greece' south of Lesbos (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, JUNE 12 - The Turkish Coast Guard has rescued 42 migrants in the past few hours in the Aegean Sea, Ankara announced Friday morning. Turkey said that the migrants had been pushed back by Greece towards Turkey, which they had left from. The operation came after the Coast Guard was alerted top the situation off the Foca district in the Izmir province south of Lesbos. The migrants, who had been in a dinghy in distress, have been brought to land in Turkey. (ANSAmed). Who was at the lectern giving cops a green light to use unnecessary force? Who was encouraging them to be rough with people they arrest? Who suggested it is okay for police to use more force than is reasonably necessary to arrest or gain control of a suspect something that is irresponsible, unprofessional and illegal? The government secured the almost unanimous backing in Congreso on Wednesday for its flagship welfare policy reform. All the opposition voted in favour of the new minimum living income, except hard-right Vox, whose MPs abstained. The new 'ingreso minimo vital' benefit from the left-wing PSOE-Unidas Podemos (UP) coalition is especially designed to reduce child poverty and help the most vulnerable find work. Up to 850,000 households could benefit, says the government. After the antagonising debates between the government and opposition parties in the Congreso chamber during the Covid-19 crisis, the government was taken aback by the support from the conservative Partido Popular (PP), the main opposition party. Deputy prime minister and UP leader, Pablo Iglesias said, "Let's hope that [the PP] keeps going in that direction, towards consensus." The PP party said it was supporting the move as it was based on an idea largely in place within regional governments already. Vox decided to abstain, fearing that the benefit could attract more illegal immigration. All opposition parties urged the government to make sure the benefit was not a disincentive to find work. Credit: CC0 Public Domain (HealthDay)The isolation of the coronavirus pandemic might be stunting the social growth of young children, experts say. Since schools closed across the United States this past spring to stem the spread of COVID-19, kids have been deprived of experiences that are essential to their emotional developmentplaying at recess, sharing lunch with classmates and learning together in the classroom. In a recent HealthDay Live! interview, Dr. Dimitri Christakis, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children's Research Institute, and Dan Domenech, executive director of The School Superintendents Association, discussed how children might be impacted by the closure of their schools and the disruption of time spent with their peers. Humans are "social animals," and the limitations placed on social interactions during the pandemic may harm mental health, particularly among children, they said. "We didn't evolve for this kind of interaction with each other," Christakis explained. "You can see it in young children. An infant as young as 6 months will attend to another infant. They want to engage with them socially. So, withholding all of that from children is making them pay a price, at least in the short term." When schools open up, Christakis and Domenech said teachers and administrators should be prepared for a surge of mental health concerns among their students. "We're working for our teachers to be instructed and trained to, if not physically embrace students, emotionally embrace students and let them talk about their experiences," Domenech said. Still, it's hard to say exactly what the long-term effects of this period of isolation will have on children, since the circumstances are unprecedented, Christakis added. Children who experience loneliness and isolation might be more likely to develop depression and other mental health problems, according to one review of 63 studies and more than 51,000 participants, published recently in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. The review's British researchers, led by Maria Elizabeth Loades from the University of Bath, found that loneliness was associated with mental health problems up to nine years later, and longer periods of loneliness were more reliable indicators of future mental health issues. To combat current and future distress, Christakis and Domenech advised parents and teachers to prioritize children's emotional needs. "It's more important to deal with the emotional needs of the students, and not necessarily their academic loss. The academic loss can be corrected with time, but their emotional learning and the trauma that they have been undergoing, that's key," Domenech said. What can parents who are struggling to support their children do during the summer? Christakis advised parents to take full advantage of every opportunity for their children to engage in person with other kids, while still being mindful of their local public health recommendations. Since different areas of the country are at different stages of the pandemic, some parents might be able to act on this advice more, depending on where they live. "There's a social learning deficit that needs to be closed," Christakis said. "Children are going to need more time outdoors with playmates. If [summer] camps are open where you live and you have the resources, I would try to make that available to your children, and support them through the summer as best you can." Explore further Impact of children's loneliness today could manifest in depression for years to come Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Shamima Begum cannot be regarded properly at this stage as a victim, Britain's Home Offices lawyers have told the Court of Appeal. Ms Begum, now 20, was one of three east London schoolgirls who travelled to Syria to join so-called Islamic State (IS) in February 2015, and lived under IS rule for more than three years. She was found, nine months pregnant, in a Syrian refugee camp in February last year, prompting then home secretary Sajid Javid to revoke her British citizenship later that month. In February, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), a specialist tribunal which hears challenges to decisions to remove someones British citizenship on national security grounds, ruled that the decision was lawful as Ms Begum was a citizen of Bangladesh by descent at the time of the decision. BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE Handout file still taken from CCTV issued by the Metropolitan Police of (left to right) 15-year-old Amira Abase, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Shamima Begum, 15, at Gatwick airport in February 2015. Shamima Begum appealing against a ruling that she cannot return to the UK to challenge the removal of her British citizenship (Metropolitan Police/PA) Ms Begums challenge to the decision to refuse to allow her to enter the UK in order to effectively pursue her appeal was also rejected. Setting out the Home Offices case today, Sir James Eadie QC said removing someones British citizenship was a highly valuable weapon in the national security armoury which was used to protect the public from those who have been radicalised and those who are sympathetic to causes such as al Qaida and (IS). Sir James said: I fully accept that the position in relation to her (Ms Begums) degree of national security threat that she poses, whether or not she has truly recanted and whether or not she left of her own free will are untested currently. But and it is quite a big but there has been an assessment by those who are expert and experienced in these matters and it has been considered appropriate and necessary to deprive in her case. Sir James said Ms Begum went to Syria, she stayed there for four years, she offered herself to and married an (IS) fighter and she aligned, in that sense, with (IS). He added that why she did so and what Ms Begum believed now were not known, but said those bare facts bearing on her risk remain. Sir James said it would be entirely wrong to approach this case on the basis that she is to be regarded properly at this stage as a victim. He added that Ms Begum may have now recanted her support for IS, but said: Let us not forget that the attacker at Fishmongers Hall was at a seminar given by Cambridge University on rehabilitation. Convicted terrorist Usman Khan, 28, fatally stabbed Saskia Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25, at a prisoner rehabilitation conference on November 29 2019 while out on licence. Sir James pointed out that several people had been persuaded by the sincerity of his (Khans) rehabilitation. He also argued that imposing an order under the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act on Ms Begum in the UK would not be sufficient. Sir James said that the difficulty of that sort of suggestion in the real world is graphically illustrated by the London Bridge killings in 2017. He said: There was considerable monitoring of the individuals in the UK and yet they were able to drive along the pavement at London Bridge killing the individuals that they did. Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, killed eight people and injured dozens of others by using a hired van to plough into pedestrians on London Bridge before attacking people at random around Borough Market on June 3 2017. Sir James concluded that Ms Begum was deprived of her citizenship for proper and important national security reasons. Ms Begums lawyers argue that removing her British citizenship took away the real possibility that she could return to the UK and exposed her to the real risk of removal to Bangladesh or Iraq, where she would face extra-judicial killing or the death penalty. (left to right) Kadiza Sultana, then 16, and Shamima Begum and Amira Abase, both then 15, going through security at Gatwick Airport in 2015 (Metropolitan Police/PA) Ms Begum was one of three schoolgirls from Bethnal Green Academy who left their homes and families to join IS, shortly after Sharmeena Begum, who is no relation, travelled to Syria in December 2014. Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase, then 16 and 15 respectively, and Ms Begum boarded a flight from Gatwick Airport to Istanbul, Turkey, on February 17 2015, before making their way to Raqqa in Syria. Ms Begum claims she married Dutch convert Yago Riedijk 10 days after arriving in IS territory, with all three of her schoolfriends also reportedly marrying foreign IS fighters. She told the Times last February that she left Raqqa in January 2017 with her husband but her children, a one-year-old girl and a three-month-old boy, had both since died. Her third child died shortly after he was born. The hearing before Lord Justice Flaux, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Singh is due to conclude on Friday and it is expected that the court will reserve its judgment. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The Seizure Detection Devices Market research report provides the latest industry data, growth, key segments and future trends on the basis of the detailed study. Moreover, this market report also allowing you to identify the opportunity and growth rate of the leading segment, revenue growth and profitability. The entire seizure detection devices market has been sub-categorized into product type, technology, and end-user. The report provides an analysis of these subsets with respect to the geographical segmentation. This research study will keep marketer informed and helps to identify the target demographics for a product or service. Request a FREE Sample Copy of Global Seizure Detection Devices Market Report with Full TOC At: https://www.valuemarketresearch.com/contact/seizure-detection-devices-market/download-sample By Product Type Conventional Seizure Detection Devices Wearable Seizure Detection Devices Implantable Seizure Detection Devices By Technology Accelerometry Based Seizure Detection Devices Deep Brain Stimulation Based Responsive Neurostimulation Based Vagus Nerve Stimulation Based By End-User Hospitals Specialty Clinics Pharmacies Others The research report also covers the comprehensive profiles of the key players in the market and an in-depth view of the competitive landscape worldwide. The major players in the seizure detection devices market include Compumedics, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Medtronic PLC, Natus Medical Incorporated., Nihon Kohden Corporation., LivaNova Plc., St. Jude Medical, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Empatica Inc., Emotiv and NeuroPace, Inc.. This section includes a holistic view of the competitive landscape that includes various strategic developments such as key mergers & acquisitions, future capacities, partnerships, financial overviews, collaborations, new product developments, new product launches, and other developments. This section covers regional segmentation which accentuates on current and future demand for seizure detection devices market across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Further, the report focuses on demand for individual application segment across all the prominent regions. Browse Full Global Seizure Detection Devices Market Research Report With TOC At: https://www.valuemarketresearch.com/report/seizure-detection-devices-market About Us: Value Market Research was established with the vision to ease decision making and empower the strategists by providing them with holistic market information. We facilitate clients with syndicate research reports and customized research reports on 25+ industries with global as well as regional coverage. Contact: Value Market Research 401/402, TFM, Nagras Road, Aundh, Pune-7. Maharashtra, INDIA. Tel: +1-888-294-1147 Email: sales@valuemarketresearch.com Website: https://www.valuemarketresearch.com North Korea criticised Donald Trump in a stinging denunciation of the United States on Friday, the second anniversary of a landmark summit in Singapore where the US president shook hands with leader Kim Jong Un. It was the latest in a series of vitriolic statements from Pyongyang aimed at both Washington and Seoul, and came a day after the North implicitly threatened to disrupt November's election if the US did not stay out of inter-Korean affairs. In recent days, Pyongyang has excoriated the South over defectors launching leaflets criticising Kim into the North and announced it was cutting all official communication links with Seoul. Friday's broadside contained some of the harshest criticism Pyongyang has sent Washington's way in recent months, and casts doubt over the future of the two sides' long-stalled nuclear talks process. In the onslaught, the North's foreign minister Ri Son Gwon accused Washington of hypocrisy and seeking regime change, saying that the hopes of 2018 had 'faded away into a dark nightmare'. In this picture taken on June 7, 2020 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on June 8, 2020 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (centre) speaks during the 13th Political Bureau meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in an undisclosed location in North Korea South Korean protesters with banners showing photos of South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stage a rally to denounce policies of the United States and South Korean government on North Korea near the U.S. embassy in Seoul, South Korea, today Trump and Kim were all smiles in front of the world's cameras in Singapore as a North Korean leader met a sitting US president for the first time, and afterwards Trump proclaimed on Twitter that 'There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.' But a second meeting in Hanoi last year to put meat on the bones of the North's vaguely worded Singapore pledge to 'work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula' collapsed over what Pyongyang would be willing to give up in exchange for sanctions relief. US diplomats insist that they believe Kim promised in Singapore to give up its arsenal, something Pyongyang has taken no steps to do The North is under multiple international sanctions over its banned weapons programmes. It believes it deserves to be rewarded for its moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests and the disabling of its atomic test site, along with the return of jailed US citizens and remains of soldiers killed in the Korean War. US President Donald Trump hosts a roundtable with faith leaders, law enforcement officials, and small business owners at Gateway Church Dallas Campus in Dallas, Texas, yesterday China advises US to address North Korea's concerns China said on Friday the United States should take concrete measures to address North Korea's concerns, amid escalating tensions between Pyongyang and Washington. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters during a daily briefing that one reason for the deterioration in bilateral relations since a summit in Singapore in 2018 was because North Korea's legitimate concerns had not been resolved. North Korea sees little use maintaining a personal relationship between its leader, Kim Jong Un, and U.S. President Donald Trump if Washington sticks to hostile policies, state media reported on Friday - the two-year anniversary of the leaders' first summit Advertisement 'Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise,' Ri said in his statement, carried by the official KCNA news agency. Trump has made much of his connection with Kim - at one point declaring that they had fallen 'in love' through their exchanges of letters. But Ri said Pyongyang now believed there was no hope for an improvement 'simply by maintaining personal relations between our Supreme Leadership and the US President'. He stopped just short of criticising Trump by name, but referred to comments that 'the master of the White House' had 'reeled off time and time again as a boast'. 'Never again will we provide the US chief executive with another package to be used... without receiving any returns.' Pyongyang's latest comments were not an empty threat, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a former North Korea analyst for the US government. 'North Koreans know they will not be getting what they want either from South Korea or the US,' she told AFP. 'Diplomacy no longer seems to be in the cards.' Trump and Kim met a third time in June 2019 in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the Korean peninsula, when Trump stepped onto North Korean soil - a first for any American president. But the meeting produced little in terms of tangible progress. Subsequently, the North repeatedly demanded that the US offer it fresh concessions by December 31, but the deadline came and went. Kim declared the North no longer considered itself bound by its unilateral testing moratoriums. It has not yet carried out any such actions, but analysts believe it has continued to develop its arsenal throughout the discussions. Ri accused Washington of seeking regime change and said the North had decided to bolster its nuclear deterrent 'to cope with the US unabated threats of nuclear war'. Pyongyang has carried out a series of tests of shorter-range weapons in recent months - often describing them as multiple launch rocket systems, although Japan and the United States have called them ballistic missiles. The process leading to the Singapore summit was brokered by the South's President Moon Jae-in, but his office said Friday it had no comment to make on the anniversary. CNBC's Jim Cramer said Friday that professionals on Wall Street are taking advantage of amateur investors by bidding up beat-up but popular stocks like airlines in premarket trading. "It's a game. If it weren't securities, let's say it was Monopoly, let's say it's Draft Kings ... it would be so much fun," Cramer said on "Squawk Box." "Pick a couple of stocks, you gun them in the morning, and then you hope people are stupid enough and they buy them." TWEET Cramer referenced shares of American Airlines, which were up more than 15% in early trading even as the company said it anticipates its second-quarter revenue to decline 90% compared with last year. The "Mad Money" host said people who really wanted to invest in a company like American Airlines, betting that coronavirus-related impacts of air travel would not be a long-term drag, would wait until the market opens. TWEET "If people wanted these stocks, there would be plenty of supply if they would just wait until 9:30 a.m.," Cramer said later on "Squawk on the Street." "But no, they're fomenting action. Once you foment action, it brings in suckers and then maybe they'll buy the stock thinking that there's something going on." But Cramer said there really is nothing driving that kind of move in a stock that has been so impacted by the Covid-19 crisis and faces a rocky future. He also pointed to the recent action in bankrupt car rental company Hertz, as well as Carnival Corp. Hertz's stock was up more than 50% to above $3 each Friday, while shares of cruise line Carnival were up about 12% in the premarket. "Carnival's not about to merge with Royal Caribbean that I know of, and you can't really have any more consolidation in the airlines," Cramer said. "But it doesn't matter. Look, I could stand on my head until I'm blue and say, 'Listen, please don't do this. Wait til 9:30 a.m. The stocks won't be up. Don't bid them up.'" Cramer stressed he does not believe it is investors on platforms like online brokerage Robinhood, which is favored by younger people and has seen newfound popularity during the pandemic, who are driving up the equity prices. "You're going to be able to get them lower" if you waited, Cramer said. "But if your job and your goal is to foment activity, then you're fomenting it left and right. And that's what this is. It's fomenting." When free childcare was introduced, Veronica's income dropped by $650 a week. Veronica*, who runs a family day care service in regional Western Australia, says the emergency measure introduced to keep childcare and family day centres afloat during the coronavirus pandemic was disastrous for her. Childcare workers say free childcare has been good for families - but not for them. Credit: Supplied "I've been doing this for 15 years, and this has just crippled us," she said. "It was good for parents, but not good for us. We still had to pay for electricity, food and expenses. I'm all for free childcare but the government's got to fund it, not us." The statues must fall. As Australia publicly struggles once again with the contemporary legacy of our brutal colonial history, we need to ask ourselves, are the white men we choose to commemorate the people we truly want to celebrate? Are their deeds the stuff of heroism? Do these statues inform? Do they educate? Do they help us be the nation we imagine ourselves to be? Do they move us closer to justice? Captain James Cooks statue, erected in 1879, still bears an inscription that reads "Discovered this territory 1770." Credit:Getty Images Debates about historical monuments are part of a decades-old movement, led by black and Indigenous people, to force a reckoning with violent and racist histories. Globally, there has been renewed focus following the Rhodes Must Fall movement, which began in 2015 when students at the University of Cape Town demanded the removal of a statue of colonist Cecil Rhodes from their campus. Rhodes Must Fall spread to the University Oxford and across Britain and mirrored campaigns to remove Confederate monuments and statues of other colonists and slave traders in the US. In recent weeks, amid the global Black Lives Matter campaign, statues have been pulled down in several cities. A statue of Christopher Columbus in Boston was beheaded. In Britain, a statue of slave trader Edward Colston was thrown into Bristol Harbour. These scenes have revived calls for the statue of Captain Cook in Sydneys Hyde Park to be taken down. Cooks statue, erected in 1879, still bears an inscription that reads "Discovered this territory 1770." This is a patent falsehood discredited by evidence of Indigenous occupation of this continent going back about 65,000 years. And yet, as Stan Grant wrote in 2017, the statue of Cook "speaks still to terra nullius and the violent rupture of Aboriginal society and a legacy of pain and suffering that endures today". And there are other egregious historical figures we commemorate without concern. Consider Lachlan Macquarie, whose role in advancing the invasion of Dharawal and Gundungurra territories to the west of what is now Sydney led to the Appin Massacre, in which Indigenous people were either shot or driven over the edge of a gorge to their deaths. Macquarie was not coy about his intentions, writing in his diary that the military detachments he deployed were "for the purpose of Punishing the Hostile Natives, by clearing the Country of them entirely". He ordered his troops to hang the victims from trees in order to terrorise the survivors. Loni Love is opening up about being arrested for the first time while in Texas during her time in college, by a white cop. The 48-year-old host of The Real, whose new book I Tried To Change So you Don't Have To is released on June 23, grew up in Detroit, where she, 'never had to deal with police. Everybody just got shot and that was it.' That all changed when she went to college in Texas in the 1990s, as she described to People, where she was arrested with her friend Keisha over filling a free water cup with soda at a Mexican restaurant. Opening up: Loni Love is opening up about being arrested for the first time while in Texas during her time in college, by a white cop Love recalled she went out dancing with her friend Keisha after working all weekend as a cashier. They went to a Mexican restaurant on their way back from campus, and while she was paying for her food, she described in her book seeing Keisha being 'yanked away' and put in handcuffs by a police officer. When Love asked the officer what happened, the cop accused Keisha of filling a free water cup up with soda. Cashier: Love recalled she went out dancing with her friend Keisha after working all weekend as a cashier When Love tried to intervene, she was placed under arrest too... for the supposed 'crime' of 'trespassing.' She explained in the book that the white cop said, 'Both you n***** bitches is going to jail. Now close your f***ing mouth before I close it for you.' 'He put handcuffs on me. And that was my introduction to the criminal justice system,' she told People. Crime: When Love tried to intervene, she was placed under arrest too... for the supposed 'crime' of 'trespassing' Since trespassing is considered a felony in Texas, Love and her friend Keisha were separated in jail, with Love put in 'with all the murderers, with all the felons.' She spent the night with cellmates that included a woman who was beaten by the cops and had a 'split lip' during a speeding stop and a, 'young pregnant woman who shot her baby-daddy in the leg in self-defense after he threatened to blow her head off.' One of her sorority sisters bailed Love out before she was transferred to central booking the next morning. Felons: Since trespassing is considered a felony in Texas, Love and her friend Keisha were separated in jail, with Love put in 'with all the murderers, with all the felons' She added she was able to only 'take probation' and have the charge 'expunged from my record,' adding, 'it taught me a lot.' Love said going through that process 'took all my savings' even with a public defender and it was 'because of something so stupid.' 'And you could say, well she did put soda in a water cup, but it was because we were two black girls,' she said. 'We know if it was two white girls, [the cop] would have said, "Don't do that."' She started studying the criminal justice system and started seeing 'biases against people of color, especially black men,' and it's what made her want to be a host. 'It kind of all connects with why I decided to go on to co-host a talk show, because I wanted to have those issues focused on as well. Because in my opinion, I thought that if you're on a daily talk show and if once in a while, you can talk about the injustices and show it and discuss it, maybe we can all learn from it,' she said. The beef between the province's doctors association and the health minister reached a new level on Friday, as John Haggie said he would no sooner consult them on the new 811 nurse practitioner program than he would on a social work program. The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association sent Haggie a stern letter Thursday in response to government launching a new app that connects people with urgent needs to a nurse practitioner employed by 811. The group said it wasn't consulted and had major concerns about it being disconnected from family practices. "No one group of health-care providers has a monopoly on providing health care to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador," Haggie said during Friday's COVID-19 briefing. Haggie said doctors have their own methods for virtual care, and it comes down to what a patient wants. "Virtual care was instituted for the NLMA's members at the beginning of the pandemic. We forwent negotiations and simply said, 'Fill your boots, pick your platform and we'll pay for phone or video.' So they have their own mechanism. Nurse practitioners are autonomous practitioners. They have the ability to work fully within their scope of practice. I would no more ask the NLMA about a social work console." Integrated, but fragmented One concern the NLMA raised is patients of family doctors could turn to 811 and speak to a nurse practitioner who is unfamiliar with their charts and be prescribed medication that runs counter to their doctor's advice. A virtual-care task force formed by three of the largest medical associations in Canada decided in 2019 that any virtual walk-in service should be done in a way that builds off an established relationship between a patient and a physician or primary care team, and promotes continuity of care. Haggie said the new 811 app is fully integrated with the province's electronic health record or EHR but acknowledged there are major gaps in that record-keeping service. Story continues "Unfortunately doctors from different practices do not necessarily have any commonality of record," Haggie said. "There are still doctors who are using paper. There are some who have transitioned to siloed versions of the EHR and there's some that are using the regional iteration through Meditech. So that's all fragmented." Ryan Cooke/CBC He said the 811 app will be more connected with electronic records than the existing walk-in clinics in the province. "From this point of view, it's all totally encrypted, safe and secure," Haggie said. "And it is totally compatible with the electronic health record." Some doctors expressed concern about the direction of the integration. Whatever the nurse practitioner decides to prescribe will be part of the electronic record, but the person's previous medical history might not be available to the nurse practitioner before deciding what to prescribe. As for why the province decided to enlist 811 to run this type of service, Haggie said it was based on feedback from people already using virtual care. "There is science behind it," he said. "There is evidence to show that for a significant proportion of consults, virtual care is as effective and probably better received by the participants than face to face." Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador Decades of growth have propelled Chinas rise from an almost entirely peasant society to one that still has an enormous peasantry. This growth, which was more rapid than can be continued, pulled Chinas per capita gross domestic product to $9,770, 72nd in the world, slightly better than Mexicos, still behind Russias, one-fourth that of neighboring Japan and one-third that of South Korea, and about 15 percent of the United States $62,887. The bitter fruit of Chinas one-child policy, from 1980 until 2016, is an aging population that will become gray before it becomes rich. Last year, Chinas birthrate fell to 1.05 percent, a record low (the U.S. rate is 1.73), and China is projected to be among 55 nations with fewer people in 2050 than today. By 2030, Chinese deaths might exceed births. Today, Chinas working-age population is 70 percent of the total population; it is projected to plunge to 57 percent by 2040, when there will be barely two workers to support every retiree. GREAT FALLS, Mont., June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Combining over 130 years of legal experience, the Montana personal injury attorneys at Hoyt & Blewett PLLC have often received awards and accolades for their work on behalf of injury victims. Now, the firm is proud to announce that three of its esteemed attorneys have been selected to the 2020 Super Lawyers list. Each lawyer has been honored with this award on at least 6 previous occasions. The following attorneys have been chosen this year: Alexander "Zander" Blewett III: Chosen from 2007 to 2020 in Personal Injury General, Personal Injury Medical Malpractice, and Personal Injury Products Chosen from 2007 to 2020 in Personal Injury General, Personal Injury Medical Malpractice, and Personal Injury Products Joseph P. Cosgrove : Chosen from 2010 to 2015 and 2020 in Personal Injury General, Insurance Coverage, Construction Litigation Consumer, and Transportation/Maritime Chosen from 2010 to 2015 and 2020 in Personal Injury General, Insurance Coverage, Construction Litigation Consumer, and Transportation/Maritime Kurt M. Jackson : Chosen from 2012 to 2020 in Personal Injury General Known as one of the leading legal ranking organizations in the country, Super Lawyers uses a comprehensive peer nomination process and a patented multiphase selection procedure to determine which attorneys are considered "outstanding" in their fields and regions. Only 5% of all attorneys in each state are selected to the Super Lawyers list. The team at Hoyt & Blewett PLLC would like to congratulate Attorneys Blewett, Cosgrove, and Jackson on this remarkable achievement. The firm will continue to pursue justice for injury victims across Montana and seek fair verdicts and settlements on their behalf. For more information about Hoyt & Blewett PLLC, contact the firm online at https://www.hoytblewett.com/. SOURCE Hoyt & Blewett PLLC Related Links https://www.hoytblewett.com NEW LONDON A Danbury man accused of soliciting sexual acts from a juvenile was arrested Tuesday. Hirenkumar Gandhi is charged with criminal attempt to commit second-degree sexual assault, criminal attempt to commit risk of injury to a minor and use of a computer to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. The 34-year-old was arrested following an investigation by New London detectives and the New Haven FBIs Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to New London police. A $100,000 cash-surety bond was set following his arrest. COLUMBUS, Ohio - The spread of coronavirus has declined in nearly every region in Ohio to the point that on average less than one new person is being infected from each existing case, data presented by Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday showed. DeWine described what is called R0 (pronounced R naught), a mathematical term used by medical professionals to describe the spread of a disease. A number of one means that on average, each person infects one other person. DeWine said that for COVID-19 the R naught rose as high as 1.9 in March as the infection was rapidly spreading in Ohio. This meant that on average each person was spreading the virus to nearly two others. Ohios R naught dropped below one in mid-May before ticking up some but still remaining below one on June 1, DeWine said, noting that the latest data for the measure is always 10 days old. The numbers are fairly close to each other all over the state with a couple of exceptions. Even the Dayton number (now above one) I dont think is yet room for alarm," DeWine said. DeWine said that in talking to a Cincinnati doctor, he learned that there was an uptick in cases for about a three-day period after Mothers Day, before dipping again. You want your numbers obviously going down, and you want your numbers below one, DeWine. A spokeswoman for the health department said the calculation is based on a number of mathematical calculations using dates for the onset of symptoms for known coronavirus cases in Ohio. State officials have divided the state into eight regions for tracking purposes, though two Southeast Ohio regions were combined to get enough data in the sparsely populated areas. The latest R naught numbers by region ranged from 0.62 in Southeast Ohio to 1.07 in the Dayton area. The Northeast Ohio region consisting of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties, has a 0.88 rating. Medina, Portage, Stark and Summit counties are part of a 12-county region with a 0.72. Central Ohio, including the Columbus area, has a 0.91. Southwest Ohio, including Cincinnati, has a 0.80. Dr. Amy Acton, who on Thursday announced her resignation as director of the Ohio Department of Health, has also spoken of the importance of tracking the R naught. She said Thursday that it was among about 30 indicators that were being followed closely. The state has reported 40,004 cases and 2,490 deaths since confirmation of the first three cases on March 9. However, the growth in newly reported cases has slowed lately, with the rolling seven-day average dipping on Thursday to its lowest level since April 15. However, it can be more than a week between when a person is infected until a case is confirmed by health officials. Read related coverage Dr. Amy Acton resigns as Ohio Department of Health director State now identifies 302 cases pre-dating first confirmations of coronavirus in Ohio March 9 Gov. Mike DeWine expands coronavirus testing to all Ohioans STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It isnt easy to say goodbye to a school building that has become a second home to the students and staff at St. Adalbert School -- and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic took away the opportunity to properly close the final chapter at the over 100-year-old school. The Archdiocese of New York announced in February that St. Adalbert School will merge with Holy Rosary School in South Beach to become the Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy for the 2020-2021 school year. Ive been here now almost 10 years and DJs 14, so shes been around since she was a little one," Barrett said. And she started off just being the kid who was always around, so she just jumped into anything that was going on. If it was a dance class, DJ was in it. Syrian prime minister Imad Khamis, pictured, has been sacked by Bashar al-Assad - AFP Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian dictator, sacked his prime minister on Thursday amid a spiralling economic crisis and a series of rare protests against his regime. In a statement, the office of the Syrian president announced that Imad Khamis, who had served as prime minister since 2016, had been dismissed President Assad issues decree number 143 for year 2020 which relieves the prime minister Imad Muhammad Dib Khamis of his position," it said. The dismissal came as a highly unusual mass protest against Assad continued for its fifth consecutive day in the Druze-majority town of Suweida in southwestern Syria. Dozens marched through the town calling for the fall of the regime as well as revolution and justice. Similar protests were held this week in the southern town of Tafas, in the Daraa region. "Protesters called for freedom and toppling of the regime as a result of popular anger over the deteriorating economic, social, security and political situation," one protester in Suweida, Noura al Basha, told Reuters news agency. Most of Syrias Arab Druze community has stayed loyal to the Assad regime for fear of religious persecution, while Suweida has largely avoided the bloodshed of the civil war. Public protests against Assads rule since the civil war began are almost unheard of due to the risk of being disappeared into the countrys prisons and torture chambers by security forces. Syrian President Bashar Assad gestures during an interview in Damascus - SANA The Syrian regime swiftly announced Khamis was being replaced by Hussein Arnous, who previously served as housing and water resources minister. Senior Syria analysts said both Mr Hussein and Mr Khamis were regarded as unpopular and corrupt politicians in the country. Mr Khamis, who like most senior Syrian figures is under EU sanctions, oversaw a catastrophic plunge in the value of the Syrian pound. As of Thursday, 3,000 Syrian pounds were valued at $1, or 79 pence. Story continues Syrian authorities blame the economic hardship on Western sanctions, while the currency collapse has led to soaring prices and people struggling to afford food and basic supplies. But it was speculated on Thursday that Mr Khamis may have been sacked so he could take the blame for the economic crisis. Assad is also grappling with a feud in Syria's ruling family, which erupted earlier this year when his cousin, a former member of the inner circle, published an unprecedented video begging for debt relief. In the video, which is said to have angered the Syrian dictator, telecoms businessman Rami Makhlouf claimed he had been saddled with crippling debts by Assad and claimed he was unable to pay them off. More than 400,000 people have been killed since Syria's civil war erupted in 2011, with millions displaced and large parts of the country still outside government control. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Shaun Tandon (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States Fri, June 12, 2020 10:48 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde2b491 2 World Donald-Trump,ICC,international-criminal-court,war-crime,probe,Afghanistan,Afghan-war Free President Donald Trump on Thursday authorized sanctions against any official at the International Criminal Court who investigates US troops, ramping up pressure to stop its case into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. In an executive order, Trump said the United States would block US property and assets of anyone from The Hague-based tribunal involved in probing or prosecuting US troops. "We cannot -- we will not -- stand by as our people are threatened by a kangaroo court," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement to reporters. "I have a message to many close allies around the world -- your people could be next, especially those from NATO countries who fought terrorism in Afghanistan right alongside of us." The court responded by stating that its president O-Gon Kwon "rejects measures taken against ICC," calling them "unprecedented" and saying they "undermine our common endeavor to fight impunity and to ensure accountability for mass atrocities." US Attorney General Bill Barr alleged, without giving detail, that Russia and other adversaries of the United States have been "manipulating" the court. Using Trump's "America First" language, Barr said the administration was trying to bring accountability to a global body. "This institution has become, in practice, little more than a political tool employed by unaccountable international elites," he said. 'Contempt' for rule of law European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell voiced "serious concern" and said the court "must be respected and supported by all nations." Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said he was "very disturbed" by the US move, and said The Netherlands supported the court on its soil. "The ICC is crucial in the fight against impunity and upholding international rule of law," Blok wrote on Twitter. Human Rights Watch said Trump's order "demonstrates contempt for the global rule of law." "This assault on the ICC is an effort to block victims of serious crimes whether in Afghanistan, Israel or Palestine from seeing justice," said the group's Washington director, Andrea Prasow. But the move was hailed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of Trump's closest allies, who has been angered by the ICC's moves -- strongly opposed by Washington -- to probe alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories. In a reference to Israeli settlements, Netanyahu accused the court of fabricating accusations that Jews living in their historical homeland constitutes a war crime. "This is ridiculous. Shame on them," Netanyahu told reporters. Trump has been tearing down global institutions he sees as hindering his administration's interests, recently ordering a pullout from the World Health Organization over its coronavirus response. Long-running US anger The Trump administration has been livid over the International Criminal Court's investigation into atrocities in Afghanistan, America's longest-running war. The administration last year revoked the US visa of the court's chief prosecutor, Gambian-born Fatou Bensouda, to demand that she end the Afghanistan probe. But judges in March said the investigation could go ahead, overturning an initial rejection of Bensouda's request. Under Trump's order on Thursday, visa restrictions will be expanded to any court official involved in investigations into US forces. The United States argues that it has its own procedures in place to investigate accusations against troops. "We are committed to uncovering, and if possible holding people accountable, for their wrongdoing -- any wrongdoing," Barr said. Trump, however, used his executive powers last year to clear three military members over war crimes, including in Afghanistan. Among them was Eddie Gallagher, who had been convicted by a military tribunal of stabbing to death with a hunting knife a prisoner of war from the Islamic State group in Iraq. Gallagher had become a cause celebre among US conservatives, although Trump's action troubled some in the US military. Founded in 2002, the International Criminal Court immediately ran into opposition from Washington, where the then administration of George W. Bush encouraged countries to shun it. Former president Barack Obama took a more cooperative approach with the court, but the United States remained outside of it. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12 Trend: Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company CJSC has resumed container shipping along Alat-Turkmenbashi-Alat, Trend reports on June 12 referring to the shipping company. For efficient and rapid transportation in this direction, the company offers customers dry cargo vessels belonging to its transport fleet. The transportation will be carried out at the following rates: 20 FT = $300, 40 FT = $550. The Port of Baku is located in Alat (a township 70 km south of Baku), at the crossroads of two major transportation corridors East-West and North-South. It is also where Azerbaijans main railway and highway networks converge, facilitating the implementation of the vision of the port as a grand hub becoming key to regional and global supply chains. The Port of Baku serves as a major intermodal distribution hub, but will also employ an integrated development model that involves port activities, bonded zone, the Alat township and various transport and non-transport projects. The Port of Baku development is projected in 2 phases. Hairstylist Jack Martin transformed a routine query into a revolutionary campaign for natural hair color back in 2017 when a client came to him with gray roots, hoping for a low-maintenance solution. Rather than fix the roots, Martin and his client decided to ditch the box dye and embrace her gorgeous natural gray hair instead. The client returned home restored, both in hair color and in confidence. Martins now-trademark gray transformations have gained in traction ever since; as of 2020, the stylist can count some high-profile celebrities among his clients like Jane Fonda and Sharon Osbourne. (Courtesy of Jack Martin) When Martin, who was born in Syria and has almost three decades of experience as a hairstylist, posted his first jaw-dropping gray-hair makeover on his Instagram handle, the response was overwhelming. The picture went viral. Before long, the stylist was receiving appointment requests from celebrities wanting a dramatic hair color overhaul of their own. Jane Fonda requested Martin specifically, hoping for a radical new look ahead of the Oscars, for which she was a host, on Feb. 9, 2020. Martin, describing himself as happy and proud to work with Fonda, said that he initially thought the phone call was a hoax. I thought it was a fake message, that somebody was playing a game with me, Martin told Insider. Jack Martin with celebrity client Jane Fonda ahead of the 2020 Oscars. (Courtesy of Jack Martin) The week before the awards show, the stylist headed to his Jack Martin Salon in Tustin, California, on his day off to meet the 82-year-old actress. Fonda shared with Martin that she was craving a departure from her textbook golden blonde. She did not even look at the mirror to see what I was doing, Martin later told Vanity Fair, adding, shes 82 years old, but her personality is like maybe 30 years old. [Fonda] loves to surprise people every once in a while with her new looks and new stuff. She wants to do it for the Oscars, Martin said. True to form, Fonda wowed the crowds at the Feb. 9 awards show, her newly colored silver-gray hair styled in stunning contrast with her red Elie Saab floor-length gown. Jane Fonda at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on Feb. 9, 2020, in Hollywood, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Just one week after his appointment with Fonda, Martins services were requested once again, this time by The Talk host Sharon Osbourne. Osbourne, 67, told the stylist that she was ready to ditch her trademark red hair after 18 long years and called Martin a magician for the transformation that followed. When asked whether he was concerned to share his trade secrets, Martin revealed to Vanity Fair, If you give your recipe to cook something to two people, they will never achieve the same exact dish [] There is enough business for everybody and this is a new trend everybody loves to wear. Jack Martin with The Talk host Sharon Osbourne. (Courtesy of Jack Martin) Fonda and Osbourne may be spearheading a brand-new revolution in celebrity beauty, and Martins reputation as a color expert is now spreading far and wide. Martins gray-hair makeovers usually take an average of 10 hours to finish and involve multiple treatments, reported Modern Salon. First, the stylist extracts all remaining artificial color from the hair, then bleaches the entire head of hair ready for color. Finally, Martin analyzes the clients unique distribution of gray shades from 3 to 4 inches of grown-out natural roots in order to create a multi-dimensional final look using multiple layered applications of hair dye. (Courtesy of Jack Martin) While the stylists client base may be expanding exponentially, Martins revolutionary approach to embracing the gray may, in fact, mean that his regular clients visit his salon less frequently. In creating a low-maintenance look that embraces the hairs natural color palette, Martin has helped numerous clients to reclaim both their time and their confidence in beautiful, natural gray hair. Martin told Insider that since his first epic gray-hair makeover in 2017, he has completed around 500 gorgeous gray transformations. Theres nothing better than being natural, you know, he said. The stylist shares his stunning hair makeovers with followers and fans on both Instagram and Facebook. Check out Martins legendary makeovers below: (Courtesy of Jack Martin) (Courtesy of Jack Martin) (Courtesy of Jack Martin) (Courtesy of Jack Martin) (Courtesy of Jack Martin) Photo courtesy of Jack Martin (Instagram | Facebook) We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc Washington, June 12 : The US has pledged that it would continue reducing its forces in Iraq and confirmed that it does not seek permanent military presence in the country, said a joint statement on Friday. The joint US-Iraq Strategic Dialogue statement on the website of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Iraqi delegation was led by the Ministry's Senior Deputy Minister Abdul-Karim Hashim, while the American delegation was led by the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale, reports Xinhua news agency. The strategic dialogue via video teleconference, which was held in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement signed in 2008 between the two sides, also covered security and counterterrorism, economics and energy, political issues, and cultural relations, according to the statement. It said that the two sides recognized the significant progress in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) and agreed that over the coming months "the US would continue reducing forces from Iraq and discuss with the government of Iraq the status of remaining forces". "The US reiterated that it does not seek nor request permanent bases or a permanent military presence in Iraq," the statement said, adding that the Iraqi government in turn committed to protect the international coalition forces and their bases in the country, and that the foreign forces presence will be decided upon by the two countries. On the economic and energy issues, the two sides agreed that Iraq is facing enormous economic challenges by the two crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the decline of oil prices, while the country needs to conduct comprehensive reforms, the statement said. In this respect, the US discussed providing economic advisors to work directly with the Iraqi government to help advance international support for Iraq's reform efforts, as well as the potential for investment projects involving world-class American firms in the energy and other sectors, according to the statement. On politics, the US vowed to assist the Iraqi government in "carrying out humanitarian efforts, restoring stability, rebuilding the country, and organizing free, fair and credible elections", it said. The two governments will also hold in-depth discussions over the same issues at another meeting for a higher coordination committee for the strategic dialogue likely slated for July in Washington, D.C. The relations between Baghdad and Washington have witnessed a tension since January 3 after an American drone struck a convoy at Baghdad airport, which killed Qasem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces. The US airstrike prompted the Iraqi Parliament on January 5 to pass a resolution requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in Iraq. Over 5,000 U.S. troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the domestic forces in the battles against the IS militants. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Assad Appoints Syrian Minister of Water Resources as Acting Prime Minister, Press Service Says Sputnik News 15:01 GMT 11.06.2020 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Syrian President Bashar Assad appointed Minister of Water Resources Hussein Arnous as acting prime minister, the presidential press service said Thursday. "President [Bashar] Assad entrusts [Water Resources Minister] Mr Hussein Arnous to carry out the prime minister's functions. The government will continue its work until the elections of the People's Assembly", the press office said citing a decree. Earlier in the day, Assad's office said that the president had dismissed Imad Mohammed Khamis from the post of the prime minister. The decision came as a result of a deteriorating economic situation in Syria , according to various news outlets. Media reported that the national currency had fallen against the US dollar over the recent days, prompting prices for life necessities to significantly soar. The parliamentary elections in Syria were initially scheduled to be held on 13 April. In mid-March, Assad's office confirmed that the elections had been provisionally postponed until 20 May in the interests of public health due to the global coronavirus pandemic. On 7 May, the authorities said that the elections had been further postponed until 19 July as part of preventive measures to tackle the spread of COVID-19. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Danny Roman, a Mexican Mafia member who controlled swaths of South Los Angeles from various prison cells throughout California, was stabbed to death in state custody Wednesday. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) Danny Roman, a Mexican Mafia member who controlled swaths of South Los Angeles from various prison cells throughout California, was stabbed to death Wednesday at a substance abuse treatment facility in Corcoran, the state prison system said Thursday. Around 11 a.m., two inmates Raul Alvarado and Edward Cisneros began stabbing Roman in the body and face, according to a spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Roman, 64, was taken to the prisons medical facility and pronounced dead. Alvarado, 47, is a Mexican Mafia member from Lennox known as Spy, according to a source who wasnt authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity. The source said Alvarado and Cisneros attacked Roman on the facilitys yard. Alvarado is serving a life sentence for murder and has been in state custody since 1994, according to the corrections department. Cisneros, 31, is also serving a life sentence for murder and has been incarcerated since 2013. The two men have been placed in segregated housing while the corrections department and the Kings County district attorney investigate Romans killing. Roman had been a state prisoner since 1985, when he began serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, the department said. Roman, known as Popeye, was the leader of Harpys, a Latino street gang in South Central Los Angeles. On May 16, 1988, three years after entering the state prison system, Roman was inducted into the Mexican Mafia, a Los Angeles police detective wrote in an affidavit seeking court permission to intercept Roman's daughters phone calls. The Mexican Mafia is a criminal syndicate of about 140 members, most of them incarcerated, which controls virtually every Latino street gang in Southern California. As a member of the syndicate, authorities said in court documents, Roman was authorized to collect narcotics and extortion proceeds from not just his own gang but a panoply of others in South Los Angeles: 38th Street, 36th Street, Primera Flats, Playboys and East Side Trece, among others. Story continues By 2012, Roman controlled a territory in South Los Angeles bordered by Alameda Street to the east, Western Avenue to the west, Washington Boulevard to the north and Imperial Highway to the south, according to a federal indictment charging 18 Harpys members and associates, including Romans daughter, Vianna, with racketeering, drug trafficking and various violent crimes. Prosecutors painted Vianna Roman as her fathers surrogate, visiting him at a maximum-security wing in Pelican Bay State Prison and relaying orders to underlings in Los Angeles to extort, assault and kill. She pleaded guilty in 2014 to racketeering, drug trafficking and firearms offenses and is serving a 15-year sentence at a federal prison in Victorville. Inside her market on Compton Avenue, Villamar Tortilleria y Carniceria, Vianna Roman met with her fathers lieutenants, discussed gangland politics and collected extortion payments, or taxes, LAPD Det. Richard Jaramillo wrote in an affidavit seeking a judges approval to tap her phone. Gang members called it the meat shop. On the 25th of every month, Danny Roman's emissaries collected $5,000 to $6,000 from 15 gangs in South Los Angeles and turned it over at the meat shop, Jaramillo wrote, citing intelligence from turncoats within Roman's organization. Several informants told law enforcement that people had been tortured, assaulted and murdered inside the meat shop, the affidavit said. A particularly rich prize for the Romans, Jaramillo wrote, was the Alameda Swap Meet, at the intersection of Alameda Street and Vernon Avenue in South Los Angeles. Extorting vendors at the flea market generates an extreme amount of revenue for the Mexican Mafia, Jaramillo wrote. By 2012, the indictment charging his daughter said, Danny Roman had gained the exclusive right to shake down the swap meet. An underling drew up a list of resistant vendors, identifying the outstanding extortion payments as union dues, the indictment said. Those who didnt pay or contacted the police were evicted from the market or assaulted, according to the indictment. One Harpys member vowed to kill any vendor who cooperated with law enforcement, it said. Danny Romans underlings, who couldnt send money to his prison account without arousing suspicion, used fake names and enlisted girlfriends and wives to kick up his cut, Jaramillo wrote. Before his daughters indictment, prison officials seized $24,000 from Danny Romans inmate trust account, suspecting it came from extortion and drug trafficking, the affidavit said. Prisoners can use money from their accounts to buy items at the commissary, such as snacks and hygiene products, that range in price from 25 cents to a few dollars. Roughly half of Earth's ice-free land remains without significant human influence, according to a study from a team of international researchers led by the National Geographic Society and the University of California, Davis. The study, published in the journal Global Change Biology, compared four recent global maps of the conversion of natural lands to anthropogenic land uses to reach its conclusions. The more impacted half of Earth's lands includes cities, croplands, and places intensively ranched or mined. "The encouraging takeaway from this study is that if we act quickly and decisively, there is a slim window in which we can still conserve roughly half of Earth's land in a relatively intact state," said lead author Jason Riggio, a postdoctoral scholar at the UC Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology. The study, published June 5 on World Environment Day, aims to inform the upcoming global Convention on Biological Diversity -- the Conference of Parties 15. The historic meeting was scheduled to occur in China this fall but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Among the meeting's goals is to establish specific, and higher, targets for land and water protection. Approximately 15 percent of the Earth's land surface and 10 percent of the oceans are currently protected in some form. However, led by organizations including Nature Needs Half and the Half-Earth Project, there have been bold global calls for governments to commit to protecting 30 percent of the land and water by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050. Intact natural lands across the globe can help purify air and water, recycle nutrients, enhance soil fertility and retention, pollinate plants, and break down waste products. The value of maintaining these vital ecosystem services to the human economy has been placed in the trillions of U.S. dollars annually. advertisement CONSERVATION AND COVID-19 The coronavirus pandemic now shaking the globe illustrates the importance of maintaining natural lands to separate animal and human activity. The leading scientific evidence points to the likelihood that SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes the disease COVID-19, is a zoonotic virus that jumped from animals to humans. Ebola, bird flu and SARS are other diseases known to have spilled over into the human population from nonhuman animals. "Human risk to diseases like COVID-19 could be reduced by halting the trade and sale of wildlife, and minimizing human intrusion into wild areas," said senior author Andrew Jacobson, professor of GIS and conservation at Catawba College in North Carolina. Jacobson said that regional and national land-use planning that identify and appropriately zone locations best suited to urban growth and agriculture could help control the spread of human development. Establishing protections for other landscapes, particularly those currently experiencing low human impacts, would also be beneficial. FROM THE TUNDRA TO THE DESERT Among the largest low-impact areas are broad stretches of boreal forests and tundra across northern Asia and North America and vast deserts like the Sahara in Africa and the Australian Outback. These areas tend to be colder and/or drier and less fit for agriculture. "Though human land uses are increasingly threatening Earth's remaining natural habitats, especially in warmer and more hospitable areas, nearly half of Earth still remains in areas without large-scale intensive use," said co-author Erle Ellis, professor of geography at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Areas having low human influence do not necessarily exclude people, livestock or sustainable management of resources. A balanced conservation response that addresses land sovereignty and weighs agriculture, settlement or other resource needs with the protection of ecosystem services and biodiversity is essential, the authors note. "Achieving this balance will be necessary if we hope to meet ambitious conservation targets," said Riggio. "But our study optimistically shows that these targets are still within reach." ALBANY Following years of debate and calls for changes to a controversial law that shields police disciplinary records from the public, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed sweeping police reforms into law Friday and ordered all police agencies to work with communities on reinventing police programs and tactics. The bills passed by the Senate and Assembly earlier this week repeal 50-a, the 44-year-old statute in state Civil Rights Law that blocks public access to police officers disciplinary records, and create new units within the attorney generals office to investigate police misconduct and probe fatal shootings by police. "The truth is, police reform is long overdue, and Mr. Floyd's murder is just the most recent murder," Cuomo said ahead of signing the bills during his daily coronavirus task force briefing held in New York City on Friday. "This is not just about Mr. Floyd's murder, it's about being here before many, many times before. Today is about enough is enough." Many of the reforms have stalled in Albany for years, but gained traction after weeks of protests against police brutality throughout New York and the country following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Cuomo signed the bills flanked by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins as well as police reform advocates and mothers whose children died during encounters with police. Some of those in attendance were the same families who spoke during a public hearing last year on repealing 50-a, where state elected leaders were absent. Cuomo also announced that he is issuing an executive order requiring police agencies across New York to work with their respective communities to "develop a plan that reinvents and modernizes police strategies and programs," addressing use of force by officers, crowd management, implicit bias awareness training, and more. Communities must come up with a plan approved by local legislative bodies by April 1, 2021, otherwise state funding for the police departments could be in jeopardy. "Sit down with the local community, address these issues, get to the root of these issues, get a plan and pass it by your local government," Cuomo said. "We're not going to fund police agencies in this state that do not look at what has been happening, come to terms with it and reform themselves. We are not going to be a state government subsidizing improper police conduct." Rev. Al Sharpton, a vocal advocate for police reforms and civil rights activist, applauded Cuomos executive order, calling it a model for law enforcement agencies nationwide to follow. It is a model for how we should be dealing with 21st Century Civil Rights, Sharpton said. These bills mean some substantive change so that we wont be sitting here going over this after the next funeral, and the next situation. Troy Police Benevolent Association President Nick Laviano said as a lifelong city resident and officer for more than 10 years, certain aspects of reform are long overdue. "I believe our initial police academy needs to be revamped and extended beyond six months to a year or more. I believe our field training needs to be extended from eight to 16 weeks," he said. "I think a civilian review board is a great idea as long as it has open-minded people on it, and not just anti- or pro-cop people on the panel. I believe body cameras, if properly funded, will restore any eroded trust in our officers here in Troy." The New York State PBA, meanwhile, took the measures as an affront that would fuel anti-police sentiment "This is indeed a sad day to be a police officer (in) New York State," NYS PBA President Ryan Law said in a statement. "By passing 50-A, and the other blatantly anti-police legislation that is in the works, the Democratic majority the New York State Legislature has said loud and clear that they do not have the backs of police and first responders, but they will continue to expect us to protect and serve. ... Sadly, this week has seen unprecedented attacks on police from NY to California, and this legislation will do nothing to protect the public, and in fact will only serve to fan the flames of anti-police rhetoric." Other bills passed by the Legislature require state troopers to wear body cameras, mandate that courts document race, ethnicity and sex data for arrests and court proceedings involving low-level offenses, and require a police officer who fires a gun to verbally notify a supervisor within six hours and file a written report within 48 hours. The repeal of 50-a, which also protected the personnel records of correction officers, firefighters and peace officers, includes new provisions in the state Freedom of Information Law under which officers' private information, including home addresses and phone numbers, would be prohibited from public disclosure. It also would exempt "technical infractions," such as a state trooper being disciplined for not wearing their Stetson during a traffic stop. Advocates for the repeal have argued the statute has been used to shield police corruption and cover up civil rights violations. In many departments, civilian police review boards are not allowed to know the identity of the officers whose conduct they are reviewing, including whether an officer has been the target of multiple complaints. The pressure for police reforms intensified last week as peaceful protests and incidents of violence and looting unfolded in cities across New York and the nation in response to Floyds death, which adds to a long list of unarmed black men and women who have died at the hands of police officers. Prior efforts to repeal the statute have failed to gain any momentum in the Legislature and Cuomo, in his third term as governor, has never offered his own bill to repeal the measure or directed State Police to release their personnel files. Assembly Speaker Heastie said each time a person of color died in a confrontation with police, he thought that would spark change. This time around, Floyd's death "touched a nerve on every person." "I think watching a man being suffocated by strangulation, crying for his deceased mother struck a nerve," Heastie said. Cuomo added that the cumulative impact of all those who have died also brought the country to the point of necessary change. "It took a number of deaths, it took a number of injustices, unfortunately, but each one was a part of getting here today," the governor said. A bill signed by Cuomo Friday also empowers the state attorney generals office to investigate police misconduct and probe police-involved deaths, expanding on an executive order previously issued to allow the attorney general to investigate fatal encounters between unarmed civilians and New York police agencies. At the same time, the office has for years represented the State Police in their court battles seeking to fight the release of records related to internal investigations. Cuomo and other prominent state elected leaders denounced the Minneapolis officers actions, and called for efforts to reform not only law enforcement, but other sectors like housing and education, to address systemic and institutional racism. Stewart-Cousins said the nation is in a moment of reckoning. We know this isnt a cure, she said. We know that this is the beginning, but its a move to bring justice to a system that has long been unjust. An emergency medical technician in New Jersey was removed from a volunteer board of health after he made racist and threatening Facebook comments about participants of a Black Lives Matter protest. "I told them I'd shoot and then kneel on their neck! Haha," Matthew Kronyak wrote, according to screenshots provided to NBC News. Provided by Dylan Majsiak The Borough of Carlstadt, about 13 miles northeast of Newark, said in a statement on Facebook that the comments were brought to its attention Thursday after a peaceful rally against racism in support of the Black Lives Matter cause. "An appointed-member of our volunteer Board of Health used his personal social media to make racist, and threatening comments to participants of that rally," the statement said. The board's secretary told NBC News the comments were written by Kronyak, who has been an emergency medical technician for 12 and a half years, according to his LinkedIn page. "This behavior is unacceptable and the individual has been removed from his volunteer position effective immediately," the statement said. Kronyak, 70, of Carlstadt, did not immediately return requests for comment Friday. In a since-deleted Facebook post, he described Thursday's protest as A BIG NOTHING. About 80 people, if that many, it was a waste of time, he wrote. At least 3/4 of the people werent from town, no one faces discrimination here, even the speakers said so. Abhishake Shah, 25, a protest organizer who spoke at the event, commented on Kronyak's Facebook post Thursday. Image: Black Lives Matter protest, Carlstadt NJ (Rebecca Cruz / Carlstadt Coalition for Equality & Progress) "As one of the speakers, I can say that it is not valid," Shah wrote. "Several of us spoke broadly about incidents and moments where we felt like we 'didn't belong.'" Shah added: "We did not want to be hateful or show anger. If you'd like, I would love to discuss this further with you. Feel free to message me; we all need to learn a little bit more about our neighbors. We all need to listen and learn about each other's experiences, including me." Story continues Kronyak replied, "are you a muslim? If so, nuff said terrorist." In an interview Friday, Shah said that he was shocked by Kronyak's response. He said he learned about it after a friend sent him a screenshot of it. "For a moment I was very upset," he said. But, Shah said, he is taking comfort in the kindness he has been shown by his friends and fellow protest organizers. "These incidents are going to happen," he said. His offer to meet with Kronyak still stands. "I would encourage him to meet with me to discuss the Black Lives Matter platform," Shah said. "It's about coming together in the community." Shah's comment was not the only one to garner a response from Kronyak. After one commenter said Kronyak hid his face during the protest, Kronyak replied: "I had my face out in the beginning but the odor was too much for a normal human." If anyone yelled "Black lives matter," Kronyak said, he turned around and displayed the back of his shirt, which said "dedicated to all the officers that made the ultimate sacrifice." Kronyak faced backlash over his remarks to Shah and about kneeling on the necks of protesters, with one commenter writing, "Wow Matt that's as racist a remark as I ever heard." Dylan Majsiak, 22, attended Thursday's protest and said he encountered Kronyak carrying a sign, "I support Carlstadt Police." Majsiak, who lives in East Rutherford, near Carlstadt, said no one bothered or interacted with Kronyak, "but he still took to Facebook later in the day to threaten us and others." Kronyak's Facebook post was public before it was deleted, Majsiak said in an interview Friday. "What is most alarming here is that this obviously was not an isolated incident," Majsiak said. "This individual has friends in town and was appointed to this position. The post itself had comments and likes which meant people in town, on some level, agreed with these derogatory and dehumanizing comments." The son of a black Louisiana man who died in police custody after footage reportedly showed officers beating and tasing him in April said he feels the family has been denied the truth about what happened. Tommie McGlothen III spoke to The Associated Press days after local station KSLA-TV broadcast the video and a local coroner revealed details about the April 6 death of 44-year-old Tommie Dale McGlothen Jr. 'I honestly believe we were denied the truth,' said McGlothen III. 'At the end of the day, it was murder.' In the four-and-a-half minute video, obtained from a witness by KSLA-TV, four officers can be seen wrestling McGlothen Jr. to the ground with at least one officer punching him repeatedly and another appearing to hit him with a baton. A voice can be heard saying the officers were using a Taser on the man. The man can be seen kicking wildly at police officers outside a home in Shreveport. Tommie McGlothen Jr. (pictured) a father in Shreveport, Louisiana, died while in police custody in April after footage reportedly showed officers using a Taser on him and beating him At one point police bring the man to his feet with his hands handcuffed behind him and he immediately falls or is pushed backward to the ground. After getting him up again, they walk him over to the police vehicle, push him against it and his head hits the hood. Coroner Todd Thoma added that McGlothen Jr. spent nearly an hour handcuffed inside a police car before anyone noticed he was unresponsive. Tommie McGlothen III (pictured) said in an interview this week that his father's death in police custody was 'murder' after footage was released by KSLA The victim's son questioned how officers could have left him unattended for so long. 'Someone could have stepped up and said, "Hey, he needs medical attention." It shouldn't take 48 to 50 minutes to realize that he needs the attention that he needed,' he said. Thoma said 'excited delirium' and underlying heart disease caused his death, not the injuries, none of which could be considered life-threatening. He also described McGlothen Jr.'s death as possibly preventable, criticizing the fact that McGlothen didn't get immediate medical attention. But he concluded McGlothen died of 'natural causes,' which could complicate legal challenges. The police have said little publicly about the details of what happened April 5. The city's police chief, Ben Raymond, said in a news release Monday that the four officers involved had been placed on leave pending the results of an investigation, saying that 'this is a matter of great concern to me.' Raymond said the police had conducted a thorough investigation into the incident and had sent the results to the district attorney's office. They also said state police are reviewing the case. Pictured: McGlothen crumples to the ground after being tased by officers in Shreveport, Louisiana in April Pictured: One police officer can be seen straddling and punching 44-year-old Tommie Dale McGlothen in April in the Louisiana city of Shreveport According to Thoma, police arrived at a Shreveport home April 5 after McGlothen Jr. blocked a driveway and followed a homeowner into his house. Police reported that McGlothen Jr. was 'mumbling incoherently' and 'exhibiting signs of paranoia and emotional disturbance,' the coroner said in a news release Tuesday. 'Police officers used Tasers, mace and nightsticks to control McGlothen Jr., who was agitated and combative and had fought with a homeowner,' according to the coroner. What is excited (agitated) delirium? Excited (or agitated) delirium is a condition that is frequently characterized by agitation, aggression, acute distress and sudden death. It's typically seen in conjunction with the use of drugs that alter dopamine processing, such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Excited delirum is also associated with hyperthermia and sometimes with death of the affected person in the custody of law enforcement. People with excited delirium typically die from cardiopulmonary arrest, although the cause is debated. Most people suffering from the condition are said to die before they reach the hospital. Those suffering from excited delirium tend to experience the same sequence of events: delirium with agitation (fear, panic, shouting, violence and hyperactivity), sudden cessation of struggle, respiratory arrest and death. -US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health Advertisement The coroner said McGlothen Jr. was left in the back of a police vehicle for 48 minutes before it was discovered that he was unresponsive and not breathing. 'He was predominantly unsupervised during this entire period. After a violent confrontation with psychotic behavior, and being tased several times, a more thorough evaluation ... would have been indicated,' the coroner said. 'Although autopsy showed that Mr. McGlothen suffered multiple blunt force injuries from both his confrontation with police and the citizens earlier in the day and that evening, no injuries were life-threatening or could be considered serious,' Dr. Thoma said. 'Mr. McGlothen had underlying heart disease and clearly was suffering from excited delirium. The combination of these factors caused his death.' He added that it should have been obvious he needed medical care, said Thoma, who questioned why he wasn't taken sooner to a hospital. His death might possibly have been prevented, the coroner said. 'They need to be fired for the murder of my father. And they should be prosecuted, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,' said McGlothen. In a news release in which he quoted from the American Medical Association, Thoma describes excited delirium as the sudden death of individuals 'who are combative and in a highly agitated state' and who have exhibited 'agitation, excitability, paranoia, aggression and apparent immunity to pain, often associated with stimulant use and certain psychiatric disorders.' But that determination has been met with skepticism from the McGlothen family. Carter has called the concept of excited delirium 'junk science' that is often used to justify deaths in police custody. A lawyer for the family, James Carter, said McGlothen Jr. suffered from schizophrenia and depression. McGlothen III: 'They need to be fired for the murder of my father. And they should be prosecuted, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law' Kimberly Mcglothen, widow of Tommie McGlothen, Jr., (pictured) holds the hand of his father, Tommie McGlothen, Sr., at a media conference with an attorney outside the Caddo Parish Courthouse in Shreveport 'He was a great man. And I just want the world to know that he did not deserve it.' But the Caddo Parish District Attorney seemed to call into question the quality of the police's investigation in a June 2 press release. In it, James E. Stewart Sr. called for the public's help in investigating two citizens who allegedly died while in police custody - McGlothen as well as Wavey Austin who died on April 19. 'Both allegedly died while in the custody and/or control of the Shreveport Police,' the district attorney said. 'Upon our initial review of the files, we have found that they are missing reports, statements, downloads, and other vital information that is essential to conduct a thorough and complete review.' Tommie McGlothen, Sr., father of Tommie McGlothen, Jr., (center) speaks to media outside the Caddo Parish Courthouse with attorney James Carter (right) and family members in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Wednesday Stewart said the police department was being notified as to what more was needed and he asked for members of the public to bring forward any video or eyewitness accounts of the incidents. During a city council meeting Tuesday, Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins said he had concerns about the case, including the officers' use of force and their treatment of someone who might have been exhibiting signs of mental illness. 'Shreveport police officers are charged with serving and protecting all of our citizens, that includes those with mental illness,' he said. 'We're responsible for those in our custody.' He said more training would be given to first responders so they can detect 'excited delirium' and other psychiatric conditions earlier and intervene. As part of a working visit to Belarus, the Ukrainian delegation met with the Russian party of the Trilateral Contact Group for the Peaceful Settlement of the Situation in Donbas (TCG) with the aim of discussing the improvement of the Groups efficiency. This was reported on the website of the head of state on June 11. "The meeting took place in the framework of the fulfillment of the agreements reached by the leaders of the Normandy format, in continuation of the meetings of the Ukrainian delegation in Berlin on June 2, and on the eve of the working visit of the Ukrainian delegation to Paris on June 12," the report reads. As the Office of the President of Ukraine reported, on June 9, another round of consultations via video conference took place in the working political subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group. For the first time, representatives of the temporarily occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions were involved in the dialogue as part of the Ukrainian delegation. ish Peter H. Barlerin, ambassadeurs des Etats Unis au Cameroun archives U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon Peter Henry Barlerin has addressed his condolences for the loss of journalist Samuel Wazizi who died in military custody. Let me begin with offering my sincere condolences for the loss of your client and friend, Samuel Ajiekah Abuwe (Wazizi), the American diplomat said in a June 10 correspondence to the late journalist's lawyers - Barrister Nkea Aleambong Emmanuel (MRG), Founding & Managing Partner of the Buea-based Veritas Law Offices and his colleague Barrister Edward Lyonga Ewule. Police arrested Wazizi on August 2, 2019 and transferred him to military custody on August 7, after which he was held incommunicado. His lawyers, family and colleagues say they were left in the dark about Wazizi's whereabouts until news of his death came in June. A June 5 statement issued by military spokesperson Commander Cyrille Serge Atonfack Guemo, alleges that Wazizi died of severe sepsis on August 17, 2019. The statement denied that Wazizi had been tortured or abused, and said that the journalist's family had been in contact with him while he was in custody. The family has denied the claim. In the face of the current situation, US Ambassador Barlerin says: The circumstances surrounding his (Wazizi's) death while in custody are deeply disturbing, and we are following closely President Paul Biya's commitment to the French Ambassador to order a thorough and impartial investigation to shed light on what actually occurred. He has gone ahead to instruct the Embassy's Political Officer to engage with the defense team of the late journalist and all those who have come under threats for seeking justice. His words: I am equally alarmed that your colleagues have received anonymous, repeated threats as a result of seeking justice for your client. I have asked the Embassy's Political Officer to engage with you on this. Lawyers play an important role in upholding democratic values and protecting human rights. You should be able to continue to serve your clients in peace and security. Nurses in the intensive care unit at Allegheny General Hospital wearing elastomeric masks for protection. Credit: Highmark Health A cost-effective strategy for health care systems to offset N95 mask shortages due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is to switch to reusable elastomeric respirator masks, according to new study results. These long-lasting masks, often used in industry and construction, cost at least 10 times less per month than disinfecting and reusing N95 masks meant to be for single use, say authors of the study, published as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website in advance of print. The study is one of the first to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using elastomeric masks in a health care setting during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Sricharan Chalikonda, MD, MHA, FACS, lead study author and chief medical operations officer for Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network (AHN), where the study took place. Disposable N95 masks are the standard face covering when health care providers require high-level respiratory protection, but during the pandemic, providers experienced widespread supply chain shortages and price increases, Dr. Chalikonda said. He said hospitals need a long-term solution. "We don't know if there will be a shortage of N95s again. We don't know how long the pandemic will last and how often there will be virus surges," he said. "We believe now is the time to invest in an elastomeric mask program." Dr. Chalikonda said an immediate supply of elastomeric masks in a health care system's stockpile of personal protective equipment is "game changing" given the advantages. Benefits of elastomeric masks Elastomeric masks are made of a tight-fitting, flexible, rubber-like material that can adjust to nearly all individuals' faces and can withstand multiple cleanings, Dr. Chalikonda said. These devices, which resemble gas masks, use a replaceable filter. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), elastomeric masks offer health care workers equal or better protection from airborne infectious substances compared with N95 masks. Like many hospitals during the COVID-19 crisis, AHN was disinfecting and reusing N95 masks for a limited number of uses. However, Dr. Chalikonda said, "Many caregivers felt the N95 masks didn't fit quite as well after disinfection." At the end of March, AHN began a one-month trial of a half-facepiece elastomeric mask covering the nose and mouth. The mask holds a P100-rated cartridge filter, meaning it filters out almost 100 percent of airborne particles. Implementation of an Elastomeric Mask Program as a Strategy to Eliminate Disposable N95 Mask Use and Resterilization: Results from a Large Academic Medical Center. Credit: American College of Surgeons Until AHN could procure more elastomeric masks, the system began its program for P100 elastomeric mask "super-users": those providers who have the most frequent contact with COVID-19 patients. At each of AHN's nine hospitals in Pennsylvania and Western New York, the first providers to receive the new masks were respiratory therapists, anesthesia providers, and emergency department and intensive care unit (ICU) doctors and nurses. Initially, providers shared the reusable masks with workers on other shifts, and the masks underwent decontamination between shifts using vaporized hydrogen peroxide similar to the technique used to sterilize disposable N95 masks. As more masks became available, workers kept their own mask and disinfected it themselves according to the manufacturer's guidelines. Gradually AHN provided more staff with the new masks. Among nearly 2,000 health care providers receiving fit testing for an elastomeric mask (as required for any mask to make sure no unfiltered air penetrates it), 94 percent could wear one, the investigators reported. The small number of workers without a proper fit received an alternate type of respirator mask. After a month of use, no one wearing an elastomeric mask chose to return to an N95 mask, according to the authors. Regarding the elastomeric masks, Dr. Chalikonda said, "Our clinicians were very comfortable with the fit, knowing it was an equivalent if not superior amount of protection, and that these masks were intended to be reused." Furthermore, patients were receptive to their care providers wearing this type of respirator, he noted. Cost savings To determine if the elastomeric masks were cost-effective, the researchers performed a cost-benefit analysis over one month of mask disinfection and reuse comparing the new masks, with the filter replaced monthly, versus N95 masks at one hospital's 18-bed intensive care unit (ICU). Although the elastomeric mask costs about $20 and the filter costs $10 compared with only $3 at that time for an N95 mask, the research team found the elastomeric masks were "conservatively" 10 times less expensive. The cost savings, Dr. Chalikonda said, increases the longer they use the elastomeric masks, which often can last for years, and these masks can remain in storage for long periods, thus improving the planning and management of the medical supply stockpile for future outbreaks. He explained the monthly cost is lower because they can disinfect elastomeric masks much more often, multiple caregivers can share the same mask, and, unlike N95s masks, they do not need to waste the mask after a failed fit test. Another advantage of an elastomeric respirator program, according to Dr. Chalikonda, is it does not require any additional hospital resources to implement if the hospital already has an N95 mask reuse and resterilization program. The AHN elastomeric mask program presented fewer operational challenges than disinfecting N95 masks, he stated. Explore further Heating could be the best way to disinfect N95 masks for reuse More information: Sricharan Chalikonda et al. Implementation of an Elastomeric Mask Program as a Strategy to Eliminate Disposable N95 Mask Use and Resterilization: Results from a Large Academic Medical Center, Journal of the American College of Surgeons (2020). Journal information: Journal of the American College of Surgeons Sricharan Chalikonda et al. Implementation of an Elastomeric Mask Program as a Strategy to Eliminate Disposable N95 Mask Use and Resterilization: Results from a Large Academic Medical Center,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2020.05.022 Photo: Change.org A Nanaimo woman has come under fire for a series of racist, threatening comments on social media. In reference to the killing of George Floyd by a white Minnesota police officer last month, Alysha Stewart wrote in a Facebook post that she "would have done the same thing." Stewart also uses the N-word, and says that she wouldn't have taken her foot off of Floyd. Black Vancouver shared an image that shows some of the expletive-riddled comments Stewart made beneath her original post. In them, she says: "The only humans who have colour are technically white folk" and other disturbing and threatening racist language. A Change.org campaign was launched that calls for an RCMP investigation of the posts, mandatory workplace diversity and inclusion training under supervision before returning back to work, and a revoking of her health-care licence. The campaign says Stewart "uttered racial threats toward black people. As a former Vancouver Island Health employee, her words were not only a threat ... but also threatens the integrity of the health-care system and the BC provincial government ministries she represents." As of Friday morning, more than 5,500 people had signed the campaign. Const. Gary O'Brien with Nanaimo RCMP said Stewart has issued an apology and recognizes the severity of her actions. However, he says that her posts do not meet the criteria for a hate crime, and the investigation has been closed. Stewart has temporarily removed or deleted her Facebook account. The British government is watering down plans for full border checks on goods coming from the European Union to relieve pressure on businesses hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, U.K. media reported Friday. The U.K. left the now-27-nation bloc on Jan. 31, but remains part of its single market for trade and other economic structures during a transition period that lasts until the end of the year. The two sides are trying to negotiate a free trade deal to kick in after that, but talks have stalled amid wide differences over key issues, from fishing rights to competition rules. The U.K. insists it wont ask to extend the transition period, even though a two-year extension is permitted under a U.K.-EU divorce agreement. Many British businesses say that will leave them facing devastating tariffs and red tape. Also read | UK economy shrank by colossal 20.4% in April due to Covid-19 shutdown In February the U.K. government announced that goods coming from the EU would require inspections and customs declarations. But the Financial Times reported that Michael Gove, the minister in charge of Brexit preparations, will announce a more pragmatic and flexible approach to border checks. U.K. exports to the EU are still likely to face checks entering the bloc, however. Britains economy is already reeling from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Economic activity shrank by 20.4% in April, the first full month after a nationwide lockdown was introduced to slow the spread of the virus. Also read | Difference with UK narrows as India records big jump in Covid-19 cases, 357 deaths in 24 hours Covid-19 has also set back British plans to have new customs facilities and border officials in place by the end of this year. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to hold talks with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and other top officials of the bloc by video call on Monday in a bid to break the impasse in trade talks. According to the United Nations, around 218 million children across the world are working, many of them full-time. They do not attend school and rarely have any time to play. Most do not even get proper nutrition or care. World Day Against Child Labour is being observed on Friday, 12 June. The day was launched in 2002 by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to look into global extent of child labour and take action to eliminate it. According to the United Nations, around 218 million children across the world are working, many of them full-time. They do not attend school and rarely have any time to play. Most do not even get proper nutrition or care. The UN Sustainable Goals call for ending child labour in all forms by 2025. According to a report by NDTV, as per the last census, there are over 10 million child labourers in India. Many of these children are kept confined in their workplace by employers. On World Day Against Child Labour 2020, the United Nations tweeted, "It is every childs right to be healthy, educated, safe & free from child labour. Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani asked people to collectively work towards eradicating child labour. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath launched 'Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana' on the occasion of World Day Against Child Labour 2020. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national secretary Y Satya Kumar said, "Children are meant to play with pen and pencil and not with hammer and sickle. On this Day let's pledge to wipe out this evil of Child labour from our country. Let the flowers blossom." Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu also urged people to work together to eradicate exploitation on children. Odisha chief minister and Biju Janata Dal party president Naveen Patnaik asked people to reaffirm commitment to end all form of child labour in the state. He also urged people to make a "conducive climate" for children for them to shine and prosper. Former chief minister of Rajasthan and BJP leader Vasundhara Raje said the COVID-19 pandemic is going to prove detrimental to the health and development of those involved in child labour. She urged people to unite to protect children and their future. The mandate revisions are aimed at protecting the health of Alaskans and visitors while allowing travelers the option to travel into Alaska without having to quarantine. The State of Alaska is currently providing COVID-19 testing for travelers into Alaska at seven hub airports but is strongly encouraging testing prior to departure. Travelers who test within 72 hours of departure do not have to quarantine in Alaska if they can show a negative result upon landing. If results are pending, travelers must quarantine until a negative test result can be shared with the state. Travelers who test within five days prior to departure also do not have to quarantine if they take another test at the airport when they land in Alaska. "Testing before you travel within five days prior of departure is your best bet for a safe and enjoyable visit to Alaska. You will be able to enjoy your time in Alaska without quarantine," said Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum. "We realize it's not easy in many places to get tested without having any symptoms, but we're asking travelers to try. This is the best option for travelers and will also help conserve our state's resources." Beginning on Saturday, travelers arriving by air into Alaska were greeted at eight airports by screeners and asked to complete and sign the Alaska Travel Declaration Form and then follow protocols based on their COVID-19 test status. (See the attached chart for details). Travelers are also given a testing voucher for a follow-up test to be taken 7-14 days after arrival in Alaska, if the traveler is staying that long in the state. The voucher offsets the costs of testing in Alaska after insurance is billed. The state is first rolling out these mandate revisions with air travelers but will soon be increasing engagement with travelers arriving into Alaska by land and sea. The following Alaska airports currently have testing on site: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Wrangell and Gustavus. The Petersburg airport is receiving travel declaration forms but is not yet providing testing at the airport. A testing site there will be opening soon. Travelers need to "watch the window" In addition to testing, all travelers into Alaska are being asked to minimize interactions with others until the 14-day window of possible infection is over. Just like Alaska residents, travelers will need to keep at least 6 feet from others, wear a cloth face covering in public and wash hands often. They should also keep track of interactions with other people and the places they visit. Also, instead of dining inside a restaurant or going into a store, visitors are asked to use restaurant delivery and takeout options, visit outdoor venues and minimize time indoors around others. Local jurisdictions may have individual requirements and restrictions. It is the responsibility of every traveler to educate themselves ahead of time to understand local conditions. "Traveling during a pandemic comes with risks and challenges," said Alaska's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink. "We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable trip, so please take precautions and prepare ahead. We recommend travelers purchase evacuation, medical and travel insurance and use online options to obtain fishing licenses or other needed items. Travelers should know that Alaska's medical infrastructure is limited, so please come prepared." Cases are already being identified As of Wednesday, two travelers tested so far at Alaska airports have turned up positive one at the Ketchikan airport and a second in Juneau. Both travelers are isolating themselves from others and are being monitored by public health officials. They must remain in isolation until cleared by public health officials. "Increased testing of travelers is going to help us detect some cases sooner," Zink added. "We need to continue to find ways to live with this virus and the faster we can detect cases, the better we can box in the virus by isolating sick individuals and tracing close contacts. As we work to provide more options that reopen Alaska, we'll be following the data and if the numbers tell us we need to step back, we will." "While we are still working out details and improving systems, overall this is going well," said Tessa Walker Linderman, DHSS Port of Entry Coordinator. "Travelers have been understanding of the need for these rules to protect the health of Alaskans while reopening our economy and have been compliant and understanding. Wait times at airports have been less than anticipated and about a quarter of all travelers have proof of their negative test with them when they arrived. Those with negative tests in hand are able to move through the airport screening very quickly." Starting this week, the state will be piloting an online application that allows travelers to complete the Alaska Travel Declaration Form via the app, as well as receive results for testing done at the airports. This is being tested at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport by Capstone Clinic with possible expansion statewide. "Safe travel is essential to Alaska's economy, and the Alaska way of life. We have a relatively low number of cases in Alaska, and we would like to keep it that way by encouraging safe and responsible travel within the state," said DHSS Commissioner Adam Crum. For more information on properly preparing for your travels to Alaska, please visit: covid19.alaska.gov/travelers. SOURCE Alaska Department of Health and Social Services [June 11, 2020] Miaozhen Systems Announces Its Focus on Omni Measurement & Business Intelligence BEIJING, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- China's leading omni measurement and business intelligence analytics solutions provider Miaozhen Systems, a part of Mininglamp Technology Group, has unveiled its rebranding. The change includes an expanded range of products and services, with a new positioning of omni measurement and business intelligence analytics, as well as an updated visual language. Miaozhen Systems was established in 2006 by Minghui Wu, serial entrepreneur and Mininglamp Technology Group's founder, chairman, and CEO. Since its founding, Miaozhen Systems has been committed to helping enterprises accurately measure and optimize their marketing effectiveness. It has also been instrumental in increasing transparency in the China digital marketing industry. Miaozhen Systems' rebranding marks an expanded focus on omni measurement and business intelligence instead of its historical focus on ad and marketing measurement. Miaozhen Systems will be able to use omni measurement to analyze every touch point between businessand consumer across multiple platforms and media types, and harness Mininglamp Technology Group's AI capabilities to mine big data for business intelligence. With these technologies, Miaozhen Systems will be able to help enterprises make optimized, customer-centric business decisions and stay ahead of the curve. After rebranding, Miaozhen Systems will have two major service unites: Omni-marketing Intelligence (OMI): Miaozhen Systems' service unit focused on omni-measurement and marketing optimization. Uses big data and AI technology to provide businesses with digital measurement, evaluation, and optimization solutions for advertising, marketing, and business. Helps enterprises make decisions based on real & accurate data and empowers high-speed growth. Business Intelligence & Analytics (BIA): Miaozhen Systems' service unit focusing on business intelligence and analytics. Provides BIA services using big data and AI technology and based on real-time, accurate, comprehensive ad, social, and e-commerce data. Helps enterprises predict trends in the market, optimize business decisions, and achieve commercial value. Miaozhen Systems' new brand positioning is also reflected in its new visual identity. The concentric radiating circles and markings suggest its focus on broader measurement and deeper analytics. They also bring to mind a rotating engine, symbolizing continuous empowerment of its clients to create commercial value. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200611/2827532-1 SOURCE Miaozhen Systems Land connected to St Annes Park is at the centre of dispute Planning permission for a development of 657 apartments on a site connected to St Anne's Park in Raheny has been quashed by the High Court. An Bord Pleanala consented to the High Court order on the basis it had not adequately considered the impact of the development on light-bellied brent geese and other protected bird species in Dublin Bay. The planning application by developer Crekav, part of Pat Crean's Marlet group, will now be remitted to the board for a new decision. This will be made "in accordance with law" from the time the board received a report last December from the chief executive of Dublin City Council (DCC). The application must also be determined within 57 days of perfection of the High Court orders. Sustainable The DCC report had recommended permission be refused for reasons including that the developer had not demonstrated the project would not impact on the populations of protected brent geese, black-tailed godwits or curlews. It considered the proposed development would materially contravene the Dublin City Development Plan objective for protection of European sites and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. Two separate challenges to the board's permission had been admitted to the High Court's Strategic Infrastructure Development list. The board had indicated last month, in relation to the first challenge, brought by environmentalist John Conway, of St Nicholas Avenue, Dundalk, and the Louth Environment Group, represented by Stephen Dodd SC, that it was prepared to concede the case. A second separate challenge to the permission was initiated by a local residents group, Clonres CLG, late last month. Mr Justice Denis McDonald was told yesterday that there was consent to an order in both cases quashing the board's permission. The judge made the consent order on the ground that the board did not conduct an appropriate assessment in accordance with the requirement of the Habitats Directive. Both cases arose from the board's decision to grant permission for more than 650 apartments, in blocks up to nine storeys tall, to be built on former playing fields east of St Paul's College. The proposal has been strongly opposed within the local community and by DCC. NEWS PROVIDED BY June 11, 2020 About Operation Rescue Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Click here to support Operation Rescue. SOURCE Operation Rescue CONTACT: Troy Newman, President, 316-683-6790 ext. 111; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President, 316-516-3034; info.operationrescue@gmail.com Related Links COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 11, 2020 / Standard Newswire / -- Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton resigned suddenly today, citing inability to cope with the overload of work the job required. Acton will reportedly stay on as Gov. Mike DeWine's "Chief Health Advisor."This came a week after Operation Rescue called for her resignation after publishing an expose that included information on her Ohio medical license application that indicated she had been treated for mental illness and/or addiction issues at some point in the past.That expose also included audio clips from Operation Rescue's interview with Donna Arthur, Acton's estranged mother.Arthur claimed that her daughter falsely accused her second husband of raping her when she was 12 years old. Acton had publicly claimed that both Arthur and her husband were criminally charged with abusing her, but "skipped town" before they could be prosecuted.However, Operation Rescue verified that Arthur had never been charged and that her step father had charges dismissed. Acton then went to live with her father after she had made the allegations and never saw her mother again.Arthur also refuted the allegation as untrue that Acton was homeless, neglected, and hungry as a child - something that Acton has repeatedly claimed. Arthur revealed that she divorced Acton's father because she had been physically abused by him."We are just glad she decided to step down. There was reason for us to believe that she would serve as an advocate for the abortion clinics, which were allowed to stay open at a time when Acton's coronavirus orders were closing legitimate businesses and creating hardships on the people of Ohio," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue. "She was not the right person to lead the ODH, and not the right person to conduct unbiased oversight of Ohio's abortion facilities."Operation Rescue earlier uncovered Acton's secret move to prevent Women's Med Center in Dayton from closing due to a court order after the ODH spent four long years in litigation with the late-term abortion facility over a licensing dispute. Instead of allowing the clinic to halt abortions, she had the clinic slightly alter its name and reapply for a facility license, which she promptly approved to keep it operating.Information about Acton's active affiliation with Barack Obama's 2008 political campaign was also published by Operation Rescue, which led to questions about why the supposedly "pro-life" DeWine would put a pro-abortion Democrat in an oversight position over abortion facilities.With Acton's departure from the ODH, Lance Himes will assume the job as ODH director, a position he has previously held. COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) The publisher of a family-owned Missouri newspaper has resigned after publishing a racist syndicated cartoon depicting a black man stealing a white woman's purse while hailing funding cuts to police. Bill Miller Sr. on Thursday told The Associated Press he has stepped down as publisher of the Washington Missourian but is still the paper's owner. The newspaper's co-owners, his daughters, resigned Wednesday in protest. The cartoon published Wednesday shows the white woman asking for someone to call 911, but the masked black man says, Good luck with that, lady ... we defunded the police. Related: Newspaper Defends Cartoon of Serena Williams, Accused of Racism The cartoon was published amid protests across the nation against police brutality and following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Some protesters are pushing to defund the police a wide-ranging catch-all term for shifting law enforcement resources over the death of Floyd and other black Americans killed by law enforcement. Miller wrote in a column that the cartoon was meant to convey opposition to defunding police but was racially insensitive. It was poor judgement on my part and for that I sincerely apologize, he wrote. Miller's daughters, Susan Miller and Jeanne Miller Wood, denounced the cartoon as racist and wrote in a published apology that its publication hit close to home because it was their father who chose to run it. We cannot continue to work for an editor who fails to see the pain this causes and we believe this issue is too important not to take a stand, they wrote. On June 5, in recognition of World Environment Day, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro tweeted that, "[W]e are the country that most preserves the environment in the world. Unjustly, the most criticized [one]." The message was followed by a pie chart with data from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and Ministry of Agriculture on the use of rural land in the country, showing that 30% of land use is for agriculture and 66% for protected and preserved areas. Below the chart, another message: "In Brazil, producing and preserving go hand in hand." The tweet is misleading. As of 2015, close to 5 million square kilometers (1.9 million square miles), or 59% of the Brazils land, was covered by forests (second only to Russia).Bolsonaros tweet ignores a record pace of deforestation and increasing environmental rollbacks under his administration. Last year, Brazil recorded the worlds biggest loss of tropical primary forests, according to data from the University of Maryland, which developed machine-learning software to analyze satellite imagery for loss of tree cover. Brazil accounted for one-third of the overall global decrease, or 1.36 million hectares, roughly the area of Connecticut. Ninety-five percent of the decline happened in the Amazon rainforest. Deforestation last year hit a decade-long high of 3,800 square miles, up 30% compared to 2018. According to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE), deforestation alerts in the first five months of this year logged 712 square miles of losses a record pace for the past four years. (After the president's tweet, INPE's website was temporarily deactivated.) Bolsonaro took office on Jan. 1, 2019. His campaign rhetoric and subsequent ministry picks have resulted in loosening environmental protection laws and the dismantling of some environmental agencies and protection programs for indigenous lands. Under his administration, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (called Ibama) had a 23% reduction in funding for prevention and control of forest fires, as reported by Reuters. And in the 2020 federal budget, Ibama received a 25% cut. The National Indian Foundation (FUNAI) suffered a 40 percent cut under Bolsonaros 2020 budget, particularly for programs to uphold Indigenous rights. This was "the first time that government planning does not include indigenous rights guaranteed by the Constitution," according to FUNAI's employee association. Bolsonaros pick for the head of the agency, Marcelo Xavier da Silva, recently issued new rules that take away the protection from land grabbers in indigenous lands not officially recognized by the government. There are at least 237 areas which are now at risk of invasion, according to a report in Globo. Bolsanaros minister of the environment, Ricardo Salles, worked as the secretary of the environment of Sao Paulo in 2016, where he was accused by prosecutors of violating environmental laws and altering the management plan for a protected area in the Tiete River. This year, he cited the COVID-19 pandemic as reason to modify (and relax) environmental regulations. On April 6, Salles signed an order giving amnesty to rural landowners who had deforested and occupied Permanent Protection Areas of the Atlantic Forest. The forest covers 19 million hectares, which is about 15% of its original area, along the east coast of Brazil, and is home to seven of the nine largest river basins in the country. On June 4, Salles revoked the order after a lawsuit by the Federal Public Prosecution Service (MPF) said it was improperly invoked. The lawsuit said the order also brings with it the imminent risk of undue cancellation of thousands of records of environmental infraction as well as an "undue abstention from taking action and regular exercise of power police in relation to these illegal deforestations. On April 30, Salles fired the director and two inspection chiefs of the Ibama environmental agency, which coincidentally came after a large-scale agency operation against land grabbers in indigenous lands in the state of Para. Salles claimed the firings were unrelated. In the second week of May, his ministry also restructured its Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), responsible for the management and inspection of federal protected areas. The change replaced the 11 centers overseeing 334 conservation units with five regional centers (one for each region). A day later, a decree excluded the institute from the process of defining the areas and amount of forest products for commercial use. The responsibility was shifted to the Brazilian Forest Service, part of the Ministry of Agriculture, which is less favorable to preservation and is headed by former Congressman Valdir Colatto, who co-authored a bill that advocates hunting wild animals, even within protected areas. In August 2019, Bolsonaro's government received international condemnation for ravaging fires in the Amazon rainforest. The fires were set by people to clear land for farming, mining, and other development. Such fires are not unusual: Every dry season, which happens between August and October, sees an uptick in fires. Bolsonaro's critics, however, blamed last years notable increase in fires on a drop in oversight and an orchestrated day of burning around Novo Progresso in the state of Para on August 10, which came to be known as Fire Day. The burning reportedly was organized using WhatsApp to show support for the presidents environmental policies. The events led Germany and Norway to suspend financial support for the Fundo Amazonia (Amazon Fund) created in 2008 to combat deforestation and finance prevention, monitoring, and conservation. The two European countries were the funds biggest contributors. In a response to the fires and the actions that followed, Bolsonaro accused environmental groups of starting the fires and said that Brazil didnt need money from other countries to protect the rainforest. Brazil ranks 55th in the 2020 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), designed by Yale University to analyze how 180 countries are addressing environmental challenges of our era. This was an improvement over the 2018 EPI report, in which the country was ranked 69th. Still, Brazil remains far from the top, as Bolsonaros tweet implies, particularly in the category of terrestrial biome (such as grasslands, forests, deserts, and tundra) protection, where the country ranks 88th. KYODO NEWS - Jun 12, 2020 - 19:30 | Arts, All, Japan Sanrio Co. said Friday Shintaro Tsuji, 92, who founded the company that created Hello Kitty, will step down as president next month in the first change of leadership in its 60-year history. Tsuji will cede the post on July 1 to his 31-year-old grandson Tomokuni Tsuji, who is currently senior managing director, and become chairman. The founder will have the right to represent the Tokyo-based company, which conceived the world-famous feline character in 1974. "I want to transform the company to better respond to today's rapidly changing business environment," the younger Tsuji said at a Tokyo press conference Friday. The founder did not attend as a precaution against COVID-19 infection. The move comes as Sanrio reported its fifth straight yearly decline in net profit through the fiscal year ended March. As the coronavirus pandemic forced the temporary closure of its Hello Kitty-themed parks in Japan, Sanrio saw its net profit plunge 95.1 percent from a year earlier to 191 million yen ($1.78 million) in the business year. Tomokuni noted at the press conference that the company needs to drastically improve its digital business and strengthen global marketing for its survival. A former prefectural government official in Yamanashi, Shintaro Tsuji founded Yamanashi Silk Center Co., predecessor of Sanrio, in Tokyo in 1960 to sell silk products, a specialty of the central Japanese prefecture. After learning that merchandise with cute illustrations sold well, he moved into character goods, eventually leading to the creation of Hello Kitty in 1974. His son, Kunihiko Tsuji, died in 2013 at age 61 due to acute cardiac failure while on a business trip to Los Angeles in his role as executive vice president of the firm. Incoming president Tomokuni Tsuji joined in 2014 and has been senior managing director since June 2017. Related coverage: Hello Kitty bullet train display opens at Kyoto Railway Museum Colorful "daruma" dolls at shrine popular among J-pop band Arashi's fans Release of Kyoto Animation's new film postponed amid virus scare J K Rowling's first husband has sparked outrage after admitting he slapped the author, but insisting he wasn't sorry for his actions. The claims come after the Harry Potter author, 54, shared a lengthy blog post on her website on Wednesday, in which she spoke out about her experience of domestic abuse and sexual assault in her first marriage to Jorge Arantes. Ive been in the public eye now for over 20 years and have never talked publicly about being a domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor," she wrote, choosing to disclose the information to help explain her controversial comments about transgender women on Twitter earlier this week. From the doorstep of his mother's home in Porto, in Portugal, Mr Arantes told The Sun he had no regrets as he recounted the time he slapped his now ex-wife. He told the newspaper: I slapped Joanne - but there was not sustained abuse. Im not sorry for slapping her." JK Rowling has come under fire this week after sharing controversial comments about transgender women on Twitter / AFP via Getty Images Referring to her claims, he said: If she says that, thats up to her. Its not true I hit her. Mr Arantes said he slapped the star on the night she left him, according to The Sun. Yes. It is true I slapped her. But I didnt abuse her," he said. Members of the public have expressed outrage over the remarks from Mr Acantes. One Twitter user said: "To any abused woman who sees the story on JK Rowling today. His words are lies. A slap is abuse. Less than a slap is also abuse. "Controlling you with words and other actions is abuse. Tell women, we will believe you. Do not listen to him or his excuses." The author has publicly shared her experiences of domestic abuse / PA Another said: "Like JK Rowling, dislike her, agree with her, don't agree with her, whatever, I don't care - this is wrong!" A third wrote: "So slapping doesn't constitute domestic violence now? This guy sounds like a narcissistic idiot." Another expressed their support for the author: "I fully support your position and all that you've experienced. "What you suffered with your husband so many women experience including me. It has to stop and if you ever want to begin a campaign to educate and prevent it continuing I would be behind it." MPs also criticised the remarks. Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, said: "You'd be surprised how only his hideous arrogant admission will allow some to believe. "Still too often doubt and disbelief are the best weapon abusers have in their arsenal...'no one will believe you.'" Gillian Martin, a member of the Scottish parliament, said on Twitter the piece would be beyond triggering for many abuse survivors, and enabling to abusers. It comes after Ms Rowling responded to criticism surrounding her comments about transgender issues. In the blog post she shared on Wednesday, she detailed five reasons she felt the need to address the topic including her interest in both education and safeguarding and freedom of speech. Outlining the domestic abuse she suffered as the final reason, she explained why she has not spoken publicly about her experiences before. This isnt because Im ashamed those things happened to me, but because theyre traumatic to revisit and remember," she wrote. I also feel protective of my daughter from my first marriage. I didnt want to claim sole ownership of a story that belongs to her, too. However, a short while ago, I asked her how shed feel if I were publicly honest about that part of my life and she encouraged me to go ahead. Im mentioning these things now not in an attempt to garner sympathy, but out of solidarity with the huge numbers of women who have histories like mine, whove been slurred as bigots for having concerns around single-sex spaces. JK Rowling said she felt protective of her daughter from her first marriage / REUTERS She said she was motivated to address transgender issues via her Twitter account because of what she sees as an increasingly misogynistic society. Were living through the most misogynistic period Ive experienced, she continued. Back in the 80s, I imagined that my future daughters, should I have any, would have it far better than I ever did, but between the backlash against feminism and a porn-saturated online culture, I believe things have got significantly worse for girls. Never have I seen women denigrated and dehumanised to the extent they are now. From the leader of the free worlds long history of sexual assault accusations and his proud boast of grabbing them by the pussy, to the incel (involuntarily celibate) movement that rages against women who wont give them sex, to the trans activists who declare that TERFs need punching and re-educating, men across the political spectrum seem to agree: women are asking for trouble. Everywhere, women are being told to shut up and sit down, or else." The Congress party has demanded security for all sarpanches and panchayat members in Jammu and Kashmir, saying they are vulnerable to attacks by terrorists. The demand came days after the Congress sarpanch from Lukbhawan in south Kashmir, Ajay Pandita, was killed by terrorists on Monday afternoon. Pandita was the second Congress sarpanch to be killed by terrorists in the region in the past two years. The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress president, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, said the party has been demanding for the past few months that the government should provide security to vulnerable panchayat members. But nobody bothers, he said. After the killing of Ajay Pandita, we have been demanding security for panches and sarpanches on a daily basis, but still nothing has been done, he said, adding Pandita had himself made requests for security to the government several times. Many panchayat members and other political leaders are facing threats but they still havent been given security. We will be writing to the Central government after a meeting, Mir said. After the Central government scrapped Jammu and Kashmirs special status on August 5 last year, many mainstream political leaders were arrested and the security of several leaders, especially those from the Congress, was downgraded, he said. Though Im a former minister and legislator and also Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president, my security was downgraded. In Jammu, I dont have any security and the same is the case with other leaders of the Congress and other mainstream political parties, he added. The BJP too demanded security for panchayat members soon after Panditas killing. We have been demanding security for panchayat members from a long time, but nothing happened, said BJP spokesman and sarpanch Altaf Thakur. Director general of police Dilbag Singh has blamed the Hizbul Mujahideen for the killing of Pandita and said the terrorists responsible for the attack had been identified. However, the Jammu and Kashmir government hasnt said whether security will be provided to panchayat members. Panchayat elections were held in the region in 2018 and the two prominent mainstream political parties the National Conference and Congress had boycotted the polls. Many panchayats are still vacant as no politician had filed nominations for these posts. Friday, June 12, 2020 at 2:56AM In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Apple has shifted its Worldwide Developers Conference online. Now, we have more details about the event kicking off on June 22 at 10 a.m. PDT with a "Special Event Keynote." Unsurprisingly, Apple doesn't divulge what will happen, but some of the expected reveals include details on iOS 14 and the company's rumoured shift to ARM-based processors. The keynote will be streamed on apple.com, the Apple Developer app and website, Apple TV app, and YouTube. The Platforms State of the Union, where Apple usually goes into detail about what it announced during the keynote, will start at 2 p.m. PDT, and it will only be available through the Apple Developer app and Apple Developer website. The company will host over 100 engineering sessions helmed by its engineers with videos being posted each day from June 23 to 26 at 10 a.m. PDT on the Apple Developer app and Apple Developer website. And those developers who want one-on-one appointments can request for one. Apple is also revamping its developer forum, which will be relaunched on June 18. Over 1,000 Apple engineers will be participating in the forums and ready to answer any questions members might ask. You will need to be an Apple Developer Program member to post in the forums. S everal US police officers have been fired for racist social media posts amid the wave of Black Lives Matter protests. Some law enforcement officers have posted offensive content about George Floyd, whose death on May 25 in police custody sparked worldwide protests targeting racial injustice. Hunter Beckwith was sacked from the Fulton Police Department in New York on June 1 after she posted a meme on Instagram which said black people only care about black lives when they are killed by a white person. Fulton Police Department chief Craig Westbrook said the post had diminished the trust between the police and the public, and thanked people for being proactive in reporting it, Osago County News Now said. On June 3, Tommy McClay was fired from Denver Police Department after he posted a picture of himself and two other officers wearing helmets and bulletproof vests with the caption Lets start a riot. The department, which was one of the first to use non-lethal force against protesters, said the post did not adhere to the values of the department. Alabamas Troy University fired chief of police John McCall on June 9, after he wrote on Facebook that Mr Floyd had absolutely played a part in his own death. He also called protesters criminals, and defended US President Donald Trumps decision to use non-lethal force against them. Troy University chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr said in a statement posted on Facebook: We are no longer confident in [McCalls] ability to serve our students, faculty and staff. Our goal is to hear how University Police can best serve our campuses and ensure that their practices align with our values. US police officers have previously come under fire for offensive posts on social media. The Plain View Project found last year that one out of five current US police officers and two out of five retired police officers had posted hateful content displaying bias, applauding violence, scoffing at due process, or using dehumanising language, on Facebook. Dead fishes, wilted plants, toxic fumes and a thick film of oil on vegetation, river animals and wetlands - this is the picture painted by an interim report on the environmental damage caused by the oil blowout in Assam's Tinsukia district. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) report, submitted to the Union Environment Ministry, stated that the accident has caused mass mortality, and the environmental conditions succeeding the blowout have resulted in debilitating conditions for species to survive. Worryingly, the findings of this report are part of a preliminary on-site survey carried out between May 28 and June 2, before fire broke out at the Oil India Limited (OIL) well number 5. A detailed assessment, including the damage done by the blaze, will follow. The report states that blowout from an oil well spews hundreds of chemicals in the air, water, and the ground, contaminating the impact zone of the disaster and its surroundings. "Hydrocarbon component comprises of organic compounds, many of which are hazardous when released into the environment," the report explained. As a result, biodiversity of the Dibru Saikhowa Biosphere, which is spread across the Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts of the state, has been jeopardised. The biosphere contains the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and the famous Maguri-Motapung wetlands. According to the report, tissue and blubber samples collected from the carcass of a dolphin calf retrieved from the Maguri Beel - a prominent lake in the area - and sent to check for presence of contaminants. Hundreds of other species could also risk contamination since the biosphere is home to 500 species of birds, 104 species of fish, 18 species of lizards, 23 species of snakes, 105 species of butterflies and 680 plant species, according to numbers stated in the WIIs report. The reserve is also home to majestic wildlife species such as tigers, elephants, leopards, bears and the Gangetic dolphin. Moreover it is also categorised as an Important Bird Area - a globally recognised ecosystem that provides a composite habitat for threatened and endangered bird species. "The toxins released are known to have long-term persistence in soils and sediments, which will not only affect current life conditions, but due to sustained release over a long period, pose a serious health risk for a longer term, the report added. The impact of the spill and its extent might be amplified due to its occurrence during monsoon season, the report said. This could adversely affect not only the flora and fauna, but also the locals who depend on the rich biodiversity for their livelihood. Soumitra Dasgupta, Inspector General of Forest (Wildlife), Union Environment Ministry said that it has written to the Assam Chief Secretary, the state's chief wildlife warden as well as the Petroleum Ministry. Questioned about whether Oil India will be ordered to pay damages for spill, he said, "WII will submit a detailed report on assessment of the damage. Currently, that is not possible due to the fire that has erupted. Depending on the damage assessment and after looking at the conditions specified in the clearance granted for the project, we will take a call on the ecological restoration. Bodies of two firefighters , who died battling the massive, blaze were recovered from a water body near the site of the well on Wednesday. OIL spokesperson Tridiv Hazarika said that the fire had been contained in the peripheral area, and was limited only to the well area now. "The state forest department has formed a team with different experts to assess the damage and we have also written to NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) to do an impact assessment report following the blow out. We have also engaged TERI (The Energy and Research Institute) for bio-remediation, said Hazarika. This is a rare and unfortunate event and our mitigation plans, too, have been tested. The condensate stopped falling after the blaze started and we have engaged local fishermen to mop up condensate from the wetlands using absorbents, he added. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agnes Anya (Agence France-Presse) Magelang, Indonesia Fri, June 12, 2020 11:45 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde2e251 2 National coronavirus,coronavirus-effect,stay-at-home,study-from-home,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,pandemic,teachers-in-Indonesia Free Teacher Henrikus Suroto vowed his students wouldn't be cheated out of their education when the global pandemic forced schools to be closed in Indonesia's remote Kenalan village. So he braves windy mountain roads and sheer cliff drops to visit the poor farming community in Central Java, where online classes are out of the question due to a lack of Internet service -- a luxury few parents could afford anyway. Not only is Suroto risking death or serious illness from COVID-19, he is violating government orders not to hold in-person classes to prevent the spread of the disease. "No one's forcing me to do this -- it's something inside telling me to do it," the 57-year-old told AFP. "I feel a bit guilty about breaking [orders] to hold online classes, but the reality is that it isn't easy here. "The only solution is to be close to students with door-to-door teaching," he added. Suroto is one of a small number of teachers taking on dangerous terrain, bad weather and the chance of contracting the novel coronavirus, to reach home-bound students across the world's fourth-most populous nation, home to a quarter of billion people. Nearly 70 million children and young people have been affected by school shutdowns which started in mid-March. While the pandemic has sparked a boom in online learning, especially in wealthy nations, about one-third of Indonesia's nearly 270 million people don't have access to the Internet or even, in some cases, electricity. 'Feet on the street' Suroto and other Indonesian teachers say they wear face masks, but the threats of becoming sick or infecting students are ever-present. Avan Fathurrahman, an elementary school instructor on East Java's Madura island, visits up to 11 students a day, an experience he wrote about in now-viral Facebook posts. He admits to being scared of getting ill. "But my fears were overcome by the call to teach," Fathurrahman said. "I would not be comfortable staying at home knowing that my students couldn't study properly." Aside from government calls for online learning, educational programs are being aired on a state-owned TV channel. Education minister Nadiem Makarim -- a co-founder of local ride-hailing app GoJek -- has acknowledged the challenges in remote learning, however, and even expressed shock at how many rural Indonesians lacked Internet service. "We have to rely on the feet on the street -- the actual teachers that mobilize themselves to teach door to door," he said last month. The pandemic has underscored huge challenges in updating creaky infrastructure across the nearly 5,000 kilometer Southeast Asian archipelago -- a key priority for president Joko Widodo. "Infrastructure-wise, Indonesia is not fully ready for online learning," said Christina Kristiyani, an education expert at Sanata Dharma University. "Even if it was possible to do real-time video conferencing, it costs too much in rural areas," she added. 'Can't help them' Meanwhile, many rural parents struggle to fill the gap as they juggle often low-paid jobs and child care. "I can only remind [the kids] to study because I can't help them like a teacher can," said Orlin Giri, a mother from East Nusa Tenggara, one of Indonesia's poorest regions. "And we don't have enough money for an Internet plan," she added. That is a common story nationwide, said Fina, a teacher on Borneo island. "Many parents only graduated from elementary school or junior high school -- or they didn't even go to school," she said. "Just being able to send their children to school is an extraordinary achievement." Fina, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, opted not to visit students as she has a baby and lives in an area with a high infection rate. "But this pandemic has taught us that, while technology is good and very helpful, it so far cannot replace the presence of teachers," she said. Call to teach As Indonesian authorities consider reopening schools, critics warn it is too early as the nation's virus curve has yet to flatten. Officially, the country has more than 35,000 cases of COVID-19 and 2,000 deaths. But with one of the world's lowest testing rates, Indonesia's real toll is widely believed to be much higher. And the country's pediatric association has warned that malnutrition and mosquito-borne dengue fever may be putting children at a greater risk of dying from the respiratory illness. Nearly 18 percent of Indonesian children under five years old suffer from nutritional deficiencies, while kids aged five to 14 make up nearly 42 percent of dengue fever patients, according to health ministry data. The risk was highlighted in April when an 11-year-old girl with dengue fever, which itself can be fatal, died after contracting COVID-19. Health authorities said the pre-existing illness could have exacerbated the effect of the virus on her weakened immune system. Still, getting back to school can't come fast enough for some students. "I'm bored at home. I miss the school and all my friends and teachers," said Gratia Ratna Febriani, a pupil in Kenalan village. That feeling struck a chord with junior high school teacher Yunedi Sepdiana Sine who says she will keep answering the call to visit some 50 children a week. "Students really miss their teachers so I feel needed," she said. "And that's what makes me content." Twitter announced on Friday that it deleted over 170,000 accounts linked to the Chinese government that pushed false narratives pertaining to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, in what is one of the most prominent disinformation campaigns attributed to a nation-state to have been taken down in recent years. Coordinated disinformation campaigns such as these have been used as a propaganda strategy by several countries to manipulate public opinion on social media platforms such Facebook and Twitter, and experts say the implications could hamper the fight against the pandemic. The latest network targeted people speaking Chinese languages and pushed pro-Beijing narratives, and, according to Twitter, displayed the same behaviour as a network taken down in August, 2019. At the time, Twitter attributed the network to the Chinese government, citing unblocked IP addresses that only those linked to the administration could have used. Access to Twitter is otherwise blocked in China. They were tweeting predominantly in Chinese languages and spreading geopolitical narratives favourable to the Communist Party of China, while continuing to push deceptive narratives about the political dynamics in Hong Kong, Twitter wrote in an analysis on its blog. According to the post, the accounts included a highly engaged core of 23,750 accounts that was boosted by a further 150,000 amplifier accounts. Both were largely limited to an echo chamber of their own, the company added. Open-source researchers have flagged the re-emergence of the so-called Spamouflage network with links to China in recent months. One such detection was in early May after the targeting of exiled businessman Guo Wengui, who criticised the Chinese governments handling of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. Last month we found that there were a number of central accounts that posted pro-Chinese government content such as infographics or slogans, but then to give those posts a trending status, or to make them appear legitimate, thousands of accounts with either Chinese, English or Eastern European names would like and retweet the content, said Benjamin Strick, an open source investigator with the BBC, in an interview over instant messaging on Twitter with HT. Strick first detailed the workings of the Chinese network in a post on digital investigations website Bellingcat on May 5. The same cluster (of accounts that targeted Guo) amplified specific posts on Covid-19 targeting the US The posts seen include links between vaping and Covid-19 and biosecurity incidents in the US with the tags #coronavirus and #TruthAboutCovid, the report said. Understanding how the network operates is quite important in order to identify it. Last month we found that there were a number of central accounts that posted a pro-Chinese government content such as infographics or slogans in Chinese, but then to give those posts a trending status, or to make them appear as legitimate, thousands of accounts with either Chinese, English or Eastern European names would like and retweet the content, Strick explained in his comments to HT. In some cases, the accounts would have dozen-odd followers but, he added, some posts would have well over 1,000 retweets and likes, all from these fake amplifier accounts. Its pretty amazing to see a network of this scale, but its even more shocking to think that its state-backed, and that it keeps re-emerging and targeting different narratives. Its a great step by Twitter to publish the data on these accounts, he said. Twitter also removed two smaller state-backed operations which it attributed to Russia and Turkey, both focused on domestic audiences. Digital information researchers said such operations can have a particularly harmful effect in the middle of a pandemic. The pandemic has brought information chaos on platforms when lack of information is being exploited to fit needs. For instance, adversaries are using disinformation to blame each other since the origin of the virus is unclear. Whats more worrying is the rise of conspiracy theories around the issue, said Kanishk Karan, research associate at Atlantic Councils DFR Lab, a research group exploring disinformation and fake news. The health of conversation around a pandemic is very important to monitor, since they can erode trust in public health efforts. Unlike the 2016 Russian disinformation campaign, which was aimed at a countrys democratic process, this aims at breaking the global trust towards the US, Karan added. The reference to 2016 was alleged Russian operations that is believed to have boosted the political campaign of US president Donald Trump, a matter that is presently under investigation. Similar campaigns have been seen in Ukraine where Moscow has been locked in a territorial fight since 2014. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Thursday ordered stricter lockdown on weekends and public holidays, even as his state mulls stringent curbs, including mandatory testing certification, for those coming from Delhi. The decision to tighten the curbs on weekends and holidays has been taken amid apprehensions of COVID-19 reaching the community spread stage in Punjab and projections indicating that the peak in the state was still two months away. Industrial activities, however, will be allowed to function normally on all days, the CM said. The COVID tally in Punjab on Thursday reached 2,887 with 82 more people testing positive. More than 500 people have tested positive for the virus in the state in the last 10 days. All citizens, except medical staff and essential service providers, would be required to download e-passes from the COVA (Corona Virus Alert) app, the CM directed at a video conference meeting held to review the pandemic situation and the state's preparedness to handle further spread. The COVA Punjab App has been developed by the state government to provide people with preventive information and other government advisories. Singh asked Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta to ensure strict implementation of these directives to prevent gathering of large crowds, as per a government statement here. The CM said such tough measures were necessitated on account of the spiralling COVID-19 cases in the state and across the world. Stringent curbs could help delay the peak for as long as possible, he added, pointing out that with no early vaccine or treatment for coronavirus in sight, strict protocols were the only way to fight the pandemic. Even as he warned of the pandemic worsening in the coming days and weeks, the CM asked medical and health experts to consider imposition of strict conditions, including mandatory testing certification for entrants from Delhi, where the situation had assumed alarming proportions. On an average, 500-800 vehicles are coming to Punjab from the national capital every day, the DGP informed the meeting. A decision on stricter curbs on those coming from Delhi will be taken after a review with the experts, said the statement.? Pointing out that many of those who had come from outside had behaved irresponsibly and not reported to health authorities, the CM said tough measures would have to be taken wherever needed, as the spike was expected to escalate. The CM suggested that since it normally takes 3-4 days for the virus to incubate, those coming from outside should be tested after a week and in the meantime asked to remain in home-quarantine. He also directed the DGP to ensure strict implementation of home-quarantine. The DGP informed that 550 flying squads of the Punjab Police were enforcing these rules. Referring to complaints received on social media, and through other channels, of private hospitals charging exorbitant money for COVID hospitalisation and care, the CM directed the health department to ensure strict application of CGHS rates. All data on availability of beds etc should be put in public domain, he added. The CM's directions came even as the doubling rate in the state worsened from 22 days on May 31 to 15 days on June 10, showing a progressive decline. Though significantly longer than the national average, the doubling period decline was a matter of anxiety, said the chief minister. There was no scope for complacency in the state's battle against COVID, he said. The state government's efforts would need to be scaled up further, particularly in view of the health department's projections suggesting that the peak of the pandemic was yet to come to Punjab, and it could happen towards the end of August if the doubling period continues its current trend. Officials from the health department said early diagnosis and increased testing were key to tackling the crisis. They stressed the need for doubling tests in the next one month and closely monitoring densely-populated areas. Four more testing labs are in the process of being operationalised, the chief minister was informed. The No. 3 and No. 4 producers in the EIA rankings, Cloud Peak Energy and Murray Energy, are both in bankruptcy. Fifth on the list is Alliance Resource Partners (ARP), headquartered in Tulsa, where Trump plans to hold his first covid-era rally on June 19. ARP chief executive Joe Craft is a product of impoverished Eastern Kentucky who bootstrapped his way into the billionaire class. He donated $1 million for the Trump inauguration festivities, and his wife, Kelly Craft, is now U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Amar Bahadur Rai (23) didnt expect such a hostile reception was waiting for him, when he returned to his native village on Wednesday night after one and a half years. He and his younger brother Jiwan, who had gone to Siliguri to fetch him on Wednesday upon his return from Havelock Island in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, were denied entry to Malivita Nepali basti by panic-stricken fellow villagers, who are reeling under the threat of the raging coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. The villagers packed off the brothers to live on a watchtower, measuring eight square feet, which has been converted into a makeshift quarantine centre, near their village amid the elephant corridor in north Bengals Jalpaiguri district. The villagers are afraid that Amar might have contracted SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, and, in turn, Jiwan could also be infected. Amar, who holds a diploma in hotel management, returned home after he lost his job at a luxury resort in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, as the viral outbreak has battered the economy, especially the hospitality sector among others. The village, which is located in the Belacoba forest range under the Rajganj police station in Jalpaiguri district, is situated around 400 metres away from the tower that doesnt have an electricity connection. Forest department officials said it would get tough for the youth to live on the watchtower while the onset of monsoon in north Bengal was declared on Friday amid a forecast for heavy rains over the weekend. The youth will undergo Covid-19 tests. If they test negative, theyll be allowed entry to the village after 14 days, said Hari Bahadur Bhujel, Amars uncle. Forest department officials unsuccessfully tried to prevail over the adamant villagers and convince them that keeping the youth on the watchtower is both risky and illegal. Dipak Roy Pradhan, the beat officer of Sikharpur range, said, We tried to persuade the villagers to see reason, but they were adamant. On Thursday night, a herd of 17 elephants destroyed 200 mounds of paddy on the eastern side of the village. Fortunately, the tower is located on the northern side. Sanjay Dutta, the ranger of Belacoba forest, said, People have lost humanity. The watchtower is 25 feet high and the top platform measures around eight square feet. Its dangerous to live there. Amar said, The management of the resort didnt renew my contract. I came home after one and a half years. I never imagined that Id be forced to stay on a watchtower in my own village. He, however, wants to make the most out of a grave situation. Were hurt but we plan to use this opportunity to help the villagers. If we see wild elephants approaching the village, well drive them away by using the battery-operated searchlights our family has given us. There have been several unusual makeshift quarantine centres across the country to accommodate migrant returnees, but watchtower appears to be the first instance. Earlier, seven men in West Bengals Purulia district spent days on a treetop after they returned from Chennai on March 24, a day before nationwide lockdown restrictions were imposed. They stayed on a machan, a makeshift wood and bamboo platform set up by villagers, in a bid to save themselves from wild elephants. At Habibpur in Malda district, Niranjan Haldar (65) lived in a small country boat in April. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With the White House in the background, a line of police forms behind a fence in Lafayette Park as demonstrators gather in Washington on June 2, 2020. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo) Senate Panel Seeks to Ban Use of Military Force Against Peaceful Protestors In a late-night action Wednesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted to add a provision to the defense bill which would permanently bar the U.S. military from being used to stop peaceful protestors. The committee added Sen. Tim Kaines (D-Va.) provision, as an amendment to the panels annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) FY2021, which was done in closed session. The amendment bill, had bipartisan support and will now advance to the full Senate for consideration. I never thought we would have to use the NDAA to make clear that the U.S. military shouldnt be used as an agent of force against American citizens who are lawfully assembling, said Kaine in a statement. The Virginia senator, along with many other Democrats, saw the use of force used against protestors outside the White House in Lafayette Square as a breach of citizens first amendment rights. The White House ordering federal law enforcement officials and these are not military but federal law enforcement officials fired tear gas at peaceful protesters who were lawfully assembling prior to the curfew which would have required them to disperse, said Kaine in a June 2 video statement. But the thought that we would go beyond that, and now have it be the military who might have to do that. Im not going to stand for it, he added. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said June 8, that the administration has no regrets about how federal law enforcement forcibly removed protesters from Lafayette Square. Theres no regrets on the part of this White House, McEnany said at a briefing Monday afternoon. Id note that many of those decisions were not made here within the White House. It was [Attorney General William] Barr who made the decision to move the perimeter. Monday night Park Police had also made that decision independently when they saw all the violence in Lafayette Square. Looting, vandalism, and violence broke out in some areas after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody on May 25 after a Minneapolis officer knelt on neck for nearly 9 minutes. A video of the incident circulated widely and drew condemnation across the country. In many major cities including Minneapolis, some of the peaceful protests turned violent, where public buildings were vandalized, burned, and looted. In response, President Donald Trump called National Guard troops. Trump had stated he would consider using the Insurrection Act (to use the U.S. Military troops) if local leaders could not squelch the violence. Ultimately the Insurrection Act was never enacted because the National Guard presence helped prevent further destruction of property, theft, and police being harmed. But the protests, especially in Lafayette Square, sparked a debate, with one side saying peaceful protestors were cleared out with an unjustified use of police force, firing of rubber bullets, and use of tear gas, and the other side saying the protestors were given ample warning of the perimeter being moved, no tear gas was used and some of the protestors were seen throwing solid objects at the police, wounding some officers. Barr said the decision was made in response to violent riots in Lafayette Square over the previous few days and that Barr said that it was made before he knew that Trump was going to speak there, adding that it was not an operation to respond to that particular crowd. It was an operation to move the perimeter one block, the attorney general said. On [May 31], things reached a crescendo. The officers were pummeled with bricks. Crowbars were used to pry up the pavers at the park and they were hurled at police. There were fires set in not only St. Johns Church, but a historic building at Lafayette was burned down, he said. He said these incidents prompted the Park Police on May 31 to prepare a plan to clear H Street and put a larger perimeter around the White House so they could build a more permanent fence on Lafayette. He added that he gave the green light to the plan at 2 p.m. the next day. Police have to move protesters, sometimes peaceful demonstrators, for a short distance in order to accomplish public safety. And thats what was done here, Barr said. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected a decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to authorize sanctions against any official investigating American troops over alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. The court expressed "profound regret" over Trump's announcement in a statement on June 11. The ICC called Trump's moves an "unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law and the Court's judicial proceedings." The Hague-based court said the moves come "with the declared aim of influencing the actions of ICC officials in the context of the Court's independent and objective investigations and impartial judicial proceedings." It also represents an attack against the interests of victims of atrocities for whom the court is the last hope for justice, the court said. Trump issued an executive order earlier authorizing economic sanctions and travel restrictions against employees of the ICC who are directly involved in investigating U.S. troops and intelligence officials for possible war crimes in Afghanistan. After Trump signed the order Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington would not allow Americans to be threatened by "a kangaroo court." Attorney General Bill Barr accused "foreign powers like Russia" of manipulating the court "in pursuit of their own agenda." The United States is among dozens of countries that are not parties to the Rome treaty that established the ICC in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in areas where perpetrators might not otherwise face justice. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell voiced "serious concern" at Trumps order, saying the bloc is a steadfast supporter of the ICC, which he called a key factor in bringing justice and peace. "Very disturbed by the United States measures," Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok tweeted. "The Netherlands fully supports the ICC and will continue to do so. The ICC is crucial in the fight against impunity and in upholding international rule of law." Human rights groups also deplored the Trump administrations move, with Andrea Prasow, the Washington director of Human Rights Watch, saying it "demonstrates contempt for the global rule of law. This assault on the ICC is an effort to block victims of serious crimes whether in Afghanistan, Israel or Palestine from seeing justice," she added. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany called the actions of the court "an attack on the rights of the American people and threaten to infringe upon our national sovereignty." The court "has been an unaccountable and ineffective international bureaucracy that targets and threatens United States personnel as well as personnel of our allies and partners," she said in a statement. McEnany alleged that the court continues to pursue politically motivated investigations against the U.S. and its partners, including Israel, and that "adversary nations are manipulating" the ICC. The United States also has "strong reason to believe there is corruption and misconduct at the highest levels of the International Criminal Court office of the prosecutor, calling into question the integrity of its investigation into American service members," the White House spokeswoman said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the U.S. move, saying the ICC is politicized and obsessed with carrying out a witch hunt against Israel and the United States as well as other democratic countries. Meanwhile, the court turns a blind eye to the world's worst human rights offenders," including Iran, he told a press conference. Trumps order authorizes the secretary of state, in consultation with the treasury secretary, to block financial assets within U.S. jurisdiction of court personnel who directly engage in investigating, harassing, or detaining U.S. personnel. Court officials -- and their family members -- involved in the probe can also be blocked from entering the United States. The Trump administration already imposed travel restrictions and other sanctions against ICC employees last year. In November 2017, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda asked judges to initiate an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Afghanistan since May 2003. But in April 2019, an ICC pretrial chamber rejected the inquiry as not being in the "interests of justice" because it would likely fail due to lack of cooperation. In March this year, the ICCs Appeals Chamber in March ruled that the investigation could go ahead a decision Pompeo at the time described as "reckless." Afghanistan is a signatory of the Rome treaty but officials have expressed opposition to the investigation. U.S. forces and other foreign troops intervened in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States and overthrew the Taliban government. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Islamabad, Pakistan Atiqullah did not know what else to do. He spent three days scouring the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar for a ventilator for his 60-year-old father, who had tested positive for the coronavirus and was in a critical condition. The doctors were trying their best but we couldnt find a bed in the Intensive Care Unit [ICU], he told Al Jazeera. For three days we were trying to get him shifted into an ICU because he was in such a serious condition. Ultimately, he found a bed in an isolation ward at the Lady Reading Hospital the citys largest government hospital but there was still no ventilator available. There was no space in any ICU, anywhere in the city, not just at Lady Reading, he said. Finally, unable to afford to pay for his father to receive treatment at a private healthcare facility, Atiqullah, a 30-year-old hospital orderly, had no choice but to sit at his bedside and watch him die. Pakistan has seen its coronavirus epidemic explode in the last two weeks, seeing multiple consecutive days of record deaths and case rises across the country, pushing hospitals in major cities to the brink of their allocated capacity. On Thursday, the country saw 6,397 new cases take its tally to 125,933, with a single-day record 107 deaths taking the death toll to 2,520 since Pakistans outbreak began in late February. The real number of infections is likely far higher, with Pakistan currently testing about 25,000 people a day, which is half the number of daily tests recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). In a country that is home to 220 million people and a ramshackle health infrastructure that offers just six hospital beds per 10,000 people, doctors say they fear that the healthcare system could be on the brink of collapse. A nurse wears a face mask at the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar [Fayaz Aziz/Reuters] Doctors ask for breathing space There has not been a single day in the last week where we had a single bed available, said Dr Naveed Ahmed Khan, a surgeon at Peshawars Hayatabad Medical Complex, one of the citys largest hospitals and a designated coronavirus care facility. Only if someone died or was discharged could we replace them with a new patient. Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, sees a large number of patients coming in from all over the province due to the relatively poor health infrastructure elsewhere, doctors say. Our hospitals condition is already overburdened and the health system is very weak, said Muhammad Kashif, a doctor at Lady Reading Hospital. Right now, you wont find a single ICU bed in all of Peshawar. Our health system, if, God forbid, things remain as they are, it will definitely collapse. Ahmed Zeb Khan, a doctor at a government facility in the northwestern town of Charsadda, says doctors have been pleading with authorities to reimpose a lockdown to gain some breathing space to increase hospital capacity. We have told the government over and over again to increase the capacity of the ICU and isolation wards, because you did not impose a [proper] lockdown and now we have no breathing space, he said. Until that happens, the system is overburdened, and we are going towards a collapse. In the southwestern city of Quetta, there has been a rapid increase in cases, according to official data. Healthcare workers in Pakistan are putting their lives on the line as they battle the countrys increased number of cases. At least 3,635 healthcare workers have tested positive for the coronavirus since the outbreak began, according to government data. Thirty-five of those doctors, nurses and health staff did not survive. Our healthcare workers are exhausted, they have been working for three months straight without a break, said Peshawars Dr Kashif. The number of doctors that are dealing with coronavirus, there are too little. They need to induct more doctors. Waseem Baig, a spokesman for the provincial health department in Quetta, said the two hospitals in the city designated for coronavirus patients were both full. Shortage of hospital beds Doctors in major cities across the country echoed Baigs concerns, saying their hospitals both public and private sector were at or nearing their capacity for coronavirus patients. Official government figures paint a different picture of Pakistans hospital capacity, showing that only 1,681 critical care beds are currently occupied countrywide, compared with a total capacity of 6,664. The figures, however, can be misleading if seen at the country-level, given that while there are critical care beds available, there appear to be acute capacity shortages in larger cities where the caseloads are higher. People generally go towards bigger cities for treatment, explains Ahmed Zeb, who is also a doctors union spokesman. The burden falls on cities like Peshawar, where the burden is extremely high. In Karachi, the countrys largest city, patients travel for hundreds of kilometres seeking treatment, said Dr Seemin Jamali, head of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), the citys largest government hospital. Currently, the JPMC has room for two or three more patients on critical care beds, as they work to add capacity to the system. Misinformation about the coronavirus has also been a concern for doctors, with at least three incidents of violence reported across the country by angry relatives of patients who died from the virus. This is a pandemic and people dont believe us, said Jamali, whose hospital was attacked twice in the last month. They think that we are getting paid by the WHO to declare deaths as being due to the coronavirus. A doctor and nurse wear protective masks as they stand in a passenger trains car after the government turned it into a hospital and quarantine centre, in Karachi [Akhtar Soomro/Reuters] Debate over lockdown The countrywide increase in cases coincides with an almost complete lifting of lockdown restrictions by the government on May 22. Since the lockdown was ended, right after [the Muslim festival of] Eid we saw the cases rising rapidly, said Baig. We saw our first 1,000 cases [in the province] in 50 days, and now we have seen 1,000 cases in just the last three days. We need a lockdown, nothing else. People are coming into the hospitals, we dont know who is infected and who isnt, he said. On June 7, in a letter to provincial authorities in Pakistan, the WHO warned that if a new intermittent lockdown was not imposed, the country could see cases rise to more than 800,000 in July before beginning to level off. As of today, Pakistan does not meet any of the prerequisite conditions for opening the lockdown, said the letter, which detailed six criteria under which such decisions should be taken, including controlling disease transmission, effective contact tracing and community awareness. On Thursday, however, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan repeated his position that the country could not afford a strict lockdown due to its economic implications. Some people say lockdown, lockdown, lockdown! as if that is a solution, he said in a televised address to the nation. Our situation is different from the US, China [and others], because 25 percent of our people are in poverty. So if we do a lockdown, the curse of it falls on the poor. PM Khan called on citizens to observe social distancing guidelines to control the spread of the virus but also issued a warning. In the coming days, sadly I must say, that the number of deaths will increase in Pakistan. No space Epidemiologists say Pakistan will have to find a solution that incorporates its limited capacity for imposing lockdowns and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. Dr Adnan Khan, a public health researcher and infectious disease specialist, says Pakistan needs to implement higher rates of testing, and more effective testing of contacts of coronavirus positive patients. The WHO has assessed Pakistans isolation, tracking and testing regime as being weak. Moreover, he said the authorities could maximise the current capacity in the system by only admitting patients to hospital who are in need of critical care, freeing up space to increase the capacity for such beds. You need to do triage, Khan told Al Jazeera. Do basic intake, check their fever and oxygen stats, and then you turn away anyone who is dealing reasonably well, and check in with them again the next morning. There is a capacity that even now can be expanded by three to four-fold if it is done rationally. It is that lack of space in the system that appears to be contributing to higher rates of deaths, particularly in major cities like Peshawar. [If things continue like this] they will not be able to handle it, said Atiqullah, hours after burying his father. The resources were there to prevent the spread of the virus, but the problem was the ICU, he said. The problem was there is no space. Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras digital correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim KITCHENER Waterloo Regional Police were called to an apartment building on Lancaster Street after residents heard what sounded like gunshots early Friday. When officers arrived at 2:45 a.m. they evacuated the building and attempted to make contact with a man in a unit. By 5:30 a.m. the Kitchener man came out of the unit voluntarily and the residents returned to their homes, said police spokesperson Cherri Greeno. No one was injured. Greeno said gunshots were not fired. Police seized ammunition. DUBLIN, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Australia Gift Card and Incentive Card Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook) - Market Size and Forecast (2015-2024) - Covid-19 Update Q2 2020" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Australia has done well to contain the spread of Covid-19. As a result, the overall spend on gifting and gift card is likely to be less impacted, when compared with other similar economies. Gift cards have grown in popularity, use, and sophistication in Australia since first appearing in the country in the mid-1990s. In value terms, the gift card market in Australia has recorded a CAGR of 15.9% during 2015-2019.The gift card industry in Australia will continue to grow over the forecast period and is expected to record a CAGR of 10.8% during 2020-2024. Gift card market in the country will increase from US$ 4,174.1 million in 2019 to reach US$ 6,698.6 million by 2024. While the adoption of gift cards, especially digital gift cards or e-gift cards has been increasing in Australia over the last few years, the current economic and social scenario is expected to help the segment gain market share at a higher rate. During the 2020 holiday season, Australian consumers spend on gift cards (as percentage of total spend on gifts) is expected to increase significantly, compared to same time last year. Online gift card sellers such as Prezee and the shopping centers are expected to record spikes in gift card sales. This report provides a detailed data centric analysis of gift cards and corporate incentive cards market along with consumer behaviour and retail spend dynamics in Australia. With over 200 KPIs at country level, this report provides comprehensive understanding of gift and incentive card market dynamics. The report includes raw data along with structured dashboards, charts, and tables in an interactive Excel format. Below is a summary of country level trend analyses covered across gift card segments: Total gift market: This report provides detailed view of overall spend on gifts, broken down by retail and consumer segments. For both retail and consumer segments, this report provides a breakdown of spend on gifts by product categories (13 segments) and retail sectors (7 segments). Gift cards: Drawing from proprietary survey results, this report provides in-depth analysis of opportunities in both open loop and closed loop prepaid gift card categories. Assesses consumer behaviour by type of consumer (retail and corporate - SMB, Mid-Tier, Large Enterprise), gifting occasion, digital gift card (e-gift card), and market share by retail sectors. Details six essential KPIs: number of cards in circulation, load value, unused value, average purchase value, average value per transaction, and value of transactions. Corporate incentive & loyalty cards: This report provides detailed market dynamics of corporate incentive cards, broadly segmented in three categories - consumer incentive card, employee incentive card, and sales/partner incentive card. It details market size and forecast at category level, by functional attribute (open loop and closed loop), and by corporate consumer segments (small scale business, mid-size business, and enterprise business). Digital gift card (e-gift card) analysis: Provides market size and forecast for digital gift cards, broken down by retail and corporate buyers. It also includes gift card spend by occasion (retail - festivals & special celebration days, milestone celebration, self-use, other; Corporate incentive cards -consumer incentive card, employee incentive card, and sales/partner incentive card). The report also includes digital gift card adoption by company size. Open loop and closed loop: Provides market estimates and forecasts to assess opportunities in open loop and closed loop gift and incentive card segments across consumer segments. Consumer attitude and behaviour: Drawing from proprietary survey results, this report identifies and interprets key KPIs related to gift card dynamics including spend by age, gender, and income level. Retail spend: Breaks down retail spend across retail sectors (7 segments) to provide detailed insights on consumer behaviour and changing dynamics of gift card spend. Market share by retailer: Provides market share of closed loop gift cards by key retailers in Australia . . Distribution channel analysis: Provides market share by distribution channel - online vs offline sales and 1st party vs 3rd party sales (sales through outlet of other retailers). Companies Mentioned Wesfarmers Ltd Woolworths Ltd ( Australia ) ) Metcash Ltd Aldi Group Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd JB Hi-Fi Ltd Myer LTd Chemist Warehouse Ltd Good Guys Inc, The Apple Inc Australian United Retailers Ltd Dick Smith Electronics Pty Ltd Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd Super Retail Group Ltd Costco Wholesale Corp Chevron Corp For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/u98fcl About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Egyptian artist Mohamed Ali, who is also a contractor who cooperated with the military, recently made a reappearance after announcing at the beginning of the year stepping away from politics and shutting down his Facebook page. In video footage posted on YouTube May 24, Ali accused Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisis regime of burdening the Egyptian people with the cost of the economic repercussions of the novel coronavirus crisis. In May, the Egyptian government approved a draft law deducting 1% of the net income of Egyptians salaries in all public and private sectors to offset the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis. The measure includes workers whose employment is regulated by special laws or regulations and who receive a fixed salary. In his video, Ali also lashed out at the Egyptian government for failing to address the coronavirus crisis and not showing transparency in disclosing the real number of infection cases, which aggravated the situation and led to the infection of a large number of citizens and medical staff. The Egyptian government has failed to manage the coronavirus crisis in a way that saves the lives of the Egyptian people, he said, accusing the authorities of trying to find a scapegoat to be held liable for their failure. Ali tried to explain his return to the public scene, saying, There is a difference between retiring from political life and retiring from the love of my family and country because this is something I cannot do or else I would be a traitor. I never said I was abandoning my love for Egypt and its people. In September 2019, Ali had released a series of videos reportedly exposing the existence of corruption in sensitive Egyptian institutions, accusing prominent officials of being aware of this which Sisi repeatedly has denied. Ali subsequently called for protests against Sisi, and thousands took to the streets on Sept. 20, 2019, calling for the presidents departure. However, the protest movement failed to continue among a harsh government crackdown. Ali had managed to sidestep the Egyptian government's crackdown on the media, by using his cellphone camera and livestreaming videos on Facebook. Ali again called for protests on the ninth anniversary of the 2011 uprising, but few took notice a sign his influence seemed to have faded. Meanwhile, countries around the world struggle to mitigate the economic losses resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, including Egypt. Living conditions have deteriorated in Egypt, where the tourism sector has been badly affected and foreign remittances dropped dramatically, according to Finance Minister Mohamed Maait. In a May 14 statement, Maait stressed that Egypt is seeking to revive the economy by safeguarding the gains of the economic reform program, in a way that builds on the positive results achieved after the government adopted a proactive policy to manage the current crisis and mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic. As part of this policy, the government provided a financial package estimated at about 2% of the gross domestic product to support the Egyptian economy, while taking into account the balance between protecting the health of the citizens and the continuation of the production wheel, Maait added. The coronavirus has so far killed 34 medical staff out of 372 confirmed cases, 160 of whom are still receiving treatment, and about 80 have recovered, according to June 2 statements of Karim Mesbah, a member of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate. Commenting on video footage showing an Egyptian woman begging for her infected mother to be treated, Ali wondered where the funds allocated to the coronavirus crisis went. He lashed out at the authorities saying, Where did the 100 billion Egyptian pounds [$6.17 billion] allocated to curb the spread of the coronavirus go? People are dying in the streets and cannot find treatment. Negligence is prevailing, even in hospitals. The blood of every Egyptian is on your hands. Kawthar Mahmoud, head of the Nursing Syndicate, reported 70 confirmed cases among nursing personnel, expecting this number to increase amid a lack of access to the tally kept by the Ministry of Health and Population. In an interview with El-Watan News May 30, she said that 10 nurses have died so far. On June 2, the Ministry of Health and Population set the prices for coronavirus treatment in private sector hospitals. The Cabinet had decided to set regulations for private hospitals that started treating coronavirus patients. It fixed the price of treatment per day for infected patients who stayed in isolation but did not need an ICU bed, after receiving a barrage of complaints of soaring treatment prices in nongovernment hospitals. The cost of treatment per day for a patient in isolation ranges from 1,500 to 3,000 Egyptian pounds ($92-$185), while the cost of isolation on the intensive care with a ventilator ranges from 7,500 to 10,000 pounds ($462-$617) and without a ventilator from 5,000 to 7,000 pounds ($308-$432). Egypt has about 35,152 hospital beds, 2,218 ventilators and 3,539 ICU beds. Health Minister Hala Zayed said June 3 that the ministry had equipped 36 additional hospitals to receive coronavirus patients, which raises the total number of hospitals treating these patients to 376 across Egypt. Despite the minister's statements, many people complained, including officials, parliamentarians and journalists, demanding increased testing capacities and better health care. Dozens of videos posted on social media showing coronavirus-infected patients searching for a place in a hospital isolation unit or people looking for a bed for their elderly parent added to the unrest. The government has been repeatedly confirming the hospitals ability to provide health-care services, reassuring the public that they have yet to reach their maximum capacity. However, the soaring number of cases prompted the government to take more measures, most notably increasing the test capacity and semi-isolation hospitals to more than 350. These measures also included the use of screening and testing services, self-isolation for minor cases with the delivery of medicine to the infected and those who came in contact with them, and the use of a phone app providing instructions to those infected. A medical source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, The health-care system in Egypt was not ready to deal with the pandemic. There is a buildup of patients in the isolation hospitals currently operating, resulting in the inability to isolate all patients, and a lack of providing tests for all patients and those who came in contact with them. The source noted that things have spiraled out of control, stressing the need for a change of plan and strategy to get through the crisis. This is why Health Minister Zayed decided in a video conference with the directors of health directorates earlier this week [June 3] to turn all government hospitals into isolation hospitals. Commenting on the decision of the Ministry of Health that advises patients to self-isolate and not to go to hospitals except in severe cases, the source explained, With no other cases being admitted to hospitals and the referral of patients with other illnesses to nearby small health-care centers, these centers have turned into temporary clinics both public and private which are not affiliated with hospitals. The minister had decided to close outpatient clinics in hospitals to avoid the spread of infection among noninfected patients visiting these clinics. As the coronavirus curb goes upward, attacks on physicians and nursing staff are likely to increase. The source warned that the police will not be able to protect them or to provide security at hospitals, especially in areas far from the capital. Recounting a personal experience, the source said, Years ago, when a man stormed into a hospital with a machine gun, security members fled the scene. He then entered the ICU and forced me and my colleague to treat his mother at gunpoint. No one helped us in this unfortunate situation, until the intruders mother who later found out that her son was a registered offender in the area regained consciousness screaming at him and asking him to take her back home. The answer to this question can be simple, but also quite complex, as is usually the case when dealing with these types of topics. The US is self-sufficient in basic food production. Not only that, but the country also provides food for a large part of the rest of the world. Even nowadays, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that the US does not have a shortage of food. Although some food items are imported from other countries, the majority of it comes from within. This helps the country tremendously, and the fact that it is placed high on the list of self-sufficient countries prevents a lot of problems. A Self-Sufficient Country If we take a look at agricultural data, the US usually produces 2.2 billion bushels of wheat per year. Since people in the United States normally consume a bit over half of that amount, the country is left with more than 1 billion bushels to can export to other countries. Even during times of droughts or other adverse weather conditions, the country is still able to produce enough food for its domestic needs, with plenty of food remaining for export. The country is able to produce enough food for its domestic needs, with plenty of food remaining for export. Image credit: RozenskiP / Shutterstock.com The US is self-sufficient in a large number of food types. The list includes eggs, dairy, chicken, pork, and even turkey meat. Sometimes it can even be self-sufficient in beef. This, however, largely depends on the time of the year. Sometimes the US is a large importer of beef, while at other times, the country can export large amounts of beef. Whatever the case may be, it is safe to say that the country does not need to worry about running out of food. Efficiency In Food Production Certain products simply cant be grown in the United States. This is mostly due to the climate. Some of these products include coffee and bananas. Generally, fruits and nuts are the products that are imported more than others. However, imports still make up only one-third of the entire consumed amount of these two products. The other two-thirds come from domestic sources. One thing the US is known for when it comes to food production is efficiency. No other country in the world is as efficient as the United States. The US has a much smaller workforce than China, but it still manages to produce almost the same amounts of agricultural products. The states that produce the most food include Texas, Iowa, California, Illinois, and Nebraska. US companies mostly dominate the global food export market. The country is convincingly the most successful in the world in that regard. The Netherlands comes in second when it comes to international products, and China is surprisingly hovering around anywhere from the fifth to the tenth place, depending on the year. The reason why the United States can be so successful when it comes to exporting food is the extremely productive farming sector. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, food production in the country has doubled. This is a big deal, and it shows the importance of the United States for the global economy. 12.06.2020 LISTEN Security Analyst, Adam Bona has rejected public assertions that the arrest of 'Apostle Kwabena Agyei on Tuesday,9th June 2020 was a calculated effort between the media house that was granting the interview(Hot 93.9FM) and the National Security Officials. Apostle Kwamena Agyei who had threatened to kill the chairperson of the Electoral Commission(EC) Jean Mensa was arrested by some officers of the National Security while granting a live interview with Boamah Darko on Hot 93.9FM at a hideout at Greda Estate in Accra. In a Phone interaction on Hot 93.9FM's morning show; "Maakye"--hosted by Isaac Boamah Darko--the same journalist who was interviewing the controversial 'Man of God' prior to his arrest, the Security Analyst, Adam Bona justified that, the National Security has all the sophisticated equipment to enable them to trace persons who offend the law without seeking help from anyone. According to him, the basic element that the National Security uses in their operations is the sim card in a mobile phone that is able to determine the location of Criminals. "When I heard people saying Hot FM connived with the National Security, I said, it's not true..looking at the video, I will never say you as the media house, you were part of the plan to arrest the 'Man of God'.Unless people are underrating the security of this country..if they want to get you--they have all the equipment to execute such arrests ...the basic method they use is the sim card in a mobile phone that is able to determine the location of Criminals," Mr. Bona said. Questioning whether it was lawful for the security officials to barge into the live program, Mr. Bona answered without mincing words that: "Once a court warrant has been issued, whether you are on Social media, you're on a live page, etc, they must arrest you. If the Police or the National Security is unable to execute the arrest, they would have themselves to blame because they would be charged for contempt of court". President Trump slammed the Seattle mayor over her response to anarchists declaring an autonomous zone in the citys Capitol Hill neighborhood, warning that if they dont straighten that situation out, were going to straighten it out. Speaking to Fox News Harris Faulkner on Thursday, Trump lambasted Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan for her administrations decision to abandon the Seattle Police Departments east precinct. Were not going to let Seattle be occupied by anarchists and Im not calling them protestors, he stated. Trump also called on Washington State governor Jay Inslee to send in the National Guard to resolve the situation. The woman, I dont know, has she ever done this before? It was pathetic. No, no. Were not going to let this happen in Seattle. If we have to go in, were going to go in, Trump said. The governors either going to do it let the governor do it, hes got great National Guard troops, he could do it but one way or the other, its going to get done. These people are not going to occupy a major portion of a great city. Durkan held a press conference on Thursday with police chief Carmen Best in which it was not made clear when police would return to the precinct, although officers did visit the area on Thursday. But Durkan pushed back against the president, saying Trumps criticisms are simply not true. Lawfully gathering and expressing First Amendment rights, demanding we do better as a society, and providing true equity for communities of color is not terrorism. Its patriotism, Durkan stated. It is not an armed Antifa militia. It is not a no-go zone. More from National Review Land in Melbourne's outer west and South Gippsland has been earmarked as potential future quarry sites under a contentious plan to feed huge quantities of raw materials to Victorias infrastructure projects. The state government is considering new planning rules that would protect potential quarry sites that contain sand and rock, materials essential for the road building and other transport projects. Township of Lara Care Group president Barry White at a former quarry site near the You Yangs west of Melbourne. Credit:Joe Armao But the proposal has raised concerns from a western suburbs council and some residents, amid fears they will be sidelined by the changes, while quarry operators are allowed to proceed with large projects that will result in trucks driving down quiet country roads. A draft report on "strategic extractive resource areas" cites a previous study warning Victoria faces "constrained" supplies of resources unless more quarries are established. Deputy Youth Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Perpetual Lamokei says the threats and insults on the Electoral Commission Boss, Madam Jean Mensa will have dire consequences on young women who wish to aspire for higher positions in society. In a statement issued by her and copied to Peacefmonline.com, she stressed it breeds an unfair indictment on women leadership in this country and further creates a phobia for leadership in our young women. Her comments follow the disparaging remarks by Apostle Kwabena Owusu Adjei about the EC Boss and President Akufo-Addo. Mr. Owusu Adjei is in the grips of BNI for threatening to kill Madam Jean Mensa and also charged for other offenses including the possession of narcotic drug. The NPP Deputy Youth Organizer asked for equal respect for women in the country. Women must be respected and protected from such bullies as Mr. Kwabena Owusu Adjei regardless of political disagreements, she said. Read full statement below: In the past we were taught that, pastors are shepherds who direct the ways of the children of God. The yesterday's pastors we knew and Today's genuine men of God are doing so with high moral standards and we congratulate them for raising the bar. Indeedto lead is to guide and and not to guard. Thus, every leader needs strong moral values that can conspicuously guide the deeds of their followers. However, the recent developments of using the pulpit and self acclaimed clerical titles to camouflage partisan bigotry deserves to be condemned in no uncertain terms. What is more worrying is when individuals claiming spiritual authority with twisted HOLY SCRIPTURES indulge in the social vises and take cover under political parties to perpetuate attacks on women, particularly those in leadership to the extent of threat of death. This is certainly not the way to go and must be condemned by all well meaning individuals, groups and organisations. It is in the light of the above that I rise to condemn in no uncertain terms, the recent uncalled for attacks on the person and office of the Electoral Commissioner of our nation, Mrs. Jean Mensah. Of utmost worry is the malicious attacks of one "Apostle" Kwabena Owusu Adjei on the Electoral Commissioner and her high office. Until when will we allow our institutions and the women who lead them to work freely without fear nor favour?. Until when will we as a country respect women in leadership? Until when will women leaders not have to fear for their very lives just because they occupy a leadership position? I write today as a woman and a leader to "Apostle" Kwabena Owusu Adjei's and their political benefactors that, their insults, threats and character assassinations on a single woman has consequences on generations of young women and girls. It breeds an unfair indictment on women leadership in this country and further creates a phobia for leadership in our young women. I therefore call on all progressives, stakeholders to condemn such acts as we are witnessing. Women must be respected and protected from such bullies as Mr. Kwabena Owusu Adjei regardless of political disagreements. I call on the opposition in particular to condemn squarely, the conduct of Mr. Kwabena Owusu Adjei rather than throwing shields to defend him. One wonders what this political party seeks to gain encouraging such brazing misconduct and breaking of our laws and morals? Are we saying our democracy is now defined with threats and insults to institutional leaders? Verily I say, let it be told to generations, that, Ghana ever produced bold, shrewd and dignified female leaders who did not succumb to pressures that were crafted from selfishness and personal gains from opposition elements and their cohorts. On this scripts it should be recorded that, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission of the republic of Ghana, Mrs Jean Mensah is one of these gallant female leaders. Thank you. Perpetual Lomokie Deputy National Youth Organizer, NPP. Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 00:00 | Arequipa (Arequipa region), Jun. 12. The marriage ceremony was celebrated via Zoom and in addition to the bride and groom included the participation of the wedding witnesses and guests, who joined the session from their respective homes. Furthermore, the virtual wedding was shared by the Arequipa Provincial Municipality fan page. Thus, the Municipality of Arequipa became the first municipality in the country to make a virtual wedding ceremony legal in the face of the health emergency caused by COVID-19 , which has claimed more than 6,000 lives in the South American nation. Why did I put up with Microsofts Surface Book 2? Why did anyone? Thats the question I asked myself recently as I tried to convince the Surface Book 2 to recognize my 4K monitor, yet again. Surface Book 2 users have suffered through quite a bit. There was the GPU bug that delayed a scheduled Windows update. Thermal issues. Even a power issue that was really never fixed. Most laptops survive PCWorlds review process without exposing major issues. But as I look around at the shelves housing our review units, I can see that the Surface Book 2 had a rough time of it. Heres the 15-inch Surface Book 2 whose discrete GPU failed, possibly due to overheating. This 13-inch models battery was dead on arrival. A second 15-inch Surface Book 2, about a year ago, decided to output nothing better than HD resolution (1366768) on an external display. For its time, the Surface Book 2 perfectly represented the do everything concept that was the core mission of the Surface Book line: a laptop with a tablet, that could deliver outstanding performance and solid battery life. What I took from it in terms of productivity and performance, though, it stole back in frustration just trying to make it work. Microsoft The face of a larger problem That should never happen. Microsofts premium PC asked buyers to pay $1,149, minimum, for a Surface Book 2, and up to a whopping $3,300 for a top-of-the-line model. At those prices, anyone who purchased a Surface Book 2 should have had close to a flawless experience. Microsoft didnt deliver. Almost immediately, reviewers figured out that the Surface Book 2 drew too much power for its AC adapter under load, such as in the middle of a game or a 3D CAD app that tapped the discrete GPU. In that scenario, the Surface Book 2 began pulling power from the battery, even while plugged in. A CPU issue slowed it to a crawl, and problems with the discrete GPU eventually held up the Windows 10 May 2019 Update. Users also complained that the Surface Book 2 had an overheating issue, where it would continue to operate while closed, and temperatures would climb to alarming levels (especially if you put the closed laptop into a bag). That wasnt all. USB-C hubs werent nearly as prevalent several years ago as they are today, so Microsoft kept shipping the original Surface Dock, which it had launched with the original Surface Book in 2015. (The first Surface Book lacked a USB-C port, while the Surface Book 2 included one.) Diplomatically, Id call the Dock flaky. The first Microsoft Store review for the Surface Dock described it as junk. Users wondered why the Surface Book 2 attached to the Dock couldnt support a pair of 4K monitors at 60Hz, when the 2017 model of the Surface Pro could. But the combination of the Surface Book 2 and first-gen Dock still failed on even a simpler level. Today, after updating its firmware (and yes, the Dock contains firmware) our Surface Book 2 failed to recognize my 4K display while connected to the Dock. The Surface Pro 7 did. So did the Surface Book 3. (The Surface Book 2s USB-C port allows you to connect to a single 4K display, but only at 30Hz, a refresh rate that fatigues the eyes.) Mark Hachman / IDG While the Surface Book lineup has been subject to bugs and other issues, Microsofts Surface Pro lineup has been relatively worry-free. To be fair, Microsoft probably didnt anticipate in 2015, when it unveiled the original Surface Dock, that users would be asking it to support a pair of external 4K/60 monitors in 2020. Because Microsoft never updated the Dock until 2020, however, this limitation became more glaring as the years went by. Equally frustrating was Microsofts failure to make amends. Surface Book 2 owners can now buy an upgraded 127W Surface power supply that will solve the Book 2s power problemsfor another $125. It also appears the Surface Book 2 will never be able to output to a pair of 4K monitors at 60Hz. The $260 Surface Dock 2 s product page confirms that the Surface Book 2 will only be able to output at 4K/30Hz. (At least the Surface Dock 2 supplies 199W of power, so you wont have to buy the upgraded power supply, too.) Microsoft The older Microsoft Surface Dock was exceptionally useful for its time, though USB-C hubs have now duplicated some of its functionality. Just a short time ago, Microsoft began shipping the Surface Book 3, an updated version of the Book 2 with Intels 10th-gen processors inside. Though the design of the Surface Book 3 remains virtually unchanged from that of its predecessors, the Surface Dock 2 product page at least makes clear that the Surface Book 3 can power a pair of 4K monitors at 60Hz. More importantly, the Surface Book 3 just seems to work. Reconciliation Look, bugs happen. Consumers will grumble about them. When a company acknowledges and then fixes a problem, its a sign customers are being listened to and appreciated. If I were Microsoft, Id think of some way of making it up to users who stuck with the Surface Book 2 through thick and thin. Mark Hachman / IDG Microsofts Surface Book 3 is the new face of its Surface Book line. A good start would be to offer Surface Book 2 owners an upgraded 127W power supplyif not for free, then preferably at a hefty discount. A choice between a discounted power supply and a discounted Dock 2 would be even better. The Surface Book 2s miscues tarnished the Surface brand, but not irrevocably. Microsofts Surface Laptops are sound. The Surface Pro 7 is still the best Windows tablet on the market. Microsoft cant solve the Surface Book 2s problems by shipping the Surface Book 3 and turning the page. It doesnt fix what the Surface Book 2 broke: the trust of its customers. But it can still earn a shot at redemption. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) More than 200 passengers stranded around the Ninoy Aquino International Airport who have taken shelter in waiting areas and under a flyover have been transferred to a public school in Pasay City as they wait for their ride to the provinces, the Department of Transportation said. Transportation Assistant Secretary Eymard Eje said Friday that 228 Filipinos stranded in Metro Manila hoping to catch flights home have been taken to the Villamor Air Base Elementary School, following reports some passengers were forced to stay by the sidewalk or even sleep below the NAIA Expressway. "Ayaw po nating matulad uli o maulit yung sitwasyon sa tawiran ho pala doon sa Pasay. Alam natin ang kinalalagyan ng ating mga kababayan at kasama po kami sa gobyernong ito na nakikiisa sa kalagayan nila ngayon," he told CNN Philippines' The Source. [Translation: We do not want a repeat of the situation that happened at the Pasay footbridge. We know the situation of our fellowmen and the government recognizes their current struggles.] READ: Balik Probinsya program temporarily suspended to prioritize locally stranded individuals The DOTr ordered airlines to coordinate with the passengers as to when they can board a flight. He said what got these individuals milling around the main gateway was the constant rebooking of their flight tickets, which confused them as to when they could finally head home. A flight to General Santos City was supposed to leave Friday noon, Eje added. The death of Michelle Silvertino last week as she waited for a bus to take her home to Bicol, exposed the sorry state of locally-stranded Filipinos who have spent days around NAIA, hanging on to hope that airlines will finally accommodate them. Silvertino, a 33-year-old single mother, walked from Cubao to Pasay, where she stayed in a footbridge for five days, hoping to get a ride to Calabanga town in Camarines Sur to be reunited with her four young children. On Friday morning, photos showed that a new group of travelers hoping to enter NAIA again occupied the stop underneath NAIAX. The DOTr said they were dropped off by manpower agencies. Travel to and from Metro Manila remains banned, except for those rendering essential work or are Filipinos returning to their hometowns for good. Once flights are coordinated, Eje said a medical team from the Philippine Air Force will conduct rapid COVID-19 tests before they are allowed to head to the airport again for boarding. Coast Guard buses will ferry them back to NAIA once they secure a medical certificate, he added. New Delhi: The Sensex and Nifty recorded gains at the back of the strong performances in the Asian markets driven by boost in oil prices. The investors eagerly await the results of the monetary policies of key central bank meetings in the United States and Japan scheduled later in the week. The BSE Sensex ended with a gain of 36 points at 28,635. The BSE Sensex opened at 28,627 touched an intra-day high of 28,715 and low of 28,553. The NSE Nifty closed with a gain of 29 points at 8,808. The NSE Nifty opened at 8,788.45 hitting a high of 8,824 and low of 8,774.20. Risk appetite also improved following gains in global oil prices after Venezuela said OPEC and non-OPEC producers were close to reaching an output stabilizing deal. Most of the BSE sectoral indices were trading in the positive zone except the FMCG sector which was in the red. TCS, ICICI Bank, ONGC, Asian Paints and Adani Ports were among the gainers, whereas Maruti Suzuki, Bajaj Auto, HDFC, ITC and Axis Bank have been losing sheen on BSE. Software services exporters contributed the most to Monday's gains with the Nifty IT index rising 1.06 per cent. Tata Consultancy Services posted its biggest intraday percentage jump in over a month and was the top percentage gainer. Markets reports that talked about Future Group's acquisition of Heritage Foods's retail business division has helped the share price of the company to gain by 8.56 per cent to a record high of Rs. 890. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co's IPO which was subscribed earlier in the day helped the bank gain 1.9 per cent. Britains economy shrinks by a quarter over March and April as entire sectors are shuttered by the coronavirus lockdown. Beijing reported its first instance of local transmission in weeks a 52-year-old man who said he had not left the Chinese capital for more than two weeks and had not been in contact with anyone from outside the city. A vaccine against COVID-19 developed by United States biotech firm Moderna will enter the third and final stage of its clinical trial in July with 30,000 participants, the manufacturer has announced. The British economy has dwindled 25 percent over March and April as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, dwarfing previous downturns. More than 7.48 million people have now been confirmed to have the coronavirus and at least 420,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Here are the latest updates: Friday, June 12 20:30 GMT Ukraine leader limits exposure after wife tests COVID-19 positive Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suspended official travel and is limiting his exposure to other people after his wife tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the presidential office said. The head of state is not allowed to delegate his presidential tasks to any other individual under the Ukrainian constitution and therefore cannot go into full isolation, it said in a statement. The 42-year-old will be subjected to coronavirus tests daily and will only be in close physical contact with aides and bodyguards. Olena Zelenska, left, said she felt well, was not hospitalised, but was isolated from her husband, right, and children [File: Getty Images] 20:00 GMT UN health chief: Fighting virus very hard in divided world The head of the World Health Organization said he is truly concerned about divisions the coronavirus has created globally and within individual countries, calling it an invisible but a very small virus causing havoc. The world has never seen anything like this since the flu in 1918, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing, comparing the ongoing pandemic to the Spanish influenza pandemic more than a century ago that is believed to have killed at least 50 million people. Calling on nations to learn from history and to do better, Tedros said the lack of political unity during the current crisis was problematic. This is a very dangerous virus, and its very hard to fight this virus in a divided world, he said. 19:25 GMT Lebanon to reopen Beirut international airport from July 1 Lebanon will reopen Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport for commercial flights beginning July 1, but will keep air traffic at 10 percent of capacity from a year ago, a statement from the prime ministers office said on Friday. Private flights will resume from June 24, the statement said. Passengers will be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival and obliged to practise home quarantine if testing positive, it added. 19:00 GMT Coronavirus pandemic exposes South Africas inequality The coronavirus is hitting South Africas mainly Black townships harder than areas that were once the exclusive preserve of white people, according to new data that highlights the lasting effect of apartheid-era housing policies. More than 25 years after the end of white minority rule, South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world, according to the World Bank, with urban areas starkly divided along racial lines. Read more here. South Africa has more than 58,500 confirmed cases and 1,284 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University [Reuters] 18:20 GMT French 24-hour death toll under 30 for third day in a row France reported that the number of people who died from coronavirus infection over the past 24 hours increased by just 28 to 29,374, the third day the toll remained under 30 and the lowest three-day toll since lockdown started in mid-March. On Thursday and Wednesday the toll stood at 27 and 23, after averaging over 50 in the previous seven days and 91 in the 33 days since the end of lockdown on May 11. However, the ministry also reported that the number of new coronavirus infections rose by 726 or 0.5 percent to 156,287, the highest daily increase in eight days. France has a total of 158,641 coronavirus-related deaths [Reuters] 17:50 GMT Coronavirus hitting the Americas hardest: WHO The Americas are bearing the brunt of the global coronavirus pandemic at present, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, with North and South America currently having four of the 10 worst-hit countries in the world. The disease was highly active in Central and South America, the WHOs top emergency expert Mike Ryan said, highlighting problems in Brazil and Mexico. The current situation in Brazil, now one of the global hotspots for the virus, was of increasing concern especially in heavily-populated cities, he told a press conference. Brazil is the second worst hit country in the world, with some 800,000 cases and 41,000 deaths. Mexico, meanwhile, has nearly 130,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and more than 15,000 deaths, the WHO said. 16:50 GMT Breast milk has no links to spread of coronavirus: WHO Breastfeeding mothers do not seem to be passing on the new coronavirus to their infants, a World Health Organization (WHO) expert said on Friday. So far we have not been able to detect live virus in breast milk, Anshu Banerjee, a senior adviser for WHOs Department of Reproductive Health and Research, told a news conference. So the risk of transmission from mother to child so far has not been established, he said, adding that only fragments of the virus had been found in breast milk. 16:30 GMT Canada to mandate temperature checks for air passengers: PM Canada will take airline passengers temperatures before they fly and anyone with a fever will not be allowed to travel, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Temperature checks will not be detecting people with COVID-19, Trudeau said in a news conference. Its an extra layer of safety to encourage people who might feel sick to stay home and not put others at risk. The screening will be phased in, with those arriving in Canada being screened by the end of June, and then for those leaving the country as well as for domestic travellers at the countrys four big airports by the end of July. Trudeau: Temperature checks will not be detecting people with COVID-19 [File: Reuters] 16:00 GMT Daily Turkish coronavirus cases rise again above 1,000 The number of new coronavirus cases in Turkey rose above 1,000 in the last 24 hours for the first time since May 29, Health Ministry data showed, after the easing of travel restrictions and reopening of public facilities at the start of last week. The data showed 1,195 new cases were identified, up from a low of 786 last Tuesday, and 15 people died in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases rose to 175,218. Daily infections stood above 5,000 on April 11. 15:25 GMT Italys coronavirus death toll rises by 56 to 34,223 Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy climbed by 56 on Friday against 53 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, taking the total toll to 34,223. The official tally of new cases rose by just 163 against 379 on Thursday, but this was muddied by a recalculation of past data by the southern region of Campania, which subtracted previous cases and reported a total of -229 on Friday. The northern region of Lombardy, where the outbreak was first identified, remains by far the worst affected of Italys 20 regions, reporting 272 new infections. 15:55 GMT UK economy takes 25 percent hit from COVID-19 Britains economy shrank by a quarter over March and April as entire sectors were shuttered by the coronavirus lockdown in what looks likely to be the bottom of a catastrophic crash before a long and slow recovery. Dwarfing previous downturns, the economy contracted by 20.4 percent in April from March, when it shrank by nearly six percent. It was 24.5 percent smaller than in April 2019. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the figures were no surprise as Britains huge services sector was being hit particularly hard by social distancing measures, but he said recovery would follow. 15:30 GMT Spains Galicia to be first region to exit lockdown Spains northern region of Galicia will be the first to exit the countrys coronavirus lockdown from Monday, Health Minister Salvador Illa said, part of a gradual opening up that Spain hopes can save its summer tourism season. A state of emergency, declared country-wide in mid-March, will be effectively lifted in Galicia, while it remains in force in all the other 16 of Spains regions. The government will lift some restrictions in other regions, which have been following a four-phase plan to gradually exit from lockdown as the epidemic ebbs. 15:15 GMT Turkish medical association: Coronavirus lockdown eased too soon Turkeys top medical association criticised the decision to ease restrictions imposed to combat the spread of the coronavirus, saying moves were not backed by science and had come too soon, before the country had overcome the pandemics initial wave. Cavit Isik Yavuz, a member of the coronavirus research team at the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), said there was still no proof that the outbreak was under control, and warned the lifting of restrictions was resulting in more infections. Since June 1, Turkey has lifted weekend stay-at-home orders, ended curbs on intercity travel, resumed some international flights and reopened cafes, restaurants, parks, beaches and gyms. Nearly 4,800 people have died of COVID-19 so far in Turkey, according to official data, with the daily death toll falling in recent weeks to about 20. Nearly 4,800 people have died of COVID-19 so far in Turkey, according to data released by the government [Reuters] 15:00 GMT Norway shuns Sweden in lifting travel restrictions Norway will allow travel to and from Finland, Iceland and the Swedish island of Gotland from Monday, but will maintain travel restrictions on mainland Sweden due to its higher level of COVID-19 cases. Denmark, Finland and Norway have lifted some of the controls on leisure travel they imposed to slow the coronavirus pandemic, but they have kept most of those imposed on Sweden, the most populous of the Nordic countries. Leaving most of Sweden out of the arrangements breaks with long-standing close cooperation between the Nordic countries, and goes against the wishes of the European Commission, which wants to lift by Monday the internal borders in the Schengen travel area, which in normal times has no borders. 14:30 GMT Japan aims to launch coronavirus tracking app next week Japan aims to launch a smartphone app based on technology from Apple Inc and Alphabet Incs Google next week to help curb the spread of coronavirus by tracking close contact with those infected, the health ministry said. Smartphones with the app installed can detect each other via Bluetooth short-range wireless and log those who have come in close contact. If a phone user is found to be infected, people who spent more than 15 minutes within a radius of one metre of that individual sometime over the previous 14 days will be notified that they were in close contact with a coronavirus-infected person, and be prompted to seek medical consultation. Such a message will be sent only if the infected individual gives consent, and the person with a positive diagnosis will remain anonymous to the receivers of the notification. Japan has reported about 17,300 confirmed cases and 922 known deaths to date [Issei Kato/Reuters] Hello, this is Umut Uras in Doha taking over from my colleague Shereena Qazi. 12:40 GMT Quarantine rules are to protect public health: UK PMs spokesman UKs government brought in quarantine rules to protect public health, a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, declining to comment on legal action brought by British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair. I would emphasise that weve obviously brought these quarantine rules into place to protect public health and ensure we dont import the virus as cases in the community reduce, the spokesman told reporters, adding that the government does not comment on ongoing legal matters. Only four countries have recorded more coronavirus cases than the UK [Phil Noble TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY [Reuters] 12:25 GMT Asymptomatic COVID-19: Five things to know Since the first cluster of cases of the novel coronavirus was reported in China last December, scientists have been racing to get a better understanding of the highly contagious disease, COVID-19, and how to stop its spread. The coronavirus is transmitted from person to person through direct contact, droplets of saliva while coughing or discharge from the nose when sneezing. But there is ongoing scientific debate and research concerning the contagion passing on from asymptomatic carriers. What is asymptomatic? Find out here. 12:15 GMT Wife of Ukraine president tests positive for COVID-19 Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Friday she had tested positive for coronavirus but her husband and their two children had tested negative. Today I received a positive test for coronavirus. Unexpected news. Especially considering that I and my family continue to follow all the rules masks, gloves, a minimum of contacts, Zelenska wrote on Facebook. Olena Zelenska, left, said she felt well, was not hospitalised, but was isolated from her husband, right, and children [File: Getty Images] 12:05 GMT Pakistan hospitals struggle as coronavirus cases explode From our correspondent Asad Hashim in Islamabad, Pakistan Atiqullah did not know what else to do. He spent three days scouring the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar for a ventilator for his 60-year-old father, who had tested positive for the coronavirus and was in a critical condition. The doctors were trying their best but we couldnt find a bed in the Intensive Care Unit [ICU], he told Al Jazeera. For three days we were trying to get him shifted into an ICU because he was in such a serious condition. Ultimately, he found a bed in an isolation ward at the Lady Reading Hospital the citys largest government hospital but there was still no ventilator available. Read the full story here. 11:45 GMT EUs health chief warns COVID-19 health crisis not over yet The public health crisis caused by COVID-19 in Europe is not over yet, the European Unions top health official warned, urging governments to remain vigilant and plough ahead with testing and tracing the population. This is not behind us yet. We need to be vigilant, EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told EU health ministers in a videoconference, amid fears of a new surge in infections as EU states gradually reopen business and borders and after mass protests in recent days across the continent. France has a total of 158,641 coronavirus-related deaths [Reuters] 11:20 GMT Qatar records 1,517 new cases Qatars health ministry recorded 1,517 news cases, taking the total number of infections in the country to 76,588. One person died from the virus, bringing the total death toll to 70, according to the ministry. The Ministry of Public Health announces 1,517 confirmed new cases of coronavirus, and 1,965 recovered cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of recovered cases in Qatar to 53,296 cases, in addition to recording 1 new death. #QNA pic.twitter.com/bAuwERttnj Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) June 12, 2020 11:02 GMT Germany well placed to avoid second wave of COVID-19 infections: Minister Germany is well placed to avoid a second wave of coronavirus infections, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on Friday, warning that the absence of a vaccine meant social distancing as well as testing and tracing measures were necessary. We are living with the virus, which I describe as a new normal. And it will only change when we have new medical therapies and when we have a vaccine, Scholz said. As long as this is not the case, we have to organise our lives so as to avoid a second wave. He added that the chances were very, very large that Germany could avoid a second wave. Germany has reported 8,776 coronavirus deaths, much less than other European countries like the UK, France and Spain [Christof Stache/AFP] 10:40 GMT Coronavirus patients treated worse than animals: India court As deaths caused by the novel coronavirus disease continue to mount, Indias top court has expressed outrage over the way the patients are being handled by hospitals and authorities. India has overtaken Britain to became the fourth highest in the world with 297,535 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 8,498 deaths [Manish Swarup/AP] COVID-19 patients are [being] treated worse than animals, said the Supreme Court, as it issued notices to the federal and state governments on the deplorable condition, Indian media reports said on Friday. In one case, a body was found in the garbage, said the court. Patients are dying and nobody is there to even attend to them. Read more here. 10:30 GMT Philippines records more 600 new COVID-19 cases The Philippines on Friday reported 615 more coronavirus infections, bringing its total number of confirmed cases to 24,787. In a health ministry bulletin, the Southeast Asian country also recorded 16 additional fatalities related to the novel coronavirus, taking its death toll to 1,052. The Philippines has recorded more than 24,700 cases of coronavirus [Ezra Acayan/Getty] The health ministry said three duplicate cases were removed from the total number of infections reported as of June 11. 10:25 GMT Prosecutors to question Italys PM over coronavirus response Italys public prosecutors are set to question Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, along with Health Minister Roberto Speranza and Interior Minister Luciana Lamorghese, over the governments response to the coronavirus pandemic. Fridays interrogations aim to determine if there are grounds for any charges of criminal negligence[Reuters] Fridays interrogation comes weeks after the investigation was launched on April 8 by the prosecutors from Bergamo, the city in the northern Lombardy region worst hit by the virus that killed more than 34,000 people in the country. Read more here. 10:10 GMT Pegasus Airlines to resume international flights Turkeys low-cost Pegasus Airlines will resume international flights on Saturday, the company announced. Pegasus said in a statement that it will operate the first flight to Germany following the temporary suspension of flights as part of the restrictions to combat COVID-19. The low-cost carrier restarted its domestic flights on June 1 after halting flights on March 28 [Murad Sezer/Reuters] Pegasus will gradually restore flights between Turkey and several European destinations from June 15. The company will fly to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, England, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium in the first phase. 09:07 GMT Indonesia reports new COVID-19 cases, deaths Indonesia reported 1,111 new coronavirus infections and 48 new deaths, taking the total number of cases to 36,406 and fatalities to 2,048, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said. Yurianto said 577 more patients had recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 13,213. Indonesia has tested a total of 302,147 people as of Friday. 09:05 GMT Aid groups alarmed by little US coronavirus assistance More than two dozen international aid organisations have told the US government they are increasingly alarmed that little to no US humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. The letter obtained by The Associated Press and signed by groups including Save the Children, Mercy Corps, World Vision and others says that in spite of months of promising conversations with USAID field staff, few organisations have received an executed award for COVID-19 humanitarian assistance. It calls the delays devastating and says the window is closing for the US to help mitigate the worst impacts of the pandemic around the world. 08:45 GMT EU warns COVID-19 crisis not over yet The public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 epidemic in Europe is not over yet, the European Unions top health official warned, urging governments to remain vigilant and plough ahead with testing and tracing the population. This is not behind us yet. We need to be vigilant, EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told EU health ministers in a videoconference, amid fears of a new surge in infections as EU states gradually reopen business and borders and after mass protests in recent days across the continent. 08:25 GMT Air France accelerates resumption of summer flights Air France announced it was accelerating moves to resume flights over the summer holiday period. It said several routes would resume between Paris and the French regions, as well as inter-regional routes, particularly to and from Corsica. The number of services will also be increased to the French overseas departments and territories, as well as to Europe, mainly to Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal. 08:20 GMT India fourth worst-hit nation India has reported a total of 297,535 coronavirus infections, surpassing the United Kingdom to become the fourth worst-affected country in the world, behind only the United States, Brazil and Russia. The number of infections increased by 10,956 on Friday from the previous day, and the death toll reached 8,498, Indias ministry of health and family welfare said. Read more here 07:40 GMT Pakistani PM warns more deaths of coronavirus Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has warned citizens that the number of deaths from the coronavirus will continue to rise in the country, as the death toll hit a single-day record of 107 on Thursday. Addressing the nation, Khan continued to rule out imposing any widespread lockdown, as per the World Health Organizations advice, saying that instead there would be greater monitoring of social distancing and hygiene directives, with businesses that do not comply being shut down. Pakistan saw 6,397 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, taking its total tally to 125,933. 06:45 GMT Australian clot-busting drug holds hope for COVID-19 treatment An experimental drug developed by an Australian researcher could help prevent deaths from COVID-19 by controlling the formation of blood clots responsible for breathing difficulties, organ failure, stroke and heart attack. About three in four critical COVID-19 patients in ICUs develop clots with their recovery rate critically low, said Professor Shaun Jackson from the University of Sydney and the Heart Research Institute. Following successful phase-one trials in 72 healthy patients, the researchers now want to urgently move into phase two trials by testing the effectiveness and safety of the drug in critically ill COVID-19 patients. 05:57 GMT South Korea warns of tougher physical distancing measures South Korea will extend physical distancing guidelines until daily new infections drop to single digits, the health minister said, failing which he warned of a return to tougher measures. Park Neung-hoo urged residents of the Seoul metropolitan area to stay home as much as possible as new cases have persisted in the mid-double digits daily, with 56 new cases reported at the end of Thursday. Public facilities including nightlife spots, religious establishments, museums, and parks, will remain closed. Tougher social distancing rules will be considered if 50 daily infections persist for more than two weeks, depending on the number of new outbreak clusters, Park added. An ice carving robot for minimising human contact to avoid the spread of the coronavirus disease is seen during its demonstration at a bar in Seoul, South Korea, June 3, 2020 [Kim Hong-Ji/ Reuters] 05:31 GMT Electronics firm PCI to make Singapores virus-tracing device Singapore-based electronics maker PCI has won a bid to supply 300,000 dongles for a government project that could eventually see everyone in the city-state given the wearable device to help identify people who have interacted with COVID-19 carriers. The 6 million Singapore dollars ($4.3m) tender, equivalent to 20 Singapore dollars ($14.35) a unit for the Bluetooth-enabled TraceTogether Tokens, was awarded by Singapores Government Technology Agency to the firm on May 14, according to a government notice. The pilot project comes after an earlier smartphone-based contact tracing app had limited take-up as it did not work efficiently on some devices. Like the app, the token will use Bluetooth signals to record nearby devices but cannot capture location data and does not have internet or cellular connectivity, according to the government, which has pledged to protect user privacy. Essential workers queue to take a nasal swab test to detect the new coronavirus before returning to work in Singapore on June 10, 2020 [Roslan Rahman/ AFP] 05:10 GMT Maldives to ease lockdown, but no family visits allowed Health authorities in the Maldives say residents of the capital, Male, will be allowed to leave their homes without permits starting from June 15 as part of a phased easing of its two-month old lockdown. Domestic airports will open, and restaurants and cafes can resume takeaway and delivery services. The Health Protection Agency, however, is advising against visiting family members at their homes and is banning gatherings of more than three people in any public spaces. Masks are mandatory in public spaces, it added. The Indian Ocean island nation has reported eight deaths and 1,976 infections, of which the vast majority were in the congested capital. 04:27 GMT Morrison pushes for reopening of Australias internal borders Australias federal government stepped up pressure on state and territory leaders on Friday to reopen internal borders, a step viewed as key to reviving the countrys coronavirus-hit economy. Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the plea at a meeting of the national cabinet dealing with the crisis, Reuters news agency reported, citing two people with knowledge of the meeting. State borders should be open, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann told Sky News on Friday, adding that a second wave of infections could cost the economy A$80bn ($52bn) over the next two years. Tourism operators in North Queensland would like to be able to draw on tourists in New South Wales. 03:30 GMT Beijing reports first locally transmitted case in weeks China has reported seven new coronavirus cases, including the first instance of local transmission in Beijing in weeks. Authorities said the other six cases were all brought into the country by Chinese citizens arriving from abroad. No new deaths were reported. Officials in Beijing say the locally transmitted case involves a 52-year-old man who arrived alone at a clinic displaying an intermittent fever but no other symptoms. He was swiftly diagnosed as having COVID-19, prompting authorities to isolate family members and reinstate anti-virus measures in his neighbourhood. The man said he had not left Beijing for more than two weeks and had not been in contact with anyone from outside the city. A street vendor selling sweets waits for customers along a street in Beijing on June 11, 2020 [Noel Celis/ AFP] 02:46 GMT Double lung transplant saves young virus patient Surgeons in Chicago in the United States have given a new set of lungs to a young woman with severe lung damage from the coronavirus. Only a few other COVID-19 survivors, in China and Europe, have received lung transplants. The patient, who is in her 20s, was on a ventilator and heart-lung machine for almost two months before her operation at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The 10-hour procedure was challenging because the virus had left the patients lungs full of holes and almost fused to the chest wall, said Dr Ankit Bharat, who performed the operation. This important milestone indicates that, while the transplant procedure in these patients is quite challenging technically, it can be done safely, he said. And it offers the terminally ill COVID-19 patients another option for survival. For many days, she was the sickest person in the COVID ICU and possibly the entire hospital. A woman in her 20s is the first #COVID19 patient to receive a double-lung transplant @NorthwesternMed. Details from the press conference: https://t.co/sl7QkZuKvI. #COVIDLungTransplant pic.twitter.com/orka3YBhzj NM Media Relations (@NMHC_News) June 11, 2020 02:27 GMT Report says UK BAME groups must get targeted health advice An unpublished United Kingdom government report said that Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups in the UK should be given targeted health advice in the event of a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak, according to Sky News. Earlier this month, a Public Health England report revealed that Black and Asian people in the UK are up to 50 percent more likely to die after being infected with COVID-19. 01:26 GMT Famed Thai temple bars foreigners entry One of Thailands major tourist attractions is barring entry to foreigners, professing fear that they could spread the coronavirus. Signs seen Thursday morning at the main gate of Wat Pho, the Buddhist temple adjacent to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, said in English: Open for Thai only, ONLY THAI PEOPLE, and NOW NOT OPEN FOR FOREIGNERS. The temple is one of the countrys grandest, with murals and gold trim covering many surfaces, but is best known for housing the 46-metre-long (151-foot-long) Reclining Buddha, which is covered in gold leaf. One of Wat Phos administrative staff explained by phone that the temple committee decided to exclude foreigners because of concerns about COVID-19. However, there is no known government order to ban foreigners from the temple. In this March 13, 2020 photo, a tourist wearing a protective mask walks in front of the giant Buddha at Wat Pho temple in Bangkok, Thailand [Sakchai Lalit/ AP] 00:46 GMT Hundreds of suspected child virus deaths in Indonesia Hundreds of children in Indonesia are believed to have died from COVID-19, giving the Southeast Asian country one of the worlds highest rates of child deaths from the new coronavirus. Since Indonesia announced its first coronavirus case in March, it has recorded 2,000 deaths, the highest in East Asia outside of China. A total of 715 people under 18 had contracted the coronavirus, while 28 had died, according to a health ministry document dated May 22 and reviewed by Reuters news agency. Indonesia also recorded more than 380 deaths among 7,152 children classified as patients under monitoring, meaning people with severe coronavirus symptoms for which there is no other explanation but whose tests have not confirmed the infection. Even the official figure for children who have died of the coronavirus, at 28 as of May 22, would give Indonesia a high rate of child deaths, at 2.1 percent of its total. In comparison, deaths for those aged under 24 in the US are a little over 0.1 percent of that countrys fatalities. COVID-19 proves that we have to fight against malnutrition, Achmad Yurianto, a senior health ministry official, told Reuters. He said Indonesian children were caught in a devils circle, a cycle of malnutrition and anaemia that increased their vulnerability to the coronavirus. He compared malnourished children to weak structures that crumble after an earthquake. 00:17 GMT Puerto Rico to reopen beaches, gyms Wanda Vazquez, the governor of Puerto Rico, announced that she will lift nearly all restrictions aimed at curbing coronavirus cases, which means beaches, churches and businesses including cinemas and gyms across the US territory will reopen after three months. The changes will occur starting on June 16, Vazquez said, when businesses also will be allowed to operate seven days a week and restaurants at 50 percent capacity. However, she tweaked an ongoing curfew that will remain in place for two weeks from 10pm to 5am. Vazquez also said Puerto Rico will be officially ready to welcome tourists starting from July 15 and that airport screenings will continue. 00:07 GMT Number of extreme poor could rise to 1.1 billion The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could plunge an extra 395 million people into extreme poverty and increase the total number of those living on less than $1.90 a day worldwide to more than one billion, according to a new report. The document published by the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) played through a number of scenarios, taking into account the World Banks various poverty lines from extreme poverty, defined as living on $1.90 a day or less, to higher poverty lines of living on less than $5.50 a day. Under the worst scenario a 20 percent contraction in per capita income or consumption the number of those living in extreme poverty could rise to 1.12 billion. The same contraction, applied to the $5.50 threshold among upper-middle-income countries, could see more than 3.7 billion people or just over half the worlds population live below this poverty line. The outlook for the worlds poorest looks grim unless governments do more and do it quickly and make up the daily loss of income the poor face, said Andy Sumner, one of the reports authors. The result, he said, is progress on poverty reduction could be set back 20 to 30 years, making the UN goal of ending poverty look like a pipe dream. Hello and welcome to Al Jazeeras continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Im Zaheena Rasheed in Male, Maldives. You can find all the updates from yesterday, June 11, here. A woman has been jailed for racially abusing a member of the public and coughing in the faces of two police officers while claiming to have Covid-19. Carol Cowan, 52, was arrested on June 8 after police were flagged down in Westow Street in Croydon by a member of the public who said she had been subjected to verbal racial abuse and spat at by Cowan. The officers located Cowan and arrested her. When she was inside the police car, she told the officers she had Covid-19 and began to cough in their faces. Cowan, of Church Road in Crystal Palace, pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates' Court on June 9 to racially aggravated assault and assaulting two emergency workers. She was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison for the racially aggravated assault and 26 weeks for assaulting the police officers, which will run concurrently. Cowan was also ordered to pay 100 to the three victims. Inspector Duncan Anderson, of Croydon police, said: "Spitting or coughing in the face at anyone is disgusting and unacceptable behaviour at any time, but given the concerns around Covid-19 that we all currently face, it is appalling." As new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to trend downward in New York, the state has slowly begun the process of reopening and jumpstarting its stalled economy. But with the pandemic far from over and local governments facing massive budget shortfalls, the road to recovery will be a long one. Rep. Tom Suozzi the only member of Congress representing New York City on the federal Task Force on Reopening the Economy spoke about what he and his colleagues are doing to try to help ease the pain and aid in reopening during a June 9 webinar with City & State. His responses have been edited for length and clarity. Whats going on at the federal level with reopening, and what are you seeing in your own district? I think that there's a tremendous amount of anxiety that remains. Some people are anxious about reopening, they're anxious about the impact on coronavirus spread from the protests that we've all been a part of. And other people are anxious to reopen. (There are) two different emotions that are driving people right now. We've been through so much. Imagine how bad it was six weeks ago. So from a federal perspective, my number one priority is we have to get money in New York. We first handed out money for hospitals. There's a $100 billion fund, $30 billion went out from the Health and Human Services Department. And more money went to hospitals in Texas, which at the time had 2.5% of the cases, than went to New York, which at the time had over 35% of the cases. So we said, That doesn't make any sense. What the heck's going on here? Now we have a special fund to try and get money in the HEROES Act the Democrats passed to states based upon the rate of infection. I got every Democrat and every Republican in New York and New Jersey, and then we built coalitions throughout the country with other states that are hard hit, to say that this special fund we got up to $49 billion will go to those states that were hardest hit. Of that $49 billion, New York will get about $10 billion of that money alone. That, combined with the other money, will bring in about $20 billion to New York state if we get this deal done. What is the mood in Washington, given the news that we are officially in a recession, and getting a deal done on the next relief bill? Its the height of hypocrisy (for U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell) to suggest were getting bailed out. New York is the epicenter of the coronavirus crsis. I represent three of the six hardest hit counties in the United States. We need to make up not only for the money we've spent, but for the lost revenues that we've been hit with so hard, because of the shutdown of the economy. And this is what the federal government's role is. If the federal government can make one mistake right now, it's not spending enough. Now, we really have to help the states and the local governments that have all the frontline workers that have been suffering throughout this process doing the essential work that we have. Republicans are saying, We dont want to defund police, we dont want to defund police. Well, youre defunding police if youre not giving money to New York state and to our state and local governments around the country. So I think theres going to be a lot of pressure. Theyre going to play games and theyre going to do what they typically do, and therell be some horse trading, but this is what we are here for. Is there any planning now that there might be a spike in new cases in the aftermath of massive protests against police brutality? We really need to look at people who are asymptomatic, but have been exposed to the coronavirus. Thats so important. Those folks are the biggest spreaders of all. So we have to test people who are asymptomatic, especially if theyve been exposed to someone with the coronavirus. The federal government has failed. The federal government should be and Ive proposed this to the administration, theyre not listening we should be doing a million tests a day, and they should be purchased by the federal government. That would cost $30 billion, which sounds like a big number, but it would give people the confidence that it would be safe for them to go back because we have the data. What can we do to help minority communities that have disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and its economic impacts in terms of reopening? One of the really important things that had happened was that Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, who's the chairwoman of the Small Business Committee in Congress, fought, along with many of us, to make sure that the second round of the PPP loans the Payroll Protection Program loans actually, a big piece of it was given to minority-owned banks. A big piece was given to community banks, a big piece was given to credit unions, so that not only could we try to drive more of these loans to smaller small businesses, but minority- and women-owned businesses as well. And whether it's testing related to the HEROES Act, whether it's money to state local governments, I think that it's essential going forward that we start thinking about what's the impact going to be persons of color. Police in Bordeaux stand behind handcuffs and arm bands they threw on the ground, on June 12, 2020. NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images Police across France threw away their handcuffs on Thursday and Friday to protest a new ban on chokeholds and neck restraint. In Rennes, police locked their cuffs to the fence outside the prefecture. On Monday, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner announced the chokehold will no longer be taught in police and gendarmerie schools. "It is a method that has its dangers," he told AFP. Castaner "doesn't even know what he's talking about." Police union leader Jean-Paul Megret said. "Every day, you're dealing with people who are completely insane." Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Protesting new restrictions on the use of force, police across France threw away their handcuffs in public demonstrations on Thursday and Friday. In the Paris suburb of Bobigny, officers stood in line to throw down their cuffs one at a time, the BBC reported, Similar demonstrations were held in Lille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and other cities. In Rennes, police locked their cuffs to the fence outside the prefecture. On Friday a convoy of squad cars drove down the Champs-Elysees sounding their horns. The actions came after Interior Minister Christophe Castaner announced on Monday a ban on chokeholds and neck restraints, after a weekend of anti-police protests where participants invoked George Floyd and Adama Traore, a Mali-French 24-year-old who was killed in police custody in 2016. Handcuffs on the ground in Bordeaux during a protest called by police unions. NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP Traore's parents were told he died of a heart attack and had alcohol and cannabis in his system, but an official autopsy determined he had no drugs in his system and the cause of death was asphyxiation. A firefighter on the scene testified that Traore was placed face-down in handcuffs and told police that he could not breathe, but that officers believed he was faking. Story continues Advocates say Traore's last words were "I can't breathe." In January, Cedric Chouviat, a 42-year-old delivery driver, died after being held on the ground during a police check near the Eiffel Tower. Authorities said they stopped Chouviat because he had been looking at his phone suspiciously while riding his scooter, the Guardian reported. A lawyer for Chouviat's family said the father of four was held face down with force for three minutes. In his autopsy coroners found signs of asphyxiation and a fractured larynx. Chouviat's attorney said his death was the result of a "culture of impunity and denial that encourages police and absolves them of responsibility." Protest against the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, in Paris Reuters On Monday, Castaner said the chokehold will no longer be taught in police and gendarmerie schools. "It is a method that has its dangers," he said, according to the BBC. But police union representative Xavier Leveau told AFP that head and neck restraint was a vital part of the handcuffing process. "We're not going to hold a man down for eight minutes. We're going to hold him down just for the handcuffing," Leveau said. "We don't have a substitute technique. So how do we do it today?" Castaner continues to negotiate with police unions on the parameters around their use of force. The government is also investigating allegations of racism in law enforcement, based on comments made in police-only Facebook and WhatsApp groups. Police union leader Jean-Paul Megret had harsh words for Castaner. "He doesn't even know what he's talking about," he said. "Sometimes you can't just ask people to follow you to be arrested. Every day, you're dealing with people who are completely insane." Another Black Lives Matter protest is scheduled for Saturday in Paris. Read the original article on Insider While Gov. Mike DeWine is to be commended for the way he has been guiding our state through the coronavirus pandemic, his decision to make inequitable cuts in the budget for public schools is disheartening. Under budget reductions requested by the governor, there would be no cuts in funding going to parochial or private schools. Charter schools would receive an average cut in state funding of 1.03%. However, public schools, which educate the vast majority of our students (particularly students of color and from disadvantaged communities), would receive a cut of 3.72%. This amounts to another roadblock placed in the way of these students to enjoying the so-called American Dream. It is shameful, and I urge the legislature to increase -- not cut -- public school funding. James Ciocia, Twinsburg NEW YORK, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- American Jewish Committee (AJC) honored Dr.Felix Klein, the Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Antisemitism, with the inaugural AJC Project Interchange Alumnus of the Year Award. Klein visited Israel with AJC Project Interchange in 2016, as a member of an official German delegation. "Felix Klein's profound appreciation for the threat that antisemitism poses to German society underscores why he was the right choice to fill this critically important and necessary post," said AJC CEO David Harris, who presented the award to Klein today. "His experience with AJC Project Interchange deepened an understanding of Israel, and the very thin line separating haters of Israel and traditional antisemites." The award was presented ahead of the AJC Virtual Global Forum, which will begin on Sunday. The five-day, signature annual event was originally scheduled to take place in Berlin for the first time in AJC history, but the coronavirus pandemic led to the shift to an online conference. Dr. Felix Klein said after receiving the AJC Project Interchange award, "I feel deeply honored and grateful being the inaugural recipient of the Project Interchange Alumnus of the Year Award. This Award is particularly meaningful to me because it reflects the importance of global cooperation and the power of dialogue that leads to greater understanding. I am a great believer in giving people opportunities to meet and share experiences in all sorts of contexts. Everyone who has been to Israel, who has experienced the country, comes back a different person and speaks differently about Israel. Everyone who has ever been to a synagogue, who has gotten to know a Jewish community and has taken part in a Jewish religious ceremony has a different picture." Klein has credited AJC Berlin for its advocacy in the German Parliament that led to the creation in May 2018 of the government office he heads. "Felix Klein exemplifies a deep commitment to strengthening relationships with the Jewish community and Israel that AJC Project Interchange has been initiating and nurturing through hosting delegations in Israel for 38 years," said Nisha Abkarian, AJC Project Interchange Director. "We are delighted Dr. Klein is the inaugural recipient of the Project Interchange Alumnus of the Year award in recognition of his contributions to fighting antisemitism and strengthening bilateral relations with Israel." About AJC Project Interchange: For over 35 years, AJC Project Interchange (American Jewish Committee) has brought 6,000 influential figures to Israel from 120 countries and all 50 U.S. states, offering broad exposure and first-hand understanding of the complex issues facing Israel and the region. www.projectinterchange.org SOURCE American Jewish Committee Related Links http://www.ajc.org OTTAWA - A Supreme Court of Canada decision delivered Friday is "good news" for minority-language communities across the country who feel shortchanged on services, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/6/2020 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Clouds pass by the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa, Friday June 12, 2020. The court is set to release a ruling on francophone education issues.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - A Supreme Court of Canada decision delivered Friday is "good news" for minority-language communities across the country who feel shortchanged on services, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. The high court sided with British Columbia's francophone school board, at least in part, in a dispute over French-language education in the province, saying lower courts interpreted constitutional protections too narrowly. "We now hope that the provincial governments will step up further in areas that are their exclusive jurisdictions, like education and certain services for minority-language communities," Trudeau said Friday at his daily media briefing. One legal analyst said the ruling broke new ground on liability that could open the door to compensation when government policies violate other charter rights. The court case began a decade ago when the board, Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique, and the parents of students alleged the province had breached a Charter of Rights and Freedoms provision guaranteeing minority-language education. They sought orders requiring the province to change how it funds French-language education, fix problems with inadequate facilities in a number of communities and offer compensation for its failure to provide proper funding. After a long trial, the school board and parents won a partial victory, including an award for charter damages arising from unpaid student transportation costs. However, they appealed the ruling on various points, primarily the conclusion they were not entitled to millions of dollars in educational capital projects they had requested. The B.C. Court of Appeal dismissed the challenge and allowed the province's cross-appeal, saying the trial judge should not have awarded the transportation costs given the traditional principle of government immunity. In writing for a majority of the court, Chief Justice Richard Wagner said the courts below had "adopted an inordinately narrow interpretation" of section 23 of the charter, which enshrines the right of citizens from English and French linguistic minorities to have their children taught in their language when the numbers warrant. The decision clarifies the series of steps to be followed in determining the practical effects of the constitutional protections. In applying these principles to the B.C. case, the high court said the board and the parents were entitled to eight French-language schools in various communities the lower courts had denied them. The court said the children who have the right to attend the board's schools or participate in its programs are entitled to an educational experience "that is substantively equivalent" to the experience at nearby majority-language schools. In addition, it restored the trial judge's order concerning school transportation, awarding $6 million in charter damages to the board to make up for 10 years of inadequate bus funding. It also approved another $1.1 million in damages to compensate for grant monies denied to the board. In adopting section 23, the architects of the charter aimed to ensure that vulnerable minority groups were endowed with the institutions and rights necessary to maintain and promote their identities, Wagner wrote. "By doing so, they definitively closed the door on language policies that would prevent instruction in the language of a minority, and chose an approach that favoured the promotion and development of minority language communities across the country." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The section is intended not only to prevent the erosion of official language communities, but also to redress past injustices and promote the development of those communities, meaning the courts "have a crucial role to play," he added. "Many rights that have been granted to Canada's minorities were dearly won over many years, and it is up to the courts to give full effect to them, and to do so clearly and transparently." The Supreme Court deemed the B.C. government's freeze on school transportation funding to be a policy that violated the charter minority-language guarantee, noted Errol Mendes, a law professor at the University of Ottawa. "If the court is now inviting charter actions that claim certain government policies are violating other charter rights, this could open the gates to some significant possible liabilities," he said. Examples could include federal policies on child welfare funding on Indigenous reserves, or provincial policies concerning similar caps on special education and autism programs, or "the appalling situation" now seen in long-term health-care facilities, he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2020. As it starts to call some of its 11,000 employees across the country including about 3,300 in Winnipeg Canada Life (formerly Great-West Life) is giving them all an extra-long Canada Day weekend. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/6/2020 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. As it starts to call some of its 11,000 employees across the country including about 3,300 in Winnipeg Canada Life (formerly Great-West Life) is giving them all an extra-long Canada Day weekend. The Winnipeg-based insurance company is awarding its entire workforce two paid days off on July 2 and 3. "Its just one way we can thank our employees and help ensure their own mental health is a priority as they continue to support the financial, physical and mental well-being of Canadians," said Jeff Macoun, Canada Lifes president and chief operating officer. More than 95 per cent of the companys workforce has been working from home during the current coronavirus lockdown. After the Canada Day long weekend, people will start returning so that by the end of October, about 25 per cent of employees will potentially be back in the office. A NSW court has ruled that land surrounding a coal mine owned by resources giant Glencore cannot be classified as farmland in a landmark decision that could expose miners to millions of dollars in higher rates and taxes. The Land and Environment Court ruled on Friday that Glencore failed to overturn a decision by Muswellbrook Shire Council in the Upper Hunter to re-classify two land holdings of about 7300 hectares of its Mangoola Coal Mine. The mine pit is separate from this land. Glencore miners at one of the firm's Upper Hunter mines. Farming attracts lower rates and land tax than other uses such as business or mining. Many mining companies operate agricultural companies, such as Glencore. Justice Tim Moore dismissed Glencore's argument in a judgment released in detail on Friday, saying the "dominant use" for both parcels of land was for the company's coal mine. The Metro driver worked out of the bus yard across the street from Union Station. (Los Angeles Times) A Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus driver has died of complications from COVID-19, Los Angeles County officials said Friday. The driver, whose name has not been released, died Thursday, union officials said. He last worked in mid-May, driving a route out of Division 13, the bus yard across the street from Union Station. He worked for Metro for 23 years, said John M. Ellis, the general chairman of the bus driver's union, SMART-TD GO-875. "Many of you knew him," Ellis wrote in a letter to the thousands of drivers represented by the union. "We share the sadness felt by those who worked with him. His presence will be sorely missed." The driver is the first Metro employee to die of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. A security guard who was a contractor for Metro died April 13. "This is a heartbreaking day for all Metro employees as we continue to face this grave public health threat," said Metro Chief Executive Phil Washington in a prepared statement. The death toll for transit workers across the U.S. has reached almost 200, including nearly 130 deaths in New York. Dozens of those workers drove buses, New York transit officials said. Locally, a bus driver died in Santa Clarita in April. Metro has 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among employees, contractors and vendors. Of those cases, more than two dozen are bus drivers, according to the most recent data available. The fear of contracting the disease has dogged bus drivers, who are spending hours per day in an enclosed space with strangers, wondering whether this will be the day they get sick. During the first two months of the pandemic, drivers said they feared for their health because many riders were not wearing masks and bus yards faced periodic shortages of masks, hand sanitizer and other protective gear. After an outcry from drivers and a push from elected officials, Metro made masks mandatory for all riders on May 11. Officials had resisted the rule until then, saying they could face civil rights issues if the rule were enforced against someone with a disability or who had difficulty breathing. More than 90% of riders are now wearing masks, officials say. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Partly cloudy and very cold. Near or below zero wind chills again late at night towards sunrise. . Tonight Partly cloudy and very cold. Near or below zero wind chills again late at night towards sunrise. President Donald Trump has said that an executive order that will "encourage" police departments to meet the "current professional standards for the use of force" is being finalised as pressure mounts for changes to law enforcement practices after nationwide protests over the brutal killing of African-American George Floyd while in police custody. Floyd, 46, died in Minneapolis on May 25 when a white police officer pinned him to the ground and knelt on his neck while he gasped for breath. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Amber Elliot, 30 Aberdeen Township, N.J. Living with her boyfriend and their two cats. Before this, we rarely raised our voices and were both quick to apologize. It seems our good communication has broken down. Usually we are both noncombative, but when you have to face a harsh reality every day, its hard to ignore or make excuses. He always said a major reason for the distance in our relationship was that I worked too much. But now that we have all of this time together, its been detrimental to our relationship. There have been a few bright spots. I was having a bad day and he knew I had been craving a McFlurry, so he went out and got one for me with extra M&Ms. It reminds me to keep the compassion alive. But when our lease is up, we will not be living together anymore, and I will be moving across the country. This time has been revealing not only for my relationship but for the whole structure and meaning of my life. When I hit what seems to be my bottom, I just keep going On Sept. 23, 1903, a reporter from the New York Sun arrived at the small farming village of Greendale in eastern New York State. He was there to talk about the communitys most infamous residents, Willis, Burton and Frederick Van Wormer, three brothers, between the ages of 20 and 26, who were currently locked up in the Clinton State Prison in faraway Dannemora convicted of murder. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 10:06:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping suggested Thursday that China and the Philippines devise innovative approaches and methods while conducting COVID-19 control on an ongoing basis in order to gradually resume exchanges of necessary personnel and promote practical cooperation in various areas in a coordinated way. Such efforts will help the two countries promote their respective social and economic development for the benefit of their people, Xi added in a telephone conversation in the night with his Philippine counterpart, Rodrigo Duterte. Xi stressed that, since the outbreak of COVID-19, the governments and peoples of China and the Philippines have extended helping hands to each other and fought the epidemic together, interpreting the brotherhood of looking out for each other and mutual assistance. Xi said that he is delighted to see that the Philippines, under the leadership of Duterte, has taken vigorous measures to prevent and control the epidemic and achieved positive results. People wearing face masks observe social distancing as they ride a train on the first day when the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were further eased in Manila, the Philippines, on June 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) Xi said he believes that the Philippine people will surely be able to carry forward the spirit of unity and cooperation to successfully overcome the epidemic and resume production and life order as soon as possible. China is willing to continuously provide staunch support to the Philippines according to its need, he said. Under the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, China provides funds, experiences and confidence to global prevention and control of the epidemic and extends helping hands to countries in need, Xi said. China is willing to work closely with the Philippines to support the international solidarity in the fight against the epidemic, support the World Health Organization to better play a leading role, and jointly build a health community with a shared future for mankind, Xi noted. Xi stressed that the epidemic is a crisis, but the two countries should have the courage to seize new opportunities in the crisis and make new prospects amid changes. Members of the Chinese Anti-Epidemic Medical Expert Team wave goodbye as they leave Manila for China at the Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Paranaque City, the Philippines, on April 19, 2020. The 12-member team of Chinese experts arrived in Manila on April 5 to share firsthand experiences and best practices with Philippine health officials on how to properly manage the COVID-19 epidemic. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) Xi said he believes that in the process of fighting the epidemic and resuming development, the traditional friendship and mutual trust between China and the Philippines will deepen over time, and the two countries' relationship of comprehensive strategic cooperation will usher in a broader development prospect. Upholding friendship between China and the Philippines fully conforms to the fundamental and long-term interests of the two peoples, and history will surely prove that, Xi said. Duterte said that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, which is an important milestone in the relations between the two countries. Members of the Chinese medical expert team visit a converted COVID-19 quarantine facility at the Philippine International Conference Center in Manila, the Philippines, April 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Yuan Mengchen) Under Xi's strong leadership, he said, China has not only successfully controlled the epidemic itself, but also generously extended a helping hand to the Philippines and other partners. In particular, President Xi announced that China's COVID-19 vaccine, after research and development and being put into use, will be made a global public good, which will benefit all mankind, he added. The Philippine side will always be a friend of the Chinese people and will not allow anyone to use the Philippines to engage in anti-China activities, said Duterte. The Philippine side has made great efforts to continuously deepen the friendship between the two peoples and hopes to expand exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields and promote resumption of work and production as soon as possible, he said, adding that the Philippines will continue strengthening cooperation with the Chinese side and the World Health Organization. According to a memorandum signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the protection of decision making by the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) from conflict of interest is foreseen, the NHSU has said. "The memorandum says: to ensure that NHSU purchases deliver best value for the patients, the NHSU decision making will be transparently protected from conflict of interest, in particular by excluding participation of service providers in its governance structures," the NHSU said in a press release. The NHSU also recalled that according to the document, the transformation of the health care system in Ukraine will continue in 2020 via expanding the new strategic purchases of healthcare services to emergency, intensive and specialized care and the NHSU will closely monitor service delivery and financial performance of providers. Health care providers' gradual transformation into municipally owned non-profit legal entities will continue and their financing will be based on performance contracts concluded with the NHSU. Four years ago, NYPD officers slammed Assemblyman Michael Blake into a gate after he ran up to another arrest that was in progress near the Morris Houses in the South Bronx. The Bronx Democrat said he was then unlawfully detained until on the street, until a higher-up realized they were dealing with an Assembly member. Blake, who is black, sued the NYPD for physical and emotional damages, and got $25,000 in a 2017 settlement. Now, Blake is running for Congress in the South Bronx, in an election thats happening amid nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism. Blake told City & State that the incident with the police has shaped his politics as hes worked for racial justice as a legislator. It has also given him credibility as a candidate. I had a constituent walk up on me last week who said I still remember what happened to you years ago over at Morris Houses, he said. Protesters across New York are demanding immediate legislative changes on police accountability. Among other laws, state legislators have voted to repeal Civil Rights Law Section 50-a, which protected police disciplinary records, and the New York City Council is expected to make it a crime to use a chokehold during an arrest. But these protests are also affecting state legislative and congressional Democratic primaries as candidates point to their records on anti-racism and police reform to win over voters and in some cases, criticize their opponents for being too friendly with the cops. The Democratic primaries are on June 23, but in-person early voting starts on June 13, and many voters are already filling out mail-in ballots while daily vigils and protest marches continue. What was going to be the coronavirus primary is now the coronavirus andpolice violence primary. So Blake didnt shy away from a direct attack in a Tuesday evening congressional debate hosted by News 12 The Bronx. We have to be honest, Blake said during an answer about how hed respond to the protests. There are people in this race, in particular Ritchie Torres, who have been very inconsistent when it comes to the black community. Blake gave his evidence: Torres co-endorsed a white candidate, Zephyr Teachout, for state attorney general in 2018 after initially backing Letitia James, a black woman who was then New York City public advocate.He allowed some concessions on a 2017 police transparency bill known as the Right to Know Act, which enraged some criminal justice reform groups. Torres harshly criticized then-NYCHA Chairwoman Shola Olatoye, a black woman, but not NYCHA general manager Vito Mustaciuolo, a white man. And, maybe most damning in the moment, Blake accused Torres of sending out a mailer that referenced the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of the police, but not standing out with the protests that were happening this weekend. Torres initially ignored the salvo, but when Blake pressed him to respond, Torres delivered a litany of unrelated criticisms at Blake, including that the assemblyman once consulted for the debt collector Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, a company that preys upon communities of color, including mothers who have lost their children to police violence, Torres said. So I dont need to be lectured by Michael. A May poll conducted by the left-leaning Data for Progress put Torres in second place in the race, at 20%, trailing only New York City Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr., with 22% of likely voters. Blake was tied for third, at 6%, although the poll had a margin of error of 5.7%. Torres sent a lengthy statement to City & State, which included the assertion, What matters to Michael Blake are not black and brown lives, which take a back seat to his bank account. Torres also said that he has attended protests, and was present at a June 4 march in the South Bronx that resulted in mass arrests. There is a new look at people whove held office, whove held authority and may not have done enough to move the needle in terms of holding police accountable. Basil Smikle, former state Democratic Party executive director The fact that Blake, who is black and the son of Jamaican immigrants, felt comfortable attacking Torres, who is Afro-Latino of Puerto Rican descent, for disrespecting the black community, and that Torres chose to hit back along the same lines says something about the political moment, and about the race. Racial justice was already a major focus in the race to replace the retiring Rep. Jose Serrano in the 15th Congressional District. One candidate, Chivona Newsome, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, says shes been at the forefront of the new civil rights movement. Like Blake, Torres has talked on the virtual campaign trail about being harassed by the police and feeling targeted for the color of his skin. Samelys Lopez, who earned the endorsement of progressive groups such as the Working Families Party, has called for police departments around the country to be defunded and demilitarized. One candidate doesnt seem to be aligning himself with the protesters: Diaz, who is a socially conservative Pentecostal minister. Diaz was endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association, the largest NYPD union, before widespread protests began. The PBA has long been opposed to the very police accountability reforms which are now becoming law, and Diaz has not co-sponsored the council bill that would criminalize police chokeholds. While most of his fellow candidates have been outspoken in support of the protests, Diazs Twitter feed has been all but silent. To accept that (PBA) endorsement, youre pretty much saying you dont care about black and Latino people who are afraid that they could die at the hands of cops, Blake said of Diaz, who is black and Latino. Diaz did not respond to a request for comment. The reverend is considered a top contender for the seat, but experts think the PBAs support could actually hurt his chances. A lot of voters are going to look at him and see him as being too aligned with interests that dont match the moment, said Basil Smikle, a lecturer at Columbia University and former executive director of the state Democratic Party. Diaz isnt likely to disavow the support, but many other candidates in Democratic primaries across the state already have. Law enforcement unions have long been a boogeyman for New Yorks progressive left, but that didnt stop many Democrats from taking their campaign donations. Now, more than a dozen legislators running for re-election are bolstering their criminal justice reform credentials by returning the money, and donating an equivalent amount to reform groups or bail funds. That includes Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, who is facing Democratic Socialists of America-backed challenger Zohran Mamdani in western Queens, and Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry, who is running for re-election against former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate, an ex-cop who was previously convicted on corruption charges. The recent protests explain the newfound scrutiny of law enforcement union support, but much of the naming-and-shaming was the work of Aaron Narraph Fernando, a Queens-based college student and activist, who compiled a massive spreadsheet of New York law enforcement donations this election cycle. Taking money from law enforcement might keep lawmakers from changing the criminal justice system, Fernando told The Appeal. How can we trust you to pass [reform] legislation if youre taking this money? In response to public pressure from New Yorkers hitting the pavement and lawmakers inboxes the state Legislature is passing long-delayed bills meant to stop police brutality and increase accountability. For some politicians, the timing couldnt be more fortuitous. Take Assemblyman Joe Lentol, the lead sponsor of the Police STAT Act, which requires police departments to report more data on things like deaths in police custody. Though it was introduced more than four years ago, it just passed the Assembly and state Senate this week. Lentol, who is facing a tough re-election battle in North Brooklyn against Emily Gallagher, was happy to take credit for the major win while also putting out a digital ad highlighting Gallaghers 2016 comments in support of increasing police patrols. Gallagher hit back noting that the PBA has always endorsed Lentol. But that too has changed since the protests began. After Lentol responded to the political moment and returned his donations from police unions this cycle, the PBA officially rescinded its endorsement of the Brooklyn Democrat. In the Central Brooklyn Assembly race between Assemblywoman Diana Richardson and former state Sen. Jesse Hamilton, 911 calls making false claims against people of color have become a major issue. Before Hamilton lost his 2018 re-election bid over his membership in the controversial Independent Democratic Conference, the then-senator had introduced a bill that would make certain false emergency reports a hate crime. It never passed. But Richardson was the lead sponsor of a similar bill that did pass on Tuesday, increasing legal protections for the targets of racist emergency calls. Richardson, who was recently pepper-sprayed at a recent protest against police brutality, got the legislative win Hamilton couldnt, and she is letting voters know. So Hamilton is pushing back, planning a Friday rally in favor of his bill, while asking New Yorkers to sign a petition decrying Richardsons watered-down bill. In another Brooklyn primary, Assemblyman Walter Mosley can take credit for being the lead sponsor of a just-passed bill criminalizing police chokeholds that cause injury or death. Mosley is facing a serious challenge from Phara Souffrant-Forrest, who has the support of the DSA, but Mosleys campaign was able to send out an email this week pointing to a specific legislative win on a hot topic the very week that some of his constituents are filling out ballots. Mosley told City & State that despite what some may think, the bill wasnt a knee-jerk reaction to the recent protests. In fact, he introduced the bill in 2015. But getting his bill passed during this time will validate who I am, in terms of my ability to reflect my districts desires and wants and needs. It isnt clear whether most voters will feel the same way. Elected officials who have a progressive record on criminal justice reform should be able to point to it and win over voters, Smikle said. But, overall, the recent protests would seem to benefit younger candidates and insurgents. There is a new look at people whove held office, whove held authority and may not have done enough to move the needle in terms of holding police accountable, he said. Of course, this years primaries are harder to predict than usual, given the high level of absentee voting expected, and the way the coronavirus put a total halt on most traditional forms of campaigning. But savvy candidates insurgents and incumbents alike have been able to benefit as New Yorkers turn to social media more than ever. The protests arent just affecting the races happening this month. According to Smikle, the candidate who has responded best to the moment wont be on the ballot until next year: New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. I think the last few weeks have launched him into the top tier of mayoral candidates for 2021, should he decide to go that route, Smikle said of Williams, who has previously pledged not to run for mayor. Hes probably shown the most leadership on this issue of anyone in the city and the state. Clarification: Lentol returned his donations from police unions this cycle. First Lady Melania Trump renegotiated a prenup with President Donald Trump after he was elected in 2016, according to a new book by Washington Post reporter Mary Jordan. The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists book The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump says Melania stayed at Trump Tower in New York for months after her husbands inauguration as leverage to force a better prenuptial agreement. At the time, she claimed she was staying in NYC because she didnt want to interrupt their son Barron Trumps school year. The first ladys extended stay in New York cost taxpayers $150,000 a day, according to NYPD, due to Secret Service protection. She and Barron moved into the White House in mid-June at an estimated cost totaling more than $22 million. Jordan said that Melania deemed it necessary to amend her financial arrangement with Trump what Melania referred to as taking care of Barron. NBC reports the new terms included ensuring a proper inheritance for Barron and dual citizenship for him in the U.S. and her home country of Slovenia so he could work for the Trump Organization in Europe. She wanted proof in writing that when it came to financial opportunities and inheritance, Barron would be treated as more of an equal to Trumps oldest three children, Jordan wrote, referring to Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump. Its unclear how much money, if any, Melania Trump would be personally entitled to if the couple were to divorce. Melania is President Trumps third wife; the former real estate mogul and Apprentice host was previously married to Ivana Trump and Marla Maples before marrying Melania in 2005. President Donald Trump has been accused of affairs with porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal while married to Melania, and he was also caught on video bragging about grabbing womens genitals and kissing them without consent. The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me, she said after the 2005 tape with Billy Bush leaked in 2016. This does not represent the man that I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world. The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump, featuring more than 100 interviews, is scheduled to be released on June 16. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The U.S. ambassador to Iran mistakenly told the shah in 1953 that Britains newly enthroned Queen Elizabeth II backed a plan to overthrow the countrys elected prime minister and America maintained the fiction even after realizing the error, historians now say. The revelation, based on U.S. diplomatic cables cited by the historians, shows how America has struggled even to this day to offer a full, unvarnished account of its actions in the coup that cemented Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavis power and lit the fuse for Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution. Theres an acceptance that youre never going to have the whole story, said Richard Aldrich, a professor at the University of Warwick whose research on the cables will be featured in a Channel 4 documentary in Britain on Sunday. Youre on a journey to try and achieve a better history but youre never going to have the complete story. The 1953 coup ended up successfully empowering the shah, even after he fled to Baghdad and onto Italy when it looked as though it would fail. He would rule until 1979, when he fled the country before the Islamic Revolution, secretly and fatally ill with cancer. The coup had roots in the nationalization of Irans oil industry, which at that time was majority owned by Britain. Mohammad Mosaddegh, who supported nationalization, then became Irans prime minister. Britain launched a blockade on the country and ultimately saw its Tehran embassy ordered closed. The British, who had begun drawing up plans for a possible coup, then turned to the U.S. under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower, fearful of the spread of communism amid the growing Cold War with the Soviet Union, gave the go-ahead for TPAJAX the CIA codename for the coup plot. Papers show the CIA at one point stockpiled enough arms and demolition material to support a 10,000-man guerrilla organization for six months, and paid out $5.3 million for bribes and other costs, which would be equivalent to $48 million today. One CIA document casually refers to the fact that several leading members of these (Iranian) security services are paid agents of this organization. But the coup faced problems, chief among them the shah himself. Diplomats and spies referred to him as a weak reed and petulant. The CIA dismissively referred to him as Boy Scout, Aldrich said. The shah grew fearful of Mosaddeghs growing power and prepared to flee Iran in February 1953, months before the coup. U.S. Ambassador Loy W. Henderson rushed to the palace to try to see him. Instead, he got to Hosein Ala, the shahs minister of court, who called the shah on a palace telephone line. Despite fears the telephone may be tapped, Henderson spoke through Ala to the shah, as the Channel 4 documentary The Queen and the Coup and a later diplomatic cable by Henderson recounted. I had just received message indicating that very important personage for whom shah had most friendly feelings had also expressed sincere hope that shah could be dissuaded from leaving country, Henderson wrote. That cable, part of others released by the U.S. State Departments historian in 2017, included a footnote mentioning another cable from the U.S. Embassy in London. Foreign Office this afternoon informed us of receipt message from (Foreign Minister Anthony) Eden from Queen Elizabeth expressing concern at latest developments re shah and strong hope we can find some means of dissuading him from leaving country, the footnote reads. That suggests Queen Elizabeth herself had sent a message. Instead, Eden at the time was aboard the vessel RMS Queen Elizabeth on his way to Canada, which is what American diplomats in London had meant to say. The U.S. Embassy in London realized its mistake and fired off another cable that warned Queen Elizabeth refers, of course to vessel and not ... to monarch. But Henderson at that point already had spoken to the shah. Realizing the mistake, the U.S. Embassy in London wrote back that it does not (repeat not) propose to inform British of incident. But that intervention likely ended up helping goad the shah into staying in Iran for several more months until the CIA launched the coup. In terms of the kind of chain of events, its important because, you know, frankly, the shah is a coward, Aldrich told The Associated Press. I dont think the 1953 coup would have happened if the shah had fled then. At this point, theres no doubt that hes packed his bags and was pretty much going to the airport when this intervention happened. But those two cables acknowledging the error, which the historians found at the National Archives in Washington, dont appear in the 2017 release by the State Department, which itself was meant to offer a fuller, warts-and-all accounting of American actions. An initial 1989 release outlining the years surrounding the 1953 coup in Iran whitewashed the U.S. role in the coup. That led to the resignation of the historian in charge of a State Department review board and to Congress passing a law requiring that a more reliable historical account be made. The State Department did not respond to an AP request for comment. However, over 65 years later, historians still struggle to extract documents from the CIA and other government agencies surrounding the coup. These new cables suggest more remains to be discovered, said Malcolm Byrne, who studies Iran at the non-governmental National Security Archive at George Washington University. Weve known that all along, Byrne said. Widespread Iranian anger over the Western coup fed into the revolution and its aftermath, which saw Iranian students seize control of the U.S. Embassy and hold those inside captive for 444 days. To this day Irans Shiite theocracy portrays the U.S. as a hostile foreign power bent on subverting and overthrowing its government. Hard-liners still refer to Britain as the old fox, a sly adversary. The 1953 coup is their first piece of evidence. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. General Dynamics Corp.s GD Mission Systems unit recently secured a $104.2-million contract for the development, production and installation of Columbia (US01) and Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarine. The contract was awarded by the Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C. Majority of the work related to the deal will be performed in Pittsfield, MA, and is scheduled to be completed by November 2024. Importance of the Columbia and Dreadnought-Class Submarines The U.S. Navy is expected to receive 12 Columbia-class submarines, which will replace its Ohio-class submarines. These new submarines, equipped with advanced warfare technologies, will support the U.S. strategic deterrent mission, as the SSBN fleet of the U.S. Navy carries 70% of the nations operational nuclear weapons. The Dreadnought-class submarines will replace the four existing Vanguard-class SSBNs to maintain continuous at-sea deterrence (CASD). Following the completion, the Dreadnought-class submarine will become the largest and the most-equipped submarine for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. What Favors General Dynamics? The United States along with many other nations is strategically strengthening its naval power by upgrading missile submarines due to the rising worldwide geopolitical tensions. In this backdrop, General Dynamics enjoys a dominant position as a Navy contractor, as the global demand for submarines remains high. In fact, the company is one of the only two contractors in the world equipped to build nuclear-powered submarines. Furthermore, the fiscal 2021 defense budget proposal includes a spending provision of $4.4 billion specifically for Columbia-class submarines, reflecting a massive surge of 100% from the investments provisioned in the fiscal 2020 budget. Such a stupendous budgetary amendment reflects solid growth prospects for the company in the days ahead. Per a report by Research and Markets firm, the global submarine market is expected to see a 4% CAGR from 2020 to 2025. This indicates increased demand for different variants of submarines, including the Columbia-class and Dreadnought-class submarines. As submarines are a vital part of the U.S. navy fleets, General Dynamics is likely to benefit from such favorable market trends. Such favorable trends should also benefit other submarine makers like Huntington Ingalls HII and MitsuBishi Heavy Industries MHVYF around the world. Price Movement General Dynamics stock slipped 7.1% in the past year compared with the industrys decline of 16.9%. Story continues Zacks Rank & A Key Pick General Dynamics currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the same sector is CAE Inc. CAE, which holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. CAE delivered a positive earnings surprise of 3.48%, on average, in the trailing four quarters. The company has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8%. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report General Dynamics Corporation (GD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) : Free Stock Analysis Report CAE Inc (CAE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHVYF) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the all-you-can-eat taco bar at Mi Pueblo Mexican Restaurant in Kalamazoo was a fan favorite. The Friday-through-Sunday buffet had corn and flour tortillas, homemade hard shells, 10 varieties of meat and an endless assortment of toppings from salsas and guacamole to cheeses and sour cream. Tokyo, June 12 : Japan is planning to ease its coronavirus-linked travel restrictionsby allowing, at first, the entry of up to 250 business people per day from Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Vietnam, government sources said. Japan currently has an entry ban in place from 111 countries and regions, and foreign travellers who have visited nations on the banned list, reports Xinhua news agency. "We will continue to carefully consider ways to partially resume international travel in steps, while taking care to prevent infections from spreading," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a parliamentary committee on Thursday. Travellers from the permitted overseas countries would have to undergo tests before arriving in Japan to prove they are negative for COVID-19. Upon landing in Japan they will be required to take another test, sources with knowledge of the matter said. Those qualifying for entry will be required to submit to officials details of their place of residence during their visit as well as an itinerary of places they intend to visit, the sources said. They may be asked to refrain from using public transport and possibly be required to use a GPS app on their smartphones so that contact tracing can be carried out if they become infected. As for outbound Japanese travellers, some 181 foreign countries and regions have slapped travel bans or restrictions on Japan. Japan is in talks with Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, and New Zealand as the potential first batch of travellers it reopens its doors to, although the government would like this measure to be reciprocal, the sources said. The four countries were picked as they have successfully brought the coronavirus pandemic under control. The government here said that following its initial easing of entry restrictions for the four countries, it will look to further expand the easing of restrictions applicable to China, South Korea and the US. To inspire more confidence in Japan having overcome the worst of the pandemic, the government is planning to set up test centres so those planning to travel overseas can meet the requirements of foreign countries requiring negative test results from Japanese travellers prior to their departure. While further details on the Governments plans have been welcomed, concerns still remain over the viability of summer programmes for children with special educational needs. On Friday, Joe McHugh, the Minister for Education, officially confirmed that summer programmes will be offered to students with a wide range of complex and varied needs. This is in acknowledgement of the adverse effects extended school closures have had on these students and their families. Programmes are also being put in place for students at most risk of disadvantage in DEIS schools. Separately, the HSE is aiming to run summer camp-style programmes for up to 1,200 children with complex needs. However, the summer programmes are dependent on the number of teachers, SNAs, staff members and schools sign-up. It is expected that there will be a significant demand for the schemes. Families of children with complex needs have felt the deepest impact of the school closures, Mr McHugh said. Teachers and schools have made huge efforts in the last three months. They deserve enormous credit for that. He added that he hopes schools, teachers and SNAs feel they can get involved in the programmes, and the department will assist them. However, concerns around the programme still remain for his political opponents. Thomas Byrne, Fianna Fail education spokesman, said more information on the proposals is needed, like how the summer programme will take place in classrooms, and the willingness of schools to take part. This information needs to be provided as soon as possible. Donnchadh O Laoghaire, Sinn Fein education spokesman, said he is concerned that enough preparation for the scheme has not been done by the Department of Education. That schools, families and teachers wont have been in a position to organise themselves, he said, adding that many families may end up disappointed as they will not be able to find a programme or place for their child. The Government may try to shift blame onto the schools but the reality is that it will be their failure to plan for this scheme. If that is the case, building up the hopes of these families is a deeply unfair thing to do. The plans for summer programmes published on Friday are "incomplete", according to Aodhan O Riordain, Labour's education spokesman. Many schools who previously provided this service have indicated that they will not be able to offer a programme this summer because the announcement is so late." The Government of Ukraine has decided to resume the work of all entry-exit checkpoints on the administrative border with the annexed Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. The relevant decision was made by the Cabinet of Ministers at an extraordinary meeting, the press service of Ukraine's Ministry for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories reports. It is reported that Kalanchak, Chongar and Chaplinka checkpoints will resume their activities on June 15, 2020. "A number of consultations were held with the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, with representatives of the public and international organizations on the situation on the administrative border with Crimea. The result of the talks was a decision to resume the work of checkpoints starting from June 15," Minister Oleksiy Reznikov stated. As we reported earlier, the self-proclaimed Luhansk Peoples Republic stated that it was not going to open the checkpoints in Donbas despite the intentions of the Ukrainian side. As the official representative in the humanitarian group, I publicly declare that the checkpoint in Stanytsia Luhanska will not work tomorrow. We consider the statement of Ukraine as another provocation. It was the unilateral statement, so-called representative of the militants Olga Kobtseva stated. On June 12, NASA awarded Pittsburgh-based space company Astrobotic with $200 million to launch a rover called VIPER to the moon for a key lunar mission which will hunt for deposits of frozen water. NASA wrote in a press release on its official site that the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER would land near the moons south pole in late December 2023. NASAs water-seeking mobile VIPER robot will help pave the way for astronaut missions to the lunar surface beginning in 2024 and will bring NASA a step closer to developing a sustainable, long-term presence on the Moon as part of the agencys Artemis program, the organization revealed in the official press release. Further, it said, VIPERs flight to the Moon would be a part of NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which enables the industry partners to deliver scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to the Moon. The VIPER rover and the commercial partnership that will deliver it to the Moon are a prime example of how the scientific community and U.S. industry are making NASAs lunar exploration vision a reality, said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. Commercial partners are changing the landscape of space exploration, and VIPER is going to be a big boost to our efforts to send the first woman and next man to the lunar surface in 2024 through the Artemis program, he added. During its 100-Earth-day mission, the approximately 1,000-pound VIPER rover will roam several miles and use its four science instruments to sample various soil environments, NASA wrote in the official press release. Read: Did Mars Have Rings Like Saturn? Scientists Reveal Big Secret About Its Moons Read: Israeli Scientists Dig Up Cannabis Traces In Ancient Temple Astrobotic, in collaboration with NASAs initiative, would be responsible to carry out the end-to-end services for delivery of VIPER, including integration with its Griffin lander, launched from Earth, and landing on the Moon. NASA informed that earlier, in 2021 and 2022, three versions of the water-hunting instruments were flown earlier on CLPS lander deliveries to find frozen water under the lunar surfaces. Further NASA said, rover also will have a drill to bore approximately 3 feet into the lunar surface. Moons vast scientific potential NASAs Associate Administrator for Science Thomas Zurbuchen said, CLPS is a totally creative way to advance lunar exploration. He stresses that NASA doing something that has never been done before testing the instruments on the Moon, as the rover is developed. VIPER and the many payloads we will send to the lunar surface in the next few years are going to help us realize the Moons vast scientific potential, he said. Read: Scientists Looking At Tuberculosis, Polio Vaccines To Ward Off Coronavirus: Report Read: Scientists Identify Neurons In Rodents' Brains Can Be Artificially Activated (Images : NASA) Portland restaurants, bars and brewpubs lamented buying thousands of dollars in perishable food and pulling staff off unemployment in anticipation of Multnomah County reopening Friday, a plan that was denied by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown Thursday evening. Oregons largest county applied last week to join the rest of the state in Phase 1, which allows restaurants and bars closed to dine-in customers since March to reopen with safety precautions in place designed to slow the spread of COVID-19. But after 7 p.m. Thursday, Brown announced she had put all applications for further reopening across the state on hold for at least seven days after seeing a concerning increase in coronavirus infections. Brown also prevented Hood River, Marion and Polk counties from entering Phase 2. Separately, Clackamas County announced their own Phase 2 application after watching positive cases trend up and not down, with an increase in cases of 191% over the past seven days. This is essentially a statewide yellow light, Brown said in a statement Thursday. "It is time to press pause for one week before any further reopening. For Fat City Cafe in Southwest Portland, Browns announcement came about 12 hours after co-owner Mark Johnson finished buying $1,000 in eggs, bacon and other breakfast staples for the 45-year-old diner, according to daughter Caitlin Johnson. Were going to hope that we sell enough in takeout, Caitlin Johnson said. If not, it all goes to waste. In the three months since Brown put a freeze on dine-in service at Oregon restaurants and bars, the Johnsons Multnomah Village diner has gotten by with community support, both through takeout and a GoFundMe page that brought in more than $17,000 for the business. According to Caitlin Johnson, the family is considering launching another online fundraiser to keep the restaurant afloat. Of course we appreciate that everyones trying to keep us safe, Johnson said. But maybe give us a little more warning next time, not tell us at 7 at night? A chocolate malt at Fat City Cafe.The Oregonian/file On Friday, the governor said that public health officials chose to pump the brakes after watching case counts creep upward across the state. The past week has seen the four highest daily case counts since Oregons outbreak began Feb. 28, including the a peak of 178 new cases reported Thursday, hours before Browns decision. Statewide test positivity rate also increased, from 1.9% to 3%. Public health officials attribute the increase in cases to more testing, workplace outbreaks and increased tracing of people exposed by those with known coronavirus infections. The rise in rates occurred In Multnomah County, as well, where 43 new cases were reported Thursday, and health officials have been unable to trace 40% of this weeks new cases back to a known outbreak or disease cluster. Dr. Jennifer Vines, the countys lead health officer, said Friday that hospitalization numbers remained low, and that the countys plan was adequate to reopen, though the county was not going to second-guess Browns decision. We want to be cautious as a county," Vines said. The governor wants to be cautious in her state role, so I certainly cant fault her for that. Peters Bar & Grill owner Tim Williams used the shutdown time to redo the longtime Northeast Portland bars water-damaged ceiling, continuing to pay his kitchen staff through a Paycheck Protection Program loan. Earlier this week, he brought back many of his employees to help clean, sanitize and prep food for Fridays planned reopening. In hindsight, Williams grants that he could have been a little more cautious before purchasing more than $1,000 worth of food and more than $2,000 in beer and spirits, but notes that he would rather be ready for reopening and end up doing takeout than get caught flat-footed when Multnomah County does get the green light. For so many of these businesses, opening is not like a light switch, Williams said. Once they said theyre going to apply June 5 for a June 12 opening, that expectation was kind of set. According to Williams, Peters chef Elle Steinmeyer thinks the house-made barbecue sauce and salad dressings will keep through next Friday, but if the burger patties, roast pork and chicken breast dont sell, they might end up going to waste. Williams says that while he understands and is supportive of the states coronavirus-fighting measures, he doesnt understand why Clackamas County, with its spike in new cases, has been allowed to stay open while Multnomah County has to wait. I live just off Foster Road, and I can drive about 10 minutes and be in Clackamas County, Williams said. The metro area is convenient enough for people to move around, I would assume that people are. I really feel like all three counties should be doing the same thing. But I get it -- once that cats out of the bag, its hard to get back in. And once Multnomah County is reopened, theres no going back. -- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell -- Staff writer Ted Sickinger contributed to this report Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. A person holds a sign that mentions Breonna Taylor, who was killed in her home during a police raid on March 13, during a protest in Tacoma, Wash., on June 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) Rand Paul Launches Bill to Ban No-knock Warrants Following Breonna Taylor Death Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Thursday introduced a bill to ban no-knock warrants, which let law enforcement officials enter a residence forcibly without having to announce their purpose or identifying themselves as police. Rand said in a press release that the bill is named in memory and honor of Breonna Taylor, who was killed in her home during a police raid, conducted under a no-knock warrant. After talking with Breonna Taylors family, Ive come to the conclusion that its long past time to get rid of no-knock warrants. This bill will effectively end no-knock raids in the United States, said Sen. Paul. The bill, called the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act (pdf), prohibits any state or local police agency nationwide from executing a warrant that does not require the law enforcement officer serving the warrant to provide notice of his or her authority and purpose before forcibly entering a premises. On March 13, Taylors boyfriend Kenneth Walker fired a handgun, of which he is a legal owner, at police executing a no-knock drug warrant after midnight, believing the Louisville home he and Taylor shared was being broken into. In the confrontation, a police officer was struck by a round. Police returned fire, hitting Taylor eight times, resulting in her death. No drugs were found in the home. Louisville Police, in a media briefing held on March 13, hours after the shooting, said the officers knocked, announced themselves, and then forced their way into Taylors apartment, where they were met with gunfire. Taylors mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit in April against the three police officers involved. In it, she argued that since the suspect police were searching for under the drug warrant had already been arrested, there was no justification for police to enter her daughters apartment. According to a police affidavit for a search warrant for the raid obtained by WAVE, police said they believed a suspect was shipping drugs to Taylors apartment and was using it as his permanent home address to provide cover for his alleged drug trafficking activities. Sen. Pauls bill comes as the city of Louisville banned the use of no-knock warrants. The citys Metro Council unanimously voted Thursday night to ban the controversial warrants after days of protests and calls for reform. Im just going to say, Breonna, thats all she wanted to do was save lives, so with this law she will continue to get to do that, Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, said after the law was passed. She would be so happy. The law bans the use of the warrants by Louisville Metro officers. It also requires police to wear body cameras when serving warrants. Louisville council member Jessica Green, who co-wrote the citys new law, said the citys police typically use the no-knock warrants about 20 to 25 times a year. No-knock warrants are not tools that officers have to use with any regularity to get their job done, Green said. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer vowed he would sign the ban into law as soon as it hits his desk, saying risk to residents and officers with this kind of search outweigh any benefit. First and foremost, we just wanted to voice our concerns with (Tunney) about the racial profiling that occurred, literally in our own backyard, Trewn said. And we wanted to hear from him, what are the avenues we have to hold people accountable. And he did, I think, the bare minimum, which was someone in his office directed us to COPA. Two people were arrested Thursday after City of Kawartha Lakes Police searched a home on Highway 35 south of Lindsay as part of a drug investigation. Police seized 7.7 grams of heroin, 110 grams of cocaine and $7,800 cash. Charles Edward Quibell, 53, and Chelsea Lynn Gauley, 22, both of Lindsay, were each charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000. They were to appear at a bail hearing in Lindsay court Friday. Phuket airport issues travel requirements, announces first flights PHUKET: Domestic arrivals at Phuket International Airport will not have to observe a 14-day self-quarantine after arriving on the island, Airports of Thailand management at Phuket airport (AoT Phuket) have announced. transporttourismCOVID-19 By The Phuket News Friday 12 June 2020, 08:45PM No self-quarantine for domestic arrivals. Image: AoT Phuket The news came as AoT Phuket this evening released their guidelines for all travellers arriving on or departing the island via the airport, after the crucial transport facility reopens after midnight tonight. However, AoT Phuket warned that all passengers returning from overseas to Phuket including Thai citizens and permanent residents are subjected to the measures under communicable disease law, such as 14 days state quarantine. AoT specifically noted that passengers outbound from Phuket must not have a body temperature higher than 37.3C, must wear a face mask all the time, and must complete the travel declaration form via the AoT Airports application [available on Google Play and on Apples App Store] and register on the Thai Chana platform. Passengers inbound to Phuket also must not have a body temperature higher than 37.3C, must wear a face mask all the time, and must complete the travel declaration form on the Thai Chana platform when arriving. All passengers were instructed to strictly follow the advisory, and urged to allow extra time for their journey to account for any delays. The first flight to arrive in Phuket since the lockdown began will be Thai Vietjet flight VZ 2306/2307 operating out of Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok. The flight is to arrive in Phuket at 4:55pm tomorrow and depart the island back to the capital at 5:25pm. The flight is currently scheduled to operate daily until at least June 30. Thai Vietjet will add another Bangkok-Phuket-Bangkok daily flight on Tuesday, when Nok Air, Thai AirAsia will also begin operating a daily flight between the capital and Phuket. Thai Lion Air will also launch three daily flights between Phuket and Don Mueang airport in Bangkok from June 16. Buffalo, N.Y. -- An elderly man shoved to the ground by Buffalo police remains hospitalized with a brain injury, his lawyer said Thursday. Martin Gugino, 75, is starting physical therapy at Erie County Medical Centers rehabilitation floor after being released from the ICU this week, according to attorney Kelly Zarcone. As heartbreaking as it is, his brain is injured and he is well aware of that now, she said in a statement. He feels encouraged and uplifted by the outpouring of support which he has received from so many people all over the globe. It helps. He is looking forward to healing and determining what his new normal might look like. Gugino made national news last week when two police officers shoved him June 4 during a protest against police brutality after the death of George Floyd. Video from NPRs Buffalo radio station, WBFO, showing Gugino on the ground and bleeding from the ear quickly went viral and outrage ensued as the Buffalo Police Department claimed in a statement he tripped & fell. President Donald Trump fueled controversy by claiming without evidence that Gugino could be an ANTIFA provocateur on Twitter and pushed a conspiracy theory that "Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment. @OANN I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up? Zarcone said Tuesday that Gugino is not involved with the anti-fascist movement and No one from law enforcement has suggested otherwise." A friend, Mark Colville, told CNN that Gugino laughed when he heard about Trumps tweet but did not elaborate. Even when he was asked for any public comment, his only comment was that black lives matter and we should continue to protest peacefully, Colville said. Gov. Andrew Cuomo criticized Trump on Tuesday for the baseless tweet. Do you think the blood coming out of his head was staged? Is that what youre saying? the New York governor said. How reckless, how irresponsible, how mean, how crude. If there was ever a reprehensible dumb comment, and from the President of the United States. At this moment of anguish and anger, what does he do? Pours gasoline on the fire." Officers Aaron Torglaski and Robert McCabe were charged with second-degree assault Saturday and released without bail after pleading not guilty. Both officers were suspended without pay late Thursday night. Gugino, identified as a longtime peace activist from Amherst, N.Y., is a member of two nonprofits: PUSH Buffalo, which focuses on affordable housing, and the Western New York Peace Center, a human rights organization. He is also part of the Catholic Worker Movement and politically active on social media, frequently criticizing Trump. Trump did not provide any evidence for claims that Gugino has antifa ties or that he faked his fall. His source, an OANN video, is from the conservative, far-right One America News Network known for promoting conspiracy theories. Trump has described antifa, an anti-fascist movement, as a domestic terrorist organization and blamed the collective on violence in cities where protests have occurred since Floyd died on Memorial Day when a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Martin Gugino was calm, gentle presence in DeWitt drone protest trials WATCH: Late-night TV hosts skewer Trump over Buffalo protester conspiracy theory A Buffalo police officer appears to shove a man who walked up to police, in Buffalo, N.Y., on June 4, 2020. (Mike Desmond/WBFO via AP) Ex-FBI Agent Who Trained Buffalo Police Says Shoved Activist Got Away Lightly A former FBI agent who trained Buffalo police officers said the 75-year-old protester who was hospitalized after a riot officer pushed him before he fell backward got away lightly. If that would have been a 40-year-old guy going up there, I guarantee you theyd have been all over him, retired FBI agent, Gary DiLaura, was quoted by the New York Post as saying. The elderly protester absolutely got away lightly, DiLaura said. He got a light push and in my humble opinion, he took a dive and the dive backfired because he hit his head. Maybe itll knock a little bit of sense into him. The former federal official trained police on how to use firearms and defensive tactics. These cops were acting how they have been trained to act. Theres no way they are going to be convicted of assault, DiLaura said. The protester was later identified as Martin Gugino, who was seen on camera approaching riot police. Officers are heard telling him to move back before one of them pushes him before he stumbles backward and falls. He was hospitalized and now has a brain injury, his attorney later confirmed. Officers are then seen walking past him amid confusion and yelling. After approximately 10 seconds, what appear to be medics came to render aid to him. The two officers, identified in reports as Aaron Torgalski and Robert McCabe, were both charged with second-degree assault and were suspended. As most of you know, Martin is a soft-spoken but thoughtful and principled man. As heartbreaking as it is, his brain is injured and he is well aware of that now, attorney Kelly Zarcone said in a statement to several news outlets. Gugino is encouraged and uplifted by the outpouring of support which he has received from so many people all over the globe, Zarcone said. It helps. He is looking forward to healing and determining what his new normal might look like. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown had told news outlets this week that Gugino was asked to leave numerous times after the curfew. One of the things that happened before was conflict among protesters and there was a danger of fights breaking out, and police felt it was important to clear that scene for the safety of protesters, said Brown. On Wednesday, Brown told reporters that reforms would be coming to the citys police force. I am not in favor of defunding the police department, Brown said in an afternoon news conference, according to the Buffalo News. But I am in strong favor of reforming the police department. Sydney has a rich heritage of statues but are there any candidates for being toppled into the harbour in the same way as the memorial to slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol? Protesters throw a statue of slave trader Edward Colston into Bristol harbour, June 7. Credit:PA One columnist has suggested a statue of Lachlan Macquarie in Hyde Park should be removed by the City of Sydney council. Material from the National Museum of Australia said Macquarie was known for "treating harshly those [Indigenous people] who defied the invasion of their lands, often sending out the military to capture or kill known 'offenders'." The council was unable to provide a city historian to discuss that idea but said in a statement: "The City recognises that Sydneys history, particularly in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, includes events and attitudes that our current policies and initiatives need to redress. Dublin, June 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Edible Cutlery Market by Product, Raw Material and Application: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. According to this report the global edible cutlery market size was valued at $24,860.0 thousand in 2018, and is expected to reach $56,970.4 thousand by 2026, registering a CAGR of 11.1% from 2019 to 2026. North America dominated the market in 2018, accounting for 41.8% of the total edible cutlery market share. Edible cutlery are tableware cutlery items such as drinkware, plates, glasses, and other cutlery that are edible. Edible cutlery can be made using sliced celery, which can be used as chopsticks, and it can also be used as a spoon to scoop foods such as cream cheese and dips. Moreover, cabbage leaves are used as a spoon, while sharpened carrot sticks can be used as a fork or skewer. Apart from these, edible bowls and plates are prepared with large leaves of trees such as banana which are considered herbal and beneficial to health. In addition, edible cutlery can be made by chocolates and other flavored fruits or creams. Edible cutleries such as bowls, cups, platters, and plates that prepared using sugar paste have been in use since centuries in various parts of world. Furthermore, in countries such as India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, the leaves of banana and almond are used to make bowls and plates. These are considered to exert various health benefits such as they aid in weight loss and improve digestive system & heart health. Numerous positive facts are associated with edible cutlery that make them a better product over traditional plastic-made products. Considering climate emergency and environment-friendly trends, edible cutlery are attracting a large consumer base, as they limit the use of plastic and are completely biodegradable. In addition, edible cutlery that are made by natural process, flours, fruits, and herbal leaves contain fiber, protein, iron, calcium, and other useful nutrients, which make them a healthy alternative for plastic cutlery. As plastic cutleries are said to be the major cause for the spread of cancer and other diseases, the adoption of edible cutlery is increasing at a significant rate. Rise in production of cutlery using organic & natural flours and herbal leaves act as a major driver of the global edible cutlery market. Furthermore, surge in vegan population fuels the demand doe natural and organic products, which, in turn, is anticipated to augments the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The global edible cutlery market is segmented into product, raw material, application, and region. By product, the market is categorized into spoon, fork, knife, fork, and chopstick. On the basis of raw material, it is segregated into corn, wheat bran, rice bran, and others. Depending on application, it is bifurcated into household and commercial. Region wise, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. Key players operating in the global edible cutleries market GreenGood, Better Earth, Nature House Green, BioGreenChoice, Green Home, Vegware, Biodegradable Food Service, Biogreenchoice, Karat, and Edibles by Jack. Key Benefits Story continues The report provides a quantitative analysis of the current market trends, estimations, and dynamics of the market size from 2019 to 2026 to identify the prevailing edible cutlery market opportunities. Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders to make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network. In-depth analysis of the size and segmentation assists in determining the prevailing market opportunities. The major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global industry. The market player positioning segment facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the market players in the edible cutlery industry. Key Findings The knife segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.4 % during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is anticipated to dominate the edible cutlery market growth, registering a CAGR of 12.7%. North America is projected to contribute with highest share during the forecast time period, with around 40.3% market share in 2026, and CAGR of 10.8%. The wheat bran segment is anticipated to dominate the global edible cutlery market, with a CAGR of 12.6% during the forecast period. The household segment is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 2.9%. The global market is fragmented with the presence of several market participants across various regions. The strong presence of private label brands is expected to increase the competition among global players. Key Topics Covered: CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1. Report description 1.2. Key benefits for stakeholders 1.3. Key market segments 1.4. Research methodology 1.4.1. Primary research 1.4.2. Secondary research 1.4.3. Analyst tools and models CHAPTER 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2.1.1. Top impacting factors 2.1.2. Top investment pockets 2.2. CXO perspective CHAPTER 3: MARKET OVERVIEW 3.1. Market definition and scope 3.2. Parent/Peer Market Overview 3.3. INDUSTRY ROADMAP 3.4. Key Forces Shaping Edible Cutlery Market 3.4.1. Low-to-high bargaining power of suppliers 3.4.2. Moderate-to-high threat of new entrants 3.4.3. Moderate threat of substitutes 3.4.4. Moderate intensity of rivalry 3.4.5. Low-to-moderate bargaining power of buyers 3.5. Industry Pain Point Analysis 3.6. Pricing Analysis 3.7. Value Chain Analysis 3.8. Impact of Government Regulations On Market 3.9. Market dynamics 3.9.1. Drivers 3.9.1.1. Growing use of edible cutlery in airlines industry 3.9.1.2. Introduction of various flavors and colors based edible cutlery 3.9.2. Restraints 3.9.2.1. Higher cost of edible cutlery 3.9.3. Opportunities 3.9.3.1. Government initiative to reduce carbon footprints CHAPTER 4: EDIBLE CUTLERY MARKET, BY PRODUCT TYPE 4.1. Overview 4.2. Spoon 4.2.1. Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 4.2.2. Market size and forecast, by region 4.2.3. Market analysis by country 4.3. Fork 4.3.1. Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 4.3.2. Market size and forecast, by region 4.3.3. Market analysis by country 4.4. Knife 4.4.1. Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 4.4.2. Market size and forecast, by region 4.4.3. Market analysis by country 4.5. Spork 4.5.1. Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 4.5.2. Market size and forecast, by region 4.5.3. Market analysis by country 4.6. Chopstick 4.6.1. Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 4.6.2. Market size and forecast, by region 4.6.3. Market analysis by country CHAPTER 5: EDIBLE CUTLERY MARKET, BY RAW MATERIAL 5.1. Overview 5.2. Corn 5.2.1. Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 5.2.2. Market size and forecast, by region 5.2.3. Market analysis by country 5.3. Wheat bran 5.3.1. Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 5.3.2. Market size and forecast, by region 5.3.3. Market analysis by country 5.4. Rice bran 5.4.1. Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 5.4.2. Market size and forecast, by region 5.4.3. Market analysis by country 5.5. Others 5.5.1. Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 5.5.2. Market size and forecast, by region 5.5.3. Market analysis by country CHAPTER 6: EDIBLE CUTLERY MARKET, BY APPLICATION 6.1. Overview 6.2. Household 6.2.1. Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 6.2.2. Market size and forecast, by region 6.2.3. Market analysis by country 6.3. Commercial 6.3.1. Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 6.3.2. Market size and forecast, by region 6.3.3. Market analysis by country CHAPTER 7: EDIBLE CUTLERY MARKET, BY REGION 7.1. Overview 7.2. North America 7.3. Europe 7.4. Asia-Pacific 7.5. LAMEA CHAPTER 8: COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 8.1. Top Player Positioning 8.2. Product Mapping 8.3. Competitive Dashboard 8.4. Competitive Heatmap CHAPTER 9: COMPANY PROFILES 9.1. Biodegradable Food Service, LLC 9.1.1. Company overview 9.1.2. Key Executive 9.1.3. Company snapshot 9.1.4. Product portfolio 9.2. BioGreenChoice 9.3. Candy Cutlery 9.4. Edibles By Jack 9.5. Edible Pro 9.6. GreenHome 9.7. GreenGood 9.8. NatureHouse Green Products Inc. 9.9. Mede Cutlery Company 9.10. Vegware Ltd For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/x7h8c9 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 When Americans couldnt find hand sanitizer, toilet paper and disinfecting wipes on Amazon.com Inc., many assumed the products had run out thanks to surging demand from home-bound shoppers. In fact, in some cases the products were available, but merchants had pulled them to avoid getting caught up in Amazons price-gouging crackdowneven though they werent raising prices. Amazon began issuing vague warnings about price policy violations in March that extended through April, threatening to kick merchants off the site. The automated warnings followed glaring headlines about greedy opportunists, like the merchant trying to sell a two-pack of Purell hand sanitizer for $400. But Amazons warnings didnt specify prices the company deemed fair. That left merchants playing a guessing game as they tried to determine if they could sell the items and still make a profit after accounting for their own costs, shipping and Amazons commission, which typically runs about 15%. Merchants had access to these products and knew Amazon shoppers wanted them, but they deliberately pulled them because the rules about selling them werent clear and the consequences for violations could be devastating. In a heavily automated system with little contact between merchants and Amazon employees, it can take weeks or months to reinstate suspended accounts. As a result, merchants do whatever they can to avoid being exiledeven if it means forfeiting sales of popular products. All of this was happening at a time when Amazon was prioritizing essential household items, such as cleaning supplies. Its unclear how many merchants yanked their products and how much doing so exacerbated shortages that were also fueled by supply-chain disruptions. But consultants who help merchants avoid suspensions say they were inundated with calls from clients during the price-gouging crackdown. One of them, a former Amazonian named Chris McCabe, says he heard from hundreds of merchants and advised dozens of them to stop selling products because the rules were unclear. Amazon just did a giant sweep and they really scared a lot of people away from selling wipes and toilet paper, he says. Amazon, through a spokeswoman, said the companys policies have always prohbited price gouging. Our objective is to protect customers from clearly egregious price increases, she said. If a seller believes weve made an error, we encourage them to reach out to us directly and we will investigate the matter. The Covid-19 outbreak roiled Amazons online marketplace, where millions of merchants sell hundreds of millions of products. Amazon differs from major retailers like Walmart Inc. and Target Corp. that buy most of their inventory wholesale and then sell it in their stores at a markup. Most of the products sold on Amazon come from independent merchants who set their own prices. In ordinary circumstances, the marketplace uses technology to efficiently match supply and demand. Amazon releases data about the products customers are looking for on the site, which signals the merchants whats in demand. The pandemic prompted governors around the country to declare states of emergencywhich in many cases triggered price-gouging laws enacted to protect consumers from price spikes following disasters. But precisely what constitutes price gouging and which products are protected varies from state to state. It's a difficult phenomenon for Amazon to manage since the marketplace can match buyers and sellers from different states. While the company uses complex algorithms to monitor prices, whether or not a merchant is in violation depends on where the customer lives. Some states set specific thresholds for price gouging, such as 10% above typical prices. Other states define it vaguely with words like unconscionable. Amazon merchants offer the same prices nationally and dont know in advance where their customers live. All of this makes it difficult for Amazon to manage with clear rules, making merchants suspect the company got too aggressive in trying to prevent price-gouging violations with algorithms. Amazon has weathered price-gouging complaints in the aftermath of hurricanes and other natural disasters where the state of emergency is limited geographically. The coronavirus outbreak swept the entire nation and has lasted for months, so price-gouging concerns took on greater prominence. Several lawmakers proposed federal legislation to prevent it, and Amazon in May also advocated for a federal solution, highlighting the difficulties of addressing the phenomenon on its own despite having a team devoted to watching for price gouging and technology designed to spot it on its web store. The disparate standards among states present a significant challenge for retailers working to assist law enforcement, protect consumers, and comply with the law, Brian Huseman, a former Federal Trade Commssion attorney who now oversees Amazon's public policy team in Washington, D.C., wrote in a May blog post supporting federal legislation. Amazon is eager to be seen by regulators as an ally in fighting price gouging, not a perpetrator. The company says it removed more than 500,000 offers from its site and suspended 6,000 accounts for violating price policies since the pandemic started. The company has been cooperating with attorneys general in several states by sharing information about sellers accused of improperly jacking up prices. Who is responsible for price-gouging violations has already become a new area of dispute between Amazon and its merchant partners, which have also sparred over who bears responsibility for policing counterfeits on the marketplace or collecting sales taxes. The Online Merchants Guild, an industry group representing e-commerce sellers, in May filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron from imposing state price control laws on Amazon merchants. Instead, the attorney general should enforce the laws against Amazon, the lawsuit states. In the meantime, merchants say the fact that they received automated warnings despite not raising prices shows that Amazons crackdown went too far. One merchant who has been selling products on the site for six years says she eliminated about 100 items, including hand sanitizer and toilet paper, after receiving warnings in March about price gouging. The merchant, who gets the inventory from the same manufacturers and distributors that supply pharmacies and supermarkets, says she hadnt raised prices at all on most of the products in 2020. Another long-time Amazon merchant who has been selling office supplies on the site, including hand sanitizer and cleaning products, says he received two email warnings in March about potential price violations that didnt even specify which of the thousands of products he sells were in question. He spoke with a representative in Amazons seller support department who identified several products raising alarms, including plastic food containers, toilet paper and a body wipe. The rep wouldn't say how much the merchant would be allowed to charge, so he stopped selling products likely to trigger a violation. Even Amazon merchants who raised prices significantly during the pandemic can show regulators that the hikes were not exploitative, says CJ Rosenbaum, a New York attorney who represents Amazon merchants. Many Amazon sellers use software to set prices, which automatically shoot up when inventory is low. This is done to protect merchants reputation on Amazon, which uses algorithms to monitor their performance and punishes them for running out of stock. That software can also add extra shipping costs, which some state price-gouging laws allow. Still, the cost of hiring lawyers to fend off regulators and the risk of losing an Amazon business isnt worth it for many merchants to sell the products Amazon started aggressively monitoring, Rosenbaum says. There was no clarity on what pricing was fair, he says, adding that dozens of his clients deliberately avoided certain in-demand products to avoid suspensions. Amazon treated sellers very poorly. Spencer Soper of Bloomberg News wrote this story. 2020 Bloomberg News Visit Bloomberg News at www.bloomberg.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nina Larson (Agence France-Presse) Geneva, Switzerland Fri, June 12, 2020 10:28 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde283ba 2 World UN,children,workers,child-labor,poverty,coronavirus,coronavirus-effect,economic-impact,COVID-19 Free Millions of children could be pushed into work by the coronavirus crisis, the UN said Friday as it braced for the first rise in child labor in two decades. In a joint brief, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and UNICEF, the UN children's agency, noted that the number of children locked in child labor had declined by 94 million since 2000. But the UN agencies warned that "the COVID-19 pandemic poses very real risks of backtracking." Friday's report pointed out that the crisis would likely cause a significant rise in poverty. According to the World Bank, the number of people in extreme poverty could potentially skyrocket by up to 60 million this year alone. "As the pandemic wreaks havoc on family incomes, without support, many could resort to child labor," ILO chief Guy Ryder said in a statement. The relation between swelling poverty and a surge in child labor appears clear, the report said, pointing to studies from some countries indicating that a one-percent increase in poverty leads to at least a 0.7-percent rise in child labor. The report also stressed that the crisis could push children already working to put in longer hours under worsening conditions. Others could be forced into the worst forms of labor, seriously threatening their health and safety, it said. 'Coping mechanism' The brief pointed out that children who lose one or both parents during the coronavirus crisis could be forced to step in as breadwinners or find themselves more vulnerable to exploitation. Girls, it warned, were particularly vulnerable to exploitation in agriculture and domestic work. "In times of crisis, child labor becomes a coping mechanism for many families," UNICEF chief Henrietta Fore said in the statement. The agencies voiced alarm at mounting evidence that child labor has risen as schools have closed during the pandemic. They noted that temporary school closures were now affecting more than one billion pupils in over 130 countries. And even when classes restart, parents might no longer be able to pay for school. The brief proposed a range of corrective measures, including the elimination of school fees, and urged countries to boost social protections and provide easier access to credit for poor households. "As we re-imagine the world post-COVID, we need to make sure that children and their families have the tools they need to weather similar storms in the future," Fore said. "Quality education, social protection services and better economic opportunities can be game changers." According to the most recent ILO estimates published in 2017, around 152 million children were forced into work from 2012 to 2016, including 73 million in hazardous positions. The UN is to release fresh data on the extent of child labor globally next year. The International Criminal Court (ICC) expressed profound regret over US sanctions on Court officials involved in the investigation of alleged war crimes by American forces in Afghanistan. ICC said in a statement that it stands firmly by its staff and officials and remains unwavering in its commitment to discharging, independently and impartially, the mandate bestowed upon it by the Rome Statute and the States that are party to it. US President Donald Trump has authorised economic and travel sanctions against the employees of the ICC, calling the investigations illegitimate assertions of jurisdiction. The executive order signed by Trump said that the investigation threatens to subject current and former government and allied officials to harassment, abuse, and possible arrest. Announcing the executive order, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the ICC cannot subject Americans to arrest, prosecution, and jail since America is not a party to the Rome Statute that created the ICC. He opined that even if a prosecution were to proceed, it would make a mockery of due process as there is no requirement for unanimity for a conviction and the prosecution can rely on hearsay to obtain a conviction. We cannot, we will not stand by as our people are.threatened by a kangaroo court, said the top US diplomat. Read: Afghanistan: 1000 Doves Starve To Death After Blue Tiled Mosque Shuts Amid Lockdown 'Unprecedented attack' ICC said that the sanctions are the latest in a series of unprecedented attack on the international tribunal as well as on the Rome Statute system of international criminal justice. The Hague-based court added that the sanctions are announced with the declared aim of influencing the actions of ICC officials in the context of the Court's independent and objective investigations and impartial judicial proceedings. An attack on the ICC also represents an attack against the interests of victims of atrocity crimes, for many of whom the Court represents the last hope for justice, the statement read. Read: Trump Renews Pledge To Bring Back US Troops From Afghanistan To End US' Longest War The National Police spokesperson on Friday said they were unable to confirm if Thai pro-democracy activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit lived at a Chroy Changvar condominium where he went missing last week, even though eyewitnesses reported details of the abduction to VOA Khmer. Wanchalearm Satsaksit was abducted on June 4, according to a statement released by Human Rights Watch on June 5. VOA Khmer spoke to eyewitnesses near the Chroy Changvar condominium who said they said the pro-democracy activist was abducted by three men and placed into a black Toyota Highlander SUV. After nearly a week of denying having any knowledge of the incident, the Cambodian authorities said they had received a diplomatic note from Thailand requesting verification of news reports about the abduction. National Police spokesperson Chhay Kimkhoeun said the police had asked the condominium owner if he recognized Wanchalearm Satsaksit and if the missing activist rented an apartment there. He said that the activists visa had expired in 2017 and it was unclear if he left the country or continued to live illegally in Cambodia. The spokesperson said the owner denied having a tenant named Wanchalearm and that none of the staff there recognized him when shown a photograph of the activist. As a result, there is no name [of him] registered at that condo. This is our primary investigation to verify the news, he said. The condo owner said there was no such name. Thai news publication Prachathai published short CCTV clips from the abduction, but Chhay Kimkhoeun said he wasnt aware of the source of the video clips nor had police reviewed any CCTV footage. The spokesperson took offense to questions about whether people in the neighborhood had been questioned or asked if they had witnessed the incident. You are asking like you are a court investigating official or judicial police, he said. I dont feel good with this question. For this investigation, you dont need to teach us. Eyewitness accounts conveyed to VOA Khmer reveal that Wanchalearm Satsaksit was abducted outside his apartment in the late afternoon of June 4. A black Toyota Highlander SUV pulled up next to the Thai activist, according to sources, who requested anonymity. The witnesses said one unidentified man, dressed in black and wearing a mask, punched Wanchalearm Satsaksit in the neck and dragged him to the car. Two other unidentified men were also part of the abduction, they said. MUSKEGON, MI As protests against police brutality continue across the nation, about 100 people gathered in Muskegons Hackley Park on Thursday afternoon for a public forum on policing, hosted by the Muskegon County Social Justice Commission. The theme of the event, put on by a commission comprising law enforcement, clergy, educators and community leaders, was police-community relations. But community members who took the stage called for a full reckoning with systemic racism that they described permeating many aspects of local life, including policing, education, business, and recreational spaces. This is not just ordinary business. This is extraordinary business, said Samuel Greer, pastor of Queen Esther Baptist Church and the commissions director, at the start of the public meeting. We have gathered here, outside in this arena, because all of us respect together the dignity of all individuals. The days goal was to share a collective voice of Muskegon County, reflective of many different walks of life, he added. Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson; Muskegon County Sheriff Michael Poulin; Muskegon Chief of Police Jeffrey Lewis; Muskegon Heights Chief of Police Joseph E. Thomas Jr.; state Rep. Terry Sabo, D-Muskegon; several Muskegon city commissioners; uniformed police officers and representatives from the Muskegon County public defenders office were among those in attendance. So were dozens of residents, black and white, who assembled under a clear blue sky, some with bikes and dogs and picnic blankets. One by one, black community members took the stage to share their experiences with law enforcement in a community that many described as segregated and weighted towards fulfilling the needs of white residents at the expense of their black neighbors. Ebony Davis, who performs under the name Gemini DaPoet, spoke about the fear that many black residents have of police officers, because they wonder if they will fit that description. Davis recited an original poem with the line, Im tired of seeing the police police the police. Priscilla Watkins wept as she described being arrested in 2002, shortly after undergoing treatment for breast cancer that left her unable to put her hands behind her back when prompted by a police officer. That encounter left her permanently disabled, after the officer accused her of resisting arrest, she said. Recent high-profile instances of police brutality have triggered nightmares, Watkins said, and while she began her remarks by saying she does not agree with calls to defund police, she called for changes to laws that would ensure that nobody else would experience what she experienced. Muskegon resident Pat Robertson also became emotional when describing the warnings she has given her son, a young, black man, about interactions with the police. She called on the leaders present to install an independent oversight commission or person to act as a liaison between police and the community. Others who spoke on Thursday called for changes to public school curricula to include more black history, and to elevate black voices within professional and educational settings. Jocelyn Hines, an organizer with Muskegon Young Black Professionals, called for changes to leadership at community nonprofits and businesses to stop a talent drain among young black professionals, and to increase social equity, she said. Another theme to the days proceedings was the importance of listening to black community members, many of whom described feeling pushed aside within community discussions, especially as development increases downtown and financial resources have begun to be poured into the county. I want (my children) to not just feel included, said Destinee Keener-Sargent, who owns Kuntry Cookin, a restaurant at 446 W. Western Ave. I want them to feel like they have some equity in this community. I want to feel that this community loves me just as much as I love it, she added. The Muskegon County Social Justice Commission formed in 2011, in part to curb gun violence in the community, according to reporting by the Muskegon Chronicle at the time. It has since evolved to work toward an enhanced relationship between youth and law enforcement, according to the groups website. The Social Justice Commission meets on the third Thursday of every month and the meetings are open to the public. Thursdays event took place in a different setting than usual, coming nearly two weeks after several hundred community residents took part in a peaceful protest outside the Muskegon County Hall of Justice. Nationwide, large cities and small towns alike have been gripped by protests against police brutality, following the deaths of George Floyd, a Minneapolis man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, and of Breonna Taylor, a Grand Rapids native who was killed by police in her Louisville home. In honor of Floyd, the act of kneeling has become a stirring symbol at these actions - an inversion of the violent cause of his death to signify instead humility and hope. At the end of Thursdays forum, the members of the Social Justice Commission gathered in front of the stage and called for the community to kneel. Nearly everyone assembled at Hackley Park did so as they publicly committed to work for change. As one speaker, Charlotte Johnson, put it succinctly: If theres any change thats going to happen, its going to happen now. Read more on MLive: Hundreds gather in Muskegon to march for racial justice More than 600 laid off at Howmet near Muskegon due to coronavirus Muskegon sheriff deputies getting body cameras, while most city police remain without Candace Owens and Don Lemon have both responded to Dave Chappelle after the comedian eviscerated them in a new Netflix special addressing the death of George Floyd. Chappelle, 46, filmed the set at an outdoor venue in Yellow Spring, Ohio last Saturday - nearly two weeks after Floyd was killed when white police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. The special, titled 8:46, was released on the Netflix YouTube channel late Thursday. Chappelle blasted right-wing activist Candace Owens, who has described Floyd as a 'horrible person' because he had a criminal record and had served time in prison. 'Candace Owen, that rotten b***h, she's the worst. I can't think of a worse way to make money. She's the most articulate idiot I've ever seen in my f***ing life,' Chappelle tells the audience in his new special. Dave Chappelle has eviscerated Candace Owens and Don Lemon in a new Netflix special which addresses the death of George Floyd. The streaming giant released the set on its YouTube channel Thursday Owens - who was a part of a White House roundtable discussion on race in America last week - has criticized the black community for making Floyd a 'martyr'. Chappelle slapped back in his special, stating: 'Why does the black community make him a hero? Why did you choose him as a hero?' We didn't choose him; you did. They killed him and that wasn't right, so he's the guy.' 'We're not desperate for heroes in the black community. Anyone who survives this nightmare is my goddamned hero.' Referencing Floyd's past, he stated: 'I don't give a f** k what this n***** did. I don't care if he personally kicked Candace Owens in her stanky p***y. I don't know if it stanks, but I imagine it does. If I ever find out, I'll let you know for sure'. However, Owens took the insults in her stride, replying on Twitter: 'To every Democrat tweeting me the clip of #DaveChappelle insulting me: I'm not a leftist. I have a sense of humor & I think comedians SHOULD make fun of people. ' She added: 'Dave Chappelle is one of the greatest comedians of all time and I made it into one of his specials. That's POWER!' The prominent conservative followed up with a second tweet, stating: 'We've arrived too suddenly into a culture where people can't laugh at themselves, or want to restrain comedians. I will never be a part of that culture. 'Dave Chappelle - you are legend and I'd love to meet you and challenge you to say any of that to my face! All love!' Chappelle saved his harshest critiques for right-wing activist Candace Owens (pictured), who has repeatedly referenced Floyd's criminal record and described him as a 'horrible person' Owens took the insults in her stride, replying on Twitter: 'To every Democrat tweeting me the clip of #DaveChappelle insulting me: I'm not a leftist. I have a sense of humor & I think comedians SHOULD make fun of people' In the special, Chappelle also took aim at CNN anchor Don Lemon, who, last week, urged celebrities to speak out in the wake of his Floyd's death. 'Answer me: Do you want to see a celebrity right now? Do we give a f**k what Ja Rule thinks?' the comedian asked the crowd in his new special. 'Does it matter about celebrity? No, this is the streets talking for themselves, they don't need me right now. I kept my mouth shut. And I'll still keep my mouth shut. 'I don't think my silence is complicit Why would anyone care what their favorite comedian thinks after they saw a police officer kneel on a man's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds?' he continued, ridiculing Lemon. On stage, Chappelle takes aim at a series of public figures who have weighed in on Floyd's death - including CNN anchor Don Lemon (pictured) LINES FROM DAVE CHAPPELLE'S '8:46' On George Floyd: 'He knew he was going to die. He called for his mother, he called for his dead mother. I've only seen that once before in my life: My father on his deathbed called for his grandmother.' On the four cops charged with Floyd's murder: 'All these f**king police had their hands in their pockets. Who are you talking to? What are you signifying? That you can kneel on a man's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds and feel like you wouldn't get the wrath of God?' On Candace Owens: 'I don't care if he [George Floyd] personally kicked Candace Owens in her stanky p***y. I don't know if it stanks, but I imagine it does. If I ever find out, I'll let you know for sure.' On Don Lemon: 'I'm watching Don Lemon, that hot bit of reality... This n***** expects me to step in front of the streets and talk over the work these people [protesters] are doing? Does it matter about celebrity?' On Kobe Bryant: 'I watched this n**** dribbling [a basketball] and saving this goddamn country from itself. I loved Kobe Bryant. He died the day I won a Grammy, that's why I didn't show up... I cried like a baby'.' Advertisement However, Lemon also took Chappelle's criticism gracefully, responding on-air Friday morning. 'I actually agree with Dave Chappelle. I agree that I think the establishment has been a bit behind - and I consider myself part of the establishment because I am over 40 years old,' Lemon confessed. 'They think that part of the world that we created and what we did, maybe we didn't move fast enough and we weren't strong enough and so they are out there fighting... I think they're not only speaking to the white people in this country, but also to all of us in the establishment.' However, he added: 'I think it's a moment we should all be using our platform to do whatever we can.' In 8.46, Chappelle also took a stab at Fox News host Laura Ingraham for her seemingly contradictory views about athletes being allowed to express their political opinions. 'She's a regular-a** white b**h with a platform,' the comedian sniped, before labeling her a 'c***'. Elsewhere in the special, he implored the audience to listen to protesters taking to the streets to demand police reform and an end to systemic racism in the wake of Floyd's death. Chappelle's paternal great-grandparents was born enslaved - a fact he referenced on stage. 'These things are not old. It's not a long time ago, it's today. Are you out of your f***ing mind if you can't see that. 'And these n***** say 'Why isn't David Chappelle saying anything?' Because David Chappelle understands what the f**k he is seeing and these streets will speak for themselves whether I'm alive or deadI trust you guys, I love you guys. 'We'll keep this space open.This is the last stronghold for civil discourse. After this s**t, it's just rat-a-tat-tat rat-a-tat-tat.' George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on Memorial Day as he was arrested by four police officers in Minneapolis. His death has set off nationwide protests New Delhi: India on Thursday said it has asked Britain not to consider any application from embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya for asylum, with New Delhi saying there are no grounds for his persecution in India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said, After Vijay Mallyas leave to appeal to the (British) Supreme Court, that application was rejected, we have been in touch with the UK side for his early extradition. And we have also requested the UK side not to consider his asylum if requested by him because there appear to be no grounds for his persecution in India. The MEA statement was made in response to queries on media reports that Mallya has sought asylum in the UK on humanitarian grounds under Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). According to media reports, Mallya's latest move is likely to mean his extradition to India may not happen anytime soon. A British High Commission spokesperson had recently said, Vijay Mallya last month lost his appeal against extradition, and was refused leave to appeal further to the UK Supreme Court. However, there is a further legal issue that needs resolving before Mallyas extradition can be arranged. Under United Kingdom law, extradition cannot take place until it is resolved. The issue is confidential and we cannot go into any detail. We cannot estimate how long this issue will take to resolve. We are seeking to deal with this as quickly as possible. According to recent media reports, Mallya was earlier this month denied permission to appeal to the UKs Supreme Court against a British High Court order that upheld a 2018 ruling for his extradition to India to face fraud charges resulting from the collapse of his defunct company Kingfisher Airlines. In April this year, Mallya had lost his High Court appeal in London. RICHMOND, Va. - Protesters impatient with legal efforts to remove Confederate statues took matters into their own hands this week, toppling this city's iconic figure of Jefferson Davis and a statue in Portsmouth that caused a serious injury when it fell on a man's head. The bronze figure of the Confederate president had stood since 1907, about a half-mile up Monument Avenue from the statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee that Gov. Ralph Northam is fighting to remove. A group of protesters pulled the Davis statue off its pedestal a little after 10:30 p.m. Wednesday and dragged the paint-splattered figure across the road. Police surrounded the fallen statue a short time later. A small crowd gathered, many of them holding signs from demonstrations against police brutality toward African Americans that have swept Richmond - like other cities around the country - for nearly two weeks. In Portsmouth, a man was knocked unconscious when a falling statue of a Confederate soldier hit him in the head, according to local and state police. The man was taken to a hospital with what state police said was a life-threatening injury. Northam, a Democrat, on Thursday appealed to protesters to stop trying to tear down the "very large and very heavy" statues themselves. "We all came together to create a process to do that safely. We need to let that happen," he said in a press briefing. "Pulling them down is not worth risking someone's life. Let's do this the right way and keep all Virginians safe." Republicans on Thursday charged that Northam was surrendering Virginia to "mob rule" and called him "unfit to lead." They also slammed Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, a Democrat, for failing to prevent the destruction of the Davis statue just one night after protesters pulled down a statue of Christopher Columbus - reviled for his treatment of indigenous peoples - and chucked it into a lake. Earlier this week, protesters tore down a statue of another Confederate figure, Williams Carter Wickham, in Monroe Park at Virginia Commonwealth University. City police said they are investigating the incidents but didn't directly answer questions about whether they have softened enforcement after being criticized for gassing peaceful demonstrators early last week. Richmond police spokesman Gene Lepley said the department does not discuss patrol strategies but said police are "aware of the ongoing situation and are constantly adjusting our methods to address it." Stoney, who is African American, tweeted Thursday that Davis was "a racist & traitor," but he urged protesters to stop taking matters into their own hands. "For the sake of public safety, I ask the community to allow us to legally contract to have the remaining ones removed professionally," he tweeted. Stoney and all members of the City Council have said they will support an ordinance to remove the four Confederate statues on city property along Monument Avenue, including Davis. He cautioned Thursday that the statues are mere symbols of a bigger issue. "Jefferson Davis is gone this morning, but it's going to be a lot harder to dismantle the racism he and his peers embodied and institutionalized. That's what this city will keep working toward," Stoney tweeted. In a text message obtained by The Washington Post and verified by the department's spokesman, Richmond Police Chief William Smith said the monuments have a "short life span," given the council's plans to remove them. But he also said police, who were initially responding to reports that protesters were trying to pull down the Lee statue, attempted to reach the Davis monument in time to stop the vandalism. "By the time we had personnel respond to Davis, the statue had already been toppled," Smith texted to a Monument Avenue resident. "Our biggest concern is for life safety followed by private property. The monuments have, based on city council, a short life span, with Jeff davis monument already contracted for removal. We are most concerned about large monuments that could injure someone." A Richmond work crew on Thursday removed the city's police memorial statue from Byrd Park, the same area where the Columbus statue had stood, about 2 1/2 miles away from Davis. A city official said the memorial is being repaired and restored after damage inflicted during recent demonstrations and will be returned to public display. Northam had begun efforts this week to take down the Lee statue, which towers 60 feet over a giant traffic circle and is the only one on state property. But a Circuit Court judge granted a temporary injunction late Monday to halt the removal for 10 days as part of a suit challenging Northam's authority to take it down, filed by the descendant of a family who deeded the land. It was after that action that protesters began acting to take down statues on their own. "Keep people waiting long enough, and something like this is bound to happen," said a 24-year-old man, who would only give his name as Thomas, who had bicycled over to see the fallen Davis statue late Wednesday. One witness said a small group with tools and ropes had brought the statue down using a car. When a flatbed tow truck arrived and workers and police began sizing up how to remove the figure from the street, a crowd of several dozen began a short chant of "na na na na, hey hey, goodbye." But not everyone was cheerful. Marcus, 34, who like others declined to give his last name, said he had grown up seeing the statues and as an African American had hoped they would come down. "But not like this," he said. "It would've been nice to see this stuff come down without having to protest for it. You shouldn't have to kill someone and get a riot behind it to have some action." - - - The Washington Post's Laura Vozzella contributed to this report. A public school teacher who begged his teenage student for oral sex called her a 'drama queen' after charges were laid against him. Stuart Robert Van Dyken, 51, is facing eight years in jail after being found guilty of having sexual intercourse with a student at Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on Friday. Van Dyken maintained he was innocent throughout proceedings, accusing his victim of having made up the charges because he gave her a bad grade. Stuart Robert Van Dyken, 51, is facing eight years in jail after being found guilty of having sexual intercourse with a student at Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on Friday The 51-year-old was charged with having sexual intercourse with a child under his care after an incident in 2018. The court heard Van Dyken had asked the schoolgirl to give him oral sex 'right now' and asked her to meet her in an empty classroom, reported the Daily Telegraph. After meeting her teacher the girl described feeling pressured to perform but after unbuttoning his pants told him she couldn't do it. But she said she was unable to escape as he was standing between her and the doorway. When it was over, the court heard Van Dyken pleaded for her to keep his secret so his life wouldn't be destroyed. A public school teacher who begged his teenage student for oral sex called her a 'drama queen' after charges were laid against him (stock image) 'My life's in your hands. I have children, I won't be able to see them. My job's in your hands,' he said, 'You can't tell anything about this to anyone.' He was also accused of other inappropriate behaviour in class, including creating a 'sexualised environment', making suggestive jokes and even commenting on the size of a student's breasts. Police also found photos of the girl in a locked app on his phone that only he knew the code for. Van Dyken maintained his innocence throughout proceedings, accusing his student of having made up the charges because he gave her a bad grade (stock image) Van Dyken denied every allegation against him as the trial progressed, but Judge Penelope Hock dismissed his defence after ruling he was an unreliable witness. The teacher stated he had met the girl in the classroom alone but it was because he was helping her with an assignment. He said the victim was 'delusional' and called her a 'drama queen' who had made up the accusations because had given her a bad mark on an assignment. Van Dyken will be sentenced on July 24. TOKYO - On the second anniversary of President Donald Trump's summit meeting with Kim Jong Un in Singapore, North Korea's foreign minister said hope had given way to despair and relations between the two countries descended into a "dark nightmare," and vowed to bolster the country's military might to counter U.S. threats. Hope for improved relations had been high two years ago, Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon said on Friday, but this has given way to "despair characterized by spiraling deterioration" while "even a slim ray of optimism for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula has faded away into a dark nightmare." "The desire of the peoples of two countries to put a period to the world's most antagonistic relations between the DPRK and the US and to open a new cooperative era of peace and prosperity runs deep as ever," he said in a statement, referring to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "Yet the situation on the Korean Peninsula is daily taking a turn for the worse." Ri said the North had completely shut down a nuclear test site, returned scores of remains of American service personnel and returned U.S. citizens held by North Korea, referring to them as "convicted felons," presenting the steps as evidence of Kim Jong Un's "epoch-making resolve." The North, he said, had even suspended nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests in order to build confidence with the United States, arguing that the Trump administration had often "expressed gratitude" for these steps. But in return, he complained, Washington had been "hellbent" on exacerbating the situation, leaving North Korea "on the US list of targets for preemptive nuclear strike." The United States continued to fly nuclear strategic bombers into South Korea airspace, sail aircraft carrier strike groups in the surrounding seas and had introduced "cutting-edge" military hardware such as stealth fighters and drones into South Korea, turning the Korean Peninsula "into the world's most dangerous hotspot haunted uninterruptedly by the ghost of nuclear war," Ri said. Washington, he said, had revealed its true intentions: regime change, along with "isolation and suffocation" of North Korea. Unless more than 70 years of hostility was fundamentally ended, the United States will remain a long-term threat, he added. "The question is whether there will be a need to keep holding hands shaken in Singapore, as we see that there is nothing of factual improvement to be made in the DPRK-US relations simply by maintaining personal relations between our Supreme Leadership and the US President," Ri said, arguing Trump was simply using North Korea for his own domestic political gains. "Never again will we provide the US chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns," he said. "Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise." At a meeting of the country's Central Military Commission last month, Kim "solemnly" pledged to bolster the country's nuclear deterrent to cope with "unabated threats of nuclear war" issued by the United States, Ri noted. Ri also complained that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo continuously made "nonsensical remarks that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" was still a U.S. goal. North Korea maintains it never agreed to unilaterally dismantle its nuclear weapons, and that the United States also has an obligation to fundamentally reduce the military threat it poses to Pyongyang. "The secure strategic goal of the DPRK is to build up more reliable force to cope with the long-term military threats from the US," Ri said. "This is our reply message to the US on the occasion of second anniversary of June 12." Vipin Narang, an associate professor of political science at MIT, said the North had commemorated the anniversary with some "metaphorical fireworks," but said this final comment underlined how North Korea had continued to build up its military capabilities over the past two years. "The reality is that the real danger - an expanded and improved missile and nuclear force - has progressed with little fanfare," he tweeted. Justice Department Weighing Whether to Release Less-Redacted Version of Mueller Report The Justice Department (DOJ) has told a court on Friday that it is considering whether to release a less-redacted version of former special counsel Robert Muellers report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The department said in a three-page filing to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that it was in the process of reevaluating whether the redactions related to Roger Stone, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, should be made public since Stones criminal case has concluded. Following the sentencing of Mr. Stone and the lifting of the media communications order in United States v. Roger Stone, Jr. the Department of Justices Office of Information Policy (OIP) concluded that reprocessing the Mueller Report is appropriate, the court filing stated (pdf). When the Mueller report was released in April 2019, parts of it were redacted in order to protect grand-jury secrecy or to comply with judicial orders aimed at protecting the release of sensitive discovery information or to prevent the disclosure of information related to ongoing investigations and criminal proceedings including the Stone case. If the department deems it appropriate after the review, it will release an updated version of the Mueller report on June 19, the DOJ told the court. The DOJs filing is part of a freedom of information lawsuit brought by BuzzFeed, its investigative journalist Jason Leopold, and Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), a nonprofit research center. EPIC said in a June 24, 2019, court filing (pdf) that the DOJs handling of the reports release provides tangible evidence of agency bad faith. In March, the department turned over an unredacted version of the Mueller report to the judge in the case, Judge Reggie Walton, who had demanded to see the report. Walton, an appointee of President George W. Bush, had several complaints about Attorney General William Barrs handling of the release of the Mueller report. He pointed out that there were inconsistencies between the report and Barrs summary of investigative findings he provided prior to the reports release. The speed by which Attorney General Barr released to the public the summary of Special Counsel Muellers principal conclusions, coupled with the fact that Attorney General Barr failed to provide a thorough representation of the findings set forth in the Mueller Report, causes the Court to question whether Attorney General Barrs intent was to create a one-sided narrative about the Mueller Reporta narrative that is clearly in some respects substantively at odds with the redacted version of the Mueller Report, Walton said (pdf). He also raised concerns that Barrs statements prior to the reports release were made in an attempt to influence public discourse about the Mueller report in favor of President Trump. The inconsistencies between Attorney General Barrs statements, made at a time when the public did not have access to the redacted version of the Mueller Report to assess the veracity of his statements, and portions of the redacted version of the Mueller Report that conflict with those statements cause the Court to seriously question whether Attorney General Barr made a calculated attempt to influence public discourse about the Mueller Report in favor of President Trump despite certain findings in the redacted version of the Mueller Report to the contrary, Walton wrote. DOJ spokeswoman Kerri Kupec at the time pushed back on Waltons opinion, saying that the courts assertions were contrary to the facts. In response to FOIA requests, the entire report was then reviewed by career attorneys, including different career attorneys with expertise in FOIA casesa process in which the Attorney General played no role. There is no basis to question the work or good faith of any of these career Department lawyers, she said in a statement. Stone was sentenced on Feb. 20 to three years and four months in prison for several charges, including lying to a congressional committee that was investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. AFRICOM commander meets with Djiboutian leaders U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command, met with Ismail Omar Guelleh, president of the Republic of Djibouti, and other senior leaders of the East African nation this week. This was Townsend's first trip abroad since the coronavirus pandemic unfolded. By U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs , United States Africa Command Stuttgart, Germany Jun 11, 2020 DJIBOUTI, Djibouti U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command, met with Ismail Omar Guelleh, president of the Republic of Djibouti, and other senior leaders of the East African nation this week. This was Townsend's first trip abroad since the coronavirus pandemic unfolded. "Djibouti is a key partner, and we continue to work to strengthen our enduring partnership," said Townsend. "Alongside other AMISOM partners, Djiboutian forces have shown their leadership by supporting the fight against al-Shabaab in Somalia." Djibouti has about 1,800 troops serving in Somalia as part of AMISOM. Townsend recognized Djibouti's successful COVID-19 response and congratulated President Guelleh for his nation's feat in containing the pandemic spread. "Djibouti's effective response to the COVID pandemic is a model for other nations, particularly in Africa," said Townsend. "We are looking to help our Djiboutian partners by delivering critically needed medical equipment and supplies." Multiple Department of Defense-funded humanitarian projects to include the delivery of COVID hygiene kits, beds, personal protective equipment, and laboratory supplies are slated for delivery to the government of Djibouti this month. The U.S. delegation thanked the government of Djibouti for its support of critical and continued U.S. Africa Command logistics missions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Townsend also participated in a U.S.-Djibouti senior leader roundtable following the Change of Command at the Combined-Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), Camp Lemonnier. The roundtable included Djiboutian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Defense Hassan Omar Mohamed Bourhan, and the Armed Forces of Djibouti Headquarters Chief of Staff, BG Taher Ali Mohamed. Djiboutian leaders thanked U.S. Africa Command leadership for the continued training and equipping of the Rapid Intervention Battalion. The RIB is the Djiboutian army's elite military force, which the U.S. is in the process of training and equipping at the request of the Djiboutian government. Several U.S. leaders also took part in the roundtable, including U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti, Larry E. Andre; U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lapthe C. Flora, commander of CJTF-HOA; and U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Damian T. Donahoe, deputy commander of CJTF-HOA. While in Djibouti, Townsend also met with service members from CJTF-HOA's East Africa Response Force. The EARF provides a combat-ready rapid deployment capability to support crises operations in the U.S. Africa Command Area of Responsibility. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Gurugram, the hardest-hit district in Haryana reported six deaths, while Faridabad recorded four. Ambala and Rohtak reported one death each, according to a state Health Department bulletin. The Haryana government has repeatedly blamed Delhi for the spike in cases in districts adjoining the national capital. The Haryana government had on Wednesday transferred the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Gurugram as the infection tally reached 2,546 cases. Haryana reported 12 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, the worst single-day toll in the state due to the virus, as total infections neared 6,000. Sixty-four people have died due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, including 22 in Faridabad, 19 in Gurugram, four in Rohtak and three in Ambala. ALSO REA | Delhi shocker! 1114 COVID-19 deaths unreported, indicates data from civic bodies According to Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rajiv Arora, most of those who died had severe co-morbid conditions. Officials said the COVID-19 fatalities reported on Thursday include a 23-year-old woman who died in Ambala. They said the woman was also a tuberculosis patient who had recently come from Delhi to meet her maternal grandmother at the Ambala Cantonment. Among the 389 new cases in the state, Gurugram reported 191, taking the total number of cases in the district to 2,737, of which 1,760 are active. Faridabad reported 74 cases, Ambala 13, Palwal 10, Jind three, Karnal 17, Yamunanagar nine, Fatehabad and Mahendragarh seven each, Rewari eight, Rohtak 29, Hisar, Bhiwani, Sirsa, Panchkula and Jhajjar four each, while Panipat reported one case. For 10 days, Haryana has been reporting a surge in the number of positive cases, particularly in Gurgaon and Faridabad. (With PTI inputs) Appointment 12 June 2020 Remington Hotels announced today the appointment of Don Falgoust as Vice President of Food & Beverage Strategy Execution, who will lead all F&B initiatives for Remington Hotels' 87 properties. Bringing close to 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry to the role, Falgoust will be responsible for providing strategic leadership, guidance and direction for all new and existing concepts and initiatives, collaborating with the Remington Hotels development team and hotel owners on F&B ideation and operations for new build and conversion hotels and working alongside operations and sales leaders to ensure the highest standards and efficiency for all F&B outlets, catering and banquets. For the last 12 years Falgoust served first as Vice President of Food & Beverage at FelCor and then at RLJ Lodging Trust after the company acquired FelCor two years ago. RLJ is a publicly traded real estate investment trust focused on owning premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels. In his role, he oversaw all aspects of food and beverage operations for up to 158 hotels, focusing on revenue generation, profitability, training and service delivery. During his tenure he also developed over 15 unique restaurant and bar concepts, including Oak Long Bar & Kitchen at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston and St. Cloud Rooftop bar at The Knickerbocker Hotel in New York City. Falgoust began his hospitality career serving in a variety of roles, including Corporate Director of Food & Beverage and Area Director of Food & Beverage for companies including Hyatt Hotels, Wyndham Hotels and Westin Hotels, as well as a number of leading independent restaurants. Joe Biden has released a new campaign ad, that takes aim at president Donald Trump, for reportedly visiting the White House bunker during George Floyd protests. The new ad, from the presumptive Democratic candidate for president, criticises the presidents leadership qualities, and is titled Deer In The Headlight Pt 2. The Biden campaign released the first Deer In The Headlights video three weeks ago, which attacked Mr Trump for his leadership during the coronavirus pandemic. The second video in the series focuses on his leadership in response to recent protests that have taken place across the US, following the death of Mr Floyd, who died after his neck was knelt on by Derek Chauvin, who at the time was a Minneapolis police officer. Protests, in opposition to police brutality against African Americans, started in Minneapolis, but quickly spread to every state across the US, including outside the White House. Donald Trump too scared to face the people. Too weak to lead, the narrator says at the start of the ad, as images of Mr Trump and protesters are shown. The nation marches for justice, and like a deer in the headlights, hes paralysed with fear. He doesnt know what to do, so he hides in his bunker, the narrator adds, referencing reports that the president visited the emergency bunker, while demonstrators protested outside the White House gates. It was widely reported that on 29 May Mr Trump went down to the emergency bunker, which was created to keep the president safe, with his wife Melania and son Barron, when protesters loudly demonstrated outside the White House. Mr Trump and his family were reportedly down in the bunker for around an hour, according to sources who spoke to CNN, in what the president claimed was a bunker inspection. However, US attorney general, William Barr, contradicted the presidents claim and told Fox News on Tuesday, that during the protests on 29 May, things were so bad that the Secret Service recommended that the president go down to the bunker. According to CNN, the president became upset when people suggested he was weak for hiding from the protesters, and they reported that he then arranged a visit to the nearby St Johns Episcopal Church, as a show of strength. Later in Mr Bidens ad, the narrator says: Then hes afraid he looks too weak, so he has tear gas and flash grenades used on peaceful protesters...just for a photo op. On Monday 1 June, Mr Trump left the White House to go to the church for a photo opportunity, and protesters outside the gates were tear gassed and fired at with rubber bullets. Last week, it was confirmed by White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, that Mr Barr ordered the protestors to be dispersed, and the attorney general told Fox News that he made the order to move the protesters away from the executive mansion. Recommended Trump campaign asks CNN to retract poll showing Biden beating him The ad, paid for by Biden for President, finishes with the narrator saying: The cries for justice grow. Where is Donald Trump? Too scared to face the people. Too small to meet the moment. Too weak to lead. On Wednesday, the Trump campaign team released a new ad that criticised Mr Biden for kneeling at a church, in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The narrator in the ad claimed: Antifa destroys our communities. Rioting. Looting. Yet Joe Biden kneels down. The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment. Two men who were walking across Lee Highway in a crosswalk were hit by a Pontiac Vibe, according to an initial report from Fairfax County police. The driver stayed at the scene. Police said both of the pedestrians were taken to hospitals. One of them Rafael R. Bernal, 24, of Centreville died of his injuries, according to police. The other man suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, police said. Lucknow, June 12 : More than 500 post offices in Uttar Pradesh will now sell hand sanitizers. Chief Postmaster General of UP, Kaushalendra Kumar Sinha, said the postal department had signed an MoU with Meghdoot Gramodyog Sewa Sansthan, a cooperative that manufactures an array of products, including hand sanitizers. "As per the agreement, the department will sell the sanitizers, along with a few other products, made by the manufacturer. These products will be available at 500 select post offices across Uttar Pradesh from June 15. The sale will continue for a period of one year," Sinha said. The postal department has remained functional throughout the lockdown period. Besides the usual mails, the postmen also delivered ventilators and Covid-19 test kits to hospitals and even disbursed cash to more than 30 lakh people during the lockdown. Shehu Sani, former Kaduna Central Senator, has berated President Muhammadu Buhari for blaming COVID-19 restriction for the killings in... Shehu Sani, former Kaduna Central Senator, has berated President Muhammadu Buhari for blaming COVID-19 restriction for the killings in some Northern States. Sani said it was meaningless to blame the killings in the North on the lockdown and restrictions. Recently, gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed several people in Katsina, Borno and Kaduna States. Reacting to the killings, Buhari in his nationwide broadcast to mark this years Democracy Day, said criminals were taking advantage of the COVID-19 restriction to attack and murder people. Buhari, however, directed security operatives to ensure perpetrators are apprehended and made to face justice. However, Sani asked Buhari to end the killings of Nigerians. In a tweet, the former lawmaker wrote: Blaming #COVID19 restrictions for the ongoing mass murder in the North is outrightly meaningless. The Government must own up to its evident failure and reset its strategies in order to end the slaughter of Our people. Ryanair, British Airways and EasyJet have begun legal action against the British governments quarantine policy in a bid to overturn what they see as overly strict rules. All three airlines had hoped to resume regular flights after air travel came to a total standstill during the coronavirus pandemic, leading to almost 20,000 job losses between them. But Britains 14-day quarantine, introduced on June 8 for arrivals from abroad, is deterring bookings at a time when other European countries are beginning to open their borders. The airlines said in a statement issued by British Airways and Aer Lingus parent company IAG they had lodged their complaint with the British High Court, asking for a judicial review as soon as possible. If judges agree, lawyers have said the government would have to show the scientific evidence that underpinned the rule. There was no immediate response from the British government, which has previously defended quarantine as necessary to prevent a second wave of the coronavirus. Britains chief scientist said earlier in June that politicians decided the policy, adding quarantines worked best for restricting travel from countries with high infection rates. The airlines said there was no scientific evidence for the policy and there had been no consultation with the industry on the new rules. Their legal action escalates tensions with the British government, and the relationship is in contrast to France and Germany where governments have bailed out their carriers. The airlines said they wanted the UK government to re-adopt its previous quarantine policy introduced on March 10 which applied only to passengers arriving from countries deemed as high risk. They also dismissed air bridges, bilateral deals between countries with low infection rates, which the British government has presented as a potential alternative to the quarantine, saying they had not yet seen any evidence of how these would work. Head of airport representative group ACI Europe Olivier Jankovec, said: As we all re-emerge from the peak of the pandemic, airports and airlines are right there at the forefront of ensuring that we can all kick-start our economies - and frankly our daily lives - with confidence and security. This is why it is essential that governments play ball and now fully lift the remaining restrictions to intra-Europe travel." Ryanair has also reiterated its call for the Irish government to abandon air travel quarantine laws, saying Irelands "useless form filling quarantine, "which has no scientific or medical efficacy", is deterring EU visitors coming to Ireland in July and August "at a time when most other EU countries are removing restrictions and welcoming tourists." -Reuters and Irish Examiner Allegations of racial bias within the Wall Township Police Department have resurfaced with the filing of yet another related lawsuit, this one charging that a black former Wall police officer was the victim of defamation and prevented from launching a new career thanks to false information provided by a former towship mayor to the former officers prospective landlords. The new suit was filed against the landlords in state Superior Court in Freehold on June 4 by Suresh Madhaven, 43, who in January had settled a separate discrimination suit against the township for $500,000. In that suit, Madhavan, an Indian American with dark skin, alleged that he was the victim of years of discrimination and harassment, including being called the N-word and made to perform humiliating tasks around police headquarters. Neither the township, the police department, nor any Wall officials or officers are named as defendants in the defamation suit. But Madhavans lawyer, Jeffrey Downs, said the complaint could be amended depending on what is learned about how and why the former mayor provided the defamatory information to the landlords, which could constitute a violation of Mahavans and the townships settlement agreement. The settlement stemmed from a suit Madhavan filed in 2018, after the township had settled another discrimination suit that year for $1.25 million. That suit had been filed in 2015 by a former Wall tax clerk, Brandon Jacobs, who had charged he was the victim of harassment and discrimination based on his Jewish faith. A third discrimination suit, filed in 2018 by a suspended police dispatcher, Nicholas Curcio, is now pending in Superior Court. Curcio is white, but his suit charges he was ridiculed for a darkening of the skin tone in his legs due to his diabetes, called a monkey, and subjected to other racist and sexually explicit materials. Mirroring the allegations in those lawsuits, Democratic critics have accused Walls all-Republican Township Committee of tolerating a toxic culture of hate, a charge that Walls elected and appointed leaders deny. More broadly, the allegations of racism and the costly settlements theyve incurred form the backdrop of a demonstration scheduled for Friday outside Wall Police Headquarters thats part of the nationwide protest against police brutality and racial bias, set off by last months death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis. Madhavan, who was born in New York City and lives in Wall, is the son of a woman originally from India. He said he never knew his father of his fathers race, but that others identify him as black. My whole life, people have seen me as a black kid and as a black man, and I was known as that black cop, he told NJ Advance Media in an interview. Madhavan joined the Wall Police Department in 2003 as its first non-white officer, and served for 13 years before being forced out in 2016 on what he said were trumped up administrative charges despite an otherwise spotless record. In his discrimination suit and in the defamation suit against his employers landlords, Madhavan charged that he was subjected to verbal and other harassment because of his race, including being called the N-word, was made to perform menial tasks around police headquarters, and was assigned a second officer to accompany him on patrol. The defendants in the defamation suit are a Monmouth County couple who own a medical building in Asbury Park where Madhaven had sought to join a doctor and a nurse in a cosmetic medical practice as a Fibroblast technician, promising to shave years off clients appearance by tightening their skin. The suit charges that the defendants, gynecologist Dr. Carl Lepis and his wife, Joanne Lepis, had their lawyer send a letter to the doctor and nurse Madhavan was to work with about an episode that occurred during Madhavans tenure as a Wall officer. The Landlord Defendants, with actual malice, sought to interfere with the rights of Plaintiff and repeat false and incomplete information to Plaintiffs employers, and others, in the effort to cause Plaintiff great financial harm, the suit asserts. The defamation suit charges that earlier this year, the Lepises learned from the mayor at the time, George Newberry, that Madhavan had tried to use a sex tape to blackmail his supervisor, an assertion Madhavan disputes. Newberry did not respond to requests for comment. Madhavens Fibroblast practice would have been located in space that his associates had leased from the Lepises and would have shared space with Dr. Lepis gynecology practice, a situation Lepises found unacceptable in light of what they believe about Madhavans past, he says. The letter from their lawyer, Marc Comer, which is attached to the defamation complaint as Exhibit A, states: Given the proposed subtenants publicized involvement in prurient activities, there is no question that the landlord is not being unreasonable in refusing to give consent to an arrangement involving shared examination rooms with gynecological patients. The Lepises did not respond to requests for comment. But in an interview, Comer said he believed the couple had learned about Madhavans past from news stories about his lawsuit. Madhavan said he was shocked that, even after the costly settlement in January, a township official would try to keep him from starting a new career in private life by spreading lies about him to his would-be landlords. I said, Youve got to be kidding me! The ink hadnt even dried on the settlement, he said. How much more do you want to hurt me? Madhavan added. You already fired me. You took my salary. You took my pension. You took my life away. Newberry, the former mayor, abruptly resigned from his mayoral post and as a member of the Wall Township Committee in April. In his resignation letter, Newberry cited his failure to win the endorsement of the Monmouth County Republican Organization in the July 7 GOP primary, despite being one of two incumbents seeking re-election this year. His successor as mayor, Carl Braun, a political ally of Newberrys who is seeking re-election to the township committee and would have been Newberrys running mate in the July primary, declined to comment on the defamation case, other than to defend the integrity and professionalism of the Wall Township Police Department, which he insisted was free of racial bias. When Madhavans earlier suit was settled in January, Walls township administrator, Jeff Bertrand, said the $500,000 award was not an admission by the township that Madhavans charges of discrimination were true. Rather, Bertrand said at the time, it was lawyers for the townships insurance company, Summit Risk Services of Horsham, Pennsylvania, who insisted on settling the case rather than risking a much larger jury award if the case were to go to trial. Bertrand did not respond to requests for comment on Madhavans defamation suit. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Anti-corruption Prosecutors working for the Spanish Supreme Court have taken over the investigation into the country's emeritus king Juan Carlos I and the possible receipt of commissions for helping win a contract for Spain to build high speed trains in Saudi Arabia. Some 80 million euros in commissions has been reported as part of the 6.7 billion deal for the prestigious AVE rail system in 2011. A court report says there could be evidence against the king, who abdicated in 2014 in favour of his son, Felipe VI. The investigation has to be carried out in the Supreme Court due to the king's protected status and the investigation will only cover activity from June 2014 onwards, as before that date the former monarch had immunity. The suspicion started to fall on Juan Carlos after a former lover, Corinna Larsen, was secretly recorded saying that the king had received commissions. As well as the investigation in Spain, Swiss authorities have been investigating possible money laundering and Corinna Larsen has launched a private case against the king for possible harassment. In March this year, King Felipe publicly renounced his rights to any inheritance from his father. International condemnation is growing of South Korea's attempts to crack down on activists sending propaganda leaflets across the border into North Korea. There has been a flurry of criticism even from hitherto friendly Americans who now worry that freedoms are being trampled on in kowtowing to North Korean histrionics whose purpose is not even clear. Phil Robertson, the deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division, said in a statement Thursday that South Korea's attempts to revoke the charitable status of activists and prosecute them are a blow to efforts to hold North Korea accountable for its human rights violations for the sake of political expediency. The moves are "a blatant violation of freedom of association that cannot be justified with vague appeals to border security and relations with the North," he added. Human Rights Watch headquarters said it was "shameful how President [Moon Jae-in] and his government are totally unwilling to stand up for the rights of North Koreans." Click here to read the full article. ABC has severed ties with Jessica Mulroney, Good Morning America contributor, celebrity stylist and best friend to Meghan Markle, following a social media firestorm over comments Mulroney allegedly made to black influencer Sasha Exeter. As Jessica Mulroney said last night, she is stepping away from her professional engagements and that includes Good Morning America. She will no longer appear on our show, ABCs Good Morning America announced Friday on its official Twitter account. More from Deadline As Jessica Mulroney said last night, she is stepping away from her professional engagements and that includes Good Morning America. She will no longer appear on our show. Good Morning America (@GMA) June 12, 2020 Mulroney had worked as a fashion contributor to GMA since 2018. Exeter accused Mulroney of threatening her after Exeter asked that public figures use their social media following as a platform for good. Exeter explained in a nearly 12-minute video on Instagram that she wanted her peers and those with a social media presence to speak up, stand up, and use their voice for good to help combat whats going on with this race war and whats happening to the black community. Vanderpump Rules Stars Stassi Schroeder & Kristen Doute Among Four Fired Over Racist Comments Exeter said Mulroney mistook her call to action for a personal attack and threatened her in writing last week. On Thursday Canadas Bell Media said it pulled Mulroneys CTV reality series I Do, Redo due to conduct by Mulroney that conflicts with our commitment to diversity and equality. Story continues Bell Media and CTV encourages our entire team including our on-air talent to practice respect, inclusivity, and allyship as we pledge to work better and more openly to listen to and amplify Black voices, and not to minimize them, Bell Media said in a statement. Because recent conduct by one of our shows hosts, Jessica Mulroney, conflicts with our commitment to diversity and equality, CTV has removed I Do, Redo from all Bell Media channels and platforms effective immediately. Mulroney, who is known to be a close friend of Markle, became prominent in the U.S. following Markles marriage to Prince Harry. Mulroneys father-in-law, Brian Mulroney, was prime minister of Canada from 1984-93. Mulroney issued her own statement on Instagram, saying the incident has prompted her to step away from work engagement for now. The events that have transpired over the last few days have made it clear that I have work to do, she wrote, in part. Im going to take this time to reflect, learn and focus on my family. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. As the global pandemic triggered distress in San Antonio and across the world, it further exposed the socioeconomic disparities that exist in our city, particularly among the poorest of the poor. In a pre-COVID-19 world, the lack of reliable internet access, computers and training already hindered families ability to participate in the local and global economy. In this COVID-19 era, the digital barrier has been devastating, cutting their access to everything from online learning to telehealth services. According to the Digital Inclusion Alliance San Antonio, 1 in 4 households on the South, East and West sides where economic mobility has been stifled, leading to generational poverty do not have access to the internet. Amid it all, San Antonio Housing Authority, or SAHA, residents have found themselves in uncharted territory. In a city named the poorest, largest metropolitan city in America, digital access is key. The lack of broadband connectivity should be considered a basic utility, like water or electricity. We would take emergency action if one of our San Antonio neighborhoods did not have access to water or electricity. We should have the same sense of urgency for internet access. The link between low internet connectivity numbers and marginalized communities is indisputable. The Brookings Institution noted in its recent report that broadband is the countrys most inequitable infrastructure and those least likely to have broadband in America are low-income communities of color. The San Antonio Housing Authority has nearly 6,800 students in its public housing communities, many of whom live in the near East Side and West Side and attend public school where only 54.4 percent of students have access to a computer. We commend the school districts that distributed laptops to families for online education. While children are growing up with smart devices as a way of life, school districts were forced to bring in new teaching platforms unfamiliar to some families who were suddenly given the role of teacher, without the basic knowledge of devices or the internet. The San Antonio Housing Authority has been bridging the digital divide for low-income individuals and families since 2015 with the formation of ConnectHomeSA, a partnership between SAHA, the private sector and the federal government. It was spearheaded by Julian Castro, former U.S. Housing and Urban Development secretary, and former San Antonio mayor. Through ConnectHomeSA, about 4,000 SAHA residents have completed more than 18,000 hours of computer literacy training. Nearly 1,000 residents have access to a hot spot or free Wi-Fi. ConnectHomeSA is a national model of best practices. The housing authority also garnered a $100,000 grant in the Mozilla and National Science Foundations Smart Community Challenge for the construction of SMARTI, a prototype that will use solar energy to access a local network and distribute free Wi-Fi to Cassiano Homes. When completed, all 499 units in the community, approximately 1,800 individuals across 50 acres, will have access to free Wi-Fi. Yet, we have so much more to do. At the peak of the pandemic, SAHA joined forces with VIA Metropolitan Transit to bring mobile hot spots near several SAHA communities where digital connectivity is extremely limited and where households on average make less than $10,000 annually. San Antonio Housing Authoritys partnerships with Google, Goodwill San Antonio and USAA are instrumental in getting all our families connected to the internet, devices and training to achieve academic success and, ultimately, economic mobility. Partners such as the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology, Boeing and Port San Antonio serve SAHA students through the Geekbus STEM Club. Recently, the SAHA board approved $4 million to expand Wi-Fi to SAHA residents. Paired with the city of San Antonios $27 million allocation for digital inclusion, this is a huge step in the right direction. Last month, the COVID-19 Community Action Social Services Working Group, which I am proud to serve on, recommended forming a digital inclusion consortium with area partners. The need is growing rapidly, requiring this newly formed consortium and other partnerships to now look at using the recently approved funding and begin the difficult task of implementation. We invite others in our community to join SAHA and the city of San Antonio in addressing this significant challenge. If the last few weeks are any indication of how San Antonio can mobilize in the best interest of the community, Im certain, by working together, we can bring digital access to our most underserved and vulnerable neighbors. Lets connect all #ConnectTodos. Ana Margarita Cha Guzman serves is chair of the SAHA board of commissioners and a member of San Antonios COVID-19 Community Action Working Group. Two North Korean defector-run groups, targeted for legal action by South Korean authorities, say they intend to continue sending propaganda leaflets and humanitarian aid into North Korea, despite criticism from governments in both countries. On Wednesday, South Korea, which is trying to improve ties with the North, accused the two groups, Kuensaem Education Center and Fighters for a Free North Korea, of violating the Inter-Korean Exchange and Co-operation Act by sending leaflets and aid such as rice and medicine. On Thursday, the Souths Unification Ministry said it had asked Seoul police to investigate the groups. For the past week, North Korean state media have carried a series of reports and statements from senior officials expressing outrage over defectors, denouncing them as mongrel dogs and human scum little short of wild animals. Park Jung-oh, who defected to South Korea in 2000 and heads Kuensaem, said the organisation is still planning to send hundreds of bottles stuffed with rice, medicine and medical face masks to North Korea by throwing them into the sea near the border next week. Fighters for a Free North Korea, which is run by Parks brother Park Sang-hak, has also said it plans to send more leaflets into North Korea by balloon over the heavily fortified border. South Korean authorities have occasionally moved to stop such operations, including in 2018 during a series of summits between South Korean president Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The two Koreas even traded fire in 2014 after the Norths military fired machine guns at balloons launched by defector activists. This week, the ministry said it was considering a law to ban the leaflets and aid, saying they raise tensions with North Korea, pose risks to South Koreans living near the border, and cause environmental damage. South Korean residents near the border have complained about the two defector groups and they had failed to register the goods before sending them to the North, the ministry said, when asked why they had been singled out from around a dozen groups which send goods over the border. Over the weekend some locals stopped an effort by a separate group to send bottles of rice by sea. In a poll released on Thursday by South Korean pollster Realmeter, 50 per cent of those surveyed said they would support a ban on such operations, while 41 per cent said they were opposed. Heo Kwang-il, head of the defector-run Committee for the Democratization of North Korea, said defector groups had been doing work the Moon administration was failing to do to support human rights in North Korea. US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) called the leaflets a relatively harmless expressive act that should not be banned. It is shameful how President Moon and his government are totally unwilling to stand up for the rights of North Koreans, Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for HRW said in a statement. Engagement with North Korea should incorporate South Korean values of democracy and freedom of expression, said Sokeel Park of Liberty in North Korea, which supports defectors. Ditching such hard-won values to comply with harsh threats from Pyongyang, just to preserve a veneer of improved inter-Korean relations, sets a terrible precedent and puts all future engagement efforts on a tenuous footing, he said. The prospect is mouthwatering. Take the most intimate unseen footage of the biggest band in the throes of a bitter break-up, and give it to the Oscar-winning director of the highest-grossing trilogies in movie history to polish into cinematic gold. Sir Peter Jackson, director of The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit, announced 18 months ago that he was to make a new Beatles documentary using material from 55 hours of footage and 140 hours of mostly unheard audio shot and recorded for the film Let It Be, which followed the Fab Four in January 1969 as they rehearsed and recorded their penultimate studio album. It will be the ultimate fly-on-the-wall experience, said Peter. Its like a time machine transports us back to 1969, and we get to sit in the studio watching four friends make great music together. The Beatles perform a rooftop concert at Apple Corps HQ, Saville Row, London in January 1969. It was the last time the band ever played together in public. The scene was filmed for the film Let It Be, which followed the Fab Four in January 1969 'Watching John, Paul, George and Ringo work together, creating now classic songs from scratch, is not only fascinating, its funny, uplifting and intimate. Its an amazing historical treasure trove. And now that mouthwatering dish is to be served, with the new film called The Beatles: Get Back scheduled for release in September. So what can we look forward to? Well, the original has gained almost mythical status since its release in May 1970, by which point The Beatles had split up, because they were at breaking point during filming. Not only were they finding the strain of being The Beatles intolerable, but Johns obsession with his girlfriend Yoko Ono was altering the dynamic between the four tight-knit members. Let It Be gave audiences their very first peek at the inner workings of the most famous band in the world. It showed the tensions that had been building between John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr after years of unrelenting fame. It also featured footage of their famous concert on the roof of their Apple Corps HQ, the last time the band ever played together in public. The band on film recording their album Let It Be. Yoko Ono was constantly by Johns side at the recordings, leading fans to believe shed been the cause of the bands subsequent split The original films director, Michael Lindsay-Hogg, had a meeting at the current Apple Corps HQ in Knightsbridge in October 2018, where they discussed the idea of Peter Jackson doing the documentary. Peter said that because the original was released after The Beatles broke up, it was viewed as a goodbye-to-an-era film, says Michael. But there are lots of moments of them laughing and joking and creating music. Peter thought it would be interesting to see more of that interaction. LENNON'S VERY RACY RECORDING Michael Lindsay-Hogg refutes the idea that Yoko Ono was responsible for The Beatles eventual break-up, but there was a bizarre incident when the four band members and Michael met up before they started filming Let It Be. We were all preparing to head off for Christmas when John said, I want to play you a tape and put it in the cassette player, recalls Michael. You couldnt identify what it was at first, but there were people talking in hushed tones and giggling. And then we realised it was John and Yoko making love. Once it was over, I think one of them said, Thats a nice tape, but other than that no one knew how to react. I think John was making a statement saying, This is Yoko and me and were together. Michael Lindsay-Hogg refutes the idea that Yoko Ono (above, with John Lennon) was responsible for The Beatles eventual break-up Advertisement Peter has used some of the techniques he developed on his acclaimed 2018 First World War documentary They Shall Not Grow Old to enhance the original footage. He showed me some of the new footage and its beautiful, says Michael. Whereas in the original you couldnt see the Beatles hair clearly, for example, now hes buffed it up so you can even see strands of their hair. When Michaels original documentary premiered in New York on 13 May, 1970, it was, he says, a grim affair. None of the Beatles showed up. Peter described Let It Be as like a baby no one really wanted any more, he says. Back in 1969, the baby had been conceived as a TV documentary that would air a week prior to a televised Beatles concert at an amphitheatre in Tunisia featuring the songs on the album including The Long And Winding Road, Get Back and, of course, Let It Be. But when plans for the concert were dropped, the project became a cinema film instead. During the filming George Harrison, who described the sessions as the low of all time, walked out, while John Lennon called the month-long shoot hell. Moreover, Yoko Ono was constantly by Johns side at the recordings, leading fans to believe shed been the cause of the bands subsequent split. Now 80, Michael had been a friend of the band for some years, having directed the videos for their songs Paperback Writer and Hey Jude. They were all quite tough they had definite opinions and were able to defend them. But they were all intelligent and funny, he recalls. Ringo was the one I knew least. George was in a way the most sensitive. John and Paul were both forceful and charismatic. Together the two were unstoppable. What was interesting was the paradoxes of their personalities. Paul was more easy-going and charming, but underneath he was the enforcer. John was the witty one, sometimes aggressive but underneath he was less sure. Filming of the rehearsals for their new album began on 2 January, 1969 at Twickenham Film Studios. Things had changed since their early days as teenagers. Theyd started to live more separate lives. The old pecking order still held though, so if there were 12 tracks on an album, nine would be written by Lennon and McCartney, two would be by George and one by Ringo. I think George felt he wasnt receiving his artistic due. Incredibly, there were also financial concerns because when their manager Brian Epstein died in 1967 he left the organisation of the company in a mess. As tensions mounted, Michael captured one of the most famous exchanges in the movie when George, responding to Pauls criticism of his guitar-playing, responds, Ill play whatever you want me to play, or I wont play at all if you dont want me to play. Whatever it is thatll please you, Ill do it. Director Michael Lindsay-Hogg said Paul McCartney, pictured in the documentary, was more easy-going and charming than John Lennon, but underneath he was the enforcer Shortly afterwards, Michael reveals, George walked out on the band. I could feel trouble brewing and as we only filmed in the studio, I decided to bug the flowerpot on the table where we were having lunch just in case, he recalls. We all used to eat together and on the Friday, it was clear George didnt want to travel anywhere for the TV concert and that he felt things had reached a crisis point. He said, OK, Im off. See you around the clubs, and left. Everyone was open-mouthed. I was pleased Id bugged the table, but when I played the tape back all you could hear was muffled voices and the sound of knives and forks. I was thinking, F***, because Id got it, but I didnt quite get it. Thats why Georges walk-out wasnt in the film. Stunned by their bandmates departure, the other three and Yoko returned to the studio. Michael Lindsay-Hogg (pictured) reveals all about the fractious atmosphere on set They improvised a really ferocious jam session with Yoko providing this weird, high-pitched vocal, says Michael. They were working out their frustrations and then they stopped and went home. Five days after quitting, George agreed to return on the proviso the televised concert was dropped and filming would continue at the bands own Apple Studio in Londons Savile Row, where they felt more comfortable. As the film progresses, its Paul who seems the most enthusiastic and in one scene hes talking to John, who has trouble disguising his boredom. Paul didnt want The Beatles to break up, says Michael, but I think John wanted a more bohemian way of life. This was in part down to Yoko Ono, a Japanese avant-garde artist hed met in 1966 and who remained by his side throughout filming. The other three took it that John wanted her there, so that was that, says Michael. As the TV concert had been cancelled, Michael felt he needed a new ending. So I said, Why dont we do a concert on the roof? Since then everyone has claimed credit for it, including the ladies who cooked lunch! Before the event, he installed a two-way mirror in the lobby downstairs. I did it in case the police showed up. I knew some people would complain about the noise and as an American who didnt really have a work permit, I was afraid of being deported, he admits. As it turned out, he had bigger problems. In the anteroom underneath the roof, Paul was raring to go. During the filming George Harrison (pictured) , who described the sessions as the low of all time, walked out, while John Lennon called the month-long shoot hell Ringo said, Its really cold up there [he ended up wearing his wife Maureens coat while drumming] and George said, Whats the point? John hadnt said anything yet and there was a pause where the whole thing was in the balance, says Michael. Finally, John said, F*** it, lets do it and they all walked up the ladder, onto the roof and into history. It would be the last time The Beatles played in public. We didnt know it at the time, says Michael. They were really good and really happy playing together. When the police came, the Beatles enjoyed the hoo-ha and seeing the crowds on the street. Filming done, Michael screened a rough cut of the film for the Beatles. The next day, Peter Brown, the bands management rep, spoke to Michael. He said perhaps we should lose some of the John and Yoko stuff. When I asked why, he replied, Put it this way Ive had three phone calls saying we should take it out. Some of the footage of Yoko was subsequently cut. The Beatles made one more album, Abbey Road, but by now John, George and Ringo had signed with manager Allen Klein, while Paul was represented by Lee Eastman, his future wife Lindas father. On 10 April, 1970, a month before the films release, Paul left The Beatles. But I think it was John who didnt want to do it any more, says Michael. The film won the 1971 Oscar for Best Original Song Score. In hindsight, would Michael have done anything differently? Probably not, he says. Although I might have used a better mic in the flowerpot. Graham Hill's speciality is the abduction and murder of children by sexual predators Were it not for coronavirus, Graham Hill would be in the US this week training FBI agents. His speciality is the abduction and murder of children by sexual predators, and when he talks senior detectives from police and investigation agencies around the world listen. But they didnt in the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz in 2007. Dr Hill has given the Mail a disturbing insider account of the chaotic first two weeks of the hunt for Madeleine McCann. On May 7, 2007, Dr Hill then a Surrey detective superintendent seconded to the UKs new Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre flew to Portugal to lend expert help to the hunt for Madeleine. The three-year-olds disappearance on May 3 from a bedroom at the Ocean Club while her parents, Gerry and Kate, ate dinner was beginning to dominate the news. Detective Superintendent Hill who had secured the worlds first conviction based on familial DNA could have helped while the evidence was still fresh. Three-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared on May 3 2007 from a bedroom at the Ocean Club while her parents, Gerry and Kate (pictured), ate dinner But thanks to systemic dysfunction and suspicion of outside intervention by the Portuguese police team led by detective Goncalo Amaral, who would be removed from the case and publish a book which made false allegations against Madeleines parents his input was unwelcome. Thirteen years and 12million of UK taxpayer-funded investigations later she has still not been found. But ten days ago, German prosecutors named convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner, 43, as a prime suspect. Portuguese detective Goncalo Amaral was removed from the case and published a book which made false allegations against Madeleines parents Officers tipped off Brueckner in blunder German police told Christian Brueckner he was a suspect in the Madeleine McCann case in 2013, papers reveal. Experts said the blunder means he potentially had years to dispose of evidence allegedly linking him to her. Brueckner is now the prime suspect in her disappearance in 2007. His name was first passed to police when a man who used to run a pool cleaning service with him in Portugal saw a TV e-fit appeal in May 2013. Officers in Braunschweig, where Brueckner was living, checked databases, found he was a known sexual offender and sent him a letter asking him to attend the police station. German police told Christian Brueckner he was a suspect in the Madeleine McCann case in 2013, papers reveal The document, obtained by Spiegel TV and seen by the Daily Mail, asked him to appear for questioning as a witness in the Maddie disappearance. One former police officer said: This should not have happened in such a delicate case. And Dr Alexander Stevens, a criminal lawyer in Germany, said: If Christian B really is involved he would have had chance to kill evidence such as computers. Advertisement He is serving a jail term in Germany for drug-dealing. In December he was sentenced to seven years for raping a 72-year-old US woman in Praia da Luz in 2005 a conviction that is being reviewed. The blame game has already begun, however. Why wasnt Brueckner on the radar of the initial Portuguese investigation, and why wasnt he identified by the Mets own nine-year probe Operation Grange? A source close to the McCann case said last night: A war is brewing between the Portuguese police and Scotland Yard over their previous knowledge of Brueckner. The Portuguese are, once again, becoming defensive about their role. Portuguese police have told local media that Met detectives knew about Brueckner in 2012 but had devalued him as a suspect by not attributing relevance and never requesting further information. A British police source confirmed that Brueckner was a person of interest at the start of Operation Grange, but there was insufficient evidence to make him a suspect. Dr Hill, who retired from the force in 2012, has watched the latest development with interest. On the day he arrived in Praia da Luz in 2007 he met Mr and Mrs McCann, who told him they were already concerned about what was being done by local police. He said: They wanted reassurance. Gerry McCann told me, I took my daughter from one EU country to another EU country. How could the standards of police investigation be so different?. I could not give them any reassurance. But I said I would try to help them find their daughter. The next morning at the towns police station he met those leading the Portuguese investigators. It was like going back to the 1970s, he recalls. Very macho. The incident room was full of cigarette smoke and there was a noticeable absence of women. It wasnt what I expected coming from a UK investigative perspective. There did not seem to be a lot of people around. It wasnt very busy. And thats all I saw of how they worked. I was never invited anywhere else. It was fraught from the word go. The detectives were very polite and measured but also suspicious of why we were there and what we were seeking to achieve. I only met Amaral on that first occasion and one further meeting. Clearly he felt he did not need my help. Dr Hill said he asked every day for information or a meeting with someone connected to the case, adding: I had to do all the pushing. The meeting would be scheduled then, invariably, cancelled. If I asked about search strategies they would simply tell me they were doing everything possible. If I asked about known sex offenders they would tell me it was all in hand. I was kept at a distance. I could offer advice on predatory sex offenders and hope they would show some interest and engage, but they didnt. It took an awfully long time to establish even the smallest detail. No one ever said, What do you think?. They were simply paying lip service to my presence. It was several days before they even told him they were focused on a prime suspect British expat Robert Murat. Dr Hill offered them advice on interview techniques, which was the only time he believes they ever really listened to him, but Murat proved to be completely innocent. No other suspects were ever mentioned to him. The McCanns only became suspects, or arguidos, in September another indication of how the investigation was run badly from the start. Ten days ago, German prosecutors named convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner (left), 43, as a prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann Dr Hill said that had Portuguese detectives been more willing to discuss the case I would have told them the first people they needed to eliminate from the investigation is the parents or a relative. He added: For the Portuguese to make them suspects months later was complete nonsense. The job had got away from them very early on and they never recovered. It was too big for them. After ten days of passive obstruction, Dr Hill returned to the UK. Difficult questions must be asked of Portuguese and British police, he said, as to why Brueckner was not properly investigated before now. He added: When did the Portuguese know about Brueckner? And in what context? These same questions apply to the Metropolitan Police. The worst-case scenario for any senior investigating officer is that there is information already in their systems which would have led to an ID of the offender. Citing US research, he said: They looked at 75 convictions for child abduction 70 per cent of those who carried them out were spoken to in the first 48 hours of the investigation. Its good to say, Lets go back and look again. But that didnt happen. Madeleine still has not been found. But we must learn lessons from her case. SEATTLE Following days of violent confrontations with protesters, police in Seattle have largely withdrawn from part of a neighborhood where protesters have created a festival-like scene that has President Trump fuming. Trump taunted Gov. Jay Inslee and Mayor Jenny Durkan about the situation on Twitter and said the city had been taken over by anarchists. Take back your city NOW. If you dont do it, I will, Trump tweeted. The president continued his complaints in a Thursday interview with the Fox News Channel. If we have to go in, were going to go in, Trump said. These people are not going to occupy a major portion of a great city. The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone stretches over a couple of city blocks and sprung up after police on Monday removed barricades near the East Precinct and basically abandoned the structure after officers used tear gas, pepper spray and flash bangs over the weekend to disperse demonstrators they said were assaulting them with projectiles. California Several police officers ambushed, wounded Lucknow: The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has sent a letter to the Uttar Pradesh government, seeking a ban on online trade of pet animals. PETA has also urged the government to keep pet shops and dog breeders, not duly registered with their state animal welfare boards, closed. The animal rights body has also asked the government to stop online portals such as OLX and Quikr - which have registered offices in Haryana and Karnataka, respectively - from trading in animals. The UP government has already made it mandatory for all pet shops and dog breeding centres to register themselves with the state animal welfare board to prevent cruelty to animals and curb the spread of any disease. Recently, based on an advisory issued by the government body the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) that says pet shops not registered as required under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2018, and dog breeders not registered as required under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2017, must not be allowed to operate. The governments of Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra have already issued orders to ensure that illegal pet shops and dog breeders do not reopen after the lockdown. However, these orders do not include websites that facilitate the trade in animals, like OLX and Quikr, and many states and union territories are yet to take action on the AWBI advisory. PETA India Corporate Liaison Mallika Roy said, "While illegal physical pet shops are closed, brazen breeders and other animal sellers will likely resort to trading in vulnerable cats, dogs, and other animals online. PETA India is urging states and union territories to stop OLX and Quikr from functioning as pet shops, as they are not registered with animal welfare boards to trade in animals." In its letter, PETA India has shared recent Right to Information responses from states and union territories across India confirming that most pet shops - including online platforms - and dog breeders operating in the country are not registered as required by law. There are so many opinions, theories, strategies and forecasts out there on COVID, its cures, its impact on consumers, impact on the economy, the possibilities of a recovery and length of the downturn. Then there are theories about how to invest in all the different scenarios. So much of conversation can be confusing after a while, and may even feel like noise. So what has actually happened now? The Fed decided not to raise interest rates this year, meaning that the economy is not recovering as fast as some had hoped. Moreover, Fed officials think the GDP shrinkage could be as much as 6.5% this year, with a 5% recovery in the next. This will mean that job losses will continue, and because were still not much closer to a vaccine despite all the encouraging sounds from drug developers and the government, companies may be looking at different methods of operation that will use less people. So some of the jobs lost may not be immediately recovered with the economic turnaround. But if you think about it, most analysts werent really expecting to see a V-shaped recovery anyway. The Feds dovish stand makes cash hoarding unprofitable, thus pushing you to keep money in the market. So now that youre required to keep money in the market, the biggest question out there is, what stocks you should go for. While capital intensive stocks may sound like a good idea because this is the time they can take advantage of low interest rates to refinance their debt load. But lets face it, debt loads increase the risk profile of companies with the interest paid generating a corresponding negative impact on earnings, and therefore, returns. So while these companies can do better in a low-interest rate environment, the focus is on their ability to offer income. These stocks wouldnt be worth buying now (or at other times), if they didnt offer dividend/income. But companies with low debt burdens are always less risky. Moreover, a low interest rate environment also benefits them if they need/want to increase leverage. So the first factor considered in selecting this crop of companies is a debt to total capitalization ratio of less than 25%. Story continues Also, companies generally pay dividends when they are relatively mature, i.e., their growth is small relative to their entire business. So they dont have to reinvest most of their profits. Growth stocks on the other hand, may not pay a dividend because they are less mature. Investors are willing to pay more for the profits they are expected to earn in the future. So earnings growth is a more significant factor when considering them. With a view to the current market uncertainties, Ive picked stocks that are expected to grow their earnings at least 10% this year, as well as in the next 3-5 years. Also, whether growing, investing, or not, liquidity is an important consideration right now given the uncertainties in the current environment. For this purpose, Ive also included a quick ratio of more than 2X, indicating that the company can easily pay off any short term liabilities with its more liquid current assets. Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks satisfying these criteria are- Acacia Communications, Inc. ACIA Headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts, Acacia Communications designs, develops, manufactures and markets communication equipment, specifically, coherent optical interconnect products for cloud infrastructure operators and content and communication service providers. It operates primarily in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific region. Zacks Rank #1 Debt/Total Capital Ratio 3.2% 2020 EPS growth estimate 27.4% 3-5 year growth estimate 30.0% Quick Ratio 4.48X Activision Blizzard, Inc ATVI Activision Blizzard is a leading developer and publisher of console, online and mobile games. The company benefited from the shift to the dgital download format. Its Call of Duty is one of the most popular gaming franchises globally. Its Overwatch League can be considered a pioneer of the esports concept. Zacks Rank #1 Debt/Total Capital Ratio 17.04% 2020 EPS growth estimate 22.9% 3-5 year growth estimate 18.81% Quick Ratio 2.78X Dividend Yield 0.56% Career Education Corporation PRDO Based in Schaumberg, U.S., Perdoceo Education Corporation provides educational services including bachelor's, associate and non-degree programs in information technology, visual communication and design technologies, business studies and culinary arts. Zacks Rank #1 Debt/Total Capital Ratio 10.4% 2020 EPS growth estimate 10.2% 3-5 year growth estimate 15.0% Quick Ratio 3.59X Semtech Corporation SMTC Headquartered in Flynn Road Camarillo, CA, Semtech Corporation designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of analog and mixed- signal semiconductors that are used in computing, communications, industrial, military-aerospace and automotive applications. It also offers a limited amount of wafer foundry services to other electronic component manufacturers. Zacks Rank #1 Debt/Total Capital Ratio 22.38% 2020 EPS growth estimate 7.61% 3-5 year growth estimate 12.50% Quick Ratio 3.88X Tradeweb Markets Inc. TW New-York-based Tradeweb Markets is an operator of electronic marketplaces for the trading of financial products and securities. Other than access to markets, it offers data and analytics, straight-through-processing and reporting to clients in the institutional, wholesale and retail markets. Zacks Rank #1 Debt/Total Capital Ratio 0.71% 2020 EPS growth estimate 66.88% 3-5 year growth estimate 21.87% Quick Ratio 3.53X Dividend Yield 0.49% Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated VRTX Boston, MA-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals is focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecule drugs targeting serious diseases. The companys main area of focus is cystic fibrosis (CF). Zacks Rank #1 Debt/Total Capital Ratio 7.62% 2020 EPS growth estimate 67.15% 3-5 year growth estimate 28.33% Quick Ratio 3.42X Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, its expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity. A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time. See 8 breakthrough stocks now>> Click to get this free report Activision Blizzard, Inc (ATVI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Semtech Corporation (SMTC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Tradeweb Markets Inc. (TW) : Free Stock Analysis Report Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Acacia Communications, Inc. (ACIA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Career Education Corporation (PRDO) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Volkswagen, Audi on hold as Mexico's Puebla state not ready to reopen FILE PHOTO: An employee leaves the Volkswagen (VW) plant as the company will temporarily close its factories in Mexico amid growing worries over the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Puebla MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's Puebla state, where German automaker Volkswagen and its luxury brand unit Audi have major plants, said it is not ready to reopen its automotive sector due to ongoing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. Puebla's Governor Miguel Barbosa signed a decree on Friday stating that the conditions for return of the automotive and construction sectors are not favourable, according to a statement published on the state's Twitter account. Barbosa, an ally of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has said he wants to reopen the state's economy but not if that means people's lives will be at stake. The Mexican unit of Volkswagen AG had previously said it was ready to resume operations in Puebla and the state of Guanajuato on June 15. Mexico has registered 133,974 official coronavirus cases and 15,944 deaths, though the government says the real number of infections and deaths is significantly higher. Most Mexican car plants began reopening earlier this month after Lopez Obrador's administration classified operations in carmaking, mining and construction as essential activities from June 1. The automotive industry represents 3.8% of Mexico's gross domestic product (GDP) and 20.5% of its manufacturing GDP, and directly employs nearly a million Mexicans. (Reporting by Mexico City newsroom; writing by Drazen Jorgic and Anthony Esposito; Editing by Nick Zieminski) It looks like the owner of a home with a Bell Canada utility pole in her back yard will have to work around it to build a new patio. While reporting earlier this week on Bells reliance on a easement granted in 1914 to maintain a pole in Patricia Di Gasbarros yard on Cuthbert Crescent, I asked for opinions from real estate experts on the validity of the easement. I heard from six lawyers, along with a city planner and a land surveyor as well as dozens of readers. The experts all confirmed that if the easement is registered on the property title even 100 or more years ago it is binding on all subsequent owners. Bell provided me with a copy of the easement granted by the owner of Di Gasbarros property 106 years ago, which it says was registered on title and re-registered every 40 years, as was required. Its been my experience that Bell makes easements claims that arent always true. Many readers have told me over the years that Bell claimed to have an easement for their property, but was unable to produce proof. Phil Levitsky emailed Wednesday to say he has a Bell pole in the corner of his back yard and asked the utility to move it. They have no easement registered on my title, and Ive checked going back to the 1950s, said Levitsky. Still I get the runaround. At one point they offered me $500 to keep it there, which I refused. But in Di Gasbarros case, Bells pole is rooted in solid ground, said lawyer Bob Aaron, whos been writing a column for the Star on real estate law since 1968. Its on title, said Aaron. Once its on title, its a no-brainer. The owner is out of luck because she took ownership with it on title. While doing a title search, the lawyer handling her purchase about 20 years ago spotted the easement registration, thought that she was aware of the pole and didnt make an issue of it, said Aaron. Her lawyer had to do a title search and would have seen it. So in law, she agreed to it. The bottom line for homeowners with a Bell utility pole on their property is the title: If an easement is registered, Bell has the right to maintain it. If its not registered on title, youre on good ground to ask the utility to move it. Whats broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. Email jlakey@thestar.ca or follow @TOStarFixer on Twitter ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte outlined recovery plans including digital and infrastructure investments on Friday ahead of a policy congress to lay the basis for a relaunch of the coronavirus-battered economy. Contes plans for the event have been clouded with uncertainty and caused unease with coalition partners in the centre-left Democratic Party who are worried it will amount to little more than empty window dressing. The right-wing opposition has said it will boycott the congress but Conte said the event, which will include business leaders and representatives of international bodies, would lay the basis for a policy programme to be unveiled in September. He said it was needed for Italy to draw up policies to justify recourse to the European Unions proposed Recovery Fund. The European grant is not a fund that the government can spend just like that, its a major responsibility to be shared with all sides, he was quoted as saying by La Repubblica, one of five dailies he met for a briefing. Such policy roundtables have a long and mixed history in Italy and he declined to provide details before the plans were discussed with partners. He said projects included a single fibre optic network, green energy projects and plans to strengthen rail and port infrastructure. Conte also said the government will decide by July whether to seek a loan from the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) bailout fund which is opposed by coalition partners in the anti-establishment 5 Star Movement. Conte, a lawyer originally drafted as a compromise head of the previous coalition government formed by 5-Star and the right wing League, also dismissed speculation that his favourable opinion poll ratings might prompt him to start a political movement of his own. Given the current situation, it would be insane to dedicate even one thought to the idea, he said. On different pages: Actress Emma Watson (left) has stepped away from the opinions of author JK Rowling Emma Watson has become the latest figure to speak out in support of transgender people after author JK Rowling sparked a row with her comments on the issue. The actress, who played Hermione Granger in the 'Harry Potter' film series, joined Daniel Radcliffe and Eddie Redmayne in publicly disagreeing with Rowling (54). Watson (30) addressed her transgender followers in a string of posts on Twitter. She said: "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are. "I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are." Watson urged her followers to donate to the Mermaids charity, which helps transgender children, and the feminist fund Mama Cash. Last weekend, Rowling took issue with a headline on an online article discussing "people who menstruate", and said: "I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?" Critics accused her of being transphobic, an allegation Rowling strongly denies. Rowling then shared a blog post on her website, in which she revealed that she was partly motivated to speak out because of her experience of domestic abuse and sexual assault. Video of the Day In the post, she detailed five reasons she felt the need to talk about the issue - including her interest in "both education and safeguarding" and "freedom of speech". Explaining her final reason, she wrote: "I've been in the public eye now for over 20 years and have never talked publicly about being a domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor. "This isn't because I'm ashamed those things happened to me, but because they're traumatic to revisit and remember. "I also feel protective of my daughter from my first marriage. I didn't want to claim sole ownership of a story that belongs to her, too. "However, a short while ago, I asked her how she'd feel if I were publicly honest about that part of my life and she encouraged me to go ahead. "I'm mentioning these things now not in an attempt to garner sympathy, but out of solidarity with the huge numbers of women who have histories like mine, who've been slurred as bigots for having concerns around single-sex spaces." Read More Rowling also said she was motivated to address transgender issues via Twitter because of what she sees as an increasingly misogynistic society. "We're living through the most misogynistic period I've experienced," she continued. "Back in the '80s, I imagined that my future daughters, should I have any, would have it far better than I ever did, but between the backlash against feminism and a porn-saturated online culture, I believe things have got significantly worse for girls. "Never have I seen women denigrated and dehumanised to the extent they are now. "From the leader of the free world's long history of sexual assault accusations and his proud boast of 'grabbing them by the p***y', to the incel ('involuntarily celibate') movement that rages against women who won't give them sex, to the trans activists who declare that TERFs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) need punching and re-educating, men across the political spectrum seem to agree: women are asking for trouble. "Everywhere, women are being told to shut up and sit down, or else." Warner Bros, the Hollywood studio behind the blockbuster 'Harry Potter' films, has responded to the controversy. In a statement, it said: "Warner Bros' position on inclusiveness is well established, and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture has never been more important to our company and to our audiences around the world. "We deeply value the work of our storytellers who give so much of themselves in sharing their creations with us all. We recognise our responsibility to foster empathy and advocate understanding of all communities and all people." A new report from 9To5Google suggests that Fitbit is now preparing to add Google Assistant to its wearables. This is based on evidence that was found within the Fitbit app. Strings of code mention the ability to activate Google Assistant on a Fitbit device. What the strings dont mention is what device that would be. Current speculation is that it could be the Versa 2. Since it already has voice assistant support with Alexa. Amazons Alexa software is built into the watch and activating it is controlled by holding down the hardware button. Advertisement The watch does not have support for voice activation. So if the Versa 2 does receive Google Assistant support it would likely be activated the same way. Fitbit could add Google Assistant to a brand-new device Theres nothing thats exceedingly telling about the code in terms of a specific wearable. So theres always the chance that it could be a new tracker or smartwatch that gets support for Google Assistant. One that has voice control capabilities. Seeing as how Google has always intended for Assistant to be a primarily hands-free tool. Advertisement Making it available on a brand-new wearable from Fitbit instead of one thats already more than a year old could also be a smart move. It would easily help signify the joining of the two companies. And could help usher in the age of Fitbit as a Google brand. Google Assistant and Alexa will live on the same device Whatever tracker or watch Google Assistant is being added to, itll be living in harmony with Alexa. The code in the Fitbit app mentions that you can only use one Assistant at a time on the device. Meaning you can activate one only, and if you want to use the other youd have to swap back to it. But you wont be able to use both simultaneously. Advertisement You will be able to swap back to it though. And thats an important distinction to be aware of. Because you may end up getting (or already have) devices which are only compatible with Alexa. Being able to move back and forth gives things a convenience factor. Having said that, deactivating one Assistant before you can re-activate the other seems like a cumbersome process. And one that people may not want to initiate too often. Either way, if youre team Google Assistant but you prefer Fitbits trackers, you may be able to have both in the near future. Businesses have been privately consulted by ministers on how reducing the two-metre rule would affect them. Industry leaders warned them some sectors would be unable to operate unless the distance was relaxed to one metre. But Number 10 is facing resistance from scientists on its Sage advisory committee, who are understood to have demanded their objections to reducing it are put on record. The experts are said to have insisted official minutes include their fears of a higher infection rate and more deaths. Industry leaders warned them some sectors would be unable to operate unless the distance was relaxed to one metre. Pictured: A window sticker outside a shop, asking customers to adhere to the British government's current social distancing guidelines Mr Johnson tasked Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill with canvassing opinion from businesses on the impact of the two-metre rule on their sectors, sources said yesterday. A document resulting from the exercise is the first evidence that Number 10 is actively looking at how it can reduce the distance, which the Government has said it is keeping under review. The consultation is being led by the Cabinet Office, Number 10 and the Treasury, which have approached businesses and other organisations to determine the effect of scrapping the rule. Companies sent responses to Downing Street following a request for feedback on behalf of Sir Mark last week. A virtual meeting was also held between civil servants and businesses earlier this week. According to the document, the aviation sector has warned that it will be physically impossible for it to operate with people always two metres apart. At one metre, however, passengers could travel and the tourism sector could reopen. If the rule is relaxed, automotive factories could move from 50 per cent capacity to 100 per cent. Train operators could operate at 40 per cent, up from 15 per cent at present, while bus operators would be able to increase their capacity to 35 to 40 per cent, up from 20 per cent. Universities would be able to increase capacity significantly. University College London, which has one of the largest lecture theatres in the country fitting 550 people, would be able to increase from 50 students to 250. The hospitality sector, however, has warned that it is unlikely to be able to stay afloat even if the rule is relaxed to one metre. Industry leaders who attended the virtual meeting said they were also told by civil servants the Government was facing pressure from backbenchers to relax the distance but scientists were digging in their heels. They reportedly said Sage advisers ensured they had their concerns minuted. The Government wants to reopen the hospitality industry as early as July 4. However, many businesses have said the two-metre rule would need to be reduced to one metre to make it commercially viable. They insisted it would not be possible to enforce the distancing inside their small venues. The World Health Organisation says one metre is safe. But the UK Government insisted it was important to move forward with caution. Sir Patrick Vallance, the Governments chief scientific adviser, this week told a media briefing that the two-metre rule is a political decision taken on advice from Sage. A spokesman for the Prime Minister told a Westminster briefing: As with all public health guidance, it is under constant review to ensure it reflects the latest advice from Sage. That will be based also on the latest evidence we have on transmission of the virus. Scientists are digging in heels We know that food banks across the nation are struggling to provide food relief to millions of people. We are honored to be able to give back in this time of need. - Jimmy Ellis, President of Jim Ellis Automotive Group. Jim Ellis Automotive Group held its first At-Home Memorial Day Sales Event this past May, a virtual sales event in which a portion of the proceeds of all new or pre-owned vehicles would be donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. With all 18 Jim Ellis family-owned and operated dealerships participating in the holiday promotion, the company announced a collective donation of $35,000 for the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB). The goal of this years online sales event was to keep customers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, all while raising money to fight food insecurity in Georgia. With the Jim Ellis Express Way, prospective car buyers were able to shop, compare and choose from thousands of vehicles, schedule at-home test drives, configure financing, have their vehicles delivered to their home and more. This was especially advantageous for those who were home bound during the shelter-at-home mandate. It gives me and my team great pleasure to make this donation to the Atlanta Community Food Bank, said Jim Ellis Automotive Group President, Jimmy Ellis. We know that food banks across the nation are struggling to provide food relief to millions of people. We are honored to be able to give back in this time of need. The onset of the current pandemic has created severe food shortages for communities throughout Georgia, and with over 30 million Americans unemployed, food security will continue to be one of the greatest challenges faced in the upcoming months. ACFB has seen a 30-40% increase in demand for food assistance since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The proceeds of the Jim Ellis At-Home Memorial Day Sales Event will greatly help to support Atlanta Community Food Banks emergency food distributions and the one in seven Georgians who are food insecure. About The Atlanta Community Food Bank The Atlanta Community Food Bank works to end hunger with the food, people and big ideas needed to ensure our neighbors have the nourishment to lead healthy and productive lives. Far too many people in our own community experience hunger every day, including children, seniors and working families. Through nearly 700 nonprofit partners, we help more than 755,000 people get healthy food every year. Our goal is that all hungry people across metro Atlanta and North Georgia will have access to the nutritious meals they need when they need them. It takes the power of our whole community to make that possible. Join us at ACFB.org. About Jim Ellis Automotive Group Jim Ellis Automotive Group has been serving the Atlanta area since 1971, starting with Volkswagen as the flagship brand. The group has expanded to 14 brands and 18 dealerships covering Atlanta, Buford, Kennesaw, Marietta and McDonough. Visit them online at http://www.jimellis.com. ### A group of family members of coronavirus victims has reportedly called for an immediate public inquiry into the crisis. The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group, which consists of 450 relatives of people who have died during the pandemic, has told the BBC an urgent review was necessary to limit the ongoing effects of the coronavirus crisis and prevent more deaths. The group's lawyer Elkan Abrahamson told the broadcaster an early inquiry should be held prior to any complete formal proceeding, which is expected to take place once the pandemic is over. Hundreds of victims of Covid-19 are seeking an urgent legal action against the government to start a public inquiry into Boris Johnson's handling of the pandemic in Britain Lawyer Elkan Abrahamson said there should be an investigation ahead of a formal public inquiry. Scotland's former chief scientific adviser Professor Dame Anne Glover said such a probe should take place before the nation is hit by a second wave of Covid-19 'What we need to look at straightaway are the issues which are life-and-death decisions,' he said. 'We expect there will be a second spike. We want to know what the Government is going to do when that happens.' The group's request comes after Scotland's former chief scientific adviser Professor Dame Anne Glover said an inquiry must be held before a second wave of the virus hits the UK. Prof Glover, who is now president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, told the PA news agency last week: 'Given that second wave is likely to come at a time that is likely to coincide with seasonal influenza, and that would give us serious problems, we really need to understand what the failings have been in our apparent inability to be able to deal with this pandemic appropriately. 'Where failures have happened, (we need to understand) why have the failures happened and how can we avoid those failures in the future. 'This inquiry needs to be delivering in a matter of months, not a matter of years, because the purpose of it is to ensure we do not make the same mistakes should we get a second wave of the virus.' She added: 'Nobody's perfect and it is OK to make a mistake but it would be inexcusable to make the same mistake twice.' A Government spokesperson said: 'At some point in the future there will be an opportunity for us to look back, to reflect and to learn some profound lessons. 'But at the moment, the most important thing to do is to focus on responding to the current situation.' The EC Vice-President Vera Jourova: EU should only give money to Hungary if the Hungarian government fully upholds the fundamental EU principles 12. 6. 2020 cas cteni 3 minuty In an interview with Britske listy to be broadcast next week, Vera Jourova, the Vice-President of the European Commission, says that the EU should only provide money for Hungary if the Hungarian government fully upholds the fundamental EU principles. Here is the transcript of the interview: Interviewer: It is evident that some EU member states do themselves seriously flirt with "alternative reality". The Hungarian government, its top representative Viktor Orban often commits such offences. I do recall their map of the alleged "no-go zones" in the European Union, which was shown to be untrue many times, which was criticised many times, people have been pointing out that this is dissemination of disinformation from official sources. From official sources to Hungarian society. In connection with what is now happening in Hungary, Viktor Orban is trying to exclude parliament from the division of democratic powers, so that he could rule on the basis of issuing decrees. How do you see the role of Hungary and how do you see the current situation in Hungary? And what will the European Commission and you personally want to do about it? So that the situation changes. Because Hungary looks like a great risk for the European Union. So, what do we do with this? Viktor Orban uses a number of instruments which distance Hungary from the basic European Union principles. So far, he has not paid any price for this. I am of the opinion that we should be stricter in linking the disbursement of money to Hungary with the principles that we expect to he adhered to. So this is being discussed now. Orban says that there are no problems and that Hungary is a state that respects the law, so it should not be a problem for him to accept this principle. But there are many other possibilities, whether they are legal or diplomatic. We must constantly tell not only Viktor Orban, but also the Hungarians: "You are doing things which the rest of Europe considers to be very strange and we do not like it." So I do not have an immediate solution. And I am really sorry that this is happening. The video of this interview (of which the above is a transcript excerpt) has now been published: It is in Czech with English subtitles. See also: 0 6037 It is a risk because this is a country which, without reservation, is sending a message to the rest of Europe saying "We do not respect the fundamental principles which you hold dear". Hungary sends this message to the older democracies in particular. So for me this is a hard nut to crack. I constantly bear in mind that Viktor Orban is successful in talking to his voters, a large part of Hungarian society trusts him and votes for him, and his support has increased now in the Covid era because people trust him that he will manage to control the pandemic by his sharp managerial style. At the same time, this government and Viktor Orban are deeply distrusted by the European Union. It is confusing, consider the current consultation which he has kicked out, no one understands why he does this, because this creates problems, it unnecessarily creates divisions in Europe and it unnecessarily incites anti-European attitudes in Hungary. Yet the Hungarians have traditionally had a very positive attitude towards the European Union. Paradoxically. Mark Galli, former editor in chief of Christianity Today, spent the majority of his career mapping the trajectory of evangelicalism and asking critical questions about its past, present, and future. What are the enduring strengths and weaknesses of our movement? How have we fallen prey to therapeutic culture? And how has low-church worship both helped and hindered our conception of personal faith? Galli proffers some answers in his latest book, When Did We Start Forgetting God?: The Root of the Evangelical Crisis and Hope for the Future (Tyndale, April 2020). Current editor in chief Daniel Harrell spoke with Galli about the call of obedience and what it means to love God even when you dont feel the love. Tell us about the spark that lit this projects fire. I really have to say I dont know. I can tell you the first time I recognized that my spiritual life was adrift, and that was maybe three or four years after I went forward at an altar call in an Evangelical Free Church, and I was talking to one of my friends who was older than me by one year. I was so impressed with how kind he was and how loving he was toward me and other people around him. For some reason, I put two and two together and realized that I had thought of the Christian life mostly as keeping a certain set of rules, and it occurred to me for the first time that maybe it was more about love. Thats not necessarily a profound insight, but you asked about a spark. I was moving one direction, then all of a sudden I get this neat revelation that things were not right. So in some sense, the project started when I started going deeper in my Christian faith. A lot of the stuff I wrote in the book a careful reader could probably find hints of all throughout my writing over the years. But this was the moment in my career when it was time to sum some things up. It was in my last year as an editor in chief, and I thought, Lets just put down on paper all these things that have been brewing within me for decades and see what comes out. When was this altar call? It was December 19, 1965. Im a really good evangelical. I can remember the date, the time, the place, and the hour. It was probably around 11:45 a.m. at the Evangelical Free Church of Felton, California. I had been attending the church with my mom, who had recently converted. In our family, when my mom got into something, everybody did, except my dad. So wed go to this church, and there would be an altar call every week, and the preacher, I later discerned, was just a master at making people feel guilty. I thought, I am not going to go through Christmas without solving this problem. So on December 19, the week before Christmas, I went forward and tearfully welcomed Jesus into my life. Then I was surprised and appalled that the next week, I felt just as guilty during the altar call. But for some reason, paltry motive that it was, the Lord has held me fast to that commitment, and Ive not been able to shake it. In the book, you talk about the idea that worship for many people has become more about what theyre getting out of it, rather than about the worship itself. Tell us what you see, both in terms of the problem and the solution. You and I, old fogeys that we are, tend to think of worship as an experience where the focus is on God. And whats happened over the last 20 or 30 years is that worship has become something that I do and something that I feel. Thats been a remarkable shift. Its not surprising, in a culture thats been characterized as a therapeutic culture. We take something thats supposed to be outward-directed and begin to make it inner-directed. Article continues below Im sensitive to this because for years I attended a charismatic Anglican church, and the extraordinary, wonderful thing about the charismatic Anglican church is that there are moments of shekinah glory, when you experience something of God that you dont normally experience in day-to-day life. What happens, though, to a person in a therapeutic age is that they begin to start focusing not on the God who in fact gave them this moment of deep spiritual pleasure but on the deep spiritual pleasure itself. And so they want to come back to church mostly because they want that feeling again, not because they really want to worship God. I speak personally here. I struggle between wanting God and wanting the experience of God. Its a subtle but very profound difference. In this therapeutic age, the preacher and the bandleader and others feel this pressure to give people an experience. The continuing and ongoing temptation is to make the worship service into a spiritual pep rally, so that when people walk out, they are enthused for Jesus and ready to go out and change the world. As anyone who has been involved in worship for a long time knows, thats a very thin spirituality in the long run. Let me push back a little bit. Yes, these distinctions exist. And yes, were always deceiving ourselves with how we feel. But isnt there a place for a love of God that gets expressed through human emotion? Its both/and. Sometimes love is simply obedience. Thats how love expresses itself. So worshipping together with other Christians, reading the Scriptures, listening to the preached Word, participating in the sacraments, loving your neighborthese are expressions of love for God because they are simple matters of obedience and doing what he calls us to do. But if ones spiritual life is merely obedience, there is something missing, yes. In the phrase love God with all our heart, there is an emotional component there. Our love will not be complete until all of those factors are in playheart, mind, soul, strength. Of course, were called to follow the commands of the Old Testament, as they are carried forward in the New Testament. But thats only one dimension. What my experience has taught me is that there is something that transcends these rules but doesnt necessarily take those rules away. Right. Sometimes we make the choice without a corresponding feeling, and there are plenty of times when we love without feeling love. Spiritual directors hear people say, My spiritual life is dry, I dont feel like praying, I dont feel like going to worship. If I go to worship I cant concentrate. Nothings happening, and this has been happening for months. Most spiritual directors will say, Okay, yeah, thats kind of typical. The best thing we can do is to pray and worship. Yeah, youve just got to keep at it. We pastorsI used to be a pastor, Im not a pastor nowwe are taught to be really anxious when people are spiritually dry. Wed love to be able to give them a solution or provide an experience that will move them out of that. We are super-helpers and we really want to solve peoples problems, when actually sometimes the best way to solve peoples problems is to allow them to live in the problem for while and also just be with them in the problem. The reasons for spiritual dryness are complex, but at its core, just to be bored or tired or listless in worship is not in and of itself necessarily a problem. It can be part of a persons spiritual growth. Article continues below Throughout the book, youre comparing and contrasting high-church and low-church traditions. In the context of your main ideahow to love Godwhat can other traditions learn from Protestant evangelicals? Well, I had an interesting conversation with the bishop of Sacramento, back when I was serving in Sacramento. I forget the occasion of our meeting. We got to talking about of the number of evangelicals who are becoming Catholic. He said, Here is the one thing I really wish: that when evangelicals become Catholic, they would bring Jesus with them. I thought that was such an interesting line, because he just said, We need more of Jesus. What do you think he meant by that? People like me who are a little more intellectual like to make fun of people having a personal relationship with Jesus, but thats the kind of thing we bring to the table. And we remind people what a friend we can have in Jesus. He can walk with me and talk with me along lifes narrow way. When you are in liturgical traditions, you understand the magnificence of God and the glory of God and the beauty of the service. But evangelical Protestants at their best bring Jesus with them, and I think thats something that liturgical churches can benefit from. Youre asking readers to rekindle their love of God through both individual and corporate practices. How are you doing that in your own life? In my ideal world, Id like to be the person who wakes up in the morning and prays to God, and then interrupts his day at noon and has what the Catholics and Anglicans call noonday office. Really ideal would be evening prayer before I sit down to dinner, maybe. But if I get two of those done in a day, thats an amazing day. So I will be the first to admit that sometimes its a matter of I just dont feel like doing it, and a lot of times its a matter of Oh my gosh, I forgot. I am pretty consistent about that morning prayer. I try to do a little lectio divina. I meditate on a passage of the Gospels, then I go through the morning office, a morning prayer. Im very faithful at weekly worship. And I do attempt to pause during the day and reflect on the thing Im enjoying or watching or observing, to put a divine frame around it and understand it from a larger Christian perspective. But I dont want to fool anybody. I hate to say it, but I encourage people to not do what I do but to do what I say. Any preacher has to eventually come to that conclusion, dont you think? Absolutely. But I would say, as someone who has been participating in a daily office for decades, that any kind of real rhythm is somehow contingent on community. Yeah, I think its absolutely crucial. Its not so much a matter of people holding each other accountable and then girding up our loins in discipline in the most negative sense. Its being part of a community that is shaping the way you actually think about the world and how you interact with it. People will just talk about faith practice: I was reading the Bible the other morning, or Ill pray for you; will you pray for me? Thats what is so vitalto be a part of both a worship service and a smaller group of Christians. Evangelicals are some of the leaders in rediscovering the power of small groups and why theyre so vital to the spiritual life of the church. We meet together with other people who share our passion for Jesus. Lets close with a personal question. A few months into your retirement, you went into quarantine. How are you spending your time these days? Fishing and praying. Im an introvert, so my lifestyle hasnt changed all that much. Im remodeling my trailer, and I have a few hobbies, and Im working for World Relief as a volunteer, to help refugees with their unemployment applications. I love the peace and quietness of this time, but I will be happy when the pandemic is over, thats for sure. By Trend Azerbaijan's State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources (SAARES) is implementing a new pilot program within a project on alternative energy supply to remote settlements, villages and areas in 2020, Deputy Chairman of the State Agency Jamil Malikov told Trend. According to him, through SAARES in some regions of the country, technology for using thermal pumps for providing the settlements with hot water, heating of houses has already been tested. "At the same time, gas stoves working on liquefied natural gas can be also used," he added. One of the most important spheres of activity of the Agency this year is the establishment of alternative energy supply in remote settlements, villages and areas. For this purpose, the agency chose 12 pilot projects to be implemented in villages of the country's Lankaran, Guba, Sheki-Zagatala and Samukh-Shamkir regions. Within the projects, SAARES develops proposals on the possibility of using alternative energy sources. Presently, Azerbaijan is taking sequential steps to develop alternative energy. In this regard, negotiations are underway with foreign companies and investors, including companies from China, the UAE, the US and the EU. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Rapper Raz Simone has been accused of establishing himself as a 'warlord' within Seattle's 'Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone', allegedly patrolling the area with an AK-47 and a crew of armed men. The six-block region, which includes the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct, was overtaken on Wednesday night by a group of rebel protesters who set up barricades and armed checkpoints and declared it a police-free zone. Simone, 30, a local rapper and activist, is believed to have assumed the role of leader of the rebel state after he was seen urging licensed gun-owners to guard the area and allegedly assaulted a protester for disobeying his orders, City-Journal reported. Scroll down for video Raz Simone, a Seattle rapper and activist, has been accused of being the 'warlord' of the city's new 'Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.' Pictured above last week Simone denied being a warlord after the Trump said the city had been taken over by 'domestic terrorists'. The president did not mention Simone in his tweet The rap artist on Tuesday called for the long-term occupation of the area, tweeting: 'Come out now & hold it down.' 'We'll be here as long as it takes so bring a tent and a blanket,' he added. A video clip shared on social media on Wednesday also showed Simone - real name Solomon Samuel Simone - and several other men confronting a man who had been tagging over someone else's graffiti within the CHAZ. 'We are the police of this community now!' one member of Simone's entourage is heard telling the man, who shrugs them off and continues tagging the side of a building. 'We are the leaders of this community now,' they added. The video shows the confrontation escalate quickly as Simone's entourage demands the tagger leave, as shoving breaks out and someone shouts 'chill, chill!' Shouting continues as the tagger is driven away and followed for several blocks. 'For your own safety, you need to go,' the woman filming the video is heard telling the tagger at one point. 'We had to get to the point where physically addressing it was the best way to get our point across.' Video from inside the CHAZ shows Simone (left and right) confronting a tagger (in tan hat) who was painting over someone else's graffiti, in an altercation that turned violent Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best, left, talks with activist Raz Simone, right front, and others near a plywood-covered and closed Seattle police precinct behind them Tuesday, June 9 Simone later responded to the incident in a tweet saying: 'This actually went beautifully and we all hugged it out and spoke with his dad. His dad now wants me to mentor him. It was great black dialogue and men apologizing to each other, abandoning pride. We all hugged each other, cried it out and it was beautiful.' According to City-Journal, Simone had been seen toting an AK-47 as well as pistol attached to his hip as he shouted: 'This is war!' from a megaphone, the night of the area was seized. A video shared on YouTube also showed him holding court as he urged protesters to have their 'paperwork' on them if they are carrying weapons. Washington is an open-carry state however, it is illegal to use firearms to threaten or intimidate others, Seattle Police Assistant Chief Deanna Nollette later said at a press conference. Simone denied allegations he had become the zone's warlord on Twitter after Trump posted a tweet saying the city had been taken over by 'domestic terrorists'. The rap artist, real name Solomon Samuel Simone, has called for the long-term occupation of the area, tweeting: 'Come out now & hold it down.' He is pictured above performing at SXSW in 2018 The president did not mention Simone in his tweet. 'The President really put a hit on my head. I'm not a Terrorist Warlord. Quit spreading that false narrative,' Simone wrote. 'The world has NEVER been ready for a strong black man. We have been peaceful and nothing else. If I die don't let it be in vain.' The establishment of the CHAZ comes amid days of protests in Seattle. People inside have likened it to a peaceful street party where protesters eat pizza and watch documentaries. On Thursday, a handful of cops returned to their now defaced precinct to try to police it but the crowds set up barricades to keep them out. The Seattle 'zone', which includes apartment buildings and businesses, also contains the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct, which cops abandoned on Monday after receiving a threat that the station would be overrun and burned down Armed men are seen manning checkpoints controlling entry to the CHAZ. Police say they have received complaints that protesters are demanding cash to enter the zone, and shaking down businesses inside for 'protection money' Artists have spray painted rainbow murals throughout the streets of the six-block zone Mayor Jenny Durkan has stood by the protesters, despite ongoing criticism from President Trump. She said in an interview on Thursday that it could bring about a 'summer of love' that would bring people together. Trump tweeted on Friday: 'Seattle Mayor says, about the anarchists takeover of her city, it is a Summer of Love. 'These Liberal Dems dont have a clue. The terrorists burn and pillage our cities, and they think it is just wonderful, even the death. 'Must end this Seattle takeover now!' Among the provisions in the bill: Officers cannot use choke holds, with exceptions for if a person cannot be captured any other way and the person has already threatened or used deadly force. An officer cannot be hired if he or she has been fired or quit while being investigated for serious misconduct including use of excessive force or convicted of a felony. All law enforcement officers are required to be trained and instructed on de-escalation techniques; instruction on bias; an examination of practices and protocols that cause biased actions; and an understanding of and respect for diverse communities and the use of non-combative law enforcement methods in those communities. The state attorney general may prosecute an officer if the officers actions result in the death of another. Members of Black Lives Matter of Des Moines watched from the galleries as lawmakers debated and unanimously approved the legislation. A leading real estate expert has warned home owners in some suburbs risk getting burnt financially if they renovated their house with a $25,000 taxpayer subsidy. Under the federal government's new $688million HomeBuilder scheme, owner-occupiers are entitled to a grant if they spend $150,000 to $750,000 doing up their house. The grant is available for homes worth up to $1.5million - a level 50 per cent above Sydney's median house price of $1million - in a bid to stimulate construction activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eliza Owen, the head of research with real estate data group CoreLogic, said home owners in poorer suburbs risked losing money if they spent too much on renovations with the government subsidy. Scroll down for video A leading real estate expert has warned home owners in some suburbs risk getting burnt financially if they renovated their house with a $25,000 taxpayer subsidy. Under the federal government's new $688million HomeBuilder scheme, owner-occupiers are entitled to a grant if they spend $150,000 to $750,000 doing up their house. Pictured is a stock image 'For areas where dwelling prices and incomes are relatively low, this may lead to owners over-capitalising on renovations, where they cannot recoup the cost of upgrades to the property,' she said. Sydney, Australia's most expensive property market, has cheaper houses almost 40km west of the city centre, including Mount Druitt where the median price is $580,576. CoreLogic analysed the top ten suburbs in Australia, with the most number of homes worth up to $1.5million. No Sydney area made the list, with most of its suburbs being too expensive. 'For Sydney's northern beaches and eastern suburbs, many properties surpass the $1.5million property value cap to qualify for a renovation grant,' Ms Owen said. Brisbane, Darwin and Hobart didn't make the cut either, with their suburbs generally having a much lower mid-point price. It's available for homes worth up to $1.5million - a level 50 per cent above Sydney's median house price of $1million. Pictured is Brisbane foreman Nick Mus on June 4, 2020 Melbourne took out four spots on the top ten list - including the city's south east, west, outer east and north east. How COVID-19 rules are affecting house prices Sydney: down 0.6 per cent or $9,692 to $1,016,726 Melbourne: down 1.1 per cent or $9,532 to $809,274 Brisbane: flat at $559,975 Perth: down 0.6 per cent or $4,155 to $461,366 Adelaide: up 0.4 per cent or $2,045 to $478,294 Darwin: down 0.9 per cent to $473,861 Hobart: up 0.8 per cent to $514,496 Source: CoreLogic Hedonic Home Value Index data for median house prices, May 2020. Dollar figure movements based on April 2020 data before revisions Advertisement 'In fact, there are four Melbourne regions that have over 100,000 owner-occupied properties estimated to be valued under $1.5million,' Ms Owen said. 'These regions represent the fringe of the metropolitan area, and include some relatively low-income areas compared to the inner-city regions of Melbourne.' Perth claimed two spots on the top ten list, with Adelaide's north, the Gold Coast and Canberra also in the same league. Ms Owen said the government's HomeBuilder scheme would be unlikely to spark new building activity, with most recipients of the $25,000 subsidy likely to have already been planning major home renovations. 'While potential home owners are likely to be keen to take advantage of the scheme, many have noted that the policy largely creates stimulus for those that were planning to build and renovate anyway,' she said. 'So instead of creating additional demand for construction work, it may just bring construction forward.' Ms Owen said this would create a 'vacuum effect' where a government stimulus program created activity only for there to be a lull once the scheme finished at the end of 2020. 'It reflects a surge in buyer activity soon after housing grants are made available, and a significant drop in activity thereafter,' she said. Dr Nicola Powell, a senior research analyst with property sales site Domain, suggested the government may have to implement a new property sector stimulus program in September, when the banks ended their six-month mortgage repayment holidays. Eliza Owen, the head of research with real estate data group CoreLogic, said home owners in poorer suburbs risked losing money if they spent too much on renovations with the government subsidy. Pictured is a police officer at Tregear near Mount Druitt in western Sydney in January 2019 'Will we have any policies in place that reignite activity in certain buyer segments, for example first-home buyers?,' she told Daily Mail Australia. In October 2008, during the Global Financial Crisis, Kevin Rudd's Labor government implemented a $10.4billion stimulus program which included a temporary tripling of first home buyer grants to $21,000. Despite those efforts, Australia's economy still shrunk by 0.5 per cent in the December quarter of that year. More than a decade later, the economy contracted by 0.3 per cent in the March quarter of 2020, marking the first gross domestic product dip since 2011, even though most of the coronavirus shutdowns didn't occur until the final week of March. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is expecting Australia's national accounts to also show a contraction in the June quarter, which would mark the first technical recession since 1991. Rally marks one year since crackdown on demonstrators surrounding legislature, leading to months of violent protests. Thousands of people in Hong Kong have again taken to the streets, singing a protest anthem and chanting slogans as they marked the first anniversary of a pivotal moment in the pro-democracy protest movement. On June 9 last year, protesters in the financial hub staged a huge march as opposition to an unpopular bill that would have allowed extraditions to the Chinese mainland gathered pace. Three days later, on June 12, the first sustained clashes broke out between protesters and riot police fired tear gas outside the citys legislature. Such scenes became a frequent occurrence over the next seven months as Hong Kong was upended by unprecedented unrest fuelled by fears Beijing was eroding the semi-autonomous citys limited freedoms. In recent weeks, outrage has again mounted as Chinas parliament passed a national security law targeting subversion, succession, terrorism and foreign interference in the semi-autonomous region. The recent protests also came as a new law criminalising insulting the Chinese national anthem in Hong Kong came into effect. Hong Kong residents are afforded liberties unseen on the mainland as part of the one country, two systems deal made when British colonial power handed the territory back to China in 1997. That deal is set to expire in 2047. On Friday night, thousands answered online calls to gather at 8pm (12:00 GMT) in local shopping centres and neighbourhoods to chant pro-democracy slogans and sing Glory to Hong Kong a protest anthem that became hugely popular during the turmoil. The gatherings were unauthorised and went against coronavirus restrictions, which prohibit the gathering of more than eight people. In Mongkok and Causeway Bay, police raised a blue flag, warning that the gatherings were unlawful and force might be used to disperse the participants. In Mongkok, groups of protesters were detained and searched, while in Causeway Bay, police used pepper spray and arrested several protesters, including pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui. Today is the day that people wanted to mark one year since the nature of Hong Kongs protests changed. Before this, Hong Kong protests were mainly peaceful rallies, peaceful demonstrations, said Al Jazeeras Divya Gopalan, reporting from the protest site in Hong Kong. But the nature changed on this day a year ago after protesters surrounded the legislative council building, and police were accused of using hardline tactics against the protesters by human rights activists and the protesters themselves, she added. Rallies were reported in half a dozen districts on Friday, with protesters often dispersing when police arrived and gathering elsewhere. Our goals not achieved A 28-year-old social worker, who gave his surname as So, said anniversaries were a way to keep the momentum going, even though crowd sizes at recent protests have been much smaller than last year. I came here because our goals have not been achieved, so I have to continue coming out, he told AFP news agency in Causeway Bay, a popular shopping district where hundreds had gathered. We have to tell the government that we wont give up, no matter how many of us are left, he added. Demonstrators and rights groups have pushed for an inquiry into alleged police brutality during the protests, as well as an amnesty for the roughly 9,000 people arrested over the protests and universal suffrage. China has refused any major concessions and portrayed the protests as a foreign plot to destabilise the mainland. National security law Meanwhile, critics including rights observers and Western governments have expressed deep concerns the national security legislation passed by China last month will bring mainland-style political oppression to the city. Some have described it as a death blow to Hong Kongs autonomy. Claudia Mo, a pro-democracy member of Hong Kongs legislature, said the national anthem law is one of many political tools they can use to clamp down on Hong Kong. She added Beijings national security law has created a mood of desperation, plus resignation, saying many Hong Kong residents are deciding whether to leave the country. Especially for young couples with their children, they need to think of their future, they need to do whatever is best for their families, she said. Earlier on Friday, China described Britains concerns that the security law might undermine Hong Kongs unique system as groundless panic-mongering. The comments came a day after London renewed its call for an independent inquiry to rebuild trust and heal divisions. In an earlier rally on Friday, more than 100 students formed a human chain outside a school where a teacher was reportedly fired because she allowed a candidate to play Glory to Hong Kong in a music exam. Oppose political suppression in school, give a fair explanation to the teacher, the young protesters chanted as they held hands to show solidarity. On Thursday, the citys education chief Kevin Yeung said students should not sing political propaganda songs in schools. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 21:37:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Friday by 20 cases to 1,422 while death toll remained unchanged at 31, the National News Agency reported. Director of Rafic Hariri University Hospital tweeted on Friday that the COVID-19 situation in Lebanon is not reassuring as the daily reported cases continue to be in double digits. He warned against the increase in cases as repatriation of Lebanese nationals from infected countries continues during this month. Lebanon has received several donations from different countries for the fight against COVID-19. The latest foreign support received by Lebanon took place on Thursday by China which offered 17,500 masks, 1,500 protective gears, 1,320 goggles and 1,000 shoes covers to Lebanese public hospitals. Enditem Baker Hughes reported on Friday that the number of oil and gas rigs in the US fell again this week, by 5, to 279, with the total oil and gas rigs sitting at 690 fewer than this time last year. While the number of active rigs in the United States has continued to decline over the last fourteen weeks, this weeks decline is smaller. The number of oil rigs decreased for the week by 7 rigs, according to Baker Hughes data, bringing the total to 199compared to 788 active rigs in play this time last year. It is the first time that oil rigs in the United States have fallen below 200 since August 2005. The total number of active gas rigs in the United States increased by 2 to 78 according to the report. This compares to 181 rigs a year ago. The significant fall in the rig count over the last couple of months is also reflected in the steady decline of EIAs estimate for oil production in the United States, which fell again this week to 11.1 million barrels of oil per day on average for week ending June 5, which is 2 million bpd off the all-time high and 100,000 bpd lower than the week prior. It is the tenth straight weekly production decline. Canadas overall rig count held fast this week at 21 rigs. Oil and gas rigs in Canada are now down 86 year on year. At 10:14 am, WTI was trading up 1.32% at $36.82 on the day, but more than $2 per barrel down on the weekthe first weekly slide in seven weeks. The Brent benchmark was trading up 1.89% at $39.28 on the dayand nearly $3 per barrel down from this time last week as the OPEC+ agreement extension disappointed, and after the Fed spread gloom about the economic outlook. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Commissioner of Police Colin John (left) accepts donation from Mark James in the company of Samuel Browne. Commissioner of Police Colin John is looking at the annual Summer Music Progamme conducted by the Royal SVG Police Force Band, as assisting the overall effort aimed at preventing crime, and serving as a reservoir for the Police Force. John noted that many persons trained in Music during the school holidays end up in the Police Band. That is a success story as far as the Commissioner is concerned. Continuing in this vein, John alluded to an Apprenticeship Programme done in conjunction with the Ministry of National Mobilisation. The Music programme, he said, welcomed the inclusion of 20 persons from that collaboration, and those persons have who have not only been trained in music but have enlisted in the Police Force. Johns reference to the music programme as a crime fighting measure was endorsed by Station Sergeant Vaughn Miller, officer-in-charge of the Police Band. Miller sees the Police band room as "the epicentre of a musical virus that is going to take over St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He projected towards the staging of concerts in schools as part of the Police Bands drive to arouse students musical interests. Donation The sentiments by John and Miller were expressed at the Police Band Room at Largo Heights last Monday, when five musical instruments were handed over to the Band. The gifts - three clarinets, a trumpet, and a trombone - came courtesy the Melisizwe Brothers - Marc, Seth, and Zacary. The donation of the instruments was part of a Goldmine Music Programme, which the Brothers - Canadian born to Vincentian parents Mark and Sherry James - are exploring. The seeds of the donation were planted during a trip here by the Brothers in 2015. Samuel Browne, attached to Vincy Marketing, noted the collaborative effort which ensured the delivery of the instruments. Commissioner John noted the close relationship with the childrens father, and expressed his happiness that the Police are one of the first recipients of the venture. He also highlighted the St. Martins Secondary School alumni link between James and Browne, with he, John, in the middle. The Police can look forward to receipt of a second set of instruments from the Melisizwe Brothers. For, as James put it: "Where words fail, music speaks. Malika Haqq welcomed her first child, a son, named Ace, with ex OT Genesis back in March. But even her BFF Khloe Kardashian was kept away from her 'nephew' due to the coronavirus pandemic, until Thursday. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star commemorated being reunited with her longtime best friend with a selfie posted to Instagram. Reunited: Khloe Kardashian commemorated being reunited with her longtime best friend Malika Haqq with a selfie posted to Instagram on Thursday The two got close in the snap as Khloe puckered up for the camera and Malika offered a straight forward face. With a pink-tone and an almost blurred look the photo had a near-retro feel. 'Our crowns may slip a tad but they never fall off,' Khloe captioned the post. And she went on to add '#Queens #BFF #MyQueenMalika #Love.' Malika donned a sweatshirt, a fox eye-look and highlighted brown hairstyle parted down the center. We're queens: 'Our crowns may slip a tad but they never fall off,' Khloe captioned the post. And she went on to add '#Queens #BFF #MyQueenMalika #Love' New mama: Malika welcomed her first child, a son, named Ace, with ex OT Genesis back in March While Khloe showed off some serious bling with a diamond chain necklace, large diamond stud earrings and a thick diamond ring as she rested her hand on her own shoulder. She showcased a bold eye look with voluminous lashes, bold brows and a rosy lip color. Changing up her look yet again, Khloe, 35, donned tight cornrows braids, a style she and her sisters have come under fire for in the past. Along with sisters Kim and Kylie Jenner, they have often been accused of appropriating black culture when they don these hair styles in the past. Controversial style: In the recent photo, Khloe, 35, donned tight cornrows braids, a style she and her sisters have come under fire for in the past In the past: Along with sisters Kim and Kylie Jenner, they have often been accused of appropriating black culture when they don these hair styles in the past and fans were already pointing to the style as cultural appropriation an hour after her recent post Cornrows is a hairstyle that originated with women in Africa dating back to 3000 B.C., according to Ebony. Just an hour after posting fans in her comments were already pointing to the hairstyle, which she donned after coming under fire for diversity at her company Good America. 'So no ones gonna complain about the braids,' one wrote in the comments. While signaling to the style another wrote 'Just in time after being found out you only employ 15% of black people.' Khloe, who has been isolating with daughter True, two, and ex Tristan Thompson, 29, along with her brand Good American did the Pull Up For Change challenge on Instagram, Wednesday. Pull up: Just an hour after posting fans in her comments were already pointing to the hairstyle, which she donned after coming under fire for diversity at her company Good America after they released numbers of diversity on their staff in the Pull Up for Change challenge The challenge asks companies to reveal how diverse their staff is. According to numbers released by Good American, the company's staff is 15% black, 52% white and 32% people of color. The brand was at pains to point out that reality star Khloe's co-founder and the CEO of Good American Emma Grede is black and that 84 percent of the workforce are female identifying. Good American was founded by Khloe and Emma in 2016 and initially offered denim clothing designed a 'curvier, sexier and stronger shape.' In a statement on Instagram, the company said: 'Diversity and inclusion has always been at our core, so we see this as an opportunity to highlight the consistent and constant work our brand has done to ensure our mission is felt at all levels of the company.' Khloe Kardashian's clothing brand Good American revealed Wednesday that 15 percent of its employees are black as well as having a black woman Emma Grede as co-founder and CEO It added: 'We are committed to continuing our focus on diversity throughout our organization: both within the talent and partners we work with and the employees at our office. We refuse to be complacent.' Fans response to the announcement was mixed with some praising the brand while others didn't think the numbers were good enough. 'With a company with a Black ceo/cofounder, I would expect better numbers,' one fan wrote. While another pointed to what positions the diverse staff is working in saying: 'What Id like to see is what positions are they atif its all customer service and warehouse then its a problem.' Making a difference: Lauren Oliver (right) who launched sustainable leisurewear brand Olly Olly & Co in March, with her twin sister, Emma As timing goes, launching a new fashion business two weeks before lockdown started was far from ideal. When she is not wearing scrubs in hospital, radiographer Lauren Oliver from Blackrock in Cork lives in gym gear and that's where the idea for her sustainable athleisure brand came from. In March, when it came to the launch date for Olly Olly & Co, Lauren found herself on the Covid-19 frontline, working at Great Ormond Street Children's hospital in London. At work, Lauren has been wearing a photograph of herself smiling on her PPE, plus a Minnie Mouse crown for her child-friendly face shield. Read More Incredibly passionate about the environment, Lauren regularly takes part in river and beach cleans and has now turned a passion project into a side business. Olly Olly & Co got its name because Lauren is a twin and her sister Emma also lives in London. During her travels in South America and while living in Australia, Lauren says she became really conscious about the impact of her "habits and behaviours and what I was doing to the planet. "When I came back, I started to educate myself on ways I could make changes for the better. I'm very big into fitness and I started to do bit of research on how to make activewear a bit more sustainable. I found some really good material and a good factory, things went from there and two years on, we have a website." The business is self-funded. "I kind of figured I would never be able to afford property in London so I might as well funnel it into something, something that would make a difference," said Lauren. Video of the Day By PTI KOLKATA: A fire broke out at a godown packed with highly inflammable leather materials in the city's wholesale business hub of Burrabazar on Friday, an official of the fire department said. At least four fire engines were pressed into service to douse the blaze at the godown, which is located in the third floor of the building on the congested Harin Bari Lane in Burrabazar area, he said. "Fire broke out in the godown this morning at around 11 am. Our firefighters have brought it under control. Our main concern is that the fire does not spread to the adjacent buidings," the official said. There are no reports of any casualty so far. ILO Director in Vietnam Dr Chang-Hee Lee said it is important that the law prohibits the application of recruitment fees and related expenses. He suggested Vietnam promote the development potential of migration by ensuring the protection of the rights of migrant workers. The ILO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Vietnamese Government in realising this important goal, he said. The draft revised Law on Vietnamese employees working on overseas contracts (Law No. 72) was deliberated by legislators at the ongoing ninth session of the 14th National Assembly in Hanoi on June 10. It is expected to be passed by the legislature in October. Vietnam sent more than 152,000 workers overseas last year, two-thirds of whom were men. Japan and Taiwan (China) have accepted more than 90% of legal Vietnamese migrant workers over the last three years. Many Android users have reported that a seemingly innocent photo of a glorious sunset was breaking their smartphones when they set it as their wallpaper. But no one really knew why till the photographer himself opened up about it. The photo is that of a beautiful sunset against a cloudy sky, and has a lake and greenery in the foreground as well. It is not very different from other photos that you usually set as wallpapers. Then why are Android users blaming this photograph for crashing their phones? READ: World's Largest Colony of Nesting Green Turtles is Twice as Big as Previously Thought According to tech reporters at BBC, setting this photo as your wallpaper could cause your phone to automatically turn on and off multiple times. Even Google Pixel and Samsung phones have been affected. Take a look: Setting this photo as your wallpaper is apparently killing phones lolSpecially android phones. pic.twitter.com/QLqN4Y7WQr Lorenzo (@HorsemanCrypto) June 10, 2020 The way this photo crashes androids if you set it as your wallpaper pic.twitter.com/xNli1CiqBG mat (@mariahamystan) June 7, 2020 Never try this photo on your wallpaper..Seriously, I am not joking...If you are an android user this one wallpaper can crash your device...Don't try it... @pikachu pic.twitter.com/ZGxfOFUcMe Gaurov Saha (@GaurovSaha1) June 4, 2020 Just one pixel of this *cursed* wallpaper crashed android cell phone pic.twitter.com/zJ1foT5rYl Sanitized - Loki (@Lokioddin0x) June 7, 2020 Android Customers Beware! Setting This Attractive Picture as The Wallpaper Will Render Your Cellphone Ineffective pic.twitter.com/YtB5lYLVH4 tech news 365 (@technews3651) June 6, 2020 This beautiful image right here can kill your Android phone. DO NOT USE IT AS A WALLPAPER! pic.twitter.com/BZvOpeKiQs nemo (@heycatpur) June 4, 2020 When the photo started going viral, a San Diego-based scientist and amateur photographer, Gaurav Agrawal, reached out to the BBC. He took the photo at St Mary Lake in Glacier National Park, Montana in 2019 where he had gone with his wife. Describing it as a magical evening, Agrawal used his Nikon camera to take the photograph. READ: Mysterious Pool Untouched By Humans Found in a New Mexico Cave Back home, he edited it on Lightroom and uploaded it on Flickr. He had no idea that his photo was causing phones to crash! Here's what really happened. Lightroom gives all users options as far as colour modes are concerned before saving the edited photo. The one Agrawal chose is not supported on Android phones. He has an iPhone, and therefore never had issues with the photo. The fact that the problem was mostly affecting phones with the Android 10 update only confirmed this. A tech blogger who goes by the name 'Nemo' on Twitter has been able to explain this phenomenon. When it comes to colours, Android phones follow the sRGB (Standard Red Green Blue) format. However, in case of this photo, the RGB format was followed. Phones with Android 11 updates are able to automatically alter this format to make it compatible, but Android 10 is not. Agrawal had no idea his photo had been going viral, and that too for the wrong reasons. It is not the photo's fault, or that of the photographer's. It's a formatting error, one that can be rectified easily. Stormwater runoff and sewage overflow issues after heavy rains this week have caused problems at some popular beach spots across Michigan. Heading into the weekend, at least 17 beaches across the state were either closed or had contamination advisories issued by the state, as of this morning. The notifications were made as part of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energys Beach Guard system. Each beachs status is subject to change as new test results come in. Amid indications that the election commission (EC) may soon announce polls for 17 Legislative Council seats in Bihar, hectic lobbying has begun in both the ruling NDA and Opposition alliance. Of the 17 seats, nine are from the Legislative Assembly quota and eight are from graduates and teachers constituencies. For the nine Assembly quota seats, names of building construction minister Ashok Choudhary, former acting chairman of the Council Haroon Rashid, whose terms ended last month, are doing the rounds as JD(U) probables. From the Opposition benches, RJD chief Lalu Prasads elder son Tej Pratap Yadav, a MLA from Mahua, could be sent to the Upper House, according to party insiders. As per the numerical strength of the parties in the state assembly, the Janata Dal United, JD(U)-BJP combine can win five seats while Rashtriya Janata Dal(RJD) -Congress can win four. Party officials familiar with the developments said the RJD was expected to stake claim on three seats while leaving one for the Congress. In the ruling alliance, the JD(U) is expected to stake claim on three seats and leave two for the BJP. The party functionaries quoted above said RJDs top leadership wanted a safe option for Tej Pratap Yadav to insulate him from the uncertainty of re-election as MLA from Mahua in the upcoming assembly polls. In case Tej Pratap goes to the Upper House, he will be the third member from RJDs first family to join the Council. His father Lalu Prasad was a member earlier and his mother Rabri Devi is a current member. The RJD officials referenced above claimed that Tej Pratap has been staying out of controversies recently after being promised a bigger say in the party affairs. State president of the RJD Jagdanand Singh, however, dismissed talks of Tej Pratap being one of the MLC nominees. This is all baseless. No decision has been taken so far, he said. The NDA camp seems to have a problem of plenty. There are far too many aspirants in both JD(U) and BJP, with several former MLAs and MPs vying for a Council seat. It will be a difficult call for the JD(U) president and chief minister Nitish Kumar and BJPs top leadership, said a senior JD(U) leader, who didnt want to be named. The BJP could give a second term to Sanjay Mayunk , whose term as MLC from the Assembly quota ended last month. Others in the fray are former MP Janak Ram and Radha Mohan Sharma, whose terms as MLC ended. For graduates and teachers constituencies, the sitting MLCs would in all likelihood be given tickets, said a senior BJP leader on condition of anonymity. According to the BJP leader, IPRD minister Neeraj Kumar and Nawal Kishore Yadav are likely to be re-fielded from Patna graduates constituency and Patna teachers constituency respectively. The four graduates seats are Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Kosi, whereas four teachers constituencies are Patna, Saran, Tirhut and Darbhanga. The Council polls were scheduled to be held in April but were deferred due to the Covid-induced lockdown. According to inputs received from officials, the elections may be conducted by the end of this month or early July, when the monsoon session of the state legislature is also expected to be convened. A decision on the date of the election is likely to be taken next week, they said. The Photographic Society of Chattanoogas Youth Photography Showcase Committee announces that it had five students who placed at the Photographic Society of America level of 2020 YPS, and 23 others that were accepted in to the exhibit. PSC officials say they are especially thrilled that Noemi Moreno, a graduating senior from Bradley Central High School, earned not only first place in Color Choice Category for her digital entry entitled Contemplation, but she also took best of show in the Digital Section of the contest. Ms. Moreno will receive a cash prize of $350, a youth membership in PSA, plus she will be featured with other winners in an issue of the PSA Journal and on the PSA website. In addition, Ellie Smith, a student at Baylor School, took third place in two categories, People/Animals and Photojournalism in the Digital Division. Ms. Smith also had two prints with acceptances. Third places receive $25. An honorable mention in Monochrome Choice, Digital Division, was received by Maggie Wilkerson of Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts. All award winners will be given a student membership in PSA, which includes receiving the PSA Journal by e-mail. All students with PSA exhibited images will receive a certificate of participation and a souvenir Showcase booklet. Each teacher, PSA sponsor and sponsor representative will also receive a copy of the booklet. According to Kathy Braun, the PSA Youth Photography Showcase director, there were over 700 entries this year from host photography clubs from as far away as Abu, Dhabi, even with the pandemic. In addition, the below Chattanooga area students' images were accepted. Congratulations to all of them, officials said. PRINT ACCEPTANCES Baylor School Architecture - PARIS APARTMENT by Ellie Smith Scapes - LAKE QUILOTOA by Carlisle Allen Monochrome Choice - CAMARGUE HORSE by Ellie Smith Boyd Buchanan School Architecture - ST. ANDREWS CATHEDRAL by Nick Floied Monochrome Choice - BIG BEAN by Kierstin Wade DIGITAL AWARDS 1st in Color Choice and BEST OF SHOW in Projected Entries CONTEMPLATION by Noemi Moreno (Bradley Central) 3rd in People/Animals - WHITE HORSE by Ellie Smith (Baylor) 3rd in PHOTOJOURNALISM - JOCKEYS by Ellie Smith (Baylor) HM in Monochrome Choice - SEARCHING by Maggie Wilkinson (Center for Creative Arts) DIGITAL ACCEPTANCES Baylor School Scapes - JULY IN ECUADOR by Carlisle Allen Boyd Buchanan School Architecture - ST. AUGUSTINE PIER by Kierstin Wade Scapes - GOODNIGHT CHICAGO by Evan Pirtle Photojournalism - DRUMMING FOR DOLLARS by Presley Williamson Color Choice - DECAYING by Alyssa Jones Color Choice - INTO THE FOREST by Riley ODonald Bradley Central HS Scapes - FOOTPRINTS TO PARADISE by Destiny Rice Photojournalism - LIGHTS SHINE BRIGHT by Miriam Navarrete BEAUTIFUL DAY by Miriam Navarrete Chattanooga Center for the Creative Arts Scapes - SNOW IN JULY by Alexander Newton Photojournalism - A MOMENT OF SILENCE by Alexander Newton Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Scapes - SAN LORENZO BY DAY by Gabriela Alexander Girls Preparatory School Monochrome Choice - ALL IN THE EYES by Ruchika Rathi Grace Baptist Academy People/Animals - HORIZON by Mayia Banks Monochrome Choice -12 YEARS by Mayia Banks Notre Dame HS People/Animals - LAW MAN by Dru Schenk Silverdale Baptist Academy People/Animals - LITTLE GIRL LEAVES by Jaycee Rogers Color Choice - BALLER by Hannah Corwine By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 06/12/2020 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. : Before the 90 Days couple Rebecca Parrot t and Zied Hakimi will apparently be returning for a future season of or one of its spinoffs on TLC.Zied took to Instagram earlier this week and posted a video of himself talking about how he couldn't reveal spoilers about his relationship with Rebecca because their time on TV isn't over yet."Hello, everyone. I hope everyone is okay and stay home and stay safe with this coronavirus. I'm sorry about George Floyd, I know that's a big problem in America now. I'm sorry my friends, Zied began in the video."I just want to say I can't answer the question if I am in America or [not]. Just wait until next season of and you will understand everything, my friends! Bye!"Instagrammer John Yates re-posted the video on his own Instagram account and captioned it, "So looks like Rebecca and Zied will be back on the show in some capacity. #90DayFiance #90DayFianceBeforeThe90Days."Although Zied wouldn't reveal whether he is currently in the United States, he and Rebecca are definitely still together.On June 10, Rebecca posted a photo of Zied on Instagram and added the following hashtags to her post: "sexy" and "mine."Zied also gushed about Rebecca on May 29 writing on Instagram, "I love your sexy eyes and your face babyy @tlc_90day_rebecca."A couple of weeks earlier, Rebecca posted another picture of her man and captioned it, "I'm so in love. Those eyes. #ilovehim #beautfuleyes #rebeccaandzied #90dayfiance."Zied and Rebecca got married in Lumpkin County, GA, in April, according to a representative from the Probate Court in Cherokee County, In Touch Weekly reported.Zied therefore moved from Tunisia to the United States, and now that he's a married man, he's likely living with Rebecca and her daughter in Canton, GA.Given Zied traveled to America on a K-1 visa and married Rebecca, it would make sense for the couple to star on the upcoming eighth season of as their storyline no longer fits : Before the 90 Days' premise.Also, as Zied's arrival in America and the couple's subsequent wedding haven't been shown on TV yet, it would seem premature for them to star on a future edition of : Happily Ever After?.The couple, who starred on Season 3 of : Before the 90 Days, reportedly obtained their marriage license on April 14.In March 2020, TLC released a short-form Season 4 episode of : What Now?, the spinoff available on the network's TLC GO streaming service, that updated viewers on Rebecca and Zied's relationship.During the : What Now? episode, Rebecca announced her divorce from her third husband had been finalized and Zied's K-1 visa had also recently been approved.According to Rebecca, Zied's visa was approved less than four months after they applied for it. Zied was therefore granted a 90-day period to marry Rebecca upon his entry into the United States in order to live in America permanently."We were expecting to wait anywhere from six months to a year or more, but Zied's visa has been approved -- we just found out!" she said."Zied could be here within the next two months. It has been almost one year since Zied and I have been together."One scene in the What Now? episode also showed Rebecca househunting so she and Zied could live together once he arrived.Around the time their What Now? episode was released, Rebecca also denied split rumors on social media, confirming she and Zied were still "happily in love" but she was just too busy with work and moving to post on social media all the time.And on April 23, Rebecca took to Instagram and gave fans a glimpse into her new apartment, which boasts exposed brick and a lot of natural light.This marks Rebecca's fourth marriage. Her last marriage was with a man from Morocco, but when the relationship turned sour, Rebecca and the man signed divorce papers and then she began a romance with Zied.Rebecca and her ex-husband finalized their divorce on July 9, 2019, according to divorce documents obtained by In Touch.Rebecca was a 47-year-old private investigator when she fell hard and fast for Zied, a then-26 year old whom she had met online.Rebecca, who has three kids, was prepared to open her heart again and give love another shot with Zied.Rebecca confessed her first two marriages were with "average, run-of-the-mill American men" and her third marriage turned out to be a disaster because the Moroccan man -- whom she had brought to America on a spousal visa -- became too jealous and controlling once he arrived in the United States.In order to determine whether they could make their relationship work long-term, Rebecca planned a 15-hour flight to Tunisia, and her ultimate goal was to leave Tunisia with an engagement ring and a new foreign fiance.However, Rebecca's third divorce had yet to be finalized by the time of her trip since she and the Moroccan man had signed the divorce papers but not filed them.Rebecca and Zied's relationship got off to a wonderful start in Tunisia, except for the fact Zied -- who was apparently car-less at the time -- asked Rebecca to pay for a rental car for the couple to use during her stay.Rebecca also later discovered Zied was a jealous man who had no work history listed in his background check. In addition, Zied once randomly asked Rebecca for $200.When Zied asked Rebecca for money, she worried he might be using her and had bad intentions for their relationship. Rebecca feared Zied would take advantage of her and expect her to support him financially once he comes to the United States.However, Rebecca later learned Zied had borrowed the money just to buy her an engagement ring that he couldn't afford on his own.Although Rebecca took her time in coming clean to Zied that she was still technically a married woman and once had a same-sex relationship that Zied's family would never approve of, Zied said he never stopped loving Rebecca.Zied insisted Rebecca would always be the woman for him and he'd do anything to make it work, and Rebecca felt the same way.Zied therefore proposed marriage to Rebecca during a romantic picnic in the Sahara Desert, and she called Zied "perfect" although their time together in Tunisia had been a bit of a roller coaster."I cannot wait to get your visa done and get your ass to America and marry you!" Rebecca told her fiance on last season of : Before the 90 Days.A few weeks after Rebecca and Zied had met in person, it was time for Rebecca to get on a plane and head back to America.Rebecca planned to file for the K-1 visa, but she said it was going to take six to eight months for that to happen.She worried, in the meantime, Zied would change his mind about moving or his family might talk him out of his relationship.Zied, however, promised Rebecca that she would see his face for the rest of her life because he was crazy about her. Rebecca assured Zied that she was crazy about him too.During Part 2 of : Before the 90 Days' Season 3 Tell-All special, Zied said his family would probably be very angry over the fact Rebecca once had a same-sex relationship and not accept it."If his family were to find out, he'd have to choose between me or his family," Rebecca revealed."Well, you know they're going to find out," Tell-All host Shaun Robinson said.Rebecca also acknowledged there was a possibility Zied might change as a man when he comes to America, just like her ex from Morocco did.Zied, however, said he hates sitting at home and not working, and so he argued he'd be nothing like Rebecca's ex.Rebecca also said Zied could work in a restaurant near her house or go back to school once he's welcomed into America.Rebecca pointed out there were no red flags with Zied despite warnings and concerns from her friends and family.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! June 12 (Reuters) - EQM Midstream Partners LP delayed the expected completion of its Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline from West Virginia to Virginia to early 2021 and said it could boost the $5.4 billion project's cost by 5% to around $5.7 billion. Industry analysts, however, said Mountain Valley and other U.S. pipelines will likely be delayed even further by a Montana court's decision that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did not comply with the Endangered Species Act. EQM, which changed the projected in-service date in a statement issued late Thursday, had previously said it expected Mountain Valley to enter service in late 2020. We are confident in the ultimate completion of this important infrastructure project, EQM Chief Operating Officer Diana Charletta said, noting it was about 92% complete. When EQM started construction in February 2018, it estimated Mountain Valley would cost about $3.5 billion and be completed by the end of 2018. But successful legal challenges to federal permits resulted in lengthy delays and higher costs for Mountain Valley and other gas pipes, like Dominion Energy Inc's $8 billion Atlantic Coast line from West Virginia to North Carolina. Analysts at Height Capital Markets in Washington said on Friday that EQM's new in-service date and potential cost increase are optimistic given legal issues with the Army Corps' Nationwide Permit 12 program, which Mountain Valley intends to use to cross the remaining 10 miles of water bodies along its route. In April, a Montana judge ruled the Army Corps violated federal law by issuing Nationwide Permits to cross water bodies without adequately consulting other agencies on risks to endangered species and habitat. "Besides the (Nationwide Permit) issue, Mountain Valley faces litigation risk on several upcoming permitting decisions," Height Capital Markets said, noting the project will likely enter service in the second quarter of 2021. (Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by Dan Grebler) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has donated over 10,800 bags of specialized nutritious food, to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), for use in COVID-19 case management in isolation centres. Ms Rukia Yacoub, the WFP Representative and Country Director, said the food worth GHS 300,000, was to complement efforts being made to provide comprehensive care for COVID-19 patients in isolation facilities and was enough to cover three months of feeding for 4,000 patients. She said her outfit was pleased to provide some support to the Government of Ghana during these challenging times, explaining that this specialised nutritious food, Maizoya, was one of the several excellent quality, highly nourishing made-in-Ghana products which the WFP with funding from Canada, had helped to develop and market. Ms Yacoub said the product was made of blended cereals and soy flour, mixed with extra minerals and vitamins, and they were highly nutritious and formulated to meet the bodys protein, energy and micronutrient requirement for optimal growth. She further explained that the added minerals and vitamins provided numerous health benefits such as boosting the immune system to fight infections. She said apart from this donation, one of the WFPs prioritised interventions under the COVID-19 pandemic was the nutrition programme, which it had been supporting the GHS to implement in the Northern and Ashanti regions. The intervention, she said, was helping to prevent stunting among children, and micronutrient deficiencies such as anaemia among pregnant and nursing mothers, and adolescent girls. Ms Yacoub said in addition to continuing the programme, the WFP has provided handwashing stations in all the participating health centres and retailer shops and supported the GHS to include COVID-19 preventive measures in their social and behavior change communication messages to mothers and caregivers. Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, thanked the WFP for the numerous assistance, saying the current donation of the food items was timely and would go a long way to support the nutritional needs of persons in isolation centres across the country. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Up to 46,000 fewer domestic students could start university this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, Ucas has predicted. In a worst-case scenario, more than 40,000 fewer students will start courses this autumn compared to last year, a blog from the admissions service estimates. The warning came as Ucas data showed the number of students who have already decided to defer their places this year has increased by two per cent. The figures reveal 31,380 applicants have at least one deferred choice as of earlier this week, compared to 30,760 at the same point last year. Up to 46,000 fewer domestic students could start at UK universities this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, Ucas has predicted UCAS chief operations officer Sander Kristel says 10 per cent fewer domestic students will start at UK universities in Autumn in a 'worst case scenario' predicted by the organisation's modelling due to the coronavirus pandemic Students who have applied through Ucas have until June 18 to make a final decision on their university offers. Ucas chief operations officer Sander Kristel said the organisation's modelling estimates 'a best-case scenario' of just two per cent fewer home students starting in the autumn. He wrote 'the most pessimistic outcome is likely to be around 10 per cent fewer' students than last year, in a blog on the Wonkhe website. Last year, 464,335 students from the UK were accepted on to courses at universities at home. The prediction should also be seen in the context of a demographic dip among school-leavers in the UK, Ucas has stressed. Mr Kristel added: 'It is natural that applicants' feelings towards starting courses as planned in the autumn have changed over time, taking a more pessimistic turn in recent weeks. Students who have applied through Ucas have until June 18 to make a final decision on their university offers 'However, there are still three months or more until doors were due to open, and as lockdown continues to ease, we are all hoping (safety permitting) that campuses will be able to welcome students in some form.' The Ucas analysis also suggests a cohort of applicants, who were planning to start in September 2021, are now opting to study this autumn. 'It seems that the traditional gap year is falling by the wayside in 2020,' Mr Kristel said. 'Students who initially wanted to take a year away from education are finding their options are increasingly limited.' Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has encouraged students to 'make an informed decision' on whether to defer their places at university next year Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the current data from Ucas shows there is 'not a significant change in deferrals' compared to previous years. He said: 'This is an uncertain time, particularly for those making decisions about university this autumn. 'Applicants should not feel they need to defer, unless they wish to, and I encourage them to use all the advice and information out there to make an informed decision which will work best for their future. 'Universities must be clear about how courses will be delivered in the next academic year, and I hope this will reassure the thousands of students who are ready to take that next exciting step this autumn.' The scale of the cost so far to the HSE battling Covid-19 is revealed in records showing payments by the executive of over 1.1bn to third parties since February. Records released by the HSE in response to a Freedom of Information request show that payments for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) make up the bulk of the spend accounting for 773m of the outlay. In response to a request seeking records of payments to third parties to mid-May, the HSE records show that one Hong Kong-headquartered company, China Resources Pharmaceutical has been paid 225.12m for PPE. A further 311m was paid out by the HSE for equipment to companies based here and overseas along with 16m paid out under the heading of other and 6.4m paid for consumables. The payments include 7.48m to Aer Lingus for transporting vital shipments of PPE here from China. In all, the records show that 286 companies have shared the 1.1bn paid out. The company to receive the third-highest payment from the HSE is secondary PPE supplier and Ennis-based project management company, EKO Integrated Services Ltd which has received 102.36m for PPE and equipment. EKO Integrated Services Ltd received 93.5m for PPE and 8.7m for equipment. As part of EKO Integrated Services Ltds work, it organised three planeloads of masks and gowns to be flown into Dublin in mid-April. The vast bulk of the monies paid by the HSE to EKO Integrated Services Ltd would be forwarded onto the producer of the PPE in China and producer of the equipment. Three other companies received payments of over 30m from the HSE for PPE - the records show that Lennox Laboratories Ltd received 35.5m; Arco Safety Ltd received 32.4m and PCH International Unlimited received 32.2m. Companies to receive monies for PPE are sometimes secondary suppliers who pass on the bulk of the monies paid to the primary supplier but that is not specified in the information provided by the HSE FOI unit. The records show that a further five firms were paid sums between 10m and 30m for the supply of PPE - Allphar Service Ltd was paid 28.66m; DGH Pharma Inc was paid 19m; Dutec Ltd was paid 17.16m; Mervue Laboratories was paid 12.7m and Medina Promotions Ltd was paid 11.54m. A number of Irish companies have been prominent in providing medical equipment to the HSE in response to Covid-19. The figures show that Naas company, Accuscience Ireland Ltd has received 48.4m for equipment while Co Wicklow company, Oxygen Care Ltd has received 20m for equipment. Other companies to receive over 10m for selling equipment to the HSE include Canadian Pacific Global - 19.9m; Sisk Healthcare t/a Cardiac Se - 18.6m; Healthcare 21 Ltd - 15.3m; Roqu - 14.1m; Caremed Direct Ltd - 13.7m and Sensala Fze - 10.35m. Chair of the Dail Covid-19 committee, Deputy Michael McNamara (Ind) said today that the payments involved are certainly a huge amount of money. He added: But without knowing the exact detail and quantity of what was purchased, and more importantly the prices being paid for such items on the open market when there was such demand worldwide, it is not possible to determine whether it represents value for money. Social Democrat co-leader and member of the Dails Covid-19 committee, Roisin Shortall said today: The HSE was facing a crisis situation and extremely competitive market in securing PPE during the initial outbreak of Covid-19, and had no choice but to secure PPE where possible. That being said, Ireland is projected to spend another 1 billion on PPE over the next year, which is a staggering figure with enormous implications for both the health service budget and economy as a whole. Deputy Shortall stated: We should be looking at manufacturing PPE locally to develop domestic capacity, which will not only relieve financial pressure on our economy but also provide an opportunity to stimulate job creation and ensure a long-term sustainable supply chain. At a HSE press briefing in Dublin today, HSE CEO, Paul Reid stated that from the early days of Covid, the HSE had put a cost of 1.8bn on Covid-19 for the rest of 2020. He stated: Obviously, we havent spent anywhere near that to date. Mr Reid stated that main drivers are the PPE, testing and tracing and staff costs. Mr Reid said that PPE costs were driven by a number of factors including a massive premium price on international markets - multiples of what it would have been pre-Covid. Mr Reid stated that the HSE is now distributing PPE on behalf of the State beyond HSE to wider healthcare. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal New Mexico Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich are calling for changes in the culture of how law enforcement agencies operate around the country. And they said legislation that has been introduced in Congress this week is a step in that direction. The two Democratic senators have thrown their support behind the Justice in Policing Act introduced by Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., following nationwide protests triggered by the death of George Floyd after he was arrested by Minneapolis police officers. Democratic U.S. Reps. Deb Haaland and Ben Ray Lujan have also endorsed the bill, while Rep. Xochitl Torres Small said she supports many of the reforms in it. We need to be looking at getting to a place where we feel police are acting as guardians, Udall said during a teleconference earlier this week. Heinrich voiced a similar sentiment during an interview with the Journal on Thursday. He said law enforcement agencies needed to move from a warrior mentality to a neighborhood guardian mentality. I dont think that more AR-15s and more military vehicles, more MRAPS, lead to better public safety, Heinrich said, referring to AR-15 rifles and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles, respectively. I think that drives a wedge between communities and police that is unhealthy. Haaland said it is time to get weapons of war off our streets. And Udall said the legislation does address whether law enforcement agencies are becoming too militarized. The bill would limit the transfer of military-grade equipment to state and local law enforcement. The bill is aimed at holding police accountable, ending racial profiling, changing the culture of law enforcement and building trust between communities and law enforcement by addressing systemic racism and bias to help save lives, according to a fact sheet distributed by the Congressional Black Caucus. The legislation would require state and local law enforcement agencies to report use-of-force data, broken down by race, sex, disability, religion and age. The bill would establish a National Police Misconduct Registry to prevent problematic officers who are fired or on leave from moving to another jurisdiction without accountability. Its very important that we follow through at the state, local and national level on the disclosure of police department misconduct, of whether its excessive force or shootings or these kinds of things, Udall said. Heinrich calls the bill groundbreaking, but said it is pretty narrow. He said the bill includes the prohibition of things that we know lead to unnecessary deaths, things like chokeholds and no-knock warrants, and establishes the premise that police are subject to the law just like everyone else. The legislation would end racial profiling and the bill mandates racial bias training, Udall said. Federal officers would be required to use dashboard cameras and body cameras. Local law enforcement would be required to use federal funds to ensure the use of body cameras. The bill would amend the federal criminal statute from a willfulness (acting with intent to cause harm) to a recklessness (knowing that action would likely cause harm) standard to identify and prosecute police misconduct. A Department of Justice task force would also be established to coordinate the investigation, prosecution and enforcement of law enforcement misconduct cases. The legislation would also make it easier for people to recover damages when police violate their constitutional rights. It would eliminate qualified immunity for law enforcement, which shields government officials from being personally liable for actions performed on the job unless their actions violate clearly defined federal laws. And a grant program would be created for state attorneys general to develop authority to conduct independent investigations into problematic police departments. Grants would also be established to help communities add task forces and commissions to create just and equitable public safety approaches. The legislation does not address protest demands that police be defunded. That is something Torres Small told the Journal she opposes. We must invest in necessary changes together to protect our communities, she said. She said she supports reform that would ban chokeholds and no-knock entries, increase reporting on use of force, as well as implement new and robust training methods and safeguards that hold our law enforcement officers accountable to their highest standard: to protect and serve. Heinrich believes the defund demand is the symptom of the reality that for some time that we expected law enforcement to solve everything for us. Thats not a reasonable thing to expect from law enforcement Theyre not the people who should be doing mental health care for us, dealing with the everyday impact of addiction treatment. Udall said he believes mayors and police chiefs in New Mexico are already moving in the direction of change the legislation calls for. But Heinrich believes there will be resistance to some of the changes. He said now is the time to step up and address issues that at one time were too uncomfortable to address. Thats going to be really hard This is something weve got to address, Heinrich said. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to review policy pertaining to ownership and control in Indian private sector lenders "to harmonise the norms applicable to banks set up at different time periods, irrespective of their date of commencement of business". The central bank on Friday said it has constituted a five-member Internal Working Group (IWG), headed by RBI Central Board Director P K Mohanty, to review the extant guidelines on ownership and corporate structure for Indian private sector banks. The move is significant as it comes in the wake of the out-of-court settlement between RBI and Kotak Mahindra Bank earlier this year. The central bank has allowed the promoter of Kotak Mahindra Bank to limit stake at 26 per cent with voting right ceiling of 15 per cent, PTI quoted sources as saying. Under the current RBI rules, private sector bank promoters are required to dilute their shareholding to 40 per cent within three years, 20 per cent within 10 years and 15 per cent within 15 years of starting operations. The RBI panel will examine and review the extant licensing and regulatory guidelines relating to ownership and control, promoters' holding, requirement of dilution, control and voting rights, etc. It will submit its report by September 30, 2020. Also Read: RBI suggests capping bank CEO's tenure to 10 years for promoters, 15 years for non-promoters Besides Mohanty, the internal working group comprises Sachin Chaturvedi, director, RBI Central Board, and executive directors Lily Vadera and SC Murmu. Chief General Manager Shrimohan Yadav has been named convenor of the panel. "The group will review the extant licensing guidelines and regulations relating to ownership and control in Indian private sector banks and suggest appropriate norms, keeping in mind the issue of excessive concentration of ownership and control, and having regard to international practices as well as domestic requirements," RBI said. Also Read: EMIs moratorium: SC asks govt, RBI to decide on interest payment in 3 days The panel has been asked to examine and review the eligibility criteria for individuals or entities to apply for banking license and make recommendations on all related issues. It will study the current regulations on holding of financial subsidiaries through non-operative financial holding company (NOFHC) and suggest the manner of migrating all banks to a uniform regulation in the matter, including providing a transition path, the central bank said. The group will also review the norms for promoter shareholding at the initial or licensing stage and subsequently, along with the timelines for dilution of the shareholding, identify any other issue relevant to the subject matter and make recommendations thereon. The RBI said as macroeconomic indicators, financial market and technological developments continue to influence the future of banking and transform how the entire banking industry operates, it is felt necessary to align regulations to meet the requirements of a dynamic banking landscape. The central bank has already issued the guidelines for on-tap licensing of universal banks as well as small finance banks in order to leverage these developments for engendering competition through entry of new players. Also, the broad policy relating to ownership and control in Indian private sector banks is guided by the framework issued in February 2005. It further stated that though the overarching principle, mandating ownership and control of private sector banks remains well diversified and major shareholders are ''fit and proper'', remains unchanged, the specific contours have evolved over the years with specific prescriptions being given as part of licensing guidelines issued at various points in the past. On the way up Montara Mountain, the view opens up for miles across Pacifica, north past San Francisco, where you can see Sutro Tower and the tip top of the South Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, and beyond for miles up the Marin Coast. Now three months into shelter-in-place, nearly 90% of the Bay Areas 350 outdoor recreation sites have re-opened. Many residents are looking for an outlet, and the regions varied landscape offers hikers a range of great options for getting outside. Of my 50 favorite Bay Area hikes, about 39 are open right now. The rest are likely to open soon. In the meantime, here are 10 great hikes you can take today. Easy ORourkes Bench, Mount Tamalpais: Start at Rock Spring parking (at the junction with Pantoll), then cross Ridgecrest to the trailhead on the south side of the road. Its only 0.3 miles, 0.6-mile round trip to the stone bench perched at 2,040 feet. The view here extends miles out to sea and up and down the coast. Mount Tamalpais State Park, 415-388-2070, www.parks.ca.gov Battery Godfrey, San Francisco: The foundation of Battery Godfrey, a turn-of-the-century military site, is perched on the Presidio Headlands with a parking lot nearby, and a staging area for the Coastal Trail. The cliffs plunge below to the entrance to the bay, with a jaw-dropping view of the Golden Gate Bridge and across to the Marin Headlands. The trail, with several lookouts, extends to the bridge. 1.5 miles. Presidio Visitor Center, 415-561-4323, www.nps.gov/prsf Sentinel Rock/Rock City, Mount Diablo: The Trail Through Time is routed amid the mosaic of sandstone rock formations of Rock City, crowned by Sentinel Rock. A rock staircase leads up the back side, and then with a short scramble, you reach the pinnacle. A cable guard railing keeps you safe. Gibralter Rock and Wall Point are other highlights on a 3-mile round trip. Mount Diablo State Park, 925-837-2525, www.parks.ca.gov Moderate Tomales Point Trail, Point Reyes: You start at the Pierce Ranch Trailhead, and in the next few hours, get the best chance in California to elk on the trail, with views of the ocean to the west, Tomales Bay to your east. A 6-mile round trip, with side trips available on elk trails to track, spot add photograph the elk, (about 125 in all). Point Reyes National Seashore, 415-464-5100, www.mps.gov/pore Inspiration Point to San Pablo Ridge, Tilden: The key here is just keep going, past all the crowds youll run into at the start. This is the Bay Areas best bike-and-hike, where you ride out 4 miles on pavement on Nimitz Way to a gate on your left. The trail turns to dirt, and passes a series of hilltops. Drop your bike and hike to the top of one. The reward is a 360 that spans across the bay and miles of hilltops and foothills. 10-mile round trip. East Bay Regional Park District, 888-327-2757, www.ebparks.org Trail Camp Loop, Castle Rock: The top of Goat Rock can be one of near-perfect spots on Earth, where you can take a scalloped seat in rock for a trail lunch and a view across miles of redwoods and to Monterey Bay. Its off a spur on a 5.3-mile loop, out on the Saratoga Gap Trail, back on the Ridge Trail (spur on the right). Castle Rock State Park, 408-867-2952, www.parks.ca.gov Stephen Lam / Special to The Chronicle Challenging Montara Mountain, Pacifica: Out of San Pedro Valley County Park, the 7-mile round trip to 1,898-foot Montara Mountain is one of the Bay Areas greatest treks for views. On the way up, you can scan north across Pacifica and up the coast past San Francisco to Marin. As you near the top, Half Moon Bay emerges to the south. At the summit, Sweeney Ridge and the adjoining 23,000-acre Crystal Springs Watershed pops into view to the east, and across the bay to a silhouette of Mount Diablo. San Pedro Valley County Park, 650-355-8289; http://parks.smcgov.org Rocky Ridge, Las Trampas: When you top 2,024-foot Rocky Ridge, an amazing expanse of South Bay, from the Bay Bridge on down, is revealed all at once. Then you can turn and take in the Livermore Valley and Mount Diablos southwest flank. Awesome. To get it, its a 1,000-foot elevation gain in about 2 miles. This crowns the Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, out of Bollinger Canyon Road in San Ramon. 4.4-mile round trip. East Bay Regional Park District, 888-327-2757, www.ebparks.org Mission Peak, Fremont: Touching the Summit Pole atop 2,517-foot Mission Peak has become a rite a passage that can draw huge crowds on weekend. Pick a weekday morning and hen depart from the trailhead at Ohlone College for 3.5-mile climb, one-way with a 2,000-foot climb. The view spans miles in all directions, with a stunning expanse of South Bay. East Bay Regional Park District, 888-327-2757, www.ebparks.org Dipsea Trail, Mill Valley: The famous route is a must-do, 7.5 miles one-way, where you start at Old Mill Park, with a car waiting along the Panoramic Highway at trails end at Stinson Beach. From start to finish, you climb the legendary 688 steps, past the outskirts of Muir Woods, climb up Cardiac Hill, into Steep Ravine and emerge on a hilltop for a crowning view of the Pacific. Old Mill Park (trailhead), 415-388-4033, www.cityofmillvalley.org Tom Stienstra is The Chronicles outdoor writer. Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @StienstraTom. A Manila court is expected to rule on the cyber libel case against internationally recognised Philippine journalist Maria Ressa on Monday, June 15. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) stand in solidarity with Maria Ressa who has bravely withstood a long-running and targeted campaign of government-led attacks and intimidation. In February 2019 , Rapplers chief executive officer, Maria Ressa, was charged under the Cybercrime Prevention Act (2012) for an article dating back to 2012 on the impeachment trial of former chief justice Renato Corona. Despite the cyber libel legislation only becoming law in late 2012 after the Rappler article was published, Ressa and Rappler reporter, Reynaldo Santos Jr were charged retrospectively. The Philippines Department of Justice (DOG) resolution on the case noted the Rappler report as being published in 2014. According to Rappler, this was due to a modification made to correct a typographical error. The DOJ maintains this constituted a republication and distinct offence and breach of the Cybercrime Prevention Act. Ressa and Rappler have been repeated targets of the Philippine governments attempts to discredit the media and critical voices in the country. Earlier this year, Ressa was targeted alongside ABS-CBN in a black propaganda campaign. The Philippines largest broadcaster, ABS-CBN is currently facing the same attacks Philippines president Duterte undertook against Rappler in 2018, revoking the news platforms license. In 2019, the Duterte administration made allegations against a number of journalists, including Ressa and Inday Espina-Varona as being part of an alleged plot to overthrow the Duterte administration. In February and March 2019, Ressa was arrested for libel and violating foreign ownership rules and securities fraud. NUJP said: The government clearly twisted the law to make sure the charges against Maria made it to court. This simply shows the lengths this administration will go to persecute the independent and critical media. The IFJ said: The Duterte administration has made no secret of its intentions to silence Maria Ressa and Rappler. While she may be one person, her voice is strong and her brave defiance against ongoing attacks is supported globally as a critical fight for media independence in the Philippines. We stand with Maria Ressa and all journalists in the Philippines and hope justice prevails." Sudanese civilians displaced during the devastating conflict in Darfur have welcomed news that a top militia leader accused of atrocities there has surrendered himself to the International Criminal Court. Ali Kushayb, also known as Ali Muhammad Abdelrahman, was wanted on more than 50 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the western region. He turned himself in earlier this week in the Central African Republic, ending 13 years on the run. "I couldn't believe it at first," said Badria Saleh, who lives in a refugee camp of mud houses with grass and plastic roofs in the South Darfur region. "Kushayb killed my husband and my brother as they were burying a relative in 2013," she told AFP. "We fled our village," she added, bursting into tears. The Darfur conflict broke out in 2003 when ethnic African rebels, complaining of systematic discrimination, took up arms against the government of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir. The state hit back with violence by the mostly Arab Janjaweed militias, a campaign that saw the ICC accuse Bashir of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The United Nations says the conflict killed 300,000 people and displaced 2.5 million. 'Scared of his cruelty' An African Union soldier surveys an abandoned village in Darfur in 2006. The United Nations says the conflict killed 300,000 people and displaced 2.5 million. By CHARLES ONIANS (AFP/File) Kushayb, a senior Janjaweed commander in the early years of the conflict, was the target of a 2007 ICC arrest warrant on multiple counts including rape, murder and pillaging. Hassan al-Senousi, another displaced Darfuri at the Al-Sarif camp near South Darfur's regional capital Nyala, said Kushayb's arrest brought him "deep satisfaction." "Kushayb attacked our village with five cars and killed my brother and 35 other villagers," he said. "That was eight years ago -- since then I've been living in the camp because I'm scared of his cruelty." Fellow camp resident Hamed Ahmed Harir said he had tried to return to his village of Raheid al-Bardi, 150 kilometres (90 miles) south of Nyala four months ago, but was blocked by Kushayb's forces. "Kushayb detained me for two days and threatened to kill me if I didn't leave," he said. "I've never been back." Displaced 70-year-old Abdelrahman, who lives in the sprawling Kalma camp east of Nyala, said Kushayb's forces had looted his family's properties. "My family was forced to abandon 150 shops in Raheid al-Bardi market," he said angrily. "Kushayb seized them and turned them into private investments." Hopes of return For Al-Maafi Madani Al-Ghali, Kushayb's surrender has rekindled hopes of going home. By - (AFP) Kushayb's arrest comes less than a year after a transitional government took power following Bashir's ouster by the military in April 2019 on the back of vast protests against his rule. The country's new rulers, including civilian and military figures, have promised accountability for those responsible for crimes under Bashir. In December Bashir himself was sentenced to two years in a community reform centre over corruption. And in February, transitional authorities finally agreed to hand him over for trial at the ICC, although they have yet to do so. They have also started peace talks with rebel groups in Darfur and other conflict-torn parts of the country. Kushayb is set to be the first of five Sudanese suspects wanted by the ICC over atrocities in Darfur to appear before the court. "Kushayb's arrest is a success for international justice and... for the victims," Minni Minnawi, leader of a rebel group active in Darfur Sudanese Liberation Army, wrote on Twitter. "May the rest follow, first and foremost Bashir." The ICC has also issued arrest warrants against several former officials including Ahmed Mohamed Haroun and Abdulreheem Mohamed Hussein, who held top government posts under Bashir. The ICC's chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda hailed Kushayb's arrest and urged Sudanese authorities to ramp up cooperation and allow investigators access to the country. "Justice for Darfur has already been too elusive for too long," she said in a statement. "A window of opportunity has been opened. We must collectively seize it... to finally bring justice to the victims in Darfur." On Wednesday, Sudanese government spokesman Faisal Mohamed Saleh welcomed Kushayb's surrender and again stressed Khartoum's readiness to "discuss the appearance of the other defendants before the ICC". 'Justice for Darfur has already been too elusive for too long,' the ICC's chief prosecutor said. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP/File) For displaced Darfuri Al-Maafi Madani Al-Ghali, Kushayb's surrender has rekindled hopes of going home. "It will bring relative security to Darfur," he said. "We can return to our villages that he forced us to leave." By Trend Today, 1.9 million (22.6 percent) of 8.4 million plastic cards which are in circulation in Azerbaijan account for non-contact ones, Farid Osmanov, executive director of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), told Trend on June 11. Osmanov said that the CBA is implementing the measures within the Cashless Azerbaijan concept to improve the conditions for the introduction of cashless payments as an increase in cashless payments by 10 percent allows reducing the shadow economy by five percent. The executive director stressed that one of the main priorities for the CBA is to ensure the development of payment channels through the review of the latest trends and the introduction of innovative technologies in this sphere. "Some 28,000 POS terminals which are being used at the moment support the payment through contactless cards or mobile devices with the near field communication (NFC) function," Osmanov added. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz T he BBC's head of news has spoken out on Emily Maitlis' Newsnight monologue about Dominic Cummings following a row over impartiality. Fran Unsworth said the presenter's remarks belonged "more on the op-ed page in a newspaper" than as the introduction to "an impartial broadcast programme". She defended the broadcaster's ruling that the introduction "did not meet our standards of due impartiality". Maitlis missed the following show amid the fallout. Speaking during an online Royal Television Society lunchtime event on Thursday, Ms Unsworth referenced a Reuters study which she said had found 30 per cent of the public did not believe Mr Cummings had done anything wrong. Emily Maitlis became engulfed in a row over impartiality following her opening statement about Dominic Cummings on the programme / BBC Newsnight She said: "Just because the majority of opinion is on side, and I absolutely accept they were, and that, as I say, was evidenced by the programme, it was the language with which the intro was phrased, which I felt basically belonged more on the op-ed page in a newspaper than it did as the intro to an impartial broadcast programme." Maitlis opened the programme on BBC Two by saying Mr Cummings had "broken the rules" and "the country can see that, and it's shocked the Government cannot". Mr Cummings travelled to Durham from London while the most stringent lockdown measures were in place, sparking criticism. Ms Unsworth disagreed with Maitlis' assertion on Newsnight that Mr Cummings owed his survival to Mr Johnson's "blind loyalty", saying: "I don't think we can attribute motivation in that way." She said that, following the incident, she had had a "a robust discussion" with the Newsnight team. However, she added: "I just want to say though that I think that Newsnight has had an absolutely brilliant journalistic run over this pandemic, and have really been on the stories." The day after the Newsnight broadcast, the BBC released a statement saying the introduction did not meet its standards of due impartiality and that staff had been "reminded of the guidelines". Asked why she stepped in, she said: "Because I was acting on what I believed was the case, that it went further than the editorial guidelines allowed us to do. "I felt, why would I wait for somebody else to make a judgment which I had already made for myself. "I didn't need to wait for some complaints process to take its course here, if actually I felt that the introduction had gone slightly beyond what I felt was appropriate in terms of what our editorial guidelines are." Ms Unsworth spoke hours before the BBC released a report which showed that it had received 23,674 complaints over the episode. The complaints were made on the grounds that viewers felt the programme showed "bias against Dominic Cummings and/or the Government". WASHINGTON - Former national security adviser John Bolton's forthcoming book will include descriptions of President Donald Trump's "inconsistent, scattershot decision-making" driven by "reelection calculations" rather than national security, according to a news release from the book's publisher. ''I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision during my tenure that wasn't driven by reelection calculations,'' Bolton writes, according the description Simon & Schuster distributed Friday morning. "What Bolton saw astonished him: a president for whom getting reelected was the only thing that mattered, even if it meant endangering or weakening the nation," the news release said. The longtime conservative foreign policy hand also argues in the book that House Democrats "committed impeachment malpractice" by focusing their inquiry on Ukraine, according to the publisher. "Trump's Ukraine-like transgressions existed across the full range of his foreign policy - and Bolton documents exactly what those were, and attempts by him and others in the Administration to raise alarms about them," the Simon & Schuster news release states. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The new details about the book came just days after Bolton's attorney said he was pushing ahead with the June 23 publication of his memoir, despite a new warning from the administration that it contains classified material and needs to be further revised. The 592-page book, "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir," is expected to go into detail about Trump's decision-making process, his warring advisers and the president's engagement on a range of foreign policy decisions, from Ukraine and Venezuela to North Korea and Iran. Simon & Schuster said Friday that Bolton's "substantive and factual account of the period from April 9, 2018 to September 10, 2019, when he had nearly daily communications with the President" will include detailed accounts of Trump's actions. The release also asserts that "Trump directed the seizure of and withheld his personal and other unclassified documents, despite numerous requests for their return." Bolton's lawyer, Charles Cooper, received a letter Wednesday from a White House lawyer, John A. Eisenberg, warning him that the book contains classified material and needs to be revised. The letter said Bolton would be provided with a redacted manuscript by June 19, four days before the book is to go on sale, June 23. In response, Cooper said his client scrupulously complied with national security requirements and expects his book will be available to the public as planned. Cooper provided a lengthy response to Eisenberg's letter detailing Bolton's efforts since last December to vet the manuscript. Both Bolton and Cooper have said they are confident the manuscript does not contain classified material. Simon & Schuster has already shipped copies to warehouses around the country in preparation. The White House has not said what it would do if Bolton's book is published without further redaction. Light, the company behind the Nokia 9 PureViews quirky penta-camera technology, has called it quits on smartphones. The California based company is no longer operating in the smartphone industry, Android Authority reports. It is reportedly refocusing on the automotive industry. Founded in 2013, Light first came into the spotlight in 2015 when it launched the L16 camera featuring 16 sensors. A few years later, it entered the smartphone industry and developed the tech for the penta-camera array on HMD Globals Nokia 9 PureView. It was the first smartphone with five rear cameras. Multiple cameras on smartphones are a norm these days. However, unlike other multi-camera phones, the Nokia 9 PureView didnt feature a variety of sensors. Advertisement There was no wide-angle, telephoto, or macro camera here. Instead, the company fitted the phone with three 12-megapixel monochrome cameras and two 12-megapixel color cameras. This setup was touted to offer superior depth perception and improved HDR. However, as much as it seemed incredible on paper, it failed to deliver in reality. The device turned out to be utterly inconsistent with image quality. It scored a mere 85 points in the DxOMark test, which is well below the current highest score of 128, achieved by the Huawei P40 Pro. Advertisement Clearly, Lights technology didnt work on a smartphone. The company now seems to be back concentrating its focus on the car industry. Its superior depth perception would be much more useful there, in self-driving vehicles, for example. Nokia 9.3 PureView will not feature Light camera technology HMD Global is currently working on the successor to last years Nokia 9 PureView. The upcoming Nokia 9.3 PureView is also expected to be a photography powerhouse, featuring a 108-megapixel camera. However, with Light now moving away from the smartphone industry, this phone will not feature the Light camera technology. Advertisement Reports in January this year suggested that the company will opt for a more conventional approach with the camera setup on this phone. So expect a variety of sensors on the back of the upcoming Nokia flagship. The Nokia 9.3 PureView will likely arrive in September or October this year along with the Nokia 6.3 and Nokia 7.3. Interestingly, Light had also signed a partnership with Huawei last year. The two companies were to co-develop camera sensors for the latters smartphones. However, this partnership hasnt borne fruit yet and itll probably never. Sony had also teamed up with Light in early 2019 to integrate the latters imaging solutions in its smartphone camera sensors. Lights decision to quit the smartphone industry possibly means an immature end to this partnership as well. Fueled by the death of George Floyd, thousands of young Europeans of color are getting political, many for the first time, and venting their frustration with enduring racism by participating in mass rallies. While marches in England, Scotland and Belgium were largely peaceful, some protesters were emboldened to take more strident action, toppling statues of slaveholders, slave traders and prominent colonial-era figures symbols of an imperial past that many want to see confined to the historical garbage can. Image: Protesters attend a Black Lives Matter demonstration against racism and police brutality in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh on Sunday. (Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images) In Berlin, choreographer Jakob Yaw, a Black man born in north Germany, said that while he had attended a few marches over the years as an observer, he felt compelled by Floyds death to seize the moment. Yaw, 29, organized his first protest on May 31. He expected 100 people to show up. Thousands arrived. Im still overwhelmed, Yaw told NBC News, referring to the crowd size. To stand up on the stage and look into people's eyes. That look like me, breathe like me to have that glimpse of hope that we can change something, and that change is going to come? It was a blessing. As a Black man living in Berlin, Yaw said an act as simple as getting an apartment has meant getting a white friend to meet the landlord and vouch for him. And while issues like police brutality are largely seen as an American issue in Europe, Yaw said there needs to be a spotlight placed on police tactics in Germany. Criminologists at the Ruhr-University Bochum published research last year that said police violence in Germany may be five times more prevalent than officially recorded. And according to data from the countrys Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, the number of reported racist attacks in Germany has jumped recently, with racial discrimination in 2018 rising 20 percent compared with the previous year. Yet these numbers are somewhat incomplete because Germany, like other European Union countries, does not collect information on its residents racial or ethnic backgrounds. That data omission has been the practice since the end of World War II, but academics and activists alike say it is a major obstacle to fixing policies that could improve the lives of communities of color. Story continues While the killing of George Floyd in police custody has roiled America and forced a nationwide discussion on how Black people are treated, the flashpoints of protest across Europe are symptomatic of the fact that racism is by no means a uniquely American issue. Image: Protest against police brutality and racial inequality in the aftermath of the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Berlin (Fabrizio Bensch / Reuters) In Europe, the European Unions Fundamental Rights Agency caused a stir when it issued a report in 2018 titled Being Black in the E.U. that found that 30 percent of nearly 6,000 respondents had experienced some form of racial harassment in the last five years. Finland had the highest rates of racist violence, with 63 percent of respondents there saying theyd experienced racism. Racist violence was also high in Ireland and Austria. In the U.K., 21 percent of respondents said theyd experienced racism in the last five years. A true reckoning with Europes colonial history a time that saw white Europeans occupy and subjugate vast swaths of the planet would go a long way to helping challenge these systemic issues, according to the United Nations. Last year, the U.N.s special rapporteur on racism urged the Dutch government to do more to challenge the histories of slavery and colonialism as histories of systematic racial subordination. Image: Demonstrators rise their fists during a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in The Hague, Netherlands earlier this month. (Piroschka van de Wouw / Reuters) One Dutch protester, Doja Henshaw, 18, agrees with that assessment. On June 1, a Black social media influencer from Amsterdam, Henshaw went from being a spectator to commanding a microphone and delivering an impassioned speech in front of anti-racism protesters in Dam Square, many of whom were Black, in the Netherlands. While not a political activist, Henshaw said the energy of the larger-than-expected crowd ultimately empowered her to vent years of pain at being marginalized. The feeling of being there that prompted me to pour out what Id been holding inside me for a while, she said. Exactly how the underlying systemic issues that communities of color are facing in Europe will be fixed is up for debate. In the Netherlands, there is still an annual debate over Black Pete a Dutch Christmas tradition involving blackface and minstrel-dress that many people have criticized as racist. Even Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who has defended the custom in the past, last week said hed be open to abandoning it on racial grounds. While Henshaw hopes that this moment will turn into an opportunity for dialogue and real change across the Netherlands, she worries that the concerns voiced by minorities will once again be brushed aside. People are easily dismissive of our pain, she said. Longford County Council has confirmed that there has been a very strong interest from the micro and small business community in the COVID-19 Business Restart grant. This grant support is a Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation initiative designed to assist businesses with the costs associated with reopening and reemploying workers following the COVID-19 closures. The level of grant available is between 2,000 and 10,000 and is linked to the rates liability on a business premises in 2019. Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Gerard Farrell said The Restart Grant is designed to help small businesses get back on their feet. While the grant may be small, it can be used to defray ongoing fixed costs, replenishing stock and implement measures needed to ensure employee and customer safety. Commenting on the scheme, Paddy Mahon, Chief Executive, said The Government backed scheme provides a vital cash injection into the local business community as it tries to get back on its feet post COVID-19. While the small firms sector suffered considerably over the last three months, evidence through the scheme to date would suggest that almost all businesses intend to re-open and appear relatively confident that they can trade out of the current crisis. John McKeon, Head of Finance, confirmed that Longford County Council is one of the few councils that has automated the application process making it easier for business owners to avail of the support and the link can be found at www.longfordcoco.ie. Currently there have been over 400 on-line applications for the Restart Grant from businesses throughout Longford, which is the highest per capita uptake in the country at the moment. The closing date for receipt of applications is 31st August 2020, and SMEs are encouraged to apply early, regardless of their planned re-opening date under the Governments Roadmap for Reopening Business. Michael Nevin, Head of Enterprise, encouraged all eligible businesses to apply for the scheme and advised any business that has a query in relation to the scheme to contact either the Rates Office or the LEO office. Michael also said that the LEO team continues to actively engage with business to support them as they navigate the challenges they were facing. As new initiatives are introduced to support reopening businesses in Ireland the team provides the most up to date information and advice on how to access these including COVID-19 Business Loans, Trading Online Vouchers, Restart Grant and rates waiver scheme. Programmes on starting your own business and planning for reopening and getting your business online are also being provided online. MANILA, Philippines - Hundreds of activists in the Philippine capital staged protests Friday against a proposed anti-terror law they say could be used to quash dissent, ignoring police threats that they could be arrested for violating coronavirus restrictions against large public gatherings. The Anti-Terror Act, which Congress has sent to President Rodrigo Duterte to sign into law, allows the detention of suspects for up to 24 days without charge and empowers a government anti-terrorism council to designate suspects or groups as suspected terrorists who could then be subjected to arrests and surveillance. Military officials have cited the continuing threat of terrorism, including from Abu Sayyaf militants, as reasons the law is needed. Opponents say the legislation violates the constitution, which restricts detention beyond three days without specific charges, and could be misused to target government critics. They should not fool us into believing that this terror bill is for terrorists because its meant for all of us who are protesting and dissenting, said Neri Colmenares, a former member of the House of Representatives who took part in a protest near the University of the Philippines despite police checkpoints set up to prevent massing on the sprawling campus. The growing opposition to the legislation comes as the Philippine government already faces a chaotic mix of issues linked to the coronavirus pandemic, including a looming recession, record-high unemployment and widespread complaints over delays in the delivery of aid to millions of poor people. At another protest about 300 workers wearing protective masks carried signs while travelling in a 50-car convoy from a democracy monument to the Commission on Human Rights. The government has mishandled everything from the pandemic to the economy, labour leader Josua Mata said. Now its using health restrictions as a flimsy cover to prevent the people from protesting. There were no immediate reports of arrests or violence at the protests, which were held as the Philippines marked its independence from Spanish colonial rule in 1898. Opposition to the law has been mounting, with Catholic bishops saying the definition of terrorism under the legislation is so broad it could threaten legitimate dissent and civil liberties. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the largest group of lawyers in the country, and U.N. rights officials have also expressed concern along with nationalist groups and media watchdogs. Once signed into law by Duterte, the legislation would replace a 2007 anti-terror law called the Human Security Act that has been rarely used, largely because law enforcers can be fined 500,000 pesos ($9,800) for each day they wrongfully detain a terrorism suspect. Lawmakers removed such safeguards in the new legislation, which increases the number of days that suspects can be detained without warrants from three to 24. Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and other security officials have played down fears the law could be misused, saying the legislation contains adequate penalties for abuse and wont be used against government opponents. The proposed legislation states that terrorism excludes advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action and other similar exercises of civil and political rights. Military officials back the law. For years, government troops have been battling Abu Sayyaf militants who have been listed as terrorists by both the United States and the Philippines for ransom kidnappings, beheadings and bombings in the restive south. In 2017, hundreds of militants affiliated with the Islamic State group laid siege to Marawi city in the south. Troops quelled the siege after five months in a massive offensive that left more than 1,000 people dead, mostly militants, and the mosque-studded city in ruins. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 12:47 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde33f3e 1 World vessel,Retno-Marsudi,Foreign-Affairs-Ministry,foreign-affairs,Chinese,China,fishermen,Fisherman Free Indonesia has again expressed its concern regarding cases of alleged human rights abuse affecting its citizens onboard Chinese-flagged fishing vessels, calling for a serious investigation. Indonesia looks forward to receiving the results of a fair and transparent investigation from the Chinese authorities, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said during a press conference on Thursday. The minister said that, based on conversations with fishermen from different Chinese vessels, she had been told exactly the same stories about mistreatment on board. Retno said his ministry had summoned Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Xiao Qian to convey the concerns while maintaining communication between Indonesian and Chinese officials in Beijing. The allegations of exploitation emerged recently with the report of four Indonesians registered to Chinese fishing ship Long Xing 629 who died between December 2019 and April this year after allegedly enduring poor working conditions. A video published by South Koreas Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) last month showed a group of men throwing an orange body bag, believed to contain the body of an Indonesian crew member, off a fishing vessel. Two unidentified Indonesian sailors told MBC that crew members allegedly were only allowed to take short breaks every six hours, had almost no time to sleep and were made to drink filtered seawater. Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) cited crewmen of the Long Xing 629 claiming they were sometimes forced to work for up to two days without rest, had been subjected to violence and discrimination and faced hunger and dehydration. The Chinese foreign ministry said it was investigating the matter but added that some of the allegations were inconsistent with information it had gathered, though it did not elaborate, SCMP reports. The Indonesian crewmen who have returned to Indonesia are reportedly still waiting for thousands of dollars in unpaid wages. The Indonesian government has reported the case to the United Nations Human Rights Council and officially asked the Council to address human rights violations in the fishing industry. The National Polices Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) has named three suspects from manning agencies in Indonesia and alleged a modus operandi of promising salary and work placement but with unclear working hours. Forty-six Indonesian crew members were working for the ship operator, Dalian Ocean Fishing Co., which had landed at Busan, South Korea, aboard the Long Xin 605 and another vessel, Tian Yu 8. On Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry facilitated the return of two more Indonesian crew members to Jakarta, Retno said during Thursdays conference. This means that all 46 [working for] the company have been brought back to Indonesia, she said. Retno added that the legal process in Indonesia was moving forward, with the National Police continuing its investigation alongside the Attorney Generals Office. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The worldwide construction aggregate industry has experienced an increase owing to the development of the construction sector throughout the past few years. Rapid infrastructural growth coupled with business capital investments in developing economies, such as India and China, have fueled the demand for the construction aggregates. The rising government investments in railway and road projects are estimated to support the global sales prospects of construction aggregates. Moreover, projects such as the remodeling of old airports and expansion of new airport structures will continue to stimulate the demand for construction aggregates. Besides, the mushrooming Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are also encouraging the worldwide construction aggregates market. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are identified for promoting industrialization and economic development by the means of sustainable development. Owing to government policies and awareness, the number of SEZs is spurring substantially, which in turn, encourages the growth of the global market. In 2018, the worldwide construction aggregate market reflected a worth of USD 337.8 billion, and is likely to observe 5.4% CAGR growth throughout the forecast period of 2019 to 2024. Market Segmentation The worldwide construction aggregate market has been segmented based on application and material. Based on material, the global market is segmented into gravel, crushed stone, M-sand, sand, and others. Based on application, the global market is segmented into commercial, residential, infrastructure, and industrial. Based on material, crushed stone represented the larger market share of around 37% in the global construction aggregate market, which is also estimated to experience the highest growth rate throughout the forecast period. These stones are heavy ingredients with low value, making it is more economical for application in the construction sector. These stones are mostly used in paving blocks, concrete for sidewalks, road construction, patios, driveways, office buildings, and homes. Based on application, in 2018, the infrastructure segment represented the largest market share, which is also projected to observe highest growth rate in the worldwide market. The construction sector in emerging economies such as India and China, has observed an investment inflow, on account of the different government initiatives to encourage better infrastructure. For example, in India, the government has taken steps to establish Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which endorse economic growth and industrialization. The Ministry of Commerce in India, has abridged the number of regulations and curtailed the taxes to surge FDI and expand the infrastructure in the economy. Moreover, the residential segment is expected to experience substantial development within the worldwide construction aggregate market on account of the increasing instance of urbanization coupled with the rising population. This drastic transformation has further boosted the requirement for residential buildings mostly in emerging economies like India and China. Therefore, the construction businesses around the world are coming up with new projects and entering new markets. The market is highly competitive and ruled by several key players. These players have embraced tactics to develop their global presence and expand their market shares. Regional Analysis The worldwide construction aggregate market has been geographically studies across Europe, APAC, North America, and the rest of the world (RoW). APAC represented the primary share in the market. The APAC market is expected to grow rapidly over the forecast period. The growth can be owing to the developing construction activities within the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors. North America held the second largest market, which is likely to reflect sustainable growth rate throughout the forecast period. Renovation and repair activities in the real estate sector and the commercial sector is likely to boost the demand for construction aggregates in the region. Key Players Global construction aggregate market is ruled by key players such as HeidelbergCement AG (Germany), LSR Group (Russia), Cemex SAB de CV ADR (Mexico), Martin Marietta Materials Inc. (US), CEPSA (Spain), Vulcan Materials Company (US), Adelaide Brighton Ltd (Australia), CRH plc (Ireland), Eurocement Group, and ROGERS GROUP INC. (US). Dollar General has been accused of covering up suspected coronavirus cases at its Georgia warehouse as employees claim some people have been fired or penalized for refusing to work over fears for their health. The company's distribution center in Jackson, Georgia, has had at least four confirmed cases of COVID-19 since April, it's most recent on Friday, June 5. But employees told The Daily Beast they have been kept in the dark about suspected infections, claiming the company quietly conducted a deep cleaning of the facility this week and later learned from a nurse there was a potential case. They claim night-shift workers on Wednesday were told to go home early without explanation, only for them to discover a cleaning company waiting outside. Dollar General's distribution center in Jackson, Georgia, has had at least four confirmed cases of COVID-19 since April. Pictured: Storefront in Louisiana 'They told us it's just for tonight. Initially, I was like, "'Okay this is weird",' one employee, who wished to stay anonymous, told the publication. 'But when I went outside and I see this cleanup company come in, I was like, "Oh, lord. It's another case of COVID."' Another source said they immediately grew suspicious because the warehouse usually carries out routine cleaning on Saturdays. Day-shift employees would learn later that morning that there had been a suspected case overnight from a nurse conducting temperature checks at the door. According to an employee, supervisors denied that there had been a case and when people raised concerns about working, they were told to either 'work or leave', and those who went home would be given a point for attendance. It came five days after staff had been sent home from work after the company learned someone had tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, June 5. Employees at the Jackson, Georgia warehouse (pictured) claim they were sent home early from a night shift on Wednesday without explanation, only to discover a cleaning company outside The facility was shut for a thorough cleaning, but employees were told to return on Sunday, their day off, they claim. Those who refused to show up were fired, sources allege. In a statement to The Daily Beast, Dollar General spokeswoman Mary Kathryn Colbert confirmed someone had tested positive on June 5, but said they were 'currently unaware' of any other suspected cases. She said the cleaning conducted on Wednesday this week was 'precautionary' and not related to the confirmed case. 'At the conclusion of that cleaning, we resumed operations to support the essential work and services that our stores are performing for the communities we serve. All employees were paid for regularly scheduled hours during this time,' Colbert said. 'We continue to communicate with our employees on a regular basis to remind them of steps to help contain or avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus, as well as steps they should take if they experience symptoms or have been in touch with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.' An employee told the website staff were not informed about the cleaning and only found out about it from night shift workers. Some staff members said they feared contracting the virus and inadvertently bringing it home to their family or children. 'Why not shut down until you get the results back?' one person said. 'There's no way to properly sanitize a building like that. 'In order to make production, there's no way for us to social distance. If we're in the aisles, we're right over the top of each other.' DailyMail.com has contacted Dollar General for comment. Hong Kong: Staff union strike call condemned The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today strongly condemned a civil service staff unions move to call on civil servants to participate in a referendum on strike to oppose the legislation of the national security law in the city. In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government condemned the union for planning to use radical means by staging a political strike, which would undermine the community's interests and tarnish the civil services reputation. The statement said Hong Kongs economy suffered the double blow of a series of violent incidents and the COVID-19 epidemic in the past year and that the Hong Kong SAR Government has been assisting the city in riding out the difficult times as soon as possible by rolling out several rounds of relief measures. It stressed that it is deeply regrettable that the staff union is openly calling on civil servants to participate in the strike at this critical juncture. The union completely ignored how such acts would affect the Governments effective operation and the communitys stability, and undermine Hong Kong's economy and its peoples interests. The Hong Kong SAR Government will not turn a blind eye to such an action. Moreover, the Basic Law and Hong Kongs legal system do not provide for any referendum mechanism. Conducting any form of a so-called referendum will have no constitutional basis or legal effect. Civil servants must not participate in the referendum, or else they will fail to meet the communitys expectations. The statement reiterated that the Hong Kong SAR Government has been steadfastly safeguarding freedom of speech but, as in other jurisdictions, this freedom is not absolute. Article 99 of the Basic Law stipulates that public servants must be dedicated to their duties and be responsible to the Hong Kong SAR Government. Civil servants, being the public services key component, have a constitutional role. Additionally, according to the Civil Service Code, civil servants should be committed to the rule of law and politically neutral. Political neutrality means that civil servants shall serve the Chief Executive and the Government of the day with total loyalty and to the best of their ability, no matter their political beliefs. The statement said the Hong Kong SAR Government will follow up seriously with civil servants who blatantly violate the code. The Hong Kong SAR Government will also fully co-operate with the National People's Congress Standing Committee to complete the legislation as soon as possible to discharge its responsibility of safeguarding national security. Civil servants should stand united and be dedicated to their duties, the statement added. They should firmly support and fully co-operate with the Hong Kong SAR Government under the Chief Executives leadership to accomplish the task of safeguarding national security to ensure the robustness of one country, two systems". This story has been published on: 2020-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The development, production and deployment of a vaccine against COVID-19 requires international cooperation and solidarity, said Paivi Sillanaukee, director general at the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, at a press conference here on Thursday, Trend reports citing Xinhua. She said that the current international cooperation on vaccine development is already unprecedented. However, she stressed the importance of solid international arrangements for the distribution and administration of any future vaccine. "Availability will be a practical question. Talks have taken place under the World Health Organization about the availability in the EU (European Union) and worldwide," she said. According to Sillanaukee, the capabilities of the health care systems in different parts of the world are crucial, saying "It is those health care providers that will then vaccinate the population." Finnish officials present at the press conference also discussed plans to produce a vaccine domestically. Finland ceased domestic production of vaccines some 15 years ago on cost grounds and has since relied on imported vaccines. However, Esa Heinonen, director at the Finnish Medicines Agency, said there are biomedical companies in Finland that would be able to start production if required. Sillanaukee noted that Finland has yet to decide whether the whole population or just select groups should be vaccinated. She said she expected a vaccine to be available late this year or in early 2021. The final decision about Finland's vaccination policy rests with the country's parliament. According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, as of Thursday afternoon, Finland had confirmed 7,064 COVID-19 infections, of which 24 were new. The death toll has reached 325, with one new fatality reported in the past 24 hours. Some 6,200 patients have recovered, representing 85 percent of the confirmed cases. To date, 211,900 people have been tested in Finland. China not winning battle against COVID-19 says Nicholas Burns India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Washington, June 12: Former US under secretary, Nicholas Burns rejected suggestions that China is winning the battle against COVID-19. He said that the crisis should have been jointly tackled by the leadership of US, India and China within the G-20 framework. During a video conference with Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, Burns said that the sort of cooperation that was expected from US President, Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not happen. This is because Trump does not believe in international cooperation. On the other hand Xi sought to compete with Trump, Burns also said. India-China are properly handling border issue says Chinese official Corona warriors: SC orders wages to be paid full & on time to medical staff | Oneindia News When asked by Gandhi, why there has been no global cooperation, Burns said that it was a terrible disappointment. This crisis was made for the G20. This was made for PM Modi, Xi, and Trump to be working together. All of our countries have a common goal, he also said. Even the US and China are at the heart of the problem here. I hope, when the next crisis comes, they will do better to work together in a more effective way. He also said that China lacks the sophistication and openness of a democratic country such as India and the US. China has a fearful leadership, he also said. I think a lot of people right now are saying China is going to surpass, China is wining the battle against coronavirus, that it is gaining hearts and minds. I actually do not see that, Burns also said. China has extraordinary power. May be not as much as the US in terms of military and politically. But it is gaining that power and there is no question about that. What China lacks is sophistication and openness of a democratic country like India or the US, he added. In a pink casket adorned with flowers and her photo, slain mother Ellie Price was farewelled by family and friends at a service in her home town of Hobart on Friday. Ellies mother, Tracey Gangell, and sister Danielle Price, wept as her four-year-old son Mostafa, a pink bow attached to his black tie, walked her coffin out of the Millingtons Mornington Funeral Home to be laid to rest at a cemetery in the citys north-east. Murder victim Ellie Price has been remembered at her funeral service in Tasmania where she was laid to rest in a pink coffin. Credit:Millingtons Mornington Funeral Home Ms Price, 26, was found dead in her South Melbourne home on May 4. Ricardo 'Rick' Barbaro, 33, was charged with her murder after a 10-day manhunt across state lines. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 21:49:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of digital economy in restoring economic and social development, creating more jobs and improving people's well-being, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday. Li make the remarks in a congratulatory message to the opening ceremony of the 2020 China-ASEAN Year of Digital Economy Cooperation (DEC). In his message, Li said China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are friendly neighbors and important partners. The rapid development of the digital economy nowadays is profoundly reshaping the landscapes of world economy and human society. Noting that he and leaders of ASEAN countries designated 2020 as the China-ASEAN Year of DEC last year, Li said that the COVID-19 pandemic has made the importance of digital economy further highlighted in restoring economic and social development, creating more jobs and improving people's well-being. Li expressed the hope that China and ASEAN can take the China-ASEAN Year of DEC as an opportunity and make good use of the new technological revolution and industrial transformation. The two sides should also tap complementary advantages, focus on win-win cooperation, and cultivate more new growth points for cooperation in such industrial areas as smart city, artificial intelligence and big data, so as to build stronger drivers for their economic and social development and inject fresh energy for realizing lasting stability and prosperity in the region, he added. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, whose country chairs the ASEAN rotating presidency, also sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony. Enditem Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers at a meeting on June 12 decided to resume the operation of checkpoints at Ukrainian airports, as well as to ensure the possibility of foreign citizens crossing the border, the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry has reported. According to Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Kryklii, the government has allowed entry to Ukraine for foreigners who are not citizens of countries with a significant spread of COVID-19 and have not been to such countries over the past 14 days. "These changes will make it possible to resume the operation of air transport companies and establish international air services," he said. According to Kryklii, such a decision is expected and inextricably linked to the resumption of international scheduled passenger services in Ukraine from June 15. "The prerogative to open borders will remain for countries with developed tourism and a favorable epidemiological situation. We are gradually opening the skies, but the safety and protection of our citizens remain a priority," Kryklii added. Ukraine completely closed its borders to regular transport services, including air travel, on March 28 as part of the lockdown to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease. Ukraine started gradually easing restrictions on May 11. In particular, the resumption of flights is scheduled for June 15. op Friday, June 12, 2020 Tyler Mongan, a member of our Emerging Fellows program inspects the alternative futures of the Arctic region through the lens of potential stakeholders in his sixth blog post. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the APF or its other members. On the surface, Arctic Nations envision an open and cooperative high north. However, some national strategies paint a different picture. Russias arctic strategy is one of strategic-rule breaking, envisioning the expansion of their economic activities and military presence in the region, along with increased control over Arctic shipping routes. Continued financial partnerships with China will allow the development of infrastructure for LNG and Oil, and other natural resource extraction projects. Russia will also establish more infrastructure and control over transportation along the NSR to capitalize on the economic gains from transportation fees. Investments in rebuilding Soviet-era military facilities and building new bases along the northern coastal settlements and islands will grow. This will slowly fortify an Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) strategy, which extends around Russia to include the Baltic and Black seas, fulfilling the craving for access to warm water ports since the time of the Czars. Chinas arctic strategy is opportunistic, envisioning continued expansion of the Polar Silk Road as part of the BRI within an open and cooperative Arctic. This means the continued development of unilateral partnerships on scientific research with Arctic Nations, sea port infrastructure development with Russia along the NSR, and resource extraction with Russia and Greenland. China will also pursue the development of Arctic worthy vessels, like ice-breakers, and overtime a growing military presence to protect their interests in the region. The US arctic strategy is sustain rule-of-law, envisioning an open and cooperative Arctic, within a growing context of strategic competition. Although there is growing US military concern over Russian and Chinese developments, US investment will continue to lag behind. The US is hoping that rule of law and climate challenges will limit the militarization of the Arctic region. However, as melting ice thins the barriers between US and Russian territories, strategic military operations and cooperation with allies will increase. The US will continue to take a reactive role to Russia and China developments, while slowly increasing investment in military, economic, and transportation infrastructure projects in the region. Canadas arctic strategy is environmental and economic balance, envisioning an open and cooperative Arctic that is guided by a shared vision. This vision includes, monitoring climate change, safeguarding the environment, sustainable development, open sea routes, and economic cooperation. Canada is shifting away from Arctic oil development and focusing on developing infrastructure and economic opportunities that support their northern indigenous population. Canada will also work to strengthen the mutual-defense initiatives with the US. The European strategy is preservation and sustainability, with a vision that is along the same lines as Canada. European nations will expand their unilateral cooperation with Russia and China, especially in the areas of scientific research, resource extraction, and sea route development. However, some of these unilateral agreements and economic activities will lead to growing tensions. To mitigate conflict, the European nations might envision a stronger Arctic Council or the development of a legal governing body in the Arctic. As Arctic nations seek to realize their visions and pursue national military, economic, and political interests, the trade-offs they are willing to make will determine if the region remains open and cooperative or transitions into to closed and conflicting. Tyler Mongan 2020 Credit: Shutterstock It has been described as a once-in-a-century pandemic, but COVID-19 will cause a permanent shift in the way the world operates at the social, political and economic level. Things might be looking up in the Antipodean isles, with New Zealand looking to have all but eradicated the COVID-19 virus and Australia down to a handful of new cases a day. But before cracking that champagne, let's imagine for a moment that four or five years from now, there are still outbreaks of COVID-19 in the world, with no effective vaccine. After all, since the 1930s when the coronavirus family of viruses was first identified, there has been no successful vaccine or antiviral drug that has been able to prevent or treat infections, whether SARS (2003), MERS (2012) or even the common coldso why expect this one to be any different? UNSW's Professor Raina MacIntyre, head of the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute says while it's a possibility that we may never see a vaccine, the unprecedented nature of this pandemic that has spurred more than 100 groups around the globe into action working towards a common goal makes it more likely to succeed than in the past. "I think the chances are much greater that we will have a vaccine, but it may not be perfect," she says. "It may be the kind of vaccine where you need a booster dose, maybe once a year. But the number of pharmaceutical companies, research institutes and universities that are working on a vaccine is unprecedented. Never in our lifetimes, and in the history of vaccines, have we seen an effort like this, that's what makes me confident that we will see a vaccine of some kind, probably more than one." A new era But whether there is a vaccine or not, the truth is there is no going back to the world pre-pandemic. Professor MacIntyre thinks the challenges the coronavirus pandemic has brought will require us to completely re-evaluate how we think, act and work as we prepare for the next biosecurity threat. "I think this is a new era and I think the world will look different in the future, in terms of how we organize our own domestic resilience and capacity," she says. One of the problems, Professor MacIntyre argues, is that until now we've focused on the wrong end of the epidemic process. "By the time [an epidemic] comes to the attention of health systems and health authorities, it's probably already pretty big. And yet we focus on drugs and vaccines as the only solution when actually, we've had to use things like physical distancing, and lock downs and travel bans and personal protective equipment to try and control this." On again, off again Social and physical restrictions, such as staying home, reduced public gatherings, minimal physical contact, spatial distancing of 1.5m and closing borders may need to be reimplemented if outbreaks occur againas seen in countries like Japan and Singapore who have suffered so-called second waves of infections. But Professor MacIntyre believes Australia is in a better position than most. "Having brought the case numbers right down, we may not need lockdowns again. But somewhere like the US is a different storythey may need intermittent lockdowns. But we've done such a great job in disease control that I think we may be able to manage it with just expanded testing, really good disease surveillance and picking up all the new cases as they occur." Borderline cases The only caveat, she says is if we opened the international borders, then we may see more transmission in the community. So Australia's success in crushing the curve really depends on what happens from here with the international borders. "The criteria [to open up borders] have to be tailored for different countries," she says. "So for a country that has low incidence, like New Zealand, you might open the borders. But for a country that's still having high incidence like the US, you might keep them closed. So if we can keep the borders closed, even in a targeted way against countries with high incidence, we should be able to manage things." Make it better Professor MacIntyre believes in addition to the lesson learnt of acting early, the pandemic has also revealed our over-reliance on global trade. Nowhere was this weakness exposed more greatly than in the shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE) for front-line health professionals. "The stockpiling of PPE and hospital equipment should be improved everywhere in the world. No one really got it right, and even very wealthy countries like the United States, the UK and Australia all faced shortages. One of the issues, I think, that every country will be considering going into the future is how much domestic manufacturing capacity do we need for essential medicines, for essential medical equipment, for food and other things that are essential to our well-being? Should we really continue being so dependent on international trade to supply essential items?" She says in response to the pandemic, we've seen a repurposing of manufacturing such as car manufacturers making ventilators, paper manufacturers making masks and respirators, and this needs to be made sustainable by ensuring manufacturing processes remain agile. Stay ahead of the curve Pandemics are preventable, Professor MacIntyre says. Even before the SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected, she and a group of data researchers from CSIRO looked back at past epidemics such as the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and what was being reported in social media. "We looked at data from Twitter, we had an algorithm that indicated the potential for viral haemorrhagic fever just by what people were talking about in symptoms, and we could get a signal in December 2013. The WHO first knew about that outbreak in March 2014so we've got the signal three months before the WHO knew about it." The key for governments and health authorities to stay on top of outbreaks is disease surveillance using open source data for rapid epidemic intelligence, which Professor MacIntyre and the Kirby Institute works towards. "You need to look for signals that are coming from open source data. People talk about epidemics long before any health authorities know about them. They talk about them on social media, and newspapers might report on mystery outbreaks. Open source data trawls those sources using algorithms to pick up signals that something may be going on here." This is where governments and businesses need to spend more time and money, Professor MacIntyre argues, if we are to avoid a repeat of the social and economic trauma inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic, for any deadly virus of the future. "We need more investment at the early end of the spectrum than just concentrating everything at the pointy end of the pandemic, which is when it's too late." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Dr Li is now officially a 'martyr' in China for his work on exposing the virus - MARK RALSTON/AFP The widow of Li Wenliang, the Chinese doctor who first sounded the alarm about a potential Covid-19 outbreak, has given birth to a son four months after her husband's death. Doctor Li died aged 33 after contracting the novel coronavirus in February but first alerted the Chinese authorities to the dangers of the disease back in December 2019. He was initially ignored by the Chinese government, which played down the threat of the virus after it was first detected in Wuhan. Dr Li was the first person to link the outbreak of the disease to the Huanan Seafood market. Doctor Li's wife, Fu Xuejie, shared an image of her new son on the Chinese social media site WeChat, describing him as a final gift from her late husband. Husband, can you see this from heaven? You have given me your final gift today. I will of course love and protect them, Mrs Fu told local news outlet Litchi News. Dr Li, an eye doctor, first noticed the virus in seven patients and sent a note to fellow doctors alerting them that the virus he had found closely resembled that of Sars. The Sars outbreak in 2003 claimed 774 lives around the world. Dr Li was told by local Chinese state police to stop making false comments. He was a subject of an official investigation along with 8 other employees for spreading rumours. Police warned him that, unless he stopped, he would be prosecuted. His death was greeted with outrage in China. The government was accused of attempting to keep the virus secret and downplaying the severity of the initial outbreak. Many in China demanded greater freedom of speech following his death. Users of the social media website Weibo had their critical comments censored. An internal investigation by Beijing resulted in a formal apology for Dr Lis family and a rare admission of shortcomings and deficiencies in their response. Dr Li has since been labelled a martyr by the Chinese state, which makes any public criticism of him a criminal offence. Following his death, his wife told local news outlet Litchi news that she had been hospitalised due to health problems brought on by grief. She said that she could not initially tell her other children that their father had died, preferring instead to say that he had gone abroad. Googles latest feature is available in English, Hindi and other seven Indian languages. Here are more details. Users can now find information on Covid-19 testing centers near them through Google Search, Google Assistant, and Google Maps. Google has partnered with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and MyGov to provide the information on authorized testing centers. The feature is currently available in English and eight Indian languages including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Gujarati, and Marathi. Users will now see a new Testing tab on the search result page when theyre making a coronavirus-related search on Google Search and Google Assistant. The tab will feature a list of testing labs nearby. It will also have other related information and guidance before getting started for the test. Google adds new features (Google) On Google Maps, you can look for the testing labs by entering keywords such as "coronavirus testing" or "covid testing". The results will have a link to Google search for the government-mandated requirements, said Google in a release. Google adds a new feature for users (Google) Google said that the Search, Assistant, and Maps currently feature 700 testing labs across 300 cities. The company promised it will soon add more testing labs in the future. Google is working with authorities to identify and add more testing labs located across the country, and reiterates that it is important to follow the recommended guidelines that help determine testing eligibility before visiting, the company added. Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina and Clemson University report that they have developed human cardiac organoids to model myocardial infarction and drug cardiotoxicity In the U.S., someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds, and yet researchers have not had a model that fully mimics what occurs in the human heart after a heart attack. A team of investigators at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Clemson University recently reported in an article in Nature Biomedical Engineering that they have developed human cardiac organoids less than 1 millimeter in diameter that closely resemble the physiological conditions that occur during a heart attack. The team was led by bioengineer Ying Mei, Ph.D., who holds a joint faculty position at MUSC and Clemson University. He is part of the MUSC Clemson Bioengineering program, which places Clemson bioengineers and bioengineering doctoral students on the MUSC campus so that they can interact with clinicians in need of engineering solutions. The article's lead author, Dylan Richards, Ph.D., is a graduate of the joint program. "We were essentially able to take that 3D complex nature of a heart attack and then downsize it into a microtissue model," said Richards. Organoids are three-dimensional multicellular tissues that are less than 1 millimeter in diameter. These organoids, or microtissues, function like their full-size counterparts. In this case, the heart organoids actually beat and contract as the human heart does. This model uses induced pluripotent stem cells, almost like "parent cells," that divide and mature into several types of heart cells that interact and self-assemble to form the organoid. Traditionally, biologists use cells in a dish or animal models, such as mice or rats, to model diseases being studied. These methods have their own disadvantages that the organoid model overcomes. Cells in a dish are great for learning things at the cellular level, but it is very unnatural for cells to grow in two dimensions on a flat surface. Animal models are very useful in taking the next steps toward recapitulating what happens in the human body, but organoids, especially those for the heart, are the closest to recreating what occurs in humans. "The hearts of rats and mice beat five to 10 times faster than those of humans," Richards explained. "How those mechanisms work physically -the electrophysiology and the pumping action - is just different because of the scale." In contrast, the cardiac organoid recreates a human version of the heart and closely resembles the tissue dysfunction that takes place after the oxygen shortage caused by a heart attack. Because it is very difficult to obtain a sample immediately after a heart attack occurs, most of what we know about heart attacks comes from observations made long after the initial oxygen shortage. The organoid model fills in this gap, enabling visualization immediately after oxygen deprivation. "This can help us to understand better how cells respond in the short term and, in turn, how that makes way for long-term damage," said Richards of the organoid model. This model also enables researchers to test whether heart drugs improve heart attack outcomes. "It could help us determine whether a drug is effective at preventing some of this damage or preventing a detrimental response to an oxygen shortage," explained Richards. The model could also provide a way to test whether a drug that is safe in a healthy heart is also safe in a diseased one. Such information could guide physicians in prescribing drugs more appropriately in patients who had preexisting heart conditions at the time of the heart attack. In short, the model provides researchers with an understanding of the early events of a heart attack that they have not had before. But Mei intends to make the model even better by including immune cells. Immune cells are responsible for cleaning out any dead cells caused by the heart attack, but by doing so, they can determine how immune cells play a role in the restructuring of heart tissue after damage from an oxygen shortage. The Mei lab would like to study how they do so in hopes of preventing the death of damaged but still living areas of the heart. Mei would also like to examine the effects of patients' genetics on their outcomes. His laboratory is currently working on creating organoids from cells from patients with diverse outcomes. Those organoids can then be used to help us to understand more fully how a patient's specific genetic profile affects his or her recovery. "We are not the first ones to recapitulate the cellular or even the tissue-level response. I would argue, however, that we are the first ones to recapitulate the organ-level response," said Mei. Special note: Mei, Richards and their co-authors would like to dedicate this work to their dear friend and co-author Craig Beeson, Ph.D., who was lost to cancer before the publication of their article. ### About the Medical University of South Carolina Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the oldest medical school in the South as well as the state's only integrated academic health sciences center with a unique charge to serve the state through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and 800 residents in six colleges: Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. The state's leader in obtaining biomedical research funds, in fiscal year 2019, MUSC set a new high, bringing in more than $284 million. For information on academic programs, visit http://musc.edu. As the clinical health system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest quality patient care available while training generations of competent, compassionate health care providers to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Comprising some 1,600 beds, more than 100 outreach sites, the MUSC College of Medicine, the physicians' practice plan and nearly 275 telehealth locations, MUSC Health owns and operates eight hospitals situated in Charleston, Chester, Florence, Lancaster and Marion counties. In 2019, for the fifth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit http://muschealth.org. MUSC and its affiliates have collective annual budgets of $3.2 billion. The more than 17,000 MUSC team members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers and scientists who deliver groundbreaking education, research, technology and patient care. We'll never know how much worse New Zealand's Covid-19 outbreak could have been had the Ruby Princess made it to Tauranga as planned, but emails released to Stuff under the Official Information Act show we were only about ten hours from finding out. The ship carrying 2647 passengers and 1148 crew visited New Zealand between March 11 and March 15 before cutting its trip short and returning to Sydney, where it was discovered several sick passengers had Covid-19. There are now 22 deaths and 700 cases of infection linked to the passengers and crew who disembarked in Sydney on March 19. It's now known that at least one of those was showing symptoms before the vessel reached New Zealand. Several people in Wellington and Napier, its last stop in New Zealand, were also infected after coming into contact with passengers. In Napier the virus spread to rest home residents and several health workers. Tauranga was to have hosted the Ruby Princess on March 16. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford While the virus went undetected as the ship rounded New Zealand, documents show that by the time it reached Wellington five people had come down with Influenza A. The Hawke's Bay DHB on-call health protection officer received a health declaration from the ship's agents around midday on March 14, while the ship was docked in Wellington. When the officer saw that there was a 25-year-old woman on board listed as having an ''Influenza Like Illness'' the ship's captain was told that unless she was shown to be free of Covid-19, the ship could not berth in Napier. Urgent testing for Covid-19 by ESR was arranged. The woman and four other passengers were tested. Shortly before 10.30pm, the medical officer of health in Hawke's Bay was advised that the tests came back negative and Napier Port was advised the vessel could berth, but because the woman was symptomatic she would have to remain isolated while the vessel was berthed. The ship arrived in Napier at 6.30am on Sunday, March 15. Its passengers disembarked and toured the city and wider area. Unknown at the time, several were carrying Covid-19 and spread the infection. An email from Hawke's Bay DHB was sent to the Health Ministry and the medical officer of health at Tauranga shortly after 11am, advising them of the steps that had been taken with regard to what was termed an outbreak of Influenza A. Ruby Princess on a previous cruise into Tauranga harbour. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford The ship departed Napier at 4.20pm bound for Tauranga, where it was due to dock at 7.15am the next day. At 4.23pm the duty health protection officer in Tauranga emailed the Health Ministry asking for clarification around the test results. He did not receive a reply by email, but later that day the Bay of Plenty DHB received two declarations of health from the ship's agent. The first was emailed at 4.50pm as the boat headed east towards Mahia Peninsula. It informed the health protection officer that there were 18 people who had been ill onboard. Of those, 12 had recovered, including the woman with the flu-like illness. The other six had Influenza A and were in isolation. At 8.03pm a second, different, declaration of health was sent. This one, intended for Auckland but sent to Tauranga, said there were 22 people who had been ill, of whom 10 had Influenza A and were in isolation. Strangely, although the declaration was intended for Auckland, a spokeswoman at Auckland DHB said it was never received. It was around 9pm, when the boat was east of Mahia Peninsula and should have been heading north, that an announcement was made over the ship's speakers. Passengers were told that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had announced several restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic that day, including that anyone arriving in Australia after midnight on March 22 (the day after the voyage was to end in Sydney) would need to self-isolate for 14 days. On that basis the ship was turning south and heading home, via Cook Strait. Tracking of the Ruby Princess after it left Napier on March 15. Provided by Marico Marine. At 9.02pm a health protection officer in Tauranga was still under the impression the ship was headed that way. An email from the officer to the agent says: "As I understand it, nothing has changed with this vessel since the last port, no further sickness on board?" No reply was sent to that email, but it is possible a call was made. A spokeswoman at Tauranga Port said the ship's visit was cancelled on the evening of March 15, but could not say when. No reason was given for the cancellation. The Health Ministry was told by the ship's agent that the decision had been made due to bad weather. A Special Commission of Inquiry into the cruise ship heard last month that on March 17 - the day the ship was due in Auckland - the ship's medical logs showed about 50 people had presented for acute respiratory symptoms, with another 54 people presenting in the following 24-hours. Tauranga Mayor Tenby Powell said there was no question the city and wider area was fortunate that the ship did not visit. Cruise passengers visiting Tauranga tend to cover a much greater distance than in many ports, with bus loads making their way to Rotorua and others to Hobbiton, near Matamata. The fact the city was home to the country's highest proportion of elderly people also meant it would have been particularly susceptible to an illness known to have its greatest impact on that age group, Powell said. Anecdotally about half the passengers on any cruise ship visiting Tauranga either visited the city or stayed on board the ship, 35 per cent went to Rotorua and 15 per cent went to Hobbiton and surrounds. "Obviously we were fortunate. We'll never know what effect it would have had," he said. "We have the most people aged 75 and over than anywhere in the country. It's something like 13 per cent in most cities. Here it's nearly 20 per cent. I'm always very conscious of that and it was always in the back of my mind with Covid-19," he said. He said the cruise-ship industry was worth about $90m a year to the region but, when they returned, changes would be needed. "I would anticipate there would be some changes that up the ante with checks and balances as people depart, and that's a good thing, because we now know people can disembark from cruise ships when they're unwell," he said. Dr Siouxsie Wiles says it's hard to know if Napier was lucky, or unlucky . Photo: Peter Meecham/Stuff Microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles said the number of incursions would depend on how many infected passengers had disembarked, the number of people they came in contact with, and the sorts of environments that contact happened in. "It's very hard to know as our knowledge of this virus is improving all the time, particularly around the sort of environments in which it is most likely to be transmitted. In a badly-ventilated environment, where people are close together, it is likely to spread more," she said. "If one infected person got off and went on a bus there is a risk of transmission. If 10 people got off and went on several different buses there is a greater risk. But it all depends on a variety of factors. Napier may have just had really bad luck. Or it could have actually been relatively lucky. We don't know," she said. "We know now that people with Covid-19 are infectious before they show symptoms. That is why contact tracing and isolation is so important," Wiles said. Marty Sharpe/Stuff Nursing home officials have said the maintenance worker went from room to room, assembling tables for residents, after the main dining room was closed. He showed no symptoms at the time, but later became sick with COVID-19 and died. He is believed to have been a super spreader of the virus, the home has said. Weeks of nationwide demonstrations, in which that chanted demand has echoed in streets across the United States, have made one thing clear: The American police faces a crisis of legitimacy. And its consequences reach far beyond policing itself No justice, no peace. No racist police! Weeks of nationwide demonstrations, in which that chanted demand has echoed in streets across the United States, have made one thing clear: The American police faces a crisis of legitimacy. And its consequences reach far beyond policing itself. Those intent on remaking law enforcement to redress decades of racial injustice would do well to look at the experiences of other countries that have wrestled with just that challenge. So would those who insist that there is no problem to be fixed. In many ways this moment, grounded in centuries of white supremacy and fuelled by the wild political polarisation of recent years, could not be more American. But there are other precedents and they are almost entirely from countries where systematically brutal policing has been used to keep a privileged minority in power. The conclusion made evident on Americas streets is that policing in the United States is abridging the rights of many of its citizens, and it is making a lie of the constitutional promise of equal protection under the law. The intensity of police violence in America, the fact that it falls disproportionately on black people and other heavily-policed minorities, and the continued impunity for police officers who commit wrongdoing, which has institutionalised the abuse, all add up to a stark challenge for American democracy. For these communities, police are how they are interpreting American democracy, said Vesla Weaver, a Johns Hopkins University political scientist who studies policing and democratic legitimacy in the United States. They do draw links from their experiences with police to how robust their democratic citizenship is. And although poor communities bear the brunt of police violence, black Americans of all walks of life still live under its shadow. Here in my home in Cambridge, with no police here in my home, I am still thinking about that, said Megan Ming Francis, an associate professor at the University of Washington who is currently a visiting associate professor at Harvard. Crises of police legitimacy are hardly unique to the United States. They have also occurred in places like Northern Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, among others. And while some of their experiences may offer guidance for how the United States could start redressing the problems underlying the current unrest, they also stand in stark warning about the scale of the challenge the United States is facing. The police can very quickly lose legitimacy, said Christopher Rickard, a researcher on policing and politics in Northern Ireland. Its very hard to regain it. Akin to an Authoritarian Enclave Until recently, mainstream debate has tended to treat police killings as isolated incidents of individual officers mistakes or misbehaviour by a few bad apples," rather than predictable consequences of systemic problems. (Those partial to that phrasing seem to have forgotten that the rest of the adage is spoil the barrel.) But in any case, the distinction may be a false one. In divided societies, failure to restrain so-called bad apples within the police and other security forces is not a capacity issue but a political choice, said Kate Cronin-Furman, a lecturer in political science at University College London who has studied abuses in Sri Lanka, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo. What this does is to tell marginalised minorities that they are never safe, that they dont possess the full panoply of citizenship rights, and that their humanity is always in question, Cronin-Furman said. That offers double protections to the dominant class or group: Police violence preserves their position in the social hierarchy, and by encouraging it through implied permission rather than through explicit top-down orders, those in power maintain plausible deniability about their role in the brutality. Americans are not used to hearing their country compared to the places that Cronin-Furman studies. But there is substantial evidence that throughout American history, violent and repressive policing has sent a similar message to black Americans and other minority groups who live in poor, heavily policed neighbourhoods and that it continues to do so today. In the 1860s and 1870s, Southern states and towns designed policing to ensure that newly freed black people remained economically subjugated and politically excluded from the rights of citizenship, said Francis, who studies state-sanctioned violence against black Americans. They wrote things down, so its very clear what they were trying to do, she said. This was seen as a way to take away those new citizenship rights. Many of those written laws eventually changed, particularly after the end of the Jim Crow era in the South. But police violence has continued to send a message to many black Americans that they do not have full access to the rights and protections of citizenship. The Portals Policing Project, a study conducted by a team of researchers from Johns Hopkins and Yale Universities, turned shipping containers into temporary meeting spaces and placed them in 12 heavily policed neighbourhoods in six American cities. Each was set up with communications equipment so that people could discuss their experiences with those in other container portals as if they were sharing the same space. When the researchers analysed data from thousands of portal conversations over three years, they found a picture of American life that bore striking similarities to what Cronin-Furman observed in Asia and Africa. Portals participants were actually narrating something akin to an authoritarian enclave, where police practices stripped them of the most valuable protections of citizenship, said Weaver, the Johns Hopkins professor, who was one of the lead researchers on the project. In conversation after conversation, the researchers found, people cited what they knew their rights ought to be, but then expressed how they felt those rights had been stripped away. They had an official right to privacy, but the police could stop and frisk them at any moment. They had an official right to remain silent, but feared the police would harass or punish them if they did not answer questions. They had an official right to peacefully assemble, but in practice could not walk to a park in a group of three or more people without the police handcuffing and detaining them on suspicion of criminal activity. What theyre experiencing is very similar, in the sense of high levels of abandonment and state neglect, alongside high levels of surveillance, looks very much like the political violence in the Jim Crow south, she said. It looks very much like authoritarian regimes. How not to police As the scale of the problems with American policing dawns on the public, there are growing calls for fundamental change. The city of Minneapolis voted last week to dismantle its police department entirely and replace it with a new force and new approach to public safety. Organisations like Black Lives Matter have called for police departments to be defunded and most of their duties reassigned. New York and Los Angeles have already pledged to slash millions from police budgets. Evidence from other countries suggests that even when there is a political mandate for deep police reform, truly changing approaches has been difficult. When South Africas first free democratic elections swept the apartheid regime from office in 1994, one of the new governments promises was to reform the feared apartheid-era police. Four years later, in Northern Ireland, the Good Friday Agreement marked the end of four decades of violent sectarian struggle. It, too, promised police review and reforms. To win legitimacy, the police in South Africa and Northern Ireland needed to move past their reputations as enforcers for white and Protestant political dominance, respectively. Those efforts success or failure turned on whether the police would continue their past practices of treating the population as a threat to be managed through overwhelming force, or if they could become more responsive to civilians need for protection, eventually winning trust across society. In South Africa, police kept the same apartheid-era practices of heavy groups of heavily armed paramilitaries, said Jonny Steinberg, a lecturer at Oxford University who studies South African policing and politics. Over time, middle-class and wealthy South Africans turned to private security instead, hiring guards, moving to gated communities and traveling only in their own cars. The poor, who could not afford such measures, were left vulnerable. What the US can learn is negative, Steinberg said. Its a paradigm case of how not to police a poor urban population. It is a lesson that many American departments have yet to absorb. Indeed, paramilitary-style tactics, often involving military equipment acquired through government surplus programs, have become more popular in the United States in recent years. The American police, in the last couple of decades, have deployed themselves in a threatening manner, said Tom Tyler, a Yale Law School professor who studies policing and government legitimacy. Internally and externally, they have cultivated an image of themselves as warriors prepared to use force against a dangerous population, rather than guardians of their communities. The language of war and threat was on prominent display in a letter that Ed Mullins, the leader of New York Citys largest police union, sent to officers last week. We will win this war on New York City, he wrote. Its good against evil and good always wins. In Northern Ireland, by contrast, the police did shift away from many of the more militarised counterinsurgency tactics they used during the Troubles. But even now, more than two decades after the peace agreement, the police often struggle to persuade crime victims to trust the formal justice system instead of turning to the rough justice that sectarian paramilitary groups offer, Rickard, the researcher, said. Its been so difficult in Northern Ireland, he said. I just cant imagine how you even start solving some of the structural issues in the United States. Addressing those deep issues will inevitably be difficult, said Kanisha Bond, a political scientist at SUNY Binghamton who studies the Black Lives Matter movement and other black mobilizations for social change. This is the full force of history being brought to bear, transmitted through contemporary behaviour, she said. You see protesters, demonstrators, uprisers going to the heart of what they see as a systemic solution. And that is always going to be uncomfortable. Amanda Taub c.2020 The New York Times Company China is embarking on a propaganda campaign to divide Australia and harm the economy after PM Scott Morrison called for a coronavirus inquiry, politicians and observers say. Last Friday the Chinese government told tourists not to travel to Australia because of increasing 'racial discrimination and violence against Chinese and Asian people'. Then on Tuesday the government told students to 'exercise caution' when choosing to study in Australia, again citing alleged 'discrimination'. The Chinese government has doubled down on its claim that Australia is racist and students should not study there. Pictured: Troops in Beijing on May 25 Chinese tourists take in the sites of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House This was followed by an article in state media which claimed Australia has a 'chronic' problem with racism and quoted Chinese students saying they had been abused and vilified. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rejected the claims as 'rubbish' and observers have accused the Chinese government of deliberately spreading lies as part of a concerted campaign to cause division Down Under. Victorian Liberal MP Tim Smith said the claims were 'ridiculous propaganda'. 'Australia has been highly welcoming to people of all backgrounds particularly Chinese people over the last 30 years,' he told Sky News. 'Thirty-one years ago Bob Hawke, that great Labor prime minister, gave refuge to all Chinese students and citizens post-Tiananmen Square massacre. Australia is not a racist country.' Former prime minister Kevin Rudd also warned about Chinese Communist Party propaganda after state media endorsed him as an 'astute' observer of US politics. 'Commentators need to be extremely cautious about amplifying foreign propaganda efforts designed to divide Australians,' he said in a statement. Last month, ANU China expert Professor Jane Golley predicted Beijing would try to stop citizens from coming to Australia in revenge for Canberra's calls for an inquiry. 'Beijing could find ways to choke off parts of trading and relationship,' she told Daily Mail Australia. People wearing protective face masks are seen at Brisbane International Airport in Brisbane On Thursday afternoon, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying (pictured) said the claim that Australia is racist was true 'For example, it could increase propaganda persuading students and tourists not to come here. She added: 'Some say Beijing could turn off the tap and choke the Australian University Sector. 'It doesn't want to do this because it wants its citizens to benefit from Australian education - but if it did that would cost thousands of jobs in our universities and leave the sector decimated.' On Thursday afternoon, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying stood by reports claiming that Australia is racist. 'The existing discrimination and violence in Australia has recently been widely reported by Australian media and on the Internet,' she said in a press conference. HOW MANY CHINESE STUDENTS ARE IN AUSTRALIA? Chinese students bring in $3.1 billion in university fees alone every year. They account for 60 per cent of international enrollments at the 'Group of Eight' universities. University of Sydney: 69 per cent University of Melbourne: 56 per cent Monash University: 57 per cent RMIT: 37 per cent UTS: 53 per cent Overall, more than a third of foreign students who come to Australia to study are from China, who contribute an estimated $12 billion to the economy each year. Advertisement 'If the Australian side is unwilling and afraid to acknowledge such plain facts, how on earth does it have so much confidence? 'We advise Australia face up to its problems, do some soul-searching and take concrete measures to protect the safety, rights and interests of Chinese nationals in Australia.' International education is Australia's fourth-largest export, worth $38billion a year, and 60 per cent of foreign students are Chinese. Mr Morrison said he was confident students would still come to Australia because of the good quality education on offer. An article in the state-controlled Global Times on Wednesday quoted a supposed University of Sydney student, saying 'even though the campus is safe, hanging out with friends and shopping could be dangerous.' 'In March, a Chinese student from Hong Kong was punched in the face and injured for wearing a face mask, and a pair of Chinese students were attacked by local gang members in broad daylight in April. 'Chinese business owners were also targeted, finding racist slogans outside their shops and restaurants, or their properties being vandalised,' the article said. Australia lodged a protest with China's foreign ministry and with its embassy in Canberra about Beijing's travel and student warnings. A coalition representing Australia's elite universities, the Group of Eight, has said international education is 'being used as a political pawn'. The Australian National University's chancellor, Julie Bishop, formerly Australia's foreign minister, said the university offered students from more than 100 countries a world-class education. 'Canberra is one of the safest cities in a country widely regarded as one of the safest in the world,' she said. Many international students have been unable to return to Australia because of travel bans to stop the spread of COVID-19, but ANU said most of its students remained enrolled and 65 per cent of its Chinese students were in Australia. Monash University's vice-chancellor, Margaret Gardner, told ABC Radio it was 'very tense times diplomatically between China and Australia and in fact in this case universities and their students from China are part of the collateral'. It comes after China slapped an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley and banned beef from three Australian abattoirs. North Korea criticised Donald Trump in a stinging denunciation of the United States on Friday, the second anniversary of a landmark summit in Singapore where the US president shook hands with leader Kim Jong Un. It was the latest in a series of vitriolic statements from Pyongyang aimed at both Washington and Seoul, and came a day after the North implicitly threatened to disrupt November's election if the US did not stay out of inter-Korean affairs. In recent days, Pyongyang has excoriated the South over defectors launching leaflets criticising Kim into the North and announced it was cutting all official communication links with Seoul. Friday's broadside contained some of the harshest criticism Pyongyang has sent Washington's way in recent months, and casts doubt over the future of the two sides' long-stalled nuclear talks process. In the onslaught, the North's foreign minister Ri Son Gwon accused Washington of hypocrisy and seeking regime change, saying that the hopes of 2018 had "faded away into a dark nightmare". Trump and Kim were all smiles in front of the world's cameras in Singapore as a North Korean leader met a sitting US president for the first time, and afterwards Trump proclaimed on Twitter that "There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea." But a second meeting in Hanoi last year to put meat on the bones of the North's vaguely worded Singapore pledge to "work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula" collapsed over what Pyongyang would be willing to give up in exchange for sanctions relief. - 'Hypocritical' - US diplomats insist that they believe Kim promised in Singapore to give up its arsenal, something Pyongyang has taken no steps to do. The North is under multiple international sanctions over its banned weapons programmes. It believes it deserves to be rewarded for its moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests and the disabling of its atomic test site, along with the return of jailed US citizens and remains of soldiers killed in the Korean War. "Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise," Ri said in his statement, carried by the official KCNA news agency. Trump has made much of his connection with Kim -- at one point declaring that they had fallen "in love" through their exchanges of letters. But Ri said Pyongyang now believed there was no hope for an improvement "simply by maintaining personal relations between our Supreme Leadership and the US President". He stopped just short of criticising Trump by name, but referred to comments that "the master of the White House" had "reeled off time and time again as a boast". "Never again will we provide the US chief executive with another package to be used... without receiving any returns." Pyongyang's latest comments were not an empty threat, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a former North Korea analyst for the US government. "North Koreans know they will not be getting what they want either from South Korea or the US," she told AFP. "Diplomacy no longer seems to be in the cards." North Korea's chief diplomatic ally China urged Washington to acknowledge Pyongyang's "legitimate concerns", with foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying insisting the North had taken denuclearisation measures that merited a commensurate US response. - Deadline passed - Trump and Kim met a third time in June 2019 in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the Korean peninsula, when Trump stepped onto North Korean soil -- a first for any American president. But the meeting produced little in terms of tangible progress. Subsequently, the North repeatedly demanded that the US offer it fresh concessions by December 31, but the deadline came and went. Kim declared the North no longer considered itself bound by its unilateral testing moratoriums. It has not yet carried out any such actions, but analysts believe it has continued to develop its arsenal throughout the discussions. Ri accused Washington of seeking regime change and said the North had decided to bolster its nuclear deterrent "to cope with the US unabated threats of nuclear war". Pyongyang has carried out a series of tests of shorter-range weapons in recent months -- often describing them as multiple launch rocket systems, although Japan and the United States have called them ballistic missiles. The process leading to the Singapore summit was brokered by the South's President Moon Jae-in, but his office said Friday it had no comment to make on the anniversary. US President Donald Trump (R) meets with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (L) at the start of their summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018 -- two years on, Pyongyang says any hopes for better ties have turned to feelings of "despair" Timeline of events in the US and North Korea relations since June 2018. There have been calls to fire the Kansas City police chief after recent protests on the Country Club Plaza.Controlling the crowds with tear gas, the anger and the resentment toward officers hasn't been easy."It's also taken a hell of a toll. We've had officers that have needed counseling. A French researcher won an extended legal battle Friday for access to ex-president Francois Mitterrand's archives on the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which Kigali accuses France of having played a role. France's top administrative court, the State Council, ruled the documents would allow researcher and author Francois Graner "to shed light on a debate that is a matter of public interest". The documents include notes written by the president's advisers and minutes of government meetings. The ruling is the latest chapter in a long dispute between France and Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide in which some 800,000 people, mainly minority Tutsis but also moderate Hutus, were slaughtered in 100 days of ethnic violence committed mainly by Hutu extremists. Ahead of the genocide's 20th anniversary in 2014, Rwandan President Paul Kagame accused Paris of having played a "direct role" in the assassination of then-president Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu, which sparked the bloodbath. The Tutsi leader said France took part in Habyarimana's "execution", some say in a move to stoke anti-Tutsi sentiment. In November 2016, Kigali launched an inquiry into the alleged role of 20 French officials in the genocide. 'Victory' for history France has always denied the allegations and last year, President Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a panel of historians and researchers to look into the claims. Francois Graner (right) first requested access to Mitterrand's documents in 2015. By Philippe LOPEZ (AFP/File) Graner, who has published widely on the genocide, first requested access to Mitterrand's documents in 2015, the year the government under then-president Francois Hollande declassified archives on Rwanda for the period 1990-95. But the researcher's request was refused, prompting him to file legal challenges that have failed until to now with courts upholding a law protecting presidential archives for 25 years after a leader's death. In the case of Mitterrand, who died in 1996, they would become available in 2021. "Protection of state secrets must be balanced against the interests of informing the public about historic events," the State Council ruled. "This is a victory for the law, but also for history," Graner's lawyer Patrice Spinosi told AFP. "Researchers like Mr Graner will be able to access president Mitterrand's archives in order to fully understand France's role in Rwanda in 1994 and 1995," he said. 'Serious errors of judgement' Graner belongs to rights group Survie ("Survival"), which has vowed to "shed light on France's involvement in Rwanda before and during the genocide." Franco-Rwandan relations hit a low point in 2006 after a French judge recommended Kagame be prosecuted by a UN-backed tribunal over the 1994 killing of Habyarimana. French ex-president Francois Mitterrand died in 1996, and his archives were to become public in 2021. By GERARD FOUET (AFP/File) The Rwandan President, who had led the Tutsi rebel force that eventually overthrew the genocidal Hutu regime, broke off ties with France for three years. The turning point came in 2010 when former president Nicolas Sarkozy acknowledged on a visit to Kigali that France had made "serious errors of judgement" in Rwanda. While falling short of an apology it was seen as a breakthrough in Rwanda. But France's perceived foot-dragging on bringing genocide suspects living in the country to justice, has aggravated tensions. On May 16, the genocide's alleged financier, Felicien Kabuga, was arrested at his home outside Paris after a quarter-of-a-century on the run. On June 3, a Paris court approved his transfer to a UN body for trial in Arusha, Tanzania. French-Rwandan former hotel driver Claude Muhayimana is set to go on trial in Paris in February next year, accused of having transported Hutu militiamen to sites where massacres were carried out. In the two other Rwandan genocide trials concluded in France, a former officer in the presidential guard, Pascal Simbikangwa, was given a 25-year sentence in 2014, while Octavien Ngenzi and Tito Barahira, two former mayors, received life sentences in 2016. JOHANNESBURG - More than two dozen international aid groups have told the U.S. government they are increasingly alarmed that little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the worlds most fragile regions. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/6/2020 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this Thursday, April 16, 2020 file photo, relatives grieve coffee shop manager Benedict Somi Vilakasi, who died of a COVID-19 infection in a Johannesburg hospital, at his burial ceremony at the Nasrec Memorial Park outside Johannesburg. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File) JOHANNESBURG - More than two dozen international aid groups have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic, as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the worlds most fragile regions. The letter obtained by The Associated Press and signed by groups including Save the Children, CARE USA, World Vision and others says that "in spite of months of promising conversations with USAID field staff, few organizations have received an executed award for COVID-19 humanitarian assistance." It calls the delays "devastating" and says the window is closing for the U.S. to help mitigate the worst impacts of the pandemic around the world. The letter to U.S. Agency for International Development acting administrator John Barsa is dated June 4 the same day that other USAID officials were touting the U.S. governments "global leadership" in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. FILE - In this Wednesday, May 13, 2020 file photo, a doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to the breathing of a patient confirmed to have the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, at the Fann university hospital in the capital Dakar, Senegal. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui, File) "To date, we have committed more than $1 billion to benefit the global COVID response," Kenneth Staley, the leader of the USAID COVID-19 task force, told reporters covering Africa. The funds are typically provided to aid groups as well as private contractors and United Nations agencies. But much of that aid has been tied up in "uncharacteristic delays" nearly three months after the passage of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, the letter from aid groups says. "The long delays in COVID-19 awards and as a result, U.S. response to a dynamic global emergency stands in stark contrast to our experience in crises where (the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance) is known to turn around funding in a matter of weeks, if not days," the letter says. The letter makes clear the aid problem is a global one, pointing out the exponential rise in cases in Pakistan, and saying "the time to move is now." "The U.S. has basically been missing in action on the global front, which is very heartbreaking for me to see," a director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance during the Obama administration, Jeremy Konyndyk, said Thursday during a Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion. "What we have is kind of a vacuum and a lot of chaos on the international level." FILE - In this Monday, April 13, 2020 file photo, medical students test a self-designed computer-controlled ventilator prototype at the Chandaria Business and Incubation Centre of Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. (AP Photo/John Muchucha, File) Acting USAID spokeswoman Pooja Jhunjhunwala told AP that the more than $1 billion includes $218 million in humanitarian aid through the International Disaster Assistance account nearly $100 million of that authorized as awards. Aid groups can begin spending the rest of it via "essentially a promissory note from USAID." Some of that amount, however, can also go to U.N. agencies. "We are in unprecedented times right now, with a rapidly evolving situation on the ground in almost every country," she said. For months while promoting U.S. coronavirus assistance, U.S. officials have not given details on the number of crucial items such as ventilators and testing kits delivered to countries in Africa, where such equipment has been in short supply for months. And the need is growing. Cases on the African continent are accelerating, the World Health Organization warned Thursday, saying it took 98 days to reach 100,000 cases and just 18 to reach 200,000. The total number of confirmed is now above 218,000 with more than 5,000 deaths. Just 3 million tests for the virus have been conducted across Africa, a continent of 1.3 billion people, far short of the goal of 13 million. "One of the biggest challenges we face in the response continues to be the availability of supplies," WHO Africa chief Matshidiso Moeti told reporters on Thursday. FILE - In this Friday, May 1, 2020 file photo, a patient lies on his bed reading the Bible in a ward for those who have tested positive for the new coronavirus, at the infectious disease unit of Kenyatta National Hospital, located at Mbagathi Hospital, in Nairobi, Kenya. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File) Another growing problem is infected health workers - nearly 5,000 in the 47-country WHO Africa region amid shortages of protective gear. U.S. President Donald Trump in recent weeks has spoken of deliveries of ventilators to African countries, saying 1,000 of the machines were being sent to Nigeria alone. But Nigerias government said none has arrived. In fact, just 50 ventilators have arrived in Africa from the U.S. government, all of them going to South Africa in recent days. That country has about a quarter of Africa's virus cases. A State Department official on Thursday said the U.S. has pledged ventilator assistance to Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Rwanda as well. The U.S. is supplying ventilators as soon as the domestic supply chain and vendors can produce and deliver them, the official said. Some African officials have expressed open dismay or signalled quiet frustration over the U.S. response. Some have called for a "Made in Africa" push to reduce reliance on imports, amid efforts to create homemade ventilators and repurpose factories. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been quick to praise assistance from the Jack Ma Foundation and others for deliveries of ventilators, testing kits and other badly needed items. But asked about just how many of those items the U.S. has delivered, Africa CDC chief John Nkengasong on Thursday said that "unfortunately, I cannot give you a number ... It has been a challenging time for many countries to fight their own pandemic." ___ Associated Press writers Andrew Meldrum in Johannesburg and Ben Fox in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak NORFOLK, Va. - Federal authorities say theyve arrested a North Carolina man who threatened to burn down a black church in Virginia. John Malcolm Bareswill, 63, was arrested Friday on a charged related to his alleged threat to burn down a Baptist church in Virginia Beach, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said. Court records said Bareswill, who lives in Catawba, North Carolina, called the church earlier this week and made racist remarks and threatened to set the church on fire after one of the church leaders took part in a public vigil for George Floyd. Floyd died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on his neck for more than eight minutes even after he pleaded for air and stopped moving. Court records did not immediately identify an attorney for Bareswill. Sullivan scheduled a July 16 hearing on the Justice Departments move for dismissal. But Flynn took the rare step of asking the appeals court to get involved midstream to force Sullivans hand and accused the judge of bias. Solicitor General Noel Francisco joined Flynn in arguing that the judge has no power to second-guess the governments prosecution decisions and said it would be unconstitutional for the court to refuse to dismiss when the defendant and the prosecution are on the same side. Markowitz told me later that his early-morning walk has become one of the best parts of a life altered by shelter-in-place rules and closed schools in his area. Instead of rushing to get his three school-age children out the door, he takes the time to enjoy the solitude and the quiet. On that morning, he heard something that sounded like a scream, but couldnt tell where it was coming from, or what it was until he looked up and spotted the bird. Gorakhpur : , June 12 (IANS) In a shocking incident, a Class nine student has been held in a double murder case in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur district. He was sent to jail amid a dispute over his real age. The police had earlier arrested nine persons in connection with the double murder and after initial investigations, the class nine student was arrested on Wednesday night. On May 24, two cousins, Krishna 25, and Diwakar 23, were shot dead with 9 mm pistol near the Gorra river in Bargadwa village. Circle officer Chauri Chaura, Rachna Mishra, said, "On a tip-off, police surrounded the area near the Dubiyari bridge and arrested the alleged accused. He has been booked under section 147, 148,149, 302, 120 B and 216 of IPC and sent to jail." During the press conference on Thursday before taking him to jail, the police produced the Class nine student before the media, where he said he studied in Class nine and his age was 17. However, Station House Officer (SHO) Jhangha police station Anil Kumar Singh said, "He seems to be around 20-years-old. His family has not been able to produce any age proof to show that he is a minor." Earlier, during a press conference after arresting six accused of the double murder, on May 31, Superintendent of Police (SP) North, Arvind Pandey had said that the cousins were killed due to competition and animosity between two groups. They had two groups of social media and used to post photographs of criminals and movie villains. A woman was filmed hurling shopping baskets and screaming at staff in front of stunned customers at a busy Woolworths. Footage of the incident was captured by a shopper at the Weston Creek store in the Australian Capital Territory on Thursday afternoon. The outrageous video was shared online by another shopper who said she was in so 'shock' she had forgotten to film altercation herself. Footage of the incident captured by a shopper at the Weston Creek store in the Australian Capital Territory on Thursday afternoon 'This charming lady was throwing racial insults to these guys. They asked if they could check her bags and she refused,' she wrote. 'She threw food, boxes and crates at staff and customers.' In the video the woman holds a basket over her head before throwing it at a male staff member at the self-serve checkout. She then continues to throw baskets at staff, before launching into a foul-mouthed tirade. 'Come outside. Yeah you p*** dog fu**er,' she said. She continues to swear at staff, claiming that she hasn't stolen anything from the store. The woman (pictured) continued to throw baskets at staff before launching into a foul-mouthed tirade 'You piece of f***ing shit. I'll remember your f***ing head. and I'll come for you dog.' she said. 'You watch what I do to you when I catch you outside work motherf***er', she said. No team members were injured in the incident. A spokesperson for Woolworths told Daily Mail Australia the safety of team members is their top priority. 'We are assisting police with their inquiries and have offered our full support to all team members involved,' the spokesperson said. 'We do not tolerate violence towards them in any circumstance. 'All team members deserve to be treated with respect and we will not hesitate to work with police to issue banning notices to customers who think its acceptable to abuse our team.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted ACT Police for comment. When SIX submitted its offer in November, it said it was subject to a minimum acceptance condition of 50% plus one share. SIX's chief executive officer Jos Dijsselhof told a virtual news briefing on Thursday that for now the Swiss company was not planning to delist BME as the acceptance level for the bid had not surpassed a 95% threshold. He also said the listing of SIX was not "an active plan at the moment." The acquisition of one of Europe's last standalone stock exchanges comes at a time when the industry is struggling with lower fees and declining revenues, though market volatility in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak temporarily increased trading income. The takeover deal which values the company at 2.8 billion euros marks the end of the independence of the Spanish bourse that was founded in 1831. Swiss company SIX on Thursday became Europe's third largest stock exchange operator by revenues after completing a 2.57 billion euros ($2.9 billion) takeover of Spanish rival BME, forming a base for European Union expansion. An electronic display showing stock indices at the headquarters of the Swiss Stock Exchange (Boerse) operated by the SIX group in Zurich. Dijsselhof said SIX remained committed to maintaining BME headquarters and operations for at least 10 years and also said that the company was not planning to engage in massive layoffs in Switzerland or in Spain. On Friday, Dijsselhof added: "Of course, we will look also at savings, wherever there is duplication, wherever there are platforms where we think we can provide both markets with the services from one platform we will look into that, but the real aim of this deal is to reinvest those savings and reinvest our earnings into new products and services," he told CNBC. "We are looking at bringing products and services that BME has that we don't have on the SIX side to our customers there and the other way around, so really cross sale those services across the two markets, bringing the data business and the payments business also into the Spanish geography. And I look at our global landscape in Latin America and Asia where SIX has strong ties to further build that out, so it is really a growth story, it is combining two forces creating a more efficient platform." With major exchange players in Europe Deutsche Boerse and London Stock Exchange LSE effectively too big to consolidate without raising competition concerns, smaller exchange operators have become more attractive targets. Paris-based Euronext, which has already scooped up Dublin and Oslo exchanges, initially expressed an interest in buying BME, but did not submit a counter-bid. Dijsselhof said that BME would give SIX an opportunity to look at further expanding its business to more customers in the EU. After adjusting for dividends, SIX's takeover offer was 32.98 euros per share in cash. Shares in BME closed 0.061% higher at 32.80 euros. BME recently said its dividend payout policy, currently around 90% of net profit, is likely to come down, although SIX has not yet made any decision. CNBC's Silvia Amaro contributed to this article. The following editorial appeared in Friday's Japan News-Yomiuri: - - - The decline of Japan's birth rate is further accelerating. The government must analyze the factors causing the decline and take effective measures. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has released demographic statistics for 2019. The natural population decrease, calculated by subtracting the number of births from that of deaths, stood at 515,000, the largest decrease ever. This is about the same size as the population of Tottori Prefecture. The rate of population decline is increasing year by year. If the situation remains unchanged, there will be a shortage of workers and downward pressure will be put on economic growth. The burden on the working generations, who support the elderly, will also increase. The vitality of society will be damaged. Last year, 865,000 babies were born. The figure was down by 50,000 from the previous year and the lowest since statistics began in 1899. As the number of women in their 20s to 30s, the leading generation for childbirth, has decreased, the decline in the number of births is expected to continue. The serious problem is that the total fertility rate, which is the average number of children a woman gives birth to in her lifetime, has declined for four consecutive years to 1.36. The index recovered to 1.45 in 2015, but fell into a downward trend again. In the background is the growing tendency for people to get married later, or not marry at all. The average age of mothers who gave birth to their first child in 2019 was 30.7, or four years older than the average about 30 years ago. Even if they want to have a second or third child, the reality may be that it is difficult to have one. In its outline for measures to deal with the declining birth rate, which was decided in May, the government set a goal of raising the fertility rate to 1.8, helping people achieve their hopes for marriage and childbearing. It aims to realize the goal by 2025. But the current situation is far from the achievement of that goal. It is a matter of personal choice whether to have a child. With that in mind, the government should take bold supportive steps to help those who want to get married or have children to fulfill their wishes. The outline includes the expansion of child allowances for households with three or more children, and the provision of subsidies for fertility treatments, among other things. Temporary benefits alone are not enough to raise the fertility rate. Why do young people hesitate to have children? It is necessary to clarify the challenges and come up with policies that reflect the realities of the situation. It is hoped that measures will be taken steadily in a comprehensive manner. The measures include securing employment for young people and stabilizing the working conditions for non-regular workers even amid the coronavirus disaster, increasing the number of childcare facilities and providing high-quality housing. With the spread of staggered working hours and telecommuting, there is growing momentum to reconsider the way people work based on long working hours. It is desirable for both men and women to be able to work and raise children at the same time. In urban areas, the number of parks where children can play is decreasing. Some mothers are worried about raising their children and feel isolated. It is important for local governments and communities to cooperate in building a society conducive to child-rearing. Bengaluru, June 12 : After several days, new coronavirus cases who were contacts of earlier patients outnumbered infected domestic returnees in Karnataka as 271 new cases raised the state's active cases to 2,995 and total tally to 6,516, an official said on Friday. The new cases were reported from 5 pm on Thursday to 5 pm on Friday. Of the total cases, 3,440 patients have been discharged, 79 have died while 19 are admitted to ICUs. As many as 130 or 48 per cent of the new infections were contacts of earlier cases, while domestic returnees accounted for 92 or 34 per cent of the cases on Friday. However, there is no change in the daily trend of Maharashtra returnees accounting for the bulk of infected domestic returnees -- 84 or 95 per cent of them. Fourteen cases had travel history to the United Arab Emirates. Similarly, the state witnessed record 464 discharges in the past 24 hours after a gap of one day. In the past 24 hours, cases spiked in Ballari, Bengaluru Urban, Udupi, Kalaburagi, Dharwad, Dakshina Kannada, Bidar, Hassan, Mysuru, Tumkur and Shivamogga. Among the new cases, Ballari accounted for 97 cases, followed by Bengaluru Urban (36), Udupi (22), Kalaburagi (20), Dharwad (19), Dakshina Kannada (17), Bidar (10), Hassan and Mysuru (9 each), Tumkur (7), Shivamogga (6), Raichur and Uttara Kannada (4 each), Chitradurga and Ramnagara (3 each), Mandya (2), Belagavi, Vijayapura and Kolar (1 each). Eleven patients are suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) and 19 from Influenza Like Illness (ILI). Meanwhile, seven people succumbed to the virus -- four in Bengaluru Urban, two in Kalaburagi and one in Hassan. Among the new cases, 184 are male and 87 females, and include 14 children below the age of 10. In the past 24 hours, Karnataka tested 9,835 samples. Of these, 9,139 tested negative. So far, 4.26 lakh samples have been tested, of which 4.11 lakh were negative. Currently, Udupi is leading the state's Covid-19 burden with 516 active cases, followed by Kalaburagi (461), Raichur (294) and Bengaluru Urban (290) among others. Following the record discharges in the past 24 hours, caseload drastically plummeted across the state. Bengaluru Urban has accounted for 27 deaths, followed by Kalaburagi (10), Bidar, Vijayapura, Davangere and Dakshina Kannada (6 each) and Chikkaballapura (3) among others. Taliban, US Spar Over Al-Qaida Presence in Afghanistan By Ayaz Gul June 11, 2020 The Taliban on Thursday rejected a top American general's assessment that the al-Qaida leadership is still based in Afghanistan, insisting that no foreign fighters linked to the group are present in the country. The contention, analysts say, underscored a long-running trust deficit between the Afghan insurgency and the United States despite their February 29 landmark agreement aimed at ending the nearly 19-year-old war in Afghanistan. "Those Arab or other (foreign) fighters who were based in Afghanistan under the banner of al-Qaida during the rule of the Islamic Emirate (the Taliban) are no longer here," said a statement published on the Taliban's official website. The Taliban reaction comes a day after the commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was still based in the war-ravaged country, though he did not mention him by name. General Kenneth McKenzie told a forum hosted by the Washington-based Middle East Institute on Wednesday that he was not sure if the Taliban would be able to prevent groups like al-Qaida from using Afghan soil for future terrorist attacks against the United States. "The home of al-Qaida is in eastern Afghanistan right up against the border (with Pakistan), (a) very small presence there, but the global leader is there," McKenzie said. "He (Zawahiri) doesn't have the ability to talk much. But he does actually, we think, he is probably physically up in that area somewhere," he added. Washington has offered a reward of $25 million to bring Zawahiri to justice. For its part, the Taliban reiterated they are committed under the "historic" agreement with the U.S. not to allow anyone to use Afghan soil for attacks against America or any other country. "But in return, America will have to withdraw all its forces from Afghanistan and hand over our country back to us, Afghans, because it is our universal right," the insurgent statement said. McKenzie praised, however, the Taliban's successes against Islamic State terrorists in Afghanistan. He emphasized the insurgent group has never been a threat to the United States, but it's the groups the Taliban allowed to live in Afghanistan that threaten the U.S. "We are talking about ISIS and we are talking about al-Qaida. And as I noted earlier, we believe the Taliban are actually no friends of ISIS and work against them. It's less clear to me that they will take the same action against al-Qaida," McKenzie said using an acronym for Islamic State. McKenzie said the U.S military is in the process of carrying out its obligations under the February agreement. "We're coming down to mid-8,000 [troops.] We're going to be ahead of the timeline that we signed up to be able to do that. So, we will be at those numbers." Washington has committed to reduce the number of American troops to about 8,600 by mid-July before completely withdrawing from Afghanistan in May of 2021. "If conditions will allow, we're prepared to go to zeroThose conditions would be, you know, can we be assured that attacks against us will not be generated there?," General McKenzie stressed. "As of right now ... if you ask my opinion, those conditions have not been fully met." A recent United Nations report, based on intelligence from member states, also expressed concerns about the Taliban relationship with al-Qaida, saying that if anything, the ties between the two are growing stronger. Under the U.S.-Taliban agreement, the insurgents are supposed to reduce battlefield violence and engage in peace negotiations with other Afghan groups to agree on a permanent ceasefire and a power-sharing arrangement in post-war Afghanistan. The proposed intra-Afghan dialogue could possibly begin by July, pending a prisoner swap between the Taliban and the Afghan government stipulated in the agreement. McKenzie also noted in his speech on Wednesday that the Taliban is living up to its pledges by not attacking U.S. and coalition partners anymore. But the insurgents are "aggressively" targeting Afghan security forces, he said. A U.S.-led international military coalition invaded Afghanistan weeks after the September 11, 2001 deadly terrorist strikes in the United States to punish and oust the Taliban from power for harboring al-Qaida leaders who masterminded the carnage. Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wanna see this cute sloth bear at the Philadelphia Zoo? You'll have to wait a bit. Read more The Philadelphia Zoo closed in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, and even though Philadelphia has progressed into the yellow phase of Gov. Wolfs reopening plan for Pennsylvania, it will be a bit before any of us can visit. Weve been waiting to be able to welcome guests back, and we really look forward to it, said Andy Baker, the Philadelphia Zoos chief operating officer. The animals are the heart of who we are, but the guests are the soul. But when will that happen, and what will the zoo look like once it does reopen? Well, some questions have clearer answers than others. Here is what you need to know: When will the Philadelphia Zoo reopen? The Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced last week that zoos can open outdoor areas starting June 26. But the Philadelphia Zoo will be waiting a little longer before welcoming visitors. Members, the attraction announced Monday, can begin visiting on July 6, while the zoo will be open to the public starting July 9. The zoos reopening will come just days after Philadelphia is scheduled to enter an expanded green phase on July 3. Zoo members can begin reserving tickets online starting on Thursday, while the public can begin purchasing tickets online Friday. READ MORE: When will Philly move into the green phase? What will a trip to the zoo be like? Like most everything else post-pandemic, the zoo will look a little different when it does reopen. For starters, all indoor buildings will be closed, making the entire experience outdoors with Baker said, a one-way flow of foot traffic throughout the zoo, just like in a grocery store. High-touch attractions such as the swan boats, carousel, and WildWorks climbing course will stay closed to create less touch and more distance among visitors, Baker said. And activities like educational talks from zookeepers will also be on hold. By and large, we dont want to create situations that ask for crowds to gather, and we will minimize interactions that really are a wonderful part of the experience, Baker said. Will I need to wear a mask? Masks will be required for everyone aged 2 and up. And yes, you will need to pay attention to proper social distancing, the zoos director of communications Dana Lombardo wrote in an email. There will also be touchless toilets, faucets, paper towel and soap dispensers, as well as handwashing stations throughout the campus to help keep things clean. Staffers known as the Clean Team will help, too, by sanitizing high-touch areas like restrooms and lunch tables. The zoo will also be limiting the number of visitors allowed on site at any given time, as per city, state, and CDC guidelines, Baker said. READ MORE: What our social lives will look like in the yellow phase How will ticketing work? You cant just show up and buy a ticket. Visitors will need to buy tickets in advance or reserve, if they are members and tickets will be timed. Tickets will run $20 for those ages 2 and up, and parking is $17 per vehicle, Lombardo said. Children under 2 can go to the zoo free of charge, but still need a reserved ticket. Will there be food? Yes. Concessions will still be available, though they will operate as touch-free as possible, such as ordering in advance. There will also be more grab-and-go food selections, and a focus on touchless transactions. But if you feel more comfortable bringing your own food, you can. How can I support the zoo right now? April, May, and June are the zoos biggest revenue months for the year, Baker said, so this has been a challenging time financially for the institution. But while you cant support the zoo with an in-person visit, there are some ways you can help. You could consider donating to the zoos Spring Back Fund, which helps cover operating expenses. Or, if you want to wear your support, the zoo has released a line of limited edition T-shirts and hoodies, which also benefit the Spring Back Fund. Plus, you can get a personal greeting from the Philadelphia Zoos penguin colony via the Cameo app. Otherwise, check out the educational Philly Zoo @ 2 program on weekdays on the zoos Facebook page, where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at zoo operations. Or have some fun on the Philly Zoo to You page, which offers educational resources, such animal-themed science worksheets and DIY activities. Ever since the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, multiple protests have erupted across the country. They have collectively culminated in one of the biggest civil unrest movements in the modern era, as people take to the streets to denounce police brutality and systemic racism. Not to be left out, several tech companies have recently released statements that appear to be in solidarity with protesters. Mark Zuckerberg published a Facebook post stating We stand with the Black community -- and all those working towards justice in honor of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and far too many others whose names will not be forgotten and we all have the responsibility to create change. Instagram posted a mostly-black square with a caption that states We stand against racism and We stand with our Black community. Google and YouTube displayed black ribbons on their home pages stating that they stand in support of racial equality. Twitter changed its bio to #BlackLivesMatters and Amazon tweeted that The inequitable and brutal treatment of Black people in our country must stop. But for many Black people in the tech community, the statements dont carry a lot of weight. David Dylan Thomas, a Content Strategy Advocate for Thinkcompany, and whos also working on a book called Design for Cognitive Bias, said that these statements remind him a lot of the platitudes companies gave about the coronavirus. There were all these companies saying that were all in this together and that they care about us. About 99.9 percent of it, I could care less what they say, he said. Everyone felt like they had to say something. It wasnt so much about furthering a particular goal or agenda; it was just so they wouldnt be left out. Y-Vonne Hutchinson, the CEO and co-founder of ReadySet, a diversity solutions firm that works primarily with the tech industry, acknowledges that its good that the companies are even willing to release such statements. (Hutchinson is also a co-founder of Project Include, a non-profit group dedicated to increasing diversity in tech.) A couple of years ago, most companies werent even willing to say the phrase Black Lives Matters, she said. I think its a positive indication that the Overton Window has moved to such a point where it feels obligatory for companies and brands to come out in support of the movement. Y-Vonne Hutchinson, left, and Jennifer Morales participate in a panel discussion at Alamo Drafthouse New Mission Steve Jennings via Getty Images However, Hutchinson thinks that words arent nearly enough. These statements arent necessarily backed by real action, she said, pointing out that the words ring hollow when the companies themselves do not have a good history of diversity and amplifying Black voices. For me, I dont even look at these statements any more, said Hutchinson. I look at diversity reports. I look at the investment in your teams. I look at your executive team and your leadership team. To me, thats a real indication of your commitment to change. If youre not hiring, promoting, being led by and investing in Black people, and if youre not firing the people who are racist, then you know a statement doesnt mean so much. Diversity and inclusion has been the sticking point with the tech industry for the better part of the last decade. Over the past five years since tech companies have started releasing diversity reports, little has changed. According to recent reports, Blacks comprise only three percent of employees in the top 75 Silicon Valley tech companies. In non-tech companies, on the other hand, they make up around 24 percent of the workforce. The situation is even worse with technical jobs -- the number of Black technical employees at Google and Facebook has risen by less than a percentage since 2014 (from 1 to 2 percent), while the percentage of Black tech workers at Apple remained at 6 percent for the past five years. Often, the lack of diversity and Black people in tech is attributed to an educational pipeline problem; that they simply arent interested in these careers. The National Science Foundation, however, uncovered that 20 percent of computer science graduates are Black and Latinx, which does not at all square with the fact that they only make up 6 percent of the tech industry. If [these tech companies] really want to make a difference, look at their workforce, said Leslie Miley, a former CTO of the Obama Foundation. Miley also previously worked as an engineering lead at Google, Slack, Apple and Twitter. The percentages of African-Americans in tech roles have not moved in spite of months and years of platitudes by executive staff. Leslie Miley speaks onstage during TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2016 Steve Jennings via Getty Images Miley also called out companies like Google, which have either severely reduced or eliminated diversity programs in recent years. These programs are defunded at the drop of any type of bad economic news, he said. If they were truly on the side of righteousness, truly on the side of justice, truly on the side of Black Lives Matters, then Black projects would benefit. Underrepresented people wouldnt be cut when theres an economic downturn because that would not be optional. They would be required. Id like to see some real commitment to these causes that go beyond whats happening in the news cycle. Tiffani Ashley Bell, the founder of Human Utility -- a platform to help people in Baltimore, Detroit and other cities pay their water bills -- wrote a Medium post entitled Its Time to Call out White Supremacy in Tech. In it, she asked serious questions to her peers: Are we willing to reckon with investors who think investing in Black entrepreneurs is an act of charity -- and thus, offer embarrassing, token amounts? Are we willing to stop sponsoring and attending technology conferences with mostly white male speaker lineups? What are we willing to do differently to dismantle white supremacy in the technology sector and because of technologys pervasive influence, dismantle white supremacy in society? Bell also said that while many non-Black people in tech dont think of themselves as overt racists, theres often implicit bias at play. Have you looked at the tone and the content of your Black employees performance reviews? Are you sure they were evaluated on their work performance and not their performance of culture fit? Code switching is a mental tax on Black people in the workplace that sometimes isnt refunded when reviews come around. And this constant stress negatively compounds over the long term. Tiffani Ashley Bell speaks onstage during TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2017 Steve Jennings via Getty Images Both Bell and Hutchinson believe its also important to promote Black employees to leadership positions. Its really hard to have a voice if youre an entry-level person and youre worried about pissing off your manager, said Hutchinson. If you look at the leadership team of some of these companies, there are no Black people there. If you want to hear powerful Black voices, then promote powerful Black voices. Have them on your executive and your leadership teams and empower them to speak out. On top of hiring and promoting Black employees, Bell also said to look at hiring from a more diverse pool of people such as historically Black colleges, and to examine existing practices: For builders, are you willing to interrogate how your work may facilitate racism? I am reminded of Googles photo categorization algorithms that classified Black people as gorillas. A more diverse team would have caught that before it went live. Same with Airbnb and its problem with discriminatory hosts, she continued. To avoid racism while traveling, Black people created The Green Book. So, of course, they would have anticipated some white hosts not wanting Black guests and built a way to handle that early. This underscores the importance of having people on your team who can point out issues before they become PR problems. Do you? Frustrated with the lack of action in the industry, Mimi Fox Melton and Karla Monterroso of Code2040, a a non-profit dedicated to mobilizing racial equity in tech, wrote an op-ed published in Fast Company where they said protesting isnt enough: What we need is for you to commit to this work for the rest of your lives, to strengthen your resilience so that you dont tire as soon as this moment has passed, and to start with the very hard work of looking at yourself and the anti-Blackness and white-superiority you have internalized and perpetuatedand the many ways in which it has shown up in your work and life. Techs inability to diversify its workforce as it defines the future puts all of us in danger. Racial representation and equity means creating the economic, physical, psychosocial, and social conditions at your workplace where Black, Latinx, and Indigenous people can thrive. In the absence of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous peopleespecially Black, Latinx, and Indigenous womeninvolved in the creation and design of technology, tech is ignorant of the potential repercussions of building the world in such a slanted way. Of course, much of this was also said years ago when tech companies first issued diversity reports, and Floyds death is obviously not the first time an unarmed Black man has been killed by the police. Thats why Miley said that simply giving a statement at the heat of the moment is not enough. It needs to be long-term, and the change needs to be structural. I appreciate that theyre giving to the cause, said Miley. But you know, this has always been an issue. Thank you for showing up now, and I hope you show up again in six months, and in a year, and in five years. I hope you fund your internal programs and I hope that you and your teams go and learn about systemic and structural discrimination. Unfortunately, Miley said that much of the problem comes from the very top. I can tell you first hand, at least from being at Google, that there are people in the executive level who do not believe that there is structural discrimination and racism, he said. They dont believe that its a real thing. It was almost impossible to get the message across because they just dont believe it. I do believe that a lot of this stuff is structural, and its hard for somebody whos rank and file to change structural stuff, said Hutchinson. Still, theres something about this moment that might mean things could be different this time around. For me, its really encouraging to see these organizations who are trying to pivot to the moment, she said, citing cases of employees walking out as a form of protest. Theres still a role for an individual employee to play. Whether its intervening when you see fights happening, making sure that your colleagues arent punished for reporting bias. If youre not in executive leadership, but youre still a manager, you can make sure youre sponsoring Black people, recommending Black people, highlighting what Black people say in meetings, and just highlighting their work. Additionally, Hutchinson believes that people are getting angrier and more upset, and the tech industry doesnt have the clout it once had. The shine has come off the tech industry, she said, citing examples such as Facebooks recent refusal to take down misinformation. They built these products without thinking about the societal impact, and with a very narrow view of what we need. Its had a very detrimental impact on society. I think some tech companies are still in the place where they think they can do a little bit, tweak around the edges, keeping things the same and its going to go away, she said. I dont think theyre quite equipped to handle the revolutionary nature of this moment. Theres not necessarily going to be a normal that we go back to after all of this. But, she believes that it behooves these organizations to adapt to the times and to own the change thats coming. We always talk about innovation and Silicon Valley and being ahead of the curve. So, look whats happening now. Theres a societal upheaval. And, if you want to be on the front lines and really innovating in that environment, you have to respond to it. You cant be in denial about it. David Dylan Thomas David Dylan Thomas Thomas said that these are extraordinary times, which calls for more meaningful gestures than simply just saying tech companies should hire more Black people. For example, he praised the actions of Alexis Ohanian, who stepped down from Reddit so that a Black person could replace him. He also was impressed that companies like IBM and Amazon have said they would stop facial recognition systems, at least for the time being. To me, thats making a statement. Thats taking things seriously. When you see companies do things like leaving money on the table, thats serious. Its not enough to just say Black Lives Matter., he said. You need to actually do something. You have to ask yourself, What concrete steps are you taking? What are you prepared to do? What is the actual action thats going to happen here? To that end, Thomas gave a few different tips, such as having anonymous resumes in the hiring process so that people dont give into implicit biases around names. He also suggests that when making decisions around a diversity-focused project, to be sure to actually hire diverse people. So, for example, if youre designing something for women, instead of having interviews with a bunch of women, to simply hire more women for the job. The good news is that the concept of design justice or inclusive practices arent new, said Thomas. The hard work is actually implementing it. Thats where most people fall short. Several of the aforementioned tech companies have said they would donate a certain amount of money to Black-focused charities as well. Zuckerberg said Facebook would donate $10 million to racial justice causes, YouTube announced it would give $1 million to the Center for Policing Equity, Amazon said it would donate $10 million to various causes such as the NAACP and the ACLU, and Apple recently pledged $100 million to a Racial Equity and Justice initiative. While thats good, Miley said that just isn't enough. I think giving money to causes is great, he said. But you have to invest in the community. Instead, he said that what theyre doing is simply charity, partly as a way to get good PR. I dont want charity. I want investment. Stop pandering to us with charity, and start partnering with us in investment. Sean Penn attends an event to benefit Australia wildfire relief efforts on March 08, 2020. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images) Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn has admitted that he can be difficult to work with, stating that hes simply not good with humans. The 59-year-old said actors are effectively canaries in the coalmine and can only work with people who respect their way of working. Penn has been involved in numerous clashes and controversies throughout his 40 years working within the Hollywood system. Read more: Penn denies turning down Joker in The Dark Knight The actor was asked on The Howard Stern Show about his Oscar acceptance speech for Milk, in which he referenced his own difficult reputation. He said: Thereve been several times Ive worked with directors who I felt might have found a different job description, and perhaps werent the storytellers that their initial meetings with each of us actors might have indicated. Sean Penn accepts the Oscar for Best Actor for his work in "Milk" during the 81st Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. (Credit: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Actors are kind of canaries in the coalmine emotionally, and you have to go to whatever place is necessary inside yourself. If you dont have somebody there who at least respects that most of what I was referring to is that the arrogance goes further than charm. I am aware that I can be a difficult person to like from afar, often. I sometimes think I have a great love affair with humanity but not too good with humans. Read more: Penn gives bizarre Colbert interview In 2003, Penn claimed in a lawsuit that producer Steve Bing fired him from comedy film Why Men Shouldn't Marry because of his anti-war views, comparing it to the anti-communist Hollywood blacklisting of the 1940s and 50s. Sean Penn attends the press conference for the Haiti Carnival charity event at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2012. (Credit: AP Photo/Francois Mori) Penn has also had an often confrontational relationship with the press, serving just over a month in prison in 1987 after assaulting a photographer on a film set. Read more: Why Team America made Sean Penn angry The stars latest project as actor and director is the drama Flag Day, which tells the story of the daughter of a con artist. The script was penned by English playwright Jez Butterworth, adapting the auto-biographical book by reporter Jennifer Vogel. A man who let a train slice off his left hand as part of a 6million insurance fraud has been sentenced to two years in jail - and won't be paid a penny. Christian W, 45, a wholesaler from Dortmund, northern Germany, had claimed he tripped and fell under the train in October 2018, causing the gruesome injury. But the district court in Dortmund swept that argument aside, ruling that he had deliberately laid down on the tracks as part of a scam. Christian W, 45, (pictured in court) a wholesaler from Dortmund, northern Germany, had claimed he tripped and fell under the train in October 2018, causing the gruesome injury On October 31, 2018, Christian W sneaked into Nordbogge train station at night, carrying his daughter's scooter with him. The Regional Express train was ready for departure to Dortmund on the platform. He threw the scooter between the train and the platform so he could sit next to the train and put his left hand on the track. When the train departed at 3.23am it started to slice his hand off. It then had to be fully amputated in hospital. On October 31, 2018, Christian W sneaked into Nordbogge train station (pictured) at night, carrying his daughter's scooter with him According to the Dortmund public prosecutor's office, he had taken out nine accident insurance policies for a total of 7 million. While still in hospital recovering from the amputation he sent his claim letter to the insurance companies. Neither the insurance companies nor the police believed the story of what he said happened. Christian W was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after being convicted of insurance fraud. It was only as America became riven by fault lines regional, partisan or both that the courts came to be seen as a refuge from politics and stewards of the public trust. In 1891, Congress surrendered its authority over appellate jurisdiction, granting the Supreme Court the right to review any federal case it pleased. In 1925, the justices were also given the right to refuse to hear any case they didnt want to. The court has thus been able to call itself the final arbiter of the law for nearly a century but even today, that power is contingent on Congresss sense that the court is wielding it responsibly. At a time when journalism is being hit hard globally and some are predicting the end of independent journalism in some parts of the world, its time to take a look at what may survive. The Conversationa nonprofit that brings together scholars and journalists to bring academic writing to a general audiencemay tell us a bit about where nonprofit media is headed. The Conversationwhich was founded by Andrew Jaspan and Jack Rejtman in Australia in 2011 with $6 million in funding from four universities, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and the State of Victoriais thriving amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Traffic is soaring, while its funding model insulates it from the collapse in advertising and subscription revenue hitting other outlets. Its stories are available for republication, for free, under a Creative Commons licensea model that seems particularly beneficial for other news outlets at this moment. If there were ever a time for expertise and smart journalism, now is it, and we are doing it at a volume no one else is doing and there is no paywall. It is free to use and free to publish, says Stephen Khan, the editor of The Conversations UK edition. ICYMI: The NYPD giveth, and the NYPD taketh away Today, The Conversation has 10 national and regional editions and more than 150 full-time staff, many of them former journalists with decades of experience at outlets like The Scotsman, Financial Mail, Huffington Post, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and Climate Change Weekly. The Conversations editors specialize in wrangling academics and editing their dense writing so that it can be understood by general readers, sometimes spending as much as 10 hours on one article. Since the pandemic started, submissions from contributors have tripled in some places. Global pageviews for April 2020, including republications, stand at 81 million, up from 40.1 million in April 2019. Google Analytics records that onsite visits have risen to 38.1 million in April 2020 from 15.9 million in April 2019. In a moment pandemic reporting has been overtaken by partisan infighting, The Conversation has thrived by staying focused on the science. Whats the difference between pandemic, epidemic and outbreak? was read more than 900,000 times, translated into Danish and Indonesian, and used by multiple sites, including Market Watch, EcoWatch, Premium Times Nigeria, and the Good Men project. Since publishing Could chloroquine treat coronavirus? 5 questions answered about a promising, problematic and unproven use for an antimalarial drug in The Conversation US, Dr. Katherine Seley-Radtke of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County has been interviewed by outlets all over the world, including NBC Euronews, Newsy, NPR, The Washington Post, and the South Asian Times. A piece on which household cleaning products can kill the virus was viewed more than a million times, and republished in ScienceAlert; The Sun, a British news tabloid; and the New Zealand Herald. That article, and many others, performed particularly strongly on Apple News. Sign up for CJR 's daily email The Conversations business model varies in each region, revealing a lot about the state of nonprofit media in different parts of the world. In Australia, funding comes from reader donations and universities. In Africa and Indonesia, it relies on foundations. In the UK and France, some 145 universities have signed on as financial members, including prestigious research-intensive institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge. In the US, 64 universities (including entire state systems, such as the University of California system) have joined. As with all editions, academics from any institution can pitch to The Conversation. Institutions that fund the project receive expert requests each morning, seeking scholars for topics editors want to focus on, and so get first crack at pitching. They also get access to Conversation metrics and training in how to write for general readers. Conversation editors do campus visits and workshops with scholars, discuss rejected pitches, and help scholars think through how to translate their research to the public. In areas with a relative dearth of academic think tanks and research, The Conversationfunded in part by the Gates, Mellon, and Carnegie foundations in Africahas become particularly essential. Traffic has grown substantially over the last two years and more than doubled in Nigeria and Ethiopia, with articles picked up by more than 600 outlets across the continent. The Covid-19 debate there, as in many developing countries, is about the tradeoffs between lockdowns and the livelihoods of the poor. Plus, public health programs are chronically underfunded, so Covid-19 feels less important than day-to-day survival and health problems. Immunization is really important. Its important for us not to take our eyes off the vaccination challenges we have on the continent. We are carrying quite a few articles about the other programs that cannot be ignored, like measles, says Caroline Southey, editor of the Africa edition. Health misinformation is also a chronic problem, and so The Conversations authoritative, science-based writing is helpful. We play an enormously important role in busting those myths about cures, says Southey, who notes that such misinformation has been abetted by political leaders. There is a lot of fake news to fight on the continent. Apart from misinformation that is spread deliberately, Heidi Larson, director of the Vaccine Confidence Project, notes that unsettled science can confuse people. There is so much unknown about Covid-19 that journalists everywhere are struggling to know how to report. Scientists are rushing research into pre-prints that have not been peer-reviewed. For Southey, part of the solution is to focus on publishing peer-reviewed work; to scrutinize articles offered to the site on the basis of pre-print academic papers; and to be honest about the unknowns. I reject a lot of material about what will happen because we just dont know. Material thats based on peer-reviewed journal articles are our stock in trade. But, in the wake of Covid-19, weve put in place processes that enable us to assess pre-print, too, but with great care, Southey says. US editor Beth Daley says she, too, understands the need for important information, even if its not always been peer-reviewed. Each non-peer-reviewed piece is carefully vetted and, when used, authors and editors try to give an overview of what other research is going on in the area. The stories also note the work is not yet peer-reviewed; such stories sometimes appear in a new series The Conversation US is running called Research Takes, which highlights ongoing research. The point, Daley says, is that The Conversation can play a vital role in bringing news of pandemic-related research to lay audiences as it happens. We have a direct line to the front lines of solvingor trying to solveCovid-19, and our researchers are willing to share that with the public in real time, she says. Thats a role any conventional news outlet would be proud to play. RECENTLY: The journalism emergency, and how to pay for it Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Anya Schiffrin is the director of the media and technology specialization at Columbia Universitys School of International and Public Affairs. Chinas capital reported two new coronavirus infections on Friday, a day after it declared its first case in nearly two months, prompting officials to delay plans for some students to return school. The new cases, from a different part of Beijing than Thursdays infection, involved two men working at a meat research centre, state media said. It was not immediately clear how they were infected. Both men, aged 25 and 37, had had no contact with people from Hubei province, where the coronavirus was first identified, or travellers from overseas in the last 14 days, state media said, though the younger man was briefly in Qingdao city in the eastern province of Shandong. The Beijing city government said it had dropped plans to reopen school on Monday for students from the first to third grades because of the new cases. It said restaurants would be inspected and checks made on seafood products and fresh and frozen meats. The research facility, the China Meat Food Comprehensive Research Centre, in Fengtai district in the south of Beijing, remained open on Friday, according to the state-run Beijing Daily. Reuters could not immediately reach the Beijing Academy of Food Sciences, which oversees the centre, for comment. Two food markets within a 7 km radius of the plant had mostly been closed. State media Beijing News said city authorities had shut down beef and mutton trading at the Xinfadi wholesale market, where they carried out tests and disinfection after Thursdays patient was found to have visited. Beijings Jingshen seafood market had also closed, the Beijing News added, saying that although the market gave no reason for the closure, Fridays patients had visited recently. The men had been to Xinfadi, and recently also visited Dongsiqu agricultural wholesale market in Pinggu district, in the northeast of Beijing, state media reported, adding that the market would be closed from Saturday until further notice. The coronavirus is believed by many to have emerged at a seafood market in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, in December. Haiti - Diaspora : The Consulate General of Haiti in Montreal is reopened The Consulate General of Haiti in Montreal informs the Haitian community in particular and the general public, that due to the gradual deconfinement decreed by the Government of Quebec, its offices are reopened from Monday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. by appointment since Monday June 5, 2020 and until further notice. Address of the Consulate: 300 Rue Leo Pariseau, Suite 1100, Montreal. Quebec. Canada. H2X 4C1. Telephone: (614) 499 -1919. Fax: (614) 499 -1818 NOTE : To obtain an appointment, you must call : 514-499-1919 or send an e-mail to : consulathaitiamontreal@gmail.com The Consular Mission counts on your understanding. HL/ HaitiLibre A cliche about San Francisco during the Gold Rush was that its streets were paved with gold. This was not literally true, although there was so much gold dust blowing around town that one man collected $50 worth of it from the sweepings of a Montgomery Street store floor. But the truth was almost as strange. The instant citys byways were made up of the unlikeliest collection of objects ever used as pavement. San Francisco in 1849 had only dirt streets and a couple of sidewalks. The streets primitive condition didnt matter much when the weather was dry, although blowing dust and sand was a constant irritant. But as ill luck would have it, the winter of 1849-50 was one of the rainiest ever recorded in the city. And as the torrential rains fell, the young city became a quagmire. Mud as deep as 5 feet greeted 49ers as soon as they stepped off their ships. On Dec. 17, one group of men disembarked from their ship at Clarks Point and headed up Broadway into town, but sank so deep into the muck that they gave up and returned to spend the night on their ship. The next day the captain informed them that the conditions had actually improved and that they would only need 4-foot boots. Another 49er described how he emerged from a waterfront saloon into a bed of mud, anywhere from ankle deep to off soundings. Farther into the city, he wrote, things are pretty much the same, but on rather a larger scale ... larger streets with larger fields of mud. At Clay and Kearny, one wit put up a sign reading, This street is impassable. Not even jackassable. Worse, the mud was mixed with garbage and sewage. A Gold Rush editorialist wrote, From (Rincon) Point to the sandy eastern suburbs of the city there is one vast fathomless sea of mud. ... Its character is heterogeneous, its character antipellucid, its adhesive qualities immense and antagonistic to a composed state of nerves. Its ingredients are dust and water, egg shells, cabbage leaves, potato parings, onion tops, fish bones, and other articles too numerous to mention. Mud is the element in which we are now compelled to exist. It is utterly impossible to do anything without thinking of mud, to go anywhere without stirring the subject, for, sober or muddled, a man is sure to put his feet in it. It is in every street, and a man is crossed by it at every crossing. Because San Francisco had no street lighting until 1851, and drunkenness was common, people were constantly falling into the mud at night. Usually this occasioned only merriment or irritation, but it could be dangerous or even fatal. A number of horses fell into the muck and suffocated, and a few men died after falling into the mud on Montgomery Street, probably while drunk. Owners and shopkeepers began filling up the quagmires outside their doors with anything solid they could get their hands on. In the winter of 1849 the first sidewalk, on Clay Street, was made with barrel staves and narrow planks. But large quantities of brush, as well as bottles, shirts and garbage were also tossed into the muddy streets. This created traps that tangled the feet of horses, and often made matters worse by damming the mud and turning streets into lakes. So San Franciscans began using crates and bales of newly arrived merchandise as temporary streets, crude sidewalks and stepping-stones. Trivia time The previous trivia question: What heavily secured building on Pine and Jones was known as "The Fortress"? Answer: A luxurious brothel owned by celebrity madam Sally Stanford. This week's trivia question: Which mayor said he wanted to make San Francisco "the Paris of America ... a city of pleasure lovers and pleasure seekers who desire freedom of action within decently defined limits"? Editor's note Every corner in San Francisco has an astonishing story to tell. Gary Kamiya's Portals of the Past tells those lost stories, using a specific location to illuminate San Francisco's extraordinary history - from the days when giant mammoths wandered through what is now North Beach to the Gold Rush delirium, the dot-com madness and beyond. His column appears every other Saturday. Dig deep into Chronicle Vault Like what you're reading? Subscribe to the Chronicle Vault newsletter and get classic archive stories in your inbox twice a week. Read hundreds of historical stories, see thousands of archive photos and sort through 153 years of classic Chronicle front pages at SFChronicle.com/vault. See More Collapse In San Franciscos insanely volatile commodities market, items often became worthless overnight and storage was prohibitively expensive. As a result, shipments of tobacco, cement, beans, tin cheese boxes, cook-stoves, sheet-lead, salt-beef, iron, wire sieves, revolvers, flour, sugar, tins of lard, chests of coffee, crinolines, bales of hay, crates of patented gold-washing machines and other heavy machinery all ended up being tossed into the mud. More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond. According to historian Hubert Bancroft, A sidewalk was made from Montgomery Street to the mail steamer office of boxes of 1st class Virginia tobacco, containing 100 lbs each, that would be worth 75 cents a pound. ... Tobacco was found to be the cheapest material for small buildings foundations. Foundations subsequently were sometimes worth more than the house. Some chile beans sunk for a crossing on Broadway would have made a fortune for the owner a few weeks later. In Black Fire: The True Story of the Original Tom Sawyer and of the Mysterious Fires That Baptized Gold Rush-Era San Francisco, Robert Graysmith writes, Each segment of the planked Kearny Street sidewalk was different. There was a stretch of packing cases, window shutters, and a mosaic of sides and ends covered with tin. In front of Hanlons Saloon, forty kegs had been hammered into the mud as a makeshift sidewalk that ended so abruptly that unwary pedestrians pitched full length into the mud. ... The Montgomery Street sidewalk from Clay to Jackson Street was the oddest of all: Two blocks made of pianos. ... One landfill consisted of two boatloads of Spanish brandy dumped over two acres of waterfront ground. By 1851, San Francisco had finally begun to plank and even cobblestone its streets, and lights appeared on Kearny Street. Pedestrians still had to pick their way with care during the rainy season, but the days when a walk down the street at night could end with an involuntary mud bath were gone. Gary Kamiya is the author of the best-selling book Cool Gray City of Love: 49 Views of San Francisco, awarded the Northern California Book Award in creative nonfiction. All the material in Portals of the Past is original for The San Francisco Chronicle. To read earlier Portals of the Past, go tosfchronicle.com/portals. For more features from 150 years of The Chronicles archives, go to sfchronicle.com/vault. Email: metro@sfchronicle.com Just a day after her tense exchange with judge Jock Zonfrillo on MasterChef, contestant Laura Sharrad seemed to have shrugged the entire incident off. The 24-year-old MasterChef: Back to Win hopeful was spotted sitting outside her restaurant in Adelaide on Friday. Sitting alongside her husband, fellow chef Max Sharrad, Laura seemed relaxed and happy as the couple chatted with two male friends. Feeling good: Just a day after her tense exchange with judge Jock Zonfrillo on MasterChef, contestant Laura Sharrad (pictured) seemed to have shrugged the entire incident off The smiling star was seemingly taking a break from working in the kitchen while still wearing her green apron over the top of her black T-shirt. Laura kept warm with a puffer jacket, which she had draped over her shoulders. Her shoulder-length brown hair was parted in the middle and tied back in a low bun, and she appeared fresh-faced. All smiles: The 24-year-old MasterChef: Back to Win hopeful was spotted sitting outside her restaurant in Adelaide on Friday Break time: The smiling star was seemingly taking a break from working in the kitchen while still wearing her green apron over the top of her black T-shirt Laura and her husband run their own restaurant, Nido Bar and Pasta, which they opened last year. After placing runner-up in MasterChef back in 2014, Laura went on to work as a pastry chef at Jock's award-winning restaurant, Orana. And while Laura has cemented her position as MasterChef's resident pasta queen, Jock, 43, wasn't enthused about her dish during Thursday's immunity challenge. Entrepreneurs: Laura and her husband run their own restaurant, Nido Bar and Pasta, which they opened last year High profile gig: After placing runner-up in MasterChef back in 2014, Laura went on to work as a pastry chef at Jock's award-winning restaurant, Orana The two had a heated exchange after she told him she was making a roast pumpkin and garlic tortellini with ricotta, brown butter and sage. Jock made his opinion of the dish perfectly known when he described Laura's meal as a 'yawnfest'. 'A pumpkin-filled tortellini, how many times do you go to a restaurant and you are so disappointed by that dish?' he continued. Unimpressed: While Laura has cemented her position as MasterChef's resident pasta queen, Jock, 43, wasn't enthused about her dish during Thursday's immunity challenge Time out: Sitting alongside her husband, fellow chef Max Sharrad, Laura seemed relaxed and happy as the couple chatted with two male friends Seemingly fired up by his response, Laura hit back: 'Well, the only time I eat it, Jock, is in my restaurant, and I'm not disappointed by it.' Jock warned her, 'If it's rubbish, I'll tell you', but Laura was unfazed by his threat. Despite fans claiming Laura and Jock's shared history makes her a 'favourite' to win, she maintains that isn't true. Creative differences: Laura and Jock had a heated exchange after she told him she was making a roast pumpkin and garlic tortellini with ricotta, brown butter and sage Doing it tough: In an interview with TV WEEK last month, Laura claimed she actually has it tougher than the other contestants on the show amid reports of favouritism 'A pumpkin-filled tortellini, how many times do you go to a restaurant and you are so disappointed by that dish?' MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo told Laura In an interview with TV WEEK last month, Laura claimed she actually has it tougher than the other contestants on the show. 'Because I worked in Jock's restaurant Orana for two years, people think I'm a favourite,' she told the publication. 'If anything, it's the opposite. I have it harder because Jock knows my food very well. Unless I plate up perfection, he makes it very well known.' You are here: World Flash British Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Thursday urged the public to participate in the government's test and trace system designed to help the easing of the coronavirus lockdown measures. Chairing Thursday's Downing Street press briefing, Hancock said the test and trace system is "critical" to easing lockdown, calling it a "civic duty" for the public to participate in the scheme. "Participation with NHS (National Health Service) test and trace is your civic duty," Hancock said. One third of people who tested positive for coronavirus could not be reached by the government's contact tracing system, or refused to hand over their contacts, according to figures released Thursday by the Department of Health and Social Care. Between May 28 and June 3, 8,117 people who tested positive for COVID-19 were transferred to the NHS test and trace system. Around two-thirds, 5,407 people provided details of those they had come into close contact with to the government scheme, the department said. "The system is working well... it will keep getting better," said Hancock. Another 151 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Wednesday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 41,279, the Department of Health and Social Care said Thursday. The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community. As of Thursday morning, 291,409 people have tested positive for the virus, a daily increase of 1,266. One month after issuing a draft resolution, the European Union has removed Tunisia from its list of countries that pose threats to the financial system over money laundering and terrorism financing because of lack of legislation at home. The European Commission last month drafted a new list minus several countries including Tunisia. The list was set for approval this month. The organization ordered banks and other financial and tax firms to check more closely their clients who have operations with countries on the list. Unlike Tunisia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Guyana, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic and Sri Lanka that have been retrieved from the list, the commission added 12 countries namely Panama, the Bahamas, Mauritius, Barbados, Botswana, Cambodia, Ghana, Jamaica, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nicaragua and Zimbabwe, which pose threats significant threats to the financial system of the Union. Lydia Bright took to Instagram on Thursday as she counted down the days until she could introduce her daughter Loretta to Lucy Mecklenburgh's son Roman. The best friends have not been able to see each others' babies since giving birth during lockdown. The former TOWIE star, 29, shared a sweet snap of herself and Lucy, 28, FaceTiming with Loretta, two months, and Roman, three months, ahead of their reunion, which will take place on Saturday. Exciting: Lydia Bright shared a sweet snap of herself and Lucy, 28, FaceTiming with Loretta and Roman ahead of their reunion, which will take place on Saturday A make-up free Lucy beamed for the camera as she cuddled Roman in bed, while Loretta looked inquisitively at the phone screen. Lydia captioned the snap: 'Only two more sleeps until Loretta meets her future husband for the first time. Ps. How amazing does my best friend look this was like 7am in the morning'. Lucy added in the comments: 'Love you x'. Reunion: Lydia captioned the snap: 'Only two more sleeps until Loretta meets her future husband for the first time' Lydia previously revealed the pair discovered they were pregnant on the same day. Speaking on The Bright's podcast, the Essex beauty said: 'I'll never forget the day we both found out we were pregnant. 'Basically, we were both due to start filming on Celebrity Hunted, I thought it would be a good idea to do a pregnancy test a couple of days before because I was off birth control and it came back positive to my shock. Exciting: The best friends have not been able to see each others' babies since giving birth during lockdown (Lydia pictured with her two-month-old daughter Loretta) 'Because I fell pregnant very quickly, I gave Lucy a call, and she guessed that I was pregnant. 'So she ran out and got a pregnancy test and called me 6 hours later and said she was pregnant as well. I mean, it's crazy. You couldn't write it.' Once the pair found out they were expecting a boy and a girl, they joked their children would fall in love when they get older and get married. The imminent reunion comes after Lucy celebrated her fiance Ryan Thomas' 36th birthday on Wednesday. The actor appeared in great spirits as he rang in the occasion for the first time with his youngest child, who he described as his 'best gift'. Greg Nash, STF / Associated Press U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, announced that she is going into self-quarantine after coming into contact with a family member who has since tested positive for COVID-19. The first-term congresswoman has been tested for the virus and is awaiting results. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/6/2020 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Welcome to a day the world desperately needs. Today is Loving Day which has nothing to do with hugs and kisses and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, but everything to do with the struggle for racial equality. The Associated Press files Mildred Loving and her husband, Richard Loving, on Jan. 26, 1965. The couple refused to accept a racist law saying their love was a crime. Loving Day is an annual celebration held June 12 to mark the anniversary of the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down remaining state laws banning interracial marriage. It is named for the landmark case, Loving v. Virginia, and the couple at its centre, Richard and Mildred Loving, who refused to accept a racist law that said their love was somehow a crime. With the unprecedented wave of anti-racism protests sweeping the world in the wake of the horrific Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, the Lovings story has become more important than ever. If you have not seen the 2016 movie (Loving) chronicling their legal ordeal, what you need to know is Richard, a white construction worker, and Mildred, a woman of colour, were longtime friends who fell in love. In June 1958, the couple exchanged wedding vows in Washington, D.C., where interracial marriage was legal, then returned to their home in Caroline County, Va., where it was not. "In Virginia, interracial marriage was illegal under 1924s Act to Preserve Racial Integrity. Those who violated the law risked anywhere from one to five years in a state penitentiary," according to the website history.com. On July 11, 1958, the Lovings were jolted out of bed at about 2 a.m., and arrested by the local sheriff for violating Virginias anti-miscegenation law, which made marriage between different races a crime. "When the couple pleaded guilty the following year, Judge Leon M. Bazile sentenced them to one year in prison, but suspended the sentence on the condition that they would leave Virginia and not return together for a period of 25 years," history.com notes. They relocated to Washington, D.C., where they essentially lived in exile, raised three children, and dreamed about returning to their beloved hometown. "They were simple people who wanted to live a simple life, and they were determined to go back home. After living the next five years in exile and raising their three children, Mildred found an opening," biography.com recalls. In 1963, Mildred wrote to then-attorney general Robert F. Kennedy pleading their case, and he referred them to the American Civil Liberties Union, which took the case all the way to the Supreme Court. During one famous exchange, ACLU lawyer Philip Hirschkop declared Virginias marriage law was rooted in racism and white supremacy. "These are not health and welfare laws," he argued. "These are slavery laws, pure and simple." In its landmark decision, the top court not only overturned the Lovings criminal conviction, but also struck down laws against interracial marriage in 16 holdout states. "Under our constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the state," Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote. Despite her courage and determination in standing up to a clearly racist law, soft-spoken Mildred refused to accept she was a hero. "It wasnt my doing," she told The Associated Press in a rare interview in 2007. "It was Gods work." The historic ruling changed marriage in America, but for the Lovings it simply meant they had the freedom to go home and raise their three children without fear. Richard was killed in 1975, when a drunk driver struck the couples car. Mildred survived the crash and went on to spend the rest of her life in the town of Central Point, Va. She died in 2008, having never remarried. The world celebrates Loving Day because, in 2004, graduate design student Ken Tanabe made the couples historic struggle the subject of his graduate thesis project. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. In light of the grassroots protests currently sweeping the world, Tanabe told the newspaper USA Today hed like people around the world to take "a meaningful pause" today to stand in solidarity with the Black community. Its impossible to say what the Lovings would make of the events roiling the world the last few weeks. I suspect theyd be pleased by the winds of change that are toppling the statues of Confederate leaders and slave traders in the U.S. and England. And theyd likely be impressed to learn 15,000 Winnipeggers protested peacefully a week ago, adding their voices to the rapidly growing fight against racism and police brutality directed at Black people. A year before her death in 2008, on the 40th anniversary of the Lovings landmark case, Mildred offered this public support for gay marriage: "The older generations fears and prejudices have given way, and todays young people realize that if someone loves someone, they have a right to marry." Everyone should reflect on this couples story today, and remember: sometimes, standing up for what you know is right can be an act of love. doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca Portland Protesters Abandon Seattle-Style Autonomous Zone Protesters in Portland have abandoned their own autonomous zone, reported to be similar to the one set up in Seattle, according to the Portland Police and multiple reports. Hundreds of people were filmed by Portland Mercury reporter Blair Stenvick trying to erect a fence in downtown Portland, reportedly with the aim of setting up an area like the seven-block zone in Seattle, dubbed the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. Seattles autonomous zone was established when staff at the Seattle Police Departments East Precinct, which was the site of violent clashes with protesters, secured the facility, removed barricades, and essentially left the protesters to police themselves. Portland police said in a statement recounting the overnight demonstrations from Thursday to Friday that there were several groups of protesters, with some becoming unruly. Officers observed demonstrators shake the fence and throw several projectiles, police said, referring to demonstrators who gathered at the fence line at Southwest 3rd Avenue and Southwest Main Street. That group of demonstrators began throwing fireworks at police, prompting a declaration of a civil disturbance. There is criminal activity occurring in this crowd. Stop now. If you are a non-violent demonstrator we are encouraging you to leave now, Portland Police said in a tweet. The crowd was given ample opportunity to disperse and were warned if they did not do so, they were subject to arrest or force, police said, adding that shortly after 11:30 p.m., officers began dispersing the crowd and several arrests were made. Later, police said the group that gathered in the area of Southwest Main St. and Southwest 3rd Avenue dispersed on their own at about 2:00 a.m. Journalist Sergio Olmos wrote in a tweet: The fence, in what was looking briefly like the beginnings of an autonomous zone, is now abandoned. A shorter life than the city hall wall. The reported moves to erect an autonomous zone in Portland come as Seattle protesters continue to hold onto theirs, with reports of armed enforcers checking IDs of people seeking to enter and extorting businesses within CHAZ. Raz Simone, rumored to be one of the leaders of one of the groups controlling CHAZ, denied there was any extortion. Definitely no extortion, definitely nothing of that, Simone told local outlet KOMO News. Weve invited people to come in. In the wake of the situation in Seattles autonomous zone, President Donald Trump called on Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee to take back the city. Trump said Inslee and Durkan are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before. Take back your city NOW. If you dont do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped [sic] IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST! he added in a statement on social media. Inslee told Trump in response that a man who is totally incapable of governing should stay out of Washington states business. Make us all safe. Go back to your bunker, Durkan responded to Trumps tweet. Trump said in a later tweet: Domestic Terrorists have taken over Seattle, run by Radical Left Democrats, of course. LAW & ORDER! Barricades viewed by a reporter with NTD Television, an Epoch Times affiliate, included the phrase, Public safety means no cops on our streets. The East Precinct building entrance sign was painted over to say Seattle People Department. The boarded up Seattle Police Department East Precinct inside the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle, Wash., on June 10, 2020. (Ernie Li/NTD Television) Heather Mac Donald, fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of The War on Cops, told The Epoch Times on June 8 that people who resort to what she called left-wing fun and riot revolutionary tactics in seeking social change often fail to consider the lasting damage. Its not going to be there, she said of the stability and predictability thats needed for society to function. She said what would emerge in place of law and order is poverty, despair, uncertainty. Can you get anything at your grocery store? Can you walk outside at night? Will there be restaurants? All of that is now in severe jeopardy, she said. Cities cannot operate with this level of fear, she added. The people and groups controlling CHAZ have published a 30-point list of demands. These include abolishing the Seattle Police Department and reparations for victims of police brutality. Correction: A previous version misidentified the reporter who filmed the footage in Portland. The Epoch Times regrets the error. CLIFTON PARK An image of an outrageous anti-Republican flyer that Saratoga County's GOP chairman Carl Zeilman tweeted earlier this month as evidence of a hateful flyer found in town appears to be an image shared nationwide on social media that is likely fake. Zeilman, who is the county's emergency services commissioner, tweeted an image of the flyer being held in someone's hand stating, "Despicable. I was advised this evening that these were found on vehicles at a local store in Saratoga Co." In the June 2 post he continued, "In the environment we are in today, we need to be focusing on joining together. We do not focus on finding common solutions so we can all live in peace in our community. That is what we need to be looking at." Zeilman shared the image as the region and the nation were in the midst of demonstrations over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died May 25 at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The Saratoga County Sheriff's Office confirmed deputies investigated the distribution of such flyers, allegedly found on cars in a Hannaford grocery store parking lot. Officers interviewed store employees and found no evidence such fliers existed. The image is extreme in its language, stating "Republicans are enslaving, killing the brown man! You are next!!" Zeilman deleted the tweet soon after posting it, telling the Times Union at the time that the tweet was drawing too many incendiary comments. Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, weighed in on the image before it was deleted, retweeting it and saying, "This is disgusting and repugnant. I proudly serve all residents of the 113th Assembly District and I believe we are stronger together." But the same image of the flier accompanied a story in Colorado, an article that debunked the flyer as a phony that was being shared on a right-leaning Facebook page the day after Zeilman's tweet. The image is the same one Zeilman shared on June 2, marked by the same distinct trait on each - a person in the background holding what looks like flexible tubing in their hand. Efforts to reach Zeilman this week were unsuccessful. He initially told the Times Union that he became aware of the flyer after several people told him they were found in Saratoga County. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Sheriff's Capt. Jeffrey Brown said his deputies investigated the alleged discoveries of the flyer at the direction of Sheriff Michael Zurlo. Brown said Hannaford management told deputies that none of their employees found a flyer like that on their car. He said his investigators did a reverse Google search and found the image on social media. "I think if people found them on their cars, they would have called us," Brown said. "It was the image that was found on social media." Colorado State Rep. Dave Williams also got involved and tweeted out the same image of the flyer, directing the tweet at President Donald Trump on June 7. He said he found it outside of the Colorado Capitol. Saratoga County Democratic Committee Chairman Todd Kerner, who said it was likely a fake when he saw it last week, said that Zeilman should have checked the flyer's origin before tweeting it. "He should have done his homework," Kerner said. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learns about efforts to advance poverty alleviation in Hongde Village of Wuzhong City, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 8, 2020. Xi inspected Ningxia on Monday. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) During his inspection trip in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region this week, President Xi Jinping said no single ethnic minority group should be left behind in the country's building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The promise means a great deal for China, a country with 56 ethnic groups. Over the years, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has paid close attention to the cause and made several visits to ethnic minority areas. The following are the highlights of several such visits made by Xi over the past three years. Ningxia, June 2020 During the inspection in Ningxia, Xi visited a relocated village and a residential community in the city of Wuzhong to learn about efforts to advance poverty alleviation and promote ethnic unity. At the house of Liu Kerui, a villager of the Hui ethnic group, Xi took a good look at the courtyard, living room, bedrooms, kitchen and cowshed, asking Liu and his wife if they had any difficulties and what they planned for the future. Visiting the Jinhuayuan residential community, where people from several ethnic groups live together, Xi said no single ethnic minority group should be left behind in the country's building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. It represents the fine tradition of the Chinese nation and the great strength of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics to enable people of all ethnic groups to walk hand in hand into a moderately prosperous society in all respects, Xi added. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, beats a wooden drum of the Wa ethnic group three times to bless the coming year in Sanjia Village in the city of Tengchong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 19, 2020. [Xinhua/Ju Peng] Yunnan, January 2020 During a visit to Sanjia Village in the city of Tengchong, shortly before the Lunar New Year, Xi learned about poverty alleviation and called for efforts to speed up the development of ethnic minorities and those areas with large ethnic-minority populations. Xi then walked into pig farmer Li Fashun's house in Simola Wa Village, asked about the price of pigs and the family's income, checked their kitchen, and then joined the family in making rice cakes, a traditional Wa way of ringing in the new year. Talking to Li's fellow villagers, Xi said that, after China achieves building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, it must make all-out efforts to advance rural vitalization to further address issues such as the urban-rural imbalance. He said rural industries will be boosted, as well as the rural economy, to allow more and more villagers to work near home, increase their incomes and lead a better life. Xi Jinping visits Ma'anshan Village in Harqin Qi of Chifeng City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, July 15, 2019. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Inner Mongolia, July 2019 During an inspection tour to north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xi visited the village of Ma'anshan, where people of several ethnic groups live together. Xi said that the development of rural industries should focus on increasing the income of villagers and asked primary-level Party organizations in rural areas to be strengthened to better serve the rural people and agriculture. At villager Zhang Guoli's home, Xi checked the courtyard, kitchen and toilet, and pledged to further improve the basic rural infrastructure and living environments. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with students at a primary school in Zhongyi Township of Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County, southwest China's Chongqing, April 15, 2019. From April 15 to 17, Xi made an inspection tour to Chongqing. He also presided over and delivered a speech at a symposium to address the problems concerning the basic living needs of rural poor populations and their access to compulsory education, basic medical services, and safe housing. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chongqing, April 2019 During an inspection trip to southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Xi visited a mountainous village in Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County. While visiting a primary school there, Xi promised to ensure children in poor mountainous regions go to school and have a happy childhood. Stopping by the house of Tan Dengzhou, an impoverished villager, Xi learned that Tan and his wife were unable to work due to illness and thus faced financial difficulties. People who still live below the poverty line or slip back into poverty due to illness should be the priority of poverty-alleviation projects, Xi said, adding that they should receive support, such as minimum-living allowances, medical insurance and medical aid. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, listens to the poverty-alleviation work about relocation of residents from poor areas as he visits Huopu Village of Jiefang Township in Zhaojue County of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 11, 2018. Xi made an inspection tour in Sichuan Province on Feb. 11. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Sichuan, February 2018 Ahead of the Lunar New Year in 2018, Xi went to impoverished Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Sichuan Province. Xi went to two ethnic Yi villages to visit poor families and was happy to learn that villagers have increased their incomes through raising cattle and growing potatoes, peppers and walnuts. "Not a single ethnic group, family or person should be left behind," Xi said, adding that to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the most difficult task lies in regions with extreme poverty. "But we will fight and must win this war," he added. (Source: Xinhua) The Reserve Bank on Friday proposed to review the guidelines on ownership, governance and corporate structure of private sector banks in the backdrop of key developments in the space in the recent years. The five-member internal working group to review the guidelines will be headed by RBI Central Board Director P K Mohanty, the central bank said in a release. The committee shall submit its report by September 30, 2020. The review would provide an opportunity to harmonise the norms applicable to banks set up at different time periods, irrespective of their date of commencement of business, RBI said. The panel has been asked to review the extant licensing guidelines and regulations relating to ownership and control in Indian private sector banks and suggest appropriate norms, keeping in mind the issue of excessive concentration of ownership and control, as well as international practices and domestic requirements. It will also examine and review the norms for promoter shareholding at the initial/licensing stage and subsequently, along with the timelines for dilution of the shareholding; and to identify any other issue germane to the subject matter and make recommendations thereon. The review of promoters stake in private sector banks is significant in the wake of the out-of-court settlement between RBI and Kotak Mahindra Bank earlier this year. According to sources, the regulator has allowed the promoter of Kotak Mahindra Bank to limit stake to 26 per cent with voting right ceiling of 15 per cent. The RBIs extant rules mandate that a private banks promoter will need to pare holding to 40 per cent within three years, 20 per cent within 10 years and 15 per cent within 15 years. The same applied to Bandhan Bank and IDFC Bank which got in principle approval in 2014. RBI said as macroeconomic, financial market and technological developments continue to influence the future of banking and transform how the entire industry operates, it is necessary to align regulations to meet the requirements of a dynamic banking landscape. RBI has already issued the guidelines for on-tap licensing of universal banks as well as small finance banks in order to leverage these developments for engendering competition through entry of new players. Also, the broad policy relating to ownership and control in Indian private sector banks is guided by the framework issued in February 2005. It further said though the overarching principle that the ownership and control of private sector banks should be well diversified and that the major shareholders are fit and proper remains unchanged, the specific contours have evolved over the years with specific prescriptions being given as part of licensing guidelines issued at various points in the past. It is, therefore, felt necessary to compressively review the extant guidelines on ownership, governance and corporate structure in private sector banks, taking into account key developments over the years which have a bearing on the issue, it said. Besides Mohanty, the internal working group comprises Sachin Chaturvedi, director, RBI Central Board; and Lily Vadera and S C Murmu, both executive directors. Chief General Manager Shrimohan Yadav has been named convenor of the panel. The panel has also been asked to examine and review the eligibility criteria for individuals/ entities to apply for banking licence and make recommendations on all related issues. Besides, it will study the current regulations on holding of financial subsidiaries through non-operative financial holding company (NOFHC) and suggest the manner of migrating all banks to a uniform regulation in the matter, including providing a transition path. After the firing occurred at Indo-Nepal border in Bihar, the security forces on Friday, have clarified that the firing was a result of a local altercation. Speaking to ANI, SSB DG Kumar Rajesh Chandra has stated that a local issue had cropped up recently and that the SSB 51st Bn Commandant has spoken to Nepalese SP Sarlahi along with the Indian SP Sitamarhi. A case will be filed soon along with an investigation, he added stating that a report of the preliminary findings has been submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Labourer allegedly shot dead by Nepal Border Police along International Border in Bihar Security forces state 'local issue'on firing at Indo-Nepal border A factual report that has been formed on the basis of preliminary findings has been submitted to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA): SSB DG Kumar Rajesh Chandra on firing near India-Nepal border pic.twitter.com/7Axvxdx0H5 ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2020 MEA reiterates opposition to Nepal's map; highlights help extended during COVID-19 crisis Firing at Indo-Nepal border Earlier in the day, a labourer was allegedly shot dead and two were injured by the Nepal border police at the International border in Sitamarahi in Bihar. According to the deceased's father, the victim was working at a farm at the border areas with Nepal and was allegedly shot 17-18 times by the Nepal border police following an altercation. The deceased father said that 5-6 workers had gone to work on the field and alleged that his son was killed after the Nepal border police fired 17-18 rounds. Congress' rebel MLA Aditi Singh quits party's 'WhatsApp groups', hinting at resignation Nepal incorporates Indian territories in the new map This altercation comes three day after Nepal's House of Representatives endorsed a proposal for considering a Constitutional Amendment Bill to validate Nepal's new map - which included several Indian territories. The constitutional amendment shall have to be approved by the 2/3rd majority in both Houses of Nepal's Parliament. However, it is expected to be smooth sailing for the KP Sharma Oli-led government as the main opposition party Nepali Congress has also backed the new map. What does Nepal's new map show? On May 18, Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli approved Nepal's new map featuring the Indian territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura. As per reports, Nepal's new map has been drawn on the basis of the Sugauli Treaty of 1816 signed between Nepal and the then British Indian government and other relevant documents. Reacting to Nepal incorporating parts of Indian territory in its official map on May 20, the Ministry of External Affairs slammed this "unilateral act", post which the new amendment was junked. Later, with the backing of the Oppposition, the map has now been approved by the Lower House. Coronavirus Live Updates: Active cases at 1,41,842; ICMR says 53,63,445 test conducted Jordan Peele's new movies this 2020 is something fans have been dying to find out after the previous Get Out was one of the most recent defining movies of the artist's career where the actor was able to break away from the Comedian stereotype. After being cemented on Comedy Central's Key and Peele as the hilarious duo, the actor broke away from his role and created a successful suspense film known as Get Out. After the success of the movie, the comedian now turned director has a few films lined up. Fans of his work may know about Hunters but this is definitely not the only film that Peele is working on. Before we check out the other movies, let's talk more about Hunters. Hunters Who won't appreciate a film about annihilating Nazis? The very first project this 2020 of Jordan Peele is supposed to be the upcoming Hunters which is a show about certain Nazi hunters back in 1977 NYC that are trying to prevent the rise of the Fourth Reich. The cast is said to include Al Pacino, Logan Lerman, and also Carol Kane. This will also be the first time David Weil got the support from Peele and his own production company called the Monkeypaw Productions to create this masterpiece. This is said to be a straight-to-series order from Amazon. This is just one of Jordan Peele's new movie this 2020. Candyman This upcoming film is said to be a sequel to the previous original Candyman. The Little Woods director known as Nia DaCosta's sophomore effort will now be taking on this urban legend horror film, with the original Candyman known as Tony Todd returning in order to scare the newer generation. Jordan Peele will be a writer and also a producer for this upcoming film. The script was done in collaboration with Win Rosenfeld who has already worked with Peele on The Twilight Zone, The Last O.G., and even Hunters. Lovecraft Country This film is said to focus on Atticus Black played by Jonathan Majors along with his group traveling all across a Jim Crow America set back in the 1950s. This film is said to depict the racial horrors that could definitely be ripped apart from a Lovecraft novel. Peele is said to be working with Game of Throne's J.J. Abrams on the show's production back in the summer of 2018. The show might be saved for HBO Max. Read Also: [LEAKED] Listen to the "Juice WRLD - Blowing Up" Unreleased Song: DOWNLOAD LINK AVAILABLE! Abruptio Abruptio is definitely Jordan Peele's chance to go crazier than already done. The film is said to star James Marsters as the character Les Hackel who is a man that suddenly wakes up with a ticking bomb strapped to his own neck. The show makes this character commit heinous crimes just to stay alive. Peele is said to star in this film as a certain supporting role. The production was halted due to Sid Haig's death back in September 2019 who was also supposed to be a supporting cast. Jordan Peele's new movies this 2020 should definitely be looked forward to. Read Also: New Theme: Zack Snyder's Justice League Changes Colors from Blue to Red! Could This Make a Difference? TOKYO - There is a new face near the top in North Korea, but no change in rhetoric. Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was officially elevated this month to a high-profile role that effectively casts her as her brother's deputy. It is a stunning shift that has ignited fresh speculation that North Korea's leader is not in the best of health - despite no firm evidence of illness - and that could be looking ahead to ensure power remains with the Kim dynasty. Some officials in South Korea welcomed the news of Kim Yo Jong's greater role, hoping she could provide a direct channel to Kim Jong Un in efforts to bring the two Koreas closer. But several experts in North Korean affairs warned not to expect any change in the regime's increasingly aggressive posturing - which has blasted holes in the hopes for rapprochement with the United States and South Korea. Kim Yo Jong kicked off her new role in charge of relations with South Korea by picking a fight with the government in Seoul. Then on Friday - the second anniversary of President Trump's historic Singapore summit with her brother - North Korea issued another broadside: pledging to further bolster its military to counter threats from Washington In a statement issued last week, Kim Yo Jong complained bitterly about defectors scattering hundreds of leaflets across the border into North Korea, calling them "human scum little short of wild animals" and "riffraff" betraying their homeland. "Now that the mongrel dogs are doing others harm, it is time to bring their owners to account," she added, threatening to sever ties with the South Korean government unless it cracked down on the defectors' pro-democracy activism. --- Rachel Minyoung Lee, a former North Korea analyst for the U.S. government, said North Korean state media gave Kim Yo Jong's statement an "unusually high profile," even holding it up as a reference point in articles, rallies and people's reactions. "This clearly was intended to give Kim Yo Jong more prominence than she - and probably any other non-Kim leader - had ever received," she said, adding this has transformed her image from being the leader's sister into a policymaker in her own right. That has reignited scrutiny over Kim Jong Un's health, after rumors swirled in April he was gravely ill or even died. Kim reappeared in public in early May after an unexplained three-week absence, one of several prolonged withdrawals from the public eye this year. Andrei Lankov, a professor at Kookmin University in Seoul, noted that Kim Jong Un has only appeared in state media on three occasions since April 11, once in public, and twice in closed-door meetings, while also not signing official documents at his usual pace. "Something is wrong with Kim Jong Un's health," he argued. "And at such times it's important to have a deputy. And who can be such [a] deputy? Someone who is unlikely to take all power for himself or herself." Kim's father and grandfather had elevated siblings into senior positions, and Lankov said Kim Jong Un appeared to be doing the same thing - particularly because Kim's children are still young. "It's an established tradition within the Kim family, when your future successor is a bit too young, you just take your sibling because your sibling is reliable, and probably not going to betray you," he said. --- Bruce Klinger, a North Asia expert at the Heritage Foundation, agreed that Kim Yo Jong's elevation could be related to concerns about her brother's health. Kim Jong Il's stroke in 2008 served as the catalyst to prepare his son Kim Jong Un for power. But he noted there was no evidence that Kim Jong Un's absences were due to ill health. South Korea says it believes the North Korean leader has simply been sheltering from coronavirus. "Since his return, Kim has seemed vibrant rather than frail, though, of course, not the picture of health and he remains morbidly obese," Klingner said. Some experts said Kim Yo Jong's hard-line comments could be seen as an attempt to bolster her credibility within the regime. But others said it may simply reflect shifting priorities within North Korea itself. When the North Korean regime felt threatened by the Trump administration and wanted to dial down tensions, Kim Yo Jong visited South Korea for the Winter Olympics in 2018 and presented a friendlier, less-menacing image for the regime. Now North Korea appears to want more concessions from South Korea by amping up the threat level, Lankov said, and Kim's sister is presenting quite a different image to the world. --- Park Jie-won, who served as a South Korean envoy to Pyongyang during the government of president Kim Dae-jung, said he met Kim Yo Yong last June. She came to the border village of Panmunjom to offer condolences on the death of the late president Kim's widow. He said her elevation would simplify inter-Korean dialogue, as she had direct access to her brother and "inter-Korean dealings will be more straightforward." Park said he was not worried about Kim Yo Jong's rhetorical attack on South Korea, which he said was aimed at a domestic audience. Yet his optimism is not widely shared. On Tuesday, North Korea announced it was closing telephone ties with the South, and on Friday it issued a fierce denunciation of the United States. Hope for improved relations had been high at during the Singapore summit in 2018, said North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon, but this has given way to "despair characterized by spiraling deterioration." "Even a slim ray of optimism for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula," he said, "has faded away into a dark nightmare." --- Kim reported from Seoul. A salesman arranges gold bangles inside a jewellery showroom on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold buying festival, in Mumbai By Eileen Soreng and Rajendra Jadhav BENGALURU/MUMBAI (Reuters) - Physical gold demand in India was lacklustre this week even as shops reopened, while Bangladesh announced plans to withdraw import taxes to clamp down on bullion smuggling. "Showrooms have opened, but still jewellers are waiting for customers. As public transport is not available in cities like Mumbai, consumers are not stepping out," said Ashok Jain, proprietor of Mumbai-based gold wholesaler Chenaji Narsinghji. Indian dealers offered discounts of up to $20 an ounce over official domestic prices, down from last week's $32, which was the highest since early April. The domestic price includes a 12.5% import tax and 3% sales tax. Some potential buyers have been delaying purchases due to volatile prices, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a bullion importing bank. Indian gold prices have risen nearly 18% so far in 2020. Neighboring Bangladesh, meanwhile, is set to scrap taxes on gold imports to curb smuggling, with the revised guidelines likely to be implemented from July 1. "Despite the Gold Policy 2018, gold has not been imported legally into the country due to the existing high tax incidence," Finance Minister A.H.M. Mustafa Kamal said on Thursday while unveiling the country's 2020/21 budget. "I propose to withdraw 15% VAT on the import of gold bar to discourage illegal import and encourage the import on legal routes through authorised dealers." In top consumer China, discounts eased to $5-$10 an ounce versus benchmark prices from last week's $11-$14 discounts. Investment demand dominates the market rather than retail, said Ronald Leung, chief dealer, Lee Cheong Gold Dealers in Hong Kong. Premiums in Hong Kong were steady at $0.50-$1 an ounce. In Singapore, premiums inched up to $1.25-$1.50 an ounce from $1-$1.50 last week. Demand is higher than before the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, said Vincent Tie, sales manager at Silver Bullion. Benchmark spot prices have risen 2.8% so far this week, amid the bleak economic outlook. [GOL/] In Japan, gold was sold anywhere between at par with the benchmark to a $0.50 premium. (Reporting by Ruma Paul in Dhaka, Eileen Soreng, K. Sathya Narayanan and Brijesh Patel in Bengaluru and Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai; editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Advertisement New images reveal the inside of a vandalized mansion linked to Fotis Dulos, after Connecticut State Police spent hours searching the property for the dead developer's missing wife Jennifer Dulos. Jennifer vanished in May 2019 and her estranged husband, Fotis, killed himself in January this year while out on bail for her murder. His ex-girlfriend and friend both remain under indictment, accused of conspiracy to commit murder. Police have searched multiple homes that the couple were connected to, including the $3million mansion they returned to in Avon on Thursday. It's unclear if they will continue their search on Friday or whether or not they found anything on Thursday but police were seen bringing in septic tank removal teams to drain the 16-ft deep, 2,000 gallon tank on the property. Fotis was accused in police reports of lying in wait for Jennifer, attacking her in her home in New Canaan and then removing her body. Her remains were never found and he insisted until his January suicide that he did not know where she was. New images reveal the inside of a vandalized mansion linked to Fotis Dulos, as Connecticut State Police spent hours at the property Thursday in their search for the dead developer's missing wife Jennifer Dulos. The $3 million home (pictured) is located in Avon Images from inside show the house show the vandalism, including graffiti on a fireplace One image shows the home's interior completely gutted after it was damaged by flooding A stone fireplace is shown surrounded by exposed wooden studs inside the home Another image reveals the home had a gun safe built into a concrete wall Graffiti is seen spray painted on glass doors leading to the outside of the mansion in another image A septic tanker arrived to drain the huge septic tank on the property on Thursday afternoon The property's current owner said investigators promised they would return. 'I told them anytime, whatever they needed to do,' says David Ford, the Stamford Advocate reports. 'I brought them in every room and showed them every nook and cranny,' Ford said. 'I told them that 'if you want to knock down a wall, go ahead. They left no stone unturned,' he added. The empty property is not owned by Dulos, but his construction group had a contract to demolish it after it was damaged in a flood. No one has lived in it since late 2017. He and Jennifer rented it in 2010 briefly before Ford bought it. In 2018, Ford hired Fotis' company, Fore Group, to demolish it. It's unclear when the demolition was due to begin or why it didn't before Jennifer vanished. Fotis killed himself awaiting trial for her murder. In June last year, police searched the property but they never obtained a search warrant to do it and instead gained entry by getting permission from the owner. They did not bring cadaver dogs or forensic teams for the first search to look through the woods that are behind it or the septic tank, as they have done with other Dulos properties. On Thursday, multiple cars were seen outside it and police with cadaver dogs. Jennifer Dulos vanished last May. Her estranged husband Fotis killed himself while out on bail for her murder in January The property in Avon is owned by Dulos' property development group. Rows of law enforcement cars were seen there on Thursday. Picture courtesy of NBC CT The house backs on to a huge swathe of woods and is set far back from the road The house is less than two miles from where Fotis was living in Farmington, Connecticut, when Jennifer vanished last May after dropping off their kids at school. Fotis protested his innocence until his death, even writing in a suicide note that he hadn't killed her. His girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, and lawyer, Kent Mawhinney, were both charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Both are awaiting their next court date. TIMELINE OF THE FOTIS DULOS CASE 2004: Fotis Dulos and Jennifer Farber get married. It is his second marriage In the same year, her father Hilliard starts loaning him money for his property business, Fore Group. 2015: Fotis and Michelle Troconis start taking trips he paid for which he claimed were for business. They later start an affair. January 2017: Hilliard Farber dies March 2017: Gloria Farber takes over his estate June 2017: Jennifer files for divorce, saying she is afraid of her husband February 2018: Gloria Farber sues Fotis Dulos for unpaid loans May 24 2019: Jennifer vanishes after dropping off her five children at school June 2019: Fotis and Michelle Troconis are arrested for evidence tampering Gloria Farber files an order for custody of the children. House in Avon is briefly searched but not extensively. August 2019: Troconis 'turns' on Dulos in police interviews, admits she lied when she said she had an alibi for him September 2019: Fotis is arrested again for evidence tampering January 2020: Dulos and Troconis are charged with murder January 28: Dulos is found unresponsive at his Farmington home January 30: Fotis dies in hospital June 11: Police search house in Avon, CT Advertisement Fotis and Jennifer's children are now being taken care of by her mother. They were in the midst of a bitter divorce battle when she disappeared and Fotis claimed she had been keeping the children from him. Jennifer had alleged in court documents that Fotis was aggressive towards her. Their former nanny described him chasing her around the house on occasions. Last year, police reports about the case revealed that DNA that belonged to Jennifer had been found in trash bags that Fotis allegedly dumped in public trash cans the night she vanished. He'd borrowed an employee's car for the day and, when it was tested, forensics teams found traces of her blood, according to the report. Troconis initially lied to police on his behalf, claiming they had been together but leaked police reports claim she later changed her story and told police she had been covering for him. In a statement released last month, Troconis, breaking her silence, said it had been a 'mistake' to trust him. She insisted she still did not know what happened to Jennifer. Fotis was also in a dispute with Jennifer's family about money they claimed he owed them. Throughout the course of their marriage, her late father lent Fotis millions to buy properties to develop them and then sell them on for a profit. They had an agreement that he'd repay the loans once he'd sold the properties. After Jennifer disappeared, her mother sued Fotis claiming he owed their family estate millions. He said he was entitled to keep the money because it was part of a family agreement. Dulos and Troconis were first charged last year with evidence tampering. He and his attorney made comments that were widely criticized at the time, including the suggestion that she had killed herself in a Gone Girl-style plot and tried to frame him for her death. Dulos' company, the Fore Group, had debts totaling $7million when he died and he likely faced steep legal fees from his criminal case and his divorce and custody battle. He was audacious in his public comments and gave an interview to a newspaper in his native Greece where he complained he'd been the victim of malicious prosecution. The first set of arrest warrants described how Dulos allegedly lay in wait for Jennifer at the home she was renting and attacked her in the garage. The documents state unequivocally that it is 'strongly believed' Jennifer was attacked in her garage then put in her own Chevrolet Suburban 2017 to be driven to the spot where the car was eventually found. In the car, they found her phone which had been active in the location where the car was for 40 minutes before suddenly going offline. In those 40 minutes, Fotis - who had earlier been seen in Connecticut driving an employee's car - was nowhere to be seen. Three minutes after Jennifer's phone went offline, he was seen turning back onto a road, in the same employee's car he'd been driving earlier. The search warrants do not give any indication of what may have happened to Jennifer's body. When authorities searched Jennifer's home they found blood in the garage - which had been previously reported - but exactly where in the garage remained a secret until now. The new documents list that blood was found on the concrete floor of the garage, two garbage cans in the garage and on the passenger door of a Range Rover parked inside. Dulos girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, who he was living with at the time, and his attorney and friend, Kent Mawhinney, are still facing conspiracy to commit murder Jennifer's rental home in New Canaan where police believe she was attacked in her garage A page from the hundreds of warrants show the list of the blood stains found inside Jennifer's garage Police also found shoe impressions and said that someone had tried to clean up the blood. Authorities also said they found traces of blood on a cellphone and a tablet that were discovered in the master bedroom of the home. The search warrants reveal the lengths police went to before bringing the charges. They have asked for countless phone records, access to Jennifer's iCloud account and GPS information from inside her car which they think will answer the mystery of what happened to her. The documents also reveal more about the many interviews that have been carried out between Jennifer's disappearance and this month, when Dulos and Troconis were charged with murder. They include one with a technician who worked for Dulos' construction company who helped Troconis back up the contents of her phone onto a hard drive for her to give to her lawyer. She told the technician that she wanted to avoid having photographs of her daughter on the internet and that she had already removed her Facebook page. Surveillance footage (pictured) shows the last known images of Jennifer driving home, where police say Dulos 'lay in wait', after she dropped her children at school at around 8am on May 24 Dulos is shown on May 29 withdrawing $500 cash before visiting a car wash to clean his employee's car on the day Jennifer vanished At the time, neither Troconis nor Dulos had been charged. Dulos in January. He maintained his innocence until he killed himself The technician said he said: 'It must be really weird for Fotis with Jennifer missing,' and that she shot him a 'weird look' in response He said he thought nothing of the interaction until after their arrests. Other interviews were conducted with the couple's nanny, Lauren Almeida, who said Jennifer was 'very afraid' of her husband. Almeida recalled an incident in June 2017 when she said she found Jennifer crying in the driveway. Jennifer told her Fotis had just tried to run her over and that she had to jump out of the way. In the same summer, she said she watched Fotis 'chase' Jennifer through the house. Jennifer barricaded herself in her bedroom while Fotis pounded on the door, she said. She said he calmed down when he realized she and one of the children were also in the room. Almeida said Jennifer told her she did not want to call the police, however, because she was 'very afraid' of her husband. She said he threatened to take the children with him to his native Greece. Jennifer's lawyer also told police that a week before she vanished, Fotis lost another attempt to try to win unsupervised visits with the children. On the night of Jennifer's disappearance, even after he had been notified that she was missing, Fotis called the babysitter and asked her if she would still be able to bring the children to him the following day. It was unusual, she said, because she was never normally involved in picking them up or dropping them off. She said that she was waiting on instructions from the police but he texted her later, asking for an update. Fotis Dulos is transported into Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx on Tuesday after attempting to kill himself with carbon monoxide poisoning in his garage in Connecticut before a court appearance Fotis was found in his car inside his garage. The exhaust pipe he used to try to kill himself is shown attached to his vehicle There are multiple examples of occurrences when either Jennifer or Fotis called police for a domestic disturbance. There is also reference to a gun that was owned by Fotis but which police wished to secure. The whereabouts of the gun is unknown, the warrants state. MICHELLE TROCONIS: I SHOULDN'T HAVE TRUSTED HIM 'My name is Michelle Troconis. For the past year, people have said many things about me - some kind; some cruel. I was advised by my lawyers to remain quiet and rely on the justice system, which is very frustrating for me because there is a lot I would wish to say. It has been nearly a year since I first heard about the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos. 'As a mother, I am saddened for the loss that these five children have suffered, being left without both parents in such a short period of time. But despite the way I have been treated by the police, I know nothing about Jennifer Dulos' whereabouts or what may have happened to her. 'I know that under American law, I don't have to prove my innocence, but actually, to me it feels that way during all this time of public scrutiny. 'To those who are quick to judge people they do not know, let me say this: It is possible to misjudge others. 'Whether or not Fotis Dulos was capable of doing the things the police and prosecutors accused him of doing, I do not know. But based on what I have learned in the last year, I think it was a mistake to have trusted him.' Advertisement Almeida was interviewed on May 25, a day after Jennifer vanished. She revealed then that on the night of Jennifer's disappearance, even after he had been notified that she was missing, Fotis called the her and asked her if she would still be able to bring the children to him the following day. It was unusual, she said, because she was never normally involved in picking them up or dropping them off. She said that she was waiting on instructions from the police but he texted her later, asking for an update. Fotis went in for a voluntary interview the same day but froze up when police said they planned to seize his phone. He then left without answering questions. The warrants suggest that some crime took place at a property owned by Dulos where he asked Troconis to meet him in the hours after Jennifer vanished. He told her to bring cleaning supplies to the property - specifically a Swiffer, Clorox and paper towel. Later, the pair drove to what Troconis described to police as a 'creepy' area of Connecticut where Dulos insisted on getting out of the car several times to drop bags in trash cans. It was unusual for him, she said. Two people who match their description were seen on surveillance cameras making those stops. A woman who also fits Troconis' description was spotted dropping off a bag at a different trash can. Police believe Kent Mawhinney, who was representing Fotis in a civil case against his estranged wife's family as they sued him for $2.5million in unpaid loans, was going to help him by providing an alibi for him on the morning of Jennifer's disappearance. They also spoke with Mawhinney's wife who fears the pair were plotting something against her because she had reported her husband for rape. He had denied the charges, insisting their sex was consensual. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says in a report that the drones and cruise missiles that struck Saudi Arabias oil refineries and an international airport last year came from Iran. The secretary general said UN experts inspected weapons debris collected at the sites of the September 2019 attack on Aramcos Abqaiq and Khurais oil facilities, as well as the Houthi-claimed June and August strikes at Abha International Airport and a strike on the Afif oil facility in May. The Secretariat assesses that the cruise missiles and/or parts thereof used in the four attacks are of Iranian origin, Guterres said in a document first reported by Reuters on Thursday. Guterres also said two shipments of weapons seized by the US Navy off the coast of Yemen one in November 2019 and another in February of this year included items identical or similar to those found at the sites of the attacks on Saudi Arabia. The UN head said in the report that some of the items had been transferred to Iran between 2016 and 2018, in a manner inconsistent with Security Council Resolution 2231, which enshrined the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. Irans mission to the United Nations told Reuters took issue with the report, saying it has serious flaws, inaccuracies and discrepancies. Why it matters: The United States has long accused Iran of being behind the attacks on Saudi Arabia and of providing missile technology to Houthi rebels in Yemen, despite Tehrans denials. While Guterres report suggests that this could be the case, he cautioned all sides to avoid provocative rhetoric and actions. The Trump administration is calling on the UN Security Council to renew its arms embargo on Iran and is threatening to restore UN sanctions on Iran if the embargo is not renewed. Security Council Resolution 2231 allows for the restoration of UN sanctions if Iran is seen as breaching its agreements under the 2015 nuclear agreement. The Trump administration is engaged in what it calls a maximum pressure campaign, built around economic sanctions, to coerce Tehran to pull back its involvement in regional politics and military affairs. Whats Next: Russia and China have said they oppose the restoration of the arms embargo, and may seek to block it, thus pushing Washington to move to restore UN sanctions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has made the case that the Trump administration has no right to restore the UN sanctions on Iran since the United States walked out of the JCPOA in 2018. Know more: Bryant Harris explores how the Trump administrations sanctions have affected Irans humanitarian trade. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Eisya A. Eloksari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 08:40 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde1dd58 1 Business marketplace,wholesalers,seed-funding,investment Free Newly established Indonesian wholesale marketplace Ula said it has received US$10.5 million in seed funding led by Sequoia India and Lightspeed India, as it seeks to expand its consumer base across Java. The company, which was launched in January, also received investments from San Francisco-based Alter Global, Sinar Mas-backed conglomerate SMDV, among others, along with several angel investors including Patrick Walujo of private equity firm Northstar. Ula focuses its business on the small store owners, allowing them to buy only the inventory they need, instead of in bulk, while also offering working capital credit. A typical [small traditional] store has an 8 to 10 percent cost advantage over modern retailers given that they are usually tax exempt, employ their own family and operate out of their homes, said Ulas cofounder Derry Sakti in a written statement on Wednesday. Yet they are not competitive because of a lack of access to wholesalers and have limited working capital. He added that small shops sometimes needed to buy supplies in bulk to get better rates, even though they did not require such large amounts. At present, Ula mostly serves customers in East Java, but plans to expand its operations across Java. It also seeks to widen its product range from daily necessities to other categories such as apparel and electronics. Ula reported it had enjoyed tenfold growth since January with customers returning to buy up to three times their initial volumes, despite the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) implemented since March to curb the spread of COVID-19. The company cited that in emerging economies like Indonesia, traditional retail contributed to nearly 80 percent of the retail market, employing millions of Indonesians. Last year, more than 2.8 million sellers traded at over 15,600 markets across the country, according to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS). Sequoia Capital Singapore managing director Abheek Anand said that most retailers in emerging markets like Indonesia were dealing with inefficiencies in the supply chain, inventory and working capital management. With more and more Indonesian SMEs becoming open to adopting technology, platforms like Ula are an easy, affordable and scalable solution to help these retailers streamline their businesses, he said. In 1994, 100-day genocidal bloodletting led to the death of 800000 Rwandans, mostly Tutsis. It started like joke, like joke on 16/4/94 when presidents Habyarimana and Ntaryamira of Rwanda and Brundi, both Hutus perished after their plane was gunned down. The majority Hutus then turned on Tutsi minority tribe eliminating about 70% of them plus some modest Hutus Since then, the world, and particularly Rwanda remember this sad historical reality. The UN established the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 1995 and Rwanda continues to celebrate the memories of its compatriots, declaring always: Never Again. It has a memorial arcade holding their names; established the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide, and holds an annual weekly celebration from 7-13 April, involving Walk to Remember, a night vigil and remembrance ceremony the. The 26th edition was celebrated under this coro environment in April 2020 during which Mr & Mrs Kegame laid wreaths on graves at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. where the remains of more than 250,000 genocide victims were buried. https://cdn.thenigerianvoice.com/images/content/612202020408_screenshot_20200612_at_13.01.32.png The UN Gen-Sec remarked that "Since the genocide, Rwanda has demonstrated that it is possible to rise from the ashes, to heal and to rebuild a stronger and more sustainable society." So, it is celebrated by Rwanda, Africa and the whole world. And just the other day, Mr Kabuda, one of the masterminds of the genocide was arrested; 26 years after the event. In 1966 almost 30 years before the Rwandan genocidal madness, the Nigerian northern establishment organised, sponsored and coordinated the gruesome butchery of Ndi-Igbo( including some Easterners and a few Southerners initially because everybody beyond Benue was an Igbo Man) in the most cruel and macabre manner ever seen. Undertaken by known soldiers and the usual highly inflammable Hausa mobs, the most conservative estimate of the dead was about 60,000. The Igbos left for home but were not allowed to be because a week-long police action was initiated to force them back, which dovetailed into a 3 yearlong Biafran war of Independence. This ended in January 1970, with about 3m Biafrans slaughtered, more by Kwashiorkor than my arms and ammunition. I dont want to go into the his-story of these issues since history is written by the victors, narratives are rarely objective and since we dont value history as we dont even teach it in our schools. That is why somebody said that Biafrans fired the first shot in 1967. Gen Gowon who distorted and reneged on the Aburi accord, which was destroyed by a series of acts of bad faith and distortions and finally by a refusal on the part of the "Lagos Government" to implement these and other agreements notwithstanding the fact that they were freely and voluntarily entered into( Ojukwu, Declaration of Republic of Biafra, 30/5/67), went on to declare no victor, no vanquished and launched the3Rs( Reconstruction, Reconciliation and Rehabilitation). But action spoke and still speaks louder than words because this was followed by the 20 pounds-only policy, the abandoned property and indigenisation programme How does Nigeria remember these epochal events in its checkered history? Well, as Nigerians would say, No nothing!. No government has EVER said anything about the 1966 massacres and the killings of 1967-1970. We kept on acting as if nothing had happened while some people are sharing and enjoying the spoils of war. The Bnight of Biafra was decreed out of existence in 1975 and the FG refused to remember the victims of original sin (northern massacres) and victims of the war( and there were also some from the other side, especially from middle belt). Some Biafran officers were reabsorbed here and there into the Nigerian army and police as the spirit directed. Even when Igbos decided to stay at home and mourn, they were threatened with fire and brimstone and in 2017, we were served a quit-notice from the north for daring to stay at home! At other times, we received the egwu-eke treatment. It was only in 2017 that the FG, for the first time participated in a program on Biafra (Memory and Nation Building: Biafra, 50 years after) organized by the Shehu Musa Yaradua Center. Well, Osinbajo was on the one on throne then( as Ag President)and he delivered the keynote address. And as Nigeria does not remember, how can the world remember? But the Igbos still remember. The issue is that while Rwanda goes out of its way to remember the past and use that remembrance to rebuild the present and plan for the future, we live in denial, as if the truth ceases to exist because it is ignored. Meanwhile memory is a critical aspect of post-war peace building. From Cambodia and Kosovo to Rwanda and South Africa, attempts at reconstruction and reconciliation that ignore the role of memory have led to COLD peace in real and metaphorical terms The Biafran episode demonstrates vividly the enduring impact of ignoring or denying individual or collective memories and how it affects( adversely) the prospects for reconciliation and peace building (Social Science Research Council: Working Papers: Memory, Peacebuilding and Reconciliation in Post Civil War South East Nigeria: African Peace Building Working papers: June, 2018). No be me talk am! Meanwhile, Ndigbo marked the 53rd Biafran anniversary this year, including the activities by Center for Memories, Enugu. In Igbo-Ukwu, my home town I am collaborating with Fr Emeka Nwosu on the Igbo-Ukwu War Memorial Project, with the initial objective of identifying all those who were murdered during the war and ultimately building a cenotaph for them. WE shall NOT forget! Surprisingly this year, the Nigerian Government also remembered in a queer way. The National Assembly approved $22.7bn foreign loans but the entire South East is excluded from the projects funded with the loans which all of us MUST repay. The earlier loan for railways also excluded the South East. I hope you remember the configuration of the Nigerian security architecture, where the meetings have a 98% probability of being conducted in Hausa! The Biafran War is still being fought by other means! Ouch; Indeed, I cant breath! Ik Muo, PhD. writes from Department of Business administration, OOU, Ogo-Iwoye Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 15:19:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TALUQAN, Afghanistan, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Taliban attack on Farkhar district of the northern Takhar province has been repulsed and the militants fled away after leaving 12 bodies behind, provincial government spokesman Mohammad Jawad Hajari said Friday. Scores of Taliban insurgents stormed security checkpoints in Mashtan area of Farkhar district early Friday and security forces returned fire forcing the militants to flee. In the firefight which lasted for three hours, 10 militants and four security personnel were injured, the official further said. The Taliban militants who are active in parts of Takhar province have yet to make comments. Enditem London Fashion Week has undergone a makeover. Like many cultural casualties that have resulted from the current pandemic, the celebration of the capital's fashion talent has firstly gone digital - London Fashion Week Men's would have been starting today, instead it's occurring online via the BFC - and it's dropped the 'Men's' from its title, ushering in a new genderless era. Appropriately, the hashtag being rolled out to accompany this new - and arguably improved - London Fashion Week is #LFWreset. The operative word being 'reset.' One London-based menswear designer who has been forced to pivot to a digital showcase is Nicholas Daley, the rising half-Jamaican, half-Scottish designer who is revered for his exploration of multiculturalism within Britain. Nicholas Daley AW20, 'The Abstract Truth' / Nigel Pacquette "Community, culture and craftsmanship are the three things that really define what Im trying to say as an individual and as a designer," Daley notes, in a Northern drawl influenced by his upbringing in Leicester. Instead of his Spring/Summer 2021 show, Daley is showcasing a behind-the-scenes film of the preparation which went into his AW20 collection, "The Abstract Truth", which showed in January. Indeed, Daley's showcase at the start of the year was received by the fashion industry's elite with rapturous applause, in large thanks to its achingly cool location (Hackney's concert hall, EartH) and the trio of South London musiciansRago Foot, Kwake Bass, and Wu-Lu he enlisted to perform a live score during the show. "Ive always been interested in story-telling," Daley states. "Growing up, I was raised with this really diverse soundscape which bleeds into my work and what I do with the musical elements of my brand. One minute we'd be listening to heavy reggae and then my Mum would start playing Joni Mitchell, or something really quite folksy." Indeed, his upbringing was one peppered with creativity. When his parents met in Scotland in the seventies they ran a reggae club together, then moved to Leicester when Daley and his sister were born. Descending from a Jamaican shoemaker (his paternal grandfather) and his mum - "always knitting or crocheting something" - played into his ability to imagine and create when he was younger. The cast of Daley's SS20 show / Fabrice Bourgelle Pyres 2015 Perhaps unsurprising then is that music permeates not only Daley's workspace but also his work; he lists Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix and Peter Tosh (of The Wailers) as three key sources of inspiration. "I cant not have something playing, even in the studio I have my record player and my vinyl here and Ill always play a track in the morning to get going." His exploration of his multicultural heritage began when he moved to London to attend Central Saint Martins in 2010, where he studied the BA Menswear course, "Ever since my first collection at CSM, Ive really been exploring what it means to be a British person of colour and trying to use fashion as a vehicle to say something." He featured British film director and BBC Radio 6 DJ Don Letts as part of his final collection, a man Daley admires for being Black and British and the way he's used his platform throughout the years (Letts rose to prominence as the videographer for The Clash, directing several of their music videos.) James Massiah, who also features on the virtual LFW schedule just before Daley, is also a source of inspiration: "I'm trying to tell an authentic story with my work and looking to what Massiah's using poetry and music to explore his heritage, it's inspiring." Giving the current mood surrounding Britain's history and prevalent issue with systemic racism, Daley must agree that fashion is political? "Erm," he hesitates. "I mean, every designer has the choice of deciding what they want to say with their work. The current Black Lives Matter situation, being a designer of colour and the momentum with everything thats been going on, it is important to me to keep working with the BFC to help in its plan to build on its diversity." Nicholas Daley SS20, 'Abstract Black' / Nigel Pacquette He adds, "I hope thats something that the whole fashion industry is looking into both internally and externally, to be honest, and I will continue to work on it in the future." Exploring his dual heritage comes in the form of incorporating Scottish tartan into his collections, with nods to his Leicester upbringing included via using shoemakers in the Midlands and Northamptonshire. In homage to his dad's Jamaican ancestry, Daley utilises "string vests and knitwear." Upon graduating in 2013, Daley established his eponymous menswear line in 2015 and was the recipient of the 2019 International Woolmark Prize Semi-Final Award, for which he presented a custom collection entitled Reggae Klub. If it weren't for coronavirus, then this April, Daley would've been fighting it out to win the coveted LVMH prize, for which he was named as a finalist (previous winners of the award include JW Anderson, Grace Wales Bonner and Simon Porte of Jacquemus.) The finals, of course, had to be cancelled and the LVMH board decided to share the prize fund equally among the eight finalists. "It was disappointing for sure, especially as it was my second big competition, but also was amazing that all eight of us finalists received a share of the prize fund, which I'm sure we've all needed during this time," Daley asserts. The pandemic has indeed challenged Daley and his full-time team of four (plus interns). "Lockdown has been really difficult, there have been bigger issues for me such as sustaining the business which has taken a lot of time away from doing the creative stuff." Regardless, Daley and his team, who are based at his studio in Tottenham's Bernie Grant Arts Centre, are still working on his SS21 collection which theyre hoping to have completed shortly. With a string of impressive collaborations under his belt - most notably with adidas and Fred Perry, and with "more on the horizon" - Daley is the rising talent poised to bring the noise to the global fashion stage. He concedes, "I hope that people can get something and learn something from my work. That's the legacy I want to leave." Watch Nicholas' film from midday on Friday here. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 21:26:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BUJUMBURA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Burundian government has turned to the country's Constitutional Court to decide on an interim president after the passing away of President Pierre Nkurunziza on June 8. The constitution provides that an authorized organ made up of the two vice-presidents and ministers is entitled to referring to the Constitutional Court in case of the vacancy of the position of the president, government spokesman Prosper Ntahorwamiye said on Thursday evening. He was reading from the minutes of an extraordinary meeting of the council of ministers held earlier in the day about the management of the situation in the aftermath of Nkurunziza's death. Nkurunziza died of a heart attack on Monday in a hospital in Karusi province, east-central Burundi, days after the Constitutional Court declared Evariste Ndayishimiye, secretary general of the ruling party, winner of the May 20 presidential poll. Ndayishimiye had been expected to take over the presidency from Nkurunziza in August. The constitution stipulates that the speaker of the Burundian National Assembly, a position now held by Pascal Nyabenda, shall take over as interim president if the president dies. However, some people, including legal professionals, argue that the president-elect shall be sworn in directly without an interim period. Nkurunziza, born in 1964, was elected president of Burundi by lawmakers in 2005, and was re-elected through universal suffrage in 2010 and in 2015. The former Hutu rebel leader was Burundi's first post-transitional president after many years of civil strife that killed at least 300,000 people. A civil war between Hutu rebels and the Tutsi army broke out in 1993 after the assassination of the country's first popularly elected leader, a Hutu. In 2000, a three-year transitional power-sharing deal was signed between Hutus and Tutsis, and a transitional government was sworn in the following year. Enditem Job Title: Human Resources Specialist (2 Job Placements) Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Salary Grade: UGX 108,988,938 159,733,808 per annum (FSN 11) About US Embassy: The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years. Ambassador Deborah R. Malac currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda. The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador. Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are: Development (USAID) United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Peace Corps Job Summary: The Human Resource (HR) Specialist assists with the management and delivery of effective personnel, administrative and logistical support services for the USAID/Uganda; Assists the S/EXO, D/EXO and the EXO Specialist with the management of the day-to-day operations for USAID/Uganda by coordinating activities between the various USAID offices as well as routine communication and liaising with Department of State (DoS) sections, and provides guidance and advice to USAID staff as needed. USAID/Uganda staffing is comprised of U.S. Direct Hires (USDHs), U.S. Personal Services Contractors (USPSCs), Third Country National Personal Services Contractors (TCNPSCs), and Cooperating Country National Personal Services Contractors (CCNPSC) employees. Human resource management services include work force planning, coordinating, processing recruitment and appointment and issuance of personnel actions, processing classification actions under the MClass, benchmarking US and TCN positions, maintenance of the Mission Staffing Pattern and other staffing records and projections, orientation and personnel processing of incoming and outgoing employees, operation of various awards program, participating in the mentoring program, PSC performance evaluation program, the CCN Medical Plan, coordinating Mission hosted trainings, and preparing various periodic and non-recurring reports to support USAID/Uganda programs and human resources. The HR Specialist is point of contact and technical advisor on policies related to personnel issues, coordinates the services that are obtainable under the ICAAS/Human Resources Office cost center such as the checking in process for offshore employees, placing of solicitations for CCNPSC, resident hire USPSC, and submissions to the Joint Awards Committee. The HR Specialist exercises good judgment, in making decisions and providing advice on USAID management policies, contracting practices, and when providing personal counseling and/or advice to employees. The HR Specialist exercises sound judgment in contributing to management decisions and in the formulation of expert opinions and advice to senior management in collaboration with the S/EXO and D/EXO by ensuring compliance with procedural, policy, legal, regulatory frameworks. The HR Specialist maintains contacts with the multiple EXO support sections, primarily Communications & Records (C&R), Travel, and Information Systems Division (ISD), in the coordination of administrative operations and logistical activities to ensure they are carried out properly and within appropriate time limits and coordination with ICAAS/Travel; ICAAS/Procurement; ICAAS/Motor Pool, etc. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Serves as the HR Specialist for USAID/Uganda responsible for the effective management of human resources services, advises and assists the S/EXO and the D/EXO in the planning, directing, administering and management of USAID/Uganda human resources. The HR Specialist monitors the overall performance and is charged with ensuring that mission human resources actions are in compliance with USAID procedural, policy, legal, regulatory frameworks. Under general operations management, the HR Specialist is responsible for managing the Personal Services Contractors (PSCs) contracting actions, including CCNPSCs, USPSCs -offshore and resident, TCNPSC offshores, that are OE or program funded and completing the following functions: PSC Position Classification: Review with supervisors to ensure that position descriptions (PDs) are accurate and that current PDs are on file for all employees. As a certified evaluator, prepare documentation for the MClass classification process application including conducting job analysis interviews with job holders and, as necessary, with supervisors to gain an in-depth understanding of the duties and responsibilities of the position being evaluated. Ensure that the Job Discussion Help Sheet (JDHS) is completed by the job holder and immediate supervisor to ensure accuracy and quality data. Meet with job holders and supervisors to explain and answer queries about the MClass implementation, e.g. effect on compensation in case of position downgrade, effective date of promotion in case of position upgrade, etc. Coordinate with Regional Human Resource Support Unit in Pretoria, and USAID/W/HR the submission for approval of the MClass reports and results. Consults with the USAID/W Database Administrator on problems with the MClass system. Serve as the Point of Contact for the MClass regional Human Resource Support Unit in USAID/South Africa Pretoria. Maintains a spreadsheet of MClass implementation progress and results. Maintains a separate filing system for the MClass project. For US/TCNPSC provide benchmarking guidance, review the draft document and ensure its approval before soliciting. Personal Services Contracts Recruitment: Based on staffing needs category, review the solicitation request packages including budgets, Scopes of Work, and other document for completeness, presence of necessary technical information, evaluation criteria, appropriateness as a PSC before Executive Officers approval; coordinate or confer with the originator to answer any questions regarding requirements. Prepare solicitation actions as directed under ADS 309, the AID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR) and the Locally Employed Handbook. Obtain the funding information from the Office of Financial Management, complete USAID specific PSC procurement actions utilizing USAIDs Global Acquisition and Assistance (GLAAS). USAID mandates that all non-ICASS supported procurements be completed in System GLASS. Initiate Requester procurement actions solicitations, requests for quotation (RFQ), and other procurement documents as necessary for all non-administrative procurements prior to and after procurement action in the GLAAS or ARIBA for ICASS supported procurements. Liaise/coordinate with the ICAAS/HR to ensure that USAID procurements are accurate and ordered in a timely manner. Ensure to posting of vacancy announcements in the local newspapers and in other outlets such as Beta.Sam in compliance with USAID procurement guidelines. Complete compliance checks, organize and coordinate technical committees for the review of proposals, interviewing schedules and testing, provide selection committee support, obtain technical reports for contracting actions, assist the S/EXO or D/EXO in salary negotiations by preparing statements of offer, offer letters or reports prior to submission to the S/EXO or D/EXO for signature. Coordinate security and medical processes; prepare contract documents, memoranda of negotiations, regret letters, and other documents that are required under the ADS 309 guidelines to ensure the completeness personnel folders. Ensure the signing, distribution and completion of contracts renewals, employee orientation, and close outs actions. Assist in the development of Individual Development Program as part of employees career development for local personnel, including counseling, identification of training opportunities, coordinating Mission-specific training programs, and fellowships. Maintain a tracker of encumbered, vacated, and new positions. New Staff Orientation: Develop and provide employee orientation regarding Executive Office services for new staff and arrange appointments with other offices for such orientation. Performance Evaluation Process: Manage the performance evaluation process, the processing of personnel related documents such as cables that effect personnel actions, reassignments, disciplinary actions, resignations, terminations and retirements of staff, and initiate close outs actions in accordance with contract close-out procedures. Ensure annual performance evaluations are accomplished by providing due date notifications to supervisor and reminders of late reports. Review performance evaluation reports to ensure that the performance rating is supported adequately in the supervisors narrative summary. Advise and explain to supervisors/rating officers the performance evaluation process, including probationary ratings, unsatisfactory or substandard ratings, performance factors, employee statements, reviewing statements, rating period, and all other pertinent policies, rules and regulations. CCN Medical Plan: Coordinate with the STATE/HR the medical insurance coverage for all CCN employees. Provide detailed information to employees, such as authorized clinics, allowable medical expenses, hospitalization benefits, contact persons in case of emergencies, etc. CCN Health and Accident Coverage (HAC) travel insurance: Ensure that CCNPSCs are covered under the USAID/W Health and Accident Coverage (HAC) travel insurance. Mission Incentive Awards Program: Provide information and guidance on available awards, criteria and procedures for nominating employees for awards and consolidate award nominations. Ensure that award nominations are prepared in the correct format, coordinate with STATE/HR on the submissions and processing of Mission award nominations and the preparation for award ceremonies. Consolidate on-the-spot cash awards, prepare certificates and obtain funding from the Office of Financial Management (OFM) the payment of. Keep track of all records for the annual processing of awards, maintain a spreadsheet containing records of awards processed for all employees, liaises with USAID/W Africa Bureau the processing of award nominations for USDH employees. Personnel Files and Records: Serve as custodian of all personnel folders, maintain a check list to ensure all required documents are filed in ASIST, including memoranda of negotiation, security and medical clearances, contract and contract modifications, position advertisements, selection processes, transmittal cables for personnel actions, employee performance evaluation reports, etc. Update the personnel database which contains individual employee personal information, such as check in/out forms and documents, arrival/departure notices dependent information, emergency contacts, next of kin, security clearance date, contract expiration, entrance on duty, training courses taken, awards received, etc. Update, reviews and maintains Mission policies, procedures and guidelines regarding human resources in the form of Mission Orders. Policy Matters, employee relations and advisory services: Originate best-practices, analyze requirements and make administrative and technical recommendations to the S/EXO and D/EXO for Mission Management consideration. Continuously evaluate organization and the provision of services to ensure the best utilization of material and human resources, assist with drafting of Mission Notices and Mission Orders, and other correspondence from the S/EXO and the D/EXO. Develop and identify sources of difficulties and take action to amend situations; ensure that complaints are handled expeditiously and equitably, and that the Agencys and posts grievance procedures are well understood and operable, assuring an active support of equal employment opportunities. Ensures timely and accurate updates to USAID staffing databases, monitors the annual filing of mandatory financial disclosure reports by eligible staff. Provide guidance, advice and assistance to employees on a wide variety of personnel matters, such as local social security benefits, retirement, recruitment, appointment, probation period, and separation, local labor practices, laws and regulations, ensure beneficiary forms and staff emergency locator information remain current, interpret and disseminate information to PSCs on a wide variety of personnel matters, such as post assignment privileges, home leave/annual leave/R&R regulations and procedures, training information, repatriation, etc. Contribute to regular and any special reports on personnel issues required by Management, Embassy, AID/W and others such as staffing projections for the Annual Report, providing information to the Embassy HR/O to complete the FSN compensation questionnaire required by State HR, employee and dependents list for the medical insurance provider, MClass clean-up Report for M/HR/USAID/W and HRSU, list of separated CCN employees during the calendar year for the RSO, Consular, etc. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item. The applicants for the United States US Embassy Human Resources Specialist job opportunity should hold a Bachelors degree in Management, Business Administration, Human Resources, Social Sciences, or relevant study Five years of progressively responsible professional in human resources management or administrative or management experience involving personnel, operating procedure, contracting, procurement or logistics and any combination thereof, is required. Work experience must have demonstrated successful experience in the field of contract and personnel management, a demonstrated knowledge of personnel planning, analysis, budgeting for a large local or international organization. Must have a sound knowledge of basic managerial principals and the ability to apply these principals/practices when applicable, the ability to provide effective leadership and ability to provide appropriate counseling. A good working knowledge of program management and budgeting systems and general procedures is required, along with a working knowledge of the human resource development context of Uganda, local employment terms and conditions and labor laws. Must possess knowledge of the principles of effective teamwork. Ability to work under pressure while managing a variety of administrative, managerial, and personnel issues and meet tight deadlines for high quality products. Ability to analyze complex programs and relationships including sensitive issues that may emerge and originating practical solutions for a typical multi-cultural, multi-racial, multidisciplinary organization in a diverse customer-focused EXO team environment. Ability to process information using computer-based applications, technology such as software applications-Word, spreadsheets and databases specifically excellent fluency in Microsoft Excel and its multiple functions. Accuracy, attention to detail, excellent interpersonal skills, tact, diplomacy, good judgment and extreme flexibility and discretion are critical to maintaining positive working relationships with other colleagues and others Mission staff, to work under pressure related to frequent emergency situations and tight deadlines and ably explaining the different personnel issues and issues. Excellent analytical skills and writing skills are required to effectively edit or rewrite position descriptions and other classification analyses. Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) in English is required with excellent reading, speaking and writing skills. How to Apply: All those interested in working with the US mission in Kampala should send their applications and strictly adhere to the following: A typed and hand signed (around Section 6 Declaration) DS-174 Employment Application for Locally Employed Staff or Family Member (Click Here; Version Exp. 06/2022). Offerors are required to complete sections 1 through 6. (Make sure to use additional Work Experience pages (Section 4), if needed, to provide complete work history). Cover letter (addressed to the USAID Supervisory Executive Officer) clearly indicating the position for which you are applying and describing how you meet the minimum requirements. Complete curriculum vitae/resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, the resume must include: Paid and non-paid experience, job title, dates held (month/year). Please specify unpaid or part time work. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year) will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements. (NOTE: Resume and DS-174 work experience should match.) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work. Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job- related honors, awards or accomplishments. Name and contact information (phone and email) of three (3) professional references. At least one of the references must be a prior or current direct supervisor. Supplemental [separate] document specifically addressing each QRF as outlined in the solicitation. Copies of Academic Transcripts Offers should be in a standard file type such as Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). All should be in one document which should not exceed 10MB. Submitted offers and documents become the property of USAID and will not be returned. Submit Application To: Human Resources Office By email at KampalaHR@state.gov NB: Your application will be reviewed if you have fulfilled all the requirements including submission of standard file types such as Microsoft Word (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) in a single attachment (No Zipped files, Links or Multiple Attachments) and should not exceed 10MB. Please clearly indicate the position number and title you are applying for on the DS-174 form. Deadline: 19th June 2020 The US Mission in Kampala provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. The Department of State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs. For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Google Maps A woman and boy were killed Wednesday afternoon in a collision involving an 18-wheeler in north Houston, authorities say. The woman, 25, and the boy, 3, have not been identified by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. What other actions are you guiding people toward, or seeing people take? BOUEY Our purpose for the first town hall was to listen. We were listening for the ways that our community wants to take action. This next town hall is to line up those desires with organizers who are doing those actions, to say: Hey, you wanted to do this? Here are folks that are doing it. Give them some of your people power and whatever other kind of energy you have. In your own work as artists, how have you come up against white supremacy in dance institutions? BOUEY Im a postmodern art maker, and when Im in certain spaces, great white folks in postmodern dance are centered in the conversation. Merce Cunningham. John Cage. I didnt learn about people like Pearl Primus and Eleo Pomare in school. I learned about them after graduating, from the black community in New York, who kept their names and histories alive for me to learn about later. So, I experience white supremacy by who we center as knowledgeable in any field of art, thought and practice. GREENE An example Im witnessing is white-led organizations that have words like equity and anti-racism in their statements, saying how they move through the world, but its not reflected in how they treat their employees. A lot of labor is put on folks of color in lower levels of the institution to make sure that is maintained. Theyre forced to do the labor of making sure the institution looks anti-racist, while you have white leaders who are not doing that work. BOUEY When I moved to New York, I worked almost specifically with black artists, black schools. I was working within institutions that had black leadership, and white supremacy still was living and thriving there, as well. Small businesses have been hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, with data released by accounting platform Xero showing casual workers bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 restrictions. The research, conducted by analytics consultancy AlphaBeta (part of Accenture) and based on anonymised data from Xeros 1 million Australian users, shows the number of casual jobs in small businesses fell 25 per cent between the first week of March and last week of April and the total number jobs in the sector (full-time and part-time) fell 13 per cent during the period. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said JobKeeper had been a lifeline for businesses. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen AlphaBeta director, economist Andrew Charlton, said casual workers have been on the firing line as the economy went into a forced hibernation and the numbers would have been worse without the federal governments JobKeeper program. "JobKeeper has saved an enormous amount of jobs and you can see as it was announced it staunched the rapid fall in employment," he said. It's been a long 10 weeks. But when 94-year-old Sadie McCaig walked out of Mid Ulster Hospital it was a remarkable moment that marked the end of her battle with coronavirus. The mother of three, grandmother of five and great-grandmother of two was the first to be able to walk out from the ward through a guard of honour after being discharged. She took ill with the virus just one month after moving into her care home and was diagnosed with coronavirus on her 94th birthday on April 15. Her symptoms were flu-like with a very high temperature and she had an extremely sore throat which saw her unable to speak at times. She was admitted to the Covid ward in Antrim Area Hospital before moving to Mid Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt for rehabilitation. News of the diagnosis was so worrying for her family - especially her 92-year-old husband of 67 years George, who lives in the family home in Carnmoney. He is looking forward to seeing her through the care home window today. Daughter Alison Artt (60) said her mum is a "great lady" and they are all so proud of her. "The first thing she said to us was, 'What about the children?' That's the foremost thing in her mind," she said. "She's a great character, has a twinkle in her eye and would be up to a wee bit of mischief. "She's a very generous person and always thinks of others ahead of herself." Sadie and George have such a zest for life and were still going on trips in their motorhome to Portstewart and Ballintoy up until two years ago. The family have rallied around George as he hoped for his wife's recovery. Alison said: "It's been tough on him, he's been on his own in the family home but my sister and brother and I have tried our best to look after him. "He's just so relieved to get her near home." The family were overjoyed when they heard she was making a recovery as they had feared the worst due to her age and frailty. "The doctors and nurses' care was astounding. They did some video calls with us on the iPad which was great. "They are a fabulous team - it was a Dr Mark Holloway and his team in the rehab ward." She continued: "In total she was in 10 weeks. It's been long because you can't talk to them, you can't see them, you can't hug them or support them "It was really difficult - it was a tough time." And when the family got to see her through the window - at her new care home, as she requires different nursing support now - it was a reminder of how lucky they are. "We are blown away that she has made it. When we met her she said, 'Can you not come in?' and I said, 'No because the virus is still about'. And she said, 'Oh is it still out there'. "And the nurse who was with her said, 'You are one very lucky lady that you have pulled through'. "I said to her so many people want to hear your story and she said, 'Don't make a fuss, it's only another day'." It's been a rollercoaster of emotions for the family but they are so grateful for their happy outcome. "It's just wonderful and it was so great to see her and be able to talk to her and tell her how much we missed her," said Alison. "Her grand-daughter made her this beautiful book called 'Sadie's memory book' and she put all the old photographs from when her and my father met right up to the current day with the two great-grandchildren in it." She added: "We are so proud of her and it's so lovely just to put it all behind us now. "She's looking great, she was in good form and giving off about her hair and saying she needs it done. "We knew she was back to her old self - we couldn't believe it." By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Directing all private hospitals equipped with laboratories and having ICMR sanction to test for the coronavirus, the Delhi high court on Thursday expressed concern over the spike in COVID-19 cases and observed that the national capital was fast heading towards becoming the corona capital of the country. The order came on a day when Delhi recorded the highest number of fresh cases and deaths in 24 hours at 1,877 and 101 respectively. Hearing a PIL seeking a direction to the Delhi government to ramp up testing for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad observed that corona capital was an epithet the city can well do without. The bench made the observation after it was told by the petitioner that several private hospitals, including Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, were prevented from carrying out COVID-19 tests. The bench also ordered the ICMR to file a status report indicating the number of applications submitted by accredited labs in Delhi seeking permission to conduct COVID tests. CLICK HERE FOR COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES According to latest official figures, the total number of cases in Delhi is over 32,000, including 984 deaths. The number of active coronavirus patients is over 19,000. The Delhi government, represented by its additional standing counsel Satyakam, opposed the submission, saying 23 private labs were allowed to conduct the tests apart from 17 public sector labs. The bench, thereafter, issued notice to the 23 private labs, mentioned by the Delhi government in its affidavit, and asked them to file their replies clarifying whether they have been permitted to undertake tests for suspected COVID-19 patients and by which technique. They shall also point out the difficulties, if any, faced by them on account of any bureaucratic red-tapeism, the bench said. It also noted in its order that non-COVID patients, who are approaching private hospitals to undergo emergent surgeries and other such procedures, are not admitted without a coronavirus test for which they are compelled to go elsewhere. It is most unfortunate that non-COVID patients are being made to wait to undergo test for COVID at labs other than those which are situated within the premises of the hospitals, that are equipped and authorised to conduct the said test, the bench said. Netanyahu Determined to Push for Annexation as Israel's Parliament Remains Divided Over the Bill Sputnik News 08:10 GMT 11.06.2020 German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who visited Israel on Wednesday, warned the Jewish state of sanctions and dire repercussions if it chose to go ahead with extending its sovereignty over parts of the West Bank which the EU as well as most of the international community deem as Palestinian territories. On 1 July, Israel plans to vote on a bill that would extend sovereignty over some 30 percent of the West Bank, an initiative that has already angered the Palestinians, stirred an uproar among Europeans, and most of the Arab and Muslim world. It has also led to frictions within the Jewish state, splitting the Israeli public. A recent poll conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute showed that 50 percent of respondents supported the idea of applying sovereignty over parts of the West Bank. Some 31 percent expressed disagreement with the move, while 19 percent said they haven't made up their mind yet. Similarly, Israel's parliament, the Knesset, has also been split over its attitude to the upcoming plan. Netanyahu's Likud, known for its hawkish views, is the main force behind the extension of Israeli sovereignty. Although it now appears the party is united, there have been voices within Likud that expressed dissastifaction with the "deal of the century" peace plan, rolled out by US President Donald Trump at the end of January. One of the most vocal voices is the mayor of the Jordan Valley Regional Council David El Hayani. Although in an earlier interview with the agency, he backed the decision to extend Israeli sovereignty over some areas of the West Bank, he also warned that dancing to the tune of the American government would pave the way for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, something that will put the Jewish state's security at risk. He is not alone. In 2018, for example, a poll revealed that only 31 percent of Likud supporters favoured the option of annexation, the majority slightly more than 50 percent said they preferred to find a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Similar findings were registered in a 2019 survey as well, with only 36 percent of respondents saying they backed the decision to annex parts of the West Bank. Another party pushing ahead with the move is Benny Gantz's Blue and White. The party initially rejected the initiative, stating that the extension of Israeli sovereignty could only be applied after the international community gave the green light to the move. The Blue and White alliance also feared any dire political and economic repercussions such a move would entail. However, in coalition talks with Likud, the two parties managed to put their differences aside signing an agreement according to which the Blue and White would back Netanyahu's move voting in favour of the application of Israeli law on certain territories in the West Bank. Gantz has also played a pivotal role in narrowing the chasm created between the chiefs of the settlers, calling on them to "embrace what you are being given now" and "tackle the rest later". Yet, for a bill to turn into law in Israel, the two parties will need the agreement of more than 61 parliamentarians. Together, they only have 51 MKs (unless there are surprises), who appear to back the move. This is why it's likely that Netanyahu and Gantz will rely on their coalition partners to push through the bill. The only problem is that their partners are divided too. Although Shas, which received nine seats in the elections in March, has declared its loyalty to the PM saying it would support Netanyahu's plan to extend Israel's sovereignty, other Ultra-Orthodox parties were less decisive. Yahadut Hatorah, with its seven seats, objected to the extension of Israeli sovereignty and demanded that the plan be implemented with the full consent of the American government. Given that Washington seems to be dragging its feet, hinting that it might not want to gallop towards the annexation in early July, chances are high that at least some members of the Netanyahu-led bloc will not throw their support behind the prime minister. The same holds true for the partners that Gantz brought along, like the Labour Party under Amir Peretz which received three seats in the current parliament. Peretz has already warned that his party would not greenlight any unilateral moves, especially if they were not coordinated with the American government or if they were to harm Israel's peace agreement with Jordan. Opposition Dilemmas But objections are also seen in the ranks of the opposition, albeit for a different reason. The hawkish Yamina headed by former Defence Minister Naftali Bennett has always stressed its desire to extend Israeli sovereignty over the so-called C areas in the West Bank and that are home to half a million Jews and some 100,000 Palestinians. In recent days, however, they too joined the chorus of skepticism, saying that the current map, promoted by the Trump administration, was problematic as it created a territorial continuity for Palestinian territories, leaving Jewish settlements located in isolated areas and thus exposed to potential attacks. In an interview with Channel 12, Bennett said he was doubtful Netanyahu would go ahead with the vote because he was "all talk and no action" and asserted his party with its six seats would not extend its hand to help the creation of a Palestinian state. Similar views have been expressed by the chief of Yisrael Beitenu, Avigdor Lieberman, who despite his support for annexation, said that the peace plan promoted by Trump and embraced by Netanyahu was not applicable, simply because it presupposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, to which he objected. Perhaps the strongest opponent to the planned move is the Joint Arab List with its 15 seats. A supporter of the two-state solution and an advocate for the rights of Palestinians, the List has vowed to fight Netanyahu's intention to chop off a chunk of the West Bank by using international pressure. Nitzan Horowitz, the head of the left-wing party Meretz with its three seats, echoed the Joint List's concerns with the planned annexation, calling the move a criminal act. "Annexation is a war crime. A crime against peace, a crime against democracy, a crime that will cost us blood.." he said at a rally staged on Saturday, where thousands of left-wing activists vented their anger at the government's decision to go ahead with the plan to bite off portions of the West Bank. The so-called annexation bill promoted by Netanyahu is part of a broader plan supported by Washington that aims at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It stipulates swaps of territories and the creation of a Palestinian state under the condition of disarmament of several military groups operating in the West Bank and Gaza. So far, the Palestinian leadership has rejected the initiative, cutting cooperation with both Israel and the US. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Emma Watson has shown her support to the LGBTQ community after lashing out at "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling for her transphobic tweets. The renowned author of the fantasy novel came under fire after she was heavily criticized by the public for her controversial stance against transwomen. "Harry Potter" Author Blasted For Transphobic Post Earlier this week, the 54-year-old writer responded to a Devex news story titled "Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate." Rowling took to Twitter to voice her opinion on the sensitive topic as she shared the article with the caption: "People who menstruate.' I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?" Shortly after, the British author receieved a wave of backlash from fans and social groups, including Watson, who played the role of Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" film franchise. "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are," Emma Watson wrote. In a separate post, the "Beauty and the Beast" star shared a heartfelt support for her trans followers. "I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you, and love you for who you are," Watson added. Following this, the 30-year-old actress and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador vowed to provide donations to charities such as Mermaids (a British advocacy organization that supports gender variant and transgender youth) and Mama Cash (the oldest international women's group founded in 1983). After receiving hate comments from the public, Rowling wrote an essay "J.K. Rowling Writes about Her Reasons for Speaking out on Sex and Gender Issues" to explain her side and her support for "single-sex spaces," "I'm mentioning these things now not in an attempt to garner sympathy, but out of solidarity with the huge numbers of women who have histories like mine, who've been slurred as bigots for having concerns around single-sex spaces," Rowling wrote. "Harry Potter" Cast Criticize JK Rowling Watson is not the only "Harry Potter" star who castigated Rowling for her tone-deaf transphobic post. Daniel Radcliffe also expressed her support to the trans community with his powerful post. "Transgender women are women," Radcliffe wrote on the Trevor Project. "Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people," he furthered. The 30-year-old actor, who played the titular role of the young wizard in the movie franchise, also called it as a support to "transgender and nonbinary people" instead of invalidating their identities. Radcliffe went on and apologized to million of HP fans who felt "that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished". Moreover, Bonnie Wright, who starred as Ginny Weasley, took to Twitter to voice her stance on sexual equality. "If Harry Potter was a source of love and belonging for you, that love is infinite and there to take without judgment or question. Transwomen are women. I see and love you, Bonnie x." Researchers at the Iowa State University have identified differences in gene expression levels between African Americans and European Americans that may explain the disproportionately higher rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and related deaths among African Americans. The authors say this differential gene expression should be researched further to establish risk factors and prognostic signatures that would guide more personalized treatment of COVID-19. By revealing differential expression of genes that may be key players in COVID-19 between African Americans and European Americans, we emphasize the importance of integrating gene expression into the mix of factors considered in studying this pandemic, writes the team. A pre-print version of the paper is available on bioRxiv*, while the article undergoes peer review. COVID-19 pathology Since its outbreak in Wuhan, China, late last year, the COVID-19 pandemic has reached almost every corner of the world, infecting more than 7.48 million people and causing almost 420,000 deaths. The causative agent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects tissues lining the lungs, kidneys, and central nervous systems and causes a range of symptoms from fever, cough, and fatigue to renal failure, stroke, respiratory failure, and death. Such symptoms are the result of the immune and inflammatory responses that occur in various regions of the body in response to host cell infection. Risk factors for death are still not well understood The factors that contribute to host morbidity and mortality are not well understood, but physiological aspects that have been identified include age, gender, obesity, and presence of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Genetic factors are known to influence disease severity, but only a few are even partly understood. Genetic variants in the host cell receptor that SARS-CoV-2 binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) may influence the likelihood of viral host cell entry. Mutations in the Mediterranean Fever gene (MEFV) may boost levels of pro-inflammatory molecules and trigger a hyperinflammatory response called the cytokine storm, which is associated with increased disease severity. SARS-CoV-2 viruses binding to ACE-2 receptors on a human cell, the initial stage of COVID-19 infection, conceptual 3D illustration credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock By The rate of COVID-19 cases and deaths is disproportionately higher among African Americans, which tends to be attributed to differences in socioeconomic factors. However, the authors of the current study say a multitude of factors probably account for the disparity and that several studies have already pointed towards race-related differences in gene expression for other diseases. Searching for genetic factors Now, Urminder Singh and Eve Syrkin Wurtele have searched for differences in the expression of multiple genes implicated in COVID-19 severity between European Americans and Africa Americans. The researchers re-mined a dataset of RNA-Seq samples modified from the GTEx (Genotype-Tissue Expression) Project and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). These large data provide a unique opportunity to evaluate differences in gene expression across populations in multiple organs in diseased and normal states, they write. The team focused on genes implicated in responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and identified multiple genes involved in viral entry, endosomal movement, autophagy and inflammation that were differentially expressed between the two races. Genes of interest The researchers identified 11 genes of interest, including ones encoding serine proteases involved in priming SARS-CoV-2 for infection; interleukins involved in the cytokine storm and an enzyme involved in the metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which modulates immune responses against RNA viruses. However, the team says one of the most notable findings was the differential expression in the genes F8A2 and F8A3. These genes encode a protein called HAP40, which is involved in early endosome motility and, therefore the endocytic pathway and autophagy. SARS-CoV-2 mainly enters the host cell by attaching to the ACE2 receptor and then undergoing endocytosis (invagination into the host cell membrane). The resulting virus-containing endosome may release viral material or might fuse with vesicles called lysosomes or autophagosomes that degrade the viral cargo (autophagy). Therefore F8A2 and F8A3 may be involved in mediating early endosome movement and determining the fate of SARS-CoV-2. The team reports that the expression of F8A2 was between 10 and 24 times higher among African Americans than among European Americans and that the expression of F8A3 was between 2.4 and 6.6 times higher. Potential for prognostic signatures and precision treatment The authors say their study showed significant differential expression of multiple COVID-19-related genes between African American and European American populations. By highlighting the wide-ranging differences in expression of several disease-related genes across populations, we emphasize the importance of harvesting this information for medicine, write the researchers. Such population-informed research will establish prognostic signatures with vast implications for precision treatment of diseases such as COVID-19, concludes the team. *Important Notice bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Boko Haram has released a new video showing the execution of a Nigerian soldier and policeman. SaharaReporters reports that the video dated Thursday, June 11, 2020, was made by a branch of Boko Haram that has sworn allegiance to the Islamic State West Africa. The video showed the two security officers, kneeling in a field, and introducing themselves before two masked men pointed guns at them. The officers said they were on a trip from Maiduguri to Monguno when they were ambushed and abducted by the insurgents whom they described as Tilafa army. I am 13NA/70/8374 Lance Corporal Emmanuel Oscar, I was captured by Tilafas along Maiduguri to Monguno, the soldier said. The policeman who spoke in Hausa language, said My name is Yohanah Kilus, I am a policeman, my rank is inspector. I was abducted between Maiduguri and Monguno; I am presently in the custody of Tilafa soldiers. You can watch the graphic video from the execution on twitter. Source: LIB Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video When cornered, the legendary Chinese strategist Sun Tzu said, use deception. He wrote the Art of War 2,500 years ago. Chinas leaders still revere Sun Tzu. What else did he write in his treatise? First, a leader must be inscrutable and serene. He must craft plans that are unfathomable to the enemy. Sun Tzu advocated a nuanced mix of deception and diplomacy to overcome the enemy. The legendary Chinese strategist Sun Tzu advocated a nuanced mix of deception and diplomacy to overcome the enemy. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) Playing safe As China and India continue the complex task of disengagement in eastern Ladakh, the Chinese have employed all the tools in Sun Tzus playbook. They used deception to make rapid incursions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). They were inscrutable during the military-to-military talks between Generals from both sides. Their future intent in disputed areas in Ladakh remains unfathomable. But they have allowed diplomacy and disengagement to proceed as they probe India on how far it can be pushed. Beyond the standoff lie larger geopolitical questions. What were Chinas real intentions behind the sudden aggression at five points across the LAC? Doklam was relatively easier to decode; after 73 days the Chinese withdrew with minor face-saving concessions from both sides. The current entanglement arose from more complex geopolitical concerns in Beijing. First, China finds itself increasingly isolated following its malign role in spreading the Covid-19 virus and imposing a draconian national security law on Hong Kong. China was compelled to agree to an independent investigation into the source of the virus and whether China suppressed crucial information that could have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Whenever Beijing has felt cornered, it has lashed out. It did so against Australia last month, banning the import of Australian beef. The last British governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, called Chinas move on Hong Kong a breach of the 1984 Sino-British agreement that returned Hong Kong to China in 1997 but safeguarded all its liberties till 2047. Following Pattens criticism, China warned Britain that interfering in Chinas internal affairs would backfire, hinting that a trade deal between post-Brexit Britain and China could be a casualty. More than any other recent Chinese leader, President Xi Jinping has made China a more authoritarian state at home and a more expansionary one overseas. (Photo: Reuters) India also angered China during the Covid-19 crisis by making it mandatory for Chinese companies to seek government approval before investing in India. Till now Chinese companies were allowed to use the automatic route. Beijing was further needled when two BJP MPs, including the feisty Meenakshi Lekhi, attended the swearing-in of Taiwans anti-China president Tsai Ing-wen through video conferencing. To rub it in the MPs conveyed fulsome congratulations to the president for winning a second successive term. From our perspective Chinas aggressive build-up along the LAC was met with a more robust response than Beijing had anticipated. Hence the decision by China to de-escalate militarily. Beijing views India as not only a regional rival but a future global adversary allied with the United States-led West and a confluence of Indo-Pacific middle powers like Japan, Australia and South Korea. Chinese used deception to make rapid incursions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). (Photo: Reuters) India is a crucial pivot in this anti-China alliance. It has a large and expanding military. Its economy despite indifferent macro-economic management will be the third-largest in the world by 2030. By Purchasing Power Parity Indias GDP is already the worlds third-largest. Indias geography places it in command of the vital Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Its youthful demography contrasts sharply with an ageing China, a consequence of Mao Zedongs one-child policy in the 1960s. President Xi Jinping is a principal culprit in Chinas recent aggression. More than any other recent Chinese leader, he has made China a more authoritarian state at home and a more expansionary one overseas. He has protected Pakistan, a state sponsor of terrorism, at every global forum while blocking Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Xi, however, has bitten off more than he can chew. Dissent against him in China is rising. His legacy, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has stalled. The Covid-19 crisis has peeled away the veneer of invincibility around him. Follow Sun Tzu The New York Times reported acerbically about the arrest and disappearance of the property tycoon and Communist Party member Ren Zhiqiang: 'Mr Ren, in a scathing essay, wrote that Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, was a power-hungry clown. He said the ruling Communist Party's strict limits on free speech had exacerbated the coronavirus epidemic. An essay by Mr Ren began circulating among elite circles in China and abroad. In it, he blamed the government for silencing whistleblowers. While he did not explicitly use Mr Xis name in the commentary, Mr Ren left no doubt he was speaking about Chinas leader, repeatedly referencing Mr Xis speeches and actions. I see not an emperor standing there exhibiting his new clothes, but a clown who stripped naked and insisted on continuing to be an emperor, he wrote. Addressing Mr Xi, he wrote: You dont in the slightest hide your resolute ambition to be an emperor and your determination to destroy anyone who wont let you.' Given Chinas unpredictable leadership, what should India do in eastern Ladakh? Follow Sun Tzus advice. Be patient, be inscrutable, be deceptive and above all keep your plans unfathomable. (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also read: Ladakh Standoff: The Chinese knee in Indias neck Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 18:14:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Iran's confirmed novel coronavirus cases rose to 182,545 on Friday after an overnight registration of 2,369 new infections, according to official IRNA news agency. During her daily briefing, Sima Sadat Lari, the spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said out of the new cases in the past 24 hours, 687 were hospitalized. The pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 8,659 Iranians, up by 75 in the past 24 hours, she said. So far, 144,649 have recovered and been discharged from hospitals and 2,739 remain in critical condition. According to Lari, 1,196,947 lab tests for COVID-19 have been carried out in Iran as of Friday. Iran's health official urged the people to wear facemasks in public place, observe social distancing and avoid unnecessary gatherings. She also urged the elderlies to stay homes. Iran announced its first cases of COVID-19 on Feb. 19. In mid-February, at the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak in China, Iran lit up the Tehran Azadi (Liberty) Tower to show its solidarity with China, and donated 3 million masks to China. In return, China has delivered several shipments of medical supplies to Iran. On Feb. 29, a five-member Chinese medical team visited Iran for a month-long mission to help Iran fight the pandemic. Enditem Baghdad, June 12 : The Iraqi Health Ministry recorded 1,261 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections to 16,675 in the country. It said that 31 more people died from the coronavirus during the day, bringing the death toll to 457, while 6,568 patients have recovered, Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday. The new cases were recorded after 9,342 test kits were used across the country during the past 24 hours, and a total of 339,868 tests have been conducted since the outbreak of the disease, the statement added. Meanwhile, Ryadh Abdul Amir, head of the Health Ministry's Public Health Department, said in a statement that the latest increase of infections "is serious and could lead to extending the full curfew in the country." On June 6, the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, headed by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, took several measures including the continuation of the full curfew until June 13, and then replacing it with a partial curfew starting on June 14. The committee also announced to prevent the movement between provinces, except for the health, security and public service personnel, and ordered security forces to tighten the control of the implementation of health restrictions. China has been helping Iraq with the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 7 to April 26, a Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq to help contain the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and an advanced CT scanner in Baghdad. China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text South Africa: NGOs urged to report child abandonment cases The Department Social Development has appealed to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to report all cases of child abuse, neglect, abandonment and exploitation. The call comes after an article published by The Citizen newspaper on 10 June 2020, entitled Baby dumping increases under lockdown hardships. The article claims that the number of abandoned babies has risen by 80% during lockdown. According to unofficial figures and child welfare experts, the trend is expected to continue as times get tougher. The article also quoted the National Adoption Coalition of South Africa, which claims that there was a surge in child abandonment during the first week of the national lockdown. Responding to the article, the department said it has no record of the increase of cases in child abandonment during the lockdown period. Contrary to these figures, the department has to date received nine cases of child abandonment that were reported by provinces between March and April this year. No reports of such cases were received from NGOs for the same period, the department said in a statement. The department said it recognises that it is particularly important to safeguard children, who may be at an increased risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation, including abandonment, during this time of uncertainty, as some parents/caregivers are struggling to provide the needs of their children. The department takes this opportunity to appeal to all NGOs to report all suspected cases of child abuse, neglect, abandonment and exploitation to a designated child protection organisation, the provincial department of social development, local social worker or a police official, the department said. Childrens Act Section 110 of the Childrens Act (Act No. 38 of 2005) states that professionals and organisations that work closely with children, have a duty to report suspected cases of child abuse, neglect or abandonment to a designated child protection organisation, the provincial Department of Social Development, local social worker or a police official. The purpose of reporting cases of child abandonment is to ensure the safety and protection of the child in question by recording them in Part A of the Child Protection Register and providing therapeutic services. The Act further stipulates that the Department of Social Development must assess and further manage the situation in the best interests of the child. In the case of an abandoned child, the Act stipulates that a social worker must gather all necessary information and affidavit/s from person/s who found or reported the child as abandoned and to report the case to police for investigation. The Act provides for the placement of abandoned children in temporary safe care, pending further investigation and final placement. Each one of us has a responsibility to protect children and a duty to report cases of children in need of care, including abandonment. Report cases of child abandonment to your local social worker or your local police. COVID-19 is causing great social and economic challenges for many families, as their circumstances are changing. The department remains committed to the delivery of all child care services, whilst ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children is paramount this time, the department said. The department said that one of the alternative care options that it renders to children in need of protection and abandoned children, is adoption, which gives them a permanent or stable family life. Under level 3 of the lockdown regulations, the department said, matters relating to child and spousal maintenance proceedings, child abuse, neglect and exploitation, including child abandonment, foster care applications and hearings; international child abduction cases and adoption and hearings are prioritised. If members of the public need advice on the choices available to pregnant mothers, they can contact their area social worker or the nearest Department of Social Development office. Adoption services are rendered by qualified social workers who are registered as by the South African Council for Social Service Professionals (SACSSP) to render adoption services as well as organisations that are accredited by the department, the department said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. In this episode of the Corporate Buzz podcast, host Keerthana Tiwari and Moneycontrol's Corporate Bureau Chief Prince Thomas talk about major developments in the corporate world this week. The Supreme Court heard the telecom AGR case and asked the Department of Telecommunications to reconsider demands raised against public utilities. The court also asked the telecom companies to provide details on a timeline for paying the dues. Thomas also explains how the Reserve Bank of India's plan to introduce a 10-year tenure limit for commercial bank CEOs will be a positive move. He also discusses Emirates' move to pause layoffs, and about Parle Products - a surprise winner during the COVID-19 crisis. By Naveen Thukral, Yuka Obayashi and Sybille de La Hamaide SINGAPORE/TOKYO/PARIS (Reuters) - Global demand for premium foods like wagyu beef, bluefin tuna and caviar has plunged with thousands of restaurants shuttered and many economies sliding into recession amid the coronavirus pandemic. As strict lockdown measures to contain the outbreak ravage global economic activity, the luxury food industry could be among the worst hit since it heavily relies on restaurants and top hotels for demand for deluxe items from caviar to champagne. While some gourmet food producers are tapping consumers directly to stay afloat, others have been forced to cut output as some products have lost nearly half their value since the start of the year. Jean-Marie Barillere, co-chairman of champagne producers' lobby CIVC in France, said he hoped people would celebrate the easing of lockdown with a bottle of champagne, but expected a difficult end to the year. "This is really a period that looks like a war time," he said. Bookings data compiled by OpenTable, an online restaurant reservation service, showed a near 80% year-on-year decline in seated diners at restaurants in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Mexico this year. People are also less likely to consume luxury foods when stuck at home in the middle of a health crisis and worried about their financial situation, or under clinical social distancing measures as eateries reopen. "People will not want to taste a Chateau Petrus wine, a lobster or caviar under a bell jar," said Michel Berthommier, managing director of Caviar Perlita in southwestern France. "If you force people to eat in these conditions they will prefer going to fast foods." DEEP DISCOUNTS Premium foods was "one of the worst hit sectors worldwide", said Ole Houe, director of advisory services at agriculture brokerage IKON Commodities in Sydney. He said he did not expect a prompt recovery given many countries were in recession. Story continues Falling demand has already taken a toll on the prices of luxury items. In Tokyo, the price of top quality wagyu beef cuts has fallen about 30% from a year earlier, bluefin tuna - considered the best in Japan - has dropped more than 40% over that period, while prices of the famed 'Earl's melons' from Shizuoka have slumped 30%. Russia's top sturgeon breeding company - Russian Caviar House - meanwhile was offering a 30% discount for Beluga hybrid caviar. "Spring and summer are always low seasons for the caviar market, but if we compare this period with previous years, the sales in Russia are down 50%," said the firm's owner Alexander Novikov. In France, caviar prices languished near historic lows, champagne sales tumbled, while foie gras producers have had to cut output to prop up prices. Cifog, a foie gras producers' group, said restaurants account for 40% of total foie gras sales. "Mid-March it felt like the sky had fallen on us," said Florian Boucherie, who produces 2 tonnes of foie gras per year in France. Oyster and razor clam fishermen from Cape Cod and other top fishing grounds have also had to curb catches as lockdowns upended global eating habits. GOING DOWNMARKET To plug the yawning gap left by eateries, many high-end food producers are attempting to reach consumers directly via e-commerce platforms. Others are steering more produce onto supermarket shelves. "We are accelerating our supply of products into some of the world's largest supermarkets, gourmet butchers and direct to consumers online," said Hugh Killen, chief executive of Australia's largest listed beef producer, Australian Agricultural Company . But some vendors say selling to supermarkets is far less profitable than selling to high-end restaurants. In Japan, top sushi chefs pay 400,000 yen ($3,737.97) for 10kg of the best cuts of tuna compared to the 25,000 yen paid by supermarkets for 10kg of lower value cuts, said Yukitaka Yamaguchi, owner of Yamayuki tuna brokerage at Toyosu Market in Tokyo. He said "the best part of (the) tuna" was usually sold first to high-end sushi restaurants but when these closed the "harakami had nowhere to go." They eventually started offering high-quality tuna to fish retailers and supermarkets. For now, Yamaguchi has had to park plans to retire as he has accumulated debt during the pandemic. "I had planned to retire when I turn 60, but thats no longer possible," he said. (Reporting by Naveen Thukral in Singapore, Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo and Sybille de La Hamaide in Paris; additional reporting by Colin Packham in Sydney, Polina Devitt in Moscow and Sophie Yu in Beijing; Editing by Gavin Maguire and Ana Nicolaci da Costa) CAIRO The border between Sudan and Ethiopia has been the stage of serious tensions and unprecedented escalation from the Sudanese side, after a Sudanese officer was killed and several civilians and military officers were injured in clashes between the Sudanese forces and an Ethiopian militia in Sudans al-Fashqa region on May 29. The Sudanese army officially accused the Ethiopian forces of backing the militia and warned of a full-blown war between the two countries. The official spokesman for the Sudanese army, Brig. Amer Mohamed al-Hassan, said in a May 29 press statement, Backed by the Ethiopian army, the militias have attacked many areas along the border between Ethiopia and Sudan and have confiscated Sudanese resources. On May 30, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled the Ethiopian charge daffaires in Khartoum in a sign of protest against the infiltration of Ethiopian militias, supported by the Ethiopian army, and their attack on Sudanese citizens and armed forces on Sudanese territories. The ministry expressed its absolute denouncement of this egregious attack. In an attempt to appease the situation, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement May 31, arguing that it sees no reason for animosity between the two nations. It called on Sudan to cooperate and jointly investigate the circumstances of the incident, saying, We believe it is best to address such incidents through diplomatic dialogue based on friendly ties and peaceful coexistence between our countries. However, the Sudan Revolutionary Front called on the residents of eastern Sudan June 2 to join the ranks of armed forces for quick support to face any armed conflict between the two countries. The clashes between the two sides coincided with regional tensions resulting from the failed negotiations in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. The US mediation failed to resolve the crisis, and Ethiopia declared its insistence on beginning to fill the dam in July. The escalation between Sudan and Ethiopia sparked questions about its impact on the GERD negotiation track and whether it was possible for Egypt to intervene to support Sudan facing Ethiopia. Former Egyptian Assistant Deputy Minister of African Affairs Mona Omar told Al-Monitor that the clashes on the Sudanese-Ethiopian borders did not happen overnight. Skirmishes between the two sides had been happening on the borders in the past few years because of natural resources and wide stretches of fertile land owned by Sudan. Ethiopia has always had its eye on them, but this is the first time Sudan escalates against Ethiopia to this extent and threatens to engage in a full-blown war. Omar said that the meeting between the Sudanese and Egyptian chiefs of intelligence after Chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan Abdel Fattah Burhan threatened to ward off any attacks on the borders indicates that Egypt wants to cement its ties with Sudan and win it over and pressure Ethiopia in the GERD issue. This is especially true since Sudan was hostile toward Egypt and was more on Ethiopias side in the Nile dam dispute, according to Omar. Also, she added, Sudan showed hostility toward Egypt when it expressed reservations on Egypts draft resolution calling for Arab support in the Nile dam issue, which Egypt submitted to the Arab League. On April 8, while checking on the 2nd Infantry Division that protects the eastern borders, Burhan threatened to stave off any attack on the borders. He said that he would not allow anyone to attack Sudanese territories. On May 19, the Sudanese and Egyptian leaderships met in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly and Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdouk, in addition to the Egyptian and Sudanese ministers of foreign affairs and irrigation and chiefs of intelligence, to discuss the joint cooperation mechanisms between them and the GERD issue. Meanwhile, Sudan had refused to endorse the draft resolution that Egypt proposed to the Arab League on March 5 to express solidarity with Egypt and Sudan in the GERD issue in order to preserve their interests. Sudan stated that the decision was not in its interest. On the same day, Sudanese Ambassador to Ethiopia Mokhtar Bilal Abdul Salam told the Ethiopian news agency that Ethiopia is the real friend that we need and called on comprehensive cooperation between them. Samir Ghattas, Egyptian member of parliament and director of the Middle East Forum for Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor that it is difficult for Egypt to aim for the GERD directly, because of the multiple regional parties participating in building it. The international community will not allow Egypt to deal a direct military blow to the GERD or to engage in a direct war with Ethiopia. But Egypt can help Sudan by signing military or security agreements without directly engaging in a confrontation with Ethiopia. On July 17, 2019, Egyptian Chief of Staff Mohamed Farid discussed with Sudanese Chief of Staff Hashem Abdel Muttalib Ahmed Babakr ways to support the joint trainings, the military cooperation ties and the exchange of expertise between the armed forces of both countries, as well as the continuous joint efforts to secure the borders and fight terrorism. Mohamed Mustafa Gamea, who writes for the London-based Raialyoum, told the BBC June 2 that the Sudanese armed forces are escalating because of the tight relations between Sudanese military officers in the Sovereignty Council of Sudan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. He said he was concerned Sudan might be exploited and pushed into fighting a proxy war on behalf of Egypt. Ghattas said that Egypts quest to win Sudanese support in the GERD file is significant in turning the negotiations around in favor of Egypt. He noted that Egypt has always sought to pressure Sudan and win it over, but has never succeeded. He added that the Sudanese message to the United Nations Security Council shows a turning point in the Sudanese regimes relations with Egypt. On June 2, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to the Security Council, calling for encouraging the parties concerned in the Nile dam dispute not to take any unilateral measures that might affect regional and international peace and security. Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest automaker, said on Friday that it will invest 70 million euros (US$79 million) to expand its engine production facility in Slovakia SEOUL, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2020 ) :Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest automaker, said on Friday that it will invest 70 million Euros (US$79 million) to expand its engine production facility in Slovakia. The affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group said it plans to complete the expansion of the engine production line at its plant in Zilina, Slovakia, by Aug. 31. The revamp of the facility is to produce the next-generation 1.6 GDi and T-GDi engines that are expected to be used for the Ceed, Kia's compact car designed exclusively for the European market. "We originally planned to start the construction in March, but it was postponed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak," a Kia official said. "The completion date for the production line expansion could change depending on the virus situation." Weather Alert ...Bitterly cold temperatures are forecast for the North Country tonight... Another round of cold temperatures are expected tonight with low temperatures generally dipping to between 10 and 30 below zero. Although winds will be light to calm, protect against hypothermia and expect to need multiple layers of clothing if heading outdoors. Running or even a brisk walk in these conditions could result in frost bite on exposed skin. Grant Shapps tonight unveiled plans to make future flights more environmentally friendly - on the same day the Government was accused of bringing aviation in the UK to its knees. The Transport Secretary used the daily Downing Street press conference to unveil the formation of a 'jet zero council' bringing together figures from the aviation industry, environmentalists and politicians. He said its goal was 'flight across the Atlantic without harming the environment', with the aim of achieving it 'within a generation'. But his announcement came on the same day that three of the UK's largest airlines launched a legal case against the Government's 14-quarantine for new arrivals, warning it threatens the industry's survival. British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair believe the quarantine policy, which came into effect on Monday, is 'flawed'. The airlines announced they have asked for a judicial review to be heard 'as soon as possible', claiming the measures introduced this week will have a 'devastating effect on British tourism and the wider economy'. But his announcement came on the same day that three of the UK's largest airlines, including British Airways, launched a legal case against the Government's planned 14-quarantine Mr Shapps told the Downing Street press conference tonight: 'There's a real determination within the industry to have a greener restart so we're bringing together leaders from aviation, environmental groups and Government to form the jet zero council. 'This group will be charged with making net-zero emissions possible for future flights. 'Our goal within a generation will be to demonstrate flight across the Atlantic without harming the environment.' Mr Shapps also said the Government was 'actively looking at travel corridors' as a way around the quarantine. These would see bilateral agreements with other nations to allow reciprocal quarantine-free travel. But the airlines, launching their legal bid today, said they have seen no evidence of when proposed air bridges between the UK and other countries will be implemented. Instead, they want the Government to re-adopt the policy it introduced on March 10, which saw passengers from countries deemed at high risk of coronavirus infection being order to self-isolate on arrival in the UK. The three airlines said in a joint statement: 'This would be the most practical and effective solution, and enables civil servants to focus on other, more significant issues arising from the pandemic while bringing the UK in line with much of Europe which is opening its borders mid-June.' Among the claims made by the airlines in their legal challenge to the quarantine are: The guidelines are more stringent than those applied to people confirmed to have Covid-19; There was no consultation on scientific evidence provided for 'such a severe policy'; Foreigners commuting weekly to the UK are exempt. Most international arrivals into the UK have been required to enter a 14-day quarantine since Monday. All passengers - bar a handful of exemptions - have to fill out an online locator form giving their contact and travel details, as well as the address of where they will isolate. People who fail to comply can be fined 1,000 in England, and police are allowed to use 'reasonable force' to make sure they follow the rules. Border Force officers are carrying out checks on arrivals and can refuse entry to a non-resident foreign national who refuses to comply with the regulations. Failure to complete the locator form is punishable by a 100 fixed penalty notice. In addition to complaints from the travel industry, the scheme has been met with strong criticism from opposition parties and some Conservative MPs. Downing Street said it 'wouldn't comment on any ongoing legal matters'. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: 'I would emphasise that we have obviously brought these quarantine rules into place to protect public health and ensure we don't import the virus as cases in the community reduce.' Home Secretary Priti Patel has insisted the policy can 'help stop a devastating second wave' of coronavirus. Shadow Transport secretary Jim McMahon said: 'The Transport Secretary talks of ''an impossible few months'' for the aviation sector, yet fails to acknowledge he has the power to act, and has chosen not to. 'Thousands of jobs have been under threat of redundancy, with staff, the sector and politicians of all sides urging the Government to act, yet Tory Ministers have been found wanting. 'Labour has consistently called for a sectoral deal that supports the whole aviation industry including securing jobs and protecting the supply chain, while continuing to press for higher environmental standards.' New Delhi, June 12 : Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday over Gandhi's statement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should publicly share facts about the India-China military standoff in Ladakh. Posting a 2017 tweet screenshot of Gandhi, Prasad sarcastically said that the Congress leader has a "parallel information system" in place, on China. "Rahul Gandhi is asking the Prime Minister to share in public facts about sensitive China border issues. I think Mr Gandhi has a parallel information system in place. Did he not meet the Chinese envoy during the Doklam crisis? Denied it initially but accepted it after public outcry," tweeted the Law Minister. In the 3-year-old tweet, Gandhi had said that he had met the Chinese Ambassador, former National Security Advisor, the Bhutanese ambassador and Congress leaders from the Northeast as it was his job to be informed on critical issues. Interestingly that meeting coincided with the military standoff between Indian armed forces and China's People's Liberation Army over Chinese construction of a road in Doklam near a trijunction border area. Earlier, Gandhi had tweeted: "Once RM is done commenting on the hand symbol, can he answer: Have the Chinese occupied Indian territory in Ladakh?" A woman forced to say goodbye to her 88-year-old father through a care home window before he died is suing the government over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Dr Cathy Gardner's father, Michael Gibson, passed away on April 3 from probable Covid-19 related causes at the Cherwood House Care Centre in Oxfordshire. Her case accuses the government of unlawfully exposing countless care home residents to substantial risk during the pandemic - and it will be filed at the High Court on Friday. Dr Gardner, also chair of East Devon District Council, believes her father's death was part of a 'national disgrace'. Dr Cathy Gardner is suing the government over its handling of the coronavirus crisis after the death of her father Michael Gibson, aged 88, at a care home in Oxfordshire Dr Gardner's case, which will be filed at the High Court on Friday, accuses the government of having exposed care home residents to substantial risk during the pandemic The case will be for the benefit of every individual, including care home residents, staff and family members, affected by the government's course of action, according to Dr Gardner. She revealed she felt 'appalled' by Heath Secretary Matt Hancock's insistence last month that a 'protective ring' had been placed around care homes to shield them during the pandemic. Dr Gardner also accused the government of having opted for a 'casual approach' to protecting care home residents, adding: 'At worst, the government have adopted a policy that has caused the death of the most vulnerable in our society. 'It is completely unacceptable that this happened and that responsibility has been avoided.' The government has been met with staunch criticism in relation to its handling of care homes throughout the health crisis, with particular policies allowing patients to be discharged from hospitals into care homes without being tested coming under fire. A letter sent to Mr Hancock earlier this month said Dr Gardner believed that the controversial policies adopted by the Health Secretary, NHS England and Public Health England 'manifestly failed to protect the health, wellbeing and right to life of those residing and working in care homes'. The letter also claimed: 'Their failings have led to large numbers of unnecessary deaths and serious illnesses. 'In addition, the failings of Government have been aggravated by the making of wholly disingenuous, misleading and - in some cases - plainly false statements suggesting that everything necessary has been done to protect care homes during the pandemic.' Health Secretary Matt Hancock claimed that a 'protective ring' was placed around care homes Mr Gibson suffered from Alzheimer's and Dr Gardner has praised the care he received leading up to his death. She also admitted that their parting was 'heart-breaking', and added: 'It's not how I imagined his last days would be.' And Dr Gardner's legal team claim that, prior to Mr Gibson's death, the residency was pressured into accepting a hospital patient who had tested Covid-19 positive but 'had not had a temperature for about 72 hours'. Around 10,000 has been raised as part of Dr Gardner's crowdfunding efforts to help cover the legal fees for the case. More than 14,000 people have now died from coronavirus in care homes across England and Wales. Alcohol abuse campaigners have called on the three political parties trying to form a new government to implement key measures in landmark legislation enacted nine months ago. Alcohol Action Ireland said Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party must meet their commitments towards the Public Health Alcohol Act 2018. As the parties appear to be concluding their negotiations, the advocacy body said it was important to highlight that key provisions on alcohol pricing, labelling, advertising and promotion have still not been implemented, some 600 days on. The charity said that they were acutely aware that the alcohol business, producers and retailers under the guise of economic strain were seeking to utilise their significant influence to further delay commencement of the measures. It said the Covid-19 crisis had again shown societys harmful use of alcohol, with trade data for the 12 weeks of the lockdown indicating a significant surge in off-trade sales. While licensed premises were closed, the levels of alcohol pouring into Irish homes, and the impact it may have on families where alcohol is already the source of harm and trauma, is deeply concerning, AAI said. It said the commencement of minimum alcohol pricing would have quelled the reckless price war raging amongst our leading retail multiples. AAI said progress on warning labels on alcohol products as well as on the broadcast watershed and content of advertising would have better informed and protected consumers of the risk to their health. It said Public Health Scotland this week published data showing a decline in population alcohol consumption following the introduction of minimum unit pricing. The economic difficulties Ireland now faces will undoubtedly impact levels of discretionary spending and so, we anticipate that alcohol consumption will likely fall, AAI said. However, as the recovery from the previous economic crisis indicated, alcohol sales are resilient and since 2012, the underlying trend on Irelands drinking has been broadly upward. It said that the enactment of the Public Health Alcohol was a strong achievement in public health policy. But it added: Implementation should be easier, but momentum has slowed and regrettably inertia has taken hold. Industry body Drinks Ireland has previously said that overall they supported the objectives of the act to tackle alcohol misuse and underage drinking. It said the measures introduced should be proportionate, evidence-based and effective. It has said that the industry had been hard-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, with the global closure of the on-trade and restrictions in supply to many off-trade outlets imposing "severe commercial pressures" on businesses in the Irish drinks industry, threatening some. Jeremiah Oruokoton Moshopeh Pratt is a married father of four and ordained minister who retired from active ministry in the West African Methodist Church in 2006. At the age of seventy, he has published his new book From the Valley to the Mountain: The Autobiography of Jeremiah Oruokoton Moshopeh Pratt, FVCM, B.A., MTh.: an engaging portrait of his long climb to achievement and contentment. J O Moshopeh Pratt, in his book, From the Valley to the Mountain, encourages and motivates his young friends who might be labeled as dropouts to prove that they are not dropouts. Probably, they might be slow or late developers; or most probably, they might not have had people who were capable to discern that they had potentials in them that needs to be developed. Parents who have children who are slow in their development process are also encouraged to read this book in order to help their children in the development process rather than push them too fast. He discovered that he was in the valley and that was not the place he wanted to be. He took steps to travel from the valley up to the mountain. He might not have reached the apex of the mountain due to health conditions, but at least he is somewhere up there. He has come to realize that there will always be valleys in our lives. No matter what situation you might be in right now, he wants to assure you that armed with his testimony, God can still make all things work together for your good. God gave him the strength, courage, power and divine right to change the course of his life to the right direction, which leads to the mountain. He climbs! So must you. If he was able to do it, you too can do it. Stay blessed! Published by Page Publishing, Jeremiah Oruokoton Moshopeh Pratts engrossing book is an inspiring true story of determination, perseverance, and the power of faith. Readers who wish to experience this informative work can purchaseFrom the Valley to the Mountain: The Autobiography of Jeremiah Oruokoton Moshopeh Pratt, FVCM, B.A., MTh. at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Trump. Reuters The Trump campaign is selling limited edition onesies emblazoned with the phrase, "Baby Lives Matter," written in the same style and font as the "Black Lives Matter" slogan. The campaign's move comes as protests against police brutality continue unfolding across the country following the Memorial Day death of George Floyd in police custody. Though the protests have been largely peaceful, Trump has repeatedly urged law enforcement officials and state governors to "dominate" the demonstrators with "overwhelming force." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. President Donald Trump's campaign is selling limited edition onesies emblazoned with the phrase, "Baby Lives Matter," written in the same style and font as the "Black Lives Matter" slogan. The Trump campaign is selling a limited edition onesie that says "Baby Lives Matter." Donald J. Trump campaign website "Proudly show you're investing in your baby's future to Make America Great Again with this incredibly soft, boutique-style one-piece," reads a description of the onesie. The back of the item features the Trump 2020 campaign slogan. Here's a side-by-side comparison of the onesie and the "Black Lives Matter" slogan: The Trump campaign's decision to sell the onesie as protests against police brutality continue unfolding across the country following the death of George Floyd on Memorial Day. Floyd was a 46-year-old Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes while Floyd said he couldn't breathe and begged for air. The protests have been largely peaceful so far, although some have devolved into chaos and violence after police and federal forces used batons, tear gas, and flash grenades to dispel demonstrators. The clashes between protesters and police appeared to climax last week in cities like Washington, DC, Minneapolis, and New York City, where video footage and social media posts showed authorities beating up peaceful protesters and "kettling" them to prevent them from leaving after curfew. Story continues The New York Times reported this week that government and military officials, as well as some Republican-led states, were so rattled by the demonstrations that they began preparing for an insurrection. "Tens of thousands of rifle and pistol rounds were stored in the DC Armory and partitioned in pallets, labeled by their state of origin, to be used on American citizens in case of emergency," the report said. Trump and Republican lawmakers have pinned the blame for the chaos on the far-left group antifa and accused it of using the protests to incite violence. But a closer examination of court records, media reports, and social media activity shows little evidence of a widespread or coordinated effort by antifa to infiltrate the demonstrations. The president also drew swift backlash for urging law enforcement officials and state governors to "dominate" the protesters "overwhelming force" in an address last week. The White House attracted even more scrutiny over the next several days as reports surfaced of unidentified troops patrolling the streets of the nation's capital at the president's command. According to Defense One, some carried rifles and others had body armor, riot shields, and pepper spray. NPR later reported that the officials were from the Bureau of Prisons and had been dispatched at Attorney General William Barr's command (the BOP is part of the Justice Department). Read the original article on Business Insider A young girl shelters with a blanket on the beach on Lesvos, Greece, March 2, 2020. She had just crossed the Aegean sea from Turkey in a dinghy. Image Eurokinissi via ZUMA Wire),Ritzau Scanpix, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is urging Greece to investigate multiple reports of pushbacks by Greek authorities at the countrys sea and land borders, possibly returning migrants and asylum seekers to Turkey after they had reached Greek territory or territorial waters. UNHCR has continuously addressed its concerns with the Greek government and has called for urgent inquiries into a series of alleged incidents reported in media, many of which corroborated by non-governmental organizations and direct testimonies. Such allegations have increased since March and reports indicate that several groups of people may have been summarily returned after reaching Greek territory. Some 3,000 asylum seekers arrived in Greece by land and sea since the start of March, a precipitous drop from previous months and compared to previous years. Yet, the number of reported pushbacks, particularly at sea, has been rising. Greece has the legitimate right to control its borders and manage irregular migration while respecting international human rights and refugee protection standards. Controls and practices must guarantee the rights of asylum seekers and they should not be turned away at Greeces borders. The Hellenic Coast Guard has shown exceptional dedication and courage to save countless refugee and migrant lives at sea. However, the present allegations go against Greeces international obligations and can expose people to grave danger. The right to seek and enjoy asylum is fundamental and all asylum seekers should be provided with access to asylum procedures and protection from refoulement or informal forced return. The coronavirus pandemic has deepened the plight of people fleeing war, conflict and persecution, but people who are forced to flee conflict and persecution should not be denied safety and protection under these circumstances. UNHCR has been calling on states to manage border restrictions in ways that also respect international human rights and refugee protection standards, including through quarantines and health checks. With the need to reduce risks to public health, UNHCR has been supporting efforts and calling for additional and adequate spaces for a 14-day quarantine. For more information on this topic, please contact: A man has been rushed to hospital after he was stabbed in broad daylight on Stoke Newington High Street. Witnesses at the scene say members of the public held the suspect to the ground before he was arrested by Met Police. The victim, a man in his 50s, remains in hospital. He is reportedly Jewish. The incident is not being treated as terror-related. Hackney Police said in a statement: "At 10:54hrs on Friday, 12 June, police were called to reports of a male being restrained in Stoke Newington High Street, N16. @artonanisland "Officers and London Ambulance Service attended. A man, aged in his fifties, was found suffering stab wounds." Police added: "Another man, aged in his forties, had been restrained on the floor by members of the public. A man aged in his forties, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He has been taken to hospital after suffering what is believed to be minor head injuries. "The victim, aged in his fifties, has also been taken to hospital. We await further updates on his condition. We are not treating this as terror-related." Construction site manager Lazar Friedlander and his brother Matt ran towards the alleged attacker and restrained him after hearing a serious scream. He said: We ran outside, I saw a Jewish man covered in blood. Im Jewish myself, and I can see another Jewish man shouting hold him, catch him, hes got a knife! Stabbing! There were a couple of other people trying to grab him. Me and my brother managed to force him down and put his hands behind his back until the police came. I wouldnt call myself a hero. You act in the heat of the moment, added Mr Friedlander, who lives locally. The suspect, a man in his forties said to be of Asian descent, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He was taken to hospital with minor head injuries. Community Security Trust (CST), a British charity concerned with the security of Jewish people, has said that there is no current assessment on whether the attack was or was not anti-semitic. Officers said the incident was not being treated as terror-related but some onlookers, including Mr Friedlander, believed he may have been targeted because of his religion. Why he stabbed the Jewish man? I reckon it was a hate crime, Mr Friedlander said. He added that he tried to speak to the assailant after pinning him down but he just blanked me and wouldnt say anything. Toyota Motor Corporation TM recently vowed to remain profitable despite the coronavirus pandemic. Toyota has halted several domestic factories from April through June to curb the spread of the virus. It also warned its investors that profits will likely tank 80% to a nine-year low in fiscal 2021 and targets an operating profit of 500 billion yen ($4.65 billion) for the fiscal year. Further, the automaker has not changed its plans to manufacture 3 million cars annually in the country. In addition, Toyota is easing auto-loan payment deadlines and offering used rental vehicles instead of new ones to help cash-strapped customers in the face of the rising global market uncertainty. The firm has also refrained from cutting any jobs, and aims to reduce costs through scrutiny and improvement of every aspect of its business. The coronavirus outbreak has rattled Japans auto market, with depressed demand and restricted business at dealerships. With the COVID-19-induced shelter-in-place orders since April, factories and stores were temporarily shuttered and demand shrunk. Apart from Toyota, other Japan-based auto biggies, including Nissan NSANY, Honda HMC, Suzuki, Mazda and Mitsubishi, resorted to significant production cuts due to the coronavirus mayhem. In order to continue investing in development, Toyota and other automakers have also sought loans and credit lines from banks. Although Japan has lifted its state of emergency, the outbreak has damaged a number of smaller players in the auto industry, with one Toyota supplier filing for bankruptcy last week. Furthermore, Toyota has rolled out policies which include keeping the staff at least 6 feet apart, sanitizing work areas and tracking employee temperature regularly to keep workers safe. The companies have also installed plastic screens or partitions along assembly lines to isolate staff, redesigned workspaces for lesser encounters and made wearing face masks or shields compulsory. Story continues Meanwhile, Toyota has signed a joint-venture (JV) agreement forming United Fuel Cell System R&D (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (FCRD) with five Chinese OEMs, including Beijing SinoHytec, China FAW Corporation Limited, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, Guangzhou Automobile Group, and Beijing Automotive Group. The JV is aimed at supplying fuel-cell systems for commercial vehicles manufactured by the Japanese automaker in China and strengthen its ties with the Chinese companies. Toyota plans to introduce fuel-cell-enabled SUVs, and pick-up and commercial trucks by 2025. Additionally, the automaker is working on hydrogen fuel stations in collaboration with various partners. It aims to generate half of its global sales from electric vehicles by 2025. Zacks Rank & Key Pick Toyota currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Shares of the company have depreciated 11.5%, year to date, compared with the industrys decline of 9.3%. A better-ranked stock in the same sector is Tesla TSLA, sporting a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Shares of Tesla have soared 132.6%, year to date, compared with the industrys rise of 44.3%. Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, its expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity. A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time. See 8 breakthrough stocks now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (HMC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Nissan Motor Co. (NSANY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Toyota Motor Corporation (TM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday (June 11) said India and China agreed during their June 6 meeting that an early resolution of the situation would be in keeping with the guidance of the leaders. The Indian delegation led by Lt General Harinder Singh, the general officer commanding of Leh-based 14 Corps, and Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin held the extensive meeting in the Chushul-Moldo region. "As you are aware, a meeting was held between the Corps Commanders of India and China on 6th June 2020 in the Chushul-Moldo region. This meeting was in continuation of t "The two sides are, therefore, maintaining their military and diplomatic engagements to peacefully resolve the situation at the earliest as also to ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas. This is essential for the further development of Indian-China bilateral relations," he said. On the issue of new political map approved by Nepal Parliament, the MEA said that India deeply values its civilization, cultural and friendly relations with Nepal. "Our multi-faceted bilateral partnership has expanded and diversified in the recent years with increased focus and enhanced Government of Indias assistance on humanitarian, development and connectivity projects in Nepal," the spokesperson said. India has been reaching out to friendly neighbouring countries including Nepal, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis initiative to chart out a common strategy to combat COVID-19 in the region, he said. "India has extended all possible technical, medical and humanitarian assistance to Nepal. We have supplied about 25 tonnes of medical aid to Nepal including Paracetamol and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) medicines, test kits and other medical supplies. Government of India has also ensured that there is no untoward disruption in trade and supply of essential goods to Nepal, despite the lockdown on both sides. India has also helped in repatriation of Nepalese nationals stranded abroad on humanitarian grounds," he said. In a conversation with former US Diplomat Nicholas Burns on Friday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke about how Covid-19 is re-shaping the world order. India and US citizens have tolerance in their DNA but it has now disappeared, said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a video interaction with former US Diplomat Nicholas Burns on Friday. I think why our (India and US) partnership works is because we are tolerant systems. You mentioned you are an immigrant nation. We are a very tolerant nation. Our DNA is supposed to be tolerant, said Gandhi. He further said, But the surprising thing is, that open DNA has sort of disappeared. I dont see that level of tolerance that I used to see in the US and India.h Speaking on the issue, Burns said, I think you have identified a central issue at least for the US. However, there is a silver lining here. The good news is that we have people demonstrating all across the country this week demanding tolerance, inclusion, minority rights. Also Read: Minor earthquakes in Delhi-NCR region not unusual, no need to panic: National Centre for Seismology Also Read: With highest single-day spike of 10,956 cases, Indias Covid-19 tally nears 3 lakh mark One edge that we democracies have over authoritarian countries like China is that we can correct ourselves. The self-correction is part of our DNA in India and the US and like all democracies, we resolve these issues through free and fair elections. We do not turn to violence, he added. Over the past couple of weeks, protests were seen all around the world demanding justice for George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American who died shortly after a police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Viral video of the incident sparked violent protests across the US. The county medical examiner ruled his death a homicide and the officer involved, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with second-degree murder. Todays interaction follows days after Rahul Gandhi spoke to industrialist Rajiv Bajaj, globally renowned public health experts Professor Ashish Jha of Harvard Global Health Institute and Swedish epidemiologist Johan Giesecke. Earlier he had spoken to former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan and economist Abhijit Banerjee on the impact of COVID-19 on the countrys economy. Also Read: India on Imran khan assistance offer: Our stimulus package larger than Pakistans GDP For all the latest National News, download NewsX App Rohingya are detained in a police station after a fishing boat carrying more than 60 refugees was found beached at Ko Rawi island in Satun province, Thailand, June 12, 2019. Thailands navy insisted Friday that its ships had not located a boat carrying hundreds of Rohingya refugees after Malaysias coast guard chief claimed it was in Thai waters and had been blocked from entering Malaysian territory many times. Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, called on the two neighboring countries to rescue the Rohingya who were reported to be at sea off Koh Adang, a Thai island near the Malaysia border, and provide them with access to asylum. The Navy only heard about Rohingya boats in territorial waters from news reports. Malaysia did not contact us over the boats presence there, Royal Thai Navy Spokesman Rear Adm. Prachachart Sirisawat told BenarNews on Friday. We asked our patrol units, but we didnt find any Rohingya boats. We patrol our territory regularly, he said. If any Rohingya boats were spotted, he said the navy would give them humanitarian assistance, such as providing them with food, fuel and water. The Navy must give basic assistance to anyone having trouble at seas, it is a universal principle. But wherever they want to go, they can, Prachachart said. On Monday, Malaysias coast guard, the Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), towed a disabled boat carrying 269 Rohingya to shore on Langkawi Island, and has since detained them there, Malaysian officials said. Two days later, MMEA chief Mohd Zubil Mat Som told BenarNews that the boat in Langkawi was one of two that sailed from Coxs Bazar in Bangladesh in February. Both boats were at sea for four months and had been supplied with food and fuel by human trafficking syndicates from Myanmar and Thailand, he said. The second boat, with about 300 people aboard, was in waters off Koh Adang, he told BenarNews on Wednesday. That boat had made many attempts to enter Malaysian waters previously but failed because it was detected by our patrols, Mohd Zubil said at the time. On Friday, the coast guard chief replied no comment when BenarNews contacted him again for clarification of his earlier remarks about the second boat. Malaysian officials towed the first Rohingya boat to shore after discovering that its crew, who reportedly fled from the boat, had damaged the engine. Previously, Malaysian authorities had redirected boats to international waters, not allowing them to land after Malaysia had sealed its borders to unauthorized ships due to concerns around containing the coronavirus pandemic. Bangladesh, from where the boats reportedly departed, hosts about 1 million Rohingya who had fled from Rakhine state in Myanmar at refugee camps in and around Coxs Bazar district. Many of the Rohingya fled to Bangladesh following a brutal military crackdown in Rakhine state in August 2017. After Malaysian officials said they intended to send the 269 Rohingya who had arrived in Langkawi back to Coxs Bazar, Bangladeshs top diplomat pushed backed, saying his government would refuse to take them in. Rohingyas are the citizens of Myanmar and Malaysia should send the Rohingyas to Myanmar instead of Bangladesh. Otherwise, they (Malaysia) can keep Rohingyas in their own country, Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen told BenarNews. Rohingya are members of a stateless minority group in Myanmar. Boats turned away In a statement issued Friday, Human Rights Watch urged Malaysia and Thailand to locate the second Rohingya boat and give shelter to the people on board. Malaysia and Thailand should urgently rescue Rohingya refugees stranded at sea and provide them with assistance and access to asylum, the New York-based global watchdog group said. Brad Adams, HRWs Asia director, said Southeast Asian governments were callously passing the buck on protecting Rohingya refugees desperate for sanctuary and a future after Myanmars military drove them from their homes with mass atrocities. While Myanmar remains ultimately responsible for the Rohingya refugees plight, Malaysia and Thailand should stop wearing blinders about the immediate risks and suffering that they face at sea, he said. HRW also called on the two nations to take a responsible approach regarding the refugees. Under international law, public health measures must be proportionate, nondiscriminatory, and based on available scientific evidence. Subjecting those who arrive to a period of isolation or quarantine may be reasonable. But the pandemic does not justify a blanket policy of turning away boats in distress, risking the right to life of those on board, Human Rights Watch said. The boat that arrived in Langkawi on June 8 was the first carrying Rohingya to land in Malaysia since April 5 when one carrying 202 Rohingya, who were turned over to immigration authorities, also landed at the island. Malaysian authorities have prevented more than 20 boats from entering the country illegally since May 1, according to Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Malaysias pushback policy also violates international obligations to provide access to asylum and not to return anyone to a place where they would face a risk of torture or other ill-treatment, HRW said. All countries, including Malaysia and Thailand, have the responsibility to respond to boats in distress, enact or coordinate rescue operations, and ensure timely disembarkation in a safe port. In Geneva on Friday, an official with the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) did not immediately respond to a BenarNews request for comment on the status of a second Rohingya boat. On Wednesday, UNHCR officials in Malaysia said they were still trying to contact the Rohingya who were being held at a detention camp on Langkawi. UNHCR has sought immediate access to this group of arrivals in order to assess their protection needs and has offered to support, together with its partners, the Government of Malaysia by providing immediate humanitarian assistance and protection services in line with international standards, an official said at the time. The BJP asserted on Friday that the party and the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi were totally committed to social justice and providing quotas to weaker sections, a day after the Supreme Court said that reservation of seats to certain communities in educational institutions was not a fundamental right. Some people keep trying to spread misinformation on the issue of reservation. The Government of India led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bhartiya Janata Party are committed to providing reservation. Our commitment to social justice is unshakeable. We stand committed for reservation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly said this, said Nadda. The BJP chief said his party constantly worked for social harmony and ensuring equal opportunities. Naddas comments came in the wake of a Supreme Court order where it said that the right to reservation was not a fundamental right. However, the BJP, keen not to let political opponents use it to dub the party anti-reservation, immediately came out to make its stand clear. Significantly, in the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections, the opposition parties had attacked the BJP, accusing it of being anti-reservation. Also Read: PM Modi to meet chief ministers on June 16, 17 amid spike in Covid-19 cases Meanwhile, the leader of key NDA ally LJP and Union food minister Ram Vilas Paswan demanded that all parties come together to put all laws related to quota in the ninth schedule of the Constitution, which will preclude any legal challenge to it. Paswan said reservation, which provides scheduled castes and tribes, other backward classes and economically backward members of general castes quota in government jobs and educational institutions, may not be a fundamental right but is very much a constitutional right. Expressing disappointment that controversies often kept arising on the issue, Paswan said reservation for the scheduled castes and tribes owes its genesis to the Poona pact between Mahatma Gandhi and B R Ambedkar. The LJP appeals to all political parties, who have joined hands over the issue earlier as well, that they should come together to put all laws regarding reservation in the Constitutions ninth schedule to lay all controversies to rest, he said in a statement. The Supreme Court Thursday refused to entertain pleas of various political parties challenging the Centres decision not to grant 50 per cent reservation to OBCs as per Tamil Nadu law in medical seats surrendered by the state in the all India quota for undergraduate, postgraduate and dental courses in 2020-21, saying the right to reservation is not a fundamental right. Also Read: Up to state govt to decide: Supreme Court allows Tamil Nadu to sell liquor The top court asked the political parties, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), CPI(M), MDMK of Vaiko, PMK of Anubmani Ramadoss, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and CPI, to approach the Madras High Court with their pleas for grant of OBC quota in medical admissions. The court had, however, appreciated their concern for the welfare of the backward castes. Chad Daybell's son is speaking out - two days after the 'doomsday author' was arrested for concealing the remains of his step-children in his backyard. Chad was taken into custody Tuesday after the bodies of seven-year-old Joshua 'JJ' Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan were discovered at his property in Salem, Idaho. On Thursday, his son Garth Daybell was seen moving items out of the home, before giving a video interview in which he revealed his shock at his father's arrest. 'I'd say it happens, but it doesn't,' Garth told videographer Tyson Draper. 'Keep supporting us, we appreciate your love and support... We feel your prayers,' he added. Scroll down for video Chad Daybell's adult son, Garth, was seen moving boxes in and out of the family home in Salem, Idaho. He told a videographer he was shocked by his dad's arrest after the remains of seven-year-old JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan were discovered buried at the property The remains of Lori Vallow's children, seven-year-old JJ and 17-year-old Tylee, were discovered buried at Chad Daybell's property on Tuesday. Lori and Chad married just months after the children disappeared Garth is one of five adult children whom Chad Daybell shared with his late wife, Tammy. Tammy Daybell, 49, died in her sleep in October of last year. Her body has since been exhumed following suspicion that Chad may have had something to do with her death. Another of Chad and Tammy's five children were seen moving out boxes and furniture from the Salem home on Thursday. The kids were pictured carting boxes back and forth to vehicles parked outside the property. Chad Daybell, 51, is facing two felony charges in the disappearance of his wife Lori's children. Lori is currently behind bars on charges of neglect and desertion A neighbor of the Daybells says he is worried for the children, giving that they are still grappling with their mother's death and will now have to face the arrest of their father. 'I feel for the kids, and I think they've got a long road ahead of them,' the neighbor, Boyd Price, told KUTV. Just weeks after Tammy's death in October 2019, Chad went on to marry Lori Vallow - the mother of the two children whose bodies were discovered Tuesday in his backyard. Chad's wife Tammy Daybell (pictured together left) was found dead under suspicious circumstances at their home in Idaho in October. Chad married Lori less than two months after her children vanished. The couple are seen right during their wedding on the beach in Kauai Locals left tributes to Tylee and JJ, whose remains were discovered buried in Chad Daybell's backyard Flowers and balloons are seen tied to the fence of Daybell's Salem property on Thursday Timeline of JJ and Tylee's disappearance July 11, 2019: Lori Vallow's husband, Charles Vallow, is killed by her brother, Alex Cox, in Arizona. August: Lori moves children JJ and Tylee to Rexburg, Idaho, where Chad Daybell lives with his wife Tammy. September 8: The last time Tylee is seen during a trip to Yellowstone National Park with Lori, JJ and Alex. September 23: The last time JJ is seen at his school in Rexburg. October 19: Chad's wife Tammy, 49, dies at their Idaho home. October 25: A friend of Tylee receives a vague 'miss you' text from her phone but says that it didn't sound like the teen. November 5: Lori and Chad tie the knot on a beach in Kauai. November 26: Out-of-state relatives ask Idaho police to perform a welfare check on JJ and learn both he and Tylee have not been seen for months. November 27: Police execute a search warrant related to the children at Lori's home and discover that she and Chad have fled Idaho. December 11: Tammy's body is exhumed from a Utah cemetery and her death is reclassified as suspicious. December 12: Lori's brother, Alex Cox, is found unresponsive in Arizona and dies. December 21: Rexburg police issue the first press release about JJ and Tylee, revealing they believe their disappearance could be linked to Tammy's death. December 24: Lori and Chad issue a statement through an attorney saying they love their son and daughter and look forward to addressing 'allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor'. December 30: Police accuse Lori and Chad of lying to investigators and say they believe the couple know where the kids are or what happened to them. January 3, 2020: Police search Chad's home in Salem and remove 43 items. They also comb over sections of the snow-covered yard with rakes and metal detectors. January 26: Lori and Chad are seen for the first time in months as police serve them with a court order to produce the children to authorities in Idaho in five days. January 30: Lori misses the court deadline to produce the children to Idaho authorities. February 20: Lori is arrested in Kauai. March 5: Lori is extradited to Idaho, where she is held on $1million bond at Madison County Jail. April 9: Authorities reveal they are investigating Lori and Chad for murder, attempted murder and conspiracy in connection with Tammy's death. June 9: Police search Chad's home in Salem for the second time and discover human remains in the backyard. Chad is taken into police custody and charged with destruction or concealment of evidence. Advertisement Vallow has spent the past four months behind bar on five charges related to the children's disappearance: two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children and one misdemeanor count each for obstructing an investigation, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court. Prosecutors have not said whether they plan to add additional charges in light of the bodies being found. Authorities began searching for the children in late November after performing a welfare check ordered by concerned relatives who said they hadn't spoken to seven-year-old JJ, who is autistic, in months. When officers first went to Vallow's home in Idaho on November 26, she told them that JJ was visiting relatives in Arizona - which investigators say was a lie. Officers returned the following day and found that Vallow and the man she married weeks earlier, Chad Daybell, had fled from the home. Authorities say the couple have repeatedly lied about where JJ and Tylee are and refused to cooperate with the investigation. Vallow and Chad Daybell were named persons of interest in the children's disappearance after investigators said they believe the mother knew where her children were or what happened to them. The case captured nationwide attention with the revelations that police are also investigating three mysterious deaths linked to Vallow and Chad Daybell, as well as family members' claims that the couple are members of a dangerous doomsday cult. The first death is that of Lori's estranged husband Charles Vallow, who was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox in Arizona on July 10. Charles Daybell and Vallow had gotten into an argument when the father came to pick up JJ at the mother's home in Chandler. Vallow's brother intervened and fatally shot Charles. Police initially determined that he acted in self defense - but the case was reopened amid the multi-state search for JJ and Tylee, who had moved to Idaho, where Chad Daybell lived, with their mother in August. The second mysterious death was Tammy Daybell, who was found dead at the home she shared with Chad on October 19. An obituary stated that Tammy passed away in her sleep and her cause of death was ruled as natural after Chad reportedly declined an autopsy. Investigators reopened the case after learning that JJ and Tylee were missing, as their mother had married Chad just two weeks after Tammy died. They believe the two cases could be linked. Tammy's body was exhumed on December 11 and the autopsy results have not yet been released. On December 12, Lori's brother, Alex Cox, was found dead in Gilbert, Arizona. An autopsy determined that the 51-year-old's died of natural causes but noted that he had the overdose drug Narcan in his system at the time. Police tracked Lori and Chad down in Princeville, Hawaii, in late January and served the mother with a court order requiring her to physically produce the children to authorities in Idaho by January 30. Lori failed to meet the deadline, prompting her arrest and extradition to Idaho, where she is currently being held at Madison County Jail in lieu of $1million bond. What took them so long? Police searched Chad's home back in JANUARY but found nothing The house where Lori's missing children's remains were found this week was searched by police in January but cops found nothing, which adds to the questions over why it has taken so long for the kids to be found and their mother and stepfather charged. JJ and Tylee were last seen alive in Idaho in September but they weren't reported missing until November and their mother fled to Hawaii the first time she was questioned by police. She married Chad, a former grave digger and doomsday fanatic, and the pair evaded police, refusing to answer questions on where the children were, for months. Lori was finally arrested in December on charges of neglect. The case stalled again then until this week, when the Rexburg Police Department in Idaho suddenly carried out a search warrant on Daybell's property in Salem that allowed them to bring cadaver dogs for the first time. The police department is refusing to answer questions on why it took so long to arrest Lori and find the children's remains. The search warrant has been sealed, which shrouds the case in further mystery. In January, police seized several items from Chad's home after executing a search warrant but it was believed to have been in connection with his ex-wife's death and not the children's disappearance. Legal experts say they must have some form of new evidence which led them to believe the children's bodies were buried there, and that the force did not want to put a foot wrong in the complex investigation because it could jeopardize a future trial. Chad's home in Salem is seen in January, when police executed an earlier search warrant FBI agents removed 43 items from Chad's home during their initial raid in January. Officers were also seen combing sections of the yard with rakes and metal detectors 'I don't have any idea why it took that amount of time. There are so many legal issues that have to be dealt with prior,' Jennifer Shen, former cop and crime lab manager, told DailyMail.com on Wednesday. 'I don't know when it was the police would have gotten the information from that there were bodies on that property but they can't do any of that without probable cause. 'It's called fruit of the poisonous tree. If you wind up finding evidence but not legally, that evidence can be thrown out, all the evidence could be no longer useful they have to do it the right way. It could have catastrophic consequences.' Shen added that the case was 'tragic' but 'really complicated'. '[It is] one of the most bizarre cases from start to finish. 'This case has got dead bodies everywhere - you have to do things the right way,' she said. Frank Montoya Jr, who retired from the FBI in 2016 after serving since 1991, previously explained to DailyMail.com that the authorities in Idaho had been forced to hold off until there was any evidence of a crime which was more difficult to produce than before. He gave an interview in February - before the kids bodies were found - and said it 'wasn't enough' at the time that Lori simply was not cooperating with the authorities. 'When the parent herself is not cooperating.. it isn't enough to arrest them. 'What's the charge? If it's just child endangerment and she refuses to talk, how do you prove the children have been harmed or more tragically if they're dead? You can't. 'A judge and jury have no choice but to say there's no evidence to hold her in cases like this you'll hugely dependent,' he said. OTTAWADuring the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions work to illuminate the horrors of Canadas residential schools, Ry Moran remembers watching members of the churches that ran them grapple with the systemic and brutal harm perpetrated in the name of their God. It was a very painful process of atonement and almost moral loss, he said. And now in the face of a growing anti-racism movement that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday is an awakening that has gripped national leaders Moran said it is past time for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other major institutions to do the same. Look at yourselves from our eyes. See what we see. Thats very, very powerful, said Moran, director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in Winnipeg. That will create a bit of a moral crisis within these institutions, and so it should. Because they need to see the harm, and they need to see the pain. And they need to feel it, and they need to know about it, and then they need to do something about it right away. Morans call for introspection and change comes as a global anti-racism movement sweeps across Canada, with demonstrations in major cities that have drawn large crowds and the prime minister himself even during the worst health crisis in living memory. In recent days, attention has zeroed in on police treatment of Indigenous peoples, after a series of incidents, including the death of 26-year-old First Nations woman Chantel Moore during a police check at her apartment. On Thursday, Green MP Elizabeth May declared the RCMP is a racist institution, citing recent instances in which an Alberta chief alleged he was assaulted by officers who stopped to check his licence plate, as well as police arrests of Wetsuweten demonstrators opposing a pipeline project in British Columbia. And while RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki told several media outlets this week that she does not believe the RCMP is fundamentally racist, Trudeau and his top lieutenants have insisted systemic racism is pervasive and real in Canada. The prime minister also defended Luckis tenure at the top of Canadas police force, and told reporters she will push ahead with needed reforms to remove racism from the RCMP. Were facing a really important time in our country right now, where we are recognizing what many Indigenous Canadians and racialized Canadians have known for a long time, that there is systemic discrimination right across our country, in every part of our country, and in our institutions. And recognizing that is difficult, Trudeau told reporters Thursday. I have confidence in Commissioner Lucki, and I know that the changes that she has already begun to bring to our national police force, and the work that were going to be doing together in the coming months is going to make a huge difference, he said. For Catherine Richardson, director for the First Peoples Studies Program at Concordia University, the strained relations between the RCMP and Indigenous peoples date back to the origins of the police force. Created in 1874 as the North West Mounted Police, the force patrolled and enforced Canadian law in the West after the Metis resistance was crushed by troops sent by Ottawa to confront them. Richardson described how the Canadian government wanted to open the west for European settlement and the construction of the continental railroad, a project that coincided with policies that included as University of Regina professor James Daschuk writes in his 2013 book, Clearing the Plains authorities withholding food from starving First Nations. This police force, the RCMP, was designed to make sure they didnt have uprisings, they didnt ask for too much and that they stay out of the way of settlement, Richardson said. The history was all about repressing. As Moran explained, that history continued into the 20th century, when RCMP officers helped enforce the federal governments Indian Act which outlawed cultural practices, restricted movement and more and served as truant officers who tracked down and returned children who ran away from residential schools. These are all long-standing historical issues that have resulted in broken trust, Moran said. In an interview with the Star this week, Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, blamed governments for killing our people by failing to repair that trust with policing reforms. Dating back at least to 1991, when the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry published its final report, there have been numerous studies with recommendations to improve how police forces work with and for Indigenous peoples in Canada. A 2015 study by the Ontario Human Rights Commission found racial discrimination in policing is a serious concern for many Indigenous peoples. In 2018, the Office of the Independent Police Review Director a civilian police oversight body in Ontario released a report on the Thunder Bay police called Broken Trust that called for a range of reforms. And one year ago, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls delivered its final report to Trudeau, whose promised action plan in response to 231 demands for change remains a work in progress. Richardson pointed to certain reforms she would welcome, included increased civilian oversight of major police forces and better screening of recruits for racist and misogynistic attitudes. But she added that such changes cant alter the fundamental situation for Canadas Indigenous peoples, who live with a range of documented disadvantages like disproportionately high incarceration and poverty rates as police enforce the laws of a colonial society. Thats why, in Morans view, lasting change must come from wider transformation of this relationship to achieve the true equality and fairness that defines reconciliation. These problems arent going away. We cant keep turning a blind eye to it, or sweeping it under the rug, he said. This is real, and many people are demanding and calling for change. Read more about: Cyprus Network launch in support of UN sustainable goals NGOs, academic institutions and civic leaders join forces (ANSAmed) - NICOSIA, 12 GIU - he Leadership Council of the Cyprus branch of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN Cyprus) announceS the official launching ceremony of SDSN Cyprus, which will take place online on 12th June at 15:30, in the presence of leading economist Jeffrey Sachs and the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of Cyprus, Costas Kadis. "One of the important lessons we have learned from the COVID-19 crisis - organizers say in a press release - is that humankind needs to find better, more sustainable ways to coexist with its environment, and SDSN Cyprus is ideally placed to foster the dialogue on possible solutions, centred around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)". SDSN Cyprus is hosted by the Cyprus Research and Educational Foundation (CREF), and co-chaired by Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas (President of the Cyprus Institute) and Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis (former Minister of Foreign Affairs). The Leadership Council of SDSN Cyprus currently has 17 members, from five universities/ research organisations (Frederick University, Neapolis University Paphos, Cyprus University of Technology, University of Nicosia and the Cyprus Institute), 3 NGOs (Birdlife Cyprus, CYMEPA, AKTI) and 10 representatives from the public and private sectors in Cyprus. SDSN Cyprus promotes the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. The Agenda provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 sustainable development goals, which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth - all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. Led by U.S. Economist Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) was set up in 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement. SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society. SDSN Cyprus will work with all sectors of society to improve the country's performance in implementing the SDGs, collecting and disseminating best practices, raising awareness, promoting sustainable development education, engaging with youth, and assisting the authorities, the private sector and civil society organisations in mainstreaming the SDGs into their daily operations. (ANSAmed). Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 12:28:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, June 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump will host a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma next Friday, the first of its kind in several months, his re-election campaign said on Thursday, despite concerns of coronavirus resurgence. The page for guests to sign up for free tickets to Trump's Tulsa rally includes a disclaimer related to the coronavirus. "By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury," it read. The rally, to be held in Tulsa's BOK Center, will come as the United States is still addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, with cases in several states rising as businesses are allowed to reopen. Mass gatherings are still banned in some other states as they are reopening. There are more than 2 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University data, and more than 113,000 people in the country have died of the disease. Trump's last rally was held in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 2. Enditem Many of them are fine individuals; many of them have good relationships with students in their buildings. But just as in any field, some of them probably should not be working with teenagers, she said. I think it is worthwhile to examine how things are going, look at our data, because disproportionately, whether its local school discipline or arrests, I suspect it skews to more African American and Latino students. By PTI LONDON: The British government is watering down plans for full border checks on goods coming from the European Union to relieve pressure on businesses hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, UK media reported Friday. The UK left the now-27-nation bloc on January 31, but remains part of its single market for trade and other economic structures during a transition period that lasts until the end of the year. The two sides are trying to negotiate a free trade deal to kick in after that, but talks have stalled amid wide differences over key issues, from fishing rights to competition rules. The UK insists it won't ask to extend the transition period, even though a two-year extension is permitted under a UK-EU divorce agreement. Many British businesses say that will leave them facing devastating tariffs and red tape. In February the UK government announced that goods coming from the EU would require inspections and customs declarations. But the Financial Times reported that Michael Gove, the minister in charge of Brexit preparations, will announce a more pragmatic and flexible approach to border checks. UK exports to the EU are still likely to face checks entering the bloc, however. Britain's economy is already reeling from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Economic activity shrank by 20.4% in April, the first full month after a nationwide lockdown was introduced to slow the spread of the virus. COVID-19 has also set back British plans to have new customs facilities and border officials in place by the end of this year. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to hold talks with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and other top officials of the bloc by video call on Monday in a bid to break the impasse in trade talks. The EU chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, rued the lack of significant progress in discussions and accused the UK of backtracking on the political declaration the sides had agreed upon that lays out their goals. Asked whether the meeting between Johnson and Von der Leyen would be the occasion to agree on an extension of the transition period, commission spokesman Daniel Ferrie noted that any extension would have to be agreed to by the EU/UK joint committee, which meets Friday. The EU added that negotiations will intensify from the end of June in order to break the deadlock. Trump authorizes sanctions against ICC over Afghanistan war crimes probe Iran Press TV Thursday, 11 June 2020 5:41 PM US President Donald Trump has authorized sanctions and additional visa restrictions against International Criminal Court (ICC) personnel probing whether American forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan. In the latest attempt by the Trump administration to force the Hague-based tribunal out of the investigation into potential war crimes by US military and intelligence officials in the Asian country, Trump issued an executive order on Thursday, saying that the United States would block all American property and assets of anyone in the ICC involved in the probe. Trump administration officials said the ICC threatens to infringe upon American national sovereignty and accused Russia of manipulating it. "We cannot -- we will not -- stand by as our people are threatened by a kangaroo court," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement to reporters. "I have a message to many close allies around the world -- your people could be next, especially those from NATO countries who fought terrorism in Afghanistan right alongside of us." US Attorney General Bill Barr claimed that Russia and other adversaries of the United States have been "manipulating" the ICC to serve a Russian agenda. Barr said that the Trump administration was trying to bring accountability to an international body. "This institution has become, in practice, little more than a political tool employed by unaccountable international elites," he said. Rights activists slammed Trump's executive order. Human Rights Watch said that Trump's order "demonstrates contempt for the global rule of law." "This assault on the ICC is an effort to block victims of serious crimes whether in Afghanistan, Israel or Palestine from seeing justice," said Andrea Prasow, the Washington director for Human Rights Watch. "Countries that support international justice should publicly oppose this blatant attempt at obstruction," she said. ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda wants to investigate possible crimes committed between 2003 and 2014 including alleged mass killings of civilians by the Taliban, as well as US troops and members of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The ICC investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan was given the go-ahead in March. "The prosecutor is authorized to commence an investigation into alleged crimes committed on the territory of Afghanistan since May 1, 2003," ICC judge Piotr Hofmanski said in a ruling on March 5. "It is for the prosecutor to determine whether there is a reasonable basis to initiate an investigation" under the court's statutes, the judge added. In 2006, the ICC's prosecutors opened a preliminary probe into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Asian nation since 2003. In 2017, prosecutor Bensouda asked judges to allow a full-blown probe, not only into Taliban and Afghan government personnel but also international forces, US troops and members of the CIA. Bensouda's move angered Washington, which in April last year revoked the Gambian-born chief prosecutor's visa as part of broader restrictions on ICC staff probing American or allied personnel. Former US national security adviser John Bolton warned in 2018 that the US would arrest ICC judges if the court pursued an Afghan probe. The US invaded Afghanistan to overthrow a ruling Taliban regime in 2001. American forces have since remained bogged down in the country through the presidencies of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. About 2,400 US soldiers have been killed, along with unknown tens of thousands of Afghan troops, Taliban militants and Afghan civilians. America has spent more than $1 trillion in fighting in Afghanistan. Fighting has continued ever since -- last year more than 3,400 civilians were killed and almost 7,000 injured, according to data provided by UN agencies. Over 100,000 Afghans have also been killed or injured since 2009, when the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan began documenting casualties. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Around seven hundred cats have been rescued in northern China after they were found locked up in a filthy backyard 'ready to be served as food'. Heart-wrenching footage shows the poor felines whining in pain while being crammed inside a dozen rusty cages in Linfen, Shanxi province. Many of the moggies were believed to be stolen and animal traffickers were planning to sell them onto restaurants to be slaughtered for their meat, sources told MailOnline. The picture shows some of the kittens being rescued by a local animal welfare organisation in Linfen, Shanxi province after they were found hidden at a hotel's backyard yesterday Pictures above are screenshots of the heart-wrenching footage showing the poor felines whining in pain while being crammed inside a dozen rusty cages in Linfen, Shanxi province The cats are being looked after and will be re-homed soon, a local animal rescue group said today. The horrific scene was captured on camera yesterday by an animal lover, known by her surname Li, who uploaded the footage online. Ms Li discovered the cats in the backyard of a budget hotel after being alerted by some labourers who worked there. She told reporters that the animals had been brought in from different places and were waiting to be transported. Shocked by the scene, Ms Li can be heard in the footage saying: 'Hundreds of cats here, hundreds. 'They are waiting to be served as food on the table. Help them.' Ms Li discovered the cats in the backyard of a budget hotel after being alerted by some labourers who worked there. The picture shows some of the cats after they were rescued The picture released by Linfen Small Animal Rescue shows some of the cats after they were rescued and put into separate pet cages. They are being looked after by the group's volunteers Linfen Small Animal Rescue, a local rescue group, immediately arrived at the scene on Thursday after seeing Ms Li's post. The group told MailOnline that all of the cats, amounting to 700 or so, had been rescued and were being looked after by its volunteers. 'We have moved pretty much all of them into pet cages. We are giving them water and food,' a spokesperson said. 'Vets are checking if there are any injured or ill cats.' A clip released by the organisation shows Linfen police arriving at the hotel shortly after the incident. The local authority is investigating the matter, according to reports. MailOnline has contacted the police for comments on the matter. Two Chinese cities banned their residents from eating dogs and cats with a new law. In the file photo, dog carcasses are stacked at a dog meat market in Yulin, China, on June 21, 2017 Chinese authorities increased the protection level of pangolins from class two to class one. Pictured, officials show a live pangolin after an anti-smuggling attack in Indonesia in 2017 The news comes as China has stepped up its protection efforts for animals - particularly wildlife - in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Experts in China said in January that the coronavirus had likely jumped onto humans from wild animals sold as food at a wet market in Wuhan, a city of 11million in central China. In the following month, China's central government blocked all trade and consumption of wildlife with a temporary law in response to the health crisis. Two Chinese cities banned their residents from eating dogs and cats with a new law in response to the global health crisis. Last Friday, Chinese authorities increased the protection level of pangolins from class two to class one. The move means anyone found guilty of hunting and trading the critically endangered animals would face double the jail term. The killing of a 26-year-old Indigenous woman by a police officer called to check on her well-being could very well signify Canadas George Floyd moment, says an Indigenous leader from Chantel Moores home area. People really want to use their voices to talk about this, said Judith Sayers, president of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council, of which Moores First Nation is a member. We cant wait anymore. We need to have the same kind of reaction as (the reaction to the death of) George Floyd. As the death of Floyd under the knee of a police officer last month sparked a series of unprecedented protests calling for police accountability in the U.S., Moores death has also initiated cross-country demonstrations. Many of the demonstrations will be silent healing walks held Saturday, intended as peaceful gatherings to mourn Moore and demand action. Walks are planned in Powell River, Toronto and Edmundston, where Moore died, as well as other locations. In Port Alberni, B.C., where Moore lived before moving to New Brunswick, a candlelight vigil is planned for Saturday night, and a protest is planned outside B.C.s provincial legislature in Victoria. Many events are listed on a Facebook page called Justice for Chantel Moore. The 26-year-old woman from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation was killed last Thursday morning when police arrived at her home in response to a request to check on her well-being. Edmundston police say their officer encountered a woman with a knife making threats. She was shot and died at the scene despite attempts to resuscitate her. Moore had recently moved to Edmundston, N.B., from Vancouver Island to be with her mother and her own five-year-old daughter. Her family is reeling. Never in my life did I ever expect to go through something like this, Moores grandmother, Grace Frank, said in a phone interview. I just watched that video on George Floyd and I really cried when I saw that. And to have this happen to my granddaughter, its so shocking. A funeral was held for Moore in New Brunswick this week, after about a dozen family members from B.C. flew to be there. They plan to hold another memorial with extended friends and family upon returning to B.C. A week after Moores death, police use of force against Indigenous people drew attention again for the arrest of a prominent chief in Alberta. The incident was captured on dash cam video and the chief, Allan Adam, is seen to be bloody and bruised after he was held down by officers. A deputy commissioner of the RCMP in Alberta this week denied the existence of systemic racism in the RCMP, but Friday walked back those comments and said systemic racism does exist in the force. Read more about: See Full Image Gallery >> BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina, factory built its five millionth car in June 2020. It reached this milestone 26 years after manufacturing its first vehicle, and less than three years after crossing the four-million mark. The milestone car is an X5 M Competition painted in Toronto Red and powered by a 617-horsepower, 4.4-liter V8 engine. Although X5s sometimes travel thousands of miles after driving off the Spartanburg assembly line, this head-turning example will lead a much quieter life. BMW will keep it at the factory and add it to its growing collection of historically significant cars. It will live under the same roof as the first car produced in the facility, an E36-generation 318i painted white and signed by the men and women who made it. BMW opened the plant in 1994. The one millionth car, a Z4 M Roadster, was finished in February 2006. It took the German company six years to add another million cars to the tally, and the three millionth car, an X5 M, was completed in March 2015. The fourth millionth car (an X3 xDrive M40i) roared to life in 2017. Spartanburg is a significant piece of BMW's production network. It produces high-profit models like the X3, the X4, the X5, the X6, and the X7. Some are also manufactured elsewhere, including the X3 and the X5, but the current-generation X6 and the X7 are built in South Carolina regardless of whether they're headed to a buyer in Los Angeles, Munich, Moscow, or Cape Town. Over half of the cars BMW sells in the United States are built here, yet Spartanburg exported nearly 70% of the vehicles it made between 2010 and 2019. It manufactured 411,620 vehicles in 2019, a figure that earned BMW the distinction of being the largest automotive exporter by value (about $9.6 billion) in America. "BMW has long considered the United States to be our second home, and we are proud to say America is home to the biggest BMW plant in the world," concluded Bernhard Kuhnt, the president and CEO of the firm's American division. At this rate, Spartanburg will build its six millionth car before the summer of 2023. Story continues Related Video: Click here to See Video >> Thirteen-year-old M. Nethra hit the headlines when the United Nations Association for Development and Peace announced her as the 'Goodwill Ambassador for the Poor'. Femina caught up with this young achiever to understand how it all started. Nethra and family always put the needs of others over them. Despite losing all that her father had saved in 2013, she went ahead and decided to spend the hard-earned money for the migrant labourers who were hit by the Coronavirus-induced lockdown. "My father, Mohan, owns a salon shop in Madurai and used to donate to people who seek his help. I have learnt this from him" says Nethra, who recalls an incident that changed the way of her looking at life. "In 2013, my dad was cheated by his friends. They looted all the money he had and left us with nothing. We were stranded with no money in hand even to buy water. It took seven long years for our family to stabilise and generate a savings of 5 lakh". Initially, Nethra and family helped 100 migrant workers with dry rations and vegetables but ended up spending all their savings to provide relief materials to close to 1500 workers. "We could not say no to them as we know how hard it is to live without basic needs. He [my father] said that the money he saved was for my higher education. But when the migrant labourers are suffering today, what's the point is saving for my tomorrow. That's the reason why my father was never hesitant about my decision" said Nethra whose future aim is to serve in the civil service. The UNADAP recognition of 'Goodwill Ambassador for the Poor' provides a platform to Nethra to address the upcoming Civil Society forums at the UN CSO conferences in New York and Geneva. "This would give her an opportunity and responsibility to speak to leaders, academics, politicians and civilians, encouraging them to reach out to the poorest of the poor" states the UNADAP communication. Nethra has also been awarded the agency's 'DIXON Scholarship' worth Rs 1 lakh. "My parents did not understand what this recognition is all about, and they were speechless. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister called and congratulated us. He assured that my higher education would be taken care of by the government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made a mention about this UNADAP recognition in his 'Mann ki Baat' speech". - Former vice president Joe Biden said his greatest single concern in the upcoming election was that the incumbent, Donald Trump, would steal the elections - Biden said if Trump would refuse to leave the White House after losing in the polls, the military would throw him out - The Democratic presidential candidate also castigated the US president for use of military on George Floyd's protesters United States Democratic candidate Joe Biden has said the military will escort US president Donald Trump out of the White House if he fails to leave after losing in the November 2020 election. Biden said it had crossed his mind that the abrasive Trump might refuse to leave the White House for the newly elected president. READ ALSO: Coronavirus update: 121 new cases as death toll hits 92 Biden said his greatest concern was that Trump would steal elections. Photo: Joe Biden. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Woman lights up internet with screenshots of messages showing how she was dumped Speaking to Trevor Noah on his Daily Show, the former US vice president also said his greatest concern in the upcoming polls was that Trump would try and rig the polls. Its my greatest concern, my single greatest concern. This president is going to try to steal this election, Biden said. READ ALSO: Ngumi na mateke Kirinyaga huku Waiguru akitimuliwa na habari zingine zenye gumzo wiki hii Biden said Trump would be driven out of White House by military. Photo: Getty Images. Source: Twitter He said this due to Trump's criticism of voting by mail which the Democratic candidate said would allow more votes to participate in the polls if allowed. "This is a guy who said all mail-in ballots are fraudulent, voting by mail, while he sits behind the desk in the Oval Office and writes his mail-in ballot to vote in the primary," he said referring to when Trump used mail to vote for Republican primaries in Florida. The presidential hopeful said his team had gathered a team of lawyers to make sure the elections would run smoothly in every district in America. On the ongoing George Floyd protests in many cities in the US, Biden castigated Trump for his harsh stance by use of the military to protesters. He said by doing so, he was alluding that the US was a military state which was not the case. Floyd died in Minneapolis last month after a police officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes. Footage of the brutal murder was shared widely online after a bystander filmed a policeman pinning the shirtless suspect to the ground in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was laid to rest on Tuesday, June 9, in an emotional send-off. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. I married a man every woman wanted - Pastor Joan Chege | Tuko Talks | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 21:44:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese foreign ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Friday strongly condemned and opposed Britain's interference in China's internal affairs including Hong Kong affairs. Hong Kong is part of China and has returned to China for nearly 23 years, said a spokesperson of the commissioner's office, adding that nonetheless, Britain continues to issue so-called "six-monthly reports on Hong Kong", ignoring the fact and smacking of colonial nostalgia. The spokesperson condemned and firmly opposed such reports, which have interfered with Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs as a whole, and violated non-interference and other principles of international law and basic norms governing international relations. The spokesperson pointed out that citing the Sino-British Joint Declaration to justify unwarranted remarks about Hong Kong affairs is a distortion of the fact. In the Declaration's eight paragraphs and three annexes, there is no single word or clause that grants Britain any responsibility for Hong Kong after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, said the spokesperson. Since July 1, 1997, all rights and obligations concerning Britain in the Declaration have been fulfilled, and Britain has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or the right of supervision over Hong Kong, said the spokesperson. The spokesperson pointed out that no foreign country, including Britain, shall meddle with Hong Kong affairs, which are purely China's internal affairs, under the pretext of the Joint Declaration. The spokesperson said that since the unrest following the proposed amendment bill last year, hostile forces in and out of Hong Kong have kept committing violence and openly advocated "Hong Kong independence" and "self-determination". "They have severely undermined the stability, prosperity and security of Hong Kong, threatened the red line of 'one country, two systems", jeopardized national security, and pushed Hong Kong to the brink." Unfortunately, said the spokesperson, Britain's latest report has confounded right with wrong. The report whitewashed the rioters who have applied the "burn with us" mentality in defiance of humanity, condoned separatists, and smeared the restrained Hong Kong police and the central and the HKSAR governments, and thus exposed double standards and a motive to mess up Hong Kong and China at large. It runs counter to the dominant will of Hong Kong people for restoring order and stability, to Britain's commitment to respecting China's sovereignty and "one country, two systems", and to the interests of international stakeholders. The spokesperson said the allegation in the report that the national security legislation for the HKSAR would undermine "one country, two systems", the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong and its people's freedoms and rights is groundless panic-mongering. It is widely recognized that matters concerning national security fall within the purview of the central authorities, and legislating on national security by the central authorities are a common practice internationally, including in Britain, said the spokesperson. Nearly 23 years after Hong Kong's return, legislation required by Article 23 is yet to materialize due to obstruction by forces sowing trouble in Hong Kong and China at large, leaving Hong Kong an unguarded region in national security, rare in the world said the spokesperson, adding that therefore, it is imperative, legitimate and urgent for the central authorities to establish and improve a legal system and enforcement mechanisms at the state level for the HKSAR to safeguard national security. The spokesperson pointed out that political, business, legal and other professional communities in Hong Kong have expressed support for the legislation, and nearly 3 million Hong Kong residents signed a petition endorsing it in eight days. "All these fully show that the legislation is in line with people's will and the trend of the times." Some people in Britain, however, said the spokesperson, are attempting to obstruct the legislation. The spokesperson emphasized that the Chinese government is rock-firm in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, in implementing "one country, two systems", and in opposing any external interference in Hong Kong affairs. "We urge the UK (Britain) to step back from the brink, abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations, and stop impeding China's just effort to legislation on national security," said the spokesperson. Any interference that may undermine China's sovereignty and security and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability will be hit back by the 1.4 billion Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, the spokesperson warned. Enditem The very purpose of our protest, as was the purpose of all protests around the country, was to oppose racism and discrimination exhibited by law enforcement, Campanelli wrote in the letter, dated Thursday. Now, posted on social media as a banner for all to see, members of law enforcement are expressing their intolerance for justice and even suggesting there will be consequences to my staff and my clients. RVs of various types and price ranges are available for inspection during an FMCA International Convention and RV Expo. FMCA, the worlds largest not-for-profit RV club, has announced plans to host its 104th International Convention and RV Expo at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona, March 23 through 26, 2022. FMCA, the worlds largest not-for-profit RV club, has announced plans to host its 104th International Convention and RV Expo at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona, March 23 through 26, 2022. The association was just a couple weeks away from arriving on site for its March 2020 event in Tucson when prohibitions on mass gatherings prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic forced a cancellation. We are excited to be able to reschedule this event and to follow through with our plans to gather in Tucson, Arizona, FMCA national president Jon Walker said. We were all disappointed that we had to put those plans on hold this year. Part of FMCAs mission is bringing RVers together, and we are eager to get back to gathering as a group. To be able to meet in Tucson, albeit on a delayed schedule, is wonderful. We will have to wait a little longer to get together for a convention in Tucson, but were already anticipating the celebration well have there, FMCA events director Doug Uhlenbrock added. If this crisis taught us anything, it is to not take things for granted, including the opportunity to travel and to gather with friends and family. Were happy that the Pima County Fairgrounds had open dates in March 2022 and could accommodate us. Were looking forward to a fantastic event there. Association leaders and staff currently are preparing for two international conventions scheduled for 2021. First up will be FMCAs 102nd International Convention and RV Expo, set to take place March 10 through 13 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Georgia. The association also will make a return visit to the Cam-Plex Multi-Event Facilities in Gillette, Wyoming, July 7 through 10 for its 103rd convention. Registration for the Perry event will start this fall, and registration for the Gillette convention will kick off during winter 2020-21. To learn more about FMCA, including events, visit FMCA.com or call (513) 474-3622 or (800) 543-3622. ABOUT FMCA: ENHANCING THE RV LIFESTYLE FMCA is the worlds largest not-for-profit association for recreation vehicle (RV) owners. The organization maintains its national headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, and currently has nearly 150,000 active members. FMCA offers its members a number of benefits, including a subscription to its monthly magazine, Family RVing; a medical emergency and travel assistance program valued at $200-plus per family; a tire purchasing program; group rates on a roadside assistance program, RV and auto insurance, and RV tours and caravans; and discounts on mobile internet access plans from Verizon and Sprint. Perhaps the most important benefit of FMCA membership is the camaraderie and friendships that develop among people enjoying the common interest of RV travel. For more information, visit https://www.FMCA.com or call (513) 474-3622 or (800) 543-3622. By PTI NEW DELHI: Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Friday the e-office project, to be implemented in all northeastern states, will fulfil the vision of "minimum government, maximum governance" and boost transparency and citizen-centric delivery mechanism. Addressing a webinar attended by chief ministers and information technology ministers of the northeastern region, Singh said computerisation of government work is a cardinal pillar of 'Digital India' and 55 central government ministries have implemented the project. He assured all technical and financial support for the project implementation from civil secretariat to the district level in all the states, according to a statement issued by the Personnel Ministry. He said the e-office project will fulfil the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "minimum government, maximum governance" and will ensure ease of administration, and improve transparency and citizen-centric delivery mechanism. Singh, the minister of state for personnel, also announced a joint steering committee to be chaired by the secretary of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) to take the project forward. Representatives from Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, National Informatics Centre, North Eastern Council and all the eight northeastern states will be the part of the Committee to suggest measures and implement the e-office project. The eight northeastern states are Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya. Singh said the progress of e-office in 75 central ministers/departments enabled the creation of a digital central secretariat which ensured that work from home was possible during lockdown. "The implementation of e-office in state secretariats of northeastern states will result in creation of paperless state secretariats in a time-bound manner where officers would be empowered with virtual private networks, digital signature certificates and promote less contact governance," the statement said. The webinar was attended by chief ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Sikkim and Meghalaya and the IT ministers of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. Chief secretaries of these states, additional chief secretaries and principal secretaries of administrative reforms and secretaries of IT departments also attended the workshop. "Altogether 220 people participated in today's webinar," it said. The chief ministers and the states' IT ministers in their presentation pointed out the infrastructure bottlenecks like network connectivity and lack of funds to implement the e-office project, which the Union minister said would be looked into seriously. In his opening remarks, DARPG Secretary K Shivaji said the entire northeastern region has the natural advantage of IT-savvy youth power to implement the project. Shivaji also conducted a technical session before the webinar was addressed by the Union minister. In his remarks, DoNER secretary Inder Jit Singh said DoNER is the first central government ministry to implement 100 percent e-office in processing of files. The e-workshop was also attended by V Srinivas, Additional Secretary DARPG, Jaya Dubey, Joint Secretary DARPG and other officials. The aid includes counter-artillery radars, air surveillance systems, other tactical equipment, military medical treatment, cyber defenses, strategic communications, according to a Thursday release by the Pentagon. Intended to help Ukraine fight the Russia-backed forces that have occupied part of the countrys eastern region since 2014, the aid aims to enhance Ukraines defensive lethal capabilities and situational awareness in the maritime domain and counter Russian cyber offensive operations and misinformation. Past U.S. aid to Ukraine, which totals about $1.5 billion, has included: Javelin anti-tank missiles, retired Coast Guard cutters, unarmed drones, Harris radios, armored Humvees, and communications equipment. The U.S. has also helped to train Ukrainian special forces. The release said the new aid re-affirms the long-standing defense relationship between the United States and Ukraine a critical partner on the front line of strategic competition with Russia. The United States remains steadfast in its support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The modern battlefield will be joined by the US Navy with its new sea drones as part of the fleet for the joint attack, with frigates, destroyers, and aircraft carriers in the future battlefield. According to naval planners, the use of military sea drones has the advantage of attacking and monitoring while act as scouts for the 7th Fleet in the Atlantic or the Pacific Ocean. The information gained from these robotic drones yield data for naval strategists to plan against opponents, reported by Fox News. The uses of military sea drones What hardware like this can offer to the US Navy is an offensive and defensive platform at standoff distances to engage enemy fleets like the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the Indo-Pacific. These naval sea drones will be used in clusters that gather intel on the surface or under the water in large areas for extended periods in the ocean. Drones are able to act on their own and in some ways better than humans with benefits from computer technology doing everything automatically. It is important to note that controllers intervene when a kill situation is encountered, applying lethal force, confirmed by defense Maven. According to Captain Pete Small, who is responsible for the development of unmanned systems, that comes with autonomy, enhanced command, and control used with advanced software, and different weapons loadout. This represents a shift in the used of surface and underwater drones as part of its newest attack options, in its enhanced fleet of manned and robotic ships. Last January, he spoke at the 32nd annual Surface Navy Association Symposium, stating that all these efforts to develop these naval sea drones are part of a program called 'Unmanned Maritime Autonomy Architecture' that the US Navy will benefit from. Also read: US Navy Deploys Reagan, Nimitz Carrier Strike Group for Operations Naval sea drone warframe and its application Small said that the surface drones will be part of conops (Concepts of Operation), to deploy these Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) in clusters, that use new autonomous functions which allow these cells of USVs to attack and used weapon load-outs for flexibility in operations. Conceptually these military sea drones will be works in tandem with the fleet and act as clusters in offence or defence for round the clock operations. A sea drone fleet extends the number of surface ships that is part of the US Navy. According to Small, the Navy is developing an Interface Control Documents that permits military sea drones to work with an integrated autonomy and communications systems. A joint R and D with Textron Systems, and the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Va., will look into weaponizing these USVs and adding missiles as extra weapons. The surface warfare packages, the CUSV (Textron Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle) will have integrating direct and indirect fire systems, for different uses, that was confirmed by Wayne Prender of Textron Systems, mentioned Defense News. All the research and development in the tests and demonstrations which is agreed on by Textron and the US Navy. The intention is to come up with options that will maximize these weaponized USVs for the best offensive deployment. Small did emphasize that as tech improved to link all aspect of military drones, from air, sea, land and undersea operations. Cluster linking these systems that become self-propelled without a human operator too. He added all the linked command clusters will be developed by the Naval Air Systems Command. Other systems that are under development are USVs, UISS, to be deployed by other vessels. One of these is unmanned tenders called Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle or CUSV, made by Textron. Between the US Navy and Textron developing sea drones of several types, this will lead to the most advanced naval assets for combat. Related article: US Navy Deploys Reagan, Nimitz Carrier Strike Group for Operations @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Monopolies Reach The Tipping Point in Norway Published June 12, 2020 by Lee R Norway's way forward looks to be a competitive market with licensed protections against problem gambling. New numbers in Norway show a severe breach of protections in that monopoly market The Survey Increases University of Bergen research reveals a disturbing disparity in problem gambling to the tune of a 62% increase. In a survey commissioned by Norways Gaming and Foundation Authority, 9,000 citizen respondents between citizens the ages of 16 to 74 found that 55,000 people are now affected by problem gambling, with more than twice as many (122,000) estimated to be at risk. EGBA Leader Concerned European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) Secretary General Maarten Haijer called the findings worrying and prove Norways gambling monopoly is not protecting its citizens. Haijer cited the prevailing dynamic of gamblers habitually shopping around for the best betting odds or bonuses, while being prepared to look elsewhere if they find their choices restricted anyway. Contesting the Monopoly Haijer like many believes the monopoly model is not conducive to effective protection of citizens, because the government interests are tied with sustaining the companies they control to maximize revenue, blurring the line between prioritizing problem gambling. Matter of Time With the vast majority of European countries having already shed monopolies in favour of license-based online regulation, Haijer believes it is only a matter of time before Norway will necessarily follow suit. Free Market Benefits Await Haijer cites better channeling; better tax revenues for the state and better consumer protection as incentives for Norway's prospective adaptation. Current Norway Monopoly Gambling in Norway is controlled by government-owned Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto, as organisations in possession of exclusive monopoly rights to provide all gambling and horse racing respectively in the small but lucrative Norwegian market. Current Policy Barrier The new calls to dissolve the monopoly fly directly in the face of existing justifications that the Norwegian gambling monopoly can be better managed by the state rather than private companies. Dangerous Circumvention At this point, Norway is losing a lot of traffic. Research shows that almost a full half of Norway's gamblers are playing via international betting sites, attracted out of state by advantages such as more competitive odds and appealing games. Of course, these forays outside the lines also leave Norway players fully vulnerable to the temptations and aggressive marketing from unlicensed operators that unchecked have been proven to lead to increases in problem gambling rates. Outdated Gaming Legislation Current legislation underpinning the monopoly market in Norway stretches back almost 25 years: Norway's 1995 Lottery Act was established long before iGaming's emergence and widespread adaptation across Europe to a series of effectively liberalised yet uniform models of regulated jurisdiction. Priority Established Norway has added a new safety measure of blocking unlicensed sites from advertising or being visible to Norwegian players--a step in the direction reflects a deeper protection movement afoot. But how fast necessary changes can be implemented is still in question, with the prevailing monopoly precedent definitively representing the primary barrier at this moment. The Liberalised Solution The Norwegian online gambling association NBO expressed concern that the 55,000 figure represents a jump of 34,000 from 2015. Representing NBO Secretary General Carl Frederik Senstrom the solution to the rise in problem gambling as a more competitive gambling market. Guiding Example As a test case, Senstrom inevitably pointed to last year's commitment of the larger Scandinavian neighbour Sweden to dissolve its longstanding monopoly in favor of a long-awaited and much ballyhooed liberalised market which is still being adapted. Norway's Movement Guidance for adaptation in Norway itself looks to be forthcoming quiet soon in light of this month's call from a working group of Norwegian addiction charities for the government to conduct a study of different market models. Outlook Conventional wisdom indicates the government will sign off on further study and eventually dissolution of the monopoly, a process which is likely to accelerate if problem gambling in Norway rises any further. SYDNEY, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ACY Securities, the global multi-asset broker headquartered in Sydney has announced the appointments of Ashraf Sherif as Head of Egypt and Ahmed Fahim as Head of Saudi Arabia. Mr Sherif, who is also the Founder and CEO of ForexAraby, an FX trading advisory firm with its head office in Cairo, has over 10 years' experience in the global financial markets and specialises in providing FX and CFD resources to clients. Commenting on his appointment as Head of Egypt, Mr Sherif said ASIC regulated brokers with a good track record, such as ACY Securities are highly regarded in the Middle East and that he is delighted to become a part of the company and lead the charge in Egypt. "Well established ASIC regulated brokers with a solid track record, such as ACY Securities, are highly preferred by Middle Eastern traders, and I am delighted to lead the operation for ACY Securities in Egypt" said Mr Sherif in a statement this morning. Mr Ahmed Fahim, Head of Saudi Arabia at ACY Securities and also General Manager of ForexAraby in Riyadh, said that ACY Securities delivered a gold standard in all the areas that matter to traders in Saudi Arabia. "ACY Securities delivers a gold standard in client experience, service and support and it is an absolute honour to lead the ACY desk in Saudi Arabia" said Mr Fahim. "ACY Securities have the best track record for client money security, they have Islamic accounts with full Arabic support, extremely quick execution speed and they provide a true multi-asset offering including global stocks like Apple and Amazon" Mr Fahim continued on to say. Alla Darwish, Head of Global Brokerage at ACY Securities said that the regional appointments at Head level is part of ACY's overall MENA region growth and expansion plan and confirms ACY's commitment to that key region of the world. "Rolling out a gold standard in online multi-asset trading in the Middle East is part of ACY's overall MENA expansion plan and with such great organic growth coming from Middle Eastern markets, we will be not only increasing but also accelerating our investment in this key region of the world" said Mr Darwish in a statement this afternoon. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_A6qFf5qFJU%22 ACY Securities has seen strong ongoing growth in the last 12 months, reporting a substantial increase in the number of new clients from around the world and record-breaking trading volumes in 2020 alone. Visit www.acysecurities.com for more information or to open an account. ACY Securities is one of the fastest growing multi-asset trading providers offering state-of-the-art technology and educational solutions that assist traders better execute their trading plans and stay on top of their trading activity. "ACY Securities have the best track record for client money security, they have Islamic accounts with full Arabic support, extremely quick execution speed and they provide a true multi-asset offering including global stocks like Apple and Amazon" Ahmed Fahim, Head of Saudi Arabia, ACY Securities Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1179910/ACY_Securities_Logo.jpg Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A6qFf5qFJU Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1179908/2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1179911/3.jpg Iran raises possibility of more prisoner exchanges with US Iran Press TV Thursday, 11 June 2020 9:24 AM Tehran has raised the possibility of exchanging more prisoners with Washington, reaffirming Iran's readiness for more diplomatic efforts to secure the release of its citizens held hostage in the US. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Thursday that Iran has already announced that it stands ready to do all in its power to secure the release of Iranian hostages in US jails and bring them back home "within different frameworks." The Islamic Republic, he added, showed "goodwill" and made a "humanitarian" gesture in response to the proposals by some countries and figures, including Switzerland and its ambassador to Tehran, for the freedom of US security prisoners, whose wrongdoings are confirmed. "If we find the conditions ripe again for such swaps or if we can prove the innocence of the Iranian citizens, who are facing baseless and delusional charges of circumventing unilateral, illegal and groundless US sanctions, we will definitely use all our diplomatic means to free our dear ones and reunite them with their families," Mousavi said. Last week, Iran freed US navy veteran Michael White as part of a prisoner swap, in which the US released Majid Taheri, an Iranian scientist who had been imprisoned in the US on false charges, after spending over a year in jail. Iran's Judiciary spokesman Gholam-Hossein Esmaeili said White was freed "on humanitarian grounds" while taking the country's "general interests" into consideration. The prisoners exchange came a day after Iranian scientist Sirous Asgari, a professor of material sciences at Iran's Sharif University of Technology, returned home after spending about three years in detention in the US. He was held behind bars in Louisiana despite having been exonerated in a sanctions trial. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sugar Hill, GA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/12/2020 -- Being a homeowner is not for the faint of heart. That's why residents across the Greater Atlanta area are teaming up with Bolton Heating, Air & Fireplaces. From delivering expert AC and heating services in Gwinnett County to performing thorough air duct cleaning services in Fulton County, this company offers all of the services they need to keep their homes comfy, healthy and safe! Whether it's maintaining comfort, achieving efficiency or securing monthly energy savings, the most challenging aspects of homeownership are all easier with Bolton. In fact, as those who join this company's professional service plan discover, everything is Better With Bolton! Better With Bolton is a preventive maintenance plan that's designed to make it easier and more affordable for HVAC equipment and fireplaces to receive the regular inspections and care they need to operate efficiently and without interruption! Becoming a Better With Bolton member includes two service visits per year, along with: - Priority scheduling - Priority service at all times to ensure equipment operation - Preferred pricing on covered equipment repairs - After-hours priority service for breakdowns - 10% discount on any HVAC repairs - 10% discount on indoor air quality accessories (humidifiers, air cleaners, etc.) - Half-price blower door infiltrometer testing (limited free appointments available for qualified customers) - Automatic service scheduling & service reminders - An easy way to keep manufacturers' warranties valid Ready to enjoy exclusive membership benefits, more dependable comfort, lower energy bills and more? Sign up for Better With Bolton by contacting Bolton online or calling 678.439.6732 today. Choose between an annual or monthly planboth of which can be cancelled at any time! That's right. Bolton doesn't require its customers to sign a crazy, binding contract. Looking for a new air conditioner? In need of air conditioning repair service in Fulton County? Bolton is here to help! Reach out to this company today! About Bolton Heating, Air & Fireplaces Bolton Heating, Air & Fireplaces is Northeast Georgia's full-service provider of heating, air conditioning, indoor air quality, water heater and fireplace services. It also offers a wide range of fireplaces, heating stoves, gas grills and gas lighting products. Bolton is the name Georgians have known and trusted for more than 30 years. By offering exceptional products, installations and service, Bolton provides customers with the No. 1 service experience they deserve. A task force set up by the Rajasthan government has recommended to provide a relief of Rs 700 crore to industries, a press release said. In its interim report, the task force has also recommended the promotion of the textile industry, waiver of electricity tariff and increasing the scope of benefits of the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme. It has also suggested an exemption in the state GST. The task force has also proposed to exempt industries like MSMEs from necessary approvals and inspections under various laws of the state in initial years of setting up, according to the release. BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks rebounded on Friday after falling sharply in the previous session on concerns over a second wave of coronavirus infections and a gloomy economic outlook. The pan European Stoxx 600 rose by 1.2 percent to 357.38 after falling 4.1 percent on Thursday. The German DAX rallied 1.3 percent, France's CAC 40 index jumped as much as 1.9 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up 1.3 percent. Banks led the surge, with Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank and Societe Generale surging 3-6 percent. Automakers BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen and Peugeot gained 2-4 percent, while Renault climbed 5.5 percent. Interparfums soared as much as 13 percent after it signed an exclusive and worldwide license agreement for fragrances with Italy's Moncler. Travel-related companies rose in London after airlines launched legal action against the government's quarantine rules for inbound travelers. British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group surged 5.7 percent, easyJet Plc jumped almost 7 percent and Ryanair Holdings gained 1 percent. Shares of Games Workshop Group jumped 10 percent after the manufacturer of miniature war games lifted its forecast for fiscal 2020 pre-tax profit. Pearson advanced 12 percent after a regulatory filing revealed activist investment firm Cevian Capital has built a stake in the education company. Informa gained more than 9 percent. The events and academic-publishing group said it has identified cost savings of at least GBP400 million. In economic news, Eurozone industrial output decreased 17.1 percent on a monthly basis in April, following an 11.9 percent drop in March, data from Eurostat showed. Production was expected to decline 20 percent. This was the largest monthly fall recorded since the start of the series and bigger than the reductions seen during the global financial crisis. On a yearly basis, industrial production fell by a record 28 percent in April after easing 13.5 percent in March. Economists had expected a 29.5 percent fall. U.K. GDP contracted by 20.4 percent in April from March, when it was down 5.8 percent, official data showed. GDP was forecast to fall 18.4 percent. In three months to April, GDP decreased 10.4 percent, slightly faster than the expected fall of 10 percent. Industrial output declined by a record 20.3 percent in April from the previous month, with manufacturing providing the biggest downward contribution, falling by a record 24.3 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de The ESAIL satellite prior to encapsulation. Credit: Arianespace The ESAIL microsatellite for tracking ships worldwidedeveloped under an ESA Partnership Projecthas completed its accommodation on Vega's new dispenser for small satellites and is ready for launch. The Vega launch campaign at Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, resumed three weeks ago, following an interruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. ESAIL is due to be delivered into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of more than 500 km on Arianespace's first Vega Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) rideshare flight. The launch will deliver seven microsatellites and 46 cubesats into orbit, using a new satellite dispenser that spreads the cost of launch between many customers. The ESAIL high-performance microsatellite was built by LuxSpace under an ESA Partnership Project with the Canadian operator exactEarth. The project was supported by the Luxembourg Space Agency and other ESA member states. ESA's Partnership Projects aim to develop sustainable end-to-end systems, right up to in-orbit validation. ESAIL will track ships worldwide by detecting messages that ships radio-broadcast with their automatic identification systems (AIS). As part of exactEarth's satellite-based AIS constellation, ESAIL will provide data also to the European Maritime Safety Agency for the next generation of global maritime traffic services. ESAIL enables fisheries monitoring, fleet management, environmental protection and security monitoring for maritime and government authorities and industrymaking the seas safer. Artist's view of Vega VV16 with SSMS and SAT-AIS. Credit: ESA - J. Huart About SSMS Vega's Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) dispenser provides launch opportunities for multiple light satellites with an overall mass ranging from 0.2 kg CubeSats up to 400 kg minisatellites. The SSMS has a lightweight modular design comprising a lower and upper part each with attachments that can be used to accommodate a range of configurations of satellites depending on requirements. About Vega Vega is a 30 m-high, four-stage launch vehicle operating out of Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. It is designed to lift between 300 kg and 1.5 tonnes of payload depending on the orbit and altitude. ESA's upcoming Vega-C, a more powerful version of Vega, will offer an extra 700 kg of capacity and enlarged volume within a wider launcher fairing at a similar cost to Vegaallowing even more passengers per individual rideshare launch at significant lower cost per kilogram. India has asked UK authorities to not consider absconding liquor baron Vijay Mallya's asylum plea. This request came amid reports that Mallya had filed an application with the UK government seeking asylum based on "humanitarian grounds". Official spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs Anurag Srivastava said that the Indian government is in touch with the UK government to ensure his early extradition. "We have been in touch with UK authorities for his early extradition. We have also requested the UK side not to consider his asylum, if requested by him, because there appears to be no ground for his persecution in India," stated Srivastava during a press briefing on Thursday. The 64-year-old Mallya has reportedly sought asylum on the grounds that if he is brought back to India, he would be tortured. The UK authorities confirmed that Vijay Mallya's extradition would be delayed due to further legal issues. A British High Commission spokesperson said, "There is a further legal issue that needs resolving before Mr. Mallya's extradition can be arranged. Under United Kingdom law, extradition cannot take place until it is resolved." The spokesperson said that the issue is confidential and that they cannot go into further details. "We cannot estimate how long this issue will take to resolve. We are seeking to deal with this as quickly as possible," he said. Under the UK Extradition Act, an individual must be extradited within 28 days of an order by a high court or a Supreme Court. However, if the individual makes a claim for asylum then the extradition cannot be done unless the claim is settled. The London High Court had ordered the extradition of Vijay Mallya based on evidence provided by the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate in the Rs 9,000 crore bank fraud case. His application to appeal before the Supreme Court was rejected and his extradition papers were sent home office for signature. Also read: Vijay Mallya seeks asylum in UK on humanitarian grounds, extradition to be delayed Also read: Vijay Mallya not returning right away, extradition yet to be signed The only European countries that have not passed their coronavirus peak are Sweden and Poland, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and other European countries' lockdown measures led to an 80 per cent decline in the virus's 14-day incidence since the peak on April 9. But the 14-day incidence 'was at the highest level yet observed' in Poland and Sweden, said the ECDC. To date Sweden has 49, 684 confirmed cases To date Sweden has 4,854 deaths Of the countries that are monitored by the ECDC 28 of them, including Poland, have a current 14-day incidence rate below 20 cases per 100,000 population, Euro News reported. The UK and Portugal have 14-day incidence rates between 20 and 100 per 100,000 population and Sweden is the only country which has a rate above 100 cases per 100,000 people. 'Increases in testing in Sweden may partly explain this increase,' the ECDC said in its most recent rapid risk assessment. Almost two thirds of Sweden's infections were reported after April 23 making up six per cent of the total cases reported in the 31 countries since then. Only Europe's worst affected countries, the UK, Italy, Spain and France, had higher cases. Sweden did not impose a strict lockdown like the rest of Europe and instead depended on its citizens' voluntary social distancing. Pictured: People socialising and not socially distancing durng the pandemic in Stockholm on April 26 Pictured: A busy street in Stockholm during rush hour on May 29 amid the coronavirus pandemic Although the decision was considered controversial by most of Europe the ECDC noted that Google mobility data showed a reduction in movement in Stockholm County. During the week of April 6 there were 49 per cent fewer people using public transport, 48 per cent fewer people working at their workplaces and 30 per cent less people going to retail and leisure spaces. After infection clusters were reported in coal mines Poland also saw a rapid acceleration in its number of cases. Poland reported over 1,150 coronavirus cases last weekend alone with at least half of them being coal mine workers. Pictured: Medical experts testing miners at the BolesLaw Smialy coal mine in Laziska Gorne in the Silesian Voivodeship in Poland on June, 11 Despite this the country announced on Wednesday that it would reopen its borders to EU countries on June 13. The Prime Minister's office said in a statement that only random checks will be conducted 'exactly as it was before the coronavirus pandemic. 'Travellers will regain the right to free entry, exit and transit through the territory of Poland. 'They will not be quarantined.' Poland started to ease the country's lockdown in mid-May and most businesses, including restaurants and bars, are now open. To date, Poland has 28,577 confirmed cases with 1,222 deaths surpassed by Sweden's 49,684 confirmed cases and 4,854 deaths. Comparatively the UK, which has some of the highest infection and death rates in the world, has 294,401 confirmed cases and 41,566 deaths, according to the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. She's joined much of the nation in lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic. And Joan Collins appeared to be struggling with life away from glamorous celebrity events in a throwback post on Friday. The actress, 87, poked fun at living in isolation by sharing a snap of her younger self in a promotional image from the 1986 miniseries Monte Carlo. Funny: Joan Collins, 87, poked fun at life in lockdown as she shared a glamorous throwback snap of her character behind bars in the 1986 miniseries Monte Carlo (original pictured) In the snap a 1940s-dressed Joan appears to be trapped behind bars, as the series saw her character caught up in the midst of spies during the Second World War. The Dynasty star playfully captioned the post: 'Still inside,' along with a slew of crying laughing emojis. Monte Carlo saw Joan appear alongside veteran actor George Hamilton, and originally aired as a two-night event on CBS. Funny: The Dynasty star playfully captioned the post: 'Still inside,' along with a slew of crying laughing emojis (pictured in March) Earlier this month Joan criticised the UK government's decision to introduce new rules for people flying into the country, announcing that they would have to enter a 14-day quarantine. Taking to Twitter, the actress hit out at the 'ridiculous' restrictions in a scathing rant, where she said the move was 'punishing' families who had been isolating for months. In an impassioned post, she accused the government on 'punishing' families who had 'blindly obeyed' lockdown laws and urged Home Secretary Priti Patel to reconsider. Fuming: Earlier this month Joan criticised the UK government's decision to introduce new rules for people flying into the country, branding the rules 'ridiculous and unfair' Enraged: Taking to Twitter the actress hit out at the restrictions in a scathing rant, where she said the move was 'punishing' families who had been isolating for months Scathing: She then wrote another tweet in which she said it was 'impossible' for people to plan their getaways this Summer, suggesting that it was like a betrayal to the hospitality industry She wrote: 'This #quarantine rule at airports preventing people wanting to get away for the summer is ridiculous and unfair. 'Millions of families have blindly obeyed instructions to isolate for months and are now being punished. #pritiplease #PRITIPATEL.' She then wrote another tweet in which she said it was 'impossible' for people to plan their getaways this Summer, suggesting that it was like a betrayal to the hospitality industry. Calling it out: Last month Dame Joan also criticised the UK government for being 'ageist' to those over the age of 70 amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis She fumed: 'Its impossible to plan a family summer holiday at the end of June. Its unworkable, unfair and unenforceable and its stabbing the airline and hospitality industry to death. You must reconsider #pritiplease #PRITIPATEL.' The TV star divided fans with her opinion, with some seeing her point, while others remarked that there's more important things to worry about than a holiday. This isn't the only time the thespian has shared her strong opinion on the decisions imposed by the UK government amid the coronavirus pandemic. Last month she criticised the government for being 'ageist' to those over the age of 70 amid the ongoing crisis. In her column for The Spectator, the actress claimed government advice saying elderly people needed to stay indoors during the global pandemic was 'utter discrimination.' Holding nothing back, she said: 'I've always thought Western society was terribly ageist, and I don't just mean showbiz folk but across the board. 'Then the UK government insisted the over-70s, horrible expression, were part of the vulnerables, an even more horrible expression, and should remain in lockdown, the most horrible expression of all, until a vaccine is found. 'That was utter discrimination against the hardy individuals who have no health issues. But more harmful was bolstering the existing belief among the general public that the old should keep out of everyone's way.' The Royals star added that she was declared 'stunningly healthy' by her GP on her most recent visit, and has never limited herself by her age, which was true of others too. London, June 12 : A statue of late British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in London was boarded up as anti-racism and far-right groups both plan protests in the UK capital this weekend, a media report said on Friday. Other monuments including the Cenotaph were clad in protective sheeting on Thursday after being targeted by vandals during a Black Lives Matter demonstration last week, said the Metro newspaper report. During the protests last week, the war-time leader's statue was daubed in spray paint saying he "was a racist", while a protester was pictured trying to set fire to a union flag on the Cenotaph commemorating the nation's war dead. Workers were also seen boarding up the George Washington statue on Trafalgar Square along with another to King James II as well as monuments of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was "extremely concerned" that further protests in London, particularly by extreme far-right groups which "advocate hatred and division", could lead to violence and disorder. "It is clear that the majority of the protesters have been peaceful. This moment must be a catalyst for systemic, lasting change to tackle the racism and inequalities that black people still face today, in this country and elsewhere. "However, I'm extremely concerned that further protests in central London not only risk spreading COVID-19, but could lead to disorder, vandalism and violence. "Extreme far-right groups who advocate hatred and division are planning counter-protests, which means that the risk of disorder is high. "Staying home and ignoring them is the best response this weekend," he was quoted as saying by the Metro newspaper as saying. The toppling of slave trader Edward Colston's statue in Bristol last weekend acted as a catalyst for more monuments linked with Britain's colonial past to be taken down. The latest to follow suit is Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, after it confirmed two figures depicting Robert Clayton and Thomas Guy will be taken out of public view due to their association with the slave trade. By Express News Service JAIPUR: In Rajasthan, a Jain Muni has been arrested for allegedly raping a woman at the shelter home of the community in Karauli district. The woman, along with a relative, had gone to the monk to seek his blessings. Tension has gripped in the area after the Muni was taken to the local police station. The accused monk, Acharya Sukumalnandi, was staying in a Jain shelter home in the Hindon town of Karauli district. According to the FIR, the woman had reached the shelter home with her relative to seek the blessings of the Muni on Thursday. First, the victims sister-in-law entered in and the monk misbehaved with her; and when the woman herself went to the room, she was allegedly raped by the Acharya. Angry family members of the woman reached the shelter home and confronted the monk but he locked himself up in his room. Eventually, he was called by the cops to the police station. After preliminary investigation, the police arrested the muni on Friday. "The Muni was staying in Hindon and had reached here after visiting many places. He has allegations of misbehavior and rape on him. We have registered a case under IPC 354 and 376 and arrested him", said Anil Sharma, SP, Karauli Earlier, some supporters of the Muni got into an argument with the alleged victim's family. Police intervened and pacified both the parties. When the Muni was detained at the police station, his supporters gathered outside the police station. Seeing that social distancing was not being maintained, police dispersed the crowd with the use of force. Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to pay an official visit to Vietnam during their phone talks on Thursday, and the latter accepted it with pleasure. Putin also thanked Vietnam for its support for his countrys combat against COVID-19. Over the phone, Party General Secretary Trong congratulated Putin and the Russian people on their National Day (June 12), and asserted that Vietnam always places importance on its comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia. The Vietnamese state president lauded the great achievements Russia has made under the leadership of President Putin. The Party chief offered congratulations to Russia on the 75th anniversary of the victory over Fascism, believing that the upcoming military parade to mark this event will be a success. Trong also wished Russia would pull through the forthcoming constitutional referendum. Putin lauded Vietnams successful containment of COVID-19 and thanked the Southeast Asian nation for its assistance to his country in the fight against the virus. Vietnam has reported 332 coronavirus cases, with 321 having recovered and no death, according to the Ministry of Health. Both sides agreed that their countries would continue cooperating in curbing the disease spread and providing timely support for their citizens. Vietnam and Russia will intensify their cooperation at multilateral forums, in fostering peace and security, and in upholding international law. Trong invited Putin to visit Vietnam and the Russian president gladly accepted it. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 20:15:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JAKARTA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people in Indonesia's province of Gorontalo were forced to go out of their homes after floodwaters, reportedly reaching a height of nearly 1.5 meters, have been submerging residential areas since Thursday. At least 43 villages in the province's Gorontalo city and Bone Bolango district were hit by significant floods due to heavy rains, according to Gorontalo's Disaster Mitigation Agency. The floods inundated villages in Bone Bolango district including Suwawa, Kabila and Bone, the district's head Sumarwoto was quoted by Indonesia's state news agency Antara as saying on Friday. Meanwhile, several areas in Gorontalo city affected by the flood included Bugis, Ipilo, Padebuolo, Talumolo and Tenda, he added. According to data provided by the disaster mitigation agency, the waters forced 5,250 residents in Bugis, 4,010 in Tenda, 2,358 in Ipilo, 1,000 in Botu, 750 in Talumolo and 400 in Padebuolo, to flee their homes. The residents affected by the floods are currently evacuated to shelters provided by the provincial administration, the agency said. Enditem Medical staff collect blood samples for the novel coronavirus testing in Hanoi's Me Linh District, April 10, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy. A 37-year-old man returning from Malaysia tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday evening, taking Vietnams Covid-19 tally to 333. "Patient 333", a sailor, lives in Ward 9, southern Vung Tau Town. On May 30 he came to Vietnam from Malaysia aboard the Pacific Vung Tau, and was quarantined on entry. He tested negative on May 31. But on Thursday, when he was about to leave the quarantine center after 14 days, he tested positive. He is currently being treated at Ba Ria Hospital. Of the 333 Covid-19 patients, 323 have recovered. Vietnam has gone 57 days without community transmission. The 10 current patients are being treated at various medical facilities and are stable. Three have tested negative once and one has tested negative twice. The 43-year-old British pilot, the most seriously ill patient in Vietnam, is recovering well and can now sit on his own in a wheelchair. Nearly 6,000 people entering the country from pandemic areas are in quarantine, 139 in hospitals, 5,000 at quarantine centers and the rest at home. The pandemic has affected 213 countries and territories, and claimed more than 419,000 lives. Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state sent a clear message today to all his traducers, including his former godfather Adams Oshiomhole. ... Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state sent a clear message today to all his traducers, including his former godfather Adams Oshiomhole. He said his government would continue to align with the people in fighting off those hell-bent on mortgaging their patrimony for the benefit of a handful of persons. The embattled governor said this in his Democracy Day address on Friday. He said the commemoration was remarkable, as it was a humble reminder of how far the country has come, in the quest to determine our collective destiny as one indefatigable entity, propelled by the common zeal to thrive and live better, fulfilling lives. I celebrate Nigerias Democracy Day, now marked on June 12, in honour of late M. K. O. Abiola, whose sacrifice continues to define our democratic experience as a nation. Democracy Day is, for us, of remarkable significance. Our undaunting drive to sustain democracy since 1999 is expressed through the continuous dialogue we engage in as a people, as we seek for solutions to our developmental challenges and chart new courses of progress with determination and unwavering zest. He noted that there was no denying that democracy has allowed active participation of everyone in society in choosing leaders to articulate and advance our development. In Edo State, government at all levels will continue to extend the democratic dividend to the greatest majority of our people as we will ensure that the policies, programmes and projects make desired impact in peoples lives. The lessons learnt from our democratic journey continue to strengthen our resolve to fight off those who are hellbent on mortgaging our patrimony and short-changing the majority of our people for the benefit of a handful of persons. I urge all Edo people, Nigerians and friends of our dear country to continue to support efforts to make the people the major stakeholders and benefactors in the process of governance, he added. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will be among the first members of the royal family to leave lockdown and attend a major event when they welcome French President Emmanuel Macron to the UK. Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, will travel from their home at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, to London, where the official greeting will take place at Clarence House next Thursday. Clarence House said the meeting is being held to celebrate the 80th anniversary of General Charles de Gaulle's appeal to the French population to resist the German occupation of France during the Second World War. Their visit will be just two days after Princess Anne, 69, will become the first royal to return to working in-person with an engagement scheduled for next week to visit the Duke of Gloucester Barracks. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will be the among the first members of the royal family to leave lockdown and attend a major event next Thursday (seen in Ireland in May 2019) His rallying call was broadcast on the BBC in June 1940, when he said: 'I call upon all Frenchmen who want to remain free to listen to my voice and follow me.' Mr Macron is also reportedly visiting the capital to honour the city and the country as a whole by awarding London France's highest decoration - Legion d'Honneur. Charles and his wife have spent almost three months at Birkhall in Scotland, where the heir to the throne recovered from Covid-19 after he contracted the virus in March, suffering with mild symptoms. They have been carrying out royal engagements remotely - via video calls or recording video messages of support - and are said to be 'pleased' to be welcoming Mr Macron to the country. They will welcome French President Emmanuel Macron to the UK London, where the official greeting will take place at Clarence House But the event is not expected to be the start of a return to regular public duties, although a number of low-key events are also planned for next week. Mr Macron's visit comes just before the July 1 deadline to extend the Brexit transition period beyond the end of this year. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted he will not seek to prolong current arrangements beyond that point. Asked if the French president would be subject to quarantine rules, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said: 'No, he won't. Clarence House said the meeting is being held to celebrate the 80th anniversary of General Charles de Gaulle's appeal to the French population to resist the German occupation of France during the Second World War (Charles and Camilla are seen on VE Day 2020) 'As we set out in the guidelines when they were published, the French delegation will fall within the exempted category of representatives of a foreign country or territory travelling to undertake business in the UK.' Clarence House said in a statement: 'The President of the French Republic will visit London on Thursday 18th June 2020 to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of General de Gaulle's 'Appel' to the French population to resist the German occupation of France during WWII. 'On behalf of Her Majesty's Government, Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will formally receive President Emmanuel Macron at Clarence House with a Guard of Honour found by Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards accompanied by the Band of the Coldstream Guards.' A Clarence House spokeswoman said Government guidelines on social distancing would be followed and part of the welcome would be staged in the open air (Macron is seen wearing a mask at the end of May in France) A Clarence House spokeswoman said Government guidelines on social distancing would be followed and part of the welcome would be staged in the open air. It is thought the prince and the president have met on a few occasions, the last time in January when the two men sat side by side at a global event in Jerusalem marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Princess Anne, 69, could become the first royal to return to work in person, with an engagement scheduled in her diary next week to visit the Duke of Gloucester Barracks Meanwhile Princess Anne will be the first royal to return to working in-person with an engagement scheduled for next week to visit the Duke of Gloucester Barracks. A tweet shared by Gerts Royals outlined how the Princess Royal, 69, is set to meet with COVID-19 staff at the Barracks in South Cerney, Gloucesterhire on 16 June. If the engagement goes ahead, it will mark the first time that a member of the British royal family has had an in-person appearance since the start of the pandemic in March. And the news may come as a surprise to some because the 69-year-old would be more 'at risk' from the coronavirus than younger members of the royal family such as the Cambridges or the Wessexes. The Queen has been staying at Windsor Castle with the Duke of Edinburgh, where she has continued her state duties, working remotely and holding audiences and meetings via telephone. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have also been carrying out virtual visits to care homes, hospitals and other organisations during the lockdown. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) workers in Ocean Breeze on Thursday took a knee inside the entrance of the Regina M. McGinn Education Center for one minute in solidarity with national protests calling for law enforcement accountability and an end to racial injustice. Stephanie Pagano, 27, a licensed master social worker at the hospital and a member of 1199 SEIU the union that organized the moments of silence across New York City said the focus of the days vigil was to both show support for victims of police brutality and to also bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement. Pagano said the effort aimed at informing "people of the issue at hand here, which has been in our nation since our nations birth, which is systemic racism, and to also raise awareness that being anti-racist does not mean we need to be anti-police. And, in fact it is quite the opposite we need the police to eradicate this systemic racism. A member of a law enforcement family, Pagano said, My heart weeps for and with the black and African community. The unlawful and wrong death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, and all those who have lost their lives without justice, I stand with you, I kneel with you, I pray with you, I cry with you, Pagano said, adding that she also offers prayers for those who are currently serving in the police force, and those who are husbands, wives and children of the police officers. Pagano said she felt there was a need for reform within our police, and also demanded support from our police to stand up and speak against any and all injustice that you witness that goes on against your oath. Just after noon on Thursday, dozens of workers at SIUH gathered and took a knee for one minute inside of the hospital. The poignant display comes on the heels of a series of peaceful marches across Staten Island that have spurred the boroughs top cop, Assistant Chief Kenneth Corey, to praise protesters on the Island. Nationally, protests began shortly after a video surfaced allegedly showing Derek Chauvin, an ex-Minneapolis police officer, pressing his knee into Floyds neck while the victim repeatedly said that he couldnt breathe during an attempted arrest. Chauvin was fired from the Minneapolis Police Department and charged with murder. The encounter was prompted by an allegation that Floyd tried to pay with a counterfeit bill at a store. Dr. Brahim Ardolic, the executive director of SIUH, praised the partnership between the hospital and the union. Social justice is something that we cant ignore anymore, and we have to just remember that at the end of the day were all human beings that need to not be afraid that our children arent going to be able to come home at night. Commenting on the displays of support from the North Shore to the South Shore on Staten Island in recent weeks, Pagano said we cannot do this if we are divided. There is no strength if we dont have the strength of the community. We need to start here, starting at our hospital, at our places of employment, in our neighborhoods, she said. Thats number one. Staff members at Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center took a knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. (Courtesy Jane Harris) Nurses at Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center in Castleton Corners were among those who participated in the moment of solidarity. Members of the same union that are on the Clove Lakes staff approached administrators on Thursday morning about the idea, said Jane Harris, director of public relations. The facility administrator, Lorri Senk, broadcasted to the whole building that they would be taking a knee and reflecting in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement at 1:30 p.m. Residents also participated, with those kneeling who were able to. Those who couldnt kneel were encouraged by staff to reflect on the moment. We thought it was a great idea that we could participate in whats going on worldwide to make a difference," Harris said. Yousef Al-Otaiba, the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Washington, stressed in an op-ed published in an Israeli newspaper that Israeli annexation in the West Bank will destroy all efforts to achieve normalization between Israel and the Arab world mainly the Gulf states. Why it matters: The op-ed was an unprecedented message from a senior official in the UAE to Israeli public opinion through the Israeli press. Yediot Ahronot is a mainstream newspaper with the largest circulation in the country which speaks to a center-right audience. Al-Otaiba wrote in the last few years a lot of progress have been made in getting Israel and the Gulf states closer together due to shared interests and less hostility towards Israel in public opinion. in the last few years a lot of progress have been made in getting Israel and the Gulf states closer together due to shared interests and less hostility towards Israel in public opinion. Annexation will certainly and immediately upend Israeli aspirations for improved security, economic and cultural ties with the Arab world and with UAE Normal is not annexation. Instead, annexation is a misguided provocation of another order. And continued talk of normalisation would be just mistaken hope for better relations with the Arab states." The big picture: Al-Otaiba published the article as part of a wider diplomatic campaign by the UAE against Israeli annexation. The campaign included private messages to both the White House and the Israeli government warning of the consequences of annexation and public messages the latest one in the Israeli newspaper. In an interview with the Emirati newspaper The National, Al-Otaiba explained the op-ed in the Israeli newspaper was inspired by Egyptian president Sadats trip to Jerusalem in 1977. with the Emirati newspaper The National, Al-Otaiba explained the op-ed in the Israeli newspaper was inspired by Egyptian president Sadats trip to Jerusalem in 1977. He did that to make a point because it was in the interest of his country. While I am not going to Tel Aviv to give a speech I think this has the same kind of value of speaking directly to an audience to make sure your message gets across." The bottom line: We wanted to speak directly to the Israelis. The message was all the progress that you have seen and the attitudes that have been changing towards Israel people becoming more accepting of Israel and less hostile all of that could be undermined by a decision to annex the West Bank." DES MOINES Racial justice legislation is headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds desk after a remarkable couple of hours Thursday at the Capitol. With protesters watching from the gallery, state lawmakers fast-tracked a package of police reforms that includes a limit on chokeholds and mandatory de-escalation training. The legislation was introduced late in the afternoon, and by Thursday evening both the House and Senate had unanimously approved the package and sent it to the governor, who in a rare move dropped in on debate in both chambers. These past few months have been really difficult for some of us, said Rep. Ras Smith, an African-American Democrat from Waterloo. But on this day, everything that makes us different doesnt make a difference. On this day, in this body, the sunlight shines a little brighter. Its illuminated a path toward our nations promise of liberty and justice for all people. Crafted by leaders from both parties, the governors office and some of the Legislatures few black representatives, the package contains many elements called for by racial justice advocates since the death of George Floyd, a Minnesota man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Among the provisions in the bill: Officers cannot use chokeholds unless a person cannot be captured any other way or has threatened or used deadly force. Departments cannot hire officers who were fired or quit while being investigated for serious misconduct including use of excessive force or convicted of a felony. All officers must be trained on de-escalation techniques, on bias, and have an understanding of and respect for diverse communities and the use of non-combative law enforcement methods. The state attorney general may prosecute if an officers actions result in the death of another. Members of Black Lives Matter of Des Moines watched from the galleries as lawmakers debated the legislation. Des Moines BLM is excited to see that our protests are bearing immediate fruits, Matthew Bruce, an organizer with the group, said in a text message. The proposed legislation is a step in the right direction but falls far short of ending the capacity for state-sponsored racism in the state of Iowa. We will continue to push for the voting rights of all Iowans who have served their felony sentence as well as our overall goal of defunding police. Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, a state legislator and black man from Des Moines, praised protesters who have placed a spotlight on racial justice issues since Floyds death. Abdul-Samad has spent many nights on the Des Moines streets with the protesters, attempting to keep them peaceful. What makes this historical is we are righting a historical wrong, Abdul-Samad said. Im saying to you today, my beloved brothers and sisters, and I mean all of you, not only are you a part of history, you are rectifying history. And that is something that you can tell your babies, your grandchildren, so they can tell this story from now on what we did in Iowa. Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines, a Democratic state legislator and black woman from Des Moines, reflected on how as a girl she learned from her parents about racism and recalled portraying Rosa Parks, the famous civil rights activist, in a local community theater production. Gaines said she was pleased to be able to vote on the legislation after years of inaction on racial justice. I never would have dreamed that I could stand on the floor of the Iowa Legislature and support a bill that would help all of this indignity to black Americans stop. But here I am. And here it is, Gaines said. Rep. Steve Holt, a Republican state legislator from Denison and a retired Marine, expressed his continued support for law enforcement officers, but added that he also recognized a need for changes. He condemned violent outbursts that have taken place across Iowa and the country, but added that those acts should not drown out the peaceful discussion about advancing racial justice. I have spent my life serving my country, and I grieve for what is happening in our streets. I grieve that every citizen does not feel the way I do about my country, Holt said. I grieve that in our great country, a criminal hiding in a police uniform placed his knee on a mans neck until he was dead. I love my country more than life itself and I am trying to listen even though I dont always understand or agree with what Im hearing. We are all Americans, and we are all one nation under God. After the measure passed both chambers, Reynolds issued a statement praising lawmakers for their work. These problems didnt arise overnight and they wont be fixed in a day, Reynolds said. We are just getting started, but our work together shows Iowa is willing to have the tough conversations and to look past our differences to find common ground and a brighter future for all Iowans. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 MONTREAL - For Louise Delisle, an African Nova Scotian who grew up in the rural town of Shelburne, the racism her community has experienced over the years is reflected in the health of its members. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/6/2020 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Thursday June 11, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld MONTREAL - For Louise Delisle, an African Nova Scotian who grew up in the rural town of Shelburne, the racism her community has experienced over the years is reflected in the health of its members. Her father and brother died of cancer. Her mother is still alive after two bouts of breast cancer, and her sister and niece are also cancer survivors. The 69-year-old Delisle lays the blame for her community's health problems on a now-closed toxic dump that existed for decades near the historical Black part of town. "There is a lot of cancer in just about every family," she said in a recent interview. Ingrid Waldron, a professor in Dalhousie University's school of nursing, says the health conditions in Shelburne and another rural African Nova Scotia community, Lincolnville, are examples of systemic racism in Canada. Systemic racism, Waldron said, refers to the exclusion or under-representation of people of colour and Indigenous people in society through the policies and decisions of those in power. These policies and decisions lead to inequalities and disparities on such measures as income, education and, in the case of Shelburne, health. The term has re-entered mainstream public debate across Canada following the killing of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis police custody at the end of May. Floyd's killing triggered protests against anti-Black racism across the United States and in other parts of the world, including Canada. On Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Indigenous and racialized Canadians have long known "that there is systemic discrimination right across our country and every part of our country and in our institutions. And recognizing that is difficult." Waldron said in a recent interview that systemic racism is the way "disadvantage, discrimination and exclusion" are embedded in social systems. It is reflected when people of colour and Indigenous people are under-represented in the judiciary and over-represented in prisons. Or when people of colour earn less than others and provincial civil services are disproportionately white. Indigenous adults make up 3 per cent of Canada's population and visible minorities more than 22 per cent. But in Canada's federal and provincial judiciaries, 1.3 per cent of judges are Indigenous and 4 per cent are visible minorities. About 21 per cent of visible minorities in Canada are considered low-income, compared with just over 12 per cent of people who are not visible minorities. Nationally, the median total income for Black people is 34 per cent lower than the income for non-visible minorities. In 2016, Indigenous women accounted for roughly 31 per cent of the federal prison population, while men represented 23 per cent. Waldron says systemic racism explains why Nova Scotia's Black rural communities are rarely mentioned when political leaders talk about environmental issues. Her 2018 book, "There's Something In The Water," examined the legacies of industrial pollution on towns such as Shelburne and Lincolnville. She argues that landfills, trash incinerators, coal plants, toxic waste facilities and other environmentally hazardous activities tend to be near communities of colour, Indigenous territories and the working poor. Delisle said that growing up, no one in her community wanted to say anything about the dump fires that blew noxious gases and ash through her part of town. The dump was placed in her community, she said, "because no one said anything about it." It was fully shut down in 2016. "People didn't want to do anything that was going to make them stand out or seem like a troublemaker in the community," she said. Inequalities in Canada are reflected in many indicators beyond health. On Tuesday, Quebec's human rights commission published a report examining the demographics of public-sector workers in such areas as schools, police forces, public transit and municipalities. It found that visible minorities people who are not Caucasian or Indigenous made up about 6 per cent of that workforce in 2019, even though they account for 13 per cent of the Quebec population. The report also indicated that Indigenous people, who make up about 2.5 per cent of Quebec's population, held just 0.3 per cent of those public-sector jobs. When it comes to policing, reports in cities such as Montreal and Halifax have indicated that people of colour are more likely to be subjected to so-called street checks. A 2019 report commissioned by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission indicates Black people in the Halifax area were stopped by police six times more often than whites. In Montreal, a 2019 report commissioned by the city's police force indicated Black people were 4.2 times more likely to be stopped by police than whites were, and that rate increased to 4.6 times for Indigenous people. During the past two weekends, thousands of people gathered in protests across Canada to denounce anti-Black racism in the country's police forces. That same level of support, however, was not seen a few months earlier, before the COVID-19 pandemic, when First Nations people across the country protested in solidarity with hereditary chiefs from the Wet'suwet'en First Nation in British Columbia contesting a natural gas pipeline. Winnipeg-based Cree community organizer Michael Redhead Champagne said he is hopeful the recent mobilization is a sign of changing attitudes. He noted that thousands gathered at the Manitoba legislature to denounce anti-Black racism last Friday. Those people, he said in a recent interview, signalled they wanted to "understand systemic racism" and shed harmful habits. "I can take a look at all the things that people didn't do, or I can take a look at the newly demonstrated capacity that our cities and communities have to address systemic racism," he said. "It breaks my heart that I don't see 20,000 people showing up to support (Indigenous issues) and to support my relatives in that way, but it gives me hope that people are willing to learn now." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2020. Prince Harry is a bit of a fish out of water these days. The former senior member of the royal family is lying low in California with his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their son, Archie Harrison. The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily sidelined any business plans that the family had, so they have likely been spending their time getting to know their new neighborhood and getting lots of quality family time in. Still, amongst reports that Prince Harry isnt doing very well in LA, a brand-new report recently emerged, revealing that Prince Harrys older brother, Prince William, is concerned about his safety. As it turns out, Prince Williams fears are very valid. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry wanted more privacy RELATED: Prince Harrys LA Move and COVID-19 Healed His Relationship With Prince William At the beginning of their relationship, everyone wanted to know the details surrounding Prince Harry and Meghans romance. Still, it didnt take long before the public realized the couple didnt exactly welcome the spotlight, in spite of Meghans history as a Hollywood actress. They made a conscious decision to raise their son, Archie Harrison, well away from the media spotlight, and chose to keep his baptism a private affair. The new parents even decided to keep the name of his godparents a closely guarded secret, a stunning break with royal tradition. In addition, Prince Harry and Meghan separated their household from that of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Williams indicating that they wanted to do things their way regardless of what the public and press thought about it. The two received a lot of backlash over their relentless demands for privacy, but they didnt back down. Ultimately, their need to keep much of their lives from public view could have contributed to the massive dip in popularity that they have suffered over the past year. Prince Harry and Meghan recently settled in LA In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan posted an astonishing message to their Instagram account. They revealed that they wanted to retire as senior members of the royal family and to branch out on their own, pursuing their own business ventures and creating their own charitable organization. Many royal watchers believed that their decision was at least partially due to their desire for more privacy, and there was speculation that the two would slowly begin to disappear from the public view. However, Prince Harry and Meghan surprised many when they moved to LA, widely known as the center of Hollywoods elite and a hotbed for photographers, journalists, and other media. It was a contradiction, to say the least. The royal couple might not be completely safe in LA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | VICTORIA JONES/AFP via Getty Images Us Weekly reported that Prince William has been having concerns about Prince Harrys safety in LA. According to a royal insider: Williams advised Harry to return to London or move elsewhere, somewhere safer. Hes concerned about his brothers well-being and safety. While the elder royals fears could be attributed to normal anxiety, a more recent report could validate his concerns. According to this latest report, not only will Prince Harry and Meghan not get the privacy that they want while living in LA, but there could be very real safety issues, as well. A former royal protection officer said: The more you withdraw, the more people want to know what youre up to. There just becomes that fascination. The whole nature of that kind of environment is 24/7. Its constant, you know? So I think, yeah from a protection perspective, you know, its not an ideal choice. While it is certain that Prince Harry and Meghan hired a top-notch security team, it is clear that they will have to practice extra vigilance during their tenure in LA. Until Ron Levi and his brother Allen were in high school, their mother was a homemaker known for her quick wit and chicken schnitzel. Her son recalls that when he worked as a teenager at McDonalds, his mother wrote the company suggesting they add chicken to the menu. A year later, when chicken nuggets debuted, she was certain her suggestion did the trick. Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) on Friday said it has extended a line of credit (LOC) worth $215.68 million to the Malawi government for drinking water supply schemes and other development projects. With the signing of this agreement, Exim Bank, so far, has extended five LOCs to Malawi, on behalf of the Indian government, taking the total value of LOCs extended to $395.68 million, a release said. Projects covered under the LOCs extended to Malawi includes supply of irrigation network, tobacco threshing plant, cotton processing facilities, green belt initiative, sugar processing equipment, fuel storage facility and construction of a new water supply system from Likhubula river in Mulanje to Blantyre. With the signing of this LOC, Exim Bank has now in place 260 LOCs, covering 62 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the CIS, with credit commitments of around $25.68 billion, available for financing exports from India. Making face masks compulsory could slow the spread of Covid-19 by as much as 40 per cent, a study suggests. Researchers assessed the effect face coverings had on regional epidemics in Germany when they were made mandatory in shops and public transport in April. The move slashed the number of new infections over the next 20 days by almost a quarter, rising to 40 per cent after two months. The scientists said their study provided 'strong and convincing statistical support' that masks 'strongly reduced the number of incidences'. It is the most compelling evidence yet for mandatory mask-wearing in the UK, where the Government is still concerned face coverings might do more harm than good. After much toing and froing, ministers finally announced that masks will be compulsory for people using public transport in England. But there have been calls to extend the measures to include shops, which reopen next week. The Government's scientists are not convinced masks are helpful in other scenarios and believe they may give people the false confidence to take unnecessary risks that lead to infection. There is also a concern that people who wear masks touch their face more and increase the risk of viral particles entering their airways. Earlier this month the government announced plans to make wearing facemasks on public transport compulsory A lack of surgical masks for UK healthcare workers has meant Britons are being advised to make their own face coverings Not all masks are created equal: Single-use masks and surgical masks have larger pores which the coronavirus can easily slip through. A more expensive N95 mask is the gold standard for healthcare workers fighting infectious diseases In the latest study, scientists from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the University of Southern Denmark analysed the central German city of Jena. The small city of little over 100,000 people became the first in Germany to make it compulsory to wear masks in shops and on buses and trains on April 6. The number of positive coronavirus cases recorded in the city fell by 13 per cent in the first 10 days and 23 per cent over the next 20 days. How the UK Government has flip-flopped on face coverings over the months March 12: Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries: 'For the average member of the public walking down a street, it is not a good idea in fact, you can actually trap the virus in the mask and start breathing it in.' April 16: Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said: 'The evidence is weak, but the evidence of a small effect is there under certain circumstances.' April 23: Dr Jenny Harries said there could be 'a very, very small potential beneficial effect in some enclosed environments'. April 24: Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'On masks, as more information comes through, the science is constantly evolving and we always bear in mind that science and then take the decision. As of today, the government position is unchanged.' April 30: Boris Johnson said: 'I do think that face coverings will be useful, both for epidemiological reasons, but also for giving people confidence that they can go back to work.' June 4: Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that face coverings will be mandatory on public transport from June 15 'With more people using transport the evidence suggests wearing face coverings offers some - albeit limited - protection against the spread for the virus.' Advertisement After two months the epidemic had shrunk by 60 per cent, but the researchers say 20 per cent of this reduction was caused by the virus naturally petering out due to the lockdown. Writing in the study, published as a discussion paper for the Institute of Labour Economics, the scientists write: We believe that the reduction in the growth rates of infections by 40 per cent to 60 per cent is our best estimate of the effects of face masks. 'This is a sizeable effect. Wearing facemasks apparently helped considerably in reducing the spread of Covid-19. 'The most convincing argument stresses that Jena introduced face masks before any other region did so. 'It announced face masks as the first region in Germany while in our post-treatment period no other public health measures were introduced or eased. Hence, it provides the most clear-cut experiment of its effects.' Dr Hilary Jones, who has been updating Brits on the Covid crisis through his appearances on Good Morning Britain, today raised concerns about the study, which he said was 'not robust'. He said: 'This was not a robust study by any means. 'A lot of experts are looking at it and say they can't rely on it at all. 'It also differs from other reports which query the efficacy of facemasks at all.' Experts have been split down the middle about whether face coverings have a major impact in reducing Covid transmission. The UK Government's scientists insisted throughout the crisis there is no evidence face masks prevent the spread of the virus. But they changed their tune last week and made it compulsory for people to wear masks on public transport in England, threatening to dish out fines to those who don't comply. But a failure to properly plan for a pandemic has left healthcare workers short of personal protective equipment (PPE), including surgical face masks. So Britons are instead being told to use scarves, clothes or household items as makeshift masks. THE TRUTH ABOUT FACE MASKS: WHAT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN Research on how well various types of masks and face coverings varies but, recently, and in light of the pandemic of COVID-19, experts are increasingly leaning toward the notion that something is better than nothing. A review of scientific literature by the University of East Anglia found the masks have a 'small protective effect' that could shield elderly and vulnerable people from contracting the virus in crowded places. The researchers advise they people wear one on public transport, at the supermarket or in hospitals. But they say the evidence is not strong enough to recommend widespread use of masks in the general population. A University of Oxford study published on March 30 concluded that surgical masks are just as effective at preventing respiratory infections as N95 masks for doctors, nurses and other health care workers. It's too early for their to be reliable data on how well they prevent infection with COVID-19, but the study found the thinner, cheaper masks do work in flu outbreaks. The difference between surgical or face masks and N95 masks lies in the size of particles that can - and more importantly, can't - get though the materials. N95 respirators are made of thick, tightly woven and molded material that fits tightly over the face and can stop 95 percent of all airborne particles, while surgical masks are thinner, fit more loosely, and more porous. This makes surgical masks much more comfortable to breathe and work in, but less effective at stopping small particles from entering your mouth and nose. Droplets of saliva and mucous from coughs and sneezes are very small, and viral particles themselves are particularly tiny - in fact, they're about 20-times smaller than bacteria. For this reason, a JAMA study published this month still contended that people without symptoms should not wear surgical masks, because there is not proof the gear will protect them from infection - although they may keep people who are coughing and sneezing from infecting others. But the Oxford analysis of past studies- which has not yet been peer reviewed - found that surgical masks were worth wearing and didn't provide statistically less protection than N95 for health care workers around flu patients. However, any face mask is only as good as other health and hygiene practices. Experts universally agree that there's simply no replacement for thorough, frequent hand-washing for preventing disease transmission. Some think the masks may also help to 'train' people not to touch their faces, while others argue that the unfamiliar garment will just make people do it more, actually raising infection risks. If the CDC does instruct Americans to wear masks, it could create a second issue: Hospitals already face shortages of masks and other PPE. Advertisement The Transport Secretary Grant Shapps earlier this month unveiled the new rule for train, bus and Tube travel as he told the Downing Street briefing that makeshift masks can reduce the spread - following weeks of accusations that ministers were dragging their heels on the issue. Mr Shapps said the 'challenges' for the network were 'increasing' as more people go back to work and schools and shops reopen. 'We are doing what many other countries have asked transport users to do,' he said. 'The evidence is that wearing face coverings offers some, albeit limited protection.' Mr Shapps said while the rules would be mandatory and 'ultimately' people could be fined, he did not believe they would need much enforcement. 'Wearing a face covering helps protect others,' he said. 'Why wouldn't people want to do the right thing? We are all desperate to get rid of coronavirus.' He stressed that people should still only use public transport if they have to, urging them to drive, walk or cycle instead where possible. Unions welcomed the move, saying it would give workers and travellers more confidence amid desperate efforts to get the economy back on its feet. More than 40 transport workers in London have died from coronavirus so far. London Mayor Sadiq Khan immediately claimed credit, saying his 'lobbying had paid off' and the government had 'finally seen sense'. Last night MPs were warned three quarters of pubs, restaurants and hotels could go bust unless the Government's two-metre rule is scrapped. In a bleak assessment, a cross-party group of MPs said the majority of businesses in the catering and tourism sector would find it 'impossible to operate financially' if staff and customers were required to remain two metres apart. The group urged ministers to work urgently to get the distance reduced warning that many venues would simply be unable to reopen next month even if lockdown is eased. The devastating report came as Boris Johnson faced an overwhelming clamour from scientists, politicians and business leaders to lift or relax the social-distancing rule. Last night's MPs' report, by the all-party group for hospitality and tourism, said three quarters of firms in the sector could lose up to 80 per cent of their capacity under the two-metre rule. It said: 'It will make the operational reopening of many venues challenging. Business confidence studies submitted to the all-party group suggested up to 75 per cent of businesses surveyed were not confident that they could survive with this level of social distancing enforced.' It added that the two-metre rule exceeded World Health Organisation guidance of one metre. It concluded: 'For travel and tourism businesses, it is difficult to imagine two-metre social distancing being feasible in most circumstances.' Mr Johnson will come under renewed pressure today when the Office for National Statistics publishes data expected to show a further fall in the number of Covid infections, the measure he has set as the key test for relaxing the rule. Economists are also predicting an 18 per cent fall in output. Whitehall sources said Mr Johnson had told allies that scrapping the rule was a matter of 'when, not if'. One said: 'He wants to do it when he's confident it is safe to do so. I would be surprised if there is a single member of the Cabinet who wants to keep the rule as it is, but the science says we just can't move yet.' Getting Brits to wear face masks all the time in public could shrink the R rate and stop a second wave of Covid-19, study finds The widespread use of face masks in Britain could keep the reproduction rate below one and stop a second wave of coronavirus, a study suggests. Modelling by the universities of Cambridge and Greenwich found if half of Brits wore masks it would prevent the crisis from spiralling back out of control. The researchers said mask-wearing by everyone was twice as effective at reducing R compared to only asking symptomatic people to use them. But they warned current social distancing and lockdown measures were not suffice to stifle the spread of Covid-19. Lead author Dr Richard Stutt, from Cambridge University, said: 'Our analyses support the immediate and universal adoption of face masks by the public.' The UK's R rate is thought to be between 0.7 and 0.9 but some experts estimate it has crept above 1 in the North West and South West of England. The R represents the average number of people an infected patient passes the virus to and keeping it below 1 is crucial to prevent a second surge of the virus. Different face coverings have varying levels of protection - for example, a scarf is much less effective than a medical-grade surgical mask. But the modelling by Cambridge and Greenwich shows the R rate would plummet below zero even with a covering that is just 75 per cent effective and only worn by half of Britons. The research claims it is much more effective to have everyone wearing masks rather than just symptomatic people The widespread use of face masks in Britain could keep the reproduction rate below one and stop a second wave of coronavirus, a study suggests But the latest model took into consideration the fact people might fidget with the masks, wear them wrong and take unnecessary risks. The researchers estimated the transmission rate based on levels of compliance from the public. If 50 per cent or more of the population wore them then the R will remain below one as long as social distancing stayed in place and lockdown was eased very gradually. If every single Briton wore masks in public then the scientists estimate it could keep R stable without any draconian curbs. But the researchers admit it would be highly unlikely that everyone would adhere to the rules. Lead author Dr Richard Stutt, part of a team that usually models the spread of crop diseases at Cambridge, said the finding suggested mask-wearing needed to be 'immediately' enforced in the UK. He added: 'If widespread face mask use by the public is combined with physical distancing and some lockdown, it may offer an acceptable way of managing the pandemic and re-opening economic activity long before there is a working vaccine.' The researchers found that even homemade masks with limited effectiveness would dramatically reduce transmission rates if worn by enough people. Previous studies have suggested that homemade face coverings have up to 90 per cent of the same protective effect as surgical masks. The latest study claims that an entire population wearing masks of just 75 per cent effectiveness could keep the R below one even if lockdown is eased. Professor John Colvin, co-author from the University of Greenwich, said: 'There is a common perception that wearing a face mask means you consider others a danger. 'In fact, by wearing a mask you are primarily protecting others from yourself. Cultural and even political issues may stop people wearing face masks, so the message needs to be clear, 'My mask protects you, your mask protects me'. 'In the UK, the approach to face masks should go further than just public transport. The most effective way to restart daily life is to encourage everyone to wear some kind of mask whenever they are in public.' David Cameron's sister-in-law Emily Sheffield will take over from George Osborne as editor of the Evening Standard, it was announced today. The former Tory chancellor stepped down after three years to become the editor-in-chief of the London free newspaper instead. Former deputy editor of Vogue Ms Sheffield - who has never shied away from airing her own political views - is set to take the reins on July 1 and said she is 'very proud' to land the role. The 47-year-old mother-of-two is the younger sister of former prime minister Mr Cameron's wife Samantha, 49. Their father Sir Reginald Sheffield is the eighth baronet of Normanby in the County of Lincoln and has held the role since 1977. Samantha and Emily were products of his first marriage in 1969 to Viscountess Astor. The sisters have three half-siblings from Sir Reginald's second marriage in 1977. Samantha Cameron's younger sister Emily Sheffield (pictured together) will take over from George Osborne as editor of the Evening Standard, it was announced today The former Tory chancellor(right) stepped down after three years to become the editor-in-chief of the London free newspaper instead. Ms Sheffield (left) will take over Ms Sheffield is married to actor Tom Mullion, who starred in the film Snow White And The Huntsman. He is co-founder of Kitty Fishers, a tiny but extremely fashionable restaurant in Mayfair frequented by such names as Nigella Lawson and Homeland actor Damian Lewis. During David Cameron's election campaign, it was revealed that rebellious Ms Sheffield was expelled from private school Marlborough College after cannabis was found in her dormitory in a police raid. Following her brother-in-law's victory, Ms Sheffield never failed to share her own, often opposing, political views. During David Cameron's election campaign, it was revealed that rebellious Ms Sheffield (pictured) was expelled from private school Marlborough College after cannabis was found in her dormitory in a police raid In 2018, she blasted Boris Johnson after he was snapped running through a field of wheat in what has been widely interpreted as a jibe at the expense of the Prime Minister Theresa May. Ms Sheffield reacted with fury to now-Prime Minister's stunt, sharing a picture of him in the field on Instagram with the caption: 'Sorry but f*** you Boris and your consistently s****y brand of humour'. Ms Sheffield is married to actor Tom Mullion (pictured together in 2018), who starred in the film Snow White And The Huntsman Theresa May famously described running through fields of wheat as a child as the 'naughtiest' thing she'd ever done in an interview. Ms Sheffield also took aim at Boris' choice of running gear, branding him a 'god damn sartorial disaster on top of everything else'. In the wake of Mr Cameron's Brexit defeat in 2016, Ms Sheffield posted a series of politically-charged tweets just hours after the vote came in. She admitted that she had 'only voted Tory for David' and revealed that she had backed Labour in two previous elections. 'How quickly can I join the Labour party?,' she asked after the results were declared. Adding: 'I want to have a say so the right wing Tories are held at bay. I only voted Tory for David.' She later posted: 'Before that I voted Labour twice. The far right is not my home'. The posts were followed by a string of tweets, including one that said: 'Boris and Gove will not force this when country's youth is against it, and Scotland... Make your voice heard, peacefully, firmly but loudly'. When Mrs May took power after Brexit, Miss Sheffield spoke angrily about how she deplored the casual denigration of the achievements of Mr Camerons Government by the new regime. She also delivered a stark warning to Mrs May in an article for The Spectator, writing: They will come for you, I am afraid one day, Prime Minister, like they did for Thatcher, Blair and Brown. She also caused trouble in 2013 when she posted a picture on Instagram of her younger sister Alice on her wedding day, with Mr Cameron in the background taking an afternoon snooze on the brides bed with his red Cabinet box. Mr Mullion (pictured with Ms Sheffield in 2016) is co-founder of Kitty Fishers, a tiny but extremely fashionable restaurant in Mayfair frequented by such names as Nigella Lawson and Homeland actor Damian Lewis After the picture was liked by thousands of users, Emily called herself an idiot on Twitter, admitting she did not intend it to be seen by so many people. In February this year, Ms Sheffield spoke about her agony at suffering a miscarriage, describing how she 'tumbled into grief'. She said she was left 'physically traumatised' by her loss, which came soon after she was forced out of her job as deputy editor of British Vogue in 2017. In the wake of Mr Cameron's Brexit defeat in 2016, Ms Sheffield posted a series of politically-charged tweets just hours after the vote came in Recalling the emotional turmoil of the time, she wrote in The Times magazine: 'Without my usual work routine for balance and the Vogue girls for support, I tumble into a period of grief. 'Plummeting pregnancy hormones don't help, and leaving Vogue begins to feel like a very painful divorce.' She eventually sought professional counselling, nine months after the traumatic events, and wrote: 'I urge other women to do so far sooner.' Ms Sheffield became pregnant at the age of 44, just before the 'crushingly sad' loss of her job at the glossy fashion magazine. She wrote: 'I'd been there 13 years. I spent more time with my Vogue team than with my family. When the managing director, Nicholas Coleridge, called me into his office and broke the news, I was furious with myself for crying. In February this year, Ms Sheffield (pictured) spoke about her agony at suffering a miscarriage, describing how she 'tumbled into grief' 'I had become pregnant in those last months at Vogue, a shock given I was 44. I decide this is my consolation prize for losing out on the top job and leave feeling excited about the future. 'In September, just as London Fashion Week begins, I miscarry a week short of my three-month scan. The miscarriage leaves me feeling physically traumatised.' Ms Sheffield recently launched online media company ThisMuchIKnow following advice Mr Osborne gave her at a dinner at the Camerons' home. After losing her job as deputy-editor of Vogue, Mr Osborne advised her to 'step back and seriously consider' her next move. In 2018, Ms Sheffield (pictured in 2018) blasted Boris Johnson after he was snapped running through a field of wheat in what has been widely interpreted as a jibe at the expense of the Prime Minister Theresa May Ms Sheffield reacted with fury to now-Prime Minister's stunt (pictured), sharing a picture of him in the field on Instagram with the caption: 'Sorry but f*** you Boris and your consistently s****y brand of humour' His advice led her to setting up the app - which relies on content from Instagram to provide need-to-know stories, special reports, culture and news quizzes.' In March this year, it was revealed that she received a 60,000 Government grant to set up the app. The controversial grant came from the 2 million Future News Pilot Fund issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. It was set up following a review intended to help struggling local news publishers. She was awarded the money after successfully navigating a bizarre interview process, part of which included placing marshmallows on a tower of spaghetti during a group challenge. The grant to Ms Sheffields outfit caused anger among local newspaper groups none of which has received any money from the pilot fund. A total of 54 news organisations bid for a slice of the money during a two-day interview process run by Nesta, an innovation foundation, with 19 then receiving the handouts. The winning applicants were decided through a mixture of presentations and ice-breaking team activities such as the marshmallows game. Ms Sheffields start-up, which relies on content from Instagram to provide need-to-know stories, special reports, culture and news quizzes, has also received money from the Guardian newspapers 42 million venture capital fund. Omar Rahman, M.D., director of the Munroe-Meyer Institute Department of Genetics at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, is part of a group that has created a training manual in both English and Spanish designed to help health care providers recognize and diagnose fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Dr. Rahman's colleagues included Maristela Monteiro, M.D., Ph.D., senior advisor on alcohol and substance abuse for the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO); Christie Petrenko, Ph.D., assistant professor of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center and associate director of clinical training at the Mt. Hope Family Center; and Diego Gomez, a neuroscience major at Creighton University. Drs. Rahman and Petrenko have consulted and provided training workshops on FASD throughout the world as consultants for PAHO/WHO since 2011. They worked with Dr. Monteiro in Chile in 2017 and the Dominican Republic in 2018-19, and their experiences in those nations led to the creation of the workbook. Each time we've done these trainings, we've continued to improve our training materials and get feedback from sites. The current iteration of training material really solidified on our last trip to the Dominican Republic. It's been a great opportunity to work together and find the most effective ways to engage people in different countries who may have different resources and skill sets available." Christie Petrenko, Ph.D., assistant professor of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center "We were informed by our prior experience, but we also had some latitude and could tailor the best ways to teach this content and these skills to people, given the constraints of each region." "As we saw its usefulness, we kept adding to it," Dr. Rahman said. "It became a much more comprehensive work." The 55-page handbook, now available in English and soon to be available in Spanish, features sections on prenatal exposure, dysmorphology, neuropsychology, the diagnostic process, and case-based learning modules. The handbook is particularly valuable because FASD often goes undiagnosed. The team shared a story of a health professional who attended a training and realized her nephew might have FASD. "That was in the Dominican Republic," Dr. Monteiro said. "She then brought in her nephew and his mother, and the child had a full case of fetal alcohol syndrome. "The boy had been through three different, privately done evaluations, they had done an MRI, and no one knew what it was. And it was textbook, really, the child had all the features." That incident was part of the inspiration for the handbook, which also drew from work Drs. Rahman and Petrenko had done in Eastern Europe and Africa with the WHO. Dr. Monteiro championed the project with PAHO and, by putting the handbook on the PAHO website, ensured it will be accessible and have worldwide reach. "People in Central and South America trust PAHO to provide them with good resources and information," Dr. Rahman said. The team credited Gomez, who currently is applying to medical school, with writing most of the handbook in both English and Spanish. Members of the University of Nebraska Medical Center public relations team helped design the handbook, and the graphic design work was supported by the Friedland Family Distinguished Professorship. "The fact that this is freely available to everyone, and on such an important website, is really going to help raise awareness about the condition, in addition to being a good resource for anyone who interacts with patients who have FASD," Gomez said. "There is an extensive medical literature, but there isn't a lot of available materials that can be used for training directly," he said. "Having someone condense that and explain it in language accessible to people will raise awareness." The team is now looking at creating additional resources aimed at parents and teachers, and Dr. Monteiro wants to explore how COVID-19 - which has been shown to increase alcohol consumption when people are quarantined at home - may impact FASD prevalence. Prenatal alcohol exposure affects about 2 to 5 percent of the US population. Children and adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) struggle with lifelong learning and behavioral problems. Without appropriate support services, they are at high risk for secondary conditions, such as mental health problems, trouble with the law, school disruption, and substance abuse. Since the onset of the COVID-19 recession, Port San Antonio has been one of the few landlords that hasnt had to worry too much about whether tenants will be able to pay the rent. The 1,900-acre campus on the Southwest Side is home to more than 80 companies, military agencies and nonprofits, with a combined workforce of 14,000. For perspective, thats twice the number of workers at Toyotas South Side truck plant and its 20-plus parts suppliers. Yet Jim Perschbach, the ports president and CEO, can count on one hand the number of deals short-term rent deferral agreements his staff has to work out with struggling tenants. In those cases, the problem has mostly been that theyre waiting on payment for fulfilled product orders or services rendered. Daniel Carde /Contributor And the wave of job losses has largely missed Port San Antonio. I havent heard of any layoffs among our tenants, Perschbach said. I have heard about tenants hiring. He named a few: aircraft maintenance company StandardAero, Boeing, Knight Aerospace, Plus One Robotics. A lot of the ports ability to carry on during the economic downturn is attributable to the military, a reliable paymaster and one of San Antonios biggest employers. Nearly half the campuss workers are tied to the Air Force, either as uniformed or civilian personnel. National defense is the soul of the place, born as it was out of the decommissioned Kelly AFB. But theres more to Port San Antonios resiliency than military spending. In the last few years, Perschbach and company have tried to turn the facility into a technology and innovation campus, as the ports website describes it. Dont roll your eyes. Sure, every owner of office space with a coffee bar, open-floor layout and a pingpong table claims its all about tech and innovation. But Port San Antonio actually has built a respectable roster of companies in cybersecurity, robotics and artificial intelligence. Cybersecurity firms employ 860 workers at the port, and applied technology and manufacturing companies another 664. Those numbers pale in comparison to defense and aerospace employees 6,507 and 3,735, respectively but theyre growing. A sampling of its tenants: Lockheed Martin Cyber; Kawasaki Robotics, which supplies industrial robots to Toyota and other manufacturers; IPSecure; Fidelis Cybersecurity; and Northrop Grumman. In other words, many of its tenants work in fields that are set to thrive or at least hold their own amid the economic disaster unfolding around us. Stay-at-home orders and the temporary closure of nonessential businesses have forced us to live online as never before. Last year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 29 percent of employees in the U.S. could work from home and that 25 percent occasionally did. Estimates of how many have been forced to telecommute over the last three months are all over the map. But its probably not too far from that 29 percent. Many employees will continue working from home, with occasional visits to the office, after the pandemic has passed. Then theres all that online shopping and those home deliveries. Warehouse operators, transportation firms and other logistics companies have had to scramble to keep up. The experience will drive them to invest even more heavily in automation and artificial intelligence. And nearly every facet of our digital lives and economy is under threat of cyberattack. The need for cybersecurity expertise probably has never been greater. Thats why San Antonio and Bexar County officials, as they prepare to spend tens of millions of federal bailout dollars on job training for unemployed workers, highlight cybersecurity as one of the industries with strong employment potential. Some of the trainees future employers will be at Port San Antonio. Last September, we reported that port tenants had added 2,000 jobs over the previous two years. And at the moment, more than 90 percent of the ports existing buildings are leased out, according to Perschbach. (In the ports 2019 fiscal year, tenants paid a total of $27.6 million in rent.) Port San Antonio, whose board of directors is appointed by City Council, is holding its own for now. In the near future, itll do much more than that. greg.jefferson@express-news.net The United States and the European Union have called on Russia to lift unjustified restrictions on the movement of observers from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Donbas that were introduced due to COVID-19. The US and EU missions delivered respective statements during an online meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday, June 11, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "Since March 2020, Russia-led forces have used the COVID-19 pandemic to further restrict the movements of the monitors, despite clear indications by SMM leadership that they have taken stringent steps to protect the monitors and local civilian populations from the coronavirus. The United States calls upon Russia to direct the forces it arms, trains, finances, leads, and fights alongside in eastern Ukraine to cease their harassment of the SMM. The monitors must be allowed to fulfil their mission's mandate," U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE James Gilmore said in a statement. The EU Delegation to the OSCE also expressed concern about the security situation for the SMM. It was pointed out that the restrictions imposed under the guise of COVID-19 on the movement of OSCE SMM observers posed a serious threat to the effective functioning of the mission and were unacceptable. The EU called on Russia to use its influence on the armed formations it backs in order to lift these unjustified restrictions and implement the Minsk agreements. The EU also called on Russia to immediately stop fueling the conflict by providing financial and military support to armed formations and expressed concern about the presence of Russian military hardware and troops in areas controlled by Russian-backed armed formations. Regular bans on the SMM's access to the checkpoints of Russian-backed armed formations during the attempts of the OSCE SMM patrols to enter occupied territories began on March 21 in Donetsk region and on March 23 in Luhansk region. Photo: OSCE Australia will be battered by torrential downpours this weekend, as a rain bomb threatens to lash Sydney and Hobart. Southern parts of Western Australia will be hit with low pressure cold fronts which will bring with it gusty winds, heavy rain and showers to several areas in the state. Temperatures are expected to drop to a low of 3C in Canberra and Hobart as rains and winds slam the two cities. Areas along the coasts of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania have all been issued weather warnings as 90km/h winds are expected. Southern parts of Western Australia will be hit with low pressure cold fronts which will bring with it gusty winds, heavy rain and showers. Areas along the coasts of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania have all been issued with strong wind warnings. The northeast will be mostly sunny and cool-to-cold with fog in the southeast but sunny then cool-to-cold Meteorologist Diana Eadie told Daily Mail Australia the cold front moving over Australia isn't 'unusual' for this time of year but 'it does have the potential to bring severe weather.' 'Particularly when it moves over south Australia and western Victoria tomorrow and the main risk is going to be severe winds,' Ms Eadie said. 'We do see cold fronts like this fairly frequently, so a lot of vegetation and structures are pretty resilient to such strong winds. 'But of course there is always a risk of localised damage to some property and potentially fell trees as well.' The northeast of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory will be mostly sunny and cool-to-cold with fog in the southeast but sunny then cool-to-cold. Northwest of the states will be cool-to-cold and mostly cloudy with clearing showers in the southwest and the same temperatures. Sydney is mostly cloudy and expected to experience showers with a minimum temperature of 13C and a maximum of 19C. A thick fog has covered Canberra this morning but is expected to gradually clear as temperatures rise. The minimum temperature in the nation's capital is chilly 3C with a maximum of 14C. Areas along the coasts of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania have all been issued weather warnings as 90km/h winds are expected The southwest of Victoria will be very cold and mostly cloudy while the southeast will experience fog then sunny weather which will cool down and eventually drop to very cold temperatures. Northwest Victoria will experience cool-to-cold temperatures and will be mostly cloudy while the northeast will be foggy, then sunny but will get colder as the day ends. A strong coastal wind warning has been issued for the West Coast through midnight tonight and there is a strong wind warning on Saturday for Port Phillip, East Gippsland Coast, West Coast and the Central Coast. Melbourne will be mostly sunny and slightly cloudy with temperatures ranging from lows of 4C and highs of 15C. The southwest of Queensland will be cool-to-cold and mostly cloudy and cool-to-mild, sunny in the northwest. In the east, the temperatures will be cool-to-mild and will be mostly sunny. Brisbane will be cloudy but mostly sunny with a low of 15C and a high of 25C. The weather in the southeast and central of the state will be cold-to-very-cold and mostly cloudy. Weather in the west will fair a little better with winds and mild-to-warm temperatures while the north will be cloudy and cool-to-mild (pictured: Adelaide) The weather in the southeast and central of South Australia will be cold-to-very-cold and mostly cloudy. Weather in the west will fair a little better with winds and mild-to-warm temperatures while the north will be cloudy and cool-to-mild. Through midnight on Friday, a strong coastal wind warning has been issued for the Far West Coast, Lower West Coast and the Upper West Coast. The same wind warning has been issued for the Central Coast, South Central Coast, Lower South East Coast, Upper South East Coast and the Investigator Strait. Even though the majority of South Australia will experience wild winds, Adelaide will be mostly sunny with minimum temperatures of 5C and a maximum of 19C. Heavy showers will hit the southwest with cool-to-cold temperatures and rain will continue to fall in the south with the same lows and highs. The northwest will have clearing showers and cool-to-mild temperatures but the northeast will be warmer and mostly sunny Heavy showers will hit the southwest of Western Australia with cool-to-cold temperatures and rain will continue to fall in the south with the same lows and highs. Due to the cold temperatures, showers and winds, there has been a warning to sheep graziers in the Lower West, South West, South Coastal, South East Coastal and Great Southern forecast districts. The northwest will have clearing showers and cool-to-mild temperatures but the northeast will be warmer and mostly sunny. Perth will be cloudy and a thunderstorm is expected to hit the city with a low temperature of 12C and a high of 19C. Tasmania will be mostly sunny but cold in the southwest and the highlands will be hit with heavy winds. Isolated showers and cold temperatures will be in the north while the southeast will experience fog then sunny weather which will get colder throughout the day Isolated showers and cold temperatures will be in the north while the southeast will experience fog then sunny weather which will get colder throughout the day. There has been a strong wind warning issued for Friday in the Central West Coast, South West Coast, South East Coast and the Far North West Coast. A gale warning has been issued for Saturday in the Central West Coast alongside a strong wind warning in the South West Coast, South East Coast, Far North West Coast, and the Lower and Upper East Coast. Hobart will be cloudy with possible showers and a chilling low of 3C and a high of 13C. The north of the Northern Territory will be mostly sunny and warm with temperatures dropping to cool-to-mild over the interior and the south. Darwin is sunny and warm with minimum temperatures of 22C and a maximum of 32C and skies are expected to remain clear throughout the day. The Sweetwater County Clerks Office is adding two more polling places to address concerns about voting in the countys outlaying communities. One polling location will be added in Farson while the other will be added in Wamsutter. Initially, the clerks office limited the number of locations to seven within Green River and Rock Springs after the Wyoming Secretary of States Office requested counties reduce the number of polling places to seven. According to a press release from the Sweetwater County Clerks Office, the initial directive was influenced by fears of spreading COVID... OCEANA COUNTY, MI A poacher who shot a bear with three cubs that later had to be euthanized is being sought by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The injured bear was found in a creek in Oceana County, and its cubs were found in a nearby tree, according to a news release from the DNR. Its believed the bear was shot either Tuesday, June 9, or Wednesday, June 10, according to the news release. Authorities were contacted about 8:15 a.m. Thursday, June 11, and responding conservation officers found the injured animal trying to get out of Ruby Creek, which is located near Riverbend Road and the Ruby Creek Tavern. The area is in Colfax Township very close to the border with Mason Countys Branch Township. The bear was unable to move its rear legs due to a gunshot wound and a wildlife biologist determined it needed to be euthanized, according to the news release. Its a shame this bear had to be euthanized, conservation Lt. Joe Molnar said in prepared statement. The bear suffered needlessly, while trying to take care of her cubs. Related: Report of bear hit by vehicle near Muskegon prompts warnings The orphaned cubs were taken to a wildlife rehabilitator, according to the news release. Molnar told MLive he wasnt certain how old the cubs are, but they were born over this past winter. He said they were in good condition. He declined to say what sort of firearm was used to shoot the bear, nor would he speculate on why someone would shoot it. The investigation is still ongoing, Molnar said. He asked that anyone with information call or text the anonymous Report All Poaching hotline, at 800-292-7800. Rewards are provided for tips that lead to convictions. Even the smallest bit of information could be a help, Molnar said. Black bears can be legally hunted in Oceana County, but only during the designated hunting season, which is Sept. 13-21. A tag from the DNR also is required. Also on MLive: Police laud neighbors who tried to save victim of double homicide Man accused of stabbing another during argument near Muskegon Woman killed in hit-and-run crash was truly pure at heart An art dealer with galleries in London and Miami was arrested on US charges that he defrauded victims of more than $20 million - Getty An art dealer dubbed Mini Madoff, who owned galleries in London and Miami, has been arrested for his alleged role in one of the biggest art scandals in years. Inigo Philbrick - accused by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of masterminding a $20million (16m) art scam - was arrested on Thursday in the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. The 33-year-old American national is charged with selling the same art works to different investors, sometimes at inflated prices, in order to get the money to pay for another. Works said to be included were a 1982 painting by the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat titled Humidity, a 2010 untitled painting by the artist Christopher Wool, and an untitled 2012 painting by the artist Rudolf Stingel depicting the artist Pablo Picasso. A number of auction houses were reportedly caught up in the alleged scam. Christie's employees take bids for Leonardo da Vincis "Salvator Mundi" during the Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Sale at Christie's New York - AFP Mr Philbrick is accused of reselling one artwork in 2019 for $5.5 million, only for one person to claim they held 100 per cent of it and another two 50 per cent each. The scheme only came to light later that year when various investors and lenders learned about the fraudulent records Mr Philbrick had provided and the misrepresentations and omissions he had made, the FBI alleges. Kenny Schachter, an artist and former friend of Mr Philbrick's, told the New York Magazine that he became a mini Madoff of the art world, a "Talented Mr Ripley figure" who, he alleges, took advantage of the poorly-regulated art market. It was a Ponzi-like scheme, said Judd Grossman, a lawyer representing one of Mr Philbricks former clients. Mr Philbrick, from Connecticut, moved to the UK more than a decade ago to study at Goldsmiths, University of London. In 2010, he joined the prestigious White Cube gallery as an intern and quickly won the confidence of its owner, Jay Jopling, who made him director of secondary market sales. Three years later, he opened the Inigo Philbrick Gallery in Mayfair with seed money from Mr Jopling. Story continues Mr Philbrick failed to appear for court hearings in both Miami and London last November, and his whereabouts was not known until his arrest this week. LLG PTE Ltd, one of the firms who launched legal action against Mr Philbrick, told a London judge that evidence suggests he holds, directly or indirectly, $70 million worth of assets. It put the combined value of the art managed by Mr Philbrick's businesses at as much as $150 million. This includes the Basquiat painting, which another investor, Satfinance Investment Ltd., agreed to buy with Mr Philbrick for $18.4 million - only to learn belatedly that the price was inflated by about $6 million. The court made an order to freeze his assets. As alleged, Inigo Philbrick was a serial swindler who misled art collectors, investors, and lenders out of more than $20 million, US Attorney Geoffrey Berman said, in a statement on Friday announcing the arrest. You cant sell more than 100 percent ownership in a single piece of art, which Philbrick allegedly did, among other scams. When his schemes began to unravel, Philbrick allegedly fled the country. Now he is in US custody and facing justice. He is expected to appear before a Manhattan federal court on Monday. Requests for comment from Mr Philbrick went unanswered on Friday. San Antonio, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - June 11, 2020) - MIRAGE ENERGY CORPORATION (OTC Pink: MRGE) announces it has signed an agreement with ENERGY AGENCY OF THE STATE OF PUEBLA to develop a pipeline infrastructure project to deliver natural gas to the state and various industrial parks with in the state. This includes the delivery of 500 mmbtupd of natural gas thru this pipeline project. Total estimates cost for development of this project is expected to be s $300 million USD. Mirage Energy Logo To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://media.zenfs.com/en-us/newsfile_64/1c55708725a0c67d6239d63198a5765e The first stage is a 46.60 mile pipeline from the Pemex's Compression Station at San Martin to new Industrial Park at Izucar de Matamoros Puebla. Izucar Natural Gas Pipeline To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6732/57720_fbd0112674303af9_002full.jpg This project will give a faster more economical way of delivering natural gas to the region of Mexico with our pipeline network we should be able to deliver natural gas at a 50% discount to current prices. Also, we have signed a work agreement with the National Infrastructure Union. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future financial performance. We intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors for such statement. We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Any forward-looking statements represent management's best judgement as to what may occur in the future. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risk, uncertainties and important factors beyond our control that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from historical results of operations and events and those presently anticipated or projected. Story continues SOURCE: Mirage Energy Corporation http://www.mirageenergycorp.com/ Office: 210-858-3970 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/57720 A Millville, New Jersey, police officer has been suspended after commenting on a Facebook post in which he said of looters: Seems like target practice to me Officer Antonio Delfinado, added a laughing emoji on a post of a screenshot Wednesday when commenting on a President Trump Facebook post that referred to shooting protesters. The post talks about sending the National Guard to Minneapolis to quell recent protests, the result of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling of the neck of George Floyd for nearly nine minutes, killing him. The post includes the line, Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Delfinado was suspended from his duties Wednesday, and the police department is investigating the matter, a spokesperson said. He declined to say if Delfinado is suspended with or without pay. The Millville police department was made aware of a controversial Facebook post made by one of our officers. The officer has been removed from their duties pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation, Capt. Ross Hoffman said. We thank those members of the community who brought the post to our attention, he added. The Millville Police Department was made aware of a Facebook post made by one of our officers and our Professional... Posted by Millville, NJ Police Department on Thursday, June 11, 2020 Delfinado did not immediately respond to an email sent to his police department email, and his Facebook profile appears to have been deactivated. Millville Commissioner Jim Parent told NJ Advance Media he was unaware of Delfinados comment, but when relayed the comment and context, he said, Yeah thats horrible, horrible. Horrible thing to be said. Thats not the America I know. People have a right to demonstrate, Im a firm believer in that. Parent declined to say if he thought Delfinado should be terminated, instead saying the decision is up to the system itself. Those who are in charge of that, he said. You know, its time for them to make their decision of whats best." Mayor Michael Santiago and Commissioner Joseph Pepitone did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. By Philipp Sandner Civil society rejoiced when the Tanzania-based African Court on Human and Peoples Rights was established in 1998. But the dream for justice within the continent risks falling apart as member states neglect the court. Tanzania, Benin, Ivory Coast within six months, three African nations have revoked the right of individuals and NGOs to sue them before the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights. This leaves just six member countries where the court has such jurisdiction. There were high hopes when 30 countries launched the Court back in 1998. Six years later, the court began its work and its judgments are binding on member states. But today, the court is no longer a priority for many African governments, or even the African Union (AU). Individuals and NGOs are currently the only ones bringing cases to the African humans rights court, former deputy chairman of the ACHPR, Fatsah Ouguergouz, told DW. The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights probably no longer has the interest in going to court, nor are the individual states prepared to do so, he said. In other words, the court will soon simply run out of cases. Rulings not respected But the Court doesnt just face difficulties before a new trial even begins. Some states block any attempts to enforce court decisions. Take Benin, for example the opposition politician Sebastien Ajavon appealed to the court after being sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2018. Ajavon argued that he had been excluded from taking part in the local elections as a result. The court ordered that the vote be suspended while the case was being considered. Nevertheless, it took place as planned on May 17. By then Benin had already withdrawn its voluntary commitment to the court. On April 28, a court in Ivory Coast imposed a 20-year prison sentence on Guillaume Soro for corruption. The ACHPR had ordered the suspension of the arrest warrant against Soro. In both cases, the government complained of gross interference by the court that threatened the well-being of the nation. The Court is currently attempting to establish binding standards throughout the AU to oblige states to implement the rulings and sentences handed down. So far, the results have been nothing less than disastrous. Many of the states against which the court has issued rulings or orders have not complied with them, Robert Eno, ACHPRs Registrar told DW. Up against weak justice systems Human rights organization Amnesty International warns that many governments not only boycott the ACHPR but also weaken their own countrys local courts. The alternative is to tell people to turn to the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights to appeal to the court indirectly, Fidele Kikan, Amnesty Internationals Country Director in Benin, told DW. However, Fidele says turning to the court has not worked out well in practice. We know that of the 300 or so cases that have been dealt with before the court, only three have come through the commission. This has not worked very well, Kikan said. The commission one of the institutions of the AU could also impose sanctions on states that ignore court decisions. But it has never made use of this privilege before. Human rights activists like Kikan are also surprised by the fact that the same heads of state and government authorities who are rebelling in Africa against alleged paternalism by international courts arent cooperating when it comes to African jurisdiction. It is quite astonishing that heads of state who portray themselves as more or less as populist pan-Africanists are simultaneously working to weaken regional institutions. Political will lacking According to Zimbabwean lawyer Sternford Moyo, the problem does not lie with the ACHPR itself. The problem is rather the lack of will among African heads of state to enforce prosecution and end impunity, Moyo, who previously chaired two judges associations in the region the Law Society of Zimbabwe and the SADC Law Association told DW. The fact that courts fall out of favor with African governments as soon as they take up cases that the same governments do not like is not an isolated incident. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has had to struggle with this issue time and again. When the ICC Chamber launched preliminary investigations into Burundi for possible crimes against humanity which started to occur in April 2015, when the late President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his intention to run for a third controversial term, the East African country unceremoniously submitted its resignation from the Court. Advertisements Other countries, such as Kenya, have also considered withdrawing their membership. The ICC has 123 member states globally, but for years, most of its cases have been focused on African countries. This has often been criticized within the continent but Moyo believes such criticisms are unwarranted: We should rather celebrate instead of complaining that we get attention from the ICC. It means we are using the courts resources to end impunity in our region. Reliou Koubakin contributed to this article. B oris Johnson has said it is absurd and shameful that the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square is at risk of attack from anti-racism protesters. The Prime Minister intervened after a protective barrier was placed around the monument and the nearby Cenotaph on Thursday night amid concerns they could again be targeted by demonstrators. Mr Johnson described Mr Churchill as a "hero", adding: We cannot now try to edit or censor our past. We cannot pretend to have a different history." He wrote on Twitter: The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square is a permanent reminder of his achievement in saving this country and the whole of Europe from a fascist and racist tyranny. The statue has been covered up / Jeremy Selwyn It is absurd and shameful that this national monument should today be at risk of attack by violent protesters. Yes, he sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial. We cannot now try to edit or censor our past. We cannot pretend to have a different history. The statues in our cities and towns were put up by previous generations. They had different perspectives, different understandings of right and wrong. But those statues teach us about our past, with all its faults. To tear them down would be to lie about our history and impoverish the education of generations to come. Mr Johnson added that the only responsible action was to stay away from planned protests this weekend. As for the planned demonstrations, we all understand the legitimate feelings of outrage at what happened in Minnesota and the legitimate desire to protest against discrimination. Whatever progress this country has made in fighting racism and it has been huge we all recognise that there is much more work to do. But it is clear that the protests have been sadly hijacked by extremists intent on violence. The attacks on the police and indiscriminate acts of violence which we have witnessed over the last week are intolerable and they are abhorrent. Winston Churchill statue and Cenotaph boarded up in London 1 /28 Winston Churchill statue and Cenotaph boarded up in London Winston Churchill statue boarded up in Parliament Square Jeremy Selwyn Workers erect a protective barrier around the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square Getty Images Scaffolding has been placed around the statue of Winston Churchill in central London in anticipation of protests Getty Images PA A Westminster Council street marshal stands next to a protective covering installed overnight surrounding the statue of former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square PA The Cenotaph boarded up Jeremy Selwyn Getty Images Getty Images PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA Workers install a protective barrier around the Cenotaph Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images The only responsible course of action is to stay away from these protests. It comes after activists scrawled "was a racist" on the statue of Britain's war-time Prime Minister as thousands descended on London for another protest over George Floyd's death. MP for Rother Valley Alexander Stafford said it was a sad day for the capital that the Cenotaph had to be boarded up. Those that want to attack this symbol of freedom and liberty make me deeply ashamed," he wrote on Twitter. A barrier was also put up around George Washington in Trafalgar Square / Getty Images Jacob Young, MP for Redcar, wrote on Twitter: So sad that rioters can't be trusted not to attack the cenotaph, so much so that they now feel the need to board it up. A protective barrier has also been put up around the George Washington statue in Trafalgar Square ahead of the protests. Meanwhile, two statues of people involved in the history of Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals are to be removed due to their links with the slave trade. The Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust announced on Thursday that the figures depicting Robert Clayton and Thomas Guy will be taken out of public view. Edward Colston statue recovered from Bristol harbour 1 /8 Edward Colston statue recovered from Bristol harbour PA PA PA PA PA Bristol Council Dozens more controversial statues could be pulled down after councils vowed to review their monuments following the series of Black Lives Matter protests. Two slave trader statues have already been removed in recent days - one by campaigners at an anti-racism protest in Bristol and another with the approval of a local authority following a petition. A statue of slave owner Robert Milligan was removed from its position in the docks he founded at West India Quay, east London, on Tuesday. In Bristol, a statue of Edward Colston was torn down and pushed into the harbour. Loading.... Labour-led councils across England and Wales have now agreed to work with their local communities to look at the "appropriateness" of certain monuments and statues. He said Vietnam is among countries that are able to early contain the COVID-19 epidemic and is striving to seize the opportunity for development. During the process, the country has great demand for power, so the Vietnamese Government welcomes Exxon Mobils investment in a complex of ports, LNG storage facilities and LNG-fueled power plants using advanced technology in Hai Phong. The PM said with a total capacity of 4,000 MW, this project will help boost the development of not only Hai Phong but also the entire northern key economic zone. Phuc also appreciated Exxon Mobils plan to build a gas-fired power complex with total capacity of 3,000 MW in the southern province of Long An. The group will ensure stable LNG supply for the power complex from the US and other countries. The import of LNG from the US will contribute to a more harmonious trade balance between Vietnam and the US, he said. Sayyed praised Vietnam for containing the COVID-19 epidemic with effective measures, which he said will create a safe and reliable environment for international investment and trade in the country. The first indigenous person in Alto Solimoes to test positive for the novel coronavirus was infected by a government doctor whod carried the disease back with him from vacation. Officials then ignored indigenous requests that pandemic aid be delivered to them, leaving people no alternative than to leave the isolation of the forest to travel to cities and wait in lines to collect the $120 stipend. Dozens, including Guilherme, returned to their villages coughing and feverish. The coronavirus soon ripped through the population. The $120 of death, people now call the aid. AFP via Getty Images The Democratic National Convention takes place this week, with Joe Biden set to accept his nomination as the Democratic candidate before taking-on President Donald Trump in the 2020 US election. That acceptance speech will come on Thursday 20 August, following a completely virtual four-day event which begins on Monday 17 August, and can be watched here. It promises to be a convention like none other, having been postponed, cancelled and moved online amid concerns around safety and coronavirus, which has killed 170,000 Americans to date. The presumed Democratic party candidate for president, Joe Biden, will also see his rivals in the Democratic primary contest give their backing to his bid for the White House. They include Senator Kamala Harris, who on Wednesday is due to accept her nomination as the Democratic vice presidential nominee, after she was announced as Mr Bidens running mate less than a week ago. What happens at the convention? Not unlike the Republican convention in ordinary times, the Democrats event is traditionally a mixture of rallies, working sessions and elections, with delegates from the 50 states and non-state territories and districts convening in one place to determine the partys platform and pick their candidates for president and vice president. In 2020, however, working sessions will largely take place online with participants able to tune-in and watch the proceedings from across the United States. Meanwhile, a considerably slimmed-down speaking schedule will see two-hour packages delivered by star speakers including former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, among other high-profile Democrats and personalities. Who to watch and when On Monday , you can expect to see speakers from across the American political spectrum, with at least one Republican starring alongside progressive Democrats such as Senator Bernie Sandors before former first lady, Michelle Obama, headlines the first night of the convention. Story continues Senator Amy Klobuchar Former Ohio Governor John Kasich New York governor Andrew Cuomo Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer Senator Bernie Sanders Former first lady Michelle Obama On Tuesday , New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will speak at the convention, providing young and progressive voters with a voice among more mainstream speakers and Mr Biden, who is sometimes at odds with younger Democrats. Tuesday will also seen former president Bill Clinton provide the warm-up to Mr Bidens wide, Dr. Jill Biden, who could become the first lady after November. Minority leader Chuck Schumer Former secretary of state John Kerry Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Former president Bill Clinton Dr. Jill Biden On Wednesday , a host of women speakers will provide the warm-up to Kamala Harris accepting her nomination as the 2020 Democratic vice presidential candidate, when she will formally become the first black and south Asian woman to stand on the ticket of a major party in the United States. That speech will then be followed by former president Barack Obama. Senator Elizabeth Warren House speaker Nancy Pelosi Former secretary of state Hilary Clinton Senator Kamala Harris Former president Barack Obama On Thursday , Mr Biden will be at the centre of the online event as he accepts the partys nomination in a speech traditionally viewed as the starting gun on the final sprint towards Novembers election. And, without an in-person event, that acceptance speech will be made from Mr Bidens home state of Delaware. Senator Cory Brooker Fomer South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg California governor Gavin Newsom Andrew Yang Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden Spectacle Apart from the selection of the party platform and the partys candidates for president and vice president, the convention also serves as a means to rally supporters and solidify support for the candidates ahead of the November general election. In 2020, that will come in the shape of completely online performances from Leon Bridges, The Chicks, Common, Stephen Stills, Jennifer Hudson and Billie Eilish (on Wednesday), who will enterain those watching the event. Monday night will also see a virtual youth choir with members representing all 57 states and territories as singing the United States national anthem from remote locations across the country. How to watch The conventions programming takes place between 9 - 11pm EDT ( 1 3am GMT the next day) Monday to Thursday this week, and can be watched online here. Read more Joe Biden says Democrats could hold virtual convention Extreme far-right groups are planning counter-protests over the weekend in London when large numbers of Black Lives Matter activists are expected to stage another demonstration, prompting officials to protect statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Winston Churchill. The London mayors office confirmed on Friday evening that Gandhis statue has been temporarily covered for its protection, as mayor Sadiq Khan and others appealed to people to stay away from the weekend demonstrations, which also pose challenges in the context of coronavirus. Khan said: Im extremely concerned that further protests in central London not only risk spreading Covid-19, but could lead to disorder, vandalism and violence. Extreme far-right groups who advocate hatred and division are planning counter-protests, which means that the risk of disorder is high. Be in no doubt these counter-protests are there to provoke violence, and their only goal is to distract and hijack this important issue. Staying home and ignoring them is the best response this weekend, he added. Last Sunday witnessed the first major BLM demonstration in London, when the statues of Churchill and Gandhi were targeted, among others. In Bristol, the statue of slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down and thrown into the Avon river. A series of tweets, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that it is absurd and shameful that Churchills statue had been targeted, and appealed to people not to join the weekend protests. Johnson, who wrote a biography of Churchill in 2014, added: We cannot now try to edit or censor our past. We cannot pretend to have a different history. The statues in our cities and towns were put up by previous generations. They had different perspectives, different understandings or rights and wrongs. But those statues teach us about our past, with all its faults. To tear them down would be to lie about our history, and impoverish the education of generations to come. The Leicester City Council is reviewing all street names, statues and monuments in the city with a large population of Indian origin. A petition for the removal of Gandhis statue there enlisted over 5,000 signatures by Friday evening. Keith Vaz, who was Leicester East MP for 33 years, said: This is a dreadful petition that seeks to divide communities in Leicester and in the country. Those behind it know full well the consequences of what they are asking for. Gandhis statues in Leicester and London are an inspiration for peace, harmony and non-violence. He was one of the greatest peacemakers in history. If this is not withdrawn I will certainly refer it to the police to consider whether it incites racial hatred. We have come a long way in 33 years on racial equality but clearly there is a long way to go. If there is any attempt to remove it I will be there to defend it personally. Advertisement Home Secretary Priti Patel is incandescent. 'They are trying to silence me because I don't conform to their version of what it is to be an ethnic minority,' she seethes. 'They think they have a licence to speak for everybody from an ethnic minority community. 'That is not the case. It is simply not the case. We're all different. We're all individuals. What they are saying is racist in itself, and I don't think we should lose sight of that.' 'They' are the 31 MPs 'Left of Left of the Labour Party more associated with Jeremy Corbyn,' says Priti who have sent a vile letter accusing her of 'gaslighting' others from minority communities after she spoke about her own experience of racism earlier this week. Priti, the daughter of Ugandan Asian immigrants, had been defending herself in the Commons on Monday against suggestions by Labour MPs that she did not 'understand racial equality' in light of the Black Lives Matter protests. Home Secretary Priti Patel, pictured, said of the suggestions made by Labour MPs in the Commons on Monday: 'They are trying to silence me because I don't conform to their version of what it is to be an ethnic minority' For this vocal supporter of the late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, it was her 'the-lady-is-not-for-turning' moment. Priti's words, spoken clearly and calmly at the Despatch Box, were devastating in their emotional impact. 'It must have been a very different Home Secretary who, as a child, was frequently called a Paki in the playground,' she fired back. 'A very different Home Secretary who was racially abused in the streets or even advised to drop her surname and use her husband's in order to advance her career. 'A different Home Secretary recently characterised . . . in The Guardian newspaper as a fat cow with a ring thrtough its nose something that was not only racist but offensive, both culturally and religiously.' Priti, 48, carries her Asian ethnicity with pride, not as a weapon. 'People who know me know that I am a freedom fighter,' she says. 'My father always told me: 'Hold your head up high and go forwards. We live in a great country where we have the freedom to succeed.' 'Here I am, the most senior woman in the British Government as Home Secretary not because of privilege, but through sheer hard work, as my parents taught me, and because I had the freedom to succeed.' It is why Priti has agreed to this exclusive interview. We meet in the Home Office where, in the lift, there is a poster of Sir Robert Peel, who served twice as Prime Minister and is regarded as the father of modern British policing. His is one of the statues that some Black Lives Matter activists want to 'topple'. Add to this the fact that London Mayor Sadiq Khan has, in order to protect them, ordered the boarding up of Sir Winston Churchill's statue and the Cenotaph, a memorial to those who have given their lives for this country and, well, let's just say there's a lot of hand-slamming on the desk during the time we spend together. Patel as a child, pictured with her father. She said: 'I haven't spoken to my dad this week because it's been quite busy, but I know he would think that Churchill is a hero of our country' 'We should 'free' Churchill,' she says. 'He is the defender of our democracy and freedom. 'We have seen the desecration of war memorials [in some violent outbreaks involving a minority of protestors during last weekend's Black Lives Matter marches], which is thoroughly unacceptable. Now we're seeing a national hero being boarded up. I think this is a sad reflection on the Mayor of London because had he stood up for the right thing, had he called out the minority who were subversive in a peaceful protest, had he pulled up the thuggery in the right way, we would not be seeing the boarding up of our national hero.' She slams her hand on the desk. 'One of Dad's sayings as I was growing up was: 'We have freedom because we live in an open, democratic society.' When we hear the Labour Party being divisive, being hateful trying to erase the past, which is what, I think, they are trying to do it incenses me. 'I haven't spoken to my dad this week because it's been quite busy, but I know he would think that Churchill is a hero of our country. He fought against fascism and racism in Britain and Europe and has given us the freedom to live our lives the way we do today.' What of the other statues that some Black Lives Matter activists are threatening to topple, the men who made their fortunes from the slave trade, for example? 'We cannot pretend everything that has happened in the past is right, but that doesn't mean we can erase it. We have to learn from our past and at the same time look forwards. The now-Home Secretary with her husband Alex Sawyer at the Investec Derby Day in 2014 in Epsom, Surrey 'We need our children to understand our past so they are prepared for the future. I can see some [of the Labour MPs] who signed that letter to me have failed to understand that. They seem to think everyone should be trapped in their version of history or hold their views. That is not acceptable.' In this most unsettling of weeks, Priti Patel is, according to many political pundits, one of the few members of the Cabinet who have stepped up to the plate and 'shown balls' as the nation's history is being literally vandalised in front of our eyes. She is charming but steely just as her political hero Lady Thatcher was, and she is adamant that those who have committed these acts of vandalism and violence will be held to account. Before our interview she had been in a meeting for more than an hour with police leaders from around the country. 'Your readers have seen the appalling and sickening scenes of police officers being assaulted and abused day in day out, as we've seen peaceful protests subverted by thugs with alternative motivations.' 'There is a lot of work taking place gathering of evidence before we charge people,' she says. 'We are still living with a Covid-19 pandemic, so it's absolutely right to urge people not to go out and protest. 'Here we are, sitting socially distanced,' she says, gesturing to the three of us seated two metres apart. 'There is a severe public health crisis in this country, so I urge people not to attend the protests [this weekend] and stay at home, particularly for the community that is most affected by coronavirus.' The black community? She nods. 'We are not like America absolutely not. Our policing is not like America. We police by consent in this country. The police have operational independence. We are nothing like America. 'The fact you are sitting here speaking to me, a woman from an Asian minority background, shows we have such great opportunities in this country. We really do. 'It pains me to hear people talk our country down. If this was a racist country, I would not be sitting where I am. We are a great, great country and we are a world away from where we were 20, 30 or 40 years ago.' Forty-odd years ago, Priti was that six-year-old child enduring the dreadful taunts of 'Paki' in the school playground. 'Obviously we're talking a long time ago, but I can still remember the level of hurt and fear.' Were there tears? She nods. Patel pictured as a baby with her mother, who came to the UK from Gujarat via Uganda. Forty-odd years ago, Priti was that six-year-old child enduring the dreadful taunts of 'Paki' in the school playground 'Yes, I hated it,' she says. 'I remember being six or seven years old and wanting to go home for lunch to get away from it. It was just horrible. Real abuse.' There's a sadness writ large across Priti's face as she speaks. 'My dad decided he wanted to change my school. I never forget my Mum saying: 'We can change the school but it doesn't mean things will change dramatically.' 'My mum and dad were shopkeepers, so we heard all sorts of nasty words and language. They were very different times.' Priti's parents, Sushil and Anjana, emigrated to Britain in the late 1960s so her father could study for a degree in mechanical engineering. But their plans were turned upside down when despot President Idi Amin, expelled Uganda's Asian minority in the early Seventies. Suddenly, Priti's father was forced to give up his education to earn a living and support his parents, brother and sister who fled to England. 'If you think what the British government did for Ugandan Asians, it's phenomenal, which is why, in particular sitting here, I feel so strongly about our moral commitment and responsibility to the people of Hong Kong,' she says. 'The Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and I are committed to creating a bespoke way for them to come here.' More than two million of them? She nods. 'It speaks again for the values of our country and the open tolerant country we are. Look . . .' she nods towards two maps of the British Isles on the wall of her office. One is from 2017 and one from 2019. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, pictured above, has, in order to protect them, ordered the boarding up of Sir Winston Churchill's statue and the Cenotaph, a memorial to those who have given their lives for this country (file photo) A demonstrator reacts in front of graffiti on a statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square during a Black Lives Matter protest in London on June 7, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis The boarded up Churchill statue in London, pictured on 12 June. The Mayor of London said the capital city's landmarks, including street names, would be reviewed by a commission to removing those with links to slavery 'We won a General Election because we focused on levelling up across the country. We want to deliver that and give opportunity to all.' She speaks with a passion that is borne from her own life experience. 'Life was hard for my parents but you just get on with it,' she says. 'When my dad gave up his studies, they rented a room from an elderly man who was known to me as Uncle Fred, in Finsbury Park [North London]. 'My dad bought a shop for his own parents and then he bought his own shop a newsagent's. 'From there, we went to Norfolk, where he bought a post office and a grocery shop. I saw my mum and dad working so hard, seven days a week around the clock early mornings, late nights and enduring people being insensitive. I remember it fully.' Again, there is sadness evident on her face. 'We lived above the shop and I saw them sweat it out. They made sacrifices and just worked hard huge long hours,' she says. Priti worked hard, too. She attended an all-girls ethnically mixed comprehensive school where she became head girl before becoming the first in her family to graduate from university. 'I don't think I had an ambition growing up,' she says. 'I'm very close to my family. My dad taught me book-keeping. He used to show me the VAT returns. After his father passed away, I remember him telling me that if anything happened to him, it was my responsibility to keep a roof over my mum's head and look after my brothers and sisters.' Patel speaks about her experiences of racism during a speech in the Commons. She attended an all-girls ethnically mixed comprehensive school where she became head girl before becoming the first in her family to graduate from university She tells me she has one of each and her face softens when she speaks of her family, which includes her husband, Alex Sawyer, and their son. She and Alex met through politics, working together on a byelection campaign. They married in 2004 at a register office, followed by a Hindu ceremony. 'My husband is a Christian but he's not overtly religious,' she says. 'He doesn't really see colour and never has done. 'My parents taught me to get on with everyone. My dad love him to bits has always been one of those to integrate into society and become part of the community. 'Before standing as an MP, I worked in consultancy for big multi-national companies. I don't see barriers in people. That's how we live our lives, that's how we bring up our son. 'My family are international. We don't see colour, gender, race or stereotype. That is part of my motivation for becoming a Member of Parliament: I am not a stereotype. The Labour Party does not speak for me. I will not be defined by the Left because I am from an ethnic community. 'I was born in this country. I was brought up in this country. I've had equal opportunities. I didn't go to the most glamorous of schools, but I worked hard and went to university. That's intrinsic to who I am.' She pauses for a moment, then shakes her head. 'Do you know my first experience of sexism and racism [since becoming an MP] has come now?' she says. 'That cartoon in The Guardian [depicting Priti as a cow and Boris Johnson as a bull when he defended her in the Commons] was beyond offensive from a cultural perspective. It's no secret I'm a Hindu, so from a religious perspective it's just offensive. It was awful very, very upsetting.' Her jaw tightens. 'When I hear what I did in the Commons this week or read what I read in that letter, I fear we are returning to some of the most ugly and divisive aspects of hateful politics. 'But I will not be silenced.' Home Secretary Priti Patel says Winston Churchill should be 'liberated' as Sadiq Khan is accused of caving in to mob rule by covering up his statue By Andrew Pierce and Mario Ledwith for the Daily Mail London's mayor was accused of caving in to mob rule last night by covering up Winston Churchill's statue. Sadiq Khan is shielding key public monuments including the Cenotaph ahead of anti-racism protests on Saturday. But Priti Patel called on the mayor to uncover the bronze sculpture immediately. 'We should free Churchill, a hero of our nation, who fought against fascism and racism in this country and Europe,' said the Home Secretary. 'He has given us the freedom to live our lives the way we do today.' Churchill's grandson, Nicholas Soames, said covering up his statue in Parliament Square was a national humiliation. And Boris Johnson said it was 'absurd and shameful' that the monument required protection. Mr Khan defended his decision, insisting that 'prevention is better than the cure'. His allies said Mr Johnson oversaw the boarding-up of Parliament Square statues three times as mayor. Sadiq Khan is shielding key public monuments including the Cenotaph ahead of anti-racism protests on Saturday. But Priti Patel called on the mayor to uncover the bronze sculpture immediately. Pictured: Churchill's statue on June 7, after it was daubed in graffiti during a Black Lives Matter protest The former Prime Minister's sculpture has now been boarded up to protect it from further damage. Boris Johnson called the move 'absurd and shameful' The Churchill monument, which was erected in 1973, has been a target of protesters and was spray-painted with the word 'racist' last weekend. Police said they could face a 'perfect storm' today after a network of football hooligans and extremists said they would rally to 'defend' national monuments. In an attempt to diffuse tensions, the campaign group Black Lives Matter urged supporters not to travel to the capital in case they came under attack. More than a dozen anti-racist marches are scheduled to take place across the country today. Bolton Council's leader has ordered a two-metre steel fence to be built around the town's cenotaph over fears it could be targeted. Dozens of town halls are reviewing the status of monuments after a statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston was toppled in Bristol last weekend and thrown into the harbour. Mr Khan has also ordered protection for monuments to Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament Square and to George Washington and King James II in Trafalgar Square. Despite backing the Black Lives Matter movement, he warned against protesting this weekend because of the risk of spreading coronavirus and because of the potential for clashes with the far Right. The Prime Minister, who has written a biography of Churchill, said the Second World War premier 'fully deserves his memorial' even if some of his opinions would be unacceptable today. He added: 'The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square is a permanent reminder of his achievement in saving this country and the whole of Europe from a fascist and racist tyranny.' Addressing questions about historical figures, Mr Johnson said: 'They had different perspectives, different understandings of right and wrong. But those statues teach us about our past, with all its faults. To tear them down would be to lie about our history, and impoverish the education of generations to come.' Mr Johnson acknowledged the 'legitimate feeling of outrage' over the death of African-American George Floyd while under police arrest in Minneapolis last month. Dawn breaks at the Cenotaph, Britain's memorial to its glorious war dead, was boarded up on Thursday evening in anticipating of further Black Lives Matter marches this weekend Even the statue of anti-apartheid campaigner Nelson Mandela on Parliament Square was today being boarded up to protect it from protestors Workmen have this morning arrived at Guy's Hospital in London to begin boarding up a statue to its slave-trading founder Thomas Guy following pressure from Black Lives Matter protesters Fencing is put up around the Abraham Lincoln memorial in Parliament Square today ahead of BLM-related protests and counter-protests He also accepted that the UK had 'much more work to do' in tackling racial inequality but added: 'We cannot pretend to have a different history. The statues in our cities and towns were put up by previous generations.' Miss Patel said the decision to hide the monument to Churchill was a 'sad reflection' on Mr Khan's mayoralty. She added: 'Had he called out the minority in particularly who were subversive in a peaceful protest, and had he pulled up the thuggery in the right way, we would not be seeing the boarding up of our national hero.' A spokesman for the mayor said: 'The Home Secretary should have a word with her boss the Prime Minister, who did exactly the same when he was mayor of London including boarding up the whole of Parliament Square to protect the statues from protesters. However, we all know she won't, because this is simply political point scoring. 'Sadiq has urged everyone thinking of protesting to stay at home instead this weekend and he has protected these monuments from damage or vandalism which is the only responsible thing to do.' Sir Nicholas described the Black Lives Matter movement as a 'noble cause' but said the protests had been hijacked by the 'ghastly hard Left and hard Right'. Security barriers are placed in Whitehall outside Downing Street, where protesters have repeatedly attacked police officers Scaffolders erect boarding around the George Washington statue on Trafalgar Square, London - yet another of the capital's famous statues to be covered up Two men have camped out next to the statue of Scout movement founder Robert Baden-Powell (pictured) in a bid to protect it from protesters A 'hit list' of statues and memorials to some of Britain's most famous figures has been created by an anti-racism group The former Tory MP added: 'It is completely unthinkable that this should happen, that it should be necessary to board up a statue of Churchill who led this country through its darkest hour. 'Without him, I don't know where we would be today. I just think it is deeply disrespectful and humiliating for our country and it shows a total want of any realistic understanding of history.' The 12ft high sculpture was unveiled by Churchill's widow Clementine and shows him with his hand resting on his walking stick and wearing a military greatcoat. It is based on a photograph of Churchill inspecting the House of Commons after it had been wrecked by a German bombing raid in May 1941. Hundreds of protesters defied pleas to stay away from central London by attending an anti-racism march in the capital yesterday. The protest was largely peaceful and crowds respected social-distancing measures. Fears of clashes with far Right mobs proved unfounded. Starting in Hyde Park, demonstrators made their way to Trafalgar Square, watched on by a sizeable police presence. Several arrests were made during the Hyde Park speeches, which organisers said may have been linked to previous demonstrations. The death of HSE staff has been the lowest point in the Covid-19 crisis for health service chief Paul Reid, but he admits the one positive to emerge from the pandemic has been a greater public appreciation of the HSE brand. In a deeply personal interview in todays Read More: At the end of the day its about family, its about how you live your life, he said. Mr Reid said his working-class background in Finglas, Dublin, where his mother did most of the rearing of her six children, has kept him grounded. With six children in the family three boys and three girls it was really about getting out to work, he said. My Dad may not have been around for all of it. So my Mam did raise most of us for a long time on her own. But thankfully, we did all, kind of, reconcile at a later stage and my Dad made a lot up by looking after his grandchildren. He died at age 66 many, many years ago now. Despite leaving school without a Leaving Certificate, hard work won him key roles in Eircom, Trocaire, the Department of Public Enterprise and Reform, and Fingal County Council before he took over at the helm of the HSE. Crisis seems to follow me wherever I go ... but everything is relative to the situation you are in at the time. I think its about how you manage the pressure rather than how its publicly perceived. A key goal when he took up his HSE role in May 2019 was to re-build public confidence in the health service. And the way to do that is not to just talk about it but to obviously improve peoples experiences. Mr Reid agrees that the pandemic has, unexpectedly, made that goal more attainable, as people are hugely appreciative of the work being done by frontline workers. Its obviously fragile, but I definitely think it has [improved attitudes]. They had tracked some recent empathy surveys and had seen the HSE brand come up as number one in terms of brands that people connect with during this crisis, he said. Mr Reid says he welcomes the easing of restrictions and that while he respects the views of experts in public health such as chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan, I think we in the HSE would have a wider lens beyond just public health matters. He says they have done well to win the peoples hearts and minds in terms of compliance, but that we cant keep locking down society if all the indicators are going well for us. It would be high risk. You would lose the public. Theyll just get two steps ahead of us. In terms of losing healthcare staff both HSE staff and contract workers Mr Reid said: I found that really emotional, really tough ... particularly talking to next-of-kin of HSE staff. Mr Reid says he could not see himself staying on in the HSE beyond his five-year contract. My contract is for five years and I like it like that because Im not [personally] constrained. I want to keep the pace, I want to achieve a lot in that timeframe. thinking youre there for 10 years, you can lose personal momentum. Mr Reid also talks about the fantastic support his wife Margaret, who worked for the Dublin Airport Authority (Aer Rianta), has been to him throughout his career despite health issues of her own. She suffered a heart attack at aged 33 and another aged 43. Heart disease is in her family. Fortunately, she has been in great health for many years since having stents fitted. Prince Charles has marked the 80th anniversary of what is known as the forgotten Dunkirk, as he remembered the soldiers caught up and killed in a World War Two battle in France. Charles, who is in Scotland during lockdown, honoured the mostly Scottish soldiers from the 51st Highland Division who were captured at St Valery-en-Caux in France. The prince, who is the Duke of Rothesay when he is in Scotland, took a salute at Birkhall as a piper played, on Friday morning. Charles said: On 12th June 1940, after a gallant stand, the 51st Highland Division with supporting arms and services, including elements from English regiments, was forced to surrender to the German army at St Valery-en-Caux on the Normandy coast of France. At 10am this morning, on this years 80th anniversary, pipers throughout Scotland and further afield were on their doorsteps playing the celebrated march, the Heroes of St Valery, in honour of the fallen and to remember a battle in which those of the division displayed the greatest courage and tenacity. We remember all who served and who sacrificed so much. Prince of Wales taking a salute as a piper plays during a St Valery commemoration at his Birkhall residence in Scotland. (Poppyscotland/PA Wire) The ceremony is to commemorate the thousands of Scots who were killed or captured during "the forgotten Dunkirk" 80 years ago. (Poppyscotland/PA Wire) Read more: Duchess of Cornwall dubs herself 'ancient fairy godmother' of children's writing competition Pipe major Richard Grisdale, piper to the Queen, played the tribute at Windsor Castle, while the Prince of Wales took the salute from a piper at his Scottish home of Birkhall. The pipers performed Heroes Of St Valery, which was composed by Donald MacLean, who was captured at St Valery in June 1940 and spent four years as a prisoner of war. On Friday evening at 9pm there will be a tribute concert featuring performances from Celtic-rock stars Runrig, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and others. Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Irwin, president of Royal British Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland and a vice-president of RCET: Scotlands Armed Forces Childrens Charity, said: St Valery represents a hugely significant moment in our nations history, and it is quite right that the bravery and fortitude of the great 51st Highland Division should be marked in this moving way. Story continues Piper Louise Marshall plays the pipers' march "Heroes of St Valery" and leads the procession down Edinburgh's Royal Mile. (PA Images) Read more: FA Cup final to be renamed after Prince William's mental health charity Scotlands veterans minister Graeme Dey said: There is barely a town or village in the Highlands that was unaffected by the events at St Valery in June 1940, yet many people today dont know of the incredible bravery shown by the soldiers of the 51st Highland Division. Eighty years on from such a significant date in Scotlands history, it is vitally important that the heroic stance the 51st Division took that day is remembered, not only today but in the years to come. What happened at St Valery? The 51st Highland Division was made up of 10,000 mainly Scottish soldiers and they landed in France in January 1941 as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). The BEF and the French Army was pushed back into northern France by the advancing German army. Standard bearer Geoff Williams from Legion Scotland outside Edinburgh City Chambers before the St Valery commemoration. (PA Images) Read more: Who was Prince Philip's other royal family? The 51st division became separated from the rest of the BEF, and while many of those headed for Dunkirk, the division was ordered to hold the line with the French army. While the famous evacuation at Dunkirk was taking place, the soldiers from the 51st were fighting a losing battle. It resulted in the deaths of 1,000 men, with 4,000 wounded and thousands taken prisoner. Donald Smith, who was one of the teenage soldiers, told BBC: We knew nothing about Dunkirk. We never knew anything about it. All we were told was that we were moving back to northern France. We had been in a lot of skirmishes. But then we moved back to Abbeville where one of the biggest battles was. It was a battle to end all battles. We were pushed back right along the Normandy coast. You would find along the way graves of the 51st. Her Majesty The Queen's Piper, Pipe Major Richard Grisdale, of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, on top of the Round Tower at Windsor Castle on Friday. (PA Images) Bob Shanks, chairman of the Seaforth Highlanders Regimental Association, told The Ross-Shire Journal, that the plan for the 51st was for them to head west and escape on a flotilla of ships which had sailed from Britain. He said: They were tantalisingly close, but unfortunately things were working against them. The mist came down and the Germans advanced very quickly. General Victor Fortune had to surrender to the German forces on 12 June, 1940. The divisions history website said: General Fortune considered all the options, a counter attack, further resistance, retaking the town but against this there was no possibility of evacuation or support, the men were exhausted and virtually out of ammunition, with no artillery ammunition at all. Shortly before 1000hrs on the 12th June General fortune took the most difficult of decisions - to surrender. The captured were taken to prisoner of war camps in eastern Europe but little was mentioned on the Home Front about what happened, in a bid to hold onto morale. Smith and other veterans say they believe the division was sacrificed to ensure success at Dunkirk, but Shanks said this was not the case. Smith ended up in a PoW camp in Poland and was eventually liberated by US soldiers. He was the only one of his friends who signed up to survive. ALTON Two public hearings held during the citys regularly scheduled council meeting Wednesday garnered no questions or comments from the public or aldermen. However, a Budget and Appropriation Ordinance the subject of one of the hearings did receive some discussion before council members unanimously passed an amended version of the ordinance during Wednesdays proceedings. The issue, brought about by a decrease in revenue due amid the pandemic and subsequent government mandated stay-at-home order, was that the ordinance funds the police and fire pensions at a much lower rate than planned. Earlier in the week, an amendment was preliminarily approved to allow for $1 million in funds from the sale of the wastewater collection treatment and disposal facilities to pay on the pension debt. A second amendment Wednesday specified that payments to the pensions would resume to the normal rate in 2021. This resolution and the intended ordinance specifically says we go back to level payment next year and each year thereafter, said city attorney Jim Schrempf. It essentially kills the resolution coming out of the committee and substitutes this language. Any funds received from the state as a result of the pandemic will be applied to the pensions and funds from the wastewater sale will go back into the MFT fund for street repairs under the amendment. In other council news, the city also approved resolutions for engineering services pertaining to flood mitigation and the lease agreement with American Cruise Lines, which had to be amended for approval by the Army Corps of Engineers. A third resolution approved pertained to an agreement between the city of Alton and the Illinois NAACP for the establishment of common goals. The Alton city council meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The next council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24. Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. 'Surviving the Storms' examines the life-or-death decisions the RNLI have to make when battling the forces of nature to save lives With the two boys he saved, Rhys Sufferin and Matthew Forsythe The story of how a retired RNLI crew member from Portrush nearly died saving the lives of two schoolboys features in a new book recalling extraordinary courage at sea. Anthony Chambers (61) received the RNLI's medal for gallantry for the heroic callout to Castlerock on August 5, 2009, when 14-year-old pals Rhys Sufferin and Matthew Forsythe became trapped in a cave with a fast rising tide. The lifeboat mechanic's incredible story is included in a book of 11 firsthand accounts of the most daring rescues by lifesavers across the UK and Ireland over the last 20 years. 'Surviving the Storms' examines the life-or-death decisions the RNLI have to make when battling the forces of nature to save lives. Mr Chambers knows the risks from his own terrifying experience in 2009. Facing treacherous conditions on that day, he had to swim to the cave from an all-weather lifeboat with lifejackets as waves crashed against the cliff wall. Already exhausted after dragging one boy back to safety against the current, he faced a second punishing swim to help the second teenager. An extract from the book recalled the moment he felt certain he would be swept away to his death. "As we kicked our way towards the boat I felt the strength draining out of me, like sand out of an egg timer, it slipped away," he recalls. "I'm going to have to let him go. The lifeboat was just ahead of us and Rhys was secured in his lifejacket. I knew (crew member) Gerard Bradley would get him within moments. The boy would be safe. But I can't keep on." He continued: "Despite the ordeal almost being at an end, the exhaustion was too much. I prepared to let go and let the waves take me. I knew that as soon as I did, I'd be swallowed up and drown. I just didn't have it in me to fight the waves anymore. "But just as I went to release my grip and surrender myself to the sea, Gerard came up alongside us. They'd got to us, I thought." Joining the lifeboat crew in 1979 had always been an easy decision for Mr Chambers, with his grandfather Karl acting as a mechanic for the first lifeboat in Portrush in 1924, and his father taking over in 1947. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, he said: "It really started a lot earlier for me, helping my dad with the boat. When you grow up in that environment it really is all you want to do." He said the life of a rescue crew was often quiet until suddenly called into action. "The majority of the time it can be quite mediocre, but things that are life threatening and have to be dealt with can happen at any moment," he added. Looking back on his 2009 rescue, Mr Chambers said: "I remember searching up and down the coast. When you hear about a missing person they could just be in shore, but you can't take the chance of leaving two teenagers out there." He continued: "We heard the call from inside the cave and there had been a couple of hours of high water. I used to scuba dive so I had an idea to let myself be pushed in by the surge and grab on to the cliff walls. Two times I couldn't get a grip and was pushed back to square one but you had to persevere." He added: "I was 50-years-old at the time and I don't think I could manage it now. The boys were just very lucky that we could actually find them." His story in 'Surviving the Storms' is featured alongside a Cork lifeboat crew who battled force nine conditions to save a fishing crew in danger of hitting rocks in Castletownbere, and lifeguards in Cornwall who saved the lives of people moments away from drowning. All royalties from the book will go towards raising funds for the lifesaving charity. "People often forget it's a voluntary organisation," Mr Chambers added. "It's a very difficult time at the moment with Covid-19 as we can't do any fundraising at all. So you have crews who still have to spend money on maintenance which is an expensive project to be running." RNLI chief executive Mark Dowie said: "Surviving the Storms is a wonderful account of selflessness and bravery although there is no book big enough to do justice to every RNLI rescue and rescuer. "We have hundreds of lifeboat stations and thousands of crew members and lifeguards all dedicated to saving lives. "Between them, they've helped so many people survive the storms and I'm proud of every one of them." Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen has asked Ghanaians not to pay attention to comments made by former President John Mahama. The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), says the party will not accept the results of the 2020 general elections should they suspect any foul play. But let nobody assume that we will accept the results of a flawed election, John Mahama said while addressing party members at the NDCs 28th Anniversary celebration. Speaking to this in an interview on Kumasi-based Hello FM, Nana Obiri Boahen said Ghanaians should allow the former President to talk; adding, hes entitled to his views; I dont have to condemn or support him. What matters to me is to urge NPP members to go and register . . . so allow him to talk; his comments will not benefit us in any way. Listen to Obiri Boahen in the video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Brigitte Nielsen is making sure her daughter enjoys plenty of outdoor time amid the coronvirus stay at home order. The 56-year-old Hollywood star was spotted out at a local park on Friday, indulging in a sunny stroll with husband Mattia Dessi, 41, and their daughter, Frida, one. Brigitte looked simply stylish in a black dress as she held hand with her adorable tot who looked sweet in a floral dress and pigtails. Happy family: Brigitte Nielsen is pictured on Friday enjoying a some time at a local park with husband Mattia and daughter Frida, one The family played ball games together and Mattia, who the actress married in 2006, snapped photos of the mother and daughter. The Beverly Hills Cop II star welcomed Frida in 2018 with fifth husband, Mattia. She was also married to Sylvester Stallone. They were only married for 19 months between 1985 and 1987. Frida is the star's fifth child and first daughter. Games in the park: Brigitte looked simply stylish in a black dress and oversize sunglasses and her baby girl looked adorable in a floral frock A year ago the siren talked to The Guardian about having a baby later in life with IVF. 'I was always like: I want to do it until there are no more embryos left,' said Nielsen. 'Somebody has to win the lottery.' But she said it sure was not easy. 'You're on a lot of medication. It is very expensive. Hormones will do different things to different women... you always think you're going to get pregnant, but most of the time, the phone call comes and it's: I'm sorry.' She added, 'It is devastating. The partner you're with has to be onboard as much as you, unless you're a woman who wants to have a baby on your own. You have to stay realistic and, if you're older, the odds are against you.' Family moments: Mattia, who the actress married in 2006, snapped photos of the mother and daughter as they posed by a tree And she says she is now a role model. 'I get a lot of letters and emails from women, so excited that I've given them the courage,' says Nielsen. She is also the mom to Julian Winding, 36, Killian Marcus Nielsen, 30, Aaron Nielsen, 27, and Raoul Ayrton Meyer Jr, 24. Six things you need to know about the national security legislation for Hong Kong SAR PLA Daily Source: China Daily Editor: Huang Panyue 2020-06-11 00:37:59 On May 28, the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) adopted at its Third Session the NPC Decision on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The HKSAR government and various social groups and individuals in Hong Kong have welcomed and supported the decision, and pledged to facilitate the early completion of the legislative process with maximum efforts to safeguard national security and protect Hong Kong. It is a view widely shared in the global community that China's national security legislation for Hong Kong is legally sound and consistent with international common practices. It is driven by the situation on the ground and meets the aspiration of the people. Anyone who wishes Hong Kong a better future would support the NPC's decision. However, a handful of foreign politicians are going all out to make unwarranted accusations and blatantly interfere in Hong Kong-related affairs, which are purely China's internal affairs. The following are the six typical falsehoods about the legislation and the facts that you need to know. Falsehood #1: It is not legitimate for China to enact national security legislation for Hong Kong or, in other words, to impose it on Hong Kong. The truth is: The Central Government of China holds the primary and ultimate responsibility for national security, as is the case in any other country. In all countries, unitary and federal alike, the power to legislate on national security rests solely with the central government. And the NPC is the highest organ of state power in China. - Australia has two national security laws, the United Kingdom has three, Canada has five, and the United States alone has more than20 such laws. - Article 31 of the Chinese Constitution stipulates that, "The state may establish special administrative regions when necessary. The systems to be instituted in special administrative regions shall be prescribed by law enacted by the National People's Congress in the light of the specific conditions." As the highest organ of state power, the NPC has both the power and obligation to fulfill its constitutional duty of safeguarding national security in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law based on the reality and needs of the HKSAR. The duty includes enacting national security legislation for the HKSAR and establishing relevant legal system and enforcement mechanisms. The recent decision of the NPC has solid legal grounds and the highest legal effect. - Legislation on national security falls within a state's legislative power. Through Article 23 of the Basic Law, the Central Government grants the HKSAR certain legislative power on safeguarding national security, which is a very special arrangement under "one country, two systems". However, it does not change the fact that national security legislation is essentially within the purview of the Central Government, nor does it prevent the Central Government from further developing a legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in light of the actual situation and needs. Falsehood #2: It is not necessary for China to take the action at the moment. The truth is: The current situation makes it imperative to establish and improve, at the state level, the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR. The decision is fundamental to the enduring success of "one country, two systems" and is of the greatest urgency. - Article 23 of the Basic Law stipulates that the HKSAR shall enact laws on its own to safeguard national security. Nearly 23 years after Hong Kong's return to China, however, the relevant legislative process is still not materialized due to the sabotage and obstruction by anti-China, destabilizing elements in Hong Kong as well as hostile forces from the outside. Given this situation, it has become quite difficult, if not impossible, for the HKSAR to enact the relevant laws on its own. - Over the past weeks and months, activities that endanger national security have intensified in the HKSAR, posing notable risks to the long-term prosperity and stability of the Hong Kong and to the security of the country. In particular, since the turbulence over the amendment bill in 2019, the "Hong Kong independence" and radical separatist forces have become further emboldened and escalated their violent terrorist activities. Some separatists even made a public appeal for foreign sanctions against China and invited the US military to Hong Kong. External forces and "Taiwan independence" forces have blatantly ramped up intervention in Hong Kong affairs, which seriously challenges the "one country, two systems" principle, gravely undermines Hong Kong's law and order, and poses real threats to the country's sovereignty, security and development interests. Forceful measures are therefore required to prevent, forestall and punish these acts. Falsehood #3: The legislation will undermine "one country, two systems". The truth is: On the contrary, the legislation will ensure the successful implementation of "one country, two systems". Article 1 of the NPC's decision states clearly that the country will unswervingly, fully and faithfully implement the principles of "one country, two systems", "the people of Hong Kong administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy. - "One country" is the precondition and basis of "two systems", while "two systems" is subordinate to and derived from "one country". "One country" is the foundation. Should the principle of "one country" be undermined, "two systems" would be impossible to practice. One important reason for the turbulence in Hong Kong is that the anti-China, destabilizing elements in Hong Kong and external forces have shown no regard for "one country" as the foundation and challenged the bottom line of the "one country, two systems" principle. - The legislation for Hong Kong will not change the "one country, two systems" principle. It will not change the capitalist system or the high degree of autonomy practiced in Hong Kong. It will not change the legal system in the HKSAR. Nor will it affect the HKSAR's executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication. Falsehood #4: The legislation will be a violation of China's international obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The truth is: The legal basis for the Chinese government to govern Hong Kong is the Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law of the HKSAR. The Sino-British Joint Declaration is not relevant in this regard. As China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, all provisions concerning the UK under the Joint Declaration had been fulfilled. The basic policies regarding Hong Kong stated by China in the Joint Declaration are not commitments to the UK, but China's declaration of its policies, which have since been fully embodied in the Basic Law enacted by the NPC. These policies have not changed; they will continue to be upheld by China. - The Constitution, as the fundamental law of China, has supreme legal status and authority. It forms the legal basis for the establishment of special administrative regions and the formulation of the Basic Law of the HKSAR. It is clearly stipulated in the Preamble of the Basic Law that in accordance with China's Constitution, the NPC enacts Hong Kong's Basic Law, "prescribing the systems to be practiced in the Hong Kong SAR, in order to ensure the implementation of the basic policies of the People's Republic of China regarding Hong Kong". - The Sino-British Joint Declaration is an important document concerning China's recovery of Hong Kong and relevant arrangements during the transitional period. It consists of eight paragraphs and three annexes. Paragraph 1 is about China resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. Paragraph 2 is about the UK restoring Hong Kong to China. Both paragraphs were fulfilled with Hong Kong's return. Paragraph 3 and Annex I are declaration and elaboration of China's basic policies regarding Hong Kong. Paragraphs 4 to 6 and Annex II and III stipulate arrangements during the transitional period. Paragraphs 7 and 8 are about the Joint Declaration's implementation and entry into force. With the return of Hong Kong and the completion of follow-up matters, all UK-related provisions have been fulfilled. - The Joint Declaration does not assign the UK any responsibility over Hong Kong nor give it any right to intervene in Hong Kong affairs after the handover. The UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or "right of supervision" over Hong Kong after its return. The Joint Declaration is a bilateral instrument between China and the UK; it does not involve any other country or has anything to do with a third country. Sovereign equality and non-interference are enshrined in international law and are basic norms of international relations. Other countries and organizations have no right to meddle in Hong Kong affairs on the grounds of the Joint Declaration. Falsehood #5: The legislation will affect the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents. The truth is: The legislation will not affect the rights and freedoms Hong Kong residents enjoy under the law; it will enable them to enjoy their lawful rights and freedoms in a safe environment. - Fundamentally speaking, safeguarding national security and protecting human rights do not conflict with each other. The NPC's decision targets only acts of secession, subverting state power and organizing and carrying out terrorist activities that seriously jeopardize national security as well as interference in the HKSAR affairs by external forces. For the majority of law-abiding residents and foreigners in Hong Kong who love the city, there is no need to worry that they might be unfavorably impacted. - All work and law enforcement efforts to safeguard national security will be conducted strictly in accordance with legal provisions, mandates and procedures, without prejudice to the lawful rights and interests of Hong Kong residents, legal persons and other organizations. Falsehood #6: The legislation will erode Hong Kong's business environment and undermine its position as a global financial center. The truth is: The legislation will improve Hong Kong's legal system and bring more stability, stronger rule of law and a better business environment to Hong Kong. It will bolster Hong Kong's position as a global financial, trading and shipping center. - Only when national security is ensured can the community in Hong Kong enjoy law and order and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability be assured. If Hong Kong is fraught with national security loopholes and plagued by social unrest, investor confidence will be eroded. The turbulence over the amendment bill since last year has cost Hong Kong the title of the world's freest economy, a title it had held for 25 years. Its GDP contracted for the first time in a decade and unemployment hit a record high in nearly 10 years. - The legislation will not affect the legitimate interests of foreign investors. It will afford better protection to their law-based operations and commercial ties, alleviate the grave concern in the local and foreign business communities about debilitating violence, and create a more reliable and stable law-based business environment for foreign investors. - In 2009, the Macao Special Administrative Region passed a national security law under Article 23 of the Basic Law of the Macao SAR. Between 2009 and 2019, Macao's GDP grew by 153 percent, the number of inbound tourists increased by 81 percent, and the overall unemployment rate hit a record low in a decade. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ANN ARBOR, MI Three candidates vying to represent Ann Arbors southwest side discussed issues facing the city, including affordable housing, police reform and climate change, during a political forum. The Ann Arbor Democratic Party moderated the forum between incumbent Jack Eaton and challengers Jen Eyer and Mozhgan Savabieasfahani, who are seeking the Ann Arbor City Council 4th Ward seat in the Aug. 4 primary election. Rebuttals were not allowed. The top issue in the 4th ward is infrastructure, Eyer, a public relations specialist and former Ann Arbor News/MLive journalist, said, adding shes heard many residents who worry about road quality and pedestrian safety. Eyer said she wants to prioritize road projects and consider more bonding to get the projects done. We know we cant count on Lansing to give us the funding that we need to fix our roads and so we really need to work to identify every local dollar that we can to put toward that effort, Eyer said. Eyer said she also wants to work with DTE Energy and the Public Services Commission to address higher frequencies of power outages in the ward and accelerate plans for retention basins to lower chances of flooding. Ward 4 Ann Arbor council candidates discuss coronavirus outbreak, sustainability in forum Eaton said he doesnt think there is one biggest issue in the ward. He said affordable housing, climate change and police reform are top issues that residents identify in Ann Arbor, and its important for a city councilor to listen to all concerns when making policy. Savabieasfahani said a main problem in Ann Arbor is the lack of a $15/hour minimum wage in the city, which could help people better afford to stay in the city. $15 minimum wage is not a luxury, it a necessity, she said. The candidates were also asked what City Council should do to handle the impending budget shortfall and financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Eaton said his experience on City Council separates him from his opponents. Eaton was first elected in 2013 and said his seven budget cycles have prepared him for facing cuts. We are not done making cuts to our budget and we need to have someone who is fully experienced in the budget process, Eaton said. Savabieasfahani, an environmentalist, said cuts will damage ultimately lower income residents. She said a millage proposal could raise the funds needed to keep up and improve social services during the pandemic and an imminent recession. Eyer, who spent two decades as a journalist before joining political public relations firms, was appointed to the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners for about six months. She said she would first focus on funding for programs that serve vulnerable populations, then prioritize based on triage of what can be delayed and what is less important. What we decide to fund as a community is a direct reflection of our values of that community, or it should be, she said. Eyer said she was part of budget discussions at The Ann Arbor News to determine how to continue community coverage with less funding when budgets began shrinking in the newsroom. Ann Arbor Ward 3 council candidates discuss gentrification, racial justice and political factions in forum Savabieasfahani and Eyer both avoided commenting on the philosophical differences between factions on the City Council. But Eaton said he didnt believe there were two factions, rather a block of four members who vote together while the other seven are more independent in their voting. The candidates were asked what local government should do to address racial justice as residents across the United States have protested police brutality and systemic racism during the past two weeks. Eaton pointed out that there is only one non-white member of the City Council and wondered how the body could better represent the city. He said his interest in police reform comes from a place of racial justice. Savabieasfahani, meanwhile, said she thinks Ann Arbor should expand its partnership with Neutral Zone, a teen-focused nonprofit, to provide more opportunities for minority youth. Neutral Zone and city of Ann Arbor partner to aid youth with access to higher education, employment Eyer said she wants to use one of the citys missions, diversity, to promote better access to housing, equitable transit, green and clean neighborhoods and equity in the justice system. She said she recently marched in several Black Lives Matter marches because she was upset by racial inequity. My heart goes out to the parents of black children, who suffer extra worry when their kids leave the home, she said. I know and I recognize my privilege in not having that anxiety and I am with those parents in the fight to create a better world for your children. Candidates also were asked how to address growth in Ann Arbor. Savabieasfahani called for public housing, saying it was the only way to ensure housing equality in the city. She said the past decades have shown that private developers cant make affordable housing in the city. I think growth is a necessity, she said. But my question is who does the investment in the growth and who harvests the benefits of that growth? Eyer said she thinks City Council should be more proactive with affordable housing by revising the land use plan. She also called for using a portion of new developments taxes to go to the citys affordable housing fund. Eaton said he thinks a potential pause in development is coming as a financial impact of the pandemic. He wants to take that time to reevaluate the citys strategy. He opposed ideas to reduce or eliminate single-family zoning because it could cause gentrification in low and middle-income neighborhoods. Eaton wants to focus on development in areas of town that are likely to go through transformation and demolition in the business and retail sectors. City Council candidate forums continue with a 5th Ward forum featuring Erica Briggs, Dan Michniewicz and David Silkworth scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 17. You can watch the forum here. Kareena Kapoor Khan- Red Kareena Kapoor Khan most definitely leads the bandwagon in this comparison as Red. With her electric personality and vibrancy, she effortlessly steals the show, both on and off screen. Her love for the colour red, further makes her a perfect fit. Shilpa Shetty- Stella For us, the svelte Shilpa Shetty is Stella all the way. Her grace and charm coupled with her goofiness, makes her stand out from a crowd just like Stella does. Those big doe eyes, long lashes and her perfectly draped pink sarees makes her a complete head turner and of course a perfect fit in the Angry Birds family. Soha Ali Khan- Bomb This modern author and actor, Soha Ali Khan is just like our adorable bird, Bomb, with the perfect amount of classy and a great sense of humour. Like Bomb, she is easy to get along and can fit into a group effortlessly. Also, she has been spotted time and again slaying in her black outfits which clearly reminds us of this cute 'Bomb'shell. Twinkle Khanna- Matilda With her witty and chirpy nature, Twinkle Khanna surely reminds us of Matilda. This beautiful and optimistic actor has consistently made appearances in white colored outfits on social media, which makes her the Matilda of the gang. Not only is she synonymous with the character because her outfit but also through her conscious effort to radiate positivity amongst the people around her. Her wittiness and intelligence are yet another add on. Ananya Panday- Chuck New entrant, Ananya Pandey is the only person who comes to our mind when we think of Chuck. The actress has time and again expressed her love for all things yellow whether it's a sunflower, beautiful sunsets or her yellow outfits. Not only her love for yellow, but also her chirpy nature coupled with her love for talking and expressing her thoughts outwardly, makes her Chuck from this bird gang. After the blowout and fire at Oil India Limiteds (OIL) natural gas well - which claimed lives of two firefighters on Tuesday - local residents in Assams Tinsukia district are now experiencing tremors that have resulted in cracks in several homes. Residents of Natun Rongagora village, located 2.5 km from the Baghjan well, which had a blowout on May 27 and caught fire on June 9, are worried their homes could suffer extensive damages if the tremors continue. Nearly three dozen houses near the well have been razed because of fire that has been raging since Tuesday. Though the extent of its spread has now been contained to the well, the initial flare burned down trees and also impacted Maguri Motapung wetland, an important bird breeding site. We started experiencing tremors from Wednesday, a day after the well caught fire. That night the tremors lasted for nearly 10-12 hours and walls of several houses got cracked, said Hiren Senapati, president of eco-development committee of Natun Rongagora. The Baghjan well had a blowout, uncontrolled release of gas and oil condensate, while operations were on to locate a new gas reservoir. Efforts are underway to plug the well, it caught fire on June 9. The tremors have been happening intermittently now. Nearly 80% of our villagers are staying in relief camps, the people in their homes are scared to live there because of the tremors, which could be of 5.0 magnitude, said Senapati. According to villagers, the local administration visited Natun Rongagora to take stock of the damage. Authorities at OIL have also decided to carry out a study of the induced seismicity (tremors and quakes caused by human activity including oil and gas operations). There were some reports of tremors in nearby villages. OIL has contacted North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST) to carry out a study to see if there is any induced seismicity due to the blowout, read a statement from the state-run company. The experts from NEIST are trying to ascertain the cause of the tremors. We are in constant touch with OIL authorities. We will be sending out a seismology team and equipment to try to evaluate the situation on the ground. From a scientific point of view, we are very keen to look at what these tremors are and analyse its impact, said G Narahari Sastry, director, North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST). Besides the tremors, the blowout and subsequent fire has impacted flora and fauna in Maguri Beel, located a few hundred metres away from the well and possibly in the Dibru Saikhowa National Park, around 1 km away from the well. A group of local naturalists and some experts from Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) went around 700 metres inside Maguri Motapung wetland. We saw many insects and frogs which had died due to the fire, said Binanda Hatibaruah, a birding tour guide based in Tinsukia. Maguri is an important habitat for local birds and a nesting site for migratory birds. Because of the oil-like layer on the wetland, migratory birds wont be able to stay there. We had noticed nests with eggs on the grasslands, which had been abandoned probably after the blowout, he added. On Friday, HT had reported about a survey by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) which concluded that the blowout had polluted Maguri Motapung and the Lohit river. Meanwhile, efforts are on to control the fire at the well and plug the blowout. Equipment needed for the purpose have been mobilised, a water reservoir dug out and testing of pumps, engines and auxiliary equipment under progress, said a release issued by OIL. Protests by local groups continued to affect production at 68 oil wells and 13 gas wells operated by OIL in the region. According to the company, the protests resulted in the loss of 638 metric tonne of oil on Thursday. April Harris, a 44-year-old inmate at a California womens prison, tested positive for the coronavirus in mid-May. Since then she has battled a dry cough, but thats not the bad part of being sick behind bars. The bad part, she says, is the atmosphere of neglect and chaos that has taken hold as the virus burns through the California Institution for Women, a 1,500-inmate prison in Riverside County owned and operated by the state. The bad part is listening to the screams of her fellow prisoners and her friends. Someone is yelling for help over and over and over, Harris wrote on May 20 in a running journal of her experiences, which she eventually shared with prisoner advocacy groups and The Chronicle through a prison email service called JPay. No one is coming. This one is scaring me. She keeps screaming. Its piercing. Four days earlier, in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus, officials at the institution had transferred many infected prisoners to a part of the facility once used for training inmates to fight wildfires. There the prisoners have been quarantined in isolation, with little ability to leave their cells even to take showers and only sporadic access to email and phone calls. Some of these women havent showered in four days, Harris wrote in another journal entry on May 20. An inmate ran out of her room when they opened her door for breakfast and is refusing to go back in. She is screaming she wants to talk to her family. Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times Throughout the last two weeks of May, Harris continued to document the shrieks and pleas of her fellow prisoners. Sometimes, she wrote in her journal, the women were protesting against the severe conditions in the unit, and other times they were calling for medical help seemingly for health conditions unrelated to the virus, though it wasnt always clear. According to Harris journal, help often did not arrive in a timely way: May 20, 9:30 p.m.: The girls are busting out their windows. The girl next to me has officially lost her mind. I can hear glass breaking while she is screaming. May 23, 2:44 p.m.: Someone is screaming medical emergency. Now everyone is banging [on their cell doors]. May 26, 7:38 p.m.: People are screaming that they are going to hang themselves. The banging is the loudest since Ive been here. Someone called [that she was having] chest pains. The officer is here. He is calling for the ambulance. I feel sick. Harris is just one of thousands of inmates across the state being held in quarantine as officials struggle to halt raging outbreaks. There are now 3,148 prisoners and 482 employees who have tested positive for the coronavirus throughout Californias 35 prisons, according to state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation data. The bulk of the cases are concentrated in six large clusters, one at the womens prison and the other five at mens prisons in Central and Southern California. So far, 14 prisoners and two staffers have died, and the number of infected prisoners has risen steeply, multiplying sixfold between May 1 and June 1. The state Corrections Department says it has taken extraordinary and unprecedented measures to fight the virus, spokeswoman Dana Simas said in an email statement responding to questions from The Chronicle. But, according to Harris and six other female prisoners who emailed The Chronicle through JPay, as well as several advocacy groups that monitor the California corrections system, the reality of a prison virus outbreak is messy and dangerous. Four women said that in the early days of the outbreak, they were forced by supervisors to clean areas where infected prisoners had been living, potentially exposing them to the virus. Later, when some women tested positive and were sent to isolated areas of the prison, they say they experienced dirty rooms, shortages of water, few cleaning supplies, and neglect and verbal abuse by guards. On top of that, the prisoners who were isolated after testing positive received almost no information about what would happen to them, they said, sparking panic. According to Harris, at least two women under lockdown tried to commit suicide in late May; one of those women set fire to the mattress in her cell. I feel as if we are being so punished for having this virus, Harris wrote. Simas, the state spokeswoman, denied many of the womens allegations and did not comment on others. But the stories of the prisoners, combined with rising case numbers at multiple prisons, suggest that the states current strategy is failing. And if a prisoner gets infected, her life, according to sources at the California Institution for Women, soon becomes a nightmare. Rianne Theriault-Odom first heard the term COVID-19 in March. A prisoner at the womens institution, she had been taking a computer coding class, but that month classes were canceled because of the strange new disease, she told The Chronicle in an email. Theriault-Odom, 37, said she is serving a sentence of seven years to life for aggravated mayhem. She said her childhood was shaped by violence and abuse, and she arrived in prison with a fourth-grade education. Since then, she said, she has earned her GED. and worked toward a degree in sociology, with emotional support from her friend April Harris. Normally, they live four doors from each other. Theriault-Odom calls Harris an awesome person who inspires much of my growth. The two friends would soon get sick and join each other in lockdown. On April 6, a young woman in Theriault-Odoms housing unit said she did not feel well and was taken to the hospital. The next day, Theriault-Odom said, our housing staff put on gloves and a mask to pack [the sick prisoners] property. The mask scared us all pretty bad because this was our first time seeing an officer with a mask. So we all scrambled like ants in a desperate search for anything we could make a mask out of. At that point, there were 31 confirmed infections at other state prisons, including a cluster of 18 cases at a mens prison just 5 miles away in Chino, the California Institution for Men. (Since then, the outbreak at Chino has ballooned, with about 700 confirmed infections and 12 deaths.) Multiple prisoners at the California Institution for Women told The Chronicle that it was common practice for staff to go back and forth between the womens and mens prisons, potentially spreading infection from one institution to the other. (Simas denied that any staff were moving between the two prisons.) Since the start of the pandemic, prisoner advocates have appealed to Gov. Gavin Newsom and federal courts to order the release of tens of thousands of prisoners. They have pointed out that the California prison system is overcrowded, operating at 124% of its design capacity, making it difficult if not impossible for prisoners to socially distance. Medical experts who do not work for the prison system have urged the state to prevent inevitable sickness and death by releasing large numbers of prisoners who pose a low risk of reoffending. Newsom and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra have resisted these demands, arguing in court that broad releases are unnecessary and would harm public safety. Instead, the state has taken smaller steps, speeding up the release of some prisoners already scheduled to get out within 60 days and shifting others around inside prisons to create more space. But advocacy groups say that the states opposition to sweeping releases has deprived it of the most effective tool for managing the pandemic. Its just an incredibly dangerous situation that they are creating and that they are responsible for, said Lizzie Buchen, criminal justice director for the ACLU of Northern California. Theyre doing everything that they can think of to avoid releasing people. And it is absolutely futile. The outbreak at the California Institution for Women shows the limitations of the states incremental approach. After the first woman tested positive for the coronavirus, and a second woman on April 15, the virus came for Theriault-Odom. She says she has the autoimmune disease lupus and takes medicine to suppress her immune system, making her more vulnerable. She woke up one morning in pain from my head to my feet, started to cough and soon tested positive. As testing at the prison increased, dozens more women were confirmed to be infected. Prison staff began scrambling to contain the outbreak. They handed out bandannas and masks to prisoners. Those with symptoms were treated in the prisons medical treatment center or isolated in cells, while others who may have been exposed were placed under a 14-day quarantine. And in a decision that heightened tensions, staff also ordered healthy prisoners to disinfect contaminated areas of the facility, including rooms in the medical center where infected patients were isolated. Some women at the prison work for the California Prison Industry Authority, or CALPIA, earning between 40 cents and $1 per hour to clean medical areas as part of a team called Healthcare Facilities Maintenance. On April 16, according to an email from a nursing supervisor at the prison that was obtained by The Chronicle, prisoners on the maintenance team were required to clean the isolation rooms of COVID-19 patients every day while wearing a mask and while patient remains on the bed. Several women protested; they say they were being asked to reuse masks multiple times and feared exposing themselves to the virus. I am unable to sleep with the thought of that, one member of the cleaning crew emailed The Chronicle in mid-April. She did not want to be named for fear of retribution, and the newspaper agreed under the terms of our sourcing policy. This virus is something new and we need to be safe at the end of the day and I do not feel safe. My face mask didnt even seem to have a proper fit to my face. The prisoner said she was told that if she refused to clean the rooms, she would be disciplined by a CALPIA supervisor. Simas said no women were forced to perform that duty they could choose not to report for work but confirmed that prisoners were expected to clean the rooms of COVID-19 patients and faced disciplinary action if they declined. Incarcerated individuals apply to work and if they dont show for work, just as you or I in a real-working environment, they will receive verbal then written warnings and later could be unassigned, she said in a statement. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 2004 April Harris had a job with the prison industry, too, earning no more than 13 cents an hour as a porter. She says she was ordered to scour common areas in her unit. She wore a mask and rubber gloves, but from time to time she would slide the mask down to take a breath when she got particularly hot. A mother of three from Monterey, Harris is serving a sentence of 17 years to life for second-degree murder. She has long maintained her innocence and has spent almost 25 years in prison. Colby Lenz, an advocate with the California Coalition for Women Prisoners, says she has known Harris for about 15 years and finds her to be a reliable source of information who rarely complains about prison conditions or guards. In May, with coronavirus cases rising at the prison, officials started to move large groups of infected women to empty areas of the facility in an attempt to slow the spread. The state Corrections Department says they placed only asymptomatic women in these units; women say that some prisoners with COVID-19 symptoms were sent there. Not long after Theriault-Odom fell sick, Harris developed a dry cough that kept her up at night, and she tested positive for the virus. She said she was told to gather a few personal possessions and was transferred to a different part of the prison, where the cells had no windows, the ventilation was poor and the surfaces were covered with cobwebs. Around May 16, both women were moved again, to a 220-person housing unit in the former firefighting camp. Their cells were on opposite sides of a hall. Harris began keeping her journal, typing it on a tablet computer. I have been documenting everything, the first entry begins. I call it the Corona virus chronicles. Even for people who were used to being incarcerated, the isolation area was nearly unbearable. Typically, women at the prison are free to come and go from their cells from morning until night, except for 45 minutes in the afternoon. Now they were confined to their cells, two women to a cell, for more than 23 hours a day, Harris said. She wrote that the unit felt like a place of punishment. The earliest entries in her journal describe a litany of slights and deprivations, some seemingly small, others more troubling. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. When she first got to her cell in the fire camp, there was no mattress and no toilet paper, she said. After more than 12 hours, a mattress and a roll of toilet paper were finally brought to her, she wrote, by a guard who kicked the mattress into her cell with his boot, laughing. She used body wash and most of the toilet paper roll to wipe off the boot print. According to Simas, the cells were cleaned and mattresses provided before the women arrived. She said that infected prisoners in isolation are allowed to spend time outside their cells, in the yard and dayroom, and to shower at least every other day. Women who wanted to clean their cells didnt have the supplies, multiple prisoners said. When prisoners asked guards for supplies or medical attention, they say, they were often ignored. One guard told Harris to 602 the shit 602 is the paperwork code for a prisoner grievance but when she asked for a form 602, she was repeatedly denied, she wrote, and some guards hid their name tags, making it even harder for the prisoners to complain about guard misconduct. I honestly think that they are so overwhelmed, Harris wrote. Im watching the staff break down. Simas said that 602 forms are widely available to prisoners and that processing of the forms has continued without interruption during the outbreak. One of the toughest days was May 19. Harris and Theriault-Odom say a prisoner in a nearby cell had been refusing food and medicine for days, often a sign of serious mental distress. Late that morning, Harris looked across the hall into the prisoners cell and saw large flames leaping up, she wrote. The prisoner had set fire to a mattress. I was in shock for about two seconds ... and she was so calm just looking at me. Finally I snapped out of it and I started screaming, Her room is on fire.... I thought she was going to die and I was going to watch her burn. In a cell on the other end of the hall, Theriault-Odom heard the shouting, saw smoke and panicked when no staffers came. She screamed, Please dont let us die here, she later recalled, and began to throw my body against the door desperate for a way out. To my relief I heard keys. They started opening our doors. There was so much smoke I could not see in front of me. Corrections spokeswoman Simas confirmed that there was a small cell fire at the prison on May 19, extinguished by staff and a prison fire crew around 11:40 a.m. No injuries were reported, she said, and the women in the unit were briefly evacuated and checked by medical staff. Several days after the fire, according to Harris and Theriault-Odom, another prisoner in the unit tried to commit suicide. Simas said she could not confirm or comment on allegations of suicide attempts due to medical privacy laws. Harris also started to worry about Theriault-Odom. Although Harris couldnt see her friend, she could hear her voice. One day, Harris wrote, Theriault-Odom began talking crazy, as if she might harm herself. Harris said she only saw the mental health staff in the unit when they came by to slide sheets of puzzles, coloring paper and yoga exercises under the prisoners doors. Simas said that robust mental health services are available to all inmates at the prison and that care providers regularly visit the cells. In the last week of May, conditions in the unit started generally to improve. Word of the womens plight was getting out to advocacy groups, and a protest on May 23 outside the prison attracted a caravan of 80 to 100 cars. Harris journal noted some small acts of kindness by prison employees. Staff brought the women cups of ice, sometimes twice a day. Shower time was increased. One guard allowed the women to spray bleach on their toilets and sinks. By that point, too, many of the women thought they could see an end to their ordeal. Staff were retesting many of the prisoners; if women tested negative, they could return to their old cells. While awaiting her test results, Harris watched the news on a small TV in her cell. On May 30 and 31, she learned about the police killing of George Floyd, the protests, the teargassing of peaceful crowds. It seemed like the country on the outside was just as broken as it was inside. She wrote, The world has gone mad, then felt a pang of guilt for having dwelled on her own problems. On June 1, Theriault-Odom tested negative and was released from lockdown. Another 17 women who tested negative also were soon returned to their old cells. Harris was not so lucky. Her test came back positive. A nurse told her she would need to remain in isolation another week. Im so broken right now, she wrote. The hall was empty now except for Harris and about four other prisoners. Finally, after weeks of screaming and banging, all was quiet. I will be OK, Harris wrote, trying to convince herself. Im really trying to be strong. I keep talking to myself. I keep encouraging myself. On June 4, according to the Corrections Departments public COVID-19 tracker, the number of active virus cases at the prison dipped from a peak of 157 down to 107, meaning that 50 women had tested negative. Simas said this was proof that the isolation of the prisoners was successful at mitigating the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, though, the virus was leaping into new facilities, threatening prisoners and staff at two prisons that had so far avoided outbreaks San Quentin and the California State Prison, Corcoran. Meanwhile at the womens prison, Harris was coming up on a month spent in isolation. This is pure torture on so many levels, she wrote on June 4. I got this though. Five days later, on June 9, a female prisoner with COVID-19 died at an outside hospital, according to the Corrections Department the prisons first virus-linked death. The next day, still in lockdown and reading Dickens Oliver Twist to pass the time, Harris heard that one of her friends had died. I am beyond devastated, she wrote. She was so young. Our dream was to make it out of here alive. She didnt. Jason Fagone is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jason.fagone@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfagone Plumes of smoke rise from a building after a fire broke out in few shops at Crawford Market in Mumbai, Thursday. (PTI) Mumbai: Several shops located inside the heritage Crawford Market building in South Mumbai were gutted in a massive fire which broke out on Thursday evening, the Fire Brigade said. While fire officials took almost three hours to douse the flames, nobody was injured, it added. The fire started in north-end wing of the British-era structure around 6.15 pm and was brought under control around 9 pm, the Fire Brigade said. The blaze gutted corrugated boxes, large stocks of packing material, bamboos, electrical installation and electrical wirings in the shopping area of Crawford Market. A dozen big and small stalls with ground and mezzanine floors were destroyed in the fire, which was put out by five fire-fighting jets of six fire engines. "Very fast intervention and response by fire brigade has averted a major incident," said a senior officer, adding that it was initially level-1 fire call, which was later escalated to level-2. Five jumbo tankers, one quick response vehicle and an ambulance were also rushed to the spot. The shops inside the Market were closed when the blaze erupted. Mayor Kishori Pednekar rushed to the heritage building and took a stock of the fire fighting operation. As per civic officials, the Fire Brigade had expressed concern that cardboards stored inside shops were a potential fire hazard. The exact cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained. The spokesman of the Chinese embassy in Pakistan created a flutter in diplomatic circles by appearing to suggest the standoff between Indian and Chinese border troops was linked to New Delhis decision to scrap Jammu and Kashmirs special status last year. Wang Xianfeng, whose Twitter bio describes him as press officer at the Chinese mission in Islamabad, included in his tweet a link to an article by a scholar from an influential think tank affiliated with Chinas ministry of state security or main intelligence agency, which also suggested a connection between the border tensions and the change in Kashmirs status. Indias actions of unilaterally changing the status quo of Kashmir and continuing to exacerbate regional tensions have posed a challenge to the sovereignty of China and Pakistan and made the India-Pakistan relations and China-India relations more complex, Wang tweeted. People familiar with developments said Wang is responsible for liaising with the Pakistani media. Though the tweet could represent his personal opinion, this is the first time a Chinese official has sought to link the border standoff with the change in Kashmirs status, including the creation of the union territory of Ladakh, which particularly angered China. India and China are currently engaged through diplomatic and military channels for an early resolution of the border standoff after what Indian officials have described as a limited military disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, the focus of the tensions. When India scrapped Jammu and Kashmirs special status on August 5 last year, the Chinese foreign ministry had issued two statements criticising the development, including one that focused on the splitting of the state into union territories. This statement, while urging India to be cautious on the border issue and to avoid actions that further complicate the border issue, said: China has always opposed Indias inclusion of Chinese territory in Indias administrative jurisdiction in the western part of the Sino-Indian border. This was a reference to the area in Ladakh that New Delhi claims but is controlled by Beijing. Wangs tweet linked to the article by scholar Wang Shida of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, which began by saying India had since last August taken constant actions to unilaterally change the status quo of Kashmir and continued to exacerbate regional tensions. The article, titled India blinded by double confidence, said Indias move to change the status quo in Kashmir constitutes a serious threat to regional peace and posed a challenge to the sovereignty of Pakistan and China. On the Chinese side, India opened up new territory on the map, incorporated part of the areas under the local jurisdiction of Xinjiang and Tibet into its Ladakh union territory, and placed Pakistani-administered Kashmir within its so-called union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, the article said. This forced China into the Kashmir dispute, stimulated China and Pakistan to take counter-actions on the Kashmir issue, and dramatically increased the difficulty in resolving the border issue between China and India, it added. The article noted that Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi had conveyed his countrys position on these issues to external affairs minister S Jaishankar when he visited Beijing last year that Indias moves challenged Chinas sovereign rights and interests and violated the agreement on maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas between the two countries. At the time, Jaishankar had informed the Chinese side that Indias action was a purely internal matter with no consequences for the countrys external boundaries. Amitabh Mathur, a former special secretary in the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), questioned the timing of the Chinese officials tweet and said it underscored the complex issues involved in the ongoing standoff. It seems as if the Chinese are leaning on us and the situation isnt as simple as some are making it out to be. Its also strange that such a tweet emanated from a Chinese official in Islamabad. There is a Pakistani connection to it and its almost as if the Chinese are trying to reassure the Pakistanis, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Boris Johnson will meet Ursula von der Leyen via video link - PA Boris Johnson will hold video talks with the presidents of the three major EU institutions on Monday. He will discuss the progress of trade negotiations in the meeting, ahead of Thursday's EU summit. The UK hopes that the Prime Minister will be able to secure commitments from the EU to intensify the talks in what is effectively his last chance to ask for an extension to the Brexit transition period. EU sources claim that Britain wants to enter "tunnel" talks - Brussels jargon for secret discussions carried out under media blackout - in July, which Michel Barnier has ruled out, and UK sources deny. The EU's chief Brexit negotiator said on Wednesday that he hoped the "high-level meeting" would bring fresh political impetus to the trade talks, which are deadlocked over fishing rights and EU demands for level playing field guarantees. Rather than tunnel talks, the UK and EU have agreed to intensify negotiations in July after the high-level meeting. A UK spokesman said: "This new process will involve a mix of formal negotiating rounds and smaller group meetings, both in London and Brussels, assuming public health guidelines enable this." There will be talks every week between June 29 and July 27. UK officials said Britain wanted intensified talks in July, but not tunnel negotiations. "It remains to be seen if the EU is serious about making real progress next month," one source said. No 10 insists it will not ask for an extension, despite the risk of the UK leaving transition without a trade deal at the end of the year. Failure to secure a trade deal would mean trading on less lucrative World Trade Organisation terms, with tariffs, which would be less advantageous than the zero-tariff trade deal both sides are aiming for. G rant Shapps has said that people can be refused travel if not wearing face masks on public transport from next week and may face fines. Speaking in Downing Street, the Transport Secretary said that remembering face coverings should become a part of the daily routine as they become mandatory on public transport in England. Anybody taking a bus, train or Tube from Monday can be refused travel if they are not covering their nose and mouth. Other indoor close-contact spaces such as shops will not require the masks. Mr Shapps told Friday's press conference: Remembering your face covering should be the same as picking up your phone, your wallet or your purse whenever youre leaving your house. REUTERS When questioned on why the masks are only needed on transport and not other spaces, Mr Shapps said: By its very nature if you are on a train or a plane or a ferry or a bus you are in an enclosed area. That is not the case if you are out and about on the streets. And I think that may be the principal difference of this. One of the countrys top transport bosses said he is confident people will abide by the rules. Grant Shapps in Downing Street (AFP via Getty) / 10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy said: The reality of our transport systems and particularly as the economy ramps up is that there will be more occasions at which you might be closer to people than you would care for. So it seems perfectly logical to me and all my colleagues and transport operators to mandate face coverings now, because as we get to Monday and the restart of non-essential retail and looking at more people going to work it is much more likely that youll see, or be close to, other people. By Terje Solsvik and Gwladys Fouche OSLO (Reuters) - Norway will allow travel to and from Finland, Iceland and the Swedish island of Gotland from Monday, but maintain travel restrictions on mainland Sweden due to its higher level of COVID-19 cases, amid concerns of a second wave of infections. Denmark, Finland and Norway have lifted some of the controls on leisure travel they imposed to slow the coronavirus pandemic, but have kept most of those imposed on Sweden, the richest and most populous of the Nordic countries. Leaving most of Sweden out of the arrangements breaks with long-standing close cooperation between the Nordic countries, and goes against the wishes of the European Commission, which wants to lift by Monday the internal borders in the Schengen travel zone, which in normal times are open. Norway is not a member of the EU but belongs to Schengen. "I think we need to be honest and say that in the Nordics this is something of a difficult issue at the moment," Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg told a news conference. "At the same time we have a good conversation about how we're doing it, and the fact that we're applying objective criteria has been met with understanding." Swedish Home Affairs Minister Mikael Damberg said his government would continue to work on opening up the whole of the Nordic region. He said a rise in coronavirus cases reported in Sweden in recent days was the result of increased testing. "That means we are going to see an increase in the number of cases with mild symptoms, but it does not mean that there is a greater rate of infection," he said in a written comment to Reuters. Norway's arrangements add to the patchwork of bilateral travel arrangements various European countries have made as they emerge from lockdowns. Norway will assess the public health situation of each region in the Nordics separately and will review its travel advice every fortnight, starting June 15, Solberg said. Story continues Gotland, a Baltic island with close to 60,000 inhabitants, is the only Swedish region Norway will allow Norwegians to travel to without having to undergo a 10-day quarantine on their return. Swedish travellers from Gotland will be allowed to travel to Norway without undergoing quarantine. Sweden adopted fewer restrictions during the pandemic and by June 10, Sweden's COVID-19 deaths were 4,717 - four times that in the other Nordic countries combined. (Additional reporting by Simon Johnson in Stockholm; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Friday marks the debut of The King of Staten Island, the new Judd Apatow movie in which Pete Davidson plays a guy who doesnt seem all that different from the actual Pete Davidson. But that doesnt mean its about a successful comedian whose habit of being romantically linked to beautiful actresses and pop stars continually confounds the masses. Instead, its about what that guy was like before he got famousor what he still might be like if he never had. That guy is definitely close to me, like, five years ago, Davidson told the Washington Post. All those experiences are definitely real. So where do Pete Davidson and Scott Carlin, his King character, diverge? All aboard the Staten Island Ferry, because were about to find out. Family When we meet Scott Carlin, hes 24 and living on Staten Island with his mother and younger sister. (Real Pete is currently 26.) This mirrors Petes upbringing: As with the fictional family, they lost the childrens father, Scott Davidson, years before. (It is somewhat confusing to keep the Scotts straight here: Petes real father was Scott Davidson, and then Petes character in the movie is Scott Carlin and that characters father is Stan Carlin.)* Other tragic details are true to life as well: The characters father and his real counterpart were both firemen who died in the line of duty, and Pete/Scott were both 7 at the time. The movie doesnt go into much detail about the fire that killed Scotts father other than to say it was at a hotel, but its well known that Petes father died at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the movie takes place at a firehouse or among firemen, and several firefighters featured were played by real New York firefighters who worked alongside Petes father. The movie depicts Scotts gratitude for the way the firefighters give him a sense of what his father was like in non-parenting contexts, and they bond over a performance of the song One Headlight by the WallflowersDavidson has said this was his and his dads favorite song. Scotts movie mom, Margie, is played by Marisa Tomei. She has some things in common with Petes real mom, Amy, in that both work as school nurses (Amy at one of the high schools Pete attended, Xavier). Margie also works as an emergency room nurse for extra money. If Amy ever took on extra work, thanks to her son, it seems like she is living more comfortably now: Pete bought the two a house in 2016 and currently occupies the basement. Pete has said that he feels guilty that his mother, like the movie mom, did not date much while the kids were growing up, another topic the movie incorporates. As for Petes sister, in the movie her name is Claire and she is played by Maude Apatow, but her real name is Casey. Health Struggles At the very beginning of the movie, Scott is seen closing his eyes while driving, essentially courting disaster, something Pete said he did as a teenager. In real life, Davidson has spoken about his borderline personality disorder, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The movie mentions antidepressants and ADD but is otherwise somewhat vague about Scotts mental health and its treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Pete and Scott have Crohns, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Pete has said one reason he smokes marijuana is to deal with the pain from the disease. In the movie, Scott too spends a lot of time getting high. Pete has struggled with other substances and turned to rehab for help in real life, and hes been praised for his honesty about his addictions and mental health. The movie depicts Scotts substance abuse as circumstantial and less serious. Interests One big difference between Pete and Scott is that the latters ambition is to become a tattoo artist. Pete Davidson, like Scott, has dozens of tattoos but, unlike him, doesnt aspire to create them himself and instead spent much of the last decade developing a comedy career. (The movie goes out of its way to mention that Scotts first tattoo was of Kermit smoking a joint, but there doesnt seem to be any evidence that real-life Davidson has a Kermit tattoo.) In the real world, Pete started college but didnt finish, and the movie gives Scott a similarly spotty educational record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott and Pete share many of the interests of modern-day young men: hanging with their friends, video games, the aforementioned pot. Pete has a close-knit group of friends as in the movie, and the movie depicts Scotts friends making light of his fathers death, similar to how Pete has joked about it in his own comedy. Did these friends ever try to convince Pete to help them rob a pharmacy, as in the movie? Unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Petes real-life adoration for rapper Kid Cudi is also an element of the movie: Cudi is the artist Scott is listening to in that opening sequence on the highway. (The song is Pursuit of Happiness.) Davidson has spoken often of his love for the rapper, who has been similarly open about his struggles with mental health: He saved my life, Davidson said in 2016. I wouldve killed myself if I didnt have Kid Cudi. Advertisement Advertisement Whereas the real Pete has become notorious for his string of famous girlfriends, in the movie Scotts love life is a pretty minor plot: He is sleeping with his childhood friend Kelsey but refuses to commit. (Quite the contrast from proposing to Ariana Grande so quickly.) The Kelsey plotline highlights Scotts sexual prowess but shows his bedside manner is lacking, another detail that felt possibly autobiographical. In real life, Petes relationship with Grande gave rise to the phrase big dick energy, but the movie doesnt tell us much in the way of details about Petes anatomy. However, it does wink at the topic when a character played by Pamela Adlon launches into a soliloquy about how well-endowed a different character in the movie is, a guy who is played by fellow comedian Bill Burr. In real life, Davidson collects sneakers and is known for his scumbro style. Scott definitely wears a few things that feel appropriately scummy; watch for Wu-Tang Clan and Ghostface tees and a weird yellow shirt covered in mouths. But another obvious difference between the movie character and the real Pete is that while both favor flashy streetwear, only the latter has posed for GQ wearing Burberry, Lanvin, and Hermes. IT stocks came under selling pressure on Friday, falling up to 5 per cent, following reports that US President Donald Trump is considering suspending a number of employment visas, including H-1B, in view of the massive unemployment in America due to the coronavirus pandemic. HCL Infosystems dipped 4.96 per cent, Tech Mahindra 2.96 per cent, Wipro 2.26 per cent, Infosys 1.63 per cent and TCS 1.41 per cent on the BSE. The BSE IT index also fell by 1.49 per cent. "Except for IT, which was impacted by H-1B visa reports, all the other sectors traded positive," said Vinod Nair, head of research at Geojit Financial Services. "Almost all the sectors ended in green, except IT, which was down 1.5 per cent. IT came under pressure on the back of a report that the US president is mulling suspension of H-1B visas," Siddhartha Khemka, head (retail research) at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd, said. The H-1B visa, the most sought-after among Indian IT firms, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. Coronavirus news in the DC, Virginia and Maryland area FAQ: D.C. | Maryland | Virginia What you need to know: Symptoms guide | Delta variant | Other variants | How mental disorders elevate covid risk | Booster shots in D.C., Maryland and Virginia Mapping the spread: Known deaths and cases in the region | Nationwide cases Vaccine: Breakdown | State tracker | Mapping the vaccination divide | D.C. employees required to get vaccine | Md., Va. state workers need to show proof of vaccination Masks: Masks FAQ | Masks and vaccines in D.C. area schools | DC requires masks during high covid transmission | Prince Georges requires masks for children | Montgomery considering lifting mask mandate Get the latest local news: Morning newsletter | Afternoon newsletter Have a question about the delta variant? Ask The Posts science reporters. Green Rivers dogs will have a place to play after the Green River City Council approved a request to build a dog park last week. The park was originally proposed by Green River High Schools National Honors Society and will be placed at 80 East Teton Blvd., next to the citys animal control facility. Im really excited to see a dog park go in because Ive been to the dog park in Rock Springs and it just looks like a load of fun for the dogs, Councilwoman Lisa Maes said. Brad Raney, director of the citys parks and recreation department, said the maintenance would go to hi... Hong Kong, June 12 : The Hong Kong police said that between June 9, 2019 and May 31, 2020, a total of 8,986 persons were arrested in the social unrest in Hong Kong. Among these arrested, 204 persons have had their judicial proceedings completed, of which 166 were convicted, bound over or placed under a care or protection order, Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday. The police reminded the public that all illegal acts come with criminal liabilities and warned people not to break the law. On Tuesday, a large number of illegal demonstrators gathered in the Central of the Hong Kong Island, shouting and blocking roads. The police arrested 53 people over unlawful assembly and participating in an unauthorised assembly. "Hong Kong cannot bear such chaos," Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said on Tuesday, adding that if violent incidents and incidents that challenge the nation's sovereignty, security, development and territorial integrity continue to happen in Hong Kong, the effectiveness of the HKSAR government's work will be greatly reduced. Lam said that everyone should learn from the experience of the past year. It is the common wish of Hong Kong people to have a stable and peaceful environment. Frank Chan, the HKSAR government's Secretary for Transport and Housing, said that from June 2019 to May 2020, a large number of traffic lights, railings, CCTV cameras, paving for footpath, litter bins and recyclables collection bins had been damaged, with the repair and replacement costs amounting to 66.25 million Hong Kong dollars. President Donald Trump at a roundtable discussion about "Transition to Greatness: Restoring, Rebuilding, and Renewing," at Gateway Church Dallas, Thursday, June 11, 2020, in Dallas. Read more Sitting across from President Trump on Thursday in a one-on-one interview about the unrest over racism and police brutality sparked by the death of George Floyd, Fox News host Harris Faulkner shifted the conversation to Trump's tweets. "You look at me, and I'm Harris on TV, but I'm a black woman. I'm a mom," Faulkner told Trump. "You've talked about it, but we haven't seen you come out and be that consoler in this instance. "And the tweets, 'when the looting starts the shooting starts,'" she continued, referencing Trump's widely criticized response to the Minneapolis protests last month, which many interpreted to be a racist threat of violence. Faulkner, who has defended Trump against critics in the past, then paused, briefly averting her eyes before looking back at the president. "Why those words?" she asked. The question sparked a remarkable exchange between Trump and Faulkner, in which the host pressed the president about his tweet - a post she later described as "incendiary" - and pointedly educated him on the violent origins of the language he chose to parrot. It was the first time Trump had been questioned about the inflammatory tweet in a televised interview on a major network, and clips of the segment swiftly went viral Thursday night. Faulkner sat down with Trump in Dallas on Thursday, shortly after he wrapped up a roundtable on policing and race where he praised the forceful tactics used by authorities against protesters in Minneapolis. In portions of the interview broadcast on Fox News Thursday evening, the pair discussed Trump's response to the protests as well as anti-police sentiment and the ongoing demonstrations in Seattle, which the president and conservatives have railed against in recent days. The full interview is scheduled to air Friday afternoon. When Faulkner brought up Trump's May 29 tweets, zeroing in on the "when the looting starts, the shooting starts" quote, the president had an explanation ready. "So, that's an expression I've heard over the years," he started to say, prompting Faulkner to interject, "Do you know where it comes from?" Trump paused. "Um, I think Philadelphia," he said. "The mayor of Philadelphia." "No," Faulkner interrupted, cutting the president off again. "It comes from 1967." The host went on to inform Trump that the words were first uttered by former Miami police chief Walter Headley, who held a news conference in 1967 "declaring war" on criminals as armed robberies and unrest consumed black neighborhoods in the city. Headley warned at the time that officers would use shotguns and dogs, adding, "We don't mind being accused of police brutality." "I've let the word filter down that when the looting starts, the shooting starts," Headley said. Since Trump had included Headley's quote in tweets threatening to deploy the military to Minneapolis in response to reports of looting and other acts of violence, many accused the president of suggesting that soldiers should use deadly force against citizens. Trump's tweet and a post from the White House repeating his comments were both flagged by Twitter for "glorifying violence," leading the social media company to take the unprecedented step of limiting the public's ability to view and share the tweets. Trump has since defended himself, tweeting that his use of the expression was misinterpreted. After Faulkner's history lesson about Trump's turn of phrase, which she told the president had "frightened a lot of people," Trump continued to insist that he had heard former Philadelphia mayor and police commissioner Frank Rizzo say something similar. "He had an expression like that," Trump said, referring to Rizzo as "a very tough mayor." "But I've heard it many times. . . . I think it's been used many times." Rizzo, who died in 1991, earned a reputation at the time as being tough on crime, but has long been criticized for his treatment of Philadelphia's black and gay communities. Earlier this month, after being repeatedly targeted and defaced by protesters, a statue of Rizzo was removed by the city with Mayor Jim Kenney, D, calling it "a deplorable monument to racism, bigotry, and police brutality for members of the Black community, the LGBTQ community, and many others." Headley's remark has been repeated by other public figures throughout the years, including former Alabama governor and presidential candidate George Wallace, who said the phrase on the campaign trail. But it is unclear if Rizzo ever uttered the words, and Trump did not provide evidence for his claim Thursday. Meanwhile, Trump also doubled down on his defense that the phrase has more than one meaning. "It means two things, very different things," Trump told Faulkner. "One is, if there's looting, there's probably going to be shooting, and that's not as a threat, that's really just a fact, because that's what happens. And the other is, if there's looting, there's going to be shooting. They're very different meanings." "Oh, interesting," Faulkner responded. When asked if he thought "most people see it that way," Trump replied, "I think they see it both ways." "It's meant both ways, not by the same person," he said. "But when the looting starts, there oftentimes means there's going to be shooting, there's going to be death, there's going to be killing and that's a bad thing. And it's also used as a threat." While speaking to Fox News's Martha MacCallum later Thursday, Faulkner praised Trump for "talking about some of the tougher issues." It was time to press on some of those issues because while he has touched on certain things, he has not done that traditional . . . Oval Office address on race, she said. I told him, as a person of color, theres no glossing over, theres no kind of driving by the fact that some of his tweets during the protesting and some of the rioting and looting have been incendiary. A Starbucks at 10th and Chestnut Streets in Center City. According to a memo obtained by BuzzFeed News, Starbucks baristas are now banned from wearing clothing and accessories that show support for the Black Lives Matters movement. Read more On Friday, June 12, after this column was published, Starbucks announced they were partnering with black employees and corporate leaders to make 250,000 shirts available to stores in U.S. and Canada in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Until these shirts arrive in stores, partners will be able to wear their BLM pin or T-shirts. Luckily Ive become accustomed to making my coffee at home. Because apparently, according to a memo obtained by BuzzFeed News, our friendly neighborhood Starbucks baristas are banned from wearing clothing and accessories that show support for the Black Lives Matters movement. They told employees last week, while people were still marching through streets across the country, and before George Floyds body had even been laid to rest. According to the memo obtained by BuzzFeed, partners are not permitted to wear buttons or pins that advocate a political, religious or personal issue, and that includes Black Lives Matter. The explanation for the policy, the memo explained, was that there are agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principals of the Black Lives Matters movement and in certain circumstances, intentionally re-purpose them to amplify divisiveness. I get that, like any company, Starbucks has the right to enforce a dress code. But Starbucks decision to ban Black Lives Matter clothing just makes no sense. Especially since, on its social media channels, Starbucks seems to have gone out of its way to show its support for justice for black people in the wake of Floyds death at the hands of Minneapolis police. On May 30, the companys CEO, Kevin Johnson, posted a letter to Starbucks website pledging to find ways to help each other heal and contribute to society in a positive and constructive way on the topic of racism and injustice. In the days that followed, Starbucks tweeted its intentions to stand in solidarity with its black partners, customers, and communities, that black lives matter, and that Starbucks was committed to being a part of change. That tweet included a four-point plan to make lives better for black people. So last weeks decision to prohibit employees from expressing that same solidarity is a problem. This morning Starbucks released the image of its Black Lives Matters gear that staffers and baristas will be allowed to wear in the coming months. Starbucks also lets staffers wear LGBTQ gear to work that it provides for staffers to wear during Pride month. Maybe its me but approving protest gear somehow takes the protest out of it, doesnt it? Starbucks is committed to doing our part in ending systemic racism, said Reggie Borges, a spokesperson for Starbucks. Borges said. We respect all of our partners opinions and beliefs, and encourage them to bring their whole selves to work while adhering to our dress code policy with a commitment to create a safe and welcoming third place environment for all. The fact still remains true: Even as Floyds death put a big old, bright-as-the-dickens spotlight on how the feelings of black people are constantly dismissed, Starbucks was still more worried about offending white customers than it was in allowing its workers to celebrate black lives on their own terms. That wasnt a good look. And its an even worse look when you think about how Starbucks still has a lot of work to do. We still remember that time two years ago when one of your employees called the police on two black men minding their business in a Center City Starbucks because they didnt order any coffee. The police were called, the men were arrested, and the ensuing firestorm made national headlines. I dont know how many times black people have to say this: Black lives matter doesnt mean white lives dont. Black lives matter means that you shouldnt be able to snuff us out without repercussions. The Pride movement is important for the same reason. And our symbols of solidarity matter, too. These symbols stand in opposition to the symbols of those who have killed us: white hoods, swastikas, Confederate flags. The difference? Black Lives Matter hasnt called for the death of one white person. Get it? So let the people who work for you celebrate black lives while making all of us our favorite lattes. Thats stronger than a few tweets. Modern vintage: Each apartment for sale in Clay Farms Whitebeam Hall has an open-plan living/dining room with French doors on to the balcony Apartments at Clay Farm in Leopardstown have proven popular among first-time buyers who work at Microsoft's 134m headquarters, which opened in the south Dublin suburb in 2018 and includes five restaurants and a digital lake made up of 125,000 LEDs. The tech giant, which employs some 2,000 people at One Microsoft Place, is just three Luas stops away from the Leopardstown Valley stop that sits opposite the entrance to Clay Farm. Microsoft employees, who bought at Clay Farm because of its short commute to work, generated word-of-mouth about the development to colleagues, according to the scheme's selling agent. The first two apartment blocks at the Ballyogan Road development went on the market in October, two years after the first phase of houses was released at Clay Farm. When the scheme launched in September 2017, it was the largest housing development to go on the market in Dublin 18 since The Gallops across the road 27 years earlier. Michael Cotter's Park Developments, which also developed The Gallops, is building some 1,000 houses and apartments at Clay Farm. While some apartments were earmarked for the private rented sector, there are six blocks of 138 units being built for public sale. The latest block on the market is Whitebeam Hall, which was released just as the country was going into lockdown, with a ban on construction work and viewings. Ten of Whitebeam Hall's 24 apartments have been sold since then and viewings at the block, which is almost complete, have recommenced. Apartments in two further blocks will go on sale before early 2021, while a new phase of houses is due to be released at Clay Farm this July. The southwest corner of Whitebeam Hall overlooks the 14-acre on-site eco-park that's due to be finished before the end of the month. The protected parkland has tracks and trailers for cyclists and hikers, and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is developing a greenway through the park, between Clay Farm and the Cruagh Wood and Stepaside Park estates, to encourage a shift away from cars. There are still 14 units for sale at Whitebeam Hall, with starting prices for the one-beds ranging from 300,000 to 320,000. The two-beds range in price from 400,000 to 460,000. There is between 601 sq ft and 633 sq ft of living space in the one-beds, while the two-bed apartments measure between 918 sq ft and 1,016 sq ft. The facade of the block is finished in brick and render, with zinc-covered lobbies to the entrance cores and triple-glazed, alu-clad windows throughout. Inside each apartment, French doors open from the open-plan living/kitchen/dining room on to a balcony or terrace with glazed balustrades. The fitted kitchen supplied by Nolan Kitchens has quartz countertops, a breakfast bar and under-cabinet lighting. Integrated appliances are included in the kitchen if signed contracts are returned within 28 days. There are glazed porcelain tiles, worktops and a washer-dryer to the utility room, while the bedrooms have built-in wardrobes from Brogan Jordan. The main bathroom and the ensuite have extensive wall and floor tiling, chrome-heated towel rails, Grohe showers with screens, and sanitaryware. Clay Farm is on view by private appointment. BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya, state unit chief VD Sharma and state organization secretary Suhash Bhagat took part in the meeting among others, a party source said Madhya Pradesh Chief Ministerv Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other senior BJP leaders met in Bhopal on Friday to discuss yet-to-be-announced byelections to 24 Assembly seats in the state. BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya, state unit chief VD Sharma and state organization secretary Suhash Bhagat took part in the meeting among others, a party source said. "We just talked about the by-polls. It was an initial dialogue amongst us," a senior BJP leader told PTI. Byelections were necessitated following the death of two sitting MLAs and resignations of 22 MLAs, mostly from Jyotiraditya Scindia's camp, which led to the Congress government's fall in March. The BJP and Congress have 107 and 92 MLAs, respectively, in the MP assembly. Two BSP MLAs, one SP legislator and two Independents are also supporting the BJP government. Keith Rogers (pictured) has been replaced as police chief in Snohomish, Washington A police chief has been demoted in Washington State after describing a patrol of armed vigilantes as a 'festive night of tailgating and celebratory pleasantries'. Keith Rogers is out as police chief in the city of Snohomish after an outcry over the gathering - which included a man waving a Confederate flag. Snohomish mayor John Kartak had launched a forceful defense of Rogers as recently as Saturday, saying rumors about his dismissal were 'pure hogwash'. But Kartak backed down two days later, saying that 'reassigning Lt Rogers is in the best interest of our community and our agency'. Around 100 armed vigilantes had converged in Snohomish on May 31 to guard against alleged left-wing looting threats which never materialized. The gang included a man with a Confederate flag, while others carried tactical gear with coded symbols belonging to a hate group. Rogers and Kartak had faced angry criticism and demands for resignation at two local meetings since the gatherings on May 31. Residents accused the city officials of allowing the gun-wielding crowd to drink alcohol, intimidate citizens and tarnish the city's reputation. Kartak had initially dismissed this criticism as 'an organized and focused attack on our community, on our police chief, and on myself'. Rogers drew particular ire by claiming that the vigilantes were merely enjoying a 'festive' occasion with 'no really harsh terms or anything'. According to local newspaper The Everett Herald, police had initially claimed there was an Antifa presence but the sheriff's office later said there was no proof of this. A group called Concerned Taxpayers of Snohomish County posted these pictures, saying: 'Citizens in Snohomish are ready for rioters. Lawlessness isn't acceptable here' One resident said of Rogers' comment: 'I can't imagine someone could've said that with a straight face, because what I saw was the farthest from festive tailgating. 'I saw intimidation. I saw people being afraid. I saw what looked like to me to be an absolute disaster waiting to happen.' On Monday, the Snohomish police department announced that Rogers was being replaced by a new interim chief, Robert Palmer. Kartak said in a statement that Rogers had 'provided outstanding leadership and exemplary service to the City of Snohomish and will be deeply missed'. 'Chief Rogers has been a tremendous leader while serving the community in Snohomish for more than three years,' the mayor said. 'At this moment in time, I believe reassigning Lt Rogers is in the best interest of our community and our agency. 'With over 25 years in law enforcement, I am looking forward to Lt Rogers' new opportunities for growth and leadership within the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office.' Rogers is not the first police chief to leave his job since the Floyd protests broke out more than two weeks ago. Lousiville police chief Steve Conrad was fired earlier this month after a popular restaurant owner was shot dead by officers who failed to switch on body cameras. Protesters in the city have been demanding justice for Breonna Taylor, a black woman killed in her home in Louisville in March. Elsewhere, Portland's police chief Jami Resch stood down on Monday just six months into her job amid criticism of her department's handling of the protests. The postgraduate department of commerce and management of Kamla Lohtia Sanatan Dharam(SD) College organised a webinar on Ingredients of Success on Friday. Students of different streams attended the webinar which centered on the key steps to achieve success. Sandeep Kapoor, professor, School of Business Studies, Punjab Agricultural University, was the resource person. He discussed six key elements and asserted that by imbibing those students can achieve success. Principal Mukesh Kumar Mahajan recognised the significance of these measures and exhorted the students to follow them. The college managing committee, headed by president Dharam Paul Jain, appreciated the initiative taken by the department. Queen Mathilde put on a vibrant display as she completed an engagement in Western Belgium, near the French border today. The royal, 46, wore a a vibrant green blazer dress, which she teamed with a face mask as she took part in a meet and greet at the Technical Institute of the French Community Val-Itma in Tournai. The mother-of-four, 46, was given a tour of the institute, where she met with teachers and pupils to discuss the impact of coronavirus on the school. It was the royal's fourth public appearance since the start of Belgium's coronavirus lockdown, with Queen Mathilde opting to wear a mask on each occasion. Queen Mathilde put on a vibrant display as she completed an engagement in Western Belgium, near the French border today The royal, 46, wore a a vibrant green blazer dress, which she teamed with a face mask as she took part in a meet and greet at the Technical Institute of the French Community Val-Itma in Tournai And Mathilde was sure to bring a bit of sartorial sunshine to the engagement, injecting a splash of colour with a fitted shirt dress in a flattering emerald shade. She teamed the frock, which fell just below the knee and was cinched in at the waist with a belt, with a colourful handbag and coordinating court shoes. Completing the look, she wore her hair in an immaculate blow-dry, and accessorised with large gold leaf earrings and a matching watch. Mathilde was seen receiving flowers from the waiting crowd, careful not to shake hands but wave instead. Among them, Mathilde visited the bakery workshop, which has been closed for social distancing The royal also met the mayor Paul Olivier Delannois and Pascale Gennotte, the director of the institution, before attending a presentation of the different training offered by the school During the tour, Mathilde discussed the precautions taking at the school in the fight against the Coronavirus with teachers, as well as meeting with students. The royal also met the mayor Paul Olivier Delannois and Pascale Gennotte, the director of the institution, before attending a presentation of the different training offered by the school. Among them, Mathilde visited the bakery workshop, which has been closed for social distancing. She said: 'I wanted to see how the supervision of students had gone in recent weeks and especially to support the faculty during this intense period,' The Queen's eldest daughter Princess Elisabeth of Belgium will start at the national military academy this autumn after completing her secondary education at a Welsh boarding school. The heir to the throne, 18, will follow in her father's footsteps by enrolling at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels, where she will learn about military and social affairs that will help her prepare for her future role as Queen. Like students across the country, the royal has been forced to finish her studies remotely and will not return to school. She has spent the last two months living with her parents and three siblings in Brussels. Elisabeth is the heir apparent to the Belgian throne - the eldest child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. A change in the law a decade ago made it possible for the eldest child, male or female, to ascend the throne in the country. She will become the country's first Queen Regent if she takes up the role. It was the royal's fourth public appearance since the start of Belgium's coronavirus lockdown, with Queen Mathilde opting to wear a mask on each occasion During the tour, Mathilde discussed the precautions taking at the school in the fight against the Coronavirus with teachers, as well as meeting with students Elisabeth spent 18 months boarding at UWC Atlantic College in South Wales before returning home to Brussels in March ahead of the government lockdown. Like students across the country, the royal has been forced to finish her studies remotely and will not return to the school. She has spent the last two months living with her parents, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and her three siblings in Brussels. The princess, who will receive her International Baccalaureate Diploma this summer, will complete a one-year course in social and military sciences. King Philippe, 60, spent three years at the esteemed institution between 1978 to 1981. There, she will learn in-depth about the four components of Belgian defense; Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical. While in isolation at Laeken Palace, Elizabeth and her siblings Prince Gabriel, 16, Prince Emmanuel, 14 and Princess Eleonore, 12, have spent time volunteering. The mother-of-four, 46, was given a tour of the institute, where she met with teachers and pupils to discuss the impact of coronavirus on the school The Annual Awards Which Celebrates Local Unsung Heroes Alongside National Figures will be Held Online for the First Time on Thursday, September 24, 2020. New York, June 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Multiplying Good, announced today that it will now host the 2020 Jefferson Awards on Thursday, September 24, 2020. The event will take place entirely online. Presented as a one-hour streaming video, the awards will be an opportunity to see a collection of inspiring stories that celebrate unparalleled service to others. It will also include special recognition of One in a Million awards campaign winners who've had a positive impact through service in the face of crises. "The Jefferson Awards celebrates extraordinary service to others performed by youth, unsung heroes from around the country, and national figures," said Hillary Schafer, CEO of Multiplying Good. "We're thrilled to continue this 48-year old tradition despite being unable to gather physically. We will bring together the incredible spirit of those who have proven that service to others is a salve for everything that seeks to divide us." Multiplying Good will present Jefferson Awards in a variety of categories. Actress and activist, Kristen Bell will receive the S. Roger Horchow Award for Outstanding Public Service by a Private Citizen. "I am honored to receive this award from Multiplying Good because I always feel my best when I am of service to others," said Bell. "It gives me a true sense of purpose and reminds me of how connected we all are." Youth Villages CEO Patrick Lawler will receive the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged. "Hundreds of thousands of children come into our child welfare systems each year, often because of poverty, parental substance abuse, or other overwhelming life circumstances," Lawler explained. "By strengthening and restoring families, we can give them the best chance for success, and I'm hopeful this award will shine a light on the most effective solutions." Story continues Multiplying Good will present the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service by a Corporation to humanitarian clothing brand TOMS. "At TOMS, we believe in a better tomorrow. And creating a better tomorrow means much more than shoes. To us, it means we are supporting our partners and the incredible work they do," said Amy Smith, TOMS Chief Strategy and Impact Officer. "These partners are the true heroes who are on the ground, and we are honored to work with them to help create meaningful change." Multiplying Good will also present Jefferson Awards to its program participants who have demonstrated a high level of impact through service. Winning youth teams from the Students In Action service leadership program will receive the Ambassador, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Jefferson Awards. Two employees whose employers participate in the Recognition Champions program will receive the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service by an Employee. Through the Media Partner program, dozens of individuals have been chosen to represent their local media outlets during the awards. Five of them will receive the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Outstanding Public Service Benefitting Local Communities. Our programs help individuals discover just how much they can do to make their world a better place, explained Kelly Woolf, Chief Impact Officer at Multiplying Good. By recognizing those individuals with Jefferson Awards, we encourage them to do even more and inspire others to get involved through service. The Jefferson Awards is the nations largest and longest-running awards ceremony honoring public service. The Awards are hosted twice a year. The event was originally scheduled to take place in Washington DC. About Multiplying Good Multiplying Good is a national nonprofit that uses service to others and recognition as tools to unleash potential, inspire individuals, and transform lives. It has offices in 11 communities across the country, delivering on-the-ground impact where it is needed most. Founded in 1972 by Sam Beard, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Senator Robert Taft, Jr., the organization has recognized the extraordinary public service of thousands with its Jefferson Award. Additionally, Multiplying Good fuels personal growth and leadership development through a continuum that starts with engagement and culminates in recognition. To learn more, visit MultiplyingGood.org or follow Multiplying Good on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Attachments Dinean Robinson Multiplying Good (862) 235-0601 Drobinson@multiplyinggood.org FILE PHOTO: Traffic and people pass by the front of the Unilever building in central London By Siddharth Cavale and Martinne Geller (Reuters) - Unilever proposed on Thursday to ditch its dual Anglo-Dutch legal structure and create a single company in Britain to give it more flexibility for mergers and acquisitions as the coronavirus pandemic overwhelms businesses worldwide. The maker of Dove soap and Hellmann's mayonnaise announced the plan almost two years after shareholders torpedoed its proposal to end the dual structure in place since 1930 by shifting its headquarters to the Netherlands from London. "This post-COVID world is going to be a dynamic environment ... with opportunities for Unilever to create value for shareholders," Chief Executive Alan Jope told reporters. Unilever's 2018 proposal was ultimately dropped in the face of a revolt by shareholders in Britain. The company has since replaced its Dutch chairman and chief executive. In 2018, Unilever was still reeling from an unexpected $143 billion takeover approach from Kraft Heinz and Britain's exit strategy from the European Union was being negotiated. The new plan is the "best tactical option", Unilever's Danish Chairman Nils Andersen told reporters. Unilever, the world's second biggest packaged food company behind Nestle, said the proposal was the result of an 18-month review and was accelerated partly by a decision to demerge its tea business, a review of which is still underway. The unification would be achieved through a cross-border merger, with shareholders of Dutch Unilever NV getting one share of British Unilever Plc for each share held. Half of the Dutch shareholders and 75% of the British shareholders will need to approve the plan for it to proceed. "It makes sense for the company to have as flexible an operational structure as possible, and this appears to achieve it without any obvious downside," Steve Clayton, UK fund manager of the Hargreaves Lansdown Select Fund range, which owns Unilever shares. Story continues DUTCH REGRET Unilever's revenue is under pressure from slowing emerging markets, North American competition and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hurt outdoor ice cream sales. Barclays analyst Warren Ackerman said Unilever could be vulnerable to activist investors, given its recent sales performance and valuation. He said Unilever's forward price-to-earnings ratio was 18.2 while home and personal care rivals typically trade upwards of 20 times. Unilever Plc's shares were down 0.6% at 4,349 pence, erasing earlier gains, while the shares listed in the Netherlands were up 1.1%. Unilever, which expects to remain listed on the Amsterdam and London stock exchanges, said it expected no cost savings from the move as it would not change its British or Dutch operations, locations, activities or staffing. The move was welcomed by Britain's business minister, who said it represented a vote of confidence in the country after its departure from the European Union. But while Unilever promised to raise investment in the Netherlands and keep its Foods and Refreshment (F&R) division based there, even if it was eventually spun off, there was Dutch disappointment. "We regret this proposal as we would rather have seen a simplification with a Dutch company at the head," Economy Minister Eric Wiebes wrote to parliament. Unilever's F&R division, which represents about 40% of group sales, or 20 billion euros ($23 billion) annually, owns brands such as Knorr soup and Magnum ice cream. ($1 = 0.8793 euros) (Additional reporting by Toby Sterling and Bart Meijer in Amsterdam; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips, Arun Koyyur, Alexander Smith and David Clarke) A patient is taken from an ambulance to the emergency room of a hospital in the Navajo Nation town of Tuba City during the 57-hour curfew, imposed to try to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus through the Navajo Nation, in Arizona on May 24, 2020. The state's 7-day average of daily new cases as of Wednesday was 1,071. A week ago the state was averaging 720 daily new cases, according to Hopkins data. Arizona's department of health reported an additional 1,412 new cases on Thursday, bringing the state's total to 31,264. The number of cases have climbed by nearly 300% since May 1 and have roughly doubled since Memorial Day, according to historical data from Johns Hopkins University compiled by CNBC. Coronavirus cases in Arizona have continued to surge since late May as the state's hospital capacity begins to tighten, according to data from the Arizona Department of Health Services. While testing has increased over the last couple weeks, which could cause an uptick in new cases, the proportion of positive tests has also increased in recent weeks. For specimen collected June 7, 13% of tests were positive, compared to a low of 5% positive for specimen collected May 3. Nearly 8% of the state's tests have come back positive. "There is no way to attribute a trend to one event. Transmissions occur, probably extra ones on a holiday like Memorial Day, which lead to cases and hospitalizations," Marc Lipsitch, a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, said. Arizona hospitals reported that they were at 84% capacity for inpatient beds and 78% for intensive-care beds on Wednesday. However, the state's department of health shows that a large portion of its ventilators are still available for critically-ill patients. At a press conference Thursday, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said the state has an additional 2,600 surge hospital beds and 600 surge ICU beds in case additional capacity is needed. "All of these trends come together to point to it being more than just testing and really because of extensive community spread," Dr. Farshad Marvasti, University of Arizona College of Medicine director of public health and prevention, told CNBC's "Power Lunch" on Thursday. Ducey's stay-at-home order expired on May 15 but did leave multiple social-distancing guidelines for businesses in place. Restaurants were allowed to resume dine-in service May 11 and the state opened pools and gyms on May 13. "It's not a question of whether we should've reopened when we did or not. It's how we did in terms of the behavior of individuals," Marvasti said. "Most folks have been out and about in close spaces, including nightclubs, bars, malls, restaurants without any mask-wearing, and I think that's a big contributor to what's going on." Arizona is only one of many states that have reported an increase in cases over the last few weeks nearly half of U.S. states are now reporting a rise in cases, according to an analysis from the Associated Press. The coronavirus pandemic is worsening across the globe as the number of new Covid-19 cases continues to reach all-time highs, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a press conference on Monday. "We continue to urge active surveillance to ensure the virus does not rebound, especially as mass gatherings of all kinds are starting to resume in some countries," Tedros said. CNBC's Berkeley Lovelace Jr. and Nate Rattner contributed to this report. Under Gov. J.B. Pritzkers reopening plan, restaurant dining rooms in Illinois are required to stay closed until June 26 at the earliest, but some restaurant owners have decided to open up anyway. All four regions of the state are in Phase 3 of Pritzkers five-phase reopening plan. Illinois restaurants can offer outdoor seating with distancing, but dining rooms must stay closed until June 26 at the earliest. Kyle Gorman, who owns Cheese Nuts Brick Oven Pizza in Peoria, went on Facebook to denounce the restrictions. People are speaking and they are saying the truth, he said. We are sick and tired of being held down by these ridiculous rules. Selena Wheatley, owner and operator of the Pizza Ranch in Peoria, also has decided to offer dine-in service. She said her attorney reached out to the health department and they failed to reply within the 48-hour limit to deem the restaurant a public health risk. Wheatley said her reopening has been a success. Its been crazy, she said. People are loving it and we have had so many thank yous and so many people saying they are so glad we are doing this and that we need to get back to normal life. The Illinois Restaurant Association has been lobbying the governor for an earlier opening. On its website, the association said the governors approach underestimates the industrys ability to reopen and operate safely with enhanced public health measures in place. The IRA supports the idea of an earlier, safe reintroduction of dine-in operations given the grave financial circumstances facing the restaurant industry, said Sam Toia, president and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association. However, we urge all businesses to continue following official rulings from the state of Illinois as we approach the next phase of reopening. The topic of dine-in service is a hot one nationwide. A number of states, including Texas, Iowa, Missouri and Indiana, already have given the go-ahead for dine-in service at limited capacities. Others, including Michigan and California, say that point is weeks away. KOLKATA: A Kolkata local court on Friday granted National Investigation Agency (NIA) the custody of a 21-year-old Lashkar-e-Toiba operative arrested by the West Bengal STF from Basirhat in the North 24 Pargana district in March this year. She was produced before the city court on Friday during which the NIA requested for a 14-day custody. The court, however, granted 10 days of custody to NIA. According to the NIA, she was running several WhatsApp groups and sharing materials to radicalise people in the group. Her WhatsApp was registered on a Pakistani number and she was reportedly in touch with other Lashkar members in Pakistan. She is well versed in several languages like Hindi, Bengali, English, Urdu, Arabic and Kashmiri. Besides, she also honey-trapped several people for extracting valuable information from them. People walk along Harbor Boulevard in downtown Fullerton on Thursday, some wearing masks, some not. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) As California rapidly reopens its economy, health officials have made clear the only way to avoid a wave of new coronavirus infections is with strict safety rules, including social distancing, limits on the capacity of businesses and wearing face coverings when around other people. But a mask rebellion is underway in some parts of the state, with residents pushing back on mandatory face-covering rules even with coronavirus cases on the rise and as more businesses open their doors and some people yearn to return to old routines. The potency of mask politics became clear this week in Orange County, where the health officer resigned after weeks of attacks and a death threat over her mandatory mask rules. Her replacement on Thursday rescinded the rules amid intense pressure from the Board of Supervisors. Instead, Orange County strongly recommends wearing masks in public settings, and the countys top health official was left to explain the change even while acknowledging face coverings could prevent more deaths. I want to be clear: This does not diminish the importance of face coverings, said Orange County Health Care Agency Director Dr. Clayton Chau, who is now also the interim health officer. I stand with the public health experts and believe wearing cloth face coverings helps to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and save lives. Other counties have also buckled to public pressure. Fresno County had a face mask rule for less than a day before it was pulled back. Riverside and San Bernardino pulled their orders after blowback. Stocktons mayor, Michael Tubbs, proposed face covering rules but failed to get any support from the City Council this week. Health experts expressed alarm at Orange Countys actions and the large rebellion about masks, saying it will make it harder to prevent new outbreaks of coronavirus. Its the only way we get back to work its to mask, said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, UC San Francisco chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. All of the data tells us ... its pretty clear that masking is the element that changes the trajectories of the COVID pandemic. Story continues Theres increasing evidence that face coverings are essential to allowing a broader reopening. Places that have kept coronavirus transmission under control, such as Hong Kong and Taiwan, have virtually universal wearing of masks in public. A recent study out of Germany found that face masks reduce the daily growth rate of reported infections by around 40%. Another study, published Thursday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, concluded that wearing of face masks in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent interhuman transmission. In one Missouri salon, no customers became infected with the virus despite two hairstylists being sick and scientists believe it was because they were wearing face masks. And many countries where masking is socially routine, including Japan, have not seen an out-of-control national epidemic. They havent seen the large spikes, because theres a strong universal masking culture, Bibbins-Domingo said. Of Californias 15 most populous counties, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, Contra Costa, San Francisco and San Mateo require mask wearing in public, while Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Fresno, Kern, Ventura and San Joaquin do not. The Orange County battle began in May, when then-county health officer Dr. Nichole Quick issued an order mandating that county residents and visitors wear cloth face coverings while in a public place, at work or visiting a business where they are unable to stay six feet apart. The switch set off a firestorm of controversy as some residents and elected officials challenged the need for the widespread use of face coverings as more businesses in the region continued to reopen. Quick herself became a target for criticism during county Board of Supervisors meetings, with some residents castigating her for the order. During one meeting, public speakers displayed a poster showing Quicks photo with a Hitler mustache and swastikas. The Orange County Sheriffs Department provided a security detail for the doctor after she received what officials deemed to be a death threat during a meeting last month. After several intense weeks defending her order, Quick resigned Monday. On Tuesday, Chau stepped into Quicks role and was immediately peppered with questions from elected officials about the need for a mandatory mask order. Members of the public could be heard shouting in the background as Chau responded to questions from the board. Supervisors pushed Chau for a definitive answer about when he planned to lift the requirement. Theres always going to be community infection going on, Supervisor Don Wagner said. Theres always flu infection going on. Are you telling us masks, in your professional opinion, are going to be necessary until the end of time or until theres a vaccine or what? The dispute over the requirement has unfolded as the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in Orange County. Last week, Orange County reported 1,179 new coronavirus infections a weekly record in the course of the pandemic, and up 22% from the previous week, according to a Times analysis. Hospitalizations are up 34% from a month ago. Last week, there were an average of nearly 400 people in hospitals in Orange County daily for confirmed or suspected coronavirus infection; a month ago, it was nearly 300. And last week, Orange County recorded 30 coronavirus deaths, the second-highest weekly toll. As of Thursday, there were a total of 7,987 confirmed cases and 202 deaths in Orange County. The California Medical Assn., which represents doctors across the state, has said mandating face masks is an appropriate public policy, and its immediate past president, Dr. David Aizuss, said lawmakers should have supported Quick. On behalf of the California Medical Assn., its our opinion that mandatory face masking is appropriate and Orange County shouldve backed her up. Our position is that this is being driven by ignorance and politics instead of science, Aizuss said. He also criticized the Board of Supervisors for not backing up her health orders. Local public servants should be supporting local health officers to do what theyre doing to protect the public and to protect public health, Aizuss said. The Orange County Medical Assn. this week called Quicks resignation a dangerous precedent that should concern all of us and said that we must ... not allow bullying to drive the health recommendations that can keep us safe and healthy. This public health crisis is not over. As we begin to reopen our county, the science is clear: wearing a face covering can help slow the spread of this deadly virus, Dr. Diana Ramos, president of the Orange County Medical Assn., said in a statement. Experts rejected the unfounded charge expressed by opponents of mandatory masks that face coverings pose a danger to peoples oxygen levels. No, theres nothing to that. Theres all sorts of conspiracy theories about low oxygen and high CO2 levels, said Dr. Otto Yang, an infectious diseases expert at UCLA. Its really not an issue. Many health officials say that face coverings are an integral tool in the fight against COVID-19 as they can block transmission of the respiratory droplets released by asymptomatic people when breathing or talking. Research published by the journal Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness in 2013 found that homemade cloth masks significantly reduced the amount of potentially infectious droplets expelled by the wearer. L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer has routinely touted the health benefits of wearing face coverings in public. That, along with other practices like physical distancing and regular hand-washing, can stave off a spike in coronavirus infections, she has said. Masks provide a hell of a lot of protection. And Im more comfortable relaxing things if everybody is wearing masks than if they werent, Dr. George Rutherford, a UC San Francisco epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert, said recently. At the reopening Thursday of South Coast Plaza, many shoppers said they were not taking any chances even some who were skeptical about the benefit of masks. Pay Wykoff a 65-year-old Irvine resident who waited weeks to come to mall to get a watch battery and find a Fathers Day present wore a yellow hand-sewn mask but said she thought it was unnecessary. Not everyone agrees that masks are helpful, Wykoff said. I think masks are hurtful because youre breathing in your own germs. Times staff writers Sandhya Kambhampati and Iris Lee contributed to this report. A Lagos State High Court sitting in the Igbosere area has sentenced two robbers, Williams Udoh and Ubong Isaiah, to death for robbery. The Director of Public Affairs at the State Ministry of Justice, Kayode Oyekanmi, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday According to the statement, the court sentenced Isaiah to death on Wednesday for armed robbery while Udoh was sentenced to separate 21 years imprisonment for rape at the scene of the crime. The two robbers were arraigned by the Lagos State government on an amended five-count on June 29, 2017. Advertisement READ ALSO Why Appeal Court Must Uphold Maryam Sandas Death Sentence: Police The defendants, who pleaded not guilty, robbed the residents of Shepherd Estate in Ijegun on August 2, 2015, during which the first defendant (Udoh) raped one of the victims on her matrimonial bed. The trial judge, Justice Atinuke Ipaye, stated that the evidence provided by the prosecutors witnesses was credible, compelling, and cogent to the ground of the conviction of the defendants. Justice Ipaye found the two robbers guilty of the charge, saying they were punishable under Sections 261, 297, and 295 (2) of the Criminal Law, CH, C.17 Vol 13 Laws of Lagos State 2015. WASHINGTON, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its Kansas chapter are calling on the Kansas Republican Party and the United Wireless Arena in Dodge City, Kan., to drop anti-Muslim hate group leader John Bennett as a keynote speaker at the Dodge City Republican Expo. SEE: Dodge City Republican Expo coming June 27 https://www.dodgeglobe.com/news/20200610/dodge-city-republican-expo-coming-june-27 Bennett, who has called for the removal of American mosques and calls Islam a "cancer," is the Vice President of Understanding the Threat (UTT) whose founder and President John Guandolo yesterday called for the "execution" of anti-racist protest leaders. Guandolo said: "[W]e should round up the leaders and execute them for trying to revolt and overthrow the government." LISTEN: Leaders of BLM And ANTIFA Should Rounded Up and Executed Says John Guandolo [Audio] https://hillreporter.com/leaders-of-blm-and-antifa-should-rounded-up-and-executed-says-john-guandolo-audio-70718 Both CAIR and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) have designated Understanding the Threat an anti-Muslim hate group. The Dodge City Republican Expo, which will take place Saturday, June 27, at United Wireless Arena , is being organized by the Kansas Republican Party's First Congressional District and the local Dodge City Wild West Republican Women's Club. "The Kansas Republican Party, its affiliates and the United Wireless Arena should not provide a legitimizing platform for a disgraced anti-Muslim hate group leader like John Bennett to spread his message of bigotry," said CAIR Director of Government Affairs Robert S. McCaw. "We urge Kansas Republican leaders and United Wireless Arena to do what is right and drop a speaker who promotes the kind of bigotry that we are seeing challenged every day at anti-racist protests nationwide," said CAIR-Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy. He noted that in 2014, CAIR-Kansas expressed opposition to Sedgwick County Sheriff's bringing John Guandolo citing his record of inciting hate against Islam. SEE: Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office won't partner on anti-terrorism training by controversial speaker https://www.kansas.com/news/article1144011.html Kansas sheriff won't partner on training by John Guandolo http://www.cairkansas.org/cair-ks-media/press-releases/228-kansas-sheriff-wont-partner-on-training-by-john-guandolo.html Incitement against Islam in that part of the state resulted in increased hate crimes against Muslims and Muslim business and places of worship. SEE: CAIR-Kansas Welcomes Guilty Pleas for Hate Attack on Somali Men http://www.cairkansas.org/cair-ks-media/press-releases/224-kansas-welcomes-guilty-pleas-for-hate-attack-on-somali-men.html CAIR Seeks Protection for U.S. Islamic Institutions After 'Militia' Plan to Attack Kansas Mosque http://www.cairkansas.org/cair-ks-media/press-releases/226-cair-seeks-protection-for-us-islamic-institutions-after-militia-plan-to-attack-kansas-mosque.html BACKGROUND ON JOHN BENNETT: In 2017, CAIR-Oklahoma issued a statement in response to an Islamophobic social media post by then state Rep. John Bennett calling for the removal of American mosques. Bennett's Facebook post, which has since been taken down, suggested that if Confederate monuments are being removed because of the Civil War, mosques should also be removed due to 9/11. SEE: Oklahoma Lawmaker's Facebook Post Regarding Mosques Sparking Controversy Bennett, a former Republican Oklahoma State House representative with a long history of making anti-Muslim remarks, has called Islam "a cancer that needs to be cut out of the nation" and repeatedly stated that he does not consider Islam to be a religion. Background: Understanding the Threat and Its Founder and President John Guandolo In September of last year, CAIR welcomed a Texas jury's award of $600,000 to former Minnesota Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek's in his civil lawsuit against anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist John Guandolo and his anti-Muslim hate group Understanding the Threat (UTT). Stanek claimed Guandolo assaulted him during a 2017 National Sheriff's Association (NSA) conference. Guandolo is a disgraced ex-FBI agent and anti-Muslim extremist who has long peddled conspiracy theories about Islam and Muslims. Guandolo is an infamous Islamophobe who claims a former CIA director was a "secret Muslim" and that Muslim hotel managers, cabbies and 7-11 workers seek to take over America. He stated that the US Justice Department should have prevented two Muslim women from being elected to Congress and has also claimed that former CIA Director John Brennan was a secret Muslim. Guandolo has stated that if he was "anointed king," he would execute those, including Democratic and Republican leaders who he claims are "advancing a radical Marxist Islamic agenda in the United States." Among his many other bizarre and Islamophobic claims, Guandolo has falsely claimed that: mosques are planning armed attacks on law enforcement authorities and churches, the Black Lives Matter movement is funded by "enemies of the United States ," ," when a Delaware Imam (Islamic religious leader) touched his nose during the pledge of allegiance before a legislative session it was part of "civilizational jihad," Muslims are "obligated" to lie." In 2018, CAIR welcomed a decision by Tennessee's Trevecca Nazarene University to cancel an anti-Muslim event that would have featured three Islamophobic speakers, including Guandolo. SEE: CAIR Welcomes Tennessee University's Decision to Drop Anti-Muslim 'Summit' CAIR similarly welcomed a decision by Virginia's Amherst County Sheriff's Office to drop an event featuring Islamophobic conspiracy theorist Chris Gaubatz. Gaubatz is a former employee of Guandolo's anti-Muslim hate group Understanding the Threat. Gaubatz is now the President of another anti-Muslim hate group, RAIR (Resistance Against Islamic Radicals). The FBI was asked to investigate an image tweeted by Guandolo's hate group that purported to show the bombing of "CAIR HQ" in Washington, D.C. Guandolo, who has previously tweeted that "CAIR needs to be obliterated," re-tweeted the bombing image on his personal account. Earlier this month, Guandolo tweeted that "Islam is evil & barbaric." CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. CONTACT: CAIR-Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy, 785-318-6323, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected] ; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected] SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Related Links http://www.cair.com Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks at a press conference June 09, 2020 in Washington, DC. Schumer and Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) answered questions related to reforming law enforcement policies in the wake of the death of George Floyd. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer slammed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Friday for indicating the Trump administration may not disclose the names of those who received loans from the Paycheck Protection Program. "Given the many problems with the PPP program, it is imperative American taxpayers know if the money is going where Congress intended to the truly small and unbanked small business," said Schumer, a Democrat from New York. "The administration's resistance to transparency is outrageous and only serves to raise further suspicions about how the funds are being distributed and who is actually benefiting." Mnuchin, in testimony before the Senate Small Business Committee earlier this week, implied that the administration may not be disclosing the names of those who applied to the program, and the amount they requested. "As it relates to the names and amounts of specific PPP loans, we believe that that's proprietary information," he said. "And in many cases for sole proprietors and small businesses, is confidential information." The Treasury Department and the Small Business Administration didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. While the PPP is aimed at helping small businesses, more than 245 public companies applied for at least $905 million from the program, CNBC reported. Many companies later refunded those loans after public criticism. Disclosure around the funds aimed at coronavirus relief has been a touchstone for Democrats since they began negotiating the more than $2 trillion CARES act aimed at helping businesses, states and individuals reeling from the pandemic. President Donald Trump has pushed back against the authority of the inspector general supervising a $500 billion fund the Treasury oversees aimed at helping larger businesses, sparking similar outcry from Democrats. Photo from Getty Images SINGAPORE A man and a woman were charged in the State Courts on Friday (12 June) over cheating offences involving more than US$340 million (S$474 million) in loans disbursed to their company by eight banks in Singapore and Hong Kong. The two were formerly employed under Coastal Oil Singapore, a crude oil products supplier. Huang Peishi, 34, was the firms treasury manager, while Ong Ah Huat, 60, was the chief finance officer. According to the Singapore Police Force, the Commercial Affairs Department found that the duo had allegedly created fictitious sales contracts and invoices for submission to the eight banks to obtain financing between July 2017 and December 2018. The total amount of loss occasioned to the victims amount to US$9 million, Deputy Public Prosecutor Thiagesh Sukumaran told the court on Friday. Huang faces five charges in which she allegedly entered an arrangement with Ong and two others Tan Sing Hwa and Carol Zong to facilitate the retention of Tans benefits from criminal conduct. She did so by transferring a sum of money from a bank into a Coast Oil account on five occasions between 17 July and 20 November 2017. Huang is also said to have engaged in a conspiracy with the same individuals to forge documents used by Coastal Oil to cheat the banks. The documents falsely stated that Coastal Oil would be selling marine oil to marine and shipping supplier Costank or fuel oil retailer Sinfeng Marine Services on a credit payment term basis. Huang was charged with 49 counts of forgery for the purpose of cheating relating to these alleged offences. She also faces nine charges of conspiring with the same three individuals to cheat the banks in 2017 and 2018, leading the banks to believe Coastal Oil had entered a contract with Sinfeng and hence issue credit facilities to Coastal Oil. Ong faces nine charges of conspiring with Tan, Zong and Huang to cheat the banks, 44 counts of conspiring to forge documents for the purpose of cheating, and five counts of entering an arrangement with the trio to facilitate the retention of Tans benefits from criminal conduct, in a similar vein as Huang. Story continues In seeking a lower bail amount for Huang, lawyer Lau Wen Jin said that his client was not a flight risk as she had a husband and two young children in Singapore. Huang had also previously been allowed on two occasions to go overseas while investigations were underway. Lau also noted that his client had not benefitted from her alleged offences, in which she played a minor role as compared to Ong. Huangs salary then was about $7,000 to $8,000 and she was not a high earner, said the lawyer, who asked for a bail of $20,000. Ongs lawyer also sought a reduction of Ongs non-monetary bail, stating that her client was not a high risk as his family was rooted in Singapore. Also nothing went into this pocket, and he never benefitted from (the alleged offence) at all there was no benefit to him, said the lawyer. Huangs and Ongs bails were fixed at $50,000 and $100,000 respectively. They will return to court on 10 July. Cheating and forgery for the purpose of cheating carries a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Other Singapore stories: Male Indian national dies of coronary heart disease, later found to have COVID-19: MOH COVID-19 tally in S'pore above 39,000 mark; S'porean man, 78, among 422 new cases Measures to tackle COVID-19 cases in dorms early on were 'insufficient': Teo Chee Hean Singapore on track to do 40,000 COVID-19 tests a day in coming months: Lawrence Wong Albany The COVID-19 pandemic has created more than its share of challenges and travel was one of them. Some motorists who ventured out during the outbreaks early days were confronted with a different toll system and are just now dealing with the fallout. I even rolled down the window and she said Just keep on going, Albany resident Lianna Crognale recalled a toll taker telling her as she entered the Thruway during a March 23 trip to the Lancaster, Pa., area to buy a dog. What she may not have realized at the time, though, was that the tolls werent waived. Because she doesnt have an E-ZPass, Crognale always stops at the booths. But this time, she apparently rolled through the E-ZPass lane when she left the New York State Thruway heading toward Pennsylvania. A month later she was surprised to get an $18.35 E-ZPass bill as well as a $50 fine notice. Thruway officials stressed that they were trying to work out the issues with Crognale. The fact that she was on the road on March 23 provides a clue to the problem. Due to pandemic fears, toll takers took no cash from March 22 until June 3. And while motorists without E-ZPass like Crognale were allowed to get on the Thruway without stopping, they were supposed to stop at a toll booth before exiting the road and provide their license number, so they could be billed by mail, said officials. The $18.35 charge suggests that Crognale was among an unknown number of non-E-ZPass drivers who may have inadvertently gone through an E-ZPass lane while exiting during that period. When someone drives through an E-ZPass lane without a transponder the system automatically charges the maximum toll which is $18.35 for traveling the length of the Thruway. Some 600,000 non-E-ZPass customers went thru the Thruway tolls during that cashless period. That's out of approximately 265 million Thruway trips during a year. Those without E-ZPass were supposed to have stopped at the booth and given the collector their license plate information, as the signs at entrance and exit said, according to Thruway officials. Another motorist has just recently reported getting a years worth of tolls for bridges which she doesnt use. That bill came via E-ZPass from the New York State Bridge Authority which is separate from the Thruway and operates the Rip Van Winkle, Kingston and Bear Mountain Bridges. While a different agency from the Thruway Authority, the Bridge Authority also uses the E-ZPass electronic toll system. It was very peculiar, Ballston Spa resident Tracy Egan said of the $200 bill she recently received for the bridge usage. That was even more so since Egan hasnt even driven very far since the COVID-19 pandemic started back in March. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The last long car trip she made was around Christmas to visit her daughter outside of Boston, said Egan, a former news anchor at WTEN-Channel 10. Moreover, the last time she used a Bridge Authority bridge was in March 2019, crossing the Rip Van Winkle bridge near Hudson. I told the girl thats impossible, Egan said when she called the E-ZPass helpline about the charges. After a reporter called the Thruway Authority, Egan said she heard back from the E-ZPass people who were putting her in touch with the Bridge Authority. More for you Thruway traffic and tolls see 'unprecedented' drop due to COVID-19 It seems, Egan said, that she accidentally ended up into a special bridge commuter program when she first got her E-ZPass in 2012. But the $17 monthly charge for that wasn't triggered until she went over the Rip Van Winkle bridge in March 2019. Why she is just now getting bills from 2019 wasn't immediately clear. Officials are working on resolving her issue. Motorists with E-ZPass billing problems can call 518-471-5300 to reach a representative. As the pandemic is easing, more call center workers are coming back to the office rather than working from home which should expedite things, said officials. Cash tolls will soon be going the way of leaded gas and manual transmissions as the Thruway is phasing them out in favor of a cashless system. For motorists without E-ZPass a camera will photograph their license plate and they will get a toll bill in the mail. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518-454-5758 @RickKarlinTU STOCKHOLM - The Sami ethnic group in Swedens Arctic region is getting 1.2 million kronor ($130,000) from the Scandinavian country to set up a truth commission that will shed light on injustices against indigenous people carried out by the Swedish state. Matti Blind Berg, who heads the working group for the Sami Truth Commission, said that it is an extremely important job to clarify the Swedish states abuse of the Sami people. Asa Lindhagen, a member of the government in Stockholm in charge of anti-discrimination and anti-segregation, said earlier this week that throughout history, Sami have been subjected to racism and are still exposed to it today. Sweden must be a country free of racism and efforts are needed to get there. A year ago, Sweden announced that it would finance a process to establish an independent truth commission on the Swedish states abuse of the Sami people. The money will finance the preparatory work, including a collection of discrimination stories and creating the format of the commission. Swedish Culture Minister Amanda Lind called it a historical step ... to make visible the violations and abuses that the Sami have been exposed to throughout history and which are far too little known. The work will be done by the Samediggi, an elected, indigenous 31-seat assembly that protects the rights of northern Swedens estimated 35,000 people with Sami heritage. It also acts as an institution of cultural autonomy for the indigenous people. The Sami today live in Lapland, which stretches from northern parts of Norway through Sweden and Finland to Russia. They once faced oppression of their culture, including bans on the use of their native tongue. Today the nomadic people live mostly modern lifestyles but still tend reindeer and some still wear their traditionally bright-colored national dress. In 1977, the Riksdag Swedens Parliament recognized the Sami as an indigenous people in Sweden. Sweden announced the move to finance the setting up of the truth commission on Tuesday. Similar steps to set up truth commissions have been made in Norway and Finland. The first mission, which worked in Vladikavkaz, was led by Konstantin Pokrovsky, the Head of the Vorokhobov Surgery Center of the City Clinical Hospital Number 67. The second medical team worked in Magas (Ingushetia). These are the first to return of the four multidisciplinary teams of Moscow doctors that flew from Sheremetyevo Airport to the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, Ingushetia, Dagestan and the Zabaikalye Territory, regions that need special support in the fight against coronavirus infection. The airport provided operational services to the medical teams, as well as processing and loading of medicines, personal protective equipment and medical equipment. Capital city metropolitan area doctors worked in the regions for about two weeks, after which there was a rotation of medical personnel. Six medical teams were sent on June 10 to replace the doctors who completed their mission in North Ossetia-Alania, Ingushetia, Zabaikalye Territory, Dagestan, and the cities of Vladimir and Pskov. Each team numbered between five and nine specialists, with a total of about 40 highly qualified medical staff from leading hospitals of the capital. The medical teams include specialists in various areas with extensive experience in repurposing Moscow hospitals to combat COVID-19 and treating patients with coronavirus, including pulmonologists, infectious disease specialists, ICU anesthesiologists, radiologists and nurse anesthesiologists. Medical teams are led by experienced doctors from leading capital city metropolitan hospitals. Air traffic at Sheremetyevo Airport is growing significantly as the epidemiological situation in the regions of Russia improves and life begins to return to normal. There was an average of 2114 daily completed takeoff and landing operations in Sheremetyevo for the first ten days of May, and 360 for the same period in June. Sheremetyevo Airport will continue its efficient operational activities and provide high-quality passenger services to support the predicted intensive growth in passenger traffic. In Sheremetyevo, a full range of measures is being implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection in accordance with the guidelines and recommendations of state agencies and medical institutions. SOURCE Sheremetyevo International Airport Global body says more than 30 of its 41 programmes in the country could close in weeks without funding. The United Nations has warned that three-quarters of the aid programmes backed by its agencies in war-ravaged Yemen will have to shutter in weeks without more funding, even as both COVID-19 and cholera continue to spread in the country facing the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Yemens long-running conflict mainly pits Houthi rebels against a pro-government camp supported by a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The fighting has left some 24 million Yemenis more than two-thirds of the population to rely on some form of aid. International donors pledged $1.35bn for Yemen at a conference on June 2 but that was well below a $2.4bn fundraising target needed to prevent severe cutbacks in the UNs aid operation. More than 30 of the 41 UN-supported programmes in Yemen will close in the coming weeks if additional funds are not secured, UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville told a briefing in Geneva. Now, more than ever, the country needs the outside worlds help, and its not really getting it, he said. Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the US Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said only 47 percent of the promised $1.35bn had actually been received. Yemen has so far reported 564 confirmed coronavirus infections and 130 related deaths, but the figures lag and may not include all cases in areas controlled by the Houthis in the north, Colville said. The challenging situation is compounded by the countrys extremely limited testing capacity. According to data compiled by the International Rescue Committee, Yemen has one of the worlds lowest testing rates, even compared with other conflict-hit countries, at just 31 tests per million citizens. Meanwhile, some 137,000 cases of cholera and diarrhoea have been recorded this year, nearly a quarter of them in children below five, according to the UN. Cataclysmic proportions The conflict has killed more than an estimated 100,000 people and displaced millions of others, pushing the impoverished country to the verge of famine and gutting its infrastructure. The UN says the countrys health system has in effect collapsed, with hospitals lacking beds and basic medicine and turning away sick people. The countrys malnourished population has among the worlds lowest immunity levels to disease. The world bodys children agency, UNICEF, said water, sanitation and hygiene services for four million people would start shutting down in July if it did not get $30m by the end of this month. The crisis is of cataclysmic proportions, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, UNICEFs country representative for Yemen, told Al Jazeera. She said a lack of COVID-19 testing is exacerbating the humanitarian situation unfolding in Yemen, where young boys and girls are the most at risk. The children in Yemen are worse off than all children in the world and for us, this is an emergency. [There is] a pre-existing situation where children were already in dire need and now children are confronted with multiple issues and COVID-19 just adds to their complex and very difficult lives. A girl died after she was hit by a truck Thursday night in Port Arthur, Enterprise news partner 12News reported in a post on its website. It happened at about 7:15 p.m. on Sixth Street near Pecos Avenue. Health Ministry of Brazil has reportedly confirmed that the country has surpassed 800000 coronavirus cases on June 11 and reported 30,412 new infections in the last 24 hours. According to the John Hopkins tally, Brazil recorded 1,239 new covid related fatalities taking its total tally to 40,919 deaths. According to the tally, Brazil is the world's second worst hit nation with 802,828 confirmed cases after US. It is also the third-highest after US and UK in total number of deaths. READ: Brazil's Big Cities Start Reopening Despite Surge In Coronavirus Cases 345,595 people recovered The health ministry reportedly said that 345,595 people have recovered of the total number of cases. Brazil's biggest cities started reopening their economic activities amid the huge surge in coronavirus cases which is a serious matter of concern. Sao Paulo, Brazil's most populous state has confirmed a record number of COVID-19 related fatalities for the second day on June 10, according to the reports. According to the reports, Sau Paulo which is believed to be the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic reported 340 new deaths within the last 24 hours. According to the reports, it is a matter of concern as half of the shops in the city remained open on Wednesday. READ: Brazil Signs Agreement To Produce Chinese Coronavirus Vaccine, Trials To Begin July The Brazilian government on June 7 had said that it will stop publishing data on coronavirus as it is 'not needed' and scrapped figures from its website. The health ministry said it would now be reporting cases and deaths in the past 24 hours. As the decision evoked an outcry by the journalists and the members of Congress, Bolsonaro said "the cumulative data does not reflect the moment the country is in on Twitter without any further explanation. He wrote, additional measures are being taken to improve the reporting of cases". READ: Brazil Records 32,091 New Coronavirus Cases And 1,272 More Deaths In 24 Hours READ: Brazilian Govt On Publication Of Full Virus Data Image: AP Tim Buckley, CEO of Vanguard, speaks to fellow Vanguard workers during the ribbon cutting ceremony for its new campus inside the Neptune building on Nov. 1 2019. Read more Malvern-based investment giant Vanguard is taking the return to work slowly very slowly. Over the next few months, Vanguard staff in Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina and other U.S. locations will begin returning to their offices after working from home amid the coronavirus pandemic, Vanguard spokeswoman Dana Grosser said. The health and safety of our crew, as well as our ability to continue serving our global clients, is top of mind as we begin determining how and when to return to campus. Vanguard is anticipating a phased approach, which will differ by region, and is working closely with government officials and medical professionals to identify the conditions under which we can have crew safely return to our offices. We expect the first phase to consist of a modest number of business-essential crew returning to their offices over the course of several months," she said in an emailed statement. Vanguard has 19 locations worldwide with about 17,600 employees, according to the latest figures. Those employees who are not able to return, or who do not feel comfortable doing so, will be allowed to continue working from home. Vanguards phase two return will involve a large segment of crew around the globe, and the third phase will mark a full return to campus. While the exact timing of these initiatives has yet to be determined, Vanguard is committed to be thoughtful and prudent in our approach, Grosser said. Are you a Vanguard employee? How do you feel about returning to work in your office? Let us know. Private equity in 401(k)s The Department of Labor issued a surprise ruling this month: 401(k) retirement plans can start offering private equity on the menu of investment offerings. Yes, thats right: In addition to plain vanilla stock-and-bond mutual funds, ETFs and index funds, Main Street investors are now allowed to invest in private equity. Vanguard is among the firms singing the praises of private equity, which often means investing in private companies directly or engaging in buyouts of public companies. In the midst of the DOL ruling, Vanguards head of private markets, Fran Kinniry, gave an interview saying the firm of $6 trillion in assets, considered the worlds low-cost fund company, will offer high-fee private equity funds as part of target-date retirement funds. Research shows investors can improve their outcomes if they had some position in private investments over a long term, say, a decade or more, he said in a Morningstar podcast. Do you need 100% of your portfolio liquid every single day? An investor with a 20-, 30-, 40-year horizon could have some portion of investments, perhaps 15% or 20% of their portfolio, in private equity. Vanguard began offering PE to endowments and foundations first, and is now offering it to high-net-worth investors, Kinniry said in the April interview. What are the benefits? Youre investing with the founders. Managers doing this for the longest amount of time, and raise the most money, get the first call, or first access to the top private-equity funds, Kinniry said. Other disagree. Its ridiculous, said Jeffrey DeMaso, research head at Adviser Investments, which manages money for Vanguard investors and issues a monthly newsletter on Vanguard funds. The firm is holding private equity out as some magical asset thatll deliver high returns and solve all retirement-saving problems. The bottom line is that the average private equity fund isnt worth it" due to the higher fees, lack of liquidity and transparency, he added. Normally, youd expect Vanguard warning that this is not a good deal for the average 401(k) investor. Instead, theyve got Fran Kinniry suggesting that investors put 15% to 25% of their portfolios in illiquid securities, meaning private equity," DeMaso said. Fees still dropping Vanguards fees continue to drive the entire industry lower, according to a recent report from Morningstar. And although thats good news for investors, it means Wall Street firms may be looking for other sources of revenue, including private equity. Among the ranks of the largest asset managers, Vanguard continues to own the low-cost crown, the Morningstar research report found. In 2019, the firms asset-weighted expense ratio was 0.09%, down from 0.10% in 2018. Vanguard was followed by State Street Global Advisors (0.16%) and BlackRock/iShares (0.27%). However, Vanguards competition gained ground in 2019. While the firm remains the overall low-cost leader, its competitors either matched or undercut the firms fees for certain broad market-cap-weighted index funds. As these firms jockeyed for position, investors have come out in front, benefiting from an ever-wider menu of ever-cheaper options offering wide market exposure. Global Engagement Launches Summer Online Series A total of 48 participants joined in the first session of the seven-week, online series, Global Perspectives in Veterinary Medicine. With study abroad plans cancelled in light of university travel restrictions this summer, the Purdue Veterinary Medicine Office of Global Engagement has launched an online series, Global Perspectives in Veterinary Medicine. Tailored to students, the series aims to provide a better understanding of veterinary medicines impact throughout the world and give participants a comprehensive view of the various career paths available to veterinary professionals by way of a virtual trip around the world. The recent interruptions caused by COVID-19 has limited our ability to travel, but it has not limited our aptitude to connect with one another. Overall, these sessions are designed for participants to place their career in a larger global framework, said Director of Global Engagement Will Smith. In these times, it is more important than ever that we work toward developing globally conscious veterinary professionals that are ready to collaborate, exchange, and engage with the world around them. Participants took a virtual trip to South Africa where they heard from Hein and Kim Schoeman, directors and lead conservationists of the Umkhondo Big-5 Wildlife Park. Consisting of live interviews, presentations, and discussions on a variety of veterinary medicine related topics, the series, hosted on Zoom, allows participants to view their profession through the various lenses of those in the field. PVM students who participate in five of the seven sessions are eligible for completion of the Global Veterinary Medicine Certificate Program. The seven-week series kicked-off yesterday, June 11, with a stop in South Africa to hear from Kim and Hein Schoeman, directors and lead conservationists of the Umkhondo Big-5 Wildlife Park, who led a discussion about wildlife conservation and medicine. Although students are not able to travel to South Africa this year, the Umkhondo Wildlife Program has found a way for students to learn about wildlife medicine and conservation from the comforts of home. They have developed a VetX Online Program that can be completed at an individuals own pace, consisting of 20 modules each with summary quizzes to assess understanding of the subject. Upon completion, the student will receive a certificate and the option to join the project in person. Click here to learn more about Umkhondo VetX Online. Click here to watch a video on this student program. The series continues next week in Australia with Dr. Phillip Moses, specialist small animal surgeon and founding director of Veterinary Specialist Services, for a presentation on the welfare of brachycephalic dogs. Click here to sign up for this session. Click here to view the full series schedule. Writer(s): Allison Carey | pvmnews@purdue.edu The petition asked the A.I.A. to censure architects who designed death chambers and solitary confinement facilities, which, as constituted and employed in countless American prisons, often function as instruments of psychological and physical torture. As Mr. Sperry pointed out, while the death penalty is legal in the United States, the United Nations and other human rights organizations have determined that it violates human rights. The A.I.A.s code of ethics instructs its members to uphold human rights in all their professional endeavors. Last year, Pfizer, the pharmaceutical giant, became the latest among dozens of drug companies to ban the use of its products in executions; and the American Medical Association instructs doctors not to participate in execution and torture. So why not architects, too? The A.I.A. rejected the petition. Its former president, Helene Combs Dreiling, explained to me at the time that the code has to do with the way architects practice, treat each other, perform in the eyes of our clients. She said, It isnt about what architects build. Mr. Sperry and his associates didnt give up. Last October they met with the A.I.A. National Ethics Council, which, in January, published an opinion on death chambers and solitary confinement. The opinion basically doubled down on the organizations position. A death chamber is not a problem, it reiterated, because the death penalty is legal in the United States and the norms of our society are reflected in its laws. And if solitary confinement is a form of torture, the A.I.A. ethicists reasoned, thats the fault of those who run the prison, not an architects problem: Members could not be held responsible for torture policies and procedures put into place by their clients after they occupy a space, so long as the members were unaware as they were designing the space that it was intended to be used for torture. Do we need to run the numbers again? Between 1976 and the end of last year, there were 21 white defendants executed in this country for the deaths of African-American victims 295 African-American defendants executed for the deaths of white victims. African-Americans constitute some 13 percent of the United States population but more than 40 percent of the death row population. Turkey's state gas grid operator Botas has opened a tender for a gas pipeline to supply Azerbaijans exclave of Nakhchivan. The new supply route would sideline Iranian gas sales to Azerbaijan and comes as Ankara is trying to repair its relationship with the United States, Eurasianet reports. Sandwiched between Iran and Armenia and sharing a tiny border with Turkey, Nakhchivan has long relied on Iran for natural gas for both domestic heating and power generation. The move follows an announcement in February by the presidents of Turkey and Azerbaijan that they planned to fast track the construction of the pipeline, which has been on hold since 2010, when an agreement was first signed to build it. Botass tender calls for the design of a pipeline running around 80 kilometers from the eastern Turkish city of Igdr to the border with Nakhchivan, capable of carrying up to around 2 billion cubic meters of gas, which is more than four times the enclave's consumption. Design work is to be completed by early 2021, meaning that line could be constructed and operational as early as 2022. Nakhchivan has been importing Iranian gas under a swap agreement between Baku and Tehran inked in 2004, under which Azerbaijan supplies gas to Iran's isolated northwestern border city of Astara, which has no gas supply from inside Iran. In return, Iran supplies 85 percent of that volume to Nakhchivan, with the 15 percent differential acting as a transit fee terms which Baku has for some years been seeking to renegotiate. The prospect of a rival gas supply line from Turkey to Nakhchivan could persuade Tehran to be more amenable, but the planned line promises to have a substantially wider impact. Turkey also imports Iranian gas, but that flow has been halted since March 31 when a sabotage attack, which the Turkish authorities blamed on the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), forced the closure of the pipeline. Ankara has been in no hurry to repair the line, claiming that the attack is a "force majeure, meaning it isn't liable to compensate Tehran for any losses. The March attack was certainly fortuitous for Turkey. The month before, Turkey's deputy energy minister Alpaslan Bayraktar told a conference in Istanbul that Ankara planned to use the availability of cheap liquid natural gas (LNG) delivered by ship to force its pipeline gas suppliers to cut their prices. "This is a signal to our existing pipeline suppliers that they need to be flexible," he said. Global LNG prices were already at historic lows before the COVID-19 pandemic forced them lower still, meaning Turkey has been able to replace Iranian gas with LNG at a fraction of the cost charged by Tehran. And while the threat of undercutting Irans exports to Nakhchivan can only improve Ankara's hand in contract talks with Tehran, the potential for leverage doesn't end there. Turkey has for the past few months been attempting to improve its fractious relations with Washington, which has in turn long been pressing both Turkey and Azerbaijan to limit their economic ties with Iran. The prospect of Turkey and Azerbaijan ending or limiting their gas imports from Iran will certainly appeal to the Iran hawks in the Trump administration, all the more so given that the past year has seen the U.S. become one of Turkey's main gas suppliers. As of February, the U.S. was accounting for 18 percent of Turkish gas imports, compared to only 15 percent from Iran. Denmark Summons Saudi Envoy Over Spying And Terror Plot Radio Farda June 11, 2020 The Danish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned the Saudi ambassador after terrorism charges were brought against three leaders of an Iranian Arab separatist group based in Denmark. "We will not accept such activities under any circumstances and our ambassador in Riyadh has repeated the same message directly to the Saudi authorities," Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said in a statement. In a tweet on June 10 Kofod said he has spoken with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and made it "crystal clear that the Danish government does not accept any terror-related activities on Danish soil and that the government considers the matter with the greatest seriousness". The trio who are members of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz (ASMLA) were arrested by the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) in February on suspicion of spying for Saudi Arabia in Denmark and receiving funds from them to finance and promote terrorism in Iran. Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) have also accused Iran of planning the assassination of the leader of the Danish branch of ASMLA on Danish soil in October 2018 in retaliation for the killing of 24 people in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran, in September 2018. Iran has vehemently denied all these allegations but the EU imposed some sanctions against Iranian intelligence services for killings and attempted killings in Denmark, the Netherlands and France in January 2019. ASMLA advocates a separate Arab state in Iran's oil-rich southwestern Khuzestan province. Arabs are a minority in Iran, and some see themselves as under Persian occupation and want independence or autonomy. According to Danish intelligence service PET, the three members of ASMLA worked for Riyadh between 2012 and 2018. The group is based in Denmark and the Netherlands. In September 2018 ASMLA claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a military parade in Ahvaz, capital of oil-rich Khuzestan Province that killed 25 members of the Revolutionary Guard and civilian onlookers. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/denmark-summons-saudi -envoy-over-terror-plot/30665762.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Summit will provide a forum and support for all colleagues across higher education and help them design the most effective and engaging experiences for learners. Leading educators with extensive practical online and blended teaching and learning experience drawn from across global universities and colleges are being gathered to present immediately useful and evidence-backed practices on both subject-specific and general online teaching techniques. REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit will take place July 13-14. Click here to register. Over 60 thirty-minute sessions selected by group of nationally respected higher education experts will be presented at the Summit. There will be two broad categories of presentation "Disciplines" and "Topics" all led by faculty members and master practitioners drawn from institutions across the country. The Disciplines sessions are led by faculty who are currently running large successful online courses and they will share their perspectives on best practices, pedagogy, techniques and tools to provide actionable insights around teaching their discipline to colleagues preparing courses for the fall 2020. The Topics sessions will offer intelligence and tips to support all disciplines, and specific issues addressed will include diversity and inclusion in the online classroom; effective assessment; mixed mode teaching; and techniques to promote student engagement and wellbeing. The robust virtual environment provides a 3-D experience for attendees in an engaging digital venue. Participants can navigate throughout interactive spaces which include a campus-like lobby setting, presentation halls with multiple sessions running simultaneously with live Q&A components, virtual booths to chat with experts, and chat lounges allowing for networking and group conversations. The virtual environment accommodates multiple time zones, integrates social media channels and provides opportunities to share virtual business cards. The Summit will also provide a further eight sessions on pressing policy issues for US and international higher educational institutions for University leadership, Presidents, Provosts, Deans, Department Chairs, and senior administrators who are leading their institutions through uniquely complex and challenging dynamics. These will be led by higher education leaders currently grappling with the situation. Michael M. Crow, president of Arizona State University, will deliver REMOTE's opening remarks. "During this unprecedented time, the fall semester promises to be complex and unusually challenging for educators and administrators," Crow said. "With technology redefining learning, we are convening REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit to bring together the best of online teaching nationwide and help higher education faculty discover immediate ways to improve online class delivery and to obtain navigation assistance around blended delivery. This is particularly a time when we in higher education need to collaborate and advance creative responses for teaching and learning." "Faculty are preparing for the coming year in an environment of uncertainty," added David Levin, University Entrepreneur in Residence, Arizona State University and Executive Producer of REMOTE. "Student needs in this new world are going to be different and courses are going to be hybrid combining various online and face to face elements. We're excited to offer two-days of vital information, networking and interaction that will provide faculty with insights on how to make the most of online and blended teaching." Summit sponsors include Founder partner the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Cisco, Every Learner Everywhere and Pearson, Cengage, Chegg, MacMillan, iDesign, Cogbooks, and McGraw Hill, among others. Media partners include The Chronicle of Higher Education and Times Higher Education. To learn more about REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit, click here. REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit is free of charge for faculty and learning practitioners as well as administrators. Register to attend here. Attendees can gain best practices through recorded sessions from the Summit through the end of 2020. About Arizona State University Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it. Media Contacts: Carrie Peterson EdPlus at Arizona State University 480-884-1541 [email protected] SOURCE Arizona State University Related Links http://www.asu.edu A new review paper by the researchers from Spain, published in the journal Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews, demonstrates how changes in the levels of cytokines and other biomolecules are associated with the presence and more serious prognosis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Macrophage releasing cytokines. Image Credit: sciencepics / Shutterstock An ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), had a severe impact not only on human health, but also on health care systems, society, and the global economy. Although most people do not develop severe forms of the disease, it can manifest with grave respiratory problems and death. In the short period since disease emergence, many studies have described abnormal levels of various cytokines and chemokines (i.e., small cell-signaling proteins) due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The underlying mechanism is the depletion of antiviral defenses linked to the innate immune response, as well as increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This can subsequently result in the so-called 'cytokine storm' an uncontrolled overproduction of inflammation markers that prompt and maintain an aberrant systemic inflammatory response, which leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and, often, a lethal outcome. Researchers from the University of Granada, the Institute of Biosanitary Research in Granada, as well as from the University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves in Granada, Spain, conducted a thorough review in other to pinpoint exact molecular changes that can be linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the severity of the disease. Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (pink) heavily infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (green), isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID Elevated levels of interleukins SARS-CoV-2 appears to activate and prompt the maturation of interleukin-1, which in turn activates other pro-inflammatory cytokines most notably interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-). Consequently, interleukin-1 is partly responsible for cytokine storm prompted by this virus and other coronaviruses. Elevated levels of either interleukin-2 or its receptor have been observed in patients with COVID-19, and different research reports state that such increase is directly proportional to disease severity. The same is valid for interleukin-4 and interleukin-6, which are both related to cytokine storm and poor COVID-19 prognosis. "With regard to the important role of interleukin-6 in the SARS-CoV-2-induced cytokine storm and its evasion, it has been reported that the monoclonal antibody tocilizumab acts by blocking the receptor of interleukin-6 and has been reported to reverse cytokine hyperproduction, inflammation, and pulmonary fibrosis", further explain study authors. When interleukin-10 is concerned, its values are also increased in COVID-19 patients. At the same time, certain authors indicate that this cytokine may be hyper-expressed in anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity, especially in the elderly concerning a 'hyperinflammatory response' (potentially related to the reduction of T-cell receptors). In addition, elevated levels of interleukin-12, interleukin-13, interleukin-17 have also been observed in COVID-19 patients, correlating well with the viral load in the human organism. The common notion is their propensity to induce inflammation. Other cytokines and biomolecules Significantly elevated levels of macrophage colony-stimulating factor in patients with COVID-19 have been observed, while its hyperexpression was linked to the severity of lung damage, which may aid in predicting disease course. Similar has been observed for granulocyte and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors. Furthermore, elevated levels of interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) have been observed in a myriad of (mostly viral) infections. "Serum IP-10 levels were found to be elevated in patients with COVID-19 and even higher in those who required ICU admission, suggesting their relationship with lung damage and disease severity", say study authors. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-) was among cytokines whose overproduction was linked to a poor prognosis in patients with original SARS and MERS. Likewise, it was noted that its levels also correlate with the disease severity in COVID-19 patients, which is the reason why anti-TNF- antibodies were considered as a potential treatment approach. Most of the literature had shown that interferon- levels were higher in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 when compared to healthy individuals. Still, this specific cytokine could not be used as a specific marker to differentiate those who need intensive care. Besides cytokines, other biomolecules have shown increased expression in patients with COVID-19, including growth factors. Among them, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are found to be elevated in COVID-19 patients, especially those necessitating ICU admission. Using cytokines to forecast the course of COVID-19 "Findings on the role of cytokine storm associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection can be useful in order to manage this highly virulent disease", emphasize study authors in their paper. However, there is still not a single cytokine marker that can be used to predict the further course of COVID-19, which means we may need to utilize a combination of markers to differentiate between different clinical presentations. What this study shows is that we can be quite certain that the immunological reaction triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection mobilizes a panoply of cytokines, mainly of pro-inflammatory nature. Consequently, the inhibition of their activity is definitely a viable therapeutic strategy. What will shopping look like post lockdown? (Getty Images) Finally, after three months of longing to scratch our shopping itch, non-essential stores will be allowed to reopen in the UK from Monday 15th June. While weve been able to continue to shop online during lockdown, theres nothing quite like a real life browse in our favourite high street stores. But, shopping post-lockdown is likely to look quite different thanks to the introduction of new rules to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. New guidelines will limit the number of people allowed in stores per household, while shoppers will have to pay using a cashless method where possible. Fitting rooms will be closed and one-way systems and barriers put in place, in measures that will replicate how supermarkets have operated throughout the crisis. Customers will be encouraged to use hand sanitiser and advised not to pick up items as they browse. Clothing stores have been told to shut fitting rooms where possible, other than for the purpose of enabling staff to change into protective clothing, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. Read more: These M&S sandals are our summer essential - and they're on sale In order to keep things hygienic once inside, shoppers will be asked to sanitise their hands upon entry, and customers will be discouraged from touching items unless they intend to buy them. To avoid confusion, the new measures will be clearly set out with posters and signs on windows and doors before you get inside. There will be changes to shopping partners too, with only one person per household allowed in at a time, unless youre a parent with a young child that is. So as we count down the days until stores throw open there doors, heres a sneak peek about what we can expect shopping 2.0 to look like on Monday... Primark Primark will be reopening its 153 stores in England on 15 June. The measures they are putting in place to help provide a safe environment for customers include social distancing protocols, hand sanitiser, perspex screens at tills and additional store cleaning. Story continues In order to follow social distancing protocol the company also plan on limiting the number of customers allowed in store at any one time, introducing floor decals, closing every second till to allow more space between customers. They will also have hand sanitiser stations at the entrance and on shop floor, perspex screens on tills and increased in-store cleaning. As we re-open our stores in England, nothing matters more than the health and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers, says Primark CEO, Paul Marchant. We know that life for our customers is going to look different for a while. We want our stores to be safe and reassuring places to shop and work. While it might take a little longer to get into our stores, once inside, customers will find all their favourite Primark products and we have worked hard to make sure that clear signage and extra help will be there to guide them through the changes we have made to allow for social distancing. We will adopt all government safety advice as a minimum in our stores and have benefited from our experience in the other markets in Europe where we have already opened successfully. As we open, we will continue to look at best practice across the retail sector and amend our measures appropriately. Store opening times can be found online: https://stores.primark.com/search Read more: John Lewis' 50% off fashion sale continues: The best new additions to shop Non-essential shops have been closed for almost three months. (Getty Images) Arcadia brands (Topshop, Topman, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Wallis and Outfit) From Monday customers to the above re-opened stores can expect a wealth of safety measures to welcome back shoppers. From new, more spacious store layouts to the allocation of a social distancing champion managing customers coming in and out and offering advice and guidance on what to do in store, and what services are available. Perspex screens have also been installed at each till, alongside 2m floor markings. Though changing rooms will not be in operation until social distancing measures are lifted, you can try shoes on in store. Although they are unable to provide specifics on the number of customers permitted in store at any one time, as this will vary store by store depending on its layout, square footage, and number of staff working that day, there will be a limit on the number. But before you leave home for a browse round Topshop and co its worth noting that they are only accepting card and contactless payments, no cash, so dont forget your debit/credit card. H&M H&M Group plans to reopen the majority of our stores in England from the 15th June so you can get your summer shopping fix from Monday. Examples of some of the measures the company have implemented include increased hygiene and cleaning routines, separate entrances and exits, limits on customer numbers entering stores. Like other stores you wont be able to try on your must-wants as fitting rooms will be closed and there will also be a limit on the number of tills accepting cash. Meanwhile plexi screens for till points and suspended click and collect services have also been introduced. We are very much looking forward to welcoming customers back to our stores, and would like to thank everybody for their continued patience as we have navigated this situation together, says Toni Galli, Country Manager for H&M UK & IE. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our incredible H&M colleagues working in roles within our logistics and customer services departments that have continued to support our online business whilst our stores remained closed. Read more: Aldi to launch non-medical 4.99 face masks this weekend Lush From Monday Lush is reopening 88 of its shops in England, following an almost three month closure. The company has been busy adapting to new guidelines and has introduced a number of virus control measures including observing advised social distancing rules, having no hands on demonstrations and introducing a safe queuing system to enter stores. Other introductions will see no product testers on display, invitations for customers to wash their hands on arrival with their own piece of soap peel and the introduction of pre-filled sample pots of some of Lushs most popular products, complete with a tamper proof seal. As well as perspex screens and other social distancing measures a number of stores will also set up kiosk purchasing at the front door to avoid the need for customers to enter the shop at all. What will shopping look like when shops reopen in England on Monday June 15. (Getty Images) John Lewis John Lewis will begin to reopen its shops for customers as part of a gradual approach from Monday 15 June, starting with its Poole and Kingston department stores, followed by 11 others on Thursday 18 June. From Monday, John Lewis's home design and personal styling services will be closed. Fitting rooms, its bureau de change and all food and drink halls will also be cordoned off from the public. Additionally close-contact beauty services will not be offered and fitting rooms will remain closed until further notice. To help customers get the hang of what shopping in John Lewis will look like, the company have released a video with an explanation of the new measures introduced. At escalators, you'll have to stand eight steps apart on escalators and click and collect can be picked up from the car park!, the video to shoppers explains. John Lewis said it will also reduce the number of entrances to stores and will put caps on the number of people allowed in at one time as part of new safety measures. They also plan on having a Customer Service Host to answer any questions and manage customer numbers. As well has hand sanitiser stations and perspex screens, the company have introduced a new contactless payment limit of 45. There are also changes to their returns process, which means they plan on separating returned stock from new or old stock for 72 hours. Marks & Spencers new safety measures. (M&S) Marks & Spencer From 15 June, M&S stores in England and Northern Ireland will be open, with extra measures in place to help keep customers safe. Some services, such as bra fitting remain paused, but M&S promise staff will be on hand to give advice, and have plenty of online tools to help when it comes to getting the right fit. For any returns, for which customers have 90 days, the items will be quarantined until its safe to put them back on the shop floor. Cleanliness is the top priority with staff encouraged to wash their hands every 30 minutes and sanitise after serving each customer. Hand sanitiser will also be available as you enter the store for customers to use if they dont have any with them. The tills are spaced out with plenty of room for customers to queue up while staying two metres apart and perspex screens have been installed. Meanwhile the higher contactless limit of 45 has also been introduced. Like John Lewis, Marks & Spencer have produced a video to help customers know what to expect. Read more: How to look after your skin when wearing a face mask Debenhams Like all stores, Debenhams plans to limit the number of customers in store at any one time. There'll also be clear signage, with staff on hand to help everyone maintain a safe distance. Stores will also be cleaned frequently and hand sanitiser will be provided for both customers and staff. Perspex screens have also been fitted at all checkouts, with shoppers asked to use contactless payment if possible with a newly increased limit of 45 (but cash and gift cards will still be accepted). In line with government guidelines additional services such as dressing rooms, restaurants and cafes, toilets, beauty services, bra fitting and personal shopping services will remain closed. As will click and collect and in store ordering. However, for accessibility you will still be able to use the lifts, with guidance on social distancing and washroom facilities will be available for disabled customers on request. By Elizabeth Piper and Kate Holton LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will introduce border checks with the European Union in stages from Jan. 1, reversing an original plan so it can now give companies struggling with the coronavirus crisis more time to fill out forms and pay tariffs. The government said for the first six months of 2021 the new requirements would be introduced in stages, recognising the impact of COVID-19 as companies prepare for new customs systems with Britain's biggest trading partner. This is a U-turn from February when Britain said it planned to introduce import controls on EU goods at the border once a status-quo transition period with the EU ends on Dec. 31. Companies have long called on the government to give them more clarity about what new border checks will be in force, with critics saying Britain was not ready to operate its own customs system, lacking both the personnel and infrastructure. But the government said it would not extend the transition period that began when Britain left the bloc in January. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove, speaking before his department announced the new measures, said London had informed the EU of this on Friday. "The moment for extension has now passed," he added, after the leaders of Scotland and Wales appealed for a delay to avoid an "extraordinarily reckless" move. With the EU repeating that time is running out to secure a deal on a future relationship, some officials hope a video meeting between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday could help break an impasse in the talks. Britain has stepped up preparations for leaving the EU's customs union and single market at the end of the year, reinforcing teams working on Brexit after some officials were diverted to tackling the coronavirus outbreak. But some trade experts say the government has yet to employ the number of officials needed or build the necessary infrastructure to allow the new border to operate. Story continues Britain said on Friday that from Jan. 1, traders importing standard goods would need to keep sufficient records but would have up to six months to complete customs declarations. While tariffs will need to be paid on imports, payments can be deferred until the customs declaration has been made. Further steps will be introduced in April for those importing animal and plant goods, while a full border controls system will be in force by July. Sam Lowe, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, said Britain could face chaos if it did not get it right. "COVID-19 has also made things worse ... and government just hasn't had the time to fully prepare itself for a full fat border," he said. (Additional reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese, Grant McCool, Alison Williams and Frances Kerry) BJP president J P Nadda asserted on Friday that his party and the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi are committed to reservation, a day after the Supreme Court said quota is not a fundamental right. While the BJP underscored its support to reservation, its ally and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan demanded that all parties should come together and put all laws related to quota in the ninth schedule of the Constitution which will preclude any legal challenge to it. In a statement, Nadda said some people are trying to create confusion in society about reservation. "The government under Modi and the BJP are committed to reservation. Our commitment to social justice is unbreakable. We stand committed to reservation. PM Modi has repeated it again and again. Our endeavour is always towards social harmony and equal opportunity for everyone," he said. Lok Janshakti Party leader Paswan said reservation, which provides scheduled castes and tribes, other backward classes and economically backward members of general castes quota in government jobs and educational institutions, may not be a fundamental right but is very much a constitutional right. He expressed his disappointment that some controversy is often raised over the issue, even though reservation for the scheduled castes and tribes owes its genesis to the Poona pact between Mahatma Gandhi and B R Ambedkar. Even the Supreme Court had held it long back that the scheduled castes and tribes have been granted reservation due to the practice of untouchability against them. "The LJP appeals to all political parties, who have joined hands over the issue earlier as well, that they should come together to put all laws regarding reservation in the Constitution's ninth schedule to lay all controversies to rest," he said in a statement. The Supreme Court Thursday refused to entertain pleas of various political parties challenging the Centre's decision not to grant 50 per cent reservation to OBCs as per Tamil Nadu law in medical seats surrendered by the state in the all India quota for undergraduate, postgraduate and dental courses in 2020-21, saying the right to reservation is not a fundamental right. The top court asked the political parties, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), CPI(M), MDMK of Vaiko, PMK of Anubmani Ramadoss, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and CPI, to approach the Madras High Court with their pleas for grant of OBC quota in medical admissions. Exemption prompted complaints from those who remained shut out Cameron and a crew of 55 arrived in Wellington to film an 'Avatar' sequel New Zealand will ease its coronavirus border controls, the government said Friday. It comes after a decision to let Hollywood director James Cameron into the country to film an 'Avatar' sequel prompted anger over double standards. Cameron and a crew of 55 arrived in Wellington from Los Angeles last month after receiving special permission to enter the country to film the sequel to his 2009 mega-hit. Canadian director James Cameron (left) and U.S. producer Jon Landau (right) arriving at Wellington International Airport to resume the filming of the Avatar sequels on May 31. A decision to let Hollywood director James Cameron into the country to film an 'Avatar' sequel prompted anger over double standards U.S. producer Jon Landau poses in front of a sign stating 'All passengers must self-isolate for 14 days', while arriving at Wellington International Airport to resume the filming of the Avatar sequels on May 31 The exemption prompted complaints from those who remained shut out by New Zealand's border closure, including a father from Hong Kong who missed the birth of his first child. New Zealand closed its border to non-citizens and non-residents in March, and this week announced it had no active COVID-19 cases and had eliminated transmission of the virus. Businesses had pointed to inconsistencies in the way the rules were applied, with Avatar workers allowed in because of the film industry's economic clout but crews from the money-spinning America's Cup yachting regatta barred. 'There are double standards here. It's totally unfair and damaging New Zealand's reputation,' New Zealand Association of Migration and Investment chairwoman June Ranson told RNZ at the time. Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said Friday that the requirement that dependents travel together with a New Zealand citizen or resident in order to enter the country, would be relaxed from next week. Workers will also be allowed in if they have unique technical or specialist skills and are involved in a project of significant regional or national importance. New Zealand will ease its coronavirus border controls, the government said Friday. Above, an Air New Zealand plane is seen through windows at Nelson Airport The mandatory 14-day quarantine for all arrivals - a requirement that means Cameron and his colleagues are still locked down in a Wellington hotel - will remain, he added. 'The bar for being granted an exception to the border restrictions is set high, and remains high, to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of people already in New Zealand,' Lees-Galloway said. Under the changes, crew support staff and family from two America's Cup syndicates have been allowed in, INEOS Team UK and American Magic. Another two syndicates - Luna Rossa of Italy and Stars & Stripes Team USA - are expected to compete in the Prada Cup challenger series early next year but their immigration status is unknown. The winner of the challenge earns the right to race holder Team New Zealand for the America's Cup in March. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 16:56 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde49b09 1 National disability,COVID-19 Free Sir/Maam, Im deaf. I cannot read your lips because youre wearing a mask. Im here to withdraw my money. Please write down what I need to do. Thank you. Widi Utami, 28, handed this handwritten note to a security guard when she arrived at a bank in Semarang, Central Java, on June 4. While she can usually read lips, with all the security guards and tellers covering their mouth with masks, she relies on notes. The security guard, Kurniawan, promptly nodded and wrote below the note, How much do you want to withdraw? Kurniawan accompanied Widi to the teller and stayed with her until she had finished taking her money, making sure she could communicate properly with the teller using handwritten notes. Widi shared her story on her twitter account @MustikaUngu expressing gratitude to Kurniawan for being so helpful. Her post went viral, with other deaf people sharing accounts of their experiences accessing public services during the new normal. Tuli Pergi ke Bank di Tengah Pandemi Hormat sedalam-dalamnya untuk Bapak Kurniawan, Satpam @BNI cabang Jati Raya, Banyumanik. pic.twitter.com/aLFQLbWPYK Widi Utami (@MustikaUngu) June 4, 2020 That was my first time going to a public place since the pandemic began, Widi told The Jakarta Post on Monday via text message, since the government introduced the policy for everyone to wear mask, I feel so hopeless and anxious going out in public. Whenever I see a group of people wearing masks, I feel scared because I know I cant communicate with them. Widi, who runs an online grocery shopping business from home, said she used to find it easy to go out, but that now she was afraid to go anywhere. I have used notes like that before, but not everyone is willing to help me, Widi said. People with disabilities have long fought a battle to demand their basic rights. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, people with disabilities were marginalized and not provided equal access to public services and information. And now, as the nation forges the COVID-19 new normal, they face even greater challenges to live ordinary lives and access public services. In March, a group of deaf people sent an open letter to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, calling on him to uphold the rights of people with hearing impairments to have access to all COVID-19 information. Bagja Prawira, one of the activists who wrote the letter, said that with little to no access to information, many deaf people he knew had continued to live their lives as normal, without fully understanding the dangers of the pandemic. We are facing a disaster and we have the right to access all information about it, Bagja told the Post on Tuesday via a video call with the help of an interpreter. He called on the government to follow Law No.8/2016 on people with disabilities, which requires authorities to provide access to public services, information and protection during disasters. Deaf people, Bagja said, communicated by writing, reading peoples lips and using sign language. While transparent masks could help some read lips, not all deaf people had this ability, Bagja said. As such, sign language is a vital communication tool. However, not all television stations provide sign language interpreters to help those who cannot hear. Bagja said the deaf community lacked access to information because of persistent stigma and a lack awareness about the importance of sign language. There are only 50 professional sign language interpreters in Indonesia, he said. Widi Utami, 28, who has a hearing impairment, handed this handwritten note to a security guard when she arrived at a bank in Semarang, Central Java, on June 4. While she can usually read lips, with all the security guards and tellers covering their mouth with masks, she relies on notes. (Widi Utami/Widi Utami) According to 2019 National Social and Economic Survey (Susenas) data, there are 25.6 million people with disabilities in Indonesia, equal to almost 10 percent of the population. A recent survey from the Indonesia Disability Network (JDI) showed that only around 60 percent of people with disabilities had adequate access to information about COVID-19 and how to avoid infection. The online survey was conducted from April 10 to 24 by JDI and involved 1,683 respondents with disabilities from 32 provinces. According to the survey, 86 percent of respondents who work in the informal sector had seen their incomes drop 50 to 80 percent because of the economic impacts of the outbreak. Social safety net programs have reached less than 15 percent of the respondents, Juni Yulianto, a researcher at JDI, said on Thursday during an online webinar on the challenges faced by people with disabilities during the outbreak. The COVID-19 outbreak has also affected people with disabilities who require medical treatment, as they have avoided going to hospital over fears of exposure to the virus. Some have discontinued their treatment. People with cerebral palsy, for example, require routine physical therapy. If it is postponed for a month, it will significantly impact their condition. They might require home visits for the therapy sessions, Juni added. The National Development Planning Agencys (Bappenas) director for poverty reduction and social welfare, Maliki, who also gave a presentation during the webinar, said people with disabilities were the most vulnerable group during the transition to new normal. Maliki said citizenship status was vital for people with disabilities to gain access to their rights, but the reality was that 116,000 children with disabilities do not have birth certificates. The pandemic will increase the number of poor and vulnerable people, and people with disabilities are especially at risk, Maliki added. Maliki said Bappenas was currently working to reregister people with disabilities with the help of the Social Ministry and local governments. That way we can get their names and addresses. We will provide social aid until December. Communities and organizations can help us by notifying us of people with disabilities in their community who need social assistance, he said. Juni of JDI said that COVID-19 had showed how the government lacked sufficient data to assist the most vulnerable groups during disaster. This is our time to fix that, he said. Breonnas Law Banning No-Knock Warrants Signed in Louisville, Kentucky Last night, the Louisville Metro City Council voted unanimously to ban no-knock warrants, the type of warrant that was used when Breonna Taylor was killed by the Louisville Police Department. The legislation, which comes just a few days after what would have been Taylor's 27th birthday on June 5, will be titled Breonnas Law in her honor. Bre, this is for you! ?? #BreonnasLaw not only BANS no-knock warrants in Louisville, but also requires the use of body cameras by anyone executing a search warrant. Thank you all for your support in advocating for justice!! Let this be part of #BreonnaTaylors legacy. #SayHerName pic.twitter.com/yBozQ6QJBM ADVERTISEMENT June 12, 2020 On March 13, 2020, officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department broke into Breonna Taylors home in the middle of the night with a no-knock warrant and without announcing that they were law enforcement. Believing it was a home invasion, Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, reached for a gun in defense and the police officers shot the 26-year-old Breonna Taylor multiple times, she later died of her injuries. After the murder of George Floyd on May 25 and the protests that followed, Breonna Taylor's death became further highlighted in mainstream news. Breonnas Law is one of the first steps to seeing justice served: not only does the law ban no-knock warrants, but it requires police officers to wear body cameras when serving warrants, turning those body cameras on five minutes before any action is taken. I know if Breonna was here today shed be looking down thinking ahhh, Im making history, Taylor's mother, Tamkia Palmer stated. She just really cared about saving lives so shell get to continue to do that through the Breonnas Law. Her mother was also sure to note, however, that this is simply a start. While Breonnas Law will save lives in the future, the cops who killed her have still not been arrested or charged. The three police officers responsible for her death have been placed on administrative reassignment, but there is no news on intentions to arrest the officers and take them to trial for her murder aside from the announcement that the FBI would reopen her case to investigation earlier this month. Since Taylors case has been made more public on television and online, many women from the Louisville Metro area have come forward about one of the officers responsible for her murder, Brett Hankison. At least two women with nearly identical stories have come forward to state that they had previously been sexually assaulted by Hankison. Clearly, Hankison and the other two officers need to be arrested immediately. To ensure that #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor does not begin and end with Breonnas Law, you can continue to call and email Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Special Prosecutor Daniel Cameron, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear as well as sign the petition and donate to various causes in her honor. Greg Fischer: (502)-574-2003 greg.fischer@louisvilleky.gov Daniel Cameron: (502)-696-5300 attorney.general@ag.ky.gov Andy Beshear: (502)-564-2611 Image via Ben Crump on Twitter MORE FROM BUST Justice For Breonna Taylor: Understanding #SayHerName And Black Women's Invisibility In Police Brutality A Black Trans Woman Was Attacked, And Cis Women Need To Open Their Purses The Black Girl Bill Of Rights Needs To Be Ratified Aliza is a Creative Writing BFA student and former BUST Magazine intern! When she's not writing, reading or scrolling through TikTok for hours on end, you can find her consuming copious amounts of iced coffee or doing something witchy. Follow her on Twitter @alizapelto. New Delhi, June 12 : The Supreme Court on Friday slammed the Delhi government on news reports showing deplorable condition of medical wards in Delhi, where dead bodies were not only in wards, but were also found in lobby and waiting areas. The apex court termed the situation in Delhi "horrendous, horrific and pathetic". It slammed the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government for its handling of dead bodies, terming it "very sorry state of affairs". A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, S.K. Kaul and M.R. Shah took suo moto cognizance of the ill-treatment being meted out to Covid patients in hospitals and also the undignified way in which dead bodies of Covid patients were being handled. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said there was a case in Delhi where dead bodies were found alongside patients, who were undergoing treatment. Justice Shah questioned Mehta, "So what have you done?" The bench termed the situation in Delhi "horrendous, horrific and pathetic", and reproached the government for patients being placed alongside stacks of dead bodies in the hospitals. The bench noted that patients' families aren't even informed about deaths and in some cases, families haven't been able to attend the last rites, too. The bench noted that there is a problem with the way the pandemic was being fought in the national capital. "The number of tests conducted are low in Delhi compared to Chennai and Mumbaia...Why are tests so less in Delhi?" the bench said. "Nobody should be denied testing on technical reasons...simplify procedure so more and more can test for Covid," said the bench. The top court pointed out that it is the duty of the state to conduct testing so that more people know about their health status. The top court also noted that the situation is grim even in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text A puzzle of political districts sits on a table during a public input meeting of the Pennsylvania Redistricting Reform Commission at Tindley Temple United Methodist Church in South Philadelphia on Tuesday, May 28, 2019. Bills are still pending in both the state House and Senate to ask voters to approve creation of an independent commission to draw new districts. Read more Pennsylvania is one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation. That means politicians in Harrisburg pretty much choose who their voters are rather than, as is supposed to happen in a democracy, letting the voters choose their elected officials. Two years ago, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court determined that many congressional district maps were so artificially contorted, they violated the states constitution. When the governor and General Assembly failed to agree on new boundaries, the court stepped in and drew its own map. But the courts solution was only a temporary fix, since redistricting will again take place next year based on the results of this years census. We could again see the majority party draw district lines based on the notion that theyre allowed to reap 10 years of favorable electoral bias for their trouble. Both houses of the General Assembly need to act now to pass legislation that will begin to end such practices permanently. That requires action before the legislatures summer recess, which is fast approaching for the end of June. By starting the process to create an independent redistricting commission, Pennsylvania will be on a path to give the right to draw legislative districts to a nonpartisan, citizens authority, taking it out of the hands of whichever party happens to be in a majority in Harrisburg when redistricting is done. READ MORE: Pennsylvania, gerrymandered: A guide to Pa.s congressional map redistricting fight If the legislature acts immediately, next years redistricting need not again be determined by the highly partisan interests of the party that holds the majority then. Both the House and Senate have had bills pending for over a year that would ask voters to approve the creation of an independent commission of citizens empowered to draw new district boundaries. Because its work would be impartial, transparent, and accountable, such a commission would surely create districts that represent actual communities rather than the entities that for too long have been the norm in Pennsylvania. These include packed districts, drawn to include the map makers most reliable supporters, and cracked constituencies, drawn to split communities with majorities likely to vote for the other side. In the Pennsylvania House, two relevant bills have been stuck in the House State Government Committee for more than a year despite, as documented by the group Fair Districts PA, promises by the committee chair, Garth Everett, to address them, and assurances by Majority Leader Bryan Cutler that bills with strong support will receive a vote. HB 22 would give the independent commission the power to draw both congressional and Pennsylvanias legislative districts. HB 23 limits that authority to congressional redistricting. Comparable bills in the Senate SB 1022 and SB 1023 propose identical legislation. They are still being ignored in spite of statements of support from both State Government Committee chair John DiSanto and Majority Leader Jake Corman. The bills in question represent years of discussion, advocacy, research, and civic engagement. They have had more cosponsors than any others both in this session and the last. Yet, no vote has ever been taken to create an independent redistricting commission. Here is why these bills need a vote before the summer recess: that allows the three months of advertising required before the upcoming November election, when they can first be considered by the electorate. If that happens, next year the identical bills must go through the same legislative approval so that they may appear on the May 21 primary ballot for a second referendum. That is the required procedure to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution and is what it will take to create a nonpartisan commission to do the work of redistricting every 10 years. Onerous though this process is, its hard to imagine a more important political reform for our commonwealth. Its time for Pennsylvania voters to be assured that all of them have a fair and equal ability to choose who will represent them in Congress and, hopefully, in Harrisburg as well. Lynn Miller is professor emeritus of political science at Temple University and the coauthor of several books on Philadelphia history. More than 1,000 local women travelled to Britain last year for abortion care, it has emerged. New figures from the UK's Department of Health reveal that 1,014 women with addresses here made the journey to England and Wales in 2019 to terminate a pregnancy - the equivalent of 19 every week. The figures for last year were slightly lower than the 1,053 recorded in 2018. The department says the current levels also remain substantially lower than the peak of 1,855 Northern Ireland resident abortions in 1990. In 2019 there were 2,135 abortions to women recorded as residing outside England and Wales, a decrease from 4,687 in 2018. Most non-residents came from Northern Ireland (47.5%) and the Irish Republic (17.6%). A further 375 women and girls from the Republic accessed abortions in England and Wales last year, down from 2,879 in 2018. Abortion services became available in the Republic in January 2019. Our restrictive abortion laws were changed by MPs last October while the Stormont Assembly was still in limbo. They provide for terminations on request for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and up to 24 weeks where there is a risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman. Abortion is also available in cases of severe and fatal foetal abnormalities with no gestational limit, as well as for conditions such as Down's syndrome. Earlier this month MLAs voted in opposition to the new abortion law. A DUP motion rejecting the "imposition" of abortion regulations by Westminster passed by 46 votes to 40. Some SDLP, UUP and Alliance Party representatives voted with the DUP, but others opposed the party. While the motion rejected the new regulations in their entirety, it focused on the regulation that permits abortions up to birth in cases of severe disability. It referenced the campaign by disability rights activists Heidi Crowter, who has Down's syndrome and who claims such laws are discriminatory. Sinn Fein had tabled an amendment that also called for the rejection of the non-fatal disability regulation, but did not include any demand for the broader regulations to be axed. That amendment was defeated 52 votes to 32. MPs are due to vote on the abortion regulations, which were introduced in March, in the House of Commons later this month. If they are voted down the Government would face the prospect of having to redraw the legislation. Emma Campbell, co-convener of Alliance for Choice Belfast, said the latest statistics demonstrated the current law is not working for Northern Ireland. She said: "The NI Department of Health must issue immediate guidance to all relevant medical professionals on the availability of care pathways in Northern Ireland and follow-up care pathways. "We watched recently in Stormont as the same medically unsound and highly emotive language was used in an attempt to water down our own access to care. "While abortion care in England is funded for many people, this does not absolve the Northern Ireland Office of their duty to uphold our human rights. "We urge the Northern Ireland Office and NI Department of Heath to ensure there is free, safe, legal and local abortion care in line with the regulations. The Department of Health recently confirmed that a total of 129 medical abortions had been carried out here between March 31 and May 22. Anurag Kashyap once walked into Shah Rukh Khan's house, using their college connection. Both of them are students of Hansraj College in Delhi University. The director was hungry, and his college senior SRK had made him an omelette. During a recent interview with Mid-Day, Anurag spoke about landing up at the superstar's home, Mannat, in Mumbai, randomly. He said, "I was hungry and I walked into his house, using our college connection. I remember him feeding me. He only knew how to make an omelette." Kashyap also said, "He is my senior from university, he has been there like a big brother helping me. Shah Rukh is super successful. When he loves you, he approaches things like, in my struggling years, (he used to tell me), 'If you do what I tell you to do, your problems will disappear'. But I didn't want him to make my life, I love him to death." Anurag has always been in awe of Shah Rukh. The filmmaker-actor has also spoken about not leaving Bollywood until he makes a film with Shah Rukh. Earlier during an interaction, Anurag had spoken about how he and SRK almost collaborated. He had said, "Shah Rukh Khan wanted to do No Smoking, he was very upset when I went away from him. I also went to him with Allwyn Kalicharan. I wanted to do that with him and a big superstar from Hollywood. Everything was almost done but then again (it didn't happen)." (Natural News) Coronavirus isnt the only deadly epidemic that can be traced to China; factories in the country have also been involved in supplying huge amounts of precursor chemicals to Mexican super labs to produce methamphetamines and other drugs that end up on American streets. Precursor chemicals are used for the illegal manufacture of narcotics and psychoactive substances. However, they also have legitimate commercial applications and are used legally in consumer products such as medicines and fragrances, as well as for industrial processes. One example of this is phenylacetic acid, which is legally used to produce penicillin and cleaning solutions but can also be used to illegally manufacture methamphetamines. A former special agent for the DEA, Derek Maltz, told One News Now that Chinas participation in the drug crisis that is killing people around world, particularly in America, is an underreported story that has been going on for many years. He said that while the DEA did a great job of stunting the ability of what he termed mom and pop labs in the U.S. to make meth, drug kingpins in Mexico spotted an opportunity to make a lot of money, so they began bringing significant quantities of precursor chemicals from China and other Asian countries into Mexican ports, from which point they went on to be used to make street drugs in labs around the country. Cartels started dominating the methamphetamine production business inside of Mexico, he said. Cartels like the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco Cartel built super-labs in Mexico to produce massive amounts of methamphetamines, up to seven tons of meth every three days. The synthetic drug market is highly profitable for them, he says, pointing out that China is home to more than 150,000 chemical companies and that the country is earning millions of dollars by selling these poisons. They are also making a lot of money by selling massive amounts of fentanyl to Mexican cartels, and some Americans are even managing to buy some of these chemicals from websites in China and having them shipped directly to their homes. In addition, the Chinese are helping the money laundering for these cartels in the U.S. as law enforcement has a far more difficult time penetrating ethnic Chinese groups than the Mexican ones, given the high number of Spanish-speaking informants used by law enforcement. Maltz believes that money may not be the only motivation behind Chinas actions, saying: America is a big adversary to China, so its not far-fetched to think the Chinese are purposely killing Americans and making millions of dollars while doing it. Coronavirus crisis in Wuhan disrupted the drug trade Wuhan will forever be associated with coronavirus, but prior to the pandemic, it was known for producing the chemicals that are needed for fentanyl and other opioids. According to the L.A. Times, Mexican drug cartels were their biggest customers. After the virus emerged and disrupted the fentanyl supply chain, however, Mexican drug traffickers saw their profits take a huge hit, and street drug prices across America started climbing. Lockdowns, travel bans, and other types of virus containment efforts have crippled the narcotics trade, and the Mexican production of meth and fentanyl was particularly hard hit as they were unable to get the precursor chemicals that usually arrive via plane or cargo ship from China. In addition, new restrictions on entering the U.S. have been another big roadblock for the Mexican drug cartels, and the resulting loss of income is said to be contributing to escalating violence in Mexico, where the monthly homicide figures reached a two-year high in March. As pandemic-related lockdowns start being lifted, however, the illegal drug trade will soon be in full swing once again. Sources for this article include: BigLeaguePolitics.com OneNewsNow.com LATimes.com An Iranian national has been sentenced to death for spying for the CIA and Mossad on the whereabouts of Lt. General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the US in Baghdad early this year, Irans Judiciary spokesman said. Lt. General Qassem Soleimani ( central) Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Gholam Hossein Esmaeili said the convict, named Seyed Mahmoud Mousavi Majd, had connections with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Israeli espionage service Mossad. In exchange for receiving dollars, the spy gathered intelligence for the CIA and Mossad on the Iranian security sphere and Armed Forces, including on the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Forces and on the whereabouts of Lt. General Qassem Soleimani, the spokesman said. The Revolutions Court has sentenced the spy to death, and the ruling has been upheld by another court, he said, adding that the convict will soon be executed. Lt. General Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was the deputy head of Iraqs Hashd al-Shaabi (PMU), and a number of their entourage were killed in a strike by American drones near Baghdad International Airport on January 3. The White House and the Pentagon claimed responsibility for the assassination of General Soleimani in Iraq, saying the attack was carried out at the direction of US President Donald Trump. In the early hours of January 8, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) targeted the US airbase of Ain al-Assad in retaliation for the US move. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi once again took on the government for its Covid-19 response, accusing it of taking decisions unilaterally. Understand my countrys DNA: Rahul Gandhi remains hopeful about recovery We have a government which takes decisions unilaterally. It decided to impose a hard lockdown and the result was for everyone to see. You had thousands of migrant workers walking thousands of kilometres to their hometowns. This type of episodic leadership is very very disruptive, Gandhi said during a conversation with former US diplomat Nicholas Burns on Friday. We are fighting it. And I am hopeful because I understand the DNA of my country. And I know that for thousands of years, the DNA of my country has been of one type, it cant be changed. We are going through a bad patch. Covid-19 is a horrible time, but I see new ideas emerging after the crisis. I already see people cooerating much more than they were before. They now realise that there are advantages of being unified, the former Congress president said. He asked Burns how will the Covid-19 crisis shift the balance of power in the world. We are going to set aside global political rivalries on issues like climate change becuase issues like this are existential for everyone. They unite every person in the world. We need to have a future of global politics. Of cours,e we are going to compete - China and the United States, India and the United States - but we need to preserv space and we can work together on behalf of individual people, said Burns. Give people the support, that we as government can help them. Thats the challenge with Covid-19. This is the first pandemic in 17 years. We will have mroe in coming years. Can we respond as gobal community? Can we work together? I think thats the biggest challenges I see coming out of Covid-19, he added. China is making strides, there is no doubt about that, but what it lacks is the sophistication and openness of a democratic country like India or the United States. China is a fearful leadership. Fearful men, trying to preserve their own power, increasing the grip that they have on thier citizens. See what is happening in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. So I am hopeful of the future of India and the United States, said Burns. Gandhi held the conversation with Burns on how coronavirus crisis was reshaping the world order. The interaction between also covered a wide range of issues, including racism in the United States. Burns is currently the Professor of Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics at Harvards John F Kennedy School of Government. At the Harvard Kennedy School, Burns is the Director of The Future of Diplomacy Project and Faculty Chair for the programs on the Middle East, India and South Asia. During his career in the State Department, he was United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs within the United States Department of State. He was also the chief negotiator of the India-US nuclear deal. Microsoft President Brad Smith said the company won't sell facial recognition software to U.S. police departments until there are laws in place governing the use of such technology, making the pledge a day after rival Amazon.com Inc. paused similar usage for a year. Smith, who is also the company's chief legal officer, said Microsoft doesn't currently supply the artificial intelligence software for facial recognition to any U.S. police departments. He spoke via video on Thursday at a Washington Post virtual conference that was posted to Twitter. "This is a moment in time that really calls on us to listen more, to learn more and most importantly to do more," he said in the interview. "Given that, we've decided we will not sell facial recognition to police departments in the U.S. until we have a national law in place grounded in human rights that will govern this technology." Smith also said the company will review other uses of facial recognition software, which he didn't specify. Microsoft has an internal committee that looks at when it should sell the software to particular customers. The group's criteria aren't public and Microsoft has declined to provide them, apart from a few examples of cases where it opted to turn down contracts. President Donald Trump on Friday retweeted a post from his former director of national intelligence that called for barring Microsoft from federal government contracts over its refusal to sell facial recognition software to police departments. Microsoft's announcement follows International Business Machines Corp. decision Monday to exit the facial recognition market, and Amazon's move Wednesday to put in place a one-year pause on sales to police departments. The moves come in the midst of protests about law enforcement brutality and bias after a police officer killed an unarmed black man, George Floyd. Facial recognition technology has been shown in experiments to sometimes have difficulty identifying people with darker skin. Smith praised IBM and Amazon's actions while renewing his call for national legislation to regulate the technology. He has been urging lawmakers to take a stand on facial recognition software for two years, but a bill in Microsoft's home state of Washington that borrowed heavily from his proposals has failed twice. Meanwhile activists have been asking for laws that go further, including outright bans on the technology. "If all of the responsible companies in this country cede this market to those that are not prepared to make a stand we won't necessarily serve the national interest or the lives of the black and African-American people of this national well," he said. "We need Congress to act, not just tech companies alone." A 2018 paper found that technologies from Microsoft and IBM made more mistakes when used on people with darker skin, particularly women. After the release of the research by Joy Buolamwini at MIT's Media Lab and Timnit Gebru, then a Microsoft researcher, Microsoft's Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella, asked his team to fix racial and gender disparities in the software. Buolamwini and Gebru's work, along with a later paper examining Amazon's software by Buolamwini and Inioluwa Deborah Raji, raised awareness about the software's failings and increased the volume of calls to ban or limit the sale of such technology. The American Civil Liberties Union also used Microsoft's step to renew a call for laws to address the technology and took aim at the Microsoft-backed legislation that the group has long said doesn't go far enough. "Congress and legislatures nationwide must swiftly stop law enforcement use of face recognition, and companies like Microsoft should work with the civil rights community -- not against it -- to make that happen," Matt Cagle, technology and civil liberties attorney with the ACLU of Northern California, said in a statement. "This includes halting its current efforts to advance legislation that would legitimize and expand the police use of facial recognition in multiple states nationwide." SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 12 June 2020 - With remote working becoming the new normal for organisations worldwide, companies are looking for novel ways to engage and motivate their staff. In response, regional digital employee engagement and wellness expert, Rewardz has launched StayWoW@home, a wholesome wellness program delivered entirely online. At its heart lies a curated selection of virtual fitness classes and wellness talks, designed to provide a whole range of activities to keep employees fit without leaving their homes! This is complemented by a rich digital reward marketplace with deals especially selected for a remote workforce, including telemedicine, food delivery, online groceries and more. Said Sudhanshu Tewari, Co-Founder and CEO of Rewardz, "We pride ourselves on building engagement through relevance. StayWoW@home was born as a natural response to the key concern of employee wellness cited by many of our clients in current times." The program has sparked a lot of interest from its start, with several companies in Singapore and Malaysia joining the bandwagon in a bid to ensure employee wellness and productivity. Existing clients have been keen on staying WOW. Said Joelle Chui, Senior Manager, Human Resources at NTUC First Campus Co-operative Ltd, "We are excited to get on the StayWoW@home program and keep our employees fit during these challenging times. This program is delivered through the events feature and rewards marketplace of the Rewardz@NFC app that we have been using to drive staff referrals internally, making it a seamless experience." New clients such as First Page Digital, a digital marketing agency, have also reported huge success with this employee wellness solution with many employees arranging to attend these classes together. "Keeping a team together is a new challenge in itself," highlighted Shane Liuw, General Manager of First Page Digital. "Thanks to StayWoW@home, we have been able to keep each other motivated even as we all work from home." Story continues You can StayWoW@home through company-exclusive plans or a general subscription package. More info at https://rewardz.sg/staywow/ About Rewardz Headquartered in Singapore, Rewardz is among the largest players and experts in digital engagement and incentives across Asia. It offers both cloud-based mobile and web platforms and plug-in solutions. Having served over 150 clients and 250,000 users in 19 countries, Rewardz remains focused on its vision of building one-stop engagement and wellness platforms (CERRA and Flabuless) and flexible benefits solutions complemented by a rich digital reward marketplace that is relevant across geographies, earning it coveted awards in this space. Be it to engage employees, incentivise sales team or build customer loyalty, Rewardz believes in creating change through positive reinforcement and gamification. Priding itself on building relevance, in May 2020, Rewardz launched StayWoW@home, a wholesome wellness program delivered online to cater to a remote workforce. Primary schools may reopen for one day per week in September if the two-metre social distancing guidelines remain in place, a minister has said. Secondary school pupils would attend school for two days per week while they engage in blended learning from home on the other days of the week, according to Education Minister Joe McHugh. Mr McHugh said, however, if the two-metre distance was reduced to one metre, almost all primary school pupils would attend school for two days per week. Speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing in Dublin on Friday, he said it remains the Governments goal to get all pupils back to school in September as they have been closed since March. If the 2m social distancing rule remains, primary school pupils will return for one day a week while secondary school pupils will return for two and a half days. However,Education Minister Joe McHugh says theyre still working towards getting *everyone* back to school in Sep. Aine McMahon (@AineMcMahon) June 12, 2020 The minister said: I want a common sense approach to reopening schools in September. Where possible, children and young people and staff should be far enough away from each other so they are not breathing on or touching each other and this will have to be accompanied by additional hygiene measures in schools. I want to be very clear with everyone around the impact of one-metre and two-metre social distancing in schools. At primary level, the two-metre rule would mean almost all pupils attending school just one day per week. At post-primary level, this would mean most pupils attending schools two days during the week. He said children will adapt to new restrictions when they return to school in September. The minister added: Young people have bought into the process of why they have to practice good hand hygiene and social distancing. Mr McHugh said more funding will be provided to schools to help them pay for additional hygiene equipment and changes to classrooms. I have to weigh up the risks with the gaps in education, the risk of regression and the failure to provide an education - but we have to ensure it is safe for pupils, teachers and staff to return Joe McHugh With regards to secondary schools, students would attend school on a certain number of days per week depending on what year they are in. Mr McHugh said: In terms of the one-metre and the two-metre distances the one metre would mean 50% of pupils return to school and that means some students would come in two days a week and others would come in three days a week. I dont want to envisage a situation where we have a process where we leave children behind by the end of August, children will have been out of school for a six-month period. I have to weigh up the risks with the gaps in education, the risk of regression and the failure to provide an education but we have to ensure it is safe for pupils, teachers and staff to return. The minister was speaking at the announcement of the Summer Provision programme for children with special educational needs for this year. The programme has been expanded this year to include children with Down syndrome and children at risk of regression. He said this year, 890 disadvantaged schools will provide summer camps, including a numeracy and literacy programme for primary pupils and a programme of re-engagement for post-primary students. New Delhi: In another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops again resorted to unprovoked firing upon the Indian posts in four villages of Baramullah at Hajipeer sector in Uri district of Jammu and Kashmir. According to reports, the Pakistani Rangers started heavy mortar shelling at around 9:15 on Friday (June 12). Indian Army troops guarding the borderline retaliated resulting in exchanges. SSP Baramulla, Abdul Qayoom said, "The ceasefire was violated by Pakistan and shelling is going on in four villages of Uri including Churanda, Hathlanga, Gowhalan and Hajipeer since 9.15 am in the morning. its However, no loss of life or damage to property has been reported in the firing." However, due to heavy mortar shelling from the Pakistan side, panic gripped locals of those four villages. Earlier in the week, several houses were damaged and a few animals were also killed in the intense firing and mortar shelling from across the border along the LoC. According to officials, Pakistan deliberately violates ceasefire along the Line of Control to provide cover to terrorists infiltrating into Jammu and Kashmir valley; however, their attempts are foiled by alert forces on the Indian side. However, reports state that some terrorists have some managed to cross the Line of Control, but are on radar of security forces. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 14:49 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde3ea70 1 Business startup,Gojek,Grab,GoFood,Link-Aja,MSMEs,COVID-19 Free Major Indonesian start-ups, such as Grab, Gojek and LinkAja, have provided features and promotions to facilitate micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in digitalizing their business to survive the pandemic-induced economic downturn. Ride-hailing company Grab Indonesia introduced Thursday a new app called GrabMerchant, aimed as a one-stop service platform that allows MSMEs, including those in food and beverage business, to digitally manage their operational hours, orders, employees, as well as menu and promotions. We developed this feature because we understand that our partnering merchants face difficulties in accessing a purchasing network to meet their supply needs, Hadi Surya Koe, the head of marketing at Grab Indonesia, said at a virtual press briefing on Thursday. Food and beverage businesses partnering with Grab can also benefit from the grocery feature to purchase staple supplies at a special price, the company announced. To do so, Grab Indonesia, which has recorded 187 million app downloads, cooperates with online grocery marketplace TaniHub and Sayurbox to provide next-day delivery of the supplies to its 100,000 merchants in seven cities. Small businesses, which contribute around 60 percent of the countrys economy, are losing sales because of the coronavirus restrictions, which are now being phased out in some places. The government has also allocated part of its Rp 641.17 trillion (US$45.1 billion) economic recovery stimulus to soften the impact of COVID-19 on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). For example, it has earmarked Rp 34.15 trillion in interest payment subsidies for ultra-micro businesses under the governments UMi and Mekaar programs. Hadi said small businesses, employing the majority of the national workforce, currently accounted for 80 percent of Grabs partnering merchants. Neneng Goenadi, the managing director of Grab Indonesia, said Thursday that the COVID-19 pandemic was pushing consumers to change their behavior toward online services, but SMEs were largely unprepared to face the new normal a period during which people are forced to coexist with COVID-19 while waiting for a vaccine to be developed and licensed. Technology giant Gojek also announced on June 4 that it had facilitated 100,000 MSMEs to digitalize their business, aligning with the consumer trend of online purchasing during the pandemic. The company offers in-app on-demand services for customers of MSMEs, including food delivery service GoFood, e-wallet GoPay, as well as courier service GoSend. It also provides services to help facilitate MSMEs' digitalization, such as GoBiz, part of its app that allows small businesses to manage their company online as well as Selly, which can help businesses optimize their sales by targeting potential customers. In a time like this, its very important for MSMEs to have the ability to perform digital transformation and to move their business online. Restaurants, cafes and small shops can no longer rely on customers coming in person to their locations, Gojek co-CEO Andre Soelistyo said on June 4 in an official statement. The companys recent acquisition of payment startup Moka has also boosted its point of sales (PoS) so MSMEs can systematically manage their transactions and finance, the company stated. E-wallet platform LinkAja is pushing for an increase in digital transactions among MSMEs through various promotions, including 20 percent cashback for purchases in traditional market as well as 10 percent cashback for transactions in modern retailers and local merchants. The e-wallet platform, which partners with more than 200,000 local merchants, has seen a 64 percent surge in digital transactions in traditional markets and 12.8 percent in modern retailers. The government policy to enforce social and physical distancing has changed preferences for public transaction. Not just for consumers, digital transactions are also essential for MSMEs to survive the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic, LinkAja president director Haryati Lawidjaja said in a statement released on Friday. The Northern NPP Chairmen Caucus, a group of eighteen New Patriotic Party (NPP) Constituency Chairmen in the Northern region, on Thursday 11th June 2020 paid a courtesy call on the CEO of the Northern Development Authority (NDA), Dr Alhassan Sulemana Anamzoya. The visit was to present a letter of appreciation of the authority for the work being done across all constituencies in the region, in fulfilment of H.E. Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo and H.E. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia led Governments promise to allocate $1 Million per Constituency to undertake infrastructural projects. The group congratulated him on his appointment as CEO and his display of leadership with the swift award of contracts for the execution of projects under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP). Mohammed Ibrahim, chairman of the caucus, stated that, the organization you now lead has been seen in a bad light for a long time before your appointment, it is therefore commendable under the circumstance that you have been able to speed up the process of awarding contracts for the IPEP projects. This has been long overdue and we are glad that you appreciate the urgency of the times and the relief it will bring to the region. The group also applauded the authority for the active involvement of the media and wide publicity in the handing over of projects, adding that this has increased the visibility of the organization and their work. They also noted the active involvement of Chiefs, MMDCEs, MPs, Regional Coordinating Council and other key stakeholders in the region adding that this will foster unity for the sustainability of the projects. Dr Anamzoya on his part thanked the caucus for their encouragement and expressed his excitement about their involvement in ensuring the Authority succeeds in the execution of the IPEP projects. He also pledged his commitment to overseeing the successful completion of these projects, adding that the success of this phase of the IPEP will determine whether or not Government continues to allocate funds to provide infrastructural development across the country. The CEO urged the group to treat the projects as their own and help to monitor and safeguard them to ensure they benefit the people, as these were chosen by the people themselves. Stephen Yir-Eru Engmen, Deputy CEO of Northern Development Authority in charge of Programmes, also thanked the group for the visit and encouraged them to continue to support the work of the authority. He also encouraged them to propagate peace to their constituents, adding that in the absence of peace, development interventions will come to a standstill. The Chairman of the caucus also added that It is our hope that you continue to lead NDA to deliver sustainable development to northern Ghana, we want to assure you of our unflinching support to get this done and also pledge to do our part to monitor the projects to a successful completion so that NDA and Government will regain the confidence of the people in the region The group expressed their hope that the authority will continue to lead and foster sustainable development in northern Ghana, to attract more financial commitments from Government and private sector to enable the authority to deliver more in terms of development interventions. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 21:17:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LONDON, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli will miss his side's return to Premier League action after being given a one-game ban by the FA for posting a video on social media which was considered to be offensive. Alli was also fined 50,000 pounds (63,000 U.S. dollars) and will have to attend an educational course after posting a video in February in which he appears to mock an Asian man and make comments about the COVID-19 outbreak. On hearing the FA's decision, the 24-year-old responded with a message on the Tottenham website. "In response to the FA decision, I would like to apologize again for any offence caused by my behavior." "It was an extremely poorly judged joke about a virus that has now affected us more than we could ever have imagined. I'm grateful that the FA has confirmed that my actions were not racist because I despise racism of any kind. We all need to be mindful of the words and actions we use and how they can be perceived by others," he wrote. Enditem Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication. For a few years in the early 2010s, sociologist Ashley Mears hopped in and out of cabs, drank Champagne, and flew around the world, chronicling the excesses of the VIP party scene. Her new book, Very Important People: Status and Beauty in the Global Party Circuit, is a careful ethnography of the little social ecology that makes the models and bottles world tick. Promotersyoung men paid to source models to bring to clubs by club owners who hope elite clients will be inspired by the heat of the scene to compete over how much money they can spend on alcoholcame to form the backbone of Mears story. We spoke recently about the scenes status as a strange artifact of the 21st century Gilded Age: the stringent standards for female beauty; the emotional work thats done by promoters looking to get girls to show up for parties; and the occasional difficulty of being a slightly older ethnographer whos trying to stay awake to see what happens at 2 a.m. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rebecca Onion: I wonder if being an academic writing a book, rather than a reporter looking for a story, might have helped you get the kind of long-term, in-depth access you got to this scene. This is a world lots of us will never see. Ashley Mears: Well, honestly? I was 32 when I was doing this research, and could pass for a lot younger, and I used to model when I was younger, and knew some of these promoters from the time that I was modeling. So they saw me first as an asset, because their job is to bring good-looking womentheyd call them girlsout to these places. I look like the kind of girl that could serve them well. Advertisement And theyre always needing girls to come out with them; they are constantly worrying that they dont have enough girls. So if they can find a girl whos loyalsomebody who comes out regularlythats great for them. Theyre usually working really hard to find those people. So the fact that I was like, Hi, Im here, Ill wear my high heels to the club, and Id like to ask you some questions, they were like, OK, sure! Advertisement If I were a man trying to do this research, I think it would be possible to build connections, if in some way they could see that person as valuable to themsomeone whos charming or good at hanging out with the girls or had connections they might see as valuable. But for sure, the thing that would absolutely get the door slammed in my face would be if I were a woman and not what they deemed good lookinga larger woman, for sureI would not be able to do this project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In some sense, the people I met were flattered by my academic interest. Some of the clients seemed to enjoy talking to me, to find out that one of the girls at the club was a professor at a university writing about how the economy of these places works. A lot of them had questioned it themselves and had interesting things they wanted to know about. But also, really, the bar is so low for womenthe expectations for the kinds of conversations women might have with men in those spaces are so lowit wasnt hard to impress them a little. How did your understanding of this scene change over time, from when you were a younger model through now? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I started modeling when I was quite young, about 18. I mean, thats not young in model years! But yes. I grew up in Atlanta, and in between going to school I would go to cities where models work. So I went to Milan at one point, and the agency paid for the plane ticket, and arranged everything, and said, Well send a driver to pick you up at the airport. When I got off the plane, this very nice young Italian guy got me a coffee, took my bag, got me to the model apartment. I thought he worked for the agency, but I learned after a couple of weeks, he worked for a nightclub! So thats how I first understood this close connection between modeling and nightlife. I think most models kind of come to understand that everywhere they go, this stage is set for them to eat and drink for free with a promoter, and the promoters will make money off of them. People in fashion know this. Advertisement I got to know some of the promoters in New York and kept in touch a bit. Until I decided to do this research formally as part of my academic work, started following them and systematically documenting the work they do, I didnt realize all the different layers to the economy. All these practices the promoters engaged in to try to get the girls to come out with them. Advertisement Advertisement It was also surprising to find out how promoters, who often didnt come from much money, used girls to advance what they imagined to be their own projects of climbing up into the elite, which always seemed like it was not fully really going to happen! The promoters are dreaming of making it big in business; the girls are dreaming of making it big in the fashion industry and the whole thing is this globally interconnected tribe of upper-class, leisure-class people, hopping from one place to the next. I was really surprised when I took a trip to Miami with a promoter, to see some of the same clients I would see in New York, and a bunch of girls are the same, the DJs are the same. Just this highly mobile tribe of people. Advertisement When I first started researching this, it was the moment of recovery from the Great Recession, and Occupy Wall Street was huge all over the world; there was a big discussion about economic inequality. And at the same time I was seeing these reports of bankers blowing their bonuses in clubs. I was floored that this was happening in this time of economic austerity. When I first started going out with the one promoter I call Dre in the book, I was just feeling outwhat is this world, do people really spend this amount of money, and what are the conditions under which people can be really ostentatious? Everybody thinks of this as kind of vulgar, tacky, yet they do it with such fanfare. Let go of all common sense and restraint; act, in their own words, ridiculous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The promoters were a great entry point because they were getting the girls to the clients, and the clients to the club. You can see how the whole field is coming together through them. And how they are treating the girls like a kind of capitalan asset. Even in their pronouns, theyd talk about my girls, going through the city and accumulating them. Theyre trying to mobilize them to come out, so they can profit off of them. Its exploitative in the sense that the girls cant do the same amongst themselves. Right? Nobody wants to hire girls directly. It has to look spontaneous, or it feels too close to sex work. Advertisement Advertisement Right, you write that not even the girls want to get paid for it directly. Advertisement Right! I said at one point, Maybe we could do it ourselves. What if we all showed up at the club and asked for $100, instead of the promoter getting $1,000? But the girls were like, No! They definitely didnt like that idea; it felt like they were too close to sex workers. To them, theres a difference between profiting off of beauty and profiting off of sex. Advertisement Exactly. Like, in these clubs, the bottle girls represented sex. Everyone assumes that shes for hire, sexually available. Whereas the models are not perceived that way. You write that its significant that the models are mostly white, and the bottle girlsnot necessarily. Yes, this is from my observations. I mean, the fashion industry has kind of a blatant preference for whiteness. If a promoter brought one girl to a table, and shes black, and a working model, thats one thing, thatd be fine. But not, like, a whole table full of black models, whereas a whole table of white models would be normal, fine. Advertisement Older women who might be trying to do business arent there, either, right. Its a boys club. Right. Its one of many sites that can be used for businessmen to bond together. People who are brokers, do financial services, take clients out, share the experience; sales teams go out to these spaces. Some of the men I spoke with had stories of trying to go to places that had very strict door policies when it comes to the way women look, and having very uncomfortable moments when they knew that a woman colleague who was coming with them wouldnt make the cut, if she wasnt a certain height or weight or age. And she might be subject to a very humiliating negotiation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Women who dont get into these spaces are shut out of this world. In the same way that the strip club is one of many hurdles that women in business need to overcome. This is a version of that. I was interested in what you wrote about the excess of girls at these clubs. The importance of the gender ratiothe idea that the clients need to feel like there are a lot, a lot more girls in the space than there are men. You point out its not like the clients at these clubs are even having sex with, or even talking to, all these girls. Yes, thats right! The idea is, you surround yourself with 20 models; you are sending the message I cant possibly have sex with all these women. I have so many, I can waste some. Thats the thing about excess. Its essential to the ostentation. It shows that you can waste things that are rare and valuable. Advertisement The music is so loud, and the interactions between clients and girls are often pretty limited anyway; maybe they talk for a second, like Whats your name, where are you from? Of course, some people get drunk and hook up, but its not the main thing. One woman could satisfy that; you dont need 20. Advertisement It seems so weird to be one of those girls. Extremely boring, almost, to just stand there in your heels and be looked at! Though, as Im saying it, I realize if youre a model, thats what youre doing in your professional life. The way you look is your reason to be there. Yes, and if youre 19 or 20, its also sort of an ego stroke. Even if youre trained in feminist and sociological thought, it can be an ego stroke to know that you got in, you fit into the upper ranks of the hierarchy; you get to dominate. Advertisement Advertisement This space isnt really about privilege; its about domination. Its men who have money who want to show that they have more than any other person, and there are all these rituals to help them show it. They get to show that they have mastery over womens bodies, because they have so many around them. But for the girls also, its an opportunity to demonstrate some kind of domination. They got in! Somebody else didnt. One woman I interviewed put it really well. She said, I know I sound silly, but you do kind of get to pretend youre one of the elite, getting into this space. There is a pleasure in that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And theres alcohol, and everybody knows each other at the table, and the promoters are super charming guys, who are flirting with the girls, sleeping with them, hanging out with them during the dayconstantly going to the movies, going bowling, going to lunch, driving them around to their castings. Theyre building up an economy of favors, so the girl feels like she needs to support him by coming out. To be loyal to their friend. But the guy has deliberately cultivated a sense of loyalty, because hes making money off of them. Honestly, this research sounds exhausting to mephysically, emotionally. Was it exhausting? It was a little intense. I got a fellowship from my job in Boston, so I could be bought out of teaching, and I moved back to New York, to Williamsburg, and rented a tiny little apartment that was really close to the L train, so I could go straight to the Meatpacking District. Advertisement There are different ways to do ethnography, and I didnt have to go quite full on like that, but it did get me access to see exactly how the night unfolds and flows. Fun is an interesting thing. The nightclub is in the business of trying to produce what can be really exhilarating moments, where with the music and the lights and the confetti, everything can be really beautiful. Promoters, if theyre really good, can pull that energy out of the crowd. Advertisement But of course, that cant last. Its not every minute over the course of three hours, really. And some nights it happens; some nights, everyone is on their phones all night. Girls are completely checked out, falling asleep on each others shoulders. Advertisement If youre 18 or 20 and really like the music, theres a lot of buzz and fun to be had. But I was past that point in my life; I was 31 or 32. It was very hard to stay out as late as the promoters, and those heels are high. Our nation is in pain. During this difficult time, it is important to reiterate that we, as a city, stand against racism, discrimination and the systemic injustices that have existed since our nations founding. There must not be another name added to this list, read comments Mayor Nancy Rotering emailed to Pioneer Press and said she delivered during her opening remarks of the virtual City Council meeting. Premier Doug Ford is hinting at good news for the Greater Toronto Area, which could join most of the rest of Ontario in opening up its economy later this month with COVID-19 cases on the decline. As much of the province entered the second stage of reopening Friday allowing restaurant patios, public pools and other seasonal favourites to operate, as well many different services Ford said he was encouraged by current trends. Ontarios local medical officers of health will hold a conference call Saturday to discuss next steps. Ford stressed that he is listening to their advice, so Toronto can only move to the next stage if Dr. Eileen de Villa, the citys chief public health official, gives the green light. Sources told the Star that the city is looking easing restrictions as of June 26, meaning another fortnight in the current state. But the rest of the province is moving forward. In 24 regions across Ontario, from Chatham to Kingston to Thunder Bay to Guelph, barber shops, hair salons, and shopping malls are reopening as part of stage two, the premier told reporters at his daily teleconference. Restaurants and bars in those regions are opening up their patios with strict public health measures in place, he said, encouraging everyone in these communities to show their support this weekend and shop local. Ottawa, Muskoka, Brant County, Grey Bruce, Peterborough, Prince Edward County, Sudbury, Waterloo and dozens of other communities are also now in the second stage. There are no travel restrictions on visiting them. With the GTA, Hamilton, Niagara and Windsor, among other areas, still in the first stage of opening up, Ford stressed that he would have another update on Monday. Please be patient and I know well have some good news very shortly for you, he said. We know more regions of Ontario will join them very, very soon, especially if we continue to see these downward trends across the province. We want to get people back to work as quickly and as safely as possible and get our economy roaring once again. Ontario has been in a state of emergency since March 17, which is slated to continue until June 30, although MPPs could vote to again extend it. Health Minister Christine Elliott said an important milestone was reached with the lowest number of new daily COVID-19 cases since late March, with half the provinces health units reporting no new infections and 28 having five or fewer cases. The number of active cases in the province on Friday was 3,041, down from 3,172 the day before. Ontarios population is 14.5 million. This is a remarkable accomplishment and one that is only possible because of the collective efforts of every Ontarian to stop the spread of COVID-19, said Elliott, as she announced new social circles of up to 10 people to allow households to bubble together. With files from Rob Ferguson Robert Benzie is the Star's Queen's Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: By Laman Ismayilova Icherisheher Museum Center continues to thrill art connoisseurs with unique examples of Azerbaijani art. The Museum Center provided insight into stunning Gulabatin embroidery. Gulabatin embroidery (goldwork) means blooming face, beautiful body. The main ornament in this embroidery sample is the image of flower made of silk gold and silver threads. A distinctive feature of this type of embroidery is the use of only one color either gold or silver threads on a black background fabric. There are two types of gulabatin embroidery: plain and salient. In plain type, the threads are tied parallel to each other, and in salient threads are tied together very tightly, sometimes using a thicker thread. There is information about manufactures engaging in the art of embroidery during the Safavid period, as well as the exhibits in the museums around the world. The most striking example of those exhibits is the kaftan with goldwork embroidery gifted by Tabriz masters to the Ottoman sultan Murad III. Prominent Azerbaijani poetess of the 19th century Khurshidbanu Natavan also made beautiful embroidery works. She gifted the famous French writer Alexandre Duma a handcrafted backpack and pouch during his visit to Baku. The pouches of comb, mirror, seal, fan, and tobacco stored in the collection of Icherisheher Museum Center are the examples for gulabatin embroidery. The Old City Museum Center is a structural division of the Administration of the Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve. The Centre is open to the public with the legendary Maiden Tower, the Shirvanshahs' Palace Complex, Gala State Historical-Ethnographic Reserve Museum, Siratagli (arched -shaped) and Beyler Mosque that unites the time and the people with the feeling of love to humanity. The Museum Center aims to introduce its own rich history, diverse culture and homeland Azerbaijan to all over the world. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz As Manitoba further loosens COVID-19 restrictions, officials are not planning a wide-scale, proactive effort to randomly test people without symptoms. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/6/2020 (589 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. As Manitoba further loosens COVID-19 restrictions, officials are not planning a wide-scale, proactive effort to randomly test people without symptoms. The province is undertaking random tests of people in high-risk workplaces, but isnt tapping its full capacity for testing. Instead, officials say focusing on those with symptoms is the best way to stamp out the coronavirus. "Certainly, the value of testing symptomatic people is much higher than testing asymptomatic people," said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer. "Were certainly not turning away people who show up for testing, but were not encouraging just the average Manitoban to come, if theyre not having symptoms." Premier Brian Pallister pledged on April 28 that Manitoba will have the capacity to test up to 3,000 people per day by the end of summer, though the number of tests in any given week has ranged from 217 to 887 per day. For months, Manitoba allowed only those with symptoms to get tested. On May 20, the province started to allow asymptomatic people to be tested, and started "sentinel surveillance," which involves testing people who are visiting health-care centres for other reasons, to see if undetected community spread is underway. Officials have also targeted testing of asymptomatic people whose work regularly takes them outside the province. CP Officials say focusing on those with symptoms is the best way to stamp out the coronavirus. (The' N. Pham / The Virginian-Pilot files) That includes cross-border truck drivers, whose recent cases in Manitoba and other provinces prompted the federal NDP to ask for mandatory testing at the border. Roussin said his team offered to establish testing sites at truck stops, but decided not to do so after consulting an industry association. He said the province is "still having ways to search for and pick up community transmission." His federal counterpart, Dr. Theresa Tam, said Thursday that Canadas top doctors have largely kept asymptomatic testing limited to people living in close quarters where a case has emerged, such as long-term care homes and jails. Theyre now conducting various pilot projects, sometimes through mobile testing clinics "so we can jump on the cases, trace contacts and eliminate any sparks of chains of transmission," Tam told the Free Press. "There are active discussions as to how do we provide that testing more widely, recognizing that some of the workers may not recognize symptoms, may be living in crowded conditions, may also be worried about disclosing their symptoms as well," she said, citing migrant workers as an example. Back before provinces started opening up, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau highlighted the importance of widespread testing. "Were going to be need to be extremely vigilant, extremely prepared to respond quickly with massive testing," Trudeau said on April 16. However, Amir Attaran, an outspoken public-health professor at the University of Ottawa, is critical of the Public Health Agency of Canada for only offering guidance to provinces, instead of mandating a national testing standard. CP Manitoba's goal has been reducing both deaths and the risk of overburdening the health system. (Rick Bowmer / The Associated Press files) "One of Canada's biggest failures is we don't have a national testing strategy, and this is a colossal failure of the Trudeau government," Attaran said, arguing that developing countries have better co-ordination. The tracking site Worldometer ranks Canada at 41st in the world in tests per million population. "How precisely is Canada going to open the border with the United States, or any other country in the world, if it does not have testing and contact tracing across the entire country that it can be confident in?" Roussins predecessor, Dr. Joel Kettner, cautioned against testing everybody in the population, and not just because of the risk of false negatives. "(Testing) is a complex public-health question that requires a lot of nuanced considerations," said Kettner, a University of Manitoba public-health professor. The provinces goal has been reducing both deaths and the risk of overburdening the health system. Kettner said entirely eliminating the coronavirus would come at a much higher cost. He said healthy people who get mild cases of COVID-19 and wont require hospitalization can recover at home and build some immunity, though researchers are still trying to determine to what degree. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Kettner believes that might be better than forcing all the friends and co-workers of a person who had asymptomatic COVID-19 into isolation and out of work for two weeks, given the cumulative psychological impact of that separation. He fears that prospect would be a disincentive for COVID-19 carriers from actually naming everyone theyve come into contact with. "If asymptomatic people are transmitting the disease, its probably a very small proportion of the cases that we have. And if they do, it's probably because of very close contact they've had with somebody; not just being in the same room or standing a foot away, if theyre not coughing or sneezing," said Kettner. He argued it would be better to isolate those with risk factors and provide them with economic and psychological support. "If (testing and isolating asymptomatic carries) doesnt interrupt transition to high-risk people because of their age and health conditions then I dont see the benefit of it," he said, suggesting kids could return to school, but not touch their live-in grandparents. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca The West Bengal government on Thursday said it will provide students of state-run schools with masks and soaps along with other items as part of the midday meal scheme from July to help them protect themselves from coronavirus. These students are getting rice and potato during the lockdown and from next month they will also receive daal, soybean, mask and soap, Education Minister Partha Chatterjee told reporters. These items will be handed over to guardians of students from their schools. The minister said the government will also provide free text books, exercise books and pencils to students in Amphan-affected areas of the state. Chatterjee also requested private schools not to hike tuition fees in this academic session as people are facing financial hardship because of the lockdown. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had yesterday urged you (private schools) not to hike your fees this academic session. I am only repeating what she said, he said. When a police officer commits an offense, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus cant use prior misconduct to determine his or her punishment under the current police contract. Getting rid of that restriction could be a key part of a list of demands Mayor Ron Nirenberg is pushing City Council to put together for later this year, when the city and police union meet at the negotiating table ahead of the contracts expiration in 2021. Nailing down those demands is part of an agenda Nirenberg unveiled Thursday for tackling police reform in the wake of ongoing protests against the kind of police brutality seen with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The mayor also charged a trio of council committees to tackle issues pertaining to police use of force, mental health and state laws dealing with public safety unions and officer discipline. Though the San Antonio Police Officers Associations collective bargaining agreement is restrictive, the contract should not be an excuse for inaction, Nirenberg wrote in a memo sent to council members Thursday. We must seek meaningful changes and provide for a foundation of material reform. Nirenberg didnt list any specific changes he wants to the current contract which he voted against in 2016, citing its price tag and disagreements with how it handled officer discipline. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio City Council grapples with reforming police discipline, budget in wake of George Floyd protests But the mayor is likely to draw on a list of priorities the city had when entering negotiations on the contract. For one, the city wanted to get rid of a rule that said police supervisors cant discipline an officer for alleged misconduct if they find out about the incident more than six months after the fact. Another is taking into account an officers prior behavior. Police Chief William McManus cant use that in deciding punishment for another offense. The city had wanted to take that out contract during the last round of negotiations to no avail. Mike Helle, outgoing head of the union, was dismissive of Nirenbergs actions Thursday. He can have a wish list, Helle said. It doesnt mean hes going to get what he wants. Outside of the police union contract, Nirenberg asked the councils public safety committee to ensure SAPD adopts policies put forth by the 8 Cant Wait initiative started by Campaign Zero, a nonprofit aimed at police reform intended to reduce police violence. McManus told council members Wednesday the department has adopted four of the policies including a ban on chokeholds and a requirement that officers intervene if they see another officer engaged in potential excessive force though he said he feels the department meets the substance of all eight policies. But San Antonio police officers are still allowed to use chokeholds if the officer fears for his life or that of others. Public safety will also review the citys community policing program, use-of-force policies and crowd dispersal tactics. McManus must now personally approve the use of projectiles like wooden and rubber bullets during a demonstration after police fired those projectiles on protesters at Alamo Plaza last week a use McManus has said was justified. Nirenberg also directed the community health and equity committee to review police practices aimed at promoting race and gender equity and de-escalation measures for those in mental health crises, Nirenberg said. And he will have the councils intergovernmental relations panel put together a lobbying agenda with proposed changes to state and federal law pertaining to the powers of public safety unions, the transparency of officer personnel records and the qualified immunity for police officers, which basically makes it difficult to sue officers. Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio government and politics. To read more from Joshua, become a subscriber. jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un stand on North Korean soil while walking to South Korea in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on June 30, 2019, in Panmunjom, Korea. North Korea sees little use maintaining a personal relationship between leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump if Washington sticks to hostile policies, state media reported on Friday the two-year anniversary of the leaders' first summit. U.S. policies prove Washington remains a long-term threat to the North Korean state and its people and North Korea will develop more reliable military forces to counter that threat, Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA. Trump and Kim exchanged insults and threats during 2017 as North Korea made large advances in its nuclear and missile program and the United States responded by leading an international effort to tighten sanctions. Relations improved significantly around the Singapore summit in June 2018, the first time a sitting American president met with a North Korean leader, but the statement that came out of the meeting was light on specifics. A second summit in February 2019 in Vietnam failed to reach a deal because of conflicts over U.S. calls for North Korea to completely give up its nuclear weapons, and North Korean demands for swift sanctions relief. Ri said in retrospect the Trump administration appears to have been focusing on only scoring political points while seeking to isolate and suffocate North Korea, and threatening it with preemptive nuclear strikes and regime change. "Never again will we provide the U.S. chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns," he said. "Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise." The U.S. State Department and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On Thursday, a State Department spokesperson told South Korea's Yonhap news agency the United States remains committed to dialogue with North Korea, and is open to a "flexible approach to reach a balanced agreement." Iranian investigators have asked Frances BEA air accident agency to read black boxes from a downed Ukrainian jetliner, Irans envoy to the United Nations aviation agency said. The Ukraine International Airlines flight was shot down on January 8 by an Iranian ground-to-air missile, killing 176 people in what Tehran termed a disastrous mistake at a time of heightened tensions with the United States. The fate of the cockpit voice and data black-box recorders has been the subject of an international standoff eclipsed by the coronavirus crisis, which Iran says has also contributed to delays in a probe by Irans Air Accident Investigation Board. Progress was discussed at a council meeting of the UNs International Civil Aviation Organization on Wednesday. Irans AAIB recently made a request to the BEA that the recorders should be taken by Iran to the BEAs premises in France to be read in the presence of representatives of other involved countries and ICAO, if the BEA is in a position to accommodate this, Farhad Parvaresh, Irans representative to the UN agency, told Reuters by telephone. The BEA said it had not formally received the request and remained in discussions with Iran, Canada and Ukraine on any involvement it may have. Canada had 57 citizens on board. Iran has accused the United States, which built the Boeing 737-800, of refusing to provide software to decipher the recorders, while Canada and Ukraine have accused Tehran of dragging its feet over the probe. Sources said earlier this week that Iran had told ICAO it would take the recorders to Paris once countries involved in the probe agreed. Iran had earlier said it would send them to Ukraine. Canada this week called on Iran to allow the recorders to be downloaded in a suitable facility as soon as possible. The BEA last month read black-box data from a Pakistan-operated Airbus that crashed in Karachi on May 22. Pakistani investigators are expected to issue a preliminary report soon. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has taken a defiant stand and said she will not be "silenced" by the Opposition Labour Party MPs who accused her of using her Indian heritage to "gaslight" the "very real racism" faced by communities in Britain. The Indian-origin Cabinet minister had referenced her personal experience of racist abuse while growing up as an ethnic minority in the UK during an impassioned statement in the House of Commons earlier this week. A group of 12 ethnic minority Labour MPs, including Indian-origin MPs Virendra Sharma, Tan Dhesi, Preet Kaur Gill, Valerie Vaz, Seema Malhotra and Nadia Whittome, wrote to her on Thursday to say that "being a person of colour does not automatically make you an authority on all forms of racism". "We write to you as Black Asian and Ethnic Minority Labour MPs to highlight our dismay at the way you used your heritage and experiences of racism to gaslight the very real racism faced by Black people and communities across the UK," the MPs write. Gaslighting refers to a form of psychological manipulation where seeds of doubt are planted against a particular idea. Patel responded by making the letter public on Twitter, with the message: "I will not be silenced by @UKLabour MPs who continue to dismiss the contributions of those who don't conform to their view of how ethnic minorities should behave." Addressing the House of Commons on Monday, a day after violent clashes between Black Lives Matter protesters and police officers, Patel had condemned the violence perpetrated by a minority of protesters who would face justice. Questioned by an Opposition Labour Party MP on whether the minister fully understood the "anger and frustration" felt by anti-racism demonstrators protesting against the brutal killing of African-American George Floyd in police custody in the US, Patel retaliated with references to her own experiences. The minister, born to Gujarati-origin parents who fled Uganda for the UK when dictator Idi Amin expelled Asians from the African country in the early 1970s, said: "On that basis, it must have been a very different Home Secretary who as a child was frequently called a Paki in the playground; a very different Home Secretary who was racially abused in the streets or even advised to drop her surname and use her husband's in order to advance her career so when it comes to racism, sexism, tolerance or social justice, I will not take lectures from the those other side of the House." In their complaint letter, the group of 12 Labour MPs demand that Patel "reflect" on her words and the impact it had towards black communities in the UK. "Structures of racism, hatred and equality have many layers and therefore, whilst it is true, there are some experiences of racism that we all face, there are also some experiences of racism that we all do not face," reads the letter. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock spoke out in support of his Cabinet colleague when asked about the row during the daily Downing Street briefing on Thursday evening. "I abhor this divisive identity politics that's being levelled at Priti Patel. I'm incredibly proud to be part of the most diverse government in history. We don't think that there's such a thing as the wrong type of BME [black and minority ethnic]. We think that people are equal," he said. Fellow Indian-origin Cabinet colleague Alok Sharma also extended his support via Twitter, to say: "I stand with Priti". Pakistani-origin Conservative Party colleague and former UK Chancellor and Home Secretary Sajid Javid also spoke out in her favour as he branded the Labour Party's letter "utterly misguided and irresponsible". "Imagine listening to an ethnic-minority woman's history of suffering racist abuse and then deciding that you'd rather condemn the victim than her abusers. All because she doesn't fit your stereotype," he said. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: What one requires is robust willpower to conquer any adversity, even if it is the dreaded coronavirus. This was aptly proven by GC Gupta, the 1923 born retired civil engineer who came out of the hospital after defeating the virus and holding his COVID-19 report like a memento of victory in Agra on Wednesday evening. The 97- year- old walked out of the hospital, free of the COVID-19 infection, with a child-like excitement in eyes to go home and be among his dear ones. His 12-day saga of survival may inspire many of his ilk as he, despite a number of co-morbid medical conditions and age, came out unscathed. A resident of Agras Gandhi Nagar colony, Gupta, who had already been suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) and urinary infection, on coming to know that the deadly virus has invaded his body, got worried over the risk involved and the sky came crashing for the family. Gupta was immediately admitted to Covid-19 hospital at Agras Nayati Hospital, a private establishment, on May 29. For the next 12 days, he was kept on high-oxygen flow in the isolation ward as he had difficulty in breathing plus Urinary Tract Infection which was treated, said a senior doctor of the Nayati hospital. The hospital staff said that Gupta had come smiling with the resolve to beat the virus and went back smiling. He was an easy patient and cooperated with the hospital staff and doctors, said the hospital sources. Agra DM PN Singh said called him a motivation with a strong will power to fight out the deadly virus in the present trying times. Following proper care and treatment, 97-year-old Covid-19 patient has overcome infection. He is a motivation for all of us, a ray of hope to all the Covid-19 patients, especially, those who fall in his age bracket. Gupta is the oldest person in UP to have fought the deadly virus successfully. A 94- year-old Noida-based Urdu poet --Anand Mohan Zutshi Gulzar Dehlvi, had also contracted the infection and was hospitalized with co-morbid conditions as grave as coronary artery disease, hypothyroidism and enlarged prostate. He was also declared coronavirus-free three days back. Visakhapatnam: Under Operation Samudra Setu, INS Shardul has brought back 233 stranded Indian nationals, who were earlier evacuated from Bandar Abbas port in Iran. The ship entered Porbandar harbour on Friday. Personnel from Indian Navy, state authorities and police officials received the evacuees. All arrangements, including a screening zone, a sanitisation zone, availability of ambulances and buses for transport were put in place at the port. The evacuees were disembarked and were taken for medical screening at the jetty followed by Customs clearance and other formalities. The evacuees thereafter boarded buses arranged to take them to the designated quarantine zones. District wise details of the evacuees had already been forwarded to the administration beforehand. Operation Samudra Setu is the Indian Navy's contribution to the Government of India's national efforts to facilitate return of Indian citizens from foreign shores. So far, a total of 3,107 Indian citizens have been brought back from Maldives (2,188), Sri Lanka (686) and Iran (233) by Indian Naval ships Jalashwa, Magar and Shardul. The new sanctions bill proposed by the US Republican lawmakers, if passed, would be a heavy blow to the Iranian economy and its regional allies, but Tehran is unlikely to resort to direct military force in response to it, Hooshang Amirahmadi, a professor of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University and president of the US-based American Iranian Council think tank, told Sputnik MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th June, 2020) The new sanctions bill proposed by the US Republican lawmakers, if passed, would be a heavy blow to the Iranian economy and its regional allies, but Tehran is unlikely to resort to direct military force in response to it, Hooshang Amirahmadi, a professor of the Edward J. Bloustein school of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University and president of the US-based American Iranian Council think tank, told Sputnik. On Wednesday, the Republican Study Committee in Congress released a foreign policy proposal, which contains more than 130 initiatives aimed at countering Russia, China and Iran and calls for introduction of "toughest sanctions ever" against the three countries. "Republicans need support from Democrats to pass the bill. This is an election year and everything in this country will be election-related. Democrats may not cooperate with Republicans though it is also possible that the anti-Iran lobby may be able to persuade Democrats to support the bill," Amirahmadi said. With regard to Iran, the 110-page document proposes to expand sanctions related to human rights, impose restrictions on the nation's petrochemical, financial, automotive, and construction sectors, as well as impose sanctions on the INSTEX mechanism set up by France, Germany and the United Kingdom last year to bypass US sanctions in business operations with Iran. The proposal also urges Congress to designate and sanction militia and rebel groups in the region, which they view as Iranian proxies and allies, including the Houthis in Yemen, as foreign terrorist organizations and expand sanctions on Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to the researcher, if passed, the bill would be "a serious escalation of the economic war. " "Iran's economy is already devastated, and new sanctions will further cripple the country. The bill will also harm Iraq, Lebanon and other Iran's allies and regional proxies," he stressed. The analyst noted that Iran would be unable to retaliate the sanctions bill with direct force, but might turn to "revolutionary means," such as limited subversive acts against the US or its allies. "But such actions will certainly be limited in scope because Iran wants to avoid war with the US under any condition. Verbal condemnation is certainly Iran's preferred means," Amirahmadi said. The policy proposal introduced by the Republicans also urges Congress to support the Trump administration in its latest efforts to renew the UN arms embargo on Iran, which expires in October, and prepare for a possible failure of such attempts by sanctioning the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force commander. Speaking about the US determination to renew the arms embargo on Iran, Amirahmadi suggested that Tehran might try to reach out to the US for talks. "My guess is that Iran will try to reach out to the US for some limited negotiations in the next two to three months. There are already attempts in that direction," the analyst said. He noted that Russia was also likely to try to help Iran in the UN. "Americans have threatened that in case of failure at the UN (because of Chinese or Russian veto), then it will take the matter in its hands and make sure that it will use all means to prevent arms exchange between Iran and any nation," Amirahmadi concluded. The analyst characterized the threat as "a call for military action." By Trend European Unions comprehensive partnership agreement with Azerbaijan should be signed, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said, Trend reports with reference to Daily News Hungary news agency. Szijjarto made the statement in a video posted on Facebook after a videoconference of EU foreign ministers and their counterparts representing the six Eastern Partnership countries, held on Jun. 11, 2020. Szijjarto said the Eastern Partnership was important to the European Union in the post-pandemic world, and that in post-COVID era nothing would stay the same as before, and this applied equally to politics and economics. In order to achieve this, the EU needs third countries as partners as allies, and so far the EU has only paid lip service to the importance of the Eastern Partnership. Today, however, four concrete proposals were made, he said. One of these proposals, he said, is in relation of a EUs comprehensive partnership agreement with Azerbaijan. ... comprehensive partnership agreement with Azerbaijan should be signed. Azerbaijan, whose volume of natural gas production is constantly rising, will play an important role in energy supplies, he said. On Jun. 11, 2020 Eastern Partnership foreign affairs ministers held a video conference in preparation for Eastern Partnership leaders' video conference, which is to be held on June 18, 2020. Tehran, June 12 : Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will travel to Turkey and Russia next week for talks on bilateral as well as on international issues, official IRNA news agency reported. Zarif will travel to Ankara on Sunday and will visit Moscow the following day to discuss the latest developments on the issues pertaining to the bilateral relations and the major regional and international issues, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, was quoted as saying on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported. The Iranian foreign minister's visit to Turkey and Russia would be his second diplomatic trip after a recent decline in the pace of COVID-19 increase. Zarif visited Syria last month and discussed the topics of mutual cooperation amidst the impacts of novel coronavirus outburst and mounting western sanction pressures on Syria. On Friday, Iran's Foreign Ministry slammed the renewal of European sanctions on Syria and condemned the recent introduction of new financial bans against the country as "unlawful and inhuman." Iran and Russia have been major allies of the Syrian government against the armed rebels since 2011. The program will provide up to $15,000 for businesses with five or fewer employees, and up to $25,000 for businesses with six to 50 employees. Businesses have multiple ways to qualify. They can demonstrate job retention or creation for a low-income worker, demonstrate the business owner qualifies as low-income or be located in a special jurisdiction known as a Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area, which takes in most of downtown, bulges out to include some of the near East Side and a bit of the near West Side. COVID-19 has seemingly re-written global rules spanning social, economic, political and environmental spheres of influence. No country or region has been spared from the effects of the pandemic. In Algeria, as elsewhere, many of these second- and third-tier effects are only just beginning to be grasped. This is where UNDPs Accelerator Lab Network comes in, as we are trying to understand unmet needs and solutions bubbling from the grassroots. The process starts by seeking out knowledge from different sources. By creating space to understand and reflect, it helps the Labs assemble a broader picture of the systems changing in real time. From reflection, we look to where, and how, action can be taken in order to help shape a better, more equitable and more sustainable future. In Algeria, there is an interesting dynamic emerging of modern and traditional solutions deployed to prepare, respond and recover from COVID-19. Along with the real and life-threatening nature of the global pandemic, we are witnessing simultaneous transformational changes to e-commerce in economies. At the same time, in villages across the country many communities are using their traditional bonds and community structures to help defend against the spread of the disease. Supply chain critical elements are being shaped by the democratization of delivery services. Government support of e-payments are evolving rapidly to meet citizens demand. Algeria is a cash-based society. With the exception of things such as travel insurance, phone credit refills and remote bill payments we dont use electronic payment that much. To adapt to the Algerian market, ridesharing, delivery services and marketplace merchants accept cash. There will be technical challenges, legal, fiscal and regulatory burdens. However, this did not stop young entrepreneurs to be frugal innovators and use cash as an alternative in e-payment, Says Zaki Allah, a doctor and entrepreneur. Transformational changes are not only limited to digital responses. In a village called Tifilkout, 162 kilometres from Algiers, people went into a voluntary confinement to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect their people. A crisis unit called COVID-19 Tifilkout was formed to prepare and manage the confinement, led by civil society and Tajmaat, the ancestral village assembly that usually organize, among other things, traditional celebrations, volunteering, for the cleaning and beautification of village, and fundraising for the poor and sick. Amel Mohandi, a journalist from Tifilkout explained to me how the ancestral tradition of wise men played a key role in responding quickly to the pandemic. The COVID-19 Tifilkout crisis unit prepared for the confinement with food supplies, gas and goods, organized outreach campaigns to each house, placed soap dispensers by each water fountain of the village, appointed a group of volunteers to stand by each access point of the village and sanitize the cars coming from outside. Tifilkout also has a health unit and an ambulance, donated by the diaspora of the village. While protection remain essential, the crisis unit solicited local tailors to make fabric masks. Last but not least, to limit the movement of persons and practice social distancing, a group of volunteers was dedicated to make the rounds to take regular delivery orders from households. Not all initiatives were welcomed. Protection measures also banned any funeral ceremonies. When an elder in Algiers died of natural causes, her burial in Tifilkout had to take place without a ceremony. It was a big challenge for the crisis unit to convince the residents to not attend, given their strong cultural rituals and spirit of community solidarity. Amel further explained this kind of collective action was funded by money previously collected during Tifilkouts village festival, an annual event attended by inhabitants to celebrate together. So far, no cases have been registered in Tifilkout. Is there a blueprint to learn from Tifilkout in building resilient community structures that help provide social protection measures beyond government? When it comes to COVID-19, we are witnessing unprecedented changes in Algeria and beyond. Solutions and adaptation are coming to the forefront in a variety of ways, old and new. I personally cant wait to visit Tifilkout, when possible, to witness this community and their grassroots knowledge. While the public health emergency response to COVID-19 is immediate, we continue to learn more about the needs and challenges that lie ahead of us in the coming months and years. It is important to continue mapping solutions to these changes which help protect lives, livelihoods and cultures. Well keep you posted! Nebraska State Fair officials are still working toward holding some kind of a fair this year and have come up with several contingencies. Jaime Parr, interim executive director of the fair, said she, her staff and a small number of board members have come up with six different scenarios for the fair, which is scheduled from Aug. 28 to Sept. 7. Parr did not offer any details on the different contingencies at Friday's board meeting because they have not been shared with all board members yet, but they likely range from not having the fair at all to having it with virtually no changes. Parr said her mantra has been "hope for the best, but plan for the worst." "We are planning for multiple scenarios because we don't know what the environment will be," she said. One potential complication is that the Grand Island area has been among the hardest hit in the state by COVID-19, and because of that, it is behind most of the state in terms of loosening restrictions. While Lincoln, Omaha and much of the state are in Phase 2 of Gov. Pete Ricketts' reopening plan, Hall County is still in Phase 1 until the end of June. Parr said she hopes the city is "well beyond Phase 1 and Phase 2 by August," but local conditions will dictate what can happen at the fair. The uncertainty, however, does not seem to be dampening enthusiasm. Parr said she surveyed 174 vendors and concessionaires and "the vast majority" are willing to come and are willing to agree to most potential contingencies. Sponsors also have been lining up to support the fair. Laura Hurley, who is in charge of the fair's partnership relationships, said she has already secured more than $1.25 million in cash and in-kind donations and is negotiating for another $400,000 or so. If those all come to fruition, it would be a 14% increase over last year's total, she said. "I'm excited about these numbers," Hurley said, noting they show people are still interested in the fair and supportive of it. It's still unknown whether the fair will have a carnival or concerts if it goes forward. Parr said she continues to have discussions with the company that operates the midway, which is running reduced operations because so many county and state fairs and other events have been canceled. As for concerts, Parr said most national touring acts are not traveling. Fair board members are planning to hold a special board meeting in late June, during which they will likely make a decision on whether to hold a fair and what it will look like. Board member Jeremy Jensen said public statements from fair staff and the board have been confusing so far, and have not made it clear that there may not be a fair at all. He encouraged the board to put out a public statement to that effect. Jensen, who is a former Grand Island mayor, said he had been hearing from people in the community who are concerned about the prospect of a full-fledged fair, especially in the wake of the announcement earlier this week that Iowa is canceling its state fair. But board chairwoman Beth Smith noted that Missouri on Thursday announced it will hold its fair. She also noted that both Kansas and South Dakota continue to move forward with plans to hold their fairs. Smith also announced that Bill Ogg, the fair's new executive director, will start work June 22. The board hired Ogg last month to take over for Lori Cox, who stepped down in March. In other business Friday, the board unanimously voted to post its budget on its website to give the public better access. Jensen proposed the change after the board was asked to adjust the budget to reflect that its legal expenses will likely be triple what was budgeted. He said that over the past couple of years, the budget that has been adopted was not followed, which led the fair to run into financial problems. Putting the budget on the website offers a higher level of transparency and accountability, Jensen said. The financial issues led the fair board to hire a private firm to audit its banking and financial transactions, and the Nebraska State Patrol also is looking into potential criminal activity. The board went into executive session at the end of Friday's meeting to discuss the audit and investigation but did not discuss those issues in open session. Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 JIM WATSON The Senate failed to overturn President Donald Trumps veto of a bill with rare bipartisan support thus reinforcing his right to go to war with Iran without congressional approval. Trumps administration also continues to block the U.N. resolution calling for a global cease-fire during the pandemic, partially because of its support for the World Health Organization. Trump is trying to shift some of the blame for his chaotic pandemic response to the WHO. While the WHO focuses on COVID-19 and both the United States and Iran have been among the worst hot spots, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wants more and more sanctions against Iran. Meanwhile, Trump and Iran continue threatening each other with military force in the Persian Gulf. Five years before the novel coronavirus ran rampant around the world, saiga antelopes from the steppes of Eurasia experienced their own epidemic. Millions of these grazing animals--easily recognizable by their oversized snouts--once migrated across what is today Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Georgia and more. But then, over the span of three weeks in 2015, nearly 200,000, or two-thirds of their existing population, sickened and died from a bacterial infection. Today, the a little more than 100,000 saiga are hanging onto survival in a few pockets of Eurasia. The decline, and uncertain fate, of the saiga is a story that resonates with Joanna Lambert. She's a conservation biologist at the University of Colorado Boulder and a coauthor of a paper published this week in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. The study explores the current state of ungulates, or hoofed animals like the saiga, in the western U.S. and around the world. Lambert, who has studied ecological communities in both North America and Equatorial Africa, explained that many of these creatures aren't well-known outside of their home regions. But when these animals disappear, entire ecosystems can reshuffle, occasionally beyond recognition. "We're losing these animals without people ever knowing they were there in the first place," said Lambert, a professor in the Program of Environmental Studies at CU Boulder. For the researcher, the study's publication marks an opportunity to reflect on how she stays hopeful even amid tremendous losses--and how to talk about the natural world during a period of unprecedented social upheaval. "I tell my students, 'I have to give you the facts. This is the world you're growing up in, but don't let that paralyze you,'" Lambert said. Unsung species The new research was led by Joel Berger of Colorado State University and also included scientists from Bhutan, Argentina and Chile. The team decided to look at ungulates because--with a few exceptions like rhinos and elephants--they don't usually pop up in brochures for conservation organizations. But, Lambart said, they're still in trouble: Huemel, for example, once roamed across the Patagonia region of South America. Today, a little more than 1,000 of these fluffy deer still live in the wild. The tamaraw, a pint-sized buffalo from the Philippines, is down to just a few hundred individuals. "The whole world knows the stories of pandas and mountain gorillas, but there are untold numbers of unsung species that come and go without the world's attention," she said. Their cases also show just how complicated conservation can be. Lambert has spent years trekking the grasslands and forests of Yellowstone National Park to study wildlife. After federal officials killed all the park's wolves in the 1940s, elk herds there began to multiply--big time. Head counts for these herbivores surged from a few thousand individuals to tens of thousands, and they devoured once-abundant plants like cottonwood and willow trees. "When you pull one species out of its community, or if you add a new one in, the entire assembly changes," Lambert said. "That has been the history of what humans have done on the planet." When the park brought wolves back in the 1990s, and elk numbers dropped back down, something unexpected happened: beavers, which had also disappeared from Yellowstone, began reappearing, too. The furry swimmers, it turns out, depend on those same tree species to build their dams. "In many cases, we don't know what rules these ecosystems followed in the past," she said. "Even when we do know, it doesn't matter because we now have this added element of human tinkering." Ecological grief Lambert has also struggled to keep going as a conservation biologist as the wilds around her field sites in Africa and North America dwindled, then vanished entirely. "As I returned each year from the field, it was taking me longer and longer to recover from a sort of existential depression," she said. "I realized that I have been profoundly impacted by the losses I've seen." Many of Lambert's students feel similarly hopeless, a phenomenon that psychologists call "ecological grief." She tells them to focus on the success stories, however rare they are. Protected areas like Yellowstone have saved countless animals from extinction and have given others like wolves new chances at survival. Lambert is also providing scientific guidance around proposals to return wolves to Colorado. And there are still a lot of animals out there--including the few remaining herds of big-nosed saiga. "We need to fight like hell to keep all that," she said. ### Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 17:10:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Friday warned that "Taiwan independence" forces must stop their secessionist activities before it is too late, and that anyone caught in such acts will face severe punishments. Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the secessionist forces and their activities for "Taiwan independence" pose the biggest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and represent the biggest obstacle to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. The Democratic Progressive Party authority in Taiwan has recently stepped up colluding with external forces to undermine peace and stability across the Strait through continuous provocations of confrontation between the mainland and Taiwan, making cross-Strait relations even more complex and grave, Zhu said. A tiny fraction of "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces have clamored for and stepped up activities seeking "Taiwan independence" in an attempt to push cross-Strait relations to the brink of danger and push Taiwan compatriots toward the abyss of disasters, she said. Their acts run counter to the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and the vital interests of Taiwan compatriots, and are doomed to fail, she added. Enditem Subscribe: iTunes | Google Play Music | How to Listen The actor and writer Stephen Fry visits the podcast this week to discuss several subjects, including Oscar Wilde, Frys own love of language and his latest book, Heroes: The Greek Myths Reimagined. Its a miraculous thing about Greek mythology that there is a timeline and a chronology, Fry says. Its probably reverse-engineered by Hesiod and Homer and the later poets, obviously. But nonetheless, it has a shape, a beginning and an end, which other mythic structures dont seem to have. And theyre so deep in the I hesitate to use such a cliche, but I cant avoid it in the DNA of our own culture and art that its part of who we are. Image Lauren Christensen and Andrew LaVallee, editors on the Books desk at The Times, visit the podcast this week to discuss books on the subject of race and racism, including The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson, and the poetry collection American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin, by Terrance Hayes. Something that I really love about poetry is that, I think particularly coming at it as a journalist, Im really focused on using words to convey information, LaVallee says. And poetry helps me remember that words can do all sorts of other different things, and that expressing things that are hard to express is also important, and conveying feeling. And I get that from poetry in a way that I dont always get from prose or nonfiction writing. Just like the Twitter experiment, and to nobody's surprise a Facebook account that copies and re-posts President Donald Trump's posts word-for-word is immediately flagged for inciting violence. It is long past time for Facebook and Twitter to treat Trump like everyone else, and enforce the rules of their own platform against the biggest threat to safety America has at this time, besides the coronavirus itself. From Newsweek: The warning was received yesterday by "Will they suspend me"a profile conducting an experiment sharing Trump's updates verbatim to see how the platform responds. It uses the handle @suspendthepres on Twitter, where the test is also ongoing. The notice forced the deletion of a post that remained untouched on the president's own page, containing the phrase "when the looting starts, the shooting starts." It warned that the account would face a 24-hour suspension if it broke the policies again. "Facebook took almost exactly a week but they just issued their first warning. Forced deletion of content," the account holder wrote Thursday, as Vice first reported. "Your post goes against our Community Standards on violence and incitement. We use the same Community Standards around the world for everyone," the message from the social network said, revealing that the offending post had reached 26 people. The post by President Trump, published on May 29, was widely criticized for appearing to incite state violence against masses of protesters taking to the streets following the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis just four days prior. Read More: Facebook Account Copying Trump's Posts Word-for-Word Gets Flagged for Inciting Violence Trumps moves to use the military against American protesters and looters came after several months of other highly unorthodox moves by his administration involving the military, including the clearing of three members of the armed services accused of war crimes; the firing of Capt. Brett Crozier after he raised alarms about the coronavirus on the aircraft carrier he commanded; the calling back of West Point students during a pandemic so the president could address them for a graduation, which he is set to do Saturday; and the diversion of funds from military projects to pay for a border wall, a move that followed the deployment of troops to the border just before the 2018 midterm elections. Brides and grooms may soon have extra cause for celebration after chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan revealed his expert team was planning to review weddings. And hairdressers will also be hoping for good news as Dr Holohan and his team meet next week to discuss pressing issues of public concern arising from the lockdown. Read More There will be new overall guidance on gatherings, which would allow couples who want to get married to decide on the size of their guest list. Dr Holohan said they will also examine if hairdressers can reopen for business on June 29 rather than July 20. And the National Public Health Emergency Team will also look at whether the two-metre physical distancing rule could be reduced to one metre in parts of the hospitality trade. Analysis is under way into what impact this would have on the spread of Covid-19 in the context of periods of low transmission of the virus. Dr Holohan would not be drawn on what the likely outcome of the meeting will be and he said the findings would be given in the form of advice to Government on how to proceed with the next phase out of lockdown. He was speaking as another eight people in Ireland were newly diagnosed with the virus, the lowest daily total since March 11. There were another eight deaths from the virus, bringing the death toll to 1,703. Philip Nolan, of Maynooth University, who is part of a team tracking the virus, said all the indicators show Covid-19 is continuing to decline. There are around 14 new cases a day, down from 50 last week. There were 116 patients in hospitals last week and this has reduced to 86. Prof Nolan pointed to around three admissions to hospital a day but the numbers in intensive care are falling more slowly, reducing from 34 last week to 28 yesterday. Some patients seriously ill with the virus have been in intensive care for two months. "The reproductive number has remained stable, between 0.4 - 0.8 over a number of weeks," he said. The R number refers to the average number of people each person positive for Covid-19 infects. "The next two weeks are now critical in limiting transmission, keeping the R-number low and suppressing the virus," said Prof Nolan. "It is how we interact, as we go about our daily lives more freely, that will determine whether the R-number increases." The trend now is for more infections in private houses. Around one-third of newly diagnosed cases get it out in the community, another third get it from close contact with another infected person and the rest are linked to outbreaks in places like meat plants. Dr Holohan said he could not rule out a resurgence of the disease and the necessity to respond with measures at short notice. However, he said in the future the same "blend of measures" as seen in lockdown would probably not be necessary because so much more is known about the virus. The general population is also more aware of precautionary measures in how they behave every day, he added. Dr Ronan Glynn, the deputy chief medical officer, said there are around 250 people who have active virus. However, it was now clear that while people can recover from the acute phase of the illness, some may be left with debilitating symptoms like fatigue which can linger. Among the people who died in nursing homes 57pc were women and 43pc men. "Anecdotally, we are hearing and seeing an increasing number of people who have had this disease being left with prolonged side-effects and taking a long time to recover," said Dr Glynn. "Within the 92pc who are recovering from Covid-19, there are people who are not yet back to full health." That is why it's important to keep yourself and your loved ones protected, he added. Guwahati/Shillong, June 12 : Two more Covid-19 patients, including a woman, died in Assam on Friday, taking the state's death count to eight while a coronavirus-infected woman gave birth to a baby boy in Meghalaya, officials said. Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a tweet, said that two more people, including one in Silchar Medical College, succumbed to Covid-19, but did not give more details about the victims. Health officials in Silchar said that a 53-year-old woman cancer patient died in Silchar Medical College on Friday. The woman recently returned to Assam after taking medical treatment in Delhi. Sarma also tweeted that as on Friday night, the cases in Assam rose to 3,498 with 1,903 of them active. In Shillong, Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister A.L. Hek said that a Covid-19 positive woman, a returnee from Delhi, has given birth to a boy at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences. Both the mother and the new-born are in good health, he added. Re-testing of the sample of the woman would be done after 14 days quarantine in the hospital and the sample of the new-born would also be tested, the Minister said. With the return of around four lakh natives to the northeast from other Indian states, the number of Covid-19 cases are rapidly rising in the region with total cases now 5,249, out of which 2,238 are active cases. Among eight northeastern states, Assam has witnessed the highest surge in Covid-19 positive cases since inter-state movement of people began with around three lakh people returning to the state from western and south Indian states since May 4. The other seven states also saw a spike. Tripura is second with 960 positive cases (678 active) followed by Manipur with 385 cases (312 active), 164 in Nagaland (134 active), 104 in Mizoram (103 active), 67 in Arunachal Pradesh (63 active), 44 in Meghalaya (21 active 21) and 27 in Sikkim (24 active). Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Brussels, Belgium Fri, June 12, 2020 16:30 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde47953 2 World coronavirus-effect,Europe,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,anti-racism-protests,coronavirus,second-wave Free Europe could face a surge of COVID-19 infections in the coming weeks caused by mass protests in the continent over the last days, politicians, European Union officials and experts said on Thursday. Tens of thousands of protesters have crowded together in Europe's big cities in recent days to demonstrate against racism after the killing in the United States of George Floyd while in police custody. "If you advise everybody to keep one and half meter from each other, and everybody just stands next to each other, holding each other, then I don't have a good feeling about that," Jozef Kesecioglu, who chairs the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, told a conference. Asked whether there could be a surge of infections in the coming two weeks, he said: "Yes, but hopefully I'm wrong." British health minister Matt Hancock said people should not attend large gatherings of more than six people, including demonstrations. "I understand that people want to show their passion for a cause that they care deeply about. But this is a virus that thrives on social contact, regardless of what your cause may be," he said at a daily news conference. Most European countries have passed the peak of the outbreak and are gradually reopening business and borders, as infections went gingerly down in past weeks. Before recent protests, scientists expected a second wave only after the summer. But mass gatherings might impact this positive trend. Having only recently emerged, it is not yet clear how COVID-19 is affected by seasonal factors and people spending more time outdoors, where the virus particles disperse faster, potentially helping limit its spread. However, the positive impact of being outdoors could be counteracted if social distancing is not adhered to. "As for any infectious respiratory disease, mass events could be a major route of transmission," Martin Seychell, a health official at the EU Commission told Reuters when asked about the possibility of an earlier second wave caused by demonstrations. The virus was still circulating, although at lower rates than some weeks ago, he said. The likelihood and size of a second wave would depend on the effective maintaining of social distancing measures and other factors, many of which are still unknown, he said. Italy's health minister Roberto Speranza also struck a note of caution. "A second wave or recrudescence is not certain but possible," he said. A police force has apologised after two of its officers stopped a black couple and demanded they show their IDs because they were driving a car. Footage of the incident, in which one officer appears to suggest the couple are jumping on the bandwagon of the Black Lives Matter protests, sparked outrage on social media. Ingrid Antoine-Oniyoke, 47, and her husband Falil Oniyoke, 50, were stopped in Ipswich on Tuesday after glancing at a police car parked near Mrs Antoine-Oniyokes mothers house. In the video, a male officer said: "At the end of the day, whether it looks funny or not, you were driving a motor vehicle on a road, so therefore I am requiring you to provide proof of drivers (licence)." The unnamed police officer demands that the couple show their IDs / PA Mrs Antoine-Oniyoke tells him: You are kidding us right now. You can see why people get upset. And the officer replies: All that I need is proof that you are the driver of that vehicle, and you live here and we are gone. The couple, from Watford, had been staying at Mrs Antoine-Oniyokes mothers house while their own home was being renovated. Mrs Antoine-Oniyokes mother is currently in the Caribbean island of Grenada. The female officer tells them in the video recording: You have turned something irate that shouldnt be. You are just jumping on the bandwagon thats not okay. She appears to be referring to the recent anti-racism and George Floyd demonstrations. The officer suggests the couple are 'jumping on a bandwagon' - but doesn't explicitly state what she's referring to / PA The male officer then tells Mr Oniyoke and Mrs Antoine-Oniyoke you look suspicious. He continues: You can argue and you can say why, why, why the whole time. Mrs Antoine-Oniyoke tells them this is disgusting while her husband says this is profiling. You can laugh and shake your head as much as you want, Mrs Antoine-Oniyoke says. The couples daughter Maja posted her mothers recording of the exchange on Twitter, prompting Suffolk Police to issue an apology. The force said: Suffolk Constabulary is aware of the video circulating on social media involving two of our officers. Having looked at the issues raised by a large number of people, particularly regarding certain comments which were made on the video, we would like to apologise for the offence these have caused. The statement continues: The constabulary is very aware of the depth of feeling surrounding the events of the last few weeks and the issue of racism in our society. We always try to ensure we police all our communities with dignity, respect and fairness. Where those values are not met we will do everything we can to learn from that. Maja, a student, said she was so upset by the clip that she found it hard to watch. My grandma and my uncle live (in Ipswich) my uncle and quite a lot of the black community in Ipswich in response to this have said there is an issue with race and the police, she said. Her parents had only been to the garage to collect her mothers car and had glanced at the police car parked in the quiet street as they returned. The two officers only left once her father showed them ID. WASHINGTON As protests raged across the U.S. in the days after George Floyds death, politicians and law enforcement officials issued dire warnings that a radical leftist group was using the unrest to smash storefronts and sow terror. President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr, U.S. senators including Ted Cruz and Texas top law enforcement officer, Steve McCraw, have all blamed antifa for looting and violence at protests. This is a terrorist assault on our country, Cruz said in a recent Fox News interview. Cruz has been among the leading voices calling for antifa to be named a domestic terrorist organization, something Trump has vowed will happen. But among the hundreds of arrests made during the protests, police in the five biggest Texas cities have so far reported jailing just three alleged antifa affiliates, whom they accuse of looting a Target in Austin. While the Texas Department of Public Safety says it is still investigating antifa cases and more charges are to come, calls to the law enforcement agencies in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin turned up no other arrests of alleged antifa members. And even as the Trump administration blames antifa for the violence at protests, dozens of cases the Justice Department has brought so far include no links to antifa, NPR reported this week. Texas DPS said in a statement that the department is investigating incidents involving antifa and other groups and that additional arrests will be forthcoming. It pointed to a section of the Texas Domestic Terrorism Threat Assessment on anarchist groups, which it said includes antifa. I dont mind advertising this, McCraw, the director of DPS, said a press conference in Dallas earlier this month. We do have special agents embedded trying to identify criminals that are leveraging these or using these as an opportunity exploiting these demonstrations, identifying them and weve already identified some of them and we will be arresting them, but not at this particular moment. False reports of antifa action have popped up across the country, meanwhile, and social media platforms including Twitter and Facebook have purged fake antifa accounts they say were actually created by white nationalist groups. Antifa members or community activists? None of the three alleged antifa members arrested in Austin has a prior criminal conviction in Texas, state records show, though one has been arrested twice in the past on charges of assault and evading arrest all of which were dismissed. Two of their attorneys say their link to antifa is a law enforcement fantasy. If shes really this big bad terrorist, then why doesnt she have a single criminal conviction? said George Lobb, an attorney for Lisa Hogan, 27, who has the prior arrests. Austin police charged her with burglary after she allegedly went on Facebook Live outside the Target and urged protesters to join them, even if you do not want to loot. Its a simple label you place on someone because its a buzzword that has a negative connotation, Lobb said. What it does is it invites cooperation from the federal government and their resources, including those pukes at Homeland Security Investigations. The FBI is involved in the case, and Lobb said Homeland Security is, too. The police report says an officer who was watching the Target after reports of possible looting saw Samuel Miller, 22, smash and remove security cameras from the front of the store as a crowd of protesters began removing plywood from the store windows. The report says only that Miller is a known antifa member. The officer saw Hogan filming as protesters began to break into the Target and urged more to join, according to the report. Other officers watched the livestream on Facebook, the report says. The officer then saw Hogan and Miller walking away briskly as police arrived. They got into a car, which was pulled over by officers. The driver was Skye Elder, 23, the third protester arrested, who police say is also a known antifa member. The police reports do not specify whether any of the three ever entered the store. Any claim that community activists like Mr. Miller are antifa is nothing but a transparent, incendiary attempt to distract from the problems plaguing our society systemic racism and state-sponsored murder, said Carl Guthrie, his attorney. Every time these accusations are repeated, they lend credence to the dangerous allegation that anyone committed to a world where people have more value than property is a terrorist. To some extent, security experts and academics who study antifa agree with Guthries take. That is exactly the danger when using these broad brush strokes, said Gary LaFree, chair of the Criminology and Criminal Justice department at the University of Maryland. Its kind of this view that antifa is this sort of tumor that we can remove. Its more like influenza or a virus. Theres not a central location, its this range of attitudes. Regular people break things, too Experts say antifa which stands for anti-fascist is a loosely-affiliated network of far-left activists, typically organized over social media, who show up to protests to silence voices on the far right, whether by drowning them out with loud counter-protests or by stifling them with physical confrontations. Antifa first started popping up in Europe, but became active in the U.S. after the election of President Donald Trump. Perhaps the most well-known instance of antifa action was in Charlottesville, Va. when antifa fought white supremacists at a Unite the Right rally that ended with a neo-Nazi killing a protester by driving a car into a crowd. Antifa also trashed the University of California-Berkeleys campus to keep far-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos from speaking in 2017. LaFree runs a database tracking terrorist attacks in the U.S. since the 1960s using the U.S. militarys definition of terrorism. It includes some 2,000 attacks, but not one tied to antifa. The closest to making it was Charlottesville, he said, but it wasnt clear antifa intended to spark violence when they showed up. Weve been tracking for years now and found no deaths, very little violence, LaFree said. I think theres strong evidence that right-wing terrorism is way more violent than left-wing. Experts say theres a lot of misinformation about what antifa is, and that the term has been used as a catch-all for activists with a range of left-wing and anarchist viewpoints. There just simply arent nearly as many members of antifa groups as would be necessary to do everything theyve been blamed for, said Mark Bray, a Rutgers University historian of human rights, terrorism and political radicalism in modern Europe who has studied antifa. A federal push to label antifa a terrorist group would be difficult because its not a group, as far as we know, said Ben West, senior global security analyst at Austin-based Stratfor. Youve got a more violent contingent within a larger peaceful protest that will come in and use the cover of protest action to smash windows, spray graffiti, incite violence between police and protesters, West said. Its organized insofar as you have people on social media posting under the term antifa, using hashtag antifa Its an ideology, people subscribe to it, but theres no real structure. Bray said theres a political expediency in labeling people as such. The other part of the question to be asked is, when law enforcement says that or politicians say that do they even know what theyre talking about? And either way do they even care? Bray said. Bray pointed to Trumps claims this week that a 75-year-old protester, who lay bleeding from the head after Buffalo police pushed him to the ground in a viral video, could be an antifa provocateur as an example of that. He said the political game of trying to uncover the mastermind behind the protests is a distraction from addressing longstanding racial and socioeconomic reasons for the upheaval. They cant admit there are, like, regular people who are breaking things because theyre mad about the police killing black people, Bray said. She never referred to herself as antifa In Austin, police reports say that officers knew through training and experience that several of the protesters at the Target belonged to the former Austin Red Guards, which is a self-identified communist/socialist antifa group. The report does not explain any further their link to the group. She has never referred to herself as antifa. None of her friends have ever referred to her as antifa, Lobb said of his client, Hogan. Ive never heard them use the term until it showed up in the press just now, and it was them calling us antifa. Asked if Hogan is a member of the Austin Red Guard referenced in her arrest report, Lobb said, Shes never used the term and Ive never had someone reference her to it. If that group does exist, I dont know who the (expletive) is in it. He described her as a mother, a wife and someone who participates in her community. A public records search pulls up nothing on Hogan, Miller or Elder, which is not uncommon for people who are in their early 20s and have yet to purchase homes, directly pay property taxes, file for bankruptcy or compile substantial voting records. Miller faces charges of criminal mischief and burglary. Elder is also accused of burglary. She could not be reached for comment. Hogan faces burglary charges. Her attorney said his client did nothing illegal. When you boil it down, the facts are this: She did not go into the Target. She did not bring supplies for a riot. She did not organize it. She reported on it, Lobb said. And filming a criminal act is not against the law. ben.wermund@chron.com Rajkumari Sharma Tankha By Express News Service COVID-19 brought out many unusual heroes. Ishan Jain, 13, is one among them. This student of Heritage Xperiential Learning School, Gurugram, initiated a relief programme by raising funds on social media, and distributed 2,000 masks besides providing dry ration to nearly 500 underprivileged families. In March, after the nation-wide lockdown was announced, Jain realised that scores of daily wage workers had become jobless. I spoke to my parents if we could do something for them. They were very happy with my thoughts and guided me on how to go about it, says Jain. He launched a fund-raiser on Ketto and shared this information on his Instagram account. Apart from my family and friends, many unknown people also contributed. I managed to collect around Rs 2 lakh. Jain purchased dry ration, made small kits and got in touch with the Civil Defence Team of Gurugram. The Civil Defence volunteers told us of pockets where the daily wagers lived. They even helped us distributed the dry ration that we had purchased,says Jain. In time, Jain got to know that migrant labourers had congregated at the Tau Devilal Stadium (TDS) to go back home. Witnessing their dreary living conditions, Jain decided to help them out with essential items. Once again, he approached his family, friends and social media followers, and collected Rs 1.5 lakh, with which he purchased 500 hygiene kits. Each kit contained washable, reusable masks, sanitary pads, towels, soaps and cloth bags, which Jain distributed to the women living at TDS. Now that commercial activities have largely resumed and most migrants have gone back to their villages, there isnt much need. But, at any point if I see more people need help, I will launch another fundraiser, and do everything I can to help, says Jain, who wants to set up an NGO after he comes of age. The Haryana State Department has honoured Jain with Icon of COVID-19 award for his initiatives. Its been months now since U.S. President Donald Trump predicted his miracle. That was back in February, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the president announced that come April, when the weather got warmer, the coronavirus would miraculously [go] away. It didnt. And nor has it been reduced to ashes, as Trump claimed on June 5 when, arguing for a rapid reopening of the economy, he said, We want the continued blanket lockdown to end for the states. We may have some embers or some ashes, or we may have some flames coming, but well put them out. Well stomp them out. Instead, the U.S. is very much on fire, well into a second phase of the crisis, with the COVID-19 caseload steadily rising to more than 2 million confirmed cases and more than 113,000 deaths. According to a TIME analysis, 23 states are continuing to see case counts grow day by day. Four of those statesArizona, California, Mississippi and North Carolinahave yet to decline for any extended window even temporarily; the rest appear to have initially bent the curve downward and are now experiencing a second wave of infections. And in many of those cases, the second phase is worse than the first, or on track to erase any encouraging declines in the past month. In Oregon, for example, the state appeared to flatten the curve very early, peaking at 1.76 cases per 100,000 people on April 2 and declining to 0.8 by May 24. In the intervening two weeks, a resurgent wave has pushed that figure past its previous peak to 2.3 as of June 8and still likely to grow. These disparate trends are invisible on a national level. Improvements in some areasNew York, New Jersey and other parts of the Northeasthave been offset by worsening conditions elsewhere, leaving the U.S. as a whole stubbornly plateaued at about 6 cases per 100,000 people. In Texas, the seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases per day has been over 1,000 since May 25. This development led Governor Greg Abbott to concede on a local news broadcast, I am concerned, but not yet alarmed. He should be, though. On May 14, the states seven-day average crested at 1,305 cases per day and then started to fall. But in recent weeks, its climbed back up, and is now at 1,703. Story continues These alarming spikes are apparent even when a state never enjoyed a temporary lull. Arizona, which has yet to appear to peak even momentarily, has seen 7,700 new cases in the first week of June, with patient load tripling in the past three weeks in hospitals owned by Banner Health, the states largest hospital provider. Yet the pandemic, if not remotely yesterdays news, has begun to fade as a front-of-mind issue, pushed out both by the recent demonstrations against police brutality and systemic racism, triggered by the May 25 murder of George Floyd, and perhaps a sort of cultural numbing to all things COVID. The White House Coronavirus Task Force, whose press conferences were daily fixtures in the early months of the crisis, now convenes three times a week instead of dailywith Vice President Mike Pence, the groups chair, attending only one of those three regular sessionsand there has not been a press conference in the last month. On June 12, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had its first media telebriefing since March 9; previously these were held at least weekly. Im worried that people have kind of accepted where we are as a new normal, and it is not normal, says Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of John Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School. Some states have hundreds or even thousands of new COVID cases every day, and we can do better than this. Some countries have driven their [daily] cases down to zero. The U.S. most certainly hasnt, but the pain is not spread evenly across the map. New infections are falling precipitously in some states, including New York, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Kansas, while resuming a rise after initially plateauing or falling elsewhere, including in Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Texas. If there is concern among residents and leaders of affected states, its hard to spot. In Florida, most beaches are open, as are the Universal Orlando theme park and all five SeaWorld Parks. Disney World plans a phased reopening beginning July 11. Like Abbott in Texas, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis does not seem especially alarmed at the rise in cases in his state. As youre testing youre going to find more cases, he said at a June 11 press conference. Most of the cases are sub-clinical cases, and we expected that from the beginning. Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona has been similarly sanguineif more defensiveclaiming that reports of dwindling hospital-bed capacity are exaggerated. The information that was out there nationally was inaccurate, he said at a Thursday briefing, according to the news site Arizona Central. Im listening to the experts inside Arizona that serve the people of Arizona. But at least some of those people do not share Duceys confidence. I agree with him that we have hospital capacity today and probably we will next Friday, Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association, told the Central. If we dont change course and put in some simple interventions now, it might not be that way on July 4. In South Carolina, most beaches and retail businesses remain open, even as the state recorded its highest one-day total of 687 new cases on June 10. Thirteen people died of the disease in that 24-hour period. Governor Henry McMaster extended South Carolinas state of emergencyoriginally imposed in April and set to expire on June 11. The state of emergency authorized school and business closures, activation of the National Guard, postponement of elections and more. Still, McMaster made it clear that the extension would not require businesses that have reopened to close again, nor would he mandate mask use. It is a matter of personal responsibility, he said at a press conference. The farthest McMaster said he would go is to encourage people to wear masks and practice social distancing. If the governors of the stricken states arent feeling skittish yet, the markets are. On June 11, the Dow Jones Industrial average shed 1,900 points, a 6.9% plunge, and the S&P 500 lost 5.9%, as reports of the second wave of infections made it clear that the overall economy would not be bouncing back to its pre-viral vigor any time soon. This is the biggest economic shock in living memory, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said in a June 10 news conference. The extent of the downturn remains extraordinarily uncertain. The health of the nation, three months into the COVID crisis, does too. Trump was not alone in optimistically predicting that a combination of warm weather and a period of sheltering in place would be sufficient to snuff the COVID-19 wildfire by summer. Every state in the country, plus Washington D.C., imposed some kind of quarantine rules, the earliest going into effect in mid-Marchand, since the middle of springtime, all of them have slowly been reopening, pressed by a combination anxiety over the economy, a restive population, and no small amount of epidemiological hope. That hope has not always been fulfilled. South Carolina was the first state to begin lifting restrictions, on April 20. Others went much later, especially New York, which remains the epicenter of the crisis, and did not begin opening back up in some regions of the state until May 15pointedly excluding hard-hit New York City. Only on June 8 was the city permitted to resume non-essential construction and manufacturing and reopen non-essential stores. Museums, theaters, restaurants, bars and other high-traffic venues remain shuttered. The apparent result of this disparate approach: South Carolina is back in crisis mode, while New York is seeing its lowest infection levels since March 1. But that recovery is fragile. You can make a mistake today that wipes out everything weve done so far, so we have to stay smart, said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, at a June 11 briefing. The biggest of those mistakes may involve timing. Overall, as a TIME analysis of state-by-state data found, the date that states closed and reopened had at least some effect on how severe their second wave has beenor whether they have had one at all. From closing schools to mandatory stay-at-home orders, the Northeast was both the earliest region in the country to institute interventions, and the most hesitant to roll them back. On average, Northeast states put restrictions into place on March 25, followed by the West on March 27, the South on March 29 and the Midwest on March 31, according data collected by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. More telling is how many of these intervention measures remain in place as states cautiously crack open once-shuttered doors. In the Northeast, only 30% of restrictions had been lifted on May 21 on average, when one totals all unique measures, counting each state several times. The other three regions have lifted around 40% by the same metric. The West was the first to do so, on May 17 on average, followed by the South on May 20 and the Midwest on May 23. (These dates do not account for programs that have yet to conclude.) The result of those policies seems clear: The Northeast, which was far and away the hardest-hit part of the country, has now seen the greatest improvement and seems to be on the best trajectorydriven mostly by New Yorks and New Jerseys aggressive policies. The regions rates of new daily infections per capita peaked on April 6 at 31.5 new cases per 100,000 residents. The Midwest, a distant second, peaked at 10.3 on May 4, while the South and West have remained relatively static at about 5. As of June 10, that sequence has reversed. The Northeast is now the region with the lowest daily case rate, at 3.7. The Midwest, at 4.4., isnt too far behind. Both have flattened the curve significantly in the last month or so. Meanwhile, daily case rates in the West and South have been on the rise, and are both now at about 6.5 per 100,000 residents. But while the timing of a states closing and reopenings certainly play a role in its current disease arc, there are other state-by-state considerations that make things more complicated. That might be best exemplified by California, with its massive 39.5 million-person population, huge geographic range and aggressive approach to testing. The state closed its doors on March 19 and did not begin to reopen them until May 8, yet case counts are rising. We have seen cases increase in some areas, which is expected as testing capacity increases and people leave home more, says Dr. Sonia Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health, but we are prepared for that. Johns Hopkins Inglesby backs Californias position that at least some of its rising caseload may simply be an artifact of better screening. Even though the number of daily cases is higher on a day-to-day basis than it was weeks ago, the overall hospitalization rate on their dashboard is stable, he says. So that would suggest perhaps theres more testing going on in California and maybe theyre finding more mild and moderate cases. Other states get no such pass from Inglesby. In Texas, you can see that the hospitalization rate is going up, he says. Similarly in Arizona, ICU beds [and] hospitalization rates for COVID patients are going up. So those are real changes. There are more sick people than there were a month ago. Substantially more. And nationwide, theyre coming substantially faster too. It took more than three months for the U.S. to record its millionth case of COVID-19. The jump to two million took just 44 days, and the numbers continue to rise. The U.S. is a loud, sprawling, brawling nation, and its no surprise that, as with so much else, regional differences are determining how we meet the current crisis. At the CDCs June 12 media briefing, the agencys deputy director for infectious diseases, Dr. Jay Butler, noted that If cases begin to go up again, particularly if they go up dramatically, its important to recognize that more extensive mitigation efforts such as what were implemented back in March may be needed again. The decision really needs to be made locally based on what is happening within the community regarding disease transmission. But with lives on the line we need to do betterto address the problem with a discipline and uniformity we have yet to show. Are we resigned to losing a thousand Americans a day until we have a vaccine? Inglesby asks. I hope we arent. On that score, at least, he could likely claim a national consensus. Update, June 15: At the time this article was originally published, Michigan was reporting a large spike in cases on June 5. Some of this surge was due to a re-examination of previous cases that were not counted at the time, and have since then have been incorporated into the states timeline at the appropriate dates. Additional Reporting by Alejandro de la Garza and Alice Park. The Pikes Peak region's most popular trail is also its most controversial, stirring pride in the 300,000-plus people who ascend it every year and frustration in the people who live at its base. Today, the Incline finds itself at perhaps its most polarizing period. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) has released a comment on the synchronous statements by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and three Members of the European Parliament regarding construction of the road connecting Artsakh with the Republic of Armenia. The comment reads as follows: In connection with the synchronous statements by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry and three MEPs regarding the construction of the road connecting Artsakh with the Republic of Armenia, we consider it necessary to note the following: First of all, it is important to emphasize that the construction of new roads and the implementation of other communication projects in the Republic of Artsakh, needed to ensure its safe development and to increase the freedom of movement of the citizens, is the sovereign right and obligation of the authorities of Artsakh. The calls to coordinate any projects of the Republic of Artsakh with neighboring Azerbaijan are devoid of any legal ground and logic. The implementation of communication projects connecting Artsakh with the Republic of Armenia and the outside world is especially urgent against the background of Bakus incessent attempts to isolate Artsakh by manipulating separate principles of international law. At the same time, the Azerbaijani authorities do not even hide that they consider the blockade, including the air one, as an integral part of their overall strategy aimed at the physical annihilation of Artsakh and its inhabitants. One of the markers of Azerbaijans inhumane policy is the threat of the Azerbaijani authorities to shoot down civilian aircrafts. It is noteworthy that the Azerbaijani authorities openly demonstrate their dismissive attitude to international law. The quintessence of Azerbaijans attitude to international law is the expression of the Azerbaijani President that "international law does not work in the world today, and international treaties are just a piece of paper, having no value." Secondly, this statement is the private opinion of separate MEPs, which does not comply with the documents previously adopted by the European Parliament, including the resolutions on the inadmissibility of the blockade of Artsakh. The fact that some of the authors of the statement were awarded with state awards of Azerbaijan largely explains why their position fully coincides with the position of official Baku. The bias and partiality of the statement by the MEPs is so obvious that it cannot contain any useful message and play a positive role to create conditions conducive to peace, trust and reconciliation", allegedly cared about by the aforementioned parliamentarians. Even more cynical is the attempt by the authors of the statement to cover up their bias by the concern for the peace process under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. Using politically motivated language, which contradicts the terminology of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen and misleads the international community about the essence of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, the three MEPs, in fact, cause damage to the peace process. We are convinced that the just settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict is possible only based on a human-centered approach. The attempts to isolate an entire nation, the threat of its physical annihilation, the obstruction of the realization of individual and collective rights of people are remnants of the past and cannot take place in todays world. New Delhi: Amid hectic ongoing negotiations with Beijing at senior military and diplomatic levels, New Delhi on Thursday reiterated that India and China have agreed on early resolution of the situation on the borders and that the two sides are maintaining their military and diplomatic engagements to peacefully resolve the situation at the earliest to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas. New Delhis views are essentially a reiteration of those expressed on Sunday, a day after both sides had held very senior-level military talks on June 6 to resolve the military face-off in the Ladakh sector. In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, As you are aware, a meeting was held between the Corps Commanders of India and China on 6th June 2020 in the Chushul-Moldo region. This meeting was in continuation of the diplomatic and military engagements which both sides have maintained to address the situation in areas along the India-China border. It was agreed that an early resolution of the situation would be in keeping with the guidance of the leaders. The MEA added, The two sides are, therefore, maintaining their military and diplomatic engagements to peacefully resolve the situation at the earliest as also to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas. This is essential for the further development of Indian-China bilateral relations. This comes a day after the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said the two nations are taking steps to to ease the situation along the borders. On Monday, Beijing had seemingly softened its position on the military face-off, saying that China and India have the capacity and willingness to properly resolve border issues through negotiation and consultations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry had also said the two nations, in their military-level talks last week, agreed to implement important consensus reached by leaders, not to turn differences into disputes, work together to maintain peace and tranquility in border areas, so as to create a favorable atmosphere for stable development of bilateral relations. ABC has cut ties with Jessica Mulroney, Meghan Markle's best friend, for threatening to sue black influencer Sasha Exeter after the pair got into a row over racism on Instagram. DailyMail.com exclusively learned on Friday that Mulroney would never be returning to her occasional role as a fashion contributor on Good Morning America. Mulroney was fired by CTV and department store Hudson Bay then took to Instagram on Thursday night to say she was stepping back from all work engagements. The scandal brings intense embarrassment to Meghan who devoted her brief time as a royal to relentlessly promoting social good and is a life-long racial equality activist. In a statement to DailyMail.com on Friday, a GMA spokeswoman said: 'As Jessica Mulroney said last night, she is stepping away from her professional engagements and that includes Good Morning America. She will no longer appear on our show.' Mulroney threatened Sasha Exeter with a lawsuit after Exeter publicly revealed that they'd been embroiled in a private war of words over racism. All of the details of their exchange are not known but according to Exeter, Mulroney responded 'personally' to a 'generic call to action' that the black single mother issued on her Instagram page weeks ago, asking white influencers to use their platforms to advance the Black Lives Matter movement. It's unclear how exactly Mulroney responded but the two - who were once 'acquaintances' - started arguing and it 'ultimately' escalated to Mulroney telling Exeter that she was going to contact companies that Exeter worked with. When Exeter went public, Mulroney posted a comment on her Instagram page for others to see in which she apologized. Exeter claims she however then sent her a private message, threatening to sue her for libel. 'Liable suit. Good luck,' she wrote, misspelling the complaint she seemingly intended to make. GMA has cut ties with Jessica Mulroney, Meghan Markle's best friend, after she threatened to sue a black Instagram influencer Toronto-based influencer Sasha Exeter said she was left 'paralyzed with fear' and 'stayed up days and nights' worrying about what Jessica after she told her she'd been in touch with 'companies' to tell them how 'unfairly' the black single mother had treated her Canadian television network CTV fired Mulroney on Thursday and axed her wedding show, I do, Redo. She was also dropped by a clothing company she worked with. On Thursday night, Mulroney issued a statement on her own Instagram page to say she'd had time to reflect on her actions and that she is genuinely remorseful. 'She rightfully called me out for not doing enough when it came to engaging in the important and difficult conversation around race and injustice in our society. MULRONEY'S REMARKS TO SASHA EXETER IN ORDER Privately, after their row over Mulroney not using her platform enough to promote BLM :'I have also spoken to companies and people about the way you have treated me unfairly. 'You think your voice matters. Well it only matters if you express it with kindness and without shaming people who are simply trying to learn. Good luck.' Public: 'You are right when you say "this s**t needs to stop." As leaders, we need to join hands and call out wrongs. I know we have different experience. And that is something that, even in the course of a heated argument, I need to acknowledge and understand. I am unequivocally sorry for not doing that with you, and for any hurt I caused. As I told you privately, I have lived a very public and personal experience with my closest friend where race was front and centre. It was deeply educational. I learned a lot from that. I promise to continue to learn and listen on how I can use my privilege to elevate and support black voices. Private: 'Liable [sic] suit. Good luck.' Advertisement 'I took it personally and that was wrong. I need to do better. I did not intend in any way to jeopardize her livelihood. We had a disagreement and it got out of hand. 'For that I am sorry. I'm going to be stepping back from social media in the coming days and giving my microphone to Black voices by having them take over my account. 'I have also asked Sasha if she would be willing to take over my account whenever she is comfortable and tell her story,' she said. ABC's decision to severe ties with her came after staffers told DailyMail.com that they wanted her to be shown the door. 'Why isnt ABC firing her? Her actions are completely unacceptable and do not reflect the values of Good Morning America. 'We have a wonderfully diverse team yet Jessica used her privilege to get her job and should be fired for her behavior in abusing it. 'CTV quickly fired her and many Canadian brands have done the same, why arent we doing that? This sends the wrong message. 'Plus she should be fired for working on a news show and not being able to spell libel. 'ABC needs to take a stand. What are they afraid of? P**ssing off Meghan and Harry or the Trudeau family? 'The abuse of privilege here is outrageous,' the staffer said. The row began several weeks ago but Exeter only revealed it on Wednesday. In an IGTV video, she said she'd made a 'very generic call to action' at the start of the movement asking all influencers to use their platforms for good. It's unclear what exactly happened next but Jessica responded, despite Exeter not calling her out publicly, and they started privately arguing. It escalated and eventually, Mulroney told her: 'I have also spoken to companies and people about the way you have treated me unfairly. 'You think your voice matters. Well it only matters if you express it with kindness and without shaming people who are simply trying to learn. Good luck.' Exeter said she was dumbfounded by the response and 'paralyzed with fear' that her partnerships or endorsements may be taken from her. She said she 'by no means' thinks Mulroney is racist but that she is acutely aware of her white privilege. 'I'm by no means calling Jess a racist, but she is very well aware of her wealth, her perceived power and privilege because of the color of her skin. Mulroney was a fashion contributor on the wildly popular morning show. She is seen with host Robin Roberts Mulroney, on June 1, posted this video saying she'd been told by 'someone dear' to her that being silent wasn't enough. She shared it from Stassi Schoeder's account. Schroeder has been fired from Bravo over racially charged comments she made in the past After Exeter shared details of their feud, Mulroney posted this public comment saying she'd been wrong but that she had 'personal experience with' her 'closest friend where race was front and centre' Exeter says she privately received this private message from Mulroney after the public apology 'And that my friends, gave her the momentary confidence to come for my livelihood in writing. Textbook white privilege really.' Exeter returned to Instagram on Thursday to say she felt threatened Mulroney has been slammed by her friend and fellow TV presenter Tracy Moore, who is black. She said Jessica had 'used her extreme privilege to potentially bury a Black sister'. 'I am a friend. I am also a Black woman. The emotional labor often falls on our backs to speak up, push through and fight hard,' Moore said. 'Lets unlearn lashing out at Black women as a legitimate response to feeling called out.' CTV axed her, saying: 'Bell Media and CTV encourages our entire team including on-air talent to practice respect, inclusivity and allyship as we pledge to work better and more openly to listen to and amplify black voices, and not minimize them. 'Because recent conduct by one of our shows hosts, Jessica Mulroney, conflicts with our commitment to diversity and equality, CTV has removed I DO REDO from all Bell Media channels and platforms effective immediately.' Hours later, Canadian department store Hudson's Bay announced on Instagram that 'in light of recent events' they too would be distancing themselves from Mulroney, firing her as their fashion and bridal specialist. Mulroney was last night dropped by CTV and Hudson's Bay after Exeter shared their argument A hair and make-up team that Mulroney also worked with cut ties with her on Thursday saying 'Over the past week Hudson's Bay has committed to doing better,' the statement read. 'For her to threaten me? 'A single mother, a single black mother, during a racial pandemic? Blows my mind, it is absolutely unbelievable.... what could this mean for my career? Sasha Exeter 'As we move forward, our leadership associates and ambassadors must reflect our brand inclusivity, equality and respect for all. 'We will not tolerate anything less.' Exeter suggested that Mulroney felt 'sharing that this really wasn't a problem that she wanted to share on her social channels', used 'excuses that she would be bullied by the public and media', and 'claimed her show was more important to promote.' Revealing the 'threatening' message, Exeter said: 'I'm still shaking my head at this attempt and the audacity she had. 'Not only is Mulroney very well aware of her white privilege but just like her fellow Canadian Amy Cooper, she spewed out that threat so effortlessly,' she said. Cooper was the woman who called police on a black birdwatcher in Central Park in a video which was widely shared last month. Exeter continued: 'But I think what makes this situation really horrendous is the threat or claim she was going ahead to speak to brands or companies that I potentially haven't worked with or could possibly work with. That is a threat. That's a threat to my livelihood.' Mulroney then returned to Instagram on Thursday night to post another apology Mulroney on Thursday announced that she'd be stepping back from all engagements Meghan Markle, on June 4, gave an emotional video address about George Floyd's death and the racism row it has caused to her old school in Los Angeles MULRONEY DELETES SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS TO STASSI SCHROEDER by Daniel Bates Both recently axed for making racist claims, Jessica Mulroney and reality star Stassi Schroeder appear to be the best of friends, with Mulroney telling the Vanderpump Rules star: 'Love you girl'. Mulroney, who is the stylist best friend of Meghan Markle, made the comment to Schroeder in November last year on social media. But Mulroney appeared to try to distance herself and deleted the post right after Schroeder was terminated by the show Vanderpump Rules this week. The cleanup operation came as Mulroney became embroiled in a racism row of her own after black influencer Sasha Exeter claimed Mulroney threatened her career for asking that she speak out in support of Black Lives Matter. Jessica Mulroney told reality star friend Stassi Schroeder: 'Love you, girl' on Instagram before Schroeder was fired from Vanderpump Rules for racism And on Thursday, Mulroney was met with same fate as Schroeder and was fired as a bridal marketing specialist and had her reality TV show canceled for her comments to Exeter. On Friday ABC followed suit and fired Mulroney as a Good Morning America fashion contributor and beauty company Fancy Face Inc. also cut ties with her. DailyMail.com understands that the two women are such good friends that Mulroney was working on Schroeder's dress for her upcoming wedding to her fiance Beau. Mulroney's now-deleted post to Schroeder was on November 22 last year. It read: 'When work takes you away from meeting your pretend best friend @stassischroeder (three laughing emojis). Love you girl. Also Jessica is what my mum calls me when she's mad at me'. In another post on May 1 this year Mulroney wrote that Schroeder was 'gorgeous. Love you', but the comment is no longer visible at the top of the comments on Instagram. Schroeder posted the makeup free selfie with 'roots out, psoriasis covered face' as she put it. Among those who commented was Tamra Judge who wrote: 'Still beautiful'. Mulroney wrote: 'But still the most gorgeous. Love you'. DailyMail.com has reached out to Mulroney and Schroeder for comment Schroeder and Kristen Doute were fired by Bravo, which airs Vanderpump Rules, after former cast mate Faith Stowers claimed they reported her for a crime she didn't commit. Stowers said: 'There was this article on the Daily Mail where there was an African American lady. 'It was a weird photo, so she looked very light-skinned and had these different, weird tattoos. They showcased her, and I guess this woman was robbing people. And they called the cops and said it was me. This is like, a true story'. Schroeder later apologized and said that 'what I did to Faith was wrong' . Advertisement 'For her to threaten me? 'A single mother, a single black mother, during a racial pandemic? Blows my mind, it is absolutely unbelievable.' Exeter continued to say that she felt Mulroney 'realised she had screwed up big time' and 'that resulted in a lot of back pedaling'. Meanwhile the influencer said: 'Amidst all this craziness, I remained paralysed with fear. 'I stayed up days and nights wondering what could she be saying to my existing brand partners, potential work, potential livelihood. What could this mean for my career? 'I spoke to my parents, who were legitimately stressed and worried about how this would affect me if I stood up for myself.' Exeter said that the 'only take away is this sh** needs to stop right now....You cannot be posting that you stand in solidarity, while attempting to silence somebody via text.' In a comment posted on the video clip, Mulroney said she was 'unequivocally sorry', adding that being Meghan's 'closest friend' has 'deeply educated' her about race. 'As I told you privately, I have lived a very public and personal experience with my closest friend where race was front and centre. It was deeply educational,' Mulroney responded. She posted another apology to Exeter Thursday, this time on her own Instagram page, insisting the former athlete had 'rightfully called me out for not doing enough when it came to engaging in the important and difficult conversation around race and injustice in our society. 'I took it personally and that was wrong. I know I need to do better,' she continued. 'I want to say from my heart that every more of my apologies to Sasha over the course of the last two weeks privately, and again both publicly and privately today is true. 'I did not intend in any way to jeopardize her livelihood ... for that I am sorry,' she said. Last week Mulroney said she was taking a break from social media, after revealing that 'someone dear to her told her to stand up to racism'. Mulroney, who lives in Toronto with husband Ben Mulroney, 44, twins John and Brian, 9, and 7-year-old Ivy, took to Instagram to reveal she was 'taking a week off to educate herself'. The Canadian stylist has previously slammed 'racist bullies' when she appeared to reference the trolling Meghan was suffering. Mulroney's reality show, I Do, Redo, premiered on CTV at the end of March and was also released internationally on Netflix. The series followed Jessica as she helped couples move on from their disastrous weddings by giving them the nuptials they've 'always dreamed of.' Instagram influencer Ashley Stock has shared a heartbreaking image of her family crying at her daughter Stevie's funeral after she passed away aged three. Stevie Lynn Stock was diagnosed with a ver rare brain tumour in April, which has a 0% survival rate, and died just six weeks after the mass was discovered. The family have been left devastated by their loss and Stevie's mother Ashley has documented her grief on social media, including her daughter's funeral. The social media star, 35, shared a selection of images on her page, including a harrowing photograph of her sons crying and holding the little girl's coffin. Ashley shared the images on her platform, while posting a touching tribute to her late daughter including lyrics from It's Quiet Uptown from Broadway musical Hamilton, which read: 'There are moments that the words don't reach. There is suffering too terrible to name. You hold your child as tight as you can. 'And push away the unimaginable. The moments when you're in so deep. It feels easier to just swim down. They move uptown. And learn to live with the unimaginable. Sad: Stevie Lynn Stock was diagnosed with a ver rare brain tumour in April, which has a 0% survival rate, and died just six weeks after the mass was discovered 'If I could spare (her) life. If I could trade (her) life for mine. She'd be standing here right now. 'And you would smile, and that would be enough. I don't pretend to know. The challenges we're facing. I know there's no replacing what we've lost. 'And you need time. But I'm not afraid I know who I married. Just let me stay here by your side. That would be enough.' Ashley previously said that she initially brought Stevie to the hospital after noticing her 'rapidly declining motor function.' Tragic news: Ashley, shared the devastating news with fans on social media last month, and revealed she was there when Stevie took her final breath Ashley, shared the devastating news with fans on social media last month, and revealed she was there when Stevie took her final breath. 'Stevie Lynn Stock. 3 years old. Seed Planter. Miracle Maker. Light Giver. Heart Healer. Blue eyed, dimpled smile, curly haired forever baby girl. Adored little sister, daughter and friend,' Ashley began on her social media. 'At 1:05pm on May 27th, Stevie took her final breath in our arms. There have been many miracles and countless God moments that I'll put into words when my heart has strength.' 'For now, I'm overwhelmed with relief that she's at peace but I'm also feeling crushed by a pain so intense i can't put it into words. I let it out a bit at a time.' Upsetting: Stevie was diagnosed just six weeks ago after Ashley took her to the doctor when she noticed her little girl's motor function was declining. Stevie is pictured here with a pal Sharing: Ashley has continued to be incredibly brave, raw and candid with her fans throughout the entire ordeal What is Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) 'Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) are highly aggressive and difficult to treat brain tumors found at the base of the brain. They are glial tumors, meaning they arise from the brain's glial tissue tissue made up of cells that help support and protect the brain's neurons. These tumors are found in an area of the brainstem (the lowest, stem-like part of the brain) called the pons, which controls many of the body's most vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate. Approximately 300 children are diagnosed with DIPGs each year, usually between the ages of 5 and 9' - Boston Children's Hospital Advertisement Ashley continued to explain she wasn't letting herself let all her emotions out and if she did she 'didn't know how she could survive.' 'Gentleness has been my most effective approach on grief these last months, gentleness for myself and for all the beloved mourners by my side.' 'We have complete faith in there being a greater purpose of this tragedy (and it's already unfolding through your stories of renewed hope), but unfortunately, faith is not a 'get out of pain free' card, and that's okay.' She ended the caption: 'I don't know how to do this, so for now we'll continue one day at a time held by the grace of God, the support of loved ones and the prayers of strangers who have become friends.' Ashley accompanied the devastating message with a sweet photo of Stevie holding a crystal star. She also added a video of the toddler playing with her puppy just days before her death. The California resident shared Stevie's diagnosis with fans on April 12, after rushing her to the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. 'Last night our almost three year old daughter, Stevie was admitted to the hospital due to rapidly declining motor function,' she shared at the time. The real-time post saw Ashley explain that doctor's had found a large mass on her brain but knew nothing else. Toddler: Stevie celebrated her third birthday a week before her passing Turn for the worst: Ashley took Stevie to the hospital on April 12 after noticing she had a 'rapid decline in motor function' 'A level of soul crushing I can't put into words': Ashley has said the process has been made even harder amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Meaning only one parent has been allowed to be with Stevie while she was in the hospital While waiting for answers, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashley called not being able to be in the hospital with her husband 'a level of soul crushing she couldn't put into words.' Two days later, Stevie was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) - a rare form of cancer that has a 0% survival rate. Reports show the median survival time is just nine months from diagnosis. 'We are shattered. Broken. Gutted. Somehow my body continues to produce tears and ugly crying has become my only release,' she penned on April 14. Family: While resting at home, Stevie has been surrounded by love from all family members and pets. Pictured with her elder brothers, Wesley, 10, and Sawyer, seven 'We will be spending the rest of the week in the hospital to discuss treatments that will make the rest of her life more comfortable. Then we will be headed home where she can be comfortable with her brothers and puppies and we can cherish our sweet girl and heal as a family.' She ended the heartfelt message with: 'But for now we surrender. We surrender to her prognosis and that which we can't control. We give her the best of everything she needs to be happy and pain free and we teach ourselves and our children how to make these final memories happy ones, ones we can hold onto and cherish, memories that make us smile even if we're smiling through tears.' Candid: Ashley is known for sharing the good and the bad times in her life with fans online Ashley and Ben are also the parents to sons, Wesley, 10, and Sawyer, seven. A recent photo saw the young boys lie down and watch their sister sleeping. The blogger also thanked her mom earlier in the week for coming to support her during this horrific time. 'Having her here has given me permission to break open in ways that only a mother can pull out of you. Her comfort, the way she makes sandwiches, her familiar smell and her soft back scratching have always been a comfort to my aching soul,' she wrote. 'This video is from a couple days ago, Stevie saving a rare lucid moment to welcome her grandmashe had been waiting for her. Today, Stevie is non responsive but still breathing. We are huddling close to her and filling her with endless love and affirmations that she is cherished, that she will be at peace, that she will be pain free, that we will miss her but we will celebrate her every day for the rest of our lives until we are with her again.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 07:09:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PYONGYANG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Ri Son Gwon, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), criticized the U.S. policy toward Pyongyang on Friday, saying his country will build up more reliable force to cope with the long-term military threats from Washington. Ri made the remarks on the two-year anniversary of the first DPRK-U.S. summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018, during which the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump signed a joint statement. In the joint statement, Trump committed to providing security guarantees to the DPRK, while Kim reaffirmed his commitment to completing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. "What stands out is that the hope for improved DPRK-U.S. relations -- which was high in the air under the global spotlight two years ago -- has now been shifted into despair characterized by spiraling deterioration and that even a slim ray of optimism for peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula has faded away into a dark nightmare," Ri was quoted by the DPRK's state media Korean Central News Agency as saying. Enditem False assertions are prevalent in society leaving people uncertain of whom and what to trust. Counterfeit products and false claims are far too commonplace and perpetually flood the market. Examples include counterfeit drugs/fentanyl-laced prescriptions, false or misleading food labels, and the range of credentials provided to others as part of our daily lives passports, qualifications and so on. Challenges remain within legacy trust systems, as businesses and consumers demand an immutable source of truth and verification. "In today's global, interconnected economy, there is a growing trust deficit felt by businesses and consumers," said, Dan Purtell, BSI Group Innovation Director To help combat false claims, BSI partnered with Trace Labs in early 2019 and has since used technology based on the OriginTrail Decentralized Network (ODN) in three pilot projects. This allowed BSI to provide a suite of solutions that serve as instruments of trust for its clients, enhancing the resilience of its brands. Using DLT technology as a single source of truth, they aim to provide clients with the ability to demonstrate to their customers the authenticity of their claims, be it certifications, product authenticity, or traceability. BSI and Trace Labs are continuing to develop new solutions beyond the three pilot projects. The aim of the partnership is to help clients: Comply with regulation and standards; Meet client expectations concerning products features and claims (safety, quality, and other attributes); Manage business risk and product quality and reduce the cost of non-conformity; Be able to effectively manage product recalls with near-real-time corrective action; and Extract more value out of data already generated in global supply chains. As per the announcement made in January 2019, Howard Kerr, Chief Executive of BSI, stated: "In today's increasingly interconnected world, transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain is vital. This strategic partnership aims to provide our clients with the ability to demonstrate the authenticity of their compliance through the digital records of the assessments and certifications they have achieved from BSI. Ultimately building trust and confidence as consumers and business partners can easily verify the provenance of the goods and/or services they are buying." The BSI has now launched a series of blockchain-based solutions developed together with Trace Labs and published a white paper detailing three applications designed to provide organizations and individuals with secure and trusted means of verifying the authenticity of claimed personal credentials as well as company and product certifications. Jurij Skornik, General Manager of Trace Labs, said: "We have been working closely with our partners at BSI for the past year to enhance their world-class assurance services with our state-of-the-art trust-enhancing technology. The results are three applications that help individuals and companies demonstrate and verify the authenticity of issued credentials, the importance of which has been made indisputably clear in the COVID-19 world. We are looking forward to continuing our cooperation with BSI and developing new solutions that infuse trust into businesses around the world." One of the introduced solutions is the Supplier Compliance Audit Network (SCAN) Trusted Factory Blockchain Program designed for US importers to ensure the authenticity of a factory's certification and factory credentials. SCAN is an association of importers that was formed to eliminate foreign factory audit fatigue associated with supply chain security importing criteria within the US Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program (CTPAT). SCAN importing members have combined annual sales of USD 1.25 trillion and source from factories around the world. More than 50 percent of these factories are shared by multiple SCAN members, which, prior to SCAN, would have resulted in the facilities having regular audits by independent importers. Today, SCAN has more than 18,000 factories in the SCAN database and the program's popularity has grown internationally, with several hundred audits conducted monthly. The solution secures permissioned audit data and factory credentials on the ODN, based on the public Ethereum blockchain, and makes them accessible to SCAN members and interested government agencies such as CTPAT for viewing. The implementation utilizes the global W3C Verifiable Credentials data model to ensure interoperability and compatibility with novel frameworks such as the Self Sovereign Identity (SSI) framework. Speaking about the BSI white paper, Ken McElroy, Mgr. Global Trade Risk Home Depot noted: "As a Tier III CTPAT business partner The Home Depot continually strives for improvements in its supply chain security platform. Membership in SCAN has delivered both an effective platform as well as cost savings through the use of shared audits. Adding a secured blockchain element over the top of the SCAN audit only increases the security and integrity of these audits! With the intention of this level of integrity and security leading to a "trusted factory" program with the various regulatory agencies further costs should be driven out of the supply chain." About BSI BSI is the business improvement company that enables organizations to turn standards of best practice into habits of excellence. For over a century, BSI has championed what good looks like and driven best practices in organizations around the world. Working with over 86,000 clients across 193 countries, it is a truly international business with skills and experience across a number of sectors including aerospace, automotive, built environment, food, and healthcare. Through its expertise in standards development and knowledge solutions, assurance, and professional services, BSI improves business performance to help clients grow sustainably, manage risk, and ultimately be more resilient. To learn more, please visit: www.bsigroup.com About Trace Labs Trace Labs is a blockchain company developing enterprise solutions for trusted data exchange across the supply chain. Their solutions enable forward-thinking organizations to gain the most knowledge and make better decisions based on interconnected data from their supply chains. Trace Labs is also the core development company of the open-source OriginTrail protocol for blockchain-based data exchange. Founded in 2013, Trace Labs has built award-winning enterprise solutions for supply chains, including those for traceability and verifiable claims. In 2017, Trace Labs received an award from the Walmart Food Safety Collaboration Center. Trace Labs believes sustainable supply chains are only possible when all organizations, big or small, are allowed to benefit from trusted data exchanges. For more information about Trace Labs, please visit: tracelabs.io For more information about OriginTrail, please visit: origintrail.io About SCAN SCAN is an industry trade association that provides a systematic approach whereby mutually acceptable global compliance standards are achieved in reducing audit and operational redundancy for common supply chain stakeholders while maintaining confidentiality. This collaboration led to the creation of a single agreed-upon security audit and sharing platform that would allow importers to conduct and evaluate shared CTPAT compliant supplier and factory security audits. Both US Customs and the CTPAT organization have been introduced to SCAN and have acknowledged the potential benefits of the program. For more information about SCAN, please visit: https://www.scanassociation.com About CTPAT CTPAT is but one layer in the US Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) multi-layered cargo enforcement strategy. Through this program, CBP works with the trade community to strengthen international supply chains and improve United States border security. CTPAT is a voluntary public-private sector partnership program which recognizes that CBP can provide the highest level of cargo security only through close cooperation with the principal stakeholders of the international supply chain such as importers, carriers, consolidators, licensed customs brokers, and manufacturers. From its inception in November 2001, CTPAT has continued to grow. Today, more than 11,400 certified partners spanning the gamut of the trade community have been accepted into the program. The partners include US importers/exporters; US/Canada highway carriers; US/Mexico highway carriers; rail and sea carriers; licensed US Customs brokers; US marine port authority/terminal operators; US freight consolidators; ocean transportation intermediaries and nonoperating common carriers; Mexican and Canadian manufacturers; and Mexican longhaul carriers. All of whom account for more than 52 percent (by value) of cargo imported into the US. For more information about CTPAT, please visit: https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/cargo-security/ctpat Sources BSI Innovations insight, Issue one (June 2020) Instruments of Trust: BSI's Blockchain-Based Solutions: https://content.yudu.com/web/43fqt/0A43yjx/InnovatInsightsMay20/html/index.html https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/Innovation/innovation-insights/ OriginTrail partners with BSI to develop blockchain-enabled solutions (January 2019): https://medium.com/origintrail/origintrail-partners-with-bsi-to-develop-blockchain-enabled-solutions-d955a54d3371 BSI partners with OriginTrail to develop blockchain-enabled solutions (January 2019): https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/about-bsi/media-centre/press-releases/2019/january/bsi-partners-with-origintrail-to-develop-blockchain-enabled-solutions/ SOURCE Trace Labs Ltd. Ancient DNA documents the population changes of foragers, herders and farmers in central and eastern Africa from the Neolithic to the Iron Age In order to reveal the population interactions that gave rise to Africa's enormous linguistic, cultural, and economic diversity, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from Africa, Europe, and North America sampled key regions in which current models predict a legacy of significant population interactions. The collaborative study between researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (MPI-SHH), the National Museums of Kenya and other partners was led by archaeogeneticist Ke Wang and archaeologist Steven Goldstein of MPI-SHH. It sheds light on patterns of population change as food production spread throughout sub-Saharan Africa. A Complex Mosaic of Interactions While the spread of food production led to the gradual replacement of local foragers in most parts of the world, foraging lifeways have persisted in several regions of contemporary Africa among populations such as the San in the south, the Hazda in the east and the Mbuti of the central African rainforest. However, the present study shows that, thousands of years ago, the ancestors of these groups once formed an overlapping genetic cline that stretched across much of eastern and southern Africa. "Restricted gene flow between regional forager groups in contemporary eastern, southern, and central Africa, whether due to climactic and environmental factors or as a result of encapsulation by food producing groups, has likely contributed substantially to the spatial genetic structure we can see across the continent today," says Ke Wang. "We are still at a point where we learn a lot from every individual," Steven Goldstein adds, "the interactions between hunter-gatherers, pastoralists, and farmers were more complex even into recent centuries than we previously understood." To better understand these interactions and their impact on subsistence strategies, the researchers focused their investigations on key groups and regions previously identified as significant contributors to changes in food production: eastern and southern forager groups, eastern African Pastoral Neolithic and Iron Age groups, and Iron Age groups related to present-day Bantu speakers. Mixture and migration during the Pastoral Neolithic Genomic analysis of the six individuals here reported from Kenya's Pastoral Neolithic period (between 4,500 and 1,200 years ago) revealed greater ancestral complexity than previously reported individuals from the same region, supporting previous studies that have proposed early herders migrated south along multiple simultaneous but geographically distinct routes. "In such a scenario," Dr. Emmanuel Ndiema of the National Museums of Kenya explains, "a single base population in northern Africa may have branched into many as some herding groups moved along the Nile corridor, some through southern Ethiopia, and possibly some through eastern Uganda." Along the way, migrating pastoralists would have encountered different populations and formed varying inter-community relationships, ultimately resulting in varying integration of diverse ancestries. This model may explain why archaeologists observe stark differences in material culture, settlement strategies and burial traditions between Pastoral Neolithic populations whose ancestries are in fact closely related. The Iron Age and the Bantu Expansion Some of the most exciting findings come from the site of Kakapel Rockshelter in western Kenya, where the National Museums of Kenya and the MPI-SHH have teamed up to investigate early farming in the region. At Kakapel, two individuals dated to roughly 300 and 900 years ago show significant increases in ancestry related to people speaking Nilotic languages today, such as the Dinka from South Sudan, compared to previously published genomes from the Central Rift Valley. This suggests that genetic turnover must have been region-specific and could have involved multiple divergent migrations. Genomic analysis revealed that the 900-year-old individual had close affinity with Dinka populations, but also showed influence from West-Eurasian or North-African groups, suggesting that the population that this individual represents formed between Pastoral Neolithic-related herders and incoming Nilotic (Nile Valley) agropastoralists - not from a major migration of groups with western African ancestries. Similar evidence is detected from Botswana, where analysis detected the first archaeogenetic support for the hypotheses that herders from eastern Africa spread to southern Africa before the arrival of Bantu-speaking farmers. Despite raising questions about the uniformity of the Bantu Expansion, the current study documents the arrival of people with Bantu-related ancestry in Botswana during the first millennium CE and their subsequent admixture with eastern African pastoralist and southern African forager populations. "We identified Bantu-related ancestry in Uganda, western Congo, Tanzania and Kenya, which is consistent with the well-documented genetic homogenization caused by the Bantu expansion," says Stephan Schiffels of the MPI-SHH, "but we also see highly variable patterns of Bantu admixture with regional forager and pastoralist populations in southern Africa." "While supraregional studies can help reveal population interactions on a continental scale," says Schiffels, "we want to emphasize the importance of regionally focused studies to better understand local patterns of cultural and population changes in the future." ### The former Deputy Governor opf Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere has congratulated Nigerians on the occasion of twenty years of Democratic governance. Prince Madumeres thoughts were expressed in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Onwuchekwa. The Ex deputy Governor salutes President Mohammadu Buhari for having shown he is a democrat, while observing that this years celebration is marred by the ravaging covid 19 pandemic. He insisted that the worst democratic rule is still better than the best military rule. He however observed that Nigeria has made some progress but was quick to say that it is at a snail speed. Prince Madumere believed that Democracy has further given room for participatory government where the people directly or indirectly participate in the process of governance. He further called on politicians to be conscious of the fact that the people are the sovereign in democracy, reminding them to seek to know the minds and pulse of the people they govern. On electoral system, the former deputy governor observed that Nigerias electoral system is marred with a lot of misgivings with failure of everything that have been put in place for conduct of free and fair elections. The statement reads parts: As Nigeria celebrates her 21stDemocracy Day, His Excellency, former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere heartily salute Nigerians. The efforts of our heroes' past have not been in vain and of course, Prince Madumere salutes everyone who made one sacrifice or the other towards achieving democratic governance in Nigeria. All hope is not lost as we have continued to live together despite the daunting challenges that have continued to threaten the country as one indivisible entity. The former Deputy Governor will not fail to congratulate President Mohammadu Buhari for having conducted himself as a true democrat and indeed as a servant-leader. Our Presidents courage to calm frayed nerves of Nigerians who fought so hard to enthrone democratic governance, must be commended. Recognising June 12 as Democracy Day in memory of Late Chief Moshood Abiola was a bold step indeed. It is a truism that most things are not right ranging from high levels of insecurity with Boko Haram terrorists, Bandits and other criminal elements running amok, maiming and snuffing out lives at will, we must be able to continue to strive to resolve these problems that have become endemic. One of the vital features of democracy is periodic election, whereby no one can continue to be in power beyond the constitutional period. It is either you are booted out for failure or you get re-elected. It is painful to observe that such a feature like periodic election has not been rightly optimized by the electorate because of misnomer in Nigerias electoral system, where criminals in the broad daylight hound electoral officials, write results and they are declared winners of elections they lost. Since the protests in the wake of George Floyds death began, several stories of South Asian Americans speaking out in support of the protests have gone viral on social media. After their business was damaged by fire during the unrest in Minneapolis on May 29, the owners of the Indian-Bangladeshi restaurant Gandhi Mahal spoke out against police brutality in a widely shared Facebook post written by owner Ruhel Islams 18-year-old daughter, Hafsa. As I am sitting next to my dad watching the news, I hear him say on the phone; let my building burn, Hafsa wrote. Justice needs to be served, put those officers in jail. Just a few days later, videos circulated online of Washington, D.C.-based entrepreneur Rahul Dubey, who opened his home to dozens of protestors as they faced police tear gas and rubber bullets. "I don't think there was even a choice in what I did, to be honest," Dubey told NBC Washington. Its the same that you would if it's a storm, and you would have let anyone into your home, I know that." While Dubey and Islam made for sharable stories, many South Asian American activists say that the roots of activism in the community go much deeper and that community members should be doing more to embrace those connections. Thahitun Mariam, 29, has been a community organizer in New York Citys Bangladeshi American community since she was a teen. She noted that in interviews, Ruhel Islam often alluded to the long history of protests and activism in Bangladesh as the country fought for independence in the 1960s and 70s. Thahitun Mariam co-founded the Bronx Mutual Aid Network amid the coronavirus pandemic and has recently been encouraging volunteers to protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. (Courtesy Thahitun Mariam / Bronx Mutual Aid Network) There is solidarity in activism, Mariam, who recently co-founded the Bronx Mutual Aid Network as a way to support her neighbors during the pandemic, told NBC Asian America. Building solidarity also means being aware of the societal and institutional issues that exist and examining how we work to uplift one another. While the Bronx Mutual Aid Network was specifically created to address food insecurity in the borough, Mariam said it was also important for them to join Black Lives Matter protesters in the Bronx two weeks ago. Story continues I think when it comes to activism and solidarity especially in the context of liberation I think that my parents and our elderly generation of folks in our diaspora grew up knowing that we need to be fighting for something, she said. Artist and educator Prinita Thevarajah was thinking of ways she could foster conversations in the South Asian community about the current protests against police brutality and racism when she decided to call her mother to talk about what was happening. Artist and educator Prinita Thevarajah is translating words about racism and injustice into South Asian languages, such as Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Urdu, so that the South Asian American community can better discuss these issues in their communities. (Prinita Thevarajah) Thevarajahs friend, artist Steph Lau, had recently launched a project that translated critical civil rights terms into Cantonese, which led her to wonder if a similar list of words in Tamil would be useful. Me and my amma just sort of listed all of the words we struggle to find language for but that we needed to communicate the issues, said Thevarajah, a Brooklyn resident originally from Australia. As she and her mother began discussing how to translate phrases like Black Lives Matter, segregation and privilege into their native Tamil, Thevarajah realized how necessary such a list was for the South Asian community. After recruiting friends and fellow artists to help, the South Asian Language Translations project was born. Thevarajah realized that focusing on language and translation was a reasonable way to begin those conversations.Her translation project consists of a series of cards featuring civil rights-related terms in eight South Asian languages that are meant to spark conversation about the history of racism and segregation in the United States. While discussing what to put on the cards, Thevarajah also realized just how ingrained concepts like colorism are woven into everyday vocabulary. It has been interesting to see how embedded it is and to think of language as something that is fluid and something that can be reshaped and recreated, said Thevarajah. Each set of cards went through several rounds of edits to ensure that all of the translations were inclusive. In addition to the vocabulary limits is also the fact that many South Asians do not realize how closely African American history is linked to their own, said Raju Rajagopal, co-founder of the advocacy group Hindus for Human Rights. In particular, Rajagopal said he wished more Hindu Americans, the majority of whom came to the United States after the passage of the 1965 Immigration Act, realized how instrumental African Americans were in changing U.S. immigration policy . We just endorsed this statement in solidarity with #BlackLivesMattter drafted by our friends at @GIPAlliance. Pl consider doing the same individually and as an organization. Much more to be done. @aidindia @Hindus4HR @india_diaspora @DMVBlackLives https://t.co/XWoVhnzsir Hindus for Human Rights (@Hindus4HR) June 8, 2020 We have been walking in the footsteps of the civil rights movement, but many of us dont seem to recognize what it is that made us prosper in this country, Rajagopal said. What is happening today is a clear reminder that we need to speak up for those who paved the way for us in many ways. That is why Rajagopal is currently working on ways for Hindus for Human Rights, which was originally founded as a way for Hindu Americans to speak out against human rights abuses in India, to do the same in the United States. In some ways talking about what is happening in India is obvious. We all grew up in India and we all owe a great deal to our home country, Rajagopal said of the groups members. I think we owe the same thing to our country here in the United States. Those sentiments were echoed by Sikh Coalition executive director Satjeet Kaur, who said that she has been thinking of the protests from the perspective of both an activist and a new mother. Kaur recently took her daughter to her first protest on her eight-month birthday. Sikh Americans join a recent Black Lives Matter rally in Easton, Pa., on June 7, 2020. (Michael Kubel Photography) Weve seen South Asians out protesting and asking how they can get involved, Kaur said. There have been conversations about how to mobilize resources. For many Sikhs in particular, supporting protesters and those in need is an integral part of their faith. The concept of seva, or selfless service is one of the central parts of the faith, Kaur added, so Sikhs across the country have been seen at protests and gatherings feeding people and offering support. Community members across the country are finding ways not just to participate in the protests, but to also find ways to do what they do best, which is the service angle that is so inherent in Sikhism, she said. Many Sikh Americans are also having conversations about their experiences as immigrants in relation to American history. We owe a lot to the Black community and that is part of the education process that we need to have, as well as recognizing the civil rights that we are continuing to fight for, Kaur said. It is all part of a larger fight that the Black community has absolutely paved the way for. Thevarajah recalled having similar talks growing up with her family, who moved to Australia in the 1980s as refugees during the Sri Lankan civil war. My parents have always been advocates for Tamil liberation and we have our own social justice fight that we are fighting daily, she said. They are always encouraging me to learn how our struggles are connected and how our struggles are parallel. But despite those ties, Thevarajah acknowledges that breaking the ice and ultimately having these conversations can still be difficult. Thats why she hopes tools like her translation cards will help. I think the most important thing is to be patient and be loving with it. It is easy to shame our families for feeling bad, she said. But I would bring it up in a very casual, informal way around the dinner table or if you are watching the news together. This kind of work doesnt happen overnight. Follow NBC Asian America on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. President Trump speaks during a roundtable discussion at Gateway Church in Dallas on Thursday. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) After Randall Ritnour, a lifelong Republican in Lincoln, Neb., attacked President Trump in a video, his own brother denounced him. Ryan Rapier, a Republican in Thatcher, Ariz., who announced he would vote for Joe Biden, worried it could cost him his seat on the City Council. When Jennifer Horn, former chair of the New Hampshire Republican Party, was photographed with Biden, a GOP committee rescinded a special service award it had given her. Its never been easy to be an anti-Trump Republican, and even now, as the president endures a dark political hour, its no easier. Trumps standing in nearly all public polls is eroding. He has inflamed racial tensions in the wake of the George Floyd killing. Hes endured unprecedented criticism from former military leaders. Yet Trumps grip on the Republican Party remains so strong that only a handful of GOP elected officials have publicly criticized him, fearful of bringing down the wrath of the president or his supporters. After each controversial episode the use of force against mostly peaceful protesters in a park in front of the White House to allow Trump to stage a photo opportunity, then his tweets promoting the groundless claim that a 75-year-old Buffalo protester pushed to the ground by police officers and left to bleed was a left-wing provocateur who faked being shoved television cameras in the Capitol have captured a parade of Senate Republicans walking by and refusing to comment. There is no political incentive for elected Republicans to leave his side, said Brendan Buck, a former aide to House Speaker Paul Ryan, who had an uneasy relationship with Trump before retiring from Congress in 2019. Members of Congress are not afraid of Trump; they are afraid of their voters and constituents," said Buck. "As long as he has a stranglehold on them and is able to communicate directly with them, this is not going to change. There have been some exceptions, but the tiny headcount of those in opposition is an emblem of how completely Trump has taken over the Republican Party and, some fear, may leave it in a shambles if he loses in 2020. Story continues "He's got us on the wrong side of every emerging demographic," said one senior Republican in Congress who asked not to be named discussing anxieties about Trump. "Donald Trump doesn't think long term. I care a lot about the future of the Republican Party, and it needs some serious work." Trump has held onto the support of most Republicans so far in part because he has delivered tax cuts, deregulation and other traditional GOP priorities, and they are loathe to cede power to an increasingly left-leaning Democratic Party. A poll earlier this month by Monmouth University that found Biden leading Trump 52% to 41% also found that 93% of Republicans said they would vote for Trump and 84% viewed him favorably. The cornerstone of Trump's reelection campaign is to focus more on mobilizing his base than expanding his appeal. He is leading a historically united party, said Tim Murtaugh, Trumps campaign spokesman. Still, some of his supporters acknowledge that Trump's prospects have been abruptly upended by the pandemic-induced economic and health crises, and by the wave of protest following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. When former House Speaker Newt Gingrich finished the first draft of a book about Trump in February, he said, the tone was "triumphalist. He has since had to rewrite it. Boom, everything blew up, he said. Its very hard for Trump to win a Trump-versus-Biden personality campaign," said Gingrich, who is urging Republicans to reframe 2020 as a choice between Trump and a radical, anarchic opposition party. Helping squelch GOP dissenters is the high political mortality rate among past Trump critics: Rep. Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Bob Corker of Tennessee were all defeated or driven into retirement. The Republicans that have spoken out against the president have faced severe electoral consequences, said Sanford, who lost his House seat after Trump backed his primary opponent in 2018. Those who have dared criticize Trump are mostly unelected or retired Republicans or elected officials with an especially secure political base. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) last week welcomed an extraordinary critique of Trump by former Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, and said she was struggling over whether to vote for Trump in 2020. Trump, in a tweet, promised to campaign against her when she is up for reelection in 2022. But Murkowski could shrug off the threat because she has a strong Alaska brand her father was a long-serving senator and governor and a distinctive political base: She was elected in 2010 as a write-in candidate after losing the GOP primary to a tea party challenger; she won the GOP nomination in a landslide in 2016. Another Republican who has repeatedly criticized Trump with impunity is Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming. She has objected to his proposed troop reductions in Germany and Syria, and his recent tweets promoting a baseless conspiracy theory about MSNBC host Joe Scarborough. Still, not an ill word about her has issued from Trump or his Twitter account. A member of the House GOP leadership, Cheney has little fear of political fallout back home, even though Trump is wildly popular in Wyoming. She benefits from a blue-chip political pedigree: She is the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who earlier represented Wyoming in the House. She is not terrified by Donald Trump, said Alan Simpson, a former GOP senator from Wyoming. She wont lose a single vote. Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah has criticized Trump's tweets, joined in a Black Lives Matter march, and was the only Republican to vote against Trump during his impeachment trial. Romney is basking in the political freedom of a 73-year-old former presidential nominee who comes from a red state where Trump is unusually unpopular. Susan Collins of Maine, one of the most vulnerable Senate Republicans facing reelection in 2020, was also among those who criticized Trump's recent photo op after protesters were cleared by force from Lafayette Square outside the White House. She deliberately stayed away from her home state when he visited last week. But, perhaps in a concession to her fragile political position in a swing state, Trump did not criticize her for it. Horn, who founded an anti-Trump political action committee called the Lincoln Project with other disaffected Republicans, bristles at the political fear of Trump gripping so many in the party. It is outrageous that so few elected Republicans have had the courage to do the right thing, she said. The group reaped a fundraising bonanza after Trump attacked it on Twitter after viewing a scathing ad. Some anti-Trump Republicans have all but given up trying to persuade elected officials to publicly join their cause. Instead, longtime Trump critics including Bill Kristol, a conservative writer, and Tim Miller, who advised former Gov. Jeb Bush's 2016 presidential campaign have started a new group, Republican Voters Against Trump, that focuses on mobilizing rank-and-file GOP voters. The group asks people to submit iPhone videos of anti-Trump testimonials, which it plans to turn into $10 million worth of digital and broadcast ads. Participants say they suffer blowback not just for opposing Trump, but even more for backing Biden. "They shake their heads, they think I'm crazy," Rintour, a former district attorney, said referring to his Republican friends. Rapier, who won his City Council seat by just seven votes, wonders if his 2020 apostasy would haunt him when he next runs for reelection in his ruby-red community. But I felt I couldnt be someone who sits back with my mouth shut and shake my head in wonder, he said. I had to say something, By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 22 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding regions. A brief look at all the news you need to start the day with during the time of social distancing. Follow live updates on COVID-19 here. Health workers wearing personal protection suits shift a COVID-19 infected person from an ambulance into the Gangaram Hospital in New Delhi. (Photo by Sanchit Khanna/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) With COVID-19 tally at 2.86 lakh, India crosses UK in numbers India has now taken the fourth spot in the list of nations worst-hit by coronavirus by surpassing the United Kingdom on the list. Read More Petrol and diesel prices hiked for sixth day in a row Petrol price on Friday was hiked by 57 paise per litre and diesel by 59 paise a litre as oil companies adjusted retail rates. Read More COVID-19 death toll: MCD accuses Delhi govt of hiding fatalities Senior leaders of the three BJP-led municipal corporations have claimed that over 2,000 Covid-19 deaths have taken place in Delhi, while the official tally stood at 1,085 as on Thursday. Read More China condemns provocative' US military flight over Taiwan China considers democratically ruled Taiwan its own territory and one of its most sensitive diplomatic issues, regularly denouncing the United States for its support of the island. Read More India ups military readiness to keep a check on muscle flexing by China While talks continue between both sides, China is yet to withdraw its soldiers, who had transgressed the disputed boundary on the bank of the Pangong Tso lake. Read More Trump faces backlash from black leaders on Tulsa rally President Trump is facing criticism for his decision to hold a campaign rally next week on Juneteenth, a holiday marking the end of US slavery, in a city known for a race massacre in 1921. Read More U for 'Ugly', says alphabet book; 2 teachers suspended in Bengal Two teachers were suspended on the charge of teaching pre-primary students from an English alphabet book consisting of a portion derogatory to the people with a dark complexion. Read More Amir and Sohail withdraw as Pakistan prepare for England tour Mohammad Amir and Haris Sohail have pulled out of the England tour citing personal reasons after the PCB confirmed the national team will travel to play a bilateral series. Read More La Liga resumes after three months break as Sevilla defeat Real Betis After the Bundesliga in Germany restarted on May 16, La Liga opened its doors again to players but not supporters at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Read More School buildings are designed to be gathering places, spaces where students and teachers are meant to learn and work in close quarters. Retrofitting them to accommodate six feet of distance between students and staff and sanitizing them at the levels that health experts recommend to guard against transmission of COVID-19 will be a massive and costly challenge for education leaders. With help from the National Council of School Facilities and Cooperative Strategies, Education Week devised a facilities checklist for school and district leaders. Many of these adjustments come with new costs. Add social-distancing signs and markers throughout the school building. Schools will need to use cones, ropes, and paint to indicate how far apart children should be standing on sidewalks and in play areas. Experts recommend that schools limit hallway movement to one way to prevent crowds, and they might need to add distance markings on the floors and walls. Schools will also need signage on social distancing in school buses. >Estimated Cost: $1,500 for districts to prepare and post signage on social distancing in their schools and buses. $100 for each school to prepare site markings on sidewalks and play areas. Reduce bottlenecks in doorways. If possible, schools should designate exit doors and entry doors, so students arent crowding the doorways. This may be difficult in self-contained classrooms with only one door. District and school leaders are confronting difficult, high-stakes decisions as they plan for how to reopen schools amid a global pandemic. Through eight installments, Education Week journalists explore the big challenges education leaders must address, including running a socially distanced school, rethinking how to get students to and from school, and making up for learning losses. We present a broad spectrum of options endorsed by public health officials, explain strategies that some districts will adopt, and provide estimated costs. Read Part 1: The Socially Distanced School Day Restrict water fountains. Students and staff should not drink directly from water fountains. Fountains should only be used for filling up water bottles. >Estimated Cost: Schools should consider providing students with water bottles so they are adequately hydrated. Add motion-sensor dispensers for soap and water in the bathrooms. This will reduce touchpoints, possibly limiting the spread of coronavirus. Touchless paper towel dispensers might be safer than hand dryers, as the hot air could spread the virus particles. >Estimated Cost: $300 per touchless faucet, $200 to outfit each toilet with touchless controls, $50 per touchless soap dispenser, and $150 per touchless paper towel dispenser. Districts might also need to upgrade their plumbing to support those installations, which would cost significantly more. Limit the number of people in bathrooms. While many elementary classrooms have adjoining bathrooms, middle and high schools typically have multi-stall bathrooms in the hallways. School leaders should determine a maximum number of students who can be in the bathroom at once, depending on how many stalls, urinals, and sinks there are. >Estimated Cost: Some schools may hire staff to monitor the bathroom doorways to ensure the maximum number of users at one time is followed. Add hand-sanitizing stations. Districts can install outdoor handwashing stations so students can wash their hands when entering and exiting the building. Schools will also rely heavily on hand sanitizer in classrooms and on buses. >Estimated Cost: 2 cents per squirt of hand sanitizer. Repurpose spaces into additional classrooms. Maintaining social distancing in already-crowded classrooms will be difficult. School leaders will have to assess every space that can be converted to a makeshift classroomincluding art rooms, cafeterias, gymnasiums, auditoriums, libraries, resource rooms, and teachers lounges. Using these spaces will allow more students to safely be in the building for in-person instruction. >Estimated Cost: $7,500 for educational facilities space planners to help reorganize space and furniture in a districts school buildings. Add outdoor classrooms, if possible. If schools dont have enough space indoors to accommodate students while maintaining social distancing, they could set up classrooms outside . This is also appealing because theres a lower risk for coronavirus transmission outdoors. >Estimated Cost: A one-time cost of $5,000 to $10,000 per classroom, depending on whether the district purchases a tent or canopy to protect students from sun and precipitation. Districts need seating for students, some sort of covering to provide shade, portable teaching supplies like white boards, and storage for supplies. Change the teachers lounge. Social distancing may be even more crucial in this space, where only adults gather. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that office buildings limit seating in common areas and encourage employees to go outside for lunch. Communal items, like coffee pots, water coolers, and bulk snacks, should also be replaced with pre-packaged, single-serve items. Install protective clear plastic shields in the front office. These shields will help prevent transmission of the virus between school employees and parents and/or students. >Estimated Cost: $1,000 per unit. Restrict playground equipment. The CDC recommends keeping the playground closed if possible, or at least staggering use and disinfecting the equipment in between. Some schools that have reopened in other countries removed balls from the playground to avoid transmission. Let fresh air circulate. Experts recommend keeping windows open to increase air circulation, which will limit the spread of the coronavirus. However, school leaders should be mindful of the weather: If its too hot, keeping the windows open could lead to students touching their faces more often to wipe off sweat. They will also need to consider safety risks to students with asthma. School and district leaders might also consider upgrading their air filter systemsa federal watchdog report estimates that 36,000 public schools need to update or replace their heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. >Estimated Cost: Major repairs for HVAC systems are estimated to cost about $3 a school building square foot, and replacements are estimated to be about $10 per building square foot. The coronavirus pandemic forced a swift collapse of the economy, but the tentative recovery beginning to take shape is likely to stretch for months, if not years, as businesses, workers and consumers try to adapt to dramatic changes in economic and social life. In a matter of months, more than 30 million Americans lost jobs, including more than 2 million in Texas and 500,000 in Houston. The pace of job losses has slowed in recent weeks as businesses have reopened, employees have returned to work and consumers have ventured from their homes, but the economys path forward remains uncertain perhaps more uncertain than it has ever been. Across every industry and employment sector, businesses face the question of not just when, but whether their customers will revert to normal behavior, or at least something resembling it. Restaurants wonder whether diners will feel comfortable entering their dining rooms retailers if consumers will feel safe again to browse. Commercial real estate firms are at risk if companies continue to keep large numbers of employees working at home and cut back on office space. Oil companies, trying to survive the second major supply glut and price crash in five years, could suffer from fewer commuters burning gasoline as well as fewer passengers booking flights to consume jet fuel. Many laid-off workers, particularly in front-line sectors such as retail, restaurants and hospitality, fear returning to work without jeopardizing their health. Employers wonder if they will. Workers are in a dilemma where, if they've been at home for some time unemployed, they are desperate to be able to go back to work, said Hany Khalil, the executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. But there are deep concerns about whether their workplaces will be safe. It all makes a slow, painful recovery likely. On Wednesday, Jerome Powell, chairman of the Federal Reserve, said the recovery will likely take years. Millions of people remain out of work and national unemployment may top 9 percent by the end of the year nearly triple the rate at the end of last year. In Houston, economists expect an even tougher time because of the regions dependence on oil and gas, which is reeling from the unprecedented plunge in demand and prices. As the energy industry goes, so, too, do the businesses and workers who provide goods and services to it. Many of jobs lost in energy and ancillary sectors, such as manufacturing, are not coming back, experts said. After the oil bust that lasted roughly from 2014 to 2016, the energy industry regained only about one-third of the tens of thousands of jobs it slashed in that downturn. The more challenging time is ahead, because some of the losses weve had are likely to last, said Peter Rodriguez, an economist and dean of the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University. The best-case scenario is a return to normal, but its unlikely. A bumpy ride to recovery Recent data have suggested the beginnings of a recovery. The nation gained 2.5 million jobs in May, according to the Labor Department, and first-time jobless claims in Texas fell last week fell below 100,000 for the first time since March. A local business index showed that the decline in economic activity in Houston began to slow in May. Early in the crisis, economists and policy makers hoped for a v-shaped recovery a sharp rebound after a sharp decline. Few expect that now. Economists doubt employers have finished slashing payrolls, believing some havent started yet. Part of it is the dynamics of a recession, which in this case began in February. Worried consumers spend less money when times are tough, and that leads to lower demand, less production and more layoffs, which further reduce consumer spending. The fear of contracting the coronavirus only intensifies the destructive cycle by keeping people at home and further depressing consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity. BAD TIMING: Class of 2020 graduates into worst job market since the Depression Meagan Giddens, a mother of three in Cypress, has underlying health conditions that put her at particularly high risk of complications if she contracts COVID-19. Her elderly parents also live with her. As a result, she has rarely ventured out in recent months, relying mostly on grocery and other deliveries. That means shes not spending money on gasoline or car maintenance. Shes not stopping at stores to buy school supplies, clothes and occasional presents for her kids. Shes not taking them out to Towne Lake Boardwalk in Cypress, where they used to shop at the farmers market and lunch in one of the many restaurants. Making sure my kids have a normal life, or a healthy life, without exposing us to unnecessary risk, is going to be a difficult challenge, said Giddens. I can't control what other people do. But I can control my kids' exposure, my exposure, my parents' exposure. Ray Perryman, an economist in Waco, forecasts the Texas economy will lose about $134 billion in economic activity and more than 860,000 net jobs this year. He estimates it could take as long as five years for the state to return to the level of business activity before the coronavirus pandemic. Oils reach The oil and gas industry faces another long, slow recovery as prices stay depressed. In Houston, the industry slashed 4,000 jobs in April alone, according to the Labor Department. DIRE PROSPECTS: Pressure builds on commercial real estate The impact of low oil prices reaches beyond the energy. Retailers, restaurants and office buildings depend on the spending of oil companies and their employees, which rises and falls with crude prices. One in every three manufacturing jobs in Houston are tied to oil gas. Local manufacturers cut more than 17,000 jobs in April; employment in the sector fell its lowest since 2017, according to the Labor Department. When the oil industry emerges from yet another bust, it is expected to get smaller and leaner. Many of the lost jobs will never return as low prices drive oil and gas companies to become even more efficient by adopting automation and technologies to control oil field activities remotely, analysts said. That means fewer workers. It will also mean fewer opportunities. Janet Miranda, who graduated in May from the University of Houston, hoped to take her marketing degree to the energy industry, but quickly found entry-level jobs were frozen, Im exploring my options, Miranda said. I still have my heart set on energy, but you dont know long the recovery will take. There may not be a lot of options. Even health care, traditionally a steadily growing sector that offset some of oils volatility, has been rocked by the pandemics economic shockwaves. In April, Houstons health care and social assistance sector experienced its first year-over-year job losses in two decades, shedding nearly 33,000 jobs, or 10 percent of employment, from April 2019. Even with high demand for hospital workers who care for COVID-19 patients, job cuts by other providers more than offset those gains as elective surgeries were canceled and patients avoided dentists offices, primary care practices and specialists. Vivian Ho, a health economist at Rice University, said those pains are likely to continue as patients will remain wary to go to doctors offices for fear of contracting the virus. And with unemployment reaching record levels, fewer patients will be able to afford routine visits and elective procedures. An estimated 1.6 million Texans have lost employer-sponsored health insurance, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health policy think tank in San Francisco. DOUBLE WHAMMY: As unemployment climbs, so does number of uninsured in Texas Its going to be a double blow, Ho said. They lost a lot of patients because of fear, and theyre going to have some really sick patients that they have to take care of who cannot pay. Never the same Other industries that provide face-to-face interactions with customers also face staggering losses from what could be a lasting shift away from shopping, eating out and experiencing products in person, economists said. Restaurants will need to figure out how to service diners afraid of sitting too close to fellow patrons. Social distancing measures by their nature will reduce volumes in an industry that survives on tight margins. Even if fear of the virus abates, the losses in income from the recession could make people less likely to spend money dining out, according to economists. Its one of first expenses cut from a household budget. The pandemic, meanwhile, is accelerating trends that have buffeted retailers for years as home-bound customers turn to Amazon and other online sellers. Retailers that were struggling before the pandemic, such as the Houston department store chain Stage Stores, have plunged in bankruptcy. TEXAS INC: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox Local retailers cut 22,200 jobs in April from the same month in 2019, a 7 percent decline. Many of those jobs also are not coming back. We will never see retail employment at the level it was, said Jankowski, of the GHP. The sad part is (retail) provides employment for a large sector of the population. Sergio Chapa contributed. erin.douglas@chron.com Twitter.com/erinmdouglas23 IQM Finland Oy, an Espoo, Finland-based quantum computer hardware company, was awarded a 2.5M grant and received an up to 15M equity investment from the EIC Accelerator program. Together with Business Finland grants of 3.3M that IQM received so far, the company is on a fast run with more than 20M more raised in less than a year from its 11.4M seed round, summing in total to 32M. With this new 20M, IQM will hire one quantum engineer per week to commercialize the technology through co-design of quantum-computing hardware and applications. The new funding also supports IQMs recent establishment of its new underground quantum computing infrastructure capable of housing the first European farm of quantum computers. Led by Dr. Jan Goetz, CEO and co-founder, Dr. Juha Vartiainen, COO and co-founder, and Prof. Mikko Mottonen, Chief Scientist and co-founder, IQM builds quantum computers to answer the most challenging questions in science, technology, and business. Applications range from more efficient medication to discovering planet-saving materials, intelligent systems, and sustainable industrial processes. This announcement was followed by the German government with 2b and to immediately commission the construction of at least two quantum computers. IQM sees this as an ideal point to expand its operations in Germany. Its Munich based office is led by Prof. Enrique Solano. FinSMEs 12/06/2020 Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Reuters) London, United Kingdom Fri, June 12, 2020 10:30 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde29df0 2 People Stormzy,Britain,music,black-lives-matter,Racism,rapper,black-causes,colonialism Free British rapper Stormzy said on Thursday he will donate 10 million pounds over the course of a decade to causes that empower black people. "The uncomfortable truth that our country continuously fails to recognize and admit, is that black people in the UK have been at a constant disadvantage in every aspect of life - simply due to the color of our skin," he said in a statement. Stormzy, who made history last year by becoming the first British rapper to headline Glastonbury, said he had heard people dismiss racism in Britain by citing his own success. "I am not the UK's shining example of what supposedly happens when a black person works hard. There are millions of us. We are not far and few," he said. Read also: Grime star Stormzy, rockers the 1975 among Q Awards winners "We have to fight against the odds of a racist system stacked against us and designed for us to fail from before we are even born." In 2018, Stormzy announced he would fund two black British students to go to the University of Cambridge and subsequently funded two more. Anti-racism protests, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement that started in the United States following the death of George Floyd, have triggered a debate about how Britain commemorates its imperial past. Statues glorifying slave traders and colonialists have been torn down in recent days and another Black Lives Matter march is scheduled to take place in London on Friday. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 06:27:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW YORK, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. state of New York is allowing cities and counties to open public pools and playgrounds at their discretion while following state guidance, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Thursday. Local governments "have to use their judgment here," said Cuomo at his daily briefing. "Everybody wants to swim, I understand. Everybody doesn't want to see a spike in COVID again. Sometimes 'yes' is not the right answer." Cuomo said local authorities need to track COVID-19 infections on a daily basis to guide their actions. "If the positives are in a cluster, a neighborhood that has that pool, don't open the pool," he said. Five regions in the state are set to enter phase three of reopening on Friday, allowing indoor dining in restaurants and personal care services to resume. Central New York, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, North Country and Southern Tier, all in upstate New York, were the first batch in the state to start reopening process on May 15. Still, Cuomo urged people across the state to continue to take precautions, including wearing masks, washing hands, and practicing social distancing. "This COVID has not gone away," said Cuomo, adding that new cases are increasing in over 20 states after their reopening. The total COVID-19 cases in the United States surpassed 2 million on Wednesday night. According to The Washington Post, since the start of June, more than a dozen U.S. states, including Texas and California, have recorded their highest-ever seven-day average of new cases, partly caused by the protests for racial justice that have swept the country in the past two weeks. The governor said he is not clear how protests will affect New York's trend of infections, though currently the total hospitalizations are down and the daily death toll is near the lowest point at 36. "That can change, and that can change overnight," he warned. A total of 736 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the state on Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 380,892, according to the local government. Enditem Afghan Leader Vows Taliban Prisoner Release to be Completed By Ayaz Gul June 11, 2020 Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced Thursday that his government will soon release remaining Taliban prisoners to help a U.S.-led peace process remain on course. Ghani told a forum hosted jointly by the Washington-based Atlantic Council's South Asia Center and the United States Institute of Peace that 3,000 insurgent inmates have already been set free. "My colleagues and I have made the decision to release an additional 2,000 prisoners within a very short period. We will announce the date soon," the Afghan president said. Ghani noted that Taliban members were in Kabul identifying their prisoners being released from jails in exchange for 1,000 Afghan security personnel being held by the insurgents. The prisoner swap, stipulated in the agreement the U.S. sealed with the Taliban in February, must be completed for building mutual confidence before Afghanistan's warring sides open long-awaited peace talks. "I think now we are on course, and next week we should be able to inform the world of the next step," said Ghani, who started his second term in March after a controversy-marred presidential election. The Taliban have so far released about 550 detainees from jails under insurgent-controlled areas in Afghanistan. 'Positive step' A spokesman for the insurgency hailed Ghani's announcement as a "positive step" and marked good progress. It would pave the way for commencement of intra-Afghan negotiations, tweeted Suhail Shaheen. Shaheen said the Taliban are also committed to the prisoner exchange and underlined his group's "preparedness to start intra-Afghan negotiations within [a] week as soon as the process of 5,000 [Taliban] prisoners' release is completed in line with the [insurgent] list already delivered." U.S. envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, who negotiated and signed the deal with the Taliban, hailed the progress in the prisoner swap. In a series of tweets, Khalilzad also welcomed the Taliban's announcement that they were ready to enter into peace talks, saying it was a commitment outlined in the agreement. "We are closer to the goal of IAN [intra-Afghan negotiations] than ever before. All sides must work to get to the negotiations table ASAP and prevent spoilers from undermining the process & betraying the hopes and yearning of Afghan people for peace," said the U.S. envoy. Ghani said, however, that the Taliban have not been transparent about how many Afghan prisoners they still hold. "The number keeps shifting. We need clarity regarding the fate of those that are with them and assurance that the last person remaining with them is released," he said. The Afghan president also expressed concerns over heightened insurgent violence and again called on the Taliban to declare a "humanitarian cease-fire" to allow health workers to deal with the coronavirus outbreak in Afghanistan. Late last month, the two adversaries observed a temporary cease-fire during the three-day annual Eid al-Fitr festivities marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Ghani, however, said insurgent violence has since intensified. "The casualty figures still average around 60 to 70 a day. The number of fatalities unfortunately are averaging 30," Ghani noted. He did not elaborate. The Taliban have carried out major attacks against Afghan security forces in recent weeks, killing dozens of them. The stepped-up violence has also caused hundreds of civilian casualties. Taliban officials argue, however, that a cease-fire will be on the agenda when intra-Afghan talks begin to discuss internal political disputes. The U.S.-Taliban agreement requires all American and coalition forces to leave Afghanistan by July 2021, ending America's longest overseas military intervention. In return, the pact outlines the Taliban's counterterrorism assurances and political reconciliation with other Afghan factions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wendy Williams had to face the world when she became a hot topic often discussed on her popular talk show segment. The media mavens marriage of over 20 years ended when she filed for divorce upon discovering that her husband, Kevin Hunter, impregnated his longtime mistress, Sharina Hudson. Hunter and Hudson are still in a relationship and he says that his former business and personal relationship with Charlamagne Tha God soured because Charlamagne was jealous of his relationship with his Hudson. Wendy Williams, Kevin Hunter, and Charlamagne Tha God via Twitter Charlamagne Tha God says his relationship with Kevin Hunter went south when Hunter accused him of introducing Sharina Hudson to other men Charlamagne has been open about Hunter giving him his big break in radio. The South Carolina native began business dealings with Hunter after he was let go from his radio gig. Hunter felt responsible for Charlamagnes firing as Charlamagne blew the whistle that his radio station was not playing daily live shows of Williams in the syndicated market. Charlamagne Tha God and Wendy Williams via Twitter Related: Wendy Williams Ex-Husband, Kevin Hunter, Says Hes Responsible For Charlamagne Tha Gods Career In New Interview To make up for it, Hunter arranged for Charlamagne to move to New York, where he lived rent-free in one of Hunters condos for several years. Though Charlamagne never officially signed a management contract with Hunter, Hunter continued to secure his business deals. Hunter explained their relationship soured when he discovered that Charlamagne took a radio gig in Philadelphia without telling him. But Charlamagne has a different story, explaining that Hunters eventual mistress was the cause of their rift. Charlamagne Tha God and Wendy Williams via Twitter Hunter and Hudson began having an affair at some point after Charlamagne introduced the two. Charlamagne and Hudson grew up together in South Carolina and were lifelong friends. The dispute also led to Charlamagne and Williams being estranged for over a decade. The reason Kevin Hunter and I fell out, and the reason why I dont communicate with Wendy anymore is because of Sharina, Charlamagne told Page Six in March 2019. Kevin got upset because he thought Sharina liked one of my homeboys and he thought that I was hooking Sharina up [with other men]. Kevin Hunter says Charlamagne Tha God wanted to date Hunters current girlfriend Williams fired Hunter as her manager and executive producer of her talk show shortly before her divorce announcement. She also patched things up with Charlamagne. Now that some time has passed, Hunter is telling his side of the story, specifically on where things went awry with Charlamagne. In an exclusive interview with YouTube star Tasha K, Hunter explained that the reason Charlamagne has such ill feelings toward him is because Charlamagne wanted to date Hudson. Hunter claims Charlamagne introduced him to Hudson in hopes that hed help her with her modeling career. He admitted that he began an affair with Hudson but that he went home every night to be with Williams. According to Hunter, Charlamagne began acting funny toward him when he discovered the affair because he also liked Hudson and was upset that Hudson chose to date Hunter instead of him. He [Charlamagne] really liked shorty [Hudson]. He used to tow her to me like, Yo, she the baddest girl in town, nobody cant get her, Hunter said. He [Charlamagne] did not expect for us to hit it off the way we did. I didnt expect it, I know she [Hudson] didnt. Hunter said that Hudson eventually moved into the same condo as Charlamagne. He explained that Charlamagne started to talk negatively about him to Hudson in hopes that shed break things off with him. Sharina Hudson via Twitter He told Tasha that he doesnt understand Charlamagnes upsetness with him because he had a chance to make his move while he and Hudson lived in the same building. Im going home every night, no matter what me and her [Hudson] doing, she know Im going home every nightwhatever he [Charlamagne] was trying to do, whatever he would have accomplished in the time that I was goneit would have been cool, Hunter said. The two have not spoken since their falling out and Charlamagne insists theres no hope of reconciliation or being cordial with Hunter. Hong Kong government says that any suggestion the security law will curb peoples freedoms is alarmist speculation. Hong Kong hit back on Friday at a report by the British government criticising Beijings move to impose national security legislation on the territory, describing the report as inaccurate and biased. The UK said the proposed security law was a clear violation of Chinas international obligations and a breach of the one country, two systems formula that has governed the former British colony since it was returned to Chinese rule in 1997. There is still time for China to reconsider, to step back from the brink and respect Hong Kongs autonomy and respect its own international obligations, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wrote in the foreword to his governments six-monthly report on Hong Kong. Raab said a solution to a year of sometimes violent unrest in the city must come from Hong Kong, and cannot be imposed from mainland China. However, the Hong Kong government said it firmly opposed the reports inaccurate and biased remarks on the national security law and the high degree of autonomy enjoyed by (Hong Kong). Authorities in both Hong Kong and Beijing have insisted the security legislation will focus on small numbers of troublemakers who pose a threat to national security and will not curb freedoms or hurt investors. Any allegation that the law will undermine Hong Kong peoples freedoms and one country, two systems is no more than alarmist speculation and simply fallacious, the Hong Kong government said in a statement. Today I presented to Parliament the latest Hong Kong 6 Monthly Report, (July-December 2019). As my Foreword makes clear, the situation is of deep concern & the events during this period require a robust, independent inquiry to rebuild trust. https://t.co/Uqdij3Bee4 Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) June 11, 2020 Legislating on national security was within the purview of Beijing, it added, and the law would help better protect the rights of Hong Kong people while restoring stability. Year of protests The exchange over the security legislation, which is expected to be implemented by September, came as Hong Kong marked the anniversary of a major protest that saw a turning point in the citys pro-democracy movement. On June 12 last year, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets as protesters rallied in the heart of the business district against a proposed bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, preventing members of the Legislative Council from meeting for its second reading. Lam eventually withdrew the bill in September, but by then the protest movement had evolved into a broader campaign for democracy amid concern Beijing was reneging on its commitments to give Hong Kong people freedoms not enjoyed in the mainland. Protests are planned in the city on Friday night. Britain has been joined by the United States, Australia and Canada in criticising the proposed security laws. A protester is tackled by riot police during mass demonstrations outside the Legislative Council a year ago on June 12 [Kin Cheung/AP Photo] US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week singled out HSBC as one of the major companies backing the law, saying such corporate kowtows got little in return from Beijing, as he criticised the Chinese Communist Partys coercive bullying tactics. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin went a step further on Thursday, saying he was working on various capital market responses to the legislation, including some measures that could restrict capital flows through the territory. T he coronavirus R rate may have risen above 1 in parts of England, the Government has admitted. The reproduction number, the average number of people an infected person passes the disease on to, of coronavirus across the UK remains between 0.7 and 0.9, while across England it is 0.8-1.0. Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) also published regional values for R in England for the first time, with the South West having the highest range at 0.8-1.1. The East of England is at 0.7 0.9, London, the Midlands, the North West and the South East at 0.8 1.0, and the North East and Yorkshire at 0.7 1.0. The coronavirus reproduction rate may have risen above 1 in parts of England, the government's scientific advisory group has said / Jeremy Selwyn However, experts cautioned against relying on regional R values, saying that as the number of infections falls, regional R values become less reliable. Instead, from next week the Government will publish the growth rates for regions that are based on data and make fewer assumptions. If the R rate is above one it means that the disease is on the increase, and on the decline if it is below one. Experts say R is not the only important measure of the epidemic and it indicates whether the epidemic is trending towards getting bigger or smaller but not how large it is. Coronavirus in numbers: UK death toll at 41,481 Therefore, the number of people currently infected with Covid-19 and so able to pass it on is also very important. R should always be considered alongside the number of people currently infected. The estimates, published by the Government Office for Science, cover each of the NHS England regions. It comes as the UK coronavirus death toll rose by 202 on Friday. As of 5pm yesterday, 41,481 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus, up from 41,279 the day before. UK Markets begin to reopen during Coronavirus lockdown ease 1 /24 UK Markets begin to reopen during Coronavirus lockdown ease PA AP Daniel Hambury AP Daniel Hambury Daniel Hambury Daniel Hambury Daniel Hambury Daniel Hambury AP AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images Reuters Reuters Reuters Last week research by a Cambridge University/Public Health England joint modelling team revealed suggested the disease transmission of Covid-19 was spreading in the North West, and was declining in other regions, but far more slowly in London than previously. However, to avoid confusion, the researchers will no longer be doing this as it feeds into the consensus of the R value published by Sage. Matt Keeling, professor of populations and disease at the University of Warwick, said: All the ranges are similar and overlapping so we cannot say that any one region is worse than any other region. All the ranges are closer to the critical threshold of R=1 than we would ideally like to see which means that the epidemic is declining relatively slowly. This also means we havent got much wiggle room for additional relaxation of social distancing measures. He added: As the number of cases becomes smaller in many regions, these predictions will become more uncertain and more biased by small localised outbreaks. Loading.... These are not a measure of risk, they are about the decline of the epidemic. To understand risk you need to look at both the incidence of infection and individual behaviour. Read the full article on Motorious Make a donation to the Shelby American Collection and be entered to win this rare fastest production Mustang, this 2020 Shelby GT500. Father's Day is right around the corner and how amazing would it be if you were able to surprise your dad with one of the most epic gifts to show him just how much you appreciate him. There is a chance to take home a rare Mustang that just so happens to be the fastest production pony car to leave the Blue Oval assembly line to date, the epic 2020 Shelby GT500 with a factory 760-horsepower. The fastest production production was designed to be ultimate driver's car. Visit the Shelby American Collection and make a donation by using this code here and increase your chances for one epic Mustang by receiving 25 percent more entries. Shelby American Collection Finished in a stunning and eye-grabbing Ford Performance Blue and adorned with white painted "over-the-top" white stripes, this Shelby is ready to make somebody's wish come true when it comes to owning one of the greatest Mustangs ever built. Equipped with the Carbon Fiber Track Package makes this car even more rare, and it is optioned with plenty of incredible GT500 features including exposed 20-inch carbon fiber wheels wrapped with Ford-spec Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 rubber (305/30/R20 front, 315/30/R20 rear), a GT4 carbon fiber track rear wing, carbon fiber rear diffuser, large front splitter and splitter wickers, and hood vent with rain tray. Driving at night is not an issue thanks to the HID headlamps complete with LED Signature Lighting. Another fun feature are the Shelby Cobra puddle lamps that illuminate at night, and turn signal mirrors give an extra heads up if switching lanes, among other things. Powering to this potent Shelby GT5oo is a supercharged 5.2-liter Cross Plane crank V8 engine that generates 760-horsepower and 625 lb/ft of torque. Shifting is handled by a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that sends power down to the rear wheels and twists a limited-slip Torsen differential that houses 3.73 gears. Sturdy enough to handle the amount of power produced by the Mustang is the addition of a composite carbon fiber driveshaft. Handling and planting the power to the ground is advanced independent rear suspension include the MagneRide damping system. Story continues Stopping all of that insane power are massive Brembo brakes with 6-piston in the front, and 4-piston calipers out back, the most powerful brakes in a production Mustang. Equipped with performance aerodynamics and a race-built chassis, this new Shelby was born to impress. Added rumble and performance come from the dual exhaust with active valves complete with quad tips. More features include a Magnesium tower to tower brace, updated chassis tuning, adjustable strut top mounts, and engine oil, transmission, and differential coolers. The car comes with a tire inflator and sealant kit and a full vehicle cover by WeatherShield that features the Shelby GT500 logo. With over 760 horses on tap, this car is ready to defeat any competition on the track or the road course. Not only will it dominate on the track, it can be driven all the way home in ultimate luxury and comfort. Open the doors to an impressive interior with leather-trimmed Recaro Sport Seats up front with the back featuring a rear seat delete. Even more, this Shelby features the Technology Package with B&O Premium Sound System, and other goodies include a 12-inch LCD Digital Instrument Cluster complete with MyColor(R) and SYNC 3 through an 8-inch LCD touch screen. Selectable-effort electronic Power-Assist steering (EPAS), a system installed into the existing steering column that uses an electric motor and torque sensor that monitors the amount of force applied by the steering wheel. More interior highlights include Shelby Exclusive Trim Package with exposed carbon fiber instrument panel, Track Apps including Launch Control and Electronic Line Lock, Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, voice-activated navigation, BLIS (blind spot information system) with cross-traffic alert, Sirius XM radio, USB ports, rear-view camera, and Dual-zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (DEATC). The Integrated Driver Control (IDC) system allows selection of five special modes such as tailor ABS, stability control, traction control, steering effort, throttle mapping, MagneRide tuning and exhaust settings that can be adjusted for driver preference. If interested in taking your chances on an epic and rare 2020 Shelby GT500 to surprise dad with, please visit the Shelby American Collection, make a donation, and you will be automatically entered into the drawing for a chance to win this beast of a car. Even more, the winner of this incredible Shelby will receive a GT500 Track Attack experience with Ford's Performance Racing School along with a $1,000 gift certificate for Adam's Polishes. Check out the Shelby Museum and make a donation and use the code here to increase your chances and receive 25 percent more entries. All donations for this fundraiser goes to support the Shelby American Collection car museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and volunteer organization located in Boulder, Colorado. The museum's main goal is to preserve the racing history and achievements of the late and great Carrol Shelby and the Shelby American Team. Sign up for the Motorious Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Anselm Ojezua, has said that despite Governor Godwin Obasekis disqualification by the APC, the governor will seek re-election and win a second term. Mr Ojezua also called for calm over the disqualification of Mr Obaseki from the partys governorship primary. They didnt say he will not contest the election but that he will not contest under the platform of the APC. By tomorrow, we will meet and be in a position to make a proper statement on what the future holds for the party in Edo State, Mr Ojezua was quoted as saying by Mr Obasekis aide, Crusoe Osagie, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Ojezuas statement is the closest indication yet that Mr Obaseki will defect to a new party to seek re-election. There have been rumours he would defect to the main opposition party, PDP. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how the screening committee of the APC, in Abuja on Friday afternoon, disqualified Mr Obaseki and two others from participating in the partys governorship primary. Mr Obaseki, who has been having a longrunning feud with his predecessor and APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, has said he will not appeal the decision. He blamed Mr Oshiomhole for the disqualification. Mr Ojezua, according to a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES by Mr Obasekis aide, said the APC in Edo will meet on Saturday to deliberate on the matter. Mr Ojezua leads a main faction of the APC in Edo. The faction is loyal to Mr Obaseki. A separate faction of the party in the state is loyal to Mr Oshiomhole. The APC holds its primary on June 22. Read the statement by the Edo APC chairman as sent by Mr Obasekis office below. Chairman of the Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anselm Ojezua, Esq., has called for calm among party members and supporters following the unjust disqualification of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki by the Governorship Primary Screening Committee of the party, noting that the governor has performed credibly well and will be reelected for a second term. READ ALSO: Ojezua, who spoke to journalists in Benin City after the announcement by the committee, said the result didnt come as a surprise as the governor had alluded to the fact that he will not get justice from the screening exercise. He, however, appealed to the supporters of the party in the State to remain calm as the leadership of the party will meet tomorrow Saturday 13th June 2020, to properly respond to the report of the committee that screened candidates for the June 22, 2020 APC Primary. Ojezua said, I want to appeal to leaders and members of APC in Edo State to remain calm. The validity of the Screening Committee has not been established. A proper response to the report is yet to come as the leadership of the party in the State will meet tomorrow and at the end of the meeting give an appropriate response. Reacting to the governors chances of reelection following his decision not to appeal the screening result, the party chairman noted, They didnt say he will not contest the election but that he will not contest under the platform of the APC. By tomorrow, we will meet and be in a position to make a proper statement on what the future holds for the party in Edo State. Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press 2017 Coffee giant Starbucks will not let its employees wear items of clothing or accessories that support the Black Lives Matter movement, according to an internal bulletin obtained by BuzzFeed News. Starbucks prohibits employees from wearing any shirts, pins or other accessories that advocate a"political, religious, or personal issue," and the company classifies Black Lives Matter attire as attire that would violate the company policy. The internal memo quotes the company's VP of Diversity and Inclusion Zing Shaw, who states that there are "agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the Black Lives Matter movement and in some circumstances, intentionally re-purpose them to amplify divisiveness." We've all heard it many times: Wear a face covering indoors, outdoors, on trains and buses. At work, in the supermarket and at church. But now a new modeling study out of Cambridge and Greenwich universities suggests that face masks may be even more important than originally thought in preventing future outbreaks of the new coronavirus. 'I AM BLESSED': Houston doctor recovers after innovative plasma therapy To ward off resurgences, the reproduction number for the virus (the average number of people who will contract it from one infected person) needs to drop below 1.0. Researchers dont believe thats achievable with lockdowns alone. However, a combination of lockdowns and widespread mask compliance might do the trick, they say. We show that, when face masks are used by the public all the time (not just from when symptoms first appear), the effective reproduction number, Re, can be decreased below 1, leading to the mitigation of epidemic spread, the scientists wrote in the paper published Wednesday by the Proceedings of the Royal Society A. The modeling indicated that when lockdown periods are combined with 100% face mask use, disease spread is vastly diminished, preventing resurgence for 18 months, the time frame that has frequently been cited for developing a vaccine. It also demonstrated that if people wear masks in public, it is twice as effective at reducing the R number than if face coverings are only worn after symptoms appear. The masks dont have to be top-of-the-line surgical or respirator masks. Homemade coverings that catch only 50 percent of exhaled droplets would provide a population-level benefit, they concluded. As has been well-publicized, wearing a mask primarily protects others from yourself, rather than the other way around. It is not a sign that you consider others a danger. Science Focus quoted the studys lead author, Dr Richard Stutt, as saying, Our analyses support the immediate and universal adoption of face masks by the public. Stutt is part of a team that usually models the spread of crop diseases at Cambridges department of plant sciences. 'PRECIPICE OF DISASTER': Harris County may recommend residents stay home Alameda County and San Francisco city health officials require residents to wear face coverings any time they leave home and get within 30 feet of anyone not living in their household. In San Francisco, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Sonoma counties (plus the cities of Pleasant Hill and Fremont) people must use basic nonmedical, cloth masks, including scarves and bandannas, to cover their noses and mouths when they leave home to go to essential places like the supermarket, drugstore or doctor. Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate HONG KONG, June 12 (Reuters) - The Hong Kong government hit back on Friday at a report by Britain criticising Beijing's move to impose national security legislation on the global financial hub, saying the report was "inaccurate and biased". The British government said the proposed security law was a clear violation of China's international obligations and a breach of the "one country, two systems" formula that has governed the former British colony since its handover to Chinese rule in 1997. "There is still time for China to reconsider, to step back from the brink and respect Hong Kongs autonomy and respect its own international obligations," British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab wrote in the foreword to his government's six-monthly report on Hong Kong. Raab said a solution to the unrest fomented by a year of frequently violent pro-democracy rallies in the city "must come from Hong Kong, and cannot be imposed from mainland China." However, the Hong Kong government said it firmly opposed the report's "inaccurate and biased remarks on the national security law and the high degree of autonomy enjoyed by (Hong Kong)." Authorities in both Hong Kong and Beijing have insisted the security legislation will focus on small numbers of "troublemakers" who pose a threat to national security and will not curb freedoms or hurt investors. "Any allegation that the law will undermine Hong Kong people's freedoms and 'one country, two systems' is no more than alarmist speculation and simply fallacious," the Hong Kong government said in a statement. Legislating on national security was within the purview of Beijing, it added, and the law would help better protect the rights of Hong Kong people while restoring stability in the financial centre. The exchange over the security legislation, which is expected to be implemented by September, came as Hong Kong marked the anniversary of a major protest that saw a turning point in the city's pro-democracy movement. Story continues On June 12 last year, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets as protesters rallied in the heart of the business district against a proposed bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. While the bill was withdrawn in September, the protest movement evolved into broader appeals for democracy in the city amid fears Beijing was reneging on its pledge to give Hong Kongers freedoms not enjoyed in the mainland. Protests are planned in the city on Friday night. Britain has been joined by the United States, Australia and Canada in criticising the proposed security laws. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week singled out HSBC as one of the major companies back the law, saying such "corporate kowtows" got little in return from Beijing and criticising the Chinese Communist Party's "coercive bullying tactics." U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin went a step further on Thursday, saying he was working on various capital markets responses to the security law, including some measures that could restrict capital flows through the territory. (Reporting by Clare Jim; Editing by Jane Wardell) The International Solar Alliance (ISA) took shape at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) at Paris in 2015. It was spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Headquartered in India, ISA has 86 signatories, 67 member countries, and 48 partners. It plans to facilitate more than $1,000-billion investment in solar energy by 2030. Upendra Tripathy, Founding Director General, ISA, and former Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy talks to Business Today's P.B. Jayakumar about the alliance's future plans. Edited excerpts. ISA was launched as the first international treaty-based body in India. The US and China are yet to be part of ISA. How soon will all countries join the alliance? The ISA secretariat got legal personality on June 6, 2018, after ISA and India signed the host country agreement, the basis for establishment of headquarters of a treaty-based intergovernmental body. We have 86 signatory countries: 42 are from Africa, 20 from Asia-Pacific, 3 European and 21 from Latin America. Membership will be soon open to all UN member countries situated even outside the Tropics. We are waiting for US, China and Germany to become members. We need ratification by three more countries to bring the first amendment into force. How will ISA make meaningful changes in energy security for member countries? Sun rays are oil in the sky. We are assisting member nations and solar business community in many ways. One is bringing in corporates and other organisations as networking partners in a public-private partnership. We have a network of 48 partners, including private corporate partners such as SoftBank (Japan), CLP (Hong Kong) and India-based public corporate partners like IREDA, SECI, NTPC, PGCIL, REC, CIL, PFC, ITPO, SBI, NHPC, and EESL. We have partners in UN bodies like the UNDP, UNIDO, and UNEP, etc. and multilateral development banks such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as powerful partners. ISA is running programmes in agriculture, rooftops, mini-grids, storage, electric vehicles, solar parks, solar cooling and heating (proposed), to create demand, capacity and ecosystems in member countries. We have aggregated demand for 270,000 solar pumps, 10,000 MW solar mini-grids and 1,000 MW solar rooftops worth $5 billion in the initial phase. Price has been explored for 272,000 diesel-to-solar pumps from 22 member countries (with the expertise of EESL) and five companies (four from India) have been empaneled to interact with member countries. Global tendering and mass procurement will bring down costs to a great extent for member countries. Plans for the year include demand aggregation for 47-million solar home systems, 250-million LED bulbs, 50,000 primary health centers (PHCs), five-million solar cook stoves, 10,000 solar-powered HFC-free cold storage, 10,000 MW of solar parks and five-million solar powered street lights. We are now facilitating two "Freedom solar parks" - 500 MW in Mali and 218 MW in Togo (West Africa), with NTPC acting as consultant to member countries and arranging grid connectivity, low cost loans and securing 25-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) on a transparent and competitive basis. Ten other countries have been identified to set up such parks. Under the STAR-C programme for capacity building, we have 213 "master trainers" trained with the assistance of Ministry of External Affairs. With IIT Delhi, we are starting an international MBA programme in solar energy next year. The Paris Declaration on ISA envisioned mobilising investments of over $1,000 billion by 2030. What is the progress so far? Our motto is to make the sun shine brighter! Apart from mobilizing investments, we strive to bring down the cost of capital and technology for member countries. The annual flow of capital into the solar sector has been around $150 billion. However, investments are not uniform or equitable. Member countries are addressing the problem by making solar roadmaps and building robust ecosystems. India ($2 billion through EXIM Bank) and France (Euros 1.5 billion through AFD) have earmarked soft loans for green and brownfield solar projects in member countries and many developed countries may follow suit. The World Bank has a Solar Risk Mitigation Initiative (SRMI) as a way of credit enhancement, which was incubated by the ISA. So far, the World Bank and the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) have put over $333 million in 19 countries under this initiative. ISA has facilitated 47 projects in 37 countries with various institutions. The Indian prime minister had talked about One Sun, One World and One Grid and envisions a World Solar Bank. What is the role of ISA in this? A World Solar Bank can reduce the cost of blended capital and make funds more accessible to island countries (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs). Even with a paid-up capital of $2 billion, it can nudge $50 billion per annum via co-financing at 20 per cent. All member countries and industries can benefit from a financial institution focused on solar energy. ISA will also facilitate the One Sun, One World and One Grid global project once India brings out a complete vision document for which work has commenced. ISA's annual budget is $5-6 million, whereas IEA, OECD or OPEC have higher budgets, critical in generating data and research to become an influential global organization. What are your plans to augment this? We have no membership fee yet. ISA is expected to have a negative balance by FY-2022. India, as our host country has deposited a corpus of $27 million (Rs 175 crore) in State Bank of India (SBI) and no expenditure can be made from the corpus or the interest accrued. India also gives Rs 15 crore per year (slated for five years). It will end in 2020/21. Besides, we have corpus contributions of $11 million from various partners. We are exploring measures such as annual membership fee and having more corporate partners while targeting a corpus of $500 million. But there will be no shortage of money if ISA can deliver desired services to the Members. Covid-19 is redefining the sector. Investments are going down. India investments were only $970 million, a 66 per cent drop year-on year, in the first quarter of 2020. Global solar capacity addition is predicted to go down by 20 per cent in 2020. How do you assess the situation and what is required to boost investments? Your statistics may be right. Bad times indeed, but economies will overcome this downturn in the medium-term. Things will bounce back. On the positive side, ISA has launched ISA-CARE to solarise primary health centers in member countries, which require cold storage facilities for vaccines and medicines. We plan to launch a project, during our World Solar Technology Summit this year, polarisation of hospitals in 46 SIDS/LDC member countries. ISA wants to have all un-electrified Primary Health Centers and hospitals solarised in every district of our member countries. India is planning a separate renewable policy. What is needed to make India achieve the target of 100 GW of solar by end-2022? I have seen some doubts in some quarters (even in 2015 when the 100GW proposal was cleared by the Cabinet) if India can reach 100 GW of solar by 2022. India made history by connecting 26 Million households in less than 18 months. India has around 68,000 substations. One MW near each substation, India will cross 100 GW. A Utah husband drowned on Sunday after he jumped into a lake in an attempt to save his wife, according to local authorities. Justin Shannon, 46, had been boating in Wahweap Bay off Lake Powell with six other people when his wife, Melissa Shannon, jumped into the water. Melissa had not been wearing a life jacket, and 'high winds' caused her to 'begin to struggle', according to a release from the National Park Service. Justin is said to have jumped into the late in an effort to save Melissa but he too was not wearing a jacket. As a result, he began to struggle as well, the release states. Justin Shannon, 46, had been boating in Wahweap Bay off Lake Powell with six other people when his wife, Melissa Shannon, jumped into the water Melissa had not been wearing a life jacket, and 'high winds' caused her to 'begin to struggle. Justin is said to have jumped in to save his wife 'Windy conditions caused the boat to drift away from the swimmers and mechanical problems delayed restarting the vessel,' NPS said in the statement. 'A Type IV throwable device was tossed toward the victim but he was unable to grab the device.' The boat was eventually restarted and another passenger was able to save Melissa by jumping into the water and getting her into a life jacket. That same person was able to retrieve Justin, who had been underwater. Justin was carried back onto the boat and CPR was administered as the boat traveled one mile to the Stateline Launch Ramp. Another passenger on the boat was eventually able to save Melissa but was only able to retrieve Justin's body from underwater Two off-duty fire fighters provided CPR to Justin once at the ramp and NPS Rangers also continued life saving efforts, but without success. Justin Shannon was pronounced dead at approximately 8pm and transported to the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office in Salt Lake City for an autopsy. The incident is currently under investigation by the Kane County Sheriff's Office, National Park Service and the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office. A GoFundMe made for Justin Shannon by his wife shares that he was a veteran who served in the U.S. Army for three years followed by a stint as an arborist for 10 years. Justin Shannon was pronounced dead at approximately 8pm and transported to the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office in Salt Lake City for an autopsy The father 'loved the ocean, playing loud music and working out at the gym and doing body building shows', the fundraiser page read. 'He loved nothing more than seeing his family together. His laugh was something that could carry through any ground,' said his daughter, Regan Shannon-Wilcox. 'He was always the life of the party. The most welcoming human to walk this earth. He had a heart of a teddy bear but would burn the world down if you asked him. Would drop anything in an instant for his kids, and his grandbabies were his world. He was a hard-working man no matter what issues it caused for him. He had the best hugs, the best laugh, the most Handsome smile.' Complementing local acute care services, the hospital, which is expected to open in the spring of 2022, will care for patients recovering from debilitating illnesses and injuries including strokes and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions. The hospital will provide physical, occupational and speech therapies as well as 24-hour nursing care that aim to restore functional ability and quality of life. "We are excited to expand our services in Illinois through this state-of-the-art hospital, which will bring much needed intensive rehabilitation services to Lake County and the surrounding area," said Troy DeDecker, president of Encompass Health's central region. "Through this hospital, we will be able to provide more patients with customized care that helps them reach their highest levels of independence and gives them the confidence they need to move forward in their lives." The hospital will feature a spacious therapy gym with advanced rehabilitation technologies, an activities of daily living suite, cafeteria and dining room, pharmacy and therapy courtyard. Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Libertyville will become part of Encompass Health's national network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and home health and hospice agencies, which includes Van Matre Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital, a 65-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Rockford. About Encompass Health As a national leader in integrated healthcare services, Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) offers both facility-based and home-based patient care through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies and hospice agencies. With a national footprint that includes 135 hospitals, 245 home health locations, and 83 hospice locations in 38 states and Puerto Rico, the Company is committed to delivering high-quality, cost-effective, integrated care across the healthcare continuum. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, Twitter and Facebook. Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts, such as those relating to the likelihood, timing and effects of the completion of this hospital project, are forward-looking statements. In addition, Encompass Health may from time to time make forward-looking public statements concerning the matters described herein. All such estimates, projections, and forward-looking information speak only as of the date hereof, and Encompass Health undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Encompass Health's actual results or events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, the regulatory review and approval process, any adverse outcome of various lawsuits, claims, and legal or regulatory proceedings that may be brought by or against the Company; the possibility this project will experience unexpected delays; the continued spread of COVID-19, including the speed, depth, geographic reach and duration of the spread; the actions to be taken by Encompass Health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; the ability to successfully complete and integrate this project consistent with Encompass Health's growth strategy, including realization of anticipated revenues, cost savings, and productivity improvements arising from the related operations and avoidance of unforeseen exposure to liabilities; changes in the regulation of the healthcare industry at either or both of the federal and state levels; competitive pressures in the healthcare industry and Encompass Health's response thereto; the hospital's ability to maintain proper local, state and federal licensing; potential disruptions, breaches, or other incidents affecting the proper operation, availability, or security of Encompass Health's information systems; Encompass Health's ability to attract and retain nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals in a highly competitive environment with often severe staffing shortages and the impact on Encompass Health's labor expenses from potential union activity and staffing shortages; changes, delays in (including in connection with resolution of Medicare payment reviews or appeals), or suspension of reimbursement for Encompass Health's services by governmental or private payors; general conditions in the economy and capital markets; and other factors which may be identified from time to time in Encompass Health's SEC filings and other public announcements, including Encompass Health's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2019 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. Media Contact: Hillary Carnel | 205 970-5912 [email protected] Investor Relations Contact: Crissy Carlisle | 205 970-5860 [email protected] SOURCE Encompass Health Corp. Related Links http://www.encompasshealth.com Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Sumi Sukanaya Dutta By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The number of COVID-19 patients in India who require intensive care unit facilities may exceed its existing inventory of about 32,000 dedicated ICU beds by July end if the current epidemic growth pattern continues and the proportion of patients needing ICU care remains unchanged. A statistical analysis by researchers at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences in Chennai shows that India could have over 10 lakh active cases by July end or even sooner, considering the current reproductive factor of 1.22 for SARS-CoV-2. Based on government figures which show that 3-4 per cent of active cases need ICU care in hospitals, the researchers have estimated that by July end, typically July 24, there would be 30000-40000 COVID-19 patients requiring ICUs in the country. According to the latest figures shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there are 32,362 ICU beds in total in the country dedicated for COVID-19 patients apart from 1,20,104 oxygen supported beds and 8,91,828 isolation beds. "Since there is so much relaxation given in the lockdown norms now, the reproductive factor of the COVID-19 pathogen could go up and about a million active cases that we are expecting at current growth rate could actually happen sooner, maybe by mid-July itself," said Sitabhra Sinha, a biophysicist at the IMSc who has done the analysis. As of Friday, the country has 2,97,535 confirmed cases of whom 1,41,842 are active cases. ALSO READ | Less than one per cent population in non-hotspot districts exposed to COVID-19 virus yet, shows ICMR's serosurvey Experts meanwhile said that that in a resource-constrained country like India, with very limited and unevenly distributed health infrastructure, the responses by the governments -- at both the central and state levels -- have been "sloppy". "I have seen rather lousy response from both Centre and most states thus far," said Dr Shikha Panwar, a critical care specialist in a private hospital in Faridabad where dedicated ICU beds are full with COVID-19 patients. "It's simply not possible to create advanced health facilities like ICU beds overnight and get trained manpower but even out-of-the-box ideas like converting unused public and private places into makeshift hospitals is not happening on the ground fast enough," she said. "We are seeing a large number of patients being refused treatment in Mumbai and Delhi-NCR with the surge in cases and my fear is that this lackadaisical response will cost the country dearly." Sujatha K Rao, former Union health secretary too echoed similar sentiments. "Every country has limitations and it is difficult to create ICUs in the short run. Also, it's not a question of beds alone but accompanying manpower and equipment as well," she said. She cited the example of Delhi -- a badly hit state -- where the state government has projected that 80,000 hospital beds would be needed for COVID-19 patients alone as the total cases could go up to 5.5 lakh by July end, suggesting that states will have to focus on avoding a rapid surge in infections as catering to the deluge of patients could be simply impossible. "It is essential to even out the spread of infections -- to create 80000 beds is ridiculously ambitious," she said. "Besides there are other equally deserving non-COVID patients and they can't be abandoned." Her prescription included modulating lockdown norms as per outbreak status and ensuring strict lockdown in containment areas. ALSO READ | 600 more hospitals in India designated as Covid-19 treatment centres within four weeks Dr Raymond Savio, an intensivist in Chennai, said that considering sick patients need longer time to recover, critical care units could soon be stretched to their capacity. "While there is no need to panic at the moment, the real key to this lies in the hands of people. The so-called unlock should be observed with greater discipline than during the lockdown, he emphasized. Keshav Desiraju, who has also been a Union health secretary in the past, underlined that the governments -- at the Centre and state levels -- need to take full responsibility of the situation. "There has to be a realistic projection of beds required across all categories and there should efforts to fulfill the need during the pandemic to the best of government's capabilities," he said. "I think governments should acquire private hospitals if the need arises." The numbers that matter * 958 dedicated COVID Hospitals with 1,67,883 isolation beds, 21,614 ICU beds and 73,469 oxygen supported beds * 2,313 dedicated COVID Health Centres with 1,33,037 Isolation beds, 10,748 ICU beds and 46,635 oxygen supported beds. * 7,525 COVID Care Centres with 7,10,642 beds * Ventilators available for COVID beds - 21,494 ALSO SEE: If the US presidential election were held tomorrow, Trump would most likely lose. But its not being held tomorrow. United States President Donald Trump is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week at least in the world of public opinion polling. There now has been a full slate of polling since the May 25 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the ensuing protests, and the picture those polls paint for the president is not a pretty one. Trumps approval rating has plummeted Gallup now has his support down a staggering 10 points to 39 percent over the last month and Democratic challenger Joe Biden leads him by an average of 10 points among registered voters nationally, as well in most of the key battleground states. What catches my eye in new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll is that while 53% disapprove of Trumps job performance, fully 47% STRONGLY disapprove. Remarkably high. Difficult to turn around voters with strong opinions. Overall, Biden leads Trump 49% to 42% (+7% Biden). Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) June 7, 2020 Trumps words, tweets and actions during the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout and now the unrest over the killing of Floyd by a white police officer cost him among almost all demographics. His support among older voters and white working-class voters is eroding. Younger voters are warming to Biden, and Trump is considered positively toxic among female voters. He now trails Biden among female voters by 25 points. The polling data has so peeved the president that his campaign took the almost comical step of sending a cease-and-desist letter to CNN, demanding that it retract and apologise for a poll it published over the weekend showing the president trailing Biden by 14 points among registered voters nationwide. The poll, the campaign claimed, was designed to mislead American voters through a biased questionnaire and skewed sampling. A CNN spokesman said the network stands by the poll. I have retained highly respected pollster, McLaughlin & Associates, to analyze todays CNN Poll (and others), which I felt were FAKE based on the incredible enthusiasm we are receiving. Read analysis for yourself. This is the same thing they and others did when we defeated Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 8, 2020 If the US presidential election were to be held tomorrow, Trump would most likely not survive. But its not being held tomorrow. November 3 is still five months away, and 2020 has been nothing if not full of surprises so far. Racists exist The most recent election-shattering sequences of events widespread social unrest over police brutality and racism would seem to favour the challenger. Professed public support for the protesters cause is strong (support for the protests themselves is more muddled, however) and Trump regularly receives low marks for his handling of race relations. Racial attitudes are deeply ingrained in the US psyche, as is to be expected on a continent where slavery was the law of the land for 300 years after Europeans arrived and racism was institutionalised across society for more than 100 years after that. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 may have changed the laws, but the underlying attitudes remained. Clearly, racists exist in some corners of the US, and some of those racists vote. Some of those racists may even be getting calls from pollsters. But what if people are lying to pollsters? Political scientists have a term for such lying: the Bradley Effect. Named for a Black former mayor of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley, who in 1982 lost a gubernatorial election in California to George Deukmejian, a white Armenian-American, despite being significantly ahead in the polls leading up the vote, the theory posits that some white voters will lie to pollsters about who they are planning on voting for when Black candidates are on the ballot. The Bradley effect similar theories have cropped up in other countries, such as the so-called Shy Tory Factor in the United Kingdom is far from universally accepted and revolves primarily around candidates themselves. Unrest could help It may explain why Trump has opted for a law-and-order mantra over the more conciliatory tone of his opponent. The 73-year-old Trump (who turns 74 this Sunday) was in his early 20s when Republican Richard Nixon summoned his silent majority to the polls in 1968 and ended up winning the US presidency, despite being challenged from the right by segregationist George Wallace. Academic research published in the aftermath of the 1968 election found convincing evidence that the widespread violent unrest that year arguably the most tumultuous year of the past five decades before 2020 came along steered voters into the Republican camp and tipped the election in Nixons favour. The scary reverse Bradley effect for Donald Trump. https://t.co/vZWEmccix6 Jonathan Capehart (@CapehartJ) December 22, 2015 This time may be different. Ubiquitous social media means Americans can no longer ignore evidence of police brutality. The protests may catalyse real change in the form of laws and policies, rather than initiatives and promises to do better. Much more so than in previous unrest, white protesters have joined the movement and marched alongside Americans of all stripes. Three generations into the civil rights era, maybe racial attitudes in aggregate have actually evolved. Before Democrats proclaim themselves the obvious choice in the current environment and crow about Bidens widening lead in the polls, however, they would do well to remember 2016. In June 2016, poll averages monitored by RealClearPolitics showed Trump trailing Democrat Hillary Clinton by six to eight points nationwide. When October rolled around, Clinton was still ahead of Trump in most of those polls. We all know how that ended. "Historically on rafting trips we are mixing different groups, both in the buses and on the rafts when we're at full capacity," Lancaster said in a phone interview. "With COVID and social distancing, we'll need to spread people out. (We'll have) half capacity in our buses at the most, and only private groups in the raft." Tamarack is in a better place than many rafting outfitters to seriously curtail its rafting operations thanks to income from its ski operations and numerous other summer activities. For some smaller operators, the pandemic has been a serious squeeze on income, part of what IOGA's Lieberman said is a potential "extinction event" for outfitting businesses in Idaho. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 00:33:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, June 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday authorized sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) officials engaged in an investigation into possible war crimes by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. "The President has authorized economic sanctions against International Criminal Court officials directly engaged with any effort to investigate or prosecute United States personnel without the consent of the United States," the White House said in a statement. Trump also authorized the expansion of visa restrictions against ICC officials and their family members. The statement criticized the ICC as an "unaccountable and ineffective international bureaucracy" that pursues "politically-motivated" investigations against the United States and its allies. Top officials of the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Pentagon chief Mark Esper, Attorney General William Barr, and National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, attended a press briefing later in the day at the State Department to denounce the ICC as well as its efforts to probe U.S. actions in Afghanistan. Officials said that the United States has not ratified the Rome Statute of the ICC and rejected the ICC's jurisdiction over U.S. persons. The ICC in March authorized an investigation into possible war crimes in Afghanistan, including those that may have been committed by the U.S. military and the CIA, which could lead to the indictment of U.S. military and intelligence personnel. The ICC was established when the Rome Statute took effect in 2002. It prosecutes crimes of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression. Enditem With another 304 coronavirus cases confirmed in Portugal on Thursday, the country saw the number of cases increasing steadily for the fifth day in a row. Thursdays spike in the number of cases brings the total up by 0.97%. Its the largest daily increase registered in the country since May 8. According to the Portuguese Health Ministry, the country has now 31,595 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,369 deaths. The metropolitan area of Lisbon was home to around 88% of the new cases reported on Thursday, becoming one of the epicenters of contagion in the country, according to the newspaper Diario de Noticias. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Thursday the situation in Lisbon demands special attention. He said the current situation will be taken into account and could affect the plan to further ease lockdown measures in the Lisbon area on June 1. Portugal has been widely praised for its early response to the pandemic. It was one of the first European countries to call a state of emergency and enforce a lockdown. In doing so, it managed to avoid the widespread outbreak that was seen in neighboring Spain. Spain has counted over 27,000 COVID-19 deaths and 236,700 cases so far. Although Spains population is around four times that of Portugal, its COVID-19 death toll is nearly 20 times higher. Yet, Spain has been registering fewer new infections than Portugal in recent days. On Wednesday Spain reported 231 new infections compared to 285 in Portugal. Portugal has been gradually easing its nationwide lockdown since May 4, whereas Spains worst-affected areas like Madrid and Barcelona only began to emerge from confinement this week. The regional government of Extremadura in western Spain is now pushing to reopen the border with Portugal as soon as possible, local daily Hoy reported on Thursday. Both countries are highly reliant on tourism and keen to salvage the summer season. Image Credit: AA When Ritchie Torres won his race for the New York City Council at age 25, he became the youngest elected city official in New York City and the first openly gay person elected to legislative office from the Bronx. Now, seven years later, he is running for Congress. "If you want a chance at being a transformative policymaker, then you have to be in Washington, D.C.," Torres told NBC News. "That's where the priorities are formed. That's where the purse strings are. That's where the future of the country is determined." Image: Ritchie Torres and Aaron Carr (Richard Drew / AP file) Torres is one of at least five dozen lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer candidates who will appear on primary ballots across the U.S. this month alone. If elected, he would become the first Afro-Latinx gay person to ever serve in Congress. Before that, however, he must win his crowded Democratic primary on June 23, in which Ruben Diaz Sr. who is known for his outspoken opposition to same-sex marriage is leading in some polls. "I can think of no better way to celebrate Pride Month than to retire the policies of fear and hate that Diaz Sr. represents," Torres said. "He has cast a homophobic cloud over Bronx policies since I was a child." Diaz did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics If Torres emerges victorious this month, he would very likely head to Congress, as his district is the most Democratic in the nation. As in previous election cycles, the number and diversity of LGBTQ candidates continue to grow, but unlike in previous years, candidates are confronting both a pandemic and historic protests in response to racism and police violence. Historic firsts During the 2020 election cycle, at least 850 LGBTQ candidates an unprecedented number have appeared or will appear on ballots across the U.S., according to the LGBTQ Victory Fund, a group that trains, supports and advocates for queer candidates. For comparison, in 2018, just over 700 openly LGBTQ candidates ran for office, 432 made it to the ballot in the general election and at least 150 were victorious, according to the Victory Fund. Story continues Don Haider-Markel, a political science professor at the University of Kansas, called this year's number of LGBTQ candidates "shocking," although he said the overall trend toward more queer candidates fits the pattern of the last few election cycles. And with the increasing number of candidates come more LGBTQ firsts across the country. "There are some real milestones that could be reached this cycle," Haider-Markel said. "What you are seeing is a lot of first-time candidates running for office without some of the traditional political experience backgrounds." One of those candidates is Kim Jackson, a lesbian Episcopal priest running for a seat in the Georgia Senate. She is still waiting to find out whether she won her primary, which was held Tuesday, but as of Thursday she was in the lead. "I'm running on a platform to create a safer, fairer and more prosperous Georgia," said Jackson, who this month was named one of NBC Out's Pride Month honorees. If elected in November, Jackson would be the first out member in the state's upper chamber. "Having LGBTQ representation in the Georgia state Senate is exceptionally important," Jackson said, "because most of the anti-LGBTQ bills originate in the Senate." "I hope my presence there will help us avoid those things," she added. Haider-Markel said that the number of transgender candidates is continuing to rise and that an increasing number of LGBTQ candidates are running in states where there is no queer representation even at the local level. He said that even though Christine Hallquist, a trans woman, lost her bid for governor of Vermont in 2018, her candidacy "clearly motivated more people to run." For example, Rosemary Ketchum won her election Tuesday for the Wheeling City Council in West Virginia, becoming the first openly transgender person ever elected in the Mountain State. She officially takes office July 1. "Rosemary has shattered a lavender ceiling in West Virginia and will join the growing number of out trans elected officials serving nationwide," Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, said in a statement. "Trans people are severely underrepresented in elected office with just 26 out trans officials anywhere in the country so Rosemary's victory will resonate well beyond her state. We know Rosemary's race will inspire other trans people from conservative states to consider a run for office in their communities and then those candidates will inspire others as well." Another first for transgender representation could be Kristen Browde, who is running for the New York Assembly. Should she claim victory in her June 23 primary and go on to win the general election in November, she would be the first openly transgender person elected in the entire state, according to the Victory Fund. As for the representational deficit, Pat Hackett of Indiana won her primary race for Congress and is vying to become the first openly gay member of Congress from the state. Hackett will face off in November against incumbent Republican Jackie Walorski, whose track record includes voting against LGBTQ protections. Image: Mondaire Jones, a congressional candidate for NY-17. (Mondaire For Congress) At least a dozen Black LGBTQ candidates are also on the ballot this month. Among them is Mondaire Jones of New York, who would become the first openly gay Black member of Congress. If he joins Hackett, Torres and Tracy Mitrano in general election victories in November, they could take LGBTQ representation in the House from the current seven members to 11. Haider-Markel expects a similar percentage of LGBTQ candidates about 32 percent, according to the Victory Fund to win this cycle as they did in 2018. But even if the overall success rate goes down, he said, the large number of queer candidates will likely still mean an increase in overall representation. "The pool of candidates is really diversifying. That should also be heartening because of the intersectional identities those candidates can appeal to," Haider-Markel said. One candidate on track to bring her intersectional identity to political office is Jessica Benham. Benham, who is bisexual, won her Democratic primary June 2 for a seat in the Pennsylvania Legislature. Her heavily Democratic district means she will likely become the first openly LGBTQ woman elected to the Pennsylvania House and the first openly autistic person elected to any state legislature. "I firmly believe that the ways in which we talk about policy and implement policy are deeply rooted in our lived experiences," Benham said. "I never imagined that I would be somebody who would run for office ... because I didn't see people like me in elected office." Unrest and protests LGBTQ candidates are campaigning as protesters across the country continue to march seeking justice for George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody last month. And some candidates, like Jackson, are doing both. "I've been out in the protests on the front lines, because I am clear that enough is enough," Jackson said. She is looking to decriminalize minor traffic violations that have "been used as an excuse to get Black and brown folks out of their cars and arrest them unfairly." Haider-Markel expects LGBTQ candidates who are overwhelmingly Democrats and identify as progressive to tackle issues of police violence head on. "Any progressive candidate running for office right now can't not talk about these things," he said. Torres agrees. "The deep rot of institutional racism at the core of the criminal justice system is so exposed that it cannot be ignored it has to be confronted, and people are going to continue protesting until it is confronted," he added. "It is demoralizing to live in a society that devalues Black and brown life, especially if you are a Black or brown person." Pandemic politics COVID-19 has created unprecedented conditions in which candidates must campaign. The impact of the pandemic on the primary and the general election remain unclear, although Haider-Markel said he believes the pandemic and the protests highlight the situation of many of the underprivileged communities LGBTQ candidates represent. "I made a decision to run for Congress before COVID-19," Torres said, although he added that the health crisis has reminded him of the importance of addressing racialized poverty in the Bronx. "The racial inequalities revealed by COVID-19 are too glaring to ignore." The pandemic has also affected LGBTQ candidates' ability to campaign effectively. "I myself contracted COVID-19, which took me out of commission," Torres said. In addition to losing precious time on the campaign trail, he said, "the rules of the election have been radically rewritten." "We not only have to communicate to voters about ourselves but educate them about voting absentee," Torres said. Confusion and delays at polling places, as occurred in Georgia on Tuesday, can depress turnout. "Generally speaking, the belief is that lower turnout hurts Democrats, and since most LGBTQ candidates are Democrats, it could hurt them," Haider-Markel said. "For first-time LGBTQ candidates that don't have prior political experience, that would likely hurt them," Haider-Markel added. "The lack of door-to-door canvassing that is likely to result from this is going to hurt challengers. It's going to favor incumbents and people that are already known in the community." The health crisis has also pushed back primary dates, forcing candidates to campaign much longer and to pivot toward digital media, phone calls and mail. At the same time, COVID-19 has compressed the campaigning timeline for those voters choosing mail-in ballots. "Even though the primary is on June 23, much of the electorate casts their ballot before then," Torres said. That gives him less time to overcome the advantage of name recognition held by his opponent. "The crowded nature of the race could enable Ruben Diaz Sr. to eke out a victory at the margins." The pandemic has also heightened the economic insecurity affecting many Americans. "Campaigning as if it were business as usual is callous," Torres said. "When I am out in the field, I am not knocking on doors asking for votes. I am distributing food and personal protective equipment." COVID-19 has also had a devastating impact on the economy, and a bad economy tends to hurt incumbents, Haider-Markel said. "How the economy will play out in the general election is really unclear, because it is unclear where the economy will be," he said. For many LGBTQ candidates, their election is also about something better for queer youth in this time of crisis. "I think a lot about queer kids in Georgia who are longing to know that something bigger is possible for their lives. I recognize my election could be a sign of hope for people, and I am happy to be that," Jackson said. Follow NBC Out on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram Thinking outside the box for a proper fix of a broken economic situation imposed by Coronavirus requires untried solutions from another toolbox ordinary experts may not possess. Coronavirus landed with a devastating blow to global health order and economic livelihoods. According to recent Guardian reports, "Britains economy slumped by 20.4% in April in the biggest monthly decline since records began, as the coronavirus lockdown paralysed the country." There is no denial of the fact that a world that trusted everything with the hope of advancing is now taken to task unprepared. The advent of Coronavirus began with news from far away territories when most people thought this was another passing cloud for the least fortunate in resource capabilities. Nations relying on highly trained health professionals and equipped with sophisticated technology kept confident in their capability to contain threats, be that internal or external. Not until Coronavirus advances beyond expectations with deep bites into the financial flesh of governments, organisations, and households that everyone comes to terms seeking solutions to fill gaps in their plans and budgets. Reeling from challenges of credit crunch financial meltdown, the world was hoping to enjoy gains of a recovering economic order. Suddenly, all plans and budgets for the year 2020 could no longer be implemented without gaps as Coronavirus rages on. Caught up in this critical time trap, so much is at stake. A weakening global economic order will bear a serious impact on everyone in vast ways. The economic lockdown translated in productivity terms has all indicators of slow recovery as we continue to experience a depletion of resources with little or no corresponding returns. Two critical dimensions to this quagmire cannot be ignored without consequences. Economic recovery heavily requires a physically healthy enterprising population to keep cashflow in a steady motion. Resources are required for both ends of the equation. It all boils down to rapid and yet effective responses needing effective business intervention strategies aimed at optimal gains. As noted elsewhere, this calls for the wholesome engagement of combined competencies. Business leaders, governments, and policymakers need to come together in search of solutions. Coronavirus is certainly raging on with no better signs of slowing down soon. This virus caught the world unplanned. Within a very short time interval, it shattered every plan, nearly invalidating best-tested solutions in the toolbox of experts and health professionals. The situation faced by humanity demands serious rethinking. Perhaps, thinking outside the box will lead to new discoveries while in search of readily applicable and proper fix to a broken economy and increasing health threats. Keeping the economic engine spin faster with healthy cash flow is a felt-need as we stay in search of long-lasting recovery intervention to the final rescue. Following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, high school students nationwide have organized and participated in protests against police brutality and racism. For some students, their participation is a continuation of activism work they started in 2018 after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla., or in 2019 during the worldwide protests for climate action. For others, its not only their first time speaking out, but its their first time organizing. Education Week Video spoke with 16 high school students from across the country who are engaging with their communities. I know what motivated me was not seeing a lot of protests happening in Baton Rouge prior to all of the deaths that have been happening in the country, said Noah Hawkins, a 16-year-old student at Baton Rouge Magnet High School in Louisiana. Other students emphasized the importance of making sure that this movement goes beyond a moment. We cant just look at the death of George Floyd, the death of Breonna Taylor, and the death of Amaud Arbury and think that that happened on that date and therefore we move on, said Sofia Hidalgo, who graduated this spring from Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, Md. The movement is against police brutality, its against systematic oppression, its against institutionalized racism and that doesnt disappear when the protests end. For students like Jenaan Ahmed, a newly-graduated senior from Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis, theres also hope in the nationwide scale of the demonstrations. Im feeling a sense of global connectedness through all of this because every day, every hour, theres a new city or a new town somewhere in the U.S. thats protesting, Ahmed said. So it feels good to know that our struggle right now is not isolated and we are not alone. Related Reading Its All We Can Talk About': High Schoolers React to Protests Over Police Violence A Black Teachers Letter to His Younger Self: I Now Face Two Battles Teachers Are as Racially Biased as Everybody Else, Study Shows Some sick rural folks from the Poyentanga in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region are refusing to visit their health centre to seek health care for fear of contracting the coronavirus disease. Their reason for choosing to stay at home with their sickness rather than visit the health centre for health care, is that they heard the coronavirus disease was in the big villages, towns and cities, which discourages them from attending to the health facilitity. Mr Yuorido Kakariba, a native of Tendoma community in the District told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that they prefer to stay at home with a sickness they are familiar with than to go out and contract what he referred to as a strange disease. We have lived with a lot of sicknesses such as malaria and others but no one told us not to go out, but with this disease, they said we should not go out because if we go out, we are likely to contract it, he said. If you get malaria there is medicine but for coronavirus, we heard there is no cure for it. So if you make mistake and contract it, you are in trouble that is why we don't want to take chances, he emphasized. Madam Grace Bonye, also a native of Tendoma whose child was sick told the GNA that she did not send her child to the health centre because she was afraid of the risk of travelling in a public transport and also to public facilities such as the health centre. 'We believe the disease is not in our village, we will only get it if we go to town so we choose to stay at home, she said. Mr Kareem Rashid Dalo, Physician Assistant In-charge of the Poyentanga Health Centre when contacted confirmed that the people were refusing to patronize the health centre because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said this was a worry to them because a lot of people were getting sick but were staying at home, which according to him was dangerous to their health. He said, however, that they had initiated mobile outreach services to the communities to respond to the situation. We now send our health staff to the communities to attend to sick people in their homes since they are refusing to come to the facility by themselves, he said. Mr Dalo added that the outreach team was recording high number of attendance in the various communities than those who visit the facility itself daily. ---GNA President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his administration has been able to stem insecurity and its attendant threat to food security in war-wracked Northeast Nigeria. Mr Buhari also said most of the local government areas that were prior to his administration under the control of outlawed armed groups like Boko Haram, have been reclaimed and displaced residents have returned to their homes. President Buhari made these claims in a nationwide broadcast on Friday in commemoration of the maiden celebration of the countrys June 12 Democracy Day. The broadcast came hours after suspected Boko Haram splinter group, ISWAP, circulated a video footage showing the execution of an abducted soldier and a police officer. It also came days after Boko Haram militants killed 81 people in Gubio, a community in Borno State. Mr Buhari said his government has in the area of security, in the past five years remain unshaken in its resolve to protect our national infrastructure including on-shore and off-shore oil installations, secure our territorial waters and end piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Ending insurgency, banditry, and other forms of criminality across the nation is being accorded appropriate priorities and the men and women of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have considerably downgraded such threats across all geo-political zones, he said. He said all the Local Governments that were taken over by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa have long been recovered and are now occupied by indigenes of these areas who were hitherto forced to seek a living in areas far from their ancestral homes. Mr Buhari also said that his administration has so far halted the total collapse of the economies of these areas, which constituted a threat to our food security, has also been reversed with the gradual recovery of farming and other economic activities. Recent Gubio Killings Mr Buhari in the broadcast empathized with people of Borno over the Tuesdays attack by Boko Haram in Gubio local government. I regret recent sporadic incidents with the tragic loss of lives in Katsina and Borno States as a result of criminals taking advantage of COVID-19 restrictions, he said. He said security agencies will go after the perpetrators and bring them to swift justice. He however urged state and local governments to revamp their intelligence assets so that the Security Agencies can nip in the bud any planned attacks in remote rural areas. I send my heartfelt condolences to all the relatives and communities affected. The Northeast region has been enmeshed in a bloody insurgency over 10 years which has resulted in the killings of thousands and mass displacement of residents in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States. The Buhari regime came into office in May 2015, winning a major victory on the basis of his promise to tackle the northeast insecurity in six months. Though most of the local government areas that were earlier seized and declared Boko Haram territory have been reclaimed by Nigerian troops, access to those communities still remains difficult. In the last two years, the region has witnessed a mass resurgence of violence perpetrated by the now divided terror groups Boko Haram and ISWAP. UN comment on northeast Nigeria On Thursday, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, had, while commenting on the Tuesday killing of 81 civilians in Monguno, bemoaned the failing state of insecurity in the northeast. Describing the attack as the deadliest recorded in north-central Borno State since July 2019, Mr Kallon said the incident has sent shockwaves across the humanitarian community working to provide life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable in Borno State. He said he was gravely concerned by the spike of level violent attacks recorded in recent weeks. Advertisements I am also troubled by the widespread practice by non-state armed groups of setting up illegal checkpoints along main supply routes, which heighten risks for civilians to be abducted, killed or injured, said the foremost UN staff in Nigeria Aid workers are directly impacted and the humanitarian community is disturbed by the news of possible abductions, including that of a camp manager from the Borno State Emergency Management Agency working in the northern Borno State town of Monguno, where tens of thousands of civilians are desperately in need of humanitarian assistance. Cruise missiles used in several attacks on oil facilities and an international airport in Saudi Arabia last year were of Iranian origin, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council in a report seen by Reuters on Thursday. Guterres also said several items in US seizures of weapons and related material in November 2019 and February 2020 were of Iranian origin. Some have design characteristics similar to those also produced by a commercial entity in Iran, or bear Farsi markings, Guterres said, and some were delivered to the country between February 2016 and April 2018. He said that these items may have been transferred in a manner inconsistent with a 2015 Security Council resolution that enshrines Tehrans deal with world powers to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons. Irans mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the UN report. Washington is urging the 15-member council to extend an arms embargo on Iran that is due to expire in October under the nuclear deal. Council veto-powers Russia and China have already signalled their opposition to the move. Guterres reports twice a year to the Security Council on the implementation of an arms embargo on Iran and other restrictions that remained in place after the deal. In December, he told the council the UN was unable to independently corroborate that the cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles used in the attacks were of Iranian origin. Iran denial The UN chief said the United Nations examined debris of weapons used in attacks on a Saudi oil facility in Afif in May, on the Abha international airport in June and August and on the Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Khurais and Abqaiq in September. The Secretariat assesses that the cruise missiles and/or parts thereof used in the four attacks are of Iranian origin, Guterres wrote. Guterres also said that drones used in the May and September attacks were of Iranian origin. He also said the United Nations had observed that some items in the two US seizures were identical or similar to those found in the debris of the cruise missiles and the drones used in the 2019 attacks on Saudi Arabia. Guterres said that in a May 22 letter, Irans UN envoy said it has not been the policy of Iran to export weapons in violation of relevant arms embargoes of the Security Council and that it will continue to actively cooperate with the United Nations in this regard. Saudi Arabia has said previously strikes on its oil infrastructure came from the north and were unquestionably sponsored by Iran. Iran has denied any involvement. Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed the attacks on the Saudi Aramco facilities. The Security Council is due to discuss Guterress report later this month. US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft has said she will circulate a draft resolution to extend the arms embargo on Iran soon. If Washington is unsuccessful, it has threatened to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran under the nuclear deal, even though it quit the accord in 2018. Diplomats say Washington would probably face a tough, messy battle. Iran has breached parts of the nuclear deal in response to the US withdrawal and Washingtons reimposition of sanctions. I call upon all Member States to avoid provocative rhetoric and actions that may have a negative impact on regional stability, Guterres wrote in the 14-page report. But, as I wrote then, each such symbol sends a message to African Americans that a segment of our population continues, often with government sponsorship, to celebrate the effort in the 1860s to preserve at all costs their legal status as subhuman. Each such symbol expresses pride at the depredations of the treasonous murderers who took up arms against their country to preserve the indefensible institution of slavery. Each one suggests a pernicious nostalgia for the bad old days and an upraised middle finger to those who believe in equality. This sale allows us to simplify our loss adjusting brand structure and take a One Crawford approach to the market, commented Andrew Bart, president of Crawford Global Technical Services. We remain committed to the energy sector and will now operate solely under the Crawford brand. Our focus on being the best experts for the most complex claims remains unchanged as we continue to deliver on our mission to restore and enhance lives, businesses and communities. But what about the buyer? By contrast, McLarens sees Lloyd Warwick, which has a team of nearly 50 adjustors, as a compelling strategic fit pointing to its wide range of experience across onshore, offshore and renewable energy claims. It has offices across the UK, Asia-Pacific, the Americas, the Middle East and South Africa, and McLarens hopes that unifying the businesses with Lloyd Warwick set to merge with McLarens Natural Resources specialties service but retain its existing brand it will boost its loss adjusting offering. The acquisition will help accelerate our growth and innovation, commented Matthew LeBrun, newly appointed head of natural resources, Americas. Our goal is to bring together our experience, talent and strength into a unified organization to accelerate further growth. The combined specialty practice will be the global leader in natural resources loss and claims management. The Lloyd Warwick International name, like McLarens, is globally recognized and associated with quality, technical expertise, and the best loss adjusting and claims management service, added Gary Brown (pictured), CEO at McLarens. The company has a leading reputation in the energy and oil market internationally, which will transform McLarens footprint in the natural resources sector. Together, we will advance our strategy of offering a broader depth of loss adjusting and technical services, a wider range of insurance consulting solutions, and an enhanced ability to serve major complex claims in the onshore and offshore energy market. The chairman of Lloyd Warwick, Joe McMahon, is set to continue to lead the brand. He too spoke on the deal, noting that two leading loss adjusting and claims management brands just got stronger. The quality of work and technical expertise that McLarens fosters is complementary to our practice, he said. We share a similar set of values and beliefs to provide market leading insurance consulting services by utilizing excellent communications, state of the art technology, and the proven technical knowledge of our talented adjusting staff. I am excited and look forward to partnering with McLarens on building our combined loss adjustment and claims management business. Financial terms of the transaction were not revealed. Russian investigators have detained three staff from a power plant over a massive fuel spill in the Arctic, as response teams warned a full clean-up would take years. Over 21,000 tonnes of fuel was spilled in May in the city of Norilsk after a fuel reservoir collapsed at a power plant operated by a subsidiary of metals giant Norilsk Nickel. The accident is the largest spill ever to hit the Arctic, say environmentalists. Those working at the site have already seen the first effects on the local ecosystem, said Viktor Bronnikov, general director of Transneft Siberia oil and gas transport company involved in the clean-up. The Investigative Committee looking into the accident said it had detained the director of the power station, Pavel Smirnov, and two engineers on suspicion of breaching environmental protection rules. If convicted, they risk up to five years in prison. "The company considers this measure to be unjustifiably harsh," Norilsk Nickel said in a statement to AFP, citing vice-president Nikolai Utkin. All three "are cooperating with law enforcement authorities and now they would be much more useful at the scene of the clean-up operation". Animals dying At the scene in the Norilsk industrial district, the situation appeared to be stabilising, according to Bronnikov. But the clean-up team has seen animals and birds killed by the spill. "Today I saw dead muskrats," Bronnikov told AFP, adding that workers had seen ducks killed by the oil. "If a bird lands on the diesel fuel or a muskrat swims through it, it is condemned to death," he said. He added, however, that he had not seen "a huge number" of animals dying. Workers in waterproofs were using booms to contain the reddish-brown diesel on the surface of a river and pump it into tanks on the bank. "We will be removing diesel fuel from the Ambarnaya River for at least eight to 10 days," Bronnikov said. "We will need years to completely clean up," he added. The teams have set up tents on the river bank and are using helicopters to bring in equipment and survey the vast flat area of grass and sparse trees. After this "mechanical" stage, other methods will have to be used to absorb the rest of the diesel or cause it to break down, Bronnikov said. Clean-up efforts Norilsk Nickel head Vladimir Potanin, a former deputy prime minister under Boris Yeltsin, said the company would pay for clean-up efforts estimated at $146 million after President Vladimir Putin backed a state of emergency in the Arctic city. The Investigative Committee said the power plant's fuel tank had required major repairs from 2018 but the suspects "continued to use it in breach of safety rules". "As a result, the accident occurred," the investigators' statement said. Norilsk Nickel said that the fuel reservoir was built in 1985 and underwent repairs in 2017 and 2018, after which it went through a safety audit. Regional officials have said that despite efforts to contain the fuel leak using booms on the river surface, it has now reached a freshwater lake that is a major source of water for the region. The pollution could now flow into the Kara Sea in the Arctic Ocean north of Siberia, which Greenpeace Russia expert Vladimir Chuprov told AFP would be a "disaster". But in a conference call on Wednesday, Norilsk Nickel's first vice president Sergei Dyachenko denied the spill had reached the lake, saying the company had not found contamination there. The metals giant has said the accident could have been caused by global warming thawing the permafrost under the fuel reservoir. It has acknowledged it did not specifically monitor the condition of permafrost at its sites in the past and said it would do a full audit shortly. According to a press update by Norilsk Nickel, a total of 673 people are involved in the clean-up operations. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 23:19:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SKOPJE, June 12 (Xinhua) -- President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, declared on Friday the decision to lift the state of emergency in the country. In his address to the public, Pendarovski said that there is no need to extend the state of emergency in North Macedonia. "In case there is a need to introduce or impose other preventive measures, such as a curfew, there is legislation about it," the president said. Saturday is the last day of the 14-day state of emergency declared by the president on May 30. Pendarovski has declared a state of emergency for four times to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country. The first 30-day state of emergency was declared on March 18 after the country confirmed its first coronavirus case. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Health Minister Venko Filipce stated that the recommendations of the Infection Diseases Committee remain the same and all citizens must respect them. "A long battle with the virus is ahead of us and we must learn to live with it. Let's respect the measures based on three principles: wearing masks, keeping distance and hygiene," Filipce said. On Friday, Health Ministry reported 164 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total infections to 3,706, with 1,694 recoveries and 171 fatalities. Enditem Jammu, June 12 : Days after her father was killed by terrorists in Kashmir, Niyanta Pandita, daughter of Sarpanch Ajay Pandita Bharti, said she will follow the footsteps of her brave father who loved his country and was a true patriot. Ajay Pandita Bharti, a Sarpanch in south Kashmir's Anantnag, was shot from a close range by terrorists and killed near his residence on Monday. Speaking to IANS Niyanta said the family currently in Jammu will soon be moving back to Kashmir. "My father was brave and I too have to be brave, we will not allow anybody to snatch our rights," she said. She said the terrorists who shot her father had no courage. They didn't have the guts to face him but shot him from behind. "They could have shot him in the chest, but they fired from the back at his head, it is simply a case of cowardice," she said. She said her father had demanded security cover from the government after a Sarpanch was killed in November last year. She said he did this because he was concerned about the fact that he was not alone but had a family with him. She said even though the security was not given, it didn't deter or scare him to speak for his people and to work for them. She said she, however, nurses a grievance to some extent about the unheeded call of his father about security, if he would have been given the security, and his concerns had not been left unheard then may be this would not have happened. She said the incident should serve as a lesson for the government that people's concerns must not be taken lightly otherwise the results could be very bad. "We are a family of lions, we are not scared of anybody. But everybody is concerned about family's safety. My father wasn't scared for himself, but was concerned about his family, everybody is bothered about his family and strives for their safety and protection," she said. "Whatever the government deems right regarding giving security to sarpanchs, it must do that, I don't want a similar tragedy repeated in Kashmir," she said. She said her father was elected Sarpanch with the support of the people and he had contested Sarpanch elections on the insistence of the locals. "They trusted him, I don't say that every person is bad there, but there are some bad people also, otherwise how would they know when he left the block, reached the home, and went outside when he was fired," she said. "People of India are killed in India, it is a shame, I want justice must be done as soon as possible," she said. She said her father was not dependent on any party. He loved his country and worked for the upliftment of the people. "He was the son of the nation. He doesn't belong to any party," she said. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text (Natural News) Police report that armed rebels are now requiring ID to get into Seattles anarchist utopia, known as CHAZ. The better to keep out the rabble who want an audience with Raz, the new feudal warlord. (Article by Victoria Taft republished from PJMedia.com) When hes not performing his warlord duties for CHAZ, Raz Simone is a rapper, who is fond of gold chains, Che Guevara berets, wife-beater shirts, and his AK-47. Raz, the warlord, isnt afraid to inflict a needed beatdown of certain live streamers. CHAZ has turned into a six-block hellscape of cement blocks, orange Jersey barriers, janky signs, garbage, and tents. Its Occupy, but without the rapes and trickling urine down the street. Dont worry, theres still time. Raz, Seattles Visigoth Razs serfs, along with the Black Lives Matter, antifa, and anarchist rabble, have now upped their game. In addition to running protection and extortion rackets, the Black Lives Matter and antifa rabble have taken up arms and begun to require people coming into their six-block CHAZ territory to show identification. Who says stop and frisk isnt alive and well? Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best says that armed protesters are requiring people to show ID to get inside the encampment. We have heard that there are armed people patrolling (she puts her hands into scare quotes) at 12th and Pine. Of course, this is very concerning, especially because we dont know who these people are. Weve also received report that these armed people maybe demanding payment from business owners in payment for protection. Weve also heard that they may demanding to see identification from people who live in the area. This is not legal. And we ask anyone who may be experiencing this to come forward and file a police report so that we can investigate these crimes. This is not legal. Thats quite a knee slapper as if anything about this place is legal. Furthermore, you can be excused for your confusion. We were told that requiring ID was racist. But it turns out that ID is not racist if youre manning the barricades at the CHAZ dystopia. Add this to your list of things for which youre required to have ID except for voting, of course. Showing ID to exercise your most important function as a U.S. citizen is legal but alas racist. So assume the position and cough up your pocket litter. Raz the Warlord will see you now. Read more at: PJMedia.com Bengaluru, June 12 : The Karnataka government is preparing to face the worst case Covid scenario as infections are expected to surge by August end, state Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar said on Friday. "As per the expert committee report, the number of cases will increase by August end and the state government is preparing for the worst case scenario," Sudhakar said, adding the committee had studied Covid transmission patterns in other countries and states. The Minister was holding a review meeting at Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) at Ballari where Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa is slated to inaugurate a trauma care centre on July 15. Sudhakar said employees at VIMS will be given monthly targets which have to be achieved. On the court stay at recruitment at the institute, he said the necessary clearance will be taken to raise staff. He also promised to ensure a well-equipped hospital in 2-3 months time and urged the hospital officials to get more funds from the authorities. Sudhakar told Medical Education Director, Girish, to ensure centralised supply of medicines and drugs to the hospital. He also warned of strict action against the hospital doctors who work at private clinics. Ballari in-charge Minister Anand Singh and MLA Somasekhar Reddy were also present at the review meeting. With the current upheaval taking place around the world due to the coronavirus pandemic, how can geopolitical frictions between the major powers impact nations like Vietnam that are looking to attract top investment? Vietnam, and indeed other nations of similar standing, can use the current climate to push their development ahead, Photo: Le Toan Leaders of the EU a fortnight ago held their first bilateral summit since the coronavirus pandemic began to spread and the addition of Japan as a partner highlighted a potential change in the order of the world. In a summit first, Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, European Council President Charles Michel, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said they are continuing major efforts to halt COVID-19, but insisted that an effective multiparty approach is key in the fight. The leaders recognised that global solidarity, co-operation, and effective multilateralism are required more than ever to defeat the virus as well as to ensure economic recovery, they wrote in a joint statement released after the conference. The online event was part of the blocs attempts to work with like-minded nations and regions in the face of an increasingly complex atmosphere in both Washington and Beijing, according to the Financial Times. It kicked off an intense few days of geopolitics for the EU, as foreign ministers prepared to meet with China several days later. However, last Thursday it was revealed that an autumn summit between the EU and China had been postponed due to the pandemic. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was planning to host EU leaders and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Leipzig on September 14 to enhance political and economic ties between the 27-member bloc and Beijing. We need a more robust strategy for China, which also requires better relations with the rest of Asia, Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, told an annual conference in Berlin last Monday. Thats why we must invest more in working with India, Japan, South Korea, and others. The EU and Japan in last September signed an ambitious deal to build infrastructure and set new development standards in joint ventures worldwide, in a response of sorts to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. PM Abe called growing co-operation between Brussels and Tokyo a resounding declaration. News of nations wishing to get involved in major infrastructure projects could be music to Vietnams ears. The countrys ambitious funding into infrastructure will ensure it retains an advantage over regional peers such as India, Bangladesh, and Cambodia, and spurring further construction activity in the coming years, according to Fitch Solutions. Before the pandemic hit, Vietnam was already well on its way in terms of attracting international investment. A number of industrial parks established across the country have attracted a great deal of attention, with a variety of tax incentives, lower operating costs, and access to nearby roads and ports. Major projects like the North-South Expressway are also being created in order to ease the flow of goods around the country. Fitch added that the US-China trade war last year prompted low-end electronics and textile manufacturers to move operations from China to Vietnam. It believed the coronavirus pandemic will only lead to further shifting of production lines away from China, with Vietnam likely to benefit. This has already been demonstrated in Samsungs recent move to build a research and development centre in Hanoi, as well as the bases being set up by electronics groups such as Denmarks Sonion and Japans Sharp. Other big companies are planning to set up production lines in the country including Microsoft, Nintendo, Ricoh, and Dell. Meanwhile, strong economic growth over the years has led to rising income levels, which in turn has resulted in an increase in the demand for higher-end residential real estate, especially in dense urban areas such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Push-and-pull effects While the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy is more dramatic than any other shock in recent history, forcing companies big and small to think outside the box and make huge alterations, the consequences of the virus in a shift in geopolitical order could be even more game-changing. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, an associate professor and director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, told the Bangkok Post last month that neither the US nor China will come out of the pandemic with flying colours. However, the issue will not be about who wins or loses outright. It is likely to be about who suffers least, recovers better, and re-emerges sooner, he said. As the global contraction begins to bite all economies, Chinas giant market at home will likely give the country more room to manoeuvre. Pongsudhirak added that if the weaknesses of the US and Europe in the global financial crisis a decade ago enabled Chinas launch to superpower status, the next year could see its solidification. Even though it will likely register its lowest growth in recent memory, China may well come out of COVID-19 stronger, he said. However, Deepanshu Mohan, associate professor of economics and director of the Centre for New Economics Studies at the Jindal School of International Affairs in India noted, In a post-COVID world, many developed nations may consider disentangling direct trade relations with China and decoupling supply chains to restrict the flow of goods and services into and from China. In a recent paper for the SSANSE Commission for a Post-COVID Future at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, Robert G. Patman explained, The emerging global order could be characterised by de-globalisation and protectionism and by intensified geopolitical competition involving the great powers like the US and China, and also conflicts such as the relatively brief oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. On the other hand, there are observers who see globalisation as a structural change powered by technologies that have made the world more interconnected, Patman said. The data decider That control of advanced technologies and the data it can provide is set to be a pivotal factor in who can move ahead in the near future. Technology and data are now inherently geopolitical. The nature of it has placed tech giants such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon in a commanding position, said Gulshan Rai, former national cybersecurity co-ordinator at the prime ministers office in India. At one time, these tech giants needed the support of governments everywhere. But now with their global reach, it is governments that are dependent on them. Rai added that the ongoing pandemic is an example of how citizens around the world have accepted the idea of their live locations being traced and shared. In India, without much concern for the right to privacy, more than 90 million people have downloaded Aarogya Setu, a contact-tracing app. The pandemic has brought a change in perception on issues like privacy. The geopolitical ramifications can be found everywhere. From Southeast Asia to the US, countries are both attempting to recover from the pandemic, and jockey for position on the global stage. With that, old frictions could bubble to the surface. Karin von Hippel, director-general of the Royal United Services Institute said, Some countries will emerge from this trying to cling to China, but others are likely to try to decouple. For Britain, Germany, France, and other major European economies reliant on the American security umbrella but looking to retain stronger economic ties with China, the difficulty of managing the fallout from the US-China trade (and now coronavirus) dispute may now only increase. In the United Kingdom, government sources told The Atlantic they are concerned about the reality of a COVID-19 geopolitical second wave. The British government expects protectionism to increase, supply chains to be brought back under national control, and the US-China relationship to become more antagonistic. This becomes more complex as the UK last week resumed post-Brexit trade discussions with the EU, with much to untangle leading into the official split next year. Vietnam will be watching, as it weighs up the potential of a future UK-Vietnam free trade deal. Without reforms in the liberal economic order, and to institutions such as the UN Security Council when it comes to veto powers, the rules-based international order could remain susceptible to the forces of populism. Patman at the University of Canterbury offered a suggestion. To meet this challenge, small and middle-level states will have to move from top-down multilateralism where superpowers like America or China always lead to a more bottom-up, strategic form of multilateralism that is capable of mobilising international support for long-overdue institutional reforms. Above all, COVID-19 has demonstrated for many states that neither the US or China can be relied upon to protect their vital interests, Patman said. VIR Quang Bao Coronavirus 'a devastating blow for world economy' World Bank President David Malpass says billions of people will have their livelihoods affected. Want to manufacture BrahMos so that no country has audacity to cast evil eye on us: Rajnath Singh IAF chopper crash: Rajnath Singh likely to be apprised of probe team's findings in next couple of days Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviews situation in eastern Ladakh India pti-PTI New Delhi, June 12: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday reviewed India's overall military preparedness in eastern Ladakh and several other areas along the Line of Actual Control in Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh even as Chinese and Indian armies held another round of Major General-level talks on the current border standoff, official sources said. The defence minister was given a detailed account on the overall situation in eastern Ladakh by Army Chief Gen MM Naravane at a high-level meeting which was also attended by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, they said. Rajnath Singh reviews Ladakh situation, holds meet with Cheif of defence staff | Oneindia News Stand united, advises Rajnath Singh amidst row with China The Indian and Chinese armies are locked in an over five-week standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie. The two sides have deployed additional troops along the LAC in North Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh following the standoff. It is understood that Singh told the top military brass to continue to deal with the situation in eastern Ladakh and other areas with "firmness". "The defence minister carried out a comprehensive review of the situation in eastern Ladakh," said a senior official on condition of anonymity. Military sources said the two armies held another round of Major General-level talks on Friday to find a way out to defuse tension in eastern Ladakh. India on Thursday said it is maintaining military and diplomatic engagements with China to peacefully resolve the row at the "earliest". In their first serious efforts to end the row, Lt General Harinder Singh, the general officer commanding of Leh-based 14 Corps, and Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin held a nearly seven-hour meeting on June 6. In the next one week, the field commanders of the two sides are slated to hold a series of meetings to discuss specific measures to defuse the tension. On Wednesday, the two sides held Major General-level talks in an positive atmosphere with an aim to end the bitter tussle. In the over four-and-half-hour dialogue, the Indian delegation pressed for total restoration of status quo ante and immediate withdrawal of thousands of Chinese troops from the areas which India considers on its side of the LAC, the sources said. Indo-China deadlock and the problem at Finger 4 In Friday's meeting too, India reiterated its demand, they added. After the standoff began in early last month, Indian military leadership decided that Indian troops will adopt a firm approach in dealing with the aggressive posturing by the Chinese troops in all disputed areas of Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie. The Chinese Army has been gradually ramping up its strategic reserves in its rear bases near the the Line of Actual Control (LAC) by rushing in artillery guns, infantry combat vehicles and heavy military equipment, the sources said. The trigger for the face-off was China's stiff opposition to India laying a key road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another road connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley. The road in the Finger area in Pangong Tso is considered crucial for India to carry out patrol. India has already decided not to stall any border infrastructure projects in eastern Ladakh in view of Chinese protests. The situation in the area deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on May 5 and 6. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on May 9. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it. Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. The battle hasnt been won, the war hasnt ended yet. Nevertheless, we are picking up the strands of our disrupted life in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It is in this spirit that one ought to commemorate the reopening of a special landmarka shop that serves one of the most delicious jalebis in the entire National Capital Region. Sardar Jalebi in Gurugrams Sadar Bazar started producing jalebis again a few days back, shortly after the easing of the prolonged lockdown triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. The viral attack is only intensifying further but the city is trying to limp back to business and you see glimpses of the old normality in this much-loved icon. This late morning, a couple of cooks, whom the owner calls karigars, are deep-frying the jalebis in huge cauldrons. One gentleman is squeezing the batter through a thin cloth into the oil-filled vessel, constantly moving his hand anti-clockwise to get twirly-shapes befitting a jalebi. Another man is filling a fresh stock of jalebis into a paper bag for a customer. This Sadar Bazars signature jalebi is thin and extremely crisp and tastes excellent even when coldunlike its thicker counterpart in the equally illustrious Old Famous Jalebi Wala in Old Delhis Chandni Chowk, which tastes best when eaten hot, just off the karahi. (That shop too has reopened, serving from 9am to 6pm daily). Each worker here at Sardar Jalebi is attired in gloves and mask, and no mask is slipping down under the nose as it is frustratingly the case with most people walking on the streets these days. All this is being viewed through a mobile screen that connects this reporter to Gurpreet Singh, whose family has been running this establishment for 70 years. Wearing a similar black mask as his staffers, the turbaned young man is chatting on WhatsApp video. He is sitting against a wall decked up with the portraits of all the 10 Sikh gurus. The portrait of Guru Nanak is decked with a garland of fresh marigolds. We have five karigars at the moment, says Mr Singh, his voice a bit muffled, perhaps because of the mask. All the employees in the shop have their families living in their native districts in either UP or Bihar, Mr Singh informs. But unlike many other migrants, they didnt rush back to their villages following the closure of all business during the lockdown. We looked after all of them, informs Mr Singh. They live on the floor above the shop and we made sure (during the lockdown days) to keep them supplied with enough food rations, and that they had enough money to send some of it to their families every month as they always have. Some of the staffers at Sardar Jalebi have been working here for decades. Bhagwan Das has been here for 40 years. Chhedi Ram has been making jalebis for 32 years. (The rest of the men at work are Raju, Manoj and Arun). There has to be said something of the relationship that this small family-run business has developed with its karigars over the years. Maybe, this aspect explains the fact that, while so many other celebrity eateries in the Delhi region have lost that something special that made their signature dish so well-loved, the jalebis here continue to be universally admired without any ifs and buts. Indeed, it might be difficult to find a longtime patron complaining of a decline in Sardars standards. Despite its long life and reputation, the establishment itself is extremely modest. There are only a few benches to sit. Frankly speaking, this in not a place to lounge about. You get your jalebis and take it away to have it elsewhere. And yet, some of the afternoon scenes back in the BC (Before Corona) era used to be extraordinarily tender. Particularly after classes were over, when students of a government school nearby would excitedly come to receive their daily share of one jalebi eachfor free! The Sardar Jalebi got its name from its Sikh founder, Arjun Singh, who moved as a Partition refugee from what is now Pakistan to what was then Gurgaon. He passed away in 1994 he was my dadaji, says Mr Singh. With his father passing away some years ago, he manages the business with his tauji (uncle), Jagmohan Singh. While there is no doubt that the shop must have suffered a serious setback due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown, like many other businesses in this bazaar, one must not forget that this particular landmark has seen worse. During the killings of Sikhs, after prime minister India Gandhis assassination in 1984, the Sardar Jalebi remained shut for at least three monthssays Mr Singh, who, in fact, was born in that fateful year. ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA), was awarded a 5-year task order under GSA Professional Services Schedule to support US Space Command in Colorado Springs, CO. The contract will provide technical, engineering, and executive staff support to the Director, US Space Command (USSPACECOM) Program Management Office (PMO). The PMO will manage the design, construction, and mission equipment integration for the USSPACECOM National Space Defense Center (NSDC), Joint Operations Center (JOC), and other related mission command centers. Under this task order, SPA will provide technical and engineering oversight of the design, construction, and mission equipment integration for these critical space command and control facilities. "It is an honor to be on the ground floor of helping the recently formed Unified Command for Space design and build this critical Space Command and Control facility," said SPA President and CEO, Dr. William Vantine. "The SPA team recognizes the importance of this work and is ready to help USSPACECOM execute the development of their other important mission facilities." Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., provides knowledge based solutions integrating technical, operational, programmatic, policy, and business factors in support of important national security objectives. Our employees have expertise in many domains, including: Land, Undersea, Surface and Air Warfare Operations; Radar and Sensor Systems; Unmanned Systems and Counter Systems; Nuclear Deterrence Policy, Safety and Security; Defense Industrial Base; Space Systems; Ballistic Missile Systems; and Hypersonics. Our capabilities include: Advanced Analytics; System Engineering and Safety Analysis; Strategy, Policy and Compliance; Program and Acquisition Management; Software Tool Development. To learn more about SPA, please visit www.spa.com and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited) SOURCE Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. Related Links http://www.spa.com No Beijing, only Delhi says former Nepal PM on ties with India Nepal will get land from India through dialogue says Oli International oi-Vicky Nanjappa Kathmandu, June 12: Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has said that his government will seek a solution to the Kalapani issue through diplomatic efforts and dialogue on the basis of historical facts and documents. "We will get back the land occupied by India through holding a dialogue," Oli said while responding to questions in Parliament on Wednesday. He claimed that India built a Kali temple, created "an artificial Kali river" and "encroached the Nepalese territory through deploying the Army" at Kalapani. The river defines the border between the two countries. Amidst Nepal dispute, India sends out subtle reminder on assistance Covid-19: India registers over 10,000 fresh cases in 24 hours and 396 deaths | Oneindia News Oli's claim comes in midst of a raging boundary row between the two countries with India sternly asking Nepal not to resort to any "artificial enlargement" of territorial claims after Kathmandu released a new political map laying claim over Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura. The ties between India and Nepal came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8. Nepal reacted sharply to the inauguration of the road claiming that it passed through Nepalese territory. India rejected the claim asserting that the road lies completely within its territory. Nepalese officials say that Nepal had control over the area before 1962, when the India-China war took place. At that time India stationed its army seeking permission from then Nepalese rulers for temporary purpose, but it never removed its forces, they claim. Although there are border issues in other areas such as Susta but the government has given priority to Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as Nepali territories have not been captured by deploying army in other parts of its international border, Oli said in response to a question in Parliament. Earlier this week, the Nepalese Parliament unanimously endorsed a proposal to consider a constitution amendment bill to pave way for putting the new political map that includes Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura in Nepal's national emblem. India built Temple, created artificial river on our territory says Nepal PM A discussion on the issue started in the Parliament since Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Shivamaya Tumbahanfe tabled a bill for the second amendment to the Nepalese Constitution to incorporate the new political map of Nepal on May 31. Prime Minister Oli said he was happy to learn that the unprecedented unity has been shown both within and outside the Parliament on the issue of national unity and territorial integrity. "Our ancestors founded and saved this country through their struggles. We will be able to establish our territorial integrity if we remain firm," he said. Prime Minister Oli also raised objection to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's reported remark that Nepal should not repeat the mistake which Tibet made. "If Adityanath spoke about that, it was not appropriate," he said. "It is not appropriate to threaten Nepal in that way... This should not have been spoken by a chief minister of UP," he said. "It is a deplorable matter, if he spoke so." Oli also complained about India's unwillingness to receive the joint report prepared by Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) of India and Nepal. Nepal is ready to receive the report, but it would be meaningless unless both the governments receive it, he said. "As per the condition, India should first receive the report but it has not shown any interest to receive the report which was prepared two years ago," he claimed. Employees queue up to board a bus at the foothill of Tirumala on the opening day of the shrine post lockdown in Tirupati. PTI photo Tirupati: The first set of 7,000-odd devotees, who offered prayers to Lord Venka-teswara on the first day the hill temple in Tirumala was thrown open to general pilgrims on Thursday, had a leisurely darshan, thanks to the anti-Coronavirus measures in place. The temple management made elaborate arrangements for devotees, right from their arrival at Alipiri the completion of the pilgrimage. The temple management also restarted other services including accommodation, tonsure facility and distribution of anna prasadam. The devotees expressed immense satisfaction and praised the temple management. saying that the darshan was the best ever. I never had such a peaceful darshan in the last two decades. Usually, we worship the Lord amidst heavy crowds, but today's darshan was completely different and we felt like we were having a VIP break darshan. That is the grace of Lord Balaji. He put all of us on litmus test by not giving darshan for over 80 days, and now he gave us the darshan which we had never before, a devotee said. Saravana Babu, a devotee from Tamil Nadu, said, Starting from the Alipiri check point to entering the queue lines, inside the sanctum sanctorum, the anna prasadam complex and laddu counters, TTD took all precautions and followed Covid guidelines. It is now the turn of all of us (pilgrims) to cooperate and ensure that we follow the guidelines. The TTD had conducted a trial run for three days from June 8, allowing darshan for its employees and local residents. It was observed that with social distancing practices and other guidelines, no devotee had to wait in the outside queue lines or in the compartments at the Vaikuntam queue complex. They could directly walk into the queue lines and complete darshan within an hour. TTD chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy lauded the efforts of TTD officials in making the arrangements for the pilgrims. Our officials worked day and night to come out with a pucca plan and executed it with perfection with the teamwork of all departments both at Tirumala and in Tirupati", he said. A total of 6,998 devotees had darshan of the Lord on Thursday. Of these, 141 were from Telangana state and 151 from Karnataka 151 and the others came from Maharashtra, New Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh, Puducherry and West Bengal. (Alliance News) - Galantas Gold Corp on Friday said its loss widened in 2019 due to higher expenses as well as an impairment of its troubled Omagh gold mine in Northern Ireland, with the company considering a sale. The Toronto, Canada-headquartered firm reported a CAD3.6 million pretax loss for 2019, around GP2.1 million, widened from a CAD2.9 million loss the year before. The company's revenue, consisting entirely of jewellery sales, was CAD5,788 compared to CAD71,243 in 2018. Moreover, general administrative expenses increased to CAD2.7 million from CAD2.1 million while the company swung to a CAD16,659 loss on foreign exchange from a CAD53,417 gain. On top of which, Galantas incurred a CAD28,479 loss on property, plant and equipment disposal and took a CAD155,482 impairment of exploration and evaluation assets, with no such loss or impairment in 2018. The impairment resulted from the temporary suspension of blasting operation as its Omagh mine. Blasting operations have been limited as all blasting at Omagh requires supervision by the police service of Northern Ireland. "Presently the blasting arrangements are not sufficient for the desired level of operations and are not sufficient to allow for the expansion of mine operations as envisaged by the company's existing mine plan. Until changes are agreed, the present inefficiencies caused by these blasting arrangements form an increasing financial burden, which has proved a significant drain on the financial resources of the company," said Galantas. Although some miner operations are to continue at Omagh, employee numbers have more than halved to 21 from 46. In March 20202, after UK Covid-19 regulations were introduced, processing at Omagh ceased temporarily until later in May when concentrate processing resumed. However, given its struggles to obtain approvals for increased blasting protocols, and with no date for receiving necessary approvals as yet, Galantas is weighing its options "Considering the economic impingement on the company's operations, the company is seeking strategic alternatives including reviewing its licenses and operations; and considering the possibility of engaging in a sale, joint venture, partnership or other options with third parties and alternative financing structures. The company is actively engaged in that process," said Galantas. Shares in Galantas were down 2.5% at 19.50 pence in London in late morning trading. By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. As a part of Vande Bharat Mission, Indian Naval Ship Shardu reached Porbandar in Gujarat on Thursday, June 11. As per reports, the ship brought back 233 Indian nationals from Bandar Abbas in Iran. INS Sharduls mission falls under 'Operation Samudra Setu' which is a larger part of the Vande Bharat Mission to bring back Indian citizens stranded abroad amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Read: Over 1.07 Lakh Indians Returned To India After Launch Of Vande Bharat Mission: MEA All COVID-19 procedures followed According to reports, the Indian Navy has stated that all COVID-19 related social distancing norms were strictly adhered to on the ship. INS Shardul has also been specially provisioned for evacuation operation including embarkation of additional medical staff, doctors, hygienists and nutritionists besides ration, personal protective equipment, face masks and other lifesaving gear. As per reports, after docking at Porbandar, the 233 Indian nationals were entrusted to the state authorities that will further carry out the necessary procedures. Operation Samudra Setu was launched on May 8 at the height of the coronavirus crisis in an effort to repatriate Indian citizens. Other vessels also part of this operation, INS Jalashwa and INS Magar, have already evacuated close to 3,00 people from the Maldives and Sri Lanka to ports of Kochi and Tuticorin. Read: Vande Bharat Mission: Air India To Operate 5 Flights From London To Bring 1,200 Indians Almost 2 lakh people returned under the banner of VBM Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday, 11 June stated that the Vande Bharat Mission has repatriated a total of 1,65,375 people back to India thus far. Srivastava added that 29,034 migrant workers were also returned. The number of people repatriated will only rise in the months of June. During an online press briefing, Anurag Srivastava said "Apart from Air India flights, repatriation has also been arranged through other streams like Indian naval vessels which have brought back our nationals from Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Iran through foreign carriers coming to India to pick up nationals from other countries, through chartered flights and from land borders. As part of the Vande Bharat Mission, the INS Shardul has returned to Gujarat from Iran carrying 233 stranded Indian nationals. (Input/Image Credit ANI) Read: AI Opens Bookings For Phase-3 Flights Under Vande Bharat Mission, Faces Overwhelming Demand Read: Vande Bharat Mission: 58 More Flights Added To Repatriate Indians Stranded In Gulf Advertisement A large crowd of travellers gathered at a funeral in breach of social distancing guidelines after police closed an A-road to allow the huge funeral cortege to travel along it. The funeral, for Albert Joseph Harber, who died aged 47, took place on Wednesday morning at Portfield Cemetery, in Chichester, West Sussex. Mourners were seen gathering at Mr Harber's graveside in breach of coronavirus social distancing rules banning more than ten people meeting for funerals. Groups of more than six are banned for other events. They had travelled around three miles from nearby Marsh Lane along the usually-busy A27, which had to be closed for 30 minutes by police because some members of the funeral cortege were walking in the road. A Highway Maintenance truck carried a giant photo of Mr Harber as well as flower arrangements, while some family members were seen standing up through the sun roof of a car as it formed part of the cortege. The cortege was led by a converted Rolls-Royce Phantom VII which was once owned by Simon Cowell and was being used as the hearse. The car, which was once fitted out with a champagne bar, TV screens and sheepskin rugs, would ordinarily cost around 300,000 if bought new but its conversion into a hearse reportedly cost 500,000. The exclusive vehicle was converted by Nottingham-based A W Lymn The Family Funeral Service, which also offers a red London Routemaster double-decker bus and horse-drawn hearses in various colours. A large crowd of travellers gathered at a funeral in breach of social distancing guidelines after police closed an A-road in Chichester, West Sussex, to allow the huge funeral cortege to travel along it The funeral, for Albert Joseph Harber, who died aged 47, took place on Wednesday morning at Portfield Cemetery, in Chichester, West Sussex Mourners travelled around three miles from nearby Marsh Lane along the usually-busy A27, which had to be closed by police because many members of the funeral cortege were walking in the road. Pictured: A Rolls Royce VII Phantom which was once owned by Simon Cowell had been converted into a hearse Some family members were seen standing on the back of a truck as it carried items to Mr Harber's funeral A Highway Maintenance truck carried a giant photo of Mr Harber as well as flower arrangements Mourners stood aboard this truck as it carried various items to the site of Mr Joseph's funeral Mourners were seen gathering at Mr Harber's graveside in breach of social distancing rules banning more than six people meeting This truck and an attached trailer carried various items as well as six male mourners who stood on the back Other men were seen standing through the sun roof and out of the window of this car Police were on the scene to allow the cortege to pass through and they closed the road Its Jersey meets Vegas in a new season of Double Shot at Love with DJ Pauly D & Vinny tonight at 9 p.m. ET on MTV. You can also livestream the reality dating show on fuboTV (free 7-day trial). In Season 1, Jersey Shore alums Paul DJ Pauly D DelVecchio and Vinny Guadagnino dated 20 beautiful hopefuls but failed to find lasting love. In Season 2, the guys head to Las Vegas to reunite with their favorite exes, including B-Lashes, Derynn, Maria, Marissa, Nikk and Suzi. Season 2 also welcomes three new guys: Brandon Stakemann, Antonio Locke and Nicky Curd. Plan on plenty of drama when the ladies move into a suite on the Vegas strip with the guys and spend the summer together at Drais Beachclub & Nightclub. Hookups and blow-ups are sure to ensure. What channel is MTV on? You can find which channel its on by using the channel finders here: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV and Dish. Where can I watch it if I dont have cable? You can watch it on fuboTV (free 7-day trial). Boris Johnson has said it is 'absurd' that the Sir Winston Churchill statue is 'at risk of attack by violent protesters'. (Dominic Lipinski/PA Images via Getty Images) Boris Johnson has said it is absurd and shameful the Sir Winston Churchill statue in Parliament Square is at risk of attack by violent protesters. Amid the ongoing debate about controversial statues in the UK in the wake of anti-racism protests, Johnson said we cannot censor our past. He said Churchill, who was twice prime minister, was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial. Johnsons comments come after statue was boarded up ahead of planned anti-racism protests this weekend. Black Lives Matter organisers have since cancelled a protest in Londons Hyde Park on Saturday over fears it would be hijacked by far-right groups The boarded up statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square on Friday. (Matthew Chattle/Barcroft Media via Getty Images) The statue was vandalised during Sundays protests in London, with graffiti under Churchills name reading was a racist. In a series of Twitter posts on Friday, Johnson, who wrote a biography on Churchill six years ago, wrote: The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square is a permanent reminder of his achievement in saving this country and the whole of Europe from a fascist and racist tyranny. It is absurd and shameful that this national monument should today be at risk of attack by violent protestors. Yes, he sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial. We cannot now try to edit or censor our past. We cannot pretend to have a different history. The statues in our cities and towns were put up by previous generations. They had different perspectives, different understandings of right and wrong. But those statues teach us about our past, with all its faults. To tear them down would be to lie about our history, and impoverish the education of generations to come. Largely peaceful anti-racism protests have been sparked by the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last month. Four officers have been charged with one, Derek Chauvin, for second-degree murder. Story continues Johnson added he understands the legitimate feelings of outrage at what happened and that we all recognise that there is much more work to do in fighting racism. A man removes the graffiti from the Winston Churchill statue on Monday. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP) However, following some clashes between demonstrators and police in London on Sunday, Johnson added it is clear that the protests have been sadly hijacked by extremists intent on violence. The attacks on the police and indiscriminate acts of violence which we have witnessed over the last week are intolerable and they are abhorrent. The only responsible course of action is to stay away from these protests. Earlier this week, police were deployed to the Churchill statue in order to prevent a clash between rival protesters. Officers formed a circle round the monument to prevent a breach of the peace between rival demonstrators, Yahoo News UK understands. Activists standing by the statue were said to have kicked off at anti-racism protesters in the vicinity. Meanwhile, former chancellor Sajid Javid said of the boarded up Churchill statue on Friday: So depressing. The Cenotaph, in nearby Whitehall, has also been protected with hoarding after it was targeted last weekend. Jaipur: A day after accusing BJP of horse trading ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections in Rajasthan scheduled for June 19, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot appears confident of a win. He will hold a press meet on Friday and is likely to respond to the allegations. The Congress party will hold a press conference at 12:00 pm in the JW Marriott Hotel. Apart from Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, State In-charge Avinash Pandey, State Congress President Sachin Pilot, National Organization General Secretary KC Venugopal Rao, Rajya Sabha Election Observer Randeep Surjewala will be also present at the press meet. It has been reported that on Thursday, Gehlot held a meeting with senior party leaders late night and he stayed at the Hotel Shiv Vilas for the night. It is also possible that legislators will also be shifted to Hotel JW Marriott on Friday. Gehlot had alleged that the BJP 'delayed' the Rajya Sabha polls in the state and has accused the latter of horse-trading. He said that there were reports that some of his party MLAs were being offered 'Rs 25 crore in cash and Rs 10 crore in advance'. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Thursday said that the party has the numbers and its both candidates will surely win the Rajya Sabha polls. "I want to make it clear that the Congress Party has adequate mandate, support of Independents and other parties. Both of our candidates will win the elections," Pilot told PTI. On calling the Congress MLAs to a resort for the meeting, he said the party has the experience of 'incidents' happening in other states, like some MLAs resigned in Gujarat. "People are making attempts. But people in Rajasthan are united and sincere. We have a mandate. Even Independents and other parties are supporting us. There are no chances of the BJP's second candidate's win," he said. The Congress has nominated K C Venugopal and Neeraj Dangi for the Rajya Sabha elections agianst BJP's Rajendra Gehlot and Onkar Singh Lakhawat. In the 200-member assembly, the Congress has 107 MLAs, including six those who defected to the party from the BSP last year. This week, the Grayzones Gareth Porter exposed an important strategy led by the FBI to purge the internet of alternative media outlets who question the mainstream narratives being used to shepherd society into an Orwellian post-COVID world order. Although FBI propagandists strewn throughout mainstream media have attempted to project the idea that the corrupt days of Americas internal Gestapo operation led by J. Edgar Hoover are a thing of the past, the reality is that its days of COINTEL PRO, MK Ultra, assassinations and media manipulation of the 1960s and 1970s not only didnt go away but only amplified their influence during the modern age of cyberwarfare. Porters Insight into the FBIs Censorship Agenda In his June 5, 2020 article entitled FBI Launches Open Attack on Foreign Alternative Media Outlets Challenging US Foreign Policy, Porter exposed the FBIs recent counter-intelligence strategy which was launched in the wake of the 2016 defeat of Hillary Clinton. Knowing that alternative media was a decisive factor in the downfall of Hillary (and her neocon backers), a vast operation was put into motion designed to convince Americans that the elections were never really legitimate in the first place because Russia. Four years of Russiagate contaminated the American political landscape ultimately producing both a multi-million dollar nothing burger and also one of the most dangerous reforms in counter-intelligence operations that currently threatens to render what little remains of the first amendment forever obsolete. Countering Malign Foreign Influences in the Media In his article, Porter begins by describing the creation of the October 2017 creation of the FBIs Foreign Influence Counter-Intelligence Task Force which generated a new procedure for extending internet censorship to any media outlet that could be labelled a malign foreign influence if connected in any way to Americas major adversaries of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. Porter describes how Facebook, Google, Twitter and Instagram promptly interfaced with the Task Force and began deleting accounts and pages of alternative media outlets who were labelled puppets of foreign actors. The biggest purge occurred in 2018 as Facebook deleted 559 pages and 251 accounts including Anti-media, the Free Thought Project and Naked Empire due to their supposed coordinated inauthentic behaviour tied to shadowy malign foreign influences. While the American Herald Tribune was not officially listed as one of the targets during this operation, its de-platforming over Facebook, Instagram and Google was later admitted to have been part of the purge (more to be said on that below). Shadowy Enemies and New Protocols In an April 26, 2019 speech to the Council on Foreign Relations, FBI director Christopher Wray described malign foreign influence to be the fairly aggressive campaign we saw in 2016 and that has continued pretty much unabated, is the use of social media, fake news, propaganda, false personas etc to spin us up, pit us against each other, sow divisiveness and discord, and undermine Americas faith in democracy. According to Wray (and echoed in recent days by former Obama advisor Susan Rice), such divisiveness and discord as we see across Americas protests now have less to do with the systemic corruption, economic injustice (or even George Soros moneybags fueling the fires of chaos) but rather Russia, China and Iranian fake news campaigns. Gareth Porter sites the important February 2020 remarks by the FBIs Assistant Section for the Foreign Influence Task Force David Porter, who described the foreign operations which seek to weaken an adversary from within using information confrontation to target the perceptions of their adversaries population. These methods then erode confidence in democratic values and institutions, encourage negative sentiment, apathy and mistrust of government. One of the most dangerous by-products for agent Porter is that the public looses confidence in the credibility of an established, free and independent news media pushing consumers towards alternative news sources of news media where of course it is much easier to introduce false narratives. David Porter focuses his discourse on Russia and China explaining that the two nations differ in their methods of information warfare in the following manner: Where China confides its manipulation to its geostrategic economic goals and wants to manage our gradual economic decline over the course of generations, Russia is more vicious and just wants to see us tear ourselves apart. How does the FBI decide who is guilty of malign foreign influence? Not by wasting their time chasing content or looking at what websites actually say, but rather by attribution. In laymens terms, attribution merely implies using behavioral pattern recognition logarithms to de-platform and censor alt media accounts. Evidence of actual funding by a foreign government or even systemic lying need not be considered under this sort of attribution. Merely having shared a server with a company that at some point may have hosted a website affiliated with a foreign government, or publishing narratives that are critical of the western establishment are sufficient proof to remove and blacklist you under this new digital McCarthyism. The Targeting of the American Herald Tribune Gareth Porter takes the time to showcase the important case study of American Herald Tribune as an example of the FBIs brazen abuse of this loosely defined standard of attribution. Just days after the August 2018 takedown of the Tribunes pages on Facebook (and Googles cancellation of the sites ad service which act as a vital revenue stream for any alternative media agency), Christopher Wray admitted to have provided social media companies with the specific threat indicators used to justify censorship although they did not openly admit to targeting the American Herald Tribune at this time. It was only on January 24, 2020 that Facebook finally confirmed publicly in the form of a CNN report) that American Herald Tribune was taken down due to Wrays counter-intelligence program. The January 24 CNN article cited by Porter asserted that a Facebook spokesperson asserted that the Cybersecurity company FireEye (which is highly enmeshed in all branches of American intelligence agencies) found the AHTs links to the Iran governments larger influence operation with moderate confidence. For anyone familiar with the modern newspeak of the FBIs lexicon, moderate confidence means little more than we feel that there may be some connection but have no actual evidence. Illustrating the Tribunes great sin, the CNN article in question stated that The articles posted to American Herald Tribune are largely in line with the views of Irans ruling establishment. It publishes stories criticizing American foreign policy and attacking President Donald Trump and Israel. Often the criticism is not unlike viewpoints expressed on authentic US-based independent websites, especially ones with an anti-establishment perspective. Here we have the essence of what the FBI considers the Tribunes great crime: Permitting anti-establishment views to be published critical of American foreign policy. Its really that simple. The Strategic Reality of the Fight: A Word from Anthony Hall Grayzones expose should be studied in tandem with a powerful report written by American Herald Tribune Editor in Chief Anthony Hall published on June 8 entitled COVID-19, Antifa, and Black Lives Matter: The Battle for Control of the Internet. In this important article, Hall explains that the current convergent of major global developments has come to a historic head. As we move into through this turbulent phase of history, the speed of world events has accelerated to unprecedented levels exemplified from the quick change of focus from one controlled fallacious narrative featuring Gates as the star performer Global Pandemic show to a new Soros-managed narrative of controlled chaos across America under the Black Lives Matter/Antifa show. In his article, Hall points out: In recent days the focus suddenly shifted from COVID-19 and compulsory vaccines to insurrection and anarchy from within. Suddenly the vaccine czar, Bill Gates, has been swept from the center stage of current events. Suddenly multi-billionaire Gates has been upstaged by multi-billionaire George Soros. In both cases of COVID-19 and Soros-financed mass anarchy, the target is the same thing: The free access to information on the internet which has become a focal point for the battle ground for the future of the human race. As Hall points out, the drama of these cataclysmic times is serving to highlight the importance of the Internet not only as a medium for reporting events but as a vehicle that is instrumental in the shaping of events; in determining what actually happens or not. In the case of the current controlled chaos agenda, this battle is playing out over President Trumps recent Executive Order invoking Section 230 of the Communications and Decency Act of 1996 in defense of a free and uncensored internet. On this point, Hall writes: Love him or hate him, Donald Trump has recently moved forward with the most significant anti-censorship initiative in the history of the Internet. Trump is seeking to stop the takeover of humanitys most vital infrastructure of communications by a cabal of extremists. Trumps Executive Order stands in direct opposition to those forces of the Anglo-American Five Eyes empire which seeks nothing less than to turn humanity into a society of sheepish zombies as pliable as the mobs of Ancient Rome who would as soon cheer for Pompei one day as they would Julius Caesar, Brutus or Marc Antony the next... as long as blood and wine continued to flow in the gladiator arenas. It is important to emphasize here that no one is safe from this new age of post-2016 cyberwarfare. Whether you place yourself on the left or on the right of Americas political spectrum, the chances are that if your conscience is intact, then you dont want your nation to become a dictatorship, you prefer the constitution not be shredded and you certainly dont want the American Military Industrial Complex to blow up the world. If this is the case, then you would do well to pay attention to any FBI-run protocols which demand that the population be kept fearful and confused enough to willingly renounce their liberties, free speech and very constitution upon which so many people gave their lives, in exchange for a Deep State bureaucrats definition of security. *(Top image: J. Edgar Hoovers Grave. Credit: Sarah_Elliott/ Flickr) ultrastructural morphology exhibited by corona viruses View Photo Sonora, CA A health caregiver is the latest individual in Tuolumne County to test positive for coronavirus. The Public Health Department was notified today of the presumptive positive COVID-19 case of a county resident. The person is a caregiver at Adventist Health Sonoras Sierra Care Center skilled nursing facility and no further information regarding their age or gender is being released to protect their privacy. Health officials further explain that decision was made since the persons place of work was given and they do not want to reveal the individuals identity. The person is currently isolating at home. In a written statement released by Adventist Health Sonora, it outlines new safety protocols that are being implemented to protect the centers residents and staff. That includes restricting all visitors screening everyone at the facility for fever and symptoms daily, enhancing sanitizing procedures and following strict masking requirements. Michelle Fuentes, president of Adventist Health Sonora expresses, We take our responsibility to care for our residents very seriously, even under normal circumstances. During this pandemic, we are taking extensive measures to do whatever it takes to keep residents and staff safe. Public Health is coordinating closely with Adventist Health Sonora and the California Department of Public Health on the investigation. At this time, it appears that there is no additional risk to the general public related to this case. Below is the hospitals entire written statement: Adventist Health Sonora initiates additional safety precautions for Sierra Care Center June 11, 2020 (Sonora, Calif.) To protect the residents of the Sierra Care Center, our community members who are at the highest risk for COVID-19, Adventist Health Sonora has initiated several policies and procedures including restricting all visitors, screening everyone at the facility for fever and symptoms daily, enhancing sanitizing procedures and following strict masking requirements. Additionally, all residents and staff are required to have ongoing testing for COVID-19, so that anyone who tests positive can be isolated or quarantined according to local, state and national guidelines, with the goal of avoiding virus spread to these vulnerable community members. This weeks round of testing identified one positive staff member who has not experienced any COVID-19 symptoms. The employee is safely isolated at home, and the Tuolumne County Public Health Department will perform contact tracing to determine if there have been any exposure risks. Due to this positive test result, all residents and staff at the Sierra Care Center will be tested weekly for the next two weeks or until it can be determined that any risk of exposure has been mitigated. We love our residents at the Sierra Care Center. The amazing team provides a family environment where staff and residents build heart-warming relationships, explains Michelle Fuentes, president of Adventist Health Sonora. We take our responsibility to care for our residents very seriously, even under normal circumstances. During this pandemic, we are taking extensive measures to do whatever it takes to keep residents and staff safe. Photo: The Canadian Press A National Park Service worker cleans a statue of President Andrew Jackson in Washington, D.C. The rapidly unfolding movement to pull down Confederate monuments around the U.S. in the wake of George Floyds death has extended to statues of slave traders, imperialists, conquerors and explorers around the world, including Christopher Columbus, Cecil Rhodes and Belgiums King Leopold II. Protests and, in some cases, acts of vandalism have taken place in such cities as Boston; New York; Paris; Brussels; and Oxford, England, in an intense re-examination of racial injustices over the centuries. Scholars are divided over whether the campaign amounts to erasing history or updating it. At the University of Oxford, protesters have stepped up their longtime push to remove a statue of Rhodes, the Victorian imperialist who served as prime minister of the Cape Colony in southern Africa. He made a fortune from gold and diamonds on the backs of miners who laboured in brutal conditions. Oxfords vice chancellor Louise Richardson, in an interview with the BBC, balked at the idea. We need to confront our past, she said. My own view on this is that hiding our history is not the route to enlightenment. Near Santa Fe, New Mexico, activists are calling for the removal of a statue of Don Juan de Onate, a 16th-century Spanish conquistador revered as a Hispanic founding father and reviled for brutality against Native Americans, including an order to cut off the feet of two dozen people. Vandals sawed off the statues right foot in the 1990s. In Bristol, England, demonstrators over the weekend toppled a statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston and threw it in the harbour. City authorities said it will be put in a museum. Across Belgium, statues of Leopold II have been defaced in half a dozen cities because of the kings brutal rule over the Congo, where more than a century ago he forced multitudes into slavery to extract rubber, ivory and other resources for his own profit. Experts say he left as many as 10 million dead. The Germans would not get it into their head to erect statues of Hitler and cheer them, said Mireille-Tsheusi Robert, an activist in Congo who wants Leopold statues removed from Belgian cities. For us, Leopold has committed a genocide. In the U.S., Floyds death May 25 under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer has led to an all-out effort to remove symbols of the Confederacy and slavery. The Navy, the Marines and NASCAR have embraced bans on the display of the Confederate flag, and statues of rebel heroes across the South have been vandalized or taken down, either by protesters or local authorities. On Wednesday night, protesters pulled down a century-old statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Richmond, Virginia, the former capital of the Confederacy. The 8-foot bronze figure had already been targeted for removal by city leaders, but the crowd took matters into its own hands. No immediate arrests were made. It stood a few blocks away from a towering, 61-foot-high equestrian statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the most revered of all Confederate leaders. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam last week ordered its removal, but a judge blocked such action for now. A1 Telekom, the leading fixed and mobile network operator in Austria, has admitted to have suffered a security breach, following the revelation of a whistleblower. A1 Telekom Austria is the leading fixed and mobile network operator in Austria, with 5.4 million mobile and 2.3 million fixed-line customers. The company has admitted having suffered a security breach after the revelation of a whistleblower named Libertas. Libertas informed the local blogger Christian Haschek and a journalist from Heise.de about the A1 hack. Libertas is not the hacker that breached the company but rather an individual with insider knowledge of telco operator. A1 revealed having spent more than six months to lock out the intruders from its network. The incident took place in November 2019, when the systems at the company have been infected with malware. The company did not disclose details of the attack, the whistleblower speculates the intruders were members of the Gallium group, a Chinese APT group that was more active between 2018 and mid-2019 when targeted global telecommunication providers worldwide. A1 detected the malicious code in December 2019 and has fought with the threats until May 2020. Attackers have disseminated hidden backdoors in the company network. At the time of publishing this report, it is not clear if the attackers were nation-state attackers of financially-motivated hackers. The ISP told to Haschek that the malicious code only infected computers on its office network. According to the whistleblower attackers gained access to more than 12,000 client systems which were all operated by A1. A1 said this was not true and just about a dozen devices were compromised and these were all in the Office space. read the blog post.The number 12,000 systems was confirmed by A1 to be the whole number of devices they manage, not the number of compromised computers. Libertas claims the attackers exploited a vulnerability affecting an unspecified Microsoft product to breach into the network. A1 told German news site Heise the attacker did not access any sensitive customer data. In response to the incident, the company has reset passwords for all its 8,000+ employees and has changed passwords and access keys for all its servers. Pierluigi Paganini (SecurityAffairs A1, hacking) A Share this... Linkedin Share this: Twitter Print LinkedIn Facebook More Tumblr Pocket Share On W hats easier than picking up a pizza on the way to the park? Having it delivered straight to your picnic spot! The start-of-lockdown days of cold outdoor takeaways are over: its week 11 and the smartest establishments are dispatching your alfresco dinner (and cocktails) direct to your WhatsApp pin. Start your dial-a-picnic escapades in Hackney, where neighbourhood bar Ombra is sending its famous negronis to picnic blankets anywhere within a 1.5-mile radius. Just share your location on WhatsApp. You can ring for your supper, too: the restaurants order-to-the-park menu includes anchovies, meaty Puglian olives and a picnic basket for two featuring focaccia, olives, giardiniera, burrata, salame, oranges and beers all the ingredients of an Italian-inspired picnic without having to lug a heavy hamper to the park. If you prefer a Portuguese feast, Ilford's Capricho Portuguese Kitchen will send Sangria, seafood and contemporary Lisbon-inspired small plates to Wanstead Park via Uber Eats, while Leons offering will help you recreate a summers evening in San Sebastian in your local park. The natural fast food favourite has partnered with tapas guru Brindisa to offer a new charcuterie deli picnic box featuring aged Manchego, hand-carved Jamon Iberico, serrano ham, chorizo, Empeltre olives and picos de pan. All you need is a bottle of rioja to go with it. For lunch, Dalstons Dusty Knuckle Bakery is delivering its signature artisan sandwiches to parks anywhere within a 1.5-mile radius, or simply dial-a-pizza to your chosen spot. Sacro Cuore in Kensal Rise is shipping its Neapolitan pizzas to Queens Park just call ahead and meet your rider at the park gate 10 minutes later. Meanwhile Kennington hotspot The Collective is delivering its organic sourdoughs to anyone dining in Kennington Park. Restaurants that are doing takeaways near London parks 1 /34 Restaurants that are doing takeaways near London parks Patty & Bun - London Fields Masterful burger joint taking click-and-collect orders at its Hackney location. 2 Arthaus Building, 205 Richmond Road, E8 3NJ, pattyandbun.orderswift.com Mao Chow - London Fields Vegan Chinese food with plenty of spice (Wednesday to Saturday, 5pm-9pm only). (4 min walk) 159A Mare Street, E8 3RD, mao-chow.com Palm Greens - London Fields Pre-order ingredient-packed salad bowls and breakfast favourites (Monday to Friday only). (2 min walk) Netil House, 1 Westgate Street, E8 3RL, palmgreens.co.uk Ombra - Victoria Park Italian picnic baskets to pick up, or order for delivery to local parks. (10 min walk) 1 Vyner Street, E2 9DG, ombrabar.restaurant Stephen Makin Gail's Bakery - Victoria Park Sausage rolls, cakes and cookies from the pastry favourite. (3 min walk) 87 Lauriston Road, E9 7HJ, gailsbread.co.uk Randy's Wing Bar - Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park American-style chicken wings (hot or not) with freshly poured pints. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 28 East Bay Lane, E15 2GW, randyswingbar.co.uk Cornerstone - Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Chef Tom Brown is selling in-house cured salmon pastrami, treacle-cured hake ham and oysters every other weekend. (3 min walk) 3 Prince Edward Road, E9 5LX, cornerstonehackney.com L'Antica - Hampstead Heath Neapolitan-style pizzas named after famous Italians. (8 min walk) 66 Heath Street, NW3 1DN, anticapizzeria.co.uk The Red Lion and Sun - Hampstead Heath Renowned food pub on the Highgate side serving a near-full menu for pre-ordered collection (with beer, of course). (9 min walk) 25 North Road, N6 4BE, theredlionandsun.com Yard Sale Pizza - Finsbury Park North-east London pizza favourite doing pre-orders for collection. (3 min walk) 54 Blackstock Road, N4 2DW, yardsalepizza.com Max's Sandwich Shop - Finsbury Park Legendary Crouch Hill sandwich shop, selling hangover-sorting sarnies. (10 min walk) 19 Crouch Hill, N4 4AP, maxssandwichshop.com Howard Shooter Top Cuvee - Clissold Park Top Cuvee Restaurant rebranded as Shop Cuvee, selling deli items and drinks, and delivering directly to local parks. (7 min walk) 177B Blackstock Road, Highbury East, N5 2LL, topcuvee.com Nando's - Clissold Park Nandos The peri-peri chicken favourite has opened a handful of its restaurants for click-and-collect this is one of them. (4 min walk) 139-141 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0UH, nandos.co.uk Nando's Farang - Highbury Fields Farang Like nearby Prawn on the Lawn, which has pivoted to become a fishmonger, most of what Farang offers needs finishing off at home. Still, they do sell a booze bag if you fancy some wine and beer for the park. (7 minutes) 72 Highbury Park, N5 2XE, faranglondon.co.uk Tom Regester Four Hundred Rabbits - Brockwell Park Pizza restaurant open for pre-ordered collection at Brockwell Lido actually inside the park. (0 min walk) The Lido Cafe, Dulwich Road, SE24 0PA, 400rabbits.co.uk Olley's Fish Experience - Brockwell Park Award-winning fish and chip shop offering takeaway. (4 min walk) 65-69 Norwood Road, SE24 9AA, olleys.info Maremma - Brockwell Park Restaurant-turned-deli channeling the eponymous Tuscan region order a day or two ahead to pick up. (1 min walk) 36 Brixton Water Lane, Brixton, SW2 1PE, maremmarestaurant.com Jade Nina Sarkhel Made of Dough - Peckham Rye Park Sourdough pizza with toppings including truffle and spicy lamb sausage. (8 min walk) 182 Belleden Road, SE15 4BW, madeofdough.co.uk Voodoo Ray's - Peckham Rye Park New York-style pizza available either in 12 or 22 form. (1 min walk) 285 Rye Lane, SE15 4UA, voodoo-rays.orderswift.com Petersham Nurseries - Richmond Park Pre-order cheese, cured meats, fruit and wine. (10 min walk) Church Lane, Petersham Road, TW10 7AQ, petershamnurseries.com Sorella - Clapham Common Robin Gill is selling arancini and cured Italian meats to-go. Sibling restaurant Counter Culture is also doing takeaway, right next to the common. (6 min walk) 148 Clapham Manor Street, SW4 6BX, sorellarestaurant.co.uk Adrian Lourie Radio Alice - Clapham Common Sharing pizzas topped with seasonal ingredients. (3 min walk) 67 Venn Street, SW4 0BD, radioalicepizzeria.co.uk Joe Public - Clapham Common Pizza by-the-slice and draught pints. (1 min walk) 4 The Pavement, SW4 0HY, joepublicpizza.com Coya Mayfair - Hyde Park Pricey Peruvian offering everything from tuna tacos to a wagyu sirloin. (5 minute walk) 118 Piccadilly, W1J 7NW, coyarestaurant.com David Griffen Photography Hakkasan Mayfair - Green Park Delicious dim sum for those with very deep pockets. Collection is only available in the evenings. L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele - Regents Park L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele The famed Eat Pray Love pizzeria really does do some of the best pie in London. (5 minute walk) 199 Baker St, NW1 6UY, anticapizzeriadamichele.co.uk Get your sundowners delivered too Three Sheets, Hawksmoor, Callooh Callay and Coupette are among London bars shipping their bottled cocktails to picnickers through shopcuvee.com just select park delivery and theyll be in touch via WhatsApp. And Ladies & Gentlemen Bars Kentish Town outpost has a popular new cocktail delivery service for Hampstead Heath. Choose from its signature bottled Quarantini or its rum-based Zombie concoction each bottle contains booze for you and four friends. People exit the port after being aboard of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Anthem of the Seas in Bayonne, New Jersey on Feb. 7, 2020. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images) Hundreds of Chinese Cruise Ship Workers Blocked from Disembarking, Stranded at Sea Scores of Chinese crew members of civilian ships and cruises have become stranded due to entry restrictions amid the pandemic. After months of waiting at sea, Chinese sailors have tried to send out their distress signals through Weibo, a Twitter-like social media platform. Crew members revealed on social media that over 1,000 Chinese sailors are trapped on cruise ships. On June 8, the International Labour Organization (ILO) called for urgent and coordinated action to release the 150,000 to 200,000 seafarers trapped onboard ships around the world because of measures to contain COVID-19. ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said, Forcing exhausted seafarers to continue working more than four months beyond the end of their contract is unacceptable. This jeopardizes their health and endangers maritime safety. Action is needed now to ensure decent work for seafarers, avoid maritime accidents and environmental disasters. We call on governments to work together to make these crew changes happen in safety. However, Chinese crews are meeting resistance from Beijing. Chinese Weibo user LeoooTao, a crew member on the Majesty of the Seas, revealed that 300 Chinese sailors were trapped on board the cruise ship at the Port of Dover in the UK. There are also 323 Chinese crew members stranded on the cruise ship Empress of the Seas around Southampton, UK. The post indicated that three charter flights were arranged, but they were canceled one after another. LeoooTao wrote, Filipino colleagues were picked up by their governments charter flights. Indian colleagues sailed back. The American, British, Ukrainian, Romanian, Korean, and Japanese all have returned. Why cant we Chinese return to our dear motherland? These posts were deleted soon after. Another Weibo user, tristaYue, pleaded for help on social media on June 5, saying that more than 200 Chinese sailors were trapped in Philippine waters. They sought the Chinese embassys assistance, but to no avail. Some crew members committed suicide or had a mental breakdown, according to tristaYues post. Tristayues employer, the cruise company Holland America, transferred her to the Noordam ship on May 23. On June 4, the captain broadcasted two confirmed cases onboard. She then contacted the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines for help, but she did not receive a definitive response. On June 6, she updated her Weibo account, saying that about 500 Filipinos and Indians were evacuated again while the Chinese crew stayed behind. She has had no mask to protect herself from being infected with COVID-19. Many Chinese seafarers responded to tristayues post right away. They call me biu wrote: There are a total of 730 Chinese crew members distributed among four Royal Caribbean ships. Two are in the UK, one is in the Philippines, and the other is in Greece. The company promised a charter flight on May 28, but the Miami headquarters is still waiting for a landing permit from China. MermaidMermaid wrote: I am also one of the trapped seafarers. When the crews of other countries get off the ship one after another, the Chinese crew members can only stay behind even though our home is right by the dock. Imagine the sadness. We have been drifting on the ship for more than 90 days since March! Facing the sea Michael wrote: Its almost three months since Ive been trapped in the Philippines. We have more than 200 Chinese crew members, but no one paid attention to us. Multiple efforts to contact the embassy get us nowhere. Cai Kexin wrote: Our ship was also stuck at sea for almost three months. The company would provide us a charter flight back to China. But the Chinese embassy disagreed! XueYa text wrote: Officially suspended on March 15, as of today, it [ship] is still floating on the sea. Will be sailing to the Philippines around July, but there is still no news about returning home. The enclosed space, the atmosphere of panic, [we are] about to collapse. The Epoch Times could not independently verify the information in the Weibo users posts. More than 80,000 Chinese seafarers are stranded at sea, Chinas State Council said at a press conference on March 16. During the pandemic, stranded Chinese also included students studying abroad. The situation has turned desperate for many of them. Chinas Civil Aviation Administration announced a Five-One policy on March 26, which means that in each foreign country, any existing Chinese airline is to operate only one route, and no more than one flight per week. This drastic reduction in the number of flights to China and soaring airfares have left many Chinese students desperate and stranded abroad. There are also more than one million Chinese workers stranded in Africa, according to a foreign aid worker in Africa. On Thursday, delivery workers at the delivery app Loggi entered their third day on strike against the terrible conditions of work and low payments, which have been aggravated since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The strike was initiated in Rio de Janeiro, fueled by the anger against the death of a young delivery worker, Thiago Coelho, who suffered a motorcycle accident on Tuesday. On the first day of the strike, workers closed four Loggi offices in Rio de Janeiro and raised a number of demands, which include increasing the value of deliveries and ending bans of delivery workers, and called on their colleagues all over Brazil to join them. Throughout Tuesday, the workers also held two protests over the death of Thiago Coelho, blocking roads in Niteroi, the municipality of Rio de Janeiro where the youth suffered the accident. Loggi delivery workers on strike (Credit: Universidade a Esquerda) The next day, the strike spread to other parts of Rio de Janeiro and reached the state of Sao Paulo. The workers held new demonstrations, honking their motorcycle horns in the streets of Rio de Janeiro. They blocked tracks of the Red and Yellow transit lines as well as Barra Street, the busiest avenue in the city. The workers denounced Loggi's attempts to break the strike, offering high rates for scabs, and threatening to prosecute the strikers and ban them from the app. Workers responded by stepping up the movement. In a video, a strike leader speaks to his colleagues: The strike is also to unblock everyone who was banned for [from the app] and because of the strike as well. Until they are unblocked, we are going to walk out every day... It reached already Sao Paulo and Rio. Soon the whole Brazil will be here, lets get everyone together! Im not afraid, and you shouldnt be either. Everybody sticks together, if nobody works at Loggi, theres nothing they can do. Either they raise the pay, or nobody works. In an interview with G1, the same worker states that the company imposes unsafe working conditions, from the overload of packages that do not fit into motorcycle trunks to the lack of protective equipment against the coronavirus. Look at the hand sanitizer they gave us for the whole month, this is not even enough for a week. And only one mask. Loggi is a Brazilian startup on the rise in the delivery business, working in partnerships with transnational corporations such as Rappi and Ifood and in direct competition with a mix of traditional companies like the post office, Jadilog, Total Express, from whom we want to win every day, CEO Fabien Mendez said. Last June, Loggi received an investment of US$150 million from international funds such as the Japanese conglomerate Softbank, and reached a market value of over US$1 billion, becoming a national unicorn companya model of success. This voracious competition for markets is based on cheapening the labor costs of delivery services. Loggi and other corporations saw the coronavirus pandemic as a unique opportunity to deepen the exploitation of their workers. The constant bans and reduction of delivery payments were the employers response to the gigantic increase of workers signing up to work, in the wake of unemployment in Brazil and around the world since the beginning of the pandemic. Loggi delivery workers on strike (Credit: Universidade a Esquerda) Delivery workers at these applications have been carrying out strikes and protests in Brazil since April, connected to delivery workers strikes around the world, in countries like Spain, Ecuador and Argentina. Last Sunday, delivery workers attended the protests around Brazil against police violence, racism and the administration of the fascistic Jair Bolsonaro, joining the international demonstrations in response to the murder of George Floyd. The delivery workers movement is part of a wave of strikes by the Brazilian and international working class that marks a new chapter in the history of class struggle. The statement made this week by a delivery worker on strike, that businessmen are making too much money while we are suffering on the streets, expresses the feeling of broad layers of the global working class. Brazilian workers must appeal to their colleagues around the world for a unified movement against the exploitation by the gigantic transnational corporations and for a political response to the destruction of workers lives prompted by capitalism in all countries. An EU survey commissioned in November shows racist experiences compared between states. (SOPA Images/Sipa USA) Anti-racism demonstrations have been held across the world in the wake of the death of George Floyd. Protesters marching under the banner of Black Lives Matter have been taking to the streets in the wake of the 46-year-olds death. Floyd died after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck to pin him to the ground as he pleaded for air. Protesters say that racism is not confined to the US and a survey released in November by the EU showed nearly one in three people of African descent in 12 member states had experienced racist harassment in the last five years. The UK was still a part of the EU at the time and was therefore counted as a member state by the body behind the survey, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. Black Lives Matter demonstrations have been held across the UK and drawn attention to racism in the country. (SOPA Images/Sipa USA) The survey, Being Black in the EU, found 21% of people of African descent in the UK reported racial harassment in the last five years, the second lowest in the dataset. Meanwhile, 20% of people in Malta reported the same, the lowest in the set, compared to 63% in Finland, the highest amount. Across the EU states looked at, just 14% of incidents of racist harassment were reported to police. The responses were based on weighted results from 5,803 people described as being of African descent from 12 member states. Read more: Black history lessons 'should be taught in all schools' Some 5% of the respondents experienced racist violence across all the states, including assault by police officer, and by member state this ranged from 14% in Finland and 13% in Ireland and Austria to 3% in the UK and 2% in Portugal. Among the member states, an average of 10% of people of African descent had been stopped by police in the last five years and also believed that was due to racial profiling. Between countries, citizens of Malta and Ireland were less likely to report they were stopped due to racial profiling (5%), with 7% of respondents in the UK saying they had been stopped due to race. This compares to Austria, where 37% of respondents said they were stopped because of racial profiling, and Italy, where 17% said the same. Story continues Across the states, 39% of the respondents said they felt they had been racially discriminated against within the previous five years, and one in four had felt discriminated against in the 12 months prior to the survey. The highest perceived rates within those 12 months were in Luxembourg (50%), Finland (45%) and Austria (42%). The lowest were found in the UK (15%) and Portugal (17%). Just 16% who said they were racially discriminated against reported or made a complaint about the most recent incident. Black Lives Matter demonstrations have taken place across Europe, including in Berlin. (AP) Countries where respondents were more likely to report an incident were Finland (30%), Ireland (27%) and Sweden (25%), with the lowest reporting rates in Austria (8%), Portugal and Italy (both 9%). The survey also looked at what percentage of the respondents were living in severely deprived housing compared to the general population. This was defined as a house that is considered overcrowded and had either a leaking roof, rotting walls or windows, no bath/shower and indoor toilet, or was considered too dark. Read more: PM fails to condemn Trump's 'horrendous' response to anti-racism protests The group average across member states showed 12% of respondents were living in that kind of house, while 84% believed their skin colour or physical appearance to have been the main reason behind their most recent incident of discrimination as they looked for housing. Some 8% of respondents in the UK were living in a severely deprived house, compared to 2% of the population. In every member state surveyed, people of African descent were more likely to live in a severely deprived house. In Malta, 29% were, compared to 1% of the general population, in Austria 22% were, compared to 4%, and in Portugal 21% were, compared to 5%. Some of the findings for some member states in the housing survey were considered statistically unreliable due to a small number of respondents. The lowest reliable findings were in Ireland, where 6% lived compared to 1% and 7% in Germany compared to 2% of the general population. Speaking about the protests, Boris Johnson has said he understands the very strong and legitimate feelings of people in this country at the death of George Floyd and of course I agree that black lives matter while Labour leader Keir Starmer has urged him to turbocharge the governments response to racial inequality. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK The Siem Reap Provincial Court has launched a preliminary rape investigation into prominent activist monk Luon Savath, in relation to Facebook videos released last week alleging the monk had inappropriate relations with four women, a charge he has denied. The alleged videos were released on a Facebook account called Srey Da Chi-Kraeng and purportedly showed Venerable Luon Sovath having salacious conversations with a woman and her three daughters. Apart from posting these videos, the account, which was created two weeks ago, has had no other activity. The activist monk, who is in hiding, has vehemently denied the accusation calling it politically motivated. However, the Monk Council in Siem Reap announced on June 3 that he had been expelled from the clergy, accusing him of having sexual intercourse. Additionally, local police executed a search warrant this week and confiscated materials from the monks home. On Friday, Siem Reap court spokesperson Chuon Sophanha said a victim had complained about the monk and that authorities were investigating the monk for rape. We suspect rape since we have the complaints from the victim, he said. He refused to provide any details of the alleged crime or if the court had evidence to proceed with the investigation. He also denied confirming if the court had issued an arrest warrant. You should not ask who are involved with this since it can affect the investigation and [Luon Sovath] can flee, he said. Siem Reap Police Chief Tith Narong said on Friday that Luon Sovath was suspected of committing an offense, but directed queries to the Siem Reap court. It is related to audio messages and a complaint from the victim, he said. [We] followed the court warrant which is to bring [Luon Sovath] to court. On Wednesday, Tith Narong told VOA Khmer that Luon Sovath had not committed a crime, but changed his response on Friday. According to Article 239 of the Cambodian Criminal Code, a person can be imprisoned for five to ten years for rape, and up to 15 years if the crime was committed under aggravating circumstances. On Wednesday, Luon Sovath, who had not spoken publicly since the videos were published, said the videos were doctored and that he had not committed any of the alleged crimes. He said the case was politically motivated. In a long Facebook post, he said police had seized a lot of his property, including an SUV, an icebox, refrigerator, phones, camera equipment and had even questioned two of his nephews. On Friday, Luon Sovath briefly responded to a request for comment, again denying the allegations leveled against him and calling the Facebook account Srey Da Chi-Kraeng fake. I havent chatted or called anyone from my Facebook accounts, he said. [I want] to be silent so this can pass. They can accuse anyone since they have the extreme power to create this setup, he added. The four videos in question have been circulating on Facebook, and seemed to originate from one account, Srey Da Chi-Kraeng that was created on May 30. The videos, according to the accompanying text on Facebook, are recordings with four women a mother and three daughters. The video recordings are of an unidentified person, or persons, sitting in a dimly-lit room and having Facebook audio conversations, ranging from 7 to 10 minutes each. The video is shot so that only the persons hand holding the smartphone can be seen. This Facebook account links to three other accounts, suggesting they are the three daughters. However, on one of these accounts, the user posted last week that she and her family were being wrongly involved in this issue. The page Srey Da Chi-Kraeng is badly intended to mistreat me, the user said in the post. In another post from June 2, the user said her sisters and mother had not done bad things with Luon Sovath. These Facebook users did not respond to requests for comment. Moscow Warns Russia-NATO Ties Will Become More Complicated if US Moves Troops From Germany to Poland Sputnik News Tim Korso. Sputnik International 13:56 GMT 11.06.2020(updated 14:58 GMT 11.06.2020) Washington has earlier mulled moving its troops, which are reportedly equipped with nuclear weapons, from Germany, where they are currently stationed, to Poland, closer to Russia's borders. The suggestion was triggered by opposition from German parties to continuing the deployment of American forces in the country. The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned that the already complicated relations between Moscow and NATO might become even worse if the US moves its troops from Germany to Poland, in line with the recent suggestions. "Changes made to the structure of the American military presence in Europe in order to move it closer to the Russian borders will not only worsen the already tense situation in the sphere of global security on the continent, but will also hamper attempts to restart a constructive dialogue between Russia and NATO", the ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a press briefing. The spokeswoman went on to say that such a redeployment of US forces would go against the agreements struck between the alliance and Russia. While she suggested that the abandonment of these agreements would be heartily welcomed in Poland, Zakharova noted that Russia regards the violation of these accords as unacceptable. The ministry's representative also suggested that while redeploying, the US military should also bring its tactical nuclear weapons that are purportedly deployed in Germany with. Zakharova used the opportunity to point out Moscow's concerns over the US practice of conducting drills with the use of such weapons with non-nuclear NATO allies. She stressed that such behaviour violates the provisions of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The issue of the possible redeployment of American forces stationed in Germany was raised after the Social Democratic Party (SPD), one of the two parties in the German government, protested against extending the stay of US troops and spending money to support their military capabilities. Poland, in turn, suggested that the American forces could be redeployed to its territory, citing fears of aggression from Russia. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 19:27:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JUBA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan said on Friday the graduation of the much-awaited unified forces has been delayed due to logistical and financial constraints. Lul Ruai Koang, South Sudan People's Defense Force (SSPDF) spokesperson said the forces are a crucial part of the necessary security arrangement under the 2018 revitalized peace deal that will take charge of security in the youngest nation. "We had logistical challenges, the joint defense board (JDB) had presented a financial request to the National Pre-Transitional Committee to facilitate the graduation of the forces but the mobilization of financial resources has been a little bit difficult," Koang told Xinhua in Juba. At least 83,000 unified forces are expected to form the national army. The training of the unified force started early this year, across all the cantonment sites but had been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Koang disclosed that once they secure requisite funds on time, the graduation of the forces will be done in phases. "We are going to graduate 3,000 VIP protection force that is the first group. Then they will be followed by the unified national police services at Rejaf, then the rest of the necessary unified forces are going to be graduated simultaneously," said Koang. Meanwhile, Teshome Gemechu, head of the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) recently revealed that most cantonment sites are nearing collapsing because of the lack of logistical support. Gemechu disclosed that this due to a critical lack of logistics support to the training centers and other concerns such as lack of training syllabi at the centers and lack of clear directives on dates of graduation and funding. According to observers, the full implementation of the security arrangement is crucial to building trust and confidence to avert a repeat of the July 2016 renewed clashes that collapsed the 2015 peace deal. South Sudan descended into conflict in December 2013, after President Kiir sacked his deputy Machar, who later founded the SPLM-IO, leading to fights between soldiers loyal to their respective leaders. After years of civil war, the youngest country in Africa formed a transitional unity government on Feb. 22, 2020, when Machar was sworn in as the first vice president. Enditem Joe Franz and Diana Kuehnal have been on a road side protest for three weeks Gardai were called on Saturday to the scene of an ongoing stand-off between a landowner and workers laying cable to connect an electricity substation located near Inchageela to nearby windfarms. The Gardai were called as a result of complaints from landowner Joe Franz that he had been hemmed in with railings by unidentified men who arrived at the scene at Carrigdangan before 7am on Saturday. Joe and his wife, Diana Kuehnal, own Fruit Forest Farm, a permaculture arboretum and wildlife sanctuary in Carrigdangan. They have been camped out on the side of the road which runs alongside their holding for more than three weeks. This follows their discovery that workers connecting cable to the nearby substation had run the cable under their side of the road without seeking their permission and, in their understanding, contrary to the planning permission. According to their estimations, backed up by their engineer, their boundary runs two metres into the road, the L8535, and the site of the proposed junction box to join the underground ducts is on their land. Joe and Diana have long been involved in a campaign to halt the development of windfarms on Shehy More and Carrigarierk, both of which are being developed by companies linked to prominent businessman Michael Murnane. Expand Close Hemmed in, Joe Franz at the protest site in Carrigdangan on Saturday / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hemmed in, Joe Franz at the protest site in Carrigdangan on Saturday According to Joe, the cabling underneath their road, which took place last December when he was away attending a family celebration in Germany, and its discovery in early May when the resurfaced road was partially excavated to install a junction box, gives him 'the tools to stop the development legally'. "I am not totally opposed to them [windmills] in principle but I'm totally against them where developers don't consult with the local communities, which is what has happened in this case and many other cases around the country." He was involved in a group which challenged the Carrigarierk Windfarm, a project of Keel Energy Limited, a company of which Michael Murnane is a director. While the application for the five turbine windfarm at Carriagarierk was initially refused by Cork County Council, it was subsequently approved on appeal by An Bord Pleanala, a decision which left the locals with a considerable legal costs bill which they're still paying off. A similar appeal against the Shehy Mor windfarm was withdrawn by the group involved when it seemed likely that they could be burdened with their own costs and that of the other party if they lost. One of Joe Franz`s concerns about the substation which has been built close to his farm, within 300m, is that it could accommodate a much larger number of windfarms than Shehy Mor with 11 turbines and Carrigarierk with five turbines. "There's a complex of windfarms growing in one of Ireland's most scenic regions, from Shehy to Gougane." Joe has written to Cork County Council pointing out his concerns about the substation and its 'flawed planning application' but, as he says himself, he did not receive as much as a receipt of his registered letter. He said that local watercourses have been badly affected by the building of the substation. Macroom and District Environmental Group, who have been supporting Joe and Diana, have said the development had impacted the pearl mussel in the Bandon River Basin,. "Things have quietened down since Saturday," said Joe. "They've become resigned to the fact that we're not going away. "Two local families with young children have left the area - that's the lifeblood of the community," he said. "This is an illegal building site that has been put on our property without our permission, nor permission from the planning authorities. "We welcome supporters to visit or stay with us on our property." The stand-off continues. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday on the occasion of the country's national day, according to state media. In the letter, Kim expressed his belief that the two countries would continue to maintain friendly relations, the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. "The Russian people have achieved great successes in the struggle for building a powerful and prosperous Russia while overcoming all kinds of challenges and trials under the energetic leadership of the Russian president," Kim was quoted as saying in the report. Kim said "he reminisced with joy" about his first summit with Putin held in April last year in the Russian far eastern city of Vladivostok. He added that he had a "firm belief that the joint recognition and agreements between him and the Russian president would be implemented without fail to dynamically promote the development of the strategic and traditional relations of friendship between the DPRK and Russia." DPRK is the acronym of the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Last month, Kim also sent a message to Putin congratulating Russia on its 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. (Yonhap) By Francesco Guarascio BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission is seeking a mandate from EU countries to buy promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates in advance from pharmaceutical firms, as long as they are not produced solely in the United States, officials said. The EU executive wants to pay for up to six potential vaccines in deals where the makers would commit to providing doses when and if they become available. It will ask EU health ministers at a video conference meeting on Friday to back the plan, which has been swiftly devised as the bloc fears it may not have access to enough shots should a vaccine be developed. All vaccines in clinical trial this year are in principle eligible for advance purchases, but not those which are produced exclusively in the United States, because Washington has signalled it will not allow sales abroad before its own needs are met, the EU officials told a news conference. "Sourcing from producers that would only have production capacity in the United States would not really be an option for us," one Commission official said, adding this would not guarantee that the shots are available for the EU population. British-based drugmakers AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline, France's Sanofi, and U.S. players Pfizer, Novavax, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna are among companies trialling vaccines. See FACTBOX for full list and details: The Commission official said U.S. companies with production facilities in Europe could be eligible. Asked which companies could be excluded from EU deals, she said it was too early to say. The plan would offer financial guarantees to pharmaceutical companies, which face big losses if their vaccines are not successful. "We pay up front a significant part of the investment needed in exchange for a commitment from the pharmaceutical manufacturer to give us a vaccine when is available," the official told a news conference. The purchase agreements would be financed with an EU emergency fund, which currently has a budget of 2.4 billion euros ($2.7 billion), officials said, confirming Reuters' earlier reports. Story continues EU governments, which are negotiating deals with pharmaceutical companies on their own, could also provide extra funding, the official said. It is not clear whether the plan has the backing of EU member states, however. As part of the plan, the Commission will also propose a temporary softening of regulatory requirements to develop vaccines that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs), officials said, confirming an earlier Reuters report. If backed by EU health ministers on Friday, the Commission will make formal proposals next week. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle, Mark Potter and Pravin Char) Syracuse, N.Y. -- The publisher of Central New Yorks largest newspaper and news website said Friday hes disappointed that authorities defended a police officer who shoved a working photographer last month. Mayor Ben Walsh and police Chief Kenton Buckner agreed not to discipline Sgt. Todd Cramer after Cramer shoved Dennis Nett to the ground on May 30. Nett is a syracuse.com photographer who was covering a protest that had become destructive. Dennis Nett was working in the public service and posed no threat to police. He didnt deserve to get shoved to the ground, in a way that was neither necessary nor reasonable," said Tim Kennedy, president of Advance Media New York, which publishes syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Were all lucky Dennis was not seriously injured. Officers like Sgt. Cramer should be trained to recognize real threats. Nett, 60, suffered scrapes and bruises when he fell. Two of his camera lenses were damaged. Walsh and Buckner explained the decision not to discipline the officer Friday afternoon. Cramers use of force was reasonable and necessary, Buckner said, because Nett was standing between police officers and a crowd that was attacking a police building. Buckner said Cramer did not realize Nett was a part of the media when he shoved him. When you roll out during that moment, you dont know whos a part of the threat, Buckner said. Buckner also said Nett did not comply with verbal commands to move away. In an interview with police, Nett said he heard the officers commands. The video shows he was starting to step backward. Video of the incident shows six officers passing Nett as they emerged to control a crowd that had grown violent. Rioters broke windows at the Public Safety Building and the nearby courthouse. In body camera footage from the officer behind Cramer, Nett can be seen with a camera raised, taking photos as officers rushed out. In the video, Cramer breaks ranks and shoves Nett, who stumbles backwards before falling. The incident comes amid intense scrutiny of police policies and calls for reform and accountability from activists. Those activists have been protesting on Syracuses streets every day for more than two weeks. The Syracuse Common Council called for Cramers immediate suspension on Monday, after seeing footage taken by Nett. Walsh and Buckner both apologized to Nett in the days after he was knocked to the ground. Walsh said Friday that he didnt like the outcome, but supported Buckners decision. It doesnt mean that I like what happened," Walsh said. My goal is for it to never happen again. In his statement, Kennedy suggested the city should take more responsibility for the incident. The mayor and chief missed an opportunity to do more than just talk about police accountability, he said. People are smart enough to know not every one of those SUVs is faulty. Theyre not going to focus on the SUVs that arent crashing. But theyre sure going to want the company to do a recall and fix the problem. And if the company ignores it, if the company says, Well, most of these SUVs are very fine machines, people will move on and buy a different brand. As a physician and an American, I am outraged by ongoing police violence, enabled by local and national leaders. The intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic with the ongoing epidemic of police violence threatens public health. Local jurisdictions must ban the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades. This is not a partisan issue. Mayors, state and national leaders across the political spectrum have either openly or implicitly endorsed these violent police tactics. Tear gas is ubiquitous, yet it is a chemical weapon, banned for international warfare for decades. A scientific review from 2016 documents both the immediate toxic effects of eye, respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and skin irritation and potential long-term impacts. Protesters exposed to tear gas can have respiratory irritation, chest pain and bloody coughing last for weeks. A U.S. Army study of over 6,000 recruits found that those exposed had a higher chance of subsequent acute respiratory illness, including influenza. Studies used to justify tear gas safety have been limited to healthy white males, not reflective of those most likely to be targeted by law enforcement. Finally, there are emerging data that people with underlying respiratory or cardiac conditions may be more susceptible to harm from tear gas. The use of tear gas in a viral respiratory pandemic is especially problematic for at least three reasons. First, tear gas threatens to increase the spread of COVID at protests by causing irritation, coughing and sneezing. People are forced to remove their masks to breathe and touch their face, threatening spread in larger groups. Second, tear gas makes people more susceptible to viral illness after exposure. This is most concerning in higher-risk individuals with conditions like asthma. Third, we do not fully understand the long-term consequences of COVID on peoples pulmonary and overall health. However, there are early indications that survivors may have lung scarring and reduced pulmonary function, higher stroke and clot risk, and cardiac injury. Tear gas impacts these organ systems. In the midst of a pandemic, with tens of thousands of recovering individuals, the use of chemical weapons threatens their already vulnerable health. Many question the safety of mass protests in the midst of the pandemic, a valid concern. We emphasize risk mitigation and harm reduction. Medical professionals have published guidelines for reducing the spread of COVID during civil protesting. Arresting peaceful protesters, taking off their masks and overcrowding local jails are all ways to accelerate the spread of COVID. Protesting against injustice and the public health epidemic of police violence is an essential activity for a functioning democracy. Beyond tear gas, we must confront the use of all less than lethal police weapons. Acoustic weapons, water cannons, rubber bullets, stun grenades and other militarized tactics physically harm and psychologically terrorize citizens. Even pepper spray balls have killed protesters, including a 21-year-old Boston woman in 2004. Rubber bullets and other kinetic projectiles pose life-threatening risk that cannot be mitigated through use-of-force of training. In the past few weeks, several people, including a photographer in Minneapolis, were blinded and protesters have been hospitalized into intensive care units, including a grandmother in California and a 20-year-old in Texas. The medical evidence confirms the dangers. Researchers in a review article in the British Medical Journal in 2017 analyzed 1984 injuries across 26 studies. They found that 53 people died and 300 people suffered permanent disability, most commonly blindness. The authors conclude that the use of these weapons are not an appropriate means of force in crowd-control settings. This past week, the American Academy of Ophthalmology called for domestic law enforcement to end the use of rubber bullets. Flash-bangs, stun grenades or disorientation devices are also being used across police departments. Physicians for Human Rights call for a prohibition on the use of these for dispersal of crowds. These disorientation devices can cause temporary blindness and loss of hearing, and shrapnel can cause blast injuries, including blunt and penetrating trauma. Mass protests are a direct response to the epidemic of police violence, a public health crisis, against predominantly black and native communities. Police violence requires condemnation from health professionals and tangible policy changes from political leaders. Efforts to enlist cities in initiatives such as #8cantwait, unproven implicit bias training and mild budgetary restructuring are insufficient. It is not too much to ask for our governments to not shoot, gas or stun protesting citizens. Akshar Rambachan, M.D., M.P.H. is a physician at the University of California, San Francisco and researches health disparities. The Holiday Guru is always on hand to answer your questions. This week topics tackled include 'misleading' adverts for Wizz Air flights to Bulgaria, arranging refunds for Interrail passes, re-booking cancelled Ryanair flights and accepting Refund Credit Notes from Tui. Q. I received a Wizz Air promo email saying Bulgaria is open and advertising 20 per cent fare discounts to celebrate a lifting of travel restrictions. But theres a quarantine on arrival for British tourists. Isnt this misleading? John Smith, via email. Wizz Air says it is the responsibility of the traveller to check entry requirements for Bulgaria A. It would appear so. Although Bulgaria dropped its quarantine for some countries on Monday, British nationals must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival, as outlined at gov.uk. Wizz Air, however, says it is the responsibility of the traveller to check entry requirements, even for flights to Bulgaria from Britain (which it says are pitched at essential travellers). The Advertising Standards Authority commented: Adverts should not mislead someone by omission, exaggeration or ambiguity. But as the airline is registered in Hungary, it is a matter for Hungarian authorities. Q. To celebrate our golden wedding anniversary, we booked Interrail passes for a trip through Europe using Eurail.com. Unfortunately, we had to cancel, but arranging refunds has taken countless efforts by phone and email. How can the firm hold on to our money like this? Carol and Konrad Tapp, Darwen, Lancashire. A. Eurail has apologised that high demand from customers affected by the pandemic caused this delay. It also points out that promotional tickets like yours are not usually eligible for refunds. However, the company has changed its policy and is offering 85 per cent refunds. Alternatively, as you have been informed by email, you can opt to use the passes for travel up to the end of March 2022. Q. I have been offered a flight voucher or refund from Ryanair due to cancellation because of Covid. I am willing to take the voucher but am concerned the price of the flight may increase a lot. Will I have to pay the difference or will the airline pay it? Mrs Dorothy Taylor, via email. A. If you switch to a different date on the same route there will be no fare increase. Q. We are travelling to Goa in India in November for six weeks. It is very hard to get information on what might happen with our trip then. Can you help? Gary McDonough, Northampton. One reader asks if it is likely his trip to Goa, pictured, in India, will go ahead in November A. Monitor the Indian travel advice at gov.uk. If you have booked any accommodation already using a card, you may wish to request to cancel now to receive back any cash you have spent. Then wait until closer to your departure date to see if the airline cancels your flights or offers you a voucher in advance sometimes as much as six weeks before going. If coronavirus is still disrupting travel at that point, you may wish to accept the voucher and postpone your trip. The good news is that some hotels and restaurants are re-opening in India from Monday. Q. Tui has offered us a Refund Credit Note after our holiday was cancelled adding an incentive to re-book later. It has also said the new holiday would carry the same ATOL cover as the original booking. Is this so? If not, should we ask for a refund now? Robert Hall, via email. A. Best to re-book immediately without taking a Refund Credit Note (RCN) or ask for a refund. There is no guarantee RCNs will be accepted under the government-backed ATOL (Air Transport Organisers Licence) in the event of a company collapsing, as they are not legally recognised. Under the Package Travel Regulations, you should be provided with a full refund within 14 days. With your cash in the bank, you can then decide on a new holiday without having to worry about RCNs and whether or not they will actually give you any protection. Q. In February, my elderly father bought a 1,500 multi-trip annual travel insurance but, three weeks later, the travel ban came in. The firm he bought it from refuses to offer a refund. Can you help? Joan Robinson, via email. A. The Association of British Insurers says this is unusual as many insurers are offering a partial refund based on the numbers of days left on the policy. The advice is to make a formal complaint to the insurance underwriter, rather than the broker. If this does not work, complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service (www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk). Good luck. WERE HERE TO HELP If you need advice, the Holiday Guru is here to help. Send your questions to holidayplanner@dailymail.co.uk and include contact details. The chairman of the public inquiry into the Manchester Arena terrorist attack has asked the Fire Brigades Unions (FBU) to explain how they think their service response could have been approved on the night of the concert. The chairman's request is a response to the FBU's application for core participant status at the hearing which is due to start in September. Pictured: Manchester Arena inquiry Chairman Sir John Saunders If the FBU are granted core participation status they will have access to evidence in advance, make statements at certain hearings and apply to ask questions of certain witnesses. Chairman, Sir John Saunders, said: 'I have given considerable thought to how I should deal with this matter while being fair to all parties, achieving the best result for the inquiry and avoiding unnecessary costs. 'I consider that the best way to deal with the matter at the moment is that I should invite the FBU to provide me with a statement setting out their views as to the way in which the response of the fire service could have been improved and whether recommendations should be made or whether the existing changes made following the Kerslake report are sufficient.' The Kerslake report, submitted by Lord Bob Kerslake in March 2018, said the fire service was left 'outside of the loop' from the police and ambulance response. Pictured: Doctors and emergency staff treat the injured at Victoria Station. The chairman's request is a response to the FBU's application for core participant status at the hearing which is due to start in September Currently Sir John Saunders does not think the FBU should be granted core participant status. The FBU's application was submitted four months after the deadline without any 'adequate reason' for the delay. He said: 'Firefighters arrived at the scene two hours after the explosion. 'The inquiry will need to look in detail at the reasons for that. 'Was the planning sufficient? 'Was the response in accordance with that planning? 'If something went wrong, why did it go wrong? 'These matters have already been looked at by Lord Kerslake and his report does give some indication of some of the likely lines of inquiry which I will pursue. 'Certainly I will aim to build on the contents of his report while not being bound by it.' A police officer hugs a young girl in the aftermath of the terror attack which killed 22 people. The report praised the bravery and compassion of emergency services but criticised the rules and procedures under which they operate In April, retired High Court judge Sir John turned down an application for core participant status from a group of survivors of the May 2017 atrocity. Law firm Irwin Mitchell said it had issued an application to the High Court on behalf of more than 40 people for a judicial review of the decision. Salman Abedi, 22, detonated a rucksack bomb in the foyer of the arena, known as the City Room, at the end of an Ariana Grande concert on May 22 2017, killing 22 bystanders and injuring hundreds more. His younger brother, Hashem Abedi, 22, was convicted in March of 22 counts of murder. Using a graphic format, comic book artist Jim Terrys memoir Come Home, Indio (Street Noise, Sept.) details his experiences as a miserable, abused, neglected child of alcoholics and his own decade as a blackout drunk, as well as his eventual path to sobriety. Along the way, Terry discovers the discipline of illustrating comics and finds community among the worlds of both his Irish-American father and his mother, a member of the Ho-Chunk tribe in Wisconsin. Street Noise Books founder and editor Liz Frances, who says her aim is to publish marginalized voices, tracked Terry down at Indigenous Comic Con in 2018 and convinced him to write, as well as draw, his story. She predicts his memoir will attract readers looking to find meaning and purpose as well as a sense of community and belonging in the modern world. PW spoke with Terrynow age 46 and sober for 14 yearsabout drawing his life, connecting with others, and finding a sense of spirituality. Why do you connect Indio (Spanish for Indian) with happiness now, after decades of feeling shame and pain about being half-Indian? Although my father was Irish, he spoke fluent Spanish, and Indio was a term of endearment he used for me when he was happy. The through line in the book is the sense of feeling out of place. By the end of the book, Indio comes home to happiness. As a child during your parents divorce, an attorney battered you with questions, and you depict this incident by shrinking your boyhood image frame by frame until you are just a dot. How do you use this graphic technique to advance your verbal narrative? In the frame where Im just a dot, thats how small I was made to feel in the moment. Why not illustrate it? In the frames where I am in love, all the background vanishes and Im just floating. You cant do that in mainstream books. Graphic stories have a way of being surreal, and yet also being very literal. Thats the beauty of sequential artwork. You can do things with it that you cant do in prose, or film either. How did your experience with the Dakota Access Pipeline protests near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in 2016 affect you? I grew up with a very small Native community. But at Standing Rock I was part of many communities coming together. I saw the heroism and the strength and the spirit. Now, I am still discovering what being Native means to me. The biggest takeaway is an idea that all the tribes share: that the generation to come is more important than the one that is here now. We are custodians for our children. In what way has this involvement impacted you spiritually? I wouldnt say I became a Christian or that I identify now with Native ceremonies. I would say the spiritual impact has been like the smoothing of a rock by the water. I had all these edges, and eventually these things were buffed away. I try to separate peoples spirituality from whatever dogmatic ideology they have, to see how they behave rather than what they say they believe. This includes myself. Scott Morrison has defended his controversial comments claiming there was no slavery in Australia, saying he was speaking specifically about New South Wales. The prime minister drew widespread criticism after saying on Thursday 'there was no slavery in Australia' when the country was founded. Critics pointed out that although slavery was never legal in Australia, convicts, Indigenous Australians and Pacific Islanders were all victims of forced labour. Addressing the controversy, Mr Morrison said his comments were about how NSW was settled on principles which included that the colony was not to have slavery. 'The comments I was referring to was how the New South Wales settlement was first established and the views that were communicated at the time in forming the New South Wales colony,' he said in Canberra on Friday. 'So I don't intend to get into the history wars, my comments were not intended to give offence and if they did I deeply regret that and apologise for that. 'I was not trying to get into the history wars, I was simply trying to make the point that we had issues in our history, we have acknowledged them...and we need to address them.' Scott Morrison has sparked outrage by saying there was no slavery in Australia despite shocking images showing Aboriginal people in chains in the 19th century Shocking black and white photos show how aboriginal people were treated in 19th century Australia Mr Morrison acknowledged 'all sorts of hideous practices' had been waged against indigenous people. 'In Australia we know we have had problems in our past. We have acknowledged those,' he said. The prime minister also described indigenous incarceration rates as heartbreaking, saying there was a commitment to act and no shortage of funding to address the problem. Mr Morrison's original comments on slavery were in response to a question around whether statues of Captain James Cook should be removed in response to a movement in the UK to topple monuments to slave traders. He rejected the idea, saying: 'Australia, when it was founded as a settlement, as NSW, was on the basis that there be no slavery, while slave ships continued to travel around the world. 'Yeah sure, it was a pretty brutal settlement, my forefathers and foremothers were on the first and second fleets, it was a pretty brutal place, but there was no slavery in Australia.' Mr Morrison's critics said he should 'read a book' and shared images of chained-up Aboriginal people from a Western Australia state library collection which resurfaced earlier this year. The images show Aboriginal prisoners - many of whom were accused of petty crimes such as killing cattle - shackled with heavy chains around their necks, guarded by white men armed with rifles. Groups of Aboriginal men and boys are pictured chained together, standing or sitting, wearing just a cloth around their waist, as white policemen and 'Aboriginal trackers' stand beside them with four rifles Sometimes police were paid per indigenous prisoner they caught and brought them into jail using chains. Some prisoners were put to work on boats while others were forced to lay railways. Even Aboriginal people not accused of crimes were illegally used as unpaid labour until the 1970s, particularly in the agricultural industry, with only rations and a bed to show for their toil. Last year the Queensland government agreed to pay 10,000 aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a total of $190million for wages unpaid between 1939 and 1972. Before then, convicts shipped to Australia from Ireland and the UK were treated as slave labor. They were subject to 'assigned service' where they were leased out to rich landowners to use as a cheap workforce. And from the mid-19th century, around 60,000 pacific islanders were illegally kidnapped from their homes and taken to Australia by colonialists who forced them to work on farms in a practice known as 'blackbirding'. Emelda Davis, President of the Australian South Sea Islanders, wrote in a 2017 article for The Conversation: 'The treatment of the Islanders was atrocious, exploitative and akin to slavery. Hundreds of Aboriginal prisoners were captured and chained, forced to work on many projects including laying rails Aboriginal prisoners (pictured) were chained and forced to lay a railway near Derby, Western Australia, about 1897 'When plantation owners went bankrupt, the workers were transferred as an asset with the sold property.' Indigenous historian Bruce Pascoe was among those to criticise Mr Morrison's remarks on slavery. 'It's pretty obvious that when you chain people up by the neck and force them to march 300km and then work on cattle stations for non-indigenous barons, then that is slavery,' Mr Pascoe told ABC radio. He said Australia needed to confront and acknowledge its past. 'It's about recognition, it's about embracing the history - good and bad,' he said. Police were paid per indigenous prisoner and cruelly brought them into jail using chains where they were forced to work Black Lives Matter has shone a light on Australia's systemic mistreatment of Aboriginal people. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton lashed out at an apparent rash of 'cancel culture' in response to the protest movement. Netflix has pulled four shows featuring controversial Australian performer Chris Lilley and there are supposedly calls to topple statues of British explorer Captain James Cook. 'I don't think ripping pages out of history books and brushing over parts of history you don't agree with or you don't like is really something the Australian public is going to embrace,' Mr Dutton told Nine. 'There are good and bad parts of our history. You learn from that.' Mr Dutton said Netflix's decision to remove the Chris Lilley shows, depicting the comedian in a range of characters including blackface, was absurd. The prime minister has bigger priorities. 'I'm not interested in what they're showing on streaming services. I'm interested in getting Australians back to work,' he said. 'Honestly people, let's focus on what's really happening. 'What you're watching on television is your business. It's not going to create one job. Let's focus on where Australians are hurting today. They really are hurting, and I will not be distracted.' Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese does not want statues removed. 'You can't rewrite history, you have to learn from it,' he told 2GB radio. 'The idea that you go back to year zero of history is in my view, just quite frankly unacceptable.' " " A statue in Paris stands as a frightening reconstitution of the Beast of Gevaudan (Bete du Gevaudan), the 18th-century creature that terrorized the Gevaudan region of southern France, and is said to have killed 100 people. ELLIOTT VERDIER/AFP/Getty Images In the 1760s, a horror movie came to life in the fields and forests of Gevaudan (pronounced je-voo-dan), a remote, isolated backwater in southern France. For years, women, children and even some men were torn to bloody shreds, yet no killer was ever captured, no one was ever jailed. Instead, survivors of the attacks blamed a monster a terrifying specter which became known as the Beast of Gevaudan. Numbers vary, but perhaps 100 people were killed, suffering grotesquely violent deaths, their throats ripped and sometimes their heads torn right from their bodies. What started as a local horror show quickly turned into an international sensation, and everyone wanted to know what exactly was this beast, and how could anyone possibly stop it? Advertisement The First Death The first death occurred in 1764, as a 14-year-old girl named Jeanne Boulet tended her livestock. The beast attacked and killed her, and then made its escape. In an area rife with superstitious beliefs, no one knew what sort of devil or demon might have done such evil. It would not be the last death. In the following months, more and more attacks were reported. Dozens of people died, mostly children, women and a few lone men. Witnesses and survivors said the monster was a huge dog-like or wolf-life creature, shaggy and perhaps as large as a horse. Local authorities rallied the populace. Tens of thousands of people volunteered to help find and conquer the villain. Rewards were offered for its head. Soldiers dressed as women in hopes of drawing the beast into an ambush. Whatever the beast was, it wasn't imaginary. But what sort of real-life creature could possibly explain this rash of terrifying killings? " " An 18th-century print depicting the Beast of Gevaudan. Wikimedia Commons "As I argue in my book, I think it's quite clear that the beast of the Gevaudan was a wolf or wolves," says Jay M. Smith, a historian and the author of "Monsters of the Gevaudan: The Making of a Beast," in an email interview. "The rash of killings was turned into a story about a 'monster' because of a confluence of cultural and social factors in the 1760s that created a hunger for a story about an indomitable predator." Indeed, France in 1764 was a dismal nation, licking its wounds from the Seven Years War. The economy was in ruins and the country was essentially a sinking morass. Advertisement A Story Stoked by the Media The beast created a stir and gave the French something to rally around. And to top it off, the entire ordeal was stoked by an emerging media industry. "The first known killing occurred in June 1764, but I would say the 'story' only began in October of that year, when newspapers began to report on the grisly killings," says Smith. "By the end of 1764 the story of the 'beast' was an international phenomenon fueled by newspaper reporting, especially by the Courrier d'Avignon. It was talked about in London, Turin, Cologne, Amsterdam, Berlin, Geneva [and] Boston." The beast disrupted life in the Gevaudan for nearly three years. Professional hunters failed to find and kill it. King Louis XV's men couldn't find it, either and in their failure, they likely made the beast out to be even more cunning and supernatural than it really was to protect their pride and reputations. Finally, on June 19, 1767, local farmer Jean Chastel shot and killed the animal, a large wolf, suspected of doing much of the killing. The rampage was finally, thankfully, over. " " An 18th-century engraving of la Bete du Gevaudan, from The London Magazine, May 1765. Wikimedia Commons Advertisement A Big, Bad Wolf or Something Else? Since then, historians and researchers have debated whether the beast could've been perhaps a hyena, a lion or perhaps some ancient creature that no longer stalks the Earth. But if it was indeed a wolf, how do we account for reports that pegged the monster as being as large as a horse? Perhaps it had something to do with adrenaline and exaggeration, or simply mistaken recall. "The size of a wolf is something that is difficult for someone without experience to judge," says Nate Libal, an assistant wolf biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, via email. "This is because all wolves have a large bone structure, are long-limbed, and have considerable variation in coat thickness depending on the time of year. For these reasons, people often considerably overestimate the weight of wolves they see." But let's be honest the size of the wolf wouldn't really matter much to an unarmed person cornered by one in a dark forest. And back then, wolves were a truly deadly concern. "In looking at the data, it does appear that predator attacks in general, and wolf attacks more specifically, were more common historically than they are today, and that many of these attacks occurred in Europe," says Libal. "Given that wolves occur in many myths and stories (often as a dangerous or evil creature), I think it is accurate to say that there was a real fear of them historically in many places." Scott Becker, a wolf specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, concurs with Libal's assessment. "It's hard to tell exactly how much people feared wolves in the past, but simply based on the mythology and fairy tales that incorporate the idea of 'the big, bad wolf,' those fears were real," he says via email. "These ideologies about wolves were brought with early settlers to the New World and many continue to this day. Seldom do you hear of a story about a good wolf." Jay Smith thinks that an overpopulation of wolves likely drove them to attack people in a series of statistically rare attacks. And it's also possible that the wolves were sick. " " A statue of the Beast of Gevaudan stands today in the town of Saint-Privat-d'Allier in southern France. Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) "A large number of historical wolf attacks are believed to have been as a result of rabies, which is a much rarer disease, particularly in wolves, today," says Libal. "Predatory attacks have also been recorded and have generally involved children tending livestock or otherwise being out on the landscape on their own. With changes to society and agriculture in many parts of the world, this risk is much diminished today." It's easy to see how a populous clinging to supernatural beliefs, and a large wolf population, in a country scarred by war with a newly burgeoning newspaper business could be quickly swept up by a tale of carnage and ultimately, triumph. Now that the beast is long since vanquished, how has its bloody legacy affected the area where it stalked its prey? "Well, myths about the beast continue to affect local culture today," says Smith. "Most of the people who have written about the story are themselves natives of the region; they grew up on stories of the beast. One of the reasons that the fantastic images of the beast survived the period is that its story feeds regional pride, promotes tourism, and even informs the identity of the people who live in the area." NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Some survivors of the beast's attacks gained fame. On Aug. 11, 1765, Marie-Jeanne Vallet fought off the beast by plunging a spear into its chest it ran off, wounded. With her heroics, she became known as the "Maiden of Gevaudan." You can see an epic statue commemorating her courage in Auvers Village. What on earth does a U.S. Secretary of State do? The question has been really confusing for the world since Mike Pompeo took up the post. What the man has done showed the world that he never intends to solve problems for the U.S., but only wants to stir up troubles for the world. At present, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is approaching 2 million, and protests against racism and police brutality triggered by the death of African American man Gorge Floyd have continued to take place across the country for two weeks. Under such circumstances, no one has seen Pompeo make efforts to put forward a plan or any idea to cope with the severe situation. All he has been doing were issuing statements or posting tweets, racking his brains to cook up rumors against and slander China shamelessly. He even falsely accused China of using George Floyds death for propaganda. In the final analysis, Pompeo is just too arrogant to quit pulling the same old trick of shifting blame onto others. How absurd is that! Making such great efforts to play the blame game that doesnt work, Pompeos despicable act will end up achieving nothing but making a laughingstock of himself before the world. The age-old systemic racism in the U.S. society exposed by Gorge Floyds death, which people from all walks of life in the U.S. are reflecting on, is the countrys well-known persistent malady, rather than something that can be created out of nothing. Recently, four former presidents of the U.S. have made statements on the deeply entrenched racism in the country, expressing dissatisfaction with how relevant authorities have been handling the current crisis. United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged in a recent press statement that U.S. authorities must address the deep-seated grievances at the heart of the protests that have erupted in hundreds of U.S. cities. The voices calling for an end to police violence need to be heard. And the voices calling for an end to the endemic and structural racism that blights U.S. society need to be heard, said Bachelet. As a matter of fact, the one who has been using the death of Gorge Floyd for misleading propaganda in an attempt to divert peoples attention is nobody else but Pompeo himself. What people have seen was that Pompeo has continued to remain silent on the death of Gorge Floyd. Such indifferent attitude has provoked widespread criticism in the U.S. In its recent article titled U.S. diplomats ask Wheres Pompeo? on Floyd death, U.S. media Politico questioned why Pompeo has made no response to the killing of George Floyd. Many diplomats of the U.S. voiced discontent at Pompeos silence on the topic. Some called his silence deafening while others said Pompeo has literally decided he is not touching it, adding that this is going to reflect on the U.S. image around the world. Regarding acts of lying, cheating, and stealing as the glory of the American experiment, Pompeo, who is so narrow-minded, has probably seen maligning China as a life-saving straw for him. To stigmatize China, the man has literally tried all he has to spread political virus around the world and arbitrarily fabricate malicious arguments against China, including the groundless claims that the novel coronavirus originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, and that the virus was man-made. At such a critical moment when solidarity and cooperation is more urgently needed in the world than ever before, Pompeo is bound up in his roles as a saboteur in international cooperation and a spoiler in global efforts to fight COVID-19. Constant efforts in playing these roles made Pompeo one of the worst secretaries of state and quickly the worst secretary of state in American history in the eyes of U.S. media. Such accurate evaluations went straight to the point. Lies are bound to be exposed. According to Politico, an analysis of more than 2.6 million tweets about the novel coronavirus published in late March and 25.5 million times of retweets of these messages within ten days found that more than 5,000 Twitter accounts retweeted relevant information about the novel coronavirus for nearly 7,000 times in a coordinated manner, and spread the conspiracy theory labeling COVID-19 a Chinese bioweapon. The analysis conducted by Australia academics has also revealed that many of the users who tweeted these messages were actually remote controlled robots, and a lot of Twitter groups that spread these messages were related to supporters of right-wing extremists in the U.S. The latest disclosure reminded people of the memory of how Pompeo attempted to refer to COVID-19 as the Wuhan virus in a joint statement on the fight against COVID-19 at G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting at the end of March. Could it be a coincidence or well-designed conspiracy? No matter what it is, it is for sure that however hard Pompeo tries to shift the blame onto others, such evil efforts will not help solve the internal problems of the U.S. After seeing so many notorious acts of the man, many people wonder if Pompeo is still able to quit his addiction to lying and cheating. A word of advice to Pompeo: As the chief diplomat of the U.S., he should know that respecting facts and the truth is the basic requirement for and moral bottom line of the profession. He had better neither overestimate the effects of his rumormongering and slander campaign against China nor underestimate the international communitys clear understanding of fairness and justice. After all, numerous facts have proven that any attempt to challenge justice and universally acknowledged truth ends in failure. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy.) Out: Art Van In: Loves Furniture by Trilby MacDonald From the June, 2020 issue The Ann Arbor Art Van closed in March after the Warren-based company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Just three years earlier, Art Van Elslander had sold the 190-store chain to Boston-based private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners LP (THL). Van Elslander died in 2018. THL announced plans to add 200 stores by 2020, but with $400 million in debt, the company was in trouble even before the pandemic. According to a March article in Crain's Detroit Business, THL sold assets and cut staff and salaries. "They took a successful brand with a successful executive team and destroyed a great company in three years," former senior VP of marketing Diana Sikes told Crain's. Now, some of the old team may be getting back together: in May, Jeff Love's Texas-based U.S. Assets announced it was buying the leases and assets of twenty-seven former Art Van stores, including Ann Arbor's. It's already brought aboard a half dozen former Art Van executives and plans to reopen the stores under a new, Michigan-based brand, Love's Furniture. --- Have a retail or restaurant change? Email marketplace@aaobserver.com [Originally published in June, 2020.] The colour of a person's skin, the place where you were born, the way you talk, your religion, your culture, your norms. Each contributes to how we are treated within our community, how we are viewed by the people we see every day. In a normal, functioning society our differences are embraced, met with curiosity rather than ignorance. In a normal, functioning society everyone is treated the same. It would be churlish to suggest we have reached that point in Wexford. Yet, as events across the Atlantic have shown, we are further down the line than some. Yes, racism exists here, fascism and hatred too, but we're a nation of emigrants; we know about poverty, about suffering, about the pain of leaving family behind to seek pastures new. And so, when people come here to make new lives, to escape war, famine and conflict, we try to extend a hand of greeting to them. And, according to those we spoke to for this article, it's appreciated more than we could ever know. Patrick Khamis, South Sudan It's been almost a year since Patrick Khamis has spoken to his wife and two children. He arrived in Rosslare from South Sudan last June, forced to flee a country at war, a conflict which has killed an estimated 400,000 South Sudanese people. Although he had a job in marketing, a home and a family, it had become too dangerous for Patrick (48) to remain in his homeland. 'How I ended up here is a long story, there's a lot of politics involved,' he says. 'South Sudan had been at war for 22 years, that war ended in 2005 and afterwards each commander wanted his share of the cake. 'This led to more conflict and it was no longer safe for me there. It was very complicated, but I had to seek refuge here. My wife, son (21) and daughter (17) are still there. It goes without saying that it's tough not seeing them. I haven't spoken to my wife for almost a year now. I have been in touch with my sister though and she has said they are safe and well.' Patrick's ultimate goal is to have his family join him in Ireland, to start a new life in a country which he says has been good to him since his arrival. 'I like it here, Wexford is a nice place, the people are very friendly, there's been no trouble. I've actually been surprised by the generosity of the local community, they're very good, they meet you and they want to stop for a chat,' he says. 'Hopefully my family will be able to come and join me here at some stage. I'm still in the process of having my status here granted, I'm just waiting for the final letter from the ministry. I'm very grateful for all that's been done for me since I came here.' Patrick is currently taking the Sanctuary Ambassadors course, a programme sponsored by Wexford Local Development (WLD) which provides training for those living in direct provision, giving them the skills required to aid and assist other refugees or asylum seekers. 'We always look out for new people who have just arrived, we help them with their induction, their introductions,' Patrick says. And this is just one of the programmes he has become involved in since his arrival. 'There's a whole lot of opportunities for me here. I've been volunteering with Age Action, had IT lessons. I'm hoping to do more volunteering so that I can give back to the people. I'm also getting training to be an addiction counsellor. 'Once I get my documents I want to get off the welfare system and give something back to society.' With no cases of Covid-19 at the Rosslare Accommodation Centre thus far, Patrick and his fellow residents have avoided the plight which has befallen some of their compatriots in other centres. 'We've done well with Covid so far, when it first came it shook the world and it shook the centre too. But we have followed the rules, the guidelines, had instructions printed out and put on the walls. The management here have done very well, provided sanitisers, face masks. 'On an individual level we have been washing our hands constantly, ten times a day. As a group we have adopted a policy that this is a responsibility that must be shared between us, so if someone is going out we take it upon ourselves to make sure they take precautions.' However, he believes that in order for the direct provision system to continue to work some changes need to be made. 'The direct provision system is good and they're doing a good job but I think there should be less people in the centres. At the moment there's 50,60 people here and I think that's one of the reasons why local communities are reluctant to have centres in their area. 'For example, if there were only 30 people in a centre then you might have just one or two people walking down the street together, and it's not so intimidating for those living locally. But when you have this many people in a centre there's a chance there'll be groups of five or ten and people find that harder to deal with.' Zakaria Osman, Somalia Zakaria Osman has also been forced to leave his family, a wife and five young children. In his case it was a series of assassination attempts which led to the decision to escape his homeland of Somalia. 'I arrived in Rosslare in July of last year. I had been working as a diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mogadishu, as First Secretary to the Somali embassy in Burundi,' Zakaria (28) says. 'Al-Shabaab tried to kill me three times so I had to run.' Al-Shabaab, is a terrorist, jihadist fundamentalist group based in East Africa and in 2017 it claimed responsibility for a bomb which killed over a thousand people in Mogadishu, among them Zakaria's brother. 'My brother was killed in an explosion in the foreign embassy in 2017, he was 32. The aftermath of the attack was massive, more than one thousand people lost their lives and an equal number were injured. I lost some of my closest friends in the attack. 'Al-Shabaab claimed the attack which is often the case. It is a day I will never ever forget in my life.' Having finally escaped and found sanctuary in Wexford, Zakaria has begun piecing his life back together. But while he was physically unharmed by the bomb and its aftermath, it has taken its toll on him psychologically. 'When I came I found it very hard, I was suffering flashbacks, was remembering what had happened to me in Somalia. My GP helped me to relax my mind, but I couldn't sleep, and when I did I was having nightmares. 'But for the last five months things have been better. I don't know if I'll ever be able to go back to Somalia though, there hasn't been stability there since 1991. My family are still back there, my wife and five children. 'I have been in touch with them over the internet but it's very difficult to communicate with them, they are living normally at the moment and are okay. I absolutely hope to bring them to Ireland when I get my status here.' And when that does happen, when he is allowed to join the workforce, Zakaria hopes to use his experiences to help others. 'When I am granted the ability to work I hope to be able to support Somalians coming to live here, to work with immigrants. It's a very tough situation in Somalia at the moment, I am passionate about helping others, and have been helping newcomers settle in the centre.' 'Already I'm feeling like Ireland is my home, the people here, when you go out, they greet you, tell you you're welcome to their country. I would like to settle here and start a new life.' Wael Zakka, Syria When war broke out in Syria in 2011, Wael Zakka had his own his business, a successful high-tech printing company which he had slowly built up over a number of years. Such was the success of his company that one of his biggest clients was the Syrian government, a contract with the central office providing enough income to support his young family. However, as the conflict escalated and the death count rose, Wael made a decision which would change the course of his life forever. 'My work was in hologram, high-tech printing, I had been doing that for a long time, sending items to the government,' says Wael. 'But in 2011 I refused to deliver orders to them because of the political situation, I went against them. 'It was brave but it cost me my career, my life, I don't regret it though, if given the choice I would do the same thing one thousand times over.' Wael (42) only arrived in Rosslare last year, his journey taking him from Russia to Italy, France, China and India before he finally found a country willing to help him start over. 'I've been here since June 14 of last year. I left Syria in 2011 and tried to rebuild my life, and went to many countries,' he says. 'But you can't compare those countries to ireland, people here are so nice and humble, they say hello and goodbye, they're very normal people, unlike some places where integration is very difficult.' However, his wife and three children remain in Syria, away from Wael, their only communication virtual. 'I speak to my family through social media, I don't ever miss a day, they're doing well, they're just waiting for the moment they can come here. I hope I can afford to bring them here. 'I won't ever be able to go home, of course you cannot but miss it; I grew up there, have memories, famly members. But it's not possible to go back. Everybody lost somebody and it's not easy to make people live together under those circumstances.' A trained lawyer, Wael is hoping to take a Master's Degree in law once he is granted permission to study. In the meantime he is busying himself with online courses and is also taking the Sanctuary Ambassador course. And although Covid-19 has presented challenges for those living in the Accommodation Centre, he says their new home should be held up as an example of how to make direct provision work. 'In the old centre it was horrible, you couldn't choose your roommate, but here it's way better, they should make it a model for other centres to learn from; there's activities, you can work with Age Action, the men's sheds, you need that, you need something to wake up for.' Karolina Skalinska, Poland Karolina Skalinska came to Wexford from Poland 12 years ago, her initial plan to 'see something new', improve her English and return home within a year. Now however, her home is here. 'Ireland definitely has become home for me,' she says. 'My son was born here, he has his friends here, English is his first language, he even has a Wexford accent now.' Although she attended college in Poland and qualified as an Accounting Technician, Karolina (38) came to Ireland willing to work wherever the opportunities lay. 'I got a job very quickly after I arrived, within a week, as a night packer in Super Valu. I've had a lot of jobs since then, I've worked as a cleaner; one job I really enjoyed was in Traco Power Solutions, but that ended when the jobs moved to China,' she says. In the meantime she has taken a number of courses with Wexford Local Development (WLD), receiving training in everything from office skills to payroll. And her dream is to one day find work in her chosen field, in the profession she trained for back home. 'I'm qualified as an Account Technician, but I came here without having had any work experience in that. I would love to find work in that position, but I've almost given up for now; I've have had so many interviews,' she says. The prospect of retraining in Accounting at an Irish college, at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) perhaps, is, for Karolina, a daunting one. 'I was trying to finish my courses here, but the Polish education system is different to the Irish one. I was thinking of going to WIT but my English is not great, I could try to go there but I'm scared, the level is so high there.' Ultimately Karolina says she would simply be happy to find work in place where her efforts are appreciated and she can make a telling contribution. 'I would love to work in a place where I do something I like, the pay doesn't have to be that great, it's more important that it's something I enjoy. I would like to work in a place where people trust me, where I can develop new skils, and do something that would bring me satisfaction and challenge me.' Sabina* (name changed to protect identity of interviewee), Poland 'I feel more comfortable here than in Poland,' says Sabina, who came to Wexford in 2012. 'I enjoy the community aspect of life here, even if you're just going to the shop you know you're going to meet people and stop and talk to them. 'Now, when I go back to Poland for a holiday and I smile and say hello to people they look at me like something's wrong. I don't want to return there to live. When the plane lands in Dublin it feels like I'm coming back home.' Like many of those who come to Ireland for a fresh start, Sabina arrived with qualifications in tow. She had attended University in Poland, qualified as a librarian, but her first job in Wexford was in a very different kind of environment. 'I came here on my own but I had friends of friends to help me settle,' she says. 'I said I would give myself a month to find a job and if I couldn't find anything I would return home. 'I found work in a fish factory, it was the best I could get at the time. It was the worst job ever, so smelly; I would be in the bank or the shop smelling of fish. I lasted a year there.' After surviving that experience, she moved on to a role with supermarket giant, Aldi, a position she held until 2017. But in the intervening years she realised her true passion lay elsewhere. 'I am beginning a course in Social Care at Carlow IT, Wexford Campus, starting September (Covid permitting),' she says. 'I'm not really sure which area of Social Care I'd like to do, I'm currently looking for volunteering opportunities so I can explore the possibilities. 'My dream job is the kind of thing where I'm not in an office all day, where I can have contact with people, with those who need help, go and be a part of the community.' And Sabina says that without Wexford Local Development (WLD) she wouldn't be in a position to pursue those dreams. 'They gave me great help, gave me advice on how to make the right choice for me, what courses to take, which direction to go, how to write a proper application, what supports are available for me. I wish I'd found them sooner.' And the mother-of-two says having children in Ireland and native English speakers in her home, has its benefits. 'They speak English at home, but they're still quite young. Sometimes though when I'm talking to my daughter I'm learning phrases from her.' Zelluna Immunotherapy, an Oslo, Norway-based T Cell Receptor (TCR) cell therapy company, raised 7.5m in equity funding and public grants. The company intends to use the funds for the development of its proprietary TCR guided Natural Killer (NK) cell therapy platform (TCR-NK) and novel TCR-NK products for the treatment of cancers. Led by Namir Hassan, CEO, Zelluna Immunotherapy is a company pioneering the development of T cell receptor (TCR) guided natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapies for the treatment of solid cancers. The company will secure new TCR targets through both internal development programs and in partnerships with other companies and groups. In support of this strategy, Zelluna has recently announced the formation of partnerships with NK organizations, providing access to NK cells, manufacturing facilities and additional competency and expertise. FinSMEs 12/06/2020 Today is shaping up negative for Phoenix Tree Holdings Limited (NYSE:DNK) shareholders, with the covering analyst delivering a substantial negative revision to this year's forecasts. Both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) forecasts went under the knife, suggesting the analyst has soured majorly on the business. Following the downgrade, the current consensus from Phoenix Tree Holdings' lone analyst is for revenues of CN8.5b in 2020 which - if met - would reflect a notable 8.3% increase on its sales over the past 12 months. The loss per share is anticipated to greatly reduce in the near future, narrowing 78% to CN16.58. However, before this estimates update, the consensus had been expecting revenues of CN10b and CN7.88 per share in losses. So there's been quite a change-up of views after the recent consensus updates, with the analyst making a serious cut to their revenue forecasts while also expecting losses per share to increase. See our latest analysis for Phoenix Tree Holdings NYSE:DNK Past and Future Earnings June 12th 2020 There was no major change to the consensus price target of CN81.90, signalling that the business is performing roughly in line with expectations, despite lower earnings per share forecasts. Looking at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can make sense of these forecasts is to see how they measure up against both past performance and industry growth estimates. It's pretty clear that there is an expectation that Phoenix Tree Holdings' revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues next year expected to grow 8.3%, compared to a historical growth rate of 129% over the past year. Juxtapose this against the other companies in the industry with analyst coverage, which are forecast to grow their revenues (in aggregate) 5.6% next year. Even after the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that Phoenix Tree Holdings is also expected to grow faster than the wider industry. The Bottom Line The most important thing to note from this downgrade is that the consensus increased its forecast losses this year, suggesting all may not be well at Phoenix Tree Holdings. Unfortunately, the analyst also downgraded their revenue estimates, although our data indicates revenues are expected to perform better than the wider market. We're also surprised to see that the price target went unchanged. Still, deteriorating business conditions (assuming accurate forecasts!) can be a leading indicator for the stock price, so we wouldn't blame investors for being more cautious on Phoenix Tree Holdings after the downgrade. Story continues So things certainly aren't looking great, and you should also know that we've spotted some potential warning signs with Phoenix Tree Holdings, including a short cash runway. For more information, you can click here to discover this and the 1 other flag we've identified. Another way to search for interesting companies that could be reaching an inflection point is to track whether management are buying or selling, with our free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a briefing at Northwell Feinstein Institute For Medical Research in Manhasset on May 6, 2020. (Al Bello/Getty Images) Cuomo Signs Bill Repealing Law That Shields Police Disciplinary Records New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday signed into law a set of sweeping police reforms which include a repeal of a controversial statute in the state Civil Rights Law (CRL) that blocks public access to police disciplinary records. Cuomo said in a tweet that the nation-leading legislation that he signed bans chokeholds, prohibits false race-based 911 calls, and ends Section 50-A of the CRL, which makes disciplinary records of police, fire, and corrections officers subject to public disclosure via Freedom of Information requests. It comes amid a wave of reform sparked by the police-custody death of George Floyd. The truth is, police reform is long overdue, and Mr. Floyds murder is just the most recent murder, Cuomo said ahead of signing the bills. Its about being here beforemany, many times before. Today is about enough is enough, Cuomo said. The governor signed the bills alongside advocates that included Rev. Al Sharpton, Gwen Carr, and Valerie Bell, as well as New York State Senate Democratic Leader Andrew Stewart-Cousins and State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. New York state lawmakers earlier this week repealed 50-A, a move that was hailed by the New York City Bar Association as a positive step toward transparency and accountability. With the repeal of CRL 50-a, patterns of police misconductincluding repeated misconduct by individual officerswill no longer be shielded from public view, and law enforcement will be more accountable to the communities they serve, the association said in a statement. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday backed the repeal with enthusiasm. The fact that this has happened is seismic, de Blasio said at a virtual press briefing on Wednesday. It will open the doors to tremendous transparency, and I think its going to help intensely. Unions opposed the repeal, arguing it eliminated an important layer of protection to law enforcement officers as the release of potentially sensitive information could endanger police. Paul DiGiacomo, president of the Detectives Endowment Association, the union representing New York Police detectives, told NBC4 New York that de Blasio changed tack on the 50-a repeal. Mayor de Blasio flip-flopped, once again. The other day, he said publicly that 50a needed to be changed, but not fully repealed. The only thing he consistently does is turn his back on the brave men and women in blue who he relies on to keep every New Yorker safe, DiGiacomo said, according to the report. In an earlier statement, DiGiacomo said, police in New York City and across the country are under attack, both physically and by elected officials. Our work to keep people safeat any costis being drowned out by calls to defund police departments and arrest officers based on a few seconds of video on social media, he continued, adding that police received insufficient support from elected officials. Their decisions are based on appeasing the loudest anti-police protestors instead of fact, DiGiacomo said of the actions of officials. Also on Friday, Cuomo said he will sign an executive order requiring local governments and agencies to develop a plan that reinvents and modernizes police strategies. He said communities must create and implement such plans by April 1, 2021, otherwise they will be ineligible for state funding. The House of Representatives on Thursday, 11th June 2020, received and honoured DCP ABBA Kyari, Head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigerian Police. Mr Kyari was honoured by the House for his many successful investigations of heinous crimes across Nigeria. Mr. ABBA Kyari was invited into the chamber by the leader of the House, Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa. The honour was bestowed on Kyari by the House on Thursday to encourage his onslought against the reign of the underworld in the country. The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, presented the award to the gallant cop who had cracked several difficult cases. Others who joined Gbajabiamila in presenting the award to Kyari were Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Ahmed Idris Wase; and House Leader, Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa. Ramatu Kyari, his wife wife accompanied her husband to receive the award for outstanding performance in crime detection in the country. In commending Mr ABBA Kyari, the Speaker of the House, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila said "Through the work of Mr Kyari and his team, victims of crime across the country have received some measure of justice. He is an honour to the Police force and to the country he serves". The elated DCP Abba Kyari thanked the House of Representative members for appreciating his contribution in crime fighting. He thanked the IGP, his family, his colleagues and Nigerians for support in his job. By Mohammed Junaid Ompal Singh, a 50-year-old farmer from Muzaffarnagar, sugarcane belt of Uttar Pradesh, ended his life on 4 June 2020 allegedly over the delay in payment for his sugarcane dues. His death triggered protests in the area, but like other farmer suicides, didnt make ground for any far-reaching change. Farmers continue to suffer, and a shaky economy and impact of Covid19 pandemic will only make it worse. Support TwoCircles The death of Ompal Singh is not a single incident of farmer death. Like in this case, most of these deaths are forgotten in lieu of cash compensation by the government. But is that an effective solution to farmers woes? Socioeconomic factors, rather than mental health problems, are associated with farmer suicides, with increased indebtedness playing the predominant role. As many as 10,655 farmers and farm labourers committed suicide in 2017, which is an average of 29 suicides a day for an entire year, according to data released on January 2 by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The government agency, while releasing the data after much delay, maintained that the toll is the lowest since 2013. It had released the 2017 crime data in October 2019 but held back the data on suicides. The next month it disclosed farmers suicide data for 2016, claiming there was a decline. At least 10,349 people working in the farm sector ended their lives in 2018 and many of the suicides go unreported or may not get inserted in the governments data. Activists and scholars have offered various reasons for farmer suicides, such as high debt burdens, poor government policies, corruption in subsidies, crop failure, public mental health, personal issues, and family problems. PM-Kisan Yojana, a farmer-centric scheme of NDA government pledges 6000 INR per farmer family, the amount is meagre and only 9 crores out of 14.5 crores families have been identified. However, data from the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) shows that until October 2019, only 3.12 crore received all three instalments as they registered during the first period. An accurate count of farmers to extend these benefits is a major issue. Once in power, the NDA government promised to double the incomes of farmers between 2015 and 2022. Growth of the agriculture sector has been fluctuating; it declined from 6.3% in 2016-17 to 2.9% in 2018-19. This is itself an indicator, that the doubling of income remains a distant dream for farmers. Other factors which are responsible include demonetisation, technical reasons, and the recent unplanned lockdown for COVID-19. Demonetisation had a severely detrimental impact on agricultural markets. In the first few weeks or months, it disrupted agricultural supply chains across the country. November 2016 was the month when Kharif harvests arrived in mandis. But cash shortages prevented the smooth sale of the harvest. In some regions, traders did not pick up farmers harvest from fields and yards. Two years after demonetisation, the Union agriculture ministry has admitted that the farmers were badly hit by the note ban. The agriculture ministry informed the committee that when demonetisation was implemented, the farmers were either selling their Kharif yield or sowing Rabi crops. Demonetisation rendered all the cash they had in hand useless. This drastically affected the farmers, said the agriculture ministry report. The ministry said that due to the shortage of cash, about 1.38 lakh quintals of wheat seeds of the national seed corporation were not sold. Apart from this, March and April of 2020 were bad for farmers of 13 states and Union territories in northern, central, and east-central India. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 77 per cent more than normal rainfall in the country between March 1 and March 19. A large part of India lost a substantial amount of ready wheat crops. In spite of rich infrastructure, IMD fails to warn the farmers about weather disasters which lead to huge crop losses. Accurate weather predictions are also a front to be worked on to better the condition of farmers. To add to their woes, Indias lockdown due to Covid19 is hurting its crucial farming sector which employs about half of the countrys workforce. Preliminary findings of a survey of more than 1,000 agricultural households across 12 Indian states show that 60% of those who did harvest reported a yield loss, and 1/10th of them could not harvest their crop in the past month. More than half (56%) of the farmers said that the lockdown has impacted their ability to prepare for the upcoming sowing season. A lack of workers and breakdown in supply chains has left many farmers struggling to sell their crops. Moreover, transparency and commitment to implement the policies at grass root level too has a key role in improving the miserable conditions of the farmers. As India is still not over the Covid19 crisis, challenges are likely to increase. A prompt assessment and resolution to their problems is imperative to stop any more tragic deaths like that of Ompal Singh. Mohammed Junaid writes on contemporary social issues and is a Civil Services aspirant. He is also known for career counselling with young students. Follow him on Twitter at @AuthorJunaid. London, June 12 : In the latest six monthly report on Hong Kong, submitted by British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to the Parliament, the UK has directly warned China not to interfere in Hong Kong legislature elections due to take place in September, and urged Beijing to abandon its plans to impose new security laws for the cosmopolitan city state. District elections in November last year saw a record turnout with 57 per cent of the vote going to pro-democracy candidates, and now China fears that the pro-democracy candidates will do too good in the elections and might cancel the ballot. In some of the strongest language ever seen, Raab warned Beijing against imposing new security laws bypassing the Hong Kong legislature that would be in direct conflict with international laws. Raab said, "Such legislation would be a clear violation of China's international obligations, including those made under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. "The proposals also include provision for the authorities in Hong Kong to report back to Beijing on progress in pursuing national security education of its people, which is a sobering prospect." Accusing Beijing of treating a member of the British Foreign Office staff in a way "amounting to torture", Raab also attacked the Xi Jinping government's brutal treatment of Simon Cheng, a former employee of the British consulate in Hong Kong, who was kept in custody for 15 days after travelling to the mainland. Raab added that "China has not provided an adequate response on its undertaking to investigate Cheng's mistreatment". Raab also reiterated his promise that British National Overseas passport holders will be entitled to a 12-month extendable visa opening a path to citizenship. China has been under strong international pressure ever since pro-democracy protests rocked Hong Kong for most of last year. The US last month stripped Hong Kong of its special status under its law. The special status treated Hong Kong separately from Mainland China for matters concerning trade export and economics control. There is trouble in store in EastEnders when Jay Brown, played by Jamie Borthwick, finds Ben Mitchell unconscious. The troubled character, played by Max Bowden is set to suffer a shock collapse that will leave him fighting for his life. It has come to light that Ben has been keeping a huge secret abut his health after being left completely deaf after a gun shot went off during the Thames Boat tragedy. EastEnders SPOILER: Jay Brown is set to find Ben Mitchell unconscious after a shock collapse leaves him fighting for his life While viewers were aware that he could not hear anymore, he had been keeping it a secret from his friends and family. Ben had been involved in some dodgy dealings and got involved with his father Phil Mitchell's job, [Steve McFadden] with Danny Hardcastle, [Paul Usher.] Danny had set Phil up and when he discovered that Ben was around, he fired off his gun next to his ear in revenge, causing him to be in agony. Talk to someone: Ben has been left completely deaf after Danny deliberately fired a gunshot in his ear but has been keeping his health woes a secret As well as keeping his hearing loss a secret, Ben will secretly battle a fever as he waits for his operation. Determined not to let people know how unwell he's feeling, he accepts some medication from Callum, [Tony Clay], but is that what causes his collapse? When he wakes up, he confides in Jay that he can no longer hear and he insists he seek medical attention to see if the damage can be reversed.# Oh dear: Danny Hardcastle, (right) had tried to seek revenge on Ben for helping his father with some dodgy dealings EastEnders is reportedly set to go off air on June 16, having aired all their episodes before production shut down. An insider said talks about when the cast and crew will return are still 'ongoing'. Charlotte Moore, the broadcaster's director of content, said last month that EastEnders would be up and running again within weeks. EastEnders continues Mondays at 8pm and Tuesdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. Troubled times: EastEnders is reportedly set to go off air on June 16, having aired all their episodes before production shut down A court has awarded Sh100,000 to a man who was arrested and held in police custody for 22 hours. High Court judge Weldon Korir ruled that the arrest of Stanley Magare was a violation of his constitutional rights and awarded him the amount as compensation for loss of liberty. Magare, a car parts trader, had sued for Sh5 million but the Judge found that Sh100,000 was adequate. It is noted the petitioner was held for less than a day. In my view, an award of Sh100,000 should be adequate compensation. That is the amount I award him as general damages for the unlawful loss of liberty, Korir ruled on June 4. Officers from the Anti-Counterfeit Agency had arrested the plaintiff on December 20, 2017, for allegedly being in possession of counterfeit goods. He was held for more than 22 hours but released the next day, December 21, 2017, at 10.20 am without being charged. In turn, Magare sued the anti-counterfeit agency, the OCS of the Central police station in Nairobi and the Inspector General of Police for violating his rights. He submitted that his release after being held for more than 24 hours without any charges being preferred is sufficient demonstration his arrest and detention were unlawful, grounded on pure malice and tantamount to detention without trial. The plaintiff had argued that the actions of the police caused a serious disruption to his business, causing heavy losses. His arrest violated his rights as protected by Article 29(a) of the Constitution. He is, therefore, entitled to relief, the judge ruled. Work permit applications for foreign workers in these occupations will go to the top of the list for processing in Quebec. Quebec prioritizing work permit processing in 24 occupations Work permit applications for foreign workers in these occupations will go to the top of the list for processing in Quebec. Quebec prioritizing work permit processing in 24 occupations Work permit applications for foreign workers in these occupations will go to the top of the list for processing in Quebec. Quebec prioritizing work permit processing in 24 occupations Work permit applications for foreign workers in these occupations will go to the top of the list for processing in Quebec. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Pour lire cet article en francais, cliquez ici. Quebec is giving priority to temporary work permit applications in certain occupations that are in-demand during the coronavirus pandemic. The province is also waiving minimum recruitment requirements for 23 of the 24 priority occupations. Normally Quebec employers must demonstrate that they have attempted to fill open positions with local talent as part of a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). However, given the demands brought on by COVID-19, the province is removing the recruitment requirement and prioritizing the following occupations as of June 10: Get help with Canadian work permits Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012) Specialist physicians (NOC 3111) General practitioners and family physicians (NOC 3112) Allied primary health practitioners (NOC 3124) Pharmacists (NOC 3131) Medical laboratory technologists (NOC 3211) Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists assistants (NOC 3212) Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (NOC 3214) Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health) (NOC 3219) Licensed practical nurses (NOC 3233) Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment (NOC 3237) Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413) Other assisting occupations in support of health services (NOC 3414) Light duty cleaners (NOC 6731) Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers-retail and wholesale (NOC 6331) Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers (NOC 8252) General Farm Workers (NOC 8431) Nursery and Greenhouse Workers (NOC 8432) Harvesting labourers (NOC 8611) Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers (NOC 9462) Fish and seafood plant workers (NOC 9463) Labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing (NOC 9617) Labourers in fish and seafood processing (NOC 9618) Transport truck drivers (NOC 7511) *prioritized, but minimum recruitment requirements still in effect LMIA applications must be submitted to Service Canada and MIFI simultaneously. Quebecs immigration department, the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI), requires all LMIAs to be submitted in French, except for in-home caregiver positions. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) can help employers with the French requirement. LMIA exempt in Quebec Quebec employers do not need to have an LMIA if the temporary foreign worker they are hiring meets the following criteria: they have a valid work permit; hold a skilled worker Certificate of Selection in Quebec (CSQ); reside in Quebec; have applied for permanent residence under the Quebec Skilled Worker class. The temporary foreign worker must also fall under one of the following categories: they are seeking to extend the work permit for their current employer; they are seeking to renew the work authorization with a new employer in Quebec; they are a foreign student with a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and a job offer in the province; they are a work permit holder under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program and: are seeking to extend the work authorization for the current employer; seeking to renew it for a new Quebec employer. There are also other situations where employers do not need to have a LMIA, as per Canadas Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Under this act, there are also situations where temporary foreign workers may not need to apply for a work permit from IRCC. Employers wishing to hire temporary foreign workers that do not meet these criteria must follow the regular LMIA process for hiring foreign talent in Quebec. Get help with Canadian work permits Need assistance with the Temporary Work Permit application process? Contact wp@canadavisa.com. 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved A battle over leadership that rocked the Alabama Democratic party for almost two years has quietly ended. Nancy Worley said she and her supporters wont appeal a ruling dismissing their lawsuit over the proceedings that led to Worleys ouster as party chair last year. She had held the position since 2013. As far as I know, and there are lots of parties involved in this, but as far as I know, the matters in state court have been pursued and ended at this point, Worley said. I know theres always been talk about federal pursuit, but Im not filing that." Members of the State Democratic Executive Committee who wanted new leadership called a meeting last November and elected state Rep. Chris England of Tuscaloosa to replace Worley. They added almost 70 new SDEC members by creating caucuses for youth (35 and under), Hispanics, Asians/Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and people who identify as LGBTQ. That increased membership on the SDEC to about 320. Worley and her supporters tried to block the meeting with a lawsuit and challenged its validity. In February, Montgomery County Circuit Judge Greg Griffin dismissed the case, agreeing with the defendants argument that the court had no jurisdiction over an internal party dispute. Griffin denied a request to reconsider in April. The deadline to appeal the decision has passed, defendants attorney Barry Ragsdale said. Worley said lawyers advised her not to appeal. She said it doesnt help that Republicans hold all the seats on Alabamas appeal courts. They were certainly not about to do any favors for us, longtime Democratic stalwarts, Worley said. "They were much more inclined to help the nouveau regime than they were us." England and others who sought change said the party under Worleys leadership was not doing enough to challenge Republican Party dominance in the state. They cited a lack of social media presence, fundraising, support for candidates, and professional staff. Worley said she concentrated on paying off the partys debt. She and her supporters said the effort to change party rules and replace her was intended to reduce the influence of African Americans on the SDEC. But England and his supporters said that was false. England is the partys first African American chair. The fight over party leadership heated up when the SDEC reelected Worley as party chair in August 2018 over Montgomery lawyer and lobbyist Peck Fox, a candidate backed by U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, the only Democrat to hold statewide office. The vote was 101-89. Some SDEC members challenged the election results in complaints to the Democratic National Committee. The DNC said there were irregularities and ordered the party to adopt new bylaws and repeat the election. Jones helped organized the meeting where England was elected chairman. The DNC recognized England as chair. U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, left, and state Rep. Chris England talk to the media after a faction of the State Democratic Executive Committee elected England as Alabama Democratic Party Chair in November. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com) Worley said she would need more time to fully reflect on her tenure as party chair. Im very proud of our accomplishments and Im very proud of what we were able to do under very adverse circumstances, she said. Worley said she intends to stay active in the party. Ive been out there defending Democrats greatly on the Internet and everywhere else, Worley said. Ive been called a little bit of everything, from a Communist liberal woman to some names that are not printable in your articles. But Ive never been one to shy away from controversy, nor have I ever been one to shy away from speaking about what I believe. So Ill continue to do that. Karson Matthew Standley December 16, 1979-June 5, 2020 The family will receive friends from 1- 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 14, at Bittiker Funeral Home, 1201 North 65 Highway, Carrollton, Missouri. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m., at Bittiker Funeral Home. Burial will be in Braden Cemetery. For those who would like to make a memorial contribution, the family respectfully requests they be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. They may be left at or mailed to Bittiker Funeral Home, P.O. Box 223, Carrollton, Missouri, 64633. Karson was born on Dec. 16, 1979, in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of Loren Ray, Sr., and Alison Marie (Morfeld) Standley. He graduated on May 23, 1999 from Columbus High School in Columbus, and attended Missouri Western State College and Central Community College Platte Campus, studying to be a conservation agent. In his younger years, he worked as a ranch hand and had worked for several years as a commercial truck driver for Carleton Transport Service in Gretna. He was raised as a Catholic and was confirmed at St. Isidore's Catholic Church in Columbus. Karson was frequently mistaken as being a little cranky, but in all reality, he was a soft-hearted man. He was an extremely private person who liked to stay to himself. Karson loved to ride his Harley, watch sports, go hunting for deer and pheasant, as well as fishing. He liked guns of all kinds and had quite the collection. He adored his nieces and nephews, and liked teaching them about gun safety and taking them target practicing. Karson was a member of the National Rifle Association and Harley Owners Group. WASHINGTON When President Donald Trump delivers the commencement address Saturday at West Point, he'll face an audience of freshly minted second lieutenants, senior military officials and a nation whipsawed by racial tension, domestic unrest and turmoil within his administration. On Thursday, Trump's handpicked chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Mark Milley, admitted he'd erred by allowing the military to be drawn into Trump's politicized response to mostly peaceful protests following the death of George Floyd. Mark Esper, Trump's defense secretary, has signaled his willingness to change the names of Army forts that honor Confederate generals, a stance Trump has rejected. Meanwhile, West Point itself has been riven by the same racial tensions roiling the nation. Minority cadets, in a confidential survey obtained by USA TODAY, say they face blatant and subtle discrimination at the nation's elite training ground for Army officers. The posting of racist videos in April by one their classmates prompted the survey. Trump has long sought to cultivate a close relationship with the military that appeals to his base of support. Apolitical by nature and inclination, military officers have sought to maintain a cordial, professional relationship with Trump. That tension forced a rupture that led to Milley's extraordinary statement that he regretted accompanying Trump last week on a walk through Laffayette Square after peaceful protesters were forcibly cleared from the area. Lafayette Square: How police pushed aside protesters ahead of Trump's controversial church photo President Donald Trump walks with US Attorney General William Barr (L), US Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper (C), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark A. Milley (R), and others from the White House to visit St. John's Church after the area was cleared of people protesting the George Floyd's death. How deep that rift is remains unclear. Trump, in his address, could seek to repair it, or double down on rhetoric and policies that are racially divisive, as he has in the debate over changing the names of Army bases. Trump insists his relationship with the military is solid and that he didn't see the recent remarks from Milley and Esper as significant. Story continues "I mean, if that's the way they feel, I think that's fine." he said Friday during an interview with Fox News host Harris Faulkner. "I have good relationships with the military. Trump seems to have a tin ear when it comes to military issues, said Peter Feaver, a professor of political science and public policy at Duke University and former adviser to Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Trump appears to see the military as some sort of Praetorian guard whose function is to protect his image and enhance his political standing instead of viewing it as Americas military, whose function is to protect the broader national interest, Feaver said. Trump's relationship with the military Military analysts say the reactions by Milley and Esper indicate Pentagon officials are finding their ethical footing. I admire Esper and Milley and think they are both doing the right thing, said Michael OHanlon, a military analyst at the Brookings Institution. Thats worth saying because there are times you need to risk your job, and this feels like one of them, given the constitutional rights and domestic cohesion issues as well as racial issues that affect the military directly that are at play. 'Acts of domestic terror': Trump says he'll send in military if riots, protests aren't controlled Loren Thompson, a military analyst at the Lexington Institute and a defense industry consultant, said Trump has sought to align himself with the military but often finds himself at odds with generals. Trumps original Cabinet included Marine generals James Mattis at the Defense Department and John Kelly at the Department of Homeland Security. Both publicly criticized Trump and Pentagon leaders after the Lafayette Square incident. Trump's affinity for the military may have been grounded in the mistaken belief that they would always follow orders, Thompson said. In fact, there is a point beyond which most war fighters will not go, given their oath to uphold the Constitution and their desire to stay out of politics. Trump has a somewhat juvenile relationship with the military, said Eliot Cohen, a military historian and dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He has this conception of generals as tough guys and killers, which is somewhat true, Cohen said. But what he didnt recognize is that when he began to talk about using the military to crush demonstrations in the American streets, that would just go completely against what the military code is. If Trump pushes further, Thompson said, Pentagon leadership will resemble that of the intelligence community and Justice Department, whose leadership ranks have been filled with appointees more willing to do Trump's bidding. Its hard for him to keep firing everybody at the Pentagon, and he will not want to risk alienating the Pentagon further in advance of the election, OHanlon said. Trump doesnt want to run against the military in November, he said. USA TODAY Poll: Trump's walk across Lafayette Square to a church photo op was a defining moment Trump's inclination is to force senior Pentagon leaders, civilian and military, to choose between different visions of the military's role and then to banish to outer reaches of his realm anyone who chooses against the presidents parochial perspective," Feaver said. He has a very parochial view, and thats the frame he imposes on things, he said. But, civilian control means more than mere obedience of lawful orders. Racial tensions at West Point The audience for his commencement address, like the nation itself, is in the throes of examining racial friction. The white West Point cadet who posted racist videos in April had a disciplinary hearing last week and faces punishment and possible expulsion. A decision is pending. In an interview with USA TODAY, the superintendent of West Point, Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, who is African-American, said that the school does not have a systemic problem with racism and that the cadet who posted the video could be redeemed. President Donald Trump waves as he walks on the field for the coin toss alongside West Point superintendent Lt. General Darryl Williams. "Shock on one hand," Williams said of his reaction to the videos. "But also understanding that we have to spend a little more time with this particular cadet. Thats what well do." In one video, the cadet makes a joke about slavery. In another video, the cadet mocks Asians and makes a veiled and untrue assertion that they are complicit in spreading COVID-19. The cadet recently completed his sophomore year but was not identified by name by Williams. The cadet did not reply to an email and declined to comment to USA TODAY, according to a West Point official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing case. About one third of the 4,400 cadets studying and training to be officers are minorities. West Point graduates receive officers' commissions and often attain the highest ranks in the Army. About 46% of the active-duty military force of 1.3 million troops belongs to a racial or ethnic minority, according to the Pentagon. The cadet's actions are an aberration and do not reflect a systemic problem with racism at West Point, Williams said. Character development is stressed during the 47 months of instruction at the academy, and some cadets require the full time on campus to achieve the standard West Point requires, Williams said. However, the military as a whole has begun to address discrimination within its ranks. The Air Force, for instance, has acknowledged a "persistent and consistent racial disparity" in disciplining young black airmen, who are disciplined at twice the rate of their white counterparts, according to Air Force documents. Coronavirus on campus: At least 16 West Point cadets test positive before speech by President Trump A view of the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Thursday, May 2, 2019. At the historic West Point campus on the Hudson River in New York, more than 50 minority cadets reported facing some form of racism, according to the confidential survey. They cited harassment ranging from being called racist nicknames by white cadets to being questioned about their credentials for admission to the school. One cadet wrote of often hearing that it is easier for minority students to gain admission to West Point and officials "let standards slip" in order to keep them in. "Had a racist roommate that would call me the n-word and spit on me," one cadet wrote. Williams maintained that diversity is valued at the academy and in the Army. "A part of that winning formula is diversity," he said. "Its very important that we have diverse teams." More: Tickets for Trump campaign rally include liability disclaimer about possible exposure to coronavirus This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump West Point speech comes amid military, racial tension WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX A formal complaint against Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell accused of violating his own stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus to attend his grandson's birthday party in April has been assigned to a prosecutor, Patch has learned. Milam County District Attorney Bill Torrey is slated to hear the complaint, according to a copy of the order obtained by Patch that was signed on Tuesday. A date for the hearing has not been set. Selection of the prosecutor comes two months after Georgetown attorney Robert McCabe filed a formal complaint against Gravell on April 13. The protracted time it took to find someone to hear the case was due to area prosecutors' familiarity with both Gravell and McCabe that could have yielded a conflict of interest, the latter explained when reached by Patch. Related story: WilCo Judge Under Fire For Violating Own Stay-At-Home Order "Locally, it's because they all are politically connected, and don't want to appear to show favoritism or prejudice to Gravell or even me for that matter," McCabe explained in a text, adding he had received a copy of the order on Thursday. "We all know each other, and need someone from outside WilCo." Gravell was photographed outside his daughter's home in Jarrell, Texas, on the same day he signed a stay-at-home order compelling residents to limit their outings to help blunt the spread of illness. In the photos, the judge is dressed like a firefighter with gear borrowed from the fire department in Jarrell to surprise his grandson. "Challenging times call for us to make hard decisions, but these have been made with the priority to keep our community as safe as possible, especially those who are part of the vulnerable population," Gravell said in extending his stay-at-home order on the same day of his outing. The judge reportedly sought to have images of him in firefighter apparel taken down from social media platform after a county watchdog using the moniker Buddy Falcon shared them. He reached out to Buddy Falcon via a direct message on Twitter in his quest to have the photos scrubbed from the social media platform. Story continues "This is a picture of my daughter's home and my grandson," Gravell wrote Buddy Falcon in a message shared with Patch. "You can come after me, but this picture is out of line!" Reached by Patch, Buddy Falcon noted the child did not appear in any of the photos. McCabe previously told Patch the judge also reached out to him demanding the photos be taken down, thinking the attorney might have been responsible for distributing the images. " 'I need you to take those pictures down,' " McCabe recalled Gravell telling him, as he told Patch in a previous interview. "That was the first thing out of his mouth. I told him I'm not Buddy Falcon, I didn't take the pictures, and I'm not going to be doing that." Instead, McCabe filed a formal complaint with the Williamson County District Attorney's Office against Gravell over his order-violating outing and use of official resources. The DA in turn forwarded the complaint to the county attorney's office. The Georgetown attorney filed three grievances: Abuse of official capacity for using a position of power as a public servant to use taxpayer-funded resources for a non-official purpose; official oppression for having compelled a sheriff's deputy to drive him and his wife to their grandson's birthday party, exposing the officer to potential health risk given the coronavirus spread; and for violating the stay-at-home order for a non-essential trip. All three of the charges are Class C misdemeanors, McCabe explained. But the attorney said he's yet to ascertain the value involved in the use of firefighter equipment, which could upgrade the charge to a Class B misdemeanor if it goes over $100, the attorney explained. A copy of the order appears below: Milam County where DA Torrey works as a prosecutor is 59.3 miles east of Williamson County. This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch In December, J.K. Rowling, the billionaire author of the Harry Potter books, dared to support a woman who argues that men cannot magically become women. For this crime, Rowling, who has been a lockstep leftist, became the subject of a sustained hate campaign. On Thursday, she published an essay justifying her belief in biological womanhood and expressing concern that the transgender movement is part of a sustained attack on women. Transgender madness has progressed farther in Britain than in America. The woman Rowling was defending, Maya Forstater, lost her job for challenging proposed amendments to the Gender Recognition Act of 2004. Under the GRA, people who want legal "gender" recognition have to jump through a few hoops showing their commitment to their non-biological gender. The proposed revisions would end any requirements other than a person's say-so. The British Employment Tribunal ruled against Forstater because her position was "incompatible with human dignity and fundamental rights of others." The judge held that legislation trumps human biology: [Forstater's] position is that even if a trans woman has a Gender Recognition Certificate, she cannot honestly describe herself as a woman. That belief is not worthy of respect in a democratic society. It is incompatible with the human rights of others that have been identified and defined by the [European Court of Human Rights] and put into effect through the Gender Recognition Act. Rowling tweeted her support for Forstater, bringing the wrath of the transgender lobby down upon her for being a "TERF" (a "trans-exclusionary radical feminist," AKA a woman): Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult wholl have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 19, 2019 This year, Rowling compounded her offense when she followed on Twitter a dying lesbian, Magdalen Berns. Like many lesbians, Bern resented so-called transgender women (i.e., men) who accuse lesbians of being transphobic for refusing to date them. Rowling's essay is made almost embarrassing by its endless assurances that she supports those people who are genuinely transgender. However, behind the apologies are some serious points. Free speech: [A]s a much-banned author, I'm interested in freedom of speech and have publicly defended it, even unto Donald Trump. Societal and peer pressure on young girls to "transition" to men: I'm concerned about the huge explosion in young women wishing to transition and also about the increasing numbers who seem to be detransitioning (returning to their original sex), because they regret taking steps that have, in some cases, altered their bodies irrevocably, and taken away their fertility. False claims that denying transgenderism leads to suicide: In an article explaining why he resigned from the Tavistock (an NHS gender clinic in England) psychiatrist Marcus Evans stated that claims that children will kill themselves if not permitted to transition do not 'align substantially with any robust data or studies in this area. Nor do they align with the cases I have encountered over decades as a psychotherapist.' Transgenderism as part of a rising tide of misogyny (with the usual false, but obligatory, leftist attack on Trump): We're living through the most misogynistic period I've experienced. [snip] Never have I seen women denigrated and dehumanised to the extent they are now. From the leader of the free world's long history of sexual assault accusations and his proud boast of 'grabbing them by the pussy', to the incel ('involuntarily celibate') movement that rages against women who won't give them sex, to the trans activists who declare that TERFs need punching and re-educating, men across the political spectrum seem to agree: women are asking for trouble. The risk to girls and women from allowing men in women-only spaces (including Rowling's confession that she was sexually assaulted when young and that her first husband was violently abusive): I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe. When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he's a woman and, as I've said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside. That is the simple truth. Except for her reflexive anti-Trump animus and her groveling assurances that she loves true transgender people, Rowling's essay is good and deserves to be read. Perhaps one day she'll realize that it was the leftism she embraces that, by rejecting good old Judeo-Christian values, led to this point. The covid-19 pandemic remains an important topic throughout the world. A number of contributions on the IASS website address the pandemic and its consequences from the perspective of sustainability. We would be happy to put you in contact with the respective authors. How ecological value chains can help societies tackle the coronavirus crisis (Armin Haas) The coronavirus pandemic has cast a spotlight on the vulnerability of global value chains. Sustainable value chains at the regional level could bring more stability to the post-pandemic world. A team of researchers at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) has developed a typology of climate win-win strategies that can be used to identify sustainable regional value chains. Brazil: Can Covid-19 open the door for new pandemics? (Artur Sgambatti Monteiro) Brazil is one of the hotspots of the corona pandemic, and the Brazilian Amazon is particularly hard hit. In a new Discussion Paper, IASS Fellow Artur Sgambatti Monteiro and Lucas Lima dos Santos describe the impacts of the pandemic on the region. The virus has overwhelmed the poor healthcare system in Amazonian cities and towns. Indigenous groups are especially vulnerable because the pandemic has opened the floodgates for the illegal deforestation and invasion of their territories. The authors warn that the encroachment on previously untouched parts of the forest could give rise to new transmissible zoonoses. Better prepared for future crises: Recommendations from risk researchers (Ortwin Renn) Although there were early warnings of an exponentially growing pandemic, most policymakers around the world were unprepared and reluctant to act when Covid-19 first spread from China around the world. Since then the crisis has led to unprecedented restrictions and triggered the worst recession since the Second World War. In an article published in the Journal of Risk Research, Aengus Collins, Marie-Valentine Florin (both EPFL International Risk Governance Center) and IASS Scientific Director Ortwin Renn analyze the key factors and offer recommendations on how we can better prepare for future crises. Covid-19 crisis: Renewables can help to unburden health care systems and restart economies (Laura Nagel) Economies around the world have been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Substantial political efforts will be needed to stabilize employment markets and relieve pressure on health systems. Renewable energy generation can provide important stimuli for efforts to achieve these goals. A team of researchers with the COBENEFITS project at the IASS has analysed the potential benefits of decarbonizing the energy sector. Build resilience with cleaner air: Learning from Covid-19 (Kathleen A. Mar, Erika von Schneidemesser) New research links air pollution to severe Covid-19 progression. This should prompt a re-evaluation of German commitments to safeguarding and improving air quality. Clean air deserves a more prominent place in Germany's Strategy for Sustainable Development 2020. The transport sector - Climate policy's problem child and the coronavirus crisis (Tobias Haas, Ina Richter) Transport is the problem child of climate). While emissions reductions have been achieved across every other sector since 1990, transport-related emissions have climbed by 3.7 percent between 1990 and 2018. And the number of passengers on public transport has collapsed in the pandemic. Impacts of the pandemic on the Argentinean energy sector (German Bersalli) Argentina is among the countries hardest hit by the social and economic consequences of the current pandemic. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) is predicting the worst economic crisis in the history of Latin America, with a fall in GDP of over 5 percent and millions more people pushed into poverty. Lack of clean cooking energy aggravates coronavirus impact in Africa (Grace Kageni Mbungu) d the world the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted life as we know it. However, it is important not to lose sight of the fact that the coronavirus exists on top of many underlying health, social, and economic inequalities, and vulnerabilities. The best hope for African countries is to be spared by the coronavirus, but in truth, people are already suffering from the burdens of stringent lockdown measures imposed to contain the spread of the virus. Adrian: "What savings? They didn't get through the parliament and debt has doubled. Next he will tell us that we are using a world class NBN. What planet is Tony on?" Loading Billinudgel: "No Abbott, your place is already cemented in history. An abject failure. A failed PM ditched by your party then ditched by your very own constituents." The occasional reader said there was some merit to his award. Pogo wrote: "Well done Tony. The detractors are just jealous of your achievements in public life. How easy it is to sit on the sidelines and throw rocks. To those negative people, get off your backside and do something meaningful with your life. Tony did." Reading through the comments, Crowe says what stood out wasn't so much the torrent of criticism for Abbott - "because I've seen for years how he divides opinion" - but the level of unhappiness about the whole honours system. Former speaker Bronwyn Bishop was another controversial entry on the honours list. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "Abbott has received the same honour that went to Kevin Rudd one year ago and Julia Gillard a few years before that," Crowe says. "I thought the other awards said more about the system and this was where the comments really tapped into something. "Why did so many Liberals receive the top honours and why was Graham Richardson the only senior Labor figure to get one?" Many readers said such decisions devalued the awards, and detracted from other worthy recipients. Some readers took the opportunity to call for a republic - saying the only awards should be Australia Day honours. Bob A: "This is becoming more embarrassing as each year's list unfolds. The inclusion of former politicians( some failed ) and the lack of diverse candidates makes this whole process farcical and very sad for modern day Australia." Loading bwana kijana: "And there you have it. The awardees just as irrelevant and out of touch as the awarders. Roll on the republic. Now back to the real news..." The debate had many readers questioning who should be eligible for such awards, with many arguing those in politics and business should be excluded. Tweggs: "What rubbish! Politicians get paid (well) to do their jobs. They have loads of privileges at their disposal- which Bronwyn Bishop happily used to the fullest. No - they have done naught to deserve this. These awards should go to those who are above and beyond. My neighbour who volunteers at Meals on Wheels and hasn't missed a day in 15 years is more deserving." Not Dead Yet added: "I can't believe ANYONE should get the award for doing their job - it is up to the public and history to decide if they do it well or not - not hidden figures handing out 'awards'." Bobby Beauty: ...They hark back to the British class system where honours are bestowed to reinforce the divide. So many of those who receive Queen's birthday honours are rewarded simply for doing a well paid job. Crowe says the feedback made him "wonder why we don't invert the entire system". "Why do all the volunteers doing huge work in their local communities only get the Medal of the Order of Australia, or OAM? Why do the well-connected and wealthy become Officers of the Order of Australia, the AO?" he says. "I thought Special Correspondent had a good point when he or she asked: 'Wheres the OAM for all the health professionals working through these unprecedented times?'" Framed posters of inspirational quotes, orchids and tropical plants diminish the austerity of the 1,000 stark-white medical tents and equipment that have been assembled inside the sprawling Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, which will open its doors on Monday morning to house New Orleans area patients on the mend from COVID-19. An additional 1,000 tents will be set up in the convention center by April 20, Gov. John Bel Edwards said last week. The new units were built with military expertise and will help take the strain off under-resourced area hospitals, which now can prioritize space for those afflicted with more serious cases of COVID-19 and allow health care workers to focus on rehabilitating patients who are on ventilators. The medical monitoring station at the convention center is for patients who don't require ventilators. "[The medical monitoring station] is for the less sick of the sick," explained Dr. Joseph Kanter, assistant state health officer with the Louisiana Department of Health. Nor is the convention center's new purpose to serve as a walk-in clinic for people seeking a diagnosis. Officials, including Kanter, emphasized Saturday that patients sent to the temporary medical monitoring station will be transported there from local hospitals. checklist Outside each new isolation tent in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is a checklist of supplies for each room. Across the street, 250 temporary housing units also have been set up for symptomatic patients awaiting test results. People will relocate to the interior of the convention center if they test positive for COVID-19. If not, they will remain until it's time to return home. Public health experts and Edwards have anticipated that state hospitals could reach capacity within a week. The convention center's setup serves as a midway point for those who previously required hospitalization but have overall good prognoses and require quarantine until they make a full recovery. If a COVID-19 patient's symptoms worsen while at the field hospital, the facility is staffed with medics and will have ambulances to transport patients back to a hospital if needed. As of Saturday, the LDH reported 12,496 cases in the state and 409 deaths. There currently are 1,726 patients infected with the novel coronavirus who are in hospitals. The New Orleans area has been identified as a hotbed for the virus. Kanter declined to estimate how many patients he expects to come through the convention center doors on Monday, except to say he thinks it will be less than 1,000. Officials say the convention center setup is a shining example of the necessary collaboration between state and local partners and a testament to the region's signature ability to mobilize quickly during a crisis. "This is knocking it out of the park," New Orleans Department of Health Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno said. "This is what other cities are looking to as models of how well it is run, the staffing that we brought in. ... "The fact that it all came together in a matter of a few weeks speaks volumes about our emergency preparedness community and our medical community and everybody who made this happen. This is going to allow hospitals to do what they do best take care of critically ill patients, stretch their capacity and have a chance of getting through this." Chinese military officer Xin Wang was apprehended Sunday at LAX. (Los Angeles Times ) Documents filed Thursday by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California say a scientific researcher and officer in the Peoples Republic of China Liberation Army was arrested Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport as he tried to return to China. He is being charged with visa fraud. Attorney David L. Anderson and FBI Special Agent John F. Bennett said in a criminal complaint unsealed this week that Xin Wang allegedly made fraudulent statements on a J1 non-immigrant visa application issued to him on Dec. 17, 2018. If convicted, Wang faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The U.S. State Department issues J1 non-immigrant visas for work-and-study-based exchange visitor programs. According to court documents, Wang indicated his purpose in visiting the United States on March 26, 2019, was to conduct research at the University of California, San Francisco. He noted in the application he had served 14 years as an associate professor in medicine in the Chinese army, known as the Peoples Liberation Army, or PLA. His tenure was supposed to have ended Sept. 1, 2016. Wang had intended to board a flight Sunday from LAX to Tianjin, China, when he was stopped and questioned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel at the airport. It was during this interview, according to court documents, that Wang stated he was a Level 9 technician with the PLA and received a stipend while he was also provided a scholarship from the China Scholarship Council. The district court statement equated the Level 9 status to the U.S. rank of major. Court documents also say that Wang stated he intentionally made false statements about his military service in his visa application in order to increase the likelihood that he would receive his J1 visa. The district court statement added that Wang told customs agents he was ordered by Chinese military personnel to observe the layout of the UCSF lab and bring back information on how to replicate it in China. Customs agents confiscated studies from Wang from UC San Francisco. Wang initially appeared in court in Los Angeles on Monday and is set to return Friday for a detention hearing. By Andrei Makhovsky MINSK (Reuters) - The leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, on Friday accused his political rival Viktor Babariko of corruption but denied trying to block Babariko from standing against him in the presidential election in August. Lukashenko has ruled the eastern European country with an iron fist since 1994 but faces the biggest challenge to his authority in years, with thousands of people taking to the streets recently to support opposition candidates. Babariko is the former head of the local unit of Russia's Gazprombank, whose offices were raided on Thursday in a tax evasion case. Babariko said the raid was designed to put political pressure on him. Lukashenko denied that the criminal case was related to the election, but he said Babariko could not wash his hands of the allegations and blame other officials at the bank. "What struck me most is that this scoundrel, I cannot call him otherwise, says: 'I have nothing to do with this. They are the ones to blame'," Lukashenko was cited by the state news agency BelTA as saying. "Look, they were not only his deputies. They are one gang." Belgazprombank said on Thursday that it was continuing normal operations and that its financial stability had not been affected. Gazprombank said it did not manage the operations of Belgazprombank and was not contacted by the Belarus authorities. Lukashenko said 15 people had been detained in the case against Belgazprombank. Public frustration with Lukashenko's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and grievances about the economy and human rights have reinvigorated opposition to his rule. Analysts see Babariko as his most serious rival. Lukashenko said he welcomed Babariko running in the election, because it put scrutiny on what he said was Babariko's track record of corruption, including amassing property and paying bribes. Babariko denies the allegations. "And I want him to get to the polls," Lukashenko said. "But we will not make him a prisoner of conscience." (Editing by Matthias Williams) The Deviant's War By Eric Cervini Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 494 pp. $35 --- Just because you're gay doesn't mean you're sick. Today that simple declaration is the conventional wisdom in civilized cities and towns all over the world. But as recently as the 1960s, almost no educated person believed it, whether they were gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual or trans. One brilliant, litigious and exceptionally stubborn man did more to change the mind of the world than anyone else. His name was Frank Kameny, a Harvard-educated astronomer who lived his whole adult life in Washington. Kameny may be responsible for more fundamental social change in the post-World War II world than any other American of his generation, but it's usually only students of gay history who know that. "The Deviant's War" is a brilliant new book that ought to change that forever. The author, a young Harvard- and Cambridge-educated historian named Eric Cervini, is a smooth writer and a brilliant researcher. Besides being the first full-length biography of the intellectual father of the gay liberation movement, Cervini's work provides a wealth of fascinating new details about the movement before the Stonewall riots of 1969. The son of a Jewish electrical engineer and a secretary, Kameny enjoyed a comfortable middle-class life growing up in the New York borough of Queens. The precocious student entered Queens College at the age of 16. By then he was well aware of his attraction to other boys. Like almost every gay boy of his generation, he assumed that those desires would rapidly be replaced by a "normal" attraction to girls. But unlike nearly everyone else in his situation, even before he graduated from high school, he had decided that if his gay desires never went away, that had to mean he was right and society was wrong. The reader gets a stark idea of how much time and energy were wasted - and how many thousands of lives were ruined - when Cervini points out that between 1945 and 1960, 1 million homosexuals were arrested in the United States, or one every 10 minutes. In Washington in the late 1940s, the police touted a "Sex Perversion Elimination Program." After President Dwight Eisenhower signed an executive order in 1953 banning the employment of homosexuals in the U.S. government and all of its contractors, thousands of gay employees were fired as federal departments competed with one another to expel as many "perverts" and "deviants" as possible - the words most often used by the press in that era. In 1957, even the American Civil Liberties Union declared that it was not within its "province" to "evaluate the social validity of laws aimed at the suppression or elimination of homosexuals." Kameny joined the Army in 1943. When I first interviewed him in 1995 for my own gay history book, he told me that he had fought "virtually slit trench by slit trench through the Rhineland in the 9th Army under [Gen. William Hood] Simpson, halfway across Germany." When the war in Europe ended, he was certain he would be shipped off to the Pacific, until President Harry Truman dropped two atomic bombs and the war in Asia ended as well. Kameny never doubted that Truman had made the right decision about the bomb. After getting his doctorate in astronomy at Harvard, Kameny was hired by the Army Map Service in the summer of 1957. Three months later the space race began when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite. Kameny's timing seemed perfect - he dreamed of becoming one of America's first astronauts. But his dreams were shattered just two months later, when the Army discovered that he had been arrested on a morals charge in a San Francisco men's room a couple of years earlier, and he was immediately fired. Unlike every other gay federal employee before him, Kameny fought his firing. In his brief asking the Supreme Court to hear his case, he said that homosexuals were "a group comparable in size to the Negro minority" and that the government had branded him as "dishonest" and "immoral - "neither of which" he was. That was a revolutionary statement all by itself. He called the government rules banning homosexuals from federal employment "a stench in the nostrils of decent people, an offense against morality, an abandonment of reason, an affront to human dignity, an improper restraint upon proper freedom and liberty, a disgrace to any civilized society, and a violation of all that this nation stands for." Kameny lost his appeal to the court, but he had found his voice. For the next 50 years he would continue to repeat these same ideas; to recruit members for a new branch of the Mattachine Society, Washington's first effective group of gay activists; to organize the first gay picket lines outside the White House and Independence Hall in the mid-'60s; to argue the cases of other homosexuals who had lost their jobs; and - most important - to transform the attitude of American psychiatry. The black civil rights movement provided the blueprint and the inspiration for the gay rights movement: "It was no coincidence that Kameny first made the comparison between homosexual and racial discrimination in the summer of 1960," writes Cervini, when young black Americans were staging the first sit-ins at segregated lunch counters at Woolworth's in Greensboro, N.C. In 1961 Kameny told the chairman of the federal Civil Service Commission that "the homosexual in this country is in the position that the Negro was in about 1925, when he first began to fight, in a coordinated fashion, for his proper rights." And in 1962, Robert Nix, a black congressman from Philadelphia, became the first federal legislator to invite Kameny to meet him at his Washington office. How Kameny successfully emulated black civil rights leaders - even inventing "Gay Is Good" in 1968 in response to Stokely Carmichael's "Black Is Beautiful" - forms one of the spines of this compelling narrative. The book also does a fine job of tracing the decades-old divide within the movement, between those like Kameny who thought gays needed to look as much as possible like heterosexuals to be accepted (White House picketers were all required to wear suits if they were men or unrevealing dresses if they were women) and those most eager to celebrate gay differences. Cervini also correctly identifies the importance of the Kinsey report, whose revelations about the prevalence of gay sex acts caused an uproar in 1948, especially within the homophobic psychiatric establishment. (In an uncharacteristically sloppy mistake, Cervini writes that the New York Times refused to review the report; actually, the newspaper gave it a warm and respectful review. ) More than anything else, Kameny changed the world through a two-step process: first by convincing gay people that they weren't sick and then by getting millions of straight allies to embrace that point of view. His single greatest contribution was the pivotal role he played in persuading the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from its list of disorders in 1973 - the singular accomplishment that made all future LGBTQ progress possible. Besides its rich portrait of Kameny, this book is careful to give honorable mentions to many other pre-Stonewall activists, including Jack Nichols and Barbara Gittings, as well as later figures such asJim Fouratt, Randy Wicker, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Kameny lived long enough to see many of the great victories of the gay movement of the 21st century, and he was a guest of honor several times at President Barack Obama's White House. I telephoned Kameny the day after his first White House visit, where Obama had warmly greeted him as a fellow Harvard alumnus. "How does it feel, Frank?" I asked. "I feel like the frog who turned into the prince," he replied. --- Kaiser is the author of three books, including "The Gay Metropolis: The Landmark History of Gay Life in America." He is acting director of the LGBTQ Policy Center at Hunter College. [June 12, 2020] Linda Mantia Joins Ceridian HCM Holding Inc. Board of Directors TORONTO and MINNEAPOLIS, June 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ceridian (NYSE: CDAY; TSX: CDAY), a global human capital management (HCM) company, today announced that Linda Mantia has joined its Board of Directors and will serve on its Audit Committee. Ms. Mantia was Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of Manulife Financial Corporation, an international insurance and financial services company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). Prior to joining Manulife, Ms. Mantia was Executive Vice President of Digital, Payments and Cards at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), a multinational financial services company, also listed on the NYSE and TSX. Ms. Mantia held other leadership roles at RBC, including Executive Vice President, Global Cards and Payments. Before joining RBC, Ms. Mantia worked at McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm, and prior to that, she practiced law at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLC. "Linda brings extensive financial services, payments, and digital technology experience from senior executive roles with global financial institutions, said David Ossip, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ceridian. The Board welcomes Linda, and looks forward to her contributions to advance our strategic growth agenda as we continue to scale globally." Ms. Mantia holds a Law Degree from Queens Law School. She has been twice recognized as one of Canadas Top 100 Most Powerful Women. In the community, she is on the Board of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the Cnada Walk of Fame, and she is Chair of the Ministers Task Force on Digital and Data Strategy. About Ceridian Ceridian. Makes Work Life Better. Ceridian HCM Holding Inc. (Ceridian or the Company) (NYSE:CDAY) (TSX:CDAY) is a global human capital management software company. Dayforce, our flagship cloud HCM platform, provides human resources, payroll, benefits, workforce management, and talent management functionality. Our platform is used to optimize management of the entire employee lifecycle, including attracting, engaging, paying, deploying, and developing people. Ceridian has solutions for organizations of all sizes. Visit Ceridian.com or follow us @Ceridian . Forward-Looking Statement and Risk Factors This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements regarding the acquisition discussed in the press release and our expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Because such statements are based on expectations as to the future and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release should be read in conjunction with the risks detailed in the Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information, Forward-Looking Statement, Risk Factors and other sections of Ceridians Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Reports on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investor Relations contact: Jeremy Johnson Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations Ceridian HCM Holding Inc. 1-844-829-9499 [email protected] Media contact: Teri Murphy 647.883.8041 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] FAIRFIELD In what was billed as a conversation on race inequality and policing, Fairfields leaders faced criticism for what some in attendance called lip service and virtue signaling. The event, held earlier this week, came after weeks of nationwide and local protests over police brutality and the death of George Floyd, a black man killed by a white Minneapolis police officer May 25. First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said she wanted the conversation to be the first of many in the town of Fairfield, adding that she had appointed Selectman Nancy Lefkowitz to lead a task force on racial injustice and inequity. She said the task force would meet with community partners to see what actions need to be taken. In a nearly two hour meeting held through Webex, a majority of the time was taken up by elected officials and police representatives making statements. The panel included all three selectmen, the entire state legislative delegation, a Representative Town Meeting member and police officials. It was moderated by Rabbi Marcelo Kormis. While members of the public did speak, their questions were not directly answered by officials. In lieu of that, those who listened in used the chat feature to discuss the topics brought up. Julie Gottlieb said that, while she appreciated the effort that was put into organizing the event, it fell short of her expectations. This was billed as a community conversation and, Im going to be brutally honest, I dont see much of the community represented here, Gottlieb said, adding that only one person of color was on the panel. Its not a conversation, because we are speaking and theres no way for us to engage and theres no way for us to have the dialogue that needs to be had. Jason Racheotes, who prefaced his questions by saying they were going to be rough, asked the panel a long list of questions about the police department, its policies and its budget. Has Fairfield ever successfully indicted a police officer for misconduct? Racheotes asked. What percentage actually live in Fairfield? What percent of Fairfield police are non-white? What is the median income for Fairfield police officers? In his opening statement, Chief of Police Christopher Lyddy said that, after Floyds killing, his takeaway as chief of police was that it was time to shut up for a while and listen. He said the message he has received was that people of color did not feel safe walking down the streets in Fairfield, a predominantly white town. Im deeply concerned about the weaponization of police in our community, Lyddy said. A person walking down the street, of color, was the target of a phone call, and we become that weapon responding to a neighborhoods concern. Lyddy said it was important to build bridges with people of color so that they feel comfortable interacting with police. Before him, Capt. Robert Kalamaras said the department was doing most things right. He said he was proud of the community for how peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstrations have been as well as the police officers for their behavior at the protests. Hannah Kayumba took issue with that statement in the chat. There is so much wrong with this I cant even put into words, Kayumba typed in chat. Why are we praising trained police officers holding guns for keeping cool? every protest I've been to has been peaceful. Ive felt safe and not because there was an officer there. Amanda Hanson said she is the mother of a black son who the police stopped last year for trespassing while he was on their property, and that they held peaceful protests then. So, this isnt the beginning of the conversation for this town, Hanson said. We have been having the conversation for a year. Maybe youre all just getting caught up. When it was her turn to speak, Molly Baker said she took umbrage with comments made by state Rep. Brian Farnen, who called for independent investigations of police misconduct and the use of body cameras, and said there were a few bad apples in policing. Its not just a few bad apples. I dont know that much about the Fairfield Police Department, but I can assure you that you are not there yet, Baker said, referencing an earlier comment by Kalamaras. Training needs to change drastically in all police departments in all of America. Both in public comment and in the chat, many of the people in attendance shared their ideas for addressing racial inequity and police brutality in Fairfield. They included regionalizing public schools, creating more affordable housing and investing more money in social workers. Kayumba said Yabantu, a social justice organization she helped found, had requested that officers in Fairfield be given diversity training to no avail. She said it was clear which members of the panel tried to educate themselves before the meeting, naming state Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey. Its clear that a lot of you just came on here to do a lot of lip service, Kayumba said. Its just really clear to me who really care about this. After public comment, the panelists took another turn speaking. Kupchick said she realized that the forum was not perfect, adding that the coronavirus pandemic prevented the town from hosting an in-person event. She said she was disappointed in what she referred to as partisanship in the comments made by the public. Tameisha Powell-Dunmore, a Representative Town Meeting member from District 6 and the only person of color on the panel, said communication was needed on all sides. She said the town needed to ally with people in the community who have been advocating for racial equity. I really believe we need to educate, Powell-Dunmore said. All of us. We need to understand each other. Were all culturally different. Im looking forward to the conversations that will be had. McCarthy Vahey said she frequently tells her children that all growth is painful, and later said that getting criticism and accepting it is critical to being able to engage in a dialogue. After battling leukemia for two years, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away on April 30, 2020. His untimely demise is a huge loss for Bollywood. Since Rishi's demise, many of his colleagues and friends from the industry have been sharing their memories of the late actor. In a recent interview with Mumbai Mirror, filmmaker Anurag Basu revealed that he was among the first few people to know about Rishi Kapoor's cancer diagnosis, as the latter's actor-son Ranbir Kapoor had confided in him. The tabloid quoted the Barfi director as saying, "I was among the first few to know." He further added, "We (he and Ranbir )discussed what line of treatment he (Rishi) should take. I shared the number of my doctor with him and they spoke to him, and told me what they had decided." Last year in September, post Rishi Kapoor's return to Mumbai from the US, where he was undergoing cancer treatment, the Kapoors had invited Anurag Basu for dinner. Recalling his memories about that day, the director shared, "Neetuji spoke about the treatment, Chintuji, like always, was in his element, trying to dig into cake. Since he was not allowed to have sweets, Neetuji tried to keep him away and this led to a fight between them. It was very cute." Anurag Basu's last meeting with Rishi Kapoor was on Ranbir's birthday in 2019. Recently, on Rishi Kapoor's one month anniversary, his wife Neetu Kapoor penned an emotional poem for the late actor, while his daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni remembered him with a heartfelt post. Coming back to Anurag Basu, the filmmaker also spoke to Mumbai Mirror about his last film Jagga Jasoos's debacle. He was quoted as saying, "Jagga (Jagga Jasoos) went completely out of control. But I had made Gangster in six months. Ranbir was very busy at the time, with Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Bombay Velvet and Tamasha, and I was just sitting at home. It was frustrating at that time, but I am not blaming anyone. Film hi aisi thhi. I had entered a zone that took a lot of time." He further said, "It was not a flawless film. On the contrary, it had a lot of flaws. But, we are all proud of Jagga Jasoos." Anurag Basu's upcoming film is Ludo, which has an ensemble star cast of Abhishek Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Pankaj Tripathi and Rohit Suresh Saraf. ALSO READ: Rishi Kapoor's Priceless Moments With Family: Daughter Riddhima Shares Unseen Pictures ALSO READ: Neil Nitin Mukesh On How His Father Is Coping With Rishi Kapoor's Death: He Has Been Extremely Upset Cadets participate in the Class of 2019 Graduation Parade, May 24, 2019, at West Point, N.Y., a day prior to Graduation. WEST POINT, N.Y. Less pomp, more circumstance. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the United States Military Academy at West Point on Saturday will graduate more than 1,000 cadets in an in-person ceremony, albeit one adapted with social distancing measures aimed at preventing transmission of the disease. The altered ceremony for the Army's newest second lieutenants will also mark President Donald Trump's first graduation address at West Point. At least 15 West Point cadets from the Class of 2020, whose members have been brought back to campus for graduation, have reportedly tested positive for Covid-19. The U.S. Air Force Academy also held a socially distanced ceremony for graduating airmen and Space Force members on April 18, nearly six weeks earlier than originally scheduled. But the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy held virtual graduation ceremonies in May. Both events featured recorded commencement speeches. Trump, who has pushed political leaders to lift their social distancing rules to revive the damaged U.S. economy, will appear at West Point, about 50 miles north of New York City, to deliver his address. The ceremony defies New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's directive Sunday that outdoor graduations must not exceed 150 people, and that even those will only be permitted starting June 26. West Point, as a U.S. military facility, is not bound to those rules, the New York Daily News reported. "Saturday's graduation is about these incredible cadets and their amazing accomplishments, and as the Commander-in-Chief, President Trump wants to celebrate that and thank them for their service to our country," White House spokesman Judd Deere said by email. The U.S. Air Force Academy held a socially distanced ceremony for graduating airmen and Space Force members, nearly six weeks earlier than originally scheduled. More than 381,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in New York, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Supreme Court also expresses concern over handling of bodies as cemeteries and crematoriums hold hurried last rites. As deaths caused by the novel coronavirus disease continue to mount, Indias top court has expressed outrage over the way the patients are being handled by the hospitals and authorities. COVID-19 patients are [being] treated worse than animals, said the Supreme Court, as it issued notices to the federal and state governments on the deplorable condition, Indian media reports said on Friday. In one case, a body was found in the garbage, said the court. Patients are dying and nobody is there to even attend to them. Shameful , appalling visuals from Balrampur . The body of 42 year old Mohd Anwar , who collapsed and died outside a govt office yesterday , dumped in a garbage van in the presence of @balrampurpolice and taken away . pic.twitter.com/N5DCwe0QC9 Alok Pandey (@alok_pandey) June 11, 2020 On Friday, India reported a jump of 10,956 new coronavirus cases and 396 deaths in 24 hours the highest single day increase so far. The countrys nationwide caseload has overtaken Britain to became the fourth highest in the world with 297,535 confirmed cases and 8,498 deaths, according to the health ministry. India reported 386 deaths on Saturday, driving the toll of fatalities up to 8,884 [Sheikh Saaliq/AP] Worst case scenario But that is just known cases. Like elsewhere in the world, the actual number of infections is thought to be far higher for a number of reasons including limited testing. New Delhis health centres are under immense strain and the state governments deputy chief minister, Manish Sisodia, projected a worst-case scenario in which the number of infections in the capital already at nearly 35,000 could reach 550,000 by the end of July. Meanwhile, cemeteries and crematoriums in the city say the actual number of deaths could be higher. Hospital morgues are beyond capacity, and with summer temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Farenheit) some bodies are being kept on thick ice slabs. In the beginning, I used to carry only one body. Now, helpers at the morgue will stack as many bodies as they can fit in my van, said Bhijendra Dhigya, who drives a hearse from one New Delhi hospital to the crematorium. Like elsewhere in the world, the novel coronavirus has made honouring the dead in New Delhi a hurried affair, largely devoid of the rituals that give it meaning for mourners. In this April 16 photo, relatives use ropes to move the body of a 52-year-old woman who died of COVID-19 towards her burial spot at a cemetery in New Delhi [Manish Swarup/AP] Grieving process interrupted When Raj Singhs 70-year-old mother died from the coronavirus in Indias capital, he took comfort in the prospect of a proper cremation, the funeral rite that Hindus believe releases the soul from the cycle of rebirth. But instead of chanting sacred Vedic hymns and sprinkling holy water from the Ganges River, all Singh could do was place his mothers wrapped corpse on a wooden pyre and, along with a handful of relatives, watch it burn. I never thought I would watch my mother go like this, he said. The virus has upended Muslim burial rituals in the city as well. Islamic burials normally involve a simple ceremony. Before a body is laid to rest, it is washed. Those attending the funeral are allowed to have a look at the face of the dead and a prayer is performed, followed by a sermon from a religious leader. Then close family members help place the body in a grave. Now bodies arrive at New Delhis largest Muslim cemetery in hearses manned by crews in hazmat suits. Bodies are not washed and mourners cannot view them. There are no sermons. The cemetery has already seen more than 200 burials of COVID-19 victims and with bodies steadily arriving, the grounds are filling fast. The whole grieving process has been interrupted, said Pappu, who goes by only one name and lights the funeral pyres at Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhis biggest crematorium. In Humble, where almost 12% of the population is age 65 or older according to the U.S. Census Bureau, a long-term care facility has been overcome with an outbreak of the coronavirus, Harris County officials said. Oakmont Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center of Humble is under investigation by the county for the delayed reporting of the deaths of 14 residents from the novel coronavirus. In the facilitys ZIP code 77338 there are 211 confirmed cases, 81 active cases, 112 recovered and 18 deaths reported as of June 11 according to Harris County Public Health data. COVID-19 TESTING: Walmart opens drive-thru coronavirus testing center at Humble-area location The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released data on nursing home coronavirus cases and deaths. CMS set their first deadline for nursing home facilities to report cases of the novel coronavirus on May 17, but residents, families and representatives were required to be notified starting on April 19 according to the agencys website. The case information collected by CMS was released to the public on June 4, the first set of underlying nursing home coronavirus data which continues to be updated as new information becomes available. Governor Greg Abbott required testing of all nursing homes residents and staff on May 11. This directive went to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Texas Department of State Health Services according to earlier reporting. Harris County Public Health and the Health and Human Services Commission began investigating Oakmont Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in April after they had a few individuals test positive for the coronavirus. Dr. Sherri Onyiego, interim division director for nutrition and chronic disease prevention for HCPH, said there were discrepancies such as reporting delays as well as the number of cases and deaths reported. The county issued a quarantine of property on June 4 to ensure the facility was maintaining proper standards of care and personal protective equipment, as well as to reduce the impacts of the spread of the coronavirus. The investigation is ongoing but Onyiego said their department does not impose charges. The quarantine of property is about the facility, so while staff members can come and go with proper screening measures, residential admissions and discharges require proper notification to HCPH unless in the case of a medical emergency. Novel coronavirus is a reportable condition, Onyiego said. So, whether its a suspected case, whether its a confirmed case, whether its a death, a facility or a hospital has 24 hours to report that to the health department. So those 14 deaths were reported to us, but the concern with this particular facility is that they were not reported to us within a timely manner. The facility missed the required 24-hour reporting time frame not by a few hours, but by several days, Onyiego said. There are discrepancies between the data on coronavirus cases in this facility. Onyiego said that at the time they stepped in, they were aware of 13 COVID-related deaths and one pending, which is now confirmed to bring the total to 14, as well as 56 positive coronavirus cases between residents and staff altogether. By comparison, previous reporting showed 42 confirmed resident coronavirus cases and 23 staff tested positive. The severity of numbers is a concern for us, Onyiego said. I mean, obviously when you see a facility that has a high amount of deaths, thats an impact to our community. Thats an impact to the families that have their loved ones there. Oakmont Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, a Diversicare facility, has reported 46 active positive coronavirus resident cases in its 64-bed facility according to their online webpage most recently updated on June 10. We are doing everything we can to ensure we stop the spread of this within our center and our community, the facility said in a statement posted online. Issues began before coronavirus Even before a global pandemic rampaged through nursing homes across the nation, there was already an infection problem facing long-term care facilities. Amanda Fredrikson, associate state director for advocacy with AARP in Texas, said infection control has been the most frequently cited violation for Texas nursing homes for at least the last five years. That could include the cold and flu, but it could also include how people provide care. People in nursing homes have incontinence and issues, some of them have catheters, Fredrikson said. And if staff are not trained and dont follow proper protocols for handwashing after providing care related to incontinence and bowel issues, you can create all kinds of infection issues. Fredrickson said that from the data she has seen, she found long-term care is taking a large portion of the deaths from the coronavirus. Although Dallas and Houston are reporting the most cases, without better transparency and information its impossible to know exactly where the worst outbreaks are happening. Theres no doubt that the nursing home population has borne the brunt of the virus, Fredrikson said. By my calculations, between nursing homes and assisted living, the death in those two facilities in Texas make up just shy of half of all deaths in the state. In Texas, there are 1,215 nursing facilities and 2,000 assisted living facilities according to the Texas Health Care Association. Nursing homes are close quarters with opportunities for a congregation, and those environments are where the coronavirus can easily spread in what is a particularly frail and vulnerable population, Fredrikson said. TEXAS NURSING HOME DEATHS: Texas stays mum as feds reveal which nursing homes have coronavirus outbreaks Ombudsmen, who are advocates for residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, have not been able to enter facilities since mid-March when coronavirus precautions were put in place to prevent potential spread. Patty Ducayet, state long-term care ombudsman for Texas Health and Human Services, said they are still taking complaints, but they have had to shift operations to become completely virtual through phone, email and some video connections with residents and family members, as well as increasing in their social media platform. It has been over 90 days since they have been able to enter facilities, and for some residents, that means they have been in total isolation, according to Ducayet. We need to get eyes from the outside into these buildings to really see whats happened and prevent any longer-term effects of this isolation on the residents, Ducayet said. If ombudsmen cant be in the facility, its not possible to truly know how nursing homes are able to maintain advocacy for clients. Ducayet said they are eager to get back to in-person work and she is concerned about the care that is or is not happening in many facilities. I dont know how well facilities are maintaining the care at their facilities, Ducayet said. We have a glimpse of that from the residents we can connect with who have their own phone or who have family members who have been vigilant in getting their eyes on residents in the building and they communicate with us, or if a facility and some of them do are willing to openly talk to their ombudsman about the conditions of their facility, but we are having to do that in a very awkward position remotely and I dont think it compares to what we normally do. For anyone who has a loved one in a facility, she recommends reaching out to that person through virtual contact. If that is not happening by the facility, they can report it to the ombudsman who can report it to the Health and Human Services department, thus putting pressure on the facility to help every resident connect with people who they want to see and visit, even virtually. She also recommends using social media and networks to expose what is going on inside of facilities and the toll isolation is taking on residents. savannah.mehrtens@chron.com A Hudson County woman was fired from her job at Party City Thursday after her racist rant on social media went viral, prompting a public response from the company. In the video posted to Facebook Thursday, Jacqueline Michele DeLuca of West New York appeared to be driving as she recorded a 45-second, expletive-laden rant, apparently spurred by a bout of road rage. As she explained how a man in another car ran the ... stoplight and looked at me like it was my ... fault," DeLuca used the N-word multiple times, emphasizing the slur directly to the camera. She then called for violence against the Black Lives Matter movement. The video went viral Thursday, notching more than 1 million views. Hours later, her employer Party City posted a statement to its social media accounts condemning the video and announcing that the employee who produced and posted the video had been fired. DeLuca was not named in the statement. We have zero tolerance for this type of behavior & language, the Party City statement reads. Party City stands in solidarity with our Black colleagues, customers and communities, and we condemn acts of racism, bigotry and hate. Disregard for basic human rights of any kind has no place in our communities or country, and certainly not at Party City. DeLucas rant was posted to Twitter by Isiah Christian, a 24-year-old Union City resident, on Thursday. Christian told NJ Advance Media that he knows DeLuca from living in the same town, saying that they have mutual friends and sometimes run into each other at parties. He said that the video was first shared with him by a friend. Christian said DeLuca had been working at the North Bergen Party City location. The goal was not to make her go viral but to shed light on what Ive been through (and many other African Americans have been through) in this community, Christian said of posting the video on social media. He added that he is African and Latino, and DeLucas comments bothered him. Christian said that he had never known DeLuca to make racist comments before he saw this video. Never ever, Christian said. This is all new to me and everyone from around the way that knows her. She has a half African American child. It was all new. Christians post of DeLucas rant has been retweeted on Twitter more than 35,000 times as of Friday morning. Later on Thursday evening, after Party City issued its statement, DeLuca posted an apology for the rant on her Facebook page. This is very hard to do being that my fear for everyone who chooses not to listen because no matter the situation or case to why I expressed myself this way in such a way will mean nothing. This is my apology to you ALL," DeLuca wrote. I regret using such words against a race I know everyone is behind for and I never meant to hurt anyone in anyway. I let anger get the best of me at the moment and I ask as a human to please forgive what Im trying to get across. "This is NOT who iam (sic) and for those who know me Im sorry again if this affected you and to those who dont know me im sorry x 100000000 because this is not someone I wished ppl to know me by but someone who is about change and equality and with everything going on, I was sucked in to the evil and confusion and with all that being said I wish to everyone around the world, I hope what life has become doesnt affect you the way it has affected me, DeLucas Facebook post concluded. That apology had been shared on Facebook more than 1,000 times as of Friday morning. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Send a coronavirus tip here. Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: Turkmenistan and the UNDP have discussed implementation of joint Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) projects, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The topic was discussed during an online meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov with the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Assistant Administrator of UNDP, and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS Mirjana Spoljaric Egger on June 11, 2020. The parties considered issues of further cooperation between Turkmenistan and UNDP and exchanged views on development of the UNDP Country program for Turkmenistan for the period from 2021 through 2025. Thus, the results of joint cooperation between sides in the field of health and environmental protection were highlighted. Turkmenistans long-term and effective cooperation with United Nations (UN) and its specialized agencies was highly appreciated during the discussion. The success of UNs Development Programme country office in Turkmenistan was noted. In addition, the parties considered measures to overcome the pandemic situation in the world. Therefore initiative of the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to involve political and diplomatic mechanisms in the fight against coronavirus was noted. Regarding the COVID-19 related developments, Turkmenistan and UNs jointly developed plan to ensure readiness and response to acute infectious diseases. The parties also mentioned the importance of collaboration to minimize the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, including the development of an appropriate Plan in collaboration with UNDP. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva AP Inter Results 2020 declared | As the official website for BIEAP Intermediate results crashes, here is a list of alternative websites to check your first and second year results AP Inter results 2020 DECLARED | The Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education (BIEAP) released the Inter results 2020 for first and second year today (12 June) at 4 pm on its official website bieap.gov.in. Candidates who appeared for the exam can check their scores on the official website, but the website has become unresponsive due to a technical glitch. In case, students are unable to access the official website or download their marksheet immediately from the widget above, students can visit alternative websites such as manabadi.com, or try sending an SMS. List of alternative websites to check AP Inter results 2020 1. examresults.net 2. indiaresults.com 3. manabadi.com Checking AP Inter results 2020 via SMS Inter II General: Type - APGEN2 to 56263 Inter II Vocational: Type - APVOC2 to 56263 Inter I General: Type - APGEN1 to 56263 Inter I Vocational: Type - APVOC1 to 56263 For the academic year 2019-20, the BIEAP conducted the board examinations from 4 March till 21 March. More than 8 lakh students have appeared for the examinations. The state board exams will be released on the official website. However, the examination authority will not be conducting a press conference to announce the results in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. How to check AP Inter Result 2020 on official website Step 1) Visit the official portal https://bie.ap.gov.in/ Step 2) On the homepage, click on the Result section Step 3) Choose the year Step 4) Enter credentials Step 5) Your Andhra Pradesh Intermediate Result 2020 will appear on the screen Step 6) Save it and take a print-out for future reference AP Inter II Year Result 2020: How to check via SMS GENERAL - SMS - APGEN2REGISTRATION NO to 56263 VOC. - SMS - APVOC2REGISTRATION NO to 56263 AP Inter I Year Result 2020: How to check via SMS GENERAL - SMS - APGEN1REGISTRATION NO to 56263 VOC. - SMS - APVOC1REGISTRATION NO to 56263 Steps to check AP Inter Results 2020 on examresults.net: Step 1: Visit the website : examresults.net Step 2: Select the state board, in this case Andhra Pradesh Step 3: Look for the result link that says Andhra Pradesh Inter Results' Step 4: Fill in your roll no and Submit Step 5: Check your result, download and take a print out of it for future use. Steps to check AP Inter Results 2020 on indiaresults.com: Step 1: Visit indiaresults.com. Step 2: Click on Andhra Pradesh in the list of the states or type the URL Click on Andhra Pradesh in the list of the states or type the URL andhra-pradesh.indiaresults.com on your browser and press enter. Step 3: Look for the link for the Andhra Pradesh Inter results. Step 4: Click on the link. It will take you to a new page. Fill in all the details to get your results. In 2019, 72 percent of the students who appeared for the Class 12 exam had passed, and 60 percent passed in Class 11. News18 also reported, "The state government has also decided to conduct the Andhra Pradesh Secondary School Certificate (AP SSC) exams as per the revised schedule. AP SSC 2020 will start from 10 July." As has been observed over the course of the past few weeks, the dates and times of result announcements have been frequently changed around. The information above has not been independently verified by Firstpost. However, this article will continue to be updated to reflect official updates as and when they come in. Turkeys media is gasping for breath, choked by Orwellian pressures that have reached an unprecedented level since anti-government protests in 2013. With critical journalism largely subdued and many journalists in jail, an expansive web of government control has come to surround what was once Turkeys dynamic mainstream media. In a striking illustration of how encompassing the control has become, Muharrem Ince, a former presidential candidate from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), stormed out of a live interview May 29, furious that the channel, Haber Global, interrupted the interview several times to broadcast a speech by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at an event commemorating the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul. Turkey will get rid of this fascist order. Thirty-five channels are already broadcasting Erdogans speech, Ince roared before leaving the studio. The Republic of Turkey is not Erdogans property. Im not scared of Erdogan, Ince said. The incident was emblematic of how even those willing to give voice to the opposition are forced to toe the line in a climate where the mainstream media has ceded its independence. According to insiders, the government is employing control in three main areas in the selection of commentators and program guests, the issues that are covered and the framing of the content. Independent journalists and even professionals such as doctors, lawyers and engineers have come to be placed on blacklists of people the government wants kept off the screen. Ankara began to tighten its grip on the media after the Gezi Park protests in 2013, which started as an environmentalist demonstration in Istanbul and morphed into nationwide anti-government protests. The pressure grew further after the June 2015 elections in which the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost its parliamentary majority. In 2016, Ankara shut down 12 TV channels that had been critical of the government, leaving almost no space for a balance of voices on the screens. Leaked audio recordings have shown that Erdogan himself would call TV executives to scold them or give instructions on coverage. The control drive culminated in 2018, when the pro-government Demiroren business group bought Dogan Media, Turkeys largest media network, which included the daily Hurriyet (known as the flagship of the Turkish press) and the CNN Turk news channel, among others. Five senior editors recounted their experiences to Al-Monitor, offering a glimpse into how the government keeps newsrooms in check. According to the sources, who spoke on condition of strict anonymity, the Gezi Park protests marked a turning point. In earlier years, even channels that were already under government control would brave controversial issues at times. After the protests, however, all channels felt Ankaras pressure in full force. TV managers many of whom were picked by the government to replace veteran journalists began to function as party commissars as a communication network developed with Ankara on what people and what issues could make it to the screen. On the government side, AKP deputy chairs Mahir Unal and Omer Celik and the presidents Cabinet chief, Hasan Dogan, and communications chief, Fahrettin Altun, are reportedly the main figures in control. Ministerial advisers are said to be instrumental down the control ladder, calling managers to give instructions on coverage or berating them when certain coverage is deemed insufficient. As for editorial fine-tuning, inviting top TV and newspaper managers to Erdogans plane on his official trips stands out as the most effective tool. Those who make it to the presidential aircraft are already seen as ready to accept instructions, according to the sources. The trips also allow Erdogan to further get the coverage he wants. In a striking reflection of the control, newspapers often run identical headlines or publish columns with similar content. Also, commentators and other TV guests are being categorized, with some blacklisted and others labeled as objectionable, inadequate or acceptable. According to the sources, the blacklisted names have come to outnumber the acceptable ones. Commentators who go hard on government policies on one channel often get put on the blacklists of other channels. The lists have expanded so much that fewer than 10 approved experts remain for scores of channels to discuss key matters such as Turkeys involvement in Syria and Libya, according to the sources. The pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) has also found itself banished from the screens since the June 2015 polls. Free debate on the Kurdish conflict and its settlement is now a red line. The HDP rarely makes it to the news in a context other than its alleged terrorist links. Even the few channels close to the CHP have come to avoid hosting HDP figures. The control over TV guests has extended even to AKP ranks. According to the sources, some AKP members are being crossed off either because they are considered ineffective by senior leaders or because of the rift that has emerged in the party. AKP executives also try to ensure that party representatives are not pitted against powerful opposition panelists, asking channels to change guests so that their man is not smashed in the debate, one of the editors told Al-Monitor. Former AKP supporters such as writers for the daily Karar, and figures close to former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and former Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, who quit the AKP last year to launch their own parties, have also become the subject of screen bans, according to the sources. Yet turning into a full-fledged government mouthpiece seems to backfire. The insiders point out that the ratings of news outlets such as CNN Turk have nosedived, prompting a degree of flexibility to spice up debates with a few reasonable oppositional figures. The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to a relative relaxation for newsrooms as they focus on health issues rather than politics. Even some objectionable experts criticizing the governments measures have made it to the screens, contributing to better ratings. But the outbreak coverage has not been free of interference. Broadcasters have been required to highlight positive developments such as Turkeys medical aid to other countries and the number of people who recover rather than die from the disease. On other topics, the red lines have remained intact. Many newsrooms have ignored recent attacks on the HDP, threats to minority groups and the May 31 anniversary of the eruption of the Gezi Park protests. With most professional editorial staffers already purged, this state of affairs encounters little resistance in the newsrooms. Some staffers are actually irked, but have no option but to stomach things to keep their jobs. Often the government no longer needs to interfere as the instructions become internalized and self-censorship comes into play. For example, everyone knows by now that not interrupting other programs to broadcast speeches by Erdogan or AKP heavyweights has consequences. TV guests are reminded of limits before going on screen. In the event of critical developments, even well-established channels often wait to see how government loyalists present the news before following suit. Faruk Bildirici, a veteran journalist who served as the readers' representative for Hurriyet until the paper was taken over by Demiroren, confirms the accounts of the insiders. In the past, [TV channels] had lists of commentators who would be invited depending on their expertise. Under the AKP, however, lists have emerged about who cannot be invited. The blacklists became so long over time that they outnumbered the other ones, Bildirici told Al-Monitor. According to Bildirici, the role of government commissars is played mostly by editors-in-chief or Ankara representatives. People favored by the palace are being appointed to those positions in the first place, he said, referring to the presidential office complex. He went on, There is a line of control extending from the palace to the media. It began through rewards such as invitations to trips and receptions and grew into a line of instructions after the mainstream media came fully under government control. Initially, the demands were about withholding or retracting a specific story. Now, [media outlets] are told how to present the news and even receive readymade news stories. Bildirici added, The chain of instructions begins from Fahrettin Altun or Hasan Dogan and is passed on [to media staffers] via editors-in-chief or Ankara representatives. There is even competition in the media to be part of this chain. The BBC's head of news has said that Emily Maitlis' anti-Dominic Cummings monologue belonged 'more on the op-ed page in a newspaper' than as the introduction to 'an impartial broadcast programme'. Fran Unsworth defended the Corporation's ruling that the controversial introduction to a recent Newsnight episode 'did not meet our standards of due impartiality'. Speaking at a Royal Television Society event yesterday, the major BBC editor said she read the Newsnight team the riot act during a 'robust discussion'. Ms Unsworth also revealed that she disagreed with Maitlis' unsubtle claim that Boris Johnson's chief aide owed his survival to the PM's 'blind loyalty'. Her public intervention comes as the Corporation faces criticism across the board for its alleged failure to rein in its more outspoken presenters. Fran Unsworth defended the BBC's ruling that Emily Maitlis' controversial introduction to a recent Newsnight episode 'did not meet our standards of due impartiality' Maitlis opened a May 27 Newsnight episode by saying Mr Cummings had 'broken the rules' by travelling to Durham from London during lockdown. Claiming that 'the country can see that, and it's shocked the Government cannot', an avalanche of public passions was unleashed. Over 20,000 complaints to the Corporation were made for 'bias against Dominic Cummings and/or the Government' and the BBC's reprimanding of Maitlis. Boris Johnson's chief adviser drove 260 miles to a family home while the most stringent measures to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus were in place. Maitlis opened a May 27 Newsnight episode by saying Dominic Cummings had 'broken the rules' by travelling to Durham from London during lockdown Mr Cummings, a principal advocate of the Government's lockdown policy, was criticised in the media and by politicians across the board. While some insisted on Mr Cummings' resignation, others said that the PM's chief aide - the architect of the victory of the Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 EU referendum and of the Tories' electoral win in 2019 - should be sacked. Though Durham Police cleared Mr Cummings of wrongdoing, the debate about his alleged breach of lockdown - and the BBC's reporting of this - rages on. 'Dominic Cummings broke the rules, the country can see that' What Emily Maitlis said on Newsnight 'Dominic Cummings broke the rules, the country can see that, and it's shocked the government cannot. 'The longer ministers and the Prime Minister tell us he worked with them, the more angry the response to this scandal is likely to be. 'He was the man, remember, who always got the public mood, he tagged the lazy label of 'elite' on those who disagreed. He should understand that public mood now. One of fury, contempt and anguish. 'He made those who struggled to keep to the rules feel like fools, and has allowed many more to assume they can now flout them. 'The Prime Minister knows all this, but despite the resignation of one minister, growing unease from his backbenchers, a dramatic early warning from the polls, and a deep national disquiet, Boris Johnson has chosen to ignore it. Tonight we consider what this blind loyalty tells us about the workings of Number 10.' Advertisement Speaking during an online Royal Television Society lunchtime event yesterday, Ms Unsworth referenced a Reuters study which she said had found 30 per cent of the public did not believe Mr Cummings had done anything wrong. She said: 'Just because the majority of opinion is on side, and I absolutely accept they were, and that, as I say, was evidenced by the programme, it was the language with which the intro was phrased, which I felt basically belonged more on the op-ed page in a newspaper than it did as the intro to an impartial broadcast programme.' Ms Unsworth also revealed that she had had 'a robust discussion' with the Newsnight team following the incident, and disagreed with Maitlis' matter-of-fact assertion that Mr Cummings owed his survival to the PM's 'blind loyalty'. 'I don't think we can attribute motivation in that way,' she argued. However, she added: 'I think that Newsnight has had an absolutely brilliant journalistic run over this pandemic, and have really been on the stories.' Ms Unsworth spoke hours before the BBC released a report which showed that it had received 23,674 complaints over the episode. The complaints were made on the grounds that viewers felt the programme showed 'bias against Dominic Cummings and/or the Government'. Other complaints were directed against the BBC's supposed treatment of Maitlis in ensuing days. The BBC reprimanded Maitlis the day after the broadcast, saying the introduction did not meet its standards of due impartiality. It added that staff were 'reminded of the guidelines'. Asked why she stepped in, Ms Unsworth said: 'I was acting on what I believed was the case, that it went further than the editorial guidelines allowed us to do. 'I felt, why would I wait for somebody else to make a judgment which I had already made for myself. I didn't need to wait for some complaints process to take its course here, if actually I felt that the introduction had gone slightly beyond what I felt was appropriate in terms of what our editorial guidelines are.' 'BBC stars give away too many hints and clues which suggest predisposition': ex-BBC Controller criticises outspoken reporters The row has reignited debate about the BBC and its funding base, which has come under intense scrutiny since the 2019 General Election. Former BBC chiefs are keen for the Corporation to reform, in the hopes of remaining popular and preventing changes to the licence fee. In particular, they believe the answer lies in reining in BBC stars on social media. Mark Damazer worked on Newsnight before becoming Radio 4 controller. He told The Sunday Telegraph: 'I follow quite a few BBC people and I've come across stuff which I don't think they should be writing. These are news and current affairs people and they give away too many hints and clues which suggest a predisposition, and I don't think that is good.' 'The existing impartiality guide - all of which is written down - applies to Twitter just as it applies to what they're broadcasting on the Today programme or the 10 O'Clock News or Newsnight.' Advertisement Emily Maitlis, whose interview with Prince Andrew brought her to international attention, is no stranger to controversy... April 2020 Maitlis used Newsnight to hit out at claims that coronavirus is a 'great leveller' for society as she said the poorest Britons are less likely to survive the pandemic. She claimed on BBC Two that those most at risk of catching the infection are in low-paid jobs such as bus drivers, nurses and care home workers. Matt Kilcoyne of the Adam Smith Institute claimed her comments breached impartiality guidelines, but her speech received widespread praise online. September 2019 BBC bosses found against Maitlis after viewers complained she was 'sneering and bullying' towards Rod Liddle during a Brexit debate. The executive complaints unit at the BBC determined that Maitlis had been too 'persistent and personal' during the late night discussion on July 15. Maitlis, who told Mr Liddle to 'get a grip' and said his columns contained 'racism', left herself open to claims she had 'failed to be even-handed', their report said. Viewers claimed the presenter's attitude towards Mr Liddle was systemic of the way the BBC has portrayed Leave voters. August 2019 Maitlis said the BBC's move to uphold a complaint against Naga Munchetty for calling out Donald Trump over racism looked 'massively out of touch'. She gave her full support to Munchetty, who had condemned the President's call for four Democratic congresswomen to go back to their own countries. June 2019 The BBC criticised its own broadcaster Maitlis about her performance during the Conservative leadership debate. A statement appeared on the its website saying the presenter was 'not to everyone's taste'. But the BBC quickly removed the comment, insisting it was a mistake. The errant comment was a response to complaints about Maitlis's performance in last week's Conservative leadership debate. Critics said the show turned into 'an hour of men shouting inanely over each other'. April 2019 Named as Newsnight's new lead presenter, Maitlis said: 'I don't have to be liked'. March 2019 She was caught on camera visibly losing her patience with Labour MP Barry Gardiner on Newsnight, rolling her eyes and shuffling her papers as he spoke. July 2017 Maitlis urged male colleagues to join the gender pay gap fight - as women staff at the Corporation went into open revolt. January 2016 Maitlis revealed she was once told by a boss at the Corporation she would have to appear on Strictly Come Dancing if she wanted to progress. She previously claimed it is harder for a woman to be taken seriously and be successful at the BBC August 2011 The newscaster was spotted wearing a charity wristband in support of the Forces charity Help for Heroes while presenting the news - despite there being a ban on presenters wearing such accessories. July 2011 David Starkey called her a 'disgrace' after he claimed that Britain had undergone a cultural shift and 'the whites have become black' during an interview with Ms Maitlis. More than 700 people complained to the BBC and a further 103 contacted Ofcom claiming that the comments breached guidelines on racial offence. November 2009 Maitlis is named among a host of the BBC's highest-paid presenters classing themselves as freelancers to avoid paying 50 per cent income tax. The current 22nd District police station is at 17th Street and Montgomery Avenue. In the midst public protests demanding major changes in police department culture and criticism over the way the city's police budget is funded, the Philadelphia Historical Commission rejected the city's plans for a new district police building in North Philadelphia. Read more The Philadelphia Historic Commission denied plans for a new police station in North Philadelphia on Friday, as activists in the city and across the country call for cuts to police funding while decrying police brutality following the killing of George Floyd. In written and oral comments before and during the commissions meeting Friday, about 130 people voiced their opposition to the proposed $20 million home of the 22nd Police District in a primarily black community. Opponents condemned a lack of city engagement with the community about the station and the citys focus on policing instead of expanding opportunities for social services, housing, and green space in the neighborhood. The commission agreed with opponents that plans to relocate the districts police station to 2100 Diamond St. did not fit with the residential feel of the Diamond Street Historic District, and called the application inadequate by a 7-2 vote with one abstention. And members recognized residents frustration and anger over the project and the nature of the current moment, in which city residents have joined national protests over police violence and systemic racism. Robert Thomas, chair of the commission, said people were concerned about the larger issue of having the police station in that location, not about the color of the brick or architecture or anything else." While a discussion of architectural details would be certainly very appropriate on another project or another time, we absolutely have to recognize where we are and whats going on right now, he said. This is an extraordinary time, he said. We are the Historical Commission. Were living through a very important moment in history. And, he said, that requires the commission to think beyond architectural standards and building colors and numbers of trees. Mayor Jim Kenney said this week that he would eliminate a planned $19 million increase in the police budget after activists and City Council members objected to the boost in funding while other city departments face cuts due to the coronavirus pandemic. North Philadelphia is one of the citys poorest neighborhoods. Kimberly Washington, a member of the commission, said the proposed police station would be in stark contrast to neighboring residential properties and proposed that the commission use its ability to regulate the historic district as a way to stop the project. Oscar Beisert, a preservationist and director of the Keeping Society of Philadelphia, also objected to the construction and architecture of this type of building" in the middle of a street that is largely rowhouses. The neighborhood deserves something better, and something thats more appropriate and residential, he said. The site is mostly vacant and has been for about 20 years, since the city deemed buildings there imminently dangerous and had them demolished. Plans for the site include surface parking, a public art installation, some green space, a bikeshare station, and the demolition of a few dilapidated buildings. "Is this public building the best and highest use on the historic corridor, especially with all that parking? asked Judith Robinson, a resident and preservationist who represents the 32nd Democratic Ward and opposes the police station. The 22nd District covers an area from 10th Street to 33rd Street and Poplar Street to Lehigh Avenue. The 22nd Districts current home is at 17th Street and Montgomery Avenue. Plans for a replacement came from the citys comprehensive review of police buildings and plans for the neighborhood as a whole, said Michelle Shuman, a design and construction project manager for the city. She highlighted that the station would be the first with a dedicated community room and have a diversion office to direct low-level offenders to social services. It also would be more environmentally friendly and energy efficient than the current police building. If the commission had approved the project, plans also would have had to go through the zoning process and public meetings. The commission moved discussion on the police station to the end of its meeting to get through its other agenda items, given the volume of public comment on the station, which added to the frustration of residents who joined at the beginning of the 5-hour video meeting. The second Saturday in June marks the Queens official birthday, and is usually when the Trooping the Colour ceremony takes place in London. The Royal Family would be out in force, enjoying a carriage ride and military spectacle before watching a fly past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace. But like many things in 2020, coronavirus has impacted usual plans. This year, there wont be a large parade, and it wont even be held in London. Instead, a much smaller version of the event will take place on 13 June in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle, where the Queen and Prince Philip have been in isolation since the middle of March. The Queen turned 94 on 21 April, but her official celebrations continue a tradition set by King George II who took the military parade to mark his birthday when his November birthday was often blighted by rain. What happens at Trooping the Colour? The Household Divisions website explains: Regimental flags of the British Army were historically described as Colours because they displayed the uniform Colours and insignia worn by the soldiers of different units. Read more: Why does the Queen have two birthdays? If Troops were to know what their Regiments Colours looked like, it was necessary to display them regularly. The way in which this was done was for young officers to march in between the ranks of troops formed up in lines with the Colours held high. This is the origin of the word trooping. The Household Division march down the Mall, ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony. (PA Images) More than 1400 parading soldiers, almost 300 horses and 400 musicians take part in the event. The parade starts at Buckingham Palace and progresses down The Mall to Horse Guard's Parade. Members of the Royal Family travel alongside the parade on horseback and in carriages. Read more: Queen makes her first video call as she tells carers 'I'm very impressed' The Queen on horseback in the 1980s during Trooping the Colour (PA Images) The Queen used to attend on horseback herself, but in recent years has travelled by carriage. She last rode on horseback in 1986. Once the Queen has arrived at Horse Guard's Parade, Her Majesty is greeted by a royal salute and carries out an inspection of the troops. Story continues The display closes with an RAF fly-past, watched by members of the Royal Family from the Buckingham Palace balcony. Whats happening in 2020? The Queen will view a small military ceremony in the quadrangle of the castle on 13 June, the same day the event would have been held in London. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: The ceremony will be executed by soldiers from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, who are currently on Guard at Windsor Castle, and feature music performed by a Band of the Household Division. Upon Her Majestys arrival in the Quadrangle, The Queen will be greeted by a Royal Salute. A series of military drills will then be carried out as the Band plays, and the ceremony will conclude with a second Salute before The Queens departure. The Quadrangle was used for a ceremonial welcome for Donald Trump and Melania Trump during the 2018 state visit. (Getty Images) The ceremony will use the guards already at the castle to help with social distancing and to prevent any unnecessary journeys. A colour will still be paraded as part of the military drills. The ceremony will take place entirely in the confines of the castle, and there wont be any viewing spots for the public. Its therefore highly unlikely that there will be any other members of the Royal Family present. Who attends? This year, 2020, its thought the Queen wont have anyone with her, with her family scattered far and wide, and the ceremony purposefully held somewhere where it wont be possible to allow others in to view. It all has to be run in a way that adheres to social distancing rules, to keep the Queen safe. Most years, the Queen is joined by members of the Royal Family during the parade and later on the balcony to watch the RAF fly-past. The Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children have all previously been among the attendees. Prince Louis made his balcony debut in 2019, and his older sister Princess Charlotte was one when she first attended. Read more: Queen's mini Trooping the Colour revealed as official birthday marked in lockdown Meghan, pictured at 2018's parade, her first after marrying Prince Harry. (PA Images) In 2019, the Duchess of Sussex made her first public appearance since the birth of her son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. It was thought she and Prince Harry were planning to fly back to the UK for the event this year. The Queens large extended family also joins the close family on the balcony. How to watch The ceremony will also be broadcast live on BBC One from 10:15am in the UK. It will be hosted by Huw Edwards and Sonali Shah. Usually, members of the public can watch the parade from The Mall or on the edge of St James's Park overlooking Horse Guards.. If you want to attend in 2021, applications for Trooping the Colour are to be made via the Army website early next year. Up to a maximum of four tickets can be applied. Anyone with a ticket for this year can expect a refund, but the Army has asked for patience as they deal with the refund procedure. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has reacted to the nationwide speech by President Muhammadu Buhari to mark this years Democracy Day.... The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has reacted to the nationwide speech by President Muhammadu Buhari to mark this years Democracy Day. PDPs National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said Buharis speech revealed that the President has no respect for democratic tenets. Ologbondiyan lamented that Buharis speech was silent on electoral reforms and violation of human rights being witnessed across the country. In a tweet on his official Twitter handle, the PDPs spokesperson berated the President for blaming the murder of Nigerians by bandits on COVID-19. He tweeted: @MBuhari address has vindicated @OfficialPDPNig that Mr President has no respect for democratic tenets. He was silent on electoral reforms, violations of human rights and blamed the gruesome murder of Nigerians by bandits on COVID-19 lockdown. This CiC is leading from the rear! Recall that Buhari in his nationwide broadcast had expressed concern over the recent killings in Katsina and Borno States. The President had said the recent killings in both States were due to criminals taking advantage of COVID-19 restriction. When the Centers for Disease Control last month updated its guidelines for reopening schools, parents and educators registered an array of doubts and objections on social media. Keeping masks on children and making them stay six feet apart all day seemed impossible, eliminating lunch in the cafeteria and recess on playgrounds seemed unenjoyable, and supplying classrooms with enough materials to keep them from being passed around and shared invited more personal expenses from teachers pockets. Spacing desks in classrooms that have long been tight on space seemed unfeasible and seating kids in every other row on buses, uncontrollable. The recommendations arent mandates and Northside Independent School District Superintendent Brian Woods agrees that many of them are unrealistic. Balancing that with concerns about a second wave of coronavirus cases, the largest school district in Bexar County is preparing to reopen schools this fall for more than 105,000 students without knowing how many will show up and how many will continue the option of remote learning from home. Youve got to have people who get in the classroom setting and get how it operates and say, Here is how we make it safe, Woods said. Planners also have to take in individual class and school building sizes. Schools are designed for efficiency. There is not a lot of extra square footage, Woods said. Theres very little space inside the typical school that would allow you to spread out to the degree thats being called for in those guidelines. Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox The CDC notes that some recommendations are not practical for some age groups, such as wearing face masks, which may be challenging for students (especially younger students) to wear in all-day settings such as school. Face coverings should be worn by staff and students (particularly older students) as feasible, and are most essential in times when physical distancing is difficult, the guidelines say. But most of the guidelines apply to all grade levels, which Woods takes issue with. Asked if he thinks classroom teachers were in the room when the guidelines were drafted, Woods chuckled and said, I doubt it. Im not being critical, he added. Weve got to do it in a nuanced way. Northside ISD has a task force that includes current and former principals across all grade levels who will spend the summer interpreting the guidelines to try to apply them to the districts 120 schools. They're going to have a lot of work to do to translate how that works in their schools given the size of their classrooms, the size of their hallways, how they serve lunch, Woods said. The district is planning summer school for select groups of students in July and exploring options like having short choice courses in early August to give students and parents an opportunity to test their comfort with the new classroom settings. The more difficult task will be to apply the guidelines in the fall, Woods said. Depending on how many students return, the district could be forced to split them into shifts, combining classroom with distance learning on alternate days or weeks, Woods said, ideally with families volunteering to participate in nontraditional schedules. Im leaning more toward some kind of hybrid model where some kids are in the building almost all the time and some very little but on occasion touch base with teachers, Woods said. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios Northside ISD chief says budget will be stable under best case scenario But that also differs by age group. A teenager might be able to be left at home, but for working families, youre not leaving that 4 or 5 year old. Talk about fantasy, Woods said. The CDC guidelines encourage keeping classmates together all day instead of mixing from class to class. They discourage moving classes in and out common areas like libraries and cafeterias. But libraries and cafeterias might be needed as classrooms to keep desks spaced six feet apart, Woods said. Kids might eat lunch outside. Guidelines for restrooms are more cumbersome, calling for the placement of physical barriers like plastic screens between sinks, for example. Thats one I do struggle with, Woods said. Now youre getting into something thats really costly for school districts. Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Krista, become a subscriber. Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva [June 12, 2020] New Peer-Reviewed Study Finds That Doctor On Demand Video Visits Foster Physician-Patient Relationships and Drive Patient Satisfaction A new study published in the June issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings suggests that patients who used Doctor On Demand's video-based telemedicine visits appreciate their relationships with the physician and overall user experience, including access and convenience. Further, this study found that the majority of patients who interacted with 5-star rated physicians commented favorably and most frequently on the interpersonal connection and relationship-building aspects of virtual visits, and valued "building rapport" with their physician. These unexpected findings suggest positive behaviors that cultivate virtual relationships between physicians and patients, and enhance the perceived value of virtual health encounters. "At Doctor On Demand, we've built a practice of full-time employed physicians who are dedicated to treating patients via video telemedicine in the same way they would in an in-person setting," said Dr. Ian Tong, Chief Medical Officer at Doctor On Demand. "Telemedicine has long been criticized for being impersonal and transactional, but this study demonstrates that trust and rapport can be established through video-based care, and that patients find these personal connections incredibly valuable." The focus of the study was to establish criteria required to build and preserve safe, high-value, effective and compassionate virtual care delivery. The study performs a qualitative analysis of patient feedback on interpersonal skills displayed by the treating physician following video visits. Methodology The peer-reviewed study was led by Tania Elliott, MD (NYU Langone Health), and co-authored by Beth A. Lown, MD (The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare), Arwen Sheridan, MPH (Doctor On Demand) and Ian Tong, MD (Doctor On Demand).The authors performed a qualitative analysis of patient visit feedback with the purpose of building consensus around exemplary interpersonal and communication practices during a virtual urgent care visit from the patients' point of view. The study reviewed and analyzed 4,572 comments from a random sample of nearly 50,000 comments that were rated 5 of 5 stars by patients after their video telemedicine visit. The researchers developed a final set of codes which included: (1) Builds Rapport; (2) Patient Perspective; (3) Expectation and Agenda Setting; (4) Elicits Information; (5) Listens, Is Attentive; (6) Shares Information / Provides Guidance; (7) Shares Decision Making; (8) Spent Right Amount of Time; (9) User Experience; (10) Uncodable; and (11) Provided Treatment. Key findings include: Over 30 percent of the patient comments coded were classified as "Building Rapport." The next most frequently assigned code was "Shares Information and Provides Guidance." Among codable comments, the third most frequently assigned code was "User Experience." Interestingly, "Provided Treatment" only accounted for 2 percent of comments, which is different from previous literature suggesting that prescription receipt was a major driver of satisfaction. The full study is available here. About Doctor On Demand Doctor On Demand, the nation's leading virtual care provider, is reimagining what healthcare looks like for today's world. Doctor On Demand's nationwide healthcare platform puts the patient first by providing access to physicians, psychiatrists, therapists and a care coordination team via video visits, voice and messaging. Through its 5-star rated mobile application and website, patients can access quality care in all 50 states with an average wait time of 10 minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Doctor On Demand delivers services through employers, health plans, Medicare Part B, and directly to consumers. While insurance isn't required, tens of millions of Americans enjoy covered medical and behavioral health visits, including full mind and body services: preventive care, chronic care, urgent care, and behavioral health. Doctor On Demand's mission is to improve the world's health through compassionate care and innovation. It is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. To access Doctor On Demand, download the app (App Store or Google (News - Alert) Play) or visit www.doctorondemand.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005279/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] This article includes spoilers for Da 5 Bloods. One of the most suspenseful scenes in director Spike Lees new movie Da 5 Bloods comes when David, a young man played by Jonathan Majors, accidentally steps on an unexploded land mine deep in the Vietnamese jungle. The mine doesnt immediately explodeits one of those movie-friendly land mines that only goes off when the target removes their foot from the triggerbut since another character has just been blown to bits by one of the other mines, the stakes are very clear. Fortunately, Davids father, Paul (Delroy Lindo), has seen a similar situation during the Vietnam War, as he explains in a classic example of dialogue in which a character alludes to a secret plan without revealing it to the audience: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jethro Bodine. Remember that big ol hillbilly kid from Oklahoma? He stepped on a toe popper, remember? OK, were going to spring my son the same way we sprung that hillbilly kid, you got me? What follows is an extremely unlikely seeming escape, in which Paul and the other veterans tie a rope around his sons waist, and, on the count of three, jerk him off the mine as quickly as possible, pulling him out of the way before the explosion can catch up with him. Could that really work? The simplest answer is no, because judging from the close-up, the mine David steps on appears to be an American-made M14 (a toe popper, like Paul says), and those go off when the pressure plate is stepped on, not when pressure is released. But Lee didnt invent the story to justify including the brief aside about his fellow Morehouse College grad, Olympic hurdler Edwin Moses: The same story, more or less as it appears in Da 5 Bloods, shows up in Bloods: Black Veterans of the Vietnam War: An Oral History, Wallace Terrys hugely influential 1985 collection of black veterans recollections of their experiences in Vietnam. (The book was one of Da 5 Bloods primary sources, and Lee had his cast read it before making the film.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Bloods, the land mine story is told by Harold Light Bulb Bryant, and his version goes like this: This infantry unit was on a little trail west of Pleiku, makin a sweep towards the Ia Drang Valley. This white dude had stepped on a mine. And knew it. He felt the plunger go down. Everybody moved away from him, about 20 meters. So they called for the engineers, and somebody asked for Light Bulb. When I got there on the chopper, hes been standing there for over an hour. He really wasnt in any panic. He was very calm. He knew that if he alleviated any of that pressure, both of us would have got destroyed. I dug all around the mine with my bayonet and found out that it was a Bouncin Betty. I told him I was gonna try to defuse it. But the three-prong primer on the Bouncin Betty had gotten in between the cleats on his jungle boots, so there wasnt any way I could deal with it. So I said lets see if we could kind of change the pressure by him takin his foot out of his boot and me keepin the pressure by holding his boot down. That way he could get out uninjured. But when he started doin that, I thought I was seein the plunger rise, so I told him to stop. I guess maybe Id been working with him for an hour now. Then I got the idea. I knew when the plunger would depress, the Bouncin Betty would bounce up about 3 feet and then explode. So I got the other members of his team together, and I tied a rope around his waist. And everybody, including me, moved off about 20 yards from the mine and him. And when I counted to three, everyone would pull on the rope and snatch him about 15 feet off the mine. And it would bounce up its 3 feet and explode. And it did that. And the only damage that he received was the heel of his jungle boot that was blown off. No damage to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats an extraordinary story, but it might not be entirely true. (For one thing, the German-made Bouncing Bettys, and the American mines modeled after them, are like M14s: Theyre set to detonate when pressure is applied to the plunger, not when it is released.) B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitleys 1998 book Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of its Heroes and Its History alleges that Bryant exaggerated his service record and spent most of his time in Vietnam driving a dump truck. Historian Patrick Hagopian was similarly skeptical in a 2000 article in the Journal of American History, for the simple reason that Bryant was not the only veteran telling a version of that storytelevision producer Patrick S. Duncan heard it from several veterans while doing research for the 1987 HBO series Vietnam War Story, and used it as the basis for an episode. Hagopian had heard it before, too: Advertisement Advertisement I, too, heard this storyfrom a homeless veteran who haunted the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Sacramento, who showed me the scars on his leg where shrapnel from the mine hit him. According to a trusted informant, though, it was unlikely that the homeless man had ever been in Vietnam. I had reason to doubt the story anyway, because I had previously read it in the words of Harold Light Bulb Bryant in Bloods. In 1991, I assumed the homeless man had copied the story from Bryant. Now I regard it as equally possible that Bryant (who turns out to have falsified his wartime experiences) heard it as the yarn went the rounds. So although its not entirely clear whether the land mine story in Da 5 Bloods is an urban legend or an actual incident from the Vietnam War, however distorted over the years, two things are certain: It makes for very tense filmmaking, and you should absolutely not rely on it should you happen to step on a mine. For more on Da 5 Bloods listen to Dana Stevens and Aisha Harris spoiler-filled discussion of the movie. Now that remote public proceedings have become more common after COVID-19, an observation has been made: remote meetings can compromise the transparency of government and the ability of the public to participate.This observation lies at the heart of a statement written by California Common Cause Executive Director Jonathan Mehta Stein. The statement, titled Government Transparency in an Emergency, describes the risks involved with remote meetings and principles that might be followed in order to mitigate those risks. The hope is for state and local governments to develop policies with these issues in mind.We need guardrails in place to ensure that governing doesnt move further out of public view, Stein said in an interview with. We recognize that government needs flexibility in this moment to respond to the crisis or the multiple crises going on in America today. But in order for government to act effectively, there has to be accountability, and there has to be transparency.One concern revolves around the sudden necessity of remote proceedings. Remote proceedings are being held regularly today, which has opened the door for votes that are sometimes scheduled late at night or on weekends, enabling lawmakers to avoid public scrutiny, according to the statement from California Common Cause.In other cases, a lack of transparency could result from the technical limitations rather than dubious intentions.Were finding that many cities and counties are not stopping proceedings when their online streams encounter problems, Stein said. So theyre creating gaps where governing is happening in the dark.Another concern relates to opportunities for citizens to participate in public meetings.Reports from Massachusetts and Florida , for instance, highlight the difficulties that some residents face when trying to attend remote meetings. Stein said his organization encourages governments to provide an in-person site and multiple remote access points that can account for the technological divides in the United States.John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, said his organization, along with a local American Civil Liberties Union chapter, sent a list of recommendations to Gov. Gina Raimondo after Raimondo suspended an open-meetings regulation that prevents Rhode Island bodies from holding remote meetings. Raimondo then distributed those recommendations to officials.Members should always appear on camera, Marion said. They should take votes by roll calls so public members can know who is voting which way. If the connection is dropped, they should pause the meeting until they can re-establish the remote connection. All of those are best practices that we were encouraging.Marion added that the guidelines developed by Common Cause were informed by public meeting laws across all 50 states.In the future, remote proceedings should only be held when theyre essential, Stein said. While Stein understands the excitement of some officials who have realized that they can indeed utilize technology for meetings, he believes a high bar should be set for their use.Mike Sarasti, CIO and director of technology and innovation for Miami, said he agrees with the spirit of what Common Cause is calling for. At the same time, hes not sure whether its realistic to expect governments to hold remote public meetings only when an emergency occurs.In fact, Sarasti believes remote proceedings can enhance transparency and public participation if theyre planned and executed the right way.Its actually really cool from a civic engagement and civic participation perspective, Sarasti said. You see a lot of faces who normally wouldnt come to a public meeting.Marion also recognized the potential for increased participation at remote meetings.Weve seen in some instances an explosion in public participation at public meetings because weve lowered the cost of entry for the public, Marion said. Instead of having to get a babysitter and drive down to city hall and find parking near city hall and wait three hours through a city council meeting for public comment, you can leave your laptop open on the kitchen counter and give a comment as youre making dinner.However, Marion pointed out that the relative ease of remote access can also raise questions about preferential treatment toward citizens, especially once social distancing orders are lifted.If somebody participates remotely from the next city over, should they be put at the back of the line compared to the citizens of the city who actually showed up at the meeting? Marion said. We dont have a position on it. Its an issue that has been raised by several people.For Sarasti, its normal at Miami City Commission meetings to see participation from those who may not live in Miami. He said someone could have an investment in Miami while not living there.While Sarasti holds that hes more of an observer and that people other than him will ultimately make the policy calls, he said remote proceedings can increase efficiency. Before social distancing, it was not unusual for a Miami City Commission meeting to last from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Now, meetings are ending in the early afternoon, even though public comments can still take hours to get through.Theres no walk up to the podium time, which believe it or not, adds up, Sarasti said.In the statement from California Common Cause, Stein cites cybersecurity as a major concern, especially for local governments that lack well-resourced IT infrastructures and/or in situations where lawmakers are permitted to participate from home using home internet systems. Indeed, zoombombing has entered the public lexicon in a big way.As a final observation, Sarasti mentioned that a variety of staff, from attorneys to web people to communications folks, can better ensure that government covers the bases for remote proceedings.If youre not willing to commit to the staffing to make sure transparency can happen, then yeah, you probably should limit what you cover in these meetings, Sarasti said. French police are protesting against a new ban on chokeholds and limits on what they can do during arrests. The ban is part of government efforts to stem police brutality and racism in the wake of global protests over George Floyds death in the US. Police from the union Unite SGP Police FO laid their handcuffs on the ground outside some police stations around France on Thursday night in a symbolic protest, and another union plans to take action in Paris today. Police unions are meeting interior minister Christophe Castaner to discuss changes to police tactics after Mr Castaner announced on Monday that police would no longer be taught to seize suspects by the neck or push on their necks. Mr Castaner stopped short of banning another technique pressing on a prone suspects chest which has also has been blamed for leading to asphyxiation and possible death. Such immobilisation techniques have come under growing criticism since Mr Floyds death. France has seen several protests sparked by Mr Floyds death such as this one in Paris last Saturday. Pic: AP/Francois Mori Unite SGP Police FO representative Yves Lefebvre said on BFM television: They want to prevent us from working. Mr Castaner appears to have heard us, but not heard us enough. France has seen several protests sparked by Mr Floyds death, and another is planned for Saturday. Former President Jerry John Rawlings 12.06.2020 LISTEN Former President Jerry John Rawlings has in a meeting with the Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat, Kingsley Agyemang and members of his management team, commended them for the decentralization of the scholarship process. He said the difficulty many deserving students suffer in their bid to obtain scholarships will be a thing of the past if the Secretariat supervises the process adequately to ensure that there is no discrimination. I am impressed that responsibility has been devolved to the Districts. There has been so much prejudice against the scholarship secretariat because of the perception that there is discrimination in the choices made and it only benefits privileged persons. You have to monitor the devolved process otherwise the very thing you are trying to avoid will be repeated. During my tenure as President, I devoted 40 per cent of my time to checking corruptible tendencies. That is why I was able to contain corruption. We have difficulties giving fairness a chance in this country with influence often overriding ability and merit. This development makes me feel good and I urge you to give the new process more publicity so deserving students can take advantage of the process, former President Rawlings said. Madam Ebi Bright, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary candidate for Tema Central, who was part of the meeting, stated that there is a cultural tendency towards patronage in the country. People who have access to power tend to always compromise situations. She noted that even with the devolution of the process it is still going to be difficult to balance the good intentions of the Secretariat and urged the Registrar and his team to do their utmost to support local talent and ideas in a fair environment. Aide to the former President, Dr. Donald Agumenu noted that the Scholarship Secretariat plays an integral role in building human capital and called for a fair distribution of scholarships and adequate and regular evaluation of the process. The Scholarship Registrar informed the former President at Wednesdays meeting that his outfit, working in collaboration with regional and district authorities had devolved the selection process to ensure that deserving students across the country were offered opportunities to obtain scholarships to further their education. The Registrar said district assemblies will be responsible under stated guidelines for publishing scholarship openings using local information channels. Shortlisted applicants will then appear before the District Scholarship Secretariat after which a recommendation will be made to the Central Scholarship Review Committee secretariat for the award of scholarships. The Composition of the Review Committee will be made up of the District or Municipal Chief Executives, a representative from the traditional authority which is very dominant within the district, a representative from the Ghana Education Service or from any tertiary institution in the district, and two other representatives to be appointed by the Scholarship Secretariat. Other members of the Scholarship Secretariat at the meeting were Richard Aidoo - Director of Accounts, Joseph Essah - Deputy Director, Administration, Grace Afari-Mensah and Jennifer Evelyn Bedu Assistant Protocol Officers. Members of President Rawlings team included Dr. Anthony Dzegede, Kobina Andoh Amoakwa and Ogochukwu Nweke. British explorer Sir Francis Drake landed on a beach in what is now Point Reyes National Seashore in the spring of 1579 and claimed the land for England. That was 28 years before an English colony was established in what would become the United States. But some people in Marin County wish he had never stopped to visit, historical significance notwithstanding. As the Black Lives Matter movement has gained momentum in the wake of George Floyds death, calls to erase the monuments and memorials to racist figures have multiplied across the U.S. Drake was a slave trader. ABC7 reported that activists want his 30-foot-tall statue next to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal removed and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard renamed. Lauren Brown told a reporter that the statue disgusted her. "This is all about propelling this narrative of white superiority," she said. As you might expect, the sculptor disagrees. "That was not a sculpture of him, but the event! Dennis Patton of San Rafael told the station. A petition to remove Drake statues in Plymouth and Tavistock, England, collected 1,4,00 signatures, the Guardian reported. Drake was the most famous sea captain of his time, a pirate commissioned by Queen Elizabeth to raid and loot the Spanish, and a vice admiral in the fleet that defeated the Spanish Armada, a turning point in English history. But two decades before the sea battle, he made three voyages to Guinea and Sierra Leone that enslaved 1,200-1,400 Africans. Historians estimate another 4,000 probably died in the process. Beside the statue and the boulevard, Drakes name is found throughout Marin County and the Bay Area, including the high school in San Anselmo and a famous hotel on Union Square in San Francisco. MORE COVERAGE ON THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on Bay Area protest coverage here. Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate Calls are being re-ignited to remove the monument of Christopher Columbus as well as other monuments and memorials around Trinidad and Tobago that celebrate this countrys racist history. The calls come on the heels of Black Lives Matter protests around the world, and in the wake of the pulling down of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston by Black Lives Matter protesters in Bristol, United Kingdom. Cong Peiwu, Chinese Ambassador to Canada. (File Photo) The US has been taking advantage of Canada, and the U.S. is the trouble maker of China-Canada relations, Cong Peiwu, Chinese Ambassador to Canada, told Reuters in a telephone interview on Thursday. The envoy said the United States is using the case of Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, who was arrested by Canadian police on a U.S. warrant 18 months ago, to create friction between China and Canada, according to Reuters. Meng Wanzhou, daughter of Huaweis founder Ren Zhengfei, was accused of fraud linked to the alleged violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran. After her arrest she was released on $10 million bail but has been under 24-hour surveillance by a private security company at her Vancouver home. On May 27, the Canadian British Columbia Supreme Court ruled on the so-called double criminality in the case of Meng, holding that the U.S. extradition request against Meng conforms to the principle of double criminality, a decision immediately berated by the Chinese Embassy in Canada for abusing their bilateral extradition treaty and gravely violating the lawful rights of Meng. Asked whether he thought Canadas judiciary was independent, Cong pointed to comments U.S. President Donald Trump made in December 2018, which he said showed the Meng case was a political incident rather than a simple judicial case. In that interview, Trump said he would intervene with the U.S. Justice Department in the Meng case if it would help secure a trade deal with Beijing. We believe that actually this is a grave political incident plotted by the United States to bring down Chinese hi-tech companies, Cong told Reuters. BWR Public Relations co-founder and legendary Hollywood publicist Nanci Ryder passed away on Thursday afternoon after a six-year battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. CAA partner and Nanci's longtime friend Bryan Lourd said she died peacefully at her home in Los Angeles, California at 2:24 p.m, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Ryder was 67 years old. Rest in peace: BWR Public Relations co-founder and legendary Hollywood publicist Nanci Ryder passed away on Thursday afternoon after a six-year battle with ALS; seen here in 2016 Throughout a career that spanned over three decades, Ryder represented everyone from Renee Zellweger, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Lopez to Courteney Cox, Sarah Jessica Parker and Leonardo DiCaprio. Zellweger and Witherspoon, in particular, both won Academy Awards while under her tutelage as their publicist. Ryder was diagnosed with ALS in 2014, and later was the inspiration for Team Nanci, the goal of which was to find a cure for the debilitating neurological disease. In great company: Ryder was diagnosed with ALS in 2014, and later was the inspiration for Team Nanci, the goal of which was to find a cure for the debilitating neurological disease; Nanci seen here in 2015 with Courteney Cox, Reese Witherspoon and Renee Zellweger Team Nanci consisted of close friends and heavy-hitting industry players, whose regular events collectively contributed well over $800,000 to ALS Association Golden West Chapter. Nanci's inimitable Team consisted of clients-turned-friends Zellweger, Cox, Witherspoon and actor Don Diamont along with Lourd, talent agent Kevin Huvane and many, many others. Since 2014, the group would gather in support of Nanci at LA's Exposition Park each fall. For a great cause: Team Nanci consisted of close friends and heavy-hitting industry players; seen here in 2016 with Jennifer Garner Yearly tradition: The group's annual meets collectively contributed well over $800,000 to ALS Association Golden West Chapter; seen in 2017 After relocating from her hometown of Great Neck, Long Island in New York to LA in 1979, Ryder worked as a talent agent for three years before segueing to publicity. She formed Nanci Ryder Public Relations in 1984, with actor Michael J. Fox as her first client, who has been quoted as saying, 'Everything I've gone through, I've gone through with Nanci.' Before its eventual absorption into parent company Burson Cohn & Wolfe last month, Ryder's BWR Public Relations (cofounded with Larry Winokur and Paul Baker) was one of the top PR firms in Hollywood, and the world, with annual billings pegged in the billions of dollars in the year 2000. Some of Ryder's other clients over the years included Robert Downey Jr., Helen Hunt, Woody Harrelson, Paul Reiser, Paul Rodriguez. Power player: Nanci's BWR Public Relations was one of the top PR firms in Hollywood, and the world; seen here with Jeffrey Katzenberg in 2015 A rare case of meningoencephalitis, an inflammation of the brain and its surrounding protective membranes, has been detected in a young patient, who died of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Kota, but doctors are yet to ascertain whether it was caused by Sars-CoV-2, which causes the disease. The authorities at the Government Medical College in Kota, which has been converted into a dedicated Covid-19 facility, are sending the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of the patient to Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) to find out if the viral infection caused meningoencephalitis in the deceased patient. Earlier, a 17-year-old boy from Baran was admitted to a private hospital in Kota on June 3, and three days later he tested Covid-19 positive and died on the same day at the Government Medical College. Dr. Vijay Sardana, the principal of the Government Medical College, Kota, and also the head of the neurology department, said: The Covid-19 patient was shifted to our hospital on June 6, but he was brought brain dead and expired a few hours after he was admitted. We had taken the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample of the patient and conducted the Covid-19 test, but it didnt show any trace of the Sars-CoV-2 infection. However, the patient didnt have any prior history of a cerebral condition. Were sending the CSF sample to NIV in Pune to detect the virus, which caused meningoencephalitis. Well report the case to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and also study it, he said. Sardana said only three-four cases of meningoencephalitis have been reported in Covid-19 patients from countries such as Pakistan, China, and Japan so far. India is yet to report a single case of meningoencephalitis in a Covid-19 patient. Meningoencephalitis resembles both meningitis and encephalitis. Meningoencephalitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoan or as a secondary sequel of other inflammations due to Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a phone talk with Vietnam's Party Chief and President Nguyen Phu Trong on June 11, 2020. Photo courtesy of Russian Embassy in Vietnam. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Vietnam's success in containing Covid-19 and pledged to expand economic cooperation with the Southeast Asian country. During a phone talk with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong on Thursday, Putin thanked Vietnam for lending a helping hand to Russia in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation to deal with the global crisis and continue to provide timely support to citizens of each country. Vietnam has confirmed 332 Covid-19 infections so far. Of this, 321 have recovered after treatment, with no deaths recorded. Last April, Vietnam gifted Russia 200,000 antibacterial masks to assist the nation's ongoing Covid-19 fight and repatriated 345 of its citizens stranded in Russia, the world's third largest Covid-19 hotspot with over 511,000 infections and 6,715 confirmed deaths, only after the U.S. and Brazil. Around 400 Russian citizens stuck in Vietnam amid travel restrictions were brought home on special flights arranged by the Russian government. Party Chief and President Nguyen Phu Trong, who made the call to congratulate President Putin and the Russian people on the occasion of Russia Day (June 12), expressed his sympathies for the losses caused by Covid-19 to Russia and hailed the country's drastic measures and contributions to the international communitys fight against the crisis. As both nations are jointly celebrating many important events, including 70 years of diplomatic ties, both leaders agreed to maintain frequent contact at all levels and coordinate to organize activities within the Vietnam-Russia Cross Year 2019-2020. They also stated that defense, security and energy are important pillars for bilateral cooperation, agreeing to further tighten links in these fields. Vietnam and Russia have long cooperated in hydrocarbon exploration and extraction, with firms like Vietsovpetro, Rusvietpetro, VietGazprom and Gazpromviet at the forefront of such projects. Both top leaders agreed to continue supporting and encouraging their countries oil and gas companies to take part in new projects in Vietnam and Russia. They will also further facilitate trade and investment partnerships and optimize the free trade agreement between Vietnam and Eurasian Economic Union, in which Russia is a member, to soon raise bilateral trade to $10 billion while creating optimal conditions for the countries to develop their economies and address consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. Single parents have warned the governments new support bubble measures fail to tackle the desperate dilemma they face by not being able to return to work with schools and nurseries closed. Boris Johnson announced adults who live alone will be allowed to spend the night in another household from Saturday onwards in a bid to stop people feeling socially isolated as the prime minister continues to ease the UKs coronavirus lockdown. But single parents and campaigners hit out at the support bubble plans for overlooking the fact the majority of single parents rely on formal childcare and do not necessarily have a support network to create a bubble with. Around 70 per cent of the 2 million single parents living in the UK were in work before the coronavirus crisis, but three out of 10 single working parents were living in poverty. Some 90 per cent of single parents are women. Victoria Benson, chief executive of Gingerbread, the leading single parent charity, who is a single mother herself, told The Independent the lockdown is seriously affecting her mental health. The mother-of-four, who lives with four children aged between eight and 17, said: Some days, I am unable to breathe because Im so stressed. There is so much to do. Its so busy. I woke up at 3am this morning and Ive been up since 3am. Ive only done two hours of school work with my eight-year-old daughter in two weeks. I feel really guilty. I feel worried she is slipping behind. My daughter is really anxious. She asks me whether I am going to die and whether she is going to die. My teenagers are really anxious about their exams. I am finding it really stressful. My job is full-on. My eight-year-old daughter cant work on her own. She needs me to educate her. It is impossible to do both that and work. Its really tough not having another adult to share the load and share education with. The charity executive welcomed the new social bubble rules but said there were a number of shortcomings adding that many single parents had contacted the charity to ask for clarification about the measures due to feeling confused. She said: Lots of people dont have anyone. They are truly isolated so wont be helped by bubbles. Most single parents use a patchwork of childcare arrangements based on childcare providers, schools, and after-school clubs. Social bubbles also wont help the desperate financial issues facing single parents. Many single parents are really worried about what they will do when they are called back to work. A disproportionate proportion of single parents work in shutdown sectors like hospitality, retail and admin, which are now reopening. Or they have agency jobs or zero-hour or temporary contracts. But now they dont have childcare due to the coronavirus crisis. If you have no childcare, you cant work. You dont have a choice. They are worried their employer will say get back to work or be made redundant. It is illogical that zoos are reopening but you cant put your child in nursery. I also think its a disgrace not giving free school meals over the summer holidays. Many single parents will have to make very stark choices about how they feed their children. More will be driven to food banks. Ms Benson warned many single parents could not create bubbles with grandparents due to them having to socially isolate to look after their health. Social bubbles also do not apply to parents or children who may be shielding due to being in a vulnerable group, she added. The announcement earlier in the week that most children will not go back to school until September had only made her more anxious, she said. Paula, a single mother who has two children, told The Independent the support bubble announcement had made her feel more lonely than previously. It opens up more problems than it solves, the 45-year-old, whose children are ten and 14, said. It made me feel really lonely. My parents are over 100 miles away. My natural instinct would be to see them. But they are shielding so there is no option to go there. My best friend is in Northampton so is too far away too. Paula, who did not want her last name used, added: Im trying to balance working from home and schooling. It is a juggling act. Im sleeping a lot lighter and a lot less and having strange anxiety dreams. Im getting up early at 5am to try and do three hours work in the morning before the kids are up. I feel guilty like Im not giving fully to anything. Because there isnt enough time. Matt Hughes, a single parent with one daughter, criticised the new social bubble rules for being overly complicated. The 41-year-old, whose daughter is nine-year-old, said he and his sister, who is also a single parent, were currently trying to work out which of them his parents should see. He added: Ive been single for five years since my partner died. I know the new rules are supposed to combat loneliness but they make you ask who there is to bring into your bubble. Lots of my friends have also got their own families. There also isnt space in the house for an extra person to stay. Joe Levenson, of Young Womens Trust, said while social bubbles will provide some welcome comfort to single parents, with so many children unable to return to school or nursery until September at the earliest, the dearth of childcare options remains an enormous issue. She added: Young women have told us how hard it is to juggle looking after children at home with work, which is why there needs to be a strong focus from government on ensuring a support infrastructure is in place for parents. A Department for Education spokesperson said: Our early years providers have been central to this countrys response to the coronavirus outbreak, with a many providing childcare to critical workers and vulnerable children during this time. From 1 June, nurseries have been allowed to open more widely so more parents can return to work. To further support working parents, we have introduced temporary measures to ensure critical workers will still be eligible for much needed childcare offers if their income has changed due to coronavirus. . , , , . , , , ! San Antonio could see a spike in COVID-19 cases in a few weeks because of the daily gatherings of protesters downtown, according to Anita Kurian, assistant director of San Antonio Metropolitan Health. Since May 29, many San Antonians have hit the streets to protest against police brutality despite the threat of the coronavirus. Thursday marked the 13th consecutive days of protest after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died while in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25. Kurian said it would be "very difficult" to link a spike in cases to the protests because testing centers aren't asking people if they've attended a protest. However, the city should be able gauge a possible impact in three to four weeks, she said. "There is a chance a number of COVID-19 cases could rise," she said. "Anytime large groups of people are getting together, there is always the risk of virus transmission. There are a number of different factors to consider such as the environment of people that are protesting, is it happening indoors or outdoors, the number of people attending and the type of precautions they are taking too." RELATED: San Antonio health chief says second wave of coronavirus has begun In San Antonio, most of the protests have been outdoors, which makes the risk of person-to-person transmission less than it would be if people were congregating indoors, Kurian said. Either way, she said there is still a risk when large groups of people come together. "They are standing so close to each other and making social distancing difficult," Kurian said. "There is always a cause for concern, so people should realize when large groups of people are close together during the protests it is inherently dangerous in the context of this pandemic and could trigger an uptick in COVID-19 cases." Kurian encourages demonstrators to get tested for COVID-19, even if they're asymptomatic. She also recommends for demonstrators to practice social distancing, to wear a mask at all times and to isolate themselves from people who are at high risk for up to two weeks after attending a protest. The numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases and people hospitalized with the virus in Bexar County are growing at alarming rates, health officials said Wednesday. On Thursday, Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 192 new cases, pushing the total number of local cases to 3,840. The mayor said in tweet that locals didn't treat the pandemic as seriously as officials would have hoped during Memorial Day weekend and said those who have attended a demonstration should consider getting tested. Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: WATERLOO A Waterloo man is facing charges after several homes were broken into. Waterloo Regional Police said while homeowners were sleeping on May 10, there was a break and enter, and two attempts, in the area of Blythwood Road and Parkwood Court in Waterloo. During the attempts, the suspect cut window screens to try and gain entry, but the windows were locked. In the third incident, the suspect got into a home through an unlocked back door and stole personal property including a wallet with credit cards. During the evening of June 3, the suspect removed a window screen and got into a home on Parkwood Drive in Waterloo. A wallet with credit cards was stolen and the cards were used at a number of locations in the city. A 21-year-old Waterloo man is charged with six counts of break and enter and the use of stolen credit card data. No Beijing, only Delhi says former Nepal PM on ties with India New Nepal map could seal dialogue with India say officials India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 12: India says that the parliamentary approval of the Nepal map will seal dialogue with the neighbouring nation. Nepal's parliament will hold a special meeting on Saturday to complete voting on the new political map that redraws its border with India. Officials tell OneIndia that there would not be any harsh statements as it is more important to settle the issue rather than worsening it. India has reminded Nepal about the friendly relations it shared and has repeatedly stated that on the map, it has made its position clear. Nepal will get land from India through dialogue says Oli Rajnath Singh reviews Ladakh situation, holds meet with Cheif of defence staff | Oneindia News India is also closely watching the timing of the developments in Nepal. It comes close on the heels of the standoff with China. We suspect that there could be a Chinese role in this aggression with India, the official cited above said. The approach by India has been more of a calm one. India has subtly reminded Nepal of the humanitarian and development assistance it had provided, including medicines to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our multi-faceted bilateral partnership has expanded and diversified in recent years with increased focus and enhanced humanitarian and development assistance by the Government of India and connectivity projects in Nepal," Anurag Srivastava, MEA spokesperson said. Nepal had alleged that India had encroached upon its territory by deploying soldiers, building a temple and creating an artificial river. Nepal's Prime Minister, K P Oli said that India had built a Kali Temple, created an artificial Kali river and deployed Indian Army personnel in order encroach upon the Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura. He said that these earlier belonged to his country. Oli also criticised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath for advising Nepal for not committing the mistake of ratcheting up a territorial dispute with India. He said that these remarks were not acceptable to the people of Nepal. Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura were based on historical records and India should return the areas it had encroached upon. Amidst Nepal dispute, India sends out subtle reminder on assistance While India is watching the developments closely, the government had said that the revised official map was a unilateral act and not based on facts. Anurag Srivastava, spokesperson Ministry of External Affairs had said that what Nepal did was contrary to the bilateral understanding to resolve outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue. Such artificial enlargement of territorial claims will not be accepted by India, he had also said. A Big Step for Religious Freedom For decades religious freedom has been treated as the unwanted stepcihld in the human-rights side of U.S. foreign policy. But in a rare ray of light this dark spring, America's defining right has been recognized at the highest level as a "moral and national security imperative." This is more than a symbolic gesture. On June 2 President Trump signed an executive order that declares support for religious freedom a foreign policy "priority." It mandates that "the United States will respect and vigorously promote this freedom" abroad. It has been a long journey to this point. The State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor was created in 1977 to help advance individual liberty and democratic freedoms around the world. The U.S. had pledged to do so since 1948, when it backed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Technically religious freedom was covered along with other fundamental rights in the bureau's mandate. In reality, many officials saw religious freedom as irrelevant--neither universal nor inalienable. In a 1997 speech at Catholic University, Secretary of State Madeleine Albrightdismissed calls to press for religious freedom. Speaking in the context of Sudan's mass killing, rape and deportation of religious minorities, Ms. Albright said, "We must also take into account the perspectives and values of others." U.S. officials often vociferously protested the torture and imprisonment of journalists, lawyers and political dissidents. But Washington's record on standing up for religious believers was spottier. A broad, faith-based movement--incensed that reports of religious persecution were habitually ignored by the American foreign-policy establishment--successfully lobbied for the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The IRFA institutionalized concern for religious freedom. It established a new office and the post of ambassador-at-large, along with an independent bipartisan commission to recommend policies. The legislation mandated State publish an annual report that identifies the world's worst persecutors of religious freedom. A 2016 bill empowered the ambassador-at-large to report directly to the secretary of state. Greater awareness has led to results. Many of the persecuted draw courage and receive better treatment because they are not forgotten. Some were even freed from prison, with several high-profile cases in recent years. American Pastor Andrew Brunson, detained on false charges in Turkey for more than two years, finally was released in 2018, in large part thanks to help from the Commission on International Religious Freedom. But problems persisted. Washington didn't begin directing humanitarian aid in Iraq to the Christian and Yazidi communities until 2018--four years after Islamic State destroyed their towns and two years after State officially designated them victims of genocide. The effort to overcome the bureaucratic inertia that slowed aid was considered Vice President Mike Pence's pet project--essentially recognition that it wouldn't have happened if not for his special interest and specific direction. There's always more to do, but the Trump administration has elevated the cause of international religious freedom since the president came into office. The 2017 U.S. National Security Strategy cited violent attacks on religious minorities. In a notable first, the document promised to "place a priority on protecting" such groups. The recent executive order, which applies beyond the Middle East and religious minorities, ensures the NSS pledge will become operational. For example, Nigeria is on the IRFA "special watch list" and will automatically be given priority through a selection of diplomatic tools--from assistance for rights defenders to help improving security for targeted houses of worship and villages. China, a "country of particular concern" because it suppresses all religions, will receive similar treatment. The secretary of state, U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. embassies around the world must produce specific plans to advance religious freedom. They also will carry out educational training in international religious freedom for the Foreign Service and other federal employees. Another important provision appears to take aim at America's previously unconscionable negligence in Iraq by mandating "foreign assistance programs shall ensure that faith-based and religious entities, including eligible entities in foreign countries, are not discriminated against." The order puts teeth in IRFA's listing of severe persecutors by directing the secretaries of state and Treasury to prioritize economic sanctions and visa denials to pressure offending individuals in those countries. It allocates $50 million for new programs to protect religious communities and their culture. Religious freedom remains a salient foreign-policy issue for a simple reason: Billions of people are religious, and many are persecuted. The U.S. has taken an important step toward ensuring it always stands with them. Ms. Shea, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, served on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (1999-2012). Digital.com, a leading independent review website for small business online tools, products and services, has named TeamSupport B2B customer support software to its list of best help desk software solutions for 2020. The guide features 20 top solutions based on customer feedback, pricing, and plan options. According to Digital.com, help desk software is ideal for small businesses that can not afford a dedicated customer service team. Experts for the website evaluated several solutions with capabilities such as a self-service portal to start requests, a ticketing system for teams to sort and prioritize requests, social media integrations and more. TeamSupport and other software options selected for the final list, all offer flexible pricing and platforms that can be customized to meet the needs of each business. When we built TeamSupport it was to fill a gap in the B2B customer support software industry. In other words, helping businesses help their business customers more efficiently and reduce the time it takes to resolve issues," said Robert C. Johnson, CEO, TeamSupport. Were very proud to be recognized on this list. And we look forward to offering new product enhancements in the near future. Digital.com developed this guide to help small businesses and startups make informed decisions about customer service solutions. To access the complete list of top help desk software systems, please visit https://digital.com/blog/help-desk-software/. ABOUT TEAMSUPPORT TeamSupport is an award-winning customer support software company built specifically for the unique needs of B2B (business-to-business) companies. Created by industry experts who lived through the struggles of being a B2B company in a B2C (business-to-consumer) support world, TeamSupport has spent the past decade creating a product to help companies build stronger customer relationships. With an emphasis on streamlined collaboration among teams and built around the entire B2B customer, rather than focused on each individual contact or ticket, TeamSupport stands alone as the leading support software solution created for businesses who need to help other businesses solve problems. ABOUT DIGITAL.COM Digital.com reviews and compares the best products, services, and software for running or growing a small business website or online shop. The platform collects twitter comments and uses sentiment analysis to score companies and their products. Digital.com was founded in 2015 and formerly known as Review Squirrel. To learn more, visit https://digital.com/. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 14:23:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Removing statues of Confederacy, a group of southern U.S. states favouring slavery in the American Civil War, has become a new battlefield, as nationwide protests against racial discrimination have flared in the United States. Furious protesters have rallied in downtown squares, chanted "Black Lives Matter," and toppled dozens of monuments to Confederate politicians and soldiers. A statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in the southeastern U.S. state of Virginia was toppled. Sculptures of Columbus, who stumbled on the Americas in the 15th Century, were not immune to this wave sparked by the death of African American George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis. Floyd was knelt on the neck by a white officer for almost nine minutes before he lost consciousness and stopped breathing. The unexpected wave has not spared statues in the U.S. Capitol. Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressman Bennie Thompson on Thursday introduced a bill that would remove Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol. "Americans in all 50 states and millions of people around the world are marching to protest racism and police violence directed at people of color, and yet across the country, Confederate statues and monuments still pay tribute to white supremacy and slavery in public spaces," Lee said in a statement. Thompson said "we do this in a spirit of racial reconciliation and healing." There are currently 11 statues of people who served in the Confederacy, either as officials or soldiers, displayed in the Capitol complex. The statues are all part of the National Statuary Hall Collection, created in 1864 with a law that allows states to select two statues of deceased individuals to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, on Wednesday called for the removal of the statues. "Monuments to men who advocated cruelty and barbarism to achieve such a plainly racist end are a grotesque affront to these ideals. Their statues pay homage to hate, not heritage. They must be removed," Pelosi wrote in a letter to the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library. President Donald Trump has defended allowing Confederate statues and buildings named after Confederate officials to remain in place. On Wednesday, Trump tweeted he "will not even consider" renaming U.S. Army bases that were named for Confederate figures despite openness from top Pentagon officials to the idea. Thousands of U.S. National Guard troops have been deployed to respond to the raging protests, some of which have deteriorated into violent conflicts. A group of UN human rights experts on Wednesday condemned the violent crackdown on widespread peaceful protests in the United States. In a joint statement, they said that police abuse and excessive use of force during peaceful assemblies is inexcusable at any time but it is especially distressing when demonstrators are precisely calling for accountability on police brutality and systemic racism in policing. "Firing tear gas and beating peaceful protesters does not silence them. It only reaffirms the urgency of the struggle for police reform and racial justice in the United States," the joint statement said. The experts also expressed alarm at the militarization of the crackdown, including the deployment of at least 62,000 National Guard soldiers who are not trained to manage protests. They welcomed measures by authorities in some cities, including Minneapolis, to open dialogue with African-American communities and civil society organizations and respond to their calls to end systemic racism and violence in policing. Indonesian political analyst Irwansyah told Xinhua that the death of Floyd reveals the double standards of Washington. Irwansyah, a lecturer in political science at the University of Indonesia, said that the killing of Floyd was not a rare occurrence in the United States. "This brings people to view such incidents (as) caused by systemic racism which underpins the recurring police brutality incidents," said Irwansyah, adding that racial discrimination lies deep in the country's social, economic and political system and has been acknowledged many times by the government, civil society activists and academics throughout the nation's history, he said. The danger and power of white nationalism and supremacy in U.S. politics, he said, is seemingly concerning and obvious to people around the world. Other kinds of racism and sectarianism also emerge continuously to shape the life of U.S. citizens, he noted. "This indicates the racism problem is not only seriously threatening the daily life of regular people, but also seriously vital to support the power system in the U.S.," he said. Enditem The coronavirus pandemic is accelerating in Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. The WHO's Africa regional director Matshidiso Moeti said it was spreading beyond capital cities and that a lack of tests and other supplies was hampering responses. But she said that it did not seem as if severe cases and deaths were being missed by authorities. So far Africa has been the continent least affected by Covid-19. South Africa had more than a quarter of the reported cases and was seeing high numbers of confirmed cases and deaths in Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces, Dr Moeti told a briefing at WHO headquarters in Geneva. She added that Western Cape was looking similar to recent outbreaks in Europe and the US. The country has one of the most advanced healthcare systems in Africa, but there are fears that a steep rise in cases could overwhelm it. South Africa's government has been praised for its early and decisive imposition of a lockdown, but the easing of restrictions in June has been accompanied by a rise in infections. Overall, there have been more than 7.3 million infections globally and more than 416,000 deaths. Dr Moeti said that Africa had had some 200,000 cases and 5,000 deaths, with 10 countries accounting for 75% of the cases. "Even though these cases in Africa account for less than 3% of the global total, it's clear that the pandemic is accelerating," she said. She warned that cases were likely to continue increasing for the foreseeable future. "Until such time as we have access to an effective vaccine, I'm afraid we'll probably have to live with a steady increase in the region, with some hotspots having to be managed in a number of countries, as is happening now in South Africa, Algeria, Cameroon for example, which require very strong public health measures, social distancing measures to take place," Dr Moeti said. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Police have released the lawyers who were apprehended during a protest in front of the National Assembly today, as Armenian News-NEWS.ams correspondent reported from the scene. Robert Hayrapetyan, one of the lawyers, told reporters that he doesnt think the police actions are lawful, even though the police have drawn up a record on administrative offense for all four lawyers. President of the Public Oversight Center NGO Babken Harutyunyan, who was also apprehended, told reporters the purpose of his and the other lawyers protest is to return the right of citizens to freedom of assembly and stated that extension of the state of emergency is exclusively politically motivated and is aimed at silencing the opposition and suppressing public discontent. A short while ago, police also apprehended the citizens who had gathered in front of the police station after the lawyers were taken to that police station. As reported earlier, lawyers Ruben Melikyan, Robert Hayrapetyan, Armen Galstyan, and Babken Harutyunyan were apprehended while they were protesting in front of the National Assembly, and demanding to permit the holding of peaceful rallies in a state of emergency. These lawyers were standing at a social distance from each other, holdingin their words"solitary actions," emphasizing that they do not violate any restrictions imposed by the Commandant of the state of emergency. However, the police claimed that this action of theirs was a violation of the ban on rallies, and if the demonstrators did not stop it, they would be detained. The National Assembly is currently debating on the government's decision to extend the state of emergency in Armenia for another month. The aforesaid lawyers are urging the MPs to demand, during the debates, that the restrictions on rallies be lifted. A state of emergency has been declared in Armenia since March 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic. And according to the decision of the Commandant, all types of gatherings are prohibited during this period. The Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce will hold a virtual Networking Breakfast from 8-9:30 a.m. June 18. To attend, visit https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8289436490. Connecticut author, PR exec, marks new release Connecticut author and Marine veteran Ron Winter has released his latest work, Victory Betrayed, Operation Dewey Canyon, according to a release. The operation was the last major U.S. Marine battle in the Vietnam War, the release said, and was an overwhelming success for allied forces, preventing communist troops from launching coordinated assaults against South Vietnamese cities for the next two years. Yet, while the Marines and their South Vietnamese counterparts decimated communist forces, even crossing into Laos and taking control of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, forces in the U.S. worked to undermine their victory, prolonging the conflict to the benefit of the North Vietnamese, according to the release. Winter details how American bureaucrats reacted negatively to the Marine victory, the release said, and how Congress then prevented further incursions into Laos or Cambodia. The Marines who fought there deserve recognition for their courage, valor and decisive victory over communism, Winter said in the release. According to the release, Winter served four years in the Marines, including 13 months in Vietnam as a helicopter machine gunner, in HMM-161 and HMM-164, units that flew support for Operation Dewey Canyon. He flew 300 missions and was awarded 15 Air Medals, Combat Air Crew wings, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and other decorations, it said. Winter, a public relations executive with Trumbull-based Michael J. London & Associates, also is available for speaking engagements, the release said. For more information, visit www.ronaldwinterbooks.com. Merkle among Hartford Business Journals 2020 Women in Business honorees Cynthia C. Merkle, president and CEO of Union Savings Bank and chairwoman of the board of directors for the Connecticut Bankers Association, recently was named a winner of Hartford Business Journals 2020 Women in Business awards, according to a release. Merkle was among 15 honored this year. According to Hartford Business Journal, the release said, the award recognizes women who are making a significant difference within their organizations and the community. The honorees are senior level executives and entrepreneurs who demonstrate business savvy, confidence in themselves and their organizations, and a strong track record of professional success. Im truly honored that the readers of Hartford Business Journal nominated me, grateful to the panel of judges, and humbled to receive this important recognition, Merkle said in the release. Im also thrilled to be included with this great group of highly-respected women. The number of women in leadership roles has increased dramatically, but there is more work to be done. Its important to encourage all women especially our youth to set their goals high. This award helps shed some light on this important topic. Merkle also is chairwoman of the board of trustees at Endicott College and vice chairwoman of the board of directors for the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce, the release said. Albertus board gets new members NEW HAVEN Albertus Magnus College is welcoming two new members to its board of trustees, according to a release from the college. Almuna Hope Kingston Cahoon, a partner at KPMGs Stamford office, and Sister Susan Olson, O.P., from the colleges sponsoring congregation, the Dominican Sisters of Peace, joined the board in June for three-year terms, the release said. The presence of Hope and Sister Susan will be welcome and timely, Albertus President Marc M. Camille, Ed.D., said in the release. We have begun the important work of implementing the Colleges new strategic plan, Albertus 2025: Lighting the Way to a Second Century in support of our Growth Mindset, and the experiences of Hope and Sister Susan will complement those of their Board colleagues. Hope and Sister Susan champion what continues to differentiate Albertus: our Catholic identity and Dominican mission that form the core of the values- and liberal arts-based education that for nine decades has prepared graduates for a lifetime of career success and civic engagement. Yawson receives Quinnipiacs James Marshall Award HAMDEN Robert Yawson of Wallingford, associate professor of management at Quinnipiac University, has been named the 2020 recipient of the James Marshall Award for Service to the university community, according to a release. The Faculty Senate created the award following the death of James Marshall, a health management professor, in 2002, it said. I have had the pleasure of working with Robert for the past two years and can attest to his unwavering commitment to the university through his work as a senator and chair of the University Education Committee, Faculty Senate Chairwoman Bernadette Mele, clinical associate professor of diagnostic imaging, said in the release. On behalf of the Faculty Senate, I am honored to have presented this award to Dr. Robert Yawson for his extensive service contributions, particularly the positive impact he has had on peers and students from across the university. Yawson said the award means that your colleagues appreciate what you do. The James Marshall Award is a testament to my humanity and the humanity of us all, Yawson said in the release. I was brought up with the belief that service to fellow humans and society in general, is service to God. Having been born and raised in a communal living society where everyone is the neighbors keeper has instilled in me the value of service and volunteerism. I see service as a valuable and meaningful component of my academic responsibilities, and thus being recognized this way is humbling. LOS ANGELES - A man recently released from jail in Central California was shot and killed at the end of a 36-hour hunt that followed the shooting of a sheriffs deputy and other attacks that wounded three other law enforcement officers. Mason James Lira, 26, was killed Thursday afternoon after he emerged from a brushy riverbed in Paso Robles where hed hidden all night, climbed a steep hillside and ran toward a vineyard, authorities said. He had two stolen handguns and investigators found a box of ammunition, Paso Robles Police Chief Ty Lewis said. He clearly had been planning to attack police, possibly for days, the chief said. The specific motive for the attacks was under investigation but one thing was clear, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said: He did want to shoot law enforcement. Liras father told The Associated Press he thinks the shooting at the police station might have been a suicide attempt. Jose Lira said his son had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, Aspergers syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He said his son has been in and out of jail and treatment centres, didnt take his medication and often thinks he is a special agent or a soldier. He lives in a fantasy world, Jose Lira said. He doesnt have a beef with the police. The series of attacks began before dawn Wednesday when a gunman opened fire on the police station in Paso Robles, a wine and tourist town with little crime. County sheriffs Deputy Nicholas Dreyfus, 28, was hit in the face when he and his partner answered a call for aid. Dreyfus underwent surgery Thursday and was in guarded condition. The attack followed the close-range shooting of a 58-year-old homeless man who was found on some railroad tracks nearby and evidence at the scene linked both shootings to the handguns found in Liras possession, Paso Robles Police Chief Ty Lewis said. I know that the community has felt a lot of angst and a lot of fear, he said. And Im glad that this is finally over. Lira had been released from a jail in the Monterey area on June 3 after being arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats and resisting arrest, Parkinson said. He may have been in the Paso Robles area for a week, and was seen at some local businesses, the police chief said. He is believed to have stolen the handguns in a commercial burglary in San Luis Obispo the day before the police station attack, authorities said. He also may have visited a large crawlspace under a downtown movie theatre that was accessed by a storm drain and may have been the site of a transient camp, Lewis said. Ammunition was found there and Lira may have intended to retrieve some of it for more attacks on police, authorities said. I think ... he intended to continue, Parkinson said. Over the course of the search, Lira opened fire from ambush several times and managed to evade hundreds of law enforcement officers, authorities said. Every time that law enforcement got near to him, he engaged them in gunfire, Lewis said. The search began after the police station attack. Wednesday night, he was spotted again. He hid in an apartment building, fired at officers at a gas station but managed to escape into the riverbed, authorities said. Overnight, police, San Luis Obispo County sheriffs deputies, an FBI SWAT team and other law enforcement surrounded an area of the riverbed where Lira was believed to be hiding. They believed they had contained him and planned to begin a systematic search Thursday, Parkinson said. We knew we had to search a very large area with a very dangerous person and authorities didnt want him escaping into nearby neighbourhoods, he said. But shortly after 2 p.m., Lira came out of hiding and fired at surrounding officers. An Arroyo Grande police sergeant took a bullet through his calf, Parkinson said. Two hours later, he emerged again, crawled up an embankment and up a short but steep hill and began to run to a neighbouring vineyard, the sheriff said. He was shot. During the shooting, Parkinson said a California Highway Patrol officer took a bullet to his protective vest and a Kings County sheriffs deputy who got out of an armoured vehicle to rescue him was shot above the knee, Parkinson said. All three wounded officers were expected to recover, he said. Along with the handguns, a box of ammunition was found, Parkinson said. Authorities had urged family or friends of the suspect to convince him to surrender and avoid further bloodshed. The sheriff said that Lira shot at officers from a distance so they never were able to talk to him to deescalate the situation. This was not by any means a happy ending, Parkinson said. This was not a win. This was an end to something we wish had never happened. The only fortunate thing about it is the community is safe tonight. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal As protesters continue to march in the streets for an end to systemic racism, several New Mexican breweries are doing their part to support the cause. Three local breweries La Cumbre Brewing Co. and Steel Bender Brewyard in Albuquerque and Rowley Farmhouse Ales in Santa Fe have signed on to the Black is Beautiful initiative which challenges breweries to brew their version of a high ABV imperial stout beer named Black is Beautiful. Participating breweries donate proceeds of sales of the stout to legal defense organizations and groups working for police reform. Around 550 breweries across the world have pledged to take part since it was first started by Weathered Souls Brewing Co. in San Antonio, Texas. With all that was going on we wanted to lend a hand, said Rowley Farmhouse Ales owner John Rowley. Rowley said his brewery had plans for a collaboration beer with Weathered Souls prior to the pandemic, so when the initiative began he was already on board. Its the least we can do, he said. Rowley said his establishment will begin the Black is Beautiful brewing process this weekend and he expects it to be available by mid-July. Proceeds from Rowley Farmhouse Ales will go to the Know Your Rights Campaign. La Cumbre president Jeff Erway said his brewery for the most part has intentionally avoided taking political positions. But the recent videos of police brutality and subsequent protests prompted the company to change its stance. We felt as a group that this time called for us to take some kind of position or action, Erway said. Proceeds from La Cumbres Black is Beautiful beer will go to the ACLU of New Mexico, which Erway said he felt would do the most to protect local black communities and protesters rights. Erway said it is important to help protect the rights of protesters to air their grievances and create the type of everlasting change to create a better country for my kids to live in. Erway said the beers 10% ABV (alcohol by volume) will take some time to create and he expects it to be available in late July to early August. Julie Bernard, director of philanthropy for ACLU of New Mexico, said the organization is beyond grateful to La Cumbre Brewing for choosing to donate all of the proceeds from their new Black is Beautiful beer to the ACLU of New Mexico. Bernard said the fight against systemic racism is now more important than ever. Steel Bender will be splitting its batch of Black is Beautiful into two, with some of the beer available this summer. The remaining beer will be barrel-aged for six months and released this winter. This initiative is what were about as a family-owned business and as an industry, supporting equality and celebrating individuality, Steel Bender co-owner Shelby Chant said. Chant said Steel Bender hasnt yet picked an organization to donate profits to, and said she wants those proceeds to have a big impact locally here in our community. The New Mexico Brewers Guild also expressed thanks for the participating breweries. We are so proud of La Cumbre, Rowley Farmhouse Ales and Steel Bender Brewyard for joining in this collaboration, said New Mexico Brewers Guild executive director Leah Black. Black said although many breweries are struggling with little to no sales, the guild would love to challenge all of our members that are able, to get in on this extremely important collaboration. Breweries will be allowed to reopen in a limited capacity beginning Friday. It was a big week for Ken Wyatt. As the only Indigenous voice inside a government attempting to chart a course to reconciliation, he faced more bad news on Aboriginal incarceration rates, anger about black deaths in custody, the destruction of ancient heritage sites all while the Black Lives Matter debate supercharged calls for reform across the country. But can Wyatt, the man who described himself as a "pathfinder", deliver on the hopes of Australia's First Nations' people to deliver an Indigenous Voice? Under pressure: Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt listening as Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during question time on Thursday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Who is he? The son of a railway worker and a woman from the stolen generations who grew up on a mission in WA's south-west, Wyatt shed tears when former prime minister Kevin Rudd delivered the apology on February 13, 2008 to the stolen generations. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11 Trend: The number of coronavirus tests conducted in Azerbaijan has been revealed, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB). As of June 11, 6,622 tests were conducted to detect new cases of infection. In accordance with the data, in general, 362,654 tests were conducted throughout the country. June 10, 2020 Ottawa, Ontario Small businesses are facing unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Canada has introduced a wide range of supports to help businesses pay and retain their employees and keep up with their operating expenses during this difficult time. As different regions and communities across the country begin to ease COVID-19 restrictions, business owners are looking for ways to ensure the health and safety of employees and customers in their stores, shops and offices. Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, announced that the Government of Canada has partnered with the People Outside Safely Together (POST) Promise program, an initiative launched by Canadian private sector organizations to help businesses across the country reopen safely. The POST Promise is a voluntary commitment that business owners and managers can make by following five key public health actions that will help prevent the spread of COVID-19: Maintaining physical distance Washing and sanitizing hands Cleaning and disinfecting regularly Staying home if unwell and self-monitoring for symptoms Practising respiratory etiquette (including wearing a mask when physical distancing is difficult) By displaying the POST Promise logo, participating businesses can reassure customers that they are doing their part to help protect Canadians health and safety. As we take steps toward restarting the economy, the Government will continue to work with POST Promise to ensure its platform provides businesses with accurate and up-to-date health and safety guidelines. A. Naomi Paik, a professor of Asian American studies at Illinois, studies policing and prisons as part of her research. Credit: Asian American studies department at Illinois It's an idea that sounds radical and impractical to many who hear it: We should defund, dismantle or even abolish the police. But it quickly entered mainstream discussion following the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police. A. Naomi Paik is a professor of Asian American studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who studies police and prisons, and co-edited a history journal issue on policing that went online last week. Paik spoke with News Bureau social sciences editor Craig Chamberlain. Whether the intent is partial defunding, a true end to policing as it now exists, or something in between, what are the central ideas driving this? While many people are hearing it for the first time, the idea of abolishing the police is not new. It has been built over decades by organizers, many of them black feminists. These organizers have amassed research showing that the role of police is not about safety, but about social control in a society that excludes and exploits entire classes of peopleblack, Indigenous immigrants, workers and so on. Their research has also shown how we got herewith massive buildups of policing and incarceration over decades as solutions to seemingly every social problem. These investments have accompanied the massive disinvestment from institutions of shared well-being like public education and public health. Defunding schools has become normal, and health care workers don't have PPE. Responding to people who wonder "what about rapists and murderers," abolitionists note that pouring more resources into policing hasn't significantly reduced conflict and harm, and police still do not prevent or solve many murders and rapes. We are investing in solutions that don't work. Modest reforms to reduce police violence, like community policing or body cameras, do not work. Abolitionists seek to reverse the trend of the last 50 years by divesting from police, which now gobble up ever greater shares of our cities' budgets. They wish to reinvest those resources into community well-being, which would improve public safety by meeting everyday needs for housing, health care, food, education and the likewell before a crisis that seemingly requires police intervention. This presence of resources and relationships, not just the absence of harmful institutions like police, is central. A lodestar for abolitionists is not just about getting rid of police, but of creating a society where police are no longer necessary. The journal issue looks at alternatives to policing in various times and places through history. What does that history show us? It shows that a world without police is not shocking. Modern policeinstitutionalized, quasi-military forces employed by the statedid not emerge until the 19th century. It also illuminates police as fundamentally tied to maintaining social order as defined by unequal power relationships. In the U.S., modern police were born in part from slave patrols that enforced a society built on chattel slavery. In Brazil, police emerged to fight against maroon communities, or "quilombos," of black and Indigenous people. History also shows concrete ways people have lived together without police. Examples from medieval England show how ground-level community relations mitigated the harsh retributions demanded by elites to control theft. Even after the emergence of modern police, people in contingent times and places carved out social relations that did not require and even opposed formal police. In colonial India, for example, rural communities evaded British police forces, much to the colonizers' frustration. They instead relied on preexisting systems of trackers and communal justice to deal with the problem of cattle theft. The quilombo communities in Brazil were living together, not without social conflicts, but without police. But their existence beyond state control made them a target for police destruction. Even as the police continue to target black and Indigenous Brazilians, the legacy of quilombos continues in the activist organizing creating a world without police, like that of Reaja ou sera Morto/a. The protests in response to Floyd's death have been global. Why do you think that's significant? Problems of policing are not isolated to the U.S. They are a global problem. The multitudes of people protesting worldwide are grieving and raging against the murders of George Floyd and so many others in the U.S., as well as those in their own countries. As here, those victims have come from disempowered and oppressed communitiesblack, Indigenous, Arab, Asian, Muslim, noncitizens and asylum seekers. As here, the people subjected to policing in many of these countries have inherited legacies of colonialism, worker exploitation and other unequal power relationships, and understand policing as a means of social control used against them. It's no surprise that as part of these uprisings, we've seen statues of slave traders and colonizers in Europe, and of Confederate generals and Christopher Columbus in the U.S., ripped from their pedestals. These actions connect these inherited histories with the police violence many people experience today. An enterprising drug trafficker allegedly tried to smuggle drugs into the country hidden in bottles of makeup remover. Australian Border Force officials seized 1.6kgs of liquid methylamphetmine after intercepting a package in Western Australia. A 41-year-old man has been arrested on the New South Wales Central Coast on trafficking charges An enterprising drug trafficker tried to smuggle drugs into the country hidden in bottles of makeup remover Police arrested the man at a unit on Albany Street, Point Frederick, south of Gosford at about 9.30am on Thursday. Australian Border Force officials seized 1.6kgs of liquid methylamphetmine after intercepting a package in Western Australia After searching his home they allegedly found several mobile phones, laptops and a number of unidentified clear liquids in bottles. The drugs had been concealed in bottles resembling a popular brand of micellar cleansing water, an eye makeup remover. He was taken to Woy Woy Police Station and charged with importing and supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, The man was refused bail after an appearance at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday. He will face Gosford Local Court on Friday 8 August. Border Force officials launched Strike Force Bocci last month to investigate the illegal importing of the liquid methylamphetamine. Investigations are ongoing. SPRINGFIELD - A large crucifix from the now closed St. Francis Chapel on Bridge Street in downtown has found a new home on a wall of a meeting room in the Bishop Marshall Center that is part of nearby St. Michaels Cathedral. The depiction of the crucified Christ, within a striking raised gold border, appears to be a modern inspiration of what is known as the San Damiano Cross, an icon that St. Francis is said to have prayed before as a young man at a church in San Damiano near Assisi, Italy. It does not depict an alert Christ, as is the tradition of the San Damiano Cross, but an eternal endurance through the stretch of the arms and two fingers raised on each hand, both in blessing and as symbol of the figures divine and human nature. The cross hung for decades in the chapel that is located within a three-story building the Springfield Diocese recently put up for sale. Built by the diocese and part of St. Michaels parish, it was originally staffed by Capuchin Franciscan priests from the time it opened in 1959 until 2000, when the order no longer had enough priests to staff it and it closed for four years before being reopened by the diocese. The Rev. Monsignor Christopher D. Connelly, parish rector, said the chapels history serving the citys downtown as well as the association of the cross with a popular series that started there and is connected to the Catholic devotion of attending Mass on the first Friday of every month is what prompted him to have the cross re-hung in the Marshall Centers meeting room. It was, Connelly said, more than 35 years ago that Springfield Mayor William C. Sullivan, William A. Collins, owner of Collins Electric, and other dedicated Springfield Catholics established a First Friday Mass and Speaker series at the chapel. On the First Friday of each month, downtown business people and other Catholics from Springfield and beyond would gather for morning Mass, a light breakfast and to listen to a speaker, Connelly said. Each month the invited speaker would offer insights on a topic of interest. The First Friday tradition continued on Bridge Street until the Franciscan community which staffed the chapel was reassigned. At that time, the First Friday Mass, breakfast and speaker series was relocated to Saint Michaels Cathedral and has continued there ever since. He added, For all of us with ties to the chapel, the placement of the crucifix in the Bishop Marshall Center is a fitting reminder of the chapel and of all the faithful who found spiritual comfort there. Having the crucifix at the Bishop Marshall Center is a vivid connection to the First Friday Masses which began there (at the chapel) and continue at the cathedral, Connelly said. Additionally, those who worshiped at the chapel and were inspired by the imposing crucifix still have access to it in its present location. Over 30 years ago, the chapel was renovated under the direction of Mr. Roy Jarrett, president of New England Church Interiors, a Springfield businessman who died last year. At the time of the renovation, the crucifix was installed on a side wall, prominently featured near the sanctuary. Connelly said that former Mayor Sullivan who was so instrumental in the founding of the downtown Springfield First Friday group, is now a resident at the Holyoke Soldiers Home and remains keenly interested in the ongoing success of the First Fridays" that begin with 7:30 a.m. Mass at the cathedral followed by a light breakfast and speaker in the Marshall Center. The cross is not the only religious artwork to find a new home in the center. Its cloister gallery connecting with the cathedral features stained glass windows from former Holy Family Church. It was reopened by then-Bishop Timothy McDonnell in 2004 and for a time it also served as home to the dioceses Catholic Charities and Latino Ministry offices. Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan has asked aggrieved members of the New Patriotic Party to use the appropriate mechanism in dealing with their grievances. He bemoaned a recent development in the party where some NPP members rained curses on executives for suspending their preferred candidates; saying that is not the nature of the NPP. Some party members a few days ago undertook various forms of protest over reports that their preferred aspirant had been disqualified. Armed with eggs and bottles of Schnapps, some of the agitators carried placards and called out the names of some people who were on the vetting committee and invoked curses on them. Expressing surprise at the act, Kwamena Duncan during a panel discussion on Peace FM morning show 'Kokrokoo' asked executives of the party 'not to take it lightly'. He also urged party members not to tarnish the image of President Akufo-Addo and give 'ammunition' to the opposition party. Listen to him in the video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Varanasi, June 12 : Wishing that face masks, sanitizers, hand wash or any other corona-related items are available under one roof! Head for Corona Mall in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This unique 'Corona Mall', in Sigra area of Varanasi, has all the items to guard against Covid-19. People consider it turning adversity into opportunity. Due to its unique name, this mall remains a topic of discussion across the city. Ashok Singh, the Corona Mall operator, told IANS, "To allay the fear of corona in the minds of people, we have got the whole range of infection-prevention equipment under one roof. Earlier, people had to run for masks, 'gamcha', soap and sanitizers to various places to protect themselves from corona. To mitigate the problems, we have now changed our 'Chota Mall' into 'Corona Mall'. Unlike any other mall we have all the items required to guard against corona infection available in this mall." Image Source: IANS News He said the mall has been open for a week now and people don't have to fear overcrowding. People like it for they find at this place everything that is needed to protect oneself against corona, he added. "High-tech machines such as tunnel machine, automatic sanitizer machine, thermal scanner and many other items are available in this mall which are effective in protecting people from corona," Singh said, adding that attractive masks, hand gloves, face covers and a large variety of sanitizers are available here. They include colourful and fancy masks for children as well as adults. Image Source: IANS News Avnish, a customer at the Corona Mall, said, "Earlier there was a lot of trouble getting masks and sanitizers. One would fear that the items might be fake but now in this mall all such fears are allayed." Mukid, a Varanasi resident said, "In a very short time, Corona Mall has become quite famous. The best thing is getting all branded goods here which is helpful in fighting the virus." Image Source: IANS News -- Syndicated from IANS Reversing course just two days after news reports sparked a social media backlash, Starbucks says it will now allow employees to wear T-shirts and accessories in support of Black Lives Matter. "We see you. We hear you. Black Lives Matter. That is a fact and will never change," the company said in a letter posted Friday. "This movement is a catalyst for change, and right now, it's telling us a lot of things need to be addressed so we can make space to heal." Earlier this week, and first reported by BuzzFeed, the company turned down a request from baristas and other employees who wanted to show their support for the BLM movement. In a memo to its 250,000-member workforce, Diversity Officer Zing Shaw said "there are agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the Black Lives Matter movement - and in certain circumstances, intentionally repurpose them to amplifying divisiveness." The decision sparked backlash on social media, including calls to boycott the company, and came just days after Starbucks had issued a "Black Lives Matter" statement of solidarity and committed $1 million to racial justice groups as protests broke out across the country following the death of George Floyd, a black man, in police custody. On Friday, in a posting signed by Shaw, Chief Operating Officer Roz Brewer and Executive Vice President Rossann Williams, the company said it is producing T-shirts with "Black Lives Matter" and other slogans for staff in the United States and Canada to "demonstrate our allyship and show we stand together in unity." Employees, which the company refers to as "partners," will have the option to wear them while working. A company spokeswoman declined to say what exactly prompted the reversal - whether it was two days of social media calls for boycotts against the coffee chain or the current unrest in Seattle, the company's home base and where protests have led to an activist takeover of a four-block, police-free autonomous zone. Hailey Glick, who has worked as a Starbucks barista in Raleigh, N.C., since September, said she learned of the initial denial of BLM attire through an unofficial employee Facebook group. She said she initially thought the company was simply applying its official dress code policy, which prohibits personal accessories that advocate for a political, religious or personal issue - until her co-workers pointed out that the company sends employees shirts, cups and other merchandise to wear while on the clock during Pride Month. "If we can stand up for LGBTQ rights, why can't we stand up for black lives and people of color?" she said. Glick's manager knew she attended protests in Raleigh and was supportive, she said, but that might not be the case at stores in other cities. "I was very pleased with the reversal of the decision, and I think it's the right move. The only thing that I think makes me hesitate and probably makes the company hesitate too is how and where we draw the line," Glick said. "What's to stop someone wearing a MAGA hat or a MAGA shirt or a MAGA pin? I think what it ultimately comes down to is our values as a company." Bryant Simon, a historian at Temple University who wrote a book about Starbucks and American culture in 2009, said the company's initial position was a "particular Starbucks dance." The reversal, he said, came as a surprise. "Lots of mass companies with a really big audience don't want to have a public political statement and alienate their audience," he said. "They can't be Ben & Jerry's. They're just too big of a company for that. Their audience is too big, their investments are too big, their stores are in too many places for them to make a statement as strong as Ben & Jerry's did." What's tricky about Starbucks, Simon said, is that it markets its "third place" for customers (after home and work) without embracing the political discussion that comes with public spheres. It's not just about the coffee. "A kind of political presence has always been part of Starbucks proposition, the idea that they could make a difference in the world," he said. "You're buying some kind of identity, and that identity has a politics to it, but that's something that is kind of a slippery slope when you're a mass company." It's not the first time the company has been in the spotlight for racial issues. When a female employee at a Philadelphia Starbucks store called the police on two black men sitting inside in April 2018, protests and a legal battle with the city's police department thrust the company into reckoning with racial bias on a larger corporate scale. The company closed more than 8,000 of its U.S. stores the following month for an afternoon of anti-bias training. Christina Chang, a diversity and equity consultant in Seattle, said she often uses that case in her anti-bias workshops with predominantly white groups as an example of how institutionalized racism shows up in day-to-day life. "In the midst of everything of that's happened, they are still so flat-footed," she said. "How is that possible? The reason it's possible is that at the end of the day, you still don't have diversity at the top. You still don't have people of color with different experiences who will sit down with them and say, 'Hey that's not cool.'" Simon said he thinks that the company's quick reversal is a case study for how the broader American public has mostly changed its attitude toward the Black Lives Matter movement. Responses to the company's quick reversal has been nuanced, ranging from applause and returning customers, to those who have now pledged to buy their coffee elsewhere rather than be served by a barista in a Black Lives Matter shirt, to racial justice activists who feel the company's response was disingenuous and too little, too late. "In this moment, when everybody is waking up, and for Starbucks to do this . . . it's unforgivable," Chang said. "No, we do not stop boycotting Starbucks. . . . They have struck out." Starbucks suffered a $3 billion hit to revenue since the pandemic began sweeping across the United States in March, forcing the company to temporarily shutter half of its 8,000 company-owned U.S. stores for nearly two months. Glick said that during that time, Starbucks sent employees surveys to fill out about how their communities were affect ed by the pandemic and what local organizations were working to address those needs, which resulted in company donations. She said she's expecting to receive a similar survey in response to racial injustice protests and the Black Lives Matter movement. But Chang isn't hopeful that the company culture will change until its board, leadership and store management reflects the racial and gender diversity of the country. "The only way it's every going to change is if we actually have representation at the top," she said. "Not tokenism, not, 'Oh we hired a chief diversity officer' so we're done." In the first few months of 2020, the spread of a global pandemic, the resultant health policy response, and then the economic consequences of both, created an incredible cataclysm in our world. The COVID-19 Pandemic, and the policy response to it, have fractured everything we knew as normal. Long-standing tensions and social distancing have collided to throw our world into disarray leaving business leaders to search for the new normal while re-assessing their business. This Pandemic Fracture has given rise to 5 Shifts that will shape our future. Understanding these 5 Shifts will allow business leaders to guide their companies to success and resiliency in the coming years. The COVID-19 Pandemic has fractured the business world. Understanding the shifts that have occurred because of this fracture will prepare you to lead your business to success. The defining feature of the 2020s was not even known six months ago. No one had heard of COVID-19 or social distancing. In the first few months of 2020, the spread of a global pandemic, the resultant health policy response, and then the economic consequences of both, created an incredible cataclysm in our world. Our families and our livelihoods have been disrupted. The normal that we knew in both our personal and professional world has been thrown into disarray. Fortunately, now a few months into the pandemic disruption, we can begin to refocus our attention on the future. Newport LLC partners have been discussing the ramifications of the pandemic. No one has ever been through anything quite like this, but Newport partners have navigated through many challenging situations. Collectively, we have been through booms and busts, in all kinds of different industries and businesses. With this experience base, Newport partners deliver the insights that will drive the actions needed to achieve the right results for your business. Newport has previously outlined a three-part framework for guiding your business through the Pandemic Fracture. In the first phase Stabilize the emphasis was on triage with a focus on cash, costs, and communications. Then in the Restart phase, the emphasis expanded to include employees, customers, and operations. Next, the focus turns to the future and the actions needed to build success and resiliency in a new world. For this Success and Resiliency phase, Newport has developed insights to help business leaders navigate their way to the future: The Pandemic Fracture 5 Shifts that Shape our Future. As you move your business toward success and resiliency, keep in mind these points. First, you should be asking what has changed, and is that change temporary or permanent. Ask that question early and often because the difference is critical. More importantly, remember that your answer may change over time. What seemed like a temporary change last month may look more permanent today as the recovery horizon extends into the future. Second, understand that all the forces of change that were acting on your business before the pandemic are still in play, but are now acting with ferocious intensity at incredible speed. The Pandemic Fracture might have temporarily pushed a few things to the side, but those issues did not go away. The old issues are still there, and in a disrupted world, they are more powerful than ever. Third, successful business leaders will equip their company to survive and thrive in the new normal. To do this you must keep the prospective of your customers, employees, community, and investors top of mind. The expectations of each of these stakeholders has likely changed over the last few months, and you need to prepare for the future, not the past. Here are the 5 Shifts: The first Shift is Social Distancing & Norms. This is actually the only new force at play. Remember, only a few months ago, no one had even heard of social distancing. Now, this shock wave is the driving force in our interactions with each other. Our society has gone through something on an evolution around the notion of social distancing, but these practices are beginning to become the norm. Face masks, limited gatherings and physical interactions, new expectations around health and safety. These are all a permanent feature of our lives for at least the rest of this year, and maybe longer. These changes, while assumed to be temporary, have profound implications for our lives, behaviors, and attitudes, and therefor for your business. Here is where the question of what is permanent and what is temporary is especially important. The answer will have important impacts on what your customers want, how you interact with them, and how your brand will be perceived. Next, these new social norms are helping create a new Social Compact for Work. Business has always existed within societal norms. The working conditions common at the beginning of the 20th century were not acceptable at the beginning of the 21st century. There have been slow changes in societal ideas about work for decades. Work/life balance, compensation and benefits, worker safety, loyalty and advancement, and leave policies are all examples of trends that have been around for years. Now, all of those ideas are in flux and must be urgently reconsidered in light of both the health and economic consequences of the pandemic. These new societal expectations and requirements affect business. Just consider the rules and expectations that the government has attached to economic stimulus plans, or the re-opening guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, or state and local governments. Then add the challenge of ensuring that employees, customers, and suppliers all feel safe in your workplace. And dont forget the issues around attracting, retaining, and developing key talent. Addressing these issues will likely add costs and complexity to your business. Change will play out over several years, but the details around these topics, and our collective attitudes toward all of them, are critical drivers of your future success as you compete in the new normal. This is a good time to revisit and re-tune your business model to best fit the new expectations. Next there is Digitization and e-Commerce. These concepts are not new, but trends and practices that were slowly building speed have now reached escape velocity. Your business needs to get on board or be left behind. We can already see that those businesses with an on-line presence, whether retailers or restaurants or manufacturers, have fared better than those who didnt. Customer preferences and expectations have changed. Now is the time for a reassessment of your customer promise and brand position. The trend toward digitization and e-commerce not only has implications for your business model, but also for your stance toward technology. Technology infrastructure, security, and capability will be critical elements of the success of all businesses in the future. Technology will need to be a key part of both your business model and your strategy. A new focus on Agility and Resiliency leads to a reassessment and re-ordering of business models and asset values. The news cycle is full of predictions about what businesses or assets will lose value and what others will gain. Its too soon to know the exact outcome, but the way we value things today is different from how we did that a few months ago. There will be winners and losers. You need to consciously act to position your business to be a winner. That requires agility. Resiliency has become a new business buzzword, and with good reason. Over the last few months we have seen that some businesses are far more resilient than others. It is those businesses that are poised to capture the opportunity presented by the pandemic fracture. There is a new business calculus required to balance cost and efficiency against resilience. The answer will be different for each business, but the focus on agility and resiliency is key. The implications for your brand, business model, and financial viability are hugely important. Finally, there is a Rethinking of Global vs Local. After decades of moving into a globalized world, there is retrenchment. For example, the pandemic exposed the interdependent nature of a global supply chain. We saw the consequences of asking a supply chain to do something that it was not designed to do. We also saw how geopolitical tensions and actions can break a supply chain. As noted above, what was designed for low cost and efficiency, didnt always provide resiliency. Now there is a rethinking of what should be local and what should be global. Regardless of the outcome of that debate, your business may be affected. But beyond supply chains, we have seen a rethinking of the role of the local, state, federal, and international elements in every business. And much of this rethinking has been messy. Local leaders disagree with state or federal leaders about policy direction or actions. The states and the federal government often seem to have different priorities. Business leaders are caught in the middle. Here is where building for resiliency will be critical to your future success. These 5 Shifts will each affect your business. Unfortunately, you cant just pick one Shift or deal with each sequentially. As a business leader, your challenge is to successfully navigate through all 5 Shifts in real-time. That is not an easy task, but by recognizing and directly addressing the 5 Shifts of the Pandemic Fracture, you will be well-positioned to lead your business to success and resiliency in the years to come. Lynn Lednicky is a partner in the Houston office of Newport LLC. Nothing I can think of better illustrates why our schools perform so poorly than the do no harm grading policy pushed by some school officials. There is no appetite among many of our education and political leaders to require what is necessary to achieve excellence in our schools. The theory behind this policy is that students should get a passing grade even if they didnt do their work during the COVID-19 shutdown. Grades are supposed to tell the student, their parents and, eventually, others what the student achieved. The circumstances are irrelevant. Honest grades give an accurate picture. The current circumstances are not the students or anyone elses fault. But life is full of circumstances beyond ones control that affect ones quest for some goal. Overcoming such obstacles is what makes us strong and ready to lead consequential lives. And that should be the goal of educators. Do not protect young people from difficulties; guide them through the process of conquering those difficulties. That is going to require extra school time for many. Sad, but better than going into the world unprepared. Your May 28 article, Some SC schools using do no harm grading during pandemic, sparking teacher frustrations, said some school officials did not want to punish students by holding them accountable. If they really loved these kids, they would understand that punishment is denying them the thrill of accomplishment by not holding them accountable. I spent 10 years as chairman of the S.C. Public Charter School District, trying to move our education system toward an insistence on excellence. I can tell you from personal experience that very few in the education establishment, Legislature, governors office or local school boards are willing to make the hard decisions necessary to achieve excellence. There is plenty of impressive talk, and they will throw some money around, but the will to take the risks involved in fighting entrenched interests is simply not there. Until that changes, we will continue to nibble at the margins while failing another generation of our young people. DON McLAURIN Former chairman, S.C. Charter School District Water Street Charleston COVID-19 culture Why dont we all just wear masks? It has become clear over the past month that the spread of COVID-19 in Charleston is nothing like that of Manhattan (about 500 cases so far versus almost 23,000). I would like to attribute this mainly to how rural our state is compared to New York. But if everyone wore a made-at-home mask without touching their faces and stayed at least 6 feet from others while outside their home, then we could all be protected. So why is it that in Charleston I walk to the pharmacy or grocery and see only a few other masked people? What is it about wearing masks that has intelligent, freedom-loving U.S. citizens ignoring recommendations from the government and health care organizations like the CDC? After reflection, I choose to believe it is mainly a desire to return to normalcy. And it is absolutely natural to desire a return to normal. But cant we make it normal that we protect ourselves and those we love? As a clinical medical student at MUSC who returned from quarantine to the hospital on May 18, I would like to ask the community to enjoy a new normalcy, one in which we wear masks outside of our homes and continue to practice social distancing. Consider the elderly, hospital staff and your own grandparents. See the CDCs website for an easy tutorial on how to make your own. CAROLYN PETERSEIM Cannon Street Charleston Riots hurt protests Public demonstrations here and throughout the country have, unintentionally perhaps, tragically undermined the original purpose. Those who wish to continue these demonstrations must clearly know that their actions draw malcontents, anarchists and looters. It is the sole purpose of these terrorists and terrorists they are to destroy, loot private and public property and cause bodily harm to innocent citizens, not to mention firefighters and police whose duty is to protect and defend. The protesters continued demonstrations at this point are convincing evidence that they themselves can be labeled part and parcel of the destruction brought on by these malcontents. Its time to allow the wheels of justice to turn until they do their job. All too pungent are the words chiseled in stone at the Charleston County Courthouse: Where Law Ends, Tyranny Begins. Truer words applied to current events cannot be found. THOMAS P. LOWNDES JR. Blackstrap Retreat Mount Pleasant By Anna Watanabe, KYODO NEWS - Jun 12, 2020 - 22:57 | World, All, Coronavirus Tourism operators, would-be travelers and politicians alike are becoming increasingly frustrated as a date for the return to quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand remains uncertain amid the coronavirus pandemic. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern in early May flagged the possibility of creating a so-called "trans-Tasman travel bubble" across the Tasman Sea that separates the two countries. However, a start to the bubble is being held back, partly due to domestic travel restrictions remaining within Australia. "Let's not restrain the movement between our two countries based on the slowest state in Australia," New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters told Australia's Nine television network on Wednesday. Peters was referring to states such as Queensland and Western Australia that still have hard border closures in place. New Zealand recorded zero active coronavirus cases and lifted all virus-related restrictions at the beginning of June. However, Peters conceded that international travel must "go at Australia's speed." Australians and New Zealanders typically spent billions of dollars in each other's country every year, and with New Zealand's economy forecast to contract by almost 9 percent, Wellington is especially keen to restart flights. Morrison on Friday encouraged state and territory leaders to lift interstate travel restrictions, by dangling the lucrative carrot of allowing international students back into the country on a "pilot basis." "If you want to open up borders for international students, then you have to open up borders for Australians," he told a press conference after meeting with them. Related coverage: Virus job losses see Australians set up "take what you need pantries" New Zealand lifts state of emergency as virus cases decrease Australia aims to reopen economy by July via phased easing of curbs Coffee and burgers on order as New Zealand eases coronavirus restrictions Morrison previously suggested that trans-Tasman travel would restart once all domestic travel restrictions were lifted. However, industry heads say travel could occur on a state-by-state basis. "Most flights (to New Zealand) come in and out of Sydney and Melbourne. The Gold Coast is quite a hub, but if Queensland's not open," trans-Tasman travel can still take place, said Ann Sherry, co-chair of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum which submitted a blueprint for the resumption of travel to both countries' governments. Sherry told Kyodo News that after consulting multiple industry and government bodies, ANZLF was confident a safe return to travel could begin by mid-July. However, she admitted if the Australian government wants to be more conservative, flights may begin as late as September. Sherry said the recommendations put forward by ANZLF, which include incentives to encourage individuals not to fly if they become sick after purchasing a ticket, are scalable and could potentially be used in discussions with other countries when further travel routes reopen. "New Zealand is step one, and then we're looking at who is step two, three, four," Sherry said, adding that travel to Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore will be determined by virus management and case numbers. "Everyone is watching each other's COVID-management and their plans and what their numbers look like, and I think that's going to be what determines the order of reopening travel." On Tuesday, Ardern said New Zealand is keen to extend travel to southwest Pacific island nations after routes with Australia have been established. Tourism-dependent Pacific island nations have pleaded with Australia and New Zealand to be included in the travel bubble. The region is particularly vulnerable to the global travel shutdown with tourism comprising almost 90 percent of the Cook Islands gross domestic product, for example. For Niue and Vanuatu, tourism accounts for about 40 percent of gross domestic product. "We're in ground zero since borders closed," Chris Cocker, CEO of the Pacific Tourism Organization in Fiji, said. "With my experience of 20-25 years in the tourism industry, this is the worst crisis we've ever come across. Compared to SARS, tsunamis and natural disasters, they come and hit and go. This is lingering on." Cocker said tourism from Australia and New Zealand accounts for half of all arrivals to the Pacific region, meaning that even if travel from Asia, North America and Europe did not begin until 2021, the $3.8 billion region-wide industry, would survive. The southwest Pacific has largely avoided the worst of the pandemic with cases recorded only in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, New Caledonia and French Polynesia. Cocker admits weighing the health and safety concerns against economic concerns is now "the biggest debate" in Pacific nations as leaders jealously protect their COVID-free status. "Some of our island countries just don't have the medical facilities as well as the preventative measures or protective measures to protect our countries from visitors that might import COVID-19," he said. Without a confirmed return to travel between Australia and New Zealand, Cocker said it's difficult for business owners and the over 130,000 people employed in the industry to plan for a restart to local tourism. In other words, everyone must go at Australia's speed. Gentlemens clubs are taking measures to protect guests as the country reopens but are they enough to strip away their customers fears? The nations strip clubs, as largely non-essential businesses, were forced to close or rethink their operations after the coronavirus health crisis began to grip the nation earlier this year. But while some found new ways to keep workers employed like the one in Portland that pivoted to food delivery and drive-thru pole dances most were completely devastated by the shutdown. WYOMING STRIP CLUB CELEBRATES REOPENING WITH MASKS ON, CLOTHES OFF PARTY We went to zero cash flow within a matter of weeks, coming from a period when business was doing extremely well, said Ryan Carlson, the director of operations at Deja Vu Services Inc., a Las Vegas-based company that operates roughly 200 strip clubs in 40 states and six countries. From a business standpoint, this was devastating, not just due to the immediate lack of cash flow, but the inability to continue paying our teams that are the lifeblood of our business," he told FOX Business. "There is nothing worse than having to tell your employees that they have to fend for themselves for an indefinite amount of time. Entertainers suffered just as much because of sex worker discrimination by all levels of government, he said. In many cases, dancers were prohibited from participating in government aid programs. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER In New York, the manager of NYCs two FlashDancers locations estimated the loss of potential income to be somewhere in the seven-figure range. It would be worse, he said, if Flashdancers didnt own the real estate that houses its clubs. We have had a tremendous amount of current, former and new applicants contacting us daily about reopening, said Bob, who declined to provide his surname. We have hundreds of employees who are eager to get back to work. Unlike New Yorks clubs, however, some of Deja Vus locations in a handful of states, including California, Arizona, Texas and Florida, have been able to reopen, Carlson said. The management at those clubs is also aggressively implementing enhanced safety procedures one might expect at a theme park, including a requirement for masks of all employees, hourly deep-cleanings, new hand sanitizer dispensers and strictly enforced social distancing in high-traffic areas. Story continues While we do not require guests to wear masks, we strongly encourage that practice and do provide complimentary masks, said Carlson, who added that some states require additional procedures, of which Deja Vus clubs consistently comply. And yet, social-distancing protocol doesnt extend to the clubs lap dances at least not in states that have outright forbidden them via mandated COVID-19 guidelines. Lap dances will always exist until the end of time, said Carlson, who said the practice largely continues as normal in states with no restrictions against it. The government cannot easily -- or rightfully -- prohibit two consenting individuals from engaging in a lawful business transaction, he said. To that end, one of Deja Vus clubs in Las Vegas, Little Darlings, is advertising Coronavirus-Free Lap Dances to lure customers, which, as Carlson explains, are just normal lap dances, albeit performed by dancers that have undergone temperature checks upon arriving at work. The club also jokingly teases Nude Hand Sanitizer Wrestling (performed in normal lubricant not in hand sanitizer), as part of its efforts to regain clientele. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Meanwhile, Bob with FlashDancers is hoping his dancers, too, will be able to perform lap dances once businesses are given the OK to resume, although he said its not his decision to make. It all depends on the NYC guidelines imposed, said Bob, who confirmed that FlashDancers will abide by any new mandates, but would prefer to offer lap dances performed by mask-less dancers upon reopening. We would rather do temperature checks upon entrance, he said. CLICK HERE FOR FOX NEWS' CONTINUING CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE Despite the uncertainty, there may be good news for clubs facing the same rough road ahead. According to Carlson, nearly every club that Deja Vu reopened is doing just as well as they were pre-coronavirus, and two have broken their one-week sales records since welcoming back customers and Carlson sees it as a testament to the industrys safety standards. We endure greater scrutiny than virtually any other industry except medicine and banking, so you can expect that we will religiously follow all CDC guidelines and go above and beyond for our guests safety, Carlson said. Strippers are undoubtedly part of the fabric of American life, and have proven themselves recession-resistant time and time again. Related Articles Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's campaign published an open letter to Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday, calling for the company to fact-check politicians' ads in the two weeks ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November. The letter also demanded that Facebook promptly remove false, viral information and that there be clear rules "applied to everyone, including Donald Trump that prohibit threatening behavior and lies about how to participate in the election." In a blog post, Facebook said it would continue to protect political speech. "We live in a democracy, where the elected officials decide the rules around campaigns," the company said. The Biden campaign's move adds to pressure on Facebook, which exempts politicians' content from its third-party fact-checking program, to alter its rules on political ads and speech. Zuckerberg last week promised a review of Facebook's content policies after the company faced backlash over taking no action on a post by Republican President Trump that was labeled by Twitter Inc for violating that company's rules on glorifying violence. Twitter also for the first time last month used a fact-checking label on a tweet by Trump about mail-in ballots, causing him to accuse the company of censorship. "The American people can think for themselves. They dont want big tech companies telling them how to think," said Tim Murtaugh, a spokesman for Trump campaign, in response to the Biden letter. In its blog post, Facebook said: "Two weeks ago the President of the United States issued an executive order directing Federal agencies to prevent social media sites from engaging in activities like fact-checking political statements. "This week, the Democratic candidate for President started a petition calling on us to do the exact opposite," it said, referring to an executive order that aimed to scrap or weaken a law that shields internet companies from liability for users' content. Biden, who previously clashed with Facebook when it refused to take down a Trump ad he said contained false claims about his son Hunter's dealings with Ukraine, has also called for the law, known as Section 230, to be revoked. On Thursday, the Biden campaign emailed supporters asking them to sign a petition for Facebook to crack down on misinformation in ads. It also used the hashtag #MOVEFASTFIXIT, a play on Facebook's early "move fast and break things" motto. Social media companies have long been under pressure to police election-related content, particularly after U.S. intelligence officials said the sites were used in a Russian campaign to influence the 2016 presidential election, a claim denied by Moscow. Australia should stop pointing finger at China's responsible reminders: FM Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/11 18:08:41 The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged the Australian side to recognize its problem and address it rather than point fingers at the Chinese government, which is being responsible in reminding its citizens to pay attention to safety. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared that Australia will not surrender its values in response to "coercion" from China, adding that Australia provides the best tourism and education products in the world. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying underlined that China's travel and education alerts, based on sufficient evidence, are reminders for tourists and Chinese students to take note of the risks and arrange their plans accordingly. This is the obligation of any responsible government to protect its citizens' legal rights and interests. Where does the "coercion" come from? Hua asked. Acts of discrimination and violence have been reported on Australian media and the Chinese Embassy in Australia has received complaints and people asking for help. If Australia fails to or dares not recognize the obvious evidence, where does its confidence (in tourism and education products) come from? Hua said. "We urge the Australian side to face up to the problem and reflect on itself and take actual measures to guarantee the safety and rights of Chinese citizens in Australia," Hua noted. Amid the escalation in racist attacks against Chinese and other Asians in Australia, including verbal slurs and violent assaults, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a travel alert on June 5. The Chinese Ministry of Education followed by releasing an alert, warning students not to travel or return to Australia due to racism and the COVID-19 pandemic. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gwyneth Paltrow has been self-isolating in Los Angeles with her two children, Apple and Moses, and her husband Brad Falchuk. And the 47-year-old told the July/August 2020 issue of Shape magazine that she has felt both 'emotional stress' and 'peace.' 'I had not realized how much the normal pace of life was overburdening our bodies, our minds, and our nervous systems,' the Oscar-winning actress shared. 'As we have been forced into the confines of our own homes, that has brought up a lot of emotional distress for some, and for others it has been very peaceful. In my case, I have experienced both.' Not an easy time: Gwyneth Paltrow has been self-isolating in Los Angeles with her two children, Apple and Moses, and her husband Brad Falchuk. And the 47-year-old told Shape magazine that she has felt both 'emotional stress' and 'peace' Hard on her: 'I had not realized how much the normal pace of life was overburdening our bodies, our minds, and our nervous systems,' the Oscar winning actress shared The GOOP founder went on to say, 'I have started to settle down in my brain and body. It has given me new perspective about how much I will take on going forward.' Her next project is season 2 of The Politician on Netflix, premieres on June 19. These days she is not so stressed about working out. 'I was constantly trying to pack in wellness moments, but I wasn't really decompressing until the weekend or when I went on vacation,' she said of life before COVID-19. A new normal: 'As we have been forced into the confines of our own homes, that has brought up a lot of emotional distress for some, and for others it has been very peaceful. In my case, I have experienced both,' she added Life in COVID: The GOOP founder went on to say, 'I have started to settle down in my brain and body. It has given me new perspective about how much I will take on going forward' 'Now I feel different, letting my body go to sleep and wake up in its natural rhythm, having my kids around all the time, eating meals together and having meaningful conversations. 'We linger at the table; our dinners are an hour and a half long. My heart feels fuller, and my mind feels calmer in that respect.' But she feels stress during the pandemic. 'I haven't fully figured that out,' says Paltrow. 'I try to do exercises every day for my back and neck because of all the Zoom calls I'm on. My husband, Brad, and I take a walk at least three or four times a week. And I've been doing a lot of online classes: Tracy Anderson, the Class by Taryn Toomey, Bulldog Yoga, CorePower Yoga.' She has worked too hard: These days she is not so stressed about working out. 'I was constantly trying to pack in wellness moments,' she said of life before COVID-19 Now is different: The Iron Man actress added, 'But I wasn't really decompressing until the weekend or when I went on vacation' She asked Shape if she could interview an expert on the subject: Nadine Burke Harris, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P., California's first surgeon general. 'I was intrigued that we'd never had a surgeon general in California,' says Paltrow. 'When I saw that Dr. Burke Harris was a female African American M.D. and had spent her career helping children who'd grown up in adverse childhoods in disenfranchised neighborhoods, I watched her TED Talk. And I sort of fell in love with her.' Bikini time: The siren also posed in this orange two piece while in a swimming pool She needs self care time: Through her GOOP site, she has shared how to de-stress at home Sunkissed lady: Next up for the actress is season two of the show The Politician Gwyneth told Nadine: 'I've always felt like the bad things that happen to us become a footnote. We're not taught how to process trauma at the time. It's amazing to see how you've created science around adverse childhood experiences and conditions like heart health and asthma. What was the reaction of your colleagues?' Harris said: 'An interesting thing that's inextricably a part of my story is how race plays a role. Because when you're the only Black person in your science class of 1,000 at [the University of California] Berkeley, there's a sense of a different level of excellence that's required. 'My message always includes a blend of real life, like, 'Hey, this is how it shows up. This is what it looks and feels like.' But I don't mess around when it comes to the science. When people say, 'that's not really scientific,' I say, 'Actually, individuals with higher doses of adversity have down-regulated beta-agonist receptor in their pulmonary endothelial.' Brainy doc: She asked Shape if she could interview an expert on the subject: Nadine Burke Harris, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P., California's first surgeon general. 'I was intrigued that we'd never had a surgeon general in California,' says Paltrow. 'When I saw that Dr. Burke Harris was a female African American M.D. and had spent her career helping children who'd grown up in adverse childhoods in disenfranchised neighborhoods, I watched her TED Talk' Paltrow asked, 'What happens in the body when we experience stress?' The doctor said: 'The fight-or-flight response is activated. The amygdala in our brain triggers the fear response, and that prompts the release of stress hormones, like adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline increases your blood pressure and your blood sugar, and it shunts blood to your big muscles so they work harder and more efficiently. Cortisol is more of a long-term stress hormone. It raises your blood pressure and your blood sugar as well, and it can make you slightly more aggressive.' Gwyneth also said she was upset by how much domestic violence is happening during the pandemic. Her one and only: In 2018, the Sliding Doors actress wed American Horror Story producer Brad Falchuk How to unwind: The looker also shared this flashback photo from her vacation 'It's so upsetting and heartbreaking. I feel like we need to fix the systemic problems that cause trans-generational harm from parent to child. And this is what's so beautiful about your work,' said the Emma star. Harris added, 'That's exactly what my work is focused on, even more so with COVID-19. Because if you have an adult who had adverse childhood experiences, they may have an overactive stress response. 'Then throw a stressor like a pandemic into the mix, and you have folks who are at greater risk of not only negative health outcomes but also negative mental and behavioral outcomes. And everyone is stressed right now. That means difficulty with impulse control, executive functioning, and for some, anger and frustration.' Kara Bos at the KoRoot, a guesthouse for visiting adoptees in Seoul, Wednesday Korea Times photo by Kim Se-jeong By Kim Se-jeong For, Kara Bos, 38, a Korean adoptee who's been searching for her birthmother since 2016, Friday was a very special day. The Seoul Family Court concluded that a man, Bos believed could be her father, was indeed her biological father. Bos, who traveled from her home in the Netherlands just to be in the courtroom in southern Seoul, quietly wept after the verdict was read out. She is expecting another emotional experience next week as she and her father are supposed to meet in person to talk, for first time in her life. "I want to hear his voice and his story. That's what this journey for the search was about getting him to talk to me," Bos told The Korea Times Wednesday at the KoRoot, a guesthouse for visiting adoptees in Seoul. "And I want to ask him who my mother is." A picture of Kara Bos taken before her adoption Courtesy of Kara Bos Bos was found on Nov. 18, 1983 in a local market parking lot in Goesan, North Chungcheong Province. According to the adoption papers, her name was Kang Mee-sook and she was two years old when she was found. Ten months later, she was adopted by a family living in Michigan, U.S. As she explained, her assimilation in the U.S. was successful. She grew up in a loving family, got married and moved to the Netherlands with her husband 10 years ago. They have two children. Bos said she had never felt the need to look for her birthmother until she had her first daughter. "Two years of intensely taking care of my daughter, who was a very demanding baby in every sense of the word, brought me to the realization of what kind of bond is created during this time," she said. In 2017, her family came to Korea and visited the agency which had arranged her adoption in an attempt to find more information about her biological mother. Separately, she took a DNA test and posted the result on MyHeritage, an online genealogy site, in 2016, with the hope that she could find a match. Nothing turned up and she forgot about it. In 2019, after learning the story of two Korean adoptee sisters finding each other through the platform, she went back to the site to check on her account. This time, she found a match: a South Korean male student in his 20s. As she communicated with him, it seemed to Bos to be most likely that he was her nephew, not her cousin, and that the young man's mother could be her half-sister and the student's grandfather could be Bos' father. But then, her search had to stop because her assumed nephew stopped talking to her in fact it was his mother who didn't want her son to stay in contact with Bos. Bos flew to Korea to visit her assumed half-sister to meet her father, but in vain. She tried other ways to find where her assumed father was living, but nothing worked. On Nov. 18 last year, the same day she was abandoned 36 years earlier, Bos filed a paternity lawsuit against the assumed father, the first such case in Korea. "It wasn't intentional at all. If feels like fate," she recalled. In March this year, she flew back to Korea to have a DNA sample taken, part of the paternity lawsuit procedure, and saw the assumed father's address in the court documents, something she had wanted so badly to find but was unable to do until then. "I went to visit him," she said. The man's wife answered the door and asked who she was and why she was there. In basic Korean, she explained why she was there, and the wife yelled for her husband. As the man was stepping out, she asked him, "My name is Kang Mee-sook. Do you recognize my face? He looked at me but didn't say anything, and that kind of ended everything." She went back a few days later with the hope that the couple had the time to digest everything and would talk to her. But, "this time, one of his daughters was there. She told me to go away." Since then, she's been communicating with her half-sisters only through a lawyer who said that their father would not show up for any of the legal proceedings. The father also took the DNA test and the result came in April, saying the chances that Bos and the man were daughter and father were 99.9981 percent. At the end of the emotionally intense legal battle, Bos is disappointed with a lack of support in Korea for adoptees. "I didn't know how the law would be interpreted after my lawsuit. I started this journey wanting to only know one question, 'Who is my mother?' and I ended up having to spend countless amounts of money and time, and endure endless emotional trauma by even filing a lawsuit to have proof of a relationship to my father," she said. She hopes things will change in Korea so that "it will become the country that's known to fight for all of adoptees that were sent away to give them their fundamental rights back. They can be the frontrunner in the world since they were the frontrunner in the export of babies that can instead turn that page to a new chapter and be the frontrunner of giving rights to them." Korea previously saw many overseas adoptions more than 167,000 babies were adopted by foreign families after the Korean War ended in 1953 and many still occur today due to a reluctance among Koreans to adopt. Kara Bos with her family during their visit to Korea in 2017 Courtesy of Kara Bos Gov. Kate Brown announced Thursday evening that she has put all applications for further reopening across the state on hold for at least seven days after seeing a concerning increase in coronavirus infections. The announcement came on the night many Portlanders had hoped to receive news of a Phase 1 reopening in Multnomah County, the last of the states 36 counties to loosen restrictions. In order to ensure that the virus is not spreading too quickly, I am putting all county applications for further reopening on hold for seven days," Brown said in a statement released around 7:15 p.m. Thursday. "This is essentially a statewide yellow light. It is time to press pause for one week before any further reopening. Brown said she hoped the seven-day hiatus will give public health officials time to investigate what has caused the increases and whether her reopening plans should be adjusted. I will work with doctors and public health experts to determine whether to lift this pause or extend it or make other adjustments, she said. Oregon recorded another all-time high in COVID-19 infections reported in a single day on Thursday with 178 cases, which brought the states total to 5,237. Two more Oregonians died from the virus, bringing Oregons death toll to 171. The increases have been seen across the state and the number of hospitalizations are also on the rise, according to state data. Oregon Health Authority officials weigh reopening decisions on several metrics, including a declining prevalence of coronavirus and a 14-day decline in hospitalizations, as well as counties ability to provide adequate testing, hospital capacity, personal protection equipment, isolation facilities and contact tracers. As they planned the phased reopening in April, state officials calculated that Oregon would need at least 631 contact tracers to identify and interview close contacts of people who tested positive. But on Wednesday, health authority officials could not say how many contact tracers are working to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to a report by The Oregonian/OregonLive. After more than a week of questions and a public records request, state officials told the newspaper they were surveying counties and expected results by the end of the week. That concerned at least one University of Oregon associate professor who had co-authored a report calling for more testing and tracing to guide reopening decisions. Multnomah County, where officials said Wednesday they were prepared to open, has logged increases in positive tests and hospitalizations over the past two weeks. County officials could not trace 40% of new cases to a source -- one of six criteria that is supposed to be lower to enter into Phase 1. The countys data also concerned the advocacy group OSPIRG, which had been tracking its own public health metrics. On Wednesday, the groups leaders called on the county to delay any loosening of restrictions until the number of new cases marked a downward trajectory. Its unclear yet whether the thousands of people gathering in protests across Portland -- and the state -- since May 28 have had any influence on the rising cases. Though Multnomah County Health Officer Jennifer Vines told The Oregonian/OregonLive last week that such large gatherings were exactly what the county had tried to avoid to prevent transmission. Yet she and others have been careful not to advise against such gatherings to protest police violence and systemic racism, instead encouraging protesters to wear face masks and socially distance. Earlier Thursday, the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners announced they would delay plans to apply for Phase 2, saying they want to ensure the county has a handle on the effects of its initial easing of coronavirus restrictions. Commissioners reported the countys trend in positive cases was going up not down and, instead of meeting the limit of 5% growth in cases over the past seven days, the county logged an increase of 191%. Twenty-nine of Oregons 36 counties are in Phase 2 and three -- Hood River, Marion and Polk -- had applied to make the transition but will now be on hold with Multnomah County. Along with Clackamas, Lincoln and Washington counties are in Phase 1 and had not yet applied to further loosen restrictions. Brown said she would discuss her decision at a press briefing at 9 a.m. on Friday with a livestream available for the public on Browns social media pages. -- Laura Gunderson lgunderson@oregonian.com; @lgunderson Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. An 80-year-old state prison inmate serving two life sentences for separate murders died Friday after testing positive for COVID-19 two weeks ago, the Alabama Department of Corrections said. Clarence Shepherd, an inmate at St. Clair Correctional Facility serving two life sentences without the possibility of parole for murders in Jefferson and Autauga counties, showed symptoms of the coronavirus on May 27 and tested positive for COVID-19 on May 29. After testing positive, Shepherd was taken to a local hospital for treatment since he was considered high-risk due to multiple pre-existing conditions, the department said. After being discharged from the hospital, Shepherd was placed in medical isolation at the St. Clair prison infirmary, where he remained until he died early Friday morning. The exact cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy. The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) extends its sympathies to the Shepherd family and his loved ones during this difficult time, the agency said in a statement. Shepherd is at least the second state inmate to die since being diagnosed with COVID-19. In April, Dave Thomas, a 66-year-old terminally ill man serving a life sentence for murder out of Randolph County, died. Migrants and Korean activists protest outside Cheong Wae Dae on May 7, urging the local government COVID-19 subsidy be paid to all foreign residents in the country, including those "unregistered." News1 By Ko Dong-hwan The South Korean human rights watchdog has stepped in after the governments of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province in March excluded some foreign residents from their disaster relief funds amid COVID-19's blow to the domestic economy. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea said Thursday it had advised Seoul mayor Park Won-soon and Gyeonggi provincial governor Lee Jae-myung to subsidize "all foreign residents" in their regions with registered addresses, according to Korean local news outlet Nocut News. The independent state agency said that after examining experts' opinions, precedent cases of COVID-19 subsidies allocated by governments, the constitution and local autonomy laws, it concluded that not paying the money to the foreign residents was "discrimination on an unreasonable ground." Article 12 and 13 of the local autonomy law, cited by the agency, states that "residents," who have the right to local government's administrative benefits that are fair to all, include foreigners who reported their addresses to local government offices. "When it can be easily perceived that they are clearly in dire situations due to the disaster, not providing them with appropriate support can debilitate them further and push the local communities they are in into a deeper pit from recovery," the commission said. Both governments announced the one-time, unconditional disaster relief subsidy to all local residents in March. But it was later confirmed that some foreign residents weren't covered. That pushed some marriage migrants foreigners who married Korean nationals and moved to Korea with residential visas and pro-migrant Korean activists in April to file a complaint with the commission, saying that excluding foreigners was an act of "discrimination and violation of human rights." They also protested in front of the South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on May 7, urging a "fair subsidy to migrants without discrimination and exclusion." The Seoul Metropolitan Government responded to the backlash, saying that because it was subsidizing all households using a limited fund, it excluded those whose family information and incomes could not be verified. But the government said the subsidies did go to refugees. The Gyeonggi government said that foreign residents whose "background details couldn't be checked from its database of registered residents" were excluded. "Like Koreans, foreigners also suffer from troubles like job loss, wage conflicts, social discrimination and difficult access to medical services during this COVID-19 disaster," the commission said. "So nationality or familial relations and status shouldn't be part of the yardsticks for the governments to allocate their limited funds." Only a fool, or a puppet, is blind to the realities of left-wing rage, hatred, and violence. The media tell us that rioters "protesters" are peaceful while business are looted, property vandalized, and statues desecrated. The destruction of America, the historic America, is precisely what the left wishes to accomplish. Only a burning and fiery purgation will suffice to wash away the past crimes of the nation and white Americans in particular. Having been a graduate student at Yale, I saw firsthand the next managerial class and their acidic ideology from their own mouths. After the 2016 election, they cried but also furiously condemned Trump as a "fascist" and said anyone who supported him was a "fascist" or "racist." While it is true that logical argumentation and philosophical rigidity are not the forte of the left, people who pillory the leftists for emotional tantrums and shouting down opposite views miss the point. Rage fills the empty souls of leftists, and no amount of logic will change that fact. What leftists want is not truth, facts, or logic, but the complete incineration of the people they despise and the institutions they claim propagate oppression and exploitation. This is not a new phenomenon that arose in the 1960s or the 1980s, as conventional wisdom often says. It goes far beyond that. Leo Marx, a well-respected cultural and literary scholar, wrote of his time in university during the 1930s as being dominated by "partisans of the Left." As he writes, "[m]any of our teachers were partisans of the Left during those years. At my first meeting with Daniel Boorstin, my sophomore-year tutor, he felt obliged to warn me that he was a member of the Communist Party. Both F.O. Matthiessen and Paul Sweezy, with whom I would have lasting friendships, were outspoken socialists." Americans who attend universities, whether at the community college level or at elite institutions, are indoctrinated subtly or explicitly into the leftist ideology. These students then take up their positions in society: the media, businesses, literary presses, politics, charitable organizations, NGOs, etc. They all subscribe to the same ideology. We shouldn't be surprised, then, that many of our current elites Democrats especially, but also some Republicans are not only sympathetic to the rioters, but also explicit supporters of the burning and looting of America. In their eyes, this is payback for the burning and looting of the American Indians and Africans and all other "people of color" who have suffered countless injustices since the time of the fateful voyage of Christopher Columbus. Many Democrats who rule America's cities do not want to confront the rioters because confronting the rioters would appear to be a confrontation with the protesters whom they are entirely in league with. The other pressing matter that Americans need to know about the iconoclastic and nihilistic left is that it is utopian at its core. The problem with utopianism is that it necessarily comes to terms with bloodshed and violence. Teleocracy, the belief in a politics militantly guided to a goal, necessarily justifies itself in the name of the goal. The end always justifies the means. America was founded under the auspices of not teleocratic government, but nomocratic governance. Nomocracy is the rule of law. So long as any trace of the rule of law remains, the desires of totalitarian teleocracy are buttressed against. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights exist as a nomocratic synthesis and not a teleocratic blueprint, as even many Republicans and so-called conservatives now claim. Because the Constitution and Bill Rights serve as the last barrier against unrestrained totalitarianism, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights must die in order for militant teleocracy to consummate itself with the force needed to bring its perfect state into existence. At university, students are repeatedly hammered with the problems of society: racism, sexism, and capitalism, and how they are all interlinked. Capitalism was racist in its formation out of sexism (according to Marx) and racism (according to the modern leftists). Sexism reinforces white male domination, which, in turn, reinforces capitalist oppression and racist systems because of their origin in white male ownership and stewardship. You get the argument. Now repeat ad nauseam. Students are also taught how to "change the system." Following Antonio Gramsci's playbook, students are actively encouraged to infiltrate as many of the bad institutions as possible and destroy them from within. This is how our once venerable institutions like Harvard and Yale, founded by godly Christian men, have become the repositories of anti-Christian, anti-American, and anti-capitalist Jacobinism. This is how almost all corporations have become social justice cheerleaders with CEOs and board members resigning and calling for higher taxes. This is how city councils and state legislatures are populated with people who vote to defund and disband the police and destroy our historical consciousness by defacing old heroes and replacing them with international socialists, revolutionaries, and genocidal dictators who fought "the good fight." As the left grows and grows in strength, leftists will continue to wield greater and greater power until the institutions and people they blame for all historical wrongs are wiped away in a fiery purgation that will not lead to paradise, but create a hell on Earth worse than the dictatorships of the 20th century. This is just the beginning. And the left openly says what its ambitions are. "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Western civ has got to go!" Industrial property giant Goodman Group has extended its relationship with internet behemoth Amazon in a new mega-sized fulfilment centre at a time when warehouses are at bursting point with a pandemic-prompted surge in online shopping. Located at Goodman's Port Industry Park in Lytton, Brisbane, the 16,300 square metre-plus site is said be in operation in time for the busy Christmas period. An artist's impression of the new Amazon fulfilment centre at Goodman Group's Port Industry Park in Brisbane. Credit: Goodman is one of the major landlords across the world for online giant Amazon. In Sydney, Amazon's fulfilment centre is based at the Goodman Centenary distribution centre in Moorebank. Amazon's first Australian warehouse opened in Dandenong in Melbourne's east, at the Pellicano Group's M2 Industry Park, and has recently announced a new distribution hub at Tullamarine, near Melbourne's airport. An Italian village touting itself as Covid-free is selling homes for just 1. Cinquefrondi, in the southern region of Calabria, reported zero cases of coronavirus during the pandemic and is situated in an area with a low contagion rate. Its hoping this, along with cut-price houses, might lure new residents. Like many other rural Italian towns and villages, Cinquefrondi is battling to bulk up its dwindling population after losing many of its young people to cities, where they migrate in search of work. The 1 home scheme has been code-named Operation Beauty by the local mayor, Michele Conia. He told CNN Travel: Finding new owners for the many abandoned houses we have is a key part of the Operation Beauty that I have launched to recover degraded, lost parts of town. I grew up in Germany where my parents had migrated, then I came back to save my land. Too many people have fled from here over the decades, leaving behind empty houses. We cant succumb to resignation. As with similar schemes, Operation Beauty comes with a few strings attached though not as many as in some places. Those wishing to buy a house for 1 will also have to stump up 10,000 to 20,000 to refurbish the property, alongside an annual 250 policy insurance fee until the work is completed. Speed is also encouraged, as buyers can be fined 20,000 if they dont finish the renovations within three years. Recommended Families and groups of friends invited to buy homes in Italian village Most participants in the scheme elsewhere have seen houses restyled in one to two years. The homes themselves are located in the ancient part of Cinquefrondi, and are around 40-50sqm in size. Some also have small balconies. It may sound idyllic, but the 1 homes lie within an abandoned district where the buildings are left empty and are unstable and risky, according to Conia. However, for those brave enough to take the plunge, the rewards could be great. We rise between the refreshing hills and two warm seas, a pristine river runs nearby and the beaches are just 15 minutes away by car, he says of the village. Confirmations in the Catholic Church may take place in the late summer. The Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference held by video call by Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has heard public health guidelines will determine the number of children that can be confirmed at one time. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain New climate research has stated that urgent action on emissions from existing ships is the key to tackling shipping's impact on climate change. The shipping sector 'can't wait' for new, low-carbon ships to enter its fleet if it is to cut CO 2 emissions in line with Paris Agreement targets, according to a University of Manchester study published today in the new journal BMC Energy. Measures to cut shipping's pollution tend to focus on new ships, but this new Tyndall Centre research shows that CO 2 emissions from existing ships will dominate the sector's impact on the climate, and could even swallow up shipping's entire safe carbon budget. The researchers' findings suggest that existing ships could use up industry's carbon budget before new ships are taken into account. Policies to cut shipping CO 2 must focus attention on decarbonising and retrofitting existing ships, rather than just rely on new, more efficient ships to achieve the necessary carbon reductions. As ships are so long-lived, the "committed emissions" from journeys traveled during the rest of their lifespan, are higher than for other modes of transport. Without action, existing ships are expected to emit well over 100% of a Paris-compatible carbon budget. There is room for optimism however. The research highlights the multiple ways that ships can cut their committed emissions, such as traveling at slower speeds, fitting new renewable technologies such as Flettner rotors, connecting to grid electricity while in port, and retrofitting other energy saving measures. But scientists now say time is of the essence; if implemented quickly and at scale, the shipping sector could still fairly contribute to the Paris climate agreement goals, but if not, other sectors will need to cut their emissions deeper and faster to compensate. Professor Alice Larkin, Head of School of Engineering, The University of Manchester said: "The shipping industry continues to play a hugely important role in international trade and especially for our island nation, but this research highlights that the International Maritime Organisation's current targets need to be substantially tightened to align with Paris goals." The new research was led by climate scientists at the Tyndall Centre, Researcher James Mason said: "This research highlights the key role existing ships play in tackling the climate crisis. We must push for quick action for these ships, whether through speed reductions or other innovative solutions such as wind propulsion." To date, committed emissions studies have focused predominantly on the power sector, or on global analyses in which shipping is a small element, with assumptions of asset lifetimes extrapolated from other transport modes. This study analyzed new CO 2 , ship age and scrappage datasets covering the 11,000 ships included in the European Union's new emissions monitoring scheme (EU MRV), to deliver original insights on the speed at which new and existing shipping infrastructure must be decarbonised. Climate Change Lecturer at The University of Manchester, Dr. John Broderick said: "Unlike in aviation, there are many different ways to decarbonise the shipping sector, but there must be much greater attention paid to retrofitting the existing fleet, before it's too late to deliver on the net-zero target." Tyndall Centre researcher Simon Bullock said: "Shipping is generally a greener way to transport freight than roads or planes, but its impact is still very large. This research shows there is hopeshipping's overall emissions could be dramatically reduced, if policy-makers act to cut the emissions from the existing fleet". Explore further LeanShips: Significant fuel efficiency gains for vessels with controllable pitch propellers More information: BMC Energy, DOI: 10.1186/s42500-020-00015-2 Mr. C Hotel - Coconut Grove Uniforms should reflect a company's brand ethos; it's culture and values yet meet the necessary functionality requirements. South Floridabased J.A. Uniforms, a leading manufacturer and supplier of hospitality industry apparel, was today presented a 2020 Image of the Year Award by the North American Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD). Recognizing functionality, innovation, branding and design, the award was a nod to J.A. Uniforms hotelapparel work for the opening of the highly acclaimed Mr. Cs Coconut Grove, a 100-room nautically themed boutique property. Were humbled by the recognition, said J.A. Uniforms founder Alex Arencibia. Its an honor to be included among the nations leading purveyors of workplace apparel. NAUMD recognizes the best workplace apparel programs with its Image of the Year Award. Since 1978, the Image of the Year Awards have recognized cutting edge programs. Said NAUMD President Steve Zalkin. ABOUT NAUMD: NAUMD is the trade association for the uniform and image apparel industry. Its membership is composed of the entire uniform supply chain: distributors, manufacturers, fabric mills and associated suppliers. For more information, visit http://www.naumd.com. ABOUT J.A.UNIFORMS: Dating to 1997, J.A. Uniforms passion for uniforms stems from a recognition of the benefits its products yield employers, their employees, and their clients. Longlasting yet fashionable, its uniforms enjoy a modern style esthetic that values comfort while maintaining a sharp look. For more information visit http://www.jauniforms.com. Read Blog: Here Media Contact: Menchu Dominicis, Phone: 305.234.1231, E-mail: md@jauniforms.com There is a strong possibility that a programme for government could be agreed in the next couple of days so that a government would be in place by the end of June, the Taoiseach said. It has been 124 days since Februarys inconclusive general election result. Negotiators from Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party are set to continue their talks into the weekend. At a post-Cabinet briefing at Dublin Castle on Friday, Leo Varadkar said a new government could be in place by the last week in June or early July. The prospect is there for a government to take office on the last week of June or first week of July Leo Varadkar He said: The talks are progressing, not much could be done today because Fine Gael ministers were tied up with meetings but they are heading back for more meetings this evening. It seems that everyday, one or two new papers are signed off and I think there is a strong possibility we will have a programme for government in the next couple of days. I know it is taking a long time but I am of the view, and so would a lot of others, that it is better to nail down some of the issues now rather than have them become points of conflict during a five-year government term. The prospect is there for a government to take office on the last week of June or first week of July. It could be in time to renew the Offences Against The State Act, as that needs to be done in the Dail and the Seanad. I think we can come to an agreement on a programme for government in the next couple of days. That of course requires all three parties to agree and then we have to ballot our members. We think we can ballot our members within 10 days, Fianna Fail might take a bit longer. Hotel Business News and Analytics Important! This article is written by orangesmile.com editors and is protected by copyright law. The article can only be re-used with a direct link to www.orangesmile.com NEWS BLOCKS: Portugal, Spain, and Greece Have Signs of Tourism Recovery It is not a secret that tourism is an important source of income for many countries. This is particularly true about southern destinations. As many economies suffer from declines caused by the pandemic, tourism may be a way to help local businesses and the economy in general to recover. No wonder why southern European countries try to do everything possible in order not to lose this summer season. ForwardKeys, a company that specializes in travel analysis, reports that there has been a jump in flight bookings to countries like Portugal, Greece, and Spain. April and May were incredibly hard for aviation around the world. Companies had to survive in a situation when almost no one was making bookings. However, it looks like the situation is changing slowly. The last week of May clearly showed a positive shift. On May 20, the Prime Minister of Greece told that the country would start accepting foreign guests starting from July 1, 2020. No need to say how glad hotels in Athens and other Greek cities were to hear the news. Greece was not alone in its initiative. Two days later, Portugal announced the reopening of borders starting from June 15. Finally, Spain is going to reopen its borders for foreign guests starting from July. While it may be hard to get precise bookings from hotels in Barcelona or Lisbon, international flight bookings give an accurate outlook of the markets up-to-date condition. It is clear that people miss traveling and do not want to spend their summer holidays at home. After the announcement about the reopening of the borders, the number of international flight bookings to Greece has skyrocketed from complete zero to 35% of its volume a year ago. Portugal and Spain posted similar results. In just 12 days, the number of international flight tickets to Portugal grew from zero to 35% of the May-June 2019 result. For Spain, the uplift reached 30% of the previous years result. Leisure travelers are the biggest group responsible for growth. Expats who want to visit their friends and relatives are the second biggest category at the moment. Their bookings of airplane tickets have reached from 50% to 90% of the 2019 levels. However, many people are still afraid of flying due to the risk of infection. Current bookings in Portugal, Greece, and Spain are 52%, 49.8%, and 53.5% behind the levels of June 2019. It will be extremely challenging to save the summer holiday season for these countries. 12.06.2020Stay in touch with the latest news of a worldwide hotel industry. All up-to-date analytics, reports , and news about hotel business trends on OrangeSmile.com. The Delhi petitioners withdrew their plea against Franklin Templeton in the Supreme Court earlier today. The Supreme Court observed that there are already atleast three cases being heard in three courts Gujarat, Madras and Delhi High Courts against the fund house. It advised the petitioners to explore others routes to move ahead and come back to Supreme Court in future if the need arises. The court also advised the petitioners to go to the capital markets regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Challenging the HC order Franklin Templeton has filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Gujarat High Courts stay order. It has also filed a transfer petition in the Supreme Court asking for all existing proceedings against the fund house in other courts across the country to be heard under one roof the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, we have already filed for an intervention petition in the Gujarat High Court to fight the case against Templeton jointly with the Ahmedabad-based petitioners, says Puneet Jain, the advocate who represented the clutch of petitioners in the Supreme Court. This application is yet to be allowed in the High Court. If the Gujarat High Court permits the application, then Puneet will fight his clients case along with Ahmedabad-based petitioner, Areez Khambatta, in the Gujarat High Court. We have been receiving numerous queries from unitholders about the status of the writ petition filed before the Supreme Court against Union of India, SEBI, Franklin Templeton etc. We wish to confirm that the matter was dismissed as withdrawn when it was taken up by the court today. Apropos the interim stay order on the unitholders meeting issued by the Honble Gujarat High Court, Franklin Templeton has filed an appeal before the Honble Supreme Court and the matter is sub judice, said a Franklin Templeton spokesperson. On June 8, the Gujarat High Court had dismissed Franklin Templetons application to set aside the stay order that the court has put on the e-voting process. The fund house had wound up six debt funds on April 23. It had then informed its unitholders about its plans of carrying out a voting exercise whereby they would either have to choose the fund houses trustees or Deloitte for executing the winding up of schemes. Unhappy with the fund houses decision of winding up the schemes without taking unitholders consent, Areez Khambatta took the fund house to the Gujarat High Court to get a stay order on the e-voting process. The voting was to be held from June 9-12. On June 8, the High Court heard Templeton, but dismissed its petition asking for vacating the stay order. San Franciscos stores will reopen to customers Monday after nearly three months of coronavirus-related closures. Shoppers no longer have to rely on curbside pickup and online sales. The reopenings will include Westfield San Francisco Centre on Market Street downtown. The mall has weathered not only the pandemic but also a fire set a few weeks ago during police brutality protests. Westfield is looking forward to welcoming back our San Francisco guests as we reopen our doors and begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Leah Heil, vice president of shopping center management, said in a statement. We are committed to providing the best experience possible for the community and for our teams, and are working closely with local officials and civic groups to ensure a safe and clean environment as businesses resume operations. Stonestown Galleria will open Monday as well. The citys other major indoor shopping center, the Japan Center Malls, will remain closed for now. On March 17, San Francisco health officials shut down stores deemed nonessential such as jewelry, shoe, clothing and toy stores in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus. On May 18, they allowed most retailers whose buildings faced the street (but not indoor malls) to offer curbside pickup. The city has issued a more stringent set of guidelines for malls because they attract crowds. In addition to limiting the number of customers and adding signs about social distancing, malls must submit a plan to the city stating how many businesses, staff and customers are expected back. This can be hard because the effects of the pandemic on shoppers behavior are so uncertain. Im still waiting for clearer city guidelines. I reached out to them more than a week ago, said Greg Viloria, director of community affairs and marketing for the Japan Center Malls. Well be holding a town hall meeting with merchants to educate them about what needs to happen before we can open. Viloria did not say when the Japan Center Malls could open, but said almost 90% of the food vendors are in business, offering delivery. Its going to look a lot different for retail shops, he said. Many of our merchants had to lay off employees, and they dont know if theyll be able to rehire people soon. Westfield, which is also opening its Valley Fair mall in San Jose, said shoppers can expect plenty of hand sanitizer and an increase in the number of hand-washing stations, along with protective masks. It will also increase the frequency of cleaning with a focus on high-touch areas such as restrooms, play areas, dining areas and water fountains. It will monitor and limit the number of guests entering the mall. Michael Short / Special to The Chronicle 2019 Chris Martinez, who owns a skate shop on Sixth Street in San Francisco, used to have lunch meetings at the Westfield mall, a block away. Im excited its reopening, he said. If you want to go to the mall, go to the mall, but do it the proper way make sure youre far enough from other shoppers. You dont have to hug and kiss everyone. Martinez said he is planning to stop by the mall Monday, with mask and gloves in tow. Stonestown Galleria, which currently has 16 stores offering curbside service and 10 other businesses deemed essential, will reopen with hand sanitizer throughout the mall and signs to remind customers to keep social distance. Not all stores will open right away, according to Darren Iverson, the malls senior general manager. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Hours will be reduced to allow for intense cleaning, Iverson said. (Stonestown will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.) Security will provide masks for people who need them, he added, and stores have been asked to limit capacity and adopt social distancing and safety procedures. Some small-business owners remain nervous as Mondays reopening rolls around. I dont expect people to be lining outside my shop on Monday, said David Heller, co-owner of Beauty Network, a beauty supplies store on Geary Boulevard. Its scary times and I dont think shoppers will come out in droves like before. Jenna Littlejohn, an assistant manager at Bird & Beckett Books and Records in the Glen Park neighborhood, said the store is sticking to curbside pickup and isnt sure when it will allow customers inside. Were going to keep doing curbside because its the safest, said Littlejohn, who said the curbside business is strong, with many people calling in orders by phone. And if we do open our doors, as long as we have a few customers in at a time, I dont think itll pose any immediate threat to staff or others. Chronicle staff writer Ron Kroichick contributed to this report. Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika Danggeun Market CEO Kim Jae-hyun poses with the company's mascot character at his office in Gangnam, Seoul, in this 2019 file photo. / Korea times file By Kim Jae-heun Mobile flea market application Danggeun Market is growing quickly in the e-commerce scene with its platform visited by the second-largest number of daily users here after Coupang. According to data released in April by mobile data analysis platform Mobile Index, the daily average users connecting to Danggeun Market reached 1.56 million, which beat out 1.37 million of 11st and 1.09 million of WeMakePrice. The number placed Danggeun Market second on the rankings for highest daily rate in the overall online shopping market. Compared to Danggeun Market's number of monthly users in January, the number skyrocketed by 230 percent two months ago and its lead over No.2 online flea market player Bungaejangter has more than tripled. The flea market application recorded 6.6 million downloads alone, which outnumbers 2.35 million of Bungaejangter and 1.36 million of Junggonara, the country's very first online second-hand mall. Multiple factors contributed to the rapid growth of Danggeun Market. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable amount of influence as people begin to trade secondhand products amid the resulting economic slump. Also, many people begin to find it interesting and fun selling and buying used items, especially those in the middle-aged group that have been getting increasingly comfortable with online shopping. Before, people did not use online flea markets as much as now because there were too many fraudulent deals. Junggonara, which was launched as an internet community in 2003, is a classic example, with high numbers of cases of items undelivered and unusable products. Danggeun Market improved on these errors to prevent scams by playing the broker role to receive the money from the buyer and transfer it to the seller when a second-hand deal has been confirmed by the buyer. It is still behind the daily use of Coupang, which stands at the top position on the list with 3.97 million, more than double Danggeun Market's use. However, Coupang has been going through hardships recently with COVID-19 outbreaks at its two logistics center in Bucheon and Goyang in Gyeonggi Province. Coupang's irresponsible and clumsy reaction towards the infections provoked customers and eventually led a civic group to file a complaint against the e-commerce firm's CEO Kim Bom last week. HONEOYE FAL LS, N.Y., June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KJT Group is pleased to welcome Anna Wunderlich, Field Project Manager; Maria Nardecchia, Research Recruiting Ambassador; and Craig Alster, Director, Strategic Account Development. Anna earned her B.S. in Organizational Management from Roberts Wesleyan College. She has been in a management position for over 6 years, overseeing operations and personnel at Village Bakery & Cafe. Anna brings her organizational and management skills to help facilitate the Field Operations team. KJT Group - Insight by Design Maria joins us after several years as a marketing professional. She led the marketing efforts at ClickSpark LLC, to maintain a perpetual flow of new business and marketing opportunities. More recently, she grew the marketing presence for Mike Davis Mortgage Team. She has excellent client relationship building skills. Maria earned a B.S. in International Business and Economics, from State University of New York, College at Brockport. Craig has 7 years of consultative sales, syndicated sales, account management, new business development, and management experience in primary and secondary market research sales in the pharmaceutical/life science sector. He was the Director of Business Development at Sermo, Inc, leading top Pharmaceutical accounts. Most recently, he was sales director at TI Health, where he was also a lead on Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices. Craig earned a B.S. in Business Economics at Rutgers University. "I speak for all of KJT when I say we are thrilled to have found a local professional to join our field operations team. Anna's strong management, and leadership experience bring a solid blend of skills that complement our field process." said Jennifer Hall, Vice President, Global Sampling and Field Operations. She also shared, "We are excited to have Maria expand upon our internal recruiting capabilities to support our clients. Her marketing and recruiting background outside the industry, bring a fresh perspective to engaging with our respondents and developing our professional healthcare community." Mark Antonacci, Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations said, "Having known Craig for many years, we are truly excited to have him join our sales team! He brings years of successful experience in our space. He is hard-working, strategic, and extremely thoughtful for his customers' needs, and acts as true advocate for his accounts within KJT Group." About KJT Group: KJT Group (www.kjtgroup.com) is an evidence-based consulting firm. Through co-creative partnerships with our life sciences clients, we capture actionable insights that enhance strategic and tactical decision-making. Founded in 2007, KJT Group employs nearly 50 full-time staff across the United States. KJT Group is a member of the European Pharmaceutical Marketing Research Association (EphMRA), and the British Healthcare Business Intelligence Association (BHBIA). Press Contact: Heidi Wirth, Marketing Director KJT Group Inc. Six East Street Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 www.kjtgroup.com +1 585-624-8050 SOURCE KJT Group, Inc. Police here have refused to register a case against a Pakistan-based American blogger on a complaint filed by a man for maligning late former premier Benazir Bhutto on social media.The Islamabad Police has refused to register the case, saying that it was a case of cybercrime and only the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was authorised to deal with it. Petitioner Waqas Ahmad Abbasi submitted a written application last week against Cynthia D Ritchie, accusing her of maligning former premier Benazir on social media. The Express Tribune reported that the Islamabad Police said that after evaluation, it was found that the case needed to be investigated by the FIA. However, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Islamabad President Shakeel Abbasi already approached the FIA with a complaint against Ritchie for making a slanderous tweet against Bhutto but it refused to take action. The FIA on June 9 told an Islamabad sessions court to dismiss a plea against Ritchie as the petitioner, Shakeel Abbasi, was not an affected party. Ritchie alleged that Benazir condoned rape culture. The FIA, in its written response to the court, argued that according to its rules, only the aggrieved party the targeted victim or their guardian could lodge such a complaint with the agency. However, Additional Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani issued a notice to Ritchie seeking her response by June 13. Meanwhile, the fight between Ritchie and the PPP leaders turned nasty after her objectionable tweets and subsequent allegations against top leaders of PPP, including former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. On June 10, the former prime minister sent a legal notice to Cynthia, seeking Rs100 million in damages and an apology. Separately, former interior minister Rehman Malik also said he will serve Ritchie a legal notice after she accused that he raped her in 2011. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON What happened Nike (NYSE:NKE) stock took a dive today along with the broader market as fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections and negative comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell about the economic recovery gripped investors. As a result, the S&P 500 finished down 5.9%, while Nike lost 6.8%. So what Nike was one of a number of consumer-facing brands to fall sharply today as the consumer discretionary sector is highly sensitive to progress in the economic recovery and a potential resurgence in COVID-19 infections. A number of its peers also tumbled today including Under Armour, Adidas, and Foot Locker. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Nike and its retail partners to close many of its stores around the world, though some of them have since reopened. While the swoosh company is unquestionably taking a financial hit from the pandemic, the stock came within a breath of setting an all-time high just a few days ago, a sign that investors were looking past the pandemic's impact on the sportswear giant. Today's news may have changed that, however. In its most recent update on May 14, Nike said that its stores in China and South Korea had reopened, and it was encouraged by the recovery in those markets. Management also touted the digital connections it was making with customers during the crisis, and said it was seeing higher-than-expected demand on the digital side of the business. That report helped kick off a rally in the stock and reinforced the company's strategic shift to the direct-to-consumer channel, which includes digital storefronts like its apps and websites. Now what While Nike may be widening its competitive advantage during the crisis, fears of another wave of infections seemed to be a reality check for investors as the company is still highly dependent on brick-and-mortar retail partners like Foot Locker, which have mostly been closed during the crisis. The company will give investors another update when it reports fourth-quarter earnings on June 25. Analysts expect the quarter to reflect the brunt of the impact of the novel coronavirus and see revenue falling 23.3% to $7.81 billion, and earnings per share declining form $0.62 to $0.15. For Nike to endure the peak of the pandemic and still turn a profit would be a clear sign of its strength, but many of its peers won't be so fortunate. Protests that erupted in Brazil over the past two weekends are evidence of the resilience of the nation's young democracy, and fundamental to shield it from President Jair Bolsonaro's authoritarian tendencies, according to a top court judge. Gilmar Mendes, one of the longest-serving justices in the country's top court, said Congress and the judiciary provide counterbalances to presidential powers that are natural in any democracy, but they have been increasingly active during Bolsonaro's administration because there have been more "provocations," including threats to close down the institutions. "We are tested all the time, and we have been responding well," Mendes said during an interview at his office in Brasilia when asked whether he was worried about rhetorical attacks by the president and his supporters. Brazilian institutions "have shown resilience," and society is awakening from a "certain state of numbness" to "react to this sort of provocation," he added. Bolsonaro's office declined to comment. Mendes, who was appointed during the government of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso in 2002, is one of the most vocal justices of a court that has not been shy about taking decisions seen by some as political, including stopping former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from running in the 2018 election. While justices often have heated disagreements during court sessions, rhetorical attacks from Bolsonaro and his allies have unified them in ways unseen in decades. Among examples of recent checks and balances, Mendes cited congress's refusal to approve Bolsonaro-supported bills that would greatly ease restrictions on owning and carrying guns, and, just two months ago, a top court's decision to side with state governors who've been imposing restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Bolsonaro has repeatedly called on Brazilians to resume work and, in an April cabinet meeting, went so far as to say that citizens should carry guns to resist governors' orders. Brazilians took to the streets of the country's largest cities for a second weekend in a row on June 7, carrying signs in defense of democracy and against racism, many encouraged by U.S. demonstrations that followed the death of George Floyd. Although they weren't as large as the 2013 nationwide protests that saw millions of Brazilians protest, they were bigger than the weekends' pro-government marches organized in some cities. Bolsonaro won election in 2018 due in no small part to a fiery rhetorical style that resonated with many Brazilians who saw him as an anti-establishment, "tell it like it is" type of politician, but at the same time further polarized Brazilian politics and society. More recently, he has been rallying his base against Supreme Court justices, who he accuses of overstepping their duties and curtailing his right to govern. The president is particularly angry at a number of Supreme Court-led investigations that are focusing on his inner circle and himself, including a probe on the spread of fake news by close allies and another on whether he sought to interfere with the federal police for personal interests. Bolsonaro, a former army captain, increasingly relies on members of the military to govern, currently giving them 10 of 22 senior positions in his Cabinet. He's also suggested that the country's military would stand with him if he were to disobey court orders. Mendes described a meeting he had with Bolsonaro in March to discuss the need for more coordination among the states, federal government and the courts to fight the pandemic. He says he found a president who was extremely concerned about the post-pandemic economy, and possibly about his re-election chances. "To me, he didn't seem to be acting in bad faith. He came across as an anguished soul, a tortured soul," he said. Members of Bolsonaro's inner circle, however, lack an understanding about the president's role and believe his office should have nearly imperial powers, Mendes said. The president's office declined to comment on that characterization. Yet Mendes says he isn't worried about an intervention in the democratic process, uninterrupted since the 1985 resumption of civilian government after more than 20 years of military rule. "The military of this generation are democratic," the judge said. Sana Shakil and Mayank Singh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: There has been a major spike in ceasefire violations across the Line of Control (LoC), according to the latest government data. Halfway into the year, Pakistan has already violated the ceasefire 2027 times. As many as 114 instances of ceasefire violations were witnessed along the LoC in the first 10 days of June as compared to 181 and 14 instances of ceasefire violations in the whole month in 2019 and 2018 respectively. The year 2019 recorded the highest number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the previous 16 years when the ceasefire agreement in place since 2003 was breached as many as 3168 times. The daily rate of ceasefire violations last year stood at an average of nine instances. But going by the current rate of violations, 2020 is likely to turn out even more volatile than the previous year. In 2018, the number of ceasefire violations stood relatively low at 1629. From January till June, the number of ceasefire violations have broken all records each month this year. ALSO READ | Pakistan violates ceasefire in J-K's Rajouri, Poonch and Kathua districts While there were 203, 215,267,234, and 221 instances of ceasefire violations in the months of January, February, March, April, and May 2019; instances of cross-border firings almost doubled every month this year. There were 367, 366, 411, 387, and 382 instances of ceasefire violations in January, February, March, April, and May 2020. Even under the COVID-19 situation, there was no let down in operations in Jammu and Kashmir and this let to engagements between the troops and terrorists. A lot of terrorists have been killed this year. Pakistan Army is restoring to such heightened ceasefire violation in a bid to increase the number of infiltration to create instability in the valley, said a source. As many as 98 terrorists have been killed while trying to infiltrate into the Indian territory or fomenting trouble in the border areas, government sources said. They added that Pakistan-backed terror outfits have tried to mislead people from the Kashmir valley into joining militancy ranks. Till May 31, 52 locals were allegedly recruited by terror organisations. In the previous year and a year before that, 119 and 219 locals were recruited by extremist outfits. The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named four new Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators. The recipients of this prestigious three-year award are outstanding early career physician-scientists conducting patient-oriented cancer research at major research centers under the mentorship of the nation's leading scientists and clinicians. Each will receive $600,000 to support innovative research with the potential to impact cancer diagnosis, prevention and treatment. In addition, Damon Runyon will repay an awardee's medical school debt up to $100,000. The Foundation also awarded Continuation Grants to two Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators for an additional two years of funding, totaling $400,000 each. The Continuation Grants are designed to support Clinical Investigators who are approaching the end of their original awards and need extra time to work on a promising avenue of research or a clinical trial. This program is possible through the generous support of the William K. Bowes, Jr. Foundation. "The quality of research proposed by our new Clinical Investigators is exceptionally strong. We are thrilled to be funding brave and bold physician-scientists who are taking risks to experimentally address the most important questions in cancer research and then translate them into improving patients' lives," says Yung S. Lie, PhD, Damon Runyon President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are helping to launch the careers of tomorrow's brightest cancer researchers." The Clinical Investigator Award program was designed to help address the shortage of physicians capable of translating scientific discovery into new breakthroughs for cancer patients. Through partnerships with industry sponsors and its Accelerating Cancer Cures initiative, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has committed over $72 million to support the careers of 108 physician-scientists across the United States since 2000. 2020 Clinical Investigators Todd A. Aguilera, MD, PhD, with mentors Robert D. Timmerman, MD, and Yang-Xin Fu, MD, PhD, at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas There is a critical need for new therapeutic approaches to treat advanced stage rectal cancer, which has increased incidence in younger people and poor prognosis. Working with a multidisciplinary team, Dr. Aguilera is leading a randomized clinical trial that combines an anti-CD40 agonist immunotherapy with radiation and chemotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer. The drug aims to activate the protein CD40 on dendritic cells which plays a critical role in generating T-cell immunity. As part of the study, Dr. Aguilera is investigating the factors that influence a patient's immune response to this combination treatment with the goal of optimizing therapy for difficult gastrointestinal cancers. If the proposed treatment is successful, it could become a new therapeutic standard that lowers the risk of metastasis, improves survival, shortens the treatment course and potentially avoids the need for surgery. Anusha Kalbasi, MD, with mentors Antoni Ribas, MD, PhD, and Christine Brown, PhD, at University of California, Los Angeles Immune checkpoint inhibitors, a standard of care for metastatic melanoma, release the brakes on a patient's T cells, so they can attack a tumor. Some patients, however, relapse when resistance to treatment occurs. Dr. Kalbasi will lead a clinical trial to test a new immunotherapy treatment approach for patients with this deadly skin cancer, who did not respond to standard therapies. He will identify patients whose melanoma tumor cells express a protein called IL13Ra2. He will then collect the patient's immune T cells, engineer them to identify tumor cells that express the protein and reinfuse the T cells to kill tumor cells inside the patient. In contrast to immune checkpoint inhibitors that require regular intravenous doses, these engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are a one-time treatment that theoretically protect the body for life. This clinical trial may also offer insights on how CAR T therapy overcomes tumor resistance mechanisms to treat patients with metastatic melanoma. Birgit Knoechel, MD, PhD, with mentors Kimberly Stegmaier, MD, and Catherine J. Wu, MD, at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Cancer cells harboring many genetic changes in their DNA often express novel proteins called neoantigens that activate the immune system to recognize and attack the tumor. Based on this mechanism, researchers are developing novel treatments to stimulate the immune system's response against a tumor, but this approach may not work for pediatric cancers that carry few genetic mutations. Dr. Knoechel's research is investigating alternative ways neoantigens can be generated, such as splicing or epigenetic changes, which occur frequently in leukemia and pediatric cancers. She is focusing on T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), an aggressive blood malignancy in children and young adults that frequently stops responding to treatment causing relapse. Her research aims to identify mechanisms of immune "exhaustion" when T-cells stop fighting a tumor, define neoantigens generated by non-genetic mechanisms, and develop novel strategies to target non-genetic neoantigen expression. This research may lead to novel immunotherapy strategies for pediatric tumors. Yvonne M. Mowery, MD, PhD, with mentor David G. Kirsch, MD, PhD, at Duke University, Durham Head and neck cancers usually begin in the squamous cells that line the mucosal surfaces inside the mouth, nose and throat. Even with aggressive treatment including surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, these tumors often recur with poor prognosis. Dr. Mowery will use patient samples and mouse models to investigate why these cancers are resistant to radiation treatment and to test new therapeutic approaches to improve outcomes for patients. She will also conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of using a combination of a radiation sensitizer (a drug that makes cancer cells more vulnerable to radiation therapy), radiation therapy and immunotherapy to treat patients with recurrent head and neck cancer. In addition, the Committee recommended funding two Continuation Grants: Vinod P. Balachandran, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York "Recombinant interleukin-33 immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer" with mentors Steven D. Leach, MD, and Jedd D. Wolchok, MD, PhD Piro Lito, MD, PhD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York "Modeling responses to targeted ERK signaling inhibition at the single-cell level" with mentors Neal X. Rosen, MD, PhD, and Charles M. Rudin, MD, PhD ### DAMON RUNYON CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION To accelerate breakthroughs, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation provides today's best young scientists with funding to pursue innovative research. The Foundation has gained worldwide prominence in cancer research by identifying outstanding researchers and physician-scientists. Twelve scientists supported by the Foundation have received the Nobel Prize, and others are heads of cancer centers and leaders of renowned research programs. Each of its award programs is extremely competitive, with less than 10% of applications funded. Since its founding in 1946, the Foundation has invested over $375 million and funded more than 3,750 young scientists. Last year, we committed nearly $22 million in new awards to brilliant young investigators. 100% of all donations to the Foundation are used to support scientific research. Administrative and fundraising costs are paid with revenue from the Damon Runyon Broadway Tickets Service and our endowment. For more information visit damonrunyon.org CONTACT Meghan McCurdy Director, Communications and Marketing It is clear that political rights are the main rights of citizens of the Republic of Armenia that have been restricted during the 90-day state of emergency. This is what member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun political party Artsvik Minasyan told reporters today. Minasyan is among the public and political figures protesting against the apprehension of lawyers who were protesting in front of the parliament today. The inaction that the authorities showed during the first days of the fight against the coronavirus attests to the fact that the governments policy on preventing the spread of the virus and maintaining peoples health is a failure, and we believe automatic extension of the state of emergency without serious analyses is inadmissible. Automatic extension of the period of state of emergency is a gross violation of the Constitution and an attempt to conceal own irresponsibility. The governments irresponsibility has posed and is posing serious threats to the society and economy and external threats, he said. Several dozens of citizens gathered near the police station after four lawyers were apprehended while protesting in front of the Armenian parliament, and some of those citizens were apprehended a short while ago. As reported earlier, lawyers Ruben Melikyan, Robert Hayrapetyan, Armen Galstyan, and Babken Harutyunyan were apprehended while they were protesting in front of the National Assembly, and demanding to permit the holding of peaceful rallies in a state of emergency. These lawyers were standing at a social distance from each other, holdingin their words"solitary actions," emphasizing that they do not violate any restrictions imposed by the Commandant of the state of emergency. However, the police claimed that this action of theirs was a violation of the ban on rallies, and if the demonstrators did not stop it, they would be detained. The National Assembly is currently debating on the government's decision to extend the state of emergency in Armenia for another month. The aforesaid lawyers are urging the MPs to demand, during the debates, that the restrictions on rallies be lifted. A state of emergency has been declared in Armenia since March 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic. And according to the decision of the Commandant, all types of gatherings are prohibited during this period. The deceased has been identified as Vinesh Kumar, 25. According to sources, an Indian man has also been detained by the Nepal police. Sitamarhi (Bihar) June 12 (IANS) Amid an ongoing dispute between India and Nepal, an Indian farmer from Bihar's Sitamarhi district was killed while two others were injured in indiscriminate firing by the Nepal police at the India-Nepal border on Friday. According to the police, the Nepal armed police near the Jankinagar border resorted to firing while the farmers were working in the field. Sources said following the incident, tension has increased in the area. Sitamarhi Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar told IANS that the injured have been admitted to hospital, where they are said to be out of danger. He said that three persons were injured in the firing and all were brought to the hospital. During treatment, one of the injured succumbed to his injuries. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel and additional forces have been deployed along the India-Nepal border following the firing incident. IG Sanjay Kumar of the SSB, Patna Frontier, told IANS that the reason behind the firing was not yet clear. Citing the villagers, he said that a person Lagan Rai went to the border with his son to meet a female relative. Suddenly, a heated argument took place between Rai and the Nepal police personnel following which the firing took place. IG Kumar was told by the villagers that Nepal police has taken Lagan Rai along with them. Kumar said the Nepal police alleged that these people were trying to snatch their weapons. He added that senior police officers have reached the spot and were monitoring the situation. The India-Nepal border along Bihar usually remains open and movement of people takes place as well. However, due to the coronavirus-triggered crisis, precautions are being taken along the border since the last few days. --IANS hindi-pgh/bg India and the United States can work together not to fight an "authoritarian" China but to make it observe the rule of law, former US diplomat and Harvard professor Nicholas Burns said on Friday in a conversation with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "I think that India and the US can be working together. Not as you say not to fight China, but to make it observe the rule of law as we try to live together in this world," he told Gandhi as part of the series of interactions by the Congress leader. Gandhi said the Indo-US partnership works because being tolerant was in their DNA, but that level of tolerance, which was seen before, is not being seen now in both the countries. "We're supposed to accept new ideas. We're supposed to be open, but the surprising thing is that DNA, that open DNA, is sort of disappearing. I mean, I say this with sadness that I don't see that level of tolerance that I used to see. I don't see it in the United States and I don't see it in India," Gandhi observed. His remarks came in the wake of countrywide protests in the US over the death of African-American George Floyd in police custody. The Indo-US relationship, which used to be a partnership earlier, now seems to have become "very transactional" and "episodic", the former Congress chief said. "A relationship that used to be very broad -- education, defence, healthcare, multiple fronts -- has sort of focused down mainly on defence," Gandhi said. Burns, the former US under-secretary of State and the chief negotiator of the India-US nuclear deal under the Bush administration, said not just the governments of the US and India, but their societies were very closely intertwined and that is a great strength. "If you think that one of the challenges we face is the coming power of authoritarian countries. I mentioned two before, China and Russia. We never want to fight, we don't want war but we want to preserve our way of life and we want to preserve our positions in the world," he said. Burns asserted that this is the reason the relationship between India and the US is important. The US and Indian governments should combine forces to promote human freedom, democracy and rule of people in the world, he said and called for encouraging movement of people and exchanges between the two countries. "I think that is a powerful idea that Indians and Americans can bring together to the rest of the world. Again, you know, we are not looking for a conflict with China, but we are waging, in a way, a battle of ideas with China," Burns said. During the conversation, Gandhi also hit out at the divisions prevailing in both the countries, saying they weaken nations. "When you divide African Americans, Mexicans and other people in the United States, so you divide Hindus and Muslims and Sikhs in India, you're weakening the structure of the country. But then the same people who weaken the structure of the country say tt they are the nationalists, he said. Pathogens that attack agricultural crops show remarkable adaptability to new climates and new plant hosts, new research shows. Researchers at the Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter studied the temperature preferences and host plant diversity of hundreds of fungi and oomycetes that attack our crops. The researchers found that plant pathogens can specialise on particular temperatures or host plants, or have wide temperature or host ranges. Lead author Professor Dan Bebber, a member of Exeter's Global Systems Institute, said: "Traditionally, scientists have considered species to be specialists or generalists. "Generalists are sometimes called 'Jack of all trades, master of none'. Our analyses show that many plant pathogens are 'Jack of some trades, master of others'." Tom Chaloner, an SWBIO DTP PhD student, said: "We have collated the largest dataset on plant pathogen temperature responses, and made this available for the scientific community. "Our data allow us to test some of the most fundamental questions in ecology and evolution. "For example, we found that temperature preferences are narrower when pathogens are growing within plants, demonstrating the difference between the so-called fundamental niche and the realised niche." The researchers used recently-developed statistical methods to investigate the co-evolution between pathogens and their hosts, showing that pathogens can readily evolve to attack new host plants. "In an era of growing global population size, climate change and emerging threats to crop production and food security, our findings will be key to understanding where and when pathogens could strike next," said co-author Professor Sarah Gurr. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- What was already a tough week for Intel Corp. got worse Thursday night: One of the chip giants most essential employees left the building. Intel announced top chip architect Jim Keller resigned effective immediately for personal reasons after only two years on the job. The company didnt specify exactly why but added the executive would serve as a consultant for six months to help with the leadership transition. Kellers departure is a big deal. No one else in the semiconductor industry has his pedigree of chip-engineering success over the last two decades. In the late 1990s, he designed Digital Equipments Alpha chip, which was the fastest in the world at the time. Then, after stints as lead chip architect at Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and PA Semi, he led the team at Apple Inc. that created the A4 and A5 mobile processors, which were instrumental to the success of the early iPhones. After Apple, he returned to AMD and helped design the Zen microarchitecture, laying the groundwork for the companys turnaround. And prior to joining Intel in 2018, the executive was the head of Tesla Inc.s Autopilot efforts. The surprising resignation came after other momentous news for Intel earlier this week. On Tuesday, Bloomberg News reported that Apple was on the verge of announcing plans to use its own chips over Intels in Macs starting next year. That day I wrote about how Apples move would have multiple negative ramifications for Intels chip business. But the Keller announcement may be even more worrisome for Intels long -term future. When Keller arrived at Intel, his reputation reassured investors that the chipmaker would improve upon its lackluster technology execution in recent years. The vertically integrated company, which manufactures and designs its own chips, had fallen behind on both fronts. First, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. surpassed Intel in its capabilities to manufacture chips at smaller, more advanced semiconductor processes. Second, AMDs latest chip designs have proven to offer better performance, along with lower energy consumption, spurring the beginning of market-share losses for Intel. According to Mercury Research, AMD has wrested nearly 2 percentage points of desktop PC processor share from Intel over the last year. Story continues In another sign of the sea change in technical prowess, last month Nvidia Corp. decided to choose an AMD server processor for its latest artificial intelligence computer. It marked the first time Nvidia didnt choose Intel for its AI system, and it is especially noteworthy because AMD is Nvidias primary competitor in the graphics semiconductor space. Nvidia said it went with AMD because of its better performance. The next few years will be critical as chipmakers jockey for position in dynamic markets from cloud computing to AI, autonomous cars to visual graphics computing. With Intels current lineup falling behind, Kellers resignation couldnt come at a worse time. Industry analysts say it takes about four years for a chip architect to truly make its mark on a product pipeline. That makes Kellers short tenure particularly problematic. Intel needed his experienced hand to guide the final stages of development for its next generation of chips. It simply cant afford to lose him now. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Tae Kim is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. He previously covered technology for Barron's, following an earlier career as an equity analyst. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Up to 25,000 hospital patients were discharged to care homes without testing during the height of the pandemic, an independent Whitehall report has established. MPs from both parties condemned the findings from the National Audit Office (NAO), which also found that the government ignored calls in 2019 to stockpile personal protective equipment (PPE). The NAO report established that, for an entire month, medically fit patients who did not display any Covid-19 symptoms were discharged without being tested. This policy, which sought to free up hospital beds for coronavirus patients, ran from 17 March and 15 April before it was changed. Due to government policy at the time, not all patients were tested for Covid-19 before discharge, with priority given to patients with respiratory illness or flu-like symptoms, the watchdog said. Jeremy Hunt, chairman of the Commons Health and Social Care Committee and a former health secretary, said it seems extraordinary that no one appeared to consider the clinical risk to care homes despite widespread knowledge that the virus could be carried asymptomatically. Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the Commons public accounts committee, said care homes had been left at the back of the queue for both PPE and testing. Residents and staff were an afterthought yet again: out of sight and out of mind, with devastating consequences, the Labour MP said. It is not known how many of the 25,000 discharged patients were carrying Covid-19, but the NAO noted that, as of 17 May, one in three care homes had declared a coronavirus outbreak, with more than 1,000 homes dealing with positive cases during the peak of infections in April. The North East was the worst affected region, with almost half its care homes reporting an outbreak by the middle of May. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it took the right decisions at the right time. Plans to distribute PPE during the pandemic were also undermined due to the failure of officials to heed independent advice on the stockpiling of gowns and visors, the report established. The New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), which was advising the DHSC, recommended in June last year that Public Health England (PHE) should increase its PPE supples and switch from glasses to visors. In February, PHE had 41,500 pairs of gloves, 25,700 pairs of eye protectors and 156,000 facemasks. By the end of April, supplies for these items had been depleted, the report said. The department [DHSC] told us that the manufacture and supply of PPE has for many years been based on just in time procurement and manufacturing principles, it added. Care homes were particularly overlooked in the distribution of PPE. Figures show that 8 per cent of gloves and 5 per cent of eye protectors from central stocks were directed to care homes. Only health providers demands for face masks and clinical waste bags were met in terms of the modelled PPE requirements for the reasonable worst-case scenario during the outbreak. The NAO also highlighted the problematic relationship between social care and the NHS. We have reported on successive efforts to integrate the two sectors: there have been 12 government white papers, green papers and consultations, and five independent reviews on integration over the past 20 years, the report said. Going into the pandemic, meaningful integration was still to occur, however, and the lack of it has made responding to the crisis more difficult in a number of ways. Similarly, the number of bodies, both national and international, involved in acquiring PPE made the process of procurement more onerous, the NAO said. Labours shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth said the NHS had entered the Covid-19 crisis exposed after years of under funding, bed cuts and with huge staff shortages. Susan Masters, a director at the Royal College of Nursing, said: Without the extraordinary efforts of nursing staff across health and social care, the impact of Covid-19 could have been worse. Recommended NHS patients face diagnosis delays because of surge in screening But this report shows nursing staff were let down by a system ill-prepared to tackle this pandemic. Years of under-investment means social care was left exposed. A DHSC spokesperson defended the governments handling of the pandemic and said it had stepped in to reduce care home transmission. We have been working tirelessly with the care sector throughout to reduce transmission and save lives and a result 60 per cent of care homes have had no outbreak at all, according to the latest Public Health England statistics, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the numbers used for judging PPE supply in the NAO report were misleading, stating: The modelled PPE requirements presented in this report are theoretical worst case estimates it is misleading to compare them to figures on centrally procured PPE which do not account for equipment supplied through other routes or existing local stocks. Ukraine must launch tenders for sale of at least two large SOEs by late 2020 IMF memo 14:20, 12.06.20 7071 Ukraine has also committed to continue with the sale of small companies and assets and leasing of state property through open, competitive and transparent two-tier electronic auctions (ProZorro.Sale). The man accused of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe told an American woman he was living in fear of police coming to his New York apartment "because he had shot a cop in Ireland", the trial has heard. Molly Staunton (24) was in a relationship with a housemate of Aaron Brady (29) in the summer of 2016 when he is alleged to have told her that he was "carrying around guilt having murdered a cop in Ireland". The witness, who was giving evidence via video link from her home in New York, told the Central Criminal Court that Mr Brady said "he was the most feared man in Ireland". However, under cross-examination she agreed with defence counsel when it was put to her that Mr Brady was concerned and upset that gardai were looking for him and that he "never made any admission having carried out that shooting". Robbery The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Donohoe, who was then a member of An Garda Siochana acting in the course of his duty, at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Dundalk, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. Expand Close Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe Mr Brady, of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, also denies robbery of around 7,000 in cash and assorted cheques from Pat Bellew at the same location on the same date. The court heard that Ms Staunton is an American citizen who lives in the Bronx but that her father is originally from Mayo and her mother from Clare. The witness said that in January 2016 she was aged 20 and in a relationship with Tommy McGeary, who was originally from Armagh, and that he lived in an apartment with Mr Brady in Woodlawn, the Bronx. Ms Staunton said another man who was also from Armagh, Ronan Flynn, lived at the property with her boyfriend and the accused. Expand Close Forensic gardai at thee scene of his shooting. Photo: Gerry Mooney / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Forensic gardai at thee scene of his shooting. Photo: Gerry Mooney The court heard Ms Staunton worked as a waitress at the Press Box pub in New York and that she socialised in bars including Behan's and the Rambling House, both in the Bronx. Ms Staunton said that one evening in July 2016 between 7pm and 8pm she was at her boyfriend's house, which she would visit almost daily. The witness said they were on a couch in the sitting room and that Mr Brady had come out of his bedroom. Ms Staunton said he was "intoxicated" and was "going kind of crazy" as well as "crying, going on a huge rant". She added that Mr Brady was "really in distress about his life, about his son and trying to be a good father". She said it was hard to understand his accent but that he was ranting about money and the future. The court heard that the accused had a girlfriend, Danielle Healy, who was from Kerry, and that she was expecting the couple's son at the time. Lead prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC then asked the witness what it was that she heard Mr Brady say. Ms Staunton replied: "He said that he was in fear of the cops coming to the apartment because he had shot a cop in Ireland and that he was worried that he didn't have enough money to take care of his son." She added that Mr Brady said "he was the most feared man in Ireland". The witness said she was "quite in shock" and she "didn't really believe it". Ms Staunton also told the court that Mr Brady said "he had murdered someone in Ireland and that he had to carry around that guilt having murdered a cop in Ireland". "He said he needed money, that he didn't want to be working in construction and that he wanted to be a good father," the witness told Mr Grehan. Agents "He said he wanted to be different than his own father and wanted to be a good father to his son. "Ronan tried to calm him down and he eventually went back into his room." The court heard that agents attached to US Homeland Security visited Ms Staunton's home in August 2017 looking for Tommy McGeary, who she was no longer in a relationship with. The witness said she told the agents that she had known Mr Brady and later made a statement to gardai. Ms Staunton said Mr McGeary moved out of the apartment in November and that Mr Brady moved out as well to live with Ms Healy. Under cross-examination from defence counsel Fiona Murphy SC, Ms Staunton said that she "got on fine" with Mr Brady but that they were not friends. Ms Murphy put it to the witness that her client "denies making any confession to you or to anyone else about shooting a guard" and that the reason he denies this is "because he never shot a guard". She also put it to Ms Staunton that Mr Brady was concerned that gardai were looking for him and that he "never made any admission himself having carried out that shooting", to which the witness said: "That is correct." The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and the jury of six men and seven women. Delhis Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal on Friday appointed a six-member advisory committee to suggest effective measures to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak in the city and to guide the augmentation of hospital beds. The decision by the L-G, who also heads the DDMA, came a day after Delhi recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases in a single day (1,877), which took the total number of Covid-19 cases to nearly 35,000. On the same day, the death toll in the city crossed the 1,000-mark. Members of the advisory committee set up by the L-G on Friday include Krishna Vatsa, member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA); Kamal Kishore, another member of the NDMA; Professor Balram Bhargava, director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); Dr Randeep Guleria, director of the All India Institute of Medical Science; Dr Ravindran, Additional DDG at the Directorate General of Health Services and Dr Surjit Kumar Singh, director of the National Centre for Disease Control. Bhargava shall be heading the committee, said a senior officer in the L-Gs office. A statement issued by the office of the L-G on Friday said: The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi today constituted an advisory committee of eminent experts under section 17 of DDMA Act to advise the DDMA on various aspects of COVID-19 management. The committee comprises eminent experts of varied fields. The expert committee will give their opinion on various challenges being faced in Delhi in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 and measures to ramp up medical infrastructure. The committee would also provide examples from global and national best practices. The L-G stated that the efforts being made by DDMA need to be bolstered by concerted planning, use of latest technology, efficient monitoring and seamless coordination amongst various agencies to overcome the challenge. Dr Guleria confirmed that he has been made a part of the committee. The Delhi government too had earlier appointed two five-member advisory committees. Both have submitted several reports to the Delhi government and they are both officially functional till date, a senior government official said. The first committee led by Dr SK Sarin was formed on March 27 to suggest measures to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak in the city. The second one led by Dr Mahesh Verma was formed on June 2 to help the government augment the citys health care infrastructure. Earlier this week, the L-G scrapped two Delhi government orders one reserving beds in hospitals run by the city government and private ones, except a few, for residents of Delhi, and the other on keeping asymptomatic contacts of Covid-19 patients outside the ambit of the testing policy. On Wednesday, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said Covid-19 cases in Delhi would touch 550,000 by July 31 and the city would need at least 150,000 beds if patients from other states are allowed treatment in the Capitals hospitals. AUGMENTATION & CONTAINMENT Earlier on Friday, in a review meeting with Kejriwal, Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain, and senior bureaucrats leading the DDMA, Baijal stressed on stricter surveillance of the 212 active containment zones in the city even as he told the Delhi government that augmentation of the citys hospital bed capacity should be its top-most priority at this stage, in the light of the sharp spike in Covid-19 cases. Most of Delhis containment zones are in the north revenue district (35). The northeast district, despite being the one with highest population density, has emerged as the only district currently with no active containment zones, government records showed. Four weeks ago, the city had less than 100 such zones. While north district magistrate Deepak Shinde did not respond to phones and text messages, northeast district magistrate Shashi Kaushal said there are currently no virus clusters in the revenue district, and most cases there are isolated instances, which did not necessitate sealing areas. But he added that the district administration will not hesitate to seal areas if clusters are noticed at any point. Jugal Kishore, head of the community medicines department in Safdarjung Hospital said, At this juncture, it is very important for the government to ensure that district surveillance teams stay active in containment zones and adequate staff from district medical teams are always available to guide them. They can consider using trained volunteers from within communities to monitor the efficiency of the surveillance and testing mechanism. Rapid action teams should continue to be active in data collection, contact tracing and surveillance, their analysis and interpretation, and guide the government. By IANS NEW DELHI: Posters often play a key role in signalling which way is the political wind blowing. In 2016, BJP National Executive in Uttar Pradesh posters featuring Varun Gandhi had irked Modi-Shah who saw it as Gandhi aspiring for the UP CM post. Much before Delhi poll counting began, state BJP had erected a massive Amit Shah poster that read "Victory doesn't make us egoistic, and defeat doesn't disappoint us". Many saw this as acceptance of defeat even before the counting started. Now, as 24 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh goes to bypoll, Jyoiraditya Scindia's ardent follower who switched side to BJP -- Tulsi Silawat, has put up BJP posters sans Scindia's face, sparking off speculations about "the Maharaja's role", if any, in this election that the Congress so desperately wanted to make it look like 'Scindia Vs Kamal Nath' battle. At the centre of the controversy are posters of Tulsi Silawat, Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Minister. He is expecting to contest from Indore on behalf of BJP this time. However, in the posters that are plastered across the constituency, all big and not-so-big BJP leaders find a place but the man who orchestrated his entry into BJP -- Jyotiraditya Scindia. ALSO READ: Jyotiraditya Scindia tests positive for COVID-19, admitted in Max hospital Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan to BJP national General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, even the area MP Shankar Lalwani finds a place but Scindia, whose very role in this crucial bypoll will come under scanner. "I will reiterate what I have been saying. His ardent supporters who were ready to do anything at one call of Scindia, have forgotten him," mocks Congress's state Spokesperson Narendra Saluja. He adds that those who joined BJP at the behest of Scindia have a new leader - Shivraj Singh Chauhan. The absence of Scindia in BJP posters that Congress wants to make into a direct fight between Scindia and Kamal Nath becomes even more stark as Chauhan has thrown his entire might behind Silawat, to get him selected. One recently purported video that created quite a storm where the Congress alleged Shivraj to be saying, "Central leadership has decided that the (Congress) government should fall" was made in Sanwer, the constituency of Scindia's trusted aide Silawat. In fact, former minister in Kamal Nath government, Jitu Patwari held a press conference to say, "During the Indore visit on Monday, Chief Minister Chouhan accepted before his party's activists from Sanwer that he toppled the government at the instance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President J.P. Nadda." But BJP rubbishes any suggestion of Scindia being sidelined within the BJP. Party's national Spokesperson Zafar ISlam told IANS: "These suggestions stem from Congress's insecurity. Mr Scindia's standing is well acknowledged within BJP. Together, we will make Congress lose all seats in the upcoming by poll in MP." However, it's not just about missing Jyotiraditya Scindia in BJP posters in Madhya Pradesh but also the way he is being addressed to, after his switch. Being a royal, during his decade-long stint in Congress, Scindia was addressed to either as "Maharajji" or "Srimant". That's definitely not the case in BJP. No wonder K.K. Mishra, who was appointed media in-charge in the Gwalior-Chambal area by the Congress, took a dig at him. He posted a tweet that said: "What a joke! The word 'Srimant' is missing from the name of the person who joined the BJP on March 11. His name is at the sixth place in the list of election coordination committee of the BJP. While the word 'Srimant' is very much there against the name of a candidate from Maharashtra -- Srimanta Udayana Raje Bhonsle!! joke?" Bhonsle is a BJP Rajya Sabha member. Scindia has also been away from the Gwalior-Chambal region -- his karmabhoomi, for the last few months owing to the nationwide lockdown and now admitted in hospital after being tested positive for corona. While this unavoidable absence from the ground may have given Scindia baiters an upper hand in Madhya Pradesh, but his trusted aide Silawat's poster without his face or name has only intensified speculations about the standing of the "Maharaja of Gwalior" in BJP. Ex-Samsung Electronics President Chang Won-kie recruited to China's ESWIN By Kim Hyun-bin Korean conglomerates are facing increasing pressure to retain their workers and protect key technologies as Chinese companies increase efforts to poach Korean talent to secure crucial information, especially in the electronics sector. Chinese firms have been known to recruit key personnel from local electronics powerhouses such as Samsung and LG, but this time it has upped the ante by recruiting former Samsung Electronics President Chang Won-kie, who worked at the tech giant for nearly 40 years. Former Samsung Electronics President Chang Won-kie Chang has been recruited for the vice chairman position at ESWIN, a Chinese organic light emitting diode (OLED) display driver integrated circuit (DDIC) manufacturer. The recent recruitment has put local semiconductor and display industries on their toes as China plans to speed up its technological development in the OLED sector. ESWIN was established in February last year by BOE founder Wang Dong-sheng and makes OLED DDICs. The DDIC is a key component of the OLED that controls the pixels that enhance picture quality. The technology is not only embedded in TVs but is an essential component in smartphones, smart watches and tablet PCs that are OLED based. Many industry watchers believe ESWIN, with Chang's help, will cooperate with other Chinese companies to enhance its OLED technologies. The high-level recruitment is worrisome as Samsung Electronics' DDIC sector has been ranked first in the market for 18 consecutive years. Many experts believe there is a high possibility Chinese firms will continue to poach key personnel from local tech giants to enhance its technology. "There is a regulation that prohibits employees from switching over to a competing firm within two years of leaving the company, but after that they are free to do so," an industry official said. "China has been offering close to double their salary, so more key personnel are expected to leave in the future." Chinese companies have been open about their desire to recruit local talent and one even placed a recruitment post on a local job search site: "BOE is looking for experienced workers who developed over 65-inch OLED panels." More than 100 former employees of Samsung and LG Electronics are working at BOE. Despite the controversy, Chang said he would not have taken the position if it required him to compete against Samsung. "Technology leaks? I am a Samsung man all the way," he said in an interview with local media. "I told them I won't be involved in work that is in competition with Samsung. "I have been close with BOE Chairman Wang Dong-sheng for over 10 years. I will be tasked with business consulting maybe one to two weeks a month. The company could later become a partner or customer of Samsung in the future." Chang joined Samsung in 1981. He headed the LCD department and the Chinese Samsung Electronics branch before his term as president ended in 2017. Former LGU+ Vice Chairman Lee Sang-chul A French researcher won an extended legal battle Friday for access to ex-president Francois Mitterrands archives on the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which Kigali accuses France of having played a role. Frances top administrative court, the State Council, ruled the documents would allow researcher and author Francois Graner to shed light on a debate that is a matter of public interest. The documents include notes written by the presidents advisers and minutes of government meetings. The ruling is the latest chapter in a long dispute between France and Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide in which some 800,000 people, mainly minority Tutsis but also moderate Hutus, were slaughtered in 100 days of ethnic violence committed mainly by Hutu extremists. Ahead of the genocides 20th anniversary in 2014, Rwandan President Paul Kagame accused Paris of having played a direct role in the assassination of then-president Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu, which sparked the bloodbath. The Tutsi leader said France took part in Habyarimanas execution, some say in a move to stoke anti-Tutsi sentiment. In November 2016, Kigali launched an inquiry into the alleged role of 20 French officials in the genocide. Victory for history France has always denied the allegations and last year, President Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a panel of historians and researchers to look into the claims. Graner, who has published widely on the genocide, first requested access to Mitterrands documents in 2015, the year the government under then-president Francois Hollande declassified archives on Rwanda for the period 1990-95. But the researchers request was refused, prompting him to file legal challenges that have failed until to now with courts upholding a law protecting presidential archives for 25 years after a leaders death. In the case of Mitterrand, who died in 1996, they would become available in 2021. Protection of state secrets must be balanced against the interests of informing the public about historic events, the State Council ruled. This is a victory for the law, but also for history, Graners lawyer Patrice Spinosi told AFP. Researchers like Mr Graner will be able to access president Mitterrands archives in order to fully understand Frances role in Rwanda in 1994 and 1995, he said. Serious errors of judgement Graner belongs to rights group Survie (Survival), which has vowed to shed light on Frances involvement in Rwanda before and during the genocide. Franco-Rwandan relations hit a low point in 2006 after a French judge recommended Kagame be prosecuted by a UN-backed tribunal over the 1994 killing of Habyarimana. The Rwandan President, who had led the Tutsi rebel force that eventually overthrew the genocidal Hutu regime, broke off ties with France for three years. The turning point came in 2010 when former president Nicolas Sarkozy acknowledged on a visit to Kigali that France had made serious errors of judgement in Rwanda. While falling short of an apology it was seen as a breakthrough in Rwanda. But Frances perceived foot-dragging on bringing genocide suspects living in the country to justice, has aggravated tensions. On May 16, the genocides alleged financier, Felicien Kabuga, was arrested at his home outside Paris after a quarter-of-a-century on the run. On June 3, a Paris court approved his transfer to a UN body for trial in Arusha, Tanzania. French-Rwandan former hotel driver Claude Muhayimana is set to go on trial in Paris in February next year, accused of having transported Hutu militiamen to sites where massacres were carried out. In the two other Rwandan genocide trials concluded in France, a former officer in the presidential guard, Pascal Simbikangwa, was given a 25-year sentence in 2014, while Octavien Ngenzi and Tito Barahira, two former mayors, received life sentences in 2016. 12. 6. 2020 cas cteni 1 minuta (For English, scroll below. This interview is in Czech with English subtitles.) "Nemuzeme dovolit algoritmum, aby znicily nase spolecnosti." Mistopredsedkyne Evropske komise Vera Jourova zverejnila tento tyden projekt boje proti dezinformacim a manipulaci na internetu. O podrobnostech tohoto programu s ni v tomto Rozhovoru Britskych listu hovori Bohumil Kartous. Rozhovor se vysila na Regionalni televizi, ktera je k dispozici satelitem, pozemnim vysilanim a na kabelu i na internetu, od patku 12. cervna 2020. "We cannot allow algorithms to destroy our societies." The European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova has published an EU project for the fight against disinformation and manipulation on the web this week. Bohumil Kartous from Britske listy discusses the details of the programme with her on a direct line from Brussels. The interview is conducted in Czech, there are English subtitles. It was broadcast by the Czech cable TV station Regionalnitelevize.cz from 12th June, 2020. Digital Trends, the widely read Portland technology news site, told its staff and readers Thursday that it has perpetuated a bro culture internally that failed critical voices including women and people of color among our staff. Facing an outcry from current and former employees over its corporate culture, Digital Trends pledged to take a series of steps to create a more equitable and welcoming work environment and to correct disparities in pay and staff representation. We acknowledge that our apology today is too late and does not right these wrongs. We understand that only by our action going forward can we rebuild the trust that has been lost, CEO Ian Bell and chief technical officer Dan Gaul wrote in the message, which Digital Trends posted on its homepage. Digital Trends will publish a public report next Friday on pay racial and gender pay disparities in its workforce, Bell and Gaul wrote. On the same day, they said, Digital Trends will release a plan to create a workforce that is demographically reflective of our society at large, including senior and leadership positions. Over the past week, at least two-dozen current and former Digital Trends staffers have tweeted about sexual harassment, racism and a generally hostile culture. The firestorm ignited when a former editor posted photos of chief operating officer Chris Carlson at a 2018 Gin and Juice party at the Portland headquarters. In the photos from the party posted online and videos viewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive, Carlson appeared with a bandana, black hat and a bottle in a paper bag in front of a poster of graffiti. He appeared to flash gang signs. What a joke. @DigitalTrends if you stand with black people start by making an environment where they'd like to work. Speaking from experience. Pictured below, your COO dressed as a racial stereotype at the "Gin and Juice" party you threw. He mocked black culture the whole night pic.twitter.com/HY1qCSDtom Corey Gaskin (@real_gaskin) June 5, 2020 Digital Trends apologized for the party in 2018 and Carlson apologized at a three-hour, all-hands company meeting Wednesday. And while Thursdays statement promises zero tolerance for racism, sexism or discrimination, the company said this week that it intends to retain Carlson and offer him an opportunity for redemption. That decision undermined Thursdays public apology, according to some former staffers writing on Twitter others still with the company. I don't understand why they continue to support this man, one current staffer said. This person, who asked not to be identified talking about the company, said the decision to stick with Carlson is undercutting Digital Trends employees and its business relationships. It is as if they continue to support this one person while turning their backs on us, the employee said. It is as if they are trying to jump ahead to healing a wound without taking the giant shard of glass out of it first. I dont think there can be any real change until people at the top, who have manifested and maintained a toxic culture, step down, former Digital Trends editor Julian Chokkattu tweeted Thursday. I don't think there can be any real change until people at the top, who have manifested and maintained a toxic culture, step down. These words are ... ones we have all heard time and time again.https://t.co/MebBimdiFd Julian Chokkattu (@JulianChokkattu) June 11, 2020 Digital Trends posts online technology news, gadget reviews and instructional guides. It employs 130, split among its downtown Portland headquarters and offices in New York and elsewhere. Digital Trends is among dozens of companies facing a public reckoning as the nation faces its fraught racial history in the wake of last months death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. In addition to efforts to improve workplace culture and diversify its staff, Digital Trends Thursday statement promised to prioritize technology stories related to underrepresented groups. Among other steps, the company said it is committed to minority representation on its board of directors. More important than our apology is a commitment to achieving these goals and continuing difficult conversations to move our culture forward, Bell and Gaul wrote. We are committed to the future based on lessons from the past as we make Digital Trends a place we are all proud of. Former Digital Trends editor Corey Gaskin, whose initial tweets last week rallied employees to express their own concerns, said Wednesdays town hall and Thursdays public statement left in place the conditions that created the problems. By retaining the current leadership group, Gaskin said the company is effectively protecting a brotherhood who produced the hostile work environment Digital Trends now says it is committed to dismantling. No one with a strong moral compass can feel safe or welcome at Digital Trends, Gaskin wrote in an email Thursday. -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699 Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Houston, Texas, June 12, 2020 (Peoples Daily Online) - The George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations (Bush China Foundation) announced on Friday that Florence Fang, a prominent California businesswoman, civic leader and philanthropist, will receive the George H.W. Bush Award for Lifetime Achievement in U.S.-China Relations. Florence Fang is interviewed by People's Daily Online at home. The Bush China Foundation is a nonprofit that seeks to advance U.S.-China relations in ways that reflect the ethos, spirit and values of U.S. President George H. W. Bush. This award is the latest in an award series created to recognize those individuals who have made profound contributions to the development of U.S.-China relations, and whose actions in this area exemplify the vision and attributes of Bush. In 2019, the inaugural George H.W. Bush Award for Statesmanship in U.S.-China Relations was presented to US President Jimmy Carter. Fang is being recognized for her decades of significant personal efforts to bridge the United States and China and deepen understanding between the peoples of the two countries. Florence Fangs lifetime of innovative efforts to bring together her birth mother, China, and her adopted mother, the United States, have greatly benefited both countries and their people, stated Neil Bush, founder and chairman of the Bush China Foundation and third son of President George H. W. Bush. A visionary and charismatic bridge-builder, Florence has played a unique and invaluable role in deepening U.S.-China understanding and friendshipsomething my father recognized and greatly valued. "Theres nobody like Florence Fang, stated Max S. Baucus, former United States senator and ambassador to the Peoples Republic of China. Her drive, her intelligence, her force for good inspires us all. Well always marvel at Florence Fang. The Bush China Foundation couldnt be more pleased and proud to honor Florence Fang, a living legend in the arena of U.S.-China people-to-people engagement, said David Firestein, inaugural president and CEO of Bush China Foundation. Florences vision, leadership, passion, dedication and philanthropic generosity in the service of building ever-stronger bonds between the peoples of the United States and China have made a real and meaningful difference in the lives of countless people in both countries and in the bilateral relationship itself. I am deeply honored to receive the George H. W. Bush Award for Lifetime Achievement in U.S.-China Relations, said Florence Fang. "The numerous opportunities I had to work closely with President Bush during his tenure in the White House are among my most cherished memories. No U.S. president had a deeper understanding of China than President Bush. Receiving this award and this recognition of my 60 years of efforts to bring the United States and China closer together means the world to me. I am humbled and most grateful for this honor. I dedicate this award to my two mother countries: my adopted mother, America, and my birth mother, China. In accordance with federal, state and local public health guidelines, an in-person award ceremony will not be held at this time. HONG KONG - Thousands of people across Hong Kong sang protest songs and marched on Friday to mark the one-year anniversary of a clash with police outside the semi-autonomous Chinese citys legislature. Hundreds of protesters gathered in the popular Causeway Bay and Mongkok shopping districts and in the Sha Tin shopping mall in the New Territories in the evening. In Causeway Bay, they held signs reading Heaven will destroy the CCP, referring to the ruling Chinese Communist Party. Riot police stood on standby as protesters shouted slogans and sang the protest anthem Glory to Hong Kong. In Mongkok and Causeway Bay, police raised a blue flag, warning that the gatherings were unlawful and force might be used to disperse the participants. Groups of protesters were detained and searched in Mongkok, and in Causeway Bay police used pepper spray and arrested a number of protesters, including pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui. Police said a total of 35 people were arrested for a variety of offences including unlawful assembly and possession of weapons. Earlier, more than 100 people joined a lunchtime protest in a luxury shopping mall in the Admiralty business district. They held flags reading Hong Kong independence and laid out a large banner saying The people fear not death, why threaten them with it? The protesters were commemorating a demonstration last year in which tens of thousands of protesters surrounded the legislative building, delaying the start of debate on an extradition bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters in one of the first violent clashes in what would become a monthslong push for greater democracy. The protest movement quieted down earlier this year as the coronavirus pandemic began, but picked up steam in recent weeks after Chinas ceremonial parliament agreed to enact a new national security law for Hong Kong, a former British colony. The government says the law is aimed at curbing secessionist and subversive behaviour in the city, as well as preventing foreign intervention in its internal affairs. Critics say it is an attack on the freedoms promised to Hong Kong when it was handed over to China in 1997. Hong Kong operates under a one country, two systems framework that gives the city rights not found on the mainland, such as freedom of speech and assembly. Earlier Friday, more than 100 students in the Kowloon district formed a human chain to protest the removal of a music teacher for allegedly allowing students to sing protest songs. On Thursday, three pro-democracy activists and a media tycoon who owns the Apple Daily newspaper, Jimmy Lai, were charged with inciting others to participate in an unauthorized assembly over a candlelight vigil last week marking Beijings 1989 crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square. Police banned the annual vigil for the first time in three decades, citing public health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of people turned up anyway. In Beijing on Friday, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying lashed out at the U.K. for issuing a regular six-month report on developments in Hong Kong. Hong Kong affairs are Chinas internal affairs. No foreign organization or individual has the right to intervene. The British side has no sovereignty, governance, supervision or so-called responsibility over Hong Kong, Hua said. Hua also defended the proposed national security legislation, saying Britain should face up to reality, respect Chinas sovereignty, security and integrity, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any way. The more external forces intervene in Hong Kong affairs, the more determined China is to advance the national security legislation in Hong Kong, Hua said. Statues are falling all over the place. Jefferson Davis was toppled by protesters in Virginia, Christopher Columbus was pulled from his pedestal next to the Minnesota state capitol, and in England a statue of Winston Churchill was vandalized, tagged with graffiti branding him a racist. Somehow the killing of George Floyd has focused attention, as previous horrors of racist violence inexplicably have not, on the sins that generations of myth-making have long swept aside so that all over America and elsewhere, scores of monuments to historical figures are being removed, some forcibly and some by official edict. A hopeful view sees this as overdue contrition on the part of America's dominant white European culture. Note, though, that these are symbolic acts, rather than concrete steps to fight racism and its consequences. Here in Albany, it's Philip Schuyler, a hero of the American Revolution, whose effigy will soon fall. Mayor Kathy Sheehan has ordered removal of the statue from its place of honor in front of City Hall, noting that Schuyler was a slaveholder. That's not news, of course; archaeologists in 2005 found remains of 14 unknown people on land north of the city known as Schuyler Flatts. They were reburied near the Hudson River four years ago beneath a headstone reading, "Enslaved in life, they are slaves no more." So it seems to posthumously honor those people, and the millions of others who were enslaved, if we find a more fitting home for the Schuyler statue perhaps in a museum, Sheehan suggests, where his story can be told in its full context: general, U.S. senator, enslaver. Maybe expunging these shrines to our deeply flawed forebears will help us truly confront our legacy of racism, colonialism and brutality. Maybe that, in turn, will yield a more just society now. But as to that first step, the downing of the monuments, many now wonder: Where will it end? About a hundred yards from the Schuyler statue, for example, at the eastern steps of the state Capitol, there's a monument to the Civil War Gen. Philip Henry Sheridan, who lived in Albany for a couple of years in his childhood. He is depicted valiantly on horseback, a pose that not only inflates Sheridan's physical stature but also overlooks his reputation among many as a war criminal: The term "barn burner," some etymologists say, came from his troops' devastation of a 400-square-mile area of Virginia, rendering it uninhabitable, leaving countless families homeless to freeze in winter. Does such inhumanity deserve the honor of a statue today at our state's seat of government? More to the point, if we exile the slaveholder Philip Schuyler from being memorialized in Albany, how can we tolerate the massive monuments to slaveholders George Washington and Thomas Jefferson on the National Mall in Washington? Or consider Mount Rushmore, the nation's "Shrine of Democracy" in my old home state of South Dakota. The heads of Washington, Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt carved in granite at a scale 60 times larger than life suggest that they were mythic heroes as, indeed, they each were in aspects of their lives. But not in all. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Consider a dark stain on Roosevelt's presidential record: In August 1906, a band of men shot up Brownsville, Texas, killing a bartender and wounding a police officer. For no good reason, African-American soldiers stationed at nearby Fort Brown were immediately suspected. Not one was ever charged. But the day before the 1906 midterm election, Roosevelt ordered all 167 men dishonorably discharged. A historian of the time calls it "the grossest single racial injustice of that so-called Progressive Era." The risk in glorifying historic figures is that we may lose our appreciation for the complexity of leadership and, indeed, of humanity. It's not possible that leaders deserving honor only lived in history, or that historic leaders were in all ways honorable. Better to see both politicians of the past and now as real people flawed in some ways, virtuous in others. So are we all. We can honor George Washington for his resolute leadership at the nation's founding, and Thomas Jefferson for his brilliant vision of a democracy, while admitting revulsion at their involvement in the immoral act of slaveholding. The reality of one does not negate that of the other. Yes, a museum might be a fitting place for Albany's General Schuyler. Or maybe we need another statue near City Hall, overlooking his one honoring the enslaved people of Schuyler Flatts. Belatedly, then, we would honor the black people who built America not as heroes, but with the recognition of their full humanity, which they were long denied, and which we all deserve. New Delhi: Fresh cases of coronavirus, for the first time, breached the 10,000 mark in India as the overall tally moved closer to 3 lakh. On Friday, India recorded its biggest jump of 10,956 cases and 396 deaths forcing state governments to scramble for fresh strategy to contain the new infections from multiplying. Amid speculations of a fresh lockdown by the state governments, some states like Maharashtra and Delhi clarified that there will not be a blanket lockdown. However, it is believed that the states may use some stringent methods to prevent mass movement of people in hotspots. As of now, Begin Again is in motion. @CMOMaharashtra Uddhav Thackeray ji has appealed to all citizens to ensure social distancing, so as to not get even close to a lockdown. Safety of citizens is and will be the only parameter, tweeted Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray while there was a similar tweet from CM office also. In Delhi, state health minister Satyender Jain said there are no plans for a fresh lockdown. But Delhi L-G Anil Baijal held a meeting with CM, chief secretary and other officials from the Delhi Police and Ministry of Home Affairs to discuss strategies for containment zone management. It was evident that there will be some strict measures to prevent unnecessary movement of people in some areas. Advised field officers to focus on proper delineation, strict perimeter control, intensified IEC, active house to house surveillance with special focus on high risk population for their effective management as per GoI guidelines, tweeted Baijal. In Delhi in areas that have reported higher cases and more deaths, state government has started imposing local "lockdown" by restricting movement of people in containment zones. He added that increasing bed capacity and improving medical resources is the topmost priority in handling the COVID-19 situation to ensure that a surge in cases does not overwhelm the city's healthcare system. The statement came soon after the Supreme Court pulled the Delhi government over its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak. The apex court also slammed Delhi and other states -- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Gujarat -- for lower number of tests and asked the state governments to let private labs to test to cover maximum population at the earliest. India till Friday morning had recorded 2,97,535 cases and 8,498 deaths, according to the Union Health Ministry data. The number of active cases is 1,41,842, while 1,47,194 have recovered, taking recovery rate to 49.47 per cent. However, as per worldometers.info, total cases in India were 300,821 and deaths were 8,531. Laney Graduate School Sociology doctoral student Emily Pingel admitted that as an undergraduate studying anthropology, she was often intimidated by the thought of participating in the overseas ethnographic work of her professors. As a graduate student, however, doing fieldwork abroad became pivotal to her research. Pingel was always enamored with conducting in-depth interviews for her research projects. She primarily focused on medical anthropology and her desire to understand how medicine and public health operate as institutions led her to attain her Master of Public Health at the University of Michigan. While at Michigan, Pingel and Dr. Jose Bauermeister, who currently works at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Nursing, conducted research with LGBTQ+ communities in Flint and Detroit. The research focused on HIV prevention and allowed Pingel to enhance her more qualitative skills with a quantitative approach. After completing her degree, she became the managing director of the University of Michigan's Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities. The work at Michigan motivated Pingel to come to Emory University to pursue a PhD in Sociology in the Laney Graduate School. At Emory, Pingel discovered a new approach to her research interests. "When I got to Emory, there was a strong contingent of folks across departments who were working in Brazil; and one of the things that interested me was pivoting my research, in addition to being domestic, to also doing international research in Brazil," she said. Pingel got her chance to make that pivot with Dr. Jeffrey Lesser, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of History and Director of the Halle Institute for Global Research. Lesser became a close collaborator and mentor. "Emily and I have moved from a student-professor relationship to more of a research partner relationship over the years," said Lesser. As a joint effort, the research partners worked together in a neighborhood within Sao Paulo, Brazil, called Bom Retiro (or good retreat), which is a hub for South and international immigrants (primarily people from Korea, Peru, Paraguay, and Bolivia). Pingel conducted her ethnography on the operations of a health post called the Unidade Basica de Saude ("Primary Health Unit") of Bom Retiro to understand how Brazilian community health workers interact with the immigrant residents of the neighborhood. Whereas Pingel looked at the entire area, Lesser's end of the project studied 150 years of history within one block of the community. "What we want to show is that the present situation in Bom Retiro may be a continuity over a long period of time," explained Lesser. "Because, if the issue is that people arrived from Bolivia yesterday, it's different than saying there's always some version of the people who arrived. Why do things stay the same?" The joint research between Lesser and Pingel demonstrates the necessity of adding historical context to sociological work. Both researchers believe the interchange of ideas throughout their stay in Sao Paulo played a crucial role in the rigor of their individual projects. In 2019, Pingle returned from her 15-month ethnographic research project in Sao Paulo with a more comprehensive understanding of how racism, poverty, and immigration impact caregiving within the city's health institutions. Pingel's research also left an impression on her co-advisor and Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Sociology, Dr. Ellen Idler. Both Pingel and Idler share a common interest in community-based methods of research. "I am primarily a quantitative researcher with older U.S. populations," explained Idler. "Emily's qualitative, ethnographic approach, and focus on adolescents and adults of all ages, in Brazil, has been horizon-broadening for me." Pingel's mentorship by both Lesser and Idler exemplifies the Laney Graduate School's dedication to promoting interdisciplinary studies. Now that Pingel has returned to the U.S., she will continue to work on her dissertation, including three articles that are influenced by her interdisciplinary experience and international research. The first article focuses on how health workers in Bom Retiro navigate their relationships with immigrant patients. The second article discusses social support and gender roles among a group of middle-aged and older adult women in Bom Retiro, and in her third piece, Pingel plans to examine the connection between housing and health in Bom Retiro. Now, as Pingel considers her future career options, she is open to all possibilities. She is exploring the opportunity to work for a federal agency such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or continuing on the path of academia. "I don't like to close any doors in advance," Pingel said. "I enjoy the academic freedom that being a graduate student has given me. I have had the opportunity to explore new ideas. I could never have imagined that I would have these kinds of experiences, and I think that's an incredibly special gift." Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 01:02:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHICAGO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chicago-based Grubhub has agreed to be acquired by Just Eat Takeaway.com, an Amsterdam-based food delivery company, in a 7.3-billion-U.S.-dollar deal. The combined company, to be headquartered in Amsterdam and with a North American headquarters in Chicago, will become the largest online food delivery platform outside China, the Chicago Tribune reported on Wednesday. Grubhub CEO and founder Matt Maloney will join Just Eat Takeaway.com's board and lead the North American office, according to the report. The deal needs to be approved by shareholders of each company, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021. Grubhub, an American online and mobile food ordering and delivery marketplace that connects diners with local takeout restaurants, offers services in more than 4,000 cities in the United States. The company reported a loss of more than 33.4 million dollars in the first quarter of this year, compared with a 6.9-million-dollar profit in the year-ago period. Just Eat Takeaway.com operates in Europe, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand and Israel. The company does not have a presence in the United States. Enditem TICKERS: LXS, SLL; STLHF Source: The Critical Investor for Streetwise Reports (6/12/20) The Critical Investor takes a look at the current dynamics of the lithium market, and speaks with the Standard Lithium's CEO about the firm's latest news. After Standard Lithium Ltd. (SLL:TSX.V; STLHF:OTCQX) managed to close an almost two-times oversubscribed CA$12.1 million capital raise on Feb. 21, 2020, the company is financed at least into the "proof of concept" completion of its demonstration plant, and the subsequent consummation of the formal joint venture (JV) with Lanxess AG (LXS:DE). The timing couldn't have been better, as the COVID-19 pandemic gathered speed at the same moment, severely dampening sentiment at, for example, the mining industry's premier event, PDAC, in the first week of March. With the funding secured, Standard Lithium proceeded as quickly as possible, abiding by COVID-19 measures at the Lanxess location, resulting in the announcement on May 19, 2020, of the successful commissioning and commencement of continuous 24/7 operation of the demonstration plant, first of its kind at this scale, this month. In the meantime, lithium product prices kept on falling, so as these are interesting times, it certainly is time for an update, further illustrated by input from CEO Robert Mintak. All presented tables are my own material, unless stated otherwise. All pictures are company material, unless stated otherwise. All currencies are in U.S. dollars (USD), unless stated otherwise. Standard Lithium recently announced the successful start-up of the industrial-scale direct lithium extraction demonstration plant at Lanxess' South Plant facility in southern Arkansas (the site) on May 19, 2020. This plant, using LiSTR direct lithium extraction technology, had been successfully commissioned on May 15, 2020 and is now operating on a 24/7 basis, extracting lithium directly from the tail brine of Lanxess' bromine operations. Standard Lithium is now involved in systematic optimization to fine-tune the plant, which is a highly automated, three-story demonstration plant including an integrated office, control room and laboratory, and investigate how performance can be improved further. The most important features of the technology, per the news release, are that it: Produces lithium chloride (LiCl) directly from unconcentrated raw brine; Reduces recovery time from months to less than a day; Eliminates the massive environmental footprint of evaporation ponds; Returns virtually all water to the source aquifer; Is not affected by weather conditions; Vastly increases recovery efficiencies to as much as 90%; and, Unlocks large-scale unconventional brine resources. The demonstration plant is capable of an annual production of between 100-150 tonnes per annum of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). To be clear, the LiSTR demonstration plant extracts lithium from the Lanxess tail brine stream and produces a high purity lithium chloride solution (LiCl), similar to the output of the evaporation ponds process but much faster, done in hours instead of many months. The LiCl will be sent off-site and converted via a third party to battery-quality, 99.5%-purity lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). The commercial operation would incorporate an onsite Li2CO3 conversion plant. Standard Lithium is working on its own Li2CO3 technology called "SiFT". The SiFT technology utilizes processes from the pharma industry and includes artificial intelligence and robotics to self-optimize the crystallization process. A news release in March announced that a prototype pilot plant produced a better than 99.9% purity Li2CO3. Depending on the success of testing, either the SiFT plant or a standard plant will be constructed after the construction decision has been made. In the meantime, the company is actively monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and working closely with Lanxess to implement preventative measures at the site to safeguard the health of its employees and contractors. This results, for example, in funny site visit pictures like this: Site visit at demonstration plant site Some of the measures being put into place include: Continuing operations at the site with the minimum staff present onsite as required; Screening all contractors and external visitors to site for risk factors, as well as employees returning on shift change; Requiring employees who show symptoms or are in close contact with someone with symptoms to stay home from work; Suspension of all international travel and requiring employees returning from travel outside of the USA or Canada to self-isolate for the government recommended 14-day self-quarantine period; Implementing work-from-home practices where possible, including ongoing process engineering and optimization work at the company's LiSTR demonstration plant; Reducing in-person meetings and transitioning to videoconferencing where possible, as well as restricting any large gatherings; Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols at the site on hard surfaces and especially at touch-points; and, Promoting personal preventative measures, such as frequent handwashing, and increasing awareness of social distancing practices. According to CEO Robert Mintak, the impact of COVID-19 on the project has been managed exceptionally well, with the technical team in Canada working virtually with the operations team in Arkansas. The impact to the timeline has been about eight weeks, but compared to peers that have been largely stalled or halted during the pandemic, Standard was able to push further ahead. A preliminary feasibility study that has been planned has been impacted by the travel ban. A release date will not be certain until international travel returns to somewhat normal. I feel this is very reasonable, and even in line with normal project/study delays across the board of junior mining companies. The real outbreak of COVID-19 in March didn't leave the Standard Lithium chart unharmed, as can be seen here: Share price; 3-year timeframe Looking in hindsight, the mid-March panic was a perfect buying opportunity. But many were probably expecting much more bad news, or a limited dead cat bounce at best, as the U.S., as the leading economic power, was gearing up to become the epicenter of the pandemic, with a president who initially denied a crisis and compared COVID-19 with the flu. The difference is there is a vaccine against influenza, and not against COVID-19. However, the virtually unlimited financial support programs from the central banks and governments seemed to provide sufficient oxygen for the markets, resulting in strong and lasting recoveries of indices and almost all individual stocks. For now, Standard Lithium has fully recovered and more, reaching highs not seen since Q4/2018, and is working toward the all-important technology proof of concept, the consummation of the JV with Lanxess and a final investment decision. As a reminder: This demonstration plant is roughly designed at 1/60 scale of the target production capacity of the first phase of commercial production, and should provide sufficient testing data this quarter for a planned, upcoming prefeasibility study (PFS). If the testing is successful and the JV formed, it should be a straight path for the contemplated phased commercial production development, after the investment decision would have been made by Lanxess. The base-case economics used indicate a pretty robust lithium project. At a capex of US$437 million, an operation can be constructed with an after-tax net present value 8 (NPV8) of US$989 million, and an after-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of 36%, based on an average, long-term LCE price of US$13,550/ton (US$13,550/t). However, we are nowhere near such lofty price levels anymore, unfortunately. In this useful article by Matt Bohlsen on Seeking Alpha, we can find a monthly update on lithium pricing, which I find to be very useful when doing due diligence on lithium companies: Fastmarkets quotes an LCE price of US$7,500/t (coming down from US$8,750/t in February), and lithium hydroxide prices of US$9,750/t . Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI) has April prices at US$6,582/t for Li carbonate (coming down from US$7,922/t in February), US$9,125 for Li hydroxide, and US$420 for spodumene (6%). What I find fascinating is that the hydroxide price gap with carbonate remains constant in absolute terms, resulting in a larger and larger relative difference, potentially indicating higher fees being calculated by converters in Asia. The trend keeps following a downward path, including a new drop in April/May, probably caused by COVID-19 fallout, as can be seen here in this chart coming from Fastmarkets (paid for link, chart provided by Bohlsen on Seeking Alpha.com): As the lithium carbonate market seems to be oversupplied, and demand is weakening further due to COVID-19, the short-term outlook isn't particularly healthy. For the long term, I have seen market scenarios contemplating US$9,00010,000/t LCE, but we aren't there yet. Therefore I again reworked the lithium sensitivity, where three scenarios are presented, the 20.9kt LCE pa (per annum) base case, and the hypothetical 30kt LCE pa expansion scenarios, as I calculated them in my first article on the company: A current US$7,228/t LCE price, which is roughly a midpoint of Fastmarkets and BMI estimates, would generate a hypothetical NPV8 of about zero, and a hypothetical post-tax IRR of 9.2%, which would render the project not economic, as lithium projects usually need an IRR of at least 25%. As the Lanxess project has one of the best economics for lithium projects around, almost no project is economic these days. These figures are based on 100% project-ownership economics. As stated in the past, Lanxess is committed to provide project finance to the JV when testing and the PFS are successful for them, and Standard will probably be an estimated 30% JV partner (according to company documents filed on SEDAR). I asked CEO Robert Mintak this, and other questions, in the following short interview: The Critical Investor (TCI): Thanks for taking the time to conduct this short interview. First I wanted to ask you for a quick update on several basic items. Could you tell us what your current cash position, after raising CA$17.1 million in Q4/2019-Q1/2020? Robert Mintak (RM): We closed a non-brokered financing in February for just over CA$12 million, which has allowed us to continue advancing the project. We have a team of roughly a dozen at the plant in El Dorado and a handful working in Canada. At the end of Q3, March 31, 2020, we had roughly CA$7 million, which we are deploying strategically to achieve our immediate milestones while managing the runway. TCI: Could you explain to us what optimization steps you and your team are undertaking, and to what kind of improvements these could lead, possibly in terms of NPV/IRR increase, or capex/opex decreases? (RM): Without going into a lengthy description, the ongoing operations, testing and optimization steps are similar to any piloting stage. On the LiSTR process specifically we will be testing for effective lithium recoveries, concentration and purity, residence time in the loading, washing and stripping reactors, water and energy consumption, and adsorbent life cycle performance and reagent recovery and optimization. TCI: When do you expect to get publishable useful numbers on costs, finally showing commerciality of the proprietary extraction process, maybe not at current LCE prices but, for example, at US$10,000/t levels? RM: The price today of battery-quality lithium carbonate is not the same as what is being reported. Pricing out of Japan and Korea is above $10,000. We will be modeling the project economics based upon well-thought and researched pricing models for battery-quality (BQ) lithium over the next number of years. COVID-19 has had an impact on the sales of electric vehicles (EVs) and other consumer goods, however, the economy coming out the pandemic will be different than the economy prior. EVs and renewable energy, which includes stationary storage, have been prioritized as part of new era of dirigisme that is being displayed by many of the world's largest economies. The lack of investment in the raw material supply chain, new lithium production, along with importance of localizing production and decoupling from China-centric critical supply, will elevate the value of a U.S. producing lithium asset. TCI: What about the SiFT pilot processing plant? Do you still anticipate delivery to the Arkansas site in mid-Q2, or did COVID-19 slow things down here as well? RM: The SiFT plant is fully mechanically built and paid for. We will begin commissioning soon. Instead of shipping the plant to Arkansas as originally contemplated, because of the COVID travel restrictions, we will commission the plant in Canada by shipping LiCl from Arkansas to Canada. The same results, but this will save money and time. We will at some point, when travel returns to normal, ship the SiFT plant for installation in Arkansas. TCI: When is the PFS expected? Try to be as specific as possible. RM: COVID travel restrictions will determine the PFS timing. The PFS will require site visits by several qualified persons (QPs). With the current pandemic and other elements it would be out of place to provide a specific timeline. TCI: If possible, could you indicate to the audience your expectations for PFS economics, as compared to PEA economics? RM: The PEA that was released in Q3/2019 took a very conservative stance. We believe the data from the demonstration plant, combined with some other key cost input efficiencies like reagent recovery, will improve the already attractive project numbers by a healthy percentage. TCI: As mentioned in the paragraph before this interview, prices for lithium products have dropped off significantly, even rendering the project uneconomic. I know you are optimizing project economics, but a drop from US$10,000 being the minimum of being economic, to US$7,000 nowadays, is probably more than can be restored by optimization. How are you dealing with this, and more importantly maybe, do you know how Lanxess is dealing with this? Do they have a certain higher-price scenario for the long-term future in their heads, and will continue with a construction decision as long as a certain minimum LCE price will result in an economic project? RM: As I mentioned earlier, I disagree with the sub-$10,000 pricing scenario for battery-quality lithium carbonate. And I state, regardless of the pricing today, the industry is going to be facing a day of reckoning in the near future for the lack of investment in new projects capable of producing battery-quality lithium chemicalsnot spodumene concentrate, rather fully integrated lithium chemical production. This will likely result in a spike in pricing much like what we saw from 2015-18. TCI: I read something in the PEA recommendations about adding a unit, which could use direct raw brine, without using the tail brine of the Lanxess bromine operation. Is this still an option? RM: The LiSTR process is not affected by bromine being present in the brine. So yes, we are looking at the entire opportunity in south Arkansas, which represents a much larger number than what was considered in the PEA. TCI: Do you have anything else to add for interested investors? RM: The project is incredibly exciting, and potentially disruptive for the industry. A number of companies have been promoting direct lithium extraction, black boxes and magic beads, for years, but the approach we have taken has been project-focused and methodically executed. We now have an operating direct-extraction plant while still pre-commercial. This is at a scale no one has ever done before. We are just at the starting line and things are going to get even more exciting as we go into the next phase. Conclusion After COVID-19, the world seems to have changed. Fortunately, Standard Lithium managed to raise CA$12.1 million right before things got serious, and commenced their demonstration plant after small delays. On the process side of things, the project is running quite smoothly despite COVID-19. On the lithium product-pricing side, things don't really cooperate. However, according to CEO Robert Mintak, real contract pricing for lithium products in Japan and South Korea, being major battery producers, is hovering close to US$10,000, which would still render the Lanxess project economic with an after-tax IRR of 25%, as one of very few lithium projects. After COVID-19 restrictions are no longer necessary, Standard can complete its upcoming PFS, which will likely show improved economics. Directly after this, a Lanxess construction decision awaits. I hope you will find this article interesting and useful, and will have further interest in my upcoming articles on mining. To never miss a thing, please subscribe to my free newsletter on my website www.criticalinvestor.eu, and follow me on Seekingalpha.com, in order to get an email notice of my new articles soon after they are published. The Critical Investor is a newsletter and comprehensive junior mining platform, providing analysis, blog and newsfeed and all sorts of information about junior mining. The editor is an avid and critical junior mining stock investor from The Netherlands, with an MSc background in construction/project management. Number cruncher at project economics, looking for high quality companies, mostly growth/turnaround/catalyst-driven to avoid too much dependence/influence of long-term commodity pricing/market sentiments, and often looking for long-term deep value. Getting burned in the past himself at junior mining investments by following overly positive sources that more often than not avoided to mention (hidden) risks or critical flaws, The Critical Investor learned his lesson well, and goes a few steps further ever since, providing a fresh, more in-depth, and critical vision on things, hence the name. [NLINSERT] Disclaimer: The author is not a registered investment advisor, and currently has a long position in this stock. Standard Lithium is a sponsoring company. All facts are to be checked by the reader. For more information go to www.standardlithium.com and read the company's profile and official documents on www.sedar.com, also for important risk disclosures. This article is provided for information purposes only, and is not intended to be investment advice of any kind, and all readers are encouraged to do their own due diligence, and talk to their own licensed investment advisors prior to making any investment decisions. Streetwise Reports Disclosure: 1) The Critical Investor's disclosures are listed above. 2) The following companies mentioned in the article are sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. 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Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. Charts and graphics provided by the author. There is an incident, recorded on video, involving two Buffalo police officers. The video shows several officers from an Emergency Response team clearing a street. As they advance, protestor Matin Gugino approaches officers Robert McCabe and Aaron Torgalski and blocks their path. He appears to get argumentative and almost immediately makes some sort of motion toward one of the officers' duty belt and gun holster. At that point, both officers push him back and away from them. Gugino cuts a tall, lanky figure. He stumbles backward, losing his balance, hitting his head on the pavement, where he begins to bleed. Contrary to MSNBC reports that he was "left unattended," one of the two officers immediately bends down to offer aid. His supervisor behind him taps him to keep moving forward and stays behind himself, using his radio to call for medical aid. It should be noted that from the limited footage we're allowed to see, we can garner neither the hostility nor the size of the crowd, nor what was happening immediately before or after the incident. The video immediately went viral and led to the inevitable calls for the officers involved to be fired, imprisoned, drawn, quartered, and erased from all public record. The video of this incident, as well as so many other videos of police responding to rioters, appears violent because it is violent. Pushing somebody is an act of violence. Arresting somebody is an act of violence. Deploying tear gas is an act of violence. The distinction that we cannot lose sight of is that these are calculated, limited acts of controlled violence deployed by professionals who have been trained to do so. Police are trained to employ what's called the "use of force continuum." This means that police use only the amount of force required to stop or prevent crime. It is also referred as the "one up" rule. If protesters are marching, a mere police presence might prevent protesters from breaking the law where, had police not been present, they would have done so. If protesters are passively resisting and refusing to move, police go "one up" and employ soft and hard control techniques to move or arrest the protesters. If a protester brandishes a weapon and attacks police or other innocents, police go "one up" and employ deadly force. In the Buffalo incident, the protesters had been given multiple lawful orders to vacate the area. They refused, Gagin being one of them. Gagin then thought it the epitome of brilliance to approach a line of advancing riot police, block their path, and make hand movements toward one of the officers' duty belt (other reports state that Gagin was using his cell phone to "skim" the police radio, which is a method Antifa uses to monitor and disrupt police communications.) At that point, Officers McCabe and Togalski pushed him back, a tactic that was completely within the scope of the use-of-force continuum and was probably the least aggressive physical action they could have taken. The fact that Gagin was such a beanstalk who lost his balance and hit his head is unfortunate, but this does not change the fact that the amount of force the policemen used to back him off was both reasonable and within their legal scope of authority. The fact that Gagin is 75 years old makes the incident look worse, but his age is not the point. Those line officers had no idea who Gagin was or what his intentions were. Police are not required to check the age of confrontational strangers reaching for their gun belts before defending themselves. Plenty of 17-year-old "children" are tried as adults for heinous crimes on the premise that they're old enough to know better. Certainly, Gagin can't claim that he was too old to know better. If your argument is that the police shouldn't have authority to push protesters back to begin with, then make that argument. But those police were ordered by deputy police commissioner Joe Gramaglia to clear the area and, when necessary, to use force. Officers McCabe and Togalski pushed a non-compliant, possibly threatening protester in direct deference to both their orders and their training. In the resulting blowback, the two officers were publicly thrown under the bus by Mayor Byron Brown, police commissioner Byron Lockwood, District Attorney John Flynn, and Governor Andrew Cuomo. McCabe and Togalski were immediately suspended without pay. They have since been arrested and face assault charges (to which both have pleaded not guilty). Here is where things get interesting. In response to these suspensions (and, one suspects, the complete lack of support from their superiors), all 57 Buffalo police on the Emergency Response team immediately resigned from the team. If the aforementioned "leaders" choose to betray their police to score political points with an unplacatable mob, that's certainly their prerogative. But actions have consequences. Police can stand in "solidarity" as well. The 57 policemen who resigned from the team were right to do so. In response to these resignations, Mayor Brown quickly changed his tune. After panickily assuring the press that Buffalo had contingency plans in place, he described Gagin as an agitator trying to instigate further rioting. He also said he wouldn't be firing the two suspended officers because they need "due process." Nice to see you adhering to the Bill of Rights, Mayor Brown; that's mighty big of you. The lesson here is that police are starting to respond to these betrayals in more assertive ways. The Ferguson Effect reflected the trend of police officers to be less proactive on the job, with the predictable spike in violent crime resulting from a lessened police presence. City leaders apparently haven't gotten the message, so mass resignations like these are the next logical step. But this mass resignation was only from the Emergency Response team. Those 57 officers still work as Buffalo police which raises the question as to what the next step might be if things still don't improve for them. What if police officers go on strike? Yes, there are strict rules in police unions forbidding this. But...what if? The City of Buffalo employs over 700 police officers. If all of them went on strike tomorrow, does Mayor Brown have another contingency plan? Theoretically, if he posted job openings for 700 new officers the following day, it would take months, even years, to vet, hire, train, and deploy them. By that point in Buffalo's experiment in societal entropy, who would even want the job? In the meantime, would he do what the Minneapolis City Council plans to do and replace police with (and I'm not kidding) social workers? Police strikes are not unheard of. In 1919, police in Boston went on strike, and in 1974, police in Baltimore did. Both times, their numbers were temporarily replaced by state militia and state police, respectively. Order was eventually restored, and the striking officers were suspended and fired. But these were isolated incidents in an age before most people even had telephones, much less the capabilities of social media with which to coordinate inter-city strikes. Over the past few days, police in these same cities have been either overwhelmed or intentionally ordered to surrender the streets to the rioters. The footage hasn't been pretty. This is The Purge in real time. This is what American cities look like with overwhelmed, handicapped, and struggling police. What would American cities look like without any police at all? Not everyone will agree with the 57 officers who stood in solidarity with their brothers, or with the idea that police should use other forms of leverage to garner better treatment. But the solution is not to expect superhuman passivity from human beings who, time and time again, suffer from their "leaders" using them as convenient punching bags to save their own skin. We hear time and again about how police need to build up trust in their communities. That goes both ways. These communities, which most people wouldn't trust to drive through in broad daylight, have some trust-building of their own to do with police, as do the "leaders" who continually jilt them. When Chicago public school teachers go on strike for double-digit-percentage pay increases, they're hailed as martyrs who shut down schools and throw the entire city in flux solely, we are told, "for the children." If police went on strike tomorrow, it would be for the ability to do their jobs, already fraught with danger, without the additional risk of being thrown to the wolves by the same mayors and politicians who send them into the firing line. The tragedy here is that they shouldn't have to. Both the "leaders" and "activists" of our cities should pay attention. That number 57 could multiply quickly. LIMA, Peru President Martin Vizcarra followed the best advice when the coronavirus arrived in Peru. He ordered one of Latin Americas first and strictest lockdowns, and rolled out one of the regions biggest economic aid packages to help citizens stay home. He shared detailed health data with the public, rushed to add hospital beds and ventilators and increased testing. With robust public coffers and record-high approval ratings, Mr. Vizcarras centrist government appeared well prepared to face the pandemic. Yet instead of being lauded as a model of disease control, Peru has become one of the worlds worst coronavirus hot spots its hospitals overwhelmed, its people fleeing the cities. The crisis has marred Perus veneer of economic progress, exposing the deep-rooted inequality and corruption that have thwarted its pandemic response. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A lack of community input and concrete details has two Staten Island elected officials concerned about the recently announced bus lane expansion along Hylan Boulevard. Earlier this week, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city will prioritize the installation of new and expanded bus lanes and busways throughout the five boroughs, including plans to extend the bus lanes on Hylan Boulevard by 3.3 miles in each direction, from Lincoln Avenue down to Nelson Avenue. Currently, the Hylan Boulevard bus lanes run from Steuben Street to Lincoln Avenue. In response to the announcement, City Council members Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island) and Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) penned a letter to de Blasio expressing concerns that the unilateral decision, made without community input, could exacerbate existing congestion issues and eliminate much-needed street parking in the area. We would first like to note that we are not automatically anti-bus lane, the councilmen wrote. We do, however, have an issue with this decision in several respects. First, we do not believe the traffic implications are well-enough understood to make this decision. Second, usually when decisions like this are made the areas elect officials are involved in the process and so is the affected community. The councilmen also noted that its possible that more Staten Islanders will commute by car instead of bus as New York City reopens amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, making it possible that the coming bus lane could increase traffic. The fact is, we do not know how New Yorkers will act as our City reopens. We simply do not know if more Staten Islanders will choose to drive due to COVID fears. If many Staten Islanders choose to drive instead of utilize public transportation, then the usual congestion on Hylan Boulevard will be even greater than usual. When you add to that the loss in passenger car capacity, poor traffic conditions will be exacerbated, they wrote. Matteo and Borelli have asked the city to delay the implementation of the new Hylan Boulevard bus lanes until theres a clear understanding of how it will impact traffic conditions during the citys reopening. Based on the foregoing, we ask that the installation of the Hylan Boulevard bus lanes be delayed until we have a better sense of what traffic patterns will be like once the City is fully reopened. We must get this decision right at this time instead of backtracking in several months if real-life implications are negative, the councilmen wrote. The new bus lanes are part of a larger Better Buses Restart initiative that aims to add 20 miles of new and extended bus lanes and busways throughout the city by the end of the year. As New Yorkers head back to work, theyll be relying on the bus more than ever and Im proud to offer them faster and more reliable options, de Blasio said earlier this week. By replicating the 14th Street success story in other congested corridors, we can reduce traffic, increase mass transit service, and build a fairer and better New York. The city Department of Transportation (DOT) claims that the Hylan Boulevard project will help facilitate faster commutes for tens of thousands of daily Staten Island bus riders, and that local elected officials and others within the affected community will be consulted on the project moving forward. The goal of the Better Buses Restart is to keep New Yorkers moving around the five boroughs, and this bus lane extension will improve commute times for tens of thousands of daily Staten Island bus riders on this corridor, which is a major tributary for express bus routes and the S79 Select Bus Service. We look forward to engaging with the Council members and other stakeholders as we move forward with this process, according to a DOT spokesman. The DOT would not respond to specific questions regarding the expansion, including when construction is expected to begin and end, as well as whether or not any vehicle travel lanes or street parking will be lost as a result of the project. The Mayors Office did not respond to a request for comment regarding the letter or the pending implementation of the new Hylan Boulevard bus lanes. Covid-19 has claimed its first big retail victim in Laois with confirmation that Mothercare in Portlaoise is set to close. The shop, which was located in the Portlaoise Retail Park, is among 14 to close following the liquidation of the firm by Mothercare Ireland. Nearly 200 staff worked at its shops around Ireland. The company could not say how many Portlaoise jobs would be lost. The company issued a statement from Jonathan Ward, Mothercare Ireland Managing Director. When COVID-19 began to spread in Ireland no one knew the scale of the impact that this would have. I think its also fair to say that three months on we are still unsure as to the extent and the duration that COVID-19 will be a factor in our lives. # "The impact on our business to date is unprecedented and what has become clear over the recent weeks is that store sales are going to continue to be seriously impacted in the short term whilst social distancing measures are in place and longer-term as consumer habits permanently change. Our own projections on future store sales were very similar to 360 other companies in a recent Retail Excellence report. "We had already experienced issues with our supply chain in 2020 and when we factor the COVID-19 impact on top of this we are forecasting substantial losses this year alone. Unfortunately, our business is now no longer sustainable as it will continue to make losses into the future. "As a family business, it is devastating news for the entire team. Whilst weve tried to keep our teams as up to date as possible through these challenging times, its still a huge shock. Id like to personally thank all our loyal management and staff for their dedication and service to our customers over the years. "Wed like to acknowledge also the support of our customers, who have trusted us to look after their little ones for three generations, and to all our suppliers who have worked alongside us over the last 28 years, it said. As to the policy in relation to gift tokens, credit notes and warranties if applicable, the company said any customers with queries are advised to email support@mothercareireland.zendesk.com The company issued the following statement to customers on its website. Huntsvilles controversial downtown Confederate memorial is not as historic as many people think. Its a replica carved and erected after the 1905 original was destroyed in an accident in the 1960s. Thats the story contained in court records of one of several lawsuits filed in Madison County after a demolition crew destroyed the original statue on the courthouse square in late June, 1966. AL.com obtained copies of legal filings and attorneys correspondence about the suits from the Madison County Courthouse this week. A new fight is now under way between those wanting the statue off the square as a relic of racial discrimination and those wanting it preserved as Alabama history. The Madison County Commission heard from a long line of statue supporters and opponents this week after voting to seek state approval to move it off the square. The idea of moving the statue isnt new, either. An earlier plan to make it the centerpiece of a Confederate war memorial near Burritt Museum on Round Top Mountain was dropped after objection from the United Daughters of the Confederacy. A state law may still ban removal of the replica statue. It is more than 50 years old, and the Alabama Legislature has said no Confederate monuments that old can be removed. The original statue was toppled during the demolition of Cotton Row, a collection of offices for attorneys and cotton brokers on the west side of Jefferson Street. Cotton Row dated back to before the Civil War. According to court records and accounts of the lawsuit in The Huntsville Times, the original 1905 statue was moved from its usual location on the courthouse grounds when the courthouse was being demolished to make way for a new one. The courthouse that now sits on the property and was the cause of the move is Courthouse No. 4 for the county. Crews moved the statue across the street from the courthouse to a small green space next to the large, white First National Bank building next door to Cotton Row. It was laid on its side. A demolition crew was tearing down Cotton Row next door at the same time. According to the lawsuit, demolition crews put a chain around a Cotton Row building wall and began to pull. Then the unpredictable happened, reporter Phil Garner wrote in The Times. The wall buckled in the center. The top section crashed backward in a hail of debris. The bottom section reacting to the force, fell forward into the courtyard of the First National bank building, where the statue stood some 16 feet away. The falling wall did not crumble, Garner wrote, but fell as a unit, smashing the full weight of an estimated 150 pounds per square foot of four layers of brick, concrete and reinforced stucco down upon the statue. The newspaper ran a photo of the fallen statue being touched by Mrs. R.D. Moore, president at the time of the Virginia Clay Clopton chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The chapter had raised the funds to put the statue on the courthouse grounds in 1905, and its members were plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the demolition company. The jury that heard the case ruled against the defendant Gadsden Scaffold Company and ordered it to pay almost $10,000 to the United Daughters of the Confederacy. That was enough to carve a new statue the one in the middle of todays controversy and put it on the original platform in the fallen Confederate soldiers place. It was re-dedicated in 1968. The platform on which the statue sits today is the original. The statue has been controversial before now. When it was crushed by the wall, The Times quoted one unidentified woman at the scene saying, A lot of people will be crying over this, but I guess some will be glad. Another woman told a reporter she thought the wall was purposely brought down on top of the statue just so they wouldnt have to put it back on the courthouse lawn. Satyendra Jain New Delhi. In the capital of the country, cases of infection with the corona virus are constantly increasing. The Kejriwal government itself believes that by the end of July, the number of corona infected in Delhi will reach 5.5 lakh. So will the lockdown in the national capital be implemented again to halt the pace of corona infection? Health Minister Satyendra Jain in the Kejriwal government has denied this directly. He said that there is no intention to lockdown in Delhi again. Advertisement No, the lockdown will not be extended: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on being asked if there have been discussions to extend lockdown in the national capital #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/stQMoRzpb4 ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2020 More than a thousand cases are being reported daily in Delhi for the past one week, while on Thursday more than 1800 cases were reported in Delhi. Advertisement In view of the increasing cases, the question arises that whether strictness would be increased in Delhi. Due to this, Health Minister Satyendra Jain put an end to the speculation being made. At the same time, the chairman of the Standing Committee of North MCD has accused CM Arvind Kejriwal by keeping the figures of Delhi's crematorium and cemetery. They say that the death toll from Covid-19 in Delhi is being hidden. Why dont they send those details to us? Names, age and reports... all details are needed. Ask them for a list of these numbers along with the (COVID19) positive reports of those people: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on MCD's claim of 2098 #COVID19 deaths in Delhi pic.twitter.com/ViqCJJFHRp Advertisement June 12, 2020 According to the data, 1,114 deaths due to Covid-19 are being hidden so far. The Delhi government is claiming 984 deaths. While the figures of the crematorium and the cemetery show that the death toll from Covid-19 in Delhi is 2098. On this, the Health Minister has said that along with the allegations, why they are not sending us the details of the death, such as the name, address, etc. Advertisement The Health Minister said that the MCD chairman should send the Covid positive report of all those who died along with the death data to confirm the allegations. Otherwise do not do this kind of politics. It is tough times for Dubai, which through Emirates succeeded in building a major tourist and shopping destination in this one-time pearl-diving village. Emirates has been laying off staff, including in large groups this week. The carrier did not offer figures for how the layoffs affected its staffing. Universities warn there is still work to be done before international students can arrive for semester two under pilot programs backed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Mr Morrison said on Friday he wanted to see students returning under "very controlled" processes agreed between states and institutions but made it clear states with border restrictions still in place would not be allowed to take part. The Prime Minister has backed pilot programs for international students to return. Credit:Joe Armao "This is something that I'm sure we would all welcome happening again but it has to be done with the appropriate quarantine entry arrangements and biosecurity," he said. "But I made clear to the states and territories today, if someone can't come to your state from Sydney, then someone can't come to your state from Singapore. If you want to open up borders for international students, then you have to open up borders for Australians." OTTAWA - Canada agrees with Iran's new pledge to send the black boxes from a downed Ukraine Airlines jetliner directly to France instead of Ukraine, and wants it to happen as soon as possible, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said Friday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/6/2020 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In this Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 photo, rescue workers search the scene where a Ukrainian plane crashed in Shahedshahr, southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ebrahim Noroozi OTTAWA - Canada agrees with Iran's new pledge to send the black boxes from a downed Ukraine Airlines jetliner directly to France instead of Ukraine, and wants it to happen as soon as possible, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said Friday. Garneau expressed dismay this week at a council meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization that more than three months have passed since Iran told the council it would give the flight-data and cockpit voice recorders to Ukraine within 14 days. The agreement was that if Ukrainian officials could not get at the data on the damaged devices they would then be sent to France, whose Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety is considered one of the best crash-investigation agencies in the world. Farhad Parvaresh, Iran's representative on the ICAO, said in an interview he told the council meeting Wednesday that Iran didn't fulfil that pledge because COVID-19 suddenly shut down most of the world's air routes and made travel difficult for all the parties that need to be there for the analysis. He told The Canadian Press that Iran has now reached out to the French agency and asked it to accept the equipment directly, as soon as all the other countries affected by the crash can travel to France. That includes Canada, which under the agreed-upon rules governing international civilian plane crashes, can be a witness to the investigation because it had citizens aboard. "When Iran receives the positive reply that technically it's possible to have everybody there, I think Iran will take it out, to be read out," Parvaresh said. Garneau said Canada is OK with this plan. "We think it is perfectly acceptable, in fact it is a good idea to send those black boxes to France," Garneau said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "We know that the BEA, which is an agency in France like our Transportation Safety Board, has the capability and the expertise to analyze these boxes and we are strongly encouraging Iran to move those boxes to Paris as quickly as possible." Parvaresh did not explain why Iran is now sending the recorders directly to France, except to say that was the information he was given from his government, and that Iran's accident-investigation board has an agreement with the BEA to help with plane-crash probes. Flight PS752 was shot down by the Iranian military shortly after takeoff from Tehran's airport on Jan. 8, killing all 176 passengers and crew on board, including more than 50 Canadians. Iran initially denied having any involvement in the crash, but after photos and videos were posted to social media, and under intense international pressure, Iran admitted on Jan. 11 that its military had shot the plane down in the middle of military tensions with the United States. The Iranian government said it was the result of an air-defence battery's mistaking the civilian jet for a hostile intruder. More than 130 passengers on board the plane were travelling to Canada via Kyiv, many of them students and university professors returning to Canada after visiting family in Iran over the December break. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2020. Amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the northern districts of Haryana, the dedicated facility in Ambalas Mullana will now treat only symptomatic patients from other districts. The Covid care centre at MMU medical college in Mullana caters to the infected patients from Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Yamunanagar and Panchkula districts. The spurt in cases post-June 1 has left vacant only 20 out of 200 beds reserved for Covid patients at the hospital, health officials said. Hospitals deputy medical superintendent Dr LN Garg said the decision to treat only symptomatic patients was in line with the governments instructions. We have to spare some beds for emergency too, he added. The state and central governments have directed the hospitals to treat only symptomatic patients and following this directive, we have asked the chief medical officers to treat asymptomatic patients in their own districts. We will obviously treat critical patients at our hospital, Dr Garg said. On patients currently undergoing treatment at the facility, he said, As per the health ministrys guidelines, asymptomatic patients get discharged after 10 days of treatment. Now, such patients will be getting treatment at their home districts only and we would focus on giving better medical care to symptomatic patients. 3 MORE CENTERS TO COME UP Ambala health department has decided to make three more Covid care centres operational in the district. Civil surgeon Dr Kuldeep Singh said, Owing to the sudden surge in cases and fewer beds in Mullana hospital, the department has decided to activate three more Covid care facilities at Mission hospital in Ambala City and community health centers in Barara and Mullana. Sorry, Hamiltonians: permission to hug within your new pandemic bubble will not prevent a $500 physical-distancing ticket outside that social circle. Ontario further loosened emergency COVID-19 restrictions Friday to allow for close contact hugs and handshakes between family and friends in a carefully chosen 10-person bubble. You can also separately gather with anyone, while maintaining physical distance, in groups of up to 10 people. Thats a change from the early lockdown maximum of five. The city has its own pandemic bylaw that targets too-large gatherings and physical-distancing fails. Council is expecting to amend the bylaw to get rid of references to the evolving gathering maximums, said city emergency operations head Paul Johnson on Friday. But city bylaw will hang on to the option of fining you $500 for ignoring two-metre rules outside of your bubble. There are still certain circumstances where this will be a useful tool for us, Johnson said. For example, a ticket could go to non-bubble buddies hanging out too close in the park, for example. (Yes, you still have to physically distance when gathering outside your bubble, even in small groups.) You can also be fined as a store proprietor for not keeping customers safely apart in lineups. The city will also update the bylaw to specifically ban people from visiting pandemic-closed city or conservation authority properties. Ignoring that rule will also cost you $500 a more costly consequence than a typical $75 parks trespassing violation. Still, Johnson acknowledged it is pretty rare for bylaw officers to rely on the local rules. Only 26 tickets in total have been handed out under the physical-distancing bylaw. By comparison, the city has issued 170 tickets under Ontarios pandemic emergency orders, which typically costs each scofflaw $880. New government figures have provided more evidence of a significant increase in organic egg production in the UK. Defra's annual organic farming statistics show that the number of full organic laying hens in the UK was just under 1.6m in 2019 - an increase of just over 12% on the previous year. The total number of organic layers was 1,584,300 last year compared with 1,412,800 in 2018, according to the department. Organic birds accounted for 3.8 percent of the UK layer flock, the report added. In April, the Soil Association reported that sales of organic eggs were enjoying "double digit growth", as it published its annual organic market report. Sales of organic overall increased by 4.5% last year, according to the report, but organic eggs were among the stars of the organic food sector, according to Soil Association trade consultant Finn Cottle. "Eggs are certainly one of the strongest performers in terms of how they have performed in 2019," said Mr Cottle. "The trend for both eggs and poultry is double digit growth by value. We have seen just over 12 per cent growth by value for eggs." The most recent packing stations statistics released by Defra show that organic egg production is still increasing. Statistics for the first three months of the year revealed that 254,000 cases of organic eggs passed through UK packing centres compared with 238,000 cases in the same period in 2019. This was an increase of 6.7%. The government's latest organic market report shows that in 2019 the UK had a total area of 485,000 hectares of land farmed organically an increase of 2.4% since 2018. This increase has been driven by the rise in fully organic land, which has increased by 3.6% compared to 2018. This has more than offset the decrease in the area of in-conversion land. Organic poultry numbers overall increased again - from 3.38m in 2018 to 3.46m in 2019. This was a rise of 2.5% year-on-year and an increase of nearly 23% on the 2.82m birds recorded in 2016, although organic broiler numbers were down in 2019. Numbers hit 1.88 million in 2018 but were down to 1.76 million in 2019. They account for 1.5 percent of total broiler numbers. The layer sector was clearly the outstanding performer in UK organic livestock farming, according to the Defra report. The number of organic cattle, sheep and pigs all fell in 2019, according to the report. Cattle were down by 7.2 %, sheep by 5.4% and pigs by 9.3%. Clare McDermott, business development director for Soil Association Certification, said: We are really pleased to see an increase in certified organic land in the UK in 2019, as well as a 14% increase in farmers with land in conversion to organic with Soil Association Certification last year. More and more people are looking for organic products when they shop, leading to the eighth consecutive year of sales growth in the UKs organic market in 2019 - now worth a record 2.45 billion "Its also great to see a significant increase in the land being used to grow organic cereals, as demand for these on farms for animal feed is growing faster than UK producers can supply." In its own recent organic market report, the Soil Association said that eggs were amongst the highest penetration organic foods in the UK last year. "The main organic products in supermarket baskets continue to be everyday items, where habits are established. Highest penetration items are carrots (14%), bananas (9.8%), eggs (8.8%), yoghurts (7.8%), tea (8%) and milk (5.5%)," it said. Eggs were now approaching nearly 10% of all eggs sold in retail in this country, according to the report, although the UK still lagged behind some European markets. In Germany, organic eggs had the top organic share in their category, accounting for 12 percent of all eggs sold. Throughout 2020, the organizations Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) and Saint Vincent-based SCIENCE aim to enhance the capacity of enforcement officers in monitoring and protecting nature on remote Grenadine islands through training in modern technologies, such as drones. The organizations will also work with local stakeholders to implement the Grenadines Seabird Conservation Plan (crafted with community input in 2019), develop a school curriculum focused on nature, and conduct environmental education programs in the community. In addition, researchers and local volunteers will census the seabird populations on the islands to get an accurate estimate of the total population for our region. The team is regularly assessing which aspects of the project are feasible, given changing coronavirus restrictions, and hopes to complete all aspects of the project, even in modified form. Project Coordinator Juliana Coffey noted, "If there is anything to be learned from the current global crisis, it is that we must begin to adjust our relationship with nature and wildlife. Preserving biodiversity is an important aspect of both preventing and being able to respond to such events. The Grenadines island chain consists of approximately 80 islands nine of which are inhabited that are politically split between the nations of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. Due to their isolated settings, and despite their small size, the uninhabited islands in the Grenadines exist as natural reserves for biodiversity, which refers to how many types of different plants and wildlife are found at a site. Because not all of the islands have been inventoried for biodiversity, it is possible there may be unique species on these islands which have yet to be discovered Throughout the island chain, there are over 120 species of birds who use the islands and surrounding waters for breeding, feeding and resting. The endemic Grenada Flycatcher and various restricted range species, such as the Antillean Crested Hummingbird (Doctorbird) can be found in these islands. Others such as the Scaly-naped Pigeon (Ramier) and Carib Grackle (Blackbird) frequently nest on offshore islands. Several unique reptile species are found on Grenadine islands, such as the Union Island Gecko, the Grenadines Sphaero, the Grenada Snake Boa and the Grenadines Pink Rhino Iguana. In addition, several species of sea turtles nest on beaches throughout the archipelago, such as Green, Leatherback and the critically endangered Hawksbill. Perhaps most impressive however, are the more than 54,000 pairs of 12 seabird species that nest and raise chicks on the most remote and inaccessible islands. Unfortunately, most of the "pristine uninhabited islands of the Grenadines are actually threatened in one way or another. Many islands are privately owned, some of which are featured on the international real estate market, leaving them vulnerable to development projects that may not consider their environmental or cultural values. Unregulated visitation by tourists to remote islands creates disturbance to native wildlife and damages natural habitat, while improperly disposed garbage regularly washes up on shorelines. Poaching of seabirds, their chicks and eggs from offshore islands continues to occur, as well as illegal vegetation control fires. Non-native predators, such as cats and rats, injure and kill native wildlife, while freely roaming goats and sheep overgraze vegetation and contribute to severe erosion that ultimately smothers nearby reefs. An $18-million provincial program aimed at enabling child-care professionals to start home-based programs has only doled out $45,000 since March, a freedom of information request by the Opposition NDP has revealed. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/6/2020 (589 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. An $18-million provincial program aimed at enabling child-care professionals to start home-based programs has only doled out $45,000 since March, a freedom of information request by the Opposition NDP has revealed. The temporary child-care service grant, established March 20 in partnership with the Winnipeg and Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, was created with the intention of expanding services during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of May 26, 15 centres had successfully applied for the one-time, $3,000 grants, establishing 111 new spots in home-based centres. However, the uptake by child-care providers has been minimal compared with its budget commitment, critics say. "Instead of investing $18 million in our publicly-run centres," NDP child care critic Danielle Adams said Thursday in a release, "(Tory Premier Brian Pallister) has implemented a failed program that doesnt actually help parents." In response, Heather Stefanson, Manitoba minister of families, defended the program, saying in an emailed statement the province had created "over half the number" of home-based spots it had established in the last two years. In recent months, some industry stakeholders had questioned whether the money allocated to start home-based programs would have been better used to support existing programs (with equipment, facilities, and trained staff), which were struggling financially due to pandemic restrictions. Health and safety concerns were also voiced over whether many child-care professionals would feel comfortable starting a service out of their homes during a pandemic. In an open letter sent April 8, the Manitoba Child Care Association urged the province to consider redistributing the temporary grant funds toward existing centres. Association director Jodie Kehl said Thursday those centres have incurred additional operating costs during the pandemic, and the home-based centres which have opened have likely had to spend more on startup costs than normal. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. While the provinces continuation of its existing operating grants to centres that remain open and federal subsidies have been helpful, she said programs are still losing money. With that considered, Kehl hoped the province would consider shifting gears. "There are existing licensed programs that have been open since March 20, so it seems illogical to be expanding the system while existing spaces are still available," she said. In her statement Thursday, Stefanson said there are currently 764 child-care centres open in the province, with 11,206 spaces of those, 2,636 remain vacant. She touted her governments investments in child care since the pandemic began, which she said total nearly $50 million. with files from Carol Sanders ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca Heritage Florida Jewish News is accepting nominations for the 2020 Heritage Human Service Award, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando in August. For more than 30 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and effort to the Central Florida community have been honored with the selection and presentation of this award, said Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last years recipient was Dick Weiner. Former recipients have included Stuart Farb (2010)), Burt Chasnov (2008)... PARIS, June 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constellium SE (NYSE: CSTM) (the Company) today announced that the notice and agenda and other documents for the Companys Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on June 29, 2020, at 16:00 CET (10:00 AM EDT), are available on its website at www.constellium.com and are available free of charge at the offices of the Company by contacting the Corporate Secretary at cstm.corporatesecretary@constellium.com . About Constellium Constellium (NYSE: CSTM) is a global sector leader that develops innovative, value added aluminium products for a broad scope of markets and applications, including aerospace, automotive and packaging. Constellium generated 5.9 billion of revenue in 2019. www.constellium.com The dramatic economic shock wrought by the coronavirus has plunged countries into extraordinary uncertainty, with France among four European countries expected to suffer the worst recession in the developed world. In its latest analysis of global economic data, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) predicted a 6 percent drop in the world's GDP this year by far the largest since the body was created 60 years ago, according to secretary-general Angel Gurria. Britain, France, Italy and Spain will suffer the most damage (in that order), with their economies expected to shrink by between 11.5 and 11.1 percent if the Covid-19 pandemic "remains under control. A worse-case scenario in the event of a second virus wave would see those figures hit more than 14 percent. The eurozone where many countries are looking to open up their borders and welcome visitors again is particularly vulnerable to the crisis, the report found, with its most favourable scenario seeing GDP recede by 9.1 percent. Worst recession since Great Depression? Presenting the first economic projections since the Covid-19 crisis began, OECD chief economist Laurence Boone said the world would endure its deepest recession in a century whether or not a second epidemic wave arrives. By the end of 2021, the loss of income will exceed that of all previous recessions in the past 100 years except in war, with dire and lasting consequences for populations, businesses and governments, she warned. The new figures lie in stark contrast with the cheerful predictions of 2.4 percent global growth the OECD made in early March, when the coronavirus had struck China but not yet reached the world's other major economies. The year 2021 is, however, expected to deliver a strong rebound of 7.7 percent if the epidemic remains controlled a figure that slides to 5.2 percent in the event the virus returns. Crisis driving inequality With hundreds of millions of people losing their jobs, and poor and young people being hardest hit the world over, the report said the health crisis had caused existing inequalities to widen. Speaking to France Inter radio on Thursday, Boone warned that less qualified people working in the tourism, public events and sporting sectors which have a large proportion of young people on more precarious contracts were suffering most. She praised the safety net measures that have been set up in countries such as France allowing for partial unemployment or partial activity. Because the drop in GDP will also drive up unemployment, France's best chances of weathering world economic turmoil are to maintain those support measures, Boone said. On a global level the OECD, which collects data on the world's richest economies, said the best way for governments to steer their countries through the crisis was by strengthening income protection, strengthening health systems and shoring up supply chains. NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday issued new guidelines which strictly restricted movement of people between 9 pm and 5 am across country, except for essential activities during 'Unlock 1.0'. In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretaries of states and UTs, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said, Movement of people is strictly prohibited between 9 pm and 5 am across country, except for essential activities during Unlock 1.0. The MHA letter further stated that restricting peoples movement from 9 pm to 5 am is aimed at preventing congregations, it doesnt apply to buses, trucks plying on highways. The Home Ministry guidelines further added that States, UTs are advised not to prevent movement of people in buses, trucks on highways and said that necessary instructions should be given to the authorities. Movement of individuals shall remain strictly prohibited between 9 PM and 5 AM throughout the country, except for essential activities. Some States/UTs are also restricting the movement of persons and vehicles plying on highways between 9 PM and 5 AM. Accordingly, States/UTs are advised not to prevent such movement as mentioned above. Necessary instructions to this effect may please be issued to the district and local authorities, the order signed by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla to Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs said. It further stated that the restriction doesn't apply to loading/unloading of goods (as part of supply chains & logistics); buses carrying persons & trucks & goods carriers plying State and NHs; or persons travelling to their destinations after disembarking from buses, trains & flights. The new guidelines came on a day when India recorded more than 10,000 cases in the last 24 hours for the very first time since the outbreak making it the highest jump recorded in a day. The total tally crossed 2.9 lakh on Friday and the death toll was at 8498. As per the Ministry of Health data, 10956 news cases and 396 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours since Thursday 8 am taking the total tally to 297,535 which includes 141,842 active cases, 147,194 recovered cases, 1 migrant patient, and 8,498 deaths. Maharashtra, the state with the highest number of confirmed cases has reported 97,648 cases. The state also witnessed 150 coronavirus-related deaths during the same time and its Covid-19 death toll is now 3,590. Tamil Nadu is second only to Maharashtra with 38,716 confirmed cases followed by Delhi with 34,687 cases and Gujarat with 22,067 cases. Wang Jing, an inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage of Bouyei clothing, is invited to attend a grand gathering to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 2019. [yxqxn.cn] GUIYANG, June 11 (Xinhua) As a member of the Bouyei ethnic group, Wang Jing knew from an early age that costume-making skills had long been a crucial part of the identity of her people. "Making clothes has always been an essential skill of Bouyei women," said Wang, an inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage of Bouyei clothing. "Bouyei women who can't make clothes would be seen as lacking femininity." Born into a Bouyei family in southwest China's Guizhou Province in the 1970s, Wang grew up wearing clothes made by her grandmother and mother. When she was a child, Wang was always fascinated by the clothes-making process, watching attentively as elderly Bouyei women wove a variety of patterns with their skilled hands. She began learning the craft at about 10 years of age. "Bouyei costumes are made with a variety of techniques, including yarn-dye, batik, tie-dye, cross-stitch and brocade. There is a whole set of procedures," Wang said. In 1991, Wang went to Beijing to study fashion design. After graduating, she returned to Guizhou to work as a designer in a batik factory. At that time, there were many foreign tourists visiting the factory, who showed a strong interest in the traditional and exotic apparel. "It dawned on me that I could become a promoter of my hometown's traditional costumes," she recalled. In 1998, Wang quit her job at the factory and returned to her hometown to start her own designing business, with just two apprentices and three sewing machines. A display of traditional Bouyei clothing [Xinhua] Wang's career breakthrough came in 2001, when her work a painting and three sets of costumes won wide acclaim at a local cultural festival. "The beauty of Bouyei clothing lies in its simplicity," Wang said. "However, people's aesthetics invariably change with the development of society." "Without innovation, even the most precious things will gradually fall out of favor. Innovation is the best way to pass on culture," she added. In traditional Bouyei wear, shoulder pads are often sewn into the garment, functioning as a cushion for the wearer when carrying heavy loads. In her designs, Wang put shoulder pads embroidered with Roxburgh roses on the outside of the clothing, an innovation that combined function with fashion. In 2013, Wang was invited by Guizhou's commerce bureau to participate in an event in London. To her surprise, dozens of bags featuring Bouyei elements she brought with her were a hit with local people and quickly sold out. "I was very excited and proud," Wang recalled. After the trip, Wang also went to Singapore and Russia to promote her work, which gained increasing popularity among foreigners. In 2014, Bouyei clothing was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. Four years later, Wang was named its national inheritor. "Passing on traditional culture can enhance our cultural confidence. I will continue to make innovations and promote Bouyei costumes to the world," Wang said. (Source: Xinhua) emur Akhmedov, 26, based in London, is in a legal dispute with mother, Tatiana A Russian oligarch's son has today lost the fight to keep his riches a secret as his mother battles with his father to get her hands on 450million that she was awarded in Britain's biggest-ever divorce. Trader Temur Akhmedov, 26, who is based in London, is in a dispute with his mother, Tatiana Akhmedova, who was awarded the sum following the breakdown of her marriage to Farkhad Akhmedov. Temur has raised concern about the way his mother is funding litigation and wanted to bar reporters covering hearings from revealing details of his personal financial information. Trader Temur Akhmedov (left), 26, is in a dispute with his mother, Tatiana Akhmedova (right), who was awarded the sum following the breakdown of her marriage to Farkhad Akhmedov Ms Akhmedova was awarded a 41.5 per cent share of businessman Farkhad Akhmedova's, pictured, 1 billion-plus fortune by a British judge in late 2016 But a judge overseeing the litigation at hearings in the Family Division of the High Court on Friday refused to make the orders Temur wanted. Mrs Justice Gwynneth Knowles ruled that he had failed to demonstrate any 'reasonable grounds' for challenging the legality of his mother's litigation funding arrangements - and that journalists covering hearings could report 'general details' about his finances. Temur said, after the ruling, that he would now ask Court of Appeal judges to consider the case. 'I expected no more from this Family Division court and judge and will be taking our case to the appeal court, where we have faith we will receive a fair hearing,' he said, after the ruling. 'From the outset, the Family Court's behaviour has smacked of 21st century imperialism in passing judgements in cases from faraway lands which have nothing to do with these islands.' Ms Akhmedova was awarded a 41.5 per cent share of businessman Farkhad's 1billion-plus fortune by a British judge in late 2016. Mr Justice Haddon-Cave, who analysed the case at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London, said Ms Akhmedova should get 453million. But judges have heard she has so far received about 5million and that Mr Akhmedov has not 'voluntarily' paid a penny. A Dubai court has refused to return a 350million superyacht, above, which was seized from Farkhad amid a battle over the UK's biggest divorce settlement Ms Akhmedova, pictured above, who was awarded 453million after her marriage, has so far received about 5million He has refused to pay claiming he and his wife of eight years were divorced in Moscow in 2000 and did not recognise the ruling handed down by a British judge. Mr Akhmedov has said that because he and his ex-wife are not British, and were not married in Britain, a British judge should not have made decisions. Ms Akhmedova, who has taken legal action in London and abroad, previously said he has tried to put assets, including a 346million yacht, the MV Luna, and a modern art collection, beyond her reach. She is now also taking legal action against Temur, and says he has played a 'central role' in putting assets beyond her reach. Temur, a trader who lives in London and is aged in his mid-twenties, disputes allegations made against him. He says his father said money would be available to invest on the financial market. Ms Akhmedova's former husband has said that because he and his ex-wife are not British, and were not married in Britain, a British judge should not have made decisions. However Ms Akhmedova claims he tried to put assets, including a 346 million yacht the MV Luna and a modern art collection, beyond her reach. Chinese mainland slams US military aircraft's flight over Taiwan Island Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/11 21:29:21 Chinese mainland authorities on Thursday slammed the US for sending a military transport aircraft over the island of Taiwan, saying that all necessary measures will be taken to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. The statements came after a US C-40 military transport aircraft on Tuesday morning made a flyover along the west coastline of Taiwan, a move that was "approved," Taiwan's defense authority said on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday morning, a group of Su-30 fighter jets of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) briefly entered the southwestern "airspace" of Taiwan island, according to Taiwan's defense authority. This move is widely interpreted as a counter by the Chinese mainland to the provocative US action. The US action seriously violated international law and basic norms in international relations, and the Chinese side seriously condemns and is resolutely against this, Hua Chunying, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said at a regular press conference. "We urge the US side to abide by the one-China principle and the three joint communiques between China and the US, and immediately stop this kind of illegal and provocative moves," Hua said, noting that the Chinese side will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. The US military aircraft's flight over Taiwan was an illegal and serious provocative act, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a statement on Thursday Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities on the island colluded with foreign forces to violate China's sovereignty and security, actively sabotaged peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, and brought calamity to safety and the well-being of people on the island, Zhu said. "We solemnly warn DPP authorities, as they should not misjudge the situation, not underestimate the Chinese people's strong will and firm determination to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and should stop the said actions at once," Zhu said. The Chinese Ministry of National Defense or the PLA has not yet released a statement on the incident as of press time. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Suchetha Bhat The easy online transition of the mode of work (and play in some cases) can only be afforded by the privileged. Not everyone has access to digital solutions, and not everyone has the space and paraphernalia to attend online classes. On June 2, a Class 9 student from Malappuram, in Kerala, allegedly committed suicide because she was upset that she could not afford to attend the online classes. As marginalised populations do not have access to digital resources and tools, there is also the loss of academic learning, furthering the learning gap. The digital divide runs wide and deep across India. Inaccessibility to the digital infrastructure and unpreparedness among teachers to transition to online teaching shows the gaps that clearly need to be fixed before we decide to move towards enhanced online learning. COVID-19 has severely impacted Indias educational ecosystem and has lain bare the disparities that exists and quick fix solutions are perhaps not the right way to go about it. Dream a Dreams recent report on the readiness of schools in Karnataka to the post-COVID-19 world shares just now unprepared we are. About 95 percent of schools want to postpone exams; they fear that the students may not be able to clear board exams as most schools were still in the process of completing the syllabus when the lockdown was enforced. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The report included findings from our survey with the principals and heads of 853 educational institutions across 28 districts of Karnataka to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the educational system of low-cost private schools, government aided schools and government schools. Ninety-two percent of the headmasters requested a reduced syllabus for the new academic year owing to the loss of instructional time. This request comes close to the heels of knowing that 97 percent of the schools surveyed had very little digital infrastructure to support the delivery of online classes. The survey also brought forth the sad state of affairs among teachers who have not been paid for the last two months. About 96 percent of the schools require support to address the well-being and mental health concerns of students. The findings in Karnataka will not be very different for schools across the country; in fact, it will most likely be even worse. Most schools are unclear on how to proceed further and require support for digital learning and online pedagogical solutions. A recent report by the Digital Empowerment Foundation indicates that 30 percent of our population lags on basic literacy and thrice that for digital literacy. Even if parents have a smartphone, they will not have the money to buy data packs. Parents might even not know how to use some of the digital tools on offer. Quick fix solutions to pushing schools to conduct online classes cannot be touted as the only solution. First, educational ecosystems need to acknowledge that the pandemic has impacted over 320 million students across India, and has been traumatic for them. Now with the added pressure of having digital infrastructure in place, most students from vulnerable backgrounds will end up dropping out of school. Schools have always played a significant role in protecting the wellbeing of students, and at this juncture, students need emotional support, rather than the added pressure of online classes. Ensure mental well-being of students : More systemic interventions are required to equip teachers to deal with the mental health of students and teachers well-being. : More systemic interventions are required to equip teachers to deal with the mental health of students and teachers well-being. Financial assistance for schools : Low cost and other affordable private schools are under huge financial crisis. All stakeholders and service providers need to help build the financial capabilities of schools. Interest-free loans, subsidy in taxes, free online teaching aids, etc. should be provided to support these schools. : Low cost and other affordable private schools are under huge financial crisis. All stakeholders and service providers need to help build the financial capabilities of schools. Interest-free loans, subsidy in taxes, free online teaching aids, etc. should be provided to support these schools. Ensure feasible, accessible solutions for continued learning: The unpreparedness of teachers in delivering online education needs to be addressed. Appropriate teaching aids, digital solutions, and training of teaching staff for remote, virtual, or blended learning should be provided. The educational ecosystem needs to work on the following: There is a definite need to re-imagine the role of schools and teachers in the life of children coming from marginalised communities, with the entire ecosystem becoming trauma responsive. Remote schooling is an option very few can afford. Educational ecosystems need to be inclusive in their approach and respond from a space of empathy. Only then can we hope to overcome the impact of this crisis in a sustained manner. There is ample evidence to show that as millions of human sperm cells swim towards a waiting ovum or egg, only one gets to fertilize it. Now, a new study shows that even though the fastest and most capable sperms reach the ovum first, it is the egg that has the final say on which sperm fertilizes it. The study titled, "Chemical signals from eggs facilitate cryptic female choice in humans," is published in the latest issue of the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Study: Chemical signals from eggs facilitate cryptic female choice in humans . Image Credit: Nobeastsofierce / Shutterstock What is the study about? This new study by researchers from the U.K. and Sweden looked at the dynamics between the waiting ovum and the sperms that swim towards it. The team says that there is a chemical communication that occurs between the female reproductive system that receives the sperm and the incoming sperm cells from the male partner. They explained that the primary mechanism might be known, but the molecular mechanism that forms the basis of choice of sperm cell by the egg is not clear. They write, "there is a growing appreciation that females can bias sperm use and paternity by exerting cryptic female choice for preferred males." The team from Stockholm University and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust speculates that there may be chemicals that attract the sperm. These chemo-attractants are released from the eggs, they wrote. These allow the egg to choose between the sperms swimming towards them. This post-mating choice of sperms has been seen in some species. This study looked at similar findings among humans. What was done? For this study, the team assayed the mate choice microscopically. They assessed the "gamete mediate mate choice." This essentially means the egg chooses the sperm cell. They explained that once the sperm is released in the female reproductive tract, they start to swim towards the ovum. Only around a few hundred sperms reach the follicles or tubes. There it meets the follicular fluid, which has these chemo-attractants. They looked at the effects of follicular fluid present in the female reproductive system on the incoming sperms. The team wrote that this fluid in the follicles or tubes is known to have certain chemo-attractants which attract the sperms. They used follicular fluids from the female partner and exposed the sperms to these fluids. Both partners (the male partner of the female whose follicular fluid was tested) and non-partner (another male) sperms were exposed to the follicular fluid of a female. For this study, the researchers used the follicular fluids and sperms from six couples who were undergoing treatment for infertility. What was found? This study found that there is a marked differentiation between the attractions from the follicular fluid of a female partner compared to the follicular fluid of a non-partner for the sperm cells. This indicated that there is a distinct mate choice when it comes to eggs and sperms. This, however, did not influence "pre-mating mate choice" in humans, they wrote. Study author John Fitzpatrick, Associate Professor at Stockholm University, explained, "Human eggs release chemicals called chemo-attractants that attract sperm to unfertilized eggs. We wanted to know if eggs use these chemical signals to pick which sperm they attract." Fitzpatrick explained that when the sperms they experimented with travel into the follicular fluids of their partner females, "they start to go straighter, and they start to change the way they swim." He added, "So depending on the strength of that signal, you can get different responses in how the sperm are responding to these female chemical signals within their follicular field." The sperm slows down if the follicular fluid is not conducive to it. Conclusions and implications The researchers wrote, "Our results demonstrate that chemo-attractants facilitate gamete-mediated mate choice in humans, which offers females the opportunity to exert cryptic female choice for sperm from specific males." Fitzpatrick added, "Follicular fluid from one female was better at attracting sperm from one male, while follicular fluid from another female was better at attracting sperm from a different male. This shows that interactions between human eggs and sperm depend on the specific identity of the women and men involved." The researchers believe that this study and the understanding of how the sperms fertilize eggs could help couples with infertility. Choosing sperms that are compatible with the follicular fluid could help. "Eggs attracting around 18 percent more sperm from specific males would likely be pretty important during fertilisations inside the female reproductive tract", since only a small fraction of sperm reach the egg after sex, said Fitzpatrick. He said that there may be a chemical incompatibility between the sperms and the follicular fluid that made it difficult for couples to conceive. Fitzpatrick said, "We weren't considering how chemical signals might influence egg-sperm interactions before. Our work helps open the door to consider this in the future." Professor Daniel Brison, the scientific director of the Department of Reproductive Medicine at Saint Marys Hospital, senior author of the study, said, "The idea that eggs are choosing sperm is really novel in human fertility." He added, "Research on the way eggs and sperm interact will advance fertility treatments and may eventually help us understand some of the currently 'unexplained' causes of infertility in couples." He said, "I'd like to thank every person who took part in this study and contributed to these findings, which may benefit couples struggling with infertility in future." One in ten couples suffer from fertility issues, say researchers. Two former military chiefs, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, hold the key to Israeli annexation of West Bank lands. The two have managed to position themselves in Washington as crucial to any decision on the annexation plan. Taking advantage of the leadership's preoccupation with the novel coronavirus and police brutality crises, they have managed to reach an understanding with the Donald Trump administration according to which President Donald Trump will support any Israeli decision on annexation as long as it enjoys the full backing of both government parties Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud and Gantz and Ashkenazis Blue and White. The two Blue and White leaders enjoy direct access to close Trump associates such as his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Avi Berkowitz, who replaced Jason Greenblatt as the special US envoy to the Mideast. Presumably, one of the two informed Gantz and Ashkenazi that the Americans would support any decision Israel makes as long as Blue and White does, too. As an associate of Blue and White leaders put it to Al-Monitor this week on condition of anonymity, We have received veto power; we are not sure we will use it. Gantz and Ashkenazi seem torn. Gantz met on June 10 with settlement leaders. It could have been a tense, loud meeting, with battle lines drawn between settler leaders demanding full Israeli sovereignty over their settlements in the West Bank and the man representing opposition to such a move. In fact, the tone was low key. Gantz appeared to suggest he was seriously considering support for annexation, albeit not of all the territory the settlers want. Gantz is hard to read. Not all his hints and mumblings translate into actions. This weekend he will get together with Ashkenazi to come up with a coherent position ahead of scheduled discussions with Netanyahu next week. At the same time, the heads of Israels security agencies IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, Mossad head Yossi Cohen, Shin Bet director Nadav Argaman and Military Intelligence head Maj. Gen. Tamir Heyman will brief the security cabinet on the potential repercussions of annexation. A decision will follow these deliberations but even then, Trumps wishes may not be clear, as he is even harder to gauge than Gantz. According to indications from Washington, Trumps Christian evangelical base is currently less concerned with the annexation issue. The domestic unrest, economic crisis, rioting and upcoming elections are all sidelining Israel and its issues and placing the entire move in question. One thing is certain, another senior Blue and White source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. Full annexation of 30% [of the West Bank] as prescribed by the Trump plan will not happen. It's also safe to assume the two former military chiefs are unlikely to dismiss the recommendations of the security agency leaders. Ashkenazi and Gantz won't ignore warnings by Kochavi and his colleagues of potential security escalation and the possibly heavy toll and high cost of annexation. Next month we will know where all this is going. An educated guess has it that if Israel decides to annex some territory, it will be far smaller than the settlers expect and far from the 30% for which the American blueprint provides. Gantz and Ashkenazi appear far better versed in the drawbacks of annexation than in its possible advantages. The Americans promised to bring on board the Arab world, at least most of it, a security source following the latest developments told Al-Monitor this morning on condition of anonymity. The fact is they did not. Not one prominent Arab leader supports the move, the source said and pointed to the unprecedented June 12 op-ed by the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Washington, Yousef al-Otaiba, in an Israeli newspaper urging Israel to avoid annexation. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas rushed to Israel this week to meet his newly appointed counterpart Ashkenazi as well as Gantz and Netanyahu. The German minister, too, came to warn against the annexation and its repercussions in a visit that to some extent clarified the international picture. After the visit, a political source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that Germany would not impose sanctions on Israel and will not recognize a Palestinian state if one is declared following annexation. Nonetheless, the source added, they did warn of serious damage to Israeli interests and a negative impact for Israels standing in Europe. Blue and White is particularly concerned about the Palestinian Authoritys efforts to convince the International Criminal Court to try Israel for war crimes. This move is going ahead and the annexation could serve to accelerate and finalize it, the political source said. This is not something that can be ignored. A senior Blue and White source said on condition of anonymity, As of now, other than the US, not a single state in the world supports annexation. Not China, not Russia, not the Europeans, not Japan. This remains between Netanyahu and Trump, and we are not sure just where Trump stands at the moment. What, then, is the bottom line? Gantz and Ashkenazi will have a hard time blocking some form of annexation. They know this is a historic, unique opportunity and understand the historic value of annexing several of the settlement blocs. On the other hand, they realize that the stability of the regime in Jordan is no less and perhaps more important than annexation of the Jordan Valley. Gantz and Ashkenazi are now closely monitoring the lines being drawn. The map laying out the potential for annexation along with a Palestinian state under the US plan was superficial and imprecise. A team in the prime ministers office is now drawing up the real map. It will be modular in nature, presenting all annexation options: Full, almost full, partial or minimal. It will also try to determine how many Palestinians live in each of the territorial options for annexation and attempt to delineate the enclaves of isolated Israeli settlements as well as access roads. The proper preparation of such a map would take months. The team is in a race against the clock. Eventually, Blue and White will probably support partial annexation of several settlement blocs that enjoy broad Israeli consensus, in addition to a generous compensation package for the Palestinians of the type Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman proposed in 2017. Netanyahus right-wing cabinet rejected the so-called Qalqilya plan at the time. Gantz and Ashkenazi estimate that if Israel gives the Palestinians extensive lands in the West Banks Area C on which to develop the Palestinian towns of Qalqilya and Jenin, along with a tempting economic compensation package, the annexation could cautiously proceed. U.S. President Trump flatly denied the existence of institutional racism in the U.S., but went on to contradict himself by acknowledging... U.S. President Trump flatly denied the existence of institutional racism in the U.S., but went on to contradict himself by acknowledging the need for racial healing. But he warned that there wont be healing in the U.S. by falsely labelling tens of millions of decent Americans as racist. Trump was speaking in Dallas, Texas today, ahead of a fund raising dinner for his November election campaign. He announced what he called a broad four-part plan on Thursday to improve policing nationwide and improve conditions in minority communities. He called the vision force with compassion, that will not allow liberals to defund police departments. However, he did not invite three top African-American law enforcers to his discussion on policing. At a megachurch in Dallas, Mr. Trump said hell sign an executive order soon requiring police departments to meet high professional standards for the use of force. This will include tactics for de-escalating confrontations. It will also include pilot programmes to allow social workers to join certain law enforcement officers so they can work together, he said. That means force, but force with compassion, the president said. Were not defunding police. If anything, were going the other route. Were going to make sure our police are well-trained. He said hell renew his call on Congress to approve school choice, calling it the civil rights issue of our time. Your browser does not support the audio element. At just 16 years old, a boy in Vietnam has said goodbye to his teenage life in order to care for his bed-ridden mother as she battles cancer. For the last 16 years, Vo Thi Hiet has been a mainstay at the local market, spending hours each day selling bananas and other produce in order to feed her son Le Viet Minh. These days, however, the roles are reversed. The teenager, 16, has found himself bearing his small familys financial burden and caring for his mother in the north-central province of Quang Binh. The only difference is that instead of putting food on the table, Minh hopes the money he earns will be enough money to keep his mother alive for as long as possible. Hiet was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019. That same year, she underwent a series of surgeries at the Hue Central Hospital, located in central Thua Thien-Hue Province. She returned to work selling bananas the moment doctors declared that she was in remission and released her from the hospital. Still, the long hours she spent working at the market only brought in less than VND100,000 (US$4.30) per day far from enough to pay for her medication. In early 2020, Hiet was told that her cancer had returned and she started treatment at the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital in Dong Hoi City, the capital of Quang Binh a cheaper alternative to Hue Central Hospital. According to her doctors, the tumor had developed into its final stage and began metastasizing in her liver. Her prognosis, they say, is grim. Minh has been her sole caregiver ever since. As such, he has been forced to drop out of school and take up his mothers role as the provider for his family of two. My mom is my top priority. Education can wait. I can always return to school next year, but if I dont take care of my mom now, I wont have a mom to take care of next year, Minh said. Le Viet Minh, 16, tends to his terminally-ill mother at their home in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam after quitting school to support his family financially. Photo: Q.Nam / Tuoi Tre Surviving day by day Minh and Hiet are living in a small house near the entry of Dong Thanh Hamlet Cemetery in Nam Trach Commune, Bo Trach District, Quang Binh. Just inside, Hiet lies in bed, struggling to breathe against the tumor growing in her abdomen. Her sickness has progressed to the point that she can barely stomach the small portion of milk Minh feeds her each day. Sometimes even that is too difficult and the milk winds up in a puddle of sick on the floor. When he is not helping feed and clean his mother, Minh is busy finding ways to provide for himself and his mother. One of my neighbors just told me they have a bunch of ripe bananas so Im going over to harvest the fruit for sale later, Minh explained, adding that he has developed a network of banana suppliers to ensure he always has stock. It took Minh a few days before he became comfortable filling his mothers shoes. To say he was embarrassed is an understatement. But those feelings quickly washed away when he realized how important his work was to helping his mother survive. In addition to selling bananas, Minh also trades plastic and cardboard. According to Xoai, a local scrap collector, Minh began collecting plastic bottles and other recyclables the day his mother fell ill. As for banana sale, the teenager was embarrassed to be doing it at first, but when he began making enough money to help his mother pay for medication he knew he had to keep doing it. Sometimes I see him arriving home from school with his backpack full of tin cans and paper scraps, Xoai said. Though he is making money from both bananas and scrap selling, Minh is not out of the woods yet. Hiets condition has been getting worse and Minh has had to cut back on his working schedule. Even with help from his neighbors, Minh worries his mother is not getting the help she needs. Le Viet Minh (left), 16, buys bananas from a neighbor for sale later to earn money for his family. Photo: Q.Nam / Tuoi Tre A future on the line A few days ago, Le Van Ha, the headmaster of Minhs school, asked him to come in and fill out paperwork so that he can return to school when he is ready without hassle. Teachers at our school have tried our best to support Minh but there really isnt much we can do for him, Ha shared. Vo Tuan Trinh, the acting leader of Nam Trach Commune, said that the local administration is helping Minh and Hiet to their maximum capacity. The commune leaders have matched donations and mobilized their officers to support the mother and her son. However, the mother cant stay with her son forever. The fact that Minh will be by himself eventually is an extremely sad reality and we worry about it every day, Trinh admitted. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The government of Ukraine made the decision to open the border checkpoints in airports, and to allow entry for foreigners who do not own the citizenship of countries where the spread of Covid-19 is considered moderate. The respective decision was made on the extraordinary session broadcasted by 112 Ukraine. According to Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy, these changes will let the aviation transport enterprises get back to work, and the international air traffic will be restored, too. As for the entry of foreigners, respective restrictions also are off for those who have not visited countries with a high Covid-19 incidence rate over the last 14 days. As is known, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ukraine was forced to close its borders. The shutdown period made almost two months. On June 11, Ukrainian doctors reported almost 700 new cases of Covid-19 all over the country. The actual number of new victims made 683 people, the Centre of Public Health of Ukraine's Healthcare Ministry reports. As of the morning of June 12, there are 29,753 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the pandemic in this country, 870 people have succumbed to the disease; another 13,567 recovered. The largest number of victims is observed in Kyiv (3,766), Chernivtsi region (3,831), and Lviv region (2,525). This is second day in a row that the anti-record in terms of Covid-19 incidence is observed in Ukraine. On June 11, the WHO confirmed 689 cases per day, which set the anti-record in this country since the pandemic reached it. Whats been going on for a year? What about the 231 calls for justice that were in its final report? Established in August 2016, the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls looked at the systemic causes of all forms of violence, including sexual violence, perpetrated against these women. The four commissioners based their recommendations on the 2,380 testimonies gathered, and concluded that there was a colonial genocide by the Canadian state. This conclusion was officially accepted by the Canadian government, in the person of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and was accompanied by a commitment to end it. But no sooner was the report released than debate was already raging in Canada, including amongst politicians, on challenging the characterization of genocide. According to Fannie Lafontaine, one of the jurists who helped write the legal analysis of the National Inquiry, these reactions a year ago were a denial of history, a refusal to see the colonial past as violence, as genocide. The need to implement a rapid and inclusive action plan seemed all the more urgent. A year later, the Canadian government asserts that initiatives have been put in place, including legislation on support for indigenous children and investments in housing. It also says that violence against these women and girls is a continuing national tragedy and that much work remains to be done. In December, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett promised families that they would not have long to wait before concrete measures are in place to end this national tragedy, and committed to implementing the promised action plan by the first anniversary of the report. The commissioners of inquiry are not sure. Its hard to get the facts, says one commissioner, Michele Audette, interviewed by Justice Info. When I asked questions I seemed to understand that there was a reflection and a mobilization, so I told myself that things were moving. But we dont know. President of NGO Quebec Native Women Viviane Michel is also perplexed: Maybe things are being done, but we dont have a report, no overview (). There is no transparency. Decolonisation A few days before the anniversary date came the announcement that the action plan was being postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Viviane Michel thinks this is just a pretext, an excuse for the work that has not been done. And this plan is not new, says Catherine Savard, another lawyer who contributed to the legal analysis of the investigative report. In 2017, an interim report, in which an action plan was mentioned, was made public. Moreover, implementing the recommendations (or calls for justice) of the National Inquiry is a legal obligation of the government to remedy the ongoing violations of indigenous peoples rights and to end the genocide that continues to this day, she says. One year on, jurist Lafontaine makes a disturbing observation. We see a federal government that chooses who is at the table, what information it shares, she says. Its as if we wanted to replicate the models of the past. We see a very worrying status quo that gives the impression the government will reflect alone on how to implement recommendations, whereas we want a real partnership, as mentioned in the report. Decolonisation means power-sharing, Lafontaine points out. Commissioner Audette wants to believe it is because of the chain of events that have taken place this past year: the federal election; the crisis provoked by protests against a gas pipeline project and the subsequent movement supported by the WetsuWeten First Nation in British Columbia; and finally the Covid-19 pandemic. If it hadnt been for all that, I would be angry, she says. But right now Im thinking, give them the benefit of the doubt! Recommended reading Canadas genocide of Indigenous peoples: Time for decolonisation Call for external oversight This did not prevent her from signing with the other three Inquiry Commissioners a press release denouncing a year of inaction and lack of transparency while adding another recommendation for external oversight. The Commissioners call for Ottawa to engage an international, impartial organization to mediate and oversee the implementation of appeals to the courts. According to Audette, the objective is to force institutions to be more transparent, since there is a lack of mobilization and pressure in support of indigenous people. Such an impartial, independent body would make it possible to rebalance and review relations, to reflect on the current state of the Canadian state with its colonial biases, says Lafontaine, who is seduced by the idea. Ongoing abuse This postponement and frustration comes at a time when outrage is growing in the wake of recent incidents of police brutality against indigenous people. In less than a week, for example, a 26-year-old woman died during a police intervention and a man was hit by the door of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers vehicle. Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller denounced shameful and disgraceful actions and called for full, independent and timely investigations. Cree former MP Romeo Saganash called for a national inquiry into the relationship between police and indigenous people. Lafontaine doesnt disagree with this idea, although she believes an inquiry would only conclude what has already been concluded: systemic racism and a profound need for change. The Prime Ministers first words this week expressed his desire to have every police officer in the country wear body cameras. In response to a press conference question on the reports anniversary, Trudeau said: The will is there, but more needs to be done in a concrete way. Things have to change. But repairing centuries of injustice, exclusion and violence does not happen overnight. We have to work together and we have to work hard, he added. For his part, Minister Miller said at a press conference on Thursday, June 11: I am committed to building a renewed relationship, based on recognition of these rights, respect, cooperation and partnership, and to ensuring that Aboriginal communities receive the care and support they need, when they need it, he said at a press conference on Thursday, June 11. And Ottawa announced $133 million to support Aboriginal businesses hard-hit by Covid-19. Recommended reading Canadas Indigenous children and the price of reconciliation Beyond the promises, the decolonization of minds advocated by the three jurists Lafontaine, Savard, and Amanda Ghahremani, in Justice Info, still seems far away, five years after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and one year after the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Numerous cases are still being reported of missing or murdered indigenous women in Canada. The tragedy has gone on long enough, says Anishnabe chief Adrienne Jerome. Action must be draconian with rigorous and adequate means. Action must follow words, otherwise our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends will never be protected. Let us hope that this will not be the case. Having a good online presence and a great mobile app is crucial for companies to prosper in the fast-changing business environment. Without a strong online and mobile strategy a company will lose ground to its competitors and struggle in the post-COVID-19 world. While a quality website is a good first step, a well-designed smartphone app is now a must-have for many businesses. Smartphone apps improve communication with clients, create customer loyalty, and give a company a competitive edge. To have your company logo with your app on the home screen of your clients smartphones is also the best marketing real estate you can get. This is why many businesses are now investing in new smartphone apps, or improving on their current apps, to stay relevant. It is, however, not only consumer-facing apps like Uber and Airbnb which are changing the way people do business. Many businesses have launched internal company apps to improve their operational efficiency and increase staff productivity. This is particularly important in the current environment where remote working has become the norm. Internal company apps also offer secure communications, company alerts, location-based task tracking, and task automation. Building an app for your company Building a new smartphone app can be a daunting task and many businesses do not know where to start. Fortunately, Codehesion can help. Codehesion is South Africas premier smartphone app development company and takes care of everything planning, designing, building, and launching the app. Their experienced app developers also help companies with the strategy around the app, advice on which features to include, and listing it on the Google Play or Apple App store. Codehesion CEO Hector Beyers said their experience helps them guide clients on which type of app will work best for their business. Beyers encouraged companies who are looking for a new Android or iOS app to contact them via their website. Codehesion offers South African businesses a free and easy consultation process which removes all risk, stated Beyers. For a risk-free consultation: Contact Codehesion here The event, dubbed Dine Out on Broadway, will repeat again next weekend. More than 30 restaurants will be open for takeout, delivery, or for some, dining alfresco. With streets blocked to vehicles, the business can extend their sidewalk cafes farther out to allow for more outdoor seating. A protester is in a medically induced coma for treatment after being struck on the head with a Confederate statue that was being torn down amidst protests in Virginia. According to a report by The Daily Press, demonstrators beheaded the four statues before tearing one down with rope on Wednesday. Protester Chris Green was said to have been hit on the head by the statue as it fell, and lost consciousness. He was then transported to hospital, where he is receiving treatment for his injuries. There was a gentleman who was directly in front of the statue and when the statue finally did give way it came and fully hit him in the head, a witness, who was identified as the president of the local Black Lives Matter chapter, told WAVY News. And we could see that his skull was actually showing, he was convulsing on the ground, he lost a great amount of blood, and were just asking everybody to pray for that man right now. A GoFundMe page has been set up by the local Black Lives Matter chapter, 757, to help cover Mr Greens familys medical expenses. Chris Green is a member of the 757 community who was severely injured during a demonstration at the confederate monuments in Portsmouth on June 10th 2020, says the site. All proceeds will be given to his family to help with any medical expenses and anything else they may need going forward. Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander released a statement advising people to stay clear of the monument and stating that anyone who attempted to scale it would be removed for their own safety. Tonight, an individual was seriously injured in an attempt to remove a statue in Portsmouth, the mayor acknowledged in the statement on Wednesday. We are praying for his full recovery and hope that this incident will not be repeated in other localities. Again, in the interests of everyones safety, we strongly urge your co-operation in this matter. The forced removal of statues and monuments by protesters has been seen across the US over the past week as part of the reaction to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in Minneapolis after a white police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. Many protesters feel that the statues glorify figureheads of the countrys racist past. The four statues were beheaded at Portsmouth Confederate Monument as protesters were frustrated by the City Councils decision to put off moving the monument, according to The Daily Press. House speaker Nancy Pelosi called for the removal of 11 Confederate statues from the US Capitol on Wednesday amidst growing campaigns across the country to remove symbols of the Confederacy. Ms Pelosi said that the statues pay homage to hate, not heritage. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriza Pinandita and Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 16:03 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde45de3 1 World COVID-19-in-Indonesia,COVID-19-Indonesian-abroad,Foreign-Ministry,Foreign-Minister-Retno-Marsudi,expatriate,foreigners,COVID-19 Free Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi announced on Thursday that there were at least 311 foreign nationals infected with COVID-19 in Indonesia, of whom 26 have died. As of Wednesday, there are 311 foreigners who have tested positive for COVID-19, 26 have died and 204 others have recovered, she said in a virtual press briefing. The ministry also recorded as many as 485 foreigners currently classified as people under surveillance (ODP). Of the figure, 265 foreigners have been repatriated to their home countries. Retno did not provide details on the nationalities of the foreign nationals. However, she ensured that the Foreign Ministry was consistently communicating with their respective embassies in Jakarta. In the briefing, Retno also gave an update on the status of Indonesian returnees amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that, as of Wednesday, 110,457 Indonesians had returned home, an increase of 2,807 within a week. Meanwhile, 21,733 Indonesian crewmembers had also returned from 29 countries. They arrived in Indonesia through dedicated entry points in Jakarta and Bali. This was an increase of 1,096 compared to last week. Furthermore, at least 7,299 Indonesians have returned home via self-repatriation from 43 countries, an increase of 490 compared to last week. The Foreign Ministry also continues to extend assistance to Indonesians abroad who are in need. Between March 18 and June 10, in Malaysia alone, our embassies and consulate generals have distributed 298,007 packages of basic needs, Retno said. She also explained that with the help of the Indonesian diaspora abroad, the ministry managed to provide 407,175 packages in total in Malaysia. This brings our assistance globally to a total of 474,947 packages including in the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Europe, America and Africa, she added. Hordes of people protest against police violence one day after the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American, while in police custody in Minneapolis, May 26, 2020. NEW YORK (JTA) - "Pray for the welfare of the state," Rabbi Hanina writes, "for if it were not for the fear thereof, people would swallow each other alive." As cities around the nation burn with righteous indignation over yet another horrific incident of police brutality directed against a black man, Jewish leaders must reflect on our own long and ambiguous history with police as we grapple with our role in what is unfolding today. Historically, Jews have had an ambiguous relationship with the police. Their stabilizing role in society is essential for us, a vulnerable minority. But we al... I can remember March 26, 2012 vividly. I rushed out of my office early and went to my daughters day care. She said, Dad, can we go get some McDonalds? I said yes. I knew she would need some fuel for the rest of our evening activities. So, I complied with her request. Immediately after she finished her meal we rushed downtown to the American Legion Mall where the crowd was almost as big as Indiana Black Expos annual free concert. I was very impressed with the large turnout that gathered in the name of Trayvon Martin as a sign of solidarity. There were people of all ages and of all races demanding justice for the family of Trayvon Martin. As my daughter and I got closer, we witnessed an incredible peaceful protest, a sign of solidarity and unity. Unfortunately, eight years later not much has happened with those demands. All over the world people from every class, creed and race are still demanding justice for Black people, in part, because of the several Black males who have died at the hands of law enforcement officers. I got involved with the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males (ICSSBM) because I believe that we can make Indiana a better place for Black males. I believe we can lead the nation in changing some of the bad statistics as it relates to our Black males. Here in Indiana, the following cities have a commission on Black males: Bloomington, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Gary, Jeffersonville and Michigan City. Notably missing is Indianapolis, which has more Black people than all of those cities combined. There are only two ways you can establish a local commission on African American males: the first is by executive order via the Mayors office and/or a city-county council ordinance. The Indianapolis Commission on African American Males (ICAAM) was started prior to the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males via executive order under Mayor Steven Goldsmith. Sometime during the last mayoral administration the commission was dismantled. Our request is simple Mayor Joe Hogsett needs to reactivate the local commission on African American males. Some may read this and ask: have you meet with the mayor and or city-county council leaders, and/or have you provided a framework and a sustainability plan? Yes and yes. We first met with the mayors office in 2017. In 2017, ICSSBM was in the last phase of our five-year strategic plan, which included reactivating the ICAAM. Since that meeting, a plethora of fraternal and civic organizations have requested that Mayor Hogsett reactivate the ICAAM. There is currently a petition, on https://www.change.org/INDYBLACKMALESMATTER, which has reached almost 10,000 signatures. The ICSSBM stands by ready and willing to assist Mayor Hogsett in providing whatever resources we have to help with this effort. We know that reactivating the ICAAM is not a panacea, but we believe emphatically that providing data on the condition of Black males in areas like health, education, social factors, employment and criminal justice will help leaders craft and create policy that makes Indianapolis a better place for our Black males. My hope is that when my daughter is my age, she will not still be marching for justice and equity for our Black males. The time is now to act, Mayor Hogsett we are counting on you to act now! Kenneth Allen is a serial social entrepreneur and currently serves as the chairman of the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males. Allen can be reached on all social media platforms @Kennethbizallen or kennethbiznessmanallen@gmail.com. Just two weeks ago, facial recognition technology seemed unstoppable. At the beginning of this year, for instance, news reports cast a light on the secretive company Clearview AI, which scraped social media sites for photos to build a database of more than more than 3 billion photos, sold to law enforcement. Then came a sea change: On Monday, in a letter to Congress, IBM announced it would stop the sale of general purpose facial recognition software. On Wednesday, Amazon announced a one-year moratorium on police use of its Rekognition technology by law enforcement, inviting Congress to put in place stronger regulations to govern the ethical use of the technology. Amazon in its statement said that, Congress appears ready to take on this challenge, referring to the mounting pressure to make fundamental changes to U.S. law enforcement following the killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police, and law enforcements heavy-handed and violent response to the Black Lives Matter protests. And on Thursday, Microsoft joined the crowd, saying it will ban law enforcement from using its facial recognition technology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those of us who have long worked on technology and privacy, these are exciting developments. But they raise two fundamental questions. Are we indeed ready to have a conversation about racial and social justice in relation to technology? And what should the basis for this conversationand potential regulationbe? IBMs decision has been met with cynicism. Critics emphasize that the company was not leading sales of facial recognition technology and that the small gap left by its exit will be filled by non-U.S. companies already quietly shipping tools to police departments. Furthermore, they have pointed out, shelving facial recognition to focus on cloud computing could ultimately help IBMs stock. Other commentators argue that the damage has already been done, citing IBMs previous contracts with law enforcement. Amazons announcement to halt police use of Rekognition for one year has been met with even more skepticism. Many civil liberties activists and organizations who have been challenging Amazons surveillance technologies for years argue that Amazon should extend its moratorium until Congress passes a law regulating facial recognition technology. In addition, Amazons announcement comes on the heels of growing pressure from its investors to limit or ban facial recognition technologies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While some skepticism about these tech companies sudden change of heart is indeed justified, that doesnt mean it should be downplayed. This is a step that goes beyond the earlier expressions of support with the protest movement by Big Tech, toward a breakthrough opportunity to start a long-overdue conversation about racial and social justice in relation to technology with the active participation of the companies that manufacture and sell so many of the products that are harmful to racialized and marginalized groups today. If this conversation is to succeed and lead to tangible change, it needs to acknowledge the systemic issues that lie at the foundation of facial recognition and other technology not only reproducing, but amplifying theracist, ableist, male-centric, etc.power structures existing in our societies. A broad range of stakeholders needs to be part of the dialogue, and not just engineers and lawmakers: Those who are directly experiencing the shortcomings of this technology, including social scientists, civil society, and human rights experts, should be part of determining the standards that urgently need to be set. This includes exploring other avenues than simply divesting from technologies used to violate human rights. For example, tech companies could, as the Algorithmic Justice League suggested the other day, actively invest in the organizations and individuals working to bring light to how technologies reinforce and perpetuate power structures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many years of groundbreaking work has led to this moment. The conclusion that facial recognition has a race problem builds on the foundational research done by Joy Buolamwini, Timnit Gebru, and Deborah Raji, demonstrating that various commercial facial recognition technologies showed bias on the basis of gender and skin type. In the wake of the initial announcements from IBM and Amazon, most commentators failed to reference this crucial work done by black women researchers in bringing the racist problems of this type of technology to light. This erasure underlines how technology, just like the reporting on it, does not exist in a vacuum. All of it reflects the unequal power structures in our society, which the protesters are challenging right now. Advertisement Advertisement There is a small but significant difference in the approach of IBM and Microsoft on the one hand and Amazon on the other hand. On the face of it, Amazons request for regulation seems more concrete than IBMs call for a national dialogue. However, while IBM expressed its position with explicit reference to the nonviolation of basic human rights and freedoms, Amazons invitation to Congress refers only to the ethical use of it, leaving the human rights framework out of the picture. On Thursday, Microsoft took IBMs human rights stance a step further by claiming it would not sell facial recognition technology unless there was a national law in place, grounded in human rights to govern it. This is important as the international human rights framework not only sets clear standards (rights), but it also specifies the duties and responsibilities that come with it, and there are existing mechanisms to enforce it. These are really important principles for protecting individuals against harm by powerful actors. There is a long-running debate on rights vs. ethics in regulating technology, with many arguing that companies prefer the latter because they do not want to subject themselves to a tangible, high level of accountability. It is refreshing that IBM is willing to take this step. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We live in a world where protesters are not only routinely surveilled, but in which data-driven tools are incorporated into public policy decision-making, such as who has access to housing or shelter, who is suspected of having committed welfare or benefits fraud, how long a defendant should be sentenced, and when social services should take measures against a family. Companies like IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon are building practices, policies, and tools in areas that traditionally fall within the exclusive remit of public bodies and government departments. Bodies and departments that are usually subject to laws that ensure they act lawfully, fairly, and compatibly with human rights. Yet, as of now, tech companies are not subject to the same mechanisms of accountability. Placing their work in a human rights frame is an important acknowledgment that what these companies are doing has an impact on legally enforceable rights, and that it also should be scrutinized as such. The road to full accountability for tech companies will be long, and we will need to monitor IBM, Amazon, Microsoft, and others that will (hopefully) follow suit to see if they live up to their promises. But their decisionsparticularly that of IBM, which came firstare still commendable. If ever there were momentum to make this into more than a public relations exercise and start having the racial and social justice conversations we need to have about technology, including in the law enforcement context, with all stakeholders, including companies, it is now. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. DUBLIN, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Saudi Arabia Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020 - 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The market in Saudi Arabia was valued at USD 342.0 million in 2019, and it is projected to reach USD 402.5 million by 2025, at a CAGR of 2.7% during the forecast period. The drivers identified in this market are growing government support to the sector, rapid increase in demand, and increasing sale of fish via social network platforms. The restraints identified in this market are extreme meteorological and hydrological conditions, fishing bans in the country, and decline in employment by the fisheries sector. Key Market Trends Unprocessed Fresh/Chilled Fish Dominate the Market The aquaculture market in Saudi Arabia is in the nascent stage of development, as compared to other Middle Eastern countries. In 2019, the fresh/chilled unprocessed fish segment in Saudi Arabia was estimated at USD 151.8 million and happens to be the largest segment by type. The segment is projected to reach USD 177.1 million by 2025, with a CAGR of 2.6% during the forecast period. Processed Fish Segment is likely to Witness Significant Growth Saudi Arabia is mostly dependent on the developing countries in South and Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa, toward meeting its domestic demand for fish and fish products. Processed shrimps, lobsters, caviars, and cuttlefish are mainly imported from Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Hong-Kong, Taiwan, and Argentina. According to the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences, as most of the seafood in the Kingdom is imported from other countries, their prices are usually high. In 2019, the market for processed fish in Saudi Arabia was estimated at USD 80.8 million, and it is projected to reach USD 101.1 million by 2025, with a CAGR of 3.8% during the forecast period. Key Topics Covered: 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Study Assumptions & Market Definition 1.2 Scope of the Study 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 MARKET DYNAMICS 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 Market Drivers 4.3 Market Restraints 4.4 Market Demand Analysis 4.5 PESTLE ANALYSIS 5 MARKET SEGMENTATION 5.1 Type 5.1.1 Unprocessed 5.1.1.1 Fresh, Chilled 5.1.1.1.1 Market Size (USD million) 5.1.1.1.2 Domestic Production Overview 5.1.1.1.3 Domestic Consumption Overview 5.1.1.1.4 Import Value and Volume 5.1.1.1.5 Export Value and Volume 5.1.1.2 Frozen 5.1.1.2.1 Market Size (USD million) 5.1.1.2.2 Domestic Production Overview 5.1.1.2.3 Domestic Consumption Overview 5.1.1.2.4 Import Value and Volume 5.1.1.2.5 Export Value and Volume 5.1.2 Processed 5.1.2.1 Market Size (USD million) 5.1.2.2 Domestic Production Overview 5.1.2.3 Domestic Consumption Overview 5.1.2.4 Import Value and Volume 5.1.2.5 Export Value and Volume 6 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/20zx57 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com This special presentation from TILT Holdings is from Benzingas June 1 Virtual Cannabis Capital Conference. Click here for more coverage of this event, with presentations from some of the top CEOs, investors and lenders in the cannabis space. TILT Holdings Inc (OTCQB: TLLTF) is a cannabis company that partners with operators globally to help them build world-class brands. The company leverages its vast experience in the cannabis supply chain to solve pain points for operators sharing in their success. President and COO of TILT Holdings joined the Benzinga Virtual Cannabis Capital Conference to discuss the brands three pillars and position for growth. The Three Pillars TILT is comprised of three core operational assets: Jupiter Research, Blackbird, and its plant-touching assets, CAC & Standard Farms. Jupiter is inhalation technology and research. They are a leader in providing customized solutions to customers looking to build brands. Jupiters approach to business is creativity over capital. This TILT pillar entered a strategic partnership with automated filling provider Convectium/Jacksam Corp (OTCQB: JKSM), an infrastructure provider in the hemp space, in Q4 of 2019. Blackbird is both software and services. The offerings work together to solve supply chain challenges and ultimately drive revenue for cannabis brands, said Conder. Blackbird also provides distribution and delivery to cannabis businesses. In response to COVID-19 related Nevada adult-use restrictions, Blackbird rapidly scaled outsourced retail delivery. We found that great companies want to work with strong operators and they find that in both Blackbird and Jupiter, said Conder. Commonwealth Alternative Care (CAC) is a vertically-integrated operation in Massachusetts. And Standard Farms is a cultivation and production operation in Pennsylvania. Positioned For Growth TILTs incremental growth drivers are specific. One way is through the production of proprietary Jupiter products (Infinity platform, Liquid Que). Story continues TILT has a differentiated and multi-faceted perspective on the growing cannabis industry support cannabis companies as they grow to world-class brands. Currently, the company powers over 2,000 brands and retailers across the industry. Through its unique value proposition helping cannabis companies build brands as the market grows, TILT is positioned for growth. Ultimately, TILT helps companies build brands as they navigate a challenging marketplace. TILT is not a competitor of these brands but is instead a supporter, said Conder. Their success is our success, so were perfectly aligned. Photo by Esteban Lopez on Unsplash See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. I f you have an iPhone, try digging into the settings menu. Buried in the privacy controls you can find a strange heading: Covid-19 Exposure Logging. Its tempting to slide the control switch to the right. Except theres a catch. The screen is greyed out. The small print says: You cannot turn on Exposure Logging without an authorised app. And of course there isnt one on offer here. Apples promise to use big tech to beat Covid is a mirage. Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, is the sort of man who would sound hyper-excited even if he was only pulling the top off a tin of baked beans. So when work on a British app using a different system began he didnt hold back. Wed have it by May, he said. But now its the middle of the month and his magic device hasnt appeared. Where is it? Clever and committed people have been working flat out for the last three months trying to get an app to do what it should. They now sound as drained as an iPhone battery. The truth is that the app isnt working properly yet. Maybe it never will. Julian Glover / Daniel Hambury They tested it on the Isle of Wight and a lot of people downloaded it. But hopes that it might have made a difference there are based on an optimistic reading of a tiny sample of public health data. Maybe ministers will demand a national app is launched this summer anyway just so they can say they have got one. But it isnt going to be the way we crush Covid. California, home of Silicon Valley, isnt using an app at all. Germany is launching a version only next week This country was ambitious, aiming for a system which reported useful information back to a central system. Theres a history of Britain trying its own too-clever-by-half way of doing things and then giving up. In the Sixties we built a nuclear bomber, the TSR-2, and then cancelled it as soon as it had performed well on test flights. Later, we came up with the APT tilting train and dropped that. We invented the hovercraft, which once crossed the channel quicker than Eurotunnel, but scrapped it. Will the British Covid app be added to that sad heap? The talk now is that we may change tack and import simple technology rather than create our own. That setting on your iPhone is the gateway to a joint standard developed by Apple and Google which they hoped would support tracing across the world. But it has technical problems too which is why almost nowhere is using it. Its not just our app thats struggling. Even in the US, only three minor states, Alabama, South Carolina and North Dakota, have built apps that work with the system. California, home of Silicon Valley, isnt using an app at all. Germany is only launching a version next week after lots of delay and after getting Covid under control through less flashy means too. Other countries have tried a different standard, but that hasnt been a success either. France has just launched its own centralised app along the lines we are trying here but no one knows yet if it works. Singapore got an app out early, using a Bluetooth system, which was later adapted by Australia. But most Singaporeans didnt download it and Singapore has moved on from its app and is planning to ask people to wear a special digital tracking device instead. If we scrapped privacy protections and simply exploited the raw data which shows the location of anyone with a phone, crossed-checked with surveillance cameras, we could track the past movements of people who test positive without them even knowing. Thats what they do in South Korea. But this would be an intolerable intrusion into our lives and it still needs a system behind it to get persuade people to isolate. Thats why, however much we hope technology holds the answer, it all comes back to human organisation and effort. How are we doing on that? Yesterday the Government gave us some evidence that its test and trace system, which now employs about 23,000 people, is creaking into action. Two thirds of people who tested positive at the start of the month have been asked for details of people they might have infected, and 26,985 of those have been found and contacted. Whether they then isolate as a result is another matter. Being asked to lock yourself away for a fortnight even if you have no symptoms is tough. But if you get the order, the fact that its from someone in a call centre reading a script rather than an app on your phone wont be the big thing you worry about. Forensic testing has revealed that David McAtee, a popular Louisville, Kentucky restaurant owner known as the BBQ Man, was shot and killed outside of his establishment by a member of the Kentucky National Guard during a protest against police violence on June 1. On Tuesday, during Democratic Governor Andy Beshears press conference, Kentucky State Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown reported, David McAtee appears to have succumbed to a single gunshot wound to the chest, and that remains our conclusion. Brown went on, Our crime lab was not able to match up the particular bullet fragments with a particular rifle, but we do know the caliber and type of ammunition and we know that night those rounds were only fired by one agency, and that was the Kentucky National Guard, responding to the fire that they had received. David McAtee (Photo credit: Facebook) Brown also reported that two guardsmen and two officers of the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department (LMPD) fired at least 18 shots in McAtees direction that night. The investigation into McAtees death was conducted by the Kentucky State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the forensic evidence showed that gunshot residue on McAtee and on two shell casings found nearby came from the same weapon. On the fourth night of protests in Louisvilleignited by both the brutal LMPD shooting death of Breonna Taylor in her apartment on March 13 and the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25police in riot gear accompanied by the Kentucky National Guard were sweeping through the streets of West Louisville and used their weapons to break up a gathering of protesters in front of Dinos Food Market when McAtee was shot and killed. The National Guard was requested by Governor Beshear and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer on May 29, following a night of attacks by police on protesters in which seven people were shot. Although government officials say the investigation into exactly which one of the guardsmen fired the round that killed McAtee is still ongoing 10 days later, they have been quick to claim that the BBQ cook fired two shots from a 9mm pistol first before he was fatally struck in the chest. In the press conference, Brown said I believe, Mr. McAtee fired the first shot, paused, and came back up and fired again. While both forensic and video evidence show that McAtee did fire his weapon, the question of who fired first has not yet been established. With multiple surveillance video cameras along with eyewitness smartphone video recording the sequence of events leading up to the exchange, the truth of what happened will eventually come out. An analysis of synchronized video streams from multiple angles published by the New York Times on June 4, shows that an LMPD officer fired two pepper balls first in the direction of McAtees restaurant, YaYas BBQ Shack, one of which nearly struck McAtees niece in the head before it struck a door frame in the building. McAtee is then seen stepping outside the back door twice and appears to fire back before he is hit. The two members of the LMPD who fired their weapons have been identified as Austin Allen and Katie Crews and both have been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues. The members of the National Guard have yet to be named. Although the governor has called for the officers body camera footage to be released for public viewing, LMPD said that neither officer activated their recording devices, a violation of police department policy. In response to the lack of body camera recordings, Mayor Fischer fired Police Chief Steve Conrad. On Wednesday, the Kentucky National Guard released a statement in response to the evidence presented by Cabinet Secretary Brown saying that they were conducting their own investigation and repeating the claim that McAtee fired first. Brig. Gen. Hal Lamberton, Kentuckys adjutant general defended the actions of the guard, saying, This civil unrest mission is one of the most difficult homeland missions we are asked to support. The Soldiers and Airmen we called upon are of the highest caliber, and we believe the investigation will conclude that it was a measured response from the National Guard that night. Steve Romines, attorney for McAtees family, told WHAS11 the whole story has not been told yet. He said LMPD is responsible for McAtees death because they violated their own policies before any shots were fired by shooting pepper balls at a crowd and not announcing their presence. There are no police sirens, no one announcing themselves as cops. [McAtees] inside the residence, people are flooding in saying theyre shooting. He has no reason to believe theyre cops, Romines said. Romines also questioned the statement of Secretary Brown that the guardsmen who fired the shots are going to be interviewed, asking, Theres a man dead and you havent interviewed the people that fired shots? How does that happen? Also on Wednesday, LMPD released the incident report filed by officers involved in killing Breonna Taylor, nearly three months after she was brutally shot eight times during the execution of a no-knock search warrant on March 13. The four-page perfunctory report lists the charges as DEATH INVESTIGATION, the weapon as Handgun, with the victim Taylor, Breonna Shaqulle and injuries as None. According to news reports and lawyers for Breonnas family, she died on the floor in the hallway of her apartment after plainclothes LMPD officers broke down the door of her apartmentwhile she and her boyfriend Kenneth Walker were asleepand fired at least 20 rounds into the dwelling. Not knowing who the intruders were, Walker, a licensed gun owner, fired a warning shot that hit one of the officers in the leg. Initially, Walker was arrested and charged with attempted murder and assault. However, indicating the flimsy attempt to frame Walker for the police violence, Kentucky Commonwealths Attorney Tom Wine dismissed those charges on May 22, following protests demanding justice for Taylor and her family. The three LMPD officers, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and officers Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove, have still not been charged for the death of Taylor. Det. Joshua Jaynes, who applied for the no-knock warrant used to justify breaking into Taylors apartmentand was approved by Jefferson Circuit Judge Mary Shaw signed on March 12has been reassigned by the citys new Police Chief Rob Schroeder and the matter has been referred to the FBI for further investigation. New Delhi: With the Nepalese Parliament expected to soon vote on a controversial new map of the Himalayan country that shows certain Indian territory as part of Nepal, New Delhi on Thursday said it had already made its position clear on the matter, adding that it deeply values its civilisational, cultural and friendly relations with Nepal. India had earlier said it is open to engaging with Nepal on the matter on the basis of mutual sensitivity and mutual respect, in an environment of trust and confidence. India had last month termed the controversial map as artificial enlargement of (Nepalese) territorial claims (that) will not be accepted by India. New Delhi had also urged Kathmandu to refrain from such unjustified cartographic assertion and respect Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity. India had also said the Nepalese revised official map includes parts of Indian territory and that this unilateral act is not based on historical facts and evidence which is contrary to the bilateral understanding to resolve the outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue. Nepal claims that as per the Treaty of Sagauli inked more than two centuries ago between British India and Nepal in 1816 after the Anglo-Nepal War, all the territories east of Kali (Mahakali) River, including Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipu Lekh, belong to Nepal. All three areas are part of Indian territory and fall in Uttarakhand State. The row between India and Nepal was triggered last month after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had inaugurated an 80 km-long high altitude road from Dharchula to the Lipulekh Pass (both in Uttarakhand) that reduces the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage time. Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, who is seen as close to China, has made the change in the map a matter of prestige for the Himalayan countrys ruling communist leadership. On Thursday, the MEA said, We have already made our position clear on these issues. India deeply values its civilization, cultural and friendly relations with Nepal. Our multi-faceted bilateral partnership partnership has expanded and diversified in the recent years with increased focus and enhanced Government of Indias assistance on humanitarian, development and connectivity projects in Nepal. The MEA added, India has been reaching out to friendly neighbouring countries including Nepal, in line with Prime Ministers initiative to chart out a common strategy to combat COVID-19 in the region. India has extended all possible technical, medical and humanitarian assistance to Nepal. We have supplied about 25 tonnes of medical aid to Nepal including Paracetamol and hydroxy chloroquine (HCQ) medicines, test kits and other medical supplies. Government of India has also ensured that there is no untoward disruption in trade and supply of essential goods to Nepal, despite the lockdown on both sides. India has also helped in repatriation of Nepalese nationals stranded abroad on humanitarian grounds. Sanjaya Baru, former press adviser to prime minister (PM) Manmohan Singh, in his tell-all book The Accidental Prime Minister, wrote about the morning of September 26, 2007, when a newly-selected general secretary of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi, visited the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) with Sonia Gandhis political adviser Ahmed Patel. The latter handed over a statement to be issued by the PMO , which said that Gandhi had urged the PM to expand the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to 500 districts. Baru protested since it wasnt the tradition of the PMO to issue statements given out by visitors to the PM. Yet, by late evening, every media outlet was running the contents of the statement as a headline. Baru also noted the Congresss party obsession to give the entire credit of MGNREGS to the Gandhi family. These incidents underline the obsession of the Gandhi family with the ownership of MGNREGS. Sonia Gandhi recently wrote an article where she accused the National Democratic Alliance government of falling back on the scheme after first criticising it. But she forgets that it was the abysmal handling of MGNREGS along with a string of corruption charges that led to the Congress-led governments undoing in 2014. When this government came to power, MGNREGS was in a poor shape. It had the inherent power to be much more than the scheme that the Congress had envisaged. After understanding its problems, and the shoddy job that the previous government did in its execution, the PM declared MGNREGS as a living monument to the Congress governments failures, but said that he would not let it die. Thus, the government re-engineered MGNREGS, fool-proofing it, pushing reforms, intertwining it with technology and making the feedback mechanism stronger. Riding on these reforms, this government revitalised MGNREGS. The funds allocated to MGNREGS for this fiscal year, excluding the additional allocation of Rs 40,000 crore in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, was Rs 61,500 crore. This was larger than the combined budgetary allocation of Rs 60,000 crore during the last two years of the Congress (2012-13 and 2013-14). During the first tenure of the Modi government, Rs 2,64,864 crore was allocated to the scheme and the total expenditure was Rs 2,53,245 crore. On corroborating the yearly increase of budget allocation to programme during the first Modi government, one finds a 12.87% yearly increase in budget allocations. The rural job scheme is alive and kicking only because of this. Today, 99% wages under MNREGS are being paid electronically against 37% in 2013-14. There was massive corruption in how work was being given out; only a fraction of wages were reaching the intended beneficiaries. It was not that the Congress government had not acknowledged the presence of this massive fund leakage. PM Manmohan Singh, in 2009, admitted to the leakage of funds, yet, over the next five years, he did little to plug this. It was the late Rajiv Gandhi who said that of every rupee spent, only 15-17 paisa reached the beneficiary. Yet, despite being in power for many years, the Congress government failed to ensure that the taxpayers money did not end up in the pockets of spurious characters. Today, 400 schemes come under the Direct Benefit Transfer. Another famous-yet-abandoned child of the Congress was Aadhaar. The Modi government used it well and through the trinity of schemes Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile (JAM) plugged fund leakages. Another big issue was the massive use of fake job cards under MGNREGS. In 2010, the Planning Commission after evaluating MGNREGS had spoken of delayed payments and mass-scale corruption. The Modi government went on a massive cleaning spree. In 2017, nearly 10 million fake MGNREGS job cards were found and stuck-off from the scheme. It is indeed confusing to find Sonia Gandhi accuse this government of not issuing job cards, when fake job cards proliferated under her partys rule. It is pity that she accuses this government of delayed payment, when only 34% of payment was done on time during her regime. In the Comptroller and Auditor General of India report (2007-12), it was mentioned that only 30% work under MGNREGS had been completed. Today, all the work is geo-tagged and target-driven approach towards MGNREGS has been given primacy. In the words of late Arun Jaitley: Wage through MGNREGS will be through works that are more productive, asset creating and linked to agriculture and agri-related activities. By converging various aspects, almost 60% of the work helps in natural resource management. Another major reform by this government is the addition of individual beneficiary work; today, 67% of all work amunts to individual beneficiaries. Apart from creating sustainable livelihoods, it is this reform that will aid our fight against Covid as this work can be done while maintaining social distancing. Today, when a resolute Modi 2.0 government is fighting the virus and its various outcomes, the Rs 1,01,500 crore allocated for MGNREGS will help India navigate this temporary crisis. The only reason why this government is using MGNREGS in its fight against Covid-19 is not because this government believes in the schemes political legacy that the Congress claims to own, but because we believe in the work done in reforming it and making it the reliable and powerful tool that it is today. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is a Union Cabinet minister The views expressed are personal A former semi-truck driver lost his job and was confined to a wheelchair after a work-related accident in March of last year. Now, the 62-year-old from Langley Mill, Nottingham, credits an adorable French bulldog, which he rescued, for saving his life. Keith Aspin had been a truck driver for 25 years, and he loved his job. His life took a tragic turn, however, when he suffered a debilitating injury. Aspin was throwing a strap over a load for a typical day when he suffered an arterial blockage, which caused him to collapse. Keith Aspin, 62, with French bulldog Maja Langley Mill, Nottingham (Caters News) As a result, he sustained 14 broken bones in his spine, a 10-inch gash on his head, and a dislocated shoulder. He was then told he would be unable to walk for two years and would require spinal surgery. His injuries left him confined to a wheelchair, his license was revoked, and he consequently lost his job. He then lost his home and had to move into a wheelchair-accessible assisted-living facility. Both his body and mind began to deteriorate. From March until December, my life was spent lying down on my sofa because I couldnt even make it to my bed, Aspin told Caters. A semi-truck driver who rescued a French bulldog from an abusive puppy farm says his adorable pooch has now saved his life. (Caters News) As a result of diminished upper body strength, Aspin became unable to bathe, prepare his own food, or go out to shop for himself. He attempted physiotherapy, though it was unsuccessful, causing him too much difficulty. His mental health took a turn for the worse. Thats when he began searching for a companion online. In January, Aspin met Maja for the first time. The 19-month-old French bulldog had been rescued from an abusive puppy mill, and Aspin came across an ad seeking a home for the poor puppy. He soon found that he needed her as much as she needed him. French bulldog Maja (Caters News) Maja was rescued from a puppy farm and I was shocked by how anxious and unsure of herself she was, Aspin shared. She had been mistreated and cowered every time I raised my hand to stroke her head. It was his sense of responsibility for Maja that encouraged Aspin to walk again. I didnt know if she was toilet trained when I got her and I decided that I would go out with her the next day and take her for a walk, he recalled. I took my walking stick and I managed to get hold of an extendable lead and harness. I knew she was dependent on me and she pushed me to go out. Keith Aspin, 62, plants a kiss on his beloved French bulldog Maja. (Caters News) The former trucker and his new puppy soon formed an incredibly close bond, and he says that caring for her was what saved his life. Shes my best friend and she has been a life saver, he said. She has given me a purpose for living. My mental health has improved massively since having her around. We have rescued each other and I think she knows that. HONG KONG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Friday expressed firm support for the HKSAR government to establish and improve an education system in line with the "one country, two systems" principle in Hong Kong. A spokesperson of the liaison office called for joint efforts from the Hong Kong society to create a healthy environment for youngsters to grow up. Radical groups in Hong Kong have recently incited students to boycott classes after the national legislature adopted a decision on the national security legislation for Hong Kong. The HKSAR government has expressed firm opposition to the incitement and asked schools to deal with it seriously and urge students not to participate in such activities. The liaison office supports the HKSAR government in taking effective measures to safeguard security and stability on the campus, the spokesperson said. By Jessica Corbett, staff writer at CommonDreams. Originally published at CommonDreams Progressive critics and advocacy groups are responding with alarm and anger to the Trump administrations refusal to disclose the names of more than 4.5 million companies that have collectively received over $500 billion in corporate bailout money through a federal program created to provide businesses with relief from the coronavirus pandemic. The over $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed by President Donald Trump in March established the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) with $349 billion in funding for forgivable loans. After the initial capital ran out in just 13 days, lawmakers approved $310 billion morethough over $130 billion of that amount was still left as of Tuesday. Although, as the Washington Post reported, the Small Business Administration (SBA) typically discloses names of borrowers from the loan program on which the PPP is based, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testified to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship that he wont be following that model for the Covid-19 program, despite concerns about which companies are benefiting from it. As Mnuchin told the Senate committee Wednesday: We believe that thats proprietary information, and in many cases for sole proprietors and small businesses, it is confidential information. The secretarys comments provoked a barrage of condemnation, particularly among individuals and groups that had previously expressed concern about the PPP. It is a huge problem for transparency that the Treasury Department says it will never disclose the recipients of the Paycheck Protection Program loans for small businesses despite all the problems with cronies and big companies getting loans.https://t.co/SC4XyW8QRL Noah Bookbinder (@NoahBookbinder) June 11, 2020 Making sure trillions in aid goes to workers, not profiteers, begins with knowing where the aid goes, Bartlett Naylor, Public Citizens financial policy advocate, told Common Dreams of the federal governments Covid-19 bailout efforts. Zero transparency is red carpet for hucksters, schemers, and battlefield scavengers. Public Citizen tweeted Thursday about Mnuchins remarks, blasting his refusal to disclose businesses getting PPP funds as unconscionable, jaw-dropping corruption. Progressives swiftly echoed the groups critique in their own tweetsincluding Fordham University law professor Zephyr Teachout, who wrote: This is outrageous AND exactly what was obviously going to happen AND exactly why many of us opposed CARES as written. This is outrageous AND exactly what was obviously going to happen AND exactly why many of us opposed CARES as written. https://t.co/SvfXy8CcFk Zephyr Teachout (@ZephyrTeachout) June 11, 2020 Jeet Heer, national affairs correspondent at The Nation, highlighted Public Citizens response with the introduction: Speaking of looting. Several other critics made similar nods to current events, tweeting: This is the looting we should be furious about and Oh shit. Looting has broken out in Washington. This is absolutely unreal, declared author and activist Naomi Klein. Looting with masks on. This is absolutely unreal. Last time: no strings attached bail out money. This time: the public doesnt even get to know which multinational, multibillion dollar companies got its money. Looting with masks on. https://t.co/Zdcg25l8vJ Naomi Klein (@NaomiAKlein) June 11, 2020 Broader charges of corporate looting in relation to the CARES Act have circulated since before it was signed into law. However, in the over two weeks of protests since Minneapolis police killed George Floyd, looting has become the word of the day, on the lips of every newscaster, the president, and elected officials across the country, as progressive radio host Thom Hartmann wrote for Common Dreams on June 1. Hartmann and others have made that case that, indeed, looting is a major problem in Americajust not in the way that the issue has been presented by President Donald Trump and the corporate media, who have spotlighted the property destruction and the stealing of goods that have occurred alongside the demonstrations against police brutality and systemic racism over past few weeks. Americans know who the real looters are, progressive radio host Benjamin Dixon told Common Dreams in late May. Referencing a recent analysis from Americans for Tax Fairness and the Institute for Policy Studies, he added: Its the billionaires who plundered America for $434 billion during the pandemic while the essential workers keeping our country afloat make barely over minimum wage. Ive worked in middle and high schools and I know that its not a pleasant thing for a kid to come to school and the first thing they see is a police officer, said Jessica, who did not give her last name because she is looking for work and felt her attendance at a rally would be used against her. The part of the movement that speaks to me is the redistribution of funds in schools to where we actually need it, like teachers and counselors and social work. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 11, 2020) - Palladium One Mining Inc. (TSXV: PDM) (FSE: 7N11) (OTC Pink: NKORF) (the "Company" or "Palladium One") reports a new chargeability drill target on the Tilsa Induced Polarization (IP) survey grid on the Lantinen Koillismaa ("LK") Project, in central Finland. Highlights: The Tilsa IP survey grid is located six (6) kilometers west of the historic Haukiaho resource (see news release May 7, 2020) and covers one (1) kilometer of the three (3) kilometer strike length of the highly prospective Tilsa trend. ( Figure 2 ) The survey has identified a consistent chargeability anomaly over the full extent of the grid, which appears to be strengthening to the northeast. ( Figure 1 and 3 ) The survey also identified two other parallel chargeability and magnetic anomalies possibly representing fault repetitions of the favourable basal phase of the Koillismaa complex. Historical reconnaissance drilling, in 1999 by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), along the Tilsa trend returned up to 0.58g/t PGE (0.39g/t Pd, 0.13g/t Pt, 0.06g/t Au), 0.35% Cu, 0.29% Ni over 15.26m in hole R379. The strongest part of the newly identified chargeability anomaly has never been drill tested. Figure 1. Plan view of the 2020 Tilsa IP survey showing chargeability, and historic drill traces. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6502/57547_37beea5f14355a83_001full.jpg Preliminary Analysis: The three (3) kilometer long Tilsa trend appears to be a faulted block of the larger Haukiaho Trend. The metal ratios of the Tilsa PGE-Ni-Cu mineralization have strong similarities to Haukiaho-style mineralization. The chargeability anomalies are coincident with strong magnetic highs, suggesting peridotitic rocks, which are characteristic of Haukiaho-style PGE-Ni-Cu mineralization. The presence of closely spaced fault repetitions of the favourable basal phase at Tilsa is prospective for finding mineralization amenable to open pit mining. Story continues Target Model: Large tonnage, near surface PGE-Ni-Cu mineralization amenable to open pit mining. Multiple higher-grade pods of PGE-Ni-Cu mineralization located in embayment structures along the basal contact of the Koillismaa Complex. "These results represent another in a series of new, highly prospective, drill targets at the LK project. Today the geophysical program has shown the three (3) kilometer long Tilsa trend has potential to host significantly more mineralization than previously indicated. Most historic drilling was focused at the center of the trend, whereas the new IP survey clearly shows the chargeability anomaly increasing to the northeast, where there has been no drill testing." commented Derrick Weyrauch, President and CEO Figure 2. LK Project with IP survey grids (blue lines). Red circles represent the Kaukua NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate, and the 2013 historic Haukiaho resource estimate. Property outlines colours are based on the form legal status. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6502/57547_37beea5f14355a83_002full.jpg Figure 3. Plan view of 2020 Tilsa 50m spaced drone total field magnetic survey. To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6502/57547_37beea5f14355a83_003full.jpg Qualified Person The technical information in this release has been reviewed and verified by Neil Pettigrew, M.Sc., P. Geo, Vice President of Exploration and a director of the Company and the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Palladium One Palladium One Mining Inc. is a palladium dominant, PGE, nickel, copper exploration and development company. Its assets consist of the Lantinen Koillismaa ("LK") and Kostonjarvi ("KS") PGE-Cu-Ni projects, located in north-central Finland and the Tyko Ni-Cu-PGE and Disraeli PGE-Ni-Cu properties in Ontario, Canada. All projects are 100% owned and are of a district scale. LK is an advanced project targeting disseminated sulphide along 38 kilometers of favorable basal contact. The KS project is targeting massive sulphide within a 20,000-hectare land package covering a regional scale gravity and magnetic geophysical anomaly. Tyko is a 13,000-hectare project targeting disseminated and massive sulphide in a highly metamorphosed Archean terrain. Disraeli is a 2,500-hectare project targeting PGE-rich disseminated and massive sulphide in a highly productive Proterozoic mid-continent rift. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Derrick Weyrauch" President & CEO, Director For further information contact: Derrick Weyrauch, President & CEO Email: info@palladiumoneinc.com Phone: 1-778-327-5799 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release is not an offer or a solicitation of an offer of securities for sale in the United States of America. The common shares of Palladium One Mining Inc. have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration. Information set forth in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address a company's expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks associated with project development; the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing; fluctuations in palladium and other commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume; and tax consequences to Canadian and U.S. Shareholders. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/57547 Democrat leaders are renewing efforts to have 11 Confederate-related statues removed from the U.S. Capitol, saying the symbols are archaic and divisive. The statues in the Capitol should embody our highest ideals as Americans, expressing who we are and who we aspire to be as a nation. Monuments to men who advocated cruelty and barbarism to achieve such a plainly racist end are a grotesque affront to these ideals, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-California, said. Among the statues in question is one of Gen. Joseph Fighting Joe Wheeler, a bronze image submitted to the Capitols Statuary Hall by Alabama in 1925. The statue has Wheeler in his Confederate uniform with CSA - Confederate States of America - on his beltbuckle. Wheelers history is complex and includes time in both the Confederate and U.S. Army as well as Congress. Born in Georgia in 1836, Wheeler was raised in Connecticut and New York before attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. According to the Encyclopedia of Alabama, Wheeler resigned his U.S. military commission in 1860 and returned to Georgia, where he was named a lieutenant in the Confederate Army ahead of the war with northern forces. He eventually rose to serve as chief of cavalry for the Army of Tennessee and, later, was promoted to brigadier general. Wheeler and his forces were considered instrumental in several major battles. Wheeler like some other Confederate leaders - was briefly imprisoned at the end of the war. After his release, Wheeler settled in Lawrence County, Alabama you can still visit his home, Pond Springs, there today and worked as a lawyer and planter. He was elected to as a Democrat to the U.S. House in 1880, serving terms until 1900. In 1898, Wheeler, by then 61, rejoined the U.S. Army as a brigadier general where he commanded a division in the Spanish-American War. Among those under his command during the war were Theodore Roosevelts Rough Riders with Wheeler riding to the front at the Battle for San Juan Hill. Wheeler continued his military assignment during the Philippine-American War. He died in New York in 1906 and is one of only 2 former Confederate generals to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Joe Wheeler State Park, Wheeler Lake and Dam and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge are named for him, as is Joe Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia and Wheeler County, Georgia. The military has honored Wheeler as well. During World War II, the U.S. Navy named a ship in his honor and a now-closed U.S. Army base, Camp Wheeler, was located in Macon, Georgia. Ahead of the June 21 resumption date for domestic flights in the country, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has met with the management of the Munich International Airport, Germany. FAAN Managing Director, Hamisu Yadudu, who attended the virtual meeting with management staff, said in a statement that the aim of the meeting was to assess the readiness of FAAN to gradually begin operations. He explained that it was worth learning from the team of experts at the Munich International Airport, which has successfully reopened for domestic and international flights. While FAAN is responding to the guidelines set by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for gradual airports reopening and post COVID-19 operations, it is important also to compare notes with other airports in the world to make sure we are on the right track and join the global industry in building back travel confidence, Yadudu said at the meeting on Wednesday. MIA team lead, Herbert Keffel, who was in attendance with his colleagues; Georgios Elkolids and Julian Duerdoth, highlighted the steps and considerations which the airport adopted for reopening. In preparation for the return of flight operations in the country, NCAA ordered the reopening of five airports in the country including Lagos and Abuja, Port Harcourt, Owerri and Kano airports. Philippines seeking USD 200 million loan from World Bank to aid fisheries production by Toan Dao June 12,2020 | Source: SeafoodSource The Philippines is looking to borrow USD 200 million (EUR 176 million) from the World Bank to fund a project that aims to improve domestic fisheries production and safeguard its blue economy resources. The Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) project, initiated by the Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA), would help scale up and modernize fishing and aquaculture operations in the Philippines, the Philippine Information Agency said in a statement earlier this month. It also aims to achieve other targets, such as solving structural shortcomings in the value chain, raising income of fishermen, and improving socio-economic development for people living in coastal areas during the outbreak of the coronavirus. According to Agriculture Secretary William Dar, the FishCoRe project would directly contribute to achieving key outcomes in the departments Food Security Framework which is integral to the national goals of recovery and resiliency as we survive, reboot, and grow in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. FishCoRe will have four components: Planning of fisheries coastal areas resiliency, management of fisheries and coastal resilient resources, investments in modern and resilient livelihoods, and project management and evaluation. The project is expected to be executed in various sites at the 12 fisheries management areas. These areas, which include key fishing grounds, lakes, bays, gulfs, and others, were set up last year to help the DA sustainably manage the fisheries resources of the country. WB Country Director Achim Fock, in a recent letter to Secretary Dar, said the bank fully supports the goals of the project to sustainably improve incomes of Filipino fisherfolk and support resilient coastal communities through enhanced ecosystem management, productivity-enhancing technologies, aquaculture, reduced post-harvest losses, value-chain infrastructure, and related activities. The DAs Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) has been asked to submit the feasibility study (FS) of the project by November this year. The FS will then be presented to World Bank management in June next year. The DA-BFAR hopes it can launch FishCoRe project in October next year, once approved. 2020 Diversified Communications. All rights reserved. Theme(s): Fisheries Development and Aquaculture. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Convenience in consumption tobacco chewing bags is the major driver behind the high growth of this segment. Denmark is one of the major countries with high consumption of smokeless tobacco in chew bag form. Chew bags contain loose tobacco leaf cut to a fine length. These have gained their popularity among the youth in the North America and Europe region. Innovative packaging and convenience are the major drivers behind the high sales of the product globally. Global smokeless tobacco market has witnessed continued demand during the last few years and is projected to reach USD 23,202.2 million at a CAGR of 4.41% by 2023 in terms of value. Owing to the increasing demand for cigarette alternatives the demand for smokeless tobacco is increasing across the globe. High consumption of smokeless tobacco in the emerging markets is driving the sales of the products. High taxes on tobacco products including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco has raised the concern of illicit trading of tobacco in various countries. This is one of the major challenges faced by the smokeless tobacco companies across the globe as this tends to cut down their profit margin and hamper high revenue generation. The practice of trading illegal tobacco is identified to be common in the Asia Pacific region and is increasing in Europe and North America. All the factors are anticipated to boost the global smokeless tobacco market to expand at the CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period of 2018-2023. Downstream Analysis The global smokeless tobacco market is segmented into type, form, and route. Among types, chewing tobacco segment is anticipated to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. Also, the segment is projected to register a healthy CAGR of 4.30% during the forecast period owing to the rising cigarette prices and ban of cigarette. Among forms of smokeless tobacco, dry segment accounts for approximately 52.2% market share, followed by moist segment, accounting for 47.8% of the global smokeless tobacco market. Among routes of consumption, oral segment is anticipated to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The segment is projected to expand at a healthy CAGR of 4.52% during the review period. Market Segmentation The global smokeless tobacco market is segmented by type, form, route, and region. Access Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/smokeless-tobacco-market-5959 Competitive analysis This report includes a study of strategies used in the market, mergers, and acquisitions and multiple product launch by smokeless tobacco market players. It further includes product portfolios and developments of leading players, which includes Barclays raised its oil price forecast for crude oil by $4 a barrel but noted that the price improvements will be slow. Reuters reports the bank now expects Brent crude to average $41 a barrel this year, with West Texas Intermediate seen at $37 a barrel. Yet in the third quarter, Barclays expects Brent crude to trade at an average of $37 a barrel and WTI at $34 a barrel. Right now, both benchmarks are trading below $40 a barrel, with Brent at $37.68 a barrel at the time of writing and WTI at $35.43 a barrel. They are both set for their first weekly decline after a tentative but extended rally. The rally, however, was not strong enough to sustain initial optimism following reports from OPEC+ balance would soon return to oil markets. Meanwhile, another bank has warned the price rally would fizzle out soon. Earlier this month, Morgan Stanley said the price rise from recent week appears mostly supply- rather than demand-driven, and it is questionable how strong refinery runs can increase against this backdrop. Despite the continuous market-fixing efforts in supply by the OPEC+ group, the worlds consumption of oil is unlikely to return to the levels before the coronavirus pandemic until late next year, according to the bank. Other concerns about an oil price correction include U.S. shale restarting too much production as prices rise, as well as a sharp rise in oil production when OPEC and allies start unwinding the cuts, Morgan Stanley says. Goldman Sachs is also guarded in its forecasts. In fact, the investment bank is rather bearish on oil right now. Citing uncertainty around oil demand recovery, Goldman said last week it expected Brent crude to soon slip down to $35 a barrel as expectations about a quick rebound in demand for oil turned out to have been overoptimistic. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: To the Editor: Re At New York Protests, Police Wear Protective Gear, but Many Skip Masks (news article, June 11): Around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, while I was walking through Fort Greene Park, I passed a group of six or seven officers standing on the path. Seeing that only one of the officers was masked, my husband politely commented: Come on guys, public health! You should be wearing masks. An officer angrily retorted, We stopped caring after the Molotov cocktail! I assume he was referring to the recent incident in Brooklyn in which someone threw an incendiary device into a police car. That incident was shameful though no officers were injured or killed, which is more than you can say for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and so many other black people murdered by the police. Sir, you are here to protect the public. If you have stopped caring about that, then it is time for you to get a new job. An internet-savvy Australian says he won't pay for broadband for more than a year after receiving free credits for convincing neighbours and total strangers to sign up using his referral code. Christopher Mason printed out a stack of flyers with his referral code on the front and handed them out to residents in his neighbourhood. 'I just tell them to grab my referral code and if they end up signing up with Aussie Broadband use my code,' he said in a video shared on Wednesday. Through this method Christopher Mason (pictured) was able to collect $1,100 in credit that could be used to pay his internet bill instead of his own money Mr Mason received a $50 in credit for each new user he signed up and before long his monthly internet bill was paid for. 'What happens is you refer someone, they get 50 bucks off their bill and you get 50 bucks off your bill so every time time I give someone my referral code and they sign up with it I get $50 of credit on my account,' he said. Refer a friend programs are commonly used by internet companies, gyms and many subscription based services offering existing users either credit or a free month's worth of usage for new sign ups. Mr Mason, who claims to not be affiliated with the company, said residents were quick to take him up on his offer. '20 people have already used my referral code so that's $1000 in credit,' he said. Australian man Christopher Mason said he was able to pay for his internet for a year by handing out flyers to neighbours with a referral code to Aussie Broadband that earned him $50 in credit for everyone person that signed up 'So that's pretty much my internet paid for the entire year and I've only been doing this for about a week.' Aussie Broadband managing director Phillip Britt did not speak to the specific case of Mr Mason but cautioned users that it was a 'refer-a-friend offer, not a refer-a-stranger offer'. Through the referral system, both the existing user and the person signing up receive $50 off their bill 'We believe Aussie Broadband provides a high quality and transparent internet service and we welcome all new customers,' he said. 'We absolutely do not tolerate any exploitation of our promotions. 'There is currently no limit to the number of friends that can be referred, however Aussie Broadband reserves the right to remove access to the program if it is being breached or scammed.' New Delhi: National Investigation Agency team on Monday arrived at the site of Uri terror attack to conduct probe into the terror strike which left at least 18 soldiers dead on Sunday. In response to the attack, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu called upon the world leaders to come together to declare Pakistan a terrorist state and stop giving it military and other aid. Naidu also pitched for punishing the perpetrators of the brazen assault on the army base in Uri in Kashmir. India will have to respond and punish the perpetrators of the terrorist attack and can no more take it lying down, he said. The world community should come together to isolate Pakistan, declare it a terrorist state and stop giving it military and all other assistance. The UN should take it up in a serious manner as terrorism is the enemy of humanity, the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister told reporters on the sidelines of an event at Gannavaram near Vijaywada. Pakistan is training, abetting and funding terrorists who want to cripple Indias economy. They want to weaken our country. This is not acceptable at all. India is running out of patience. It was high time we taught a lesson to Pakistan, he said. They (Pakistan) are not walking the talk. Whatever they had promised during the period of Gen Pervez Musharraf...Atal Bihari Vajpayee...they are going back on that. And now you cannot take it lying down. India had reacted strongly to the deadliest attack on the Army in Jammu and Kashmir in a quarter-century-old insurgency that sparked an outrage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemning it. As it happened: #Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets President Pranab Mukherjee over Uri terror attack. Samba (J&K): Last rites ceremony of Havildar Ravi Paul, who lost his life in Uri terror attack. pic.twitter.com/lziZUTtJJj ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 #WATCH: Mortal remains of Havildar Ravi Paul (lost life in Uri attack) were brought to Samba (J&K) (earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/hnZ2YqgFcU ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 Manoj Tiwari holds protest near Pakistan High Commission in Delhi over #UriAttack pic.twitter.com/rIexzJX5QR ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 #We reserve the right to respond to any act of the adversary at the time and place of our own choosing: DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh #We have the desired capability to reply to such blatant act of violence in a manner as deemed appropriate by us: DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh #Of a total of 110 terrorists killed during various operations this year, 31 were killed while they were attempting to cross the LoC: DGMO #During 2016, there have been a total of 17 infiltration bids across the LoC, which have been sucessfully eliminated by Indian Army: DGMO #Recoveries include, large quantity of food and medicine packets, having markings of Pakistan: DGMO on Uri operation #Recoveries also include 39 under barrel grenade launcher grenades, 5 hand grenades, 2 radio sets, 2 global positioning systems, 2 map sheets, 2 metric sheets...that they use when they move from one place to another as guidance points, also recovered: DGMO Total recoveries during #Uri operation include 4 AK rifles,4 grenade launchers,4 under barrel grenade launchers:DGMO pic.twitter.com/VIOQfqc0Tp ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 #Infiltration bids have increased this year in comparison to the last 3 to 4 years: DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh #Operation has been called off this evening, complete area has been cleared: DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh on Uri terror attack. #National Investigation Agency (NIA) team arrives at the site of Uri terror attack Subedar Karnail Singh's brother & son at his last rites ceremony in Jammu. pic.twitter.com/F3q9qqNDCD ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 Jammu: Last rites ceremony of Subedar Karnail Singh who lost his life in Uri terror attack yesterday pic.twitter.com/VlmUEOap2W ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 We hope countries in region & world community joins us to fight terrorism that affects people all over world: Afghan Ambassador to India ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 Afghan is absolutely ready to co-op with India. We are true egs of nation fighting terrorism in true meaning: Afghan Ambassador to India ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 Jammu: Last rites ceremony of Subedar Karnail Singh who lost his life in #UriAttack yesterday. pic.twitter.com/AbXYZljCLr ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 Jammu: Last rites ceremony of Subedar Karnail Singh who lost his life in Uri terror attack yesterday pic.twitter.com/NXUxT32RVW ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 #Indian Army to hold a press conference at 5:30 pm in New Delhi War is not a solution but we've to take some strict action, otherwise there will be more such incidents: Baba Ramdev pic.twitter.com/6l0R4NzTpZ ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 Bodies of four terrorists killed in Uri (Jammu and Kashmir) encounter yesterday. pic.twitter.com/YRRHgV36Y9 ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 Attackers had sufficient info about the camp, many question arise but we only have tweets & statements: Prithvi Raj Chavan on #UriAttack. ANI (@ANI_news) September 19, 2016 Earlier in the day, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that India will carefully decide its future course of action in the aftermath of the terror attack in Uri and will not do anything on the basis of what Pakistan says. We must not pay heed to Pakistans reaction. Everything is in front of the people. We will take our next steps carefully. It does not matter what Pakistan says, he told reporters in New Delhi. The Minister of State for Homes comments came a day after heavily armed militants suspected to be from Pakistan-based JeM stormed an army base in Uri in Kashmir, killing 18 jawans. Also read: India to take future course of action regarding Uri attacks independently of Pakistan, says Rijiju on Uri Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting attended by top ministers and other officials over the deadly terror attack in Uri. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag besides other senior officials attended the meeting. The top security brass briefed the Prime Minister on the prevailing ground situation in Kashmir Valley in the wake of the terror attack at a Brigade Headquarters in Uri in which 18 soldiers were killed, official sources said. The Defence Minister and the Army Chief had visited Kashmir after the terror attack on Sunday. Also read: Here is how events in Uri attack unfolded Meanwhile, Sepoy K Vikas Janardhan, who was airlifted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi after being critically injured in the Uri attack, succumbed to injuries on Monday, raising the toll in the terror strike to 18. Also read: Death toll rises to 18 as soldier succumbs to his injuries Two other critically injured soldiers have also been airlifted to the military hospital situated in Delhi. Click here for more and latest updates on Uri Attack For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. MBABANE All businesses will revert to normal operating hours. This will include clothing and furniture shops, among others, that have been opening for three days in a week and strictly operating on the stipulated days and times. A total of 20 businesses, inclusive of those that will be resuming operations on Monday and the rest that have been operating under strict regulations, were announced by Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo during a press briefing that was held at the Cabinet Offices yesterday when presenting revised guidelines for businesses that have been allowed to operate. However, the minister made it clear that the businesses excluded liquor trading stores, whose operating hours were limited and were only allowed to operate from Monday to Thursday, from 11am to 5pm. Also excluded, are businesses which fall within COVID-19 hotspots, precisely in Manzini, which has the highest number of COVID-19 cases. Emergency It is very important, however, to note that even though business operations have been relaxed, the measures of a national emergency and partial lockdown are still in full force. Therefore, emaSwati are strongly advised to adhere to them at all times. It is the responsibility of every liSwati to protect themselves and each other, the minister said. Khumalo said this shall also give people the opportunity to do their shopping once and stay at home thereafter. He said local authorities and security forces shall continue to advise and intensify control measures within Manzini and other hotspots. He said all previously operating businesses shall continue to observe the guidelines as announced. Echoing the minister on shopping at least once and staying home thereafter, National Commissioner of Police William Tsintsibala Dlamini said police would be vigilant and deal with those who would visit town to gallivant. Now that shops have reverted to the normal operating hours, we expect people to utilise that opportunity for shopping and other priority things. Police are so vigilant that they can actually spot a person coming to town for the second time and those would be dealt with, he said. The ministry shall work in collaboration with the Royal Eswatini Police Service, regional administrators, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Eswatini Revenue Authority to strengthen their inspection exercise. We therefore urge all businesses to ensure that they comply with the guidelines as stipulated; failing which, government shall close down these businesses and effect stiff penalties as regulated. The issuance of operating permits, therefore, shall be put on hold for now except where businesses require them for cross-border purposes, he said. The minister then urged members of the public to report all businesses that failed to adhere to the guidelines by calling the NDMA toll-free number, 112. WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his top deputy are rejecting allegations that the State Departments independent watchdog was fired for investigating alleged impropriety by Pompeo and his wife. In separate letters sent to Congress late Thursday, Pompeo and Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun denied suggestions that Pompeo was aware of any such probe by ousted inspector general Steve Linick or his office. Pompeo also denied that Linick was removed for no cause, accusing him of strange and erratic behaviour and failing to do his job over many months. Pompeo also said Under Secretary of State for Management Brian Bulatao is willing to testify to the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the circumstances of Linicks ouster on June 22 or 23. I need an inspector general working every day to improve State Department operations and efficiency, Pompeo wrote in one letter to committee chairman Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. Mr. Linick was not that person. Pompeo also took a political shot at Engel, who is facing a difficult Democratic primary in his home district. I hear youve been busy in your district, so let me get you up to speed on whats been happening in your committee, he wrote, with a footnote referring to a news report that said Engel is fighting for his political survival. Engel responded by saying he was puzzled why Secretary Pompeos letter includes so many errors, but Im glad that the department is moving toward what the committees requested weeks ago: allowing Mr. Bulatao to speak on the record about the firing of Inspector General Linick. He added, We look forward to hearing from Mr. Bulatao and all the other witnesses involved in this fiasco. Pompeo has said President Donald Trump fired Linick at his recommendation, and Democrats have suggested his ouster was personally and politically motivated. Pompeo adamantly denied that and called Engels suggestions that he wanted Linick fired to cover up impropriety a nasty insinuation aimed at misleading the American people. Because I had no knowledge of this alleged work by the inspector general at the time I recommended to the president that Mr. Linick be removed, it is not possible that Mr. Linicks work on this matter could have provided a retaliatory motivation for my recommendation, Pompeo wrote. The letters were sent to Engel and obtained by The Associated Press a day after congressional Democrats released a transcript of an interview with Linick last week and demanded answers to allegations he made. The letters two from Pompeo and one from Biegun were accompanied by a four-page compilation of numerous Linick quotes from the transcript entitled Three Things Democrats Wont Tell You About Linicks Testimony and annotated with refutations of specific points. Among other things, Linick testified that he had sought information from Biegun, Bulatao and several other top Pompeo aides about allegations that Pompeo and his wife improperly used government staff to run personal errands. Although did not say he knew that Pompeo had been alerted to the probe, several lawmakers, including Engel, concluded it would be difficult to believe that he had not been. In his letter to Engel, however, Biegun said neither he nor anyone else relayed any information about what he termed Linicks purported requests to Pompeo. The committee wrongly concluded, without any evidence or corroboration, that Secretary Pompeo must have been aware of the inspector generals work on this matter at the time that he recommended he be removed from his position, Biegun wrote. This conclusion is entirely false. Linick, who had been inspector general since 2013, also said he was looking into allegations that Pompeo and his wife may have misused government staff to run personal errands and several other matters. Trump abruptly fired him late on May 15 with what Linick said was no warning or cited cause. Pompeo has said he was aware that Linick had opened a review of last years $8 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, which Pompeo had circumvented congressional objections to approve. Linick testified that Bulatao and legal adviser Marik String had tried to discourage him from investigating the sale, saying it was an inappropriate review of policy and not policy implementation. Pompeo, Bulatao and others have said Linick was dismissed in part because of inappropriate actions but also because of the alleged leak of one of his offices reports into accusations of political reprisals by Trump appointees against career State Department officials. Linick denied his office was responsible for the leak. He said an investigation into the alleged leak by the Defence Department inspector general cleared him and his office. If there is a next life, I want a job in which there are no consequences for making horrible decisions that harm other people. Which, of course, means a life in politics and elected office. In what other line of work is mentioning the bad outcomes of even worse ideas not only dismissed, but treated as impertinence? A sizable section of the elected class has come to see the citizen as more of a subject, the prole of dystopian fiction who is becoming more real by the moment. Imagine asking about one of governments fundamental roles and being told to check your privilege. In Realville, political meanderings have consequences and that a companys pending relocation will almost certainly be echoed by others. Why wouldnt it be? When government fails to do the heavy of lifting of governing, and even worse, turns a blind eye to elementary responsibility, people tend to notice. And they react. Some remember Baltimore and the fallout after cops pulled back in the wake of Freddie Grays death while in police custody. Especially sharp minds will recall how the president during that period pronounced the rioters and looters to be thugs. Good times. The rule of law is the foundation of a civil society, not a bumper sticker. When prosecutors undermine their own authority by rationalizing free passes to arsonists and thieves, good luck trying to convince the law-abiding that you have their back. Chicago is seeing firsthand what happens when the mob is allowed to run wild. Suddenly, all that anti-cop rhetoric doesnt sound so good, but what are officials there and elsewhere to do? They cant even get their stories straight. The initial talk of defunding is crumbling under the weight of its own incoherence; it appears too many people know that the term does not mean shifting resources or trying new methods. Alternative terms include demilitarizing which is nowhere near synonymous with defunding. I suspect we can all agree that cops are not Marines or Rangers, and that police forces rolling up in armored personnel carriers and gunned up for combat is quite a leap from protect and serve. But a social worker is not the right call when a restraining order is violated or gunfire erupts. The lefts script engages in further self-torture when we hear silence is violence in one breath and shut up in the next. Make up your minds, kids. This is part and parcel of a larger disconnect. There is no coherent strategy because there are no concrete goals. And its not like Black Lives Matters itself brings clarity. How many people have been to the groups website, specifically the What We Believe section? It cant be many because if more people had read it, the glaring omissions would have been called out. There are zero mentions of fathers and the only reference to men is in regard to the dangers they present to women. There are repeated statements about trans people and queer (their word) folks, and thats fine so far as it goes, but it seems strange that a movement founded over bad outcomes involving black men and law enforcement does not contain a single affirmation of males. How do their lives matter when the groups own manifesto ignores them? Corporate America, meanwhile, cant stop talking about diversity and inclusion, as if those are new topics. There are calls for conversations about race, maybe even uncomfortable ones, but none that are honest. A dialogue is, by definition, a two-way event. Dialogue and discussion require all participants to confront unpleasant truths. Discussion requires introspection. Discussion requires more than blaming someone youve never met for everything that is wrong in your house. Discussion can also lay the groundwork for unity which has a castrating effect on our betters and that cannot be tolerated. Instead, we get division as both political strategy and business model. Under this formula, one can make a living by hectoring the bulk of the population, books are sold on the pretense that this road only runs one way, and organizations seek pre-emptive absolution through big dollar donations to anti-racism causes. By the way, is anyone aware of a mainstream organization that can be credibly accused of peddling a pro-racist platform? Moreover, the merchants of division are never under any pressure to show results, to demonstrate so much as having persuaded a single person guilty of wrongthink into changing his/her evil ways. Its a different version of the shakedown racket that Jesse Jackson used to deploy, which also did not require empirical evidence of beneficial outcomes. What now? Other than Gone With the Wind no longer fit for adult viewing, or the disarming of gun-totin Looney Toons character under the rebranded Looney Tunes title, or the forcing out of newspaper editors so that major dailies can more closely resemble campus publications. These are a few features of the American Cultural Revolution that bears a stark resemblance to its Chinese predecessor, albeit it less violent. So far. Whatever people may claim, race isnt going away. Its too big a cash cow, too big a platform, too big a power source to be ignored, too large a cudgel to be put down. And that puts it right in line with most of activism. The cause, whatever it is, has no end game beyond its own self-perpetuation. If the problem was solved, the gravy train would stop. For the people who run outlets like the Onion or the Babylon Bee, this must be existential threat. Satire and reality are almost indistinguishable with society bent on ripping itself apart while ignoring its own progress. The Minnesota Board of Pardons on Friday granted the state's first posthumous pardon to a man convicted over a white woman's false rape claim that led to lynchings a century ago, CBS Minnesota reports. The pardon comes three days before the 100-anniversary of the Duluth lynchings, a dark stain on Minnesota's history. The board took up the 1920 case of Max Mason, who was in Duluth that year with a traveling circus. He was one of several black men accused of raping a 19-year-old white woman in the city. Three men Isaac McGhie, Elmer Jackson and Elias Clayton were lynched as a result, according to the Minnesota Historical Society. 00004863.jpg View of police station after damage by the lynching mob. Minnesota Historical Society After their murders, Mason was the only one convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison. However, the doctor who examined the accuser never found evidence of rape. Mason was denied parole six times between 1922 and 1925, according to the pardon application. He was released from prison in 1925 on the condition that he not return to Minnesota for the next 16 years. A district attorney several years later questioned the evidence against Mason and said he likely would not have been convicted if he were white.Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who is on the Board of Pardons, tweeted Thursday that "justice delayed is justice denied. But 100 years later, justice can still be done." Ellison, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Chief Justice Lorie Gildea all voted to pardon Mason. Walz said there was a "direct line" between Mason's case and the murder of George Floyd. "This is 100 years overdue," Walz said. "By not addressing this, it continued the systemic racism." Walz said Mason's case was scheduled to be heard by the pardon's board over six months ago, "not knowing that we would see the murder of George Floyd in the meantime." Story continues "I don't believe anything happens by chance," Walz said. "I believe we were given this opportunity." Among those who spoke in support of the pardon was Mike Tusken, the grand-nephew of Irene Tusken, the woman who made the rape claim. Mike Tusken is now the chief of police in Duluth. Tusken said he wasn't aware of his aunt's involvement until his mother told him about it in 2000, a few years after the aunt's death. Tusken said he believed the secrecy was because of his family's shame and a desire to forget about the injustice. Tusken said his aunt died in a nursing home after suffering a stroke, incapable of speech and "unable to atone" for her actions. Tusken called the case against Mason an "abomination" and a "disgrace to the police profession." He said Mason was arrested based "wholly on speculation, conjecture and intimidation" and out of "desperation to make an arrest and hold someone, anyone accountable, regardless of the facts and evidence in the case." "Justice was denied to Mr. Mason during his lifetime, but this board has an opportunity to right this wrong today," Tusken said. Some American companies respond to racial inequality in wake of George Floyd's killing Sneak peek: Defending DJ Uncertainty surrounds fall return to U.S. universities amid coronavirus GC Gupta, 97, a retired civil engineer from the city of the Taj Mahal, survived the coronavirus disease and has been lionised as an example by the administration for other senior citizens to follow. Gupta was discharged from Nayati Hospital on June 10 after 12 days of treatment. He was admitted in the hospital on May 29 with breathing difficulty and a kidney infection. He tested positive for Covid-19 on May 30. An executive at the hospital credited Guptas recovery to his sheer determination to defeat the coronavirus. He exhibited no signs of nervousness and rather being worried for himself, was more concerned about his family undergoing quarantine. He remained calm and composed and made things easy for doctors treating him, added this person who asked not to be named. Guptas son Arun Kumar said his father has always been a man with strong will.Gupta served in the irrigation department of Uttar Pradesh and retired in 1973. Arun Kumar said his father is a vegetarian, a teetotaller and into meditation. He remains on basic medication and is regular with his multi-vitamins, a tablet each for urine trouble and blood pressure beside that for thinning the blood. An early riser, he gets up at 3.30am for meditation and loves watching television to keep himself appraised of the latest in the world, said Arun Kumar, 65. Covid-19 cases in Agra crossed the 1,000 mark on Wednesday night when the city had recorded an overall of 1,008 positive cases till date, which is highest in state of Uttar Pradesh. It was Agra which had the states first five positive cases, on March 2. Agra has seen 56 Covid-related deaths but has a good cure rate of 84%, with 840 patients already having been discharged after being cured. On March 30, an elderly couple from Kerala, aged 93 and 88, who had tested positive and remained critical for days, were reported to have recovered completely. The duo had caught the infection from their son who came down from Italy, the state government had said in a press release. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff has clinched his party's nomination for a U.S. Senate seat representing the state, three years after narrowly losing a special House election for a district that had been a Republican stronghold, election results showed. Ossoff's win in Tuesday's primary followed a chaotic voting day, with long lines and problems with voting machines, then many hours of counting after polls closed. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff has clinched his party's nomination for a U.S. Senate seat representing the state, three years after narrowly losing a special House election for a district that had been a Republican stronghold, election results showed. Ossoff's win in Tuesday's primary followed a chaotic voting day, with long lines and problems with voting machines, then many hours of counting after polls closed. Ossoff thanked voters on Twitter "for your relentless determination to vote. We won!" The 33-year-old documentary filmmaker will now challenge Republican Senator David Perdue, an ally of President Donald Trump, this fall. Democrats hope to wrest control of the Senate from Republicans, who currently have a 53-47 majority. Ossoff ran well ahead of six rivals in Tuesday's primary, but needed at least 50% of the vote to avoid an August runoff. The Georgia Secretary of State's office said Thursday he had 51.18% of the vote with 89.81% of precincts reporting. Ossoff's 2017 near-miss was the most expensive House race ever. On MSNBC Wednesday, Ossoff called Perdue "one of President Trump's most infamous enablers. Never a word of criticism even for this president's most egregious conduct." Perdue faced no primary opposition from fellow Republicans. The former Fortune 500 executive campaigned as a Washington outsider when he first ran in 2014. "I'm still focused on preserving the free-enterprise system and creating economic opportunity for every American," Perdue wrote on Twitter. The race is one of two Senate contests in Georgia this fall, and polls show it has tightened. The holder of the other Georgia Senate seat resigned last year and Republican businesswoman Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January; a special election will be held to fill that seat in November. Democrat Stacey Abrams narrowly lost Georgia's last statewide election when she ran for governor in 2018. (Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by David Gregorio) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. A firefighter sprays disinfectant as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in a containment zone in Chennai on May 11, 2020. (AFP) Chennai: While greater Chennai continued to be under the coronavirus siege, reporting 1,406 fresh COVID-19 positive cases on Thursday, the total number of persons testing positive for the virus throughout Tamil Nadu saw a fractional drop for the first time in 12 days at 1,875, lower than Wednesday's mercurial high of 1,927 per day positive cases. The total number of persons who have tested positive in Tamil Nadu till date has further went up to 38,716, even as 23 more deaths pushed the state's toll due to coronavirus to 349. Chennai and the three northern districts of Chengalpattu, Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram continue to witness sharp spikes on a daily basis. In North Chennai, Royapuram division now accounts for a total of 4,207 persons affected by COVID-19, out of the city's total cases of 27,398. Chengalpattu reported 127 positive cases on Thursday, followed by Thiruvallur-72, Kancheepuram and Madurai 19 each and Cuddalore-18. As regards greater Chennai, fisheries minister D. Jayakumar after an inspection of the COVID-19 measures in Royapuram zone, said despite it being a problem area, the number of active cases in Royapuram was only 1,879. Asked whether the government was contemplating another phase of 'full lockdown' for Chennai and its neighbouring districts, Jayakumar said chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami would take a call on the issue after consultations with the medical experts. "The government cannot take a unilateral decision on this," he said, adding, whether such a decision was needed was squarely "in the hands of the people", implying their level of cooperation to the government's measures will be crucial. With the Centre announcing the Unlock.1 phase since June 1, a fresh spurt in COVID-19 positive cases was expected, particularly with Tamil Nadu opening up public transport in six other zones in the State in a limited way and the Southern Railways also beginning to run trains in those zones. Intra-district mobility within a zone carries some risk of more numbers, but sources add the crucial thing is to ensure the additional cases are within a threshold. Hence, the State's focus is also on ramping up medical facilities. District collectors are also complaining to their bosses at Fort St.George that people from Chennai freely drive in on two-wheelers into their territories, which escape screening. Hunting for more beds, medical/testing kits and isolation facilities for suspected Covid-19 patients, the Health Minister Dr C Vijayabaskar, who inspected the ESI hospital in Coimbatore on Thursday, a designated Covid-19 treatment facility in the western belt, said the hospital will be upgraded into a 800-bed facility from its current 400-bed capacity. The ESI hospital in Coimbatore was doing a "good job" as 280 Covid-19 patients treated there have recovered and have been discharged, he added. Meanwhile, one lakh PCR test kits reached Chennai from South Korea. FirstFarms A/S has today entered final agreement about purchase of the Northwest Romanian company AISM Srl. AISM Srl. owns 2,430 hectares of cultivated, leased agricultural land in Romania, a modern silo plant with 6,000 tons storage capacity, feed mill and storage- and office facilities. The land is located in a very fertile area of Romania with potential for high yields on crops. The existing management in West Romania takes over the responsibility for the new operation centre and will utilise FirstFarms know-how in the best possible way. CEO in FirstFarms, Anders H. Nrgaard, says: We have a unique knowledge about operation and development of land along with purchase, storage and sale of crops. With this agreement we strengthen our equity and balance and thus the preparedness to development of our business. Anders H. Nrgaard clarifies: We see a large potential in the development of AISM and will use the coming period to assess the different possibilities and prioritise the effort. The purchase price for AISM constitutes DKK 75 million based on market price for FirstFarms shares. 2 external valuations of the assets have been obtained. The most significant assets are the agricultural land with an average value of DKK 43,000 per hectare. The agreement gives FirstFarms A/S a revenue in the region of DKK 15-25 million. The revenue is the difference of the fair value of the purchased assets deducted the paid price with shares at market price. The final opening balance is published with the accounts for Q2-2020. FirstFarms adjusts the announced expectations for 2020 upwards by DKK 15 million. It is now expected an EBITDA result in the level of DKK 110-135 million and an EBIT result of DKK 60-85 million. In 2019, an EBITDA of DKK 96 million and EBIT of DKK 48 million was realised. It is positive, that FirstFarms until now only has experienced a small direct impact on the production due to COVID-19. It has been agreed, that the owners of AISM Srl. will be paid with shares in FirstFarms A/S. In this connection, it is agreed, that the owners of AISM Srl. will receive 1,198,500 new shares in FirstFarms A/S, and also a conditional receivable corresponding to the value of 50,000 shares. The conditional receivable will be settled on delivery of the shares or cash payment 15 months after closing, to the extent that no guarantee claims have been made beforehand. Story continues The 1,198,500 new shares are issued by a capital increase at minimum market price in accordance to the authorisation to the Board of Directors in FirstFarms A/S Articles of Association. The owners of AISM Srl. will hold 16.5 percent of the shares in FirstFarms A/S, due to the transaction, if shares are fully delivered according to the conditional receivable. With the purchase FirstFarms equity is strengthened by DKK 90 million corresponding to fair value of the purchased assets. Best regards, FirstFarms A/S For further information: CEO Anders H. Nrgaard on telephone +45 75 86 87 87 and www.firstfarms.com . Attachment TEL AVIV - A UAE ambassador has urged Israel to reconsider its plan to unilaterally annex parts of the West Bank in the first-ever op-ed for an Israeli paper by a Gulf diplomat. In the Friday edition of the newspaper Yediot Ahronot, UAE's Minister of State Yousef Al-Otaiba, the country's ambassador to the US, said that such a move would destroy any hopes for further rapprochement between the Jewish state and the Arab world. Al-Otaiba was one of the three Arab ambassadors to attend the White House ceremony during which US President Donald Trump unveiled his peace plan for the Middle East. He wrote that an Israeli annexation would ''certainly and immediately upend Israeli aspirations for improved security, economic and cultural ties with the Arab world and with UAE''. "Recently, Israeli leaders have promoted excited talk about normalization of relations with the United Arab Emirates and other Arab states. But Israeli plans for annexation and talk of normalization are a contradiction," he wrote. ''A unilateral and deliberate act, annexation is the illegal seizure of Palestinian land. It defies the Arab - and indeed the international - consensus on the Palestinian right to self-determination. It will ignite violence and rouse extremists. It will send shockwaves around the region, especially in Jordan, whose stability - often taken for granted - benefits the entire region, particularly Israel,'' he said. "Annexation will also harden Arab views of Israel just when Emirati initiatives have been opening the space for cultural exchange and broader understanding of Israel and Judaism," he stressed. Thielbar pleaded guilty to the charge in which a then 21-year-old Thielbar drove his Mitsubishi at an estimated 80 miles an hour into another vehicle, killing a 22-year-old driver. His blood-alcohol level was measured 0.11% at the time of the crash, well beyond the legal limit of 0.08. Thielbar received a 20-year suspended sentence and then a week later violated the terms of his probation by buying and taking morphine, sending him to prison for 10 years. Morris said Thielbar was on parole for the 2011 sentence when he committed the robbery in Billings. His sentencing was complicated, because he was a federal inmate. Because of that, hell serve that federal time first, then come back, Morris said. Thielbar will serve 46 months as a federal inmate, with three years of supervised release, followed by the 10-year sentence in Yellowstone County. Love 6 Funny 8 Wow 1 Sad 3 Angry 5 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. New Delhi, June 12 : The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday informed the Supreme Court that it may have to continue with the restrictions imposed on the movement at the borders with Delhi, since the Covid-19 cases in the national capital are almost 40 times more than in Noida and Ghaziabad. The Yogi Adityanath government's counsel informed a bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.R. Shah that there are more than 32,000 cases in Delhi, and more than 1,000 people have succumbed to the disease so far, whereas the death toll in Noida and Ghaziabad is about 40. The Uttar Pradesh government argued that the population of Delhi is about four times of Noida and Ghaziabad, and infection rate is 40 times more, apart from that, Delhi has allowed home quarantine of infected persons. The court observed that while there were no issues of travel between Delhi and Haryana, there were some issues with Uttar Pradesh. The observation from the top court came while hearing a PIL to allow unrestricted movement in Delhi-NCR region. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said the Home Secretary convened a meeting between chief secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi. He added that Haryana and Delhi agreed, and now there is no interstate barrier. Mehta said Uttar Pradesh feels that only essentials movement can be allowed. The Adityanath government's counsel insisted that keeping in view the coronavirus situation, it would be difficult to resume movement with Delhi. The top court queried Mehta: "Are you saying that UP is insisting on institutional quarantine. If a person is asymptomatic are you still putting them in institutional quarantine? Or do you put them under home quarantine? The UP counsel replied that the state is following the national guidelines. The top court then asked him to check and inform it on the complete information. "There should not be conflict. Numbers are going up. If you do institutional quarantine for asymptomatic persons in Noida/Ghaziabad and others are not doing it then it may lead to chaos in 15 days down the line. There cannot be guidelines contrary to national guideline," said the bench. The bench asked Mehta and UP counsel to examine what rule was being followed for quarantine of asymptomatic people in Noida. The top court also asked for the minutes of the meeting between the Home Secretary and chief secretaries of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The top court asked the UP government to file a reply on what rules were being followed in terms of quarantine, and scheduled the matter for order on Wednesday next week. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Andrew Swainson, center, with his attorneys Nilam Sanghvi, left, and Nathan Andrisani after Swaison's murder conviction was overturned on June 12, 2020, and he was released from prison. Read more Philadelphia prosecutors on Friday offered a scathing assessment of how the citys criminal justice system functioned in the late 1980s and early 1990s, saying that as annual murder totals rose to unprecedented heights, the police detectives tasked with investigating those killings were often willing or eager to press forward with flawed arrests in order to move on to their next case. The appraisal, offered by Assistant District Attorney Andrew Wellbrock, came as the District Attorneys Office successfully pushed to overturn the murder conviction of Andrew Swainson, 55, who spent 31 years in prison for a drug-related killing he has always denied committing. Prosecutors wrote in court documents months ago that Swainsons 1989 trial had been tainted by a host of flaws, including evidence that was withheld from his attorneys, secret alternative suspects, and even a false theory pushed by police that Swainson had tried to flee the country to avoid arrest. But Wellbrock cast the case as more than just one set of failings, describing it as emblematic of an era in which detectives felt pressure to make arrests by whatever means necessary. The homicide clearance rate," or the percentage of cases considered cleared by arrest, hovered between 83% and 96% at the time, Wellbrock said at least 20% higher than the national average. District Attorney Larry Krasner, who spent decades as a defense attorney before he took office in January 2018, went further in a statement released Friday afternoon, suggesting the high clearance rate may have been inflated on the backs of innocent residents, saying it came at a great cost to peoples lives, to our communities, and to justice. It appears, in at least some instances, law enforcement and the criminal justice system sought to alleviate [peoples] fears by locking up masses of people largely from Black communities and communities of color regardless of the Constitution, the law, or the facts, Krasner said. The remarks unusually pointed even for the outspoken Krasner came as the nation debates long-standing and systemic issues regarding the criminal justice system following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis. They also came on the day that Swainson was released from SCI Dallas, delighting his family and friends. During a Zoom hearing to address his case, several of his supporters could be seen raising their fists in the air and celebrating as Common Pleas Court Judge Shelley Robins-New agreed to vacate his conviction. Andrew Swainson has been suffering from a wrongful and unjust conviction for 31 years, Nathan Andrisani, one of his attorneys, told the judge. Afterward, Nilam Sanghvi of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, another attorney for Swainson, called the case a very unfortunate product of its time, in terms of how homicides were being investigated and dealt with in the city of Philadelphia in the late 80s and early 90s. During a Facetime call with The Inquirer after being released from SCI Dallas, an ebullient Swainson said he was enjoying a taste of prosecco with his family members and attorneys while gathered outside near Wilkes-Barre. Among the crowd was Swainsons longtime girlfriend and partner, Maxine Loban. Swainson said the two had planned to get married while he was incarcerated, but that he had been persuaded to wait by the prison superintendent, who told Swainson he wanted to be a guest at a ceremony once Swainson was a free man. Im on top of the world, Swainson said, taking in his new surroundings. He said he did not harbor any bitterness about his circumstances: "Ive seen many guys who end up dying [with] resentment. I didnt want my demise to be like that. Swainsons case marks the 14th time since Krasner was sworn in that his office has helped free a person convicted of murder. It also was the second time in just a week that Robins-New agreed to overturn a conviction from the 1990s with support from Krasner; former death row inmate Walter Ogrod, arrested in 1992 and charged with killing a 4-year-old girl, was officially exonerated Wednesday after the DAs Conviction Integrity Unit said it believed he was innocent. Krasners office has made no secret of what it has called substantial shortcomings of how detectives and prosecutors used to operate. The Conviction Integrity Unit said last fall that it was investigating an undisclosed number of cases tied to two former homicide detectives who have been regularly accused of coercing confessions. His office has also filed legal briefs in other cases offering damning assessments of past prosecutorial practices. Ronald D. Castille, who was district attorney from 1986 to 1991, and Lynne M. Abraham, the citys top prosecutor from 1991 to 2010, did not respond to requests for comment Friday. Attempts to reach Judith Rubino the trial prosecutor for Swainson and at one of Ogrods two trials were unsuccessful. Wellbrock apologized to Swainson for how previous officeholders had handled his case. Our rush to judgment, and a fundamentally flawed and unfair trial, has cost you 31 years of your life," he said. Swainsons case was a drug murder at 54th and Sansom Streets on Jan. 17, 1988. According to court documents, Stanley Opher was found bleeding from a shotgun blast outside a suspected drug house. He later died. Officers at the scene saw two men running from the house and arrested them. A third suspected co-conspirator was also taken into custody. But three weeks later, court documents say, prosecutors dropped all charges. According to a filing written by Wellbrock, one of the men, Paul Presley, inexplicably went from being a perpetrator to a star witness. Presley gave an implausible story about the crime to Detective Manuel Santiago, Wellbrock wrote, and he identified Swainson as the man who shot Opher. Presley identified Swainson in a photo array, court documents say, and claimed he could identify a second co-conspirator if shown additional pictures. "Detectives never showed Presley any additional photographs, court documents say. Presley testified against Swainson at trial, but Swainsons attorneys had not been told that Presley was by then being held in jail on unrelated drug charges. Prosecutors now say that is likely because Presley at the time was being prosecuted under the fictitious name Kareem Miller. Prosecutors do not say why they believe Presley was being jailed under a fake name. But they say Swainsons file contains a document ordering Presley be taken to the District Attorneys Office for a meeting with the homicide detective, Santiago. On the document, Presleys is listed as Paul Presley AKA Kareem Miller. The case had other serious flaws, prosecutors say, including newly discovered evidence in Swainsons original police file showing that detectives had been aware of two alternative suspects one of whom was known to commit drug robberies in the neighborhood where Opher was shot to death. That man was later killed in a homicide. And prosecutors also said police had pushed a false theory that Swainson had fled the country when he flew to Jamaica to visit his parents even though he left before an arrest warrant had been issued, and police activity logs showed that detectives were aware of his trip. Wellbrock said Ophers sister was at the District Attorneys Office with him as Robins-New overturned Swainsons conviction. He apologized to her for how the case was handled, saying: I dont have the answers for what happened to [your] brother. Marissa Bluestine, who previously worked on Swainsons appeal efforts and is now assistant director of the University of Pennsylvanias Quattrone Center, said many decades-old convictions were based on practices now viewed as faulty. Chief among them, she said, was failing to continue investigations after suspects offered supposed confessions, as well as improper use of eyewitness testimony, and subpar forensics work. Theres no question in my mind that the number of wrongful convictions of which we are aware is a very small percentage of the actual number, she said. Despite his convictions reversal, Swainsons case is not over, although the remaining steps are largely procedural. Robins-New vacated his first-degree murder conviction and granted him a new trial for counts including third-degree murder, allowing him to be freed on bail. Prosecutors, who are unlikely to try Swainson again, will have to return to court and ask another judge to formally drop the charges. Allahabad HC will monitor all aspects of Hathras probe by CBI SC stays HC order directing lockdown to be imposed in 5 UP cities Breakdown in UP says letter by former bureaucrats Bakrid 2021: UP prohibits gatherings of over 50, animal sacrifice at public places Cases in Delhi are 40 times more than UP; cannot open Noida border: UP govt tells SC India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, June 12: Uttar Pradesh government on Friday informed the Supreme Court that it will have to continue the travel restrictions imposed from Noida and Ghaziabad to Delhi since the number of COVID-19 cases in national capital are almost 40 times that of Noida and Ghaziabad. The UP government said that it will allow pass-through only for essential services workers, media persons, and advocates, at least for now. The top court also sought a response from the UP government on the orders issued by the District Magistrate of Noida recently. Lockdown will not be extended, says Delhi health minister amid rising cases Corona warriors: SC orders wages to be paid full & on time to medical staff | Oneindia News Criticising the order passed by the Noida DM, the Supreme Court said that such orders cannot be passed by District Authorities which are directly contrary to the orders passed by the Centre. The Central Government has, from the beginning, encouraged home quarantine for persons showing symptoms for COVID-19 and in some cases, even persons who have tested positive. "Such situations will create chaos," the Supreme Court bench said criticising the DM's decision on the necessity of institutional quarantine over home quarantine. The State of Uttar Pradesh has been asked to furnish a response clarifying how the order passed by the DM was allowed while also directing the DM himself to review his order. Beijing reported two more confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, taking the tally of new infections to three in less than a week after city authorities lowered the outbreak emergency response to level three, the second lowest. The three new cases were reported in about 48 hour after Beijing went without a new domestic infection case for 55 days. Two colleagues, both male, working at the China Meat Food Comprehensive Research Centre were diagnosed with the disease in the citys Fengtai district, Beijing health authorities said on Friday. Both patients, one 37, the other, 25, have been transferred to designated hospitals and medics are now carrying out contact tracing among the family, friends and remaining office workers who shared space with the two. One of the two patients had also travelled to the city of Qingdao in the past week, the officials said. Meanwhile, nearly 50 primary school students and teachers have been quarantined at home after a fourth-graders father was diagnosed with Covid-19 this week, the first locally transmitted case in Beijing reported in nearly two months. The fear of a school-based cluster infection breaking out in Beijing as the city nears normalcy means health authorities have swung back into action with contact tracing. It is still a mystery how the 52-year-old male patient Tang Moumou, resident of Beijings Xicheng district, was infected as he has told the authorities that he never left Beijing nor did he meet anyone from outside the city. Tangs son and another family member have tested negative for the coronavirus, a Beijing health official said on Friday. However, the sons classmates and teachers who have interacted with him have all been sent to home quarantine, to be spent under medical observation. Under the emergency response plan, 33 other students in the class of Tangs child and 15 faculty members who have been in contact with the class are all being observed at home. Classrooms, toilets and other public areas in the school have been disinfected Tangs apartment complex has been put under closed loop management and entry and exit are now being monitored with temperature checks made mandatory. Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the Beijing Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the new case had sounded the alarm for us that the risk of another outbreak exists all the time. It reminds us to have a deep understanding of significance, complexity and uncertainty of the epidemic prevention and control in the capital. We must always tighten the string of epidemic prevention and control, she said. Beijing last Saturday downgraded its Covid-19 emergency response to level three, the second lowest. However, following the new case, a meeting of the local government emphasised that the source of case flow tracing should be carried out strictly and quickly, the tracing time should be long enough, and the scope of close contact should be accurate enough to ensure that no one person is missed. Meanwhile, the Chinese health authority said Friday that it received reports of seven new confirmed Covid-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Thursday, of which six were imported from overseas. Shanghai reported six new imported Covid-19 cases on Thursday including two Chinese nationals and four Pakistanis. The two Chinese nationals departed from the US and India, arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on June 8 and 9. As of Thursday, according to the official news agency, Xinhua, the overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 83064, including 65 patients who were still being treated with no one in severe condition. Altogether 78,365 people had been discharged after recovery and 4,634 people had died of the disease. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BOSTON, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Courage Candles, a candle company that weaves scripture into its products to inspire customers, has launched a new line of relaxing, lavender-scented candles to celebrate the heroism and sacrifices of frontline workers in recent months. "The inspiration for this new line of candles came from seeing how our frontline workers have responded to the pandemic," said Founder Andrew Hemingway. "We've created candles that call out nurses, doctors, pastors and more, for their selfless sacrifice." Thank you Nurses! Courage Candles are the perfect gift for Christians wanting to encourage and show gratitude. A special thanks to the Front-Line Workers who have led our communities. Courage Candles are the perfect gift for Christians looking to grow their faith. Andrew and his sister, Millie Cowles, started Courage Candles to inspire faith in their fellow believers during this trying time. "Some states aren't allowing gatherings in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We wanted to provide a light to ensure other believers don't lose their way in the darkness." The candles, designed to be gifted to the frontline workers we all have in our lives, marry notes of lavender, white tea, and lily of the valley to create a soothing scent that carries across the entire "Care" line. Their unique labels are emblazoned on one side with the verse found in 1Thessalonians 1:2,3 (We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father) and on the other with a heartfelt message (Thank you for putting your love into action for me. Through your compassion, I have seen God's love once again and have been helped. I want you to know that God is using your Care of others to challenge and to inspire within me the Courage to Care. May God bless you as you continue to serve Him by healing others). "We pray that frontline workers and good samaritans across our great nation are appreciated fully and recognized appropriately," says Hemingway. "Their sacrifice is great and their love is undeniable." The collection can be found at www.couragecandles.com. Media Contact: Andrew Hemingway [email protected] 603-203-4063 SOURCE Courage Candles Press Release June 12, 2020 As thousands of OFWs return to the country due to COVID-19, Bong Go renews call for passage of DOFW bill to aid in their reintegration Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go reiterated the need for the timely passage of his proposed Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (DOFW) bill as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues to negatively impact on the welfare of Filipino migrant workers, some of them losing their jobs abroad and are forced to return home. "Maraming nawalan ng trabaho dala ng COVID-19. Apektado po ang mga empleyado dito sa bansa at pati rin ang mga nagtatrabaho abroad. Mas maisasaayos ang mga programa at serbisyo ng gobyerno para matulungan ang mga apektadong Pilipino kung mayroong sariling departamento na mamamahala sa mga pangangailangan ng mga OFWs," Go said. Go stressed that there is an urgent need for the creation of this new department because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that the Department of Labor and Employment needs to concentrate on domestic labor concerns while the DOFW, if created through the passage of the proposed law, can concentrate on OFWs for their full-cycle migration, from departure from the Philippines to working abroad until their eventual reintegration in the country. "Nararapat lamang na may tumutok sa mga pangangailangan ng OFWs lalo na yung mga napilitang bumalik sa bansa. Matagal rin po silang nagsakripisyo at nawalay sa kanilang mga pamilya. Hindi po matutumbasan ang hirap na dinanas nila para lang buhayin ang mga pamilya nilang iniwan dito," Go explained. "Ngayon na napilitan silang umuwi dahil sa krisis, dapat lang bigyan ng sapat na atensyon ang kanilang mga pangangailangan para matulungan ang ating mga bagong bayani na makabangon muli," he added. According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the government is expecting around 300,000 OFWs to return to the Philippines as a result of country lockdowns in different parts of the world. As of May 25, 27,000 OFWs have already been repatriated while around 43,000 others are expected to come home this June. Due to the consequences of the pandemic, there is a growing need to provide reintegration programs for OFWs who would like to return and permanently settle in the country. Moreover, there is also a need to improve coordination among all agencies and offices dealing with OFW concerns to improve government service delivery. Go has firmly suggested the need to establish an executive department dealing solely with OFW-related concerns to improve government efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of necessary services from deployment, issues they encounter while in foreign countries, as well as in their reintegration once they return to the Philippines. "Masakit makitang iniiwan nila ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay upang magtrabaho lang sa mga malalayong bansa. Suklian natin ang kanilang mga sakripisyo ng mas maayos na serbisyo," he added. One of his first legislative measures, Senate Bill 202, or the Department of Overseas Filipinos Act of 2019, seeks to address concerns of overseas Filipinos, such as the need to improve coordination among concerned offices in responding to their needs, particularly of OFWs. The bill proposes for government agencies dealing with OFW matters and concerns be transferred to the new department to be established. The Senator said that the DOFW's reintegration component will ensure that Filipino migrant workers who lost their job abroad are assisted by government programs and other safety nets, a need which has become more apparent as a result of the pandemic. "Under our DOFW Bill, there will be an Office of the Undersecretary for Reintegration and Social Services which shall absorb the mandates and functions of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs in addition to new functions," Go said. The proposed measure also provides for the creation of OFW 'one-stop shops' in various provinces, similar to the Malasakit Center, that can provide immediate assistance to families of OFWs who are still working abroad, as well as to OFWs who have returned home and would need to avail of reintegration services from the government. Presently, DOLE is implementing WELL (Welfare, Employment, Legal, Livelihood) as a national reintegration program for returning OFWs or those affected by COVID-19. It is a package of interventions and mechanisms developed and implemented to facilitate the productive return of the OFWs to their families and communities upon their completion of overseas employment. WELL is implemented also in support of the government's Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa (BP2) Program which seeks to promote economic development in the countryside and the decongestion of Metro Manila. Aside from the programs of DOLE, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also offers free training programs for returning OFWs. TESDA National Capital Region director Florencio Sunico said in an interview that TESDA offers a free online training program for displaced workers seeking to upgrade or develop new skills. OFWs may avail any of the 68 skills and trade courses, including agriculture, entrepreneurship and technical and vocational education and training. Meanwhile, Go stressed that the challenges currently faced by Overseas Filipinos and the difficulties experienced by the government in responding to their needs show the relevance of establishing the new department to better provide efficient and effective delivery of services to Filipinos abroad and those coming home. "Itinuturing natin silang mga bagong bayani. Malaki ang kanilang naitulong noon sa paglago ng ekonomiya ng bansa. At ngayon, sa pandemyang ito, dapat natin silang tulungan at mas tutukan pa. Huwag natin silang pahirapan pa," he said. In a Senate hearing last May 20, Senator Go aired reported issues faced by OFWs, such as being forced to stay in health quarantine facilities beyond the mandated fourteen-day quarantine period and OFWs in distress not being able to return home immediately to the country and to their provinces due to limitations in the delivery of services from various concerned government agencies. "Noon pa lamang ay marami nang mga issues ang kinakaharap ng ating mga kababayang nagtatrabaho abroad. Ang paglipat-lipat ng ahensya ay naging pabigat na proseso sa kanila. Mas lumala pa ngayon dahil sa hirap na dulot ng COVID-19 crisis. Kung mayroon pong DOFWs, mas mapapadali sana ang koordinasyon ng mga ahensya at may iisang departamento na tututok sa mga pangangailangan nila," Go said in past statements. The head of Belfast International Airport has urged the public to stick to new safety rules or face arrest as passenger flights resume on Monday. Graham Keddie said that while the airport has the power to arrest those who refuse to wear face masks, he thought such drastic action was unlikely and appealed for passengers cooperation. Outside Belfast International Airport which reopens on Monday June 15th. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday June 11, 2020. See PA story HEATH Coronavirus Ulster . Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Security Staff wear PPE at Belfast International Airport which reopens on Monday June 15th. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday June 11, 2020. See PA story HEATH Coronavirus Ulster . Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Security Staff wear PPE at Belfast International Airport which reopens on Monday June 15th. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday June 11, 2020. See PA story HEATH Coronavirus Ulster . Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Security staff wearing PPE check a mans identity Belfast International Airport which reopens on Monday June 15th. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday June 11, 2020. See PA story HEATH Coronavirus Ulster . Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Security Staff member wears PPE at Belfast International Airport which reopens on Monday June 15th. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday June 11, 2020. See PA story HEATH Coronavirus Ulster . Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Security Staff members wear PPE at Belfast International Airport which reopens on Monday June 15th. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday June 11, 2020. See PA story HEATH Coronavirus Ulster . Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire The check in hall at Belfast International Airport which reopens on Monday June 15th. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday June 11, 2020. See PA story HEATH Coronavirus Ulster . Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire He also hit out at what he called the crazy rules on quarantine, which requires international passengers arriving to self-isolate for 14 days. Why theyre introducing it 12 weeks after the spike, it is crazy stuff for the UK aviation industry, he told the Belfast Telegraph. Essentially we want to give people confidence that they can travel in safety. Graham Keddie The media were given a preview of the new arrangements yesterday at an eerily quiet airport, with empty car parks and grounded planes at a time when around 25,000 passengers would normally be expected each day. Less than 10% of the usual capacity is expected on Monday, but its hoped this number can steadily increase, as the airport is currently burning through 60,000 a day in running costs. The new arrangements include a one-way system inside and passengers are required to wear face masks at all times in the terminal and on planes. Expand Close Staff wearing facemasks as they pass through Belfast International Airport which reopens on Monday June 15th. Niall Carson/PA Wire PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Staff wearing facemasks as they pass through Belfast International Airport which reopens on Monday June 15th. Niall Carson/PA Wire Non-passengers are not allowed in the building and all shops, bars and cafes are closed until further notice. Vending machines will be available along with water fountains, while most toilets will also remain open. Reduced security lanes are in place and staff checking baggage will be wearing protective face shields. Check-in desks and car hire kiosks were all fitted with Perspex screens, while the normally bustling airport bar was taped off. The arrangements mean that passengers can still board from both ends of the plane, but those with seats in the middle will be first. Around 10 flights are expected on Monday, compared to the average of 70. Expand Close Managing Director, Graham Keddie (right), gives the media a tour of covid-19 measures at Belfast International Airport which reopens on Monday June 15th. Niall Carson/PA Wire PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Managing Director, Graham Keddie (right), gives the media a tour of covid-19 measures at Belfast International Airport which reopens on Monday June 15th. Niall Carson/PA Wire Other measures will include using a deep cleaning method known as fogging in the main terminal building at night as an extra precaution. Its like driving a stake through the heart of our summer. Passengers are expected to bring their own face masks, but the airport has purchased a supply of around 160,000, which will initially be available if needed. Children under the age of six wont be expected to wear masks, and those exempt because of a health condition will need to produce a medical note. Around 12 of the airports normal workforce of 100 have been required in recent weeks, including several firefighters and those needed to stop birds nesting in planes. The airport has also remained open 24 hours a day for critical emergency medical and cargo operations. The first outward flight is bound for Liverpool at 7am on Monday, while 154 seats out of 168 have been booked on the first international departure to Faro in Portugal on Tuesday. Essentially, we want to give people confidence that they can travel in safety, Mr Keddie explained. Expand Close A man walks past a UK Border sign at Belfast International Airport which reopens on Monday June 15th. PA Photo. Niall Carson/PA Wire PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A man walks past a UK Border sign at Belfast International Airport which reopens on Monday June 15th. PA Photo. Niall Carson/PA Wire He said he hoped the Executive will soon give permission to open retail, food and drink at the airport. Were still encouraging people to turn up two hours earlier, even though we will have a lot less flights, he added. To put that into context, easyJet should have 57 flights on Monday, but will have seven. He said the ability to increase future passenger numbers would be helped by introducing measures such as reducing the social distancing rule to one metre. We want to ramp up because we want to see our people back working theres nothing worse than an empty airport, Mr Keddie added. He said the existing quarantine laws were illogical, ill-timed and unenforceable. The way it works is that someone can arrive here, they fill in a form and give a telephone number, he said. Then they can go straight on to public transport and can still visit Tesco or elsewhere for their food and medicines. Why theyre introducing it 12 weeks after the spike, it is crazy stuff for the UK aviation industry. Its like driving a stake through the heart of our summer. We cannot get the information from the Department For Transport or the Home Office on why it is being introduced now. On enforcing discipline at the airport, he said: I just hope that people help us, thats all we ask. The face masks or coverings will have to be worn as soon as we enter the building, it will be mandatory for all staff in public areas. We need passengers to do the same and would like their assistance with that. We will operate the airport bylaws, there are signs outside making that clear. We dont want to get into that situation; what we want is for people to help us. Most people aged 50 to 70 should be taking aspirin daily to help ward off bowel cancer, according to an Australian researcher behind a new global study. The long-running research involving the Royal Melbourne Hospital, published in The Lancet this week, has indicated that taking aspirin for just a few years can have a protective effect against the disease, even a decade or more after patients stop taking it. They found that two aspirins a day, for an average of 2 years, reduced the rate of bowel cancer by about 50 per cent. Michelle Ritchie has Lynch syndrome, which puts her at high risk of developing cancer. She has been taking aspirin daily for about 20 years. Credit:Eddie Jim The randomised-controlled trial monitored 427 people given aspirin and 434 people given a placebo, for between 10 to 20 years. All of them have Lynch syndrome, an inherited disorder which puts them at higher risk of a range of cancers, including bowel cancer. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced Thursday that Jacksonville, Florida, has been selected as the host city to celebrate the renomination of President Donald Trump. The move comes as Trump clashed with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper about holding the convention in Charlotte amid coronavirus concerns. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Jacksonville, Florida, has been selected to host the celebration marking President Donald Trumps acceptance of his partys nomination for reelection, the Republican National Committee chairwoman said Thursday. Ronna McDaniel made the announcement a day after saying that Jacksonville was a front-runner to hold the event. The governor of North Carolina, the official host of this summers Republican National Convention, had balked at promising Trump a full-blown convention in Charlotte free from social distancing measures during the coronavirus pandemic. We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion in the great city of Jacksonville, McDaniel said. Not only does Florida hold a special place in President Trumps heart as his home state, but it is crucial in the path to victory in 2020. We look forward to bringing this great celebration and economic boon to the Sunshine State in just a few short months. McDaniel said the event would be held at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, which holds 15,000 people. She said more details would be released in the coming weeks. The partys more mundane business, including discussions over the platform, will still be held in Charlotte because of contractual obligations. The RNC had spent the last week scouting locations after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper rejected Trumps demand that the convention be allowed to take place Aug. 24-27 without social distancing measures. The Jacksonville area is one of the states most populous, with 1.5 million residents, but it doesnt have the glitz of Miami or the worldwide familiarity of Orlando. The community has tilted from the solidly conservative bastion it once was to the more politically diverse place it now is. While the areas population is still mostly white, 21% of its 1.5 million residents are black and 9% are Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Florida is honoured to host this special event where we will celebrate the re-nomination of President Donald J. Trump, DeSantis said. Jacksonville is a great city that will showcase Floridas energy, facilities, entrepreneurship and commitment to bring together the delegates of the Republican Party at a historic time in our nations history. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, a former chair of the state Republican Party, tweeted a video announcing his citys selection for Trumps speech. He said Jacksonville would be prepared and ready. What city would take on the Republican National Convention with just 75 days to pull it off? he asked. Probably not many. But Jacksonville isnt just any city. In a statement provided by the RNC, Curry also touted the tremendous economic impact from hosting the event. The celebration could generate at least $100 million in revenues for the host city, perhaps more. But Ben Frazier, a black activist with the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville, said the event would be disruptive to the city during a time of racial tension and a pandemic. I only see this exacerbating these problems, he said. The mayors concerned about the money the city could make. Were concerned about the lives of people here in Jacksonville more than anything else. We dont simply need to be concerned about dollars and cents. Terrie Rizzo, the chair of the states Democratic Party, expressed concern about the gathering. I am deeply concerned that the impetus for moving their highest profile event to Florida was because Donald Trump wanted to give a speech to a crowd of people not social distancing -- and, given his previous public events, likely not wearing masks, she said. Trump is coming to Florida to throw himself a big party but its looking more and more like a goodbye party to his chance at a second term in the White House, she said. ___ Thomas reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Tamara Lush in St. Petersburg, Fla., contributed to this report. Restrictions on travel between Uttar Pradesh and Delhi will continue to remain in place considering the spike in Covid-19 infections in the national capital, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government told the Supreme Court on Friday. The UP administration said it will allow essential services, medical staff, media personnel and advocates to travel between the two states, and added that it was not in a position to open the borders at Noida and Ghaziabad immediately. There are only (about) 1,000 Covid cases in Noida and Ghaziabad. In Delhi, the total deaths due to Covid is more than 1,000, while it is just 40 in Noida and Ghaziabad, advocate Garima Prashad submitted on behalf of UP. Haryana, meanwhile, informed the apex court that it will allow travel without restrictions to and from Delhi. On June 4, the Supreme Court asked Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to set up a uniform system for hassle-free movement within the National Capital Region (NCR), a move aimed at clearing up widespread confusion among thousands of commuters. The court was hearing a petition seeking free movement within NCR, an area that comprises the territory of Delhi and districts in the surrounding states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The cities of Gurugram and Faridabad (Haryana), and Noida and Ghaziabad (UP) fall within the NCR. The petitioner in the case, Rohit Bhalla, a resident of Gurugram, pointed out the troubles commuters were facing at the borders due to state-specific rules. He said measures adopted by states were disproportionately impacting citizens in NCR and violating their fundamental rights, including the right to movement under Article 19(1)(d) and the right to carry on with trade or occupation under Article 19(1)(g). The absence of a common pass system was another aspect which Bhalla pointed out in his petition. A three-judge bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, in its June 4 directive, asked the central government to convene a meeting of officials from Delhi, UP and Haryana and come up with a common portal to facilitate interstate travel such as the one between Delhi and Noida or Delhi and Gurugram. A meeting of officials from the three states was convened on June 9, and Haryana agreed that there will be no restrictions on interstate travel. UP, however, had a different take. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the central government, said on Friday he will file a status report on the meeting of June 9. The top court adjourned the matter for June 17 after recording the UP counsels submissions. BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed Thursday that China and Belarus turn challenges to opportunities and deepen cooperation in the joint pursuit of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Xi made the remarks in a telephone conversation in the night with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko. Xi pointed out that since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Belarus have been sticking together through thick and thin and looking out for each other, demonstrating deep iron-clad friendship between the two sides and the high-level trait and particularity of China-Belarus relations. China firmly supports Belarus in taking prevention and control measures in line with its national conditions, and is willing to continue to share prevention and control experiences and diagnosis and treatment plans with Belarus without reservation, he said. He expressed belief that under Lukashenko's strong leadership, the Belarusian people will be able to defeat the epidemic as soon as possible. Xi thanked Belarus for providing help to Chinese citizens studying, working and living in Belarus, adding that he believed Belarus will continue protecting their safety and health effectively. China is willing to work with the international community, including Belarus, to strengthen cooperation and jointly build a community of common health for mankind, said Xi. At present, China-Belarus relations of comprehensive strategic partnership, featuring mutual trust and win-win cooperation, has been developing at a high level, Xi said. He said the two sides have been supporting each other with no hesitation on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, demonstrating the fact that the two countries have been true all-weather partners. China will, as always, support the development path chosen by Belarus in accordance with its national conditions. Although the COVID-19 pandemic will inevitably affect bilateral exchanges and practical cooperation, Xi said, China-Belarus relations have been enjoying a solid foundation and huge potential for cooperation. Xi called on the two sides to accelerate the construction of the China-Belarus industrial park, seek more achievements in mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, and push forward bilateral relations to new levels. For his part, Lukashenko said China has always respected the development path independently chosen by Belarus. China provided strong support and shared valuable experiences in its fight against the epidemic, and played an important role in the prevention and control of the epidemic in Belarus, for which Belarus is deeply grateful, Lukashenko said. Noting that Belarus and China are good friends and good brothers, Lukashenko said the Belarusian side firmly opposes politicizing or labeling the virus, and will continue standing resolutely with China on issues concerning China's core interests. Belarus stands ready to work with China to make full use of China-Europe freight trains to expand bilateral trade, jointly build the Belt and Road, and promote practical cooperation in a wide range of fields, said Lukashenko, adding that he earnestly looks forward to welcoming the Chinese president to visit his country again at an early date after the pandemic. New coronavirus disease (Covid-19) infections crossed the 2,000 mark for the first time in Delhi and the death toll rose by 129, according to the Delhi governments health bulletin on Friday that showed both numbers to be at their highest for a single day. The national capital now has 36,824 cases up by 2,137 from the day before and 1,214 deaths, which translates into a case fatality rate of 3.3%. The latest cases came from 5,947 samples, a test confirmation rate of nearly 36%. This proportion was up by one percentage point from a day earlier, after having rise close to 5 percentage points for two days before that. Across the country, there have been 309,324 cases less than half of which are active and 8,882 deaths. The average case fatality ratio comes to 2.9% nationally. The steady increase in numbers comes during a week when the city has opened up considerably, and the state government began unprecedented preparations to add 100,000 beds in makeshift hospitals in stadiums and community halls. Experts said the spike is to be expected. This is the nature of the disease, it will spread. But, there is no need to panic unnecessarily. Even if we assume a low number of 10% of the population getting the infection, it still means 20 lakh people will get infected in Delhi with a population of two crore. However, most of the infections will be mild. Our focus now has to be on not creating panic but ensuring people who need treatment, get it, said Dr Jugal Kishore, head of the department on community medicine at Safdarjung hospital. People should observe all safety measures like washing their hands frequently and wearing a mask in public, he added, urging for precautions to be taken. Delhis lieutenant governor Anil Baijal on Friday constituted a high-level expert committee which includes ICMR director general Balram Bhargava to suggest effective steps to deal with the pandemic. According to the bulletin 58 of the deaths added to the tally were confirmed after a review. The citys chief secretary put in place a new standard operating procedure requiring all hospitals to report their Covid-19 death to the integrated disease surveillance programme by 5pm every evening. In the one month it took for the citys mortality rate to increase three-fold, the number of cases increased almost five-fold. The health bulletin data shows there are 22,212 active cases or those living with the infection. Of these, 24% people are admitted to city hospitals. This is the first time the number of people hospitalised with Covid-19 in the city has crossed the 5,000 mark. A second expert added that the trends suggest there is community transmission of the disease, when the source of infections cannot be traced. Currently, there is a rising trend in the number of Covid-19 cases. There is definitely community transmission otherwise how can so many cases be reported in a city in one day? Now, all that the government can do is test people and isolate them so that they do not spread the infection to other susceptible people, said Dr Shobha Broor, former head of the department of microbiology at AIIMS. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A homeless man in missouri has been charged with assault for ramming his car into a police officer and saying: 'You guys knew you had this coming.' Jon Routh, 28, texted friends two hours before Tuesday morning's attack saying he was 'going to run a cop over I think.' He drove his SUV to the Springfield Police Department headquarters at 9:30am, and circled the parking lot in a white Isuzu Trooper. Surveillance video also captured Routh urinating on the department's front doors. Jon Routh, 28, faces life in prison for ramming his SUV into a police officer in Springfield, MO Officer Mark Priebe, a 21-year veteran of the force, then went outside to confront Routh. Routh drove into Priebe, dragging him until he hit a barrier outside the department. Another officer fired a shot at Routh's vehicle, hitting him. When officers pulled Routh from the SUV, he told them: 'You guys knew you had this coming.' He told investigators he was concerned that 'The whole campaign is to scare the (bleep) out of me.' Routh - a drifter who had just moved to Springfield after living in Austin, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; and Colorado Springs, Colorado - said he was being mentally harassed by people the FBI or police were using to target him. He said he drove around the 'cop shop' to show he meant business, but had no intention to harm anyone and claimed he blacked out when he saw an officer draw a gun. Priebe suffered multiple rib fractures and a spinal cord injury in the attack. He had surgery on Tuesday night to stabilize his spine, and on Wednesday his wife Heather said he was 'alert and talking to us.' Mark Priebe, a 21-year veteran of the Springfield police, suffered spinal injuries in the attack 'Why would it happen to anybody, but of all people, why Mark?' said Michael Walker, president of the Springfield Police Officers Association. Walker said Priebe is well known for his work with the Special Olympics. 'Mark Priebe is really the kind of officer that made me want to be a police officer,' he added. Walker said many officers have felt hatred from the community in the last couple of weeks, as anger against police has spread across the country. But he denied there were problems with racism and brutality in their force. 'We don't keep bad cops here. We don't,' he said. 'The problem is that people that are mentally ill, in the way that those statements seem to indicate, are very easily persuaded by outside influences, with all the hate.' Routh staged his attack on Tuesday morning, and after told the officers they 'had this coming' On Wednesday evening a vigil was held for Priebe, with his fellow officers showing support Staff at the Veterans Coming Home Center saw Routh just a few days ago. 'He would come in, check his mail, and then leave,' said Quinton Forester. When they temporarily misplaced a document, his anger was obvious. 'He's cussing up a storm, treating us very rudely,' said Forester. A GoFundMe page set up to support the family has raised almost $83,000 as of Thursday night. 'Mark is a pillar of the community and one of the most dedicated police officers you will ever meet,' the page says. 'Mark participates and helps organize various Special Olympics events, including traveling to Abu Dhabi in 2019 to represent the department he is so proud to serve with.' Routh has been charged with two felonies - assaulting a special victim and armed criminal action. First-degree assault is a class A felony that carries a penalty of 10-30 years or life in prison. Armed criminal action carries a penalty of at least three years in prison. ALBANY, N.Y., June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mechanical Technology, Incorporated ("MTI" or the "Company"), a publicly traded company (OTC Pink: MKTY) headquartered in Albany, New York, held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 10, 2020 (the "Annual Meeting"). At the Annual Meeting, the Company's shareholders: Elected as director Thomas J. Marusak to hold office until the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified; and Elected as director Michael Toporek to hold office until the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified. At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders voted as follows: Matter Votes For Votes Against / Withheld Abstentions Broker Non- Votes 1. Election of Thomas J. Marusak 5,315,208 267,326 N/A N/A 2. Election of Michael Toporek 5,282,081 300,453 N/A N/A To listen to the recording of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders please visit: https://www.mechtech.com/ (under important announcements, where the recording will be available for 90 days) or https://www.mechtech.com/news/ (this recording will remain on the Company's web-site) About MTI MTI is the parent company of MTI Instruments, Inc. and EcoChain, Inc. Through MTI Instruments, MTI is engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of test and measurement instruments and systems that use a comprehensive array of technologies to solve complex, real world applications in numerous industries, including manufacturing, electronics, semiconductor, solar, commercial and military aviation, automotive and data storage. Through EcoChain, MTI is developing a pilot cryptocurrency mining facility powered by renewable energy that integrates with the bitcoin blockchain network. For more information about MTI, please visit https://www.mechtech.com. Contact Information: Lisa Brennan 518-218-2592 [email protected] SOURCE Mechanical Technology, Incorporated Related Links https://www.mechtech.com/ Three of the four people charged with attacking two police officers in Hackney have appeared in court. Marvin Henderson, 34, Jordan Thomas, 20, and Paul Kabemba, 33, from Hackney, East London, appeared at Thames Magistrates Court on Friday. They were arrested after a video of the male and female officer being attacked was widely shared on social media. The footage showed the male officer pinned to the ground and being kicked while his female colleague was pushed as she tried to intervene. A fourth defendant, a boy aged 13, who was not pictured at court and cannot be named for legal reasons, claimed he attacked the officers out of fear after watching footage of Black Lives Matter protests. Three of the four people charged with attacking two police officers in Hackney, East London, have been pictured after appearing in court. Pictured: Marvin Henderson, 34, Jordan Thomas, 20, outside Thames Magistrates Court Paul Kabemba, 33, was the third suspect to be arrested and he too was pictured near the court The boy admitted to kicking the male officer's head, hitting and poking his female colleague and shouting abuse in the 'completely random' and 'unprovoked attack.' He said he thought he was helping another man who he saw in a headlock and was scared after everything he had seen in the news regarding Black Lives Matter. PC McPherson and PC Ali sustained minor injuries after they were attacked along with one member of the public on Wednesday. On Friday the boy, accompanied by his aunt, admitted two counts of assault by beating at Thames Magistrates Court. Prosecutor Varinder Hayre said: 'This is related to an unprovoked attack on two serving police officers who were simply conducting their daily job. 'The officer was dealing with one of the defendants who was resisting arrest. The trio were arrested along with a 13-year-old boy after a video of the male and female officer being attacked was widely shared on social media 'PC McPherson was involved. He was dealing with that person. 'He [the teenager] then kicked PC McPherson's head and he kicked PC Ali in the head and he poked PC Ali. 'He was shouting abuse. He was subsequently arrested and he was interviewed by police. 'When he was interviewed by police he made full admission to the offence. He identified himself on the video footage. 'He admitted to kicking both police officers. The footage showed the male officer, PC Macpherson, pinned to the ground and being kicked while his female colleague, PC Ali, was pushed as she tried to intervene. A passer-by who joined in the attack was seen taking a selfie on his phone 'He said he heard Mr Kabemba shouting 'I am innocent' several times and he believed he was helping Mr Kabemba who he saw in a headlock. 'He said he was scared with what he had witnessed with everything he had been seeing and with the news with regards to Black Lives Matter. 'He said he was sorry for kicking the officers and he felt he shouldn't have got involved in the way that he did.' In the attack, PC Ali had her headscarf yanked from her head, which the prosecutor described as 'a complete violation of her and her faith'. Helen Da-Silva, defending, said the incident was 'completely random.' She said: 'It is a completely random event that happened.' The boy will be sentenced at Stratford Youth Court on July 8. District Judge Jonathan Radway said: 'You have pleaded guilty to these two assaults. 'You will get a youth court sentence because of your guilty plea and I am going to send this to the youth court because you are 13 years of age. 'To make sure you stay out of trouble, I am going to say you must be indoors between 7 o'clock in the evening and 7 o'clock in the morning. 'I am going to make sure your mother attends the next hearing at the youth court on July 8.' Kabemba denied assaulting PC McPherson and a member of the public. Thomas and Henderson pleaded not guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker. The trio were bailed and their cases sent to Wood Green Crown Court, where they are due to appear on July 10. The 13-year-old boy was also charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker. FAL Could blockchain encourage the planting of trees? Santtu Perkio/Unsplash 1. Boosting transparency 2. Enforcing commitments 3. Increasing ambition 16 million tons of carbon a year below zero. Microsoft will be #carbon negative by 2030: https://t.co/H3e0tYqlnH pic.twitter.com/BH4gcFqo9b Microsoft On the Issues (@MSFTIssues) January 16, 2020 No panacea New mechanisms are evidently needed. Blockchain is one technology that has the potential to boost global cooperation for climate action, as I explore in new research . Blockchain is a data structure that stores information as a series of cryptographically linked blocks, which are distributed simultaneously to all participants in a network. The information stored on a blockchain is tamper-resistant. This is useful for generating a single source of truth for any kind of information.Blockchain technology provides the building blocks for what are known as decentralised autonomous organisations , which have been discussed (and criticised) as potential alternative governance mechanisms at the national level . But the benefits of such a decentralised organisation at the international level would be much higher.Imagine a decentralised climate organisation, based on blockchain, in which states, companies, and individuals participate and whose interactions are facilitated by so-called smart contracts . These contracts are pieces of computer code running on top of the blockchain, which makes them virtually unstoppable. A common token let us call it greencoin allows climate commitments by states to be linked with the flourishing ecosystem of transnational climate initiatives and individual climate action.Such an organisation would help get the world together to act against climate change in three ways.Coordinated action against climate change requires better information. One important task is to ensure that different stakeholders do not claim carbon credits for the same carbon-offsetting activity, such as two companies paying for the same forest to be planted.To avoid such double-counting , a publicly shared digital ledger of carbon credits, as currently piloted by the Pacific Alliance nations, would offer a more cost-effective solution than a central agency settling transactions of carbon credits.Another (more challenging) task would be to verify that carbon-offsetting activities have actually occurred. Blockchain technology, combined with information feeds such as internet-of-things devices, could tap new information sources.Meanwhile, smart contracts offer an efficient way to reward critical tasks like verifying emission reductions and adaptation measures at the local level Climate change is an area ripe with broken promises. Consider the decision by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. In other countries, worries have grown that the Covid-19 pandemic will thwart government efforts to honour their climate-related commitments.Through smart contracts, blockchain technology could mitigate the risk of backsliding, provided that states underpinned their commitments with a monetary deposit . If states fail to comply with their emission reduction targets, their deposit could be taken and redistributed as greencoins to those that have abated carbon emissions, for example by planting trees , or other climate action More effective enforcement of commitments through smart contracts is only possible where resources have been staked upon commitments. An added benefit of eliminating uncertainty around enforcement is to entice more ambitious climate commitments from those who are concerned about being cheated upon by more powerful bodies.Business as usual will not be enough to confront the impending climate crisis. A decentralised climate organisation would allow progressive transnational bodies to buy pro-climate transformation in laggard countries.For example, transnational corporations including Apple, Google and Walmart, ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, and other firms criticised the US decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Under a decentralised climate organisation, they could have devised smart contracts offering compensation to affected workers in exchange for more robust commitment by the US government to decarbonise the economy.A related benefit of this approach would be to make their demands transparent, which would help less powerful bodies hold corporations to account on their climate-related pledges. For example, Microsoft recently announced it would invest $1bn to become a carbon-negative enterprise. This is all very well, but it could be rhetoric. If Microsoft underpinned this pledge by a smart contract with an appropriate stake, it would become inevitable, with huge benefits for everyone whose fortunes depend on powerful players like Microsoft following through on their promises.A decentralised climate organisation would combine the resources of billions and unite their efforts in combating climate change. Anyone in a blockchain network connected to the system could earn greencoins by planting trees (like mining in the Bitcoin system). This would be profitable because greencoins have real value they would be linked to the international commitments by states that have staked monetary resources on them.People could also purchase greencoins to support climate action. By increasing the exchange value of greencoins, these people would provide incentives for more rapid tree-planting. Blockchain technology is ideally suited to settle these transactions automatically, provided appropriate systems for verification and the incentive system underlying effective decentralised verification are in place.Blockchain-based climate governance has undeniable theoretical benefits, but there would be significant obstacles to its realisation.While the blockchain ensures that once-recorded data is tamper-resistant, it can do little to ensure that the data that is brought onto the blockchain can be trusted. Startups like Chainlink have proposed decentralised networks of information feeds as a promising solution to this problem, but for some applications, suitable solutions are hard to find.A blockchain-based climate organisation might not come to fruition if key players decided not to join. Powerful states or companies might be especially unwilling to participate in a system that makes broken promises immediately transparent and that automates the punishment process. But as long as there was enough momentum, they might slowly be incentivised to get involved.A virtual entity for climate governance would also require people to accept to be governed by algorithms. And at the moment, this might be the hardest challenge of all.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article [June 12, 2020] Insight School of Minnesota to Celebrate Class of 2020 with Online Commencement Insight School of Minnesota (ISMN) will celebrate the Class of 2020 during a virtual commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 13. In lieu of their traditional in-person celebration, ISMN is inviting families and friends worldwide to join the celebration online, with live and recorded speeches from school leadership, students, and esteemed guests. "Our students have worked hard to reach this important day, and we are proud to have offered them the educational path to get here," said ISMN Head of School John Huber. "Each of them has earned their diploma through hard work and by being true to who they are as learners. We can't wait to see what changes they make to their communities and the world." Collectively, the ISMN Class of 2020 reports it has been accepted to trade schools, colleges, and universities across the country, including Anoka Ramsey Community College, Inver Hills Heights Community College, North Dakota State Unversity, Saint Cloud University, and Winona State University. An online public school program of the Brooklyn Center Community School District, ISMN offers students statewide with a tuition-free education option for grades 6-12. ISMN offers a supportive online learning community and an individualized approach to meet students at their point of need and to spark a lifelong love of learning. With virtual classes and live online learning sessions led by state-licensed teachers, ISMN creates a personalized educational experience for students to ensure their success leading up to and after earning their high school diploma. Details of the graduation ceremony are as follows: WHAT: Insight School of Minnesota 2020 Graduation Ceremony WHEN: Saturday, June 13, 2020, 1 PM CT WHERE: Sign up to view the graduation here: https://tinyurl.com/ISMN2020Grad About Insight School of Minnesota Insight School of Minnesota (ISMN) is a tuition-free, full- and part-time online public school program of Brooklyn Center School District that serves students in grades 6 through 12. As part of the Minnesota public school system, ISMN is tuition-free, giving parents and families the choice to access the curriculum provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nation's leading provider of proprietary K-12 curriculum and online education programs. For more information about ISMN, visit mn.insightschools.net. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005037/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In a bid to strengthen the governance in commercial banks, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed to restrict promoters from holding the CEO position for more than 10 years. The tenure of a non-promoter CEO will be capped at 15 years, according to a discussion paper floated by the central bank. "To build a robust culture of sound governance practice... and to adopt the principle of separating ownership from management, it is desirable to limit the tenure of the WTDs (whole-time directors) or CEOs. Therefore, it is felt that 10 years is an adequate time limit for a promoter / major shareholder of a bank as WTD or CEO of the bank to stabilise its operations and to transition the managerial leadership to a professional management." "This will not only help in achieving the separation of ownership from management but also reinforce a culture of professional management, the RBI noted in its paper on Governance in Commercial Banks in India. If the paper converts into regulation, it will have a significant impact on promoter-led banks including Kotak Mahindra Bank and Bandhan Bank. The paper added that the board shall have a formal written conflicts of interest policy and an objective compliance process to ensure its implementation. This could be seen in the light of the allegations made against former ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar. In the context where management plays the role of an agent of a board and the board in turn plays the role of an agent of shareholders, governance failures have brought to the fore, it said, adding a risk governance framework needs to be put in place, including well-defined organisational responsibilities for risk management. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday continued his attacks on the governments Coved-19 containment efforts by alleging that Indias fast rise among the worst coronavirus affected nations in the world was due to a lethal blend of arrogance and incompetence. Rahul also posted a graph along with his comments on Friday evening which shows India overtaking other badly affected countries with a rapid rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the country. India is firmly on its (sic) way to winning the wrong race. A horrific tragedy, resulting from a lethal blend of arrogance and incompetence, Gandhi said on Twitter. India is firmly on it's way to winning the wrong race. A horrific tragedy, resulting from a lethal blend of arrogance and incompetence. pic.twitter.com/NB2OzXPGCX Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 12, 2020 Rahuls comments come at a time when India crossed 300,000 infections with more than 10,000 cases getting registered daily over the past few days. According to worldometers.com, India is currently the fourth worst-infected country, behind only the USA, Brazil and Russia. On June 6, Rahul Gandhi had questioned centres handling of the coronavirus crisis alleging that the lockdown imposed to contain the rise of Covid-19 infections and the subsequent phase-wise unlocking to revive economic activity in the country was ill-timed. He had posted graphs even then to back up his claim that some of the other worst-hit countries in the west had timed their lockdowns and its easing, much better than India. Rahuls tweet comparing India with Spain, Germany, Italy and UK had drawn flak from the ruling party leaders. Rahul has consistently criticised the governments response to the current coronavirus induced crisis. On May 26, he had asked the central government to explain the roadmap ahead while suggesting the lockdown had failed its purpose. Rahuls statements on the issue of lockdown have drawn flak from the government in the past. Union minister Prakash Javadekar had cited data to claim that Rahuls assessment of the situation was flawed. BJP President JP Nadda, too, had hit out at Rahul on May 30 and claimed that the Congress leader had a limited understanding of these issues and his statements were aimed at politicizing issues instead of addressing the crisis. Apart from coronavirus handling, Rahul has also questioned the government over the recent border standoff with China. His suggestion that China could have occupied Indian territory in Ladakh during the recent violent clashes along the LAC in the eastern sector was also rejected by the government. BJPs MP from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal too hit out at Gandhi and said that China had occupied Indian territory of Aksai Chin during the 1962 war and it happened when the Congress ruled at the centre. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Pagodas roof contains several layers overlaying each other, forming a sharp top similar to that of a tower (Photo: VNA) Xiem Can Pagoda is one of the biggest and most splendid Khmer pagodas in southern Vietnam. Located 7km from Bac Lieu town, the pagoda was built in 1887 on an area of over 4,500 sq.m near a coastal alluvial ground, that hosted many constructions, all of them facing the East, a principle in Khmer culture. The pagoda also has many features that highlight Khmer history and culture. The original name of the pagoda was Komphirsakor Pret Chru, which means deep river. It was later changed to Xiem Can, meaning adjacent to water. The pagoda is also harmonious with the architecture of Sala the place where monks and the Khmer people gather to prepare for important ceremonies. There are many towers where ashes of dead monks are preserved. It is a typical feature that helps distinguish the Khmer pagodas with others seen from outside. A jealous man who stalked a fellow student has been jailed in England for 20 months, police said. Jack Blewett, 20, spent five months sending stalking emails and messages from false and encrypted accounts. He sent abusive and threatening messages to his victim, culminating in him claiming packages would be sent to her. One message talked about a big finale and featured a gun emoji. Blewett was caught due to a combination of digital evidence found on his electronic devices, IP data from his social media accounts and forensic evidence from a handwritten note. Blewett, of Rosehill Meadow in Heamoor, Cornwall, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of stalking causing serious alarm or distress between September 2019 and February 2020. Investigating officer David Barrie said: Blewetts offences caused a serious amount of distress for his victim over a prolonged period of time. Blewett became fixated with her and jealous of the friendships she formed. Instead of admitting responsibility and apologising at the start of the police investigation, Blewett chose to taunt the investigating officers behind anonymous email platforms and continued to threaten the victim with escalating seriousness. This was a frightening and anxious time for the victim, who found herself fearing for her safety on a daily basis. Mr Barrie added: I would especially like to thank the victim for her continued co-operation and support throughout this investigation. Online stalking is a crime that has a horrendous impact on any victim and wed urge anyone who finds themselves in that position to speak to us and have confidence that like with this incident we will treat it with the utmost seriousness. The Twitter logo is seen on a phone in this photo illustration in Washington, on July 10, 2019. (Alastair Pike/AFP/Getty Images) Twitter Takes Down Beijing-Backed Influence Operation Pushing CCP Virus Messages SAN FRANCISCOTwitter on June 11 said it removed more than 170,000 accounts tied to a Beijing-backed influence operation that deceptively spread messages favorable to the Chinese government, including some about the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. The company suspended a core network of 23,750 highly active accounts, as well as a larger network of about 150,000 amplifier accounts used to boost the core accounts content. Twitter, along with researchers who analyzed the accounts, said the network was largely an echo chamber of fake accounts without much further traction. Twitter is blocked in China, along with other American social media companies such as Facebook and Instagram. The company also removed two smaller state-backed operations which it attributed to Russia and Turkey, both focused on domestic audiences. Twitter said the Chinese network had links to an earlier state-backed operation dismantled last year by Twitter, Facebook, and Googles YouTube that had been pushing misleading narratives about political dynamics in Hong Kong. The new operation likewise focused heavily on Hong Kong, but also promoted messages about the CCP virus pandemic, exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui, and Taiwan, the researchers said. A mobile phone screen displays the icons for social networking apps Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (Thomas Ulrich/Pixabay) Renee DiResta, at the Stanford Internet Observatory, said the networks CCP virus activity ramped up in late January, as the outbreak spread beyond China, and spiked in March. Accounts praised Chinas response to the CCP virus, while also using the pandemic to antagonize the United States and Hong Kong activists, she said. Open-source researchers at Graphika and Bellingcat had earlier flagged the re-emergence of the so-called Spamouflage Dragon network after it went dormant following the companies takedowns last summer. The U.S. State Department said in May it had found a network of inauthentic Twitter accounts with highly probable linkages to China disseminating false CCP virus claims. Twitter pushed back on the assertions at the time, saying the 5,000 accounts the agency identified included legitimate non-governmental organizations and journalists. A Twitter spokeswoman on Thursday said the network it removed was not related to what the State Department had identified. In Beijing, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said there was a need for Chinese voices with objective views, as many platforms carried falsehoods about China. China is the biggest victim of disinformation, the spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, told a news briefing. I think if Twitter wants to do something to its credit, then really the accounts that should be shut off are precisely those which organize and coordinate to attack and smear China. Over the past year, Chinese diplomatic missions and diplomats, including Hua, set up Twitter or Facebook accounts, often using them to attack Beijings critics. Last month, Twitter flagged a tweet written in March by a Chinese government spokesman that suggested the U.S. military brought the CCP virus to China, as the social media platform ramps up fact-checking of posts. By Katie Paul Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. Five more persons who succumbed to COVID-19 in the country have been buried at the Awudome Cemetry in Accra. The burial was handled by the Public Health Directorate of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA). This brings to 21, the total number of COVID-19 deceased victims interred in the capital. The deceased were of ages ranging between 50 and 70. Earlier this week, 16 persons, including a nine-year-old who succumbed to COVID-19, were also buried. According to Florence Kuukyi, the Head of the Environmental Health Department of the AMA, more families continue to register with the assembly to take over the burial of their loved ones who died as a result of COVID-19 infection. 35 families have currently registered with the AMA for the burial of their loved ones, out of which 21 have already been buried. She pointed out that all burials undertaken so far were done per World Health Organization (WHO) standards and protocols adding that the bodies were buried at a designated site earmarked by the Assembly for the burial of persons who die of infectious diseases. She last week explained that all burials were done under the strict supervision of Environmental Health Officers of the Assembly, adding that none of the bodies was viewed naked. She added that all the Christians were buried with coffins donated by the family members while the Muslims were buried with body bags. It is the responsibility of the Environmental Health Officer to give persons who die of infectious diseases a befitting burial In these cases, officers disinfect the bodies right from the mortuary to the cemetery to be laid to rest, she said. Florence Kuukyi also appealed for more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as well as other logistics. ---citinewsroom Unsure about how to start this column about a topic that is on a lot of peoples minds these days, I asked my wife: What do you think about when you hear the phrase white privilege? For a Mexican woman born in Guadalajara who has lived in the United States most of her life, the phrase is about cluelessness. It means being in the dark about what people of color experience, she responded. That includes how your kids are treated in school, people asking you where you were born or mentioning your accent. They never have to worry about joining the club because theyre automatically part of it. Itll be difficult to improve on that, but Ill try. The killing of a black man named George Floyd while in the custody of four now-former police officers in Minneapolis has sparked yet another national conversation about race in America. In truth, Americans never stop talking about race. The problem is that we dont hear one another about race. And one thing that white people dont want to hear about is white privilege. For them, the concept is just another way to penalize them for being white and dismiss whatever they accomplish in life. The privilege deniers include Rush Limbaugh. The nationally syndicated radio host registered his outrage over Floyds death after seeing the video of the 46-year-old man taking his last breath. It makes me so mad, I cant see straight, Limbaugh told his audience. A few days later, Limbaugh invited onto his show the African American co-hosts of the Breakfast Club, a morning radio show. While Limbaugh gave the co-hosts Charlamagne tha God, DJ Envy and Angela Yee credit for their success, the black hosts were not so gracious. The way they see it, Limbaugh has had it easy. Thats not so. But thats how they see it. How are you going to use your privilege as a white male to combat this prejudice? asked Charlamagne tha God. I dont buy into the notion of white privilege, Limbaugh responded. Thats a liberal, political construct. Its designed to intimidate and get people to shut up and admit theyre guilty of doing things they havent done. I dont have any white privilege. See, there. The first sign that you have white privilege is when you can say: I dont have any white privilege. Its like when someone who has money assures you that money isnt important. Charlamagne snapped back at Limbaugh: You know what white privilege is? White privilege is that what happened to George Floyd would not have happened to a white man. Incorrect. White people do, in fact, die after a confrontation with police. In July 2011, two police officers in Fullerton, Calif. Cpl. Jay Patrick Cicinelli and Officer Manuel Ramos were accused of beating to death Kelly Thomas, a 37-year-old white man who was homeless and suffered from schizophrenia. Cicinelli was charged with excessive use of force and involuntary manslaughter, and Ramos was charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Both were acquitted at trial, but the city did pay $4.9 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought by Thomas family. At the same time, Limbaugh is wrong that white privilege is a liberal, political construct that doesnt really exist. Some white people think that because they personally havent had it easy in life, or because they grew up poor, or because theyve lost jobs or homes that they dont qualify for white privilege. What they miss is that white privilege is not about how life has treated you but how society and its institutions like the police treat you. For me, white privilege means going to elementary school and not being tracked into less challenging classes because of your surname or skin color, and not being subjected to a disproportionate amount of discipline. It means going to high school and not having your guidance counselor try to dissuade you from applying to an Ivy League school because he doesnt think youll get in, or when you do get in having white friends gripe that you were only accepted because of affirmative action. It means going to a prestigious and predominantly white university feeling at ease, confident you belong there, and not feeling like you have to educate white classmates about the minority experience. And finally, in the workforce, it means being paid what youre worth, promoted like white people, and not being treated as second-class by both liberals and conservatives who want to put you in your place. White privilege. The struggle is real. And if you cant see that, then youve got it bad. ruben@rubennavarrette.com The High Court in Dublin has ruled that an Irish man can be extradited to the UK to face 39 charges of manslaughter and a charge of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration in connection with the deaths of 39 migrants found in a refrigerated lorry container in Essex. Ronan Hughes, 40, from Silverstream, Tyholland, Co Monaghan, appeared at Dublin's Central Criminal Court for his extradition hearing following the execution of a European arrest warrant in the Irish Republic in April. Mr Hughes said nothing during the short hearing on Friday morning. The 39 Vietnamese nationals were found in a lorry container parked on an industrial estate in Grays, Essex, on October 23 last year. Ten teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, were among those found dead. The High Court rejected his appeal against extradition on Friday. Associated Press After reports of coronavirus cases in the community, Bridge City High School has canceled their prom which was scheduled for Thursday at the Palms in Orange. We have been made aware of several confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in our community and a large number of our students who have been exposed with reason to believe some of them are exhibiting symptoms, Bridge City High School Principal Tim Woolley wrote in a letter to parents. After consulting the BCISD Health Coordinator and in an effort to ensure graduation occurs on June 20, Bridge City High School will be cancelling the Senior Prom scheduled for tomorrow night. Bengaluru: Amulya Leona, the girl who raised 'Pakistan zindabad' slogan at an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rally in Bengaluru, has been granted bail. The case was ongoing in the lower courts and Bangalore high court for near about four months after which the 19-year-old student Amulya Leona can secure bail. Earlier on Wednesday, the court had denied her bail saying that she might abscond. However, the magistrate court granted her a default bail since Bengaluru police had failed to file a charge sheet in the case within the mandated 90 days period. Amulya was arrested during a rally against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act which had led to a debate on the use of sedition charges. Amulya was also in controversy because of her Facebook posts which said "Zindabad" to all the countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Afghanistan. Further, she wrote: "We as kids are taught that we should respect our motherland and as a kid I would like to say that a people make the country and that the people of the respective countries should be respected." Amulya hails from Chikmagalur in Karnataka. Asaddudin Owaisi, the president of the AIMIM party was delivering a speech when Amulya rushed towards him and upstaged the party president. However, Owaisi had said that he condemned the act. "I immediately rushed to her, and told her that 'I will not tolerate this nonsense'. I don't even know this lady is," he said. Assembly elections in Bihar are due later this year.Bhupender Yadav, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in-charge for the state Bihar, spoke to Smriti Kak Ramachandran about the polls, anti-incumbency, migrant workers, etc. Edited excerpts: What are the challenges the party is facing apart from its inability to hold rallies amid the pandemic? After five years, every party has to be ready to face elections. The situation we are facing is a challenge not just for the country but for the entire humankind. The government has dealt with the situation effectively and systematically. There was an implementation of four successful lockdowns and a gradual unlocking. If unlocking proceeds smoothly, then elections in Bihar will also be conducted. ...digital [technologies]... and social media play a crucial role, but at the same time, personal contact, humanitarian approach, ground-level work, and booth level activity cannot be ignored. All these factors will continue to be important during electioneering. There is a perception that Bihars delayed response to bringing migrant workers home will impact the elections. This will be a challenge in addition to factors such as anti-incumbency... It is an incorrect perception. During the first three phases of the lockdown, no movement was allowed because preparedness was necessary to fight the pandemic. The government worked with awareness and preparedness. We cannot say there was a delay. Till today, 1,058 trains have carried 2.1 million passengers home. In addition to this, the Bihar government pressed 4,500 buses into service and ran 26 trains for the workers. The response of the railway ministry and the Bihar government has been one of synergy. Whether it was setting up quarantine centres, providing ration, offering social security through schemes, the government has taken care of the needy. The marginalised sections have seen the impact on the ground of the services provided. And in Bihar, there is proof of development. The state government is carrying out a skill mapping exercise, which has shown a bulk of returnees are construction workers. How will the government offer jobs to workers will limited skill sets? The government has doubled the allocation for MNREGS [Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme] and also increased the workdays. There are many challenges. Yet there are roads and power everywhere. Employment avenues will be created in the agricultural sector even though Bihar is already quite ahead in agricultural production. There are state-specific provisions in the Atmanirbhar Bharat package [to deal with the pandemic]... The opposition feels the government is more focused on holding elections rather than on fighting the pandemic... It is incorrect to say the government is focusing only on the election. It has focused on offering services to those in need. The demand and supply of ration, for instance, have been met everywhere. Some people think only tweeting is politics. We dont think so. Those opposing and criticising us were not even present in Bihar during the pandemic. Their criticism does not cut ice with people because they were absent. Covid-19 has exposed shortcomings in the health infrastructure. Do you think this will become a poll issue in a state? The government has done a lot of work to ramp up the health infrastructure and even during the lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus, a fund was created. Just as for polio eradication, a door-to-door campaign was conducted, a similar exercise will be carried out for mapping corona cases. Health workers are also being empowered and offered protection. And all this is being done for everyone and it is not caste-specific. Our party does not subscribe to the politics of caste conflict. We believe in the politics of coordination and cooperation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Coronavirus cases in Alabama this week soared to unprecedented levels, setting new highs since the pandemics first positive tests in March, and leading state health officials to worry that Alabamians were growing weary of social distancing too soon. Dr. Karen Landers, a physician with the Alabama Department of Public Health, described the rise this week as very discouraging. She said Memorial Day weekend was a factor in the current surge, as Alabama continued to reopen and more Alabamians emerged from lockdown. Some people appeared to be tired of wearing masks and being reminded to stay at least 6 feet away from others, Landers said. I am deeply worried people are becoming weary, Landers said. Related: AL.coms coverage of the coronavirus Alabama state health officer Dr. Scott Harris said in a statement Friday that the surge more than 1,700 new cases combined on Thursday and Friday underscores the need more than ever for social distancing and other precautions to be followed more closely. COVID-19 spreads quickly, and your actions affect others. More than ever since the pandemic began, we need people to social distance, wear face coverings in public, and practice good respiratory hygiene. Whats happened in Alabama this week, Landers said, is not unexpected but was also a sharp increase that health officials were hoping they would not see. Alabama reported the most positive tests yet on Thursday with 848 cases, followed by its new most-ever cases on Friday with 859. And while some of those numbers are a result of backlogged cases, Landers said, "the cases are real." The numbers across the state are deteriorating beyond the single-day positive tests. According to ADPH, 647 people were hospitalized across the state the most yet during the pandemic. And the 14-day moving average of cases a measurement that takes into account the typical incubation period of the virus and smooths out lags in reporting has steadily increased since late April. The backdrop to what Landers described as a "significant uptick" in cases is that Alabama is now largely free of restrictions restaurants are permitted to reopen dining rooms and the economy overall is emerging from its state-imposed hibernation when COVID-19 began to spread. As for people not wearing masks and not maintaing 6-feet of distance, she said: That was extremely disturbing to me." That exhaustion level has reached the point that Landers said there are reports of some people who disregarding safety precautions and confident in their ability to quickly shake the disease that has killed almost 800 people in Alabama and almost 114,000 nationwide over the last four months. Landers said the increase in cases can be traced, in part, to the Memorial Day weekend soon after Alabama removed the two-month restrictions designed to keep people at home and blunting the virus' spread. But other factors are at work as well, such as ongoing community transmission and the spread within households and work places along with increased testing. Landers said about 2 percent of the state's population is being tested per month, which she said was a "reasonable number." With the rising hospitalization rates, Landers said some facilities are feeling the strain on resources and have begun to utilize their surge capacity essentially putting into use the hospital's plan to accommodate more patients than they typically allocate space for. Hospitals in Montgomery, which have been in crisis mode for several weeks, was the one location cited by Landers. She also said that Alabama hospitals largely work together to shift heavy patient loads to locations with more capacity. "We would rather not see these numbers," Landers said. "If we look at what we were expecting (with the state reopening), I believe we are really in that range. We're close to what we thought we would be. We're where we're concerned we might be and hoping we wouldn't get to that point." The solution, in lieu of a vaccine or more effective medical treatments, remains the same. "It's with us," Landers said. "It's going to be with us. We have a way to control COVID-19. I think of this as a personal mission as a physician to continue to provide a message that may appear somewhat stale but it's the treatment we have, it's the prescription we have. We must adhere to the social distancing measures that are prescribed. We must continue hand hygiene. We must continue to keep our hands clean. We must be aware that our hands are a vehicle for us to transmit these respiratory droplets. And we must continue the use of cloth face coverings in most situations. In this article TWTR Chris Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | Getty Images Twitter has taken down thousands of accounts linked to China that were part of a "manipulative and coordinated" campaign to spread disinformation around topics including the Hong Kong protests and the coronavirus. The social media site said that 23,750 accounts that were spreading "geopolitical narratives favorable to the Communist Party of China (CCP)" were removed. Another 150,000 accounts designed to boost that content were also taken down. They were tweeting predominantly in Chinese languages and were pushing "deceptive narratives about the political dynamics in Hong Kong," Twitter said. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC. The state-backed Twitter campaign highlights a shift in tactics from Beijing that have become more covert and akin to Russia's disinformation tactics online, according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) think tank, which analyzed the recently taken down accounts. Twitter's latest revelation appears to go against previous denials from China that it engaged in a disinformation spreading campaign on social media. Coronavirus, Hong Kong in focus Protests in Hong Kong, China's response to the coronavirus outbreak and Taiwan are among the topics the state-backed accounts tweeted about. "We have identified that this operation continues and has pivoted to try to weaponise the US Government's response to current domestic protests and create the perception of a moral equivalence with the suppression of protests in Hong Kong," ASPI said in its report. Demonstrations in Hong Kong have been going on for more than a year. The people there have been protesting the proposed national security law from Beijing and the growing influence of the Chinese central government on the semi-autonomous city which enjoys certain freedoms that mainland Chinese are not given. Protesters have clashed with police, who sometimes used methods such as tear gas to disperse the crowds. Meanwhile, the U.S. protests were sparked by the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of Minneapolis police. Protesters, who are campaigning for equal treatment of Black people, have also clashed with police. The accounts that Twitter took down also focused on China's response to Covid-19. "The tweets in this set focused on cheering on the Chinese government epidemic response, calling for Chinese and global unity, painting China as a responsible stakeholder in the international environment," according to Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO), which analysed the removed accounts. It is not the first time Twitter has acted against Chinese state-backed accounts. In August last year, the social media firm and its rival Facebook removed accounts they said were spreading disinformation regarding the protests in Hong Kong at the time. A high-flying financier has accused the Barclays boss known as 'Big Dog' of using his friendship with George Clooney and Matt Damon as part of a campaign to squeeze her out of a 7billion deal. Amanda Staveley, 47, said Roger Jenkins, once Britain's best-paid banker, tried on numerous occasions to bypass her as a middle man - and befriend a key middle eastern investor himself, according to court documents. If successful the manoeuvre would have been 'a major coup' opening up Abu Dhabi's enormous wealth to the bank, it was claimed. The feud emerged after Miss Staveley accused Jenkins of lying as part of a 1.6billion deceit case in London's High Court. Amanda Staveley, 47, said Roger Jenkins, once Britain's best-paid banker, tried on numerous occasions to bypass her as a middle man She has claimed Barclays unfairly pushed her firm PCP Capital out of the lucrative deal by offering secret fees to other investors. Barclays bosses also labelled her a 'foxy blonde' and 'the tart', leading her to accuse executives at the bank of sexism and misogyny. The case has revealed also shone light on the extravagant lifestyles of the super-rich bankers at the heart of the financial crisis. Mr Jenkins's now ex-wife Diana, 47, a Bosnian refugee turned socialite, was a regular on London's A-list party scene, and court documents show her husband sought to use her famous friends to develop his business connections. In October 2008, he invited Ms Staveley and her investor, Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Mansour, to a party at his Mayfair flat. The event was in aid of a charity helping with the relief effort in Darfur, in Sudan, called 'Not on Our Watch'. Amanda Staveley seen arriving at the Rolls Building in London to give evidence in her High Court battle with Barclays Barclays bank boss Roger Jenkins, who worked opposite Ms Staveley during 2008, told colleagues that his Bosnian ex-wife Diana Jenkins had not been given enough credit According to press reports from the time, it was also attended by Scarlett Johansson, Cindy Crawford, Sarah Ferguson, Bono, Guy Ritchie, Sir Michael Caine, Claudia Schiffer and Christian Slater - and raised 10million for charity. But Miss Staveley took the invite as an attempt to bypass her as a middle man in the deal, which could affect how much she was paid in the future, according to a witness statement filed to the court. In the document she said: 'Mr Jenkins wanted me to ask Sheikh Mansour if he could attend, as George Clooney and Matt Damon would be present representing their charity. 'I had heard that Mr Jenkins' wife, Dianna, was very glamorous and that they were both fond of the 'celebrity' lifestyle. Friends in high places: Amanda Staveley is pictured with David Beckham at a plush event 'I felt he was quite clearly trying to get a direct line to my cornerstone investor.' She said that Mr Jenkins subsequently tried 'a number of times' to meet the Sheikh. The statement from Miss Staveley added: 'It would have been a major coup for Mr Jenkins to get an introduction to someone as important and influential as Sheikh Mansour, given the bank's ambitions in the Gulf region.' The revelations come a day after court documents revealed that Mr Jenkins was furious his wife did not get the attention she deserved for her role in the deal to save the bank. He complained to colleagues that his wife Diana, 47, was treated like a 'party girl', while fellow financier Amanda Staveley, also 47, was lauded for her business nous. The court dispute results from Miss Staveley's claim that she was not given the same terms as the Qatari investors. According to her, Barclays told her numerous times that PCP and the Abu Dhabi investors would be offered the same fees as other investors. Barclays disputes PCP's allegation and described its damages claim as 'opportunistic and speculative' (pictured, Barclays tower in Canary Wharf, London) Instead the bank misled the financial markets and funnelled an extra 346million in secret fees to the Qataris, according to court documents. Barclays disputes her claim, calling it 'opportunistic and speculative'. Jeffery Onions QC, for the bank, told the court: 'The facts have been distorted or exaggerated to fit the case.' Mr Jenkins, who has been acquitted in the criminal courts of wrongdoing related to the fundraising, has been called to give evidence as a witness. The case, expected to last nine weeks, continues. A toddler who was beaten and starved by his mother and her girlfriend was found with coathanger shaped bruises on his body when police rescued him. The three-year-old was found with bruises on his scalp, head, neck, chest, abdomen, genitals, back, buttocks, arms and legs. His mother, 25 and her partner, 29 have been jailed over the 'vile and abhorrent' case of child abuse after appearing at the Brisbane District Court this week. Child protection services in Queensland have been thrust into the spotlight amid a string of high profile abuse cases in recent weeks. When the authorities found the toddler he was eating noodles off the floor and was clearly malnourished. His mother, 25 and her partner, 29 have been jailed over the 'vile and abhorrent' case of child abuse after appearing at the Brisbane District Court this week A neighbour became concerned after hearing the women arguing in the presence of a child who appeared scared. Crown prosecutor Rebecca Marks told the court the toddler had a 'wasted appearance' and was suffering from chronic malnutrition. 'He was sitting on the floor at the time (police arrived) eating a bowl of cold noodles, as well as eating off the floor,' Ms Marks said. He was bruised and had abrasions and lacerations. The shape of some bruises suggest a belt buckle, coathanger and 'other weapons' were used. At first the two women lied to police, claiming there were innocent explanations for his injuries, including claims that 'he bruised easily'. The three-year-old was found with bruises on his scalp, head, neck, chest, abdomen, genitals, back, buttocks, arms and legs (stock image) However this was dismissed by Brisbane District Court Judge Brad Farr as 'self-serving nonsense'. Prosecutor Marks condemned the couple for 'serious and heinous offending' considering their role as care-givers for the boy. 'Those who are meant to protect him ultimately failed him when he was most vulnerable and needed their love, care and attention,' she told the court. The toddler weighed only 13kg when he was found, and had not been seen a doctor for more than a year. This was despite both women and his two siblings having received bulk-billed medical attention during that time. Judge Brad Farr condemned the behaviour as 'vile, abhorrent, 'incomprehensible and shameful in the extreme.' Judge Brad Farr condemned the behaviour as 'vile, abhorrent, 'incomprehensible and shameful in the extreme' at the sentencing at Brisbane District Court (pictured) on Friday A victim impact statement from child safety officers revealed the boy still hoarded food, consistent with him having been 'starving for a period of time'. It found the abuse had resulted in him suffering developmental delays and hindered speech resulting in him having to be held back from school for a year, reported the Courier Mail, Lawyers for the couple told the court that the had become heavy users of the drug ice at the time of offending. The court was told they had also both been badly bullied at school, including an incident where the boy's mother was pinned down by six girls who cut off her hair. The women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of assault and one of child cruelty. Judge Farr sentenced the couple to three and a half years jail. Queensland's Child Protection Services are facing increasing scrutiny amid a string of high profile child abuse reports in recent weeks. Two autistic boys, 17 and 19 were found starving and naked locked in a Brisbane home on May 27. Their 49-year-old father and carer was found dead in the next room Two autistic boys, 17 and 19, were found starving and naked locked in a Brisbane home on May 27. Their 49-year-old father and carer was found dead in the next room. In the same week the body of Willow Lee, a four year-old girl with Down Syndrome, was found decomposing at her home on June 1. Her face had been partially eaten by rats. Her father and stepmother have been charged with her murder. While a four year-old girl with Down Syndrome, Willow Lee (pictured) was found malnourished and decomposing at her home on June 1, her face partially eaten by rats A confidential report into the death of a 22-month-old boy Mason Jet lee, was also released this week, four years after the high-profile fatality. The Child Death Case Review found there were 'many child protection concerns' about Mason's family life. A coroner's ruling on June 2 found the Department of Child Safety had failed the child in 'nearly every possible way'. If you or anyone you know is experiencing trauma or abuse contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 1800 RESPECT. Something as simple as how you tell your backup product which files and databases to backup can have a massive impact on your recoverability. Proper backup selection is essentially a balance between ensuring that everything that should be backed up is indeed backed up, while also trying not to backup worthless data. Physical server inclusion Virtually all backup products require some initial installation and configuration at the level of a physical server. This means that for any of the tactics mentioned in this article to work, one must first install the appropriate software and authorization on each physical server in the data center. This means every VMware or Hyper-V server (not to be confused with each VM on those servers), every physical UNIX or Windows server, and any cloud services that are being backed up. Someone must make that initial connection and authentication before the backup system can perform its magic. Selective inclusion The most common method of including files, objects, or databases in a backup system is to manually select them when configuring the backups of a given system. Here are three examples of selective inclusion: The UK has abandoned plans for full border checks on EU goods due to pressure from businesses struggling with coronavirus, it was reported last night. Michael Gove, Minister for the Cabinet Office, is understood to have accepted that companies cannot cope with both leaving the European Union and the fallout from the pandemic. The Government may now introduce a temporary light-touch regime at ports like Dover for EU goods when the transition period ends in December. The UK has abandoned plans for full border checks on EU goods due to pressure from businesses struggling with coronavirus, it was reported last night This would happen under both a deal and no-deal scenario. But the EU is unlikely to reciprocate and UK goods will face full checks, according to the reports. A Whitehall official told the Financial Times: 'We recognise the impact that coronavirus has had on UK businesses. 'As we take back control of our laws and borders at the end of this year, we will take a pragmatic and flexible approach.' The paper reported the move is expected to be announced ahead of a drive to ramp up no-deal preparations this July. It represents a significant U-turn from February when Mr Gove announced that goods coming from the EU would face the full range of checks. The official added: 'We want to help business adjust to the changes and opportunities of being outside the single market and customs union,' Penny Mordaunt, Cabinet Office minister, has promised an announcement 'shortly'. Michael Gove, Minister for the Cabinet Office, is understood to have accepted that companies cannot cope with both leaving the European Union and the fallout from the pandemic An aide briefed on the new preparations said the approach would be closer to the no-deal arrangements drawn up in September last year that prioritised the flow of goods over border formalities. The measures are expected to last for six months. Earlier this year, Mr Gove announced imports from the EU would face the same customs and regulatory checks as those from other countries in order to ensure both were treated equally and 'to keep our borders safe and secure'. Pro-Brexit MPs applauded his tough approach as a means of giving the UK leverage in the future relationship negotiations, since the EU runs a surplus of goods into Britain. The Government may now introduce a temporary light-touch regime at ports like Dover for EU goods when the transition period ends in December Under the revised proposals, agricultural goods will not be required to enter border inspection posts in or near the port as they do in Europe and animal products may not immediately require health certificates. Only controlled goods will face immediate checks. Industrial goods are also expected to be part of the transitional measures and excluded from customs declarations and customs duty payments. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is to hold Brexit talks with EU chiefs next week, amid warnings that a no deal could thwart Britain's economic recovery. Downing Street last night confirmed the 'high-level summit' between the Prime Minister and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will take place via video link on Monday. Downing Street last night confirmed the 'high-level summit' between the Prime Minister and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will take place via video link on Monday It is seen as an opportunity to break the deadlock in talks. A senior British source last night said Mr Johnson would walk away unless a deal was in sight before autumn. But yesterday Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, of the Confederation of British Industry, warned no deal would be 'a major block to recovery' amid the pandemic. In Matthews gospel you find the story about a woman crashing a dinner party. By labeling her a Canaanite (15:22), Matthew connects her to those promiscuous and pernicious Promised Land pagans God commanded Israel to exterminate on account of their idolatry. You can read about it in Deuteronomy 20. The name Canaan belonged to the son of Ham, Noahs youngest, whose sordid story you can read in Genesis 9. The ensuing curse of Ham provides the backdrop for the Deuteronomy edict, but in later centuries, the narrative was exploited as divine warrant for enslaving generations of dark-skinned Africans, arbitrarily labeled Hams descendants. In the eyes of most slave traders and missionaries, Africans were uncivilized Canaanites, dogs undeserving of mercy even from God. In the United States, few efforts were made to convert slaves to Christianity until the 18th century, and only then after it was guaranteed that baptism would not alter their status as property. In context, its hard to read Matthews label of this party-crasher and not hear shrill racial overtonesnobody else in the New Testament ever gets called a Canaanite dog. That it comes from the mouth of Jesus will prove poetically and powerfully ironic, but not without first disturbing our sensibilities. Jesus acknowledges a stereotype that categorized the woman with the worst of outsiders, an enemy of Israel, cursed by God, marked by her color with no hope of anyone seeing her character. Ethicist Stacey Floyd-Thomas once preached how black lives matter may be as old as this encounter, though here, to everyone besides Jesus, the womans black life does not matter. And yet she persists, undaunted and relentless. Her black life may not matter, but her black faith does. African-American faith was forged in the crucible of slavery. Slave-holding Christians trotted out a Bible they had chained to a culture that diabolically defended the maltreatment of those judged as hardly human. Theyd misuse passages such as this from 1 Peter, Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh (2:18). The same Bible exploited by men to enslave black lives also liberated black faith. Yet the same Bible exploited by men to enslave black lives also liberated black faith. 1 Peter continues, It is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God (2:19-20). Slaves heard tell of a God who is Lord of the oppressed, of Jesus, dark-skinned and poor, born to an teenager out of wedlock, wrongfully arrested and hung on a tree by a state-sanctioned mob; but then rightly raised from the dead and victoriously vindicated, all to Gods glory. The horror of the Cross bears its strange fruit in a wondrous and inexplicable capacity to rise above hatred, above prejudice, above injustice and evil with true love, pure grace, and genuine joy. Black Christians suffer and say Sunday is coming. They persevere and put on their praise. Christ died and we thank the Lord for it and call it good news. This is the enduring mystery of the gospel and the heartbeat of black faith. We read about George Floyds faith at work to help troubled young people in Houstons Cuney Homes housing project. I live in Minneapolis, where George Floyd moved for a better job, struggled at times, and died on the street under the brutal police officers knee. Last week, I stood with other clergy, black and white, at the site of Floyds death and listened as once again black preachers prayed for peace and for grace and for justice and reconciliation. Article continues below To see the power of black faith is to be astonished by its collective capacity for forbearance. As David Remnick put it, The litany of its great leadersFrederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Howard Thurman, and Fannie Lou Hamer among themis vastly outnumbered by the anonymous millions who encountered the noose, the lash, the cattle prod, the attack dog, the laws of Jim Crow, and answered it all. Clear-eyed about their oppressors, they answered most often not to the understandable urge for vengeance, but with a higher resolve to trust the Lord to dispense justice and do mercy. In Matthews gospel, the disciples urge Jesus to send this crazy woman away; shes a dog who wont stop barking. But she stays and perseveres, undaunted and relentless. Her black life may not matter, but her black faith does. She presses past barriers for the sake of her sick daughter she wants healed. She falls to her knees and calls Jesus Lord and cries for help. Jesus sets her up by evoking the proverbial prejudice of his day, It is not right to take the childrens bread and toss it to the dogs. To which the woman readily replies, Yes it is, Lord. Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters table. Jesus exclaims, with a gleam in his eye, mercy on his mind and joy in his heart, Woman, you have great faith! You request is granted! The table was turned and her daughter was healed at that moment. (Matt. 15:26-28). As Howard Thurman once prayed, Keep fresh before me the moments of my high resolve, Lord, that in fair weather or foul, in good times or in tempests, in the days when the darkness and the foe are nameless or familiar, may I not forget that to which my life is committed. Black faith matters. Image: Jon Good Here in deeply divided Minneapoliswhere George Floyd unjustly joined the dead brotherhood of Jamal Clark, Philando Castile, and too many othersprotests turned peaceful after nights of fiery upheaval. Black faith perseveres, undaunted and relentless, marching and praying for justice and reconciliation. Theres so much work. Holding up a Bible wont do it. We have to open it and read it and do what it says. Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it (Luke 11:28). Daniel Harrell is Christianity Todays editor in chief. A magnitude-4.2 earthquake hit western Albania on Monday causing panic among the population but no injuries or material damage has been reported so far. The Institute of Geosciences, Energy, Water and Environment, the countrys seismical agency said the quake hit at 1521 GMT at Kuraten village, 34 kilometres (20 miles) west of the capital, Tirana. The Defense Ministry said preliminary information revealed no damage. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre put the preliminary magnitude at 4.5. Many people in Tirana left their homes fearing a repeat of the 6.4-magnitude earthquake in November that killed 51 people and left some 17,000 people homeless around the country. Albania has started rebuilding many of the destroyed buildings after securing a 1.15 billion Euro ($1.3 billion) funding commitment from international donors. (Representative Image) (Natural News) Outbreaks of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) are emerging in U.S. fruit and vegetable farms and packing plants, causing officials to worry about further disruptions to Americas food supply. The outbreaks come after thousands of meat plant employees contracted the virus, which led to those plants shutting down. This resulted in shortages of meat in groceries around the country. Workers harvesting fruits and vegetables in fields, in comparison, can easily implement social distancing. However, the conditions in the plants that package fruits and vegetables are similar to the tight, shoulder-to-shoulder conditions that made it easy for the coronavirus to spread in U.S. meatpacking plants. The line moves super fast. And youre working side by side and back to back, explained Edgar Franks, political director with Washington state farmworkers union Familias Unidas por la Justicia. Coronavirus spreading through agricultural workers In late May, health officials in Washington states Yakima County reported that there were more than 600 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among agricultural workers. Earlier that month, workers at six fruit packing sites in the county went on strike due to concerns that they were not being provided adequate protection against the coronavirus, said Franks. In Californias Monterey County, known as the worlds salad bowl for its sprawling vegetable farms, health department officials reported on June 5 that 247 agricultural workers had tested positive for the coronavirus 39 percent of the countys total caseload. According to Reuters, Montereys health department is one of the few among Americas largest fruit and vegetable producing counties that tracks coronavirus cases among agricultural workers. In neighboring Kern county, Martin Baca, a 53-year-old employee at carrot grower Grimmway Farms died on April 30 due to a coronavirus infection that his family believes he contracted at work. According to a Grimmway spokesman, the company did not definitively know where Baca contracted COVID-19. However, a Grimmway employee, who asked to only be identified as Juan, told Reuters that there were so many workers out sick that the number of people in his shift was reduced to a third of the needed workers. They made some announcements to stay six feet apart but thats basically impossible when you are loading boxes onto the same pallet, said Juan, who tested positive for coronavirus himself, despite not showing any symptoms. Obviously you are going to be close to your co-workers. Grimmway declined to comment on how many of its workers tested positive for the coronavirus. It has, however, claimed that it has seen no issues with absenteeism. Meanwhile, coronavirus cases are also on the rise near tomato-growing Immokalee, Florida. The spread of the virus among farmworkers in Florida could have significant implications for food production in the rest of the country. Many workers in Florida travel north through the summer as they follow the harvest through Georgia, the Carolinas and into the Northeast. An outbreak in Florida could spread the virus further into these regions. In addition, many of these workers cant afford to miss work, as such, are more likely to avoid testing or try to hide any symptoms. A lot of workers will hide their symptoms, said Lupe Gonzalo, a farmworker at Immokalee or say it is just a cold or if they have a fever, just say it is too hot outside. Government working to get ahead of infections at fruit and vegetable growers The threat that fruit and vegetable growers experience which is similar to those that befell meat processors has government officials scrambling to address the issue. In Florida, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has started partnering with county health departments and hotels to help educate workers and set up quarantine housing. On May 19, a Food and Drug Administration spokesman suggested that the government could use the Defense Production Act to keep production moving at fruit and vegetable as to protect the food supply and prevent significant food shortages. Should this occur, the act would give companies a measure of liability protection should workers fall sick. Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow introduced legislation on May 27 that would officer grants and loans to companies to allow them to upgrade machinery, purchase personal protective equipment, clean facilities and fun testing for COVID-19. You can get ahead of this, which is what didnt happen in the meatpacking situation, she said in an interview with Reuters. The best way to protect our supply chain is to keep workers safe. Learn more about the coronavirus at Pandemic.news. Sources include: Reuters.com NYDailyNews.com Clwyd South MS to hold talks with Natural Resources Wales after fire at Hafod Quarry This article is old - Published: Friday, Jun 12th, 2020 Ken Skates MS is to hold talks with Natural Resources Wales over the future of a waste plant where a recent fire was the last straw for local residents. The Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South asked for urgent talks with NRW bosses to raise his constituents concerns after the Hafod Quarry tip in Johnstown was reopened this week. Firefighters were called to a blaze on Hafod Quarry in Johnstown on Wednesday 27th May. The fire, which involved 1,000 square metres of the landfill, took two days to extinguish and dampen down. Residents in the Johnstown and Ruabon area were urged to keep their windows and doors closed due to the smoke. However similar advice was also issued the next day to residents in the town. Mr Skates had previously called for the site not to be begin operations again until an investigation into the fire two weeks ago had concluded. Mr Skates said: I received a letter from Johnstown councillor David Bithell about the Hafod Quarry plant and I share his concerns and those of local residents about the viability of the site. I know the strength of feeling on this issue in the community and made urgent representations to Natural Resources Wales and Environment Minister Lesley Griffiths asking for assurances that a full investigation would be carried out and concluded before the site was allowed to reopen. As well as a number of residents, I was also contacted by Ruabon councillor Dana Davies, who is in full agreement and has also raised this with the Environment Minister. I have since received a response from Natural Resources Wales which said it will not be possible for this investigation to be completed before full landfill operations recommence. Local people have had enough and this fire was the final straw for many of them. I have been in contact with senior NRW officers again and will be holding further discussions about the sites operation with them on Friday. The Environment Minister is unable to issue direct orders as to how the site is run, so I want local voices to be heard by those who can and I will be making sure NRW understands the full scale of residents objections to this sites continued operation. The gas well blowout in Assams Tinsukia district has polluted the Lohit river and adjoining eco-sensitive Maguri-Motapung wetland and toxic pollutants may have killed fish, insects as well as pose risk to endangered Gangetic dolphins in the region, a preliminary Wildlife Institute of India (WII) survey report has said. It has cited interviews with locals and said the Oil India Limited (OIL) did not have a mitigation plan for such accidents. WII has hence suggested a comprehensive impact assessment of entire OIL field operations in the biodiversity-rich area. The well caught fire on Tuesday days after the blowout, or leakage of gas and condensate, began on May 27. Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve (DSBR) located nearby is home to endangered hoolock gibbons. The Union environment ministry gave the environmental clearance to OIL on May 11 for extension drilling and testing of hydrocarbons at seven locations under Dibru Saikhowa National Park. The report said the fumes and oil coating has affected flora and fauna. The contaminants and oil are continuing to be released in surrounding areas and immediate steps are needed to contain this spillover. The toxins released are known to have long-term persistence in soils and sediments, which will not only affect current life conditions but due to sustained release over a long period, pose a serious health risk for a longer-term, said the report, a copy of which HT has seen, submitted to the ministry. WII scientist Qamar Qureshi said the regions lowland forests are unique and they have found other wells are also leaking which can have long term impacts. We have recommended a thorough assessment of disaster mitigation possibilities before implementing any more exploration projects, he said. Soumitra Dasgupta, additional director-general (wildlife), environment ministry, said the wetland is affected and so are the aquatic species. The national park is slightly away from the accident site. We will wait for the detailed WII study and response from the Assam forest department. We have written to them. An OIL spokesperson did not comment on the report saying they are unaware of it. Whatever condensed oil had been released earlier has been burnt off. There is no contamination from it anymore. We are trying to contain the gas which is releasing within four weeks. WII, which carried the survey from May 29 to June 4, has recommended that the approved new wells and further exploration in the area be put on hold until OIL has disaster handling capabilities. It found the presence of at least five Gangetic dolphins in the 20 km stretch of the Lohit river it surveyed and indicated that they will be at grave risk from the ongoing spill. The team has collected samples of tissue and blubber from a dolphin carcass, which is being analysed for the presence of various contaminants. WII said new wells and explorations in this area should be initiated only after a thorough evaluation. It will come out with a detailed report on the impact on the regions biodiversity by the month-end. WII has also flagged the long term environmental impacts of the spill as a blowout spews hundreds of chemicals in the air, water, and soil. Residents of the area reported severe breathing difficulty, headaches, and nausea to WII. Even the WII survey team experienced similar symptoms due to the heavy presence of oil. The entire landscape, including the wetland, is coated in layers of oil, WII said. The biodiversity-rich area is one of the important remaining habitats of several endangered and range-restricted species, according to WII. DSBR is also home to tigers, elephants, wild buffalos, leopards, capped langurs, slow loris, as well as critically endangered bird species such as the Bengal florican, white-winged wood duck, greater adjutant stork, white-rumped vulture, slender-billed vulture. The rare and endemic black-breasted parrotbill is found there. Opening days of Commerce market against COVID-19 generates B350k for vendors PHUKET: The first two days of the Commerce market against COVID-19, has generated more than B350,000 in income for market vendors, reports the Phuket office of the Ministry of Commerce. COVID-19economics By The Phuket News Friday 12 June 2020, 09:44AM Ministry of Commerce Phuket Office Chief Sasiphimon Mongkon said that the market had already generated about B350,000 for market vendors. Photo: PR Phuket Ministry of Commerce Phuket Office Chief Sasiphimon Mongkon said that the market had already generated about B350,000 for market vendors. Photo: PR Phuket Governor Phakaphong tries his hand at cooking at the market on Wednesday (Jun 10). Photo: PR Phuket Ministry of Commerce Phuket Office Chief Sasiphimon Mongkon said that the market had already generated about B350,000 for market vendors. Photo: PR Phuket Ministry of Commerce Phuket Office Chief Sasiphimon Mongkon said that the market had already generated about B350,000 for market vendors. Photo: PR Phuket Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana at the official opening of the market on Wednesday (Jun 10). Photo: PR Phuket Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana at the official opening of the market on Wednesday (Jun 10). Photo: PR Phuket Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana at the official opening of the market on Wednesday (Jun 10). Photo: PR Phuket The market, held in front of the Ministry of Commerce Phuket office on Suthat Rd in Phuket Town, was launched to help vendors deeply affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The market is to be held four times, with the first edition getting underway on Monday (June 8) and continuing through today (June 12). The market will be held three more times: July 6-10, Aug 3-7 and Sept 7-11. Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana presided over the official opening ceremony at the market on Wednesday (Jun 10). At the event, Ministry of Commerce Phuket Office Chief Sasiphimon Mongkon said that the market had already generated about B350,000 for market vendors. In announcing the return of the market, Chief Sasiphimon explained, We aim to create a place where local people can sell their products at value prices in order to help people cope with their living expenses. We expect there will be around 1,000 people coming to the market each day and around 20,000 people visiting the market during the whole campaign, altogether generating about around B3 million in sales, she said. DETROIT Four former Detroit Medical Center employees are suing for $100 million, claiming they were unable to perform their lifesaving duties amid the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak because of decisions made by hospital officials and that patients died as a result. The plaintiffs also allege they were fired for speaking out about conditions at Sinai Grace Hospital during the height of the coronavirus crisis in the city, WXYZ Detroit reports. Nurses Jeffrey Eichenlaub, Sal Hadwan and Anthony Bonnett, and clinical coordinator Catherine Gaughan each seek $25 million in the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Wayne County Circuit Court. According to the filing, Detroit Medical Center and owner Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare failed to protect Sinai Grace staff and patients as the coronavirus spread. The suit claims the lack of a safe, uncontaminated environment hurt patient care. It also alleges that the hospital was severely understaffed for financial reasons, leaving employees overwhelmed by dying patients who they had no means to save. The defendants decisions resulted in the death of patients that should have had positive outcomes, the lawsuit claims. RELATED: Photos of body bags lined up in Detroit hospital rooms make national headlines The suit is also tied to photos of body bags piling up at the hospital that were leaked to CNN and other news outlets in April. The plaintiffs claim they were fired for releasing those photos as a way to silence them after they complained about the hospitals handling of the health crisis. They say they didnt take the photos. Detroit Medical Center told WXYZ that it does not comment on pending litigation. READ MORE: Detroit police chief says Shelby Twp. chief is a disappointment after racist tweets Friday, June 12: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Starbucks has announced that employees are now allowed to wear Black Lives Matter T-shirts and pins after initially banning the items - reportedly over fears it could incite violence. The Seattle-based company reversed its dress code policy to let employees wear Black Lives Matter items on Friday. In a statement to CNN Business, Starbucks said it's 'critical to support the 'Black Lives Matter' movement as its founders intended and will continue to work closely with community leaders, civil rights leaders, organizations, and our partners to understand the role that Starbucks can play, and to show up in a positive way for our communities.' Starbucks will allow staffers to wear their own Black Lives Matter T-shits or pins until the company's new branded shirts are delivered to the 250,000 employees. Starbucks publicly got behind the Black Lives Matter movement after protests against police brutality, but was lambasted after banning employees from wearing Black Lives Matter t-shirts and pins Starbucks shared a version of their Black Lives Matter design, which include messages like 'Time for Change and 'No Justice, No Peace', on Twitter after facing backlash this week The branded shirts will include the phrases like 'Black Lives Matter and 'No Justice, No Peace.' The design is a collaboration between Starbucks Black Partner Network and Black Starbucks leaders. 'This movement is a catalyst for change, and right now, it's telling us a lot of things need to be addressed so we can make space to heal,' Starbucks said in a letter to employees announcing the design. 'Weve heard you want to show your support, so just be you. We are so proud of your passionate support of our common humanity.' The day before, store managers at Starbucks relayed requests from employees who wanted to wear the clothes, but were told by superiors that it was against the company's dress code. The managers reportedly also were told that BLM swag could potentially incite violence. The stance came at odds with the company's Black Lives Matter statement released June 4, in which they announced their commitment. 'We are actively hosting open and necessary conversations with out partners (employees) about racism the Black community faces. Our work does not end here,' they wrote. But an internal memo explains 'there are agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the Black Lives Matter Movement - and in certain circumstances, intentionally repurpose them to amplify divisiveness.' The memo was quoting remarks made by Zing Shaw, the company's vice president of inclusion and diversity. Starbucks was called out by social media users who felt the company was being insincere and hypocritical about its stance with Black Lives Matter An internal Starbucks memo addressing BLM-related clothing explains 'there are agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the Black Lives Matter Movement - and in certain circumstances, intentionally repurpose them to amplify divisiveness Pictured: Trolice Flavors holds up a fist during a 'We Want to Live"'march and protest against racial inequality in Seattle, Washington, where the company was founded 'We know your intent is genuine and understand how personal this is for so many of us. This is important and we hear you,' the company continues in the memo obtained by BuzzFeed. Starbucks was met with backlash from social media users and employees who saw the move as hypocritical. It's stock share fell more than three per cent after the incident was revealed to the public. The company began Friday morning with a $75.74 stock price and ended the day at $72.40. Pictured: Stock shares for Starbucks fell on Thursday after it was revealed the company would not let employees wear Black Lives Matter t-shirts and pins Employees pointed out that Starbucks encourages them to wear clothing celebrating marriage equality and LGBTQ+ rights during Pride month in June. Employees told Buzzfeed that the company hands out buttons and attire for Pride month. Others outraged by the revelation took to Twitter to blast Starbucks and called for a boycott of the company. 'If Starbucks is saying #BlackLivesMatter attire is prohibited, and you end up there, Make 'Black Lives Matter' wrote Twitter user Steve Marmel. He encouraged people to write their names on Starbucks coffee cups and to shout loudly, 'Black Lives Matter! Your frappacino is ready!' as the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks was trending Thursday. People who learned of the ban took to Twitter to blast Starbucks and called for a boycott of the company. Pictured is a tweet from Steve Marmel which was posted with the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks, which was trending Thursday Marmel's tweet includes a picture of a Starbucks coffee cup with the words, 'Black Lives Matter' written on the side (pictured) Katie Mowgli on Twitter said Starbucks was 'catering to the comfort of their racist customers,' in response to the ban. Mowgli, who tweets under the handle @KatieMowgli, vowed she would not be visiting the stores. 'I'll be telling EVERYONE I KNOW to boycott them as well,' she adds in the tweet. A Twitter user who goes under the handle @MireyaaAzelinn suggested Starbucks change its famed mermaid logo in response to the ban. In her post, she includes an image of the black goddess Yemaya, a black mermaid from Santeria. The Twitter user claims that the current Starbucks logo is based on Yemaya. Starbucks claims its original logo is based on a siren from an ancient Norse woodcut. Katie Mowgli on Twitter said Starbucks was 'catering to the comfort of their racist customers,' in response to the ban; A twitter user who goes under the handle @MireyaaAzelinn suggested Starbucks change its famed mermaid logo in response to the ban In her post, @MireyaaAzelinn includes an image of the black goddess Yemaya, a black mermaid from Santeria. The twitter user claims that the current Starbucks logo is based on Yemaya (pictured) The company says it was looking at how 'we can show up and stand united with our black partners, customers and community members while proudly wearing the green apron in our stores.' It also added that all within the company can wear a 'Keep it Brewing' t-shirt from its Black Partner Network. Starbucks employees who learned of the memo were critical of the policy. Starbucks says it was looking at how 'we can show up and stand united with our black partners, customers and community members while proudly wearing the green apron in our stores' 'That statement prioritizes those who feel discomfort over Black lives,' Atlanta barista Carl Bensen, 22, told BuzzFeed. 'My skin color incites violence at Starbucks. Should I not come to work?' he asked. 'It is silencing and Starbucks is complicit. Now more than ever, Starbucks needs to stand with us.' A Starbucks spokesperson initially told Buzzfeed that while the company was committed to ending systematic racism, the policy still stands to ensure that its stores remain safe and welcoming. 'We respect all of our partners' opinions and beliefs, and encourage them to bring their whole selves to work while adhering to our dress code policy,' the spokesperson said. Starbucks has encouraged all in the company to wear a 'Keep it Brewing' t-shirt from its Black Partner Network Starbucks in a tweet on June 1 as protests were erupting over the police-related slaying of George Floyd called for 'open and honest conversations about racial injustices.' But in 2018, Starbucks became embroiled in controversy after a manager in Philadelphia called the police on two black men sitting inside the store. The store manager claimed that she called over loitering, but several people called the incident racist because several white customers were also sitting inside the store at the time and were not confronted by police. Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, both 23-years-old, that they arrived at the Starbucks early for a meeting. As soon as they arrived, Nelson went to ask to use the restroom while his friend found them a table But a manager, Holly Hylton, told him that the restrooms 'were for paying customers only,' so he decided to take his seat and wait until their meeting 'I just left it at that at that moment,' he told Good Morning America. Soon after however, Robinson says the manager came out from behind the register to speak to them. 'We're at the table, we sit down we're just talking amongst each other. She comes from around the register and walks up to ask if she can help us with anything, can we start with some drinks or water or something like that,' Robinson says. Robinson says they declined and said they were 'just waiting for a meeting' and 'we'll be out really quick'. But about two minutes after they arrived at the cafe, the manager called 911 and said that they were 'refusing to make a purchase'. Video of the incident was shared to Facebook Live and quickly went viral, prompting many to boycott the coffee company. The company created a 'Third Place Policy' after the incident, that says Starbucks is 'committed to creating a culture of warmth and belonging where everyone is welcome. 'We want our stores to be the third place, a warm and welcoming environment where customers can gather and connect,' a statement on the policy explains. 'Any customer is welcome to use Starbucks spaces, including our restrooms, cafes and patios, regardless of whether they make a purchase,' the statement says. In addition to the policy, Starbucks has pledged $1 million to design anti-bias resources and training to help confront bias and racism. The initiative, Starbucks says, comes through a partnership with Arizona State University. Starbucks has pledged $1 million to organizations that will promote racial equity. The funding comes through partnership with Arizona State University. A tweet from the company (pictured) announced the initiative Despite its latest efforts to support Black Lives Matter, Starbucks employees still complained the company was not being sincere enough in light of the George Floyd police-related slaying in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. The 46-year-old black father-of two-died as he was being arrested by a white officer. Video of the incident shows the now-fired cop Derek Chauvin pressing his knee against Floyd's neck for nearly 9 minutes, causing his death. Floyd's passing sparked protests across the country against police brutality and calling for reforms. 'We have a police detail outside of the store most days anyway. Let's just call him over if a customer is offended by someone's BLM pin,' an anonymous Starbucks employee told Buzzfeed. 'There's something deeper here,' the employee says, voicing criticism of Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson. 'Kevin Johnson talks a big talk on Twitter, but he's still the head of a multibillion-dollar company that has to keep up with its image,' the employee says. 'God forbid if employees tarnish that pristine global image.' GST on textiles will not be increased from 5 to 12 per cent: FM Sitharaman It is not BJP money: Nirmala Sitharaman on IT raids on 'Samajwadi perfume' trader Budget Session 2022 to commence on January 31; Union Budget to be tabled on February 1 FM Nirmala Sitharaman to address press conference at 4:30 pm, likely to clear air on Antrix Devas issue FM Sitharaman on Devas-Antrix issue: Cong has no moral right to speak about crony capitalism GST Council meeting today: No change in tax rates expected India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, June 12: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will on Friday hold the 40th meeting of the GST Council meeting via video conferencing. The meet is expected to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on tax revenues and may decide on the framework for compensation payout to states. The Council would also discuss waiver of late fees for non-filing of GST returns for the period August 2017 to January 2020. Although there would not be any change in tax rates, but the Council will likely decide on ways to garner funds to compensate states for the revenue loss due to Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation. GST compensation of Rs 36,400 crore released by Centre to States Covid-19: India registers over 10,000 fresh cases in 24 hours and 396 deaths | Oneindia News The meeting would discuss the impact of the pandemic on revenues of the Centre and states and ways to breach the revenue gap. Faced with dismal collection and extended deadline for filing returns, the government has refrained from releasing the monthly GST revenue collection figures for the months of April and May. Under the GST structure, taxes are levied under 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent slabs. On top of the highest tax slab, a cess is levied on luxury, sin and demerit goods and the proceeds from the same are used to compensate states for any revenue loss. In the previous council meeting on March 14, 2020, Sitharaman had said that the Centre will look into the legality of GST Council borrowing from market to meet the compensation requirements. GST Council to meet next month; FinMin not for raising rates on non-essential items With states raising the issue of shortfall in compensation kitty, there were discussions on resorting to market borrowing to meet the revenue guarantee to states. Under GST law, states were guaranteed to be paid for any loss of revenue in the first five years of the GST implementation from July 1, 2017. The shortfall is calculated assuming a 14 per cent annual growth in GST collections by states over the base year of 2015-16. Foreign trade firms shifting to domestic market From:ChinaDaily | 2020-06-12 10:15 Although the COVID-19 outbreak has brought challenges for Chinese companies' participation in the global value chain, it has also become an opportunity for various industries to reshuffle, and for related companies to achieve breakthroughs in some key areas. China is already deeply involved in many levels of the global value chain, which allows the country to share the dividends of globalization. The country used to rely on imports of key parts and components in mechanical and electronic equipment and aerospace due to domestic shortcomings in such key technologies. The majority of Chinese companies were previously engaged in what could be called "simple labor" compared to a less engaged "complex labor" process, which includes product development, marketing channels and brand creation. As of today, many companies are still at the bottom of the global value chain. In the face of shrinking external demand, firms engaged in foreign trade will turn to the domestic market and will inevitably engage in "complex labor". Although they will face new costs of learning about the transforming marketplace, the digitization of the domestic consumer market has greatly reduced pressure on firms, especially self-built brands, and simplified sales channel thresholds and end-to-end online paths make the shift to the domestic market easier still. With more companies vying for the hearts, minds and wallets of Chinese consumers, the latter will ultimately enjoy lower prices. When these Chinese companies are equipped with comprehensive capabilities in planning, research and development, production, marketing and personalized services, they will bring more value to the "Made in China" label. Enterprises engaged in foreign trade have traditionally been original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs. Their products range from textiles and garments to various types of light industrial products, as well as mechanical equipment, electronics and digital products. All of them are unknown Chinese enterprises that carry out production for world-renowned companies. Actually, the quality of products produced by these Chinese enterprises is excellent, and fully meets the requirements of global big names. But because they do not have their own brands, they can only sell overseas with the help of those brands. In fact, building up production capacity requires good infrastructure, sound employee training and education, as well as support systems in other areas. China has already built up a strong production capacity. If we can further develop the two ends of the value chain, we will be able to build our own brands based on high-quality products and create greater value with the same resources. Due to years of OEM activities, Chinese foreign trade enterprises have lost pricing power in the global market. To create independent brands is conducive to increasing prices and improving profitability for manufacturers. Traditional foreign trade products are priced at a relatively fixed rate, and profit margins for Chinese OEMs are very limited. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese export enterprises can continue to improve their R&D innovation and channel development capabilities. As pandemic suppresses external demand, it is a good time for China to cultivate a few well-known brands and promote "Made in China" to the global market. With the rapid development of the global value chain, small and medium-sized enterprises have obtained more opportunities to grow. On the one hand, SMEs can offer intermediate products and parts for foreign companies. On the other hand, they can import some parts and components they need. However, large enterprises still play a major role in the global value chain. Although China's SMEs have created a great deal of output value and employment, they are less involved in the global value chain. Exports from Chinese SMEs only account for about 15 percent of the country's total. In terms of added-value trade, the proportion is about 29 percent. Therefore, the country's SMEs have a relatively low level of participation in the chain and there is room for further improvement. The digital economy should have facilitated the participation of more SMEs in international trade. However, it requires a certain entry cost. SMEs often lack the corresponding resources and cannot afford early stage digital economy development investment. According to a World Bank survey, information technology plays a prominent role in promoting the participation of SMEs from developing countries in the global value chain. For SMEs that have already participated in the global value chain, shifting to the domestic market can solve difficulties to a certain extent, but they won't succeed if exporters simply flip a switch and focus on domestic sales without studying the new marketplace. And many of the more successful and sizable among them will merely grab market share from smaller peers already selling to the domestic market, resulting in a zero-sum scenario with only winners and losers. Some are worried that the pandemic has brought difficulties to China's industrial upgrading. On the contrary, I think it can accelerate the pace of industrial transformation and upgrading for those enterprises willing to focus on capital accumulation, technological progress, R&D investment and development strategies. Despite the negative impact of the pandemic, it is only a short-term external adverse factor and will not have a systematic impact on China's economic development. The fundamentals of the Chinese economy remain solid. Thus, companies have enough power to accumulate capital and expand R&D investment, which will bring continuous improvement of technical levels in all aspects. Also, China's development strategy will not change due to the pandemic. Therefore, investment, production and trade will continue to serve ongoing industrial transformation. At the same time, in response to the contagion, all sectors of China have vigorously promoted the development of new industries and formats. On one hand, the nation has actively promoted a new generation of IT support services for contagion prevention and control and a timely resumption of production, and the country strongly supports 5G, artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain and other technological innovations and industrial applications. On the other hand, emerging formats including online education and telecommuting have not only helped the country to relieve the pressure brought by the outbreak, but also become a new growth point for the Chinese economy. All of these will help China accelerate its industrial transformation and upgrading. The author is a researcher at the National Academy of Development and Strategy at Renmin University of China and a professor of the School of Economics at RUC. Joe Biden had a blunt warning about US President Donald Trump and the lengths he would go to limit access to ballots in November, sharply escalating his rhetoric about his Republican rival five months before voters head to the polls. "This president is going to try to steal this election," Mr Biden said in an interview on 'The Daily Show with Trevor Noah' on Wednesday night. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said of ensuring that the voting process is fair: "It's my greatest concern. My single greatest concern." Mr Biden was also asked whether he has considered what would happen if he wins but Mr Trump refuses to leave office. "Yes, I have," he said quickly. The interview appeared to be edited at that point, but Mr Biden resumed by speaking about the number of high-ranking former military officers who spoke out over the past week about Mr Trump's response to the protests. "I promise you, I'm absolutely convinced they will escort him from the White House with great dispatch," Mr Biden said. The remarks are some of Mr Biden's most forceful and far-reaching to date about the anxieties many Democrats feel about the potential for interference in November's election. It is playing out amid concerns about ballot access, long lines to vote and how Americans will cast ballots if safety concerns over Covid-19 are still widespread. Two months ago, Mr Biden said that Mr Trump would try to delay the election, even though Mr Trump doesn't have the power to do so and had not suggested he would attempt to do so. "Mark my words: I think he is gonna try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can't be held," Mr Biden said in late April. Then, as now, he criticised Mr Trump for sowing doubt over the use of mail-in ballots - and pointed to Mr Trump's use of a mail-in ballot. "This is a guy who said that all mail-in ballots are fraudulent, voting by mail," Mr Biden said. "While he sits behind the desk in the Oval Office and writes his mail-in ballot to vote in a primary." Mr Biden also said his campaign is gearing up for a major legal presence around the country to monitor potential election problems. While pointing to the voting lines in Georgia and some of the widespread issues with Tuesday's primary, he said his campaign would be prepared. "We're putting out a major initiative of lawyers to make sure we're in every single district in the country to patrol this," he said. Citing some of the delays in counting ballots in Pennsylvania, Mr Biden speculated the country wouldn't know who won the state until a month after the general election. During the interview, Mr Biden also discussed the widespread protests around the country in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. He highlighted his proposals to reform police departments. "I don't believe police should be defunded, but I think the conditions should be placed upon them where departments are having to take significant reforms." Mr Biden, who was the author of a 1994 crime bill and had also been a strong Democratic force in the war on drugs in the 1980s, also said that there should be more leniency in law enforcement and a greater emphasis on rehabilitation programmes. "We're calling out every lie he, in fact, is saying," he said of Mr Trump. "We're calling out and making the case this guy is not a good guy." Mr Biden said that attacks on him are more difficult, because he is well known. "People know me and they know me, warts and all," Mr Biden said. "I have weaknesses, for real." Asked what they are, he said, "I always say what I think." He also said that his "old stuttering days occasionally come back," briefly mimicking a stutter. "I sometimes make political gaffes," he added. "You know the old expression, a gaffe in Washington is a politician telling the truth." ( Washington Post) [June 12, 2020] Patients and Virtual Care Expert Co-Create Guide to Help Navigate New Way of Accessing Care OTTAWA, ON, June 12, 2020 /CNW/ - The pandemic has pushed virtual care to new heights, and its continued adoption is contingent on both physicians and patients being familiar with how to make the best use of it. To help support its expansion, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) are launching the Virtual Care Guide for Patients. This bilingual resource was co-created with members of the CMA Patient Voice and Dr. Mark Dermer, a leading expert in telemedicine. The patient playbook complements the Virtual Care Plybook launched in March 2020, ensuring that both providers and patients have the necessary support to fully leverage virtual visits. Virtual care has become an effective method of providing care to patients during the pandemic, and the level of uptake and satisfaction pave the way for expanding its use. A new poll sponsored by the CMA shows that almost half of Canadians have used virtual care during the pandemic and 91% have been satisfied with their experience. In fact, the poll suggests that 43% of Canadians would prefer that their first point of medical contact be virtual. To ensure patients take full advantage of virtual visits, the playbook provides insights on how virtual care works, how to prepare for it and what to expect during the visit. Earlier this year, a joint CMA, Royal College and CFPC Virtual Care Task Force outlined 19 key recommendations to pave the way for virtual care in Canada, including: developing a framework to regulate the safety and quality of virtual care services; increasing support to regulatory bodies to simplify physician registration and licensure processes to allow physicians to provide virtual care across provincial and territorial boundaries; encouraging provincial and territorial governments, in collaboration with key associations, to develop new fee schedules for in-person and virtual care that are revenue neutral; and establishing and incorporating virtual care education at medical schools and continuing education for health professionals. SOURCE Canadian Medical Association [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] F ollowing the success of The Five and The Stranger, Netflix has adapted another one of Harlan Cobens works: The Woods. Mystery dramas are very much in vogue right now, with viewers embracing a good on-screen case to crack as a welcome distraction from the outside world. Indeed, The Woods is set to deliver just that, with unexpected twists and turns aplenty. The gripping series follows a Polish prosecutor who is forced to re-examine his past when a new clue surfaces linked to his sisters disappearance. Heres whos starring in the new series. Who is in The Woods cast? Netflix Pawel - Grzegorz Damiecki The series is led by Grzegorz Damiecki, who plays lawyer Pawel. In the six part series, Pawel uncovers new evidence about his sisters disappearance that happened over 25 years previously. The discovery forces him to comb through the events of his past in order to see if he can shed new light on why she disappeared. Damiecki has previously starred in 1993 classic Schindlers List playing SS Sgt Kunder, as well as a number of Polish-language films and television series. Viewers may also recognise him from HBO series The Border, where he played Andrzej Halman. Laura Goldsztajn - Agnieszka Grochowska Laura is Pawel's close friend / Netflix As Pawels close childhood friend, Laura finds her own past scrutinised as Pawel fights to discover what happened to his sister. Laura is played by Polish actor Agnieszka Grochowska, who has starred in a number of films and television series in her native Poland. You may also recognise her from 2015 film Child 44, which starred Tom Hardy as a disgraced member of the Russian military police investigating a spate of child murders. Grochowska played Nina Andreyeva Young Pawe Kopinski - Hubert Milkowski The timeline jumps between 1994 and the present day / Netflix In a similar vein to the novel, The Woods jumps between the present day and the events of 1994, with the drama interweaving the two timelines as more is unveiled. The teenage version of Pawel is played by Hubert Milkowski. The Woods is his first major television role, after small parts in Polish language film Squadron 303 and Stulecie Winnych . The Woods Netflix Trailer Young Laura Goldsztajn - Wiktoria Filus Likewise, The Woods also shows a young Laura, who is introduced into the narrative as she attends a summer camp. She is played by Wiktoria Filus. The Woods is her first major role, having had bit parts in 2020 film The Hater, and Polish television series Rodzinka.pl. Artur Perkowski - Adam Wietrzynski Artur also appears in the flashbacks to 1994, as one of Pawels close friends. The role is played by Adam Wietrzynski, with The Woods being his first major role after smaller parts as a child actor in Polish language films and TV series. Smaller roles are filled by Jacek Koman, Piotr Glowacki, Wiktor Debski, Pawel Gabor, Przemyslaw Bluszcz, Marcin Lipski and Elzbieta Nagel. The Woods is available to stream on Netflix now Even ten years after the scandal of substandard breast implants made in France, the German patients received neither damages nor damages for Pain and suffering. The European court of justice (ECJ) ruled on Thursday that the EU will bear no legitimate claim to the insurer by the French manufacturer. The applicant had received in 2006, the breast implants from Poly Implant Prothese, SA, short, PIP, is used. In 2010, it was announced that PIP for these deposits had been used by cheap and potentially harmful industrial silicone. The 400,000 women will be affected, 5000 in Germany. Because the implants cracks often and the cheap silicone inflammation caused, advised the Federal Institute for drugs and medical devices, 2012 to the distance. The wife followed. years later, she fights more with the liability insurance of the long-previous bankrupt manufacturer to damages for Pain and suffering, currently before the higher regional court of Frankfurt. The insurer relies on a clause in his contract with PIP, according to which the coverage applies only to damages in France. The higher regional court had doubts as to whether this is acceptable under European Union law. In the European Union must not be based on nationality discriminated against. In 2018, the Frankfurt judges asked their EU colleagues in Luxembourg to the Council. Updated Date: 12 June 2020, 19:20 What just happened? Twitter has removed 32,242 accounts that were discovered to be state-linked operations. The overwhelming majority of these came from China, though accounts from both Russia and Turkey were also banned. The company writes that 23,750 accounts that were part of a highly engaged core network based in China have been removed. Most of these tweets were in Chinese languages, spreading Communist Party of China (CCP) propaganda and deceptive narratives about the political dynamics in Hong Kong. In addition to those accounts, there were another 150,000 amplifier accounts used to spread the content to more users. Twitter said it didnt remove these as they had little to no followers. Twitter believes the deleted accounts were connected to 936 accounts banned in August 2019 for attempting to sow political discord in Hong Kong. They also used amplifier accountsaround 200,000 of them. Russia, no stranger to these sort of tactics, was linked to 1,152 banned accounts that were associated with Current Policy, a state-backed media outlet that likes to promote the United Russia party and attack political dissidents, writes Twitter. These also targeted local Russian-speaking users. Finally, 7,340 accounts aimed at domestic users in Turkey were removed. These were used to spread messages of support for the AK Partiits believed they were operated by the youth wing of the political partywhile also voicing opinions favorable to President Erdogan. "These compromised accounts [from Turkey] have been repeated targets of account hacking and takeover efforts by the state actors identified above," Twitter said. "The broader network was also used for commercial activities, such as cryptocurrency-related spam." Twitter said it will continue to work at removing bad faith actors from its platform, while advancing public understanding of these topics. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 18:02:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JAKARTA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Business people from Indonesia's province of Riau Islands have for the first time exported fishery products directly to China. "This is certainly very encouraging as in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fishery businesses especially in Bintan district are still running well as the quality of the products is guaranteed," the Head of the province's Tanjungpinang Center for Quarantine, Quality Control and Safety of Fishery Products, Felix Lumban Tobing, said in a press release as quoted by Antara news agency on Friday. The exported commodities include frozen grouper whole round, frozen sea bream whole round, frozen red snapper whole round, frozen leather jacket HG with a total volume of 9,421.86 kg worth Rp750 million or about 52,733 U.S dollars. The success of Riau Islands' fishery products penetrating the Chinese market should be appreciated as Bintan district has so far only exported fishery products to Singapore and Malaysia, Tobing said, adding that the direct export to China offers higher selling prices and gives more job opportunities. The Tanjungpinang Center for Quarantine, Quality Control and Safety of Fishery Products implements the Integrated Quality Management Program, which is a key to improve the grade of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) in order to meet the requirements from partner countries, he said. Tobing expressed hope that Riau Islands could export more fishery products to partner countries as it has more fish processing units across the province. Enditem Spark Networks SE (NYSE American: LOV), one of the world's leading online dating platforms leveraging premium, complementary brands including Zoosk, EliteSingles, Jdate, Christian Mingle, eDarling, JSwipe and SilverSingles, today announced that members of its management team will participate in the upcoming Canaccord Genuity 40th Annual Growth Conference. The event is virtual and will take place between August 11-13, 2020. For more information, please visit https://www.canaccordgenuity.com/capital-markets/about-us/events/ Additionally, Spark Networks has filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The Annual Report on Form 20-F, which contains the Company's audited consolidated financial statements, can be accessed on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov as well as through Spark's website at https://www.spark.net/. Upon request, the Company will provide a hard copy of its Annual Report, which contains its audited financial statements, free of charge to its shareholders, ADS holders, and prospective investors. Written requests should be directed to: Spark Networks SE Attn: Annual Reports Kohlfurter Strae 41/43 Berlin 10999 Germany Alternatively, email requests may be directed to investor@spark.net Safe Harbor Statement: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, statements involving known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause Spark Networks' performance or achievements to be materially different from those of any expected future results, performance, or achievements. Any statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be considered to be forward-looking statements. Written words, such as "believes," "hopes," "intends," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "plans," "anticipates," and variations thereof, or the use of future tense, identify forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements and forecasts involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the near future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially, including, but not limited to, those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Spark Networks' Annual Report on Form 20-F and in other sections of Spark Networks' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and in Spark Networks' other current and periodic reports filed or furnished from time to time with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law. About Spark Networks SE: Spark Networks SE is America's second largest dating company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange American under the ticker symbol "LOV," with headquarters in Berlin, Germany, and offices in New York, Utah and California. The Company's widening portfolio of premium and freemium dating apps include Zoosk, EliteSingles, Jdate, Christian Mingle, eDarling, JSwipe and SilverSingles, among others. Spark Networks SE in its current form is the result of the merger between Affinitas GmbH and Spark Networks, Inc. in 2017 and the addition of Zoosk, Inc. in 2019. Spark Networks has approximately one million monthly paying subscribers globally. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005239/en/ Contacts: Investors: Christopher Camarra Vice President of Investor Relations christopher.camarra@spark.net President Donald Trump on Thursday authorised U.S. economic and travel sanctions against International Criminal Court employees involved in an investigation into whether American forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan. In announcing the presidents executive order, Trump administration officials said the Hague-based tribunal threatens to infringe on U.S. national sovereignty and accused Russia of manipulating it to serve Moscows ends. We cannot, we will not stand by as our people are threatened by a kangaroo court, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in announcing the move. I have a message to many close allies in the world. Your people could be next, especially those from NATO countries who fight terrorism in Afghanistan right alongside us, he said. In a statement, the ICC said Washingtons move was the latest in a series of unprecedented attacks on the court. These attacks constitute an escalation and an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law and the Courts judicial proceedings, the ICC said. Foreign Minister Stef Blok of the Netherlands, a member of the Western security alliance, wrote on Twitter he was very disturbed by the U.S. stance, saying his nation supported the ICC, which he described as crucial in the fight against impunity. The sanctions that can be imposed under the order include freezing the U.S. assets of those who help the ICC investigate or prosecute American citizens without U.S. consent, as well as barring them and their families from visiting the United States. Neither Pompeo nor any of the top officials who were present at the announcement - Defense Secretary Mark Esper, national security adviser Robert OBrien and Attorney General William Barr - took questions from reporters. ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda wants to investigate possible crimes committed between 2003 and 2014, including alleged mass killings of civilians by the Taliban, as well as the alleged torture of prisoners by Afghan authorities and, to a lesser extent, by U.S. forces and the CIA. The ICC investigation was given the go-ahead in March. The ICC decided to investigate after a preliminary examination by prosecutors in 2017 found reasonable grounds to believe war crimes were committed in Afghanistan and that the court has jurisdiction. Rights activists assailed Trumps move. Andrea Prasow, the Washington director for Human Rights Watch, said the action demonstrates contempt for the global rule of law and represents a blatant attempt at obstruction. LOW POINT The ICC was established in 2002 by the international community to prosecute war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. It has jurisdiction only if a member state is unable or unwilling to prosecute atrocities itself. The United States has never been a member of the court. The U.S. action is the latest under Trump taking aim at an international body. Trump, who has promoted an America First policy, late last month said he would end the U.S. relationship with the World Health Organization. Afghanistan is a member of the ICC, though Kabul has argued that any war crimes should be prosecuted locally. Speaking at the U.S. announcement, Barr said the Justice Department has received substantial credible information that raises serious concerns about a long history of financial corruption and malfeasance in the ICC prosecutors office. He provided no details. He also said the court was being manipulated by Russia, but did not elaborate on how. John Bellinger, the State Departments former top lawyer under Republican former President George W. Bush, said the two sides could have avoided the conflict but chose not to. Its unfortunate that the long-running U.S. dispute with the ICC has reached this new low point. ... Its not surprising that the Trump administration has reacted forcefully with threatened sanctions, especially in an election year, he said. The Trump administration imposed travel restrictions and other sanctions against ICC employees a year ago. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Denver school board could vote next week on a resolution that would remove police officers from the citys public schools by the end of 2020. Coffee business giant Starbucks is on the receiving end of a massive backlash and boycott Starbucks threats after prohibiting its employees from wearing clothing and accessories that support the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement in the United States. Since the brutal death of African American George Floyd went viral on social media, protesters have flocked the streets to voice out their frustrations and to fight against racism. Many companies also expressed their support to the movement and vowed to take extra measures in their own businesses to combat racial injustice. One of the global companies that publicly proclaim their support for the Black Lives Matter movement is the multi-national chain of coffeehouse, Starbucks. On June 4, Starbucks took to their official Twitter account to take a stand to fight racism. "Black lives matter. We are committed to being a part of change," Starbucks wrote alongside text images detailing how they are participating in the solution. "We will confront racism to create a more inclusive and just world. We stand in solidarity with our Black partners, customers, and communities. We will not be bystanders." You can find educational resources at pic.twitter.com/ZxifsW7oeO Black lives matter. We are committed to being a part of change.You can find educational resources at https://t.co/xSXwaw2vQA Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) June 4, 2020 Later that day, Starbucks added that they are hosting an open forum to talk about racial injustice and give support to one another. However, it looks like Starbucks' pledge to be "a part of change" does not extend to employees expressing their own support by wearing shirts, pins, and other merchandise that screams "Black Lives Matter." It is after everybody's favorite coffee shop released an internal memo prohibiting baristas from wearing anything that includes "Black Lives Matter." They insist that it is against the company's dress code policy, as per a BuzzFeed News report. The management said that wearing clothing and accessories with BLM message could be misunderstood and might incite violence. Employee's Reaction Ironically, an employee revealed that this is not the same case in every social movement, as they were required to wear buttons and attires supporting LGBTQ rights as part of the Pride month celebration. Speaking to BuzzFeed News, a 22-year-old Starbucks barista from Atlanta Calvin Bensen expressed disappointment on the company's response to BLM supporters. "My skin color incites violence at Starbucks. Should I not come to work? It is silencing, and Starbucks is complicit. Now more than ever, Starbucks needs to stand with us," Bensen said. Besides Bensen, many employees also expressed their anger at Starbucks, saying that the company is only concerned about preserving its image so customers will not disrupt sales. A Washington branch manager also said that he feels "muted" by the company's move to prohibit them from visibly showing support at work. Boycott Starbucks The news caused internet users to flock on Twitter and start a trend calling the public to boycott Starbucks "If Starbucks isn't allowing things that say #BlackLivesMatter or anything along those lines, then they need to change their logo. #BoycottStarbucks," one Twitter user wrote. "Soooo, why are you not allowing employees to rep Black Lives Matter!! Another capitalist trying not to lose our coins," another one added. Read other reactions below: @Starbucks should never see a black dollar again!#BoycottStarbucks El Jefe (@MrSpringfieldMA) June 12, 2020 Just found out @Starbucks is catering to the comfort of their racist customers by asking their staff not to wear anything in support of @Blklivesmatter so I wont be visiting them and Ill be telling EVERYONE I KNOW to boycott them as well. #boycottstarbucks Katie Mowgli (@KatieMowgli) June 11, 2020 Guess I wont be buying anything from @Starbucks since they dont support us. But will force their employees to wear LGBTQ pins. How you support equality for only some groups and not all? #BoycottStarbucks KING BISHOP (@IAmBishop617) June 11, 2020 April 2018 NEVER FORGET Two black men were arrested at a Starbucks in Philly for doing nothing but waiting for a friend. & now Starbucks is banning employees from wearing anything in support of black lives? THIS IS INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM #BoycottStarbucks pic.twitter.com/Ja1I3IdtCg StanceGrounded (@_SJPeace_) June 11, 2020 Zdzislaw Zaremba could have been a doctor, but realized while still in school at New Yorks Columbia University that he couldnt, in good conscience, send bills to patients for healing them. Born in Poland just before World War II broke out, Kaz, as he was known, and his family endured horrific treatment at the hands of the Soviets, who sent the Zarembas and 2,000 of their countrymen to Siberian work camps. Kaz was just 6 when horse-drawn sleds took him and all those others into the cold wastelands. He didnt often speak about the experience throughout his remaining 80 years not because of the trauma but for fear that telling about his survival would sound like bragging. As if drawing breath might be disrespectful to the endless many who died. Such was the man who called Mobile home after moving here in 1971 to work as a chemical engineer at Honeywell UOP, previously known as Union Carbide. Zaremba died of heart failure at his west Mobile home on April 9, and while his humility was well known throughout the community, it was his generosity that would resonate far and wide. For 50 years, Zaremba was married to the love of his life, Jean. A renowned Mobile printmaker and watercolor artist, she passed away in 2006 at age 74. The Zarembas had a son, Mark, who lives in Huntsville, and were longtime parishioners of St. Dominic Catholic Church. It was there that they met Edward and Jean Sawicki. The Zarembas and Sawickis became steadfast friends and travel companions the husbands were both proud Poles and loved exploring their ancestral homeland, which led to their volunteerism within the Mobile International Festival. Estela Dorn, the festivals longtime champion and former director, easily recalls the first time that she witnessed Kaz Zarembas altruistic spirit in action. An extremely ill Russian seaman had been admitted to University Hospital and was in need of someone who spoke his language. Zaremba and another man answered the call. Kaz was fluent in both Polish and Russian; he didnt begin to learn English until he was alone in England at age 13. Dorn said that Kaz stayed and kept the patient company as he convalesced. He was so unselfish with his talents, and I cant say that about many people, she said. Journey to a new land Through Kazs many visits to the Mobile International Festival offices, Dorn learned of his passion for education. Having endured Siberia in the 1940s, Kazs family was determined to make its way to America. But his mother, who was born in the U.S., had to leave Kaz behind in England while she went on ahead to New York, to wait tables until she could send for him and pay for his ticket. Hence the crash course in English during his long and lonely wait to reunite with her. Once in the States, Zaremba was enrolled in a Buffalo, New York, school and took to working on a nearby farm. One of his workmates recognized his intellectual gifts and told him to go to college, giving up any idea of plowing and tending herds for a living. Zaremba took that advice to heart, and went on to graduate from Columbia University with dual degrees in pre-med and chemical engineering. And while he didnt pursue the healing arts, over his lifetime Zarembas dedication to the key tenets of positive human growth knowledge and compassion moved him to send several young men and women to college, two of them being his own nieces in Poland. According to Jean Sawicki, Zaremba also helped several families at St. Dominics when he learned about their financial struggles. Whether it was $500, or $5,000, it didnt matter, Sawicki said. Couldnt cook boiled water Known to everyone as Miss Jean, Sawicki lost her husband Edward in 2003, and was very close with the Zarembas as a widow. When Kaz became a widower three years later, the two became closer still, helping each other out at every turn. Sawicki, now 95, started losing her eyesight, and relied on Zaremba for transportation. He, as she put it, couldnt cook boiled water, so she started feeding him on a daily basis. In 2015, Kaz suggested he and Miss Jean move in together so they could fully care for one another. It wasnt romantic, she said, just a dedicated platonic love borne through decades of friendship. As Zaremba settled in at Sawickis small home, he brought a number of things dear to him, including a stellar portrait of his mother, painted by his late wife, and what Miss Jean called a whole room full of stamps. An avid stamp collector, or philatelist, he had specimens from around the world, and gave many to Estella Dorn over the years, as she and her husband also enjoyed the hobby. His passion for stamp collecting impressed Dorn, although she admitted to being far more in awe of his friendship with Miss Jean. I thought it was just so beautiful, she said. Kaz was a very interesting person. Every now and then, Sawicki and Zaremba would travel to the Mississippi coast casinos to dabble with the slots, playing only the low-risk penny machines. She remembers him as an ardent prankster with a very sharp wit, even up to the end of his life. Other than his companionship, what she misses most, Sawicki said, is his mouth. He was always full of the devil, she said. When he got me in something he was tickled pink. "He was my best friend. The Portland City Council failed to agree unanimously Thursday on a new version of the city budget, which called for a more than $15 million cut to planned police spending and eliminating over 80 police positions. Commissioner Chloe Eudaly voted no on adopting the $5.6 billion budget, saying she could not support a plan that fell well short of recent public demands to cut as much as $50 million from the polices proposed $244.6 million budget. Mayor Ted Wheeler then voted no as a technicality to buy the council time to reconsider the budget. It needed unanimous support from the current four-member council to pass Thursday. Commissioners Jo Ann Hardesty and Amanda Fritz voted yes. The earliest the city council can vote again to adopt the budget is next Wednesday. It would need at least three votes to pass then. The next fiscal year begins July 1. Eudaly said the vote reminded her of regrets over voting yes to the city budget in 2018, which called for increased police funding. She said while she agreed with the changes to police spending her fellow commissioners made Thursday, she didnt believe they went far enough and that members of the public deserve better. I cant swallow another bitter budget pill in good conscience, Eudaly said. I vote no. All four members of the council earlier agreed to remove funding for and disband Portland polices gun violence reduction team and its school resource officers unit as well as end the bureaus stake in the multi-agency transit police division. But a few other changes Eudaly suggested, such as cutting another 50 vacant jobs in the Portland police budget to the tune of around $4.6 million, didnt get support from other commissioners to move forward. Also, although Wheeler told the public Tuesday he would propose $12 million in support for communities of color including $7 million from the police bureau budget he didnt recommend the idea Thursday. Before voting on the budget as a whole, the council unanimously approved the following amendments that took money away that was previously planned for the police bureau: Reallocating $150,000 for an additional Tribal Liaison position in the citys Office of Government Relations. Reallocating $123,985 for an additional position in the citys Office of Equity & Human Rights to make sure the city complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which ensures public funds arent spent in ways that encourages or causes discrimination. Redirecting $2.3 million in recreational cannabis tax revenue from the police bureaus traffic division. The majority of the money, $1.8 million, would go back into the tax fund and $453,000 into additional social equity grants through the Office of Community and Civic Life. Cutting around $5.4 million through eliminating the gun violence reduction team and 38 associated positions. The Portland Street Response would receive $4.8 million and the rest would go into the citys general fund. Cutting $1.9 million through eliminating the school resource officer program and 14 associated positions. About half of the money, $1 million, would go into creating a fund dedicated to a leadership program centered on black residents age 25 and under, according to Commissioner Hardesty. The other $900,000 would go into the citys general fund. Cutting $1.1 million by eliminating eight positions in the police bureaus Special Emergency Response Team, the agencys equivalent of the SWAT team. The money would go into the general fund, with $1 million earmarked for the citys houseless population to decide how that amount is used. Eliminating around $4.4 million associated with Portlands involvement in the transit police unit and 24 positions with it. The vote came after public testimony on Wednesday and Thursday from several hundred residents, including representatives of community organizations and city employees, in favor of widespread local police and justice system reforms in the wake of George Floyds killing in Minneapolis. Demonstrations have occurred throughout Portland for 15 straight nights. Along with calls for cutting as much as $50 million from the police budget, some have advocated for disbanding the bureau entirely, although no members of the city council have said they support that idea. Council members have publicly said they supported redirecting funds from the three police units specialized in gun violence, schools and public transit calls due to years-long vocal community concerns over those units impacts on the citys marginalized populations, particularly black residents. A 2018 city audit, for example, found that 59% of traffic stops made by members of the gun violence reduction team, then known as the gang enforcement team, were of African American drivers. The citys black residents make up 6% of the population. During a news conference before the council meeting, Hardesty said she felt she needed to see more analysis to determine what specifically could be adjusted within police operations to pull $50 million. She said she believed city officials, including those in the police bureau, would continue to look for ways to reduce agency spending in the future. I never started with a number in mind, Hardesty said. What I started with was what are the programs I already know have racially disparate outcomes and those were the programs that I was committed to cutting. In a statement after the meeting, Hardesty said that while Eudaly can take a principled no stance on passing this budget, I as a Black woman cannot. Hardesty said her colleagues in 2019 didnt support against her previous budget proposal to disband the gun violence reduction team and other ideas. She noted that an amendment she proposed Thursday that would have eliminated 23 positions from the polices traffic division didnt move forward. We keep hearing the need to be bold, yet that boldness did not manifest in this moment, nor did it manifest last year, Hardesty said. I do not want to let this detract from the very real steps taken, but it is an important reminder on what performative allyship looks like. Margaux Weeke, a spokesperson for Eudalys office, said the commissioner doesnt regret her vote. Commissioner Eudaly stands by her statements in council today, a statement from Weeke said. She stands with the tens of thousands of Portlanders who have demanded bold action, and she will continue to work with Commissioner Hardesty, Mayor Wheeler, and Commissioner Fritz to advance a budget that reflects what our city is demanding in this moment. Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell, who was promoted Monday from his post as lieutenant and sworn in earlier Thursday, told the council before the budget vote that he believed police and elected officials could work together to find a new path for fair, equitable practices to keep our Portland streets safe. He said he would listen to the community, committed to bringing change to the bureau and that the agency would realign to meet residents needs. The men and women of the police bureau are part of this community and are here to be part of the solution, Lovell said. -- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. The woman who helped expose test result delays in the CervicalCheck programme due to an IT glitch has criticised delays in resuming smear testing and calling for the return of the service to be made a priority. Smear tests for cervical cancer were paused in March amid the Covid-19 pandemic and, along with other screening services, is yet to return. Doctors, patients and campaigners have expressed concern at the delays in getting the service back up and running as women wait to have smears examined by the service. Sharon Butler Hughes, the woman who helped expose test result delays in the CervicalCheck programme due to an IT glitch that affected thousands of women, called for the return of the service to be made a priority. Its such a vital service for all women in Ireland and it was stopped back in March, she said. The country is opening back up with McDonalds, Woodies and more reopening but this vital service hasnt. Of course, it should be done safely and within the Covid-19 guidelines, which I believe it could be, along with Breastcheck and other crucial services, she added. But to not have it open at all for months and for there to be no end in sight is very difficult, particularly after many campaigners went through so much to try to make the service better. The main recommendation in the MacCraith report was to put women first and that is certainly not what is happening here. Ms Butler Hughes called for the HSE and government to ensure the timely return of the service. It really upsets me that, after everything, this is where were left and that it takes campaigners to come back in and highlight the importance of the service once again. This is something that should be driven by the government and the HSE as a matter of urgency, not something that we have to remind them of, she said. Ms Butler Hughes personal story is included in the rapid review report, which was published last August, and from which she has since withdrawn. The incident occurred when Ms Butler Hughes, who was diagnosed with precancerous cells more than a decade ago, went for screening towards the end of 2018. When she did not receive her test result, the Dublin woman made a series of phone calls to CervicalCheck and the Department of Health between March and June last year. Eventually, it was discovered that an IT glitch at the Quest Chantilly lab in the US was the reason for the delay. The discovery led to a rapid review into the matter which found that 4,088 women were impacted by the glitch. Ms Butler Hughes persistence in the matter led to the review and the discovery that thousands of women had been affected. In response to the calls to recommence cancer screening, a spokesperson for the HSE said the health service is treating it as a priority and that restart dates for screening are to be announced by the end of this month. The spokesperson explained there is to be extensive modifications made to screening units and once approved, screening invitations will be issued on a phased basis according to priority. Any recommencement is underpinned by the assumption that there will be no worsening of the Covid-19 situation and restrictions will continue to ease. South Africa: Government working on taxi industry relief fund Government is working on the modalities of distributing the relief fund for the taxi industry, which has been negatively affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. When the regulations for the COVID-19 nationwide lockdown were first introduced, they prescribed a maximum loading capacity of 50%. This was later changed to a loading capacity of 70%, as the industry was operating at a loss. According to Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, all relevant government departments are in agreement with the provision of relief for the taxi industry. These funds are to assist the industry. They cannot place the losses that the operators have incurred as a result of COVID-19, the Minister said on Thursday. He made the remarks after his meetings with the leadership of the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) and the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO). The agenda for both meetings was the lockdown regulations and the mechanisms for State-sponsored financial assistance for the taxi industry. The sector and the Department of Transport cleared the air with regards to taxi fares. Both the NTA and SANTACO advised that although fares increases are not out of the ordinary, as they occur annually in most industries, increases should not be unreasonable, the department said. The Minister noted that many industries, including government, were affected by COVID-19. Transport entities such as the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, the Road Traffic Infringement Agency and the Airports Company South Africa are also struggling to make ends meet. Government resources are limited, the fiscus is already overstretched, he said. Mbalula pledged to place the industrys concerns before National Treasury and the National Coronavirus Command Council. The Minister will also consult with members of the executive council responsible for transport and revert to the NTA and SANTACO next week. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The first picture has emerged of an eight-year-old girl who was beaten to death in Pakistan after allegedly releasing the pet birds of a couple she was working for. Zahra Shah died in hospital in Rawalpindi on June 1 after being brought in by Hassan Siddiqui, who claimed she was a domestic servant. Siddiqui and his partner are now under arrest and will be held in jail for two weeks while police give them a lie-detector test. Zahra Shah, eight (pictured), died in hospital in Pakistan on June 1 after being brought in by Hassan Siddiqui, who medics say confessed to beating her Medics at the hospital where Zahra died say Siddiqui told them that he and his wife had beaten the girl when he first brought her to them. Asked why he had attacked her, he said she had released his 'expensive pet parrots escape from their cage', medics claimed. The girl was bleeding heavily, had torture marks on her face chest, arms and legs, and was hooked up to a ventilator in the intensive care unit. Medics said they called police after Siddiqui disappeared while she was being given treatment. Officers tracked him down via the identity card he had used to check her into the hospital. Employing domestic servants under the age of 15 is illegal in Pakistan, though the practice is widespread. Syed Fazal Hussain Shah, Zahra's grandfather, told the BBC that her parents had sent her to work with Siddiqui because he promised to educate her. 'That was something that we couldn't afford. So we decided to send her,' he said. Siddiqui (pictured) and his wife were arrested a short time later, and are now in jail awaiting a lie-detector test Zahra came from the city of Kot Addu, some 250 miles from where she died. The case has brought the rights of children back into focus in Pakistan, with #JusticeForZahraShah trending on Twitter and celebrities chiming in. Actress Mahira Khan wrote: 'The demons walk freely among us.' Rapper-comedian Ali Gul Pir decried the latest example of alleged child abuse, saying: 'If a child who was killed because she wanted a bird to be free can't get justice. Then nothing that you have achieved matters.' It comes after the parliament in Islamabad passed new legislation this year to specifically address sexual crimes against children. The Zainab Alert Bill passed in January and is named after six-year-old Zainab Ansari who was raped and murdered in Kasur in 2018. Zainab's case brought nationwide protests after she was found dumped in the trash. Her death was the 12th such brutal incident in the city of Kasur in as many months. (CNN) The Maldives is reopening to all visitors next month with no restrictions. A spokesperson for the tourism board has confirmed the Indian Ocean destination will welcome back tourists of all nationalities in July. While a previous draft proposal indicated travelers would need to present a medical certificate confirming proof of a negative Covid-19 test, the island nation is instead opting to allow tourists in without prior testing or a mandatory quarantine period. There are also no new visa requirements or additional fees. At present, anyone with a super yacht or private jet can head there, but normal travelers will have to wait a few more weeks. Last month, the Maldives, which closed its borders in March, announced a phased reopening that indicated incoming flights to its main international airport would recommence in July. "We are planning to reopen our borders for visitors in July, 2020," read an official statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism on May 30. The statement went on to stress that guests would not be charged any additional fees, referencing reports of extra tourist visa charges and landing fees. Ready to reopen The Maldives has recorded nearly 2,000 confirmed cases and five deaths from Covid-19 so far. While the country has been shut to international tourists since recording its first cases, around 30 resorts have stayed open, with guests choosing to self-isolate here rather than return home. Officials previously suggested the popular honeymoon destination would reopen towards the end of the year, but this has been brought forward. To ensure safety, the government says it is issuing a "Safe Tourism License" to accredit tourist facilities that abide by government legislation and specific safety requirements like having a certified medic on call and holding an "adequate stock" of personal protection equipment. The original proposal suggested incoming travelers would need to have a confirmed booking with a tourist facility with a license, but it seems this is no longer the case. In a statement issued last month, Ali Waheed, the country's minister for tourism, described the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as "more devastating than the 2004 tsunami and the 2008 global financial crisis." "For the first time in 47 years of tourism in the Maldives, we have experienced zero tourist arrival since this March," before adding, "we cannot keep our borders closed for long." The Maldives welcomed more than 1.7 million visitors in 2019 and officials had been expecting numbers to rise to two million this year. It will go down as wildest of the shale wildcatters, the overreaching pioneer of fracking techniques that minted vast fortunes and, now, have left behind ruin. At long last, financial reality has caught up with Chesapeake Energy Corp., avatar of the boom and subsequent bust of North American shale. Chesapeakes spiral toward oblivion accelerated this week with executives said to be preparing for a potential bankruptcy filing, signaling the imminent end of Chief Executive Officer Doug Lawlers 7-year campaign to turn around the troubled gas explorer. For a company thats been skirting disaster for most of the past decade, the Covid-19-driven collapse in world energy prices merely added one more exclamation point to a tale of risk, hubris and debt. Chesapeake may be shales biggest corporate casualty, but it is hardly the first -- and wont be the last. Its self-inflicted wounds have sapped confidence across the entire industry, leaving many smaller operators teetering on the edge of catastrophe. As the remnants of shales turn-of-the-century heyday turn to dust, its unclear who -- if anyone -- will step into the void. Supermajors like Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. already have written off their own gas-heavy assets, and are instead focusing on oil-rich shale fields. But any shift in the global supply-and-demand balance for gas would prompt the most sophisticated giants to reassess the value of acquiring and drilling mothballed gas projects. PREVIOUSLY: Chesapeake plans bankruptcy with exits closing on shale pioneer Extreme Pressure Almost three dozen North American explorers, frackers and pipeline operators have fled to bankruptcy courts since the start of this year, buckling under $25.2 billion in cumulative debts, according to law firm Haynes and Boone LLP. Chesapeakes indebtedness would swell that encumbrance by almost 40%. And even with crude prices recovering from the unprecedented April collapse into negative territory, energy-sector bankruptcies are expected to grow in coming months because many shale companies are in too far over their heads. Extreme financial pressure is being felt at all levels of the energy industry, Haynes and Boone said in a report. The template for the shale model thats now unraveling for many companies was established by Chesapeake and its late co-founder Aubrey McClendon. Experimental Drilling Chesapeake was the brainchild of McClendon and his pal Tom Ward, who started out with $50,000 in borrowed money in rented offices. The company went public in 1993 and soon was experimenting with sideways drilling and hydraulic fracturing to pummel open shale formations previously regarded as impermeable -- and therefore, worthless -- by geologists. At the time, the outlook for domestic gas production was so grim that Alan Greenspan predicted the U.S. would need huge imports of liquefied gas to keep industries and furnaces running. Tens of billions of dollars were invested in massive new gas import terminals that were rendered obsolete before they even opened as Chesapeake and other shale drillers flooded the continent with gas. THE HEDGE: Chesapeakes billion-dollar hedge and the bankruptcy question By the time Ward struck out on his own to form SandRidge Energy Inc. in 2006, Chesapeake was spending on average $1 billion a year to snap up drilling rights from Texas to Pennsylvania. At the start of 2007, Forbes magazine named Chesapeake the best managed oil and gas company. Grand Ambition Under McClendon, Chesapeake raised production more than 10-fold between 2000 and 2013, invested heavily in experimental natural gas-fueled transport, and even toyed with expanding overseas before its geologists concluded that many European shale formations were unsuitable for drilling. At its peak, Chesapeake pumped more American gas than anyone aside from Exxon and boasted a market valuation of almost $38 billion. The other side of that coin was that the company only generated positive cash flow in two out of the past 30 years. When gas output from newly tapped shale fields flooded markets and prices tumbled, Chesapeake had to scramble to find new investors or joint-venture partners to provide cash infusions. By 2012, the companys net debt load was twice the size of Exxons, a company that had a market value 27 times larger. Chesapeake warned it was on the verge of running out of cash. While all of that was still brewing, little-known oil wildcatters like Harold Hamm were quietly adapting the technology McClendon and the other shale-gas innovators employed for use on crude-drenched rocks in North Dakota. Those breakthroughs reversed the terminal decline in U.S. crude production, turned America into an energy powerhouse and shattered OPECs decades-long grip on the worlds most important commodity. Double Magnums When times were good, Chesapeake spared no expense recruiting young talent to Oklahoma City and a corporate headquarters modeled after an Ivy League university campus. In between stockpiling double magnums of Bordeaux and collecting antique speedboats, McClendon singlehandedly transformed the northwest side of the city from a rundown backwater to a bustling commercial corridor. FUEL FIX: Now more than ever, you need our energy news in your inbox But the good times never last forever. McClendon was ousted during an Icahn-led board revolt in 2013, and three years later he was indicted on federal bid-rigging charges. Just hours after vowing to fight the charges at all costs and clear his name, he died when his Chevy Tahoe slammed into a concrete highway abutment at 78 miles an hour along a desolate country road. They were absolutely guns blazing with their growth, but it took a lot of money to do that, said Robert Clarke, research director at Wood Mackenzie Ltd. Right now were looking at the ugly side of all that excess. Gordon Pennoyer, a Chesapeake spokesman, declined to comment for this story. Escape Routes Although Lawler inherited many of the burdens that sank the company, the fateful 2019 takeover of WildHorse Resource Development Corp. that included the assumption of more than $900 million in debt was his own undertaking. The move -- intended to pivot Chesapeake toward oil and away from gas -- occurred just in time to expand the companys exposure to the crude-market collapse. In the end, Chesapeake ran out of escape routes from its $9.5 billion debt load. Gas prices were too low for too many years, and lenders and private-equity investors had long since shut the door on shale. That left asset sales as the sole avenue for raising cash, but in a market already drowning in a surfeit of gas, Lawler couldnt find buyers. McClendons legacy has haunted Chesapeake long after his 2013 ouster and his 2016 death. Lawler, the former Anadarko Petroleum Corp. exploration boss recruited by Carl Icahn and O. Mason Hawkins, has spent his entire tenure trying to right the ship. Things were so dire in 2016 that the CEO was forced to pledge almost everything the company owned to keep open a credit lifeline. Lawler, who declined to be interviewed for this story, also sought to demonstrate he was he anti-McClendon. His predecessors long, drawn-out conference calls with analysts were replaced with curt recitations of bullet points. Austerity reigned at the companys once-lavsh headquarters, and Lawler eschewed McClendons fondness for opulent displays. If you see me out at a dinner, here in Oklahoma City and on company expense, Lawler said at an event in 2014, and you see me drinking a $500 bottle of wine, I would ask you to hit me over the head with it. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. People on ventilator support in Delhi saw only 2-fold rise from Jan 1-14: Data 3-kg bomb at Delhi flower market: Police yet to zero in on any suspect Republic Day: Delhi-NCR under high-security cover after intel inputs of possible terror attack Lockdown will not be extended, says Delhi health minister amid rising cases India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, June 12: The coronavirus lockdown will not be extended in Delhi, the government said on Friday, rubbishing speculation after a spike in coronavirus cases. "No, the lockdown will not be extended," Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain told news agency ANI on the possibility of the capital returning to a state of total lockdown to check the spiralling COVID-19 cases. The statement comes after a section of the media reported that Delhi would go back into lockdown from June 15 till July 31. "Relock Delhi" was among the top trends on Twitter last evening. Corona warriors: SC orders wages to be paid full & on time to medical staff | Oneindia News Lockdown will not be imposed in Maharashtra again: Uddhav Thackeray Delhi has over 34,000 virus cases and 1,085 deaths. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said his government had estimated that by July 31, the capital would have 5.5 lakh coronavirus cases. This March 16, 2020 file photo shows vials used by pharmacists to prepare syringes used on the first day of a first-stage safety study clinical trial of the potential vaccine for the Chinese Communist Party virus, at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo) New Investigational Vaccine Protects Mice From CCP Virus in Clinical Trial The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has come up with an investigational vaccine for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus and it protects mice from the infection. New data shows mRNA-1273, an investigational vaccine developed by #NIAID and @moderna_tx, protects mice from infection with #SARSCoV2, NIAID said in a message on Twitter on June 12. The vaccine is currently in phase 2 clinical trial and the findings are not yet peer-reviewed and are available on bioRxiv, a preprint research server. Here, we show that mRNA-1273 induces both potent neutralizing antibody and CD8 T cell responses and protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lungs and noses of mice without evidence of immunopathology, said the researchers on bioRxiv. CD8 T cells are mediators of adaptive immunity, according to Nature. NEWS: New data shows mRNA-1273, an investigational vaccine developed by #NIAID and @moderna_tx, protects mice from infection with #SARSCoV2. The findings are available on the preprint server bioRxiv and are not yet peer-reviewed. https://t.co/BATSl9HiIN pic.twitter.com/3kKOeS6daY NIAID News (@NIAIDNews) June 12, 2020 Drugmaker Moderna earlier obtained clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to run a larger trial of its CCP virus vaccine candidate in early May. The state of the phase two trial is imminent, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said in a statement then. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is helping speed up the development of the candidate. BARDA in April awarded Moderna up to $483 million to support later clinical trials and scaling up manufacturing. Moderna has in the past received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Moderna, based in Massachusetts, said it was hiring up to 150 new employees this year to support the project. It also partnered with Lonza, a Swiss drugmaker, to boost production of the experimental vaccine, with a goal of making up to 1 billion doses. Manufacturing could start as early as July and approval could come as early as next year. Zack Stieber contributed to this report. The commercial segment will likely lose a significant portion of its tenant base, with small businesses being forced to go online to survive COVID-19s economic impact, according to a new analysis by RBC Economics. This may seem ambitious, given the immediate challenges of survival that confront many business owners and operators, RBC said in the study. But to be unprepared for a very different kind of recovery could be just as costly as the unprecedented collapse. Dawn Desjardins, deputy chief economist at RBC, said that businesses and by extension, the commercial sector will have to quickly adapt to the reality of exclusively remote operations, as there is no way to tell how long the pandemic-induced turmoil will last. The Corbett tiger reserve in Uttarakhand is set to reopen after a closure of nearly three months because of Covid-19-related restrictions and authorities intend to allow tourists into three zones while observing all health protocols. The move follows the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) allowing tiger reserves across the country to open with all precautions. Uttarakhands chief wildlife warden Rajiv Bhartari issued an order dated June 10 that said, Tourism activities can be allowed in Corbett Tiger Reserve given the instructions given by NTCA regarding the opening of tiger reserves and the orders and standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the district administration to control the spread of Covid-19 are followed. The order said the parks administration should hold a meeting with officials from Pauri Garhwal and Nainital districts, over which the reserve is spread out. NTCAs guidelines state there should be mandatory thermal scanning of all tourists and drivers, and that all visitors, guides and drivers should wear masks and face shields. There should be hand sanitisers in every vehicle, and their tyres should be cleaned with disinfectant, while seating capacity should be reduced to 50%. People below 10 years and above 65 years wont be allowed in the reserves, according to the guidelines. With preparations underway to reopen Corbett tiger reserve, officials said only three zones of the park will be open to visitors. RK Tiwari, the warden of Corbett tiger reserve, said: We are holding meetings with district administrations to get all the permissions and to chalk out a proper plan before tourists are allowed in. This year we will only be opening Jhirna, Dhela and Pakhro zones, which are open to tourists around the year. As Dhikala and Bijrani zones are closed to tourists by June 15 every year, those zones will not be opened. Tiwari said officials are also holding meetings with the district administrations to discuss SOPs issued by the tourism department, which state any tourist who visits Uttarakhand will have to stay for a minimum of seven days and cannot venture out to tourist spots. First, we have to ensure that we dont take bookings from those districts from which if people come, they have to undergo mandatory 21-day quarantine. Then if tourists go for a safari, they should maintain social distancing, and only two people will be allowed in a vehicle but the cost will be the same. So we have to find a way out for these details, he said. Speaking on the gates of Corbett being opened after a gap of almost three months, Bhartari said, We havent issued any specific directions to the director of the reserve. They have first been asked to comply with all NTCA guidelines, then follow SOPs of the state and central governments and third, organise a meeting of the local advisory committee under the chairmanship of commissioner of Kumaon region for the safety of tourists. Bhartari said it wouldnt be possible to allow tourism activities in Rajaji tiger reserve as only three days are left before it is closed for the monsoon, but Corbett has three zones that remain open through the monsoon too. On March 17, Uttarakhands forest department ordered the closure of all protected sites and zoos amid the Covid-19 outbreak. The chief wildlife warden then issued an order that all protected sites such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves and zoos would be closed to prevent the spread of infections. The Corbett tiger reserve, spread over 1,288 sq m, is believed to have around 260 tigers and is one of the most loved tourist destinations of the state. The gates of Corbett open for six months on November 15 every year. The reserve attracts around 300,000 tourists every year across its six eco-tourism zones, with Dhikala and Bijrani being the most popular. NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday reviewed the situation in Ladakh with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and the three services chiefs amid the deescalated border stand-off with China. According to sources, the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, CDS Rawat and the three service chiefs met to assess the ground situation on the Line of Actual Control and what needs to be done. This was the second review meeting held by the Defence Minister within a week`s span. The first one was on June 8, two days after a Lt General-level meeting between the Indian Army and Chinese People`s Liberation Army. The second one took place on Friday, two days after a Major General-level meeting between India and Chinese military. "Latest assessments on the Line of Actual Control ground situation was done after military talks," a Defence Ministry source was quoted as saying by PTI. During the meeting, CDS General Rawat briefed Singh Minister about the troop deployments at the stand-off sites in eastern Ladakh. Rajnath Singh also took a review of ground situation across the entire LAC, including Arunachal Pradesh. He also discussed about ongoing infrastructure work at the LAC. The review meeting was called on the heels of repeated dialogue between India and China during which the two sides agreed to resolve the border row with continuing diplomatic and military engagements. The two sides recently agreed to continue diplomatic and military engagements for an early resolution of the stand-off between border troops, according to Ministry of External Affairs. On Thursday, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, "It was agreed that an early resolution of the situation would be in keeping with the guidance of the leaders." "The two sides are, therefore, maintaining their military and diplomatic engagements to peacefully resolve the situation at the earliest as also to ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas. This is essential for the further development of Indian-China bilateral relations," he added. Both sides have had discussions at military and diplomatic levels on the face-off. At the level of militaries, the Corps Commanders of India and China met at Chushul-Moldo region on June 6 and again on June 10, talks happened at the Major General level. The "meeting reportedly ended on a positive trajectory and more similar meetings between both the country forces` delegates will take place". On Wednesday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that both sides are taking steps to ease the situation along the borders. "Recently the diplomatic and military channels of China and India held effective communication on the situation along the border and reached positive consensus. The two sides are following this consensus to take actions to ease the situation along the borders," the spokesperson said. Last months violent confrontations between Indian and Chinese soldiers in eastern Ladakh and north Sikkim triggered a military build-up on both sides of the LAC that stretched from Ladakh to Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, China increased the deployment of troops and artillery and Indian Army too deployed and moved artillery in equal numbers. However, both countries have now decided to de-induct and de-escalate troops and guns and move backwards. A Rutgers-led study in Colombia can help health care providers across the globe develop plans to improve surgical care access in their regions. The study, published in The Lancet Global Health, is the first to use primary (actual) population data to assess a country's surgical needs and identify gaps in care. The study was conducted by Gregory Peck and Joseph Hanna, assistant professors of surgery at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, in conjunction with researchers at Universidad de los Andes in Bogota and the Colombia Ministry of Health. According to the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery, 5 billion people worldwide lack access to safe and affordable surgical and anesthesia care. Using the Commission's six core surgical indicators - access to a hospital equipped for emergency and essential surgery within two hours; density of specialist surgical providers; number of surgical procedures provided per 100,000 people; mortality rates of surgical care; and the risk that both indirect and direct costs of surgery will drive people into poverty - the researchers assessed nationwide data on Colombia. They found that out-of-pocket health care expenses led 6.4 percent of the population in Colombia to become impoverished and 19.4 percent to incur catastrophic expenditures in 2007. In addition, 17 percent of the population did not have access to surgical, anesthetic and obstetric services within a two-hour drive. Surgical, anesthetic and obstetric provider density in Colombia also fell short of the Commission's minimum target of 20 providers per 100,000. However, despite the high volume of surgical cases per specialists, the study found a relatively low proportion of post-surgical deaths. "The relatively high total operative volume that Colombian surgical, anesthetic and obstetric providers and nurses are able to achieve with limited resources is a testament to their hard work and remarkable dedication," said Hanna. "This type of population study is key to understanding the health of a population and informing policy that can improve the health of communities," said Peck, who has spent nearly a decade working with Colombian hospitals to create strategic plans for improving trauma and surgical care at the whole population level. "The Colombian Ministry of Health can look at our findings to develop a comprehensive, nationwide health care plan." Strategies include improving access to public transportation and addressing the disproportionate location of surgical specialists to population need in certain regions." "This model of population analysis can be used in the United States to identify needed health care policy improvements," said Peck, who is investigating how to apply similar population research and surgical plans in New Jersey. The showcase will be online as opposed to in person this year, starting at 6 p.m. on the Omaha Performing Arts Facebook page. Students will have a chance to perform in the digital showcase ensemble, apply to be a state finalist and be recognized for their work behind the scenes and in leadership, according to the press release. Ukraine must ensure independence of anti-corruption institutions IMF memo 16:30, 12.06.20 380 The IMF says Ukraine should also ensure stable and full financing of such agencies, as well as expand NABU's investigative capabilities. India insisted on 'complete disengagement' in all its talks with China on eastern Ladakh row: Govt India-China standoff: Both sides continue engagement to sort out issues India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 12: Peace on border with China is essential for ties to grow, India as said as the stand-off continues. While talks continue between both sides, China is yet to withdraw its soldiers, who had transgressed the disputed boundary on the bank of the Pangong Tso lake. New Delhi has said that peace is essential for further developments of the Indo-China bilateral relations. Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, Anurag Srivastava said that the June 6 meeting between the senior military officers of both sides agreed to an early resolution of the dispute. He also referred to the guidance that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed to issue to the militaries of both sides, when the first informal summit was held in Wuhan, China. India ups military readiness to keep a check on muscle flexing by China India and China are continuing military and diplomatic engagements to peacefully resolve the situation at the earliest. Both sides want to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas. This is essential for further development of the India-China bilateral relations, the MEA spokesperson also said. Covid-19: India registers over 10,000 fresh cases in 24 hours and 396 deaths | Oneindia News However, in a positive development the situation along the Line of Control has calmed down considerably, with both India and China engaging in dialogue. The cool down began following the Lt. General level talks that were held on Saturday. Following this, the Brigadier and Major General level talks were held, which in turn helped calm tempers further. There has been very little or no activity along the LAC. Sources tell OneIndia that following the disengagement of troops, there has been very less activity by the PLA Air Force. There has also been very little patrolling by the Chinese vehicles at Galwan Nullah. The troops too have reduced at the Pangong Tso sector, which is a welcome sign. The source cited above also said that the process is an ongoing one. The talks will continue, before a complete resolution is found. What we are witnessing are encouraging signs and for the entire issue to be sorted out, talks will have to continue for some more time, the officer also noted. Meanwhile, China on Wednesday said that troops of both sides have started implementing the "positive consensus" reached by the senior military officials of the two countries on June 6 aimed at "easing" the situation along the borders. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson's remarks came after officials in New Delhi suggested that armies of India and China have undertaken a "limited disengagement" in few areas in eastern Ladakh in a demonstration of their intent to end the border standoff peacefully ahead of another round of military talks on Wednesday. India, China maintaining engagements to resolve eastern Ladakh row at earliest: MEA Asked about the reports of the troops on both sides disengaging and moving back to their previous positions, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that both sides are taking steps to ease the situation along the borders. "Recently the diplomatic and military channels of China and India held effective communication on the situation along the border and reached positive consensus," she said. "The two sides are following this consensus to take actions to ease the situation along the borders," the spokesperson said. Military sources in New Delhi said the two armies have begun "disengagement" around patrolling points 14 and 15 in Galwan Valley and another in the Hot Spring area, adding the Chinese side has even moved back up to 1.5 km in two areas. Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged since May 5 following a violent clash in Pangong Tso. The trigger for the face-off was China's stiff opposition to India laying a key road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another road connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley. During their military-level talks on June 6, India and China agreed to follow the broad decisions taken by their leaders in the Wuhan summit in 2018 to ensure peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control. Armenian public and political figure Samvel Farmanyan took to his Facebook to share a letter he sent to the authors of 'unacceptable statement' by the Members of the European Parliament. According to him, he has also copied the letter to Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Head of EU delegation to Armenia. The letter runs as follows: Dear Colleagues, Your yesterdays joint statement deeply shocked people in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. I feel obliged to share that public concern as a former head of the Armenian delegation to the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (PCC). I believe it may make useful clarification in addition to those concerns and arguments that might have been already provided by Armenian diplomatic missions and parliamentary channels. EU has been one of the key partners of Armenia despite any political change in my country. Significant results have been coined in many fields. CEPA signed in 2017 has opened a quite new perspective to that cooperation still waiting for its full implementation. Parliamentary dimension of Armenia-EU cooperation remains to be essential. Hundreds of MPs of the European Parliament and the National Assembly of Armenia have contributed to our common agenda throughout time. Parliamentary cooperation has been backed by mutual respect and understanding as well as our joint commitment to the principle of restraint while dealing with sensitive issues. No doubt that this principle has firmly dominated in our discussions over the conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh reflected in the previously adopted joint documents and statements. It will not be an exaggeration to state that your joint statement breaks that model tradition developed throughout the last decades. It does not embody our commitment to the mutually beneficial perspective of Armenia-EU partnership and sheds doubt on the impartiality of the European Parliament towards this sensitive issue. And most importantly it misrepresents the nature of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and has the potential to damage and undermine the efforts of the Minsk group of OSCE to find a peaceful settlement to the conflict. The wording used in your joint statement goes against the meaningful official stance of EU institutions on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict reflected in different documents and high level statements including CEPA. It also breaks the philosophy of over 15 previous joint statements by the EPs delegation tensing up the environment over the ongoing peace process on the ground. COVID 19 has pushed the governments to focus on the most important mission they have - to save lives. Different international organizations and opinion leaders have called on national governments to commit themselves to peace and restraint from further escalation in conflict zones while people are fighting against this pandemic. Political and military leadership of Azerbaijan continues to ignore these calls and threatens Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh with a new war meanwhile continuously violating the trilateral ceasefire regime on the line of contact. Any biased or one-sided statement in the nature of your joint statement adds extra fuel to the fire and intensifies the explosiveness of the situation on the ground. It sends deplorable supportive message to Azerbaijan regarding its plans of a new military aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. It is due to recall the caviar efforts of Azerbaijan to get such supportive parliamentary resolutions before the planned military aggression in April 2016 as internationally legitimizing smokescreen for its military adventure a proved fact echoed in the findings of different international parliamentary and journalistic investigative bodies. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict does not have a military solution. Any military provocation by Azerbaijan will be undoubtedly and effectively stopped again by the military of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. The people of Armenia are united when it comes to Nagorno-Karabakh and the security of its people despite any political mapping of my country. This should be remembered well by all those who wish to see the opposite. In this context any meaningful stance of the European Parliament should be adherent to CEPA wording to avoid damaging the peace process. It is worth mentioning that any one-sided and irresponsible statement that does not reflect the truth and the peace process needs put the European Parliaments and EUs impartiality under doubt in the eyes of the Armenian society while increasing the voice of all those who are doubtful about the perspectives of Armenia-EU partnership and our joint commitment to shared values. It is out of discussion that a due relevance should be explored to correct the biased and unacceptable statement that you made yesterday. Obviously, diplomatic missions and the respective parliamentary bodies of Armenia will convey you the same message. Armenia-EU cooperation including its parliamentary dimension has a strong tradition and should have the same perspective which I bring my commitment to. Firing was reported at the India-Nepal border in Bihar today. According to locals, the firing began from the Nepal side of the border. One person has died and two have been injured during the firing. The incident took place at Mohoba village under Sonbarsa police station area in Bihar's Sitamarhi. According to DG SSB Kumar Rajesh Chandra, a family was heading to Nepal at 8:40 am on Friday, when they were stopped and asked to return by the border personnel. This led to a verbal altercation after which the Nepal security personnel fired 15 rounds killing one person and injuring two, he said. "Nepal security personnel fired around 15 rounds out of which 10 were in the air. In the firing, three persons suffered injuries and one succumbed to injuries," said Chandra. One person has been detained by Nepal security personnel. Chandra said that they were in talks with the officials so that the detainees could be released and matters do not escalate. "Everything happened in Nepal, not on the Indian side," he clarified. This incident takes place amid escalating tensions between Nepal and India due to the neighbouring country's new map. Nepal officially released its new political map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as parts of its territory. Nepal has said that its new map that redraws its border with India would be permanent with no room for change, but the country is ready for dialogue with India. "As you have seen recently, Army commanders of India and China sat together to discuss border issues. If that can happen between India and China, then why can't it happen with other countries -- Bangladesh, Nepal," Nepal foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali had said. Also read: New map permanent but ready for dialogue with India, says Nepal foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali The national shame of Indigenous injustice is proof for all Australians that it takes more than protests to lift people out of systemic failure and put them on the path to fairness. It takes politics, too. Yet the facts reveal a dismal breakdown in politics that has cost lives. The forum for this political failure is not the theatre of Parliament but the grey and hidden space where federal and state leaders negotiate change or, more often, agree on inaction. The Black Lives Matter protest in Melbourne on Saturday. Credit:Justin McManus This is, or was, the Council of Australian Governments the peak group that has wasted years talking about a target to reduce the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in jail. For all the platitudes about the need for action, leaders and their officials were content to talk instead. Scott Morrison has swept away the old forum in favour of the national cabinet, his regular meeting with premiers and chief ministers during the pandemic. He promises a better way to get results. The paralysis on Indigenous policy should be one of his first tests. British Airways plans to auction off art worth millions as the airline looks to raise capital amid the coronavirus crisis. The auction, first reported by U.K. newspaper The Evening Standard, will include works from Damien Hirst, Peter Doig and Bridget Riley, with one of the pieces valued at more than 1 million ($1.26 million). At least 10 artworks from the airline's collection, which had previously been on display in its airport lounges, will be put up for sale. According to The Standard, auction house Sotheby's has been brought in to value the works. Both BA and Sotheby's declined to comment when contacted by CNBC. BA has faced immense financial pressure amid the coronavirus crisis, with the outbreak forcing flights to be grounded and suppressing demand for travel. IAG, the airline's parent company, warned in April that BA planned to cut as many as 12,000 jobs to reduce costs as the pandemic weighed on operations. The company reported a first-quarter operating loss of 535 million euros a huge fall from its 135 million euro profit a year earlier. BA has said it won't rule anything out as it looks to save both money and jobs. Revenues across the aviation industry are expected to fall by 50% to $419 billion in 2020, according to the International Air Transport Association. On Friday, in partnership with Ryanair and easyJet, BA launched a formal legal challenge to the U.K. government's quarantine rules, which would force incoming travelers to self-isolate for 14 days in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19. The airlines claimed the policy would have a "devastating" impact on the British tourism industry. USS Albany Returns from Deployment Navy News Service Story Number: NNS200611-02 Release Date: 6/11/2020 7:53:00 AM By Holly Carey, Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic Public Affairs NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Albany (SSN 753) returned to its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk from a deployment, June 10. Under the command of Cmdr. Mathias Vorachek, Albany returns from a deployment to the U.S. European Command area of responsibility where it executed the chief of naval operations' maritime strategy by supporting national security interests and maritime security operations. "I could not be more impressed with my team of Sailors, chief petty officers and officers for their accomplishments," said Vorachek. "Going into deployment, we had already achieved success in our tasks, but the ability to deploy on time, safely execute missions vital to national security, and display our Nation's pride on foreign shores is a memory I will never forget." As the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic spread across the globe, Albany continued to conduct operations underway. "Our loved ones at home held the front lines against an unseen threat while we were out performing our mission," said Command Master Chief (Submarine) Dustin Rushing, Albany's chief of the boat. "I am happy to be back home with my family, and thankful for all of the Albany families who maintained the homefront during a challenge none of us anticipated or planned for prior to deployment." Amy Rushing, the wife of Dustin Rushing, is happy to have her husband home from his sixth six-month deployment. "No matter the time as a Navy submariner family, no matter the number of deployments and underways, you never get used to this life," she said. "Every deployment is different, and this one was no exception. Keeping with tradition, our Sailors are returning to a different world than the one they left six months ago. Reintegration is a melting pot of emotions, but at the end of the day it's really pretty simple and wonderful to know that your Sailor is home, and your family is together again." During the deployment, Albany steamed approximately 36,000 nautical miles with the crew supporting diplomatic relationships by conducting port visits in Rota, Spain; Toulon, France; and Faslane, Scotland. Twenty-six enlisted Sailors and four officers earned their submarine warfare qualification, known as "dolphins," while six officers promoted, three enlisted Sailors advanced to the next paygrade and three reenlisted. Fast-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities - sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or preparation of regional crises. Albany, whose motto is "Still Making History," is the fifth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name of New York's capital city. Built by Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat Division, Albany was commissioned April 7, 1990, as the 43rd nuclear-powered Los Angeles-class submarine. The Los Angeles-class submarine is 360 feet long and 33 feet wide, and weighs about 6,900 tons when submerged. Underwater, it can reach speeds in excess of 25 knots. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address (Newser) Joe Biden's search for a running mate is entering a second round of vetting for a dwindling list of potential vice presidential nominees for his campaign against President Trump, with several black women in strong contention. Democrats with knowledge of the process said Biden's search committee has narrowed the choices to as few as six serious contenders after initial interviews, the AP reports. Those still in contention include Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kamala Harris of California, as well as Susan Rice, who served as President Barack Obama's national security adviser. The process remains fluid, according to those with knowledge of it, and additional candidates may still be asked to submit to the extensive document review process now underway for top contenders. Biden has said he'll choose a woman as his running mate. story continues below Biden is facing increased calls from Democrats to put a woman of color on the ticketboth because of the outsize role that black voters played in Biden's road to the Democratic nomination and because of the reckoning over racism and inequality roiling the nation following the death of George Floyd. The campaign's short list includes several black women, including Harris and Rice. Advisers have also looked closely at Florida Rep. Val Demings and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, both of whom are black, and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Latina. One contender whose standing appears to have fallen is Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who was a prosecutor years ago in the county that includes Minneapolis. During that period, more than two dozen peoplemostly minoritiesdied during encounters with police. (Read more Joe Biden 2020 stories.) After a meeting with senior officials on Thursday, Kim threatened to "thoroughly crack down on attempts to send propaganda leaflets and other materials" across the border and "deal strictly with such activities according to law." Kim You-geun, a deputy national security adviser at Cheong Wa Dae, expressed "deep regret" at the ongoing campaign, which has provoked hysterical outbursts from North Korea over the past weeks." The government on Thursday threatened to crack down on campaigners sending propaganda leaflets across the border by bending every law in the book to the purpose. The Unification Ministry has already asked the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to investigate two activist groups run by prominent North Korean defectors for violating various environmental and security laws with the leaflet campaign and revoke their charitable status. The government now also accuses them of violating aviation and water pollution laws because the balloons are technically floating through a no-fly zone and the organizations have floated PET bottles with leaflets across the sea that have sometimes washed up on South Korean beaches. But the clincher is the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, which stipulates that "any person who intends to take goods to North Korea must obtain approval from the unification minister." After a shrilly worded outburst by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Yo-jong last week, North Korea on Tuesday severed all cross-border communication lines and orchestrated mass anti-South Korean rallies in Pyongyang. The purpose is unclear, with observers suspecting that the kerfuffle is either a distraction from dire economic woes at home or a tantrum to get South Korea's attention and extort some kind of aid. The government here seems to believe the latter, and was unusually swift to kowtow to Kim Yo-jong's orders, denouncing the leaflet campaign within hours of her statement being reported. The ruling Minjoo Party has fallen in line, saying that "this is the time to root out illegal activities that have been repeated." Conservatives have denounced the government's reaction and pointed out that only last week the ministry said there was no legal basis for stopping the leaflet campaign. In a statement, a group of conservative academics called the government's measures "excessively subservient" to the North. But the government argues that a slew of inter-Korean agreements promise to stop propaganda activities on both sides of the border. Conservatives argue that the right of activists to free expression must not be infringed. Skyline park and a view of Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo: Getty Images) With Europe summer trips cancelled and no long-haul flights on the agenda for the foreseeable future, many Aussies are banking on the pending trans-Tasman travel bubble. Both the Ardern and Morrison governments have promised its something theyre working on. The Tourism Restart Taskforce wants trial flights to start in July while New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern said September was a more reasonable timeframe. While its hard to book and plan anything until there is an official announcement, we can start dreaming and researching our trips across the ditch. Although all COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted in NZ, experts on the ground in New Zealand warn holidays wont be exactly the same as pre-pandemic. Heres what you need to know: Cathedral Cove is a natural coastal arch on the Coromandel Peninsula, north island, New Zealand. It is an area of outstanding beauty and is designated as a marine reserve. The reserve was set up in 1992 with snorkelling as one of the key activities. (Photo: Getty Images) When will it happen? If it was up to Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, Kiwis and Aussies would already be able to fly across the Tasman Sea. The trans-Tasman bubble should have been open, like level one, yesterday, he told Stuff while citing Australias interstate border closures as the reason for the delay. Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia are still banning visitors from other states. As soon as they say we are ready to go, we are off, he said. The Safe Border Group - made up of experts and representatives from Australia and New Zealand - has delivered a blueprint for the travel bubble to both prime ministers. Prime Minister Ardern recently said travel could resume in September. New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. (Julian Smith/Pool Photo via AP) (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS) Will things be open? New Zealand has zero live cases of COVID-19 and this week lifted all coronavirus restrictions for the first time in more than three months, while much of the rest of the world is still grappling with the pandemic. The countrys official tourism board said it expects to see a boost in domestic travel followed by Aussies being allowed to visit. We are seeing a steady increase of operators reopening their doors and we expect this to continue into the later half of 2020, Andrew Waddel, General Manager at Tourism New Zealand Australia told HuffPost Australia. Story continues Lots of operators are back online with Wildwire Wanaka offering great deals and offers. The governments Alert Level One means there are no more limits on people in cafes, malls, stadiums, night clubs or public and private gatherings. Life, for the most part, is back to normal. What about wineries? Many wineries, such as the picturesque Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant on Aucklands famous Waiheke Island, are hosting hourly tastings to cater for post-COVID vino cravings. Lots of New Zealand wineries have already opened their cellar doors and restaurants for New Zealanders wanting to explore their own backyard and look forward to welcoming Aussies, Waddel said. Additionally the majority of New Zealands 32 luxury lodges will be open by October 1st. Cheers to that. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. Will adventure tourism still be a thing? New Zealand ski fields are gearing up for the 2020 season, with slopes opening from late June-July, confirmed Waddel. The Remarkables and Coronet Peak in Queenstown, and Mt Hutt in Christchurch-Canterbury are scheduled to open for the 2020 winter season, he said. In Wanaka, heli-ski operations are looking to take flight in mid to late-June, Snow Farms scheduled opening day is June 19, and both Cardrona and Treble Cone are set to open on the last weekend of June, which is all extremely positive news for Australian visitors. Off-the-grid experiences will certainly be open in Auckland, Steve Armitage, General Manager Destination at Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) told HuffPost Australia. Theres Great Barrier Island the worlds first island to receive the dark sky sanctuary status. Auckland Museum, Art Gallery and the Zoo are welcoming visitors again. The popular Auckland to Rangitoto Island ferry service resumed in May, which transports you to the heart of the Hauraki Gulf where there is a range of activities to explore. Regional flights or just driving? Long before COVID, Australians were big fans of hitting the road in NZ. We know 70% of Aussies take part in a self-drive holiday when visiting New Zealand. The revived appreciation for the outdoors and lifes simple pleasures means a New Zealand road trip is the best way to experience our people and place, Waddel said. My favourite road trip is from Christchurch to Queenstown which travels through Tekapo. Following all that Wanaka and Queenstown has to offer, head up the West Coast of the South Island. It weaves you through from mountain to rainforest and rugged coastline. Will there be good deals? Australians make up almost 40% of international arrivals to New Zealand so there is incentive to lure travellers back over the ditch to get the economy moving once borders open. There have already been great deals to boost domestic tourism. Weve started to see some fantastic deals, ATEEDS Armitage said. Such as Waiheke Islands recent campaign called ON THE HOUSE where visitors to the island can rent one of the participating properties over a weekend in June, and homeowners will let them stay on the house. The rental fee will be passed on and converted into Waiheke dollars, a spending credit for goods and services redeemable across the island. What will the flight be like? I think everyone needs to realise that its going to be very, very different than what theyre used to, Jeremy Tarr, digital editorial director of Fodors Travel told HuffPost. Its going to feel weird, it might feel uncomfortable, and, depending on the person, it might feel really scary. Research what your airline has done before you book your flight and especially before you board. Qantas, for instance, from June 12 will provide masks and cleaning wipes to ensure safe travel and give passengers peace of mind during the pandemic, but will not leave middle seats empty as it will be impossible to turn a profit. Social distancing on an aircraft is impractical, Qantas boss Alan Joyce said. He said the airline will simplify catering, step up aircraft cleaning and ask passengers to limit movement around the cabin once seated. Masks will not be mandatory but Qantas will recommend passengers wear them in the interest of everyones peace of mind, in a measure that is unlikely to be needed over the longer term, Qantas Medical Director Ian Hosegood said. He confirmed data showed the risk of catching coronavirus on a plane is extremely low and there are no documented cases of transmission, including on recent lengthy Qantas repatriation flights from London and Los Angeles that lacked social distancing. The adventure capital of the world, Queenstown is home to many thrills and exciting activities. (Photo: Getty Images) What about neighbouring countries? South Pacific island nations are campaigning for a South Pacific travel bubble with Australia and New Zealand. Tourism delegates from New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomons and Tahiti have formed a working group to help the proposed South Pacific travel bubble become a reality. The group submitted a letter to the offices of both the Australian and New Zealand prime ministers to urge negotiations around potentially opening borders. The concept of a South Pacific bubble is of great importance to many people - and not just those desperate to get back to a tropical island, which I think many of us are dreaming of right now, Caroline Brunel, Account Director at Tahiti Tourisme, Australia and New Zealand told HuffPost Australia. Tens of thousands of Australians rely on outbound travel for their jobs, and tourism is the life blood of entire nations in the South Pacific. Collectively, the nations of the South Pacific have done an incredible job of flattening their respective COVID curves, if not eradicating the virus all together. There have been 88 cases of COVID-19 and zero deaths across the four nations. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Burt Lancaster, left, as Gen. James Mattoon Scott in "Seven Days in May," with Kirk Douglas. (Paramount Pictures) In 1964, movie audiences were thrilled by Seven Days in May, an adaptation of a novel about a plot by a charismatic chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (played by Burt Lancaster) to topple the president in a military coup. The president in question, played by Fredric March, stood for adherence to the Constitution, while Lancasters character obviously wanted to subvert it. I dont know whether Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ever saw "Seven Days in May. But his remarkable apology this week for joining in President Trumps June 1 photo opportunity in front of St. Johns Church which occurred after authorities cleared the Lafayette Square area of largely peaceful protesters spoke to the theme of keeping the armed services out of politics. My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics, Milley said on Thursday in a commencement address to National Defense University. As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from, and I sincerely hope we all can learn from it. Milleys statement echoed the remarks of retired Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, who served as Trumps first secretary of defense. On June 3 Mattis said: "When I joined the military, some 50 years ago, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Never did I dream that troops taking that same oath would be ordered under any circumstance to violate the constitutional rights of their fellow citizens much less to provide a bizarre photo op for the elected commander-in-chief, with military leadership standing alongside." I first thought of Seven Days in May after Trump took office and installed former military leaders in key positions in his administration. Mattis was able to be confirmed as defense secretary only after Congress waived a prohibition on recently retired military officers serving in that position. Story continues But the way the Trump administration has played out has confounded the Seven Days in May comparison as much as it has confirmed it. Mattis and other former and active military officials seem to have a better understanding of the role of the armed forces in a constitutional democracy than Trump does. At the same time, you can argue that for an active-duty official such as Milley to differ publicly with the president undermines civilian control of the military. In an article in National Review, Mackubin Thomas Owens, a former professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College, argues that Milley "should have made his objections known to the president in private." Referring to reports that some retired officers had urged Milley to resign in protest, Owens writes: There is no tradition of public resignation in American history. At best, resignation under such circumstances undermines the mutual trust that lies at the heart of healthy civil-military relations. At worst, such a step constitutes a form of mutiny. The problem with this critique and with a lot of commentary about civilian-military relations in this administration is that Trump is not a normal president. Having shown little respect for the importance of an apolitical military, he is in a poor position to complain that military officers are engaging in what he might see as politics. Still, the lines are being blurred with military officials distancing themselves from Trump in various ways, including in how they characterize the protests that erupted after the death of George Floyd. As my colleague Doyle McManus wrote: Nothing says 'internal chaos' more clearly than Cabinet officers or top aides refusing to fully carry out the presidents desires and publicly staking lines they will not cross. You can simultaneously welcome resistance from the military to Trumps authoritarianism and still be uneasy about it, even if it doesn't come close to the rebellion dramatized in Seven Days in May. There is an obvious remedy, however: Elect a new president who respects the Constitution. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Cornyn on Thursday compared taking down Confederate statues and renaming military bases to tearing pages out of history books. "I dont think we can go back and erase our history by removing statues," Cornyn said. "What happens next? Then somebody says you cant teach about the Civil War or slavery in your textbooks." Cornyns comments came when he was asked whether he supported renaming military bases, including Fort Hood in Texas, that are named after Confederates, or removing statues built to honor them. MAGNIFICENT AND FABLED: Trump says no change at bases named for Confederate officers The killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis has reignited calls to remove Confederate statues and monuments, many of which were built by white supremacists in the early and mid-1900s as a response to black civil rights efforts. President Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected calls to rename military bases, saying on Twitter: These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, and a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom. Theres no question that America was an imperfect union when we were founded. We obviously betrayed our own ideals by treating African Americans as less than fully human and weve been paying for that orginal sin ever since then, Cornyn said. Weve made a lot of mistakes as a race, a human race and as an American people, but I think we need to learn from those and not try to ignore them or erase them. I dont agree with going back and trying to rename institutions or pull down statues or try to tear those pages out of our history books that our kids learn in school, he said. ben.wermund@chron.com A teenager in the central province of Quang Ngai has just been invited by 21 universities in the US, the UK, Canada and Singapore. Nguyen Le Dong Hai Nguyen Le Dong Hai, 18, has just finished high school at the CATS Academy Boston in the US after he won the Ivy Scholarship for the two-year study there and he returned to Vietnam in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Hai presents rice and money to Covid-19 victims in Quang Ngai Province early this year While busy participating in various fund-rasing activities for Covid-19 victims in his hometown, Hai received invitations from 21 universities for his tertiary education. "I've been offered full scholarships by three universities including Yale NUS in Singapore, Georgetown in the US, and Toronto in Canada," Hai said. "Many other colleges including Vanderbilt, Southern California, New York, Emory, McGill, Washington, Kings College London, Michigan, Tufts, Middlebury, Babson, and Claremont McKenna have also sent their invitations to me." Recalling the time he was at high school in the US, Hai said that he tried to maintain good scores while actively participating in many school activities. He was founder and chairman of the Economics Club, editor of the school's newspaper, and secretary of the Model United Nations Club. He had been invited to be a speaker at the TEDxYouth Forum twice, which were interpreted into five languages and attracted tens of thousands of viewers. Hai speaks at the TEDxYouth Forum in 2019 Due to a special love of economics, he founded the Global Association of Economics Education (GAEE) which is a non-profit organisation with over 1,000 members in eight countries. Last year, as CEO of GAEE, Hai co-operated with the Quang Ngai Provincial Department of Education and Training to organise a workshop entitled Education in the Industry 4.0. Hai speaks at the workshop entitled Education in the Industry 4.0. in Quang Ngai Province in 2019. 'I hope to expand the operation of GAEE in the Asia-Pacific and other regions in the world in the future,' he said. 'Although I have not yet decided which university I will enter, I will sure choose to study economics.' Dtinews Hanoi student wins scholarships to nine US colleges A high school student in Hanoi has just won scholarships worth USD1.6 million to nine universities in the US. On World Day Against Child Labor, celebrated on June 12th, an initiative has brought together artists and illustrators to highlight the issues of child labour. The CARTOONS FOR CHANGE initiative comprising of cartoonists, illustrators and creative professionals from all over the world are using their talents and creativity in defense of hundreds of millions of children who are victims of exploitation. Professional cartoonists and graphic artists so that, through their cartoons and illustrations, can protest against the cruel reality suffered by more than 152 million child laborers, a number estimated by the International Labor Organization (ILO). According to figures from the United Nations agency, child labor worldwide is concentrated, first of all, in agriculture (71%), which also includes fishing, forestry, livestock and aquaculture. It includes both subsistence and commercial agriculture; 17% of children in child labor situations work in the service sector and 12% in the industrial sector, particularly mining. Guatemalan activist Fernando Morales-de la Cruz, founder of the CARTOONS FOR CHANGE initiative, feels that "the ILO child labor figures largely underestimate the total number of exploited children. In Asia, the ILO underestimates them by more than one hundred million; in Africa by more than 30 million." "It is absolutely unacceptable, cruel and illegal that 70 years after signing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 30 years after adopting the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the coffee, tea and chocolate consumed at the United Nations and in the centers of power and influence of the world, where they claim to support and promote the Sustainable Development Goals, are produced with child labor. There is an urgent need to stop the exploitation of hundreds of millions of girls and boys. There are too many industries, such as chocolate and coffee, in which child labor continues to increase, because it is highly profitable for multinationals" added Morales-de la Cruz. The initiative is found on social media sites Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and these are some of the artworks highlighting the issue. Two Paterson firefighters were taken to the hospital after battling a three-alarm blaze in the city Friday, authorities said. Shortly before 9 a.m., firefighters arrived at an abandoned house on Fair Street to find the second and third floors engulfed in flames, said Deputy Fire Chief Frank Calamita. Soon, the fire consumed the entire building and radiant heat began to melt the siding on two neighboring buildings, he said. Although the building where the fire started was supposed to be vacant, the fire department had received a report that squatters had been living inside and had evacuated when the fire broke out, said Calamita. No injuries to residents were reported, but firefighters were still dousing pockets of fire at the building Friday afternoon, he said. Two firefighters sufferered non-life threatening injuries and both were taken to St. Josephs Regional Medical Center, he said. One firefighter was released as of Friday afternoon. The fire itself was largely under control by Friday afternoon, but firefighters were still on site, said Calamita. Once the fire was deemed under control, the fire department would set about demolishing the building. Although there were no reports of residents inside, the fire had made the buildings structure too dangerous for firefighters to search for anyone, said Calamita. The cause and origin of the fire is still under investigation, he said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. (JNS) Jewish and pro-Israel organizations have expressed outrage over the death of African-American George Floyd, 46, who died on May 25 in the custody of Minneapolis police. Police officer Derek Chauvin put his left knee on Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes on May 25, according to the criminal complaint against the officer, causing Floyd physical distress to the point where he lost consciousness and needed medical attention. Three other police officers were also on site. The incident, filmed on civilian phones, went viral. Floyd was accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill at a cit... Dallas: US President Donald Trump led a discussion in Dallas on race and policing that excluded the three top law enforcement officials in the county a police chief, sheriff and district attorney who are all black and that felt much like a campaign rally, albeit far smaller than usual and with everyone seated. The President drew cheers time and again from hundreds of supporters at Gateway Church as he forcefully rejected complaints about widespread police brutality and mocked "radical efforts to defund, dismantle and disband the police." President Donald Trump speaks in Dallas. Credit:AP "You always have a bad apple. No matter where you go you have bad apples, and there are not too many of them" among police, he said. "What happens late at night when you make that call to 911 and there's nobody there? What do you? What are you doing, whether you're white or black or anybody else? ... There is no opportunity without safety." Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall, Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown and District Attorney John Creuzot were not invited. The White House defended the snub, insisting the President would still hear a diverse range of views, including from the police chief of Glenn Heights, a town of 11,000 south of Dallas. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 21:24:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A huge fire broke out at a 10-storey building under construction in the Mongolian capital here on Friday afternoon, according to the country's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). NEMA received a report about the fire at around 6:00 p.m. local time (1000 GMT). The fire came less than a week after a massive fire destroyed the country's State Department store. Two brigades of firefighters have been working to extinguish the fire, NEMA said. No casualties have been reported so far. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Enditem Oil fell the most since late April as economic uneasiness iced U.S. stock markets, threatening to spoil crudes recovery from a historic drop below zero. The market is grappling with record high U.S. oil inventories and an uneven demand rebound as signs mount that a second wave of the pandemic could be taking hold in some states. U.S. jobless claims remained high, underscoring longer-term macroeconomic challenges a day after the Federal Reserve provided a grim outlook for the economy. Oils recovery has been driven by production cuts and the easing of pandemic-related lockdowns. It was very fast, driven by historically unprecedented OPEC+ cuts and central bank and government support on the demand side, said Bart Melek, head of commodity strategy at Toronto Dominion Bank. We should not be surprised to see a pullback, following such a violent rally, he said. On the supply side, higher prices have pushed some producers to turn on the taps. U.S. crude stockpiles rose last week to 538.1 million barrels, according to the Energy Information Administration. Thats the highest level in data compiled by Bloomberg since 1982. PREVIOUSLY: Record U.S. stockpiles show cracks in oil's recovery The surprisingly bearish stats, particularly on crude, the relatively dour comments by the Fed yesterday and fears of a resurgence of the coronavirus have all added to the price weakness today, said Thomas Finlon, of Houston-based GF International. Crudes inability to sustain prices over $40 a barrel is leaving many companies across the industry in dire straits. A couple months ago, the sector was in complete survivor mode, and it still needs to be, quite frankly, said Jennifer Rowland, an analyst at Edward Jones & Co. Even at $45, there will be a lot of companies that cant survive, she said. Companies are still going to be bleeding cash at this level. In a more positive sign, data showed that oil demand in the U.K. has been steadily recovering in recent weeks. Still, theres still a massive glut to be cleared globally, including more than 180 million barrels of crude stored at sea, according to Vortexa data. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. They welcomed their first child together earlier this year. And Petra Ecclestone's fiance Sam Palmer gushed that she was the 'best mum in the world', as he shared a rare snap of her cradling their two-month-old baby girl. The heiress, 31, looked radiant as she held her little one in her arms, as she relaxed in a sun-soaked setting during a getaway with her family. Love! Petra Ecclestone's fiance Sam Palmer gushed that she was the 'best mum in the world', as he shared a rare snap of her cradling their two-month-old baby girl In the sweet snap, Petra wore a black hoodie which featured a vibrant rainbow on the front, teamed with a pair of tiny denim hot pants and quirky shades. Petra looked fresh-faced and make-up free, while her blonde locks were damp, seemingly from a dip in the azure waters in the background. The couple were by joined her sister Tamara, 35, and her husband Jay Rutland on their father Bernie's super yacht in Croatia. The holiday appeared to be a family affair as Tamara and Jay's daughter Sophia, six, joined them, as well as while Petra's four children Lavinia, seven, James and Andrew, both five, from her relationship with ex James Stunt, and her baby daughter. Family holiday: The couple were by joined her sister Tamara, 35, and her husband Jay Rutland on their father Bernie's super yacht in Croatia The group fled the UK and Los Angeles in order to reunite in their mother Slavica's native country Croatia amid the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday, Tamara hit out at her critics after being slammed for taking her family abroad during the outbreak of the deadly virus. Since the family were seen luxuriating on their father's 28m yacht, Tamara's social media has seen a surge of criticism - leading to her staunch defence in a lengthy Instagram post. Adorable: The couple welcomed their first child together - a baby girl - earlier this year The duo were lucky enough to have their father's yacht at their disposal. The 176ft yacht, which boasts six cabins, is named Petara - after Bernie's daughters - with her name being an amalgamation of the Petra and Tamara's name. It appears Tamara has been met with wrongly-placed criticism for taking Sophia out of school, endangering the public - leading to her clarification. Tamara penned a lengthy caption reading: 'Clearly this virus hasn't changed some people for the better which is a bit of a shame. For those of you that are confused or just bitter. I didn't leave the house at all during lockdown... Defending: Since the family were seen luxuriating on their father's 28m yacht, Tamara's social media has seen a surge of criticism - leading to her staunch defence in a lengthy Instagram post Don't come for me! It appears Tamara has been met with wrongly-placed criticism for taking Sophia out of school, endangering the public - leading to her clarification 'I didn't even go to the park or exercise. I am half-Croatian so decided it would be best, safest to come here, which is not forbidden and I am now following the rules in Croatia. As for the home school questions, a return to school was option... 'We chose to continue to home school Fifi she is doing better than ever and has gone up two reading bands. If I am not mistaken no on is obliged to follow me so you know what to do.' Last month, Krunoslav Capak, the director of Croatia's Institute of Public Health, said there would be 'no bans, just precautions' on the country's beaches, after Croatia reported 103 deaths overall as of last week. He said: 'I will certainly go to the beach. I can't wait. Lifeguards, local authorities and hoteliers will have to make sure that sun beds and towels are not too close together because the virus will still be present.' Melbourne, Australia. (Source: Getty) Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on property markets across the world, and Australia has been no exception but it looks like theres one hotspot that seems near-impervious to the pandemics impacts. According to property expert and hotspotting.com.au managing director Terry Ryder, one capital city has withstood the worst of the crisis. Melbourne markets have held up better than most against the forces of Covid-19. The number of growth markets has dropped but remains at solid levels and prices have continued to perform well, he said. Ryders Autumn 2020 survey of sales activity found that 69 of Melbournes suburbs were seeing rising sales demand. Though the Melbourne market fell after the coronavirus restrictions were brought in, apartment and house prices have come back strongly in the most recent quarter, Ryder said. In the past 12 months, two-thirds of Melbourne suburbs with apartment markets recorded growth in their median unit prices and most of those growth suburbs increased their median prices by more than 5 per cent. The data suggests Melbourne markets have been resilient price-wise in the Covid-19 period, despite the fall in sales activity, he said. Within Melbourne, Ryder named five hotspots that were particularly resilient: Mornington Peninsula, Darebin, Moreland, Monash and Whitehorse. The Peninsula was the strongest local government area in the Melbourne metro area for suburbs with rising demand, at a time when few suburbs across Melbourne were thriving, Rdyer said. The bayside areas are affordable and have the benefit of improved transport links to Melbournes CBD, and also enjoy lifestyle perks such as wineries, parks, beaches, galleries, cafes and restaurants. Story continues In this area, suburbs that stand out are Blairgowrie, Hastings, McCrae, Rye, Safety Beach, Sorrento and Tootgarook. Darebin has held up thanks to gentrification and a strong local education and training sector which has attracted well-educated and affluent residents. La Trobe University is a significant jobs hub and a source of demand for rental accommodation, and many areas in Darebin have been earmarked by the state government for future development, which will drive population growth and therefore demand housing, Ryder said. These elements, combined with low vacancies, create good opportunities for investors - both in the short-term as the Melbourne market recovers from the Covid-19 period, and in the longer-term outlook. Meanwhile, Moreland is well-poised for good growth as Melbourne emerges from the lockdown, according to Ryder. Proximity to the CBD, good transport links and a major education/employment hub are among the core factors driving the Moreland City property market, he said. Buyer demand and property prices in this area didnt succumb to the general Melbourne downturn, and apartments remain affordable with solid rental returns for apartment owners. Outside Melbournes CBD, Monash has the largest concentration of jobs thanks to its medical precinct and high-tech industries. Unemployment in this area has remained lower than state and national averages for eight years. Monash is currently undergoing a construction boom $1.5 billion spent on construction every year for the last four years where older buildings are being knocked down and replaced by larger houses or apartments. Strong population growth is expected to continue, bringing about much urban renewal. These factors are identified in the State planning instrument and augur well for future housing demand. Whitehorse has been a long-term strong-performing property market before the shutdown came along, and will bounce back strongly, according to Ryder. Melbourne property markets were rising in the second half of 2019 and the early part of 2020, with prices increasing. The Whitehorse local government area was a market leader, with buyer demand strong in many of its suburbs, he said. Population growth and construction activity will boost Whitehorses local economy and a proposed rail loop will improve this regions connections to Frankston and Melbourne Airport. The City of Whitehorse property market remains a favourable option for home-buyers and long-term investors because of its proven capital growth history, low vacancies, strong economy and good transport links. Join us for Episode 6 of the Yahoo Finance Breakfast Club: Live Online series at Thursday 18th June, 10am AEST. Follow Yahoo Finance Australia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. A man who allegedly murdered a prostitute and dumped her body in a car had his wig torn off during a dramatic arrest at a pub. Shawn Adam Newton, 45, is accused of binding the hands and feet of Rebecca Jane Gascoigne, stuffing a sock in her mouth and assaulting her. He then allegedly rolled her up in carpet and forced her flatmate Gavin Barr to help him dispose of her body in July 2017. CCTV vision - released by the Supreme Court on Friday - showed the moment police arrested the accused at Northshore Tavern in Hillarys, northern Perth. CCTV vision - released by the Supreme Court on Friday - showed the moment police arrested Shawn Adam Newton at Northshore Tavern in Hillarys, northern Perth Two officers surrounded Newton as he stood with a beer at an outside table. As the officers moved to detain Newton, one yanked a brown wig from his head to reveal his bald scalp. Before the arrest, Newton was seen walking into the outdoor area with the pint of beer. He stood with a punter who was smoking and chatted to the man for about four minutes until police arrived. Prosecutor Justin Whalley told Newton's judge-alone trial in the Supreme Court of Western Australia on Monday he had dug graves before acting on 'his murderous intent'. Shawn Adam Newton, 45, is accused of binding the hands and feet of Rebecca Jane Gascoigne (pictured), stuffing a sock in her mouth and assaulting her But Newton's defence counsel Simon Watters said Mr Barr was 'the real killer'. He met Ms Gascoigne a few months before she died and brought her to live in his Scarborough home 'as a sex slave', Mr Watters said. Mr Barr testified via video link, saying he had spent about $20,000 he had kept buried in his backyard on Ms Gascoigne, giving her money for sex and sometimes 'the goodness of my heart'. He said she was 'horribly messed up' on heroin and he tried to help her quit, feeling sorry for her. 'The money just kept flowing,' he said. 'I didn't mind really. 'I'm just a lonely guy with nothing to spend my money on. 'I'd sort of fallen for her to some extent, but I was careful not to fully because it wasn't that kind of situation.' Two officers surrounded Newton as he stood in front of a beer at an outside table. As the officers moved to detain Newton, one yanked a brown wig from his head to reveal his bald scalp Pictured: Newton is led away by police during his arrest in 2017 He told the court he had described Ms Gascoigne as a 'gutter whore' after he walked into her room and saw Newton wearing boxer shorts while she was wearing a bodysuit. Mr Watters said Mr Barr felt 'she owed him', didn't want her having sex with other people and was angry at Newton for encouraging her to travel to the east coast to reunite with her two children. The lawyer accused Mr Barr of lying, saying his story had evolved over time and exhibits in the case had 'miraculously' appeared as if he and police had gone 'to the exhibits genie'. 'The wrong man is in the dock,' Mr Watters said. After Ms Gascoigne was murdered, Newton went on the run and was arrested six days later at a tavern, wearing a wig and drinking a beer. The trial continues. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has long made creating jobs for women central to his economic policy, but now women are suffering a bigger share of the pain as the country heads for its worst economic slump since World War Two. Helped by a worker shortage, female labour participation hit a decade-high of more than 70 per cent under Abe's campaign, often dubbed "Womenomics". The catch: many women lack the job security of male workers, with more than half holding vulnerable part-time, contract or temporary jobs. The coronavirus plunged Japan into recession. Credit:Getty The number of such "non-regular" workers posted its biggest drop on record in April, declining by 970,000 to 2.02 million. Women accounted for 710,000 of the decline. That makes women workers "the shock absorber" of the world's third-largest economy, said Mari Miura, a Sophia University political science professor. Only about one in five male workers hold non-regular jobs. (Newser) Want to attend a Trump campaign rally? OK, but don't sue them if you get sick. Trump's campaign spelled it out on a Web page that allows people to register for his June 19 rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to Covid-19 exists in any public place where people are present," the statement says, per the New York Times. "By attending the rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to Covid-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors or volunteers liable for any illness or injury." story continues below The Oklahoma event will be Trump's first since the pandemic forced him to stop hosting his signature public rallies. Subsequent ones will be held in three statesFlorida, Arizona, and North Carolinathat have rising coronavirus tallies, while Oklahoma's have flat-lined since the state began lifting business restrictions April 24 and opened workplaces to full staffing on June 1. Meanwhile black political and community leaders are urging Trump to alter the date of his Oklahoma rally because it falls on Juneteenth, the day that commemorates the end of slavery, per the AP. "This isnt just a wink to white supremacistshe's throwing them a welcome home party," says Sen. Kamala Harris. (Read more President Trump 2020 stories.) Penneys shoppers queued for more than three hours to grab clothes, shoes and bottles of fake tan as 16 of its stores reopened. Eager shoppers arrived in their droves to stock up on items some 12 weeks after the store closed its doors to the public. Some shops were due to open at 10.30am, however as the queues continued to build, gardai advised managers to open earlier at 8.45am. Some 150 people were in the queue at Dublins Henry Street store when the doors were flung open. I have picked up the most unnecessary things that I don't even need, PJs, summer stuff - absolutely loads Chloe Nolan Chloe Nolan left her home in Co Carlow at 5.15am and arrived in Dublin at 6.30am. I was queuing from around 7am for over an hour before it started moving and everyone was delighted, she said. The queue was OK, I was expecting it to be a lot bigger, it was very well controlled. I have picked up the most unnecessary things that I dont even need, PJs, summer stuff absolutely loads. When I got inside, I was shocked at how everything was so well organised. I felt so safe and it was fine. It felt like things were back to normal. My favourite thing I bought today was definitely my PJs. I cant wait to go home and get into them tonight. Dublin shopper and Penneys fan Chantelle Wooperton went to the store with her nieces Ella, 11, and eight-year-old Brooke. I got at the shop at 7.30am and wasnt in the queue that long for about two hours, she said. Lockdown has been hard because the baby is growing so fast and it's been hard to get things for her Chantelle Wooperton I spent 148 euro and I bought stuff for me, my mother, my sisters and my baby, who is eight months. I was looking for pyjamas and underwear and all that. Lockdown has been hard because the baby is growing so fast and its been hard to get things for her. The shopping experience was great I had good fun and the people were very helpful. I wasnt worried coming in and it was all grand. No-one was walking on top of me so I was delighted. Frontline workers Theresa OReilly and Nadjet OReilly queued for around 15 minutes. The mother and daughter, who are cleaners at the Department of Justice, said they were excited to see what they can buy. My other daughter has been here since 8am this morning and shes in there now, Theresa said. We wanted to see what is going on as we have been working through the whole crisis and havent had any time off. We have worked hard to make sure that clear signage and extra help will be there to guide them through the changes we have made to allow for social distancing Paul Marchant, Primark chief executive Nadjet added: We are getting back to reality we havent had a chance to spend any money because we have been working all this time. Theresa added: We are just going to mosey around and see what we can spend. I might pick up some shirts and jeans. Sixteen Penneys stores with street access are reopening on Friday with the remaining 20 stores located in shopping centres opening on Monday. Primark chief executive Paul Marchant said: While it might take a little longer to get into store, once inside, customers will find all their favourite Penneys products and plenty of choice as usual. We have worked hard to make sure that clear signage and extra help will be there to guide them through the changes we have made to allow for social distancing. We are also asking customers to respect the measures we have put in place to help ensure shopping at Penneys is an enjoyable, safe experience for everyone. Management have hired additional security staff to help customers follow social distancing measures while store layouts have been redesigned to allow for more space between people. Fitting rooms, customer toilets and beauty concessions have been temporarily closed. Hand sanitiser stations are at the entrance and on the shop floor, while every second till is closed and Perspex screens have been installed on open tills to protect customers and employees. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 09:11:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- As winter is descending and temperatures are falling in the Southern Hemisphere, a leading Australian microbiologist warned on Thursday that the risk for the spread of COVID-19 could increase. "The trouble with winter is every respiratory virus you can think of spreads more readily in winter," said Peter Collignon, professor at the Medical School of the Australian National University and a microbiologist at the Canberra Hospital. "Winter is a real risk because this virus spreads exactly the same way as influenza and the common cold virus," he told Xinhua in an interview. "It's in droplets. So when you cough or sneeze, it travels and then drops down to the ground. But if you're close, you're more likely to get it," said the former World Health Organization advisor. "So the real concern is in winter, we're inside. More often, the humidity is lower. There might be poor ventilation, because you are trying to preserve heat. All of that increases the chance that viruses from the respiratory tract spread from person to person," he said. Australia just entered its winter season, which started in June. The Black Lives Matter protests could worsen the situation. A man in his 30s, who attended a Black Lives Matter protest along with thousands of others in Melbourne on Saturday, has tested positive for the virus, which sparked fears about a potential transmission of COVID-19. "The protests or any crowds that get together increase the risk," said Collignon. "The advantage we've got in Australia is transmission in the community seems to be pretty low, and protests were outside rather than inside. So that all is a lower risk," he said. "But the problem is we really don't know how much virus is still around. And if you have large groups of people together and they're close, that increases the chance that you'll get it spreading ... particularly because it's winter," he added. Collignon said that there is a possibility for a second wave of COVID-19, like what had happened in Australia in 1919 during the flu pandemic, a very big killer around the world. "I could expect that we might see that again in July or August ... but I doubt that we'll see thousands of cases per day or per week," he added. However, the professor dismissed concerns that a person could be infected again. "It seems fairly uncommon that people get a second infection, at least not within three or four months," he said. He added that some people could get sick, better, and sick again. "That may be because they get secondary bacterial infections," he said. "The virus has made them unwell, but then they get another bacteria that gives them pneumonia and that's what makes them very sick," he said. Collignon cited the example of the 1918-1919 flu pandemic. "Most of the deaths back then were due to bacterial causes, not the virus," he said. While the economy has been seriously affected by the pandemic, the professor noted that there should be a balance between epidemic control and getting life and work back to normal. "We can't all become hermits for the next two or five years and all live in our houses and have the economy doing nothing," he said. "So the balance is doing everything we can to stop this virus from spreading readily. And that means keeping physical distance, limiting crowds, washing our hands, don't go to work when you are sick. All those things won't stop the virus altogether, but they mean you'll get a 90 percent reduction," he said. "We need to keep the numbers as low as possible, but not paralyze our own economy or the world economy," he noted. Collignon favored the efforts made by scientists in many countries to develop a vaccine against COVID-19, but regretted that they have not been successful. As of Thursday evening, there have been 7,285 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, with the death toll at 201, according to the country's Department of Health. Enditem Treasure hunters have reacted with shock, delight and disbelief to the news that a chest containing gems, gold and antiques worth up to $2m has reportedly been found in the Rocky Mountains. Ive had every emotion under the sun, said Sacha Dent of Kansas, who dedicated years to a quest that resulted in the deaths of up to five people. First it was shock and sadness, then on Monday a mix of happiness, relief and excitement, said Dent. Ive invested six years into this. Now its finally over. I am very happy for the person who found it. An eccentric New Mexico millionaire named Forrest Fenn said he hid the bronze chest in the Rockies in 2010. The only clues to the prizes whereabouts were located in a cryptic 24-line poem written by Fenn and added to the last pages of his autobiography, The Thrill of the Chase. Begin it where warm waters halt / And take it in the canyon down, / Not far, but too far to walk. / Put in below the home of Brown, reads the second stanza of Fenns poem that would send treasure hunters to scour five western states. On 7 June, Fenn, a former air force fighter pilot turned art and antiquities dealer, told the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper that a man from the eastern US had recently located his treasure, which has variously been valued anywhere from $1m to $2m. According to Fenns website, it was found under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I hid it more than 10 years ago. Neither the name of the finder nor the location of the treasure has been disclosed. I do not know the person who found it, but the poem in my book led him to the precise spot, Fenn wrote on his website. Related: Unearthed again golden hare that obsessed a nation The discovery marks the end of a modern-day treasure hunt unlike any in history. This has been a horrible ending to something that has been so extremely important in my life for eight years, said Cynthia Meachum, who is part of a vibrant chase community of Fenn treasure seekers. It has affected me a lot more than I thought it ever would. Story continues According to Fenn, the idea that came to inspire so many was conceived in 1988 after he was diagnosed with cancer. The prospect of death made him think to leave part of his fortune, and even his own bones, in a treasure chest somewhere in the mountains. When Fenn recovered, the idea persisted, and he meticulously curated the contents of the chest for years. Fenn described a necklace thats about 2,000 years old, and it has fetishes made out of quartz crystal and cast gold jaguar claws, and its absolutely wonderful, in a 2018 interview with the Guardian. There are two ancient Chinese jade carvings of human faces. You just want to cry when you see them. Fenn hoped the treasure would be an adventure that could get people off the couch and into the outdoors. He provided us all with great adventure, said Dent, who searched twice a week for years in northern New Mexico. Yet in the course of looking for Fenns chest, as many as five people have died, and Fenn has been criticized for endangering lives, enabling an unhealthy obsession, and even lying about the treasures existence. I would implore him that he stop this nonsense, the New Mexico state police chief, Pete Kassetas, said after a treasure hunters body was retrieved from the Rio Grande River in 2017, days after he had gone missing. He told ABC: I want people to have fun, and I want people to be adventurous, but the reality is when you have $2m or so, as its rumored to be, at stake, people make poor decisions. There are the stories of people quitting their jobs and emptying their bank accounts to join the chase. Fenn himself has received death threats and been the victim of break-in attempts at his house. A 2015 photo provided by Cynthia Meachum shows an areal view of the area of a search of treasure hunter Randy Bilyeu, who went missing along Rio Grande in northern New Mexico. Photograph: AP Others have claimed the whole thing is an outright hoax. I believe there never was any hidden treasure, said Linda Bilyeu, the ex-wife of Randy Bilyeu, who died searching for the treasure. Fenn is a corrupt man who seeks attention any which way he could achieve. The controversy has continued even after its purported discovery. The absence of photos or information on the location of the chest has led some to question whether it was found at all though Fenn has promised to elaborate in the coming days. Give us something, so we know if we were close, said Meachum, who made 200 trips and invested thousands of hours. I have no closure at this point. A third think its a hoax, said Dent. A third think it was never found. And then there are the rest of us that think this is great. Someone found it. Now lets move on with our lives. Dent, who estimates she has taken 300 trips in search of the treasure, added that no good can come of knowing its location. What if you were 100% right and just missed it? Or what if you find out you didnt have anything part of it right, and had wasted all that time? As long as we dont know the location, we can each be right in our own minds, she said. Even so, she felt enriched by the quest, if not the actual treasure. The victor did something tens of thousands of people have failed to do. If I could say anything to the finder, I would tell him congratulations. We wish you all the happiness in the world. P olice have launched an investigation after a statue of Jamaican playwright and actor Alfred Fagon in Bristol was attacked with bleach. Avon and Somerset Police are investigating the attack on the monument, which was erected in 1987 in the St Pauls area of the city. The incident involved bleach or another corrosive substance being poured on to the bust and is thought to have happened on Tuesday or Wednesday. Mr Fagon was born in Jamaica and was a member of the Windrush generation, coming to England as an 18-year-old in 1955. He settled in Bristol, where he forged a career first as a renowned actor in the 1960s and 70s, and then as a playwright and theatre director. He died in 1986 and the statue was erected on the first anniversary of his death, and he was the first black person to have a statue erected in their honour in the city. Winston Churchill statue and Cenotaph boarded up in London 1 /28 Winston Churchill statue and Cenotaph boarded up in London Winston Churchill statue boarded up in Parliament Square Jeremy Selwyn Workers erect a protective barrier around the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square Getty Images Scaffolding has been placed around the statue of Winston Churchill in central London in anticipation of protests Getty Images PA A Westminster Council street marshal stands next to a protective covering installed overnight surrounding the statue of former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square PA The Cenotaph boarded up Jeremy Selwyn Getty Images Getty Images PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA Workers install a protective barrier around the Cenotaph Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images The annual Alfred Fagon Award was named after him and is for playwrights of Caribbean or African descent in the UK. A police spokeswoman said officers in St Pauls were appealing for witnesses to the vandalism. The incident, which seems to have left the statue covered with an unknown substance, had not previously been reported to police, she said. Its not clear when it happened but officers have recorded the incident and are making enquiries with Bristol City Council to clarify ownership and establish whether the statue has suffered permanent damage. Edward Colston statue recovered from Bristol harbour 1 /8 Edward Colston statue recovered from Bristol harbour PA PA PA PA PA Bristol Council It comes after Black Lives Matter anti-racism protesters tore down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol on Sunday and pushed it into the harbour. The statue was fished out of the water earlier this week and Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said it will be displayed alongside Black Lives Matter placards from the recent protest "so the 300-year-story of slavery through to todays fight for racial equality can be learned about". A commission of historians and other experts will also research and share Bristols true history following the removal of the statue, Mr Rees said. The events over the last few days have really highlighted that as a city we all have very different understandings of our past," Mr Rees said in a statement. LOS ANGELES (AP) A gunman believed to have shot a Central California sheriffs deputy and targeted others in a series of attacks was shot dead Thursday after confrontations that wounded three other law enforcement members, authorities said. Mason James Lira, 26, was killed after he emerged from a brushy riverbed in Paso Robles, climbed a steep hillside and ran toward a vineyard, authorities said. He had two stolen handguns and investigators found a box of ammunition, Paso Robles Police Chief Ty Lewis said. He clearly had been planning attacks on law enforcement, possibly for days, the chief said. Over the course of about 36 hours, Lira opened fire in an ambush and managed to evade hundreds of law enforcement officers, authorities said. Every time that law enforcement got near to him, he engaged them in gunfire, Lewis said at an evening news conference. The manhunt for Lira began at dawn Wednesday, when authorities said he opened fire on the Paso Robles police station. Two sheriffs deputies heard gunshots and responded but didnt see the attacker until they were outside their patrol car and under fire. Deputy Nicholas Dreyfus, 28, was hit in the face. His partner fired back and dragged Dreyfus behind a police car. Dreyfus, who was able to radio that hed been shot, underwent surgery Thursday and was in guarded condition. While scores of officers searched for Lira, they received a report of a body near a train station and found a 58-year-old man shot to death on the tracks. He appeared to be a transient who was camping out overnight. Police believe Lira was responsible for the killing. Liras father told The Associated Press he thinks the shooting at the police station might have been a suicide attempt. Jose Lira said his son had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, Aspergers syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He said his son has been in and out of jail and treatment centers, didn't take his medication and often thinks he is a special agent or a soldier. He lives in a fantasy world, Jose Lira said. He doesnt have a beef with the police. Wednesday night, Paso Robles police got a report of shots being fired and spotted a man who appeared to be Lira but he fled into a nearby apartment complex, Lewis said. Officers surrounded the complex but Lira managed to escape through a long, overgrown riverbed. At one point, he was spotted and shot at officers before retreating back to the riverbed, authorities said. Overnight, police, San Luis Obispo County sheriff's deputies, an FBI SWAT team and other law enforcement surrounded an area of the riverbed where Lira was believed to be hiding and they planned to begin a systematic search Thursday, Sheriff Ian Parkinson said. We knew we had to search a very large area with a very dangerous person and they didn't want him escaping into nearby neighborhoods, he said. But shortly after 2 p.m., Lira came out of hiding and fired at surrounding officers. An Arroyo Grande police sergeant took a bullet through his calf, Parkinson said. Two hours later, he emerged again, crawled up an embankment and up a short but steep hill and began to run to a neighboring vineyard, the sheriff said. He was shot. During the shooting, Parkinson said a California Highway Patrol officer took a bullet to his protective vest and a Kings County sheriff's deputy who got out of an armored vehicle to rescue him was shot above the knee, Parkinson said. All three wounded officers were expected to recover, he said. Two handguns and a box of ammunition were found, Parkinson said, adding that the guns apparently were stolen during a commercial burglary on Tuesday. The guns were linked to the death of the transient and shooting of the sheriff's deputy in Paso Robles, the police chief said. Also found was a box of ammunition, with more in a crawlspace under a Paso Robles movie theater that was reached by a storm drain, Lewis said. Lira may have been living in town for days before the attack, he said, and was seen at several places in the days before the first shooting. Lira had been arrested in the Monterey area last month on suspicion of making criminal threats and resisting arrest but was released on June 3 after serving jail time, Parkinson said. Parkinson said investigators were still trying to determine a specific motive for what he called planned and cowardly" attacks. He did want to shoot law enforcement, he said. T housands of Black Lives Matter protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square today after marching through central London in the pouring rain against racism and police brutality. Dozens of activists wearing face coverings and waving signs reading Enough is Enough were seen making speeches in Trafalgar Square. One speaker said the fact they had turned up despite the weather shows genuine commitment and urged the supporters to continue their demonstrations. The demonstrators were urged to stay calm if they encountered any counter-rallies as they marched from Hyde Park. Leaders of the march told others involved to make their demonstration peaceful and to not join any anti-racism rallies planned for the weekend, fearing violence would damage their cause. Friday BLM protests - In pictures 1 /26 Friday BLM protests - In pictures Activists, some wearing face coverings or face masks as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, hold placards as they attend a Black Lives Matter protest in Trafalgar Square AFP via Getty Images Activists, some wearing face coverings or face masks as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, hold placards as they attend a Black Lives Matter protest in Trafalgar Square AFP via Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporters are seen on the roof of a van Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporters drive their van along Whitehall Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporter raises her fist during a rally in Trafalgar Square Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporters are seen during a rally in Trafalgar Square Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporters are seen during a rally in Trafalgar Square Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporters are seen during a rally in Trafalgar Square Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporters are seen during a rally in Trafalgar Square Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporters drive their van through Parliament Square Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporter are seen on the roof of a van Getty Images An elderly Irish man sits with a Black Lives Matter protester Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporters are seen during a rally in Trafalgar Square Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporters are seen during a rally in Trafalgar Square Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporters drive their van along Whitehall Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporters are seen on a lion in Trafalgar Square Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporters are seen on a lion in Trafalgar Square Getty Images Black Lives Matter supporters are seen on a lion in Trafalgar Square Getty Images A protester sings in Trafalgar Square during a Black Lives Matter rall AP A protester wears a mask in the style of one worn by 17th century plague doctors during a Black Lives Matter protest AP Hundreds of campaigners surrounded Nelsons Column before 5pm after walking from Hyde Park, as around two dozen police officers watched on. They marched behind a van branded with the clenched fist emblem, holding up traffic along the way. In Hyde Park the racial justice protesters chanted, held banners and performed a two-minute silence to raise awareness of black people oppressed around the world, during which they raised a clenched fist in the air. Black Lives Matter supporters are seen on the roof of a van during a rally in Trafalgar Square / Getty Images At one point, around 20 police officers moved through large crowds of peaceful protesters sitting on the grass to seize a pair of demonstrators and escort them to nearby police vans. The officers were booed as they moved to detain the two Black Lives Matter protesters. Two men arrested by a swarm of officers were wanted for unrelated matters, City of London Police has said. A protester wears a mask in the style of one worn by 17th century plague doctors during the rally in Trafalgar Square / AP Footage of the arrest, which was undertaken by about a dozen Met Officers on behalf of City of London Police, was circulated on social media. A spokeswoman for City of London Police said: The individuals arrested by the Metropolitan Police today are wanted by the City of London Police for matters unrelated to their activity at any of the Black Lives Matter protests. As it is an ongoing police investigation we cant provide any more details. Friday's protest came after BLM London organisers cancelled protests planned for today and Saturday due to fears Right Wing groups would infiltrate the protests. Getty Images They also said poor planning and a lack of consideration for public safety was why they were advising protesters not to attend the scheduled events. The Democratic Football Lads Alliance called on supporters to travel to London to protect monuments after a number were vandalised in recent protests. Last weekend saw demonstrators clash with police in London, while in Bristol a statue of slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down and dumped in the citys harbour. An elderly Irish man sits with a Black Lives Matter protester in Parliament Square on June 12 / Getty Images Metropolitan Police said it was ready to tackle violence directed at police or property following disorder at anti-racism protests last weekend. Commander Bas Javid said: We will learn from what happened last weekend. Its accepted that a very, very small minority of people were intent on causing and engaging in violence. We absolutely dont condone that, violence of any kind, particularly against police officers, particularly against property, and well be ready for that." Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford said he agreed with the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan that protesters should stay at home. I always said that I completely understand and share the outrage that underpins the Black Lives Matter protests, Mr Drakeford said. But there are ways in which people can make their concerns known that do not involve breaking the law and putting yourself and other people in danger from coronavirus. A handful of states including New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts have experienced "clear first-wave outbreaks," said Nicholas Reich, a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. "However, many states have had more of a first-wave plateau, without a clear decline for many weeks." Covid-19 has sickened more than 2 million Americans and killed at least 113,820 since the first confirmed U.S. case less than five months ago, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. While new cases are on the decline in early hot spots such as New York state, cases are on the rise in places such as Texas , Florida and Arizona, with the U.S. still seeing roughly 20,000 new Covid-19 cases a day, Hopkins data shows. To be defined as a second wave the virus would need to retreat and reappear, or a new variant would have to emerge, said Ian Lipkin, a professor of epidemiology and director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University. "The recent increase in cases does not reflect either." The rise in coronavirus cases seen in about half a dozen states across the U.S. isn't the feared "second wave" it's still the first, scientists and infectious disease specialists say. Arizona reported an additional 1,412 new cases on Thursday, bringing the state's total to 31,264. The number of cases has climbed by nearly 300% since May 1 and has roughly doubled since Memorial Day. Texas this week reported three straight days of record-breaking coronavirus hospitalizations in the state. Coronavirus hospitalizations in Texas have increased about 32% since the Memorial Day holiday, according to state data. States such as Arizona and Texas "never really got rid of the first wave," former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Thursday. "They weren't really that hard hit relative to other states during February [and] March. They had some infection, they had persistent infection. Now we are starting to see it go up as they reopen." Last week, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield told lawmakers he was worried Americans aren't following the agency's advice as states begin to reopen after shuttering businesses and limiting activities as part of social distancing measures intended to curb the spread of the virus. Crowds of people have been seen in recent weeks at protests, over the Memorial Day holiday and at the SpaceX launch. "We will continue to message as well as we can," said Redfield, who's on the White House coronavirus task force. "We're going to encourage people that have the ability to require to wear masks when they are in their environment to continue to do that." Marc Lipsitch, a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, said there is no way to attribute the rise in cases to one event. "Transmissions occur, probably extra ones on a holiday like Memorial Day, which lead to cases and hospitalizations," he said. "All the activities we engage in affect that and thus affect whether say a particular transmission (John infected Sally) on Memorial Day or at a protest or wherever leads to Sally not infecting anyone else (more likely as R decreases), or whether Sally infects Bill, Bill infects Joe, and then no more (common around R near 1), or Sally infects Bill and Bob, Bob infects Jane and Joe, Bob infects Karen and Kathy, and so on in an expanding chain." He continued, "So at the population level we can say that there may have been episodes of especially many transmissions (around particular events or gatherings) and more importantly that the conditions (summarized by reopening) are such that these chains of transmission are growing rather than shrinking." Lipkin echoed those remarks, saying, "High-density gatherings on any basis increase the risk of virus transmission." He and other epidemiologists noted that the U.S. and other parts of the world will continue to see cases until there is an effective drug or a vaccine. There are at least 136 Covid-19 vaccines under development as of June 9, according to the World Health Organization. At least 10 of those are already in clinical trials. "Until we have a vaccine to prevent infection or drugs that can safely and efficiently mitigate disease it is critical that we protect ourselves and our communities through physical distancing and the use of masks," he said. Whether the coronavirus is in a first wave or a second wave, the point is that cases are growing, Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the University of Toronto said. Public health specialists warn that a slow burn of infection through the summer could lead to a massive resurgence this fall. "It is time for the creation and implementation of good public health policy to slow the transmission of the virus," he said. Photo credit: Alamy From Esquire Near the beginning of the second act of Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods, a flashback to the Vietnam War shows a radio broadcast from Hanoi Hannah (played by Veronica Ngo) delivering the news of Martin Luther King Jr.'s death. Speaking directly to the black troops, she tells them they "are only 11 percent of the U.S. population, but among U.S. troops in Vietnam you are 32 percent." She asks, "Black GI, is it fair to serve more than the white Americans who sent you here?" It's an incredible scene that cuts between the stark red of Hannah's broadcast room and the anger and sadness on the faces of the titular Bloods listening. And like many of the other historical figures who make appearances in Lee's Netflix movie, Hannah was a real radio broadcaster famous among American troops for delivering haunting North Vietnamese propaganda. Born Trinh Thi Ngo in Hanoi in 1931, she joined the country's biggest radio station, Voice of Vietnam, in 1955. There, because of her clear English (which she learned from American films like Gone With the Wind), she was given the job of reading the American news broadcasts. When the Vietnam War broke out in 1965, Voice of Vietnam switched to broadcasting propaganda newscasts. Eventually her news broadcasts would air three times a day for 30 minutes every day. "Defect, GI. It is a very good idea to leave a sinking ship," she said in one news broadcast. "You know you cannot win this war." And despite their aim to sow discontent within the American army, Hannah's broadcasts were popular among troops. As Don North wrote in The New York Times in 2018: For bored G.I.s, Hannahs broadcasts were often rare sources of amusement. A mans radio was, after his rifle, his most valued possession. Like the rifle butt, the radio was often wrapped in frayed black tape for protection. Troops would laugh over Hannahs attempts to scare them into defection or suggestions to frag an officer. However, they did wonder if she was as lovely as she sounded, and many considered her the most prominent enemy after Ho Chi Minh. Story continues Like we see in Lee's film, Hannah often directed her broadcasts to the black troops in Vietnam, highlighting racism and inequality. "Isn't it clear that the war makers are gambling with your lives, while pocketing huge profits?" she asked in one news broadcast. She also covered actual U.S. newslike the Detroit riots of 1967that the American broadcasts would leave out of their own messages to the troops. Hannah comes on and she knows what guard unit was called in and what kind of weapons were used, a soldier from Detroit remembered of her reports of the riots in '67. Thats when it starts to hit home. We knew what kind of fire power and devastation that kind of weapon can do to people, and now those same weapons were turning on us, you know, our own military is killing our own people. We might as well have been Viet Cong. But Hannah picked up on it and talked about it. Photo credit: Netflix Even John McCain once marveled at Hannah's talents, having heard her voice while being held as a North Vietnamese prisoner of war for more than five years. I heard her every day, McCain told the New York Times in 2000. Shes a marvelous entertainer. Im surprised she didnt get to Hollywood. What Lee's movie does best is highlight the stories of black soldiers in Vietnam that are largely erased from American cinema and history. And the scene with Hannah's broadcast provides a clear depiction of the real racial tension among black and white troops during the war. Her statistics about black troops in Vietnam are mostly accurate. As The New York Times wrote in a survey on racism in Vietnam in 2017: African-Americans represented approximately 11 percent of the civilian population. Yet in 1967, they represented 16.3 percent of all draftees and 23 percent of all combat troops in Vietnam. In 1965, African-Americans accounted for nearly 25 percent of all combat deaths in Vietnam. By 1967 this percentage had dropped considerably, to 12.7, but the perception that blacks were more likely to be drafted and killed remained widespread. And it's true that the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. did cause widespread racial tension and full-on riots among troops in Vietnam: In May 1968, the journalist Donald Mosby traveled to Vietnam, where he spoke to a number of black soldiers about Kings assassination. He reported that many soldiers had no intention of allowing things to stay the way they were when Dr. King was murdered. Some soldiers had responded by embracing the black power movement. Others formed organizations like the Minority Servicemens Association, the Concerned Veterans Association, Black Brothers United, the Zulu 1200s, De Mau Mau and the Black Liberation Front of the Armed Forces, ostensibly to represent the collective interests of African-American soldiers but also to protect themselves. After the war, Hanoi Hannah moved to Ho Chi Minh City, where she lived with her husband and worked in television until her retirement about a decade later. Her son moved to the U.S. and Hannah said she never joined the Vietnamese Communist Party as her anger she felt for Americans faded. "Our program served a cause, and we believed in that cause, so we continued to broadcast," she told C-Span in 1992. "We know that certainly that if not all of the GIs some of the GIs listened, so we continued the work." In 2016 the Voice of Vietnam announced the news that she died at the age of 87. Her scene in Da 5 Bloods offers a perspective of the war that's often missed in American culture and history books. It's reminiscent of the opening scene of the second episode of HBO's Watchmen, which showed real German propaganda directed at black American troops during WWI. And on many levels it highlights the hypocrisy and racism in American history, cinema, and patriotism. You Might Also Like Inside Boris Johnsons government, senior officials are exhausted, demoralized and starting to despair. Their dreams of reshaping Britain for a bright post-Brexit world have been blown off course by coronavirus. With more than 41,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.K., Johnson has presided over the worst record in the world after the U.S. Now Britain faces among the heaviest financial tolls from the pandemic of any major economy, and the deepest recession in 300 years. In the background is the spectre of compounding the pain by failing to reach a trade deal with the European Union, with Johnson next week set to try to rescue talks that are going nowhere. Fears are growing among officials in London that theres little or no trust in the leadership anymore. They worry a disillusioned public will simply ignore any future lockdown should a second wave of the virus take hold in the winter. Support for the governments virus strategy was already undermined after Johnsons closest adviser caused a scandal by allegedly flouting the rules. As the Conservatives suffer a slump in the polls just six months after an emphatic election win, critically some within the party are also losing faith. I dont know why we are doing what we are doing any more, one Tory confided. Johnsons team inside Downing Street are running on empty, said another. There is a lot of unhappiness in the party, said a third. People are less and less impressed with Number 10. A spokesman for Johnsons office declined to comment. With a fresh parliamentary majority, Johnson has time on his side. He isnt due to face voters again until 2024 and his partys MPs scarred by years of infighting over Brexit are not so far aiming to topple their leader. But the pandemic is transforming political fortunes around the world and the full cost to Johnsons standing, and the fate of his Conservatives, is not yet clear. This week, the crisis of confidence that has been brewing in Westminster finally burst into the open. Senior Tory colleagues demanded Johnson ditch the two-meter (six-and-a-half feet) social distancing rule, while others said the government had failed to reopen schools and is moving too slowly to restart other businesses. But Johnsons politically independent scientific advisers who for months had given his strategy its credibility worry the lockdown is being lifted too quickly, and warn restrictions may need to be tightened again. On Wednesday, the scientists finally went public. In defiance of Johnson, they pointed to a catalogue of errors his administration made in handling the pandemic. It didnt need to end up this way. On March 14, Johnson gathered his most senior aides around him for a crisis meeting inside his Downing Street office. Fresh data showed the pandemic was running out of control and the government needed to take far tougher action and fast. As aides discussed the disaster movie scenario of sealing-off London, Johnsons chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, was vocal in his support for lockdown measures. For the first time, the prime minister himself was receptive to the idea. Yet it took another nine days before Johnson announced sweeping restrictions to close swathes of the economy and banish people across the country to their homes. Now, senior officials look back on that delay as a disastrous failure that has cost thousands of lives. Had we introduced lockdown measures a week earlier we would have reduced the final death toll by at least a half, Neil Ferguson, one of the academic experts advising ministers at the time, said on Wednesday. Had we introduced them earlier we would have seen many fewer deaths. Standing next to Johnson on live television a few hours later, Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said there was a long list of potentially flawed decisions, the biggest being the failure to run widespread testing. Johnson insisted it was simply too early to judge ourselves. But the scientists verdicts are shared by others running the governments pandemic response, including some inside Number 10. If Cummings, whose writ held sway, had been so keen on a lockdown in mid-March, the person responsible for the holdup was likely to be Johnson himself, according to two well-connected people familiar with the situation. At the time the premier made no secret of his reluctance to impose lockdown restrictions across the country. Four days after they were implemented, Johnson himself tested positive for coronavirus. Soon after that he was taken into intensive care, fighting for his life. At that time, in early April, the entire country seemed to be willing the prime minister on, hoping he would pull through. Some 50 per cent of the country approved of the governments record, with just 29 per cent disapproving, according to YouGov Plc. But by June 8, the governments fortunes had been reversed, with 49 per cent disapproving, and only 32 per cent saying they approve. At all levels of the government, there are now fears that the premier and his team catastrophically lost their grip on the virus, and with it forfeited the trust of the public. One name keeps coming up as the reason why the Tories are now struggling: Cummings, the all-powerful aide who has shaped Johnsons mission in government, and was the mastermind of the Brexit campaign of 2016. Government ministers, advisers and parliamentarians are privately furious that Johnson spent so much political capital saving his chief adviser over claims hed broken lockdown rules. Johnson decided to stand by Cummings and repeatedly defended his aides decision to drive 420 kilometres out of London when the public was being told to stay at home. Conservative ministers are still angry with Cummings, whose actions dented public trust in the governments handling of the pandemic. Johnson is said to have had harsh words with his adviser and warned that he cannot afford to cause further problems, according to one person familiar with the matter. YouGov polling found one in five people in Britain said theyd followed lockdown rules less strictly in the week after the Cummings story broke, with a third of this group citing the controversy over the aide as a reason. Cummings, meanwhile, tells friends hes only working in government on a temporary basis, though exactly when Johnson and his aide will part company is not clear. Dismayed Tories hope Cummings will be to help put the government back on course and prove his worth by guiding a path through the economic crisis that voters will accept. Figures released on Friday showed the economy plunged 20 per cent in April. Officials now realize that a major inquiry into what went wrong with the British response is inevitable. With one eye on the future questions they will face, the protagonists are already preparing their defences. Some allies of Cummings blame the government machine Britains permanent civil service establishment, which they believe let Johnson and his team down. For weeks before the virus hit, civil servants were telling the premier that Britain was the best prepared country in the world for a pandemic but the disease it was ready for was influenza, not a coronavirus. With Johnsons team turning on the scientists, and the scientists speaking out to contradict Johnson, the prime minister will find it hard to argue during a second wave that the public should follow his orders because he is guided by the science. As trust gives way to blame and suspicion inside the administration, the ramifications for the country may be severe. Later this month, Johnson is planning a major speech to relaunch his political mission of levelling up forgotten parts of the country post Brexit. He will need his famous powers of charm and persuasion more than ever. Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more What started out as a 13-year-olds hobby to feed his passion for technology has turned into a business for Skyler Ficklin, operator of the QuitZoom website and iSkyler YouTube video channel. Ficklin, stuck at home while his Ohio high school is closed due to COVID-19, spends his days and nights completing online learning assignments to end his sophomore year. Then he diverts attention to hands-on activities to learn more about journalism, audio and video production techniques, Web design and cinematography. At the end of each day, he reflects on his self-taught success and ponders what comes next. High School Sophomore Skyler Ficklin Although hes on a continuous learning curve, Ficklin already sees his efforts paying off. His viewership is growing. He is learning key lessons on how to handle negative reactions to his sometimes unpopular opinions. He is discovering what it takes to become business-minded as he searches for product samples to review, and sponsors to advance his journalistic reach. TechNewsWorld recently met with Ficklin on a Skype conference call to discuss his interest in helping both his peers and tech-curious adults understand todays world of mobile gadgetry. TechNewsWorld: How did you get started on this technology journey? Skyler Ficklin: For as long as I can remember, I have always had technology be a part of my life. I have always had access to computers in my house. My interest grew from there. Since I was 13, I had an interest in making little websites. I made a website for my IT class last year. Not Zoom! TechNewsWorlds Jack Germain joins a Skype call with young entrepreneur Skylar Ficklin to discuss his QuitZoom website and iSkylar tech review channel on YouTube. TNW: How much of a role has your high school experience so far played in your interest in technology? Ficklin: A D V E R T I S E M E N T Last year I took a programming class. This year was very active. I made a big website for my Web design class. Zoom has become pretty central for me. I became aware of some problems with using Zoom so I shifted to other products for comparison since there are so many of them. I wanted to find a way to explain to people why I wasnt using Zoom. So I put that together. TNW: What kind of comments have you gotten about your opposition to Zoom? Ficklin: Most people were very confused about why I wouldnt use Zoom. A lot of people told me they just dont care about the issues. They just want to use it. Some people continually denied that there were issues with using Zoom. They saw the Zoom bombing issues as separate from other problems. They were not worried about bombing intrusions since they used passwords for their video session invitations. Still, the Zoom security is not as good as it could be. I did make headway with a few people who recognized that the issues I raised did make sense. So they tried to work around the problems. Skyler Ficklin designed his own website QuitZoom.com to caution users about Zoom security concerns. TNW: Do you plan to add other potential controversial technology topics to your QuitZoom website? Ficklin: Nothing is in the works yet to expand the topic discussions. But I always wanted to have a website to support my YouTube channel where I make reviews on various tech products that I use. What got me started on that idea was seeing a domain name for QuitZoom. I actually bought the domain name. I am also hosting a WordPress site on a hosting platform. A D V E R T I S E M E N T TNW: What got you started with the YouTube channel? Ficklin: I have had that channel for about three years. I use it to talk about products that I really want to use and have an interest in. For example, I really wanted a pair of AirPods. I couldnt afford to buy them. I read reports about fake AirPods coming in from China. So I bought them and did reviews about them. I got some earphones for Christmas so I reviewed them. I mostly review things that I have. I am a big user of iPads and iPhones. I review iPhone software a lot. Skylar Ficklin is growing a YouTube following for his mostly iOS product reviews. TNW: Have you had to deal with adverse reactions to your product comments? Ficklin: I once did a review of the iOS Safari browser. A lot of people really did not like that. I had some glowing opinions that apparently upset many people. I got some push back from people telling me to use the Chrome browser instead. TNW: What is your favorite mobile platform? Ficklin: I tend to favor iPhone. I have an Android phone that I mostly use for comparison purposes in discussing the features of the iPhone platform. There are some things I dont like about Android. Mainly, I use an iPhone and focus my reviews on its products. TNW: How did you learn the technology to produce your own content? Ficklin: One of my first videos involved comparing an older iOS operating system to a current release. I had been looking for such a comparison online for my own knowledge. Not finding any articles, I decided to make my own. That movie I made was pretty heavily edited in iMovie. After that I moved towards trying to just record my reviews live and uploading without editing. My goal was to do just one take to upload. After that experiment, I went back to using iMovie on my phone. I concentrated on adding overlays and doing better editing to smooth out the final version. TNW: It sounds like you had to create your own process. How did you handle those challenges? Ficklin: I had gotten other editing software for a Christmas gift. I used it to experiment with editing some clips. I started adding some transitions and text overlays to the editing process. I got a camera and learned how to get better quality images with it. I added lighting equipment and a microphone to get better sound results than the internal microphones produced. I used to use just the camera audio and the phone audio. TNW: What were the biggest challenges you met that brought you the most satisfaction with your progress? Ficklin: It was a very gradual process of learning by doing. It is a very bad comparison between the beginning videos and my videos now. My quality now shows so much of a big difference. Some of my videos have music now as well. Time is also a big factor. I spend a lot more attention on pre- and post-production tasks. Both of those processes are very time consuming and get much more attention now. TNW: So far you have been motivated by your passion for technology and sharing your insights with your viewers. Have you thought about the monetizing aspect of what you are doing on your websites and your YouTube channel? Are you seeing a cash flow yet? Ficklin: Not yet but I am hoping to get there very soon. For YouTube, in order to get monetization you have to have 500 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours. Im getting very close to that. I am about 80 percent of the way there. I am also contacting retailers and smaller companies to get products sent to me for review. I have not gotten any replies yet, but I am hoping to eventually get to a point where I can get that support. TNW: What about sponsors? Have you considered that approach? Ficklin: I havent done that yet. I hope to eventually get to that point. It would be awesome! Recently, I have had a lot of growth. That makes me optimistic that I could get there eventually. Originally, I started doing these activities as a hobby. After I did my first OS comparison for the iPad, I began doing more of that type of content. TNW: Have you noticed your viewer base growing as you continue to transition from hobby to business? Ficklin: It is definitely growing. I started with a few people watching. They are still around, but many more are regularly coming to view the new content. I have had a large uptick in uploads this month alone since I have more time at home to work on the projects. My future career plans include some form of technology. I was initially interested in computer programming. Now I am leaning towards cinematography and video editing and journalism also. Do You Know a Tech-Savvy Student? Do you know a tech-savvy student youd like to suggest for a TechNewsWorld feature? Are you a student whos ready to leap into the spotlight yourself? Pleaseemail me, and Ill consider scheduling an interview. And use the Reader Comments feature below to provide your input! Everyone coming to the center has their temperature checked for Covid-19 symptoms. Ung Doan Hung, an employee at the center, said in the last one month he has been checking the temperatures of around 700 people per day on average and 900 on crowded days. The man getting his temperature checked in the photo above is a 58-year-old technician at a taxi firm. He lost his job in late April after working for 25 years. He had planned to work for a few more years and pay social insurance for the full 20 years so that he could get a retirement pension, but the pandemic changed everything. "At this age I can hardly find a job anywhere," he said, adding that paying the college tuition of his son for the next two years would be a burden for him and his wife. A: I think there still is this discomfort and fear around difference that makes people stay in their comfort zones. One of the (challenges) we talk in our work is that you can be different, but I only want the different people who are just like me. We really dont want the real different person who probably adds the real value to my company but is the one who I have less comfort with. U.S., Brazil in talks on funding to buy 5G gear from Ericsson, Nokia: paper An Ericsson logo is pictured at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Shanghai SAO PAULO (Reuters) - The United States is in talks with Brazil and its local telecommunications companies on funding the acquisition of fifth-generation gear produced by Ericsson and Nokia, U.S. ambassador for Brazil Todd Chapman told Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo. In an interview published on Thursday night, Chapman said this type of funding is a matter of "national security" to Washington and aims to "protect data and intellectual property, as well as sensitive information of nations". His remarks were a blow to the world's largest telecoms equipment maker, China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL], which has consolidated its presence in Brazil over the last 20 years. Huawei did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. The Chinese company has successfully conducted 5G tests with all four major carriers - Telefonica Brasil SA, TIM Participacoes SA, America Movil's Claro and Oi SA - and is helping them modernize their infrastructure ahead of a long-awaited 5G spectrum auction. In August, Reuters reported Huawei would invest $800 mln to build another factory in Brazil's Sao Paulo state by 2022, pushing to ramp up its Latin American footprint despite U.S. objections. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has urged governments worldwide, including Brazil, to shun Huawei because of spying concerns but few have heeded those warnings so far. Chapman argues that allowing Chinese companies in the country's 5G deployment could even discourage investments by other foreign companies. "Who wants to make investments in countries where their information will not be protected?," he told Folha. The U.S. Ambassador added that the funding under discussion with Brazil would be provided by the International Development Finance Corporation, a development bank created by Trump in late 2018 to counter China's Development Bank operations in other countries. (Reporting by Gabriela Mello; Editing by David Gregorio) The Nunavut Court of Appeal has overturned a pair of sentences, in which judges in both cases said Canada's mandatory four-year minimum for firearms offences was unconstitutional. In June 2016, Cedric Ookowt fired a single bullet into a house in Baker Lake, Nunavut, missing a man by mere inches. Similarly, Simeonie Itturiligaq did the same thing in Kimmirut in 2018, except the bullet exited the roof and caused no injuries though the house was occupied. In both cases, the men were angry at other people Ookowt at a longtime bully who that night punched Ookowt in the face and tried to take his alcohol; and Itturiligaq at his girlfriend who refused to go home with him after visiting friends. Neither men were aiming at, or trying to harm, anyone in the homes they shot. Both men were sentenced to two years less a day, in which the sentencing judges determined the mandatory four-year minimums violated their Charter rights against cruel and unusual punishment. Both Justice Earl Johnson and Justice Paul Bychok, ruled Canada's mandatory four-year minimum sentences were unfit punishments, and opted for sentences which kept the men in the territory, rather than sending them to federal prisons in the South. "Even if Nunavut is not a 'war zone' for gangs ... Nunavut has a pressing interest in deterring gun violence. - Nunavut Court of Appeal But the rationale which led the judges to their conclusions differs in each circumstance and ultimately in the Court of Appeal's critique as to why the judges erred in their sentences. Justice Johnson, for instance, determined the factors of the bullying and the fact Ookowt only fired one shot, combined with Ookowt's severe intoxication, placed him at a lower level of moral blameworthiness, and thus merited him leniency. Meanwhile, Justice Bychok meanwhile leaned on the Gladue principles which gives leniency consideration to Indigenous offenders as well as Inuit tradition in Itturiligaq's girlfriend's forgiveness, in his leniency factors. Story continues But the three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal said both Johnson and Bychok erred in their respective reasons for why the men deserved leniency. In both cases, the Court of Appeal found the judges didn't give enough weight to the seriousness of the crimes, given Nunavut's history with gun violence. Respectively, Itturiligaq's case presented underlying domestic violence issues at its core, while Ookowt's was lucky he didn't kill anyone, the Court of Appeal determined. SKIP TO: Itturiligaq left dispute to get rifle In sentencing Simeonie Itturiligaq, Justice Bychok leaned on the Gladue principles in testing whether the mandatory minimum was appropriate. "Nunavummiut do not experience the terrifying gang-related gun violence which plagues Toronto," Justice Bychok wrote, in contextualizing the bill which introduced the mandatory minimum in 2009 as Parliament's response to gang violence. "Our isolated and remote neighbourhoods are not war zones. Still, firearm offences are far too prevalent in Nunavut." Indeed, while the 2009 bill was more specifically meant to address drive-by shootings in larger Canadian cities, "its purpose was to create an offence that prohibited the intentional discharge of a firearm," the Court of Appeal noted. "Even if Nunavut is not a 'war zone' for gangs, as [Justice Bychok] put it, Nunavut has a pressing interest in deterring gun violence." submitted by David Joanasie The three-judge panel also noted how the crime was "explicitly premeditated," arguing Justice Bychok did not give sufficient weight to those factors. "Mr. Itturiligaq left the dispute with his domestic partner to retrieve his rifle which he ultimately used to gain her compliance after she earlier refused to do as he commanded." The Court of Appeal also noted the offence wasn't just an incident of gun violence, but a case of domestic violence as well. "Implicit in [Justice Bychok's] reasons, in our view, was his determination that gang-related gun violence on the streets of Vancouver is qualitatively more serious than gun violence in Nunavut that occurs in the context of a domestic relationship with the intended consequence of intimidating, threatening, controlling and terrifying one's domestic partner," the appeal court noted. "This was a substantial error, one which materially impacted [Justice Bychok's] proportionality assessment. Indigenous women in northern communities are entitled to the same protection from the Court as anyone else." Inuit values in sentencing Bychok also gave weight to Itturiligaq's girlfriend's forgiveness of the crime. But the Court of Appeal said he placed too much weight on it. "There is undoubtedly an important intersection between Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit [Inuit traditional knowledge] and Canadian criminal law rules and processes," the court wrote. "However, without any evidentiary record to assess whether the Inuit community's application of its own Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit would have necessarily or inevitably resulted in a lower sentence, it was not correct to assume that in a domestic dispute where a powerful weapon was fired in anger at an occupied home, the Inuit community itself would have placed any mitigating weight on the victim's willingness to continue a relationship with Mr. Itturiligaq." The Court of Appeal also weighed in on the notion that Nunavut offenders should receive lighter sentences to keep them in the territory. The panel did not disagree that serving a jail sentence outside Nunavut in a place far from Itturiligaq's language and culture was a valid factor in determining a sentence. But they said it can't be used alone to mitigate a sentence where other factors were underemphasized, especially to deliver a sentence more than half of the legally-required minimum. The panel also noted offenders in Canada are never guaranteed to be placed in a jail close to home, "though we do recognize the double disadvantage when Inuk offenders are removed from their home communities, both physically and culturally," they wrote. The Court of Appeal ultimately stayed the remainder of Itturiligaq's jail term, given he was nearing his end of his sentence, meaning Itturiligaq won't have to go back to jail. 'A matter of pure luck' Cedric Ookowt didn't kill anyone Paralleled to the Itturiligaq decision, the panel addressed the issue of gun violence in Nunavut. While referencing the history of the four-year mandatory minimum, which was specifically meant to address drive-by shootings in larger Canadian cities, the panel noted the prevalence of gun violence in Nunavut. CBC "Parliament intended to give primacy to denunciation and deterrence to address pressing and substantial concerns regarding firearm violence in Canada," the Court of Appeal wrote. "However, despite recognizing that denunciation and deterrence were paramount, the deliberateness and gravity of this firearm offence, and the prevalence of this type of highly dangerous conduct in Nunavut, [Justice Johnson] failed to give sufficient weight to these factors. "Mr. Ookowt very easily could have killed someone and it was a matter of pure luck that he did not." In his original decision Justice Johnson also compared Ookowt's cases to four others in Nunavut involving firearms and where the offender was intoxicated. Johnson determined the factors of the bullying and the fact Ookowt only fired one shot, combined with Ookowt's severe intoxication, placed him at a lower level of moral blameworthiness than those other cases. It is difficult to conceive how any circumstances, including intoxication, could lessen the moral blameworthiness of an offender who resorts to such violence. - Nunavut Court of Appeal "In our view, [Justice Johnson] overemphasized these factors and their overemphasis had a material impact on sentence," the three-judge panel wrote, noting all the compared cases earned sentences of longer than four years. "It is difficult to conceive how any circumstances, including intoxication, could lessen the moral blameworthiness of an offender who resorts to such violence." On the notion of Ookowt had only fired one shot as being a mitigating factor, the panel found Justice Johnson erred in determining it decreased Ookowt's culpability. "Regardless, the first shot fired at a residence may often be the most serious because it risks the lives and safety of the unsuspecting occupants who have no time to react or take cover," the judicial panel wrote. "Whether one shot or multiple shots are fired there is simply no room for error once the trigger is pulled. Similarly, it only takes a single shot to strip the occupant of the targeted residence of all sense of safety and security in their own home." In regards to bullying, the court found "an act of firearm violence [is] completely disproportionate to Mr. Ookowt's experiences of being assaulted that night, or being bullied earlier." Like Itturiligaq's case, the Court of Appeal stayed the jail term, given the significant period of time that has elapsed since Ookowt was sentenced, and given that he has now finished his sentence. FRANKFURT, June 11 (Xinhua) -- As business in China is recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the accelerating digital transformation in the country is offering opportunities to the software industry, Mark Gibbs, global executive vice president of German software giant SAP SE, has said. Following the latest wave of digital acceleration across industries disrupted by the pandemic, SAP's sales in China have returned to normal, Gibbs, also president of SAP Greater China, told Xinhua recently. The coronavirus has pushed companies to evaluate their role and responsibilities, measure their resilience and address weak points, Gibbs said, adding that Chinese customers are expecting to accelerate the growth of intelligent enterprises. As cloud computing is increasingly applied in China, Gibbs has seen the great growth momentum of the cloud business, a major profit source for the largest European software company. "Following rules and regulations, most of our cloud solutions are available in China," he said, adding that thousands of Chinese suppliers are actively using the SAP Ariba B2B network every day. SAP has been expanding its businesses in China since it entered the market 25 years ago, currently with around 6,000 employees in 12 Chinese cities, Gibbs said, emphasizing the essential role of the Chinese market in providing growth potential for the Germany firm. Meanwhile, for the Chinese market, "the acceleration of digital transformation is becoming imperative so that companies can have flexibility to adapt to evolving supply chain and demanding customers," he said, believing "this is potentially a strong growth area for the economy of China." Although supply chains are complex and need years to be optimized, Gibbs said, they will become more flexible and resilient in the near future, since the pandemic has changed supply chains of several industries, such as e-commerce and remote working. "It will be a 'new normal' that will drive and leverage digital technology much more than before," he added. San Francisco, June 12 : After being accused of placating China for disabling accounts of three human rights activists linked to events to mark Tiananmen Square anniversary events, US-based video conferencing platform Zoom has reinstated these accounts. "Recent articles in the media about adverse actions we took toward Lee Cheuk-yan, Wang Dan, and Zhou Fengsuo have some calling into question our commitment to being a platform for an open exchange of ideas and conversations," Zoom said in a blog post on Thursday. "To be clear, their accounts have been reinstated, and going forward, we will have a new process for handling similar situations," it added. Zoom said it made mistakes in handling the situation which arose out of the platform's inability to block participants by country. "We could have anticipated this need. While there would have been significant repercussions, we also could have kept the meetings running," Zoom said. One of the suspended or terminated accounts was in Hong Kong and two in the US. "Our response should not have impacted users outside of mainland China," the platform said, while admitting its mistake. Saying that it seeks to promote the open exchange of ideas, the platform added, "The reality is Zoom operates in more than 80 countries and continues to expand, which requires compliance with local laws...". China takes the Tiananmen Square anniversary events very seriously as they mark protests against the killing of hundreds of people on June 4, 1989, as a result of crack down on pro-democracy protesters. The Chinese government informed Zoom in May and early June of this year about four large, public June 4th commemoration meetings on the platform that were being publicised on social media, including meeting details. "Zoom does not currently have the ability to remove specific participants from a meeting or block participants from a certain country from joining a meeting. As such, we made the decision to end three of the four meetings and suspended or terminated the host accounts associated with the three meetings," Zoom said. "For one of the meetings, even though the Chinese authorities demanded we take action, we chose to keep the meeting undisturbed because it did not have any participants from mainland China," it added. 12.06.2020 LISTEN Renowned Lawyer and lecturer, Ernest Kofi Abotsi shared valuable insights with a select number of media persons who participated in MTN Ghanas Bright Story Series organized to empower participants in the area of development communication and journalism. Addressing participants at the virtual forum on the theme The Media And The Law, Lawyer Abotsi took participants through several topics regarding the legal and regulatory framework of media practice in Ghana which included the 1992 Constitution, The Whistle Blower Act, Censorship Laws And Abolishment, The Right To Information Law, Electronic Communications Act and a host of many others. He also touched on the legal framework governing online and social media space. Lawyer Kofi Abotsi also spent a lot of time explaining how the relevant portions of the law that guarantees Media freedom and media rights as well as the freedom of expression. Commenting on the laws governing the digital world, he explained when you publish a content that is defamatory on the internet the laws on defamation apply. The twist to it is that any other persons who circulating the publication can be sued for defamation. He, therefore, advised all media consumers to be cautious in forwarding information without verifying it. Nana Kwasi Gyan Apenteng, the immediate past chairman of the National Media Commission who was a guest at the forum made contributions to bring clarity to the roles of the Commission and the laws that govern its operations. Mr. Sam Koranteng, Corporate Services Executive, MTN Ghana, who is also a Lawyer said that the idea behind the engagement with media professionals was to impart the requisite skills needed to aid the practice of journalism in these modern times. He indicated that MTN will continue to invest in seminars aimed at enhancing the professional capabilities of the media. This years BRIGHT series had a focus on the law in journalism practice because we realized over the years it is an area that most journalists need a refresher course in. We also considered it as our contribution to ensuring that we have a well informed and formidable media sector in Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Senior Manager for Corporate Communication at MTN Ghana said. The Bright Story Series is an initiative by MTN Ghana aimed at resourcing practicing journalists with additional and requisite knowledge that will facilitate the practice of sound journalism in Ghana. The workshop, which began in 2017 has trained over 300 journalists across the country. About MTN Ghana MTN Ghana is the market leader in the increasingly competitive mobile telecommunications industry in Ghana, offering subscribers a range of exciting options under Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go Services and Mobile Financial Services. The company has committed itself to delivering reliable and innovative services that provide value for subscribers in Ghanas telecommunications market. Since its entry into Ghana in 2006, MTN has continuously invested in expanding and modernizing its network in order to offer superior services to a broad expanse of the nation. Their 10-month-old podcast The Wigs boasts thousands of listeners, but the NSW barristers behind the microphones may now be familiar to thousands more. The trio of "wigs" Stephen Lawrence, Felicity Graham and Emmanuel Kerkyasharian led a successful legal bid with solicitor Peter O'Brien to ensure more than 20,000 people could march lawfully in last Saturday's Black Lives Matter rally in Sydney. The Wigs from left: barrister Felicity Graham, barrister Stephen Lawrence, law student and host Jim Minns and barrister Emmanuel Kerkyasharian. Credit:Wolter Peeters If the podcast has a spiritual birthplace, it is likely the unassuming Orange Function Centre where Lawrence met Jim Minns, brother of NSW Labor MP Chris Minns, at a Dancing with the Stars-style charity event in June last year. A podcaster, filmmaker and former videographer to then-federal Labor leader Bill Shorten, Jim had his shoulder to the wheel of his brother's (ultimately unsuccessful) campaign for the leadership of the NSW parliamentary Labor party. ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the National PTA Board of Directors has adopted a position statement on the reopening of public preK-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year. The statement calls for any decision to reopen schools to involve parents, families, students, educators, school employees, public health experts, health practitioners and community members in the planning, implementation and monitoring stages of reopening. It also calls on federal and state governments to provide the funding necessary to ensure that schools have the resources they need to reopen as safely and successfully as possible. "Our utmost priority during this crisis continues to be the health and safety of all students, educators, school employees and families. Our association remains committed to advocating for our nation's students, families and schools to ensure they have what they need during this challenging time," said Leslie Boggs, president of National PTA. "National PTA believes that inclusive stakeholder engagement is essential for effective decision making and successful implementation of school reopening plans, particularly engagement with parents and students to address unique family needs. We also need significant, immediate and continuing federal and state funding as many of our nation's school districts are already working without the resources they need to provide an equitable education to all students, and recovery from the pandemic is an added strain." National PTA's position is that plans for reopening must incorporate the best available science and expertise of infectious disease doctors and health practitioners. Plans shall also strictly follow the most up to date Center for Disease Control guidelines, including but not limited to reasonable social distancing, rigorous sanitizing processes and viral screening and testing protocols. The association recognizes that there will not be a one-size fits all process for the reopening of schools. As outlined in the position statement, effective stakeholder engagement must be inclusive, transparent, provide multiple opportunities for input and include meaningful, clear and concise communication. National PTA recommends that all information and protocols be disseminated to parents, families, students and communities, following current best practices for family and student engagement. The association urges that all communications must be accessible to parents with disabilities and available in other languages. As also included in the position statement, National PTA strongly supports a robust federal investment to address the impact of budget cuts on public schools and to help pay for the costs for schools to reopen safely and successfully. Recent cost-analyses by national education groups have demonstrated the urgent need for congressional action to ensure schools have what they need to operate safe and healthy environments and provide high-quality teaching and learning. National PTA urges Congress to provide at least $175 billion in funding for preK-12 education in the next COVID-19 relief package. These resources need to be provided now so that schools can begin planning and preparing to reopen in the fall. "Our public education system is the major vehicle for perpetuating the basic values of a democratic system of government. However, our public schools have been woefully under-resourced for decades," added Boggs. "Investments in our public education system are more critical now than ever before. Investments must be made immediately to ensure every public school has the proper resources to help every child learn, grow and reach their fullest potential while keeping them safe and healthy." In addition to the position statement on reopening of public preK-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year, the National PTA Board of Directors also adopted a position statement in April on Distance and Remote Learning for K12 Students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, National PTA launched a comprehensive webpage at PTA.org/COVID-19 with resources, tools and information to support families and educators amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The association has also focused several episodes of its Notes from the Backpack podcast on topics of concern for families due to COVID-19. Additionally, National PTA is granting $1.5M to PTAs across the country to help meet critical needs of students, families, teachers and schools due to the virus. "COVID-19 has had a significant impact on and presented many challenges for families and schools," said Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive director. "National PTA and PTAs across the country remain committed to supporting students, families and schools in this time of crisis." About National PTA National PTA comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org. SOURCE National PTA Related Links http://www.pta.org China slams U.S. military plane flying over Taiwan PLA Daily Source: Xinhuanet Editor: Huang Panyue 2020-06-11 21:49:03 BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Thursday slammed the flight by a U.S. military aircraft over Taiwan earlier this week, calling it an unlawful act and a serious provocation. Media reports said a U.S. military C-40A transport aircraft flew over Taiwan Tuesday. Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the overflight undermined China's sovereignty, security and development interests and breached international law and basic norms guiding international relations. "We deplore and firmly oppose the act," Zhu said. Zhu condemned the collusion of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with external forces and expressed the mainland's resolve, will and ability to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. She warned the DPP not to misjudge the situation and urged it to immediately stop the wrong doings. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defying the White House, former national security advisor John Bolton will release a book that suggests President Donald Trump committed impeachable offenses beyond Ukraine and alleges that his entire foreign policy is motivated by domestic politics, his publisher said Friday. Trump earlier this year warned Bolton not to publish his book while the president is still in the White House, whose lawyers have contended that large portions of the material in the memoir are classified. But publisher Simon and Schuster said it would go ahead and release "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir" on June 23, teasing in a press release: "This is the book Donald Trump doesn't want you to read." "I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision during my tenure that wasn't driven by re-election calculations," Bolton writes in the book, according to the release. The publisher said that Bolton will document wrongdoing by Trump that goes beyond his pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden -- which triggered Trump's impeachment by the Democratic-led House of Representatives. Bolton "argues that the House committed impeachment malpractice by keeping their prosecution focused narrowly on Ukraine when Trump's Ukraine-like transgressions existed across the full range of his foreign policy," the publisher said. Bolton will describe Trump's "inconsistent, scattershot decision-making process," it said. Bolton, a veteran Republican policymaker known for his hawkish views, left in September after disagreeing with Trump's diplomatic outreach to adversaries, notably North Korea and Afghanistan's Taliban. Denunciations of Bolton The memoir renewed questions on why Bolton, if he believed Trump had committed such serious offenses, did not testify as part of his impeachment and instead waited to sell his book. Criticism of Bolton was fierce on social media, which some urging a boycott of the memoir. Walter Shaub, the former director of the Office of Government Ethics who clashed with the Trump administration, wrote on Twitter that buying Bolton's book "amounts to supporting a shirker who betrayed his country by refusing to fulfill his duty to testify before Congress." Former congressman Joe Walsh, a conservative who unsuccessfully challenged Trump's renomination as the Republican presidential candidate, said of Bolton: "Your country called back in January/February." "You had an opportunity to testify. To say under oath how unfit this man is. To help remove this man from office," he wrote in a profanity-laden tweet. Bolton, who favors a tough line on Russia, is known to have opposed the White House's freeze on $400 million in military aid to Ukraine as it battled separatists backed by Moscow. Trump in a phone call had pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to dig up dirt on Biden over the former vice president's son's business dealings in the country. Trump has called the impeachment a conspiracy against him, contending his effort on Ukraine was in the larger US interest. Bolton, 71, has long been a controversial player in Washington, with former president George W. Bush bypassing the Senate to appoint him ambassador to the United Nations. An unapologetic campaigner for the Iraq war who has mused about bombing Iran and North Korea, the mustachioed, Yale-educated lawyer initially seemed an unlikely match for the domestic-focused Trump, but the television-loving president was drawn by Bolton's commentary on Fox News. Bolton has been unusually restrained in public comments since leaving the White House but a leak from his book roiled the impeachment trial. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in the Senate, where Trump was acquitted, said at the time that Bolton's testimony could help persuade wavering Republicans Akshay Kumar recently donated wrist bands to Mumbai Police to help detect COVID-19 symptoms, and now, he has joined hands with Nashik City Police to launch a centralized online health system, which will help track their health and symptoms. Earlier, Akshay Kumar also donated smart bands to Nashik Police Officers, which will sync and collaborate with the online dashboard, that will provide vital health-related information of each and every police personnel at one glance. According to reports, the platform will record body temperature and pulse rate and help detect COVID-19 symptoms, so that immediate assistance can be provided to the officers. Talking about the online tracker system, Akshay Kumar said, "The commitment of our police force is commendable and praiseworthy, and their relentless hard work and bravery is nothing less than heroic. We need to safeguard and protect the frontline workers who are tirelessly working for our safety during these unprecedented times. As this situation continues to persist, I believe technology can help us to fight this pandemic more efficiently. The online health monitoring system will help the Nashik City Police monitor the health and fitness of their police personnel and take precautionary measures to keep them safe." Nashik City Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangare Patil said that the police force is working for long hours and is dedicated in making sure its personnel are safe and healthy. He added, "With an online health monitoring system such as this, we can now monitor and capture the body vitals such as temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and take necessary steps to make sure our police force is healthy and fit." Akshay Kumar To Begin Shooting For Bell Bottom, Will Travel To London In July Exclusive: Akshay Kumar's Laxmmi Bomb Sold For Rs 145 Crore To Disney Plus Hotstar! SINGAPORE Despite having heightened surveillance and tightened precautions in Singapores migrant worker dormitories early on during the COVID-19 pandemic, the measures turned out to be insufficient, said Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean on Thursday (11 June). In a 25-minute speech televised on regional broadcaster CNA, Teo pointed out to the novel coronavirus being much more infectious than its genetically-related counterpart, which causes the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). During the 2003 SARS outbreak, Singapore recorded 238 cases of the disease and 33 deaths. In comparison, the city-state has confirmed 39,387 COVID-19 cases, including 25 related fatalities to date. Some 94 per cent of the total are foreign workers living in dorms. On 25 March, we recorded zero cases in our dormitories. Just 10 days later, on 4 April, when the number increased to 26 cases, we acted decisively to isolate the dormitories, said Teo, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security. However, the infectiousness of this virus and the communal living conditions in the dormitories meant that in a fortnight, by 20 April, we were recording more than 1,000 new cases per day in the dormitories. While Singapore may have gained experience in tackling the SAR outbreak here, no two crises are the same, Teo said. The efforts to fight the COVID-19 outbreak in the migrant worker community is a major challenge, he added. On the mobilisation of the Singapore Armed Forces and Home Team to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, Teo pointed out that the task is not a mission that they have been specifically prepared and trained for. But they demonstrated their readiness and flexibility by stepping up to establish the joint task forces within days, to support their MOM (Ministry of Manpower) and MOH (Ministry of Health) colleagues who were already on the frontlines, he noted. The taskforces had deployed teams to all the dorms to look after more than 300,000 workers and supported the MOHs overall medical support plan. Story continues Teo reiterated that the authorities are currently testing and clearing every worker living in the dorms to ensure they are well and can safely resume work. The operations are still ongoing, to bring the dorm situation fully under control. But the number of daily cases has already come down to between a third and half of the peak. About two-thirds of the patients have already fully recovered, he added. Teos delivery is the third in a series of national speeches by cabinet ministers, following the address by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last Sunday and National Development Lawrence Wong on Tuesday. Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing is scheduled next to deliver his speech on Sunday. Bigger test than past crises In his speech on Resilience in a changing external environment, Teo also spoke at length about Singapores efforts in providing community care facilities for patients who have mild or no symptoms. We had already anticipated the need for community care facilities and had started to build them. We accelerated these plans and scaled them up, adding new capacity daily over the first few weeks of April, he said. At the peak on 12 May, some 20,000 patients were being cared for at community care and similar facilities, with as many as 1,000 are admitted daily, Teo said. This is more than the total number of beds in all our public acute hospitals. We mobilised resources from across our public service, government-linked companies, and the private sector to set up and run all these facilities. Healthcare volunteers stepped forward to help man them, he stressed. This is how we are able to take care of every patient without overwhelming our healthcare system and putting lives at risk. The clear lesson learned during the COVID-19 outbreak is that Singapore needs to plan in peace-time on facing the unknown, and build deep reserves of people and capabilities, so that when we face a crisis, we can act decisively, and respond flexibly and rapidly. He referred to past challenges in Singapores history such as in 1967 when the British announced the withdrawal of their troops from the city-state. With the move, Singapore was poised to lose 20 per cent of its gross domestic product and 70,000 jobs at a time when the population was half of what it is today, Teo said. We are far more resilient today than in 1967, and better positioned to create new markets, businesses, and jobs to replace the ones that will be lost. Singapore also rode out the September 11 attacks in 2001, the Asian and global financial crises. COVID-19 is an even bigger test, he added. The outbreak is the first major crisis for many of the new generation of ministers and civil servants taking the lead in efforts to tackle the situation. The ministers have sought advice and tapped the experience and knowledge of their older Cabinet colleagues as well as consulted widely within and outside the government, Teo said. He added, Over the past few months, I have worked very closely with them. We speak daily and exchange views freely. They have stepped up to the task, worked together as a team, and led from the front. This is the way that we collectively ensure resilience and continuity in our leadership team for Singapore. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: 5,500 residents from 40 dorms have resumed work: MOM COVID-19 testing at migrant worker dorms may take up to September: Gan Kim Yong COVID-19: 40,000 migrant workers who live in dormitories cleared of virus Josephine Teo Government asks Singaporeans to reject NIMBY mindset as it overhauls foreign worker housing Throughout this pandemic, our community has supported one another and nonprofits like the American Cancer Society continue helping those facing challenges. Nonprofits of all sizes have long been on the front lines serving our communities. ACS has been serving Montana for more than 100 years, and while the organization has been forced to put some services on hold, it continues to be there for cancer patients and survivors 24/7 through a call center and virtual support. ACS is near to my heart because my father was diagnosed with lung cancer when it was stage 4 and only lasted for three months after diagnosis was made. We need laws that will insure that cancer patients are not denied the drugs they need. ACS serves many people nationwide. However, they are ineligible for all the nonprofit relief in the original CARES Act because they have more than 500 employees. Like many nonprofits, donations are scarce, and the range of services a nonprofit like ACS can provide is in jeopardy. Because we are a united community, I know we can do more to help Americas charities. As an American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteer, Im urging Sen. Jon Tester to ensure the next stimulus package includes relief for nonprofits with more than 500 employees. YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan received on June 11 the delegation of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia led by its President Arsen Ghazaryan, the UMBA told Armenpress. The meeting was also attended by Finance Minister Atom Janjughazyan and Minister of Economy Tigran Khachatryan. The meeting participants discussed a number of issues, including the process of socio-economic measures taken by the government to overcome the coronavirus crisis, the problems facing the businesses, their actions to prevent the economic decline. Both sides agreed to continue such format meetings in accordance with the separate branches of the economy. Such meetings are very important as the executive is directly informed from the businessmen about the problems and developments existing in different sectors of the economy, and the entrepreneurs in their turn get an opportunity to discuss with the members of the government the expected economic policy steps and present their opinions, UMBA President Arsen Ghazaryan said. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan The rapidly unfolding movement to pull down Confederate monuments around the U.S. in the wake of George Floyds death has extended to statues of slave traders, imperialists, conquerors and explorers around the world, including Christopher Columbus, Cecil Rhodes and Belgiums King Leopold II. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/6/2020 (589 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A band plays in front of the Confederate monument in Portsmouth, Va., during a demonstration on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Protesters beheaded and then pulled down four statues that were part of a Confederate monument. The crowd was frustrated by the Portsmouth City Councils decision to put off moving the monument. (Kristen Zeis/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) The rapidly unfolding movement to pull down Confederate monuments around the U.S. in the wake of George Floyds death has extended to statues of slave traders, imperialists, conquerors and explorers around the world, including Christopher Columbus, Cecil Rhodes and Belgiums King Leopold II. Protests and, in some cases, acts of vandalism have taken place in such cities as Boston; New York; Paris; Brussels; and Oxford, England, in an intense re-examination of racial injustices over the centuries. Scholars are divided over whether the campaign amounts to erasing history or updating it. At the University of Oxford, protesters have stepped up their longtime push to remove a statue of Rhodes, the Victorian imperialist who served as prime minister of the Cape Colony in southern Africa. He made a fortune from gold and diamonds on the backs of miners who laboured in brutal conditions. Oxfords vice chancellor Louise Richardson, in an interview with the BBC, balked at the idea. We need to confront our past, she said. My own view on this is that hiding our history is not the route to enlightenment. Near Santa Fe, New Mexico, activists are calling for the removal of a statue of Don Juan de Onate, a 16th-century Spanish conquistador revered as a Hispanic founding father and reviled for brutality against Native Americans, including an order to cut off the feet of two dozen people. Vandals sawed off the statues right foot in the 1990s. In Bristol, England, demonstrators over the weekend toppled a statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston and threw it in the harbour. City authorities said it will be put in a museum. Across Belgium, statues of Leopold II have been defaced in half a dozen cities because of the kings brutal rule over the Congo, where more than a century ago he forced multitudes into slavery to extract rubber, ivory and other resources for his own profit. Experts say he left as many as 10 million dead. The Germans would not get it into their head to erect statues of Hitler and cheer them, said Mireille-Tsheusi Robert, an activist in Congo who wants Leopold statues removed from Belgian cities. For us, Leopold has committed a genocide. With the White House and the Washington Monument in the background, a National Park Service worker cleans a statue of President Andrew Jackson, Thursday, June 11, 2020, near the White House in Washington, after protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who was in police custody in Minneapolis. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) In the U.S., Floyds death May 25 under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer has led to an all-out effort to remove symbols of the Confederacy and slavery. The Navy, the Marines and NASCAR have embraced bans on the display of the Confederate flag, and statues of rebel heroes across the South have been vandalized or taken down, either by protesters or local authorities. On Wednesday night, protesters pulled down a century-old statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Richmond, Virginia, the former capital of the Confederacy. The 8-foot (2.4-meter) bronze figure had already been targeted for removal by city leaders, but the crowd took matters into its own hands. No immediate arrests were made. It stood a few blocks away from a towering, 61-foot-high equestrian statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the most revered of all Confederate leaders. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam last week ordered its removal, but a judge blocked such action for now. The spokesman for the Virginia division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, B. Frank Earnest, condemned the toppling of public works of art and likened losing the Confederate statues to losing a family member. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, who has proposed dismantling all Confederate statues in the city, asked protesters not to take matters into their own hands for their own safety. But he indicated the Davis statue is gone for good. He never deserved to be up on that pedestal, Stoney said, calling Davis a racist & traitor. Elsewhere around the South, authorities in Alabama got rid of a massive obelisk in Birmingham and a bronze likeness of a Confederate naval officer in Mobile. In Virginia, a slave auction block was removed in Fredericksburg, and protesters in Portsmouth knocked the heads off the statues of four Confederates. The monument is believed to be located where a slave whipping post once stood, and removing it is a small step in the right direction, Portsmouth activist and organizer Rocky Hines said. Its not a history that we as a nation should necessarily be proud of. For us, the history is a lot of history of slavery and hatred, he said. Its bothered people for a long time. In Washington, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it is time to remove statues of Confederate figures from the U.S. Capitol and take their names off military bases such as Fort Bragg, Fort Benning and Fort Hood. President Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected the idea of renaming bases. But Republicans in the Senate, at risk of losing their majority in the November elections, arent with Trump on this. A GOP-led Senate panel on Thursday approved a plan to take Confederate names off military installations. Supporters of Confederate monuments have argued that they are important reminders of history; opponents contend they glorify those who went to war against the U.S. to preserve slavery. The Davis monument and many others across the South were erected decades after the Civil War during the Jim Crow era, when states imposed tough new segregation laws, and during the Lost Cause movement, in which historians and others sought to recast the Souths rebellion as a noble undertaking, fought to defend not slavery but states rights. For protesters mobilized by Floyds death, the targets have ranged far beyond the Confederacy. Statues of Columbus have been toppled or vandalized in cities such as Miami; Richmond; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Boston, where one was decapitated. Protesters have accused the Italian explorer of genocide and exploitation of native peoples. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is Italian American, said he opposes removal of a statue of Columbus in Manhattans Columbus Circle. I understand the feelings about Christopher Columbus and some of his acts, which nobody would support, he said. But the statue has come to represent and signify appreciation for the Italian American contribution to New York. So for that reason I support it. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Historians have differing views of the campaigns. How far is too far, in scrubbing away a history so that we wont remember it wrong or, indeed, have occasion to remember it at all? asked Mark Summers, a University of Kentucky professor. Ive always felt that honour to the past shouldnt be done by having fewer monuments and memorials, but more. Scott Sandage, a historian at Carnegie Mellon University, noted that Americans have a long tradition of arguing over monuments and memorials. He recalled the bitter debate over the now-beloved Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington when the design was unveiled. Removing a memorial doesnt erase history. It makes new history, Sandage said. And thats always happening, no matter whether statues go up, come down, or not. ___ Crary reported from New York. Associated Press reporters around the United States and in Europe contributed. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 20:48:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LISBON, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa on Friday called for a more united and more cohesive Europe in a message on Twitter marking the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Accession of Portugal to the European Economic Community (EEC). "On the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Accession of Portugal to the EEC, we renew our commitment to this Community of values and shared prosperity, and reinforce our ambition to continue to build a stronger, more united and more cohesive Europe," says the message. In the continuation of the message, the prime minister said he hoped "that all European leaders will rise to the challenges that Europe is facing so that we will soon adopt the Commission's proposal for Europe's economic and social recovery. The adherence of Europeans to our common project depends on it." The EEC is the precursor to the European Union. Enditem A woman poisoned her 50-year-old husband and 18-year-old daughter to death following an argument in Ghararsi village of Kurukshetra district, police said on Friday. As per the complaint filed by the mans father, his daughter-in-law had an extra-marital affair with a Kaithal man, who used to frequently visit her. On June 9, my son saw that man at his house, which led to an argument with his wife. On Thursday, she served my son and granddaughter food laced with poison. She also consumed some toxic substance later, he added. The three were rushed to a hospital in Kurukshetra, where doctors referred them to PGIMER in Chandigarh. Their family members, however, took them to a local private hospital, where the man and his daughter died, the police said, adding that condition of the 47-year-old woman was critical. Kurukshetra University police station in-charge Suraj Kumar said an FIR under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC has been registered against the woman and the man from Kaithal. Mexico City driver killed after semi lands on compact car Mexico City One person has been reported killed and another injured after a double-long semi flipped onto its side, landing on top of a compact car. The accident happened along the Naucalpan-Toluca highway in Mexico City 7:00 a.m. Thursday morning. According to reports, the driver of the semi was heading toward Toluca when he lost control around a corner and overturned, landing on top of a private vehicle. The extended box of the semi hit a taxi. The driver of the compact car died instantly, while the driver of the taxi was reported injured. Police cordoned off the area, while expert services carried out the removal of the body from the small car. Reports say the driver of the semi unit fled the scene. Members of the Attorney General of Justice of the State of Mexico (FGJEM) arrived to begin the corresponding investigations. XIGAZE, China, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ZCC1800H, the 180-ton crawler crane from Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (Zoomlion), has ventured beyond its limits in the transmission tower installation project in Xigaze, Tibet Autonomous Region and installed more than 200 towers in locations where the elevation averages 4,800 meters across, no man's land and swamps. Due to the harsh construction environment, dangerous road conditions and strict environmental protection requirements, the hoisting tasks which were part of a power transmission and transformation project in Tibet were highly challenging. The high-altitude environment has low atmospheric pressure and temperatures, requiring the equipment to have the ability to start at low temperatures. The ZCC1800H is the largest-tonnage crawler crane that operated in Xigaze which allowing activation at minus 15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit) without auxiliary assistance and at minus 35 degrees Celsius (minus 31 degrees Fahrenheit) with preheating. With a main boom of 83 meters (272 feet) and a rated load lifting capacity of 27.8 tons, it could lift 70-meter-tall (230 feet) towers easily and thus improved the overall construction efficiency from 60 to 80 percent since April. Li Hang, an operator of ZCC1800H in Xigaze, explained that the crawler crane has played a key role in speeding up the project construction. "With relatively low ground pressure and small turning radius, the ZCC1800H can travel load without putting down the outriggers. The model also has a broader view for the operator," said Li. "Its excellent maneuverability and stability, fast and high-precision hoisting speed allowed operators to complete the installation quickly after the boom lifts the tower." Launched in September 2019, this highest-altitude grid project in the world has been coined the "power heaven road" and will connect to 10 Tibetan counties, ending the days when the power grid of Ali Prefecture is isolated from the rest of Tibet, and solving power problems for an estimate of 380,000 people in the region. About Zoomlion Founded in 1992, Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (01157.HK) is a high-end equipment manufacturing enterprise that integrates engineering machinery, agricultural machinery, and financial services. The company now sells more than 600 cutting-edge products from 55 product lines covering ten significant categories. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1179893/WechatIMG2156.jpg TORONTO, June 11, 2020 /CNW/ - Amidst renewed mobilization by black communities for government and civil society to seriously address anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism in Canada, anti-poverty activists from across the country support their call to address the systemic nature of violence and poverty within their communities. Data released today show exceptionally high rates of poverty across the country in Black, First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities. For 30 years, Campaign 2000 has been tracking rates of child poverty in Canada. While they are unacceptably high given that the federal government made a promise to eradicate it by the year 2000, the numbers grow exponentially across the country for Black and Indigenous children. Custom Census data tabulation from 2016, the latest data available, was supplied by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. It reveals that Status and non-Status First Nations children living on and off reserve experience astoundingly high child poverty rates. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, for instance, 65% of Status First Nation children living on reserve live in poverty. Status First Nations children living off reserve experience child poverty rates of 54% and 50% respectively. Census 2016 data also shows that in every province across the country, rates of child poverty in Black communities are anywhere from 8 percentage points higher in Saskatchewan (25% child poverty rate for Black children), to 24 percentage points higher in Newfoundland and Labrador (41% child poverty rate for Black children) than the national average of 17%. The provincial child poverty rate for both these provinces sat at 18%. "This is our legacy of colonialism," says Leila Sarangi, National Coordinator of Campaign 2000. "Poverty and police violence in Black and Indigenous communities uphold our systems of oppression and white supremacy. We need to address this. We support Black and Indigenous calls for immediate police accountability and significant investments into mental health services, housing, employment, childcare and education for these children." "Economic discrimination against Black and Indigenous children threatens the very survival of these communities through robbing them of a future generation which is as healthy, educationally accomplished, and occupationally successful as Canadians in general. This cannot be tolerated," said Sid Frankel, Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Manitoba. "Indigenous, Black and racialized children, youth and families have a right to live in safety, dignity and respect," adds Rachel Gouin, Executive Director of the Child Welfare League of Canada. "Redirecting resources to meet the needs of families is not only the right thing to do, it is the most effective way to ensure that every child can fulfill their potential." Campaign 2000 is a pan-Canadian network of over 120 organizations working to end child and family poverty and generously hosted by Family Service Toronto, a multi-service agency providing mental health supports to low-income individuals. Visit www.campaign2000.ca for more information. Custom disaggregated data on Indigenous child poverty rates has been graciously supplied by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, an independent, non-partisan research institute concerned with issues of social, economic and environmental justice. Visit www.policyalternatives.ca for more information. SOURCE Campaign 2000 For further information: Leila Sarangi, National Coordinator, Campaign 2000, 647.393.1097 or [email protected] Local and French language spokesperson available upon request. NEW DELHI: The election for mayor and deputy mayor of all the three municipal corporations in Delhi will be held on June 24, according to a notification issued by the state election commission. The last date for filing of nominations for the same is June 17. According to the notification issued on Friday, elections will also be held for the posts of deputy mayor and standing committee members. The announcement regarding mayoral elections was delayed after the Centre imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of Coronavirus infection. But now, the three mayors of Delhi who have already completed their one-year tenure will be replaced at the end of this month. Mayoral election was scheduled to be held during the first meeting of the municipal corporation in April. But, it was deferred indefinitely due to the coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown. The municipal secretaries of the three corporations had earlier written to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal seeking his permission to hold elections for the post of mayors in Delhi. Peru said it will construct a fast-build hospital in the Amazon as it seeks to respond to a growing COVID-19 emergency sweeping through the indigenous population. State social security body EsSalud said it expects the 100-bed hospital in Pucallpa, capital of the remote Ucayali region on the border with Brazil, to be operational within three weeks. "EsSalud will install a fast-build hospital in Ucayali to serve COVID-19 patients," the government body said in a statement late Friday. The Peruvian Amazon is already facing a dire emergency, with hospitals in its largest city Iquitos overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients and local morgues unable to cope with the number of bodies. The government said it would rush 220 healthworker reinforcements to the Amazon. "We have been working intensively to expand the services and provide hospitals in the Peruvian Amazon with all the necessary means to care for patients with COVID-19," said Federico Tong Hurtado, a spokesman for the social security services. Prime Minister Gustavo Zeballos said the government would ensure the supply of oxygen and other vital medical materials via "an air and land bridge" to the region. Roads are practically non-existent in the Peruvian jungle and rivers are the main means of transportation. The government has pledged to ramp up the frequency of flights from Lima to ensure aid deliveries. An oxygen plant will begin operating in Iquitos, capital of the neighboring Amazon region of Loreto, on Monday, supplying a local 40-bed hospital. Desperate COVID-19 patients have been dying in the region's hospitals for lack of oxygen, officials say. "The world's lung is dying from lack of oxygen and this is our sad reality," the director of Health for the Amazon Region of Loreto, Carlos Calampa, told AFP in a video call on Thursday. Loreto, which borders Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador, is the largest and least populated region in Peru but also the worst affected by the pandemic. More than 2,250 cases of Peru's COVID-19 cases have been registered there, with 95 deaths, according to official figures. Church authorities in Iquitos have organized a public collection to acquire another plant to provide oxygen bottles for local hospitals. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Fri, June 12, 2020 07:40 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde18179 2 SE Asia Malaysia,haj-pilgrimage,haj-pilgrims,hajj-cancellation,Muslim-nations,Saudi-Arabia,coronavirus,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,pandemic Free Malaysia on Thursday pulled out of the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca over coronavirus fears days after neighboring Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation, also withdrew. Millions travel from around the world to Saudi Arabia every year to perform the hajj, a ritual that every Muslim must do once in their lives if able. The virus pandemic, which has killed more than 400,000 people worldwide, has thrown the end-of-July celebration into doubt, although Riyadh is yet to announce a decision on whether it will proceed. Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said it was not safe for the 31,600 pilgrims from Malaysia who had been due to go this year to take part due to the virus. "This was a heavy decision to make," he said, adding that those affected would be able to go on the hajj next year instead. In Malaysia, a country of 32 million where about 60 percent are Muslims, the devout typically wait for years for the opportunity to perform the hajj. Jakarta's decision last week to withdraw removed the largest contingent of pilgrims -- more than 220,000 Indonesians had been due to take part. Malaysia's virus outbreak has been relatively mild, with authorities reporting more than 8,000 cases and 118 deaths. In contrast, Saudi Arabia has seen over 112,000 infections and 819 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally. It has already suspended the year-round "umrah" pilgrimage to Islam's holiest cities, Mecca and Medina. The Indian governments pandemic advice in March had asked pregnant women, children and elderly to remain indoors. Neelam, 30, in her eighth month of pregnancy breathed her last after being turned away from hospitals in Noida on Friday, 5 June, according to news reports. She showed COVID-19 symptoms and came from the containment zone of Khoda. Her family travelled around Noida by auto and then ambulance to eight hospitals who refused to treat Neelam. Thirteen hours later, she died in the ambulance. Neelam isnt the first pregnant woman whose death wasnt a direct result of COVID-19, and she wont be the last. Her case reveals the deep cracks in Indias healthcare facilities which are failing pregnant women. The pressure on the healthcare system due to the pandemic, Indias lockdown and lack of clear guidelines have caused severe disruptions in access to maternal healthcare and antenatal services. The critical procedures affected include routine check-ups, scans, institutional deliveries and follow-ups -- which may lead to the increased suffering and eventual deaths of pregnant women. Experts are concerned that the pandemic will result in a huge setback for Indias strides towards equitable maternal health, and may cause a spike in maternal mortality and morbidity rates. Maternal morbidity and mortality will see an increase, however, its hard to estimate by how much at this point due to the lack of data, said Dr Samiksha Singh, assistant professor, Indian Institute of Public Health. However, there is a definite barrier in accessing healthcare as we see the reduction in antenatal check-ups and deliveries at hospitals. Even as early as March, during the early stages of the pandemic, institutional births declined as unattended home births increased, according to reports. Data collection, reporting and monitoring have all been severely hampered by the lockdown, and so there is an incomplete picture of the exact extent of the problem which pregnant women have faced. Job Zachariah, chief of field operations in Chhattisgarh, UNICEF noted that home deliveries may have risen to 10 times the normal. Field assessments in the state revealed that even in the initial stages of lockdown institutional delivery dropped significantly with just 2,813 births in March 2020, as against 37,630 in February 2020. Over 79 percent of all deliveries are institutional deliveries in India, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2015-16. This number may reduce in the coming months as people are afraid of contracting COVID-19 in hospitals on the one hand, and women arent able to access antenatal services on the other, he said. Zachariah noted that home deliveries arent a problem per se, but in case of complications lack of medical intervention can be fatal for both mother and child. India reduced its maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by 77 percent, from 556 per 1,00,000 live births in 1990 to 130 per 1,00,000 live births in 2016. Indias success in providing maternity care is thanks to several schemes and programmes, including the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) launched in 2016. Several states have their own schemes to address various aspects of maternal care. All women are at equal risk when pregnant and hence need to go to the hospital regularly, Singh said.Many high-risk cases deliver normally and many normal cases end up becoming high-risk at the delivery table. The writer reached out to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare office for a comment. The story will be updated when we have a reply. The WHO recommends at least four antenatal care check-ups (ANC) for pregnant women in the age group of 14-49. In India, only 51 percent of that category had four or more ANC visits according to NFHS. ANC visits help doctors and midwives identify high-risk cases, monitor nutrition, and administer preventive care like tetanus shots and prescribing iron and folic acid tablets. Every 20 minutes an Indian woman dies of pregnancy or childbirth-related complications, according to UNICEF. While India has made significant progress in curtailing maternal mortality, it still saw around 30,000 such deaths in 2017. Nearly 20-30 percent of all the countrys pregnancies are high-risk, leading to 70-80 percent of perinatal mortality and morbidity, according to Indias National Health Portal. Ria (name changed), 31, from Chennai had a high-risk pregnancy due to a complicated medical history. She was still in her first trimester when the COVID-19 lockdown began on 24 March. She knew it was imperative she sees an OB-GYN who can monitor her precarious health and that of her baby. But through the two months of her pregnancy, coinciding with the lockdown, getting a doctors appointment became impossible. Rias attempts at organising in-person check-ups with half-a-dozen doctors including obstetrics-gynaecologists (OB-GYN), her neurologists, and a general physician were unsuccessful. Since this was her first pregnancy, her excitement was tempered by anxiety. I have a high risk of clotting, and this could be harmful for me and the baby. I wanted to know how to manage this, Ria said in April. Just before the lockdown began to be lifted in June, Ria, who was now 11 weeks into her pregnancy, learnt that the fetus had had no heartbeat for at least three weeks. But she hadnt been able to visit a doctor in that period. The doctor then advised a routine abortion pill, but her situation quickly turned critical when she lost a lot of blood, passed out in her room, and was rushed to the hospital. They knew my health problems. I saw five doctors but it felt like nobody really cared, they werent seeing my reports properly. Nobody was studying my case well, she recalled. Doctors explained that the lockdown made it difficult for them to take on new cases while following physical distancing norms. Since consultations were on only for a few days every week there was often overcrowding. Struggles of pregnant women in this pandemic are varied and cut across class, caste and geography, as Neelam and Rias case show. In rural areas, and particularly for migrant workers returning home, the lack of access to maternal healthcare can be nightmarish. Hemant, 42, witnessed a highway delivery in Betul district, Madhya Pradesh on the night of 6 May. The taxi driver came across a large group of migrant workers walking towards Bihar and saw that some of them were flagging the few vehicles passing by for help. One of the women walking from Maharashtra to Bihar was nearly eight months pregnant. She went into labour in the middle of the night, he recalled. He made calls for an ambulance but was told they were on COVID-19 duty. He then dropped her to the nearest hospital, he said. A month on, Hemant still considers it the worst incident he has witnessed in his life. Several more cases of migrant pregnant women going into labour were reported from central India in April and May. Ambulance services arent available in many rural areas where hospitals are generally far from villages. Moreover, villagers are using logs of wood to block access as they are afraid of COVID-19, Zachariah said. The Indian governments pandemic advice in March had asked pregnant women, children and elderly to remain indoors. Singh said this led to fear and misunderstanding among people as they perceived precautions against COVID-19 to be more important than their pregnancies. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare guidelines declaring maternal health services as essential came only on 13 April, in the third week of the lockdown. But by then the damage had been done for many expecting mothers. Dr Keerthana Ashwin, an OB-GYN from Chennai had to deliver disturbing news to patients just as access to maternal healthcare and scanning facilities re-opened in late April. Due to the lockdown, a lot of my patients missed their scans done in the 16-18th week of pregnancy to determine any anomaly in the fetus, she said. One of my patients will have to carry her pregnancy to term, even though the fetus has a heart defect. We found it too late, she was past the legal abortion limit of 20 weeks. Even a woman being unable to access family planning services can result in a spike in pregnancies and maternal deaths. Foundation for Reproductive Health Services India (FRHS), a Delhi-based non-governmental organisation, noted in their May 2020 policy brief that the lack of access to contraceptives will result in 2.38 million unintended pregnancies, 679,864 live births, 1.45 million abortions (including 834,042 unsafe abortions) and 1,743 maternal deaths. Singh is concerned that this isnt a temporary setback, but one whose consequences will last for years to come. All our schemes for reducing maternal mortality and providing healthcare for pregnant women everywhere have already suffered. From antenatal care to nutrition, weight monitoring to immunisation -- every aspect of maternal and child health care has taken a hit, she explained. The author is an independent journalist based in Bengaluru. She tweets at @theplainjain. The city of San Antonio is undertaking an initiative to provide broadband internet access to thousands of low-income households and close the digital divide. As the pandemic has forced students, senior citizens and many workers to shift their lives online, the lack of internet access has exacerbated an already bad problem for thousands of San Antonios residents. Yet, advocates who have tried to increase digital access for much of the last decade are now armed with $27 million in federal CARES Act dollars. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio City Council OKs $191 million package for coronavirus relief What was once thought of as a luxury is now considered a utility as important as running water or electricity. The genesis of this whole thing was really that COVID had pulled the curtain back on just a tremendous amount of inequities and obstacles to just the most basic of services and the most basic information that a lot of other people take for granted, said District 8 City Councilman Manny Pelaez, chair of the councils innovation and technology committee. This city is the largest poor city in America. So, in order for us to dig our way out of poverty, we need to give people the tools they need in order to achieve wealth and achieve more opportunity, he said. Like much of the citys COVID-19 recovery plans, which include worker training and small business support initiatives, details of the broadband expansion plan are still being worked out. But the city and its partner agencies will first run a pilot program to bring internet access to the homes of students who attend Edgewood and Lanier high schools. Across San Antonio, more than 38 percent of households have no fixed internet access making San Antonio one of the least well-connected among large U.S. cities, according to an analysis by Jordana Barton, a senior adviser to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. For years, Barton has worked behind the scenes to craft an internet expansion plan for San Antonio. The pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis sped up her efforts. Initially, the city is looking to address the so-called homework gap, which refers to the students who dont have internet at home and often are unable to do their schoolwork without it. At Lanier High School, 75 percent of students live in households without broadband access, according to a study conducted by the San Antonio Independent School District. Throughout all SAISD schools, 65 percent of students dont have internet access, Barton said. Advocates say not having internet access at home is akin to saying students cant take their textbooks home to study. The digital divide is a structural barrier to upward mobility, Barton said. These young people growing up in Lanier and all of these schools, they need the opportunity. They have the talent. On ExpressNews.com: Digital divide suddenly wider Heres how the proof of concept pilot is expected to work: households without internet access will have an antenna-like receiver a permanent hotspot, Barton calls it placed on their homes or apartment buildings. Two large antenna will be placed near Lanier and Edgewood, which will beam a consumer-grade broadband internet signal to homes within a certain radius. How far the signal will go will depend on the density of households receiving the wireless connection, said Brian Regnier, the director of innovative projects at City Education Partners, a nonprofit working with the city to deploy the wireless internet technology. If you draw a triangle between Lanier, J.T. Brackenridge (Academy) and Tafolla (Middle School), its the Bermuda Triangle of connected high-speed internet, Regnier said. If were going to try somewhere, we should go for the hardest hit area of town. Parents are all having to deal with distanced learning. Of the haves versus have-nots, even the haves see how difficult it is to do distanced learning, and we actually have high-speed internet, he said. Barton said the proposed system is a longer-term and more cost-effective way to provide internet compared with the multi-million dollar effort school districts in the city have taken on to provide individual mobile hot spots and other technology for students to use at home. Its also better than what Barton called the Band-Aid solution of providing Wi-Fi for students to use in public places such as library or school parking lots. Billy Calzada /Staff photographer The millions of dollar each school district is spending, these are temporary (solutions), Barton said. We have to do something, and we have to do something permanent. San Antonio has an advantage in expanding broadband access. The city and CPS Energy years ago built out an extensive, underground network of fiber optic cables that currently deliver internet access to government buildings and public community centers such as libraries. The City Council and CPS Energy in the fall of 2014 signed an agreement allowing the city to utilize a portion of the fiber in perpetuity. When the network was built, it was packed with far more fiber optic cable than was needed at the time. That means the system has the bandwidth to accommodate other uses, Barton said. But shes quick to point out that the city would not itself be providing the internet. The city-owned utilitys fiber would instead ferry internet access from private-sector service providers such as AT&T or Spectrum, for example, to areas where their fiber doesnt currently reach. City leaders and advocates are hesitant to place a timeline on the roll-out of the broadband expansion plan. But Barton said she expects to see big progress on the pilot plan before the beginning of the school year this fall. This is about bridging the homework gap. We want to make sure they can start in our pilot area, and we want to be able to gather data on Is this helping? Is this the intended outcome? Regnier said. Youve got to test it. By fall of 2021, Barton said the majority of the homework gap in San Antonio could be closed. Now, do we expect all kinds of challenges? Yes, she said. Its not like were saying this is going to be 100 percent. Were saying Man, its going to be darn good. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio educators: our best efforts cant stop coronavirus closures from hurting students Bridging the digital divide will work in conjunction with the citys other COVID-19 recovery programs for small businesses, job training and housing stability, Pelaez said. Without internet, it would likely be difficult for a small business owner to apply for a loan, for a laid-off worker to apply for unemployment or training, or for a resident to find housing or apply for assistance. You cant do those without closing the digital divide. Its all symbiotic, Pelaez said. Its possible that in 1992 you couldve done the three pillars and been fine, but not in 2020. City leaders have said closing the digital gap would also help senior citizens connect to telemedicine sessions and stay in touch with family. On ExpressNews.com: For the first time, telemedicine is surging in San Antonio For now, however, the city is focused on bridging the homework gap. If the plan works, wireless internet access could be expanded later to other neighborhoods. All we care about is solving the homework gap. I think thats going to be the thing that galvanizes our community to start considering real, long-term solutions, said Dax Moreno, San Antonios chief tech talent and recruitment officer. If we do it well, and we learn quite a bit from it about the application, extension and scale, then well have a ton of other opportunities to serve other communities. If all goes according to plan, advocates say expanding internet connection could lead to higher test scores and educational outcomes for many lower-income students. Eventually, that could translate to students earning higher-wage jobs after graduating and reducing poverty in San Antonio. San Antonio was labeled the most extreme in wealth and income inequality, economic segregation, the highest poverty of a city of its size in the country, Barton said. We dont want to to be that... We can invest in low-income people. We can say, You need access to what everybody else has. What youre going to create is going to be up to you, and we know its going to be great. diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net Mr. Andrews Teddy Ofori, the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), has cut sod for the construction of a rice processing factory in the Municipality. The factory, which is under the One District One Factory (1D1F) will clean, hull, mill, polish grade and sort rice as well as package for export. Mr. Ofori in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), described the factory as a strategic facility that would support rice farmers and the youth within the Municipality and the Region. He said about 130 youth will receive training in the management of the factory when completed, while some of the youth would engage and educate farmers in order to produce quality raw materials for the factory. Togbe Keh XII, Divisional Chief of Gbi-Wegbe expressed gratitude to the government and the Assembly for the initiative while appealing to the contractor to meet the deadline for the project. He noted that the Municipality and its environs were becoming a rice growing hub and hopeful the factory would help farmers to get ready market for their products. Dr. Cephas Bosrotsi, Consultant of the construction firm, Skodza-Limited, told the GNA that the rice processing factory was expected to be completed within six months. GNA Former Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy tipped the scales in the 2017 Catalan elections when he suspended Catalonias home rule arbitrarily and without restraint. The next time Catalans go to the polls it will the Supreme Court that will have the upper hand, not because its judges will pick the date (courts of law do not get to call elections yet, though lets not give them ideas), but because they will likely disqualify Catalan president Quim Torra. A date has been set now: September 17, just as the summer break ends and a new political year begins. The reason why president Torra will likely be banned from office an alleged crime of disobedience committed when he refused to take down a banner in support of Catalonias political prisoners is so ludicrous it borders on the surreal. However, it does provide a measure of the length to which Spains state nationalism is prepared to go in order to persecute its political rivals. Likewise, it indicates the level to which Catalonias pro-independence parties have sunk in terms of their strength, ambition and self-delusion: three years ago they vowed to turn Catalonia into an independent republic and now they are squabbling over losing the limited powers granted by the Catalan Statute of Autonomy (they squabble with the Spanish government, but mostly among themselves). From a legal standpoint, disqualifying the president of Catalonia for such a banal reason does not really hold water. But from a political perspective, it is totally outrageous, more so in a country like Spain, where the list of Catalan presidents who have been disposed of one way or another is rather long (most of them executed or exiled). Yet now Madrids authorities claim they want to start a dialogue. It is just as shocking, really. But Catalonias separatist parties have been speculating with that outrageous nonsense for months, as another variable in their politicking and electoral expectations: when would the presidents disbarment benefit them the most and how could they make the most of it? Obviously president Torra and his party, Junts per Catalunya, stand to benefit the most because Torra would be made into a martyr. ERC would pay a price for being the socialist partys partner and supposedly harbouring hopes of forming a left-wing coalition with Podemos and the PSC. This idea is lent credence by the fact that Jaume Asens [a Catalan Podemos leader] has reacted to the Supreme Courts announcement by implying that it is about time we kicked the Catalan right out of the Catalan government and referring to Torra as a president without legitimacy. Well, that depends on how you look at it. Torra was appointed president as a replacement for Carles Puigdemont [who remains exiled and couldnt be voted in] and he has always regarded Puigdemont at the legitimate president-elect. As time went by, a good deal of independence supporters began to appreciate Torra, primarily due to the slurs and lies which Spanish nationalists in particular, the PP and Ciudadanos used against him. He was already a legitimate president when he was sworn in, because he was elected by the Catalan parliament. But those who would like to see him destroyed have actually strengthened his legitimacy over time. Stephen Raffone had difficulty breathing. He coughed up sputum and was wheezing. Doctors told him he had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition that causes blocked airflow from the lungs. As a result, he was being treated for stage 4 COPD. Global insurance companies linked to Adanis Carmichael coal mine in Australia are distancing themselves from the controversial development, as pressure mounts on financial institutions to cut their ties to the fossil fuel industry. A growing global consensus has seen financial institutions from Japan to the U.S. and Europe shun investments in coal projects. Adanis search for partners in the project, which would open up an untouched basin, has been frustrated as activists increasingly pressure banks, insurers and contractors to abandon the dirtiest fossil fuel. The pushback comes after the Sydney Morning Herald reported Thursday that Liberty International Underwriters, HDI Global SE and AXA SAs XL Australia, as well as reinsurer Aspen Re, charged Adani for policies covering work at Carmichael since November. The report was based on invoices obtained from an employee at the broker, Marsh & McLennan. In response to Bloomberg queries, LIUs parent company Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., Hannover-based HDI, and Frances AXA all said they had no active policies in place for Carmichael and had ruled out insuring the project in the future. Liberty and HDI both confirmed they had insured some early site works dating back to 2015. Liberty said its policy expired last October, but it was contractually obligated to a 24-month maintenance period for any defects following the conclusion of the insurance period. Aspen Group would not comment on individual policies, but said it was reviewing its underwriting appetite for fossil fuels. Adani won approval last year to proceed with the thermal coal mine in Queenslands Galilee Basin following a decade-long struggle with regulators and climate action groups. Australias top insurance companies including QBE Insurance Group Ltd. and Suncorp Group Ltd. have steered clear of the Carmichael project, while German company Siemens AG last year drew a backlash from protesters after signing a contract for signaling work on a rail link to the mine. An employee at Marsh & McLennan, which Adani hired in 2015 to secure cover for the Carmichael mine, leaked the invoices after being frustrated by its lack of transparency on matters relating to the project, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Marsh & McLennan declined to comment on the report. Adani said in an emailed statement that details on insurance providers for the Carmichael Project are commercial in confidence, however we have the requisite insurance requirements in place. Related: Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Carriers Australia Americas Racial Reckoning: What you need to know Full coverage: Race & Reckoning Demographic changes: How the racial makeup of where you live has changed since 1990 Newsletter: Subscribe to About US to read the latest on race and identity George Floyds America: Examining systemic racism through the lens of his life Resources: Understanding racism and inequality in America One Indian farmer has been killed and at least three more are injured in firing by Nepal police during an altercation with Indian farmers across the border at Sitamarhi district in Bihar. The incident comes at a time of continued tension between the two south Asian neighbours over conflicting territorial claims. Heres a roundup of the latest incident and the geo political background in which it is happening. 1. 25-years old farmer Vikesh Kumar Rai was killed and two others, Umesh Ram and Uday Thakur received bullet injuries while working in an agricultural field in firing by Nepal security forces, said locals. Another person Lagan Rai is said to have been detained by the Nepali police across the Lalbandi-Janki Nagar border in Pipra Parsain panchayat under Sonebarsha police station in Bihars Sitamarhi district. 2. According to another account by the director general of Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) Kumar Rajesh Chandra, quoted by ANI, the incident took place at around 8:40 am on Friday when a family going to Nepal was stopped and asked to return by Nepali security personnel at the border. This he says led to a verbal altercation. 3. Chandra told ANI that the Nepal security personnel fired around 15 rounds of ammunition including 10 in the air. He also made it clear that the firing happened inside Nepals territory and not on the Indian side of the border, a fact also corroborated by additional director general of police (headquarters) Jitendra Kumar. 4. The officer said that the Nepali security had detained one personidentified as farmer Lagan Rai by one account-- and Indian forces were engaging their Nepali counterparts in talks to have him released to ensure that issues dont escalate further. The external affairs ministry has not given any immediate reaction to the development. The district magistrate and the superintendent of police of Sitamarhi have rushed to the spot. 5. The incident comes amid Indias sharp disagreement with Nepals move to revise its map laying claim to Indian territories of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, which fall in Uttarakhand state. Nepals lower house has voted for a constitutional amendment to include these territories in its official map despite Indias objections. Nepals parliament is holding a special meeting tomorrow to complete the amendment process. 6. The border issue was first raised by Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli after India formally opened the 80-km road to Lipulekh Pass for Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims in the month of May. 7. India has described Nepals map move as a unilateral act not based on historical facts or evidence and has asked Kathmandu to refrain from bringing about an unjust and artificial enlargement of territorial claims. 8. Following the map move, Nepal has increased troops presence on the border with India. The two countries share an open border of 1,880 kms. Nepal had closed its international borders on March 22 as a containment measure against the coronavirus pandemic. 9. Several experts see the new map as attempt by the Nepal PM to galvanise public support by whipping up ultra-nationalistic sentiments. Some experts have also pointed to Chinas close ties with Nepals ruling communist party to add another perspective to the issue. 10. India has been supportive of all neighbours including Nepal which was supplied with 25 tonnes of medical aid, including paracetamol and hydroxychloroquine tablets, test kits and other supplies to aid in the fight against coronavirus spread. India has also taken care to ensure that the supply of essential goods to Nepal is not disrupted despite the lockdown on both sides. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Starbucks has banned employees from wearing any clothes or accessories that supports Black Lives Matter movement as it violates its dress code policy, BuzzFeed News reported citing an internal memo. According to the coffee giant, which has already expressed its support to the movement, employees are not permitted to wear T-Shirts, buttons or pins that 'advocate a political, religious or personal issue'. Starbucks VP of Inclusion and Diversity, Zing Shaw, indicated that wearing clothing and accessories highlighting Black Lives Matters could be misunderstood. According to her, there are agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the movement, and in certain circumstances could intentionally re-purpose them to amplify divisiveness. As per the internal memo, Starbucks store managers had contacted the management on behalf of employees with the request to wear pins or T- shirts in support of the movement. Instead, Starbucks said its partners can show support to black partners by wearing Black Partner Network's 'keep It Brewing' T-shirt. A Starbucks spokesperson reportedly said the dress code policy would remain in place as it was necessary to create a safe and welcoming environment for customers and staff. Following the widespread protests related to the killing of George Floyd, the company on June 1 tweeted that it stands in solidarity with Black partners, customers and communities. It also tweeted later, 'Black lives matter. We are committed to being a part of change.' Many corporate majors across the United States have expressed solidarity to the movement and announced millions in donations to support the campaign BlackLivesMatter. Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has committed $100 million for a new racial justice and equality initiative, while PayPal has committed the highest amount of$530 million to support black and minority-owned businesses and communities. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. - A statue of the man who founded the Scouts movement is to be removed from Poole Quay amid fears it is on a target list for attack - The 12-year-old statue of Robert Baden-Powell will be temporarily removed to protect it - The statue will have 24-hour security protection until it can be removed - Protesters who were against the idea of removing it gathered at the quayside to show support for the statue - Baden-Powell, who died aged 83 in 1941, has been criticised by campaigners who have accused him of racism, homophobia and support for Adolf Hitler A British statue of Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide scouting movement, will be given 24-hour security until it is removed after it became a target of anti-racism protests. Poole council said it would temporarily remove the statue of Baden-Powell, a British Boer War hero, from its location on the quay of the seaside town in southern England on Thursday, June 11. READ ALSO: Meet 28-year-old female CEO who runs her own accredited university In a 2007 poll, Robert Baden-Powell was voted the 13th most influential person in the United Kingdom in the 20th century. Photo: BBC. Source: UGC READ ALSO: I was rejected by my family for taking care of orphans - Bishop Mary Wangui However, the BBC reported that the removal has been briefly delayed while protesters gathered at the quayside to show support for the statue. In a statement, BCP deputy leader Mark Howell said it had made the decision "quickly" following the listing of the statue on a website detailing potential targets for attacks. Some locals along with former and current scouts had reacted with anger at the planned removal, and the area's member of parliament, Conor Burns, described it as a huge error of judgement. READ ALSO: Americans remember Columbus' 'sins', take down his statue and set it on fire A spokesman for the Scouts said the organisation was looking forward to discussing the matter with the council to make an informed decision on what happens next. "We know that local people feel proud of Lord Baden-Powell's and the Scout movement's links with Poole," said Howell. "...Some people feel that we would be giving in to the protesters by temporarily removing the statue," he added. READ ALSO: Hospital on the spot for detaining single mom over bill accrued due to medics' negligence Baden-Powell is widely hailed for setting up the scout movement which boasts 54 million members worldwide. Photo: BBC Source: UGC He said it would not be removed immediately as its foundations were deeper than first thought and that any removal would be temporary. It would be returned as soon as the threat level subsides. The council had said there were some aspects of Robert Baden-Powell's life that are considered less worthy of commemoration. READ ALSO: Burundi's first lady returns home a day after husband's death Erected just over a decade ago, it depicts a seated Baden-Powell looking across the harbour to Brownsea Island, where he started the scout movement in 1907. Baden-Powell is widely hailed for setting up the scout movement which boasts 54 million members worldwide. In a 2007 poll, he was voted the 13th most influential person in the United Kingdom in the 20th century. But critics say he held racist views and was a supporter of Adolf Hitler and fascism. READ ALSO: This Is Us Writer Jas Waters dies aged 39 The statue of the man who founded the Scouts movement is to be removed from Poole Quay amid fears it is on a target list for an attack. Photo: BBC. Source: UGC Demonstrations sweeping across the US and Europe following the death of George Floyd have reignited a debate in Britain about monuments to those involved in the country's imperialist past. A number of sculptures have been taken down while others, such as a statue to Britain's World War Two leader Winston Churchill, opposite parliament, have been defaced. On Sunday, June 7, protesters in Bristol, western England, pulled down a statue of 17th Century slave trader Edward Colston and threw it into the harbour. It was retrieved on Thursday, June 11, and the local council said it would be displayed in a museum. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly Source: TUKO.co.ke As the curtain comes to a close in the latest season of Top Chef, fans and food enthusiasts of the show are metaphorically dying with anxiety to know who will take the glory in this prestigious cooking competition. Twelve weeks of battling each other out in the kitchen have finally led to this moment with Bryan Voltaggio, Melissa King, and Stephanie Cmar go head to head with one last showdown for the title of Top Chef. And the theme for the finale- Italian, of course. After all, there's more to Italy than just pasta and pizza. Given the fact that the contestants were in Italy during the filming, it only makes sense for them to be cooking authentic Italian dishes. Read Also: Miracle Food: Surprising Benefits Of Honey Improve Health Kevin gets eliminated before the finale In the episode before the finale, viewers together with chefs took a journey to Parma, a city located in Northern Italy which is renowned for its architecture, music, art, surrounding countryside and the legendary home of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and Prosciutto di Parma ham. Just like every cooking show there is, the chefs must highlight these ingredients in their two courses that will be served to a table of 16 Michelin stars. These dishes must fully embody the spirit of Parma. Unfortunately, Kevin Gillespie's chances of going to the finale are crushed considering that this was his second time. You can see him cook is heart out in the one of the episodes below. As sad as it was to see him go, the viewers sill show a lot of love for the dude considering how passionate he is in his craft. This was not an easy call for the judges as they selected his friend Bryan Voltaggio's dishes over his. Additionally, Bryan was also a former contestant of the show. Now that he will be advancing to the finale, does he have a shot of redemption? Rooting for the Underdog Everyone loves a good underdog story. Someone who crawls his or her way to the top and winning it all who came from humble beginnings. And Top Chef Season 17's underdog has definitely got to be Stephanie. According to a report from CarterMatt.com, a website for everything related to TV news, no one expected her to go on a winning streak, besting out her competition. And yet, here she is. Perhaps the biggest underdog of the show. Melissa is also a fan favorite since she has been dominant in the competitions and is capable of bringing the title home. As for Bryan, he's had his moments recognition. While there were also times that he didn't perform well, that doesn't mean that he cannot bounce back. Eventually when all is said and done, it will boil down to whoever can bring out the best of his or her abilities given the immense time pressure they face will one come out on top. Read Also: Fast Food For Diabetics: Experts Recommend Healthy Fast Food Options Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal The Albuquerque NAACP this week requested a meeting with Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales to discuss the adoption and funding sources for body cameras. Gonzales has long resisted the use of body cameras on deputies, maintaining there is no proof they would be beneficial and that there were more effective ways to spend county money. The meeting request was made in a June 8 email letter sent by Albuquerque NAACP president Harold Bailey, which also said the civil rights organization wanted to discuss the establishment of a multicultural citizens advisory board, and implement a multicultural/multiracial training program for deputies. Gonzales was in receipt of the letter and was reviewing it, sheriffs office spokesman Connor Otero said Thursday. Bailey said he has heard Gonzales speaking against the use of body cameras at county commission meetings. It didnt make sense to me at that time, and now, with the death of George Floyd beneath the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, the urgency of it seems to have been amplified, he said. When video is present, discussion and debate concerning law enforcement and civilian encounters are more focused, Bailey said. The sheriff should embrace it because it would allow people to see what actually happened, it would protect his officers in case they were accused unfairly, and it would protect the public at the same time, he said. Bailey said his email letter to Gonzales was copied to Bernalillo County commissioners, several of whom responded to him and indicated they supported his efforts. Bailey wasnt the only one to weigh in on the issue this week. On Monday, attorneys and staff in the states Law Offices of the Public Defender participated in marches and called for Bernalillo County sheriffs deputies to wear body cameras. On Tuesday, state Attorney General Hector Balderas called for legislation to require police officers in New Mexico to wear body cameras and to ban the use of chokeholds during arrests. On Thursday, Albuquerque Police Chief Michael Geier issued a statement saying he was joining members of the Major Cities Chiefs Association in denouncing the actions of the Minneapolis police officers who have been charged in connection with the death of Floyd, and acknowledging accountability as a cornerstone of reform. He said APD is implementing anti-racism training and participating in diversion programs. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Aurobindo Pharma, Sun Pharma and Lupin are among the 26 drug makers facing a multi-state lawsuit filed in USA by Maryland Attorney General for alleged "conspiracy to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade for generic drugs sold across the United States." Attorney General Brian E Frosh in a statement issued on Wednesday said the new complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, focuses on 80 topical generic drugs that account for billions of dollars of sales in the United States and the complaint names 26 corporate defendants and 10 individual defendants. The lawsuit seeks damages, civil penalties, and actions by the court to restore competition to the generic drug market. In addition to Maryland, the suit was joined by the attorneys general of all the other states in the USA. "This complaint shows again a tangled web of industry executives and sales people who met with each other on social outings and at trade shows, and had conversations that laid the groundwork for the illegal agreements. Their price-fixing schemes cost patients, the State of Maryland and health insurance companies billions of dollars in unnecessary health care expenditures," Frosh said. The complaint is the third to be filed in an ongoing investigation that is possibly the largest domestic corporate cartel case in the history of the United States, the statement said. The deputy head of Hong Kongs public broadcaster has quit, citing personal health reasons, amid a growing furore over alleged government interference in its editorial independence. The announcement came just a day after its board of advisers called for positive and responsible programming on the national security and anthem laws. RTHK on Thursday brushed aside suggestions the departure of Chan Man-kuen, its acting deputy director of broadcasting, was politically motivated. Chan, who is responsible for the stations overall programme development and oversight, will leave her post on September 1. Staff at public broadcaster RTHK are demanding that departing deputy head Chan Man-kuen be replaced from within their own ranks. Photo: Dickson Lee But the broadcasters staff union called the timing of Chans departure uncanny, and said they feared it would leave the station ever more vulnerable to attacks. The employees also demanded her successor be chosen from within the RTHK ranks and have a journalistic background, rather than see a civil servant parachuted into the organisation. Announcing Chans resignation on Thursday afternoon, Amen Ng Man-yee, head of the stations corporate communications and standards department, said Chan told her colleagues about the decision in a staff meeting earlier that day. Ng quoted the veteran producer as saying any work will involve pressure, be it internally or externally when asked about her health and reasons for leaving. The public relations chief added: I do think that everybody will have pressure work and also personal pressure. Ng said many section heads expressed sorrow at the news, and thanked Chan for her nearly three-decade tenure, during which she led many departments. RTHK has recently been embroiled in a series of controversies and is undergoing a review by a newly formed government panel that is looking into its management issues, including financial control and human resources. Its board of advisers is conducting its own concurrent review. Story continues The board, composed largely of members from outside the industry, including chairman Eugene Chan Kin-keung, a dentist, held a meeting with director of broadcasting Leung Ka-wing on Wednesday to discuss the stations editorial principles and programme quality. Chan said after the meeting that both parties agreed RTHK could educate the public more by producing positive and responsible shows promoting the new national security and anthem laws. The broadcaster is set to produce a 20-episode TV programme exploring the coming security legislation. Prior to that instruction, the board had set up a working group to ensure the stations programmes were in line with its governing charter, which requires content to be accurate, impartial and engender a sense of citizenship and national identity. An RTHK interview with WHO assistant director general Dr Bruce Aylward sparked controversy when a reporter pressed him on the health organisation's stance on Taiwan. Photo: RTHK The move followed a recent Communications Authority ruling that a February episode of the political satire show Headliner had denigrated and insulted the police force. Another controversy followed in April, when Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah accused RTHK of violating the one-China principle, after one of its reporters pressed a World Health Organisation representative on whether the body would accept Taiwan as a member. Ng revealed that Chan tendered her resignation on June 1, ahead of Wednesdays meeting with the board, adding that Leung had spent several days trying to talk her out of it before eventually accepting her departure out of respect for her personal wishes. There would be a suitable person to replace Chan in accordance with the stations operational needs and civil service regulations, Ng said, though she did not comment on whether the successor would be an outside appointee. Gladys Chiu Sin-yan, chairwoman of RTHK Programme Staff Union, said she respected Chans decision, but believed Wednesdays meeting might have been the final nail in the coffin that hastened her decision to quit. Her announcement has followed a series of attacks on the station, and will be a further blow to staff morale, she said. Her successor should be someone with journalistic training as the person would have to oversee programme development. In 2016, the union publicly protested against what it saw as the delayed promotion of Chan, who was acting assistant director at the time. Pan-democratic lawmaker Claudia Mo Man-ching, who worked with Chan on the stations current affairs programme Media Watch before moving into politics, recalled her as a quiet professional, but never a showboat. She is gentle but firm. She will reason with you, but never raises her voice, Mo said, adding she believed Chans resignation was due to politics, either because she couldnt stand the political heat any more, or because she refused to compromise the independence of certain contentious programmes like the Headliner. Rebel City: Hong Kongs Year of Water and Fire is a new book of essays that chronicles the political confrontation that has gripped the city since June 2019. Edited by the South China Morning Post's Zuraidah Ibrahim and Jeffie Lam, the book draws on work from the Post's newsrooms across Hong Kong, Beijing, Washington and Singapore, with unmatched insights into all sides of the conflict. Buy directly from SCMP today and get a 15% discount (regular price HKD$198). It is available at major bookshops worldwide or online through Amazon, Kobo, Google Books, and eBooks.com. More from South China Morning Post: This article Citing health reasons, deputy head of Hong Kongs public broadcaster steps down as pressure mounts to toe government line first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. A Boston man led several police departments on a roughly 20-mile car chase through Massachusetts and New Hampshire on Thursday with his five children in the vehicle, authorities said. At around 11:42 a.m., officers in Plaistow, New Hampshire were told by the Haverhill Police Department in Massachusetts to look out for a blue Honda Odyssey, according to a statement from the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office in New Hampshire. Police initially reported a man, identified Thursday evening as 29-year-old Alpalus Slyman, had thrown the woman from the car while in Massachusetts, but authorities later noted the woman, identified as Slymans wife, had actually jumped out of the vehicle. We learned after everything calmed down and we did some interviews the wife had jumped out of the car amid all the chaos, Rockingham County Chief Deputy Al Brackett told MassLive. About 15 minutes after being told to be on alert for the Honda, a deputy with the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office saw the car traveling in the northbound lanes of Route 125 near Route 107, according to law enforcement. Authorities attempted to halt the minivan, but the car refused to stop. The sheriffs office said it was then told by Haverhill police that the incident was being livestreamed from inside the suspects vehicle. In multiple videos Slyman livestreamed on Facebook, people in his car can be heard crying and screaming, asking the Boston man to stop the vehicle and telling him he is driving like a mad man. At one point, Slyman claimed his neighbors were spies. He also posted earlier Thursday morning the coronavirus was manmade and that former President John F. Kennedy faked his death. Our dispatchers were able to connect to the feed and advise deputies and officers that passengers in the vehicle were in distress and needing help, the sheriffs office said. Deputies and officers from several agencies continued to pursue onto Route 101 east. Stock sticks, a tire deflation device, were eventually deployed and blew out the Hondas ties. The vehicle still drove off Route 101 via Exit 12, struck another car and continued to flee. The pursuit continued at a low speed through North Hampton, New Hampshire, according to authorities. The minivan was eventually boxed in by a car from the sheriffs office. After being trapped by police, the suspect rammed one of the cruisers with his vehicle. Slyman is accused of driving into a tree and finally coming to a stop around 12:17 p.m. near 10 Exeter Rd., law enforcement said. By the time the chase was over, the suspect had driven nearly 20 miles through nine communities, Brackett said. Slyman was taken into custody without incident and brought to the Rockingham County Jail in Brentwood, New Hampshire for booking, according to the sheriffs office. The five children in his car included an 8-month-year-old, a 1-year-old, a 2-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 13-year-old, authorities said. They were all uninjured. The five children belonged to the suspect and were reunited with their mother at the scene, the sheriffs office said. The suspect, who is a Dorchester resident, was charged with three counts of felony reckless conduct, conduct after an accident and disobeying an officer. Slyman was expected to be arraigned by video in Rockingham County Superior Court on Friday. The sheriffs office thanked Haverhill police for their help as well as eight law enforcement departments in the granite state, including those in East Kingston, Kingston, Brentwood, Stratham, North Hampton, Epping, Exeter and New Hampshire State Police. SANTA FE Confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to spread in New Mexico prisons as state health officials announced new positive test results on Friday in four different detention facilities. The Department of Health also announced six additional deaths related to the coronavirus, bringing the states death toll from the virus to 426. All six individuals who died were men, two of whom were from San Juan County and two from McKinley County. Both counties are located in northwest New Mexico and have been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak. The other two deaths were a man in his 60s from Dona Ana County and a man in his 70s from Cibola County who had been a resident of the Good Samaritan Society facility in Grants. In all, New Mexico health officials reported 162 new confirmed cases, more than half of which are from San Juan and McKinley counties. Inmates and detainees at four facilities around New Mexico accounted for 21 of the states new COVID-19 cases. That included the first inmate to test positive at the Luna County Detention Center in Deming, which can hold up to 610 individuals. There was also one detainee who tested positive at the Torrance County Detention Facility in Estancia, where a private prison company holds immigrant detainees under a contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The remaining 19 new cases involving inmates were at two different facilities in Otero County, where a fast-moving outbreak has infected hundreds of inmates and led to two deaths. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday defended her administrations handling of the states corrections system during the pandemic, but acknowledged the difficulty of slowing the spread of the virus in such settings. I think were going to have new best practices in corrections, the governor said. Lujan Grisham also expressed concern about climbing COVID-19 case counts in neighboring Texas and Arizona, and said its still not safe to fully reopen New Mexicos economy. However, she announced that an existing public health order would be revised to allow New Mexico breweries to reopen at limited capacity, as of Friday. Lujan Grisham also cited several positive trends, including a decrease in the states virus transmission rate, which had dropped to 0.9 as of earlier this week. That means each individual infected with the virus transmits it to an average of 0.9 other people. Online New Delhi: A day after a terror attack killed 17 soldiers in Uri, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the border areas. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and top officials of the ministries of Home and Defence, Army, paramilitary forces and chiefs of intelligence agencies briefed? Singh on the latest ground report in the Kashmir Valley as well as along the Line of Control, official sources said. Possible strategies to deal with the fresh challenges arising out of the terror attack at the Army Brigade Headquarters, located along the LoC, was also discussed in the meeting, the sources said. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who postponed his visit to Srinagar, also attended the meeting. The Home Minister and the top officials also reviewed the security situation across the country, particular along the western border -? from Punjab to Gujarat, the sources said. Meanwhile, a team of National Investigation Agency is expected to visit Uri to gather leads and other evidence from the terror attack site. Heavily armed militants suspected to be from Pakistan-based JeM had yesterday stormed an army base in Uri in Kashmir, killing 17 jawans. India had reacted strongly to the deadliest attack on the Army in Jammu and Kashmir in a quarter-century-old insurgency that sparked an outrage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemning it. We strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Uri. I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished, Modi had said. The Home Minister, who had yesterday called an emergency meeting in Delhi, had pointed a finger directly at Pakistan, saying it is a terrorist state and should be isolated while BJP leader Ram Madhav said days of strategic restraint are over and suggested that for one tooth, the complete jaw should be the policy after the attack. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.K. stocks moved higher on Friday, with travel-related companies rising after airlines launched legal action against the government's quarantine rules for inbound travelers. Meanwhile, investors shrugged off the news that the U.K. economy suffered a record contraction in April amid the country's pandemic lockdown and health crisis. GDP contracted by 20.4 percent in April from March, when it was down 5.8 percent. GDP was forecast to fall 18.4 percent. In three months to April, GDP decreased 10.4 percent, slightly faster than the expected fall of 10 percent. Industrial output declined by a record 20.3 percent in April from the previous month, with manufacturing providing the biggest downward contribution, falling by a record 24.3 percent. Another report from ONS showed that the visible trade deficit narrowed to GBP 7.49 billion from GBP 11.85 billion in March. Exports and imports were down 14.9 percent and 21.9 percent, respectively. The benchmark FTSE 100 rose by 68 points, or 1.1 percent, to 6,145 after losing 4 percent in the previous session. British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group surged 5.7 percent, easyJet Plc jumped almost 7 percent and Ryanair Holdings gained 1 percent. Shares of Games Workshop Group jumped 10 percent after the manufacturer of miniature war games lifted its forecast for fiscal 2020 pre-tax profit. Pearson advanced 12 percent after a regulatory filing revealed activist investment firm Cevian Capital has built a stake in the education company. Informa gained more than 9 percent. The events and academic-publishing group said it has identified cost savings of at least GBP400 million. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Donald Trump and his Assault on Truth By The Washington Post Fact Checker Staff Scribner. 345 pp. $18, paperback --- On May 26, Twitter did a small thing that was simultaneously momentous: It attached fact checks to two of President Donald Trump's tweets about mail-in voting. Trump had claimed that mail-in ballots are "fraudulent." Twitter's addition to these tweets was simple: a blue exclamation mark and a link to "Get the facts about mail-in ballots." But it kicked off what looks as if it will be a major turning point in the way the social network deals with misinformation: Over the next few days, Twitter added fact checks to hundreds more tweets. The company didn't stop there. At 12:53 a.m. on May 29, as Minneapolis was rocked by protests over the killing of a black man, George Floyd, at the hands of police, Trump tweeted that demonstrators should be shot. "When the looting starts, the shooting starts," he wrote. "Thank you!" Critics have long pointed out that Trump's glorification of violence in his social media posts goes against the social media companies' own user policies. And again for the first time, Twitter did something about it: The company added a warning to the tweet, noting, "This tweet violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence," and making it impossible for users to like it, reply to it or retweet it without comment. When a few hours later the same violent message appeared on the White House's Twitter account, Twitter flagged that tweet as well. These incidents are too recent to make it into the pages of a new book, "Donald Trump and His Assault on Truth: The President's Falsehoods, Misleading Claims and Flat-Out Lies," by The Washington Post's Fact Checker staff: Glenn Kessler, Salvador Rizzo and Meg Kelly. There are plenty of other examples to fill the pages of this "guide to Trump's attack on the truth," as the authors describe the book in the introduction. The Fact Checker team calculates that as of Jan. 20, 2020, three years after his inauguration, Trump had made 16,241 false or misleading statements. As of June 1,the tally was at 19,127. Nonetheless, Twitter's response can be seen as a triumph for fact-checkers like those at The Post, who have been grappling with Trump's lies since his campaign. Trump has said so many untrue things that figuring out how to prioritize which ones to fact-check is difficult: "Are the most troubling claims the ones he has repeated most regularly? Or those with the strongest impact on policy or politics?" the book's authors write about the challenge of deciding which to focus on. "Should the claim be completely, unarguably false, or is it more insidious if the claim is merely misleading, but about a vitally important or sensitive topic?" In this book, the Fact Checker team categorizes the masses of false claims by category ("biggest whoppers," "truthful hyperbole"), topic (immigration, Russia, voting fraud) and format (tweets, lines from speeches, things Trump said at rallies). It's a dizzying task, and "Donald Trump and His Assault on Truth" is an exhaustive collection that can also feel exhausting to read. Flipping through the pages, I felt as if a million years had passed since Trump was elected. (Remember when he said back in 2017 that Obama tapped the wires in Trump Tower?) The authors ponder the impact of Trump's lies on American politics. "Does Trump offer a template for a future president - for a more skilled liar with a firmer grasp on how to harness the reins of government? Has he changed the nature of the presidency?" they wonder. And they note that technology has facilitated fact-checking in the Internet age. "The growth of fact-checking is largely possible because of the Internet," they observe. "We could not write The Fact Checker column on a daily basis without the vast digital resources that allow our team instant access to government databases, think-tank reports and other materials." But the rest of the book is much more granular, and it's hard to figure out who, exactly, the intended audience is: Trump's supporters aren't going to buy a book from a newspaper that the president has insulted repeatedly, and his detractors may be too weary to rehash this history. As coronavirus deaths in the United States surpass 110,000, things Trump said three years or even three months ago feel less urgent than the equally dangerous things he's saying now. (After Trump mused in a news briefing about injecting disinfectants to kill the virus, accidental poisonings spiked - and even that example, too late to make it into the book, was soon overshadowed by Trump's fanning of the flames as protests against police brutality spread across the United States.) In addition, the effects of fact-checking remain unclear. The concept has become partisan - Pew found last year that 70% of Republicans believed that fact-checkers favor one side, while a nearly equal percentage of Democrats, 69%, said they treat all sides fairly. And people's beliefs are often powerful enough that fact checks aren't effective in correcting them. The book reminds readers of media coverage to "be open to new ideas, and don't jump to conclusions. Read the article, not just the headline," but it acknowledges that "for many people, even these simple steps may be hard." The Post's fact-checking team would probably argue that it's not their job to figure out for whom this book would be useful - that their role is instead to present the information and let people do with it what they will. And whether or not Americans believe that fact-checking favors one side, they acknowledge that they need this information. A Pew poll released May 28, for instance, found that relatively few people felt "highly confident in their ability to check the accuracy of covid-19 news and information": 33% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said so, compared with 23% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. That leaves at least two-thirds of Americans who aren't sure. As Trump continues to reckon with the effect of the pandemic on his presidency - offering up advice that may be directly harmful to Americans - the work of fact-checking teams will take on an increasingly important role in protecting people from physical danger. Twitter's recent action can also be seen as a "trickle-up" triumph for fact-checking. If it weren't for teams like The Post's plugging away over the years to catalogue the president's endless false statements, it might have been harder for the company to justify taking action. "Our intention is to connect the dots of conflicting statements and show the information in dispute so people can judge for themselves," Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey tweeted May 27. That's how a good fact-checker would describe their role, too. --- Owen is the deputy editor of the Nieman Journalism Lab. Gov. Phil Murphys administration has faced criticism for using a sweeping but previously little-known 2005 law to reject requests from media outlets seeking public information about how New Jersey prepared for and responded to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, a Republican state lawmaker wants to alter a portion of that law to prevent government agencies from citing it to deny documents. The bill from state Sen. Joe Pennachio, R-Morris, comes a few weeks after NJ Advance Media, the USA Today Network, and the Associated Press published similar stories about how agencies in Murphys administration have pointed to a one-sentence provision in the 2005 Emergency Health Powers Act to reject requests for information related to the states handling of the COVID-19 crisis. The act was never intended to conceal data and decisions that impacts public health and fiscal stability from public and legislative scrutiny, but that has been the reality, Pennachio said in a statement. This bill would lift the curtain of secrecy and provide insight into the administrations decision-making, the functionality of the chain of command, and communication and cooperation within and between various departments and agencies in the state, he added. Murphy, a Democrat, was asked during his daily coronavirus briefing Thursday in Trenton why his administration would hide this information from the public." I love the premise of the question: Why hide this information? Thank you, Murphy responded with a smile. I think weve addressed (open public records) before. ... Nothing new on that. The 2005 law gives governors broad powers to help protect New Jersey during a health crisis. Murphy has cited it frequently to impose sweeping lockdown orders the last three months to help halt the virus spread. One provision says any correspondence, records, reports and medical information made, maintained, received or filed pursuant to this act shall not be considered a public or government record. Sponsors of the original law said it wasnt designed to be used to deny requests through the Open Public Records Act and that the statute might need to be changed. People in our government should be more anxious to share information than keep it," state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, told NJ Advance Media last month. Pennachios new bill (S2575) seeks to remove that exception and mandate that any item pertaining to that act that is accessible under OPRA may be obtained under current OPRA procedures. Its unclear whether the measure will become law. Both houses of the Democratic-controlled state Legislature the Senate and Assembly would have to pass it and Murphy would then have to sign it for that to happen. In March, as the virus was spreading quickly through New Jersey, the Legislature passed a separate bill that relaxes the requirement that state and local government agencies must respond to a records request within seven days. Murphy then signed it into law. The governor defended that move at the time, saying its nothing against the journalists (or) the media community." We just have to deal with the reality of manpower, the ability to turn things around," Murphy said. "Theres no thematic association with that other than were at war with a virus. But CJ Griffin, an attorney who runs a public-records blog in New Jersey, argued that transparency is even more essential during a war and during a public health crisis." And the public is starving for information now," Griffin said. They want to have confidence in government." New Jersey, a densely populated state of 9 million residents, has reported 12,443 known deaths attributed to COVID-19, with 165,816 known cases, in the 100 days since the outbreak here started March 4. Only New York has more deaths and cases among U.S. states. Meanwhile, more than 1.2 million residents have filed for unemployment since mid-March, when Murphy started instituting lockdown orders and business closings to combat the virus. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Archaeologists may have found site of the Red Lion, Londons first playhouse Ars Technica Alberta and South Koreas pensions just bought the Coastal GasLink pipeline: 8 things you need to know The Narwhal (Senator-Elect) Moose And Her Calves Decide To Spend A Day In This Familys Backyard, Man Documents How It Went Bored Panda Swedish PM Olof Palmes alleged assassin does have an India connection. No, it isnt Bofors Scroll Fossil tracks left by an ancient crocodile that ran like an ostrich BBC The Story of Prisoner No. 760 Der Spiegel Black Injustice Tipping Point Whether you support #DefundThePolice or not, its fairly obvious that the policy has been fully implemented for white collar crime. Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) June 12, 2020 #COVID-19 This is deranged. Theyre going to gear up police armies to enforce these mass evictions. https://t.co/95fveaCrsp Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) June 11, 2020 Berkeley Law Professor Frank Partnoy has a piece out in the Atlantic this week about Collateralized Loan Obligations and the Coronavirus Depression that is getting a lot of attention. I had a lot of problems with it.https://t.co/qcLtRv0wt0 Nathan Tankus (@NathanTankus) June 11, 2020 Science/Medicine Class Warfare United Kingdom China? India Trump Transition Syraqistan Antidote du Jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here Author Luis Moreira is a Strategic Hotel Management master student at University of Surrey. Before joining University of Surrey, Luis held various operational roles in luxury hotels in Barcelona and Amsterdam. During his bachelor degree, he was elected a member of the Supervisory Board of the Students Union and placed 2nd at the Portugal Future Hoteliers Summit with an idea on how to renovate midscale hotels in the Algarve region. The babies have been stranded in Ukraine since the country closed its borders to curb COVID-19 spread. Foreign couples who waited two months because of coronavirus-related border closures have finally collected their babies from surrogate mothers in Ukraine. Ukraine's human rights ombudswoman, Lyudmila Denisova, said June 10 that 31 couples had arrived and been united with their infant children, RFE/RL reports. There were emotional scenes as new parents cried and held their babies after a long ordeal because of the pandemic. "It's a very good ending of the story, unbelievable," said Andrea Diez of Argentina, who held her baby for the first time. The babies have been stranded in Ukraine since the country closed its borders because of the pandemic. Read alsoSurrogacy in Ukraine: Parliament mulls criminalizing violations The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry finally allowed the families to enter, conditional on a two-week quarantine and negative COVID-19 test. A total of 125 babies born to surrogates across Ukraine were awaiting parents from abroad. The issue received wide attention when Biotexcom, the country's largest surrogacy operation, posted a video showing more than 60 babies in cribs at a hotel where the clients usually stay. Denisova said 88 more families have received permits to enter the country and will arrive in the coming weeks. Ukraine is one of the few countries that allows foreigners to use surrogate birth services at about 50 clinics. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has clarified that the government had denied visas to controversial US Congressional body USCIRF teams that had sought to visit India in connection with issues related to religious freedom. In a letter on June 1, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar replied to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey stating, We have denied a visa to USCIRF teams that have sought to visit India in connection with issues related to religious freedom, as we do not see the locus standi of a foreign entity like USCIRF to pronounce on the state of Indian citizens constitutionally protected rights. Earlier, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had raised the observations against United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in Parliament in December 2019 after the body affiliated to US Congress had recommended to the US administration that India be designated a country of particular concern. The minister added that the USCIRF has been known to make prejudiced, inaccurate and misleading observations regarding the state of religious freedom in India. We do not take cognisance of these pronouncements and have repudiated such attempts to misrepresent information related to India, the Minister added. Minister Jaishankar also noted that the MEA had earlier rejected the USCIRFs statements as inaccurate and unwarranted. The Minister added that India will not accept any external interference or pronouncement on matters related to our sovereignty and the fundamental rights of our citizens that are guaranteed by the Constitution. USCIRF Annual Report on religious freedom The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an advisory body to the US Congress, in April had released its 2020 annual report, where it had recommended that the Trump administration classify India as a country of particular concern, along with other countries like Pakistan, North Korea, China and Saudi Arabia. The USCIRF claimed that India was engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing and egregious religious freedom violations. The report also stated that the national government allowed violence against minorities and also engaged in and tolerated hate speech and incitement to violence. The report recommended that the Trump administration should impose targeted sanctions on Indian government allegedly responsible for severe violations of religious freedom by freezing those individuals assets and barring their entry into the United States under human rights-related financial and visa authorities, citing specific religious freedom violations. Interestingly, three out of nine commissioners at the USCIRF have dissented against the commissions claim against India and have made separate qualifying notes to the report on India. Responding to the tirade of USCIRF, the MEA had rejected claims made by them on religious freedom in the country and had referred it to asbiased and tendentious. USCIRFs prejudice against India The controversial US body has always been at the forefront of the misinformation campaign against the country. Ever since Narendra Modi returned back to power in 2019, the USCIRF has been meddling into Indias internal affairs by indulging in one-sided motivated propaganda against the Modi government. The US congressional body emerged into the scene following the abrogation of Article 370 in the country with its misleading statements and continued to do so even during the implementation of historic Citizenship Amendment Act. It is notable here that the USCIRF has a history of fanning baseless rumours and leftist propaganda against India. They had also ranted against Indias Citizenship Amendment Act, calling it a dangerous turn in the wrong direction. Ironically, the USCIRF, which claims to be standing for religious freedom and rights, resorted to peddling false propaganda against Indian government on CAA, a law which was implemented to guarantee rights in the country by granting Indian citizenship. The Indian government has time-and-again rejected the one-sided prejudiced observations made by the US body. India had earlier said the American body on international religious freedom has chosen to be guided only by its biases on a matter on which it has no locus standi. The USCIRF is the commission that had recommended the denial of US visa to PM Modi when he was the CM of Gujarat. It had also threatened sanctions against Home Minister Amit Shah if the CAB was passed. Just weeks back, the self-proclaimed religious freedom body USCIRF, had indulged in a misinformation campaign by falsely claiming that coronavirus patients were being segregated on the basis of religious identity in an Ahmedabad hospital. Faced with the choice of a pint with tv home restoration expert Kevin McCloud or our own Hugh Wallace, it's safe to say, most of us would opt for scoops with the chirpy one. Whether he's on Home Of The Year as one third of its adjudication triumvirate, or on his own restoration vehicle, The Great House Revival; you are always aware that Hugh Wallace absolutely adores his job. On screen, the dapper designer from Dundrum turns sweetshop schoolboy every time he walks into an unfamiliar building; eyes filling and enthusiasm bursting right out of him. For the viewer, it's infectious. This pep meshes with a vast knowledge of the 'builda-verse'. Wallace has a tale for every type of aedicule and abutment (he recently attributed the popularity of rounded American handle locks on the front doors of Irish bungalows to The Brady Bunch, whose dormer had them back in the 70s). And unlike so many architects, he can say it all in comprehensible English. Expand Close Modern bungalow extension by Douglas Wallace Architects / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Modern bungalow extension by Douglas Wallace Architects "From a young age, I realised I could better envisage things spatially and it was never in doubt that architecture was what I wanted to do," says Wallace who struggled with school due to dyslexia. He had a talent for drawing and buried himself in piles of Lego and Meccano. After 40 years at the head of top city practice Douglas Wallace, the success of his Great House Revival and Home Of The Year means, these days, the be-scarfed one is seldom out of our living rooms. His practice is also known for offering affordable half-day architectural consultations to home owners at 250 a pop. "You can at least dip your toe in the water with proper renovation advice. We do it because people are often scared of the cost of calling in an architect." His latest project, set to hit our screens next year, is My Bungalow Bliss. Instead of dealing with posher abodes, it addresses how to revitalise Ireland's most humble and common rural home type - the so called 'Bliss bungalow'. The series will follow the radical reworking of four jaded 1970s, 80s and 90s bungalows with the help of four young architects, each endeavouring to transform them into swish modern homes on a viable budget. Located in Mayo, Galway, Wicklow and North Dublin, the four are typical among tens of thousands of self builds which followed the simplified plans contained in Bungalow Bliss, the bestselling book by Kells-born rural activist Jack FitzSimons, first published in 1971. The series celebrates Bliss's 50th anniversary and is a tribute to the man himself and to homes his drawings inspired. "In 1971, lots of Irish rural dwellers lived in homes with tin or thatched roofs, outdoor toilets and damp. With Bungalow Bliss, they could buy 20 different sets of plans that allowed them to self build a warm functional house with a bathroom cheaply," says Wallace. "These were truly the people's houses." But Bliss drew opposition as the surge of cheap out-of-town homes drained the towns and spread public services resources thinly. Frank McDonald, the environment journalist, labelled this the "Bungalow Blitz" and described their development as "a fungus". Wallace thinks it's high time to reconsider them, particularly given that so many of these homes, now outmoded, are now being neglected by buyers in favour of more modern properties. "They face north, have no insulation, come with long dark corridors, no windows in the gable end, are oil heated and have softwood windows that later required drip trays to catch the condensation," says Wallace. "But they are solid and today they can provide the basis of an all new home without permission required." Expand Close Living room after / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Living room after His own practice is familiar with bungalow conversions and he points to the recent example of a jaded Sutton home transformed by fellow architect Ken Furlong. While a bungalow can be bought for 80,000 to 250,000, the budgets on the show to gut, reconfigure, insulate and extend the properties run from 140,000 to 220,000. "It means that you could buy one and renovate it for less than the cost of a similar modern property." To bungalow owners looking for a change on a reasonable budget, that news is bliss. Republican candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene, a professed believer in the fringe conspiracy-theorist group known as QAnon, is probably headed to Congress after her strong finish in the Georgia primary. House Republican leaders were silent Thursday about the likelihood that their caucus may soon include someone affiliated with a group that the FBI has flagged as a potential domestic terrorist threat. None of the top three House Republicans, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana or Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney of Wyoming, responded to questions about Greene's candidacy and possible place within their ranks. Greene finished first in Tuesday's primary with 41 percent of the vote in the strongly Republican district in northwest Georgia but was shy of the majority of the vote. She will face a runoff Aug. 11 against physician John Cowan, who trailed her by 20 percentage points. As long as Greene's support holds and she wins that race, she should easily win the House seat in November and replace retiring Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ga. In 2016, Georgia's 14th Congressional District elected Donald Trump with 75 percent of the vote. Greene would become the first member of Congress to have publicly espoused the views of QAnon, the extremist group that believes President Donald Trump is quietly leading a revolution against the "deep state." It maintains a baseless conspiracy theory that there is a secret pedophile operation run by the nation's most prominent people, particularly those within the Democratic Party. "The Chinese propagandists at the Washington Post are attacking me the same way they attack Donald Trump, and other conservatives," Greene said in an emailed statement. "Northwest Georgians are proud, conservative America-loving patriots. ... I won't let them be bullied by the hate America leftists at the Washington Post." Greene's campaign did not answer questions about her support for QAnon, but in a lengthy response attacked Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. Greene has posted videos lifting QAnon conspiracy theories and praising its anonymous leader, "Q." "Q is a patriot. He is someone that very much loves his country, and he's on the same page as us, and he is very pro-Trump," she said in a 2017 video posted to YouTube. In the video, she talks about an "awakening" that will expose deep corruption and unite Americans behind Trump. "I'm very excited about that now there's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take this global cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles out, and I think we have the president to do it," she said. Trump has never specifically referenced his QAnon supporters but has over the years elevated their tweets and slogans. Supporters have attended his rallies holding signs and wearing shirts with QAnon symbols. In Oregon last month, Republicans elected a U.S. Senate nominee who believes in QAnon. Jo Rae Perkins bested three other candidates to win the Republican nomination to face Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., in November. In a now-deleted video posted to her Twitter account, Perkins said she supports the conspiracy theory, which revolves around "Q," an anonymous Internet user claiming to be a government agent with top security clearance. Greene is listed on the Southern Poverty Law Center's "Hatewatch," where she is described by the group as "an avid MAGA activist who frequently attends rallies or participates in protests that aim to vilify the federal government, American Muslims and transgender people." Greene was pictured with and endorsed by a Georgia man with longtime ties to white-supremacist groups, who called her a "friend" and "part of the Q movement," according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Greene dismissed an Atlanta reporter's questions about that relationship, calling them "silly and the same type of sleazy attacks the Fake News Media levels against President Trump." Last week, Greene posted a campaign ad in which she cocks an AR-15 rifle and warns "Antifa" protesters to "stay the hell out of northwest Georgia." "You won't burn our churches, loot our businesses or destroy our homes," Greene said in the ad that was later removed by Facebook for violating its rules against inciting violence. A devout Trump supporter, Greene's campaign logo is a knockoff of Trump's, and her website includes a photo of her posed between Trump's sons, Donald Jr. and Eric. Chris Pack, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, did not directly respond to questions about Greene. "The NRCC does not get involved in primaries. In general elections, we focus on districts that will deliver us the majority, not R+27 safe seats," Pack said in an email. But Greene, who raised $1.1 million for her primary run, has received some high-profile support from some of Trump's closest congressional allies. Greene claims to have the endorsement of Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. She received $75,000 from the House Freedom Fund, a political action committee associated with former congressman Mark Meadows before he became Trump's chief of staff. Neither Jordan nor Gaetz responded to requests for comment. Peppy, the U.K. employee healthcare benefits platform focusing on family support, female health and mental well-being, has raised 1.7 million in seed funding. Leading the round is Outward VC, with participation from Seedcamp, Hambro Perks, Form Ventures and various unnamed angel investors. The London-based startup says the new funding will support the next stage of Peppys growth as it begins to expand its team and the platform with "new fertility and mental health support." Founded in 2018 by Mridula Pore, Evan Harris, and Max Landry, Peppy is building an employee healthcare benefits platform for businesses, specialising in providing employees with access to "expert support" through critical life transitions. It is already working with companies and organisations across industries such as legal and financial services, utilities and media, name-checking the CBI, Aldi, Penguin Random House and the National Lottery Fund as customers. "There are many points in your life when your physical or mental health can be vulnerable, but you are not 'ill.' You and your family just need some extra support," explains Peppy CEO and co-founder Mridula Pore. "For example, trying to conceive, becoming a parent or going through the menopause, but there are many more." To compound the problem, Pore says that current healthcare services "are simply not set up to cater for these life transitions." GPs have very limited time to handle questions, and private health insurance often doesn't cover certain scenarios. "So people often fall through the cracks," she says. "This can cause many more issues in terms of your health, relationships and ability to be present, engaged and productive at work." To that end, Peppys platform is already available for employees going through early parenthood and menopause. It provides access one-to-one chat support with an expert or a mental health practitioner, moderated group chats with peers in similar situations, and online group exercises for postnatal women and those over 40. In addition, bespoke support, such as phone and video consultations for breastfeeding and baby sleep support, or a consultation with a menopause practitioner, is also available through the platform. Story continues Peppy says that experts provided to employees through the platform have "completed accredited training programmes and meet the requirements of relevant professional bodies." "Recently, we were also selected amongst 1,600 applicants to do a trial with the NHS, supporting new and expecting parents during the Covid-19 crisis as part of the U.K. government's Techforce19 initiative," adds Pore. "We were able to show a huge improvement in the mental well-being of parents, by giving them the right support at the right time." With regards to competitors, the Peppy CEO says that people inevitably end up on Google or on peer-to-peer platforms such as Facebook groups or apps like Peanut. "Peppy is different because we offer trusted, expert-led support, tailored to you and your family's journey," she says. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 12:26:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Xinhua writer He Fei BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Amid a ballooning caseload of COVID-19, China's recent months of discreet reopening can offer fresh valuable lessons for an array of countries, which are now faced with rising risks posed by their hasty decision to return to a new normalcy of life and rash exit from lockdowns. With COVID-19 largely under control at home, China has been putting economic and social activities back on track while at the same time working to prevent a potential new surge of the infectious disease that has taken a heavy toll on the human society. To achieve this goal, a return to work should be phased and careful. Factories of medical supplies and other key materials in epidemic prevention began humming again in late January, accompanied by gradual recovery of petrochemical, telecommunications, electricity and transport industries in the following weeks. Businesses in the service sector, such as catering and retail, did not begin to bustle until the epidemic steadily receded in the country in March. Social distancing has now become a part of everyday life in China. While wearing masks is a must in public areas, various sectors of the society have been reducing density by adopting flexible measures. To prevent crowding, factories and companies have been offering flexible working hours and work-from-home options for employees. From Shanghai Disneyland to the Palace Museum in Beijing, tourist attractions, restaurants, and museums reopened in recent months but has been capping the daily number of visitors. Public transport has also adopted safety measures with vigilance. When Wuhan resumed its subway service in late March after more than two months of suspension, subway carriages carried signs asking passengers to sit in between empty seats. In cities with ride-hailing drivers, their vehicles are installed with plastic sheets between the front and the rear seats to prevent contact. Apart from those preventive measures, conducting mass coronavirus testing in key areas and maintaining temperature checks in public spaces can also help authority nip new infections in the bud. Wuhan, the epicenter of China's coronavirus outbreak, tested nearly 10 million residents citywide after lifting its lockdown. China's health authority has also scaled up testing in border areas such as Mudanjiang in the northeast, where the risk of imported cases is high. Temperature screening is stringently conducted on a broader scale nationwide. People are required to have their temperature taken while entering offices, schools and universities, restaurants, subway stations, gyms, hospitals, and communities, among others. While taking all those measures, going digital can make epidemic prevention and economic recovery much easier. In cooperation with digital tech giants, local governments have launched health codes on smartphone apps such as Wechat and Alipay to rate a user's risk of infection. Meanwhile, health authorities have also pushed for online diagnosis and treatment services as well as drug delivery services to reduce non-essential outdoor activities. Digitalization has also helped dormant businesses spring back to life. Cities such as Beijing, Tianjin and Hangzhou have offered digital vouchers worth billions of U.S. dollars to the buying public, while e-commerce livestreaming has become a popular way for merchants, manufacturers and farmers to sell products, with over 4 million e-commerce livestreaming marketing activities held in the first quarter of this year. When a new surge of cases seems on its way, strong and swift measures should also come back as soon as possible. For example, after Suifenhe city bordering Russia in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province saw rising imported cases in April, all inbound personnel were required to undergo testing and a fortnight quarantine at designated places. With additional medical resources deployed, by May 12, all 409 cases imported and under treatment or medical observation have been discharged. As China is still feeling its way back to normalcy, its experience tells that exit from lockdowns cannot be treated as a gamble. Countries worldwide should manage the recovery process with caution, perseverance and coordination, so that the hard-won results of an arduous battle against the virus will not be spoiled. Enditem In celebration of Philippines Independence Day, the list recognises the contributions of Filipinos across the globe WorldRemit, the leading international money transfer service, has launched the inaugural List of Influential Filipinos in the Diaspora in celebration of Philippine Independence Day. The Philippines will celebrate 122 years of independence on 12th June. This year's celebrations will not include the customary street parades to commemorate the national flag, due to the country emerging from a strict lockdown in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The inaugural List of Influential Filipinos in the Diaspora was compiledin recognition of the successes and contributions made by Filipino migrants around the world, to their communities back home and in their chosen fields. The list of honorees spans the globe, and includes individuals who have made significant contributions in fields as diverse as philanthropy, hospitality and academia. "The Philippines is one of the most important remittance destinations in the world, and this is the direct result of the many hardworking Filipinos across the globe who support their loved ones back home. Particularly given the challenges facing our global community, we believe it is important to highlight the positive contributions of these individuals in the diaspora, in celebration of Independence Day," said Scott Eddington, Managing Director, Asia-Pacific at WorldRemit. Estimates suggest that there are over 10 million Filipinos in the diaspora. Members of the Filipino diaspora are often referred to in the Philippines as bagong bayani, which translates as "the new heroes" with good reason. The World Bank recently revealed that remittances sent by Overseas Filipino Workers exceeded $35 billion last year. These incredible men and women have gained a worldwide reputation for their famous bayanihan spirit. Honoree Award-winning Restaurateur Rowena Romulo said, "I had a clear vision, which was to keep the legacy of my grandfather Carlos P Romulo (Former President of the UN General Assembly) alive outside the Philippines, with a business that would reflect some of the things he stood for and which had meaning for him and my family. Mainly, the high quality and standards of the Filipino people, the binding power of good food, and the excellence of fine Philippine cuisine." Here is the 2020 WorldRemit List of Influential Filipinos in the Diaspora: Rowena Romulo Britain Award-winning Restaurateur Award-winning Restaurateur Victoria Navarro USA Director of the Philippine Humanitarian Coalition and 17th President of the Philippine Nurses Association of America Director of the Philippine Humanitarian Coalition and 17th President of the Philippine Nurses Association of America Dr. Imelda Deinla Australia Academic and Advocate Academic and Advocate Teresa Torralba Canada Executive Director of Philippine Legacy and Cultural Alliance Executive Director of Philippine Legacy and Cultural Alliance Ramon Torralba Canada Co-Founder of Filipinos Making Waves Co-Founder of Filipinos Making Waves Gelaine Santiago Canada Social Entrepreneur Social Entrepreneur Brendan Flores USA Philanthropist Advocate Philanthropist Advocate Loizza Aquino Canada Mental Health Advocate Mental Health Advocate Emcille Wills Australia Advocate for Migrant women Advocate for Migrant women Lolita Boddy Britain Philanthropist Philanthropist Anya David USA Entrepreneur Mentor The selection criteria for the list includes the following: The honouree must have a proven track record of making significant contributions in their chosen field The honouree has made a significant social impact within the Filipino diaspora or their community back home The honouree has broken barriers by positively challenging the status quo and/or creating opportunities for others To mark the launch of the List of Influential Filipinos in the Diaspora and in celebration of Philippine Independence Day, WorldRemit is waiving fees for new customers on their first 3 transactions through its 3FREE promotion. To learn more about the honorees, please visit: www.worldremit.com About WorldRemit WorldRemit is a leading UK fintech providing international money transfer services. We disrupted an industry previously dominated by offline legacy players by taking international money transfers online making them safer, faster and lower-cost. We currently send from 50 to 150 countries, operate in 6,500 money transfer corridors worldwide and employ over 800 people worldwide. On the sending side WorldRemit is 100% digital (cashless), increasing convenience and enhancing security. For those receiving money, the company offers a wide range of options including bank deposit, cash collection, mobile airtime top-up and mobile money. Backed by Accel, TCV and Leapfrog WorldRemit's headquarters are in London, UK with a global presence including in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand. For more information visit www.worldremit.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005052/en/ Contacts: Dorree Gurdak media@worldremit.com Between three to five Halifax County residents received absentee ballot request forms which already had their names and addresses on them, board of elections Director Kristin Scott said today. The forms were sent from an advocacy group called The Center for Voter Information, which describes itself as a non-partisan and non-profit organization that works to provide even-handed and unbiased information about candidates and their positions on issues. The organization sent 80,000 of these forms to North Carolina voters with their information already filled out. Scott said she instructed those residents who called the elections office to discard the forms and at the request of the voter, a new one was placed in the mail. The North Carolina State Board of Elections in a press release said a state law passed last year prohibits election officials from accepting absentee ballot request forms pre-filled partially or in whole, and the state board has instructed county boards of elections not to process such request forms. The advocacy group, the state said, halted additional mailings with pre-filled voter information after North Carolina elections officials informed the group of the issue. CVI plans to send about 400,000 additional mailings to state residents, but they will include blank absentee ballot request forms, which are valid. County boards of elections that receive an invalid absentee request form will send a letter to the voter informing them of the issue. The letter will include a blank request form for the voter to return. The state board urges voters to discard any absentee ballot request form they receive that includes pre-filled voter information, the press statement said. CVI asked the state board staff to review a sample mailing in April. State board staff did not catch the pre-filled forms at that time. However, CVI sent some mailings before forwarding the final product to elections officials for review. Election officials discovered the issue after these mailings were sent to voters. We will do our best to review mailings and other voting information distributed by third parties when requested and when resources allow for it, said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections. However, its ultimately up to advocacy groups to ensure their mailings do not confuse voters or potentially affect their ability to vote in an election. All registered voters in North Carolina may request an absentee by-mail ballot. The official absentee ballot request form is available for download at this link. Voters may also pick up a request form from their county board of elections or call their county board to request a form. For the November 3 general election, the deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is October 27. Voters may request a ballot now. Starting in early September, ballots will be mailed to voters who request them. Human Rights Watch on Friday described as a war crime the summary execution of two alleged Boko Haram fighters in southeastern Niger last month. The human rights organisation investigated images circulating on social media of two men being run over by army tanks, and said the Nigerien government had confirmed the incident near the border with Nigeria. The graphic video shows Niger soldiers in armoured vehicles shooting and driving over apparently unarmed and wounded men, said Jonathan Pedneault, a crisis and conflict researcher at Human Rights Watch, calling for a credible and impartial investigation. On May 13, Nigers defence ministry claimed to have killed 25 terrorists in the Diffa region, as well as about 50 enemies in the Lake Chad area of Nigeria, in two operations by a regional coalition fighting against the jihadist insurgency there. On May 3, a jihadist attack in Diffa claimed the lives of two soldiers, according to the official death toll. For several months, the Nigerien army has suffered heavy losses in jihadist attacks, which intensified in the region in May. Despite the presence of thousands of French and United Nations troops in the region, countries in Africas sprawling Sahel region have struggled to quell the jihadist insurgency. Thousands of soldiers and civilians have died in the conflict to date, and many more have had to flee their homes. The United Nations and human rights organisations such as Amnesty International have recently accused the armies of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso of committing war crimes in their response operations, particularly against civilians. Amnesty this week accused the armies of unlawfully killing or forcibly disappearing some 200 people this year. The Diffa region is home to 300,000 Nigerian refugees and displaced persons fleeing from jihadist abuses since 2015, according to the United Nations. In the west, on its borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger also faces frequent attacks from Sahelian jihadist groups including the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. Niger is home to nearly 60,000 Malian refugees who fled their countrys north after it fell under the control of Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist groups in 2012, according to the UN. Jihadist violence, often intertwined with inter-communal violence, resulted in 4,000 deaths in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso in 2019, the UN has said. The U.S. Department of Defense says that Ukraine is a critical partner on the front line of strategic competition of the United States with Russia. This reaffirms the long-standing defense relationship between the United States and Ukraine a critical partner on the front line of strategic competition with Russia. The United States remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, reads the statement of the U.S. Department of Defense on the approval of $ 250 million in the defense assistance package to Ukraine for the current financial year. As noted, the assistance includes capabilities to enhance Ukraines defensive lethal capabilities and situational awareness in the maritime domain, air surveillance systems to monitor sovereign airspace, command and control and survivability of Ukraines Land and Special Operations Forces through the provision of counter-artillery radars and tactical equipment, military medical treatment and combat evacuation procedures, and cyber defense and strategic communications to counter Russian cyber offensive operations and misinformation. The United States remains committed to assisting Ukraine with the implementation of defense and anti-corruption reforms in line with Euro-Atlantic principles. These reforms will bolster Ukraines ability to defend its territorial integrity in support of a secure, prosperous, democratic, and free Ukraine, the statement reads. As reported, on Thursday, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the entire package of the U.S. security assistance to Ukraine for 2020 under Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) worth USD 250 mln, which was approved by the U.S. Congress. ol New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed into law a series of major police reform bills that will make disciplinary records public and ban police chokeholds, as Rev. Al Sharpton praises him for 'standing with us when no-one else will'. The package of bills, which the governor described as 'nation-leading' and 'aggressive', orders transparency of police records, bans chokeholds, bans false race-based 911 calls and makes the attorney general the independent prosecutor in killings of unarmed civilians by police. Cuomo also issued an executive order mandating reforms to local police departments and warned that if such steps are not taken, these departments will have all state funding cut. Cuomo signed the new bills in a press conference Friday attended by the mothers of Eric Garner and Sean Bell, unarmed black Americans who died at the hands of police officers in New York. The move has come in response to the widespread protests calling for an end to police brutality and racism across America following the killing of black man George Floyd who died when a white Minneapolis cop knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes on Memorial Day. Scroll down for video New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a package of major police reform bills including making disciplinary records public The unveiling of the bills was attended by (left to right) Rev. Al Sharpton, Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, Valerie Bell, Gwen Carr, and NY State Sen. Andrea Stewart- Cousins. Bell and Carr are the mothers of Sean Bell and Eric Garner - two unarmed black Americans who died at the hands of New York cops The governor signed in the series of police reforms Friday to make cops more accountable and pave the way for police reform following the deaths of multiple black people during arrest or in police custody in the state and the country over the years. 'The truth is this: Police reform is long overdue, and Mr. Floyd's murder is just the most recent murder,' Cuomo said. 'This is not just about Mr Floyd's murder. It's about being here before - many, many times before. 'It is about a long list that has been all across this country that always makes the same point - injustice against minorities in America by the criminal justice system,' Cuomo added as he presented a list of names of black men and women who have been killed by cops in America. 'Today is about enough is enough,' he said, as he blasted the 'systemic discrimination and injustice in this nation' which dates back to Martin Luther King Jr in 1968 and Rodney King in 1992. The governor was praised by Rev. Al Sharpton over the move, who had joined Cuomo along with State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie at the unveiling of the historic bill Sharpton and Cuomo at the 'historic' event. The package of bills, which the governor described as 'nation-leading' and 'aggressive', orders transparency of police records, bans chokeholds, bans false race-based 911 calls and makes the attorney general the independent prosecutor in killings of unarmed civilians by police NEW YORK'S POLICE REFORMS: The package of bills includes: A ban on chokeholds and use of the tactic being chargeable by up to 15 years in prison if it results in injury or death A repeal of the 50-a meaning police officer records must be public A ban on false race-based 911 calls All state police officers must wear body cameras Cops must report any time they fire their weapon in which a person could have been hit within six hours of the incident The attorney general is made the independent prosecutor in killings of unarmed civilians by police The New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative executive order: The order requires local governments and police agencies to develop and adopt plans to reform local police departments. Police forces must adopt a plan by April 1 2021 to be eligible for future state funding and show that they have: 1. Engaged stakeholders in a public and open process on policing strategies and tools 2. Presented a plan, by chief executive and head of the local police force, to the public for comment 3. After consideration of any comments, presented such plan to the local legislative body (council or legislature as appropriate) which has approved such plan (by either local law or resolution) 4. If such local government does not certify the plan, the police force may not be eligible to receive future state funding. Advertisement The bills, which faced opposition from a coalition of law enforcement unions, include the 'Eric Garner Act', which bans cops from using chokeholds and allows prosecutors to charge cops if they do use the tactic and injure or kill someone in the process. The law is named after Garner, who died after being put in a chokehold by NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo on Staten Island back in 2014. His death was caught on camera and he was heard pleading for his life, saying 'I can't breathe' - the same final words spoken by Floyd. Chokeholds were already banned by the NYPD at the time of Garner's death but the new law now makes the controversial restraint a class C felony which carries up to 15 years in prison. Pantaleo was able to stay on the force until 2019 following Garner's death and was also able to keep his disciplinary records hidden from public view thanks to 50-a. Cuomo also announced the repealing of the 50-a in the widespread reforms unveiled Friday - which means police disciplinary records must now be made public. 'That should be done in every police agency in this country,' Cuomo said. Other laws signed in to New York Friday include ordering that all state police officers must now wear body cameras, that cops must report any time they fire their weapon in which a person could have been hit within six hours of the incident, and making false race-based 911 reports a crime. The latter comes in response to the disturbing confrontation caught on camera where white dog walker Amy Cooper, dubbed 'Central Park Karen', called the cops on black man Christian Cooper, saying an African American man is threatening my life when he simply asked her to leash her dog. Another law signed rules that the attorney general is made the independent prosecutor in killings of unarmed civilians by police. Cuomo also announced he was issuing a new executive order requiring local governments and police agencies to develop and adopt plans to reform police forces across the Big Apple and address use of force, police bias and other issues within their departments. Reforms must be developed with local communities and must 'reinvent and modernize police strategies', Cuomo said. Cuomo also issued an executive order mandating reforms to local police departments and warned that if such steps are not taken, these departments will have all state funding cut Sharpton said at the Friday press conference the executive order is a 'model for where we ought to be dealing with 21st-century civil rights' Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, wearing a protective mask at Cuomo's daily media briefing Friday. Garner died after being put in a chokehold by NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo on Staten Island back in 2014 If governments fail to take these steps by April 1, they will not receive funding from the state, Cuomo warned. 'We're not going to fund police agencies in this state that do not look at what has been happening, come to terms with it and reform themselves,' he said. Cuomo admitted there is 'no quick fix to this' but said there needs to be systemic reform of police departments and said that New York was 'leading the way' for other US states. Cuomo said he wanted to 'applaud the advocates who have been calling for this for years... which results in today and the changes we are making today'. The governor was praised by Rev. Al Sharpton over the move, who had joined Cuomo along with State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie at the unveiling of the historic bill. Valerie Bell, the mother of Sean Bell who was shot dead in Queens in 2006 when plain clothed cops unloaded 50 rounds of bullets into his car Sharpton spoke during Floyd's funeral in Houston last week (pictured) and has long called for an end to police brutality and racism Sharpton, who spoke during Floyd's funeral in Houston last week and has long called for an end to police brutality and racism, said: 'He has raised the bar.' 'To give the executive order he has given let's be clear there's no governor in this country that has said what he has said this morning... he has many ways done things that even I would not expect,' he said. He called the executive order a 'model for where we ought to be dealing with 21st-century civil rights'. 'This is a new model that all other 49 governors should look at,' said Sharpton, adding that the fact the state will hold back funds if police departments don't change shows Cuomo 'means it'. Stewart-Cousins also praised Cuomo for taking the 'historic' action. 'We are at a moment of reckoning,' she said. Police unions have opposed the changes with the Police Benevolent Association claiming that making public all police complaints is unfair to officers. Muscat, June 12 : The Omani government has decided to postpone the resumption of international and domestic flights over COVID-19 concerns. It also decided to lock down the coastal city of Duqm and its free zone, the largest in the country, in order to "control the rate of infection in the area", reports Xinhua news agency. The announcement on Thursday came during a video press conference held by the Supreme Committee tasked with dealing with COVID-19, with the participation of the ministers of health, transport and tourism. "It was decided on April 23 that domestic air traffic would be resumed soon first followed by international flights, but the Supreme Committee decided today (Thursday) to postpone (the resumption)," said Minister of Transport Ahmed Al-Futaisi. Oman has lost substantial revenue from closure of the airport in Salalah, a popular tourist destination, and the cancellation of the Khareef festival in the city because of the coronavirus outbreak, Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Mahrizi said. Minister of Health Ahmed Al-Saidi said that the committee decided to lock down Duqm from June 13 to July 3. "Increase in the spread of the virus outside Muscat is due to the lack of physical distancing," state TV quoted the Health Minister as saying. The free zone in Duqm hosts more than $10 billion worth of investments, including a ship repair yard, an oil refinery, logistics centre, manufacturing units and a dry dock. Oman has so far recorded 19,954 COVID-19 cases, with 89 deaths. DUSHANBE -- Tajik opposition activist Hizbullo Shovalizoda, who was extradited from Austria in March, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison on extremism charges. Shovalizoda's relatives told RFE/RL on June 12 that the activist was sentenced two days earlier after being found guilty on charges that included participating in the activities of an extremist organization and high treason. Supreme Court officials refused to comment on Shovalizoda's trial, saying that the case was classified. Shovalizoda's father, Abdullo Shovalizoda, told RFE/RL that no family member was invited to the trial. "We do not even know the specific details of the charges," Abdullo Shovalizoda said. Austrian authorities extradited 29-year-old Shovalizoda to Dushanbe in early March. Tajik authorities said at the time that Shovalizoda was suspected of being a member of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) and participating in an attempt to overthrow the government by force. The IRPT, long an influential party with representatives in the government and parliament, was labeled a terrorist group and banned in 2015. Dozens of IRPT officials and supporters have been prosecuted and many of them imprisoned, drawing criticism from human rights groups. Shovalizoda arrived in Austria more than a year ago and asked for asylum, but instead was placed under arrest in January. Tajik opposition activists in exile told RFE/RL that they had urged the Austrian authorities not to extradite Shovalizoda, as he was not a member of any political opposition group or party. The IRPT said at the time that Shovalizoda had never been a member. "Shovalizoda is most likely to be subjected to torture, ill-treatment, and unfair trial. He, as in previous similar situations, may be forced to testify against himself and other people under torture," the party said in a statement at the time. Tajik authorities have been criticized for cracking down on dissent for years. In 2014, the opposition movement Group 24 was labeled as terrorist and extremist and banned. In March 2015, the movement's founder, Umarali Quvatov, was assassinated in Istanbul, Turkey. Patricia Ripley, 45, is facing attempted and premeditated murder charges and being held in jail with no bond A Miami woman accused of drowning her autistic son in a canal after claiming he had been kidnapped, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges. Patricia Ripley, 45, is facing the death penalty after prosecutors in Miami-Dade County on Friday filed a notice of intent to charge the mom with first degree murder, The Miami-Herald reported. Ripley did not appear at the court hearing via Zoom, where she was also charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, aggravated child abuse and filing a false police report. Her attorney, Susy Ribero-Ayala, pleaded not guilty on her behalf. The case, among others in the state of Florida, have been stalled after grand juries were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. She is currently being held in jail without bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on August 18. Ripley's son, Alejandro Ripley, nine, was autistic and nonverbal. He was found floating in a canal near Miccosukee Golf and Country Club in Miami on May 22. Patricia Ripley is pictured above with son Alejandro, nine Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said Ripley apparently tried to drown her son an hour earlier at a different canal at Kendall Acres Condominium complex but nearby residents heard yelling and rescued him. Then, Fernandez Rundle said, Ripley drove her son to another canal. Ripley's first attempt was captured in footage obtained by Univision last month which showed her walking with Alejandro, stroking his head, then appearing to push him into the water. She then runs off screen before returning with neighbors who saved the boy. 'Unfortunately when she took him to the second canal, and there was no one there,' Fernandez Rundle said in an interview with The Associated Press. 'She tried it once, and people rescued him. He was alive. He could have stayed alive. She intended, from all the facts of the case, to kill him.' Fernandez Rundle said because the boy was nonverbal, he could not have told his initial rescuers what had happened with his mother. 'He can't say anything to his rescuers. We talk about children being voiceless. This is another level of voicelessness. He was incapable of saying that "mommy put me in the water."' Alejandro's body was found floating in water at the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club The Miami-Dade Police Department said the mother first claimed she was ambushed by two black men who demanded drugs and took her cellphone, tablet and son, before fleeing, prompting an Amber Alert in the area south of Miami. The boy's body was later pulled out of a golf course canal last month. An arrest affidavit said she provided 'conflicting statements,' and finally was confronted with statements of witnesses and video footage showing the first attempt to push the boy into the canal. The document said she recanted her story and admitted she drove to another site and led the boy into the canal stating 'he's going to be in a better place'. 254 Shares Share As a resident in the 1970s, I used to receive the AMA weekly newsletter. A squib of a few paragraphs noted that the Alabama Medical Board had issued a reprimand to a surgeon for suturing the hand of a young African-American man, then removing the sutures when the fellow did not have $25 on him to cover the fee. The surgeon contested, indicating that a patient should have the expectation of having to pay the surgeon. However, there was ample evidence of that surgeon not demanding immediate cash on other patients, and deferring or reducing the fees on the people who looked and voted more like the surgeon. Even in a place and time where unabashed segregationists comprised their Congressional delegation, there were limits to overtly egregious conduct that the surgeons medical peers would accept. Moving to our current times, Civil Rights enactments may not have changed how people think but has changed how most of us behave, or at least the expectations of how we should conduct ourselves amid a diverse public. Restaurants, hotels, and hospitals accept people without ethnic or religious exclusion, transforming an established norm abruptly with little overt opposition. Our medical institutions, including my hospital from which I recently retired, having served an inner-city and African/Asian immigrant population, insisted on equity for our patients and for our staff. Among American mega-corporations, acceptance of ethnic dignity is invariably explicit corporate policy, though with varying success on corporate culture, reality, or enforcement. By any measure, medical institutions have not been left holding the bag for lurid exposures of any systemic misconduct other than financial. We have a few individual rogues who bring public discredit more to themselves than to our profession. No constable of any place I have worked would abuse a patient, nor would the city or county police who bring patients to our ER. Even prison guards assigned to sit with patients shackled to their beds always seem courteous and helpful, at least when I rounded in those rooms. Yes, there is often tacet stereotyping from senior Jewish doctors who not only own psychiatry, but the furniture stores that supply the couches perceived ethnic imbalances of those seeking treatment of DTs, suspicion of physicians of foreign or minority origin, or irreverent quips about grandiose surgeons with big cars who always send a surrogate as they are too important to see you personally. Our pageant of medical care includes the entire public with all its imprints. While folk tales that accrue from interacting with nearly the full spectrum of humanity will continue, there are very clear behavioral standards. We physicians have our unfulfilled challenges. Ethnic disparities in outcome remain distressingly difficult to remedy despite specialty organizations and medical systems devoting attention and resources. Some of the postings, particularly from the younger physicians suggest something systemically racist or sinister, though at the level of one physician or one team acting on behalf of one patient or a defined group of patients, the behavior remains among the most consistently benevolent of any noble profession. Police generate public scorn when unwarranted sentinel events reflect racial inequities; hospitals generally dont create such public outrages. Many have officers as patients or appreciate their interventions in times of crisis. We also acknowledge that as individuals or as a group, they are not mighty hunters going out into urban jungles to kill wrongdoers for food. I think many of the medical processes that have evolved over my forty-year professional lifetime have applicability to reversing some of the professional lapses in policing. One big change from the 1970s in medicine was to switch focus from seeking punitive consequences for poor outcomes to looking at the enhancement of patient and public safety goals, which are often deterred by a culture of reprisal. We now have expert panels issuing mostly clear guidance on best practices for different conditions that we encounter. Compliance by physicians in the exam rooms has been highly effective, in large part because the guidelines are never arbitrary and contain a certain amount of humility on the part of the committees that issue them, recognizing that some aspects of a condition remain unsettled or demand the practitioners individual judgment. We have peer review with protected confidentiality. Our state licensing agencies require us to devote a specified fraction of our CME to patient safety enhancement. Morbidity and Mortality conferences occur at scheduled intervals to assess what we might have done better, always in a non-threatening forum over coffee or lunch. As much as we often object to intrusive but anonymous Big Data, medicine has committed to this to tease out aggregate consequences of our common practices some exposed as favorable, some not but often remediable. Each institution has accountability standards to report infection rates, readmissions, and other undesired events with the intention of eliminating them by changing processes, not by threatening its clinicians. Even for our own somewhat scandalous opiate overprescription, as a profession, we looked to changing standards systemically. All these upgrades in medical safety occurred in my professional life. The common theme that contributed to their success was to evaluate processes, not to find cause for punishment. Massive marches affirm that sentinel events promote a mandate for public safety and for professionalism. Law enforcement has already shown its own commitment to advancing its professional capacity. The same modern molecular science that we utilize for patients has been adapted to forensics and to crime detection on a very large scale. Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a mans character, give him power misattributed to Honest Abe. Policing misadventures seem to reflect this. Changing imprinted character rarely happens. Putting restraints on power and its behavioral expression succeeds more often than not. Policing looks to be where medicine was when I arrived. Applications of accountability, peer review, evidence-based guidelines, and a non-punitive culture await a more meaningful transfer from our successful medical environment to that of law enforcement, with public safety and enhanced public respect as measurable endpoints. Richard Plotzker is an endocrinologist who blogs at Consult Maven. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Defence Secretary praises UK defence industry partnership Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has praised the MOD's partnership with Britain's defence industry, which is rising to meet the challenges of maintaining critical output during the coronavirus pandemic. 11 June 2020 The MOD's partners from across the defence industry have worked hard to ensure their work which is vital to national security can continue safely so the Armed Forces remain operationally effective at all times. Last week, the Defence Secretary spoke to the CEO of BAE Systems, Charles Woodburn, to hear how they have reorganised their approach to work in order to maintain the health of their employees and make sure that programme delivery is maintained. This includes supporting the Royal Navy's fleet at Portsmouth Naval Base, the nuclear deterrent and the RAF's Quick Reaction Alert squadrons, as well as ensuring the arrival of the fourth Royal Navy's Astute-class submarines, HMS Audacious, at HMNB Clyde and the departure of the fourth Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMS Tamar, from the BAE Systems shipyard in Glasgow. To ensure these critical programmes have continued, BAE Systems has followed the UK Government health and safety guidelines on employees working from home where they can, as well as redesigning tasks, implementing social distancing, enhanced cleaning and ensuring appropriate PPE for those on site. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: "The UK is fortunate that our defence industry and its key workers are stepping up to support the Government at this critical time. Not only have they been donating their expertise and equipment, but maintaining their critical outputs during the ongoing pandemic." "Just last week I heard how BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness have rapidly and innovatively adopted new practices to ensure their vital work can continue in line with Government guidelines keeping both their employees and our nation safe, today and in the future." At the beginning of the outbreak in March, defence companies worked alongside MOD staff as part of the Ventilator Challenge to share their engineering expertise to design and produce thousands of ventilators for the NHS. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items, including face shields, aprons and surgical gloves, have been donated by defence companies to health and social care staff. Specific products for local hospitals, such as specialist hooks for isolation cubicles and isolation cockpit shields for air ambulance pilots, have also been manufactured. At the same time, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) procurement specialists worked at speed with the Cabinet Office to help the Department for Health and Social Care secure orders from new suppliers who responded to the Government's call for PPE. DE&S also assisted this effort through the Defence Fulfilment Centre (MOD Donnington) which received and dispatched thousands of PPE items and medical equipment by utilising RAF shipment flights and Army lorry networks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed Thursday that China and Belarus turn challenges to opportunities and deepen cooperation in the joint pursuit of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Xi made the remarks in a telephone conversation in the night with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko. Xi pointed out that since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Belarus have been sticking together through thick and thin and looking out for each other, demonstrating deep iron-clad friendship between the two sides and the high-level trait and particularity of China-Belarus relations. China firmly supports Belarus in taking prevention and control measures in line with its national conditions, and is willing to continue to share prevention and control experiences and diagnosis and treatment plans with Belarus without reservation, he said. He expressed belief that under Lukashenko's strong leadership, the Belarusian people will be able to defeat the epidemic as soon as possible. Xi thanked Belarus for providing help to Chinese citizens studying, working and living in Belarus, adding that he believed Belarus will continue protecting their safety and health effectively. China is willing to work with the international community, including Belarus, to strengthen cooperation and jointly build a community of common health for mankind, said Xi. At present, China-Belarus relations of comprehensive strategic partnership, featuring mutual trust and win-win cooperation, has been developing at a high level, Xi said. He said the two sides have been supporting each other with no hesitation on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, demonstrating the fact that the two countries have been true all-weather partners. China will, as always, support the development path chosen by Belarus in accordance with its national conditions. Although the COVID-19 pandemic will inevitably affect bilateral exchanges and practical cooperation, Xi said, China-Belarus relations have been enjoying a solid foundation and huge potential for cooperation. Xi called on the two sides to accelerate the construction of the China-Belarus industrial park, seek more achievements in mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, and push forward bilateral relations to new levels. For his part, Lukashenko said China has always respected the development path independently chosen by Belarus. China provided strong support and shared valuable experiences in its fight against the epidemic, and played an important role in the prevention and control of the epidemic in Belarus, for which Belarus is deeply grateful, Lukashenko said. Noting that Belarus and China are good friends and good brothers, Lukashenko said the Belarusian side firmly opposes politicizing or labeling the virus, and will continue standing resolutely with China on issues concerning China's core interests. Belarus stands ready to work with China to make full use of China-Europe freight trains to expand bilateral trade, jointly build the Belt and Road, and promote practical cooperation in a wide range of fields, said Lukashenko, adding that he earnestly looks forward to welcoming the Chinese president to visit his country again at an early date after the pandemic. HARARE regional magistrate Mr Crispen Mberewere yesterday set June 13 as the possible trial date for businessman Genius Kadungure and his company Piko Trading on tax evasion and smuggling charges they are denying. Piko has already pleaded guilty to other charges involving tax returns. Kadungure is being charged in his personal capacity for failing to submit documents about his income to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) from January 2010 to December 2015, as required by the Income Tax Act. Piko Trading is being separately charged with smuggling 5 289kg of gas into the country. Kadungure and his company denied the charges. On Monday, Kadungure pleaded guilty on behalf of his company on two counts of tax evasion involving nearly $5 million. Piko Trading, which sells liquefied petroleum gas, was being charged with two counts of tax evasion and smuggling while its owner is facing allegations of failing to declare income tax totalling to $119 860, in his personal capacity. Kadungure, representing his company, admitted on Monday to failing to pay Value Added Tax between February 2009 and May 2016, prejudicing Zimra of $2 512 149 in the process and failing to declare income tax leaving the authority $355 559 short. This was after Piko Trading had pocketed $24 187 026. Piko Trading, however, denied smuggling 5 289kgs of gas into the country while Kadungure also denied failing to declare income tax to the Commissioner of Taxes amounting to $119 860 between the year 2010 and 2015. The State, led by Mr Kumire, alleges that during the said period, Piko Trading declared to Zimra that it had received a total of $3 194 329,47 in sales including Value Added Tax. A Bengaluru court on Thursday night granted bail to Amulya Leona, a student who raised the slogan of 'Pakistan zindabad' at an anti-CAA-NRC rally at Freedom park on February 20, news agency ANI reported. Earlier in the day, a city court had rejected her bail plea. "If the petitioner is released on bail, she may abscond or she may be involved in a similar offence, which affects the peace at large," the judge had said adding the bail petition of the petitioner is liable to be rejected. An activist and college student, Amulya Leona had raised pro Pakistan slogans during the protest meeting against CAA, NRC and NPR organised by Hindu Muslim Sikh Isaai Federation on February 20. All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and its Lok Sabha member from Hyderabad, Asauddin Owaisi, who was present on the occasion, tried to prevent Amulya from repeating the pro-Pakistan chant. The incident, which left Owaisi and the rally organisers red-faced, occurred when Amulya was called on the dais to address the gathering in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) under the banner of "Save Our Constitution". The evacuees were disembarked and were taken for medical screening at the jetty followed by Customs clearance and other formalities. Visakhapatnam: Under Operation Samudra Setu, INS Shardul has brought back 233 stranded Indian nationals, who were earlier evacuated from Bandar Abbas port in Iran. The ship entered Porbandar harbour on Friday. Personnel from Indian Navy, state authorities and police officials received the evacuees. All arrangements including a screening zone, a sanitisation zone, availability of ambulances and buses for transport were put in place at the port. The evacuees were disembarked and were taken for medical screening at the jetty followed by Customs clearance and other formalities. The evacuees thereafter boarded buses arranged to take them to the designated quarantine zones. District wise details of the evacuees had already been forwarded to the administration beforehand. Operation Samudra Setu is the Indian Navy's contribution to the Government of India's national efforts to facilitate return of Indian citizens from foreign shores. So far, a total of 3,107 Indian citizens have been brought back from Maldives (2,188), Sri Lanka (686) and Iran (233) by Indian Naval ships Jalashwa, Magar and Shardul. Moede, a Yemeni chef in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province, plans to start a family and build a career in Guangzhou after having worked in the city now for seven years. (Photo/Guangzhou Daily) Growing up as the eldest child in a family of eight, Moede decided to secure a job in Guangzhou at the age of 20 to support his family at the suggestion of a friend who was doing foreign trade business in the city. After studying foreign trade at his friend's office, Moede secured a job as a chef near the Guangzhou railway station first, just like he did back home. Meanwhile, he would purchase and deliver some electronic components back home to sell. "Clothes, bags, shoes and electronic components are popular in Yemen and many Yemeni people in Guangzhou would do the business," he said. Moede came back to Guangzhou in 2018, after staying at home for over three years to renew his work visa, and continued working as a chef at different restaurants. The income as a chef is pretty good compared with that back home, according to Moede, adding that he would normally send 2,000 to 2,500 yuan ($280-350) to his family every month, which was enough for the expenditure on food. (Photo/Guangzhou Daily) Learning Mandarin from his Chinese colleagues and translation apps, it took him one year to understand simple Chinese words. He became more confident after he could speak Chinese and was able to go shopping, sightseeing and even purchase small wares for business. Moede pointed out that he has over 20 Yemini friends in Guangzhou and over 20 Chinese friends who provide help to him. Due to the decline of business in the restaurant, Moede wants to start a foreign trade business in Guangzhou. After finding his way in the city for several years and learning Mandarin, the 30-year-old Yemeni would like to start a career in Guangzhou now that his family is better off. "I'm thinking about selling electronic components or bags to people back home with the help of my father and brother," he said, adding that he intends to introduce high-quality products at a fair cost to suit the needs of the Yemeni people. Industrial and residential properties could be the sectors grasping the most upcoming attention in the real estate market of Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines three of the ASEANs fastest-growing economies. In a webinar titled Investing in Asia: Obstacles & Opportunities in Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines held last week, Savills experts explained that the trend of investing into Southeast Asia is pointing towards new foreign direct investment (FDI) prospects for the three nations in particular. According to Neil MacGregor, managing director of Savills Vietnam, COVID-19 is accelerating relocation wave from other destinations to Vietnam and this has been increasing the demand of industrial property in the country. Multinationals that produce these will be under pressure to cut costs, prompting a shift in production to Vietnam, MacGregor said. He explained that previously companies were reluctant to set up operations in Vietnam due to supply chains lacking depth. Today foreign-invested companies are not only establishing new factories in Vietnam, but have a greater incentive to foster development of local supply chains. All of these factors are pushing up the demand for industrial and housing property, he said. According to Savills, Vietnam has an average occupancy rate of 75 per cent in operational industrial zones nationwide. In some key zones in the south such as Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces, this occupancy has reached more than 90 per cent already with the appearance of Vietnam Singapore Induastrial Parks and Thailand AMATA. In the north, Haiphong and Bac Ninh are hot spots with the presence of VinFast and DEEP C Industrial Zones. Despite Indonesia boasting many advantages as the biggest economy in the region, and with a rising middle class and resilient and stable economy, it has received less interest from international financiers for many years. However, that situation has been changing. Interest is also increasing from foreign investors for modem logistics development and efficient distribution centres, said Savills Indonesia general manager Anton Sitorus. The Indonesian government in the last five years has focused much on infrastructure projects to meet the growing demand for transit-oriented development in the countrys major cities. In Jakarta, a capital city with more than 30 million in population, there remains room for growth of foreign investment, based on the number of around 270,000 units of Grade A being in stock in the market. The figure remains small if compared to other major cities in the region such as Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, and even in Vietnam. Meanwhile KMC Savills managing director Michael McCullough said that in the Philippines, industrial, logistics, and business process outsourcing (BPO) projects would be faster in recovery compared to other sectors. Industrial and BPO will bounce back within 2-3 months and will become stronger than before, while residential ranks at a mixed outlook, said McCullough. Manufacturing companies will look for alternative sources and invest in automation. Many manufacturing facilities have had to shut down over recent months but there will be newcomers on the way, added McCullough. In the Philippines, high uncertainly is spreading to parts of retail and offices, which will be impacted for 6-12 months at least. In the residential segment, Vietnam meanwhile retains room for increasing mid-range and affordable apartments because the slow approval from competent bodies has brought limited supply while demand is increasing. The high-end segment, meanwhile, has seen challenges in the short term given foreigners cannot visit Vietnam due to the pandemic; but the segment still yields potential for FDI in the long term based on the policy from the government to permit foreigners to grab home ownership in Vietnam since 2015, along with the quota of 30 per cent in every project being allowed to be sold to foreigners. Apart from that, the percentage of higher-income earners is also increasing in the country. There is pessimism in hospitality sector across the board, which will be greatly affected and will endure long-lasting impacts which may lead to recession. The pandemic has inevitably put the sector under financial distress which will compel some owners to liquidate assets. VIR Quynh Chau Vietnam stimulates domestic tourism to restore economy The tourism sector has devised tourism stimulus measures to revive the domestic tourism market, remove obstacles for tourism companies, and prepare to receive foreign visitors after the COVID-19 pandemic ends. Johnson is speaker at Northern State event Monday U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson will speak at the grand opening of Northern State University's Center for Public History and Civic Engagement. South Korea has decided to prolong a set of strict social distancing measures in Seoul and nearby regions, initially slated to expire this weekend, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Friday amid no letup in daily increases in the number of COVID-19 infections. "The situation is that it's inevitable to extend the strengthened distancing measures in the capital area, which are scheduled to finish the day after tomorrow," he said at the outset of an interagency meeting against the pandemic. In late May, the government imposed the measures, which include the closure of public libraries, museums and other facilities, as part of the "distancing in daily life" campaign. In spite of the enhanced distancing in place over the past two weeks, he pointed out, the virus has continued to spread, especially in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, where around half of the nation's 52 million population resides. He cited unrelenting reports of cluster and indirect infections especially in the capital area, speaking during the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters session held at the government office complex in central Seoul. "The government will extend the existing measures in the capital area until the situation becomes stable and continue to strive to slow the spread of infections by strengthening quarantines in blind spots," Chung added. He did not specify a new timetable for the distancing campaign. Park Neung-hoo, the health and welfare minister, is expected to make public details after the meeting presided over by Chung. (Yonhap) Egypt will allow foreign visitors and international flights starting in July. Travelers will be allowed to visit beach resorts in the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea, such as Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab, according to Reuters. Egypt halted international flights in and out of the country in March, but repatriation flights have continued since then. Many restrictions against the coronavirus remain in place in the country. Restaurants, beaches and malls are still closed. Police arrested more than 6,000 people in one week late last month for allegedly violating the curfew, which is currently from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The government is trying to boost tourism for the summer. Construction of an antiquities museum in Sharm el-Sheikh is ongoing. We hope that it can play a role in attracting more tourists to the city, a tourism official told Al-Monitor. The tourism sector accounts for 5% of Egypts gross domestic product, according to Reuters. Revenues could fall by as much as 16% this year amid the pandemic. People will be able to visit the resorts in the southern part of Sinai, the Red Sea province and one resort on the Mediterranean, Reuters reported. The virus continues to grow by about 1,000 cases a day in Egypt. The country has had 39,726 confirmed cases to date, according to Worldometer. Doctors have recently criticized the Egyptian governments handling of the pandemic, saying they are not being protected as medical staff deaths increase. GREENWICH After years of work, the Housing Authority of the town of Greenwich will officially cut the ribbon on 18 new townhouse units at Armstrong Court on Saturday morning. The public is invited to the ceremony, which will take place at 10 a.m. next to the six buildings that contain the townhouses. The townhouses are only the first phase in an overall redevelopment project for the town-owned housing complex. This is a transformative step in advancing the quality of affordable housing for the Town of Greenwich. We welcome the public to come and tour the new units, said Anthony Johnson, executive director for the Housing Authority. We are committed to providing the opportunity to live in quality, affordable housing through fiscally responsible asset management of our resources, and these 18 units are an exceptional example of our capabilities. Sam Romeo, chair of the Housing Authoritys board of commissioners, said Saturday will be a day to celebrate. I am happy to say this is a great day, Romeo said. It is the first step in accomplishing my vision of totally transforming Armstrong Court. When all phases are completed, it will be a jewel of the town. The new townhouses include six two-bedroom units and 12 three-bedroom units with one-and-a-half bathrooms in each. They were built on previously undeveloped land. For now, the 18 units will be replacement housing for residents who will be relocated as the rehabilitation project continues in Armstrong Court. For the second phase, buildings 1, 3 and 6 will undergo a gut rehabilitation. That phase is expected to begin in the late summer and take about 12 months. Residents will be shifted around throughout the complex as each phase of work is done, and then they will move into newly refurbished units. In phase two, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units will be combined to create three-bedroom units with two bathrooms. Romeo said three-bedroom units are in higher demand by families. Ultimately, when the work is completed, there will be 150 total units in Armstrong Court, an increase of six. Romeo called the completion of Phase 1, the first major project in our long-range plan for affordable housing in the town of Greenwich. Over the next five to seven years, the Housing Authority will bring forward plans to build nearly 300 units to increase the towns housing stock. This is an all-new Housing Authority for the 21st century. Stay tuned the best is yet to come, Romeo said. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com The Police CID has invited the Hot FM broadcaster who interviewed Apostle Kwabena Owusu Adjei, the man who purportedly threatened the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission. A letter to the radio station sighted by Citi News asked the station to release the interviewer, Isaac Darko Boamah, Awal Saeed Mohammed and one other described as Gargantuan lady. They are to report to the CID Headquarters on Monday, June 15, 2020, at 10 am to assist with investigations. It would be appreciated if you could release the host of the show, Mr. Isaac Darko Boamah, Mr. Awal Saeed Mohammed, and the said lady to report to Superintendent/IU at the CID Headquarters, 4th floor, room 13 on Monday, 15/06/2020 at 1000hrs to assist with investigations, the letter noted. Hot FM on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, spoke to Apostle Kwabena Owusu Adjei on a Facebook Live after some statements he had made a few days earlier concerning the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, and President Nana Akufo-Addo. The pastor in a viral video allegedly warned Jean Mensa to suspend the plans to compile a new voters register or risk being killed. He also made comments concerning the death of Abuakwa North MP, J.B. Danquah-Adu in 2016. Apostle Kwabena Owusu Adjei, the General Overseer of the Hezekiah Prayer Ministries, was arrested during the interview with Hot FM at a secret location in Accra. He has been slapped with charges of threat of death, offensive conducive to the breach of peace and possession of narcotic drugs Meanwhile, a drug test conducted on Apostle Kwabena Owusu Adjei reportedly tested positive for tramadol and cannabis. Read the invitation letter below: Citinewsroom New role: Paul Johnston will take up the position later in the year The Government is set to approve the appointment of Paul Johnston, an experienced career diplomat who has held senior postings to Nato and the EU, as the new UK ambassador to Ireland, the Irish Independent can reveal. Mr Johnston will succeed Robin Barnett, with diplomatic sources expecting him to take up the role later this year. His appointment is expected to be approved by the Cabinet in Dublin as early as today. Since racing returned to Woodbine Mohawk Park no trainer has been more productive than Ben Baillargeon. The veteran horseman savoured a training triple on Saturday, June 7, before capturing Tuesdays Preferred Trot with P L Jill. To keep the ball rolling he watched sophomore pacer Rhythm In Motion step to a new lifetime mark in his 2020 debut. A homebred son of Big Jim-Racy Gal Hanover, Rhythm In Motion marched right to the lead in the $16,000 affair and didnt look back for driver Sylvain Filion. He carved out fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:24.3 with the gelding who then used a final quarter clocked in :27 to win by 3-1/4 lengths in a career-best clocking of 1:51.3. Bettor At Hightide was next best, with Siddhartha taking home third prize. Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, Rhythm In Motion won for the second time in his career for owners/breeders Santo Vena and Nunzio Vena. The gelding is a half-brother to the Vena brothers Rock This Way (1:51.1 - $264,125). To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results Woodbine Mohawk Park. Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, was slammed as a foolish leader by the family of an abducted Japanese woman as they called for the safe come back of all the kidnaping victims in the Hermit Kingdom. Tetsuya Yokota, whose sister Megumi was abducted in November 1977, claimed that Kim Jong-un is a foolish leader. Together with Takuya, Tetsuya's twin brother, they have advocated for the return from North Korea of the Japanese abductees along with their mother, Sakie and father, Shigeru, a well-known activist who recently died without seeing her daughter. According to New York Post, Megumi, the Japanese abductee, was 13 years old when she disappeared on her way home from school in Niigata, Northwestern Japan, but after two decades it was revealed that North Korea was responsible for the abduction. The families of the Japanese abductees of North Korea, will journey to The Hague to appeal to the International Criminal Court (ICC) the prosecution of the leader of the North for human rights abuses because of the insufficient information provided about their abducted family members. In 2002, North Korea admitted the abduction of 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies, saying that five of the abductees have returned to Japan. But Tokyo doubts that more than a hundred may have been taken. These people were abducted to teach the Japanese language and culture to agents spying on South Korea. Read also: North and South Korean at Risk of Losing Reduced Military Tensions After Anti-DPRK Leaflets Spread North Korea Insight also reported that Megumi's abduction has been validated by North Korean but alleged that the girl was suffering from depression and died in 1994 by suicide. But the Megumi's family refused to accept the claim. Takuya said Megumi was deeply cherished by their father and it is unbearable for them to think how their father wanted to see their girl. Kazuhiro Araki, leader of a support group for the families of the missing Japanese, stated that a petition requesting inquisition of the disappearances as a criminal case against humanity to heighten international attention about the incident will be presented by the group. As stated by Akari, South Korea is presently having a connection with the North for the Olympics, which is least expected by the group, referring to the communication of the two Korean countries over the winter Olympics beginning next month that have come up to the relaxation of cross-border ties. Moreover, Akari stated they believe that this communication between the two countries will bring more attention to the different situation of Japan. The North has repeatedly been pledging to reopen the investigations into the fate of the missing Japanese, only to draw back their promises thereafter. Araki admitted that the move will most likely be symbolic but uttered that it was still valuable. He articulated that the arrest of Kim Jong-un would be difficult, but showing that human rights abuses are happening is an important act. On Tuesday, the family demanded North Korea to return the abducted Japanese to their families since some of the victims were elderly and are not in good health condition. Tetsuya and the family of the abducted Japanese are hoping for concrete results to avert the same incidents from happening. Related article: North Korea Makes Millions Out of Sand, Breaks Sanctions Selling Them @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 1st Community Credit Union has awarded a $20,000 grant, which was split among the Boys & Girls Clubs in Sparta, West Salem and Tomah. The Sparta Boys & Girls Club received $7,000 and the Tomah and West Salem Clubs each received $6,500. The grants were made possible by the COVID-19 Relief Program established by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago to assist member institutions with responding to the needs of nonprofit organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. 1st Community Credit Union is dedicated to serving the needs of the people and organizations in the communities we serve, said Wendy Swanson, 1st CCUs vice president-finance. We have a great working relationship with Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago and we are honored to be able to use these funds to help these local clubs continue to provide programs for the youth in Sparta, West Salem and Tomah. We truly believe that strong students make for a strong community. 1st Community Credit Union was formed in 1961 and serves 14 counties. Three branches and a student branch located in Sparta, West Salem and Tomah serve the financial needs of more than 12,600 members of the credit union. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Power The Minister of Power, Mr. Sale Mamman, has revealed that the entire country currently enjoys between 18 to 24 hours of power every day. Mamman, who spoke in an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), maintained that the President Muhammadu Buharis administration had improved the infrastructure in the power system. But, Mammans claim of significantly improved power supply was contrary to the position of most Nigerians as well as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) that recently listed unstable power supply as the number one challenge of doing business in the country. The minister also disclosed that some power plants had been completed by the current administration and assured that power supply would further improve with the coming of Siemens AG, a German company into the system. He said: The President has come out with Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) to ensure that all infrastructures are improved. So, many substations are now in place across the country. We have improved the 330 KVA which is the highest voltage in the country. We have also improved the 132 substations. Kashimbilla has been completed which is 40mw. We have reached up to 70 per cent of Zungeru in Niger. One of the biggest projects, the Mambilla, which has been lingering for over 40 years, has commenced. We have finished the feasibility studies, the land and area survey and waiting for contractors to mobilise to site. We have improved our services. Before this government, they gave light for less than 10 hours a day, but today I can tell you that we give light from 18 to 24 hours in a day. The minister said that the government was trying to make electricity supply constant and affordable and emphasised that the country would reach energy generation of up to 112, 000mw per hour for the first time. Mamman added: Before now, we had less than 3,000mw of capacity generation but today we can generate up to 5,500mw capacity although we cannot transmit all due to some constraints. Mamman noted that the Siemens would align the entire sector to ensure that generation, transmission and distribution are properly coordinated. George Street will be closed to through traffic between McDonnel and King streets in downtown Peterborough from 3 p.m. Friday until Sunday night to help people with physical distancing as businesses resume more activities. The closure comes as Ontario moves into the second stage of the COVID-19 pandemic recovery measures. City council approved the plan at a special meeting held by teleconference Thursday night. Further closures could come without delay: council voted Thursday to authorize city chief administrative officer Sandra Clancy to close streets and sidewalks, or to decrease speed limits downtown and elsewhere, to allow more patios or outdoor shopping. Allowing Clancy this power is expected to make it quicker for restaurateurs and business owners to get city permission to use additional outdoor space, as pandemic protocols change. It could result in new patios for restaurants that dont currently have one, for instance, or outdoor boutique shopping. Its expected to mean new pop-up patios can open promptly, alongside the existing restaurant patios (which open Friday). Lets move this so everyone can start up business again, said Coun. Don Vassiliadis. Moments later councillors and the mayor all voted in favour (except for Coun. Dean Pappas, who declared a pecuniary interest by dint of operating the family-owned Pappas Billiards on George Street). It could mean pop-up patios across Peterborough not just the downtown. Coun. Lesley Parnell mentioned that theres potential for serving customers outdoors in East City or in locations in Otonabee Ward, for instance. She also asked whether city staff had considered accessibility, in its plans. City infrastructure and planning commissioner Cynthia Fletcher said staff had absolutely considered it: she said pop-up patios and boutiques will be designed to still allow foot traffic. People will navigate around and through this is top of mind, Fletcher said. Coun. Kemi Akapo asked whether smoking will be allowed in the closed-to-traffic areas and Fletcher said not on city-owned property: business owners will have to figure out a way to create legal smoking areas. Then Coun. Keith Riel asked whether there would be enhanced policing to deal with drinking downtown, and whether any public health officials would ensure people maintain physical distance. Fletcher said there will be public health officials and police out, in addition to awareness campaigns on how to keep safe. Mayor Diane Therrien asked residents to be patient if they go out on a patio soon: servers and restaurateurs are learning how to do business under new protocols. Just be nice, Therrien said. Be patient. Were all in this together. Good morning, Bay Area. Its Friday, June 12, and women quarantined during a prison coronavirus outbreak describe whats happening on the inside. Heres what you need to know to start your day. San Francisco Mayor London Breed released a four-point blueprint for police reforms Thursday that would transform the day-to-day course of policing in a department largely occupied by calls about homelessness and mental health issues. Breeds proposal would remove sworn officers from responding to neighbor disputes, school discipline interventions, behavioral health crises and other such noncriminal activities. They would be replaced with trained, unarmed professionals who Breed said would be better equipped to handle such situations. The reforms would additionally ban the use of military-grade weapons. The plan doesnt include a budget or details on how the reforms should be carried out. Megan Cassidy and Dominic Fracassa report on the progress of previous attempts at SFPD reform and what might happen next. More: A Chronicle review of San Francisco police data found wide racial disparities in both routine and serious interactions between police and the public. Nearly half of use-of-force cases last year involved black people. Oakland school board and superintendent back elimination of school district police. San Mateo County sheriff ends use of carotid restraint. Risk-reward Hiking on Mount Tam? Coffee in North Beach? How about a picnic at Dolores Park? If youre itching to get out of the house, make sure you understand the associated dangers of contracting the coronavirus. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle Taking the familiar safety precautions when leaving the house will help: Wear a mask, wash your hands, dont touch your face, avoid crowded spaces and maintain physical distance. But resuming normal routines will require even more consideration, though, no matter how badly you need a haircut. The Chronicle asked infectious disease experts to rate the risks of some popular Bay Area activities based on a scale of 1 (lowest risk) to 5 (highest risk). Read more here. Poll: Which activities are you ready to resume in the Bay Area? Los Angeles has asked protesters to quarantine for the coronavirus. We ask local infectious disease experts and health officials whether the Bay Area should follow suit. Mayor London Breed said in April that the city would hand back $138 million tied up in workers medical reimbursement accounts to help them weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Quietly, that plan has fallen apart. Quarantined and locked up April Harris, a 44-year-old inmate at a California womens prison, tested positive for the coronavirus in mid-May. Since then she has battled a dry cough, but thats not the bad part of being sick behind bars. The bad part, she says, is the atmosphere of neglect and chaos that has taken hold as the virus burns through the California Institution for Women, a 1,500-inmate prison in Riverside County owned and operated by the state. The bad part is listening to the screams of her fellow prisoners and her friends. Harris is just one of thousands of inmates across the state being held in quarantine as officials struggle to halt raging outbreaks inside prisons. The bulk of the cases are concentrated in five large clusters one at the womens prison. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation says it has taken extraordinary and unprecedented measures to fight the virus, but Harris and six other women tell Chronicle reporter Jason Fagone that the reality of their outbreak is messy and dangerous. Yosemite Valley reopens It almost feels like normal, said Paul Randall of Berkeley, who was hiking to Nevada Falls with his son Gabriel in Yosemite National Park on Thursday. Randall was happy to get out of the Bay Area and shed facial protection and concerns about social distancing. Its wide open, go where you want, no one wearing masks. Ive been kind of waiting for this moment. Chris Kaufman / Special to The Chronicle But with the coronavirus outbreak still looming, it wasnt normal a new emphasis on safety reigned in the park. Read more about Yosemites first day after the parks longest-ever shutdown. More: Lake Tahoes famous clarity is fading, report finds. Around the Bay First in Richmond: BARTs new gate makes its premiere to praise, doubts it will stop fare evaders. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Attack in Ben Lomond: Travis Air Force Base sergeant charged with murder in killing of Santa Cruz sheriffs deputy. Tesla infections: The companys safety chief says the coronavirus is not circulating at Fremont facility as some workers say Tesla is keeping them in the dark about confirmed cases. Apizza rules: Bay Area pizzeria makes New Haven-style pies that are worth the journey. A different kind of self-isolation: Solo paddler kayaks entire Sacramento River, 350 miles from Redding to Golden Gate. Kathleen Pender: Answering your questions on unemployment and late tax refunds. Ann Killion: Confederate flag is finally red-flagged at NASCAR. Guard costs: California spent nearly $25 million to deploy 8,000 National Guard troops to cities across the state after widespread protests of police violence turned chaotic, with most of the money spent in Los Angeles County. More than one magazine: Bon Appetits race problem is the food medias race problem. In case you missed it Im here because Im the mother of three black kings 21, 12 and 6 and I would never want to be George Floyds mom and experience the type of devastation and heartache that she had to experience, Shana Mason tells photojournalist Yalonda M. James. So Im here just to show solidarity. I need to be out here. I felt compelled to be out here. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle Throughout last week, James took portraits of black Bay Area residents who participated in protests and asked them a simple question: What brought you here? Read their stories and see the photographs here. Fifth & Mission podcast: James explains why she began this project. Bay Briefing is written by Taylor Kate Brown and sent to readers email inboxes on weekday mornings. Sign up for the newsletter here, and contact Brown at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com. New Delhi: Heavily pained by the martyrdom of 17 soldiers, President Pranab Mukherjee strongly condemned the terrorist attack at Uri Army base (Jammu & Kashmir) on September 18 and claimed that India would not bow down to terrorists and their supporters at any cost. "India will not be cowed down by such attacks, we will thwart the evil designs of terrorists and their backers," the President said, without naming Pakistan. Mukherjee, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, strongly condemned the "outrageous terrorist attack on Army base in Uri". Also read: Watch Live Uri attack updates: Indian Army will give a befitting response to Uri attack, says DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh Paying rich tributes to brave soldiers who made supreme sacrifice, the President expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of those who laid down their lives in the terror strike. He also prayed for speedy recovery of those injured. Uri, a small town located 103 kms north of Srinagar, woke up to heavy gunfire when four terrorists of Jaish-e- Mohammed group entered the battalion headquarters of 10 Dogra regiment and killed 17 soldiers. All the four terrorists were eliminated. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: P Ram Kumar, accused of murdering 24-year-old Swathi, an IT professional from Chennai, committed suicide in jail on September 18. The suicide happened at around 4:30 pm on Sunday after the accused bit a live electric wire in Puzhal Central Prison, where he was lodged, sources said. He was taken immediately to a hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival, said a police officer investigating the case. It is still not certain as to where did the alleged suicide took place. It seems a little dubious as to why officials chose to take him to a hospital more than an hour away from the jail. Officials at the jail were not available for comment. The postmortem is likely to be performed later in the day and the report will give police more clarity. Ram Kumar's lawyer SP Ramaraj, however, alleged foul play. "It's a murder in jail. Nowhere in a jail would there be a power supply strong enough to kill a person. We would ask for an open postmortem," said the lawyer claiming Ram Kumat did not show any suicidal tendency when he met him yesterday in the jail. Ram Kumar, who had allegedly hacked Swathi to death at the Nungambakkam Railway Station in June, had attempted suicide earlier too. On July 3, he slashed his neck as the police was about to arrest him. He had been in hospital in Tirunelveli for a while, undergoing treatment. An engineering graduate, Ram Kumar had allegedly killed Swathi after she rejected his advances. The police zeroed on him from the CCTV images retrieved from apartments close to the railway station. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Birmingham's housing authority, schools cut ties with Church of the Highlands over pastors social media likes Donald Trump Jr calls decision 'absolutely insane' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Housing Authority of the Birmingham District and the Birmingham Board of Education cut ties with Church of the Highlands due to controversy surrounding Chris Hodges, the churchs founder and pastor, liking social media posts that have been criticized as racially insensitive. Due to a recent social media controversy involving Church of the Highlands pastor Chris Hodges, HABD Board of Commissioners voted Monday during a special called meeting to end HABDs partnership with the church," the affordable housing provider said in a statement Monday. The decision affects a Memorandum of Understanding that has existed since October 2017 between HABD and Church of the Highlands which provided resident outreach programs and social services at its Campus of Hope, located in the Marks Village Public Housing community. The Birmingham Board of Education also voted Tuesday night to end its leases with Church of the Highlands, which paid an average of $12,000 a month each to rent Parker High School and Woodlawn High School for Sunday worship services, AL.com reported. The megachurch has over 20 locations throughout Alabama for services. English teacher Jasmine Faith Clisby complained in an earlier report that Hodges followed and liked several social media posts of Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk in the wake of national protests over the killing of 46-year-old African American George Floyd by Minneapolis Police Department officers on Memorial Day. One of the posts reportedly shows two photos one featuring President Donald Trump standing next to Muhammad Ali and Rosa Parks with the caption The racist Donald Trump in the 1980s, and the other featuring Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam with two men wearing blackface and a KKK costume with the caption Progressive Leftist Ralph Northam in the 1980s. Hodges has since apologized to his predominantly white but racially diverse congregation. Some saw something on social media that questioned my character. And Ill own it by the way but that is not what I believe and that is not what we teach," Hodges said in a sermon two Sundays ago. "I understand how this has made you feel and I apologize. Honestly, its understandable to me. I dont take it personally. I know people are hurting right now and they want clarity. I would love for you to not just look at a microscopic zoom-in but look at the totality of 37 years of ministry and 19 years as a church. If you look at that it will be abundantly clear that we value every person. For every person that has been marginalized, rejected or belittled, abused or even afraid because of how God made you, Tammy and I, the Church of the Highlands family, stand with you. During an emotional prayer service the day before, Hodges called Floyd's killing "outrageous," "wrong" and "disgraceful." "Racism, bigotry, prejudice exists; its real," he stated. "And its of the devil. White supremacy or any supremacy other than the supremacy of Christ is of the devil." The housing authority, which has been providing affordable housing in Birmingham for more than 80 years, did not appear satisfied with Hodges apology. Pastor Hodges recently submitted a public apology to his church members after liking social media posts that were perceived as racist and offensive to people in the African-American community. HABD Board of Commissioners agreed that Pastor Hodges views do not reflect those of HABD and its residents; and Hodges values are not in line with those of HABD residents. HABD and Campus of Hope staff will continue to work with other faith-based organizations in the community to identify resources that will replace the services that were provided by COTH, the agency said. Church of the Highlands did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday when contacted by The Christian Post. In a statement to AL.com, however, Hodges thanked the the HABD for allowing his church to serve. Jesus Christ teaches us to love our neighbors, Hodges said. In these complex times we want to do more than ever to listen, love and serve our city. We want to publicly thank the Birmingham Housing Authority for the opportunity they provided us to serve them over the years. We continue to support their work and encourage others to do the same. President Donald Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., responded to the situation on Tuesday, calling the HABD decision absolutely insane. Theyre canceling the pastor of the largest (and most racially diverse) church in Alabama just because he liked some of @charliekirk11s posts, he wrote. According to the MOU that existed between Church of the Highlands and the housing agency, the church, which is the largest in Alabama and one of the largest congregations in America, would provide public housing residents with a number of social service activities in addition to mentoring, support groups and faith activities. In addition, the vote to cancel the MOU with COTH will cease activities provided by The Dream Center and Christ Health Center, which are both ministries within the COTH, the agency said. Christ Health Center CEO Dr. Robert Record, who also attends and is on staff at the Church of the Highlands, told AL.com that while the church continues to fund the clinic, the church and the clinic are separate entities, with separate boards of directors. We are thankful to serve thousands of patients who live in these great neighborhoods," Record said in a statement. "The vast majority of this medical work is done in our clinic and grows into relationships within homes across the community. These patients are our neighbors and friends, and we will continue to provide care as we always have. We were happy to partner recently with HABD to bring free COVID-testing right into the community our first direct patient care on HABD property. This mobile-testing opportunity may take some reworking. In their statement on Monday, HABD noted that its decision to end its relationship with Church of the Highlands does not diminish the great work the church has done. HABD greatly appreciates the many resources provided for our residents by COTH staff and volunteers over the years. Severing this partnership does not diminish the great work and support from COTH, which has made a difference in the lives of countless residents, the agency said. Medical Officer, Budapest Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Childrens Fund Country: Hungary City: Budapest, Hungary Office: UNICEF GSSC Budapest Closing date: Monday, 22 June 2020 Temporary Appointment of Medical Officer, NO-C, UNICEF Global Shared Services Centre, Budapest, Hungary Job no: 532041 Position type: Temporary Appointment Location: Hungary Division/Equivalent: Operations School/Unit: Global Shared Services Centre Department/Office: HR Admin Section, GSSC Categories: Human Resources, Support: Operations, NO-3, Operations and Business Management Remarks: This position is for Hungarian nationals only. This is a temporary position with a duration of 364 days (with possibility of extension). UNICEF works in some of the worlds toughest places, to reach the worlds most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up. For every child, results. UNICEFs Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) in Budapest, Hungary provides services to UNICEF offices globally in the areas of Finance, Human Resources, Payroll and Information Technology. The incumbent of this role will provide high quality occupational health services at UNICEFs Global Shared Services Centre and ensure the timely administration of pre-placement examinations globally. How can you make a difference? Within delegated authority of the Medical Director and with direct report to the HR Manager (HR Administration) GSSC, the Medical Specialist will be responsible for the following duties: Medical Evacuation Support Duties: Receive requests for medical evacuation/repatriation from duty stations without a medical team, or whose team requires support. Determine the appropriate location and mechanism for evacuation and where necessary provide a recommendation for medical evacuation. Liaise with insurance providers, air transport operators and hospitals to provide necessary information before and after the evacuation. Certify sick leave as appropriate for the evacuation. Develop return to work programs as appropriate post evacuation. Ensure medical records are obtained and the evacuation finalized. Clinical Duties: (Where required) Review day-to-day clinical cases, e.g. long-term sick leave for duty stations without a medical team or whose team requires support Review day-to-day occupational health duties: pre-placement and periodic medical examinations, prepare recommendation for staff return to work and advise on termination for reasons of health. Review and follow-up staff cases with outside specialists as necessary. Provides medical administrative training programs. Participates in addressing work environment and occupational health issues. Medico Administrative Duties: Conduct regular VTCs/meetings with delegated offices away from the HQ to review/discuss MEDEVAC, employment clearance, and sick leave cases Provide medical clearances upon employment, extension of contract, periodic and travel clearances. Review and provide clearances for disability accommodation requests at UNICEF Provide support for other medically related queries Develop managerial and clinical audit of medical entitlements Develop medical entitlement training for UN clinics. Tags air transport business management health services human resources information technology mental health occupational health occupational medicine occupational safety payroll physician shared services transport operators Collaborate in a number of policy and document reviews on UNICEF medical entitlements. Follows the United Nations established policies and procedures regarding medical clearances, sick leave and termination for reasons of health. Provides cover for other Medical Specialist during their absence. Develop SOPs on medico-administrative processes Supervisory Administration: Ensures appropriate training programs are implemented in order to maintain and develop the medical capabilities (e.g. medical entitlement training for doctors and HR partners). General: Performs other related duties as required. Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Staff at large; staff within work unit; UN Headquarters New York Medical entitlements and Occupational Safety and Health staff. Staff counsellors; Senior management throughout the Organization; All specialized agencies; Physicians and representatives of Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Companies, Medical Associations and Societies; UNJSPF Results Expected: Achieves goals and objectives through the provision of high-level medical support for medical evacuations and other medical tasks to ensure the sound physical and mental health of supported staff. To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have... Doctorate (MD) or equivalent in medicine, including residency/internship in one of the medical specialties, preferably internal medicine, or occupational medicine. Current license to practice at the duty station is required. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible clinical experience in medicine, preferably in Occupational Medicine is required. Knowledge of Medical Software and databases/Medical Statistics is highly desirable UN or large industry experience is highly desirable Previous experience managing medico-administrative process in UN is highly desirable Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required Knowledge of French is highly desirable National Officer (NO) staff are nationals of the country in which they perform functions of a technical and professional nature. Eligible applicants are nationals of Hungary. National Officer staff are locally recruited staff and therefore, candidates are personally responsible for any travel and accommodation arrangements. UNICEF does not facilitate MFA accreditation for locally recruited staff For every Child, you demonstrate... UNICEFs core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Advertised: Jun 08 2020 Central Europe Daylight Time Application close: Jun 22 2020 Central Europe Daylight Time Fantasy miniatures company Games Workshop said the business had experienced a 'better than expected' recovery since reopening the majority of its shops. The Nottingham-based retailer conceded its performance has been impacted as a result of the coronavirus forcing it to shut stores. However, it expect sales and pre-tax profits in the year to May 31 to be higher than last year and that its warehouses are now fully operational. (Pictured) A Comic Con convention-goer stands next to an Orc from the Warhammer 40,000 series. Games Workshop is the maker of the Warhammer fantasy miniatures game It estimates its yearly sales to be around 270million while pre-tax profit should be 'no less' than 85million, including licensing royalties worth 16million. Games Workshop says it has resumed trading at 306 of its 532 stores across 20 countries and has implemented strict social distancing measures as its warehouses and factory, the latter of which the business says is 'working in a limited capacity.' 'Trade and online sales orders are also being processed as these staff currently work from home,' the firm added. It declared that its cash balance at the end of last month was around 50million and that it had taken advantage of 'government subsidies to cover the period of uncertainty,' though it would be seeking to repay the money it has claimed. Games Workshop was the second best-performing company on the FTSE 250 during the 2010s, having recorded a 2,630 per cent return on shareholder value The board games vender temporarily shut down all its stores and warehouses as well as its factory and headquarters in late March after the UK government announced the imposition of a lockdown that shut all non-essential retailers. Before the shutdown and its subsequent effect on the business, the FTSE 250 firm said that trading in the nine months to February 29 was 'in line with expectations.' It also posted record half-year sales and profits in the period to December 1, 2019, on the back of higher trade volumes and licensing income. CEO Kevin Rountree praised the workforce, whom he said had 'worked their socks off to deliver these great results.' Games Workshop has been on a meteoric rise in the last decade. It was the second best-performing company on the FTSE 250 during the 2010s, having recorded a 2,630 per cent return on shareholder value. Shares in the retailer fell considerably in March but have now bounced back to be around 5 per cent above where they were in February. By late morning today, they were 3.4 per cent higher at 7,820p. At the beginning of last month, video games maker Frontier Developments signed a deal with Warhammer to make a new game based on the popular Warhammer: Age of Sigmar series. Age of Sigmar is the wargame sequel to the highly popular Warhammer tabletop game that was discontinued by the company in 2015, which pits different armies that can include vampires and gods against each other in a fantasy setting. Welcome to the CUInsight Minute, sixty seconds from our Publisher & CEO Lauren Culp with the top three of our favorite things from the week. Mentioned this week: The NFL, the war for talent, and COVID-19 by JOHN PEMBROKE, CUES Hearing the bad economic news of our nations high unemployment rate, credit unions might be tempted to think that no one is hiring or developing talent during the current pandemic. Nothing could be further from the truth. (read more) Why Diversity, Equity and Inclusion should always be a part of the conversation by RONALDO HARDY, CREDIT UNION STRATEGIC PLANNING The recent murder of George Floyd has incited a range of emotions in our country. Sparks of anxiety, unrest, frustration, sadness, anger, confusion and concern abound, just to name a few. Our country is at an apparent impasse right now. We are faced with a great opportunity to move the needle on issues that have plagued us for longer than any of us have been living. (read more) Is Your Company Actually Fighting Racism, or Just Talking About It? by KIRA HUDSON BANKS and RICHARD HARVEY, HBR The wave of uprisings across the nation have made it clear that police brutality disproportionately impacting Black Americans is out of hand. Many businesses have sought to distance themselves from such violence with statements and pledges. (read more) Webinar: Three Ways to Reach Young Members During COVID-19 by ZOGO and CUInsight June 17, 2020: The average age of a credit union member is 47. What will it be in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? Blockbuster, flip phones, and floppy disk drives used to be essential, but today, theyre no longer part of our lives. With a rapidly changing landscape, especially during and post-COVID-19, we dont want credit unions to lose relevance either. For that, we need younger people participating in the credit union movement. (read more) When faced with a crisis the size and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments should pick their fights carefully. That is something the federal Liberal government should strongly consider as it attempts to recoup some payments made under the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/6/2020 (589 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. When faced with a crisis the size and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments should pick their fights carefully. That is something the federal Liberal government should strongly consider as it attempts to recoup some payments made under the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit. Opposition parties in Ottawa this week denied Prime Minister Justin Trudeau the unanimous consent needed to pass expedited legislation that would adjust the terms of CERB and impose penalties which could include jail time for improperly accessing the payments. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's threats of fines of up to $5,000 and up to six months in jail were unfocused and poorly timed. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press files) The opposition parties had different agendas behind their decisions to withhold consent. The New Democrats object to the whole idea of punishing ineligible recipients; the Bloc Quebecois wants a fiscal update before approving any additional legislation related to spending programs. Meanwhile, the federal Conservatives want some sort of resumption of regular sittings of the House of Commons. The fact the Trudeau government is trying to recoup some of the CERB payments being made in error is not at issue. The money from this program should, in the end, go to the people who need it the most. However, the approach the Liberals have taken regarding improper CERB access appears to have more to do with politics than fiscal accountability. The Liberal governments "fail-fast" approach to economic supports during the pandemic has been, for the most part, appropriate. Programs have been introduced; Canadians have responded to the terms; changes have been made, sometimes at the request of opposition parties; and then the necessary legislation has been amended, passed and put into effect. Given that context, its hardly shocking that in some cases payments were made to ineligible recipients. Accepting this as an inevitable consequence of an expedited program is an important element in finding an appropriate solution. Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Mr. Trudeaus shotgun threats of fines of up to $5,000 and up to six months in jail were unfocused and poorly timed. Canadians are still suffering tremendous stress and uncertainty related to the pandemic, and a blanket threat to punish ineligible recipients only adds to those burdens. His proposed measures also ignore the fact Canadians have been quite willing to return the money when asked. The Canadian Revenue Agency has reported that by June 3, 190,000 Canadians had returned CERB payments they were not entitled to receive, after either realizing they were ineligible or being informed by CRA or some other authority that they should not have applied in the first place. The Canada Revenue Agency has reported that by June 3, 190,000 Canadians had returned CERB payments they were not entitled to receive. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press files) The broad, tough language Mr. Trudeau chose to describe the proposed penalties seems designed to save him from knee-jerk criticism from Conservatives. By threatening penalties, he will have effectively defused what could have become a major talking point for some future Tory leader. The fact is, however, that there is no evidence of widespread "fraud." The CRAs tip line has received 1,300 calls regarding potential abuses. If every single one of those tips turned out to be a case of fraud, it would represent $2.6 million per month in improperly paid benefits out of a program that is expected to top out at about $60 billion. The Trudeau government should be fiscally responsible. It should also perform a cost/benefit analysis before suggesting such a broad, indiscriminate program to identify and punish fraudsters. While its true no one should get something they dont deserve, Mr. Trudeau would be better served by focusing on the bigger challenges facing him. In a new study, researchers recently discovered that Indonesias national anti-poverty program reduced deforestation by about 30%. The studys findings were published today in Science Advances. Two of the great global challenges of the 21st century are to reduce poverty and slow deforestation. Unfortunately, the solutions to those challenges are often perceived as conflicting with each other progress on one front means retreat on the other, says Paul Ferraro, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Human Behavior and Public Policy at the Johns Hopkins University and the studys first author. "Our study is the first of its kind to suggest that cash transfers to the impoverished can have a positive effect on forest conservation. In other words, reducing poverty does not have to create unavoidable environmental costs we can make progress on both fronts, says Rhita Simorangkir, co-author of the study and Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore. Biodiversity and deforestation are disproportionately located in regions with high levels of poverty; for example, Indonesia is among the top ten biodiversity hotspots with the greatest area impacted by poverty. Indonesia also has the third-largest area of tropical forest and one of the highest deforestation rates, making it a strong study choice with findings that could be applied to other countries. In the past, researchers only examined connections between poverty and the environment on the macroeconomic or local scales, says Ferraro. However, these studies are limited because they dont allow researchers to clearly establish a link between specific poverty interventions and environmental impacts. A clear link would be significant, the researchers say, because so much international and philanthropic aid is aimed at programs to alleviate poverty. If evidence shows that such aid can also benefit the environment, global leaders would have new considerations for budget allocations and environmental goals. For this study, Ferraro and Simorangkir studied Indonesias national anti-poverty program, Program Keluarga Harapan, which provides poor households with conditional cash transfers. The team reviewed data from 7,468 rural forested villages exposed to the program between 2008 and 2012, totaling 266,533 households that received cash. To estimate the programs causal effect on deforestation, Ferraro and Simorangkir combined data on annual forest cover loss and data on how the program was phased in across villages, along with methods that help isolate the programs effect on forests from all the other factors that also affect forests. The authors estimated that the anti-poverty program reduced deforestation in participating villages by 30%, with roughly half of those avoided losses in biodiverse primary forests. Their findings also show that reductions were larger when more villagers received cash transfers and when a village participated for more years. The authors say the anti-poverty program seems to reduce deforestation because cash provides recipients with a sort of insurance alternative to deforestation (i.e. poor farmers now have money to support themselves instead of deforesting more land when bad weather threatens to lower yields), as well as allows recipients to buy products on markets rather than obtain them by clearing forests. Other studies have shown that Indonesias program indeed lifted people out of poverty. But even if it had not done so, its environmental benefits are valuable. In fact, the economic value of the avoided carbon emissions alone compares favorably to program implementation costs. Similar programs in other countries should be evaluated in the same way, but if what we found in Indonesia generalizes to other biodiverse nations, it would provide some hope that global efforts to eradicate extreme poverty and reverse the loss of biodiverse ecosystems can be complementary, says Ferraro. ### Johns Hopkins University news releases are available online, as is information for reporters. To arrange a video or audio interview with a Johns Hopkins expert, contact a media representative listed above or visit our studio web page. Find more Johns Hopkins stories on the Hub. The Ghana Navy has finished and commissioned a fully-furnished 16-unit accommodation block to serve as a transit residence for officers posted to Accra for operational and administrative duties. The Block, KP Fiadoo Lodge, was named after Rear Admiral Peter Kofi Fiadoo, the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, will minimise the struggle to find decent accommodation for officers in transit. Each unit of the block, sited in the Naval Wardroom, near the Jubilee House, in Accra, comprise a bedroom, a hall and a kitchenette. Commissioning the facility, Lieutenant General Obed Boamah Akwa, the Chief of Defense Staff, said it would also facilitate bonding among officers for shared experiences and leadership qualities. Additionally, it would provide opportunities for young officers to imbibe the tradition of the Army and important values such as etiquette, integrity, teamwork, and morale. The role of the mess in developing and strengthening professionalism in the military cannot be overemphasized, he explained. Lt. Gen. OB Akwa said inadequate accommodation had posed a serious challenge to officers but the Military hierarchy was working in partnership with the government to address the problem. He commended the Present and Past Commanders of the Navy, especially Rear Admiral George Mawuli Biekro, Rear Admiral KP Fiadoo, and Rear Admiral Seth Amoama, the Chief of Naval Staff, who he said, joined their efforts towards the successful completion of the edifice. He said the decision to name the edifice after Rear Admiral KP Fiadoo was most appropriate and well deserved, especially for his invaluable contribution towards its construction. The Chief of Defense Staff urged the Unit leadership to ensure the maintenance of the building with all its facilities for the use of future generations, saying, I entreat the Mess Committee to put in the necessary measures to avoid the incidence of fire and other domestic accidents. For his part, Rear Admiral S. Amoama said the project was initiated in 2015 under the leadership of Rear Admiral Biekro. However, it stalled for some years after old structures were demolished, the site was cleared and the site had been hoarded because of lack of funds. In September 2018, it was reactivated with Internally Generated Funds and awarded to Edrick Construction Services. The Mess, Rear Adm said, was the home of living-in personnel, the club of all members, and the centre of military social life in every unit, noting that with the anticipation of an increase in living-in members, social events would be reaching a crescendo. Rear Adm Fiadoo said: I am truly elated to witness the completion of this project, explaining that, it was not only because the project began during his tenure, but also of the joy of witnessing the solution to some of the perennial accommodation issues. He said some officers, hitherto, resorted to renting guest houses or similar facilities while they were in transit. Madam Patience Danso Abiam, the Chief Executive Officer of Edrick Construction Services, said all the three successive leaders involved in the project were passionate about it. She said there was provision for all modern amenities, such as air-conditioners, washing machines, water heaters, and gas cookers, adding that the beautiful scenery had been created for the comfort and wellbeing of its occupants. GNA The Ukrainian delegation offered to hold an extra meeting of the group on security policy to reach the progress in the disengagement of the forces Open source Invited by the Ukrainian side to the Trilateral Contact Group representatives of occupied Donbas will participate in the meetings on an ongoing basis as the advisors of the Ukrainian delegation, as the Presidents Office reported. For the first time in the composition of the Ukrainian delegation in the work of the political group and directly in the Trilateral Contact Group, the representatives of particular areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine participated actively to hold the consultations provided by Minsk agreements. The Ukrainian side informed the partakers of the consultations that the advisors of the Ukrainian delegation the representatives of occupied Donbas will participate in the work of groups of the Trilateral Contact Group and in Trilateral Contact Group format on an ongoing basis, the message reads. As we reported, two journalists Denys Kazansky and Serhiy Harmash, a doctor, lawyer, and head of the non-governmental organization entered the group of displaced persons at the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk on Donbas. Supreme Court of India The Supreme Court (SC) will on June 12 continue its hearing in a plea seeking interest waiver on loan EMIs postponed during the moratorium. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted a moratorium on loans instalments due between March 1 and May 31, which was later extended till August 31. The moratorium is intended to provide borrowers some relief during the COVID-19 outbreak and consequent nationwide lockdown. Also Read: View | Supreme Court shouldn't meddle with loan moratorium However, the interest that is payable after the end of moratorium on EMIs postponed during the period has ruffled feathers that led to a public interest litigation being filed in the Supreme Court. The central bank in an affidavit said that lenders may lose around Rs 2 lakh crore if interest is waived, which would hurt their financial viability. The Supreme Court on June 4 criticised the RBI's response, saying that the economic aspect is not higher than health of the people. Also Read: SC slams RBI on interest on loans in moratorium: Economic aspect not higher than health of the people The top court on June 4 sought the finance ministry's response with regard to the public interest litigation (PIL). The judgement in the case will also have implications for non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), whose borrowers are covered under the moratorium. NBFC borrowers might request a similar waiver if the SC rules in favour of bank's borrowers. Former RBI Governor D Subbarao said it is not possible for lenders to waive interest during the loan moratorium period, since it will place a huge strain on them. "They earn interest from borrowers and they have got to service the deposits. If the borrowers are not to pay interest, how are the banks to service the savers? Banks are supposed to be hard-headed, whether they are hard-hearted or not is not the question," Subbarao told CNBC-TV18 on June 4. Uday Kotak, Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, also supported RBI's view on interest waivers during the moratorium. "If we have a situation that borrowers get moratorium, banks have an obligation to serve depositors both on principal plus interest," Kotak told CNBC-TV18. Also Read: Interest waiver on loans in moratorium: Uday Kotak says it is unfair to seek moratorium on loans but expect full interest on deposits San Francisco: A Facebook employee who criticised Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg's decision not to take action against inflammatory posts by US President Donald Trump this month said on Friday that the social media company had fired him. Brandon Dail, whose social media profiles describe him as a user interface engineer in Seattle, wrote on Twitter that he was dismissed for publicly challenging a colleague's silence on the controversy that prompted a rare staff protest at Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg insists that Facebooks refusal to fact-check Mr Trump is all about protecting free speech. Credit:AP Dozens of employees, including Dail, abandoned their desks and tweeted objections to Zuckerberg's handling of Trump's posts. Trump's posts included the racially charged phrase "when the looting starts, the shooting starts" in reference to protests against racism and police brutality held after the May 25 killing of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis. Twitter affixed a warning label to the same post, saying it glorified violence. Facebook opted to leave the post untouched. The former chairman of Tata group Cyrus Mistry and his family claimed on Friday that the salt-to-software conglomerate has fared better during his time, compared to the three years of the present chairman N Chandrasekaran. Mistrys said in a Supreme Court filing that the operating loss of Tata Sons (excluding TCS, the most profitable company in the group) has increased by 282 per cent to Rs 2,100 crore in 2019, compared to Rs 550 crore in 2016, when Cyrus Mistry was removed. Mistrys alleged that the abysmal performance in recent years was due to legacy issues. They said that Tata had earlier sought to exclude the dividend received from the TCS to arrive at an operating profit of Tata Sons in a bid to discredit Mistry's performance. In the same yardstick, the net loss of Tata Group (excluding TCS) at Rs 13,000 crore in 2019 was the worst in three decades, they said in a filing to Supreme Court. Tata group annually outperformed the BSE Sensex by 5 per cent in terms of market capitalisation during Mistry's time. Likewise, there has been an annual increase in group companies' post-tax profits at 34.6 per cent during his three years, they claimed. The standalone borrowing costs in Tata Sons increased by 92 per cent to Rs 2,776 crore in 2019 from Rs 1,453 crore in 2016. Post-Mistry, the group-level debt of Tatas rose by Rs 80,740 crore in just two years compared to a comparatively lower figure of debt increase by Rs 69,877 crore over the previous four years, they said. "The conversion of Tata Sons into a private limited company would also cause the cost of debt to increase," they said. "In the last three years, Tata Sons invested about Rs 67,000 crore in portfolio companies. The value of these investments has already eroded by approximately Rs 40,000 crore. Although a significant erosion happened in the telecom ventures, the performance of the other investment decisions has been questioned. The value of the listed non-telecom investments during this period eroded by 23 per cent to Rs 16,243 crore while during the same period the BSE Sensex grew by 27 per cent," they said. The Supreme Court will start hearing the matter once the filings from both the sides are over. In January, the apex court had stayed the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) order which asked the 150-year-old group to reinstate Mistry as chairman. Mistry has also appealed to the Supreme Court against the NCLAT order, saying that the appellate tribunal hasn't granted judicial protection to the Mistry family under the minority shareholder rights. Mistrys are the second largest shareholder in the holding company Tata Sons, after Tata Trusts. The legal battle between industrialist Ratan Tata and Cyrus Mistry is likely to be pivoted on the rights of Mistry family to own board position in Tata Sons. After the removal of Mistry from the post of chairman, his family had also lost the board position which they were holding since 1980s. The Supreme Court has recently admitted Mistry's appeal, which sought representation for his family on the board of Tata Sons. Tata lawyers argue that the board position, which the Mistry family was holding is not an entitlement. "They have been perceived as financial investors in Tata Sons," said a source earlier. Tatas will also fight that the Cyrus Mistry firms do not have substantial interest in Tata Sons as claimed by them. "Mistrys hold just 2.17 per cent of the issued share capital of Tata Sons," he said. In total, the Mistry family holds 18.37 per cent stake including issued equity capital and issued preference capital. Tata group has been struggling in the recent months after the spread of coronavirus pandemic and the resultant lockdowns. Chairman Chandrasekaran recently said that the group is in a strong financial position with adequate cash flows to support group companies as well as new growth initiatives. He added that it is not looking to monetise investments to raise capital. Also Read: Tata Power's arm to sell 3 ships to German company for $213 million Also Read: Hindalco FY20 profit falls 31% to Rs 3,767 crore, revenue down 9% Also Read: GST Council meet: No fee for late filing of GST returns for firms with zero liability VALLEJO (BCN) Police in Vallejo are investigating a carjacking that occurred Monday. Officers with the Vallejo Police Department responded Monday at 11:30 a.m. to a report of a carjacking in the 2000 block of Sonoma Boulevard. Police said the victim, a Vallejo resident, left the keys to her vehicle on the hood of the car as she was putting air in a tire. A woman took the keys off the hood and gave the keys to a man. The two suspects then proceeded to get into the vehicle. The victim spoke to the suspects and tried to retrieve her personal belongings, but the female suspect threatened the victim. The suspects then fled in the vehicle with the man driving. The stolen vehicle was identified as a 1995 Mazda Protg with California license plate number 3LWH173. The female suspect is described as Hispanic, in her early 20s and with reddish hair. The male suspect is described as African American, in his late 20s to early 30s and about 5 feet 7 inches tall. He was wearing a red sweatshirt and a mask covering part of his face. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A Chinese medical scientist who spent a year on a fellowship at the University of California at San Francisco has been arrested and charged with visa fraud, federal prosecutors announced today. Xin Wang, 36, is accused in a criminal complaint filed in federal court in San Francisco Monday of one count of visa fraud for failing to disclose on a visa application last year that he is an active-duty member of China's armed forces, known as the People's Liberation Army. The complaint alleges that Wang falsely said on the application that his military service as an associate medical professor ended in 2016. Wang did research in a post-doctoral fellowship at a UCSF laboratory from April 2019 until March 2020, when he stopped working because of the coronavirus shelter-in-place orders, according to a prosecution filing. He was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday as he prepared to fly with his wife and child to Tianjin, China. In a document seeking Wang's detention until a trial, prosecutors alleged that when Wang was interviewed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers before his flight, he admitted that he is still a member of the army. Wang also allegedly told the CBP officers that his superior at a Chinese military medical university had instructed him to document the layout of the UCSF lab so that it could be replicated in China. He allegedly said he was carrying UCSF studies in his laptop and digital storage device to share with his army colleagues. Wang has not been charged in connection with those alleged actions and is accused only of visa fraud. Wang made an initial appearance Monday before a federal magistrate in Los Angeles, who ordered him held in custody until a further detention hearing on Friday. Prosecutors have asked to have Wang held in custody until a trial is held in federal court in San Francisco on the visa fraud charge. A defense lawyer representing Wang in the detention proceeding could not be reached for comment on Thursday. Wang's fellowship, partly funded by the National Institutes of Health, was to do research on the metabolic function of adipose tissue, under the supervision of a UCSF associate professor, according to the prosecution document. A UCSF spokesperson was not immediately available for comment. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. The government on Friday imposed curbs on imports of certain new pneumatic tyres used in motor cars, busses, lorries and motorcycles in a move to promote domestic manufacturing. "Import policy of new pneumatic tyres...is amended from free to restricted," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification. Putting the goods under restricted category means an importer would now require a licence or permission from the DGFT for imports. Earlier, the import of these tyres were allowed without any restrictions. The decision assumes significance as domestic tyre manufacturers have been demanding restrictions on imports. The industry has time and again raised concerns over rising imports of tyres from countries like China. The restriction was on tyres used in station wagons, racing cars, scooters, multi-cellular polyurethane tubeless tyres, and bicycles. Imports of these tyres were worth $260.72 million in April-February 2019-20 as against $330.72 million in 2018-19. The government is taking steps to promote domestic manufacturing and reduce import bill of non-essential goods. The country's imports dipped by about 10 percent to $467 billion in 2019-20. The Federal Council Bern, 12.06.2020 - At its meeting on 12 June, the Federal Council took note of the decision taken by the FDJP to lift the entry restrictions that currently apply between all Schengen States as of 15 June, as was announced last week. Controls at Swiss borders with these states will end on this date and full free movement of persons will be restored with all EU/EFTA states and with the United Kingdom. The Federal Council has noted the decision of the Federal Department of Justice and Police FDJP to remove Schengen States from the list of high-risk countries, and has approved amendments to the COVID Ordinance that reintroduce rights of free movement. By removing the Schengen states from the list of high-risk countries and areas, all restrictions imposed on persons entering Switzerland from the Schengen Area have been lifted. This includes the ban on importing goods for private use that have been purchased on a shopping trip abroad. In addition, all the border crossings that are currently closed will be reopened. The Federal Customs Administration FCA will continue to carry out risk-based controls to prevent smuggling and cross-border crime. Full free movement of persons with EU/EFTA states and the UK From 15 June, full free movement of persons will once again apply with all EU/EFTA states and the United Kingdom. All EU states with the exception of Bulgaria, Ireland, Croatia, Romania and Cyprus belong to the Schengen area. Although the UK is not part of the Schengen area either, the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons continues to apply there until 31 December 2020. These six countries will remain on the high-risk list after 15 June, which means that restrictions will continue to apply to third country nationals wishing to enter Switzerland from these countries. However, persons with rights of free movement will be allowed to enter Switzerland again from 15 June; this includes citizens of these six countries, their family members regardless of their nationality and third-country nationals who are posted to Switzerland for a maximum of 90 days in any year by a company based in these countries. In view of the currently positive situation with regard to the pandemic in Switzerland and in most of Europe, the interior ministers of the Schengen States agreed last week to end controls at Schengen internal borders as quickly as possible. Several Schengen states have already announced that their borders will reopen on 15 June. Next step: Relaxation of restrictions affecting third countries The Federal Council will decide on the relaxation of entry restrictions affecting third countries at a later date in consultation with the other Schengen states. The Federal Council progressively introduced entry restrictions from 13 March. These measures were intended to protect the Swiss population from the coronavirus and to safeguard capacities in the Swiss health care system. Address for enquiries Information and communication SEM, medien@sem.admin.ch Publisher The Federal Council https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html Federal Department of Justice and Police http://www.ejpd.admin.ch State Secretariat for Migration https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home.html Federal Office for Customs and Border Security https://www.bazg.admin.ch Payment of bride price will no longer be regarded as a barrier in solemnising marriage between two consenting adults if they satisfy other requirements of the law, a Cabinet Minister has said. Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said Government had noted that some guardians were commodifying the institution of marriage and were sometimes withholding their consent until the full bride price had been paid. Minister Ziyambi said this on Wednesday while presenting the Marriages Bill in the Senate, which went through the National Assembly last week. The transfer of marriage consideration (lobola) in our indigenous culture traditionally solidified bonds between families, but a disturbing trend has developed over time to commoditise or monetise the marriage relationship for material gain, he said. Some guardians of brides hold out for the highest possible gain for themselves, while others refuse consent to the formalisation of marriage until the last cent of the marriage consideration is paid. This is why so many of our customary and non-customary marriages are unregistered. To solve this issue, the Bill will no longer require a customary marriage officer to satisfy himself or herself that there has been an agreement on the transfer of marriage consideration. Minister Ziyambi said the Bill did not seek to abolish lobola. If the parties do agree on the transfer of such consideration the Registrar (of Marriage) is under obligation to record it when registering the marriage to minimise disputes about the terms of such agreements, he said. Minister Ziyambi said the Bill sought to protect children borne out of unregistered customary law unions when one or both of them contracted a registered marriage with another person. Concentrating Solar Power Best Practices Report Is First of Its Kind NREL Experts and Industry Leaders Focus Their Knowledge on Focused Sunlightan On-Demand, Renewable Power Source June 12, 2020 Contractors work to install pipe at a solar thermal facility. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL So, you want to build a concentrating solar power (CSP) plant. Have you developed a technical specification that clearly defines the key project requirements? Does your team have the relevant experience and knowledge to successfully deploy a CSP project? Have you designed your plant for the daily start-ups and transient conditions it will experience? Have you planned appropriately to prepare and mobilize your O&M team to take over operation of the plant at the appropriate time? Have you fully considered the implications of building a plant at a remote location? CSP holds tremendous potential as a lower-cost, on-demand renewable energy source. With the relatively nascent global CSP industry still in a learning phase, knowledge sharing is critically important to help new plant designers and builders avoid known pitfalls and build high-quality plants that will offer cost-competitive renewable energy and grid services. Documenting a wealth of lessons learned from the CSP industry, a first-of-its-kind report released by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) gathers decades of industry knowledge and best practices to support stakeholders including lenders, designers, and developers to leapfrog past known development and technology hurdles. The controller room operator at the Ivanpah Solar Project monitors systems operations and more than 157,000 heliostats that track the sun and reflect the sunlight to boilers that sit atop three 459-foot-tall power towers. When the concentrated sunlight strikes the boiler pipes, it heats the water to create superheated steam, providing electricity to 140,000 California homes. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office, the Concentrating Solar Power Best Practices Study focuses on lessons learned from engineering, construction, commissioning, operations, and maintenance of CSP parabolic trough and power tower systems. Mark Mehos, NREL group manager for Thermal Systems R&D, sees the report as a means to help build a new wave of reliable CSP plants in U.S. and global markets. Mehos explains that future CSP installations built with longer duration storage will be complementary to solar photovoltaics (PV) and batteries. According to Mehos, such hybrid systems are becoming the standard. "Think about a plant that combines CSP and PV, operating all day and into the night," Mehos said. "CSP can fill in during the shoulder periods late into the evening or really early in the morning when PV and PV-and-battery systems with short duration storage aren't necessarily generating electricity." To get there, he said, "The first thing we need is for CSP to continue to lower its cost while improving overall reliability." In developing the report, NREL partnered with Solar Dynamics Managing Director Hank Price, a 30-year veteran in the CSP industry and former NREL researcher. Price describes an evolving CSP industry with significant opportunities to share knowledge and bypass known issues in plant development. During the course of a year and a half, the authors visited all the operating molten-salt tower plants in the world outside of China, as well as many of the worlds 80 operating trough plants. "We visited and talked to a lot of people involved in these projects and have a good idea of the issues the plants are facing," Price said. "None of them are insurmountable problemsthey were more related to implementation and understanding correct designs and correct operations. We think the report will help the financial community be more comfortable that projects will work, and we hope to give guidance to projects as to the key things to watch out for." The project team concluded that some of the most significant key learnings were at the management level. Price said, "We went in thinking this would be about technology, but literally over half of the issues identified were about implementationhow to do it right, the structure of the project, the relationship of the parties, and having a clear definition of what the projects are trying to achieve." Learn more about NREL CSP research at www.nrel.gov/csp. After taking a couple of years break from acting when he became a father, Joseph Gordon-Levitt wanted to return to the fray with something that would really challenge him. Gordon-Levitt is 39. He has been acting since he was four; as a child, he started out in commercials before becoming a television star in 3rd Rock from the Sun; as an adult, he has made his mark in such varied left-field projects as Inception, 500 Days of Summer, Looper and Snowden. He wanted to make a film that would mark that spot in his life. There were, you know, voices in my head saying well, youve got to consider your career and your momentum, youve been gone, blah blah blah, he says. But I really did my best to silence those voices and just focus on what would inspire me as an actor, just for the pure love and art of it. As fortune would have it, the script that came spinning into his radar at that point was German director Patrick Vollraths 7500, an almost suffocatingly intense drama about a plane hijacking. Gordon-Levitt plays Tobias, an American pilot, locked into the impregnable half-room of the cockpit with his German captain and two of the terrorists. People in Iraq have been terrorised for years, says the older one; now they will get a taste of how that feels. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and director Patrick Vollrath on the set of 7500. Credit:Getty Images What is going on in the rest of the plane is anyones guess. A closed-circuit camera is trained on the vestibule, so Tobias can see the heavyset man who appears to be the groups ringleader beating furiously against the cockpits locked door. Behind him is a closed curtain. There are various rabbit holes you can fall down in Venice. From ill-timed selfies to expensive coffee faux pas, travellers have fine and fine again proven themselves as inventive at getting into hot water as they are at getting six months out of two sets of undies and one pair of jeans. Speaking of hot water, two German tourists found themselves in a spot of bother last Wednesday when, around 3pm local time, they undressed near the iconic Rialto bridge, jumped into the water, and swam across the Grand Canal. The two men were then fined AU $1,124 (US $790) and removed from the city. Venice is renowned for its waterways a maze of attractions which usually draws up to 30 million tourists a year. The Grand Canal is the lifeblood of this set up, and is lined on both sides by churches, palaces, and hotels and is thus one of the cities most frequented places. For our two German swimmers, however, these tourist drawcards were swiftly put out of reach as police temporarily removed them from the city. As a police spokesperson told CNN on Friday, members of the citys military police first noticed the two men swimming and began to film them. They then showed the footage to local police, who fined the tourists the standard amount for such an offence. The two men were fined 350 each and were temporarily removed from the city. As CNN reports, The men were temporarily removed from Venice under the DASPO Urbano regulation, which allows authorities to remove a person from a city to maintain public order. Though this fine was unrelated to new pandemic regulations, as Italy begins to welcome visitors back (after two months of stringent lockdown measures) we may see an uptick in police visibility. View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@tam_dolic) on Jun 10, 2020 at 2:42pm PDT This also comes after Italys Foreign Ministry announced EU, UK or Schengen arrivals can now travel to Italy without having to go into quarantine. Read Next BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Switzerland stock market ended on a weak note after a choppy session, as investors largely stayed cautious and refrained from making significant moves amid lingering worries about global growth and coronavirus infections. Activity was mostly stock specific with corporate news providing some direction. The benchmark SMI ended down 32.21 points or 0.33% at 9,796.37. The index, which dropped down to 9,723.89 in early trades, rallied to 9,913.90 by mid morning, but faltered in late afternoon trades to eventually settle on a weak note. Alcon shares declined by about 1.7% and Novartis lost a little over 1%. Givaudan, SGS and UBS Group closed lower by 0.5 to 0.7%. Credit Suisse declined marginally. Nestle shares shed about 0.7%. The company announced that it is looking to sell a part of its North American water business, including the Pure Life brand, as it aims to focus on better performing brands. Richemont ended with a gain of about 1.5%. According to an announcement from the company, its human resources director Sophie Guieysse is leaving the company. Adecco gained nearly 1%, while Swisscom and Zurich Insurance Group both ended higher by about 0.5%. Among the stocks in the midcap section, Dorma Kaba Holding declined 2.2%. Georg Fischer, Vifor Pharma, Ems Chemie Holding and Barry Callebaut lost 1.2 to 1.4%. AMS moved up 3.3%. Flughafen Zurich gained 3.2%. Dufry rallied 2.25% and Temenos Group notched up a gain of 1.8%. Most of the markets across Europe closed higher today on bargain hunting. Among the major indices in Europe, the pan European Stoxx 600 moved up 0.28%. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 advanced 0.47% and France's CAC 40 climbed up 0.49%, while Germany's DAX eased 0.18%. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Ohio Lawmaker Fired From Job as Doctor Over Comment Made at Hearing An Ohio state senator was fired from his job as an emergency room doctor amid backlash over a question he asked during a recent hearing. Sen. Steve Huffman, a Republican, asked the question during a hearing on Tuesday on whether to declare racism a public health crisis in the state. Angela Dawson, the head of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health, was testifying to senators and answering queries. She was initially asked why she thinks COVID-19, the new disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, appears to be affecting African-Americans more than other groups. She responded that previous health statistics indicate blacks die more from preventable diseases like diabetes. When we do not address the disparities that exist before a pandemic, when the pandemic comes and the vulnerable population is those with disparities, it will naturally move and impact those with higher disparities and health issues than those that dont, she said. Patients with underlying health conditions are more likely to experience severe cases of COVID-19. I understand African Americans have a higher incident of chronic conditions and that makes them more susceptible to death from COVID, Huffman told Dawson. But why does it not make them more susceptible to just get COVID? Could it just be that African Americans or the colored population do not wash their hands as well as other groups? Or wear a mask? Or do not socially distance themselves? Could that be the explanation for the higher incidence? Dawson answered: That is not the opinion of leading medical experts in this country, including researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is not a scenario where we have data where populations are not washing their hands, she added later, also saying: Do all populations need to wash their hands? Absolutely, sir. But that is not where you are going to find the variance and the rationale for why these populations are more vulnerable. Colorized scanning electron micrograph of cell (green) heavily infected with CCP virus particles (purple), commonly known as SARS-CoV-2 or novel CCP virus, isolated from a patient sample on March 16, 2020. (NIAID) Huffman was fired from his job as an emergency room doctor, his employer, TeamHealth, said Thursday. Dr. Huffmans comments are wholly inconsistent with our values and commitment to creating a tolerant and diverse workplace, a spokesperson said in a statement to news outlets. The firing came after Ohio Legislative Black Caucus decried the use of the word colored and said Huffman promoted the unfounded idea that Black people are dirty.' State Rep. Stephanie Howse, a Democrat who presides over the caucus, called on Huffman to undergo racial equity and implicit bias training. The ACLUs Ohio chapter called on Huffman to resign and state Rep. Tavia Galonski, a Democrat, called on people to vote Huffman out of office in November. In a statement sent to news outlets by his office, Huffman said: Regrettably, I asked a question in an unintentionally awkward way that was perceived as hurtful and was exactly the opposite of what I meant. I was trying to focus on why COVID-19 affects people of color at a higher rate since we really do not know all the reasons, he added. Huffman took to Facebook Thursday night to issue a longer statement, saying he didnt have malicious intent in his use of an insensitive and offensive term but that he recognizes his choice of words was unacceptable and hurtful. Apologizing for what he said, Huffman said he was reaching out to people he offended to seek their forgiveness. We all say something we regret and wish we could take back, and thats certainly the case here for me. We need to be more careful about the words we use and the potential harm they can inflict, even when thats not our intent, he said. New Delhi, June 12 : BJP lawmaker Gautam Gambhir batted on the frontfoot on Friday to attack the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government. The east Delhi MP mocked the Delhi CM, saying he has blamed the Centre, testing facilities and neighbouring states for the spike in COVID-19 tally in the national capital, and his next point of attack is likely to be the Supreme Court itself. "BEWARE DELHI! Ad campaigns have failed! Centre, Neighbouring States, Hospitals, Testing, Apps have been blamed! Next SC will be blamed. Step out only if needed because CM will not take responsibility!" he tweeted. This tweet assumes significance, as the Supreme Court on Friday slammed the Delhi government on news reports showing deplorable condition of medical wards in Delhi, where dead bodies were not only in wards, but were also found in lobby and waiting areas. The apex court termed the situation in Delhi "horrendous, horrific and pathetic". It slammed the Kejriwal government for its handling of dead bodies, terming it a "very sorry state of affairs". The bench noted that there is a problem with the way the pandemic was being fought in the national capital. "The number of tests conducted are low in Delhi compared to Chennai and Mumbai...Why are tests so less in Delhi?" the bench said. It added, "Nobody should be denied testing on technical reasons...simplify procedure so more and more can test for Covid." The Kejriwal government earlier punished certain private labs for testing "flouting" norms and even banned treatment for outsiders in Delhi hospitals that was later vetoed by L-G Anil Baijal. Gambhir's sharp political attack was in fact, quote tweeted on one of his own tweets dated May18, when he warned against opening up the national capital, at one go. "The decision to open up almost everything in one go can act as a DEATH WARRANT for Delhiites! I urge Delhi Govt to think again & again! One wrong move & everything will be over!!," he had tweeted back then. Popular historian and bestselling author Tom Holland said many Britons will regard the boarding up of Winston Churchill's statue as 'sinister' after it was covered to protect it from further attacks. Mr Holland, 52, also claimed the sight of locals in Poole, Dorset, needing to defend the statue of founder of the Scouting movement Robert Baden-Powell 'does not do anti-racism campaigners any favours.' The statue of wartime leader Churchill was boarded up on Thursday ahead of further expected demonstrations on Saturday after it was sprayed with graffiti during Black Lives Matter protests earlier this week. And scouts from all around the country arrived to defend the statue of Baden-Powell after it was added to a 'topple the racists' list compiled by Black Lives Matter supporters. Popular historian and bestselling author Tom Holland said many Britons will regard the boarding up of Winston Churchill's statue as 'sinister' after it was covered to protect it from further attacks Mr Holland, 52, also claimed the sight of locals in Poole, Dorset, needing to defend the statue of founder of the Scouting movement Robert Baden-Powell 'does not do anti-racism campaigners any favours' They claimed he had been enthusiastic about Nazism and an admirer of Hitler's Mein Kampf and his Hitler Youth movement. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Mr Holland, who previously sparked controversy for questioning the origins of Islam in a documentary for Channel 4, said: 'The sight of Churchill boarded up is to large numbers of Britons very sinister. 'As is the sight of scouts defending Baden Powell, it doesnt do anti-racism campaigners any favours. It will turn people against them.' Mr Holland was speaking exclusively to MailOnline The historian, who took no issue with the toppling of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol last week, added that protesters were at risk of looking 'ridiculous' if they widened their focus to too many British national figures. 'I think the danger is for anti-racism campaigners is that the Colston statue, as a one-off, as a bracing way of getting people to talk about slavery and the legacy, it reverberated profoundly, but as so often happens with tidal waves of moral outrage they end up turning either sinister or ridiculous.' Since the toppling of the Colston statue on Sunday, a campaign has spread across the country targeting statues of other figures, including Lord Nelson, King James II, Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, Sir Francis Drake and Sir Robert Peel. On Friday, St Thomas's Hospital said they would remove a statue of their founder Sir Thomas Guy after his links to the slave trade were highlighted. Outrage was also sparked when a protester sprayed the statue of Churchill in Parliament Square with graffiti which added 'was a racist' beneath his name. The unrest has led to the decision by London mayor Sadiq Khan to board up the Churchill statue as well as dozens of others. The statue of wartime leader Churchill was boarded up yesterday ahead of further expected demonstrations on Saturday after it was sprayed with graffiti during Black Lives Matter protests earlier this week Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Mr Holland, who previously sparked controversy for questioning the origins of Islam in a documentary for Channel 4, said: 'The sight of Churchill boarded up is to large numbers of Britons very sinister' The cenotaph in Whitehall was also covered after being targeted. But Mr Holland said anti-racism campaigners risked turning ordinary Britons against them by widening their focus to other statues and historical figures. 'I am generally not enthused by the idea that groups of people should feel themselves empowered to defacing or vandalising statues willy nilly,' he said. 'Purely on the level of strategy, people who want a debate about the inheritance of slavery and racism in Britain need to think tactically and strategically. 'The way that this has spiralled out of control will play into the hands of people who dont want to have a discussion about it.' The historian highlighted the decision to remove the 'Don't Mention The War' episode of Fawlty Towers to argue that some people may feel as though their identity is being 'attacked'. The historian highlighted the decision to remove the 'Don't Mention The War' episode of Fawlty Towers to argue that some people may feel as though their identity is being 'attacked' 'The risk is that people feeling that the Scouts and Churchill and the Faulty Towers are being cancelled, people are going to feel that something pretty fundamental about their identity is being attacked,' he said. Mr Holland, whose most recent book Dominion traces the impact of Christianity on Western countries, said campaigners needed to recognise why statues were put up in the first place. 'There is the category of people with problematic views, which would include Drake, Churchill perhaps, Nelson. 'I think in that case if the statue has been put up to commemorate a particular feat that deserves to be commemorated - be it circumnavigating the world or saving Britain from Nazi conquest, or saving Britain from the French - that is what they are being celebrated for.' 'Not every statue is put up to celebrate civic virtue. I would use the example of Cromwell and Charles I. 'The fact is that you have the embodiment of the rival sides of the civil war at opposite sides to commemorate it.' Mr Holland highlighted the example of the London statue of Celtic warrior Boudica, who led an uprising against the Romans when they invaded Britain. Mr Holland, whose most recent book Dominion traces the impact of Christianity on Western countries, said campaigners needed to recognise why statues were put up in the first place 'Boudica certainly did not celebrate diversity and immigration but that statue has a historical significance which transcends that,' he said. But speaking of the tearing down of the Colston statue last week, Mr Holland said he had 'no objection' to what had happened. 'I have no objection to the statues coming down that cause upset or pain to British citizens. 'I have no objection to the removal of a statue of a slaver which was put up in the 1890s after the abolition of slavery. 'I can see that it was a standing provocation, I get the arguments against it.' Mr Holland, who has also written bestselling books on classical and medieval history, was previously criticised in 2012 when he presented a documentary which investigated the origins of Islam. But speaking of the tearing down of the Colston statue last week, Mr Holland said he had 'no objection' to what had happened He said there was little written contemporary evidence about the life of the Prophet Muhammad, and claimed that the Koran makes little or no reference to Islams holy city of Mecca. The historian was threatened on Twitter but issued a defence of the programme, saying he went to 'every effort' to ensure the 'moral and civilisational power of Islam was acknowledged'. Mr Holland's latest comments come after Mr Khan was accused of caving in to mob rule by covering up Churchill's statue. Home Secretary Priti Patel called on Mr Khan to uncover the bronze sculpture immediately. She told the Daily Mail: 'We should free Churchill, a hero of our nation, who fought against fascism and racism in this country and Europe.' 'He has given us the freedom to live our lives the way we do today. Churchills grandson, Nicholas Soames, said covering up his statue in Parliament Square was a national humiliation.' Home Secretary Priti Patel called on Mr Khan to uncover the bronze sculpture immediately Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was 'absurd and shameful' that the monument required protection. The Met Police have imposed a curfew on Black Lives Matter in London and have vowed that any violence 'will not be tolerated' amid fears of clashes with pro-statue protesters. BLM has already cancelled a planned march in Hyde Park tomorrow over fears it would be hijacked by far-right groups but the police said several protests are scheduled in the capital for Saturday. The police have placed conditions on Black Lives Matter and 'right-wing and associated groups' to keep them apart, and have placed a curfew on both groups of 5pm, after violent scenes last weekend. BLM activists can only take a strict route that starts at Hyde Park and goes to Park Lane, Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly, Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket, Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square before finishing in Whitehall, north of the police barrier. Right-wing groups will have to assemble in Parliament Square and Whitehall. Met Police commander Bas Javid warned that 'violence' and 'criminal behaviour against our officers' will 'not be tolerated.' In Poole, the council brought in 24-hour security to protect the seaside statue of Lord Baden-Powell dramatically abandoning plans to remove it. In Poole, the council brought in 24-hour security to protect the seaside statue of Lord Baden-Powell dramatically abandoning plans to remove it A war of words has broken out between Bournemouth, Christchurch and Police Council and local police, after the council claimed it had decided to remove the statue on the advice of Dorset constabulary. Former Scouts, some from more than 100 miles away, had rushed to Dorset and formed a ring of steel around the bronze monument fending off a disposal crew in Poole Quay at 7.30am. Former Queen's Scout Len Bannister, 79, was among those guarding it and declared: 'If they want to knock this down - they'll have to knock me down first'. He told ITV News: 'It's absolutely crazy. Who's it that actually wants to do it? I'll fight them off. I'm actually very angry - and I'm not a protester. I've had a lot of enjoyment because of him in my life because of him'. Mr Bannister added: 'He is the reason I am still here, the pleasure he gives to so many people, they shouldn't take it down'. This board nor any representative from [Metro], not Wiedefeld or chief Pavlik has done absolutely nothing to communicate condemnation of MTPD brutality or corrective actions to eradicate systemic racism in MTPD, said the letter, signed by Starchild in Virginia. Before you weigh in and condemn what others are doing, how about giving your employees, constituents and customers a condemnation of MTPD brutality and an update on what has been done to actually demonstrate that Black Lives Matter instead of lip service and obfuscation that you stand for unity and equality simply because black and brown people are allowed to ride your vehicles. Please clean up your own house. Crime and detective fiction continues to top bestseller lists across the world, spawning TV series and films. In the hands of African writers, though, the genre offers a particularly textured world view. That Ever-blurry Line Between Us and the Criminals: Re-Visioning Justice in African Noir is a colloquium paper by Sam Naidu. It focuses on African crime and detective fiction as a complex and disruptive variety of classic, Western crime and detective fiction. In probing the transatlantic relationship between Africa and the West, Naidu presents a useful critique of seminal Black Atlantic studies like Paul Gilroy's 1993 The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness . Aretha Phiri interviewed the author. Aretha Phiri: Your paper addresses classic noir and African noir, sub-genres of crime and detective fiction? Sam Naidu: African crime fiction builds on and extends classic crime fiction to explore philosophical questions about identity, knowledge and power. Referencing the same dark aesthetic of classic noir characterised by themes of alienation, pessimism, moral ambivalence and disorientation African crime fiction amplifies political awareness. And, occasionally, it destabilises the conventions of classic crime fiction, which arose during the aftermath of the two world wars when the world was in the grip of the Cold War. Aretha Phiri: What is the 'political' relationship between classic and African crime fiction? Sam Naidu: African crime fiction builds on and extends classic crime fiction's exploration of philosophical questions about identity, knowledge and power in the modern world. Politically, there is a deliberate shift to consider fundamental questions about Africa and its specific requirements. The novels I have read demonstrate a preoccupation with the ambiguity of justice. They express a poignant, Afro-pessimistic lament for a continent and its injustices. They provide this focus in terms of colonialism and the power differentials of neo-colonialism in Africa. So, you find that economic exploitation and inequalities, race, war, genocide, corruption and state capture are common subject matter. Aretha Phiri: You read Mukoma wa Ngugi's novel Black Star Nairobi (2013) as a valuable way of demonstrating the disruption of the classical by the African? What's it about? Sam Naidu: It's set mainly in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2007. It's the eve of Barack Obama's election as the first black US president and presidential elections in Kenya. O (short for Odihambo), a Kenyan former policeman who still works part-time for the police, has teamed up with Ishmael from the US, a former cop. Together they've formed a detective agency, Black Star, which is given a lucky break when O's former boss hires them to investigate the murder of an unidentified person whose corpse is found gruesomely disfigured in the Ngong Forest outside Nairobi. Melville House International, 2013 Aretha Phiri: You conclude in your paper that the predominant effect of African crime fiction is not so much a 'dark' sensibility as it is one of obscurity and poignant Afro-pessimism? Sam Naidu: I reach this conclusion based on the literary texts. This is not my opinion of the state of the continent. The novels are very dark. They overwhelm the reader, with the mess, tragedy, garbage, cruelty, indignity and inhumanity that Africans face in reality. Due, of course, to historical and ongoing systemic oppression and corruption. For characters and for readers this can lead to muddledness and despair. But the novels also offer a counterpoint in the form of fearless detectives on the quest for justice. In the midst of the disquiet there is a faint flicker It is this murkiness, taken to new depths, which makes African crime fiction particularly effective and significant. For example, the novel closes with a highly lyrical and metaphorical scene of African musicians in a market. Ishmael describes the competing rhythms of African music a metaphor for the strife and power struggles of the continent. Despite the discord he detects a harmony - a tense harmony. Read more: Nigeria's queer literature offers a new way of looking at blackness Aretha Phiri: How does Black Star Nairobi manage to disrupt classic crime fiction? Sam Naidu: For example, through its innovative use of setting, characterisation, pace and conclusion to comment on ontological, existential and ethical themes to do with justice, it's an exemplary African noir text. It explicitly extends classic noir into the realms of neo-noir. Its blend of previous influences, use of setting, and its specific thematic concern with Afro-pessimism prompt the observation that African crime fiction extends classic noir into new literary, geo-political, and moral territories. Murkiness, so characteristic of classic noir sensibility, mutates, at times, in African crime texts such as Black Star Nairobi and Leye Adenle's When Trouble Sleeps , to a deliberate generic nebulousness. And thematically, to a moral blurriness so obscure as to disorient the reader and dismantle the basic binaries on which classic detective and crime fiction were predicated. In classic noir or classic crime fiction there are clear detective heroes set up against indisputable villains (think of Sherlock Holmes) but in African crime fiction the heroes and villains often exchange roles or are complicit in some way. Read more: Black and queer women invite the Black Atlantic into the 21st century Aretha Phiri: You describe this evolving genre as occupying a kind of borderland. How does this connect to your research in migration and diaspora? Sam Naidu: In my work on literature of migration and diaspora I am mainly concerned with the experience of migrants. I am, however, also interested in how literary genres migrate. What processes of cross-pollination occur as a result of diaspora? Aretha Phiri: What do you see African crime fiction contributing to Black Atlantic scholarship? Sam Naidu: As a form of postcolonial, transnational writing, African crime fiction points to the relations between Africa and America. Gilroy's Black Atlantic puts forward that race is fluid and ever-changing, rather than static. That it is transnational and intercultural, rather than national. I am arguing that African crime fiction represents race as a transnational or diasporic phenomenon while at the same time engaging with the notion that race is closely bound up with both nationality and ethnicity. So, look at the detective hero figure Ishmael. He is an African-American who returns to Africa, gesturing, of course, to transatlantic slavery and colonialism. He's neither African nor American he is both. The novel explores his hybridity. At the same time, the novel presents Kenya as nation marred by ethnic clashes and wide-scale civil unrest. African crime fiction, being the second most popular literary genre on the continent after romance, is worthy of study because of its accessibility, wide-spread, diverse readership and also its capacity for socio-political analysis. It is the ideal vehicle for such pertinent 'detection'. This article is part of a series called Decolonising the Black Atlantic in which black and queer women literary academics rethink and disrupt traditional Black Atlantic studies. The series is based on papers delivered at the Revising the Black Atlantic: African Diaspora Perspectives colloquium at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study . Aretha Phiri is an NRF rated researcher and has been a fellow at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (2017-2019). Sam Naidu does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. By Aretha Phiri, Senior lecturer, Department of Literary Studies in English, Rhodes University And Sam Naidu, Professor, Department of Literary Studies in English, Rhodes University [Trigger Warning/Content Warning: Mentions of Abuse and Suicide] Shi Joon and Woo Joo now understand each other much better than before. They are more open and express more of their feelings with each other. For the first time, Shi Joon admitted his feelings for the lady fondly, making her happier. The residents of the psychiatric department understand well how trauma may affect one's life. It is better if the person may able to get over with it. Nurse Heo Min-Young is assigned at the ICU of Eun Kang Medical center. It is her third year in her department, but she feels more anxious and sad because of how her fellow nurses treat her. As she assisted a delirious patient, she loosened the patient's armbinder due to bruises. In a few minutes, the patient began to wrestle. Luckily, Nurse Na Seon Kyung comes to the rescue, but she got furious and gave Nurse Heo mean remarks. After her shift, Nurse Heo was sulking and wanted to disappear with the way her work and colleagues treated her. A few days later, she was found dead in her apartment. She committed suicide and left a handwritten will. The police summoned the Eun Kang Medical center for the suicide case of their staff. They discovered that Min Young already sent last reminders of how to take care of her assigned patients to Nurse Na. Shi Joon was surprised to see the police officer who investigated the case is Cha Dong Il, one of his patients, whom he treated with delusional disorder. He is now a Constable trainee of a Patrol Division. He passed the written police exam, which allows him to work what he has dreamt for. The residents then congratulated him. Chief Park received a summon from the detective of Nurse Heo's suicide case. He took the case of her, but because she doesn't want to make it evident in her workplace. Chief Park transferred Nurse Heo's counseling to Dr. Young Won. The detective informed him that Young Won's name is part of the written will, which partly blame her for her miserable life. Nurse Heo's diagnosis is Persistent Depressive Disorder. The whole staff and the director's office were worried about the case and the effect it will bring to the hospital's image. Dr. Oh talked to the ICU nurse staff, who gave Nurse Heo a hard time when she was still alive. It was then revealed that Nurse Na had been treating her harshly the day she started working at the institution. The detective visited Dr. Young Won and interrogated her with Nurse Heo's counseling records. They found out that Nurse Heo sent resentment text messages to her. She never returned to the clinic for a long time. Young Won is considered as a witness to Nurse Heo's case. Young Won shared that Nurse Heo had been bullied and received physical violence from her fellow nurse. She advised her to fight back, but according to Heo, things got worse. Since then, she never returned to Young Won's clinic. Heo's parents decided to file a civil case against Young Won for her negligence as her doctor. Shi Joon met Nurse Na in private. He explained to her how sensitive suicide could be to anyone close to the victim. He advised Nurse Na to always reach out when she needs help. Cha Dong Il asked Shi Joon to rescue Woo Joo at the police station. Her temper outburst as she held a scissor, pointing it at the detective. Shi Joon hugged and comforted her as Woo Joo cried out of anger. THE Black Lives Matter solidarity protest is to go ahead as planned in Tullamore today [Saturday] despite calls from local politicians for its cancellation due to the Covid pandemic. Aoise O'Dwyer, one of the organisers, said they were fully aware of the concerns around safety which is precisely why those who are planning on attending have been asked to wear face masks and respect social distancing. Those experiencing symptoms or who are in high risk categories have been asked not to attend, she added. The demonstration will take place in O'Connor Square from 2pm to 3pm. At Thursday's meeting of Tullamore Municipal District councillors appealed for the demonstration to be called off in light of the Covid-19 crisis. Cllr Ken Smollen said while all agreed what happened to George Floyd in the U.S. was completely wrong it would be totally inappropriate for us [the council] to keep quiet about a protest during the Covid -19 pandemic. He proposed the council officially contact the organisers of the protest asking for it to be called off. We have been in lockdown for months and we don't want to be sent back to where we were, he stressed. Cllr Tony McCormack said it would be an awful shame to see all the hard work put in by the people of Offaly staying in their homes and social distancing being squandered. He added that there were ways of protesting other than by organising a demonstration. Director of Services, Tom Shanahan said he didn't think the council had a role to play as it was a matter for the Gardai. Cathaoirleach Cllr Danny Owens said he presumed the matter had come to the attention of the Gardai and they would deal with anything untoward. The demonstration is being organised by local people and residents of the Tullamore Direct Provision centre in collaboration with the Movement for Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) and the Offaly Pro Equality Network (OPEN). MASI is a non-profit grassroots organisation working and advocating for the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. OPEN was set up to ensure that everyone living in Offaly is welcomed and included. Washington For Karen Bass, the riots that erupted in Los Angeles in 1992 after the acquittal of four white police officers caught on tape beating an unarmed black man, Rodney King, felt like a personal defeat. Having spent most of her life as an activist against police brutality and fighting violence in her community, seeing her neighborhood flare in fiery unrest made her wonder what years of work had accomplished. "I just drove around feeling that all of the years of my involvement and all of the things I had tried to do had been a failure," she recalled in 2011. "I failed the young people because they felt no outlet other than to destroy." Three decades later, with the nation once again convulsing over the brutal victimization, captured on video, of a black man by white police officers, Bass is witnessing an eerily familiar moment of national reckoning as she emerges as one of the most influential voices in a rapidly shifting debate over the future of policing in America. She is determined to ensure that this time the outrage is channeled into lasting change. Bass, a fifth-term congresswoman representing part of Los Angeles and the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, has taken the lead role in crafting the most thorough overhaul of American policing in recent memory legislation that Democrats plan to move through the House by the end of June aimed at preventing excessive use of force and addressing systemic racism. It would make it easier to track, prosecute and punish police misconduct, promote new officer anti-bias training and mandate that lethal force can be used only as a last resort. It would also ban the use of chokeholds and other neck-pressure tactics like the one used on George Floyd, the black Minneapolis man who died after an officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Bass, 66, has been many things in her life: a middle school activist, an emergency room physician assistant and a brown belt in taekwondo not to mention the first black female speaker of any state legislature in the country, in California. When the news of Floyd's death prompted protests across the country and trained the nation's focus on policing, there was no question that Bass would lead the way for Democrats. Not only was she the chair of the 50-plus-member Black Caucus and the House's subcommittee on crime and terrorism, but she was also one of the few lawmakers in Congress with the background and the authority to hold together a fragile coalition of elected Democrats, civil rights groups and protesters on the streets demanding change. "She comes through it all with the greatest gentility and strength," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a fellow Californian, said in an interview. Still, it has been a tricky endeavor. Bass has had to pull along moderate white colleagues, for whom support of the police has been a political imperative, scheduling conference calls with the Blue Dogs and other centrist groups to ensure they understand the measure and can embrace it. She also toiled to persuade prominent civil rights groups to accept the package. All the while, Bass was keenly aware that the legislation could collapse if Democrats allowed it to be lumped with growing calls to defund and dismantle police departments, as President Donald Trump and leading Republicans try to falsely paint all Democrats as espousing that approach. She insisted that the bill also include programs and proposals to incentivize departments to get better. " 'Defund the police' became a slogan in the last few days," she said in an interview. "Nobody was even thinking about that when we were putting the bill together." For Bass, who as a younger woman was repeatedly harassed by the police herself for speaking out, the memory of 1992 serves as a reminder not only of how long black Americans have been fighting against state-sanctioned violence by the police, but also of the power of tragedy to galvanize change in America. "The best change takes place with outside pressure on the kind of issues I work on," Bass said. "It's not like the issues I work on have 10 legal firms and lobbyists and all that. If you don't have wealth, you have people. The thousands of people out protesting are moving Congress to act." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Bass has been an activist since long before she was even able to vote. She grew up in Los Angeles during the civil rights movement, the daughter of a letter carrier. When she was in middle school, she committed her mother to be a precinct captain for Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in California, and then did all the work herself. In high school, when her own teachers were on strike, she rode her bicycle to UCLA to sit in on classes with Angela Davis, the philosopher and activist who became a symbol of the Black Power movement. At a hearing on the bill Wednesday, she noted that she had begun protesting police violence the same year that Floyd was born, in 1973. Bass worked as an emergency room physician assistant during the early years of the AIDS crisis and as the crack cocaine epidemic was ravaging Los Angeles and other black communities across the country. Moved by the decimation, she helped found Community Coalition, a nonprofit based in South Los Angeles that canvassed the neighborhood in search of solutions to the drug epidemic and the violence it caused. In 2004, she made her first foray into elected politics, winning a seat in the California Assembly. She was elected speaker in 2008. But an agenda that included strengthening welfare programs for children quickly gave way to the most pressing financial crisis in California's modern history. As the economy rapidly contracted and the state faced mounting losses, Bass worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger, then the Republican governor, to close a yawning deficit with unpopular spending cuts to Democratic priorities and new taxes that Republicans had vowed never to support. She was elected to Congress in 2010. With the presidential election looming, Bass had intended to use 2020 to demand a fair census and voting rights, declaring it a year of "existential threats to the black community." Then came COVID-19, which Bass has spent months pointing out has disproportionately killed people of color. But it was the death of Floyd on Memorial Day captured in a video that quickly went viral and inspired widespread outrage that has fueled her current assignment. "That was a slow, torturous murder, and the whole world saw it," Bass said. "I think it was just one murder too many." (In fifth paragraph, inserts dropped word) By Stephen Nellis June 11 (Reuters) - Airspace Systems, a California startup company that makes drones that can hunt down and capture other drones, on Thursday released new software for monitoring social distancing and face-mask wearing from the air. The software analyzes video streams captured by drones and can identify when people are standing close together or points where people gather in clusters. The software can detect when people are wearing masks. The system can also process video captured by ground-based cameras, and Airspace aims to sell the system to cities and police departments. Airspace says the system does not use facial recognition and does not save images of people or pass those images to Airspace's customers. Instead, it generates text-based data on how many people in a given area are crowded together and what percentage of people are wearing masks, generating alerts. Cities can decide whether to send those alerts as public messages to residents or route them internally to cleaning crews or law enforcement. Jaz Banga, Airspace's chief executive said in an interview, that the software does not track individuals. Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union's Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, said that even with those protections in place, the system is still "a step toward robots that are monitoring our behavior." "Do we want to be in a world where machine security guards are watching our every move and blowing the whistle on every petty violation of every law, rule, statute or guideline?" Stanley said. "That's potentially a nightmare vision." Banga's intention is to help cities monitor places where people can't help but run into each other, such as crowded bus stops or where subway stations empty onto streets. "You can design better barriers. You can disinfect that area if you're allowed to do that in that area," Banga said. "It just gives you more targeting to create safer environments." (Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) A restaurant acquisition means good news for diners in Huntsville and, possibly, the Birmingham area. Earl Enterprises, which owns several restaurant franchises including Planet Hollywood, has acquired the assets of Bravo! Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille. The deal, approved by a U.S. bankruptcy court judge in Orlando, paved the way for the sale of the assets of Brio owner FoodFirst Global Restaurants Inc. FoodFirst filed for bankruptcy protection in April, blaming the pandemic, which closed restaurants around the country. In an announcement, Robert Earl, Chairman of Earl Enterprises, said "once all locations are fully operational, we look forward to welcoming back more than 4,000 employees who have been in limbo since FoodFirst filed for bankruptcy. Bravo! has a location at 401 The Bridge Street N.W. in Huntsville. Brio Tuscan Grille was a presence for more than 17 years at Brookwood Village until it closed in March after the coronavirus shutdown. The franchise has locations in 13 states. A spokesperson for Earl Enterprises said it is too early to tell if the news could resurrect Brio Tuscan Grilles Brookwood Village location. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 01:02:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LONDON, June 11 (Xinhua) -- British Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Thursday urged the public to participate in the government's test and trace system designed to help the easing of the coronavirus lockdown measures. Chairing Thursday's Downing Street press briefing, Hancock said the test and trace system is "critical" to easing lockdown, calling it a "civic duty" for the public to participate in the scheme. "Participation with NHS (National Health Service) test and trace is your civic duty," Hancock said. One third of people who tested positive for coronavirus could not be reached by the government's contact tracing system, or refused to hand over their contacts, according to figures released Thursday by the Department of Health and Social Care. Between May 28 and June 3, 8,117 people who tested positive for COVID-19 were transferred to the NHS test and trace system. Around two-thirds, 5,407 people provided details of those they had come into close contact with to the government scheme, the department said. "The system is working well... it will keep getting better," said Hancock. Another 151 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Wednesday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 41,279, the Department of Health and Social Care said Thursday. The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community. As of Thursday morning, 291,409 people have tested positive for the virus, a daily increase of 1,266. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 17:17:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has appropriated 2.8 trillion shillings (767 million U.S. dollars) in its budget to the ministry of health as the country braces for an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Matia Kasaija, minister of finance on Thursday while issuing the country's budget estimates for the next financial year, which starts next month, said the money will be used to recruit additional health workers, purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) and intensive care unit beds to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and other health hazards that may occur. Kasaija said among other supplies, intensive care beds would be increased at national and regional referral hospitals. He said funding has been availed to procure COVID-19 test kits and other materials in order to curb the spread of the virus and ensure readiness for possible secondary waves of infections, if they should occur. "Government will enhance surveillance and decentralization of management of the coronavirus in the country," said Kasaija. "Government will also support scientific research and innovations especially in vaccine development," he added. The country's president Yoweri Museveni said that local scientists are fast tracking the development of a vaccine against COVID-19. He called for increased support of local initiatives. Ruth Aceng, minister of health on Thursday launched the first locally made low cost medical ventilator. Kiira Motors Corporation, the manufacturers of the ventilator dubbed Bulamu, said it will cost 4,000 dollars compared to the global price of 25,000 dollars for the same equipment. "I am looking forward to Bulamu Ventilators out there in the health facilities, not just for COVID-19 patients but also others who need them," Aceng said. The ventilator comes with a back-up system in case of power failure and can be connected to solar-power. Local factories have started manufacturing PPE and also face masks after international supplies were interrupted because of high demand. According to the government, local manufacture of the PPE is critical as the country fights back the spread of the pandemic. The government this week started a nationwide distribution of free face masks, starting with border areas in order to limit the importation of the virus from neighboring countries. Uganda as of Thursday had 679 COVID-19 cases with 161 recoveries and no deaths. Health experts warn that the number of cases is likely to increase since the country has started registering community transmissions. Museveni warned the public against being complacent, noting that COVID-19 kills. He said many people were ignoring the preventive measures issued by the ministry of health arguing that the disease does not kill. Although the COVID-19 cases in Uganda have increased, the country has not registered any deaths. The ministry of health has previously said that in the event the numbers escalate patients would be moved to a temporary hospital set up at the country's national stadium. Enditem Another squad pulled up and then another, all white cops save one. They walked up, surrounding us, and I asked, Whats going on? They replied that there had been a stickup in the area and our car fit the description. Never mind what we were driving. When two almost-50-year-old women get out of said vehicle, both very nicely dressed, one in business attire, that should have been the end of it. However, they called for a female cop, who was white. She gave us each a very intimate frisk while two others searched our car. YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent congratulatory letters to Russias President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on the occasion of the Russia Day, the PMs Office told Armenpress. The letter addressed to Putin says: Dear Mr. President, I cordially congratulate you on the state holiday the Russia Day. This day is inseparably connected with the political, socio-economic achievements of the Russian Federation, the strengthening of its role in the international arena. The allied relations between Armenia and Russia continue steadily developing for the benefit of the peoples of our countries, the cooperation in all spheres of the Armenian-Russian partnership is strengthening and expanding. The centuries-old history of friendship and trust, the firm brotherly ties between our peoples are a strong base for a constructive cooperation and mutual support not only at the bilateral level, but also within the frames of the international organizations and integration unions. I sincerely hope that in the near future our countries will be able to overcome the temporary difficulties connected with the unprecedented global challenges and threats, and we will be able to resume the traditional close contacts. On this festive day I wish you good health, happiness and further success, and to the brotherly Russian people peace, welfare and prosperity. The letter sent to the Russian PM says: Dear Mr. Prime Minister, I sincerely congratulate you on the state holiday the Russia Day. This festive day reflects the millennia-old history of Russias statehood, the countrys rich spiritual and cultural heritage, the consistent creative work aimed at the countrys development and prosperity, as well as the strengthening of its role at the international arena. The Armenian-Russian allied relations, which are based on the centuries-old friendship between our peoples, are reflected at the international platforms, and especially in the constructive and mutually beneficial strategic partnership within the frames of the Eurasian Economic Union. The consistently strengthening mutual partnership between our countries in trade, economy, energy, military-political, cultural, humanitarian and other fields can be praised. I hope the global pandemic situation will soon normalize which will allow us to completely restart the close ties aimed at implementing new ideas and initiatives. I wish you good health, prosperity and further success in your state activity, and peace and prosperity to all citizens of Russia. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan French fashion house Dior and Italian scooter brand Vespa have unveiled a new collaboration just in time for summer. The result? The most glamorous scooter moment since Audrey Hepburn took a Vespa for a spin through the streets of Italy in Roman Holiday. The two iconic brands got their start in 1946, and for the first time, theyve teamed up on a limited-edition collection that combines both of their crafts. Vespa 946 Christian Dior / Courtesy of Dior The Italian brand and the Parisian couture house are linked by an unwavering desire to inspire a new, bright and creative vision of the world, a press statement from Dior read. Today, more than ever, the Dior and Vespa collaboration reinvents this spirit of freedom, movement and expression that drives them. The focal point of the collection is the Vespa 946 Christian Dior, which reimagines the Vespa 946 that was first introduced in 2012 in Milan with a design by Maria Grazia Chiuri, the creative director of Dior womens collections. Drawing from Diors heritage, Chiuri chose Marc Bohans 1967 Dior Oblique motif for the trim of the Vespas seat. And for perfectly-matched accessories, a top case (that can be fixed onto the luggage rack) and a helmet patterned in the motif round out the collection - though you can add your own Dior Book Tote bag if youre really dedicated to the monogram. The limited-edition collaboration will be available spring 2021 in Dior boutiques worldwide, as well as in a selection of the Piaggio groups Motoplex stores It was not immediately clear how Trumps wish would be accomplished. While the RNC is moving Trumps acceptance speech and other parts of the convention proceedings to Jacksonville, other meetings will still be conducted in Charlotte, the original choice of a convention site, in keeping with party rules and obligations. Part of the rationale for not updating the platform was to avoid having convention delegates travel to Charlotte to do so. It was short and so Jeannette. The 18 graduates of the University of Montanas class of 1902 were asked to supply biographical information to the Weekly Missoulian. The woman who would become Missoula's most famous and most widely quoted native was by far the most succinct. Jeannette Pickering Rankin," she wrote in the third person, "a native Montanan, she was born at Grant Creek, June 11, 1880, and attended the public schools at Missoula until the time of her entrance to the University. Her favorite studies were the sciences. Thursday was a good time of June and a good time of Woman to celebrate the latest Missoula tribute to Rankin bookend brown signs at the east and west entrances of town marking a five-mile stretch of U.S. Interstate 90 now known as Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway. Two Democratic legislators from Missoula, Rep. Kimberly Dudik and Sen. Diane Sands, pulled off to the shoulder of Interstate 90 near the mouth of Grant Creek valley to talk about this and other tributes to Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress in 1916 and a dedicated if controversial peacemaker until the day she died in 1973. Sands used her hand to count off the others: Jeannette Rankin Park on the south end of the Madison Street Bridge, Jeannette Rankin Peace Center on South Higgins, the new Rankin Elementary School in lower Miller Creek, Rankin Hall on the UM campus, and the main post office on Kent Street, where dedication is pending. It was approved by Congress and signed into law last fall, but a date for its renaming ceremony is uncertain due to the COVID-19 crisis, a spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Steve Daines said Thursday. Before the pandemic there was speculation it would happen around Aug. 18, the date in 1920 when Tennessee became the 36th and last necessary state to ratify the 19th Amendment that gave all women in the U.S. the right to vote. Even though she was out of Congress by then, it was a milestone day for Rankin. In her first House term (she ran again and won in 1940), she led the cause for the suffrage amendment. If I am remembered for no other act, she said later in life, I want to be remembered as the only woman who ever voted to give women the right to vote. Dudik and Sands said a number of events centering around the centennial of the final womens suffrage victory had been planned for this spring, only to be sidetracked by the unruly virus and resulting restrictions. They and two other women, one of them former state senator Carol Williams, were at the short highway dedication on May 22, standing in the tall grass on the south side of the interstate. It was an opportunity to do this in a year thats the 100th anniversary of the national suffrage amendment when we can acknowledge not just Jeannette but other women who used the political tool of the ballot by running for office, Sands said. The 1916 election was the first following the 1914 approval by male voters to give women in Montana the right to vote, something for which Rankin and many others had campaigned tirelessly. Sands pointed out that Maggie Smith Hathaway of Ravalli County and Emma Ingalls of Kalispell were elected to the legislature the same year. May Trumper became Montanas first female state superintendent of schools and in her 12 years in office initiated an era of statewide school reform. Dudik drafted four bills in the closing weeks of the 2019 Legislature to honor Montanans with memorial highway designations. Three were women Rankin, Minnie Spotted-Wolf of Heart Butte, and Dolly Smith Akers of Wolf Point. Spotted-Wolf, Akers and Louis Charlo of Evaro were American Indians. Other legislators took over sponsorship of three highway bills, but Dudik, in her fourth and final consecutive term in the Montana House, championed the Rankin bill. This was the one I wanted to keep, said the attorney and unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for attorney general in the June primary. Sands brought the bills home in the Senate, more than 30 years after she served on a citizen advisory committee for a more grandiose dedication of a statue of Rankin in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in 1985. That one drew more than 500 people, including Montana governor Ted Schwinden, senators Max Baucus and John Melcher and representative Ron Marlenee. Westbound travelers will see one Rankin Memorial Highway sign near milepost 106 as they emerge from Hellgate Canyon and approach the Van Buren Street exit. Its across the river from the university and, Dudik said, as close as they could get it to the Rankin's elaborate town home that once stood near a corner of Madison Street and East Broadway. Eastbound interstate traffic zips past the other sign approaching the Reserve Street exit near milepost 101, where Dudik and Sands met on Rankins 140th birthday. They stood roughly two miles below the site of the Grant Creek ranch house where John and Olive Pickering Rankin welcomed their first of six children into the world. A neighbor told the Missoulian the historic house in which Jeannette Rankin was born was removed several years ago by the ranchs current owners, billionaire industrialists and philanthropists Dennis and Phyllis Washington. Maybe some kid will be driving by and see this sign and wonder who Jeannette Rankin was and want to do a report on her, Sands speculated. Or even adults will be like, oh, I wonder who she was, Dudik said. Because people dont know her history. Like Interstate 90, that history stretches from coast to coast, far beyond the boundaries of the Rankin Memorial Highway. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Friday set up a high-level committee to suggest effective measures to handle the coronavirus disease in the national capital. The decision to set up the panel came days after the health department projected a surge in Covid-19 cases that could breach the 1,00,000-mark this month-end and touch 5 lakh by July-end. Hindustan Times had first reported on Wednesday that Baijal was looking at getting expert opinion on how the city could rapidly ramp up beds available for Covid-19 patients without compromising on the quality of medical care to patients. Also read: Lt Guv Baijal works on plan to scale up Covid-19 beds with community outreach The six-member committee includes Indian Council of Medical Research director general Balram Bhargava, AIIMS director Randeep Guleria, and two members of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The committee is expected to give the city government a clearer picture of its spread over the next few weeks and months. A Delhi government official told Hindustan Times that the projected shortage of beds had been a cause of serious concern. A statement issued by Raj Nivas later said Anil Baijal felt that the efforts being made by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority DDMA need to be bolstered by concerted planning, use of latest technology, efficient monitoring and seamless coordination among various agencies to overcome the challenge. At a meeting that he had chaired earlier in the day, Anil Baijal had expressed concerns around the health care infrastructure, telling officials that their first priority is to ramp up bed capacity and medical resources so that the surge in cases doesnt overwhelm the healthcare system. The health department estimates that the city would need 1.5 lakh beds by July 31 when the Covid-19 count crosses 5 lakh. Delhi has all of nearly 58,000 hospital beds in the government and private sector. Also read | Delhi L-G Baijals orders to be implemented: CM Kejriwal on hospitals row The order to set up the committee comes just a day after the national capital recorded 1,877 new infections and 101 new fatalities. The citys total tally has gone up to 34,687 Covid-19 cases. In all, 1,085 people have died due to Covid-19. Baijal is learnt to have taken note of the increase in the number of containment zones in the city and reviewed the governments strategies. There are 242 containment zones at last count, up from about 100 three weeks back. Their number went up as more Covid-19 cases were reported from different parts of the city. Our objective is to break the chain of transmission and reduce the morbidity and mortality of Covid-19, Baijal said early in the meeting. The citys case fatality rate the proportion of infected persons who succumb to the illness has risen to 3.13%, the highest it has been since March 25. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ANSAmed - Weekly diary from June 15 to June 21 (ANSAmed) - ROME, JUNE 12 - The following are the main events scheduled in the Euro-Mediterranean area between June 15 and June 21: MONDAY, JUNE 15 BRUSSELS - travel restrictions to begin being lifted across most EU countries. GENEVA - WHO press conference on the COVID-19 pandemic at 3 PM. BRUSSELS - EU informal videoconference of foreign ministers. GENEVA - continuation of 43rd session of UN Human Rights Council after interruption by COVID-19 pandemic. BRUSSELS - EU informal videoconference for European Affairs ministers. TUESDAY, JUNE 16 BRUSSELS - NATO press conference by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg prior to defense ministers meeting. BRUSSELS - EU talks on 'revising' trade policies. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 WASHINGTON DC - US sanctions against Syria to come into force. BRUSSELS - NATO defence ministers videoconference after Washington's decision to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty. THURSDAY, JUNE 18 GENEVA - UN to publish annual report on the number of refugees and IDPs. FRIDAY, JUNE 19 BRUSSELS - EU Council videoconference. BRUSSELS - European Commission Vice President Frans Timmersmans will take part in a round table discussion on European financial services. SATURDAY, JUNE 20 VARIOUS CITIES - World Refugee Day ROME - European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will be speaking at an initiative for a series of meetings to discuss how Italy plans to jumpstart its economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. (ANSAmed). WASHINGTON Rep. Elise Stefanik on Friday condemned the decision by Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan to take down a statue of Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler located in front of city hall. A general in the American Revolution and U.S. senator for New York, Schuyler owned 13 enslaved people at his South End mansion in 1790 and another four worked on his farm in Saratoga County. Stefanik, a Republican now living in Schuylerville, called the move "short-sighted" and said her eastern Saratoga County village would be happy to take the statue "to commemorate (Schuyler's) role in our nation's founding with appropriate historical context." Schuylerville Mayor Dan Carpenter, a Democrat, confirmed that the village is interested in obtaining the statue a sentiment that in no way undercuts his sense of the damage done by the "disgusting" legacy of slavery, he said. "There's so much more to Gen. Schuyler than slavery," the mayor said. Carpenter noted, however, that Sheehan's office has rejected the idea of exiling the statue from Albany entirely, as opposed to removing it from its current high-profile position between city hall and the state Capitol. In a statement, Stefanik said that rather than "taking down statues and seeking to erase important chapters in our nation's Revolutionary history as Mayor Kathy Sheehan proposes, our policy makers should be focused on enacting real and meaningful policy changes at the local, state, and federal level to ensure we eliminate racism and specifically address strengthening our law enforcement relations with our community." In a lengthy statement, Stefanik argued in favor of uplifting the stories of African American contributions to the nation instead of removing symbols of "Founding Fathers." "The horrific tragedy of George Floyds death has caused the nation to reflect on our own historical challenges and to grieve as fellow Americans," she wrote. "This tragic event has opened a wide-ranging dialogue on our past and how we honor it. It is clear our history must be further enriched through the recognition and honoring of African American contributions to our nation that have been unjustly and inexcusably overlooked, forgotten, or unrecognized. We must work together to continue to ensure their important stories are told vividly like our monuments of Founding Fathers." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Stefanik recalled a middle school project she did on the Schuyler family while attending the Albany Academy for Girls. "We learned not only about how the Schuyler family lived, their family's military service, and the important role Philip Schuyler played in providing critical financing for the Revolution, but we also learned about the family's deeply disturbing use of slavery," Stefanik said. "This was an important lesson at a young age that our American history is simultaneously exceptional and complex. It is true that the United States of America has been blessed with extraordinary leaders especially our founding generation who envisioned the world's greatest experiment of a nation based on the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is also true that like all leaders, our founding visionaries like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Philip Schuyler had deep imperfections including the inhumane embrace of slavery." Sheehan said several Albany community members had requested the removal of the Schuyler statue. Her executive order, announced Thursday, directs the city's Department of General Services to take steps to remove the statue as soon as possible, including an engineering study to determine the statue's structural integrity. The statue will not be destroyed, instead it will go to a museum or other institution. The conflict over the Schuyler statute comes after weeks of protests against police brutality and racism in the wake of the death of Floyd, a black man killed in police custody on May 25. At the U.S. Capitol, congressional leaders are debating whether to remove Confederate statutes from the U.S. Capitol and rename military bases currently named after Confederate leaders. Protesters gather during the "March to Open California" in Huntington Beach, California, on May 1, 2020. Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register/Getty Images Orange County's former chief health officer resigned after she received threats for issuing a requirement that residents wear face masks in public. A few days later, Orange County's district supervisor said masks would be "strongly recommended" instead of required. But evidence suggests that mask wearing helps lower coronavirus transmission and prevent deaths. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Video: How to make and wear effective DIY face masks One of California's wealthiest counties has become a microcosm of the nation's divided response to the coronavirus. On Monday, the former chief health officer for Orange County, Dr. Nichole Quick, resigned after she received threats for issuing a requirement that residents wear face masks within 6 feet of others in public. Quick is the seventh senior health official in California to resign during the pandemic. In the days leading up to her resignation, she was the target of mounting public backlash. Kat DeBurgh, executive director of the Health Officers Association of California, told Business Insider that a group of protesters recently brought a banner depicting Quick as a Nazi to a public Board of Supervisors meeting. Residents also read Quick's home address aloud during a meeting, DeBurgh said, and threatened to protest outside her house. In response, the Orange County Sheriff's Department provided Quick with a security detail. Quick did not respond to a request for comment. "I have worked with Dr. Quick for many years and cannot say enough good things about her as a person and a professional," DeBurgh said. "She is optimistic, intelligent, hard-working, and compassionate. These sorts of attacks are heartbreaking and counter-productive when it comes to fighting our common enemy, COVID-19." Quick issued the mask requirement on May 23, as hospitalization numbers trended upward in Orange County. That same day, the county began to loosen stay-home restrictions, allowing sit-down service at restaurants and reopening some indoor retailers. Daily coronavirus cases in Orange County have been fluctuating, but the county saw its highest number of single-day cases more than 290 on June 5. It has reported around 7,700 cases and nearly 150 deaths so far. Story continues A nationwide backlash against mask requirements Protesters rally to reopen California on May 16, 2020, in Woodland Hills, California. David McNew/Getty Images In April, hundreds of people gathered in Orange County for demonstrations demanding an end to California's stay-at-home order. Many waved American flags and held signs that called for freedom. Other protesters across the country have also rallied against requirements to wear masks in public. On May 1, the day that San Diego instituted its mask requirement, hundreds of protesters gathered outside a local courthouse without any face coverings. The same day, a security guard in Flint, Michigan, was shot and killed after asking a dollar store customer to wear a face mask. Later in the month, a man in Portland, Oregon, was filmed yelling at a grocery-store employee who had asked him to wear a mask inside. DeBurgh said Orange County public-health officers have been "working tirelessly" to protect their communities from COVID-19. Their weeks are often 80 hours long, she said, and many have not had a day off since February. At the same time, she added, officers like Quick have had to contend with a "mob mentality" that devolves into personal attacks. "Public comment is an important part of policy-making, but personal attacks benefit no one and will not lead to the best policy decisions," DeBurgh said. Three days after Quick's resignation, district supervisor Lisa Bartlett announced that a new order was expected to ease the mask requirements. Masks will now just be "strongly recommended" in Orange County though they will likely still be mandatory in grocery stores and other retail businesses. Still, evidence suggests that requiring masks is an effective way to protect public health. Face masks prevent transmission Some people wear masks, with others don't, in Huntington Beach, California, on April 25, 2020. Apu Gomes/AFP/Getty Images Quick's mask requirement aligned with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, which suggests that people older than 2 years old wear face coverings in settings where it's difficult to maintain social distance. Other California counties, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, have imposed a similar mandate. A new study from UK researchers found that requiring individuals to wear face masks all the time could be enough to contain an outbreak on its own with no lockdown even if the masks were only 50% effective at trapping infectious particles when a person exhales. "These results are striking in that the benefits accrue to the face mask wearer as well as to the population as a whole," the researchers wrote. "There is, therefore, a clear incentive for people to adopt face mask wearing." The researchers found that face masks can decrease transmission even if just 25% of the population wears them, though not by much. If half of the population wore them, however, that might slow an outbreak (but not prevent it), according to the study. The more people wore face masks, the researchers determined, the closer a community could get to containing its outbreak. This aligns with research from Arizona State University, which found that "broad adoption of even relatively ineffective face masks may meaningfully reduce community transmission of COVID-19." The university's models determined that near-universal adoption of face masks in New York state could prevent up to 45% of projected deaths over two months even if face masks were only 50% effective. In Washington state, face masks that were only 20% effective but worn by most of the population could still reduce mortality by up to 65%, the researchers found. Still, there is some dissent among public-health experts about whether masks should be a requirement for the general public. When Business Insider recently put the question to 15 leading public-health experts, 11 said masks should be worn, three were uncertain, and one said no. Robert Beardall, who cast the lone dissenting vote, said his answer stemmed from worries that homemade masks would provide a false sense of protection and lead people to get too close to one another. When Dr. Quick issued Orange County's mask requirement, she cited evidence showing face coverings "can help prevent the transmission of COVID- 19." "I feel strongly we need a face-covering order in place as we continue to send people out into more social interactions," Quick said. Read the original article on Business Insider One week from today, Americans will mark the 155th anniversary of the day US Army General Gordon Grainger read to the people of Texas his General Order Number 3 to inform them that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. Graingers implementation of Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation in Texas on June 19, 1865 did not end all slavery in the United States. That day would come roughly six months later when the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution came into force. But since 1865, June 19 the day the last persons enslaved by the defeated Confederacy gained their freedom has been a celebrated one in African American communities across the United States. One week from today, Donald Trump plans to mark that anniversary by delivering a speech on race relations in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where 99 years ago, what was then the wealthiest black community in the country was destroyed in what is still the worst instance of racial violence in American history. Like most of his major addresses, the speech will have been authored at least in part by White House Senior Policy Adviser Stephen Miller, who according to leaked emails published by the Southern Poverty Law Center, has an affinity for white nationalism. Later that day, Trump who has reacted to the past few weeks of protests against racial inequality by channeling George Wallace, Richard Nixon and worse by tweeting about shooting looters, vicious dogs, and law and order ad infinitum will continue his celebration of the events of June 19th by holding his first campaign rally since the day before Super Tuesday, Monday March 3. That was the day he traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina and accused Democrats of trying to politicize the novel coronavirus which would soon bring a halt to his Keep America Great rallies, touted the strength of the Trump economy, and vowed to defeat the radical socialist who was then the Democratic frontrunner. Three months on, the virus he dismissed as politicized has killed more than 100,000 Americans on his watch; the economy he spent the previous three years taking credit for has slipped into a recession; the radical socialist hed hoped to run against has endorsed presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden; and Americans of all races in all parts of the country have taken to the streets to declare that Black Lives Matter. Having been denied the opportunity to run against his preferred opponent self-described democratic socialist Senator Bernie Sanders and having seen the economic boom which began under his predecessor come to an abrupt ending due to Covid-19, Trump is reverting to the divisive, often-racist messaging that has been his comfort zone throughout his political career. Perhaps in hopes of recapturing the spirit of his initial rise to political prominence which was based on his promotion of the baseless theory that the first African American President of the United States was not a US citizen and therefore illegitimate Trump has even adopted the rhetoric of the Confederate lost cause by declaring that he will veto the annual National Defense Authorization Act if it includes provisions to strip the names of Confederate generals from US military installations. The President and his allies have long been criticized for being anywhere from unintentionally tone-deaf to intentionally inflammatory when it comes to matters of race, and not a single Trump campaign official would respond on the record to queries on how the campaign had decided that particular date and place to reopen the campaign in light of the weeks of protests for racial equality across the country. One person close to the administration who did respond suggested that the rally had been added to the schedule after plans for the speech on race relations had already been worked out, and was an attempt to minimize both Trumps and his campaigns use of resources during the pandemic. Film director of 'Terror in Tulsa' says Trump coming to city is 'a slap in the face' Asked whether he believes the campaigns selection of Tulsa to hold a rally on Juneteenth is the unintentional result of bad decision-making or an intentional wink-and-nod to the areas history of racial tensions, former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele posited that the correct answer was both. You can be intentionally dumb, said Steele, who served as Marylands lieutenant governor from 2003 to 2007 and was the first African American Marylander to be elected to statewide office. The natural question is: Do you really want to have a huge rally in the midst of a continuing global pandemic, given that were now seeing spikes [in new Covid-19 cases] in that part of the country? And if you get past that, then youre going to go to Tulsa, where the Black community there was a thriving, successful business community that was literally decimated by a racist white mob that killed hundreds of its residents? he asked, incredulously. If the whole idea is that hes gonna rebuild his relationships in the [Black] community, I just would not necessarily use that as the jump-off point to do that, he continued, adding that the use of the Tulsa location and the June 19 date is just astounding. I just go back to my original point you can be intentionally stupid, he said. Another source close to Trump and his family blamed the campaigns lack of current messaging and scattershot strategy on campaign manager Brad Parscale a relative newcomer to politics who has never managed a political campaign of any kind and a campaign team composed largely of loyalists and a rising number of 2016 campaign veterans who are focusing on keeping Trump happy instead of delivering unvarnished advice. Hes wasting money on ads in Washington because the President complains about seeing that Conway group [The Lincoln Project] ad; the President says he wants rallies so they schedule them in places hes guaranteed to win and doesnt need to visit. The thinking is, if he keeps Mr Trump happy, the secret sauce of 2016 will flow and he will magically win again somehow, they said of Parscale and much of the campaigns top-level leadership, describing them as too sycophantic to maintain the professional detachment necessary to see when changes are needed. But some blame, they said, rests with Trump himself, because he reacts so poorly to bad news that no one wants to be the bearer of any of it. No one wants to get fired, so no one will tell the President why hes losing but maybe thats OK because none of them understand why, they continued, adding later that Trumps obsession with loyalty and disdain for most people associated with the George W Bush-era GOP has left most of the Republican Partys top campaign talent on the sidelines or working for anti-Trump Republican groups. Sam Nunberg, a Republican political consultant who advised Trump from 2011 to 2015, said the resumption of campaign rallies may provide some help to the presidents lagging poll numbers, but he, too, worried that the campaign has failed to adjust to the new normal. They've got to adapt and start running a highly proficient campaign that an incumbent president has the advantages to run, said Nunberg, who added that he does not understand why the campaign has not been using its considerable war chest to blanket the airwaves with negative anti-Biden ads and positive ads contrasting Trumps vision for America with that of the former vice president. His numbers will go up with rallies, but they're not controlling their own destiny, which is the reason why incumbents usually are able to win the presidency, he added. Nunberg explained that unlike 2016, when Trump ran based on his potential as a businessman, as an incumbent he is no longer an idea and needs to run on the record he has compiled, at least up until January of this year. You're not going to be able to win based on catchy slogans and themes It has to be based on what he has accomplished, what he has shown his approach is to the economy [or] to foreign policy before Covid, and why that is better than Joe Bidens, he said. Trumps channeling of Nixons law and order rhetoric, Nunberg said, has been a terrible approach in the face of the protest movement that has sprung up in the wake of George Floyds death at the hands of Minneapolis police. This is not 1968, he said. What he has to understand is [Nixons use of] law and order happened for a very important reason: We had Johnson, we had the great society, we had civil rights legislation, and then [the Watts riots in California broke out]. But thats not what happened here, Nunberg continued. He [Trump] didnt properly distinguish looting and protesting, which he should have. This moment is completely different, and its stigmatizing for how it started theres nobody defending those cops. He added that Trumps invocation of rhetoric used by Nixon in 68 is ineffective because if anything, the position Trump is in is far more like that of George H W Bush in 1992 because as president, everything is happening on his watch. Steele, too, predicted that Trumps depiction of himself as the law and order savior figure he styled himself as in 2016 would fail to resonate with voters, and suggested that a political trifecta of Covid-19, the resulting economic collapse, and the protests sparked by Floyds death had stopped the presidents campaign before it ever got started, leaving with him few options but to try re-running the 2016 playbook once more. The reality is that the campaign and the West Wing have to face is a president who has been tone-deaf to all three events, and consequently, has spoken and behaved in a manner that has made it harder for the campaign to fashion a strategy and messaging that would actually work to the President's benefit at a time of national crisis in these three areas, he said. So you fall back on what you think brought you to the dance in the first place. And that is a 2016 political narrative where you create enemies, you create boogeymen that you can go after, and that, I think is probably what you'll see. One source close to the Trump campaign suggested that the resumption of in-person rallies would re-energize both the campaign and the President, but Steele suggested that the only thing the rallies would benefit will be Trumps ego. He can then stand in that pulpit and he can spew whatever gospel he wants knowing that everyone in the room is applauding him and buying what he's selling, but how does that translate once he leaves the room? He doesn't care, but it makes him feel energized, and it stokes his base. And he thinks that that will get him across the finish line, Steele said. But theres not any persuasion, its just re-affirming old ideas around the notion that I alone can fix it, but what have you fixed? How do you come up with a law and order argument after everyone watched the killing of a man for eight minutes and 46 seconds? he asked. You dont and you shouldnt, but Donald Trump does, because Donald Trump is not speaking to the better angels of our American psyche. Google will soon begin rolling out such Google Assistant features as Voice Match, hotword sensitivity settings, and the ability to set a default speaker to more third-party smart speakers and displays. Thats the word from Google, which said that it will start rolling out updates to Google Assistant-enabled speakers and displays from third-party manufacturers starting this week. Among the new features that owners of third-party Google Assistant-enabled smart speakers can expect is Voice Match, which allows Google Assistant to serve up personalized search results by identifying your voice. You can use Voice Match to link up to six voice profiles to a single Google Assistant-enabled speaker or display. Google refined the training process for Voice Match (which takes only a few minutes) several weeks ago. Also coming soon to third-party Google Assistant devices is support for the new hotword sensitivity setting in the Google Home app, which lets you adjust the sensitivity of a given Google Assistant-powered device when it comes to hearing the Hey Google and OK Google wake words. For example, you might boost the hotword sensitivity for a speaker in a noisy room or lower the sensitivity for a device in a quiet area. This will be particularly useful for folks who have deployed Google Assistant-powered devices in more than one room, because it will help ensure that the closest devices hears and responds. Last but not least, youll soon be able to designate a third-party Google speaker as a preferred speaker, meaning that (for instance) if you request a Spotify playlist on your Google Nest Mini, you can set the music to play on a different (presumably higher-fidelity) speaker by default. The Google blog post didnt specify which third-party devices in particular will start getting the feature updates, but a Google rep later clarified that Sonos and Bose smart speakers will be among the first. Its also worth noting that some of the features detailed in Googles blog post have already rolled out to some third-party Google Assistant devices. Sonos smart speakers, for example, got preferred speaker functionality earlier this year. Updated June 12, 2020 to add a comment from Google. Peter Manfredonia, 23, will be arraigned on Friday in Vernon, Connecticut on multiple charges, including murder, home invasion, kidnapping, larceny and stealing a firearm. He is pictured above in a new mugshot released on Friday A UConn student who sparked a six day multi-state manhunt after being suspected of killing two men and kidnapping a woman has been extradited back to Connecticut where he will be charged with murder and kidnapping after being captured in Maryland. Peter Manfredonia, 23, will be arraigned on Friday in Vernon, Connecticut on multiple charges including murder, home invasion, kidnapping, larceny and stealing a firearm. Connecticut State Police said his bond has been set at $5 million. Detectives said they extradited him from Maryland overnight after he was captured there last month following a week-long manhunt involving several police agencies and the FBI that spanned three different states. He was found near a truck stop in Hagerstown, Maryland on May 27. An officer had spotted Manfredonia standing just 20 feet away after only just receiving a description of him. Police started hunting him late last month after identifying him as a suspect in a crime spree including two slayings in Connecticut. They say Manfredonia killed his first victim, 62-year-old Ted DeMers, with a machete in Willington, Connecticut on May 22. Cyndi DeMers, the wife of the first victim, said Manfredonia was looking for a female acquaintance when he came walking down the road in front of their home wearing a motorcycle helmet. VICTIMS: Manfredonia is accused of killing Ted DeMers, 62, (left) in Willington on May 22 and his high school friend, Nicholas Eisele, 22, (right) in Derby two days later Detectives said they extradited Manfredonia (above in an undated photo) from Maryland overnight after he was captured there last month following a week-long manhunt involving several police agencies and the FBI that spanned three different states Manfredonia had said his motorcycle had broken down and DeMers, as well as one of his friends had offered him a ride back to his bike. The suspect is accused of killing DeMers with a machete and severely injuring the victim's friend. Police say the college senior then went to another man's home, held him hostage, stole his guns and truck and drove about 70 miles southwest to Derby. In Derby, police found Manfredonia's high school friend, 23-year-old Nicholas Eisele, shot to death in his home two days later on May 24. Authorities are accusing Manfredonia of forcing Eisele's girlfriend into her car and fleeing the state. The girlfriend was found unharmed with her car at a rest stop near near Columbia, New Jersey. Investigators say they tracked Manfredonia to Pennsylvania where police said he took an Uber to a Walmart in East Stroudsburg, not far from the New Jersey border. Police discovered through interviews with the driver and from security camera footage that Manfredonia had walked behind the store and onto railroad tracks where he was spotted carrying a black duffel bag. Investigators say they tracked Manfredonia to Pennsylvania where police said he took an Uber to a Walmart in East Stroudsburg, not far from the New Jersey border. He was spotted on surveillance cameras walking along railway tracking carrying a black duffel bag He was later captured on surveillance cameras in a convenience store in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania close to the Pennsylvania-Maryland border. Authorities say they learned someone matching his description had ordered an Uber to take him across the border to Hagerstown, Maryland Manfredonia was detained by the Washington County Sheriffs Office and U.S. Marshals near the Pilot Travel Center gas station in Hagerstown, Maryland (above) on May 27 TIMELINE: MANHUNT FOR PETER MANFREDONIA May 22, 2020: Authorities are called to Willington, Connecticut on May 22 and find two men suffering from severe wounds inflicted by a machete. Victim Ted DeMers dies from his injuries while his neighbor is rushed to hospital in critical condition. May 23, 2020: Police identify the suspect as Peter Manfredonia, a University of Connecticut senior majoring in finance and mechanical engineering. May 24, 2020: Morning Connecticut police respond to a home in Willington where a man says Manfredonia broke in and held him captive before stealing food, firearms and a truck. Surveillance footage captures Manfredonia walking to second victim Nicholas Eisele's home in Derby. Police discover the stolen truck on Hawthorne Avenue in Derby. Police find the body of Eisele and report that Manfredonia has abducted the victim's girlfriend and fled the state in her 2016 black Volkswagen Jetta. Afternoon The girlfriend is found unharmed with her car at a rest stop near near Columbia, New Jersey. Police say Manfredonia has been spotted in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Police release image of Manfredonia walking near railroad tracks carrying a large duffel bag. May 27, 2020: Morning Police release image of a man believed to be Manfredonia at a Sheetz in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Authorities say Manfredonia caught an Uber to Hagerstown, Maryland. Evening Manfredonia is located in Hagerstown, Maryland and is taken into custody without injury. June 11, 2020: Manfredonia is extradited from Maryland to Connecticut to face charges. Advertisement A man fitting his description was spotted on May 26 near Scranton, Pennsylvania, prompting another search there. He was later captured on surveillance cameras in a convenience store in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania close to the Pennsylvania-Maryland border. They located a stolen Hyundai Santa Fe in the area but authorities were unable to immediately confirm if the vehicle had been stolen by Manfredonia. Authorities say they learned someone matching his description had ordered an Uber to take him across the border to Hagerstown, Maryland. An investigator who arrived at a truck stop in Hagerstown on May 27 to begin searching for Manfredonia had just been briefed on his description when the officer spotted the suspect just 20 feet away. Officers surrounded Manfredonia and he was taken into custody without incident. Following his arrest, authorities say Manfredonia led them to a wooded area about 200 yards away where he pointed out a black bag with a gun in it. Investigators believe that gun was used in the slaying of Eisele Authorities have not yet offered a possible motive for the crimes. A lawyer for Manfredonia's family said that the college senior had struggled in the past with mental health issues and 'sought the help of a number of therapists'. During the six day manhunt, it emerged that Manfredonia had allegedly written disturbing messages on his apartment walls about 'snapping' like Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza. Photos taken in July 2019 that showed the writing allegedly written by Manfredonia were shared on social media during the search for him. The phrase 'Im not angry Im upset' could be seen written over a door. 'Is this bad? Will I get in trouble? Will they look at me strange?' were the other message scrawled across parts of the room. Manfredonia also compared himself to Lanza, who in 2012 shot and killed 20 children and six staff members at the school. 'We saw what happened when Adam snapped,' one message read. 'Now they see what happens when I snap.' Authorities have not publicly confirmed that the images were taken inside Manfredonia's apartment. Records show that Manfredonia grew up in Newtown, Connecticut just a few houses away from Lanza. During the manhunt, non-profit Sandy Hook Promise released a statement confirming that Manfredonia had participated in an athletic event in 2019 and chose Sandy Hook Promise as one of his fundraising recipients. During the six day manhunt, it emerged that Manfredonia had allegedly written disturbing messages on his apartment walls about 'snapping' like Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza June 11, 2020 Release DOD Announces $250M to Ukraine The Department of Defense announced today its plans for $250 million in Fiscal Year 2020 Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds for additional training, equipment, and advisory efforts to strengthen Ukraine's capacity to more effectively defend itself against Russian aggression. This reaffirms the long-standing defense relationship between the United States and Ukraine a critical partner on the front line of strategic competition with Russia. The United States remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The USAI funds $125 million of which was conditional on Ukraine's progress on defense reforms will provide equipment to support ongoing training programs and operational needs. This includes capabilities to enhance Ukraine's defensive lethal capabilities and situational awareness in the maritime domain, air surveillance systems to monitor sovereign airspace, command and control and survivability of Ukraine's Land and Special Operations Forces through the provision of counter-artillery radars and tactical equipment, military medical treatment and combat evacuation procedures, and cyber defense and strategic communications to counter Russian cyber offensive operations and misinformation. These efforts are complemented by increased security assistance support from key NATO Allies and partners. The United States continues to urge all allies and partners to enhance their support for Ukraine's security and defense sector. The United States also welcomes recent Ukrainian investments in U.S. defense articles that further strengthen our strategic partnership. These security cooperation programs are made possible by Ukraine's continued progress on key defense institutional and anti-corruption reforms. Over the past year, Ukraine has taken considerable steps to: strengthen civilian control of the military; reform military command and control structures; transition to a Western-style human resources management system; introduce measures to promote increased transparency and competition in defense procurement and the defense industrial sector; and tighten internal controls to reduce corruption. The United States remains committed to assisting Ukraine with the implementation of defense and anti-corruption reforms in line with Euro-Atlantic principles. These reforms will bolster Ukraine's ability to defend its territorial integrity in support of a secure, prosperous, democratic, and free Ukraine. https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2215888/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address (STANBERRY, Mo.) The Tri-County Health Department announced Thursday a fifth and sixth death due to COVID-19 in Gentry County. Gentry County has reported a total of 54 positive cases of COVID-19 and six deaths, according to the Tri-County Health Department. Gentry Countys first death due to COVID-19 was a woman in her 90s, according to a May 26 press release on Tri-County's Facebook page. Tri-County Administrator Lilli Parsons said Wednesday a majority of the positive cases came from one facility in Stanberry but did not release the facilitys name. She added the home began "facility-wide testing" on May 21, shortly after the first positive case was identified on May 18. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released data last week showing Stanberry's Pine View Manor reported at least 24 residents have tested positive, seven residents are suspected positive, and four residents have died. The nursing home also reported seven staff have tested positive and one staff member is suspected as a positive case. The federal data is slated to be updated next week. In May, Missouri began collecting and publishing some information on COVID-19 cases in Congregate living facilities, meaning a facility where persons reside and share common spaces with other residents including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, dorms, and jails. The State health department publishes a map of active cases at congregate living facilities. The map shows how many facilities, in each county, have at least 1 resident or staff member with an active case of COVID-19 at the time of reporting. The state does not disclose the facilitys name or the number of positive cases. Missouri updated its reporting requirements for congregate facilities on May 18. The update requires nursing homes and facilities to report deaths to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services within 24-hours. DHSS that data and publishes some of it for the public on its COVID-19 dashboard but not a complete picture. The CMC discloses much more information including the names, locations, cases, deaths, and targeted inspection reports for each nursing home. He is also preparing his small restaurant to reopen its dining room, which used to get jam-packed on Friday and Saturday nights with people who squeezed into rows of two-top tables. Now he is building booths, separated by wipeable curtains, to comply with social distancing requirements, and is getting rid of bar seating. He will be able to seat less than half as many people as he could before. SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More An innocuous joke by the boss of Indias largest lender has put the spotlight back on an old debate in Indias banking circles the humble compensation packages of government-run bank officers compared with the salaries of their private sector counterparts. In a recent conference call with analysts, State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Rajnish Kumar was asked if his bank would undertake a pay cut for employees. Pat came Kumars reply: "Road pe aake rehna padega, pehle hi itni kam milti hai (I'll have to live on road, I already get so less). Though this was said in jest, no one could miss the undertones to the relatively lower pay of state-run bankers. HDFC Bank, the private banking giant, offered its CEO a total compensation of Rs 13.7 crore in FY19. Competitor ICICI Bank paid its CEO a total remuneration of Rs 4.9 crore. As it happens with such comments, it triggered a fresh debate on the issue. Kumars comments didnt go well with many in the banking industry. One former SBI chairman told Moneycontrol that Kumars comment was in bad taste and amounted to lowering the dignity of his office. He did not want to be named. A few others sympathised with Kumar, saying he indeed has a point about the lower pay levels in public sector banks. To begin with, take a look at how much the SBI chairman earns. According to the last available data in FY19 annual report, the SBI head earned Rs 29.53 lakh a year. Is that equitable pay for the head of the countrys largest bank? That depends on which side of the debate you are on. The salary must be seen in combination with the perks a SBI chairman enjoys. Here are a few: a plush bungalow in Mumbai, dedicated help, two cars with drivers, unlimited petrol and so on. What about Kumars colleagues in SBI? In SBI, managing directors receive around the same amount as Kumar last year. Parveen Kumar Gupta earned Rs 29.86 lakh in FY19, which included arrears worth Rs 1.1 lakh from 2017-18 and Rs 19,344 from 2016-17. Dinesh Kumar Khara, another Managing Director, took home Rs 28.06 lakh, of which Rs 32,226 was arrears from the previous year. What about other banks? Bank of Baroda MD and CEO PS Jayakumar, who was hired from the private sector in 2015, actually earned more than the SBI chairman last year. According to FY19 annual report, Jayakumars salary was Rs 33.45 lakh while Executive Director Mayank Mehta earned Rs 55.24 lakh in FY19. What about the earnings of other executive directors? Ashok Kumar Garg received Rs 46.3 lakh, Papia Sengupta Rs 29.7 lakh, Shanti Lal Jain Rs 15.15 lakh and Vikramaditya Singh Khichi Rs 14.3 lakh. Bank of India, another leading lender, paid its CEO Dinabandhu Mohapatra an annual compensation of Rs 29.07 lakh in FY19, while Executive Director Neelam Damodharan earned Rs 25.3 lakh. Atanu Kumar Das (the then executive director) and CG Chaitanya (another Executive Director) received Rs 25.6 lakh and 24.7 lakh, respectively, in 2019. These packages are just a fraction of the earnings of private sector bankers. The total compensation of Adity Puri, HDFC Bank CEO, includes perks worth Rs 2.2 crore. His combined pay excludes stock options worth Rs 42.2 crore exercised during the year, according to the annual report. Former HDFC Bank deputy managing director Paresh Sukthankar, who was speculated to be Puris successor at one point but resigned in November 2018, took home Rs 6.3 crore in FY19, while Kaizad Bharucha, Executive Director, drew Rs 5.8 crore. Look at it this way: the bank paid around Rs 26 crore to its three top executives in FY19. ICICI Bank paid a combined Rs 4.9 crore to Sandeep Bakshi, MD and CEO, in FY19. This included Rs 2.21 crore as basic salary and Rs 2.24 crore as allowances and perquisites. Vishaka Mulaye, Executive Director, received Rs 5.2 crore while Anup Bagchi, another Executive Director, took home Rs 4.6 crore. In the case of Kotak Mahindra Bank, Uday Kotak, the promoter, Managing Director and CEO, received an annual compensation of Rs 3.25 crore in FY19, while Dipak Gupta, Joint Managing Director, received Rs 9.57 crore, including perks of Rs 6.3 crore. Axis Bank CEO Amitabh Chaudhry earned Rs 30 lakh a month in FY19. A former chairman of a public sector bank said the debate the disparity in pay does not make any sense. "The difference in pay between the private and public sector is not specific to public versus private banks. This is true across all sectors," he said. Wage disparity between the public and private sector is not limited to banks. The government has not acted to reform the pay structure so far except for a few tweaks. There is another view that pay reform alone doesnt make sense unless a level playing field is granted to all banks. "You need to look at this issue with a holistic approach. Public sector banks (PSBs) need to be granted a level-playing field to compete with private banks. Right now, they are asked to run a race with their arms and legs tied. This needs to change first before we discuss compensation," said JN Gupta, founder of SES, a proxy advisory firm. In August 2016, former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan called attention to the issue when he said salaries of top level employees of the public sector, including RBI, are way short of global standards. "One of the problems, of course, is that the public sector overpays at the bottom but underpays at the top. I also feel underpaid," Rajan had said. If one looks at the lower rung of employees in private banks and public sector banks, the salary difference may not be very high. Public sector bank (PSB) employees enjoy job security unlike the private sector. Private sector banks reward employees based on performance linked compensation models specific to individual institutions. As against this, traditionally, the salary of a PSB employee is decided through negotiations between the Indian Banks Association (IBA) and trade unions once in every five years. This time, the two are yet to reach a consensus on the revision that was originally due in November 2017. In the 2012 round, IBA had awarded a 15 percent hike to employees. This time (2017-2022), unions are seeking 20 percent while IBA has so far offered 12.25 percent. There is no consensus yet. Is this time for a wage reform in public sector? The jury is still out on the debate. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday constituted a committee of doctors, with a request to visit two proposed hotels Surya Hotel at New Friends Colony and Crown Plaza at Okhla and give a report on the feasibility of these hotels being used as extended COVID hospitals. Justice Navin Chawla directed the committee to submit its report on or before June 14. The committee comprises AIIMS director Randeep Guleria and VK Paul, who is a member of NITI Aayog. The panel will visit hotels in the national capital that had moved the court challenging the decision of the government to convert them into hospitals for COVID-19 patients. Petitioner during arguments flagged various issues which would arise if the hotels are to be used as extended COVID hospitals. It said that the presence of air conditioning, the lack of large lifts which are capable of being used for stretchers, lack of bio-waste disposal, as also the measure to safeguard the hotel workforce that may be required by the hotels for providing services as stipulated in the orders dated 29.05.2020 and 02.06.2020, etc. The counsel of petitioner hotels told the court that use of these hotels as extended COVID Hospitals would in fact, not be advisable due to various infrastructural constraints. Earlier, the hotels argued that the government's order is unilateral and they were not consulted before passing it. Delhi government in an order dated 29th May had asked several hotels to be converted into COVID-19 hospitals. The court will hear the matter next on June 15. In a statement, the video communications company admits that it obeyed Beijings request to shut down four events and block host and participant accounts. To block users following from China, Zoom shut down online seminars from Hong Kong and the United States. China's rules applied to the rest of the world. Wang Dan: We will go through legal channels. San Jose (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Zoom.us, the video communications company, confessed to having shut down some people's accounts and to have stopped some webinars related to the anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre. In a statement made public yesterday, it admitted that it acted at the request of the Chinese government. Zoom explains that the Chinese government was annoyed at four major commemorations of Tiananmen, advertised on social media and asked for their host accounts to be canceled and suspended. In response to Beijing's demands, Zoom shut down the three events, one run from Hong Kong and two run from the United States. A fourth was run by dissident Zhou Fengsuo, in exile in the United States. This was not canceled, but in return, Zhou's account was shut down. Zoom explained that the top three were shut down because people from popular China were enrolled in it. In the name of the country's censorship law, which prohibits any recollection of Tiananmen, they were to be excluded. But in this way, all the other participants in Hong Kong and the USA were also excluded. Which means that Chinese law has become the criterion for the rest of the world. The fourth event did not have any participants from China and was therefore saved from censorship. Only Zhou Fengsuo's complaint about the paid and canceled account allowed the dissident to be readmitted among the users of the video service. In an apology Zoom said it is studying a technology that can delete or block specific users based on geography, without blocking an event with users from all over the world. Zoom is very popular in China, but to remain in the country, it must be subject to the censorship of political power. Other social networks that - at least for now - do not submit to Chinese rules, are banned. These include Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Skype. Wang Dan, one of the leaders of the Tiananmen movement (see photo) and now in exile in the US, is one of those who hosted a meeting on the anniversary of the massacre on June 3. In the middle of the presentation, the video conference was blacked out and his account was suspended. Wang Dan said he would seek every legal route and motivate public opinion for Zoom to take all responsibility for what happened, so it cannot "get away with just a statement. A virtual hearing on Friday morning for the case of William Love, the Albany Episcopal bishop who opposes the national churchs embrace of same-sex marriage, boiled down to conflicting interpretations of church law and doctrine. It also revealed a bishop whose opposition to gay marriage rites, and even gay sex, is not likely to budge regardless of the outcome or any future moves by the church. The Title IV Hearing Panel, named for the grouping of Episcopal church laws that addressing discipline, focused on Loves refusal to allow clergy in the diocese of Albany to marry gay and lesbian couples despite the national churchs approval in 2015. At issue is Resolution B012, which the General Convention crafted in 2018 as a compromise that allowed clergy and bishops from dioceses that opposed gay marriage to recuse themselves from specific rites. Love responded with a strongly worded November 2018 letter that quoted scripture, reiterated his stance and said gays would be better served if urged to repent, adding: "Satan is having a heyday bringing division into the Church." In January of 2019, the church banned him from penalizing clergy involved in same-sex rites while his conduct was being reviewed and, eight months later, announced it would hold a disciplinary hearing. It was originally scheduled for April 21 but was postponed and moved to a virtual platform after the onset of COVID-19. Held via Zoom and streaming on Facebook starting at 9 a.m., the proceedings were chaired by Nicholas Knisely, bishop of Rhode Island, and heard by panelists including Jennifer Brooke-Davidson, bishop of Virginia, and Herman Hollerith, retired bishop of Southern Virginia. Because neither side disputed the facts of the case regarding Loves actions, the hearing centered on legal arguments offered by Paul Cooney, counsel for the church, and Chip Strickland, a priest with the diocese, who represented Love. Cooney, speaking first, argued that the panel did not have the power to invalidate all or part of a General Convention decision; that diocesan canons cannot be inconsistent with General Convention canons; and that Love has failed to conform to the worship of the church as he promised to do when he was ordained. He also said the bishops refusal to allow gays to marry in the church impacts their well-being as people of God and similarly affects their loved ones, their fellow congregants and their friends. Strickland, taking his turn, said the church has failed to prove any offense by Bishop Love. He focused his arguments on doctrine, rubrics and the Book of Common Prayer, the collection of teachings and devotional texts used throughout the worldwide Anglican Communion. Because that prayer book retains the traditional definition of matrimony as a union of a man and a woman, and because the General Convention declined to propose a revision, he argued that the 2018 resolution does not have canonical status governing discipline in the church. He compared it to a truck that advertises oranges but doesnt actually carry any. The point is, BO12 does not deliver the goods, he said. The counsels were also given time to rebut and respond. Arguments from both sides invoked the letter and nuances of Episcopal law, citing past articles and articulations of doctrine. Knisely and panelists asked a sprinkling of questions seeking information or clarification. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. At one point, Hollerith asked whether Love had taken any pastoral action to address the pain of those who were excluded from the marriage rites-- and Strickland deferred to the bishop, who responded. Citing his meetings with gay people and his pastoral letter of 2018, Love emphasized his belief that God loves all of us, regardless of our sexual orientations and said two men or two women can love one another, live together and be each others health care proxies. But he reiterated his conviction, revealed through holy scripture, that God only approves of sexual intimacy in the confines of marriage between a man and a woman. He added: I do know how difficult this is for all of us, and my heart is breaking for all of us. Its breaking for the church. I just know that this is a difficult time. In a final exchange of questions and answers, Knisely asked Strickland whether theres anything the General Convention might do that would prompt Love to agree to to its directives on gay marriage. After briefly consulting off-line with Love, Strickland replied that there is not going to be anything to dissuade him from his position. He is doctrinally opposed to same-sex marriage. That will not change. At the same time, he is sworn to doctrine, discipline, worship of the church. If those things change, then hell have to make his decisions. Knisely closed out the hearing at around 12:20 p.m., saying panel deliberations would begin Friday afternoon. He gave no indication when a decision might be reached. On Wednesday, a publicist for the Episcopal church said she had been told it would be weeks at least. Protesters march holding placards and a portrait of Breonna Taylor during a demonstration against racism and police brutality, in Hollywood, California on June 7, 2020. - Demonstrations are being held across the US following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, while being arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Agustin Paullier/AFP via Getty Images In a June 11 letter, nearly 250 UCLA professors call on Chancellor Gene Block to immediately end the school's relationship with the Los Angeles Police Department. The effort comes after police used the school's Jackie Robinson Stadium to detain anti-police brutality protesters. "As long as UCLA collaborates with LAPD and other police forces, it is complicit in, and bears responsibility for, police brutality and racialized state violence," the letter states. Faculty at the University of California, Los Angeles, angered by the use of the school's Jackie Robinson Stadium to detain Black Lives Matter protesters, are demanding that campus leadership completely "divest" from police and redirect the money saved into programs for racial justice. In a June 11 letter, nearly 250 UCLA professors call on Chancellor Gene Block to immediately end the school's relationship with the Los Angeles Police Department and to hold a public hearing on how school grounds came to be used as a police staging ground. The letter also calls on the school to create a compensation fund for any protesters who were detained at the stadium. "As long as UCLA collaborates with LAPD and other police forces, it is complicit in, and bears responsibility for, police brutality and racialized state violence," the letter states. The school did not respond to a request for comment. But in an earlier message to UCLA students and faculty, Chancellor Block apologized for allowing police to use Jackie Robinson Stadium, calling it an "a violation of our values." "To see a space that's so special to UCLA, particularly one dedicated to an iconic figure like Robinson, used as a place for punishing those who carry on his legacy is profoundly upsetting," Block wrote, as the Los Angeles Times reported. But UCLA staff, organizing under the banner of a new coalition, the DIVEST/INVEST UCLA Faculty Collective, want that apology backed by new policies. Story continues Among the collective's demands: dropping any "student conduct charges" stemming from recent labor and anti-racist protests; ending and publicly accounting for any contracts with law enforcement agencies; and redirecting money now spent on campus police "toward racial and gender justice teaching, research, and community initiatives as well as increased material support for Black faculty, staff, students, and workers on campus." Prof. Kelly Lytle Hernandez, director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA, said the school should rise to "meet the historic opportunity for systemic change by divesting from white supremacy." "The uprising for Black life is knocking on UCLA's door," she said, "and it has yet to answer." Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read the original article on Insider Energysquare, a French wireless charging company, raised 3M in funding. The investment was made by Partech. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate their development in Asia and the United States. Led by Timothee Le Quesne, CEO, Energysquare is creating a new generation of wireless chargers that will allow people to charge multiple devices at the same speed as classic chargers. Its Power by Contact is a wireless charging technology comprised of advanced microelectronics and algorithms that allow users to charge all their devices simultaneously on a single surface, at maximum speed, without electromagnetic waves. Prior to this financing round, the company signed a technological partnership with Lenovo, to explore integration into their new laptop models. FinSMEs 12/06/2020 Amid tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades, police are turning to a lesser-known crowd control agent: paintballs. Essentially no different than the ones a gaming enthusiast would use, paintball guns used by law enforcement compress air to fire small spheres that, upon impact, dispense liquid paint or an irritant powder. While companies that make paintballs guns tout them as safe tools for crowd dispersal, in reality, they carry significant risk. Even some police chiefs are now questioning their use. For years, paintball guns have been used against protesters all over the world in Benin, Turkey, Hong Kong and Mexico but it is relatively new to see them used in the United States against protesters, said Brian Castner, an investigator at Amnesty International focusing on weapons. The problem is that a paintball gun is associated with pretend war games and is often thought of as an innocuous toy. The threshold for its use is low, he said. Even as the United States is devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington is stepping up flights of drones and nuclear-capable strategic bombers threatening Russia and China. Reports emerged on Wednesday that the US Air Force is flying B-1 strategic bombers from the Pacific island of Guam and Global Hawk spy drones from Yokota Air Base in Japan to the South China Sea. Four B-1 bombers and 200 airmen have been deployed from Dyess Air Force Base in America to Andersen Air Base in Guam. The deployment of spy drones allows for continuous monitoring of Chinese ships along Chinas coastline. On the same day, US F-22 fighter jets intercepted two flights of Russian TU-95 strategic bombers off the Alaskan coast, after Russian officials complained of provocative flights by US bombers near Russias borders in Europe. These included May 29 flights by B-1 bombers in the Black and Baltic Seas, and a June 3 flight by a B-52 bomber over the Arctic Ocean. A 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron B-1B Lancer flies over the East China Sea May 6, 2020. (U.S. Air Force/ River Bruce) These events are a warning: imperialism never sleeps. Even as the worlds attention was focused on Trumps demands that the US military deploy against the American people to crush mass protests against the May 25 police killing of George Floyd, Washington and its European allies were stepping up war plans. They are proceeding aggressively even though their principal targets are major powers with large nuclear arsenals. Amid growing social anger over police brutality and the financial aristocracys criminal negligence on the COVID-19 pandemic, the danger that the ruling elite will try to suppress class conflict by launching external wars is only mounting. Last month, Washington announced it was sending several B-1s to the South China Sea. When the commander in chief says he wants four B-1B Lancers in the Indo-Pacific, we say theyll be there even in a pandemic, said US Air Force Colonel Jose Sumangil. And thats what we did on very short notice. We were able to make this happen because of the effort as a whole from Team Dyess to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission while sustaining our mission capabilities. The B-1B is a supersonic strategic heavy bomber capable of transporting a wide range of weapons including guided missiles and bombs, as well as B61 and B83 thermonuclear bombs. The B83 bomb has the power of 1.2 megatons of TNT80 times more than the bomb Washington dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. On May 29, as protests against the George Floyds murder erupted across America, the Russian Defense Ministry reported: Air defense forces of the West and South military districts detected US Air Force B-1B strategic bombers over neutral waters in the Black and Baltic Seas. Russian fighters were deployed to escort them Russian fighter crews approached the aerial targets while respecting security distances and identified them as B-1B bombers, and the US bombers then changed course, moving away from the Russian Federations borders. The bombers had departed Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota for a nonstop flight to Europe. Escorted by Polish, Romanian and Ukrainian fighter jets and refueled by a Turkish tanker, the B-1s flying to the Black Sea also entered Ukrainian airspace. The Black Sea is home to major Russian naval bases including Sevastopol in the Crimea, a majority Russian-speaking region formerly in Ukraine that Russia annexed after the 2014 NATO-backed coup in that country. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Albrecht indicated that the flight was an exercise for plans to destroy the Russian Black Sea fleet with Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM). He said, LRASM plays a critical role in ensuring US naval access to operate in both open-ocean and littoral environments due to its enhanced ability to discriminate between targets from long range. On June 3, two days after Trump deployed troops to the American capital, a lone B-52 was escorted by Norwegian fighter jets in Scandinavia near Russian territory. The flight involved missions over the Arctic Ocean and Laptev Sea and the aircraft conducted training with Luftforsvaret F-16s and F-35s, the NATO Allied Air Command announced on Facebook. This underscores the complicity of Washingtons European NATO allies in the escalating threats against Russia and China. NATO Secretary-General and former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg told the BBC these deployments are about the global approach of NATO, because China is coming closer to us. We see that in the Arctic, we see they are heavily investing in critical infrastructure in Europe, and we see of course China operating in cyberspace. Yesterday, Beijing condemned as provocative the flight of a US C-40A military transport plane over Taiwan, criticizing it for placing into question Washingtons commitment to the unity of China. A spokeswoman for Beijings Taiwan Affairs Office said the flight harms our sovereignty, security and development interests and violates basic principles of international law and international relations. Already on June 5, the US guided missile destroyer USS Russell had transited the Taiwan Straits, leading Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang to ask Washington to avoid damaging China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Washingtons escalating resort to military-police repression against workers at home goes hand-in-hand with a longstanding policy of eliminating all restrictions on its aggression abroad. It aims to scrap the last remaining treaty limit on its nuclear arsenal, to which the Obama administration allocated $1 trillion in 2014-2024. After Washington repudiated the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty in 2001 to build Star Wars systems targeting enemy missiles, Trump scrapped the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty in 2018. Now Washington aims to repudiate the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), originally signed in 1991. While Russia has offered to extend the treaty for five years, Trump has refused to negotiate unless China joins the talks and accept limits to its nuclear arsenal. However, Beijing has refused. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, As is known to all, China's nuclear power is not on the same order of magnitude as that of the United States and Russia Not participating in trilateral talks does not mean China will be absent in the global efforts on nuclear disarmament. It is the United States who has been obstructing these efforts and walking further down the wrong path of being a quitter. Hua said Washington is trying to shift responsibility to others as it scraps arms control treaties. Indeed, the various US conflicts with Russia and China are ever more bound up with moves by the Moscow and Beijing regimes to deter Washington from attacking them, including potentially with nuclear weapons. Thus, the French Institute for Foreign Relations (IFRI) points to the nuclear dimension of conflict over the South China Sea, where China has a key nuclear missile submarine base on Hainan Island. It compares Chinas policy with the Soviet Unions Cold War policy of hiding submarines in the inland Sea of Okhotsk, where they could threaten to launch a counterstrike on the United States if Washington attacked the USSR with nuclear weapons. The IFRI writes, Too vulnerable to allied anti-submarine warfare assets to conduct deterrent patrols outside protected waters, Soviet nuclear missile submarines were confined to the heavily-guarded Sea of Okhotsk, relying on the long range of their ballistic missiles to create an effective nuclear deterrent. Similarly, the construction of military outposts and airfields on the various disputed islands of the South China Sea may be part of a larger effort to build a ring of protection for Chinese nuclear missile submarines to patrol safely. These mounting conflicts and threats of nuclear war constitute a warning to workers in America and internationally. The more opposition mounts in the working class against social inequality and police repression, the more aggressively the imperialist ruling classes turn towards wareven if it has the most catastrophic consequences for humanity. A black bear is headed for wilder surroundings after being relocated Friday from an industrial area in Lehigh County. Upper Macungie Township police responded shortly before 9 a.m. to several reports of the bear spotted in the area of Route 100 and Schantz Road. Officers spotted the bear, which climbed a tree along the fence of the Coca-Cola Lehigh Valley Syrup plant at 7551 Schantz Road, police Lt. Peter Nickischer said. The Pennsylvania Game Commission was also called to respond, and State Game Warden Brad Kreider arrived with a second warden, a tranquilizer gun and a bear trap. After the bear was shot with the dart, the second officer had to climb the tree to give him a nudge. "When they know they're losing control, they'll get themselves situated on a branch," Kreider said. "They don't always fall out." Kreider and four police officers caught the bear in a tarp as he fell. The bear was then tagged in both ears for tracking purposes and had a tooth extracted to determine his age. The bear ended up being a yearling male, estimated to weigh about 108 pounds, Kreider told lehighvalleylive.com. "What you're seeing is the yearlings are getting booted out" by their mothers, which usually occurs in late May and early June, Kreider said. Cubs that develop into yearlings will remain with their mother for about 15 to 16 months before the mother pushes them away as her breeding cycle begins, and which runs into July. That can make bear sightings common this time of year in certain areas, including when dominant males begin chasing females in heat around late June. Pennsylvania black bears are usually very docile and want to avoid conflicts with humans, but they can require help from law enforcement -- especially in urban areas, Kreider said: "We're there just as much for the bear's behalf." Kreider said he would arrange to relocate this bear on Saturday to State Game Lands to the west, probably in Lebanon or Dauphin counties. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. As a deadly pandemic hit the United States, drivers stayed off the roads. Accidents didnt happen. And people skipped urgent medical treatments, fearing that theyd be infected by the novel coronavirus in the hospital. All of that led to a 40% drop in demand the last two weeks of March for the services of Life Link III, an air ambulance service that operates in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Bob Sannerud, CPA, CGMA, Life Link IIIs CFO, knew that the service faced a potential financial crisis in March and going forward. Were a first responder, and if were not there to respond, patients cant get transport to facilities where they need to get treated, he said. Three months later, Life Link III has weathered the first wave of the crisis thanks in large part to $2.7 million in funding from the $659 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which offers forgivable loans to small businesses affected by the pandemic. Demand for the program has been high, with applications submitted by 56% of the respondents to the AICPA Business and Industry Economic Outlook Survey. Eight percent had applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance, according to the second-quarter survey, which showed an unprecedented drop in optimism for the coming 12 months. Many businesses were frustrated by the crush of demand in the $349 billion first round of the program and by restrictions on the funds. Congress pumped $310 billion more into the PPP, but confusion about the programs rules and concerns about the ability of borrowers to earn loan forgiveness contributed to the pace of lending slowing dramatically. Recent adjustments may encourage more businesses to apply. Legislation enacted last week significantly extends the period during which businesses can use the loans for payroll while still qualifying for forgiveness. It also lowered the threshold for how much must be spent on payroll from 75% to 60%. Theres a lot in the news that makes it sound onerous, but ultimately the guidance has only gotten clearer, and the compliance in order to obtain forgiveness has only gotten easier, said Robin Thieme, CPA/CITP, CGMA, the CEO of KBS CFO. Based in Maryland, KBS provides virtual accounting services for small and midsize businesses. Not to create a rush, but I would be shocked if the loan amounts are not soon depleted, she said. KBS and the majority of its clients were successful in obtaining PPP loans, Thieme said. Some applied for $20,000 and others for up to $500,000 the average given to the programs 4.5 million recipients through June 6 is $113,000. Thieme said the money has helped clients maintain payroll levels and, to this point, enabled KBS to grow its staff without increasing fees as the demand from clients surged. Learning on the fly So, what do companies need to succeed with the PPP and other federal programs? Sannerud said his companys remote-work capabilities and a good banking relationship contributed to his PPP success. As the programs applications opened, Sannerud and his accounting manager worked long weekend hours to complete the application before the initial deadline. They could do all that was needed to complete the application from home, thanks to Life Link IIIs virtual capabilities. The companys air bases are spread across hundreds of miles, so it had already built up remote administrative functions. You dont have the luxury of shuffling paper, Sannerud said. The companys banker at Alerus Financial was crucial, too. I provide an MD&A financial analysis to my banker every quarter basically, making sure people are well informed about what were doing, how were doing, so that when things do happen, people arent having to ask 20 questions, Sannerud said. Thieme said that about 95% of her clients applied for PPP assistance and one-third applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loans. All the PPP applicants succeeded. We just acted really fast and were very politely persistent and found people to talk to at the different lending institutions, Thieme said. Getting the loan was only the beginning, though. Finance leaders have also wrestled with changing guidance and recent adjustments to the thresholds. East Coast Warehouse applied for and received a PPP loan of more than $2 million, according to David Harris, CPA, CGMA, the companys CFO. As the outbreak spread near its facility in New Jersey, Harris worried about a repeat of the detrimental effects of Hurricane Sandy. We didnt know when we applied, how bad is it really going to impact us? he said. We could potentially have zero revenue streams. The company was able to spend its loan within the original eight-week period. Harris and his team made constant adjustments to their payroll reporting system to keep up with guidance from the government and the bank. Theyll submit that information as they seek forgiveness of the loan. Were basically building the landing gear as were coming in for a landing. It keeps changing: Weve gone through several different iterations for how we need to prepare it, he said. Weve got a good payroll system and good people. Its helping to get the information we need. The companys costs are largely fixed. So far, East Coast Warehouse has avoided potential cuts to staffing and other variable costs. Navigating ever-changing rules Originally, businesses had to expend the PPP loans over eight weeks to qualify for full forgiveness of the loans. In the final weeks, some of Thiemes clients rushed to complete the spending. Just as the initial loan forgiveness periods expired, the government extended the window to 24 weeks. In retrospect, some of the money that companies rushed to spend on payroll before the eight-week period expired might have been better spent on installing plexiglass barriers and other safety measures for reopening. Still, despite the frustrations, Thieme would encourage organizations with a genuine need to consider the program. The process navigating complex rules in a time of crisis has only deepened her relationships, Thieme said. In the last six weeks, Ive gotten some really heartfelt exchanges, and I think a lot of people have appreciated their accountants lately. Indeed, finance leaders will have much to balance in the months ahead. One-fifth of respondents to the AICPA survey said they had furloughed employees, and 18% said they had laid off employees. The loan helped Life Link III keep all its helicopter bases open without layoffs or furloughs. The company has frozen capital expenditures and discretionary spending, but it had to spend more on personal protective equipment and disposable supplies. That could be the case for months to come. It may be simply that this [loan] brought us through the initial wave, and the next wave could be heavier, Sannerud said. Were certainly breathing a little easier right now, but in some ways, once you catch your breath, you have to ask, Whats going to happen? Reuters Microsoft Corp said on Thursday it would await federal regulation before selling facial recognition technology to police, making it the latest big firm to back away from the business following protests against law enforcement brutality and bias. The announcement came shortly after rival Amazon.com Inc declared it was pausing police use of its Rekognition service for a year and International Business Machines Corp said it no longer offers the software generally. In a statement, Microsoft said it has worked on enacting principles and legislation for the softwares use. We do not sell our facial recognition technology to US police departments today, and until there is a strong national law grounded in human rights, we will not sell this technology to police, the company said. The Washington Post first reported the news. The death of George Floyd, a black man pinned down by a white officer who kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes, prompted worldwide protests against racial inequity. Concerns also arose over whether facial recognition could be used against protesters unfairly. The research found that face analysis was less accurate for people with darker skin tones, adding to activists warnings that false matches could lead to unjust arrests. Matt Cagle, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, said, When even the makers of face recognition refuse to sell this surveillance technology because it is so dangerous, lawmakers can no longer deny the threats to our rights and liberties. Congress has weighed possible regulation for months. (Also read: IBM will stop offering facial recognition software, will oppose tech's use for mass surveillance, racial profiling) Ripple Effect Facial-recognition vendors working with police have included Idemia and DataWorks Plus. One of Amazons early law enforcement customers, the Washington County Sheriffs Office in Oregon, decided to halt its program after the tech companys policy change. This program was an innovation in law enforcement technology worth exploring, but until stronger regulations to govern the ethical use of it are in place, our program has been suspended indefinitely, the office said on Thursday in an internal memo seen by Reuters. It was unclear if others would follow suit. Microsoft and Amazon did not answer a request for comment on whether their bans applied to law enforcement broadly, such as an unnamed prison to which Microsoft had previously said it would provide software. (Also read: Apple, YouTube start $100 million racial equity and justice initiative amid US protest) Militaries and intelligence agencies also use facial recognition, an old tool that has become common in recent years because of newer computer models that detect patterns in faces and objects. But concerns persist over weaknesses with people of color and targeted use against minorities. Microsoft said it was updating how it reviews customers looking to deploy the technology widely. Mike Jude, a director at research firm IDC, said the big companies decisions - at a time of regulatory scrutiny in the United States and Europe - would earn goodwill without sacrificing much business. Is facial recognition a big deal for any of the companies right now? No, he said. It will be smaller players that provide specific solutions to law enforcement that will be put in a bind. Bill Lark, 66, kicked off Tasmanias distilling revolution when he began making whisky in 1992, and eventually sold the business in 2013. Not to be outdone, his daughter, Kristy Booth-Lark, 39, has opened her own distillery. Bill Lark and his daughter Kristy Booth-Lark: "Im lucky Ive grown up with parents who have shown me its okay to do something, to fail and pick yourself up and keep going," says Kristy. Credit:Adam Gibson BILL: When Kristy was 16, she went on a student exchange to Norway for a year. My wife Lyns instructions were, Have fun, learn lots, dont get pregnant! Six months into Kristys exchange, it was Lyn who got pregnant with our youngest, Jack [the couple has three children]. She phoned Kristy to tell her and she said, What? You told me not to get pregnant! Kristy came home six months early to surprise Lyn and help her with the baby. She had left as a strong-willed, petulant child and returned as a beautiful, grown-up young lady, independent and sure of her abilities. When Kristy was growing up, we built a pub with three other families at Ben Lomond [in Tasmanias north-east]. It was the mid-1980s; I worked in my land surveyor practice during the week and wed all go up there every weekend to work on the pub. None of us had any idea what we were doing: wed never even worked in a pub! At one stage we had three weekends off in three years, and wed think, Oh the poor kids. But they had a good time. Its probably where Kristy developed her entrepreneurial streak. Electromagnetic Catapults Break on US Navy's New Ford-Class Carrier During 'Historic' Trials Sputnik News 18:58 GMT 11.06.2020(updated 19:01 GMT 11.06.2020) During a trial voyage earlier this month, the USS Gerald R. Ford's futuristic Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) broke down for five days. The new catapult has come under fire for years for its troubles, and it's just one among many untested high-tech systems incorporated into the new warship. During recent post-delivery test and trials (PDT&T) operations at sea, the USS Ford encountered some major problems with its EMALS catapult system that paralyzed flight ops for days. US and French aircraft carriers use catapults to quickly accelerate fixed-wing aircraft to flying speed, enabling them to take off from the warships' flight decks. Older carriers used a reliable, if clunky, steam catapult system, but with the new Ford-class warships, the Navy introduced a system that uses powerful magnets instead. An F/A-18F Super Hornet attached to the "Black Lions" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 213 launches off USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) flight deck during flight operations June 7, 2020. This EMALS system went down on June 2, while the ship was still in port, and wasn't fixed until June 7, leaving the roughly 80 fighter jets stored in the vast carrier's hangars unable to fly. Despite this, Captain J.J. Cummings, who commands the Ford, called the voyage a "historic underway," according to The Virginian-Pilot. Vital System Goes Down The Ford set sail from Norfolk, Virginia, on June 4 alongside the USS Harry Truman, an older Nimitz-class carrier the Pentagon has repeatedly weighed the question of retiring early instead of submitting it to a mid-life overhaul in the coming years. The Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) transit the Atlantic Ocean June 4, 2020 "The fault appeared in the power handling system, during a manual reset of the system," Capt. Danny Hernandez, a Navy spokesperson at the Pentagon, told Military.com on Thursday. "This section is independent of the high pulsed power section to launch aircraft and is not a safety of flight risk. The Navy is reviewing procedures and any impacts on the system." "Loss of EMALS curtailed flight operations to some extent, but the Strike Group, ship, and air wing team still accomplished significant goals scheduled for the Ford-class aircraft carrier," the Navy noted in a June 7 news release. "The ship's response to these EMALS challenges underscores our ability to identify and to correct issues impacting flight operations quickly. That's the purpose of the PDT&T phase," Rear Adm. Craig Clapperton, the commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, said in the release. "The learning and improvement that results from pushing the systems will make the ship and air wing team better and more effective in future underway events." A 'Spectacular Debacle' The problem-ridden EMALS system has attracted ire all the way to the top, with US President Donald Trump repeatedly railing against it as something "you have to be Albert Einstein" to figure out. In May of last year, as the Ford's commissioning was being held back by a number of malfunctioning systems, Trump pledged that future carriers would return to the older steam catapult system. "Steam's only worked for about 65 years perfectly. And I won't tell you this, because it's before my time by a little bit, but they have a $900 million cost overrun on this crazy electric catapult. They want to show - next, next, next. And we all want innovation, but it's too much," he said during a visit to the Yokosuka naval base in Japan. Aviation Ordnancemen assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) weapons department bring inert training bombs up to the flight deck during flight operations May 30, 2020. The magnetic catapults, however, are just one problematic system on the $13 billion warship. From new weapons elevators that didn't work upon delivery to a propulsion system that repeatedly breaks down, and even toilets that require regular and costly maintenance due to a redesign, the Ford has done more than enough to earn the late Senator John McCain calling it a "spectacular debacle." Even now, just five of the ship's 11 weapons elevators, which lift munitions up to the flight deck from the armory so they can be mounted on aircraft, are working. That's one reason why then-acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said in March that after the recently purchased fourth warship in the class, the USS Doris Miller, the Navy would likely not buy any more Fords. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Supreme Court on Friday called patient care during the Covid-19 pandemic in Delhi "horrendous" and "pathetic", and sought explanation from the NCT government in five days. A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan minced no words in also reproaching the Arvind Kejriwal government for handling of dead bodies in its hospitals, regretting this as a "very sorry state of affairs". The bench, also including Justices Sanjay K Kaul and MR Shah, was hearing a suo motu matter relating to treatment of Covid-19 patients in state-run hospitals and handling of dead bodies when it took a grim view of the situation in the national capital. It cited various media reports on how dead bodies are lying with the patients with nobody to take care of either the living ones or the dead. When Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that showing no respect to a dead body is also an offence under the Indian Penal Code, the bench asked him as well as the Delhi government counsel: "What have you done despite knowing all this?" It added: "Patients are crying in pain and there is nobody to attend to them. One video from LNJP hospital showed how badly the dead bodies are being treated. There is absolutely no respect for the dead bodies too." It regretted that in some cases, families of those deceased aren't even informed about the deaths and last rites also happen with no information to them. "This is a very sorry state of affairs. There is no adherence to the Central government's guidelines either. Hospitals are not giving due care to the dead bodies," the bench recorded in its order. The court dubbed the situation as "horrific" and noted that more than 2,500 beds are vacant in the Delhi government's hospitals because nobody wants to go there. "If this is how patients are treated in your hospitals, why will anybody want to go to your hospital? You have more than 2000 beds vacant this is why," the bench told Delhi government lawyer Chirag M Shroff. It said patients are in a pathetic condition in the hospitals and the Supreme Court is pained at it. The bench also questioned why the Delhi government has reduced the testing capacity while other states are working to ramp it up. "Why has the testing gone down in Delhi while it has increased in other states such as Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu? Do you want artificial figures? Not testing cannot be the solution. Increasing the testing capacity is the duty of every state," said the top court. It then directed the Delhi government to increase the testing capacity and ensure nobody who wants to be tested for Covid-19 is denied the facility. The court then issued a formal notice to the Delhi government, seeking explanations on all three aspects of treatment of patients, handling of dead bodies as well as increasing the testing capacity. Considering the spike in coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, the bench further issued notices to their chief secretaries with a direction to bring on record relevant statistics on patient management system, number of patients, availability of beds, doctors etc. The court sought a response from the central government as well on these issues. The matter will be heard next on Wednesday. Wedding bells are ringing for Agnes Saumu Mbuvi and the love of her life, Lamu Senator Anwar Loitiptip. This after the lovebirds set a date for their big day. The Nairobi governors daughter broke the news on social media, captioning a photo of herself and the senator: Wedding date confirmed. However, the mother of two did not disclose the date of her special day when Loitiptip will make an honest woman out of her. The two have been dating since 2019 after they met in Mombasa, where Saumu had gone on holiday while Anwar was there for work. Their love affair, although plagued with allegations that Anwar abandoned his other baby mama after she got pregnant, saw the pair welcome a baby girl in March of this year. Read: Septic Tank Era of Women! Saumu Mbuvi Sensationally Defends her Senator Fiance against Baby Mama Before Anwar, Saumu was in two highly publicised relationships which she termed as toxic and abusive. One of the men was Ben Gatu, the father of her firstborn daughter, whom Saumu said was abusive. Also Read: Toxic Relationship With Baby Daddy Left Me on Depression Pills, Sonkos Daughter Saumu STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Low enrollment in New York Catholic schools could lead to more closures in the coming school year. On Friday, Cardinal Timothy Dolan wrote a letter to the Archdiocese of New York in which he outlines the dire financial straits many affiliated institutions face as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the archdiocese had to support many of our parishes, schools, and other institutions that were unable to make it on their own. For instance, the archdiocese shares $10 million per year with struggling parishes, while our schools receive $40 million in annual subsidies in order to keep their doors open, Cardinal Dolan wrote. Since February, loss of income as a result of the coronavirus has left many students families unable to pay their tuitions, an issue that could persist well into next school year. Families inability to pay for schooling has left enrollment dangerously low at many Catholic schools, raising concerns that closures may be required due to financial constraints. Many of our schools have very few students registered for this September, as struggling families are unable to afford tuition, even with our scholarships, and we may be looking at a significant number of school closures, something we work very hard to avoid, Cardinal Dolan continued. The Archdiocese says it does not yet have a list of schools that may be in jeopardy of closing, but it will continue to monitor enrollment numbers throughout the summer. We will be continuing to closely review and assess the situation, particularly the number of students that enroll for next year at each school, before any decisions are made, said Archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling. CATHOLIC SCHOOL CLOSURES ON STATEN ISLAND Staten Island is no stranger to Catholic school closures, with over a dozen either closing their doors for good or merging with other schools over the past two decades. Of 25 parish-affiliated Catholic elementary schools on Staten Island in 2004, only 12 will remain in their exact same incarnation by fall 2020, not closing, merging with, or absorbing another school, according to an analysis by SILive.com. Seven have closed outright, and six others have merged or will be merging to form schools with a new identity. These numbers do not include the 2018 closure of St. John Villa Academy elementary and high school, which was one of four Catholic academies not affiliated with a church, or the 2011 closing of St. Peters Girls High School. A string of Staten Island Catholic schools closed in 2011, including: St. Marys School in Rosebank; St. Rochs School in Port Richmond; St. Sylvesters School in Concord; St. Margaret Marys School in Midland Beach, and St. Peters Girls High School in New Brighton. St. Peter-St. Paul Elementary School in New Brighton was created in 2011 by merging St. Peters Elementary with the former St. Paul School, which closed several years prior. In 2013, St. Josephs School in Rosebank and Immaculate Conception School in Stapleton closed its doors for good. Last year, Our Lady Help of Christians in Tottenville was one of seven Catholic schools across the Archdiocese that closed at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. The Archdiocese cited the buildings were underutilized or in need of significant repairs. It was recently announced that the Our Lady Help of Christians building will be converted into the Staten Island Preparatory School for school-age and preschool students with autism and other disabilities for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. In February of this year, the Archdiocese announced that four Catholic elementary schools on Staten Island will merge to form two separate academies beginning in the 2020-2021 academic year. St. Rita School in Meiers Corners will merge with St. Teresa School in Castleton Corners, forming the St. Teresa-St. Rita STREAM Academy, the Archdiocese said, while St. Adalberts School in Elm Park will merge with Holy Rosary School in South Beach to become the Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy. The new academies will operate out of the school buildings in Castleton Corners and South Beach, respectively. - Citycon signs agreements with Bergen municipality for a new health center, and with Veidekke for construction of the next development phase of Oasen Center in Bergen, Norway. HELSINKI, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Citycon has given the contractor Veidekke the assignment to complete the next phase in the development of Oasen Center in Bergen. Over 6,000 square meters of office space will be converted into premises for a new health center, F&B and daily shopping. "Citycon's assets are located in the heart of the community, in some of the city's most dynamic and popular areas. As developers, we can provide high-quality public spaces and meet the growing demand for housing and office space in attractive urban areas. Our vision is to create inclusive new neighborhoods with great amenities, better public areas and job opportunities, places that meet the needs of residents and businesses today", says Fredrik S. Myhre, Development Director at Citycon. At the same time as the county is establishing a new stop on the Bergen light rail line and a new, extended bus terminal at Oasen Center, Citycon will develop Oasen into a more modern and connected center with retail, health services, offices and residentials. Veidekke will convert existing office space into public-oriented services in the first phase of the development project, which also includes more food & beverage units and a new main entrance from the west. "We chose Veidekke as a partner in the first phase of the project because they have the necessary expertise and experience to execute the construction within a fully operational center, which is very important to us. We look forward to a good collaboration on the further development of Oasen", says Myhre. The project will start up in July 2020, with planned completion in the spring of 2021. "We have worked on similar projects before, and we are looking forward to getting underway. Developing good premises, with different functions for different users is always exciting. We will do what we can to turn Oasen into a great place to be for both those who work and shop there, and for those who seek out the various other services available at the center", says Erlend Bygnes, District Manager at Veidekke Bygg Bergen. Bergen municipality becomes the largest tenant in the redeveloped area at Oasen. Citycon and Bergen municipality have signed an agreement for 4,650 square meters for a new health center, to be called 'The Family House'. The health center will consist of services to assist children and families through a maternal and child health center, a separate youth health center, school health services, child and family assistance, as well as an ergotherapist and physiotherapist. "We are very pleased to have signed an agreement with Bergen municipality that secures more health services at Oasen. This is in line with Citycon's ambition to develop diversified and mixed-use centers", says Myhre. "The new light rail stop and bus terminal will make Oasen more accessible than ever, and it is important for the municipality to find locations where we can interact with the local community in a positive way. The space we have now leased is well suited to meet the municipality's needs", says Christian Fossdal, Bergen City Council's Director of Municipal Real Estate. For further information, please contact: Fredrik S. Myhre Development Director at Citycon Mobile +47-995-85-385 fredrik.myhre@citycon.com Citycon is a leading owner, developer and manager of urban grocery-anchored shopping centres in the Nordic countries. The total value of the property portfolio managed by Citycon is approximately EUR 4.4 billion. Citycon is the leading shopping centre owner in Finland and among the market leaders in Norway, Sweden and Estonia. Citycon has also established a foothold in Denmark. www.citycon.com CONTACT: Daniel Sellevoll Communications Manager at Citycon Mobile +47-959-71-597 daniel.sellevoll@citycon.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/citycon-oyj/r/new-agreements-signal-construction-start-up-for-the-next-development-phase-of-oasen-center-in-norway,c3133227 The following files are available for download: Ormesby church to get new minister Rev Elizabeth Stoner has accepted the call to become minister at Light of Life Baptist Church in Ormesby St Margaret, and hopes to start by the autumn. Elizabeth and her husband Kevin will be moving up from Essex, where she has been assistant pastor at Shoeburyness and Thorpe Bay Baptist Church. Kevin is a teacher and will be taking up a post at a school in Norwich. They have three grown-up children. They hope to move up to East Norfolk later in the summer, but this will depend on the coronavirus situation. The congregation and leaders at Light of Life Church are very excited about Elizabeth joining them as they have been without a minister for several years, and she is looking forward to getting to know everyone and becoming fully involved in the church and local community. Jenny Nicholson, from Light of Life Church, said Please pray for Elizabeth and Kevin as they embark on this significant move and for Light of Life Church as we prepare to welcome them. Light of Life Baptist Church made the news in September 2015 when they turned their building into The Chapel Coffee House community cafe. This followed a period when the premises received a complete makeover, with new furniture and equipment, and a team of volunteers led by a cafe coordinator. Consequently, the Sunday services now usually take place, in normal times, at All Saints Parish Hall in nearby Scratby. Visit: https://www.lightoflife.org.uk/ This story is based on an article on Network Yarmouth . Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in East Norfolk? If so, e-mail tony.rothe@networknorwich.co.uk with details and, if possible a suitable picture. Tony Rothe, 12/06/2020 The Louisville, Ky., metro council has unanimously passed an ordinance banning no-knock search warrants after the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor. Taylor was shot after police entered her apartment on a no-knock warrant on March 13 as part of a narcotics investigation. Kenneth Walker, Taylors boyfriend, has stated that he did not hear the police identify themselves, and he believed the officers were intruders. Walker used his licensed handgun to defend against what he thought was a home invasion, which led to Taylors death in the ensuing firefight. Officers found no drugs in the apartment. I plan to sign Breonnaas Law as soon as it hits my desk, Mayor Greg Fischer wrote on Twitter. I suspended use of these warrants indefinitely last month, and wholeheartedly agree with Council that the risk to residents and officers with this kind of search outweigh any benefit. Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, told the council before the vote that all Breonna wanted to do was save lives . . . so its important this law passes, because with that, shell get to continue to do that, even in her death. Taylor worked as an emergency medical technician. A similar law was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Thursday by Senator Rand Paul (R., Ky.). After talking with Breonna Taylors family, Ive come to the conclusion that its long past time to get rid of no-knock warrants, Paul said in a statement. This bill will effectively end no-knock raids in the United States. Taylors shooting gained fresh attention after the death of George Floyd, an African-American man who was killed during his arrest by Minneapolis police officers. Massive demonstrations against racism and police brutality have erupted across the country, some of which have led to rioting and looting in major cities. More from National Review WASHINGTON (JTA) - Israel's announcement last week that an Israeli consortium would build Sorek 2, the world's largest desalination plant, surprised many who had been watching the deal: The contract had been expected to go to a Hong Kong-based company. But that was before the Trump administration ramped up pressure on Israel to diminish its ties to China. For years, Israel has been working to dramatically expand trade with China, one of the world's largest markets. That push is suddenly running up against strong opposition from the White House, as the Trump administration pivots from the de... The Levitis family (from left): Dan, Tigerlily, Kestrel, Iris and Peregrine, plus Umberto the cat. Read more When Dan Levitis, his wife, Iris, and their three young children trooped into a Madison, Wis., urgent care clinic about 8 a.m. on New Years Day 2018, the staff didnt seem surprised to see them. The family had sought treatment several times in the previous months for recurrent strep throat infections. The first case occurred in late October 2017. Levitis, an evolutionary biologist who at the time was an associate scientist at the University of Wisconsin, was in Massachusetts on a research trip when his wife called to tell him that she and all three of their kids Tigerlily, then 6, Kestrel, who was 3, and 14-month-old Peregrine had tested positive for strep and were taking antibiotics. Levitis, who had been battling a sore throat since leaving Madison several days earlier, called his doctor and was given a prescription for an antibiotic. Because the rest of his family was infected, he, too, was presumed to have strep. After a round of antibiotics, everyone seemed to recover. But five weeks later, his daughters complained of sore throats. This time, the entire family was tested. Throat cultures revealed that all five had strep. Within a few days, the infection seemed to have cleared. But success was short-lived; the New Years Day visit occurred three weeks later. This time, the doctor prescribed a different antibiotic. Levitis said he and his wife were reminded of the need to finish the full course of antibiotics and of sanitation measures they had been following, including replacing the toothbrushes they had been using. But two weeks later, on Jan. 16, Kestrel and Tigerlily had strep again. And at the end of January, all three kids tested positive. We were so done with this and painfully aware that something was wrong, Levitis recalled. Nobody at school or day care was getting strep, he said, so he suspected that something in their house was the source. Levitis called his mother, a retired pediatrician who had practiced in suburban Maryland, for advice. She told him about a family she had seen who kept getting strep until they got rid of their pet cat. Four months before the first outbreak, the family had adopted Umberto, a 3-year-old gray cat, from a nearby family. Levitis said his wife asked their doctors about the possibility that cats could be vectors of strep, while he queried his cousin, a veterinarian. They all pretty much said the same thing: Theres no evidence that cats can transmit strep to humans, but if you want to be safe, get rid of the cat, Levitis recalled. That seemed unthinkable; they all adored Umberto. Hes so loving and patient with our kids and such a wonderful pet, Levitis said. And we didnt know for sure that he was the culprit. Solution Although there are diseases that cats can transmit to people including toxoplasmosis, cat scratch disease and ringworm Streptococcus A, the bacteria that causes strep throat, is not believed to be among them. Iris Levitis asked their vet whether she could test Umberto for strep in case he was a conduit. The vet refused: Umberto seemed healthy and there was no reason to swab the throat of a healthy cat, which would require hooking him up to oxygen and administering general anesthesia. As a scientist, Levitis said he was frustrated that no one seemed willing to consider the possibility that in rare cases a cat might harbor strep that could be transmitted to humans. A few published reports had suggested such a scenario. The Levitises called a few other veterinary practices to see whether theyd test Umberto; all said no. In early March, 3-year-old Kestrel got strep throat along with respiratory syncytial virus, which led to pneumonia, resulting in a two-day hospitalization. After she got home, Iris had the brilliant idea of calling the university animal hospital and trying to talk to an expert there, Levitis recalled. Maybe, the couple thought, an academic center would be more receptive to the cat hypothesis than community vets had been. She wound up talking to Caitlin Barry-Heffernan, a fourth-year veterinary internal medicine resident. Then she handed the phone to her husband for his pitch. I talked about it as a research case, Levitis said, not a guy who got strep throat from his cat. We were all kind of skeptical, recalled Barry-Heffernan, who now practices in Southfield, Mich., outside Detroit. It is uncommon, she said, for cats to carry strep A, because the bacteria doesnt like to live on animals. But she was intrigued by the possibility and persuaded by Levitis. On April 4, while the entire family was taking antibiotics for the seventh bout of strep in as many months, Umberto was seen by Barry-Heffernan and a vet student. They whisked Umberto, who Barry-Heffernan said seemed perfectly healthy, into a nearby room and quickly swabbed his throat. Neither anesthesia nor oxygen was required. Umberto was a really nice cat, she recalled, so the procedure wasnt difficult. To the surprise of the vet school faculty, group A strep was found in the cats throat; it appeared to match the strain of strep collected during Levitis most recent throat culture. Almost certainly Umberto was contributing to the familys infections, Barry-Heffernan said. She prescribed antibiotics for the cat and a disinfectant spray for his fur. And the Levitises were given another round of antibiotics. Soon afterward, they left on a previously scheduled two-week trip to Costa Rica. In their absence, Umberto was given his medication, and the house was professionally cleaned for a second time. Since then, Levitis said, no one has had strep. Once we identified Umberto as a carrier, it was really easy to address, Barry-Heffernan said. It seems likely that the infection was being passed among the asymptomatic cat and various members of the family; it probably originated in a human. (Similarly, the small number of cats and dogs known to have tested positive for the coronavirus are believed to have been infected by people; there is no evidence that animals can transmit the virus to humans.) Barry-Heffernan said she hopes that the Levitises unusual case doesnt cause people to get rid of their pets. It was very easily treated, she noted. Levitis, who now lives in Northern California with his family and Umberto said he is convinced that treating the cat eradicated the infection that had bedeviled his family. We got lucky, he said, because Caitlin had an open mind. (Natural News) John Guandolo, a former FBI special agent and author, recently spoke to Dave Hodges of The Common Sense Show to talk about who is really behind the violent riots we are seeing all across America and what he believes could be in store for the nation. Guandolo is a Naval Academy graduate and combat veteran who served in the Marine Corps. He now advises governments on national security matters, particularly the threats posed by the Global Islamic Movement, and he wrote the book Raising the Jihadi Generation: Understanding the Muslim Brotherhood Movement in America. In the interview, he told Hodges that he believes the U.S. is currently under attack by a partnership that has been formed between the Muslim Brotherhood and the Communist Party. When people see the violence in our streets, he says a lot of them think its justified. However, the reasons we are being given for the violence are lies and the perpetrators are not civil rights groups; instead, theyre Antifa and terrorist organizations. In fact, he said these are not peaceful protests that have been hijacked; since the beginning, they were violent communist riots aimed at causing insurrection in America to serve their aims. He called it a violent revolution against the United States, saying: And they have been very clear on their websites that their purpose is to bring down the constitutional republic and replace it with a communist socialist government. That means that activities that serve that purpose are part of a criminal conspiracy to overthrow the government. Its sedition and its treason. He said that people think Black Lives Matters is a mildly left-wing group that wants equal rights. Thats just not true. Its a hostile communist anti-American organization that seeks to overthrow the government, and it needs to be treated like that and its leaders need to be treated like that. When asked directly if what we are seeing is a marriage between U.S. communist interests and Muslim brotherhood terrorist interests, he said yes. He also talked about the Communist and Marxist connections of the founders of Black Lives Matters. For example, co-founder Opal Tometi can be seen in photos circulating online smiling and hugging Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro in 2015 a man who has made no secret of the fact that he wants to cause revolution in the U.S. In fact, Breitbart reports that some observers have said the violent riots spreading throughout America right now look suspiciously like the violence that erupted across Latin America in 2019. In Chile, leftists burned down churches, destroyed subway stations in Santiago, and terrorized residential areas all supposedly over a proposed hike in the subway fare and other economic concerns. The protests, like those in the U.S., started out relatively peaceful, but violent elements soon took over and spread destruction. And just like in America, many of the locals reported that the most violent acts were carried out by foreign actors, with many of those arrested in Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador tied to the communist and socialist regimes of Cuba and Venezuela. Antifa has powerful supporters Guandolo also mentioned that Antifa has been going overseas to get support, with some members meeting with Al Qaeda and ISIS operatives in Germany to discuss obtaining weapons such as chemical weapons and bombs. Investigative journalists who have infiltrated Antifa report that they seem incredibly well-organized and funded, and their tactics indicate they are being advised by highly experienced professionals. Dave Hodges called the interview, which can be heard here, one of the most revealing and important interviews in the history of his show. Sources for this article include: TheCommonSenseShow.com Breitbart.com WashingtonExaminer.com Last week at my accountants office, Tom asked me about chick flicks that his girlfriend would enjoy, which got me thinking about romantic movies and which ones were the best. I thought I would list my five favorite romance movies and review them. When I couldnt narrow the list, I expanded it to 10. As I gave it more thought and shared it with my sister, the list grew even longer. I couldnt figure out which is my favorite. An Affair to Remember, starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, is about two people who meet on board a ship sailing from Europe to New York. They fall in love, but both are engaged to others. They plan to meet in six months at the top of the Empire State Building, but the course of true love never runs smooth. This movie is referenced in Sleepless in Seattle. In my book, An Affair to Remember ties with Casablanca. Casablanca is a World War II flick with Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid. There are so many wonderful lines in this movie. Bogarts character owns a gin joint in Morocco during the war when his love from Paris walks in with her husband. It is the classic love story. Heres looking at you kid. Every St. Patricks Day, you can catch The Quiet Man. Personally, I think this is the best John Wayne/Maureen OHara movie of the many they made together. He is an American boxer who killed a man in the ring. He goes to his family home in Ireland to get away from the publicity. He meets and falls in love with Maureens character, but her brother has other ideas. I love a British accent and Ronald Colman has the sexiest. He can whisper in my ear any time he wants. Instead he whispers in Greer Garsons ear in Random Harvest. Colman plays a soldier in World War I who suffers from amnesia. When he runs away from the hospital, he meets and falls in love with Garsons character. He then has an accident and remembers who he is, but doesnt remember the time he was with Garson. Will the star-crossed lovers ever find each other? Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand are an amazing couple in The Way We Were. They meet in college. She is a Jewish Communist and he is a rich WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) whose lives seem to crisscross from their thirties to their fifties. If you want to clear your sinuses, watch Love is a Many-Splendored Thing with William Holden and Jennifer Jones. After you bawl your eyes out, no more sinus problems. Holden plays an American newspaper man in Hong Kong covering the Chinese civil war. Jennifer Jones is a Eurasian doctor. Of course, they fall in love and trouble ensues. Other greats are Roman Holiday, Same Time, Next Year, Pretty Woman, Beauty and the Beast, Crazy Rich Asians, My Favorite Wife, Sleepless in Seattle, Notting Hill, The Notebook, When Harry Met Sally and Youve Got Mail, just to name a few. These can all be found on TCM, Netflix and Amazon Prime. If I have left out your favorite, email me at mary.cox@edwpub.net and let me know. Movie critic Mary Cox lives in Wood River and studied film at the University of California, Los Angeles. She has worked in L.A. with various directors and industry professionals. Contact Mary at mary.cox@edwpub.net. The Ghana Railway Company Ltd. (GRCL) has refuted claims that the Accra-Nsawam railway line is new construction by the Akufo-Addo government. According to the company, the project that was carried out on the narrow-gauge line from Accra to Nsawam was a rehabilitation of the rail line. The company seeks to make the clarifications to settle the issue on whether or not the government has reconstructed the rail line. In a statement copied to Peacefmonline.com, the company noted that the Accra to Nsawam railway forms part of the Eastern railway line and was started in the year 1910 and completed in 1912. ''The line had since not undergone any major repair works until the recent rehabilitation project which started in May 2018. It is on record that in time past all such intervention (rehabilitation) had been carried out by Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) workers, with the recent one being track rehabilitation project that was undertaken by GRCL, between Achimota and Asaprochona from the year 2006 to 2010 after which the line was commissioned for train operation to start. ''Due to the successful implementation of the track rehabilitation between Achimota and Asaprochona by GRCL workers, the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) awarded a contract to GRCL to undertake track rehabilitation works from Accra to Nsawam and Kojokrom to Nsuta. This afforded GRCL the opportunity to employ over 500 workers to enable the early completion of the project. 15 railway engineers were directly involved in the rehabilitation after they had undergone training in China and South Africa.'' Project Background The Accra-Nsawam railway line, which stretches a distance of about 40km, is part of the Eastern Railway Line. It has been used purposely for passenger rail services for the past ten (10) years providing transport services. In July 2017, it became necessary that the railway line from Accra to Nsawam be examined due to its deteriorating state which had made it unsafe for commuters. The Ministry of Railway Development constituted a team of experts to examine the state of the rail line and rolling stock. A decision was made by the Ministry, after reading the findings by the experts, to close the Accra-Nsawam line to allow for complete track rehabilitation. Rehabilitation Plan and Timelines Preliminary works, which included clearing of weeds, removal of worn-out rails, and ballast opening, commenced in October 2017. After obtaining all the procurement approvals, actual work was scheduled to commence on Monday, May 21, 2018, but delayed till early July 2018. On Tuesday, January 1, 2019, a locomotive was cleared to successfully travel on the railway line from Accra to Nsawam. But, during the maiden trial, the engineers discovered portions of the track formation bed between Amasaman and Kotoku had been compromised as a result of illegal sand winning activities and also encroachers along the Pokuase section had their wastewater channeled onto the railway line. To safeguard the passengers using the railway line, a detailed track rehabilitation and ancillary works were undertaken. The project was finally completed in November 2019 and joint inspection of the rail line was conducted by the GRCL and the Ghana Railway Development Authority to determine the suitability of the track for operations. This was followed by a free passenger service during the 2019 yuletide. GRCL Railway Statement Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Court Says Dicamba Is Unlawful, Trump EPA Flouts Ruling Last week the Center and allies won an enormous victory over poisons in our environment. A federal court ruled that the Trump administration was wrong to approve Monsanto's notoriously drift-prone pesticide dicamba for use on genetically engineered soy and cotton. The ruling makes its sale and use illegal. The court said dicamba has caused "unprecedented damage" in the past few years, which has "torn apart the social fabric of many farming communities." Dicamba drifts where it isn't supposed to go, killing millions of acres of soybeans as well as vegetables, fruit trees, gardens and residential trees. But Trump's EPA chief, Andrew Wheeler, promptly issued an order that allows continued use of the pesticide through July 31 most of the summer growing season. "Trump's EPA is blatantly, shamelessly refusing to enforce the law," said Lori Ann Burd, the Center's environmental health director. "It's dictatorial and destructive, and it'll hurt a lot of farmers and a lot of wildlife. We won't let it stand." Read more at the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi discussed in a phone call Friday with France's Emmanuel Macron the latest developments in Libya, including Egypts initiative to end the crisis in the neighboring North African country, the Egyptian presidency said. Sisi briefed his French counterpart on the ongoing Egyptian efforts to reach a political settlement to the crisis in Libya in light of the "Cairo Declaration," presidency spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement. Egypt's proposal, which it made last week, called for a ceasefire that would pave the way for electing a leadership council for Libya. The initiative also called for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Libya. Several powers welcomed the proposal, including the United States, Russia, UAE and Saudi Arabia. Macron also welcomed the Cairo Declaration, highlighting its importance in prioritizing a political solution and heaping praise on Egypt's efforts to restore peace in Libya. According to Rady, the two presidents agreed to continue their joint coordination to put the provisions of the Cairo Declaration into effect, including supporting the Libyan National Army (LNA) in fighting terrorism and armed groups. The Cairo plan came after the recent collapse of an offensive launched by LNA commander Khalifa Haftar in April 2019 to capture Libyan capital Tripoli, further extending the Government of National Accords (GNA) control of most of northwest Libya. Sisi and Macron also discussed developing joint cooperation in various fields and enhancing the "distinct relations" between both countries, Rady added. Search Keywords: Short link: Wales has unveiled its roadmap for the countrys exit from lockdown, using a traffic light system to define which areas of public life will gradually be eased back into normality as the UK starts to attempt releasing itself from the grip of the coronavirus crisis. The plan is part of a cautious, coherent approach to easing the lockdown and marks a firmer divide from the approach for England outlined by the prime minister last Sunday. Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, said people in Wales will have to stick to lockdown advice to Stay Home, Protect our NHS and Save Lives for at least the next two weeks before the government starts to move into the next phase of the roadmap. The phased approach has three zones. The red zone will not be very different to lockdown but it will be a cautious first step, the first minister told Sky News on Friday, as he explained the exit plan will not be given a time frame for when the country could expect to see any changes. Under lockdown, schools will remain closed except for vulnerable children and children of key workers, and members of the public are to work from home if possible and not to leave their homes except for essentials. When Wales moves into the red zone, local travel will be allowed, including for click-and-collect retail, and people will be allowed to provide or receive care and support to or from one family member or friend outside of their own household. The amber zone involves priority groups of pupils being allowed to return to school in stages, and people can travel for leisure with small groups of family or friends for exercise. Non-essential retail and services will be allowed to resume, and the government aims to get more people travelling to work by this stage. The final green zone will allow all children and students to go back to school and access education. Unrestricted travel will be allowed, but will be subject to ongoing precautions, and all sports, leisure and cultural activities with friends will be permitted as long as people undertake physical distancing. However, decisions on moving the country into the different phases of the roadmap will need to be made on prioritisation. It is quite possible that Wales will be on red for one type of activities, amber for another and still in lockdown for a third, said the government release. Mr Drakeford said: Over the last eight weeks, we have seen an incredible effort, from all parts of our society, to respond to the unprecedented challenge to our way of life posed by the Covid-19 virus. As a result, we, like countries across the world, are able to think about how we can move out of lockdown. But it is essential that we recognise this is not a short-term crisis. Until there is a vaccine or effective treatment, we will have to live with the disease in our society and to try to control its spread and mitigate its effects. The challenges we face are shared with all parts of the United Kingdom. For that reason, we have always supported a four-nation approach to the lifting of the lockdown. But this has to respect the responsibilities of each government to determine the speed at which it is safe to move and the balance to be struck between different forms of easement how to prioritise between allowing people to meet up with close family, to go shopping or to the hairdresser, to get back to work or visit the seaside, he added. The Welsh governments roadmap comes as Boris Johnsons official spokesman confirmed some elements of the lockdown could be eased at different rates in different parts of the UK. The Recovery Strategy document, which was released by the government on Monday, states the authorities would be responsive to emerging data on local infection rates when implementing the exit plan. Mr Johnsons spokesman said: It could lead to some of the measures being eased at different rates in different parts of the country. At the same time, it could lead to some measures being re-imposed in some parts of the country and not in others. Michael Flynn, former U.S. national security adviser, exits federal court in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, June 24, 2019. A lawyer for former national security advisor Michael Flynn on Friday called his prosecution a "travesty of justice," but a federal appeals court appeared skeptical of her request that it force a lower court judge to dismiss the case. Sidney Powell, Flynn' lawyer, told the appeals court that the case's judge does not have the power to avoid granting the dismissal, as the Justice Department has asked him to do despite Flynn pleading guilty to lying to FBI agents about his conversations with a Russian diplomat before President Donald Trump was inaugurated. Powell also said U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan lacks authority to ask an outside lawyer to make legal arguments against that request, as the judge has done. "It cannot go on any longer," Powell told a three-judge panel at the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. "There is nothing further for the court to do," she added, during a hearing that lasted nearly two hours, and was conducted over remote audio links due the coronavirus pandemic. "It's a travesty of justice that this man has been dragged through" a three-year court ordeal on a case that was "absolutely concocted," Powell said of Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general who briefly served as Trump's first national security advisor. But members of the appellate panel appeared skeptical that they should intervene in the case now, as Powell has asked, before Sullivan has actually ruled on the dismissal request. The appellate judge also questioned the idea that a federal judge does not have the power to either conduct an independent inquiry of prosecutors' decision to drop a case, or to deny such a request. One judge on the appeals panel asked several times why the appellate court could not just wait for Sullivan to rule on the dismissal request, and then review the case, if needed. Sullivan has already proposed a hearing schedule for Flynn and the DOJ to argue their points. Powell said that if the appeals court allowed Sullivan to conduct hearings in federal district court in Washington on the dismissal motion, "We would simply be delaying the inevitable." She cited the already high legal costs for Flynn in fighting the case. The Justice Department, in a bombshell and highly unusual motion, last month asked Sullivan to toss out the case, arguing that a review of the investigation found that Flynn should not have been questioned by the FBI or charged with lying to federal agents. The department also said that potentially exculpatory evidence had been withheld from Flynn's lawyers. Sullivan, who had been on track to sentencing Flynn, so far has not granted the Justice Department's request. Instead, he appointed a former federal judge, the attorney John Gleeson, to make legal arguments for why the dismissal should not be granted. Gleeson also was tasked with addressing the question of whether to hold Flynn in criminal contempt of court for having twice admitted under oath to criminal conduct that he now claims he did not commit. Statues of slave traders, imperialists, and explorers have been facing the angst of protesters demonstrating against racial discrimination across the world in the wake of George Floyds death. Protesters around the globe have made it clear that they wont tolerate the glorification of historic figures with murky past, be it Italian explorer Christopher Columbus or former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Columbus, who discovered the Americas in 1492, apparently brought racism along and launched trans-Atlantic slave trade. Native Americans, who welcomed Columbus with open arms, had to face exploitation and centuries of genocide. Columbus statues in Richmond, Minnesota and Boston were toppled or vandalized and even decapitated. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who himself is an Italian American, said that he understands the feelings of people about Columbus and some of his acts but the statue has come to represent and signify appreciation for the Italian American contribution to New York. Churchill - Villain of Bengal Famine Churchill has been a hero for Britain who led the country to victory during World War II, helping end the fascist regime of Adolf Hitler. However, Churchill is also held responsible for millions of deaths during the Bengal Famine of 1943 when decided to stockpile the food resources for the UKs war efforts. The statue of former Prime Minister at London's Parliament Square was defaced with "Churchill" crossed out with black colour and was a racist written beneath it. Read: Jerry Richardson Statue Removed By Carolina Panthers After 2017 Controversy Resurfaces A petition on change.org to remove the statue of Rober Clive from the main square of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, has been initiated. The petition says that Clive played a central role in seizing control of a large swathe of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and other parts of Southeast Asia. His actions resulted in the theft of Indian treasures and also in famines caused by policies disastrous to local Indian farm production, reads the petition. While this statue is not anti-black racism, it goes some way to illustrate how embedded racism is in the UK, it adds. Read: Not Set In Stone: Statues Fall As Europe Reexamines Its Past The United States said Thursday it would reduce troops in Iraq in the coming months as friction between the two countries eased under a new US-friendly premier in Baghdad. The United States also promised support to prop up the struggling Iraqi economy as the two nations held their first strategic dialogue in more than a decade. Tensions skyrocketed following a US strike on Baghdad in January that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, with lawmakers in Baghdad demanding the expulsion of the roughly 5,200 US troops in the country. President Donald Trump responded by threatening crippling sanctions and, according to US military sources, Washington began planning a vast bombing spree against groups blamed for the rockets. In a joint statement, the United States said that the reason for its military's return to Iraq in 2014 -- defeating extremists from the Islamic State group -- had made major headway. "The two countries recognized that in light of significant progress towards eliminating the ISIS threat, over the coming months the US would continue reducing forces from Iraq," a joint statement said. "The United States reiterated that it does not seek nor request permanent bases or a permanent military presence in Iraq." The coalition has already consolidated to just three bases in recent months, down from a dozen. The joint statement, hashed out ahead of time, did not give figures and Thursday's dialogue was brief, with David Schenker, the top US diplomat for the Middle East, telling reporters the delegations did not discuss a timeline for reducing troops. Due to coronavirus travel restrictions, top-level talks expected to take place in Baghdad were demoted to a brief online kick-off session. - New PM changes tone - Tensions have calmed substantially since Mustafa Kadhemi -- an ex-spy chief with close ties to the US and its allies in the region -- took the reins as Iraq's premier in May. Two Iraqi officials said Kadhemi has been invited to the White House this year, a diplomatic olive branch his predecessor Adel Abdel Mahdi had never received. "There was a lack of confidence in the relationship with the previous government," one of the officials said. Iraq in the joint statement promised to protect US bases that have seen a barrage of rocket fire blamed on paramilitary groups tied to Iran, a top adversary for the Trump administration. The United States said it would look to encourage investment and promote economic reform in Iraq, which was rocked last year by major protests against unemployment and corruption. "We will support the new government through the international financial institutions to help it meet the challenge of COVID-19 and declining oil revenues," Schenker said. Iraq's economy relies almost exclusively on oil exports, with faltering prices and low demand drastically shrinking the government's ability to pay wages, pensions and welfare to eight million Iraqis. After Kadhemi took charge, the United States extended a waiver from American sanctions to let Iraq keep importing needed gas from Iran, although the exemption runs out in September. "The entire US-Iraq bilateral relationship will not be fixed in a single day," said Robert Ford, an analyst at the Middle East Institute and a US diplomat in Baghdad during the last round of strategic talks in 2008, which ironed out the US drawdown from the occupation that began after the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. "But for once, we seem to have the right people in the right place at the right time," he said. - Eyes on troop future - A dramatic or sudden drop could hamper the coalition's efforts to back an Iraqi fightback against IS sleeper cells, which have escalated attacks in recent weeks. "Whatever comes out of the dialogue is going to set the future of our strategic relationship," a top American official from the coalition told AFP. "Am I still going to fly surveillance drones or not? Do you still want our intelligence?" he added. Other coalition countries are watching closely. "The ability of non-US members of the coalition to be in Iraq depends on whether the US can stay. We're tied down by this dialogue, too," a Western diplomat told AFP. The spokesman for the pro-Iran Fatah bloc, Ahmad al-Assadi, has insisted on a six-month deadline for foreign troops' departure. On Monday and Wednesday, two rockets hit near Baghdad airport and the American embassy, after weeks of calm. But the rhetoric was more tempered than usual, with even the hardline Kataeb Hezbollah saying it would take a formal stance on the talks only after the first session. "These groups are retrenching, which gives Kadhemi some space with the Americans," Ford said. US troops were deployed in Iraq from 2014 to head a military coalition fighting the Islamic State jihadist group The US-led coalition has already consolidated to just three bases in Iraq in recent months, down from a dozen, and the talks would likely bring a further drawdown The killing of Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis --alongside top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani -- in January by a US drone strike brought Washington and Tehran to the brink of war, and triggered a storm of protest in Iraq Destruction at Karbala airport in the Iraqi shrine city after it was targeted by US military air strikes against a pro-Iranian group in Iraq in mid-March following the deaths of two Americans and a Briton in a rocket attack on a US base There has been a hugely positive reaction to SSE Renewables's announcement that it plans to locate the onshore service hub for its Arklow Bank wind farm in Arklow Harbour. Councillor Pat Fitzgerald (FF), Cathaoirleach of Arklow Municipal District, said 'it is great to get some positive news in what has been a difficult period for many. I very much welcome the announcement today and I must welcome also confirmation that when complete the wind farm is expected to power around a half a million homes each year with green energy offsetting around 600,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.' Cllr Pat Kennedy (FF) said it was 'a great announcement for Wicklow and in particular for the Arklow area.' 'This announcement coupled with previous announcements re the data centres and the primary centre bodes well for the future of Arklow. I look forward to engaging with SSE over the coming months and years.' Cllr Sylvester Bourke (FG) said 'it would a great economic boost for Arklow, subject to the project receiving planning permission'. Highlighting offshore wind's potential to help Ireland reach its renewable energy targets, Cllr Bourke said he welcomed the decision and wished the company good luck with the project. Cllr Tommy Annesley (FF) said he was 'delighted' with the announcement and 'my view is that Arklow and adjoining areas will thrive over the coming years'. Cllr Peir Leonard (Ind) said she welcomed 'this fantastic decision by SSE to choose Arklow as its home of operations. I would especially like to thank James O'Hara, Louise Glennan and Deborah Coleman from SSE who have engaged throughout the whole process with myself and the Maritime Business Development Committee and I look forward to working with them and the community stakeholders going forward. Very exciting times ahead for Arklow.' Cllr Miriam Murphy (Ind) described the announcement by SSE Renewables as 'brilliant news'. 'It's great that Arklow got it and it will bring development to the area and the town. I hope it will come to fruition and I'm sure it will.' Garrett Dempsey, president of Arklow and District Chamber of Commerce said the development could be critical to the regeneration of the area and the town of Arklow. 'SSE are renowned for their commitment in ensuring that real economic and social benefits flow into the local community through their investments in new energy infrastructure and aim to support local employment and a local supply chain when developing, constructing and operating the Arklow Bank Wind Park. Overall, the investment will provide a huge economical boost for County Wicklow as a whole.' Wicklow Fine Gael TD and Minister for Health Simon Harris said, 'Not only is this is a significant step forward for Ireland's emerging offshore wind energy sector, it is a massive investment in the future of the Wicklow economy. The development of a new service base in Arklow and the associated infrastructure will create long term sustainable jobs in Arklow. 'The Arklow Bank Wind Park is uniquely placed to meet Ireland's power demand. When the Arklow Bank Wind Park is completed in 2025 it will deliver 1GW of offshore wind energy and a 1 per cent reduction in Ireland's annual carbon emissions. 'This is a great boost for Arklow that will not only create direct employment but many support industries and jobs in the community, particularly existing maritime businesses.' Fourth day on patrol: Ex-officer Thomas Lane is out on bail One of the four former Minneapolis police officers who were charged over the death of George Floyd, whose death in custody set off protests for police reform and racial justice, has been released on bail. Protests flared for a 17th day yesterday with crowds in Portland, Oregon, flooding city-centre streets with some activists throwing bottles at police and removing temporary security fencing and using it to block traffic. The former police officer released, Thomas Lane (37), had been held on $750,000 bail and was freed from Hennepin County jail, sheriff's office records showed. He was one of three officers charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in 46-year-old Mr Floyd's death on May 25. A fourth officer, Derek Chauvin (44), was videotaped pressing his knee to Mr Floyd's neck as he gasped "I can't breathe" and called for his mother before he died. Mr Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. All four officers have been fired from the Minneapolis police department. Mr Lane's attorney, Earl Gray, told media that his client tried to help Mr Floyd. Mr Gray also told the media that Mr Lane was only on his fourth day on the job on patrol duty and that Mr Chauvin was his training officer, whom he should obey. "What was my client supposed to do but follow what his training officer said?" Mr Gray said in a court hearing, according to media. Many of those joining the more than two weeks of protests have been calling for a ban on choke holds and other methods of restraint used by police. Police have also been criticised for heavy-handed tactics against protesters in various places. Indiscriminate use of tear gas, flash grenades as well as many incidents of police hitting protesters with batons have been recorded. The protests have seen fewer clashes in recent days but in Portland some in the crowd threw bottles at police and cut down a fence near the federal courthouse, police said on Twitter, warning that offenders are subject to arrest. Mr Lane's next hearing is scheduled for June 29 and his attorney is planning to file a motion to dismiss the charges. JACKSON, MI From a fast-moving storm wreaking havoc throughout the Jackson County to a man charged with murder accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend two weeks ago, a lot has been going on in the Jackson area. Here are some headlines you might have missed this week. Fast-moving storm does damage across Jackson County A fast-moving storm Wednesday afternoon downed trees and power lines and damaged homes and other property. The mid-afternoon storm on June 10 appeared to hit the western side of Jackson County, and especially Concord, the hardest. Boyfriend with lengthy criminal history charged with girlfriends murder A Jackson man arrested at the scene of his girlfriends fatal shooting has been charged with her murder. Rodney Stevenson, 33, was arraigned Thursday, June 11, before Magistrate Judge Fred Bishop on one felony count each of open murder and felony firearms for the shooting death of Shameka Oliver. Oliver, 30, was found dead outside her home in the 1200 block of Chittock Avenue at about 7 a.m. May 28, by police checking a report of gunfire being heard in the area. Your accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. Michigan mailman leaves positive notes for 2020 grads Mailmen everywhere silently deliver to Americans everyday. Joshua Davis has done it since 1994. This year, Davis son graduated from Western High School and had an unsatisfying end high school due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Davis watched his son struggling and knew many others like him felt a loss in how their final year ended, too. He decided he needed to do something anything. So Davis wrote a letter. Nearly a dozen of them. As temperatures climb toward 90 degrees, Jacksons Splash Pad opens for cool relief It was a hot one in Jackson on Tuesday, June 9. But just in time, the countys parks and recreation department has opened the Splash Pad at Cascade Falls Park. Children played in the water just after the 11 a.m. opening as parents found lounge chairs in the shade. Meleny Malcolm made the trip to Jackson from Chelsea with her two siblings and all of their children. Outdoor seating popular as Jackson restaurants reopen for service Justin Dalenberg compared it to opening presents on Christmas morning. The Grand River Brewery partner was excited as his business began serving dine-in customers for the first time since March on Monday, June 8. Its amazing, he said. It feels great. Its exciting to see it alive again. It was a dormant bear for a minute. Felony assault charge issued against man accused of trying to run over Jackson protesters A man accused trying to run over protesters in Jackson on Saturday, and hitting one man with his car, has been arraigned for felonious assault and driving recklessly. Flint Converse, 40, of Jackson, was arraigned Monday, June 8, on one felony count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving for allegedly intentionally hitting a man with his car during a peaceful protest against police brutality in downtown Jackson on June 6. I thought my life was going to end, protester hit by car in Jackson says Daniel Beverly saw the driver make a U-turn on S. Blackstone Street as he and other protesters against police brutality tried to figure out why the car had driven through them Saturday on W. Washington Ave. He watched the car come back toward the crowd in downtown Jackson. All you hear is him floor it to the ground and thats when I was trying to get out of the way," Beverly, 32, of Jackson, said as he was back protesting in Jackson on Monday. "As he was probably 15 feet from me, he decided to take a left hand-turn sharp and slid about three or four feet until he gained grip and directly centered me. There was no way of me getting out of the way. 3 laps around Michigan International Speedway for graduation is memorable, superintendent says Instead of the Start your engines command, Pomp and Circumstance will echo at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday. Ninety-five Michigan Center High School seniors will drive three laps around MIS, led by a pace car, for their graduation ceremony on June 13. A committee of Michigan Center seniors and advisers were trying to decide the best option for graduation when MIS reached out to all Jackson County superintendents, Michigan Center High School Principal Lisa Falasco said. Coronavirus command center closed at Henry Ford Allegiance Health as inpatient needs slow Henry Ford Allegiance Health has closed its COVID-19 operation center as only two patients are currently being treated for the disease. The Jackson hospital has treated 161 admitted patients with COVID-19 since the hospitals Incident Command Center -- which coordinated its operational response to the pandemic -- opened on March 13, officials said. The hospital reached its peak number of COVID-19 positive patients at 55 on April 17. Sign of the times: Jacksons falcon names all relate to coronavirus Jacksons newest peregrine falcons all have names related to the novel coronavirus. The five chicks are named Henry Ford, Hero, Hope, Corona and Kerry. An MLive/Jackson Citizen Patriot reader poll determined the winners. Big Red and her partner, Chayton, are raising their five chicks atop the Jackson County Tower Building. Jetstar has announced a Friday Fare Frenzy and is selling flights for as little as $35. It comes as states prepare to ease travel restrictions in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The budget airline is selling tickets from Sydney to Byron Bay from just $35, and Melbourne to Newcastle from $45. Tourists can now visit Byron Bay (pictured is Tallow Beach) for as little as $35 Newcastle is the nearest airport to the stunning Port Stephens holiday area famous for its jaw-dropping beaches. Holidaymakers will also be able to fly from Brisbane to the Whitsundays from $49 and Melbourne to Byron Bay from $69. The sale ends on Friday, June 12 at 8pm. Tickets are available here. The sale comes as two states announced when they would open their borders after heavy pressure from Scott Morrison. As part of the Friday Fare Frenzy Jetstar have slashed the price of tickets from Brisbane to the Whitsundays to just $49 On Friday Queensland announced it would open up to tourists on 10 July while South Australia will remove its border restrictions on 20 July. Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT have yet to set a date for their borders reopening. US video streaming company Netflix is in talks with Viacom18, part of the Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries' media unit Network18, about a multi-year partnership to source content, three sources told Reuters, in a move that would expand a relationship between the two sides. Under the partnership, Network18 affiliates - which include its joint venture with ViacomCBS, Viacom18 - would create shows for Netflix to help the US firm expand offerings in India, where it competes against the video streaming services of Amazon.com Inc and Walt Disney Co. A Netflix spokesman in ... A new beta update is now rolling out to the OnePlus 7T, and it brings back one-handed mode. The update were talking about is marked as OxygenOS Open Beta 5, in case you were wondering. This beta update is not all about one-handed mode on the OnePlus 7T, of course. There are quite a few entries in the changelog, and they include System, Bluetooth, Shelf, and Phone section updates. This beta update brings back one-handed mode to the OnePlus 7T Lets talk a bit more about the one-handed mode, though. Its not on by default, it seems, you need to enable it. In order to do that, head over to Settings, and then tap Buttons & Gestures. Once you do, youll see the Quick Gestures option, where youll find one-handed mode. Advertisement This update also brings a shortcut to switch from Dark Mode in the notification bar. So its essentially a quick toggle that you can include there, same as WiFi, mobile data, Bluetooth, and so on. The company has also fixed the sharp edges of application cards in the recent apps screen. The screen flashing issue after locking the device has also been fixed. The OnePlus Brand Logo has been updated, and the Android Security Patch for June 2020 has been released as well. Now, in terms of Bluetooth, the company adapted to Bluetooth hearing aid app connection under the Android 10 Audio Streaming for Hearing Aid (ASHA) agreement. Advertisement OnePlus refined the step counters accuracy for recording movement. That is a change for the OnePlus Shelf. The last entry in the changelog has to do with the Phone section. The frequently dialed contacts will now be available in the dialing interface. The two biggest changes in this update are the one-handed mode, and the addition of a dark mode toggle shortcut. Users have been asking for both of those for a while now. The OnePlus 7T even had one-handed mode in an earlier beta build, but the company decided to remove it for whatever reason. Perhaps it was buggy or something, but its back now. Advertisement We hope that the one-handed mode will arrive to stable builds of OxygenOS soon This gives us hope that one-handed mode will make its way to a stable build in the near future. If it does, then itll probably arrive to other OnePlus 7 and 7T devices, along with the OnePlus 8 series. Some older models may get it as well. This update is rolling out to those of you who are already running beta software. Youll get it OTA (over-the-air), as per usual. Those of you who are running a stable build, youll need to install it manually. Installing this update will not delete your data. Do note that your data will be deleted when you end up returning to the stable channel, though. So, if you dont want that to happen, dont install it. Advertisement UPDATE: This update arrived for the OnePlus 7T Pro as well. It was a horrible day for America, the day Derek Chauvin placed a knee on George Floyd, pinning his neck to the street. Floyd was a man who friends and relatives eulogized as kind and loving, a man who did not deserve to die at the hands or knee of a police officer. That is the tragic shame of this episode; fear and hatred live on our streets, fear and hatred that turn innocent African Americans into instant suspects, condemned without benefit of a trial. No reasonable person could deny the injustice, the insanity, of this situation. The question we raised in Sundays editorial was, where do we go from here? One answer is the streets, where thousands of protesters continue to demand change and justice, carrying placards and chanting prayers from coast to coast. Another answer less emotional but potentially enduring can be found in the halls of Congress, where legislators are working to craft bills that will tame rogue cops without undermining the authority of good ones. George called for help, and he was ignored, his brother, Philonise Floyd, told the House Judiciary Committee during an oversight hearing on policing and law enforcement accountability. Please listen to the call Im making to you now. To the calls of our family and the calls ringing out in the streets across the world. Honor them, honor George, and make the necessary changes to make law enforcement the solution and not the problem. House and Senate Democrats have drafted a bill, the Justice in Policing Act, which would ban chokeholds and make it easier to prosecute police misconduct. The most transformational measure of the legislation would end qualified immunity, a controversial legal provision that grants police officers broad immunity from civil lawsuits. Qualified immunity has protected officers who do not deserve to be protected. We cannot settle for anything less than transformative structural change, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. The legislation would also create a national registry to prevent sanctioned officers from being rehired by other police departments. The martyrdom of George Floyd gave the American experience a moment of national anguish, Pelosi said. True justice can only be achieved with full comprehensive action. Led by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., the Senate is working on its own legislation, focusing on proposals to increase training that would reduce the possibility of chokeholds and other potentially lethal forms of restraint. While Scott seemed to reject outright bans on chokeholds and qualified immunity, Republicans and Democrats have demonstrated a capacity for bipartisan cooperation when it comes to justice and policing issues. With a coalition of Republicans and Democrats, the Senate passed the First Step Act in 2018, judicial reform that emphasized treatment and rehabilitation over punishment and retribution. The country is starved for another bipartisan meeting of the minds, but in the meantime, states have joined the fray, working on police reforms to make their police departments more accountable. In New York, legislators voted to repeal a state law that allows police departments to shield disciplinary records. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement will mandate implicit bias training. And while we dont agree with the calls to literally defund the police, we do agree with extensive examinations of police funding and priorities. Nothing can bring George Floyd back, but what police reform may do is prevent future tragedies. This years four-month pilot will have 10,000 scooters and three vendors, and the devices will be available everywhere except the central business district, the lakefront and The 606 trail. It will start in late July or early August. The central business district is defined as Chicago Avenue on the north, Roosevelt Road on the south, Halsted Street on the west, with another western boundary on Clark between Chicago and Division Street. GRANITE CITY Gateway Medical Group has added gastroenterologist/hepatologist Dr. Charmaine Edwards. Edwards will start seeing patients Monday, June 15, at 2044 Madison Ave., Granite City. Edwards joins Gateway Medical Group from its sister facility, Red Bud Regional Hospital, in Red Bud. She will continue serving Red Bud and its surrounding communities after she joins the practice. Im honored to care for both the Red Bud community and now Granite City as well, she said. Its important to me to help as many people I can with their GI health and preventative care. Previously, Dr. Edwards was a community-based provider in Jefferson City, Missouri. She holds a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Alcorn State University, where she was the valedictorian and graduated summa cum laude. She earned her medical degree from Howard University Medical School and completed her residency at The Medical College of Pennsylvania, now Drexel University. In addition, she served as a Gastroenterology Fellow at the University of Rochester in New York. We are excited to welcome Dr. Edwards to our talented team Gateway Medical Group providers, said Patrick Garvey, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Gateway Regional Medical Center. Not only will Dr. Edwards bring a very important specialty to Granite City, but she also brings a level of enthusiasm and professionalism that patients will appreciate. Edwards is currently accepting new patients; patients should first visit with their appropriate ordering provider. In the first season software engineer Mariana had to contend with the sexist culture at a tech start-up, while law graduate Callie had a crisis of conscience clerking for a conservative judge in a case about the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black man. Young Australian Maia Mitchell is terrific again in this sequel series to The Fosters. In The Fosters (also on Stan) Mitchell played Callie, a bright but troubled teenager taken in by loving foster mums (Teri Polo and Sherri Saum). In Good Trouble Callie and her foster sister Mariana (Cierra Ramirez) are out in the world specifically, the newly trendy Downtown district of Los Angeles and trying to get their careers and love lives going. It hasn't been the plainest of sailing. It's too easy to miss brilliant streaming shows, movies and documentaries. Here are the ones to hit play on or skip. If it sounds like Good Trouble might be a bit of an issues burger with the lot, well it's certainly that. High on the list as the second season gets underway are mental illness and the question of changing one's pronouns should one find one's self to be gender non-conforming. But in that Good Trouble is of a piece with the The Fosters, which also took a thoughtful, compassionate approach to social issues while keeping the drama character-driven. But how to keep all those characters crammed as closely together as humanly possible? Good Trouble has Callie and Mariana sharing a bedroom in a shared-accommodation building whose less-desirable features include a communal kitchen and communal unisex bathroom. In terms of privacy it makes Melrose Place look like Cast Away, and indeed a desert island might start to look a whole lot better once you realise everyone's going to see who's leaving your bedroom at all hours of day and night (there are no en suites here, remember!). But then you'd have to give up that stunning swimming pool on the balcony with all its hunky bisexual artists with all their rippling abs and shampoo-ad hair. What do you expect a girl and her sister to do? Besides, on a desert island you'd never have the chance to get involved with Black Lives Matter, or find out what happens to building manager Alice (Sherry Cola), whose immigrant parents are OK with her being gay but want her to stay in the closet to the extended family. The hugely likeable Mitchell continues to grow as a perceptive, multi-faceted actor whose best work is yet to come. Broyhill Asset Management, a boutique investment firm based in North Carolina, released its Q1 2020 Investor letter a copy of which can be downloaded here. Established as a family office, the company invests with a long-term, objective, and rational perspective. You should check out Broyhill Asset Management's top 5 stock picks for investors to buy right now, which could be the biggest winners of the stock market crash. In the said letter, Broyhill Asset Management spoke about Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM) and B P Plc (NYSE:BP) stocks. Exxon Mobil and B P Plc are oil and gas companies. Year-to-date, Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM) stock lost 33.3% and on June 11th it had a closing price of $46.18. Year-to-date, B P Plc (NYSE:BP) stock lost 34.9% and on June 11th it had a closing price of $24.07. Here is what Broyhill Asset Management said: "As if a global pandemic wasnt enough, during the quarter OPEC and Russia decided to add an oil crisis to the list of things for investors to panic about. After oils largest one-day decline in history, we established a small position in Exxon Mobile (XOM) and British Petroleum (BP)two of the largest, best managed, and well capitalized companies in the industry. We dont have a short-term view on oil, but we do know that the best cure for low oil prices is low oil prices. And with the sector trading at its lowest level relative to the market in history, we are willing to bet that the current extremes in negative sentiment willrevert to more normal levelsand more normal oil pricesat some point. In the interim, we are being paid 10% annually to wait." In Q1 2020, the number of bullish hedge fund positions on Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM) stock increased by about 3% from the previous quarter (see the chart here), so a number of other hedge fund managers seem to agree with XOM's growth potential. In Q1 2020, the number of bullish hedge fund positions on B P Plc (NYSE:BP) stock decreased by about 23% from the previous quarter (see the chart here), so a number of other hedge fund managers don't seem to agree with BP's growth potential. Story continues Our calculations showed that Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM) and B P Plc (NYSE:BP) aren't ranked among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. The top 10 stocks among hedge funds returned 185% since the end of 2014 and outperformed the S&P 500 Index ETFs by more than 109 percentage points. We know it sounds unbelievable. You have been dismissing our articles about top hedge fund stocks mostly because you were fed biased information by other media outlets about hedge funds' poor performance. You could have doubled the size of your nest egg by investing in the top hedge fund stocks instead of dumb S&P 500 ETFs. Below you can watch our video about the top 5 hedge fund stocks right now. All of these stocks had positive returns in 2020. Video: Top 5 Stocks Among Hedge Funds At Insider Monkey we leave no stone unturned when looking for the next great investment idea. For example, 2020s unprecedented market conditions provide us with the highest number of trading opportunities in a decade. So we are checking out stocks recommended/scorned by legendary Bill Miller. We interview hedge fund managers and ask them about their best ideas. If you want to find out the best healthcare stock to buy right now, you can watch our latest hedge fund manager interview here. We read hedge fund investor letters and listen to stock pitches at hedge fund conferences. Our best call in 2020 was shorting the market when the S&P 500 was trading at 3150 after realizing the coronavirus pandemics significance before most investors. You can subscribe to our free enewsletter below to receive our stories in your inbox: [daily-newsletter][/daily-newsletter] Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Two weeks ago, Gov. Greg Abbott visited Amarillo to declare victory over a coronavirus outbreak that had wreaked havoc on the Panhandle. Showcasing dwindling caseloads and a stable supply of hospital beds, he said the region's success was indicative of a state moving forward amid a containable pandemic. "Amarillo has turned a corner on its pathway toward a positive, effective resolution of this particular hotspot," Abbott remarked, applauding local officials and the "surge" teams of medical and military staffers that have become a hallmark of his reopening playbook. But as one problem subsided, others newly emerged. Cases in Texas have since ballooned to record highs, and hospitals in Houston, San Antonio and other major cities are filling once more with COVID-19 patients. On Friday, as Abbott allowed restaurants to open at near-full capacity, the public health nightmare seemed to only be growing. The governor, though one of the first to relax his states stay-at-home order is pushing ahead. "Concerned but not alarmed" was how he and his surrogates put it this week, even as fellow governors in Oregon and Utah pumped the brakes on their reopenings amid rising caseloads. "This was to be expected," said Abbott, a Republican, in a television interview on Wednesday. "Many of these cases we're seeing have been in the aftermath of the Memorial Day weekend, and some are the early part of when these protests began." For a leader as shrewd and cautious as Abbott, the pandemic has hit an especially treacherous stretch. He was vilified early on by conservatives who saw him sacrificing the economy for an overblown health scare, and has been assailed by Democrats for rolling back restrictions before the state met standards created by his own medical advisors. THE LATEST: Interactive maps, charts show spread of coronavirus in Texas He responded to other voices rather than his own, said Matt Angle, a longtime Democratic strategist in Texas. Now he's in a position where it does look like he reopened too quickly. The governors Republican allies say Abbott has done just enough, meeting the moment with usual measure and clarity. Whatever the assessment, Abbott is poised to own the outcome, having barred local leaders from enforcing their own closures or mandating masks in public. He has made clear in recent days that hes prepared to stay the course if thats even a choice. "The government shut the economy down once," said Matt Mackowiak, a GOP consultant in Austin, "That feels to me like a bullet you can fire one time." As cases rise, the governor has shifted focus away from the health toll. People are hurting, he acknowledged in Amarillo, but there are so many more people in the state who are suffering economically. By Friday, deaths neared 2,000 and there were 2,166 people hospitalized with Covid-19, a new high amid a week of them. The governor recognizes everything being done to save people is being done, Mackowiak said. The real thing is managing what you can manage. He can't really affect whether a person can survive or not. But he can manage medical supplies and the resources available to help. Dr. John Zerwas, a former Republican state representative and one of the governors leading medical advisers in the reopening, pointed to the huge mental health impacts of unemployment and lockdown measures. We're certainly concerned about trying to keep the curve bent down as much as we can, he said. But at the same time, we know we have to bring the economy back to life. THE EPIDEMIC WITHIN THE PANDEMIC: COVID-19s coming mental health toll is a disease of despair Democrats said the approach shows just how little Abbott cares about those outside his political base, including black and Latino Texans, who have died at much higher rates from the virus. On Monday, after more than a month of prodding from state Democratic leaders, Abbott agreed to step up COVID-19 testing in underserved communities. He provided few details, though, and some city officials have said they werent informed about how the effort would work. Abbott is really good at saying what he's going to do and hoping everybody forgets about it in six months, Angle said. And they often do. In the meantime, Abbott has dispensed with the weekly press briefings he held early on in the crisis, opting instead for short, frequent rounds on local televisions stations, where he has pointed increasingly to Memorial Day and the demonstrations over police brutality as causes for the latest surge. While health experts are concerned that the protests likely spread new infections, Democrats in Houston tried to preempt the governor from using them as an excuse for the resurgence. In a tweet on Monday, Mayor Sylvester Turner said cases have been increasing for the last two weeks as well as hospitalizations. DATA GLITCH: In easing COVID-19 restrictions, Gov. Abbott touted low hospitalizations. His numbers were way off. This current rise cannot and should not be attributable to the mass protest and demonstrators, he said. John Wittman, a spokesman for Abbott, said responsibility ultimately lies with the public. Texans have done a good job so far, but the reality is people need to stay vigilant, he said. Summer is here and everyone wants to go to the pool, but COVID has not left the state. People need to social distance, they need to wear masks. The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on reforms of the Pentagon's health system, delaying plans to reduce services at 48 hospitals and clinics by months and forcing additional reviews of civilian care in locations affected by the changes. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Thomas McCaffery told reporters Thursday that efforts to alter operations at some military treatment facilities was scheduled to begin in September, but now may start "more toward the end of the year" or later. Read Next: Senate's $740 Billion Defense Bill Includes Pay Raise, Controversial Changes The changes, designed to focus the facilities on providing medical care to active-duty personnel only as well as training military medical personnel, thereby shedding non-uniformed beneficiaries to the Tricare network, will result in outsourcing health care for at least 200,000 patients. For the plan to work, the Defense Department is dependent on the availability of providers within Tricare. With the ongoing pandemic, however, "it's going to affect the timeline as to when that happens," McCaffery said during a conference call with the Defense Writers Group, an association of defense and national security correspondents. "Because of the requirements of the health system -- that we really have been diverting more time and resources to the COVID response -- it could be something more to the end of the year that we would have a better idea of which military treatment facilities of the 48 would be earlier implementation and which would be later," he said. The changes originally were expected to take two to four years. McCaffery said implementation at each MTF will largely depend on the ability of local providers to absorb new patients. But with both military and civilian health care workers engaged in pandemic response, local networks "may not be able to engage with us at this moment," he said. "The key driver here is whatever change we make, we want to maintain access to care for our beneficiaries, and obviously that only works if that private-sector network is available," McCaffery said. Efforts to reform the military health system date to 2012 with the creation of the Defense Health Agency, a DoD department created to standardize and consolidate health care functions and services across the Army, Navy and Air Force medical commands. But the transformation snowballed under the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, which required DHA to assume management of all military hospitals and clinics, as well as many medical functions, and left the service medical commands to focus on providing medical care only to military personnel. Defense officials say the efforts will curb costs and improve care and services across the board for beneficiaries. But the changes have met pushback from the services -- which continue to support DHA with hospital management and face a reduction of medical personnel billets -- as well as some military advocates. In December, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy sent a memo to Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist expressing concern over what he saw as a "lack of performance and planning with respect to the transition by the Defense Health Agency. McCarthy asked for a delay in transitioning Army health facilities to DHA and also sought to keep the Army Public Health Center and Army Medical Research and Development Command, slated to transfer to DHA. On Thursday, McCaffery did not comment on McCarthy's request, but said much of the DoD's funding for research and development comes through his office, and he works with the DHA and the services to determine priorities and allocate the money to various offices and research arms. "We think that approach works well, and we are going to continue that," he said. Among the ongoing reforms within the military health system is a planned reduction of more than 17,000 medical billets. Early last year, the Army, Navy and Air Force quietly began planning to eliminate positions for several thousand doctors, nurses, technicians, medics and corpsmen and administrative personnel. But which positions have been targeted has not been made public: Neither the DHA nor the services have released their plans, even as they have said they already are jettisoning those jobs through attrition. Congress has requested a detailed report on the reductions; McCaffery said Thursday it will be forwarded to the House and Senate this month. But even that plan may be subject to change as a result of the pandemic, he added. "Obviously, implementation of that or other reforms will be tied to what we have learned and what we are learning with regard to the pandemic," he said. Nearly 4,000 active-duty, reserve and National Guard medical personnel deployed within the United States and elsewhere to assist the U.S. public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Thursday, more than 7,400 military members, 1,213 family members, 1,691 civilian DoD employees and 771 defense contractors have tested positive for the coronavirus. Thirty-six, including three service members, have died. McCaffery, a former health industry executive who took office last August, said he initially was concerned at the two- to three-year turnover of military medical community positions, the result of changes in duty stations and deployments. But he expressed enthusiasm for the DoD's ability this year to switch rapidly from focusing on health system reform to responding to a national emergency. "It's very easy for [health system leadership] to quickly pivot. ... Usually, when our medical forces are deployed, whether it's overseas or domestically, it's for trauma-related events. This was very different, a very different enemy," he said. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: Here's the List of Military Health Facilities That Will No Longer Service Retirees, Families. MBABANE Siyembili Motors Swaziland, trading as Leites Toyota, has won the first round against the Competition Commission in a dispute over the sale of land. This comes after the Supreme Court upheld the appeal that was filed by Siyembili Motors Swaziland. The appeal was against a finding of the High Court that it did not have jurisdiction to review the decision by the Competition Commission. The pieces of land, which are now a subject of legal proceedings, were purchased from Siyembili Motors Swaziland by MA Props (PTY), a property management consultancy business and owner of various portfolios. Siyembili Motors decided to seek legal recourse after the commission wrote them a demand for notification of a merger and acquisition. The commission is of the view that the parties should have notified it about the transaction as it was one that was notifiable as per the law. In its judgment, the Supreme Court judges stated: The jurisdictional and inherent power of the High Court to review matters as are routinely brought before it, has not otherwise been fettered. It remains as it has always been or at least until the Eagles Nest matter. It bears no contraction that the Constitution is supreme. The Supreme Court then referred the matter back to the High Court for hearing. previous It must therefore follow that this court departs from its previous decision in the Eagles Nest matter, now to order that the High Court is not constrained by law as it was held before and that indeed it has full jurisdiction in the power of review, as well as other powers, as it has had, especially under the shield of the Constitution of Eswatini, said the Supreme Court. The matte was before Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala, Justices Benjamin Odoki and Jacobus Annamdale. In the matter that has been referred back to court, the commission claimed that MA Props acquired a controlling interest in an asset which was or might be utilised for business purposes and therefore the transaction fell under the ambit of a merger as defined in the Competition Act. In the demand for notification, the commissions then Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Thabisile Langa, had stated that the commission had reasons to believe that Siyembili and MA Props engaged in a transaction or conduct as described in Section 35 of the Competition Act No.8 of 2007, involving the sale/transfer of the properties, Portions 1079 and 1080 of Farm 2, both located in Mbabane. In terms of Section 35 (1) of the Act, a person who, in the absence of authority from the commission, whether as principal or agent and whether himself/herself or his/her agent, participates in effecting- (a) a merger between two or more independent enterprises engaged in manufacturing or distributing substantially similar goods or providing substantially similar services, commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding E250 000 or to imprisonment to a term not exceeding five years or both. Langa further alleged that in terms of Section 35(1) of the Competition Commission Regulations, the commission may impose an administrative penalty of up to 10 per cent of the enterprises annual turnover to ensure compliance with the Act. envisaged The commission hereby calls upon Siyembili Motors (PTY) Limited to submit within 30 days to the commission all and/or any relevant documentation concerning the transaction as envisaged by Section 35 of the Act, reads part of the demand for notification. She pointed out that in terms of Section 35(1) of the Act, a merger or takeover made in contravention of subsection 35(1) of the Act shall not have any legal effect and no rights or obligations imposed on the participating parties, by any agreement in respect of the merger or takeover, shall be legally enforceable unless an application for condonation has been made to and granted by the commission. Siyembili Motors wanted the High Court to set aside and declare as incorrect the decision of the commission to the effect that the sale of the vacant portions of land from it and MA Props were a notifiable transaction. In his founding affidavit Wynand Louw, who is the director of the first applicant (Siyembili Motors), submitted that the company was a motor franchise which had been operating in the Kingdom of Eswatini for many years. He informed the court that the first applicant was the sole distributor of new Toyota vehicles and was the sole distributor of all genuine Toyota parts in the Kingdom of Eswatini. He informed the court that MA Props was a property management consultancy business and had a number of landed investments. It is noteworthy that Siyembili Motors is licensed to trade as a motor vehicle dealer, and MA Props (PTY) Limited as a business broker, estate agent and employment agent, submitted Louw. Representing Siyembili Motors is Advocate M Van der Walt, instructed by Henwood and Associates. Appearing for the respondent is SM Simelane from Simelane-Mtshali Attorneys. Left, David Boggs from Clearbrook receives face masks donations given by Peter Agarwal of LED Phantom. The Arlington Heights-based Clearbrook serves people over a range of ages and disabilities. "One hundred percent of donations will go directly into the acquisition and delivery of KN95 masks, surgical masks, and PPE for our frontline healthcare workers in Chicagos busiest hospitals, immediate care, long term care, and senior living facilities." Imagine being a frontline worker, and all you have for protection is a filthy mask that has been worn for the last two weeks. Or, you might try rigging a disposable shoe cover to use as a mask. When he heard this, Peter Agarwal, CEO/founder of LED Phantom, a lighting manufacturer in Addison, Illinois, knew he could help. Within four weeks, he was giving away as many masks as he could put his hands on, saving frontline workers from COVID-19. Agarwal didnt just go out and hunt them down at a local pharmacy, though. He immediately made phone calls and used his connections to help design and efficiently manufacture and ship as many masks as possibleat his own expense. As soon as they arrived at his door, they were hand delivered to medical personnel and first responders, fulfilling his pledge to personally donate 20,000 masks. The masks being donated include KN95 and a three-ply mask. The KN95 is a white, four-layer mask that filters 95 percent of airborne particles, including dust, smoke, gas, and air pollution. The disposable, three-ply mask is soft, comfortable, and breathable. Both masks are CE and FDA approved. As a former respiratory therapist, Agarwal knows the importance of being protected from harmful viruses when working with infected patients. He said, I talked to a bunch of my colleagues, my college friends, and some doctors in Milwaukee. They were saying the same thing. Theres no PPE. The doctors in Milwaukee went a step further and told him not only did they not have any personal protective equipment (PPE), but the hospital they worked at didnt have a game plan to get it for them. So, these doctors started buying their own PPE. They said, Were not going to walk into surgery without masks and proper gear because then we are in jeopardy, and so are the patients, Agarwal commented. He soon discovered they were not the only ones without PPE. Agarwal knows the Chicagoland community is also worried about the lack of PPE for frontline workers and has found a way for individuals to get involved and help provide PPE, too. He put together a Go Fund Me account so anyone can make a donation to supply even more masks to those desperately in need. He hopes to raise enough money to provide 1 million PPE products to healthcare facilities in the Chicago region. So far, the fundraiser has raised $3,611 toward their $50,000 goal. One hundred percent of donations will go directly into the acquisition and delivery of KN95 masks, surgical masks, and PPE for our frontline healthcare workers in Chicagos busiest hospitals, immediate care, long term care, and senior living facilities, he said. We already have healthcare workers waiting for these masks at all the major healthcare facilities in the Chicagoland area. Agarwal has made sure that his suppliers have given him their most competitive, wholesale rates for the masks so that every dollar raised goes as far as possible. Those receiving the masks have been very excited and appreciative, flooding Agarwals inbox with emails. One of them came from the Bolingbrook Fire Protection District, saying, Special thanks to LED Phantom for their donation of KN95 masks. These will definitely help us in the fight against Covid-19! For information about purchasing these masks for your companies, please visit http://trustedppe.com/. About LED Phantom: LED Phantom is committed to distributing high quality, affordable, well designed, and energy-efficient LED lighting, fluorescent lighting, and controls. Founded in 2013, LED Phantom has a vibrant and growing infrastructure of warehousing facilities to ensure great product availability and distribution. Making a difference within their community and environment is one of the cornerstones LED Phantom is built upon. For information, visit https://www.ledphantom.com/. Before the Duchess of Cambridge settled into her role in the royal limelight, she once had a very normal day job. For a short period of time, Kate worked as an accessories buyer at Jigsaw. According to one royal expert, she asked for the position to be part-time due to her relationship with this very high profile man. Speaking in the upcoming documentary William & Kate: Too Good To Be True?, royal commentator Rebecca English recalled that she had previously spoken with someone from Jigsaw about Kates employment. Kate took on the job a year after graduating from St Andrews in 2005. Getty Images English recalled, Kate did get a job. She worked as an accessories buyer but interestingly, someone at the firm told me at the time she went to the boss and said to them, I need a job, but it needs to be part-time so I can work it around my relationship with this very high profile man. Thats quite unusual for a modern working woman, English commented. She did that job for a while, but unfortunately the attention of photographers following her to and from work became too much. Previously, Jigsaw co-founder Belle Robinson recounted the conversation to the Evening Standard. She explained that she and Kate first connected when she loaned her Mustique holiday home to Kate, Prince William and their friends, then Kate later began to support Jigsaw at various events. Eventually, the future duchess approached her about a job - one materialised into a part time accessories buyer role, which saw her work three days a week. Kate Middleton (Getty Images ) / Getty Images [Kate] rang me up one day and said: 'Could I come and talk to you about work?' She genuinely wanted a job but she needed an element of flexibility to continue the relationship with a very high-profile man and a life that she can't dictate. Robinson recalled. She's going to be dictated to when she's needed and not needed." Robinson said she was so impressed by Kates work ethic, adding that she was very mature for a 26-year-old. She continued, She sat in the kitchen at lunchtime and chatted with everyone from the van drivers to the accounts girls. She wasn't precious. A lot of people have distorted it to say we're friends with her parents but I've only met them four times." Kate Middleton and Prince William at the time of their engagement (Getty Images ) / Getty Images Kate ended up leaving her position at Jigsaw in 2007 and went to work for Party Pieces, an events business run by her parents Carole and Michael Middleton. Robinson recounted that Kate told her she needed some time to herself. Kate would go on to leave Party Pieces in 2011 following her engagement to Prince William, in order to concentrate full-time on preparing to become a member of the Royal Family. According to People, a royal aide told the Daily Mail at the time, She has handed over her work to colleagues and is now preparing for her future life William & Kate: Too Good to be True? will air this Saturday at 9.15pm on Channel 5 In the latest move of a heated smart speaker legal battle, Google has countersued Sonos, claiming the smart speaker company infringed its patents, Bloomberg has reported. The fight erupted in January this year when Sonos sued Google for alleged patent infringement after the companies had collaborated for several years. Sonos claimed that Google gained knowledge of its technology when they worked together and used that information to develop its own smart speaker line. In return, Google said that Sonos made false claims about the shared work and alleged that Sonos is using Googles search, software, networking, audio processing and other technology without paying a license fee. While Google rarely sues other companies for patent infringement, it must assert its intellectual property rights here, Google wrote in the complaint. Shortly after Sonos filed its original lawsuit, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) voted to launch an investigation into whether Google imported speakers that infringed Sonos patents. Sonos wants it to issue cease and desist orders against Google that could prevent it from selling the Home Max, Chromecast, Nest Hub and other products in China. The ITC trial is set to start next February and the civil suit is on hold until the trade case is resolved, according to Bloomberg. The timing isnt ideal for Google as its already facing multiple antitrust investigations just in the US, let alone elsewhere. It appears, at least, that nothing will change for consumers at least for now. While we look to resolve our dispute, we will continue to ensure our shared customers have the best experience using our products, said Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda. The Ropar police on Friday arrested five people and seized what it called the biggest-ever quantity of material for illicit liquor in a 10-hour operation in forested terrain in Himachal Pradesh villages. The operation was carried out in collaboration with the Bilaspur police. Seven working stills (apparatus used for the distillation of liquids) and 2-lakh kg of lahan (from which illicit liquor is distilled after fermentation) were seized from Majir and Dabt villages on the Punjab-Himachal border in Bilaspur district. Due to dense forest, the area is notorious for smuggling of illegal liquor for the past many decades. The police had to cut through dense and thorny undergrowth to get to the spot, said Ropar senior superintendent of police Swapan Sharma. The teams cordoned off the entire area around the villages, located about two km from the Punjab border, said the SSP, adding the search operation covered a six-km stretch along the inter-state border. Investigations were in progress to trace further links of the accused across Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, Sharma said. The seizure came amid state-wide efforts by Punjab Police, under the directives of chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, to check illicit liquor trading, as well as smuggling of liquor from across the states borders. The smugglers take advantage of the forest cover and the lack of access in the tough terrain to sneak from Himachal Pradesh into Punjab with their hauls. In the last five years, 26 cases in Punjab and 38 cases in Himachal have been registered against people hailing from these areas. U.S. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan, who presides over the Flynn case, is not required to approve Mr. Barrs request to drop the charges. He should refuse. And the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which has itself become involved, should allow Mr. Sullivan to exercise his discretion. This is one of the rare cases in which prosecutors behavior is so egregious that they deserve none of the usual respect and deference. A Massachusetts gym owner told news outlets he is willing to go to jail after keeping his business open in defiance of Gov. Charlie Bakers phased coronavirus reopening plan, accruing thousands of dollars worth of fines in doing so. Im willing to take this as far as I have to, David Blondin, owner of Prime Fitness & Nutrition in Oxford, told The Boston Globe. Im willing to go to jail. The Central Massachusetts gym owner was ordered to close his business last week by Worcester Superior Court Judge Susan Sullivan after opening his doors in May. The judge ruled he must stop operating his gym until Baker issues an executive order allowing him to do so, according to court records. In a best-case scenario, fitness centers in the commonwealth will be allowed to reopen on June 29. Some gym owners, like Blondin, have expressed frustration, though, over the later reopening date and opted to disobey the governors four-part reopening plan, which put gyms in the third phase. After reopening his business on May 18, Blondin received a verbal warning from the town, followed by a written one and then a slew of fines. In a Facebook post Thursday, the gym owner noted he was receiving fines up to $1,000 daily. WCVB reported he has racked up 18 citations. Blondin told the news outlet he has not paid any of the fines, which have amount to roughly $6,000 in total. The gym owner noted that he appealed all the citations and was due in court at 3 p.m. on Friday. MassLive could not immediately reach Blondin on Friday. Everyone has been great so far. Honestly, I really couldnt ask for any better members, said in a video posted to Facebook at the end of May. So lets keep this going as we continue to move forward, bringing everything back to normal, and by normal, I do not mean the new normal, because there is no new normal. Okay here we go into phase 2 of opening Prime! Were almost there , so please be patient as only ONE gym in mass has followed so far . Step up guys!!!!! Tag your gyms below!!! Posted by Prime Fitness & Nutrition, Inc. on Sunday, May 31, 2020 A GoFundMe page was set up a day after Blondin reopened his gym to help the business owner pay off all fines issued by the town. Any remaining money is expected to be donated to mental health organizations, Blondin said. To date, the fundraiser has received $10,846 in donations. Blondin as well as the creator of the GoFundMe page, Prime Fitness member Courtney Cotnoir, encouraged owners of gyms and other businesses across Massachusetts to reopen, despite restrictions issued by the state. The two framed the issue as one of mental health, arguing that people need to exercise and that gyms should be deemed essential because they help keep individuals both physically and mentally healthy. All small businesses need to take a stand and open their doors," the gym owner told MassLive in May. "This is impacting our businesses and our families. Oxfords board of health sued Blondin on May 28 and filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to halt Prime Fitnesss operations, which Sullivan later granted, court records showed. Town officials wrote in a statement they received angry calls and emails from residents, calling on authorities to shutter the gym immediately. Thomas Purcell, Oxford Board of Health agent, noted, We all have a role to play in making this as safe of a re-opening as possible. Related Content: NAIROBI, Kenya - The al-Qaida-linked extremist group in Somalia has unveiled a COVID-19 isolation and care facility, a sign that the group is taking seriously the pandemic that continues to spread in the fragile country. Al-Shabab announced Friday that the facility, which includes a round-the-clock hotline, has been set up in Jilib, a major stronghold of the extremist group in southern Somalia. I am urging people with the disease symptoms to come to the medical facility and avoid infecting other Muslims, Sheikh Mohamed Bali, a senior al-Shabab official and a member of the groups ad hoc COVID-19 response committee, said in a speech broadcast by the extremist groups radio arm Andalus. When The Associated Press called al-Shababs COVID-19 hotline, a man who answered said the care facility is open for all people. He declined to say whether they had any virus cases but said the facility set up in a building that once housed the United Nations childrens agency in Jilib has all necessary equipment to isolate and treat patients. For months, Somali health officials have warned that areas controlled by al-Shabab in central and southern Somalia could be at high risk for the virus spread. The extremist group has resisted assistance from the government and international health organizations in this and past crises including drought. No information was immediately available about any virus cases in al-Shabab strongholds that remain off-limits for health workers and authorities, or how COVID-19 cases would be confirmed. The Horn of Africa nation has more than 2,500 confirmed virus cases and has one of the worlds least-equipped health systems after years of conflict and poverty, leading to fears that untold numbers of cases might be going undetected. New Delhi: The national capital continues to reel under the chikungunya outbreak, its worst in the last six years, even as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made a fervent appeal to all to shun politics and jointly tackle the menace of vector-borne diseases on a war-footing. Dengue and chikungunya complications have claimed at least 33 lives this season and affected over 2,800 people.A Kejriwal, who on Sunday returned from Bengaluru after a throat surgery, in a brief video message, made a plea to aset aside politicsa and adeclare an all-out war against the mosquito menacea. aMosquitoes donat know who belongs to which party. A Leaving politics behind, all should come together to fight the menace. We kept on saying MCD did not perform its duties. But since it has not, letas do it together. Let us all work together,a he said. A visibly feeble Kejriwal said he has ordered procurement of as many fogging machines needed to battle out this crisis.Earlier in the day, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung visited several hospitals across the city to take stock of their preparedness in dealing with the rising number of chikungunya and dengue cases in the national capital, and stressed on aspecial attentiona to the elderly. His visit came a day after the AAP government accused him of adopting a acasual approacha in dealing with the health crisis in the city. Meanwhile, Delhi government today launched a mass awareness drive to motivate people to clear out stagnant water in residential and public building premises, even as the city continued to battle rising cases of chikungunya and dengue. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes breed in clear water and flower pots, coolers, tyres and bird feeders and other utensils are common places where breeding is found. But, amid call for eschewing politics to fight this health crisis together, the debate over whether chikungunya can lead to death today assume a bit of a political colour. Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said city Health Minister Satyendar Jainas statement that people cannot die of chikungunya ashows his insensitivity and ignorancea. Jain has been reiterating that aas per medical literature chikungunya cannot cause death,a and accused media of spreading panic. aAccording to the 2015 report of WHO (World Health Organisation), 191 people in North America and South America had died of chikungunya,a Maken said. According to municipal figures, the current outbreak of chikungunya is the worst in the last six years. aIn 2011, the total number of cases for chikungunya was 107, 6 (in 2012), 18 (2013), 8 (2014) and 64 last year. No deaths were recorded in these five years,a a civic official told PTI. Health experts say the sudden aupsurgea of the disease this year could be a result of aevolutiona of the viral strain.A For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Seoul, June 12 : North Korea on Friday vowed to build up a "more reliable" force against military threats from the US, saying the historic summit two years ago between leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump led to no improvement in ties between the two countries. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon made the remark, adding that Pyongyang would "never again" provide the US with "another package" that Trump could use to boast as his political achievements, reports Yonhap News Agency citing Pyongyang's state-media. "The secure strategic goal of North Korea is to build up more reliable force to cope with the long-term military threats from the US. This is our reply message to the US on the occasion of second anniversary of June 12," Ri said in a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "What stands out is that the hope for improved relations has now been shifted into despair," he added. Ri voiced frustration over a stalemate since the Singapore summit, accusing Washington of just focusing on talking up "political achievements" without taking any actual steps to fulfil agreements. "The question is whether there will be a need to keep holding hands shaken in Singapore, as we see that there is nothing of factual improvement to be made in the relations simply by maintaining personal relations between our Supreme Leadership and the US President," he said. "In retrospect, all the practices of the present US administration so far are nothing but accumulating its political achievements. Never again will we provide the US Chief Executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns," he added. Ri's statement came hours after the US said that it is committed to implementing the Singapore summit agreement and is willing to take a flexible approach. "The US is committed to engaging North Korea in meaningful negotiations so that North Koreans can realize a brighter future," a State Department spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency in response to a request for comment on the second anniversary of the 2018 summit between Trump and Kim. "That offer remains on the table. We are willing to take a flexible approach to reach a balanced agreement on all of the Singapore summit commitments," the spokesperson added. Trump and the North's leader met in Singapore on June 12, 2018, to negotiate the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program in exchange for sanctions relief and other concessions. The two sides also agreed to work together to improve bilateral relations, build a lasting and stable peace regime on the peninsula, and repatriate the remains of American service members killed during the 1950-53 Korean War. Trump and Kim held their second summit in February last year but failed to produce an agreement. "Unless the 70-plus-year deep-rooted hostile policy of the US towards North Korea is fundamentally terminated, the US will as ever remain to be a long-term threat to our state, our system and our people," KCNA quoted Ri as saying. HONG KONG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese foreign ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Friday strongly condemned and opposed Britain's interference in China's internal affairs including Hong Kong affairs. Hong Kong is part of China and has returned to China for nearly 23 years, said a spokesperson of the commissioner's office, adding that nonetheless, Britain continues to issue so-called "six-monthly reports on Hong Kong", ignoring the fact and smacking of colonial nostalgia. The spokesperson condemned and firmly opposed such reports, which have interfered with Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs as a whole, and violated non-interference and other principles of international law and basic norms governing international relations. The spokesperson pointed out that citing the Sino-British Joint Declaration to justify unwarranted remarks about Hong Kong affairs is a distortion of the fact. In the Declaration's eight paragraphs and three annexes, there is no single word or clause that grants Britain any responsibility for Hong Kong after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, said the spokesperson. Since July 1, 1997, all rights and obligations concerning Britain in the Declaration have been fulfilled, and Britain has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or the right of supervision over Hong Kong, said the spokesperson. The spokesperson pointed out that no foreign country, including Britain, shall meddle with Hong Kong affairs, which are purely China's internal affairs, under the pretext of the Joint Declaration. The spokesperson said that since the unrest following the proposed amendment bill last year, hostile forces in and out of Hong Kong have kept committing violence and openly advocated "Hong Kong independence" and "self-determination". "They have severely undermined the stability, prosperity and security of Hong Kong, threatened the red line of 'one country, two systems", jeopardized national security, and pushed Hong Kong to the brink." Unfortunately, said the spokesperson, Britain's latest report has confounded right with wrong. The report whitewashed the rioters who have applied the "burn with us" mentality in defiance of humanity, condoned separatists, and smeared the restrained Hong Kong police and the central and the HKSAR governments, and thus exposed double standards and a motive to mess up Hong Kong and China at large. It runs counter to the dominant will of Hong Kong people for restoring order and stability, to Britain's commitment to respecting China's sovereignty and "one country, two systems", and to the interests of international stakeholders. The spokesperson said the allegation in the report that the national security legislation for the HKSAR would undermine "one country, two systems", the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong and its people's freedoms and rights is groundless panic-mongering. It is widely recognized that matters concerning national security fall within the purview of the central authorities, and legislating on national security by the central authorities are a common practice internationally, including in Britain, said the spokesperson. Nearly 23 years after Hong Kong's return, legislation required by Article 23 is yet to materialize due to obstruction by forces sowing trouble in Hong Kong and China at large, leaving Hong Kong an unguarded region in national security, rare in the world said the spokesperson, adding that therefore, it is imperative, legitimate and urgent for the central authorities to establish and improve a legal system and enforcement mechanisms at the state level for the HKSAR to safeguard national security. The spokesperson pointed out that political, business, legal and other professional communities in Hong Kong have expressed support for the legislation, and nearly 3 million Hong Kong residents signed a petition endorsing it in eight days. "All these fully show that the legislation is in line with people's will and the trend of the times." Some people in Britain, however, said the spokesperson, are attempting to obstruct the legislation. The spokesperson emphasized that the Chinese government is rock-firm in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, in implementing "one country, two systems", and in opposing any external interference in Hong Kong affairs. "We urge the UK (Britain) to step back from the brink, abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations, and stop impeding China's just effort to legislation on national security," said the spokesperson. Any interference that may undermine China's sovereignty and security and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability will be hit back by the 1.4 billion Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, the spokesperson warned. Click here to read the full article. J.C. Penney is the latest retailer to get some extra time to pay rent during its bankruptcy while the coronavirus pandemic is ongoing. At a hearing Thursday before the Texas bankruptcy court overseeing the case, the retailers attorneys sought an extension until mid-July to pay roughly $34 million in lease obligations that the retailer said it would owe for the months of June and July. The retailer has also not yet paid its May rent on most of its leased stores roughly 542 of its 611 leased properties, according to court filings. The company has 842 stores, of which it owns some 387, it has said in court filings. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Jones allowed the company to extend the deadline to pay rent to July 13, right before a mid-July deadline for it to finalize a concrete business plan, or wind up switching to some sort of sale. On Thursday, some shareholders on the call at the hearing also alluded to prospective suitors potentially interested in some sort of deal with J.C. Penney, but the companys attorneys didnt comment, and Jones said it was too soon to infer interest in the company based on any speculation about the case so far. The fact that somebody signs a non-disclosure agreement, that doesnt mean that theyre a suitor, Jones said. It means that theyre kicking tires. The fact that they get into a data room and look around, doesnt mean that theyre prepared to write a check. It means that theyre looking to see if they think that its an opportunity. Since temporarily closing all its stores in March during the pandemic, the retailer has reopened some 475 units, with plans to open more in the coming weeks, and the aim of reopening more fully by the end of July. The reopening process comes with expenses related to addressing store safety and accepting goods to keep shelves stocked, the company has said. Its also recovering from stores being closed for weeks in April alone, the companys year-over-year net sales dropped by some 88 percent due to negligible store sales, according to the company. Story continues Now it is contending with limited mall traffic even where it has reopened, Aparna Yenamandra of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, which represents J.C. Penney in the proceedings, said at the hearing. As we continue to reopen safely, we expect that well continue to see mall traffic steadily increase, she said. The stores where Penneys did pay rent in May include those where Sephora stores operated, said James Mesterharm, a managing director at AlixPartners LLP, and restructuring adviser to J.C. Penney since March. Penneys and the LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton-owned beauty retailer have had a joint enterprise operating contract through which Sephora has stores within Penneys locations In the meantime, Penneys will continue to negotiate rent with its landlords. A number of landlords had argued that the retailer shouldnt be allowed to extend its lease payment deadlines during their ongoing negotiations in order to arguably get a leg up during the discussions, but the judge overruled those objections. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Detectives looking for a suspect who killed two sisters in a London park have said they 'always have a fear' the murderer could strike again. Simon Harding, Detective Chief Inspector for the Metropolitan Police Homicide Command described the stabbing of Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, as 'incredibly unusual' given the rural location. The sisters were stabbed to death in Fryent Country Park off Slough Lane in Wembley, north-west London after meeting friends there on Friday to celebrate Bibaa's birthday. Nicole Smallman (left), 27, and Bibaa Henry (right), 46, were last seen on their way to celebrate Bibaa's birthday at Fryent Country Park in north-west London last Friday Police forensics at Fryent Country Park. The Met Police announced on Monday that they are treating the deaths as 'suspicious' and a murder investigation had been launched Mr Harding said on the following Friday that the sisters were 'incredibly close and loved by everybody'. He said: 'In this sort of setting in rural London the murder is incredibly unusual and it gives us an enormous crime scene to look through. 'But we won't stop until we've done everything we need to do here to try to find out, and if the public could help us with that that would be fantastic.' The suspect is likely to be wearing a bandage from a 'noticeable' injury which caused 'significant' blood loss from the time of the attack, and anyone who knows someone in the area with an unexplained injury has been asked to inform police. Mr Harding added that police were collecting blood samples from the scene so people should not be afraid of flagging potential suspects to them, because anyone innocent can be eliminated quickly. When asked if he was worried the killer might strike again, he said: 'We always have a fear of what might happen but we are assuring members of the public we are working around the clock.' The bodies of the two women were found shortly after 1pm on Sunday and a post-mortem examination was carried out on Tuesday, revealing the pair both died from multiple stab wounds. Investigators are searching a large area, including a pond, and trawling through hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rubbish which may contain evidence accidentally cleared from the scene. Forensic tents pictured at Fryent County Park in Wembley. Police were called to the scene after reports of the pair being found unresponsive shortly after 1pm on Sunday Bibaa and Nicole were the daughters of Wilhelmina Smallman, pictured, the former archdeacon of Southend, in the diocese of Chelmsford Police forensics at Fryent Country Park. Prior to the two women being discovered, their bodies are believed to have been spotted a day earlier by a woman who believed they were asleep The sisters and their friends were around a five-minute walk from the Valley Drive entrance to the park, where the suspect is believed to have made an exit. Mr Harding also appealed for anyone who was in the park on Friday evening through to Sunday lunchtime and saw the group or noticed anything suspicious to come forward, as well as regular park users who might have seen someone acting suspiciously in the days before. North West Borough Commander Roy Smith, added: 'My thoughts are with the family who have lost two loved ones in the most tragic of circumstances. 'I know the experienced investigation team are working around the clock to identify whoever is responsible as swiftly as possible and ensure they are brought to justice. 'We will leave no stone unturned.' Extra resources have been brought in to help from across the Met including additional detectives.' A 36-year-old man arrested in south London on suspicion of murder was released with no further action. It has also emerged that a Snapchat user warned about a man 'killing people' in the area and going around 'scaring' people a week before the two murders. The 15-year-old daughter of local resident Amanda Jacob Da Silva, 40, said her friend had posted about a man 'going around north-west London' on the app. 'She said for people around Brent to beware, tell people where you are if you are going out and to call people if you are out by yourself,' the girl said. 'It said especially girls. It said there is a man going around killing people and the person on the Snapchat said tell people where you are.' Police are in Fryent Country Park and the surrounding area today, handing out leaflets and engaging with members of the public in the hope of gathering information that could assist them with their investigation. The bodies of Nicole and Bibaa were discovered at the park on Sunday. Two days earlier, the sisters had been at the location celebrating Bibaa's 46th birthday. Their mother Wilhelmina Smallman, known as Mina, was the first female BAME Archdeacon in the Anglican church. Messages of support flooded in for the 63-year-old from former colleagues. Acting bishop of Chelmsford Revd Peter Hill said: 'We are devastated to hear of the tragic deaths of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry in north London at the weekend. 'Nicole and Bibaa were the daughters of our former Archdeacon and good friend Mina Smallman. This is heartbreaking news and the thoughts and prayers of everyone at Chelmsford Diocese are with Mina and her family.' Following a number of extensive enquiries, detectives are asking the public to help them with information about two key points. DCI Simon Harding, Specialist Crime, said: 'This is an unthinkably harrowing and tragic incident and my first thoughts remain with Nicole and Bibaa's close family and friends who are going through the most unimaginable pain and suffering. 'There have been a number of factors involved in both the incident and the aftermath which have required extra time and care in enabling us to create a clear picture of what has taken place. But what we can now say with some certainty is that Nicole and Bibaa were murdered by someone who was unknown to them. 'Enquiries continue at pace, and an ongoing extensive search of what is a significant crime scene - including a pond - continues to yield evidence. My officers are also currently trawling through hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rubbish from a local refuse depot in search of items of relevance to the investigation, which we believe were accidentally cleared from the scene when mistaken for rubbish. A police cordon at an entrance to Fryent Country Park. It has now emerged that sisters Bibaa and Nicole were the daughters of Wilhelmina Smallman, the former archdeacon of Southend 'Whilst we tirelessly work to identify the individual responsible I am asking the public for their help with two points: We believe the suspect received injuries during the incident which have caused significant bleeding. 'Do you know anyone who has been wounded in the last week who is unable to account for their injuries? Has someone returned home and perhaps acted suspiciously or tried to hide something from you? 'We also believe the suspect left the park via the Valley Drive entrance. Did you see anyone acting suspiciously in that vicinity during the evening of Friday into early hours of Saturday? You may have noticed someone who was injured. 'If you have information on either of these specific appeal points - no matter how insignificant it may seem - please contact us. 'At this stage we don't know why this awful attack took place and any information we can gather will help us further put the pieces of the jigsaw together.' Ms Jacob Da Silva, a secretary, commented: 'Whoever did this knew what they were doing. It is a secluded area where the two sisters were found and not many people pass by there. You have to go through the bushes. A police officer at an entrance to Fryent Country Park in Wembley. A post-mortem yesterday gave the cause of death for both women as stab wounds. No arrests have yet been made Flowers an an entrance to Freyent Country Park in a tribute to the two sisters. Residents living close to the area said a number of people had been staying there in tents during lockdown 'I suspect they got drunk and somebody saw them leaving the party, tried to sexually abuse them and kill them. Why would somebody go and kill them for nothing?' DCI Harding also appealed for anyone else in the area at the time to come forward. He said: 'A number of people have come forward with information which has really assisted us with our enquiries, but I still need to hear from anyone who was in the park on the evening of Friday, 5 June, or early into Saturday, 6 June who has not yet spoken with police. The area the group were in is around a five minute walk from the Valley Drive entrance of the park, leading to a hill area. 'This is a well-known spot to sit and look over London. If you were in that area of the park from the evening of 5 June through to Sunday lunchtime, noticed the group, or saw anything or anyone suspicious, please contact us immediately. 'I also want to hear from people who regularly use the park, you may have seen a person acting suspiciously in the days leading up to the attack, you may not think your information is relevant, but it may be vital, so call and tell us what you know. 'You may also have stumbled upon items of property, but not realised the significance of them. If you did, you may well have information that could assist us hugely. No matter how insignificant it may seem, please contact us.' As many of you saw the results of the photograph of me in Lafayette Square last week, that sparked a national debate about the role of the military in civil society, Milley said. I should not have been there. My presence in that moment, and in that environment, created the perception of the military involved in domestic politics. Corporate Alliances Officer, Beijing, China Organization: Unicef Country: China City: Beijing, China Office: UNICEF China Beijing Closing date: Thursday, 25 June 2020 Corporate Alliances Officer, NO-2, Beijing, China #111265 Job no: 532174 Position type: Fixed Term Appointment Location: China Division/Equivalent: Bangkok (EAPRO), Thailand School/Unit: China Department/Office: Beijing, China Categories: Alliances and Resource Mobilization, Communication / External Relations, Private Fundraising and Partnerships, NO-2, UN and Multilateral Affairs UNICEF works in some of the worlds toughest places, to reach the worlds most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up. For every child, care Under the supervision of Partnerships Manager, the purpose of Corporate Fundraising is to maximize income from the corporate sector as part of an integrated corporate engagement strategy. This strategy includes the development of new strategic, multi-faceted, national, international and global partnerships with Companies that support UNICEF in realizing sustainable benefits for children in China and in the world. How can you make a difference? We are looking for an expert in business and partnerships development who, will be responsible for proactively identify, develop and implement fundraising strategies to secure new partnerships with private sector companies in support of the Country Office Program priorities. New Business Development: New business process from prospect identification, to securing first meetings, through the contract signature of new partnerships. Mapping of prospect companies, development of new business pipeline and building propositions and outreach plans for companies. Analyses the national market, identifies opportunities and potential partners/allies. Using the findings of the country office Corporate Mapping Develops and manages the appropriate strategy to identify and prospect best potential Corporate Fundraising Partners. Obtains all necessary information for decision making (including marketing plans, quality of reference samples, product concepts, etc.) Ensures legal clearance and signature of the contract through the national Corporate Alliances Manager. Lead the efforts for drafting and implementing corporate agreements and MoUs, monitoring compliance of corporate proposals and sending it to corporate partners. Proposals Preparation and analysis: Identify synergies between companies objectives and UNICEF priorities to approach potential partners and establish high value partnerships. Prepares and makes UNICEF sales pitch through targeted presentations including presentation of the Country Offices work, outlining possible areas of business collaboration. Analyse proposals from corporations and made recommendations. Relationship building and maintenance: In coordination with the Partnership Manager, develops and maintains close relations with corporate allies, as well as with groups and organisations whose support is essential to the achievement of fundraising objectives. Tags business development business management fundraising resource mobilization Coordinates periodical reporting with Program section on progress as per agreement with corporate partners. To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have... An advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Fundraising, Business Management or another related field. At least three to five years of professional experience in business development, sales, marketing, fundraising or another related area. Demonstrated experience in new business development and securing new partnerships Fluency in English and Chinese is required For every Child, you demonstrate... UNICEFs values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. Interpersonal skills, capacity to work with different personalities to deliver on shared results Drive for results, setting high standards for the quality of work Capacity to think outside of the box and drive innovation Strong communication skills, fluently and confidently gathering and expressing and writing opinions and information Ability to analyze various sources of information and make rational judgement. Ability to build effective relationships and maintain a strong network of individuals outside of UNICEF, building strategic partnerships with a range of key stakeholders Ability to work strategically to realize UNICEFs goals View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. Advertised: Jun 09 2020 China Standard Time Application close: Jun 25 2020 China Standard Time Children will learn at home four days a week should physical distancing guidelines remain in place when both secondary schools and primary schools reopen, official advice to the Government outlines. Even if physical distancing rules are relaxed, from two metres to one metre, the majority of primary and secondary school students will spend two-and-a-half days in a classroom per week. However, attending just one day of school in a classroom will be "detrimental" to children's education, warns the initial report by the Department of Education on reopening schools. Social distancing, at both one and two-meters distances, will have severe consequences for Irish classrooms, according to the advice. This is due to infrastructural constraints in the sector such as class sizes, teacher and other staff availability and the physical space available in schools. The 'optimal model' for a return to school cited by the Department of Education involves very little change inside classrooms. While students would be expected to keep apart outside the classroom, there wouldn't be a "specific distance" children would have to maintain inside. There would also be a strong emphasis on hand hygiene, cleaning, staying at home if unwell and effective contact tracing. The report states that it is not "feasible" to add extra classroom capacity through pre-fabs or construction work, although some schools may be able to re-purpose PE halls, or access local and community facilities to create extra space. However, this "at best" will only make some marginal improvements. Its also not "feasible" to consider splitting classes or to recruit extra teachers given that there are teacher supply issues, according to the report. The 'optimal model' mooted by the department would allow schools to reopen for all students, and would have the least impact, the report states. However, this plan is completely dependent on public health advice, which still remains at keeping a distance of two-metres apart. At primary level, maintaining a physical distance of 2 metres in the classrooms would result in almost all pupils attending school for just one day a week. At second-level, it would mean most pupils would attend school two days a week. Students would be expected to stay at home, learning through blended learning for the remainder of the week. The impact of such a requirement on students education and well-being are most extreme," the report states, adding that it would be "detrimental. Even if the two-meters is reduced to one, almost all pupils would only be able to attend schools 2 days a week, the report notes. In secondary schools, it would result in some year groups attending school for half the week, and other year groups attending school at, or close to, a full-time basis. But this would still have a "very serious impact" on children and young people's education, the report adds. The department continues to examine aspects of public health advice, given the emerging evidence on infection transmission by children to adults. Talks on reopening schools will continue in the coming weeks. The International Criminal Court says United States President Donald Trumps decision to impose sanctions on court employees investigating alleged war crimes in Afghanistan is not only an attack on the court and the system of international criminal justice, but on the interests of the victims of atrocities. These are the latest in a series of unprecedented attacks on the ICC, the Hague-based court said in a statement. These attacks constitute an escalation and an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law and the Courts judicial proceedings, said the ICC. Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to block the financial assets of court employees and bar them and their immediate relatives from entering the US. The administration accused the court, which the US has never recognised, of infringing on its sovereignty. We cannot, we will not stand by as our people are threatened by a kangaroo court, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in announcing the move. The ICC was established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity and genocide in areas where perpetrators might not otherwise face justice. Some 123 states from across the world recognise its jurisdiction. Last hope In March, the ICC began an investigation into war crimes in Afghanistan that could involve Americans the first time the courts prosecutor had been cleared to investigate US forces. The decision was made on appeal after judges initially rejected the request from chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, whose visa was revoked by the US in April 2019. The case involves allegations of war crimes committed by Afghan national security forces, Taliban and Haqqani Network fighters, as well as US forces and intelligence officials in Afghanistan since May 2003. Bensouda has said there is information that members of the US military and intelligence agencies committed acts of torture, cruel treatment, outrages upon personal dignity, rape and sexual violence against conflict-related detainees in Afghanistan and other locations, principally in the 2003-2004 period. She has promised to carry out an independent and impartial investigation. An attack on the ICC also represents an attack against the interests of victims of atrocity crimes, for many of whom the Court represents the last hope for justice, the ICC statement said. While Trumps move to impose sanctions has been welcomed in Israel, other countries have reacted with alarm. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell Fontelles said Trumps order was a matter of serious concern and he described EU members as steadfast supporters of the tribunal. Borrell Fontelles said the court was a key factor in bringing justice and peace, and that it must be respected and supported by all nations. The United Nations has taken note with concern about reports of Trumps order, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. What a painful process, watching a great & inspiring nation being turned into a rogue state by men with no sense of responsibility for their people, other nations & future generations, Nils Melzer, the UN Special rapporteur on torture, wrote in a tweet. History is replete of examples must we REALLY go through this again? The American Civil Liberties Union suggested it might seek legal recourse and said the order was a dangerous display of [Trumps] contempt for human rights and those working to uphold them. The ICC said it welcomed a statement from the 10 ICC states that were members of the UN Security Council a statement in which they had reconfirmed their unwavering support for the Court as an independent and judicial institution. Fast-moving consumer goods major ITC was under attack recently reportedly for sending a notice to workers of its two food factories in Maharashtra and Karnataka, threatening "disciplinary action" and salary cuts if they didn't turn up for work despite social distancing and safety precautions at workplace. An ITC spokesperson denies, saying the company paid full wages to its 50,000 workers in April. However, the case raises interesting questions about the rights of workers, especially under the prevailing circumstances with states planning unprecedented changes in labour laws. Employment lawyer Atul Gupta, Partner at law firm Trilegal, says in the last one month, 20 of his clients have expressed concerns about non-availability of labour. "I am getting queries from corporates - Can I take disciplinary action against workers refusing to work? Can I refuse to pay them? Can I terminate their contract?, says Gupta. With Unlock 1.0 kicking in and companies looking to ramp up production to make up for losses over the last two months, manpower shortage has emerged as a key concern. A number of employees have gone back to their villages and home towns. Some are not showing up due to fear of getting infected. To enable companies to kick-start production, several state governments have announced relaxations in labour and employment laws. These changes are in two broad categories. First, exemptions from provisions of labour laws (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat). Second, extension of working hours under the Factories Act, 1948 (Assam, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Punjab). Though some of these changes are being reviewed, state governments say flexibility in labour laws will help companies revive production with limited staff and encourage them to invest. While industry has welcomed the initiatives, the changes have not gone down well with trade unions and workers. Even economic experts say government's view that labour law reforms as remedy for all economic ills will not help. A lot more is required to be done, they add. The Two Sides Labour is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution. Almost 10 states have announced labour law reforms. In fact, Union Labour and Employment Secretary Heeralal Samariya had reportedly asked states to undertake these measures. Considering that most bold reforms have been undertaken by states ruled by the BJP, experts say they are likely to have the Centre's support. "Reforms announced by Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Assam are based on a common template. It is unlikely that they don't have the Centre's backing," says Ravi Srivastava, Director, Centre for Employment Studies, Institute For Human Development (IHD). Last month, the Uttar Pradesh government proposed suspension of all labour laws for the next three years, barring three (related to payment of timely wages, prohibition of bonded labour, and health and safety of workers). "The ordinance issued by the UP government is extremely wide. You cannot have no law," says Srivastava of IHD. The proposal is awaiting approval from the President. If passed, employers will be able to choose whether to pay for overtime or not. They will also be able to decide whether to give paid holidays, gratuity or maternity benefits, or even compensation for termination. Workers will no longer have legal rights to approach the court. "Different codes under labour laws complement each other - Trade Union Act, Factories Act, Industrial Disputes Act, Contract Labour Act. They cannot be seen in isolation," says Srivastava. For instance, if there is an accident in a factory, workers will not have any recourse to settle their grievances because reconciliatory machinery under the Industrial Disputes Act will be defunct. Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar agrees. He said recently that abolition of labour laws is not a reform and the Central government will protect interests of workers. Lohit Bhatia, President, Indian Staffing Federation (ISF), says, "Labour codes are about both job seekers and job givers. You cannot fluctuate from one extreme to another where legislation supports only one side for a few years and then another. It has to be collective bargaining. The reason for having tripartite agreements is that everyone - labourers, staffing firms and employers - is reasonably protected." While the ordinance passed by the Uttar Pradesh government doesn't differentiate between old and new firms, Madhya Pradesh's amendments focus on incentivising new factories. The new factories would benefit from Industrial Disputes Act exemptions, one of the biggest pain points for companies. This means as long as new factories set up a fair mechanism to investigate and settle disputes, they will enjoy significant flexibility without worrying about prosecution. Till August 2020, all industries will get relaxations from all provisions of the Factories Act, barring the clause on safety. In addition, eight states (Maharashtra, Odisha, Goa, Uttarakhand, Assam, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh) have given flexibility to companies under the Factories Act regarding number of daily and weekly working hours. Most of them have extended the hours from eight to 12 per day. The difference is that some are paying for the extra work while others aren't. The 72-hour working week violates the International Labour Organization's (ILO's) Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, 1919, to which India is a signatory. India can have up to 60 working hours per week under the convention. Among states, only Karnataka has adopted a balanced approach. It has proposed up to 10 hours of work a day (within ILO norms), and 60 hours (not 72) a week, for three months ending on August 21. Overtime wages will have to be paid (double the usual wage rate). The changes have not gone down well with many, and have already been challenged in court. The country's 10 largest Central trade unions have written to the ILO's Director-General, Guy Ryder, highlighting the "virtual nullification of most of the substantive laws ? through state governments." Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary, AITUC, says, "Without labour laws, all responsibility and accountability towards workers will be negated. It will give a free hand to organisations to exploit them." According to Kaur, the Central government is using the lockdown to reduce bargaining power of workers and trade unions. Twelve hours of work plus travel time will put considerable pressure on workers and discourage women from entering the workforce, she adds. A PIL filed by Pankaj Kumar Yadav in Supreme Court has challenged the decisions of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat governments. The UP government withdrew the working-hour notification after a notice by the Allahabad High Court. The Rajasthan government also withdrew the notification extending working hours. Flexibility Is Key Change in laws via administrative orders or ordinances is susceptible to legal challenge and can lead to policy flip-flops, which discourages investors from making long-term bets on the country, say experts. "A consultative process by the Union government with states would have ensured uniformity of laws and buy-in from all stakeholders such as worker organisations and unions right in the beginning. This might have minimised scope for opposition and paved the way for acceptance of these changes," says Virag Gupta, Supreme Court lawyer and Partner at law firm VAS Global. Bhatia of ISF says flexibility in working hours is important as manpower shortage is likely to peak in July. "If the current pace of reverse migration continues, 2.5-3 crore workforce would have gone back to their villages and home towns. Sectors like manufacturing, construction and transport employ 9-11 crore people. So, every third employee would have gone back by the end of June. To restart work in these sectors in full shifts, flexibility is needed, but as long as the extensions are time-bound, and reforms do not impinge on workers' rights." Most notifications for work-hour extension are applicable for the next two to three months. Longer working hours is not a new thing. Earlier, workers would willingly put in longer hours to earn extra money. "If laws provide workers an avenue to get paid for extra hours, it will work in their favour," says Gupta of Trilegal. Also, longer shifts will help firms implement social distancing norms. "Running at full capacity and implementing social distancing norms will make it difficult to have three shifts of eight hours. Instead, have two shifts of 11 or 12 hours each," adds Gupta. There is a provision for a one-hour break between shifts for sanitising the premises. But payment of overtime wages will put additional stress on firms, already grappling with cash crunch, says Vikas Sapra, Vice President, Technology Operations, PeopleStrong. "It will be difficult to pay extra immediately. Many firms might have to take additional loans to pay higher salary costs." Unified Approach The big question is -- will it help firms? Labour law reforms are required but they need to be looked at holistically. Sougata Roy Choudhury, Executive Director, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), says the number of changes is a concern. "Organisations work across the country and cannot have a variety of labour laws. There is a need to centralise them. Even labour laws under states should be based on a unified model." "If you add all permutations and combinations of all the Central and state laws, there are more than 20,000 sections for which firms need to submit applications for," says M.S. Unnikrishnan, Chairman, CII National Committee on Capital Goods and Engineering, and MD, Thermax. The Centre has been working on four Labour Codes that will subsume all 44 Central laws. The Code on Wages has been adopted by Parliament; the rest are awaiting approval. "We need to make these codes strong and flexible," says CII's Roy Choudhury. But one cannot forget the burden of compliance, which is one of the biggest reasons why more than 85 per cent companies in India prefer to work in the unorganised space. Focussing only on labour laws is a lopsided approach. "The government is assuming that reforming labour law is a panacea for economic ills," says K.R. Shyam Sundar, Professor, Human Resource Management, XLRI Jamshedpur. "The government needs to think of the human development index, infrastructure and literacy rate, among other things," he adds. Take the case of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat, which have attracted FDI not because of relaxed labour laws but due to availability of skills, infrastructure, energy, port connectivity and cheap land. Ease of doing business is not about rigidity of only labour laws, says Sundar. Ritu Dewan, Vice President, Indian Society of Labour Economics, says government's focus has been on the supply side. "The problem for the last two-three years has been the demand side, that people dont have money. Even before Covid-19, many companies were working at 20-30 per cent capacity. They were not producing as people were not buying." The consumption expenditure survey by the National Statistical Office shows that in FY18, consumer spending fell 3.7 per cent (for the first time in last 40 years) due to weak rural demand. The unemployment rate was at its highest since 1970s, at 6.1 per cent, between July 2017 and June 2018. Since global demand has been hit hard, the country needs to think of ways to revive domestic demand. "It will come from public expenditure. The government has to look for ways to put money in pockets of those people who have the propensity to consume," says Srivastava of IHD. @sonalkhetarpal7 Hertz Global Holdings Inc., whose stock appears destined to be wiped out when its bankruptcy case is finished, wants to sell $1 billion (U.S.) more of its shares, even though it readily concedes those might wind up worthless, too. Investors promptly bid up Hertz by 68 per cent. The car renter wants to take advantage of the quixotic rally in its stock by offering as many as 246.78 million common shares, according to a court filing. The proceeds would provide some much-needed working capital while Hertz tries to dig out from massive debts that forced it into court protection. Judge Mary Walrath set a hearing for later Friday to consider the idea. This is what I love about bankruptcy theres never a dull moment, said Melanie Cyganowski, a former bankruptcy judge now with the law firm Otterbourg, who said she hasnt seen a financing like this. Hertz gained 41 per cent to $2.90 at 10:47 a.m. in New York and rose as high as $3.47. Investors are bidding up Hertz and other bankrupt companies on optimism that the economy and specifically air travel is poised to rebound. Hertz might also benefit from prices of used cars at auctions coming all the way back from a mid-April collapse. Hertz bankruptcy attorney Tom Lauria did not return an email seeking comment. Hertz based its request to the court on a nearly 10-fold increase in its stock from 56 cents on May 26 to $5.53 on Monday. While the stock has slid since then, Hertz said in the filing that a sale of shares still could help cover its debts. The recent market prices of and the trading volumes in Hertzs common stock potentially present a unique opportunity for the debtors to raise capital on terms that are far superior to any debtor-in-possession financing, the company said, referring to a traditional bankruptcy loan. Hertz said it would warn any potential buyers that the common stock could ultimately be worthless and protect Jefferies LLC, the firm managing the potential sale, against lawsuits that could result from the offering. As odd as it is, it might turn out to be brilliant move, said Bruce Grohsgal, a retired bankruptcy lawyer who teaches at Widener Universitys law school in Delaware. In the bankruptcy process, sometimes debt that seemed hopelessly out of the money can be repaid in full if business improves. If theres money left over, shareholders can get a recovery, too, Grohsgal said. Thats possible in this case because of the unprecedented pandemic and potentially positive outcome when the pandemic eases, he said. Still, the new stock could be risky because in bankruptcy all debt including Hertz bonds trading Friday at less than half their face value would have to be repaid in full before shareholders get a single cent. A lot of people would ask, what the heck is going on? Grohsgal said. Lawyers for Hertz requested an emergency ruling given the volatile state of trading in Hertzs stock. Hertz insiders sold shares during the recent rally, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Hertz disclosed earlier this week that New York Stock Exchange staff is starting proceedings to delist its stock. The company has appealed. While selling shares will let Hertz avoid the fees and interest payments of typical bankruptcy loans, that has to be weighed against the risk of a lawsuit, according to Cyganowski, the former bankruptcy judge. It is incredibly creative and they get props for that, but I wouldnt buy those shares, said Nancy Rapoport, a professor at UNLVs William S. Boyd School of Law, who said she has never seen a bankruptcy funded this way. I guess theyre trying to catch whatever the opposite of a falling knife is. The case is The Hertz Corporation, 20-11218, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Login: Users will have to migrate to another provider or pay new fee Eir is to charge 5.99 per month for its webmail service from the start of July. The company had suspended the introduction of the fee during the pandemic lockdown. The move is estimated to affect tens of thousands of Eircom.net email address users. Eircom.net email addresses are common among community associations, schools and voluntary associations. The company's webmail service has been free for almost 20 years. From July first, email account holders who don't pay won't be able to open individual email messages. If they don't pay within two months, their email account will be deleted. Eir is understood to be implementing the move as the email service is a loss-making one that requires customer service resources. The company's website says that the charge is being brought in "to provide a better service". Eircom.net email users who do not wish to start paying the new 6 monthly subscription can export their emails and contact addresses to free services such as Gmail. Instructions for doing so can be found at support.google.com and involve setting up a Gmail account or using an existing Gmail account. Eir executives say that they do not make money from email services, unlike Google, which sometimes uses the data from Gmail to supplement its advertising business. However, it may leave thousands of people feeling trapped into paying a new monthly subscription to avoid losing access to their long-standing business, community and personal contacts. In the UK, telecoms companies have been introducing similar charges on once-free services. BT customers reacted with dismay when the former incumbent recently raised prices to 7.50 (8.80) per month for customers to use its email, while TalkTalk charges 5 (5.88) per month. Meanwhile, Eir also announced that its cut-price GoMo mobile phone network now has over 200,000 customers. Launched last October, the service offers 80GB of data with unlimited calls and texts for 13 per month, a tariff that undercuts rivals, including its own sibling Eir Mobile services. [June 12, 2020] FHLB Dallas Awards $2.3 Million to 99 Community Groups Including Funds for COVID-19 Relief Efforts The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) is pleased to announce $2.3 million in Special Partnership Grant Program (PGP (News - Alert)) funds have been awarded by FHLB Dallas and 63 member institutions to 99 community-based organizations (CBO). The funds were combined with $502,400 contributed by FHLB Dallas members for a total of more than $2.8 million to the organizations. Funding under FHLB Dallas' PGP was increased by $2 million in 2020 under FHLB Dallas' COVID-19 Relief Program to support CBOs involved in affordable housing activities, stimulating small business development or providing small businesses with technical assistance. The use of funds for these organizations was expanded to include COVID-19 relief. Through this unique grant program, FHLB Dallas member institutions contribute $500 up to $6,000 to a CBO, which FHLB Dallas matches at a 5:1 ratio (previously a 3:1 ratio) to provide the CBO up to $30,000 per member and $60,000 per year in grant money. Grants are awarded annually through FHLB Dallas' member institutions via a lottery system. "As our members and their communities face challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we felt it was important to provide additional support through the Special Partnership Grant Program so members could continue focusing on building strong relationships with their customers and affecting change in their communities during recovery efforts," said FHLB Dallas President and CEO Sanjay Bhasin. Among participating members in the program are Red River Bank in Alexandria, Louisiana; Simmons Bank in Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Southwest Capital Bank in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Southside Bank in Tyler, Texas; and The First, A National Banking Association (The First) in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Here's what members had to say about the impact of the PGP: "Red River Bank has partnered with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas since the bank opened 20 years ago. This year, we were able to help nonprofits in all of our markets and even reach new partners. It's really exciting that we were able to do that, and that we're able to develop new relationships thanks to the Spcial Partnership Grant Program's additional $2 million." - Jannease Seastrunk, vice president and community reinvestment act officer at Red River Bank, Alexandria, Louisiana "The Partnership Grant is essential to our smaller nonprofits who struggle to find adequate resources and are trying to engage in very hard work of improving the lives of low- to moderate-income communities. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas Partnership Grant Program gives us an excellent opportunity to strengthen relationships with the nonprofits." - Martie North, senior vice president and director of community development/community reinvestment act at Simmons Bank, Pine Bluff, Arkansas "At Southside Bank, we pride ourselves on investing in our communities. It was very rewarding and exciting to hear six nonprofits received Partnership Grant Program funds, making a huge impact for our communities. It is a privilege to partner with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas and nonprofits to make a difference." - Brooke Mott, fair and responsible banking officer at Southside Bank, Tyler, Texas "Southwest Capital Bank is honored to serve the community through the Partnership Grant Program. Thanks to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas for helping us build new relationships with community-driven organizations." - Anthony Ortiz, chief financial officer and senior vice president at Southwest Capital Bank, Albuquerque, New Mexico "The First is committed to providing nonprofit organizations the funding they need to carry out their operations and take the lead in providing for the community. We are happy to be part of the Special Partnership Grant Program and partner with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas." - Jerome Brown, executive vice president and director of Community Development at The First, Hattiesburg, Mississippi The Special PGP may be used for: - Organizational capacity-building - Assistance with applying for grants and other funding sources - Research and studies - Contractual services This year the program was expanded to meet additional needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including: - Nonprofits providing emergency rental assistance - Emergency relief funds/social service providers related to housing - Homeless shelters - Job training See the complete list of the 2020 PGP grant recipients. For more information about the 2020 PGP grants and other FHLB Dallas community investment products and programs, please visit fhlb.com/pgp. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank system created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $83.8 billion as of March 31, 2020 is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced advances and other credit products to approximately 805 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. Visit fhlb.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005578/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army march in front of the entrance of the Forbidden City in Beijing on May 20, 2020. (Andrea Verdelli/Getty Images) Chinese Military Officer Charged With Visa Fraud, Allegedly Took Research From US University An alleged Chinese researcher who hid his military background was arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on June 7 before he could board a plane back to China. Wang Xin, who is actually an officer with Chinas military, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), was charged with visa fraud after his arrest on Sunday, according to a June 11 press release from the Department of Justice. According to a criminal complaint unsealed on June 8, Wang was issued a multiple entry J1 non-immigration visa on Dec. 17, 2018, but he had intentionally made fraudulent statements on the visa application in order to increase the likelihood that he would receive the visa. The U.S. State Department issues J1 non-immigration visas to individuals who qualify for work-and-study-based exchange visitor programs. Wang stated in his visa application that he was going to conduct scientific research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He falsely claimed that he had served as an associate professor in medicine at the PLA from September 2002 to September 2016, according to prosecutors. Wang entered the United States through the San Francisco International Airport on March 26, 2019, according to the complaint. On Sunday, just before boarding a plane that would take him from LAX to Tianjin city in China, Wang was stopped and interviewed by U.S. customs and border protection officers. The interview revealed Wangs true intention in the United States. According to the press release, Wang said he was instructed by his supervisor, the director of an unnamed military university lab in China, to observe the layout of the UCSF lab and bring back information on how to replicate it in China. While at UCSF, Wang had emailed research to a lab in China, customs officers learned. Wang also told his supervising professor at UCSF that he had duplicated some of the professors work at the Chinese lab. According to the complaint, he told the customs officers that he was still employed by the PLA and receiving compensation from the PLA during his stay in the United States. More specifically, he said he was a Level 9 technician in the PLAa position that the officers equated as the U.S. military rank of major. While in the United States, Wang said he was also receiving compensation from the China Scholarship Council, an organization run by Chinas Ministry of Education, according to the complaint. Some of the work at the UCSF lab was funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), according to the press release. If convicted, Wang faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. He was detained following his court appearance in the Central District of California. He is scheduled to appear in another court session at 10 a.m. local time on June 12 for a detention hearing. In an email, the Department of Justice said it had no comment regarding the possibility of additional or different charges in the future. In October 2018, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), an independent think tank partially funded by Australias Department of Defense, issued a report detailing Beijings scheme to send scientists with ties to the PLA abroad, mostly to the Five Eyes alliance countriesAustralia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United Statesas well as other countries such as Singapore and Germany. The report estimated that since 2007, more than 2,500 Chinese military scientists and engineers have traveled abroad, often by masking their military ties. They would hide their ties to the PLA, such as using names of non-existent research institutions as their cover. According to the report, the PLA describes such schemes as picking flowers in foreign lands to make honey in China: acquiring foreign technology to advance the Chinese militarys capabilities. Gemma Oaten has revealed her battle with anorexia left her 24 hours from death at just 12 years old. The former Emmerdale star, 36, first formed a complicated relationship with food at the age of ten before being diagnosed with an eating disorder just two years later. Speaking to The Sun, she said: 'I just restricted my eating completely. I constantly felt fat. It was just a spiral. I became a prisoner of my own mind... Candid: Gemma Oaten, 36, has revealed her battle with anorexia left her 24 hours from death at just 12 years old 'I would be pumped with calories, drugs and potassium and shipped back out. There was no funding to put me anywhere that was specialised.' Gemma said that she was warned by doctors that if she didn't eat or drink anything within 24 hours she would be dead. And she has been battling numerous health issues since as a direct result of her anorexia. The soap star said: 'My eating disorder was always there and waiting to pounce. At 18, it spiralled again and I had a heart attack. A year later at 19, I had a bowel prolapse [when the rectal wall slides out].' Childhood: Gemma (pictured left aged 9 and right 10) first formed a complicated relationship with food at the age of ten before being diagnosed with an eating disorder just two years later The health scares served as a wake up call for Gemma who said she decided to start seeing a therapist and has now been in recovery for 13 years. But she continues to take a tablet each day to help her bladder, which was weakened by the bowel prolapse, as well as medication for her stomach and laxatives to relieve internal pressure. During her battle, Gemma's mother Marg, now 68, and her father Dennis, 73, set up the SEED Eating Disorders Support Services charity. Disturbing: Gemma (pictured left age 18 and right 19) has been battling numerous health issues since as a direct result of her anorexia And Gemma now dedicates much of her time to raising awareness for eating disorders and calls for improvements on the system, which she believes is 'not good enough'. Many sufferers have admitted that their symptoms have been made worse since the country went into lockdown amid the coronavirus crisis. Routine doctors appointments have been missed as well as rising anxiety levels over the availability of foods. Upset: It comes after Gemma was left enraged after thieves broke into parents' home and stole food and essentials It comes after Gemma was left enraged after thieves broke into parents' home and stole food and essentials. She took to Twitter after a hoard of goods belonging to her mum and dad were stolen, which they vitally needed as they are both at 'high risk' of developing complications if they contract the coronavirus. Gemma wrote: 'So my parents, who are high risk, were burgled yesterday, food and essentials gone. She continued: 'Makes my blood boil However us oatens always bounce back. When I'm next home I'm camping out to catch them seriously though...please be kind. PLEASE think of the bigger picture X sta safe x (sic)'. The actress has been inundated with messages of support since posting her tweet, with fellow Emmerdale alum Samantha Giles sending her 'love' to Gemma and her parents. Furious: The soap star took to Twitter after a hoard of goods belonging to her mum and dad were stolen (pictured in December) 'Makes my blood boil': Gemma wrote: 'So my parents, who are high risk, were burgled yesterday, food and essentials gone' The news comes just months after her parents became the target of burglars over the Christmas period. When one fan pointed out the previous robbery, Gemma replied: 'It did. they know what they're doing. We had all the security updated last time. Police said they know exactly what they're doing. Left my folks with over hundreds of pounds worth of damage... Which no one has right now [sic]'. Gemma has been unable to get supplies to her parents as she is self-isolating in London whilst they live in Hull, and doesn't want to risk travelling from the capital - which is the epicentre of the virus in the UK - to visit them. However, the actress has insisted her siblings are on hand to deliver much needed essentials to the couple. Governor Whitmer Expands Law Enforcement Commission to Include Civil Rights Director, Community Leaders Governor Whitmer Expands Law Enforcement Commission to Include Civil Rights Director, Community Leaders FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 12, 2020 Media Contact: Press@michigan.gov Governor Whitmer Expands Law Enforcement Commission to Include Civil Rights Director, Community Leaders Gov. Whitmers order brings community voices to the table as MCOLES considers police reforms LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-121 to add four seats to The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES). The Director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and three community members appointed by the governor will occupy these seats. The governors order will bring more community voices to the table as the commission considers police reforms for our state. Expanding the commission to bring diverse, community voices to the table during this national conversation and movement to improve community-police relations is a proactive step toward strengthening and healing our communities together, said Governor Whitmer. While there is more to do, this is a pivotal time. I look forward to working with law enforcement, the community and with everyone else who wants to build a more just, equitable state for all Michiganders. We have the power and responsibility to change the current system to include more diverse voices and visions for the future, Lt. Governor Gilchrist said. When we bring more full and complete community representation to the policy-making table, our policies begin to look like, feel like, and be more responsive to the people we serve. I fully support and welcome these additional members to the MCOLES Commission, stated Col. Joe Gasper, director of the Michigan State Police. The insight of these new members will provide a necessary outside perspective, and also serve to add another layer of transparency and accountability to policing in Michigan. Under the executive order, the three members appointed by the governor must not be a law enforcement officer, a Michigan tribal law enforcement officer, or be employed by or otherwise affiliated with a law enforcement agency or a law enforcement training academy. The governor has taken a number of actions in the past two weeks to reform Michigans law enforcement agencies. On June 3, she announced her support for a series of policy plans for police reform in Michigan, calling on Michigan law enforcement agencies to enhance their training and policies to help create a police culture where all Michiganders are treated with dignity and respect under the law. Governor Whitmer also voiced her support for measures that require law enforcement officers to complete training on implicit bias and de-escalation techniques, and applauded the Senate for taking up Senate Bill 945, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin, which addresses many of these issues. The governor also urged police agencies to require their officers to intervene when they observe an excessive use of force by another officer, which will save lives and help to keep people safe. ACTIONS THE GOVERNOR IS TAKING: Requesting that the Michigan Commission of Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) provide guidance to law enforcement agencies on continuing education that will help officers keep up with the everchanging landscape of new laws and issues facing the community, including diversity and implicit bias training. Encouraging police departments to participate in efforts that are underway on comprehensive reporting on the use of force by police departments. Urging law enforcement agencies to implement duty to intervene polices. The governor applauded Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren and Lansing Police Chief Daryl Green for their efforts in ensuring their officers intervene when an officer observes another officer doing something inappropriate or illegal. Calling on the Legislature to act on SB 945. Under Senator Irwins bill, SB 945, incoming law enforcement officers would be required by law to go through training on implicit bias, de-escalation techniques, and mental health screenings. Under the leadership of Governor Whitmer and Col. Joe Gasper, the MSP has already taken a number of actions to reform policies that will ensure MSP members treat all Michiganders with dignity and respect. ACTIONS MSP HAS TAKEN: Created an Equity and Inclusion Officer position within the department. Set a goal to increase the racial minority trooper applicant pool to 25 percent and the female trooper applicant pool to 20 percent, in an effort to diversify the department. Established community service trooper positions to institute a community policing concept statewide. Posted all non-confidential department policies online to increase transparency. Implemented recurring implicit bias training for all enforcement members and assisted in the development and pilot of a nationwide implicit bias training for civilian personnel. Generated a public-facing transparency web portal for FOIA requests. Revised the departments pursuit policy to limit the circumstances in which MSP members can engage in a vehicle pursuit. Governor Whitmer has been committed to enacting criminal justice reforms since the day she took office. In April of 2019, she signed an executive order to create the Michigan Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, which has reviewed the states jail and court data to expand alternatives to jail, safely reduce jail admissions and length of stay, and improve the effectiveness of the front end of Michigans justice system. The task force has produced a report and made recommendations that are awaiting action by the legislature. In January of 2019, the governor signed Executive Order 2019-9, which requires each director of a state department and head of an autonomous agency to designate an Equity and Inclusion Officer to help strengthen non-discrimination protections for state employees. To view Executive Order 2020-121 click the link below: ### Supportive Statements from Michigan Partners: This is an important first step for everyone in Michigan. The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement has certainly done some important work when it comes to recognizing that there must be new standards for policing, training, and law enforcement reform. Clearly, there is a lot of work to do as they move forward and these additional voices will greatly enhance these efforts. said Prosecutor Kym Worthy. I applaud the vision and leadership of Governor Whitmer instituting these important changes to the MCOLES Board. What we in law enforcement have learned over the last months is that good policing requires the input of the community. Adding additional citizen voices as well as a State Civil Rights representative to provide input on how the State can effectively and fairly train our current and future police officers will only benefit law enforcements ability to build trusting relationships with the community members they serve and protect, said Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson. In light of recent events in our county, and protests we have witnessed around the United States, the world, and even in Marquette, our home community, it is important that we recognize the need for additional civilian perspectives, and input from the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. said Matt Wiese, Marquette County Prosecuting Attorney. It is also important that we recognize that the vast majority of police officers go to work every day and professionally do their job to protect and serve our communities. The expansion of perspectives, will hopefully address the concerns raised by recent events, while continuing to support best practices developed through community policing efforts that focus on community oriented approaches to working with our citizens." I applaud Governor Whitmer for her swift response to the critical issue of criminal justice reform. The reforming of training for this Nation's police officers is an imperative for needed reform. Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon. The two leaders first met at a breakthrough summit in Singapore in June 2018, but talks have made little progress. North Korea sees little use in maintaining a personal relationship between leader Kim Jong Un and United States President Donald Trump if Washington sticks to hostile policies, state media reported on Friday two years after the two men held their first summit. Policies from the US prove Washington remains a long-term threat to the North Korean state, and its people and North Korea will develop more reliable military forces to counter that threat, Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA. Trump and Kim exchanged insults and threats in 2017 as North Korea made large advances in its nuclear and missile programme, and the US responded by leading an international effort to tighten sanctions. Relations improved significantly around the Singapore summit in June 2018, the first time a sitting US president had met a North Korean leader, but the statement that came out of the meeting was light on specifics. A second summit in February 2019 in Vietnam failed to reach a deal because of conflicts over US calls for North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons, and North Korean demands for swift sanctions relief. Ri said in retrospect that the Trump administration appeared to have been focusing only on scoring political points while seeking to isolate and suffocate North Korea, and threatening it with preemptive nuclear strikes and regime change. Never again will we provide the US chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns, he said. Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise. The US Department of State and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On Thursday, a State Department spokesperson told South Koreas Yonhap news agency that the US remains committed to dialogue with North Korea, and is open to a flexible approach to reach a balanced agreement. Election pressure On Thursday, North Korea criticised the US for commenting on inter-Korean affairs, and said Washington should stay quiet if it wants the upcoming US presidential election to go smoothly. North Korea is likely to try and increase pressure on the US ahead of the November election, said Daniel Russel, the top US diplomat for East Asia until early in the Trump administration. Trumps claim to have solved the North Korea problem gives them leverage, he said. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a Korea expert at Kings College London, said Ris statement shows North Korea still sees all options on the table, from a proper diplomatic process to further developing its nuclear programme. North Korea continues to need a proper deal more than the US, Pacheco Pardo said on Twitter. That hasnt changed. Ri said North Koreas desire to open a new cooperative era runs as deep as ever, but that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is daily taking a turn for the worse. The US professes to be an advocate for improved relations with the DPRK, but in fact, it is hell-bent on only exacerbating the situation, Ri said referring to his country by its official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. Trump Approves Sanctions Over ICC Afghanistan War Crimes Case By RFE/RL June 11, 2020 President Donald Trump has issued an executive order authorizing economic sanctions and travel restrictions against employees of the International Criminal Court (ICC) who are directly involved in investigating U.S. troops and intelligence officials for possible war crimes in Afghanistan. After Trump signed the executive order on June 11, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington would not allow Americans to be threatened by "a kangaroo court." Attorney General Bill Barr accused "foreign powers like Russia" of manipulating The Hague-based court "in pursuit of their own agenda." The United States is among dozens of countries that are not parties to the Rome treaty that established the ICC in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in areas where perpetrators might not otherwise face justice. In a statement, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany called the actions of the court "an attack on the rights of the American people and threaten to infringe upon our national sovereignty." The court "has been an unaccountable and ineffective international bureaucracy that targets and threatens United States personnel as well as personnel of our allies and partners," she added. McEnany alleged that the court continues to pursue politically motivated investigations against the U.S. and its partners, including Israel, and that "adversary nations are manipulating" the ICC. 'Corruption And Misconduct' The United States also has "strong reason to believe there is corruption and misconduct at the highest levels of the International Criminal Court office of the prosecutor, calling into question the integrity of its investigation into American service members," the White House spokeswoman said. Trump's order authorizes the secretary of state, in consultation with the treasury secretary, to block financial assets within U.S. jurisdiction of court personnel who directly engage in investigating, harassing, or detaining U.S. personnel. Court officials -- and their family members -- involved in the probe can also be blocked from entering the United States. The Trump administration already imposed travel restrictions and other sanctions against ICC employees last year. In November 2017, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda asked judges to initiate an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Afghanistan since May 2003. But in April 2019, an ICC pretrial chamber rejected the inquiry as not being in the "interests of justice" because it would likely fail due to lack of cooperation. In March this year, the ICC's Appeals Chamber in March ruled that the investigation could go ahead a decision Pompeo at the time described as "reckless." Afghanistan is a signatory of the Rome treaty but officials have expressed opposition to the investigation. U.S. forces and other foreign troops intervened in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States and overthrew the Taliban government. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump- approves-sanctions-over-icc-afghanistan- war-crimes-case/30665684.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain While lockdowns undoubtedly avoided large numbers of deaths from the new coronavirus, the repercussions of the pandemic response are expected to blight economies and health systems long after restrictions are lifted. So how can we quantify the costs and benefits of one of the largest public health interventions ever? "This is a very difficult calculation to make," Sarah Burgard, a sociologist at the University of Michigan, told AFP. According to official counts, the virus has infected at least 7.4 million people around the world and more than 415,000 have died. Burgard said in the end it may prove difficult to untangle how many deaths were caused by COVID-19 and how many by "the chaos and fallout" of the crisis. "I don't have a lot of faith that we are going to be able to come up with a very clear number," she said. Even if a figure is reached, decisions over its implications would be "heavily political and ethically complex". The response to the disease had led to an unprecedented reorganisation of societies, with businesses shuttered, stay-at-home orders, medical facilities refocused on treating COVID-19 patients. The economic impact of the measures has caused alarm and division. 'Unknown situation' In a study published in 2000, the American economist Christopher Ruhm asked a provocative question: "Are recessions good for your health?" His research found that a rise in unemployment sharpened stresses on mental health, causing increases in substance abuse and suicide. But there were unexpected benefits for physical health: road accidents and pollution reduced, while people had more time for exercise. Reflecting on his work two decades later, Ruhm said that in a normal economic slump "when unemployment was high, mortality was low and vice versa". But the coronavirus-induced recession is not a normal economic downturn. "We are in an unknown situation," Ruhm said in an April online talk for the University of Virginia, where he is a professor of public policy and economics. "I think it may be the first time in history that we are actually deliberately creating a recession, not because we want to create a recession, but because this health threat is so real." No silver linings Now societies are bearing the strain of both a deadly pandemic and a huge economic shock. The virus undercuts the usual "silver linings" of an economic downturn, said Burgard. Populations have been confined inside, reducing access to beneficial physical exercise. People struggling with bereavement, mental health issues or unemployment find it harder to access their normal support networks, with even visits to family members restricted. And the healthcare sector itself has been battered by the virus, with frontline staff at risk of infection while treatments for other illnesses have been postponed. Even in normal times, any positive effects seen in economic downturns are often in richer nations. "The opposite seems true in many low- and middle-income countries, where mortality actually increases during recession," said Thomas Hone, a public health researcher at Imperial College London. He said this may suggest that what protects people from the harms of recessions are "strong health systems and social security nets". Many fear the scale of the pandemic and economic downturn will disproportionately hurt the most vulnerable. UN agencies and the vaccine alliance Gavi have said virus restrictions caused immunisations to be disrupted in nearly 70 countries, affecting some 80 million children under the age of one and threatening a resurgence of preventable diseases like polio and measles. The World Food Programme estimates the number of people facing acute hunger this year could nearly doubleto 265 million. 'No choice' Will the long-term ramifications of lockdowns counteract the effect they had on slowing contagion? In a study published on Monday, Imperial College researchers estimated that lockdowns had prevented around 3.1 million deaths in 11 European countries. On Wednesday, Imperial epidemiologist Neil Ferguson told a British parliamentary committee that because of the exponential spread of the virus, locking down just a week earlier would have reduced the final death toll by "at least a half". But any modelling is based on assumptionsin this case calculations of what would have happened if action had not been taken. Restrictions were imposed after predictions of potentially enormous tolls, said Arthur Caplan, professor of bioethics at New York University. "I don't think politicians and leaders had a choice," he said. "If you saw those numbers in the millions of deaths, you had to take steps because you would have had a broken health system, a public that wouldn't have come out anyway because they would have been terrified." Caplan said there should be a "broad set of voices" in determining whether the lockdowns were the right solution, but added that the question would be "political". And will the people whose lives are affected in the future be counted in this reckoning? Some think not. "We will not have the director general of health reeling off the statistics of excess mortality by suicide or stroke every evening," French sociologist Didier Fassin said in the newspaper Le Monde. Explore further The calculus of death shows the COVID-19 lockdown is clearly worth the cost 2020 AFP On Saturday night, just before 11, California highway patrol officers opened fire on the car Erik Salgado was driving in east Oakland, killing the 23-year-old and injuring his pregnant girlfriend. It was the second time in four days that Bay Area law enforcement killed a Latino man suspected of property crimes. Sean Monterrosa, 22, was shot dead in Vallejo on 2 June by police responding to calls of looting. Monterrosa was on his knees when an officer opened fire through his car window, the citys police chief said. . The deaths of Salgado and Monterrosa were new tragedies unfolding even before the communities of color in the San Francisco Bay area had a chance to absorb the previous trauma. Latino community activists say they hear their own stories echoed in the demand for an end to police brutality, with Salgados name only the most recent hashtag in a long and growing list of Latinos killed by police cases that dont always generate widespread media coverage. Its important not to get caught up in the trap of oppression Olympics and compare our oppression against other groups, said George Galvis, executive director of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (Curyj), an organization that supports youth impacted by incarceration. Latinos and Black communities have a common pain, a common oppression. But weve got our own martyrs. Questionable circumstances Salgados life came to an end just blocks away from the middle school in east Oakland he attended as a teenager. On Monday, friends and family at his vigil recalled what theyll miss about him: he was a good father to his three-year-old daughter, said his stepdad, Farid Majail. Always asking what his nephews needed, said his cousin. He liked video games and soccer and had plans for the future. Related: 'Make it stop': George Floyd's brother calls on Congress to act over police violence CHP said its officers on Saturday were attempting to conduct a traffic stop after spotting a red Dodge Challenger that had been flagged stolen from a nearby dealership that was hit by looters. Officers told Salgado and his girlfriend Brianna Colombo to exit the vehicle, according to the statement, at which point Salgado began ramming CHP vehicles. Three officers fired their weapons. Salgado was apparently unarmed. Story continues Salgado died at the scene and Columbo, who was four months pregnant, was wounded and taken to the hospital. She survived, but family members said she was shot in the stomach and miscarried. CHP has released few details about the shooting and its circumstances, raising questions among Salgados friends and family about the agencys account. John Burris, a civil rights attorney who is representing Salgados family, said he is still investigating the shooting, including what prompted officers to open fire and whether the car was stolen. Weve seen this too often where a potential looter has been shot and killed under very, very questionable circumstances. Looting is not a justification for deadly force, said Burris. Felina Ramirez, center, and Farid Majail, right, the mother and step-father of Erik Salgado, rally in front of Highland hospital in Oakland. Photograph: Ben Margot/AP Amanda Majail-Blanco, Salgados sister, told supporters on Monday, Erik was a good daddy, he was a good brother, he was a good primo, a good dad. He was a product of the streets like all of us are, a product of his environment, she said. That dont make him a bad person. That dont make him a criminal. Working toward real change Between 2016 and 2018, Latinos in California made up 39% of the population but represented 46% of deadly police shootings the second most disproportionate behind the rates for African Americans, according to an analysis from CalMatters. The death of Andy Lopez, who was 13 when he was killed by a Sonoma county sheriffs deputy, Erick Gelhaus, in 2013, ignited protest and community outrage. The officer said he mistook the pellet gun Lopez was carrying for an AK-47 assault rifle circumstances that were hauntingly familiar to those surrounding the death of Tamir Rice, a Black child who was 12 when he was shot by Cleveland police in 2105 after being spotted with a pellet gun. Lopez was shot 7 times. Gelhaus was cleared of all charges. Alex Nieto was 28 the night he walked to the top of a hill in San Franciscos Bernal Heights neighborhood to eat a burrito. On the way, he drew the attention of passersby, one of whom called 911 to report that Nieto appeared to be carrying a gun. Nieto carried only a taser, one he needed for his job as a nightclub bouncer. Upon arrival, police said, Nieto pointed his taser at them, which they mistook for a firearm. Four police officers shot Nieto at least 14 times. A jury later cleared the officers of all charges. Elena Mondragon, was 16 and pregnant in 2017 when she was shot and killed by Fremont police. Mondragon was a passenger in a stolen BMW pursued by police. When the driver attempted to drive through a roadblock, officers opened fire. Mondragon was struck five times. Amilcar Perez-Lopez, an immigrant from Guatemala, was 20 years old when he was shot four times in the back and once in the head by two plainclothes San Francisco police officers in 2015. Police said they were responding to a confrontation over a bike. The district attorney cleared the officers of charges. Perez-Lopez was one of at least 67 Latinos identified by the Guardian as killed by police across the US that year. Nearly 60% of them didnt carry a gun; 25% were not armed at all. Friends and supporters of Erik Salgado and Brianna Colombo rally in front of Highland hospital, where Colombo is a patient. Photograph: Ben Margot/AP Our people are suffering the same abuses that havent been highlighted as much as what has happened to African Americans, said Jessica Aguallo-Hurtado, who, along with her husband, is a member of the Brown Berets, an organization that advocates for Mexican-American rights. Were on our own land but were seen as foreigners. Many of us are undocumented and dont want come out of the shadows. We fail when it comes to coming together as a whole community. Aaron Fountain, a doctoral student at University of Indiana who has studied community reaction to police abuses, said other factors also play a role, among them: lack of Latino representation in newsrooms, and a lack of knowledge about historical abuses suffered by Latinos. I think in general Americans have a lack of knowledge of Latino history, including the fact that Latinos were lynched across the south-west, Fountain said. Civil rights attorney Arnoldo Casillas, who represented the family of Perez-Lopez, sees what happened to Perez-Lopez as a part of a pattern that extends beyond Latino communities and resonates with the broader movement happening now. The reason I believe were having this welling up is because people see the injustice. The oppressed are only going to be oppressed for so long, Casillas said. In the years since Perez-Lopez was killed, Casillas said he had become even more convinced that real change starts with police reform, a conversation that has been thrust forward as cities explore defunding police departments. District attorneys must be more willing to prosecute cops for unjustified shootings, he said, and individual police officers must be held accountable. The threat of criminal prosecution has to be real, and cops have to know their claims of self-defense will be scrutinized before things will change. These cops will kill you Meanwhile in east Oakland, community organizers are demanding the immediate release of more information on Salgados death including video footage of the incident. Near the memorial constructed at the place where Salgado died, visitors on Monday lit candles, drank beer and wept over the memory of another friend lost to violence. Thats a piece of the car he was driving, said a friend, pointing to a piece of plastic attached to a balloon. At the vigil, a 62-year-old man said he repeatedly warns young people to stay away from police at all costs a lesson he said he learned living in east Oakland as a Native American. I tell these kids, I beg them, these cops will kill you and get away with it. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Mitchells & Butlers plc (MAB.L, MLB) said the Group has agreed with its main relationship banks to the provision of committed unsecured liquidity facilities totalling 250 million pounds through to 31 December 2021. This comprises extension to the term of existing 150 million pounds facilities plus the provision of additional facilities totalling 100 million pounds. The additional facilities are structured under the Government backed Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme. The group currently has cash balances of 130 million pounds, having fully drawn down the existing facilities of 150 million pounds. The Group also stated that certain amendments and waivers have been agreed with Ambac Assurance UK Ltd and the security trustee in relation to Mitchells & Butlers Retail's financing arrangements. This include a further waiver of, and amendment to, the 30 day suspension of business provision. In securing the amendments, the group has agreed not to pay an external dividend, undertake any share buy-backs or repurchase bond debt until the end of the financial year to September 2021, at the earliest. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The social justice protests that have blossomed across the United States and Texas in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, a Houston native, by police in Minneapolis have raised awareness and led to calls for a national reckoning about racial issues in America. For Magnolia-based artist Lois Spurlock, 24, the race issues being discussed and images of outrage about issues such as racism, police brutality and a lack of understanding of the African-American community are not new. A graduate of Magnolia West High School, where she said she and her siblings endured racism from other students, Spurlock attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville where she studied art and created in 2018 a prescient art collage called Am I next, as a class project. The work, which is an elaborate digital photographic collage that recalls the deadly Tulsa Race Massacre riots of the early 1920s. Her work was recently the focus of an Artfeel column by Villager guest columnist Nickole Kerner Bobley. Related: Artfeel: Artist Lois Spurlock shares her fear Spurlock, who is studying and preparing to acquire a teaching credential, sat down with The Villager to discuss her art, race relations and how she feels public schools across Texas can better educate students about black history, slavery and the Civil Rights movement. QUESTION: How did you conceive of and create the digital collage, Am I next? SPURLOCK: That piece initially started out as a class assignment that didnt have specific content, but it was more about layers in your work and that was already something really big in my own work, layering content. I made a list, this is my artistic process, and I focus on things that are most important to me or most affecting me, whether it be social climate or personally and then I dive into each of those topics until I can expand branches from them. From there I narrow it down into things I can elaborate the most on and then I begin my research. Im looking for photographs, Im looking through my own personal photographs, materials and it comes to this huge heap of materials until I find the things that scream the most at me. These (materials) communicate the best together. The tactile communication works together. That was the process of Am I next. QUESTION: Why, in 2018, did you focus on the Tulsa Race Riots? Is is not known by the public? SPURLOCK: I feel like, yes (it is not known). Part of my reasoning for doing that specific piece was in that specific moment when I was working on it, no one in the room knew about it. No one knew about what I was doing, they were like, Are you talking about war, what happened?, I was like, Wow, no one knows but me. I had to teach myself. I had to do the research myself to learn that part of American history. QUESTION: Is there a lack of black history education in Texas public schools? SPURLOCK: I definitely feel like it is neglected in public schools, I dont know about private schools. My school experience (Magnolia West H.S.) was a public school. Growing up, especially leading up to high school, all the black history and black artists I learned about were (from doing) Google searches for hours and hours. Everybody has somebody they look up to, but what about me? I had to try to find someone that I could look up to that connected to my story, my background and so I could enhance my skills and my knowledge of what I could be. QUESTION: The collage appeared in several art shows, what was the reaction from viewers? SPURLOCK: It was in a faculty juried show and I feel like everyone was very receptive of it. They did not realizewhen you initially look at it.all you are trying to figure out is what is all in thiswhat is going on? Then you really realize there is some deep content in this. They were like, Wow, this is powerful. Im sorry this is your experience..I didnt know. I believe it was making people more aware of the dark history and more sensitive to people today who are dealing with this. I think people walk by and know these things exist, but they dont really realize the depth of them. I was really satisfied I was able to portray that (message) visuallysometimes people have to see it (to understand). QUESTION: The killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers has shocked the nation; how did that affect you as a black woman? SPURLOCK: I know for me, (Floyds killing) was more of an outrage. When (Bobley) presented me the opportunity (to interview me for Artfeel), I felt like this (Am I next) was the piece (to discuss). To think I made this two years ago and the issue of this fear is more prevalent today than ever. QUESTION: Is this a fearful time for African-Americans and blacks? Are you making art now about this subject? SPURLOCK: Yes. I have been working on collages about (Floyds death), specifically about black females. I feel like thats an extreme marginalized group, and not by just society but statistically, there is a lot of oppression toward black women. I figured the world needs to see that. I am a black woman and I can tell my experience, so I should take that initiative to better explain it so that people are aware. QUESTION: Do you think the social justice movement now will improve things and awareness? SPURLOCK: Absolutely. I have been so overwhelmed from support. A lot of apologies. I feel seen for like the first time in my life. It makes me feel like all these years of being frustrated and crying, people finally see (racism) hurts. It hurts a lot. QUESTION: Did you or your family suffer any racist incidents or abuse in your community? SPURLOCK: Oh yes, we definitely did. At Magnolia West, there were about 15 black students and we were all in different grades. Some of the issues among the students, it was very disenheartening. Definitely, high school was tough. My little brother was sitting at lunchsomeone ran to me and said your brother is upset, someone threw something at him. Of course, big sister comes to the rescue and I asked him what happened, and he said, Someone threw an orange at me and called me a (racial slur). He was a sophomore. QUESTION: What can Texas do to increase black history lessons? SPURLOCK: They incorporate the basics everyone is aware of: Civil Rights and slavery. But anything past that is not in textbooks, teachers do not take the initiative to discuss it and it leaves a whole entity of students to learn it for themselves. jeff.forward@chron.com Four people were killed after a blast ripped through a crowd during Friday prayers at a mosque in Kabul, Afghan officials said, in the latest attack on the city ahead of potential talks with insurgents. "Based on our initial information, at around noon explosives placed inside the mosque detonated during Friday prayers," interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said in a message to journalists. A health ministry spokesman also confirmed the toll, saying the prayer leader and three worshippers were killed at the Sher Shah Suri mosque, while several others were wounded. No group has claimed the attack, but the Taliban later condemned the bombing saying the insurgents considered the incident a "heinous crime". The bombing comes just over a week after an Islamic State-claimed attack killed two people, including a popular prayer leader, at a mosque on the edge of Kabul's heavily fortified green zone. Afghanistan is juggling multiple crises, with the coronavirus rapidly spreading across the country and continuing violence even as the government and Taliban signal they are getting closer to sitting down for talks. President Ashraf Ghani vowed Thursday to complete a Taliban prisoner release that is a key condition to the launch of peace talks with the insurgents. Once the swap is done, the two sides have pledged to begin negotiations that could end nearly 19 years of war. The Taliban have largely refrained from launching major attacks on Afghan cities since February, when they signed a deal with the US meant to pave the way for peace talks with the Kabul government. A ceasefire during last month's Eid al Fitr holidays also sparked hopes that the two sides may be getting closer to holding negotiations even as a recent uptick in fighting has tempered expectations. The ceasefire was just the second observed in the country since the Taliban were toppled by a US invasion in 2001 following the September 11 attacks by Al-Qaeda, whose leader Osama bin Laden was sheltered by the regime. Police stand guard outside the Sher Shah Suri mosque in Kabul after a bomb blast killed four during Friday prayers Map of Afghanistan locating a deadly blast at a mosque in Kabul Friday Logos of ExxonMobil are seen in its booth at Gastech, the world's biggest expo for the gas industry, in Chiba, Japan. Photo by Reuters/Toru Hanai. U.S. oil company ExxonMobil wants to build an LNG-based power plant each in Hai Phong City and Long An Province. Irtiza Sayyed, President of ExxonMobil LNG Market Development Inc, said in a phone call to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Thursday that his company wants to explore investment opportunities in Vietnam's energy sector. The corporation wants to invest in a series of liquefied natural gas (LNG) ports and warehouses and refining and petrochemicals operations in the northern city of Hai Phong. The 4,000-megawatt plant could go on stream sometime in 2025-2030. Another LNG-fueled plant in the Mekong Delta province of Long An will have a capacity of 3,000 MW. The company will source the LNG from its operations in the U.S. and some other countries. Importing LNG from the U.S. will help balance trade between Vietnam and the U.S., according to the Vietnamese government. MOSCOW -- When a taxi driver refused to give a ride to a Congolese student in the Russian city of Bryansk this week, a video of their exchange quickly went viral. The student, who recorded it, asked the driver if he was racist. "Of course," came the reply. Within hours, the ride-hailing service Yandex Taxi announced that it had ceased working with the driver, and would not tolerate racism and rudeness from its employees and contractors. The move quickly garnered praise, with many Russians taking to social media to condemn the driver's discriminatory actions. But an equally vocal chorus emerged denouncing his dismissal as excessive and discriminatory to ethnic Russians. Twitter became home to hundreds of posts defending the driver's alleged right to refuse customers, often casting the decision to dismiss him as an example of imported political correctness that does not fit with Russian values. "Why is @Yandextaxi suppressing the rights of Russian drivers and denying them the right to choose clients?" one Twitter user asked about the company, a joint venture with U.S. tech group Uber that employs freelance drivers using private vehicles. "Has a Russian in his own country no longer any right to ban someone from sitting in their car?" another Twitter user asked. Some asked how the company could fire a freelancer during an economic recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic, or tried to excuse the driver's actions by citing examples of alleged bad behavior by Central Asian drivers working for Yandex Taxi. Other posts made little effort to conceal their racist undertone. An online petition -- apparently since removed -- was launched to reinstate the driver. 'Culture War' The debate comes following the violent death of George Floyd, a black American who died in late May after a white policeman in Minnesota pinned him down with a knee to the neck during an arrest, prompting mass protests against social injustice and police brutality across the United States and other countries -- and an ideological clash in Russia between at least two outspoken camps. "A culture war like the one that has been waged in the United States for 30 years or more, between 'conservatives and liberals,' has unfolded for real in Russia," journalist and commentator Konstantin Eggert wrote in a June 9 column in the online media outlet Snob. Posts in defense of the Bryansk driver frequently cited the demonstrations in the United States -- which have often been marred by violence, looting, and face-offs between protesters and police -- as a cautionary tale about the dangers of excessive "progressiveness." The debate also mirrored those that erupted in recent weeks after prominent public figures in Russia weighed in on the discord in the United States with social-media posts that have been criticized as tone deaf and racist. On June 2, Russian socialite and TV presenter Ksenia Sobchak posted a photo on Instagram in which she poses with a black man in what appears to be traditional African dress. "I'm categorically against racism, police brutality, and other forms of discrimination," she writes. She goes on to describe looters in U.S. cities as people who were "unable to succeed by the rules of the capitalist world." Two days later, prominent columnist Oleg Kashin tweeted an image depicting a black man surrounded by Nike shoeboxes and Louis Vuitton bags with the caption "Martin Looter King." It was immediately slammed as racist by many, but Kashin later defended it in an interview with a Russian radio station. Like many defenders of the Bryansk driver who refused a ride to the Congolese student, he warned of the supposed dangers of Western progressiveness. "We've spoken about whether what is happening in the West threatens Russia, too. Indeed, it's tempting to imagine that our Afrorussians (in our case that means first and foremost Central Asians, and maybe Caucasians) are smashing the windows of GUM," he said, evoking hypothetical scenes of looting by members of Russia's largest migrant population at the historic GUM shopping mall adjacent to Red Square. Chairman Of Iran-UAE Chamber Denies Reports Of Halt in Trade Radio Farda 11 June 2020 The Chairman of Iran-UAE Chamber of Commerce on June 10 refuted reports of a standstill in trade between the two Persian Gulf neighbors. On Tuesday Iranian hardliner Jam-e Jam newspaper claimed that the United Arab Emirates has resumed its trade with other countries but has halted trade with Iran. In a tweet on Wednesday Farshid Farzanegan said the UAE has informed all incoming ships they are required to submit health certificates for coronavirus 72 hours before arrival. "Halt or break of trade relations between Iran and the UAE as claimed by some news agencies is baseless," he wrote. "Many businessmen whose cargo from other countries went to Dubai before being transported to Iran, have not been able to travel to Dubai for a few months to arrange for the transport of their commodities," the paper had reported and added: "Shortage of [certain] commodities in the market indicates that maritime trade with Dubai is not happening now". Despite the UAE's less-than-friendly foreign policy towards Tehran, the country remained Iran's biggest trade partner after China, even after the reintroduction of U.S. sanctions on Iran. Billions of dollars of imports passed through the Middle East's business and financial hub. Fars News Agency last week quoted an official of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) as saying that maritime trade between Iran and the UAE, halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, has resumed. The official said exports from Iran to the small Arab State will be done according to the new health guidelines and protocols. However, he mentioned the problem of the UAE demand that all food normally transported in large boats be transported in chilled containers. Local cargo boats (launch, lenj in Persian) can take as little as three hours to reach Dubai from Iranian ports but most of them cannot accommodate chilled facilities. Several billion dollars of imported goods destined for Iran passed through Dubai every year. However, the UAE has not published any statistics for trade with Tehran in 2019 and this year. The UAE also shipped oil from Iran. In March the United States sanctioned five UAE-based companies for allegedly shipping oil from Iran in defiance of U.S. sanctions. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/chairman- of-iran-uae-chamber-refutes-reports-of- halt-in-trade/30665326.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Global is set to rise above 1 billion people once again as a result of the pandemic, which is reducing the income of the world's poorest by USD 500 million a day, according to new research published Friday. The research by King's College London and the Australian National University points to increasing dramatically in middle-income developing countries, where millions of people live just above the line. Asian countries, such as Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines, are considered to be particularly vulnerable to the pandemic's economic shockwaves with lockdowns severely curtailing activity. The pandemic is fast becoming an economic crisis for developing countries, said Andy Sumner, a professor of international development at King's College London and one of the report's co-authors.\ Because millions of people live just above the poverty line, they are in a precarious position as the economic shock of the pandemic plays out. In a worst case scenario, the number of people in extreme poverty - defined as earning under USD 1.90 a day - is forecast to rise from about 700 million to 1.1 billion, according to the report, which was published by the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research. Without action this crisis could set back progress on reducing global poverty by 20 or even 30 years, Sumner said. A child being screened as migrants from Chhattisgarh gather for registration and medical certificates to return to their native places, during the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown, in Jammu Researchers are calling for urgent global leadership to address the crisis. But hopes are low after the Group of Seven meeting of world leaders, which was due to take place June 10-12 at President Donald Trump's retreat at Camp David, was postponed. Trump now aims to host an expanded meeting in September, also including leaders from Russia, Australia, South Korea and India. How much development issues will be addressed at that summit remains an open question. Sumner said three actions need to be prioritized. First, a rapid response global commission on poverty and COVID-19 needs to be established and led by a prominent global leader to identify the level of financing required and what rich countries can do to help. Second, he said funds should be released quickly by expanding the current debt servicing standstill that the International Monetary Fund is providing to all developing countries and by freezing World Bank debt repayments at least until the end of 2020, possibly into 2021. He said that once the crisis abates, debt restructuring or outright cancellation of debt for some developing countries will be needed or even unavoidable. And thirdly, he said countries benefiting from the standstill should use the money to shore up and expand social safety nets. After a Jersey Shore town passed a resolution allowing for indoor dining defying reopening plans announced by Gov. Phil Murphy the governor put the town on notice, claiming enforcement was coming. On Wednesday night, Asbury Parks city council passed a resolution that will allow indoor dining in restaurants at 25% of capacity or 50 people, whichever is lower, beginning Monday. Earlier this month, Murphy said that outdoor dining is permitted to resume on Monday, but has held off on setting a date when customers can be served meals inside restaurants. Restaurants and bars are currently only allowed to offer delivery and take-out. On Thursday, Murphy warned that towns or businesses acting independently endangers the steady decline in the number of new deaths and positive cases in the state after nearly three months of near-lockdown. Murphy said violators can expect enforcement, though he did not clarify what that would mean. Weve gone through hell," he said Thursday. "Please, lets not go back through it. While dozens of businesses around New Jersey have been cited since March for reopening in violation of Murphys executive orders during the coronavirus crisis, Asbury Parks resolution is the first time a municipal government declared it would defy Murphy by allowing indoor dining. The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus dropped to 1,512 as of Wednesday night, a sharp decline from the 1,700 a day earlier, according to state data. At the April 14 peak, there were 8,045 people in the states 71 hospitals. Murphy reported 70 new deaths attributed and 539 new positive coronavirus tests on Thursday to push the cumulative totals to 12,443 and 165,816. Tens of thousands have recovered, though a more precise number is not known. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage Heres a roundup of coronavirus news: N.J. small businesses are fed up with Murphys coronavirus reopening and still cant get answers.: Small business owners are frustrated, with little to no guidance on when they can reopen their shuttered businesses and what they can do to prepare, as the state begins to reopen on Murphys orders. Business owners, industry representatives and even legislators in his own party have said that when it comes to addressing the specifics about businesses exactly when they can reopen and what will determine that Murphy has faltered and offered little in the way of specifics. Feeling caged up by the coronavirus? You can soon escape to the zoo.: The Cape May County Zoo will reopen on Saturday at 10 a.m., the county said in an announcement, offering another way for people to get out of their houses as part of the states reopening. Like other outdoor activities permitted to reopen under Murphys Executive Order 153, zoos will be subject to social distancing and other guidelines intended to minimize the spread of COVID-19. N.J. tattoo shops can reopen June 22 along with salons, barber shops.: New Jersey tattoo parlors are allowed to reopen on June 22, along with nail salons, hair salons, and barber shops, a spokeswoman for Murphy confirmed to NJ Advance Media. Tattoo shop owners have said the majority of the guidelines the state have asked shops to comply with are protocols they have in place already, including sanitization and distance between workstations. When N.J. reopens offices and businesses, theyll have set standards to keep workers safe, Murphy says.: When offices and businesses reopen, they will have to abide by the One Jersey Pledge, which Murphy called a pact between businesses and consumers on the hand, and employers and their employees on the other, and vice versa. Under the program, businesses pledge to customers that their employees will wear face coverings, encourage social distancing, wash their hands regularly, undergo health screenings, frequently clean high-touch areas and require those with COVID-19 symptoms to stay home N.J. hospitals just got another $280M in coronavirus aid. They say they were shortchanged.: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services handed out another $10 billion in federal funding to hospitals, and once again New Jerseys hospital association said the state was shortchanged. The state received $280 million for 16 hospitals with a high number of Medicaid and other low-income patients. That was 3% of the $10 billion awarded on Wednesday. The money was included in legislation passed in response to the coronavirus. The individual hospitals were not identified. One N.J. high schools solution to a social distancing graduation: a bus ceremony:. As Murphy announced that traditional graduation ceremonies of up to 500 people will be permitted in July, some schools, including Bridgewater-Raritan High School, are looking to new ways to celebrate. As one of potentially three graduation ceremonies, the high school plans to drive a school bus to every single one of the roughly 700 graduating seniors homes for a tightly scheduled, makeshift mini graduation ceremony. Visitors may soon be allowed at N.J. nursing homes, top health official says: New Jersey may soon allow visitors to nursing homes in very selected circumstances after months of keeping them away to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus, which has devastated longterm care facilities, the states top health official said Wednesday. State officials discuss this every day and have been examining guidelines in other states, New Jersey Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said during the states daily coronavirus briefing in Trenton. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. NJ Advance Media staff writers Chris Sheldon, Avalon Zoppo, Brent Johnson, Rebecca Everett, Jonathan D. Salant, Larry Higgs, Steve Strunsky and Brianna Kudisch contributed to this report. Will online courses work? That was a question striking Sonam Lhamo, a physics teacher in Shigatse, Chinas Tibetan Autonomous Region when she was first required to teach online two months ago due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, her worries were dispelled immediately after attending an online class given by Yao Xueqing, a physics teacher aiding Tibets education from Shanghai. The class was very interactive, said Sonam Lhamo, who has taught students for 13 years. In 2003, Sonam Lhamo, a native-born Tibetan, for the first time left her hometown and went to study computer science at a university in Central Chinas Henan Province, where she was firstly introduced to the internet, a completely fresh world. But the circumstances are different now for her students, as the internet is nothing new to them who sometimes have more knowledge about it than the teachers do. Yao, who teaches at the Shanghai Experimental School in Shigatse, had once collaborated with Sonam Lhamo during online courses. Yao noted the changes brought to the students by the internet. Last November, Yao livestreamed a class for middle school students in Shigatse. To make sure the students are well prepared, he distributed learning materials to them before the class. As a result, the students learnt very fast, and some of them proudly shared with him what they had learnt from the class. Education is more about teaching students how to study than just imparting knowledge to them. It will exert a far-reaching influence on them as it enables them to complete more complicated and diversified jobs, Yao said. The access to online resources has laid a solid foundation for informationized education in Tibet. According to the autonomous regions education authority, as of the end of 2019, a total of 826 middle and primary schools, or 86.3 percent of the total in Tibet, had been connected to the internet. Nearly 30 percent of the them were equipped with a bandwidth of 100mbps. What internet brings to education is not only interconnectivity, but also educational equality. To achieve this, a cloud education platform was launched by local education authority in Tibet. The platform, with nearly 600,000 registered users, and more than 120,000 educational resources, offers learning materials of all curriculums, video courses, and tutorials in Tibetan language. Students and teachers can access the top-notch courses and teaching materials of the autonomous region and even the country at large for free. In Tibet, many remote areas are bothered by the scarcity of teachers and relevant resources. Online education can both ease the burden of teachers and help students better absorb the knowledge, said Zhu Shenggao, an official with the autonomous regions education department. Internet-powered education will become meaningless if it cant improve teaching quality, and without high-quality education, poverty will be passed on to future generations, Zhu added. At present, the internet is being exploited by teachers in Tibet to improve their teaching. For instance, the five counties and districts in Shigatse receiving pairing assistance from Shanghai are now livestreaming classes, and video conferences are being held for teachers to discuss and improve their teaching skills. Tibet is a vast plateau where teachers face limited opportunities and high cost to communicate with and learn from their peers due to the inconvenient traffic condition. The internet is providing us with more such opportunities, said a Tibetan teacher taking part in teleclass. Over the past years, Tibet has made extraordinary achievements in reducing poverty through education. By the end of November 2019, the dropout rate of school-age children in the region had almost hit zero. According to statistics, Tibets educational finance investment has totaled 67.22 billion yuan since 2016. As of January this year, 38.9 percent of the schools in Tibet had access to smart education, and Internet Plus education is expected to cover all middle and primary schools in the region before the end of this year. All these efforts are profoundly changing the future of Tibetan students. The internet has brought the vast world closer to and magnified it for Tibetan students so that they have more courage and capability to embrace the future. Online education is quietly changing the habits of teachers and students in impoverished and remote areas, as a bridge of the internet stretching over Tibet Autonomous Region, bringing infinite possibilities. A technical-level meeting between India and Pakistan to discuss the issue of locust menace has been proposed for June 18, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that last month India had taken an initiative to develop regional cooperation to control locusts and as part of this cooperation it has dispatched 20,000 litres of pesticide to Iran. This pesticide is expected to reach Iran at the port of Chabahar on June 15, he said. "As regards Pakistan, we had proposed to them that we can activate the technical-level meetings in the run up to the main meetings and these technical-level meetings could take place between the locust warning organizations," he said. "We had also proposed that we can undertake joint locust control operations and we could facilitate the supply of pesticides. We have not received any formal response from Pakistan, but we understand now that the technical-level meeting is proposed on June 18," he said. India had proposed to Pakistan and Iran for a coordinated approach in dealing with the alarming threat of fast-increasing desert locusts in the region. Also read: GST Council likely to discuss revenue augmentation, late fee waiver on Friday George Osborne has announced he is stepping down as editor of the Evening Standard and will be replaced by Emily Sheffield, David Cameron's sister-in-law. The former Tory chancellor has been made editor-in-chief of the London free newspaper by its proprietor Evgeny Lebedev. Mr Osborne tweeted: 'After 3 wonderful years I'm stepping down as editor to become editor-in-chief. 'Thanks to the team who've made the paper a must read + helped me steer it through the greatest crisis in its history, never missing an edition & producing some of its finest journalism.' He also wished his successor good luck and hailed her 'creativity, commitment and experience'. Ms Sheffield, a former deputy editor of Vogue and current paper columnist, will take the reins on July 1. George Osborne has announced he is stepping down as editor of the Evening Standard and will be replaced by Emily Sheffield, Samantha Cameron's sister Ms Sheffield tweeted: 'Very proud to be the announced as the new Editor of the Evening Standard. 'It has been a core part of my daily life since I moved to London aged 18. And spent five formative years there as a young journalist in my 20s.' She has recently launched online media company #ThisMuchIKnow, which she said had been a challenge. She said: 'You feel constantly under siege. You never think you've achieved enough. Every decision feels seismic but you make hundreds of them each week until your head throbs.' Ms Sheffield, 47, is the younger sister of former prime minister David Cameron's wife Samantha. Mr Osborne, 49, is close to the family and for two decades was Mr Cameron's closest political ally, serving as his chancellor for six years. He was made editor of the Standard in March 2017 after leaving frontline politics when Theresa May sacked him from the Cabinet. Ms Sheffield, 47, (right) is the younger sister of former prime minister David Cameron's wife Samantha (left) Emily Sheffield and George Osborne attend the Charles Finch & CHANEL Pre-BAFTA Party in February When he took charge of the Standard, he had no journalism experience under his belt and was still the MP for Tatton. He defended his appointment, telling the Commons that Parliament is 'enhanced' when people of different experience take part in it, But he was also criticised for juggling six jobs, which included chairmanship of the Northern Powerhouse, a fellow at a US think tank, a public speaker and an advisor at asset management firm Blackrock. When Ms May called the snap general election in 2017, Mr Osborne did not seek reelection. The ex-Tory minister will serve as the paper's editor-in-chief, typically a less hands-on role with no day-to-day running of the paper. Mr Lebedev tweeted: 'I am delighted to announce the appointment of Emily Sheffield as Editor of the Evening Standard. 'I am also very pleased that after more than three years as an outstanding editor, George Osborne will become Editor-in-Chief.' The 2020 World Sparkling Wine Award winners have now been announced. The 2020 World Sparkling Wine Award winners have now been announced. Although the Awards faced some challenging circumstances this year, our tastings were able to take place remotely, and our judging panel was presented with a truly outstanding range of sparkling wines. We are now delighted to present this years winners. This years World Sparkling Wine Awards were judged by a panel of international industry experts. As part of the prestigious World Drinks Awards programme, tasting would normally be completed in London, with the panel meeting to judge the entries. However, due to this year's extraordinary circumstances, our panel were able to complete the tastings from home to ensure the safety of all involved; this meant that while the panel could not meet in person, we could ensure our usual rigorous judging standards could be upheld. Without further ado, here are this years winners: World's Best Bottle Fermented Durbanville Hills Blanc de Blancs World's Best Cremant Lidl Cremant de Loire Brut World's Best Prosecco Lidl Allini Prosecco Valdobbiadene Conegliano Superiore World's Best Tank Fermented Prospero Moscato Espumoso World's Best Co2 Infused Sparkling Wine BABE Red with Bubbles World's Best English Sparkling Jenkyn Place Blanc de Blancs Brut 2015 The World Sparkling Wine Awards are kindly sponsored by Royston Labels and Rankin Brothers & Sons Royston Labels With over 30 years in the self-adhesive label industry, Royston is a name you can trust when it comes to innovative packaging. Whether youre a designer, a brand leader, or a manufacturer looking for support with your packaging needs, Royston can help. We can bring your labels to life, exceeding quality expectations, and delivering on time and within budget. Drawing on our years of industry experience, we will apply a technical consultative approach that results in the best possible finished product. We are constantly looking to break new ground and provide innovative label solutions including embellishments and sustainable options. Find Royston Labels at www.roystonlabels.co.uk/ Rankin Brothers & Sons Quality Cork Stoppers & Closures Protecting your Brand Since 1774, Rankin has supported the Beers, Wines & Spirits sectors with the supply of closures that seal, protect and add value to aspirational brands. Our offer extends from natural cork, through to micro agglomerate, synthetic or Nature TM, to T Top Stoppers, wire hoods, screw caps, crowns and onwards to foils and capsules in tin, polylaminate, PVC and PET. Rankin owns and manages cork forestry in Portugal, looking after your closures needs from acorn to bottle. We are proud to be supporting Wines of Great Britain and we look forward to playing our part in the continued success and ongoing development of our local wine industry. Find Rankin Brothers & Sons at www.rankincork.co.uk 12 June 2020 - by Paul Wang The pro-democratic tycoon is accused of threatening a person during the 2017 Tiananmen vigil. Yesterday, the police charged Lai and three other Democrats for organizing this years commemoration. Beijing demonizes those who denounce the massacre of June 4, 1989, and praises the leaders who ordered it. Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Publishing tycoon Jimmy Lai cannot leave the city. A local court today confirmed the ban on his expatriation. The 72-year-old founder of the pro-democratic paper Apple Daily is accused of threatening a person three years ago during the annual Victoria Park vigil in memory of the victims of the Tiananmen massacre of June 4, 1989. Thousands of Chinese students were massacred that day. for asking for freedom and democracy. Lai will now face trial in August. The ban on travelling abroad was imposed in early May, after he had been released on bail. Yesterday Lai and three other members of the pro-democracy movement were indicted by the police for inciting the population to take part in this year's vigil, which was not authorized. In a climate of great tension, due in particular to Beijing's decision to impose a national security law in Hong Kong, tens of thousands of people challenged the government's ban and gathered to commemorate the Tiananmen massacre. The Hong Kong businessman is also on trial for participating in a series of protest marches against the extradition law in August and October 2019. Together with him, 14 other members of the democratic front face charges in connection with these large gatherings. According to several observers, Beijing is determined to erase the democratic freedoms of the Hong Kong population; judicial actions against Lai and other democratic exponents are part of this plan to demonize those who denounce the massacre of Chinese students in 1989, and to exalt the leaders who ordered it as "modernizers". Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. announced it has made some major changes to its management team, including the appointment of a non-executive director, two chief executive officers and a chief underwriting officer. The announcement also covers the appointment of Theresa Froehlich who has been named a non-executive director. In addition to her non-executive directorship, Froehlich continues to be chair of Aspen Insurance UK Ltd. (AIUK) and non-executive director of AIUK and Aspen Managing Agency Ltd. (AMAL). Froehlich held senior executive roles at Lloyds of London from 2010 to 2016, including interim director, Performance Management (where she had responsibility for all commercial aspects of oversight of the market and setting underwriting standards), and head of Underwriting Performance. Prior to this, she also held roles at Swiss Re, including head of Transactions UK, Admin Re, and head of Strategic Initiatives. Aspen also announced that Bruce Eisler has been appointed chief underwriting officer of Aspen Insurance, succeeding David Cohen who has left the company. Eisler also has been appointed chief executive officer Aspen U.S. Eisler also held various roles with Reliance National, ACE USA and Liberty International Underwriters part of Liberty Mutual Group where he was the senior vice president of Professional Liability Underwriting before joining Aspen in January 2010. Richard Milner, who joined the company in February 2020 as senior managing director, Aspen Re International, has been appointed chief executive officer of Aspen UK, subject to regulatory approval. Christian Dunleavy remains in his role as chief underwriting officer, Aspen Re, and chief executive officer of Aspen Bermuda. Source: Aspen Insurance Holdings Topics Underwriting Vietnam will be able to reap fruit from the EVFTA if it can improve the legal framework and enhance implementation capability. The World Bank has released a report showing that Vietnams GDP may increase by 2.4 percent and its exports may go up by 12 percent by 2030, or $31 billion, by just taking full advantage of the preferential tariffs stipulated in EVFTA. EVFTA is expected to help 100,000-800,000 Vietnamese people escape poverty by 2030. However, WB believes that the benefits would be even larger if Vietnam implements a comprehensive economic and institutional reform agenda. It is estimated that the reforms would help boost productivity, helping the GDP increase by another 6.8 percent compared with the basic scenario by 2030. The report pointed out that Vietnam needs to improve capability in implementing three major issues rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures for plants and animals, and a dispute-settlement mechanism between the state and investors. EVFTA and EVIPA would help Vietnams GDP increase by another 4.6 percent by 2025, and its exports to the EU increase by 20 percent by 2020, 42.7 percent by 2025 and 44.37 percent by 2030. Prior to that, an MPI (Ministry of Planning and Investment) survey found that EVFTA and EVIPA would help Vietnams GDP increase by another 4.6 percent by 2025, and its exports to the EU increase by 20 percent by 2020, 42.7 percent by 2025 and 44.37 percent by 2030. Meanwhile, according to Phu Hung Securities (PHS), EVFTA would help Vietnams GDP increase by another 2.18-3.25 percent in 2019-2023. As for the EU, the EC estimates that its GDP would increase by $29.5 billion and exports to Vietnam by 29 percent by 2035 thanks to the agreements. Phil Hogan, the EU Trade Commissioner, commented on Europa that EVFTA can bring huge benefits to both Vietnam and the EU, and that it is a victory for the two sides, for consumers, workers, farmers and enterprises. Benefits A report from Phu Hung Securities showed that farm, forestry and seafood produce are believed to see the sharpest export increases in the time to come. The EU is one of Vietnams major export markets which consumes $1.25 billion worth of products a year. Vietnam also puts high hopes on the increase of textile and garment exports to the EU, which is now the second largest market, just to the US, consuming 11.3 percent of Vietnams exports. The turnover of textile and garment exports to the EU reached $4.3 billion in 2019, up by 10 percent, while the average growth rate was 6.1 percent in 2015-2019. Ousmane Dione, WB Vietnam Country Director, commented that if Vietnam can take action to narrow the gap in implementation capacity and legal compatibility, Vietnam will see big benefits, unprecedented in its history. Covid-19 is considered the restart button, while EVFTA is the gear up button, and now is the time for Vietnam to carry out deeper domestic reforms. Kim Chi EVFTA widens varied procurement chances Starting from this year, investors from EU member states will for the first time be allowed to tender for many types of public projects in Vietnam under EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement commitments. (TNS) Gov. Chris Sununu has announced $50 million in funding for rural broadband and $35 million for people facing housing insecurity with money from the CARES Act.During a Thursday news conference, the governor said the federal funding will also go to private institutions of higher learning, and homeless shelters. Sununu said the new programs are designed to take care of issues that had not been addressed by previous initiatives."[The CARES Act money] is really designed to get out and really provide some relief to folks that have been affected by COVID, be they businesses or non-profits," Sununu said. "Areas where we clearly need to make investments to help make sure that we're closing those gaps that may have either been exacerbated by, or made more problematic through, the COVID crisis."After this round of funding, Sununu said the state will have approximately $250 million to $300 million left from its portion of the CARES Act, the $2.2 trillion federal relief package passed in late March to offset the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. He added that it may be slightly more than that, as some funds, like those allowing the state to provide stipends to front-line workers in Medicaid-funded facilities, have not been spent as much as expected.The goal of the broadband program, Sununu said, is to connect "the last mile"; the homes and businesses that still don't have access to reliable Internet. He also said that schools, libraries and other places where Internet use is essential, will be included.Sununu also announced a $35 million fund to help those struggling with rent payments as a result of the pandemic. He said the program will have to different components."The first is one-time grants for households that have suffered a limited, short-term loss of household income or increased expenses that obviously threaten the family's ability to pay bills and rent," he said. "The second is a short-term rental assistance program, and the program is really designed to provide an off-ramp as we lift a moratorium on evictions."He added that the eviction moratorium will expire July 1. The state will also lengthen the usually seven-day eviction period to 30 days to allow tenants more time to work out payment plans with their landlords.Other funding programs announced on Thursday include $15 million for homeless shelters, $10 million to the state's smaller private universities (which Sununu defined as institutions with endowments less than $3 million) and a $2 million contract with chambers of commerce to perform marketing and data collection functions to help the state better connect with businesses on a local level. 30+ Black owned brands to support now and always Looking for more of the best deals, latest celebrity news and hottest trends? Sign up for Yahoo Lifestyle Canadas newsletter. Worldwide protests against police brutality and racism continue in the aftermath of George Floyds death. Theres still so much work to be done when it comes to being an ally to the Black community and striving to be actively anti-racist and its important to keep the momentum going and continue to fight against systemic racism. Educating yourself, speaking out about the injustices, donating to anti-racists charities and protester relief funds are just a few of the ways you can impact change. Another way to support the Black community right now is to buy black. Shopping from black owned businesses is a key way to show solidarity. Weve curated 30+ black owned brands, both local and international that you can shop from luxury to affordable, ethically sourced and modest. Started by Vera Moore in 2018, Love Vera is a lingerie brand that celebrates black women of all shapes and sizes. They have sizes that range up to 4x and have a huge community of support with over 100k followers on instagram. Congolose-American designer Anifa Mvuemba is the founder of luxury label Hanifa. Besides previously being featured in large fashion publications like Vogue, the brand trended for putting on a 3D fashion show via Instagram in late May to present her latest collection, Pink Label Congo. Founded by Kerby Jean-Raymond in 2013, this mens and womenswear fashion label has always been rooted in speaking about heritage and activism. Based and founded in New York City by designer Telfar Clemens, Telfar is a global brand that represents diversity. The brand is commonly known for its infamous tote bags that range in sizes. New York based jewelry designer Martine Ali has worked with musics big names like Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar. Her jewellery line can be found in most luxury fashion retailer sites like SSENSE and Matches Fashion. Story continues Toronto-based pearl jewellery brand founded Leche Hope. They offer various styles from necklaces, to anklets and earrings for pierced and unpierced ears. Designer Grace Wales Bonners founded the British fashion label in 2014. The menswear and womenswear label explores a blend of European and African heritage through its designs. The London-based designer Bianca launched her namesake label in 2017. The line capture new ideas for menswear while being rooted in Saunders Black-Carribean heritage. Toronto born designer Aurora James founded the accessories line New York. The brand has a range of handcrafted shoes and handbags from African countries such South Africa, Ethiopia and Kenya. Since 2007 Martin Rose has been elevating her namesake menswear brand. Inspired by her Jamaican-British heritage the designer has pushed boundaries of masculinity and sexuality through her collections. The latest winner of the CFDA/Vogue, designer Christopher John Rogers and his namesake brand is known for making bold statements. The womenswear line ranges in sensational silhouettes and bright colours. For the 90s and early 2000s nostalgia lovers O Dolly Dearest offers feminine pieces. Founder Zoe Martin infuses her loves for iconic women in music, film and television from the era into her designs. Based in Washington D.C., the lifestyle brand engages in conversations about progressive issues and welcoming women and people of colour to run for office. They specialize in modern and custom t-shirt designs. Founded by Jasmine Rennie in 2016, Gracemade offers clothing for women who want to express their personal style, while honouring their faith. They practice modest fashion and every clothing item is made ethically. Tree Fairfax offers handmade leather goods that are locally sourced and high quality. They pride themselves on not mass producing their products, in which they engage in slow fashion rather than fast fashion. Founded in New York City by Katherine Theobalds, Zoux Shoes carries sustainably-made womens shoes. They are handcrafted in Buenos Aires and produced in small quantities to reduce waste and energy. Thebe Magugu, a South-African based fashion brand offers womens ready-to-wear clothing. The brand was recently featured in the latest episode of HBOs critically acclaimed show Insecure. The Los Angeles-based swimwear line founded by Brittany Kozerski. The brand offers carefully crafted luxe swimwear thats also eco-friendly. Broke & Living is Toronto-based unisex by designers Nicole Simmons, Charlene Akuamoah and Meg Prosper. They offer contemporary styles that are gender fluid. From eye-catching African prints to various silhouettes and shapes, Toronto-based designer Catherine Addai offers locally made womenswear. They produce endless designs as well as a wide range of sizes, going up to a US size 22. This global brand offers skin-tone lingerie, hosiery and swimwear for women of colour. London based designer Ade Hassan, founded the brand to offer nude undergarments options to women of colour because they werent seen in regular shops. SCY by Julius is a Toronto based brand that offers contemporary menswear, womenswear and accessories. The staple reworked denim styles are what drives the brand to be one of a kind. The Toronto-based label offers trendy African print styles from swimwear, to two-peice sets, dresses. They are also currently offering reusable face masks that range from 31 different styles. Founded in 2018 the online store offers statement footwear for women. Theyre based in Toronto and have a variety of styles, including their signature mules. Sexy and feminine silhouettes offer bold day-to-night options for the womenswear label. The Toronto-based brand designs explore bold cut outs, printed mesh details and form fitting stretchy fabrics. Toronto- based designer Spencer Badu produces genderless pieces that act as wardrobe staples. The contemporary label thrives from its uniform aesthetic and signature neutral colour palette. Founded in 2018, the African clothing brand offers modern and urban styles made from a variety of African prints. They also offer custom clothing to accommodate all sizes. Shydiva Co are an accessories line that specializes in handbags, earrings and sunglasses. The New York City based accessories line produces various unique handbags all made in Lagos, Nigeria. The Nigerian brand produces streetwear from an African lens. Founded in 2012, they strive to improve society with social events, community aid and their designs. Started by model Leomie Anderson, LAPP the brand is a womens sportswear line that strives through activism. If you love Fashion Nova, this brand is your black owned equivalent. The online store is all about staying trendy and stylish without breaking the bank. Founded by Sydney Ziems in 2019, the jewellery brand offers ethically sourced pieces at an affordable price. Handmade jewellery brand based in Queens, New York. They offer various upcycled jewellery designs with a vintage appeal. Founded by Neumi Anekhe, Oma the Label is a womenswear line that offers quality and affordable pieces for women to wear day to day. This Canadian-based brand is a global footwear paradise for those seeking styles that are both affordable and fashionable. Smash Shoes is catered to women who need extended sizing in the shoe department. They offer trendy and affordable shoes up to a US size 14. Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and sign up for our newsletter. UPPER THUMB For the most part, being a librarian is pretty much routine for Kate Van Auken until this year. When she left her job as director of the Rawson Memorial Library after 17 years to take over as director of the White Pine Cooperative last July, she knew there would be some differences and some challenges. However, not as many or the kinds of challenges she has had to deal with in the last few months. Finally after getting settled into her new office and routine, Van Auken and her staff will have to pack up and move from the White Pine Cooperatives headquarters at 3210 Davenport Ave., Saginaw. The building has been sold. They told me late last fall they were going to sell the building," Van Auken said. "The owners didnt think the building would sell quickly. When the virus hit, they thought now it really won't sell; but they did receive an offer. Since the beginning of the year, I looked for a spot for our headquarters. Most offices in the Saginaw area are more expensive for less space. Because of that, she started looking for a new location for the cooperatives headquarters. I looked in Tuscola County and found a few places, but the best offer and the best office space was at the Rolka Building across from the courthouse, she said noting there is no date for the move set yet. In the process of moving the office from Saginaw to Caro, White Pine staff have been going to the office in shifts to purge files. I think the White Pine office has been in this one building for over 30 years," she said. "I don't think many files were disposed of during that time, but they are being recycled now." In the meantime, the new owners of the building in Saginaw have to honor White Pines' lease, which goes through September. As for challenges, I could say coronavirus has been the biggest challenge, but that is true for everyone," Van Auken said. "Working from home for myself and staff has been different, but we have worked out most issues." The COVID-19 pandemic with its restrictions has had a huge impact on libraries in the White Pine Library Cooperative, which consists of 49 libraries in 13 counties. They all have been working overtime," Van Auken said. "Their digital resources, OverDrive, RBDigital, Hoopla, and so many others, have had huge circulation numbers the past two months." She has also been reaching out to the Library of Michigan, Michigan Library Association, and the Michigan Cooperative Directors Association, and all been meeting weekly, sometimes twice a week, as they try to navigate what the new normal will be. There are Zoom meetings with programming ideas for all ages of library patrons," she said. "Libraries host Facebook live story times, YouTube classes, author chats, and provide support for teachers, parents, and students. Directors have been working diligently with their area health departments to facilitate reopening plans as well as following the CDC and OSHA guidelines. Librarians and library staff are so creative and adaptable that realm of virtual programming will be yet another way libraries can reach patrons moving forward. Even though Gov. Gretchen Whitmer opened up parts of the state, libraries were not included in that plan. Because the LOM and MLA are part of the governors work group, Van Auken is hopeful no-touch, curbside library service will soon be able to be offered. Each library director will work closely with their board to decide how reopening will look for their facility and their community, she said. Some may have reduced hours and staggered staff as to abide by the safe distancing and other safety protocols needed not only for patrons but for staff as well. And, that is not the only crisis, she is having to deal with. I have libraries that dealt with the recent flooding situation (in Midland and Saginaw counties) and one has roof damage from an earlier storm in March, so my challenges are nothing compared to what they are dealing with, Van Auken said. No libraries in Huron or Tuscola had flood damaged, but some others did. Van Auken didnt start out to be a librarian. She was serving the the Rawson Memorial Librarys board when fellow board member, the late Bob Hirn, suggested she submit her name to be a replacement when then Library Director Barb Hutchinson was retiring. She did and got the job. The same happened with her White Pine Library Cooperative position. When cooperative Director Bryon Sitler announced his resignation, it was suggested she apply for that position. She did and got the job. According to Van Auken, there are 11 library cooperatives across the state, and they operated kind of like intermediate school districts. White Pine provides its local libraries with services ranging from continuing education and training to advocacy and lobbying both state and nationally on issues, such as funding, that impact its member libraries. Under Van Aukens venture, the Library of Michigan Foundation presented Rawson Memorial District Library with its State Librarians Excellence Award for exemplary public service. After pausing due to the coronavirus pandemic, the first Canadian Standardbred track returned to action on Thursday (June 4) in Prince Edward Island and the on-track activity ramps up in a big way this weekend. A total of 11 tracks will be in action across four provinces from Friday through to Sunday. Here's a look at what's on tap for Canadian harness racing this weekend. SUNDAY, JUNE 7 Dresden Raceway in Dresden, Ont. kicks off its race season with a 1:00 p.m. (EST) post time and a ten-race card. The co-features on the card are a pair of $4,800 pacing events in the eighth and tenth races. Important Links: Entries - Live Video Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa, Ont. will host its first card of racing since the COVID-19 shutdown with a 10-race card that starts at 6:30 p.m. (EST). Seeyou Men (PP1, Guy Gagnon) gets the nod as the 2-1 choice in the $9,200 Mot Listed Preferred Trot, while National Debt (PP8, Pascal Berube) is the morning line choice in the co-featured $9,200 Not Listed Preferred Handicap Pace. Important Links: Entries - Live Video Georgian Downs hosts its second card of racing since harness racing's shut down with an eight-race card that kicks off at 6:00 p.m. The card features a pair of $11,500 Preferred 2 events to close out the action, with What A Rush (PP3, Brett MacDonald) the 2-1 favourite in the Preferred 2 Trot and Born Of Fire (PP3, Jonathan Drury) the 2-1 choice in the Preferred 2 Pace. Important Links: Entries - Live Video RECAPS FROM SATURDAY, JUNE 6 Charlottetown Driving Park: Despite interference and moving three-wide at the halfway point, Screen Test had more than the field could handle when taking the $3,000 Preferred Pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday (June 6)....read on Exhibition Park Raceway: It took more than some moisture from Mother Nature to dampen the spirits of the harness racing community in New Brunswick as live racing returned to Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, N.B. on Saturday (June 6)....read on Georgian Downs: Trainer-driver Shawn Steacy sent Hello Love to the front and faced little challenge when taking the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace, the featured event on the eight-race card opening the Georgian Downs meet Saturday (June 6)....read on Hanover Raceway: Hanover Raceway entered the 2020 harness racing season with a shift to an afternoon post time in hopes that the half-miler could gain some additional exposure in a less crowded time slot. The results show that customers were most certainly more aware....read on Hiawatha Horse Park; Off at odds of 18-1, Beauty Is Blind popped pocket to light the board bright in the first evening back racing at Hiawatha Horse Park Saturday (June 6)....read on Kawartha Downs: Driver Reg Gassien, last season's leading driver, steered the winners of the first and last races of the 10-race welcome back card at Kawartha Downs on Saturday (June 6)....read on Woodbine Mohawk Park: Evenwood Sonofagun, in red-hot form when racing suspended, resumed from where he left off and turned in the performance of the weekend with a stunning 1:49.2 victory in the $36,000 Preferred Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (June 6)....read on RECAPS FROM FRIDAY, JUNE 5 Truro Raceway: Veteran East Coast pacer Distinctiv Rusty picked up where he left off last year, winning his seasons debut on Opening Day of Truro Raceways 2020 harness racing meet....read on Grand River Raceway: While the fans weren't in the stands, Grand River Raceway kicked off its 2020 season with a 10-race card on Friday evening (June 5) in Elora, Ont.....read on Woodbine Mohawk Park: A spectator-free Woodbine Mohawk Park played host to its first card of live racing in 78 days on Friday evening (June 5)....read on Researchers who made a knock-in mouse-model of the genetic disorder retinitis pigmentosa 59, or RP59, expected to see retinal degeneration and retinal thinning. As reported in the journal Cells, they surprisingly found none, calling into question the commonly accepted -- though never proved -- mechanism for RP59. Our findings bring into question the current concept that RP59 is a member of a large and diverse class of diseases known as 'congenital disorders of glycosylation. While in principle it would be reasonable to consider RP59 as a congenital disorder of glycosylation, due to the associated mutation in DHDDS, an enzyme required for glycosylation, there is no direct evidence to demonstrate a glycosylation defect in the human retinal disease or in any animal model of RP59 generated to date." Steven Pittler, PhD, Professor and Director, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry and Vision Science Vision Science Research Center This means the mechanism of DHDDS-dependent retinal degeneration in human RP59 patients remains unknown, and appears to be more complex than just a DHDDS loss of function. Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of rare genetic disorders affecting the light-sensitive retinal tissue at the back of the eye. Patients first notice night blindness and loss of peripheral vision, and the disease can progress to vision loss and legal blindness. RP59 has changes in the gene for DHDDS, one of the 50 genes that can lead to RP. RP59 is found in one in 100 Ashkenazi Jewish people and one in 2,009 people worldwide. In RP59, the lysine that is the 42nd amino acid of the DHDDS enzyme is changed to a glutamic acid, a change known as a K42E point mutation. So Pittler and colleagues at UAB and the State University of New York at Buffalo, or SUNY-Buffalo, examined the retinas of mice that were made homozygous for a DHDDS K42E mutation. Using spectral domain-optical coherence tomography, they found no evidence of retinal degeneration, even up to one year of age. Also, there was no evidence of compromised protein N-glycosylation, meaning there was no significant DHDDS loss of function in the K42E mice. Opsin, a protein in photoreceptor cells involved in vision, is often mislocalized when photoreceptor cells degenerate; however, the K42E mice showed no change in opsin localization. What the researchers did find was extensive gliosis in the retinas of the mutant mice, which was spread in a radial pattern throughout the inner retinal layers to the outer plexiform layer of the retina. There was also intense gliosis at the vitreoretinal interface. Gliosis is a change in glial cells of the central nervous system, often in response to injury. In the retina, it affects glial M?ller cells, and that reactive gliosis can have harmful effects on vision. "These results indicate massive gliotic activation," Pittler said, "which is remarkable considering the lack of overt retinal degeneration or loss of retinal neurons." The study, "Lack of overt retinal degeneration in a K42E Dhdds knock-in mouse model of RP59," is published in Cells. Co-authors with Pittler are Sriganesh Ramachandra Rao and Steven J. Fliesler, SUNY-Buffalo; and Pravallika Kotla and Mai N. Nguyen, UAB Department of Optometry and Vision Science. Support came from National Institutes of Health grants EY029341 and P30 003039; a Fight for Sight Summer Student Fellowship, a Career-Starter Research Grant from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, the UAB Vision Science Research Center and the Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System. Pittler and colleagues have also published two companion papers that further probe the role of DHDDS in RP. The first study, "Selective ablation of dehydrodolichol diphosphate synthase in murine retinal pigment epithelium causes RPE atrophy and retinal degeneration," is published in Cells. It showed that retinal pigment epithelium-specific deletion of the gene for DHDDS in mice induced structural and functional deficits in the retinal pigment epithelium and the photoreceptors. This suggests that retinal pigment epithelium pathology may be a significant contributor to the retinal degeneration observed in humans with RP59 mutations. Researchers at UAB and SUNY-Buffalo did the study. The second study, "Retinal degeneration caused by rod-specific Dhdds ablation occurs without concomitant inhibition of protein N-glycosylation," is published in IScience. It examined the rod photoreceptor-specific ablation of the gene for DHDDS. The researchers found that mouse retinas had mild retinal dysfunction at four weeks after birth, followed by rapid photoreceptor degeneration and almost complete loss of rods and cones by six weeks after birth. Rods and cones are the photoreceptors of the retina. Retinal proteins, including opsin, still showed N-glycosylation, which again challenges the conventional mechanistic view of RP59 as a congenital disorder of glycosylation. Researchers at UAB, SUNY-Buffalo and the Polish Academy of Sciences did the study. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari (Image: Reuters) The government's minimum support prices for agriculture crops are way higher then domestic market prices and international rates, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said as he stressed on finding alternative solutions before an "economic crisis" is created. While the government fixes the rate, called minimum support price or MSP, at which it buys crops such as wheat and paddy from farmers, it also provides a subsidy to help export sugar. "The most important problem in this sector is that (among) the international price for agriculture commodities and the market price and the MSP, there is a vast difference. Now there are a lot of problems, some political problems are also there. It is very difficult for the government to take decisions. "But the ground reality is that our MSP is higher than the market price and international price. So this is now going to create a big economic crisis for the country. "We need to find out some options, alternatives for that, and without resolving that issue in agriculture, we cannot accelerate our economy because maximum purchasing power where we need to increase the potential in agriculture," Gadkari said in a webinar. He said that the country has surplus rice and wheat and there is a problem of storage of these grains. Also, the government provided Rs 6,000 crore subsidy to export 60 lakh tonnes of sugar as the country is surplus in the sweetener, he said. The MSME and transport minister said: "In the agriculture area, there are some serious problems we are facing, we have surplus rice and wheat....we do not have a place for storage. It is totally full. We are surplus in rice and wheat for three years". Gadkari also said that he has suggested for the formulation of a policy on converting rice into ethanol or bio-ethanol. He suggested this in a meeting with top officials, including principal advisor to Prime Minister P K Sinha and secretaries of food and civil supplies, agriculture, oil, non-conventional energy, and MSME, on Wednesday. "Presently our ethanol production is Rs 20,000 crore and imports are Rs 6-7 lakh crore. So now we are planning to make ethanol economy of Rs 1 lakh crore," he said adding there are 200 closed sugar factories which can be converted for bio-ethanol production. He added that in states like Punjab, Haryana and some parts of Uttar Pradesh, there is a need to change the crop pattern and reduce the acreage of wheat and rice. "In Punjab and Haryana, we do not have a place for storage also...So this a bad situation for the country. On one side, we have surplus food grain and on other side, we do not have a place for storage," Gadkari said. Further, he said that India imports a huge quantity of edible oil worth Rs 90,000 crore as India's oilseed production is not up to the mark. He said that soybean production per acre in the US and Brazil is 30 quintals and 27-28 quintals respectively, but in India, it is just 4.5 quintal per acre. There is a need for research on quality oilseeds in the country for higher productivity, he added. Talking about PPE kits, which are in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister said now its production in India has increased and is touching more than 5 lakh kit per day. "I have requested (Commerce and Industry Minister) Piyush Goyal ji that please give us permission to export PPE kits because we have got tremendous capacity now," he said. Similarly, Gadkari said, India has significantly ramped up the production of sanitisers and are now getting good export orders. On developing waterways, he said a report has been submitted to the World Bank to make Delhi -Mathura-Agra-Itawah-Allahabad-Varanasi waterway and though this Delhi can be connected to the northeast and up to Myanmar and southeast Asia. Further, the minister called for decongesting metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata and develop smart cities and villages. He added that India needs to attract foreign direct investment as investors are keen to invest here. "My target for two years is for making roads of Rs 15 lakh crore and we have just signed an agreement with a foreign bank for getting foreign credit for that ...480 projects already with me. M toll income is Rs 28000 crore per year. By the end of March, I am expecting Rs 40,000 crore and within five years, my toll income of NHAI will be Rs one lakh crore, he added. FDI can be allowed in NBFCs and "I feel that can be a good route. We need to go to RBI and finance to find out the way to give permission for that", he said. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, said N7.9bn belonging to Imo was seized from the former governor of Im... The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, said N7.9bn belonging to Imo was seized from the former governor of Imo State and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Rochas Okorocha. The Zonal Head of the commission, Usman Imam, made this known at the zonal office in Port Harcourt, Rivers. Imam, who said Okorocha should be ready for his days in court, added that the commission returned over N5.7bn to various administrations in Imo to pay salaries and pensions of workers. He said: I started the Imo state case in Enugu and upon my deployment to this zone, the investigations of corruption allegations against the former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, was transferred from the Enugu zone to Port Harcourt for further investigations. Within the period, the commission succeeded in freezing about in different accounts. All the monies that were released to Imo State government were from the N7.9bn recovered from Okorocha. The monies were released in batches. N2.7bn was released in March for salaries. In the PDP government of Emeka Ihedioha, excess of N2.5bn upon series of writings and our insistence of monitoring it was released to pay salaries and pensions because they were monies recovered from the state so it has to go back to the state. Then the government of Emeka left and this government came, we had a remnant of the money in excess of N2bn. We were able to release N514milion just last month because excess of about N1.8bn is encumbered with a court process. Contractors went to court and targeted the funds. The process is lingering. They still have excess of N1.8bn that is not released. Apart from the money recovered, Imam said the senators assets identified in Imo and Abuja were seized by the commission. He said the commission filed a court process for interim forfeiture of the assets confiscated from Okorocha. He said: The investigation has got to an advanced stage and we are expecting that in conclusion, we are going to arraign the former governor. It is in the course of investigations that we targeted his assets. Some are in Imo, Owerri and some are in Abuja. We marked these properties in Abuja and we have filed court processes for interim forfeiture of these assets. The target is to conclude the investigations and he will have his day in court. Imam explained that since he assumed the leadership of the zone in January, the commission has recovered N291.8million, 847,983 US Dollars, 390 pounds, 10,900 Euros, and 500 CFA. He said the commission also froze over N1.1bn in the accounts of Bluekey Technologies allegedly operating a ponzi scheme and defrauding over 8,926 victims of over N4.4bn. He said the EFFCC further secured interim forfeiture of 96 trucks, vessels, and barges while 226 drums of automotive gas oil and 1million litres of suspected crude oil were finally forfeited to the Federal Government. Imam explained that the zone received 441 petitions, successfully investigated 262 with 159 awaiting legal advice and 20 others charged to court. On the challenges of the commission, he said: Fighting corruption comes with its peculiar challenges. The corrupt are not going to fold their hands while you retrieve what they had stolen. They would fight back. This has come in the form of sponsored media attacks. A blogger, one Dikeocha Chukwuebuka, who caused the zone serious blushes by posting fake pictures of purported overcrowded EFCC cell was arrested and currently under prosecution. Other challenges are non-cooperation,m and delayed response to this commissions enquiries by some agencies; logistic challenge in investigating oil bunkering cases and inadequate office accommodation for staff. In spite of the challenges, the zone remains committed to actualizing the mandate of the commission, which is to eradicate corruption in Nigeria. External Article 12 June 2020 A lot of debate is going about what impact the ongoing pivot to virtual will have on the future of corporate travel. Advertisements Video conference companies, such as Zoom and GoToMeeting, are among very few organizations to have expanded since the pandemic began, and to some extent represent case studies that organizations can look to when it comes to perfecting the art of the virtual meeting. Zoom grew from 10 million daily participants in December last year to 300 million in April this year, while GoTo's video conferencing and webinar products had peak increases of as much as tenfold since March compared with prior months. They've leveraged their own platforms to scale their businesses, so looking behind the curtain how did they do it? And are virtual meetings a sustainable substitute for corporate travel in the long term? "We saw a 30 times increase, and we couldn't have imagined that magnitude of growth," Phil Perry, Zoom's head of UK and Ireland, told Skift. "But Zoom has been around for some time, we're a nine year old company, with our focus being enterprise, selling to businesses. "What's made us successful in the first instance is the architecture. It's in the cloud, and we have 17 data centers globally. We've been adding servers very regularly and instantaneously to support that growth." A member of the Communication team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) says former President John Mahama was chosen to lead the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) because of his wealth and not competence. Ishmael Addo alleged that "John Mahama was not the candidate the NDC wanted but the party needs money and so they decided to choose him because he has money more than any other person in the party" Mahama 'bloodshed' speech The NPP Communicator further lashed the former President for 'making comments that can lead to bloodshed' According to him, "its sad such comments were coming from the former President; it would have been pardonable if party communicators made those comments...I think he has already seen his defeat" Listen to him in the video below The former President, delivering a speech at the 28th anniversary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), issued a stern warning to the Electoral Commission (EC) ahead of the 2020 elections.According to him, the party will not accept the 2020 election results should they suspect any underhand dealings by the EC.As leader of the NDC, I wish to serve notice that we shall do all our parts to ensure that our country remains peaceful and that the electoral process proceeds smoothly, but let nobody assume that we will accept the results of a flawed election, he cautioned. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla., June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OMNICOMMANDER , a financial technology firm specializing in website design, branding, and marketing for credit unions, is proud to announce two credit union partners as winners of the prestigious Credit Union National Association Diamond Award in the website category. After a delay due to the pandemic, the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) hosted a virtual award ceremony last week to announce their 2020 Diamond Award Winners. The awards were announced daily in one-hour sessions and replaced the annual event originally scheduled for earlier this spring. While credit unions were notified that they were winners in February, they had not been told of their specific honor until this week's announcements. With 35 categories for the Diamond Awards, those that enter must demonstrate how they outshine all others in their classification. It is an absolute honor and privilege to have those that we have worked with to be recognized as the most outstanding in their category. Lana'i Federal Credit Union, Inaugural Launch of First Website Lana'i Federal Credit Union 's CEO/Manager Charity Texeira said, "As a small credit union on a small island with no digital services to offer, keeping up with the economic changes was surely a challenge. We realized that technology has clearly changed the landscape of how people move through their daily lives, specifically in how they choose to do their banking. OMNICOMMANDER has provided us the tool to not only put us on the front line, but has provided a digital presence that can compete at a prestigious level!" BRECO Federal Credit Union, New Website Joshua Poole, President/CEO of BRECO Federal Credit Union , said, "I'm so very thrilled that BRECO FCU has been nationally recognized through the CUNA Diamond Awards for our amazing website! Of the nominations, only three were from Louisiana, and those were four to seven times our size. If looking at all of the 22 website winners as a whole, BRECO was being recognized alongside credit unions thirty times our size! We may be small, but we're here to compete!" OMNICOMMANDER Founder and CEO, Eric Isham said, "The Diamond Awards are the pinnacle for the industry's recognition of what the credit unions build in terms of their digital branch and presence. In these times, a digital strategy is not an option - but rather a critical focus and priority that successful credit unions are embracing. Offering an exceptional experience with attention to user interface for members is how to set yourself up for success. We are honored to partner with so many credit unions that understand the crucial importance of a fantastic website design and online experience. Helping the credit unions serve their communities is why we do what we do, but being a part of them winning an award for what has been built is icing on the cake." About OMNICOMMANDER OMNICOMMANDER is a veteran-owned and operated credit union website design and social media marketing firm. Focusing on member experience, the company ensures every touchpoint has a remarkable user experience. Along with incredible design, OMNICOMMANDER creates sites with built-in mobile responsiveness, SSL encryption, and observance of ADA guidelines. OMNICOMMANDER provides marketing services including targeted marketing, branding, and social media, to enhance every aspect of a brand's digital presence. For more information, visit OMNICOMMANDER on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . CONTACT: Melanie Tucciarone, (850) 564-7765 ext 219, [email protected] SOURCE OMNICOMMANDER Related Links omnicommander.com The man accused of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe told an American woman he was living in fear of police coming to his New York apartment "because he had shot a cop in Ireland", the trial has heard. Molly Staunton (24) was in a relationship with a housemate of the accused, Aaron Brady (29), in the summer of 2016 when he is alleged to have told her that he was "carrying around guilt having murdered a cop in Ireland". The witness, who was giving evidence via video link from her home in New York, told the Central Criminal Court that Mr Brady said "he was the most feared man in Ireland". However, under cross-examination she agreed with defence counsel when it was put to her that Aaron Brady was concerned and upset gardai were looking for him and he "never made any admission having carried out that shooting". The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Adrian Donohoe, who was then a member of An Garda Siochana acting in the course of his duty, at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Dundalk, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. Mr Brady, of New Road in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, also denies robbery of approximately 7,000 in cash and assorted cheques from Pat Bellew at the same location on the same date. The witness said that in January 2016 she was 20 years old and in a relationship with Tommy McGeary, who was originally from Co Armagh, and he lived in an apartment with Aaron Brady in Woodlawn, the Bronx. The court heard Ms Staunton worked as a waitress in a pub known as the Press Box in New York city and that she socialised in bars including Behans and the Rambling House, both in the Bronx. Ms Staunton said that one evening in July 2016 between 7pm and 8pm she was at her boyfriend's house where she would visit almost daily. The witness said they were on a couch in the sitting room and that Aaron Brady had come out of his bedroom. Ms Staunton said he was "intoxicated" and was "going kind of crazy" as well as "crying, going on a huge rant". Ms Staunton said Mr Brady was "really in distress about his life, about his son and trying to be a good father". The court heard the accused had a girlfriend Danielle Healy, who was from Co Kerry, and she was expecting the couple's son at the time. Lead prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC then asked the witness what it was that she heard Aaron Brady say. Ms Stauton replied: "He said that he was in fear of the cops coming to the apartment because he had shot a cop in Ireland, and that he was worried that he didn't have enough money to take care of his son." She added that Mr Brady said "he was the most feared man in Ireland". Under cross-examination from defence counsel Fiona Murphy SC, it was put to the witness that her client "denies making any confession to you or to anyone else about shooting a guard" and that the reason he denies this is "because he never shot a guard". Ms Murphy also put it to Molly Staunton that her client was concerned that gardai were looking for him and that he "never made any admission himself having carried out that shooting", to which the witness said: "That is correct." The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and the jury of six men and seven women this afternoon. The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing penalties against BB Frame LLC, operating as Frame Q and as Owner and Principal Juan Quevedo, for exposing workers to multiple safety hazards at four Bergen County, N.J., worksites. OSHA conducted five investigations beginning in December 2019 of the Palisades Park, N.J.-based framing contractor and is proposing $1,997,125 in penalties. In February 2019, the Department of Justice (DOJ) had filed a lawsuit alleging Frame Q failed to pay the Department of the Treasury more than $678,053 in civil penalties and delinquency fees. OSHA had levied the underlying fines between 2013 and 2017 for dozens of violations, including lack of fall protection and ladder safety. Shortly after the DOJ filed suit, Quevedo dissolved Frame Q LLC but continued doing business as Frame Q while using the BB Frame corporate entity. In December 2019, OSHA conducted a complaint investigation at a worksite in Cliffside Park, N.J., and cited the company for nine safety violations and a $520,860 proposed penalty. OSHA conducted another investigation in Fort Lee, N.J., and cited the company for five citations with a proposed penalty of $426,785. In January 2020, as part of OSHAs local emphasis program for fall hazards, the agency opened an investigation at a different location in Cliffside Park. It resulted in five safety citations with a $405,588 proposed penalty. OSHA completed two additional investigations in February 2020 at a Palisades Park, N.J., site. The agency initiated one as part of the local emphasis program for fall hazards and issued three citations with a proposed penalty of $274,892. The other investigation, initiated in response to a complaint, resulted in eight violations and a $369,000 proposed penalty. This employers extensive history of egregious disregard for the safety of workers will not be tolerated, said OSHA Regional Administrator Richard Mendelson in New York in a U.S. Department of Labor press release. Employers are required by law to provide workers with safe and healthful workplaces. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHAs area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Source: U.S. Department of Labor Topics Workers' Compensation USA Contractors New Jersey Conjoined twins Derman and Yigit Evrensel have finally been separated after treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital. (Getty Images) The family of a pair of rare conjoined twins are celebrating their rebirth after they were separated successfully at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital. Yigit and Derman Evrensel were born in Antalya, Turkey, with their heads joined to each other. The twins, who will turn two on 21 June, were brought to the UK last year where they have undergone a series of operations and were finally separated on 28 January. They were flown back to Turkey on Wednesday with their parents in a special air ambulance. The twins' family say their separation marks their 'rebirth'. (Getty Images) The family have now flown back to Turkey from the UK. (Getty Images) Their family are now celebrating what they see as the twins starting life again. Their father Omer Evrensel said: 'When I saw them separated, I burst into tears. This was our only dream. Now they can play, do whatever they want like their peers. They'll start life again, they're almost reborn. We'll start everything from scratch. Read more: Conjoined twins reveal what it was like to be 'cut in half' aged four during life-threatening surgery His wife Fatma described how overjoyed she was by the successful separation of the twins. She said: I could never leave them for a second, but I also couldn't hug them or cradle them. I am overjoyed that their agony is over. Craniopagus twins, those joined by the head, are incredibly rare. (Getty Images) Twins joined by the head, known as craniopagus twins, are incredibly rare and most do not survive. Conjoined twins are rare to begin with occurring at a rate of about 1 in 2.5 million births worldwide of those, only 5% are craniopagus and separations are notoriously difficult. Evrensel reportedly said he and his wife had been asked to terminate the pregnancy once medics realised the twins were conjoined but they refused. Fatma Evrensel said previously she could never hug or cradle her children. (Getty Images) The family have now returned to Turkey. (Getty Images) The family are said to have been helped to get to the UK by Turkeys president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife, with reports also suggesting that a Turkish businessman and Turkish doctors in the UK had lent money to pay for the surgery. Its not the first time Great Ormond Street has carried out rare surgery on craniopagus twins. In July last year surgeons at the world-leading childrens hospital carried out surgery on two-year-old sisters Safa and Marwa Ullah, from Charsadda, Pakistan, when they were 19 months old. A digest of recent news from the EBRD EBRD the indispensable multilateral bank In an interview with the Eastern Eye, an Indian publication, EBRD President Sir Suma Chakrabarti took stock of his time at the helm of the Bank and said: Im proud, frankly, to have led EBRD for eight years and in those eight years EBRD has become what I call the indispensable, multilateral development bank. Learn more How EBRD economies are placed to exit coronavirus lockdown measures A new monitor developed by EBRD economists shows that many economies in the Banks regions are better positioned to exit social distancing than other emerging-market and advanced-economy comparators. They have less vulnerable labour markets, with fewer SMEs and self-employed people and lower shares of the population on temporary contracts. Learn more Vienna Initiative rekindles financial sector dialogue Members of the Vienna Initiative met in virtual session on 8 June, their first opportunity to sit in full forum since the outbreak of the coronavirus, which has had a severe impact on the economies of central, eastern and south-eastern Europe. Learn more EBRD Chief Economist warns against sleepwalking into protectionism In an interview with the BBC, which was later also published as a web story, EBRD Chief Economist Beata Javorcik warned : In the absence of global commitment to free trade the world may just sleepwalk into protectionism." Other guests in the programme included World Bank President David Malpass and the US economist Larry Summers. Learn more Meanwhile, a Wall Street Journal article on future trade relations between the United States and China quoted a recent research paper by Beata Javorcik on foreign direct investment inflows. Learn more The Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) and the EBRD organised a joint Facebook LIVE event on "Productive Development Policies: The Substance and the Organization" which our Chief Economist presented Watch here Voicing support in Georgia: EBRDs Head of Caucasus, Catarina Bjorlin Hansen, spoke in an interview with broadcaster 1TV about the Banks support for clients in Georgia and its work with the Investors Council to help the government draft a post Covid-19 investment strategy. Watch here in Kyrgyz Republic Neil McKain, EBRD Regional Head, discussed the Banks support for the Kyrgyz Republic to address its most urgent needs and building the ground for a long-term economic recovery. Learn more and in Belarus A story on EBRDs investments in improving water supply and treatment was featured on ONT TV, highlighting how residents of the Vitebsk oblast are benefiting from the Banks engagement. Watch here Project signings: Support for Turkish banking sector The EBRD is providing a US$ 75 million loan to Akbank, a major local lender, to help Turkish businesses with access to finance to overcome the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more Support to local businesses in Egypt The EBRD provided a loan up to US$ 100 million to National Bank of Kuwait Egypt (NBKE) for on-lending to private businesses. Learn more Covered bonds by Estonias LHV Pank The EBRD invested 37 million in the first covered bonds issued by LHV Pank to support the establishment of a still novel capital market instrument in Estonia. Learn more Support in the private sector in Armenia In Armenia, the EBRD is providing a US$ 25 million loan to its longstanding partner bank InecoBank for extending support to private companies. Learn more 50 million loan to Polish wholesaler Eurocash Polands leading wholesaler Eurocash S.A took full control of the food retailer Frisco.pl with the help of a loan of up to 50 million provided by the EBRD. Learn more Polish PM Morawiecki mentioned during a press conference that the EBRD predicts Poland to see the lowest GDP drop due to the pandemic amongst the EU countries. Learn more New podcast: Will capitalism survive the coronavirus pandemic? Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, EBRD Chief Economist Beata Javorcik and the columnist Roger Cohen discussed how and whether capitalism will survive the coronavirus pandemic on a special Pocket Dilemmas podcast organised by the EBRD and the Athens Democracy Forum (in association with The New York Times). Learn more and listen here EBRD Green Cities webinar: Transition to recovery In a webinar organised by EBRD Green Cities, municipal leaders from the southern and eastern Mediterranean discussed lessons from the coronavirus pandemic and how the EBRD can help the recovery. Learn more Promoting SMEs access to capital markets in Greece Building on the success of the first round of the EBRDs SME Pre-Listing Support programme last year, the EBRD is launching a second call for Greek SMEs. Learn more Supporting small businesses in Turkey with J.P.Morgan J.P.Morgan became the first private organisation to support the EBRDs operations with philanthropic co-financing aimed at supporting the growth of small businesses in Turkey and especially female entrepreneurship. Learn more Delphi Economic Forum praises EBRD Greek Minister of Development and Investments, Adonis Georgiadis, and the Chief Economic Advisor to the Greek PM, Alex Patelis, congratulated and thanked the EBRD for its work in the country. Mr Patelis said that we have an incredible relationship and Mr Georgiadis, who also serves as EBRD Governor, praise the Bank as very efficient and very fast. Learn more Our tweets Client stories: Providing medical care during coronavirus outbreak In Egypt, TABIBI, a beneficiary of EBRD business advice, started offering online consultations and telehealth lines dedicated to coronavirus-related situations, to protect patients from the risks of physical clinic visits during the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more Bringing clean water to Morocco under lockdown The National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water in Morocco sped up the construction of a water treatment plant funded by the EBRD to bring clean water to 140,000 people with the rise in consumption during the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more Supporting start-up in Jordan In Jordan, Abjjad, a tech start-up that benefitted from the EBRD Star Venture programme, has seen 200,000 new subscriptions to its network, and content acquisition also accelerated amid the spike in online readers throughout the Covid-19 lockdown. Learn more EBRD stands against racism There is no place for racism, in any of its despicable manifestations, within the EBRD or anywhere else in the world. The EBRD stands committed to confronting head-on any such prejudices and discrimination, said EBRD President Sir Suma Chakrabarti on a statement against racism. Learn more The EBRD changed its logo on social media, replacing it with a black circle, to express the Banks support for the fight nagainst racism. Learn more President Sir Suma Chakrabarti tweeted to highlight the Banks support in the fighting against racism. Learn more Social Media During a Using country analytics to inform the Covid-19 response webinar, organised by the Country Diagnostics Working Group and hosted by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the participants discussed the importance of coordinated action, the need for the crisis response to be evidence- and science-based, and what IFIs and DFIs are already doing in this space, notably the joint analytical platform. Learn more EBRDs Kerrie Law spoke about her EBRD career in Corporate Strategy and as co-host of the Pocket Dilemmas Podcast to Where Women Work. Learn more Newly approved projects In Turkey, the EBRD approved a 75 million loan to DenizBank for onlending to MSMEs in agriculture and smaller municipalities. Learn more The Bank has committed to support crop farming in Ukraine, by providing 7 million loan in working capital to Grain Alliance. Learn more In Belarus, EBRD will work to bridge a liquidity gap due to adverse market conditions related to the coronavirus crisis and will provide two loans, a 2 million loan to SwoodS Export FLLC and a 5 million loan to VMG Industry FLLC. The EBRD will boost its support to agribusiness SME clients in Romania and has committed to provide a 5 million multicurrency loan in EUR and RON to Agricover Credit IFN. Learn more In Kazakhstan, the Bank will further its support to small business coping with the impacts of coronavirus and will provide a US$ 40 million loan to Microfinance Organization KMF Learn more The EBRD is teaming up with the Green Climate Fund to support climate resilience technology investments in Mongolia. The Bank has approved a loan of US$ 4 million to XacLeasing. Learn more Subscribe to instant email updates on EBRD news about topics such as coronavirus and climate finance SIGN UP Newly-released dashcam footage shows the moment an indigenous Canadian leader was tackled and punched by police during a confrontation in Alberta earlier this year. Chief Allan Adam of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation has claimed Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) beat him in March after they approached him over an expired license plate. The arrest has received attention in Canada as a backlash against racism grows worldwide in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee to his neck. In the 12-minute video, released as part of a court application to have his charges dropped, a police officer is seen charging at Adam with his arm and elbow up as he tackles him to the ground. It also shows the officer punching him in the head. Adam had approached the police car parked behind him outside a Fort McMurray casino to complain of harassment. When the officer repeatedly orders him back to his truck, Adam warns that the two of them are going to have a problem. Scroll down for video The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have released dashcam footage of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam's violent arrest in March The 12-minute police video shows an officer charging at Adam with his arm and elbow up as he tackles him to the ground. It also shows the officer punching him in the head Photos show Adam's bruised and bloodied face after the March 10 incident. He was charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest Later, Adam exits his truck swearing, removes his jacket and assumes a fighting stance. His wife and niece get in between him and the officer at times. After he leaves the vehicle a final time, he is held by one officer while a second charges at him and tackles him to the ground. They are heard saying, 'Don't resist!' One of the officers then punches him in the face. Adam is then cuffed and led away bleeding. He was charged with resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer. Photos show Adam was left bloodied with his face swollen. Alberta's police watchdog agency is investigating. Footage of the incident was publicly released after Adam's lawyer, Brian Beresh, filed a court motion to have criminal charges dropped over violation of Adam's constitutional rights. 'All of this resulted from an expired license plate tag. The video speaks for itself,' Beresh said in a statement. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday called the video 'shocking.' 'I have serious questions about what happened,' Trudeau said. 'The independent investigation must be transparent and be carried out so that we get answers. 'At the same time, though, we also know that this is not an isolated incident. Far too many black Canadians and indigenous people do not feel safe around police. It's unacceptable. And as governments, we have to change that.' Adam had approached a police car parked behind him outside a Fort McMurray casino to complain of harassment before the incident turned violent Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation speaks during a news conference in Fort McMurray, Alberta in 2014 Opposition Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said he was troubled by the video. 'It's very difficult to watch,' Scheer said. 'I found it very troubling and very worrying. The events of the last few days and weeks have ignited a very important conversation about the use of excessive force.' The RCMP said in a statement that the dashcam video had been reviewed by supervisors and 'it was determined that the members' actions were reasonable and did not meet the threshold for an external investigation.' Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said she found the images in the video 'incredibly disturbing.' 'This is a moment in our country when we need to confront the really horrible reality that systemic racism exists here in Canada, anti-black racism exists in Canada, anti-indigenous racism exists in Canada. It is systemic,' she said. 'We need to acknowledge that, we need to confront that and we need to work really hard together to end that.' Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday called the video 'shocking' and ordered an independent investigation Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, whose department oversees the RCMP, issued a statement saying Canadians deserve answers. 'We have been clear that we will work with indigenous partners and communities as well as racialized Canadians to ensure that our agencies serve without bias and with a commitment to justice for everyone,' he said. The statement from the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation called for the officers involved to be punished and criminal charges brought. Mark Mendelson, a former Toronto police detective, said the officer flying at Adam with his elbow and punching him on the ground was unnecessary and egregious. Mendelson also wondered why he was being arrested. 'You can see him being verbally aggressive. My position is that if you can't take somebody yelling and swearing and screaming at you, then you probably shouldn't be a cop,' he said. Adam held a news conference last weekend to talk about excessive force and racism. He has noted that although aboriginal people represent five per cent of Canada's population, they make up to 30 per cent of the prison population. Trudeau has also said the issue of systemic racism in policing is longstanding and needs addressing. Advertisement Nigel Farage has continued his attacks on Black Lives Matter protesters hours after LBC pulled the plug on his radio show amid growing staff anger at his controversial comments. Colleagues at Global Media, the station's owner, had piled pressure on company bosses to drop the Brexiteer from its presenting cast following a heated TV interview where he compared activists to the Taliban. LBC yesterday announced Mr Farage was stepping down from his evening show 'with immediate effect' following talks. But the firebrand politician was back on the airwaves this morning on a rival radio station and stuck by criticism of BLM, which he branded a 'Marxist anarchist mob'. He also insisted there was no bitterness between him and LBC, telling Talk Radio: 'We've been in negotiations for some time, but as often with things in life it happened rather suddenly. And I've got no wish to comment about it, I've no wish to display sour grapes.' In a nod to a near-fatal plane crash Mr Farage survived on the day of the 2010 election, he added: 'Compared to climbing out of a light aircraft, that's just crashed to the ground in 2010, it's pretty small beer.' And in the interview: Mr Farage said Black Lives Matter will not stop protesting until it has 'fundamentally changed society'; He claimed the demonstrations are no longer about the 'appalling' death of George Floyd, but an 'all out attack' on this country; He feared critics of BLM would soon start 'taking things into their own hands' if the toppling of statues persists; The Brexiteer urged Boris Johnson to stand up for Britain and say he is proud of his country; He said Middle England is 'furious' by the removal of statues and never before has the gap between Parliament and the people been so wide; He is undecided about what he will do next, except for fishing and waiting for the pubs to open. In a nod to a near-fatal plane crash Mr Farage survived on the day of the 2010 election, he added: 'People texted me saying it must have been a difficult day. But compared to climbing out of the wreckage of a light aircraft, it wasn't that bad' Nigel Farage has doubled down his attacks on Black Lives Matter protesters hours after LBC pulled the plug on his radio show amid growing staff anger at his controversial comments Timeline: Nigel Farage leaves LBC amid staff backlash Sunday, June 7: Black Lives Matter protesters tear down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol. Tuesday, June 9: Nigel Farage denounces the behaviour of activists and compares them to the Taliban during a fiery debate with Professor Kate Williams and Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu on Good Morning Britain. Employees at Global Media, LBC's owner, were furious and took their disquiet to bosses. Thursday, June 11: LBC announces Mr Farage is stepping down from his evening show 'with immediate effect' and extends Iain Dale's show by an hour to fill the void. Friday, June 12: Mr Farage goes on Talk Radio and says there is no bad blood between him and LBC, while continuing his attacks on BLM. Advertisement During Tuesday's GMB interview, Mr Farage, discussing the toppling of Bristol slave trader Edward Colston's statue, said: 'The Taliban love to blow up and destroy historical monuments from a different time that they do not approve of.' The remarks sparked outrage among some Global employees, who sources say were already exasperated at the company's half-hearted support for the BLM movement. Some of Global biggest stars were among employees who demanded bosses back up their public support for the BLM movement with actions. 'Everyone across the board was furious. The mood was not great. Both production and presenters made our feelings known to the bosses,' one insider told the i, following Mr Farage's criticism of BLM. Capital Xtra breakfast show hosts Yinka Bokinni and Shayna Marie Birch-Campbell underscored their unhappiness with Global Media's stance, writing 'we currently don't feel like we have the backing of the place we call home,' according to the Guardian. Mr Farage's sudden departure was cheered by LBC presenter and vocal Remainer James O'Brien who triumphantly gloated: 'We got our station back'. But in today's interview with Mike Graham on Talk Radio, Mr Farage defended his GMB comments and said he was 'screamed at like I was a liar' by the other panelists. He added: 'The three words on their own - Black Lives Matter - nothing wrong with that and if people say they want to make sure throughout society there is equality of opportunity or deal with whatever unfairness there is in society, that's fine. 'Black Lives Matter as an organisation is a Marxist anarchistic organisation that seeks to defund the police, to overthrow the capitalist system, to put in place reparations for slavery. 'They're not going to go away because a few statues have been brought down. They will continue until they have fundamentally changed society. 'And I think this is not a lot more than about George Floyd, and the appalling manner of his death. This is now an all out attack on our nation, our symbols, our heritage. It's an attempt to make us all feel ashamed of who we are.' Nigel Farage's LBC radio show was axed to appease growing staff anger over the company's half-hearted support for Black Lives Matter protests, insiders revealed last night The hardline Eurosceptic, who was yesterday pictured with his new Labrador puppy Baxter in Kent, has been a vocal critic of removing controversial statues following the recent Black Lives Matter protests LBC revealed Mr Farage's departure in a tweet and wished him well. But Mr Farage's producer Christian Mitchell suggested he had been blindsided by the sudden departure, tweeting: 'Hearing this on social media...' Fellow LBC presenter James O'Brien, a vehement critic of both Brexit and Mr Farage, gleefully tweeted: 'We got our station back' Nigel Farage: The Brexit talisman unafraid to speak his mind 2014: Mr Farage told LBC he 'felt uncomfortable' hearing foreign accents on public transport. May 2014: He told LBC radio he would be concerned if a group of Romanian men moved in next door. December 2014: Mr Farage blamed 'open-door immigration' for traffic which made him late for a speaking event in Wales. 2015 election: He railed against people coming to the UK for HIV treatment. 2016 referendum: Mr Farage unveiled the now notorious Breaking Point poster which claimed to show immigrants pouring into the UK. August 2019: He claimed that Meghan Markle had lowered Prince Harry's popularity. Mr Farage said: 'And then he met Meghan Markle, and it's (his popularity) fallen off a cliff.' 2019 election: A passer-by drenched Mr Farage in a milkshake during a campaign event in Newcastle. June 2020: Compared BLM protesters to the Taliban. Advertisement Global media, whose stable of stations includes LBC, Capital, Heart and Radio X, has been a vocal supporter of the BLM movement. On Monday, it held a one-minute silence in memory of George Floyd. Before the pause, Global told Twitter followers: 'We need to improve, and pledge to make a sustained effort to evolve for the better. 'In the meantime, we will take a moment this evening to remember with respect and dignity both George Floyd and all those who have suffered and are suffering. 'We will also reflect on our commitments for the future.' According to CampaignLive, 13 per cent of Global's staff are from minority backgrounds. Yesterday Mr Farage denied claims he quit following a furious row with bosses after being informed his contract was not being renewed. LBC insists his contract was coming to an end shortly. LBC has downplayed the departure and insisted Mr Farage's current contract was ending, but his own producer Christian Mitchell suggested he had been blindsided, tweeting: 'Hearing this on social media...' The station said: 'Nigel Farage's contract with LBC is up very shortly and, following discussions with him, Nigel is stepping down from LBC with immediate effect. 'We thank Nigel for the enormous contribution he has made to LBC and wish him well.' Taking to the airwaves an hour earlier yesterday to fill the schedule gap left by Mr Farage, Iain Dale said: 'I know Nigel would wish me to pass on his thanks to all of his listeners'. Mr Farage, 56, has hosted his own 6-7pm show from Mondays to Thursdays as well as a mid-morning show on Sundays since 2017. LBC bosses would not have pulled the plug lightly, as the show is believed to be hugely popular and a money-spinner for Global Media. During his spell as a presenter, he has bagged interviews with some premier league guests, including President Donald Trump. In the debate, Mr Farage went head-to-head with historian Professor Kate Williams and Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, who this afternoon both cheered his departure from LBC While the Eurosceptic think tank Bruges Group said it was a 'real shame' Mr Farage had quit his role on LBC, New European columnist Tim Walker compared Mr Farage's departure to a 'statue' being toppled In the debate, Mr Farage went head-to-head with historian Professor Kate Williams and Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, who yesterday both cheered his departure from LBC. Prof Williams tweeted: 'On Tuesday, Nigel Farage made the disgraceful comparison of Black Lives Matter to the Taliban on GMB. 'Horrific spreading of race hatred and inciting hate. Now, he is 'stepping down' from LBC - immediate effect. 'This is long overdue. Race hatred must be off all the airwaves -now!' Dr Mos-Shogbamimu wrote sarcastically: 'Nigel Farage is out of LBC? Couldn't have happened to a nicer person. We thank him for nothing.' Commenting on the news, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey MP bluntly said: 'Good.' Mr Farage last year told the European Parliament that he earned 27,000 a month through his media company - dwarfing the salary he made as an MEP. GLOBAL'S SILENCE AT ODDS WITH FARAGE On Monday Global's Radio stations, which include LBC, Radio X, Capital and Heart, held one minute's silence in memory of George Floyd. Before the pause, Global told Twitter followers: 'We need to improve, and pledge to make a sustained effort to evolve for the better. 'In the meantime, we will take a moment this evening to remember with respect and dignity both George Floyd and all those who have suffered and are suffering. 'We will also reflect on our commitments for the future.' Three days later, Nigel Farage quit the station having compared Black Lives Matter activists to the Taliban. According to CampaignLive, 13% of Global's staff are from minority backgrounds. Advertisement He uses Thorn In The Side Ltd to collect his earnings, which come from his LBC show as well as regular appearances as a talking head on US TV channel Fox News. Accounts for the year to May 2018 show that its assets exceeded 548,000, significantly up on 157,000 the year before. He also added that he received 'nothing' for his role as leader of the Brexit Party, which he created in 2018 to pressure the Government into formally withdrawing from the European Union. For decades, Mr Farage was a fringe figure in British politics and banged the drum for Euroscepticsm through the vehicle of Ukip. But his firebrand rhetoric and punchy debating tactics gained him a bigger following, which led Ukip to victory in the 2014 European elections. Although shunned by the official Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 referendum, Mr Farage toured the country as part of the unofficial Grassroots Out movement. He quit as Ukip leader following the Brexit vote and flew to America to support Donald Trump's bid for the White House. He founded the Brexit Party in 2019, where he delivered a thumping win in the European elections, before flopping at the December general election. "It's clear that change is needed to survive, but picturing what successful change looks like in an era characterized by ongoing uncertainty may seem challenging," says concierge transition expert Specialdocs CEO Terry Bauer. "During the COVID-19 crisis, it became clearer than ever that our concierge medicine model provides a proven, sustainable path to stability and success for independent physicians." From New York communities in the heart of the pandemic to locations in Southern California, the appeal of receiving personalized care from a trusted, dedicated physician set the concierge, or membership, model apart, according to Bauer. Specialdocs launched a number of membership medicine practices throughout the country during the COVID-19 shutdown, including: Specialdocs' client practices in Northern Virginia, Atlanta and San Diego launched shortly before the pandemic also report steady growth as patients increasingly sought the peace of mind of knowing their personal physician was directly and continuously available. Bauer says: "The window of opportunity for physicians and their patients to experience the transformative rewards of concierge medicine is wide open now." "However," he cautions, "market forces that include continued widespread acquisition of independent practices by large medical groups and health systems, are evolving quickly, and may force more limited choices going forward." "This is a pivotal moment to become a concierge physician," says Bauer. Learn more at Specialdocs' complimentary webinar Physicians, healthcare experts and media are invited to a candid discussion about concierge medicine at Specialdocs' upcoming webinar, "Now What? Imminent Dangers and Emerging Opportunities for Physicians" on Wednesday, June 17th at 6 PM CDT. Leading physicians representing a diverse cross section of geographies and pre-concierge situations, will share their individual stories and collective experience of practicing concierge medicine in unprecedented times. The panel includes: Dr. Marc Harrigan , family medicine, Atlanta , describes his journey from rising physician executive at a major health system to an entrepreneurial success with his concierge medicine practice. , family medicine, , describes his journey from rising physician executive at a major health system to an entrepreneurial success with his concierge medicine practice. Dr. Monica Sarang , internal medicine, Southern California , reveals the restorative work-life balance and enhanced patient engagement from being a concierge physician. , internal medicine, , reveals the restorative work-life balance and enhanced patient engagement from being a concierge physician. Dr. Jeffrey Puglisi , co-founder of a prominent concierge internal medicine group practice in Connecticut , shares his views as to how personalized medicine fits into the future of primary care. Since 2002, Specialdocs Consultants has worked collaboratively with physicians nationwide to transform their practices with the industry's most customized and sustainable concierge model. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Specialdocs Consultants Related Links http://specialdocs.com There will perhaps be little actual detail as Boohoo updates shareholders on how it did in the fist quarter, but eyes are likely to be fixed on the online retailer after weeks of turbulent news. Investors will hope that the company, involved in a controversial buyout and hit by a short-sellers report, can exert an aura of calm as in its trading update on Wednesday. In March, just before the UK economy shut down, nervous shareholders sent Boohoos shares tumbling to only a little over half the value of where they were trading in February. But investors that stuck with the company, or bought in at a low of 157.5p were rewarded soon after lockdown, as the company ticked back up to as high as 390p per share. Boohoo has had its share of ups and downs over the past few years, and this years share price moves havent been any different. The online retailer saw record highs in the share price in January before a spectacular Covid-19 collapse to three-year lows, which was then followed by a recovery to new record highs last month, said CMC Markets chief market analyst Michael Hewson. It has been two months since the company announced a strong set of results for last year. Revenues were up by almost half, and profit even more so. But it has hardly been a quiet time. In May the company was forced to defend itself from the claims of a short-selling hedge fund. Matthew Earls ShadowFall accused bosses at the retailer of misleading shareholders over its financials. Boohoo denied this. It also warned that the 200 million the firm had raised could be used to buy the stake of Pretty Little Thing that Boohoo did not own from the Umar Kamani, the son of Boohoos founder and chairman. Just days after the report, Boohoo paid 270 million for Mr Kamanis third of Pretty Little Thing, far below ShadowFalls claims that it could cost up to 1 billion. Mr Hewson said: The short-seller also claimed that the company was treating cash generated by PLT as though it owned the business outright, saying it could cost the company almost 1 billion to buy the remaining stake. The resultant buying out of the said stake by Boohoo management helped put paid to that claim. This weeks first quarter numbers come against a backdrop of a turbulent quarter and could go a long way to further put a hole in the claims of last months short seller, as well as reassure investors who have had quite a journey so far this year. Sophie Lund-Yates, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown said: Despite seeing sales initially struggle because of lockdown, Boohoos April trading was actually up year-on-year. This is no mean feat given the current climate and were keen to see if the trend has continued. Its a trading statement so we arent likely to get profit or margin detail, but it will be important to look out for any commentary on discounting. Gross margins have come under pressure as the retail sector becomes increasingly competitive. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 12, 2020 07:31 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde1728e 1 Politics omnibus-bill-on-job-creation,omnibus-bill,omnibus,omnibus-law,mahfud-md,Airlangga-Hartarto,labor-union,KSPI,business-sectors Free Labor unions have demanded the government to form a technical team with fair representation for workers, in addition to government and business associations, to discuss the labor cluster of the controversial omnibus bill on job creation. The labor unions filed their demands for the team in a meeting on Wednesday evening attended by Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartanto, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD and other government officials. Some of the 12 labor unions that attended, including the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) and the All-Indonesia Workers Union Confederation (KSPSI), expressed hope that the team could assess and discuss vexed articles in the bill from both a labor and business perspective. KSPSI president Andi Gani Nena Wea said some of the unions wanted the labor cluster of the bill to be discussed again from scratch as the initial drafting did not involve labor unions. The government initially wanted to discuss the existing draft, but [the labor unions] want to start from scratch, Andi told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. Read also: Indonesia delays deliberations over labor issues in omnibus bill amid backlash Following mounting pressure from labor groups, President Joko Jokowi Widodo and House of Representatives speaker Puan Maharani announced on April 29 that the deliberation for the labor cluster of the omnibus bill would be postponed. However, the House would still continue to deliberate the other 10 clusters on the bill, which range from the simplification of permits to economic zones. While the government had yet to fulfill the demands, Andi said Airlangga had ordered the Manpower Ministry to form a technical team. The government would soon make an announcement about the formation of the team, he added. Additionally, the labor groups expected the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) to also take part in the team to represent the business side of deliberation. Read also: Guide to omnibus bill on job creation: 1,028 pages in 10 minutes Mahfud said in a statement that the government appreciated the labor unions input, which would be used to complement previous deliberations of the bill. We received a variety of good input and we appreciate it all. This input will enrich the discussions on the omnibus bill on job creation, he added. Apindo chairman Hariyadi Sukamdani said that, while the employers association did not receive a request regarding the team, Apindo and Kadin were set to take part in the bills deliberation along with other parties. Bank of Ireland has announced its three rural Wicklow branches which were closed temporarily due to coronavirus will re-open on Monday, June 29 The bank's branches in Tinahely, Carnew and Rathdrum were among the 101 nationwide which shut their doors on March 27 due to the pandemic. On Monday, the bank confirmed these branches will re-open with reduced opening honours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays to Fridays. Councillor Pat Kennedy welcomed the announcement that the branches would re-open. 'Having been engaging with Bank of Ireland in relation to the closure of the three Bank of Ireland branches, Rathdrum, Carnew, and Tinahely, they have now confirmed to me that they will reopen on Monday, June 29. 'The closure of these branches has been a huge inconvenience for the people and business in and around South Wicklow and the Rathdrum, Carnew, and Tinahely areas and I fully welcome their re-opening. There was a real fear that these branches would never re-open.' Wicklow Sinn Fein TD John Brady had also called for the branches to re-open highlighting the impact on local businesses. 'The continued closure is starting to impact negatively on businesses that have reopened, they can't lodge money in the branches and the external ATM only provides an external cash withdrawal service. 'The result is people are having to travel large distances to branches that are open to lodge money. It's also impacting on people who need to lodge money into their account to pay bills.' A spokesperson for Bank of Ireland told this paper last week that the bank had 'made a number of operational changes to safeguard critical services during the pandemic, respond to a significant shift in how customers are banking, and support social distancing requirements.' The spokesperson said 161 of the bank's larger branches remained open alongside online and telephone banking while staff from the 101 branches temporarily shut 'have been supporting our contact centres and online services manage high volumes of requests, as well as our larger branches where social distancing can be better maintained. 'We're continuing to see shifts in customer behaviour towards online banking channels, and social distancing requirements remain in place. Our focus therefore remains on protecting the prioritised services across 161 branches, telephone and online banking, while keeping all developments under active review.' On Monday, Gavin Kelly, CEO of Retail Ireland at Bank of Ireland, said: 'We have been monitoring and adapting our operations throughout Covid-19 to reflect customer demand and public health advice. 'As the economy starts to reopen, which is critically important for families and businesses across Ireland, we are updating our operations over the coming weeks. 'In line with Phase 3, we will re-open most closed branches from 29 June, while making changes to ensure that social distancing can be maintained for the safety of our customers and colleagues. 'ATM services will also return to full operations. 'We will also continue to offer all of our dedicated Covid-19 services for customers requiring specific support, including personal customers and businesses. By PTI NEW YORK: Global poverty could rise to over one billion people due to the COVID-19 pandemic and more than half of the 395 million additional extreme poor would be located in South Asia, which would be the hardest-hit region in the world, according to a new report. Researchers from King's College London and Australian National University published the new paper with the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) which said the COVID-19 pandemic could drive global poverty back over one billion people as the world's poorest face up to USD 500 million per day in lost income. The paper, 'Precarity and the Pandemic: COVID-19 and Poverty Incidence, Intensity and Severity in Developing Countries,' finds that extreme poverty could rise to over one billion people globally as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The cost of the crisis in lost income could reach USD 500 million per day for the world's poorest people, and the intensity and severity of poverty are likely to be exacerbated dramatically. The report also noted that poverty is likely to increase dramatically in middle-income developing countries and there could be a significant change in the distribution of global poverty. The location of global poverty could shift back towards developing countries in South Asia and East Asia. ALSO READ | COVID-19 may push over million children into child labour, reversing decades of gains: UN The report said that based on the USD 1.90 a day poverty line and a 20 per cent contraction, more than half of the 395 million additional extreme poor would be located in South Asia, which would become the hardest hit region in the world ''mainly driven by the weight of populous India'' followed by sub-Saharan Africa which would comprise 30 per cent, or 119 million, of the additional poor. The report added that as the value of the poverty line increases, a larger share of the additional poor will be concentrated in regions where the corresponding poverty line is more relevant given the average income level. For instance, the regional distribution of the world's poor changes drastically when looking at the USD 5.50 a day poverty line the median poverty line among upper-middle-income countries. At this level, almost 41 per cent of the additional half a billion poor under a 20 per cent contraction scenario would live in East Asia and the Pacific, chiefly China; a fourth would still reside in South Asia; and a combined 18 per cent would live in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), whose individual shares are close to that recorded for sub-Saharan Africa. ''India plays a significant role in driving the potential increases in global extreme poverty documented previously, comprising almost half the estimated additional poor regardless of the contraction scenario,'' the report said. Nonetheless, there are other populous, low and lower-middle- income countries in South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and East Asia and the Pacific accounting for a sizeable share of the estimates: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and Indonesia come next, in that order, concentrating a total of 18-19 per cent of the new poor, whereas the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Pakistan, Kenya, Uganda, and the Philippines could jointly add 11-12 per cent. ''Taken together, these figures imply that three quarters of the additional extreme poor globally could be living in just ten populous countries.'' The report added that this high concentration of the additional extreme poor is ''staggering'' although not necessarily unexpected given the size of each country's population. On one hand, data shows that three of these ten countries (Ethiopia, India, and Nigeria) were among the top ten by number of extreme poor people in 1990 and remained within the ranks of that group until 2018. Despite this crude fact, two of these countries have managed to achieve a sustained reduction in their incidence of poverty since the early 1990s, namely Ethiopia and India, reaching their lowest poverty headcount ratio ever recorded at about 22 and 13 per cent, respectively. ALSO WATCH: Nonetheless, the potential contraction in per capita income/consumption imposed by the pandemic's economic effects could erase some of this progress. The researchers are now calling for urgent global leadership from the G7, G20, and the multilateral system, and propose a three-point plan to address the impact of the COVID-19 on global poverty quickly. Professor of International Development at King's College London and a Senior Non-Resident Research Fellow at UNU-WIDER Andy Sumner said the COVID-19 crisis could take extreme poverty back over one billion people because millions of people live just above poverty. ''Millions of people live in a precarious position one shock away from poverty. And the current crisis could be that shock that pushes them into poverty.'' Professor Kunal Sen, Director of UNU-WIDER said the new estimates about the level of poverty in the world and the cost of the COVID-19 pandemic to the world's poor are sobering. ''We cannot stand by and see the hard work and effort of so many be eradicated. We will know what the real impact is in time, but the necessary action to ensure we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 needs to be planned now,'' Sen said. San Antonio police cant and shouldnt be trying to shoulder every social ill, a key point to remember top officials said Friday as the city reevaluates the $479 million it spends annually on SAPD. Demands to defund police departments are mounting across the nation in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, who died May 12 when a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. While San Antonio isnt likely to dissolve its department, the City Council is taking a hard look at the police budget and considering cutbacks. Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City Manager Erik Walsh and Police Chief William McManus, speaking at an Express-News editorial board meeting Friday, are essentially in agreement that police officers shouldnt be providing primary services for the mentally ill and homeless. Those programs have been added over time to a hefty police budget that now makes up more than a third of the citys total $1.3 billion operating expenses. When you have city budgets in San Antonio or across the country that are primarily made up of policing services, its trying to reach a level of public safety thats purely based on law enforcement, Nirenberg said. If we dont invest in our communities, we reap what we sow and we end having to police rather than invest. McManus echoed that. There needs to be a proper investment in those areas, McManus said. We cant rely on police to police those social and economic issues away. But officials also acknowledged that it will likely take years to make major structural changes in how the police department operates and how its financed. I also dont think you can legitimately turn an aircraft carrier-sized budget like ours on a dime, Walsh said. Later, motioning to McManuss uniform, Walsh said, We cant spend all our money on this uniform. Theres other needs. The polices role helping people with mental health crises wont disappear, McManus said. There are situations that involve violent behavior that are better handled by police, and special training is needed in those areas. There has to be some involvement, McManus said. But I dont think that that should be laid on law enforcement solely to the exclusion of any other departments that probably can deal with it in a better way. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio City Council grapples with reforming police discipline, budget in wake of George Floyd protests Some changes are already being made. Police drew criticism for firing wooden and rubber bullets on protesters in Alamo Plaza last week which McManus said was justified because demonstrators had thrown rocks and bottles at officers. The departments internal affairs unit is continuing its investigation into the incident, McManus said Friday. There were complaints that some officers fired without provocation. Walsh himself said he spent about three hours looking at videos posted on social media to try to figure out what happened. Theres no doubt that we do need to understand what caused that and correct that, Walsh said. The use of those projectiles raised concerns for Nirenberg, given that demonstrators were out protesting police officers use of force. If our response is a use of force, then its only going to make things escalate, Nirenberg said. McManus issued a directive after that confrontation, requiring that he personally approve the use of those kinds of projectiles during a demonstration which Nirenberg acknowledged was an important step. But even less-than-lethal options like those projectiles can be seriously harmful. A 16-year-old boy protesting in Austin was put in critical condition after a police officer there shot him in the head with a bean-bag round. McManus noted that those weapons are intended to be fired at a persons lower body. If used properly, theyre effective and they dont do the damage that we saw in Austin, McManus said. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg unveils agenda on police reforms, union contract City officials also are looking at untangling parts of the police unions contract they say protect bad officers. The contract is set to expire next year and both sides will soon be back at the negotiating table. To that end, the city may have help from the rank and file. I would venture to say that there are officers in the police department that probably dont want to be working with officers that arent being held accountable, Walsh said. For example, McManus cant use an officers prior misconduct to decide punishment for another offense. The city also wants to get rid of a rule that says police supervisors cant discipline an officer for alleged misconduct if they find out about the incident more than six months later. Good officers dont need those protections, McManus said. They dont need that advantage. McManus pointed to two state laws, one that gives police unions the right to negotiate their contracts, including aspects of disciplinary actions, and another that gives officers the right to challenge disciplinary measures before an arbitrator. That in turn translates to high percentages of fired officers getting their jobs back, he said. Those need to go, McManus said. Though those are state laws, it was San Antonio voters who decades ago granted its police officers the right to bargain collectively with the city for a contract. If they wanted, voters could petition to put the issue back on a ballot an initiative soon to be undertaken by an organization called Fix SAPD. Nirenberg said he would support changes to those laws that would grant the department the ability to weed out bad officers but stopped short of calling on voters to repeal collective bargaining. The police union should instead agree to nix parts of the contract that limit how the city can discipline those officers, he said. The (police contract) is a problem right now that could be a solution tomorrow if the union came and said: You know what, we recognize it, too. We want to change these things; we have the ability to do that, Nirenberg said. We dont have to wait for the state. Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio government and politics. To read more from Joshua, become a subscriber. jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 22:31:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The two close contacts of Beijing's newly reported COVID-19 case tested negative in nucleic acid and antibody testing, local health authorities said Friday. The new case was reported in Beijing's Xicheng District on Thursday. The district's health commission said the patient's two family members are currently under medical observation and had shown no signs of discomfort. The patient was identified as a 52-year-old man, who visited a hospital Wednesday afternoon after experiencing an intermittent fever. He later tested positive for COVID-19. The epidemiological investigation has traced 38 close contacts, of whom 23 have been put under concentrated quarantine, and 21 have gone through nucleic acid testing, all with negative results, said Miao Jianhong, deputy head of the district. One of the close contacts is the patient's child. All the 33 classmates and 15 faculty members, who had contact with the child, tested negative in nucleic acid testing, according to Miao. Over 300 residents in the patient's community also tested negative in nucleic acid and antibody testing. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 16:05:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The mayor of the U.S. city of Seattle said in a news conference Thursday that President Donald Trump's descriptions of the protests in the city were inaccurate, and any threat to "invade" Seattle was neither welcome nor legal. "Lawfully gathering and expressing first amendment rights, demanding we do better as a society and provide true equity for communities of color is not terrorism -- it is patriotism," mayor Jenny Durkan said. "I also want to be clear as I have stated publicly previously -- it is unconstitutional and illegal to send the military to Seattle. We will not allow this to happen," she said. Trump on Wednesday called demonstrators in Seattle "domestic terrorists," and threatened federal actions if local leaders do not "take back" the city. The protests over racial discrimination, inequality and the police killing of African American man George Floyd in Minneapolis have raged in Seattle for days. Hundreds of protesters on Monday took over several city blocks to create the "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone" in the area around the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct. According to Durkan, the zone is not a lawless wasteland of anarchist insurrection, but "a peaceful expression of our community's collective grief and their desire to build a better world." "Seattle is passionate, we demand justice, and I believe we will be at the forefront of true, meaningful change. Nothing will distract our city from the work that needs to be done," Durkan said. Enditem Vorys eControl announced today that its international coalition of independent law firms eControl Global is expanding to include a firm to help brands address the unique and growing challenges for businesses operating in the European Economic Area (EEA). Euclid Law, an award-winning London and Brussels-based competition law firm, and founding coalition member of eControl Global, will work with Vorys eControl to develop comprehensive online sales control programs designed to help protect and grow brands in the region. The rapid expansion of eCommerce in the EEA poses significant challenges for brands in a region with many legal and commercial complexities. As brands operating in the EEA are quickly realizing, uncontrolled and unauthorized online sales can cause significant brand equity erosion, and lead to a poor consumer experience. The collective experience of Vorys eControl and Euclid Law positions the firms to offer cutting-edge and cost-effective solutions to businesses eCommerce-related challenges. As we continue to expand eControl services internationally, I could not be more confident in adding Euclid Law and its team to the eControl Global coalition, said Whitney Gibson, partner and chair of Vorys eControl. Euclid will work directly with brands to establish or refine their distribution strategies necessary to alleviate eCommerce disruption and maximize growth across all channels. Becket McGrath and Sarah Long, partners at Euclid Law, will lead eControl Global in the EEA. McGrath and Long are highly regarded competition lawyers, counted among the regions leading practitioners in the vertical restraints and selective distribution fields. They will advise Vorys eControl clients on all aspects of European competition law, with an emphasis on designing and implementing cutting-edge selective distribution models capable of affording brands the control required in todays market. About Vorys eControl: Vorys eControl a division of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP provides integrated solutions to help brands control the sales of their products in the age of eCommerce. Vorys eControl attorneys have represented more than 400 brands, including many of the worlds largest companies. Learn more at vorysecontrol.com. eControl Global -- which was founded by Vorys eControl is a coalition focused on designing, implementing and enforcing eControl solutions around the world. eControl Global is an interdisciplinary coalition of separate and independent legal, investigatory, channel management, technology, and data analytics professionals and firms that represent brands in various jurisdictions. To learn more about eControl Global, visit vorysecontrol.com/econtrol-global. About Euclid Law: Euclid Law leads eControl Global in the EEA. The Euclid Law team are thought leaders on the intersection of eCommerce and competition law, having advised numerous manufacturers and brands on these issues across the EEA. Euclid Law has significant experience advising brands on how to create and execute effective distribution systems that work in todays market, with a specific focus on selective distribution, and understand the commercial intricacies and challenges involved. To learn more about Euclid law, visit euclid-law.eu. Clients of Vorys eControl that request the assistance of Euclid Law in the EEA will be required to execute a separate engagement letter with Euclid Law. The terms of clients engagements with the two firms, each of which is a separate and independent law firm, will be governed by these engagement letters, which describe in greater detail the relationships among the parties. Each law firm is responsible only for its own services. Read more. What a lovely skirt you have. What a lovely insouciant tone you have. Two rivals greeting each other with knives-out dialogue cloaked in pleasantries in Shirley. Watching Elisabeth Moss and Michael Stuhlbarg bat the dialogue around in the twisted domestic psychological drama Shirley is to see two of the most versatile actors in the world at the top of their game. Its a thing of beauty wrapped in a toxic story. Shirley is a stylized biopic, a lurid psychosexual fantasy, a scorched-earth domestic drama. The uniquely talented director Josephine Decker (Madelines Madeline) and the screenwriter Sarah Gubbins (adapting a 2014 novel by Susan Scarf Merrell) have teamed up with a two-generational quartet of fine actors to create one of the most visually arresting and intellectually provocative films of the year. Moss, reinforcing our belief she can disappear convincingly into just about any character that comes her way, delivers yet another astonishingly authentic performance playing a fictionalized version of real-life author Shirley Jackson, best known for deeply disturbing stories such as The Lottery and The Haunting of Hill House. Shirley is set in the late 1940s in Vermont, where Shirleys husband, Stanley (Michael Stuhlbarg), is a celebrated professor at Bennington College, and boy, does Stanley revel in his status. Hes a horror show an amalgam of the worst traits imaginable in a man of great learning wielding great power in a collegiate bubble. He works the classroom like hes onstage entertaining the students graced to be in his presence. Hes a pontificating blowhard on and off campus. He treats impressionable coeds like his personal harem. Even his eating habits are despicable. Hell rise from the table like a king, not even bothering to brush off the crumbs embedded in his unruly beard. Stanley greets a class at the beginning of a new semester by playing a record by Lead Belly to establish his cool-cat credentials and then says, This is myth and folklore. [Ill be] your fearless leader for the next 12 weeks as we ascend to the heights of the gods and stoop to the very depths of human depravity. Kill me now. Shirley has become a celebrated and controversial writer due to The Lottery, a cautionary tale in The New Yorker that spoke to a generation but also generated more letters of protest and subscription cancellations than maybe anything else ever printed in the august publication. Despite or perhaps because of that success, Shirley has become a prisoner of her own making in the house, which she hasnt left for two months. She spends her days in a haze of cigarette smoke and depression, paralyzed by the mere thought of sitting down at the typewriter again. (Moss is a force as Shirley equally watchable when shes splayed out on the sofa, seemingly doing very little, or when she explodes in a fury and her shouts rattle the windows.) Enter a young couple bursting with excitement about their future. Fred (Logan Lerman), who has been hired as Stanleys new assistant and protege, and his pregnant wife, Rose (Odessa Young), move in with Stanley and Shirley. Fred will accompany Stanley to campus every day, while Rose will tidy up the house and keep an eye on Shirley, who is growing ever more erratic as she becomes obsessed with the story of a local girl who has disappeared. With director Decker employing handheld and sometimes dizzying camera movements, often bathed in eerie, nightmarish colors, there are times when fantasy and flashback and the reality of the moment mesh and clash. At first, Rose is (rightfully) repulsed by Shirleys cruel jabs she tells her oblivious husband Shirley is a fing monster but the two eventually strike an unholy bond of sorts, in part because it appears young Fred might be on the path to becoming a junior version of the adulterous, narcissistic Stanley. Stuhlbarg is magnificent as the kind of character you love to hate, whether hes manipulating his wife in passive-aggressive fashion or putting the ambitious Fred in his place by calling his dissertation derivative (I dont have to read it to know that, he tells his wife) and saying in a gentle tone to Fred, Have you ever thought about teaching at the high school level? Its exceedingly rewarding. The shifts in tone in Shirley can be jarring, from erotic love scenes to scathing exchanges with echoes of Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? to moments when the screen is bathed in blood. There is nothing simple or straightforward or easily accessible about this material. Thats exactly what makes it so fascinating and so compelling. Shirley 3.5 stars RATED: R ( for sexual content, nudity, language and brief disturbing images) WHERE: Available on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu The financial crimes watchdog will conduct a deeper probe into Westpac over its failure to properly vet international transactions potentially linked to child exploitation that could increase by over 20 times the number of alleged breaches of anti-money laundering laws the bank faces. The country's second largest bank was thrown into turmoil last November when the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) accused it of breaching anti-money laundering laws over 23 million times, including a failure to properly vet payments potentially linked to paedophilia. Westpac said in a statement that AUSTRAC was further probing matters, including the suspicious transactions of 272 customers that the bank had previously self-reported, and may include allegations arising from these investigations. Credit:James Alcock The lawsuit led to the resignation of chief executive Brian Hartzer and the early retirement of veteran chairman Lindsay Maxsted. Furious shareholders also voted for a second strike against the bank's executive pay report at its AGM. In the wake of the scandal, the bank reviewed its payments monitoring processes and updated its technology to better detect evidence of payments potentially linked to paedophilia. This resulted in the discovery of an additional 272 customers with payment transaction patterns that were indicative of child exploitation and Westpac self-reported these to AUSTRAC in December. Hundreds of Venezuelan migrants anxious to return to their homeland remain stuck at the border with Colombia waiting to get in. Migration authorities say 300 Venezuelans were allowed back on Friday but another 600 remain stuck in Colombia until at least Monday. A long line of men, women and children packed closely together many not wearing face masks formed this week in the border city of Cucuta . Colombia migration officials say Venezuelan authorities are only allowing 300 compatriots to return at a time three days a week, creating a bottleneck situation. An estimated 15,000 Venezuelans in Colombia are trying to return. Many are taking long journeys by foot and bus to reach the border. An estimated 1.8 million Venezuelans live in Colombia and about 75,000 have returned since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, at least 4.5 million Venezuelans have fled their country's political and economic turmoil in recent years. Bryan Hernandez was among those who didn't get one of the 300 entry spots Friday. "This is the reality Venezuelans live," he said. "You can't even return to your country." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano thinks it may be best to keep Metro Manila under general community quarantine after June 15 to hold off a spike in COVID-19 infections, but Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana personally prefers shifting to a modified GCQ. The two officials, both part of the inter-agency task force in charge of the government's COVID-19 response, spoke ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte's decision that will be announced also on June 15. Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source on Friday, Ano admitted that the recent daily rise in the number of confirmed cases do not bode well for a relaxation of quarantine rules. "Para sa akin, 50-50 pero mas lamang, magre-remain 'yan (Metro Manila) sa GCQ," Ano said Friday. [Translation: For me, there's a 50-50 chance but it's more likely for Metro Manila to remain under GCQ] There are 12,916 COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila, with 83 new cases reported on Thursday. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also said Thursday that latest COVID-19 cases reported in the capital do not "inspire relaxation" of existing quarantine protocols. Metro Manila was among the first regions in the country to go on lockdown, being the epicenter of the local outbreak. Most businesses went dark since mid-March until restrictions were eased in May to allow more firms to operate. READ: IATF OKs reopening restaurant dine-in under GCQ areas The capital region was downgraded to GCQ on June 1, which meant an easing of stay-at-home rules for workers although outside travel is still restricted. "Ang aking pananaw kasi, although i-compare mo 'yung trend, mas mababa 'yung numero kung overall pero wala pa siyang downtrend eh, patuloy pa ring may mga fresh or new cases," the Cabinet official added. "If we are going to relax it now, baka mabulunan o madapa. Baka kung okay na tayo pero dahil niluwagan mo, bumalik na naman at magkaroon ng mas marami (na kaso)." [Translation: In my view, although you can see that the number of cases are lower overall, there's still no downtrend since we continue to see fresh or new cases. If we are going to relax it now, we might break the progress. If we're doing okay and you ease the rules, we might fall back and see even more cases.] Meanwhile, during the regular Laging Handa virtual briefing, Lorenzana, who also heads the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said he personally prefers that the capital region be placed under modified GCQ. But the level of quarantine restrictions will still depend on the situation in the coming days, he added. "[A]lthough halos lahat kami ay gusto nang pumunta sa MGCQ, (pero) depende pa rin yun sa mga darating na araw, kung ano yung development ng infection sa Metro Manila," he explained [Translation: Although most of us already want (Metro Manila) to shift to MGCQ, it still depends on what will happen in the coming days and how the infection will be developing within Metro Manila.] [Translation: In my view, although you can see that the number of cases are lower overall, there's still no downtrend since we continue to see fresh or new cases. If we are going to relax it now, we might break the progress. If we're doing okay and you ease the rules, we might fall back and see even more cases.] Modified GCQ would allow up to 75 percent capacity for establishments. Ano said it will still depend on the President's decision expected on Monday, but added that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is currently consulting mayors and governors regarding the fate of various local government units for June 16 onward. The IATF is focusing on Metro Manila, Cebu City, and provinces in regions 2, 3, and 4-A, the official said. Metro Manila mayors will also meet on Saturday to firm up their recommendation to the IATF, which will be a basis for their suggestion to the President come their Monday meeting. The DILG chief added that Metro Manila had a "unique" setup since local officials have long asked that they be treated as one unit and subject to one quarantine classification only. RELATED: Leisure travel under GCQ subject to task force, local gov't approval DOTr chief Ano noted that Cebu City also remains a big concern for the task force, as it has already outnumbered the COVID-19 case tally in Quezon City, the largest in the country in terms of land area. "Ang nakikita natin ay hindi maganda ang numero, kaya kailangan ay pag-aralan natin... Ang titingnan natin, gaano ba kapuno ang mga ospital diyan sa Cebu City? Kaya pa ba nila kung sakaling magtuloy-tuloy umakyat?," he added, noting that COVID-19 national task force chief implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr. and his deputy BCDA President Vince Dizon are inspecting facilities there. [Translation: We're seeing that the numbers are not good so we need to study it better. We're checking how full are hospitals in Cebu City. Can they handle more patients in cases the number of infections continue to rise?] Meanwhile, the official pointed out that Quezon province appears better off compared to the rest of Calabarzon with "very few cases." There are 24,175 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country as of Thursday afternoon, of which 17,974 are active cases. Some 5,165 patients have recovered while 1,036 died from the disease. By Trend During a hard quarantine regime imposed in Azerbaijan due to COVID-19, the number of passengers of the Azerbaijan Railways CJSC decreased by 4,480 people, compared to the previous week, the company told Trend on June 12. According to the decision on strengthening the quarantine regime on June 6 and 7, the electric trains of the Absheron ring railway did not operate for two days, more precisely, the passenger transportation was not carried out," said the company. "Before applying the strict quarantine regime, on Saturdays and Sundays, that is, on May 30 and May 31, 1,584 and 2,896 passengers respectively, were transported," Azerbaijan Railways noted. The Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers decided to extend the special quarantine regime until 00:00 (GMT+4) on July 1. Also, by the decision of the Operational Headquarters, from 00:00 on June 14 to 06:00 on June 16 in the cities of Baku, Ganja, Lankaran and Sumgayit, as well as Absheron region, Yevlakh, Ismayilli, Kurdamir and Salyan districts, only people who have permission to leave the house, as well as those who want to participate in the funeral of a close relative. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz More people could afford imported cars from the EU when the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) takes effect from August 1. Many goods imported from the EU into Vietnam will enjoy zero percent tax according to the tax reduction roadmap over the next seven to 10 years. Imported cars and spare parts are the most anticipated items. Currently, imported cars from the EU to Vietnam face taxes of 70%. The most expensive are cars imported from Germany, France and Italy. According to commitments, vehicles with engines above 2,500 cc would enjoy a zero tax after nine years while those of less than 2,500 cc would have a zero tax after 10 years. The Ministry of Finance's Department of International Co-operation said the ministry had built a tax cut plan for cars and other items to submit to the government. It would include regulations, timeframe and process and directives for ministries, departments and local authorities. If the government cut tax by 7-9% each year, the prices of imported cars from the EU would significantly fall. More people would be able to afford imported cars. In another case, if the government cut tax by 15-30% a year in just two or three years, customers could see a huge price drop by VND300m or more in August if the market becomes more diverse and no trade protection measures are applied. The majority of imported cars into Vietnam are Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen. Each car costs about VND2bn. According to the Vietnam 2035 report by the World Bank in Vietnam, if the growth rate of 7% is maintained in the next 10 years, income per capita in 2030 may reach USD10,400. More people are able to afford cars thanks to the rising middle class and as income disparity between urban and rural areas is reduced. The Ministry of Industry and Trade predicts greater car usage in Vietnam in the coming time when the GDP per capita surpasses USD3,000 and there are over 50 cars per 1,000 people. In 2025, demand will be 800 to 900 cars a year and the consumption rate in the next five years will be 10.5%. Both domestically-assembled and imported car dealers will have more opportunities with the new dynamic market. Dtinews Enjoying incentives, prices of domestically-produced cars to decline The Governments decision to offer a zero-import tax rate on automobile components opens significant opportunities for the local industry to lower prices, enhance competitiveness and promote consumption. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 01:46:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LONDON, June 11 (Xinhua) -- British Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said Thursday that the British government is not gambling with the European Union (EU) over Brexit despite the stalled trade talks between the two sides. Instead, Gove said, London is holding Brussels to account for its commitment to secure a zero-tariff, zero-quota deal and to use its best endeavours. "We hope that the EU will do that," said Gove, who was in the House of Commons (lower house of parliament) to answer questions on the progress on Brexit talks. Gove said that in the latest talks there was no progress on the most difficult areas where differences of principle are most acute, notably on fisheries, governance arrangements and the so-called level playing field. Labour politician Anna McMorrin urged Gove to confirm that the government will do everything in their power to reach an agreement. "All they are doing is taking the country perilously close to no deal," she said. Britain ended its membership of the bloc on Jan. 31 but is still following EU rules during a transition period until Dec. 31 to enable a permanent future trade deal to be reached. During this period, Britain would have to pay into EU funds but have no say in laws imposed by Brussels. Gove insisted that Britain will not extend transition period beyond Dec. 31. "Under no circumstances will the government accept an extension. Indeed, we have a domestic law obligation not to accept. Extending would simply delay the moment at which we achieve what we want and what the country voted for ... our economic and political independence," he told MPs. Enditem The $94bn fund requires no parliamentary oversight and is roughly equal to combined budgets for education, defence. A $94bn emergency fund that can be tapped without parliamentary oversight has been branded Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abes pocket money by opposition lawmakers alarmed at its unprecedented size. Abe has said the 10 trillion yen ($94bn) will allow the government to move quickly to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus outbreak a once-in-a-century crisis that has devastated the economy. Well report to parliament how we spend the money as needed and at the appropriate time, Abe told parliament on Friday. But at 20 times the usual sum for a reserve fund and roughly equal the amount Japan spends on education and defence combined the fund has even raised questions from the bureaucrats who have discretion on how to spend the money. Its awful, said a finance ministry official. Its a huge blank cheque that would leave Japan with a bad precedent, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak publicly. The fund, part of Japans second $1.1 trillion economic stimulus package, is set to pass through parliament on Friday. The issue highlights how Abe, pressed with time and under pressure to match massive stimulus plans deployed by other major economies, has rankled taxpayers with spending that one of the most indebted nations can ill afford. Lawmakers of Abes ruling party wanted a magical wallet and thought they can get one because were in a crisis, said independent political affairs analyst Atsuo Ito. Fiscal reform has become a distant goal The cost of big spending will fall upon the next generation. Fund bigger than in 2011 disaster Some analysts, however, argue the funds size is justified given the need to guard against a second wave of infection. You need huge sums in reserve when youre dealing with so much unpredictability. You need to be ready for emergencies, said Yasuhide Yajima, chief economist at NLI Research Institute. Japan typically sets aside reserves of around several hundred billion yen in the annual budget, largely to meet disaster relief expenses and other unexpected costs. The government has discretion on how to use the money and needs to report to parliament only after the funds are tapped. Such reserves are usually kept small because it is an exception to a constitutional rule that requires budgetary spending to receive prior approval by parliament. Japan has struggled to rein in spending even in good times, and is now saddled with the biggest debt among industrialised nations one twice the size of its $5 trillion economy. The huge reserve more than five times the 1.72 trillion yen deployed after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami has sparked concern that the size could become the norm, rather than an exception. Opposition lawmaker Toranosuke Katayama, a former ruling party heavyweight and among Japans longest-serving politicians, scolded Abe in parliament over what he saw as breaching the boundaries of parliamentary democracy. Budget needs prior parliament approval. That is a core principle of Japans constitution. What youre doing could violate this principle, he said. Even when youre making exceptions, you need to set a limit. Otherwise 10 trillion yen could easily turn into 12 trillion yen. Thats what Im worried about. Green Pest Solutions ranked at #38 on this years PCT Top 100 list Its a great honor to once again be named to the PCT Top 100 list. Growing our annual revenue by over 20% year over year is truly a testament to all the hard work everyone has put in over the past year. Im extremely proud of each & every team member for their dedication in making this all possible Green Pest Solutions climbed up the rankings on the annual Pest Control Technology (PCT) Top 100 list of largest pest control companies in the United States by annual revenue. This is the second year in a row that Green Pest Solutions was featured on this prestigious list. After coming in unranked to #46 on last years list, Green Pest Solutions continued their momentum by moving up to #38 on the 2020 list. Its a great honor to once again be named to the PCT Top 100 list. Growing our annual revenue by over 20% year over year is truly a testament to all the hard work everyone has put in over the past year. Im extremely proud of each and every team member for their effort and dedication in making this all possible." says President/Owner Matt Jesson. Green Pest Solutions is among the newer companies on this years top 100 list. While most companies on the PCT Top 100 list have been around for a very long time, Green Pest Solutions was only established in 2012. The rapid growth Green Pest Solutions has seen over their 8 years to climb into the top 40 of the PCT list is a testament to their incredible team members and the company mission to deliver a superior customer experience. Green Pest Solutions prides themselves on giving customers the best experience possible while dealing with all their pest problems in a family-friendly manner. If the 4,000+ online reviews the company has are any indication, Green Pest Solutions has managed its growth quite skillfully. Each of their 4 branches boasts an impressive 4.8 stars or above on Google and a 4.9 star rating out of 5 on its Facebook page. The company is A-rated on Angies list and has been a Super Service Award winner each of its eight years in business. Green Pest Solutions was also named one of Philadelphia Business Journals Best Places to Work in 2019. Green Pest Solutions has expanded to four branches throughout the Pennsylvania and New Jersey area. The company now has over 160 employees and more than 100 vehicles in its fleet. Moving forward, Green Pest Solutions looks to open additional branches, invest in quality assurance and hire more team members that can provide their expanding customer based a superior experience. Pest Control Technology is the leading publication in the pest control industry. It provides the latest news, business information and product technology for pest management professionals. The PCT Top 100 lists the industrys 100 largest pest management firms in the United States by revenue based on the previous year. This list is compiled by the editorial staff of PCT magazine each year since its debut in 2002. # # # Green Pest Solutions and Green Lawn Fertilizing is an independent lawn and pest control company that was founded in 2004. Under the leadership of Matt Jesson, President and Owner of Green Lawn Fertilizing / Green Pest Solutions, the company has grown to over 160 team members and over 100 service vehicles in its fleet. They have a mission to become the leader in the lawn and pest industry by providing superior customer service. Over the last several years, highly reputable publications have taken notice of the company succeeding in that mission. For seven of the last eight years the company received the Inc. 5000 award for being recognized as one of the 5,000 fastest growing private companies in the America. In 2018, Green Pest Solutions was named "Best of Philly Earth-Friendly Exterminator" by Philadelphia Magazine and in 2017 they were named "Best Pest Control by Philly.com. In 2017, the company received the Customer Service Excellence Award by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. This past August the company was named as one of Philadelphia Business Journals Best Places to Work. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) The police have been told to exercise maximum tolerance as they monitor crowds for Independence Day protests, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said Friday. Ano said authorities have been instructed to advise protesters to just head home, considering that the protest actions are mass gatherings prohibited under quarantine rules. "Maraming paraan para mag-protesta, pero 'wag lamang 'yung tinatawag nating mass gathering. Kailangang malaman nila na ang taas pa ng ating new cases... Pwede naman online, pwede silang through texting, pero wag lang yung magsama-sama sila because they are putting the risk 'yung mga buhay ng mga magpaparticipate diyan at even 'yung mga dumadaan dyan," the DILG chief said. "Ang ating utos sa kapulisan, i-disperse sila at i-advice na umuwi sa bahay. They will observe maximum tolerance and calibrated response." [Translation: There are many forms of protest, just don't do what we call a mass gathering... It can be done online, through texting, but they shouldn't come together because they are putting the lives of the participants and even of passersby at risk. Our order to the police is to disperse them and advice them to head home. They will observe maximum tolerance and calibrated response.] The Philippine National Police said no protesters were arrested during the various Independence Day protests on Friday, adding that gatherings were "generally peaceful." However, reports on social media claimed that 14 protesters were arrested in Iligan City, according to Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago said. In a statement, police said PNP chief General Archie Gamboa kept tabs on all Independence Day activities nationwide, and the protest actions followed social distancing and other minimum health standards. Rains threatened to dampen protests, the biggest of which was at the University of the Philippines Diliman campus in Quezon City. Groups were calling out the Duterte administration for the Anti-Terrorism Bill which is one step away from becoming law, saying its provisions are unconstitutional. Protesters branded their gathering as a "mananita," a direct swipe at Metro Manila police chief Debold Sinas, who held a birthday gathering with police officers in their barracks inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan. LOOK: Activist Mae Paner dresses up as Sinas for 'Grand Mananita' protest Sinas and 18 other police officers have been charged for violating quarantine rules, as the mass gathering happened May 8 right in the middle of the enhanced community quarantine. "Kahit ano mang itawag nila diyan, it's the same, mass gathering pa rin 'yan. Nag-iinvolve lang sila ng ibang issue... 'Yun naman ang ating tinitingnan dito. Kung wala naman tayong ganitong pandemic, kahit mag-rally sila araw-araw, di naman natin pipigilan 'yan dahil meron naman tayong freedom of expression," the Cabinet official added. [Translation: Whatever they call it, it's the same, it's still a mass gathering. They just involved a different issue... That's what we're guarding against. If we don't have this pandemic, they can stage a rally everyday since we have freedom of expression.] Ano added that there are other ways to oppose government policies, saying it's safer to mount actions online amid the current health crisis. The PNP said groups which gathered in UP, De La Salle University; St. Ignatius Quezon City; Santiago City, Isabela; Baguio City; Legazpi City and Metro Colon, Cebu City dispersed on their own after staging morning programs. The number of people in extreme poverty around the world could rise beyond 1 billion as a result of the Covid-19 crisis, new analysis has suggested. Figures from the World Bank suggest that 736 million people currently live in destitution, surviving on less than $1.90 a day (1.53). But in a study published on Friday, researchers at Kings College London and Australian National University have warned that the pandemic could trigger substantial poverty increases and reverse decades worth of progress. Different scenarios of consumption and income contraction during lockdown were modelled to establish the economic shock of Covid-19 at three poverty levels $1.90, $3.20 (2.58) and $5.50 (4.43) per day. The study found that an additional 395 million people across the world could be forced below the $1.90 line by the pandemic. This figure rises to 527 million people when considering the highest poverty classification of $5.50 a day. In this scenario, more than one-sixth of the worlds population would be living in some form of extreme poverty. These increases would mark the first absolute rise in the global poverty count since 1999, the study said, adding that the cost of the pandemic in lost income is estimated to reach $500m (394m) per day for the worlds poorest people. Millions of people live in a precarious position one shock away from poverty, Andy Sumner, co-author of the study and an international development professor at Kings College London, told the The Independent. The current crisis could be that shock that pushes them over the edge. Dr Sumner warned that the distribution and location of global poverty could also shift away from sub-Saharan Africa towards developing and middle-income countries in south and east Asia, such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Bangladesh. The narrative for a few years has been poverty is becoming more and more about sub-saharan Africa, he said. But because there is a lot of people just above the poverty line in different parts of Asia, which has a lot of very populous countries, we could easily see a relocation of the overall picture of global poverty. We tend to see the worlds poor as focused in incredibly poor countries, but most live in countries that have been doing okay, at least until Covid-19. Now theres an awful lot of people who have moved just above the poverty who could quite easily fall back. The study, which was published by the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), called for urgent action from global leadership to address the impact of Covid-19 on world poverty. Writing for The Independent, Dr Sumner proposed three forms of action to counter the effects of the pandemic. These are: Creating a rapid-response global commission on poverty and Covid-19 chaired by a G7 leader, a G20 leader and a G77 leader to discuss the poverty impacts and what financing is needed Releasing funds quickly by expanding the existing IMF debt servicing standstill to all developing countries and freezing World Bank debt repayments at least until the end of 2020 Swiftly allocating the newly available funds into countries own cash transfer and other social safety programmes The actual poverty impacts will be determined by what governments do to mitigate the damaging consequences of the pandemic, he added. The worlds poorest cant wait until the G7 meet in September or the G20 meet in November. Pointing to the example of the Asian financial crash of the late 1990s, which saw a number of government regimes reshaped and reformed in the aftermath, Dr Sumner said the sharp increases in poverty from Covid-19 could similarly lead to major social upheaval of some kind in the global south. The researchers also raised concern over the distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine among the developing world, saying there is no guarantee everyone would get it for free while highlighting how it could reshape social lines. Will we end up living in a new Covid-19 apartheid with the vaccinated and non-vaccinated residing in separate areas and working in different labour markets? While this might sound far off, already now there are some countries issuing immunity passports, the paper says. Professor Kunal Sen, director of UNU-WIDER, described the new poverty estimates as sobering. We cannot stand by and see the hard work and effort of so many be eradicated, he said. Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017. Fred Dufour | AFP | Getty Images The U.S. is playing catch-up to China's growing political and economic influence in Southeast Asia, and that gap is expected to grow wider in the next decade, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The report by the Washington-based think tank was based on a survey conducted in November and December last year before the coronavirus, which first emerged in China, spread globally. The survey targeted non-governmental experts across Southeast Asia, and those in international relations. In total, 188 such experts from Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines responded to the survey. "The results of this survey paint a picture of clearly ascendant Chinese influence in Southeast Asia, complex and diverging views of China, and deep concerns over U.S.-China strategic competition and its impact on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)," read the CSIS report, which was published on Wednesday. The report comes as tensions between Washington and Beijing escalate further. The two economic giants have sparred over a variety of issues that include China's handling of the coronavirus outbreak and its tightening grip over Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory which has a special trading relationship with the U.S. Writers of the report said the coronavirus pandemic could have altered dynamics in Southeast Asia and how respondents think of issues covered in the survey. Still, the report provides a base for comparison to assess trends in the region after the pandemic, said the writers. Here are several findings from the survey: Political power today: Around 94.5% of respondents included China as one of the three countries with the most political power and influence in Southeast Asia today, while 92% chose the U.S. as one of their options; Around 94.5% of respondents included China as one of the three countries with the most political power and influence in Southeast Asia today, while 92% chose the U.S. as one of their options; Political power in 10 years: Similarly, 94.5% included China as one of the three countries which will hold the most political power and influence in the region 10 years from now. That's compared to 77% which selected the U.S.; Similarly, 94.5% included China as one of the three countries which will hold the most political power and influence in the region 10 years from now. That's compared to 77% which selected the U.S.; Economic power today: Meanwhile, 98% of respondents named China as one of the three countries that hold the most economic power and influence in Southeast Asia today, while 70.6% included the U.S. Meanwhile, 98% of respondents named China as one of the three countries that hold the most economic power and influence in Southeast Asia today, while 70.6% included the U.S. Economic power in 10 years: Around 96% ranked China as one of the three countries with the most economic power and influence in the region 10 years from now, versus 56.7% that selected the U.S.; Around 96% ranked China as one of the three countries with the most economic power and influence in the region 10 years from now, versus 56.7% that selected the U.S.; China's political future: Respondents from Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia were the most bullish about China's future political power and influence. Despite China's edge over the U.S. in political and economic influence in Southeast Asia, respondents were split in their perception of Beijing. A slight majority of 53% considered China's role in the region as "very or somewhat beneficial," compared with 46% who thought it's "somewhat or very detrimental." Singapore led the way with the highest proportion of respondents viewing China favorably, followed by Malaysia. Notably, respondents from Vietnam and the Philippines two countries with "the most significant maritime territorial disputes with China" were the most negative about Beijing's role in Southeast Asia, according to the report. Southeast Asia's strategic importance The CSIS findings echoed that of other recent surveys. One such survey was published earlier this year by Singaporean think tank ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, which also found China to be the most influential economic and political power in the region. The results of this survey paint a picture of clearly ascendant Chinese influence in Southeast Asia ... Center for Strategic and International Studies But a majority of respondents in the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute survey who are from both public and private sectors were worried about China's expanding influence in the region. At the same time, most respondents also observed that U.S. engagement with Southeast Asia has declined under U.S. President Donald Trump. Southeast Asia is home to more than 650 million people and some of the world's fastest-growing economies. Its proximity to the South China Sea a vital commercial shipping route where trillions of dollars of the world's trade passes through adds to the region's strategic importance. The U.S. has for many years been an important presence in the region through both security and economic engagements. But since Trump took office in 2017, the U.S. withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership a mega trade pact that included several Southeast Asian countries and top American government officials have been notably absent at a few important regional summits. Weve officially made it to days of warmer weather, which means its time to transition our beauty picks from the deeper, darker colors of winter into some bold and bright palettes. No matter what this summer is going to look like for you, a positive refresh of even small details like your nail polish can help you embrace the longer days and shorter nights. According to the creative director of ZOYA, Rebecca Isa, changing up your nail color can help boost your mood and offer up summer feels even when youre indoors. Summer 2020 comes during serious challenges, she notes, which means fun and easy styles are great options for mood-lifting. Isa recommends having a few go-to shades to cycle through during the season to give your look something extra. To get more insight on what colors and brands you should be sporting this season, HelloGiggles talked to nail experts across the industry. These are their recommendations. Nails.INC Freshly Juiced Duo Nails.INC" /> What screams summer more than a bright pink or orange? Lisa Logan, Nails.INcs consulting manicurist, is obsessed with the brands new fruity duo pack for some sunny hues. The shades in Nails.INCs new Freshly Juiced Duo are perfect for warmer weather, Logan tells HelloGiggles. The formulas are infused with vitamin-C and feature fun watermelon and citrus scents. OPI Coral-ing Your Spirit Animal OPI Shop it! $13, amazon.com Sigourney Nunez, OPIs North America Education Manager, agrees that summer is the perfect time to flaunt fruit-inspired polishes, so thats why shes opting for this OPI pick. Coral-ing Your Spirit Animal from OPIs Spring 2020 Mexico City collection is a beautiful creamy cantaloupe shade, she tells HelloGiggles. It has a soft undertone of a bright orange making this shade versatile as it is a bit pastel but its punchy too. Its beautiful and energizing. Story continues OPI Hue Is The Artist? OPI Shop it! $10.50, amazon.com For something a little more subtle, Nunez suggests OPIs Hue Is The Artist? The shade is an opaque white with a hint of pale lavender, she says. Its perfect when youre craving just a teeny drop of color. Essie Lilacism Essie Shop it! $8.89, amazon.com Essies Global Lead Educator, Rita Remark is moving toward pastels this season, and she recommends one of the brands classic shades: Lilacism. I never tire of it and purple and violet polishes have become a surprise hit this summer and I intend on participating, she says. ORLY Lacquer in Oh Snap Orly Brittany Boyce, consulting nail artist for ORLY, isnt going for the shy and retiring nail shade; she wants something bold, like ORLY's 'Oh Snap' shade. I love this bright, almost neon yellow as its like sunshine captured on your nails, Boyce says. You cant help but smile when you see it. If you dont want to wear sunglasses when looking at your nails, Boyce also says this color can be used for minimal nail art designs that feature a lot of negative space. ORLY Lacquer in First Kiss Orly Boyce also notes that nudes are on trend for Summer 2020, and make for the perfect color choice for those still perfecting the at-home manicure. She recommends her favorite nude, the ORLY 'First Kiss' nail polish. With a good nude, your nails look put together and its harder to spot any streaks or mistakes, she says. JINsoon Dotty Nail Polish JINsoon Shop it! $18, amazon.com For a funky nail look that goes beyond a single color, Jin Soon Choi, manicurist and founder of JINSoon, recommends JINsoon Dotty. She says to apply it to clean nails for a negative space nail art illusion and pair it with a bright pedicure. LeChat Nail Polish in Bride To Be LeChat Shop it! $9.50, amazon.com Celebrity nail artist Elle says shes keeping things neutral this summer and opting for a low maintenance color. I always gravitate towards a light color for a manicure, she tells HelloGiggles. Im wearing LeChat Beauty Bride To Be, which is a very sheer shade that I love. Dior Nail Lacquer in Massai Dior Stephanie Ivonne, licensed esthetician and board advisor at Smart Style Today, says why go for a light, pale pink when you can rock a red that can be seen from a mile away? She tells HelloGiggles that Dior Nail Lacquer in the shade Massai will be her go-to this season. This color is very sexy and red hues never go out of style, Ivonne explains. Youre able to create the appearance of a gel manicure with this gel effect polish that leaves you with a long lasting chip free manicure lasting you up to 10 days. Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Longwear Polish in Shade Sure Thing Revlon Shop it! $3.35, amazon.com If youre looking for something clean and tidy, celebrity manicurist Mar Y Sol suggests this affordable shade from Revlon. Sure Thing is a glossy white that screams summer beach babe and looks great on all skin tones, she notes. And it matches with just about anything. Chinas centralized and efficient command system formed a strong guarantee for the country to win the all-out people's war against COVID-19, according to a recently-released government white paper. The document released on June 7 chronicled China's battle against COVID-19, detailing its painstaking yet effective efforts to control the outbreak domestically and its swift responses to contain the spread globally. The coronavirus caught China unaware, the white paper noted, but the Chinese government acted swiftly to fight the virus and provide medical treatment for patients, prioritizing people's lives and health. Since the first cases were detected in late December 2019, China has adopted thorough, rigorous and comprehensive prevention and control measures, as well as enforced quarantine and isolation, on a scale never seen before. Medical resources have been mobilized across the country, and all those in need have been tested, quarantined, hospitalized or treated. With these measures in place, the country was able to contain the outbreak quickly and prevent a wider spread. The white paper divides China's fight against the epidemic into five stages "swift response" (December 27, 2019 to January 19, 2020), "initial containment" (January 20 to February 20), "single-digit increase in new domestic cases" (February 21 to March 17), "initial victory in a critical battle" (March 18 to April 28) and "epidemic control, new normal" (from April 29 onwards). It took China more than three months to declare an initial victory in the COVID-19 battle, according to the white paper. This was possible as a result of the country's centralized and highly efficient command system, the white paper concluded. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core, central authorities exercise overall command while local authorities and all sectors follow the leadership and instructions of the central authorities, perform their respective duties and cooperate with each other. President Xi assumed full command over the control efforts from the beginning of the outbreak. He chaired 14 meetings of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, four meetings of the Political Bureau, meetings of the Central Commission for Law-based Governance, Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, Central Commission for Further Reform, and Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and a meeting with prominent non-CPC figures. At these meetings, he heard briefings about epidemic prevention and control work and made decisions on overall plans for strengthening control efforts and international cooperation. The president inspected community response and COVID-19 research in Beijing, and visited Wuhan to guide the frontline response. He has also inspected Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Gansu provinces, where he was briefed on progress in coordinating epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development, as well as in poverty alleviation. Meanwhile, the central government coordinated the epidemic control work. Premier Li Keqiang, as head of the Central Leading Group for Novel Coronavirus Prevention and Control, chaired more than 30 meetings regarding COVID-19 control and economic resumption. On January 7, Xi issued instructions on epidemic prevention and control work when he chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. On January 23, Wuhan, a megacity with a population of more than 10 million, was locked down in an unprecedented effort to contain the spread of the virus. The central government mobilized medical experts and supplies as well as provisions for daily living needs such as food and energy to assist Wuhan and Hubei, and major public health emergency responses were activated across the country. On January 25, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee set up a central leading group on the epidemic, dispatched a central guiding team and demanded a State Council inter-agency task force play a full role in coordination. The central leading group went to Wuhan to inspect and direct prevention and control of COVID-19 on January 27. Premier Li, who headed the leading group, also went to Wuhan to inspect the front lines. In meetings with the CPC's senior leaders in early February, Xi called for measures to implement higher admission and treatment rates and lower infection and fatality rates. He also asked governments at all levels to implement targeted policies to contain the outbreak quickly. Official data showed that many provinces started to lower their major public health emergency response levels from February 21, indicating the COVID-19 outbreak was coming under control. On March 11, daily new domestic cases fell to single digits for the first time on the Chinese mainland. A week later, the mainland reported no increase in domestic cases for the first time. As China declared an early victory in the containment of COVID-19 and normalized epidemic prevention and control, the CPC's top leadership made arrangements to steadily lift the travel restrictions and open up economic activity. On May 7, the central government issued guidelines on normalized epidemic prevention and control. Fox News host Tucker Carlson is losing more advertisers in the wake of his controversial comments about the Black Lives Matter movement. Walt Disney Co., Papa Johns International Inc. and T-Mobile US Inc. said this week they would no longer advertise on his show after he sparked an uproar in addressing the global protests over police brutality and racial inequality. This may be a lot of things, this moment we are living through, he said Monday on his Fox News show, Tucker Carlson Tonight. But it is definitely not about black lives and remember that when they come for you, and at this rate, they will. A Fox News spokesperson said earlier this week, Tuckers warning about when they come for you was clearly referring to Democratic leaders and inner-city politicians. The spokesperson said Thursday that all national ads and revenue from Carlsons show have moved to other programs and Fox News hasnt lost any revenue overall. A spokesperson for Disneys ABC told the publication Deadline that ads for its shows were placed on Carlsons program without the networks knowledge by a third-party ad buyer. On Tuesday, T-Mobile Chief Executive Officer Mike Sievert replied to several tweets asking about the mobile-phone carriers advertising relationship with Carlsons show and whether it backed the hosts message. To one Twitter poster who said he would no longer watch Carlsons show and called the comments vile, Sievert replied, Same. We arent running ads on that show and we wont be running ads on that show in the future. Bye-bye, Tucker Carlson! Papa Johns will no longer advertise on any opinion-based programming, it said in an emailed statement Thursday. Placement of advertising is not intended to be an endorsement of any specific programming or commentary, the pizza company said. Online activists have targeted Fox News advertisers as part of an ongoing campaign to damage the profits of companies that they believe promote bigotry and sexism. The protests following the death of George Floyd have also pressured media companies to step up their support for racial equality. Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch said in a memo to staff last week that it is essential that we grieve with the Floyd family, closely listen to the voices of peaceful protest and fundamentally understand that black lives matter. Carlsons show has seen several waves of advertiser boycotts in recent years over his commentary. In December 2018, PepsiCo Inc.s SodaStream, TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. and others pulled their ads from Carlsons show after he said immigrants make the U.S. poorer and dirtier and more divided. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jun. 12 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: One more lethal coronavirus case was reported in Kazakhstan, bring the total number to 68 deaths, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Ministry of Healthcare. The death was reported in Pavlodar region of the country (female, born 1961). The first two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020. The total number of coronavirus cases in Kazakhstan since the virus was first confirmed in the country amounted to 13,832. This includes 8,593 people who recovered from the coronavirus, and 68 patients who passed away. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh Necessitated by Jyoridatiya Scindias surprising move to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the Congress in March this year, the bye-election for 24 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh is arguably the most crucial political battle before the state elections in Bihar. Scindias switch to the saffron party initiated a spree of resignations from his supporters and legislators from the MP Congress, which eventually toppled the 14-month-old Kamal Nath-led government in the state. As both the parties try to out-manoeuvre each other in the bypolls, dates for which are yet to be decided by the Election Commission, speculations are rife over how many turncoats the saffron party would nominate for the election. Last month, state BJP chief VD Sharma had told ANI that all of the former Congress MLAs who jumped ship were in consideration for candidature for the bypolls. These are people who had left their ministerial berths and posts as MLAs to save Madhya Pradesh from corruption and poor administration...I would not be wrong in saying that these people had sacrificed themselves and their posts for the state, he had said. Interestingly, data on past elections suggest that turncoats contesting on BJP tickets have had a decent track record when it comes to their strike rate despite electoral setbacks for the BJP in Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Delhi under Modi 2.0. According to data collated by the Trivedi Centre for Political Data at Ashoka University, five of the 14 turncoats fielded by the BJP during Haryana elections last year won their seats even as the partys overall tally shrank. Nine of the 14 turncoats fielded had joined the party from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), two had previously been associated with the Congress, and one each came from Haryana Janhit Congress-BL and Shiromani Akali Dal. Performance of defector candidates was much better in Maharashtra where the BJP eventually lost power to a Shiv Sena-Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance. Here, 15 of the 20 defectors fielded by the BJP secured their seats for them at a success rate of over 75 per cent. Successful candidates included Kalidasa Nilkanth Kolambkar and senior leader Radhakrishnan Vikhe Patil, both of whom had had three consecutive terms as Congress MLAs. Overall, 11 of the rebel candidates had switched from the Congress, six from the NCP, and one each came from the Shiv Sena, RSPS, and RPI(A). Similarly, seven of the 17 rebels fielded by the saffron party in Jharkhand assembly polls late last year emerged victorious. Eleven of these had left the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) (which later merged into BJP) to join the party, three had switched from the Congress while three came from other parties. In a more similar scenario to MP, 11 of the 13 Congress and JD(S) rebels won on a BJP ticket during the Karnataka bye-elections for 15 assembly seats in early December last year. The victory provided the BS Yeddiyurappa-led government stability in the state. Bypolls in Karnataka had to called when 17 MLAs, 16 of them from the then ruling Congress-JD(S) government, resigned, leading to the fall of the coalition government. This year in Delhi elections, where the BJP suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), one of the five rebels nominated by the saffron party secured his seat. In total, it won just eight seats of the total 70 that were up for grabs. Performance of leaders who jumped ship to join the BJP, particularly from the Congress during Prime Minister Modis first term at the centre was even more impressive. A previous analysis by this reporter of state elections held between 2016 and early 2018 during BJPs first term at the centre showed that a majority of the Congress rebels fielded by the saffron party won their seats. For instance, during the 2016 assembly elections in Assam, all the seven Congress rebels fielded by the BJP won their seats. This included stalwarts like Himanta Biswa Sarma. Likewise, during the 2017 state election cycle, all of the Congress defectors that contested on a BJP ticket in Goa and Uttar Pradesh won. In Manipur, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat, the strike rate was 60 per cent, 87 per cent, and 28 per cent respectively. However, none of its two candidates that were Congress rebels succeeded. In Tripura, where the BJP ended Lefts 25-year-long rule and formed a government for the first time, nine of the 10 Congress rebels that contested as BJP candidates won their seats. These included leaders such as Biswabandhu Sen, Dilip Sarkar and Ratan Lal Nath, each of whom had had consecutive terms in the assembly for the grand old party. Overall, between the Assam state elections in 2016 and the Tripura elections in early 2018, 36 of the 47 Congress turncoats nominated by the BJP won their respective seats. With the rise of the saffron wave in the country that began with PM Modis election in 2014, experts argue that BJP has emerged as political monopoly where in market-like situation everyone wants to align with the monopoly or the most powerful party, the BJP in this case. As it stands in the MP assembly, the BJP at present has 107 MLAs while the Congress has 92 legislators in the 230-seat strong house. Although the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government has support from the two Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs and the lone Samajwadi Party legislator, it would achieve a simple majority on its own if it wins at least nine seats in the upcoming bypolls. Given its success rate with rebel candidates, the BJP might actually benefit if it plans to field more turncoats. Mumbai: As the coronavirus COVID-19 situation in Maharashtra looks bleak with a continuous uptick of cases, another state Cabinet Minister is reported to have tested positive for the infection. Atleast five members of the personal staff working for the minister have also tested positive for COVID-19. The minister and staff members are all reported to be in stable condition have been put in isolation. This is the third case of a minister from the Maharashtra Cabinet testing positive for the novel coronavirus. Earlier in May, Cabinet Minister and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had reportedly tested positive for the infection. In April, Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad was diagnosed with COVID-19. After nearly a months treatment at a hospital in Mumbai, Awhad was fully cured and discharged. Meanwhile, Maharashtra on Thursday recorded 3607 new cases with 152 deaths in the last 24 hours. According to the latest state health department data, at least 97648 COVID-19 cases have been reported of which 46,078 patients have recovered and discharged. While the death toll in the state has mounted to 3,590. Maharashtra's recovery rate stands at 47.02 per cent and a mortality (death) rate of 3.07 per cent. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Fri, June 12, 2020 09:03 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde20f9b 2 Art & Culture Takashi-Murakami,artist,Japan,united-states,black-lives-matter,arts,Supreme,Racism Free The Japanese artist Takashi Murakami is collaborating with e-commerce platform NTWRK for a limited-edition series of prints inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. Murakami's signature flower and skull motifs will be featured in the collection of black screen prints, all of which will be limited to 300 editions. Each print on offer will be silkscreened and finished with spray paint by Murakami himself. Although the collection will be launched at a yet-unknown date in the coming weeks, Murakami announced his plans to donate all proceeds to various US organizations fighting for social justice and racial equality. Among them are Black Lives Matter, Equal Justice Initiative, and Color of Change, which are all described by the Japanese artist as "dedicated to changing the systems oppressing the Black community". Read also: Billie Eilish and Takashi Murakami team up for a Uniqlo collection "I have said that a role of an artist is to discern the present and express it for the future audience. But if my art can effect any change here and now, I want to contribute it not only to give back but to give power to the Black community plagued by the racial injustice," Murakami commented on Instagram. While prices for Murakami's prints have not been disclosed yet, it is likely that his new collection will replicate the commercial success of his recent T-shirt collaboration with streetwear brand Supreme. The limited-edition T-shirt generated over $1 million in sales, all of which have been donated to the COVID-19 emergency efforts and services of the non-profit HELP USA. "This incredible gift comes in a time of our clients' greatest need and supports our work nationally to provide the most vulnerable with a safe place to call home, food, and essential services during this crisis and beyond," the organization said in a statement. The Supreme x Takashi Murakami T-shirts were released in April at a $60 price point, although some of them were on offer in resale sites like Grailed and StockX for a significantly higher fee. Both companies have since released statements to Complex confirming that they would also be donating money raised from the sale of those T-shirts. Grailed committed to giving all of the T-shirt sale proceeds from its site directly to HELP USA while StockX announced that they donate the proceeds from such sales on their site for a span of 30 days. Six members of the National Book Critics Circle's board of directors have resigned following the publication of an internal email written by one of its members, former NBCC president Carlin Romano, in response to the board's efforts to draft a statement in response to the Black Lives Matter movement and in support of writers and critics of color. Screenshots of the email, which outlined Romano's disagreements with certain aspects of the language included in the letter, were posted to Twitter on June 11 by the Ugandan American poet, essayist, and writer Hope Wabuke, with names redacted. In subsequent tweets, Wabuke also posted screenshots from responses sent by Laurie Hertzel and one other board member, in addition to other accusations of "#racism and anti-blackness" at the organization and the announcement of her own resignation. The screenshots from Romano's email reveal a missive that questioned, and in some cases rejected, the presence of white supremacy, institutional racism, erasure of BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) authors, and white gatekeeping in the publishing community. Romano's email reads, in part: "I resent the idea that whites in the book publishing and literary world are an oppositional force that needs to be assigned to re-education camps." The decision split the NBCC board in two. Five additional members of the board resigned over the following hours over Wabuke's decision to air the board's internal grievances. Others, such as former L.A. Times books editor Carolyn Kellogg, another board member, publicly supported Wabuke in her decision. Later on Thursday, a working committee comprised of board members at the NBCC released the statement it had drafted, as finalized on June 10, before Romano voiced his disapproval. According to Kellogg and fellow board member and working committee member David Varno, the working committee of board members, under Wabuke's leadership, spent several days working on and revising the statement, which was intended to represent the board's plan of action and commitment to anti-racism. (Disclosure: Varno is PW's fiction reviews editor.) The vote on the statement was scheduled to begin Thursday morning after the language was all but finalized; however, Romano sent his email outlining his objections on Wednesday night. "Everybody had a chance to review and review and revise and revise, and Carlin waited for the last second and threw a bomb," Kellogg said. "As a board member who has butted heads with Carlin in the past, I would look forward to him learning some serious lessons from all of this." Responding to Kellogg's statement in PW, Romano said that Kellogg had misrepresented his response. "She knows full well that I informed the board that I felt my best contribution to the letter was to keep my mouth shut, since I disagreed with some of the claims in it," he said. "I expressed my opinion only after our board president specifically and directly asked me at the last minute to speak up and contribute my opinion on the letter. I then questioned a handful of claims in the letter. I never opposed Black Lives Matter or expressed disagreement that we should support writers and critics of color." Romano added that he had informed the board on multiple occasions, including in the email, that he "was perfectly fine with whatever statement a majority of the board wanted to vote for being issued under the board's name, even if I disagreed with some of the claims in the letter." As of yet, the situation remains unsolved: the names of the departed board members have not been officially disclosed, and there is no public indication as to whether Romano will remain on the board. Kellogg said the board has a meeting scheduled for Friday afternoon and another on the books for next week. The NBCC statement, as released Thursday, makes several pledges, including: the establishment of a diversity and inclusion committee, to be headed by a NBCC board member who will be named v-p of diversity and inclusion at the board's next meeting; the establishment of a social justice initiative through that committee, with "the goal of exploring how best to create immediate and ongoing support of people, communities and organizations that are affected by police violence and systemic racism, centering black and brown voices, headed by NBCC board member Ismail Muhammad"; conducting a survey of NBCC members to compile and release membership demographic information and working with NBCC board member and v-p of membership Richard Santos to diversity the group's membership; and more. This article has been edited for clarity and updated with further information. WASHINGTON, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine Friday selected Commercial Crew Program Manager Kathy Lueders to be the agency's next associate administrator of the Human Exploration and Operations (HEO) Mission Directorate. Since 2014, Lueders has directed NASA's efforts to send astronauts to space on private spacecraft, which culminated in the successful launch of Demo-2 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30. "Kathy gives us the extraordinary experience and passion we need to continue to move forward with Artemis and our goal of landing the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024," said Bridenstine. "She has a deep interest in developing commercial markets in space, dating back to her initial work on the space shuttle program. From Commercial Cargo and now Commercial Crew, she has safely and successfully helped push to expand our nation's industrial base. Kathy's the right person to extend the space economy to the lunar vicinity and achieve the ambitious goals we've been given." The appointment takes effect immediately. Steve Stich is named Commercial Crew Program Manager and Ken Bowersox returns to his role as HEO deputy associate administrator. Lueders began her NASA career in 1992 at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico where she was the Shuttle Orbital Maneuvering System and Reaction Control Systems Depot manager. She later moved to the International Space Station Program and served as transportation integration manager, where she led commercial cargo resupply services to the space station. She also was responsible for NASA oversight of international partner spacecraft visiting the space station, including the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's H-II Transfer Vehicle, and the Russian space agency Roscosmos' Soyuz and Progress spacecraft. She went to Kennedy as acting Commercial Crew Program Manager in 2013 and was selected as the head of the office in 2014. Lueders has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from New Mexico State University. "I want to thank Ken and the entire HEO team for their steady support of Kathy in making Commercial Crew such a success," added Bridenstine. "I know they'll give her the same support as she moves out in her new role. This is such a critical time for the agency and for HEO. We still need to bring Doug and Bob home safely and we're not going to lose focus. We have our sights set on the Moon and even deeper into space, and Kathy is going to help lead us there." For additional information in NASA's human spaceflight program, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/ SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov Hosted In The University Of Alberta Faculty Of Pharmacy And Pharmaceutical Sciences With Full Access To GMP Capacity And Health Canada Licenses That Include The Ability Import, Export, Conduct R&D and Commercialize Restricted Substances Such As Psilocybin VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mydecine Innovations Group Inc. (CSE: MYCO) (OTC: NLBIF) (FSE:0NF) ("Mydecine" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the establishment of a research division agreement with Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation ("API"), a translational commercial drug development institute hosted in the University of Alberta's Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The agreement with API provides exceptional capacity for Mydecine and the ability to significantly speed their product development with leading experts in the pharmaceutical sciences and established drug development facilities. The Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is consistently ranked in the top 15 globally for the citations of research by international QS rankings in pharmacy and pharmacology and includes a wide range of experts from discovery, pharmaceutical analysis, drug action, disposition, formulation and clinical development.[1] Mydecine is also able to access broader expertise through the agreement such as API's collaborating institute the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) - ranked among the top 5 institutes in the world for AI/ML[2] - as well as experts in mycology, pharmacometrics, neuropharmacology and much more at universities throughout the API network. Through the agreement, Mydecine has the ability to immediately commence fungal discovery investigations with varietal mushrooms and their extracts, including scheduled substances. With access to GMP capacity and Health Canada licenses that include the ability to move to import and export, conduct R&D, and clinical trials Mydecine is able to begin work that will take other companies years to establish the capability for. Research and development is commencing with a significant program to extract, analyze, and determine the effects of various compounds from fungi and their pharmacokinetic disposition and development of dosage forms for specific indications, providing Mydecine with an extensive assets and capacity to become a leader in the space. The end goal is developing products with clinical applications over a period of three years. In exchange for these services, MYCO entered into a two-year commitment and will be paying API a total $1,099,345 in year one and $1,136,249 in year two ending February 1, 2022. Year three and beyond will be a right of first refusal to either party. "We see this agreement as a core component of our work as a company," says Mydedine CEO Josh Bartch, "the API team at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences gives us the ability to rocket our product development ahead by years, providing the know-how, facilities, and licenses to quickly establish Mydecine as a leader in naturally sourced therapies for a wide variety of indications. The research division also provides a phenomenal synergy with our other recent acquisitions, giving us a dedicated team to explore myco-inspired treatments particularly for areas of high need such as mental health." "Our partnership with the University of Alberta will unlock brand new avenues for the study of medical uses of mushrooms," Robert Roscow, CSO of Mydecine. "This partnership is a fundamental aspect of Mydecine's expanding unique research network. We are investigating the potential of mushrooms and their compounds to improve human health and wellness. This research partnership opens up, not only investigation of single molecules from mushrooms but also more complex formulations. The breadth of research resources at the University of Alberta, from world class AI to cultivation and pharmacology, as well as their possession of Health Canada License allows an unprecedented level of study." "Back to the fungal future," Dr. Neal Davies, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences "Pharmaceutical activity of fungal metabolites have been known for at least 15 centuries and contemporary research has discovered some novel molecule leads for unique mycological medications for nature inspired treatments in the new millennium. This bodes very well for the program developing promising treatments." "We're thrilled to be working with Mydecine," says API CEO, Andrew MacIsaac, "we see their focus as one of growing importance and high potential that will serve them well. By developing a world class R&D program that discovers potential new lead compounds, synergistic effects, and increased therapeutic indications for mushroom-derived products, Mydecine will stand out in this bourgeoning sector. About Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation API is a not-for-profit commercial drug development institute that works in collaboration with the University of Alberta's Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences as well as research and post-secondary institutions across Canada. API draws on an interdisciplinary network of over 30 pharmaceutical scientists, clinicians, regulatory, patent, and market experts in a variety of fields and disease areas to bring life-saving research to the real world. About Mydecine Innovations Group Inc. Mydecine Innovations Group Inc. is the parent company operating innovative product divisions in the Naturally Sourced Therapies (NST) space. While controlling a variety of Psilocybin and hemp-derived CBD brands that design, manufacture, and distribute cutting edge products, Mydecine Innovations Group Inc. further enhances its portfolio with numerous cultivation properties, retail locations, and other land assets. Mydecine Innovations Group Inc. is the progressive and innovative Naturally Sourced Therapies (NST) lifestyle group known around the globe. Focusing on the rapidly emerging psilocybin and psychedelic medicines market, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary 1220611 B.C. Ltd. (operating as Mydecine Group) ("Mydecine") is a vertically integrated company engaged to utilize the vast medicinal, health and wellness capabilities of the various compounds found in mycology as a whole. Established to parallel the early emergence of the industry, Mydecine aims to be a pioneer in the cultivation, processing, product development, and research and development of mycology's exciting compounds through its three divisions, "Mydecine Farms," "Mydecine Wellness" and "Mydecine Labs." Furthermore, the Company's wholly owned subsidiaries in the hemp-derived CBD space, We are Kured LLC, Drink Fresh Water LLC, Relyfe Brand LLC, Fresh Water CBD LLC and TeaLief Brand LLC have quickly developed into market leaders and maintain extensive retail and cultivation land investments in the United States. For further information about Mydecine Innovations Group Inc., please consult the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or visit the Company's website at http://mydecine.com/ . For further information about We Are Kured, please visit their website at www.wearekured.com. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof. This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to completion of planned improvements at both the Canadian and US sites on schedule and on budget, the availability of financing needed to complete the Company's planned improvements on commercially reasonable terms, planned occupancy by the tenant-growers, commencement of operations, differences in yield on expected harvests, delays in obtaining statutory approval for marijuana production plans, issues that may arise throughout the grow period, outdoor crops affected by weather, the ability to mitigate the risk of loss through appropriate insurance policies, and the risks presented by federal statutes that may contradict local and state legislation respecting legalized marijuana. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required under applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities and the Company is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. These securities have not and will not be registered under United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person unless so registered, or an exemption from registration is relied upon. [1] http://csrankings.org/#/fromyear/1990/toyear/2020/index?ai&mlmining&world https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2020/pharmacy-pharmacology (Sort by ranking indicator citations per paper) [2] https://investalberta.ca/industry-profiles/artificial-intelligence/ On Behalf of the Board of Directors Joshua Bartch Chief Executive Officer For Further Information Contact Corporate Communications +1-250-488-6728 Open source Constitutional Court of Ukraine has received a constitutional petition on the constitutionality of the Law "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning the Improvement of Mechanisms for Regulation of Banking Activity". This was reported by the courts press service. It is reported that the submission was received on Thursday, June 11. It was presented by 64 MPs. "Law On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning the Improvement of Mechanisms for Regulation of Banking Activity, its separate provisions, as well as provisions of other legislative acts as amended by this law are under consideration in the Constitutional Court on the compliance with the Constitution of Ukraine," the message reads. As we reported earlier, on May 21, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law No 590-IX, which offers changes to legislative acts concerning the mechanism of regulation of banking activity in Ukraine. The document places an ultimate ban on returning the nationalized banks to their previous owners. He said department staff told guards to use each mask for four hours and only use six pairs of gloves per day. They said the rationing was designed to ensure nurses and other essential staff had enough personal protection equipment when supplies were dwindling. A worker at another quarantine hotel, who asked not to be named, said she saw security guards wearing the same pair of gloves while touching detainees' belongings, trolleys and lifts and accompanying them throughout the building. It's the security staff that are causing all the issues, she said. They're not taught and trained in sanitation properly. They are walking around with the same gloves on, touching everything. They cross-contaminate everything. However, the worker, who rotated between different quarantine hotels, said the problems were wider than security guards. She said surfaces that had come into contact with infected detainees were often not thoroughly cleaned or cleaned at all, and paperwork was passed between staff who had been in contact with detainees and those who had not. [DHHS] have built the plan, they're the ones that are managing the whole deal, she said. They hired the hotels, they need to train the staff whether it be their own staff or hotels' staff or security staff. Security guards are not provided with full personal protective equipment, including gowns, goggles and shoe covers. Loading Professor Sutton said the hotels review would examine policies on staff use of personal protective equipment, contaminated PPE disposal, cleaning and the enforcement of physical distancing. There will be further digging into what might have happened [at Rydges] to see if there are further recommendations to make," he said on Thursday. We dont know exactly whats occurred but it seems theyve acquired it around the same time. So people working on the same shift or around the same time period appear to have been exposed to the virus. Mr Buntine said security workers at Rydges raised concerns about accompanying infected detainees in the hotels lift in daily meetings with DHHS officials, a directive some guards refused. Some returned travellers who had tested positive were mistakenly let out of their rooms to get fresh air and at least one shared an elevator with a guard, he said. The hotel was also used to quarantine people who could not isolate at home, including infected Cedar Meats workers who were not subject to the same strict detention rules as returned travellers, and were permitted to leave their room for exercise and fresh air. Mr Buntine said security workers told department officials they were concerned about Cedar Meats workers leaving their rooms and using shared areas. Elite's contract was terminated on May 11. The department said Elite's guards were not among the positive cases. It has refused to respond to questions about how many of the contractors who tested positive for COVID-19 were security guards, and what roles the remaining contractors performed at the hotel. A second guard, who asked not to be named, confirmed concerns were raised by guards over PPE use and sharing elevators and spaces with infected detainees. A DHHS spokeswoman said it had strict measures in place to manage positive cases and control outbreaks, including thorough cleaning, infection control training and advice for all staff and contractors, including security guards. The spokeswoman said all staff and contractors were aware they might interact with infected detainees and were required to comply with physical distancing rules and PPE use guidelines. ADEN, YEMEN As focus begins to turn to developments in Libya and the foreign interference that plagues the Arab country, it seems that Turkey already has its eye elsewhere, preparing for military involvement in Yemen in a move that has sparked concern among Yemenis already struggling against an intervention led by Saudi Arabia, famine and most recently, COVID-19. Informed sources in Aden and Taiz revealed to MintPress that a militia belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated El-Eslah Party, the ideological and political ally of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, is already engaged in the latest round of fighting in Yemens southern provinces, particularly in Abyan and Shabwa. The Turkish intervention, which extends to Marib an oil-rich province located 173 kilometers to the northeast of Ansar Allah-controlled Sanaa, has so far been led by officers, experts, and training personnel, and has involved the delivery of weapons, including drones, for use by Turkish allies on the ground. The move paves the way for wider intervention in Yemen that would resemble Turkeys role in Libya in favor of The Government of National Accord, which is currently battling General Khalifa Haftars forces for control over the country. The Turkish officers and advisors in Yemen are lending comprehensive support to El-Eslahs militants who have been fighting against the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Abyan since April 26, when the STC imposed emergency rule in Aden and all southern governorates. Beginning in 2018 and 19, dozens of Turkish officers and experts reportedly arrived in many Yemeni areas overlooking the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, particularly in Shabwa, Abyan, Socotra, al-Mahra and coastal Directorate of Mukha near the Bab al-Mandab Strait as well as to Marib. The officers reportedly entered Yemen as aid workers under pseudonyms using Yemeni passports issued illegally from the Yemeni passport headquarters in the governorates of Marib, Taiz, and Al-Mahrah. Recently, Ankara trained hundreds of Yemeni fighters in Turkey and in makeshift camps inside of Yemen. Moreover, Turkey recruited Libyan and Syrian mercenaries to fight in Yemen bty promising them high salaries to fight for the Muslim Brotherhood in the southern regions and along the western coast of Yemen, according to sources that spoke to MintPress. One of those sources said that a group of mercenaries was supposed to enter the country last week in a Turkish plane carrying aid and medicine related to coronavirus pandemic but the Saudi-led coalition prevented the plane from landing at Adens airport. Now, sources say, Turkish intelligence and its allies in Yemen are working on a strategy to enter the country by pushing for eased travel restrictions under the guise of fighting coronavirus. Yemeni politicians told MintPress that Turkey wants to reach the strategic port of Balhaf and secure for use as a hub to export gas and oil and to control the open coasts of the Arabian Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait for later use as a gateway for Turkish intervention in the region. Turkish control in those areas would provide access to support and supply Turkish military bases in Somalia and Qatar. This information provided to MintPress was confirmed by the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Libyan Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Masmari, who is recruiting Syrian and Lybian mercenaries with attractive salaries to fight with the Muslim Brotherhood in Yemen. At this point, both the Saudi-led Coalition and Turkey have exploited the Yemeni poor, recruiting them to fight in both Libya and Syria. In Taiz, Turkey has opened training camps, the most important of which is located on the outskirts of the al-Hajariya Mountains near the Bab al-Mandab Strait and is run by Hamoud al-Mikhlafi who resides in Turkey and regularly visits Qatar. Al-Mikhlafi also established the Hamad Camp in the Jabal Habashi District. Shabwah, and Marib have also received Turkish support. Ankara has successfully boosted its intelligence presence in Yemen through the use of Turkish humanitarian aid organizations. There are many Turkish humanitarian relief organizations operating in three coastal Yemeni regions: Shabwa, Socotra, and the al-Mukha region in Taiz governorate. Among those organizations is the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Agency (IHH) which operates in the governorate of Aden, the Turkish Red Crescent, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), the Turkiye Diyanet Foundation (Turkiye Diyanet Vakf) among dozens of other Turkish organizations. Turkey has been supporting Yemens El-Eslah Party, founded in 1990, since before the Saudi-led Coalition launched its offensive in Yemen in 2015. Similar to its support for the Government of Accord in Libya, El-Eslah has gained additional momentum in recent years given the power and money it has received from both Turkey and members of the Saudi-led coalition. An ally in El-Eslah In a related event, high-ranking government officials from Turkey have traveled to Yemen to develop strategic interests and conclude agreements which could allow Turkey to resort to military force to protect its interests in the country. ln January 2019, Turkeys deputy interior minister, Ismail Catakln traveled to Aden and held a meeting with high-ranking officials from the El-Eslah party, including Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, who has been appointed Prime Minister of Yemen by ousted President Abdul Mansour al-Hadi on October 18, 2018. According to a joint official statement, a number of agreements were concluded at the meeting involving humanitarian aid, health and education, economic and service projects, as well as an agreement to activate the joint committee between Yemen and Turkey. The most important agreement was a security and intelligence agreement between the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Ahmed Al-Misri, a member of El-Eslah party. Albert Ho (top L) and Lee Cheuk-yan (top C) of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, speak while holding candles before entering Victoria Park in Hong Kong on June 4, 2020. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images) Hong Kong Police Charge 4 Prominent Activists Over Tiananmen Massacre Vigil This article has been updated with the latest information. Hong Kong police have charged four prominent Hong Kong activists who participated in the citys annual candlelight vigil to commemorate the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. Later on Friday, another nine activists who are members of the vigil organizer were informed that they would also be prosecuted, according to local media RTHK. This year marked the first time that the annual vigil on June 4 was banned in the former British colony. While police said the ban was in accordance with the group gathering rule to prevent the spread of the CCP virus, critics said the ban was to silence peoples voices. Hong Kongers flock to Victoria Park to honor #TiananmenMassacre anniversary with a candle light vigil despite governments cancellation of the annual event for the first time in 31 years. pic.twitter.com/8ad4VZTfyp The Epoch Times Hong Kong (@EpochTimesHK) June 4, 2020 Organizers had requested that Hongkongers participate in the vigil online or commemorate in different locations spread out across the city in order to comply with the governments social distancing rules. However, thousands of Hongkongers chose to defy the police ban and joined members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in Chinathe organizer of the annual vigil since 1990at Victoria Park. On June 11 evening, local police charged three members of the allianceLee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho, and Richard Tsoi, who are the alliances chairman, deputy chairman, and secretary, respectivelyfor inciting unauthorized assembly. The fourth activist charged was Jimmy Lai, the founder of Hong Kongs pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, who promoted the June 4 commemoration vigil on social media. According to local media, Hong Kong police stated that four people, aged between 52 and 72, would be charged for inciting others to participate in an unauthorized assembly. The four will be brought before a court on June 23. The police added that it did not rule out arresting more people in connection with the vigil. The Alliance and Apple Daily have since confirmed the charges and the scheduled court date on their Facebook pages. Our Advisory Member @ahyanlee has once again been charged by the Hong Kong govt and police this time for inciting the annual June 4 #Tiananmen vigil. @hkdc_us https://t.co/YxNk5SddaZ HKDC Hong Kong Democracy Council (@hkdc_us) June 11, 2020 The Alliance issued a statement on June 11 calling the police actions political oppression, reiterating its previous assertion that the police ban was politically driven and a demonstration of the further tightening of Hongkongers freedoms by the local government. Lee said the local pro-Beijing government, headed by Carrie Lam, intended to show its loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party by slapping cooked up charges against them. He added that the polices actions were aimed to strike fear among Hongkongers. Tsoi questioned the polices charge of incitement saying that Hong Kong citizens have the right to peaceful protest at Victoria Park. According to Apple Daily, Lai said that the charge against him was unreasonable since he did not say a word on June 4he simply lit a candle at the park and then left. Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), a Hong Kong-based coalition of pro-democracy groups, questioned the Lam government in a Facebook post as to whether it was intending to purge every single person that took part in the vigil this year. The four were among 15 Hong Kong activists who were arrested and charged in April for taking part in unlawful assemblies on either Aug. 18, Oct. 1, or Oct. 20 last year. Government officials from the United States, the UK, and Taiwan expressed concerns about the mass arreststhe biggest crackdown on the citys anti-CCP, pro-democracy movement since June last year. Yesterday, the police announced that they had arrested a total of 8,986 Hongkongers since June 9 last year to May 31 this year in connection with protests across the city. Chinas 1989 pro-democracy protests, which the Chinese regime brutally suppressed, are a taboo subject in the mainland. To this day, Beijing has not disclosed how many Chinese protesters were killed during the crackdown. China denounces 'provocative' flight of US military aircraft over Taiwan Iran Press TV Thursday, 11 June 2020 2:08 PM China has lambasted the United States for flying one of its military transport jets over the self-ruled island of Taiwan, condemning the contentious move as an "illegal act" and "serious provocation." A US Boeing C-40A Clipper transport jet flew over the island on Tuesday, according to Taiwan's defense ministry, the same day that the island intercepted a number of Chinese warplanes that purportedly flew into the island's southwest airspace. The US overflight, which occurred earlier this week, "harms our sovereignty, security and development interests, and violates basic principles of international law and international relations," said Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, on Thursday. "We deplore and firmly oppose the act," she stressed, China's Xinhua state news agency further quoted her as saying during a press conference. The Taiwan Affairs Office is China's top-level body overseeing policy toward Taiwan. Taiwan's defense ministry added in its statement on Tuesday that the US aircraft entered Taiwan's airspace after applying for permission, but did not land at any of its airports. China has sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan, and under the "One China" policy, almost all world countries recognize that sovereignty, saying the island is part of China's territory awaiting reunification. The US, too, recognizes Chinese sovereignty over the island but has long courted Taipei in an attempt to counter Beijing. Elsewhere in her remarks, Zhu said Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) "linked up with external forces to violate China's territorial sovereignty, destroy the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, and harm the safety and well-being of islanders." She warned the DPP not to misjudge the situation and urged it to immediately stop "the wrong doings." Washington has no formal diplomatic relations with Taipei by law, but remains the island's largest weapons supplier and an avid backer of Taiwan's secessionist president Tsai Ing-wen, causing increasing tensions with Beijing over trade and a host of other issues. Washington almost regularly makes provocative moves around the self-governed island, particularly by sailing its warships through the sensitive and strategic Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan from China. The provocative moves almost always draw angry reaction from China, which has never ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its full control. The Tuesday overflight adds to soaring tensions between the US and China over a number of issues, and Washington's controversial relationship with Taipei is high on the list of disagreements. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Job Title: Receptionist Organisation: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Duty Station: Mbarara, Uganda Vacancy Notice: Internal/ External Vacancy Notice no. 008/2020 Position Number: 10033694 Position Grade: GS-3 About US: The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. UNHCRs mandate under the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is to lead and co-ordinate action for international protection to refugees; seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees and safeguard refugee rights and well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate concerning issues of statelessness, as it is given a designated role under Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Job Summary: The Receptionist will assist in organizing and coordinating the reception area of UNHCR Office. The incumbent has no supervisory role and will always function under the direct supervision of a (Senior) Associate or an Officer who is required to monitor the performance of the incumbent and provide regular guidance. The incumbent will have internal contacts within UNHCR with staff members and focal points from different units and with external parties for exchange of information and reception of visitors. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Receive, screen and assist visitors/clients and escorts them to responsible officer concerned. Adopt tactful attitude to inform and convince interlocutors to accept unforeseen situations, such as waiting longer than expected, meet with a different officer than expected or accepting the cancellation of an appointment. Answer to incoming calls and transfer calls to concerned officer and/or take messages or provide general information, understanding the importance and the confidentiality of the issues treated. Receive and transmit verbal and written messages to appropriate officer/office/Unit/Department. Record the incoming and outgoing mail and manage internal courier distribution, as appropriate. Register/keep records of visitors/clients, as requested. Utilise office equipment (telephone, fax, radio, computer) when necessary. Perform any other clerical duty that may be required Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The ideal candidate for the United Nations UNHCR Receptionist job placement should hold a High school diploma At least three years of previous job experience relevant to the function is required. Analytical Thinking Planning and organizing Change Capability and Adaptability Knowledge of English is required Desirable Qualifications: Good computer skills in using various office applications (including Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and Access) is desirable. Good knowledge of proGres (HCR database for registration of refugees, returnees and displaced persons) is desirable. How to Apply: All interested Ugandan nationals who wish to join the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the aforementioned capacity are encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions after reviewing the job details. Click Here Deadline: 21st June 2020 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline The Bombay High Court continued its protection from arrest to Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami and reserved its order in a criminal writ plea filed by Goswami seeking various reliefs, including quashing of two FIRs filed against him. The court directed Goswami and the state government to submit written notes at the earliest. A division bench of justice Ujjal Bhuyan and justice Riyaz Chagla while hearing the petition by Goswami was informed by senior counsel Harish Salve through video conferencing on Friday that the allegations against the journalist were unfounded. Goswami has been booked under section 153, 153 A, 153 B, 295 A, 298, 500, 504, 505 (2), 506, 120 B and 117 of the Indian Penal Code for intent to provocation of riot, promoting disharmony between groups based on religion, defilement of place of worship among others. The charges were based on two FIRs filed against him at NM Joshi Marg police station and Pydhonie police station on April 22 and May 2 for giving communal colour to the mob lynching incident at Palghar and the protest of the migrants outside Bandra station. Salve read out each section under which Goswami was booked and denied the allegation that his comments on the Palghar and Bandra station incident in his TV programme were politically motivated. Salve said that Goswamis remarks on the programme did not have any malafide but could be attributed to journalistic enthusiasm. Salve also asked the court as to who would be responsible if Goswami contracted Covid-19 while attending various police stations across the country where FIRs have been registered against him, for the same incident. On its part state, counsel Kapil Sibal refuted the claims of Salve and said that the statements on the programme had hurt the sentiments of the people. After both sides concluded their arguments, they sought permission from the court to submit written notes of the same. The court has now reserved the matter for orders. The court also extended the interim protection from any coercive action granted to Goswami in the previous hearing on June 9, till the order was passed. The Executive Director of Youth Alliance for Development, Mr. Ali Tanti Robert is appealing to government and major stakeholders in the educational sector including development partners to consider providing free sanitary materials to final year girls who will spend the rest of their high school duration under strict COVID 19 protocol restrictions. This he asserts will contribute to ending period poverty which is often worsened by stigma making it difficult to practice optimal hygiene. To him this is very critical because despite the difficulty the global pandemic has brought, menstrual calendars are not on hold. He believes that if sanitary materials are inadequate, it can lead to a situation where some girls may be forced to use unsafe and unhygienic products such as pieces of cloth which can have serious health implications and even affect their performance in the WASSCE. His call is also to break the silence and build awareness about the fundamental role that good menstrual hygiene management plays in enabling girls to reach their full academic potential. Commenting on the re-opening of schools by the government, he appealed to parents and teachers to exhibit maximum cooperation by obeying the directives from the government and the World Health Organization. Several studies across low- and middle-income countries have reported that more than 50% of girls have inadequate Menstrual Hygiene Management, with higher proportions reported in rural areas. More than half of girls in lower- and middle-income countries lack access to basic menstrual hygiene needs such as sanitary pads, soap, and water, or lavatories to change, clean, or dispose of these absorbents. In most developing countries, especially in a rural setting, girls and young women are most affected since they do not have access to and knowledge of the different types of modern sanitary wear A 56-year-old patient with a chronic kidney disease, recovered from Covid-19 after 26 days and was welcomed home on Thursday. Residents of Omkar Rahiwasi Seva Sangh colony in Kalachowki greeted Nilima Zore with flowers when she returned from BYL Nair Hospital, where shed been admitted after testing positive for Covid-19. Zores husband is a retired employee of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited and the couple have a son and a daughter. Zore had an angioplasty in 2014 and has needed dialysis since 2018. She contracted Covid-19 in May. I would regularly take my mother for dialysis to Hinduja Hospital in a family friends private vehicle, but due to the lockdown, we took a taxi on May 8. The next day I had fever and the day after, my mother too developed symptoms. We immediately got tested. My mother tested positive for Covid-19 on the third test while I tested positive in the second test, said Ankita, Zores daughter. On May 15, Zore was admitted to Nair Hospital, which also has a dialysis facility. Ankita was quarantined at a civic quarantine centre in the Saat Rasta area and later shifted to a Covid care centre at Nagpada for more treatment. On the first day in hospital, I thought that now I would never return home. But my family, society members supported me and the doctors too helped me gain confidence, said Zore. She was discharged on Thursday after she tested negative for Covid-19 on Wednesday. A 56-year-old patient with a chronic kidney disease, recovered from Covid-19 after 26 days and was warmly welcomed home on Thursday. Residents of Omkar Rahiwasi Seva Sangh colony in Rangari Badak Chawl area, in Kalachowki, greeted Nilima Harishchandra Zore with flowers and chanted Ganpati Bappa Morya when she returned from BYL Nair Hospital. Zores husband is a retired employee of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited and the couple have a son and a daughter. Zore had an angioplasty in 2014 and has needed dialysis since 2018. She contracted Covid-19 in May. I would regularly take my mother for dialysis to Hinduja Hospital in a family friends private vehicle, but due to the lockdown, we were forced to take a taxi on May 8. The next day I had fever and the day after, my mother too developed symptoms such as fever, vomiting, cold, cough and sore throat. We immediately got tested at Hinduja Hospital. Initially, the reports were negative, but my mother tested positive for Covid-19 on the third test while I tested positive in the second test, said Ankita, Zores daughter. On May 15, with the help of Omkar Rahiwasi Seva Sangh colonys society members, Zore was admitted to Nair Hospital, which also has a dialysis facility. Ankita was quarantined at a civic quarantine centre in the Saat Rasta area and later shifted to a Covid care centre at Nagpada for more treatment. Zore and her family worried about her chances of survival since patients with chronic illnesses are more vulnerable to Covid-19. On the first day in hospital, I thought that now I would never return home. But my family, society members supported me and the doctors too helped me gain confidence, said Zore. Soon, Ankita said, Zore was the one sending her family reassuring messages, From hospital, my mother used to tell the family that we need not worry as she would be fine soon and we would soon together go to our village to celebrate Ganeshotsav, said Ankita. While Zore battled the infection in hospital, her family faced challenges at home. Forget about helping someone in such a crisis, some neighbours troubled us repeatedly by calling civic personnel and making false complaints about my family not following quarantine rules. But society members helped my family and my entire family is very grateful to them, said Ankita. Dayanand Ghadigaonkar, society president at the colony, said No one in past had seen problem of such contagious infection, so no one actually knew how to deal with such situation. But we stood by the family. Zore was discharged on Thursday after she tested negative for Covid-19 on Wednesday. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 14:51:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SYDNEY, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Australian civil rights groups are calling to toughen anti-hate laws in the State of Victoria to curb the rise of racially motivated abuse toward Asian background residents amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On Friday, the minority rights group Asian Australian Alliance (AAA) joined a coalition of union, civil society and faith-based groups to submit their proposal before a Victorian parliamentary committee review the state's anti-vilification legislation. National Convener of the AAA Erin Wen Ai Chew told Xinhua that although she wouldn't call the related laws in Victoria weak, they are currently not strong enough in terms of prosecuting hate crimes and that's why they are calling for change. Since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, the AAA has received close to 400 reports of racist attacks against people with Asian background, including verbal and physical assaults, death threats and property damage. However, they said the vast majority of these attacks went unreported to the police. "Ninety percent of the respondents have not reported the incidents to the police or a statutory body, as many of them believe that they will not get adequate redressal, or they lack confidence in the authorities," AAA Victorian State Convener Molina Swarup Asthana said. The changes being proposed in Victoria would provide more responsibilities for law enforcement to look at the crimes where there is racial intention or hate, which is against the law, and even more importantly, prosecutable. "Where there is currently 'anti-discrimination laws' in place in Victoria and in all the other states in Australia, this proposed change will strengthen the laws and will make things clearer for law enforcement and statutory bodies as to how to go about prosecuting the crime," Chew explained. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there were several highly publicized racist attacks against Asians in the Victorian State Capital of Melbourne, including a death threat painted on the garage door of a Chinese-Australian family. Chew told Xinhua this particular case was under police investigation but she is cautiously optimistic the proposed changes would help address issues like this, which are of serious concern to the Asian community. "The proposed change will also make the process of prosecution a lot more streamlined and hopefully through community engagement, and if this change gets through, this will change the minds of Asian Australians," she said. Enditem Secretary of State Mike Pompeo fired off an angry letter to a powerful Democratic committee chairman who is demanding answers about the firing of State Department Inspector General Steve Linick mocking Rep. Eliot Engel for facing a primary. 'I hear you've been busy in your district, so let me get you up to speed on what's been happening in your committee,' Pompeo wrote the longtime lawmaker, 73, who chairs the House Foreign Relations Committee. He also blasted Engel for making a 'nasty insinuation' that the firing was to protect himself from a probe. Pompeo once again denied the possibility of having retaliated against Linick for investigating the secretary of state and his wife over alleged misuse of government resources including having an aide walk their dog. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denied the possibility of having retaliated against Linick for investigating the secretary of state and his wife over alleged misuse of government resources Pompeo also denied that Linick was removed for no cause, accusing him of 'strange and erratic behavior' and failing to do his job over many months. Pompeo also said Under Secretary of State for Management Brian Bulatao is willing to testify to the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the circumstances of Linicks ouster on June 22 or 23. 'I need an inspector general working every day to improve State Department operations and efficiency,' Pompeo wrote in one letter to Engel, D-N.Y. 'Mr. Linick was not that person.' Pompeo and his top deputy are rejecting allegations that the watchdog was fired for investigating alleged impropriety by Pompeo and his wife. In separate letters sent to Congress late Thursday, Pompeo and Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun denied suggestions that Pompeo was aware of any such probe by ousted inspector general Steve Linick or his office. Linick testified that he informed Biegun and Bulatao about the inquiry of potential misuse of resources. Brian J. Bulatao, the Undersecretary of State for management, will testify later this month, Pompeo said 'We had an administrative review of allegations relating to misuse of government resources by the Secretary and his wife,' fired State Department IG Steve Linick told lawmakers 'I hear you've been busy in your district, so let me get you up to speed on what's been happening in your committee,' Pompeo wrote the longtime lawmaker Eliot Engel, who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee Linick also told House Democrats in an interview that Bullatao, a longtime friend and ally of Pompeo, tried to 'bully' him over an investigation of U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Bulatao followed Pompeo to the CIA when Pompeo was director, and then the State Department. Before that, they were classmates at West Point and business partners in Kansas, where Pompeo began his political career. 'He tried to bully me,' Linick, told House Democratic lawmakers during closed testimony that was released Wednesday in reference to Bulatao. Linick confirmed in testimony released this week that his office was probing sensitive matters including one involving potential 'misuse' of government resources by Pompeo and his wife, Susan. Pompeo also took a political shot at Engel, who is facing a difficult Democratic primary in his home district. 'I hear you've been busy in your district, so let me get you up to speed on what's been happening in your committee,' he wrote, with a footnote referring to a news report that said Engel is 'fighting for his political survival.' Engel responded by saying he was 'puzzled why Secretary Pompeos letter includes so many errors, but Im glad that the department is moving toward what the committees requested weeks ago: allowing Mr. Bulatao to speak on the record about the firing of Inspector General Linick.' He added, 'We look forward to hearing from Mr. Bulatao and all the other witnesses involved in this fiasco.' Pompeo has said President Donald Trump fired Linick at his recommendation, and Democrats have suggested his ouster was personally and politically motivated. Pompeo adamantly denied that and called Engel's suggestions that he wanted Linick fired to cover up impropriety a 'nasty insinuation' aimed at 'misleading' the American people. 'Because I had no knowledge of this alleged work by the inspector general at the time I recommended to the president that Mr. Linick be removed, it is not possible that Mr. Linick's work on this matter could have provided a retaliatory motivation for my recommendation,' Pompeo wrote. The letters were sent to Engel and obtained by The Associated Press a day after congressional Democrats released a transcript of an interview with Linick last week and demanded answers to allegations he made. The letters - two from Pompeo and one from Biegun - were accompanied by a four-page compilation of numerous Linick quotes from the transcript entitled 'Three Things Democrats Won't Tell You About Linick's Testimony' and annotated with refutations of specific points. Among other things, Linick testified that he had sought information from Biegun, Bulatao and several other top Pompeo aides about allegations that Pompeo and his wife improperly used government staff to run personal errands. Although did not say he knew that Pompeo had been alerted to the probe, several lawmakers, including Engel, concluded it would be difficult to believe that he had not been. In his letter to Engel, however, Biegun said neither he nor anyone else relayed any information about what he termed Linick's 'purported' requests to Pompeo. The committee 'wrongly concluded, without any evidence or corroboration, that Secretary Pompeo must have been aware of the inspector general's work on this matter at the time that he recommended he be removed from his position,' Biegun wrote. 'This conclusion is entirely false.' Linick, who had been inspector general since 2013, also said he was looking into allegations that Pompeo and his wife may have misused government staff to run personal errands and several other matters. Trump abruptly fired him late on May 15 with what Linick said was no warning or cited cause. Pompeo has said he was aware that Linick had opened a review of last years $8 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, which Pompeo had circumvented congressional objections to approve. Linick testified that Bulatao and legal adviser Marik String had tried to discourage him from investigating the sale, saying it was an inappropriate review of policy and not policy implementation. Pompeo, Bulatao and others have said Linick was dismissed in part because of inappropriate actions but also because of the alleged leak of one of his offices reports into accusations of political reprisals by Trump appointees against career State Department officials. Linick denied his office was responsible for the leak. He said an investigation into the alleged leak by the Defense Department inspector general cleared him and his office. Dublin, June 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "South Africa Gift Card and Incentive Card Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook) - Market Size and Forecast (2015-2024) - Covid-19 Update Q2 2020" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report details the impact of the economic slowdown along with changes in business and consumer sentiment due to the disruption caused by Covid-19 outbreak on gift card industry in South Africa. Historically, the gift card market in South Africa has recorded a steady growth with a CAGR of 19.0% during 2015-2019. However, the gift card market in South Africa is expected to be impacted across retail and corporate segments due to disruption caused by Covid-19 outbreak. Though growth of gift card industry will be impacted due to the pandemic, there are certain segments such as self-use which will gain significant market share. Adoption of e-Gift cards is also expected to increase significantly over the next 4-6 quarters. There are interesting trends emerging across various segments, which are expected to fundamentally reshape the gift card industry dynamics. Despite near-term challenges, the medium to long term growth story of gift cards in South Africa remains strong. The gift card industry in South Africa will continue to grow over the forecast period and is expected to record a CAGR of 14.8% during 2020-2024. The gift card market in the country will increase from US$ 815.4 million in 2019 to reach US$ 1,378.9 million by 2024. The growing e-commerce market in the country is one of the factors that is driving the market growth in South Africa. With online sales growing at 25-30% annually and the e-commerce market expected to reach US$ 6 billion by 2022, the spending on gift cards is also expected to increase. The rising trend of gift card usage has drawn foreign companies to explore the market in South Africa. For instance, in March 2020, InComm , a payments technology company, launched its gift cards in partnership with Flash and Pepkor Group. The gift cards include gaming, ride-sharing, content, and streaming gift cards via Flash and Pepkor's retail network effectively making these cards available in every South African region. This report provides a detailed data centric analysis of gift cards and corporate incentive cards market along with consumer behaviour and retail spend dynamics in South Africa. With over 200 KPIs at country level, this report provides comprehensive understanding of gift and incentive card market dynamics. The report includes raw data along with structured dashboards, charts, and tables in an interactive Excel format. Key report features: Story continues Provides detailed view of overall spend on gifts, broken down by retail and consumer segments. For both retail and consumer segments, this report provides a breakdown of spend on gifts by product categories and retail sectors. Provides in-depth analysis of opportunities in both open loop and closed loop prepaid gift card categories. Assesses consumer behaviour by type of consumer, gifting occasion, digital gift card and market share by retail sectors. Details six essential KPIs: number of cards in circulation, load value, unused value, average purchase value, average value per transaction, and value of transactions. Provides detailed market dynamics of corporate incentive cards, broadly segmented in three categories - consumer incentive card, employee incentive card, and sales/partner incentive card. It details market size and forecast at category level, by functional attribute and by corporate consumer segments. Provides market size and forecast for digital gift cards, broken down by retail and corporate buyers. It also includes gift card spend by occasion and digital gift card adoption by company size. Provides market estimates and forecasts to assess opportunities in open loop and closed loop gift and incentive card segments across consumer segments. Identifies and interprets key KPIs related to gift card dynamics including spend by age, gender, and income level. Breaks down retail spend across retail sectors to provide detailed insights on consumer behaviour and changing dynamics of gift card spend. Provides market share of closed loop gift cards by key retailers in South Africa. Provides market share by distribution channel - online vs offline sales and 1st party vs 3rd party sales. Companies Mentioned Shoprite Holdings Ltd Pick 'n' Pay Stores Ltd Internationale Spar Centrale BV Wal-Mart Stores Inc Woolworths Holdings Ltd Edcon Holdings Ltd Pepkor Holdings Ltd Steinhoff International Holdings Ltd Mr Price Group Ltd Clicks Group Ltd Foschini Group Ltd, The Truworths Group Pty, Ltd For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/kgq56p About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Local churches continue to offer services to their congregants via alternative service options. Some have announced plans to allow congregants back into the buildings within the next few weeks. Others are sticking with the online service route. Here's a list of where and when they're hosting services: First Baptist Church of Plainview announced that it will open its doors to churchgoers with services scheduled for 8:30 and 10:15 a.m. Doors will open 15 minutes prior to each service. Live streaming can still be found at https://firstplainview.com/media First Baptist Church of Floydada will begin hosting one service in the church at 10:30 a.m. Bible study (Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.) and Sunday School (Sundays at 9:15 a.m.) will still be held virtually. A number of changes to the services can be found on the churchs Facebook page. First United Methodist Church of Floydada is now hosting open services. Church of Christ at 9th and Columbia is opening up on Sunday with the service scheduled for 10 a.m. No classes will be held at this time. The Potters House streams its services on its Facebook page and encouraging congregants to watch from home. Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Sundays and 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Plainviews Church of God already streamed services on its Facebook page. Open services at the church started last week. A PayPal account for offerings and donations can be found at paypal.me/LivingHopeFWC. Rehoboth Christian Learning Center has been doing Zoom services. The meeting room number and password is posted on the churchs Facebook page prior to the services. Northwest Church of Christ is streaming its services online on YouTube. Trinity Life Church is allowing congregants into the church for services at 11:30 a.m. under guidelines that can be found on their Facebook page. First Presbyterian is allowing some churchgoers into the building for services and has a Youtube page and is streaming its services online. Calvary Baptist has opened up to its congregants with some restrictions, which can be found on their Facebook page where they will also continue streaming their 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday services as well as the 7 p.m. Wednesday service. Jerusalem Community Baptist Church is not only streaming services online, but those that would like to leave the house can attend the service in the parking lot of the church on Sundays at 11 a.m. Streaming can be found on Youtube. Bethel Baptist Church in Plainview is offering drive-in church services from now until further notice. The church will stream its services on FM 88.5 and will offer services in its parking lot. Services will also be streamed on Facebook Live. Harvest Christian Fellowship resumed offering in-person services last week with services at 9 and 11 a.m. Livestreams of both services will be offered on the churchs Youtube channel for those who prefer to stay at home. First Christian Church will live stream its service on Sunday. The service will begin at 10:45 a.m. Services will be conducted this way until further notice. Living Hope Family Worship Center is hosting drive-in church services on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of 10th St. and El Paso. Those who wish to participate can drive to the church and tune in to the service on FM 88.5 to hear the Word of God while maintaining social distancing guidelines. College Heights Baptist Church reopened on May 24 with services at 9:30 a.m. for at-risk congregants and another service at 11 a.m. for others. There is also a Youth Sunday school livestream set for 11 a.m. on Sundays as well as Bible studies, games, and movies on the CHBC Summitt youth Facebook page. The church is also hosting adult Sunday school meeting on Zoom. CHBC will continue to post audio of worship services on its webpage. For additional information, visit https://www.collegeheightsbc.org/ or call the church office at (806)293-3644. Sacred Heart Catholic Church will celebrate Mass in the parking lot on Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m. The service at 9 a.m. Sunday will be in Spanish and the other two will be in English. Those interested are invited to drive to the church and participate in the service from their vehicles. Tune in to station FM 100.7. Our Lady of Guadalupe began having daily Mass this week. Current daily Mass schedule is 8:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Weekend Masses return to the regular schedule this weekend. Saturday confessions start at 5 p.m., Mass at 6 p.m. (Spanish). Sunday Masses are 9 a.m. (Spanish), 10:30 a.m. (Spanish) and 12:15 p.m. (English). First Assembly in Tulia started letting congregants back into the building last week. When A Six-Year-Old Abhishek Bachchan Was Asked By A Kid At School If His Father Is Dying After Big B's Coolie Accident U nilever may have taken several years to get there, but it has finally made the right decision. Thursdays move to unify its prehistoric dual-company structure half Dutch, half British will create a better business. In the last review, the Marmite to Cif giant made the blunder of cocking a snook at London and declaring it was shifting HQ to Rotterdam. Finance chief Graeme Pitkethly said it had been a finely balanced decision. Not really. Just because the Dutch company is fractionally bigger than the UK one doesnt mean you throw your key London investors under the bus. RELX had identical issues, chose London and got unanimous approval. Anyway, water under the bridge and all that. Now the right solution has been found and Unilever can act more swift-footedly, especially on takeovers or demergers. And theres plenty of those to ponder, even setting aside the tea business still under review. It is frustrating to see Estee Lauder and LOreal stealing a march in the posh beauty market. Unilever bought Dermalogica, which has done well, but more please, especially in China. US homecare is another one. Flogger-in-chief Niall FitzGerald sold a bunch of its brands in 2003 and theyre now doing nicely for Henkel. Unilever could push harder there, especially now everybody is obsessed with cleaning to fight the Covid bogeyman. It can do this with existing brands such as Lux and Dove, but takeovers will help. Now Unilever has dealt with the albatross of the corporate structure, it can focus on rejigging the portfolio. As Pitkethly puts it, lets crack on. Burundi's constitutional court on Friday ruled that the country's newly elected leader Evariste Ndayishimiye be rapidly sworn in following the sudden death of President Pierre Nkurunziza earlier this week. Nkurunziza's death on Monday, aged 55, came after the May election of his successor Ndayishimiye, who was meant to be inaugurated in August. The unusual situation raised questions over how the transition would be managed, as the constitution calls for the speaker of the national assembly to step in if the president dies. However in its judgement the court wrote that an interim period "is not necessary". The court ruled that the country must "proceed, as soon as possible, with the swearing-in of the president-elect Evariste Ndayishimiye". Nkurunziza, a devout evangelical who believed he was chosen by God to lead Burundi, leaves behind a deeply isolated country in political and economic turmoil after his divisive 15-year rule. Evariste Ndayishimiye won the election to replace Nkurunziza. By - (AFP) His 2015 run for a third term in office sparked protests and a failed coup, with violence leaving at least 1,200 dead while some 400,000 fled the country. A climate of fear marked by a crackdown on the opposition and media settled over Burundi, while a personality cult grew around Nkurunziza which saw the ruling party name him a "visionary" and "supreme guide for patriotism." United Nations human rights investigators have said the period since 2015 has been marked by likely crimes against humanity committed by state forces, citing extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, disappearances, torture and sexual violence. Nkurunziza's decision not to run in the May 20 election shocked many, as it came after the constitution was changed to allow him to do so. Handpicked successor His successor Ndayishimiye, 52, was handpicked by the ruling party's core group of powerful generals, and won the election with 68.7 percent. Opposition claims of widespread fraud were dismissed by the constitutional court. While he is also a general, Ndayishimiye is not a regime hardliner and Nkurunziza was expected to continue to play a significant role, possibly limiting the independence of his successor who is reputed to be more tolerant and open. Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in office in 2015 sparked clashes. By Jennifer Huxta (AFP) "In principle it is an opportunity for him to free himself, in the sense that we would have expected Nkurunziza to play an important role in the future," said Richard Moncrieff, an expert with the International Crisis Group (ICG). However some observers have said he may run into trouble with the generals if he tries to introduce reforms or improve the human rights situation in the country. After the news of Nkurunziza's death Ndayishimiye vowed to "continue his high-quality work that he has done for our country". A source in the French presidency said the country would work with its European partners and "extend a hand to the new Burundian president". "For the first time we will have a leader who is not just forging ahead regardless of the consequences, wrapped up in divine faith." Questions over death The government has yet to announce a date for Nkurunziza's funeral, but is marking a seven-day period of national mourning, during which it has banned music in bars, nightclubs and karaoke, a statement said Thursday. Both Kenya and Uganda on Friday announced they would be flying their flags at half-mast to honour Nkurunziza. Nkurunziza died of a heart attack, the government says, though some suspect he had the new coronavirus. By STRINGER (AFP/File) The Burundian president died of what the government said was a heart attack, however suspicion is high he may have had the new coronavirus. His wife Denise Bucumi was hospitalised at the end of May with the virus. A medical document seen by AFP said she had tested positive for the virus and suffered "respiratory distress". A medical source at the Karusi hospital where Nkurunziza died, told AFP he had also been in "respiratory distress" before his death. A medical source at the Kamenge university hospital in Bujumbura told AFP that the head of the institute of public health "came to requisition our hospital's only ventilator and the head of our reanimation service in the name of the presidency on Monday at 10am". Both were flown to the hospital in Karusi, but it was "too late, president Nkurunziza was already dead," a medical source in Karusi said. Burundi has largely ignored the virus outbreak, taking few measures to combat its spread compared to many of its neighbours which implemented strict lockdowns and curfews, and holding an election campaign. The country has officially reported 94 cases and one death. (CNN) President Donald Trump on Thursday authorized sanctions and additional visa restrictions against International Criminal Court personnel the latest attempt by the administration to strong-arm the international body out of an investigation into a potential war crimes by US military and intelligence officials. Under the new executive order, any individuals who "have directly engaged in any effort by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any United States personnel without the consent of the United States" or have attempted the same against a US ally without that country's consent may be subject to sanctions. The latest move comes months after the ICC authorized a probe into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan by US and Afghan forces as well as alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Taliban. It also follows a push by the court's Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to investigate potential crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinians a prospect about which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said they were "gravely concerned." The green light to sanction ICC officials has already drawn concern from international officials and human rights organizations. 'Any means necessary' Trump administration officials have long rejected the authority of the ICC noting that the US is not a party to the international tribunal and had already taken steps meant to deter the investigation, including revoking Bensouda's entry visa last year. "The International Criminal Court's actions are an attack on the rights of the American people and threaten to infringe upon our national sovereignty," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement. "As the President's Executive Order makes clear, the United States will continue to use any means necessary to protect our citizens and our allies from unjust prosecution by the International Criminal Court," she said. Speaking at the State Department Thursday, Pompeo said, "We cannot and we will not stand by as our people are threatened by a kangaroo court." Pompeo said the economic sanctions would be determined on a case by case basis. He also said the visa restrictions would include family members of the targeted officials. "It gives us no joy to punish them, but we cannot allow ICC officials and their families to come to the United States to shop, travel, and otherwise enjoy American freedoms as these same officials seek to prosecute the defender of those very freedoms," the top US diplomat said. CNN has reached out to the ICC for comment. The ICC prosecutor Bensouda sought authorization in November 2017 to open an investigation into crimes connected to the conflict in Afghanistan. According to documents from the time, Bensouda's office determined that there was "a reasonable basis to believe" that members of the Afghan National Security Forces, the US armed forces and the CIA had committed "war crimes," including torture and rape. Although Bensouda's initial request for authorization to open the investigation was denied in April 2019, in March, the ICC Appeals Chamber ruled unanimously in favor of allowing the investigation. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that the administration expected "information about alleged misconduct by our people to be turned over to US authorities so that we can take the appropriate action as we have consistently done so in the past." "Ultimately, our justice system ensures that our people are held to account under the United States Constitution, not the International Criminal Court or other overreaching intergovernmental bodies," Esper said at the State Department alongside Pompeo, Attorney General William Barr and national security adviser Robert O'Brien. None of the officials took questions from the press. In his remarks Thursday, Barr said "the US government has reason to doubt the honesty of the ICC." He claimed the Justice Department had "substantial, credible" information about longstanding "financial corruption and malfeasance at the highest levels of the office of the prosecutor" and expressed concern "that foreign powers like Russia are also manipulating the ICC in pursuit of their own agenda." Barr did not elaborate on or provide evidence for those claims, which were also contained in McEnany's statement. Russia withdrew as a signatory to the ICC's founding statute in 2016. 'Matter of serious concern' The administration's moves to deter the investigations through sanctions has already drawn condemnation on the world stage. On Thursday, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell called Trump's executive order a "matter of serious concern." Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said he was "very disturbed" by the US measures against the ICC, which is headquartered in his country. "We call on the US not to sanction ICC staff. The Netherlands fully supports the ICC and will continue to do so. The ICC is crucial in the fight against impunity and in upholding international rule of law," he wrote on Twitter Thursday. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the reports of the planned sanctions were "concerning to us," adding that they would "continue to closely follow developments" on the matter. Human Rights Watch's Washington Director Andrea Prasow denounced the action, saying it "demonstrates contempt for the global rule of law." "Countries that support international justice should publicly oppose this blatant attempt at obstruction," Prasow said in a statement. Amnesty International Advocacy Director Daniel Balson argued in a statement that "the vague and open-ended language in the executive order could leave open the possibility that NGO workers, activists, foreign government officials, and others working to advance international justice may find themselves implicated by these obstructive measures." 'Taking on the role in being a major critic' However, prior to Thursday's announcement, there was some opposition outside of the administration to the ICC's inquiries. In early June, The Military Coalition, "a group of 34 military, veterans and uniformed services organizations," wrote to Trump to express "deep concern" at the ICC's Afghanistan investigation. In mid-May, dozens of bipartisan lawmakers from the House and Senate wrote to Pompeo in opposition of the international court's potential probe into Israel. Orde Kittrie, a former State Department lawyer and current senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, argued that "the ICC's charter authorizes it only to investigate crimes committed by personnel whose national justice systems are 'unwilling or unable' to conduct their own investigations." Kittrie acknowledged that Thursday's step is controversial, but told CNN that it is "not an end in itself." He said countries that fund the ICC would likely have to weigh in for there to be enough leverage on the court to meet the administration's demands. "There's an open debate over whether the ICC can drag the soldiers and officials which aren't parties to the treaty before it," said John Yoo, a former senior Justice Department official and current visiting scholar at American Enterprise Institute. "The United States is taking on the role in being a major critic and objector of the ICC." Yoo noted that John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser was one of the original and most outspoken critics of the ICC and he was able to get the President to join his objections to the court's practices. This story was first published on CNN.com Trump authorizes sanctions against International Criminal Court officials CLEVELAND, Ohio Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge says she believes congressional Republicans will be willing to work with Democrats on a police reform bill, even if only out of political necessity. Fudge made the comments during an NAACP town hall forum Wednesday that included former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, where she said her colleagues were feeling pressure to address policing in America following weeks of protests over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Biden offered some changes on the call as well, including a national database of instances where police use violence. Fudge told listeners on the call that Republicans, who control the Senate, were feeling pressure after years of inaction to pass some kind of legislation. By virtue of Democrats, who released a sweeping package of legislation Tuesday, having control of the House, Fudge said the GOP must work across party lines. We have them on the run, quite frankly, Fudge said. Right now, the president has (South Carolina GOP Sen.) Tim Scott trying to come up with a bill. They know they must do something. And they know that they cant do it without us. So if they want to save face and let this country know that they care even a little bit about people of color which I dont believe they do but if they want to try, I want to listen. Because theyre going to have to do something. There is a void of leadership of anything coming out of the White House right now. Fudge said she was optimistic Scott, a black man, would come up with a package similar to what Democrats did, which includes banning chokeholds and creating a national database of police misconduct incidents. However, Republicans in recent days have distanced themselves from some Democratic proposals as they hastily try to craft legislation to respond to rapidly shifting public opinion in favor of some kind of reform. The GOP has sought to tie some of the Democrats proposed reforms to the defund the police slogan used by some activists. At the same time, Republican President Donald Trump has clung to a more hardline mentality on policing in the United States. Hes urged crackdowns on protests and his re-election campaign has declined to say whether Trump believes systemic racism exists in American institutions, including police departments. Biden himself has faced controversy as well, even amidst a groundswell of support that conventional political thought says should favor Democrats, as one of the authors of the 1994 federal crime bill that critics say led to a rise in mass incarceration, particularly among minority populations. Throughout his career, Biden also proposed hundreds of millions of dollars in increases to police departments over his political career. Fudge said it was unfair to single out Biden on the issue of pumping dollars into police departments. I dont think Vice President Biden is any different than the rest of them, Fudge said. Ten years ago, I never would have thought about taking funding from police. Biden said during the Wednesday call he supported the reforms put forth by congressional Democrats, saying Floyds death captured on video was a turning point in American politics. This is an inflection moment in American history, Biden said. A moment where we must make substantive changes now. Changes that are long overdue. A 57-year-old principal of a Delhi government school and a 48-year-old English teacher have succumbed to Covid-19 in less than a week, leading to growing anxiety and demands for protective gear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits, masks and gloves among government and municipal teachers, who are the frontline of the citys battle against Covid-19. Earlier, in May this year municipality teacher and a security guard working at a ration distribution centre had succumbed to the virus. So far, Delhi has witnessed 36,824 cases of the virus with 1,214 deaths. On Thursday, Ompal Singh, principal of a government in Kalyanpuri, died after getting infected with Covid-19. Shyam Lal, vice-principal of the school, said that Singh was supervising the cooked food distribution at his school since April. He was admitted to GTB hospital on June 5, after he was finding it difficult to breathe. He succumbed to the virus on Thursday. His family members, including his 12-day-old grandson, have also tested positive now. There is a lot of panic among teachers working at the food distribution centres in our school, he said. On June 8, an English teacher, Shivaji Mishra, who was employed at a government school in Kalyan Niwas had died of Covid-19. Mishra, 48, was also working at a food distribution centre. His son Piyush Mishra said that his father developed symptoms of Covid-19 around June 1. On June 2 his condition worsened and we took him to a private hospital in Mandoli. He tested positive for Covid last Thursday, following which the hospital asked us to shift him to a Covid designated hospital. We shifted him to Safdurjaung hospital on Friday, where he was shifted to ICU. He succumbed on Sunday, he said. Ajay Veer Singh, general secretary of the government school teachers association, said that more than 400 government school teachers on Covid duty have tested positive for the deadly virus in the last two months. The government needs to help their families and provide them with jobs since they got infected while on duty. We also demand safety gear for the teachers working at the food and ration distribution centres, he said. Delhi Education minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, on Friday said that the government was working to release ex-gratia for the families of Singh and Mishra. My salute to the teachers of Delhi who are writing history through their selfless service in our fight against Covid-19. My heart goes out to the grieving families of Ompal Singh & Shivji Mishra who lost their lives. Delhi Govt. is working to release ex-gratia immediately, he said in a tweet. A senior official at the Directorate of Education (DoE) said the government is providing masks and PPEs wherever required. We are still collecting details of teachers who have tested positive and were on Covid relief work. We will also send a proposal to the finance department seeking monetary relief for the families of teachers who have succumbed to the virus, said the official. The municipal corporation teachers association said that as many as 150 of their teachers have tested positive for Covid-19 till date. Ramnivas Solanki, president of the association, said, The Delhi government has already announced relief of Rs 1 crore to MCD teachers who die of Covid-19. But there should be safety gear for all the teachers working at ration distribution centres so that we dont have any other casualties, he said. Officials at the civic bodies said that their teachers are engaged in Delhi governments relief work and they should be provided the title of Covid warriors. Avatar Singh, mayor of the north civic body, said, The government should also provide health insurance to these teachers so that they do not feel insecure while working at relief centres. A senior government official said Every possible help is provided to the teachers on Covid duty. All government officials are working selflessly amid the pandemic. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A major Chinese propaganda outlet has criticized the United States over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak after more than two million people in America tested positive for COVID-19. The Global Times, Beijing's flagship nationalist tabloid, branded the U.S. as a 'barbaric and greedy' country that 'doesn't care about humanitarianism' in an astonishing editorial attack. The state-controlled newspaper also condemned the Trump administration for 'not apologizing to its people' over the grim milestone, which also registered more than 112,900 coronavirus-related deaths as of Wednesday. The Global Times, Beijing's flagship nationalist tabloid, condemned the Trump administration for 'not apologizing to its people' over its soaring coronavirus figures. Pictured, a demonstrator wears a protective face mask as she protests in Manhattan, New York, on June 11 The U.S. has been the country worst-hit by the virus which has killed over 417,000 globally. Pictured, a medical worker moves a patient into an ambulance in New York City on May 18 Billed as China's 'most belligerent tabloid', the Global Times has been at the forefront of defending Beijing's actions and castigating the West over its criticism against the Community Party. It has lashed out at Washington daily since a diplomatic row erupted between the two superpowers over the deadly disease. In an opinion piece yesterday, the newspaper accused the Trump administration of disrespecting its citizens' human rights by failing to contain the outbreak. It denounced the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who said that 'our nation is so special and it's the greatest nation in the history of civilization' during a press briefing on Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (pictured on June 11) said that 'our nation is so special and it's the greatest nation in the history of civilization' during a press briefing on Wednesday The Communist paper slammed: 'By saying the U.S. is "special," Pompeo explained that the U.S. respects "every human being." 'Is this how the U.S. respects the rights of the over 2 million infected people and some 112,000 people who died from COVID-19?' It went onto accuse Washington of prioritizing its economy over people's lives. The author claimed: 'The U.S. stock market has rebounded but the trend of the epidemic situation remains unclear. Has anyone seen U.S. leaders warn people to focus more on controlling the epidemic? 'Everyone can see their joy about the stock market rebound and the rising employment rate, as if everything will be OK as long as the economy recovers.' The commentary then attacked the American social system, claiming that 'China is dealing with the barbaric and greedy capitalism that doesn't care about humanitarianism.' The United States reached two million reported infections of COVID-19 on Wednesday Just before midnight on Wednesday, Johns Hopkins University's world map of coronavirus cases put the US at 2,000,464 confirmed cases. The death toll in the US is 112,924 The coronavirus pandemic started in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December before sweeping across the world, infecting more than seven million and killing over 417,000 people. Though some countries' infection toll is close to one million, the U.S. is the only nation to not only surpass that mark but double it. Just before midnight on Wednesday, Johns Hopkins University's world map of coronavirus cases put the U.S. infection number at 2,000,464 and the death toll at 112,924. As of writing, 113,738 people in America have lost their lives and 2,030,723 have contracted the disease, according to data from Reuters. Chinese officials have reported 4,634 deaths and 83,064 cases, though the numbers have drawn widespread doubt. Following the fire, Bregman filed a claim for benefits under her homeowners policy and, despite having enough coverage to rebuild her home, the insurance company refused to pay. In turn, the actress hasnt been able to rebuild her property and has been living in temporary housing, according to a press release from her legal representation, Merlin Law Group. The lawsuit argues that the issues stemmed from the hiring of an unqualified and biased consultant by Lloyds to prepare an estimate for the rebuilding costs. After Lloyds refused to pay Bregman any amount beyond that estimate, she sent several bids from her own licensed contractors, who estimated that the rebuilding costs would be millions of dollars more. Lloyds also didnt consider the surge in construction costs in the region after the 2018 wildfire season, the lawsuit alleges. The press release states that the lawsuit seeks an award of contractual, general and punitive damages, and points to this situation as another example of insurers not fulfilling their obligations to policyholders. An insurer is wrong and breaches its duty to its policyholders when it unreasonably refuses to pay policy benefits for a covered loss despite the insured having adequate coverage, stated the press release. An RPG Group Company, Seniority has today emerged as Indias largest shopping destination for senior citizens. The company was founded in 2016 by Ayush Agrawal and Tapan Mishra. Ayush is an IIM alumnus, and responsible for marketing and strategy, while Tapan, an alumnus of LSE and XIMB, oversees operations and supply chain at Seniority. Seniority has touched the lives of more than 5 lac seniors, becoming a part of their everyday lives through its innovative product portfolio across medical, wellness, lifestyle and leisure categories. Be it mobility aids, bathroom essentials, kitchen equipment, nutritious snacks, health supplements, music players or even smart home accessories, Seniority has successfully curated a wide range of over 10,000 products to make seniors lives comfortable and independent. Earlier this year, Seniority and DocsApp, a leading digital healthcare platform in the country, joined hands in an attempt to bust myths, reduce panic and help educate the elderly on Coronavirus. The collaboration has been helping Seniority provide exclusive medical assistance from DocsApp to older adults and their family members. A 24x7 helpline support (080 4719 3443) has been launched to enable people to have access to skilled medical professionals during such critical times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Seniority has been providing the public with a platform to help senior citizens who are facing difficulties in the time of lockdown. The Volunteer Connect program helps in connecting with seniors with requirements, and identifies volunteers in their vicinity to help them. In conversation with Adgully, Ayush Agrawal and Tapan Mishra, Co-founders of Seniority, speak about the growth of the platform, relevance and engagement of Seniority in the COVID-19 era, and the various measures that the company has taken to provide senior citizens access to medical consultation as they remain confined to their homes. What was the purpose of this initiative (launching Seniority) and how did the idea germinate? What has been the response so far to this initiative and is it available in all cities across the country? How many people have availed of this service and what kind of numbers are you looking to target? Seniority was started with the idea of catering to the needs of senior citizens and their caregivers. The population of the 60+ years age group is fast growing in India, with recent reports suggesting that this number could reach 173 million by 2026, from around 120 million today. While it is true that India is a young country, what people tend to overlook is that India is also a rapidly ageing country. This consumer segment is highly underserved, despite having a potential of about Rs 43,000 crore (medical and lifestyle market for the economically independent senior urban population) as per a report by CII. We identified that the organised retail market for seniors is negligible and wanted to address this gap by making Seniority Indias largest shopping destination for senior citizens. Being an omnichannel e-commerce platform, Seniority has served over 5 lakh customers across India till date. We have four retail stores (Pune, Coimbatore, Chennai and Bhiwadi) and the website (www.seniority.in) where customers can find over 10,000 products ranging from medical and wellness to lifestyle and leisure. The aim is to become the first port-of-call for all needs of elderly and their caregivers. What is the kind of collaboration or arrangement between Seniority and DocsApp for this program? Is it mandatory to download the app to avail the facility? Coronavirus has affected millions of people across the world. The elderly population is more susceptible to the virus, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory problems, diabetes, and other similar chronic illnesses. As a brand that is empathetic to the needs of seniors, Seniority joined hands with DocsApp to help educate the elderly on Coronavirus and provide them with exclusive medical assistance. A 24x7 helpline support (080 4719 3443) was launched to enable people to have access to skilled medical professionals during such critical times. Individuals on the platform may avail free online consultations across all departments from doctors from the convenience of their homes, without possibly exposing themselves to the virus on the platform. How are you managing the helpline amid the lockdown and social distancing? Social distancing and lockdown rules have helped in boosting the acceptance of telemedicine among consumers. Since majority of health workers, doctors, medical staff and hospitals are engaged in helping patients affected with coronavirus, online consultations have proven to be a boon to consumers in such challenging times. You have volunteers who are helping the citizens in each locality or in their vicinity. Who are these volunteers and how are they recruited? Are they paramedical trained staff with experience to handle such cases? Seniority Volunteer Connect is a special volunteering programme launched to help meet the daily grocery and medical needs of senior citizens by connecting them to volunteers across key cities. The volunteers are young people who are recruited after a strong screening process to determine their intent towards the initiative, willingness to participate, as well as their physical and mental fitness. We have city-wise WhatsApp groups where we connect with the seniors, accept their request for grocery, medicines, etc., and pass it on to the volunteer to fulfil it. We received tremendous response from our customers who were delighted to use this service. However, we dont cater to paramedic requests of customers yet. Could you tell us about your Safe Seniors tool? How different is it from the Arogya Setu app launched by the Government of India? Seniority and RPG Life Sciences joined hands to launch SafeSeniors, a unique predictive analysis tool designed to especially help early identification of COVID-19 risk amongst the elderly. SafeSeniors is not an app, its a website that has been developed in consultation with the leading experts in the areas of Infectious Diseases, Community Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology and COVID-19 management. Users are encouraged to enter their vital parameters, pre-existing medical conditions, travel & social exposure history and key symptoms such as fever, dry cough, etc., on a daily basis. Unlike similar other risk monitoring tools, SafeSeniors monitors health on a progressive basis using a robust algorithm and real-time information. Weve witnessed considerable uptake of the tool, especially among the target audience that we are catering to. We have received 3,000 to 5,000 users on the website daily so far, with highest number of registrations from the western region, especially Maharashtra. Unlike the Aarogya Setu app, SafeSeniors website doesnt need any download and is accessible on any device mobile, laptop, tablet, etc. Moreover, due to the predictive analysis principle it is based on, SafeSeniors requires you to enter your health status twice daily. Symptoms of coronavirus may take anywhere between 2-14 days to appear, hence a one-time health check is not sufficient to determine the risk of infection. How are you creating awareness and promoting this great initiative? What is your marketing strategy? Apart from the above initiatives, we have tied up with multiple partners such as Emoha Eldercare, Second Medic, Reliva,Samvedna, Cardiotrack, etc., to offer emergency medical assistance, helpline for COVID-19, telemedicine consultations with renowned experts as well as online physiotherapy sessions to our customers. We are also creating ample awareness by sharing a complete repository of information around COVID-19 through blogs, social media, and emailers. Victorian Labor Party heavyweights Bill Shorten, Adem Somyurek and Kim Carr are facing off in the race and branch stacking row engulfing the party's state branch. The punishment brought down on a key numbers man from Premier Daniel Andrews Socialist Left faction will be the subject of two appeals to the ALPs ruling National Executive where national leader Anthony Albanese has a casting vote in the case of deadlock. ALP branch member and factional figure Jasvinder Sidhu after he was allegedly assaulted at a branch meeting. Victorias powerful Right faction will appeal the decision to put their factional rival Jasvinder Sidhu on the political sidelines for seven years, after he was found by an internal tribunal to have stacked branches and incited ethnic resentment. Mr Sidhu, assistant secretary for the party's Tarneit branch, escaped expulsion from the party after an investigation into an explosive western suburbs branch meeting last year that allegedly spilled over into violence. Inside Hook Selecting the father of ones children is generally a very personal choice, but it turns out it may actually be one your eggs make for you. A new study has found that eggs are very selective when choosing sperm for fertilization. In the study, published Tuesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society, researchers looking at leftover samples from 16 couples getting reproductive treatment found that eggs release a chemical that attracts only certain kinds of sperm, and they dont seem too inclined to take their owners personal choice of mate into account. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2020 / Majestic Gold Corp. ("Majestic" or the "Company") (TSXV:MJS)(FSE:A0BK1D) is pleased to announce that its operating subsidiary, Yantai Zhongjia Mining Co. Ltd.("Zhongjia"), has secured the renewal of its mining license for the Songjiagou Gold Mine ("Songjiagou") with the Yantai Natural Resource and Planning Bureau until May of 2031. "The renewal ensures the sustainability of operations at Songjiagou for over a decade while at the same time positioning the Company for future production growth both on site and externally," said the Company's president, Stephen Kenwood. The mining license covers essentially the same area of almost 0.6 square kilometers and from +150 down to minus 400 meters above sea level. Songjiagou has been operating normally throughout the Covid19 pandemic, with the Zhongjia's operations resuming on schedule following the Chinese New Year celebrations. Stephen Kenwood, P. Geo., a Director of Majestic, is the Qualified Person within the context of National Instrument 43-101 and has read and approved this news release. About Majestic Gold Currently focused solely in China, Majestic Gold Corp. is a British Columbia based company engaged in commercial gold production at the Songjiagou Gold Mine in eastern Shandong Province, China. Additional information on the Company and its projects is available at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.majesticgold.com. For further information, please contact: Stephen Kenwood, P.Geo., President and CEO Telephone: (604) 560-9060 Email: info@majesticgold.com Website: www.majesticgold.com FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of the word, "will" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information relating to the anticipated date for filing the annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 and related management's discussion and analysis. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. The Company cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws, or as otherwise may be disclosed in this news release. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. securities laws. SOURCE: Majestic Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/593666/Songjiagou-Mining-License-Renewed-To-2031 Impact Venture Capital ScoreData is reinventing how customers and businesses engage with each other. ScoreFast anticipates customer needs to help businesses deliver personalized offers, in banking, financial services, and insurance industries. -- Jack Crawford, Impact Venture Capital ScoreData announced today the close of their Series A financing from Impact Venture Capital, a leading Silicon Valley venture firm with offices in Burlingame, and Sacramento, CA. Impact Venture Capital has a unique approach to sourcing and developing early stage companies. With their global corporate network, they have successfully identified, invested in, and helped to grow, market leading technology companies. "ScoreData is reinventing how customers and businesses engage with each other. With ScoreDatas predictive applications driven by its ScoreFast AI/ML platform, companies in the financial services, insurance, and healthcare markets will be able to anticipate customer needs, and offer more personalized solutions for their customers, said Jack Crawford, Founding General Partner of Impact Venture Capital. We were very impressed with the ScoreData team, their passion, and their innovative approach to building the next generation of AI/ML powered customer engagement platform. In the post-Covid19 era, ScoreData empowers indebted individuals and institutions to work together to negotiate their monthly payments (personal loans, insurance claims payments and reimbursements, and healthcare loans) directly with each other. With increasing unemployment, wage cuts and a decelerating business environment borrowers and debtors are increasingly unable to make payments. ScoreData helps solve this problem by helping consumers negotiate better deals with their creditors while also ensuring that institutional loss ratios are minimized. We use advanced AI and machine learning to match consumer propensities to pay while optimizing the return on institutional portfolios. ScoreData is delighted to be partnering with Impact Venture Capital. We were very grateful for their steadfast support all through the Covid19 lockdown, their deep diligence across our customers and partners, and their insights into markets, and their extensive corporate network, said Vas Bhandarkar, CEO of ScoreData Corporation. We partnered with Impact Venture Capital because they deliver value, beyond capital infusion, helping us forge partnerships with market leading organizations. Among existing investors participating in the round were RecruitGroup, and Asha Jadeja Motwani. We are pleased to participate in the round. ScoreData has built outstanding customer engagement solutions for Recruit Group for our businesses in Tokyo, commented a spokesperson for Recruit Co., Ltd, Tokyo. About ImpactVC Impact Venture Capital is a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture capital firm that invests alongside corporate venture groups and top tier investors in seed-stage technology startups with a focus on artificial intelligence applied to cybersecurity, robotics, drones, autonomous vehicles, digital health, and other fast-growing industry sectors. About ScoreData As businesses of the twenty-first century digitize their business processes, ScoreData Corporation helps re-invent how they engage with customers across the omni-channel using AI and patented dynamic machine learning. ScoreData delivers cloud-native predictive self-service customer engagement solutions to the BFSI and Healthcare industries. Businesses lose billions of dollars because the right customers are not matched to the most optimal agents (bots or humans) empowered with the right actionable tools. As a result, they have sub-optimal outcomes, leading to business losses, and low net promoter scores. ScoreData's award-winning ScoreFast platform solves these problems by combining external data sets and historical data sets, predictively matching agents, to deliver optimally designed offers/advice to these empowered customers. ScoreData uses advanced ranking, matching, nudge and negotiation algorithms to empower both agents and customers to complete these financial transactions. ScoreData is the only predictive analytics company that combines patented dynamic machine learning and AI, with robust algorithms using econometrics that drive business results which are consistently profitable. ScoreData pricing is performance based, and thus they are the most cost-effective solutions in the industry. ScoreData Corporation is a privately held company based in Palo Alto, California with customers in the US, Japan, and India. For more info contact: Info@ScoreData.com The security and economic challenges in the Sahel are impeding the socio-economic development of the ECOWAS Region, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, has stated. These challenges, she said, had been exacerbated by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had taken over the attention and resources of both international and domestic actors, resulting in violent extremists exploiting the situation. Madam Ayorkor Botchwey said this in her remarks during the maiden meeting of the International Coalition for the Sahel. France hosted the meeting, which was held virtually. At the Summit in Pau (France) held on 13th January, a decision was taken to launch an international coalition at the request of Sahel countries. The main purpose of the meeting was, therefore, to finalise the rules of organisation and operation and to adopt common objectives and commitments. Madam Ayorkor Botchwey noted that terrorism and acts perpetrated by violent extremists in the Sahel-Saharan region had become trans-border threats, with the potential to spread to the coastal states in West Africa. The acts of terrorism had, unfortunately, had assumed worrisome proportions over the past several months, she said. ECOWAS, consequently, had launched the 2020 - 2024 Action Plan to end terrorism in the region, with a general framework, a strategy, a funding mechanism and priority areas to maintain the momentum in the fight against terrorism, she said. Enduring security and development issues, which concerned humanitarian actions and human rights, as well as resilient institutions and good governance, she said, called for integrated and multi-sectoral solutions. The Minister noted, however, that the uncoordinated and unstructured operations of multiple actors with different interests within the Region, had not promoted their efforts to achieve set goals. The Summit in Pau would, therefore, go down in history as ground-breaking only when all members of the Coalition committed themselves to the rules and collaborated with the Sahel countries, ECOWAS and the African Union, she said. "At the same time, we should keep in mind that the solution must be a regional one and that the problem needs not be made complex by outside forces". "It is Ghanas conviction that the rules of engagement and operations that we have finalised today, will help us to effectively and holistically deal with the security, economic, development and environmental challenges that confront the Sahel and nearby countries." The Sahel, with vast unoccupied land, stretches from Senegal on the Atlantic coast, through parts of Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Sudan to Eritrea on the Red Sea coast. The region suffers from ethno-religious tensions, political instability, poverty and natural disasters, anti-state rebellions, and arms, drugs and human trafficking. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The world around us has changed, and some students are coming to school with more needs these days, but children have always had a need for structure, safety and to have someone in the classroom they can count on," Pinns said. These fifth graders are getting ready for junior high, so they want to be ready, because they think its going to be so much harder, and they hang on your every word. Even though were doing remote learning, I let all of them know, Youre ready, Im proud of you, and off you go. She was raised in the Episcopalian faith and regularly attends church. And in an interview with the LA Times published Thursday, Reese Witherspoon, 44, revealed that she believes in heaven and in life after death. 'I don't have a lot of fear, that's true,' the Hollywood star and mother-of-three said. 'There's a time and a purpose and a place, and I don't fear death, because I know there's heaven. I know it.' Has faith: Reese Witherspoon, 44, revealed in a LA Times interview on Thursday that she isn't afraid of dying because she believes in heaven and in life after death Witherspoon went on: 'I believe deeply that there's a higher power and I don't know what that is but I just don't fear dying.' She explained to the newspaper: 'A lot of people have these repressive experiences with religion, and I didn't.' 'I felt this incredible acceptance and that everyone has a gift and we're all God's children and your purpose in the world is to find the gifts that God gave you.' Devout: The Hollywood star, who was raised Episcopalian and attends church regularly, explained: : 'I believe deeply that there's a higher power... and we're all God's children' Graduation: Also Thursday, Witherspoon posted a photo of her son Tennessee, seven, and shared that her youngest child was headed to second grade in the next school year Also Thursday, the Big Little Lies and Legally Blonde star posted a photo of her son Tennessee, seven, and shared that her youngest child was headed to second grade in the next school year. 'Second grade or bust!! Happy Graduation! So proud of my littlest guy,' Witherspoon wrote in the caption alongside a snap of Tennessee. She shares the youngster with her second husband, talent agent Jim Toth. She is also mom to daughter Ava, 20, and son Deacon, 16, from her first marriage to actor Ryan Phillippe. Celebrity mom: The actress shares Tennessee with her second husband, Jim Toth. She is also mom to daughter Ava, 20, and son Deacon, 16, from her first marriage to actor Ryan Phillippe Earlier this month, she urged parents to talk to their children about 'racism, privilege, bigotry and hate' after talking to Tennessee about the current protests taking place across the country over the killing of George Floyd. She wrote on Instagram: 'Last night at dinner, my 7-year-old asked why all the grown ups were so upset. We spoke to him about what happened to George Floyd.' 'Being a white mother trying to explain racism and bigotry to her white son, who did not understand why anyone would treat another human being that way, was heartbreaking. But not nearly as heartbreaking as being a victim of one of these senseless, violent, unconscionable crimes,' the Legally Blonde star wrote. WASHINGTON - The extraordinary quarrel between President Donald Trump and the nation's military leadership intensified Thursday as the Pentagon's top general publicly apologized for appearing alongside the president in a church photo opportunity minutes after federal authorities forcibly removed peaceful protesters from the area. The rare admission of regret from Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, capped nearly two weeks of public discomfort with and outright condemnation of Trump's leadership amid nationwide protests of racial injustice from some of the nation's most revered military figures. The perception that Pentagon leaders went along with Trump's desire to use military force against domestic protesters has caused the biggest civil-military crisis in more than a decade. The disagreement continued this week when Trump tried to shut down a push by some military leaders to address the legacy of racism by removing the names of Confederate leaders from some bases. This will be the backdrop for Trump's visit Saturday to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he will deliver a commencement address to 1,105 graduating cadets. Milley is not expected to accompany the president - nor is Defense Secretary Mark Esper, a West Point graduate who also has clashed with the president over his handling of the protests. On June 1, Milley, who wore combat fatigues, and Esper walked behind Trump and a cadre of presidential aides from the White House and across Lafayette Square to St. John's Episcopal Church, where the president stood outside the church doors and posed for photographs holding up a Bible. Both Pentagon leaders were roundly criticized for participating in a political photo op. Milley said in a prerecorded graduation speech to students at the National Defense University that aired Thursday morning that it was important to keep "a keen sense of situational awareness" and that he had failed to do so. "As many of you saw the results of the photograph of me in Lafayette Square last week, that sparked a national debate about the role of the military in civil society," Milley said. "I should not have been there. My presence in that moment, and in that environment, created the perception of the military involved in domestic politics." The apology follows a backlash from several retired senior officers, including Jim Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general who served as Trump's first defense secretary. In a scathing message, Mattis blasted the president as working to divide the country, called him a threat to American values and to the Constitution itself, and took particular exception to the events in Lafayette Square. Mattis was motivated to write in part because he was appalled by the appearance of Milley in an event that critics said made it look as though Trump could use the military as a political club against opponents, several people close to Mattis told The Washington Post. On Saturday, the spotlight will be trained on the commander in chief when he visits the academy at West Point, a storied New York site overlooking the Hudson River that is tied to revolutionary Americans' rebellion against colonial rule. Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, the superintendent at West Point, said in an interview Thursday that he is honored by Trump's visit. Asked whether the current turmoil changes the environment around commencement, Williams said he has instructed cadets to try to tune out the political debates. "They're going to lead our nation's sons and daughters and support our Constitution, defend it and perhaps even die for it," Williams said. "I've told them to focus on the things you can control. These young men and women will carry our values and our ideals all around the world. We're steadfast on those things, despite what may be happening around them." Amid last week's unrest, Williams, the first black officer to command West Point in its 218-year history, implored all students and faculty to commit themselves to eradicating racism and building cohesion in their community through kindness and compassion. "All these men and women are going to be leaders with character," Williams said. "Character is really what we focus on here, and it's superordinate to the other pillars." In a letter posted Thursday on Medium, hundreds of West Point alumni cautioned the class of 2020 to uphold their oath to the Constitution, not to any political party or leader. "Sadly, the government has threatened to use the Army in which you serve as a weapon against fellow Americans engaging in these legitimate protests. Worse, military leaders, who took the same oath you take today, have participated in politically charged events," they wrote. The signatories appeared to take aim at Esper, a 1986 West Point graduate who, like Milley, has come under criticism for appearing at Trump's June 1 photo op in Lafayette Square, and for describing the need to "dominate the battlespace" in response to civil unrest in American cities. "When fellow graduates fail to respect the checks and balances of government, promote individual power above country, or prize loyalty to individuals over the ideals expressed in the Constitution, it is a travesty to their oath of office," the alumni letter said. Esper subsequently came out last week against using active-duty troops to quell unrest, incurring Trump's wrath in the process. Trump's words at West Point will be parsed for signs of how closely they reflect West Point's leadership values. Will he further politicize the military by delivering a self-indulgent, campaign-style speech, like the one he gave before a Boy Scout Jamboree in 2017? Or will he deliver a more traditionally presidential address that honors the military's long-protected independence from political affairs? "It's going to be an especially fraught moment," said Kori Schake, a scholar in civil-military relations at the American Enterprise Institute. "If the president chooses to use the West Point commencement as yet another way to try and wrap himself in the uniforms of the American military in order to build political support, it will demonstrate that there really is no limit to what the president is willing to do, no damage he will avoid doing to the respect the American public has for our military." Retired Army general Barry McCaffrey, a West Point graduate and a former national security professor there, said the chances are "50-50 he'll disgrace himself." But, McCaffrey added, "There will be no incidences. Everyone will be 100 percent respectful to him. No matter what he says, he will get a respectful audience, I am sure." White House spokesman Judd Deere said Trump's speech will focus on congratulating the cadets on their accomplishments, although he cautioned that the remarks were still being drafted and subject to change. "It's a commencement address and the focus should be on the cadets, not on anything else," Deere said. The current strife follows years of intermittent tensions with a commander in chief who has repeatedly flouted norms guiding presidential interactions with the armed forces. On one of his first days in office, Trump used the Pentagon's revered "Hall of Heroes" to sign a divisive travel ban affecting majority-Muslim nations. Since then he has made troop events a platform for lobbing partisan attacks and, perhaps most troubling to military leaders, openly intervened in sensitive matters of military justice. The recent events have prompted an unusual outpouring of criticism from respected former military leaders, most of whom have not publicly commented about events of recent years. Among them is retired general Martin Dempsey, a West Point graduate who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who warned last week that using troops against protesters could make it more difficult to maintain America's all-volunteer force. "This idea that we have to maintain a relationship of trust between the American people and its military is important because that is who we are," Dempsey told NPR. Even before the recent strains, the Army's decision to proceed with West Point graduation and Trump's address had generated controversy. In April, the academy announced it would bring its graduating seniors, known as "Firsties," back from their homes, where they had been studying online because of the coronavirus pandemic, despite the fact that nearby New York City was then the epicenter of the country's outbreak. Williams said the graduates have each been tested for the coronavirus and under controlled monitoring for the past two weeks, and that they would be seated outdoors for Saturday's ceremony six feet apart, in keeping with social distancing guidelines. "We brought them back in a very disciplined, orderly way," he said. "They're doing great. They're excited about the graduation." The military's involvement in the protest response has also sparked an unusual public conversation about race and racism in the military, which remains among the country's most diverse institutions but is mostly white and male at the senior levels. Current and former service members, including Gen. Charles Brown, who this week was confirmed as Air Force chief of staff, making him the first black service chief in U.S. history, have also spoken in candid terms about their experiences. It's unclear how those sentiments will square with Trump's opposition to removing the names of Confederate leaders from military bases. A number of former military leaders, including Gen. David Petraeus, another West Point graduate, who commanded troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and served as CIA director, have called for the bases to be renamed. Trump defended the current base names Thursday on Twitter as part of "a Great American Heritage" and vowed to block any move to rename "these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations." Still, the Senate Armed Services Committee this week approved a measure that would require the renaming of all military sites with Confederate names within three years. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a senior member of the GOP-controlled panel, said Thursday that it was the right move regardless of the president's position. "If we're going to have bases throughout the United States, I think it should be with the names of individuals who fought for our country," Rounds said. "And so I think this is a step in the right direction. This is the right time for it. And I think it sends the right message." - - - The Washington Post's Paul Kane and Julie Tate contributed to this report. The Senate Armed Services Committee isn't keen on the U.S. Air Force's plans to retire legacy aircraft in favor of new technology, putting a stop to some proposed aircraft retirements and delaying others. In the committee's version of the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, lawmakers say that the service must operate a minimum number of aircraft for each major mission set. The legislation also "prohibits the divestment of aircraft until the minima are reached to ensure that [the] Air Force can meet [National Defense Strategy] and combatant command requirements." Read Next: Senate Calls for New F-35 Hub in Pacific A congressional staffer told Defense News that requirement equals "1,182 fighters; 190 unmanned aerial vehicles; 92 bombers; 412 tankers; 230 tactical airlift platforms; 235 strategic airlift platforms; 84 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft; and 106 combat search-and-rescue aircraft." The service had plans to retire more than 100 planes across its bomber, airlift, tanker and drone fleets per its budget request made earlier this year. Officials wanted to cut 17 B-1B Lancer bombers, reducing the fleet to just 44; retire 44 A-10 Thunderbolt II close-air support aircraft; cut roughly 30 older-model KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender refuelers; send 24 RQ-4 Global Hawk drones, some which are used as a networking Battlefield Airborne Communications Node, or BACN, to the boneyard; and divest 24 C-130H Hercules -- the oldest model left in the cargo inventory. Most notably, the bill preserves the A-10 Warthog, which the service has tried to phase out over the last five-plus years, or send a number of them to the boneyard. It also delays the divestment of KC-10s and KC-135s until the KC-46 Pegasus' "remote visual refueling system remedies are implemented," it says. Furthermore, the proposal "prohibits divestment of any manned [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] aircraft" operated by Special Operations Command. Story continues Hundreds of A-10s in the fleet have received new wings or are in the process of receiving upgrades to their wings despite the battle over how many aircraft the service can retire in coming years. The Air Force has repeatedly stressed it can maintain roughly six of its nine A-10 combat squadrons through 2032. Former Air Force Col. Martha McSally, now a Republican senator from Arizona, has been a steadfast supporter of keeping additional squadrons of the A-10 -- the aircraft she flew during her time in the service. "Why would we want to get rid of that until we have a suitable alternative?" she recently told Military.com. "It's got the ability to fly well into the 2040s, and we're going to keep fighting to make sure it does." Manned ISR Protected Earlier this year, SOCOM posted a solicitation on the government's acquisition and awards website, beta.sam.gov, in preparation to host an industry day event seeking "armed overwatch" aircraft for its units. The solicitation said SOCOM would eventually purchase up to 75 light attack aircraft for the mission. Around the same time, Lt. Gen. James Slife, head of Air Force Special Operations Command, told Air Force Magazine that the armed overwatch fleet would eventually replace the U-28 Draco manned ISR plane. "What we're trying to do is time this in a way that does not result in a decrease in capacity on the battlefield as we transition crews from the U-28 to the prospective armed overwatch," he said, according to the magazine. It remains unclear how many U-28s may now stick around given the committee's request. There are 28 in the Air Force's inventory. AFSOC's U-28A -- a small, repurposed Pilatus PC-12 aircraft used for ISR -- falls under nonstandard aviation, often landing in tiny, semi-prepared airfields and flying in remote areas of the world. The Draco has the ability to coordinate battle plans with other aircraft in the area, sending signals to them or operators on the ground, Capt. Bryan, a combat systems officer with the 319th Special Operations Squadron, told Military.com in 2018. (Crew members were identified by first names only because of their sensitive mission.) Unlike its MC-12 ISR cousin, the U-28 has two high-fidelity electro-optical and forward-looking infrared sensors that can push data to "whoever wants to see it" on secure networks, Bryan said. Unmanned MQ-9 Reapers can fly up to an altitude of 50,000 feet. But the U-28 crews -- which fly at roughly 30,000 feet -- said they're often flying higher than the Reaper on missions. "They can fly longer, but we are usually faster and a little bit closer to the fight," Bryan said. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Related: Congress Pumps Brakes on Moves to Shift Air Force Bases to Space Force Lenders are looking to restructure 2,000 crore loans owed by embattled billionaire BR Shettys Abu Dhabi-based Neopharma Llc., including conversion of some of its debt into equity, a person aware of the matter said. According to Bloomberg, lenders to Neopharma comprise Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC, Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC, Emirates Islamic Bank PJSC, Bahrains First Energy Bank BSC and Mumbai-based Bank of Baroda (BoB). Charges against Shetty, who founded healthcare provider NMC Health in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) include under-reporting of debt and not using it for the purpose they were raised for. Shetty denied these charges in a statement released in April. According to the person cited above, who spoke on condition of anonymity, lenders have held a meeting on the debt recast plan but are yet to finalise the contours of the deal. A proposal could include both longer debt repayment period and conversion of some of the companys loans into equity, this person added. Some preliminary discussions have happened and it is still a long way before the plan is finalised. Moreover, lenders have to agree to the plan after it has been formulated, the person said. Founded in 2003, Neopharma has subsidiaries in six countries including the US, UK and Russia. It also has joint ventures in Japan, Egypt and India, according to its website. Members of the lenders consortium are planning to appoint a consultancy to look at the viability of the business and assist them with the restructuring plan, the person said. Emails sent to Neopharma, BoB and to Shettys office remained unanswered till the time of going to press. Debt recast was quite a popular tool in India till April 2015 when regulatory forbearance in the form of lower provisions were withdrawn. Since then, banks have to set aside at least 15% in provisions on all restructured loans, same as that of bad loans. Faced with the Covid-19 pandemic and expectations of a surge in bad loans, lenders are hoping for some relief on provisioning by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The external affairs ministry on Thursday side-stepped issues that have complicated a border row with Nepal, holding up the importance of long-standing bilateral relations and ongoing cooperation amid the Covid-19 crisis. The move was perceived in diplomatic circles as an effort to dial down tensions that have spiralled in recent days, after the KP Sharma Oli government in Kathmandu tabled a constitutional amendment in Parliament to give legal backing to a political map that depicts the regions of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as Nepalese territory. Asked at a weekly news briefing why India hadnt responded to Nepals overtures for talks on the border dispute and Olis criticism of threatening remarks by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said: We have already made our position clear on these issues. India, Srivastava added, deeply values its ties with Nepal. India has been reaching out to friendly neighbouring countries, including Nepal, in line with the prime ministers initiative to chart out a common strategy to combat Covid in the region. Srivastava said India had supplied 25 tonnes of medical aid to Nepal. India surpasses UK and is now behind only the US, Brazil and Russia as cases shoot up following easing of restrictions. India has reported a total of 297,535 coronavirus infections, surpassing the United Kingdom to become the fourth worst-affected country in the world, behind only the United States, Brazil and Russia. The number of infections increased by 10,956 on Friday from the previous day, and the death toll reached 8,498, Indias ministry of health and family welfare said. Two and a half months of nationwide lockdown imposed in March kept numbers of infections relatively low. But with restrictions easing in recent weeks, cases have shot up, raising questions about whether authorities have done enough to avert the catastrophe. The lockdown, eased earlier this month, is now largely being enforced in high-risk areas. The spiking caseload came after India allowed the reopening of shops, shopping centres, manufacturing and religious places. Subways, schools, colleges and cinemas, however, remain shuttered nationwide. The lockdown kept transmission low but in a large population of 1.3 billion, people remain susceptible and the campaign against the virus is likely to go on for months, said Balram Bhargava, director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research. Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai are the worst-hit cities, and Bhargava said urban residents have a greater chance of contracting the virus. Infections in rural areas have surged, however, after migrant workers who left cities and towns after they lost jobs returned to their home towns. Ticking time bomb We are sitting on a ticking time bomb, Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti, president of the Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum, said. Unless and until the government increases its spending on healthcare, things wont change. A lot of people will die, he said. As the number of infections surges in India, patients are finding it difficult to get admitted to coronavirus-designated hospitals. In capital New Delhi, a sprawling capital region of 46 million and home to some of Indias highest concentration of hospitals, a pregnant womans death after a frantic hunt for a sickbed was a worrying sign about the countrys ability to cope with the wave of new coronavirus cases. She kept begging us to save her life, but we couldnt do anything, Shailendra Kumar said, after driving his sister-in-law, Neelam, and her husband for hours, only to be turned away at eight public and private hospitals. Kuldeep Kumar has been enraged since he lost his mother last week. Ranbiri Devi was undergoing gall bladder cancer treatment at a state-run hospital in New Delhi when she tested positive for coronavirus. The hospital asked her to leave since it was not dealing with COVID-19 patients. After a long struggle, Kumar managed to get his mother admitted to a private hospital, but the 53-year-old died due to the delay in treatment. Strained healthcare system In Mumbai, Indias worst-hit city with more than 54,000 cases, patients are flooding into hospitals. There are increasing cases every day. We are working overtime amid a shortage of health workers to tackle the situation, state resident doctors association secretary Ashish Karande said. We opened new wards and converted hospitals into dedicated COVID-19 facilities, but they get filled quickly. The situation is bound to turn critical with the lifting of the lockdown. New Delhis city government this week predicted the caseload will balloon 20-fold to more than half a million by the end of July, which the healthcare system appears woefully ill-prepared for. The surge is clearly visible now so we are in for a tough fight, said Dr Mukesh Kumar, a neurologist at Delhis private Max Hospital who, like most of his colleagues, has been pulled in to care for COVID-19 patients. We dont know when this is going to peak, said Dr Deven Juneja, who works at the same hospital. A West African king claims he has been defamed in a series of social media posts by an Irish-based blogger, the High Court has heard. Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, known as Ojaja II who is the traditional ruler and spiritual leader of the Yoruba people, claims that he has been defamed in video clips and other posts, that have appeared on Facebook and YouTube, by Esther Esabod Aboderin. He claims that in the posts he has been wrongly and maliciously accused of committing serious criminal offences by the defendant, including being involved in land grabs to silencing journalists that are critical of him, human trafficking, racketeering, money laundering, and having people killed. None of the accusations are true, he claims. The defendant, with an address in Leixlip in Co. Kildare but originally from Nigeria, who told the court her blog has 30 million followers, denies the comments are defamatory. As a result of the posts the Nigeria-based 45-year-old king, represented in court by Thomas Hogan SC, sought various orders against Ms Esabod Aboderin under the 2009 Defamation Act. The orders include injunctions requiring her to take down the allegedly defamatory posts and that she or anyone else with knowledge of the order cease posting any more defamatory material about him. When the matter came before Mr Justice Anthony Barr the defendant, who represented herself in the proceedings, consented to injunctions that are to remain in place pending the full hearing of the action being made against her. She also agreed to remove the allegedly defamatory material from her Facebook account. The material placed on YouTube, she said, had been posted by others. She told the judge that she would take steps, including asking her followers, to take down the posts. Mr Hogan told the court that his client, who is a trained chartered accountant who has worked in real estate, was selected in 2015 to be the traditional monarch and spiritual leader of the Yoruba, an ethnic group of 44 million people who mainly live in Nigeria and Benin. Counsel said that his client first became aware of the defendant's posts in late May. The contents of her posts were highly defamatory, untrue, and very damaging for the King, counsel said. Already the posts have had tens of thousands of views, and were the subject of thousands of comments. He does not know why she posted this material and has asked the social media firms to take down the posts. Counsel said that his client does not know the defendant, but believes he briefly met her on one occasion during an official function in the UK. Counsel said that when the defendant was contacted by the King's solicitors, asking her to remove the material, she had refused to do this, and had made further comments about lawyers becoming involved. Counsel added that in separate proceedings last year he and his solicitor had represented a Nigerian businesswoman Rosala Uvbi Mku-Atu, who also brought defamation proceedings against the defendant over comments that were posted on social media. In reply, the defendant said that much of what she said about the King has been posted on the internet, and could be found through a google search. She said that she had made the posts after being contacted by various people in Nigeria. She said that she was a blogger and "a herbal doctor," and said she has written about corruption in Nigeria, but was prepared to remove the posts until the action has been decided. She agreed with the judge that her defence to the defamation claims would be one of justification. She also agreed with Mr Hogan that she had been before the courts last year in relation to claims that she had defamed Ms Uvbi Mku-Atu. Those posts. she said, have been taken down. On one occasion when that matter was before the courts she said she was assaulted in the precincts of the Four Courts. That incident, she said, received a lot of media attention. She said because of that incident and other matters she fears for her safety, and would not go back to Nigeria for fear of being killed. She said that she had also taken a number of steps to increase the level of security around her home. Simon Cheng. Credit:Silk Road EDRC London: The British government says it has still not received an adequate explanation for why one of its consulate staff in Hong Kong was detained and tortured last year. It has warned that China's silence only fuels concerns about the erosion of rights and freedoms in the territory. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that he was "shocked and appalled" by the mistreatment of Simon Cheng. Cheng was detained over his role in the Hong Kong protest movement and was accused by the Chinese National Security Police of being a British spy. "His treatment in Chinese detention, for more than two weeks, amounted to torture," Raab said in a foreword to the UK's most recent six-month report on Hong Kong, which was tabled in the Commons on Thursday, London time. By Auqib Javeed, TwoCircles.net Srinagar: Although the shrapnel lodged inside his brain was removed by doctors, the 15-year old Asif Wani might soon close his eyes forever. Asif is battling for life at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Support TwoCircles Doctors arent sure whether he will survive or not but if he survives, they say, he may be not able to live a normal life. Asif was among the three teenagers injured after a littered explosive went off in the Tosa Maidan meadow on 26 May. He and his three friends were playing in the meadow on Eid-ul-Fitr, the Muslim festival commencing at the end of Ramadan. Talking to TwoCircles.net Dr Farooq Jan, medical superintendent at SKIMS said that Asif was operated on the same day and the doctors have removed the shrapnel from the brain. He was in the ICU [Intensive Care Unit] for two weeks and we have now shifted him to the ward, Dr Farooq Jan said. He said the patient was tracheotomised and has a less neurological awakening. He continuously remained to be sick and nothing cant be said at the moment. The patient can go any way, Dr Jan added. Tosa Maidan is a meadow in Khag tehsil of Budgam which is spread over an area of 69 square kilometres. The meadow used to be an artillery firing range for the Indian army where unexploded shells have killed at least 70 civilians and maimed many more for years now even as authorities declared the place safe in 2016. The meadow still haunts people. From 1964 onwards people living in adjacent villages located under the foothills of Tosa Maidan have been impacted, as the unexploded shells kept killing and maiming people. Although the meadow was thrown open for the public in 2014 and was sensitised by the Army under the name of Operation Falah (Welfare) to clear Tosa Maidan area of unexploded shells. However, the dance of death continues in the meadow. Since 2014, 1 civilian got killed and over 6 people were injured, most of them were left handicapped from the blasts. The government has done little to sanitize the area. In August 2018, a young man was killed in a similar explosion in the same area while three other persons were injured. The deceased, Wajid Bashir Ahanger of Zago Khareen village in Beerwah had gone to Tosa Maidan for an outing with his friends when he stepped on a mortar shell. The then Deputy Commissioner Budgam Dr Sehrish Asgar had told the media that a fresh clean-up drive would be taken up soon in Tosa Maidan to check for any explosive devices in the area, but that drive was hardly undertaken until there was one more incident on 26 May this year. Kashmir based activists who have been at the forefront demanding that the Army to leave the meadow say that both the Army and the government has failed to sanitize the meadow completely. Operation Mission Fallah was incomplete and the area was not sanitized fully, Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, a social activist told TwoCircles.net. Dr Muzaffar, who is also founder & Chairman of J&K RTI Movement claims that the live shells are still in Tosa Maidan and in adjacent villages and people do not know about it. After October 2014, there was no incident of blasts for some years, but people had found shells again in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and nobody listened to them, he said. After the blasts, Dr. Muzaffar filed a petition before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2016 seeking intervention for the conservation of Tosa Maidan by way of removal of unexploded shells. Bhat says NGT issued notices to the Defence Ministry, J&K government and Forest Department seeking their response. The case was listed several times and on 11 July 2016 the matter was disposed of by NGT directing Government of India through the Ministry of Defence to clear Tosa Maidan field from all waste material and unexploded shells by 10 August 2016, he said. The Government of India had earlier said through a written affidavit that Tosa Maidan was cleared of all unexploded material in 2014 under operation Fallah that lasted for 3 months between 1 August 2014 to 22 October 2014. However, Bhat claims that such an exercise was not carried out by the Army and government adding that he couldnt do the follow-up after the blast in 2018 due to financial constraints. Problem is that no environmental NGO supported me to fight at NGT. I had to spend all from my pocket, so I didnt do a follow-up after the 2018 blast, he said. No Compensation The villagers claim that they have not received any compensation from the government over the years. There are hundreds of people handicapped and over 70 killed because of blasts. My brother died in the year 2018 in the blast at the Tosa Maidan. Although an FIR was lodged and we were assured for compensation but it has been two years no compensation has been made, said Rameez Bahir Ahanger, brother of Wahid Bashir Ahanger said. The Ahanger brothers along with few other friends were on Eid outing to Tosa Maidan in 2018 and a shell exploded in which Wajid lost his life and two others were injured. Doctors had to amputate the leg of one of the injured boys namely Waseem Ganie. His father, Abdul Majeed Ganai, a local businessman said that he has spent over INR 10 lakhs on the treatment of his son. I went from pillar to post to seek compensation for my son but nobody helped. I am a poor man and I have sold my property to get treatment for my son, Abdul Majeed said. According to a Disability certificate provided by Chief Medical Officer, Budgam, Waseem is 60 % disabled. His lower limb has to be amputated. While the teenager Asif is counting his days at SKIMS, the question that his relatives are raising is that if the Government has declared the Tosa Maidan meadow as a tourist destination and said that its safe to visit, why are shells still there? Government needs to answer this. Why wasnt the meadow sanitised completely and who will be responsible for this, Mohammad Maqbool, brother-in-law of Asif told TwoCircles.net. Maqbool, who himself was leading the group for sanitizing Tosa Maidan, alleged that some people with vested interests are playing politics over the meadow and they are hell-bent on stopping the compensation for the victims. If my friends had not helped us, we could have treated Asif in Srinagar. His father is a farmer whose monthly income is Rs. 2000, Maqbool said. Tahsildar Berwah of Budgam district confirmed that the monthly income of Asifs father Ghulam Hassan Wani is Rs 2000 for 6 family members and they fall under Below Poverty Life (BPL). Although, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Pandurang Pole, had issued Rs 5000 as a relief for Asifs treatment the family declined this as well. Was this enough to treat Asif, we told them, Maqbool said. Seven years after Operation Fallah was carried out, the Tosa Maidan still resembles a death trap, littered with ammunition. Its been an honour to write these little plague pieces for you. This is the last one. So heres to you. As we tentatively emerge from our hutches, like many an old bloke, I have gone puzzling about economics. I am sure that economics doesnt have to be the state religion. In 1934 an Eastern European Jewish emigrant named Simon Kuznets came up with the index called Gross Domestic Product. However, he warned against its being used as an indicator of national success or happiness, saying, the welfare of a nation can scarcely be inferred from a measure of national income. In early May, in the midst of COVID-19, a homeless man sits in George Street, Sydney. Credit:Getty Images Modern market economics has ignored Kuznets. GDP, or Gross National Product, is these days an absolute god that must be venerated and served. Apparently Adam Smith consecrates that idea in his theory of the Invisible Hand, the impact of competitive individuals operating in society. Indeed there are many aspects of Smith and his great book The Wealth of Nations, which is available online and lively reading, that neoconservatives misquote. Maggie Thatcher thought she was channelling Smith the day she said, in 1987, there is no such thing as society; there are individual men and women and there are families. And those families are in competition with each other. Are they? Some years ago I had read the glamour boy of economics Thomas Piketty and his big tome, Capital, and I notice I underlined: One should be wary of any economic determinism in regard to inequalities of wealth and income. The history and distribution of wealth has always been shaped by the way economic, social and political actors view what is just and what is not Indore, June 12 : Even the tragic death of a man due to coronavirus did not prevent his wallet and phone from being stolen in an Indore hospital. Harish Gaur (36) was admitted to the MTH hospital under MGM Medical College last month. But he died three days later and was found to be Covid-infected. Gaur's brother-in-law Manish Gaur alleged that the deceased's wallet and mobile phone were missing when he reached the hospital to claim the body. The hospital staff handed over the body and said they would return the items later. But more than a month has passed and till now the stolen items have not been found. V.D. Tripathi, station in-charge of Sental Kotwali, told IANS the family has lodged a complaint and the police is investigating. (Natural News) George Floyd, the man who was killed by Minneapolis police last month, tested positive for COVID-19 the disease caused by the Wuhan coronavirus according to the autopsy report released by the Hennepin County Medical Examiners Office. Floyd, who was asymptomatic, first tested positive for the infection on April 3, more than a month before his death at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on Memorial Day, May 25. A PCR test a common test used to detect the presence of the coronavirus performed on Floyd a day after his death, came back positive, the report revealed. Since PCR positivity for 2019-nCoV RNA can persist for weeks after the onset and resolution of clinical disease, the autopsy result most likely reflects asymptomatic but persistent PCR positivity from previous infection, the report indicated, which was released with permission from the Floyd family. According to the report, Floyd died from cardiopulmonary arrest, which was complicated by law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression. This, however, is different from the findings by the independent examiner hired by the Floyd family. According to that report, Floyds death was caused by asphyxiation from sustained pressure. In addition, the 20-page report from Hennepin County also indicated that the drugs fentanyl, and methamphetamine as well as cannabinoids were also present in Floyds system at the time of his death. As per the medical examiners report, Floyds body bore blunt-force injuries to his head, face and upper lip, as well as his shoulders, hands and elbows. The medical examiner also found bruising on Floyds wrists, which were noted as being consistent with the marks made by handcuffs. The medical examiners report also noted that Floyd had a host of other health problems, such as heart disease, as well as hypertension and sickle cell trait. The latter is a mostly asymptomatic form of sickle cell disease, a serious inherited blood disorder that predominantly affects African Americans. Floyd was 46 at the time of his death, which was captured on video by several bystanders. The viral video, which shows Floyd on the ground with Chauvins knee on his neck, has since sparked protests against police brutality and racism across the United States, as well as other countries. Some protests, however, have devolved into violent riots. (Related: Trump to U.S. governors: Toughen up, control riots.) Floyd, who has a criminal record of cases such as theft, burglary and drug dealing, was accused of using a counterfeit $20 USD bill at a local grocery store. He is survived by his siblings, as well as his six-year-old daughter. The police officer involved in Floyds death, Chauvin, 44, remains incarcerated at Minnesotas maximum-security prison in Oak Park Heights. He has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and second-degree murder, a more serious count than he had initially faced. He could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison. According to a report by the Star Tribune, Chauvin has been linked to more than 15 conduct complaints, all of which were closed without discipline. As reported by the Star Tribune, the nature of the complaints have not been made public. Following recommendations made by prosecutors, Minnesota Judge Jeannice Reding has set Chauvins bail at up to $1.25 million USD without conditions. Redding also set Chauvins conditional bail at $1 million USD, provided that he follows through with several conditions, which include being law-abiding, making future court appearances and surrendering his firearms. Chauvins attorney did not object to the bail conditions. Aside from Chauvin, three other police officers who were present at the scene Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane will be charged with aiding and abetting murder. All police officers involved in Floyds death have been removed from service. Sources include: DailyStar.co.uk TwinCities.com CDC.gov FOX6Now.com TheStar.com.my NBCNews.com StarTribune.com TheGuardian.com In one of the explosive live videos launched by Daniel, son of Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, during his recent relapse into his bipolar condition, he blamed his father for losing a lady he referred to as the love of his life. Although he made that comment in passing, a psychologist is advising the family to see that as a red flag with regards to the possible triggers of his recent relapse. The youngest son of one of Ghanas renowned Archbishops accused his father of being the cause of his indecent actions. Daniel Duncan-Williams accused the father of breaking his relationship with his ex-girlfriend. Psychologist and Lecturer at the Central University believes setbacks in romantic affairs can cut deep into peoples emotions and may trigger an intense or even violent behaviour among people with a mental condition like bipolar. If he [Daniel] has lost his love, for whatever reason, then he needs to talk to a psychologist who will help him to understand why he lost his love and whether it is true that his father was the reason why and why his father may have done that, for him [Daniel] to be able to better understand the reasons why things are going the way they are going and then he will be able to go on, Dr Hayfron told GhanaWeb in an exclusive interview on Wednesday. Although the family of the respected Leader and Founder of Action Chapel International has attributed Daniels recent relapse on his failure to take his medication, the psychologist has advised the family to firmly resolve underlying issues. Because Daniel dedicated a huge part of his outbursts in attacking his father, the psychologist has advised that tensions between the two must be dealt with when Daniel recovers. Daniel Duncan-Williams, who lives in the United States, on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, set Twitter and other social media sites ablaze when he went on a tirade against his father amidst live videos of obscene nature. However, on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, the family pleaded with Ghanaians to remember his son in their prayers for a cure. A statement released in Accra by the spokesperson for the family, Bishop Ebenezer Obodai, stated that Daniel has been battling with the acute bipolar disease for the past six years. The statement explained that Daniels failure to continue his prescribed medication causes him to relapse, hence some of his public outbursts which have become topical within the social media space. Last year, Daniels condition became public following a similar episode. Source: Ghanaweb Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reportedly told the Security Council that the cruise missiles used to attack oil facilities in Saudi Arabia were of Iranian origin. The UN chief reports to the council twice a year on the implementation of the arms embargo on Iran under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as Iran nuclear deal. According to media reports, Guterres said that the UN examined the debris of weapons used in the attacks on Saudi oil facilities and concluded that the missiles and/or the parts used in the attacks were of Iranian origin. He added that the drones used in attacks on an oil facility in Afif and Aramco oil facilities in Khurais and Abqaiq were of Iranian origin. The UN chief reportedly also told the council that several items in the US seizures of weapons in late 2019 and early 2020 were of Iranian origin. Guterres said that all these items may have been transferred in a manner inconsistent with the Security Council resolution on Iran nuclear deal that prevents the country from developing nuclear weapons. Read: US Sanctions On Iranian Shipping Companies Over Proliferation Come Into Effect Iran nuclear deal The United States, Russia, China, Germany, Britain and France entered a deal in 2015 agreeing to provide sanctions relief to Iran in lieu of preventing it from developing nuclear weapons. Later in 2018, US President Donald Trump announced Washingtons withdrawal from the deal, calling it the worst deal ever. Last year, the UK, France, and Germany had blamed Iran for the attacks on Saudi oil facilities saying Tehran bears the full responsibility of the attack. In a joint statement, the three signatories of the JCPOA said that there is no other plausible explanation and that they support ongoing investigations to establish further details. Even after a firm statement regarding the attacks on Abqaiq and Khurais oil facilities, all the three countries reaffirmed their support for the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. However, they had urged Iran to reverse its decision to reduce compliance with the deal and asked Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the framework of the deal. Read: Iran's Rouhani Says A Wedding Party Contributed To New Surge In COVID-19 Cases (With agency inputs) Regulatory News: Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) ("PSH") today announced that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's Public Shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"): Trading Venue: London Stock Exchange Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 12 June 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 37,745 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,890 pence 23.68 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,818 pence 22.77 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,874 pence 23.48 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 12 June 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 22,750 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 23.60 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 23.60 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 23.60 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 12 June 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 49,619 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 23.70 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 22.95 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 23.62 USD PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 35.74 USD 28.08 GBP which was calculated as of 9 June 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 196,416,041 Public Shares outstanding, or 202,371,460 Public Shares calculated on a fully diluted basis (assuming that all Management Shares had been converted into Public Shares at the Relevant NAV). Excluded from the shares outstanding are 14,540,709 Public Shares held in Treasury. The prices per Public Share were calculated by Jefferies. The number of PSH Management Shares and the one special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) have not been affected. About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005569/en/ Contacts: Media Camarco Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk WATERLOO REGION The suggestion that now is the time to have someone from the Black community sit on the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board is insulting, says Kitchener Centre MPP Laura Mae Lindo. The community is at a critical point, calling for real change and investments in building healthy neighbourhoods, she said. Sitting on a board of an institution that is not working for racialized communities is a tough sell and it shows that people in positions of influence are still not listening, Lindo said. I dont think one Black person in 2020 should be, if we care about them and their mental health, be put at the helm of a ship that is not doing what the community needs, Lindo said. This week, police chair Karen Redman said the police services board must reflect the community and it is time to petition the provincial government to appoint a person of colour or visible minority to the board. There is currently a vacancy on the seven-member board. The candidate is appointed by the province. Rosita Tse is the only visible minority representation on the board. She was appointed by regional council. In 1998, LaFerne Clarke, a local Black woman, was appointed to the board. Ruth Cameron, who sits on the advisory committee for the African, Caribbean and Black Network of Waterloo Region, said positions on boards such as the police often attract individuals that are in support of that boards operations, curtailing the applications of racialized communities. Cameron said suggesting a Black person sit on the police services board now looks like an attempt by some to shift the conversation from the networks call to action. After the outpouring of support for last weeks solidarity march in downtown Kitchener, the network put forth actions to end anti-Black racism. Cameron said the community is on board with the actions which include defunding the police, at a minimum by $29 million, and investing those tax dollars in community-based health initiatives for impoverished and racialized groups, and scrapping the school resource officer program in schools. Similar measures to defund the police are happening across cities in the U.S. and Canada in the wake of George Floyds death at the hands of police in Minneapolis. Its about the facts that we know as experts who have been dealing with this system of oppression for 500 years. We have a lot of knowledge about how systems operate against our health and well-being, safety and our ability to thrive, Cameron said. Lindo said racialized communities have been asking for change for decades. Black communities are saying these are all interconnected systems that were set up on our backs historically. Now we are saying let us free ourselves, she said. Lang Ncube, community development co-ordinator for the network, said putting one Black person on the board is expecting that one person to change an entire institution and the history it was built upon. We have reached a point right now where the police are not helping us heal nor are they helping our communities prevent future harm, she said. Instead, police reinforce the status quo, she said. We cant in good conscience expect one Black person to do that or take that task on, Ncube said. LOS ANGELES (AP) A gunman believed to have shot a central California sheriffs deputy and targeted others in a series of attacks was shot dead Thursday after confrontations that wounded three other law enforcement members, authorities said. Mason James Lira, 26, was killed after he emerged from a brushy riverbed in Paso Robles, climbed a steep hillside and ran toward a vineyard, authorities said. He had two stolen handguns, and investigators found a box of ammunition, Paso Robles Police Chief Ty Lewis said. He clearly had been planning attacks on law enforcement, possibly for days, the chief said. Over the course of about 36 hours, Lira opened fire in an ambush and managed to evade hundreds of law enforcement officers, authorities said. Every time that law enforcement got near to him, he engaged them in gunfire, Lewis said at an evening news conference. The manhunt for Lira began at dawn Wednesday, when authorities said he opened fire on the Paso Robles police station. Two sheriffs deputies heard gunshots and responded but didnt see the attacker until they were outside their patrol car and under fire. Deputy Nicholas Dreyfus, 28, was hit in the face. His partner fired back and dragged Dreyfus behind a police car. Dreyfus, who was able to radio that hed been shot, underwent surgery Thursday and was in guarded condition. While scores of officers searched for Lira, they received a report of a body near a train station and found a 58-year-old man shot to death on the tracks. He appeared to be a transient who was camping out overnight. Police believe Lira was responsible for the killing. Liras father told The Associated Press he thinks the shooting at the police station might have been a suicide attempt. Jose Lira said his son had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, Aspergers syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He said his son has been in and out of jail and treatment centers, didn't take his medication and often thinks he is a special agent or a soldier. He lives in a fantasy world, Jose Lira said. He doesnt have a beef with the police. Overnight, police, San Luis Obispo County sheriff's deputies, an FBI SWAT team and other law enforcement surrounded an area of the riverbed where Lira was believed to be hiding and they planned to begin a systematic search Thursday, Sheriff Ian Parkinson said. We knew we had to search a very large area with a very dangerous person and they didn't want him escaping into nearby neighborhoods, he said. But shortly after 2 p.m., Lira came out of hiding and fired at surrounding officers. An Arroyo Grande police sergeant took a bullet through his calf, Parkinson said. Two hours later, Lira emerged again, crawled up an embankment and up a short but steep hill and began to run to a neighboring vineyard, the sheriff said. He was shot. During the shooting, Parkinson said a California Highway Patrol officer took a bullet to his protective vest and a Kings County sheriffs deputy who got out of an armored vehicle to rescue him was shot above the knee, Parkinson said. All three wounded officers were expected to recover, he said. More: Police officer in N.J. suspended for online comment calling looters target practice Pa. keeps police misconduct records secret 1 police officer charged in George Floyds death posts bail, leaves jail New York, June 12 : America is hurtling headlong into a fresh round of chaos as the White House's election year political calculus trumps a public health apocalypse with nearly half of the country's 50 states reporting an alarming uptick in COVID19 cases after a spate of hurried re-openings. Total US cases topped the two million mark Thursday, the death toll climbed beyond 114,000 and the Trump campaign is readying for "tremendous" public rallies in at least four states with rising cases: Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma and Texas. Thursday offered the clearest signal yet that the White House has abandoned its public health leadership role during a pandemic. The Trump campaign is asking Americans not to hold the US president accountable for COVID19 infections during his first rally in months, coming up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Like Trump, his deputy Mike Pence is also going mask-less in the midst of crowds, drawing widespread criticism from the medical community. Trump is eager to wade into his sweet spot of wild rallies with thousands of cheering supporters. It's not hard to see why: His poll numbers have tanked to 41 per cent, eight in 10 Americans think the country is out of control according to a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll and he's got consistently low marks for his handling of the pandemic and protests over the death of George Floyd, an African American man brutally killed by a white police officer last month. Trump's approval has always stayed in a very narrow range in the early 40s but data obsessors are saying it will matter a lot more whether Trump's approval is close to 40 per cent or 45 per cent closer to the election. White House insiders have reportedly begun panicking about the election result if Trump does not course-correct. And, while the politics heats up, the virus is not going away. Data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington is projecting nearly 170,000 deaths by October 1 this year. Health experts are not singling out any specific reason for the current caseload surge. They count lifting of stay-at-home orders and the unscheduled surge of people in the public square during the recent protests as the main ingredients in a dangerous cocktail. Meanwhile, Arizona is fast becoming the new epicenter with more than 1,150 deaths projected on June 11 alone. The state's projected graph is climbing unabated till September this year, at current levels of social distancing. Infections here have spiked to their highest levels since the pandemic began. In Texas, hospitalizations surged past 2,000 this week for the first time during the pandemic. The state's percentage of positive tests is among the highest in the US. Dr. Joe Gerald, from the University of Arizona told ANBC health experts are "very worried" that hospitals will be overwhelmed. Arizona hospitals are already at 80 percent capacity. Doctors are wringing their hands that Americans are not hearing the essential public health advice they need to be hearing from the White House at this moment.A This isn't a new gripe, though. The White House's zig zag messaging has been the enduring headline of the US response to the pandemic. At the moment, the overall US caseload has plateaued and it isn't budging for the last 80 days. The question that's doing the rounds now is this: Which state will be the first to lockdown again? America is coming full circle. In more ways than one. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Visitors read at Sinan Books in Shanghai at night. The bookstore opens for late-night readers between 8 pm and midnight every weekend in June. [For China Daily] Culture and art are indispensable to the Shanghai Nightlife Festival, where over 40 museums and 30 bookshops are opening their doors to night owls from June 6 to 30. The Shanghai Museum has extended its operating hours for each Saturday of the month and organized a series of special events to offer visitors a different experience from the day. June 6 marked the first time this year the museum opened its doors in the evening. That night, a temporary marketplace selling museum merchandise was set up in the ground-floor lobby. Limited-edition traditional Chinese cookies were also sold at the museum's canteen, and a set of five-flavored Chinese yellow liquor, introduced by Shanghai Museum's first livestream, attracted many visitors to have a sip. "Shanghai Museum has participated in the city's nightlife festival not as a shop or retailer," Yang Zhigang, director of the museum, said on June 6. "Creativity, reflected in all the museum's merchandise, is the display of the strength of culture. We hope to enrich the cultural lives of people and allow them to take home a part of the museum." "It gave me great satisfaction to enjoy the arts and culture in the fine evening weather of June, the most comfortable period in the city," a woman surnamed Yang told Shanghai Observer, a local news portal. Yang was one of the first to make reservations upon learning about the evening sessions at Shanghai Museum. "This is the first time after the COVID-19 pandemic that the museum is open in the evenings and I think there is a special significance to witnessing Shanghai coming back to normal," she says. Visitors to the museum's night sessions will be able to view ongoing exhibitions such as Spring Blowing in the Wind: Jiangnan Culture Art Exhibition, Infinite Compassion: The Calligraphy of Zhao Puchu and Elegant Friends for a Lofty Studio: Scholars' Rocks Presented by Hu Kemin. The evening sessions at Shanghai Museum are free of charge but visitors will have to make reservations ahead of time on the official website or WeChat platform. Visitor numbers for each Saturday will be capped at 1,000. Admission will be between 6 and 9 pm, with the last entry at 8 pm. Reservations have to be made using a valid ID, and visitors are required to present their IDs and health QR codes upon entering the museum. Those who are unable to show up have to cancel their reservations at least two hours ahead. Other museums, such as Shanghai History Museum, Shanghai Luxun Memorial Museum and the suburban Jiading Museum, will also host events in the evening hours. At Sinan Mansions, a cluster of villa buildings in the heart of the former French Concession, the nightlife festival is made up of outdoor concerts, a lifestyle marketplace and snack bars. In one of the buildings in the complex is Sinan Books, which is among the dozens of brick-and-mortar bookshops hosting special events during the festival. At Sinan Books, 50 desks will be set up for late-night readers between 8 pm and midnight every weekend. Special discounts are also available for books and merchandise. On the first weekend, the 50 desks were fully booked soon after word got out. (Source: China Daily) A group of people play chess outside during the COVID-19 pandemic in Manhattan, N.Y., on June 9, 2020. (Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times) COVID-19 Pandemic Isnt Over, CDC Warns as It Releases New Guidance The COVID-19 pandemic has not ended, the top Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official said Friday, as the agency released fresh guidance for how individuals should think about what activities to undertake. While officials recognize that Americans are all getting tired of staying at home, they should listen to recommendations on how to avoid becoming infected with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, Jay Butler, CDCs deputy director of Infectious Diseases, told reporters on a phone call. The virus causes COVID-19, a disease. Officials are seeing increases in new CCP virus cases in different places but thats sometimes driven by a higher number of tests being done, Butler said. At other times, outbreaks among homeless persons or in nursing homes can fuel a rise. The number of hospitalizations, a more critical figure, is going down in most areas. America could see an increase in cases as the number of gatherings increases and restrictions in states are further loosened, officials said. Theyre not sure about what will happen in the fall and winter but recommend people get a flu vaccine. A group gathers in the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle, Wash., on June 10, 2020. (Ernie Li/NTD Television) Based on serology data, most Americans have not been exposed to the CCP virus as of yet, according to the CDC. New guidance from the CDC tells people to be aware that the more closely you interact with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. People should consider how many people they interact with, whether theyll be indoors or outdoors, whether they can keep six feet of space between themselves and others, and how long theyll be interacting with others. Examples of taking precautions include not sharing items at the gym, refraining from high fives, eating at outdoor tables when dining out, and using as many single-serve options at backyard barbecues. The CDC also issued a 10-page document giving organizers of gatherings recommendations such as telling staff members and attendees to stay home if theyre sick, require frequent hand washing, and frequently disinfecting surfaces like door handles and cash registers. The agency isnt for or against certain types of gatherings, Butler stressed when asked separate questions about President Donald Trump announcing the resumption of political rallies. Earlier in the call, Dr. Robert Redfield, the CDCs director, said, The pandemic has not ended. President Donald Trump, left, and CDC Director Robert Redfield participate in a CCP virus briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on April 22, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Redfield said its critical to aggressively survive through testing in high-risk groups, such as nursing home residents, to stay on top of clusters of the virus. Officials drew attention to an online survey the agency conducted in early May among 2,402 U.S. adults, including 286 New York City residents and 259 residents in Los Angeles. Most respondents supported stay-at-home orders and the shutdown of businesses deemed by officials as non-essential, including the vast majority in New York City and Los Angeles. Business owners across the country who were forced to close their businesses during the pandemic arent re-opening. Nearly 90 percent of respondents agreed that people should always keep six feet or more physical distance from non-household members and 1,381 respondents said that groups of 10 or more persons shouldnt be allowed. The data demonstrates our countrys collective spirit in responding to the pandemic, Butler said. Kathmandu, June 12 Minister for Health and Population, Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, says more challenges have been added to the countrys efforts to address the Covid-19 crisis as the issue has been politicised of late. Dhakals statement comes at a time when youth in different parts of the country have launched anti-government protests demanding a better testing policy and financial transparency in the response. Speaking at a function organised in the capital on Friday, the minister said, We were troubled by the infection only in the beginning days, but recently politics has been added to it. The level of danger has increased; we also need to fight with politics. Hence, we need a different modality now. Dhakal was of the view that political forces in other countries were united against the disease, but that could not happen in Nepal. Toronto Police say they are investigating after nooses were found on a construction site at Michael Garron Hospital in East York. The two nooses were discovered by workers at the site on Coxwell Avenue, north of Danforth Avenue, at the beginning of the work day on Wednesday, the company said. The company, EllisDon, has since denounced the action as racist and launched its own internal investigation into the matter. I am appalled and outraged at the hateful and racist actions that took place at one of our construction sites, said Geoff Smith, the companys CEO, in a statement to the Star. We will work with Toronto Police Services, with every resource we can muster, to identify the guilty individual or individuals and ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent, and never allowed to participate in our industry again. The leadership team held a meeting with workers and police soon after the nooses were discovered to condemn what had happened, said Dustin Luchka, a spokesperson with the company. Luchka said police will be investigating the matter as a possible hate crime. Police wouldnt confirm whether that was the case, but said they received the report about the incident and are investigating further. Smith said the company has worked extremely hard to ensure discrimination is not tolerated in the workplace. Obviously there is more work to be done, he said. I know I speak for the entire industry when I say that we do not intend to rest until this kind of behaviour is eradicated entirely. No cause for panic, new media rules will benefit all: Javadekar Will raise our climate ambitions but not under pressure: Javadekar Now Ferraris and Lamborghinis can test in India: India gets Asias longest high speed track Pakistan will never succeed in its sinister plans: Javadekar India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 12: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said Pakistan will never succeed in its "sinister" plans and asserted Indian security forces are giving a befitting reply to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP leader said the Narendra Modi government has done a lot during its tenure and cited scrapping of Article 370 in J&K, the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor and enactment of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA, among others, as its major achievements. Six months on, Security Forces have already gunned down 100 terrorists in the Valley Covid-19: India registers over 10,000 fresh cases in 24 hours and 396 deaths | Oneindia News He was addressing a 'virtual' Jan Samvad for the Saurashtra zone of Gujarat to mark the completion of one year (in late May) of the Modi government in it second term. "Indian forces are giving a befitting reply to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir since the last one week. While many terrorists were killed, some were also arrested during the operation. "India has clearly conveyed that Pakistan will never succeed in its sinister plans," said Javadekar. In his address, he listed several other achievements of the Modi government, including the enactment of the CAA, the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor (between India-Pakistan), scrapping of Articles 370 and 35A in J&K, the introduction of the GST and commencement of construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Javadekar also mentioned about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resolve to build an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. After his address, Gujarat BJP leaders, who had gathered inside a hall, took a pledge to promote locally-manufactured products as propagated by the PM. They also pledged to buy locally-manufactured products whenever possible. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday ruled out removing a statue of explorer Christopher Columbus from the circle bearing his name near Central Park, entering the fraught US debate over the fate of monuments linked to the country's colonizers and pro-slavery past. In the wake of anti-racism protests across the United States sparked by the death in police custody of handcuffed African-American George Floyd, controversial statues glorifying colonizers and Confederate leaders are in the line of fire. Protesters have torn down or defaced several statues or monuments in recent days, in Boston, Richmond and elsewhere. Despite renewed calls for the statue of Columbus to be removed from Columbus Circle, including a petition with thousands of signatures, De Blasio is not budging from a decision made in 2018 by a special commission to keep it. "The commission did really careful extensive work... and they came up with a vision for how to address this and we should, I think, stick to what was achieved by that commission," he said. At the time, the commission decided after several months of study to maintain the statue erected in 1892 to mark the 400th anniversary of the Italian explorer's arrival in the "New World." Columbus's legacy has since been revisited with the benefit of hindsight over the brutal treatment of native Americans by European colonizers. The statue sits atop a column in Columbus Circle. The commission did move to add explanatory plaques to the site, explaining the history of Columbus in more detail. On Thursday, New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo had voiced his support for keeping the statue as a way to honor the "Italian-American contribution to New York." Cuomo, whose family has Italian roots, did however say he understood "the feelings about Christopher Columbus and some of his acts, which nobody would support." In recent years, some US cities have replaced celebrations of Columbus Day, a federal holiday in October since 1937, with a day of events honoring indigenous peoples. New York and Boston, which have significant Italian-American communities, have maintained Columbus Day festivities. The public should not travel in or out of Ireland for the purposes of tourism, according to the Taoiseach. Despite Ryanair and other airlines marketing heavily for a return to air travel, Leo Varadkar says it is "too soon" for Irish people to be taking off on holidays overseas. "Obviously people have constitutional rights and human rights as EU citizens people are free to travel, work and study anywhere in the European Union, if they want to, and as part of the common travel area with the UK, we have the right to travel freely between the UK and Ireland," he said. But this is an unusual situation, that is a public health emergency and in certain situations like this, member States are able to make their own rules. Bilateral travel agreements - or 'air bridges' - have been looked at by a number of governments in Europe as a way to kick start tourism post- Covid19. The agreements are between countries that have low transmission rates and recognise each others departure screening measures for passengers which removes the need for quarantine. "We do want to be in a position to agree on air bridges to travel between Ireland and other countries where the virus is also successfully suppressed," Mr Varadkar said. "We need that coordination on an EU level, and we intend to be part of that, but we think that June 15 is far too soon for us to do that here in Ireland. "So we're going to see what's possible to firm up, work with our EU colleagues, the UK and the administration in Northern Ireland. We might be in a new situation in about two weeks' time, but for now, the advice remains the same: don't travel off the island for tourism, don't come to the island for tourism. "Anyone is arriving here, even for an essential reason, through our ports our airports will have to complete the passenger application form, and will be strongly advised to self-quarantine for at least 14 days. "For people to book flights, if they do, there's no guarantee that they will be able to travel, and there's a very strong possibility that they will have to self-quarantine for two weeks on return." Many fear that Ireland has been put in an unpleasant position due to its location as Britain's nearest neighbour, where they have been unable to reduce the virus at the same rate as other European countries, and the Taoiseach says there is a concern Ireland could see the virus reintroduced by British tourists. "That is a concern," he said. "There are almost 50,000 deaths already confirmed in the United Kingdom, probably higher, if they counted deaths the way that we do. "The reproductive number is still up around one, in some British regions. "So, there is a real risk of reintroduction of the virus being brought into Ireland by people travelling here from Britain, and that's why no restrictions will stay in place." Leo Varadkar also told the media on Friday that his cabinet had welcomed the nomination of the new President of the High Court, Ms Justice Mary Irvine, the first woman to be appointed to the role. The Justice Department and the legal team for former national security adviser Michael Flynn faced tough questions from a skeptical panel of federal appeals court judges this morning in their bid to overrule a district judge who has not yet accepted the department's request to throw out the case. "The Department of Justice is the only entity that can decide to pursue this prosecution," Flynn's attorney Sidney Powell said Friday. "The government has quit and it's time to leave the field." The three-judge panel is considering an appeal from Flynn's attorneys, with support from the Justice Department, to intervene in the case after District Judge Emmet Sullivan appointed an outside former judge to present arguments against the department. Sullivan has said he will weigh those arguments as he decides whether to move forward in sentencing Flynn, who twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the former Russian ambassador before seeking to reverse that plea last year. At least two of the judges on the panel, judge Karen Henderson and judge Robert Wilkins, expressed clear reservations in their questioning of Powell and Principal Deputy Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall, who was arguing on behalf of the government. "There's nothing wrong with [Sullivan] holding a hearing as far as I know," Henderson said. "I dont know of any authority that says he cant hold a hearing before he takes action." MORE: Judge to examine whether Flynn committed perjury after surprise DOJ reversal in case "To make us go through that process when the ultimate result has to be the grant of the motion to dismiss -- the government's just wasting resources out the wazoo pursuing this and the toll it's taking on the defendant is clearly irreparable harm," Powell responded. On Wednesday, ex-federal judge John Gleeson issued a scathing rebuke of the department's reversal in the case, calling it a "gross abuse of prosecutorial power" in a filing that accused Flynn of committing perjury. Story continues MORE: Appointed outside judge in Flynn case blasts Justice Department for 'gross abuse' of power "The Department of Justice has a solemn responsibility to prosecute this caselike every other casewithout fear or favor and, to quote the Departments motto, solely 'on behalf of justice,'" Gleeson continued. "It has abdicated that responsibility through a gross abuse of prosecutorial power, attempting to provide special treatment to a favored friend and political ally of the President of the United States. It has treated the case like no other, and in doing so has undermined the publics confidence in the rule of law." Attorney General William Barr has denied acting at the behest of President Donald Trump and said the move to drop the case was based on newly uncovered evidence concerning the conduct of agents who investigated Flynn. Barr said that at the time of Flynn's interview with the FBI the counter-intelligence probe into him was not legitimate, so his lies about his contacts with the Russian ambassador were not "material" to any legitimate investigation. Lawyers for Sullivan told the circuit court at the beginning of the month that it was at his discretion whether to accept the DOJ's push to drop the case or move forward with sentencing Flynn, citing what they described as the department's "unusual" behavior. "What, if anything, should Judge Sullivan do about Mr. Flynns sworn statements to the court, where he repeatedly admitted to the crime and to the voluntariness of his guilty plea, only to now claim that he never lied to the government and was pressured and misled into pleading guilty?" they said. "The process Judge Sullivan has established, including the appointment of an amicus, will permit him to fully consider the issues, and will aid this Court as well if further review becomes necessary." PHOTO: Former White House National Security Advisor Michael Flynn leaves the Prettyman Federal Courthouse following a sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court, Dec. 18, 2018 in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, FILE) The Justice Department has argued in response that Sullivan's decision to install an outside party to argue against them and consider separate perjury charges against Flynn amounts to Sullivan improperly installing himself as a prosecutor, contrary to his constitutional role. Henderson, however, questioned that argument given Sullivan still hasn't ruled one way or the other on the Justice Department's push to drop the case. MORE: DOJ moves to dismiss case against former Trump adviser Michael Flynn "I don't see why we don't observe regular order and allow him to rule," Henderson said in an exchange with Wall. "For all we know, he will say [Gleeson's brief] is over the top and the dismissal motion is granted." "You have all these allegations being lobbed at the executive branch, we're going to have to answer them in a public forum in a politicized environment," Wall responded. "If it isn't already, I think it is threatening to become and will become the sort of public spectacle that I think [calls for the court to] foreclose [the case]." Separately, an attorney for Sullivan was pressed repeatedly by a third judge on the panel, Judge Neomi Rao, over his decision to appoint Gleeson as an outside party when the government sought to remove itself as the prosecuting party. "I mean, who [is Gleeson] arguing on behalf of?" asked Rao, the sole Trump-appointee on the panel. "What does it even mean to have an adversary where the government and the defendant agree, is it just representing some kind of inherent authority of the court?" "Its representing the authority of the court to understand the opposing arguments," attorney Beth Wilkinson answered. "[Sullivan] can ignore [Gleeson], he can take some of his points under consideration and then he can ask his questions and make his rule." DOJ, Flynn attorney face skeptical panel of judges in bid to throw out case originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The American Legion, VFW and other social clubs can open as part of phase three just like a restaurant, state officials clarified Friday. Central New York on Friday entered phase three of New Yorks plan to reopen businesses after the coronavirus shutdown. The state published guidance for food service establishments that allows indoor dining at 50% of the capacity of the building, along with other social distancing guidelines. The states guidance is typically geared toward businesses. A spokesman for Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday that social clubs can follow the same rules as restaurants, even if they dont serve food. Social clubs also were allowed to start outdoor service as part of phase two. Restaurants must: Limit indoor capacity to no more than 50% of maximum occupancy, exclusive of employees. Limit outdoor capacity to the number of tables that can be safely arranged six feet away from each other. Whenever distancing is not available, physical barriers must be enacted between tables. Employees must wear face coverings at all times. Patrons must wear face coverings, except while seated. Individuals at the same table must be members of the same party (but may be from different households) with a maximum of 10 people per table. Seating in bar areas and communal tables can only be allowed if six feet distance can be maintained. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Cuomos office explains why Destiny USA cant reopen yet New Cuomo order allows outdoor, low-risk recreational activities and businesses From hair salons to gyms, experts rank 36 activities by coronavirus risk level Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Contact Michelle Breidenbach | mbreidenbach@syracuse.com | 315-470-3186. Lake Lonar What caused the lake to turn pink? That was the question on peoples minds across India after Lonar Lake in the state of Maharashtra suddenly changed hues in recent days. Experts believe that the change is likely due to either increased salinity in the water, the presence of algae or a combination of both like parts of Utahs Great Salt Lake or Lake Hillier in Australia. Gajanan Kharat, a local geologist, said in a video posted to Maharashtra Tourisms Twitter feed, that this has happened before, but was not as prominent. Its looking particularly red this year because this year the waters salinity has increased, he said. The amount of water in the lake has reduced and the lake has become shallower, so the salinity has gone up and caused some internal changes. Kharat said that researchers are also investigating if the presence of red algae caused the color change. Samples are being sent to several labs, he said, and once they have studied it we will be able to definitively say why the lakes water has turned red. The lake, which is located about 500 kilometers (311 miles) east of Mumbai, formed after a meteorite hit the Earth some 50,000 years ago, according to CNN affiliate CNN News 18. Its a popular tourist attraction and has been studied by scientists across the globe, CNN News 18 reported. [June 11, 2020] Bluescape Awarded a Phase II Innovation Research Contract with the U.S. Air Force SAN CARLOS, Calif., June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bluescape , a leading virtual work platform, announced the receipt of a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) to advance technology innovations across the US Air Force. The awarded work will build on the Bluescape Phase I contract awarded last year in support of improving multi-domain operations and situational awareness activities. The SBIR grant is a highly competitive program that encourages agile companies to provide innovative solutions to increase the effectiveness of government agencies. Bluescape participated in the SBIR program focused on Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) operations. "We are excited to be growing our partnership with the U.S. Air Force in building the information environment of the future--one which enhances the speed and accuracy of decisions across dispersed teams," said Peter Jackson, CEO at Bluescape. "We allow organizations to build a flexible Common Operating Picture which synthesizes different streams of data that normally remain siloed in separate applications." Bluescape begins Phase II activities immediately to expand the adoption of its virtual work platform in combination with the CVR environment completing the collaboration technology ecosystem across the Department of Defense (DoD). "We look forward to continuing our partnership with the U.S. Air Force in order to build an expansive capability that will have strategic effects across the DoD and impact our national security and global defense," said Patrick Rollo, Federal Business Manager at Bluescae. "We are honored to support the mission of our warfighters." Rollo added, "We are also thankful for the hard-working team at AFWERX as they coordinate the upcoming invite-only virtual trade show for JADC2 solutions on June 17. We look forward to working with the broader DoD to scale up similar initiatives for other teams." Bluescape works closely with government agencies and the intelligence community to improve information sharing and collaboration. Its software solution is recognized for its stringent security features by several branches of the U.S. military and other international defense organizations. To learn more about our government and military solution offerings, visit our overview page . Additional Resources Bluescape Government solution page Bluescape Situational Awareness overview video JADC2 AFWERX virtual trade show announcement AFWERX Fusion Challenge 2019 finalist overview and news About Bluescape Bluescape transforms the way people work for enhanced creative and productive experiences. Its virtual work platform enables people to work, meet and share multiple applications, documents and web content in a secure, digital visual container (DVC). Bluescape is an open SaaS platform that integrates with leading unified communications systems, messaging, content management, and collaboration applications. It operates on large format touch screen displays, laptops, desktops and mobile devices from any location and at any time. Bluescape is based in San Carlos, CA with offices throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company was founded in 2012 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Haworth. Visit Bluescape and follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn , and Facebook . Contact: Sydney Alcaraz, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bluescape-awarded-a-phase-ii-innovation-research-contract-with-the-us-air-force-301074830.html SOURCE Bluescape Software [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Canada has just released new information on who can travel to the country right now. IRCC provides update on who can come to Canada IRCC provides update on who can come to Canada Canada has just released new information on who can travel to the country right now. IRCC provides update on who can come to Canada Canada has just released new information on who can travel to the country right now. IRCC provides update on who can come to Canada Canada has just released new information on who can travel to the country right now. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released an update on June 12, 2020 providing more guidance on who can travel to Canada while travel restrictions remain in place. Canada has had travel restrictions since March 18 but has been providing frequent updates to keep foreign nationals informed about their authority to enter Canada. Exemptions have been announced following the introduction of the travel restrictions, and most recently, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced even more flexibility for immediate family to enter Canada. Examples of travel for non-optional reasons In the information released today, IRCC reminds foreign nationals they can only enter Canada for non-optional or non-discretionary purposes and it is the responsibility of foreign nationals to demonstrate the reason for their trip. Immediate family of Canadian citizens or permanent residents will be deemed to be travelling for non-discretionary or non-optional reasons if their trip to Canada is at least 15 days long and they are either travelling with, or will reunite with their family member. Get help with Canadian work permits and TRVs IRCC also stresses to its immigration officers that they should demonstrate flexibility when processing the applications of immediate family members, even if they are travelling to Canada for less than 15 days, so long as the trip is non-optional. Immediate family members of temporary residents in Canada must still show evidence their travel to Canada is non-optional. Such immediate family members coming to Canada from any country other than the United States must obtain an authorization letter from IRCC. Who are immediate family? The immediate family of Canadians and permanent residents are limited to: Spouses or common-law partners Dependent children Grandchildren Parents or step-parents Guardians or tutors Immediate family can enter Canada if they meet the following criteria Trip to Canada is at least 15 days long (however, note above that IRCC is offering flexibility for trips under 15 days) Immediate family self-quarantine for 14 days when entering Canada Immediate family do not have COVID-19 or symptoms of the coronavirus The trip is non-optional and non-discretionary They are coming to Canada to be with their immediate family (IRCC notes however there is no requirement for the Canadian or permanent resident to be in Canada first. IRCC wants to help facilitate family unity and understands immediate family may arrive to Canada at different times due to travel restrictions). Recommended documents IRCC recommends that immediate family provide the following documents: Documentation showing that their immediate family is a Canadian or permanent resident (e.g., Canadian passport, proof of Canadian citizenship, Canadian permanent resident card, etc). Documentation showing their relationship to the family member (e.g., marriage certificate or proof of common law status, birth certificate, confirmation of permanent residence for the family class, etc). Paper and electronic copies of the above documents are acceptable by IRCC. Similarly, those looking to enter Canada to be with immediate family who are temporary residents are recommended to show copies of their family members work permit, study permit, temporary resident permit or visitors record, as well as proof of their relationship to the family member, and written authorization from IRCC. IRCC will provide a letter to such individuals to demonstrate to the airline the individual is allowed to come to Canada. More information coming IRCC notes they will soon publish more information containing examples of non-optional travel for international students and temporary foreign workers. Get help with Canadian work permits and TRVs Need assistance with a temporary visa application process? Contact wp@canadavisa.com 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved By the time he was 18, Jay had already been shot twice. And he'd learned a lesson about how to keep himself safe in his high-crime New York neighborhood: He was always armed. "We carry everywhere, everywhere. I carry to school, I carry to my girl's crib, my mom's crib," he told researchers in 2017 fora study I led about attitudes toward police among young black men at high risk for gun violence. Jay (a pseudonym we gave him to protect his identity) had little faith that the police would ever bring his assailants to justice - or that they could protect him from future attacks. "I just [know] where [my enemies] live and . . . the gang, I know that they be over there. . . . I gotta carry it in bad places." As the protests sparked by George Floyd's death at the hands of officers in Minneapolis have continued, fervent calls to "defund the police" - or even abolish departments altogether - have quickly risen to the top of some reformers' wish lists. This push seems aimed at addressing the dangers of over-policing: not just obvious abuses like Floyd's death but also heavy-handed law enforcement responses in communities of color to minor offenses, such as loitering, drinking in public or panhandling. But a great deal of scholarship has demonstrated that under-policing also leaves residents feeling perpetually underserved and unsafe. Residents of distressed urban neighborhoods have complained about ineffective policing for centuries, including officers' rudeness, slow response times and lack of empathy for crime victims. Some residents of high-crime neighborhoods have long concluded that police are either incapable of keeping them safe or unwilling to do so - and a small subset of repeat offenders, like Jay and others we spoke to, have discarded the criminal justice system entirely as a viable mechanism for settling trivial disputes with enemies, opting instead to literally take matters into their own hands. The result is that many black and brown communities now suffer from the worst of all worlds: over-aggressive police behavior in frequent encounters with residents, coupled with the inability of law enforcement to effectively protect public safety. But defunding police departments would address only one side of this problem. And the real, and significant, dangers of under-policing would just get worse in the neighborhoods that most need the police to improve - not disappear. The nation has focused lately on the dangers of police abuses for African Americans and other people of color, especially in lower-income neighborhoods. But the violent crimes that police have the most difficulty solving - drug- and gang-related shootings - primarily cluster in the same communities. The threat of retaliatory violence reaches beyond gun-toting gang members' rivals and jeopardizes the safety of all residents in these enclaves where people sometimes say "bullets have no names." Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that the likelihood of being unintentionally shot is relatively low, with about only 458 people killed by accidental shootings in 2018, compared to 16,214 murders. But "random" shootings were a major concern to the young men we interviewed. And although New York has recently witnessed an extraordinary drop in violent crime and homicide, our guys lived in some of the neighborhoods in Brooklyn and the Bronx where elevated rates of violence have persisted. Jay wasn't worried about being caught by police with a gun; he was more worried about being caught by enemies without one: "Anything could happen to me, and the cops, they're not going to be there to save me." I've studied how high-crime neighborhoods experience encounters with the police for two decades, and I've found long-standing dissatisfaction over how residents are often mistreated by officers. But despite generations of negative experiences with law enforcement, the prevailing view among black citizens is that the police do have an important role in efforts to control crime. It isn't just brutality or racism that erodes faith in law enforcement in these neighborhoods - it's ineffectiveness, too. That may be part of why one survey in April found that only 56 percent of African Americans had a great deal or a fair amount of confidence that police would act in the public's best interests, far lower than for other races: Too often, they've seen police fail to serve them in their own neighborhoods. Arrest rates are an imperfect measure for evaluating police performance, but they reveal that fewer crimes are being solved. Across the United States, violent crime clearance rates have declined over the past five decades from as high as 90% in 1960 to around 60% today. A Washington Post investigation found that 68% of cities had a lower arrest rate for homicide in 2018 than they did a decade before - and the killers of black victims, who make up the majority of homicide cases, are the least likely to be arrested. The harmful and cumulative effects of under-policing are not always readily apparent or well understood. Poor police performance gradually chips away at law enforcement's legitimacy, especially when it occurs along with frequent harassment of young black men for minor offenses. The combined adverse effects of under- and over-policing produce episodic lawlessness. For instance, community members' contempt for police increases when they frequently observe murder suspects triumphantly walking through the neighborhood - where they might strike again or be slain by others who think they have to take matters into their own hands. These difficult living conditions serve to stoke community violence, which benefits dangerous people and threatens everyone's safety. The unfortunate reality, however, is that arrests and successful prosecutions are unlikely without cooperating witnesses. Police executives say "anti-snitching" norms undermine their ability to deliver desperately needed justice. And my research and others' has found persuasive evidence of a strong anti-snitching subculture, especially among people like Jay, who are deeply entrenched in networks of offenders. But authorities who complain about anti-snitching edicts overlook that there are reasons for law-abiding residents to be wary of stepping forward with key information: Simply put, after cooperating with law enforcement, witnesses often return to the same communities where they felt unsafe to begin with. "The streets talk," as the saying goes, and being labeled a snitch can easily lead to an upstanding citizen's untimely death in neighborhoods where the police can't effectively protect them. So witnesses must weigh the costs when considering whether to cooperate with the police. And when the public sees law enforcement as lacking moral legitimacy, research shows, they're less likely to support their crime-fighting missions - which means that when police don't do their jobs well, it's hard to improve. People I've spoken with steadily emphasize that they want a different kind of policing than the aggressive approaches they typically see - one that values their humanity. They want officers to be solicitous and kind, and not to open otherwise mundane encounters with inflammatory profanity and aggression, such as unlawfully rifling through detainees' belongings. We heard the same thing from our sample of high-risk perpetrators and victims of gun violence, including Jay: Although the young men were extremely critical of officers - often in raw, emotional terms - they did allow themselves to imagine the benefits of improved police-community relations. For instance, these otherwise disaffected young men yearned for a day when New York police officers would safeguard the futures of children in low-income neighborhoods as they would their own. There is reason to be optimistic that crime-reduction strategies can be both effective and just. For instance, there's compelling evidence that focused deterrence strategies, like Boston's Operation Ceasefire, can hold violent offenders accountable and provide tailored social services for those willing to leave their dangerous lifestyles behind. Operation Ceasefire began in the 1990s in response to intensifying public concern about skyrocketing youth violence. It devoted increased law enforcement attention and a wide range of social services to a small number of high-risk offenders, who were deemed responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime. Ceasefire was credited with an almost two-thirds monthly drop in Boston youth homicides during the 1990s. The program in Boston ended in the early 2000s, but the model has been implemented in several other cities since then, mostly under the direction of the National Network for Safe Communities. Focused deterrence models enjoy an advantage over more divisive crime-reduction strategies (e.g., stop and frisk or "broken windows") because, rather than casting a wide net of criminal suspicion over entire black neighborhoods, they rely on data to identify high-risk individuals and groups for intervention and customized social services, such as GED classes, workforce training and substance-abuse counseling. Instead of yielding to mounting political pressure to defund police, city leaders could embrace innovative strategies that enlist the help of community partners with expertise and training that officers might lack (e.g., crisis intervention, mental health, homelessness, substance abuse), even though police now frequently respond to calls involving such matters. The cries to "defund the police" may play out differently in different locations, too. One county might shift financial resources from the public safety budget to community stakeholders, who are well equipped to deal with enduring societal problems. In another region, a backlash against the policing profession might lead elected officials to carelessly raid the police budget, further undermining agencies already struggling to meet their public safety obligations. The first scenario considers how best to reallocate limited resources, prioritizing persistent crime and disorder problems; the second could expose the most vulnerable residents to increased lawlessness, leaving them even less protected than before. One thing is abundantly clear, however: Police agencies serving low-crime, affluent neighborhoods - tranquil places arguably least in need of law enforcement protection - will continue to enjoy healthy operating budgets, inadvertently sanctioning age-old structural inequality. And it will be poorer people living in higher-crime neighborhoods who have to live with the consequences of whatever lawmakers decide to do. --- Brunson is the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. professor of public life in the school of criminology and criminal justice and the department of political science at Northeastern University. On Wednesday night, not long after President Donald Trump declared his administration will not even consider" renaming several military bases named after Confederate leaders, the Republican-led Senate Armed Services Committee backed an amendment proposed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren requiring the Pentagon to rename the facilities in three years. The Pentagon has been under increasing pressure to change the bases names amid protests over generations of systemic racial injustice and the death of George Floyd. Several states and cities have removed Confederate statues in recent years, and the U.S. Marine Corps banned the display of Confederate symbols earlier this year. Several military leaders and Democratic and Republican lawmakers have recently called for renaming the facilities so they no longer honored traitors to the Union. But Trump on Wednesday vehemently dismissed such concerns in an announcement on Twitter, suggesting that the Fabled Military Installations named after Confederate leaders who lost the Civil War after fighting to protect slavery had become a part of a history of Winning, Victory and Freedom. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the president believed any name change would dishonor the service of Americans who trained at the bases and fought in two World Wars. Those that deny their history are doomed to repeat it! Trump tweeted Thursday morning. THOSE THAT DENY THEIR HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2020 The facilities include Fort Bragg in North Carolina; Forts Benning and Gordon in Georgia; Forts Picket, A.P. Hill and Lee in Virginia; Fort Rucker in Alabama; Fort Polk and Camp Beauregard in Louisiana; and Fort Hood in Texas. Last week, Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, filed an amendment to the annual defense bill calling on the renaming of all bases named for Confederate generals. The GOP-led Senate Armed Services Committee voted in favor of Warrens amendment, Roll Call reported on Wednesday night. Last week, I filed an amendment to the annual defense bill to rename all bases named for Confederate generals. Yesterday, Senate Armed Services Committee members reached an agreement: the US military must rename those military installations within 3 years. Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) June 11, 2020 Thats not all, Warren said Thursday. Under this new agreement, the Pentagon would be required to remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States from all @DeptofDefense assets ships, barracks and other military property. Changing the names wont erase the history of slavery and legacy of white supremacy in the US, Warren added, noting that lawmakers continued to push for new policies, oversight and accountability to root out systemic racism." But its long past time to stop honoring this ugly legacy, she said. Im still urging our military leaders to take action now, and to be thoughtful about who we memorialize going forward. We should honor the contributions of Black, Brown, Native, & women servicemembers and others who have served. Im grateful that the Armed Services Committee is taking this step forward. Donald Trump should listen to his own party members and Pentagon leaders who recognize that its time to respect generations of loyal US servicemembers and rename these bases. Trump responded by pulling out his slur nickname for Warren, Pocahontas, jabbing again at her claims in the 1980s that she is Native American. He also described her as a seriously failed presidential candidate, called the military bases legendary and expressed hope that our great Republican Senators wont fall for this amendment. There is always a history that we dont want to forget, Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told CNN. With regard to that I agree with the President that we dont want to forget our history. But at the same time, that doesnt mean that we should continue with those bases with the names of individuals who fought against our country. The amendment may not make it to the final defense authorization bill, a measure thats passed for 59 straight years but now faces a potential veto by the president. Related Content: Pacific Gas & Electric, the California utility that is hoping to resolve its bankruptcy filing in the coming weeks, said on Friday that it had agreed to give victims of wildfires caused by its equipment more stock in the company than an earlier agreement had called for. The deal will leave the roughly 70,000 homeowners and businesses that lost properties to the fires owning 22.19 percent of PG&Es stock once it settles its bankruptcy, the company said in a securities filing. That is up from the 20 percent agreed to by the company and lawyers representing victims in December. PG&E had promised to pay victims an estimated $13.5 billion, half in cash and half in stock. But the companys stock price, which closed Friday at $11.02, has fallen nearly 40 percent since early February. Some victims and their lawyers were worried that they would end up with less than the targeted amount. In the filing, the company said a trust that will manage the stock for wildfire victims can start selling shares 90 days after it receives them. And lawyers for victims said they expected PG&E to make cash payments within 60 days after it exited bankruptcy. First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill at the daily briefing People who live alone will be allowed to stay at one other household from tomorrow as part of a raft of lockdown relaxation measures. First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill announced yesterday that, following advice from medical and scientific experts, the Executive had agreed to move forward in a number of areas. This came after one person died from Covid-19 following four days of no reported deaths here. The death toll now stands at 538. There were also four new cases of the virus, bringing the total number of cases since the outbreak began to 4,822. Relaxations agreed by the Executive yesterday include: People living alone and who are not shielding will be able to spend the night in one other household from tomorrow. All retailers, including those in shopping centres, will be able to reopen today. People will be able to view properties and move home. Elite athletes will be allowed to start training again from June 15. Child care centres in places such as church halls and community centres can begin operating from today. The number of people who can meet outside is increased from six to 10, with social distancing measures in place. The Department of Health announced before yesterday's Covid-19 briefing that the local infection rate stood between 0.5 and 0.9, allowing the Executive to ease the restrictions. Speaking during the briefing, DUP leader Mrs Foster said the risk of further waves of Covid-19 was "very real" and that the public must continue to be cautious to avoid overwhelming the health system. She added that relaxations for people working in close contact occupations, such as driving instructors and hairdressers, would be considered in due course. The Executive will next week discuss bringing forward the date on which caravan parks, hotels and restaurants will be allowed to reopen. Commenting on the one-metre versus two-metre social distancing argument, Mrs Foster said the Executive had held a detailed discussion. "Obviously, people have a lot of questions around what we need to do to facilitate schools, our tourism sector and many other sectors," she said. "We are living with the virus and we're going to be living with the virus for some time to come. "As well as talking about the two-metre and-one metre rule today, we spent a little time looking at 'what-if' scenarios in terms of what if the infection number went above 1 again? What would that look like? "That's something we always have to keep in the back of our mind because whilst, of course, we want to open up and get back to normality, we have to say to people that we do have to be cautious and we do have to take it step by step. "It's all about the cumulative impact of these relaxations. We don't (want) the virus to get to a situation where it's transmitting again in the community." Sinn Fein vice-president Mrs O'Neill said that while she understood that people wanted to return to normal life, the pandemic was not over. "We're still in the midst of this. We have to be careful. We have to keep making progress, but we have to be gradual about it," she added. "We have always said that we won't allow things to continue for longer than necessary, so this is a piece of work that is kept continually under review. We just need to remind people (of the danger). The information we got from the scientific officer around a potential second wave... we have to be very careful around all these things." Health Minister Robin Swann said that the relaxation measures came with a "serious responsibility" for everyone to strictly follow public health guidelines. "I urge everyone not to underestimate the threat of this virus or the possibility of a second wave of infection and keep working with us until Covid-19 is defeated," he said. Ben Collins, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations, welcomed the announcement that the housing market was to reopen. IQM Finland Oy (IQM), a European startup which makes hardware for quantum computers, has raised a 15M equity investment round from the EIC Accelerator program for the development of quantum computers. This is in addition to a raise of 3.3M from the Business Finland government agency. This takes the company's funding to over 32M. The company previously raised a 11.4M seed round. IQM has hired a lot of engineers in its short life, and now says it plans to hire one quantum engineer per week on the pathway to commercializing its technology through the collaborative design of quantum-computing hardware and applications. Dr. Jan Goetz, CEO and co-founder of IQM said: Quantum computers will be funded by European governments, supporting IQM s expansion strategy to build quantum computers in Germany, in a statement. The news comes as the Finnish government announced - only last week - that it would acquire a quantum computer with 20.7M for the Finnish State Research center VTT. It has been a mind-blowing forty-million past week for quantum computers in Finland. IQM staff is excited to work together with VTT, Aalto University, and CSC in this ecosystem, rejoices Prof. Mikko Mottonen, Chief Scientist and co-founder of IQM. Previously, the German government said it would put 2bn into commissioning at least two quantum computers. IQM thus now plans to expand its operations in Germany via its team in Munich. IQM will build co-design quantum computers for commercial applications and install testing facilities for quantum processors, said Prof. Enrique Solano, CEO of IQM Germany. The company is focusing on superconducting quantum processors, which are streamlined for commercial applications in a Co-Design approach. This works by providing the full hardware stack for a quantum computer, integrating different technologies, and then invites collaborations with quantum software companies. IQM was one of the 72 to succeed in the selection process of the EIC. Altogether 3969 companies applied for this funding. Credit: Harvard Medical School Why do some people fall ill from SARS-CoV-2 while others infected with the virus experience no symptoms? Why do some people develop neurological, cardiovascular or gastrointestinal symptoms while infection sticks to the respiratory system in others? Since older age and underlying health conditions put people at greater risk of becoming seriously sick or dying from COVID-19, why do some young and otherwise healthy people barely survive the disease, while some elderly people with multiple risk factors weather it with only minor symptoms? In addition to individual behavior, preexisting conditions and sheer luck, answers could lie in people's genes. "We have an opportunity to see if there are gene variants that distinguish people who are more susceptible to the virus from those who are more resistant," said Ting Wu, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School. Geneticists, including many in the Blavatnik Institute at HMS, have joined scientists across disciplines to investigate critical questions like these as the COVID-19 pandemic engulfs the globe, infecting millions and killing hundreds of thousands. They work day and night to understand the new coronavirus in the hope that their insights will help fellow researchers identify or design effective treatments, develop vaccines, track infections and prevent future illness and death. While most on-campus research at HMS ramped down in March to safeguard community health, a handful of labs in the Department of Genetics secured permission to continue limited in-person operations for projects that could have immediate impact on the COVID-19 pandemic. Others have found ways to contribute from home. "We're all trying to throw our expertise at this," said Jenny Yan, a biological and biomedical sciences Ph.D. student at HMS specializing in genetics and genomics. While some HMS geneticists scrutinize the human genome, others are analyzing the genome of the virus to track the spread of different lineages around the world and help determine whether any mutations affect the virus's potency. Some are studying gene dynamics in cell cultures and animal models to uncover clues about how the body responds to the virus at the molecular level, whether that's granting entry to SARS-CoV-2 or sparking a cascade that leads to tissue and organ damage or runaway inflammation. Still others are applying their knowledge of DNA- and RNA-based technologies to improve existing tests and develop new ones that can diagnose COVID-19 or detect evidence of past infection. It's not clear which of these experiments will yield useful information, nor how quickly. In science, after all, failures outnumber successes, and discovery takes time. What keeps the researchers going is the possibility of making discoveries or developing tools that identify weaknesses in the virus or strengths in the human body, inform public policy, protect human health today or help prevent future pandemics. "The virus has caused so much suffering and economic downturn, we should shoot everything at it that we can," said Harald Ringbauer, HMS postdoctoral research fellow in genetics. "It's important right now to learn more about the virus and its behavior, and genetics has a huge potential to teach us these things." In search of genetic outliers Getting a complete picture of which genes, if any, affect human susceptibility to the new coronavirus will take a long time and the analysis of many thousands of people's genomes. In the meantime, Wu and colleagues are getting a jump start by using an existing resource, the Personal Genome Project (PGP), and by looking at the edge cases, the extremes. "We're fishing for genetic outliersthose who are way out on the ends of the COVID-19 bell curve," said George Church, the Robert Winthrop Professor of Genetics at HMS and a founding core faculty member of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, whose lab is pursuing multiple endeavors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. "We don't necessarily need to do a deep dive on 7 billion people to help us predict who's likelier to get sick or who's asymptomatic but shouldn't be exposed to other people because they're still shedding virus," he said. Launched in 2005 in the Church lab and now spanning multiple countries, the PGP invites volunteers to share their health and genetic information for scientific research. The program currently includes more than 6,000 participants, about 500 of whom have uploaded their complete genome sequences. Church is one of them. The team plans to fish for clues in self-reported data collected from participants, such as ZIP code, gender, race and ethnicity, health conditions and smoking and vaping behavior as well as details about any COVID-19 symptoms, test results and potential exposures to the virus. If individual participants stand out, the team can analyze any DNA they've submitted. Wu also envisions recruiting more participants in COVID-19 hotspots to help uncover relevant gene variants, using survey results to prioritize participants for gene sequencing. If the PGP team or other researchers do find variants that raise or lower risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19, it's possible that people could then be tested for those variants. That could in turn make it easier to determine who can most safely work on the front lines in certain industries and who should be more protected, said Wu, as well as who should take extra precautions in communities, such as people found to be at high risk of carrying and spreading the virus without experiencing symptoms themselves. The PGP offers only one of many ways to probe the genetics of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It has its weaknessesfor one, the repository is smaller than other international genetic databasesbut it has already received IRB approval and boasts an eager patient base. "PGP is unique in its readiness," said Wu, who is also an associate faculty member of the Wyss. "This round may or may not generate any useful results, but it shows how well an existing program can be prepared to act on emerging needsand how planning ahead can be helpful." "With enough attention and funding, programs like this can be poised to respond to the next pandemic," she added. Project team members are Sarah Wait Zaranek, Alexander Wait Zaranek, Ranjan Ahuja, Michael Chou, Jason Bobe, Preston Estep and Jeantine Lunshof. Insights from ancient-DNA research What does the migration of groups of early humans out of Africa have to do with the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in 2020? Similar genome-analysis techniques are illuminating both. As SARS-CoV-2 infects people and replicates, the individual viruses evolve, acquiring genetic mutations. Different sets of mutations begin to distinguish different lineages of the virus, which can be linked to different parts of the world. Tracking these mutations allows researchers to study how the virus is moving around. Viruses sampled from a cluster of patients in Baton Rouge, for example, might share a unique genetic fingerprint, indicating local spread of SARS-CoV-2, while a patient in New York City might harbor a version of the virus almost identical to one circulating in Italy, suggesting that human travel contributed to infection. The genetic sequencing and computational techniques used to follow the movement of SARS-CoV-2 lineages and tie them to specific locations resemble those used to reconstruct how groups of people tens of thousands of years ago were related to one another and how they moved around the globe based on DNA recovered from ancient human bones. That's no coincidence: Many of the tools used in ancient-DNA research were first developed for virology. HMS geneticists accustomed to probing prehistory are now turning their talents to COVID-19. "We're hoping to reinfuse into virology the expertise we've gained from studying ancient DNA," said postdoc Ringbauer, who is based in the lab of ancient-DNA specialist David Reich, professor of genetics at HMS. Reich also holds appointments at Harvard University and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. "There are already, of course, great scientists working on the new coronavirus," said Ringbauer. "We just hope we can contribute a little." Ancient-DNA researchers have several skills to offer, such as familiarity with analyzing big data sets. When scientists studied Zika and Ebola virus strains in the last decade, they worked with a few hundred sequences, said Ringbauer. As of June 10, more than 42,000 genome sequences have been collected for SARS-CoV-2. The virus replicates by cloning its RNA, creating identical copies of itself (except for any new mutations). Most human DNA, by contrast, replicates by recombining, the mixing of genetic material from two parents. But ancient-DNA researchers also specialize in studying the two exceptions to this rule: Y chromosomes, which are passed from male parent to male offspring without recombining, and mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited wholesale from the mother. Tracking similarities and differences in Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA, which evolve like viral RNA, have made it possible to narrow down the timing of out-of-Africa and other migrations and reconstruct maternal and paternal family trees across millennia, just as tracking viral RNA from patient to patient can reconstruct the SARS-CoV-2 family tree in real time. When they've finished collecting and cleaning up the data, Ringbauer and Reich will analyze SARS-CoV-2 genomes with the goal of helping researchers answer many questions about the pandemic, including: How mobile is the virus? How many flames is it fanning with sparks that originated locally versus far away? Are most cases caused by a few super-spreaders, or do most people have a few interactions on average with those who've been infected? And do any of the mutations change the virus's behavior, making it easier or harder to transmit or more or less likely to cause diseaseessentially creating a new strain? Fly fishing Viruses can't infect people unless some of our cells let them in. Certain proteins on cell surfaces grant entry to SARS-CoV-2, while others inside the cell get co-opted to help the virus replicate. By uncovering each of the proteins at play, scientists provide new opportunities to find drugs that act on the proteins and make it harder for the virus to gain a foothold. Researchers have identified major culprits, such as the ACE2 receptor and molecular scissors known as TMPRSS2, that roll out a welcome mat for the new coronavirus. Three HMS researchers contributed to an international study in Nature Medicine in April detailing the activity of genes that make these proteins in cells lining the airways, blood vessels, heart, cornea and intestine. The contributors were Deborah Hung, HMS professor of genetics at Massachusetts General Hospital; Christine Seidman, the Thomas W. Smith Professor of Medicine at HMS and Brigham and Women's Hospital; and Jonathan Seidman, the Henrietta B. and Frederick H. Bugher Foundation Professor of Genetics at HMS. But the list of genes and proteins may not yet be complete. Norbert Perrimon, the James Stillman Professor of Developmental Biology at HMS, hopes to add to it using genetic screens of fruit fly cells. Why fly cells? For one thing, human and other mammalian genomes are complex; a single gene can make more than one protein, and a single protein can be made by more than one gene. Fly genomes are simpler, making it easier to flag the true actors involved in viral entry. "We might identify proteins in the fly that have equivalents in humans but that would have been missed from mammalian studies," said Perrimon. Many, but not all, basic biologic mechanisms discovered in flies also hold true for other organisms, including people. If Perrimon's team can generate a list of genes and proteins that seem to be related to SARS-CoV-2 entry in fly cells, researchers can compare it to lists generated from human and mammalian studies and use the overlaps to home in on the factors most likely to prove important. The team needs to clear a few hurdles first, though. For instance, flies in the wild don't get COVID-19, so Perrimon and research fellow in genetics Raghuvir (Ram) Viswanatha must find out whether fly cells let in SARS-CoV-2 particles naturally. If not, the researchers will engineer the cells to express human ACE2 and TMPRSS2, and if that does the trick, they can then watch which additional genes kick into gear as the virus makes its way inside. The idea isn't so farfetched. Flies don't get the flu, either, but the same technique has allowed scientists to use the insects to learn about how the influenza virus enters cells. "If it works, we should get some interesting results," said Perrimon. "If not, well, that's the end of the project." If the fly cells do grant entry to SARS-CoV-2 one way or the other, Viswanatha will use a platform he developed based on the gene editing tool CRISPR to swiftly identify all the genes that appear to be involved. Viswanatha was using the platform earlier this year to uncover proteins that fly cells use to let in an insect pathogen when scientists announced that some of the same proteins might be involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although the researchers aren't sure their experiment will pan out, they have enough confidence to believe it's worth a try. "If we could find new factors involved in the entry of the virus that lead to a complete 'parts list,' that would be a good achievement," said Perrimon. "We would be happy." When Jenny Yan and colleagues began studying RNAmolecules that translate DNA's instructions into proteinsin Caenorhabditis elegans worms, she didn't expect that the team's findings might become relevant to a global pandemic. "We're a very basic science lab," said Yan, a research assistant in the lab of Scott Kennedy, the Philip and Aya Leder Professor of Genetics at HMS. "We're interested in things like gene expression and worm biology." Many RNAs end in a string of repeating adenine bases: a so-called poly(A) tail. In May in the journal Nature, Kennedy's group reported that they found a previously unknown type of RNA with a repeating uracil and guanine tail in C. elegans. The researchers dubbed them poly(UG) or pUG RNAs. Both pUG and poly(A) tails allow RNAs to recruit other proteins that perform important jobs, such as RNA polymerase, which makes copies of RNA molecules. The week the researchers posted their manuscript on a preprint server in Dec. 2019, the first case of what is now known as COVID-19 was reported in China. It soon became clear that SARS-CoV-2 belongs to a family of viruses with genomes made of RNA rather than DNA. Countless groups jumped to apply knowledge of RNA to combat the new threat. Kennedy wondered if his team could contribute. A few researchers in the lab are now trying to find out: Does the coronavirus contain pUG RNAs? If so, what does it use them for? And can they then become a treatment target? The team has detected a few promising signs so far, but the work has only just begun, and it's not yet clear whether the initial signals are real. "It's enough to be motivating, but we're not convinced yet," said Yan. "It's still very preliminary. We have some hints we need to verify." If SARS-CoV-2 does use pUG RNAs to recruit RNA polymerase, scientists could then try to disrupt the signals that attach the tail or recruit the enzyme so the virus can't replicate. If the virus contains pUG RNAs but they don't behave the same way as in worms, Kennedy and colleagues have a few other guesses as to what the molecules might be doing and how those might suggest antiviral strategies. And if the researchers don't detect any pUG RNAs, the lab will likely return its full attention to the work it was pursuing pre-pandemicunless new inspiration strikes. "That's the beautiful thing about research; you don't know where a project will take you," said Yan. Testing, testing Testing for current or past SARS-CoV-2 infection is a cornerstone of understanding and controlling the spread of COVID-19, but testing capacity and reliability in the U.S. have not yet met the nation's needs. Researchers are trying to change that. The lab of Stephen Elledge, the Gregor Mendel Professor of Genetics and of Medicine at HMS and Brigham and Women's, has updated its comprehensive antibody-detection tool, VirScan, to flag past exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in blood samples and help immunologists and epidemiologists better gauge the virus's lethality, population exposure rates, and short- and long-term effects on the immune system. Elledge received MassCPR funding for these efforts. The Church lab has joined nationwide efforts to build faster, cheaper, more accessible tests to diagnose COVID-19. So have the labs of Connie Cepko, the Bullard Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at HMS, and Steven McCarroll, the Dorothy and Milton Flier Professor of Biomedical Science and Genetics at HMS. Brian Rabe, a Ph.D. candidate in biological and biomedical sciences in the Cepko lab, is adapting an existing assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 in patient samples in half an hour and without the need for specialized equipment or training. The work builds on Cepko's expertise in using viruses as research tools. Rabe and colleagues are working on improvements such as stabilizing and deactivating viral particles in patient samples. If they can make the necessary changes, the researchers hope the test could eventually be deployed in doctor's offices and other health care facilities. Meanwhile, research assistant in genetics Curtis Mello and other members of McCarroll's team have focused on a different technologynanoliter droplets combined with digital PCRto more precisely measure and characterize viral RNA in patient samples and thus provide more reliable COVID-19 diagnoses. The method is designed to distinguish large viral RNA molecules, which are produced by live, replicating viruses, from fragmented viral RNA, which may be shed long after an active infection. Current tests, by contrast, typically deliver a positive result if they detect any viral RNA, whether whole or broken. This could explain at least some of the cases where people test positive for COVID-19 even though their symptoms have faded, the researchers said. In McCarroll's technique, individual patient samples get enclosed in microscopic droplets along with chemicals required for amplifying and detecting genetic material from the coronavirus. Tens of thousands of these droplets can be analyzed simultaneously. Droplets are engineered to glow if they contain SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Those that contain long, intact pieces of RNA glow in multiple colors. Glowing droplets get counted digitally as they flow through a microfluidic device. Digital counting should provide more accurate results than traditional PCR (polymerase chain reaction), the standard method for amplifying genetic material, the researchers said. The goals are to assist epidemiologists, help measure infectiousness at different points throughout illness and quickly detect active virus particles on surfaces so people can keep spaces safe for living and working. Additional lab members working on the project are Nolan Kamitaki, research associate in genetics, and Heather de Rivera, researcher in natural science. The research is supported by the HMS Department of Genetics. Sonia Kruger has been dropped from Mamamia's beauty podcast, You Beauty. As reported by The Daily Telegraph on Friday, administrators announced on Facebook that they have removed her episode this week on sensitive skin. The lifestyle website informed followers that the decision was based on Kruger's past comments relating to Muslim immigration, that some found to be 'deeply hurtful'. 'Her views are something we would never endorse': Sonia Kruger, 54, has been DROPPED from a popular podcast - following her controversial comments on Muslim immigration during a Today show segment in 2016. Pictured on the Big Brother set 'We have made the decision to take down the episode of You Beauty featuring Sonia Kruger,' The Daily Telegraph revealed the Facebook post to have read. 'We want to thank you for your feedback and pointing out that Sonia's past views on topics including Muslim immigration were deeply hurtful to so many people. 'These views are something Mamamia would never endorse. We understand that some of you believed our inclusion of Sonia in this episode meant we condoned her views which is absolutely and utterly not the case.' Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Kruger's management for comment. Taking a stand: As reported by The Daily Telegraph on Friday, Mamamia's You Beauty administrators announced on Facebook that they have removed her episode this week on sensitive skin In February last year, a tribunal found Kruger, 54, vilified Muslims when she called for Australia to close its borders to followers of Islam because she 'didn't feel safe'. The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal delivered their decision almost three years after Kruger's explosive comments were made on the Today Show in July 2016. The tribunal found Kruger's 'vilifying remarks' had the ability to 'encourage hatred towards, or serious contempt for, Australian Muslims by ordinary members of the Australian population'. Australian Muslim man Sam Ekermawi filed the complaint saying Channel Nine had vilified 'ethnic Muslim Australians'. Comments: A tribunal found Kruger vilified Muslims when she called for Australia to close its borders to followers of Islam on the Today Show in 2016 (pictured alongside Lisa Wilkinson and David Campbell) Kruger shocked former colleagues David Campbell and Lisa Wilkinson when she discussed a column written by conservative commentator Andrew Bolt following a terrorist attack in Nice on Bastille Day. 'I mean, personally, I think Andrew Bolt has a point here, that there is a correlation between the number of people who are Muslim in a country and the number of terrorist attacks,' she said. 'Now I have a lot of very good friends who are Muslim, who are peace-loving who are beautiful people, but there are fanatics. 'Personally I would like to see it (immigration) stopped now for Australia. Because I want to feel safe, as all of our citizens do, when they go out to celebrate Australia Day.' Complaint: Australian Muslim man Sam Ekermawi filed the complaint saying Channel Nine had vilified 'ethnic Muslim Australians' The tribunal decided Kruger was 'calm and measured' in her comments and believed she made it clear she did not think every Muslim person was a fanatic. 'Broadly, the Tribunal accepts that the purpose of the discussion in question was to have a debate about the size of the Australian Muslim population, the levels of Muslim migration and whether an increase in the level of either increases the likelihood of future terrorist attacks in Australia,' the Tribunal said. 'Further, the Tribunal accepts that to have a public discussion on such matters was in the public interest.' While the tribunal accepted Kruger and Nine acted in good faith and without malice, they could not accept that her remarks were 'reasonable'. Not racial: But the tribunal dismissed a racial vilification complaint, determining the-then Channel Nine host did not engage in directing the controversial comments towards a race but rather a religious group 'The principal difficulty we have with Ms Kruger's comments is that she suggests that 500,000 'Australian Muslims' is too many and that, in and of itself, such a number of Muslims living in Australia poses a safety threat to persons in Australia,' the Tribunal said. 'Consistently with this proposition, Ms Kruger concludes that all Muslim migration should be stopped because any addition to the number of Muslims in Australia increases the risk of terrorist attacks.' Kruger told her co-workers that Japan has a population of 174 million people and 100,000 Muslims and the country never suffers terrorist attacks. The Tribunal said Kruger's view about the Australian Muslim population and future Muslim migration was unsupported by any evidence placed before the Tribunal. New Delhi, June 12 : The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has expressed his displeasure with the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government in Haryana over "soft-pedaling" of alleged persecution of Dalits and religious conversion of Hindus in the Mewat region of the state. VHP sources said the Hindu group did not expect an "indifferent attitude" of the state government, that too when Khattar himself comes from the 'Sangh' background. A VHP delegation had met the Chief Minister last month, but the government has not taken any step in investigating the cases nor has it filed cases against the suspects. "We fail to understand the compulsions of the government; it only reflects the indifference of the ruling dispensation," said a VHP leader. "Anti-Hindu elements in Mewat feel encouraged by the government's attitude. No Hindus are left in over 100 villages of that region. We are capable of protecting Hindus' interests and are not dependent on any government. But we hope the government would fulfill its responsibility," VHP's national spokesperson Vinod Bansal told IANS. Located around 75 km south of Delhi, Mewat district was carved out of Gurugram and Faridabad in 2005 by the Congress government. In 2016, the Khattar government changed its name to Nuh. The VHP and other Sangh outfits have alleged large-scale religious conversion and Dalit persecution in some villages of Mewat. VHP's Joint General Secretary Surendra Jain led a team and met the CM last month and handed him a startling report that claimed that Hindus have migrated from 103 villages out of the total 500 and the community is reduced to a "hopeless minority" in 84 other villages. Parishad leaders said the CM had assured them of investigation into the matter. "The police in that region do not register cases involving kidnapping of Dalit girls and sexual assaults on them. Large chunks of land are being forcibly registered in others' names and temples are being taken over, forcing migration of Hindus. But now the government will not only have to pay attention to such criminal acts, but also act decisively against the perpetrators," said Surendra Jain. Bansal said former Justice Pawan Kumar has investigated incidents of Dalit persecution and a team, formed at VHP's instance and led by G.D. Bakshi, has submitted its report. National Commission for Scheduled Castes executive member Dr Ramshankar Katheria too has visited the area and investigated the cases. "Anti-national activities are continuing in the area which has now become a hub of Rohingya Muslims. Funding from Pakistan has enabled many five-star madrasas to function from the region. In one instance in 2018, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a youth in a case of Laskhkar-e-Taiba (LeT)-funded madrasa. Since this area is close to the national capital, the probe agencies must keep a close watch on it," said Bansal. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. Back in March, Frame 2000 owner Sam Moaven was in an unenviable position. Sales were falling off a cliff and, as a non-essential business, his picture-framing store had to close. "Framing is a luxury item," Moaven said. "So people have to have extra money to spend. It's not a necessity." He kept the storefront open so customers could pick up previous orders. But then in late April, the police showed up and told them to stop everything. Moaven began waking up at 2 or 3 in the morning, wondering how his business would survive, and how he could continue to pay his employees. And then he had an idea: He had been noticing that grocery stores were putting up sneeze guards -- sheets of plexiglass that keep customers from breathing on cashiers and vice versa. He thought, I have plexiglass. I can make those. Moaven tinkered with the design before finding something that worked, and then he began telling former customers he could make sneeze guards. It made him an essential business and revived his sales. Now, sneeze guards are pretty much all he sells. icon DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS Get our daily newsletters for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Moaven, who immigrated from Iran as a teenager, said this entrepreneurial mindset is in his blood. "It's just the way that my brain is wired," he said. "Find out some way, somehow, a solution to the problem." It seems to be in the blood of many business owners I've been following since the start of the pandemic. GOING TOWARDS 100% ONLINE Jack Jacob Sapar inside his store, Fabric Planet. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) The last time I spoke with the owner of Fabric Planet, Jack Jacob Sapar, it was late April, and his store was crowded with people buying cotton, elastic and scissors to make masks at home. He was also doing a brisk business selling masks he made in-store. Since then, in-store sales have leveled off. But online orders of mask-making materials are booming. "This really showed us that the retail economy is going towards 100% online," Sapar said. "So we're really putting our focus in that direction." As we talked, two employees cut yards of cotton cloth and stuffed packages with quarter-inch elastic to mail to customers around the country. It's always been a struggle for Sapar to make rent in pricey Venice, even before the pandemic. Now, he hopes online sales will help keep his brick-and-mortar store open. WE DON'T FEEL SAFE OFFERING SAMPLES YET The Venice location of Wanderlust Creamery. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) Down the street, Wanderlust Creamery owner JP Lopez has also made the shift to online sales. He's been shocked by how many people want to pay $12 plus shipping for hand-packed pints of artisanal ice cream kept cold by dry ice and styrofoam. "We would create a couple thousand pints in inventory, and we would open up our website and it would sell out in an hour," he said, "which is really cool." On May 29, Wanderlust began selling ice cream by the scoop again, but he's still not letting customers eat inside, or sample different flavors -- even though those both are now allowed under L.A. County's latest health order. The idea is to limit the amount of time customers spend inside, and to reduce physical contact with employees. While some people are speedy samplers, Lopez said others will spend upwards of five minutes trying 10 or more flavors. Occasionally, he told me, customers refuse to wear masks, even though it's a county requirement. "They'll argue with our employees with regards to whether a mask is an effective means of stopping the virus," he said. "And it's like just not a conversation an employee should be having with a customer." He's even gotten negative Yelp reviews when employees try to enforce social distancing rules. A NO-WIN SITUATION Trevor Plough is a barber at the Venice location of Manly & Sons. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) Some businesses along Lincoln Blvd. have been less able to pivot or sell their goods online -- such as barbershops, which weren't allowed to reopen until May 29. But now that they can reopen, business seems to be trickling back. When I visited the Lincoln Blvd. branch of Manly & Sons earlier this week, there were two men getting haircuts, and the store was loud with buzzing and blow drying. Trevor Plough rents a barber chair there. We sat six feet apart on empty leather couches where, previously, guys would drink beer and hang out before their appointments. There are a lot of social distancing rules that barbers are supposed to enforce: keep people outside before their appointment; ensure they are wearing masks; conduct temperature checks; no shaves or beard trims. Sometimes, it can get awkward, Plough said. Customers try to enter the barbershop before their appointment. Or, they really want their beard trimmed. In fact, as we spoke, a maskless man was getting his beard trimmed. It seemed like a no-win situation: If you're too strict, some customers get mad. If you're too lax, other customers get mad. "It's just hard to stay on top of everything, because it's only our first week," Plough said. He hoped customers would learn the rules so the responsibility of enforcing them wouldn't fall exclusively to the barbers. A SLOW REBOUND Enrique Catalan, owner of Globe Cleaners. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) When Enrique Catalan bought Globe Cleaners, he thought dry cleaning would be recession-proof. But it turned out to not be coronavirus-induced recession-proof. In late April, after six weeks of stay-at-home orders, business had fallen more than 70%. Large corporate clients had disappeared. And with most people at home in yoga pants and sweats, no one needed suits or dress clothes cleaned. Things started to turn around in May, however. Catalan recently got a wave of people bringing in comforters and bed linens to be dry cleaned. He said business is now down by only half, compared to the pre-coronavirus levels. The slow rebound is sustainable, for now, Catalan said, because his landlord allowed him to defer paying rent. But he knows he has to pay it all back eventually. Erin Fangmann grew up in a military family, has been married to a captain in the Air Force for 18 years and has voted Republican all her life, including for Donald J. Trump. But as with a number of other veterans, troops and military family members who have watched the president with alarm, her support has evaporated. He has hurt the military, said Ms. Fangmann, who lives in Arizona, one of several states in play this November with a high percentage of veterans and active-duty service members. Bringing in active-duty members to the streets was a test to desensitize people to his future use of the military for his personal benefit. I think the silent majority among us is going to swing away. Since 2016, Mr. Trump has viewed veterans as a core slice of his base; in that years presidential election, about 60 percent voted for him, according to exit polls, and swing-state counties with especially high numbers of veterans helped him win. Many veterans and members of the military stuck with him even as he attacked the Vietnam War record of Senator John McCain, disparaged families of those killed in combat and denigrated generals whom he fired or drove from government service. Some conservative rank-and-file enlisted members silently agreed with Mr. Trump. But the presidents threat last week to use active-duty troops on American streets against largely peaceful protesters, and his flirtation with invoking the 1807 Insurrection Act, have rattled the military world, from its top leaders to its youngest veterans. If they break in significant numbers, they could carry political weight in key battleground states like Arizona, North Carolina and Ohio. Toto Wolff admits that Sebastian Vettel is not Mercedes' "first priority" when considering the team's driver lineup for 2021. Technical boss James Allison admitted this week it is "difficult to imagine" the quadruple world champion switching from Ferrari to Mercedes. And Valtteri Bottas' revealed that he received a "pretty straight message" from his bosses recently that "no, they are not considering Seb". Team boss Wolff now tells Osterreich newspaper: "I stick to what I said before. "Sebastian is a four-time world champion. He has helped shape the past decade and is now surprisingly on the market. "But right now the focus is on our drivers. Sebastian is not our first priority, but you should never rule it out," the Austrian added. (GMM) I want to bring back indoor dining as much as anybody, Pritzker said Monday at a news conference. I get that there are others who have allowed 50% or 25% seating. Thats something I want to get to, theres no doubt. And we think about it every day, and again, I push on the epidemiologists for the right answers here. The father of a three-month-old was arrested in connection to the death of the child who was found lifeless inside a submerged car in Texas. According to NY Daily News, the body was identified as Lyrik Aliyana Brown was recovered in the car seat of a car that was submerged in the Red River of Gainesville. A few hours before that, an Amber Alert was issued as the child was reported missing. Father of the child facing charges for murder In a report by the police, the girl's 30-year-old father has been arrested and is currently facing murder charges. According to Gainesville Register, on the evening of June 8, Jeremy Brown reportedly abducted his daughter. As of the moment he is facing charges for first-degree felony charges for murdering a child under 10 years old. If the suspect is found guilty of the charges, Sheriff Terry Gilbert of Cooke County said on Wednesday that the man could be facing the death penalty. The body of the three-month-old victim was recovered on the Red River on the 9th of June by personnel from Gainesville Fire-Rescue. On the same day that she was found, an Amber Alert was issued in search of Lyrik Brown, after a kidnapping report against her father was filed by the Gainesville Police Department. Read also: Vernal Man Shoots Another 8 Times; Says He Didn't Mean to Kill Him According to Gilbert, the cause of death of the child was drowning. However, the manner of how she dies still remains a mystery and is still being investigated. Fox 4 News also reported that the police department said that Jeremy brown was found next to a vehicle that has been overturned and has submerged in the river. Medical personnel then rushed to the scene and assessed him for injuries. After this, he was immediately taken into custody and was detained in Cooke County Jail on a warrant that was issued before he was found. Child kidnapped by the father after an argument with the mother Moreover, GDP stated that the warrant for kidnapping was filed after the police received a call from the child's mother on Monday night reporting that her daughter is currently in a vehicle with her boyfriend. According to the mother, she had an altercation with Jeremy Brown which became physical but she was able to get out of the vehicle in the middle of it. She also reported that the man also got out of the vehicle and continued to assault her before getting back in the car and fleeing the scene with their daughter still inside. The report also stated that the child's mother had minor injuries after the reported attack and was immediately treated and released. Aside from the murder charges, Jeremy Brown is also currently facing a third-degree charge on assaulting a family member. Cooke County Jail also indicated in their records that the suspect has a long criminal record since 2009, which has included charges of engaging in organized crime, delivery, and possession of paraphernalia for drug use, aggravated assault, and smuggling of firearms. Related article: New York Woman Arrested for Brutally Murdering 100-Year-Old Man With a Hammer @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams will sing their hearts out for Iceland in the first trailer for Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Ferrell and McAdams play the Icelandic duo Fire Saga, who are chosen to be the Icelandic representative for the iconic Eurovision Song Contest. The film was originally supposed to be released in May, to coincide with the real Eurovision Song Contest, which has been held annually since 1956, though it was canceled this year due to COVID-19, with Netflix now releasing the film on June 26. Trailer: Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams will sing their hearts out for Iceland in the first trailer for Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga Duo: Ferrell and McAdams play the Icelandic duo Fire Saga, who are chosen to be the Icelandic representative for the iconic Eurovision Song Contest The trailer begins with flashback footage of Lars Erickssong (Ferrell) and Sigrit Ericksdottir (McAdams) as kids watching the Eurovision Song Contest. Sigrit says in voice over that ever since they were children, 'we've had one dream,' which is winning the Eurovision Song Contest. Their group, Fire Saga, is seen performing at a local bar, but when Sigrit asks who wants to hear their Eurovision song, they collectively say no. Kids: The trailer begins with flashback footage of Lars Erickssong (Ferrell) and Sigrit Ericksdottir (McAdams) as kids watching the Eurovision Song Contest One dream: Sigrit says in voice over that ever since they were children, 'we've had one dream,' which is winning the Eurovision Song Contest No: Their group, Fire Saga, is seen performing at a local bar, but when Sigrit asks who wants to hear their Eurovision song, they collectively say no The trailer shows footage seemingly of Fire Saga's corny music videos, as Lars tells Sigrit that all of Iceland, 'thinks we're a joke. Sigrit assures him that's not true, but he continues saying his father (Pierce Brosnan) said he was ashamed of him, adding that he looked him in the eyes and said, 'I am ashamed of you.' Sigrit continues to try and reassure Lars, adding, 'Maybe he was drunk,' but apparently he said, 'And you might think I am drunk but I am dead sober.' Lars and Sigrit: The trailer shows footage seemingly of Fire Saga's corny music videos, as Lars tells Sigrit that all of Iceland, 'thinks we're a joke Ashamed: Sigrit assures him that's not true, but he continues saying his father (Pierce Brosnan) said he was ashamed of him, adding that he looked him in the eyes and said, 'I am ashamed of you' Not drunk: Sigrit continues to try and reassure Lars, adding, 'Maybe he was drunk,' but apparently he said, 'And you might think I am drunk but I am dead sober' The trailer cuts to a group of local officials who begrudgingly announce that Fire Saga is Iceland's official selection for Eurovision... when we see the group is berating the duo with them in the room. U.K. media personality Graham Norton then announces that the contest will feature performers from 42 countries and a 'worldwide audience of more than 180 million.' We then get introduced to one of Fire Saga's competitors, Alexander Lemtov (Dan Stevens), who compliments Sigrit, though Lars makes it clear they're a duo that will never break up. Announce: The trailer cuts to a group of local officials who begrudgingly announce that Fire Saga is Iceland's official selection for Eurovision... when we see the group is berating the duo with them in the room Graham: U.K. media personality Graham Norton then announces that the contest will feature performers from 42 countries and a 'worldwide audience of more than 180 million' Alexander: We then get introduced to one of Fire Saga's competitors, Alexander Lemtov (Dan Stevens), who compliments Sigrit, though Lars makes it clear they're a duo that will never break up Alexander adds that George Michael said the same about the 'other Wham guy and no one knows his name,' but Lars quickly states it's Andrew Ridgeley. Lars starts stuffing his tights to make his 'ding dong' look bigger, while encouraging Sigrit to pull off a camel toe. Lars tells Sigrit that they have to prove to Iceland and his 'extremely handsome father' that his life hasn't been a waste, but during their song, a harness snaps sending Lars falling to the stage, causing everyone in his hometown to laugh. Andrew: Alexander adds that George Michael said the same about the 'other Wham guy and no one knows his name,' but Lars quickly states it's Andrew Ridgeley Ding dong: Lars starts stuffing his tights to make his 'ding dong' look bigger, while encouraging Sigrit to pull off a camel toe Snaps: Lars tells Sigrit that they have to prove to Iceland and his 'extremely handsome father' that his life hasn't been a waste, but during their song, a harness snaps sending Lars falling to the stage, causing everyone in his hometown to laugh Lars and Sigrit share a moment sitting outside when Sigrit tries to kiss him, but he stops her, saying romance ruins every band like Fleetwood Mac, Ace of Base and Simon and Garfunkel. The trailer then cuts together a number of quick shots including one of Norton saying that Fire Saga is 'not giving up' as their hometown starts to cheer for them. The trailer ends with Alexander saying they don't have 'a single chance' of winning as Lars takes him down and tries to fight, but he can't stop laughing. Eurovision Song Contest also reunites McAdams with her Wedding Crashers director David Dobkin, with Ferrell co-writing the script with his longtime collaborator Andrew Steele (Casa de mi Padre, A Deadly Adoption). No romance: Lars and Sigrit share a moment sitting outside when Sigrit tries to kiss him, but he stops her, saying romance ruins every band like Fleetwood Mac, Ace of Base and Simon and Garfunkel Laughs: The trailer ends with Alexander saying they don't have 'a single chance' of winning as Lars takes him down and tries to fight, but he can't stop laughing TRENTON The Diocese of Trenton is facing numerous lawsuits alleging it failed time and again to prevent the sexual abuse of children. These civil-action complaints in Mercer County Superior Court are a microcosm of the widespread sex abuse scandals rocking the Roman Catholic Church worldwide. Its an epidemic in the Catholic Church, and it has been going on for centuries, attorney John W. Baldante told The Trentonian in an interview. The Catholic Church has largely ignored this behavior. Baldante represents at least 10 plaintiffs in lawsuits accusing the Diocese of Trenton of negligence, saying the institution failed to provide a safe environment and protective culture to children and other parishioners within the churches, sacristies, schools, rectories and other facilities overseen by the diocese. Airing its dirty laundry, the Diocese of Trenton last year publicly identified 31 former clergy members credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. Anyone who was sexually victimized as a minor by a priest or deacon of the Diocese of Trenton is strongly encouraged to participate in the IVCP, the diocese says on its website, referring to the New Jersey Independent Victim Compensation Program that compensates eligible victims who were sexually abused while minors by clergy of the Roman Catholic Church. Baldante says the IVCP initiative is a thinly veiled effort to settle atrocities cheaply. All of Baldantes clients demand more than $50 million in damages for the sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of former Trenton-area priests. When a child is sexually abused they are diminished, Baldante said. The humanity is diminished; their self-worth is diminished. This process, he said of the litigation, is to really force the church to respect them as a person, to restore the self-esteem, and to restore the humanity. The lawsuits Two of Baldantes cases highlight the abusive ways of Francis M. McGrath, 69, a former Diocese of Trenton priest at Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Hamilton and an ex-teacher at McCorristin Catholic High School, now known as Trenton Catholic Academy. McGrath has been credibly accused of sexual abuse on multiple victims and was removed from ministry, according to the dioceses accountability list. McGrath previously molested a 17-year-old boy on four separate occasions inside his rectory bedroom at St. Anthonys in 1983, according to one of the lawsuits, which says the ex-priest exposed his penis and masturbated in front of the victim before fondling the victim and performing oral sex on him. Known as Father McGrath, the ex-priest in 1978 sexually abused an 11-year-old altar boy on multiple occasions and in multiple venues, including his car and the rectory and sacristy of the church, according to another lawsuit, which says McGrath penetrated the victims rectum with his fingers on approximately eight occasions. Another lawsuit exposes Gregory Vaughan, a former priest at St. Raphaels in Hamilton and one of the Diocese of Trentons ex-clergy members credibly accused of sexual abuse against minors. Before being removed from ministry, Vaughan anally penetrated an 8-year-old altar boy in 1987 on multiple occasions and forced the victim into performing oral sex thereafter, the complaint alleges. Douglas Hermansen, a former Notre Dame High School chaplain also known as Father Doug, has been credibly accused of sexual abuse on one minor and is newly accused in a lawsuit of sexually abusing a 15-year-old altar boy in 1975 well before becoming an ordained priest in 1979. Hermansen is currently removed from ministry. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Mercer County Superior Court, alleges Hermansen anally penetrated the victim more than 100 times. Four lawsuits mention the sexual exploits of the late Frank Iazetta, a former Notre Dame High faculty member credibly accused of sexual abuse on multiple victims. Iazetta, who died in 2007, molested minors in the 1970s, including the act of touching and massaging the vagina of a 7-year-old girl in 1975, according to one of the lawsuits. Two additional lawsuits describe the debauchery of the late Ronald Becker, a former Diocese of Trenton priest credibly accused of sexual abuse on multiple victims. Becker, who died in 2009, targeted boys in the 1970s and 80s, according to the complaints. The Trentonian generally does not identify victims of sexual abuse. A Diocese of Trenton spokesperson had no comment for this story, saying: We dont comment on matters of litigation. Thank you. Baldante, who represents at least 10 plaintiffs suing the Diocese of Trenton, said the Catholic Church should have known about the widespread sexual abuse on children and should have stopped it well before the 21st century. They created this environment, he said Tuesday in an interview. The Catholic Church has known for centuries their priests were sexually abusing children and did absolutely nothing to change the situation and protect those children. Criminal prosecution State Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal in September 2018 formed the Clergy Abuse Task Force to investigate allegations of sexual abuse within the Catholic dioceses of New Jersey. Former priest Thomas P. Ganley, 65, is currently serving a four-year prison sentence at the Central Reception and Assignment Facility after admitting he sexually assaulted a teenage girl in the early 1990s. The Clergy Abuse Task Force secured his guilty plea last year. Lawrence Township resident Brendan Williams, who appears on the list of credibly accused clergy, has been arrested and charged with second-degree sexual assault last September on allegations he molested an underage girl in the late 1990s. The New Jersey Clergy Abuse Task Force filed the criminal case against Williams, who has been removed from ministry and formally laicized by the church. Victims of Catholic Church sex crimes in New Jersey may contact the Clergy Abuse Hotline at (855) 363-6548. Epoch Times Staffer Attacked by Knife-Wielding Man in Hong Kong A local resident was wounded when he came to the aid of an Epoch Times staffer who was attacked with a knife on the evening of June 12 while covering events related to a key protest movement anniversary in Hong Kong. Jerry, a part-time videographer with the publications Hong Kong edition, was live-streaming in the area of Kwun Tong around 9 p.m. local time, where a street stand was set up with photos and signage related to Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement. Police were nearby patrolling the area. A group of about a dozen citizens got into a heated argument, with some people pushing and shoving each other, Jerry said. He has chosen to withhold his surname for safety reasons. One man, dressed in a white button-down shirt, fell to the ground during the clash. When he got up, he suddenly flashed a green knife and began pointing it at peoples faces. Jerry began photographing the scene. When the man spotted Jerry, he raised the knife toward him. Jerry said the man also tried to grab his photo stand and other equipment. As they engaged in a tug-of-war, a bystander grabbed the knife with his bare hands in an effort to stop the attack, wounding his hand in the process. Media footage from the scene showed blood splattered and red-stained tissues strewn on the ground. The police later identified the assailant as a 27-year-old man, and the good Samaritan a 22-year-old male. Nearby police quickly subdued the attacker on the ground and arrested him on a charge of wounding, according to a police statement. The injured man was briefly tended to by first-aiders at the scene before being transferred to the hospital. A man threatens an Epoch Times staffer and other citizens with his knife in Hong Kong, on June 12, 2020. (Jerry/The Epoch Times) June 12 marked the one-year anniversary of an intense confrontation between police and protesters in front of the government headquarters in Admiralty as the city legislature was set to debate a controversial extradition bill that would have allowed individuals to be transferred to mainland China for trial. The bill has since been scrapped. That day, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters, drawing public outrage and fueling an ongoing protest movement against Beijing. Locals have since staged mass demonstrations calling for greater democratic freedoms in the territory. Jerry, who came away mostly unscathed except for a few scrapes on his right hand while protecting his camera, was both grateful and anxious for the bystander who took the blow for him. He used his hand to stop the knife, he said in a phone interview. I was quite nervous. I didnt know how bad he was hurt. I asked him: Why did you do such a silly thingto use your hand to block it? The bystander, upon learning that Jerry worked for The Epoch Times, said, I dont regret helping you, Jerry said. After he said that, I felt regretful in my heart, Jerry said. He had dropped his phone during the melee, with his photographer pass torn off and camera bag damaged, he said. The assailant was detained by the police. Jerry had gone to the police station to provide a statement. Bystanders try to subdue the knife-wielding assailant in Kwun Tong, Hong Kong, on June 12, 2020. (Jerry/The Epoch Times) The Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times condemned the violence in a statement, and called on local authorities to investigate the incident and the attackers background. The bureau has experienced multiple attacks in recent years. Last November, four masked intruders set fire to The Epoch Times printing press, damaging machines and printing paper in the factory. Recently, the factory also noticed a suspicious person loitering and filming around the premises, the bureau said in the statement. Staff members and security guards have taken down the persons license plate number. The bureau expressed respect for Hong Kong citizens who assisted Jerry at the scene and vowed to continue bringing timely and in-depth reporting to the Hong Kong public. Upholding the truth, we will never give up, the statement read. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) has issued a statement on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the occupation of Shahumian region. The statement reads as follows: "28 years ago, on June 12, 1992, the Azerbaijani armed forces, supported by the units of the 23rd division of the former Soviet Army, launched a large-scale attack on the Republic of Artsakh, employing heavy equipment and military aircraft. The first to be targeted was the Shahumian region. Having multiple superiority in manpower and equipment, the Azerbaijani armed forces managed to capture the Shahumian region of the Republic of Artsakh, after which they started ethnic cleansing and brutal massacre of Armenian civilians. To escape, the people had to leave for the Martakert region through mountain paths, where along the way they were being attacked by the Azerbaijani militants. According to the recollections of the residents of the Shahumian region, the column of civilians was fired on, including from combat helicopters. The attack on the civilians was deliberate and had only one goal - to kill as many people as possible. It was in such an inhuman way that the Azerbaijani side tried to recoup on civilians for their own military defeats in the winter and spring of 1992. As a result of the war crimes committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces during the occupation of the Shahumian region, about twenty Armenian villages were destroyed and looted, over twenty thousand Armenians became internally displaced persons and refugees, and several hundred people were deliberately killed or have gone missing. By committing war crimes and subjecting the civilian population to terror the Azerbaijani authorities tried to break the will of the people of Artsakh seeking to defend its right to life, self-determination and independence. However, the atrocities by the Azerbaijani side only strengthened the determination of the people of Artsakh to defend its sovereignty, its ideals and its rights. The subsequent actions by the Defense Army of Artsakh to repel the Azerbaijani aggression and to ensure safe borders were conditioned by the need to defend the Republic and its population from physical annihilation. Today, the Shahumian region and parts of the Martakert and Martuni regions of the Republic of Artsakh continue to remain under the occupation of Azerbaijan. In violation of international humanitarian law, the Azerbaijani authorities continue the policy of illegal settlement and eradication of the signs of presence of the indigenous Armenian population on the occupied territories of the Republic of Artsakh. The authorities of the Republic of Artsakh will consistently seek the de-occupation of the Shahumian region, as well as parts of the Martakert and Martuni regions. The restoration of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Artsakh is one of the key elements of the position of official Stepanakert on the peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict. Former Gambia president Yahya Jammeh, who entered exile in 2017: AFP/Getty Images A Gambian man living in Colorado has been charged with torturing political prisoners in his home country following a failed coup that took place in 2006. American prosecutors announced on Thursday that Michael Sang Correa, aged 41, had been charged using a US law allowing non-citizens who are suspected of committing torture in other countries to be prosecuted. Correa belonged to a paramilitary unit known as the Junglers who served the then Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh. He went into exile in 2017. Michael Correa allegedly committed heinous acts of violence against victim after victim in a brutal effort to coerce confessions, said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski on Thursday. In an initial court appearance, Correa was served seven criminal charges: one count of conspiracy to commit torture and six counts of inflicting torture on specific individuals. He had been living in Denver and working as a day labourer before he was found, arrested and detained by immigration officials last year, prosecutors said. Correa is believed to have entered the US in late 2016, when he overstayed a visa that had allowed him to accompany Gambias then vice-president to the UN as his bodyguard. The former hit man did not return to Gambia following President Jammehs election defeat in December 2016. Prosecutors allege that Correa physically and mentally tortured six people who were suspected of plotting a failed coup against former president Yahya Jammeh in 2006. Correa and his alleged co-conspirators allegedly beat the detainees using their feet, pipes and wires, sometimes covering their heads with plastic bags, and also administering electric shocks to their bodies, including their genitals. Colorado prosecutor, Jason Dunn, told reporters on Thursday that the Gambian national had been charged under a federal law used only twice. We are not only holding accountable a man who has allegedly committed horrific acts of torture against his own people, but demonstrating to the people of The Gambia, and indeed the entire world, that the United States stands for the rule of law and against those who abuse human rights, said Mr Dunn. Story continues Read more Trump says police dominate with compassion and renews Seattle threat Three men and teenager charged with assault after attack on police Two sisters stabbed to death in London park were killed by stranger Police operation in Nimes after man shoots himself in courthouse This article is part of the Free Speech Project , a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech. This week, as part of the companys efforts to cull bad actors, Facebook accidentally deplatformed hundreds of accounts. The victims? Anti-racist skinheads and members of ska, punk, and reggae communitiesincluding artists of color. Some users even believed their accounts were suspended just for liking nonracist skinhead pages and punk fan pages. While Facebook has kept mum on the reasons behind the mistake, it seems likely, as OneZero reported, that the platform confused these subcultures with far-right, neo-Nazi skinheads. Advertisement Its not exactly a hard mistake to make. The skinhead aesthetic has long been associated with white supremacist groups. (The Southern Poverty Law Center considers racist skinheads among the most dangerous radical-right threats facing law enforcement today.) But the first skinheads, who emerged in 1960s London, had nonracist and multicultural rootsthey were influenced by Jamaican immigrants and shared close ties to the ska, reggae, and punk scenes. With the rise of neo-Nazi groups, the movement split in the 70s and 80s into the racist and nonracist factions that exist today. While the latter, which exist worldwide, have been trying to set the record straight for the past few decades, the default image of the skinhead as white supremacist remains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Facebooks confusion was not a terribly serious incident, and the platform was quick to smooth it over: A few days later, the accounts were reinstated, and the company apologized. Yet while it may have only caused minor inconvenience, the mistake illuminates the tensions at the heart of content moderation today. As were coming to accept the inevitability of mistakes in monitoring platforms of this scale, were left with a simple calculus: Either platforms can remove only the most dangerous content, leaving some harmful speech up, or they can cast a wide net and remove harmless speech in the process. If we favor the latterand platforms have indeed been moving toward thisthen we need to consider the extent to which mistakes are necessary, or excusable, in a social media companys greater mission to wipe misinformation and hate speech from its platform. Advertisement Advertisement The deplatforming incident comes as social media companies have increased their efforts to regulate content in response to the dual pressures of the presidential election and, especially, the coronavirus pandemic. Just last November, Facebook was criticized for refusing to ban white nationalists and other hate groups despite promises to do so. And while the company hasnt exactly abandoned its laissez-faire approach to content moderation, Facebook, among other platforms, has culled and flagged misinformation, hate speech, and harmful content at unprecedented rates in the months since. Last week, for instance, Facebook removed nearly 200 accounts tied to white supremacist groups. Advertisement Anti-racist skinheads and musicians are just the latest victims of these policies. In April, for example, Facebook threatened to ban DIY mask-makers from posting or commenting and to delete groups coordinating volunteer efforts to craft them. (The automated content moderation system had confused volunteer posts with the sale of medical supplies.) This month, Facebook and Instagram unblocked the #sikh hashtag after sustained public pressure to reverse the three-month restriction. The reasons for the initial block were unclearInstagram said it was a mistake due to a report that was inaccurately reviewed by our teamsbut critics pointed out that it occurred during the 36th anniversary of Operation Blue Star, an Indian army assault of a Sikh temple that killed at least 400 civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the main reasons for such mistakes is the increased reliance on artificial intelligence. Social media companies have used A.I. for years to monitor content, but at the start of the pandemic, they said they would rely on A.I. even more as human moderators were sent home, admitting that they expect to make more mistakes as a result. It was a rare moment of candor: For years, these platforms have been touting A.I. tools as the panacea thats going to fix all of content moderation, said Evelyn Douek, a doctoral student at Harvard Law School and affiliate at Harvards Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. Advertisement Advertisement While A.I. allows large platforms to moderate content at a scale inaccessible to humansand saves underpaid workers from further exposure to disturbing postsits shortcomings are well documented. As Sarah T. Roberts, an assistant professor of information studies at UCLA, wrote in Slate earlier this year, A.I. tools are overly broad in yielding hits, unable to make fine or nuanced decisions beyond what they have been expressly programmed for. And many human rights and free speech organizations see the bluntness of these tools as less of a mistake and more of an infringement on the right to create, access, and circulate information, Roberts wrote. Advertisement The problem, of course, is that A.I. is here to stayand that, partly as a consequence of this, we should expect to see many more mistakes on these platforms. But that doesnt mean we should look at content moderation from a defeatist standpoint. We need to start thinking about what kinds of mistakes we want platforms to make, said Douek, who also mentioned that the conversation has been slow in catching up to this point because people get uneasy talking about that kind of calculus in the context of speech rights. Advertisement Advertisement One way of approaching that question, Douek believes, is by considering the different kinds of speech that platforms regulate, and discerning which ones to prioritize over others. I think that there are really different interests at stake when youre talking about speech, Douek said. Harmful speech in the context of a pandemic, where the line between misinformation and physical harm is especially direct and urgent, is somewhat different to how to deal with political misinformation or falsehoods, where the best response may not necessarily be censorship, but may be other tools that platforms have at their disposal like fact checks and flags. She added, I would be hesitant to overlearn the lessons of the pandemic. Advertisement Another step is to demand greater transparency from social media companies. Many people are concerned about algorithmic bias, for instance, but its still unclear whom that bias affects in content moderation. As Douek mentioned, conversations around anti-conservative bias, anti-leftist, and anti-racial bias are occurring simultaneously. The problem is that platforms are notoriously cagey about their data and algorithms. We need to crack these platforms open and get independent researchers access to the data to start working out exactly whats going on so that we can construct empirically based responses to it, she said. Advertisement Advertisement But that transparency extends beyond understanding how Facebooks A.I. tools function. Just consider the case of the accounts associated with anti-racist skinheads: Although Facebook apologized, the company has yet to explain what went wrong. We dont know, as Douek pointed out, whether this action was related to recent deplatformings; we dont know if it was in response to an emergency; we dont know if it was simply part of routine maintenance. For all we know, human content moderators could have misunderstood the relationship between the different subcultures. Ideally, there needs to be a better system for understanding and challenging these kinds of mistakes. At the moment, these platforms just dont have sufficient appeals and error correction processes. Douek said. If were finally going to accept that, in a post-pandemic world, many more errors will be madeand that they will have serious implications for speechthen, at the very least, we need to shift the conversation to how we want these platforms to address them. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Connecting the past and present can help people navigate the current situation. Vail said there are many similarities, and differences, between the COVID-19 outbreak and previous global pandemics, and we can learn from the things that went right and wrong. In early April, he joined KRVN Radios Brandon Benitz for a two-part interview on the history of global pandemics, with a focus on the 1918-19 Spanish flu that infected an estimated 500 million people and caused at least 50 million deaths worldwide. One of the most important parts of being a historian is to connect the history we teach and share the expertise we have with the general public, said Vail, who is also featured in a monthly agricultural history report on KRVN. By gaining this background knowledge, Vail said people can better understand viruses, vaccines and the policies put in place to protect the public. For instance, debates over when to remove quarantine and social distancing measures similar to those happening now also occurred in 1918. An Oregon man was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to numerous sexual abuse crimes against children over a 20-year span, police said. Michael Hern, 43, pleaded guilty to first degree rape, two counts of first degree unlawful sexual penetration and two counts of first degree sexual abuse. Court records show Hern most recently lived in Cave Junction, in Josephine County. Two of the children are relatives of Hern. The others are children of friends or acquaintances, some of who Hern lived with for a time. Most of the victims are now adults, according to court records. One woman told police in 2019 that Hern had assaulted her, setting off an investigation during which detectives learned about five other girls. Hern was arrested on a warrant Dec. 3. He is expected to plead guilty to additional charges related to a seventh person, who reported after the investigation, according to court papers. An eighth person reported an attempted situation, but the statute of limitations had passed. In 2005, two of the children Hern assaulted reported to police. Hern denied the allegations and passed a polygraph test, so charges were not filed at that time. Some of the assaults occurred after the initial investigation in 2005. Police asked anyone with additional information about Hern to contact police or the Washington County Sheriffs Office. --Alex Hardgrave | ahardgrave@oregonian.com | @a_hardgrave Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 19:42:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close File photo of Central, Hong Kong's financial and business center, May 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Lu Binghui) A spokesman of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government expressed opposition to the inaccurate and biased remarks in Britain's Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong. The implementation of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong is entirely the internal affairs of China, and every other state has no right to intervene, directly or indirectly, in those internal affairs, the spokesman said. HONG KONG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Friday expressed opposition to the inaccurate and biased remarks in the Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of Britain on the national security legislation and the region's high degree of autonomy. The government spokesman reiterated that foreign governments, legislatures and politicians should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of the HKSAR. Since the return to the motherland, Hong Kong has maintained stability and prosperity under the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" with a high degree of autonomy according to the HKSAR Basic Law, the spokesman said. The implementation of the "one country, two systems" policy in Hong Kong is entirely the internal affairs of China, and every other state has no right to intervene, directly or indirectly, in those internal affairs, the spokesman said. "It is absolutely wrong and totally groundless for the report to allege that the enactment of the national security law for the HKSAR by the central authorities 'lies in direct conflict' with Article 23 of the Basic Law," the spokesman said. In accordance with Article 23, Hong Kong is authorized to legislate national security laws, which does not preclude the central authorities from legislating at the state level for national security, the spokesman said, noting that legislating on national security is within the purview of the central authorities and outside the limits of the autonomy of HKSAR. Given the current situation and the difficulty for Hong Kong to complete on its own legislation for safeguarding national security in the foreseeable future, the central authorities have the right and duty to introduce the national law to establish and improve at the state level the legal system and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard national security for Hong Kong, the spokesman said. The legislative decision adopted by the National People's Congress is within its power and authority, the spokesman said. The legislation only targets an extremely small minority of people involved in serious crimes endangering national security, including splitting the country, subverting state power, organizing and carrying out terrorist activities, as well as interfering in Hong Kong affairs by foreign and external forces, the spokesman said. The legislation helps better protect the legitimate rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people, restore stability in Hong Kong, and safeguard the long-term prosperity and stability, the spokesman said, stressing that any allegation that the legislation will undermine Hong Kong people's freedoms and "one country, two systems" is no more than alarmist speculation and simply fallacious. File photo of International Finance Center in Central Waterfront, a world-class business and leisure destination in Hong Kong, May 6, 2020 (Xinhua/Lu Binghui) The legislation will not change the executive, legislative and independent judicial power of Hong Kong, including that of final adjudication, the spokesman said, adding that there will be no impact on the various rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people in accordance with the law. The spokesman reiterated that the legislation will create favorable conditions for strengthening the foundation of the successful implementation of "one country, two systems." The HKSAR government is committed to safeguarding the rule of law and judicial independence in Hong Kong, which has been affirmed by the relevant reports issued by various international institutions, the spokesman said. The spokesman said the latest Rule of Law Index 2020 released by the World Justice Project showed Hong Kong maintains its ranking of the fifth place in East Asia and Pacific Region and of the 16th place globally, which has clearly affirmed Hong Kong's commitment. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jun. 12 Trend: The US provided humanitarian aid to Azerbaijan amid COVID-19 battle, Trend reports with reference to the US embassy in Azerbaijan. The aid was offered though US European Command (EUCOM) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) office in Azerbaijan organizations. The embassy said that the aid consisted of passing on equipment to the Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute. U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and USAID/Azerbaijan delivered vital equipment to the Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute to assist Azerbaijan in their ongoing fight against COVID-19," the embassy said. Eamon Ryan's use of a racial slur has intensified the internal split in the Green Party that is destabilising efforts to form a government. As talks between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens to finalise a programme for government continued late last night, Mr Ryan was facing calls to drop out of next month's leadership contest after he used the 'N-word' during a debate on racism in Irish society. Mr Ryan said in the Dail: "In the newspaper today there was a young Irish man Sean Gallen giving his experience of being 'othered', from the age of six being given that name, 'You n*****'. He later apologised on Twitter: "In quoting from an article I read this morning, I repeated a racial slur, and I was completely wrong to do so. I want to apologise for any hurt caused. I know this particular word should never be used." Mr Ryan's latest gaffe sparked turmoil in the party, with Green Party councillors publicly condemning him and supporters of his opponent, deputy leader Catherine Martin, saying it underlined the need for a change of leader. Councillor Daniel Whooley told the Herald that Mr Ryan should drop out of the leadership race. However, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael moved to quell the controversy. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said: "There is not a milligram of racism or prejudice in Eamon Ryan's blood. We need an informed sense of perspective here." A number of Fianna Fail politicians also tweeted their support for the party leader. The furore comes at a time when Green Party councillors are overwhelmingly open to going into government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, according to a Herald survey. Almost 70pc of the party's 49 councillors have said they are not opposed to coalition with the civil war parties in principle, though the majority said it would depend on the deal. Errors Many elements of that deal were still not agreed by the parties last night as Mr Ryan attempted to quell internal disquiet by contacting senior party figures. A senior Green Party source said Mr Ryan had now committed a string of errors that had made his position more difficult. "It isn't just this gaffe, it's the cumulative factor of the M20, lettuce, wolves, car-pooling etcetera," the source said. Mr Whooley said Mr Ryan's comments were "morally reprehensible", and added: "He should consider dropping out of the leadership race with comments like this. A lot of people are disgusted." A number of councillors condemned the remarks. However, others backing Mr Ryan include former party chair Dan Boyle, who said anyone who knows him would never "attribute any malice" to the comments. Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday afternoon asked the state Supreme Court to jump directly into his fight with the Legislature over when to end his emergency declaration over the coronavirus pandemic. And he wants the states highest judicial body to rule that GOP-backed resolutions the Senate and House passed this week aimed at dissolving the COVID-19 declaration and its controversial restrictions without his consent are legally void. The Legislature has refused to submit those resolutions for his consideration, which Wolf contends violates the state constitution. Therefore, the resolutions, which he most certainly would veto, have no legal force and cannot dissolve the emergency declaration that limits public activity as a means of curbing the spread of the virus, the governor insists. Wolfs attempt to take the dispute straight to the Supreme Court is unusual. Normally, the fight over such a tug-of-war regarding governmental authority would go first to Commonwealth Court, with an appeal to the Supreme Court possible only after the lower court issued its ruling. Indeed, legislators have already asked Commonwealth Court to order Wolf to comply with their reopening resolutions. Theres no time for that, however, Wolf contends. The Supreme Court must give its final say and end the controversy as soon as possible because the political wrangling is confusing to the public and is exacerbating the public health risk, the governor claims. Continued curbing public activity remains important because COVID-19 is far from done with Pennsylvania, he contends, and lifting the restrictions too soon could prove catastrophic. The Legislative resolutions, if given legal clout, would upend the commonwealths carefully planned reopening process, a move that experts have declared will further hurt our state economy and cost lives, Wolfs petition to the high court states. If the Legislatures bid to reopen the state too soon, in his view, succeeds it would have very real-world consequences and inhibit the commonwealths ability to protect the health and lives of its citizens, Wolf contends. Given the stakes, the Supreme Courts immediate intervention is critical, he says. This conflict between the legislative and executive branches is causing a great confusion among the public as to whether the disaster continues and whether certain executive orders issued under the Emergency Code remain in place, Wolfs petition states. This confusion is life-threatening, as individuals look to our government for guidance on how to protect themselves and their families from this deadly pandemic. Jennifer Kocher, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman said Wolfs request for the Supreme Court to enter the fray is not something we oppose. She said legislators believe it is clearly within the power of the Legislature, as part of the built-in checks and balances system of our government, to end a declaration of emergency issued by the governor. The odds are good that the Supreme Court will take Wolf up on his request to hear the case immediately. It has done so with other cases filed in the last few months challenging the COVID-19 restrictions, particularly the business closure orders. So far, the justices have refused to overturn the governors virus-related restrictions. Around 20,000 children with special needs are set to benefit from a special education programme this summer under plans being brought to Cabinet today. Schools in disadvantaged areas will also be invited to offer classes for their students during the summer months. Read More The summer programme will provide a much-needed reconnection for the most vulnerable pupils, but the final numbers to benefit will depend on participation by schools, teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs). Were schools open to provide it, it would be an opportunity to trial the sort of arrangements that will be required across the system when the new term gets under way. Education Minister Joe McHugh is today seeking Government approval for the summer education programme, as well as briefing Cabinet colleagues on initial plans for the reopening of schools from the end of August, ahead of making a public announcement and providing formal guidance. With uncertainty about what the public health advice will be for late August and early September, the guidance for schools now is expected be quite general, focusing on issues such as preparing policies, including health self-declaration forms, the need for staff training, and the practicalities of preparing for a significant ramping-up of school cleaning arrangements. Talks between the Department of Education and representatives of groups such as teachers, principals, school managers and parents will continue in the weeks ahead, taking account of any updated public health advice. Dr David Nabarro, the World Health Organisation's Special Envoy on Covid-19, told the Dail's Special Committee on Covid-19 Response yesterday that the "main potential for spread" of coronavirus in schools was between adults - teachers and parents. He said it was important to maintain the two-metre distancing rule in those interactions. Dr Nabarro said that "children do not appear to have a central role in the transmission of the virus" although he cautioned this could not be taken as a policy. He referred to an incident in South Korea where a school could be an epicentre from where the transmission of virus can build up. "We need to be quite careful about what happens in schools as a meeting point," he added. Meanwhile, the summer education programme will involve a "dramatic expansion" on the usual July provision for children with special needs, with the plans potentially to double the number of eligible children from the 10,000 that took part last year. The measures are being taken in recognition of the difficulties faced by families of children with special needs due to the school shutdown during the coronavirus crisis. All children with severe and profound learning disabilities and autism will be eligible to access the programme. The provision for special needs at primary level includes autism, severe and profound learning disabilities, Down syndrome, moderate general learning disabilities, visual and hearing impairment, and severe and emotional behavioural disorder. There will be flexibility for schools, teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) on when and how the education programme is provided. A parent who cannot access provision in a school, can avail of home provision. Previously in-home learning could only be provided by a registered teacher but SNAs will be permitted to do it this year. Separately, schools in disadvantaged areas, known as Deis schools, will also have an opportunity to run a summer programme. Deis primary schools will be invited to run literacy and numeracy camps as well as wellbeing classes. Schools will have flexibility in terms of how the programme will be organised. Second-level schools with Deis status will have the chance to run a programme to encourage students in most need to reconnect with education. Options include classes supporting physical, social and emotional well-being. Mr McHugh has appealed to schools, teachers and SNAs to take part, and he told the Dail this week that initial contacts had been "quite positive". The minister said it was "essential that a summer education programme runs this year for those most in need. It will help children to reconnect with learning and assist their return to school in the autumn. "An education programme will also help to reduce regression for those at greatest risk of this happening." Tensions across the border have long been high - PRAKASH SINGH/AFP via Getty Images China has occupied more than sixty square kilometres of Indian territory in eastern Ladakh, according to a senior Indian Army source, in a dramatic escalation of the simmering tension between the two Asian superpowers. The Daily Telegraph can reveal that up to 12,000 Chinese troops pushed over the border into India last month amid border clashes as Beijing looks to slap down Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his ever-closer relationship with the United States. The move echoes Xi Jinping's expansionism in the South China Sea where Beijing have moved to construct military bases in contested territory and has been unchallenged due to its superior military. The United Nations is calling for restraint, and wants talks between the two nations to any escalation of the conflict. Konchok Stanzin, a councillor from the Chushul constituency, where the incursion has taken place, told The Telegraph: "In the past, we have witnessed face-off between two armies and the situation would cool down within hours. "Its the first time we are seeing standoff for over a month. We are worried for our lives and our land." There have been reports this week of some de-escalation, but it is unclear whether this is rooted in on-the-ground movement, or is simply India trying to save face. Beijing and New Delhi have patrolled either side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which splits Chinese Tibet from Indian Ladakh since a ceasefire was agreed in 1962. Indian patrols in eastern Ladakh pause over winter and spring as heavy snowfall in the Himalayas makes terrain treacherous. But the coronavirus pandemic meant they were slow to reinforce this year and Chinese troops took advantage, crossing over the LAC on May 5 and 6 at four locations. A total of forty square kilometres were occupied at Pangong Tso and twenty square kilometres at Galwan River, with smaller incursions at Hot Springs and Demchok, a senior Indian Army source told the Telegraph. Story continues Satellite photos of China's Ngari Gansa civil-military airport base taken on April 1, left, and May 17, 2020, near the border with India show development - Planet Labs via AP Seventy Indian troops were injured in fist-fighting and stone-throwing as they tried to stop the advance. Weapons are not used when Chinese and Indian soldiers clash, as this is understood as a full declaration of war. India, which is admitting Chinese troops are present in "sizeable numbers", is trying to use ongoing bilateral talks to persuade China to retreat from the areas it has occupied. But China is understood to have built defences at Pangong Tso and moved up to 12,000 troops to the new frontier, according to well-placed sources. India has also scaled up the presence of troops, transported artillery and Boforus guns to Ladakh. Confronting India along the border is Beijings way of putting New Delhi in its place Chinese officials are unwilling to tolerate what they view as growing swagger from India, a strategic competitor and neighbour, under Mr. Modi. Lin Minwang, a Chinese foreign policy expert at Fudan University, said: Modi's overall diplomacy has been inclined to ally with the US. China is actually very disappointed with India right now. Indias infrastructural development along the border - including a road in Lipulekh which has irked emerging Chinese ally Nepal - are viewed by Beijing as backstabbing China while its in a weak position [and] suppressed in a broader strategic competition with the US, so it has made China very angry. While Chinese officials have said little publicly, the foreign ministry is defending its actions as necessary and even restrained in response to provocation from India - language similar to how the government justifies territorial claims in the South China Sea. Tensions during the coronavirus pandemic havent helped. Leh district of Ladakh, bordering China - NOEMI CASSANELLI/AFP via Getty Images Kanti Prasad Bajpai, an expert on China-India relations and professor at the National University of Singapore, said: India sent supplies to China and felt the Chinese werent very grateful China publicly thanked countries for sending supplies, but never thanked India publicly. As the pandemic spread further afield, India like other nations had to scrap poor quality medical supplies purchased from China. Mr Bajpai said:The Indians felt they were cheated by the Chinese. China rejected accusations that they had gypped the Indians. Around that, there was a bit of bad blood. Mr Modis move to project himself as a bold leader both at home and abroad also puts him at odds with Mr Xis same tactic to fashion a strongman image. Experts say a full-scale war remains unlikely largely because of the operating challenges at high altitudes, with a lengthy de-escalation process as neither side will want to give the impression of caving. But until China and India finally agree on a border demarcation which theyve never been able to do the possibility of a border skirmish, limited border conflict, or full-fledged conventional war cannot be taken off the table, said Monika Chansoria, a China specialist and senior fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs. Efforts by Congress to send hundreds of billions of dollars in stimulus relief to Americans following the coronavirus pandemic were marred by a rushed legislation process and a lack of ready-made technologies capable of finding and contacting millions of Americans who have been traditionally locked out of the banking system. The end result has been tens of millions of citizens forced to wait weeks or months to receive what was supposed to be immediate, emergency funds. As House Democrats consider future relief packages tied to the outbreak, they're also looking at ways to learn from past mistakes. Specifically, they are exploring how to modernize laws to make the banking system more tech-friendly and expand access to financially distressed groups using digital services. "Many of those people who needed the help the most were the last to receive it," said Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Chair of the House Financial Services Committee's Task Force on Financial Technology during a June 11 hearing. "While the IRS and Treasury acted quickly to distribute payments to Americans, they quickly ran into problems. Some of those problems were foreseeable: they exist due to longstanding inequities and deficiencies in our banking system." According to a background memo drafted by the committee, the IRS has dispersed more than $202 billion in stimulus funds to 117 million Americans through direct deposit, $55 billion to 35 million Americans through paper checks and an additional $9 billion to approximately 5.7 million Americans through pre-paid debit and direct express cards. However, as of June 5 as many as 35 million Americans had yet to receive their Economic Impact Payments from the IRS. Many of those left behind have never opened a bank account, don't make enough income to warrant filing their federal taxes or lack stable housing or mail addresses. Still, others groups may lack broadband Internet access to use online tools or be unfamiliar with how to use prepaid cards. "Even with several distribution methods for recovery rebates, members of vulnerable populations were expected to experience severe delays in receiving recovery rebates or to receive no recovery rebate at all," the committee wrote. One idea that House Democrats have already embraced: opening up a digital wallet with the U.S. Federal Reserve through its existing FedAccounts platform. Money in FedAccounts accrues substantially more interest than a checking account at a private bank, could provide an alternative to more predatory nonbank service providers, like payday loans. However, such accounts are currently only available to banks and government entities. Committee chair Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) has proposed legislation that would set up digital wallets through FedAccounts for most Americans. The bill would also establish new, monthly stimulus payments of up to $2,000 per individual until unemployment drops to within at least two percentage points of the pre-recession norms. University of California, Irvine professor Mehrsa Baradaran called for the Federal Reserve to partner with local post offices spread out around the country, not only to disperse potential future stimulus payments but also to provide basic banking services and close the "cash-digital divide" between the haves and the have nots. "On the consumer side, you could go to the local post office, deposit your money, take cash out of the ATM without fees, you could set up automatic bill pay through online or mobile banking [and] get a debit card and use it for online shopping," Baradaran told the committee. Doing so would require certain infrastructure, like installing ATMs and scaling up the Fed's ability to process real-time payments, but Baradaran and other experts on the panel said it "well within" the government's technological and institutional capacity. There was consensus among members and witnesses that some kind of modernization is needed for the financial services sector to keep pace with 21st century technologies. Chris Giancarlo, former Chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Commission, said that much like how underinvestment in Americas physical infrastructure has led to crumbling roads and bridges, a lack of innovation in the financial services sector is exposing the age and limitations of current technologies and processes. "Unless we act, this coming wave of innovation will put enormous strain on our aged financial systems," Giancarlo said. Credit: Shutterstock As restrictions ease, many Australians will be wondering if it's worth wearing a mask on the bus, train or tram to reduce their risk of being infected with coronavirus. When Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth was asked about this earlier this week, he said: "If you are a vulnerable person and you have no other means of getting to work or around, it would be a very reasonable thing to do. We don't think that general, healthy members of the community need to be considering wearing masks in that context." Earlier, Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said wearing masks on public transport "is not an unreasonable thing to do." But the National Cabinet has stopped short of making wearing masks on public transport compulsory. No wonder it can all seem a bit confusing. So what does fresh evidence say about the benefits of healthy people wearing masks in public? And how do you use this to decide what to do? Yes, wearing a mask does reduce your risk Until now, the evidence about whether wearing a mask out and about if you're healthy reduces your risk of coronavirus infection has been uncertain. But a recent review in The Lancet changes that. As expected, the researchers found wearing masks protected health-care workers against coronavirus infection. But they also found wearing masks protects healthy people in the community, although possibly to a lesser degree. The researchers said the difference in the protective effect was largely because health workers are more likely to use N95 masks, which were found to offer greater protection than the disposable surgical masks we generally see people wearing out in the community. So, the take-home message is that masks, while not offering perfect protection, reduce your risk of coronavirus infection while you're out and about. In light of this study, the World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its advice to recommend healthy people wear masks in public where there is widespread transmission and where physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport. But how is this different to what I've heard before? What this Lancet study adds is the best evidence we have so far that healthy people who wear a mask out and about can reduce their chance of infection. It's important to stress, the evidence is quite clear that if you're sick, wearing a mask reduces your risk of transmitting the coronavirus to others. If you're sick or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 the clear advice is still to stay home and self-isolate. You shouldn't be on public transport anyway! Masks also protect others But how about the other possible benefit of wearing masks on public transportminimizing the risk of you unwittingly transmitting the virus to others if you don't have symptoms? Despite some confusing messages from WHO earlier this week, we know "asymptomatic transmission" does occur, although we are yet to pin down its exact role. For instance, a recent review suggests as many as 40-45% of coronavirus infections are asymptomatic and they may transmit the virus to others for an extended period. So, preventing asymptomatic transmission is another reason you may choose to wear a mask. That is, rather than wearing a mask to protect yourself, you could wear a mask to protect others. So, what should I do? Given masks reduce your risk of infection and reduce the risk of you unwittingly passing on the virus to others, you could certainly make a case for routinely wearing a mask on public transport while we have coronavirus in the community. This case is even stronger if you are at risk of severe illness, for example if you are over 65 years old or have an underlying medical condition such as high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes. Alternatively, if you are traveling on a short trip on a train and you have plenty of room to social distance, then you may decide wearing a mask may not be essential given the level of risk on that journey. However, if you are on a longer commute and the train is crowded and social distancing is difficult, then wearing a mask could well be sensible. If you do decide to wear a mask, then it's important to make sure you know how to put it on and take it off correctly. And as no mask offers complete protection, you still need to physically distance where possible and wash your hands. Explore further Why it is important to teach your kids to wear a face mask This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Protests in the USA have now gone into their third week since the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers. The issue of police brutality as it currently exists here in St Vincent and the Grenadines is far different to what exists in the United States. And further, according to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, the ongoing protests in the US have now become an issue of international human rights. He made the comments last Sunday on radio as he sought to give meaning and context to his Statement of Solidarity with the People of America. The statement was issued in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by police during an arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 25. Gonsalves said that in so far that persons here may want to critique the domestic situation, police brutality and injustice exist, but nobody has been killed locally based on their race. "That is in a sense a red herring, a smoke screen for anyone who does not want to take a stand on a particular matter, Gonsalves said. He added that based on the statistics, the rate at which African Americans had been killed by the police in the United States is high. "I have also read that one in every 2,000 African Americans have died from the coronavirus so far. That is a pandemic, but the other one where African Americans who die in contact with the police, that is not a pandemic, he said. "This matter has lasted for far too long, he added. Some 401 years ago, the first Africans were taken away to the United States as slaves, Gonsalves said. And although there has been much progress in the US, Gonsalves said that he thought that the objective observers would say that the issue could be compared to a metaphoric cancer in the society, and it ought to have been addressed. He said that the US was guilty of commenting on issues outside their borders, but their domestic issue had now reached a threshold where high officials from other countries were commenting. Indonesian export shipments surge 41% in May ICR Newsroom By 12 June 2020 Cement and clinker exports from Indonesia advanced 41 per cent YoY in May to reach 625,650t, according to the Indonesian Cement Association (ASI). In May 2019 cement and clinker exports stood at 443,773t. Clinker exports were up 43.1 per cent YoY to 565,542t while cement exports increased 23.5 per cent YoY to 60,109t. In the first five months of 2020, clinker and cement exports expanded by three per cent YoY to 2.6Mt from 2.524Mt in the 5M19. The increase was driven by a 13.8 per cent rise in clinker exports to 2.326Mt, more than sufficient to offset the 42.8 per cent drop in cement exports, which fell to 0.274Mt. Published under Photo: BC Gov Flickr British Columbia's premier says calls for defunding police are a simplistic approach to a complex problem. John Horgan says police are increasingly burdened with a range of challenges in areas including homelessness, mental health and addiction which need more funding. He says it's inappropriate to expect law enforcement to take on those issues as they deal with public safety concerns. Horgan says he envisions expanding the capacity for communities to ensure they're not asking police for more than they're capable of delivering. He says defunding issues arising from George Floyd's police-involved death in the United States mean the time is right for B.C. to review its Police Act, which is 45 years old. He says the province will create a committee to consult with communities and experts on how to best update it. WATERLOO REGION You may soon be able to see which local neighbourhoods have been hardest hit by COVID-19 after public health planners map the disease. The neighbourhood map is being prepared after Toronto mapped its cases to show how the disease is hitting poorer areas harder than richer areas. The map may be released in weeks. Its expected to show the number and rate of cases, and to distinguish between infections transmitted in outbreaks or in the community. We are cautious about how this type of information may be interpreted, that it may unintentionally stigmatize certain neighbourhoods, public health spokesperson Julie Kalbfleisch said. However, the value of this type of data is that it can inform where resources can be focused in order to further reduce the spread of the virus. She warns that people should not feel safer in neighbourhoods where there are fewer cases. Where someone lives is not an indicator of where they may have acquired the virus. Public health is currently releasing cases by municipality, showing that Kitchener has been hit four times harder than Cambridge or Waterloo. Thats due in part to outbreaks in elderly care facilities that are concentrated in Kitchener. Woolwich is the next-hardest hit community. US allies halve number of troops in Iraq coalition: Report Iran Press TV Thursday, 11 June 2020 1:29 AM Members of the 29-country US-led military coalition in Iraq have cut the number of their troops in half, a report by the New York Times says. The US allies have reduced the number of their troops in the American-led coalition in Iraq to 1,200, the report said on Wednesday, citing coronavirus pandemic as the reason for the cut. The US itself is also reluctant to keep more than the absolute minimum of troops, especially after the Iraqi parliament unanimously approved a bill on January 5, demanding the withdrawal of all foreign military forces led by the United States from the country. The bill was passed after the assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) better known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi, and their companions in a US airstrike authorized by President Donald Trump near Baghdad International Airport two days earlier. Later on January 9, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, the former Iraqi prime minister, called on the United States to dispatch a delegation to Baghdad tasked with formulating a mechanism for the move. Since then, the US-led military coalition purportedly formed to fight the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has officially handed over a number of its strategic air bases to the country's government forces, consolidating its troops on fewer bases. There are currently about 5,200 American troops in Iraq, but the Pentagon is under pressure from both Iraq and the US to reduce the military presence in the Arab country. Anti-US sentiment has been running high in Iraq following the January assassinations. Iraqi resistance groups have vowed to avenge the killings. On Monday, influential Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr once again called for the full withdrawal of American troops from the Arab country's territory and that of other regional states. In a statement, Sadr criticized the US for its arrogant approach toward other countries, saying Washington tries to force everyone into surrender through acts of terrorism, warmongering, intimidation, and levelling baseless charges against others. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The governor of Minnesota said Thursday that he would convene a special session of the state legislature to position his state at the forefront of a national movement to overhaul policing and address systemic racism in the wake of George Floyd's death. Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, endorsed what he described as a "coordinated, powerful set of reforms" that would revamp oversight and disciplinary procedures, fund community groups that could act as alternatives to the police and put the state attorney general in charge of investigating officers who use lethal force. "Minnesotans have raised their voice. . . . They have come to the capitol with the expectation of change," Walz said, announcing that the special session would begin at noon Friday. "The time is upon us, and we need to get it done. The community is telling all of us what they want." As Washington continues to face partisan gridlock and election-year politics, states, cities and some corporations are responding to Floyd's death and the burgeoning national movement it sparked by embracing far-reaching changes. Democrats in Congress have offered a police reform proposal and Republicans are set to do so, but it is unclear whether they will be able to reach agreement. The move in Minneapolis and elsewhere came as demonstrators in Seattle took the overhaul effort into their own hands, setting up what they called "the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone," where police are forbidden, food is free and documentaries are screened at night. The establishment of the unauthorized, unpoliced area drew condemnation from President Donald Trump, who has urged force against violent protesters, lashed out at Democratic-led cities and tweeted about "LAW & ORDER." Walz's call for new state laws on police conduct came as officials in Miami, Houston, New York, Los Angeles and elsewhere have taken steps to change regulations and procedures for their police forces. Some municipal leaders have embraced activists' call to "defund the police," calling for a reallocation of resources from law enforcement and into social services. Several companies and other institutions also took steps Thursday to respond to growing concerns about racial inequality and to show their customers they are on the right side of history. Nike joined Twitter in designating June 19, a date commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, as a company holiday. Facebook said it would designate the day, often called "Juneteenth," as a "day of learning," when employees would be encouraged to gain a deeper understanding of the experience of black Americans. The actions were part of a trend that has included a slew of institutions, companies, politicians and other national figures signing on to the Black Lives Matter movement. It represents a dramatic change from just a few months ago, when such issues seemed more likely to divide the country than to create the relatively unified response now in evidence. Some have responded to Floyd's death by taking steps to remove symbols, systems and structures that reflect or perpetuate racism, such as statues of Confederate generals and 18th-century slave traders. On Thursday, protesters and local leaders continued toppling monuments of such historical figures, and a Senate panel voted to remove the names of Confederate leaders from military bases. Trump, who has pushed forcefully to keep the Confederates' names on military bases, in some ways found himself isolated at a time of quickly changing public opinion. He traveled to Dallas on Thursday for a discussion on race and policing, where he reiterated his view that the authorities should "dominate" city streets. "I made the statement 'You have to dominate the streets,' and they said, 'Oh, that's such a terrible thing,' " Trump said. "Well, guess what? You know who dominated the streets? People that you don't want to dominate the streets. So I'll stick with that." But several Republican leaders have broken with Trump recently as he has struggled to address the civil unrest sparked by the death of Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. The Senate panel voting to rename military bases was led by Republicans, many of whom said they saw no reason to keep the names of Confederate generals defeated in the Civil War. The Pentagon's top general, meanwhile, apologized on Thursday for appearing alongside Trump near the White House after authorities forcibly removed peaceful protesters from the area. He became the latest military leader to distance himself from the president in the wake of the controversial photo op, in which Trump walked to a church across from the White House and held up a Bible. "I should not have been there. My presence in that moment, and in that environment, created the perception of the military involved in domestic politics," Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a prerecorded graduation speech to students at the National Defense University. "As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from." Trump continued to defend the use of military power against protesters, whom he described as "anarchists" and "Domestic Terrorists." He seized on the situation in Seattle, calling on local and state leaders there to take control and threatening to step in with federal force. "Radical Left Governor @JayInslee and the Mayor of Seattle are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Take back your city NOW. If you don't do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stopped IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST!" Inslee and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan both hit back, with Inslee calling Trump "a man who is totally incapable of governing." Still, the president said he was working on an executive order that would "encourage police departments nationwide to meet the most current professional standards for the use of force, including tactics for de-escalation." Trump's language suggested that the proposal would leave police departments with the option of following the use-of-force standards, something many activists say does not go far enough to mandate change. Since then-Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin drove his knee into the neck of Floyd, an unarmed black man, for nearly nine minutes on May 25, millions have taken to the streets to demand new laws that would mandate less aggressive policing tactics. Walz is aiming to turn Minnesota into a national leader on police reform with the package of proposals he is presenting to the legislature. The measure would change state law on when a police officer is justified in using deadly force, a new measure that Walz's office said would "prioritize sanctity of life." The package would also offer funding to allow social workers to join police officers in responding to crisis calls and welfare checks, a policy shift that Trump appeared to embrace on Thursday. Democrats control the House in Minnesota, and their People of Color and Indigenous Caucus drew up the proposals that Walz co-signed. Republicans run the Senate, and though they have shown support for some of the measures, they have also criticized Walz and indicated that their priority will be to curb his power to extend the state of emergency over the coronavirus. Floyd's death continued to reverberate outside of politics, too, as several institutions and public figures announced new steps to promote anti-racism and embrace the Black Lives Matter movement. Lady Antebellum, the Grammy-winning country music trio behind one of the highest-selling country songs of all time, announced Thursday that it was dropping the "antebellum" from its name. The group, which will now be known as Lady A, apologized for using a name associated with the Antebellum South, the period before the Civil War. "We've watched and listened more than ever these last few weeks, and our hearts have been stirred with conviction, our eyes opened wide to the injustices, inequality and biases black women and men have always faced and continue to face everyday," the group said on Twitter. "We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who felt unsafe, unseen or unvalued." The board of directors for U.S. Soccer announced that it was repealing a rule that forced players on the national team to stand during the national anthem, instead encouraging players to choose how they wished to protest racial injustice. The rule was enacted after women's team star Megan Rapinoe knelt in protest during the national anthem. It was the latest sports body to take action to support peaceful protests against racism, after the NFL also reversed course. The moves were not welcomed by all. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., for example, responded to U.S. Soccer's move by advocating that the body should be defunded. "I'd rather the US not have a soccer team than have a soccer team that won't stand for the National Anthem," Gaetz tweeted Thursday. Dozens of protesters at a Black Lives Matter march in Simcoe called for action to address racism in small communities like Norfolk County. This is years and years of oppression, said Devin Defreyne, a Simcoe resident who said he organized the six-hour event Thursday to bring attention to a history of injustice toward marginalized communities. Its not just police brutality were marching for. Its justice, Defreyne said. The protest comes in light of recent events in the United States and Canada, such as the death of George Floyd a 46-year-old Black man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis. Coming from a small town, I think there is a lot of opportunity to be silent on matters like this and just be nonconfrontational. But unfortunately, that doesnt bring change, said Tiffany Forde of Simcoe. Simcoe residents Kody Forde, left, Misho Galic, and Tiffany Forde. J.P. Antonacci / The Hamilton Spectator Its necessary to bring light to this here. We just want people to know that Black lives are important, and making sure that Black lives, womens lives, LGBTQ ... have equal opportunity and success in this world. Kody Forde was heartened by the public response to the protest. Its awesome that a lot of people could come out. Were trying to show that change needs to happen, and thats what were here for, he said over the sound of passing motorists honking their support and giving protesters the thumbs up. Nate Orde, right, says he has been racially profiled by police in Norfolk. J.P. Antonacci / The Hamilton Spectator As a person of colour living in Simcoe, Nate Orde says hes experienced discrimination at the hands of the police. Just the racial profiling Ive been walking and theyve just stopped me because I look like someone else, he said, adding it is necessary to stand up for Black culture and combat racism. Its good to use your platform to spread the information, but being out in person is something that really shows the effort and really makes the message to people, Orde said. We need to talk about the whiteness in our country and the racism that is inherent in Canadian culture and Canadian society. It happens in bigger cities, but it accumulates and stems up from the smaller regions. Asja Drogo, left, and Leo Ijogun at the Black Lives Matter protest in Simcoe on Thursday. J.P. Antonacci / The Hamilton Spectator Leo Ijogun drove in from London to join the call for change. Its important because this keeps happening. Its like a loop, every single time. It never stops. So, Im tired, and I want it to stop, Ijogun said. I just hope people can understand why we are fighting, and what were fighting for. And understand that we just want equality. Thats all. Watching footage of police brutality in the United States galvanized Sarah Auld to join the protest. I was disgusted by what happened to George Floyd and countless other people of colour, Auld said. We all need to come together and show that we support the Black Lives Matter movement, and I think if more and more communities do this and we keep at it, justice will be delivered. Naomi Auld holds a sign listing victims of racism or police violence at Thursday's Black Lives Matter protest in Simcoe. J.P. Antonacci / The Hamilton Spectator Meredith Woods eyes filled with tears when asked about her homemade sign. She wrote, All mothers were called when he called for his Mama, in reference to Floyds last words as he was being killed by Minneapolis police on May 25. I cant talk about my sign without crying, Wood said. I am here because I believe in equality, and I think that more people who dont necessarily have to struggle with racism should stand up for those who do. She noted that calls for racial justice resonate in Norfolk because of incidents of racism toward the areas Indigenous and migrant farmworker populations. We need to stand up and say its not right, Wood said. Siblings Marlon, left, and Julia Schott-Ramirez at the Black Lives Matter protest in Simcoe on Thursday. J.P. Antonacci / The Hamilton Spectator Julia Schott-Ramirez, who lives outside Delhi, hopes the protest is a catalyst for real change in Norfolk. Even though its a small town and has low crime rates, to me it doesnt feel safe to be a person of colour, Schott-Ramirez said. Weve firsthand witnessed the racism, not only against ourselves but against other community members. And we feel that we need to raise a lot more awareness in this area about the current state of things and how we can all work together to decolonize. Schott-Ramirez said the antidote to systemic discrimination is a lot of education. Around here, (racism) looks like a lot of ignorance. It sounds like a lot of stereotypes, and it sounds like devaluing of any life that is not white, she said. In high school, Id hear comments calling people the N-word or telling people to go back where they came from, or stereotypes of Black men being violent. Things like that. Whether seen in prejudice toward migrant workers from Mexico and the Caribbean or Norfolk residents exhibiting racist attitudes in casual conversation, Schott-Ramirez said racism has to be confronted head on. Then we can start to change our own individual attitudes, and see what has to change to make a more sustainable system that serves everyone in the community, she said. There should be no safe spaces for racism. Dozens of people protested on behalf of Black Lives Matter in downtown Simcoe on Thursday. J.P. Antonacci / The Hamilton Spectator Mikal Schomburg, the reverend at St. Pauls Presbyterian Church in Simcoe, walked over to lend his support to the cause. The way I read the Bible, Jesus was a brown man, Schomburg said. Jesus was a refugee he had to run from his country when he was an infant so he wouldnt be persecuted and killed. He was a man of little means he didnt have position, he didnt have privilege. And in the end, he was legally killed by the state, for nothing that he ever did. So if Jesus were walking around in Simcoe, Jesus would be here today. And thats why Im here. Danielle Chambers had a simple explanation for why she joined the protest. My hearts breaking, so Im here. (Natural News) A data analytics firm behind an influential and now retracted Lancet study which concluded that Hydroxychloroquine is dangerous, has one employee and is headquartered in a residential house just west of Chicago. Yet its bogus data prompted the World Health Organization, the UK and France to halt clinical trial programs involving the controversial drug used to treat COVID-19. (Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com) The data firm, Surgisphere, was founded by 41-year-old Sapan Desai, an MBA who also holds a medical degree and a Ph.D. who is named on both The Lancet study and another now-retracted article in the New England Journal of Medicine. He has refused to explain how his tiny data analytics firm was able to procure their dodgy data after questions were raised over troubling inconsistencies despite a letter to The Lancet from over 200 scientists demanding greater transparency regarding the hospitals where medical data came from, according to Bloomberg. There is an almighty rush to understand this new disease everybody is trying to get data quickly, said said Nicholas Day, a professor of tropical medicine at the University of Oxfords branch in Bangkok. All the journals are desperate to publish because there is a thirst to know about this disease. Therefore mistakes are made, stuff is rushed through. Desai claims his 12-year-old company uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to automate the process of data analytics which is the only way a task like this is even possible, he told Bloomberg. It is important to understand the nature of this database, he added. We are not responsible for the source data, thus the labor intensive task required for exporting the data from an EHR (electronic health record), converting it into the format required by our data dictionary, and fully de-identifying the data is done by the healthcare partner. Surgisphere does not reconcile languages or coding systems. Meanwhile, a Sofia, Bulgaria-based computer scientist who performed freelance programming for Surgisphere two years ago says he has no clue about their access to medical data. Key questions over Desais data include; How did this tiny firm operating out of a guys house procure an unrealistically high number of electronic patient records in Africa as well as their European figures given the continents strict rules around health privacy, according to Bloomberg? as well as their European figures according to Bloomberg? Why does Desais dataset have more patients than would appear likely given the dates and spread of COVID-19, particularly in the UK? Why arent any artificial intelligence or machine learning experts listed in the now-retracted Lancet paper? Why wont Desai answer questions over whether his company has a board or a scientific committee? Why does their data used in the retracted New England Journal of Medicine study include ethnic information on French patients such as skin color, when its illegal to collect such data in France, and typically requires approval by the CNIL privacy watchdog (which told Bloomberg it hadnt received any requests from Surgisphere). According to Desai, the official figures could have been under-reported early on during the pandemic, thus leading to the appearance that we are over-reporting numbers when in actuality we are capturing the true total number of Covid-19 infections at the hospital level, which is the true source for this data. Still, the Surgisphere studies were highly unusual in that they claimed to quickly assemble data from hundreds of anonymous hospitals, using numerous electronic medical records systems, under different privacy laws across many countries on multiple continents. And even more strangely, for studies that claimed a massive feat of data integration in record-setting time, they had no biostatisticians listed as authors that might have helped pull all this data together. More typically, when medical scientists do such studies they rely on clearly named and reputable government databases in one country or state that researchers are able to access. Surgisphere said its information comes from a registry, with data obtained from electronic health records of a very specific group of hospitalized patients with Covid-19. The company directly integrates with the EHRs of our hospital customers, and has permission to include these hospitals EHR data in its query-able registry/database of real-world, real-time patient encounters. Bloomberg Yet, the company wont provide the names of companies or institutions which have provided data. Desai also claims on his website that he has worked with Scotlands National Health Service to find data-driven solutions to high rates of post-surgical complications and infections, when no such relationship exists. At no point have Surgisphere had any access to NHS Scotland data, they told Bloomberg in an email. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of it all is that the WHO and two entire countries halted trials of a potentially life-saving drug following the results of a single study that they failed to independently verify. Read more at: ZeroHedge.com Melania Trump used her position as first lady to renegotiate her prenup with Donald Trump, ensured Barron would be treated the same as the eldest Trump children, and has had plastic surgery, a new book reveals. 'The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump,' by Washington Post reporter Mary Jordan, 'draws an unprecedented portrait of the first lady' based on interviews with more than 100 people in five countries. Out on Tuesday, excerpts from the 286-page book appeared in The Washington Post on Friday, confirming a longtime rumor that Melania renegotiated her marital agreement with Donald Trump before she moved into the White House after he won the presidency. Melania Trump's office blasted the book as 'fiction.' 'Yet another book about Mrs. Trump with false information and sources. This book belongs in the fiction genre,' Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's chief of staff, said in a statement to DailyMail.com. Melania Trump delayed her move to Washington D.C. after Trump became president in part to use the time to renegotiate her pre-nup agreement; the first couple are seen on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2017 A new biography of the first lady reveals details on her prenuptial renegotiation and claims she's lied about her age and had plastic surgery During her negotiations on her pre-nup, Melania Trump ensured her son Barron would be taken care of - above she adjusts Barron's tie at Trump's 2017 presidential inauguration Melania Trump wanted her son Barron to have the same treatment as the eldest Trump children - Eric, Ivanka and Don Jr; the Trump family together in February 2015 to celebrate Donald Trump's show 'The Celebrity Apprentice' Melania didn't move into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue until June 2017 - six months after President Trump took the oath of office. And she used that time to renegotiate her prenuptial agreement. Jordan's book notes the incoming first lady did want Barron to finish out his school year in New York but she also need time to 'cool off' after learning details about Trump's marital infidelities, news she learned from media accounts, which included his affair with Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal and his 'grab them by the p****' comment on the 'Access Hollywood' tape. Trump has denied any cheating. Reports of his affair with Stormy Daniels appeared in October 2018 and, after they appeared, Melania abruptly canceled her plans to join Trump in Davos for its annual conference. But Trump's victory in the 2016 election meant he needed a first lady by his side and she used her new-found leverage 'to amend her financial arrangement with Trump - what Melania referred to as "taking care of Barron."' ' The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump ,' by Washington Post reporter Mary Jordan, is out on Tuesday 'She wanted proof in writing that when it came to financial opportunities and inheritance, Barron would be treated as more of an equal to Trump's oldest three children,' Jordan writes. Barron Trump was 10 when his father was elected president. While Melania stayed in New York, first daughter Ivanka Trump tried to take advantage of her absence to seize territory in the White House. Ivanka, who would become an adviser in the West Wing, suggested renaming the First Lady's Office to the First Family's Office. The White House called the story 'totally false.' 'This is totally false. The media is once again running untrue information from anonymous sources and not once did anyone fact check this with the White House or Ivanka Trump,' said deputy press secretary Judd Deere in a statement to Dailymail.com. Meanwhile, there were reports of tension between the first couple after Trump won the election, when he was alone in the White House while Melania and Barron stayed in New York. It was the first time Trump lived alone in 10 years. The couple's few appearances together - before Melania and Barron moved to the White House in June 2017 - were marked by viral moments: the swat she gave the president when he reached for her hand on a trip to Israel in May 2017 and how she reminded him to put his hand over his heart during the playing of the National Anthem during the Easter Egg Roll in April 2017. Her original marital agreement with Trump was not financially generous, the book notes, but says Melania used the fact she had been married to Trump longer than either of his two previous wives, plus her ability to calm Trump, to negotiate an agreement 'more to her liking.' 'She is much more like him than it appears,' Jordan writes in her biography, which takes its name as play off Trump's famous book 'The Art of the Deal.' Additionally, it cost tax payers more than $20 million dollars to protect the first lady and Barron while they spent the first six months of 2017 in New York City, living in a three-story apartment in Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, one of the busiest and most accessible streets in New York. New York Police Department estimated it costed $127,000 to $146,000 a day 'to protect the first lady and her son while they reside in Trump Tower,' according to The New York Times. Melania and Barron lived in New York around 131 days after Trump took the oath of office. The Secret Service requested an extra $60 million for its budget and nearly half of that amount, $26.8 million, The Washington Post reported, went to protecting President Trump's family and his Trump Tower home - meaning a portion went to covering Melania and Barron. Melania took 21 flights between New York City, Florida and Washington on Air Force jets in that time period - at a cost of more than $675,000, The Wall Street Journal reported. All this was before she and Barron moved to the White House in June 2017. On June 11, 2017, she wrote on Twitter: 'Looking forward to the memories we'll make in our new home! #Movingday' and included a photo of a view of the Truman Balcony from inside the White House. The New York Police Department estimated it costed $127,000 to $146,000 a day to protect Melania and Barron at Trump Tower in New York and the Secret Service requested extra funding to protect them Melania Trump also traveled back and forth from New York, Washington and Florida in the first part of 2017; above she's seen at the New York Stock Exchange on September 23, 2019, to ring the opening bell On June 11, 2017, Melania Trump tweeted she had moved into the White House All in all, it cost taxpayers more than $20 million to protect Melania and Barron while they lived in New York; above the Trump family arrives in West Palm Beach More details from the Melania bio are emerging The new biography also reports on tensions between Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump, seen together in the Oval Office with President Trump in February 2017 Jordan describes Melania as focused, ruthless and ambitious - leaving friends behind once she had moved on to a new portion of her life, whether that was a modeling career that led her from Milan, Italy to New York City or her marriage to the business mogul that took her to the White House. She 'would seize an opportunity and put great effort into it. Then she would move on and never look back,' Jordan notes. Melania Trump, the nation's second immigrant first lady - the first was Louisa Adams, has kept a low profile during her tenure compared to other women who have occupied the role, particularly in modern times. She has done few sit-down interviews and her signature initiative, Be Best, uses existing government and business structures to promote its pillars of kindness, well-being and online safety. She keeps her East Wing staff small and her portion of the White House is famous for its lack of leaks and the loyalty of her staff. During the coronavirus pandemic, she reacted faster than her husband to contain it, ordering her staff to telework and to wear masks when inside the complex. She's encouraged Americans to keep up social distancing and wear face masks. She worn one herself on Marine One although she has not been photographed wearing one openly in public. But she has had her share of controversies, including the time she wore a jacket that read 'I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?' in June 2018 on her way to Texas to visit migrant children separated from their families. She also underwent surgery for a benign kidney condition in May 2018, disappearing from the public eye for nearly a month, sparking many rumors and speculation about her health. Melania has said her role model is Jackie Kennedy, another famously shy first lady, known more for what she wore than for what she said. Melania Knauss with her boyfriend Donald Trump in September 1998 - a new biography of the first lady casts doubt on the official story of how the couple met The new bio reveals one of Melania's top priorities is her son Barron, 14, was taken care of; the first family is seen on the South Lawn of the White House in January 2020 Melania Trump in her wedding dress on her wedding day - January 22, 2005 Melania Trump with President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden of the White House when she launched her Be Best campaign on May 7, 2018 Jordan devotes several pages to Melania's 'mythmaking,' noting it rivals Trump's. It includes lying about her age and plastic surgery. Melania wouldn't correct reports that got her age wrong and 'three photographers who worked with her said theyve seen the scars' from plastic surgery, the book notes. The first lady, in April, celebrated her 50th birthday at the White House in a private dinner with her family. Additionally, there is little evidence that claims of Melania being able to speak four or five languages fluently are true with the first lady appearing to only speak English and Slovenia fluently. Besides her time in the White House, 'The Art of Her Deal' examines Melania's childhood in Slovenia, her time as a model and her long courtship with Trump that accumulated in their marriage. Melania did some modeling as a child in Slovenia but her big break came when renowned Slovenian fashion photographer Stane Jerko discovered the 17-year-old Melania in Ljubljana in 1987 at a modeling contest and asked if he could take some pictures of her. Not long afterwards, she abandoned her studies, moved to Milan and then on to New York City. The book also finds little evidence backing up the story of how Trump and Melania first met. Paolo Zampolli, an Italian modeling agent who secured Melania's visa to the United States, claimed he introduced the two at a 1998 party he hosted at the Kit Kat Club. Melania was said to refuse to give Trump her phone number. Sources in the book claimed they had already been dating a year. Barron Trump, President Trump, and Melania Trump with the Easter Bunny in April 2017 - one of her first appearances as first lady and at a time when she and Barron still lived in New York but came to Washington D.C. for the annual event Melania Trump, in one of her first appearances as first lady, on February 15, 2017; she and President Trump wait at White House to greet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyah Melania Trump was spotted wearing a face mask on Marine One last month One of Melania's biggest controversies was when she wore the jacket that read 'I really don't care, do you?' when she went to visit migrant children in Texas in June 2018 Melania Trump had kidney surgery in May 2018 and disappeared from the public eye for nearly a month; her above appearance at FEMA on June 6, 2018 was her first time being seen in public since the surgery Melania Knauss and Donald Trump married on January 22, 2005 at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida, and held their reception at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. It was Trump's third marriage and her first. His marriage to Ivana Trump lasted 15 years and his marriage to Marla Maples last six years. Melania Trump wore a $200,000 dress made by John Galliano for the ceremony. She appeared on the cover of Vogue wearing it. The reception was attended by a whos who in New York celebrity circles, including aKatie Couric, Matt Lauer, Rudy Giuliani, Heidi Klum, Star Jones, P. Diddy, Shaquille O'Neal, Barbara Walters, Kelly Ripa, then-Senator Hillary Clinton, and former president Bill Clinton. 'Neither the very public Trump nor the very private Melania has many close friends. Their loner instincts filter into their own marriage,' Jordan writes. But friends tell her the Trumps genuinely love one another and have a strong marriage, despite sleeping in separate bedrooms and keeping separate schedules. Barron Trump was born on March 20, 2006. Melania Trump used her time renegotiating her prenup in early 2017 to ensure her son would be taken care of and treated the same as the eldest Trump children: Don Jr., Eric, and Ivanka. She has taken care of Barron's future, making sure he has dual citizenship in Slovenia, which will allow him to work in Europe for the Trump Organization when he comes of age. With more than 600,000 applications for unemployment insurance in the states coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Ned Lamont on Thursday announced a multi-prong effort to retrain and hire workers who might be left behind when Connecticuts economy reopens. The CT Back to Work Initiative will include free online training services and a virtual jobs fair with at least 40 prospective employers next week through Indeed.com, which has more than 1,000 employees in Stamford. Its a jobs program built on a Lamont hallmark public-private partnerships to address an unemployment rate that cant be measured accurately because the picture is changing quickly. About one-third of all Connecticut residents with jobs sought coverage for furloughs or layoffs, and while many of those jobs have already returned, economists expect a long recovery to normal levels. We were hit hard, obviously, by COVID and the COVID-related recession, Lamont said during his daily news briefing in the State Capitol. The bottom fell out of the job market. Think of this as a chance to restart. Heres an opportunity, at no cost to you, to take advantage of the time youve got and see where your skills and dreams can take you. A crisis is a terrible thing to waste, and I hope this gives you a bit of an opportunity. Lamont announced that another 25 fatalities occurred since Wednesday, bringing the statewide death toll to 4,146 since the first in the coronavirus pandemic on March 17. A net reduction of 24 hospitalizations brought the total to 246. The state also announced that deaths in nursing homes and assisted living accounted for 85 percent of all COVID-related fatalities in the week ending Wednesday. In all, there were 139 reported deaths in the week (asssisted living centers reported only through Tuesday). Among those, 118 were in long-term care facilities, while 21 were outside those facilities. In Connecticut, you know somebody that lost their job, and you know somebody that lost their life, Lamont said, stressing that social distancing and wearing masks is a key to the economys rebound. He said that while enhanced unemployment benefits continue for another six weeks, now is the time for those who do not have jobs to plan their strategies. Through Wedneday, long-term care facilities accounted for 72.2 percent of all deaths in the state one of the highest levels in the nation. The new employment program was created by the Governors Workforce Council, and includes a hiring portal through the state Department of Labor website that can be accessed by both businesses and those looking for work. Now the jobs are beginning to come back, Lamont said. Dave ONeill, chief operating officer of Indeed.com, said his 15-year-old companys free job fair is an opportunity to help the state of Connecticut, one of the founding locations for Indeed. Weve been able to take our technology and create a custom job portal for the state that will allow job seekers to quickly and very easily find open jobs near them, he said. People can create and upload resumes inside the portal, and also search for employment opportunities, while companies can seek out people with particular skills. Some of the companies involved in the hiring events include health care facilities, retailers, warehouses, delivery and logistics, restaurants and others. On June 15, there will be a webinar, with tips being offered on how to succeed in the virtual hiring process. Garrett Moran, chairman of the Governors Workforce Council, said that efficiency and responsiveness have been the mission of the panel, but the pandemic and the protests over racial justice have made the stakes higher. In the wake of the COVID virus and the tragedy surrounding George Floyd, we are all reminded that we need to make this real, that we cant just create a plan and put it on a shelf. And we cant just do the happy talk. We have to do the things that are real. Moran said the council knew the Indeed.com technology and work-search platofrms, and approached the company for help. They created this job portal and the job fair opportunity, it almost seemed overnight, he said, adding that there are also two free online learning sites announced five weeks ago under the SkillUp CT program, for which 11,000 people registered and 1,500 have completed courses. Dante Bartolomeo, a former state lawmaker from Meriden who is deputy commissioner of the state Department of Labor, said 473,000 people have received emails from the agency informing them of the SkillUp CT program and other efforts to help people get back to work. I want to make sure this is a jobs program that works for absolutely everybody, Lamont added. Glendowlyn Thames, deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, said the states $10 million Technology Talent Fund is also available for helping up-skilling the states workforce. So if you find yourself unemployed, under-employed, there is this opportunity to take advantage of these new platforms and online resources to retool, discover new skills and connect with new job opportunities that will enable you to come out of this stronger, she said. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT A teenage boy has been ordered held on $10,000 bail after being charged with arson in connection with the torching of a Boston police cruiser last month following protests in the city, authorities said. The 15-year-old Framingham boy, whose name was not released because of his age, was arraigned Friday in Boston Juvenile Court on the charge of arson of a motor vehicle. Judge Peter Coyne granted the states request for $10,000 bail, according to the office of Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins. At the boys next court date, which is slated for June 23, an additional charge of inciting a riot will be heard, Rollins office said in a statement. If the boys family posts bail, the boy will be required to have GPS monitoring and stay out of Boston, along with other conditions, the statement said. Thousands of protesters held a peaceful demonstration in Boston on May 31, demanding justice following the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police as well as condemning police brutality. After the protests, things turned chaotic. Two Boston police officers parked their cruiser Tremont Street near Bosworth Street in downtown Boston around 9:25 p.m. on May 31 while responding to a call for assistance. A short time later, people were vandalizing the cruiser, police said, breaking the windows and eventually setting it on fire. I will always act to hold individuals accountable for acts of violence, and that obviously includes acts of violence against members of law enforcement," Rollins said. The individuals accused of violence and looting must not overshadow the actions of tens of thousands of peaceful protesters who took to the streets of our city to show their hurt and outrage over the murder of George Floyd. I stand with those protesters in demanding justice and accountability for Mr. Floyd and the countless others who are horrified by that act of law enforcement officers. Several agencies were involved in the boys arrest, including the Crime Strategies Bureau of Rollins office, Boston police, the Boston Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit, the FBI, ATF and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. The investigation is ongoing. Highest Daily Increases of CCP Virus in Florida and South Carolina Florida on Thursday broke its own record for the highest number of COVID-19 cases in a single day, coming weeks after the state eased restrictions on businesses and public gatherings, health officials said. South Carolina on the same day also recorded its highest number of CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virusalso known as the novel coronavirus, which originated in mainland China late last yearcases in a 24-hour period, said officials. The Florida Department of Health confirmed 1,698 more cases of the virus in a single day. The state has more than 67,456 CCP virus cases and more than 2,448 deaths, said the health department. A record total of 687 cases of COVID-19 was recorded on Thursday in South Carolina, said the Department of Health and Environmental Control, reported WLTX-TV in Columbia. The state has more than 16,000 cases of the virus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Both states began reopening in May, but a recent spike in large street protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody later that month may have triggered a surge in cases. Some health experts warned that the lack of social distancing at protests could be a catalyst for a new surge in cases, while some are not sure. A man wearing a face mask walks past a sign Now Hiring in front of a store amid the coronavirus pandemic in Arlington, Va., on May 14, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images) Many of the protesters were seen wearing face masks, and the vast majority of demonstrationssome of them violent and have led to acts of vandalism, arson, and lootinghave been outside. It is too soon to tell what public health impact the protests of the last few weeks will have on New York, said Professor Summer McGee, the dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of New Haven, told the New York Post on Thursday. We will have a much better picture of things in another week or two because positive tests and hospitalization lag behind exposure by a few weeks. McGee noted that protesters were wearing masks but werent socially distancing. Most protesters I saw were wearing some kind of cloth face covering, McGee said. But prolonged close proximity to others is a concern when individuals are wearing bandanas and less effective masks. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the United States saw a 36.5 percent increase in daily CCP virus cases, whereas most other countries with significant COVID-19 outbreaks have seen a decline. It seems that we, the U.S., has given up and accepted this disease as a facet of life, Jeffrey Shaman of the Columbia University School of Public Health told NPR. It didnt have to be this way, and it still doesnt going forward. New Delhi, June 12 : Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Friday met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Secretary, DCPs, DMs and representatives of Home Ministry and other officers and discussed strategies for Containment Zone management in fight against Covid-19. The LG tweeted "Advised field officers to focus on proper delineation, strict perimeter control, intensified IEC, active house-to-house surveillance with special focus on high-risk population for their effective management as per government guidelines." The LG asked the District Magistrates and Deputy Commissioners of Police to constructively engage resident welfare associations and volunteers in managing containment zones and enforcing preventive measures. The LG said hospitals must display information on availability of beds and applicable charges and ensure that all those who are in need of medical care are attended to. On Friday Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus would not be extended in the national capital. "Lockdown will not be extended in Delhi," said Jain. His remarks came in the backdrop of speculation on social media that the city would go back into lockdown mode. A senior Congress leader from Madhya Pradesh has suggested reciting the Hanuman Chalisa will protect people from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), which has affected more than 2.86 lakh people and killed over 8,000 in the country. Ramesh Saxena, who was a member of the legislative assembly (MLA) for four terms from 1993 to 2008, made the comments while speaking to reporters in Sehore on Thursday. I can say it with authority that if members of any family sit together to recite the Hanuman Chalisa 11 times, which will take hardly half an hour, corona cant touch them, Saxena said. Saxena, who won assembly elections once as an Independent candidate and three times on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket and joined the Congress in January last year, also offered an explanation. There is a line in Hanuman Chalisa - Nase rog hare sab peera, japat nirantar Hanuman veera (Constant recital of name of Lord Hanuman cures all diseases and pain). We should trust it. Trust gives us the result, he said. Before this, Saxena had similar advice to stop crops from being damaged during rains and hailstorm in 2018. He had asked people to recite the Hanuman Chalisa at least 500 times every day. We all have a strong belief in the God and we all do prayers but such suggestions will only lead to confusion in public when we all are fighting Covid-19, Dr KL Sahu, the former director of the health department, said. BJP was quick to react to the ex-MLAs suggestion. Recital of holy texts and our faith in God give a boost to our morale and thus immunity power to deal with any crisis but it doesnt mean that any Covid patient can be cured with the recital of any text only, Rajneesh Agrawal, the spokesperson of the BJPs state unit, said. When we are in public life we should not make any such statement that any person believes it blindly and avoids a medical treatment, Agrawal added. The Congress, however, distanced itself from Saxenas remedy and said it was not the partys stand. I am also a devotee of Lord Hanuman but religion and spirituality give us the strength to face and overcome any crisis in life, Bhupendra Gupta, the Congress spokesperson, said. However, when our PM exhorts people to ring bells and blow conches and the health minister in Madhya Pradesh says its not allopathy or homoeopathy but its sympathy that cures a Covid patient, there are aberrations like such a statement that came from the Congress leader, he added. B oris Johnson is expected to make a decision on reducing the two-metre social distancing restriction to allow schools in England to reopen fully by September. The Prime Minister is reportedly looking at following World Health Organisation advice and cutting the distance people should remain apart from two metres to one. Such guidance aimed at stopped the spread of coronavirus is already followed by countries including France, Denmark and Singapore. Mr Johnson on Wednesday promised to "keep that two-metre rule under constant review but there have been signs the Government is preparing to announce a change. Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK's chief scientific adviser, said at the daily Downing Street press briefing the two-metre advice was "not a rule". Sir Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson clash over the return of schools He said: "It is wrong to portray this as a scientific rule that says it is two metres or nothing - that is not what the advice has been and it is not what the advice is now. And according to the Telegraph, Mr Johnson has plans to scrap the rule by September at the latest so schools can reopen fully. As well as helping to make it easier for schools to open, slashing the social distancing restriction could help pubs and restaurants to start-up again. Business Secretary Alok Sharma this week accepting that "for economic reasons, businesses will want to take a look at this two-metre rule. Sir Keir Starmer called on the PM to act now to not risk missing his new target of all pupils returning to school by September. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was forced to admit defeat this week over plans for primary schools to fully reopen. Some head teachers had complained they could not limit class sizes to 15 pupils while taking in more year groups. Labour leader Sir Keir said "creativity" was needed to utilise empty buildings across Britain, including theatres, museums and libraries, so they can be "repurposed" as makeshift classrooms. The debate over the two-metre guidance and schools reopening comes as further lockdown easing for England was announced by Mr Johnson. Some couples kept apart by lockdown restrictions will be able to reunite on Saturday and some grandparents will be able to hug their grandchildren as part of the PM's plan for "support bubbles. This will allow adults living alone or single parents to mix with one other household. They could interact as though they were one household, spending time together indoors, not having to follow the two-metre rule and would be allowed to stay overnight. At the press briefing on Wednesday, Mr Johnson said: "We are making this change to support those who are particularly lonely as a result of lockdown measures." Thursday will see more coronavirus-related developments, including: - Data will be made available about the NHS test and trace service for the first time, with ministers so far only confirming that "thousands" of people had been contacted by the 25,000-strong team since it started up last month. - In Northern Ireland, Stormont ministers will meet to discuss changes to lockdown restrictions. - HM Revenue and Customs will publish the first detailed statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - known as the furlough scheme - with information to cover the period up to June 1. - Analysis of the potential impact of coronavirus on household spending in the UK will be released by the Office for National Statistics. As the latest move to ease England's coronavirus restrictions was announced, an expert who had advised the Government suggested that imposing the lockdown a week earlier in March could have halved the death toll. Professor Neil Ferguson's comments came as the number of deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK passed 52,000, according to analysis of the latest available data. The Imperial College London academic told the Commons Science and Technology Committee: "The epidemic was doubling every three to four days before lockdown interventions were introduced. "So, had we introduced lockdown measures a week earlier, we would have reduced the final death toll by at least a half." Prof Ferguson's modelling of the infection was instrumental in the lockdown being introduced but he later quit the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) panel advising ministers after flouting the restrictions. Asked about Prof Ferguson's claim, Mr Johnson said "all such judgments will need to be examined in the fullness of time". Loading.... Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, when asked about the professor's remarks on ITV's Peston programme, said: "There will be a time when we need to look at the lessons." Kinjarapu Atchen Naidu, a senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) lawmaker from Andhra Pradesh (AP), was arrested on Friday early morning by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) authorities in connection with an Employment State Insurance (EIS)-linked alleged scam that occurred in 2016, when N Chandrababu Naidu was the AP chief minister. The ACB officials took Atchen Naidu, who is also the deputy floor leader of the TDP in AP assembly, into custody on Friday early morning after he was arrested from his native village, Nimmada, in Srikakulam district. He would be produced in the ACB special court at Vijayawada later in the day, said an official familiar with the development. The ACB authorities have also arrested former Insurance Medical Services (IMS) director Dr. CK Ramesh Kumar in Tirupati a few days ago. Atchen Naidu was arrested on the basis of Dr. Kumars confession and available evidence. Earlier in February, APs vigilance and enforcement department had unearthed the scam in the EIS-affiliated hospitals, dispensaries, and diagnostic centres after an inquiry was ordered by CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government. The vigilance authorities have revealed that Atchen Naidu, who served as the labour minister in the N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP government, had directed Dr. Kumar in writing in 2016 to issue work orders to a company called Tele Health Services Pvt Ltd while bypassing the laid-down norms such as inviting open tenders for a contract. The contract involved providing toll-free services to patients under the ESI scheme for assistance regarding pending medical reimbursements and referral bills. IMS had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tele Health Services Pvt Ltd and agreed to pay Rs 1.80 per month for each internet protocol (IP) address, irrespective of the number of calls attended. IMS also allegedly signed another MoU with the same company, authorising it to conduct electrocardiogram (ECG) tests for patients under the ESI scheme. The company was to get Rs 480 for each ECG, according to the MoU, even though the same test at a hospital costs no more than Rs 200. The probe has revealed that the service-provider claimed bills by submitting call logs of Telangana IPs, which were not verified by the authorities concerned. The private company violated other stipulated norms such as it availed of the services of post-graduate diploma-holder clinical cardiologists, instead of specialists, who hold a degree in Doctorate of Medicine (DM). Dr. Kumar and another director, Dr. G Vijaya Kumar, was found to have paid Rs 4.15 crore and Rs 3.81 crore to the company for its toll-free service and ECG tests, respectively. Atchen Naidu pleaded innocence after the vigilance inquiry report came to light, and argued that he had only followed the Central governments order, which had urged all states to offer telehealth services for all patients covered under the ESI scheme. He cited the example of the Telangana government, which, too, followed a similar procedure. TDP president and former AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu described Atchen Naidus arrest as kidnap and an attack on the weaker sections of the society. He issued a statement, alleging over 100 police personnel had raided the residence of Atchen Naidu late at night on Thursday, and whisked him away without any explanation. No notice was served on him by the police before he was taken away, Naidu alleged. He further alleged that the police deprived Atchen Naidu of taking his regular pills and his mobile phone was switched off in a bid to ensure that his family members cannot contact him. The TDP chief demanded that AP CM Reddy, home minister and the director-general of police (DGP) should give an explanation for Atchen Naidus abduction. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In April, the Bridgeport Police Department received from the Pentagon a heavily armored mine-resistant vehicle valued at more than $705,000. It is part of a long-standing program that critics charge has militarized state and local police departments and contributed to an increase in violence in law enforcement. The armored vehicle Bridgeport received is only one recent example of the $20 million worth of military hardware delivered to Connecticut police under the Pentagons controversial 1033 program. The program donates excess war-fighting gear to police across the nation -including assault-style weapons, helicopters, night vision goggles, and anti-riot gear. The departments receiving the hardware say it bolsters their ability to fight crime, carry out dangerous rescue missions and protect their officers. Police departments in Bristol, Willimantic, New Britain, New London, Newington, Meriden, Hartford, Watertown and Windsor are among the local Connecticut forces that have received armored vehicles capable of withstanding blasts from land mines. Madison received two of those combat-ready vehicles. Hundreds of military rifles have also been distributed to city and town police departments across the state, including Danbury, East Windsor, Fairfield, Farmington, Ledyard, Middletown and Ridgefield. Some of those weapons, once front-line firearms in the U.S. Army, also went to Eastern Connecticut State University and Southern Connecticut State University police. Putnam police received eight riot type 12-gauge shotguns and similar weaponry went to various other departments in the state. In a statement, the Bridgeport Police Department said its new mine-resistant vehicle and two armored Humvees the force also obtained through the 1033 program, are rescue vehicles that could be deployed in emergencies. Those include saving people in the grips of a natural disaster, dealing with barricaded suspects and in high-risk warrant service, hostage rescues and police rescues, the department said. Critics of the military surplus program Calls for police reforms following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer have put this surplus military hardware program under scrutiny. Images of helmeted and armored police armed with shields, batons, tear gas and other riot gear not to mention of similarly dressed and armed lines of national guardsmen and federal officers in Washington, D.C. have fueled public concerns about militarized law enforcement. Critics cite academic studies, including one from Harvards Kennedy School of Government, that found participation in the 1033 program appeared to cause an increase in violence and killings by participating police departments. When law enforcement looks and acts like a militarized force, its not long before they start thinking like a militarized force, said Tonya Krause-Phelan, a professor at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. As a result, they view the public those they swore an oath to serve and protect as enemy combatants. Congress is moving to curb the give-away of military-grade equipment. The Justice in Policing Act introduced by congressional Democrats this week would limit these military transfers and add oversight and transparency to the 1033 program, requiring law enforcement agencies to have training, and give community notice before participating in the program. And Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, is trying to include an end to the program in the next National Defense Authorization Act, a massive defense bill that authorizes spending for all of the Pentagons programs. The 1033 Program was established by an National Defense Authorization Act approved in 1997 and initially approved only for counter-terrorism forces. However, it was eventually expanded to include any law enforcement activity. President Barack Obama scaled back the initiative in 2015 amid controversy over the police response to protests the previous year following an officers fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. But President Donald Trump reinstated the full program in August 2017. Michael Lawlor, who served as former Gov. Dannel P. Malloys top criminal justice advisor, said the state considered banning Connecticut police departments from accepting most types of surplus military equipment after the police response to Browns death. But President Obama issued an executive order stopping it, said Lawlor, now an associate professor of criminal justice at the University of New Haven. Lawlor said there is no need for local or state police to have military-style combat and riot equipment and that their use by police often triggers or escalates violence. He said use of such equipment has an impact both on the publics perception of police and the perception police officers have of themselves. Putting this kind of military equipment in the hands of local police only escalates an already very tense situation and leads to violence, Lawlor said. When you show up with riot gear, armored vehicles and helicopters youre just asking for violence. Its going to happen. If you dress up like a gladiator, youre going to act like a gladiator, Lawlor said. He said state and local police in Connecticut refrained from using military hardware in response to recent demonstrations over Floyds death and he believes the restrained police approach was one reason why there has been so little violence connected with the protests here. Lawlor doubts Congress will pass any ban on the transfer of surplus military gear to local police and thinks Connecticuts General Assembly should act. If the Connecticut legislature is coming in for a special session, there is no reason why state lawmakers couldnt ban the importation of this kind of equipment, Lawlor said. An asset for law enforcement Bristol Police Lt. Mark Morello said his department recently acquired a mine resistant armored vehicle through the 1033 program. Morello said the vehicle isnt intended for things like quelling protests and that the equipment is needed for a variety of reasons. We need armor protection when responding to an active shooter or other situations that might put officers or citizens in grave danger, Morello said. It is also useful to rescue people in disasters like blizzards or floods, he said. Morello said Bristol couldnt afford to purchase a civilian version of that armored vehicle, which as surplus military equipment is listed as costing more than $65,000, and that the military transfer program should continue. Because we cant afford it, does that mean officers must go in harms way? Morello asked. Meanwhile, police in the small eastern Connecticut town of Ledyard received 23 military-style semi-automatic rifles from the Pentagon, one for each member of its department. Chief John Rich, a former member of the Connecticut State Police, said the rifles are similar to civilian police rifles used by many departments across the country and that Ledyard has since purchased its own police rifles to equip its officers. I think this program has generally been an asset for law enforcement, Rich said. He said that other military equipment his small department has received, such as night-vision goggles and high-powered scopes, can be useful in certain situations where there is a chance officers might be in danger. But Rich added: I dont think it would be terribly detrimental to us if that resource wasnt available. A man who raped a woman at knifepoint in her own home has been jailed for 13 years. Sevdalin Atanasov, 32, crept into his victims bedroom at around 3am on October 22, 2019, Scotland Yard said. The woman, in her 30s, awoke to find Atanasov with his hand over her mouth. Holding a knife to her throat, he raped her, while threatening to kill her throughout the attack. The victim managed to flee to a friends address where police were called. One of the victim's flatmates knew Atanasov, of Exeter Road, Enfield, and said he could spend the night at the house. When questioned by police he initially denied the offence. However, he entered a guilty plea at Wood Green Crown Court in January after being presented with forensic evidence of the assault. He was sentenced to 13 years behind bars for rape at the same court on Friday, while one count of making threats to kill will remain on file, Met Police said. Detective Constable Andrew Poore, who led the investigation said : The effects of Atanasovs attack, in what should have been the safety of her bedroom, will undoubtedly remain with the victim forever. He took advantage of knowing that she was asleep, alone and vulnerable in her bedroom. I hope that knowing he has been jailed brings her a measure of comfort and security and allows her to move forward with her life. "I commend the bravery, resolve, and support shown by the victim in this life-changing ordeal." C. P. Gurnani, Chief Executive Officer of Tech Mahindra, speaks during a news conference announcing the company's quarterly results in Mumbai The Covid-19 outbreak has tested economies across the globe. As the situation continues to evolve, the global business community has pressed the reboot button to restart businesses in all industries and geographies. Since the pandemic has given rise to unprecedented economic challenges and changed the way we live and work, business leaders must realign their strategies to achieve targets in the short-, medium- and long-term. Here are some of the broader changes I have observed and how I feel they should be dealt with: Be a wartime general To overcome this crisis, business leaders will have to fundamentally change from being peace-time leaders to becoming war-time generals. During a war, generals do not have the luxury of time, and so they need to think fast and act faster. The current situation calls for leaders to be focused and yet open to revisiting strategies, to take bold risks, to judiciously deploy their resources, and above all, to work tirelessly till the war is won. Being resilient, dynamic, focused, frugal, and agile are the demands of the war where nothing can be predicted. What worked yesterday may not work today, and leaders must be prepared for that. Rebooting for solutions Though the situation is still volatile, new systems and developments to combat the impact of the pandemic have resulted in realigning management principles, operational procedures, delivery methods, and timelines. Employee trust and confidence-building are crucial. We need to look at this crisis as an opportunity to ascertain new standards, protocols, and methods. This means that each industry will either have to set its own new benchmarks or follow the norms set by others. For instance, in the IT industry, technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine-to-machine, and 5G will unleash fresh business opportunities, create new jobs, and bring substantial socio-economic benefits. These new technologies will increase productivity, improve service delivery, and optimise the use of scarce resources. But as we embrace these technologies, it is essential to preserve the institutional value and culture of an organisation in order to keep people together and make this transformation more comfortable. Story continues It is a time for introspection, too. Learning never ends Currently, several countries are facing grave economic challenges as production and sales have come to a grinding halt. But the pandemic has also paved the way for a new world order, which includes changing trade relations, environmental concerns, and financial stability. This changing global order has given an advantage to India, and we need to move fast in this direction with direct support for health sectors and direct fiscal stimulus packages. In the post-pandemic phase, the IT and healthcare sectors have the potential to revive the Indian economy. I am reminded of the Y2K bug (also known as the Millennium bug), which led to formatting and storage issues because computers were unable to differentiate between the years 1900 and 2000. The challenge and the way Indian IT companies helped overcome it, played a vital role in establishing Indias tech prowess globally. Not just a role model, but also modelling the change In times of crisis, I believe, we naturally draw strength from our role models. For me, my parents have been my role models. People often ask what is most important for me, and I say humility and hard work, which is what I have learnt from my parents. My father decided to join the Central Bureau of Narcotics, a central government agency in India, where he was transferred to many cities. I ended up studying in over six schools during the first 11 years of my education. That experience made me curious and resilient. It has played a big role in the person I am today. I also learnt from my parents ability to deal with change. They taught me to manage with fewer resources, to explore every option, to demand the best, and to gently extract the best from people. These learnings are more relevant today than ever before. In the post-Covid-19 world, we may witness new role models, from many different and maybe even conflicting disciplines such as doctors, scientists, health workers, technology developers, YouTubers, and so on. The key is in constantly challenging accepted ideas and beliefs, and to adapt to ones situation accordingly. Welcome to the new normal We have to accept that the post-pandemic world will not be the same as before. What will help us win this war is our ability to seize this new normal and define it for ourselves. There is a story that has always stuck with me and seems appropriate to share in these trying times: A little girl is on a flight and there is a lot of turbulence. She sits bravely while the rest of the passengers are terrified. When asked why she wasnt scared, she answered, My dad is the pilot, and he is taking me home. It is pertinent to ask: Are we the leaders who our teams can trust to take them home safely? Do we command that level of faith in our teams? I hope the answer to these questions is are a resounding yes. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: 11.06.2020 LISTEN I am sharing (with the help of the Institute or Bible for Israel) this because I have stated many times that the Church which started with Jesus Christ as the foundation and now the Holy Spirit of Christ as God today is the Head assisting the Elders or Leading ones and not one. In the Church authority has been given to them James 5:13-16 (elders to pray for the sick) and all including miracles becoming prevalent in such "Church" and not as we see it with the magician style miracle display nowadays. This "Church which began in Israel with its extension to the Corinthians, Romans, Ephesians, etc rest of the world was to have remained the same universally but with local bodies within the General Universal Church. All of them (Ephesians 4:15) whilst linked and learning the truth under one authority, life and hope which is Jesus Christ "will be speaking the truth in love, and grow together to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is Christ. The confusion is a result of what I have stated in previous lessons, coming up with a divisive, selfish, segregated and you name it the hollow, each for himself and God for us all churches. With many not understanding that the "Church is not churches and private entities. The Scripture says as follows "Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Messiah is all, and is in all." (Colossians 3:11) Today, the family of Believers in Yeshua (Jesus) is characterized by divisions between denominations and movements. I have repeated this well enough reader. But it was Not so within the assembly of the first Believers in Yeshua in Israel. The Book of Acts reveals that the original Believers were in total unity as they worshiped at the Jewish Temple, praying together and sharing in common what they had (Acts 1:14; 2:44).Or from homes where they meet as the people of the "Way". And continuing daily with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. (Acts 2:46) As well, the expression of their faith was entirely in keeping with Judaism, for it was not the intention of the Messiah to start another religion. But we see from the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) that disagreements first arose between Jewish Believers after the Gentiles began coming to faith. Early Dispute Disrupts Unity in the Sheepfold Some of the first Jewish Believers felt that the Gentile Believers should submit to the full ritual conversion process and become fully Jewish. Of course, this would mean that they would have to take a vow to keep not only Torahs commandments but also the traditional law, which is much more extensive than the 613 commandments found in Torah. That group believed that people could not be saved without undergoing circumcision. In a council meeting with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to decide how to proceed in this matter, Paul and Barnabas described how God was moving among the Gentiles without any conversion rituals. Peter also stood up and presented his position, saying that God was pouring out His Ruach HaKodesh on them, just as He was on Jewish Believers. Remember this came as a result of what transpired between Paul and Peter humbly about this issue ( an attribute which is today missing in some churches limited to ownership. James, who led the meeting, then stood up and expounded upon the prophetic significance of the Gentiles coming to faith in Yeshua, linking it to the end-time restoration of Israel and the appearance of Gentiles who are called by His name (Acts 15:1618; Amos 9:1114). This was expected to continue when the qualified elders and deacons are appointed for the local "Church" having the same structure as approved by God. In light of the fact that the law of Moses could be heard every Sabbath in the synagogue of every city, James then suggested that a letter be sent to Gentile Believers that they should observe the following: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. (Acts 15:29) While the Bible says that Torahs commandments are not difficult to keep (Deuteronomy 30:1114; see also Romans 10:8), the early followers of Yeshua concluded at the meeting that the "extra," traditional laws are too burdensome for Gentile Believers and the conversion process to Judaism is unnecessary for salvation. Nevertheless, James did indicate that he expected Gentile Believers to learn the law of Moses (Acts 15:21) so they would grow in their understanding of how to live a holy life.If we have time in future we will learn the truth that in the Bible ome of the writers were allowed to share their views.Such views were not sanctioned by God.How many of you know this? And so we see here a picture of Gentiles and Jews uniting in one sheepfold as Yeshua promised in John 10:16: I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. Unity: One Olive Tree Paul explains in Romans 11:1131 that Believers are grafted into one treea Jewish tree and all are nourished from the same root. Gentiles have been grafted into this tree as wild olive branches while Jewish believers are grafted into the same tree, which is their own tree. Readers will have observed my mentioning of this arrangement severally. It seems, however, that Paul had to address some arrogance among Gentile Believers who looked down on Israel for not accepting Yeshua as their Messiah nationally. You will say then, Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in. Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either. (Romans 11:1921) Paul warns them that falling back into unbelief could cause them to be cut off: And if they [the Jewish People] do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. (Romans 11:23) In the last 100 years, a move has taken place among the Jewish People that has seen many grafted into their own tree. That move continues to grow and prosper, especially in Israel where faith in Yeshua as the Messiah is flourishing and being increasingly accepted by the Jewish people living there. We see from Pauls analogy of the olive branches being grafted together that God intended the Gentile Believers in Yeshua to live in unity with the Jewish People at large, and especially so with Jewish Believers, who would naturally maintain their Jewish identity. Whilst it is true that each Jew or Gentile were maintaining their identity outside the Church this was and is not at all possible within the "Church". So what happened? Arguments Over the Passover In the early congregations, Jewish and Gentile Believers prayed together and celebrated the Jewish festivals and holidays, as did Yeshua. As the nations came to faith in Yeshua outside of Israel, Gentile Believers maintained a relationship with the Jewish People. For instance, to celebrate the resurrection of Yeshua, they consulted with the local rabbi who would tell them when the Passover holiday was to take place. How then did the celebration of Passover among Gentile Believers develop into the Easter tradition? The first accounts come from the second century AD. I will welcome any account which could be proven in scriptures and local Israelie accounts. Some Gentile believers kept very close to the Jewish roots, celebrating Yeshua as the Passover Lamb on the first night of Passover, which is the 14th of the Hebrew month of Nissan. Most of these believers lived in Asia Minor. Others emphasized the resurrection, which occurred on the first day of the week. The believers in Rome moved the observance of the resurrection to Sunday and began the celebration of Easter. A controversy arose when those called the Quartodecimans (Latin, referring to fourteenth) followed the Jewish practice of fasting on the eve of Passover. This tradition was established by the apostle John and practiced by his disciples, including Polycarp (c. 69c. 155) who was the bishop of Smyrna, one of the seven churches of Asia, and by Melito (died c. 180) of Sardis, another church in Asia. This fast was followed by the Passover celebration beginning at sundown on the 15 of Nissan in close adherence to the Jewish tradition. Yeshuas followers met together to break bread after the Sabbath, on Saturday evening. And so, we find an account in Acts 20 of Paul talking late into the night in Troas. As a result scripture explained that; It seems that a young man sunk into a deep sleep and fell three stories to his death around midnight. Paul stopped talking and went down, throwing himself on the man and raising him from the dead. Then he went back upstairs, broke bread and continued talking until daylight, Sunday morning, before going on his way. Of course, eventually, Gentile Believers began meeting on Sunday morning. Paul Raises Eutychus to Life. Although Jewish Believers continued to attend the synagogue, they began to experience some pressure, especially after the destruction of the Temple. While the original Believers who lived in Jerusalem practiced Judaism and visited the Temple on a daily basis, the emergence of the Jewish Revolt in the early 60s reminded Believers of Yeshuas warning: (This is the evident that all the time God was the one controlling and organising the way things must go, and it continues even in the days we are in until He will return in the formal body with which He Lived here on earth for thirty-three and a half years). While people are saying, Peace and safety, destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. (1 Thessalonians 5:34) The Jewish believers escaped Jerusalem, as described by an early church father Eusebius, and crossed over the Jordan and went to Pella, a Nabataean fortress in the mountains. They thus escaped the onslaught of another Roman general, Titus, who totally destroyed the city and Temple; still, they incurred the wrath of their fellow Jews who now saw them as deserters. It is generally believed that the entire body of Jewish Believers managed to leave Jerusalem and avoid its destruction by the Roman forces. Pella became a major center of worship. God used this to spread the "Way" He has planned as "economia" for His Kingdom to be established to show the sinful world with new born people filled with the Spirit of God. Following the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, the Rabbis considered Jewish Believers to be Jews, but some began to discourage their presence in the synagogues. One factor that contributed to Gentile Believers separating themselves from their Jewish brethren was Rome's institution of the Fiscus Judaicus or Jewish Tax.Obviously, this trick of the world acting for its master the devil is still being pursued by different parts or nations and authorities. The Roman Empire imposed this tax on Jews after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70. It replaced the Temple tax and was used for the upkeep of the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter in Rome. Only those who had abandoned Judaism were exempt from the tax.Jesus Christ here emphasizing that the two had become one in the "Church".This was not an antisemitic move, it was a move beyond human understanding, but met the purpose of God wholy. The tax, therefore, motivated Gentile Believers, who up until then were considered a sect of Judaism, to disassociate themselves from Judaism. Another force that contributed to division in the late first century was the inclusion of the Birkat HaMinimthe 19th blessing in the Amidah, a request of divine punishment (a curse) from God directed against the paroshimthose said to have separated themselves from the community. The paroshim were associated with the minim or heretics, which were understood to be the Jewish Believers in Yeshua and perhaps the Essenes. In this way, Jewish Believers were no longer able to lead prayer without actually evoking a curse on themselves. This benediction went a long way to make Jewish Believers feel unwelcome in the meeting places, causing them to worship separately. Early writings confirm this cursing, including Justin Martyr in his 2nd century Dialogue with Tryphon and Origin, who lived in the third century AD. Epiphanius, who lived in the fifth century AD wrote, Three times a day they say: May God curse the Nazarenes. [The term Nazarenes (Notzrim) referred originally to the first Believers in Yeshua; however, it also refers to the 4th century sect of the Nazarenes, Believers who considered themselves Jewish (thought to have originated with the Believers who fled Jerusalem) and kept the Torah. The term could also apply to Gentile followers of Yeshua in general.] The First Council of Nicaea Over time, Gentile Believers began to incorporate pagan observances and rituals over Jewish practice in their worship. In AD 325, the First Council of Nicaea was convened by the Roman Emperor Constantine in order to set church doctrine. None of the 318 bishops attending were of Jewish ancestry. One of the main acts of the Council was to establish a separate celebration of the Passover from the Jewish Passover. This later became identified by the pagan name of Easter (from the Babylonian fertility goddess Ishtar). The Council also established Sunday as the new Sabbath, as opposed to the Biblical seventh day Sabbath. The following Council of Antioch prohibited Christians from celebrating the Jewish Passover. The Council of Laodicea shortly after, prohibited celebration of the Biblical or Jewish Sabbath. Christians were even prohibited, under penalty of death, to marry Jews. Jews became second-class citizens. Anti-Semitism was so rampant at this time that a 4th century church in Constantinople held the following creed: I renounce all customs, rites, legalisms, unleavened breads and sacrifices of lambs of the Hebrews, and all other feasts of the Hebrews, sacrifices, prayers, aspersions, purifications, sanctifications and propitiations and fasts, and new moons, and Sabbaths, and superstitions, and hymns and chants and observances and Synagogues, and the food and drink of the Hebrews; in one word, I renounce everything Jewish, every law, rite and custom and if afterwards I shall wish to deny and return to Jewish superstition, or shall be found eating with the Jews, or feasting with them, or secretly conversing and condemning the Christian religion instead of openly confuting them and condemning their vain faith, then let the trembling of Gehazi cleave to me, as well as the legal punishments to which I acknowledge myself liable. And may I be anathema in the world to come, and may my soul be set down with Satan and the devils. (The Conflict of the Church and the Synagogue, by James Parks) Did God intend such a disassociation from Judaism? No. In fact, what ties together Jewish and non-Jewish believers is their shared faith in the Jewish Messiah; it is their common root, described by Paul, the Torah and Jewish faith and beliefs. We know from the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) that Yeshua lived as a Jew in His time, that He observed the Jewish festivals and holidays and that He kept the commandments. Yeshua never taught His disciples to break these commandments, although He sometimes called into question the traditional laws or teachings, such as not eating without first ritually washing hands (Luke 11:38). Replacement Theology Versus the Word of God In addition to authorizing that Jewish practices be replaced with non-Jewish practices, the Catholic Church considered itself to be the new inheritor of the promises that God had given to Abraham and his seedan idea that precludes the unity of the One New Man. Thus began replacement theologythe Christian belief that the Church has replaced Israelan idea that remains until today. But the Bible makes it clear that it is Gods intention for the Jewish People to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 49:6), and that the nations will stream to Israel: And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him. (Zechariah 8:22) Also Ezekiel speaks of the restoration of Jerusalem. In Ezekiel 34:2324 we read, I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I,The Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. From this we understand that when Israel is returned to its land, the kingdom of David will be restored. The world is sometimes giving wrong timing to this, but God will always get it right and in His own timing. Although the Jewish people are again in their land, the kingdom has not yet been restored. This will happen in the future and involves unity between Israel and Gentile followers of Messiah Yeshua. In Acts 2:2936, Peter tells us of the relationship between David and Messiah Yeshua when he says: Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne. "Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that He was not abandoned to the grave, nor did His body see decay. God has raised this Yeshua to life, and we are witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. "For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Yeshua, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah." Jeremiah 23:56 also makes the same connection: The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness. Not only had the Messiah come, but He had poured out the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) upon His talmidim (disciples)a sign of the coming fulfillment of Ezekiels prophecy in Ezekiel 37:27: My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be My people. No one operates without this arrangement, for those who have tried have been met with failure and sometimes shame. When Yeshua returns to reign from a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, it will be dramatic proof to the nations that God has not forsaken Israel. Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when My sanctuary is among them forever. (Ezekiel 37:28) Israel and the Jewish people are central to Gods plan for the nations.This is very true and undisputable it does not matter your or institutional or personal view about.Similarly those who do not believe in God does not change God from Whom He is. In the last days Israel and the Gentiles, the nations of the world, will live in unitythat unity which He originally intended and of which was tasted among the first followers of Yeshua. As those days approach, we see that Israel increasingly recognizes the support of Gentile Believers in their right to exist as a nation. Gods prophetic plan is that all of Israel will be saved. These are exciting times as we see this plan so clearly unfold in our own generation, and we can choose to be a part of it. We can choose to stand in unity with Israel and with the Jewish Believers as One New Man, healing the division that was sown long ago among Believers in Yeshua. As we are living in the Last Days with Yeshua's return not far away, let us be diligent to redeem the time. I do hope our contribution will help change you from the worldly view about the Jews. Like the Disciples of Jesus Christ, these people cannot be neglected or ignored for we hold the future of the world with our FATHER. Credit: CC0 Public Domain More than a dozen US states are reporting their highest daily tolls of coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, but President Donald Trump and many local officials are showing no signs of worry and have ruled out new lockdown measures. The US chapter of the global health crisis has shifted from New York and the northeast to the south and west, with a particular focus now on hospitals in Arizona, Texas and Florida. The latter will host the most visible parts of the Republican presidential nominating convention in August, after Trump's spat with the Democratic governor of North Carolina over the need for masks and a scaled-back event prompted a switch. While some states like Virginia and New York move ahead with reopening businesses, other places like the city of Nashville, Tennessee and the Pacific state of Oregon are slowing down. Oregon Governor Kate Brown has announced a one-week pause in the easing of lockdown restrictions that began a month ago, after a rise in cases in both urban and rural areas. A map of the United States on the website COVIDexitstrategy.org tells the tale: a majority of states do not meet the criteria set by the White House for reopening their economies, and have rising numbers of coronavirus cases, dwindling hospital capacity and insufficient testing. While the US hit 100,000 COVID-19 deaths on May 28, it will probably reach 130,000 by the July 4 Independence Day holiday, according to an average of several epidemiological models. Youyang Gu, an independent data scientist whose forecasts have turned out to be quite accurate, predicts 200,000 deaths by October 1. "It's important that we remember that this situation is unprecedented. And that the pandemic has not ended," Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told a media briefing on Friday. Redfield's comments came as the CDC unveiled long-awaited guidelines for Americans seeking to restore some bit of normality to their daily lives. Among them: maintain social distancing, wear masks in public, and bring your own food and drink to barbecues with friends. The Trump administration allows that there are new flare-ups in coronavirus caseloads in some states but insists there will be no shutdown of the economy if a second full-blown wave arises. Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, told Fox News on Friday, "There is no emergency. There is no second wave." Hot spots In some places, more widespread testing has contributed to a higher number of reported cases each day. Many of these are mild and do not lead to hospitalization. In Florida, where Trump is now technically a resident, the Republican governor says there has been a "modest" increase in cases but that the hospitalization rate is stablefar from the spikes that New York saw. On a national level, the CDC says hospitalizations are on the wane, and in spots where they are rising, the situation is not "dramatic," said the CDC's COVID-19 response incident manager, Jay Butler. But in Arizona, case numbers have shot up, ICU beds are now 78 percent occupied and Phoenix has emerged as a hot spot. "We opened too much too early and so our hospitals are really struggling," Mayor Kate Gallego said at a panel discussion with other US mayors. This is also the case in Texas, where the number of people hospitalized has risen steadily since the long Memorial Day weekend in late May, which marks the unofficial start of summer and saw a rush of people headed to the beach. While the number of deaths in the Lone Star State has not shot up, the hospitalization figures show the virus is spreading. "People are driving the reopening because they're tired of the shutdown," Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, told CNBC last week. "Most states didn't really achieve the criteria set up by public health officials for reopening, or the White House, yet they reopened, because the people demanded it," Gottlieb said. These long weeks of sheltering in place have been trying for Americans and their public officials. Many of the latter, particularly Republicans, seem to think that people cannot take life under lockdown any more. The Republican governor of South Carolina, Henry McMaster, said that even if the virus makes a strong comeback, he would not make mask-wearing mandatory or shut down businesses. "At this point, the answer is individual responsibility, not mandates from the government," McMaster said. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 AFP As the Black Lives Matter movement has gained more acceptance with the public and mainstream institutions, a new slogan from activists has emerged that is now drawing scrutiny: "Defund the police." Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, looking to send a message to President Donald Trump, approved a giant mural painted in the street near the White House. Activists were unimpressed, calling on the mayor to make a statement by instead making major changes in city's police department budget. They painted "Defund the Police" beside her mural. And during the past week, the phrase has become a part of the national political debate. Trump has used it to attack Democrats, and members of Congress are debating it as they work on legislation to address police brutality and racial profiling. The Washington spoke with Khalil Gibran Muhammad, a professor of history, race and public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, about the context behind the new rallying cry. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length. Q: What does "defund the police" entail? A: It's an evolving set of ideas and demands that are being spurred by activists and movement leaders rather than coming from academic research. What activists are demanding is shifting resources away from police agencies toward public goods that would enhance the health, safety, efficacy, sense of belonging and citizenship within communities. And that means starting with a list of things that police officers do that they should not be doing - and in many ways they never should have been doing - as activists and certainly some of the research like my own historically suggests. This includes dealing with people having a mental health crisis. There is no one else in our public health sector that is available for such calls. Wellness checks that police officers have been doing can lead to terrible outcomes. If police officers have been trained to minimize the risk to their own lives by using force as their first, and in many cases only, tool, then people end up dead. Like Deborah Danner did in New York City. She was a woman who had schizophrenia that had written an open letter saying that she thought one day if she ever was off her medication, she might get killed by the police. And that's exactly what happened to her when the police showed up and she had a break. Defund is, in the broadest sense, a way of having a conversation about what starting over would look like. People should be thinking about defunding the police as both a process and an outcome. The process is empowering local communities to come to the table with city council members to create a process for redefining what the police do, which leads to an outcome, which is they do less of what they've been doing. There are a lot of reform-minded police chiefs who have been saying for a long time that the police do too much. What they've expressed is that when they're ready to do these things, they not only have to deal with the skepticism and the resistance within the ranks, but they also have to deal with the unions. And so asking all of that, all of those elements - the rank and file, the unions and the leaders, the police leaders themselves - to all be synced up around doing this on their own has proved insufficient. This has to come from the outside. This has to come from the legislative bodies that govern police agencies. Q: Many people have concerns about how crime would be dealt with in a post-defund era. How would that be addressed? A: "Defund the police" is a slogan that is new. The calls for a reduction in police activity in black communities around low-level policing is not new. Neither are calls for replacing police officers through various forms of what's called violence interruption. For 20 years, organizations like Cure Violence have been doing the training of how to empower community members to do conflict resolution. And the model that Cure Violence has been doing essentially removes police and law enforcement from the equation, other than to ask that they not surveil or harass or show some kind of negative attitude toward the Cure Violence worker. They essentially see violence as a disease that is contagious and that if it happens and people are exposed to it, other people will engage. Practically, that means that someone hurt someone and then that person is going to seek retaliation, or their friends or their crew or their gang or their family members, et cetera. Cure Violence has many names in many different cities because most of the work happens at the community level where a nonprofit is trained to do violence interruption. And it has had incredible results that have been evaluated by researchers. In parts of New York City where Cure Violence has been operating, there hasn't been a shooting in years. So even the thing that police officers claim to be most important at dealing with, violent crime, there is another way that is as good or better in many instances. One of the problems for the public health approach in violence interruption is that local elected officials have for 20 years mostly ignored the impact of public health or violence interruption approaches and credited police officers as responsible for low violence rates. The entire political class of elected officials will generally say if crime is going up, it's because the police don't have enough resources. If crime is going down, police officers are doing a great job. But when all that work is happening behind the scenes, nobody measures it in terms of local law enforcement. It's not in their interests. And when it should be in their interest, because it makes their job safer, there's often a political incentive for them not to give credit where credit is due. Q: How do you think the defund police movement will play out in the political arena? A: Well, so far, the political elites are following the familiar pattern that we've seen for the last 50 years. Republicans are framing the idea of systemic police reform and limiting police power around a number of issues as an attack on police that should require a law-and-order response. Trump ran on it in 2016 and is doubling down on it. And the Republican Party has fallen in line. On the Democratic side, I think there's a lot of energy at the local and state level from mayors to governors and city council members. But I also think that [presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe] Biden is showing some serious reluctance to accept that police in America should be doing less of what they're doing as a way of addressing the systemic racism within policing. He's still operating under the bad apples theory, and he's still assuming that the good people of police agencies can reform themselves. Which again, I think is as unhelpful and unlikely as asking fossil fuel industry leaders to solve the climate change crisis. It's just not going to work. Q: Is defund a clarification or a culmination of the initial changes protesters wanted to see? A: I think that defund is a clarification for movement leaders who are not obvious to us because they are decentralized and represent people who are in these communities and doing this work every single day. The organizations that represent those ideas, like Movement for Black Lives, which represents 50 different organizations, put together their ideas and a policy platform four or five years ago. So to make the obvious point, they're clarifying in this moment what is required to move forward. To shift the attention away from simply getting justice for George Floyd by the proper conviction and judicial process that would lead to real punishment for the four directly involved in his death. While that certainly drove a lot of the initial support, a lot of that community is thinking: We're going to get justice for George, but this is the political moment to leverage, yet again, the fact that black people can be killed with impunity. And so then they say, okay, do we want to keep doing the same thing, getting justice for individuals, or do we want to change the way the system works? Q: How do you think that defund will be considered by black residents who are not activists, who may feel like they need some level of policing? A: I think that there's going to be resistance from those folks. . . . My guess is that it'll be about a third of the community that will resist defunding. The academic community has never had solid research on how to disaggregate the African American community's position on this. When it comes to these kinds of reforms in particular, we tend to look across political party affiliation and across racial divides, but not within the community itself. And so I'm going to give you an example that I think is a proxy for this. Throughout the stop-and-frisk decade, roughly between 2004 and 2013, Quinnipiac would regularly poll New Yorkers on stop-and-frisk. What they generally noted was that there was about 30 percent support within the black community for stop-and-frisk. By contrast, for example, there was about 60 percent support for stop-and-frisk by the white community. So while we tend to take away the 30 percent gap between white and black, with a majority of whites in New York supporting stop-and-frisk and a tiny minority of blacks supporting it, that becomes the headline. But that 30 percent is telling us something. Those are the people that [former New York City police commissioner] Ray Kelly and [former New York mayor] Michael Bloomberg would often put in front of a camera or reference when they said black community members want this. There is a real constituency for punitive responses, people who want police to come in and get the bad guys. But they are not the majority. Britain's economy shrank by a record 20.4% in April from March as the country spent the month in a tight coronavirus lockdown, official data showed on Friday in what is likely to be the bottom of the crash before a long and slow recovery. In a slump that dwarfed previous downturns in Britain's recent history, the Office for National Statistics also said the economy shrank by 24.5% compared with April last year. Both readings were below the already unprecedentedly weak forecasts in a Reuters poll of economists. "Record GDP falls in today's figures. When taking ... Elon Musk-owned spacex will launch another 60 of its Starlink satellites into orbit tomorrow from the same type of Falcon 9 rocket that launched astronauts to the ISS. Launching on June 13, this latest Falcon 9 mission will leave from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 10:21 BST, and will also include three Planet Earth-observation satellites. When launched, this latest batch will bring the size of the Starlink constellation up to 540 satellites. SpaceX is accelerating the pace of launches and this will be the second this month, with a third due on June 22 that will bring the constellation up to 600. SpaceX has permission from the US government to launch up to 42,000 satellites into orbit around the Earth. By the end of June, SpaceX will have carried out four Falcon 9 rocket launches in a month - including the three Starlink launches and the NASA crewed mission. The 60 satellites launched atop the firm's Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 8:55pm EDT on June 3 (1:55am BST June 4). The next batch launches on June 13 with another due to launch on June 22 bringing the total of Starlink satellites up to 600 The firm says it hopes to be able to start offering a basic internet service when it has a constellation of at least 800 satellites - likely to happen later this year. The project has received widespread criticism from astronomers for tainting the natural view of the night sky as the satellites are highly reflective. SpaceX has been experimenting with ways to make the craft less visible from Earth, and the Jun 4 batch included one experimental craft with an inbuilt sun visor. SpaceX has permission from FCC to build a 12,000-strong space internet constellation called Starlink, and they will be launched under its 42,000 quota. With that scale, some astronomers say it could significantly harm their ability to observe the night sky and study the universe from Earth. SpaceX is developing Starlink with the goal of providing high-speed internet to everyone on the globe no matter their location. However, scientists and stargazers have voiced frustrations that the devices are ruining the natural view of the sky 'The goal of Starlink is to create a network that will help provide internet services to those who are not yet connected, and to provide reliable and affordable internet across the globe,' Kennedy Space Center said in a blog post. Previously, on the January 6 launch, one satellite was covered in a dark coating designed to appease to appease disgruntled astronomers. However, SpaceX engineers had hoped this would reduce brightness by up to 55 per cent, but the paint caused the machinery to absorb radiation and overheat. Now, Elon Musk's company is trialling a system called VisorSat, which will keep antennae in the shade to stop it reflecting sunlight. 'We have a radio-transparent foam that will deploy nearly upon the satellite being released, and it blocks the sun from reaching the antennas,' Musk said of the system in April. The maverick billionaire added that the reason Starlink is so prominent from Earth with the naked eye is because of the angle of the satellite's solar panels. As the satellites rise to orbit altitude, the are at the perfect position to bounce light from the sun back to Earth, making the satellites look similar to stars. SpaceX is working to adjust this angle to avoid the issue going forward, Musk said. The firm said it hoped to launch every two weeks throughout 2020, bringing the total size of its constellation of internet satellites up to at least 1,500 but there are currently now Starlink launches scheduled beyond June 22. Astronomer James Lowenthal told the New York Times that Starlink threatens the science of astronomy itself, and if they launch more it will 'look as if the whole sky is crawling with stars'. Elon Musk's Starlink programme successfully launched a further 60 satellites into orbit around Earth (pictured, the Falcon 9 rocket taking off) on June 4 with another 60 launching on Saturday from the same rocket The problem for astronomers is that a single bright satellite can leave a streak of light across a telescope's long exposure of the night sky and potentially block something unique or important they need to study. This is a particular problem for wide field telescopes that are used to monitor the sky for asteroids and comets as Starlink would be particularly difficult to remove from the generated pictures using software. The company hopes to be able to launch up to 400 satellites at a time on its Starship spacecraft in the next few years, rapidly increasing the size of Starlink. The goal is to finish the entire network of 12,000 Starlink satellites by 2027 and provide broadband internet to even the most remote parts of the planet. However, having that many satellites in orbit could pose a problem and increase the risk of space collisions. Installing a sunshade on a 575lbs (260kg) satellite orbiting 341 miles above Earth is the second method SpaceX has tried to reduce the visibility of the constellation. Previously, on the January 6 launch, one satellite was covered in a dark coating, but this method caused overheating SpaceX says its satellites will automatically de-orbit - burn up in the Earth's atmosphere - when they reach the end of their life. But there have already been near-collisions with Starlink satellites that are active. The European Space Agency had to manoeuvre its own spacecraft out of the way of a Starlink satellite last year. Soon after launch the satellites appear like a train of lights in the night sky, something that led to claims of UFO sightings when they first appeared. Prominent comedian and science communicator Dara O'Briain took to social media to bemoan the man-made constellation, saying 'there goes the night sky'. In response to a user asking him for an explanation to the sight, Mr O'Briain tweeted: 'Yep, just saw them too. It's the Starlink satellite network, and Elon Musk wants to put a 1,000 of them up. There goes the night sky.' His posted garnered more than 150 replies from others who shared his disdain. Before then, astronomers had already called plans for the high-speed global internet a 'tragedy' and said they are getting in the way of key scientific observations. 'The night sky is a commons and what we have here is a tragedy of the commons,' Imperial College London astrophysicist Dave Clements told the BBC. The proposed constellations, he added, 'present a foreground between what we're observing from the Earth and the rest of the Universe. 'So they get in the way of everything. And you'll miss whatever is behind them, whether that's a nearby potentially hazardous asteroid or the most distant quasar in the Universe.' P rotesters have marched in Hong Kong to mark the first anniversary of a violent clash with police outside the semi-autonomous Chinese citys legislature. More than 100 demonstrators marched through a luxury shopping mall in the Admiralty business district at lunchtime on Friday, holding flags which read Hong Kong Independence and shouting: Stand for freedom, stand with Hong Kong. Protesters sang the protest anthem Glory to Hong Kong, and a large banner was laid out with a Chinese saying meaning: The people fear not death, why threaten them with it? The demonstrators were commemorating last years event in which tens of thousands of protesters surrounded the legislative building and stalled the reading of an extradition bill which would have allowed criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China to stand trial. Around 100 people marched through the shopping mall in Hong Kong / REUTERS Police deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters during one of the first violent clashes in what would become a months-long push for greater democracy. The protest movement quietened down earlier this year as the coronavirus pandemic began, but picked up steam in recent weeks after Chinas ceremonial parliament decided to introduce a new national security law for the former British colony. Protesters held flags and chanted to mark the anniversary of the violent clashes with police / AP The Government says the law is aimed at curbing secessionist and subversive behaviour in the city, as well as preventing foreign intervention in the citys internal affairs. Critics say it is an attack on the freedoms promised to Hong Kong when it was handed to China in 1997. A protester waves a Hong Kong colonial flag during the demonstration / AP Hong Kong operates under a so-called one country, two systems framework that gives the city freedoms not found on the mainland, such as the freedom of speech and assembly. In a separate demonstration, more than 100 students in the Kowloon district formed a human chain to protest against the removal of a music teacher, allegedly for allowing students to sing protest songs. Hong Kong: 1989 Tiananmen Square Anniversary 1 /18 Hong Kong: 1989 Tiananmen Square Anniversary An activist holds a placard during a candlelit remembrance outside Victoria Park in Hong Kong AFP via Getty Images A booth with sign "Free Hong Kong", is set up near Victoria Park where people gather to mourn those killed in the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, AP In this aerial view, participants gather for a vigil to remember the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre, despite permission for it being officially denied, at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong AP An activist gives out candle to attendants gathering to mourn those killed in the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong AP Activists hold a candlelit remembrance after crossing downed barricades into Victoria Park in Hong Kong AFP via Getty Images A man holds up a candle in remembrance outside Victoria Park in Hong Kong AFP via Getty Images Activists hold a candlelit remembrance outside Victoria Park in Hong Kong AFP via Getty Images A man lights candles displaying the date "June 4" to mourn those killed in the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong AP Protesters sit on barricades as they attend a candlelight vigil to mark the 31st anniversary of the crackdown of pro-democracy protests at Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989, after police rejects a mass annual vigil on public health grounds, at Victoria Park, in Hong Kong, China Reuters In this aerial view, participants start to gather for a vigil for the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong AP Protesters take part in a candlelight vigil to mark the 31st anniversary of the crackdown of pro-democracy protests at Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989, after police rejects a mass annual vigil on public health grounds, at Victoria Park, in Hong Kong, China Reuters People push down barricades set up to block access to Victoria Park in Hong Kong AFP via Getty Images Activists chant slogans during a gathering to mourn those killed in the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong AP A man steps over a barricade which had been set up to block access to Victoria Park in Hong Kong AFP via Getty Images On Thursday, three pro-democracy activists and a media tycoon who owns the Apple Daily newspaper, Jimmy Lai, were charged with inciting others to participate in an unauthorised assembly over a candlelight vigil last week to mark Beijings 1989 crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square. Police banned the annual vigil from being held for the first time in three decades, citing public health concerns from the coronavirus pandemic, but thousands of people turned up anyway. Members of the Armenia-EU Parliamentary Partnership Committee today issued a statement criticizing the statement by three Members of the European Parliament. The statement of the Armenia-EU Parliamentary Partnership Committee reads as follows: We, the undersigned members of the Armenia-EU Parliamentary Partnership Committee, express deep disappointment by the unconstructive and biased stance as well as harmful and misleading statement issued by three Members of the European Parliament, namely Mrs. Marina Kaljurand, the Co-Chair of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee, Mr. Traian Basescu, Standing Rapporteur on Armenia and Mrs. Zeljana Zovko, Standing rapporteur on Azerbaijan that would undoubtedly have a damaging impact on our mutual engagement. We have always treated the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee for its face value, namely as a platform where true partners can discuss all issues of concern. The Article 365 of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, which is a guiding legal basis of our relations with the EU clearly stipulates, that the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee shall be a forum ... to meet and exchange views. Bilateral parliamentary committees are not platforms for conflict resolutions or mediating formats and are aimed at developing mutually beneficial and effective parliamentary partnership and cooperation on the one hand between the EU and Armenia and on the other hand between the EU and Azerbaijan bilaterally and not one at the expense of the other. This statement, published by the above-mentioned authors, raises serious concerns over credibility, integrity and competence of their authors. They have chosen to forfeit the important cooperation and discussion platform and have misused their official positions as Co-Chair and rapporteurs by issuing this controversial statement. On one hand, the statement reiterates unwavering support to the efforts of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and their 2009 Basic Principles and on the other hand shamefully distorts the very essence of basic principles. Twice in the statement the terms "occupied" and "occupation" are used for the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The authors should know, however, that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs do not deem Nagorno-Karabakh or any other territory, for that matter, as an occupied area. In none of their statements, including those done on the level of Head of States, is Nagorno-Karabakh defined as "occupied". Thus, calling Nagorno-Karabakh occupied by no means falls in line with the mediating efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and thats not a position of the European Parliament, the European Union and pan-European organizations. We would like to stress the fact that the very last phrase of the statement is also a position propagated only by the Azerbaijani side, which likes to repeat that the resolution of the conflict should be "within the internationally recognised borders of Azerbaijan." This sentence per se is against the very logic of the three decades long peace process. The 2009 Basic Principles and elements outlined by the OSCE MG Co-Chairs do not predetermine the results of the negotiations (something the statement clearly purports). To the contrary, it stems from the Basic Principles, to which the authors are referring to, that the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh shall be determined through a legally binding free expression of the will of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. In this light, such an expression of unwavering support towards the co-chairs and the basic principles is highly unsubstantiated and self-contradictory. We also took note of the subsequent explanation of Ms. Kaljurand provided to the Armenian side of the PPC, according to which, the phrase "peaceful resolution of the conflict within the internationally recognised borders of Azerbaijan" used in the statement does not refer to the current internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan, but instead to any other future borders of Azerbaijan, which may be internationally recognized after an agreement is reached. For us, the substance of the provided explanation regarding the statement clearly indicates that the authors of the statement are in no position to make competent comments on this complex peace process, and its basic principles. What makes this statement even more unacceptable is the timing and the fact that it was issued amid the recent bellicose statements coming from the President and Defense Minister of Azerbaijan threatening to unleash a new war. It is important to note that such statements might be used by the undemocratic and warmongering officials of Azerbaijan as a permission and cover up to use force and unleash military aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. Those who support claims of Azerbaijan in dehumanizing people of Nagorno-Karabakh share responsibility for undermining regional security and will be complicit in any future aggression in the region. We also consider as highly dubious the topic which has been used as a pretext to issue this statement. We believe that the real aim of the authors of the statement has been to insert one-sided stance regarding the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This is something that Azerbaijan has always tried and failed within the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. We also wish to note that, before being concerned by a highway construction there are many issues that require a reaction from our partners and could potentially save peoples lives. Building a road that aims to provide basic infrastructure to people, who have human rights regardless of the political status of their territory cannot be considered more dangerous than threats of a leader of an autocratic regime to wage an imminent war in the region or the ongoing crackdown on human rights in Azerbaijan itself in the time of pandemic, something that was brought forward by the Rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The desire of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to have basic communications stems from their basic human rights and can pose no danger to regional and international security. The stance of Mr. Traian Basescu, Standing Rapporteur on Armenia, who is known for very close and awarded ties with the highest leadership of Azerbaijan and his previous controversial remarks on Armenians in Romania, is very concerning as it indicates that Mr. Traian Basescu has been unable to stand above his previous engagements and to approach his current duties in good faith and integrity. Taking into consideration the abovementioned, we reiterate our clear and unequivocal rejection of the statement made by Mrs. Marina Kaljurand, Mr. Traian Basescu and Mrs. Zeljana Zovko and express deep concern regarding the practice of issuing one-sided and biased statements with unacceptable formulations as well as of using their respective positions for displaying personal views. In this light, the Armenian delegation to PPC reserves the right to reassess and review accordingly any future engagement with Mrs. Marina Kaljurand, Mr. Traian Basescu and Mrs. Zeljana Zovko in their respective capacities. At the same time, we want to reiterate the importance of our partnership and continued engagement with the EU in the dimension of parliamentary cooperation. New York, June 12 : After two weeks of protests over the death of George Floyd, hundreds of New Yorkers took to the streets again calling for reform in law enforcement and the withdrawal of police department funding. Hundreds of people gathered at around 4 p.m. on Thursday at Washington Square Park in central Manhattan, where they stood in silence with their fists raised in some moments and chanted "We will win", reports Efe news. An hour and a half later, the protesters, under the slogan "Defund the police", began to march through the city's streets chanting "Shut it down" in reference to the New York Police Department (NYPD). The demonstrators also carried posters against police unions, which are criticized for being "too powerful" as they have been one of the main reasons that statute 50-A, which prohibits public access to the history of a police official's disciplinary records, has not been repealed. A few hours earlier, hundreds of cyclists and citizens on foot travelled from north Manhattan to the south, pouring red paint on the pavement to signify the blood spilled by police on the city's streets and left red-coloured handprints on pedestrian crossings and traffic signals. Amid the ongoing protests, New York Police Commissioner Demot Shea said on Thursday that more police officials were "probably" going to be suspended for their excessive use of violence during the city's protests, after several of them were suspended earlier, and one of them arrested for pushing a protester to the ground. "I took action the last couple weeks in suspending a number of officers. There will probably be more," Shea said. "We cannot have people acting inappropriately. I know the difficult circumstances you are under, I know there are some people who don't understand law enforcement recommending things that are completely impractical. I get it. I know. But right is right and wrong is wrong," he added. He also pointed out that while people were repeatedly calling for reforms, changes had been underway for years. Several incidents of violence at the New York demonstrations, including the ramming of two NYPD patrol cars into a group of protesters, were being investigated by New York Attorney General Letitia James, on the orders of the state's governor, Andrew Cuomo. One of the victims of police violence, Martin Gugino, a 75-year-old protester pushed to the ground by police officials in Buffalo, New York, sustained brain injury related to the incident, his lawyer announced on Thursday. His lawyer Kelly Zarcone said that Gugino, admitted to hospital after the incident, was "feeling better" and was "starting physical therapy today which is definitely a step in the right direction". Manabadi AP Inter Result 2020 | The Board of Intermediate Education Andhra Pradesh (BIEAP) released the AP Inter 1st Year Result 2020 and AP Inter 2nd Result 2020. In a change of pattern, the BIEAP first released the AP Inter results verbally in a virtual press conference and then uploaded the scores on the official website at bie.ap.gov.in. In case the official website crashes, which is highly a possibility given the heavy traffic that the portal may receive, candidates can visit other alternative websites to get their score. Follow latest updates for AP Inter Result 2020 for 1st and 2nd year here. Candidates can easily check the Andhra Pradesh Intermediate 1st Year Result and Andhra Pradesh Intermediate 2nd Result on these websites: 1. examresults.net, 2. manabadi.com 3. indiaresults.com Meanwhile, students can also directly check their AP Intermediate results for classes 11 and 12 by filling in the boxes below: Students should make a note that the Andhra Pradesh Intermediate Result 2020 will be released through online mode only. Manabadi Inter Result 2002: Steps to check AP Intermediate Result 2020 Step 1. Go to the official portal bie.ap.gov.in Step 2. Look for Result tab and click on it Step 3. Select AP Inter 1st Year Result 2020, AP Inter 2nd Year Result 2020 Step 4. Enter your roll number and date of birth Step 5. BIEAP Inter 1st Year 2020, Andhra Pradesh Inter 2nd Year Result 2020 will appear on the screen Step 6. Students can download the result and keep a hard copy for future reference Students can also get their BIEAP AP 1st Year, 2nd Result 2020 through SMS AP Inter II Year Result 2020: How to check via SMS GENERAL - SMS - APGEN2REGISTRATION NO to 56263 VOC. - SMS - APVOC2REGISTRATION NO to 56263 AP Inter I Year Result 2020: How to check via SMS GENERAL - SMS - APGEN1REGISTRATION NO to 56263 VOC. - SMS - APVOC1REGISTRATION NO to 56263 Candidates Students, who are awaiting their result, should keep their admit cards handy as they will be asked to enter the credentials. This year, close to 8 lakh students have appeared for the examination. On the Frontline Against China, the US Coast Guard Is Taking on Missions the US Navy Can't Do Competition with China has drawn more Pentagon resources to the Pacific, but the most visible U.S. military presence there... Are all these protests shifting Americans against President Trump, or in his favor? Princeton researcher Omar Wasow studies the effect of protest movements on politics, and may provide a clue. Hes found that 60s civil rights activists were most successful in appealing to white moderates when their protests were nonviolent, but the police response was brutal. By contrast, violent protests in 1968 helped push those same moderates to a law and order Republican, Richard Nixon. So what does that mean for November? Below is what Wasow told Star-Ledger editorial board member Julie OConnor, edited for space. Q. First, what inspired you to study protests? A. My parents were both activists. My father was involved in Freedom Summer and registered voters in Mississippi, at the same time that James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner were murdered by white supremacist vigilantes in Mississippi. So Ive had a longstanding interest in how the civil rights movement was effective, and also what went wrong after the major victories of the 1960s. Q. Americas views on race have changed. A majority of whites now support the Black Lives Matter protests and 68 percent say George Floyds death shows systemic mistreatment of Black people. Why is it different this time? A. I see at least two trends at play. One is the work of protest movements like BLM over the past 7 years. Ive heard people say BLM wasnt successful before, but I think thats wrong. Over the last decade, weve seen white attitudes move to be more concerned about racial equality, particularly among white liberals. I think people are paying attention to what BLM is saying and updating their opinions. Another is the cell phone camera. Everyone has a video camera in their pocket and can document injustices previously experienced by Black America and unseen by white America. Q. But another new poll finds 63 percent of Republicans prefer a president who would restore security, over one who would address racial divisions. Will this unrest ultimately help Trump? A. Its too early to say. Historical evidence suggests that the initial days of the protests, when television coverage focused heavily on buildings burning and stores being ransacked, would build support for the emphasis on law and order in Trumps campaign. But in the week since, the protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful. Even networks like Fox News have had to rely on footage a week old when theyre talking about unrest thats escalating to violence. Its likely this will have a partisan divide, because our country is so polarized, but a lot of what will drive this is what we see on the ground. Massive, overwhelmingly peaceful protests will not help Trump right now. And the video documentation of police violence makes it harder to dismiss the concerns of the protestors. Q. Curious what you think of Trumps response so far, the calls for crackdowns and promotion of conspiracy theories like a 75-year-old man in Buffalo, pushed to the ground by police, being part of a set up. Will this play out any differently for him than in the past? A. Trump has always, from the birtherism charge against Obama, trafficked in conspiracy theories as a way to construct a reality that affirms his world view. But were seeing a different reaction than in the past. For example, Drudge Report, a conservative website, mocked Trumps response, referring to the 75-year-old man as a member of the AARP Antifa. Almost no Republican senators are defending Trump. Even Republican media that has generally supported a narrative of Be scared, theres a threat isnt going after the 75-year-old man from Buffalo. Its such an uncomfortable fact, that old man being pushed over, bleeding out of his ear. Its just too simple to watch that video and see this is wrong. Instead of helping Trump to build a competing narrative, its isolating him as someone who just seems unhinged from reality. Q. Other Republicans seem spooked by the protests and are scrambling to come up with their own proposals to address police reform. Can Trump still run as the law and order candidate? A. For most of the last 60 years, being tough on crime and pro-law-and-order was a simple winning strategy, particularly for Republicans. Suddenly thats no longer clearly true. I think it speaks to a couple of broad trends. Crime is much lower now than it was in the early 90s. Concerns about police violence, as evidenced by these videos, are making it much harder to say the status quo is a good one. Politicians who have advocated for law and order are finding that slogan no longer resonates in this moment. But its not clear what will replace it. A lot will depend on what happens this summer. If protests remain largely peaceful, if Trump engages in spectacles of violence like the tear-gassing of peaceful protestors in Lafayette Square, then I think peoples concerns will be more about rights than law and order. Q. Some argue that MLKs civil disobedience has been whitewashed as peaceful, law-abiding protest when in reality, he was a lawbreaker. But what do you think of the assertion that he wouldnt have been so successful if not for the prospect of violence from other civil rights leaders, who did take up arms? A. One way the civil rights movement has been watered down has been to focus on ways protestors were peaceful, and not the ways that they were targets of brutal state violence. Another is that white America often didnt pay attention unless there was violence by the state against African Americans. Its easy to let white America off the hook, as if they saw the protests and just opened their hearts. But it took exceptional acts of civil disobedience, people being hit by fire hoses, attacked by dogs, etc., to push white America to say this is serious, this needs to change. People have known for a long time that Black people have said, Were policed differently, but it took a video of somebody being killed in this ruthless way, before our eyes, for the rest of America to say, oh wait, thats too much. People have to understand that the degree of violence being directed at Black America is extreme, before we see this mobilization. The third way the traditional civil rights movement gets watered down is that, yes, there were armed factions. There were many moments in the South where, but for somebody Black with a gun, a house might have been set on fire, a mob might have killed someone. Using weapons in self-defense was part of the Black resistance effort and that is often lost. But I dont think thats incongruous with saying that part of the way the civil rights movement was able to build a winning coalition was through nonviolent civil disobedience. Q. What do you make of the fear that politicians (Nixon, most famously) have of protests? Since Trump was elected, Republicans in at least 18 states have pushed legislation to curb mass protests. Yet as MLK said: There comes a time when people get tired. A. From Georgia, where hundreds of polling stations were just removed, and people had to wait hours to vote, to this issue of trying to aggressively regulate protests, what we see increasingly is that we dont have shared democratic norms. Were seeing real threats to a commitment to democratic principles, particularly in the Republican party. The idea that theres this core set of First Amendment rights to peaceably assemble, to have a redress of grievances, is under assault. Protests are a tip of the iceberg of a larger retreat from these norms. Q. David Shor, a white progressive data analyst at a polling firm, recently tweeted out your research showing that violent protests tend to push voters to the right, and ended up getting accused of anti-blackness. Your reaction? A. For some, a protest is a chance to express grief, rage, and in the case of a recent police killing, a chance to mourn. For others, its more about persuasion and an opportunity to influence an important policy change. Some viewed the initial violence in Minneapolis as a kind of sacred, funeral-like anger for which considering outcomes like elections in November was profane. Conversely, for people like David (and, to be fair, me), *not* considering the longer-term implications might cause harm to the very people protesters are trying to help. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. New Delhi: Virtually blaming Pakistan for the Uri terrorist attack, BJP President Amit Shah said on Sunday that Indias fight against terrorism has reached a decisive stage and the Modi government is moving in the right direction to ensure that the sacrifices of soldiers does not go waste. Pakistan is trying to cause instability in India by constantly trying to lend support to terrorism and terrorist outfits. India has been constantly fighting against terrorism and this fight is now in a decisive stage, he said in a statement. Shah added, The martyrdom of the brave sons of India would not be allowed to go waste and the Central government is moving in the right direction. He made these remarks while expressing deep sorrow at the death of 17 soldiers in the attack. He paid his tributes to them and prayed for their soul to rest in peace. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 12.06.2020 LISTEN On Tuesday 9th June 2020 the Chairman/Special Envoy of the International Human Rights Commission to Ghana, Ambassador Professor Michael Kwateng paid a courtesy call on the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa along with some IHRC Executives in Ghana at the headquarters of the EC, Accra Ridge. The Chairperson of the EC welcomed the team and noted her commitment to partner IHRC Ghana to render transparent and all-inclusive electoral processes. She urged the IHRC Ghana to always seek clarification before making publications on the Commission. Professor Kwateng on his part thanked the EC Chairperson and her Commission for her warm reception. He revealed that the International Human Rights Commission is backed by legal status as required by the law and has signed a Charter with the United Nations (in 2003) in Geneva. The organization serves as the eye of the world on issues of Human Rights abuses and makes appropriate recommendations to the office of the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights. The meeting was therefore sanctioned by the International Secretary through the chairman of the African Region, H.E. Dr. Ahure Innocent Trivlumun. He expressed IHRC's interest in taking part in the EC activities toward peaceful and transparent elections. He assured the EC of his commitment to dialogue with the Commission for current and future electoral processes. Professor Kwateng said IHRC Ghana had made some observations concerning the 2020 electoral processes; he presented a document containing recommendations for the EC to consider in ensuring peaceful and transparent elections in 2020. Among the recommendations are: Voter Sensitization/Education The Commission recommends that EC provides potential voters with the necessary information to make informed choices during voting. This involves increase in sensitization of the general public on when, where and how to register and to vote. The EC should put in every effort to ensure that such information reach voters nationwide, especially those in remote areas. We advise that the EC starts early sensitization and vigorous education in order to minimize the number of disqualified ballots. All-inclusive Process Transparency is an integral part of the electoral process of democratic governance. The organization, therefore, recommends that the EC grants all stakeholders equal opportunity regarding every aspect of the process. It is very essential that the EC involves key actors, including various political parties, religious and traditional leaders to create a climate of the democratic process and a framework for dialogue. Avoid External Pressure and Ensure Voter Confidence in the Electoral Process The IHRC also recommends that the ECs actions should be devoid of external influence. The EC should not be under pressure from any external actor to alter the electoral process. Voters are often trusting of elections but distrustful of government hence the need for the EC to maintain voter confidence by remaining unbiased. The Use of the Voter ID Card for Registration The commission believes that since the issue of the voter identification card is in the Supreme Court of Ghana the commission will not make any recommendation but advice EC to consider and ensure that Ghanaians living in the rural communities who do not have one of the valid ID Cards needed for the new voter registration are not denied of their democratic rights in order to experience peaceful elections in 2020. The IHRC expressed its optimism that the Electoral Commission would take into consideration the recommendations and advice given by the UN-affiliate body in order to guarantee a continuous democratic atmosphere in the country through free and fair elections. The IHRC also called on all significant actors including civil society organisations, political parties, and the general public to respect the dignity of humankind and help foster human rights initiatives. Photo: The Canadian Press President Donald Trump meets with senior military leaders and members of his national security team in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Saturday, May 9, 2020, in Washington. Clockwise from top left, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley, Trump, Air Force Gen. John Hyten, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) Army Gen. Mark Milley, the nations top military officer, added to the already extraordinary tension between the Pentagon and President Donald Trump on Thursday, declaring he'd been wrong to stride in uniform with Trump past protesters who had been cleared from Lafayette Square to a photo op at a church. Milley said his presence in combat fatigues amid protests over racial injustice created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics. I should not have been there, the Joint Chiefs chairman said in remarks to a National Defence University commencement ceremony. Milleys statement risked the wrath of a president sensitive to anything hinting of criticism of events he has staged. Pentagon leaders relations with the White House already were tense after a disagreement last week over Trumps threat to use federal troops to quell civil unrest triggered by George Floyds death in police custody. After Defence Secretary Mark Esper knocked down that idea of using active-duty troops against American citizens, Trump castigated him in a face-to-face meeting. And the president had blistering criticism for his first defence secretary, Gen. Jim Mattis, after Mattis condemned Trump's Lafayette Square action. The public uproar following Floyds death has created multiple layers of tension between Trump and senior Pentagon officials. In yet another dispute, Esper and Milley let it be known through spokesmen this week that they were open to a bipartisan discussion of whether 10 Army bases named for Confederate Army officers should be renamed as a gesture dissociating the military from the racist legacy of the Civil War. On Wednesday, Trump said he would never allow the names to be changed, catching some in the Pentagon by surprise. The Marine Corps last week moved ahead with a ban on public displays of the Confederate Army battle flag on its bases, and the Navy this week said it plans a similar ban for its bases, ships and planes. Trump has not commented publicly on those moves, which do not require White House or congressional approval. The president's June 1 walk through the park to pose with a Bible at a church came after authorities used pepper spray and flash bangs to clear the historic square and surrounding streets of largely peaceful protesters demonstrating in the aftermath of Floyd's death. Milleys comments Thursday were his first public statements about the walk with Trump, which the White House has hailed as a presidential leadership moment akin to Winston Churchill inspecting damage from German bombs in London during World War II. Milley said Thursday, My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics." As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from, and I sincerely hope we all can learn from it. After protesters were cleared away, Trump led an entourage that included Milley, Esper, Attorney General William Barr and others to St. John's Episcopal Church, where he held up a Bible for photographers and then returned to the White House. Esper has not said publicly that he erred by being with Trump at that moment. However, he told a news conference last week that when they left the White House he thought they were going to inspect damage in the Square and at the church and mingle with National Guard troops in the area. Milley used his commencement address, which was presented as a video message in line with social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic, to raise the matter of his presence with Trump in Lafayette Square. He introduced the subject to his audience of military officers and civilian officials in the context of advice from an Army officer and combat veteran who has spent 40 years in uniform. He said all senior military leaders must be aware that their words and actions will be closely watched. And I am not immune," he said, noting the photograph of him at Lafayette Square. That sparked a national debate about the role of the military in civil society. He expressed regret at having been there and said the lesson to be taken is that all in uniform are not just soldiers but also citizens. We must hold dear the principle of an apolitical military that is so deeply rooted in the very essence of our republic, he said. It takes time and work and effort, but it may be the most important thing each and every one of us does every single day. Milley also expressed his outrage at the Floyd killing and urged military officers to recognize it as a reflection of centuries of injustice toward African Americans. What we are seeing is the long shadow of our original sin in Jamestown 401 years ago, he said, referring to the year in which the first enslaved Africans arrived on the shores of colonial Virginia. Milley said the military has made important progress on race issues but has much yet to do, including creating the conditions for a larger proportion of African American officers to rise to the military's senior ranks. He noted that his service, the Army, has just one African American four-star general, and mentioned that the Air Force is about to swear in the first-ever African American service chief. The Ukrainian leader has tested negative for the coronavirus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has decided to self-isolate after First Lady Olena Zelenska tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. "Volodymyr Zelensky's health condition allows him to continue performing official duties. The head of state has tested for the coronavirus. His results are negative," the press service of the Office of the President said. Read alsoUkrainian president's wife tests positive for coronavirus A special protocol was introduced for the president's work in line with the current legislation and epidemiological requirements. Every day, Zelensky will undergo enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests along with physical health checks. He will limit physical communication and switch to online meetings. Face-to-face meetings suggesting communication with the president in person are not to be held in the coming days. His participation in mass events and working trips outside Kyiv have been cancelled. Only bodyguards and personal assistants will be able to communicate with the president in person. "Exceptions to this protocol are possible only in the event of an emergency, which will require an immediate response from the head of state in accordance with his constitutional powers," the press service said. As UNIAN reported earlier, First Lady Olena Zelenska tested positive for the coronavirus. She feels well and has no COVID-19 symptoms. New Delhi: The US on Monday strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack in Uri in which 17 soldiers were killed even as the State Department asserted it was committed to our strong partnership with India to combat terrorism. We strongly condemn the terror attack in Uri, J&K. Our thoughts are with the families of the brave soldiers who lost their lives #UriAttack, US Ambassador to India Richard Verma tweeted. Separately, the US State Department issued a statement in Washington strongly condemning the attack. The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir during the early morning of September 18. We extend our condolences to the victims and their families. The United States is committed to our strong partnership with the Indian government to combat terrorism, John Kirby, Assistant Secretary and State Department spokesperson said in the statement released by the US embassy in New Delhi. Heavily-armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the force in North Kashmirs Uri town in the wee hours, one of the deadliest attacks on the Army in recent years. Explosions and gunfire erupted as the militants attacked the camp, which is located barely few metres away from the Armys Brigade Headquarters in Uri town, 102 kms from Srinagar, around 4 AM, official sources said. The jawans of the Dogra Regiment were sleeping in a tent which caught fire due the explosion. The fire also engulfed the nearby barracks, the sources said. It is believed that the attack was the handiwork of a group of freshly infiltrated militants who could have entered from an area along the Salamabad Nallah, the sources said. Seventeen jawans were killed in the terror attack, the Northern Command of the Army said while 19 other personnel were injured in the strike. Four militants involved in the terror strike were killed by the Army. In January, seven military personnel were killed when six terrorists attacked the Pathankot air base. The attack comes two years after militants had carried out a similar type of attack at Mohra in the same area. Ten security personnel were killed in the attack that took place on December 5, 2014. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. President Donald Trump's name is seen on a stimulus check issued by the IRS to help combat the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, in San Antonio, Texas, on April 23, 2020. (Eric Gay/AP Photo) Second Stimulus Check Might Be Coming: Heres How Much You Could Get A growing number of White House officials are warming to the idea of passing another piece of legislation to provide more stimulus funding and sending out direct deposits to Americans. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told the Wall Street Journal, which reported that the administration is working on its own stimulus plan, that the odds of another piece of legislation is very, very high. President Trump said on June 5 that he [will] be asking for additional stimulus money. Because once we get this going, itll be far bigger and far better than weve ever seen in this country, he said of the economy, adding that includes as of three or four months ago, when everyone thought it was great and it was great. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who spearheaded the White Houses efforts to push for the CARES Act, also signaled a growing need for stimulus payments. A For Sale sign is in front of a house in Arlington, Va., on May 6, 2020. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images) I think were going to seriously look at whether we want to do more direct money to stimulate the economy, Mnuchin said Wednesday as he testified before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The White House has not immediately responded to a request for comment. Its not clear what specific policies the Trump administration could be exploring. Several weeks ago, House Democrats passed the HEROES Act, worth $3.3 trillion, which would provide more direct payments to Americans, state, and local government funding, bolstered unemployment insurance, more funding for hospitals, and other measures. GOP leaders have indicated that the bill wont pass the Senate in its current form. Whats more, its not clear if the HEROES Act will be amended, or if it will be rejected entirely. A woman wearing a mask walks past a wall bearing graffiti that asks for rent forgiveness amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in Los Angeles, Calif., on May 1, 2020. (Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images) The HEROES Act would offer each member of a household $1,200, including children. The previous CARES Act, signed into law in March, handed out up to $1,200 for eligible Americans and $500 for children. The income thresholds will be the same, with single taxpayers making less than $75,000 and married couples earning less than $150,000 receiving the full payments. The HEROES Act would limit the total payments to $6,000, whereas the CARES Act limited it to $3,400, with two parents earning less than $75,000 and two children. Republican leaders have said they wont vote on any new stimulus legislation until mid-July. If you look right now at the schedule for the balance of the June work period is DOD, great outdoors, a couple circuit judges. I dont know how you can wedge that in there, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senates GOP leadership, told reporters on June 8. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), another member of GOP leadership, told The Hill that the timing of the bill would be targeted at the end of July. Thats my sense of when we will and frankly my sense of when well have all the information we need to put the next bill together, Blunt said. The Bureau of Labor Statistics latest jobs report showed that the economy gained jobs in May, although more than 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits after months of lockdowns triggered by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. Reddit is now testing Google and Apple account login options for its site, with mixed results. Thats according to reports circulating, indicating that some users are now seeing the feature appear live. As would be expected, users who have access to Google and Apple account-linking for Reddit now see a completely different login UI on the site. As shown in the associated images, that now houses a larger pop-out box. The option to sign-in to an account via email and password is still there. But there are also now two square-shaped buttons above that interface. Those read Continue with Google or Apple alongside the companies respective icons. Advertisement The user account details and profile settings page is updated now too, for those users. Under testing, that now includes prominent buttons to Connect to either Google or Apple or both. Reddit placed those under Connected Accounts alongside the Twitter button in Account Settings. Whats the benefit and why is one login still broken? The advantages of signing into a site or service with a Google or Apple account are obvious. First, from the user perspective, it gives account holders a one-click solution to signing in. It also stacks up an additional layer of security, since the Google or Apple account will need to have been breached before sign-in. On that second point, the feature is useful to Reddit as well. Thats because the integration allows the company to provide easy login options via Google and Apple. And that, in turn, provides an added layer of security almost acting as a two-factor authentication method. Advertisement For now, the feature is still somewhat broken for Google accounts though. The problem seems to be linked with the Reddit sign-up process, in particular. When signing in with a Google account, it automatically creates a brand new Reddit account rather than linking the account. Thats problematic for users who have already signed up with the same Google account for traditional logins. One possible solution, highlighted in the above-mentioned new settings UI, is to simply log in with a password. Or with an Apple account. Then, users can navigate to settings and link the existing account to a Google account manually. That way, both Google and Apple login options will become available associated with the Reddit account in question. Advertisement Google and Apple Reddit login probably wont arrive soon Given the extent of the above-mentioned issue and the fact that this is still in testing, Reddit wont likely roll this feature out soon. While, typically, limited testing such as this tends to go fairly smoothly, it hasnt here. Thats setting aside secondary problems Reddit needs to address such as integration with existing two-factor authentication. So Reddit still has its work cut out for it. Its also not immediately clear whether the login options are available for the mobile app variant of the Reddit. If the issues cant be addressed, the popular app and social content distribution site may end up abandoning the logins entirely. But, for now, the feature appears to be making progress. A glamorous real estate agent advertised cocaine on Craigslist as tickets to a 'White VIP' party before being busted selling the substance to an undercover cop. Auctioneer and property consultant, Kristiana Karakostas, 27, posted on the American classified website in February 2017, under the guise of a man called 'Charlie', who was selling $350 tickets to an exclusive Melbourne event that weekend. 'Charlie' even offered to personally deliver the tickets. 'Best in Melbourne,' the ad promised, the ABC reports. 'Sort out your weekend properly.' But Victoria Police were watching - with a court hearing details of how she conducted the drug ring in cahoots with former Bachelor contestant Georgia Tripos on sentencing. Kristiana Karakostas (pictured), 27, posted coded advertisements selling cocaine on Craiglist as $350 tickets to an exclusive 'White VIP party' Karakostas (pictured) was arrested at Woodards Real Estate Agency in Mount Waverley, where she worked as an auctioneer and property consultant, on March 15, 2017 Karakostas' plan came undone when a detective arranged to meet her to buy cocaine at a Mount Waverley petrol station. The service station was just 50 metres away from the real estate agency where she worked. After handing over the small zip lock bag, the estate agent told the undercover officer that she had better 'stuff' coming that would cost $400. Police stormed Woodards Real Estate Agency three weeks later to execute search warrants, arresting Karakostas in her office and seizing her handbag. Stashed in a makeup bag, they found about six grams of cocaine worth around $2,200 and more than $3000 in cash. When officers later raided Karakostas' Glen Iris home they discovered another 21.5 grams of cocaine and 384gm of another drug known as ethylpentylonane and other drug paraphernalia. The level of purity of the cocaine was documented on a Crown Casino postcard located under her bed. During Karakostas' arrest Georgia Tripos (pictured) arrived and began speaking with Karakostas in another language Tripos rose to fame after she appeared on Richie Strahan's season of The Bachelor Karakostas, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking cocaine in the County Court of Victoria last month. At a sentencing hearing on Friday, Karakostas was spared a jail sentence and was placed on a three-year community corrections order. She was ordered to complete 150 hours of community service. Shortly after her arrest, analysis of Karakostas's phone revealed that she moved 68.5 grams of cocaine in dozens of transactions between between February 2 and March 10, 2017. The deals were conducted all over the city, including at the St Kilda Festival, Crown Promenade, Flinders Lane and the Intercontinental Rialto. In court on Friday, Judge Lawson said Karakostas was 'intimately involved' in the trafficking of the drugs. The court heard Karakostas became dependent on cocaine when she was 24-years-old while in a toxic relationship. Georgia Tripos (pictured) was arrested by police in 2017 who later found cocaine and cocaine purity testing kits at her home 'You became reliant on cocaine as a form of escapism from negative emotions and low self-worth,' Judge Lawson said. Judge Lawson noted that Karakostas had excellent prospects of rehabilitation, stating she had made major life changes and was now committed to a law-abiding lifestyle. Karakostas ran the drug operation in partnership with former Bachelor star Georgia Tripos, who was subsequently arrested during the police investigation. The brunette rose to fame after she appeared on Richie Strahan's season of The Bachelor. Tripos has pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine but will fight other charges at a trial on November 9. NK's offensives should not lead to provocative action North Korea's recent verbal offensives unleashed on both South Korea and the United States are a regrettable reminder that the historic 2018 North Korea-U.S. summit in Singapore did not achieve much in the way of specifics for N.K.'s denuclearization and Korean peace. On the second anniversary of the summit between U.S. President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Friday, the North expressed "despair" and denounced the United States. Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon said through the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), "Never again will we provide the U.S. chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns." He added, "Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise." Ri also said the North sees little need to maintain personal ties between Trump and Kim who through "letter diplomacy" patched up possible diplomatic friction. He continued that North Korea will develop more reliable forces to counter the long-term U.S. military threat. Unlike the livid commentaries against Seoul voiced on Rodong Sinmun during the past week, Ri's statement toward Washington was carried by the KCNA. Ri noticeably spoke of both "developing force" but also "receiving any returns," that could leave open the possibility for further negotiations. Tactically, Pyongyang may be looking to have an impact on Washington using Seoul as an intermediary. With the U.S. presidential elections due in November, Pyongyang might be surmising that now is the time to apply pressure for action. Or by expressing "dismay and resentment" and now despair" at the lack of progress in getting U.S.-led economic sanctions relaxed after the denuclearization talks stalled, the North may be building up justification for provocative actions the least desirable scenario on the Korean Peninsula. Additionally, at the start of the year Kim vowed to bolster his nuclear deterrent. The U.S. State Department has to date said it is sticking to the Singapore summit agreement and is willing to take a flexible approach. Seoul, however, seems to be in a hurry to appease the North, despite the North having cut off communication channels. Since Kim Yo-jong, first vice department director of the Workers' Party's Central Committee, and Kim Jong-un's sister, pounced on the South for failing to stop the sending of anti-North Korean leaflets across the border, lawmakers have pledged to legislate a bill banning this. Then the government vowed to crack down on it and the unification ministry filed complaint against two defectors' group sending the leaflets, even as questions of freedom of expression were raised. Understandably, one of President Moon Jae-in's central legacies is to spearhead Korean peace. But officials should seek to determine what the real intentions are behind the North's recent shift to hostility, and seek a wise response instead of a piece-meal one. Policymakers should also take inter-Korean steps that will be in concert with the larger geopolitical landscape and dynamics in Northeast Asia. There is an appropriate place for the Confederacy, its symbols, and its leaders: It's called the dustbin of history. Study it? Sure. Honor it? No way. Sadly, America has for too long done just that, keeping statues of traitorous military and political figures in public places and their names on schools attended today by African American children descendants of the slaves whose freedom those rebels fought to prevent. The United States also has long kept the names of those enemies, who fought for an ignoble cause against loyal U.S. troops, on a number of southern military installations. This must end. Yet who, of all people, is leading the charge to preserve these tributes to treason? The president of the United States. In a convoluted jumble of militarism, nationalism, religiosity and, yes, racism, Donald Trump is fiercely opposing suggestions to rename at least 10 military installations that bear the names of Confederate generals Forts Bragg (N.C.); Benning and Gordon (Georgia.); Pickett, A.P. Hill and Lee (Virginia.); Polk (Louisiana.), Hood (Texas); Rucker (Ala.) and Camp Beauregard (Louisiana). The idea had gained critical traction Monday when Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said they were open to it, an abrupt shift from years of Pentagon resistance. But on Wednesday, Mr. Trump tweeted that these "Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, and a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom. The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars. Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations." Where to begin? This is not a question of respect for the military, but of veneration of the Confederacy and its generals, who led an insurrection against our nation. We don't pay tribute this way to America's enemies. There is no Fort Cornwallis or Arnold or Rommel. Mr. Trump may lack the empathy for such an exercise, but try to imagine what it is like to be one of the more than 200,000 black men and women who make up about 16 percent of the U.S. military, knowing the country they are willing to put their lives on the line for still pays homage to those how led the fight to keep their ancestors in bondage. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Try to imagine what it must be like hearing their commander in chief defend this hateful tribute amid a national conversation on the systemic racism and inequities that have lingered long since the Civil War. We're at a time, after all, when even NASCAR, hardly a refuge of leftists, is willing to risk the ire of some fans by banning Confederate flags. There is a discussion to be had on what to do with all the statues and other relics that, whether we like it or not, are a part of our history. We can talk, too, about what we do with the statues, monuments, public buildings and streets named for many early American figures who owned slaves, like Gen. Philip Schuyler, whose statue will be removed from in front of Albany City Hall under an executive order Mayor Kathy Sheehan issued Thursday. So Mr. Trump did get one thing right in his tweets when he wrote, "Those that deny their history are doomed to repeat it!" Indeed, it's Mr. Trump, like all keepers of the Confederate flame, who denies the lesson of history: The Confederacy lost. Get over it. Floyd Zaiger examines an experimental plum-cherry hybrid at his test orchard in Modesto (David Karp) Fruit breeders, who make crosses, plant experimental seedlings and evaluate them, generally labor in obscurity, but Floyd Zaiger, the most prolific and arguably the worlds greatest fruit breeder, was a high-profile exception. Over six decades he and his family developed 420 fruit and nut varieties patented in the United States by far the greatest number of any fruit breeder and introduced Pluots, firm but sweet white-fleshed peaches and nectarines, and fruit crosses such as Peacotums previously thought to be impossible. Zaiger died June 2 at his home in Modesto. He was 94. The cause was unclear, but he had been having trouble breathing and was under hospice care when he likely had a heart attack or stroke, and died five days later, said his daughter, Leith Gardner. The ag industry has lost a great one. @CalAggieAlumni Floyd Zaiger had an exceptional plant breeding career that's experienced every summer. RIP@UCDavisMagazine @ucfoodobserver @ucdavisCAES https://t.co/CPj2wHb45t Viticulturist d (@SJVGrapes) June 10, 2020 Chris Floyd Zaiger was born April 26, 1926, in Kennard, Neb., to Christian Fredrick Zaiger and Anna Marie Zaiger, the middle child of nine. His mother called him Floyd to distinguish him from his father, who was known as Chris. His family, which farmed in Iowa and later Oregon, was poor, and he left school after eighth grade. During World War II he served as a paratrooper with the U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division. After the war he got his general equivalency diploma, attended UC Davis with support from the G.I. Bill, and graduated with a degree in plant pathology. He married Betty Jean Taylor in 1950, and taught high school in Modesto, where he started breeding azaleas and rhododendrons as a hobby. Story continues Fred Anderson, a fruit breeder known as the inventor of the modern nectarine, took him on as an apprentice in 1956 and Zaiger learned quickly. He soon struck out on his own, running an ornamental nursery by day as he pursued his dream at home by moonlight. Id caught the dreaded disease of fruit breeding, he recalled in a 2000 interview. He focused on improving stone fruit peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums and cherries and introduced his first variety, Royal Gold peach, in 1965. But he dreamed of combining plums and apricots, his two favorite fruits, like his hero, Luther Burbank, the great turn-of-the-century fruit breeder. Burbank had managed to partially overcome interspecies sterility and hybridize plumcots (half plum, half apricot), but most were small and sour, or unproductive, and they never caught on. By making thousands of crosses, Zaiger discovered plumcots with good flavor, size and productivity. He released a few, such as Plum Parfait and Flavorella, but the real breakthrough came when he backcrossed plumcots to plums, creating interspecific plums that he trademarked as Pluots. The Flavor King Pluot. (David Karp) These new varieties starting with Flavor Supreme, Flavor Queen and Flavor King were sweet, juicy and rich, and along with later varieties, revolutionized the plum category. Today interspecific plums from the Zaigers and other breeders account for three-quarters of plum production in California, his daughter estimated. In the 19th century, exquisitely aromatic white-fleshed peaches and nectarines were common, but so easily bruised they couldnt be shipped, and by the mid-20th century more durable yellow-fleshed varieties predominated. Zaiger crossed tender low-acid white peaches with firmer yellow types to create low-acid white-fleshed peaches and nectarines that were sweet when firm enough to ship, like the almost preternaturally sugary Arctic Rose. Low-acid yellow varieties followed, and today peaches and nectarines with low and intermediate acidity abound. Zaiger and his family invented many other fruit types, including interspecific apricots, sold as Apriums; cherries with winter chilling requirements so low they can be grown in Los Angeles; crosses of cherry and plum; crosses of peach, apricot and plum sold as Peacotums or Colorcots; and even some crosses so complex that no common name for them exists. But the familys greatest success has been the Independence almond, which does not require pollination by bees, and is now grown on nearly 50,000 acres in California, mostly in the Central Valley. Floyd Zaiger offers a taste of a Pluot at his experimental orchard in Modesto. (David Karp) In addition to his daughter, Zaiger is survived by his two sons, Gary and Grant, who also work in the family business, Zaigers Inc. Genetics; six grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. His wife and siblings predeceased him. His fruit varieties live on at farms and markets around the world. It gives me great satisfaction, he said of his work, far greater than any return on investment, to create something new that gives so many people so much pleasure. Karp is a food writer and farmer, and frequent Times contributor Full border checks on imports to Britain will no longer be immediately introduced on January 1 when the Brexit transition period ends. The U-turn blamed on the economic chaos caused by the coronavirus pandemic means checks will instead be phased in over six months. The flexible and pragmatic approach announced by the UK's Cabinet Office means businesses there need three key dates in their diaries for next year: January 1: All goods going into the UK will be eligible for tariff payments from this date, but traders will have six months to complete customs declarations and make the payments on standard goods, such as clothing and electronics. But controlled goods such as alcohol and tobacco will not get the exemption and will need to be declared in full right away. Physical checks will also be required at destination on all high-risk live animals and plants. April 1: Meat, pet food, honey, milk, egg products and all other products of animal origin will require pre-notification and the relevant health documentation. So too will regulated plants and plant products. July 1: Tariff payments and declarations at the point of importation will be required, as will full safety and security declarations, while there will be an increase in physical checks. Inspections for animals, plants and their products will begin taking place at Britains border control posts. What about Northern Ireland? The British Cabinet Offices new plan affects only trade between Britain and the EU. It does not cover trade between the North and the Republic of Ireland, or NI and Britain. The department said those trade routes would be covered by the NI protocol of the Withdrawal Agreement, which says there will be no customs requirements for goods going directly from the nation to the EU. What about exports from the UK to the EU? Brussels will determine the factors surrounding checks on exports to the EU. China a victim not instigator of disinformation: Chinese Mission to EU Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/11 12:39:00 China, as a victim of disinformation, has always opposed the creation and spread of disinformation by any people or organization, said the Chinese Commission to the EU on Wednesday, in response to the EU's joint communication claiming China has been engaged in targeted influence operations and disinformation campaigns amid the pandemic. The communication refers to China selectively, and does not mention anything about those who produce anti-China and anti-science disinformation. We hope that the EU can address the relevant issues in a fact-based, unbiased and rational manner, commission spokesperson Zhang Ming said. The communication claimed that foreign actors and certain third countries, in particular Russia and China, have engaged in targeted influence operations and disinformation campaigns in the EU, its neighboring regions and globally, according to the EU's website. Zhang mentioned China's tremendous efforts and the huge price it has paid in fighting the coronavirus, and that it has successfully brought the situation under control. China and the EU have also helped and supported each other in a humanitarian and friendly spirit, which are facts that both sides should recognize and respect. China and the EU are not systemic rivals, but comprehensive strategic partners. While remaining firmly committed to the path of its own choice, China has no intention to export its system and development model, nor to participate in any "battle of narratives," Zhang said, noting that at the moment, spreading disinformation and trading accusations will not help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. The international community should work together to reject disinformation and jointly safeguard global public health in the hope of overcoming the pandemic at an early date, Zhang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Six months after statue was approved by councillors, the plinth remains empty Margaret Thatcher's 300,000 statue should still be erected in her home town, say supporters, despite fears that protestors could tear it down. Sixteen months after the controversial statue was approved by councillors in Grantham, Lincolnshire, the plinth on which it will stand still remains empty. Following a decade of rows, the memorial to Baroness Thatcher has been further delayed by the coronavirus lockdown. And as a debate rages across Britain over the suitability of various statues, there have been fresh calls for the 300,000 monument not to be erected. Artist's impression: With a 10.5ft sculpture atop a 10.5ft plinth, the proposed statue would dominate the quiet town square in Margaret Thatcher's home town of Grantham Opponents of the 'Iron Lady' say she was a divisive figure and claim the statue will only attract vandals. But outraged supporters insist the monument is a 'fitting tribute' and must be erected as planned. Well over a year has now passed since councillors finally approved the privately-funded statue for Britain's first female Prime Minister, who famously lived above her father's Grantham grocers store. The statue remains in storage at a secret location and a date for the big unveiling has yet to be confirmed. All that can be seen on the chosen site in Grantham town centre is a lonely plinth which has been wrapped in tarpaulin and fenced off waiting for the 3.2 metre high statue which was previously rejected by Westminster Council. Lincolnshire Police had recommended the statue by Douglas Jennings is placed on a 'sufficiently high plinth' and within easy view to deter attackers. And with a renewed national debate over statues some locals have claimed it would not be a suitable time to erect the Thatcher monument. Charmaine Morgan, the Labour leader of South Kesteven District Council, fears Grantham's Thatcher statue could fall victim to protestors if it is erected. Councillor Morgan said: 'I was contacted on Twitter and asked by people where the Margaret Thatcher statue was after the Colston statue was taken down. The statue of Thatcher by Douglas Jennings was originally set to be placed in Canning Green, Parliament Square, but was rejected by Westminster Council 'Clearly she is still at the forefront of people's minds. 'I had to tell them the statue isn't actually up yet, but clearly there are some people who are prepared to have that statue come down.' Another local Labour party supporter said: 'Thatcher was such a diversive figure, even in Grantham, that I don't think now is the right time to put the statue up. 'Everyone has had to come together in this time of national emergency and I don't feel it would be suitable at the moment. 'There perhaps needs to be a fresh discussion, as things are changing so quickly.' Despite fears it may be targeted by politically motivated vandals, supporters initially hoped the controversial sculpture would be unveiled by a 'big name' in Autumn last year. A cement base was laid last September and an announcement followed that the statue would be unveiled in the 'early part' of this year with details expected in January. A plinth for the statue was finally craned into place in February and ground work was expected to continue through March. To mark the milestone, a commemorative Margaret Thatcher coin was launched, available for 5 in the local museum gift shop. But 16 months has now passed since the scheme was given the go-ahead, and still no date has been given for the 'top secret' unveiling. Grantham Conservative councillor Ray Wootten has been a keen supporter of the statue and insists it should be erected. 'There will always be somebody who wants to make a name for themselves by causing criminal damage,' Cllr Wootten said. 'But I take the view that I have been to Huddersfield and seen the statue of Sir Harold Wilson. I didn't feel the need to damage or deface it, I saw it for what it is, a statue of a former Prime Minster.' Councillor Wootten confirmed there was unfortunately no date yet for the unveiling and pointed out council meetings were still being held by virtual technology due to the coronavirus. A former Mayor of Grantham, Cllr Wootten says he is looking forward to the unveiling when it eventually happens. Outraged supporters insist the monument is a 'fitting tribute' and must be erected as planned. Pictured: Thatcher speaking at the Tory Party annual conference in Brighton in October 1967 Cllr Wootten said: 'The installation and eventual unveiling of the statue celebrating the life of Margaret Thatcher Britain's first female Prime Minister will bring a sense of pride to the people of Grantham.' The bronze sculpture is set to stand on the green in St Peter's Hill, in between statues of Sir Isaac Newton and Frederick Tollemache. Plans to erect a statue to Grantham's most famous daughter have split the town for over a decade. Despite several suggestions by successive mayors Grantham's only tribute to Britain's female Prime Minister remains a tiny plaque above her father's former grocer's store in North Parade. The deadlock was finally broken in February last year when a report to South Kesteven District Council stated there was not felt to be a significant threat to the installation of the statue locally. But it added: 'In general there remains a motivated far-left movement across the UK who may be committed to public activism. 'It still remains that there is a possibility any public statue of 'Baroness Thatcher' would be a likely target for politically motivated vandals.' Despite the fears councillors on South Kesteven planning committee voted unanimously in favour of the proposal despite a small protest by local opponents. In a bid to avoid the statue being attacked Lincolnshire Police recommended it should be placed on a 'sufficiently high plinth and in easy view.' The statue, which is said to be be in storage at a secret location, is due to be placed in the centre of Grantham at St Peter's Hill on a 3.2 metre high plinth, and will be over 6.4 metres tall in total. Grantham Community Heritage Association (GCHA), which runs the Grantham Museum, had received 17 letters of objection to their planning application, mainly noting Mrs Thatcher's position as a 'divisive figure' and the potential for crime and disorder. The statue has been paid for by The Public Memorials Trust, a charity that aims to commission and erect memorials to historically important people. Supporters hope the statue will increase the town's tourism offer and visitor numbers. A debate has been raging across Britain over the suitability of various statues, such as the above, showing a monument to slave owner Robert Milligan covered with a blanket and a placard reading 'Black Lives Matter' near Canary Wharf before it was removed by workers Margaret Thatcher (nee Roberts) was born and raised in Grantham and attended Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School, before gaining a scholarship to study at Oxford University. Her father Alfred, a grocer, was Mayor from 1945 to 1946. Plans to build the statue on Parliament Square, in London, were previously rejected by Westminster Council due to fears over vandalism. It was then offered to Grantham. A Westminster council planning document suggested the proposed statue had come too soon after Baroness Thatcher's death in 2013. The council has a '10 year principle', where statues or memorials are generally not erected until 10 years have elapsed since the subject's death. The Metropolitan Police also raised concerns over possible civil disobedience but this did not form part of the planning application. But Grantham Community Heritage Association (GCHA), which runs the town's museum, said it was a 'fitting tribute to a unique political figure'. It also said it would encourage visitors to the town 'from both sides of the debate'. Councillor Wootten added: 'No matter what your political views are, Margaret Thatcher against all odds became Britain's Conservative Party Leader in 1975 and in 1979 was elected Prime minister, the first woman to hold this position between 1979 to 1990 and she was born in Grantham. 'The statue on St Peters Hill will be a fitting tribute to the Iron Lady.' Leader of South Kesteven District Council, Cllr Kelham Cooke, said: 'Work was completed in February on the installation of a granite plinth for the Margaret Thatcher statue on St Peter's Hill in Grantham. Planning permission for the statue was granted unanimously a year earlier. 'The Coronavirus lockdown has delayed any further work on the project and a date for the statue to go up is yet to be confirmed with stakeholders. 'There is no doubt Baroness Thatcher's political legacy divides public opinion, but her journey from local greengrocer's daughter to becoming this country's first female Prime Minister is part of the fantastic heritage of Grantham and wider South Kesteven which should be commemorated in her home town.' Georgia has been and remains the strategic partner and reliable ally of Ukraine Georgia has been and remains the strategic partner and reliable ally of Ukraine in the issues of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, counteraction armed Russian aggression, holding of internal structural reforms and economic cooperation as UNN reported citing Spokesperson of Ukraines Foreign Ministry Kateryna Zelenko. She commented the talk of Ukraines Ambassador to Georgia Ihor Dolhov and representatives of Foreign Ministry. On June 11, 2020, Ukraines Ambassador to Georgia Ihor Dolhov was invited to the Foreign Ministry of Georgia due to the concern of the Georgian side about particular statements of citizen of Ukraine, Head of the Executive Committee of Reforms Mikheil Saakashvili. During the talk, the Georgian side underlined that it considers the statements of Mr. Saakashvili as the interference of a foreign citizen in the inner policy of Georgia, Zelenko said. According to the diplomat, the agenda of the talk also included the further development of the strategic Ukrainian-Georgian relations in all spheres of mutual interest. Particularly, she noted that the issue was about the prospects of the development of Eastern Partnership, the epidemiological situation in Ukraine and Georgia and the interaction of the states in the return of the citizens to home. The content of the conversation in the Foreign Ministry of Georgia was provided by Ukraines Ambassador to the leadership of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine. Georgia has been and remains the strategic partner and reliable ally of Ukraine in the issues of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, counteraction armed Russian aggression, holding of internal structural reforms and economic cooperation, Zelenko added. As we reported, the Foreign Ministry of Georgia called the Ukrainian ambassador due to the statement of Head of the Executive Committee of Reforms Mikheil Saakashvili about parliamentary elections in Georgia. It is projected that there will be a small drop in the cost of living for third-level students next year due to Covid-19. It will be the first time the cost of living for these students has fallen in a decade. However, a study from Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) has found it will cost a student just under 12,000 a year to study away from home. The marginal decrease is attributed to lower mobile phone costs and the curtailment of social activities due to Covid-19. Average rental prices for students are expected to drop in the coming year. Last year, the average national rent for students was 469 per month. This figure rose to 499 this year. In Dublin, the average figure is projected to be 596, compared with 574 last year. This year, it is expected there will increased availability for students as new accommodation blocks are set to open and short-term lets returning to the long-term rental market. There will also be a decrease in the number of international students. Despite the small drop in costs, many students are expected to experience significant financial hardships next year due to the pandemic. Worryingly, only 36% of students expect to get a part-time job along with their studies, compared to 63% last year. With many jobs impacted over the summer months, this will add to the financial worries for students. Dr Brian Gormley, Head, Campus Life at TU Dublin, encouraged students to reach out for advice and support if they are worried or stressed. The coming year will be difficult financially for many families. If you are experiencing financial hardship, contact the Student Assistance Fund in your college, and they will do their best to provide advice and support. "To respond to the challenges faced by students during Covid-19, TU Dublin is launching a campaign to raise funds to provide additional support for our students. The survey found that anxiety about infection and social distancing was the main concern cited by third-level students. The coronavirus pandemic has had a negative impact on many students' mental health. Dr Gormley urged students who are struggling with their mental health to speak to a friend, a family member or to make an online appointment with their college counselling service. London: Global poverty is set to rise above 1 billion people once again as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which is reducing the income of the world's poorest by $US500 million ($733 million) a day, according to new research published on Friday. The research by King's College London and the Australian National University points to poverty increasing dramatically in middle-income developing countries, where millions of people live just above the poverty line. Walter Ferreira, left, and Laura Dure cook stew at a soup kitchen that feeds about 300 people daily in Luque, Paraguay. The UN World Food Program has warned more than 14 million people could go hungry in Latin America as the pandemic rages on. Credit:AP Asian countries, such as Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines, are considered to be particularly vulnerable to the pandemic's economic shockwaves with lockdowns severely curtailing activity. "The pandemic is fast becoming an economic crisis for developing countries," said Andy Sumner, a professor of international development at King's College London and one of the report's co-authors. 62 Shares Share In 2014, an emergency medicine resident opened a personal email and was shocked to see it briefly mention the death of another resident physician from a different training program. Unofficial group chats ensued amongst her co-residents, discussing the vague email. Suspicion arose that the resident has died of suicide. His particular death was never addressed outright in a formal or public manner at the hospital, department, or residency level. All agreed with the protection of privacy, but the unexpected death of a fellow trainee haunted those left behind. Not long after, an NYU medical student tragically died of suicide. While some official emails were sent with this case, they seemed muted and incomplete. The truth is that many physicians have died by suicide. This is devastating, and sadly all too common. We often see these deaths superficially mentioned via email, on social media, or discussed in the hospital halls. We sense a lack of comfort speaking openly about our own crisis. We cant ask, What happened to that person? What was the system failure that could have prevented this death? Without these questions being asked and discussed openly, there is no hope for answers given that could perhaps help us to understand how to better protect ourselves and each other. We are given perfunctory reminders to seek support and encouraged to meditate, do yoga, or sleep well. Days or even hours later, though, providers are expected to return to work as normal, allowing the broken system to creak forward. Now, we all face another crisis in COVID-19, which is adding to the already untenable mental health toll on providers. Doctors worry about caring for increasingly ill patients while inadequately protected from exposures, resource allocation, and health disparities, bringing the virus home to their families, and more. We witnessed a tragic example just this week of the devastating combination of COVID and inadequate mental health support, as our community mourned the loss of an emergency medicine colleague to suicide. We worry that more avoidable deaths will follow unless something changes. How did this happen? Our government and health care system has failed to prepare for COVID-19. As a medical profession, we also failed to create a system that protects the mental health of doctors and other clinicians, who now face one of the toughest experiences in their careers. This pandemic could result in a catastrophic exacerbation of what is already a mental health crisis for doctors. Three mental health syndromes frequently reported in doctors and other health care clinicians are burnout, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression. Burnout for doctors has been described in academic medical literature as well as the mainstream press. Burnout is the feeling of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and work inefficiency. Forty-two percent of surveyed doctors in the United States reported burnout. Some stressors for doctors are the electronic medical record, increasing administrative burden, long shifts, and lack of control. A pandemic likely further exacerbates several of these risk factors and may cause additional unique stressors though there is less literature around this. PTSD is described as a condition that can be caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. Being an emergency medicine doctor is a risk factor. Approximately 15% of emergency medicine doctors meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD, versus 3% of people in the general U.S. population. Most concerning, doctors are at high risk of depression and suicide. An estimated 40% of all doctors screen positive for depression five times the national average for all adults over age 20 (8%, per the CDC). Approximately 14% of doctors have considered suicide, and the rate of completed suicide for doctors is double the national average for adults. Doctors struggle to detect mental illness in themselves or colleagues. For generations, the culture of medicine has also normalized high stress, physical exhaustion, and emotional fatigue as acceptable and expected aspects of training and practice. Suffering is viewed as a badge of honor and makes us legitimate, despite its often-malignant nature. Doctors in training still regularly work over 24 hours without sleep. Sleep-deprived humans function similarly to those who are intoxicated with alcohol, and struggle to perform even basic, low-stakes tasks. Unfortunately, the practice of medicine regularly involves very high stakes, with human lives hanging in the balance. Residents will often speak up about the difficulties of their training and be met with a response from senior physicians themed around, I had it worse. Residents are then left feeling completely unsupported. So why dont doctors just get help? Well, its complicated. Many do not feel comfortable disclosing mental health concerns to others, given fear of shame and concern for confidentiality. This can lead to isolation and increase risk of outcomes such as substance abuse, self-medication, and suicide. Formal reporting requirements and invasive questions about mental illness can affect a doctors ability to obtain or renew a medical license. Documented diagnosis and treatment can also challenge the ability to obtain life and/or disability insurance. But there are working solutions. In 2014, Project Safe Space was born as an initiative to give emergency medicine residents access to small group therapy led by psychiatrists who were experts in burnout, PTSD, and depression. The program aimed to provide direct access to mental health care and normalize the need, value, and desire for therapy. The small groups were paired with the same therapists over all four years of training to create a longitudinal relationship. The same psychiatrists were also available for individual therapy, as needed. The initial Project Safe Space was started at the NYU emergency medicine residency program. Last year, we started the same program at the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency, and other residencies here in Boston are looking to launch their own Safe Space programs for trainees. Project Safe Space and similar endeavors are a start. Barriers to diagnosis and treatment need to be lifted. Stigma and punishment for seeking care need to be erased. Doctors need therapy and other mental health services both their lives and their patients lives depend on it. Jason Bowman and Adaira Landry are emergency physicians. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Bamboo sheets, bedroom temperature between 15 and 19 degrees Celsius and foregoing an alarm are the most important ingredients for a perfect night's sleep, top doctors and psychologists have revealed. Three specialists from Australia and New Zealand answered questions about exposure to blue light, eating before bed, bedroom layout and which mattresses and pillows provide the best support to help people sleep longer and deeper. Auckland-based sleep specialist Jane Wrigglesworth, who is the founder of How To Sleep Well, says depending on an alarm to wake in the morning is a sign of poor quality sleep, which can causes serious health issues over time. Ms Wrigglesworth told Daily Mail Australia that continuously disrupted sleep is linked to digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, ulcers and even gastrointestinal cancer, as well as exacerbating mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. To protect mind and body, here's the recipe for a solid eight hours of rest. Scroll down for video Relying on an alarm to wake in the morning is a sign of inadequate, poor quality sleep, according to Auckland-based specialist Jane Wrigglesworth (stock image) Dr Bei Bei, Senior Research Fellow at Monash University's Healthy Sleep Clinic in Melbourne HOW LONG SHOULD I WAIT BETWEEN EATING AND GOING TO BED? Going to bed too soon after eating is a surefire way to disrupt and reduce the quality of sleep, warns Dr Bei Bei, Senior Research Fellow at Melbourne's Monash University Healthy Sleep Clinic. Eating immediately before bedtime robs the body of the time it needs to digest food, which forces it to metabolise as you sleep, waking you up. But going to bed hungry has much the same effect as blood sugar levels drop and shock the body awake, Ms Wrigglesworth says, so it's important to strike the right balance. 'Eat dinner as early as you can, and if you need a snack afterwards, choose something that has no or low amounts of sugar,' she said. 'If you get home late from work and find yourself having dinner at 9pm, consider eating your largest meal at lunchtime and enjoy a lighter meal in the evening.' Very Well Health recommends eating your last full meal two to three hours before bed, avoiding spicy or inflammatory foods that trigger heartburn and caffeine rich liquids like coffee, alcohol and fizzy drinks that stimulate the body and put the mind into overdrive. WHEN SHOULD I SWITCH MY PHONE AND TV OFF? Phones, laptops and tablets should be powered off one to two hours before bed to give the brain and body time to unwind, according to Dr Bei Bei. Watching TV from a reasonable distance is less intrusive because it emits a lower concentration of artificial blue light that stimulates the brain and disrupts sleep. 'Hand-held devices used closer to the eyes have greater impact on sleep,' she said. If using a phone or laptop right up to bedtime is unavoidable, Dr Bei Bei says screen brightness should be turned to the lowest setting and blue-blocking 'nightshift' mode switched to the highest. She also advises leaving electronic gadgets outside the bedroom to create a restful, calming environment that's conducive to sleep. Lysn psychologist Nancy Sokarno agrees. The Sydney-based expert says the quality of our rest is largely determined by how we feel when our head hits the pillow, with stress, exercise and food consumed during the day all affecting how we sleep. 'It's best to look at sleep from a holistic point of view and consider how you can best prepare for a good night's sleep, which we call sleep hygiene,' she told Daily Mail Australia. Ms Sokarno structures plans for patients to ensure they exercise, nourish themselves with healthy food and switch off from screens and social media at least an hour before bed to improve the quality of their sleep. 'The key is to ensure that both your mind and body is de-escalated from the day, so anything you can do to exercise your mind and body, whilst ensuring that you get to a 'still' place right before bed,' she said. Auckland-based sleep specialist Jane Wrigglesworth WHAT TEMPERATURE SHOULD MY BEDROOM BE? While optimum temperature varies from person to person, Australia's National Sleep Foundation advises sleeping in a room between 15 and 19 degrees Celsius. Ms Wrigglesworth says the cooler the better, because a drop in our core body temperature sends signals to the brain telling it to release melatonin, commonly known as the 'sleep hormone'. It works together with the body's circadian rhythm, which is essentially our internal body clock, to let us know when it's time to sleep, wake and eat. Melatonin plays a major role in our general health, helping to regulate body temperature, blood pressure and hormone levels. WHAT POSITION SHOULD I SLEEP IN? Healthy adults sleep best on their side or back, according to Dr Bei Bei, but underlying health conditions mean certain positions carry different risks and benefits. Those who suffer from respiratory disorders like sleep apnea, where breathing repeatedly stops and starts, should avoid sleeping flat on their back because gravity causes the airways to narrow, making breathing more difficult. Dr Bei Bei says sleeping on one side of the body reduces the risk of stillbirth for pregnant women. It's best to consult with a doctor to determine which position is best for you if you are suffering from a chronic health issue. Setting bedroom temperature between 15 and 19 degrees Celsius is ideal for sleep, because it reduces core body temperature and sends signals to the brain to release melatonin, commonly known as the 'sleep hormone' (stock image) WHAT MATTRESS SHOULD I USE? While it's tempting to choose a mattress purely based on softness and comfort, Ms Wrigglesworth says we should pay most attention to its' thermal properties which will determine how hot or cold your bed will be. Memory foam mattresses hold heat better than other types of mattresses, making them a good investment for people who sleep better in warmer temperatures. Mattresses with coils and springs typically have better airflow and tend to be cooler than memory foam models, which makes them ideal for those who prefer to nod off in the cold. Soft mattresses affect the spine's curvature and should be avoided if you suffer from back or neck problems. Natural sleep aids to slip inside your pillow Putting a teaspoon of dry rose petals, two drops of lavender oil, a teaspoon of fresh thyme and a sage leaf into a clean handkerchief or a square of muslin cloth and slipping inside your pillow will improves the quality of your sleep, according to Australia's 'queen of clean' Shannon Lush. Advertisement WHAT PILLOW SHOULD I USE? Pillow choice comes down to personal preference, but it's important to invest in one that supports your head, neck and shoulders, Ms Wrigglesworth says. 'It might seem obvious, but it's actually a very individual choice. It depends on your body size and the position you sleep in, and whether you have neck or head pain,' she said. For people with back or neck problems, Ms Wrigglesworth recommends memory foam or latex pillows which hold their shape and support the spine. For those who like to rest on a cool surface, she suggests investing in a woolen pillow which draw moisture away from the head and regulate body temperature as you sleep. 'Wool pillows are also naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to mould and dust mites, which can keep you awake if you have allergies,' she said. WHAT BED LINEN SHOULD I USE? Ms Wrigglesworth says 'hot sleepers' who often wake flushed or sweating should try 'cooling sheets' made from breathable fibres like cotton, bamboo or eucalyptus, which draw moisture and heat away from the body. Linen with a high thread count should be avoided because the dense material holds and insulates heat. 'It's a myth that the higher the thread count, the softer the sheet,' Ms Wrigglesworth said. 'A high thread count traps the heat and the warmth [of] your body, which for some is great, but not if you're always hot. If you are looking for something cooler, a lower thread count is best, as airflow is better.' Electronic gadgets that emit blue light like phones and laptops should be left outside the bedroom (stock image) WHAT SHOULD I HAVE IN MY BEDROOM? Anyone who is serious about improving their sleep should keep electronics, work tools and trinkets out of the bedroom, Ms Wrigglesworth advises. 'No TVs, no computers no phones. Keep your room free from clutter - it should be a sanctuary, a place you go to relax,' she said. Dr Bei Bei agrees, saying anything that could make an 'unexpected noise' or trigger stress like a work desk, computer or exercise machine should be stored outside the bedroom. 'For those with insomnia, keeping clocks or watches turned away for the night could reduce anxiety. If you sleepwalk, put away any items that may cause falls or injury,' she said. Dr Bei Bei recommends cognitive behavioural therapy for anyone struggling with insomnia, which is covered under Australia's Medicare mental health plan. Sleeping on your side is the best position for uninterrupted rest, specialists say (stock image) WHAT ALARM SHOULD I USE? Nothing, according to Ms Wrigglesworth, who says depending on an alarm to wake is a sign you're not getting enough sleep. 'If you get adequate sleep, you don't actually need an alarm. You will wake up naturally,' she said. For those who can't getAnd by without, Dr Bei Bei recommends light-based devices - also known as 'wake-up lights' - that simulate sunrise, which gently stir the body in a gradual, natural manner. She also suggests syncing alarms with music that evokes happy emotions to start the day on a positive note. We've all heard it many times: Wear a face covering indoors, outdoors, on trains and buses. At work, in the supermarket and at church. But now a new modeling study out of Cambridge and Greenwich universities suggests that face masks may be even more important than originally thought in preventing future outbreaks of the new coronavirus. To ward off resurgences, the reproduction number for the virus (the average number of people who will contract it from one infected person) needs to drop below 1.0. Researchers dont believe thats achievable with lockdowns alone. However, a combination of lockdowns and widespread mask compliance might do the trick, they say. We show that, when face masks are used by the public all the time (not just from when symptoms first appear), the effective reproduction number, Re, can be decreased below 1, leading to the mitigation of epidemic spread, the scientists wrote in the paper published Wednesday by the Proceedings of the Royal Society A. The modeling indicated that when lockdown periods are combined with 100% face mask use, disease spread is vastly diminished, preventing resurgence for 18 months, the time frame that has frequently been cited for developing a vaccine. It also demonstrated that if people wear masks in public, it is twice as effective at reducing the R number than if face coverings are only worn after symptoms appear. The masks dont have to be top-of-the-line surgical or respirator masks. Homemade coverings that catch only 50 percent of exhaled droplets would provide a population-level benefit, they concluded. As has been well-publicized, wearing a mask primarily protects others from yourself, rather than the other way around. It is not a sign that you consider others a danger. Science Focus quoted the studys lead author, Dr Richard Stutt, as saying, Our analyses support the immediate and universal adoption of face masks by the public. Stutt is part of a team that usually models the spread of crop diseases at Cambridges department of plant sciences. Alameda County and San Francisco city health officials require residents to wear face coverings any time they leave home and get within 30 feet of anyone not living in their household. In San Francisco, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Sonoma counties (plus the cities of Pleasant Hill and Fremont) people must use basic nonmedical, cloth masks, including scarves and bandannas, to cover their noses and mouths when they leave home to go to essential places like the supermarket, drugstore or doctor. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here. Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global body armor market size is expected to reach USD 2,510.2 million by 2026 according to a new study by Polaris Market Research. The report Body Armor Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report By Level, By Material (Metals & Alloys, Composite, Fibers, Fiberglass and Others); By Application (Defense & Security Personnel, Law Enforcement Officers, Civilians); By Product, By Style; By Regions, Segments & Forecast, 2019 2026 gives a detailed insight into current market dynamics and provides analysis on future market growth. The moving concern displayed by defense and security industry towards safety and security of military personnel is propelling the need for body armor. Several developed and developing nations are conducting modernization program in the best interests of security and military personnel. This is to offer best protection products. Developed nations such as U.S., UK, Russia and France are taking rapid strides to replace their traditional armor system with new advanced body armor. A recent move towards lightweight and flexible armor with nanotechnology materials and fibers in use has been initiated and will positively favor market in near future. Lately, precision technologies such as liquid body armor and dragon skin are contributing value to the market. Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/body-armor-market However cross-border tensions, global anarchy, regional warfare and a stimulus package by way of government thought for safety of armed forces personnel drives growth for body armor market. The body armors are devised in a manner that shunts piercing attacks and are categorized on their ability to deflect bullets. Earlier body armors were only licensed to soldiers but now due to escalating war-like tensions in the border areas, it is used by security guards, police and individuals to feel safe. Rising incidents of clashes and frictions observed in Asia, Middle East, Sub Saharan region, Russia and other nations related to terrorism, piracy, arms smuggling, drugs and exploitation are taking a toll on human lives. Security and defense personnel are targeted and hence safety measures are deployed to prevent such crimes. These trends are anticipated to bolster market growth during forecast period. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/body-armor-market/request-for-sample North America and Europe seize more than half of overall body armor market. This is due to the continuing solder modernization programs conducted across these regions. Safety of soldiers is high on the agenda for the countrys defense agency without cutting any corners in the program execution. Law enforcement officials have to constantly upgrade themselves due to rising instances of arson and riots across several countries. The threat of terrorism has led to the increased implementation of body armors. The region is expected to continue its dominance over the forecast period. The markets in Asia Pacific, MEA and South American region are expected to observe high growth during coming years. The increasing growth in Asia Pacific is attributed to the increased Government expenditure in new-age technology adoption in defense. Thus, the region is expected to do highly with excellent CAGR during forecast period. The key players in the market include BAE Systems, Inc., Honeywell International, Inc., U.S. Armor Corporation, DuPont Deenside LTD., Blank Enterprises, Inc., Sarkar Defense Solutions, MKU Pvt. Ltd., Safariland LLC, Uvex Group, Avon Protections Systems, Inc. Aegis Engineering Ltd., AR500 Armor, Ballistic Body Armour (Pty) Ltd, Craig International Ballistics Pty Ltd., Hellweg International, Kejo Limited Company, Pacific Safety Products and Ceredyne (3M) among others. Polaris Market research has segmented the body armor market report on the basis of level, application, material type, product type, product style and region Body Armor Level Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 2026) Level I Level IIA Level IIIA Level III Level IV Body Armor Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 2026) Defense & Security Personnel Law Enforcement Officers Civilians Body Armor Material Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 2026) Steel UHMWPE (Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) Aramid Composite Ceramic Others Body Armor Product Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 2026) Soft Armor Hard Armor Accessories Body Armor Product Style Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 2026) Covert Overt Body Armor Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 2026) North America o U.S. o Canada Europe o France o Germany o UK o Italy o Russia Asia Pacific o India o Japan o China o Korea Latin America o Mexico o Brazil o Colombia Middle East & Africa o Saudi Arabia o South Africa o Israel o UAE Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/body-armor-market/request-for-discount-pricing About Polaris Market Research Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. Contact us- Polaris Market Research Phone: 1-646-568-9980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images From ELLE Prince Harry shared his fear of the future for his young son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, in a new open letter to his patronage African Parks. In the letter, the Duke of Sussex detailed the importance of nature conservation in order to ensure the next generation inherits a healthy and habitable earth. "Since becoming a father, I feel the pressure is even greater to ensure we can give our children the future they deserve, a future that hasn't been taken from them, and a future full of possibility and opportunity," wrote Harry. Prince Harry is sharing the fears he has for his son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, as the world continues to navigate unprecedented times. In a new open letter written to one of his patronages, African Parks, the Duke of Sussex opens up regarding how maintaining and caring for the earth is essential for the next generation of youth who are set to inherit it. The letter was published as part of the organisation's annual report. "Since becoming a father, I feel the pressure is even greater to ensure we can give our children the future they deserve, a future that hasn't been taken from them, and a future full of possibility and opportunity," Harry expressed in the letter. "I want us all to be able to tell our children that yes, we saw this coming, and with the determination and help from an extraordinary group of committed individuals, we did what was needed to restore these essential ecosystems." Prince Harry has written a letter for @AfricanParks annual report on the worlds current extinction crisis and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. I feel the pressure is even greater to ensure we can give our children the future they deserve, he says. Read in full pic.twitter.com/OjQpYxKCfy Omid Scobie (@scobie) June 11, 2020 Harry also wrote, "We are currently living through an extinction crisis and now a global pandemic that has shaken us to our core and brought the world to a standstill. On the extinction crisis the science is clear; we have perhaps a decade to course correct before we lock in our fate. On this pandemic, while much is still unknown, some evidence suggests that the virus' origins may be linked to our exploitation of nature. The gravity of these challenges is coming to light, but we must not be paralysed by them." Story continues The continent of Africa has remained dear to Harry and recent years. While he's made trips to the continent for volunteer and conservation work, he has also introduced his wife, Duchess Meghan, and their one-year-old son to the continent as well. Last fall, both Harry and Meghan brought Archie along on their royal tour of Africaincluding a stop in Botswana where the couple famously had one of their first dates as a couple. You Might Also Like The Southwest Monsoon set in major parts of North Bengal, Sikkim and major portion of Gangetic West Bengal on Friday (June 12, 2020) with several parts of the state receiving heavy rainfall including Kolkata, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Kolkata said. Kolkata has received more than 100 mm rainfall during the first ten days of June so far, even before the official onset of the monsoon. On Thursday, the Southwest Monsoon entered over Odisha with several parts of the state receiving heavy rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier said that conditions are now favourable for the advance of the Southwest Monsoon into some parts of the Central Arabian Sea and Maharashtra, remaining parts of Telangana, west central and North Bay of Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim and, some more parts of Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal in the next 48 hours. The monsoon has also hit northern parts of Maharashtra on Thursday. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Southwest monsoon was predicted to hit northern parts of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. IMD on Thursday had stated that conditions are likely to become favorable subsequently for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some more parts of Maharashtra; remaining parts of Karnataka, Telangana, Rayalaseema, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Bay of Bengal and northeastern states, entire Sikkim and some parts of Odisha and West Bengal during subsequent 24 hours. The low-pressure area over East-central and adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal persists. The associated cyclonic circulation extending up to mid-tropospheric levels tilting southwestwards with height also persists. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and become well marked during the next 24 hours. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A statewide coalition of GOP leaders, including various Staten Island elected officials, are urging the federal government to provide additional funding for the citys mass transit system. On Thursday, a group of New York Republican politicians -- including Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore), Councilman Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island), State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn) -- penned a letter to U.S. Senate Leader Mitch McConnell urging the feds to provide the MTA with an additional $3.9 billion in funding to offset losses associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In mid-April, the MTA wrote to the New York State Congressional Delegation asking that the additional $3.9 billion in federal funding be earmarked for the agency in the next coronavirus relief package. This request came after the transit agency already received $3.8 billion in federal funding in March through the CARES Act. The nearly $4 billion directed to the MTA in the CARES Act approved by Congress and signed by President Trump has been crucial in allowing the agency to continue running service. But it is ultimately not enough to meet the full need. We are asking Congress to act again and provide an additional $3.9 billion to support the MTAs operations through 2020, GOP leaders wrote. A third-party economic analysis by McKinsey & Company projects the MTAs total economic loss in 2020 to fall between $7 billion and $8.5 billion, with drops in fare and toll revenue expected to be between $4.7 billion and $5.9 billion, drops in state and local tax revenue expected to total $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion, and additional costs associated with public safety expected to reach up to $800 million. The MTAs financial future is at risk without federal relief. COVID-19 has blown a massive hole in its budget, the letter states. The agency has run out of avenues for support. Without assistance from Washington, the only option left for repayment of the MTAs debt is fare and toll hikes. We cant put this burden on our constituents when so many have lost their jobs. The elected officials emphasized the MTAs impact on both the regional and national economy, with the downstate economy accounting for approximately 10% of the national GDP. The bottom line is that the MTA is too important to the country, not just to New York to be left for dead. It is critical to the businesses of New York and beyond. A strong state and national economic rebound is going to be virtually impossible without a functioning MTA, the letter concludes. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Friday also asked MCD to send him details related to 2,098 COVID-19 deaths in Delhi, claimed by them. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Friday said that the lockdown imposed as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19 will not be extended in the national capital. No, the lockdown will not be extended, Jain said on being asked if there have been discussions to extend lockdown in the national capital considering the spike in coronavirus cases. Delhi has over 34,000 virus cases and 1,085 deaths. Talking about MCDs claim of 2,098 COVID-19 deaths in Delhi, Jain said, Why dont they send those details to us? Names, age and reports all details are needed. Ask them for a list of these numbers along with the (COVID-19) positive reports of those people. On being asked if community spread has started in Delhi, Satyendra Jain had earlier said, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria has said that there is a community transmission in Delhi but the Centre has not accepted it yet. We cannot declare it and the declaration is up to the Centre. Community spread is a technical term and it depends on the Centre whether they accept it or not. There are four stages in epidemiology in which the third stage is the community spread. No, the lockdown will not be extended: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on being asked if there have been discussions to extend lockdown in the national capital #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/stQMoRzpb4 ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2020 Why dont they send those details to us? Names, age and reports all details are needed. Ask them for a list of these numbers along with the (COVID19) positive reports of those people: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on MCD's claim of 2098 #COVID19 deaths in Delhi pic.twitter.com/ViqCJJFHRp ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2020 Also Read: India, US have tolerance streak in their DNA but lately that has disappeared, says Rahul Gandhi to former US Diplomat Nicholas Burns Also Read: Minor earthquakes in Delhi-NCR region not unusual, no need to panic: National Centre for Seismology The total number of coronavirus cases in the country now stands at 2,97,535 including 1,41,842 active cases, 1,47,195 cured/discharged/migrated and 8,498 deaths.COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra continue to soar with the number reaching 97,648. Tamil Nadus coronavirus count stands at 38,716 while cases in Delhi reached 34,687. Also Read: With highest single-day spike of 10,956 cases, Indias Covid-19 tally nears 3 lakh mark For all the latest National News, download NewsX App Edison, USA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/11/2020 -- AMA Research have added latest edition of survey study on Global Office 365 Management Software Market with 100+ market data Tables, Pie Chat, Graphs & Figures spread through Pages and easy to understand detailed analysis. At present, the market is developing its presence. The Research report presents a complete assessment of the Market and contains a future trend, current growth factors, attentive opinions, facts, and industry validated market data. The research study provides estimates for Global Office 365 Management Software Forecast till 2025*. Some are the key players taken under coverage for this study is Actionspace (United Kingdom), Softerra, Inc. (United States), AvePoint (United States), Cardiologs Technologies (Paris), CoreView (United States), Backupify (United States), ENow Software, Inc. (United States), Zoho Corporation (India), Netwrix (United States), Nuvolex (United States), Promodag (France) and ShareGate (Canada). Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/123452-global-office-365-management-software-market The Office 365 management software gives businesses insight into their Microsoft Office 365 suite, which includes Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as other emails, file storage, and mobile app solutions. Overall, this software is typically used for the purpose of improving productivity, communication, and henceforth the organization. Office 365 administration tools let you monitor and fix a variety of Office 365 issues, including B. Downtime. They are mainly used by IT professionals. Features such as network monitoring, workload monitoring, and latency testing are typically offered on a management platform. In addition to the many monitoring features, Office 365 management solutions support detailed management tasks such as setting up employee devices, granting user permissions, and setting up alerts for important tasks. Important Features that are under offering & key highlights of the report: 1) How Study Have Considered the Impact of COVID-19 / Economic Slowdown of 2020? Analyst at AMA are constantly gathering and conducting survey with opinion leaders and Industry experts from various region to minutely understand impact on growth as well as local reforms to evaluate study and market estimates. Due to lockdown different online medium and procedures are followed like Survey Monkey, LinkedIn Connections, and Email reach and industry forum to established industry viewpoint to garner rich insights for study. A special chapter in the study presents Impact Analysis of COVID-19 on Global Office 365 Management Software Market along with tables and graphs related to various country and segments showcasing impact on growth trends. 2) Can list of players be customizing according to targeted regional geographies to match business objective? Considering heat map analysis and based on market buzz or voice the profiled list of companies in the report are Actionspace (United Kingdom), Softerra, Inc. (United States), AvePoint (United States), Cardiologs Technologies (Paris), CoreView (United States), Backupify (United States), ENow Software, Inc. (United States), Zoho Corporation (India), Netwrix (United States), Nuvolex (United States), Promodag (France) and ShareGate (Canada). Yes, further list of players can also be customized as per your requirement keeping in mind your areas of interest and adding local emerging players and leaders from targeted geography. ** List of companies covered may vary in the final report subject to Name Change / Merger & Acquisition Activity etc. based on the difficulty of survey since data availability needs to be confirmed by research team especially in case of privately held company. Up to 2 players can be added at no additional cost. 3) Can Market be broken down by different set of application and types? Additional segmentation / Market breakdown is possible subject to data availability, feasibility and depending upon timeline and toughness of survey. However a detailed requirement needs to be prepared before making any final confirmation. ** 3+ Additional country of your interest can be included at no added cost feasibility test would be conducted by Analyst team of AMA based on the requirement shared and accordingly deliverable time will also be disclosed. Enquire for customization in Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/123452-global-office-365-management-software-market To comprehend Office 365 Management Software market dynamics in the world mainly, the worldwide Office 365 Management Software market is analyzed across major global regions. AMA also provides customized specific regional and country-level reports for the following areas. - North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico. - South & Central America: Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. - Middle East & Africa: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Egypt and South Africa. - Europe: United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland and Russia. - Asia-Pacific: India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and Australia. Get Reasonable Discount on This Premium Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/request-discount/123452-global-office-365-management-software-market Major Highlights of TOC: Chapter One: Market Overview Chapter Two: Executive Summary ---------- Free of Cost Chapter Three: Market Dynamics ------ USD1000 Market Drivers, Market Challenges, Market Trends, Restraints & Opportunities, Post Covid Scenario Chapter Four: Market Factor Analysis ------ USD400 Supply/Value Chain, Porters Five Forces, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent & Trademark Analysis, Bargain Power Chapter Five: Global Loan Origination Software, by Market Segmentation and Geography (value, volume**) (2014-2019) ------ USD1400 by Type (Cloud Based, Web-Based), Application (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), Large Enterprises), Platform (Windows, IOS, Android, Others), Subscription Type (Monthly Subscription, Annual Subscription, One-Time License), Device Used (Tablets, PCs, Laptops, Others), Number of Users (2-9, 10-49, 50-99, 100 and Above), Features (Network Monitoring, Workload Monitoring, Latency Tests, Others) . . Global Office 365 Management Software Region North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Nordic, Others) Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, Australia, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Middle East & Africa, Others) Chapter Six: Global Office 365 Management Software - Manufacturers/Players Analysis ------ USD1200 Competitive Landscape, Comparative Market Share Analysis (2018-2019), Peer Group Analysis (2019), BCG Matrix, Company Profile, Product/Service Offering Matrix Chapter Seven: Global Loan Origination Software, by Market Segmentation and Region (value, volume**) (2020-2025) ------ USD1400 ------ Sections same as Chapter Five------ Chapter Eight:Company profiles / Competitive Landscape [12 Players]------ USD1250 Chapter Nine: Methodology/Research Approach, Data Source, Disclaimer ** If applicable Actual Numbers & In-Depth Analysis, Business opportunities, Market Size Estimation Available in Full Report. AMA also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research according to clientele objectives. Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report like North America, Europe or Asia. About Author: Advance Market Analytics is Global leaders of Market Research Industry provides the quantified B2B research to Fortune 500 companies on high growth emerging opportunities which will impact more than 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Our Analyst is tracking high growth study with detailed statistical and in-depth analysis of market trends & dynamics that provide a complete overview of the industry. We follow an extensive research methodology coupled with critical insights related industry factors and market forces to generate the best value for our clients. We Provides reliable primary and secondary data sources, our analysts and consultants derive informative and usable data suited for our clients business needs. The research study enable clients to meet varied market objectives a from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and from competitor profiling to M&As. Contact Us: Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) AMA Research & Media LLP Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA 08837 Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218 sales@advancemarketanalytics.com Connect with us at LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Naveen Thukral, Yuka Obayashi and Sybille de La Hamaide (Reuters) Singapore/Tokyo/Paris Fri, June 12, 2020 13:30 588 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde39e1a 2 Food luxury,foods,food-industry,coronavirus,COVID-19,lockdown,wagyu-beef,tuna,caviar,restaurant Free Global demand for premium foods like wagyu beef, bluefin tuna and caviar has plunged with thousands of restaurants shuttered and many economies sliding into recession amid the coronavirus pandemic. As strict lockdown measures to contain the outbreak ravage global economic activity, the luxury food industry could be among the worst hit since it heavily relies on restaurants and top hotels for demand for deluxe items from caviar to champagne. While some gourmet food producers are tapping consumers directly to stay afloat, others have been forced to cut output as some products have lost nearly half their value since the start of the year. Jean-Marie Barillere, co-chairman of champagne producers' lobby CIVC in France, said he hoped people would celebrate the easing of lockdown with a bottle of champagne, but expected a difficult end to the year. "This is really a period that looks like a war time," he said. Bookings data compiled by OpenTable, an online restaurant reservation service, showed a near 80 percent year-on-year decline in seated diners at restaurants in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Mexico this year. People are also less likely to consume luxury foods when stuck at home in the middle of a health crisis and worried about their financial situation, or under clinical social distancing measures as eateries reopen. "People will not want to taste a Chateau Petrus wine, a lobster or caviar under a bell jar," said Michel Berthommier, managing director of Caviar Perlita in southwestern France. "If you force people to eat in these conditions they will prefer going to fast foods." Read also: Champagne sales sink in a world with little to celebrate Deep discounts Premium foods was "one of the worst hit sectors worldwide", said Ole Houe, director of advisory services at agriculture brokerage IKON Commodities in Sydney. He said he did not expect a prompt recovery given many countries were in recession. Falling demand has already taken a toll on the prices of luxury items. In Tokyo, the price of top quality wagyu beef cuts has fallen about 30% from a year earlier, bluefin tuna - considered the best in Japan - has dropped more than 40 percent over that period, while prices of the famed 'Earl's melons' from Shizuoka have slumped 30 percent. Russia's top sturgeon breeding company - Russian Caviar House - meanwhile was offering a 30 percent discount for Beluga hybrid caviar. "Spring and summer are always low seasons for the caviar market, but if we compare this period with previous years, the sales in Russia are down 50 percent," said the firm's owner Alexander Novikov. In France, caviar prices languished near historic lows, champagne sales tumbled, while foie gras producers have had to cut output to prop up prices. Cifog, a foie gras producers' group, said restaurants account for 40 percent of total foie gras sales. "Mid-March it felt like the sky had fallen on us," said Florian Boucherie, who produces 2 tons of foie gras per year in France. Oyster and razor clam fishermen from Cape Cod and other top fishing grounds have also had to curb catches as lockdowns upended global eating habits. Read also: Online food business a tasty opportunity during pandemic Going downmarket To plug the yawning gap left by eateries, many high-end food producers are attempting to reach consumers directly via e-commerce platforms. Others are steering more produce onto supermarket shelves. "We are accelerating our supply of products into some of the world's largest supermarkets, gourmet butchers and direct to consumers online," said Hugh Killen, chief executive of Australia's largest listed beef producer, Australian Agricultural Company. But some vendors say selling to supermarkets is far less profitable than selling to high-end restaurants. In Japan, top sushi chefs pay 400,000 yen ($3,737.97) for 10 kg of the best cuts of tuna compared to the 25,000 yen paid by supermarkets for 10kg of lower value cuts, said Yukitaka Yamaguchi, owner of Yamayuki tuna brokerage at Toyosu Market in Tokyo. He said "the best part of (the) tuna" was usually sold first to high-end sushi restaurants but when these closed the "harakami had nowhere to go." They eventually started offering high-quality tuna to fish retailers and supermarkets. For now, Yamaguchi has had to park plans to retire as he has accumulated debt during the pandemic. "I had planned to retire when I turn 60, but thats no longer possible," he said. The fate of a Confederate statue honoring Dick Dowling remained in limbo Friday, but the fight over it led to a clash and perhaps a bit of understanding between the mayor of Port Arthur and at least one resident who confronted him about history. Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie called a news conference to announce that he had secured a commitment to keep the monument, currently at Hermann Park in Houston, from being moved to a state park at the site of the 1863 Battle of Sabine Pass. Thats where Dowling and 46 Rebel soldiers under his command successfully fended off a Union attack. Some of the two dozen black U.S. sailors were among those killed. The park already has one statue of the Confederate leader, in addition to displays about the battle. Bartie was informed about the proposal to move the monument late Thursday by an Enterprise reporter. He immediately vowed to stop it, even though a committee of the Texas Historical Commission had already approved it. On Friday, Bartie compared such a move to putting a statue of Adolf Hitler in a majority-Jewish community. The ethnic ramifications attached support my displeasure with accepting this statue in view of the fact that our local ISD removed the name of the individual from a school building further supports not having the Confederate statue relocated to our community, he said. By then, he said, state Rep. Joe Deshotel had already conveyed his concerns to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. He said the statue will sit in storage in that city until another site is found. Murphy confronted Bartie during the media appearance, asking if the mayor knew any historical facts about the Irish-born Dowling. He said he identified with Dowlings Irish heritage and his work as a longshoreman. Dick Dowling is unique to this community - that he came here and did something every immigrant wants, Murphy said. He made a statement, Murphy added, and people remember him for it. By the end of the news conference, supporters on both sides seemed interested in compromise. There was consensus about the importance of hearing others opinions, especially in a time of civil unrest. Bartie noted that he and others havent said anything about removing the statue of Dowling that already is in Sabine Pass. They just dont want to add another one. Related: PA mayor livid about Confederate statue potentially headed for Sabine Pass Resident Joan Jones, who also attended the news conference, suggested a compromise. Why not move it to the Museum of the Gulf Coast, where it could be presented with more context. Both Bartie and Murphy also thought the suggestion sounded like a good idea. Tom Neal, director of the museum in downtown Port Arthur, said later that hasnt been a part of any discussions about the outdoor statue and doesnt know if it would even fit inside. Any additions to the museum have to be cleared by the board. He suggested the statue also could be housed at a museum in Houston, where Dowling lived and where he ran a bar for some time. He also speculated about the Clifton Steamboat Museum in Beaumont. But if they want it to come here, I certainly would take it to the board, Neal said. Museums are a place to have these conversations and to teach the history. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox Should the idea be pursued, the city of Houston, which was donating the statue to Texas Historical Commission, would have to instead decide to donate the statue to the Museum of the Gulf Coast. Additionally, arrangements would have to be made for transporting it. While folks in Port Arthur were coming up with such ideas, the fate of the Dowling statue remained in limbo. A spokeswoman for Mayor Turner said only that it is being discussed with the Historical Commission, which runs the Sabine Pass Battlefield State Historic Site and had planned a full vote next Wednesday. We are currently assessing the situation with the Texas Historical Commission. However what we do know is that the Dowling statute will be removed from its current location in Houston, mayoral spokeswoman Mary Benton said. The one commission member who could be reached on Friday referred questions to a spokesman, who did not provide any further detail. Bartie said he is set to give his opinion about the relocation proposal during Wednesdays virtual meeting. Kaitlin Bain is the Government Reporter for the Beaumont Enterprise. Contact her at Kaitlin.Bain@BeaumontEnterprise.com or on Twitter by clicking here. Don't miss a thing: Sign up for our Daily Headlines newsletter. At the end of April, it became known that Boeing was withdrawing from a deal with Embraer How to get a loan of 600 million dollars per month? At the end of April, it became known that Boeing was withdrawing from a deal with Embraer. Having difficulties with working capital for fulfilling orders under export contracts, Embraer turned to the state-owned BNDES bank in order to obtain financing. At the end of May, BNDES agreed on an amount of $ 600 million and promised that Embraer would receive these funds in June! I would like to draw your attention to efficiency here. One month. And $ 600 million in the company's account. It happens in Brazil, where the level of corruption is no less than ours. Is this possible in Ukraine? No! And it's not just about the amount of money. Such amounts are very big for Ukraine. What are we talking about if the state prays for getting a one-billion loan from IMF? We should not forget about the terms too. If our large aircraft manufacturer wants to get financing to fulfill the order, the process of obtaining a loan might be delayed for a year. And there is no evidence that it would get financing. BNDES does not fund Embraer because it is a successful company. I am talking about a Brazilian development bank, which was created by the state for such purposes. The bank has been financing the company for many years, and this is precisely why the company has become successful. And here, we should not claim the banks that operate as good as they can. This is a claim to the state, which spends huge resources on reforms with an incomprehensible effect with the goal of obtaining an IMF loan, but cannot create effective tools to promote exports. We have not even launched an export credit agency (ECA). And even no one stutters about the need to create a development bank. Brazilian Embraer is successful in foreign markets, what cannot be said about our Antonov enterprise. Read the original text on Facebook Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte answers questions over how his government handled the coronavirus pandemic. Italys public prosecutors have questioned Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, along with Health Minister Roberto Speranza and Interior Minister Luciana Lamorghese, over the governments response to the coronavirus pandemic. Fridays interrogation comes weeks after the investigation was launched on April 8 by the prosecutors from Bergamo, the city in the northern Lombardy region worst hit by the virus that killed more than 34,000 people in the country. They sought answers to two main questions: why the towns of Alzano Lombardo and Nembro, both in the province of Bergamo, were not turned into so-called red zones despite the detection of coronavirus cases on February 23; and why Alzano Lombardos hospital was closed, sanitised and reopened in just a few hours after the first infection was detected. In contrast to Bergamo, the government imposed the countrys first red zone on February 21 around the town of Codogno in Lombardys province of Lodi 24 hours after doctors discovered a patient positive for COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus. It went on to shut down 10 other towns, and then large areas of the north, before imposing a nationwide lockdown. Bergamo, on the other hand, was quarantined on March 8, when the government decided to cordon off the whole region. Fridays interrogations aimed to determine if there were grounds for any charges of criminal negligence. We want justice A group of relatives of COVID-19 victims on Wednesday filed 50 legal complaints at the Bergamo prosecutors office, saying Alzano and Nembro should have been shut down as soon as the coronavirus was detected there. The citizens group called Noi Denunceremo (We Will Report) gathered their stories, some of which turned into testimonies for magistrates. We want justice but before obtaining justice, we need to find the truth and to understand what happened, Stefano Fusco, deputy director of the group, told Al Jazeera. We need to know if it has been a tragedy or if someone, who had the tools and the responsibility to contain the outbreak, didnt act or did it, but in the wrong way, Fusco said. The Noi Denunceremo group was initially created on Facebook three months ago by Luca Fusco, who lost his father at the beginning of the pandemic in Bergamo, as a platform for families to share their stories. After the first 24 hours, there were about 4,800 new members the number now exceeds 57,000. Noi Denunceremo was initially created on Facebook as a platform for families to share their stories [Miguel Medina/AFP] Fusco said the group did not seek financial compensation or aim to denounce healthcare workers. Noi Denunceremo identifies itself as apolitical, welcoming anyone regardless of the political colour including supporters of the far right and the far left. Who is responsible? Regional authorities and the central government are trading blame for the shortcomings of the coronavirus response. According to a law from 1979 and subsequent amendments, regional governors and mayors have the authority to adopt emergency measures, including cordoning off specific areas on public health grounds. The public prosecutor will have to judge whether there have been attempts by the Lombardy region to warn the central government of the necessity to intervene as the pandemic was a national rather than a local threat. The centre-periphery fight is not uncommon for Italy. But the current situation also has an additional dimension. Lombardys top health official Giulio Gallera belongs to the centre-right Forza Italia party and the regions President Attilio Fontana is a member of the far-right League. Both parties are in opposition to the government, ruled by the Five Star Movement and the left-wing Democratic Party. The investigations outcome will become a significant political tool against the party who will be blamed for the mismanagement, Marco Ruotolo, professor of constitutional law at Rome Tre University, told Al Jazeera. There are always conflicts between the central government and the regions when the respective majorities are from opposing parties, said Ruotolo. There was hope that in the face of such an emergency, there could have been a sincere collaboration, instead the division along party lines has deeply affected the handling of the outbreak, especially in the early days. A 68-year-old man accused of sharing the most serious category of child abuse material online has been refused bail. Robert Alan Hill, from Lakemba in Sydney's west, faces 15 years in jail if convicted. Police raided his home on Thursday and seized devices allegedly containing material that involved the torture and sexual abuse of children. Hill was taken to Campsie Police Station and charged with possessing child abuse material accessed via a carriage service. Robert Alan Hill (right, with police), 68, was taken to Campsie Police Station and charged with possessing child abuse material accessed via a carriage service Australian Federal Police commander Jamie Strauss says the investigation shows there's continued demand for child abuse material in the community. Hill was taken to Campsie Police Station and was charged with possessing child abuse material accessed via a carriage service. 'In homes across Sydney, we unfortunately have people who are seeking to view the most depraved acts of abuse committed against children,' Mr Strauss said in a statement on Friday. 'We will not stop in our pursuit to bring this type of offending from the anonymity of the online world and before the courts.' Hill appeared before magistrate Tim Keady via video link at Parramatta Local Court on Friday. He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused. He will next face court on August 21. While Maryland and D.C. fitness centers remain closed except for outdoor classes, gyms in Northern Virginia on Friday joined the rest of the state in reopening, as long as they adhere to local and federal guidelines. That means operating at no more than 30 percent capacity, screening gym-goers for covid-19 symptoms and making sure workout equipment is 10 feet apart. Gyms in Maryland will be able to follow suit beginning June 19, with indoor workouts at 50 percent capacity. A nonagenarian man from Agra has recovered from COVID-19, which local authorities on Thursday said, has come as a "ray of hope" for novel coronavirus patients. The 1923-born man (name withheld) was discharged on Wednesday from a private hospital. He is one of the oldest COVID-19 patients in the country to recover successfully. Agra District Magistrate Prabhu N Singh, speaking to PTI over phone, hailed it as a "matter of pride" for the historic city. "Our team was keeping an eye on his condition daily, and the day his coronavirus test came negative after recovering, we felt so delighted. We hear of people trying to take their lives sometimes when they contract COVID-19, but not this 97-year-old man. His recovery has come as a ray of hope," he said. He also tweeted on Thursday about his recovery, saying, it will lend hope, especially to people of the older age, and wrote, "Salute to #CoronaWarrior". The man was admitted on April 29 to Nayati Hospital, a level-2 hospital for COVID-19 care in Agra, sources said. He has hypertension, and he initially needed a bit of oxygen supply but recovered fine, they said. Six Covid-19 patients pose with three medical staffs (C) at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi as they are declared healthy, June 8, 2020. Photo courtesy of the Health Ministry. An oil expert from the U.K. and eight Vietnamese returning from abroad were announced Covid-19 free Monday, reducing Vietnam's active cases to 15. The 37-year-old British oil expert arrived in Ho Chi Minh City for a Petrovietnam project on a private jet on April 28. He was treated at Cu Chi Field Hospital in HCMC and has tested negative for the novel coronavirus many times. Two other patients are both male, 26 and 31, who returned from Russia on a repatriation flight on May 13. They were treated at Thai Binh General Hospital near Hanoi and have tested negative three times. The other six patients, aged 19-47, were treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi. Five of them had returned from Russia on May 13 and one from the U.S. on May 16. Each of them has tested negative for the novel coronavirus twice. The 19-year-old student returning from the U.S. said she "feels really lucky" in being treated for Covid-19 in Vietnam. A 19-year-old Vietnamese returning from the U.S. poses for a photo at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi after recovering from Covid-19, June 8, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Chi Le. "Being a Covid-19 patient in Vietnam, I received good care. When I was admitted, I had nothing to worry about," she said. All nine patients will continue to stay at hospitals for another 14 more days for monitoring. With the latest recoveries, Vietnam now has 15 active cases, all Vietnamese citizens returning from abroad. The nation's Covid-19 tally increased by two to 331 Monday morning, of whom 316 have recovered. By Chen Lufan The Trump administration recently submitted a so-called new China strategy report as per the legislative request of the Congress. Adopting the same tone and stance about China as the 2017 National Security Strategy (NSS), the 16-page United States Strategic Approach to the Peoples Republic of China claimed that China poses challenges to US in economy, values and security, which shall be countered with awhole-of-government approach. The report asserted that the US decided to change its strategy toward the Asian country as its China policy in the past 40 years has proved a failure, and threatened to increase public pressure on the PRC government to suppress its expanding use of economic, political, and military power. The report is teeming with the Trump administrations zero-sum thinking reminiscent of the Cold War, a strong sense of loss at its failed peaceful evolutionof China, and an eager fidget to contain and suppress Chinas development. When asked for a comment on the report, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded that this new report deliberately distorts China's political system and strategic intention and hypes up the so-called "China threat", a pretext it uses to trumpet the continuation of all-dimensional hardline policy against China. That the US would concoct such a report is no surprise. Ever since the Trump administration labeled China as a revisionist power and strategic competitor in its 2017 NSS, its China policy has been sliding. Washington has spared no efforts in suppressing the Chinese company Huaweis 5G technology, waging a trade war, and accelerating the decoupling from China. It has constantly provoked China by resorting to military pressure and quasi-military means in Chinas Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea while slandering Chinas legitimate moves in surrounding sea areas as provocations. Additionally, it has defamed Chinas human rights development using Xinjiang and Hong Kong as pretexts, and it has been trying to scapegoat China for its COVID-19 response fiasco. With the series of irrational, insensible, and shameless moves, the US has single-handedly pushed its China relation into a Thucydides trap. What with the upcoming presidential election and what with the disastrous consequences left by the COVID-19 pandemic, some American politicians are so eager to divert the domestic attention that they fabricated Chinas so-called challenges to the US in economy, values, and security, which was a total distortion of facts and confusion of black and white. In the past two-plus years, the US started a trade war with China and still hasnt given up imposing additional tariffs. Who exactly is posing economic challenges? In the past few decades, the US has left no stone unturned in exporting its own mode to other countries and using human rights as a tool to maintain its hegemony. Isnt the US posing a threat to Chinese values? The US has intruded into Chinese territorial sea and crossed the Taiwan Strait to carry out the so-called freedom of navigation and overflight operations while the situation at the South China Sea is generally stable. Who is posing security challenges? In a global-historical context, the US has waged more than 30 wars in the world after WWII. While the COVID-19 pandemic is still in full swing overseas, Washington is busy making trouble around the world and undermining the global anti-epidemic cooperation, while its military has been harassing or threatening countries such as Iran, Venezuela, even Russia, and China. Who exactly is threatening world peace and development? Its clear that what the American politicians really aim at when shouting about threats from other countries is their own hegemony. In fact, there are some people with vision in the US, such as the former Under Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick, who urged strongly that the US doesnt need a new Cold War. But if those in the White House stick to their Cold War mindset and harm Chinas core and major interests, they will only end upharming others and themselves. The Nation, an American weeklymagazine, published an article that called for resisting the China threat syndrome, otherwise, progress may be thwarted in many fronts. It pointed out that everyone on earth faces shared dangers such as the coronavirus and climate disasters. Exaggerating the China threat is in itself an immense threat. The article also emphasized that the artificially aggravated hostility between Washington and Beijing make a war more probable. The China threat rhetoric clamored by American politicians is a dangerous sign of the intensified political conflicts in the US and a continuation of its consistent hegemonic and Cold War mentality of confrontation. In face of more complicated security threats in the post-pandemic era, China should demonstrate its sense of responsibility as a major country by upholding the concept of building the human community of common health, and also maintain strategic determination and resolutely safeguard its homeland security and overseas interests. While geopolitical risks are on the rise and international security system and order is under attack, China cannot count on the conscience of certain politicians in the west. We must keep firmly in mind that only when we are able to fight and win battles can we stop them. Peace never comes easy. It is the result of power balance. China must stick to the bottom-line thinking, give up illusions, and get ready for a fight, carefully evaluate what actions western countries may take amid the pandemic, and work out viable countermeasures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tanzania President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli on Friday reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries and discussed possibilities of further accelerating the ties. They expressed satisfaction at the growing development partnership, educational linkages, trade and investment flows between India and Tanzania, and discussed possibilities of further accelerating these trends. During their telephonic conversation, Modi recalled his July 2016 visit to Dar-es-Salaam and stressed on the importance that India attaches to its traditionally friendly ties with Tanzania, an official statement said. The prime minister reiterated India's commitment to partnering Tanzania in its development journey, as per the aspirations and needs of the Tanzanian government and people. Modi thanked President Magufuli for the assistance provided by the Tanzanian authorities in evacuation of Indian citizens from the country in the wake of COVID-19. Modi conveyed his best wishes to President Magufuli and the people of Tanzania for the presidential and parliamentary elections there later this year. "Had a good talk with President @MagufuliJP on all aspects of our friendly relations with Tanzania. Also thanked him for taking care of Indian community in Tanzania during the COVID-19 crisis," Modi later tweeted. Had a good talk with President @MagufuliJP on all aspects of our friendly relations with Tanzania. Also thanked him for taking care of Indian community in Tanzania during the COVID-19 crisis. India is committed to remain a reliable partner for Tanzania's development journey. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2020 India is committed to remain a reliable partner for Tanzania's development journey, the prime minister said. Quantzig's patient journey mapping solutions helped a leading pharmaceutical company to address one of the major challenges facing pharma while also identifying the shortcomings and opportunities for improving service efficiency. Request a FREE demo to get a sneak peek into our patient journey mapping solutions portfolio. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005219/en/ Patient Journey Mapping in the Pharmaceutical Industry (Graphic: Business Wire) One of the most significant problems facing healthcare and pharma today is the drastic decline in patient treatment adherence rates. Despite the onslaught of many such challenges in recent years, the US pharmaceutical industry is anticipated to experience reasonable growth for the next couple of years. Much of the pharmaceutical companies' growth is expected to come from the shift in focus to biosimilars, biologics, and orphan drugs. However, factors such as the rising instances of lifestyle-related diseases, chronic ailments, and the launch of specialty drugs are also playing their part in boosting the growth of the global pharmaceutical industry. But when it comes to pharma patient journey mapping, the first step is to nail down your goals, both in the short-term and long-term as it relates to your product and ideal patient. Quantzig's approach to patient journey mapping can help pharma companies streamline the digital patient journey by mapping their experience and analyzing factors leading to a decline in adherence rates. Leveraging patient journey mapping can help you gain a better understanding of the patient experience and reveal new opportunities for innovation while driving better financial outcomes. Request a FREE proposal to get started. Quantzig's Patient Journey Mapping Methodology To address the challenges faced by the client, the analytics experts at Quantzig adopted a comprehensive three-pronged approach to patient journey mapping. This helped the client to better engage with their patients and understand their individual needs. The patient journey mapping solutions also enabled the client to implement new drug discovery projects to explore robust commercialization strategies. Want similar results for your business? Get in touch with our patient journey mapping experts for comprehensive solution insights. Business Impact The primary objective of this patient journey mapping engagement was to help the client enhance service efficiency and improve customer experience. During the course of this patient journey mapping engagement, the client was able to interact with their patients effectively and better allocate their resources to meet the patients' requirements. The patient journey mapping solutions helped drive several positive outcomes including: Identified shortcomings and opportunities for improving the patient experience Visualized the buying experience through the eyes of the customers Enhanced treatment adherence rate by 57.3% For an in-depth analysis of your business processes and a detailed understanding of the role of patient journey mapping in pharma healthcare, request for more info. About Quantzig Quantzig is a global analytics and advisory firm with offices in the US, UK, Canada, China, and India. For more than 15 years, we have assisted our clients across the globe with end-to-end data modeling capabilities to leverage analytics for prudent decision making. Today, our firm consists of 120+ clients, including 45 Fortune 500 companies. For more information on our engagement policies and pricing plans, visit: https://www.quantzig.com/request-for-proposal View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200612005219/en/ Contacts: Quantzig Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 630 538 7144 UK: +44 208 629 1455 https://www.quantzig.com/contact-us Princeton High School junior Isabel Sethi sat in her Cranbury home watching the video of George Floyd die at the hands of Minnesota police officers. She was angry. She was heartbroken. She was frustrated that something like that could happen in America. That night, Sethi couldnt sleep. Instead, she read article after article about black people being killed at hands of police. The names went on-and-on: Breonna Taylor, Kevin Hicks, Ronell Foster, Tamir Rice, Ezell Ford, Michael Brown. Sethi knew that it was time to find her civic voice. She began making calls and organized the Cranbury Candlelight Vigil to honor the memory of George Floyd and other victims of police brutality. The event will be Sunday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Heritage Park in Cranbury. I saw the movements going on across the country and I knew that I had to be a part of it to support police reform anyway that I could, she said. I hope that my efforts can prevent an innocent black person from being killed. This is very important because any show of support benefits the larger movement. By more people demanding reform and more people showing their faces, it is showing that this protest extends to everyone. It really is a national protest. Sethi has had some experience as a community activist as a Helene Cody Scholar and a GAIA Cornerhouse Leader, but she had never planned her own protest before. She reached out to Laura Zurfluh, founder of Indivisible Cranbury and a rally organizer, to help mentor her and plan the event. Its a lot of planning. A lot more than I thought, Sethi said. Now, I give every protest and event planner a lot of credit because I did not know this much planning went into it. There is definitely some pressure to get it right because this is in my hometown. I want this to be respectful, but also send out a message. A large part of the planning was getting speakers. Sethi reached out to various public figures in the area and the event will feature Cranbury Mayor Matthew Scott, a representative from the Cranbury Police Force, Reverend Bob Moore of the Coalition for Peace Action, Chief Activist of The Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice Robt Seda-Schreiber and student leaders from high schools in the area. I am incredibly grateful to all of the speakers that decided to devote their time in order to make this event successful, she said. I was surprised by how willing and eager they were to speak. I had some doubts because Im a high school junior reaching out to them and theyre these influential leaders or student activists, but they all were very excited that I was organizing this. Candles will be provided free of charge, although donations are suggested. Tables will be set up for making signs and giving information on voter registration. All proceeds collected will be donated to Black Lives Matter. While the planning has been overwhelming and emotional at times, Sethi hopes that she can inspire more young people to find their voices and be leaders in their communities. I think its really important that young people feel empowered to create the change that they seek within their communities because we are going to be the next generation of leaders in America, she said. There is a lot of doubt when youre young because you feel limited by your age. You feel that you dont have enough experience to do it. It is important to encourage young people to find their voice because we do have the potential to create change. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Richard Greco covers Mercer County news for NJ.com and may be reached at rgreco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Richard_V_Greco. Find NJ.com on Facebook. With the UK gradually coming out of lockdown, officials have stressed the importance of maintaining social distancing. The World Health Organization recommends people keep at least 1m (3.2ft) apart when meeting up with those outside their home advice adopted by China, Denmark and France. Despite the official guidance, the UK government is sticking with a 2m (6.5ft) distance. Pub and restaurant owners have warned their businesses will collapse unless people are permitted to mingle closer together, allowing for more customers. Boris Johnson has promised to keep the 2m rule under constant review, but for now it stands. Early research suggests the coronavirus is mild in four out of five cases, however, it can trigger a respiratory disease called COVID-19. Face coverings will be mandatory on public transport in England from 15 June. (Getty Images) Is it safe to reduce the two metre social distancing rule? The coronavirus mainly spreads face to face via infected droplets expelled in a cough or sneeze. It can then be inhaled through the nose or mouth, or enter via the eyes usually if someone rubs a contaminated hand on their face. The further away an individual stands from a patient, the lower their risk of catching the coronavirus. Two metres is generally accepted as safer than one metre, three metres safer than two metres, and so on. A study published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet found the risk of catching the coronavirus at 1m is around 13%, but only 3% beyond that. For every extra metre up to 3m, the risk is further reduced by half, the research suggests. It has long been established the droplets can be carried over a distance of 1m to 2m, with the larger droplets falling out [due to gravity] in around 1m and the smaller droplets (similar to the diameter of a human hair) in around 2m, said Professor Jonathan Reid from the University of Bristol. So, the further you stand away from someone, the smaller the fraction of droplets you are exposed to when someone sneezes or coughs in your direction, and the less likely you are to come into contact with the virus. Story continues It is worth noting standing at 2m does not eliminate the odds of infection entirely. One metre only prevents you from being exposed to the largest of droplets, 2m reduces your exposure, but doesnt make it zero risk, said Professor Reid. In fact, droplets smaller than the diameter of a human hair can be carried over more than 2m, and the very smallest droplets often referred to as aerosols can remain airborne for minutes or hours in a room and travel over larger distances. There appears to be no clear answer on the optimal social distance. The force someone speaks, how heavily they breathe and the humidity of the area all influence the risk of transmission. We also dont know how much virus someone needs to be exposed to to get COVID-19 and this also then depends on how long they may be near someone, said Professor Reid. A tailor and customer wear masks and use a 'protective pod' in Belfast. (Getty Images) There is elegance in the simplicity of the two metre message Scientists advising the UK government say the risk of spending six seconds 1m away from a patient is the same as spending one minute at 2m. If someone is coughing, being 2m away carries the same risk as talking face to face to an infected individual without a cough for 30 minutes. Being indoors versus outdoors also raises questions. Scientists from Hokkaido University in Japan followed up the contacts of 110 people with the coronavirus. They found the risk of the infection being passed on was nearly 19 times greater inside than outside. Although far from perfect, the 2m rule may be a reasonably safe, easy to understand message. Assessing risk is difficult, said Professor Reid. It makes sense to be cautious until we have more information. Narrowing social distancing may mean other preventative measures need to be introduced, like making face coverings mandatory when outdoors, not just on public transport. As an engineer, it would absolutely make sense to me that if you cant maintain 2m distancing at all times, then consider other factors which influence risk and introduce some other measures, said Dr Shaun Fitzgerald from the University of Cambridge. The 2m guidance rule in the way its been set out has been really helpful, because there is elegance in the simplicity of a message. Just saying 2m is something we can all relate to, we can all understand. A woman wears a mask in Madrid. (Getty Images) What is the coronavirus? The coronavirus is one of seven strains of a virus class that are known to infect humans. Others cause everything from the common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), which killed 774 people during its 2002/3 outbreak. Since the coronavirus outbreak was identified at the end of 2019, more than 7.5 million cases have been confirmed worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. Of these cases, over 3.5 million are known to have recovered. Globally, the death toll has exceeded 421,500. Although the coronavirus mainly spreads in coughs and sneezes, there is also evidence it can be transmitted in faeces and survive on surfaces. Symptoms include fever, cough and a loss of taste or smell. The coronavirus has no set treatment, with most patients naturally fighting it off. Those requiring hospitalisation are given supportive care, like ventilation, while their immune system gets to work. Officials urge people ward off infection by washing their hands regularly. Coronavirus: what happened today Read more about COVID-19 How to get a coronavirus test if you have symptoms How easing of lockdown rules affects you In pictures: How UK school classrooms could look in new normal How public transport could look after lockdown How our public spaces will change in the future Help and advice Read the full list of official FAQs here 10 tips from the NHS to help deal with anxiety What to do if you think you have symptoms New Delhi: At least 17 jawans were killed and 19 other personnel were martyred when heavily armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the Army in North Kashmirs Uri town. Four ultras were nuetralised in the attack. Explosions and gunfire erupted as the militants attacked the camp, which is located barely few metres away from the Armys Brigade Headquarters in Uri town, 102 kms from Srinagar, around 4 AM, official sources said. The soldiers of the Dogra Regiment were sleeping in a tent which caught fire due the explosion. The fire also engulfed the nearby barracks, the sources said. It is believed that the attack was the handiwork of a group of freshly infiltrated militants who could have entered from an area along the Salamabad Nallah, the sources said. Expressing their severe discontentment and anguish over the terror attacks the retired Indian army generals made the following comments: Lt Gen BS Jaswal (Retd) "We must have our military option open, if required to strike at certain places," Lt Gen BS Jaswal (Retd) said here."Bring pickets, which have launch pad to the ground, raze them to the ground. The reason is that till the time it does not hurt Pakistan physically, they would not respect our decency," said Jaswal, who was GOC-in-C of the Northern Command. Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) said "preventing suicide attack is difficult, but damage control is always possible." Lt Gen KJ Singh (Retd) Lt Gen KJ Singh (Retd) who retired in July as Western Army Commander, said "No defences are fool proof", though we aim to make it so but the essence is reaction. Brig Anil Gupta (Retd) Brig Anil Gupta accused Pakistan of causing instability in the Valley. He said the attack was "a matter of serious concern for India and is a desperate attempt by Pakistan to ensure the current turmoil in Kashmir doesn't end.""Pakistan, despite all the criticism and the problems it's facing, is hell bent on encouraging terrorism inside Kashmir," Gupta said. Senior defence and strategic affairs experts also expressed their criticism by making the following comments: Uday Bhaskar Bhaskar said that "Pressure on Modi govt to act decisively now is visible, but must be well thought through" Qamar Agha Agha said that "Its a shameful incident. Our soldiers were killed and injured in this attack. ISI is involved in this incident for sure. This is not the first attack. Its a cowardly act. This kind of incident. The attack is pre-planned and well trained". For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Statue of Captain James Cook in Hyde Park, Sydney. Credit:Getty Images The monument to James Cook in Sydney's Hyde Park belongs to what the historian Graeme Davison called 'the heroic age' of colonial statuary. It was built at a time when white Australians claimed they occupied a land without history, overlooking in their midst the oldest continuous civilisation in the world. It lionised the Yorkshire seaman as "Discoverer", denying the fact that Indigenous people had explored, named and occupied their country millennia before. Viewed from every angle the statue proclaims dominion: a hand raised triumphantly, one foot reaching forward, a telescope symbolising the white technology that opened 'new' continents to European gaze. And there is a subtext to this monument; one so obvious there was no need to state it in bronze or stone. In 1770, without the knowledge or consent of Aboriginal people, this junior naval officer claimed possession of all of Eastern Australia for the British crown. Cook thus set in train a tragic collision of cultures we still live with today. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has claimed Cook was an "enlightened person" and by the standards of the day he isn't wrong. James Cook was raised with the moral fortitude of Quakers: he embraced the Enlightenment ideals of science and reason over blind tradition and treated with compassion the men under his command. None would dispute his bravery, his enterprise, or the skill that guided a tiny vessel across the oceans of the globe. Nadine Bartlett, an assistant professor of inclusive education at the U of M with report which outlines the results of a summer 2019 exploratory study that looked into how seclusion/restraint is used on students with disabilities in Manitoba schools. Sitamarhi : , June 12 (IANS) Amid the ongoing border dispute between India and Nepal, a Bihari farmer from Sitamarhi district was killed while two others were injured in indiscriminate firing by the Nepal Police on Friday at the Indo-Nepal border. The injured were in hospital and are said to be out of danger. According to the police, the Nepal armed police near the Jankinagar border resorted to firing while the farmers were working in the field. Sources said following the incident, tension has increased in the area. Sitamarhi Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar told IANS that the injured have been admitted to the hospital, where their condition is said to be out of danger. He said that three people were injured in the firing, who were brought to the hospital, where one person died in the course of treatment. He said that police have reached the spot and started investigating the matter. Liberia: NaFAA, EU Distribute COVID-19 hygiene materials to fishing communities June 12,2020 | Source: FPA As part of efforts to help contain the spread of the Coronavirus, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) with support from the European Union has begun the first of several distributions of assorted hygiene materials to fishing communities in West Point one of the many coastal communities in Montserrado County. The NaFAA and EU COVID-19 materials will be distributed in fishing communities situated in Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount and Margibi Counties. The items put at the cost of forty-nine thousand United States dollars, include NaFAA/EU customized large drums with foot-stand faucets, small rubber buckets with faucets, nose masks, cholera, powder soap, and sanitizers. NaFAA is also distributing flyers as part of efforts in sensitizing coastal residents about the danger of the Coronavirus in the country. The initiative NaFAA/EU COVID-19 Project, is being supported through the European Union Sectorial Support funding to Liberia. Speaking during the official launch of the exercise in West Point Tuesday, NaFAAs Deputy Director-General for Administration, Augustine Monoballah urged fishers and fish mongers in the country to remain more resilient in the fight against COVID-19. Even though government has taken concrete steps in the containment of the pandemic, evidenced by the recoveries of people affected by the virus, Mr. Monoballah said recent statistics by the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, shows COVID-19 is still in the country. Deputy Director-General Monoballah recalled the support of the European Union to the fisheries sector, naming the EU as a major partner to Liberias development drive in many fronts. The occasion was graced by local government officials, fishermen, fishmongers and residents.Speaking earlier, the commissioner of the township of West Point, William Wea, lauded the effort of NaFAA for the initiative, describing the intervention as timely. Also speaking at the ceremony was Nyantee Sleh, president of the Core Management Association (the liaison between NaFAA and the fishing community). Mr. Sleh admonished residents to take ownership of the items given them. In May 2017, during the last year of former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the European Union (EU) issued Liberia a yellow card, identifying it as not being cooperative in the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. In recent years, the Government of Liberia (GoL) and the EU have been working behind the scenes in hopes of removing the yellow card. EU and Liberia have a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA), established the principles, rules and procedures governing the conditions under which Union vessels may engage in fishing activities in the Liberian fishing zone, economic, financial, technical and scientific cooperation in the fisheries sector with a view to promoting sustainable fishing in the Liberian fishing zone and the development of the Liberian fisheries sector. 2020 - FrontPageAfrica. All Rights Reserved. Theme(s): Others. COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Danske Bank A/S (the "Bank") announced today the commencement of an offer to exchange any and all of its outstanding U.S.$1,500,000,000 5.000 Percent Non-Preferred Senior Notes due 2022 (CUSIP 23636AAS0 and 23636BAS8; ISIN US23636AAS06 and US23636BAS88) (the "Existing Notes") for (1) new U.S.$-denominated 5.000 Percent Non-Preferred Senior Fixed Rate Resettable Notes due 2023 (the "New Notes") and (2) a cash payment set forth in the table below (the "Exchange Fee") (such offer, the "Exchange Offer"), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the exchange offer memorandum dated June 12, 2020 (the "Exchange Offer Memorandum" and, together with the notice of guaranteed delivery, the "Exchange Offer Documents"). The purpose of the Exchange Offer is to manage the Bank's Minimum Requirement for Own Funds and Eligible Liabilities ("MREL") as the New Notes are expected to be eligible for MREL until the Reset Date (as defined below). The Bank expects to meet its MREL requirements irrespective of the outcome of the Exchange Offer. The terms of the New Notes will be substantially identical to the terms of the Existing Notes, except that the New Notes (i) will have a maturity date of January 12, 2023, (ii) will be redeemable, at the option of the Issuer (the "Call Option"), in whole but not in part, at 100 percent of their principal amount, together with any accrued and unpaid interest on the New Notes, on January 12, 2022 (the "Reset Date"), (iii) will bear interest (x) from and including January 12, 2020 (the most recent interest payment date on the Existing Notes) to but excluding the Reset Date, at a rate of 5.000 percent, and (y) if the Call Option is not exercised, from and including the Reset Date to but excluding January 12, 2023, at a rate per annum equal to 1-year CMT Rate plus 1.73 percent (the "Reset Margin"), and (iv) are expected to be admitted to trading as a separate series of securities on the global exchange market (the "Global Exchange Market") of the Irish Stock Exchange plc, trading as Euronext Dublin ("Euronext Dublin"), which is the exchange regulated market of Euronext Dublin. The following table sets forth certain terms of the Exchange Offer: Existing Notes New Notes Total Consideration(1) Existing Notes CUSIP/ ISIN Existing Notes Maturity Date Existing Notes Coupon New Notes Reset Date and Date of Call Option New Notes Maturity Date New Notes Coupon New Notes (Principal Amount) Exchange Fee U.S.$1,500,000,000 5.000 Percent Non-Preferred Senior Notes due 2022 23636AAS0 23636BAS8 US23636AAS06 US23636BAS88 January 12, 2022 5.000 percent January 12, 2022 January 12, 2023 5.000 percent until Reset Date 1-year CMT Rate plus 1.73 percent after Reset Date(2) U.S.$1,000 U.S.$2.00 (1) Total Consideration per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and accepted for exchange, which includes the Exchange Fee of U.S.$2.00 per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of such Existing Notes. (2) The Reset Margin has been determined using a yield to maturity of the Existing Notes, which is based upon the mid trading price on June 11, 2020, and takes into account the Exchange Fee. The Reset Margin is equal to the difference between such yield and the interpolated CMT Rate (as defined in the Base Information Memorandum). The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 19, 2020, unless extended or earlier terminated by the Bank (such date and time, as the same may be extended or earlier terminated, the "Expiration Date"). Tenders of Existing Notes may be validly withdrawn at any time at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 19, 2020, unless extended by the Bank, but tenders will thereafter be irrevocable, except in certain limited circumstances where additional withdrawal rights are required by law. In exchange for each U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes that is validly tendered on or prior to the Expiration Date or the Guaranteed Delivery Date pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures and accepted for exchange, and not validly withdrawn, Eligible Holders (as defined herein) will receive the total consideration set out in the table above (the "Total Consideration"). No accrued but unpaid interest will be paid on the Existing Notes in connection with the Exchange Offer. However, interest on each New Note will accrue from and include the most recent interest payment date of the tendered Existing Note. The consummation of the Exchange Offer is subject to, and conditioned upon, the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the Exchange Offer Memorandum. In addition, the Bank will not complete the Exchange Offer if (i) the aggregate principal amount of New Notes to be issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer would be less than U.S.$300,000,000 or (ii) the aggregate principal amount of the Existing Notes that the Bank would be required to purchase from Ineligible Holders pursuant to the Cash Option (as defined below) would be higher than U.S.$100,000,000. All conditions to the Exchange Offer must be satisfied or waived at or by the Expiration Date. Subject to applicable law, the Bank reserves the right to extend the Exchange Offer, waive any and all conditions to or amend the Exchange Offer in any respect or terminate the Exchange Offer. The New Notes will be issued only in minimum denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000 in excess thereof. The Bank will not accept tenders of the Existing Notes if such tender would result in the holder thereof receiving in the Exchange Offer an amount of a New Note below the minimum denomination of U.S.$200,000. Application will be made to Euronext Dublin for the New Notes to be admitted to the Official List of Euronext Dublin and to trading on the Global Exchange Market. Upon the terms and the conditions of the Exchange Offer, the Bank will deliver the New Notes and pay the Exchange Fee on the Settlement Date, which is expected to be June 24, 2020. The Exchange Offer and the issuance of the New Notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), under any other federal, state or other law pertaining to the registration of securities, or with any securities regulatory authority of any State or other jurisdiction. The Exchange Offer will only be made, and the New Notes are only being offered and will only be issued, to Eligible Holders of Existing Notes either (a) in the United States, that are "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("QIBs"), in a private transaction in reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, or (b) outside the United States and Canada, (i) that are persons other than "U.S. persons" as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act, and (ii) if located or resident in the European Economic Area (the "EEA") or the United Kingdom, that are persons other than "retail investors" (for these purposes, a "retail investor" means a person who is one (or more) of: (x) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "MiFID II"); or (y) a customer within the meaning of the Directive 2016/97/EU, as amended (the "Insurance Distribution Directive"), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II). Holders of Existing Notes who certify to the Bank that they are eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer pursuant to at least one of the foregoing conditions are referred to as "Eligible Holders" and all other holders of Existing Notes as referred to as "Ineligible Holders". Only Eligible Holders are authorized to receive or review the Exchange Offer Memorandum and to participate in the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer is not available to Ineligible Holders. Ineligible Holders may contact D.F. King & Co., Inc. to receive cash in an amount intended to approximate the value of the New Notes offered in the Exchange Offer (the "Cash Consideration"), together with any accrued and unpaid interest on the Existing Notes (the "Cash Option"). The New Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws. The New Notes may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an exemption from or in a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state or other securities laws. Eligible Holders of Existing Notes are advised to check with any bank, securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold Existing Notes as to when such intermediary would need to receive instructions from a beneficial owner in order for that beneficial owner to be able to participate in, or withdraw their instruction to participate in, the Exchange Offer, before the deadlines specified in the Exchange Offer Memorandum. The deadlines set by any such intermediary and The Depository Trust Company for the submission of tender instructions will be earlier than the relevant deadlines specified herein and in the Exchange Offer Documents. The Exchange Offer Documents will only be made available to holders of Existing Notes who certify that they are authorized to receive or review the Exchange Offer Documents and to participate in the Exchange Offer. Danske Bank A/S, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and BofA Securities, Inc. are acting as dealer managers for the Exchange Offer (the "Dealer Managers"). The information and exchange agent for the Exchange Offer is D.F. King & Co., Inc. (the "Information and Exchange Agent"). Copies of the Exchange Offer Documents are available by contacting the Information and Exchange Agent at +1 (888) 541-9895 (toll-free) or +1 (212) 269-5550 (collect) or by email: [email protected]. The Exchange Offer Documents can be accessed at the following link: www.dfking.com/danske_us. Questions regarding the Exchange Offer should be directed to BNP Paribas Securities Corp. at +1 (212) 841-3059 (collect) or +1 (888) 210-4358 (toll-free) or +33 1 55 77 78 94 (Europe) or by email: [email protected], or to BofA Securities, Inc. at +1 (704) 387-3907 (collect) or +1 (888) 292-0070 (toll-free) or +44 20 7996 5420 (London) or by email: [email protected], or to Danske Bank A/S at +45 4514 3233, or to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at +1 (866) 834-4666 (toll-free) or +1 (212) 834-8553 (collect) or +44 20 7134 2468 (London). This announcement shall not constitute an offer to purchase or sell or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. The Exchange Offer is being made only pursuant to the Exchange Offer Documents and only in such jurisdictions as is permitted under applicable law. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Exchange Offer Memorandum. Forward-Looking Statements Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by terminology such as "targets", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "aims", "intends", "plans", "seeks", "will", "may", "anticipates", "would", "could", "continues" or similar expressions or the negatives thereof, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements in the Exchange Offer Memorandum and the documents incorporated by reference therein. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Group, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. More detailed information about these factors may be found in the Exchange Offer Memorandum, including the documents incorporated by reference therein. The Bank does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, except as may be required by law. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Bank or to persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referred to above and contained in the Exchange Offer Memorandum. This announcement must be read in conjunction with the Exchange Offer Memorandum. This announcement and the Exchange Offer Memorandum (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) contain important information which must be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Exchange Offer. If any holder of Existing Notes is in any doubt as to the action it should take, it is recommended to seek its own legal, tax, accounting and financial advice, including as to any tax consequences, immediately from its stockbroker, bank manager, attorney, accountant or other independent financial or legal adviser. None of the Bank, the Dealer Managers, the Information and Exchange Agent or the fiscal agent and paying agent for the Existing Notes and/or the New Notes or any other person is making any recommendation as to whether or not holders should tender their Existing Notes for exchange in the Exchange Offer. Holders must make their own decision whether to tender their Existing Notes in the Exchange Offer, and, if so, the amount of their Existing Notes to tender. Offer and Distribution Restrictions No action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction that would permit a public offering of the New Notes or the possession, circulation or distribution of the Exchange Offer Memorandum or any material relating to the Bank, the Existing Notes or the New Notes in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, the New Notes included in the Exchange Offer may not be offered, sold or exchanged, directly or indirectly, and neither this announcement, the Exchange Offer Memorandum nor any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the Exchange Offer may be distributed or published, in or from any such country or jurisdiction, except in compliance with any applicable rules or regulations of any such country or jurisdiction. The distribution of this announcement and the Exchange Offer Memorandum may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement and the Exchange Offer Memorandum come are required by the Bank, the Dealer Managers and the Information and Exchange Agent to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions. European Economic Area and the United Kingdom The New Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA or the United Kingdom. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the Insurance Mediation Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the "PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the New Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA or the United Kingdom has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the New Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA or the United Kingdom may be unlawful under the PRIIPS Regulation. In addition, this announcement and the Exchange Offer Memorandum are only for distribution to and directed at: (i) in the United Kingdom, persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) (the "Order") and high net worth entities falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or persons falling within Article 43 of the Order; (ii) persons who are outside the United Kingdom; and (iii) any other person to whom it can otherwise be lawfully distributed (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement and the Exchange Offer Memorandum relate, is available only to and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons, and any person who is not a Relevant Person should not rely on it. Belgium None of this announcement, the Exchange Offer Memorandum or any other documents or materials relating to the Exchange Offer have been submitted to or will be submitted for approval or recognition to the Financial Services and Markets Authority (Autorite des services et marches financiers / Autoriteit financiele diensten en markten) and, accordingly, the Exchange Offer may not be made in Belgium by way of a public offering, as defined in Articles 3 and 6 of the Belgian Takeover Law or as defined in Article 3 of the Belgian Prospectus Law. Accordingly, the Exchange Offer may not be advertised and the Exchange Offer will not be extended, and none of this announcement, the Exchange Offer Memorandum nor any other documents or materials relating to the Exchange Offer (including any memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar documents) has been or shall be distributed or made available, directly or indirectly, to any person in Belgium other than (i) to "qualified investors" in the sense of Article 10 of the Belgian Prospectus Law, acting on their own account; or (ii) in any other circumstances set out in Article 6, 4 of the Belgian Takeover Law and Article 3, 4 of the Belgian Prospectus Law. This announcement and the Exchange Offer Memorandum are only being issued for the personal use of the above qualified investors and exclusively for the purpose of the Exchange Offer. Accordingly, the information contained in this announcement and the Exchange Offer Memorandum may not be used for any other purpose or disclosed to any other person in Belgium. France This announcement, the Exchange Offer Memorandum and any other documents or offering materials relating to the Exchange Offer may not be distributed in the Republic of France except to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifies) as defined in Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation. Neither this announcement nor the Exchange Offer Memorandum have been or will be submitted for clearance to the Autorite des marches financiers. Italy None of the Exchange Offer, this announcement, the Exchange Offer Memorandum, or any other documents or materials relating to the Exchange Offer has been or will be submitted to the clearance procedure of the CONSOB pursuant to Italian laws and regulations. The Exchange Offer is being carried out in the Republic of Italy as an exempted offer pursuant to article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Financial Services Act and article 35-bis, paragraph 4 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as amended. A holder or a beneficial owner of Existing Notes that is resident or located in the Republic of Italy can offer to exchange the Existing Notes through authorized persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in the Republic of Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of 15 February 2018, as amended from time to time, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of September 1, 1993, as amended) and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or with requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority. Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis-a-vis its clients in connection with the Existing Notes or the Exchange Offer. Japan The New Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended), or the FIEA. The New Notes may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan (including any person resident in Japan or any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the FIEA and otherwise in compliance with any relevant laws and regulations of Japan. Singapore Neither this announcement nor the Exchange Offer Memorandum has been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this announcement, the Exchange Offer Memorandum and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the New Notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the New Notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the "SFA")) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to conditions set forth in the SFA. Where the New Notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor, the securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation has acquired the New Notes under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer in that corporation's securities pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore ("Regulation 32"). Where the New Notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an accredited investor, the beneficiaries' rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that trust has acquired the New Notes under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer that is made on terms that such rights or interest are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction (whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets), (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32. Denmark The New Notes have not been and will not be offered or sold or delivered directly or indirectly in Denmark by way of a public offering, unless, as applicable, in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, the Danish Consolidated Act No. 377 of April 2, 2020, on Capital Markets, as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time and any Executive Orders issued thereunder, including the Executive Order No. 1580 of December 17, 2018, as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time, issued pursuant to the Danish Financial Business Act. Canada The Exchange Offer is not being made in Canada. Holders of Existing Notes located or resident in any province or territory of Canada are not eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer. SOURCE Danske Bank A/S We are celebrating Juneteenth, which is really like an independence celebration for Black people. We are going at it from the goal of trying to get celebrities and radio hosts and really have more the vibe of a block party, said the University of Chicago rising senior from Oak Park. Therell be fireworks, lots of handouts and stuff. My biggest goal right now is trying to figure out how to secure, like, corporate sponsorships. The co-author of Donald Trumps 1987 book, The Art of the Deal, has labelled the president a psychopath, and speculated that he might try to steal Novembers presidential election. Tony Schwartz, the co-author of Mr Trumps first book, made the comments when asked about an interview given by Joe Biden on Thursday, in which the former vice president suggested that Mr Trump would refuse to leave office if he loses in November. Its my greatest concern, my single greatest concern. This president is going to try to steal this election," Mr Biden said in the interview during an interview with Trevor Noah, of The Daily Show. He added that in such a scenario, the US military would intervene: I promise you, I am absolutely convinced they will escort him from the White House with great dispatch. Mr Schwartz said he agreed with Mr Biden's fears "100 per cent," and that he believed Mr Trump will do everything he can" to try to steal the election. Thats what it will come down to and the question is: On whose side does the military stand? Does it stand on the side of democracy? Or does it stand on the side of the commander in chief, even if those circumstances suggest he should no longer be commander in chief?" Im not in any way confident what that outcome will be, Mr Schwartz told Ari Melber of MSNBC on Friday. He is, as I have written on Medium, he is, a psychopath. Meaning, he is missing the two ingredients that are critical and common with human beings," Mr Schwartz said of the president. Number one, conscience, and number two, empathy. So, he lacks both of these qualities, and therefore anything goes for Trump. As soon as he leaves office, his life, for all practical purposes from his perspective, is over, he added. In reaction to Mr Bidens comments, Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump Campaign, told The Independent: This is just another brainless conspiracy theory from Joe Biden as he continues to try to undermine confidence in our elections. It was the Obama Administration that tried to subvert an election by spying on the Trump campaign in 2016 and Biden himself was part of the effort to sabotage the incoming Trump Administration because they couldnt live with President Trumps victory, he said. President Trump has been clear that he will accept the results of the 2020 election. SANDUSKY, OH Six Michigan residents have won lifetime tickets to Cedar Point as part of the parks efforts to honor everyday heroes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Michiganders from Lansing, Temperance, Royal Oak, Muskegon, Romulus and Plymouth are among 15 winners selected by a panel of judges from more than 9,000 nominees. Everyday heroes, described as people who rose to the challenge of keeping communities safe, healthy, and supplied with the necessary goods and services to continue daily life, were nominated online throughout May. Frontline nurses, doctors, EMTs, caregivers, supply chain workers, parents turned self-taught teachers, grocery store and retail workers and more were nominated. Each Ticket of a Lifetime winner has lifetime admission to Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores Waterpark. Furthermore, each winner can select three friends or family members to receive a Ticket of a Lifetime, for a total of four per hero. Here is a closer look at the Michigan winners, with descriptions of their heroism by Cedar Point: James C. of Lansing, a police lieutenant who keeps his community safe and makes a big impact through various organizations in his area. Margie G. of Temperance, a retiree who produced and donated over 6,000 masks to hospitals, nursing homes, grocery stores and more, all with the help of her grandsons. Kathleen G. of Royal Oak, a child life specialist who works tirelessly to ensure patients young and old have activities and a sense of normalcy during their hospital stay. Stephanie M. of Muskegon, a department of corrections captain who leads a life of volunteerism, reaching out to seniors in the community to assist them with technology to communicate with others and worship safely at home and assisting the local school system to ensure students receive breakfast and lunch. Lisa L. of Plymouth, a school bus driver who had an idea for bus drivers to support working parents by volunteering to provide babysitting services when local schools closed, and drive her bus to deliver food to kids with special needs each week. Everett R. of Romulus, a retail department manager dedicated to keeping his community running as close to normal as possible by serving their needs and keeping shelves stocked with necessary supplies. The rest of the winners were from Ohio and Indiana: Roger B. of Medina, Nathan R. of Toledo, Marcia D. of Brice, Audrey D. of Marietta, Kathy G. of Willoughby, LaShawn H. of Cleveland, Kwantica D. of Cleveland, Richelle L. of Newcomerstown and Mike M. of Kokomo, Indiana. These are just small snippets of the winners stories, with so many more out there, a Cedar Point statement reads. Their dedication, love for their communities and willingness to give more than themselves during this unprecedented time has earned them unlimited visits to Cedar Point a place like no other, where they can enjoy future time together with family, friends and loved ones for the rest of their lives. To read the stories about each winner, including the inspiring nominations behind them, visit cedarpoint.com/everydayheroes. KIDSHOT, a 22-yr old rapper from Mumbai, known for his fast-paced rapping style a.k.a chopper rap has signed to Mass Appeal India, which is known for amplifying Indias burgeoning hip-hop culture on a global scale. The young talented rapper is set to release Bhot Kuch, the title track from his upcoming debut EP with Mass Appeal India. Bhot Kuch sheds light on KIDSHOTs journey within the Indian independent hip hop music world. This track is about his hustle and determination to never give up on his passion for rap music despite all odds. Known for his energetic and one-of-a-kind signature chopper flow, Kidshots Bhot Kuch is sure to resonate with the hip hop community. The high-octane hip hop beats in the track is a build-up for a motivating crescendo, as KIDSHOT not only recounts his personal struggles but bares all through his unique flow and bars, his impressive lyrical ability and some pretty witty wordplay. Expressing his excitement on the release of Bhot Kuch, KIDSHOT commented, Life hasn't been same since i heard Illmatic by Nas. I was just 14 and that album inspired me in so many ways, but I never thought by 22 i would be associating with him and Mass Appeal India. All my listeners already know how much I idolize him, but these were mere dreams. Dreams that everyone laughed on when I said this could happen one day. It was just my homies who believed in me and did everything selflessly. I had no monetary support, no manager, nothing. We learnt everything ourselves and my #KidFam community made my songs reach the right ears by sharing it everywhere possible. This is just the beginning and Im truly grateful. KIDSHOT further describes his influences for his chopper flow style, Whenever I used to write and rap, I automatically used to rap fast, which is also called Chopper Flow or Chopper Rap. And slowly, as I discovered rappers like Tech n9ne, Twista, Eminem, Twisted Insane, and I knew this is what exactly I was meant for. Sharing his thoughts on Bhot Kuch Devraj Sanyal, MD & CEO of UMG, India & South Asia said, We found KIDSHOT through a social media portal and got in touch with him. His demos that he sent in blew everyones minds and we all agreed he was one of the most talented and authentic rappers wed come across. His story of his parents, his childhood, his struggle really moved me and that gave me a clear view of why this kid is this gifted. He is definitely a superstar of the future and his chopper flow is something to watch out for. From me, Peter Bittenbender and our teams wed like to welcome KIDSHOT to the Mass Appeal India family with the release of Bhot Kuch. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar advanced against its major counterparts in the Asian session on Friday, as heightened worries over second wave of infections prompted investors to seek safe haven assets. The global number of Covid-19 cases jumped to over 7.5 million, while the death toll neared 421,000, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States continues with the world's highest number of confirmed cases followed by Brazil, Russia, India and the U.K. As worries mount over second case of infections, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin dismissed a need for a second shutdown even if new cases accelerate. The greenback appreciated to an 8-day high of 1.2545 against the pound and a 3-day high of 1.1277 against the euro, after falling to 1.2607 and 1.1316, respectively in early deals. The next possible resistance for the greenback is seen around 1.20 against the pound and 1.10 against the euro. The greenback spiked up to an 11-day high of 1.3667 against the loonie, 10-day high of 0.6800 against the aussie and a 9-day high of 0.6394 against the kiwi, from its early lows of 1.3600, 0.6874 and 0.6448, respectively. Next key resistance for the greenback is likely seen around 1.40 against the loonie, 0.65 against the aussie and 0.62 against the kiwi. The greenback hit a 2-day high of 107.33 against the yen, from a low of 106.58 seen at 8:45 pm ET. The greenback is seen finding resistance around the 110.00 mark. The greenback reversed from its early low of 0.9429 against the franc, with the pair trading at 0.9451. On the upside, 0.97 is possibly seen as the next resistance level for the greenback. Looking ahead, Eurozone industrial production for April is due in the European session. U.S. import and export prices for May and University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment for June are scheduled for release in the New York session. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Trump Sanctions ICC Officials Probing Alleged US Wrongdoing in Afghanistan By Ken Bredemeier June 11, 2020 U.S. President Donald Trump imposed new travel and property sanctions Thursday on International Criminal Court officials, attempting to penalize them for investigating alleged wrongdoing by U.S. military personnel and intelligence operatives fighting against terrorism in Afghanistan over the past 18 years. Trump declared a national emergency, calling the ICC investigation at The Hague "an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States." Trump's order blocks an untold number of unnamed ICC officials from entering the U.S., and it keeps them from carrying out financial and property transactions in the U.S. Trump and his top aides all emphasized the U.S. is not a party to the Treaty of Rome that created the ICC and would not allow the international body to investigate and prosecute American military and intelligence personnel. Attorney General William Barr told a news conference at the State Department that the U.S. is "also concerned that foreign powers like Russia are manipulating" the ICC investigation into alleged U.S. wrongdoing to hurt American standing in the world. The ICC began its probe into alleged U.S. war crimes and crimes against humanity in 2017 and said last year it had received about 700 complaints from alleged victims. Trump, in his order, said the ICC had made "illegitimate assertions of jurisdiction over personnel of the United States and certain of its allies," which he said "threatens to subject current and former United States Government and allied officials to harassment, abuse, and possible arrest." He said the U.S. "remains committed to accountability and to the peaceful cultivation of international order," but that the ICC "must respect the decisions of the United States and other countries not to subject their personnel to the ICC's jurisdiction, consistent with their respective sovereign prerogatives." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at the news conference, "We stand for our government. We stand for our citizens." He posed a possible scenario resulting from the ICC investigation. "Imagine an American soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, or an intelligence officer's on leave with his or her family, maybe on a beach in Europe," Pompeo said. "And over the course of two decades or more, this soldier honorably defended America in Bahar province and Kandahar taking down terrorists. Then suddenly that vacation turns into a nightmare. The European country's national police takes that soldier into custody, detaining him or her on politically motivated charges. "A prison sentence abroad is a distinct possibility, a spouse behind bars for defending freedom, a son or daughter robbed of their mom or dad. All on the initiative of some prosecutor in the Netherlands," the top U.S. diplomat suggested. "Making sure this doesn't happen is the essence of America First foreign policy. Sadly, this isn't a hypothetical. This nightmare could become reality if the International Criminal Court follows through with its ideological crusade against American service members," Pompeo said. Defense Secretary Mark Esper called the ICC probe an "illegitimate investigation" and said the U.S. has never shied from investigating alleged wrongdoing by its military and intelligence personnel. He said 800,000 U.S. personnel had served in the fight against terrorism over the past 19 years, with 2,000 Americans losing their lives. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien called the ICC "ineffective and unaccountable. We know there is corruption at the highest levels of the ICC. We will never allow our American soldiers to be subject to it." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The airlines have asked for a judicial review of the quarantine measures. (PA) British Airways, EasyJet (EZJ.L), and Ryanair (RYA.L) said on Friday that they had launched legal action against the UK governments coronavirus travel quarantine measures, arguing that the rules will have a detrimental impact on the countrys tourism sector. In a statement, the airlines said that they had asked for a judicial review of the measures, which require passengers arriving in the UK to self-isolate for 14 days. Though the quarantine excludes travellers from the Common Travel Area, which includes Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, the airlines said it will have a devastating effect on British tourism and the wider economy and destroy thousands of jobs. The measures came into effect on 8 June. Arguing that the UK was now past the peak of coronavirus cases, home secretary Priti Patel said that the country was now more vulnerable to infections being brought in from abroad. READ MORE: Germanys Lufthansa to axe 26,000 jobs But the travel industry has argued that the quarantine period could be a killer blow during a period in which airlines are already confronting an unprecedented crisis in coronavirus. The airlines said on Friday that there was no scientific evidence for the measures. They also rejected the idea that the UK could implement air bridges, referring to the suggestion that the government could sign travel deals with countries with low infection rates. The airlines have not yet seen any evidence on how and when proposed air bridges between the UK and other countries will be implemented, they said. Ryanair (RYA.L) chief executive Michael OLeary previously said the measures will significantly reduce European visitors to the UK. Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways owner IAG (IAG.L), said that the quarantine was irrational and disproportionate. But British Airways faced criticism for not attending last weeks government roundtable meeting about the quarantine measures. Story continues READ MORE: Airlines facing worst year in history due to coronavirus crisis Analysts have warned that airlines may collapse under the weight of the collapse in demand from travellers. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in its financial outlook report earlier this week that the global airline industry would lose $84bn (66bn) this year. Revenue is expected to slump by 50% to $419bn. Financially, 2020 will go down as the worst year in the history of aviation, Alexandre de Juniac, IATAs director general said. A separate report from think tank the New Economic Forum warned that as many as 70,000 jobs linked to the aviation industry were at immediate risk due to the coronavirus pandemic. The report compared the expected collapse in aviation employment to the rapid decline of the UK coal industry in the early 1980s, which left lasting economic scars on many communities. Amid the ongoing anti-racism protests across the world, several Hollywood celebrities also spoke out against racism in a video titled I Take Responsibility. However, netizens cited 'poor production and insincere performances' to slam the celebrities. Actors like Sarah Paulson, Aaron Paul, Kristen Bell, Kesha, Justin Theroux, Debra Messing and Julianne Moore appeared in the video produced as part of #ITakeResponsibility campaign. The campaign has been done in partnership with the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP). In the two-minute long video, the celebrities apologise for overlooking racism, unfair stereotypes and being silent than acting on witnessing the wrong. Even as the video speaks about police brutality and racism, netizens seemed to be irked by the video, citing actors' less than convincing lines and white privilege. Here are some of the reactions: Thank you for this. I needed a laugh today. Bridget Phetasy (@BridgetPhetasy) June 11, 2020 Well done, youve united the world in cringing in unison at your idiotic, ignorant virtue signalling. pic.twitter.com/74FFC0y9yF Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) June 11, 2020 Next time, when pretending to be heartfelt, memorize your lines, hold your eyes still and look directly into the camera. Acting 101. Also, NEWS ALERT we canceled celebrity culture. #SayIt EllieB (@SayItEllieB) June 11, 2020 Will you all commit to giving up your future roles to actors of color? Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) June 11, 2020 Actors acting A.J. Lowe (@AJLowe3) June 11, 2020 Karens love to colonize a cause. Rogin Kim (@roginkim) June 11, 2020 Lol. The dumbest video ever. Hey white liberals! Thank you for admitting you think you are better than black people in the name of virtue signaling. Brandon Tatum (@TheOfficerTatum) June 12, 2020 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) Chinese leader Xi Jinping has assured President Rodrigo Duterte that the Philippines would be prioritized once China develops a vaccine against the coronavirus disease. Malacanang revealed in a statement on Friday that this was among the issues discussed by the two leaders during their "open and focused" telephone conversation Thursday night. "For his part, President Xi reiterated China's commitment to the international community to make any vaccine it develops a global public good and that as a friendly neighbor, China certainly considers the Philippines as a priority," the Palace said. On the other hand, Duterte stressed the need to cooperate with research trials aimed at developing a vaccine. The Philippines is expected to participate in the clinical trials by the last quarter of the year, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the policy-making body in the government's COVID-19 response, recently approved the Philippines' collaboration with some Chinese and Taiwanese organizations for the trials. The vaccine being developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sinopharm and the Wuhan Institute of Virology has entered the second phase of clinical trials, with 96 people being given the experimental vaccine, according to Chinese state broadcaster CGTN. "While noting China's vaccine development program, President Duterte emphasized the imperative of making vaccines available and affordable to all countries, including the Philippines," the Palace said. The Philippines is also part of the World Health Organization's solidarity trial, a global effort to find a cure for the viral illness, which has infected more than 24,000 people nationwide and killed over 1,000. READ: PH resumes clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine after WHO recommendation The Duterte government is counting on the East Asian giant to develop the vaccine against the new coronavirus, which was discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019. READ: PH expects first dibs on COVID-19 vaccine if 'BFF' China produces it Xi, Duterte discuss 'new normal' During their 38-minute phone call on the eve of the 122nd anniversary of the Philippines' Independence Day, Duterte and Xi also talked about their countries' "crucial strategies to restart economies under the new normal." The Philippines has eased quarantine measures across the country in a bid to reopen the economy. "President Duterte received President Xi's full support on ensuring supply chain connectivity particularly in critical medical supplies and equipment, promoting the free flow of goods and resuming and completing priority infrastructure cooperation projects in the Philippines," the Palace said. Xi also thanked the Philippines for its "goodwill donation" to China's own COVID-19 battle. In a separate statement released by the Chinese Embassy in Manila, Xi said Beijing will continue to provide firm support to Manila's fight against COVID-19. The Duterte government has been vocal in thanking Beijing for its help. China has sent various donations and even a team of medical experts to aid in the Philippines' COVID-19 response. PH-China ties Earlier, the two countries marked the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, wherein Duterte called for "further strengthening" of ties amid the coronavirus crisis. Duterte has been criticized for nurturing friendship with China despite Beijing's refusal to recognize Manila's arbitration win in the South China Sea dispute. The arbitral ruling invalidated China's sweeping claim to almost the entire South China Sea and recognized Philippine sovereign rights in some areas in the West Philippine Sea that Beijing is claiming. Duterte agreed to "shelve differences" to make way for a planned joint oil and gas exploration in disputed areas. In April, the Philippines filed diplomatic protests over China's actions in the West Philippine Sea amid the coronavirus pandemic, but there was no mention of this in the statements released by both sides. READ: Philippines rejects China's 'illegal' declaration of two new districts Beginning this year, Nike will observe Juneteenth as an annual paid holiday, CEO John Donahoe said in an internal statement released to employees on Thursday. Juneteenth, which takes place June 19, is a holiday celebrating when the last slaves found out about the Emancipation Proclamation. This holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. The statement released by Nike said that observing the holiday serves as an important opportunity to better commemorate and celebrate Black history and culture, Forbes reported. Donahoe, who became CEO in January, also said Nike will launch a two-week diversity education program for employees next week. Many other companies, including Twitter and Square, have committed to recognizing Juneteenth as a paid holiday for their employees in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests that started after George Floyd, a black man, was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer. Both Twitter and Square are making #Juneteenth (June 19th) a company holiday in the US, forevermore. A day for celebration, education, and connection.https://t.co/xmR3fWMiRs jack (@jack) June 9, 2020 Nike made their statement two days after Adidas announced that at least 30% of new employees hired in the U.S. will be black or Latinx, a decision that was criticized for not being a big enough step by local black artists who have long seen a lack of diversity in the Portland-based companys staff. Its frustrating to see images of black women around the brand, wearing the clothing and wearing the shoes but theres nobody that looks like me that is there designing the products, said Julia Bond, 25. She said she is the only black, female apparel designer working at Adidas corporate office in Portland. Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted also said the company will spend $20 million over the next four years on programs that support the black community. Nike CEO Donahoe pledged on Friday that his company would spend $40 million over four years to support social justice, education and racial inequality. Mike Rogoway of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report. - Madison Smalstig l msmalstig@oregonian.com l @madi_smals l Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories Harrisburg in Dauphin County, the site of a Reopen PA demonstration at the Capitol in May, will soon go to green. Read more Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and PennLive/Patriot-News. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter. HARRISBURG Eight counties in south-central and northeastern Pennsylvania will soon move to the green phase of Gov. Tom Wolfs reopening plan. Wolf on Friday announced that Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Luzerne, Monroe, Perry, Pike, and Schuylkill Counties will be allowed to ease most coronavirus restrictions on June 19. They will join 46 other counties that are already in the green phase, which lifts most restrictions on businesses and residents. Together, that represents nearly 50% of Pennsylvanias population 6.2 million people. In Pennsylvania, not only did we flatten the curve, but we are continuing to keep case counts down even as we open our commonwealth, Wolf said in a statement. We will continue to take a measured, phased approach to reopening that relies on science and health experts. Thirteen counties will remain in the yellow phase, which lifts the most aggressive mitigation measures but still requires residents to limit the size of gatherings and keeps businesses like gyms and salons closed. This includes some of the states most populous counties, including Philadelphia, its suburbs, Lancaster, and Lehigh. In March, Wolf issued a disaster declaration, closed all but life-sustaining businesses, and incrementally put counties under stay-at-home orders to prevent COVID-19 from overwhelming hospitals. He began gradually loosening restrictions in early May. From the start, Republicans criticized the business closure order and a process that allowed companies to apply to the Wolf administration for a waiver to reopen, calling it random and secretive. That anger bubbled over this week, as the legislature took an unprecedented step and gave final approval to a resolution to end Wolfs disaster declaration, which he first signed on March 6 and renewed June 3. A spokesperson for Wolf said he would reject the resolution once it reached his desk, a power the administration said is given to the governor by the Constitution. The GOP sees things differently. Republican leaders have pointed to a section of state law they say compels Wolf to end his emergency declaration once lawmakers in both the House and Senate pass a resolution. Now, both parties see no other way to resolve the dispute but through the courts. The Senate filed a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court this week to compel Wolf to end his order and requested an expedited resolution, which the court granted Friday. Wolf also took court action on Friday, asking the Supreme Court to hear the case directly. On Wednesday, Wolf said ending the declaration would rescind protections enacted in response to the pandemic and the subsequent economic free fall, including the suspension of licensing requirements for health-care workers, and a temporary moratorium on evictions and foreclosures. "Should this attempt at unilateral legislative action succeed, it would have very real-world consequences and inhibit the commonwealths ability to protect the health and lives of its citizens, Wolfs counsel wrote in the court filing. 100% ESSENTIAL: Spotlight PA relies on funding from foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. If you value this reporting, please give a gift today at spotlightpa.org/donate. NEW YORK and TORONTO, June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. ("iAnthus" or the "Company") (CSE: IAN) (OTCQX: ITHUF), which owns, operates, and partners with regulated cannabis operations across the United States, announced today that the filing of the Company's audited annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, the related management's discussion and analysis and certificates of its CEO and CFO (collectively, the "Required Filings") with Canadian securities regulators will likely be delayed until after the extended filing deadline of June 15, 2020. As previously disclosed, the Company is relying on the general order of the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") made under Ontario Instrument 51-502 entitled "Temporary Exemption from Certain Corporate Finance Requirements" ("OSC Instrument 51-502"), dated March 23, 2020, to postpone the filing of the Required Filings, as a result of logistical issues and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The OSC and other securities regulatory authorities in Canada have granted coordinated blanket exemptions allowing issuers an additional 45-day period to complete their regulatory filings that were otherwise due during the period from March 23, 2020 to June 1, 2020. The Company is working diligently to file the Required Filings as soon as feasible. Failure to file the Required Filings by June 15, 2020 may result in the OSC taking action against the Company, including, but not limited to, the issuance of a cease trade order ("CTO") against the Company. If a CTO is issued, the Company expects the CTO to affect trading in all securities of the Company by securityholders of the Company, to apply in each jurisdiction in Canada in which the Company is a reporting issuer and to remain in effect until such time as the Company has made the Required Filings. If the Required Filings are made within 90 days of the date of the CTO, such filings would constitute the Company's application to have the CTO revoked. Interest Payment Obligations As of June 11, 2020, the aggregate principal amount of iAnthus' debt obligations total $159.1 million, including $97.5 million of 13.0% senior secured convertible debentures (the "Secured Debentures"), $60.0 million of 8.0% unsecured convertible debentures (the "Unsecured Debentures) and $1.6 million of other debt obligations. The Company previously announced on April 6, 2020 that it did not make applicable interest payments on the Secured Debentures and Unsecured Debentures due on March 31, 2020. The Company does not expect to be in a position to make interest payments on the Secured Debentures or Unsecured Debentures due on June 30, 2020. The Strategic Alternatives Review Process iAnthus continues to have Canaccord Genuity Corp. engaged as its financial advisor to assist the Special Committee in connection with the previously announced Strategic Alternatives Review Process. The Strategic Alternatives Review Process is ongoing and there can be no assurance as to what, if any, alternative might be pursued by the Company or whether any such alternative would provide any value to the Company's shareholders. In accordance with applicable disclosure requirements, the Company will disclose any further updates with respect to the Strategic Alternatives Review Process if and when they occur. All references to currency in this news release are in US dollars. About iAnthus iAnthus owns and operates licensed cannabis cultivation, processing and dispensary facilities throughout the United States, providing investors diversified exposure to the U.S. regulated cannabis industry. Founded by entrepreneurs with decades of experience in operations, investment banking, corporate finance, law and healthcare services, iAnthus provides a unique combination of capital and hands-on operating and management expertise. iAnthus currently has a presence in 11 states and operates 35 dispensaries (AZ-4, MA-1, MD-3, FL-16, NY-3, CO-1, VT-1 and NM-6 where iAnthus has minority ownership). For more information, visit www.iAnthus.com. COVID-19 Risk Factor The Company may be impacted by business interruptions resulting from pandemics and public health emergencies, including those related to COVID-19. An outbreak of infectious disease, a pandemic, or a similar public health threat, such as the recent outbreak of COVID-19, or a fear of any of the foregoing could adversely impact the Company by causing operating, manufacturing, supply chain, and project development delays and disruptions, labor shortages, travel, and shipping disruption and shutdowns (including as a result of government regulation and prevention measures). It is unknown whether and how the Company may be affected if such a pandemic persists for an extended period of time, including as a result of the waiver of regulatory requirements or the implementation of emergency regulations to which the Company is subject. Although the Company has been deemed essential and/or has been permitted to continue operating its facilities in the states in which it cultivates, processes, manufactures, and sells cannabis during the pendency of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no assurance that the Company's operations will continue to be deemed essential and/or will continue to be permitted to operate. The Company may incur expenses or delays relating to such events outside of its control, which could have a material adverse impact on its business, operating results, financial condition, and the trading price of the Company's common shares. Forward Looking Statements Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including concerning COVID-19 and the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in iAnthus' periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should, our vision" and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's financial performance, business development and results of operations, the evaluation of strategic alternatives and the potential outcomes of the Strategic Alternatives Review Process, the expectations of management with respect to the anticipated filing of the Required Filings, and related expectations regarding the issuance of, and revocation of, a CTO. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. iAnthus disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and iAnthus does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. SOURCE iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. Related Links https://www.ianthuscapital.com/ You are here: China The High Court of Hong Kong on Friday refused to lift the travel ban of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, instigator of Hong Kong riots. The court did not approve Lai's request of canceling the restriction over outbound trips again. Lai first filed such an application and was rejected on May 22. The travel ban is part of the bail condition of Lai, who was arrested in February for participating in an unauthorized assembly and criminally intimidating a journalist. He was then arrested again in April for another unauthorized assembly. Lai was due to stand trial next Monday. At a press conference Tuesday, Mike OMeara, the president of the New York Police Benevolent Association, offered an angry plea to anyone who would listen. Our legislators are failing us. Our press is vilifying us, he said, calling for empathy for the police. Stop treating us like animals and thugs and start treating us with some respect. Thats what were here today to say. Weve been vilified. Its disgusting. I am not Derek Chauvin, OMeara said, referring to the officer who put his knee on George Floyds neck. He killed someone. We didnt. Three times in his speech, OMeara asked reporters to look at the numbers: Out of the 375 million interactions with the public every year, he said, he couldnt understand why there isnt more focus on the ones that didnt end in violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What can I say, Mike OMeara? I relate. I bet tens of thousands of protesters do, too. Im a Muslim American man who turned 11 just before 9/11, around the age when many peopleand especially the police, in my experiencebegan to see me not as a child but as a threat. I havent planned any terrorist attacks. But I learned early that it doesnt really matter what I, or any black or brown person, has done as an individual. Its about how other people see us as a group. We were all taught this through our experiences with authority figures who allowed their impressions of usfrom the media, from politiciansto form their opinions of who we are. Advertisement Weve been left out of the conversation, OMeara complained Tuesday. Yes, exactly. Muslims have been saying this for years. Nightly news conversations about Islam and violence rarely ever include Muslim voices. Yet those discussions in many cases influence policy. Fourteen states have adopted anti-Sharia law bills, even though not a single Sharia court exists in this country. In a speech widely panned by Republicans, freshman Congresswoman Ilhan Omar pointed to the pain many Muslim Americans feel for being constantly falsely associated with terrorists. We know this feeling. Advertisement And, well, I dont need to tell you that people compare Muslims to animals. Before the NYPD formed a unit to surveil Americans who were Muslim, deploying spies to watch us eat, watch us pray, and even watch us study, did the police not wonder how this would villainize the entire community? The program yielded zero leads and wasted police resources that could have been used to chase real threats. Still, the city bragged about it. And our communities still question whether unfamiliar faces are undercover cops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During that time, I was arrested for climbing to the top of a New York City bridge to write a story about the landscape photographers who trespass to capture impossible vantage points. I had no criminal record, but detectives questioned me about terrorism, where I prayed, and if I was willing to give them any information about any upcoming attacks. I had no such information to give. I wanted so badly for the detectives to see me how I saw myself, a young journalist who got carried away. But they looked at me and saw something else. Watching OMearas rant, I felt a kind of relief. Maybe some law enforcement leaders do understand what this is like, or at least they think they do. The Minneapolis City Council is considering ways to reform the police to prevent another killing like George Floyds before they happen, and Democratic lawmakers are beginning to suggest their reforms as well. OMeara accused those legislators of unfairly targeting law enforcement, saying that the majority of cops are good cops and therefore are being collectively punished for the actions of a few. This is not true for a lot of reasons. But maybe the misplaced rage at the protests many police officers clearly feel right now can help them understand what theyve been doing to communities like mine for decades. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to The Gist on Apple Podcasts or listen below. By Hyon O'Brien I grew up in Korea and left for the States in 1969 when I was 22. Up to that point I had met only one African-American. Tom was one of the U.S. Peace Corps volunteers teaching English at a Korean university. The Peace Corps program in Korea began in 1966 with the first group, K-1, and ended in 1981 with K-51. About 2,000 served during these fifteen years, working mostly in education and health but also in other fields. The next African-Americans I met were Tom's family in San Francisco in mid-January 1970. My husband and I stayed with them upon Tom's enthusiastic invitation, on our way to New York to get married after participating in a Peace Corps training program in Hawaii. The most unforgettable memory of that visit was attending an all-black church on Sunday. It was the first time for me to be a minority in a large congregation all comprised of African Americans. Was I uncomfortable? Yes, I was. Was Tim, the only white guy there, uncomfortable? I wouldn't know because we never talked about it. When we settled in 1980 in Teaneck, New Jersey, our home church was a Presbyterian church with about 75 percent black members. Seventeen years was a long enough time for me to get acquainted with them and get educated by them. When some Korean friends made ignorant generalizations about the black people they dealt with, I never hesitated to confront them and speak up to set them straight. I eagerly tried to show how prejudiced they were to make those horrible remarks. When people do not know, they jump to conclusions based on culturally programmed biases. I came to understand that ignorance is the enemy of living peaceably with people of a different color, religion, education, wealth, or social status. On May 25th in Minneapolis, George Floyd was brutally murdered by a white cop, suffering during more than eight minutes under the knee of the smirking officer, even after losing consciousness. Three other police officers at the scene did nothing to stop it. Now across America we have protests crying out for justice. Are we ready to address the systematic racism that has brutalized blacks over the 401 years since the first slave ship arrived in Virginia with Africans kidnapped from their soil? "Black Lives Matter" is a phrase that became a movement as people cried out against racism. It began on July 13, 2013 with the use of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of African-American teen Trayvon Martin in February 2012. The movement continued with street demonstrations following the 2014 deaths of two African-Americans at the hands of police: Michael Brown, killed in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner in New York City. Black Lives Matter has returned to national and international headlines during the protests that spread rapidly around the globe following George Floyd's death a mere two weeks ago. There have been demonstrations in Seoul, other parts of the world in addition to countless cities in the States. I am heartened to hear that the Korean music group BTS has sent a donation of $1 million to Black Lives Matter. People want change. People demand justice for all. Until reforms are written into laws guaranteeing the rights of blacks equally as any group who are citizens of each nation, and until the spirit of those laws becomes part of the culture of those who police us, the social unrest will not stop. There will be no peace. Do we want to live like that? Let me address the overwhelming majority of my readers who I assume are not black. Do you feel the everyday pain and suffering of being black in America and elsewhere? A black man was jogging in a dominantly white neighborhood, when a white father and son duo tracked him down and shot him to death. A black man walking in Central Park in Manhattan merely pointed out the regulation that a dog should be on a leash, and was verbally assaulted by a white woman who resented being told off by a black man. Fortunately for him, he recorded her absurd abuse as she called the police. And George Floyd's last minutes on this earth were videotaped. If we didn't have that video evidence, these incidents would have been shrugged off. In the face of that evidence, it is hard to imagine that anyone could think the officer's conduct was anything other than vicious. Imagine living like that. What can we do as individuals, now, where we are? - Get to know people of color and listen to their stories. - Write to your governor, senator, congressperson, mayor, council member and anyone who is in a position to make reforms to social injustice. Let them know your opinion as a caring and committed citizen. - Become an activist. Join a protest to show your support for the oppressed, the voiceless and the powerless. - Donate money to help the work of "BlackLivesMatter" foundation, the Bail Project, and other organizations working for justice. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." All of us have some serious work to do to achieve a just society. #BlackLivesMatter! Hyon O'Brien (hyonobrien@gmail.com) is a former reference librarian now living in the United States. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 22:39:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's national flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) on Friday announced that it would resume flights to China on June 19 from Istanbul. The THY declared on its website that it would schedule one flight per week to and from Shanghai starting from June 19. The carrier also planned two mutual flights per week to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on June 24. On Thursday, the THY partially resumed international flights, which have been suspended for nearly two months over the COVID-19 pandemic. Turkey, earlier, announced that it would increase the number of its international flights to 40 countries, including the United States, in the upcoming days. Enditem Residents of Lane 38 Phuong Mai, Dong Da District, Hanoi in late May discovered that a sign that banned parking at the lane's gate had been replaced with a parking-allowed sign. The parking-ban sign (last photo, right) hanged on the Lane 38 Phuong Mai's gate is replaced by a parking-allowed sign (left) by unknown person. The residential area has a no-parking sign, but due to the empty road and convenient transportation, many drivers often illegally park at the lane's gate, despite regular police inspections and fines. Immediately after discovering the incident, local authorities dismantled the false sign and put the original signboard back in place. Local police are still searching for the culprit. Removing traffic signs and throwing them away is considered destruction or intentional damage to public property, and can result in a fine from VND2 million (US$90) to VND5 million ($220). If the damage is severe, the offender may be subject to criminal prosecution. Traffic signs are managed by the local People's Committee. Now that's one expensive parking ticket. VNS Hanoi to strengthen traffic safety control on highways Hanois Transport Department, in co-operation with local authorities in districts and communes, will tighten control on highways in an attempt to deter violations and ensure traffic safety. Getting history across to young students is challenging enough, but what should a teacher do when actual history-making events happen on their watch? They have to be acknowledged, but to what extent do they have to be explained, even taught? Of the teachers who have turned history-in-the-making into a lesson, perhaps the most famous is Jane Elliott of Riceville, Iowa. On April 5, 1968, the day after Martin Luther King Jr.s assassination, she divided her classroom of third-graders along color lines: blue-eyed and brown-eyed. On the first day she granted the brown-eyed students such special privileges as desks in the front rows, second helpings at lunch, and five extra minutes of recess. The next day she reversed the situation, and the blue-eyed kids had the perks. What brought serious attention to Elliotts small-town classroom experiment was the resulting article in the Riceville Recorder, which reported some of what her students wrote in their assignments responding to the experience. The Associated Press picked up the article and soon Elliott received a call from The Tonight Show inviting her to come chat with Johnny Carson about her Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes exercise on national television. I didnt know how this exercise would work, Elliott tells Jimmy Fallon on the clip from the current Tonight Show at the top of the post. If I had known how it would work, I probably wouldnt have done it. If I had known that, after I did that exercise, I lost all my friends, no teacher would speak to me where they could be seen speaking to me, because it wasnt good politics to be seen talking to the towns only N-word lover.' Elliotts family also experienced severe blowback from her sudden fame, but it didnt stop her from furthering the clearly resonant idea she had devised. She continued to perform Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes in class: the third time, it was filmed and became the 1970 television documentary The Eye of the Storm. (Some of the language used by her students surely wouldnt make it to the air today.) Fifteen years later, PBS Frontline reunited Elliotts third-grade class of 1970 for its Emmy Award-winning episode A Class Divided, and a decade thereafter German filmmaker Bertram Verhaag would again film Elliott performing her signature exercise for the documentary Blue Eyed. In a variety of settings across America and the world, Elliott continues, in her late eighties, to make her point. It isnt always well received, as she reveals in this Frontline follow-up interview, and at times has even drawn threats of violence. I can be scared, but I wont be scared to death, she says. Or, at my age, of death. via Boing Boing Related Content: Martin Luther King, Jr.s Handwritten Syllabus & Final Exam for the Philosophy Course He Taught at Morehouse College (1962) How Martin Luther King, Jr. Used Nietzsche, Hegel & Kant to Overturn Segregation in America Read Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story: The Influential 1957 Civil Rights Comic Book How a Virus Spreads, and How to Avoid It: A Former NASA Engineer Demonstrates with a Blacklight in a Classroom Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and culture. His projects include the book The Stateless City: a Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles and the video series The City in Cinema. Follow him on Twitter at @colinmarshall, on Facebook, or on Instagram. While pharmaceutical companies worldwide test an estimated 70 possible coronavirus vaccines, the US government is making plans to get the vaccine to the American public as quickly as possible. The Department of Health and Human Services in conjunction with the Department of Defense awarded Apiject Systems America a $138 million contract to supply 100 million pre-filled syringes for the coronavirus vaccine by the end of this year and to supply more than 500 million next year. Apiject CEO Jay Walker told CBN News the prefilled syringes will be manufactured using the "Blow, Fill, Seal" technology used to make pre-filled, single-use eyedrops with which many consumers are familiar. "There are eyedropper facilities in the US, not many, but a few, that we are going to upgrade so they can handle vaccines," he said. "Then what will happen is those facilities will make the containers that will hold the vaccine, we will add a needle hub to them and you have a pre-filled syringe that's ready to use." There is space on each pre-filled syringe for an optional Radio Frequency Identification Chip containing a unique serial number for each dose. It would not be injected or touch the patient. The chip would be scanned by health care workers in order to better track overall vaccine information. "It is designed so there is no counterfeiting. It's designed so we'll know the right dose hasn't expired," Walker explained. "However that chip only refers to the dose. There's no personal information, no patient information, it's simply like a bar code, only we know instantaneously where and when that dose has been used. That also helps public health officials know, when there are outbreaks, 'Have we vaccinated enough people in those areas?'" The pre-filled syringes will add to the limited number of traditionally manufactured vaccine supplies such as small glass vials used for every dose, specialized equipment necessary to fill each glass jar, stoppers, needles, and syringes. The Loffler Team has worked extremely hard to build a world-class IT organization that delivers the most comprehensive IT offerings in the industry, while delivering the best client experience. Loffler Companies, the largest privately owned technology solutions provider in the Upper Midwest, has been ranked #180 on the CRN 2020 Solution Provider 500 list. CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, releases a list of top 500 solution providers each year, ranking the leading IT channel partner organizations across North America by revenue. This is the fifth consecutive year Loffler has been named to this list. The Loffler Team has worked extremely hard to build a world-class IT organization that delivers the most comprehensive IT offerings in the industry, while delivering the best client experience. This award validates their efforts, said James Loffler, Loffler Managing Partner/Vice President of IT Solutions Group. Loffler is consistently a market leader in providing innovative and relevant technology solutions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lofflers IT Solutions Group was instrumental in moving many clients to work-from-home solutions, as well as providing temperature screening solutions when the time came for people to start returning to the workplace. Founded by Jim Loffler in 1986, Loffler Companies is nationally recognized as a leader in business technology and managed services. Loffler is among the top office solutions dealers in the US for service and support, with more than 600 employees working hard every day to exceed the expectations of their clients, partners and the community. Loffler has earned recognition for ten consecutive years as a Star Tribune Top Workplace, and for the past four years as a Best Place to Work by the Minneapolis-St Paul Business Journal. In addition, Loffler Companies has been named as an Award Winner of the 2020 Best of Print & Digital program. Loffler is proud to partner with Ronald McDonald House, Cocos Heart Dog Rescue, Childrens Hospital Minnesota and many other worthy organizations that help the communities in which the Loffler team lives and works. Loffler Companies provides integrated business technology and services partnered with leading partners such as Nutanix, Arctic Wolf, Microsoft, Mitel and NEC as well as Canon, Konica Minolta, Xerox, HP, Lexmark and FP Mailing Solutions. Its offerings include IT managed and security services, disaster recovery/business continuity, professional IT services/consulting, unified communications, multifunctional copiers and printers, print management services, software and workflow technology consulting, and on-site management of copy centers and mail rooms. For more information about Loffler Companies, call 952-925-6800 or email information@loffler.com or visit us online at http://www.loffler.com. North Korea on Friday again vowed to build up its military force to counter what it perceives as US threats and said there would be little reason for a personal relationship between leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump if Washington persists with sanctions and pressure. On the two-year anniversary of the leaders first summit, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon said the North would never again gift Trump with high-profile meetings and concessions he could boast as foreign policy achievements unless it gets something substantial in return. The question is whether there will be a need to keep holding hands shaken in Singapore, as we see that there is nothing of factual improvement to be made in the DPRK-US relations simply by maintaining personal relations between our supreme leadership and the US President, Ri said in a statement carried by state media, referring to North Korea by its formal name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. Never again will we provide the US chief executive with another package to be used for (political) achievements without receiving any returns. Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise. In their 2018 summit in Singapore, the first-ever meeting between active leaders of the two countries, Kim and Trump agreed to improve bilateral relations and issued a vague statement on a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula without describing when and how it would occur. But negotiations faltered after the United States rejected North Korean demands for broad sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of the Norths nuclear capabilities at Kims second summit with Trump in Vietnam in February 2019. Trump and Kim met for a third time last June at the inter-Korean border, but a subsequent working-level meeting broke down over what the North Koreans described as the Americans old stance and attitude. Kim, who unilaterally suspended nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests during talks with Washington and Seoul, entered the new year vowing to bolster his nuclear deterrent. The North in recent months conducted short-range missile tests while also dialing up pressure on South Korea. Ri said the past two years of diplomacy has only revealed that the United States the continues to pursue regime change in Pyongyang and threatens the North with the prospects of a pre-emptive nuclear strike and isolation and suffocation. The secure strategic goal of the DPRK is to build up more reliable force to cope with the long-term military threats from the Us, he said. North Korea has suspended virtually all cooperation with South Korea in recent months while pressuring Seoul to defy US-led international sanctions and restart inter-Korean economic projects that would breathe life into the Norths struggling economy. It also has threatened to end an inter-Korean military agreement reached in 2018 while expressing anger over South Koreas inability to stop activists from floating anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border. Vincentian Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves described the perception that the recent $2.7M that his government allotted to LIAT fiscal relief was already spent, as one "kind of an unfortunate misrepresentation which sometimes passes for analysis. PM Gonsalves was at the time responding to a question fielded by a viewer on Asbert News Network and ITFX Digital Solutions On De Spot live stream last Sunday. The viewer wanted to know in part: What was the urgency in pumping $2.7M into LIAT at a time when you could not put $1M into the pockets of local minibus? Dr. Gonsalves, who is currently seeking an unprecedented 5th term, told Sundays audience, "We have not spent the $2.7M on LIAT. The point about it is this: LIAT is both necessary and desirable we are one of the shareholders. "If Im going with a stimulus package and regional air transport is critical to that.. Barbados, two weeks earlier than when we went with our stimulus package, put in a supplementary estimate 3 million Barbadian dollars to LIAT. Antigua would have an allocation for that. "We havent yet decided when LIAT is coming back, we are in conversation with the Caribbean Development Bank, but as a prudent government we had to put some money in the supplementary to be able to put the fund there if needs be. [June 12, 2020] KFin Technologies Announces Leadership Transition: Sreekanth Nadella Elevated to Chief Executive Officer MUMBAI and HYDERABAD, India, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KFin Technologies Private Limited. ("KFin" or the "Company", formerly known as Karvy Fintech Pvt. Ltd.), one of India's largest Registrars and a market leader in the investor servicing industry, has appointed Sreekanth Nadella, presently the COO of KFin, to take charge as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company with effect from June 15th, 2020. Sreekanth takes over from Ganesh Venkatachalam, the current Managing Director & CEO of KFin, who leaves the Company on June 12th, 2020, after an illustrious twenty-five-year career. Under the leadership of Ganesh, KFin has been able to build not only a strong suite of investor services in India but also expanded operations to South-East Asia and Middle-East. Ganesh shall continue to work with the Board of the Company in an advisory capacity to support the transition. Sreekanth, a Chartered Accountant by training, brings over 20 years of experience in leadership capacity across functions of finance, operations, IT & ITES, strategy consulting, transformation, and delivery across diverse industries. He has been working as the Chief Operating Officer of KFin since June 2018. Before KFin, Sreekanth held leadership roles with various organizations including IBM Global Services, Capita, and Accenture. Mr. M. V. Nair, the Chairman of the board of directors of KFin, said, Ganesh has been a wonderful leader to the employees of KFin, a true and valued partner to our customers, and an industry veteran whose work and vision has forever transformed the investor services industry in India. Ganesh's sincere endeavors have been instrumental in helping KFin set high standards of service and business ethics in the industry. The board of directors and the entire KFin team would like to thank Ganesh for his leadership and relentless service over the last two and half decades. On behalf of the entire board, I am also delighted to welcome Sreekanth to his new role. Sreekanth has shown exemplary leadership in the role of COO of the company over the last 2 years and we are thrilled to have a talented and energetic leader like him who, along with KFin's highly capable management team shall lead the company in its next phase of growth. We wish him all the success." Mr. Ganesh, the outgoing Managing Director and CEO of KFin, said, "I am extremely proud of what KFin has achieved over the last 25 years due to hard work put in by the employees, and leadership provided by the entire management team. I feel fortunate to have led an outstanding team and contributed my bit to the organization's success. I am grateful to the board of directors, my colleagues, and all employees of KFin who posed their trust and faith in me throughout my tenure in the Company. I remain excited about the future potential of KFin." Mr. Sreekanth Nadella, the incoming CEO of KFin, said, "I am grateful to the board of KFin for giving me this opportunity. I would also like to thank Ganesh for being a wonderful leader and mentor during my role as the COO of the company. Over the years, the Company has significantly transformed and diversified its business and also contributed towards industry growth. I am fortunate to be working alongside an extremely talented team with deep operational expertise which, along with leadership support from the Board, shall help KFin continue to build an innovative, enterprising, and technology-driven organization and play a leadership role in investor services industry in India and abroad." About KFin Technologies Private Limited: KFin Technologies serves the mission-critical needs of asset managers; with clients spanning mutual funds, AIFs, wealth managers and corporates in India and abroad. It serves corporate issuers as a Registrar and Transfer Agent and provides outsourcing services for select financial services firms. The company also provides back-office operations and data processing services, besides being a central record-keeping agency under the National Pension System. Media contact: Sohini Basu Thakur [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] We understand the restrictions on travel during the coronavirus pandemic. But like you, we dream of travelling again, and are publishing these stories with future trips in mind. As the summer tourist season approaches and western Europes COVID-19 crisis continues to subside, leaders across the continent are deciding whether and how to lift the border restrictions that they imposed amid a flurry of emergency measures in March. The European Commission has urged its members to co-ordinate their reopening, but a patchwork of strategies has emerged. Some countries Italy and Germany among them are reopening earlier and more widely. Others like Switzerland, Denmark and the Baltic states are proceeding more slowly, opting for travel bubbles or bespoke lists of countries whose citizens will be allowed entry. Both approaches have drawn criticism. Bubbles or corridors risk creating confusion and could be seen as discriminatory, some observers say. But opening borders among countries where the epidemiological situations are vastly different risks triggering an increase in cases, which officials are determined to avoid. Indeed, all of the announced plans for reopening have come with an important caveat: if COVID-19 cases start to tick back up, then borders could again be forced to close. We need to be sure that a summer tourist season wont come at the high price of a second wave of infections, Heiko Maas, Germanys foreign minister, said in May. So there will be no normal summer holiday this year. Whether the Baltic or the Mediterranean, the social distancing and hygiene rules will apply everywhere, he said. Some countries move quickly Italy which has Europes second-highest COVID-19 death toll, after Britain has jumped ahead of its neighbours in welcoming back tourists, lifting border restrictions on visitors arriving from European countries as of June 3. The next major date in the continents reopening calendar will be June 15, when Germany and Belgium will allow entry to all EU nationals, as well as Britons and citizens of nations like Iceland, Norway and Switzerland that are within Europe but outside the EU. French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has indicated that France will do the same, allowing quarantine-free travel for European visitors as of June 15. The June 15 border openings will be like a D-Day for tourism in Europe, Italys foreign minister, Luigi Di Maio, told Italian broadcaster RAI. He added that Germans account for a significant share of Italys visitors, especially for high-end travel. The tourism sector accounts for 13 per cent of Italys gross domestic product. We must salvage what we can salvage from the summer to help our hoteliers and entrepreneurs, Di Maio said. The problem with travel bubbles While Italy, Germany and France are planning to open up widely, other European nations are proceeding more cautiously, drawing up selective lists of countries from which travel will be allowed, or establishing travel bubbles along the lines of the one being considered by Australia and New Zealand. Spain, one of the hardest-hit countries in Europe, is waiting until July to lift most of its travel restrictions. At that point, it plans to open up to visitors arriving from a list of nations where the epidemic is under control, according to Manuel Muniz, the Spanish governments state secretary for global Spain. That list hasnt been finalized, Muniz said in an interview, but it will probably include most European nations, and could be expanded to a select group of countries from outside the region. (The countrys land borders with France and Portugal are due to reopen June 22.) He added that Spain has asked the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for specific guidance on how the country should draw up its list. When you talk to epidemiologists, what they tell you is that if you have these two containers with equivalent amount of COVID risk, its almost irrelevant if there are transfers of movement of people from one place to the other, Muniz said. He added that tourist destinations need to be able to do four things in order to welcome visitors safely: track the viruss spread, test anyone with symptoms, trace the contacts of those who test positive and treat those who fall ill. Spains plan is just one example of a more tailored approach to reopening. On May 15, three Baltic states Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania began allowing free movement across their mutual borders, effectively establishing the first travel bubble in Europe. (Lithuania has since opened up to quarantine-free travel from 24 European countries including France and Italy, but not Spain or Sweden.) Hungary and Slovenia created their own bubble later in May, while Croatia has begun allowing entry to nationals of 10 European countries, including Germany and Austria, but not hard-hit France, Italy or Spain. On June 15, Switzerland plans to open its borders with Austria, Germany and France, but not Italy, its neighbour to the south. On the same date, Denmark will reopen to visitors from Germany, Norway and Iceland, but only for stays of six nights or more, none of which can be in Copenhagen. Also June 15, the Netherlands will begin allowing entry to nationals of 12 European countries, including Belgium, Germany and Italy, but not France, Spain or Britain. Greece, where tourism accounts for nearly a quarter of the gross national product, is casting a broader net, extending its bubble to passport holders from a bespoke list of 29 countries. Many of those are in Europe, but the list also includes China, Japan, Israel, New Zealand and a handful of other countries where authorities deemed the health situation under control; the United States is not on the list. (Greeces Civil Aviation Authority has since clarified that some arriving passengers may still be subject to quarantine requirements or mandatory COVID-19 testing.) Portugal, however, is currently allowing flights from the United States, as well as Canada, Brazil and many European countries. Meanwhile, Britain remains open to visitors from anywhere in the world, although anyone arriving after Tuesday will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days or risk a 1,000-pound ($1,700) fine. The Republic of Ireland also remains open, but with a two-week quarantine requirement. This patchwork of reopening strategies is chaotic and will ultimately undermine European tourism, said Eduardo Santander, the executive director of the European Travel Commission, an association of national tourism organizations. I think that creating corridors, bubbles, bilateral agreements between countries only creates more confusion and frustration for the end consumer, Santander said. He added that his organization has been lobbying for a harmonized return of travel and tourism across Europe. The information that is out there is so fragmented; its also so confusing, he said, adding that freedom of movement is a pillar of European identity. Others take it slowly In many European countries especially those along the Mediterranean coast renewing the flow of tourists will be critical to keeping national economies afloat. But its not yet clear how many people will be willing to cross a border for their summer vacations. We dont have tourism anymore. Corona has taken it all, said Marjan Dasic, the manager of Tarsa, a popular restaurant in Rijeka, a Croatian seaside city that was selected as one of Europes cultural capitals for 2020. Normally, you would have to call at least a year in advance to reserve a table at the restaurant, which can seat up to 200 people and welcomes tourists from across Europe and beyond, Dasic said. The restaurant reopened in May after two months of closure, but its like we didnt open, because no one is coming, Dasic said, adding that another month without customers will force the restaurant to close for good. In France, the mountain resort of Chamonix is preparing for a quieter summer than usual. Major events like mountain races, climbing competitions and music festivals have been cancelled, but the areas trails will be open for hiking and mountain biking, and cable cars will be operating with new hygiene measures in place. "We Want to help make the workplace safe again" - Alex Redlus - Co-Founder Head of Steam Clean launched this service for commercial clients looking to prevent the risk of extended business disruption. Head of Steam Clean does this by utilizing steam cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting technology. In addition some of the most effective disinfectants commercially available are utilized to further help in the fight against viruses and bacteria. While potent, the disinfectants utilized are also organic and noncorrosive. The process involves applying the disinfectant electrostatically allowing it to stick to high touch points and because it is noncorrosive, all electronic equipment in the office is safe for spraying. Head of Steam Clean utilizes commercial grade steam cleaning equipment on the floors and upholstery to combat viruses. Typically, viruses die at approximately 140 degrees, Head of Steam Clean utilizes equipment that steams at 280 degrees providing a buffer of protection. Head of Steam Clean was founded in 2020 to help companies combat the threat of coronavirus (Covid-19) to their business. Head of Steam Clean specializes in the sanitation and disinfection of commercial spaces utilizing commercial steaming equipment and the application of noncorrosive and organic disinfectants and sanitizers. Head of Steam Clean serves Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Duchess and Orange Counties in New York, as well as the surrounding metro area. For more information please visit, http://www.headofsteamclean.com YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. 10 doctors will arrive in Armenia from France via a special flight to provide assistance in fighting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Armenian minister of healthcare Arsen Torosyan told reporters today in the Parliament. We have visits of medical staffs from abroad. 10 doctors from France will arrive tomorrow via a special flight. The Lithuanian doctors will arrive next week. There is also a desire from Russia, nearly 50 doctors, who will most likely visit Armenia and will work for several weeks, the minister said. Mr. Torosyan said talks are underway with the European office of the World Health Organization over the visits of special medical teams, it may be Polish or Israeli teams, but there is no final decision yet. According to the latest data, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 15,281, out of which 5,639 patients have already recovered. The number of active cases stands at 9,298. The death toll has risen to 258. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan You are here: World Flash The Chinese government on Thursday delivered medical supplies to South Sudan to help the east African country tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. The medical aid included 5,000 protective suits, 15,000 facemasks, 100, 000 surgical masks, 5,000 protective goggles, 5,000 gloves and 834 packets of diagnostic kits. Hua Ning, Chinese ambassador to South Sudan said Beijing will continue to support South Sudan's battle against COVID-19. "This latest donation demonstrates the Chinese government's and people's commitment to supporting African countries' efforts to contain COVID-19," Hua said. "With joint efforts by the international community and the government of South Sudan, we would be able to build a global health system for all," the Chinese envoy said. Mayen Dut Wol, undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Sudan, appreciated China for standing with South Sudan during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The government and people of South Sudan are happy for the Chinese people and government because they have been standing with us in all difficulties. We will register this donation as one of the achievements of our relations," Wol said. The Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation had earlier supplied three batches of anti-coronavirus supplies to the east African country. [June 12, 2020] HealthSpace Signs Contract with Mecklenburg Department of Health for Contact Tracing and Onsite Program VANCOUVER, BC, June 12, 2020 /CNW/ - HealthSpace Data Systems Ltd. (the "Company" or "HealthSpace") (CSE: HS) (Frankfurt: 38H) (OTC: HDSLF) is pleased to announce it has signed a contract with Mecklenburg County Health Department in North Carolina to use HSCloud Suite for Contact Tracing and managing its Onsite Program. HealthSpace signed the contract on June 10th which is worth US $157,800 over the next five years. This is the first paid contract to be signed with the use of contact tracing included as part of the package. The Company also announces it has begun working with Montgomery County, OH, Santa Cruz County, AZ, and McDonough and Schuyler counties in Illinois to utilize the Company's HSCloud Suite platform for COVID-19 contact tracing. The Company provided access to these counties on June 10th, June 6th and May 25th, respectively. HealthSpace is providing use of the platform on a gratis basis for the duration of te COVID-19 pandemic. HealthSpace CEO, Silas Garrison commented "As we continue to grow our sales pipeline, we are finding that contact tracing is becoming a valuable asset in securing deals and helping them close. Several agencies are working to garner funds through federal grants to purchase just our contact tracing platform. Not only that, there are other agencies already in the pipeline now working to expedite the sales process in order to begin using HSCloud Suite for contact tracing, amongst other regulatory activities. Mecklenburg County was in our sales pipeline to purchase HSCloud for use in their onsite sewage and well program. However, contract processing started to slow as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. By adding our contact tracing platform to their existing quote, we were able to close the sale faster at a higher than previously quoted price." HealthSpace Data Systems Ltd. HealthSpace is a government Software as a Service (SaaS) company focused on providing efficiencies to state and local government agencies through its powerful enterprise cloud and mobile platform. Over the last decade, HealthSpace has successfully developed both cloud and mobile applications currently serving over 500 state and local government organizations across North America. HealthSpace offers one of the only self-serve enterprise suites for government, providing greater power to the end-user. Further, HealthSpace now delivers its government grade technologies to private businesses enabling them to gain visibility and predictability into their own organizations and move from a reactive to a proactive operational status. HealthSpace continues to deliver focused service and innovative solutions to government organizations, while expanding into commercial enterprise verticals to enable new customers with proactive environmental health best practices and policies. HealthSpace has now entered into the FinTech space by creating a payment platform that streamlines the intake of government revenue for the agencies it serves. Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "pipeline", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although HealthSpace believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. HealthSpace expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE HealthSpace Data [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A lot of white Americans thought they understood. But the underlying legacy of racism still remains. The laws that were passed were hard-won and important, but they didnt eliminate deeply ingrained biases and layers of discriminatory practices and policies that mock the ideal of equality. The election of a black president was a watershed event in our history that struck at the heart of the racist creed. But it didnt end racism. In fact, it provoked a backlash that empowered a racist demagogue and new policies meant to further embed structural barriers to full citizenship for black Americans. 12.06.2020 LISTEN THE PRESIDENT REPUBLIC OF GHANA JUBILEE HOUSE ACCRA Dear Sir, DAILY ALLOWANCE AND MATTERS ARISING Good day Mr. President. Please accept our warm fraternal greetings. We pray this letter finds you in good health. This second letter is necessitated due to the strange and surprising silence from your office and government with regards to our previous letter dated 4th of June, 2020. It is strange because no one would expect this silence in abnormal times like this. For your information Mr. President, contact tracers in the Ashanti Region have not been working since 2nd of June, 2020 till date. The country currently has 10,201 total cases with 1653 newly confirmed between the period we laid down our tools. In effect, it means some 16,530 contacts are not being followed which has the tendency of increasing our cases by some 33,060. With all these disturbing possible situations, its very surprising that no one is saying anything or responding to us. Mr. President, we are writing again to inform you that we are still gravely aggrieved. We still do not understand the steep slash in our daily allowances from the initially announced by you on the 5th of April, 2020. We do not understand why the month of maybe any different from the month of April. We do not understand why there are disparities and inconsistencies across the region. Mr. President, Contact Tracers in Kumasi Metro were given Ghc1050, Suame Ghc704, Bosomtwe Ghc300, Sekyere East Ghc250, Obuasi Ghc1600, Old Tafo Ghc600, etc for a whole month worth of work. We do not understand why the differences since we all did the same job. And also, why the reduction from Ghc150 a day which would have summed up to about Ghc4000 to these understandable amounts. Mr. President, as we suggested earlier, we would like to hear from your office or from one of your ministers at the daily ministerial press briefing on the above issue. Thank you as we wait anxiously in an anticipation of a response to our grievances. Convener NEW YORK, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The owners of Terra Holdings, along with Alan Kersner as COO, today announced Halstead is now part of Brown Harris Stevens residential brokerage. This strategic restructuring of Terra Holdings subsidiaries significantly expands the footprint and resources of Brown Harris Stevens residential brokerage. The transition will occur with a phased in approach beginning in New York City. Senior management of both firms, with their combined more than 200 years of experience, will create one of the most powerful privately held real estate companies in the industry. Bess Freedman will continue to serve as CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, and will be responsible for carrying out the overall vision and day-to-day operations of the expanded brand in NYC and all territories. The senior management of both companies will remain in place with Ms. Freedman overseeing the leadership team of Hall F. Willkie, President of BHS Residential Sales; Diane M. Ramirez, current CEO of Halstead ; Richard J. Grossman, current President of Halstead; and Stephen G. Kliegerman, President of Terra Development Marketing. Brown Harris Stevens will maintain its headquarters at 445 Park Avenue, a state-of-the-art space that houses the firm's executive departments. All territories of the firm will function as a unified entity under Brown Harris Stevens and operate 55 offices including NYC, the Tristate area, the Hamptons, Palm Beach, Miami and other locations throughout the East Coast "The power of Terra Holdings working as one will further solidify Brown Harris Stevens as an unstoppable force. This exciting union enables us to focus our extensive resources and forge a larger, even stronger firm to better serve our valued agents and customers in our current and expanded regions," said Ms. Freedman. "As the real estate industry begins to reopen around the country, we are growing a company with a purposeful culture and incredible depth and breadth for the future." "The owners of Terra Holdings are confident that Bess and the executive team will lead Brown Harris Stevens to even greater success. This venture creates new synergies, and the ability to reinforce our position as an industry leader in the post pandemic era," said Mr. Kersner. Historically ranked among the city's top residential brokerages, this announcement brings together 2,500 accomplished agents, an innovative platform, and a world-class reputation. In 2019, Brown Harris Stevens and Halstead combined closed 6,000 transactions totaling more than $9 billion. Brown Harris Stevens was also responsible in 2019 for several record-breaking deals, including an $80 MM purchase on Fifth Avenue, and a $77 MM townhouse sale. Halstead in 2019 successfully closed on a commercial building for nearly $100 MM, and achieved the highest sale price in 2019 of a waterfront estate in Greenwich, CTnearly $50MM. The newly enhanced Brown Harris Stevens will benefit from the full resources of parent company Terra Holdings, one of America's largest privately owned real estate services companies. Terra Holdings has long led the industry with an invigorating marketing platform and cutting-edge technologies. Established in 1873, Brown Harris Stevens has long dominated the high-end market, and is recognized as a leader in representing luxury properties with an extensive global reach through two networks including Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and BHS Partnering Worldwide which collectively represent over 70 countries. ABOUT BROWN HARRIS STEVENS Brown Harris Stevens (BHS) is one of the most prominent, privately held real estate firms in the world. Established in 1873, the company oversees the sale of marquee properties around the globe from its headquarters in New York and its offices throughout the Tristate area, Palm Beach, Miami and New York City. Brown Harris Stevens is known for historically dominating the luxury, high-end market with its team holding nearly every record for co-op, condominium and townhouse sales in New York City. For more information, please visit: www.bhsusa.com. SOURCE Brown Harris Stevens Related Links http://www.bhsusa.com Celebrity stylist Jessica Mulroney is at the centre of a row with influencer Sasha Exeter, after Exeter publicly revealed Mulroney had threatened to serve her a libel suit in the wake of a video criticising the stylist for not using her voice to support the black community. Saying Mulroney had displayed "textbook white privilege", Exeter added that she had been "paralysed with fear" as a result of Mulroney's alleged behaviour. Following the fallout (which has since seen Mulroney apologise), Canadian network CTV announced it has "removed" her reality show I Do, Redo as her alleged behaviour clashes with its commitment to diversity and equality. She has also been fired as a fashion and bridal stylist from Hudson's Bay, who said Mulroney would "no longer represent Hudson's Bay or Kleinfeld Canada" as their "ambassadors must reflect our brand values of inclusivity, equality and respect for all." Jessica Mulroney / Elder Ordonez / SplashNews.com Mulroney's show is set to air on Netflix as well, however the streaming service has not commented according to People. Mulroney is a close friend of the Duchess of Sussex, who recently spoke out against the killing of George Floyd and other unarmed black Americans at the hands of the police. She has previously defended Meghan from "racist bullies" publicly on Instagram, after Meghan and Prince Harry were criticised for their private jet use. Mulroney has since described the incident with Exeter as a disagreement and said, She rightfully called me out for not doing enough when it came to engaging in the important and difficult conversation around race and injustice in our society." "I took it personally and that was wrong. I know I need to do better." I want to say from my heart that every word of my apologies to Sasha over the course of the last two weeks privately, and again both publicly and privately today is true. I did not intend in any way to jeopardize her livelihood, she continued. Both Mulroney and Exeter have announced that they will be taking a break from social media following their public fall out. However, Mulroney added that she would be allowing black creators to take over my account and share their experience and that she had extended the offer to Exeter as well, though did not reveal if Exeter accepted. Mulroney at Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding with Kate Middleton / Getty Images I want you all to know that Im committed to using every platform and resource available to me to continue the important work of anti-racism. I hope you will all continue to hold me accountable, she continued. Exeter claimed that Mulroney took offence after she posted a very generic call to action that I shared to my IG stories, calling for people to use their voice for good and help combat the race war and whats happening to the Black community. Calling Mulroney a very prominent figure - not just due to her connection to Meghan Markle but as she is wife to former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroneys son - Exeter then claimed Mulroney then displayed very problematic behaviour and antics that ultimately resulted in her sending me a threat in writing last Wednesday, June 3." In her video, she said, Listen, I'm by no means calling Jess a racist, but what I will say is this: she is very well aware of her wealth, her perceived power and privilege because of the colour of her skin. She added that Mulroneys white privilege gave Exeter, a black lifestyle influencer, the confidence to come for my livelihood in writing. After Exeter published her video calling out Mulroney, the stylist then posted a comment on the video. She said, @sashaexeter, you are right when you say 'this s--t needs to stop'. As leaders, we need to join hands and call out wrongs. I know we have different experiences. And that is something that, even in the course of a heated argument, I need to acknowledge and understand. I am unequivocally sorry for not doing that with you, and for any hurt I caused. As I told you privately, I have lived a very public and personal experience with my closest friend where race was front and centre. It was deeply educational. I learned a lot from that. I promise to continue to learn and listen on how I can use my privilege to elevate and support Black voices, Mulroney said, appearing to reference Meghan. The comment has since been deleted. Exeter also shared a screenshot of Mulroney allegedly threatening her with a libel suit (which Mulroney wrote as liable suit), which came after Mulroneys Instagram comment. Exeter also said in her Instagram stories that this is what happens "when you call out somebody with privilege and wealth", claiming that they "publicly make an apology or a statement and privately behind closed doors they send you a threat of filing a lawsuit against you." Instagram / @sashaexeter Exeter claimed Mulroney also told her she was concerned about being bullied or vilified by the media if she spoke out about Black Lives Matter and that she was in the midst of promotion for her reality show I Do, Redo. Exeter also claimed Mulroney then blocked her, but appeared to have unblocked her to comment on her Instagram. Exeter said, For her to threaten mea single mom, a single Black momduring a racial pandemic blows my mind. Instagram / @sashaexeter "How can you be about the Black people and be a supporter and be about female empowerment on the outside, when you're attempting to silence a Black woman during this movement behind closed doors? It just seems very contradictory to me, Exeter continued. TROY A Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute professor appears to have been fired after students filed bias complaints about his inflammatory social media activity. Students in the last week have been flagging and taking screenshots of posts apparently made by engineering professor Mohamed Aboul-Seoud on Twitter and Facebook which they described as "sexist, racist, islamophobic, and transphobic" or promoting of far-right conspiracy theories. One student compiled a 106-page indexed file of objectionable tweets, retweets and Twitter "likes." Another created an online archive of the professor's Facebook activity. Aboul-Seoud, an unabashed supporter of President Donald J. Trump, has since made his social media accounts private, but he privately confirmed his termination on Twitter, writing, "They just terminated me after 20+ years with no complaints of discrimination from any student during that period. Welcome to the USSA. It's unclear if his termination was connected to the complaints about his social media posts. A spokesman for RPI said he could not comment on specific personnel matters. Efforts to contact Aboul-Seoud were unsuccessful, however his RPI faculty page is inaccessible. On Twitter, Aboul-Seoud's profile picture is a Trump 2020 banner and his bio reads "Conservative, Husband, Father, Freedom, limited government, my sharia is the American Constitution #WWG1WGA #MAGA #COVFEFE #KAG2020 #NRA Folded hands God bless Flag of United States." Many posts reveal a fixation with biographies of former President Barack Obama and Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and the physical appearances of U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, whom he assails on Twitter with sexist slurs and questions about their immigration statuses. One meme he shared on Twitter shows a young Obama smoking a cigarette with text painting the Democratic ex-president as "the bastard child of a bigamous marriage between two Communists," who "grew up in a Muslim household... and went to Muslim schools." The meme goes on to make other unfounded allegations, asserting that Obama shared sex with men for cocaine, "adopted Marxist ideology," and "had gay relationships." In recent days, amid the nationwide unrest following the May 25 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, he appeared to have "liked" several tweets and memes opposing the "Black Lives Matter" movement and supporting police aggression towards protesters. In response to a tweet from British politician and former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, he wrote "There is no racism. So keep your ignorance to yourself. Filthy Communist." Aboul-Seoud retweeted a post suggesting that former First Lady Michelle Obama is transgendered and another that deliberately misgenders a trans health official. His tweets also criticized Pope Francis for "the mess" his church is in, warned the American Jewish Committee that there are liberals who will "watch them butchered," and attacked Muslim women who wear hijabs. "How are muslim students or LGBTQ students supposed to feel safe with this person in a position of authority over them?" wrote one student on Reddit in a call to action. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Some screenshots of Aboul-Seoud's tweets were shared by an RPI student who said he did not take issue with the political views, but his overtly hostile messages towards minority groups that make up the campus community. "For us students, this isnt an issue of politics or restricting free speech; his presence behind the keyboard is one of overt hostility toward those of different religions, ethnicities, gender, and sexual orientations. All while being in a position of power at a respected institution over just these groups," the student wrote in an email to the Times Union requesting anonymity. Aboul-Seoud's termination comes as students at RPI have been raising concerns on social media about racism and aggression minority students face on campus, such as a noose that was placed on campus in 2018. Educational institutions like RPI are taking stock of racism on campus as protests over unequal treatment of black and brown people roil the nation. RPI has not directly addressed the students' social media posts. At a June 10 Town Hall meeting, RPI President Shirley Ann Jackson vowed to launch a campus-wide, year-long anti-racism and anti-discrimination effort. As part of that effort, How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, has been chosen as the recommended reading for students during the upcoming academic year. Some students in a Reddit thread about Aboul-Seoud's firing said they were in his class this summer and worried that they wouldn't be able to graduate on time. Others were surprised by his social media activity, saying he had not shared those views in the classroom short of the occasional reference to his support for Trump. Not everyone agreed that he should be fired for his tweets. "Students at my alma mater are trying to disrupt @Mohamed2698's career by acting offended by his tweets. Tweets they deem as bigotry, are jokes & political banter. They disagree w/a minority @realDonaldTrump supporter and want him fired or to undergo reeducation," wrote RPI student Mark Poulin on Twitter. "It's disgusting." Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in his message to Nigerians on the occasion Of the 21st Anniversary Of Democracy Day, lauded the... Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in his message to Nigerians on the occasion Of the 21st Anniversary Of Democracy Day, lauded the sacrifices made by the winner of the June 12 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola. He described Abiola as a symbol of the June 12 struggle. Atiku, however, called for the honour and recognition of others who lost their lives in order for Nigeria to achieve democracy. According to Atiku, the heroes include late Chief Alfred Rewane, Shehu Musa Yar Adua, Mrs Kudirat Abiola and many others. He said they remain unsung because they are victims of bad governance. He said: Along the line in the struggle which spanned decades, many compatriots paid the ultimate price. While today may well be a day dedicated to democracy, it is also very well a remembrance day for our fallen heroes of democratic rule. Just like the late Bashorun MKO Abiola continues to be the symbol of the June 12 struggle, there are many others like the late Chief Alfred Rewane; my mentor, Tafida Shehu Musa YarAdua, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola and many more too numerous to mention who lost their lives in order for us to have a democracy. Yet there are so many other heroes who remain unsung. They are Nigerians who have fallen victims of bad governance. Atiku added that Nigeria may have a day dedicated to celebrating democracy, but the leadership have not delivered enough dividends to make the people happy. He said; Between 1999 to the present time, our democracy has thrown up all shades of characters at the leadership levels. Many, if not all of them have tried their best to deliver good governance to the country. But the results of their efforts, judging by what we have at hand today, clearly shows that our best has not been good enough thus far. It is clear that the problem of leadership is at the epicentre of governance issues that have afflicted Nigeria since the restoration of this democratic dispensation. To get at this problem would require the voting citizens of the country to undertake a more critical evaluation of national leadership recruitment a rare gift which democracy guarantees through the instrumentality of periodic elections. It is when we do that, that democracy can pass as a self-correcting mechanism and when it is denied, we are left with a pseudo-democracy which is counterproductive to the notion of participatory democracy. As we celebrate today our 21st anniversary of unbroken democratic rule, it is necessary that we canonize the memories of our heroes of democracy by expanding the application of democracy as a mechanism of good governance by making sure that ballots cast during an election are sacrosanct in order for leaders who represent the true aspirations of the people to emerge. However, to ensure the integrity of the electoral process, that votes are not only counted but that they do count, there is an urgent need to accelerate needed electoral reforms that will address the lapses in previous elections. On the occasion of Democracy Day, being marked against the backdrop of the uncertainties of this season, may the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in the struggle to enthrone the democratic rule that we are enjoying today never be in vain. A former University of the Incarnate Word student has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for trying to smuggle more than $879,000 in alleged drug proceeds to Mexico, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas. Juan Pablo Hoyos Avila, 22, a Mexican national living in San Antonio, pleaded guilty this year to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Once he completes his prison term, he will be placed on supervised release for three years. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery previously ordered the seized funds be forfeited to the government. The sentencing was Thursday.. Hoyos Avila and Rafael Gabriel Martinez Leal, 22, also a Mexican citizen, were arrested nearly two years ago and have remained in federal custody since then. The pair were on a private plane at San Antonio International Airport when authorities found $879,695 in undeclared U.S. currency on the aircraft, which was bound for Mexico. The cash was found in a suitcase and inside cardboard packaging for an 18-inch box fan. On ExpressNews.com: College student admits trying to smuggle nearly $1 million through San Antonio airport Martinez Leal pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was sentenced in May to 70 months in federal prison. By pleading guilty, Martinez Leal admitted that he coordinated the movement of money throughout the United States to San Antonio starting in 2017, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. On several occasions in 2018, he collected cash from Hoyos Avila before flying it back to Mexico on private aircraft, the office noted. Federal authorities said Hoyos Avila received the appropriate punishment. The smuggling of bulk cash often contributes to the cartel violence that damages communities on both sides of the border, said Shane Folden, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Division. HSI will continue to utilize its broad investigative authorities to dismantle transnational criminal organizations who blatantly ignore the laws of this nation. Agents with HSI and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case. Peggy OHare covers demographics, the census and occasionally crime and general assignment stories in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Peggy, become a subscriber. pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: @Peggy_OHare AKRON, Ohio With no sporting events to soar over, the Goodyear Blimp will instead take to the skies to show appreciation for hospital workers and other essential employees who have been taking care of patients and communities during the coronavirus pandemic by flying over Northeast Ohio hospitals. The blimp, Wingfoot Three, will fly over the Cleveland, Akron and Canton, Youngstown and Mansfield areas on Monday through Thursday, respectively, weather permitting. Goodyear discourages residents from traveling to see the flyover, and suggests people watch from their homes and practice social distancing. The blimps schedule for the Cleveland area kicks off Monday. Here are the times: Cleveland Clinics Marymount Hospital in Garfield Heights at 10:30 to 10:45 a.m. Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Rainbow Babies & Childrens Hospital from 11 to 11:30 a.m. St. Vincent Charity Medical Center from 11:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital from 12:15 to 12:30 p.m. MetroHealth from 12:45 to 1 p.m. Another trip past St. Vincent Medical Center from 1:15 to 1:30 p.m. The Beachwood campuses of the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and MetroHealth from 1:45 to 2 p.m. Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital in Warrensville Heights from 2:30 to 2:45 p.m. The iconic Goodyear Blimp is set to fly over the Akron-Canton area on Tuesday, weather permitting, to show appreciation for essential workers during the COVID-19 crisis. On Tuesday, the blimp will fly around Akron. Here are the times: Cleveland Clinic Akron General and Akrons Childrens Hospital from 9:30 to 9:45 a.m. Summa Akron City Hospital from 9:45 to 10 a.m. Summas St. Thomas Campus from 10 to 10:15 a.m. Summas Barberton campus from 10:30 to 10:45 a.m. The blimp will then head to Canton and Massillon to fly over hospitals there. Here are the times: Mercy Medical Center in Canton from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m. Aultman Hospital in Canton from 11:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. Akron Childrens Hospital Massillon, Aultman Hospital Massillon and Mercy Medical Center Massillon from 12:15 to 12:30 p.m. The iconic Goodyear Blimp is set to fly over the Youngstown area on Wednesday, weather permitting, to show appreciation for essential workers during the COVID-19 crisis. The blimp will head to the Youngstown area on Wednesday. Here are the times: Aultman Alliance Community Hospital from 9:30 to 9:45 a.m. Salem Regional Hospital from 10 to 10:15 a.m. Akron Childrens Hospital, Mercy Health and St. Elizabeth Youngstown from 10:35 to 10:50 a.m. Sharon Hospitals in Sharon, Pennsylvania from 11:05 to 11:20 a.m. Warren Hospitals from 11:40 a.m. to 12 p.m. University Hospitals Ravenna from 12:30 to 12:45 p.m. The iconic Goodyear Blimp is set to fly over the Mansfield area on Thursday, weather permitting, to show appreciation for essential workers during the COVID-19 crisis. The tour is set to end Thursday in the Mansfield area. Here are the times: YEREVAN, 12 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 12 June, USD exchange rate up by 0.18 drams to 481.79 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.64 drams to 545.53 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.06 drams to 6.93 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.89 drams to 609.42 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price up by 260.90 drams to 26925.33 drams. Silver price up by 2.58 drams to 276.88 drams. Platinum price down by 273.97 drams to 12701.72 drams. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau Transat A.T. Inc. (TRZ) plans on resuming some flights to Europe, the United States, Caribbean and within Canada starting on July 23, but it may have to ditch the relaunch if governments dont ease travel restrictions soon. The Montreal-based travel and tour company, which reported earnings on Thursday and operates the Air Transat airline, said the resumption of flights was the first step towards getting healthy operations back on track. Transat has suspended all of its flights since April 1, as travel demand disappeared due to the coronavirus pandemic. The companys chief executive Jean-Marc Eustache told analysts on a conference call Thursday that the suspension was the right decision and allowed the company to limit the financial damage prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenue in the second quarter ending April 30 fell to $571 million from $897 million during the same time last year, a drop of 36 per cent. Transat reported an adjusted loss of $39 million, or $1.03 per adjusted share, compared to a loss of $6 million, or 17 cents per share, last year. As of July 23, the company hopes to offer flights from Montreal and Toronto to 13 destinations in Europe, five destinations in the Caribbean and United States, as well as domestic routes between Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. But the plan is contingent on governments around the world loosening restrictions that are currently in place around travel, Annick Guerard, Transats chief operating officer, said on the conference call. Some of the routes Transat will operate feature restrictions that may discourage travellers from booking flights. For example, Canada still requires international travellers to quarantine for 14-days upon return. Most of the (flight routes) require political change before we are able to operate our flights, Guerard said. However, she said there is nothing that is preventing Transat from flying, and pointed to several destinations that have eased restrictions, including the United Kingdom, France, Portugal and Mexico. Story continues But from a customer perspective, we want passengers to be accepted at borders and we want them to not have to follow restrictions such as (mandatory quarantine), which would give them barriers for travelling. Guerard said the company is hopeful the Canadian government will lift restrictions in the coming weeks. The first one that we are expecting, of course, and that we are waiting impatiently for is Canada, she said. If borders do not reopen, we will have to cancel most of our plan, but we dont believe this will happen. The company also announced a Traveller Care program aimed at reassuring passengers with the introduction of new health measures based on guidelines from the International Civil Aviation Organization, Transport Canada, and Canadas Public Health Agency. Passengers will receive traveller kits including face masks, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes. Both passengers and crew will be required to wear face masks throughout the flight. Transat also said it has high-efficiency particulate air filters on all its planes, which eliminates almost 100 per cent of small particles such as bacteria and viruses, refreshing cabin air every three minutes. We are confident that a decent number of consumers will be interested (in flying) on our aircrafts in the upcoming months, Guerard said. Transat firmly committed to Air Canada deal As it embarks on a COVID-19 recovery, the travel company is also at the centre of a $720 million deal that would see Air Canada takeover its operations, although the future of the transaction remains unclear. The proposed deal is currently being investigated by the European Commission over competition concerns, and will require approval from the Minister of Transport in Canada. Le Journal de Montreal reported last week that Air Canada wants the federal government to block the transaction. Eustache said Transat remains firmly committed to the Air Canada deal, but warned that the market conditions may impact the companys ability to implement any corrective measures required to secure regulatory approval. Transat has also agreed not to take on additional debt, which may not be possible given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It must be noted that several factors beyond our control could influence the outcome of the proposed arrangement, he said. Nevertheless, the process of seeking these approvals is ongoing and we are making sure that whatever happens, we will be prepared to deal with this situation in the best interest of all stakeholders. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief. Thunderstorms passed through the Peterborough area late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, knocking down some trees and tree limbs resulting in a few localized power outages in the city and county. Wind gusts reached 65 km/h in Peterborough on Wednesday, according to Environment Canada. There was 22.3 millimetres of rain recorded at Peterborough Airport between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 4 a.m. Thursday. On Thursday there were still some scattered outages in Peterborough County, including in the Catchacoma and Woodview areas. About 1,176 Hydro One customers were without power Thursday night, with Hydro One estimating full restoration of power by 10 p.m. The storm knocked out power for more than 97,000 Hydro One customers in southern and central Ontario. Extra crews were brought in to help restore power in the hardest-hit areas. Examiner Staff ***** Environment Canada says tornadoes destroy barns, down trees in southern Ontario The Canadian Press GLENCOE, Ont. Environment Canada says its investigating after two tornadoes were reported near London, Ont. on Wednesday night. The weather agency says the first happened at 7:50 p.m. in Glencoe, Ont., while the second happened 40 minutes later in Belmont, Ont. Meteorologist Gerald Chang says there were numerous reports of downed trees and structural damage, including destroyed barns. He said Wednesdays hot and humid weather created the perfect conditions for a powerful storm. Environment Canada says a research team from a nearby university is heading out to survey the damage. Chang encouraged people to post photos and video of the storm to Twitter along with the hashtag #OntStorm to help the agency investigate the incident. Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie says hes ready to what he can to block the arrival of a Confederate statue that seems to be headed for Sabine Pass. I dont want them, he said Thursday. I think thats totally disrespectful for some society to make a decision for something to be placed here during a time that we are in civil unrest. I would wish that they would rethink that. Im speaking for the people of Port Arthur not just blacks, for whites and browns and everybody. A statue of Richard W. Dick Dowling is expected to be moved from Houstons Hermann Park to the Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site in Port Arthur, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced in the late afternoon. Dowling led 46 men against a Union attack on Sabine Pass, which during the Civil War was a primary Texas port for Confederate shipments of supplies, according to the Texas Historical Commission. The battle lasted less than an hour and the small Confederate force destroyed two Union gunboats. It resulted in significant casualties and the capture of nearly 350 prisoners. Related: PAISD will change Confederate school names The statue of Dowling is one of two Confederate statues planned to be moved from the Houston parks where they currently sit to locations more relevant to modern times, the news release from Turners office said. The executive committee of the Texas Historical Commission, which is responsible for the battleground site, voted to accept the statue. The move still must be considered by the full commission at its June 17 quarterly meeting. Efforts to reach commissioners were not immediately successful. Turners communications director Mary Benton said the commission took up the statues placement when Houston was trying to find the right place to provide an opportunity for people to visit with some context. The agenda for the commissions June 17 meeting, which will be held by video conference, lists accepting the donation of the statue as an action item. However, a meeting last month to set a recommendation for the full commission to accept the statue shows the item is listed under the Sabine Pass Battleground project. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox Bartie said he was not made aware of the proposal to move the Dowling statue to Port Arthur until he was contacted by a Beaumont Enterprise reporter. He said he feels disrespected not only because he didnt receive an email or phone call from a representative of the commission ahead of time but also because of the evolving conversation about race taking place nationally. He stressed that he is reacting as the mayor of Port Arthur, not as the black mayor of Port Arthur. He said he is prepared to do whatever I can do to stop the proposed move. I dont care if I need to make a human chain, he said. This isnt the first time the city has faced controversy over Dowlings historical connections to the region. In late 2018, the Port Arthur ISD school board renamed Dick Dowling and Robert E. Lee elementary schools to Port Acres and Lakeview, respectively. At the time, an online survey about the name change showed 75 of the 188 respondents wanted to keep the names because of the mens contributions to the Battle of Sabine Pass. The rest of the respondents said it was time to break with Civil War-era inscriptions. Related: Confederate symbols linger in SE Texas Turner said in his news release that the city of Houston has been working on this plan for some time, and that events of the past several weeks have moved up the timetable. He said relocating these statutes gives the city an opportunity to heal while also still preserving history. Bartie countered that the statutes should be put in storage. A second statue, the Spirit of Confederacy statue in Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston, will be moved to the Houston Museum of African American Culture in Houston using a grant from the Houston Endowment. The city is expected to move the statues as a part of the commemoration of the Juneteenth holiday on June 19 and they will be put in storage until theyre ready to be moved. Juneteenth recognizes the day Texas slaves learned the Emancipation Proclamation had granted them freedom. Kaitlin Bain is the Government Reporter for the Beaumont Enterprise. Contact her at Kaitlin.Bain@BeaumontEnterprise.com or on Twitter by clicking here. Don't miss a thing: Sign up for our Daily Headlines newsletter. The rAge 2020 Expo has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 virus, the organisers of the event have announced. This will be the first time in the expos 18-year history that it has been cancelled. The coronavirus pandemic has touched every corner of the globe, and rAges primary responsibility is making sure that fans, exhibitors, partners and staff stay safe, said rAge. At this stage, there is also no indication as to when lockdown restrictions may be lifted, or when it will be safe to be around crowds of people. However, rAge founder and project manager Michael James said the team was working on an online version of the popular convention. rAge has always been much bigger than the building that contains it, said James. So, bringing South Africas fabled gaming and pop culture icon to the online world makes sense. James said the online version of rAge will be unlike anything it has done before but it will try its best to create an exciting experience. This isnt a simple task and were doing what we can to ensure it feels and looks as good as possible, and without too many bugs, glitches, or lag. More information about the online version of rAge will be announced as soon as it has important details in place. We know things are tough and this all really sucks in the worst possible way, said James. But we are committed to keeping our partnerships and collaborations alive so that we can continue supporting the industry we love. Weve always been about growing the local gaming industry and making rAge a place of imagination, excitement and fun. But, for now, were just going to be doing it differently. The news follows another convention, Comic Con Africa, also confirming that its event would transition online due to COVID-19. Protesters loot shops during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police, in Santa Monica, California, on May 31, 2020. Agustin Paullier/AFP via Getty Images Americans are torn when it comes to their views on the looting that occurred in some cities amid the protests against police brutality, according to a new Insider poll. Roughly one-third of survey respondents said they believed looting was a "widespread problem," but a similar number of respondents said it was an "isolated problem." It's unclear exactly how many partook in looting, but the Associated Press said just hundreds had been arrested on looting-related charges the figure pales in comparison to the hundreds of thousands of peaceful protesters who have taken to the streets in recent weeks. Police across the country have also been accused of instigating violence, and a number have been arrested on assault charges for their conduct during protests. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. As the United States continues grappling with the fallout over the killing of George Floyd in police custody, Americans' views are divided when it comes to the civil unrest in the wake of Floyd's death and the extent of looting. The vast majority of those who took to the streets in recent weeks have been peaceful protesters, but a number of cities saw looting and vandalism, including New York City, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and Seattle. People were seen in videos ransacking shops, spraying graffiti, smashing glass storefronts, and setting fires that destroyed businesses. But it's unclear exactly how many people took part in the looting. Arrest data suggests the number was very small in comparison to the massive amount of peaceful protesters. The Associated Press reported on June 4 that the number of people arrested nationwide on burglary and looting charges was in the hundreds. That figure pales in comparison to the estimated hundreds of thousands if not millions of protesters who peacefully took to the streets across the country. Insider surveyed more than 1,000 people on June 8-9 about various components of the recent civil unrest, including their views on how widespread looting was. Story continues Roughly half of respondents said they believed looting was a major problem, while half said it was not. Just 7% responded that they didn't know. The full results were: What comes closest to describing your view? I think looting is a widespread problem 34% I think looting is a common problem 16% I think looting is an isolated problem 29% I think looting is a rare problem 8% I think looting is an insignificant problem 7% I don't know 7% Workers and a volunteer clean up damage outside a burned-out clothing store in Birmingham, Alabama, on June 1, 2020, following a night of unrest. Associated Press/Jay Reeves In total, more than 10,000 people were arrested across the US amid the demonstrations, but the vast majority of those arrests were not for looting-related charges. Instead, most were for non-violent, low-level offenses such as traffic violations, failure to disperse, or breaking curfews, according to the Associated Press. Police across the country have also been accused of instigating violence of their own, and numerous videos have documented authorities using excessive force on peaceful protesters, including tear gas and rubber bullets, or even plowing their cruisers into crowds. A handful of officers have been suspended, fired, or even arrested for their conduct, including one NYPD officer who violently shoved a protester to the ground, two Buffalo officers who pushed an elderly man, a Philadelphia officer who struck a protester with a metal baton, and six Atlanta officers who converged on two college students leaving a protest and pulled them out of their car then Tased and punched one of them. SurveyMonkey Audience polls from a national sample balanced by census data of age and gender. Respondents are incentivized to complete surveys through charitable contributions. Generally speaking, digital polling tends to skew toward people with access to the internet. SurveyMonkey Audience doesn't try to weigh its sample based on race or income. A total of 1,111 respondents were collected June 8-9, 2020, with a margin of error plus or minus 3 percentage points and a 95% confidence level. Read the original article on Insider Twitter says the accounts pushed deceptive narratives on coronavirus pandemic, Taiwan and the protests in Hong Kong. Twitter has removed more than 170,000 accounts tied to a Beijing-backed influence operation that spread messages favourable to the Chinese government, including about the coronavirus. The company said on Friday that it suspended a core network of 23,750 highly active accounts, as well as a larger network of about 150,000 amplifier accounts used to boost the core accounts content. Twitter, along with researchers who analysed the accounts, said the network was largely an echo chamber of fake accounts that spread geopolitical narratives favourable to the Communist Party, focusing on deceptive narratives about Hong Kong, the coronavirus pandemic, exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui and Taiwan. However, the accounts failed to achieve considerable traction, typically holding low follower accounts and low engagement, Twitter said in a statement. Twitter, along with other US social media companies such as Facebook and Instagram, is blocked in China. Twitter said the Chinese network had links to an earlier state-backed operation dismantled last year by Twitter, Facebook and Googles YouTube that had been pushing misleading narratives about political dynamics in Hong Kong. Renee DiResta, at the Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO), said the networks coronavirus activity ramped up in late January, as the outbreak spread beyond China, and spiked in March. Today Twitter announced a takedown of a network of 23,750 accounts attributed to the PRC , with technical indicators linking the operation to the network suspended in August 2019. SIO participated in the analysis. Report: https://t.co/2zQCbeHIjz Renee DiResta (@noUpside) June 11, 2020 Narratives around COVID-19 primarily praise Chinas response to the virus, and occasionally contrast Chinas response against that of the US government or Taiwans response, or use the presence of the virus as a means to attack Hong Kong activists, the SIO said in a report. The English-language content included pointed reiterations of the claim that China not Taiwan had a superior response to containing coronavirus. Open-source researchers at Graphika and Bellingcat had earlier flagged the re-emergence of the so-called Spamouflage Dragon network, after it went dormant following the companies takedowns last summer. The US State Department said in May it had found a network of inauthentic Twitter accounts with highly probable linkages to China disseminating false coronavirus claims. Twitter pushed back on the assertions at the time, saying the 5,000 accounts the agency identified included legitimate non-governmental organisations and journalists. A Twitter spokeswoman on Thursday said the network it removed was not related to what the State Department had identified. Over the past year, a large number of Chinese diplomats and diplomatic missions set up Twitter or Facebook accounts, often using them to attack Beijings critics around the world. Last month, Twitter flagged a tweet written in March by a Chinese government spokesman that suggested the US military brought the novel coronavirus to China, as the social media platform ramps up fact checking of posts. Chinas foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Twitter also removed two smaller state-backed operations which it attributed to Russia and Turkey, both focused on domestic audiences. Hong Kong to Prosecute Media Mogul Jimmy Lai, Organizers Over Tiananmen Vigil 2020-06-11 -- Authorities in Hong Kong will prosecute four prominent pro-democracy figures including media mogul Jimmy Lai for their involvement in a public commemoration of the Tiananmen massacre anniversary on June 4. Lai, along with trade unionist Lee Cheuk-yan, rights lawyer Albert Ho, and veteran democracy activist Richard Tsoi will be charged with "incitement to join an illegal assembly" after thousands defied a police ban to gather in Victoria Park for the traditional candlelight vigil marking the 1989 bloodshed in Beijing. The vigil was organized by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, which is run by Lee, Tsoi, and Ho. Lee said he was informed of the decision to prosecute in a phone call from police on Thursday evening. "We expected all of this," he said in a recorded audio statement for journalists. "When you look at the overall situation in Hong Kong, the police are abusing the power to arrest and the department of justice is abusing the power to prosecute." Lee said the government is trying threaten the people of Hong Kong, who have thrown their support behind city-wide pro-democracy protests in the past year. But he dismissed the charges, saying "we are exercising our right to assembly." The case will be heard on June 23, the Alliance said on its Facebook page. The four already face similar charges alongside 11 other activists linked to a mass protest on Aug. 31, 2019. "The Hong Kong Alliance believe that we have the right to mourn June 4 and have a rally to condemn the massacre," Lee said of the peaceful vigil. Subversion and sedition law The decision to prosecute the four activists came as the U.K. foreign secretary said he was "deeply concerned" at China's plan to impose a draconian subversion and sedition law on Hong Kong, bypassing the city's Legislative Council (LegCo). "The proposed national security law undermines the ... framework under which Hong Kong is guaranteed a high degree of autonomy with executive, legislative and judicial powers," foreign secretary Dominic Raab said in a six-monthly report on the situation in Hong Kong. "For the Chinese government, rather than Hong Kong's own institutions, to directly impose national security legislation would lie in direct conflict with Article 23 of Hong Kong's Basic Law, and with China's obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration," he said, in a reference to Hong Kong's mini-constitution and the 1984 treaty governing the 1997 handover of the city to Chinese rule. "The law ... raises the prospect of prosecution in Hong Kong for political crimes, which would undermine existing commitments to protect the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong," Raab said in a foreword to the report. The report said the widespread protest and social unrest of the past six months were political in nature, and should be resolved by political dialogue. While it said violence and vandalism from protesters was unacceptable, it supported public demands for an independent public enquiry into police violence, saying a recent report was "heavily criticized" because the police complaints body lacked the power to compel witnesses. "Use of force by the police has been a major political issue, including the treatment of arrested persons," the report said, adding that the U.K. had stopped issuing licenses for exports of crowd control equipment to Hong Kong. Raab said his government would move ahead with plans to allow a pathway for British National Overseas (BNO) passport-holders from Hong Kong to settle in the U.K. if the national security law was implemented, and called on Beijing to "step back from the brink." He said London "remains deeply concerned" at the arrest of the 15 pro-democracy figures on April 18. "The U.K. will not look the other way when it comes to the people of Hong Kong, we will stand by them, and we will live up to our responsibilities," Raab wrote. Officer summoned Meanwhile, a judge in Hong Kong on Thursday summoned a traffic officer to appear in court over the shooting of a protester during a Nov. 11 demonstration, marking the first time a police officer has faced charges related to year-long protests in the city. Pro-democracy leader Ted Hui filed five charges through a rare private prosecution against the officer in Januarythree of which were approved by the court, including shooting with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. If convicted, the officer faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for that charge alone. Two other approved chargesdangerous or reckless use of firearmseach carry a maximum punishment of seven years in jail. The officer, who was granted anonymity by a court in another case and has not been named to comply with the earlier order, had been recorded in a video which showed him drawing his weapon and firing into a crowd that surrounded him during a demonstration, hitting one protester in the abdomen. He later said he believed protesters were trying to take his gun. According to Hong Kong law, the Department of Justice can now intervene in the case and decide whether to prosecute or terminate it. To date, no cases have been pursued against officers relating to accusations of abuse during the police response to protests over the past year. A government report recently dismissed claims that police had used excessive force to quell demonstrations, prompting public anger. Teacher training Also on Thursday, the Hong Kong education bureau said teachers in the city would now be required to attend an additional 60 hours of professional training over the next three years to improve their "professional values and conduct," prompting concerns that the authorities will soon start reshaping teaching according to the ruling Chinese Communist Party's "patriotic education" goals for the city. The training, which will also include a module on "local, national and international education issues" will be rolled out for newly qualified teachers, in-service teachers, and will form part of requirements for promotion, the bureau said in a June 10 circular. Reported by Man Hoi-tsan for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content June not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Photo: The Canadian Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference following a visit to a printing business in Ottawa, Thursday June 11, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller delivered a scathing rebuke of Canada's national police force Thursday, saying the Mounties are not immune to systemic racism and that they can and should do better. His remarks came as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed confidence in RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki after the top Mountie said she is struggling with the definition of systemic racism within the force. Lucki made the comments during media interviews this week. She was responding to allegations of bias and discrimination in the federal police force and others across the country following several violent interactions between authorities and Indigenous Peoples. Miller refused to pass judgment on Lucki over her comments, but did point to the apology she delivered in 2018 on behalf of the RCMP to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. In it, Lucki promised to "examine the systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada, and prevent and eliminate further violence." Miller said Thursday scrutiny of this promise is warranted. "She undertook to do better and that the RCMP and Indigenous Peoples were entitled to the best there was of the RCMP," Miller. "That was a promise two years ago. Now, I look at the events of the last couple of weeks ... and I ask myself, 'Is that the best? Is that the absolute best?' Because that was the promise that was made two years ago." As for the lingering question of whether systemic racism exists within the RCMP, Miller said the answer is a clear and simple yes. But he also said this doesn't mean every cop or individual is a racist. "We can't deny that there is systemic racism in all our institutions. It isn't by some magical stroke of fate that the RCMP would be immune to that. We know it exists and we have to acknowledge it," Miller told reporters in Ottawa. "We are at our best when we question ourselves, when we question our instincts and I think that's something that needs to be done because I know we're turning around an issue that we do need to re-examine in the RCMP and there's no question about it." In his defence of Lucki Thursday, Trudeau says he has worked closely with her over the years and that he trusts the commissioner to lead reforms at the RCMP. "We're facing a really important time in our country right now where we are recognizing what many Indigenous Canadians and racialized Canadians have known for a long time that there is systemic discrimination right across our country and every part of our country and in our institutions. And recognizing that is difficult," Trudeau said in Ottawa. "I have confidence in Commissioner Lucki," he added, "and I know that the changes that she has already begun to bring to our national police force and the work that we're going to be doing together in the coming months is going to make a huge difference in combating systemic racism and reducing it in this country." In December 2015, former RCMP commissioner Bob Paulson appeared before the Assembly of First Nations and conceded there were racists in the police force and that he didn't want them within his ranks. AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde said to his knowledge, nothing has been done since that surprising admission more than four years ago to weed out racists and to address systemic racial bias within the overall organization. Lucki declined an interview request. Questions sent to the RCMP asking what actions have been taken to address Paulson's concerns in 2015 were not answered Thursday. Bellegarde said he believes Lucki's comments were "ill-informed" and welcomes working with her to implement solutions that could lead to systemic change. He also said he finds it frustrating people are still arguing over the existence of racism in the RCMP rather than trying to implement the many solutions recommended in numerous reports and reviews over the years, including the national inquiry. "The problem is complacency is killing our people. All the recommendations are not being implemented," Bellegarde said. The final report of the national inquiry, which looked into the deaths and disappearances of hundreds of Indigenous women and girls, was highly critical of the RCMP's dealings with Indigenous Peoples. It said that contributed to a "relationship of distrust and animosity." It called for more civilian oversight, an independent national police task force to reopen cases or review investigations and called on all governments to "immediately and dramatically transform Indigenous policing from its current state as a mere delegation to an exercise in self-governance and self-determination over policing." Further solutions proposed by Bellegarde include more training on de-escalation practices, a ban on police chokeholds, alternative first responders for situations involving people with mental health or substance abuse issues and more work to make the justice system restorative, rather than punitive. "We need to start having formal processes to start working toward those goals," he said. In a statement issued Thursday, the Canadian Association of the Chiefs of Police said its members know many people are understandably hurt and angry right now in the wake of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis. But they also said Canadian police training and civilian oversight "is among the best in the world." The police chiefs urged conversations around "defunding the police" to remain "informed and evidence-based with police at the table." On this point, Miller mused openly Thursday that defunding police could be better considered as "refunding" police, with resources perhaps reallocated toward more Indigenous-run policing a suggestion that Bellegarde also shared. As for police officers who are overtly racist and behave badly, Miller did not mince words. "People took oaths. They need to respect them. Hard stop. And if they don't want to, there's a door and they can take it. " All Islands Of The Bahamas Will Reopen to International Boaters, Yachters and Private Aviation NASSAU, Bahamas, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation has announced the destination will begin Phase 1 of the Tourism Readiness and Recovery Plan on Monday, June 15, which welcomes international boaters, yachters and private aviation back to Bahamian shores, across all The Islands Of The Bahamas. During Phase 1, hotels will also reopen for staff to return to work and put in place all the measures required to ensure they are ready to welcome guests at the onset of Phase 2. Commercial airlines will also be allowed to bring in Bahamian citizens, legal residents, homeowners qualifying for economic permanent residency, or the immediate family members or significant others of any of these groups. It is anticipated that during this period of time there will be a reduced flight schedule as airlines begin adding The Bahamas to their schedules once again. This is the first part of the strategic, phased reopening approach for the tourism sector that ensures critical health and safety protocols are being adhered to, and that the Health sector remains well equipped and ready to respond as necessary. The plan was constructed by The Bahamas Tourism Readiness and Recovery Committee, a group comprised of public and private sector partners. Allowing Phase 1 access to these smaller, special interest groups will allow a more controlled segment to test the country's new measures. The second phase will commence on July 1 with the resumption of international commercial travel. Guidelines, Policies and Procedures for International boaters, yachters and private aviation visiting The Bahamas between June 15 June 30 are, as follows: A COVID-19 RT-PCR Negative (Swab) Test is required and must be presented upon arrival. Results must be no more than ten (10) days old. Children under the age of two are not required to take a test. Private pilots who do not deplane are not required to take a test. All travellers both domestic and international are required to complete an Electronic Health Declaration Form at travel.gov.bs prior to departure and for any inter-island travel within The Bahamas . An automated response will be provided upon completion, and it is essential that travellers present proof of confirmation upon arrival in their destination This is an important step for contact tracing purposes. . An automated response will be provided upon completion, and it is essential that travellers present proof of confirmation upon arrival in their destination This is an important step for contact tracing purposes. No quarantine will be required upon arrival (if all steps are met). Failure to comply with the test requirements and heath form submission will result in denied entry. Boaters must inform marina at least 48 hours prior to vessel's arrival. This June 15 tourism re-entry builds on and supports existing government rules and regulations, which already allow for inter-island domestic travel for Bahamian citizens and residents. Per the direction of the Bahamas Ministry of Health, Bahamian Citizens, Residents and Homeowners Returning from CARICOM countries are not required to present a COVID-19 RT-PCR Negative (Swab) Test upon arrival. However, they remain subject to other public health measures. Reopening of borders will continue to be monitored and guided by The Bahamas government and health officials. Reopening dates are subject to change based on COVID-19 trends, if there is a deterioration in improvement, or if government and health organizations deem these phases unsafe for residents or visitors. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation believes it is an absolute baseline requirement for consumers to have a comfort level that The Bahamas is a safe and healthy destination to visit, and the ultimate goal is for that to remain the case. For more information, or to view the Tourism Readiness and Recovery Plan, please visit: www.bahamas.com/travelupdates. All COVID-19 inquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Health. For questions or concerns, please call the COVID-19 hotline: 242-376-9350 (8 a.m. 8 p.m. EDT) / 242-376-9387 (8 p.m. 8 a.m. EDT). PRESS INQUIRIES Anita Johnson-Patty Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation [email protected] Weber Shandwick Public Relations [email protected] SOURCE Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation A High Court judge has ordered the extradition of a Monaghan haulier to the United Kingdom, where he is wanted for allegedly trafficking 39 migrants found dead in a lorry container in Essex last year. After the ruling, the High Court heard that Ronan Hughes (40) wants to be surrendered to UK authorities "as soon as possible" and the order will come into effect on Monday. Mr Hughes, from Leitrim, Silverstream, Tyholland, Co Monaghan, is suspected of being "the ringleader" of an organised crime group who trafficked the Vietnamese nationals and is wanted in the UK to face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. The bodies of eight women and 31 men were found in an industrial park in Grays, Essex on October 23, 2019. The migrants had arrived in England last October on a ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium and the youngest of the victims were two boys aged 15. The haulier was present in court today (Fri) for the hearing. He is the second man from Northern Ireland to be arrested here on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) as part of the Essex police investigation. Mr Hughes was arrested on the evening of April 20 at his home in Co Monaghan following the endorsement of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by the police in Essex and was fighting his proposed extradition to the UK through the Irish High Court. Mr Justice Paul Burns today rejected Mr Hughes' points of objection and made an order to surrender him to the UK authorities. Delivering his judgement, Mr Justice Burns said that only where there is obvious ambiguity in the warrant should the court look at considering what is beyond the warrant. "I have found no such ambiguity in the warrant before me," he added. The judge said he was satisfied that the alleged offences were committed in the issuing State - the United Kingdom - and ordered the surrender of Mr Hughes. Remy Farrell SC, for Mr Hughes, asked the judge for some time to take instructions from his client. Mr Justice Burns agreed to this and adjourned the case for twenty minutes. Following this, Counsel for the Minister for Justice Ronan Kennedy SC told the judge that he had spoken to Mr Farrell, who said his client would like to be surrendered as soon as possible. Mr Kennedy said he was applying to the court for the order to take effect from Monday as opposed to the usual 15 day period. Mr Justice Burns ordered that Mr Hughes be remanded in custody for not more than 15 days and said the order is to take effect from June 15, 2020. Opposing the application for Mr Hughes' surrender to the UK in May, Remy Farrell SC argued that many of the offences alleged against his client had occurred outside of UK territory. Mr Farrell said there was a distinct lack of clarity in the warrant as to whether the issuing State was asserting that the offences were extraterritorial or if they had occurred in their territory. It is a matter for this court to decide if the offences are extraterritorial, he said, adding that much of what the issuing judicial authority indicated was that these were extraterritorial offences. The lawyer said something can be both territorial and extraterritorial at the same time and there can be competing assertions of jurisdiction. The warrant seemed to be asserting that a certain extraterritorial position existed, he maintained. He said that on any view much of what was being alleged against his client had occurred outside the UK. However, Counsel for the Minister for Justice Ronan Kennedy SC told the High Court extradition hearing in May that the legal submission of "extraterritoriality" was a complete red herring and the court should not engage in a fanciful debate as to whether other States had jurisdiction to try these offences. The manslaughter charges carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and the count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration has a maximum sentence of 14 years, he said. Mr Kennedy further submitted that whilst section 44 of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 had given rise to difficulty in previous cases, most notably in the case of Ian Bailey, no difficulties arose in this instant. The barrister said Mr Farrells legal submissions were "fundamentally misconceived" as they were built on the entirely incorrect premise that the UK was seeking to assert extraterritorial jurisdiction, where it was abundantly clear from the EAW that the offences of manslaughter and conspiracy had occurred within the UK. Mr Kennedy said Mr Farrells argument did not get off the starting blocks and he asked the court not to go down the rabbit hole of whether the offences were committed on the high seas or land but instead focus on what was actually stated in the EAW, applying the principles of mutual trust and confidence. Mr Hughes and his younger brother Christopher (34) have been wanted in connection with the deaths since the beginning of the investigation, with Essex Police making an extraordinary live appeal last November for the siblings to hand themselves in. Their trucking firm is based in Tyholland, about 7km from the Armagh border. The warrant alleges that Mr Hughes had unlawfully killed 39 Vietnamese nationals who were found dead in the back of a trailer in the UK between October 22 and 24, 2019. It is alleged the migrants had been brought into the UK illegally by Mr Hughes and his co-conspirators. It is also alleged that Mr Hughes had also conspired with others to facilitate the illegal entry of people including the 39 deceased persons into the UK between May 1, 2018 and October 24, 2019. It is alleged that Mr Hughes "organised, paid for the travel and controlled the drivers who collected the migrants." Evidence was given at the respondent's bail hearing that 200,000 had been frozen in 33 bank accounts linked to Mr Hughes and his family and that the accused had last year bought a 2019 BMW X5, valued at 108,000, which has since been seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). Counsel for the Minister for Justice previously submitted that Mr Hughes operated an international haulage business with extensive contacts abroad, used a Northern Ireland driving licence, has a detailed knowledge of ports, has a history of smuggling as well as access to extensive funds. Police arrested a teenage boy Thursday, investigators say was involved with vandalizing and setting fire to a Boston police cruiser on May 31 after protesters took to the streets over the death of George Floyd. Boston Police report a 15-year-old Framingham boy was arrested around 5:10 p.m. Thursday on a Boston Juvenile Court warrant. Charges include arson of a motor vehicle and inciting a riot. Two Boston police officers responded to a call for assistance and parked their cruiser on Tremont Street around 9:25 p.m. on May 31. Police say soon after several individuals vandalized the cruiser, breaking its windows and setting it on fire. The cruiser was destroyed, police said. Police asked for the publics help in identifying two men in connection with the incident. The FBI Boston Division and ATF assisted in the investigation. The Boston Police Department continues to review the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident and is asking anyone with information relative to this investigation to contact the Boston Fire Investigation Unit at (617) 343-3324, police said in a press release Thursday evening. Several police officers and bystanders were injured after the Boston protests, and a number of businesses and monuments were damaged. In a separate incident, a 40-year-old Boston man is facing charges after authorities said he tried to set fire to a police cruiser in Downtown Crossing Thursday morning. Daniel Lucey was arrested and charged with two counts of arson after someone alerted police that they saw Lucey set fire to a blanket beneath a cruiser parked at West Street and Mason Street. _______ MassLive reporter Tanner Stening contributed to this report. Racial Got a news tip or want to contact MassLive about this story? Email newstips@masslive.com or message us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also call our news tips line at 413-776-1364. Thin Lizzy's 'The Boys are Back in Town' blared on Grattan Street on Monday to alert shoppers that EJ Menswear was officially open. Like all other retailers, the men's clothing and formal attire store had been closed for the last three months and on Monday staff were admittedly nervous but excited to meet shoppers again. "We're nervous, there's a lot of nervous energy but we're looking forward to it," Mark Cunningham told The Sligo Champion before the reopening on Monday. "We're going into the unknown, it's like opening a new shop really. We closed with interest to health and safety of the staff and customers and we're opening with those interests still there." Facilitating social distancing guidelines, the store has social distancing markers on the ground and all staff will be wearing protective visors while on the shop floor. Along with this, each customer will be given a complimentary facemask. Benefitting from two doors accessing the shop, there will now be a one way entry to the shop with the other door used for exit only and there are automatic hand sanitising stations. "We're hoping it won't be panic stations for people, they're used to social distancing from other shops, like hardware and retail parks." Up on 25/26 employees between full and part time, Mark explained that working hours have been reduced currently and they are limited with the amount of staff they can have within the shop. "We've had to adjust accordingly. All staff have been well briefed on social distancing and sticking to their own areas. We're lucky we have three floors. Online is upstairs, weddings on the second floor and then the shop." Mark said though suit fittings will be 'tricky' EJ's are putting all measures in place to make sure it is a safe experience. "If we're fitting a suit we'll have to wear a visor and the customer will wear a mask. Where we can we will keep our distance, but most customers will be aware of the restrictions. With a suit you have to be hands on. We'll be really flexible with people who aren't comfortable." Mark said people can bring items home to try on in the comfort of their home and when items are brought back they will be steamed and will remain out of circulation for two days, along with this, all fitting rooms will be sanitised after each use. EJ Menswear had a healthy online presence pre Covid-19 and thankfully they had, as online sales proved to be incredibly important to the business while the physical doors of the shop remained closed. "The pain and hard work paid off. The pain of five years getting online paid off. Otherwise there would have been nothing moving. We were surprised with the demand for online. There was no suit selling or dressy wear, it was all 'lounge wear." Mark said EJ's were distributing to all corners of Ireland during lockdown. Lockdown gave EJ's the chance to focus on their online offering. "We're usually so busy on the shop floor selling that online was always the side job, we just see the potential it has, huge potential." Down the street, another business has also relied on online traffic to keep business going during lockdown. Linda Foley in Cordners Shoes told The Sligo Champion that trading online while the shop was closed was 'a God send'. Opening the doors on Monday, the well established shoe shop had customers waiting outside. "There has been a steady stream of people coming in. We are up and running now and we're just getting used to it." Asked how she and staff are adjusting to the new way of conducting business, Ms Foley said it is 'different'. "It is very much different, we're in close contact with customers. You go into supermarkets and you can ask them for something across the screen, here is a bit more difficult." Ms Foley said getting up close especially when fitting children with shoes is very important and something she and staff are conscious of. The shop has installed screens in the children's department to allow for safe fittings. "The screen is so children can sit behind and the staff member is the other side, so there's a screen between the two people and staff are wearing masks and face shields. We have been inundated with queries for kids' shoes, because parents trying to do fittings is really difficult." Striking a balance of customer experience and online, Ms Foley said customers looking to purchase shoes can browse online and then come into the store to fit on shoes. "People can't really browse anymore, so they can look at a couple of styles online and then come into the store. We can only allow for a certain amount of people in the store." The store did not lay off any staff, with all staff members back to work. Ms Foley said the business community is happy to be back trading overall and are all helping each other with ways to adapt to the new way of business. There are also floor markings for shoppers to follow and hand sanitisation stations on entry. Mohan Kumaramangalam By If 2019 is heralded as the year of his grand return, 2020 will be remembered as the year of his grand betrayal. As in the previous term, we have been asked repeatedly this year to trust the intent and wisdom of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the past, such has been the blindness of this trust that it did not question any of his decisions, and sought to crush any and all voices that were raised in opposition. However, this term, from the questions that rose during the CAA protests to the mishandling of the economy and the recent corona-induced crises, voices of support have progressively grown silent and our trust in him has begun to weaken, if not completely broken. Described by some psychologists as the lubricant of our social system, trust is perhaps the most important social good in India. Given the levels of information asymmetry, the lack of accountability, and the delays in natural justice in our country, it is almost impossible to live ones life without trust. Trust is unique in that it does not always manifest itself as an emotion. It also works on a completely rational level, especially in the context of relationships between economic actors. Indias economy runs on trust right from the ability to get credit and employment to payments and investments. But now, the trust that we placed in the leader of our nation has been broken. The trust that we could feel safe as he would be vigilant not only about protecting us from enemies north of our borders but also from threats to our overall health; that the pain we felt as we stood in line for hours to get our own money, lost our jobs or shut down our small business was in service of building a modern and resilient national economy. A recent RTI filed by Saket Gokhale showed that only 19% of all international arrivals from the time we discovered the virus had entered our borders on January 30 to the day the lockdown was announced had been screened. The Centre spent February celebrating US President Donald Trump in Gujarat and March trading horses in Madhya Pradesh. In a laissez-faire approach that has become its signature, the Centre announced the lockdown with only four hours of notice, leaving many stranded around the country. Then came the telltale signs of an unplanned execution delays in certifying test labs or procuring test kits, delays in providing frontline workers with adequate PPE kits and finally, an unintended revelation in court that we were massively overpaying for faulty test kits. While this was happening, the PM was asking us to wear masks, wash our hands, bang plates and light lamps, asking employers at the same time to pay their workers. The poorest amongst us, struggling for one square meal a day, listened to him, banged their empty plates, turned on their camera flash on their zero balance phones and waited for their employers to comply. When it didnt happen, unable to afford medicine or even soap, they washed their hands in dirt, ate half-cooked rations and tried to sustain themselves on the generous bounty of `1,500 for 60 days. They hoped their trust on this man and his government would not be taken for granted. As we went from Lockdown 1 to Lockdown 2, their despair grew and what resulted was a humanitarian crisis the likes of which we have not seen since Partition. Lakhs of people began their long march home, sometimes stretching close to a 1,000 kilometres, with whatever little money and rations they had. Many have asked: Why did they not wait? Were state governments not giving them rations? They were walking home to return to their families and communities, people who were still in their circle of trusta vaunted position the PM had just been ousted from. The PM has asked us to place our trust in him through every tough decision he has taken that has ironically only been tough for us. From demonetisation, a faulty GST, insufficient MSP for farmers, reductions in scholarships for higher education to the continuing draconian taxes on fuel, every section of society has had to suffer hardships courtesy the PMs hard decisions. He is willing to trust corporates with a tax cut to invest the money they save. He is willing to trust banks to lend to those who are starved of any credit. He is willing to trust foreign governments to reciprocate our generosity in sending them essential drugs when we might not have had enough for ourselves. However, he refuses to trust our poor with some money to buy essentials, our middle class with a slightly heavier pocket every time they buy fuel, and our small to medium businesses with resources to employ our youth. The PM erroneously believes that our trust in him is constant while it is actually reciprocal. The first and most important test of whether people are willing to trust him again is going to be in the Bihar Assembly elections to be held a few months from now. I cant help but wonder if the father who rode pillion on a cycle his daughter pedalled 1,200 kilometres from Delhi to Darbhanga will ever be willing to trust his PM again. Mohan Kumaramangalam President, TN Professionals Congress and Working President, TN Congress Committee (Email: mohan2k4@gmail.com) Lt. Bert Gamin, a Brevard County Deputy and president of the local Fraternal Order of Police has resigned after posting an inflammatory post on Facebook A Florida police union head has resigned after posting a Facebook message encouraging 'violent' cops to move to his state. Lt. Bert Gamin, a Brevard County Deputy and president of the local Fraternal Order of Police, tended his resignation Thursday after he was suspended with pay earlier in the week. Last Saturday, Gamin logged into the Bevard FOP Facebook page and posted: 'Hey Buffalo 57 ... and Atlanta 6 ... we are hiring in Florida. Lower taxes, no spineless leadership or dumb mayors rambling on at press conferences ... Plus ... we got your back!' Gamin was referring to the 57 police officers in Buffalo, New York who stepped down from their department's crowd control unit last week, outraged over the suspensions of two fellow officers who shoved a 75-year-old protester to the ground. The reference to the 'Atlanta 6' pertained to half a dozen officers in that city who used stun guns on two college students pulled from a car during a large protest. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey described Gamin's post as 'despicable' and 'disgusting'. Gamin apologized for the post on Monday - the same day he was suspended from the police department, which announced it was commencing an investigation. Last Saturday, Gamin logged into the Bevard FOP Facebook page and posted this controversial message Gamin was referring to the 57 police officers in Buffalo, New York who stepped down from their department's crowd control unit last week, outraged over the suspensions of two fellow officers who shoved a 75-year-old protester the ground Martin Gugino, a 75-year-old protester, was injured after being pushed to the ground in Buffalo last week Expressing his remorse over his message, Garmin stated: 'In my recent FB post, I let my emotions and frustration with all the negative media portrayals of law enforcement get the better of me. 'My intent was to rebut some of the negative messaging and offer a supportive message to all the men and women in law enforcement, clearly I failed. I offer this to you not as an excuse, but simply as an insight to my thoughts. I admit that my post was insensitive and wrong and that it did not convey the actual thought that I was trying to communicate.' However, by Thursday he had tended his resignation to the Brevard Police Department - a place he had worked for 26 years. He will be eligible for retirement due to the length of time he served with the force. Gamin's reference to the 'Atlanta 6' pertained to half a dozen officers in that city who used stun guns on two college students pulled from a car that was in traffic during a large protest One of the victims screams in terror as an Atlanta officer aims a Taser at her and deploys it Ivey told a news conference on Friday: 'While there's no question that each of us has a First Amendment right to express our opinions and feelings, Lieutenant Gamin's comments showed very poor judgment and caused considerable embarrassment for this agency.' According to Florida Today, Ivey also revealed that an investigation into Gamin's personnel file showed a 'concerning' report from 15 years ago, in which he spoke to a subordinate with 'alleged racial overtones'. Gamin was reportedly 'spoken to' about that incident, but was not disciplined. Sheriff Ivey was not in charge of the department at the time. Gamin's retirement means he will also from the Brevard Fraternal Order of Police. The FOP is a law enforcement union that reports 346,000 members organized in 2,100 local chapters. By Express News Service JEYPORE: The district administration on Thursday started inquiry into the alleged tonsuring of two girls of Mali community by villagers of Badaliguda in Jeypore block. On June 8, leaders of Mali Samaj Bikash Parishad had met the Collector and SP to demand immediate action against those involved in the act. According to sources, one Arjun Mali, a member of the community, had died on May 17. But, the last rituals could not be performed as he had no son. When his two daughters came forward to conduct the rites, the villagers including some relatives did not allow them on grounds they had accepted food from lower castes earlier. Some villagers asked the girls to shave their head in order to participate in the tenth day death rituals. They were allowed to take part only after complying with the diktat. The duo had then informed the Mali Samaj about the incident. Jeypore Sub Collector LN Behera said, We will take necessary action as per law after the inquiry is over. As the United States approaches five months since from the first coronavirus patient was confirmed, the country on Thursday surpassed the staggering milestone of 2 million cases, according to data analyzed by The Washington Post. The United States as of Thursday had at least 2,012,031 confirmed cases of covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, with patients testing positive in all 50 states. Officials believe the first known case of the disease emerged on Jan. 17 in Snohomish County, Wash.; four days earlier, the 35-year-old patient had returned from visiting family in Wuhan, China, where virus was first reported. Although states have been able to confirm more new cases as testing capacity has increased from the early months of the outbreak, testing nationwide has remained short of goals set by health experts. And the numbers of where the outbreak is growing serve as a troubling reminder that the country is far from identifying new sources of infection - let alone containing it. States that recorded higher infection rates in the initial months of the outbreak continue to see declines, like Illinois, Michigan, New York and Washington. But the average number of new cases is increasing in places like Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Utah - states that previously had lower rates of infection. New infections in those states started to climb - along with hospitalizations - just before Memorial Day, when many states started to ease stay-at-home restrictions. Former Food and Drug Administration commissioner Scott Gottlieb warned Thursday that a resurgence of coronavirus cases in several states is a sign that the local authorities haven't been able to isolate the source of the infection. "When you look at states like Arizona and Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina - those are where the big outbreaks are right now; Florida to some degree seems to be going up - it's not a second wave. They never really got rid of the first wave," Gottlieb said during his appearance on CNBC. States like Texas that for months have seen relatively low infection rates still had persistent infection, Gottlieb added. "Now, we're starting to see it go back up as they reopen." Ashish Jha, who directs the Harvard Global Health Institute, said the post-Memorial Day rise in infections in states that have not yet been hard hit by virus is a clear concern. Jha said he looks at testing rates, hospitalizations, total cases and the death toll to assess how the nation is managing the pandemic and what might explain the spike in cases. "How much of that can be explained by testing?" Jha said during a "Today" show appearance Thursday. "Some of what we're seeing can be, but not all of it by any means." At least five states on Thursday reported four-digit increases in the daily number of new cases. The single-day sum of new cases from Arizona, California, Florida, North Carolina and Texas alone totaled 8,007, according to data tracked by The Post. Arizona, which has seen one of the worst surges in cases, has averaged more than 1,000 new confirmed cases every day this week. The surge in infections is already stressing the state's hospital system, with one official warning Arizona could run out of hospital beds in a few weeks. "If we continue for the next several weeks like we have the past few, it's very possible that we'll run out of capacity in our hospitals and ICUs sometime in early July," Joe Gerald, program director for public health policy and management at the University of Arizona's Zuckerman College of Public Health, said earlier this week. Since the start of the outbreak, more than 111,000 people in the United States have died of covid-19 - a figure Jha, of the Harvard Global Health Institute, warned could double by September if the federal government doesn't increase testing and contact tracing. - - - The Washington Post's Katie Mettler contributed to this report. FILE PHOTO: A 3D printed oil pump jack is seen in front of displayed Opec logo in this illustration picture By Alex Lawler, Ahmad Ghaddar and Olesya Astakhova LONDON/MOSCOW - An OPEC-led panel meeting to review the oil market next week will advise the wider OPEC+ group cooperating on a record supply cut, five OPEC+ sources said, meaning further talks would be needed on whether to extend the agreement further. OPEC, Russia and allies, known as OPEC+, agreed on Saturday to keep production cuts of 9.7 million barrels per day, or 10% of pre-coronavirus world demand, until the end of July. The reduction has helped oil prices to more than double since April. To step up consultations on the effectiveness of the agreement, OPEC+ also agreed that a panel called the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee or JMMC, will meet monthly until the end of 2020. Its first such meeting is on Thursday next week. While this is a more frequent cycle of meetings than in the past, the JMMC's remit is still to advise OPEC+, the OPEC+ sources said. This means any decision to extend the supply reduction agreement would not be immediate. "It's an advisory committee that can make recommendations," one of the OPEC+ sources said of the JMMC's role, declining to be identified by name. The JMMC is composed of OPEC members Algeria, Kuwait, Venezuela, Nigeria, Iraq, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, plus non-OPEC countries Russia and Kazakhstan. One of the issues the JMMC will look at is whether countries that have not delivered their share of the cutbacks could do more. OPEC+ on Saturday demanded countries such as Nigeria and Iraq compensate with extra cuts in July to September. The day before the JMMC meets, a lower-level group called the Joint Technical Committee will gather. Both meetings, like the ministerial talks held on Saturday, will be virtual. (Editing by Jane Merriman) Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) The Nigeria Armed Forces wing in charge of rehabilitating repentant terrorists, Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), will next month reintegrate 603 repentant terrorists back to their communities Young adults have filled streets across the country on a scale not seen since the 1960s to protest for racial justice after the death of George Floyd. But whether that energy translates to increased turnout in November is another question. They could make a difference in the presidential race polls show President Donald Trump is deeply unpopular with young voters with control of the Senate and hundreds of local races also at stake. But some activists are concerned their focus will be on specific causes instead of voting. In a normal election year, turning out the youth vote is challenging, said Carolyn DeWitt, executive director of Rock the Vote, which works to build political power among young people. Thats even more true now. Peoples minds are not on it. Voters under 30 have historically turned out to vote at much lower rates than older voters, though the 2018 midterm elections saw the highest turnout in a quarter-century among voters ages 18-29 a spike attributed in part to youth-led movements like March for Our Lives against gun violence. There are signs young people are getting more politically engaged. DeWitt said more people registered to vote through Rock the Votes online platforms last week some 50,000 than in any other week this year. The organizations social media accounts had as many impressions between Monday and Friday of last week as it typically has in a month, with more than 1 million. It will just be incredibly important to us to make sure were protesting now and voting later, DeWitt said. Thats not assured. The coronavirus pandemic has halted traditional campaigning as well as big concerts and festivals, the kinds of places where campaigns and groups like Rock the Vote and HeadCount typically recruit young voters. On top of that, lawmakers efforts to change voting laws in some states could restrict younger voters like college students. Joe Bidens Democratic presidential campaign is banking on these voters supporting him when the choice is a binary one between Biden and Trump. But thats not guaranteed. Our bar cant be: Are you better than Trump? said Cliff Albright, a co-founder of Black Voters Matter, which works to register voters and organize black communities. For folks who are angry, who are in the streets, or who are at home and not engaged, you just telling me youre better than this nut thats not enough. Many young people are still unfamiliar with Biden, and they certainly dont know where he stands on issues, said Heather Greven, spokesperson for NextGen America. The group plans to spend at least $45 million to target young voters in battleground states. Biden said during a recent virtual fundraiser he thought the protests will energize young people to turn out for him. Now they are engaged, Biden said. They feel it. They taste it. And theyre angry and theyre determined. His campaign hasnt made major changes to its youth outreach amid the protests, which started after a white Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into the neck of Floyd, a black man who was handcuffed and crying out that he couldnt breathe. Instead, Biden has stuck largely with an initiative known as League 46 that combines groups such as Students for Biden and Young Professionals for Biden. In an effort to appeal to younger, liberal voters, Biden has put progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on a climate change task force. But he doesnt support some of the proposals that energized supporters of his primary rival Bernie Sanders such as Medicare for All. JaMal Green, 24, an activist in Chicago, said he and other young people were disappointed by Bidens rejection of a call to defund the police, which has become a rallying cry for protesters. The former vice president said Monday an overhaul of policing is needed but can be done by putting conditions on federal funds. That position may reassure older and moderate voters who helped Biden win the nomination, Green said, but young people want to see more change. If not, theyll just say to hell with the election, he said. Many of the young people taking to the streets are focused on public officials with a more direct impact on their lives such as mayors, police chiefs and district attorneys because they see thats where the change is, said Green, a Black Lives Matter leader who joined protesters in Minneapolis. There were also protests in Louisville, Kentucky, over the death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman fatally shot by police in her home in March. Tom Bergan, 22, attended a protest last week in Louisville, where hes a HeadCount field organizer. In pre-pandemic days, HeadCount focused on registering young people at concerts and festivals, but thats shifted to more online organizing since COVID-19. For Fridays protests, Bergan printed off large QR codes that he hoisted on a poster board. Anyone who scanned the code on their phone was connected to an online voter registration page. Bergan said the crowd was enthusiastic, with many already registered to vote, and much of the conversations were around Taylors death and local changes such as the decision to limit no-knock warrants. He said the moment reminds him of 2018, when he volunteered with HeadCount during a March for Our Lives in St. Louis, as thousands of young people turned out in cold, rainy weather. That fall, turnout among voters ages 18-29 was nearly double what it was in 2014, with 28% of eligible young voters casting ballots, according to CIRCLE, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University. They were much more likely to support Democratic than Republican congressional candidates, 64% to 34%, according to an AP VoteCast survey of more than 115,000 midterm voters nationwide. That turnout is still less than in 2016 or 2012, presidential election years when about 45% of young voters turned out, according to CIRCLE, a drop from 2008, when Barack Obama was on the ballot and turnout soared to a level not seen since 1992. Will 2020 bring another peak? Thats the big if, and we dont really know until November, Bergan said. As a corpse sticks out from the back of a blazing car on a road in central Iran, a badly burned young Afghan who escaped the flames stumbles along the road. "Give me some water, I'm burning!" the migrant screams in pain. The harrowing minute-long video, which went viral on social media, shows a gruesome scene in which Iranian police are purported to have shot a car carrying Afghan migrants, causing it to explode in flames. Three passengers were killed while five others were hospitalized with burns. A video showed at least one of the injured handcuffed to a hospital bed. The grisly incident in Yazd Province on June 5 has caused outrage in Afghanistan and rekindled a long-running debate about the treatment of Iran's sizable Afghan community. It comes just a month after Afghan officials said Iranian border guards killed 45 Afghan migrant workers by forcing them at gunpoint into a river along the two countries' 900-kilometer frontier. The two events have sent Afghans protesting in the streets and onto social media to denounce Iranian authorities for what they allege is abuse and discrimination against the estimated 1 million Afghan migrants and refugees in neighboring Iran. Hold 'Perpetrators Accountable' Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on June 8 called for a thorough investigation of the incident. The Foreign Ministry said the same day that "no legal channel will be spared to legally hold the perpetrators accountable." The ministry said authorities in Yazd have admitted that their police shot the vehicle carrying the Afghan migrants. The ministry also said the video uploaded on social media was genuine. Yazd Deputy Governor Ahmad Tarahomi told Iranian state media that police fired on the vehicle, which they suspected was carrying drugs and undocumented migrants, after it crashed through a checkpoint. Tarahomi said, that after its wheels were hit, the car continued to drive on its wheel rims, causing sparks that ignited the fire. Since the incident, angry Afghans have staged rallies across Afghanistan, with demonstrators condemning Iranian authorities and demanding action from their government. The largest rallies were held in the capital, Kabul, the eastern province of Nangarhar, and the western province of Herat, where scores demonstrated outside the Iranian Consulate on June 10. 'I Am Burning!' Using the hashtags #StopKillingAfghans and #Iamburning, Afghans have been all over social media with the message: Afghan Lives Matter. The campaign was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement begun in the United States and the international outcry over the killing of George Floyd, an African-American who died at the hands of police in the U.S. state of Minnesota on May 25. His death has fueled rallies around the world for minority rights. "A boy screams for a drop of water, but no one gives him [any]. He is burnt. Where is [the] humanity?" tweeted Javid Ahmad Qaem, Afghanistan's ambassador to China, on June 6. Timor Sharan, a former deputy minister, said on June 5 that "words cannot describe the barbarism and inhumanity of this act by Iran security forces." Shaharzad Akbar, the head of Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission, said the incident in Yazd must be investigated. "[The] perpetuators need to be held accountable," she tweeted on June 6. "Human lives matter. Refugee rights are human rights." An online petition, aimed at the United Nations as well as the Iranian and Afghan governments, had received more than 53,000 signatures as of June 11. History Of Discrimination International human rights groups have long documented violations against Afghan refugees and migrants in Iran, including physical abuse, detention in unsanitary and inhumane conditions, forced payment for transportation and accommodation in camps, slave labor, and the separation of families. In May, dozens of Afghans illegally crossed into Iran and were detained by Iranian border guards, who allegedly beat, tortured, and then forced them to jump into the Harirud, a 1,100 kilometer-long river shared by Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan. Many of them drowned. Iran denied the incident took place on Iranian soil. But Afghan and Iranian authorities launched a joint investigation, the results of which have not yet been released. And in December 2018, a viral video appeared to show an Iranian police officer slapping, insulting, and humiliating a group of Afghan migrants. The UN estimates the number of Afghan citizens in Iran at just under 1 million. Tehran puts the figure of documented and undocumented Afghan refugees and migrants closer to 3 million. For decades, Afghans weary of war and poverty have turned to Iran to earn a living. Tehran has expelled many Afghans -- who are often blamed for insecurity and unemployment -- and periodically threatens those who remain with mass expulsion. Many other Afghans moved to Iran following the decade-long Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the long civil war that followed the Soviet withdrawal. Others sought refuge in Iran after the fundamentalist Taliban took power in Afghanistan. After the U.S.-led invasion that followed the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, some Afghans left for Iran in search of jobs, although hundreds of thousands of them returned last year amid a crippling economic crisis in the country. Thus far in 2020, it is estimated that more than 310,000 Afghans living in Iran have returned home, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Some have returned due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has hit Iran particularly hard, and the worsening economic situation there. Many Afghans take on menial work that many Iranians are not interested in. In 2015, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a decree allowing all Afghan children to go to school. But Afghans are still denied basic services, including access to health care, jobs, and housing. Former US under secretary of state Nicholas Burns on Friday dismissed suggestions China is winning the battle against Covid-19 and said the crisis should have been jointly tackled by the leadership of the US, India and China within the G20 framework. In a video conversation with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Burns said the sort of cooperation expected from US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi didnt happen, largely because the American leader doesnt believe in international cooperation and is a unilateralist, while Xi wanted to compete with Trump. Asked by Gandhi why there has been no global cooperation to tackle the Covid-19 crisis, Burns said: It is a terrible disappointment to me. Im sure it is to you. You know, this crisis was made for the G20. It was made for Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping and Donald Trump to be working together, all of our countries for the common global good. He added, Even the US and China are at the heart of the problem here. I hope when the next crisis comes, they will do better to work together in a more effective way. China, Burns added, lacks the sophistication and openness of a democratic country such as India or the US and has a fearful leadership. I think a lot of people right now are saying China is going to surpass, Chinas winning the battle of coronavirus, that it is gaining hearts and minds. I actually dont see that, he said. China certainly has extraordinary power in the world. Probably not equal to the US militarily, economically, politically yet, but its gaining, no question about it. What China lacks is the sophistication and openness of a democratic country like India or the US, Burns added. The remarks from the former diplomat who played a key role in finalising the India-US civil nuclear deal came against the backdrop of a border stand-off between India and China. India and China are currently engaged in diplomatic and military contacts for an early resolution of the stand-off between their border troops that emerged in public in early May. Earlier this week, the two sides began what Indian officials described as a limited military disengagement at three hot spots along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, which has been the focus of the tensions. Burns was extremely critical of the leadership of China, saying: China has a fearful leadership, fearful men trying to preserve their own power, increasing the grip that they have on their own citizens. Look whats happening in Xinxiang and the Uyghurs, and in Hong Kong, just to give those examples. He added, And I actually think Im hopeful about the future of India and the US. I worry the Chinese system is not going to be flexible enough to accommodate the desires of the Chinese people for human freedom and liberty. So I am a champion of democracy, as are you. I have confidence that democracies will survive these tests. Burns served in the US government for 27 years and as a career foreign service officer, he was under secretary of state for political affairs during 2005-08, the state departments third-ranking official when he led negotiations on the India-US civil nuclear agreement. The dialogue was part of Gandhis series of video conversations with global and Indian thought leaders on the Covid-19 crisis and its consequences on the Indian and global economy. In the past, the Congress leader has interacted with former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan, Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee, Harvard professor Ashish Jha, Swedish epidemiologist Johan Giesecke and Bajaj Auto managing director Rajiv Bajaj. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Twitter has deleted 170,000 accounts tied to a Beijing-backed influence operation used to spread propaganda linked to coronavirus and Hong Kong. The accounts aimed to spread messages favourable to the Chinese government's response to the virus and push 'deceptive narratives' about politics in Hong Kong. Twitter suspended a core network of 23,750 'highly active' accounts and a further 150,000 'amplifier' accounts used to boost the core accounts' content. Some of the accounts used in the campaign were old and inactive, and were either bought, hacked or otherwise stolen to host the propaganda, the findings claim. Twitter, which is blocked in China along with Facebook and Instagram, was being used to influence the perceptions of Chinese-speaking audiences on key issues. The deceptive network, which also related to exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui; and Taiwan, was largely an echo chamber of fake accounts without much further traction due in part to low follower counts. The social media platform also removed two smaller state-backed operations, which it attributed to Russia and Turkey, both focused on domestic audiences. Twitter has deleted 170,000 user accounts tied to a Beijing-backed influence operation to spread propaganda, as well as Turkish and Russian campaigns 'Every account and piece of content associated with these operations has been permanently removed from the service,' Twitter said in a blog post. 'Ultimately our goal is to serve the public conversation, remove bad faith actors, and to advance public understanding of these critical topics.' Twitter said the core 23,750 accounts from China were largely caught early and failed to achieve considerable traction'. Of the approximately 150,000 amplifier accounts, meanwhile, the majority had little to no follower counts and were designed to 'artificially inflate impression metrics and engage with the core accounts'. The accounts were tweeting mostly in Chinese languages and spreading narratives favourable to the Communist Party of China (CCP), China's ruling party, while continuing to push 'deceptive narratives about the political dynamics in Hong Kong' relating to the controversial extradition laws imposed on the administrative region. Graph shows the topic distribution over time in the Twitter dataset of China-related accounts Twitter shared its findings with two of its research partners the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and the Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO) in the US, both of which published their own reports. Renee DiResta at SIO said the network's coronavirus activity ramped up in late January, as the outbreak spread beyond China, and spiked in March. Accounts praised China's response to the virus, while also using the pandemic to antagonise the US and Hong Kong activists, she said. Occasionally, tweets contrasted Chinas response to the viral pandemic against that of the US government or Taiwan, or use the presence of the virus as a means to attack Hong Kong activists. Twitter attributes the operation to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), China's ruling party, which was already responsible for the approximately 200,000 accounts suspended in August 2019, the SIO said. ASPI said China is trying to link people's perception of the US governments response to the current protests those around racial equality and the death of George Floyd last month with the suppression of the Hong Kong protests. Hong Kong protests in June 2019. Accounts were posting in Chinese languages and spreading geopolitical narratives favorable to the Communist Party of China (CCP), while continuing to push deceptive narratives about the political dynamics in Hong Kong While the majority of accounts were created weeks before they began tweeting in late January, some were created as early as September 2019 and had remained dormant before being used in the campaign. 'This large-scale pivot to Western platforms is relatively new, and we should expect continued evolution and improvement, given the enormous resourcing the Chinese party-state can bring to bear in aligning state messaging across its diplomacy, state media and covert influence operations,' ASPI said. Twitter said the Chinese network had links to an earlier state-backed operation dismantled last year by Twitter, Facebook and YouTube that had been pushing misleading narratives about political dynamics in Hong Kong. The new operation likewise focused heavily on Hong Kong, but also promoted messages about the coronavirus pandemic, exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui and Taiwan. Accounts in the network were tied to local news sites for several Russian cities. A network of accounts related to this media operation was suspended for violations of Twitter's platform manipulation policy A separate network linked to Russia has also been removed, Twitter announced, made up of 1,152 accounts which were removed for 'amplifying content in an inauthentic, coordinated manner for political ends'. Accounts were linked with local news sites for several Russian cities, as well as Current Policy, a media website engaging in state-backed political propaganda within Russia. Activities included promoting President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party and attacking political dissidents. The tweets were primarily pro-Kremlin, anti-opposition, and anti-Western content. One account posed as a polling company 'independently studying Russian public opinion' and used leading questions to elicit pro-government and anti-opposition responses. The third network, targeting audiences in Turkey, included more than 7,000 accounts which were being used to promote positive political narratives about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Detected in early 2020, the network of accounts was employing coordinated inauthentic activity, which was primarily targeted at domestic Turkish audiences, Twitter said. SIO said it found batches of fabricated personalities from the Turkey operation, all created on the same day, with similar usernames. Detected in early 2020, a Turkish network of accounts was employing coordinated inauthentic activity, which was primarily targeted at domestic audiences within Turkey The broader Turkish network of manipulative accounts was also used for commercial activities such as cryptocurrency-related spam. The social media giant said it hoped to host an online conference later in the summer, bringing together experts, industry and government to discuss more collaboration in disrupting such networks in the future. The US State Department said in May it had found a network of inauthentic Twitter accounts with 'highly probable' linkages to China disseminating false coronavirus claims. Twitter pushed back on the assertions at the time, saying the 5,000 accounts the agency identified included legitimate non-governmental organisations and journalists. A Twitter spokeswoman on Thursday said the network it removed was not related to what the State Department had identified. MailOnline has contacted China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment regarding Twitter's report. Inside a meeting room at MasterChef's Melbourne headquarters is a giant whiteboard, so big it covers an entire wall. The controversial "floating sugar balloon" pressure test of 2017 in which contestants attempted a gravity-defying dessert was created here, along with a 2016 challenge requiring the use of liquid nitrogen. "We spend hours, days, weeks on end in this room, coming up with new ideas," says executive producer Marty Benson. "This year, we had to amp things up." MasterChef's 2010 runner-up Callum Hann says this year's season is tougher than ever. Credit:Network 10 Instead of casting amateur enthusiasts in MasterChef's current season, Benson invited former contestants to return for a second shot at victory. All have enjoyed successful careers opening their own restaurants, publishing cookbooks and hosting TV food programs since first appearing on Network 10's hit cooking competition. "You'll notice there are no immunity challenges against guest chefs this year," Benson says. "We decided it wouldn't be fair on the chefs because our contestants are so good." Police in Ho Chi Minh City are hunting for a man caught on CCTV setting a house on fire, leading to the deaths of three tenants on early Friday morning. A fire broke out at a rented house in an alley on 21E Street in Binh Tan District at around 1:30 am Friday, preliminary information shows. Firefighting police officers later arrived at the location to put out the flames. Police arrive at an alley in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City where a fire broke out at a rented house on June 12, 2020. Photo: Ngoc Khai / Tuoi Tre A 35-year-old woman and two young boys, aged 12 and 13, sustained severe burns and were immediately brought to the hospital for emergency treatment. They eventually succumbed to their serious injuries. Footage from CCTV cameras installed in the area shows that an unidentified man drove his motorbike to the house prior to the incident. Two vehicles are gutted by a fire inside a tenanted house in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City, June 12, 2020. Photo: Ngoc Khai / Tuoi Tre He was seen leaving small styrofoam boxes outside the house and setting them alight. The man then left behind his motorcycle and fled the scene. The Binh Tan District police unit is coordinating with the municipal Department of Police to hunt for the suspect. Several eyewitnesses said the incident had arisen from relationship conflicts. A CCTV camera is seen near the site of a house fire in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City, June 12, 2020. Photo: Ngoc Khai / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday (June 12) slammed the BJP and said that the Rajya Sabha elections could have been conducted two months back, however they were postponed for no reason because BJP's horse-trading was not complete. "The Rajya Sabha elections could have been conducted two months back, but they were postponed for no reason. The Bharatiya Janata Party wanted to poach MLAs in Rajasthan, but failed and hence delayed the elections," CM Gehlot said here while addressing the media along with Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot. Expressing confident that Congress would win the Rajya Sabha elections in Rajasthan, CM Gehlot said that the party is united in the state not a single vote of his MLAs will go to anyone else in the Rajya Sabha elections. "Our two candidates will emerge victoriously. Two CPI-M MLAs will support us in the election," he stated during the address. The CM and nearly 100 Congress and independent MLAs stayed overnight at a resort on Delhi-Jaipur highway amid allegations that the BJP was trying to poach ruling party legislators ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls. PTI claimed party sources as saying said the MLAs were asked to stay at the resort amid poaching threat. Earlier on June 10, the CM had charged the BJP with attempts to destabilise the Rajasthan government claiming that some of the party MLAs were offered Rs 25 crore each. Claiming a heavy transfer of cash to Jaipur, Gehlot said there were reports about the BJP's plan similar to that of Madhya Pradesh and some of the party MLAs were offered Rs 25 crore in cash with Rs 10 crore in advance. Ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, Pilot had on June 11 expressed confidence of winning the seats and said that their candidates will win. "Our party, MLAs from supporting parties and independent MLAs who are supporting us, all are united. We have more than the required number for the majority. Our Rajya Sabha candidates Neeraj Dangi and KC Venugopal will win," said Pilot. Congress Chief Whip in the state Assembly Mahesh Joshi had on June 10 written to the Director-General of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) alleging that attempts were being made to destabilise the state government by luring his party's MLAs and independent MLAs who support the government. A meeting of Congress Rajya Sabha candidates KC Venugopal and Neeraj Dangi with the MLAs will be held on Friday at the resort in the presence of other senior party leaders. For three Rajya Sabha seats from Rajasthan, the Congress has fielded two candidates, while BJP's two candidates have filed nominations. In the assembly of 200, the Congress has 107 MLAs, including six those who defected to the party from the BSP last year. The party enjoys the support of 12 of the 13 Independent MLAs in the state. The BJP has 72 MLAs and enjoys the support of three Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MLAs. The Congress has more than enough majority for the victory of both of its candidates. (With PTI inputs) Phelicia Jones was devastated five years ago as she watched a video of five police officers shooting a young black man more than 20 times in San Franciscos Bayview district after he refused to drop a knife. The 2015 killing of Mario Woods sparked protests across the Bay Area and reforms within the Police Department. Jones and others hoped to see real shifts in police conduct in San Francisco, but by at least one important measure, little has changed. In 2019, roughly 45% of police use-of-force incidents in San Francisco involved African Americans, while the group makes up just 5% of the citys population though not all incidents involved city residents. Latinos made up 21% of incidents, compared to 15% of the population. Those proportions have remained more or less unchanged since 2016, even as the total number of reported cases fell nearly twofold, from 3,750 to 1,985, The Chronicle found in a review of police data. The figures are dispiriting to Jones, who said the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody last month brought back all of the pain, grief and anger from the Woods case. Weve been saying enough is enough for years, but being black in America, no one wants to hear our cry, no one wants to talk about our pain and suffering, she said. George Floyd was the one straw that broke the camels back. The Chronicle review of San Francisco police data found wide racial disparities in both relatively common and serious interactions between police and the public. Black residents in the city have far higher rates of being stopped, searched and subjected to force which includes hitting, pepper spraying, and pointing a firearm than other races and ethnicities. The disparities have persisted for years, even as the total number of incidents has dropped. John Blanchard Were making incremental progress but we have by no means solved our disparity problem, said Catherine McGuire, executive director of the strategic management bureau at the San Francisco Police Department. The very next logical question is why, and thats a really hard question to parse out and there are any number of reasons for that. There were signs of improvement during the first three months of 2020 37% of use-of-force incidents involved African Americans though police officials cautioned against drawing conclusions based on records from this year because the pandemic may have impacted data collection and analysis. Meanwhile, black drivers and pedestrians accounted for about a quarter of all police stops during the last three months of 2019 and roughly 40% of nonmandatory searches. There were similar, though not as drastic disparities, among Latinos. More police coverage George Floyd protests: Sonoma County sheriff probes raceway noose as possible hate crime The stark and stubborn statistics have been a rallying cry at many of the protests that erupted across the Bay Area in recent weeks. People are willing to take on the risk of getting sick to protest because it keeps on happening, said Sanyika Bryant, lead organizer with the Black Priorities Project at Causa Justa/Just Cause in San Francisco. Its terrible that people have to make these impossible decisions, but people have to stand up and defend their lives and their rights. The racial disparities were at the heart of a 2016 Department of Justice investigation that launched after the killing of Woods and the revelation of racist, sexist and homophobic texts among some San Francisco police officers. The review found institutional bias within the department and resulted in a number of recommended reforms. To date, San Francisco police have completed 61 of the 272 changes born out of the Department of Justice inquiry, and 50 are pending due to requests from evaluators for additional information. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The slow pace has frustrated advocates and justice officials who are eager to see the changes fully implemented, but McGuire said the Police Department is making progress. The use-of-force policy has been revamped to prioritize de-escalation and officers are now trained in crisis intervention strategies. There has not been a fatal police shooting since 2018. The likelihood that officers recover drugs, stolen merchandise or other contraband after a search also used to be far lower for black drivers and pedestrians, suggesting there may have been a lesser threshold for patting a black person down or going through their car. Recovery rates are now roughly the same across races and ethnicities. A growing coalition of politicians, public officials and advocates are still calling for sweeping changes to how the police operate in the city, citing the long-standing racial disparities that have persisted through multiple police chiefs and reform efforts. Supervisor Shamann Walton introduced a resolution last week that urged the citys Civil Service Commission to prohibit the police and sheriffs departments from hiring law enforcement personnel with histories of serious misconduct, and Mayor London Breed has proposed reallocating police funds to the black community as a reparation for decades of systemic disenfranchisement. At a rally Monday at the Hall of Justice hosted by the public defenders office, a crowd held a moment of silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds the same amount of time that a police officer pressed his knee into George Floyds neck before he died. The group called for an end to discriminatory policing practices and misconduct that predominantly impacts black and brown communities. We need to examine every single aspect of this system, and see where resources can be reallocated for equity for the black community and other disenfranchised communities, Public Defender Mano Raju said to the crowd. These avoidable and tragic deaths at the hands of police are just one point of a system in need of deep structural reform. Joaquin Palomino is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jpalomino@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoaquinPalomino Congressman John Lewis, Civil Rights luminary, legislator, and a man of deep faith will join faith and community leaders for a special call at 8PM ET / 5PM PT on June 18, 2020. On the call, Congressman Lewis will reflect on the fight for Civil Rights in advance of the premiere of John Lewis: Good Trouble. He will also share how people of faith can get into Good Trouble in 2020. Faith leaders including Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC) President, Rev. Dr. Timothy Stewart and Repairers of the Breach President, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II will join Congressman Lewis in sharing messages of hope and empowerment for communities of faith. A graduate of the American Baptist Theological Seminary, Congressman Lewis lives out the teachings of his faith each day. People of faith will have unique opportunities to connect with John Lewis: Good Trouble, including the National Call, special digital screenings, and the Good Trouble Campaign supporting voting rights and GOTV efforts in 2020. John Lewis: Good Trouble Director Dawn Porter and Producer Erika Alexander will join the call to discuss the film that Magnolia Pictures and Participant will release in select theaters and on demand on July 3. The film tells the story of Congressman John Lewis, an American hero who, by refusing to give up the fight for racial justice, equality, and voting rights, is the embodiment of what it means to do the right thing - no matter what. As he puts it, causing good trouble. Leaders from across faiths and cultures are expected to join the call with Congressman Lewis hosted by Values Partnerships. To join the call with Congressman Lewis, RSVP at http://www.goodtroublecall.com WHO: Congressman John Lewis, Repairers of the Breach President Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, Progressive National Baptist Convention President Rev. Dr. Timothy Stewart, Director Dawn Porter, Producer Erika Alexander, faith leaders, community leaders, and people of faith. WHAT: National Call with Congressman John Lewis WHEN: Thursday June 18, 2020 8PM ET / 5PM PT WHERE: http://www.goodtroublecall.com WHY: Hear directly from Civil Rights luminary, Congressman John Lewis and learn how people of faith can connect to John Lewis: Good Trouble through special digital screenings and the Good Trouble Campaign in advance of the premiere of John Lewis: Good Trouble. RSVP http://www.goodtroublecall.com ABOUT VALUES PARTNERSHIPS (@VPIConsulting) Values Partnerships is a social impact agency. We develop creative engagement campaigns for diverse sectors and audiences, we provide strategic advice on complex issues, and we market and produce films and television programs with meaning and value. Quarantine for travellers arriving in Britain is appropriate now because the UK is becoming an area of low incidence of Covid-19, the deputy chief medical officer has said. At the Downing Street daily briefing, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam provided the medical justification for the introduction of quarantine for all travellers except those from Ireland. We are lucky in that we are driving down our case rate to the point where we are becoming an area of low incidence of Covid-19, he said. At that point then it becomes more sensible to think about what the contribution of travellers from abroad might be. Boris Johnson announced on Sunday 10 May: It will soon be the time with transmission significantly lower to impose quarantine on people coming into this country by air. Later, No 10 said arrivals by sea and rail would also be required to self-isolate for 14 days at home. Professor Van-Tam pointed out that the UK had imposed quarantine for arrivals from some locations early on in the coronavirus outbreak. We did it for at a time when the virus activity was concentrated into international hotspots such as Hubei province, South Korea, northern Italy. We are now in a very different world where this virus has spread completely internationally. Earlier, the transport secretary told the Commons that the 14-day self-isolation plan will not now begin until June. Grant Shapps said: The final details of the quarantine scheme will be released soon and come in early next month. Airlines and holiday companies are increasingly frustrated that the starting date of the self-isolation measure has not yet been announced. Tui and Jet2 are still hoping to re-start operations in the second half of June, but cannot guide prospective holidaymakers on the likelihood of their trips going ahead. A senior travel industry source told The Independent: The cabinet is broadly split, but that doesn't matter as quarantine is what Dominic Cummings thinks we should do. Women in the Life of Jesus, the Christ: A Study of the Women Who Appear in the Gospels During the Life of Jesus: an illuminating study on significant women who were related to Jesuss life in some way and especially those who have interacted with Him on His stay here on earth. Women in the Life of Jesus, the Christ: A Study of the Women Who Appear in the Gospels During the Life of Jesus is the creation of published author Dr. James O. Pellicer, a professor emeritus. He has been a professor of Hispanic American literature in undergraduate studies and a professor of Western thought in graduate studies for forty years at Hunter College, City of University of New York. Dr. Pellicer shares, Although there are works dedicated to the women who had something to do with Jesus during His earthly lifesuch as his mother and Mary Magdalene (one of mine is included in this group)there are some works whose authors have been extremely meticulous and counted each and all nineteen women who appear in the canonical gospels, no matter how briefly, and had something to do with Jesus. By adding the mention of some legends, Scottish mainly, in reference to a son of Jesus and Mary MagdaleneJohn Francisa new angle has been opened in this study, the one of the sexual relations between Jesus and Mary. Was she the wife of Jesus, as several details seem to indicate? The theme has been complicated by the Roman Catholic Churchs attitude toward sex, mainly after its decree obligating all church ministers to total celibacy in order to serve the altar (Second Lateran Council, 1139, confirmed by the Council Trent in 1563). After such a disastrous legislation, sex and sexual relations acquired the aspect of a sort of evil, instead of being what God has planned from the first day of creation: The God Lord said, It is not good for the men to be alone: I will make a helper suitable for him (Gen. 2:18). Later, Jesus Himself confirmed the statement by saying, A manshall be joined by his wife and the two shall become one flesh (Matt. 19:312). Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Dr. James O. Pellicers new book is a compelling manuscript that shares to the readers details of Jesuss interactions and connection with the women mentioned in the Bible. This brings to light how each of them is of significance to His journey. View a synopsis of Women in the Life of Jesus, the Christ: A Study of the Women Who Appear in the Gospels During the Life of Jesus on YouTube. Consumers can purchase Women in the Life of Jesus, the Christ: A Study of the Women Who Appear in the Gospels During the Life of Jesus at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Women in the Life of Jesus, the Christ: A Study of the Women Who Appear in the Gospels During the Life of Jesus, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Newark is slated to divert about $11.4 million from the citys $228 million public safety budget toward violence prevention programs amid a growing push from activists to defund the police after George Floyds death. City council on Wednesday passed a first reading of an ordinance supported by Mayor Ras Baraka to take 5% from the citys public safety budget to create a new Office of Violence Prevention. The office will provide social services and be located in the citys First Precinct, which would also be repurposed into a museum under the ordinance. The mayor said Thursday he does not want to abolish the police department, an idea that has been gaining traction after Minneapolis moved ahead with eliminating its own police without another public safety plan. Baraka said eliminating the police entirely is a bourgeois, liberal approach that takes away attention from reforms. We have all our energy focused on police, as if once you get rid of the police, so goes away white supremacy, institutional racism, poverty, all the other issues that led to this, he told reporters. ...All of Americas institutions have the same problem that the police department has. All of them. The police just have guns. Baraka expects there will be no reduction in the police force should the ordinance pass. The measure gained full approval from the council with one abstention from Councilman-at-Large Carlos Gonzalez. Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said he supports the budgetary shift since about 25% of calls cops respond to are for non-police related services, like a child not doing their homework or someone going through a mental health episode. If counselors or social workers responded to those calls instead of police, he said, it would free up the department to tackle more crime. Definitely, I dont foresee this being a problem," he said. Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, flanked by local and state officials, announced a drop in Newark's 2018 crime rate. (Karen Yi | NJ Advance Media) The public safety director just last year credited a 50-year-low in crime to more cops walking the streets. When asked about it Thursday, Ambrose said in addition to city cops, partnerships with federal, state and county law enforcement as well as community groups like the Newark Community Street Team, also aided in that reduction. The citys police department lost many around 2014 due to pension reforms, Ambrose said, and there were layoffs in 2010, too. In the last five years, he added, the city has hired about 600 new police officers who are likely to stay on for 30 years to collect their pensions. The ordinance also creates a registry of hate groups, which would include the Ku Klux Klan, and ban them from the city. Any acts of racism or racial discrimination by city employees would result in termination and any coworkers who do not intervene would also be fired. New Afrikan Black Panther Party Chairman Shaka Zulu wants to eliminate the current system of police and then elect a new police force to give residents more control. He doesnt want to ban any hate groups from the city since some consider modern iterations of the Black Panther movement to be racist, as well. Now (black and brown communities) should have the right to determine who the police chief is, Zulu said. It should be through elections who their chief of police is. There is, however, a push within Barakas administration to give civilians more control of the police department. Newarks Civilian Complaint Review Board would have subpoena power to investigate claims of police misconduct separately from internal affairs, but the local police union sued the city to halt its creation. The civilian complaint review board was created in 2016, the same time the city agreed to a list of reforms known as a consent decree after the U.S. Department of Justice found a pattern of unconstitutional practices among police. Newark Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 12 President James Stewart, whose group is suing the city, told NJ Advance Media calls to defund police are disheartening. Here in Newark the cops have been without a contract since 2017 and getting something done with the city is never a quick process, Stewart said. And now they want to take more? More groups have been calling on lawmakers and Gov. Phil Murphy to pass legislation that would allow civilian complaint review boards. But Baraka on Thursday instead said state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal can change guidelines right now to allow the review boards. Grewal filed a legal brief that did not support a review board with its most integral ability: subpoena power. A protestor stood on a police car at the George Floyd protest in Newark. Police in other cities around the nation have violently clashed with protesters, who have called for reforms ever since Floyd, a Black man, died after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes. In Newark, protests remained peaceful. Police mostly did not engage with those who marched in traffic and did not use force against protesters, even when there was a tense standoff with a large group at the First Precinct. That precinct, which was formerly the Fourth Precinct, was where white officers beat a black cab driver decades ago, sparking the 1967 Newark Rebellion. The precinct will close by Dec. 31, 2021 to make space for the proposed social services and museum. The police precinct will be moved, Baraka said, but a new location has not yet been determined. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Described as a rising young talent at Construction Computer Software (CCS) SA, Bonokuhle Magwaza is an automated QA tester tasked with leading the test automation of CCS's future cloud-based platform that comprises accounting and quantity surveying features. Bonokuhle Magwaza, automated QA tester, CCS Tell us a bit about yourself and your background. What drew you to a career in software computing? What are some your achievements in your field of which you are most proud? What aspects of your field are you most passionate about? What or who inspires you? What are some of the challenges young people face in your industry? How would you suggest they be overcome? The Covid-19 crisis is likely to have a significant impact on the opportunities available for professional development for young South Africans. Do you have any words of encouragement? What to you is the significance of Youth Month in 2020? You've been voted SA's president for the day. What's the first thing on your to-do list? Magwaza shares with us more about his experience in the software computing space, what some of the challenges are that young people face in the industry, and his thoughts on the significance of Youth Month this year.I am originally from KwaZulu-Natal. I am a parent, and I enjoy the outdoors.I was attracted by the fact that every industry, emerging or existing, requires a computer system to survive in the modern business landscape.Achieving global ISQB certifications, extensive tier 1 training in BI, and MS/SQL certification.Machine learning and AI. As an automation tester, I see a lot of this on the horizon.Elon Musk.Managing one's finances is a major challenge for the youth amongst any demographic. I think its attributed to the lack of financial education, social expectation, and pervasive marketing content. Financial education needs to be a mandatory part of tertiary education.There is always the inevitable fact that anything in life, as we know it, will change. Although the status quo may have been profitable, you have to see and acknowledge change, and find where the next opportunity may lie.My personal symbol of Youth Day, specifically, is the generation that this holiday commemorates. Most of the youth knew they would not see freedom, but they also knew their blood will nourish the trees that will bear the fruits of freedom.Basic education, introduce a skills-based syllabus to that level - be it professional, artistic or industrial - a learning approach that will develop them not just for tertiary life, but for the world. Not everyone has the privilege of going to tertiary institutions. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 04:51:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Thursday crossed another major threshold as its total number of COVID-19 cases surpassed 180,000; Meanwhile, China continues to offer anti-coronavirus help to Middle East countries. Iran, which has re-emerged as the hardest-hit country by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East region, reported 2,238 new cases over the past 24 hours, taking the total confirmed cases to 180,156. The country also reported 78 more deaths from the virus, raising the death toll to 8,584. So far, 142,663 patients have recovered from the infectious respiratory disease. On Thursday, a visiting Chinese medical expert team, sent by China's National Health Commission, kicked off their mission to assist the Palestinian fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chinese team met with Palestinian health officials and experts, including Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila. The Chinese experts also joined a panel discussion at the Palestinian Ministry of Health, during which they listened to a presentation made by the ministry's preventive medicine and public health departments to explain the pandemic situation in Palestine. Hu Peng, head of the Chinese team, said that his team was interested in the "comprehensive recovery and the treatment and diagnosis of the COVID-19 all over Palestine," as positive results have been achieved by the Palestinian medical staff. Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ishtaye hailed the visit of the Chinese medical expert team tasked with helping Palestine fight against COVID-19, saying it constitutes a message of "both medical and political solidarity." So far, 665 cases have been confirmed in Palestine, including five deaths. China on Thursday donated a new batch of medical supplies to Lebanon to help its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation, including 17,500 masks, 1,500 protective gears, 1,320 goggles and 1,000 shoe covers, will help public hospitals in Lebanon in the fight against COVID-19. Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian highlighted the importance of the cooperation among the countries to overcome the crisis. "Cooperation is the strongest weapon against the pandemic. China assumes its responsibilities to protect not only its people but also people all over the world," Wang said at the handover ceremony. Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Thursday by 14 cases to 1,402, while the death toll went up by one case to 31. Meanwhile, China's efforts to help the Middle East countries fight against COVID-19 have been hailed by regional countries. Sudan on Thursday once again expressed gratitude to China for its anti-coronavirus help, as a Chinese team of medical experts concluded a two-week mission of supporting Sudan's fight against COVID-19. "We thank the friendly state of China for this medical assistance and for the visit of the Chinese medical team which visited a number of medical sites in Sudan," said Omer Gamar-Eddin, Sudan's state minister for foreign affairs. Chinese Ambassador to Sudan Ma Xinmin, for his part, told Xinhua that China and Sudan, as close friends and strategic partners, have worked together to fight the virus. Sudan has so far reported a total of 6,582 COVID-19 cases, including 401 deaths and 2,202 recoveries. The charge d'affaires of the Libyan embassy in Tunisia on Thursday praised the medical aid from China, which has arrived in neighboring Tunisia and will reach Libya in a few days. Khalifa al-Azzabi expressed high appreciation for the historical friendship and cooperation between China and Libya, as well as sincere gratitude for the medical assistance that China has provided to Libya since the outbreak of COVID-19. According to Libya's National Center for Disease Control, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country so far hit 378, including 59 recoveries and five deaths. In Turkey, the total number of COVID-19 cases climbed to 174,023 after 987 new infections were reported, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Thursday said. In a single day, 17 people died, taking the death toll to 4,763, the minister said. Egypt confirmed on Thursday 1,442 COVID-19 cases, raising the total infections registered in the country to 39,726. Meanwhile, 35 new patients died from the virus, bringing the death toll to 1,377 in Egypt. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi attended on Thursday a virtual mini-summit held by the African Union to discuss the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the continent. The president stressed that facing the coronavirus pandemic requires close cooperation among African countries to limit the spread of the virus in Africa, Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement. The number of new daily coronavirus cases in Israel surpassed 200 on Thursday, for the first time since April 25. Israeli Ministry of Health said 214 new patients were added, bringing the total number of cases to 18,569, while the number of death cases increased from 299 to 300. Earlier on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that if the increase in morbidity continues, restrictions that were lifted would have to be reimposed. Saudi Arabia registered on Thursday 3,733 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 116,021. The death toll rose to 857 cases, with the reporting of 38 new fatalities, the health ministry tweeted. The United Arab Emirates on Thursday announced 479 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 40,986. It also confirmed two more deaths, pushing the country's death toll to 286. The Iraqi Health Ministry on Thursday recorded 1,261 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections to 16,675 in the country. It said that 31 more people died from the coronavirus during the day, bringing the death toll to 457, while 6,568 patients have recovered. Kuwait on Thursday reported 609 new cases of COVID-19 and four more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 34,432 and the death toll to 279, the Health Ministry said in a statement. Qatar on Thursday announced 1,476 new COVID-19 cases, increasing the tally of the confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 75,071. Three more patients died, raising the fatalities to 69, the Qatari Health Ministry said. Oman announced on Thursday 1,067 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 19,954. The country also reported five more deaths, bringing the death toll to 89. Morocco on Thursday reported 29 new infections of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the North African country to 8,537. The country's COVID-19 death toll now stood at 211, as no new fatality was recorded in the last 24 hours. Enditem (Los Angeles Times) A man was fatally shot by a deputy who arrived at his home in Lancaster early Thursday in response to a report of domestic violence, and his family is questioning whether the killing was justified. Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies responded to the man's home in the 600 block of West Avenue H12 shortly before 5:30 a.m. Authorities say the man's fiancee made a call to 911 and later told deputies she was assaulted by the man. "During the call to 911, she never speaks to the operator but rather the phone line is left open," Deputy James Nagao wrote in a statement. "For several minutes, arguing and fighting between the caller and the suspect can be heard in the background." Deputies attempted to detain the man, but he refused to comply with their orders and an altercation ensued. During the scuffle, the man reached down and attempted to grab a deputy's firearm, prompting another deputy to open fire, Nagao said. The man, who was not identified by authorities, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. However, the man's fiancee said her partner never tried to grab one of the deputy's guns. She told KCBS-TV Channel 2 that her fiance, whom she identified as 62-year-old Michael Thomas, told police from the front door that he had a right to refuse their entry and was attempting to turn away from them when he was shot. I heard Michael say, I have a right to not let you in my house,' the fiancee told the station. The fatal shooting comes as protests across the United States continue over police brutality and officers' excessive use of force, especially against Black people. Bradley Gage, an attorney for one of Thomas' family members, said he has "good evidence that the claim that Mr. Thomas was going for a gun is completely false," though he declined to elaborate specifically. "If he wasnt going for a gun, and the officers are lying about that, why would they be lying?" he said in an interview Friday. "There's only one logical explanation: Theyre trying to cover it up." Story continues Gage said he believes Thomas' death "was preventable" and alleged it is another example of unwarranted law enforcement violence against a Black man. "They broke into a mans home, early morning, without a warrant, without any evidence of any injuries or harm to the fiancee," he said. "I dont think a white person wouldve had their home broken into." The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau will investigate the shooting. A Hicksville, N.Y., company has acquired the Camp Hill-based Pennsylvania Dutch Candies. Nassau Candy, according to a news release, is a manufacturer and wholesale distributor of confectionery, gourmet food, and private label/customized souvenir products. Pennsylvania Dutch Candies is a subsidiary of the Warrell Corp. and specialized in nostalgic products and unique in-store candy and food displays for more than 50 years. According to the news release, Pennsylvania Dutch Candies customers include restaurants, tourist attractions, zoos, ice cream parlors, and gift shops. Over its tenure, Pennsylvania Dutch Candies has grown from a local Pennsylvania-based supplier to one that supports customers in all 50 states. Were excited to bring such an established, nostalgic brand like Pennsylvania Dutch Candies under the Nassau Candy fold, said Andrew Reitman, President of Nassau Candy South. Their line of wholesome, old fashioned confections and unique merchandising displays add a retro, old general store feel to any business. Our customers will love these new additions while Pennsylvania Dutch Candies current customers will enjoy access to our extensive lines of confections and personalized gifts. All will benefit from the additional sales team members, allowing us to provide even more personalized service. A spokeswoman for Nassau said, We have retained many of the key associates as valued members of our team. Nassau Candy earlier this year acquired the Island Natural company. The Camp Hill-based Pennsylvania Dutch Candies has been acquired by Nassau Candy in Hicksville, N.Y. (Photo provided by Nassau Candy) READ MORE Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Bengaluru, June 12 : Amid rising Covid cases in the city, all patients with Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Covid symptoms should immediately undergo medical examination at nearby hospitals, a minister said on Friday. "Most of the people come to hospitals in serious condition and it would not be possible to give them effective treatment. If somebody has ILI symptoms, it would be advisable for them to rush to the nearest fever testing centres for treatment," said Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar. He said 50 per cent of the 581 people infected with the virus in this tech city have already recovered and have been discharged. "People above 60 years of age and having ILI symptoms must be taken to such centres without any delay," he said. Sudhakar said the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has constituted 800 teams to identify people with symptoms in the city. "The job of team members is to visit every house in the BBMP limits. This requires the cooperation of the citizens to identify corona affected persons. It would enable treating them in the initial stages itself," he said. According to the civic body Commissioner B. H. Anil Kumar, BBMP has opened 31 fever clinics, leading to Covid suspects being screened at the primary health centre (PHC) level to avoid further spread. From March end, the fever clinics have screened as many as 13,351 people, out of whom 481 were referred for further testing which progressed to identifying three positive cases. Commenting on the rising containment zones, Sudhakar said the categorization and definition has changed for the zones now. "Hitherto, the entire ward or one km vicinity was declared as containment area. Now, only the house of the affected is declared as a containment area," he said, pointing out that the number of containment wards is not a big number for a city with a population of 1.2 crore. Sudhakar said it has also been decided to open hospitals to treat non-Covid patients as their numbers are rising. He said the government-run Bowring hospital will be opened to treat non-Covid patients. According to the minister, the state government is also considering a proposal to convert big stadiums into quarantine centres in the city. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Advertisement CNN commentator Angela Rye has called for all statues of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to be taken down because the men they enshrine were slave owners, she said Wednesday. Rye's demands come during nationwide protests spurred by the Memorial Day death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, during which Confederate monuments have drawn the ire of demonstrators with dozens defaced and demolished nationwide. American history is not all glorious... George Washington was a slave owner. We need to call slave owners out for what they are, Rye declared on the network Thursday. Whether we think they were protecting American freedom or not, he wasn't protecting my freedoms my ancestors werent deemed human beings to him. To me, I don't care if it's a George Washington statue or Thomas Jefferson, they all need to come down, Rye concluded. The attorneys comments came as part of a segment in which Daily Beast editor John Avlon argued that George Washington had spent his life trying to unite the nation. I'm not going to allow us to say it's OK for Robert E. Lee and not a George Washington. We need to call it what it is, Rye continued. I'm not giving any deference to George Washington or Robert E. Lee. CNN commentator Angela Rye has called for all statues of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to be taken down because the men they enshrine were slave owners, she said Wednesday Rye's demands come during nationwide protests spurred by the Memorial Day death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, during which Confederate monuments have drawn the ire of demonstrators with dozens defaced and demolished nationwide (pictured: The statues on the Confederate monument are covered in graffiti and beheaded after a protest in Portsmouth, Va) Protesters gather at a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee defaced with paint from ongoing anti-racism protests People stand around the fallen Christopher Columbus statue at the Minnesota state Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, June 10 Minnesota State Troopers surrounded the statue of Christopher Columbus after it was toppled in front of the Minnesota State Capitol, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn. The statue was later towed away The rapidly unfolding movement to pull down Confederate monuments around the US follows in the wake of George Floyds May 25 death, which has since extended to statues of slave traders, imperialists, conquerors and explorers around the world, including Christopher Columbus, Cecil Rhodes and Belgiums King Leopold II. Protests and, in some cases, acts of vandalism have taken place in such cities as Boston; New York; Paris; Brussels; and Oxford, England, in an intense re-examination of racial injustices over the centuries. The Navy, the Marines and NASCAR have embraced bans on the display of the Confederate flag, and statues of rebel heroes across the South have been vandalized or taken down, either by protesters or local authorities. On Wednesday night, protesters pulled down a century-old statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Richmond, Virginia, the former capital of the Confederacy. The 8-foot (2.4-meter) bronze figure had already been targeted for removal by city leaders, but the crowd took matters into its own hands. No immediate arrests were made. It stood a few blocks away from a towering, 61-foot-high equestrian statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the most revered of all Confederate leaders. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam last week ordered its removal, but a judge blocked such action for now. The spokesman for the Virginia division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, B. Frank Earnest, condemned the toppling of public works of art and likened losing the Confederate statues to losing a family member. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, who has proposed dismantling all Confederate statues in the city, asked protesters not to take matters into their own hands for their own safety. But he indicated the Davis statue is gone for good. He never deserved to be up on that pedestal, Stoney said, calling Davis a racist & traitor. Pictured: The decapitated stone head of Christopher Columbus after it was lopped off in Camden, New Jersey yesterday Pictured: Protesters bash the stone head of Christopher Columbus in Camden, New Jersey yesterday Pictured: A man sits on the base of the statue as officials begin to tow away the Christopher Columbus statue in Camden, New Jersey yesterday A man lifts the decapitated stone head of Christopher Columbus during protests against police brutality in Camden New Jersey, yesterday Also Wednesday, 80 miles away, a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis was torn down along Richmonds famed Monument Avenue, above and below A police officer stands near the toppled statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, as a person takes images of the statue along Monument Drive, Wednesday night The Davis statue came as the third to be brought down by protesters in the area after the Christopher Columbus statue in Byrd Park and a Confederate general statue in Monroe Park were also torn down It stood a few blocks away from a towering, 61-foot-high equestrian statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the most revered of all Confederate leaders. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam last week ordered its removal, but a judge blocked such action for now A protester spray paints the face of the statue of Christopher Columbus as the small group of protesters walked through Bayside in Miami and defaced bronze statue of Columbus and Ponce de Leon on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 On Wednesday night, protesters pulled down a century-old statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Richmond, Virginia, the former capital of the Confederacy. The 8-foot (2.4-meter) bronze figure had already been targeted for removal by city leaders, but the crowd took matters into its own hands. No immediate arrests were made The pedestal where a statue of Christopher Columbus stood is pictured on June 11, Richmond Who Was Henry Grady? Henry W. Grady was an American journalist and orator who helped reintegrate the states of the Confederacy into the Union after the American Civil War. Grady encouraged the industrialization of the South and also preached white supremacy, emphasizing that it was necessary for whites to remain in social control over the newly free blacks. A former managing editor of the Atlanta Constitution, Grady has been heralded for his vision of the 'New South' while also condemned for aligning himself with and promoting Georgia leaders who were considered to be white supremacists. Henry Grady Advertisement In Richmonds Byrd Park, a police memorial statue was also vandalized, with protesters dousing a bronze figurine of a cop carrying a small child in red paint. Workers were later seen removing the statue from the park entirely where it will now be relocated to an undisclosed location. Elsewhere, in the South, authorities in Alabama removed a massive obelisk in Birmingham and a bronze likeness of a Confederate naval officer in Mobile. In Virginia, a slave auction block was removed in Fredericksburg, and protesters in Portsmouth knocked the heads off the statues of four Confederates. The monument is believed to be located where a slave whipping post once stood, and removing it is a small step in the right direction, Portsmouth activist and organizer Rocky Hines said. It's not a history that we as a nation should necessarily be proud of. For us, the history is a lot of history of slavery and hatred, he said. It's bothered people for a long time. Protesters in Atlanta Georgia have gathered outside on the Capitol lawn for the last six days calling for lawmakers to a monument to John B. Gordon, a Confederate general and a former Governor of Georgia, which was erected in 1907. Gordon was a man who stood for racism and he stood for the Confederacy, and we no longer live in those times, one protestor told 11Alive. Gordon was a general for the Confederate Army, a Democratic Senator, and the 53rd governor of Georgia, but some also believe he was also involved in the KKK. On Monday, State Rep. Bob Trammell sent a letter to Gov. Brian Kemp requesting the statue's immediate removal, citing its nexus to hate in our state is overwhelming and its presence is both divisive and offensive. But a law Kemp signed last year would complicated such a process. Under that ordinance, if a monument is removed, it must be relocated to a site of similar prominence, honor, visibility, and access within the same county or municipality. The law also states they cant be moved to a museum, cemetery, or mausoleum unless thats where it was originally placed. Kemps office have said theyre looking into the matter but offered no further comment at this time. In the meantime, protesters have scrawled Tear it down and Black Lives Matter across the base of the statue. Demonstrators have also previously defaced a statue of 'Spokesman of the South' Henry Grady, an American journalist and known white supremacist who helped reintegrate the states of the Confederacy into the Union after the American Civil War. Earlier this month the statue had been covered in graffiti, with 'KKK' written at the top of its stone plinth and 'kill all pigs' written at the bottom. Calls to remove the statue from the city entirely now are regathering momentum. In Richmonds Byrd Park, a police memorial statue was also vandalized, with protesters dousing a bronze figurine of a cop carrying a small child in red paint Workers were later seen removing the statue from the park entirely where it will now be relocated to an undisclosed location Protesters in Atlanta Georgia have gathered outside on the Capitol lawn for the last six days calling for lawmakers to a monument to John B. Gordon, a Confederate general and a former Governor of Georgia, which was erected in 1907 Protesters stand on a statue of Henry Grady during a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of African-American man George Floyd, in Atlanta, Georgia A former managing editor of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Grady was also a known white supremacist Earlier this month the statue had been covered in graffiti, with 'KKK' written at the top of its stone plinth and 'kill all pigs' written at the bottom In Washington, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it is time to remove statues of Confederate figures from the U.S. Capitol and take their names off military bases such as Fort Bragg, Fort Benning and Fort Hood. President Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected the idea of renaming bases. But Republicans in the Senate, at risk of losing their majority in the November elections, arent with Trump on this. A GOP-led Senate panel on Thursday approved a plan to take Confederate names off military installations. Supporters of Confederate monuments have argued that they are important reminders of history; opponents contend they glorify those who went to war against the U.S. to preserve slavery. The Davis monument and many others across the South were erected decades after the Civil War during the Jim Crow era, when states imposed tough new segregation laws, and during the Lost Cause movement, in which historians and others sought to recast the Souths rebellion as a noble undertaking, fought to defend not slavery but states rights. For protesters mobilized by Floyds death, the targets have ranged far beyond the Confederacy. Statues of Columbus have been toppled or vandalized in cities such as Miami; Richmond; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Boston, where one was decapitated. Protesters have accused the Italian explorer of genocide and exploitation of native peoples. A Christopher Columbus statue situated in Houston, Texas Bell Park, was covered in red paint, with a sign reading: Rip the head from your oppressor tapped to its torso. A statue of Columbus was also toppled and burned in Richmond, Virginia, earlier this week. That figure also had a sign, this one reading, Columbus represents genocide. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is Italian American, said he opposes removal of a statue of Columbus in Manhattans Columbus Circle. I understand the feelings about Christopher Columbus and some of his acts, which nobody would support, he said. But the statue has come to represent and signify appreciation for the Italian American contribution to New York. So for that reason I support it. Protests in Albany led to a statue honoring Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler reportedly the largest owner of enslaved people in Albany during his time removed from outside City Hall. Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan signed an executive order Thursday afternoon, directing the statue to be removed and given to a museum or other local institution, where it can be displayed with the appropriate historical context. It has become clear that now is the time to act and confront the unfortunate history of our nation, Sheehan added. Police guarded Columbus Circle in New York City Thursday as statues viewed as symbols of oppression were torn down across the United States Statues with racist connections have been targeted by protesters around the world speaking out against police brutality in the wake of George Floyd 's death Governor Andrew Cuomo said he supports the statue of Christopher Columbus, saying come to represent and signify appreciation for the Italian American contribution to the state A statue of Christopher Columbus is shown vandalized at Bayfront Park in Miami, Thursday, June 11, 2020. Miami police say that several people were arrested for vandalizing the statue Demonstrators spray painted statues of Columbus and Ponce de Leon (above), another Spanish explorer who landed in Florida, in Bayfront Park with the letters 'George Floyd,' 'BLM' (Black Lives Matter), and a hammer and sickle, news outlets reported. De Leon was responsible for the widespread genocide of the Taino people in what is now Puerto Rico The statue of Christopher Columbus is seen on the ground after it was pulled down by protesters, in Richmond, Virginia on June 9 Overnight in Boston on the North End's waterfront another statue of Christopher Columbus was beheaded Graffiti is seen on a vandalized statue of Christopher Columbus at the Bayside Marketplace There is 'zero tolerance for those who hide behind the peaceful protesters to incite riots, damage property, and hurt members of the public or our officers,' police added in a news release announcing the arrests in Miami The pedestal where a statue of Christopher Columbus stands is seen vandalized at Bayfront Park in Miami Seven people were arrested in Miami Wednesday after they vandalized statues of Christopher Columbus and Juan Ponce de Leon. The arrests happened after a chaotic evening unfolded in the city where police were seen using excessive force with protesters. Demonstrators spray painted statues of Columbus and Ponce de Leon, another Spanish explorer who landed in Florida, in Bayfront Park with the letters 'George Floyd,' 'BLM' (Black Lives Matter), and a hammer and sickle, news outlets reported. De Leon was responsible for the widespread genocide of the Taino people in what is now Puerto Rico. Also Wednesday, protesters wrecked a statue of Philadelphia abolitionist and philanthropist Matthias Baldwin, covering it in paint and writing the world colonizer on the sculptures pedestal. There was even an attempt to topple the statue of Baldwin, who fought against slavery, fought for black voting rights, and built schools for black children paying out of his own pocket. He hired blacks in his shops when that was not the norm, said Joe Walsh, a member of the Friends of Matthias Baldwin Park to National Review. He was BLM [Black Lives Matter] before there was a slogan. The irony of vandalizing a monument to those who died to end slavery is lost on the morons who dont know their history, he added. Similarly, in Boston, activists defaced a monument to the 54th Union Army regiment, the first all-volunteer black regiment. Protests in Albany led to a statue honoring Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler reportedly the largest owner of enslaved people in Albany during his time removed from outside City Hall Rioters in Philly deface a statue of Matthias Baldwin, an early abolitionist who fought against slavery 30 years before it ended. pic.twitter.com/1HKrDusPBh Ian Miles Cheong @ stillgray.substack.com (@stillgray) June 11, 2020 Antifa defaced the statue to Matthias Baldwin in Philadelphia with the words "COLONIZER" and "MURDERER." Baldwin fought against slavery, fought for black voting rights, and built schools for black children. pic.twitter.com/9RMksuRkHP Ian Miles Cheong @ stillgray.substack.com (@stillgray) June 11, 2020 Peaceful protest on #BostonCommon demanding racial justice. Hard to see legitimate protest turn destructive #Shaw54thRegimentMemorial. Conservators on the way to clean the grafitti on all monuments in the #threeparks. @bostonparksdept pic.twitter.com/dGzrVbFZia Friends of the Public Garden (@FOPG) June 1, 2020 Historians have differing views of the campaign to remove controversial monuments. How far is too far, in scrubbing away a history so that we won't remember it wrong - or, indeed, have occasion to remember it at all? asked Mark Summers, a University of Kentucky professor. Ive always felt that honor to the past shouldn't be done by having fewer monuments and memorials, but more. Scott Sandage, a historian at Carnegie Mellon University, noted that Americans have a long tradition of arguing over monuments and memorials. He recalled the bitter debate over the now-beloved Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington when the design was unveiled. Removing a memorial doesnt erase history. It makes new history, Sandage said. And thats always happening, no matter whether statues go up, come down, or not. Activists in China have released a pangolin into the wild to celebrate new protections for the armadillo-like animal whose numbers in the country have dropped to near-extinction levels. Volunteers had rescued and rehabilitated the pangolin nicknamed Lijin after it was found by a fisherman in the eastern province of Zhejiang. This is a good start but this is not good enough, said Zhou Jinfeng, secretary-general of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Fund, the group behind the lone pangolins release. Just last year in Zhejiang, authorities arrested 18 smugglers and confiscated 23.1 tons of pangolin scales sourced from an estimated 50,000 creatures, according to Chinese state media. Story continues Mr Zhou said that efforts to halt the sale of pangolins in China have been buoyed by a rise in global awareness of the wildlife trade linked to the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan. The June 5 order from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration did not explicitly mention the outbreak as a reason for the measure, but the timing appears to indicate it could be part of Chinas nationwide crackdown on the wildlife trade following the pandemic. Scientists say coronavirus was most likely transmitted from bats to humans via an intermediary animal such as the pangolin. Trade in wildlife including bats and pangolins has been linked to zoonotic diseases that leap from animals to humans, and China quickly cracked down on the industry in a series of measures long-promoted by environmental groups. Lijin at the Jinhua wild animal rescue centre (CBCGDF/AP) This week, after volunteers unlocked a transport crate, the foot-long pangolin crawled on to the lush forest floor outside Zhejiangs Jinhua city, and its brown scales and pink paws quickly disappeared in the emerald underbrush. We will release a lot more soon, said Mr Zhou, who has vowed to free all pangolins in captivity in China. The increased protection forbids the raising of pangolins in captivity and the use of their scales in the nations mammoth traditional medicine industry. The US-based Save Pangolins group said Beijings granting of top-level protected status earlier this month was a massive win for pangolins after years of weak enforcement of existing restrictions. Big News: the government of China upgraded protection status of Chinese and Sunda pangolins to National Level I, the highest form of protection in the country.https://t.co/kkKkhYOb5H Save Pangolins (@SavePangolins) June 5, 2020 Pangolin scales are an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine and its meat is considered a delicacy by some. Environmental groups say poachers had regularly circumvented the original regulations to sell illegally hunted pangolin scales and meat, often sourced from Africa and south-east Asia. That has made pangolins one of the most illegally traded mammals on the planet with an estimated one million sold in the past 15 years, according to the Environmental Investigations Agency. Seizures have been recorded from Belgium to the Philippines. Mr Zhou said Chinas native pangolins have been all but wiped out. Over the past five years, volunteers have found only five where hundreds of thousands lived just three decades ago. He said the new protections give groups like his the right to sue businesses and individuals selling pangolin scales, but he wants to go a step further by releasing into the wild all captive pangolins in China and burning all confiscated pangolin scales, similar to how Kenya incinerated seized elephant tusks in a bid to end the illegal trade. Curated and arranged for the new generation, going back to the original masters/sources, the remixes include chart toppers such as Michael Jackson's " I Wanna Be Where You Are " and DeBarge 's "I Like It" alongside deep cuts from Motown's catalog like Sisters Love 's "Now Is The Time ." "Now Is The Time" is a unique track as it was originally recorded in 1970 and in 1973 the group recorded a version of the song which was produced by Willie Hutch and appeared in the movie The Mack, but was never officially released. As an ode to the 1973 version, Lord Finesse and J Zone (producer, drummer, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, and writer) recreate the song as if it was released that year. The instrumental version of the track will be included as the B-side in the 45 box set. The reimagined versions also feature collaborations from the likes of Dinky Bingham (the CEO of production/publishing company Dinky B. Music and a producer of gold and platinum hits for artists such as Changing Faces, New Edition, Kylie Minogue and Jaheim) as well as producer Tall Black Guy (who's worked with artists such as Gilles Peterson, Lefto, Anthony Valadez, Jazzy Jeff, Questlove, amongst others). Lord Finesse classifies the remixes to be his "best project to date." "I'm my own worst critic. If I like it, I don't think no one can really tell me anything," he explains. With that in mind, Finesse closes out the album with a mastermind remix of the critically acclaimed Jackson 5 medley "I Want You Back/ABC/The Love You Save." The standalone singles of those three original aforementioned tracks, alongside the release of their fourth single "I'll Be There," made the group the first to debut with four consecutive number one hits on Billboard's Hot 100. Lord Finesse (born Robert Hall, Jr., in February 19, 1970) is a hip-hop artist and producer, hailing from The Bronx, N.Y. and best known as the leader of the D.I.T.C. rap crew. In 1989, Finesse and his former partner DJ Mike Smooth signed to Wild Pitch Records, and the next year, the duo released their debut album Funky Technician (which featured production from future star beat-makers DJ Premier, Diamond D and Showbiz). Shortly thereafter, Finesse along with Showbiz & AG and Diamond D formed the popular New York underground crew 'Diggin In The Crates' (aka D.I.T.C.), future members would include Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild and the late Big L. Finesse's second solo album Return of the Funky Man was released in 1991 and featured guest appearances from Percee P and AG as well as some songs produced by Finesse himself. The title track, "Return of the Funky Man," peaked at #13 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. Return of the Funky Man started his career as a much respected hip-hop producer, most notably for The Notorious B.I.G., Dr. Dre, his fellow D.I.T.C. members, as well as for his third album, The Awakening. Finesse has also been notably recognized for having provided the vocal sample on the hook to "The Rockafeller Skank," the 1998 hit single by British musician Fatboy Slim as well as having produced "The Message" on 2001 by Dr. Dre. He was also featured on Handsome Boy Modeling School's 2004 track "Rock 'N' Roll (Could Never Hip-Hop Like This) pt. 2," collaborating with famous DJ's as QBert, Grand Wizard Theodore and Jazzy Jay. Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park make appearances, as well as Rahzel formerly of The Roots. Pre-order the Motown State Of Mind vinyl HERE TRACKLISTING DIGITAL I Wanna Be Where You Are (Underboss Remix) I Want You (Underboss Remix) I Like It (Soul Synopsis Mix) There'll Never Be (Solidified Soul Mix) Body Talk (TBG Mix) Now Is The Time (The Mack Revisited Mix) Tribute Medley (Underboss Remix) VINYL Side A Michael Jackson I Wanna Be Where You Are (Underboss Remix) Marvin Gaye I Want You (Underboss Remix) DeBarge I Like It (Soul Synopsis Mix) Switch There'll Never Be (Solidified Soul Mix) Eddie Kendricks Body Talk (TBG Mix) Sisters Love Now Is The Time (The Mack Revisited Mix) Jackson 5 Tribute Medley (Underboss Remix) Side B Michael Jackson I Wanna Be Where You Are Marvin Gaye I Want You DeBarge I Like It Switch There'll Never Be Eddie Kendricks Body Talk Sisters Love Now Is The Time (The Mack Revisited Mix) [Instrumental] Jackson 5 Medley: I Want You Back/ABC/The Love You Save Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram/ Spotify SOURCE Universal Music Enterprises Related Links umusic.com Biden should avoid sitting on any lead. Photo: Susan Walsh/AP/Shutterstock At a time when Joe Biden is enjoying comfortable leads in both national and battleground-state polls, its a good time for us all to remember the most fundamental lesson of what happened four years ago: Hillary Clinton lost the presidential election while winning the national popular vote by 2.1 percent, or more than 2.8 million votes. The current Republican skew in the composition of the Electoral College (or if you prefer, the wastage of excess Democratic votes in noncompetitive states like California) has not gone away, as David Wasserman noted last year: The ultimate nightmare scenario for Democrats might look something like this: Trump loses the popular vote by more than 5 million ballots, and the Democratic nominee converts Michigan and Pennsylvania back to blue. But Trump wins re-election by two Electoral votes by barely hanging onto Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Maines 2nd Congressional District. With that possibility in mind, its useful to look at the analysis of recent battleground-state polls (taken in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin) conducted by Geoffrey Skelley for FiveThirtyEight. According to the data Skelley assembles, Biden leads in six of them (all but Georgia and Texas). But heres the thing: In just one of them does Bidens lead match his national polling lead. There are two big takeaways here. One, Biden is in an enviable position in many of these battleground states. However, the second takeaway which is the caveat we mentioned earlier is that all of these battleground states save Michigan are more Republican-leaning than the national average. In other words, most of the states that will decide the presidential election are to the right of the country as a whole, and that speaks to Trumps advantage in the Electoral College. And that means Democrats shouldnt get at all complacent about Bidens national polling lead: Should Biden continue to hold a sizable lead, the chances of an Electoral College-popular vote split will probably be low. But if the polls get closer, the odds will increase because the eventual tipping point state is almost certainly among these eight states. But as it stands now, if Trump carries Arizona along with every state thats more Republican-leaning in those recent polls, he would almost certainly win the presidency. The other reason Biden needs a big national popular vote win is that he really needs a Democratic Senate to accomplish anything legislatively as president, and to the modest but very real extent he may have coattails, it could be crucial in close Senate races. That obviously matters in battleground states with Senate races, like Arizona, Georgia (two races), Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Texas. But it could matter even more in red states where a narrower-than-2016 presidential loss could be the key to a Democratic Senate win, such as Iowa, Kansas, Montana, and perhaps even Kentucky and Alabama. One advantage Biden has over Hillary Clinton in managing a polling lead is that Democrats are almost certainly going to refuse to be overconfident this time around. Uncle Joe may have to be up by 20 points before they relax for a moment. But in any event, he needs to go big or go home. W orkers have boarded up Winston Churchill's statue in central London to protect it from damage ahead of another weekend of protests. A protective barrier was placed around the monument at Parliament Square and the nearby Cenotaph on Thursday night amid concerns they could again be targeted by demonstrators. It comes after activists scrawled "was a racist" on the statue of Britain's war-time Prime Minister in as thousands descended on London for another protest over George Floyd's death. As pictures of the covering of the monument emerged, Conservative MPs were among those to speak out. Scaffolding has been placed around the statue of Winston Churchill in central London in anticipation of protests / Getty Images Jacob Young, MP for Redcar, wrote on Twitter: so sad that rioters can't be trusted not to attack the cenotaph, so much so that they now feel the need to board it up. MP for Rother Valley Alexander Stafford said it was a sad day for the capital that the Cenotaph had to be boarded up. those that want to attack this symbol of freedom and liberty make me deeply ashamed. Workers were also expected to board up the George Washington statue in Trafalgar Square and other monuments. The protests sparked by the death of Mr Floyd at the hands of a white US police officer ignited a discussion about the UK's imperial past historical figures often associated with slavery and racism. Two statues of people involved in the history of Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals are to be removed due to their links with the slave trade. Toppled slave trader statue lifted out of Bristol Harbour The Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust announced on Thursday that the figures depicting Robert Clayton and Thomas Guy will be taken out of public view. TODO: define component type apester Clayton, a former Lord Mayor of London, had ties to the Royal African Company, which transported slaves to the Americas. Guy invested in the South Sea Company, which was also involved in the trade. It comes after the statue of slave trader Edward Coulston was pushed into the harbour during an anti-racism protest in Bristol. Also on Thursday evening, video showed workers in hard hats scaling Colston Tower in Bristol city centre to remove the controversial figure's name from atop the high-rise building. The 15-storey tower block, in Colston Street, accommodates a number of offices. Hours earlier, Colston's statue was fished out of Bristol harbour after being pulled down and dumped into the water during an anti-racism demonstration on Sunday. Canadas oldest journalism school is promising to address systemic racism within its walls following a call to action from current and former students. In its response to the letter signed by numerous students and alumni of colour, Carleton Universitys School of Journalism said it would make immediate changes to its curriculum, consult with students on ways forward and have staff participate in training meant to address their implicit biases. This is going to be a work in progress, and we have been working on it for a while. And we have much work to do, said Susan Harada, interim director of the School of Journalism and Communication. There is a systemic issue. Its with journalism schools, its in the journalism industry. The school also said it is reworking its first-year courses to include a new focus on diversity, and will immediately begin recruiting its Carty Chair in Journalism, Diversity and Inclusion Studies. It will also make mandatory a course on Indigenous history. The action plan that we have is not something that we threw together after our students and former students released their Call to Action, Harada said. And I want to say this so that our students and former students understand that we have put thought into this. She said the schools examination of systemic racism was renewed by a broader conversation within society following the death of George Floyd, a Black American man who was killed when a white police officer pressed a knee to his neck for nearly nine minutes. The students Call to Action, she said, catalyzed their response. None of the signatories to the document were available for comment on Friday, but in it, they described feeling let down by previous promises from the school. Students can no longer be burdened by public statements announcing change and consultations that are not followed by action, they wrote. We need clear signals that these calls to action are being taken seriously before being asked for more input. And some of the specific actions the students and alumni suggested, such as a demand to deconstruct and examine the concept of objectivity, were not addressed in the schools statement, such as the request to re-examine the way objectivity is discussed in class. The concept of objectivity, a recurring theme examined in all journalism courses, should be thoroughly deconstructed to explore how the term became the industrys bedrock and who it ultimately serves and silences, the call to action reads. The school must, therefore, acknowledge that the current understanding of journalistic objectivity was created by white, straight, cis-male journalists whose human rights were never at risk by keeping silent in the name of their craft. Harada said that from her perspective, the concept of balance in reporting has surpassed that of objectivity. But this is another thing that is, I would say, done more on a person-by-person, instructor-by-instructor basis. This is not a rule. Its not a newsroom, its a university, she said. So people bring what they will to the table when they teach their courses. But this is certainly something that again should be talked about at the program-level, involving everybody. She said teaching the approach to journalism is something that will be discussed in the unconscious bias training. UPDATE: Peter Manfredonia was arraigned Friday on murder and other charges, stemming from the May 22 death of Ted DeMers and a home invasion, and ordered held on a $7 million bond. Police have not yet brought charges in the second killing. Manfredonia was also put on suicide watch. His attorney, Michael Dolan, declined to comment other than to say that Manfredonias family was not prepared to post such a high bond. Manfredonia has not yet entered a plea. ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A University of Connecticut student, who police say used a machete to kill a man, fatally shot a high school acquaintance, and then spent six days as a fugitive, will be arraigned Friday on murder and other charges, authorities said. Peter Manfredonia, 23, will be arraigned in Rockville Superior Court in the May 22 death of Ted DeMers in nearby Willington, Connecticut, Trooper Josue Dorelus said at a news briefing. It was not clear whether Manfredonia has an attorney who could comment on his behalf about the charges. Manfredonia is accused of killing DeMers, 62, and seriously wounding another man in the machete attack. Two days later, police say, Manfredonia stole a truck and guns and fatally shot high school acquaintance Nicholas Eisele, 23, in Derby, Connecticut. He is being held on a $5 million bond. He is charged with murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, assault, home invasion, kidnapping with a firearm, robbery, larceny, stealing a firearm and assault on an elderly person. State police said further charges will be filed in Eisele's death and the kidnapping of Eisele's girlfriend, who was later found unharmed in New Jersey. The search for Manfredonia then moved to eastern Pennsylvania after he was spotted in the East Stroudsburg area. "Our hope is that the developments that will be provided today will give the families and communities impacted some kind of closure," Dorelus said. Manfredonia was arrested May 27 after six days on the run across several states when he walked out of a wooded area in Maryland and surrendered. He declined to fight extradition back to Connecticut during a brief court hearing the day after his capture. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. The Government must clear with hairdressers and barbers about when they can open, according to Laois Offaly TD Sean Fleming. The Fianna Fail TD has called on the Government to give to the businesses and their customers as to when they will be allowed operate. He said the mixed messages coming from Government are unhelpful to an industry which needs to prepare for a very different approach to hairdressing than before COVID-19. It has been reported that a decision to bring forward the reopening of barbers and hairdressers to June 29th is being worked towards. No hairdresser or barber wants to put themselves, their staff or their customers in danger they need time to prepare and to implement strict health and safety protocols. The Irish Hairdressers Federation (IHF) has published 100 guidelines which hairdressers and barbers can implement which would allow the safe reopening. However, if the Government only gives the green light for reopening in the 10 days time then hairdressers and barbers will have a week at most to implement all measures. There is going to be a massive demand on PPE in the industry and staff will need to be trained in COVID-19 who is going to provide this? A taskforce would be able to provide clear guidance and help to the approximately 25,000 people employed in the sector. Hairdressers want to get back to businesses, customers are certainly crying out for them, but it has to be safe for all involved. The Government have to stop with the mixed messages and give reassurance to the industry that there is a plan, concluded Deputy Fleming. SAO PAULO, June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo Sabesp ("Company" or "Sabesp"), in compliance with the provisions of Article 157, Paragraph 4 of Law 6,404/76 and the provisions of CVM Instruction N 358/02, informs to its shareholders and to the market in general, in continuity of the Notices to the Market disclosed on August 16 and December 17, 2019 and January 16, 2020, that it will be signed on June 15, 2020: i) he Contract for the Provision of Public Services between the State of Sao Paulo, the Municipality of Maua and Sabesp ("Contract"), and ii) the Term of Adjustment for the Payment and Receipt of the Debt between the Municipal Environmental Sanitation Service of Maua ("SAMA"), the Municipality of Maua and Sabesp ("Term of Adjustment"). The main purposes of the Term of Adjustment and of the Contract are the transfer to Sabesp of the water supply services in the Municipality ("Services"), for a period of 40 years, and the suspension by Sabesp of the judicial collection of the Municipality and SAMA's debt, with an undisputed face value of R$ 3.5 billion ("Debt") as of March 2020. Through the Term of Adjustment and by simultaneously signing the Contract, Sabesp, the Municipality of Maua and SAMA agreed that the payment of the Debt will be made through the transfer of the Services in the Municipality to Sabesp for 40 years. Through this operation, the assets constituted by SAMA and connected to the Services are also transferred to Sabesp, which will directly exploit only the water supply services. The main aspects of the Term of Adjustment are: Withdrawal by the Municipality and SAMA of the appeals that may be pending in the legal proceedings between the Parties, as well as other measures provided for in the Term of Adjustment; Suspension of judicial Debt collection; Regarding the court order debt payment ("Precatorios") already issued and to be issued due to the Term of Adjustment, they will be suspended for the term of the Contract and will be given as guarantees for the full compliance with the Term of Adjustment; The amount in guarantee of Precatorios will be progressively reduced over the Contract period, until it expires at the end of the 40 years; If the provision of services is interrupted before the expiration date of the Contract, the Precatorios will be reactivated in their original position in the queue before the suspension, and collected; The additional conditions of the Term of Adjustment are as follows: a) Transfer, by Sabesp to the Municipality of Maua, in the amount of R$ 2.5 million with the purpose of equating the administrative costs to conclude the provision of the Services by SAMA; and b) All public servants and employees in the permanent staff of SAMA, comprised by 95 employees, will be temporarily assigned to Sabesp for up to two years, and Sabesp will be responsible for all costs connected to this assignment. The main aspects of the Contract are: The concession of the water supply services to Sabesp; The planning will be shared between the State of Sao Paulo and the Municipality of Maua, as set forth in the agreement in the form of a "Convenio" signed between the Sao Paulo State Government and the Municipality of Maua, and which establishes the associated management between the federate entities; The concession of the services to Sabesp was made by the Municipality of Maua and the State of Sao Paulo through an agreement between these three parties, complying with the same principles of the metropolitan contracts already signed in the region; The regulation assignments, including tariff, control and oversight of the services were delegated to the Sao Paulo State Sanitation and Energy Regulatory Agency (ARSESP - Agencia Reguladora de Saneamento e Energia do Estado de Sao Paulo) ; and ; and The tariff applied to Maua will follow the tariff table for the Metropolitan Region of Sao Paulo, as of January 2021 . . The Contract also establishes that: a) Commitment of investment by Sabesp in the amount of R$ 219 million (in current values) in water for the next 40 years; and b) Transfer by Sabesp of 4% on the net revenue of the water supply services obtained in the Municipality of Maua starting in the first year of the Contract, whose resources will be destined to FMSAI and pass-through to the tariff, as allowed by ARSESP. The Contract for the Provision of Services with Maua a municipality with a population of approximately 454 thousand inhabitants, settles the debt and allows Sabesp to provide quality services directly to the population, ensuring the legal, financial and asset security to the Company, its shareholders and creditors. IR Contacts: Mario Arruda Sampaio (55 11) 3388-8664 ([email protected]) Angela Beatriz Airoldi (55 11) 3388-8793 ([email protected]) SOURCE Sabesp Related Links http://www.sabesp.com.br But he added that the program should reach a majority of those impacted by the pandemic. He said he hoped it would help them weather the economic havoc created by the virus and efforts to control its spread. The Nebraska Farm Bureau recently estimated that farmers will lose up to $3.7 billion this year because of depressed prices and lack of slaughtering capacity. Nearly 60,000 Nebraskans remain unemployed due to social distancing restrictions that closed schools, restaurants and other businesses. An additional $16 million program will target people who lost jobs or have been unable to find work because of the pandemic. The Nebraska Workforce Retraining Initiative will provide scholarships of about $1,100 to retrain unemployed and underemployed people in high-demand jobs. The scholarships will be provided by Nebraskas community colleges. Applications will be accepted from July 10 to July 31. A third program will provide $40 million in infrastructure grants to expand broadband services into unserved and underserved areas of Nebraska. The grants will be given out to broadband providers for projects that can be completed by the end of the year. Applications will be taken from June 22 through July 2. Description GIS - 12 June, 2020: To speed up the digital transformation underway, a Mauritius Digital Transformation Agency will be set up under the aegis of the Prime Ministers Office to lead this transformation, announced, yesterday, the Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation, Mr Darsanand Balgobin, in the National Assembly during his budgetary intervention. In this context, he stated that the Central Informatics Bureau, the Central Information Systems Division, the IT Security Unit, the National Computer Board, the State Informatics Limited, and the Government Online Centre will be completely restructured. Furthermore, a new sandbox framework will be introduced to facilitate development of proof of concepts and pilot exercises to test the possibilities of innovative technologies, he said. Other measures in the ICT/BPO sector include: Setting up of a Data Technology Park at Cote dOr which will create jobs for the youth in the coming years. Creation of a Technology and Innovation Fund to invest up to Rs 2 million as equity in projects recommended by Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC). Introduction of a Public Sector Transformation Scheme by the MRIC to encourage innovative companies and start-ups to develop solutions for the public sector. Transitioning into a paperless system Minister Balgobin reiterated Governments commitment to facilitate Ministries and departments transition into a paperless system. The Electronic Document Management System, he indicated, is a major step in that direction. Our vision is to allow civil servants to have all their usual paper documents in digital format to streamline workflow and, hence, better service delivery to our citizens, he added. As a means to support this digital service makeover, a Government Digital Safe will be made available to each citizen and will be used for storing digitally signed documents in the Cloud. The objective is to give a Digital Safe to every citizen, he said. Additionally, to further ease the life of citizens, public departments will be equipped with an Electronic Queue Management System which aims at providing superior customer service, increasing efficiency, reducing perceived waiting time, and enhancing customer experience. Speaking about internet connectivity, Mr Balgobin pointed out that today most Mauritians enjoy high speed broadband internet at home, at work or on their mobile devices throughout the Republic as compared to 2014 when some 43% of the population had internet connections on their mobile. Mothercare Ireland is being placed into liquidation with the loss of 197 jobs. The family that owns the franchise in the Republic said its 14 stores will not reopen following the Covid-19 crisis, saying the business is no longer sustainable. In a statement this morning, Jonathan Ward, Managing Director of Mothercare Ireland, said the impact of the pandemic on the business to date is unprecedented. "What has become clear over the recent weeks is that store sales are going to be seriously impacted whilst social distancing measures are in place in the short term and longer-term as consumer habits permanently change. "When we factor this in coupled with issues we have in our supply chain, the business will sustain significant losses this year and will continue to do so into the future." Mr Ward said: "Our own projections on future store sales were very similar to 360 other companies in a recent Retail Excellence report. "We had already experienced issues with our supply chain in 2020 and when we factor the Covid-19 impact on top of this we are forecasting substantial losses this year alone. "Unfortunately our business is now no longer sustainable as it will continue to make losses into the future." The family said the news is devastating for the entire team and that it comes as a huge shock. The company thanked staff, customers and suppliers over the past 28 years. The company has been operating in Ireland since 1992 with outlets in the likes of Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kerry. General Secretary of Mandate trade union, John Douglas, says the pandemic has been tough for some retailers: Its devastating. Many of our members would have worked all their careers in retail. "Unfortunately this pandemic has changed the face of retailing. "Some companies werent able to adapt quickly enough or just werent able to take the hit in terms of the loss of trade, albeit temporarily, but the face of retail is changing. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Putting an end to all the rumours being spread through WhatsApp messages, the state government on Friday in a virtual hearing informed a division bench of the Madras High Court that it has no plans of implementing a total lockdown in Chennai, its surrounding areas or other parts of the state. Additional advocate general for the state, S R Rajagopal, made the submissions responding to the question raised by a division bench of Justices Vineet Kothari and R Suresh Kumar on Thursday. "Cases are spiralling in the city and the state has taken stringent measures to contain the rise. But till now there is no proposal to implement 100% lockdown. We are containing only the streets where cases are high by restricting the movement of people," Rajagopal said. The bench hearing the submissions soon asked whether e-passes are being denied to persons who are leaving Chennai to other districts. "The District Collectors are issuing the passes accordingly and all the messages that are being spread are rumours," he added. Meanwhile, in Salem, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami while addressing the press categorically denied the rumours that were spread online on an intensified lockdown in Chennai. He further said that criminal action will be initiated against persons who are spreading such messages. NEWS PROVIDED BY Catholic League June 12, 2020 NEW YORK, June 12, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue (pictured) comments on how some media outlets are spinning the Catholic response to the protests: Public trust in the media is abysmal, but not without reason. To cite the latest example of unprofessional journalism, consider how some media outlets, led by the Associated Press (AP) characterized the Catholic response to the recent protests. The story was picked up by many newspapers and broadcast news outlets. Nicole Winfield and Elana Schor of AP wrote a piece titled, "Pope Sends Strong Message to US Catholics After Floyd Death." And what is that "strong message?" Not to vote for President Trump. This is a classic case of spinning a story to achieve a political end. Referring to the protests, AP says that "the intensity and consistency of the Vatican's reaction suggests that, from the pope on down, it is seeking to encourage anti-racism protesters while making a clear statement about where American Catholics should stand ahead of President Donald Trump's bid for a second term in November." This is a remarkable statement. The clear message is that Pope Francis has entered the presidential race for the White House, giving American Catholics his tacit endorsement of Joe Biden. So where is the evidence? The reporters quote Anthea Butler saying that the pope "wants to send a very clear message to these conservative Catholics here who are pro-Trumpers that, 'Listen, this is just as much of an issue as abortion is.'" Butler is a curious choice to ask for a comment. The Ivy League professor is on record saying that "God is a white racist." If that is her opinion, why would anyone care what she has to say about the pope? Wouldn't he, the Vicar of Christ on earth, qualify, by extension, as a "white racist" too? More important, why didn't the AP reporters simply quote something the pope said that would verify their unsupported thesis? Winfield and Schor continue by saying "Francis and the Vatican have seized on [George] Floyd's killing" and that this "suggests a coordinated strategy." To this end they quote a church historian, Alberto Melloni, who contends, "It's not like seven people had the same type of reaction" by chance. This, of course, is pure conjecture. He offered no evidence of a "coordinated strategy." The reporters cite the pope and others who have condemned racism, saying it is a "life" issue, one that conservative Catholics, "for whom the abortion issue is paramount," need to acknowledge. But they do. So there is nothing to this. All Catholics, regardless of their political leanings, recognize that abortion and racism are "intrinsically evil." Indeed, that was the way the U.S. bishops framed these two issues in their document, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship." No conservative Catholic has criticized them for doing so. Proof that there is nothing inherently liberal or conservative about condemning racism can be found by reading the dozens of statements by U.S. bishops on the subject. Minneapolis Archbishop Bernard Hebda was first to respond on May 27. Two days later, seven bishops chairmen of committees of the bishops' conference issued a statement. This was followed on May 31 in an eloquent address by Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the bishops' conference. All condemned racism and violence. Washington D.C. Archbishop Wilton Gregory is mentioned for his criticism of officials at the St. John Paul II National Shrine who allowed President Trump and his wife to visit there. The event was planned in advance and the site was chosen as an appropriate venue to promote international religious liberty. Yes, it seems clear that Gregory does not like the president, but to suggest that this is part of a "coordinated strategy" is without foundation. Who else followed suit? No one. The AP journalists also mention that the pope phoned Texas Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso to congratulate him for his role in protesting racism. This happened on June 3rd, the same day Pope Francis made an address where he condemned both racism and violent protests. Seitz said the pope never mentioned the demonstration. More important, what the AP story did not say is critical. Seitz did not join with radicals: he participated in a prayer vigil, kneeling in a park, with priests from his diocese. Cardinal Kevin Farrell is cited in the AP story for his comments decrying racism. Too bad the reporters didn't quote his remark denouncing attempts to politicize the reaction to the killing of Floyd. The Catholic Church, he said, "does not want to take one side against another." If we do, he maintained, "We end up identifying our Christian faith with the ideological vision of the side we have embraced." Well said. It is one thing for someone like Joe Scarborough to put words into the mouth of the Holy Father by saying, "The pope is telling him [Trump] to cut it out." That is what this man does for a livinghe spins the truth. It is quite another for AP reporters to mislead the public. T wo sisters who were found stabbed to death in a north London park were killed by a stranger, police have said. The bodies of Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, were discovered in Fryent Country Park, Wembley, shortly after 1pm on Sunday. They had met with friends in the park at around 7pm on Friday to celebrate Ms Henrys birthday, and had remained in the park together after midnight after others had left. A post-mortem examination carried out on Tuesday revealed that the pair both died from multiple stab wounds. Homicide detectives now believe that the pair were murdered by someone who was "unknown to them" between 12.30am and 3am, and have appealed for information about the suspect. Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding said: What we can now say with some certainty is that Nicole and Bibaa were murdered by someone who was unknown to them. Nicole Smallman / Met Police We believe the suspect received injuries during the incident which have caused significant bleeding. Do you know anyone who has been wounded in the last week who is unable to account for their injuries? "Has someone returned home and perhaps acted suspiciously or tried to hide something from you? We also believe the suspect left the park via the Valley Drive entrance. Did you see anyone acting suspiciously in that vicinity during the evening of Friday into early hours of Saturday? You may have noticed someone who was injured." He said officers are "trawling through hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rubbish" from a local refuse depot to find items of relevance to the investigation, which officers believe were "accidentally cleared from the scene when mistaken for rubbish. Ms Smallman, who lived in Harrow and Ms Henry, who lived in Brent, were both daughters of former Chelmsford Archdeacon Wilhelmina Smallman, the first woman from a minority ethnic background to hold the title of Archdeacon in the Anglican church. Bilbaa Henry / Met Police Ms Henry was described as a "well liked and highly valued" senior childrens social worker Buckinghamshire council. Next of kin have been informed and their devastated families are being supported by specially trained officers, police said. DCI Harding continued to appeal for anyone who was in the park on Friday evening through to Sunday lunchtime and saw the group or noticed anything suspicious to come forward, as well as regular park users who might have seen someone acting suspiciously in the days before. He added: You may also have stumbled upon items of property, but not realised the significance of them. If you did, you may well have information that could assist us hugely. No matter how insignificant it may seem, please contact us. A 36-year-old man was arrested in south London on Wednesday on suspicion of murder. He was taken into custody but released later with no further action, police said. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the incident room on 020 8721 4205, via 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 3160/7Jun. By Express News Service CHENNAI: In a bizarre twist, the city corporation commissioner has said that all those undergoing the COVID-19 test within the civic bodys limits must subject themselves to home quarantine for a period of 14 days. All those coming into contact with them, such as their family members, must also do the same. This, coming at a time when the city is witnessing an average of 1300 to 1400 cases per day, has sparked outrage and rumours about testing being discouraged. Corporation commissioner G Prakash made the announcement on Thursday, while speaking at a meeting with representatives from ICMR recognised testing labs in the city. Totally there are 30 such labs in the city of which 12 are maintained by the government. Labs must collect details of all visitors, including their names, address, gender, age, occupation, and family details, he said. That apart, they must also provide information on who they came in contact with over the past 15 days. Isolating a person who has given a covid test until result comes is important. Symptomatic patients should be isolated for longer even if negative. But isolating everyone who wants a test for 14 days even if they test negative and are asymptomatic will keep many away from testing (sic), tweeted commentator and TV personality Sumanth Raman responding to the development. Government home kids positive The development comes on the heels of 35 children in a government-run home in Royapuram testing positive for Covid. The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the matter, and has asked the State Health Secretary to file a report on the spread of the pandemic in shelter homes in the State by Monday. The report should list the steps taken to provide adequate healthcare to infected children and the measures to protect those not infected. We have been told its because the warden was Covid-19 positive, said the bench. by Marian Demir An Areda Survey of a total 2500 respondents reveals 22.4% are against and 4.3% say they don't know. On the domestic front, the government's control and repression policy is strengthened. A law has been approved that expands the powers of neighborhood policeman. Erdogan fears the drop in consensus. Istanbul (AsiaNews) - 73% of Turkish citizens are in favor of transforming Istanbuls Hagia Sophia into a place for Muslim worship and prayer. Originally a basilica, it was later transformed into a mosque and is now a museum according to the will of Kemal Ataturk. The recently published survey is nourishing the controversy around the building, already at the center of a fierce debate last week after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had endorsed the recitation of an Islamic prayer inside. According to an investigation conducted by Areda Survey and published on 11 June, 73.3% of respondents on a sample of 2414 people answered affirmatively to the question: "Should Hagia Sophia be converted into a mosque and open to worship?. 22.4% answered "no" and only 4.3% said they did not have a precise opinion on the matter. As an example to follow for Hagia Sophia, the exponents of the nationalist and radical Islamic faction - including Erdogan himself, who is following this fundamentalist wave to maintain power - recall the cases of the Akdamar church and the monastery of Sumela. These two places of worship, originally Christian, were first transformed into a museum but today are full-fledged mosques. It should also be added that the current government, led by the majority party Akp, has also granted other religions the opportunity to pray in buildings that had long been forbidden to worship and used as museums or places of culture. These include the Armenian church of Surp Giragos in Diyarbakr, the great synagogue of Edirne and the monastery of Aho in Gercus. For the first time this year, Jews from Turkey celebrated Hanukkah (the festival of lights) in a public way. Meanwhile, on the domestic front, the control policy desired by the government and by Erdogan himself is strengthening, decreasing consensus for the management of the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic and social crisis that the virus has triggered and fed. The new wave of repression follows the approval by Parliament of a controversial law that strengthens the duties of the "neighborhood policeman", a parallel force made up of about 28 thousand people. Thanks to the new standard they can inspect passers-by and their vehicles, verify identities and, if necessary, use their weapons. Another law currently being approved provides for the obligation for internet users to have an identification number to access social networks and messaging programs; an additional weapon to counter dissent and online criticism. This obsession with control represents the last frontier for the Turkish president, in an attempt to strengthen the grip on the country. And this happens for an electoral reason: according to the latest polls, in fact, Erdogan and his party seem to have lost consensus, votes and popular power over the nation. A former St John Ambulance first aider who secretly built up library of child pornography claimed he did it so he would be locked up and killed in the first case of 'suicide by prison mate'. Darren Kelsey, 54, from Salford, Greater Manchester, said he had thoughts of taking his own life but could not do it himself so devised the warped plan. In his suicide plot he claimed he trawled the dark web for images of children being abused in the hope of being caught by police and sent to jail where he would be treated as a 'nonce' and beaten to death by angry prisoners. Darren Kelsey, 54, from Salford, Greater Manchester, claimed he built up a library of child pornography hoping he would be caught, sent to prison and killed in the first case of 'suicide by prison mate' At Manchester Crown Court Kelsey, who resigned from the St Johns Ambulance Service before his arrest, walked free from the dock but a judge cast doubt over his 'bizarre excuse'. When detectives raided his flat in June 2018, after receiving intelligence he was downloading harrowing images of children being abused and sharing them with other paedophiles, they discovered almost 1,500 images. Officers examined Kelsey's computer equipment including two laptops and a tablet and among the collection were pictures of young boys aged 10 having sex with each other. The former St John Ambulance first aider resigned before his arrest Mr Andrew Mackintosh, prosecuting, said as well as the images seized, detectives found chat logs on his Kik Messenger app featuring sexualised messages Kelsey had been swapping with others about the pictures and asking about exchanging passwords. Search terms on the IT equipment included 'Boy in Speedos' and 'Young boys showing off' and evidence showed Kelsey had visited illegal websites which paedophiles would use to swap pictures of children. Kelsey later told police he was gay but claimed he had no sexual interest in young boys. He claimed he had been sent pictures of young boys and went on the web to 'see what else was out there.' In mitigation, defence counsel Miss Alison Mather said her client posed a low risk of re-offending and had suffered from depression since 2008. She added: 'The reason why he behaved in the way he did is so bizarre that there might be some element of truth in it. 'He explains that in the throes of his deteriorating mental health he wanted to commit suicide but lacked the courage to go through with it himself. 'So in a illogical manner he thought if he downloaded material of this nature from the internet he would be imprisoned and face those in the prison system who do not look favourably upon those who commit such acts and that harm would be done to him. 'He hoped that would result in his death. It is extreme and bizarre but that seems to be his way of thinking.' The prosecution told Manchester Crown Court detectives had found close to 1,500 images when they raided Kelsey's home in June 2018 Kelsey faced three years jail under legal guidelines after he admitted downloading and distributing indecent images of children but was given 16 months jail suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete a two year community order and get treatment to address his offending and abide by the terms of a ten year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was further ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for 10 years and will be barred from working with children or vulnerable adults. Sentencing Judge Timothy Smith said he was suspending the sentence because of Kelsey's good character and because of the fact he had demonstrated 'victim empathy' for the children in the pictures. But he warned him: 'From the comfort of your flat you dredged and trawled through the deepest and darkest recesses of the internet for pictures of abuse of children taken in all parts of the world. 'They are filmed and exploited for those who find perverted interest in that material. 'Those images may not appear real but they are and you played you own part in that abuse by allowing this vile industry to perpetuate it. You have a history of some mental illness and suicidal ideas in the past. 'You came up with an explanation to a psychiatrist and the probation service and your counsel as to how you came to be involved in this offending which is at the very least bizarre. 'It is that although you were unable to take your life, you still wished to do so and thought being caught for this type of offending might lead to imprisonment and might lead you to those in prison causing you fatal harm to achieve the result you were unable to achieve yourself. 'It is difficult for me to reach conclusions but I rather share the suspicions that the explanation you come up with is is more of an excuse to hide behind what it was you were in fact doing.' After the case a spokesperson from St John Ambulance said: 'We are appalled by Darren Kelsey's crimes and our thoughts go out to anyone who has been affected. Mr Kelsey was not an active volunteer with St John Ambulance at the time of his arrest. 'St John Ambulance takes the safety and welfare of everyone in our care extremely seriously, and we have strict policies in place to ensure the protection of our young people.' PERM, Russia, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dmitry Makhonin, acting Governor for Perm Region visited production facilities of the Ural Plant of Deicing Materials (UZPM) and was briefed on the progress of its development. Due to the high market demand for its products, this plant in Perm is undergoing a vast expansion, in which both private and government financing is involved. UZPM's Bionord line of deicers is in high demand in over 50 large cities in Russia. Besides, Bionord is now available for summer use as well: brand-new Bionord Detergent for roadways with bactericidal effect, and Bionord Anti-dust solution for urban infrastructure. "We always take the end result as the ultimate goal of our R&D: will this improve people's lives? And, as long as it does, we proceed with taking our new concept out of the lab and into the field, see how markets will react. At the time when we all must take part in the fight against an invisible adversary, a vicious new virus, I am just proud that we had something functional to contribute." said UZPM's founder, Rustam Gilfanov when referring to his newest product: Bionord detergent for roadways with sanitizing properties. Since licensing was obtained, the orders for this product soared. Other Bionord product share this trait: Bionord deicers were praised for their efficiency at temperatures down to -20C and noted for a significant reduction of adverse effects on the environment, and reports of much-improved winter accident statistics started pouring in from the cities where they switched to Bionord. Likewise, Bionord Avia, an ultra-dependable deicer is being used on tarmacs on the growing number of Russia's airports. Dmitry Makhonin emphasized the importance of the plant's expansion. "New projects give us new jobs, which is especially important now, they provide revenues to the budget. The regional authorities, for their part, provide support: first of all, soft loans and other types of funding. The synergy between state power and large business allows us to build modern production facilities and develop business, said Dmitry Makhonin. At the UZPM site, we see an example of the import substitution in the making. This is an exclusive production for Russia, which speaks of the potential of the Perm Territory." Ural Plant of Deicing Materials (UZPM) was founded in 2007 by a Perm entrepreneur Rustam Gilfanov, now a recognized expert in the field of winter road maintenance. Today UZPM is the largest Russian manufacturer of modern multicomponent eco-friendly deicing materials and applications. The flagship product of the enterprise a multicomponent deicer "Bionord". The efficiency and safety of UZPM products are confirmed by the leading transport, medical, and other research institutes and the state environmental authorities. About UZPM Ural Plant of Deicing Materials (UZPM) was founded in 2007 in Russia, by a Perm entrepreneur Rustam Gilfanov, now a recognized expert in the field of winter road maintenance. Today UZPM is the largest Russian manufacturer of modern multicomponent eco-friendly deicing materials and applications. The flagship product of the enterprise a multicomponent "Bionord" is produced using innovative and unique technology called "single granule," which was developed based on the most advanced technologies available as well as world-wide research of deicers. Bionord products are intended for winter and off-season maintenance of roads and sidewalks, airports and other infrastructure facilities. There are special products in the lineup, formulated to melt ice in temperatures below -25C (-13F), and operate safely on concrete (cement) and metal surfaces, such as steel. Bionord products are deployed to combat winter slippery conditions throughout the Russian Federation and outside the country. Efficiency and safety of UZPM products are confirmed by the leading transport, medical and other research institutes and the state environmental authorities. Press Contact: Denis Balakirev +7 (916) 051 7051 [email protected] https://en.uzpm.ru SOURCE UZPM George Floyd, in his 8 minutes and 46 seconds of agony as the knee of a Minneapolis police officer pressed the life from his body, crystallized for the rest of us the urgency of solving a seemingly unsolvable problem in America: How to close a racial divide that spans centuries and generations. Its a divide that most of us never think about, never speak about and even fail to understand in its full dimensions, but it is killing and otherwise grievously impacting people of color every 8 minutes, 46 seconds and probably more often. Floyds death illustrates why we can no longer wait to act. As long as the system of justice in America, of health care in America, of opportunity in America appears rigged against any group of citizens based on the color of their skin, the poverty of their parents, the block where they live, we will continue to fail as a society. Our police will continue to be an object of scorn and mistrust, even when they are trying to change and slowly reforming. Our criminal justice system will continue to swallow up young black men at ever-younger ages. Our prisons will overflow. Too many of the black moms among us will continue to feel the terrible stress, stress they probably imbibed from their mothers, about bringing a child of color into the world, worrying about the fate that might await him or her outside their doors. And do these moms even receive the same health care attention when they seek medical assistance? The evidence of stubbornly high black infant mortality rates is that they dont. And what does that possible implicit bias mean more broadly? Is it the reason so many of the black dads among us have underlying medical problems, from diabetes to obesity to heart disease? Is it part of the reason why, all over America, black men and women are contracting COVID-19, and dying of it, at higher rates than white Americans? And how can we have an honest conversation about race in America when we dont even all start from a common basis of understanding about what that history is? Its a history, shamefully, still not taught with honesty and comprehensiveness in our schools. Its not just the nearly 250 years of slavery in America, although it starts there. Its the weight of discrimination and violence that followed emancipation and passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865 the lynchings, the Jim Crow laws, the segregation, the generational poverty that is so very tough to overcome. And its also something more basic that black people are a minority in America. How do you speak your different perceptions and the terrible realities of your personal history to a society that glides along at a level of entitlement and privilege so far removed from your familys experience? Those are the challenges. These are the solutions, or at least the way to begin to work our way toward a solution: Racism is a public health crisis. COVID-19 has made that more evident than ever. That recognition needs to cascade into urgent corrective action. Systemic racism holds us back and there must be more efforts to highlight a divide that can result in a range of racial insensitivity. Major efforts to reduce inequities must happen in parallel with police reform. There is no substitute for improved access to quality education and college and to safe, affordable housing. And no progress is possible without major reforms to our criminal justice system, to end the warehousing of young black men in prison. Is any of this easy? No way. Its all hard. And its all linked. Thats why it will take a major leap of faith, imagination and dedication to make it happen. But it must happen. And we must start today. The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio A Black Lives Matter protester holds a sign in support of singer Beyonce during a rally outside the NFL Headquarters building in the Manhattan borough of New York, Feb. 16, 2016. Reuters/Carlo Allegri Clark Township Mayor Sal Bonaccorso, a Republican, said at a protest on Saturday that he was "pro-Black for all the good Black people" after a protester asked if he was "pro-Black." The crowd voiced displeasure after Bonaccorso made the comment. Bonaccorso later clarified the comment, saying on Facebook: "An attendee asked me, 'Are you pro-Black?' The answer is of course, and unequivocally, yes." Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A New Jersey mayor told demonstrators at an anti-discrimination protest on over the weekend that he was "pro-Black for all the good Black people." Clark Township Mayor Sal Bonaccorso, a Republican, made the comment at a rally on Saturday, after protesters asked if the would call himself "pro-Black," according to video obtained by NJ.com. "I am pro-Black for all the good Black people that I know in my life," Bonaccorso said. "I can't say that I am for anybody if I do not know you. I am for people. Good people. Law-abiding, hard-working, good family, good friends, and people with good intentions. If you're Black, great. If you are white, great. If you are Hispanic, great. It does not matter. I judge people on how you judge me." His remark was met with displeasure from the crowd of 50 to 100 people, many of whom were people of color. Protest organizer Hanif Denny told NJ.com that he didn't believe Bonaccorso acknowledged the racial inequities many of the protesters were discussing at the rally. "(The protesters) were talking about growing up, and kids would be afraid to drive through there because they get pulled over," Ranalli said. "The elements (of racism) are already there." In a statement posted to his Facebook page Wednesday, Bonaccorso clarified his comments saying he "may have fallen short." "An attendee asked me, 'Are you pro-Black?' The answer is of course, and unequivocally, yes," he wrote. "I also truly believe that Black Lives Matter. The Black members of the Clark Community, those who live here, those who work here, those who are visiting, and even those who are just passing through are all an integral part of what makes Clark such a great place. I pride myself on the fact that I never judge someone based on their skin color; but, only on who they are as a person and how they treat others. I recognize that my remarks may not have accurately represented how I feel. Although I've been Mayor for a long time, I am still learning." Read the original article on Insider A group of Azerbaijani political emigrants living in Germany has held a rally in front of the residence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. According to Azerbaijani media, the rally was held in protest against police violence in Azerbaijan. Protesters raised portraits of political prisoners and posters. Speakers condemned the military operations in the Yeni Yasamal housing district, accompanied by brutality against citizens and demanded the punishment of those who authorized the operation, in particular, the Interior Minister Vilayat Eyvazov. Reporter Afgan Mukhtarli urged the German government to reconsider its attitude to dictators. According to him, Germany should not cooperate with the anti-democratic regime of Azerbaijan. The EU should not remain indifferent to anti-democratic actions in Azerbaijan, mass beatings and arrests of citizens, he added. Contributed Photo / New Haven Police Department / Contributed Photo NEW HAVEN City police are investigating several reported carjackings over the last 24 hours, according to police officials on Thursday. Capt. Anthony Duff said the New Haven police continue to investigate and are aware of similarities between the New Haven robberies and several Hamden incidents. By PTI NEW DELHI: With the number of Covid-19 cases set to explode in Delhi, residents are increasingly concerned about the future as horrifying tales emerge of patients running from pillar to post to secure hospital beds or even get themselves tested. The fear of the infection almost equals the dread of navigating the complicated testing protocols and getting to the right doctor, say residents as governmental claims on hassle-free access to treatment and the number of beds clash with anecdotal reality. On Wednesday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal projected that the city would require 1.5 lakh beds. A day earlier, his deputy Manish Sisodia said the total number of coronavirus cases could rise to 5.5 lakh by July end, a quantum jump from the 32,810 cases as of Thursday. Though the government claims there are more beds than needed, the national capital's COVID-19 reality, retold through social and other media, is also about the anguish of sons, daughters, wives and others trying desperately to get medical help for their unwell family members. "He is no more. The govt failed us." That was the brief, almost staccato message on Twitter from social activist Amarpreet Kaur who took to the microblogging site to first seek help to get her father admitted and then to announce his death. Her father tested positive for COVID-19 on June 1, but was advised home isolation. When his condition started deteriorating, the family took him to the LNJP hospital, Delhi government's designated COVID-19 hospital. But the doctors, the family alleged, were unhelpful and asked them to go to Ganga Ram hospital instead. "My dad is having high fever. We need to shift him to hospital. I am standing outside LNJP Delhi & they are not taking him in. He is having corona, high fever and breathing problem. He won't survive without help. Pls help," Kaur tweeted. An hour later, he was dead outside the hospital. LNJP authorities denied her charge. That was not the end of her story. The family needed to get tested. And she again had to go on Twitter to ensure it happens. Aman Pathak was luckier. He also did the round of hospitals in an effort to get his father admitted to a hospital and finally managed to do so. The father is at the Intensive Care Unit of the LNJP hospital. Recounting his struggles, Pathak said his 51-year-old father developed high fever on May 24 but it subsided after a few days. "However, my father lost his appetite. We thought he had mild symptoms so we took care of him at home. But from June 3, he started developing breathing issues. I took him to several hospitals, both private and government, but most of them turned us away," the 24-year-old software engineer told PTI. On June 4, he even tried to get his father tested at the Delhi-government run Ambedkar Hospital, but failed to do so immediately. He tested positive the following day but now, of course, needed a hospital. That's when the rounds began. He went from one hospital to another to be told that there were no beds. Pathak tried to reason that the app developed by the Delhi government showed otherwise but to no avail. "My father could not even walk, but I took him to hospitals in that condition, only to be turned away," he said. He also sent out desperate tweets seeking help. Finally, on June 6, he managed to get his father admitted at the Ambedkar Hospital. From there, he was moved to the LNJP. His fingers crossed, Pathak is hoping his father returns home soon. Five days after his father developed fever, another Delhi man started shows signs of the novel coronavirus on May 29. Nine days later, he died in Bhopal without ever going to a hospital or getting any treatment. He first went to a local health care centre and told to go home after taking paracetamol. He also went to the GTB Hospital for a test but was reportedly. Over the next week, the man went to five hospitals only to be turned away by each one of them. With no option left, his teen son in Bhopal asked him to travel to the city. And so, with a fever of 103-degrees F, the man even took a train to the Madhya Pradesh capital, his high fever going undetected both at the Delhi and Bhopal railway stations. On June 7, he died. Back in Delhi, his 15-year-old daughter also tested positive for COVID-19 while his wife got an asthma attack due to the shock. "When the time to test these (medical) facilities came, a promising person, who wandered in Delhi for five days but did not get treatment, died," Madhya Pradesh Health Minister Narottam Mishra told reporters after the man's death, hitting out at claims about Delhi's health infrastructure. The stories continue in a seemingly endless loop. Whether well-heeled and connected or poor and with no resources, the stories found resonance everywhere. Of frustrating struggles to get tested and then treated. Several people complained that the Delhi government has launched an app to give information on availability of beds and ventilators but the reality is different. Many a time, even the helpline goes unanswered. On June 3, 42-year-old Narender Jain died of COVID-19. His family ran from one hospital to another in east Delhi. Jain, who suffered from diabetes, developed fever in the last week of May. When his situation deteriorated, the family looked for a hospital. On June 1, the two hospitals they first approached did not have the facility to test coronavirus patients. They moved to a private hospital which had the facility to conduct a coronavirus test but not a bed for COVID-19 patients. His brother-in-law Vikas Jain told journalists that he was moved to a super speciality hospital which had beds but no ventilator. Finally, he was moved to the GTB Hospital which did have a ventilator. But it was too late. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi this week shared a video of journalist Ajay Jha seeking help for treatment. Jha's entire family, wife, two daughters aged nine and five, and in-laws --- tested positive. He said his in-laws had died within 10 days. The Delhi government is saying that everything is in control but people have been left to god's will, he said. According to an official of the Delhi government, they contacted Jha and the family is now being given proper care. These accounts could well be the tip of the proverbial iceberg as Delhi battles the pandemic. Not everyone has the wherewithal and means to access social media. On May 30, Kejriwal said his government is several steps ahead of the novel coronavirus. There are a total of 6,600 beds and 4,500 of them are still unoccupied, he had said, adding that by June the capacity will be ramped up to 9,500 beds. As of Thursday morning, there were 9,179 beds in both private and Delhi government hospitals of which 4,279 were vacant --- more than 50 per cent. However, the reality, as Aman Pathak, Amarpreet Kaur, the teen in Bhopal and his sister in Delhi, and Narendra Jain's family will testify, is quite different. WASHINGTON - A sweeping set of reforms swiftly passed by the D.C. Council this week to bring greater accountability and transparency to the District's police force would expand civilian review, make it far easier to fire officers and tweak rules governing the use of deadly force. The department must now publicly release the names of officers involved in deadly confrontations as well as the body camera footage of those incidents, information that before was rarely revealed. Other provisions, such as those banning neck restraints and prohibiting officers from firing rubber bullets and chemical irritants at peaceful demonstrators, make unlawful practices police say they already forbid. D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham supports some of the changes, but said he believes the council acted too quickly and without enough consideration and input, particularly on the body camera provisions, and his agency is scrambling to figure out what the emergency legislation requires. Newsham described the effort "as unilateral legislation" done "in knee-jerk fashion" in reaction to calls for reform from days of angry demonstrations following the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. The chief said members of his 3,800-member force "feel they have been abandoned" in part by "actions by the council," whose members he accused of failing to acknowledge more than a decade of reform that has made D.C. police a national model. "We are not the Minneapolis police department," Newsham said. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, a Democrat, refuted the contention that lawmakers moved too fast. "I think the national outrage requires that the government move more quickly than it traditionally does," he said in an interview. "If you could point to something in the bill that truly makes it more difficult to catch a murderer, then we're moving too fast. I don't see that in the bill." Perhaps the most significant change, and most contentious, is giving the police chief more power to fire officers for misconduct by cutting out the role of the labor union, which has typically shaped the disciplinary process and mechanisms for appeals through collective bargaining. The legislation says future contracts "should not be used to shield employees from accountability, particularly those employees who have as much power as police officers," and must not "restrict management's right to discipline sworn officers." The union contract with police expires in September - when the new rules would be implemented - and discussions are underway to begin talks. But under the new law, discipline would no longer be a subject to negotiate. It would be the full purview of District leaders, who could revamp the entire system now in place. "I know we get accused all the time that we're protecting bad cops or getting cops back on the force through some sort of loophole," said Greggory Pemberton, chairman of the police union. "That's all rhetoric. The union helps manage the disciplinary process to make sure it meted out fairly." Mendelson said he "absolutely sees a role for unions" in disciplining officers, but he also said that "police and police unions don't get that protecting the blue line has to have limitations." The council chair said that "if a police officer here were to do what we saw in Minneapolis, we would want the police chief to fire that officer. Today. And under the current bargaining process, the chief can't do that. ... We are held hostage to a process that is cumbersome." The emergency legislation passed unanimously with a veto-proof majority, with the bill's sponsor, Council Member Charles Allen, D Ward-6, saying the District needs "to completely and radically rethink the way in which we deliver public safety." Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser urged the Council to slow down, though she plans to sign the bill. She has voiced objection to one of the measures regarding body cameras, saying she is concerned the quick release could complicate trials. Tuesday's vote enacts the changes for 90 days, which can be extended to 225 days with a second vote. To permanently change the law, the council would need to hold public hearings and vote again. The legislation addresses issues small and large. It adds civilians with voting rights to the department's Use of Force Review Board, which reviews cases and recommends punishment for officers. At least one civilian appointee has to have "personally experienced the use of force by a law enforcement officer." The bill also expands the number of crimes eligible for citations to curb the number of arrests, grants more power to a separate independent civilian review board and extends the time the police department has to investigate claims of misconduct against officers. Two provisions in the legislation pertaining to when officers can use force or conduct searches largely mirror rules already spelled out in the police department's general orders. The law mandates officers make it clearer to people the rights they give up when they consent to a search. Mendelson said codifying those rules "makes them stronger and harder to unilaterally tweak by management." In effect, the council has taken away the ability of the police chief to alter some of his directives. One significant change deals with video from police body cameras. The department will now have to make public video from any incident where police use lethal or significant force within 72 hours. The bill also requires that by July 1 the department release the names and video recordings of deaths in custody since the program began in October 2014. Lawmakers said families need to be notified beforehand, which would require someone in the police department to find them in the next three weeks. Newsham noted the body camera program was crafted after months of study and debate, and there were "a lot of strong opinions from a lot of different groups," including over how and whether to make the videos public. People who are subjects in the videos can view them at a police station, and the public has always been able to file records requests for videos, though the process can take weeks or even months and police typically denied release during open investigations. The mayor could make videos public in cases of public interest or outrage, and she did so in at least four instances since 2014. Newsham, has been cautious in his comments regarding some specific aspects of the emergency legislation. That includes the provision that appears to give him unfettered control over disciplining his officers, even as he has complained for years it is too hard to fire members for misconduct "We're talking to lawyers to get to the bottom of it," the chief said, adding, "I don't have any desire to take away our employees due process rights." But Newsham does want to eliminate arbitration. He told a City Council committee this week that arbiters have forced him to rehire eight officers he had recently fired for misconduct, including one who he said sexually assaulted a woman, another caught in a prostitution sting and a third who had shot someone on his own property. "There is a critical gap in credibility when my decision to terminate an employee for egregious misconduct is all too often overturned in arbitration," Newsham told lawmakers, "either for technical reasons or because the arbitrator believes he can substitute the judgment for the chief of police." Mendelson said the union should not have "zero say" in discipline, and that both the labor group and police officials should discuss the topic and ways for officers to appeal decisions and punishment. "But I don't think it should be bargained," the council chairman said, a process that locks the department into a set of rules for the duration of the contract. Pemberton, the union chair, said it appears the legislation leaves his labor group to negotiate only salaries and working conditions, leaving out discipline, which he described as a core union principle, and carves out police officers as a separate, less protected class of District workers. "The allegation that, somehow, police officers should not be entitled to the same employment rights as firefighters or nurses is preposterous," Pemberton said. "We hope that cooler heads will prevail before there is an exodus of officers, who can easily go to other departments where their rights are protected." Weekend Preview: New Look MILLION, Global MILLION$, and Mini Mega Deep June 12, 2020 Online poker tournament players are spoiled for choice when it comes to variety right now. Sites have seriously upped their game knowing massive sections of the poker community wont be heading out to Las Vegas this summer for the postponed 2020 WSOP. You could, literally, spend all day creating a plan of attack for this weekends best tournaments. Theres no need to do this because PokerNews has selected three awesome tournaments, with a variety of buy-ins, that are just waiting for you to take them down. 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The MILLION used to regularly overlay when partypoker used this format previously, plus poker players are notorious for being slow to adapt to new tournaments. This makes the partypoker MILLION a must-play event. Majors changes to the partypoker MILLION $1 Million Guaranteed GGPoker Global MILLION$ Dont be confused by the name, the MILLION$ tournaments are hosted at GGPoker and not partypoker like the tournament mentioned above. The MILLION$ series are a new set of weekly tournaments that feature several Day 1s that feed into the Sunday final. The Global MILLION$ is the event highlighted here purely for the fact it gives you the chance to turn $100 into a share of a guaranteed $1 million. There are more than a dozen $100 buy-in Global MILLION$ Day 1s waiting to be played before the final day on June 14. At the time of writing, 2,187 players have taken a shot at reaching the final day and 303 have been successful. These numbers are obviously set to increase over the coming days. If $100 is outside the constraints of your bankroll, why not try satellite your way in for only $10? The Global MILLION$ satellites run several times per day and guarantee at least three $100 seats will be won. Turning $10 into a six-figure prize is the thing of dreams. Only you can make your dreams a reality. Learn more about the MILLION$ at GGPoker Huge Value in the $22 Mini Mega Deep at 888poker One of 888pokers best-value tournaments is the $100,000 Sunday Mega Deep, a $109 buy-in that often struggles to hit its guarantee. The Mega Deep has a cut-price option for you to try, the $20,000 Mini Mega Deep. This only costs $22 to enter but dont be fooled by the budget prize because this is a serious tournament. You receive 30,000 chips for your $22 and play to a blind structure that starts at 125/250/30a and increases every 15-minutes. Its a great structure and one that wouldnt look out of place in a tournament with a much larger buy-in. There arent any satellites into the Mini Mega Deep but a $22 shot in this Sundays tournament probably isnt going to break the bank. Good luck! Check out these awesome PKO tournaments And luck alone may still be the best explanation for why viruses with the mutation have become so widespread, they said. Kristian Andersen, a geneticist at Scripps Research, La Jolla, said that analyses of D614G and other variants in Washington and California had so far found no difference in how quickly or widely one variant spread over another. Thats the main reason that Im so hesitant at the moment, Dr. Andersen said. Because if one really was able to spread significantly better than the other, then we would expect to see a difference here, and we dont. Tests of the Ebola virus, which spread in West Africa starting in 2013, indicated that a common mutation infected more cells in cell cultures than its competitors, potentially suggesting that the mutated virus was more contagious. But the difference did not hold up when later tested in animals. Scientists attention had begun to focus on the D614G mutation by May, when Bette Korber, a researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory, posted a paper arguing that when introduced to new regions it rapidly becomes the dominant form. Many scientists criticized the study, saying that its analysis was not sufficient to conclude that the virus with that mutation was more transmissible in humans. The analysis did not adequately account for the role of luck, they said: When a mutation seeds a new outbreak, it can build an advantage by pure chance. David Montefiori, a virologist at Duke University, said that he was involved in a new analysis, led by Dr. Korber, addressing those concerns. As part of that work, he said, his team at Duke had found lab results that were very similar to those of the Scripps Research scientists: Viruses with the D614G mutation infected cells more efficiently than those without it. He said the full paper has been submitted to a journal. Radio star Ray Hadley allegedly called a colleague's girlfriend of Indian descent a 'curry muncher' in a 16-year campaign of workplace bullying, harassment and intimidation. Hadley allegedly used the phrase to refer to 60 Minutes producer Naomi Shivaraman when she was in a relationship with his panel operator Chris Bowen. Bowen alleges Hadley repeatedly called him a 'f***ing poof', 'f***ing spastic' and 'poor simpleton' when the pair worked together on 2GB's morning program. The 40-year-old's barrister Shaun McCarthy said on Friday that Hadley had bullied, harassed and intimidated his client on 'no less than 1,000 occasions'. Bowen is suing the talkback titan in the New South Wales District Court for negligence and breaching duty of care. Radio star Ray Hadley allegedly called his former panel operator Chris Bowen's then girlfriend Naomi Shivaraman (pictured) a 'curry muncher' in a 16-year campaign of bullying, harassment and intimidation Radio star Ray Hadley (pictured) allegedly viciously bullied a colleague almost daily for two decades and called another station announcer a 'lazy, black c***', a court has heard Hadley's onetime panel operator and producer Chris Bowen is suing the 2GB talkback host for negligence and breaching duty of care in the NSW District Court. Bowen is pictured with Baywatch star Pamela Anderson The court heard Hadley had contacted a potential witness in Bowen's case against him, describing his accuser as a 'crazy' man who could not be trusted. Hadley allegedly denied in a text to fellow radio host Luke Bona he had called him a 'lazy, black c***' the day after that claim was first heard in court. Hadley's executive producer John Redman also allegedly contacted Bona, offering his son Jacob a job at 2GB, after the 'black c***' claim was made in court. Bowen's legal team is attempting to keep the identities of potential witnesses in the case from Hadley before the matter goes to any future trial. 'Our concern is these people will not be prepared to give evidence should their identities be revealed prior to the trial,' Mr McCarthy told the court. Mr McCarthy said Bona had received a text message from Hadley at 5.45am on April 28 as he was driving home from working the overnight shift at MMM. That was the day after Bona's name had been mentioned in the Bowen court case. In that text Hadley allegedly said words to the effect of, 'Don't listen to Bowen, he's crazy, he's mad. He's a man of no credit. He suffers from a serious mental illness.' 'Mr Hadley said to Mr Bona that he strongly supported him when it came to efforts to bring Mr Bona to 2GB at some previous time,' Mr McCarthy told the court. Bowen's barrister Shaun McCarthy has said Hadley bullied his client 'almost every day, often dozens of times a day, over a period of nearly 20 years.' Bowen is pictured with radio legend John Laws, who he has described as his childhood hero Mr McCarthy said Mr Redman texted Bona with a job offer for his son, who it was alleged Hadley had bullied when he previously worked at the station. 'Ray said if Jacob wants to come back as a panel operator it's a done deal,' the text allegedly said. 'He'll find him a job somewhere. He's also happy to have a chat with him if that helps.' Mr McCarthy told the court Jacob had been heartbroken when he left 2GB and had never worked in radio again. Hadley allegedly called 2GB broadcaster Luke Bona (pictured) a 'lazy, black c***' He described Hadley as 'a very powerful media figure' in an industry which was a small world where everyone knew each other. 'Mr Hadley is in a position to exert influence over the careers of other people,' Mr McCarthy told the court. 'And we can see him doing that here. 'He texts the witness and says unkind things about Mr Bowen. And secondly he's lined up a job for the witness's son. 'These are extraordinary attempts... to interfere with the proper workings of this court.' The court heard Bona had spoken to Bowen's lawyer John Laxon since the matter was last before a registrar and Bona wanted to play no part in the case. 'Everyone's really nervous as Hadley can make or break people,' Bona allegedly said. 'It's a very small market. 'His text denies calling me a lazy, black c*** but I was told that he did and he was the main reason I was sacked from 2GB.' Barrister Callan O'Neill, for Hadley, said there was no evidence of the 'very serious' allegation his client had attempted to intimidate potential witnesses and he was happy to give an undertaking he would not. Lawyers for Hadley (pictured) submitted more detail was needed to be put before the court because Bowen had mental health issues before and after his employment at the radio station Mr McCarthy said Bowen was making 175 separate allegations of bullying, harassment and intimidation against Hadley. As well as the claimed abuse of Bowen, Hadley had allegedly referred to his panel operator's then girlfriend Naomi Shivaraman as a 'curry muncher'. 'Mr Bowen is alleging Mr Hadley bullied, harassed, intimidated him on no less than 1,000 occasions when the pair worked shoulder to shoulder,' Mr McCarthy said. 'Mr Hadley denies every one of those allegations.' Shivaraman was a 2GB producer and screen caller for several years and has since worked at Nova, the ABC, Sky News and Channel Seven, where she was chief of staff. She is now a producer at Channel Nine's 60 Minutes program, which is owned by the same parent company as 2GB. The first details of the case emerged in April when McCarthy said Hadley had bullied his client 'almost every day, often dozens of times a day, over a period of nearly two decades.' Bowen's barrister Shaun McCarthy said Hadley used 'vile, homophobic slurs' against Bowen - who is not gay - at least 94 times during his years at the station Mr McCarthy said the broadcaster used 'vile, homophobic slurs' against Bowen - who is not gay - at least 94 times during his years working at the station. 'On 20 occasions Mr Hadley called my client a bald, fat c***,' Mr McCarthy said, according to The Daily Telegraph. Bowen claims he was traumatised and suffered psychiatric injury from Hadley's alleged vilification and verbal abuse. Hadley's barrister said the damages claim against his 65-year-old client for intentional infliction of mental harm suffered from a 'lack of factual underpinning'. Mr O'Neill said Bowen had failed to provide precise dates or times for the incidents of alleged bullying and harassment against him, his wife and other employees. He submitted more detail was needed because Bowen had mental health issues before and after his employment at the radio station. Mr O'Neill said denying Hadley's legal team access to Bowen's witness list before a hearing put his client at an 'extraordinary' disadvantage which offended 'every principle of open justice'. Hadley's legal team wanted to strike out most of Bowen's statement of claim and for the matter to go to mediation. But Mr McCarthy said: 'We don't want things held up even longer waiting for a mediation which may or may not be successful.' On Friday New South Wales District Court Acting Judge James Curtis ordered Hadley and Bowen into mediation but also set a trial date for May next year Hadley apologised on air last year for his behaviour, describing his relationship with Bowen as once having been like 'father and son'. 'I've admitted to my previous shortcomings, I've also made no secret of the fact that in recent years I have done everything I can to do better,' he said at the time. Registrar James Howard ruled in April he would provide Hadley's lawyers with a list of potential witness's roles but not their full identities. On Friday Acting Judge James Curtis ordered the parties into mediation but also set a trial date for May next year. Earlier, Acting Judge Curtis said of Hadley's radio show, 'I've never heard his program, ever'. Mr McCarthy replied: 'I wouldn't know where to go to listen to it.' During his time at 2GB Bowen also worked with Alan Jones, Ben Fordham, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Jason Morrison, Ron Casey, Stan Zemanek and Terry Willesee, He helped organise and produce the station's Beijing and London Olympic broadcasts and hosted variety and lifestyle shows. Bowen was also executive producer of 2GB's Continues Call Team rugby league program, working alongside Hadley for seven years. By Rich Askey Times Guest Columnist In the months since COVID-19 closed our schools, educators, parents, and students did a tremendous job transitioning from classrooms to kitchens and living rooms across Pennsylvania. Teachers continued teaching, and students continued learning at a distance. This is far from the perfect way to educate our students. Its not easy to teach in this environment, and the challenges so many parents have had juggling work, home, and kids during this crisis were truly without precedent. We need to get our kids back in school. Educators and administrators are already planning for what that will look like. We still have a lot of work to do, but one thing is clear: Our schools will need federal help to reopen safely. That is why the Pennsylvania State Education Association is joining educators, parents, and community leaders to urge Congress to invest $175 billion in our nations schools, colleges, and universities. This investment will provide Pennsylvania with enough funding to close the revenue shortfalls K-12 schools and higher education are facing and reopen safely. Lawmakers in Harrisburg came together early on in this pandemic to take decisive steps to clarify state-level education policies. Their bipartisan efforts were commendable, but our state and local officials can only do so much. The economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are causing local earned income tax revenues to plummet. According to the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials, K-12 school districts could face massive local revenue shortfalls of as much as $1 billion in 2020-21. At the state level, the challenges are just as acute. Pennsylvanias Independent Fiscal Office is projecting a $4.8 billion loss in state revenue over the next year. Add to this the fact that the state and school districts are required to enact balanced budgets every year. With revenues falling, many districts will need to make difficult decisions to balance their budgets at exactly the same time when keeping students and staff safe from COVID-19 dictates higher costs. That means the only place we can turn for help is to the federal government. If we address this crisis by making deep cuts to state and local education budgets, PSEA estimates that the state could lose up to 40,000 jobs in education, a move that will put Pennsylvanias 1.7 million students at tremendous risk. For schools to reopen safely, we will need custodians to sanitize and maintain school buildings and buses. We will need school nurses to assess and manage the physical health and wellbeing of students and staff. We will need counselors, psychologists, and social workers to support students and provide mental health services. We will need enough teachers to keep student learning on track and avoid overcrowded classrooms. Schools just cant do all of this important work with as much as $1 billion in lost revenue, and the state is not in a financial position to help. We need Congress to step up and invest in the cornerstone of our democracy public education. Everyone with a stake in public education shares the goal of reopening our schools in a way that protects the health and safety of students, staff, and visitors. Educators want to be back in their classrooms this fall, and so do their students. But the safety and wellbeing of students and staff cannot be compromised. We need to keep the physical spaces in our schools free from illness, and we also must be ready to address the needs of our students, including the trauma this pandemic has caused. Congress holds the key to successfully reopening our schools. I urge our U.S. senators and representatives to use that key to unlock the resources our schools need and ensure that every student is safe, healthy, and learning because help from the federal government is the only option we have. Rich Askey is a Harrisburg music teacher and president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Midland County Records A 32-year-old man was being held Thursday night on a charge of aggravated assault on a public servant after an incident in which he attempted to gouge an officers eye, according to a press release from the citys spokeswoman. Bond for the first-degree felony has not been set for Joshua Littlejohn. Source: American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, Mich. ACI plans to host a customary gathering of engineers, students, contractors, educators, manufacturers, and material representatives during the Concrete Convention, October 25-29 at the Raleigh (N.C.) Convention Center, Raleigh Marriott and Raleigh Sheraton venues. Attendees will collaborate on concrete codes, specifications, and practices during 300-plus committee meetings, and have access to more than 40 technical and educational sessions. ACI is proceeding with all committee meetings, sessions, student activities, special events, and exhibit hall programs. The sixth annual Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards Gala, presented by Advancing Organizational Excellence, will be held on the evening of October 26. Additional confirmed events or activities include Egg Protection Device Student Competition; Student Lunch with Tyler Ley, Super Air Meter developer; Architects Day Lunch with speaker Thomas Sayre; and, a 50-plus booth industry exhibition. ACI will also offer Concrete Quality Technical Manager, Concrete Construction Special Inspector, Concrete Transportation Construction Inspector, Post-Installed Concrete Anchor Installation Inspector, and Shotcrete Inspector Certification exams. Convention organizers are investigating new virtual participation options in addition to face-to-face activities in Raleigh. Registration has opened at www.aciconvention.org, with discounted rates continuing through September 20. Mathias Cormann has delivered a warning to JobSeeker recipients. Images: Getty The anti-racism rallies on the weekend attracted tens of thousands of protesters, with Finance Minister Mathias Cormann now suggesting protesters may have JobSeeker payments revoked. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has dubbed the Black Lives Matter protests completely unacceptable, and Cormann echoed those calls on Sky News this morning, indicating that JobSeeker payments could be called into debate. Responding to questioning on whether protestors on JobSeeker should lose their payments, Cormann said that is a conversation that would be worthwhile having. But right now its up to the states to impose the rules that they inflict on everyone else, he said. If it is good enough for people to be prevented from going to funerals, to church, to sporting events, to all sorts of things, restaurants, then the rules should apply to everyone else, Cormann said. It makes absolutely no sense to have tens of thousands of people gather with potentially infected people among them, spreading the risk of the virus, putting the community at an unacceptable, unnecessary and an entirely avoidable risk. He added that Australians breaking the rules should be charged if theyre putting others at risk. A man in his 30s who attended the protest in Melbourne has since tested positive for coronavirus. The long weekend was considered a major test for the country, as protesters rallied and holiday-makers inundated regional towns. Echoes of Peter Dutton, Michaelia Cash Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton made similar statements in October 2019, declaring protesters who disrupt traffic should lose income support. Speaking during the Extinction Rebellion protests, he said protesters should have their welfare withdrawn and be named and shamed. Employment Minister Michaelia Cash made similar statements at the time, backing the withdrawal of benefits for a full time protester. Story continues If you do miss a job interview or you know you have a child that gets sick or youve got a reasonable excuse, we are able to step in, assist you to overcome that and get you back on the right track. But there still is a component of job seekers who are wilfully not actually discharging their mutual obligation, Cash said. In relation to those people, what we say is the system will help you but if you wilfully and deliberately fail to engage in mutual obligation, then you will have your payment cancelled. She said the taxpayer should not expect to subsidise the protests of others. Protesting is not, and never will be, an exemption from a recipients mutual obligation to look for a job. Follow Yahoo Finance Australia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. A 5,600-acre Aberdeenshire estate which features farms, an inn and a broad spectrum of sporting opportunities has been sold for over 11m. The sale of Kildrummy Estate, located near Alford, generated a 'significant' level of interest and attracted viewers from the UK and abroad. The vast estate comprises a principal house and an Edwardian mansion house - which formerly traded as a hotel - as well as forestry plantations and amenity woodlands. It also includes commercial interests, such as a 18.4 MW Kildrummy wind farm and the Kildrummy Inn, in-hand and let farms and a residential portfolio of estate dwellings, as well as sporting opportunities. (Photo: Savills) The estate was sold to a wealthy couple from California in the United States for more than 11 million. Evelyn Channing, head of Savills rural agency in Scotland, said that even during the Covid-19 lockdown, the market for Scottish rural land and property was 'still moving'. "During lockdown we have agreed and completed on a number of estate sales totalling over 30m demonstrating the strength of the Scottish estate market," she said. (Photo: Savills) "There was a notable increase in the number of new buyer registrations following the general election in December, with a particular focus for income producing and natural capital assets." Kildrummy brought in a diverse range of potential buyers, including those who were attracted to the established income flow from its mixed portfolio of assets. In addition to residential and commercial rents, the estate also includes renewable and forestry assets which are earmarked as being contributors to carbon zero targets. Its a harrowing scene now synonymous with one of the worlds biggest coronavirus outbreaks. Images of makeshift graveyards filling vast areas of Brazils major cities dominate media reports as the nation struggles to cope with the sheer number of deaths from COVID-19. And now rows of graves have been dug on the nations most famous beach to symbolise the horrific death toll in Brazil from the coronavirus outbreak. On Thursday (local time), dozens of volunteers dug 100 graves on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. An activist digs symbolic graves on Copacabana beach in front of soccer goals. Source: AP On Friday, Brazils death toll stood just shy of 41,000 and was expected to overtake the UK by the weekend to become the highest behind the US in terms of the most COVID-19 deaths. The Copacabana grave digging was also to denounce what they called the "incompetence" of public authorities handling the pandemic. Ten rows of holes were dug in the sand in front of the iconic Copacabana Palace hotel, and dotted with black crosses decorated with small Brazilian flags. "The objective is to protest against the succession of errors made by the federal government in handling the humanitarian crisis that Brazil is suffering," the NGO Rio de Paz, established to combat violence in the city, said on Twitter. The protest transformed world-famous Copacabana beach into a graveyard. Source: AP The visual effect is reminiscent of images from locations around the world where the coronavirus has hastened the digging of fresh graves particularly in the Amazonian city of Manaus in Brazil's north. "Here we have reproduced, in this postcard Rio setting, what we see in our cemeteries," Antonio Carlos Costa, president of Rio de Paz, told AFP. "We are here to demand a change of attitude from the president of the republic, who must understand that our nation is facing the most difficult moment in its history," he said. "This pandemic has exacerbated social injustices and the incompetence of public powers." Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the pandemic's scale, calling COVID-19 "a flu." While Bolsonaro advocates for the resumption of economic activity, the virus continues to spread in the country, where more than 800,000 people have been infected, out of a population of over 210 million. Story continues Back on Copacabana Beach, a Bolsonaro supporter tore up some of the crosses, while others insulted members of the NGO. A video posted by Rio de Paz on Twitter shows a father whose 25-year-old son had died of coronavirus putting a cross back in place and shouting "respect our pain!" with AFP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI of Spain stepped out in face masks as they spoke to representatives of culture ahead of a facility reopening on Monday. Mother-of-two Letizia, 47, paired an elegant navy dress with snake print sling-back heels alongside King Felipe, 52, at the Matadero Madrid contemporary arts centre. The royal couple paid their respects to the recently deceased musician Pau Dones and actress Rosa Maria Sarda, as they toured the complex. Queen Letizia and King Felipe practiced strict social distancing for the visit, which comes just days after they attended an engagement at Madrid sport centre without wearing masks. Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI of Spain (pictured), visited the Center for Contemporary Creation Matadero in Madrid The Spanish royals were joined by President of the Community of Madrid Isabel Diaz Ayuso and mayor of Madrid Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida (pictured) among representatives Mother-of-two Letizia (pictured) donned a navy dress and snake print slingback heels for an elegant appearance Queen Letizia opted for a navy dress with a belt to accentuate her trim waist, pairing it with snake print slingback heels for effortless style. The mother-of-two tied the look together by giving her glossy brunette hair a side-parting and wearing subtle make-up. Meanwhile, King Felipe looked dapper in navy trousers and a grey blazer for the outing. The European royals joined discussions with culture experts including the director of the National Dance Company Joaquin de Luz, actor Juan Echanove and choreographer Maria Pages. Queen Letizia styled her hair with a side-parting, joining a dapper King Felipe for discussions about culture and the centre prepares to reopen The Spanish royals practiced strict social distancing throughout their visit, taking time to pose for a photo without their face masks Queen Letizia and King Felipe toured the spaces throughout the complex, including an area dedicated to audiovisual creation The centre which is a former slaughterhouse and cattle market was created in 2006, encompassing the country's cultural heritage. President of the Community of Madrid Isabel Diaz Ayuso and mayor of Madrid Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, were among the representatives to join Queen Letizia and King Felipe on their tour of the centre. They began their visit by exploring a space dedicated to audiovisual creation, before moving onto an area for artistic practices and cultural mediation. A delegate of the Culture, Tourism and Sport Area of the Madrid City Council spoke to the royals about renovations of the ship Nave 15. Queen Letizia and King Felipe completed their visit in a theatre space used for exhibitions and performing arts. The pair appeared in good spirits as they examined areas of the centre that are crucial to the city's heritage. During their visit Queen Letizia and King Felipe remembered recently deceased musician Pau Dones and actress Rosa Maria Sarda The Spanish royals also discussed the renovations of Nave 15, as the ship prepares to reopen. Pictured: King Felipe and Queen Letizia with Isabel Diaz Ayuso and Jose Luis Martinez Almeida Vice-Chancellors Ghana is asking government to fast track the distribution of Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) before final year students resume school on Monday. Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, the Chairman of Vice-Chancellors Ghana, expects students to agitate for the PPE once schools resume. Students will start demanding PPE immediately they arrive on campus and if we are unable to supply them, you can rest assured that certain words will go to the public. So we are pleading with you and your very good team to ensure that these PPE are well provided, Prof. Owusu stated. He was speaking at the launch of a plan for disinfecting tertiary schools at the University of Ghana, which had the Education Minister. Sixteen tertiary institutions are set to re-open to final-year students from June 15 for academic work to begin and end on July 24. The partial resumption of school came as the government eased restrictions on public gatherings in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Review of Continuous Assessment Vice-Chancellors Ghana also says it will not rule out making Continuous Assessment more prominent in grading final year students. Prof. Owusu, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, said his school was looking at continuous assessment and all universities are doing the same. Currently, for the normal system, it is about 30 percent continuous assessment and 70 percent examination but we have to look at the ratios again. citinewsroom A real estate agent who organised drug deals online, allegedly in cahoots with a former reality TV contestant, has been spared jail because of her efforts to turn her life around. Kristiana Karakostasused coded messages to advertise drugs on Craigslist and then organised deals to sell cocaine and N-Ethylpentylone in February and March 2017, and one day sold $350 of cocaine to an undercover police officer. Real estate agent Kristiana Karakostas Karakostas, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking and one of dealing with the proceeds of crime, and was on Friday put on a three-year community correction order. County Court judge Irene Lawson said Karakostas' crimes would normally warrant a jail term, but her "extraordinary" effort at overcoming a cocaine addiction through drug treatment meant a stint in prison would be counter productive. Nearly 30 Congress workers, including the party's Indore unit chief, were arrested on Friday for trying to stage a demonstration here over the audio-video clip of alleged speech of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. In the purported video clip, Chouhan was heard saying that the previous Congress government led by Kamal Nath was toppled at the behest of the BJP's central leadership. A district official said that the administration had already asked the Congress leaders not to hold any protest in the city in view of the COVID-19 situation. Nonetheless, the Congress workers, led by the party's city unit chief, Vinay Bakliwal, tried to stage a sit-in outside the collectorate, the official said. Thirty Congressmen, including Bakliwal, were arrested and taken to the district jail by the authorities under section 151 of the CrPC. They were later released on the submission of a personal bond, the official said. Before their arrest, the Congress leaders alleged that the BJP had dislodged the Kamal Nath government as part of a conspiracy. In the clip released by the Congress, Chouhan is purportedly heard referring to the fall of the Kamal Nath government after 22 Congress MLAs, including minister Tulsiram Silawat, who belonged to Jyotiraditya Scindia's camp, switched sides. In the clip, Chouhan also admitted that the Congress government in the state was toppled on the instructions of central BJP leaders. Although the authenticity of the video of Chouhan's recent speech in Indore was yet to be established, it has sparked a political row in the state. Signage hangs at the encampment set up at 22nd and Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia on Friday, June 12, 2020. There is currently a community of homeless people and protesters living and volunteering there. Read more More than 50 Philadelphians experiencing homelessness supported by volunteers and donations have formed an encampment on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to call on the city to provide low-income housing and improve treatment of the homeless. This is about to literally be a community of Black Lives Matter, said Jonnell Flowers, one of the residents of the encampment. This is for the people who got thrown to the wayside. We all matter. We came together to let the city and world know that we matter. The protest started Wednesday morning, when Flowers husband, Leonard, and four others set up their tents at 22nd Street and the Parkway. They were inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests sweeping across the city and wanted to press officials to invest in low-income housing and stop dispersing encampments. They reached out to the Workers Revolutionary Collective (WRC), a grassroots organization that often works with the homeless, for support, said Alex Stewart, the collectives co-founder. With the help of WRC and Occupy PHA, a movement that advocates for fair housing, the group formed a list of six demands, including: building permanent low-income housing; sanctioning encampments as no-police zones; stopping the clearing of encampments; and firing police officers who mistreat the homeless. More than 50 volunteers arrived, offering food, clothes, and first-aid supplies, Stewart said. News quickly spread through the homeless community, and by Friday afternoon, the five tents had grown to more than 50. According to the citys website, Philadelphia has about 5,700 people experiencing homelessness, 950 of whom are unsheltered. As rents increase and income does not, the number is rising, experts have said. "They repeatedly provided the city with demands for low-income housing ... and the city has refused to listen to them, said Stewart, 27. They also wanted medical support to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Mike Dunn, a spokesperson for the mayors office, said the city respects their right to protest peacefully. However, tent encampments often pose a health and safety threat, and are specifically prohibited on park property," he said. "City officials are reviewing this particular encampment and are considering available options for responding. Dennis J. Boylan, president of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association, called affordable housing a pressing issue, but said the camp was not conducive for the greater public health of the entire community. That includes those living in the tents and those who live nearby. Local residents have delivered carloads of donations, including hot meals, masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer, as well as things like condoms, trash bags, and paper towels. Areas for first aid, clothing, and tent supplies were set up, as well as coolers of water, two porta-potties, and a solar-powered shower. For many, the encampment has provided a safe haven, especially after the recent unrest in the city. When peaceful protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd turned destructive, causing streets to be shut down and the National Guard to move in, some homeless residents lost their belongings or were forced to leave their sleeping area. Tanya Lilly said she was living outside the Municipal Services Building and John F. Kennedy Plaza, but when fires and looting started happening near City Hall, all of her belongings were destroyed, including her identification cards. We lost everything, she said. Lilly, 49, who has been homeless since October after an incident with her landlord, said shes appreciated the support and feels safe. She sat in her white and grey tent Friday, with neat stacks of donated clothing folded inside and plastic roses woven to the outside for decoration. All we have is each other," she said. The space around the tents was clean, with trash cans set up throughout and signs reminding residents that this is home" and to keep things neat. Some residents were nervous about police intervention, reminded by the citys decision to clear out the 150 people who were living in the terminals of Philadelphia International Airport last month. Nicholas Molinuevo, who has been without housing for 10 years, is concerned that the city will come in the middle of the night to clear them out. Molinuevo was at the 2011 Occupy Philly protest, when dozens of people took over Dilworth Park to bring attention to poverty, racial injustice, and corporate greed. The city ended up bulldozing the encampment and arrested 52 demonstrators. Homeless Outreach workers who visited the Parkway site to offer housing and services "were told by the organizers that their presence was not welcome, Dunn said. It is very unfortunate that these groups are denying those who are unsheltered the opportunity to speak with outreach workers, who can offer services and housing. Stewart said a few city officials arrived Wednesday to negotiate with and try to disperse the group, but he said they were exercising their First Amendment right to protest and wouldnt leave until their demands are met. Jonnell Flowers, 35, was optimistic for now, and said she was planning to create signs for trees to act like street signs. This will literally be a neighborhood, she said with a smile. Leonard Flowers, 42, said the support has been "a light at the end of the tunnel. Its a beautiful thing, he said. You go through life thinking nobody cares about you. But then you realize, Jonnell Flowers added, youre not alone in this struggle. Heres how I knew pandemic fatigue was something real: On the first day restaurants could open for outdoor dining, a queue of people waited patiently in the rain for the chance to eat outdoors. All appeared to wear masks and stand about 6 feet apart outside J. Lawrence Downtown in Bethels historic Opera House. Now thats determination to get out of the house and back to a semblance of our previous lives. Since mid-March, all but essential workers have dutifully stayed home, self-isolating from extended family, friends and neighbors. Distance learning for students, patchwork spaces for those who could work from home. A fear of catching the deadly coronavirus and a responsibility to not spread it kept us sheltering in place as Gov. Ned Lamont ordered. How is it that the start on the edge of winter seems long ago, yet the 100 or so days now to the brink of summer have gone by quickly? What have we learned? The virus is still out there, but the state seems to be over the worst of the first bout, thanks to the publics unusual efforts. When I see that only 23 people died of COVID-19 Wednesday in Connecticut, I breathe relief. Until catching myself they are 23 human beings who should still be alive, whose families are devastated. The sense of unreality remains. But we adapt. At first, in mid-March, it seemed strange to see someone in a mask or wearing protective gloves at the grocery store while we clambered to stock up on, well, everything, as though a monster blizzard was heading our way. Now in mid-June, we automatically don a mask to go into the grocery store for a weekly trip to buy only whats needed. (Well, OK, maybe automatic isnt the right word. It still feels odd to wear a mask. But theres no question whether to do it.) Even before the state entered the first phase of re-opening on May 20, roads were getting busier. People had to get out. Writing a regular column is having a conversation with readers. Ive received emails from readers who say they feel like they know me. I treasure this connection. So what Im about to tell you is personal. Our daughter Sarah and our 20-month-old grandson Gabriel, who live in Brooklyn, NY, have been staying with us these past four weeks. (I feel a bit guilty for experiencing so much joy with seeing that little guy every day when the whole world is gripped in a pandemic.) Sare thought she had contracted the virus back in March when she had a few symptoms, but fortunately wasnt terribly sick. She self-quarantined for 14 days. She and I decided to get tested last week. We didnt quite know what to expect as we pulled into the parking lot of AFC Urgent Care on Danburys Main Street. We followed directions and called to say we were there. A staff member met us at the door with forms. We went back to the car, filled them out and called again to return them. We were told to wait and someone would call with more questions. Then wait a little longer for someone to call and say come inside. Tests are done in parking lot tents, but we had to go inside for the antibody tests, which require drawing blood. The value of this test is that it can tell you whether youve had COVID-19 at some point. The nasal swab test determines whether you are infected with the virus that day. Admittedly, it felt uncomfortable to have a long Q-tip type instrument swirling deep in your nasal cavity but only for seconds. The entire process from entering and then leaving the parking lot was maybe 40 minutes. That was a Wednesday and by Saturday someone from AFC called with the results. Sarah tested positive for antibodies, much to her relief. I tested negative to both, which didnt surprise me. But it is good to know. If I had antibodies, then I would have donated my plasma to help others. The testing is free. We didnt need to have symptoms. For Connecticut, and the country, to reopen safely widespread testing is needed. Yet the state hasnt done a good job in getting out the word on who could and should be tested. This becomes incredibly important now as people have been close in many cities while marching in peaceful protest of police brutality and racism in the country. The catalyst for the protests the death of George Floyd, a black man, at the knee of a white police officer in Minneapolis is horrible. But just maybe some good can arise from the shock of it. Racism is a virus that has infected our country for centuries. Progress gets made, and then we slide back. Next Friday is Juneteenth, a celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Civil Rights movement in the 1960s brought about change with voting rights, yet the Supreme Court invalidated a key part in 2013. Can reform truly happen now? I hope so. We have to understand that racism could live in our veins, like a virus of which we are unaware. Self-examination is good but not enough; we need to walk in each others shoes. As a white mother, I do not have the experience of a black mother warning her son to be careful around police. Our time of isolation, our time of fear, has enabled us to appreciate the human connection. Now is the time to channel that realization and work together toward a more just system. Its daunting. Because not only police procedures need reform, its also education, poverty, health care access, job opportunities, criminal justice and on. A simple fix wont do. Change must be systemic. The coronavirus pandemic opened our eyes to take action against what we cannot see. We must do the same for racism. History will judge us on how we respond. Jacqueline Smiths column appears Fridays in Hearst Connecticut Media daily newspapers. She is also the editorial page editor of The News-Times in Danbury and The Norwalk Hour. Email her at jsmith@hearstmedia.com Residents of a New Jersey town have been urged not to take selfies with bears after recent sightings. The Winslow Township Police Department alerted Winslow Township locals of two bear sightings and warned them not to attempt to take pictures with the wild animals. A statement from the police department released on Wednesday also warns locals not to attempt to feed or approach the bears. The Winslow Township Police Department alerted locals of two bear sightings and warned them not to attempt to take pictures with the wild animals They even advise people who live in areas where black bears have been found in the past to have a 'bear plan' ready, in case the animal enters the home, with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns. 'Due to two separate bear sightings on Cooper Terrace and Union Road, here are the NJ Division Fish and Wildlife suggestions if one should encounter a bear,' the statement reads. 'Please do not, I repeat, DO NOT attempt to take selfies with the bear and follow these helpful tips...' American black bears are medium-sized bears native to North America and are usually found in forested areas (Stock image) It adds: 'Black bears will sometimes "bluff charge" when cornered, threatened or attempting to steal food. 'Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact, then slowly back away and do not run.' American black bears are medium-sized bears native to North America and are usually found in forested areas. While attacks on humans from brown bears are uncommon, the animals can venture into human communities in search of food. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Beijing, China Fri, June 12, 2020 08:36 589 fc6853813033f564188675f8bde1d044 2 World China,coronavirus,Harvard-University,study,COVID-19,COVID-19-origin,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,pandemic Free Beijing on Thursday criticized a preliminary study by US researchers suggesting the coronavirus may have been circulating in China since August 2019, calling it proof of a disinformation campaign. The virus first emerged late last year in the central city of Wuhan, but the US has repeatedly accused China of a lack of transparency about the outbreak and its origins. The new paper by researchers at Boston University and Harvard -- which has not been peer-reviewed -- analyzed photos of parking lots at Wuhan hospitals and search trends on the Chinese search engine Baidu. The team led by Elaine Nsoesie at Boston University said they found "a steep increase in volume starting in August 2019" at Wuhan hospital parking lots, "culminating with a peak in December 2019." The authors said that while they could not definitively confirm that the data they documented was linked to the virus, it supported conclusions reached by other research suggesting that the virus began circulating earlier than the first reported cases at the end of 2019. But China's foreign ministry criticized the paper as "full of holes" and "crudely manufactured." Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Thursday she believed the study was evidence of coordinated efforts in the US to "deliberately create and disseminate disinformation against China." "Some US politicians and media acted like they found buried treasure and wantonly spread [the study], treating it like new proof that China concealed the epidemic," Hua told reporters at a regular briefing. According to China's official chronology of the pandemic, the first cases of COVID-19 were spotted by doctors in Wuhan in December and they shared the genome sequence with the World Health Organization (WHO) in early January. Imperial College London, in collaboration with the WHO, has also traced the virus' family tree, estimating that it appeared in China around December 5. Governments -- including the US and Australia -- have called in recent months for an investigation into the COVID-19's origins, with President Donald Trump repeatedly pushing the conspiracy theory that the virus originated at a Chinese laboratory. On Wednesday Trump tweeted a Fox News video segment about the Harvard study without any additional comment. A man who ambushed a sheriffs deputy on Wednesday in Paso Robles, Calif., was killed on Thursday after a two-hour standoff during which three law enforcement officers were wounded when they surrounded him in a vineyard, the authorities said. The gunman, identified by the authorities as Mason James Lira, had eluded officers for more than 24 hours and had been the subject of an extensive manhunt that included the F.B.I. and helicopters from several law enforcement agencies. The standoff prompted a lockdown of the area, which is north of Los Angeles and is known for its verdant terrain and production of wines. A spokesman for the San Luis Obispo County sheriff said that injuries to the three officers were not life-threatening. Netflix dropped a big surprise in the middle of the night: a 27-minute clip of Dave Chappelle performing just six days ago on June 6 where he currently lives in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The title of the set, 8:46, is a reference to the amount of time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on George Floyds neck, which led to Floyds murder and sparked the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests around the country. 8:46 was already a significant number to Chappelle, since it was the time in the morning that he was born. The video points out that before this set, Chappelle hadnt performed live onstage in 87 days. While 8:46 is peppered with a few funny moments, Chappelle spends most of the set offering serious reflections on police brutality, the killing of Floyd, and how the news media covers these stories. Has anyone ever listened to me do comedy? Have I not ever said anything about these things before? Chappelle says while referencing a CNN segment by Don Lemon asking why celebrities, including Chappelle, werent commenting on the Floyd news. So now all of a sudden, this n - - - - expects me to step in front of the streets and talk over the work these people are doing as a celebrity? Answer me! Do you want to see a celebrity right now? Do we give a fuck what Ja Rule thinks? Does it matter about celebrity? No! This is the streets talking for themselves. They dont need me right now. Later in the set, Chappelle says that when he hosted SNL in 2016, there was one thing he said in his opening monologue that he got completely wrong. He had commented on how few black people were invited to the White House throughout its history, with Frederick Douglass as the first-ever and that it didnt happen again until Roosevelt was president. But that was wrong. It happened one other time before that, Chappelle says before revealing that his great-grandfather, William David Chappelle, led a delegation of African-Americans at the White House received by Woodrow Wilson in 1918, who were there to protest the lynching of a black man in South Carolina over a $30 dispute. And these n - - - - - say Why isnt David Chappelle saying anything? Chappelle says. Because David Chappelle understands what the fuck he is seeing, and these streets will speak for themselves whether I am alive or dead. The show comes with a disclaimer under the video from Dave Normally I wouldnt show you something so unrefined, I hope you understand as well as a link to donate to the Equal Justice Initiative. A school in Illinois is under pressure to sack a long-serving teacher after she shared a series of Facebook posts including one that claimed the term 'white privilege' was as offensive to her as the N-word. A former student of the social studies teacher at Palatine High School said it was 'devastating' to see the educator, who has not been fired and is not being named, making 'racist, homophobic and transphobic' comments. One of the offending posts, which has since been deleted, reportedly said: 'I will speak on any topic I choose because I live in a free country. 'I find the term 'white privilege' as racist as the N-word. 'You have not walked in my shoes either so do not make assumptions about me and my so-called privilege.' Pictured: Palatine High School, where a long-serving teacher is now being investigated after a series of racist, homophobic, transphobic, zionist Facebook posts Pictured: One of the offending posts, reportedly written by the teacher, said the term 'white privilege is as offensive as the N-word Another claimed that people who think America is racist have been 'hoodwinked by the white liberal establishment and race-baiters like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton'. In an interview with NBC Chicago, former PHS student Amirah Nasir said: 'Quite frankly it's been really devastating for her former students and colleagues to see that she's so violently against so many minority groups.' 'They [the posts] were very racist, homophobic, transphobic, zionist, just problematic to every degree, [the] things she would be saying,' she added. 'And [for her] to be working at a school like Palatine High which is so diverse?' Tim McGowan, a Palatine activist who recently organized a Black Lives Matter protest, said the school should fire the educator. The school issued a statement through principal Tony Medina, who added that a school board meeting is due to take place in coming weeks. In an interview with NBC Chicago, former PHS student Amirah Nasir (pictured) said: 'Quite frankly it's been really devastating for her former students and colleagues to see that she's so violently against so many minority groups' 'The statements being reported do not represent the values and principles of the faculty and staff of Palatine High or District 211,' Medina said. 'We are currently conducting an investigation and will follow through with appropriate measures.' The teacher told NBCNews Chicago that she plans to comment on the matter in the future. The Andhra Pradesh government on Friday signed a concession agreement with GMR Airports Ltd for construction of a greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, about 40 km northeast of Visakhapatnam. The concession agreement was signed by state special chief secretary (industries and infrastructure) Karikal Valaven and GMR Airports Ltd Chairman G B S Raju in the presence of chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at the latters camp office at Tapepalli. State industries minister Gautam Reddy, AP Industrial and Infrastructure Corporation Chairperson R K Roja and other officials took part in the meeting. The state cabinet on March 4 had approved the selection of the GMR Group as the developer for Bhogapuram international airport. Thanking the state government for giving an opportunity to his company to develop the airport, GMR Airports chairman G B S Raju said he shared an emotional connect with Bhogapuram, as he, too, hailed from the same region. He promised that the GMR Group would develop a state-of-the-art international airport at Bhogapuram which would be ready by 2023. We are confident of living up to the expectations of the chief minister. We shall engage reputed international consultants for the design and construction, he said. The chief minister said the Bhogapuram airport would result in the rapid development of north coastal Andhra. He said the government would plan construction of expressways from Bhogapuram to Visakhapatnam to enable the people to reach the port city faster. The government is also planning to construct a metro rail network in Visakhapatnam that would be extended up to the Bhogapuram airport, so that it would reduce the burden on road travel. We shall complete this road infrastructure at the earliest, the Andhra CM said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Google CEO Sundar Pichai in an email to his employees had stated that the company would provide resources to the people who are looking to help black employees in the backdrop of George Floyd's death. Some of the employees claim that they could not access the support group webpage called Allyship. Pichai had said that the employees getting these resources must consult the company before doing so. One of the three courses was a video, and the other two are attend-in meetings. Some employees at Google told CNBC that the two of these three courses are not available to sign up for. A Google employee even told the organisation that it links to a dead website. According to the report, some employees were upset with the internal dynamics of the company. Google, however, stated that the courses were available for registration and that some of these courses were full. The company also claimed that the employees who are unable to register can get waitlisted. Some employees also stated their dissatisfaction on the Black Googler Network, an employee resource group for black employees. The employees criticised Google for cutting down on courses for white employees. The employees on the network demanded a training program called Sojourn, which was abruptly terminated in 2019, to be reinstated. They also stated that instead of consoling black employees, the company should reach out to white employees about systemic racism and racial privilege at Google. "I feel as though instead of only distracting black Googlers with floods of emails, I wish they would email white Googlers to tell them to check themselves, check their privilege, understand that their words can hurt, etc. I want white Googlers to be on these emails as well," the report quoted one of the black employees. The report stated that in 2019, Google's black employees accounted for just 3.3 percent of its overall workforce. The report further stated that in addition to its Allyship pages, Google has also offered break-out sessions where black employees are invited to come together to discuss their feelings and concerns about the nationwide demonstrations against police violence that targets black people. Google and YouTube condemned the killing of George Floyd. Pichai wrote, "Today on US Google & YouTube homepages we share our support for racial equality in solidarity with the Black community and in memory of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery & others who don't have a voice. For those feeling grief, anger, sadness & fear, you are not alone." (Newser) Ohio state Sen. Steve Huffman had a job as an emergency room doctor when he questioned the hand-washing practices of the "colored population" during a Senate hearing on racism on Tuesday. He doesn't now. The physician who spent 18 years working at Upper Valley Medical Center and Wayne Hospital was fired from his post after comments "wholly inconsistent with our values and commitment to creating a tolerant and diverse workplace," a spokesperson for TeamHealth tells the Washington Post. The white Republican lawmaker had questioned whether African-Americans were more likely to contract COVID-19 because "the colored population do not wash their hands as well as other groups." story continues below State Rep. Erica Crawley, a Democrat, said Huffman had implied that black people were "less hygienic/clean" than other people. "This right here is the underlying implicit bias/covert racism that was in the question," she tweeted. Others in the Ohio House and Senate spoke out, too, while residents described the comment as "bizarre" and "appalling," per WDTN. In a Thursday statement, Huffman said he'd "asked a question in an unintentionally awkward way that was perceived as hurtful and was exactly the opposite of what I meant," per WDTN. He added he was only "trying to focus on why COVID-19 affects people of color at a higher rate since we really do not know all the reasons." (Read more Ohio stories.) By Lee Hyo-jin A drunk driver struck and killed a boy, 8, who was on his way to school Thursday in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province. The incident happened about 8 a.m. at a crosswalk at an intersection near Buchun Elementary School, where the boy was heading, according to Seosan Police Station. The drunk man, in his 60s, was driving an SUV. The victim was taken to hospital but died soon after. Seosan Police Station confirmed that the driver's blood alcohol level was 0.031 percent, high enough for his license to be revoked. He told police he had consumed three glasses of liquor the day before. The accident site, only 120 meters from the school, was not designated as a school zone. The Road Traffic Act states that an area within 300 meters of the main gate of an elementary school can be designated. It is therefore unlikely the driver will be charged with violating the so-called "Min-sik law," a traffic-related bill revised in March that carries the name of a nine-year-old boy who was killed in a car accident in a school zone in 2019 in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. Under the law, a driver convicted of killing a child under 13 in a school zone can be sentenced to a minimum three years in prison and up to life imprisonment. TIRANA, Albania - An Albanian court agreed Friday to extradite a 24-year-old man to Germany to face charges that he belonged to a cell that planned terror attacks on behalf of the Islamic State group. The district court in Tirana decided that Komron Zukhurov should not be extradited to Russia, where he is also wanted, or to his native Tajikistan, where he claims he was tortured. Zukhurov was arrested in Albania in May after a German court issued an international warrant accusing him of being part of a group that made plans for attacks in Germany. Four other Tajiks suspected of being IS members were arrested in Germany on the same charge. German authorities said they joined the extremist group in January 2019, received instructions to form a cell in Germany and were planning an attack on American military facilities. Zukhurovs defence lawyer, Asllan Dogjani, denied his client participated in the alleged activity. Before his arrest, Zukhurov had lived in Germany for two years and went to Albania in February to see his aunt, Dogjani said, adding that the young man turned himself in to police. Srinagar: Unidentified militants Sunday night snatched weapons of police personnel guarding the residence of ruling Peoples Democratic Partys district President from Anantnag, police said. Six to eight militants attacked the guard post at the residence of Advocate Jawed Ahmed Sheikh, district President of PDP at Dayalgam, at around 9.30 PM and snatched four AK rifles from the security personnel, a police official said. An alert has been sounded in south Kashmir area to trace the militants, he said, adding, this is the fifth incident of weapon snatching from police personnel in Kashmir since the ongoing unrest in the Valley. Earlier on Sunday, heavily armed militants suspected to be from Pakistan-based JeM stormed an army base in Uri in Kashmir killing 17 jawans. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Canada will now exempt immediate family members from its coronavirus travel restrictions. Those entering Canada must still abide by 14-day self-quarantine law. Trudeau: Families can enter Canada tomorrow (Video) Canada will now exempt immediate family members from its coronavirus travel restrictions. Those entering Canada must still abide by 14-day self-quarantine law. Trudeau: Families can enter Canada tomorrow (Video) Canada will now exempt immediate family members from its coronavirus travel restrictions. Those entering Canada must still abide by 14-day self-quarantine law. Trudeau: Families can enter Canada tomorrow (Video) Canada will now exempt immediate family members from its coronavirus travel restrictions. Those entering Canada must still abide by 14-day self-quarantine law. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that immediate family members will be able to enter Canada effective June 8, 2020 at 11:59 PM EDT. The exemption applies to all eligible foreign nationals, irrespective of which country they are entering Canada from. This exemption is not only limited to eligible travelers entering Canada from the U.S. The announcement came during Trudeaus daily coronavirus briefing. (See video footage below). Foreign nationals are eligible to enter Canada if they are an immediate family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and do not have COVID-19 or exhibit any symptoms of the virus. They will be able to enter Canada as long as the visit is at least 15 days long and they must self-quarantine by law for 14 days upon entering Canada. Immediate family is defined as: Spouse or common-law partner Dependent children Grandchildren Parent or step-parent Guardian or tutor Exemption coming for families separated by COVID-19 travel restrictions We are bringing in a limited exemption to allow immediate family members of citizens or permanent residents to come to Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudea Trudeau had noted on May 29th that the federal government was considering easing restrictions for immediate family, though it needed to get support from its provincial counterparts. In a follow-up briefing several minutes after Trudeaus announcement, immigration minister Marco Mendicino confirmed that the federal government successfully obtained such support from the provinces. Mendicino said that this new exemption for families was to bring families closer together, however the federal government would not allow short-term trips. This is meant to protect the health and safety of Canadians. Canada has implemented a variety of special immigration measures since the start of the coronavirus crisis. Many of the measures aim to facilitate the processing of immigration applications and movement of people during the pandemic. Learn more about Canadian family sponsorship Need assistance with a temporary visa application process? Contact wp@canadavisa.com. 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved The COVID-19 Rapid Response Team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged the ruling NPP Government to take steps to provide more funds and rapidly deploy more resources, to give Ghana a chance in fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic. According to them, the only realistic window of opportunity available to Ghana to put in an effective mechanism to control the spread of the viral disease should be measured in days rather than weeks, as we race against time. Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, a member of the team, ranking member committee on Health and member of parliament for Juaboso constituency, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh expressed worry about the increasing numbers of the COVID-19 cases. "It is about time the government should invest more resources in the COVID-19 fight because it looks like the country is losing the fight," he said.He said most treatment centres even lack basic PPEs to provide care for the infected patients, which endangers the lives of the health professionals.He added that with the easing of restrictions by President Akufo-Addo the government should also be ready to equip and provide more resources to fight against the Coronavirus."The rate at which the numbers are rising puts the country at very high risk," he added.Watch Video BelowGhana has recorded 498 new cases of COVID-19 taking the countrys total case count to 10,856.The death toll still remains at 48 recoveries shooting up to 3,921, the Ghana Health Service announced in its latest update.Greater Accra Region 6,791Ashanti Region 1,905Western Region 874Central Region 539Volta Region 212Eastern Region 204Upper East Region 128Western North Region 79Oti Region 47Northern Region 37Upper West Region 22Bono East Region 13North East Region 2Savannah Region 1Bono Region 1Ahafo Region 1 Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Zarif: US breaches JCPOA, UNSC resolution, has no right to vilify Iran Iran Press TV Thursday, 11 June 2020 3:07 PM Iranian foreign minister says the United States has no right to "abuse" the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to vilify Iran, because Washington has already breached the nuclear deal that Tehran clinched with world powers, including the US, and the United Nations Security Council resolution that endorsed the deal. In a tweet on Thursday, Mohammad Javad Zarif noted that despite Iran's effort to abide by its obligations as per the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Washington has been doing its best to heighten tensions with Tehran and has also been bullying other countries to follow suit. After its conclusion in Vienna in 2015, the nuclear accord between Iran and the P5+1 group of states -- the US, the UK, France, Russia, and China plus Germany -- was endorsed by the Security Council in the form of Resolution 2231. The accord removed nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic that voluntarily changed some aspects of its nuclear program in return. The accord was hailed as a pillar of world security due to its swift contribution to lowering regional and international tensions. The US, however, left the JCPOA in May 2018 in breach of its multilateral nature and the UNSC's enshrinement of the accord. The country then returned the sanctions, started scaring others to stop their legal trade with Iran, and refused to relieve the bans although Tehran won an International Court of Justice case against Washington that mandated it to lift the coercive measures targeting transfer of food and medicine to the Islamic Republic. The US has been trying to mount pressure on Iran through numerous other channels too, including the Security Council itself and the IAEA, the UN's nuclear agency. The US has vowed to have the Security Council extend an arms embargo that will end under the JCPOA in October, and threatened to try to restore all international sanctions against Tehran if the embargo was not prolonged. Washington alleges that it is allowed to try taking both the measures against Iran as it is still "named" in the UNSC resolution as a JCPOA partner. Zarif's tweet, though, refuted Washington's claim by invoking a 50-year-old international legal opinion. Under the 1971 International Court of Justice opinion adduced in the tweet, "a party which disowns or does not fulfill its own obligations cannot be recognized as retaining the rights, which it claims to derive from the relationship," the top diplomat reminded. The opinion has described the code as a fundamental principle governing international relationships. Russia recently attacked the US efforts to come in the way of Iran's cooperation with the IAEA, although, the nuclear agency has not yet found any evidence of "diversion" of the Islamic Republic's nuclear work. Earlier this week, Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said the nuclear deal's "opponents" -- in clear reference to the United States and some of its allies -- were seeking to "undermine the confidence and cooperation" between Tehran and the IAEA. He reminded that the nuclear accord was, among other things, clenched to "restore confidence in exclusively peaceful nature" of Iran's nuclear program, noting that the nuclear agency has not found any "military dimension" to Iran's nuclear activities. Washington, Israel, and some regional countries have, however, long been trying to allege otherwise, with the occupying regime using every international occasion to flaunt, what it calls, evidence of misapplication of the Iranian nuclear work without providing any concrete proof. Zarif, meanwhile, gave a list of the United States other actions, which stand in sharp contrast to the international law, saying the US has clearly admitted to involvement in such acts of terrorism as assassination of the regional resistance movement's top figures in Iraq, as well as facilitating Saudi and Israeli regime's war crimes in Yemen and Palestine. He concluded his tweet by emphasizing that as a result of its bleak track records with regard to ignoring the norms of human rights and international law, the United States has no right to "abuse UN & IAEA to vilify Iran." 'Pro-Israeli lobby dictates US, Western countries' policy in Middle East' In another tweet, also on Thursday, Iran's foreign minister took to task American and Western countries' lawmakers for their subservience to pro-Israeli lobby, noting that it is this lobby, especially the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which dictates their policies in the Middle East. As evidence, Zarif juxtaposed to his tweet a screenshot of the Jewish Telegraphic News Agency, dated June 10, 2020, in which the agency reported that the AIPAC has, for the first time, given US lawmakers a green light to criticize Israel over its recent plan to annex more parts of the occupied West Bank. Tel Aviv has announced a plan to annex some 30 percent of the occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank. Observers say any criticism that could potentially be leveled by the congressmen against the plan would only serve to mislead the public opinion about Washington's outright support for Tel Aviv as US President Donald Trump himself backed the annexation in late January, when he was detailing a controversial pro-Israeli American plan. "If there were ever any question of WHO dictates US& Westernpolicy in the Mid East, this headline screams it loud & clear," Zarif said, adding, "#AIPAC has poisoned US politics for years, overtly giving instructions to Congress." Iran's top diplomat then concluded the latter tweet by advising the international community that it is "time to end #APARTHEID Israel's tyranny over Western halls of power." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Facebook's acquisition of popular GIF website Giphy is being scrutinized by the United Kingdom`s competition watchdog for possibly reducing competition. The parent of messaging app WhatsApp bought Giphy, a popular website for making and sharing animated images, or GIFs, in May to integrate it with its rapidly growing photo-sharing app, Instagram. Facebook is now pausing the integration, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. "We are prepared to show regulators that this acquisition is positive for consumers, developers, and content creators alike," the company said in a statement on Friday. According to Facebook, 50% of Giphy`s traffic comes from Facebook`s apps, with half of that coming from Instagram. While a formal probe is yet to begin, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) earlier this week served Facebook with an initial enforcement order and on Friday began the first stage of an investigation, inviting comments on the transaction from any interested party. Giphy sought to quell some of the concerns in a statement. "Everyone will continue to have the same access to GIPHY. We look forward to demonstrating how this partnership is a win for our users, partners, and content creators," it said. The deal, pegged at around $400 million by news website Axios, came through as Facebook was already under scrutiny over antitrust concerns, and the company is now taking fire for its decision to not challenge inflammatory posts by US President Donald Trump. Some advocacy groups had already raised concerns when the deal was announced and Facebook had then said that Giphy`s integrations with other social platforms like Twitter, Snapchat and ByteDance`s TikTok would not change. CAIRO, June 11 (Reuters) - Egypt will allow scheduled international flights and foreign tourists to some of its coastal areas that have been least affected by coronavirus starting from July 1, the cabinet said in a statement. Egypt closed its airports in March as part of its measures to curb the spread of the deadly disease. (Reporting by Moamen Said Atallah; Writing by Mahmoud Mourad; Editing by Edmund Blair) In January, court papers filed by the Associated Newspapers allege that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has asked her close friend Jessica Mulroney to influence the tone of a newspaper based on an interview with her former business advisor, Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne. It is known that Meghan Markle is in the middle of a legal battle against some of the biggest British tabloids after the Mail on Sunday published a private letter from the former actress to her father, Thomas Markle, after her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018. Meghan and Prince Harry are suing the Associated Newspapers for leaking private correspondence that posed breach of privacy, data protection, and copyright. The Associated Newspapers are claiming that the Duchess of Sussex was well versed in the act of attempting to manipulate what is being written about her that she asked her confidante Jessica Mulroney to change the tone of the article that was commissioned by the Mail on Sunday. The writer of the article, Kate Mansey, has reportedly contacted the Duchess press secretary of the contents of her interview with Nelthorpe-Cowne. She then received a message from Mulroney, who made sure that the newspaper article would seem like they are in favor of Meghan Markle. "It is to be inferred that on the same date the Claimant Meghan Markle passed this message to Jessica Mulroney with a request that she [Mulroney] intervene to try to ensure a more favorable article was published, because on April 7, 2018, Ms. Mulroney wrote to Ms. Nelthorpe-Cowne putting pressure on her to withdraw or change statements she made." Jason Knauff, Meghan's press secretary, was later informed about Mulroney's actions and told the Mail on Sunday that he would make sure it wouldn't happen again. Jessica Mulroney, a Racist? Mulroney hosts "I Do, Redo" on a Canadian TV network but was axed on Thursday night amid a white privilege row. She was fired after the remarks she made to Sasha Exeter, a lifestyle blogger and influencer after the host's comments that threatened her on speaking up against racism. Exeter is a former athlete who now runs a website called SoSasha. She claims that Meghan Markle's BFF took offense on her call for bloggers and social influencers to speak out for Black Lives Matter. "What happened next was a series of very problematic behavior and antics that ultimately resulted in her sending me a threat in writing last Wednesday," Exeter shared. "Listen, I am by no means calling Jess a racist but what I will say is this, she is very well aware of her wealth, she perceived power and privilege because of the color of her skin." "For her to threaten me - a single mum, a single black mum - during a racial pandemic blows my mind." Exeter expressed confusion over why Mulroney would not back Black Lives Movement, considering that Meghan Markle, her close friend is "arguably one of the most famous black women in the world." "The goal here is genuine, transformative change - not optical and performative bull****. You cannot be posting that you stand in solidarity while attempting to silence somebody via text." CTV's official Twitter page wrote that their entire team should be practicing "respect, inclusivity, and allyship as we pledge to work better and move openly to listen to and amplify Black voices, and not to minimize them." They continued, "Because recent conduct by one of our shows hosts, Jessica Mulroney, conflict with our commitment to diversity and equality, CTV has removed "I DO REDO" from all Bell Media channels and platforms effective immediately." READ MORE: Royal Revelation: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Planned Megxit Before Getting Married Fargo, North Dakota, is the fifth-best place to move to after the coronavirus pandemic. Shutterstock Some people might be considering moving to a new part of the US after the coronavirus pandemic. We used nine metrics for 380 US metro areas to calculate an overall score that we used to find the best cities to move to after the pandemic. Some of the 30 best cities to move to are in Illinois, Iowa, and Wyoming. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The pandemic has brought on new changes for many Americans, including working from home for the first time or having to temporarily relocate. If you are considering permanently moving to a new place after the novel coronavirus pandemic, you may want to consider one of these 30 US cities. Recent polling has suggested that many Americans are thinking about moving. The news website Axios reported in late April on a Harris Poll survey that found that about one-third of Americans said they were thinking about moving to less densely populated places. And research from Moody's Analytics found that less densely populated places with a larger share of jobs requiring a bachelor's degree or higher are likely to recover first from the economic impact of the pandemic. During stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of the virus, more and more Americans have transitioned to working from their homes. In a Gallup analysis, 62% of respondents in a survey conducted from March 30 to April 2 said they were working from home, compared with 31% of respondents in a survey conducted from March 13 to 15. Gallup polling has indicated that even after stay-at-home orders lift and employees can return to offices, some people are thinking about working remotely at least part of the time. In a survey conducted from April 13 to 19, 53% of respondents said they would work remotely as much as they could, while 47% said they would return to the office as much as they previously did. Some companies have extended remote work into the next year, such as American Express. Additionally, polling from Pew Research Center found 22% of US adults moved or knew someone who moved during the pandemic. The moving resource site HireAHelper found there have been more people moving in than out in states like Idaho and New Mexico since March. Story continues Based on moving surveys and an uptick in telework, Business Insider decided to find out which cities could be the best to live in after the coronavirus pandemic for those Americans seeking a new home and planning to continue remote work. You can read more about our methods and sources at the end of our ranking. A more detailed version of our method and metrics can also be found here. Here are the 30 best cities to live in after the coronavirus pandemic, based on our analysis: 30. Sierra Vista, Arizona Tim Roberts Photography/Shutterstock Sierra Vista's cost of living the metro area's price level of goods and services compared with the US's is 11.2% lower than the national average. About 78.2% of households spend less than 30% of their income on housing, which is a higher share than in most metro areas. 29. Mankato, Minnesota Jeff Bukowski/Shutterstock Mankato has the fifth-shortest weekly commute at two hours and 50 minutes. The unemployment rate in July was 5.9%, lower than most metro areas. 28. Peoria, Illinois Henryk Sadura/Getty Images Peoria is among the 100 metro areas with the lowest cost-of-living scores, at 12% lower than the national average. Average housing costs in this metro area are about $894 a month. 27. Danville, Illinois Seth Perlman/AP Danville's cost of living is 21.4% lower than the national average. The city's population density of 84.3 people per square mile is also lower than in most metro areas. 26. Waterloo, Iowa Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock In Waterloo, nearly 80% of households spend less than 30% of their income on housing, indicating better housing affordability than most metro areas. The cost of living is about 10.4% less than the national average. 25. Ithaca, New York Matt Champlin/Getty Images Ithaca has the seventh-highest total spending per student in elementary and secondary public schools, where the school district in the metro area with the most students enrolled spends $21,220 per pupil. The metro area also has the third-largest share of residents with a bachelor's degree or higher, at 56.9%. 24. Dubuque, Iowa Dubuque County John Elk/Getty Images In Dubuque, 74.7% of households spend less than 30% of their income on housing, which is a higher share than in most metro areas. Average housing costs in this metro are are also around $931 a month. 23. Walla Walla, Washington Jordan Siemens/Getty Images In Walla Walla, 75.2% of households spend less than 30% of their income on housing, a higher share than in most metro areas. The cost of living is only 3.5% less than the national average. 22. Wausau, Wisconsin Michael-Tatman/Getty Images In Wausau, 79.2% of households spend less than 30% of their income on housing, the 16th-highest share among metro areas, and average housing costs are around $866 a month. 21. La Crosse, Wisconsin Jason_Ray_Photography/Getty Images In La Crosse, 74.3% of households spend less than 30% of their income on housing, which is higher than in most metro areas. It is among the 100 metro areas with a short weekly commute to and from work, at three hours and 25 minutes. 20. Omaha, Nebraska Shutterstock Omaha's unemployment rate was 5.9% in July, 3 percentage points higher than its February rate. Omaha's cost of living is 7.9% lower than the national average. 38.9% of jobs could be done from home in Omaha, a higher share than in most metro areas. 19. Grand Forks, North Dakota DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images About 37.7% of people aged 25 and over have at least a bachelor's in Grand Forks, among the 100 metro areas with the large shares of high educational attainment. The metro area has the seventh-shortest weekly commute at two hours and 53 minutes. 18. Lansing, Michigan Henryk Sadura/Shutterstock Lansing is among the metro areas with the highest share of jobs that could be done from home, at 41%. Lansing's cost of living is 8.8% lower than the national average. 17. Logan, Utah Robert_Ford/Getty Images In Logan, nearly 72.3% of households spend less than 30% of their income on housing. Logan's pre-coronavirus unemployment rate was 2%, tied for the second lowest among the metro areas. In July, the metro area had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.5%. 16. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Jonathannsegal/Shutterstock In Cedar Rapids, nearly 80% of households spend less than 30% of their income on housing, the 15th-highest share among metro areas. The metro area's cost of living is 11.5% lower than the national average and among the 100 metro areas with low costs of living. 15. Rochester, New York ideeone/Getty Images The Rochester metro area school district with the most students enrolled spends a total of $24,943 per pupil in elementary and secondary public schools, the second-highest amount among metro areas. And 39.3% of jobs could be done from home, a higher share than in most metro areas. 14. Columbia, Missouri Nina B/Shutterstock About 44.0% of residents aged 25 and over have a bachelor's degree in this metro area, a higher share than in most metro areas. The weekly commute to and from work in Columbia is three hours and 22 minutes, shorter than most metro areas. 13. Madison, Wisconsin Walter Bibikow/Getty Images In Madison, 42.6% of jobs could be done from home a higher share than in most metro areas. The pre-coronavirus unemployment rate of 2.6% was lower than the national rate. This February rate is 3.3 percentage points lower than July's rate of 5.9%. 12. Cheyenne, Wyoming Rafel/Shutterstock Among the metro areas, Cheyenne has the ninth-shortest weekly commute to and from work, at two hours and 55 minutes. The metro area also has the 18th lowest population density, at roughly 37.1 people per square mile. 11. Des Moines, Iowa Monte Goodyk/Getty Images The unemployment rate in the Des Moines metro area rose to 7.1% in July from 2.7% in February. Additionally, 42.7% of jobs could be done from home, the 17th-highest share among metro areas. 10. Lincoln, Nebraska Shannon Ramos / EyeEm/Getty Images Lincoln's unemployment rate in July was the eighth-lowest among metro areas at 4.8%. The pre-coronavirus unemployment rate was 2.7%, lower than the national average in February. About 73.6% of households spend less than 30% of their income on housing in this metro area. 9. Huntsville, Alabama Huntsville's unemployment rate was 6.0% in July, 3.8 percentage points higher than in February. About 41.5% of jobs could be done from home, a higher share than in most metro areas. 8. Topeka, Kansas Lawrence Sawyer/Getty Topeka's cost of living is 11.5% lower than the national average. About 37.7% of jobs could also be done in this metro area, making it part of the top 100 metro areas. 7. Bismarck, North Dakota Real Window Creative/Shutterstock In Bismarck, 76.9% of households spend less than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a better housing affordability than in most metro areas. There are about 30.1 people per square mile in the metro area, the 15th lowest among metro areas. 6. Ames, Iowa EQRoy/Shutterstock Ames had the fifth lowest unemployment rate among metro areas in July at 4.5%, 2.5 percentage points higher than the rate in February. Additionally, 44.6% of residents who are at least 25 years old have a bachelor's degree or higher, among the 25 metro areas with the high educational attainment. 5. Fargo, North Dakota David Harmantas/Shutterstock Fargo had the 19th-lowest unemployment rate among the metro areas in July at 5.4%. The metro area's pre-coronavirus unemployment rate was 2.1%, tied for the fourth lowest among metro areas. The weekly commute to and from work in Fargo is three hours and 12 minutes, among the top 50 shortest commutes. 4. Springfield, Illinois AmyKerk/Getty Images Springfield's unemployment rate rose to 9.1% after the metro area had a rate equivalent to the national average in February at 3.5%. Nearly 43% of jobs could be done from home in this metro area, the 16th-highest share among metro areas. 3. Champaign, Illinois leightrail/Getty Images Champaign's unemployment rate in July rose to 7.6% after the metro area was below the national rate in February, at 3.2%. The school district with the most students enrolled had the 20th-highest total spending per pupil in elementary and secondary public schools, at $17,606 per pupil. 2. Jefferson City, Missouri DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images Jefferson City's cost of living is 18.3% lower than the national average and the fifth lowest among metro areas. About 80.1% of households spend less than 30% of their income on housing, the 11th highest share among the metro areas. 1. Bloomington, Illinois Henryk Sadura/Shutterstock The share of jobs that could be done from home in Bloomington is 39.4%, and 77.8% of households spend less than 30% of their income on housing; both shares are higher than in most metro areas. Methodology To find the best cities, we used nine economic, educational, and demographic metrics from government data sources and academic research that we think people might consider when moving and that could help a metro area recover faster from the economic effects of the pandemic. These measures are the most recent unemployment rate, ability to work from home, population density, housing affordability, monthly household costs, cost of living, weekly two-way work commute, total elementary- and secondary-school spending per student, and share of residents age 25 and over who have at least a bachelor's degree. Each measure was rescaled to a uniform z-score, allowing us to add the values together to get a final overall index for each metro area that we then used to rank the 30 metro areas at the top of the list. You can read more about our method and data collection here. Read the original article on Business Insider Tech services giant Tata Consultancies Services has become the first company in India to hold an annual general meeting via video-conferencing. The company held its 25th AGM on June 11 amid several travel restrictions and social distancing measures in place across the country. Barring some technical snags, the AGM went on smoothly, though the usual banter between TCS management and shareholders was missing. The TCS AGM, with the company's top management including Chairman N Chandrasekaran and chief executive Rajesh Gopinathan seated at a safe distance from him in a south Mumbai office of TCS, was a marked departure from the jamborees of the past. Some investors even complained about not getting screen time with company management. With technical snags, some suggested the company to use a widely popular but controversial video conferencing app. Narendra, the third among 27 shareholders who spoke, congratulated the company for having such a meeting and asked a question about the contingency plans which the company has made to help limit the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, which also necessitated the online AGM. As per the TCS data, 1,283 investors logged into the video conferencing. The number was almost equivalent to the past AGMs. Also read: Tech giant TCS to hire 39,000 freshers in FY21 Chairman N Chandrasekaran, in his address, acknowledged the presence of investors like 96-year-old FC Kohli, who he said has not missed a single AGM to date. Meanwhile, on questions related to reports that only 25 per cent of TCS employees will work from office by 2025, Chandrasekaran said the measure to allow work from home was a proactive one considering the coronavirus situation in India. He added though it's not the company's target, it wants to be prepared in case the world moves towards such a direction. To ensure proper security of the company data under the current circumstances, he said TCS was bringing a change by rewiring security process and using cutting-edge technologies like AI to make the system stronger. During a conference call in April, TCS had said it will ask a vast majority of 75% of its 4.48 lakh employees globally (including 3.5 lakh in India) to work from home, up from the industry average of 20% then. "We don't believe that we need more than 25% of our workforce at our facilities to be 100% productive," TCS's chief operating officer NG Subramaniam had said. Meanwhile, Chandrasekaran also said that working with clients during this period had been a "learning experience". "The company had a very productive year, engaging with customers in their innovation, growth and transformation initiatives, and winning some of our largest deals till date. However, our response to the events during the last 10 days of FY20 is what I consider to be our most defining accomplishment of the financial year," Chandra said. The meeting was hosted on the National Securities Depository Limited platform. With PTI inputs Also read: Post-COVID, 75% of 4.5 lakh TCS employees to permanently work from home by '25; from 20% A plan aimed at easing congestion on a key, 15-mile corridor of Interstate 12 in the Baton Rouge area won approval Thursday from the Joint Transportation Committee. The project will convert shoulder space into high occupancy vehicle lanes in both directions between the I-10/12 split in Baton Rouge and Walker, and possibly further eastward at some point. Sen. J. Rogers Pope, R-Livingston, said he drives the route under scrutiny every day. "It is a concept we all need," Pope said. "It is not just for Livingston Parish or Baton Rouge. It is a regional thing." Relief coming to traffic-weary Baton Rouge: La. 415 connector, I-12 HOV lanes clear major hurdles Legislation to pave the way for a new lane in each direction on Interstate 12 between the I-10/12 split and Walker, and ease daily traffic bac "Obviously if we can get any more relief for those three lanes we have going east and west it is a plus plus," he said. The joint panel, without objection, approved plans by the state Department of Transportation and Development to solicit what state officials call a transportation services contract rather than relying on multiple agreements. The firm picked will be in charge of developing, operating, maintaining, collecting revenue and enforcing regulations. The new lane, in addition to the three lanes operating now, will give motorists more options, save time and make roadways safer, DOTD officials told the committee. The affected corridor is one of the most traffic-packed in the Baton Rouge area, especially during morning and evening commutes. "We are looking for ways to do deal with that congestion," DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson told the committee. Wilson noted HOV lanes are common in Dallas, Atlanta, Austin and elsewhere. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Cars and trucks carrying two or more people would qualify to use the lanes. Single passenger vehicles could use the HOV lanes for a charge of up to 10 cents per mile. Exactly how charges will be assessed remains to be worked out. DOTD officials hope to send out a request for proposals in October, award a contract in April and finish the conversion in 2021. Rep. Ed Larvadain III, D-Alexandria, praised the plans, saying that under current conditions, traffic on the stretch of I-12 under scrutiny is "horrendous." "One pileup will create miles of problems," he said. "This is big," Larvadain said of conversion plans. "We have to find a way to move people." The widening plan was proposed by former state Sen. Dale Erdey, R-Livingston, in 2015. Wider I-12 in Baton Rouge? It 'should be up and running next year' New lanes in each direction on Interstate 12 between the I-10/12 split and Walker will likely open in 2020, the sponsor of the legislation sai DOTD officials launched a feasibility study in 2017 and concluded that the idea made sense. A bill approved last year authorized Wilson to designate HOV lanes. The Group is the first recreational company to be granted the seal created by the World Travel and Tourism Council (TRAVPR.COM) FL - June 11th, 2020 - Riviera Maya, June 10, 2020. Grupo Xcaret, the leader in sustainable tourism in the Mexican Caribbean, is the first recreational company to be awarded the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)s highly-regarded Safe Travel Seal, for its compliance with standardized health and hygiene protocols in Hotel Xcaret Mexico and its eco-friendly parks and tours. The protocols outlined by the WTTC, which Grupo Xcaret fully complies with, have been put forth by international health organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Prevention (CDC) with the purpose of responsibly reactivating the tourism industry. At Grupo Xcaret, people have always been the backbone of our company, and these times are no different, said Miguel Quintana Pali, president and CEO of Grupo Xcaret. The last couple of months, we have been tirelessly working to create the 360 Xafety model, a robust plan of protocols and cleaning measures in accordance with those outlined by the WTTC, that we are implementing in all of our establishments to ensure a safe reopening for our guests, employees and other collaborators. We thank the WTTC for their trust and support in making us the first international recreational group to receive the Safe Travel Stamp, he added. We are thrilled to award Grupo Xcaret, a tourism giant in the region of Quintana Roo, with our Safe Travel Stamp, said Gloria Guevara Manzo, president and CEO of the WTTC. Promoting safe and responsible travel is our priority right now, and we are confident that by partnering with likeminded brands such as Grupo Xcaret, well be one step closer to safely reopening the global tourism industry, said Guevara Manzo. Several destinations such as Saudi Arabia, Barcelona, Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean, Portugal, Seville, Turkey, Jamaica, and Ontario have received WTTCs seal. Grupo Xcaret is the first private company to receive it, setting an important precedent of the high standards tourism actors should be held to. Grupo Xcaret provides unparalleled sustainable recreation activities inspired in their love for Mexico and respect for the environment. Their parks are one of the most visited in Latin America, also their iconic Xcaret Park, was recognized with the Liseberg Applause Award as the Best Park in the World during the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) expo. Xcaret Park and Hotel Xcaret Mexico will reopen on June 15th, while the rest of the parks are set to reopen on July 1st. The WTTC strives to promote the responsible reactivation of tourism, since the Covid-19 pandemic represented huge losses and the cancellation of 100 million jobs in the sector globally. For nine consecutive years, tourism outpaced the growth of the world economy, and in 2019 alone contributed 10.3% of global GDP and was responsible for generating one out of every four new jobs on the planet. ### Radio and digital marketing boffin Karabo Ntshweng has worked at Primedia in the branded content producing field in radio for many years but more recently she joined 5FM, landing the 4-6am weekday slot at the station. Karabo Ntshweng. Tell us a bit about yourself and your background. How do you juggle working on branded content within the digital marketing space and managing your own brand at the same time? What are some of the highlights in your career so far? View this post on Instagram Throwback to a very epic day in Brussels A post shared by Karabo Ntshweng (@karabontshweng) on Apr 19, 2020 at 12:21am PDT What do you think the industry can improve on and how can young voices help bring this change about? Brands are very quick to jump onto the activism trend. I think it's incredible to show solidarity towards movements, but it's so important to walk the talk. So instead of just having a campaign where you take a stand for or against something, its important to actually make sure your business practices reflect what you are saying in your communication. Why do you think its important for brands to support and collaborate particularly with young creatives? What do you think is key for brands to keep in mind when marketing to the youth? Be authentic. Young people can see right through gimmicks. Brands need to remember that young people expect a lot more from them these days. We want brands that care for the community and the planet. Were not going to buy your product based on your attributes alone. How are you positively contributing to making this world a better place, and are you believable in your actions? People before profits, and if you act irresponsibly or inauthentically, young people will call you out on it, which will ultimately affect your bottom line and how young people perceive your brand. Who are some of your role models? What advice would you like to convey to all the newbies trying to crack into the industry? We chatted to Ntshweng to find out how she juggles working on branded content within the digital marketing space while still managing her own brand, and she tells us what is key for brands to keep in mind when marketing to the youth.Im a media professional working in the radio and digital space. I have 10 years of radio experience working on-air as a radio presenter and as a branded content producer, which is essentially creating digital content for brands. From websites, to social media content to podcasts.Before radio, I did television presenting for a number of years. Ive got an undergrad in Psychology from Wits University and am currently wrapping up my Honours degree at Vega in Brand Strategic Communications. Im passionate about telling stories, whether it's on-air in my broadcasting capacity on 5FM, or helping brands communicate with their digital audience in authentic ways.Making sure I give my best to client work, but without neglecting my own personal brand. Because the two exist in the same space its a lot easier to juggle. Its about making sure I also stay in touch with the latest trends in the digital and brand space. I keep upskilling myself and applying my learnings into both aspects of my career.There have been so many but Ill mention some recent ones. When Covid-19 hit South Africa, we managed to quickly turn around an amazing portal with informative news about the virus and well as entertaining content to help our digital audiences navigate this new way of living. I was also recently the digital lead on an incredible campaign that helped raise over R1.2m towards small businesses during lockdown.Im really passionate about meaningful brands. So my favourite campaigns to work on are definitely ones where we make a positive difference in people lives. Working at the Intercontinental GT Challenge in Belgium was definitely a highlight for me last year and really challenged me as a content creator. Then, my current highlight has definitely been landing the weekday 4-6am slot at 5FM!So if youre supporting #BlackLivesMatter, for example, make sure your business is really transformed. If youre shouting women empowerment, it shouldnt be on womens day only. Are you paying women in your business what they deserve? Is there enough representation of women in management? Do you deal with sexual harassment cases appropriately? Many brands are doing extremely well in making sure that their actions match their words, but there are certainly more brands that can do better, and thats what I think we can improve on as an industry.Young people are the future of our industry. They are the very same people we market to. How can we not support them? If were going to keep our industry alive and thriving, young people need to certainly be given space and a voice in decision-making rooms. They need to be given the opportunity to be heard because they are also the very same people who are actually in touch with young consumers, so they absolutely cannot be left out.In the digital space, definitely Janine Jellers. She comes from a magazine background but has really claimed her position in the digital space. So proud to have worked under her a few years ago. Shes unapologetic about what she stands for and it's always evident in her work. I look up to other female radio presenters like Anele Mdoda and Stacey Norman who are hosting breakfast and drive time shows and are such powerhouses. And, of course, Oprah Winfrey. I mean who doesnt look up to Oprah?The creative space is so cutthroat. Your talent is not enough. There are too many other talented people out there. Be reliable, work hard, constantly upskill, be humble and respect the people you work with, because this is a collaborative industry. You absolutely wont make it on your own. You need other creatives to create magic! One more thing, if you have the opportunity to study, do it. People can take away opportunities, jobs, money and so many things from you, but never your education. Always stay hungry to learn. Retail sector representatives last night welcomed the relaxation of lockdown restrictions on shops and shopping malls - but warned that customers should continue to follow social distancing guidelines and hygiene advice when they head for the stores. Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said: "This is a very welcome decision which now allows our local retail sector as a whole to reopen and play its role in the economic recovery of Northern Ireland. With many retailers reopening tomorrow and over the next few days, I would make an appeal to shoppers to be patient and respectful with shop staff. "Substantial operational changes have had to be made for shops to comply with social distancing so it is likely that shoppers will experience increased queuing outside some stores. "This is a welcome package of support, particularly the proposed Capital Covid-19 Recovery Revitalisation scheme for town and city centres. High streets will have to change to accommodate social distancing and it is vital the Executive and local councils work with retailers to ensure shoppers feel safe. "We also need much greater flexibility of enforcement of pavement cafe legislation and we should not rule out further pedestrianisation of our town and city centres to support further regeneration moves." Belfast Chamber said the reopening of shopping centres was "the final piece in the retail reopening jigsaw". Chief executive Simon Hamilton said: "This is further good news for the local retail sector. With all non-essential retail permitted to reopen on Friday, shopping centres were the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle. Today's announcement means that all of retail can now start trading again. "Belfast Chamber expects a considerable number of stores to open in the city centre on Friday and over the coming days. "With the vast majority of businesses closed for nearly three months, it is great to see Belfast slowly but surely opening up again. "Whilst it is clear that footfall is likely to remain down for some time yet, this is a yet another huge step in the right direction for our members and the city's economy, and is important in restoring some semblance of normality to our society". In Newry, Chamber President Emma Marmion-Mullen backed the easing of trading restrictions, but called for a stimulus package to help traders face the challenges ahead. "It has been a challenging time for local businesses, but we now can slowly begin rebuilding confidence in our local economy," she said. "The road to recovery will be challenging. "The financial support measures from the UK Government and the Executive have helped businesses to survive and keep people in employment. Equally our businesses have been innovative in how they responded to the challenge of Covid-19. "As a business community, what we need now is a stimulus package from the NI Executive which will include investment in infrastructure, the improvement of our digital network, support for innovation, and a skills agenda which maximises the talent of our young people." Celebrated annually on 19 June across the US, Juneteenth commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas and the nations second Independence Day. The day now more widely represents the emancipation of enslaved African Americans across the US following the Civil War and its violent aftermath, and is the oldest nationally recognised commemoration of slaverys end. Heres a brief history of Juneteenth and how its recognised today. What happened? On 19 June 1865, roughly 2,000 Union Army soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that enslaved people were now free. In his order, Union Army Maj Gen Gordon Granger announced that the people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. Recommended Biden links Juneteenth to voting rights as he signs new federal holiday into law This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labour, he continued. But the announcement arrived more than two years following then-president Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation, which signalled the end of slavery in the US but did not end the enslavement of all people in the nation at the time, contrary to its legacy and evocative language. Why was there a delay? Although the proclamation was issued on 1 September 1862, it didnt go into effect until 1 January 1863. The war raged on for more than two more years. The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, which formally abolished slavery in the US, wasnt passed by Congress until 31 January 1865. It was ratified later that year. Meanwhile, roughly 200,000 Black men had enlisted among the Union ranks in the months before Confederate General Robert E Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia on 9 April. What was left of local Confederate armies and militia men held out in uprisings as slavers in the southern states migrated west to the Confederacy stronghold of Texas, along with thousands of enslaved people they had taken with them. For the more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas upon the Union Armys arrival, General Grangers order didnt instantly release them from their chains; many slavers suppressed the news to the people they enslaved. The generals order continues: The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere. Slaverys formal end ushered in a decade of Reconstruction, which sought the continued emancipation of Black Americans and inclusion of the secessionist states into the US amid white supremacist paramilitary terror and a devastated post-war economy. While the 13th Amendment prohibited the enslavement of Americans, it exempted slavery for those convicted of a crime. Black codes in economically devastated southern states subjected harsh penalties for newly freed Black Americans for crimes like loitering or breaking curfew, ensuring they would remain in chains for decades to follow. The practice of convict leasing prisoners for labour to build railways and mines, among other private construction projects, became slavery by another name that is echoed in todays mass incarceration that disproportionately impacts Black Americans. Why is it called Juneteenth? The word is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth. How is it celebrated? Parades, festivals, concerts, family gatherings, church services and other community events are hosted across the US, but Juneteenth remains an unofficial national holiday. It is not celebrated on the federal level, whereas the Fourth of July which marks the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 is recognised nationwide just a few weeks later. In his What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? address in 1852, abolitionist Frederick Douglass noted the nations hypocrisy of celebrating Independence Day while imposing a brutal regime of slavery. Juneteenth was not formally recognised in Texas, where the order was delivered, until 1979. It was the first state to do so. In memory of the historic event, 19 June is now observed in most states, though not all. Hawaii, North Dakota and South Dakota do not recognise it as a state holiday. How has momentum changed in the last year? Following an international uprising against police violence and systemic racism after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the holiday has gained larger attention outside African American communities, as pressure builds on federal, state and local governments to recognise the nations legacy of racism. Donald Trump was shamed by his opponents for choosing to host his first campaign rally since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic on Juneteenth in Tulsa, Oklahoma, three weeks after the city recognised the anniversary of a two-day massacre of Black residents by a white mob in 1921. The former president then moved the rally to the following day. A number of large companies also have added the holiday to their company holidays. Nike, National Football League and Twitter now provide a paid day off to their employees for Juneteenth. New York City also now recognises the day as a school and public holiday, and city employees in Portland, Oregon also are provided a paid holiday. On the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre, Oregons state senate passed legislation to create state holiday for Juneteenth. Opal Lee, a 94-year-old activist from Texas, has led a national campaign for federal recognition of the holiday by walking from Texas to Washington DC every year. When will it be a federal holiday? On 17 June 2021, Joe Biden signed into law a measure creating the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. It is the nations 11th federal holiday. In Congress, Democratic US Rep Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas has led recent efforts to make Juneteenth a national holiday, adding to the list for the first time since the addition of Martin Luther King Jr Day in 1983. On 13 June, the US Senate unanimously approved the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, establishing 19 June as a legal public holiday. Republican Senator Ron Johnson, who blocked its passage in 2020, lifted his opposition in 2021. The measure received overwhelming bipartisan support in the House of Representatives on 16 June, though 14 Republicans voted against it. As a federal holiday, federal employees will receive a paid day off on 19 June, or on the nearest Friday or Monday. It joins a list of federal holidays that includes New Years Day, MLK Jr Day, Washingtons Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. A new quartet will lead The Craft reboot (Image by Columbia Pictures) The Craft producer Douglas Wick has provided an update on the upcoming reboot of the 1996 cult horror classic, insisting that theyre ecstatic with writer and director Zoe Lister-Jones take. Wick also talked to Comic Book.com about the themes that Jones will cover in her reboot, insisting that, much like the original, it is about female empowerment and teenage girls discovering their sexuality. Read More: Zoe Lister-Jones to write and direct 'The Craft' remake for Blumhouse "It's always challenging, because I did The Craft so many years ago, and I started doing it because I just wanted to make a movie about teen-aged girls coming into their sexuality and as I was reading about it, I was reading that the age-old mythology for talking about female empowerment and fear of it was witchcraft. BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 09: Zoe Lister-Jones attends the Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 09, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic,) So then I started going to writers to try and do that We talked to so many people and we found a really talented female writer/director [Zoe Lister-Jones] and we're happy with what she's doing, so we'll see." Zoe Lister-Jones, who audiences might recognise from her brief roles in The Other Guys, The Good Wife, and New Girl, was hired to oversee The Craft thanks to the critical success of her 2017 debut, Band Aid. Read More: Jason Blum explains why coronavirus will change the way movies are released Jones pitch for The Craft reboot was so impressive that Blumhouse Productions head Jason Blum previously called it one of the best pitches [hes] ever heard She pitched it and you could see the entire movie in a 20 minute pitch which was amazing. Its very rare. Unfortunately were still not sure when The Craft reboot will be with us, though, because even though production finished in February of this year, Blumhouse are yet to announce a release date. SAGINAW, MI Two Saginaw police unions have delivered an overwhelming vote of no-confidence in Chief Robert M. Ruth, though the act is not related to ongoing Black Lives Matter protests. Weve been talking about it for over a year now, said Sgt. Matt Ward, president of the Saginaw Police Command Officers Association. The gunman who killed 22 people in Aprils mass shooting in Nova Scotia had plans to outfit his car to look like an RCMP vehicle almost a year in advance of the shootings and he was well aware that it was illegal. Thats one of the details revealed in a document released by a Nova Scotia court Friday, in which some material redacted in previously released documents was revealed. A witness told RCMP officers that the gunman had purchased some vinyl decal sheets from his business on July 3, 2019. At the time, the gunman told the witness that he had a police cruiser that hed bought at auction and wanted to do it up like a police car. The witness told police that hed told the gunman he could get in trouble for driving the car with decals; the gunman replied that he knew and it would be illegal. The witness also said the gunman came back three months later, on Oct. 18, to make a second purchase of vinyl decals. Its been almost two months since Gabriel Wortman, dressed as a Mountie and driving a replica RCMP car, killed 22 people in northern Nova Scotia, beginning in Portapique, N.S., on the night of April 18 and continuing for the next 13 hours until he was shot and killed by police in Enfield, N.S. Killed were RCMP Const. Heidi Stevenson, Lisa McCully, Gina Goulet, Heather OBrien, Greg and Jamie Blair, Sean McLeod and Alanna Jenkins, Jolene Oliver, Aaron Tuck and Emily Tuck, Kristen Beaton, Tom Bagley, Corrie Ellison, Dawn Madsen and Frank Gulenchyn, Lillian Hyslop, John Zahl and Elizabeth Joanne Thomas, Joey Webber, and Peter and Joy Bond. Police are still investigating Wortmans motives and whether he might have had accomplices. Lawyer David Coles, on behalf of a consortium of media organizations, has been requesting the unsealing of a series of Information to Obtain (ITO) documents used by the RCMP to request search warrants and production orders. An ITO document is the rationale submitted by police to a judge in asking for a warrant. A production order compels a person or organization to produce documents and records to police. Nova Scotia Provincial Court Judge Laurel Halfpenny MacQuarrie released another heavily redacted production order on Friday in which police requested from Bell Aliant telephone records between April 1, 2019 and April 20, 2020 for two landline numbers. Both of those numbers are for Wortmans Atlantic Denture Clinic locations, one at 193 Portland St. in Dartmouth, the other at 3542 Novalea Dr. in Halifax. The RCMP said it planned to use the information produced by the telephone company to determine if Wortman had any co-conspirators. In the production order, police state that Wortman did not have a cellphone of his own and that on the night of April 18, at his warehouse at 135 Orchard Beach Dr. in Portapique, Wortman smashed the cellphone used by his common law spouse. That phone has not been found and is presumed by police to have been burned in the fire that consumed the warehouse. Police argued that since the gunman had no cellphone access, any possible contact with a co-conspirator would have to be made from the landline telephone numbers. SM Steve McKinley is a Halifax-based reporter for the Star. Reach him via email: stevemckinley@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @smckinley1 Read more about: Dr. Jason Furman The Group of Thirty (G30) announced today that Dr. Jason Furman, Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy at Harvard University, has accepted an invitation to join the Groups membership. The Group of Thirty, founded in 1978, is an independent global body comprised of economic and financial leaders from the public and private sectors and academia. It aims to deepen understanding of economic and financial issues, and of the international repercussions of decisions taken in the public and private sectors. Dr. Jacob A. Frenkel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, stated: We are delighted to welcome Jason Furman into the Group. His exemplary contributions in public office and academia, including as Chair of the US Presidents Council of Economic Advisers from August 2013 to January 2017, ensures he will add much to our discussions and debates in the years ahead. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Chairman of the G30, said: We look forward to Jasons engagement in the work of the Group. He joins us at a time that has never been more critical, as the world grapples with fundamentally changed economic realities. Dr. Furman stated: I thank Jacob and Tharman. I am thrilled and honored to be joining the Group of Thirty, especially at this incredibly uncertain and important time. I look forward to supporting the Groups mission and work going forward. A full G30 membership list is available at http://group30.org/members. Insurance company websites have officially surpassed agents in terms of importance to client interaction and service, according to J.D. Powers 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. This is the first time in the studys 21-year history that websites have surpassed agents. Weve seen this trend developing for several years, but this is the first time that the digital channel has become the preferred means of interacting with auto insurers, exceeding one-on-one communication with agents, said Robert Lajdziak, senior consultant for insurance at J.D. Power. This has huge implications for the industry because it puts the focus squarely on digital investment to notably expand creating seamless customer touch points. Its an area in which the major national carriers excel, versus hyper-local, albeit knowledgeable, agent networks. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 19:05:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VIENTIANE, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The value of Laos' exports in May was higher than thar for April but the country continues to face a trade deficit. Laos' exports during April were worth 209 million U.S. dollars because of the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, but increased to around 264 million U.S. dollars in May, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Friday. The main exports included copper ore, pulpwood and waste paper, copper and copper products, bananas, beverages such as water, condensed drinks, energy drinks, clothing, electrical equipment and appliances, fruit including watermelons, tamarind and mangoes, along with gold bars and camera parts. The value of imports in May was 447 million U.S. dollars and the country had a trade deficit of 183 million U.S. dollars, according to Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The main imports included mechanical equipment (excluding motor vehicles), steel and steel products, diesel, land vehicles excluding motorcycles, tractors, beverages such as water, condensed drinks, energy drinks, electrical equipment and appliances, plastic products, wire and various forms of steel, vehicle spare parts including mirrors and chains as well as fertilizers. China remained the top export destination for Laos, followed by Vietnam and Thailand, while the main countries for imports remained Thailand, China and Vietnam. These figures don't include earnings from the export of electricity and will be updated when available. Lao authorities believe the value of exports in June will increase further as the government eases COVID-19-related restrictions since no more new infections are being reported. Some businesses in the services sector, including hotels, restaurants, barber shops and beauty salons, have begun regular services, though certain prevention and control measures are still in place. Enditem KABUL, Amid limited testing, official figures show that nearly 450 Afghans have died of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, which has killed some 425,000 people globally in the ongoing pandemic. But visits to graveyards in Kabul and anecdotal evidence from across the country suggest the real death toll from the highly contagious respiratory infectious disease is likely to be much higher. Many victims of COVID-19 are simply not identified as dying from the disease because of a perceived stigma or other reasons. Hasmat Fana, 72, an Afghan theater and cinema star, succumbed to COVID-19 last week. He was identified as a victim of the disease after a weeklong treatment at Kabuls Muhammad Ali Jinnah hospital and was buried with all the appropriate precautions. Unfortunately, my father, who served Afghanistans theater and cinema for 57 years, was buried today, his son Masood Fanai told Radio Free Afghanistan. He was a victim of this despicable disease that is raging across the world now. But three hours after Fanais burial in a Kabul graveyard on June 4, none of the relatives of the six dead was forthcoming about the cause of their loved ones passing. Social media posts, phone, newspaper, and verbal messages about deaths are equally circumspect, which suggests that many Afghans somehow associate the coronavirus disease with a stigma. The number of such announcements has visibly increased. Most allude to their relatives as having died of the disease he or she had contracted. In the initial days of the pandemic, people sick with the disease had faced a degree of stigma and were shunned because of fears over spreading the disease. The lack of proper testing plays a role, too. On June 12, Afghanistan had more than 23,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, which is typically spread through respiratory droplets. But in a sign that the country has very high infection rates, the total number of tests stood at 53,700. The virus has spread to every Afghan house, Ahmad Jawad Osmani, Afghanistans acting health minister, warned on June 11. The countrys fragmentary health services are already struggling to provide medicines, oxygen, and qualified medical staff. Some Afghans are desperate to believe in miracle cures from traditional healers. Still, many want to hide the fact that their relatives died of the coronavirus. Officials at the Muhammad Ali Jinnah hospital told Radio Free Afghanistan that on June 3, the day Fanai died, 12 others also died of COVID-19 at their facility. But many of their relatives refused to attribute their deaths to the disease. Afghanistan lacks proper death and burial records. But Kabul residents living close to the citys cemeteries speak of a noticeable uptick in daily burials. You can see that the corpses of those dying from the coronavirus are being accompanied by four or five people only, Saifullah, who lives near the Shuhad-e Salehin cemetery in Kabul, told Radio Free Afghanistan. We see 15 to 20 funerals daily. Khushal Nabizada, the director of the Afghan ministry for public health in the capital, Kabul, says hiding coronavirus victims poses grave risks. He says that while they have identified four cites for burying coronavirus victims, many still prefer to bury them next to their other relatives. Without appropriate precautions, this can pose additional dangers, he told Radio Free Afghanistan. Many in Afghanistan feel that the coronavirus has already taken hold in their country. No statistics, but judging by announcements for funerals coronavirus related death tool runs into dozens daily, former minister Omar Zakhilwal tweeted on June 10. Almost half of [my] relatives, friends and people I know have either [contracted and] passed [through the infection] or [are] having it. Journalist Bilal Sarwary alluded to a high death toll in the Afghan countryside. In my hometown, Khas Kunar, people consider today a good day [because] so far no COVID-19 death, he tweeted on June 12 about a rural town in the eastern province of Kunar. This explains the deadly virus tsunami Afghan villages are facing in absence of a functioning health system. Abubakar Siddique wrote this story based on Radio Free Afghanistan correspondent Shafi Karimis reporting from Kabul. Choi Suk-young, a senior adviser at law firm Lee & Ko, talks about the economic outlook in the post-COVID era at the Dalgaebi conference hall in Seoul, Friday. / Courtesy of KCCI By Kim Hyun-bin Many experts are urging Korean conglomerates to reduce their reliance on China by diversifying their production lines to other countries. The call came during a Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) trade forum at the Dalgaebi Conference Hall in Seoul, Friday, that was held to discuss post-COVID-19 preparations and the outlook for global trade. Professors, business executives, economic researchers and related government officials attended the event. The experts voiced concerns that Korean companies will need to strategically reduce their reliance on China, where companies face geopolitical risks. They also emphasized the importance of setting mid- to long-term goals to establish new production lines in other locations to replace those in China. "Since 2000, there has been an expansion in the global value chain, but it has been weakened in recent years as there was economic growth in developing countries, enhancement of protective trade policies and the automation of factories," Chung Chul, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, said. He said the COVID-19 pandemic has changed calculations among government and conglomerates, where they put an emphasis on safety rather than efficiency. He also said that more key industries are expected to either localize or disperse production lines. "Major developed countries are starting to rearrange their value chains so they are less reliant on China," Chung said. Many experts believe the U.S. will also need to reach another trade agreement with Beijing as the two countries' last one was made before the pandemic and is already outdated. "The U.S.-China trade agreement was inked before the pandemic and the content is now pretty far from reality and nearly impossible to execute," Choi Suk-young, a senior adviser at law firm Lee & Ko, said. Michigan added at least 32 officers known as drug recognition experts" to its roadside drug testing program between January and March 4, according to data state police provided MLive and a state House committee. State police are heading the expanded pilot program that is now in its second year and has grown to include law enforcement in all 83 Michigan counties. The second year of the pilot concludes Aug. 31, after which state police have 90 days to present results of the program to the legislature. THE HAGUE, Netherlands, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With a prevalence of 1 in 5000, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT, Osler-Weber-Rendu disease) is the second most common hereditary bleeding disorder in the world. Patients with HHT suffer from chronic and progressively worsening gastrointestinal bleeding and severe recurrent nose bleeding (epistaxis), resulting in chronic, and often very severe iron deficiency anemia. HHT patients often depend on regular blood transfusions or iron infusions to maintain safe blood counts. There is currently no FDA-approved therapy for HHT. The underlying genetic defects that cause HHT result in elevations in a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Therefore, existing medications that target VEGF, known as anti-angiogenic drugs, may be effective in treating HHT. A multicenter international retrospective study called "InHIBIT-Bleed" has evaluated intravenous bevacizumab, a bioengineered antibody targeting VEGF, to treat bleeding in 238 patients with HHT. Patients were treated with bevacizumab infusions for a median duration of one year. Compared with pretreatment, bevacizumab resulted in an improvement in mean hemoglobin from 8.6 g/dL to 11.8 g/dL, a 50% reduction in the mean epistaxis severity score, a 82% reduction in red blood cell transfusion requirements, and a 70% reduction in iron infusions. Importantly, bevacizumab was well-tolerated and safe, with adverse events attributable to bevacizumab noted in 38% of patients (high blood pressure, fatigue, and leakage of protein into the urine being the most common) and no fatal adverse events. In conclusion, intravenous bevacizumab may be considered a standard treatment option for HHT patients and moderate-to-severe bleeding. Presenter: Dr Hanny Al-Samkari Affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Abstract: #S320 AN INTERNATIONAL MULTICENTER STUDY OF SYSTEMIC BEVACIZUMAB FOR BLEEDING IN HEREDITARY HEMORRHAGIC TELANGIECTASIA: THE INHIBIT-BLEED STUDY About the EHA Annual Congress: Every year in June, EHA organizes its Annual Congress in a major European city. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, EHA transformed its physical meeting into a Virtual Congress this year. Please note that our embargo policy applies to all selected abstracts in the Press Briefings. For more information, see our EHA Media and Embargo policy here. Website: www.ehaweb.org SOURCE European Hematology Association (EHA) Related Links http://www.ehaweb.org Employees at the Pennsylvania Bakery in Camp Hill were creating and selling delicious treats last week when they started seeing messages pop up on their Facebook page calling them racists. I was looking for a bakery to order a birthday cake from but I think Ill use one that doesnt hate black people, one message said. And isnt associated with white supremacists. Another message said: "I refuse to ever do business with a store that is affiliated with white supremacy. And you shouldnt either. The negative comments and reviews blindsided bakery managers who didnt know what prompted them. Turns out, a woman had visited the bakery June 4 intending to order a cake but saw Trump campaign posters in the window of an attached building that has the same brick facade as the bakery. She took photos of the bakery and the neighbors window, cropped them side-by-side and blasted the message across Facebook, where it was widely shared. This was the original image that went viral, showing two different photos cropped together. Im sure going to miss ya, the woman posted. Guess Ill be taking my business elsewhere. I will also be encouraging my network friends and family to also take their business elsewhere. The woman didnt talk to anyone at the bakery to ask about the signs before posting the critical, and erroneous message, said Rachelle Schenk-Womer, the bakerys sales manager. She said using two photos taken from two different locations on the brick building made it appear as if the bakery sign was right next to the political signs when that wasnt the case. Negative comments peppered the bakerys Facebook page as bakery employees scrambled to respond to some commenters and post a response explaining the signs werent owned or displayed by the bakery. We were completely blindsided by all this," Schenk-Womer said. The bakery is sandwiched in between two other rental properties that include residential and office space. The rental properties are located next to and behind the bakery. The signs had been posted in one of those windows, not a window belonging to the bakery, Schenk-Womer said. While some people who had shared the original post noted later that the bakery didnt post the signs, those posts did not go viral or generate the same number of comments as the information shared originally. The original post has been deleted, and PennLive was unable to reach the woman who put it up. The renter who posted the political signs also took them down, not wanting to create more problems for the bakery, Schenk-Womer said. The bakerys response on Facebook said: Our family & staff consider it one of our greatest joys to bring smiles to your faces & sweeten your days with our baked goods, especially during these uncertain times. We are committed to creating a community that fosters unity among all races, treats everyone equally and with dignity, & speaks against discrimination & racism. It has come to our attention that some misrepresented information is being shared on social media and we stand by the fact that our business has no political affiliations. We thank you for your continued business & support. Even after the bakery posted a notice letting customers know the sign wasnt theirs, the onslaught from some people continued online. Some commenters didnt think the statement went far enough to denounce racism or clearly explain the bakerys political views. Some falsely claimed that only white people work at the bakery. We have a very diverse staff. There is no prejudice here, Schenk-Womer said. The bakery is apolitical. The posts generated spirited debate among commenters, some of whom pushed back on the notion that supporting Trump would automatically mean someone is a racist and others who said people need to pick a side, considering the recent racial unrest. The kerfuffle represented a first in the bakerys 34-year-history, she said. Were always just posting about baked goods, she said. Thats our wheelhouse. We wanted to respond to this in a way that kept things positive. The bakerys strong customer base and others who learned of the situation rallied to support the business, posting hundreds of positive comments to flood out the negative ones. The misunderstanding and ensuing firestorm isnt surprising in this highly charged political and racial atmosphere after the killing of George Floyd while in custody of Minneapolis police, said Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College. It strikes me as not uncommon, he said. Once a point is made on social media, and shared, it can be hard to correct. It fits the dynamic of whats going on right now where there is this heightened and justified sensitivity to racism. While the bakery didnt post the political signs, Madonna said it shows why businesses should refrain from anything that appears political in this highly engaged environment. Youre going to get a reaction, he said. Weve got a very, very important problem with racism and its historic. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. As part of a proposal submitted to Helsinki City Council this year, a real-estate developer, NREP, offered Moomin Characters rental space for its offices and art collection as part of a bid to develop Lapinlahti, a neoclassical building that was once Finlands first psychiatric hospital. Lapinlahti is now a center for promoting mental well-being, home to artist studios, arts organizations and mental-health charities. It presents an integrated program of cultural activities including concerts, exhibitions, movie screenings and art classes. Campaigners say the redevelopment, which would bring in stores and restaurants, and see the construction of a new hotel on the grounds, would destroy a community of social and artistic engagement, and disturb the natural environment, endangering plants and wildlife. A debate has been roiling in Helsinki over the proposal, and campaigners against it said that Moomin Characters was acting against Tove Janssons spirit by signing on. The dispute distressed fans and tarnished the reputation of a Finnish institution; this week, Moomin Characters said it had walked back from the deal.